It was the first Christmas Eve Connie had spent away from her family. When she had first arrived at the Grinch's domain, she had thought that this moment would be slightly awkward; surely she would miss her family when it was slightly impossible to get back to them. The Grinch would surely take offense, calling her rude, selfish, and ungrateful.

But it hadn't happened like that. Connie had to be reminded of the significance of the 24th of December. It was truly amazing; the Grinch had become as close as family to her in a matter of days. Perhaps a week... She wasn't sure how long she'd actually been here but it almost didn't matter.

The Grinch had responded to her kiss on his cheek positively and now one of them was never really far from the other. Each craved attention and unspoken love from one another, and they soon started ignoring the Who's down in Whoville and began spending more time in the Grinch's cave with Max, telling jokes and stories while building things that would improve the living situation that the Grinch had at the top of a mountain. Machines were needed to drown out the insufferable cheer of the Who's the closer Christmas came. Connie had never been one to create with her hands but she found it relaxing and somewhat enjoyable.

Yet even though the Grinch had made it unbelievably comfortable in his lair, even though he showed only concern for her and her well-being, even though he'd taken her in and looked after her due to the kindness in his heart he would undoubtedly deny was there, Connie couldn't help but miss her family. Namely her father. He was the only family she really had since her mother had left and she had no siblings. She had great friends, not to mention a loving grandfather. But when it came down to it, no one could replace her father.

And she missed him.

The Grinch was not ignorant of this. Once he saw that Connie wanted something, he started to research so that he could find the answer to the problem. Even though Connie knew this was breaking his heart because, if Connie went home it meant that the two of them could no longer be together. But the Grinch kept on looking for ways to send Connie back to New York. Because he couldn't stand to see her unhappy.

And she loved him all the more for it.

That's where he was now, down in Whoville on Christmas Eve to find answers. Connie was positive he wouldn't find any. It was the night of the Whobilation; no self-respecting Who would help out the Grinch when there was Christmas to celebrate with their own family and friends. They were blind to all except that which was shiny and concealed what lie beneath it.

Connie glanced over at Max and saw him fast asleep near his doghouse. She smiled at him and leaned back in her chair, exhausted from building all day. But it was finished. She had created a sort of zip-line that would take the Grinch from his bed to his favorite chair. It was a Christmas present for him. And a thank you present. And a present because she had grown to love him deeply since knowing him. Since all she officially had filled in on the familial side of her life was father and grandfather, there were plenty of spaces for others to claim. And the Grinch had snagged a piece of her heart and the worthy position of uncle. He had not admitted to this, nor had Connie proposed it, but she knew he would accept if she did.

A noise outside caused Connie to bound for the door, eager to see the Grinch and show him her present. And to hear about how his day was. Even if he hand't found an answer, she still was interested in his daily goings-on and looked forward to his stories.

Opening the door, she saw a few of the gently falling snowflakes swirl in but no Grinch. Curious, she crept out, closing the door behind her as she looked all around. Where was he? She was sure she heard a noise from the garbage chute... He must be down there. Mind made up, Connie ran down to meet him.

But it was not the Grinch who had landed in the pile of trash.

"Mayor Who!" Connie said, surprise evident in her voice. She quickly skidded to a halt, using a nearby boulder to stop her progression. The man in question looked up at her, eyes unfocused as he squinted to see her better.

"What are you doing here? The-the Whobilation is taking place right now," Connie reminded him.

"What do I care for the stupid Whoibition you silly girl?" He tossed away a bottle that he'd been gripping tightly. He was drunk. From the looks of it, Connie would say VERY drunk. She had to get him to leave.

"Mr. Mayor, why don't I take you back down to Whoville? I'm sure all the Who's are missing you."

"No, no they're not. They don't care about me."

"But of course they do," Connie reassured him, inching forward and reaching out to take his arm.

"No, they don't trust me. I can see it in their eyes every time I look at them. They don't know if I'm up for the job. If I'm qualified enough." He sounded near tears. But none fell.

"I'm sure that's simply not true," Connie said, wrapping her arm around his.

"Don't you understand?" the Mayor asked, whipping around and griping her arms tightly, his face inches from hers. Connie made no further movement, merely stared right back at him.

"They expect me to be their fearless leader. To be the man to go to for answers when something bad happens. The one who sets an example for them. You have no idea the pressure I'm feeling. The hate."

"I'm sure it's not-" Connie began but the Mayor's grip tightened as he shook her violently.

"YOU'RE SURE? What do you know? You're just a child. You don't know anything." Connie wanted to tell him otherwise but kept silent, not wanting to be shaken again.

"No, no something needs to happen to make them all see that I'm a good leader. Th-that I'll protect them from any danger..." the Mayor looked right in her eyes now, his expression dangerous. Connie recoiled slightly.

"I need the Grinch to be the enemy of Whoville."

"I-isn't he already?" Connie asked meekly. "Just by hat-hating Christmas?"

"No, no. He's misunderstood and no one knows what to think of him but they don't hate him. Don't FEAR him as they need to. So I will make them fear him."

"How?" Connie almost didn't hear herself say it. The Mayor grinned.

"I'm going to make him the villain that he needs to be. I'm going to make sure he hates all the Who's and will do anything to make them miserable. Then they will rally behind me and see that I will keep them safe. That I'm a good leader." He gripped her arms even tighter and pulled her so close their noses were almost touching.

"I'm going to kill you."

Connie's jaw dropped as her eyes widened in fear. "Wh-what? H-how will that s-solve anything?"

"By killing you, the Grinch's friend, he'll hate me forever. He'll want to make sure that all of Whoville will suffer as he suffered and he will become the biggest threat our small city has ever seen. It's the perfect plan." And with that, the Mayor started for the very top of Mt. Crumpet, dragging Connie behind him in an iron-fisted grip. He was going so fast that Connie had to practically run to keep up with him. Escape seemed futile but she did try to pry her arm free.

All to no avail.

The Mayor, upon reaching the top of the mountain, flung her down in the snow in front of him. Connie tried to scramble away but the Mayor blocked her path. The only other alternative of escape was the cliff behind her. For the first time in her life, Connie was legitimately scared.

The Mayor started laughing, softly at first and more of a chuckle, but it soon escalated to a loud and booming cackle, the entire mountainside ringing with its cruelty. Just as soon as it had begun, it ended, the Mayor flinging himself into the snow before her, his face near hers once again.

"Just one push. That's all it takes. Then you'll fall down, down, down..."

"No, no. I-I'm sure the Who's admire and respect you. You're their mayor. Surely that accounts for something," Connie babbled.

"You would think so, wouldn't you? But no. I can tell. They trust me about as much as they trust the Grinch. Well, not anymore." He stood, gripping her by the arms once more and hauling her to the edge. Connie dared not look down.

This couldn't be happening. Couldn't be. Not the kind mayor who was power hungry and self-conscious but not a bad guy. Not a murderer.

But looking into his drunken gaze, Connie felt her blood freeze over from the look of pure hatred and evil that emitted from his eyes.

"Let. Her. Go," a voice growled somewhere behind the Mayor. He turned and Connie peered around to see the Grinch standing a few feet away, hands balled into fists and his stance wide. He posed as quite a threat but his eyes betrayed him. Fear. Choking fear that had him temporarily paralyzed, at a loss for what to do after making his threat.

"What did you say?" the Mayor asked. He seemed to almost be enjoying this.

"I said to let her go." The Grinch took another step forward, his gaze boring into the Mayor's. Connie looked up at him desperately. Now what?

"Well, if you insist," the Mayor suddenly said and Connie felt her stomach lurch as his hands released their grip. She screamed as she toppled over the edge, the Grinch's terror the last expression she saw on his face...

As the wind rushed around her, Connie heard a "NO!" then a yell of rage. The Mayor had gotten his wish.

Connie tried to manipulate herself into some sort of lying down position to better her chances upon impact... Stupid. It didn't matter what position she was in.

Glancing below her, she saw the black of the mountain's rocky bottom coming closer and closer until...

"Oof!"

Connie landed hard, the wind knocked out of her, but very much alive. How...? She glanced around, gasping for air, and saw that she had landed in snow. But...

Then she recognized that a street was in front of her. Glancing up, she saw a stoplight and an intersection below that. She had somehow returned to New York and had landed in a patch of grass. The very same patch she had disappeared from. If this was the same place then that meant...

She sat up gingerly and looked to her right. Yes, there was her apartment building.

Connie was back.

And her father was probably upstairs with her grandfather... The thought of her family brought tears of relief to Connie's eyes as she stood up, testing to see if she was hurt anywhere. It didn't seem so. And now that she had her breath back, she made her way for the building.

Climbing the stairs took no time at all and she was soon knocking on the front door, half-wondering who would answer.

It was her father. Ashen-faced and thinner than when she had left him.

"Connie!" he said, relief exuding from his very being as he scooped her up and held her tightly to him. Connie wrapped her arms around him, not wanting to let go. To forget the sensation of falling to her death. The look on the Mayor's face. The sound of the Grinch lashing out at the Mayor.

"Daddy," she managed to choke out before he released her slightly to look her over. Tears spilled down his cheeks as his eyes raked over her features before he hugged her again.

"I was so sure... Oh, Connie, you're safe." Yes, she was safe. Now. In her father's arms. She clung to him desperately.

All too soon her father was setting her down as he ushered her into the apartment, closing the door behind her. Her grandfather was there and he grabbed her in a tight hug, not releasing her until her father placed a hand on his shoulder.

Her father quickly sat Connie on the couch and asked the question he'd been wondering since she had disappeared.

"Where were you?"

"I-I don't know! I was outside the building and then I was suddenly taken somewhere else, only I don't know where. And I tried to get back to you, Daddy, I did. But I couldn't find the way back... I'm sorry." She saw how worried her family had been, but also recognized that now they were just happy that she was back and unharmed.

"Shh," her father soothed, gently wiping her tears with his thumbs. But he soon gathered her to him once more and she finally allowed herself to cry. Not just for herself or her family. But for the Grinch. He would never know that she was safe and hadn't died... He would be mean and bitter and...

Connie stopped thinking about him as her father pulled her into his lap, cradling her gently.

She was back where she belonged. With her father.