Another year was once again coming quickly to an end. It was mid-November when Voltaire received a letter from her mum in the mail. Apparently she wanted to visit. Voltaire sighed and dreaded the day when her mum would arrive. It wasn▓t that she didn▓t love her mum, but she nagged her about getting a husband and settling down like most elves her age had already done. That's why everyone in the workshop looked a lot younger then her and Bernard.
It was late at night when her mum's shuttle came in. Not all elves had magic, and so there were special elf shuttles that went all around the world, undetected by humans. Her mum's shuttle came in at four in the morning and Voltaire put on a smile as her mum walked out carrying a bag.
"There she is," said her mum as she raced over and hugged her daughter.
"Hi mum, here let me get this for you. So how was the trip?" Voltaire asked as she took her mum's bag and they began to walk to Voltaire's apartment building.
"Long, and tiresome. All I want is to prop my feet up and take a long hot shower," she said.
"Well I think that can be arranged."
"So how have you been. I hardly hear from you anymore."
"Busy as usual. You really didn't come at a good time."
"Well I'm only here for a few days, I'm sure you don't mind a few days delay."
"You don't expect me to stay home with you while you▓re here do you? Because I'm sorry I can't. Bernard would explode without someone there to calm him down."
"Ah, Bernard. How are things between you two?"
"Just fine."
"Fine or better then fine."
"Mum not now," groaned Voltaire as she held open the door to the apartment building for her mum and followed her up the stairs.
"I'm just saying, you're both the perfect age, seem to get along well, and both single," she replied.
"In," was all Voltaire said as she opened her apartment door. She put her mum's bag in her bedroom and grabbed a few blankets out of the closet and spread them on the couch where she was sleeping.
"Well I'm going to have something to eat, take a shower, and sleep," said her mum.
"And I have to get up early tomorrow, so I'm going to sleep. If you need anything, please try to find it yourself, or ask in the morning," said Voltaire. Her mum nodded and watched her daughter go in to her bedroom. Voltaire changed into her pyjamas then went to sleep on the couch.
Voltaire only got an hour of sleep before she had to get up. She grabbed her clothes and went to go take a shower. She realized her mum must have only just gone to bed to there was no hot water left, and being in the North Pole, one does not take cold showers. Voltaire sighed and then went next door and knocked on Bernard's door. He opened the door only wearing his pyjama bottoms and had a towel on his head trying to dry his hair.
"Voltaire? What are you doing here so early?" he asked.
"My mum is visiting and used up all the hot water. Do you mind if I use your shower?" she asked.
"Yea sure," he said. She walked in and he closed the door.
"Thanks," she said and walked over to his bathroom and pulled out a towel from the shelf and took her hot shower. She came out fully dressed with her hair slightly dried. Bernard was ready to go and waiting for her. She nodded at him and they both left for the workshop. Voltaire made them some breakfast and they silently ate it, afterwards parting and going to work. Voltaire fired up the oven and the baking process began. Other chef elves came in and the work had begun, then a crisis occurred. They had to go in to Elfcon 1. Voltaire made sure the kitchen was soundless when they heard the plane approaching. Then they all heard music playing.
"Oh god," whispered Voltaire, "stay quiet all of you." She quickly left the bakery and headed to where she heard the music. Halfway there she met up with Santa and Bernard. They found the noise coming from Curtis who was laid back in the sleigh playing a dancing Santa. Santa put a hand over his mouth and turned the dancing Santa off, stopping the music. They all waited silently.
"We are in Elfcon 4 All clear," came a voice through the intercom. Bernard let out a breath and Voltaire leaned on the sleigh.
"Curtis, what do you say we get you a nice set of head phones this Christmas," said Santa patting him on the shoulder, "it's all right everybody. Let's get back to work." They watched for a moment as the elves went back to tending to the reindeer.
"Curtis, you're nine hundred years old, grow up!" said Bernard staring down at the number two. Voltaire just shook her head at him.
"Bernard," said Santa. Bernard huffed and grabbed onto Voltaire's wrist and they ran over and caught up with Santa, still not a great mood.
"Voltaire why did you turn down the job as number two?" asked Bernard rubbing his temples.
"I told you before I love to torture you," she smirked at him.
"I was actually wondering that myself. You do a lot around here," said Santa turning to look at her.
"My passion is in the kitchen but if I need help then I help," shrugged Voltaire. They were now walking around outside, heading back to the workshop when Curtis finally caught up to them.
"You know I didn't break any of the rules. According to the Santa Handbook-" started Curtis. Voltaire and Bernard rolled their eyes at the mention of the only thing Curtis will ever love. Santa just waved at passing elves.
"Oh the Handbook. Curtis do you go pee pee with that thing?" asked Bernard, his hands planted firmly on his hips.
"Elves are encouraged to listen to music. It lifts their spirits and makes them more creative, more productive, and well, more alert- WATCH OUT!" yelled Curtis and the four of them ducked as a tan blur flew over them just barely missing their heads. They heard laughing and quickly stood up to see a reindeer fall out of the sky.
"Okay," said Santa still looking over in the area where the reindeer had fallen, "is he alright?"
"He's okay Santa!" yelled and elf over by the fallen creature.
"Wow that's going to leave a mark. Is that Blitzen? Looks like Prancer. Who is that?" asked Santa trying to see.
"It was Chet," said Curtis.
"Who?" asked Voltaire.
"He's one of our reindeer in training," said Curtis with a smile. Voltaire shuddered at the thought of relying on that reindeer to help fly the sleigh with Santa in it.
"Oh, well please tell me that it is early in his training. Wow nice fall," said Santa and he patted Bernard's shoulder before heading into the workshop. Bernard kept a smile on his face and then turned to glare down at Curtis.
"Curtis when are you going to tell him?" he asked.
"Not now," said Curtis sternly and then ran away. Bernard glanced at Voltaire and they both chased after the little elf. Soon enough they caught up with Santa and Curtis. Voltaire was walking next to Santa and Bernard when Santa stopped and started sniffing the air.
"What is it?" asked Voltaire sniffing as well. Santa then leaned over and started to smell her. "Um┘Santa?"
"Sorry, but you smell like," he paused and then smelled Bernard, "like Bernard. Did all my teasing finally trigger something?" he asked playfully.
"No, Santa, he is not my boyfriend," said Voltaire.
"Could have fooled me," mumbled Curtis and Bernard shoved him.
"My mum is visiting and used up all my hot water so I used his shower. Does us smelling the same really matter that much? What if we had happened to have bought the same soap or something?" asked Voltaire crossing her arms.
"I was just curious. I want to know how my two favourite elves are doing," said Santa putting his hands up in protest.
"Hey!" said Curtis.
"After this mornings stunt how can you think you'd still be one of his favourite elves?" asked Bernard crossing his arms and staring down at Curtis.
"Santa can you come look at this car?" asked an elf.
"Right away," said Santa getting away from the quarreling. Curtis followed after him while Voltaire and Bernard hung back a bit.
"Any idea what that was about?" he asked.
"I don't know but it was really awkward to have your boss smelling you," replied Voltaire.
"Yeah. Well let's just try to forget it ever happened. Do you have to get back to the kitchen or do you want to come with us on rounds?" asked Bernard.
"I want to be there when Curtis gives the news and who knows when that will be," said Voltaire with a shrug. Bernard nodded and they walked over to where Santa had got the car to start working. He then went around and one of the chefs came up to him.
"Do you want a cookie, Santa?" she asked.
"Do I want a cookie? Yes. What's fresh," he asked.
"Give him one of the sugar cookies you just made," said Voltaire. Santa took it and thanked her. She nodded to her head chef and went back to the kitchen. "I never knew they did deliveries. When did that start?" Voltaire wondered out loud. Bernard laughed a bit and then they continued on their way. Eventually they came to a balcony.
"Hey Joey, how's that static free tinsel coming?" asked Santa.
"Hew guys, Santa wants to see the new tinsel," Joey said over his shoulder. Within seconds Bernard, Santa, and Voltaire were covered in tinsel. Curtis was standing behind the group and avoided it. The elves above them were laughing at them and Bernard and Voltaire turned to face each other.
"You know I could go up there and take of this the ugly way, or we go outside and play some tinsel football," said Santa. The elves cheered and they headed out. Voltaire never liked football. It was the American version of football, you know the one where they kick the ball like five times a game or so the rest of the time you use you hands, she never understood why it was called football either.
Voltaire threw the tinsel off of her and got rid of and tinsel in her hair that she saw. Bernard threw the pile of tinsel off himself and turned to Curtis.
"Curtis, you need to tell him right now!" said Bernard shaking a finger in front of him. Voltaire stood beside Bernard nodding her head. Curtis looked between the two of them.
"I don't know. He's so happy right now," he said calmly and then pointed a finger back at Bernard, "why do I have to be the one to tell him?"
"Because, I'm the head elf I don't give bad news, it's one of the perks of my seniority," he fired back with a smile.
"What about Voltaire?" Curtis tried.
"Don't being me into this, I'm only here for the show. Plus I'm a chef, what would I know about the clauses?" she asked feigning innocence and Bernard smiled at her and then turned to Curtis.
"Now tell him," said Bernard and he grabbed Curtis by the shoulder and dragged him outside. The game was just starting when they arrived.
"Seven swans a swimming, six geese a laying," yelled one elf with the ball.
"Five golden rings!" yelled the watching elves.
"Hike!" yelled the football holding elf. The game began and all too soon Santa had been defeated and landed sitting down in front of the three elves that he knew the most.
"No matter how many times they run that play I never see it coming," whined Santa still sitting on the ground.