The wake-up call was bright and early that next morning. Cordelia was sleeping soundly, dreaming about her old life in New York, when the lights suddenly came on. "What the . . .?" She reached over and flipped the lamp out but almost immediately it flipped itself back on. "Ugh . . ." Throwing her pillow over her head, she tried to go back to sleep - if it weren't for the bath which automatically started to draw itself in the bathroom. "I'm up . . . I'm up . . ." She pulled herself out of the bed and began to head over to the bathroom. She looked back to the light which was still on. "You can turn off anytime…" As if that was a cue the light flipped itself off. She threw up her hands in exasperation and went ahead into the bathroom to begin her day.
~*~*~
The cafeteria was bustling with activity as breakfast was underway. Cordelia trudged in, got her food, and found Bernard and Abby sitting together with another elf - a girl named Judy.
"Hey, guys," she said as she sat down next to her.
"Hey," Abby said. "You still look kinda tired."
"When the light comes on automatically at 5:30 in the morning and then a bath automatically starts to draw itself about 15 minutes later, I'd say that I am kind of tired." That comment drew a laugh from Bernard.
"Looks like Quentin's designs never went with him when he moved out of the room."
"Quentin?"
"He's the second-in-command of 'Research & Development.' Your rooms were his old rooms before he got his job. He moved out into some better rooms and it seems that he never took his 'alarms' with him."
"I see . . ." She sighed - she didn't really want her breakfast . . . all she wanted was to go back to sleep.
"Are you definitely going to want to join the R & D team?"
"Hm?" Cordelia looked back up to Bernard and he repeated what he said. "Oh, yeah. I figure that I can be of best help there."
"Good," he said. "Research and Development is one of the departments I work closely with. I'll take you over to their building and introduce you around after breakfast."
She nodded and turned back to her food.
~*~*~
Impatience caught up with Bernard quickly. He began to tap his foot to try and keep him calmer, but that rapidly got old. All around him, elves were hustling and bustling to get their jobs done. All of a sudden, she appeared at his side.
"You ready?" Cordelia zipped up her jacket and turned to Bernard. They were both standing in the main area of the workshop, getting ready to go over to the Research and Development HQ.
"Yeah," she said. "Let's head out."
He opened the door, let her pass, and caught up with her when she stood aside with the intention of waiting for him. "You know," he said as they began walking. "This department used to be in this building."
"Why did they move?"
"The department got too big. The Chem Lab is where the old R & D used to be. When it got too big, we managed to find a building down the street to purchase for them. They moved there, oh, about three months ago." She nodded, understanding the basic history of her new department. The two walked in silence for a few minutes.
"Bernard?" Cordelia asked as she turned to her companion.
"Yeah?"
"Do you mind if I ask you something personal?"
"Just as long as it isn't too personal."
"Do you have any family?"
This took the head elf aback. Many of the elves at the North Pole just knew him as Bernard. Now that he thought about it, he didn't even know his last name. Everyone during the 1000 years that he had worked at the workshop just called him 'Bernard.' No last name.
"Its obvious that I, at one time, had a mother and father. You see," he began as they were walking down the street along the main edge of the Town Square, "my parents left when I was 200. My father had gotten me a job in Wrapping and he left Elfsburg soon after."
"What about your mother?"
"I don't remember her. I don't remember if she died when I was a little baby or if she went with my father when he left."
"Do you know where he went?"
"No. Last I heard he was in Montreal in Canada but, then again, that was about 300 years ago. Why are you asking me all these questions?"
She sighed. Reaching in her pocket, she took out the pin. Bernard's eyes grew wider as he took it from her hand.
"Where did you get this?!?"
"My mom and dad gave it to me. They said it was a family heirloom. Bernard, do you remember what your father looked like?"
"He was just about as tall as me. He had brown eyes and . . ."
" . . . black hair." They finished on the same phrase.
"His name is Michael Williams. I don't know if that's his real name, but then again he didn't tell me anything about my heritage."
They walked in silence before Bernard sighed, taking off his beret and comparing the pins. "As far as I can see, the design is the same. A part of me believes you, but I'm still not sure you're telling the truth." When he saw that she looked slightly offended, he put his arms up in his defense. "For all I know, you could be my sister. You could also be someone up here . . . but for what?" He looked up and, before she had the chance to answer he motioned her towards a door. "In there."
~*~*~
The pair walked in and saw two boys standing in the main room of the R & D headquarters. "Curtis. Quentin," Bernard said greeting them with a nod. "Hello, Bernard," Quentin said acknowledging his greeting. "You must be Cordelia. I'm Quentin and this is Curtis, who's in charge of Research and Development. Are you ready to begin with us?"
"Yep," she said before turning to Bernard. "I'll see you later?"
"Yeah," he said with a smile. "See you later." He watched the girl go off with Curtis and Quentin to get settled into her new job and, when they were gone, he took out her pin. It *was* the design which was specifically designated to his family . . . but was it really hers or did she get it somehow from one of his family members?
Please R & R!!! No flames, please - nothing too bad will happen in this story, but be prepared for some intense events to take place in the future chapters (there was a *lot* of foreshadowing over the last couple of chapters . . . you'll see). Just a warning - next chapter will be up ASAP. Until then, enjoy!