The Emissary Clause Chapter 11: Hello Seattle, a the santa clause fanfic

Hey guys!

So guess what? This mean dog named Life has been terrorizing my neighborhood. On Friday of last week, it snuck up behind me and bit me right square on the butt, and...

Not buying the story?

Drat.

(Insert Usual Disclaimers here.)

Also: I don't own Disney. But you knew that.

Anyway, sorry for the delay! Hope you guys are still paying attention. This chapter has lots of fluffy interactions, bad dreams, and oddly enough, cinnamon. Also: Bernard yells at someone over the phone, and it's probably not who you'd guess (probably.)

All kudos, shout outs, and cookies to Safyre Sky, for her creation and sharing of Jacqueline Frost. For those of you who haven't read it, go checkout Meet the Frosts, it's really, really great and (in my opinion) under reviewed. *hint hint*

Hope you guys are having a less eventful New Year than I am! Or at least eventful in a better way...

All the Best!

-Ana

11. Hello Seattle

It was eight thirty before Jacquie and Bernard made it back downtown. Then they took a bus to a large mall, Pacific Place. Jacquie insisted that Bernard did NOT need to shop trendy; rather, classic, which better matched Ellington's taste anyway.

"Nordstrom and such for you, Bernie," Jacquie quipped, steering him away from the Cinnabon booth with a vengeance. The elf probably couldn't help it, but that was just it...he already looked like an elf; he didn't need to smell more like one until after they had gotten him new clothes. "No, no Cinnabons. You already smell like potpourri, anyway. The whole Workshop does. I don't know how you guys can stand the smell of all that cinnamon."

"Do NOT call me Bernie," Bernard said irritably. His food schedule was all screwed up from the time zone difference, so he wasn't sure if he needed breakfast or dinner. Either way, he was hungry. "And is it really that strong? The cinnamon?"

"You reek of it, said Jacquie, narrowly avoiding a slippery patch of freshly mopped floor, " but hey, that reminds me, you're not using you're real name, are you? With Elle?"

"Why not?" Bernard wrestled his arm away. "And would you stop? You're gripping me so hard that I'm getting frostbite under my coat."

"Ugh, spoilsport," muttered the winter sprite, but she released her grip a bit. "Well? You didn't answer my question."

I...don't know," admitted Bernard. "After all, you didn't change your name when you came into the picture."

"Yes, but I didn't break Elle's heart, in a different dimension." Jacquie dug him in the ribs.

"OW!"

"Oh, don't be such a baby." She stopped in front of a store. "Ooh, let's go in here. They've got good shoes."

They went in. Bernard sat for what seemed like hours (but was really only forty five minutes) while Jacquie called for various different kinds of shoes and shoved them into Bernard's hands. "Try these on," she commanded, and he did, grudgingly. Knowing that he was doing this for Elle's benefit definitely helped him through the ordeal...that is, until a pair of high tops were handed to him.

"NO," he said severely, "I DO NOT WEAR SNEAKERS. EVER."

"What, not dressy enough for you?"

"No. Not nearly. Whatever happened to classic?"

"Right, right." Jacquie relented, and, re-pinning up her long straight hair with conviction, she sent for more shoes.

They settled on some dress shoes, a pair of boots, and other, plainer footwear that Bernard picked himself...which put Jacquie out a bit, but made Bernard feel a bit better. At least he got to choose how the makeover changed him; especially as he wasn't too keen on makeovers to begin with. For the most part, Bernard was 'allowed' to make his own choices about clothing...but Jacquie gave him pointers in the right direction, and was incessantly handing him things to try on. By the time they made it to their fifth store (while charging everything to the American Express), Bernard's fashion sense was clear enough that she could stop showing him stuff that he wasn't going to approve of.

"You know, your taste in clothing is decidedly...sensible," Jacquie commented, as she looked at the cart full of subdued tones. "Oh, who am I kidding? Bernard, this is awful. We need to start over."

"What?! No!" Bernard looked horrified. "I was just about ready to be done!"

"Are you joking?" Seeing his expression, Jacquie figured he wasn't. "Okay, maybe not. You officially make the world's worst rich person. You hate this, don't you?"

"It's definitely not my favorite thing to do, no."

"Well, then." She walked away in a huff. Bernard hurried after her.

"Ugh, look, I'm sorry, okay? You've been...really helpful. Jacquie? Come back! I need your help with this!"

Jacquie stopped in her tracks, and turned slowly to face Bernard. "You? Need help? That's a joke."

"Not, it's not." Bernard rubbed at his face. "Look, you said it yourself, okay? I've become...sort of obsessed with Elle. But...obsessed isn't quite the right word...more like...like..."

"Like you're in love," Jacquie said with a small smile. Bernard said nothing, but merely gave her a shrug and a meaningful look. Her somewhat 'icy' facade broken, Jacquie was a little more understanding then she'd been before. "Oh, alright. Let's get you some professional help." And taking him by the arm again, she led him towards a salesperson.

It had been a long day at school, a longer day at home. The Connelly's were packing for their holiday, and Ellington, without any sleep the night before, was wiped out. Upon returning home, she stumbled blearily to her room, firing off a quick text to Jacquie that she hadn't waited around campus, but had taken a taxi home. It had been an odd day; from feeling that she was being followed on the way to school (yes, even after Jacquie had joined her) to the raging headache she'd had since lunch. So Elle had flung herself on her bed, and was lost to the world for quite some time.

It was that morning all over. She was walking to school, carrying the morning's drinks as usual when she felt it. Again. That tingling that started in her stomach and spread throughout her body to the very tips of her fingers. She turned in the street, and this time, instead of just seeing the throbbing mass of morning commuters, one figure stood out sharply to her eye. It was a boy - well, young man would be a bit more accurate - wearing a long brown trench-coat, green beret and red and green scarf. He wore a large green satchel at his side, and was holding something in his hand. His eyes were a rich chocolate brown; full of emotion, even through the deep brown curls falling into his eyes. And his ears...the distance was about twenty feet, but somehow, she could see that his ears were...pointed.

She paused, knowing she had seen him before. Images of a cold, bright blue place, and a big building with beautiful stained glass windows flashed through her mind. And a moment...she was in a memory, buried in the dark red, soft folds of someone's shirt...his shirt, she realized. She wasn't sure how she knew, but there it was. she had been crying, and he had consoled her...

'I...I lost you,' she had said.

He hadn't said anything for a moment, but something changed. It was as if he suddenly gave off a sort of warmth that made her bury her face deeper, try to be closer...

It was strange, yet lovely, and Ellington knew she hadn't wanted it to end.

Then he'd kissed her forehead, and suddenly, she was all on fire. 'Shhhh...it's over now. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. Okay?'

Ellington couldn't remember what her original response had been. A new one had taken over. she burst into fresh, convulsive sobs. 'Where did you go?!'

There was no reply.

'Where did you go!?' she cried again. 'I needed you, and you left me here...alone. Again. Why aren't you HERE? Why am I alone?'

Who was he?

Then, she was back on the street, and that boy with the pointed ears was giving a lopsided grin. But there were tears on his cheeks.

'You left me, Elle' he was saying. 'I hurt you, and you left.'

'No.' It couldn't be. It wasn't right. She needed to be with him... why would she have done such a thing? And what could he have done to drive her away? 'No. I need you,' she said, a cold breeze overtaking her in the street and intensifying her loneliness. 'Still, I need you. Even here. Why don't you come for me? Why do you leave me here, without you?'

He smiled faintly. 'Oh Elle.' The words made her heart fall to pieces. 'I already am.'

'Who are you?' she asked again.

He said nothing, but kept smiling at her sorrowfully. 'Try to remember me,' he said finally. 'When you're awake. Try to remember me.'

Then, he disappeared. Ellington gave a little cry...and there she was, by the streetlamps.

Jacquie tackled her from the side again. 'Hey you!' Seeing Ellington's expression, she stopped. 'Did you see him?'

'See who?' Ellington asked, carefully.

'Him.' Jacquie pointed back at a lamppost, the third farthest away. There was the boy again, trying to hide behind it. 'He loves you, you know.'

'Who is he?' Ellington wondered, experiencing that strange feeling of deja vu one more time.

'Don't you remember your one and true?' asked Jacquie, appalled. 'Think, Elle. Remember.'

Ellington thought as hard as she could, her mind racing through strange memories that weren't her own; yet she was in them.

And then, she knew.

He grinned at her, as if he saw that she had found it.

And in a rush of joy, she yelled out...

"Bernard!"

Ellington sat bolt upright on her bed. Her face was wet, and she was sweating profusely.

Annise rushed into the room, with Dottie hot on her rooms were just next door. "Ellington?! Are you okay?" Seeing their big sister's state, their faces fell, and grew troubled.

"Another nightmare?" Dottie asked sadly. Ellington nodded, her eyes brimming with tears. She buried her face in her hands.

"It must have been a really bad one, then." Annise came and sat next to Ellington on the bed, and rubbed her back in a soothing way. "There there. It was just a dream."

"I...I know," Ellington admitted. "But...something was different this time. I can feel it."

"Still don't remember anything?" Dottie watched her concernedly. Something pricked in the back of Ellington's mind, and she had the oddest idea, that someone else was speaking through Dottie, trying to remind her...

"No." Ellington took a deep breath. "You know I never do."

This was one of the worst parts of her nightmares. She could never remember what she had dreamed of... "But... I get the feeling that it wasn't all that bad. Just...it upset me somehow."

"And...how is that not bad?" asked Dottie, confused.

"I don't know." Ellington sighed, and straightened herself out. "Do I always have to make sense?"

"Yes," laughed Annise, "you're Ellington."

The girls all laughed at this, but privately Ellington was wondering at just how much about her didn't make sense. The nightmares, the odd feelings, the telepathy...it was beginning to seem like the list of things that didn't make sense was growing longer and longer.

The doorbell rang downstairs. "Ugh," said Dottie with a roll of her eyes. "It's that Douglas Kensing again."

"He's been at the door since you got home, ringing and ringing," Annise said, annoyed. "I told him you were busy, but he just keeps coming back. I hope he gets snowed on."

"Says he wants to take you to the Silver Bell Ball." With a gag, Dottie said, "Ew. Click-hee, much?"

"Um...what?" Ellington looked amused.

"Click-hee," Dottie said again. "You know, when something is like uber radio-typical."

"Wait." Annise thought. "You...don't mean cliché? And, stereotypical?"

A face palm from Ellington. "Please don't remind me what you're not learning in school, Dottie."

Dottie scowled. "I am top of my class."

"Then don't introduce me to your teacher," Ellington said with a snort.

"You uppity b**ches," whined Dottie. "And I don't see why so many boys tag along after you, Elles. This is the third one this week, and you're such a dweeb!"

"Ignore him," Ellington told them with a laugh. "Hopefully, the guy will eventually get the picture: I am not available, because I'm not dating."

But a little voice in her mind said: You're not available, because you're taken.

Wait...what!?

Jacquie and Bernard were both exhausted by the time they left the mall. Jacquie hailed a taxi, and they piled all of the boxes, bags and packages into the trunk and seats. Despite Bernard's protests, his frosty guide had insisted he buy an entire new wardrobe.

"And now to take it home," she said, sliding into the taxi next to Bernard. "Where are you staying, Bernard? Because it had better be good, given the type of clothing you're gonna be wearing."

Bernard pulled out the wallet again, and took out the slip of paper. He passed it to Jacquie. "Do you know where this is?"

Jacquie read the address. "1225 Holiday Drive?" she laughed outright. "Well, that's cliché. And yes...it's two streets away from Ellington's house. She lives at 1350 East Hill Street. Very upper class. Holiday Drive is a little more relaxed...I'd say you'll fit right in; probably won't be noticed. Normally the neighbors know each other well; but most families are off on expensive vacations for the holidays, and so aren't likely to notice a lonely elf bachelor living in a large house by himself. Hmm. Sort of reminds me of 'Beauty and the Beast' ." She told the driver the address, and off they went.

"Only vaguely," said Bernard defensively. "Now, we've done all this shopping you insisted on. Won't you fill me in on Elle? She's...a different person than the girl I knew." He looked down at his hands. That sounded absolutely pitiful, he knew; but it was accurate.

"Sure." Leaning forward, Jacquie slid the glass window between them and the driver shut. "Alright, let's start with the basics: likes and dislikes. Umm...likes: snow—"

Bernard gave her a dubious look.

"What! It's not all my doing. Snow, school—she's in college; writing, like she always wanted—the Children's Theatre (she loves the kids); The Lord of the Rings, and Star Trek..."

"So not everything's changed."

"No, I guess not. Oh, she's got this huge crush on Karl Urban, too. I think it has to do with Bones...but don't ask. Anyway, let's see...red roses. She loves red roses, but nobody buys them for her. Except for me, sometimes, and trust me, that makes for some odd jokes."

So they talked for quite some time, Jacquie animatedly explaining the minutiae of Ellington's preferences as only a best friend can do.

"One more thing," she said finally. "Don't ever let her fool you with her sarcastic shield: Elle is a hopeless romantic. Like, really hopeless. You should have seen her this one time, when someone proposed in front of the Space Needle...we were just passing by; but the look on her face..." Jacquie shook her head. "No, I think, Bernard, that if you do things right, you could really win her heart this time."

"Let's hope you're right," said Bernard with a sigh. "The list of things I need to do differently is almost as long as the Naughty and Nice List."

"Really? That long?"

"No. Longer," Bernard dead panned.

"Well, at least you know it," Jacquie laughed, as she looked out the window. Then she sat up straighter. "Hey! This is East Hill. Look Elle's house is just there...the big one, with the holly bushes."

"I'm...not sure that counts as a house," Bernard said, a bit weakly. "More of a mansion."

"Oh." This hadn't occurred to Jacquie, whose family really did live in a mansion. "Hey, I just got an idea. Elle's family's headed out of town too... Elle's the only one staying behind. I've got her sworn into a holiday long, Disney movie marathon. You should come."

"Yeah, because that wouldn't be amazingly awkward."

"HEY!"

"I'm just saying."

"You pill," Jacquie huffed, and signaled for the taxi to pull over. "You go take this stuff to your bachelor pad. I think I've had enough of you for one day."

"Wait, Jacquie—"

But she was out and across the street.

Seeing 'that annoying Douglas Kensing' as she and Elle called him, outside of the house, Jacquie hid behind one of the large trees lining the street and frosted his fingers.

He gave up in seconds, and went away.

Feeling very satisfied, Jacquie waltzed up to Elle's house and went right in (call it privileges of being a best friend for years.)

"Elle!" she hollered, shaking off her coat. It had begun to snow.

"Ellington's upstairs dear," said Josette, rushing by with several shirts in hand. "Phillip, you didn't pack..."

Josette didn't stick around to hear the rest. She barreled up the stairs to Elle's room.

Annise and Dottie were just coming out.

"Hey," said Jacquie, then stopped. Their faces wore that look, the look she hated to see.

"It's happened again," Annise said solemnly.

"Did she remember anything?"

"NO, as usual," Dottie said, then frowned. "Although..."

"Although, what?" Jacquie asked suspiciously.

"She yelled a name, when she woke up. Barnaby, I think."

Jacquie's eyes widened.

"No," Annise corrected, "it was Bernard."

"That's what I said. Bernard," said Dottie firmly.

Annise wasn't buying it. "Gosh, Dottie; you hearing is so crappy sometimes. You were the one just outside the door!"

"Is she feeling okay?" Jacquie knew how long they could go on like this, and wanted to talk to Elle even more now.

"Yeah, I guess. As much as can be expected," said Annise. "Hey, I've been meaning to ask; do you guys have any plans for the holidays?"

"Well, my parents are going up north to visit our relatives and friends, so I'm stuck watching Fino and Fiera," said Jacquie restlessly. "Hope you guys have fun in Hawaii, though. Elle and I are going to have a Disney movie marathon, so we're going to be having loads of fun."

"Right." Dottie grinned. "Are you still going to try to take her clubbing?"

With a laugh, Jacquie said, "If she'll agree to it, yeah. Your dad owns some of the best clubs in Seattle; and we're both in college. Age shouldn't have to be a problem."

"It isn't, when you have money," said Dottie. "Trust me."

"Girls, you'd better be packing! The car will be here in half an hour!" Josette called up the staircase, and Annise and Dottie rushed off. Jacquie gratefully went into Elle's room.

Ellington was still sitting on her bed. "Hey," she said, a bit weakly.

"Hey." Jacquie came and sat on the bed. "The girls told me."

"It wasn't that bad," Elle shrugged.

"But it happened," said Jacquie quietly. Ellington didn't reply.

"Do you remember anything?"

That tickle again. It was stronger when Jacquie said it.

"I..." Elle sucked air. "I feel like I should." She sat up straight. "Jacquie, that was it. I was supposed to remember something. In my dream."

"How can you be sure?" Jacquie asked, surprised. "You've never remembered your dreams before. Ever."

"I just know it." She sat with a focused expression on her face as she tried to remember what it was...

And she was subconsciously broadcasting into Jacquie's mind.

Only Jacquie could see what Elle couldn't. The whole dream.

She smiled. The magic was beginning to work.

Ellington, for her part, was utterly baffled. "Ugh! I hate this, Jacquie! I hate it!"

"Why don't you go take a shower," Jacquie suggested. "It'll make you feel better. Then, after we see your family off, we'll order some dinner and watch a movie, okay? Anything you want."

"Can...we watch The Fellowship?" Elle asked tentatively.

"Sure," said Jacquie with a smile. Elle watched Disney for her, and she watched The Lord of the Rings for Elle. It was mutual. And besides, she knew that it was sort of her job to keep Elle from spiraling into a funk like she sometimes did after these 'dreams'.

"Well...okay." Ellington dragged herself off of the bed, and into the bathroom. "Can we order pizza?"

"YES!" Both girls loved pizza. "And ice cream!"

"Yeah!" Elle was already feeling better. Jacquie always perked her up.

Forty five minutes later, they were outside waving as the 'car', a short limo actually, drove away with Elle's family inside.

And then the shuttle with their luggage.

"I swear," said Elle confidentially to Jacquie, "they will never learn what it means to pack lightly."

Jacquie snorted. "At least they took the pets. I don't know about you, but I didn't want to feed that monster that is Dottie's hamster."

"Agreed," said Elle, then shivered. "Brrr, it's cold out here. Come on, let's go order food."

"Okay." Then Jacquie remembered. "Wait, I gotta make a call really quick. Go on in; I'll just be a minute."

"Oh, okay," said Ellington, and high tailed it to warmer quarters.

Dialing Bernard, Jacquie felt a pang of guilt for ditching him like that. But he was being a pest, so...

The call went to voicemail. "Frostbite," said Jacquie irritably, then left a message. "Hey, Bernard; it's Jacquie. Call me back when you get this...I have some good news that I think you'll want to hear."

Yes, Bernard had made it 'home' alright; if you could call a place that you'd never seen before in your long, long elfin life 'home'.

1225 Holiday Drive was a big house with a gigantic pine tree in the front and a bright red door. It looked very festive; as it had been thoroughly decorated. Seeing the wreath on the front door, Bernard knew at once that elves had done it: there was tinsel woven through the branches, and anyway, he doubted that any human could decorate a house so perfectly.

Luckily for him, the taxi driver helped him carry in all of his bags. Not having any cash on him, Bernard simply handed the driver his card with an apologetic look...though, upon reflection, he wasn't sure why he should be apologetic for paying with an American Express.

When the driver had gone, and he'd shut the door behind him, Bernard took in the house. It was cozy; a little less magnificent as the rest of the houses on the street; and the layout gave it a comforting, homelike feeling. Thankfully, the entire house was furnished (something Bernard had failed to realize might be a problem) decorated as nicely as the exterior, and the heat was on, so he didn't have to arrive to a cold house. Someone had made an effort.

Finding the card on the table by the door, he knew who.

Bernard,

Call me when you arrive...there are some things I didn't get to tell you before you left.

Hope you like the house. Judy was very proud of what she did with it.

Have you found Ellington yet?

Curtis says hi, and not to worry. He's only had two accidents in the 7 hours you've been gone, and is rather happy about that.

Can't wait for you and Ellington to get back.

S.C.

"No pressure, no pressure," said Bernard to himself, with a shake of his head. He left the bags in the entryway and flopped down on the living room sofa, exhausted and not a little discouraged. No doubt the 'some things I didn't tell you' had to do with Jacquie, and the other changes with Ellington.

Not only was Elle rich; she was beautiful, had a best friend, and a life of her own. How on earth was he going to compete with that? She had everything!

Everything but you, said a voice in his mind. But that was garbage; Jacquie had made it quite clear that Elle had plenty of guys after her.

Realizing that thinking about the situation wasn't helping things, Bernard pulled out his Real phone and checked it. Jacquie had called; he didn't want to deal with that right now. He didn't need to be told even one more time how much Elle didn't need him.

Instead, he called Santa.

Bernard used his Pole phone to make the call. Santa answered on the third ring. "Bernard! How—Curtis, get that thing out of my face! I told you, I'll look at it later! Tell the elves to use the old model until I have time to approve the new one! And I don't care if we've run out of scotch tape! Use packing tape! Use duct tape! Use any kind of tape you can find, and don't come back until you've used all of that, too!" A door slammed. "Geez."

"Sounds like you're having fun," said Bernard wryly. "Miss me yet?"

"More than you know," said Scott miserably. He sighed. "So what's up, Number One? Any progress?"

"Well..." Bernard wasn't sure what to say.

"That doesn't sound good," said Santa.

"No, it's not really." Bernard groaned, and ran a hand through his hair. "Santa, she's so different."

"That's not surprising; alternate timeline, you know." Not exactly the answer Bernard was hoping for; but it was oddly comforting.

"And then there's Jacqueline Frost."

"What about Jacqueline Frost?"

Bernard sat up. "You mean, you didn't know she was here?"

"No...wait, she there? In Seattle?"

"Yeah, she's been Elle's best friend for like seven years."

"Oh, boy." A pause. "Well, actually that's a good thing. We know that Jack's not bothering her, and that's crucial. He can't mess up the timeline anymore...which is what I wanted to tell you."

Bernard's stomach fell. "What?"

Santa sighed again. "Well, Father Time went back and took another look at the timeline. Get ready, because this is a bit tricky. Apparently, Time itself is tunnel shaped. Imagine a pipe, sort of. When Jack disrupted the timeline, it split the pipe in two. Now, the half of the pipe that is the old reality stays the same—it doesn't grow, because nothing's happening there."

"Go on," said Bernard, wondering where this was going.

"But the half of the pipe that is the new reality continues to grow, because we're living in it. And eventually, the further it grows away from the old reality, the more differences there are, and the longer it takes, well then... then old reality will begin to fade."

"You mean disappear?!" cried Bernard.

"OW!"

"Sorry."

"And...yes. The old reality will cease to exist, and we will all be trapped here."

A stunned silence.

"Well that," said Bernard, his voice catching, "is very umm...Star Trek."

"Yeah," said Scott ruefully. "Yeah, it is."

"So...how long do we have? Until the fading begins?"

"Bernard, don't you get it? It's already started."

Another long pause.

Then a groan.

"Bernard..." said Santa warningly, "Bernard, don't you give up now..."

"I'M NOT GIVING UP!" Bernard yelled. The news was bad enough, but condescension was the last straw. "My GOD, I'm the one here, doing this! Finding her! Trying to make this right! You didn't tell me to come, I CAME ON MY OWN! So stop acting like I'm going to bail out on it! I'm the one who always has to give what matters to me up for the sake of Christmas...well you know what, if Christmas has to give up something for me, then so be it! Screw Jack, screw time tunnels, and screw Christmas! I love her, and I'M NOT LEAVING!" Bernard hung up, and threw the phone across the room, where it shattered against the wall.

And yes: he sat there and cried for a little bit.

The only thing Bernard figured that he had in his favor at this point was the Clause. The Emissary Clause and its magic had chosen Ellington, and no other competing force of magic could overrule it's decision. They were mean to be; and no distance or time could change that.

God, did that sound cliché.

But it was true.

He just wished that magic would start working on his side again.

Bernard's Real phone rang again. It was Jacquie.

He considered letting it go to voicemail...

But then he picked up.

"Hey Bernard! There you are!'

"Hey."

"Uh...you sound a bit nasally."

Bernard sniffed.

"Oh my gosh, have you been crying?"

"Shut up," Bernard said, but it lacked the snap it should have had. "I'm having a terrible time." The word time made him grit his teeth again. "I just found out that he old reality is fading away each moment I'm here, so that we might all be stuck in this reality; then I yelled at Santa, and I'm pretty sure I said 'screw Christmas'."

"Wow," Jacquie said, appalled. "That is pretty bad."

"What's happening to me, Jacquie?" Bernard muttered. "I've been acting like...like...what was it Elle used to say? 'Don't be such a...'"

"Teenage prima-donna," said Jacquie, "although now that she's in college she prefers the term 'Mary-Sue'. It means a stereotypical helpless female character."

"Yeah. That."

"Well, I don't know what to tell you, Bernard. You're out of your element here."

"Are you kidding? I've been in cities before. This shouldn't be a problem."

"But you weren't emotionally compromised then. I don't think you know how to handle being in love, Bernard."

"It hurts." Bernard sighed, and stared at the flames in the fireplace. "Is it supposed to hurt like this?"

"Sometimes. Mostly when you're..." Jacquie paused. "Apart. Mostly when you're apart. Bernard, you need to come over. To Elle's. Now."

"What? Why? No!" Suddenly faced with the opportunity he wanted, Bernard wanted to stall.

"Because when I got here, she'd just had one of her nightmares. That's what I called to tell you. She dreamed of you. today, of all days. She senses you're here. She told me herself that she feels like she's waiting for something."

"It's the magic," whispered Bernard in disbelief. "It's finally working again."

"Her family's left; it's just us. Come over. You can hang out...and hey, even if it's a bit awkward, at least you should get some relief from being around her."

The desperation hit him again. "Okay," Bernard said suddenly. "I'll do it."

"Elle!"

"Yeah! In the kitchen!" Ellington was eating a bowl of cinnamon toast crunch.

"Why are you eating cereal? It's like six thirty in the evening."

I can eat cereal whenever I want," said Ellington testily. "It's my house, for now. And anyway, I've been having this really strong craving for cinnamon ever since I woke up."

"Odd," said Jacquie, with a knowing look. The she saw Elle's outfit. "Red PJ's?"

Ellington gave her a confused stare. "What wrong with red pajamas? I love red."

"Nothing's wrong with red," said Jacquie lightly. But that particular shade of maroon...and the gold buttons... "Hey, by the way, I invited someone over."

Ellington nearly choked. Instead, she spewed cinnamon milk across the counter. "What?!"

Jacquie laughed at her expression. "Chill out. He's an old family friend, really low key."

"HE?! Jacquie! I'm in my PJ's!"

Jacquie shrugged. "He won't mind."

"I freaking mind! Call him back and tell him not to come."

"No."

"Jacquie..." Elle whined.

"I can't," said Jacquie simply, trying to avoid laughing at how childish Elle was acting. "He's already here."

"Wha..."

The doorbell rang.

Ellington leapt up, knocking over the stool. "Tell him I can't see him!" she hissed.

"In your dreams," said Jacquie, with more meaning then Elle knew was hidden there.

"Tell him I'm not here! Tell him I went to bed!"

"Elle, again, it's six thirty. Nobody would believe that."

"Well, then tell him I'm five! I don't care!"

"Ugh, come on," Jacquie said, dragging the struggling Elle by the arm towards the front door, as she protested the entire way. "Don't be such a baby."

"I...don't...have...my makeup on!" Elle struggled. She gasped. "Damn you and your superhuman strength!"

They made it to the door. Jacquie stopped dragging Elle, and flung it open.

There, in the doorway, stood...

... the pizza delivery guy.

"Yes!' Ellington pumped her fists in the air in triumph, while Jacquie just scowled. She pushed forward and took the pizzas and soda from the guy, who was eyeing her in surprise.

"Nice PJ's," he said, but Elle merely gave him a fifty dollar bill and a disapproving look before closing the door.

"And now," she said happily, "you will find me in the living room, veg'ing out in front of the TV and watching LotR."

"Oh no you don't!" Jacquie hollered, chasing after a squealing Elle. "We're watching Beauty and the Beast for that little stunt! Hey is that pepperoni?"

"Yeah, and the other's Hawaiian," Elle called back. "Stop chasing me, or the soda will be all foamy!"

"Whatever," Jacquie laughed. "I'll get the ice." Leaving off the chase, she went into the massive kitchen and found an ice caddy. With a shake and a "Hey presto!" just for fun, she filled the caddy with ice—magically, of course.

Her phone rang. Guess who? "Where are you?" Jacquie asked, trying not to drop the caddy while talking on the phone. "I actually got Elle to the door, but it was just the pizza guy! How long does it take to teleport? And I know how long, so don't give me any smart answers."

"I had to get changed," said Bernard simply. "I'm outside now."

Jacquie sighed. "Fine. I'm coming."

"Hey...where are the movies?" Elle called suspiciously from the living room. "And why is Beauty and the Beast in the DVD player?"

"Told you we were gonna watch it!" said Jacquie with a wicked laugh. "Vengeance is mine! Oh, and I suspended the On Demand for the night, so don't even bother."

"You fiend!"

Jacquie chuckled to herself on the way to the door.

And this time when she opened it there was...

Well, was it Bernard?

His hair was brushed out so that it fell in looser curls, and a little into his eyes, covering the tips of his pointed ears. He was wearing a pair of dark wash jeans and a black shirt that fit...well, rather nicely. Over this he wore a long dark brown trench coat, reminiscent of his old one but more clean cut and adult. In fact, everything fit very nicely. And...did he seem a bit taller? Jacquie would have been proud of her work, if she hadn't been so taken aback.

"What?" said Bernard nervously. His eyes got big and puppy-doggish. "Is it that bad?" Actually, he was alarmed.

"No, no!" Jacquie had to do a double take...and it only got better. "Damn," she said, after a pause, "You sure clean up nicely, don't you?"

"So it's okay?"

"No, you look stupid." Jacquie scoffed. "Stop being so self-conscious. You're...well, frankly, hot."

"Hot?"

Jacquie almost told him to knock it off, before realizing that he was seriously confused. "Um...good looking? Like, really good looking."

Bernard smiled, relieved. "Well, I guess we did okay shopping then."

"Yeah, but then...there's you, too. That's more than just clothes can do."

Bernard reddened.

"Yeah, yeah, okay. This is weird coming from me. Come on, and Elle will tell you herself."

Now he really reddened.

"Oh, for gosh sakes! Loosen up. We're watching Beauty and the Beast, and Elle's in her jammies." And she grabbed him by the hand and dragged him along before she could see him turn lobster red.

"Elle!" she hollered. "I've got the ice."

"Good!" Ellington said as they walked in. Her back was turned away as she inhaled pizza steam. "You know, I'm suddenly wishing we'd ordered Cinnabons." She turned around. "Oh but I forgot..."

Her eyes landed on Bernard.

Bernard wished he could fall through the floorboards, and yet fall into her arms at the same time, the relief (and strain) was so great.

"I forgot..." Elle repeated, not looking away. She was having the oddest feeling in the pit of her stomach. An intense...almost aching.

But the words meant more to Bernard.

"Um...hey," said Ellington shyly, tucking a few curls behind her ear.

"Hey," said Bernard, with a small wave. But he couldn't stop his eyes from shining.

And Elle couldn't stop from noticing.

Only... it didn't bother her. There was a sweetness in his eyes that she had never seen from anyone before. It made her feel all hot and fluttery inside.

"Elle," said Jacquie carefully, "this is..."

"Bernard," said Bernard with a small shrug at Jacquie. What else could he do, without making things even more confusing? And he didn't want to lie to Elle.

"I'm Ellington," said Ellington, feeling an odd feeling of déjà vu. She felt a crazy need to get out of the room. "I... forgot the cups. I'll just...go get the elves—I mean, cups." Why in the world had she said elves?

She grabbed Jacquie by the arm. "Excuse us," she said quickly, pulling her friend out of the room.

"What were you thinking?!" she whispered furiously.

"What do you mean?" Jacquie asked, confused. "He's visiting from out of town, and like I said, he's an old family friend. Why wouldn't I invite him over?"

"Because," Ellington said, her patience wearing thin, "I am in my PJ's, with no makeup on, and we've got Disney on!"

"What's embarrassing about Disney?"

"Augh!" Elle face palmed. "Beauty and the Beast is a romance, Jacquie. Even you know that."

"So?"

So you expect me to sit through that, with that..." Elle stumbled over her words. "That...gorgeous person out there?"

Jacquie giggled. "Gorgeous? And you're all flustered because you think he's cute."

Elle rolled her eyes. "Good grief. Yes, gorgeous. I, Ellington Sophia Connelly, admitted a guy was gorgeous." She sighed, and bit her lip. "Honestly, you're not at all attracted to him?"

"No." Jacquie said, making a face. "He's kind of like a...cousin, I guess. That would just be weird. Almost as weird as hearing you admit you think someone's hot." She grinned. "Why did you think I invited him over? I had a hunch you guys would get along."

"Oh, shut up." Ellington smacked Jacquie in the arm, trying to keep a straight face. But she burst out in a grin at her friend's cheeky smile. "You're terrible, you know."

"Come on," Jacquie said, taking her hand to lead her back into the living room. "This is going to be wonderful. You'll see. " She adapted a sing song voice. "Just let the magic take over...it knows what's best anyway. You'll be happier if you go with it."

"What magic?" asked Elle, with an odd feeling. That odd feeling of not remembering something. Come to think of it, the same feeling had come over her when she had set eyes on Bernard.

Jacquie drew up short. Then, her shoulders relaxed, and she turned, flashing Ellington a confident smile.

"The magic of Disney, of course."

Who knew that Bernard would look so awesome in dark denim?

Okay, probably most of us.

Hot damn!

BTW, Hello Seattle is a song by Owl City, who I love. Call it Ellington's Choice, if you like.

Oh wait...

OH!

ELLINGTON'S CHOICE: Hello Seattle by Owl City.

Right. My bad.

Reviews? Thoughts? Comments? Cinnabon donations? I accept them all! Please! Let me know what you have. (:

Remember to check out Safyre Sky's story, Meet the Frosts. Jacquie is her OC, and her story is as awesome as she is! Thanks for all your insight, girl!

Cheers!

-Ana