a/n: No reviews yet, but I love this story already so chapter two is up. Please R&R
Does anyone else think that 30stm new album 'This Is War' is amazing? I LOVE it!
"Don't feel so bad Santa," said Judy sympathetically, "There's still hope." Santa was sitting at his desk, looking depressed as ever, he just found out that his son was top of the naughty list and that he had to get married or else he wasn't allowed to be Santa anymore.
"No Judy… no there is not," said Bernard, always a pessimist. Dakota who was standing in the doorway with her arms cross, watching the disaster unfold before her made her way into the room. She glared at Bernard for a moment before turning to Santa, "Shut up Bernard. There is hope," she said smiling her warm –rare- smile. "You can go back home. Sort Charlie out and meanwhile find a wife. And back here, Bernard and Curtis will run the toy factory. No biggie," she said happy with her plan.
Santa considered the plan, he smoothed his beard out with his fingers thoughtfully then smiled, "I like it," he nodded and Dakota let out a relieved sigh.
"Cool, then I'll just be getting back to my section," she said heading for the door, happy with herself.
"But" Santa said. Dakota silently swore to herself, she couldn't walk away from Santa but she secretly hoped this wouldn't happen.
"Yes sir?" she asked turning around on the spot with a pulled on smile. She really just wanted to get back to work.
"I want you to help out Bernard and Curtis."
"What?!" asked Bernard and Dakota in perfect unison, they didn't… no they couldn't work together they would kill each other. It would never work.
"Is that a problem?" Santa asked the two who were now standing side by side in front of Santa's desk, wide eyed. "You two are good friends right?"
"No!" unison again.
Dakota shook her head, tired of the whole being in unison with Bernard, "We are most definitely not friends. We just seem to get stuck together a lot," she was totally exasperated by now.
Santa sighed, "Well we can't pull this off without you Dakota," he said standing up from his desk, dismissing the matter.
Bernard and Dakota nodded in defeat then looking up as Santa spoke again, "What will we say to the elves?"
This caught them off guard.
"It's a machine that will duplicate you!" said Curtis shooing all the elves from the large room. Dakota looked around then frowned as she saw they huge machine, "Uuuh Curtis, this doesn't look so safe," she said walking toward it. "What do you think Bernard?" she asked turning around to face the horror-struck elf standing in the middle of the room. She suppressed a giggle; she had to do that a lot around Bernard.
"NO!" he exclaimed, "We can't send Santa in there, it will kill him!"
Santa who was examining the machine came around and looked at Curtis, "Have you tested it yet?"
Curtis bit his lip, "welll… no," he admitted. In the background Bernard smacked his hand to his forehead. "But I can now!" he said grabbing a squirrel and sticking it on the little walkway into the machine. Then he pressed some buttons and it turned on, sending a terrified little creature into the large device. Dakota sat on the side of it with an eyebrow raised watching the whole thing happen with an amused expression on her face, this would never work. But soon Bernard, Santa and Curtis were over the other side of the machine. Dakota followed and watched in awe as two squirrels emerged from the machine, "Hey it works!" she said extremely surprised.
Curtis looked up at her, "Did you seriously doubt my ability?" he asked her.
"Yes." She replied nodding at him. "So Santa, you gonna do it?" she asked looking at the big guy with a smile.
Bernard was staring with her, mouth agape in awe that she would even suggest it, "Are you serious? You want Santa to get in… that?" he asked furiously stepping toward her.
"Worked on the squirrels didn't it?" she pointed out.
Bernard shook his head, "No… no Santa is not going in there, and it's not worth the risk!"
"I believe it's up to Santa," said Dakota bitterly. Bernard glared at her then looked at Santa, "Please tell me you're not getting in it," he said desperately.
Santa sighed, "I'm gonna give it a go," he said stepping up onto the pathway.
Dakota smiled nodded at Curtis, "Let's save Christmas," she said with a grin.
"I can't watch this."
Dakota collapsed on her couch after a long day of helping the new 'Santa' get an idea of what he'd have to do. Once the real Santa had left, she, Bernard and Curtis had to convince the elves not to stare at this new Santa. Bernard was annoying her all day; his voice just went through her head sometimes. He kept reminding her of any mistakes she made and was panicky about everything. Soon she heard a knock in the door, she raised her eyebrows in surprise but walked to the door and opened it, frowning when she saw Bernard standing there. "Can I come in?" he asked folding his arms slightly.
Dakota nodded and opened the door more allowing him to step in, "What do you want?" she asked walking back into her little living room.
"I just wanted to say good job today. I know it's not your department, so… well done," he said a little nervously.
Dakota smiled, "Bernard, are you congratulating me on my work?" she asked as her smile turned into a grin.
Bernard narrowed his eyes at her and nodded plopping down on the couch beside her, "Yes, I am. Maybe it's a side effect of being so tired," he said in a mocking tone.
Dakota rolled her eyes and gently kicked him in the leg. "I think you're proud of me," she said tilting her head to the side. She noticed how he sat, quite nervously yet comfortably.
Bernard frowned at her, "Maybe… maybe not," he said smiling at her for the first time that day. "I should get going, I've got paperwork to do," he said standing up.
Dakota followed him to the door, "Really? You're going to do more work?" she asked him leaning in the doorway.
He nodded, "Who else is gonna do it?"
Dakota bit her lip as she looked out at the snow then at Bernard, "I could help you… if you want."
Bernard looked at her, eyebrows raised, "There's a lot to do…"
"Too much for one person, plus… I don't want to ruin the one time we're actually getting along. I want to bask in its happiness," she said grabbing her jacket and heading toward the factory with Bernard.