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!

Thank you Safyre Sky!

Chapter Three

Xxx

"So that's where that book went."

Carol jumped a little, glancing up from the novel in her hands to find Scott blinking blearily at her, finally pulling himself from sleep.

For the last thirteen hours, he hadn't woken up, not even the time she had thought to tip-toe to the bathroom and had run into the door in the pitch black in her attempts to be quiet. After that incident, and Carol leaving on a small light, she discovered Scott just wasn't going to regain consciousness until he had slept off his Holiday Flight. At the nine hour mark, she'd been fully awake and unable to drift back into the warm clutches of sleep. As if on cue, Judy had tapped on the outer door almost exactly when Carol had leaned into the office to check on Bernard.

While the Head Elf was still sound asleep, Judy was wide awake and ready with a tray of food for Carol. She whispered that unless the building was on fire or something like that, neither Santa nor Bernard were likely to move for a few more hours and even then might still be pretty groggy.

Instead of taking the elf up on her offer to go walk around and explore, Carol curled up next to Scott and settled into reading the book from the morning before.

About four hours later, Scott mumbled sleepily and then looked up at her reading choice.

"Lost the book?"

Scott snorted, "Yeah…in September…it's Charlie's and probably explains why he failed his midterm."

Carol flicked the pages to the front, snorting loudly at the familiar library stamp on the cover page, "That explains a lot. And to be fair, perhaps some of what he and I have dealt with since freshman year could be better explained by his dad being Santa Claus."

He shrugged, "Possibly, I know the disagreements between you and I, about my involvement, mostly stem from that. But Charlie is also plenty old enough to realize that his methods are not the wisest."

Shrugging herself, Carol slipped her bookmark in the novel, tipping to her side to meet Scott's gaze fully, "I think it's a bunch of things, though thinking back on it, especially seeing the difference in school Charlie and the teenager who was around here yesterday…community service is going to be his new best friend."

That got a wide smile, "You know, I really appreciate that idea going through. I know he fights the disciplinary measures and probably deserves the majority. But I really don't like him having yet another excuse to miss classes and blow off assignments."

"I think we can make something work," Carol grinned, leaning into the steady hand that started to play with her loose hair, "Though I do sort of have a question about my job…"

Scott chuckled, "That's always the thing, having two sides. Short version, commuting is an option, or since I think you are on contract, you could finish out the term and help the transition, before moving up here. I usually crash with Laura and Neal nowadays when down there, but used to have my own townhouse for a couple years. Just depends on what you think would work best, though from about mid-November on til New Years, I get pretty slammed."

"This year must have been rough," Carol stated, "We'll have to go over this more, I'll pull up my contract details to look at later, I don't have to think about that until January third."

A grimace passed over Scott's face, he slowly sat up and slumped into the fluffy pillows adorning the head of the massive sleigh bed, "Yeah…this year…was not at all smooth. But you're right, let's put that aside for later. Right now…"

He leaned in for a sweet kiss, and Carol lost her thoughts for a few minutes, sinking into the love and joy and heat.

Both pulled away breathless, Carol snuggling into Scott's side as his hand lightly stroked her back, "For right now, let's enjoy this Christmas together and plan a solid honeymoon, then we'll look at the technicalities with a great deal more sanity than my introduction."

"Sounds like a plan."

Stretching as he stood up, Scott groaned softly and pulled on a bathrobe, passing Carol a matching one in dark green versus his royal red. "Hope you don't mind wandering around in pajamas for a little bit, Magdalene is already on vacation, but I know her assistants will be available later today to help find you some clothes. "

"Oh I was just going to steal your sweaters." Carol teased, slipping into her new slippers with a giddy smile at the fluffy interiors, "Though do you and Dr. Miller always compete for the most outrageous outfits?"

Snorting, Scott jammed his feet into his own slippers, almost moccasin style, but with elaborate stitch work depicting teddy bears, "Not as much as you might think, sweaters are comfy, and tinsel football is cold."

Carol chuckled behind a hand, "Especially when you are always being tackled."

A light laugh crossed Scott's face, ignoring the jibe, "I bet Judy is putting together something, I can't take the team down to grab a suitcase for you for at least another seventy-two hours, but Judy and Abby will set you up in a flash if that's okay with you."

"Sure, so…" Carol followed Scott through the bathroom to the office, avoiding the loud clacking of the bedroom doors for the quieter pocket door option, "If they're grounded for a few days, how does Charlie get up here, usually?"

Before Scott could answer, a sleepy grumble growled from the couch, "I go get him, it's faster."

"Oh?"

Bernard barely moved enough to not be buried in the pillows jammed against the couch arm, "Teleport, drop down and back in about two minutes. Easier on the team and everyone."

"That's," Carol stared a bit, "That's really cool."

The disgruntled grogginess morphed into a slightly embarrassed grin, "I…thanks…"

Nodding, Carol turned when Scott excitedly grabbed the forgotten velvet bag off his desk, glancing at the blanket burrito wrapped elf on his couch, "Are you going to move anytime soon or keep sleeping?"

"Sleep," Bernard dug back into the cushions, almost completely fading from view even when Scott laughed at him.

"Alright then, I'll send Judy or Trish up in a couple more hours with food."

A low grunt was the only response before the newly-weds left the suite.

The workshop was silent today, nice and clean and in wait. They made it all the way to the kitchens without seeing anyone, which Scott said was rather impressive since elves were first and foremost nosy-with a brand new Mrs. Claus at the Pole, and secondly it was holiday time and many mingled all over to celebrate and share gifts and down time.

Judy was almost expecting them, waving from across the cafeteria like room before disappearing back through the doors.

Once they'd settled at a long table, Scott shook out the velvet bag he'd bunched up a little to carry, untying the braided gold cord at the top.

"So, I have something for you, and while I'm pretty sure there's at least a dozen trees between here and my rooms, it's more fun to show off a little."

Carol leaned closer when Scott set the empty bag on the table, before sticking his arm through the opening and reaching down up to his shoulder.

"What?!"

Scott laughed, "Santa's bag of gifts! Don't ask me the physics on this, I can't explain it. But…" He grunted softly, before pulling his arm back and revealing a decent sized rectangular box about two inches thick. It was wrapped in deep bronze metallic paper and a dark crimson ribbon of crushed velvet, "This was my initial plan, after you showed me those pictures."

Gasping a little, Carol held the gift reverently, her eyes watering just a little at the beauty of the wrapping alone. A childish part of her pulled on the ribbon's bow before she took the stretch of fabric and tied her hair back with, letting the lopsided bow fall on her shoulder. Scott chuckled, leaning on the table in anticipation as she carefully peeled back the paper down to the cardboard. Lifting the lid to the box, Carol was met with another entirely covered in velvet, and the wonder exploded in her chest when she lifted the jewelry box free.

"What…" Carol almost cried, "Oh Scott."

A matching set of a necklace and earrings rested on a satin interior, miniscule diamonds surrounding a radiant emerald on each piece with silver chain work and backings. Almost the exact set her grandmother had when Carol was little and wore to every Christmas dinner. After her passing, Carol had begged for the antique jewelry, only to be told by her father that they'd been lost. She'd briefly shown Scott the generation photo, but hadn't mentioned the longing for the jewelry.

Santa really did know her.

"I…wow…" Blushing, Carol brushed her fingertips over the gemstones before setting the box aside to embrace Scott tightly.

"I…thank you, I don't know what to say!"

Scott squeezed her tight, "That's more than enough, you will look even lovelier with them on."

"And with the dress." Judy added, appearing with fresh cocoa and tacos. "Here we are."

"Okay I'm curious, have you been in here all night? It's like there's always food ready." Carol asked in wonder, smiling when Judy laughed and bobbed in a slight curtsy.

"More like the kitchens are always ready for anyone needing food, and I've been rotating with Trish, Head of Kitchens every few hours, you just haven't met her yet." Judy gestured to Carol's borrowed robe, "I've already sent word to Franklin and Lana at the tailor's, some spare clothes will be ready shortly."

"Thank you," Carol flashed a knowing smile to Scott, smirking as she caught him almost downing a taco whole, "I really appreciate how…amazing, and welcoming…" She trailed off in wonder.

Judy pat her arm gently, not in any way seeming demeaning or chastising, "That's North Pole Welcomes for you, and being Head of Relations too, there hasn't been a new Mrs. Claus in quite some time, so everyone is super excited for you."

Scott butted in when Carol blushed at the announcement, "You know…Judy, why did it take almost eight full years for someone to bring that clause to my attention? Not that a whirlwind and slightly rushed wedding didn't result in the beautiful Carol here, but geez guys a little more of a heads up would have been appreciated."

Her face fell suddenly, almost an actual grimace, before the upbeat tone shifted into resignation tinged with annoyance, "Santa Handbook aside, that's a question for Bernard and Curtis."

"For the record, I blame Curtis."

"He lives!"

Carol snorted, barely managing to keep milk from shooting out of her nose when Judy exclaimed with Bernard's stumbling appearance. Wiping at her mouth, Carol stifled her laughter while Bernard dropped onto the bench beside Scott, burying his head in his arms as he hunched over. The thick sweater just about swamped his frame, making an excellent pillow.

Scott's hand went to the elf's shoulder briefly, chuckling at the low groan that slipped out, before returning to his meal.

"Eight years is a long time Number One."

Snorting loudly, Bernard didn't look up, "Elf."

"Santa." Scott flicked the elf's hat, though his amusement dropped a little when that didn't earn a reaction, "Still doesn't answer my question."

"Judy wasn't wrong, it's been decades since the last Mrs. Claus was new to the Pole."

"Doesn't explain why I didn't find out until really late."

Bernard shrugged a little, barely moving in his exhausted slump, "Sort of forgot."

"You sort of-"

The elf lifted his head, dark curls failing to conceal the dark circles under his eyes, "Santa, can we talk about this later please?"

Sighing softly, Scott shrugged it off, "Much later, go back to sleep Number One."

"Not asleep," Bernard replied, even though his head was back on his arms in a flash.

Grinning around her tacos, Carol glanced to Judy who was carefully folding up the velvet Santa bag, "What's this dress you mentioned?"

Judy smiled widely, "Just like there's Santa's red suit, there's a signature dress for Mrs. Claus. Christmas themed of course. Abby is looking for it right now, but I think it got locked into storage and mislabeled. Surprisingly, it happens a lot with that dress even when there's a wearer residing at the North Pole."

"Think she'll find it before the party?" Scott asked, tearing at a taco shell to hold it better.

The elf shrugged, "Most likely, there's a back-up dress already being prepared."

"Party?"

Scott's slightly panicked gaze jerked to Carol, seeing her confusion and missing Judy's eye roll.

"You haven't been awake that long yet have you?" Judy asked, giggling when Scott shook his head, "Well then, Mrs. Claus there's a town wide party for Christmas on the twenty-eighth of December, everyone dresses a bit formally and being your first time, we're trying to find the official dress to welcome you as Mrs. Claus."

Chuckling himself, Scott gestured to the she elf with a wicked grin, "I highly recommend asking any questions related to the North Pole to Judy, at least until Bernard wakes up."

Carol stifled her laugh when the Head Elf didn't even move, actually unconscious next to his boss and completely still. Turning to him, Scott's expression dropped a bit more, watching the elf remain slumped over and barely breathing.

Judy leaned over a little too, frowning with a sigh, "Figured that would happen, Mrs. Claus, would you like a small tour on the way to the tailor's?"

Classic redirection, but Carol wasn't going to argue, not with the concern bleeding into Scott's gaze when he turned towards the elf further and rested a hand on his back. She did meet Scott's eyes, silently conveying she was willing to help if needed and receiving a grateful smile before he focused on Bernard.

Judy smoothly up turned Carol's cocoa into a thermos, holding open the doors while the woman grabbed a taco to go and folded the soft shell into a burrito for ease of walking.

Xxx

With his wife in good hands with Judy, Scott lightly shook Bernard's shoulder, careful not to jar the elf too badly and startle him.

As it was, he still received a shock of what felt like static as the Head Elf groaned into consciousness, leaning into Scott's touch until his brain caught up and he pulled away.

"Not 'sleep…"

Scott sighed softly, "It's just us, Bernard, quit faking."

Grunting softly, the elf tipped his head enough to meet Scott's gaze, dark eyes blearily trying to focus.

"It's not just the rope burns, is it?"

Bernard shook his head, unable to muster up the strength to move more than that. Scott's hand moved back to his shoulder, watching as the elf's eyes drifted shut again in weariness. Without even focusing, Scott could feel the roughness of Bernard's magic beneath the surface, the usual steadfast hum roiling and churning like the arctic sea in a storm.

"Is it the workshop…or…"

Shrugging, Bernard leaned up a bit, pinching the bridge of his nose as the faint feeling of pressure in the room shifted, as if the elf was pushing out against the air. A harsh breath gusted from the elf, before he slumped over and grimaced.

"It's not just that…like wires crossed, or cylinders misfiring. Things aren't lining up. Not sure why the backlash is heavier on my end, it should have evened out after your resantification…not-" Bernard winced, "Not that I want it to ripple like this on you…especially after your wedding-"

Scott held up a hand, "Let's…hang on Number One-"

"Santa-"

"Bernard."

Grunting, the elf glanced up, waiting silently for Scott to go on as the man rubbed at his own face in weariness, "First…my wedding aside, you guys are just as important and we're going to take care of this, quickly. And second-"

A warm hand clapped onto Bernard's shoulder, "Never think I'm going to put any of this all on you, not if I can help it. This never should have gotten this far. And for that I am sorry."

Sighing softly, Bernard leaned into his boss' touch a bit, rubbing at his eyes as he composed himself. He pulled away after a second, slumping over with a groan.

"So…"

"Hmm?"

"How do we fix this?"

Thank you for reading! Review Please!