A/N: I don't know why, but once this story got to be massively long, I always thought if I got to chapter 60, this would be the story of it. So, here we are at chapter 60 (WHAT?!) and I'm writing this.

We were quickly approaching my mother's 60th birthday. While in Underland, 60 was certainly nothing notable, in London, it was quite an achievement. I worried that our time with her was quite limited.

"Poppet, there is an answer, of course," Tarrant answered as I told him my concerns.

I glanced up, wondering if he meant what I thought he meant.

"We'll bring her here, of course."

"Can we do that?" I asked.

"Did you not come to live here?"

"I'd say I'm a special circumstance."

"And perhaps you are. But she is your kin and I'm certain Underland, and, of course, Mirana will recognize that."

"What of Margaret and her family?"

"What of them?"

"They'll certainly miss her," I explained.

"Sweetness, how can I put this delicately ... wouldn't they miss her more if you don't bring her here?"

The gravity of his statement suddenly made it all too real for me. Perhaps it was time to ask Mother to come live with us.

"How long until my sister's family joins us?" I joked.

"Whenever she is ready, I suppose," Hatter answered.

"Please, Tarrant. One relative at a time."

I went for a quill and wrote to Mother, asking her if she could visit us. This was something I wanted to do here.

Two days later, I was travelling through the mirror, preparing to take my mother to Underland.

As I saw the mirror rippling before me, I heard Mother call, "Just a moment, Tarrant! I'm almost ready!"

When I stepped out, I'm certain it was a surprise for her. After all, it began as Tarrant who went to pick her up on these little excursions when she used to have luggage. Since then, Mirana had provided her with everything she could need at the palace, including an entire wardrobe. Afterwards, it just became habit for her son-in-law for her to bring her to the other world.

"Alice! What are you doing here?" she asked, coming back into the room. "What's wrong?"

"Does something need to be wrong? Can't I come to get you every now and again?" I teased.

She smiled. "Of course, dear. Let us go then."

We walked back through the mirror and re-entered Underland.

"Where are the children?" Mother asked.

"At their lessons. We're surprising them after they're done. For now, shall we take a walk in the gardens?"

She eyed me suspiciously, but agreed nonetheless.

After some growing awkward silence, I finally spoke up. "So, it's quite beautiful here, is it not?"

"Indeed. Now, what do you need to talk to me about?"

She had me there. I didn't bother stalling any longer. "Mother, have you noticed that when you are visiting us, you are somewhat ... different?"

"Of course, my dear. I feel very invigorated here."

"Yes, exactly and what I want to talk to you about -"

"Is the magic that keeps me as such?"

I choked on a breath. "Wait, you know?"

"Alice, do you think so little of my mothering skills that I wouldn't notice that you had something on your mind today? Or that for the past few years you and Tarrant have barely aged at all?"

My mouth hung open.

"Dear daughter, tell me this, if I were to come here, would the aging process slow with me as well?"

"To a crawl is our best guess," I admitted.

"And is this what this walk is about?"

I obviously never gave my mother enough credit.

"It is. I know that you probably won't want to move away from Margaret and her family, but you are getting on in years and ..."

"And my time is quite numbered."

I lowered my gaze. "Yes."

"Alice, look at me." I turned my eyes back to her. "Are you asking me to come live in Underland with you?"

I merely nodded.

"I would love to. Margaret and her family are welcome to visit me here, yes?"

"Of course!"

"Then when shall we make the arrangements for?"

My eyes lit up and I beamed. "Really?"

"Yes, really! I should very much like to spend more time with my Hightopp family. And learn more of this fantastic world," she said as she bent to smell a large buttercup. "Smells like real cream butter," she sighed.

"Oh it is," I mumbled, only half-paying attention now. The plan went better than I could have hoped!

"It is strange, isn't it?" Mother asked.

"Hmm?" I replied, being shaken from my thoughts.

"For years and years, I tried to straighten you out, to make you fit into London society. And now, here I am, about to become a part of your society!"

I smiled. "Yes, that is quite strange. You know, for some time, I wondered if you and I could have possibly been related. I loved you, of course, but I thought surely I got everything I had from Father. Now I see that I was very, but gladly, wrong."

"I hope Tarrant's family won't be jealous now that I'll be here, possibly encroaching time with their grandchildren."

"No, no! You don't know the Hightopps! They are every inch a family oriented bunch. They'll be delighted to add another to the clan. Dinnae worry about tha', lass," I said with a wink.

My mother grinned. "You know, it never ceases to surprise me when Tarrant, or especially you, slip into what I always think is a Scottish accent."

"I'm sorry! Does it make you nervous?" I hurriedly replied, forgetting that she had only briefly seen Tarrant use Outlandish in anger. Nothing like my original experience with it.

"Nervous? No, no. It's just another thing that I'll need to get used to once I live in this wonderful world. Accents can change, butter can grow in flowers, daughters can be dragon-slaying champions!"

"It was actually a jabberwocky!" Tarrant said as he approached us.

"Well, forgive my faux pas!" my mother teased.

"I shall forgive it this time. See that it doesn't happen again," he said with a wink. "Mother, tis wonderful to see you." He bent to kiss her cheek.

"And you, Tarrant. And I think I shall be seeing much more of you soon!"

"Alice, you spoke with her?"

I smiled. "Indeed. My mother has decided to live with us in the palace."

"Splendid! I think a new hat is in order, wouldn't you agree, Mum?"

"Anytime I get a new hat from you is quite fine with me."

Tarrant offered his arm and the pair began to walk off without me. I smiled and let them go. It was quite cute to watch them.

I supposed I had work to finish. I had figured on the talk with my mother to take much longer and now I had some spare time. Instead of rushing to my paperwork, I decided instead to go see Mirana. We certainly had a lot of planning to do!