Imagine you and Tarrant 'Mad Hatter' Hightopp are engaged and you both have dinner with his family.

*Requested by J_C_00*

It was around the evening as you were in the kitchen, making dinner for a family get together for a very special announcement. You were making roast beef, mashed potatoes, peas, a loaf of bread, and chocolate cake for dessert. "Hatter, darling, could you help me set up the table? Dinner is almost ready and I need to change my outfit." You called for Tarrant Hightopp by his nickname that you have always called him for a long time. But he didn't reply.

"Hatter?" You asked, as you were leaving the kitchen to check on him. You entered the living room and saw Hatter sitting on the couch, looking sad. "Hatter." You spoke again, and he was finally coherent as he looked up at you, with sadness in his lime colored eyes. "Are you alright, darling?" You asked, as you sat next to him and put your hand on his shoulder to comfort him. He looked down at what he was holding in his hands: a small blue paper hat, which was the first ever hat that he made when he was a boy and he gave it to his father. "Not really, (y/n)." Hatter answered, lisping a bit.

"Are you not happy to have your family over for dinner?" You questioned. "Of course I'm looking forward to having my family over for dinner. It's just that—" Hatter spoke, but he couldn't finish the last part as he kept looking at the blue hat. "Is it because of your father?" You asked. Hatter hesitated, but, then, he nodded in response. "Yes, (y/n). That's exactly why." He said. You rubbed his shoulder and said back to him, "Don't worry about it, Hatter. I'm sure everything will be alright. I know you and your father didn't get along well in the past, but that was years ago and I'm sure you both will forgive each other."

"But what if he doesn't, (y/n)? What if he won't accept me as a hatter that I was meant to be?" Hatter asked. "I'm sure that he will. If you found the blue hat that you made, I'm sure that means that he kept it all this time instead of throwing it completely away. Besides, tonight's gonna be very special for your family because they'll know about us right now." You said, and, then, you showed him the sparkling rose shaped, rose-gold colored engagement ring on your left ring finger.

Hatter looked at it and a smile appeared on his face afterwards before he looked at you. "You're absolutely right, my dear (y/n). Tonight will be very special once we tell my family the happy news. You always know how to make me feel better. That's why I love you." He said, as he took your hand and placed a kiss on top of it. You giggled and responded back, "And I love you too, Tarrant Hightopp."

Then, you both stood up from the couch and Hatter asked, "Now, then, what would you like me to do, sweetheart?" "Since dinner is almost ready and your family will be here soon, would you mind setting up the table for me while I go change my outfit before they arrive?" You requested. "I will do as you say, my lady." Hatter answered. You chuckled and said, "Thank you, darling." You, then, went upstairs to go to your shared bedroom to change while Hatter began setting up the table before his family arrived soon for dinner.

***

You've known Hatter ever since you discovered Underland when you were twelve years old after you followed McTwisp the White Rabbit to an unusual rabbit hole. At first, you were thinking it was all a dream, but you realized that it was a different world that you instantly found it magnificent compared to your world since you didn't find it amusing, especially with your rich, etiquette family. You became friends with everyone, especially with Hatter.

For many years, you've been sneaking off to visit Underland to get away from your family. You would mostly spend your time there with Hatter. You would join him, along with all your Underland friends, for tea parties, play lot of games, make hats, tell stories, and go off on adventures around Underland without running into any trouble with the Red Queen, the Knave, and the Queen's guards.

By the time you were eighteen years old, you were beginning to see Hatter more than just your best friend after spending so much time with him and you both had developed a special bond over the years. You loved his personality so much, even if he was mad, his talent in making hats, and his kind heart. You didn't want to admit how you felt about him because you didn't want to ruin your friendship with him.

But, then, one day, Hatter took you somewhere special that you've never seen before from all the times you've been visiting Underland. When you got there, you were surprised to see what it was in front of you; a beautiful scenery of roses, trees, and a waterfall. You thought it was the most beautiful thing you've ever seen, especially when there were roses all around because they're your favorite flower of all time.

When you went to look at Hatter, you weren't expecting to see him kneeling down on one knee and holding a rose shaped, rose-gold colored engagement ring out towards you. He confessed his feelings to you when he was beginning to see you more than just a friend to him, just like how you were feeling, and he also mentioned that his life would be lost without you before he asked you for your hand in marriage. You didn't hesitate to say 'yes' because there was no man from your world that was like Hatter and he and the rest of your Underland friends were more like your family.

After you and Hatter told everyone about the exciting news, you went back to your world, packed up all your stuff without your family knowing, and you went back to Underland, where it officially became your permanent home. Hatter was happy that you finally moved away from your horrible family and you were going to marry him. Life was absolutely wonderful with your new life in Underland and with Hatter.

The next day, you suggested to Hatter that he should let his family know about their engagement. Hatter was against the idea because he hasn't seen his family in years due to him and father not being on good terms in the past. You tried to convince him to give his father a chance and forgive him and not dwell on the past. Hatter, hesitantly, thought about it, but he finally gave in because he wanted to do it for you. He wrote a letter to his family to invite them over for dinner, without telling them about you and your engagement.

Two days later, a letter came back and they accepted the invite. You were excited to meet Hatter's family, especially since they're your future in-laws. But Hatter was still worried about seeing his father and what they'll say to each other.

***

Fifteen minutes later, you came downstairs, all neatly dressed in your favorite outfit and your (h/l) (h/c) hair all styled nicely. Hatter finished setting the table when he looked up at you and was mesmerized on how you looked. "Oh, my sweet (y/n). You look beautiful." He said. You smiled and did a little twirl when you reached the bottom step and responded back, "Thank you, Hatter."

Just at the perfect moment, there was a knock at the door. "Well, talk about perfect timing. They're here." You said, while you brushed the skirt of your dress. But Hatter didn't move an inch and you could tell that he was nervous. You walked up to him and put your hand on his shoulder to comfort him. "It's going to be okay, Hatter. I know it. Go ahead and answer the door." You told him. He nodded his head, slowly, and said back, "Okay, sweetheart."

Hatter, then, walked up to the door and opened it, where his family was waiting for him. "Oh, my family. My dear family." He said, innocently. Hatter, then, hugged a woman, in which you knew that it was his mother. "Oh, mother." He spoke, softly, and he hugged her. "Hello, Tarrant." She said back, as she hugged him back. They pulled away from the hug and Hatter looked at a man next to his mother and you knew it was his father. You couldn't see, but you tell Hatter was hesitant to utter a word to his father.

"Hello, father." Hatter simply said. His father smiled at him, as if he was on the verge of tears, before he embraced Hatter with a hug and said, "Hello, my son." Hatter, then, wrapped his arms around his father and hugged him back. You smiled at the reunion. It made you want to cry, but you didn't want to ruin your makeup when you're about to meet The Hightopps.

Moments later, Hatter and his father pulled away from the hug and he stepped aside before saying, "Won't you all come in, please?" Then, he gestured to them and they all walked inside the house. "Everyone, I like you all to meet someone." Hatter announced, before he went over to your direction, with your hands behind your back so they couldn't see the engagement ring. "I like you all to meet my (y/n)." He introduced you to his family. You gave them a smile and a small wave and they were all delighted to see you. "(y/n), this is my family, of course you know that. This is my father and mother, Zanik and Tyva, my brother and sister, Pimlick and Paloo, and my Uncle Poomally, my Aunt Bumalig, and my nephew, Bim." Hatter introduced each member of his family.

"It's very nice to meet you all." You said, as you stepped forward, held your right hand out towards his parents to shake one of their hands, while you kept your left hand behind your back. But instead, Zanik and Tyva embraced you in a group hug, with you hugging them back. Even though you couldn't see, but you could sense that Hatter was smiling. "It's very nice to meet you too, (y/n)." Zanik and Tyva said, in unison. Then, you all pulled away from the hug before Hatter said, "I'm so happy you all made it here and being aquatinted with (y/n). She had cooked us a wonderful dinner. Let's be seated."

Then, you, Hatter, and his family sat at the dinner table and dished up their plate with the food you cooked. You all socialized while eating and they all got to know about you and what it's like in your world. They were also very impressed with your cooking and complimented on it.

"I'm so glad we're doing this. Hatter has told me so much about you all for so long. I've been anxious to finally meet you." You told everyone, which it made everyone smile. "Hatter?" You heard Zanik question. "Oh. It's a nickname that I call Tarrant a lot. It suits him perfectly since he makes wonderful hats." You explained. Zanik, then, looked at Hatter, curiously. Hatter cleared his throat and told him, "I make hats, father. I'm a hatter." Zanik smiled at him and responded, "I always knew you were, my boy." A smile appeared on Hatter's after he heard his father's response. Things were definitely warming up between the two of them.

"Well, we're very happy that you're a hatter, Tarrant, and to have dinner with you and (y/n). It's been such a long time since the last time we've seen you." Tyva said. Hatter and you looked at each other and, then, you nodded towards everyone at the table to let him know to tell them. "Actually, there is something that I want to announce." He said, getting everyone's attention. "Um, so there's actually a real reason why we invited you all here for dinner. Not only did I want to see my family again and introduce (y/n) to everyone, but I also wanted to bring up that (y/n) is not only my dear, best friend. She is also...my fiancé." Hatter announced. "We're engaged!" You added, while holding up your left hand to show everyone your engagement ring.

After that was announced, everyone got up from their seats and cheered for you and Hatter. Tyva was the first to hug you, followed by Paloo and Bumalig and they took a look at your engagement ring, while all the gentlemen shook hands or congratulated Hatter. When it was Zanik's turn, he hugged his son and said, "I'm so proud of you, my boy." He pulled away from the hug, but he placed his hands on Hatter's shoulders. "Not only are you a hatter, but you have found the special girl that you love and want to be with for the rest of your life." He added.

"Thank you, father. I also want to take this opportunity to forgive you from everything in the past. I hope that we both could put all that behind and make things right with us now that we're reunited." Hatter said. "Of course we can, Tarrant. I'm sorry too. I never recognized your unique self and I should've accepted that a long time ago." Zanik responded. Hatter smiled even more and said, "Thank you, father." The two, then, hugged each other, which you saw and it melted your heart to see Hatter and his father making amends with each other.