"For someone," Alice agreed, eyes going just that little bit red. And a lot of those someones -- almost all of them -- had Steven to thank for that. Or Jack. Steven hadn't had much of a say in it.

Maybe it should have filled Alice with...what? Pride, that so many children were alive for Christmas? Because of her son. She knew what it meant for the world that Steven'd been killed (killed. Not sacrificed. Sacrifice was too big a word, for too small a boy.) But, call her selfish, she just didn't care. Not tonight.

She looked back up at the man, honestly surprised. What about that had been helpful?

"You're welcome." She hesitated, but eventually held out a hand. "I'm Alice, by the way."