A/N: Well, it's not Christmas, but I did manage to get it finished before the new year. This one was a bugger because I had a few different ideas on what to write. This is the one that finally stuck. It takes place about six or seven months after Alice returns to Underland and marries Tarrant.

Also, I took a few liberties with Alice's first visit. I didn't think anyone would truly mind.

Merry belated Christmas and a safe and happy New Year to you all!

"Beloved, you know what day is coming, don't you?" Tarrant asked me nonchalantly over his shoulder as he continued to work on Lord Fielding's hat.

I inwardly cringed a bit. Underland had so many days and some were very important and some were just days and very few actually reoccurred. It was difficult to keep them all straight. I had only been back in this world for a few months and countless "Days" had gone by already.

I put down the papers I was working on. "No, darling, I don't," I admitted.

He stopped working and turned to face me. "Why, Christmas, of course!"

"Christmas? You have Christmas in Underland?"

"Do you not remember?"

"Remember what? I remember Christmas from my world, if that's what you mean."

Tarrant laughed and started to walk over to me. "I can't believe you don't recall. Alice, pet, you brought Christmas to Underland."

"Me? How on earth did I do that? I don't remember ever mentioning it since I've been back."

"You haven't. At least, not this trip. Here, allow me to help." He sat down on the sofa beside me and smiled brightly. "When you were just a girl, and you came to our tea party, you told us many things about your world. And one of the things that intrigued us, well, mostly me, was that of Christmas. I went straight to Mirana and told her all about it. She loved the notion so much that she adopted it as a holiday here. One of very few that happen every year."

"And you've been having Christmas ever since?" I asked.

His face became grim. "No, not always. Once the Red Queen stole the throne, she quickly got rid of it. It was illegal to observe. However, now that Mirana has the crown once again, we shall celebrate … vigorously." He winked.

"I can't believe this! Here, I thought I would have to give up Christmas, or at least all the festivities for it, when I stayed here. Tarrant, I am so excited! Are all the traditions still the same?"

"Mostly, I would suppose. But the spirit of giving and of peace and of family is still definitely a part."

"I see. Well, I am thrilled! Do we decorate?"

"'Do we decorate?' she asks. Only the best! With a tree and holly and lights and ornaments and snowflakes and gifts and little puppies with bows and mistletoes and tinsel and shiny baubles and –"

"Tarrant!" I interrupted, giggling as I took his face into my hands.

"I'm fine."

"I get the point, darling. There is a lot to do then! Do you have decorations?"

His face fell again. "Perhaps I got excited about the holiday too soon, cricket. All of my old decorations were destroyed … that day."

"Oh, Tarrant. Well, then we shall just have to get some more. Can we purchase them somewhere?"

"Some, perhaps. But no one has made such things in years."

"Well, then we shall buy what we can and we shall make the rest!"

"I like the way you think, dearheart!"

We then both decided to abandon our current work projects to get our home (and perhaps all of Underland) ready for Christmas.

We ran to the Mirana's office and explained it all to her. Mirana was overjoyed to think that Christmas was coming again and, of course, began to plan a ball to commemorate.

"Are there any decorations here, Mirana?" I asked.

"Oh yes, two or three rooms full!" she exclaimed. "Do you need some?"

"As a matter of fact, we do."

"Well, take what you like! I plan on having a lot more made now! Underland will have a Christmas like never before!"

I knew she meant it.

Tarrant and I went to the rooms with the decorations and marveled at just how much was in there!

Soon enough, we had boxes of wreaths, tinsel, holly and ornaments. We decided to find our own tree.

As we rode towards the forest to find our perfect tree, I decided to bake cookies and teach Tarrant some Christmas carols. Perhaps we could get our mad group of friends to go caroling through Underland … perhaps next year.

"Tarrant, I can't tell you how I figured I would never get to do this," I said as we traipsed through the snow.

"Do what, poppet?"

"Search for a Christmas tree with my husband. You truly have made my life into so much more than I had expected it to be!"

"Anything for you, beloved. And besides, the feeling is quite mutual."

"Tarrant!" I suddenly squealed. At his alarm, I answered quickly, "There it is! Our tree!"

I pointed to the lovely tree just a few feet before us and sighed. It was perfect for our home and would look just charming. Tarrant made quick work of chopping it down and dragging it to the carriage. Thank goodness we didn't venture too far into the forest.

Once we arrived at the carriage, the tree suddenly leapt onto the roof.

"Oh Hatter! Did we cut down one that was alive?"

"No, no, cricket, it's all right. This wasn't one of the sentient trees. However, the magic in Underland must be thrilled to have you back and to be celebrating Christmas again. That was what assisted us in getting the tree up there. How wonderful."

He offered his hand to help me into the carriage and away we went. I couldn't wait to get back and finally begin the decorating.

Finally, we were home and the magic of Underland helped us get the tree into the house.

"Thank you so much!" I called into the air.

"Well, now, sweetness, where shall we begin?" Tarrant asked as he set the tree upright in the holder.

"The tree, of course!"

"I had a feeling. All right, then. Let me fetch those boxes."

He went back to the carriage and carried in two boxes that I really felt were too heavy to be carried together, but I suppose a certain amount of annoying masculine-showing-off was to be expected.

We laughed and carried on like children as we wrapped the tree in tinsel and fairy lights. We hung delicate ornaments and candy canes and finally topped it off with a shining and glittering gold star.

"Hatter! It's positively gorgeous!" I sighed as I leaned back against him.

"Not as gorgeous as I'm sure your face looks right now. Of course, I can't see your face because you are standing like this against me, and it's certainly not that I mind that, on the contrary, I love when you stand like this against me, especially considering that you are the right proper size now and –"

"Tarrant…"

"Beautiful … I'm fine. Terribly sorry."

I giggled, turned around and put my arms around his neck. "Hatter, it's quite fine. I love you and your ramblings."

"I was right … gorgeous."

I blushed and he kissed the tip of my nose.

"Well, now, what shall we work on next?" he asked, seemingly just as excited as I was.

And for the next few hours, we hung the wreaths and the holly and various little knick knacks. We baked cookies together and had ourselves quite covered in flour. Before I knew it, the little house looked and smelled as Christmasy as a dream.

We collapsed onto the sofa and looked around.

"Alice, it's beautiful. I cannot believe we are having Christmas in Underland again. It's truly going to be a magical time."

"Underland is already full of magic."

"Not that magic! Alice magic. Dearheart, you bring a certain magic with you wherever you go. It might be the most powerful magic I've ever seen."

"I believe you may be the source of it, darling, and I think –" Just then I was cut off by a knock at the door.

"Oh bloody … who is it?" Tarrant yelled.

"It's Nivens McTwisp, Tarrant!" a voice called back.

"Just come in McTwisp!" he replied.

The door opened and the nervous rabbit entered. "Her majesty sent me to invite you both to the royal Christmas ball. She is most appreciative that you both reminded her of the season."

"Well, tell her she is most welcome and that we shall be happy to attend," I told him.

"Right then. Thank you, both!" Nivens said before he ran back out the door.

"Another ball," I sighed.

"Aye, but at least now you're beginning to enjoy them," Tarrant rationalized.

"Well, I'm enjoying dancing with you. I love being close to you like that. As for liking the balls … at best they're growing on me."

"I'm sure Mirana will take what she can get."

Just then I noticed a twig of some sort stuck in the sash of Tarrant's hat.

"Hatter, what's this?" I asked as I pulled it from the folds.

"That? Why, I believe that's mistletoes."

"Mistletoe, Tarrant. Just one. And how on earth did it get there?" I asked, teasing.

"I didn't put it there!" I shot him an unconvinced look. "I didn't!"

"Well, if you didn't, then who did?"

"I haven't the foggiest."

"Hmmm, well, I suppose since we were both underneath it, there's only one thing to do. Traditions must be upheld."

"Yes, yes. They are quite important after all."

I grinned and leaned in for a kiss. Instead of the chaste peck on the lips that I was expecting, Tarrant leaned down and captured my mouth in a soul-searing kiss that stole my breath.

"Happy Christmas, Alice."

"Happy Christmas, Tarrant."

(Mid-story A/N: I wanted to end the story here, but I know there are dancing fans out there, so here's a bit of an epilogue to the chapter)

Christmas arrived quickly. Tarrant and I exchanged gifts (some beautiful new hats, dresses and books for me, and a organizer for his supplies, some candy, and a new tea set for Tarrant), and then we were off to Marmoreal.

I felt like a princess in the green gown Tarrant made for me. With little red holly berry accents, it was a perfect Christmas dress. And Hatter looked so handsome in his matching green suit. (Well, matching to my attire. His blue socks and red shirt clashed wonderfully.)

After dinner, we went out onto the dance floor.

"This is, without a doubt, my favorite Christmas," I said as I laid my head on his chest.

"Aye, lass, 'tis mine as well."

I glanced up into his rapidly darkening eyes. "Why, Lord Hightopp, you're getting Outlandish on me already?"

He only smirked at me as he pulled me even closer and led me into one of our favorite dances.

As we twirled around the floor, weaving in and out of the other dancers, I knew that I didn't remotely need those dresses or hats or books. The only gift I could have ever wanted was here in my arms.

Before I could let the happy tears come, Thackery ran past us and then around us with a tiny branch of mistletoe on a stick.

"'appy Christmas! Time teh smooch!" he cried as he dangled it above our heads.

"Tradition, eh, poppet?" Tarrant said with that gap-toothed grin.

"What are we to do?" I agreed.

"Kiss! Tha's wha' yeh're suppos'd teh do!" Thackery shouted.

And with that, in front of all the kingdom, Tarrant bent me back and kissed me with a passion I normally only saw in our bedroom.

"I'm nothing if I'm not a traditionalist," he whispered as he gently raised me back up.

"Indeed," I said, still a bit breathless.

"Now, where were we?" he asked as he pulled me right back into our dance steps.

I would imagine the other guests were staring at us, but I wouldn't know for sure. All I could see were the deep emerald eyes of my Tarrant as we glided around the floor.

"A very happy Christmas, Tarrant," I said.

"A very happy Christmas to you as well, my sweet Alice."