Chapter 2: Uneasy Ceremonies, Beautiful Days
Carol looked at the calendar, marking off the last day of July. She sighed, considering all the stress that would soon be on her husband.
"Middle of the year jump." She muttered, throwing the marker onto the desk. Just a few days down from her mark was the circled date for Charlie's wedding. Some elves, most likely Judy, had drawn little stars and hearts next to the words.
Scott and the Millers had talked very little since the last meeting, with Laura only telling him that the wedding was still on track, regardless of the objections. Scott hadn't called Charlie, preferring to bury himself in his work. Charlie's pride was too hurt to beg his father to attend the wedding.
The son hadn't stooped to accusing his father of dislike of the bride. Past experience had told him that such lows could result in irreparable damage. As much as he hated to lose his father for the ceremony, there was no sense in burning all bridges.
Scott was taking inventory with his two head elves as Carol walked into the workshop. Judy caught her eye as she approached them, the little elf was busy in a discussion with Curtis, but managed to glance over to give her female boss a distressed look. Above all the others, it was her that wanted Santa to be the one to bruise his dignity a little, and go to Charlie's wedding.
Then again, nervous habits seemed to occurring in all the elves who worked closely with the boss. She saw Curtis staring and looking away quickly, Judy's pained eyes, Bernard's hand wringing, and Noel's foot tapping. She'd made the decision then, that things simply could not progress in this manner.
Without a word, she grabbed one of her husband's suspenders and began to drag him off to his office.
"You four, come with me." The school principle voice was back, prompting the indicated elves to jump and run.
Eyes from every corner of the workshop watched in knowing confusion as Mrs. Clause dragged Santa off.
"It's a nice place, we'll take it." Charlie shook the realtor's hand and Jennifer did the same. They signed the papers and went back to the car, staring out the windows at their new home.
"It really is nice." Sighed Jennifer, grasping his hand. He didn't squeeze back.
"You know, maybe you should do something about this."
"He's the one that had the problem with our marriage."
"Yeah, and he's still your father. I can see his point in this argument."
"Really?"
"Well, yeah I can see it, but I happen to be biased in the opposite direction." She kissed him, "Don't let this ruin the family."
Bernard pulled a chair out for Noel, who sat down slowly. She was showing now, a definite bump was under her clothes, especially large for her term.
He sat down next to her, placing his hand over hers as she let it rest on her belly. They exchanged contented smiles.
Judy and Curtis took seats next to them, and Carol pulled Scott to the main chair before practically throwing him into it, "I'm sick of this, we're resolving it now."
She pointed to the four elves sitting there, "And I know you all feel the same way so don't back out on me now." Everyone sat up a little straighter at that.
"Scott, this is ridiculous."
"Yeah, he's your only child." Noel pointed out.
"I don't agree with this wedding."
"Neither do I, but it's not like we can really stop it." Carol threw up her hands, trying to make him realize the futility of the argument.
"How can you do this to Charlie?"
"I'm sure all he wants is for his father to be there. He's always wanted your support!"
Bernard was the last one to speak, "You will regret this, for the rest of your life, if you don't go."
Looking down at the desk, Scott sighed, "You're right."
(The Wedding Day)
Charlie straightened his tie as he waited at the back of the church, he hadn't been called to take his place yet. His hands shook with nervousness, it wasn't entirely true that all grooms had to do was simply show up.
There was a soft knock on the door, and, assuming it was his best man, Charlie simply asked the person to come in.
"Hey sport."
He whipped around, "Dad, what're you doing here?"
"Well, I got some good advice from a few friends," He stepped forward, wringing his hand in front of him, "Such as I was being difficult and if I missed this day, I would regret it."
"I'm glad that you're here."
They hugged, after which Scott held his son at arm's length away, "You are an adult but you'll always be my son."
Bernard poked his head into the room, "Charlie, they're calling for you to get in there."
As they walked out, Charlie laughed, "So, let me guess, you brought the head elves and the secondary head elves?"
"You're actually very lucky, the entire North Pole wanted to attend," They walked to the front of the church, "Besides," Scott motioned to where the elves sat, "How often do you get to see Bernard in slacks and a tie?"
The head elf rolled his eyes.
The ceremony was simple and short, but not without its sweetness. Parents on both sides, though a little distressed, put on their best smiles for the benefit of the couple.
Bernard and Noel were cuddled up in the second row, seated right next to Judy and Curtis. Throughout the ceremony, Curtis found himself inching his hand over towards where Judy's lay on the cushioned seat.
When his index finger grazed the top of her hand, she looked over at him. He froze, unsure as to whether or not he'd be brushed off, or worse, slapped. Although, he doubted that she'd slap him in the church, she might wait until they were outside.
While he pondered if he'd ever seen her physically attack anyone, he stopped when she grabbed his hand. Judy curled her small fingers around his palm before stretching them out. Curtis found that his fingers laced neatly with hers.
"What happened to that guy you were seeing in wrapping?"
"We broke up months ago."
"Oh." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
(December)
Noel woke up early. She tried to roll over but found that she was too close to her husband to do so. Bernard was still dozing next to her, his arm was draped over her, hand on her large stomach. At nine months pregnant, her belly did not fit her frame. It was getting increasingly harder to move. The baby kicked suddenly and she moved her hand to the spot. At the same time, she felt Bernard do the same and she realized that he was no longer in the clutches of the Sandman.
"Good morning."
"Morning." His reply was as sleep drugged as hers, but the minute his soft brown eyes opened, she realized that he was more awake that she thought.
He sat up and leaned over to kiss her, "Happy Christmas Eve day."
"A happy day to you too." She kissed back as he helped her to sit up.
"So, will the little one be making an appearance soon?"
His wife smiled and placed both hands on her belly, "I hope so. It's two days past my due date." She struggled to her feet, "Let's get ready to go to work."
"Are you sure you should be working?"
"I'll be fine. How about I just do supervising?"
"As long as you don't hurt yourself."
She drew him into a long kiss, "You have my word."
The couple changed from their night clothes to their day clothes and made their way to the dining hall.
Along the way, they noticed the other elves staring at them. For the last nine months Noel had been pregnant, but it was always treated as something new and different. Nearly every elf at the North Pole had felt the baby kick, and many had presented the soon to be parents with gifts.
Noel stepped over to the desk on the first level and sat down. Bernard gave her a quick kiss before running up to the second level workshop area, where he was to spend most of his day.
The new computer system that had been installed at the North Pole had been having some problems recently, and it was Noel's job to fix them. With the help of Quinton, the hours flew by, until the ringing of the lunch bell was heard.
Bernard suddenly appeared at her side, "Hey."
"Hi. You up for lunch?"
"I'll go run and bring it for you if you want."
"Well, I -"
" I know you never let me before, but please."
"Alright, thank you hon." She placed her hand on his cheek and kissed him softly. As he walked away, Judy approached her friend,
"How're you doing?"
"I feel pretty good. Just a little tired I guess. Hey Judy?"
"Yes?"
"You know it's funny. I've made every elf at the North Pole, you'd think this would feel the same."
"Yeah, but all you had to do with us was give us a little kiss on the cheek. This is very, very different. This child didn't already exist, you and Bernard made it."
Smiling, Noel hugged Judy, " Next to Bernard, you're my best friend."
"For twelve hundred years."
"Remember when you worked in the hospital?"
"It was about a 400 year time span."
"And I remember that you were one of the best nurses ever. So, I want you to be the one to help Mrs. Clause when the baby comes."
"Really?" Judy threw her arms back around her friend, "You know I'd do anything for you, and I promise you I'll be there when the time comes."
"That's good, because I'm gonna need your help real quickly here."
Staring at her friend's face, the younger elfess noticed a slight gaze of fear, "You mean, right now?"
"The baby's on its way."
"Let's get you to the hospital."
"I can get there okay. Can you go tell Bernard and then meet me there?"
"Sure, and I'll get Mrs. Clause too."
The little elfess took off at top speed toward the Clause's apartment, realizing that she needed to get help to her friend first. Bernard, though she respected him and knew that he deserved to know, wasn't the best one to be of any assistance right now.
Meanwhile, Noel pulled herself to her feet and looked around at the empty workshop. Not an elf was in sight, and it was delightfully peaceful. It only happened three times a day and she loved it. Slowly, she placed one foot in front of the other, moving as fast as she could in light of the pain she was starting to experience.
She walked out into the courtyard and briskly moved toward the first building on her right. The hospital was always very close to the place where the most injuries came from. Accidents were not very common, but certain doctor and nurse elves were always kept around.
Once inside, a little nurse elf by the name of Jessica jumped up from her seat at the front desk, "Noel! Is it time?"
"Yes."
"I'll show you upstairs."
The hospital was a very comfortable place. Instead of the pure white decorations of the human places, the place resembled the inside of a log cabin. Green and red colors adorned every inch of the infirmary. Each room had soft beds and all the comforts of home.
Mrs. Clause strode though the second floor hall, her husband at her side. Scott wasn't planning to do anything, except for sit with Bernard while they waited. When they reached the room, Scott sat down on the bench outside while Carol went in.
Noel lay on the bed, eyes closed, hands gripping the bed sheets as her pains came and went. She'd changed to a different outfit and had pulled the bedcovers over her.
"Hello dear. How are you doing?"
Opening her eyes, Noel sat up slightly, "It hurts."
"I know dear." Carol sat down on the bed next to her, and patted the girl's cheek, "Don't you worry, I helped a lot of my friends when they had their babies. They had them at home too."
Mrs. Clause rubbed Noel's stomach through the clothes and let the elfess grasp her other hand, "The nurse is bringing the medical equipment. Then we can start the monitoring, okay?"
"Alright."
Judy ran from the Clause's apartment over to the mess hall. Grasping some of her dress up in her hands to avoid tripping, her feet ran over the elaborately tiled floors.
She spotted Bernard standing in the lunch line. Regardless of his status, he still had to wait with all the others to eat everyday. Talking with Curtis and unaware of the situation, he didn't look up when Judy ran into the room.
Seeing the little elfess out of breath and tired, every elf got real quiet. Taking one or two seconds to stabilize herself she looked up, "Bernard!"
He left the line and walked over a few steps toward his friend, "What's wrong?"
"Noel - the baby - now."
It wasn't even a second after, that the older elf ran as fast as he could out of the mess hall and to the hospital.
Judy turned to Curtis, "Would you get Bernard and Noel's food for them?"
Before he even had a chance to reply, she turned and followed her boss toward the infirmary.
Back in the delivery room, Noel sat up while Carol helped to rub her back and belly. Outside, a crash alerted them both.
Giving a slight smile, Noel turned to her friend, "I wonder who that could be."
"Bernard's here."
The sound of voices from the outside hall told them that Bernard was arguing with Scott, but in the end, only Judy added to the number in the room, "Scott's having Bernard stay outside, but he wants to say that he loves you and wants to be here with you."
Judy was pushing the required medical equipment to monitor her friend. A few supplies had been picked up from some human medical hospitals about three months in advance. Judy and some other elves had been practicing how to use it, to ensure Noel's safety.
"I don't want to use that stuff."
"You don't?"
"Not unless there's an emergency. I'd rather do the whole thing natural."
"Okay, then, we'll do whatever you feel comfortable with." Answered Carol, getting up to help Judy get a washcloth and bowl of warm water.
The little elfess leaned over to her human companion, "What do we need this for again?"
"If she has a long labor, we have to bathe her face to keep her awake."
"Oh, how long will it be?"
"I don't know, dear. Let's just hope it'll all be over soon."
Bernard paced back and forth through the hall while Scott sat on the nearest bench.
"I would ask if you were nervous, but that's obvious."
"Yeah. Were you the same way when Charlie was born?"
"I was worse, I think. May have passed out, I don't know."
This brought a bit of a laugh from Bernard, imagining the thinner version of Scott out for the count in a hospital somewhere.
"How long will it be?"
"First time usually is the longest."
"Hours, then?"
"Yes."
The only good that had come out of Noel going into labor at noon, was that Bernard merely had to look at the clock to know how long he'd been waiting. Scott had left him a few times to go check on the elves, but for the most part, he'd been right by his best elf's side.
Bernard's head was in his hands, he was scared, nervous, and all things in between. Neither Judy nor Carol had come out of the room to tell him what was going on.
Curtis suddenly appeared from around the corner, in his arms, three trays, "I brought you some dinner."
"Thanks." Came the replies of the two men as they took the trays, Curtis sat down next to Santa.
"The elves are starting to wonder if you're gonna make your flight. It is Christmas you know."
Scott sighed and looked over at Bernard, "He's right. I can only wait a couple of hours and then I have to go."
"I'll be fine."
"I can stay with you. They don't really need me in the workshops." Suggested Curtis.
The elder elf nodded, "I would like that. Thanks Curtis."
"Anytime."
"So, do you think it's a boy or a girl?" Scott was changing the subject. Noticing that his head elf was picking at his dinner, obviously unable to eat, a diversion was in order.
"I don't know. I don't really have a feeling either way."
"Laura used to tell me that she knew Charlie was a boy. Mothers seem to just have a sense for it."
"I think Noel knows, she just understands that I want to be surprised. She did have us pick out two names though."
"What are they?"
"If it's a girl, Melody, a boy, Christopher."
Curtis smiled, "Those are nice names."
"Yeah, we had it down to six, those two just jumped out at us."
"Does Bernard know yet?"
"No, he doesn't. He didn't want to know if the baby was a boy or a girl." Noel leaned back, breathing hard.
"But this is completely different!" Stated Judy, using the cloth to mop her friend's forehead.
"I know, I know, but I'm not really too concerned with it at this moment."
Judy laughed lightly, getting a small smile from her friend.
"Are we getting any closer?"
Mrs. Clause shook her head, "It looks like it's gonna be a long time yet dear."
(Hours later)
Santa looked at his watch, "Bernard, I have to get going to keep Christmas on schedule." He looked over to the younger elf, "Curtis, you're staying?"
"Yeah."
"You don't have to Curtis, I'll be okay here."
"I'd prefer to stay and keep you company."
Bernard gave the younger elf a bit of smile, though strained due to the current situation. He had begun to wring his hands, although pacing seemed to be out the question now. His legs were tired, along with every other part of him.
(The Next Day, Christmas, noon)
Outside in the hall, Bernard was leaning with his back up against the wall. His head was slumped forward and his hands were in his pockets. Curtis played a game of solitaire from his place on the floor. Both of them looked up as Scott walked back into the hospital hall. He looked tired from the evening ride.
"Anything yet?"
"No."
As if on cue, Bernard turned to face the door. His eyes scanned up and down the wood, as if some detail in the wood pattern was able to talk to him.
A noise alerted the ears of all three men. The cry of a newborn baby.
Bernard's eyes instantly lit up and he walked up close to the door. He pressed his ear to the wood and listened to what he now considered to be the most beautiful sound in the world.
This went on for nearly ten minutes until the door moved and Judy stepped out.
"How's Noel?"
"She's just fine. You can go in now."
Leaning down and giving his friend a fast hug, he ran into the hospital room. Noel lay, tired but awake, on the bed. He could tell that after the delivery, her clothes and the bed sheets had been changed.
Next to her, wrapped in a red blanket, was the baby. Mrs. Clause was tending to something off to the side of the room, but that didn't really concern him. In shock, he walked, almost in slow motion, toward his wife.
"Hey." She was smiling at him and patted the bed where she wanted him to sit.
"Bernard, I want you to meet our daughter."
Carol turned around from the other side of the room, "And I've got your son right over here."
"Twins?"
"I wanted it to be a surprise. Melody and Christopher are here at the same time."
Just then, Mrs. Clause walked over to where the new parents were sitting and handed the little boy, wrapped in a green blanket, to his father. Wary about how to hold him, Bernard let his boss show him how to support the head and body.
"Wow." He whispered, looking down at the little child. Both of the children showed some features of each of the parents. Perfect mixes and not even an hour old. Bernard's eyes, cheeks, and chin, and Noel's nose and mouth.
Little Christopher stirred, ready to cry again. Recognizing this, his father tried to soothe him, "C'mon, please don't cry. Daddy's here, Chris."
Noel felt the tears slip down her cheeks, her heart fit to burst with pride and love for the man she married. A sudden wave of exhaustion ran over her and she yawned.
"You're really tired, aren't you?"
"Extremely."
"Can I take the twins to go show Santa and Curtis?"
"Sure, just let them get their sleep too. They haven't had it too easy today either." She gave a rather weak laugh.
He leaned down and gave her a long, lingering kiss on the lips, "Thank you Noel. This is the best Christmas gift I've ever received."
"Thank you too."
"For what?"
"Christopher and Melody. I wouldn't have had them with anyone but you."
Bernard smiled and lifted Melody into his free arm, "I'll be back in a few minutes."
He walked out into the hallway, taking great care to not disturb his children.
Santa and Curtis jumped up from their seats, "Twins?"
"Shh! They're sleeping. Yeah, we had twins."
Curtis stood on his toes, "They're cute kids Bernard."
"Absolutely adorable. They look just like you and Noel."
"Thanks guys." He cradled the twins close to him.
"Can I go make the announcement?" Asked a very eager Curtis.
"Sure." And off ran the elf.
"It's really amazing, isn't it Bernard?" Santa asked, and the head elf nodded.
Scott sighed, "You just look at them and say to yourself, 'wow, I did this?'. Then this massive amount of love just hits you and you realize that you'd do anything for them." St. Nick's eyes had a slight hint of tears in the sides of them. He was obviously remembering when Charlie had first been placed in his arms.
"That is exactly how I feel."
"You'll be a great father. Tell Noel I said congratulations."
"Sure Santa."
They parted ways and the elf headed back into the hospital room to see his wife. Carol had set up an extra cot for him and a crib for the babies.
"She said she wanted to stay here tonight. I hope you don't mind."
"How could I?"
Mrs. Clause gave the motherly smile she was famous for, "Congratulations dear."
With that, she walked out of the room, leaving the new father alone with his wife and children. Bernard sat down on the cot and looked at the two infants.
He marveled at their small, pointy ears and little button noses. The way they waved their little fists in the air and opened and closed their eyes.
Noel fell asleep quickly, exhausted from the 24 strain, while Bernard sat up for awhile longer. Indeed, it wasn't until the bell tolled midnight, signaling the end of Christmas day, that he finally pulled himself away watching the twins sleep.
He crawled onto the cot left for him, unaware of the ever increasing joy that had taken over the North Pole since the announcement of the big news.
Mother Nature glanced over the cards in her hand, staring back at the other players. Father Time sat directly across from her, the other legendary figures filling in the spaces between around the table.
Father Time had arrived yesterday around noon to alert Mother Nature that she was about to become, technically, a grandmother.
"It's about time, I've been waiting 3000 years for this." She joked, but the tension had been rising since the announcement.
An impromptu card game of all the legendary figures had been called, as during this time of the year, all they had was time. Not to mention that Mother Nature had demanded that they attend.
The more agitated she became, the less favorable the conditions of natural earth, so, it benefited them to keep her calm. It had also contributed to her decision to not attend to Noel at this particular time.
"Carol and Judy will be with her, Santa and Curtis will be with Bernard, my presence will not be needed. I'll just be standing there with nothing to do, and paranoid on top of it."
"I'm out." Cupid said, throwing his cards down, bringing Mother Nature back to earth.
Father Time grinned at her, "Just us then. What's the ante?"
"Well… If I win, you have to leave the Grand Canyon alone for a few years and let me try to preserve it."
"Okay, and if I win, you let me speed up that erosion over the fossil sites."
She sighed and looked down at the cards again.
"What? It's about time somebody found those dinosaurs."
"Well I didn't bury them for you to dig them up! Make the humans work for it!"
"Hey, who controlled time to have them buried in the first place?"
Narrowing her eyes at him, she challenged, "Fine, we have a deal. What do you have?"
He laid down a hand showing two pair.
She laughed, "3 of a kind!"
Father Time groaned, realizing he lost his bet, but he still had one ace hidden away, "Fine then, full house."
"Full house? Neither of us have a full house."
"You do now." He winked at her.
She got up slowly, the other figures climbing to their feet with her, "When? Just now?"
"No, yesterday. I'd just thought I'd give them time to rest before relatives dropped in."
Snapping her fingers, the entire council began to disappear to travel to the North Pole.
Elves everywhere in the workshop had to suddenly move as council members began to drop in all over the area. All of them were merely standing around, waiting.
The Millers and Charlie and Jennifer were standing on the upper level, already having been called there earlier that day. Lucy was busy talking to an elf, still being rather fascinated with them.
Mother Nature nodded to the humans, making her way up the staircase. Cupid fluttered and landed on the railing.
"I'm still in hot water with your parents." He whispered to Charlie.
"Sorry, but I don't regret it."
"Neither do I. A job's a job."
Carol placed her hand on Charlie's shoulder, "Let's not discuss that now."
Jennifer was blissfully unaware of the conversation and spoke to her mother in law, "I've never seen an elf baby."
"No one has, and the fact that it's Bernard and Noel's…" Laura trailed off, obviously lost in thought.
Everybody was longing to see the new additions to the North Pole, and the elves especially were on pins and needles in their excitement.
The front doors to the workshop opened and in walked Bernard and Noel. The couple made there way to the stairs, each carrying an infant.
Many of the elves stood on their toes, trying to get a glimpse of the babies, not knowing that every elf at the North Pole would get a chance to see and hold them. Mother Nature grinned as she watched them approach. Scott and Carol made sure to stand back, having already viewed the new arrivals.
Once on the balcony, the couple faced the crowd. Bernard started, "Everyone, we would like to announce the birth of our children."
Noel finished, "Our daughter, Melody, and our son Christopher."
The elves clapped and cheered, delighted at the news that there were actually going to be real children among them. Mother Nature wasted no more time, she rushed over and got her first look at her grandchildren.
"Those adorable little pointed ears." She whispered, "They're absolutely beautiful."
Being so entirely complimented, the proud parents smiled, allowing the council members to hold the new babies.
Charlie approached Bernard, tapping him on the shoulder, "Congratulations Bernard."
"Thanks."
"I have something that I think you'll remember." Reaching into the bag he'd brought, Charlie retrieved the precious snow globe that the head elf had given to him years ago.
"I remember that very well."
"I want you to have it, for the twins. It was yours after all."
"Charlie, I gave that to you so that you would always have it."
He placed the globe in the elf's hand, "I want the twins to have it now Bernard, they deserve to have their father's family heirloom."
Bernard smiled and hugged the young man, "Thank you Charlie, I'm sure they'll love it.
Festivities, congratulations, and a general celebration of life continued throughout the day.
After being awake most the day, the twins finally settled down and drifted off into sleep as the sun set over the North Pole.
Bernard and Noel headed back to their room, carrying the twins. Bernard's room had been empty since he'd moved in with Noel, her quarters being larger.
As they approached the doors, they noticed that the room next door had been newly decorated. Noel reached over and ran her fingers across the lettering on the name plate. Christopher and Melody's names were etched into the gold bar.
"Curtis said there was a surprise for us, this must be it." Bernard opened the door.
The room revealed was truly gorgeous. Masters of the art of toy-making, the elves had crafted hundreds of infant toys and clothing. It was evident that preparation had begun months in advance. They had simply made a set for each gender, and would use whatever was appropriate. Painter elves had softened the reds and greens to pinks and lighter shades of green, and left the walls decorated in such tones. Carpets reflected snowflakes and silver bells against a baby blue background.
Two ornate cribs, handcrafted by the wood working elves also graced the room. Noel and Bernard laid the twins in their respective beds.
He placed his arm around her shoulder, and she around his waist. With her head lightly reclined against his, they retired to their room for the evening.
(I apologize for the great length of the story and some of the over-sweetness. We'll quickly return to the cliff-hangers and drama later.)
