Disclaimer - I don't own Velveteen Rabbit, but the story in question is a fanfic request fill for retro mania over on ffnet for the 100th anniversary of the story.

Velvet Christmas
A Velveteen Rabbit

Awareness.

There was the sensation of becoming aware of the world around her, of existing physically, of Christmas magic at work. From the tip of her velvety soft brown ears, with pale pink faux satin, she was even aware of her velvety soft white contrast. Upon her head was a delightful red bow, while around her neck was a collar made of the same material with a white ribbon tying off the front trimmed with red and green lace. A light came to her pearl-black eyes as she looked out from the stocking at the world around her.

The lights twinkled, and the fire crackled while her soft ears hung down, soft and floppy as they were. A green tree stood in the room, twinkling just as brightly as the rest of the room, while brightly wrapped packages were under the tree, waiting to be opened. Yet, at that moment, the tiny thing found herself wondering about her existence, let alone whatever it was that brought her awareness into being. At the same time, an old man rocked back and forth in the corner of the room, his own eyes twinkling in excitement.

"Who am I?" she asked herself, feeling as if there was a reason for her being there. "Where am I?"

A child ran into the room, her auburn hair cut into a bob, and her blue eyes sparkled with excitement. She ran her small hands over the Christmas tree on her red sweater before sitting down in front of the tree, her green skirt a stark contrast against her white tights. Her fingers started rubbing the top of the shoe. "When do I get to open the presents? When?"

"Soon, Rachel," the mother said. "Why don't you go and give grandpa a hug."

Rachel frowned before getting up, her black shoes squeaking, indicating they were new. She walked over and hugged the old man sitting in the rocking chair. "Why don't you take a look in your stocking? I think Santa left something special for you."

The little girl walked over to the stocking, frowning. She—whoever she was—felt the stocking move as the father removed the stocking from the mantle and handed it to the little girl. Her arms went out wide, as did her eyes. "Bunny!"

"Oh! So I'm a bunny," she thought to herself as the girl pulled her out and gave her a big hug, touching her face to the rabbit.

"She's so soft."

"So, do you like your bunny?" her mother asked.

"Yes," and then the bunny was tossed aside, on their side watching her tear into the rest of the stocking, pulling out a little figure with a face that looked like the humans in the room except for the little black nose. It was covered in brown fur over everything but the face, feet, and hands and had a very long tail.

Rachel frowned. "What is this?"

"It's a Monchhichi," her mother said. "I had one as a little girl."

"It's a little monkey," her father said.

"Oh."

And with that, little Monchhichi was beside the rabbit. "Oh. I'm on the floor as well."

"Do you think Rachel doesn't like us?" the rabbit asked, wishing to be hugged again.

"I think I scared her," the little monkey said. "I don't know why."

"I don't know either. I think you're awful cute," Rabbit said as Rachel dived into the candy in her stocking, stuffing it into her mouth.

Soon, she was diving into the packages, to which for some time she hugged onto something that looked like a square human with blond hair and blue eyes as blue as Rachel's, dressed in pink with pink ribbon and white lace. This resulted in the father saying, "Really? Did you have to get her a Pillow Person?"

"It's a Pillow People, and all the girls her age will have one, and they're used for slumber parties," her mother said while the grandfather watched. "That one is called Sweet Dreams."

"Those things are ugly," the father said. "But at least you picked one that isn't."

It was soon forgotten for the Care Bear, which was quickly forgotten for the Cabbage Patch Kid, and finally overlooked for the Rainbow Brite doll, making the bunny wonder if they would ever feel themselves hugged by the child again.

And then, the girl opened another toy, a Teddy Ruxpin, which could tell stories that she wouldn't let go of even when her parents unwrapped the other presents, including a Wuzzle, a Barbie, and a variety of books. She kept playing Teddy Ruxpin's tape in his back over and over. Bunny watched from where she lay on the floor, one ear up and one ear down. "I wish I could talk and Rachel hear me like she can, Teddy Ruxpin."

"Me too. Me too," said Monchiichi. "I want Rachel to know I'm here as well and that I'm not scary."

Eventually, all of the toys were scooped up and hauled up to the nursery, with Rachel falling asleep to one of Teddy Ruxpin's stories at the grandfather figure, slow as he was carrying the toys and books up watched. He set the book down into the rocking chair first before setting Monchhichi down as well without ties before placing a light kiss on the bunny's head. "Don't worry, rabbit. She'll come to like you. Goodness knows I did."

He set bunny in the chair, looking over at the girl before shuffling out. Rabbit—or bunny, frowned or mentally did so as her mouth didn't work. "What do you think he meant by that?"

"Look, bunny. Over there at the book."

Bunny's attention turned to the book titled The Velveteen Rabbit: How Toys Became Real, and she thought to herself. "We can become real?"

"Of course," said a wooden rocking horse, all brightly colored—primary colors to be exact. "You know, when you're real, the child has come to consider you real, but it is a wonderful thing."

"Really and truly?" Rabbit asked.

"Really and truly," the rocking horse said.