I won't even make excuses. I'll just start the chapter.
Their walk had been successful, if a bit tiring for Alice. Their baby was seemingly displeased with all of the movement, and made its displeasure clear by forcing Alice to nearly collapse after only a few minutes of walking.
"Are you feeling any better?" Tarrant asked. He could feel the roiling sickness in her belly, but with the mood his love was currently in, thought it better not to go nosing about in her head.
"No," she grumbled. "I feel like my mouth is on fire and my stomach is trying to force its way up my throat. But you knew that, didn't you?" she added dryly.
"I didn't want to assume," he said sheepishly. "I figured you'd be angry enough at me."
Alice arched an eyebrow at her hatter. "Why would I be angry at you?"
"I made you go for a walk, even though you weren't feeling well," he answered, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"I don't blame you," she answered. "I said yes."
"But still, I shouldn't have-"
Alice quickly cut him off. "If it is really bothering you that much, you can make it up to me by coming here and keeping me warm until I feel better."
A sly grin crept across Tarrant's face. He quickly crawled into the bed beside his beloved and curled up behind her. His strong arms slithered around her waist as he placed a small kiss on the side of her throat. Alice looked at him through amused eyes. "Having fun?" she asked playfully.
"You know I am," he murmured, kissing her neck again.
Rolling over to face him, Alice cradled his pale face between her petite hands. "If you're going to kiss me, at least do it right," she grumbled.
Tarrant grinned mischievously and kissed her on the forehead. This was another game they had developed during the past months.
Alice was obviously not in the mood for his games today, as she muttered something under her breath before she pulled his lips to hers and kissed him much more roughly than she normally did.
Once he was released from her bruising kiss, the Mad Hatter couldn't help but grin. "Impatient are we?" he teased. Without giving her a chance to respond, he kissed her tenderly. "I love you," he whispered.
"I love you too," she murmured as she nuzzled into his broad chest.
"Sleep well my love. Sleep well."

Alice awoke suddenly, and for no reason. Well, no good reason. Tarrant had disappeared from her side, leaving her cold and confused.
"Tarrant?" she called, her voice thick with sleep. "Where are you?"
"I am here, my love," came the smooth reply. Alice looked up to see her hatter striding out of the washroom. "Just had to take care of some things," he said as he slid back into the bed beside her.
"Oh," was all Alice said. "Sorry for interrupting."
Tarrant pulled his blonde love onto his chest and kissed her hair. "No need to apologize. I was finished anyway."
"That's good, then," Alice smiled. "We should probably get out of bed though. What time is it, anyway?"
"Not quite midday," the Hatter rumbled.
"I really did sleep too long," Alice groaned. "I need to not sleep my life away."
Tarrant smiled indulgently. "Whatever you say, my love."
Alice frowned. Something seemed off about Tarrant. She couldn't put her finger on it, but something was bothering her. Deciding it was nothing, Alice stood and stretched luxuriously. She glanced over her shoulder. "Coming?" she asked.
A slow smile slid onto Tarrant's pale face. "Yes, my love. I just wanted to enjoy the view first."
A dark flush crept over Alice's face, staining her normally pale cheeks crimson. "Okay…." she mumbled. "Let's go."
Tarrant stood gracefully and stooped to kiss Alice on the mouth. "To lunch?" he asked.
"I don't know if I want to try eating again," she worried. "It didn't end so well last time."
"You need to eat, my love," Tarrant said gently. "You need to stay strong."
"I guess I could try some toast," the petite blonde conceded.
A broad smile spread across his full lips. "Let's go then!" He grabbed her hand and tugged her along. When she didn't move, Tarrant looked back at his Alice. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"Are you okay?" she asked. "You seem off."
Bushy eyebrows arched in surprise. "Off?" he repeated. "Whatever do you mean?"
"I just-" she broke off. "Never mind. I'm just imagining things. Let's go get some lunch." With that, she led him out of their room and into the courtyard where they usually ate.
"Yes, let's."

Later that night, Alice lay in bed, unable to sleep. She shifted her weight restlessly against Tarrant. He was sleeping peacefully, blissfully unaware of her current sleeplessness. Shifting again, Alice rolled away from her love. He was laying in his back- something he almost never did- and she had been propped up on his chest, but that position left her stomach in uncomfortable knots. She brushed her right hand over her abdomen, stopping over the small protrusion between her hips that was their unborn child.
'I guess this is what I get for sleeping all day,' Alice thought grumpily. Gently massaging her belly, she hoped to calm the near frantic movements of their baby. 'She's never so restless at night. Maybe my sleeping so much through the day has thrown her off.'
A shift from Tarrant pulled Alice out of her musings. He had rolled over to face her, peering through the darkness with half-closed gray eyes. "What's wrong?" he murmured sleepily.
"Nothing," she answered. "I'm just feeling a bit restless and can't sleep."
Tarrant pulled her to his chest and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. "Would you like me to help with that?" he asked cheekily.
Alice grinned. "What did you have in mind?" she asked coyly.
Tightening his grip on Alice, the hatter rolled onto his back, dragging her on top of him. "Oh, I don't know," he answered nonchalantly. Flipping them over again, Tarrant attacked her neck with nips and kisses. "What do you think?" he purred seductively.
Alice giggled. "I think you're on the right trail."
"Good," he growled.

The next morning, Alice woke up feeling sore. She winced when she sat up, but ignored the pain and instead looked around for her lover. He was nowhere to be seen.
'That's the second time I've woken up and he's been gone,' Alice worried. 'I wonder what's going on.'
Before she could think any farther, the subject of her concerns sauntered into their room with a tray overflowing with food. At the scent of toast, eggs, and bacon, Alice felt her mouth begin to fill with water.
"Good morning, my love," Tarrant said happily. "How did you sleep?"
"Quite well, actually." Alice smiled sheepishly. "I was pretty worn out."
"That was the idea," her lover smirked. "I hope you're hungry! I made everything I could think of. You didn't eat much yesterday, so I thought you'd be extra hungry this morning, especially after last night's activities."
Alice blushed and poked at the eggs in front of her with a fork. She took a bite and a noise of satisfaction left her throat. "That is what I have been craving. Eggs."
Tarrant smiled. "I'm glad we finally found something the baby likes."
"Me too," Alice mumbled through a mouthful of egg. "Vomiting all the time is most unpleasant."
Kissing her on the forehead, Tarrant stood. "I'm going to go take a quick shower. You finish eating."
Alice nodded. "I can join you when I'm finished-"
"No!" Tarrant looked startled by his own outburst. "I mean, I won't be in long, and I don't want you to eat too fast and upset your stomach."
"Uh, okay," Alice mumbled. "Whatever you say."
Tarrant kissed her forehead again. "I'll be right back."
Alice nodded absentmindedly and continued eating slowly. As soon as Tarrant was out of the room, she put down her fork and focused in on their bond. She couldn't pick up much from him, which was unusual. Normally his mind was as open to her as a book, but today he seemed oddly distant. All she could pick up was a vague jumble of indistinct emotions.
'Maybe he's planning something that he wants to keep a secret,' she mused. With that thought firmly in mind, Alice picked up her fork and finished her breakfast. Patting her stomach happily, she stood up and prepared for the day.
Well that was a long wait for not a lot of chapter. I'm not going to lie, the delay on this chapter can be blamed on a lot of things, but the main thing is my own laziness. I am so sorry for being such a terrible person! I'd like to give a special thanks to my favorite grandbaby (not biologically, I'm only 17) for continually nagging me about this. You know who you are. Love you all! See you soon!