A/N: Many thanks again to all of you! And again, no money is being made from this story. I'm just trying to give Alice and Tarrant a fluffy life. ;-)

When Charlotte was about 4, she asked for a hat like mine. A top hat just like the Hightopps before her. It is a bit of a tradition to wait until a child asks for a hat such as that before presenting them with one. My world was set alight when she asked because, for many years, I assumed I would never make a hat for another Hightopp, let alone my own child.

That's why I waited so anxiously for Will to ask for his. It was possible that he would never ask, and while that would be fine, I really was hoping to make one for him as well. Oh, who was I kidding ... it would completely crush me if he never asked.

When he turned 4, I began to get more anxious than ever. It was around this time his sister asked for hers, why wasn't he?

"Tarrant, calm down," Alice said after I mentioned the situation ... again. "He'll ask when he's ready. That might not even be for a few more years."

"But Lottie asked when she was 4!" I protested.

"And in how many ways are they really alike?"

She was right, despite the fact that they came from the same parents, our children were very different. For every vague similarity they might share, there was a complete polar opposite to make up for it. Charlotte and William were like night and day, so why would I expect this to happen when it did for her?

"I know this. I just want to do this for my boy."

"Why else?" she questioned. She was always the perceptive one.

"Can't a father want to do something traditional for his son?"

"Of course, and it's a very noble idea, but it doesn't change the fact that you have an ulterior motive for this. What happened?"

I sighed. I was surprised this hadn't been discussed sooner. "I no longer have the hat my father made me. The only Hightopp hat I have is the one I salvaged after the Horunvendush Day. I want to make sure both of my children have that from me."

"Darling, they have lots of hats from you."

"But only Lottie has a Hightopp hat, a top hat made especially by your parent. I want Will to have one as well."

"And he will! When he is ready for one. In the meantime, let tradition run its course and let him ask for it! I am confident that he will ask, and probably soon. So let him be a part of the tradition, even if he doesn't know he is."

"You're right, of course. But -"

"No buts, Tarrant Hightopp! Did anyone ever not ask for one?"

"The only one I know of was my grandfather's cousin."

"See? One out of generations of hat makers! The odds are in your favor!"

I didn't want to answer her. I knew she was correct (she almost always was), but I couldn't help but be frustrated by the situation. I was the first Hightopp in quite some time to even have children. It was an honor I did not take lightly at all. I wanted to pass along all our traditions and prepare the legacy. I was fortunate (more than fortunate, actually) to have my father and mother back to help me, but I still felt that much of it fell upon my shoulders to pass along the Hightopp ways.

Alice already knew my issues, and she understood them to a point, but she could never fully comprehend how my life was. Her family had traditions, and from what I followed, her culture had many as well. But as someone who didn't grow up with this way of life, she couldn't really see that the Hightopps were made from traditions. They were the backbone to our entire society. Things like this were not just important, they were life! And this specific tradition was one of the most important, it linked our trade to our family to our love. I knew Alice wanted to understand, and I loved her all the more for it, but it was a difficult situation to really and fully know. Even for me.

"Besides, he'll just outgrow it all the quicker if you make it this early in his life," she added.

"Nae. Have you not seen that Charlotte's still fits her?"

She paused. "Well, I suppose it still does. I never paid it any notice."

"Tis the magic of the Hightopp clan. This special hat will fit them forever, no matter what." I paused and gave her a quick wink. "Even if they eat too much upelkuchen and end up in the court of the Red Queen."

"I wish I would have had a hat like that on that day!" Alice replied with a sparkle to her eyes that made me feel at least a bit better. She knew I was trying and her smile showed her approval.

"Are you ready for supper now?" she asked. "I'm certain your family must be waiting for us."

"Yes, yes, of course. I shall worry on it later."

"I have no doubt."

We made our way down to the dining hall where we found the Hightopps.

"There you lot are! We were beginning to think you got lost!" Moibeal said with a laugh.

"Just lost track of time," Alice white lied for me.

"Aye, easily done with the little 'uns," Macbean said.

"Now that slowpoke is here, can we please eat?!" Briallen complained.

"Briallen!" her mother scolded.

"Well, he's always been the last one teh arrive anywhere!"

Alice put on a teasing shocked face. "And you have the nerve to tell me when I'm late!"

"Thank yeh, Bri. Once again, gettin' me in trouble!" I said, sticking my tongue out at her. I was overjoyed that they were back in our lives, but it didn't change that Bri and Gwen were both annoying little sisters.

Once we were seated and began to eat, my father leaned over to me. "Tarrant, are you well tonight?"

"Aye, fine."

"Now, I've been yehr father fer quite some time now. I ken when yeh most certainly are not well. What troubles yeh, mo mhac?"

"Can we speak on it later? I don't wish to discuss it in front of the children."

"Of course, of course. Is it that bad?"

"Nae, just something they can't know of, just yet."

"Very well then. Perhaps we can take a walk after our meal?" he asked.

"That sounds fine." I glanced to Alice and she winked at me. Despite the conversation she was having with Lottie, of course she knew what my father asked me.

After dinner, Father excused himself from the family. Alice obviously knew where I was going.

We wandered to my workshop in silence, but the second I closed the door, he spoke up.

"So, what troubles yehr mind these days?"

"It's William."

"Wee Will? What could he 'ave done teh make yeh so concerned?" he asked as he sat on the couch.

"He hasnae asked for his hat yet," I replied, lowering my head as I sat on my stool.

My father had the nerve to chuckle. "Is tha' all?"

"Is that all? What if he never asks? What if he ends up like Girvan?"

"Girvan was the village idiot! I wouldnae be concerned of what he did!"

"But still -"

"Tarrant, think of it. He's only 4. He's got years teh ask yeh."

"Charlotte asked when she was 4!"

"Doesnae surprise meh. Girls tend teh ask sooner."

"Really?"

"Mhac, I'm very sorry we were gone afore I could teach yeh everything. There's so much yeh still need teh ken. And I'll be glad teh finally give yeh those lessons. For now, dinnae worry about it. You were I think 6 afore yeh asked me!"

My jaw dropped.

"Don' look so surprised now. I told yeh that girls tend teh ask earlier. But that doesnae change th' fact that yeh worried meh out of my mind with waitin'. Somethin' I suspect yehr feelin' now with wee Will?"

"Well, yes."

"Tarrant, what yeh must realize is that bein' a parent is about lettin' the little 'un be just that. Yeh give 'em boundaries and keep 'em safe, but yeh've got teh let them be little and then grow in teh what they're gonna be. William and Charlotte both are wonderful bairns. They're a brilliant mix of Alice and yeh both, but I see so much of a wee you in them. Will is very much like yeh and he'll ask for his hat. I have no doubt in my mind. And I'm willing teh bet that it'll be soon. Sooner than 6," he added with a trademark Macbean Hightopp smile.

"Ah wish Ah could've 'ad these talks with yeh sooner. Afore Ah became a father." My emotions got the best of me and the accent snuck out for a bit. I figured my eyes may have turned a bit blue as well.

"Aye, I wish the same. I feel very guilty tha' yeh had teh do it alone. I would've loved teh seen yeh through the beginnin' of this. But trust meh, I'll definitely be helpin' yeh through it now."

I couldn't help but smile. I was lucky enough to have him back, I certainly wasn't going to squander this opportunity.

"Thank yeh, faither. I'm very excited to know that you'll be guiding me. I couldn't ask for a better teacher and I couldn't have asked for a better father."

"And Ah most certainly couldnae 'ave asked for a better son. Yeh're doing a wonderful job, Tarrant. Yeh're raising them right."

"I can only hope so."

"We should probably be gettin' back now," Father said, standing. "Yehr maither will be wonderin' where we got to."

"Alice is prepared for this to take longer, probably. She's been telling me how silly I'm being," I told him as we began to walk back.

"Smart woman yeh've got there," he said, clapping me on the back.

"I'm certainly blessed."

"Aye, that yeh are. She's a right fine wife and she's given yeh two perfect gifts."

"She's given me more than even the children. She's saved me in ways I don't even understand."

"In the years we've been back, I've seen a change in yeh. Not just from before the attack, but from the time yeh saved us teh now. Yeh grow every day in leaps and bounds and that's because of yehr family."

I could only smile.

He returned the smile. "Now, tell me. What are you thinking about for Will's hat?"

I chuckled, mostly because I already had it designed in my head.

"How did your talk go?" Alice asked after we got the children to bed and climbed into our own.

"Quite well. He explained to me that I don't have to be as worried as I am. It'll happen. I'm still anxious to know when, but it'll happen."

"Do you think before 6?" she asked with a smirk.

"You spoke with my mother, didn't you?"

"It might have come up on the way back from dinner..."

"I should have figured."

"Oh, come now, Tarrant! Your mother told me that the girls were each 5, so it just depends on the child. Lottie might have been a little early and Will might be a bit late. It's no problem, as long as he eventually asks. Yes?"

"I know. I shall wait anxiously in the meantime."

"As long as it's anxious and not panicky."

"Yes, dear," I said as I stuck my tongue out.

"Hush you. Let's get some sleep."

"Very well. I love you, sweet Alice. Good night."

"Good night. I love you as well, darling."

The next morning, we gathered at our family table for breakfast.

"Feeling better, Tarrant?" my father asked.

"Indeed. Patience, eh?"

"Aye. Very important when yehr a father."

Just then, Will tugged on my sleeve. "Daddy, do you think you could make me a hat like yours?"

The table grew silent.

"Well, I - of cour - I would lov -" I stammered.

"Hatter!" Alice interrupted.

"Yes, Will, I would love to make you a hat like mine."

"Thank you, Daddy," Will said and continued to eat (obviously not knowing the weight he lifted from my shoulders).

"Do you feel better now?" Alice asked.

"You could say that," I answered.

Father laughed. "At least you have it planned out."

"Indeed," I sighed. "Indeed."

A quick elbow from my wife reminded me how silly I had been. My children were Hightopps so I had no need to worry.

She put her arm around me and whispered, "teaghlach gu bràth."

"Aye, mo gràidh. Family forever."