A/N: Thank you, thank you, thank you to my amazing readers! This story has gotten more feedback than any other story I've ever written. I am floored by it and honored as well.

I couldn't believe it. I had a nephew in London and a niece in Underland. I had two beautiful children of my own and life was just getting sweeter as we went.

"Cricket, where are you right now?" I heard Tarrant's voice call from the doorway.

My head snapped up to see my husband leaning against the doorframe, looking so handsome. "What? Oh, I'm sorry, darling. I was just caught up in some thinking. Do you realize how lucky we are? We are a very, very blessed family."

"Indeed, poppet. We are. What specifically has you thinking today of the blessed life we lead?" he asked, walking over to me and sitting on my desk.

"Jacob, Lily, Lottie, Will, our parents, our friends … many things," I answered.

"Yes, those are all very good things to think of," he said with a huge smile, the smile that I needed to include on my list of blessings.

"Did Mirana tell you that she is planning Lily's birth celebration?" I asked.

"No, but it's not surprising. It's been over a week now since her birth."

"She has been tired, but I agree. I figured she'd have the entire thing planned by now." I paused. "I wish my family could come to one of those balls."

"And why can't they?"

"I can't really picture my family being comfortable here."

"Alice, you've been here for many years now. If they can't handle that, then they certainly don't have the muchness that I've been crediting them. I know your mother would be fine. Is it Margaret that worries you?"

"No, and I know Jacob would love it. I think it's probably Brandon."

"Brandon? Oh goldilocks, I think you misjudge him. He and I have had many talks and I think he would be fine here."

"You've told him about Underland?" I asked, shocked.

"Well, no, not exactly. He did ask where I was from once. I told him that it was a place that very few had heard of but was beautiful, prospering and magical."

I quirked an eyebrow at him.

"Well, I don't think he took "magic" literally, silly," he said. "But he told me that it sounded like an excellent place for an adventure and would like to see it sometime."

"Adventure, hmm? Who would have thought that Margaret would be with anyone with such a possibly open mind?"

"Certainly no one who had met Lowell."

I wanted to chastise him for speaking ill of the dead … but I just couldn't.

"Well, then perhaps it is time to let Brandon in on the family secret. I shall write to Mother and see what she and Margaret think about the idea." Then a thought struck me. "Tarrant, you don't think he would leave her for this, do you?"

"For learning that his sister-in-law lives in a different world? Well, that's certainly not Margaret's fault. If anything, he should be angry with me for that." Tarrant giggled, making his point that I was being irrational.

"I suppose you are right. I just hope he doesn't get upset for being in the dark about all of this. Even if it has been for all the right reasons."

"Beloved, I really think you have nothing to fear with this. But still, write to your family and see what their thoughts are."

"Yes, I shall do that right after I finish this proposal to the museum board. What a bunch of whiny people."

"Well, finish it as quickly as you can. For I intend to have a picnic with my wife in the gardens.

"You know what? The board can wait. I'd much rather have a picnic with you. Are the children with your parents?"

"Aye, love. So, if'n lunch runs a wee bit long, say in our chambers, the bairns'll be safe," he said, a touch of the brogue beginning to surface.

Yes, the board's proposal could certainly wait.

That night, after supper, I wrote to my mother, asking for her thoughts on the matter and asking if she would perhaps like to visit us sometime soon. Perhaps to Lily's celebration. And just after breakfast the next morning, I received my answer:

Dearest Alice,

I think it is time to inform Brandon of your home. I truly think he is ready to hear of it. However, just to be safe, I shall talk to Margaret and find her opinion for you as well. We shall plan from there. Should I be expecting a visit soon?

As for coming to see you, I would adore seeing your home. I had been hoping for a while now to be able to travel to Underland. And to a royal ball no less! Even if the Kingsfords do not attend, I should be glad to join you.

Much love,

Mother

"See? I think all will be well. At the very least, your mother will come," Tarrant said, after he finished reading over my shoulder.

I sighed. Perhaps things would turn out all right after all.

Less than a few hours later, I received another letter from London.

Alice,

Lucky for us, Margaret has come to visit today. We have talked about your question and we are both in agreement that Brandon is ready to know the truth. Would it be possible for all of us to attend the ball and see your Wonderland? Please let us know as soon as possible, so we can prepare for your arrival.

Much love,

Mother

Suddenly, I began to get nervous about this. For no other reason other than I had spent so much time and energy trying to keep Underland a secret and now I was preparing to reveal it to several people.

"Poppet, I suggest we go soon. That way they can prepare for Lily's celebration … and prepare Brandon as well," Tarrant suggested as I held the pen without writing. I simply froze when I picked the quill up.

"Yes, I suppose you are right."

Mother,

We shall see you in two days if that if all right with you and Margaret. Begin packing for your journey here. The princess' celebration is in a week.

I can't tell you how excited we all are for you to come here. I have so much I want to show you!

Love from,

The Hightopps

And so the preparations began.

Two days later, we found ourselves at my mother's home. I was pacing, while Tarrant sat calmly, watching me walk.

"Cricket, you could sit down, you know," he said quietly.

"Of course, I could. But then what would I do with all this nervous energy?"

"If there wasn't family quite nearby, I would be glad to tell you my suggestions for that energy. But alas, we aren't alone. Shall I offer those suggestions later?" he asked, waggling those eyebrows at me.

"We will have to see how my energy levels are after we deal with all of this."

Finally, Margaret and her family arrived. The second she came into the room, I noticed something that had obviously been kept from me. "Turn about is fair play," I thought wryly to myself.

"Maggie!" I cried as I ran over to her and stared at her swollen belly. "How far along are you?"

"Five months now. I'm sorry you didn't hear sooner, Alice, but I wanted to tell you personally."

I embraced her as best I could and hugged Brandon as well. Soon (too soon), we were all seated and waiting for the conversation to begin. Jacob and Lottie had taken Will to the far side of the room and kept him occupied there.

"Well, first of all," I began, going with the understanding that diving right in might be the best approach. "You have all been invited to a ball that our queen is throwing in the honor of the birth of her daughter."

"Oh, splendid!" Margaret said.

"Yes, I look forward to finally seeing this homeland of yours, Tarrant," Brandon said.

"Um, yes. About that. Brandon, we feel as though it is time to let you know more about my homeland. You see …the land that we're from, well, I'm from, isn't exactly what you would call an ordinary place and traveling to it isn't as easy as going by horse or rail, more like by hat and you see –"

"Hatter," I whispered.

"I'm … thank you," he whispered back.

"Brandon, what Tarrant is trying to say is that where we live isn't around here. It's not of this same world."

"Not of this world? I'm sorry, Alice, I'm afraid I don't follow you."

"Yes, I was afraid you wouldn't. Underland is a realm of its own, you see. It is a magical land and it isn't easy to access from here. I first found it when I accidentally fell down a rabbit hole when I was just a girl. And then again through a looking glass a few years after that. And one final time when I was 19 when I fell down a rabbit hole … again. I stayed that time because I fell in love with Tarrant."

He gave me a slight smile and laughed. "Oh, I see, you're all having a go at me! Well, that's quite a story there and I almost believed it!"

"No, I assure you, we're being quite serious. Underland is as real as I am," I replied.

"Alice, what you are telling me is impossible!"

"Only if you believe it is," Tarrant and I said at the same time. I turned and smiled at him and he grinned enough to show me the gap in his teeth.

"Oh, I would love to believe it. But..."

"Brandon, I know it is quite difficult to swallow, but it is the truth," my mother said.

Brandon gave us a blank stare and then turned to his wife. "Margaret, I take it you knew about this?"

"Yes, I did. I wanted to tell you, but it's not exactly my secret to tell," she replied, obviously nervous about his reaction.

"No, you are right. I'm not angry with you. I just wish I could have been a part of the knowledge sooner. A magical realm ... a very real magical realm. How wonderful! Though, I'll admit that I am having a difficult time wrapping my head around it all."

"Yes, yes, of course," Tarrant assured. "But all of it is true. Alice has been to Underland a few times, each of them having a new and bigger adventure. Of course, her latest certainly was her greatest what with the sla—"

"Tarrant!" I interrupted. "Let's not overwhelm Brandon with all the messy details of our last escapade."

"On the contrary, Alice," Brandon said. "I would very much like to hear about it. A tale with excitement that ends in a romance, well, it sounds like quite the story!"

"Dear brother-in-law, one day I will tell you all my tales from Underland. However, today is just the start. I can't tell you how relived I am that you are taking it so well. We were afraid you would be angry, or at the very least, frightened of it all."

"Well, I've always had a love for the fantastic. And I can safely assume that this land of yours is just that. I do find it strange that your family lives in another realm of existence, even though you are from London."

"I barely consider myself from here anymore," I admitted. "I love my mother and my sister and all of you. But Underland is my home. Where my husband was born and my children as well. And now that you know about the kingdom, we would very much like to show it to all of you. Mirana, the queen, has requested the presence of all of you to celebrate the birth of her daughter, Lily. And Mirana can throw a festivity together like no one else. Her galas are renowned."

"I'm so excited!" Margaret exclaimed, practically bouncing in her seat. "How shall we get there?"

"The same way Tarrant and I travel back and forth: through the looking glass in my bedroom. It's perfectly safe, Margaret. I've travelled through it while with child."

She smiled and turned to Mother. "What shall we wear?"

Mother frowned. "I don't think we have anything appropriate for a royal ball."

"My mother shall make them for you!" Tarrant offered. "She is a seamstress like no other."

I clapped my hands in happiness. "Yes, and perhaps the girls could help as well. Do not worry! Moibeal shall make your gowns. And perhaps something for Brandon and Jacob as well. Tarrant, can you take some measurements for her?"

"Of course, cricket! I daresay, this is going to be one of the most memorable balls I've been to in quite some time!"

And with that, Tarrant began jotting down numbers for his mother to begin making formal wear for my family. I couldn't believe they were coming to Underland, all of them! I was so excited I thought I might burst.

Soon enough, it was time for us to return. Margaret and Brandon watched as we walked through the looking glass. As I turned around, I waved to the slack-jawed Kingsfords and began making my own plans for the upcoming celebration!

End note: This is probably going to be another 3 part arc to the story. This introduction, a tour of Underland for the family, and the ball. After that, my plan is to take a break and really fix the inconsistencies. I've already tweaked "Wedded Bliss" but it didn't really have the same issues. I'll let you know when I re-post those, for anyone who is so inclined to read extra Outlandish accents and a few extra lines in those chapters. So anyway, please enjoy these next three!