A/N: Hey! Surprise, an update! It's been a while, hasn't it? I'm sorry it's taken me so long to update, I haven't been in the best of conditions to write anything lately. I'm way behind but I'm getting back to writing! Hopefully I'll fit some more chapters in before Christmas!
For waiting so long, I made this chapter very, very interesting. Brace yourselves for a lot of drama goodness and sassyness. Don't hate me, please. Lots of surprises coming your way!
Enjoy!
Belle groaned. Something was disturbing her in her sleep. The last thing she wanted was to wake up. She was beyond exhausted. After the long snowball war with Jack, she got home and fell right into bed. She had to admit, she didn't regret a thing. She hadn't had so much fun in a while. She couldn't help but smile. Her eyes fluttered open and she immediately realized what had awoken her. She shut her eyes against the bright ray of sunlight hitting her face directly. She sighed, rolling out of bed and blindly walking to the bathroom to do her regular morning activities.
As she did this, she wondered what she would do today. Nothing physical, she thought, stretching out her sore limbs. Those elves really don't play games. When she finished her morning routine, she walked out to find a change of clothes. A simple gray sweater and blue jeans did the trick. She pulled on a pair of black converse, making sure to wear warm socks. She tied her hair into a loose messy bun, letting her long fringe frame her face.
With a huff, she headed out to the kitchen to get some breakfast. She hoped she'd run into someone on the way for company. As she walked out on the snow, she looked around. As usual, the elves were running around doing their duties, seemingly happy. The countdown to Christmas was coming to an end, things must be hectic. Hectic. She sighed, the thought of Bernard immediately intruding her thoughts. She missed him a lot.
Belle walked into the kitchen quietly, as to not interrupt the busy chef elves. She glanced around, looking at all the gingerbread houses and candy canes, smiling at the classic Christmas food. As tempting as the gingerbread houses looked, she needed some real food. She decided she would eat some scrambled eggs with a side of peanut butter toast.
While her breakfast was making, she watched the elves go around. She smiled at their beautiful faces, never changing. They were frozen in time, always remaining youthful and pure. Belle's smile wavered, her eyes becoming sad. She looked to her right, into the reflection the shiny oven created of her. Big blue eyes, full pink lips, narrow face, high cheek bones. She couldn't help but feel a tang of bitterness. She would not have the same fate as they. She would become old, and look the part, and soon pass away. All the elves would outlive her, remaining beautiful and perfect. Just like Bernard. Belle's heart clenched. It was something she thought of more than she should. Leaving him behind, and he would live with the weight of her passing for centuries to come. He would live on, time standing still on his face, the only signs of his true age being his wisdom.
Belle felt a lump in her throat. She turned around to face the sink as her eyes began to sting with tears. She didn't want to grow old. She didn't want to leave Bernard, her parents or even Jack behind. It was a scary thought, and she shouldn't harbor it in her head, but she could not help it. Seeing all these elves around her, knowing the youngest could be hundreds of years older than herself, but looking as young as a ten year old child. What a true blessing they had, Belle thought, almost bitterly.
She clenched her hands into fists, shutting her eyes tightly, tears rolling down her face. She could feel the heat of the stove to her right on her face but she couldn't bring herself to care. She didn't feel hungry. She slammed her fist into the counter out of frustration with herself and turned around, running out of the kitchen before her sobs could escape. She ran, and kept running, knowing exactly where her subconscious would take her.
She couldn't see past her tears, she couldn't hear over the sound of her heavy breathing, but she knew she was heading the right way, and getting close to her haven. Her legs began to burn, begging her to stop. With a yelp, she collapsed into the snow, having tripped over her own feet. She slammed her hands into the snow angrily and pushed herself up, her face hot with anger. She burst into the old wooden cabin, slamming the door shut, not caring how the structure shook. She walked to the far end and leaned against the wall, sliding down as she began to cry again. She hugged her legs into her chest, hiding her face into her knees.
She sobbed, feeling her life was unfair. She hated the fact she was born normal. She is the daughter of Santa Claus, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, Father Christmas and yet she is as plain as your average person. She has no special elven abilities, she ages like a normal person and she doesn't really like sweets. What's up with that? She has asked her parents countless times why she was so normal and they couldn't offer her an explanation. Her father had once told her she looked like her mother, but even her mother stopped aging when she became Mrs. Claus, that being the reason she looks the same now as she had nineteen years ago. Just as beautiful and her eyes so full of life.
Belle tried to control her sobbing, finding it almost impossible to breathe. She took a shaky breath, trying to clear her thoughts. She tried to think of happy things. She immediately thought of Bernard. Something that always made her feel happy. To her, he was a pretty good darn reason to smile. She thought of his own smile, something people complained about seeing more of, yet she saw it every moment they spend together and she could never grow tired of it. Bernard could make anything right. Even aging. She knew deep down, the older she became, the more their friendship grew. He would get closer every year, tell her more things he couldn't before, take her places she wasn't allowed to go before. There was always a bright side when it came to him.
Belle took in a shaky breath, finally calming down enough to pull her head up. The cold Arctic air stung in her lungs but she rather enjoyed the feeling, seeing as it took away from the miserable feeling in her heart. She sighed again, shaking her head shamefully. She felt awful for acting in such a way, and it seemed her little tantrums became worse the older she became, but she couldn't help it sometimes. She was only human, after all. She wasn't an elf, with pure and wonderful thoughts every second of the day. She was a human teenaged girl with conflicts and different kind of feelings and emotions, that perhaps many elves would never comprehend. She almost smiled at the thought. She had some perks the elves did not. She could feel and think in different ways they could not, given their nature. She grimaced, realizing most of those thoughts or feelings would actually be appalling to them, but she quickly shook the thought away, reminding herself she was a human girl and they were elves.
But, there are exceptions to the rule, she realized. Her parents, for example, once human, with thoughts and feelings of those of their past race. They would never let go of that side of them, for they would always feel and think as humans do, and always argue and love as only humans do. Jack, not quite an elf or human, but Belle still saw it in his eyes that he was not like the cheery little elves around them. He was different in many, if not all, ways. And her best friend, Bernard. She knew him better than she knew herself, and she knew he was the most different of them all. Bernard had taught her virtually everything she knows about Christmas and everything North Pole. It is thanks to him that she is the person she is now. She has taught him many things as well, as the years passed. She had explained human nature to him when he didn't comprehend it, and she liked to believe he was different from the other elves thanks to her.
Belle rubbed her hands on her jeans, trying to keep warm. She shuddered against the cold. She didn't realize it was so cold until she finally managed to calm down. She tugged on her hair and it fell from it's messy bun to cascade over her shoulders and beyond, providing at least a bit of warmth. Belle shuddered again and stood to her feet, deciding it was time she got back to Christmastown. As she made her way to the door, she stumbled, her vision going dark for a moment.
"Whoa." She gasped, spreading her legs out like a newborn foal to keep her footing. Once she was steady, she ran a hand over her face and sighed, "Got up too fast." She mumbled, carefully walking outside. She closed her eyes for a moment, feeling a strange pressure in the area and around her temples. "No, headache." She whined. "I need some cocoa, I'm going through too much stress." She mumbled, starting her way back to Christmastown.
"Has anyone seen Belle?" Santa called out into the factory from his spot at the top of the stairs. He watched with a scowl as the elves all shook their heads vigorously. "Bernard?" He asked as a suggestion. The elves nodded, but never gave him more of an answer.
Santa sighed, turning on his heel and walking across the area, running his hand over the banister. He wondered where his daughter could be. He already looked for her in her room, in the kitchen, in his office, at the bakery, he even went to Jack but he had not seen her.
"You called?"
"Ah!" Santa gasped, turning to face the curly haired elf. "Bernard, I told you to stop sneaking up on me." He scolded, placing a chubby hand on his chest. Bernard did not respond, just waiting for Santa to speak. "Have you seen Belle?" He asked moments later.
Bernard narrowed his eyes, "You ask that question far too many times to be safe." He scolded the large jolly man. "Have you checked her room?" He suggested. Santa nodded. "Kitchen?" Nod. "Office?" Nod. "Bakery?" Nod. "The outskirts?" Nod, then a vigorous shake of the head. Bernard sighed, "First place to look when you can't find Belle." He grumbled, knowing he would have to go find her if she didn't show up soon.
"Why does she always wander there?" Santa asked exasperatedly.
Bernard sighed, knowing he couldn't answer that question. He was sworn to secrecy. Instead he played dumb, "I don't know. She likes it there." He offered.
"It's dangerous out there." Santa said worriedly.
"She's fine, sir, trust me." Bernard assured him.
"Daddy."
Santa and Bernard stopped dead in their tracks at the sound of her voice. They turned to face the door where Belle stood, hugging herself and her eyes downcast. Santa scowled and pushed his way past Bernard and his elves toward her. Bernard was quick to follow, not liking where this was going. Santa barely had time to open his arms before Belle fell into them for a hug.
She clutched onto him tightly and buried her face into his warm red coat, "I don't feel good, dad." She mumbled.
Santa tensed at hearing those words. Belle never complained. She never moaned or groaned about anything. Santa placed his hands on Belle's face gently and pulled back to look at her. He grimaced at the look on her face. Her eyes were red and puffy, she had obviously been crying. Her cheeks were flushed red as well. But what bothered him the most was the feeling on his palms.
"You're burning up, sugarplum." He said softly, as to not alarm his daughter.
"What?" Bernard hissed at hearing this. It was clear to him that she wasn't feeling well just by looking at her, but this came as a surprise to him. It wasn't like Belle to get sick.
"Shh." Santa shushed Bernard hastily so his alarm wouldn't trigger Belle. He pulled his daughter into his arms and held her gently, "What do you feel, honey?" He asked softly.
Bernard peered over Santa's shoulder, trying to catch a glimpse of Belle, but it was impossible to see her in the big man's arms. He frowned and settled to listening closely and carefully.
Belle whimpered, "My head hurts, daddy. Make it go away." She moaned.
Santa's heart broke into a million pieces at hearing her like this. She was in pain and she couldn't handle it. That's what bothered him most. It would have to be a bad headache to have Belle acting this way. He hugged her tighter, as if doing so would make every bad thing go away, "I'll take you to the infirmary-"
"No, no, I don't wanna." She said, trying to pull out of his tight hold. Santa didn't let her go and she didn't fight it, falling back into his embrace, "I wanna sleep, and some cocoa." She whined. "Not in that order though." She mumbled, her sweet and cheerful self trying to resurface, but she sounded miserable.
"But, Belle,-" Santa tried to persuade her but she shook her head like a child trying to be given cherry medicine.
"I'm not going to the infirmary!" She wailed angrily. Santa never liked it when Belle got headaches, even when she was a child. She never had many of them, and when she did, she didn't know how to handle them and felt frustrated, and this is how her frustration is shown. She whimpered and covered her eyes with her hand, "I want Benny to take care of me." She said weakly.
"What?" Bernard asked for the second time around.
Belle pried herself from her father and blindly made her way to Bernard, who barely had time to catch her when she fell into his arms. "Take care of me, Benny." She whispered.
"Bernard isn't a medic-" Santa interjected.
"I don't need a medic, I need Bernard!" Belle snapped, wrapping her arms around his neck tightly and leaned her weight on him. Bernard stumbled with her weight and reluctantly wrapped his arms around her small waist.
Bernard's heart clenched at seeing his best friend like this. He couldn't deny her what she wanted, specially if in her time of need all she wanted was him. "Okay, Bells, let's go make you better." He cooed to her. He grunted when Belle jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. Bernard's eyes widened and he glanced at Santa nervously, not sure what he would think of this promising position he currently held with his daughter. He could see nothing but worry and concern in his sparkling blue eyes, which only fueled his own hectic worrying.
"Get her to her room and keep a close eye on her." Santa ordered sternly. "Get her the cocoa, get her to sleep and I'll send someone in to check on her." He said.
Bernard nodded before making his way out of the loud factory. All the noise must bother poor Belle. He ignored all the bewildered looks from the elves, and went straight to her room. He struggled to keep her up and open the door, but he managed and was finally in. He kicked the door closed behind him and went into her room, gently setting her down on the bed, careful not to fall on her as he did so. He reached back to unhook her arms from around his neck but she groaned loudly.
"I'm going to get your cocoa, sweetie." He whispered, carefully prying her arms from himself. "Extra marshmellows?" He asked as he slowly backed away before she could have a tantrum over him leaving her.
Belle tried lifting her head, but it throbbed too much. She couldn't even manage to open her eyes. "Yes, please." She said weakly. She really wanted to roll over and die right now.
Bernard swallowed the lump that formed in his throat as he watched her writhe in her bed. She looked really miserable. It killed him to see her like that, he would do anything to make her feel better. He turned reluctantly and made his way out. He scanned the area and was suddenly very glad to see someone in particular.
"Curtis, buddy!" He called, his voice too overjoyed. Curtis scowled, not liking where this was going. The sneaky head-elf was probably going to send him off to do something. He scurried his way over anyway, knowing he couldn't just ignore his superior. "Can you get me some cocoa with extra marshmellows, pal?" He asked, smiling a bit too enthusiastically.
Curtis frowned, "Go get your own cocoa, Bernard." He huffed.
Bernard frowned, "It's for Belle." He explained.
Curtis pouted, "But I have to go-"
"Go get Belle cocoa with extra marshmellows and be back in five minutes, Curtis, go." Bernard ordered all in one breath before turning and slamming the door in Curtis' face. The small elf sighed and went to the bakery where he knew he would find Belle's favorite cocoa.
Bernard huffed and ran a hand over his face. He didn't like ordering poor Curtis around like that but he was being testy and he was desperate to get back to Belle. He entered her room after seven long steps, and frowned at the expression of pain on her face.
"Belle, are you alright?" He asked worriedly, walking to her bedside and kneeling on the floor to be closer to her.
Belle whimpered and tightened her eyes, "No." She groaned, "My head hurts really badly, my arms and legs hurt, everything hurts." She hissed.
Bernard reached out and grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze, "It's just a bad headache, Belle,-"
"No, Benny, my head hurts!" She wailed, yanking her hand out of his and clutching her head tightly. "Oh!" She moaned in pain, rolling onto her other side and curling into a ball.
Bernard jumped to his feet and froze. She was in too much pain for her to handle, and he didn't know what to do. He began to panic, his heart racing and his breathing catching in his throat. "Belle?" He called tentatively.
"Make it go away!" She screamed.
Bernard jumped five feet into the air, his heart flying out of his chest and the blood draining from his whole body, leaving him white as milk. Belle suddenly sat up, still clutching her head. The sight of her scared Bernard to the very core. Her eyes were blood red, her face was covered in tears, her hair was everywhere and she was crying hysterically.
"Belle, what's wrong?!" He demanded, trying to keep calm and not run out of the room.
"I don't know!" She cried.
"What do you feel?" He asked, hoping she would calm down.
Belle tried to respond, but she couldn't breathe. She was panicking, she didn't know what was wrong. Her head felt like it would implode, her arms and legs burned and ached all the while she was shivering from the cold. She felt so scared, she almost wanted to throw up. Her hands were shaking from her nerves as she thought she could possibly be dying. Could she be dying?!
"I need dad!" She gasped out through heavy sobs.
Bernard turned on his heel and ran out, glad he could actually leave the terrifying scene for a moment. He wondered if he should leave her alone but the sound of her crying made him think otherwise and he ran across the heavy snow into the factory.
"Santa!" He called loudly, frantically, causing everything to stop dead in it's tracks.
"Bernard, what's wrong?" Santa's voice rung clear from the top of the stairs.
"Belle needs you, now." He said urgently before running back out of the factory.
Panic set into the jolly man immediately. He slid down the banister to cut down on time, earning some surprised gasps from his elves, and he speed walked out of the factory. Trying to keep his composure at a time like this was very difficult. On his way out, he ran into someone he didn't need to worry about now.
"What's the hurry, fat man?"
"Belle is not doing well." Santa said in hurry as he walked past the cold man.
Jack frowned and started to follow Santa with curiosity, "What's wrong?" He asked. Okay, perhaps it wasn't curiosity. He was worried about the fat man's daughter. Sue me.
"I don't know yet. Do me a favor and get Carol, will you?" Santa ordered hastily as he headed straight for his daughter's room.
Jack stopped following Santa and rolled his eyes. He didn't like doing the jolly man any favors, but he sucked it up and did it as a favor to the very pleasant Belle.
Santa came bursting through the doors, and he nearly fainted at hearing his daughters desperate crying. He ran into her room, seeing Bernard and Curtis on either side of her, trying to console her with frantic words.
"I'm here, baby girl, what's wrong?" Santa asked as he walked over, taking Curtis' place by her and taking her hand into his own. It was scorching. He placed a hand on her wet cheek and had the same result. "She's burning in fever." He informed his head elf.
Bernard nodded, "It got worse in a matter of minutes. By the time I came back she was covered in sweat, but she says she's cold." He explained worriedly. "What's happening to her?" He demanded to know.
Santa scowled, "That extent of my knowledge is the same as yours, Bernard." He said, angry at himself for not knowing what's wrong with his daughter.
"Does this happen to all humans?" Bernard asked, slightly disturbed by the thought.
Santa shook his head, "I've never seen this before. It's definitely not a headache." He said, watching as Belle clutched her head and whimpered miserably.
"Really?" Bernard snapped sarcastically. "Maybe you should get the medical elves in here?" Bernard suggested.
Just then, someone else came through the door. Santa was relieved to see his wife rushing to his side. Her eyes immediately overflowed with tears at the sight of her daughter. "What's wrong with her?" She asked, grabbing one of her hands tightly.
"We don't know." Santa said.
Bernard scowled, "Again, medical elves." He repeated the suggestion. He was about ready to send Curtis to get them when Santa shook his head.
"No, this isn't normal." He said, never tearing his eyes from his daughter.
"Ain't that the truth?!" Bernard wailed. He was angry that everyone was just watching her suffer instead of moving to do something for her.
"Can I be of any assistance?"
Bernard went from worried best friend to angry head elf, "No!" He snapped, turning to glare at Jack Frost who stood at the door. The room was already cramped as it was.
Santa jumped to his feet, "Jack! Yes, glad you're here." He said, turning him around and pushing him outside. He closed the front door and held Jack by the shoulders, looking into his eyes seriously, "I need a big favor." He said.
Jack frowned, "But I already got Carol-" He pointed toward where Carol was. Santa swatted his hand down and shook him.
"I need you to call the Council of Legendary Figures." Santa ordered seriously.
Jack blanched, "Them? What, why?" He asked worriedly. He was never in the mood to see them. He was also concerned as to why he needed them now. "Is Belle alright?" He asked.
Santa shook his head sadly, "She's not looking very good." He said. "I'm thinking Mother Nature can tell us what's going on." He explained.
"Then why not just her?" Jack suggested.
"We need all the help we can get, Jack. My baby girl is really sick." He said frantically. "Go call them, now." He ordered in a tone where Jack wouldn't be able to fit a word in.
The doors beside them swung open and Carol stumbled out, face frantic and covered with tears, "She fainted." She breathed, looking as if she would faint as well.
Santa hugged her, "Don't worry, honey, Jack is going to call the Council. They'll know what to do." He assured his wife, placing a kiss on her head.
Carol sobbed, "Why is this happening to our baby girl?" She asked, her heart aching.
Santa sighed, trying to be strong in this crisis. "I don't know, sweetheart, but let's hope she'll get better soon."
"I don't understand." She whimpered, wiping the tears from her face. "She was fine yesterday."
"Sometimes things happen unexpectedly, Carol." He offered. "She might be better by tomorrow morning." He tried.
Carol frowned, "Did you not see her?" She hissed, pointing back to where their daughter lay unconscious in her best friend's arms.
"Let's just hope, honey." Santa said, his calm demeanor faltering as his voice cracked.
Carol began to cry again, wrapping her arms around his neck and holding him close, "I'm sorry, my love, I'm just worried about her." She whispered.
"They're on their way." Jack announced as he walked toward the worried parents.
Santa nodded, "Thank you, Jack."
"Anything to help." He said with a shrug. "May I go see her?" He asked.
The couple stepped aside without a word and he walked in, closing the door behind him. He could hear the two elves' voices mumbling inside the room where Belle was. He took a deep breath and strut into the room, immediately feeling the icy glare from the head elf.
"What are you doing here, Frost?" Bernard hissed. He felt no need to hide his hatred now, seeing as Belle was unconscious and Curtis already knew of his dislike of Jack.
Jack smiled, "Just checking how Belle is doing."
Bernard grabbed Belle's arm and waved it around, "Unconscious. You can go now." He barked.
"My, my, you're being more hostile than usual." Jack pointed out, even if it was obvious to everyone.
Bernard grimaced, "And you're being more irritating than usual." He snapped.
"Ouch." Jack said with a sarcastic pout. He put his hands into his pockets, "I'm here worrying about Belle. As her best friend, you should be grateful." He teased.
"You're worried? About someone other than yourself?" He asked skeptically, scoffing.
"Belle is a splendid girl, great company, of course I will worry for her." He said innocently.
Bernard narrowed his eyes, "Fine. Thank you for your concern." He grumbled.
"Hey, Jack," Curtis spoke up, ignoring the tension between the two men.
"Yes, small elf?" He asked, glancing Curtis.
"I saw the snowball fight yesterday." He said excitedly.
"Oh?" Jack grinned, "Shame you could not join." He said, almost apologetically.
"Yeah, looked like a lot of fun. I didn't know you could do all those neat tricks." He added, sounding impressed.
Jack chuckled, "Quite frankly, neither did I. I'm just full of surprises." He smiled.
Bernard scoffed, "Tell me something I don't know." He grumbled.
"Butt out, head elf, I'm speaking with the little one." Jack snapped, loosing his composure for a moment.
Bernard glared at Jack with great intensity, "Don't tell me to butt out when you're the one intruding here." He hissed.
"I was allowed in here, for your information." Jack pointed out, regaining his cool demeanor. "I am good friends with Belle, whether you like it or not,-"
"I don't." Bernard snapped.
Jack ignored him, "and I am genuinely concerned for her. I am not here to make your life impossible, as much as I'd love that to be the case." He said with a smug smile.
"So you admit to trying to make my life impossible?" Bernard asked skeptically.
"No." Jack said, raising an icy eyebrow.
"But you just said-"
"Let me head out before the Council arrives. This room is becoming stuffy." Jack announced as he turned to leave.
"Afraid, Jack?" Bernard teased, smirk on his face.
"Of what? The Council? Why should I be?" Jack scoffed, not sparing Bernard a glance. He had to hide his worried expression.
"Oh, I don't know, maybe because you're still on parole and you haven't been helping around at all lately." He suggested mockingly.
"I have so been helping. This place would be lost without me." Jack called over his shoulder.
"Right, right." Bernard threw back, rolling his eyes.
Jack rolled his eyes and walked out, joining the couple waiting outside.
"Did she wake up?" Carol asked worriedly.
"Not yet." Jack said, sounding disappointed. He sighed, "I would love to stick around but I have some very important things to do, if you'll excuse me." He said, quickly making his exit.
Santa sighed, running his fingers through his snow white beard, "What's taking the Council so long?" He said with frustration laced in his voice.
Carol cupped his rosy cheek, "I'd be surprised if they arrived in the next half hour. The Council has very important duties of their own to tend to." She tried to soothe her husband.
"Do you think Jack told them it's about Belle? You know how Mother Nature is with her, she would have been here by now." He said worriedly.
Carol sighed this time, "Relax, honey, it's only been a few minutes." She said softly.
"You're right, I need to calm down." He said, taking a few steadying breaths.
"Santa." Came a soothing, melodic female voice. "We came as fast as we could."
"Finally!" Santa sighed with relief at the sight before him.
A/N: (gasp) You hate me, don't you? Oh, but hate is such a strong word. Surprised, or you saw it coming? Oh come on, not even I saw it coming, and I'm the writer o.e What's going on with Belle? Will Mother Nature be able to help? Will Belle be alright? Geez, Bernard and Jack are really going at it, aren't they?
Review! Tell me what you loved, what you hated, what surprised you, what made you laugh? Keep me posted; Team Benny or Team Frost?! The competition is stiff as Bernard's personality! Review, review, review! I'm depending on those wonderful things! Much more drama to come, hope you're ready!
(Forgive me for any grammar/spelling mistakes. It's been a while since I've updated anything and it's currently three in the morning. Thank you for taking it easy on me.)
Love,
Mutinous Pirate.
Till next time ;)