Disclaimer: I don't own anyone but the characters who weren't in either movie
Chapter 2: Back in Town
The summer had come and gone. Charlie had accepted the invitation to stay for a few weeks during his final break before college. The elves had been delighted to have their favorite son back with them. All good things must come to an end though, and soon, Christmas was fast approaching.
It was exactly five days before the big event. Santa walked out to the hangar where the still young and often clumsy reindeer Chet, was sleeping.
"Hey buddy." The old man said, scratching the animal behind his ears, gently rousing him from his morning / afternoon nap.
Chet struggled to his feet and gazed around groggily, taking in exactly where he was and who had gotten him up. When he realized it was his boss, he shook off the sleep and stood at attention. He fancied himself a Rudolph type, not the best, but he might get recognized one of these days.
"Chet, I've got a very special favor to ask you. Something I'm trusting only to you and no one else, okay?"
The response was a vigorous head nod.
"I need you to go and get my son Charlie. We're throwing a big party for him tonight and we want him to be here right on time. Can you do that for me, Chet?"
Enthusiastically, Chet bounded over the stable door and ran towards the takeoff field.
"Be careful with him Chet! Don't let him fall off!" Called a nervous Santa after the young deer. Then, shaking his head and laughing, he walked back to the workshop.
A few hours later, just about 10 minutes before the party was to begin, Chet flew in for a less than comfortable touch down. Charlie was visibly shaken, but if he had any verbal complaints to hand out, he never voiced them. Once at the North Pole, no one could officially stay angry at anyone or anything for too long.
His father and stepmother were waiting for him in the courtyard.
"Charlie! How are you?" Carol asked, embracing the young man in her motherly grasp.
"Hey Carol, hey dad."
"We're glad you're here son. The elves have been waiting all day to throw you this party."
"Trust me, I'm glad to be here."
The three walked into the main workshop where the elves practically tackled him in their joy and delight. Bernard even hugged him. Judy came up with a steaming hot cup of hot chocolate, which Charlie gratefully received.
"You don't know how much I've missed this." Said the teen, taking a long sip off the top of the glass.
With that, the party began. Music, food, and laughter overran the North Pole to the highest possible degree. Dancing turned out to be one of the favorite activities, as some of the elves proved their skill at the step was exceptional.
Judy flew around the main room. She held her dress end in one hand and held the other hand high in the air. Twirling faster and faster. The elves clapped and cheered, especially when the usually tame and reserved Curtis joined her out on the floor.
Charlie laughed and sampled the new treats the cooking elves had brought out for him. He talked and listened to all his old friends. It was odd now, looking at them. Bernard had once been his elder, in physical appearance, but now that Charlie was older, the head elf seemed more equal. Though a gap of a few thousand years separated them in actuality.
Hours passed, and night fell on the magic land, until it got late. The party wasn't exactly close to ending, but things were not as upbeat as they had been earlier.
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At first, only a few sparkles were very noticeable. They swirled around in the air and grew in number quickly. Suddenly, they began to form the shape of what appeared to be a human. From the feet up, the sparkles solidified and turned to flesh, forming a living and breathing person.
Gazing around, the person stood there, "It's good to be home."
This was their bedroom, right next to Bernard's, and the closest to the main building. The occupant had returned.
Hands ran over the elaborately decorated bedspread, fine wood furnishings, and finally, the edge of the elaborate mirror on the right of the room. The reflection in the glass was just as it had been when the occupant had left, except one.
Snapping their fingers, a sigh of relief was heard as the ears of the person were stretched back into their normal pointed shapes. An elf's only defining trademark feature.
"No more vacations for another few hundred years." The elf muttered and pulled on the old hat that had been left on the dresser.
Softly, the light boots tread over the lush carpets to the door and out into the hallway. The music from the workshop could be heard quite well, and the newly returned elf made its way toward it.
**********************************************************
'Jingle Bell Rock' was starting up on the sound system as the elves continued to feast and celebrate.
Judy, Bernard, Curtis, Charlie, Scott, and Carol sat in some of the side chairs, drinking a few of the less chocolate concoctions that were being served. The drinks fizzled and gave off a smoky, dry ice, effect.
"Well, thanks for the party, guys. I don't know if I'd told you that yet."
"You're welcome, son."
Suddenly, there was a loud knocking on the large double doors that opened into the workshop. Knowing that no one was missing from their celebration, everything stopped and all turned to stare at the location of the sound.
Slowly, the doors swung open, and everyone could see that a shadowy figure stood there. Only an outline was visible, and that was at the best.
Most of the elves moved to the back of the room, scared of whatever was standing there. Even the Clauses didn't seem to eager to greet the new guest.
Bernard took a few steps forward, as the head elf, it was his job to protect the others, if need be. His steps were tentative, slow, and cautious to the highest degree. Every passing moment was agony in the minds of everyone.
Soon, he was close enough for the available light to illuminate the face. A light laugh rolled around the room, and it wasn't Bernard's.
He gasped, "Noel?"
Once again, the laugh was heard, and the elf stepped into the light.
"It's Noel! Noel's home!" Cried Judy, jumping up from her seat and running to the door.
The occupant of the room, Noel, had indeed come home. She embraced Judy, lifting the smaller girl off the ground. Bernard was stunned, almost completely shocked. He stared at the female elf, almost unbelieving.
The shoulder length blond hair with dyed red ends, the green tinted glasses, and the long festive dress that fit so well to her body. It was Noel alright. Her look had changed a bit, but it was his old friend, and maybe, something a little more.
Curtis was the next to approach her, "We've done everything exactly as you wished while you were gone."
"I knew I could count on you all. I can tell that you've put in some hours on those new toy making machines over there." She walked over to face Bernard, "And I knew I could especially count on you to be in charge in my absence."
He gulped, staring into her emerald eyes and was unable to choke out a response.
Over in the corner, Charlie turned to his father and whispered, "I think I'm gonna head home now."
"Are you sure you don't want to stay longer?"
"No, besides, mom is making get up early to go shopping with her. She still thinks I'm twelve or something."
Scott let out a light laugh and patted his son on the back. He marched to the center of the room, "I'm sorry to interrupt everything, but since everything seems to be drawing to a close, our guest of honor has decided to go home."
Almost on cue, Chet came crashing into the main room, sending various elves flying to all sides seeking cover. Charlie pulled him to his hooves and patted him on the head, "Can I trust you to get me home okay?"
Chet nodded enthusiastically, making his baby noises of glee.
Soon all the elves were waving goodbye as the son of Santa shot off into the sky, back the other home he knew.
Practically the minute that everything was over, Santa motioned for Bernard and Noel to meet him in his office.
Carol, Judy, and Curtis were already waiting for them, and Carol was smiling in such a manner that everyone there knew that the two elves had explained exactly what was going to her in advance.
"Okay, let's get down to business here, now, your name is?"
"My name is Noel."
"Why haven't I seen you around here before?"
"I've been on a 20 year vacation. A few thousands years of straight work and a girl needs a little break from it all. Bernard's due for a few days off too."
Scott sat back in his chair, "What was your job here?"
"I'm the head elf."
"What?" Santa couldn't believe what he'd just heard. This girl couldn't possibly be what she said she was.
"I'm the head elf around here. I left Bernard in charge while I was gone, and I guess he forgot to mention me."
This particular comment, full of a little bit of hurt and a little bit of spite made the other head elf slink down in his chair.
Scott turned to the elves he knew better and questioned them, "Is this true?"
Three different voices came back to him, all said "Yes".
"I'm actually about a thousand years older than Bernard here. He was the first elf I created."
"Huh?"
"I was made directly by the Spirit of Christmas, and she gave me the job of making human children that had been abandoned or neglected into elves. Bernard was the first guy that caught my attention. A 17 year old runaway of sorts."
Bernard smiled at this memory, it had been a long time since he'd thought of the first day he'd been made an elf. Noel had seemed to be some sort of angel to a hungry, parentless teen. She'd given him a kiss on the cheek and all the pain had gone away. He'd been a Christmas elf ever since.
"It would have been nice if someone had told me about all this before this happened." Complained Scott, placing his elbows on his desktop.
"We're very sorry Santa, we just, honestly, didn't really - " Curtis couldn't get the words out.
Judy finished, "Remember."
"Two mistakes in 900 years."
Noel got up from her chair and stretched her arms, "If you guys will forgive me, I'm really tired and would like to retire to my room now."
Scott waved his hand, "That's okay, go and get some rest. We'll sort the rest of this out tomorrow. The rest of you guys can go too."
One by one, the people in the room dispersed. Carol planted a kiss on her husband's cheek before heading out to say goodnight to the younger elves.
Bernard however, was not allowed to go.
"Why didn't you tell me about this?"
"I had to make you believe that I was the one in charge or else you wouldn't have trusted me to help you. You were so unsure about being Santa that I wanted you to feel you had a group of well trained elves behind you every step of the way."
"Bernard, I would have trusted you regardless."
"I know."
"Alright, why don't you go get some sleep too. Take a glass of warm milk and some cookies if you want to."
"Thanks Santa, and I promise that this won't happen ever again."
Bernard walked slowly through the lodging quarters and entered his room. As he changed for bed, he could hear the sound of Noel singing through the walls. Despite all the trouble it had caused, he was very glad that she had finally come home.
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*Thanks to my good friend Miss Rockie for helping me through my own case of writers block. And to Jesus-Freak, ask and ye shall receive, huh? Your review prompted me to restart this chapter.*
Chapter 2: Back in Town
The summer had come and gone. Charlie had accepted the invitation to stay for a few weeks during his final break before college. The elves had been delighted to have their favorite son back with them. All good things must come to an end though, and soon, Christmas was fast approaching.
It was exactly five days before the big event. Santa walked out to the hangar where the still young and often clumsy reindeer Chet, was sleeping.
"Hey buddy." The old man said, scratching the animal behind his ears, gently rousing him from his morning / afternoon nap.
Chet struggled to his feet and gazed around groggily, taking in exactly where he was and who had gotten him up. When he realized it was his boss, he shook off the sleep and stood at attention. He fancied himself a Rudolph type, not the best, but he might get recognized one of these days.
"Chet, I've got a very special favor to ask you. Something I'm trusting only to you and no one else, okay?"
The response was a vigorous head nod.
"I need you to go and get my son Charlie. We're throwing a big party for him tonight and we want him to be here right on time. Can you do that for me, Chet?"
Enthusiastically, Chet bounded over the stable door and ran towards the takeoff field.
"Be careful with him Chet! Don't let him fall off!" Called a nervous Santa after the young deer. Then, shaking his head and laughing, he walked back to the workshop.
A few hours later, just about 10 minutes before the party was to begin, Chet flew in for a less than comfortable touch down. Charlie was visibly shaken, but if he had any verbal complaints to hand out, he never voiced them. Once at the North Pole, no one could officially stay angry at anyone or anything for too long.
His father and stepmother were waiting for him in the courtyard.
"Charlie! How are you?" Carol asked, embracing the young man in her motherly grasp.
"Hey Carol, hey dad."
"We're glad you're here son. The elves have been waiting all day to throw you this party."
"Trust me, I'm glad to be here."
The three walked into the main workshop where the elves practically tackled him in their joy and delight. Bernard even hugged him. Judy came up with a steaming hot cup of hot chocolate, which Charlie gratefully received.
"You don't know how much I've missed this." Said the teen, taking a long sip off the top of the glass.
With that, the party began. Music, food, and laughter overran the North Pole to the highest possible degree. Dancing turned out to be one of the favorite activities, as some of the elves proved their skill at the step was exceptional.
Judy flew around the main room. She held her dress end in one hand and held the other hand high in the air. Twirling faster and faster. The elves clapped and cheered, especially when the usually tame and reserved Curtis joined her out on the floor.
Charlie laughed and sampled the new treats the cooking elves had brought out for him. He talked and listened to all his old friends. It was odd now, looking at them. Bernard had once been his elder, in physical appearance, but now that Charlie was older, the head elf seemed more equal. Though a gap of a few thousand years separated them in actuality.
Hours passed, and night fell on the magic land, until it got late. The party wasn't exactly close to ending, but things were not as upbeat as they had been earlier.
*********************************************************
At first, only a few sparkles were very noticeable. They swirled around in the air and grew in number quickly. Suddenly, they began to form the shape of what appeared to be a human. From the feet up, the sparkles solidified and turned to flesh, forming a living and breathing person.
Gazing around, the person stood there, "It's good to be home."
This was their bedroom, right next to Bernard's, and the closest to the main building. The occupant had returned.
Hands ran over the elaborately decorated bedspread, fine wood furnishings, and finally, the edge of the elaborate mirror on the right of the room. The reflection in the glass was just as it had been when the occupant had left, except one.
Snapping their fingers, a sigh of relief was heard as the ears of the person were stretched back into their normal pointed shapes. An elf's only defining trademark feature.
"No more vacations for another few hundred years." The elf muttered and pulled on the old hat that had been left on the dresser.
Softly, the light boots tread over the lush carpets to the door and out into the hallway. The music from the workshop could be heard quite well, and the newly returned elf made its way toward it.
**********************************************************
'Jingle Bell Rock' was starting up on the sound system as the elves continued to feast and celebrate.
Judy, Bernard, Curtis, Charlie, Scott, and Carol sat in some of the side chairs, drinking a few of the less chocolate concoctions that were being served. The drinks fizzled and gave off a smoky, dry ice, effect.
"Well, thanks for the party, guys. I don't know if I'd told you that yet."
"You're welcome, son."
Suddenly, there was a loud knocking on the large double doors that opened into the workshop. Knowing that no one was missing from their celebration, everything stopped and all turned to stare at the location of the sound.
Slowly, the doors swung open, and everyone could see that a shadowy figure stood there. Only an outline was visible, and that was at the best.
Most of the elves moved to the back of the room, scared of whatever was standing there. Even the Clauses didn't seem to eager to greet the new guest.
Bernard took a few steps forward, as the head elf, it was his job to protect the others, if need be. His steps were tentative, slow, and cautious to the highest degree. Every passing moment was agony in the minds of everyone.
Soon, he was close enough for the available light to illuminate the face. A light laugh rolled around the room, and it wasn't Bernard's.
He gasped, "Noel?"
Once again, the laugh was heard, and the elf stepped into the light.
"It's Noel! Noel's home!" Cried Judy, jumping up from her seat and running to the door.
The occupant of the room, Noel, had indeed come home. She embraced Judy, lifting the smaller girl off the ground. Bernard was stunned, almost completely shocked. He stared at the female elf, almost unbelieving.
The shoulder length blond hair with dyed red ends, the green tinted glasses, and the long festive dress that fit so well to her body. It was Noel alright. Her look had changed a bit, but it was his old friend, and maybe, something a little more.
Curtis was the next to approach her, "We've done everything exactly as you wished while you were gone."
"I knew I could count on you all. I can tell that you've put in some hours on those new toy making machines over there." She walked over to face Bernard, "And I knew I could especially count on you to be in charge in my absence."
He gulped, staring into her emerald eyes and was unable to choke out a response.
Over in the corner, Charlie turned to his father and whispered, "I think I'm gonna head home now."
"Are you sure you don't want to stay longer?"
"No, besides, mom is making get up early to go shopping with her. She still thinks I'm twelve or something."
Scott let out a light laugh and patted his son on the back. He marched to the center of the room, "I'm sorry to interrupt everything, but since everything seems to be drawing to a close, our guest of honor has decided to go home."
Almost on cue, Chet came crashing into the main room, sending various elves flying to all sides seeking cover. Charlie pulled him to his hooves and patted him on the head, "Can I trust you to get me home okay?"
Chet nodded enthusiastically, making his baby noises of glee.
Soon all the elves were waving goodbye as the son of Santa shot off into the sky, back the other home he knew.
Practically the minute that everything was over, Santa motioned for Bernard and Noel to meet him in his office.
Carol, Judy, and Curtis were already waiting for them, and Carol was smiling in such a manner that everyone there knew that the two elves had explained exactly what was going to her in advance.
"Okay, let's get down to business here, now, your name is?"
"My name is Noel."
"Why haven't I seen you around here before?"
"I've been on a 20 year vacation. A few thousands years of straight work and a girl needs a little break from it all. Bernard's due for a few days off too."
Scott sat back in his chair, "What was your job here?"
"I'm the head elf."
"What?" Santa couldn't believe what he'd just heard. This girl couldn't possibly be what she said she was.
"I'm the head elf around here. I left Bernard in charge while I was gone, and I guess he forgot to mention me."
This particular comment, full of a little bit of hurt and a little bit of spite made the other head elf slink down in his chair.
Scott turned to the elves he knew better and questioned them, "Is this true?"
Three different voices came back to him, all said "Yes".
"I'm actually about a thousand years older than Bernard here. He was the first elf I created."
"Huh?"
"I was made directly by the Spirit of Christmas, and she gave me the job of making human children that had been abandoned or neglected into elves. Bernard was the first guy that caught my attention. A 17 year old runaway of sorts."
Bernard smiled at this memory, it had been a long time since he'd thought of the first day he'd been made an elf. Noel had seemed to be some sort of angel to a hungry, parentless teen. She'd given him a kiss on the cheek and all the pain had gone away. He'd been a Christmas elf ever since.
"It would have been nice if someone had told me about all this before this happened." Complained Scott, placing his elbows on his desktop.
"We're very sorry Santa, we just, honestly, didn't really - " Curtis couldn't get the words out.
Judy finished, "Remember."
"Two mistakes in 900 years."
Noel got up from her chair and stretched her arms, "If you guys will forgive me, I'm really tired and would like to retire to my room now."
Scott waved his hand, "That's okay, go and get some rest. We'll sort the rest of this out tomorrow. The rest of you guys can go too."
One by one, the people in the room dispersed. Carol planted a kiss on her husband's cheek before heading out to say goodnight to the younger elves.
Bernard however, was not allowed to go.
"Why didn't you tell me about this?"
"I had to make you believe that I was the one in charge or else you wouldn't have trusted me to help you. You were so unsure about being Santa that I wanted you to feel you had a group of well trained elves behind you every step of the way."
"Bernard, I would have trusted you regardless."
"I know."
"Alright, why don't you go get some sleep too. Take a glass of warm milk and some cookies if you want to."
"Thanks Santa, and I promise that this won't happen ever again."
Bernard walked slowly through the lodging quarters and entered his room. As he changed for bed, he could hear the sound of Noel singing through the walls. Despite all the trouble it had caused, he was very glad that she had finally come home.
*******************************************************************
*Thanks to my good friend Miss Rockie for helping me through my own case of writers block. And to Jesus-Freak, ask and ye shall receive, huh? Your review prompted me to restart this chapter.*