Happy New Year! (Insert Fireworks here.)
Also: (Insert Usual Disclaimers here.)
Lol hey guys! So thanks to all the reviewers, everyone sticking around after Christmas. Wanted to tell you guys right off the bat that this will not be a one chapter resolution. I wanted to give Bernard and Elle a chance to 'start over' in a sense, without all of the pressure and sadness that went on during Ellington's stay at the Pole. I wanted to give them a 'normal' setting, and see what happens ;) Hopefully you guys will like it, since now that the problems in the earlier chapters have been resolved, we can focus on their relationship.
In addition, I have taken SafyreSky up on her offer, and am making use of her OC, Jacqueline Frost, Jack Frost's Legate/sister. If you haven't read her stories, go read them now. No, not like, 'okay, maybe later', but NOW. Okay, when you're done here, geesh. They're really good ;) All kudos to you, girl!
Alright, so here goes! See you all in 2014! *throws confetti*
Cheers,
-Ana
10. Have You Seen My Love?
"Are you sure this is the right thing to do?"
Judy was helping Bernard pack things for his trip.
"How could you even ask that, Judy? If it were Doug, you know you'd do the same thing." Bernard was even moodier than usual. He was nervous...not that he would admit it; but the idea of searching aimlessly for Ellington, however set on it he was, was daunting. He had already set the elves in Security (minus Tabitha, who was still in the clink) on tracking her family's location. So far, they hadn't found anything yet—but then, it had only been two hours since the 'time warp'. "I have to do this. I have to go after her...regardless of what's going on up here."
Judy, passing Bernard yet another well folded scarf, gave him a reassuring smile. "I know that, Bernard," she said gently. His edginess was normal: his 'one and true' had been stolen away from him, and Judy had anticipated this kind of response, even from the Head Elf. "I just wanted you to say it aloud...knowing why you're doing something right from the beginning can help you stay strong, especially if the road gets difficult later on."
With a moan, Bernard said, "Please, don't remind me that this is going to get more difficult later on. It's hard enough as it is." He snapped his two suitcases shut and set them on the floor. "Well, that's it. I don't suppose I'll need to pack anything else...there's only so much you can pack when you have no idea where you're going."
On his bedside table, Bernard's phone buzzed. It was a text from Santa.
S.C.: Security's located the Connellys. She's in Seattle. Pack for rainy weather.
"Scratch that then."
"Well, that makes sense," Judy observed. "Ellington was always talking about how she wanted to go back to Seattle."
"She was?" This was news to Bernard. He didn't remember hearing her talk about it.
"Sure. She grew up there, you know. Weren't you listening?"
"I guess not." Another thing he would do differently the second time around, among other things. And with that thought, Bernard realized just how lucky he really was. Most people didn't get a second chance—even a difficult one—to a relationship that had had so many problems.
If you could even call it a 'relationship' in a conventional sense.
Seattle, December 19th, 2013
"Ellington, come downstairs please!" Josette Connelly called. She was in her well made-up kitchen, making breakfast at six a.m. for her family. A cure had been found years ago for her illness, and she was now a fully capable person, if not outright peppy. She often had an abundance of energy, which went into her interior design label, Connelly Elegance; one of the bestselling labels in the nation.
"She's coming, mom!" Annise said, as she thundered down the staircase, her backpack swinging wildly from one shoulder. She stopped to grab a waffle.
"Please sit down when eating your breakfast, young lady," Josette chided. "They don't let you do that at school, do they? And careful that you don't drip syrup on your uniform."
Annise made a face. "No," she muttered, then took on a proper tone. "The young ladies of Primula Westing School do not stand while eating, drinking, or studying—except during dictation." She scowled, but threw herself down in a chair. "Ellington's lucky that she's already in college. She gets to take whatever classes she wants...doesn't have to take boring old 'edification'."
Josette sighed, and drifted out into the dining room with a plate for her husband.
No, Phillip Connelly did not have cancer; on the contrary, the former contractor had become more successful than he had previously thought possible. He was now CEO of a large development corporation, and was far from poor. He and his family lived in a very large house on East Hill that was as beautiful as it was old; and he, along with his wife, were very influential people.
"Ellington doesn't have it as easy as all that, the silly old bookworm," said Dottie, as she floated down the staircase to take a seat at the table. Their house was the kind where you had to call it a staircase instead of stairs. "I've got it easy. You should have insisted that you be put in public school, not that stuffy prep school."
"But public school is awful!" said Annise with a horrified look. "Do you know how big this city is? How many delinquents go to your school? I wouldn't want to be educated in a place that scary." She shivered, and finished her waffle. "Anyway, I don't think Daddy's going to let you carry on there much longer. I heard him telling Mr. Prowley that 'no daughter of mine will finish in that terrible abyss of an education system'." Mr. Prowley was their father's business partner.
Dottie laughed, and rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Daddy said that last year, and here I am, still going to East Seattle High." She began to peel an orange using her long, manicured nails. "He's just got high expectations, since Ellington got accepted on scholarship into the UW School of the Arts. How nice; he doesn't even have to pay for her tuition."
"She pays for it in essays," said Annise sarcastically. "She had five to write before bed last night."
Annise and Dottie exchanged dubious looks. "So that's why there wasn't any of the usual screaming," Dottie said quietly. "Well...better notebooks then nightmares."
Annise nodded. "When I left her she was just finishing the last essay. I guess she didn't sleep much."
"Try not at all," said Ellington, rushing downstairs and slinging her book bag on over her dark green pea coat. (It was her favorite, but she never could remember just where she'd gotten it.) As her own neatly clipped yet very short nails weren't of much use in a hurry against fruit with a peel, she grabbed an apple and tossed it into her bag. "I barely had time to review the scripts for the play. Ms. Larkspear would have been so terribly disappointed."
"Why do you even care about that children's play so much, anyway?" Dottie asked. "I mean, you're staying home from Christmas vacation to help produce the darn thing."
"The yearly Christmas play at the Children's Theatre is one of the season's biggest attractions in the Art District," Ellington said fondly. "I'm just lucky enough to be involved. Besides, I prefer Seattle in the winter time to Hawaiian palm trees any year."
Dottie sighed. "As you wish, my dear," she said sadly. "It's your loss. I, for one, am partial to the Hilton Hawaiian, and room service. But to each his own."
"I'll miss you though," Annise said, giving Ellington a rueful look. "It won't be the same without you there. And won't you get lonely, in this big old house by yourself?"
"Oh, give me a break," scoffed Dottie. "She'll be throwing some big-ass parties as soon as we leave, right sis? Cause we all know, of the three of us, you are the biggest partyer." She and Annise burst out laughing.
Ellington scowled. "Lol." She shook her head. "No. Probably just me and my bestie, hanging out and eating ice cream."
"Getting fat," Dottie joked sourly. "I hate you guys for never getting fat. You two can eat anything, and you never gain weight. You. Guys. Suck."
Oh, pffff," Ellington said, waving her off. "We just have good metabolisms. It's because we walk to school, not drive."
"Is that my Ellie Connelly?" Boomed a voice from the dining room.
"Oh God no," Ellington whispered, as her father moved into the Kitchen.
Phillip Connelly was dressed for another busy day around town, in his usual designer wardrobe. "There's my favorite college student!" he cried, pulling Ellington in for a huge hug and, much to Ellington's dismay, her customary hair tousling. She ducked out of the way just in time.
"Morning, Dad," she sighed, as Annise and Dottie continued to giggle at the morning exchange that had become routine in the Connelly household. "Love you, but I'm late for school. And I've got to stop by the theater before that."
Ah yes, the Theater," Phillip said. "Make sure you let Ms. Larkarrow—"
"Larkspear."
"I knew that," said her father stubbornly. "...Ms. Larkspear, know that the new costumes arriving this morning are fully paid for."
"Thanks, Dad," said Ellington, standing up on tiptoe to give him a kiss on the cheek. "We really needed those. It will mean a lot to the kids."
"Not a problem, for my Ellie Girl," Phillip said kindly, moving around the table to greet his other two daughters. "And since my other, golden girls are getting their presents in a warmer form..."
"Oh dad," Dottie said, swatting him away playfully. Annise laughed and scooted out of her chair to run across the room, avoiding the tickling she normally received.
"...It's the least I can do." He reached into a pocket. "But...there's something a little more in the driveway." He grinned at Ellington.
"Dad..." Ellington stared at the keys in his hand. "You...you didn't! Not again."
Mr. Connelly laughed. "Yes, again. I don't know why you've insisted to take public transportation for so long, but no longer. It's time for you to have your own set of wheels."
Ellington hugged him quickly. "Thank you! Thank you so much! You and mom both! But..." She trailed off.
"So much for metabolism," Dottie muttered dejectedly. Ellington saw Dottie's sad expression as she stared dejectedly at the remains of her orange peel. Dottie, she knew, had been exceptionally good that year. Dottie was the one hoping for 'wheels of her own', not her. So when her father turned to give Josette a 'yay, we finally got her to accept it' look, Ellington tossed the keys to her sister and dashed out, yelling "Merry Christmas, Dottie! Love ya!" back over her shoulder.
"YES! Yes, finally!" squealed Dottie, pumping her fists in the air in jubilation. "A car! My own car! Daddy, let me keep it! Please! Please!"
"Ellington Sophia Connelly!" Josette cried after her, "you come back here this instant!" But Ellington was out the front door, slamming it behind her.
"Oh, let her go," said Phillip, shaking his head. "That kid will never learn to accept a gift."
As she walked briskly through the cold winter air, past the shiny red Maserati in the spacious driveway, Ellington reflected on how many times this had happened before. In fact it happened routinely with almost every gift they gave her: Ellington would thank them profusely, then turn around and give it to someone who needed it. Ellington, meeting a friend who needed a car to drive across the states to see her dying parent, had given her the first car, a Ferrari, without a second thought. That was when she had been 15; and every few months, her father and mother would pester her about getting a new car, without any luck. Apparently, they were trying a new, more assertive tactic. Luckily, it had failed.
By the time she had taken the bus downtown, she was completely reminded of why she liked to commute by foot and bus, as much as possible. Ellington knew almost everybody in her favorite parts of town; and if she didn't know them, they knew her. No Connelly passed unnoticed in Seattle; and though they didn't have a constant posse of paparazzi, they were very well known. Ellington remained, for the most part, pleasantly aloof to this. She knew her family was famous and wealthy; but she had resolved long ago not to let it go to her head. She knew she wanted to help people, especially children; and so, when she did make use of her family's money, it was usually to those ends. But she was friendly, and sweet, and people appreciated that, in a person with money.
In Pike Place Market, where each day she splurged on a bunch of flowers, she knew all of the flower vendors on a first name basis. (Some of their young male assistants tried numerous times to slip mistletoe into her winter bouquets, but without luck: Ellington could spot it a mile away and quickly handed it back to the owner, which earned the offending party some nasty task or other down by the fish sellers.) Ellington always felt a twinge of unpleasantness in her stomach at these kind of gestures. The same thing happened today, as she stopped to hand back the small green sprig to the stall holder with a rueful look. She had lots of friends, even at school...but that's all they were, friends; Ellington wasn't even really close with her female friends, except one good friend she had known for a very long time. The male ones, though...she didn't want that kind of a relationship with even the nicest of them, because her family's money was always part of the equation, and Ellington knew that for her, that would never be good enough. So far, she hadn't met the kind of guy she would be interested in, and actually, she didn't mind it that way. She was busy with her life and didn't want any distractions.
At least, that's what she told herself.
Because the truth was (and she was acutely aware of this), she felt like she was supposed to wait for something, or someone...but she didn't know why. She would often catch herself scanning the people in the street, as if searching for someone...which didn't make any sense. It gave her the oddest feeling...and it happened around Christmas most of all.
But that was nothing new. It had been true of every Christmas she could remember. This was odd, because Ellington loved—really, really loved— Christmas, she always had; for her, it really was 'The Most Wonderful Time of the Year'. But that unsettled feeling always came with it, and try thought she might to shake it, it never went away. Why, she asked herself, would Christmas give her an incomplete feeling; like she was missing something crucial, wondrous?
Clinging to her double shot cappuccino brevet like it was her last hope for warmth, Ellington shivered and buried her chin in her thick brown scarf, scuffing under the bare trees and abundant Christmas lights with a joyous feeling. She didn't need a tropical Christmas. Like she'd told Dottie, she preferred the cold—as well as some time away from her, what felt like, perfect family. Part of her uneasiness, she figured, lay in the fact that nothing had gone wrong for the Connelly's in a long time; and secretly, Ellington wished something...not bad; just... remarkable would happen to her. Her life was wonderful; no doubt; and she was grateful. But that Christmas, she thought, she wanted something...magical.
She didn't realize that something—or rather, someone—magical was already on his way.
Not for the first time that year, Santa, Mrs. Claus, Curtis and Abby stood together with Bernard in the Sleigh Room. Bernard stood with his suitcases by his side, dressed warmly in his coat and scarf while he waited for Santa to speak.
Scott was reluctant to let Bernard go. Not because of all the toys they needed to catch up on, not because he would be missing his Number One during the week just before Christmas...but because, however 'illogical' it was, Scott was worried of how Bernard would hold up in 'the real world'.
But he knew that, when Bernard set his mind on something, he was unstoppable.
So, with a sigh, he smiled at the Head Elf. "Be careful out there, Bernard. Seattle's a big city."
"You're telling me," said Bernard, with one of his lopsided grins. He dug his hands in his coat pockets. "I'll be fine, don't worry. Have you forgotten how old I am?"
"That's why I'm worried," said Scott sarcastically. "You're a little outdated."
Curtis stepped up, holding a big red three ring binder. "Here's everything you need to know about Ellington's new life, okay? This is everything we've got on her."
"It's a lot bigger than the old binder, isn't it?" Hearing a sniff, Bernard looked up sharply. "Hey, are you..."
"No, I am not crying!" Curtis hollered, swiping angrily at his eyes. He pulled a letter out of his pocket and thrust it at Bernard. "Here. Give this to her...if you find her."
"When I find her," corrected Bernard resolutely. He pocketed the letter and turned back to Santa and Mrs. Claus. "Is there anything else?"
Carol gave him a reassuring smile, and hugged him. "We know you'll find her, Bernard. The Clause put you two together, remember? Just because Jack"—Bernard visibly bristled—" threw a wrench in things doesn't mean everything won't turn out in the end." She took a small bag from Scott and handed it to Bernard.
"That's your new identity," Santa told him. "There should be everything you need in there...and a little extra."
Bernard pulled out a wallet, and flipped it open. I.D, a slip with an address, and...his eyebrows shot up, as he took out a black credit card. "American Express? Is that really necessary?"
With a shrug, Scott said, "Any city is an expensive place. And I think you'll find Ellington's a different class of girl than she used to be." He gave Bernard a sideways look. "Are you seriously going to complain about endless money?"
"NO." Bernard rolled his eyes. "Thanks, though. I'm...sure it will come in handy." He wasn't exactly comfortable with the idea of so much money—after all, they didn't use it at the Pole—but knew Scott was right.
Abby came in, carrying a large green satchel. "Are you leaving already?"
"Yep." Bernard stepped forward and took the satchel, his suitcases magically disappearing beside him. "Thanks, Abby."
"I put a thermos of cocoa in there for you," Abby said, with a small smile. But anyone could tell she was nervous. "Be careful out there. It's bigger than up here. And the cocoa's not as good."
"Trust me, I've been warned," said Bernard, giving Santa a dubious look. Santa shrugged. "Well," he said, gazing around at those in the room, "wish me luck. When you see me again, Ellington will be with me...and all of this will finally go back to the way it should be."
"You won't need luck," said Carol kindly.
"Hopefully," Scott corrected. "But Bernard...you may have to face the fact that Jack may be right: Ellington may not fall for you a second—"
"I am not," Bernard said firmly, adjusting the satchel on his shoulder, "coming back without her."
"Uh, Bernard..." Scott began uncomfortably, but Bernard disappeared, leaving Santa looking at where he'd been standing with a puzzled expression on his face. "Did he just say that..."
"Bernard's in the opposite position you were with the Escape Clause, honey," Carol pointed out. "Ellington's been taken from him, and he has to bring her back, instead of just waiting for her, like I had to wait for you."
"The difference," argued Scott, "is that I knew when the timeline went wrong; and you didn't. It's like a reversal, and an inversion."
"It's...all around confusing," admitted Curtis. "But Bernard knows what he's doing;...as usual."
It was early morning; that much was apparent. Bernard had teleported directly into the bustling heart of Seattle. Based on the traffic flow, he guessed (correctly) that he was somewhere downtown, and reached into the small bag Santa had given him to withdraw a phone...a real one, that ran on an American mobile network and not the Pole's.
The sidewalks were busy for that hour; mostly people rushing to school or home from a graveyard shift; and Bernard was jostled several times. He was so busy trying to power on the device that he missed seeing the beautiful Christmas lights lining the streets before they shut off.
Curtis had told him that Ellington's phone was being tracked for his convenience; so that all he needed to do was follow her signal. Bernard was surprisingly tech savvy; being Head Elf meant understanding what all departments produced, and since over the past twenty years computers had become an enormous deal (leaving Curtis practically screaming I-told-you-so ), the Electronics department have become quite possibly the busiest part of the Workshop, bar Wrapping.
He was finding his way around just fine, and was just opening the app that was aptly labeled "Elle Tracker" when he felt a sharp pang in his stomach. Bernard looked up, alarmed; and who should he see striding down the opposite side of the street clutching two hot, steaming drinks then...
"Elle?" he whispered in surprise. It was Ellington, all right. She even wore the same coat and everything. There she was, walking along with the drinks, looking for all the world as if she were headed for a busy day in the Workshop.
Well, that had been easy. Too easy, he chided himself, slipping the phone into his pocket. It couldn't really be her, could it?
He crossed the street and casually tailed her for a couple of blocks. The crowd began to thin as they made their way into the Art District, until he had to walk really far behind and duck around corners to avoid being seen. Because Ellington kept throwing her eyes back over her shoulder, as if worried. In fact, her face somehow looked different than it had before... there was a subtle sadness. Perhaps not all of her elfin senses had left when she time warped, Bernard thought; but mentally sensitive people like her often had a 'sixth sense' about things like that.
Finally, after about six blocks, Ellington stopped in the middle of the street. "Well, come out then," she yelled, her back still to him.
Bernard halted...who was she talking to?
With a sigh, Ellington said, "Yes, you behind the lamppost. Really, learn to find better hiding places, why don't you!" But she didn't sound put out...more happy, actually. Laughter was in her voice, and she looked like the old Ellington again. Happy, laughing, kind...it made him want to step out and just gush out everything he'd kept from her, he was so glad to see her like that again...
Bernard, three lampposts down, could see a girl, about Ellington's age, hiding behind another lamppost; then closest one to Ellington. So she hadn't been talking to him, after all. Bernard was relieved and disappointed at the same time.
The girl was dressed in a long, light blue pea coat that was similar in style to Ellington's green one. Her hair was a very light blonde, almost white, but straight; and it was pinned up in a similar style to Ellington's own updo. Something tickled in the back of Bernard's mind when he saw her, as if he should know who she was, but he couldn't put a finger on it.
The girl popped out from behind the lamppost, giggling madly. "You know, I don't think I'm ever going to win this game. We've been playing for three months and I still haven't trailed you to school without you knowing!" She came over and gave Ellington a hard shove...almost across the sidewalk.
Ellington just rolled her eyes; but she was smiling. It was becoming rather obvious that the girls were friends...maybe even best friends. Linking arms with Ellington, the girl took the second drink from from her with a sigh. "Thanks, dear. You know how I love a good cocoaccino."
Their fingers grazed on the drink, and Ellington shivered. "Geez, Jacquie, you need to cover your hands in this kind of weather! They're fricken cold, and I am wearing gloves!"
"Come on, Ellington. We've been friends for how many years? My hands are always cold," the girl replied lightly. "When you're from as far north as I am, you don't mind the cold so much. For me, it's normal."
"You've told me that before," Ellington said. "I just have a hard time believing that those popsicles won't get frostbite, eventually."
"That's about as likely as someone trailing you successfully," Jacquie laughed. But she glanced behind, and found Bernard instantly in the crowd, her bright blue eyes giving him a warning look.
And that's when Bernard recognized her. He should have seen it right away, actually; but she was obviously in a bit of a disguise. Jacquie of the blue coat was none other than Jacqueline Frost, Jack Frost's Legate, sister, and quite frankly, better half, in a loose sense. They had met a couple of times at Council meetings, but with her being Jack's Legate, Bernard had for the most part steered clear of her. But he knew she wasn't evil like her brother, so his reaction to seeing her with Elle now was one of relief, and not anxiety.
So someone was watching out for Ellington; keeping Jack away from her. This was an enormous relief to Bernard, who had been terribly worried when Jack disappeared after their little spat. He had been afraid that Jack had warped after her and was continuing to screw stuff up, but luckily, it didn't appear to be so. She was safe, in this time, and apparently quite content.
The girls continued off down the street, laughing and talking, until they turned in at a building and went in using a side door. Bernard knew better than to follow them in, but decided he should try to see what was going on inside. He skirted the building until he found some low windows...but 'low' meant, about seven and a half feet off the ground. Gritting his teeth and dropping his bag below the windows, Bernard began to scale a nearby drainpipe. He had gotten about five feet up when...
"You look ridiculous up there."
It was Jacqueline.
She was watching him with her arms crossed and an amused expression. "Are you seriously that desperate to keep eyes on Elle?"
Bernard nearly fell off the drainpipe. "Well, if you were me, wouldn't you be worried?"
"Maybe; but not nearly as obsessive." Jacquie shook her head. "How long have you been here?"
"Just since this morning," said Bernard, crawling back down to the ground. "How long have you been here? What are you doing here?"
"Glad to see you too," said Jacquie sarcastically. "After I found out about what Jack had been up to in the Pole, especially with Elle, I felt it my duty to help fix what my counterpart had messed up. I didn't have the pocket watch, obviously; to put things back the way they were. And that's not my job; it's yours. But I've been doing what I can to be there for Ellington during the shock waves of her time shift."
"For how long?"
"Oh, about seven years." Jacquie laughed. "Elle and I have been friends for quite some time. It's been fun...that is, during the times when she isn't sporadically depressed."
"Depressed? Ellington?" Bernard looked confused. "Jacqueline, what's going on? I haven't had time to read her new file. Something's different about her, and I can't figure out what."
"You really don't get it, do you? What you did to her?" Seeing Bernard's bewildered look, Jacquie's eyes grew cold...if you'll pardon the expression. "You broke her heart, Bernard. That's how Jack was able to trick her. That, and Cupid being a little too free with his Vulnerability arrows."
"Cupid shot her?" asked Bernard, appalled. "When?"
"When you were flirting with Jack's cover-girl elf!" hissed the cryokinetic sprite, in utter irritation. Ellington was very much her friend, and she was more than a little wrathful towards the somewhat aloof Head Elf. "Just like he stuck you with a Courage arrow!"
"What?"
"Oh come on, Bernard! You didn't honestly think that you just suddenly had enough courage to tell Elle you loved her, on your own?"
"My first mistake." Bernard said regretfully. He honestly hadn't figured that out.
"No," Jacquie corrected with an angry toss of her head, "your first mistake was ignoring her in the first place, your second, not noticing that Jack was ghosting her, the entirety of her stay: watching for a chance to get between you and Elle (which was all too easy for him, thanks to you); and the third, was that you knew you loved her, you KNEW! And you didn't tell her." Jacqueline was fuming...literally. Wisps of dry ice were flowing from her lips with each and every word she spoke. "I'm not one to disagree with the Council, but personally, I don't know why they let you come after her. You don't deserve her."
Bernard was ashamed. Obviously, what she said was true; and he felt awful—no, way beyond awful, horrendous about the way he had managed things, with both Ellington and the Clause. "How do you know all of this?"
"Of course that would be your response," scoffed the icy girl. She stared off into the distance. "Ellington's telepathy is stronger in this reality. She knows how to use it—both to read the thoughts of others, and to transmit her thoughts into others' minds. Sometimes...when we were younger, I would see snippets of her dreams during sleepovers. It was part of the transference, you know? I'm her best friend here, and she trusts me, so I guess her guard was down. Anyway, some nights she would dream of her old life; sometimes of her time at the Pole...and sometimes, of you."
"Me?" Hope shot up in Bernard's mind. "Does she...?"
"No, she doesn't remember you," Jacqueline said. "And all of her dreams were nightmares. All of them, even the ones with you. She never remembered them when she woke up, either. She still has them, even now. Sometimes she calls me in the middle of the night, after a really bad one. I don't suppose she's ever had one good dream her whole life. I spoke to Sandman about it, but he said that some magic was working on her, and there was nothing we could do."
"It's the Nightmare dust, all over again." All of this was his fault, Bernard realized. He shouldn't have been so stubborn. Now his choices were affecting the one person he didn't want to hurt. "It's hopeless," Bernard said, staring at the cement pavement of the walkway. "Jack was right. I failed her, in so many ways. I have no chance of...of ever bringing her back."
"Oh don't be such a drama elf. It's not that bad," said Jacqueline.
"Not that BAD!" Bernard laughed bitterly. "Jacquie, it's awful! You've just pointed out all of the ways I've ruined everything; and that's just the tip of the iceberg! How else could I have messed up on this? Honestly, I wait seventeen hundred years to be interested in anyone, and look what I've done with it! Let's see... I've caused an alternate reality, set the Workshop behind by fourteen weeks, and broken the heart of the girl I..." He trailed off.
"You still can't even say it, can you?" Jacquie chuckled. "Bernard, I'm pissed as all get out with you, because you broke my best friend's heart. It's my job to give you an earful! You think you're the only one who's been waiting for hundreds of years for something? I've been waiting for a friend. And I've finally found one. And as much as I hate to condone your behavior...a lot of good has come out of this shenanigans." She paused. "Also, the Council has told me I have to help you two get back together. Or get together, since you never really were together in the first place...augh! This is messy, alright. But still. I'm here...for Elle, mainly, but also for you."
With a sigh, Bernard picked up his bag. "Thank you for that. Really, it means a lot. But still, I'm totally screwed. Elle doesn't even know who I am."
"Well, then I guess you're lucky she's not dating," said Jacquie with a grin.
Bernard face palmed. "I hadn't even...thought of that."
"Thought of what?" asked the winter sprite. "That guys might actually be interested in Ellington, or that you could pose as one of those guys to win back her heart?"
"I..." Bernard's jaw dropped. "You mean...date her? Me?!"
A surprised look. "Easy, easy. If you can get that far. Elle's pretty choosy. But if you've got her best friend on her side..." Jacquie nudged him meaningfully. "I know what she's looking for. You might just have a chance."
"Oh burnt gingerbread," Bernard said embarrassedly. He rubbed his face for a minute.
"Well? Do you want my help or not?" pressed Jacquie impatiently, tapping the toe of her dark blue velvet boots. "Cupid will owe me big time for this one."
Throwing up his hands in defeat, Bernard cried, "Ugh! Fine. I know I've got to..."
"...Stop being so antisocial," finished Jacquie. She raised an eyebrow. "And learn to access your romantic side. Also, get some normal clothes. Haven't you heard of a disguise? You can't walk around Seattle dressed as an elf, Bernard. I thought you had better common sense than that. People are going to think you work at Kohl's."
Bernard looked down at his outfit in shock. "But... I made an effort not to dress elfish!"
Jacquie sighed. "Then you're also going to need some better fashion sense. Money can't buy that; however it can buy clothes. Have you got any money?"
There was the wallet. Bernard pulled it from the bag and showed her the American Express.
"Sheesh! The Big Guy went all out for you, didn't he?" Linking arms with him, Jacquie led him back towards the street. "Guess money's not a problem, then. I think it's time you had a makeover, Mr. Head Elf."
Lol Bernard is such a noob, it's hilarious. X'D Sort of out of his element, though. Good thing Jacquie's there to help him along. And Elle's new life isn't quite as perfect as Jack professed, is it?
I know this doesn't have a whole lot of plot momentum, but I needed to lay out the scenery for our new time/reality.
And I own none of these places in Seattle. ;) Well, except Ellington's house. (See disclaimer.) So nobody sue me!
Again, all kudos, worships, and chocolate truffles to SafyreSky, for her ingenious invention of Jacqueline Frost and her totally badass Legate system! *massive applause*Read SafyreSky's Meet the Frosts, if you haven't already! It's really good, and there's a whole lot about Jacquie. Her backstory, if you like. IT'S AWESOME PEOPLE! Seriously. I recommend it, and so does Ellington. LOL
Lots of New Year's Martenelli's(or whatever carbonated apple cider you prefer) for you all! *Opens massive case of said beverage*
And, in celebration of the New Year, please drop me a new leaf! I mean line! I mean review! (Get the picture? I'd love to hear from you.)
(This makes more sense than ever...) Cheers!
-Ana