Rapunzel Actually

Chapter 3

And with the promise of carrots, Bunny was hooked. It was hard to get her to leave the house after that. When her foster mother came to get her back with a look of worry and regret on her face and saw how happy the little girl was, she looked thoughtful for a moment. The witch didn't like that look. Or the fact that she had walked into the witch's house uninvited. With dirty shoes. 

"Tell you what. If you like her all that much, and she seems happy here, I'll just go down to the place where we picked her up and change the names on the form! You can take care of her."

The witch tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. Something about that seemed a little...illegal.

"Something about that seems a little...illegal."

And just like that, she said it out loud. Idiot.

"Oh, don't worry about that. It'll be completely fine. I'll work out all the details for you. Just take good care of her for me, okay? I'm trusting you."

With that, the mother smiled and waltzed right out the door. The witch frowned and then looked down at the little girl still rolling around on her carpet, pieces of lettuce scattered about. Then she shrugged. Well, it wasn't her problem anymore. Now she had a cute little problem of her own to take care of.

"Hey, Bunny, what do you say we go on a vacation? I have a little forest cabin about 30 minutes away from here. You might even be able to meet some other rabbits there?"

That was it. The little girl looked up, her eyes sparkling like they always did while she was excited. She always scrunched her nose up too, like a real rabbit. The witch had to restrain herself from cooing at the adorableness. She had come to terms with it. There was no denying that the little girl had nibbled herself a soft spot in the witch's heart. She could just never know it, or the witch would never be able to deny her any request.

"Alright. I guess you don't really have much to pack, so let's go! Also, I have to think of something to call you."

The girl sighed and looked down.

"The p....people next d...door called me R....rap...punzel."

"Well, that's no good. You can't even get through that. Besides, it's way too hipster." The girl nodded solemnly like she understood what the witch was saying.

"Call me Bunny!" 

The girl smiled so broadly that the witch finally gave up. She reached down slowly to hug her, hesitating so she would have time to pull away. Instead, the girl ran straight into her arms.

That's it. I'm done. I'm finished. This girl is so adorable that I'm going to DIE. Was what the witch thought. Of course. 

"Okay, Bunny. Let me get everything ready and then we can go."

The girl smiled and nodded, turning back to her scattered pieces of lettuce. The witch looked around her apartment, checking for any essential objects. In the end, she decided on a crate of lettuce and carrots, some of her most valuable and expensive potions, and a few changes of clothes for herself. She would just have to buy some clothes for Bunny while they were on their trip. Of course, her cabin had a washing machine, but it seemed like a fun idea to finally have someone to spoil. She had saved up a fair amount of money in her younger days working at a potions shop with a friend. She had just never had anyone to take care of anyone other than herself.

"Here we go! Alright, Bunny, grab some lettuce and let's go!"

"YAY!"

Bunny cheered and grabbed a whole head of lettuce from the floor. She skipped out the door followed by a slightly smiling witch. Okay, a very smiling witch. 

The crate of vegetables was shoved in the back of the car along with the clothes. Bunny sat herself down in the front seat of the car, swinging her legs and munching on lettuce.

And off they went.