Chapter Text
Their first Christmas together. Victor’s stomach was already filled with butterflies. He’d never celebrated Christmas away from home before. Certainly not in an orphanage after dealing with the monster of a psychiatrist who’d run it. And certainly not with a young lady he’d found himself head over heels in love with. This would be her first real Christmas in a long time, she’d told him that much. He wanted it to be just perfect for her.
He sat at the piano in the front room, absently running his fingers along the keys. It was frightening to think that, not too long ago, he’d nearly forgotten how to play forever. That he’d nearly forgotten who he was entirely. If Alice hadn’t come along when she had…if he hadn’t been able to resist Bumby…if she hadn’t stayed with him, coaxed him back from the dark depths of nothingness Bumby had tried to throw him into… He shuddered and closed his eyes. It didn’t bear thinking about. Thank God for Alice.
Alice…she’d done so much for him in his months at the home. Comforted him when he was feeling sad, helped defend him from the cruel remarks of others, shared her stories of Wonderland with him…and last but not least, saved his mind and soul from the clutches of Bumby. She’d been his guiding light, his hero, his savior. He had no idea how he could ever repay her. What did you get the girl who’d saved you from a lifetime of slavery?
You get her her past back, he thought, face setting into a determined frown. You get her the one thing she wants above everything else.
Oh yes – come hell or high water, he was finding that rabbit.