A/N – Hey Guys! So, it's my mum's birthday today, so I thought I'd write a short birthday fic in honour of her. Hope you enjoy!

A Very Happy Unbirthday Birthday

"Alice! Alice!"

Alice groaned, rolling over in her bed. She could hear a voice faintly calling her from outside. She sighed, summoning just enough energy to drag herself from bed and throw her robe on over her pyjamas.

She left her bedroom and went to the door. She smiled softly to herself before opening it, knowing what she was about to find outside. She flung the door open.

"Alice!" Tarrant cried. "Happy Unbirthday!"

Alice laughed, throwing her arms around him, and hugging him tightly.

"Thank you," she replied.

He glanced down at her. "Oh, you're not dressed yet," he said, a faint blush appearing against his pale cheeks.

"Yes, well," Alice yawned, "It is very early."

"Is it?" He asked, pulling a small watch from his pocket, and checking it quickly. "I hadn't noticed."

Alice stretched. "Have you had breakfast yet?"

"No," he grinned sheepishly. "I came straight here. I wanted to be the first one to wish you a Happy Unbirthday!"

She smiled. "Well, thank you." She gestured inside her small house. "And to show you my appreciation, come in and have breakfast with me."

"Oh, are you sure? I wouldn't want to-"

"Come on," she said, and began walking to the kitchen.

"Oh. Okay, then." He stepped into her house and closed the door gently behind him.

He followed behind her into the house's kitchen, watching somewhat nervously as she pottered about, preparing breakfast for the two of them. As she turned around to reach into a cupboard for something, she paused and faced him.

"Come and sit down," she spoke, waving a hand towards the dining table.

"Thank you," Tarrant murmured, before pulling out a chair and sitting. He glanced around her kitchen. It was relatively small, but Alice seemed to have made use of every nook and cranny. He could smell the toast beginning to cook, and watched curiously as Alice continued searching through cupboards.

"What in Underland are you looking for?" He asked.

"Marmalade," Alice answered, her voice slightly muffled, as she had her head buried in another cupboard. "I remember you said it was your favourite."

Tarrant paused, taken aback that she had remembered. "You don't have to do that, Alice."

"Nonsense!" She exclaimed triumphantly, pulling herself out of the cupboard and standing up straight, clutching a jar of marmalade in her hand. "It's the least I can do for you coming all the way over here to see me."

Tarrant grinned. "Well, it is my favourite," he said, glancing down in embarrassment as his stomach let out a loud growl.

Alice laughed, and turned back to finish the breakfast.

The toast popped, and was promptly covered in marmalade and served, alongside a fresh cup of tea.

"There you go," Alice said, placing a pate down in front of Tarrant before sitting down opposite him with her own.

"Thank you, Alice!" He mumbled, through a mouthful of food. "Marmalade ish very good, oo know."

"I do know," she laughed, taking a bite of her own. "So, what are we doing today?"

"I'm glad you asked," Tarrant began, using the back of his hand to brush crumbs from his lips. "However, it's a surprise, so I can't tell you."

Alice sighed. "That's no fun."

"On the contrary, my dear Alice, I assure you, it will be very fun!"

"Oh really?" She raised an eyebrow at him, smiling.

"Really," he replied, his green eyes sparkling. "In fact, you should get dressed. We have lots to do today!"

"Alright," she replied, finishing her toast. "Wait here for me?"

He nodded, taking a sip of tea. "Of course, my dear."

Alice got ready quickly, pondering all kinds of exciting things that the Mad Hatter could have planned for her.

"I hope I get to see everyone else," she thought to herself. "It would be so lovely to celebrate with all my friends. Of course, Tarrant in particular," she thought, grinning wickedly to herself.

She finished getting dressed and rushed out of the room, back to where Tarrant was waiting patiently for her. He smiled when he saw her.

"You look lovely. I've always preferred you in blue," he said, admiring her blue dress. "It's a very muchy colour. Brings out all of your muchness."

"Thank you. Ready to go?" She asked excitedly.

"Yes!" He cried, standing up and offering his arm to her.

She took it happily. "Why, thank you, kind Sir," she teased.

"You are most welcome, fair lady," he teased back.

"Where are we going first?"

He smiled, whisking her out of the house. "You'll have to wait and see!"

They walked quietly for a short while, enjoying the scenery and each other's company. As they approached the town, Alice looked at him curiously. He returned her gaze, and smiled, insistent on giving nothing away.

They continued walking through the busy streets, a few people stopping to wish Alice a Happy Unbirthday. Then, they reached their destination.

"Your shop?" Alice asked incredulously.

"Indeed," he replied, pushing the door open for her to walk through.

"So why are we here?" She asked, looking around and admiring his work, running her fingers over various materials and displays.

"Because this is the first part of your surprise," Tarrant answered secretively.

"Oh?"

"Wait here, my dear," he said, before walking to the back of the shop. He chuckled softly. "That rhymed!"

He returned momentarily, holding something behind his back. "Eyes," he called, walking towards her.

"Eyes?"

"Close them."

Alice obliged, closing her eyes as he reached her.

"Keep them closed," he murmured. She could hear him rustling what sounded like tissue paper.

Tarrant set the box he had been holding own on the counter next to Alice, and lifted the lid quickly, pulling out the tissue paper he had placed in it to protect the item inside. He lifted it out carefully, and placed it gently on Alice's head.

"Okay. Open."

Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked up at him. He turned her around to face the mirror on the wall behind her.

She gasped softly, her hands reaching to the beautiful new hat that sat perched upon her golden hair. It was a beautiful sapphire colour, decorated with tiny golden stars around the rim.

"Oh, Tarrant," Alice whispered, in awe. "It's beautiful!"

"Do you like it?"

"I love it!" She breathed, feeling the soft material that her new gift was made from.

The Hatter let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. I wasn't sure you would."

"How could I not?! It's amazing; thank you so much!" She exclaimed, turning and hugging him.

He sighed happily, breathing in her scent. "I'm glad you like it."

He stepped back. "Do you know why the stars are there?"

Alice shook her head,.

"Do you remember the first time you celebrated your Unbirthday in Underland?"

"No," she sighed sadly. "I don't remember much of what happened here when I was younger. Sorry."

"No, don't be sorry!" Tarrant cried. "It's not your fault; you were very young. I'll just remind you. Here, sit," he said, pulling out two stools from behind the counter for them to sit on.

"We spent the whole day at the Tea Party, and then in the evening we lay all lay out on the hills, and watched the sun go down. Then, when it got dark, and we all wanted to get you back home, you refused to leave so you could watch the stars. And you told me that they were your favourite thing to look at."

"They still are," Alice spoke softly. The Hatter smiled and continued.

"And even when it was later than you ever stayed before, you still didn't want to go. So I told you that I would make you a hat with the stars on it for your next Unbirthday if you let us bring you back home. And you agreed. So, I made it the very next day, specially for you. I doubt I would have even made you wait until your next Unbirthday!" He smiled sadly.

"But, this is the first Unbirthday you've been back in Underland. So, I've had this waiting for you since you were a child. And now you finally have it."

Alice watched him quietly.

"I altered it, of course, to fit your new head."

She laughed. "I didn't change heads, Tarrant."

"Hmm, I suppose so. But, your muchness grew, so the hat had to grow too."

"Fair enough," Alice agreed. "Well, I love it. Thank you."

"You're again, very welcome. Now, we have more to do today. If you payed attention to my little story, you'll remember that I said we spent the whole day at the Tea Party with all of our friends. Which," he said, leading out of the shop and back onto the street, "Is exactly what we'll do today as well. Everyone is waiting for us."

"Really?" Alice exclaimed excitedly.

"Indeed. So, let's not dilly-dally. We have an Unbirthday to attend!"

Alice took his arm again and began walking along with him.

"Tarrant?"

"Yes?"

"Can you call it an Unbirthday if it actually is my birthday?"

Tarrant stopped suddenly, turning to look at her. "I never thought of that."

Alice giggled at the look of horror on his face.

"Dear Alice, please forgive me for being so terribly rude! I now wish you a very, very happy Unbirthday Birthday!"

She laughed again. "Well, thank you!"

They made their way to the Tea Party and were greeted by their friends waiting there. Thackery, Mallymkun, and Chessur.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALICE!" They all cried.

The group spent the whole day at the Tea Party, as promised, enjoying a huge amount of cakes and treats, and continuously swapping seats. They all had a great time, with lots of flying teacups and saucers to prove it.

Afterwards, they headed to the hills to watch the sunset.

Alice lay down beside Tarrant as she had done in the past. "Thank you for today. It was the perfect Unbirthday Birthday."

He chuckled, gazing up at the stars. "You know what?"

"What?"

"You can stay here to watch the stars for as long as you like this time. Because you live here now," he grinned happily.

"I do," Alice replied, her smile equally as wide.

A/N - Thank you so much for reading! It wasn't anything special, just something quick and short I wrote because I felt like it. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed, and if you did, leave a review and let me know! :)