"Come on Christina just one more" Vivika coaxed, "Then we'll be done for the day"
"But, it hurts!" Christina groaned from atop the exercise bike in the therapy room.
"Because you need to use you're leg muscles, just one more minute"
It was easily the most agonizing minute of her life but Christina powered through it before shakily dismounting the torturous machine.
"You did well," Vivika smiled, "Now you may go visit"
On shaking, aching legs, Christina slowly made her way to her father's room. The only thing that she looked forward to after the stressful appointments.
"You made it," Radu lightly teased.
"Barely," Christina settled at the foot of the bed, "Are you feeling better, Daddy?"
"Much better. They're talking about letting me come home"
"Just in time for Christmas"
"Our first together"
"I wish Mom could be here too"
"Don't vorry about your mother, she's a strong woman, ve'll bring her home soon"
"I hope"
"But, I know," Radu assured, taking his daughter's hands, "Now, tell me about the castle is it all decorated for Christmas yet?"
"Yes! Aunt Vana likes to have a tree in every room, it smells wonderful"
"I'm sure it does"
"And we made gingerbread cookies yesterday, I um, normally do it on my own but my medicene makes me tired"
"Did you frost them yet?"
"No, Shaggy and I are going to do it tonight"
"Oh, is he coming for dinner?"
"Yes"
Radu hid his knowing smile. Christina's memories continued to come back in glimpses, nothing too substantial but it gave everyone hope that with time and love, she could recover them in their entirety. It was no surprise that Shaggy was there the entire time, showing her pictures telling her stories, and answering questions no matter what time it was day or night.
Shaggy suddenly appeared in the doorway as if the mere thought had conjured him.
"I like, thought you'd be here, Christy," he smiled, "Like, how did PT go?"
"Ouch"
"I'm sorry"
"You can come in, Shaggy, you don't havve to wait for an invitation," Radu chuckled, "Unlike me"
"Right, sorry," Shaggy shuffled into the room, taking the chair, "Like, how are you feeling?"
"Much better, thank you"
"He'll get to come home soon," Christina added with a squeal.
"That's great news"
"Christina vas just telling me about the gingerbread cookies"
"I'll bring you some tomrrow," she promised.
"When ou're like, ready to go, Christy we'll like stop at the chefs store and buy the supplies"
"Maybe if I don't get too tired we can bake something else?"
"I'd love too...cherry pie?"
"My favorite!"
I know, Shaggy thought. Christina LOVED cherries. His favorite picture of her was her with a fork, hoarding a cherry cheesecake.
"And we can like, stop for coffee too if you like, wanted too"
"Yes! Yes! Yes, Please!"
"Vhy don't you two get going and I'll see you tomrrow?" Radu grinned.
"Are you sure?" Christina asked.
"Yes, don't let me delay your fun, go on, I'll see you tomrrow"
...
Meanwhile, in mirror prison Alissa paced, a plan, a risky one forming in her mind. In her haste to hide, Regina had cracked the mirror, it was just a small crack, not even visible to the naked eye but Alissa knew it was there because she could feel the musty draft of the new cell the mirror was in. The cell where Regina had left her to rot, convinced she was nothing more than a corpse now. Without food and water, without guards. But as the crack let in the draft it also let magic seep through.
I'm getting out of here, once and for all!
...
Sugar crystals glimmered in the warm kitchen air. Christina's hands were stained with icing as she worked to delicately decorate the gingerbread men, turning them into gingerbread soldiers while Shaggy constructed a gingerbread house beside her, laying wafers for a path, there was a chocolate square for the door and gumdrops for a garden beneath icing framed windows.
"Like, it's almost too pretty to eat, Almost," Shaggy grinned at his hard work.
"Reah, reah," Scooby agreed.
"At least let me get a picture before you devour it," Christina put down the frosting back, grabbing her phone from her back pocket, snapping several pictures, "And we've got to share with everyone else"
"Of course," Shaggy nodded his agreement, a timer sounding next to the stove, "Like, the pie's done," he pulled it from the oven, setting it on the rack, "I think there's like, ice cream in the freezer"
"Cherry pie almode," Christina practically drooled at the thought, returning to the gingerbread men in order to keep her hands busy and keep herself from tearing into the piping hot treat.
"Where did you like, hang your fairy tale ortaments this year?"
"On the tree in the foyer, I don't remeber having a Cheshire Cat though, I don't think.."
"I gave it to you, I um, had it made for our six-month anniversary"
Christina's hands stilled, eyes unfocusing.
"Christy..."
...
"Give it here, already!" Christina was lunging for the small gift box Shaggy was holding just out of her reach.
"You're like, sooo close!" Shaggy laughed.
"UGH," finally Christina leaped from the ground grabbing the box, she delicately unwrapped it, pulling off the top with a soft gasp, "Oh, he's perfect!"
A fragile Cheshire Cat with alternating purple and black stripes and blue eyes rested in the box.
"You like it?"
"Very much, thank you"
"You're welcome"
...
"Christy..are you okay?"
"I'm fine"
"You remebered something?"
"Mm"
Shaggy suspected what she'd remembered but didn't ask. Talking about their relationship was so awkward and it made Christina so clearly uncomfortable.
"She feels bad she can't remeber it," Draculaura had explained, "She knows it hurts you"
It did. It hurt so bad like someone had taken a sledgehammer to his heart. And knowing Regina had been the one to cause it, to rip them apart for her own sinister plot made the wound ache even more. But, he would stay by Christina's side. Protect her from anything and everything in the hope of somehow, someway making up for the accident and all the trauma it caused.
"I'm sorry," a single tear rolled down Christina's cheek, and she embraced him.
His thoughts must have been written across his face.
"It isn't your fault"
"But, but it is-"
"No," he wrapped his arms tightly around her, "Like, don't you ever think that not for one moment"
"But-"
"No"
He held onto her until she stopped trembling. Once they were both calm, they finished the treats, boxing them in festive tins for later. Shaggy cut Christina a generous slice of pie topped with vanilla ice cream. They went to the dining room where they could watch snow fall in soft flurries outside the window, glowing in the twinkling Christmas lights. Christina looked so pretty in that light that he couldn't help but steal glances at her as she enjoyed her treat. Pretty and tired. She was tired and sad. She no longer trembled, the tears weren't coming and yet, he knew.
I am going to tear Regina limb from limb, court proceedings be darned.
...
A tremendously short chapter but a chapter nonetheless to tide things over while I work out some plot kinks.