Whew. This has been a great story. But I am unsure if this is a fitting ending. I have so many ideas waiting to bloom that I think I rushed it. Please let me know how fully rubbish it is!

THANK YOU REVIEWERS! I know this last chapter didn't come as quickly as you may have wanted. But check out the end of the story for a little treat.

Chapter 7

(Just some fluff/angst/smallsmut/fluff)

Tarrant awoke with the sun bright on his face and he squinted, looking at the open windows. He had had the best dream. And for awhile he felt whole again. Maybe it was all over, he could go back to his tea table and move on, forgetting all the embarrassing moments and happenings. Perhaps even to make a Hat! A lovely hat with blue accents and soft cotton adorning the…

"Where ever are the curtains?" a soft, sleepy and decidedly feminine voice spoke from behind him, interrupting his thoughts.

Perhaps it had just been a figment of his…but no. The previous evening all came rushing back to him and he held as still as he could.

Alice.

The Alice.

Pressed against him? Yes, his body confirmed. And they had…he had…slowly he felt light tickles along his chest and realized she was moving. Her fingers left delicious feelings along his side as she lifted her arm from his torso. Thank goodness he was still partially dressed or she would see how his entire being blushed at her simple touch. If she thought he was asleep, she may leave and he could just forget all that had…did he want her to leave? No. Yes? It was concern that had kept her there, he remembered that. Concern and friendship.

"Tarrant?" She spoke softly, not wanting to awaken him, but she had been sure he had moved and then froze as she removed her arm from his body. A wave of remembrance hit her as she recalled what he had said.

"I'm not sure if it is over with and I would hate to have you…"

"I thought you a specter, a figment…"

"discomfort…dilemma…dirty… damned…demon…demen…"

Doubt ran rampant in her mind. She had let her emotions in despite her best efforts and at some point in the evening had thought it possible that it wasn't just lust but love…maybe she should have left earlier. Maybe she should leave now.

He felt her rolling away from him and didn't try to stop her. After all he had done, she should be able to decide what she wanted next. Hearing the door to the unmentionable room close, Tarrant moved onto his back and looked up at the ceiling. All he wanted to do was hold her close. Whisper his undying love to her and that he would make up for all of his ungentlemanly actions last night. But she was just doing her duty as a Champion. Capitalized.

His legs itched. Not as badly as it had been, but still present. Maybe because he had slept in his pants. Maybe. If it hadn't been for his Alice, he may be dead at this moment. He knew he would have found some other way to end it all. Yet his Alice's moan, her hands on his skin, the way her legs wrapped around him and how wet she was when he had tasted her, all his…

Groaning, Tarrant reached down under the sheet and stroked his hardening cock through his trousers. His whole body hummed with ripples of a somewhat welcoming scratchiness.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Alice dried off the droplets of water that clung to her freshly cleaned face. The eyes that gazed back at her didn't look different yet she thought there would be some kind of change evident. She had given into lust and allowed Hatter to take control, perhaps only to ruin everything.

"You were much muchier last time…you've lost your muchness."

His voice echoed through her, bouncing off of her skin as she gripped the sinks edge. Had she, yet again, lost her muchness? Honestly, that damned itch, or whatever it was, had started when she had left. It was hidden in her brain and thought it was a longing for adventure, for escape from the conventions of normal life, but it had followed her back here. She hadn't given a second thought to Mirana's instructions, hadn't fought against Tarrant to try and reason with him, doubted her own feelings…all because she was being controlled by…

Turning her head toward the closed door, Alice paused. She had heard something just then. Warm and low, rough and…it was Tarrant. Quietly she moved toward the sound and whispered to the door, should it understand her, to be silent as it opened.

There, still in bed, was Hatter. Her heart beat a little faster as she watched the sheets move over his lower torso. His eyes were closed and his mouth open, his chest moving rapidly as his breath came in gulps. Alice closed the door quickly and pressed her back against it.

He had never sat up so quickly in bed and it made his head spin slightly. He had heard the door to the unmentionable room close, knowing she had seen him. Cursing in Outlandish, Tarrant stood and found it slightly difficult to walk, but he made his way to the door. Not knowing what to say, how to start the conversation, he remembered he had yet to answer her question.

"The curtains are gone because Mirana removed everything from the room that I could have used to harm myself with."

"You tried to harm yourself?" Alice opened the door slightly, looking out at Tarrant. His shirt was a wrinkled mess and his pants…well she would need to skip that part for now.

"Yes."

"But what could you have done with the curtains?" Alice's eyes went wide as her brain screamed the answer to the question. "No. You hear me? Never are you allowed to think that way again." She could eventually handle it if he didn't love her, if they couldn't be friends again, but there was no chance she would let him ever…

"I couldn't stand it anymore. I itched from head to toe. And the thoughts…the dreams…Horrible, horrifying, horrid," he caught himself and looked down at his feet, frowning. Alice opened the door completely and slowly lifted her hand to his chin. Tears threatened to spill down his cheeks as he allowed her to lift his head but still did not meet her gaze.

"Tarrant. Do you itch right now?" Alice quickly glanced to the bulge in his trousers and flitted back to his face, hoping he hadn't caught the movement.

He opened his mouth to answer Yes automatically but paused. His toes were fine, fingers twitchy but that was normal, his legs had itched earlier…no more like a scratch. His arms, his chest, his hair, his eyes and nose and mouth. He was still semi-hard and a bit uncomfortable. He still wanted her and longed to hear her moan his name again and again…but no itch.

"No" he answered honestly. "But it shouldn't have been you to save me. Mirana should not have asked you…last night was not what a champion should have to endure."

"You wanted someone else?" she asked, trying to make it a joke but failing. Tarrant shook his head 'no' quickly, his eyes wide as he looked at her finally.

"That's not why I came here Tarrant. I know I didn't have to do anything, but what would Underland be without it's Hatter?" he shook his head, looking away again.

"But…you are The Alice and not my Alice, and yet I acted like…"

I'm not your Alice? she moved her hand to his face, drawing her thumb across his cheekbone. He closed his eyes and breathed deep, his ramble stopping mid-sentence.

"Nae Lass…" Tarrant cleared his throat and stepped away from her touch. "You don't want to be doing that. Friends don't do that. Nor does concern. Nor Pity."

"What about love?" Alice spoke quietly, wondering if she had gone mad herself. But this may be her only chance to tell him, her muchness unwound itself inside her, waiting for his reaction.

Love? Love him? No. What could he offer her? She was an Alice and he was a Hatter and he had never even paused to think that she would, could, might, maybe love him. Yet. He dared a glance up into her face and saw a distinct glow about her eyes. A smile crept slowly across his lips. Muchness.

Stepping forward he wrapped his arms around her and leaned down to place a single gentle kiss on her lips. She didn't pull back, didn't cry out, just allowed him the kiss – and kissed him back.

"Love?" Alice smiled up at his simple question.

"Well, even if it's not, you probably don't want me too far away." Tarrant frowned as Alice continued to smile sweetly. "The way you tell it, I am the only one who can cure that itch should it return." He grinned, tightening his embrace.

"Naughty" He kissed her then, good and proper, before letting his hands move along her hips, gathering the sides of her chemise in his fists. He grew fully hard as she slid her tongue into his mouth and fought for space against his own, her hips moving against his. A twinge curled his toes and he chuckled, thankful that the Itch hadn't completely left. He would need plenty of excuses to keep her naked and in bed…or in the sitting chair of his living space…or in the kitchen while brewing tea…or out on the tea table…

"Hatter?" Alice asked as she pulled away for breath.

"Aye love?" He looked down at her with yellow tinged eyes.

"Could you scratch my itch?"

- Fin -

Ok. All righty. I have had several people scream their head off at me about that being it. Done. LOL Sooo I wrote a separate one-off to help close things off a bit more...or carry them on...all depends on how you look at it I guess :) Check out "It Tickles" on my stories page :) And please review! I will Futterwaken for reviews. Vigorously.