Disclaimer: I own nothing, my writing is for amusement and sanity.
Here's my Take Three! Or is it Four? I've messed with my other story "Reindeer to the Rescue", from edits to deletes and redo tries...I'm not satisfied with it, and can't make myself fix it at this point so let's try this!
Read and Review please!
Please forgive my delay? Happy 2022?
Chapter Fifteen
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January 10th, 1872
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With his wandering and meeting the reindeer team, Chris ended up back in bed for an additional day before Bernard would agree to arrange for travel. In the time it took Chris to recover, he was introduced to another elf, a girl named Judy who took over in meal delivery and helped explain things a bit better. Mostly going over what Bernard had already told him, Judy helped the overwhelmed man come to terms with just what had happened on Christmas Eve night.
Made it easier to handle the morning Chris was to return to the mainland of the States, when after getting dressed in actual clothes…of finer cloth than he'd had since even his wedding, Chris walked into the stables and found the sleigh still covered and half of the reindeer team was out to wander in paddocks.
Bernard was standing in a heavy coat that was similar to the one Chris had donned before leaving the room he was using, only this coat was well used and had ink stains along the cuffs from hours pouring over papers and lists.
"Alright…I know I'm still not up to full strength…but I'm pretty sure you said I was traveling this morning." Chris turned a bit as he walked, smirking when Vixen tossed her head at him.
Smirking himself, Bernard adjusted his coat and scarf, keeping his hat pulled low over the dark curls and pointed ears to the extent he actually appeared human. Something Chris was beginning to question himself.
"You are, just not how you were thinking, the team might act like they're willing, but it will take a great deal of time to get them to trust and work with you. Time, I'm sure you'd rather not spend right now."
"Then how?"
Bernard fidgeted, before holding out his hand, "Close your eyes, and trust me."
Chris hesitated for only a moment, jolting into motion when Vixen bellowed irritably at his lingering presence, "Here goes nothing."
Calloused fingers met calloused fingers and squeezed, the strength surprising Chris to the point he almost didn't notice the jolt as the world spun on its head before solid ground met his feet in a whirr of motion.
Once he was able to breathe, Chris gulped for breath and came up with a shock of wet humidity instead of the sharp, dry air from the stables.
Opening his eyes, Chris found himself on a dirt road amidst snow heavy trees, not a reindeer in sight-or elf-or toy…
But there was a small house, with a lean-to shed and rail fence that kept the old mare from wandering.
"H-how…" Chris didn't even realize his hand still clasped Bernard's until he'd moved, but before he could question the elf, the chestnut mare whinnied across the yard at the newcomers.
It took an actual cry from the horse, for Chris to realize he'd started moving towards the house. And the animal only complained because the woman at the front door had screamed when Chris made it to the tree line at the edge of the yard.
"Christopher?!"
A shock of red hair collapsed out of the messy bun, silky waves tumbling down the woman's back when she started running. Chris broke into a sprint, ignoring the ache in his limbs and the slushy snow on the ground, as long as he could remain upright and make it.
"Leis na naoimh!" She was crying, but she was warm and solid and gripped him tight, her sobs shifting into laughter when Chris spun them both in circles until the pair were rightfully out of breath and dizzy.
Falling in the wet snow, Chris bellowed with laughter as he pressed kisses all over her cheeks and forehead, holding her tight to his chest while he lay sprawled on the ground.
Her radiant smile blinded him, eyes sparkling as she leaned up to gaze at his scruffy face. Careful fingers ran along his jaw that was usually clean shaven, a personal choice, but he hadn't found it in himself to care the last few days.
It wasn't until they both sat up, that Chris realized she was wearing black, not her usual color at all.
"What…the company-"
She burst into tears again, "Walt came by last week…they said you were gone!"
Chris grunted when she clung tighter, squeezing back with a soft hum, "I'm alright my dear, I'm alright."
"H-how…how are you here? What happened?"
Groaning a little at the exertion, Chris got them both back on their feet before continuing, "I swear to you, I am fine, I am here. But you will likely think I have gone mad-"
"Bless the lord, I could never!"
"I don't doubt it my dear," Chris smiled as he ran his fingers along her cheek, "But I wager I could beat even that glorious mind of yours."
She giggled, kissing him tenderly before tipping her chin towards the house and whistling sharply, "Hush it! That nag…come inside! Come inside my dear-"
"There's something-someone I need you to meet."
"Oh?"
Chris turned, having rightfully guessed even with just a pitiful amount of knowledge that Bernard wouldn't approach until the man was ready, at the elf's appearance, Chris gently linked his arm with his wife's.
"My dear…this is Bernard. Bernard, this is my wife, Grace."
"Pleasure to meet you, ma'am." Bernard's smile was polite, if a bit forced, and he glanced at Chris for directions.
Until Grace cleared her throat, "Take that stupid hat off lad, ye ain't foolin' me."
"I beg your pardon?"
She snorted, red hair flashing over her shoulder as the Gaelic accent pushed through with her smile.
"I was raised by a midwife in the highlands, she bore my father three girls in four years, and swears to the gods that every last one of us are changelings." Grace tapped the hat on Bernard's head, "I know an elf when I see one, can't hide a fae from someone raised in the older worlds."
A slightly relieved breath slipped from Chris' throat when Bernard genuinely smiled back at Grace, adjusting his hat so the tips of his ears were no longer restrained.
Chuckling at the pair of them, Grace pulled her husband towards the house, waving for Bernard to follow, "Kettle is on and the bread is fresh, better warm up and get dry before supper Christopher, and tell me just what in the world you've been up to. Bring an elf to my hearth! Not even a warning! Got the whole town in a tizzy o'er ye disappearin' an' such, thinkin' yer dead and sending me in ta mournin'!"
Allowing his wife to head inside first, Chris paused at the threshold with Bernard, a wicked smirk crossing his face when the elf met his gaze, "Think she'll take it better than me?"
"You fell off a bed," Bernard snapped, but it wasn't harshly, more in jest, "She knew what I was without getting scared."
"I wasn't scared!"
"You fell off a bed."
Grumbling, Chris waved the elf inside first, whistling himself at the mare pacing along the fence, wanting attention and receiving none, "Hush it Bunny! You'll get yer oats!"
Bernard glanced at the man once the door was shut, Chris gesturing to the pegs along the wall for their coats, "Bunny? Who names a horse 'Bunny'?"
Before the man could answer, a high-pitched squeal answered for him, toddling steps racing closer on the wooden floors, "Daddy!"
Chris laughed with glee, swooping forward to swing a giggling toddler into his arms. The burbles of a raspberry being blown on a baby cheek earned wild laughter before Chris settled the squirming child on his hip, smoothing the gold ringlet curls away from shocking blue eyes.
"Told you there was something else," Chris stepped closer, bouncing the little girl in his arms to keep her calm when Bernard made her a bit uneasy at the stranger, "This is our daughter, Eleanora."
A kind smile did reach Bernard's face, and with a quick glance at Chris for permission, the elf flicked his wrist, a small stuffed rabbit appearing with a slight shimmer of magic, "May I?"
"If she'll take it, I'm not opposed, careful though-she might just throw it back."
Taking the risk, Bernard let the toddler examine the toy, letting go as soon as she began to pull it closer.
And promptly shoved one of the ears in her mouth.
"I'll take that as a yes."
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Supper was a hearty potato and carrot stew with chunks of beef, and fluffy homemade bread that had Bernard's mouth watering in response before he even sat down with his new boss and wife. The daughter was fed quickly by Grace while the woman kicked her husband outside to feed the horse and check on their wood supply.
While Chris was absent, Grace became the inquisition, sitting Bernard down at her hearth with a cup of tea and let the elf begin his explanations in his own time.
Once the basics had been told, Grace paused long enough to settle in an exquisitely carved rocking chair to sooth the toddler in her arms. With the silence taking over from a slumbering child, Grace stared at the crackling fireplace before her steady eyes locked onto Bernard's with a flash of deep green, like a winter cedar…or holly bush…
The elf squirmed under her gaze, fidgeting with his forest green tunic top until she huffed a soft laugh with a smirk.
"Relax lad, I mean ye no harm, but answer me this…is my Christopher safe?"
"Yes ma'am."
There wasn't an ounce of hesitation, even under the heavy scrutiny from the woman. While she was entirely serious, she did smile gently to reassure Bernard's nervous stuttering after the sharp response.
"I-I…I promise that-"
"Easy," Grace chuckled, standing slowly with perfect ease to go put her daughter to bed in another room, "I believe you."
When she returned, both could hear Chris making his way back to the house, Grace taking the last moments without him to stare at Bernard with a look the elf wasn't familiar with, at least not yet, a look of concern-and a bit of scolding.
"What haven't you told me, lad? Somethin' my Chris don't even know."
"I…" Bernard huffed, blurting out the words a bit more bluntly than he'd hoped to, "He'll have to leave, here that is…he won't be able to stay here with your husband as the new Santa."
A moment of silence, the woman's jaw tensing for a fleeting second while Chris banged around the front door to kick the slush and mud of his boots before entering. At her sharp nod, Bernard flinched, watching the determination settle over the lady like a mantle, "Well then, best get to packing then, won't we?"
"W-what?"
Chris looked just as confused, staring at his wife in amazement as she unlocked a cedar trunk against a wall, rummaging in the neatly folded belongings, "Dear? What are you-"
Glittering eyes flashed back at him, silencing any argument from both the man and the elf, "Did ya think I'd let you leave me again? If you go, so do we."
"But…" Chris gaped, "Grace…the farm, your folks…the baby-"
"The farm will sell, and my folks are getting' on in years, and live back in Scotland just fine without me, as for your daughter…" Grace snorted, hands on her hips after shoving a box at Chris from the trunk, "I'm sure she can be occupied in a workshop full of toys."
Before either of the two could argue, the woman pointed towards the bedroom, "Now then, go and pack your things husband, and donnae wake the bairn, ye'll be soothin' her down if ye do."
While her husband did as told, Grace moved about the kitchen, cleaning up the meal and refilling Bernard's cup, "I suppose I'll have to ask the pair of you to hide when I have the neighbors swing by to look at that mare, Thomas will watch the house if I can't get it to sell right quick. Don't suppose a trunk or so of belongings is alright to bring?"
Gaping at her just a bit, Bernard's jaw clicked shut in shock before he found his voice again, "It…it's no trouble, ma'am, more if you require though I'll have to bring the team down for it."
She chuckled softly, "Do I scare you, lad?" Grace winked when the elf tried to shake his head in denial and it turned into a slight shudder, "I take it not many outright believe you when you talk about these things."
"Not usually this quickly…no." Bernard tried to smile in reassurance, though it came out more as a grimace. Grace shrugged it off, fingers sliding along a shelf of herbs and spices for a moment before she selected only a couple bottles to set aside. Anything she was preparing to take, moved to the kitchen table, anything to be left behind, didn't move.
"I'll probably bore you half to death with questions o'er a cup o' tea at a later time, fer now…" Grace trailed off, running her fingertips over the mantle with vines carved into the solid oak beam, "I'd rather get this over with, I already planned on movin' on after the news came from the company that my Chris was gone. And now…seeing him alive and well, I cannae stay. Best to get on."
Bernard's brow furrowed for just a moment, aged eyes finding the woman's again with a bit more seriousness, "How do you know we're telling the truth? That you haven't gone mad in your grief?"
He meant it as a test, the relative ease Grace was handling this sudden change was astounding, and almost to good to be true. Even if she had recognized an elf when she saw one, it wasn't completely unheard of in some places. Anyone else just thought it was a flight of fancy or a drunkard making up tales.
The next words shocked him to the core, there wasn't an ounce of hesitation in Grace's voice.
"Seeing isn't believing, lad. Believing in the world's magic…that is seeing the world."
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Bernard ended up back at the Pole that night. Even if the plan wasn't to do so once Grace set her mind to packing. Chris talked her down into waiting until the next morning, allowing the baby to sleep before trekking with her mother to the nearest neighbor in the daylight.
Leaving the couple to their home alone, Bernard teleported back to the North Pole, giving orders to Tobias in the Stables to harness up a pair of reindeer the next morning for a short flight. While ornery and likely to balk, the two should behave well enough for the elf to at least get down to Christopher again, hopefully they'd also cooperate and get everyone back as well.
Before he headed to bed himself, Bernard also assigned a couple elves on adjusting Chris' current bedroom, placing a crib in there as well as some toys and clothing for Eleanora's arrival. Judy immediately jumped in to supervise, and sent a couple elves off to survey a few possible suites for use once they were decorated to the new family's liking.
Waking the next morning, Bernard almost dreaded opening his eyes, thinking he'd find Chris had managed to deny the magic, or that the couple had been fooling him into leaving so they could disappear. While unlikely, Chris hadn't changed enough to be easily trackable. Especially not with a wife who could recognize elves, it was very possible she knew how to ward off as well.
The entire sleigh ride down to Chris' house, Bernard was dreading what he'd find. Any traces of Chris' presence on his magic was fleeting, wisps that he couldn't grasp let alone follow. At least Donner and Vixen didn't fight him too much, balking once on the ground but remaining relatively settled in the tree line bordering Chris' land.
There was a pair of young boys in the yard, one holding the reins to Bunny the horse, the other petting a black dog. Both were waiting on a man, likely their father, speaking with Grace just outside the house. The baby was on her hip, and the woman looked fine, even if her husband was no where to be-
Bernard flinched, flailing a bit as a hand clamped down on his mouth, pulling him back into the seat of the sleigh.
"Sh-" Chris' voice was a bare whisper, his other hand yanking the reins from Bernard's grasp to still the shifting reindeer, "Thomas' hound has the best ears in the county, don't want him catching any noise."
At the elf's nod, Chris let go, grimacing in apology before he moved to Donner's head and stroked the soft nose to keep the animal quiet. Vixen thankfully remained stoic, ignoring the man but not fussing either.
It still took nearly half an hour before the neighbor was done, handing a small bag to Grace by the looks of it, before departing, horse, boys, and dog in tow.
Grace watched them leave, and even waited longer once they were out of sight, before she whistled towards the trees.
"There we go, figured Ole Tom would take forever," Chris sighed in annoyance, "Least he was quick about gettin' here this morning. Step up! Come on now."
With his hand gripping the headstall on Donner, Chris lead the pair on, handling the fussy animals with ease and impressing Bernard with his confidence. Obviously he'd worked with draft animals before, it would help in the long run.
Vixen on the other hand, was not as compliant, waiting until just before they reached Grace and then nearly capsizing the sleigh as she bucked up, kicking the sleigh runner and then rearing in her harness in a chaotic twist.
Bernard rolled with the motion, falling painfully out of the sleigh and trying to avoid sharp hooves. Chris caught his coat and yanked him clear, his other arm holding his daughter.
"Ho now!" Grace's shout cut through Bernard's shock, the terse command interrupting a bellow from Donner in complaint at his teammate's attitude.
Her hand flashed up, catching the reins on the female's headstall with ease, before she yanked down and dropped the reindeer's nose almost to the slushy ground.
"Enough!"
Huffing in anger, Vixen pawed at the mud a bit before realizing the lady wasn't backing down, she finally relaxed, body not quite sagging in the harness, but going limp with her head so she was no longer fighting the hands.
Grace let her up immediately, stroking the broad neck with a sigh, "Aren't you just a bushel of trouble, easy there, bet you don't want to be workin' today, best we get on with this and no more of that nonsense, shall we?"
As if understanding her, the female reindeer shook in her harness, keeping her head low in submission while Grace snorted.
"Go get the bags Christopher," Grace ordered, one hand still holding Vixen's reins, the other alternating pets between the female and Donner, "She won't stand forever, rather not give in to her fussing."
"And your father said I was the crazy one." Chris muttered, adjusting Eleanora on his hip and headed into the house. Bernard fixed his coat, watching the woman fuss over the reindeer with a stern hand, not letting either one paw at the ground or start rocking about too much without tugging on their reins of bopping the soft noses in gentle reprimand. It took the pair only a couple tries to figure out she wasn't joking, even as Chris loaded a couple bags into the sleigh, and had Bernard help him with the cedar trunk. Donner and Vixen were quickly content to let Grace pet them while they waited, no longer trying to fight the new people.
While he wasn't familiar with small…human children, Bernard was handed Chris' daughter while the man helped his wife up into the sleigh. The two settled in the back seat, Grace bundling the toddler between her hip and a packed bag. The trunk and a couple other bags were strapped behind that seat. Chris closed up the house and tucked the key in the designated spot for Thomas, before climbing up next to Bernard in the sleigh. Settling like he'd done it a hundred times with the reins in his hands, Chris was half a second away from snapping the leather lines.
He hesitated, catching himself with a low cough, "Oh, I-"
Bernard's hands flew up, "No sir, they're your team."
Chris huffed, wrists flicking with ease and sending the reindeer racing forward and then to the skies.
"This isn't going to be like the last flight, is it? I'm not putting my family in danger, am I?"
"You are already in the sleigh and in the air?" Bernard snorted, "Now you ask?"
Grace chuckled behind them, humming to her dozing child.
Shrugging, Chris adjusted his grip, "Pretty sure getting them to stop is like horses, and I bet they're more eager."
Bernard grinned, trying to sound reassuring, even as Donner tossed his head and fought the reins, "The more you are with them, the more they'll listen to you. And that trip was a bit of a fluke, normally you'd have more time to transition even on your first night."
"That…and they're barn sour," Chris growled, flicking the reins again to direct the pair.
"What now?"
"Barn sour." Chris shrugged, "They're so used to getting their way, if they act up, they go back to their stalls. Am I correct?"
At the elf's nod, Grace snorted from the back seat, "All anyone has done with that, is teach them to misbehave. Enough fuss and they get exactly what they want."
"Dear…no." Chris earned a look of confusion from Bernard, meanwhile they sailed over miles of land in a flash, almost unnoticed by the humans.
"Dear," Grace eyed her husband, "Don't test me."
"That's why you married me."
"I thought it was my dowry…"
Smirking at their banter, Bernard leaned back in his seat, caught between watching the new couple of the Pole, and trying to monitor the fussy reindeer. Chris was handling them well, even if they fought his directions, mostly Vixen. Compared to Chris' first trip in the air, this one had to be faster, Bernard wasn't kidding when he said the team was more accepting of him, even after a mere seventeen days since putting on the coat. The magic was already working its way in, the stubble on Chris' face was thickening and he didn't seem to mind, the reindeer-ornery and stubborn at best-were listening to him, and while it was early January and cold across the northern hemisphere-the sleigh was warm and safe.
Made a much smoother welcome for the new lady as the smaller team flew towards the Pole, the land around the hidden entrance a glistening expanse of ice and starlight.
"Christopher…where are we?"
Not answering his wife, the man smoothly turned the pair of reindeer towards the entrance-not yet open as it usually delayed the first few times a new Santa arrived-a magic kick back Bernard hadn't gotten fixed yet.
Soaring closer to the ground, Grace cleared her throat, "Christopher-what's going on?!"
This time, Bernard glanced back at the woman, seeing for the first time a flash of fear on her face at the solid ice looming below them. Before he could reassure her, Chris chuckled softly, snapping the reins to give Donner and Vixen more speed.
"Christopher!"
Laughing at Grace's shriek, Chris easily directed the two reindeer into the ice dome, sending them in with a flashy swirl that pulled the sleigh out of its breakneck dive and into a lazier descent.
Bernard did have to duck a little when Grace slugged her husband upside the head, muttering in Gaelic under her breath in annoyance. Her complaints quickly trailed off once her eyes adjusted the brightness within the dome, an internal glow emanating from the ice.
"Oh good lord…"
"Prettier when a man isn't frozen half to death," Chris teased, eyes bright when he looked to Bernard, "Stables then?"
"Think you can get them to the town square?" Bernard pointed over Donner's near shoulder, "It'll be easier to show you to your rooms. That and you can't arrive quietly with family in tow. The others won't really let you."
"That," Chris snorted, "You should have warned her about." Following the directions, Chris had to fight Vixen to get her to cooperate with the new trajectory, soothing the female with a low voice and steady hand. Not wanting to get in the way of the bonding between the Santa and part of his team, Bernard remained quiet the rest of the descent. Though he did augment the landing, smoothing out the drop once the sleigh hit the snow covered square. Donner and Vixen might have landed roughly, but the least the elf could do was make sure the two ladies had a gentle landing.
Chris eased the sleigh to a complete stop, grinning at the two reindeer already tossing their heads in complaint even once that they were on the ground, "You two are going to be a handful. Alright back there, dear?"
Grace huffed, untangling her legs and daughter from the blankets, "Remind me never to do that again."
Laughing loudly, Chris jumped down from the sleigh, one hand reaching for his wife while the other still held the reins, at least until Bernard waved one of the gathered elves closer.
"Agatha, get these two back, they're probably not going to like you too much, so be careful. Laurel, have Joanie and her crew take the bags to the suite and-" Bernard was caught off by a loud shriek, the toddler waking up from her nap and not happy about the change.
A round of bewildered gasps raced through the small crowd of elves in the square, before Grace revealed the little girl when she squirmed out of her blanket. The 'aww's were endearing, though not helpful as Eleanora cried and hid her face in her father's chest once Agatha took over the reindeer.
"Someone isn't happy," Judy was right at Bernard's side, almost as if by magic, though the taller of the two knew very well that wasn't her specialty.
"Someone just woke up," Grace replied, rolling her eyes a the fussy child, her smile was polite to the crowd, if a bit distracted. Chris caught it with a nod, waving to the others before turning to Judy.
"Shall we head inside, she'll start screaming in a minute and that's not a great first impression." Chris was trying to sound light hearted, but it was obvious he was tired still from being ill, plus the travel and late hour of the day already.
"Of course! I have food and drinks waiting for you sir. It is a pleasure to meet you ma'am, my name is Judy."
Grace dipped her head at Judy's curtsy, "I am Grace, Chris' wife, and something tells me you might have some answers for me, considering I believe Bernard is about to disappear."
Shooting the other elf a look, Judy smirked, waving off his slight chagrin, "He most certainly is. Your belongings will be right behind us, if you'll follow me-"
Bernard took the out, waving to Grace before turning to three department heads and two assistants clamoring for his input and gossip about the new Santa. Before he could get too far into the conversations, Chris interrupted by joining them.
"See you in the morning then?"
Nodding, Bernard was a bit shocked, letting Chris head inside without further comment, Veronica-head of Research and Development followed his gaze, smirking at the departing man whose dark auburn hair would soon shift to white.
"I get the feeling this Santa is going to shake things up a bit, wouldn't you?"
Eyeing the elf who was also as old as Bernard, the head elf scowled, "Oh don't you start."
"I'm not!" Veronica still smirked, heading towards the workshop doors, "Just got a good vibe from this one."
"Yeah," Bernard rolled his eyes, trailing after her with a shake of his head, "I doubt that."
Thank you for reading! Review Please!
Leis na naoimh: "Oh my god"