Make and Break
Afterrmas Preparations

"How does it feel to finally relax?"

One of Bernard's eyebrows shot up; the tip of the curly straw from one of Quinten's concoction's rested between the head elf's lips for a few seconds while he turned his head, contemplating the other elf's words. The North Pole went almost an entire year without a Santa on location. As such, Santa's head elf found himself faced with a rather stressful year making sure everything ran smoothly until the new Santa arrived at Thanksgiving.

Whether Bernard's stress levels went down or not after the new Santa arrived always depended on the Santa in question. Some were better than others in alleviating the workload Bernard found himself stuck with after every Santa's demise, yet Bernard almost always found himself picking up the slack somewhere for a year or two while the Santa continued settling in. He'd not felt the stress melt away as it did when the newest Santa came to the workshop for quite a few centuries.

He lowered the drink from his lips. "What do you mean? We've still got the clean up when Santa gets home. After that, I've got to supervise the workshop while the elves prepare their Aftermas presents, yet also supervise them as they leave for vacation."

A slight smirk twisted across Quinten's face while he took amusement at something the head elf said, yet Bernard couldn't quite place. "Uh-huh."

"What?"

"Why is it you always worry about making sure the other elves' vacations go off without a hitch, yet never take one for yourself, particularly around Aftermas time. If anyone deserves one, Bernard, it is you – particularly when you took care of things while we were without a Santa yet again for an entire year." Quinten let out a soft laugh. "That's what I meant regarding you finally being able to relax. We were so worried he'd be another Santa who'd put everything on you. Instead, we got a rather nice surprise."

"I must admit, I am actually quite pleased with the new Santa. He's far more involved than many of the Santa who's come before." Bernard felt his shoulders relax – the realization set in just how much of a good Santa this Santa in fact was. His eyes closed, his hand rubbing the back of his neck while letting out a deep breath. When he opened his eyes back up so he might lift the drink back up, he caught sight out of the corner of his eye how Quinten glance away. The frown on the other elf's face made Bernard let out a sigh. "Now what?"

"I've been thinking maybe this would be a good time to go back to the elf academy to further my studies. I might not get a chance like this again, Bernard, but I can bring back what I learn for use at the workshop."

"That's true." Bernard's mouth moved slightly while contemplating what Quinten says. His mind focused on the logic of what the other elf said. "That would be good for the workshop."

"Yet you're not saying how you actually feel about this." Quinten let out a sigh.

"What do you mean?"

"What do I mean?" Quinten opened his mouth, only for Judy's arrival pushing the conversation quickly from Bernard's mind.

Instead, his mind focused on how the entire transition for the newest Santa went too well, which in turn in his mind always meant something would go wrong. Calling out E.L.F.S was the last thing he needed for his stress levels, yet somehow everything did end up working out. Then came the job of overseeing the workshop while the newest Santa headed off to bed, although Bernard caught a look in Santa's eye as the man observed the elves still working.

He proceeded in overseeing the elves as each elf finished preparing for Aftermas. Over the years he discovered each elf prepared for Aftermas differently, yet he felt he got to know the elves under his watch through this process. Sometimes a Santa might participate, others did not, yet there was almost always a lot of freedom in the workshop yet not anywhere near the chaos of the rest of the year.

Some of the elves finished their Aftermas presents and After Feast items despite their busy schedules, while others waited until the last minute. A few utilized the time in the workshop as a method of trying their hand at a different part of Santa's workshop while others enjoyed teaching the younger elves, although in comparison all of the elves except Judy were younger than him. Eventually, the thrill of the workshop wore off.

"He's still at the workshop? I'd have thought he'd outgrown Santa's workshop."

"Bernard?"

Bernard's eyes blinked, his head turning to look at Quinten. "Need something."

"We never did finish our conversation."

"I'm fine."

"You always say you're fine, and then you're not. Who are you going to hang out with if I leave?"

"I'll be fine."

Quinten let out a sigh, attempting to get at something yet struggling to verbalize what he wanted to say in a way Bernard understood. "You seemed lost in thought."

"Lost in thought, huh?" Bernard looked at the other elves. "I want you to go."

"That's rather cold, you know."

His eyes blinked, his head turning towards Quinten, suddenly realizing what Quinten was getting at. A slight smile spread across Quinten's face. "At least you're realizing how you really feel about it, even if…"

"What are you two talking about?"

Bernard turned his head so he might look at the younger elf. "I – Quinten is thinking he'll take some leave so he might attend the academy."

He watched everyone freeze. His entire body stiffened up, watching the younger elves stare at Quinten. Quinten let out a sigh. "Guys, I'm coming back."

"Nobody comes back."

Quinten let out a sigh, giving Bernard a look which said, "I wish you hadn't said anything," yet there was that lingering thought on everyone's mind – the fact elves never returned from leave, often finding something better – more grown-up – to do instead. Elves saw Santa's workshop as a step up to better, more adult things, though Bernard remembered a time when this wasn't the case. He brushed the thought aside.

"Seriously, I'm coming back." He then smiled. "Does anybody need help with their Aftermas stuff? I'd be quite pleased to help."

A few of the younger elves jumped on the chance, yet Bernard knew the mood – the mood definitely wasn't the same. Eventually, the elves finished and headed towards the teleportation relay stations. Bernard oversaw them, his hands jamming into his pockets, noting the teleportation devices were seldom used outside of the coming and goings of Aftermas, the workshop having formed its own town at the North Pole.

Of course, he never used the teleportation device, having no need to do so. If he really wanted, his teleportation ability would allow him to arrive practically any place he wanted – a rare gift among elves he preferred not to flaunt.

"I thought Bernard was gifted, yet he's still at the workshop. Is something wrong with him? I mean…"

"Nobody comes back."

… and he rarely left, not wanting to hear others telling him what they thought.

Instead, he stayed at the North Pole, his home. Once the workshop cleared out, he found himself with quite a lot of freedom, allowing him the chance of working on various designs for toys. Of these designs, he always picked one out for Mindy which he worked on in his small workshop at his home when he found himself with the time. This year there wasn't much time, yet he still managed to create the doll with the icy blue dress.

"Wait. You're not a toymaker elf, like mom and dad? … I hate you."

"She didn't mean it, Bernard. She really…"

"Bernard?"

He'd not expected Santa's presence, or the questions asked. Specifically, he didn't like the fact Santa brought up the fact Bernard stayed at the North Pole instead of visiting his family. He even brought up the whole Christmas spirit thing. Thankfully, Judy rescued him – big time; she even sent the doll on its way, something he'd almost forgotten to do. He collapsed onto his bed, glad for the charms which prevented accidental teleportation.

Judy would likely show up letting him know it was time for After Feast like she always did with all of the elves who remained behind – who didn't have any family. In the back of his mind, he hoped Santa might chalk the fact he didn't visit family up to that rather than the fact he didn't feel like a part of the family.