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!

To Guest: Thank you so much! I just think there was so much ground they could have covered like with Scott's taking over...anyway, here we go! Thank you!

Chapter Five

Xxx

"Okay, so don't let go until you are sure that you are steady on your feet and not dizzy, and don't forget to breathe-"

"Mhm-"

"And it's going to-"

"Scott-"

"-to feel a little-"

Bernard rolled his eyes, nodding when Carol motioned at the rambling man standing in front of them both. Without waiting for a pause, Carol slid in front of Scott and grabbed his flailing hands between her own.

"Scott, I want you to look into my eyes," Her voice dropped, "What do you see?"

He snorted, "You trying really hard not to smile cuz that was extremely sarcastic."

Carol coughed out a laugh, hiding her mirth while Scott took a breath and settled, "Alright, shall we?"

Covered with soft wool mittens, Scott's hand clasped her own glove covered fingers as he linked his arm with hers. Bernard politely took her free hand, squeezing in reassurance while his other rested on Scott's shoulder.

"Okay, so on three. One-"

"-whoa!"

Carol shuddered a little when the moderate temperature of the workshop faded to cold air with a snap of wind. Not quite in a flash, but fast enough Scott jerked in surprise when Bernard teleported them all from the North Pole cafeteria to the Miller house, just off the back patio so the fresh snow was easier to land on versus the slick stonework.

Bernard's hand didn't pull from Carol until she was ready, waiting patiently while she reoriented herself. Scott was mildly panicking, but only to ensure Carol was alright.

"Uncle Scott!"

"Lucy!"

Watching the small red-head charge from the slamming back door in a flurry of holiday pajamas, fire-engine red boots, and a wide open coat, Carol couldn't keep the smile off her face. Six years old of vibrant energy, Lucy Miller leaped off the two foot tall patio level and into Scott's arms with a laugh.

Immediately she was babbling about the gifts under the tree and thanking him for the sled and scarf and…Carol couldn't understand the rest in the child's speed.

Hiding her chuckle behind a gloved hand, Carol watched Neil and Laura chase after Lucy, the mother trying to fight the squirming child and zip up her coat, while Neil was engaged in a conversation with Scott already almost without breathing after the initial greeting.

"Oh!" Laura's shocked tone melted into the familiar-mostly polite, slightly confused, still welcoming-tone that most parents adopted when speaking with Carol outside of the school building or off campus function.

"Hi! Principal Newman! Or Calvin? Charlie said there was a wedding, but wow! And-"

Snorting a bit, Carol couldn't stop the hysterical giggle that slid out, "Oh my gosh this is going to be weird!"

Neil paused his wife's uncomfortable attempt at trying to visibly decide between a handshake or something else, "Well…how about this, Hi-Dr. Neil Miller, Laura here is my wife, Lucy is our daughter, we share a son with Scott Calvin, who you just married! Let's go from there!"

Carol laughed, accepting the awkward hug, "You're stepson's father is Santa Claus!"

A smile of her own lit up Laura's face past the polite look Carol knew from school, "Welcome to the club!" She wrapped the woman in a hug, "All that aside! Merry Christmas! You must be so in shock with all of-oh hi Bernard!"

This time, Carol couldn't hide her smirk when the elf panicked a little at Laura's immediate hug, but he did force a tight grin and pat the woman's back, "Hi Mrs. Miller."

"Gosh it's cold out here, come inside! C'mon!"

Scott let out a low sigh at Laura's exuberance, balancing Lucy on one hip while holding his arm out for Carol, Neil was patiently holding the door and letting Laura ramble while leading them into the house. Once inside, Carol felt some of the tension vanish, without really knowing why. Not until she saw Laura slide into the kitchen to bop Charlie on the back of the head to get him to pay attention, having been focused on his cell phone at the dining room table instead of part of the scramble outside at their arrival.

The sheer normalcy of it, and Lucy's excited babble providing background noise, Carol relaxed a bit as she sat on a kitchen stool. Neil was fussing with hot cider, holding up a bottle for Scott and receiving a nod from him and Laura when offered.

"Prin-"

"Carol, please."

The doctor grinned, "Carol, would you like some spice in your drink?"

"I…" She grinned, "Yes, please."

"Can I have some?"

"No!"

"Wrong kinda juice for you, Miss Lucy," Scott bounced Lucy on his hip, "No alcohol for like…thirty years…"

"But that's past twenty-one!"

"Oh look Charlie!" Laura glanced around the fridge door to stare at her son, "Your sister is doing better in math than you are!"

"Mom!"

Snorting, Scott set Lucy down so she could charge off on a holiday sugar high, "Double Neil, it's going to be that kinda night!"

Perking up, Charlie tried to look hopeful when Neil glanced at him after handing Lucy a mug of plain apple juice on the fly-by, "Could I try?"

Bernard snorted, loud, having settled in a chair at the table next to the teen, "And how old are you?"

"How old are you?!"

A wry grin spread across the elf's face, "Old enough to drink and not skip school."

Cringing, Charlie hunched in on himself, submitting to apple juice while Scott slid the first mug Neil handed over to Bernard, taking another with a grin.

"How about this…" Scott took a sip, hissing a little at the sting of rum in the drink, "All school and business talk is postponed until after New Year's. For now, Charlie remains grounded, but we'll leave it at that."

"And slightly awkward conversations of you marrying your son's principal shall abstain until there's more alcohol."

Xxx

Xx

Xxx

Stepping into Carol's house, Scott smirked at her stifled gasp, he'd have to call Joey and remind him to send his team down in a week to clean the woman's house after what they did.

Which is exactly what they did to Scott's that first Christmas. Decorate it to the nines with fresh holiday cheer.

Garland and fairy lights wrapped along the walls and any shelf edges, wreaths hanging in nearly every window, and the living room now hosted a traditional tree with deep reds and silvers. There were even a few figurines scattered about strategically, most of them a cheerfully dressed Mrs. Claus in varying designs of regalia. Carol was in awe of the mastery, Scott was lightly amused.

Bernard had opted to stay at the Miller's house while Scott and Carol ventured out to her house. Fetching clothes, and belongings, paperwork to start for the abrupt marriage, and for Carol to call her house sitter for the rest of Christmas break so the least favorite principal's house wasn't a target.

While she packed a couple bags, Scott admired the few family photos on the walls, one of which is where he got the Santa insight for the jewelry set. That had told him about Carol's grandmother Melinda and her love for the holiday season, it also told him his new wife's parents were in another town, about two hours away from this one, and while pleasantly celebrated Christmas, didn't believe in the magic one bit.

Most older adults didn't, though some still managed to surprise Scott even after eight years into the job as Santa.

Along with the paperwork she was gathering, Carol was intending on finding her school board contract. Both she and Scott agreed, at the very least for her to finish out the school year as it was sliding into the Pole's slower season. Honeymoon time might end up postponed, but that would make it all the more worthwhile. On top of that, until it was settled, Carol would keep her house. There was an inkling of an idea to change residences later, but that would be decided after the school year and easier to get the property ready to sell if needed. Scott had done the winter sale market before…right after the divorce to Laura…not fun.

As for the rather awkward tension between Laura and Neil, with Carol and Scott. There was going to be a long dinner at the local bar and grill that night, to hash out what they could. Carol had stated plain and clear, that the disciplinary actions before winter break would hold, Charlie would complete his assigned community service and that would be the end of things at the school. How Scott and Laura went from there, was up to them, she wouldn't get involved. Definitely made the coming dinner more relaxed, or at least manageable. Scott was really hoping between Laura and Carol, Santa's new wife would better transition in to her new life without as many issues and concerns as Scott himself had experienced when taking up the mantle.

With the adults out of the house, Charlie was resolutely grounded and got to babysit Lucy, missing out on the meal where he wouldn't have to wash dishes after. Scott admittedly took a little pride in that, his son knew he had messed up, and was slowly shifting from the angry teen to accepting the punishment. At least he hadn't tried to fight it, agreeing with only half a growl until Lucy begged for pizza instead of subjecting herself to Charlie's inability to cook.

Major life crises averted, Scott hummed softly as he perused Carol's bookshelves, listening in case she needed a hand packing, but otherwise staying out of the way and trying not to snoop too far. It was a bit of a stretch, to go from two dates to married; Laura had been right, three long years of dating before a proposal…and then another eighteen months before the wedding.

"Hey Carol?"

"Yes?"

"I have a crazy idea…"

"Besides going out to dinner with your ex-wife three days after our wedding?"

Scott laughed, "Besides that."

"What's up?"

Pausing to rethink his words, just in case, Scott tried to sound steady and confident, without being cocky, "What if we dated a bit more?"

"How so?"

"You know, go to dinner, a movie, long walks…car ride chats…bit more dating without the pressure of 'is this going to work' but make this stronger."

Carol didn't reply right away, appearing around the corner to stare at Scott with a concerned look, but not in worried way, neither wanted to back out of this at all, "So, what we would have done had Christmas not been about to fall apart?"

"Exactly!"

She grinned, "I like it, okay…Audrey Hepburn movie?"

"How about John Wayne?"

Carol snorted, ducking back down the hallway, "Only if it has Maureen O'Hara!"

Laughing himself, Scott turned to the movie collecting, scant as it was, tucked beneath Carol's TV, "Rio Grande or McLintock?"

"McLintock, always."

"What about-"

Scott broke off when the doorbell rang, and Carol shrieked from down the hall, "Uh-"

"Could you get that? It's my house sitter."

"Sure!" The door swung open to reveal and shivering teenager and a dark blue Mercedes pulling away from the drive, Scott stared at the girl in confusion as she stared back, glowering like an angry house pet shut outside by mistake, "Uh, hello."

"Hi…I'm guessing you're the new husband?"

"I'm guessing you're the house sitter?"

She grimaced at him, like a displeased cat, "Name's Kat-wanna let me in?"

Yep, definitely feline.

Stepping aside, Scott did reach for the teen's second bag, lugging in the duffel while she hefted a backpack riddled with club patches and buttons, many of which Charlie had never mentioned his school having.

"Let's try this again, Scott Calvin."

Kat did shake his hand after stuffing worn gloves into her coat, "Katherine Anderson, charmed."

Without another word, she dragged her duffel to the dining room, tucking it in the corner and heading to the kitchen. Scott stared after her until Carol appeared rolling a suitcase and carrying a backpack of her own.

"I see you've met Kate."

"Is it Kate or Kat?"

Carol shrugged, "She answers to anything, or at least if she likes you. Kate's in Charlie's grade at the high school, and volunteers with a PTA mom who recommended her to me a year ago for house sitting. Gained a reputation as babysitter and house watcher and here we are. Don't let her attitude bother you, she'll warm up eventually. Holidays aren't really her thing."

Wincing a little, Scott's gaze flicked towards the noise emanating from the direction of the teen, "Are you sure?"

"Mhm," Carol leaned into the dining room, "Kate, you good?"

"Overjoyed,"

"Your friend still coming over for New Year's?"

"Sarah?" Kat's head popped out by the kitchen, sans winter hat and revealing auburn hair in waves, "Yeah, if that's still okay."

"Of course, don't want any of you girls to be alone on one of the drunkest nights in town. Call if you need anything okay?"

"Gotcha Newman!"

With that, she disappeared deeper into the house, sounding like she was double checking windows and door locks as she went. Carol rolled her eyes, letting Scott take the suitcase while she grabbed her work bag.

Once in the car, did Scott turn to her in concern, "There's something else isn't there."

That earned a grimace, "Katherine's mom…she's not a parent, biologically tied to Katherine, but had her custody revoked when the girl was barely five. There was some upheaval in her early schooling, but it mellowed out until rather recently. Her volunteer work was an excuse to stay as far away from the house as possible to avoid her mom and that mess…she house sits for various families for money as she can. I…" Carol sighed, "I can only do so much while still her principal, I got special permission from the school board just to let her do this. If it weren't for her home situation, this wouldn't be allowed. But this way, Katherine will get time away from that mess and time with a solid friend, and my house gets watched over."

"I would have thought Charlie would know about her," Scott said, "He's rather knowledgeable about his classmates."

Carol grinned, lightening up a bit, "That would require him to pay attention to the classmates who behave. Kate keeps her record pretty clean, and her artwork remains on canvases instead of my gym wall."

"You know, I actually have no idea where he got the climbing equipment."

"I do," Carol's tone sharpened a bit, "Danielle Eisen, security found her leaving the roof after I found Charlie in the act. Her dad owns the sporting goods store downtown."

"Charlie mentioned a girl, Dani, bet she's the same."

"Wouldn't surprise me. I just hope both of them make better choices."

Xxx

Charlie barely looked up from his textbook while his mom fussed over her jacket, alternating between buttoning it and helping Neil with his scarf. Lucy was already preparing to immerse herself in the first of her new movie set, her goal was to watch all three before bed…even though timing wise the plan would fail.

His dad on the other hand, Charlie could hear him chatting with Lucy while waiting on Principal Newman…Calvin…Charlie wasn't going to worry about that. Instead, he was hoping to get all of his homework made up before leaving for the North Pole tonight. The two married couples were going out to eat, and then once back, Charlie would return to the Pole with his Dad and Carol. If his work was done, Charlie was hoping for some leniency and be allowed to join the R&D Elves in testing the new snowboard models.

Though his luck wasn't running very high, not when his mom called the pizza place ahead of time to order instead of trusting Charlie to do so. Couldn't sneak in extra brownies.

"Yeah, I hear you, just file that and I'll take care of the rest in a bit, yeah…thanks Judy."

Glancing up, Charlie winced a little at Bernard appearing from Neil's office, having snuck off to answer a phone call over an hour ago, the Head Elf looked tired, leaning against the wall while only half paying attention to the adults fussing with outer wear.

"Crappy clean up this year?"

Dark eyes flicked to the teen, "You saw the mess in there, what do you think?"

Shrugging in response, Charlie tried to lose himself in the Pre-Calculus again, failing utterly and questioning why he even bothered to take this class when he bombed most of Algebra freshman year. Now as a junior…it was only getting worse.

"This is stupid…"

"Probably would have made sense if you'd been in class."

"Thought there was a wait on this."

Bernard glared at the teen, "Your parents agreed to that, I didn't. You know better Charlie."

"Oh come on-"

Scott ducking into the kitchen to say goodbye cut off any attempt at a retort, and he glanced at his kid in confusion for a second before shaking it off, "We're heading out, Lucy in bed by nine, got it Sport?"

"Yeah."

Straightening off the wall, Bernard made to grab his own coat, "Call me when you're ready Santa, I'll be-"

"You don't have to leave."

Charlie shocked even himself with the interruption, forcing his way through the blunder with a half-formed plan, "I mean…all we're going to do is eat pizza and then Lucy's going to bed. Besides, you just said clean up isn't fun right now, why not wait til tomorrow?"

Staring at the teen for a minute, Bernard almost looked like he was going to refuse, before he met Scott's gaze with a wicked grin, "You know, that's a great idea Charlie, that way we'll both be there and you can help too."

Before the teen could respond, his dad guffawed loudly, "Now that is a great idea! Saves calling you back down later Number One, alright, you guys have fun, Bernard you're in charge-"

"Hey!"

"Lucy, you're second in command!"

"C'mon dad!"

Scott ignored him, laughing with Lucy's sugar high cackle from the living room, "See you guys later! Pizza money by the door!"

Xxx

Bernard had to admit, curled up on the Miller's fluffy couch, snacking his way through breadsticks, and watching Lucy's boxed set of some Dalmatian movies, was a more relaxing use of his time than sorting through damage reports and prioritizing repairs.

While Charlie had grumbled about not officially being in charge of the evening, Bernard had simply been the one to remind him to lock the door behind the departing adults before submitting to Lucy's wonder at having an actual Christmas elf in her house.

Mostly because after hearing her recount of meeting Curtis…Bernard was going to set the record straight that little kids not eating their green vegetables would not result in pointy ears. That conversation lead him to be tucked on the floor with the little girl through the rest of the first movie, not even bothering to pause when food arrived as Charlie handled it. The teen did appear from his self-imposed kitchen confinement to eat with them, procrastinating with the rest of his schoolwork until midway into the second movie and going back at it.

Now, Bernard was rather comfortable in his corner, mostly watching the movie, and partially trying not to doze off like Lucy was in Charlie's lap, the teen twisted so he could use the arm of the couch to finish his science homework.

By the time the end credits rolled, Lucy was sound asleep and Charlie was up before Bernard even noticed.

"Lucy…" The red head didn't stir, not even when Charlie snickered, wrapping her in the soft fleece blanket Bernard knew for a fact came from the Pole last year, and carefully picked up his sister.

Listening carefully, Bernard could hear the teen easily make it up the stairs, not that he didn't trust Charlie, but Lucy was like any young kid and could wiggle in her sleep, better to keep an ear out in case Charlie stumbled.

Flicking the remote out from the blankets, Bernard muted the noisy TV, relishing the lack of cheery kid music for just a few minutes. The clock read just after nine at night, still too early to expect the Miller couple or Calvin couple to return. Figuring Charlie would take a while with his sibling, Bernard stood to take care of the scattered plates and empty pizza boxes-Charlie had beaten the elf by only two slices, both easily competing on who ate the most without even trying-second trip back to the living room from the garage trashcan, Bernard bumped into the corner of the couch with his knee and almost buckled.

"What the-"

Charlie's grip stopped him from falling, and as much as Bernard didn't want to admit it, the teen really was keeping him upright.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Sport, just tripped-"

"Really?" The teen's tone flared, "You call this okay?"

With no regard for being polite, Charlie yanked on Bernard's maroon velvet sleeve, revealing the stark white gauze underneath.

"You said you were fine-"

"I am-"

"This isn't fine!"

Bernard shushed him, flicking his gaze towards the stairs to make his point, "Don't you dare wake up your sister."

"Bernard-"

"Charlie," The elf sighed, "Look, I get that you're worried, but really, I am fine-"

"Bernard, you're shaking."

That got his attention, and the elf glanced down at the wrist Charlie was holding, the teen letting go long enough for Bernard's hand to visibly tremble.

Sighing again, the hand pulled from Charlie to brace against the couch as casually as Bernard could manage, "I'm okay kiddo, really. Just been a long few days, and I'm tired. Yes, I didn't quite tell you everything, but it doesn't matter now."

Charlie shook his head, eyes almost blown wide in panic, "But, you…"

This wasn't the bandages, it wasn't even Bernard tripping and almost falling over he was so tired, Charlie was outright scared. Bernard hadn't asked at the time how in the blazes Charlie found him, but the teen had banged into the Santa Suite shouting at the top of his lungs. The Head Elf had heard him tripping in his haste before Charlie had yanked the last doors open and scrambled to free Bernard. Minus the adrenaline, Charlie had seemed fine. Bernard hadn't paid that much attention…

Now he was regretting it.

"Charlie…" Bernard reached for the teen, wrapping him in a tight hug and sighing softly in relief when he squeezed back, "Sh…it's okay kiddo."

Hugging tighter, Charlie shook his head against Bernard's shoulder, sounding like he was fighting with himself not to cry, "'M not a kid."

Snorting softly, Bernard smirked, "You're younger than me, makes you a kid."

"Everyone's younger than you," Charlie grumbled, shaking his head again, "You're old."

"Still makes you a kid," Bernard teased, "And quit wiping your nose on my shirt."

"Am not…"

Not bothering to start a griping match, Bernard lightly rubbed the teen's back, feeling the minute shaking he had missed all evening finally settle down. Charlie clung to him, almost like he would his dad when younger. That had faded away the last couple years for reasons Bernard hadn't been able to figure out. Not until he felt the teen's desperation at an all-time high. Scott represented, to Charlie, the greatest thing in the world that he couldn't say, being unable to share it with anyone not already in the tight loop. All the while bordering on adulthood when magic and anything like that was considered immature and something to put aside.

Bernard on the other hand, was Charlie's thread to his childhood that had followed him so far in life, a tangible reminder that magic was real, without having to hide. While it was much harder for other elves to blend in around humans without a healthy dosage of cover stories and glamours, Bernard just had to pull his hat down farther and swap out his clothes, easily navigating most areas with little attention.

Charlie had taken advantage of that only twice as a kid, and even then Bernard probably would have offered without being asked. Almost seven years ago, Bernard had hung out with Charlie instead of the little boy of ten being subjected to an afternoon of pink and girls and older women all fawning over the baby Lucy. Before that, shortly before Scott sold his house and fully moved up to the North Pole, Bernard had ended up watching Charlie there for a night after the February snowstorm trapped Scott out of town and Charlie's normal sitter had a curfew.

"…'m sorry…"

"What for Sport?"

Shrugging, Charlie started to pull away, "This…I-"

Bernard held him a bit tighter, just a bit longer, "It's okay Charlie. It's going to be okay."

Nodding against the elf's shoulder, Charlie didn't let go until Bernard finally did, having to submit to the aches still running down his spine. The magic at the Pole might have been reset, but that didn't fix everything instantaneously. Try as he might, Bernard was still stuck feeling some of the aftershocks, navigating through the bumps with little reaction.

Doesn't mean he didn't feel it.

"Hey…why don't we finish the movies, huh?"

Charlie nodded, rubbing at his face and heading over to reset the DVD player. Bernard stretched slightly, trekking to the kitchen to make cocoa to settle both of them down.

By the time he returned with the steaming mugs, Charlie was curled up on the couch and wrapped in thick blankets already, powering down his phone in the process.

"Battery dead?"

"Nah," Charlie sat up enough to take the mug, "Thanks…but no, Danielle's been bugging me to sneak out and go to some party at a Jock's house, easier to shut off the phone than for her to start calling all night."

Huffing softly, Bernard didn't comment either way, it wasn't his place to begin with, and Charlie was taking care of it himself.

And the elf for that matter, as once back in his corner of the couch, Bernard sagged into the cushions when he found a heating pad tucked in and waiting. Charlie didn't meet his gaze, focusing on the cocoa when Bernard stared at him.

"Charlie-"

"You're limping."

That earned a low hiss, drowned by the hot drink while Bernard fidgeted a bit more to get comfortable, "Thought I was hiding it better."

"Yeah well, not so much." Charlie shrugged it off, draining his mug after another moment and pressing play on the movie. Bernard stared at him until the teen finally turned, a look of adolescent annoyance clouding his face. To combat this, the elf in full adult-like wisdom, gave Charlie the mature response of sticking his tongue out at him.

Charlie mimicked him, smiling a bit before turning away. Finishing his own drink, Bernard leaned back into the pillows and heating pad, pressing his back into the warmth to soothe the unsettled tension wringing his core into knots.

Somewhere during the movie, Bernard stretched out on the couch as well. And somewhere during it all, Charlie scrunched down better into the couch.

And after the movie, the credits rolled, start-up screen having replayed so many times the player went dormant, Scott snuck into the living room and found both his son and elf sound asleep.

"Oh, they're out."

His whispered announcement earned stifled smirks from the other adults, Laura hid hers and a yawn behind her hand, "The guest room is still made up, why don't you all just spend the night."

Carol sagged in relief, "If you really don't mind…"

"Not at all," Neil whispered, "It's fine, Scott does it all the time. Besides, tomorrow I'm making waffles."

Thank you for reading! Review Please!