Gift-Fic: At Least SOMEONE Remembered
by: Flaming Trails

“Arf! Arf! Arf!”

“I’m going! I’m going!” Victor shook his head at Lightning as the corgi danced around his heels. “Goodness – it’s times like these that I believe you tiny creatures really can heard cows and sheep without breaking a sweat. You certainly do a good enough job on me.”

Lighting seemed to smile before butting Victor’s leg with his head, continuing to steer him toward the back door. “What’s out there that’s so exciting anyway?” Victor asked as he continued forward. “An interesting worm? A crunchy cricket? Or just a leaf that needs to be thrown over the fence?”

Lightning barked again – then stopped, ears going up. He cocked his head, then ran to the nearby door to the kitchen, which opened as he neared, revealing Alice. “Someone is noisy today,” she informed the dog, who looked up at her with stubby tail wagging. “What’s gotten into you? Besides the usual, I mean?”

“Arf!” Lightning danced in place for a moment, then scooted around behind her and butted his head into her ankles. “I think he’s trying to herd us into the backyard,” Victor explained. “He’s very – intent.”

“So I see,” Alice said, stepping forward as she received another butt. “At least we’ve taught him not to nip. . .well, Chester’s down for a nap, and I’ve got Doc’s trusty monitor on my hip in case of trouble,” she added, tapping the homemade baby radio dangling from her apron. “We may as well go where requested.”

“Mmm – I’m pretty curious as to what’s going on anyway,” Victor said, taking her arm. Lightning yapped triumphantly and appeared between their legs, urging them onward with eager wiggles. “He’s very excited.”

“He’s always excited,” Alice pointed out as they proceeded the final few feet to the back door. “But yes, he certainly seems more excited than–”

“SURPRISE!!”

Victor nearly jumped out of his skin, and Alice yelped, clinging to his arm for balance. Lisa was waiting for them outside, standing next to a little mound of earth covered in flowers that Victor knew had not been there yesterday. Behind said mound was Ferdinand, bouncing and flapping his wings in a way that Victor knew meant the butterfly was as excited as their dog. “What – hello,” he managed to get out once he’d recovered his powers of speech. “I’m – I’m sorry, I didn’t–”

“Of course you didn’t, that’s why it’s a surprise,” Lisa said, laughing. “Sorry for nearly giving you a heart attack, but. . .” She gestured to the mound. “Lightning and Ferdy made this for you.”

Victor blinked. Blinked again. Turned and blinked at Alice, who blinked back. “Ah – what?”

“Remember when you brought them in for a check-up a couple of days ago?” Lisa explained, grinning. “They told me there was a special day coming up for you two, and they wanted to do something for you. And they both know you like flowers, so. . .I mean, I’m technically the one who put it together – only one with hands to actually shape the earth and all that – but Lightning dug up all the dirt from my own yard, and Ferdy selected all the flowers.” She looked at the mound and shrugged. “Nice new feature for your garden?”

“I. . .” Victor looked at Ferdinand and Lightning, now bouncing together gleefully. He knew that he hadn’t been giving them quite as much attention as he used to with a baby in the house, and yet. . . “You – you two – did this for us?”

Lightning barked, and Ferdy hopped forward to “lick” him with his proboscis. Victor patted the butterfly’s head, smiling through suddenly-damp eyes. “I – thank you. All three of you,” he said, looking around at butterfly, dog, and alien veterinarian. “This is – extremely sweet.” “Very,” Alice confirmed, crouching down to give Lightning scritches. “And it’s very appreciated.” Her brow furrowed. “Even if I’m not entirely sure what the ‘special day’ is.”

“Me either,” Victor admitted, rubbing the back of his head. “I mean, we’re past both our birthdays, and there’s not that much that happens in July around this – it’s our bloody anniversary!”

Lisa cracked up laughing. “Baby sleep exhaustion still in full swing, huh?”

“There’s a reason we’re waiting on having another.”

The End