December 11th, 1994

2 weeks before Christmas

Not to my surprise, the kitchen has become my favorite place to keep myself busy. The constant smell of peppermint, chocolate, and sugar cookies have become my addiction. I enjoy watching the elves run about creating new recipes and hundreds of cups of hot chocolate daily. I don't know how they manage, it's a miracle really.

I've spent most of my time here since we've arrived at the factory on Thanksgiving. Charlie has spent most of his time with Quintin, the head of research and development. They actually made a fire retardant suit for Dad or Santa. I'm still trying to figure out when I should call him each name. Speaking of him, I've never seen him be so on top of things. He seems genuinely excited with the fact he's Santa now, even officially dresses like him.

Bernard has been a great help with easing Dad's huge life change. He has definitely been helping me too. Whenever I get too stressed out over things he swoops in out of nowhere. He usually takes me to watch the northern lights from the roof of the factory. It almost beats the kitchen for being my favorite place to be. At this point, it has become an almost everything night occurrence. I have a feeling Bernard goes there to relieve his stress too. I have become quite good at reading his moods, something he definitely tries to hide from others when it's not anger or happiness. We have been spending a lot of time together the past two weeks. From long nights drinking hot cocoa in the kitchen to dragging him Christmas shopping with me.

I squeeze my way through a group of elves in an attempt to reach the table to place my newly frosted sugar cookies. I'm a few inches taller than them allowing me to not drop the silver tray in the process. Letting out a sigh of relief when I place the tray down on the table. I look at my creation with a small smirk of victory. A hand is suddenly placed on my shoulder making me jump in surprise and slam my hands down on the table smashing one of my cookies. My head quickly turns to my right and I let out a sigh of relief to see Bernard. He takes his hand off my shoulder and raises his hands in defense at my reaction. "Bernard! You made me punch my cookie!" I pout and point at my now shattered Christmas tree.

A smile breaks out on his face at my disappointment "No need to be so jumpy Aria, besides you frosted the wrong side anyway." He picks up a crumb putting it up to my face showing me I did in fact do just that.

I roll my eyes at him and turn my head back to the tray and in a teasing voice "Fine, I guess you won't be having one of my delicious sugar cookies…" I trail off slowly reaching to pick up my tray. He jumps at this and pushes my hands away "Wait! Wait! I never said that!" He says excitedly, stepping forward to stand between the table and me. He places his hands behind him on the table shielding the cookies from my sight.

I smirk at his actions and give in "Fine, close your eyes." I cross my arms and wait for him to do so. He opens his mouth to protest but quickly reads my body language and closes them. I carefully reach around him and pick up the pieces of the cookie I punched. I try not to laugh at his nervous fidgeting which is causing the bells around his neck to ring loudly. "Open" I ordered him to open his mouth. As soon as he does so I throw the crumbs at his face.

His eyes shoot open quickly in surprise as it hits him. He glares at me as pieces of frosted cookies now stick all over his face. "Aria!" He yells in surprise "You missed! I only got a few crumbs in my mouth." I laugh at his reaction, throwing my head back and clap my hands together. "I mean...I can't lie, they taste really good." He admits trying to wipe as much cookie off his face blindly. I turn around to go get him a napkin to wipe his face off, giggles still uncontrollably escaping my mouth.

I hear Bernard's footsteps fast approaching behind me and his hand grabs onto my wrist spinning me around to face him. A sly look covers his face before he drags his other hand, not holding my wrist, across my cheek and nose. I feel sticky green frosting now covering my face. "Oh! Bernard I'm so going to get you!" I yell as he lets out a howl of a laugh. I reach forward trying to grab him, he struggles with pushing me away through our laughter.

"Hey! Love birds!" Someone yells from across the kitchen. Bernard and I freeze in our position. I look up at him to see him already looking at me. Our feet are awkwardly intertwined, my hands pressed up against his face and chest, and his hand is on my hip and his other on my right shoulder. Appearing like we are giving each other a very complicated hug.

Our eyes widen in realization and push away from each other. I look around the kitchen avoiding eye contact with Bernard. Everyone in the kitchen has stopped their movements and is now staring at us. Some with smirks and others looking at us shocked, or more so just Bernard.

I turn my head to the entrance of the kitchen and watch as Judy approaches us slyly looking between Bernard and me. "Are you guys coming sledding or not? Veronica, Quintin, and I have been waiting on the hill for ten minutes." I slap my forehead in realization "Oh shoot, sorry Judy. I completely forgot." That's what Bernard must've come here to tell me. "Let me just clean up and I'll be right out." I reassure her.

Bernard finally breaks his silence "I'll go get the sleds." he turns to me for the first time since we broke apart for conformation. I feel my face get red at the reminder of what just occurred "Yeah sure." I nod at him and divert my eyes away. I hear the sound of his bells jingle as he walks away. I let out a sigh of relief that everyone has gone back to minding their business in the kitchen. Turning back to my tray cookies I begin gathering the crumbs.

"So...what's going on between you two?" Judy questions smirking knowingly at me. I roll my eyes and pick up the tray walking to a basket on the serving table to place my cookies in. "I don't know what you're talking about." I try avoiding her question. I hear her huff in annoyance behind me "You two will realize it one day." She remarks. I turn to her ready to say something only to see her walk out of the kitchen.

I frown and turn back on my heels and focus back on my cookies. What is she talking about? There's not anything going on between Bernard and me. It's not like I like him like that, we are just friends. Do I? I shake my head of my thoughts and let out a nervous laugh.

My face burns from the cold as I slide down the steep snow covered hill. Veronica's laugh from behind me rings in my ears along with mine as we quickly pass the other elves walking back up the hill. We slowly come to a stop and waste no time jumping off and running back up the hill.

There is a large hill behind the factory that is perfect for sledding. I've learned this is what the elves like to do after the factory closes for the night. Quintin, Veronica, Judy, and I have been sledding for over an hour now. The sun just set so the Christmas lights strung about supplied just enough light for us. I would say Bernard is too but he has been standing on top of the hill just watching us sled. He hasn't said or done much since we've gotten here. I have a feeling he's not used to hanging out with the other elves like this.

When I reach the top of the hill with Judy I pout at Bernard who gives me a small nod of acknowledgment. I huff and go to walk to him "Hey Aria! Want to go together?" I hear Quintin yell from behind me. I whirl around "Yeah sure!" I say excitedly before turning back around walking towards his sled.

Before we came out we made sure to oil up the bottom of the sleds so they would go even faster down the hill. Quintin is already sitting on his sled and I crouch down to get on behind him. I grab onto his shoulders to ensure I don't fall off. "Ready?" He asks, I turn my head towards Bernard to ask him to give us a push but stop myself when he's already staring directly at us but with a hardened expression. A look of realization comes across his face when he sees I'm looking at him and he turns his head away. I frown and continue looking at him concerned.

"Aria? Are you okay?" Quintin questions me turning his head towards me. I clear my throat "I-uh actually have a better idea. How about Judy and you race Bernard and me?" I propose already getting up from the sled. "Oh, sounds like a great idea Aria!" Judy says enthusiastically already running toward us to Quintin's sled.

I walk towards Bernard who is already looking at me with his eyebrows lifted "You ready sled buddy?" I ask him and bend down retrieving my own baby blue sled and set it down in front of us. "I'm fine re-" He goes to protest but I put my index finger to his mouth. "No excuses" I say flatly.

Bending down I sit towards the front of the sled, leaving enough room for Bernard behind me. He sighs before sitting behind me putting his legs on each side of me. "Well hold on elf boy, or else you're going to go flying." I joke smiling to myself. "Oh right." He laughs nervously before wrapping his hands around my waist hugging me against his chest. I can feel his breathing on my right ear and feel a blush grow on my cheeks.

I turn my attention to Veronica who is standing between our sleds. "Ready?" She yells. I grab onto the rope in front of me getting ready to kick off "Ready!" Quintin and I yell at the same time. Veronica counts down before yelling for us to go. I kick off and my smile returns to my face as I feel the familiar wind hit my face.

I suddenly hear Bernard begin laughing behind me causing my laughter to return. I can feel his chest vibrating against my back from his laughter. I completely forget about directing the sled until I feel us hit a bump. Bernard and I let out a yelp as we are thrown into the air. My back roughly hits the ground before getting crushed by Bernard landing on top of me.

Silence fills the air as I try to catch my breath. I feel Bernard groan and put his hands on the ground to push himself up to look at me. His eyebrows are raised and his face is pulled into a shocked smile "Oh my god." he quietly says. We stare at each other silently before bursting into laughter. I try to get as much air into my lungs as possible but my laughing causes me to fail. Bernard loses his balance and falls back onto me. His laughter is now being muffled by my neck.

Our laughter dies down as I hear Veronica, Judy, and Quintin yelling at us if we are okay. I feel Bernard tense up on me and take a sharp breath in "Oh sorry!" he squeaks getting off of me. I laugh again and take his hand he offered to help me up. After brushing the snow off my black coat I give the others a thumbs up showing we are okay.

I turn towards Bernard who is now holding the sled in his hands looking at me as the corners of his mouth turn up. "Hot chocolate?" He asks, tilting his head towards the factory. "You always know the right thing to say Bernard." I smile and walk towards him throwing my arm around his waist "Let's go."

"I know I've never admitted this but I think you make a better hot chocolate than Judy. Don't tell her I said that though" I joke with Bernard. He chuckles from my left "I may have to brag about that to the whole factory" he smiles and takes a sip from his steaming red mug.

I had to change into a thick white knitted sweater and black jeans due to being soaked by the snow. Bernard changed into a dark red sweater with his usual brown pants but sadly parted with his velvet hat. We decided it was time to go to the roof for our nightly hang out after our brutal crash landing. I got a gnarly bruise on my side from landing so hard. Bernard was fine, of course, I broke his fall.

I feel a chill run through my body and I pull the heavy Christmas blanket I'm sharing with Bernard tighter around my body. I feel him shift closer to me supplying me with more blanket. "So I had fun today. What about you?" I ask him turning my attention from the northern lights back to him. He nods his head still looking out at the sky, his mouth pulling into a small smile "I really liked the small piece of cookie I had and flying through the air off a sled." I let out a small chuckle at the memories.

My mouth goes back into a frown when I remember how miserable he seemed earlier. Finally, getting the courage I ask "Why weren't you enjoying yourself sledding with us? The only time you seemed okay was when we went together that one time." I don't turn my eyes away from him. His eyebrows furrowed together and a few moments passed before he answered "I guess...I don't really know how to just hang out with everyone. I never went out with them like that until...well you came along." he pauses and leans forward and places our now empty hot cocoa mugs on the glass table in front of us. Leaning back he turns his head looking at me "I just know I can be myself around you, even after knowing you for a few months. Most elves probably think I'm just a big grump who yells at people. So I often shy away from being social with them" his mouth pulled into a half smile.

I surveyed his face absorbing everything he told me "Well you are a grump who yells at people." I tease bumping our shoulders before turning my face serious "But seriously Bernard, they like having you around. I mean they all look up to you and they know you only act that way because you're trying to help move things along." I reach forward grabbing onto his hand and intertwined our fingers "Besides, you're pretty great to be around, give yourself credit. I couldn't ask for someone better to be with when my life gets crazy." I finish speaking and keep looking up at him.

He drew his lower lip between his teeth. "I have a feeling that this" he gestures between us "is gonna be great." his cheeks redden a bit at his words. I bite back a smile and lean my head down onto his shoulder, he quickly lays his head on mine in return. Looking back out to the colored lights in the sky I take a deep breath in contentment. I can't help but hope for more meaning behind his words. "Me too Bernard...me too." I squeeze his hand tighter and let the smile come to my face.

Authors Note

David Krumholtz followed me on TikTok after he saw my Bernard video. Feeling successful.

Also, I just finished my semester and have been home from college so more updates coming!