Note: This is a sequel to "The Day Bernard Got Beaned". Goofy title, I know. But then, this is "The Santa Clause" fanfiction! :D
This one's a tad more serious.
Prelude: Home Coming
Bernard thought he handled it well, all things considered. The cheers, presents, congratulations. The hip-hip hurrahs led by Curtis, an elf with a questionable sense of humor. It was a huge welcome, one that only Santa's elves could pull together in the space of a few hours. There was even a wedding cake.
That's right. This was a wedding celebration. He was a married elf now. And as far as almost everyone at the North Pole was concerned, this was the real deal. That wasn't to say the wedding itself wasn't official - because it was - but the fact was that he and Helen weren't actually a couple.
Helen herself had been met with something between the cheerful open hearted welcome elves excelled at...along with a tinge of surprise and awe. Bernard knew why. This was the woman who had presumably wooed their Head Elf. Mr. 'those t's had better be crossed!' Mr. 'what-is-a-social-life-get-back-to-work!' His getting married was some kind of major, miraculous event- if the looks on some of their faces were anything to go by, anyway.
And they were something to go by. If Bernard knew anything, he knew how to read his fellow elves.
Overall, the day was beautifully handled- and no thanks, for once, to himself. It was a very joyful celebration. The stressful part of the season was over, another Christmas was a success, and the energy in the welcome home party reflected that. Bernard was relieved to find out there hadn't been any major mishaps during his absence. And, to be honest, he was happy to have found a way for Helen to come back with him, to stay at Santa's Workshop.
The alternative had been to leave her alone again to deal with everything life had thrown at her...and Bernard wouldn't have felt like one of Santa's elves after doing something like that.
This was better. This was so, so much better. It was... really, really...nice! Watching her smile and laugh, enjoy herself. It was really, really, really...
Complicated! His life was already complicated! He was busy! Beyond busy! He was already running behind! What the...heck had he been thinking? He'd been tricked! He'd been drunk! Okay, so maybe not.
But it had really happened, hadn't it? Bernard was a married elf.
Author's Note: So. Wasn't planning to do a sequel, but never say never I guess! I find myself verging into Mary Sue territory (le gasp!). Feel free to call me out on it. :P And, hopefully, enjoy! Reviews are appreciated. :)
