The apartment was quiet as Alice packed several large suitcases with she and Tarrant's clothing. The two had received a notice from Mirana that morning that they were being relocated from their old apartments to a better location. Alice found that the notion was bittersweet— this was the place she had come to call home, the place she had memorized the nooks and crannies, the place she had cried out in gasps of delight and anguish for nearly a year. It would be sad to leave these walls and travel to newer ones.

Tarrant was in his workshop, slowly gathering his bolts and pins and ribbons, placing them in crates and baskets. He had been here longer than she had, had called these apartments home since his youth. This place had offered him refuge in ways his home in Witzend, his inheritance in the Tulgey Wood, could not. His efforts were filled with long nostalgic glances and deep pensive sighs.

When Alice had finished packing away the last of her dresses, cleared her wardrobe of her underclothes and trousers, had carefully folded up her jewelry in a long cut of fabric, she left the room to watch Tarrant.

"Why does it seem so heavy to leave such a place?" She asked, leaning against the doorframe. Tarrant looked back at her with a sad smile.

"It has grown on us, like hopes and memories; these rooms have come to define us, both as Alice and Tarrant and AliceTarrant." He tucked the folded ribbons in his hand into the basket before joining her. "I am trying to remember that this is just passing, you are my forever," Tarrant cupped her cheek, placing a chaste kiss on her mouth.

She smiled in the embrace, shutting her eyes tightly as she tried to absorb his words. "I suppose," Alice sighed, turning to look down the hallway. "This is everything I intimately know of Underland. This castle, these rooms, this hall," her eyes misted. "I am afraid that once we leave I shall be terribly lost."

"Nay, Alice," Tarrant took her hand, turned her to face him. "I will not allow that."

"Oh, my mad man," Alice stepped forward, her arms looping about his waist. He returned the hug, his hand rubbing up and down her back in comforting circles.

"We will be going on another adventure," his lisp was light, a whisper.

Her fingers curled into the fabric of his dress shirt, her face pressed into his chest. "I'm awfully tired of adventures. I need a little sleep, a little love, a little peace first."

"Hmmm," Tarrant pulled from her, his green eyes meeting hers. "I'm afraid that is quite a lot to request of Underland. Time will not stand for it."

She smiled through tears that began to drip, pushing the water from her eyes with the shake of her head. "I suppose I am not fully Underlandian yet, what with my yearning for a little…sanity."

"It will take Time, my love, but soon this will sink into your bones and you'll be as mad as I am," he brushed her hair with his fingers, his chin tilted to watch her face lovingly. "What do you say to hosting our own little mad tea party this afternoon? Mirana said we should be moved out before lunch and I doubt it should take long to move into the new apartments. Then we can drag Thack and Mally and maybe even Gavin," his eyes sparkled with mischief, "along to have a wonderful Time."

"As long as you agree to toss the tarts instead of passing them," her hand spread over his chest, pressing against the swell to feel his heartbeat below. A steady drum among the chaos.

"Naturally, and even more since our Queen has commanded it," he stepped from her, sweeping his hat from his head and bowing elegantly, his left leg extended, foot sticking up in the air.

"Oh Tare," Alice laughed. "Speaking of Mirana, are you nearly finished?"

"Just a few hat pins on my workshop," he turned collecting the metal needles, a sad smile crossing his mouth. "This was my sanctuary when Mirana had me hired as the royal hatter. The place where my mind settled." He turned to look at her, placing the needles in the basket tucked into the ribbon. "It was one of the first places I ran to after the Horuvendush Day. It was quiet and no one bothered a mad man in his own quarters, despite the tea cups he shattered and the plates he broke."

Alice's heart slowed as she listened to his memories, watched his eyes as they swept the room. "But the peace wasn't enough after long. It was then that I realized I needed something more. So I went on my way to the tea table. Time himself showed up…"

"And you killed him," Alice smiled.

"Indeed," his eyebrows rose, a wink on his left eye. "And then an obstinate little girl crossed my path and that was when Time vexed me as I had vexed him. See, the Ultimate Time Maker knew that you were a very important person, Alice. That I would need you. But you weren't finished yet, eating the cake. You were young, far too young, you had come down the rabbit hole at both the right and wrong moment. As we all are wont to do from time to time."

"That was why Time led me out," Alice stepped forward, wrapping her arm about her husband's. "I was not yet needed but I needed to be known."

"I think he rejoiced at the idea of locking me into tea time forever," Tarrant let loose a laugh. "That trickster, Time is!"

"And then I fell down the rabbit hole."

"Yes," Tarrant nodded his head. "You see, I heard you had stepped through a looking glass years earlier, but you did not return to my table. Did not come back to my feast. I had thought all was lost, knew that I would be bound until you return." His mouth opened, revealing his gap-teeth, his smile pushing at his cheeks. "Imagine my surprise when you crossed over into the clearing, the potion you drank had not changed the realization that a whole you had eaten your Upelkuchen. You had grown and were a proper Alice size."

"And you knew that."

"I knew you were so close to Alice, you had just lost some of your determination." He poked her chest endearingly. "But I knew it was bottled up inside and I knew it would be only a matter of Time before you realized who you were."

Alice let go of his arm to embrace him once again, her face nuzzling into his neck, nostrils inhaling the heady scent of tea and mercury and sweets and warmth. They stood for a moment, in the empty room, holding one another, inhales and exhales rising and falling.

A knock on the door stirred them back to the moment, Alice letting go of his neck with a groan.

"If only Time would freeze us now, in this moment," Alice muttered.

"One would think being frozen at a certain Time would lend itself to predictability, but it's really quite maddening. I wouldn't recommend it." Tarrant answered her with a frown on his mouth.

"I shall have to take your word for it," Alice shifted, turning from him to answer the door. "I have a sinking fear it is Mirana and we shall be saying goodbyes to this place."

"But never to each other," Tarrant replied with the wild shake of his head. "Never again."

"Never again." She agreed with the wisp of a grin on her lips.

Tarrant closed the lid on the box as he heard he go to the small foyer to welcome their visitor in. This chapter was closing, but he knew the rest of the adventure book had just begun. This was the mere turning of a page.

And this past chapter was filled with Alice and the future chapters were filled with Alice and the prospect sent his heart marching in joy.

With a final nod he turned from the room to join Alice in greeting their guest.

Alice and Tarrant followed Mirana and Gavin through the Tulgey Woods. It was to both their surprise that the monarchs had appeared at their door, told them to gather their suitcases and leave them in sitting room, that it was high Time for them to be paid for their bravery. Alice thought it was an odd time to bestow gifts, but she obeyed. When the king and queen had begun to lead the Hightopps out of the front doors of the castle and through the streets of Marmoreal, Alice found herself looking to Tarrant with stitched brows of confusion. The same look of puzzlement crossed his own exaggerated features.

The sun continued to grow in the sky as the couple followed Mirana and Gavin across the fields and into the woods. Alice was surprised that they had chosen to walk instead of to ride. She had asked Mirana her question, knowing she would get no answer as to the final destination. The woman insisted that it would make the gift that much sweeter if they allowed Tarrant Alice's puzzlement to grow. Alice wrinkled her nose in protest, finding that her patience was instead running short. Tarrant let out a loose laugh at her scrunched face.

As the group continued to walk in silence, the chirping of the squirrels and tuttering of the momeraths filling the quiet, Alice held onto her husband's arm, leaning her head against his shoulder. He turned his head to kiss her hair at the top of her head.

Her feet were aching after several hours of walking and her tummy was growling with the need for food when finally, Mirana spoke.

"We are almost there." Mirana turned her head to wink, a smile on her dark mouth.

Tarrant took Alice's hand in his as he looked around, a knowing smile crossing his mouth. He knew these trees, had heard them sigh and whisper over the years. He knew this path, one he had taken many times in his youth and young adulthood. He knew the clearing that would lay ahead.

As Alice's head swiveled, taking in the landscape, she realized that she knew this place well. Not as intimately as her husband; she would stumble about blindfolded without the worn path below her feet to guide her to the table that lay yards ahead.

Mirana and Gavin were returning the Hightopps to the marvelous banquet table where it was always tea time.

This is not much for a surprise, Alice thought bitterly, embarrassed that she was not overwhelmed with gratitude for what her friends were delighted to present her with. Even if it's just a large lunch at the tea table I shall resolve to be positively thankful and will make it known I love it, Alice set her head with determination to be filled with happiness, even if it was something she and Tarrant had planned mere hours before.

Gavin and Mirana's footsteps hastened as they neared the hill where just beyond dipped the clearing. As they led the Hightopps over the familiar path, they turned, stepping aside so that Alice and Tarrant could see what they had readied for the two of them.

Alice gasped in amazement.

The gift was not tea time or a puppy or anything of the like.

It was her home.

The windmill sat beyond the table, the dilapidated home still with bent sails, but with a fresh coat of paint and a repaired porch. The windows had been flown open, the shutters had been replaced, and Alice saw a matt just before the door. The smell of baking goods filled the air as they continued into the clearing, approaching the house with cautious wonderment.

Tarrant's eyes widened at the sight of the house. "Tha' door," he burred gently, his heart racing as he grasped for Alice's hand. "They kep' teh door meh fa'her hung with 'is own 'ands."

Alice increased pressure in his seeking gasp, a teary smile crossing her mouth.

They had kept everything of Tarrant's past that they could but had cleaned up the entire house around it. Alice blinked, tears slipping down her face as she beheld the monument to the past and the beacon pointing toward the future.

"Welcome to the House of the Hightopps," Gavin extended his arms as he stepped to the side of his friends. Alice looked to the man with wide green eyes, seeing the look of pride on the man's fine features.

"This is our house," Alice let go of Tarrant's hand for a moment, stepping toward the house, gaping in disbelief. "This is our home." She turned to leap into the astounded Tarrant's arm, her husband catching her in his arms automatically, his green eyes still looking at the windmill home in disbelief.

Mirana giggled at her friend's uncontrolled excitement, her hands folding before her waist as she nodded her white hair. "Yes, Alice, Tarrant. This is your home. No more living in the castle, no more being defined by what we have created for the two of you." She turned to Tarrant, holding out a key in her hand. Tarrant reached his hand out, still holding Alice with his other, to take the small metal object in hand. His fingers wrapped about the symbol of ownership.

Mirana placed her hand over her friend's fist endearingly, looking back to the house which stood fresh and tall against the budding trees behind it. "Gavin and I had the entire house cleaned while you were recovering from your wounds. You will find that it is fresh, no longer haunted by cobwebs and mold. All the broken bits that didn't take away from its personality were repaired."

Alice felt her heart pounding in her chest as she dared to step closer to the house, walking up the short steps to the wrap around porch. Her hand paused on the door knob.

"Please, go in," Mirana gestured to her friend to open the door. Alice did so, walking into a small foyer. The house smelled fresh and clean, no longer reeking of years of decay and abandonment. Tarrant quietly followed on her heels, still dumbstruck by his inheritance's new appearance. His eyes moistened with tears as he turned to the sitting room to see that it was straightened up. An afghan was hung on the back of the couch, the wall behind it covered in the smiling and stern likenesses of his family.

His hands shook as he approached.

"The damaged portraits have been cleaned and reframed. As you can see we rehung them on your wall so that as you raise your little bairns in the future they know the legacy from which they come," Gavin filled the silence, watching as Tarrant froze before the pictures. He then turned to Alice to explain more of the fixes that had been conducted in the home. "We replaced the master bed with a softer, gentler, bigger bed, seeing as I am sure that will benefit the both of you," his cheeks flamed red as he cleared his throat. "As Mira said, the walls were scrubbed, the floors polished, the rugs beaten until they screamed for mercy, and the furniture dusted. It should be a much more comfortable in here and you won't need to worry about most of the repairs as you make this place your own. Speaking of which," he took Alice by the wrist, leading her to the left past the kitchen and down a small hall. He pointed to the end, the smell of fresh wood filling Alice's nose. "We added on another room to the back so that way you have more room for when guests stay. A possible bedroom for when you welcome your wild young in to this world. We can certainly add more as your family grows throughout the years."

Alice felt her eyes well with tears again. This surprise was one she genuinely took joy and peace in. Mirana and Gavin had not misplaced her that morning, they had completed her. Here she would grow intimate with the knowledge of her husband's family, she would be able to grow about her middle and fill the house with the laughs of children and a father and her own voice as a mother.

Home. She mused.

Tarrant entered the hallway to join Alice, Gavin, and Mirana, still unable to speak after beholding the restored paintings of his past. The nostalgic pictures comforting and painful all at once.

Mirana reached out to place a hand on Tarrant's arm lovingly. "We have cleaned, repaired, and stocked your workshop, Tarrant. There is a carriage that is coming with all your belongings and you can add to your private space the bobbins and bits you are bringing from Marmoreal." Mirana's eyebrows flew up as she saw Tarrant look at her with flashing green eyes. "But don't worry; we didn't dare try to reorganize it."

"I expect the servants will be here with your things at any moment; Mira and I will step out to meet them. We also arranged for there to be a feast in celebration of new beginnings and families at the tea table later this evening. We apologize for keeping you from food, but we hope to make it up to you. We have been using your kitchens to prepare. But we wish to leave you be for a moment."

Mirana nodded, picking up her skirts in her hands as she turned with her husband to leave the Hightopps in the midst of their hallway.

Alice stepped forward, peering into the room that was their bedroom. Several drawings and portraits hung from the walls and the large bed was clothed, but the rest of the room was bare, waiting for the two to move into the room of their own accord. To fill it themselves.

"Tarrant, this is our home." Alice turned to her husband with a gaping mouth of disbelief, her hands shaking as she took in the sight of his shining green eyes.

Tarrant let loose a mad laugh, nodding his head gleefully as he swept his wife up in his arms. "Our home indeed, Alice!"

Her arms wrapped about his neck, her head tilted up to look into his eyes as she felt her body hum with anticipation. "We can truly start living our life together now, Tarrant. Not that we haven't before. I mean we have! We've been on so many adventures and seen so many things together. I wouldn't trade them for anything and-"

"Alice," Tarrant's lisp was gentle, his kiss on the end of her nose sweet. Alice blushed as she was stopped mid ramble, her thoughts racing as she took in the truth around her.

"Thank you. I'm fine." Her voice was thick, tight. Her emotions choking at her throat as she held back joyous tears. Tarrant soothed her raging emotions with a wide gat-toothed smile, his green eyes glowing as he placed her on her feet, wrapping his arms about her. He was chuckled into the curve of her neck, a laughter of happiness and contentment.

"Why is my fair one like a shooting star?" He whispered to her.

"I still need time to ponder on that one," she answered, cupping his face as she pulled away to look up at him.

"You have all the time you need." Tarrant replied with glowing eyes.

Alice grinned as she grabbed his top hat from his mad mess of red hair, placing the heirloom on her blonde waves. Her hand shot up to balance the top hat on her head as he leaned forward to kiss her.

"I'm so glad home starts with an A," he whispered, hovering inches from her lips.

"Funny," Alice mused, "I always thought it started with a T."

"Should we go and see if they've brought our things so we can make this house our own?"

"You know, I think I'd rather freeze Time, for just one more moment, so I can remember this always." Alice answered, kissing him gently again.

"Ah louve yeh, my fair on'," Tarrant whispered against her mouth.

"And I'll always love you, my mad man," Alice answered, her eyes shutting as she pressed her forehead to his.

After rabbit holes and terrible tyrants and battle scars and a week of power, Alice had found what she had always been longing for.

Here was home.

The End….for now

A/N: And so this work has been edited. Thankfully. So here is the story in its entirety. A huge info dumb for those of you that have been combing through the edits.

:)

The next book in the series is Through the Looking Glass which has not been edited as of yet. It will probably be my goal for next summer. Grad school, subbing, and working on the 2.5 and 3rd books are my goals for this winter. So keep checking back to see the Labyrinth crossover that I'll start posting soon and then the third book.

As always, like, leave a comment/review, and favorite if you're able. It's all appreciated 3

Fairfarren

Lydia