*emerges from the rubble of my laptop* I'm ALIVE! *gasps, Radioactive style*
Oh. Hi, guys (:
Finally! At long last, I have completed Chapter 13! You people owe this chapter to my buddy, SafyreSky! Without her, this Chapter would have NEVER been completed! So a thousand rounds of applause to her for swapping canon with me, chatting me back from writer's block, and introducing me to 8tracks! Amazingness! Also: for letting me use her characters, Winter and Jacqueline Frost. WOOTTT!
So go check out her story, Crystal Springs! It's epically awesome, has lots of The Santa Clause characters, as well as her own terrific OC's. And...Elle may just make an appearance somewhere in there. So definitely go read, favorite, and follow Crystal Springs! NOW!
Okay, so this has finally got the resolution we've been waiting for. Here we go, people. An actual B/E love scene. YAAAYYY!
Yeah, my caps lock button has gotten a bit sticky.
Hope you guys like it! Chapter 14 should be quicker coming, now that I got past this super plot sticky part!
All the Best!
-Ana
Chapter 13
And That's the Magic of Disney
I didn't think things would end up this way.
When I was taken to the North Pole, the last thing I had counted on was becoming an elf.
Let alone Santa's Number Two elf.
I went as an Emissary; not knowing what that meant. To me, or him.
The one person I knew I couldn't have, shouldn't want, and was too much alike to ever be happy with. I was a nuisance to him.
And knowing that, I fell for him. Just like every other little girl who watched The Santa Clause as a child. Only, exponentially worse; since for me, he was a living, breathing dream who ended up being an arm's length from me pretty much at any given time.
I changed. So that maybe, he would at least like me. I sobered up, acted more mature, gave up my family, all for a chance at something that was—at best—a delusion.
Who had I been kidding, that day? She hadn't been the reason he broke my heart. She was just the last straw.
And now, thousands of miles away and a dimension apart from where I began, I can see how much of a mistake it was to love him.
The only problem with that?
I still don't regret it.
Ellington stared at the page, her pen quivering over the words she had written, a fact that she hated admitting she felt.
He came back for me. Why? He could have left me alone. I was out of his hair. He could have found another Number Two.
But he didn't.
He came back for me.
Why?
Why did he come back for me?
Hot tears burned in Elle's eyes, as the winter wind whipped across the misty lake and slapped her face. As if chiding her for being so stupid.
Even now, after everything, I want to believe that he somehow loves me.
It's got to be the stupidest thing I've ever hoped for.
But he came back for me.
Elle reached into her pocket and pulled out the letter she had picked up from the post office the evening before.
Dear Ellington, it read,
Vacation is great! The hotel is ginormous, and Dottie keeps charging up the Room Service bill. Not to mention Daddy's credit cards. But he's in such a good mood, he doesn't even mind. And I rode a jet ski! It was amazing.
Did you know that you can eat a whole pound of shredded coconut before you throw up?
Yeah, I dared Dottie to. I'll send you the video. (:
Hawaii is so hot this time of year! The ice sculpture in the lounge melted in a record thirty minutes!
Something weird happened though. I woke up this morning, and my window was frosted! In Hawaii! There were words painted in it. Stay away. Away from what?
Elle's hands shook in anger. She gripped the paper tightly, wrinkling the edges. How dare he.
All of the water pipes in my room were frozen solid. And there was a patch of icicles over my bed. It was really scary.
Mom got worried, and decided to make me sleep with Dottie. Ergh, she kicks. We'll see if the frost stays away.
He'd better.
Staring out over the lake, Elle wished Jacquie were there. They had parted so awfully, and it was all her fault. She had run away, instead of sticking out her problems like she normally did. Jacquie had always been there for her—sure, maybe she'd lied about who and what she was, and what she was doing there—but she had been there, during the times when she had had nobody else; when her family hadn't understood why she was so upset. Hell, she hadn't even known why she was so upset.
But Jacquie had protected her, sometimes even from herself. Who knew if she would have survived this reality without that winter sprite.
She's not like Jack, Elle realized. She's her own, kinder person.
"She's Jacquie," Elle said aloud, without thinking.
A snowflake fell onto her page. Then another. Then three more.
The wind picked up, and swirled the snow around her, like a snow globe. Her ears twitched with cold. Elle had woken up that morning to find her ears fully pointed. Again. And that only made things even more real. Erasing some of the doubt she had about the truth of her memories. Of Jacquie's words.
Elle looked up. The sky was clouded, full of snowflakes. But they weren't intense. They were light, airy, beautiful. Fresh tears sprang to hers eyes, and she closed them, feeling the snow land on her face, melting on her skin.
For the first time in my life, I woke up this morning, and Seattle didn't feel like home.
And again, all I could think of was the person I didn't want to; yet did at the same time.
Everything about him makes me question my sanity.
And I hate to admit it, but I like it.
She was full on crying now, biting her lip to try and stop the sobs from shaking her. Even though no one was around to see it. Elle brushed the snow off of the journal, and wrote two words that summed up her feelings:
It hurts.
She turned back to the letter.
Besides this, we're all having fun. How are you doing? Did you and Jacquie have that Disney marathon? Did you survive? How long did it take before you fell asleep? Did you finally pull that elusive all-nighter that you two have been trying for?
I miss you. But don't worry! We'll be home soon. Because: Surprise! We're coming home for Christmas!
Mom and Dad and Dottie send their love.
Yours truly, always and forever,
Annise
The worst part is, I won't be here, come Christmas.
Because I belong somewhere else, and I can't live selfishly in a world that was never supposed to exist.
A burning warmth hit her in the chest. Words formed out of the void in her mind. The place where her dreams came from.
She wrote the words.
It hurts.
But I belong with him.
With a shaky sigh, Elle snapped the journal shut, before the urge to erase the words could overcome her. She rose, leaving the book on the bench, and looked up into the sky.
"You were right, Jacquie," she whispered. "It's like you always told me, isn't it? Seeing isn't believing. Believing is seeing."
The wind spun the snowflakes around her. Elle could have sworn she saw a blue twinkle in the flakes. Something about it made her laugh. Jacquie was there.
"Well, come on!" she laughed. "Is that the best you can do?"
The snow whirled around her faster, the lights flashing happily at her. Elle threw her arms out in the air and spun like a kid, laughing. "There's my bud! Cold fingers indeed!"
Far, far north, in a magical city called Crystal Springs, a winter sprite stood on the balcony of her family's home. Well, mansion. Frost Mansion.
She was looking south, towards where she could feel Magic tugging at her. It was a familiar tug; but it wasn't Bernard, or Santa, or even Jack.
The wind rushed up out of the south. And in it, she heard a laugh. "There's my bud! Cold fingers indeed!"
Jacquie snapped straight. "Elle!" she whispered, a smile ghosting her lips.
She knew where her friend was hiding.
Jacquie's mother walked out onto the balcony beside her. "You should go," she said quietly.
"I can't," Jacquie sighed. "I frosted up so bad, mom. And Jack...this is all Jack's fault; and I couldn't fix it. Again. I can't...face her. Not now. Besides, she doesn't need me. She needs Bernard."
"Jack's mistakes are not your own," said Winter softly.
"But I wanted to help her!" Jacquie cried, a tear slipping down her cheek. "Jack ruined what they could have had, and I couldn't even undo the damage, let alone revert the timeline! I was useless!"
"You were her friend," Winter corrected. "And a good friend, at that."
"Yeah, a good friend who lied, about who she and her friend were," Jacquie snorted. "And, to top it off, lied about who Bernard was, too."
"You know Bernard didn't know what to say to her yet," Winter said. "He was too afraid of her rejecting him. Which was a natural response, given their circumstances. But something must be done." She sighed. "I will go myself, then; if you don't feel able. She needs a mother's attention, anyway. Her own mother couldn't understand even if she wanted to."
Jacquie at her mother, wide-eyed. "You would do that?" She knew how hard it was for Winter to open up to others.
Winter nodded, looking out over the snow covered lawn. "I have been heartbroken before. I don't think I would be here today if it weren't for your father. Elle just needs to come to terms with her feelings; and that is something I have a bit of experience with." She leaned over and kissed Jacquie lightly on her cheek. "Don't worry, dear. Elle is strong; she will forgive your mistakes."
"I hope so," Jacquie said, feeling just as hopeless as when she'd said the same thing to Mother Nature.
Winter disappeared into thin air, the wind switching back south to carry her down to where Ellington was hiding. Hopefully Winter would be able to help Elle, when Jacquie herself didn't feel strong enough to.
Elle was still spinning happily. A strong, chilly wind had begun to blow out of the north, swirling the snow even more; picking the dry snow up off the ground and adding it to the mix. It felt like standing in a snow globe.
The blue sparks grew brighter, and brighter. It was hard to see through the snow and light. Just as Elle thought this, the snow cleared, swirling around her in a circle, like she was in the eye of a tornado. The sparks kept magnetizing to this one spot, where they seemed to be shaping into the form of a person.
"Jacquie?" Elle whispered.
The person appeared fully.
"Not quite, dear," said the woman, who, although definitely not Jacquie, did faintly resemble her.
"Who are you?" asked Elle, a little shocked to be face to face with a person who was so obviously magical. It made her past spring to life in her mind. The Workshop blazing with lights in the twilight, the elves, Santa and Mrs. Claus...all of the faces jumped out of the recesses of her mind, eager to be remembered.
But none more eager than Bernard.
Elle clutched at her head, giving a little cry. She had thought she had remembered everything, but these weren't memories. These were scents, feelings, sounds, people. And they all suddenly felt overwhelmingly real.
Winter came over and took Elle by the elbow, steadying her. A shot of cold rushed up Elle's arm, the same way it did when Jacquie grabbed her.
"I am Jacquie's mother," the woman explained. "I'm Winter."
Elle gaped for a moment before saying, "Like the season?"
"One and the same," said Winter with a small smile. "I came, because Jacquie couldn't."
"Is...Jacquie mad at me?"
"Oh no!" Winter looked surprised. "She's more worried about you're being angry at her...among other things."
So it was about all of the lies, then. Elle knew there was nothing else Jacquie could have done. She didn't hold those lies against her. Rather, against Jack, who had caused all of trouble in the first place.
"Why...did you come?" Elle asked cautiously. The woman was a season, for gosh sakes; she really didn't want to be on her bad side.
"Because I owed it to Jacquie, and to you," said Winter. She lead Elle back towards the bench, the snow tunnel moving with them. "Especially you, dear. You have been through so much in all of this...first with your original family, then at the Pole, with Bernard..." she hesitated, feeling Elle tense, before going on. "And here. In this alternate reality Jack made, to keep you two apart."
"Keep us apart?" Elle said, the disbelief apparent in her voice. "Why on earth would he want to keep the two of us apart? We weren't together in the first place."
"You were meant to be," said Winter quietly, bowing her head slightly. She too felt the shame of what Jack had done, and found herself struggling more than she had expected in facing another of his unfortunate victims. "Had Jack not kept interfering in your lives, you two would have fallen for each other sometime shortly after your promotion."
"What?" Elle whispered, fresh tears stinging her eyes. They were supposed to be together? Her and Bernard?
"The Clause was made for Bernard's protection, to ensure that he would actually take the time to fall in love," Winter explained. "The original Santa—Saint Nicholas—knew what a stubborn elf Bernard was. He'd raised him, after all."
"He...raised him?!" said Elle with a gasp. "I mean, I knew he was involved with the Clause, and I knew he was old, but...raised him! Saint Nicholas!"
"Indeed," Winter agreed. "One would hardly guess. But he is the Number One elf for a reason."
"Well, that explains Theodulus then," Elle muttered.
Winter started. "You know his old name?"
Elle was equally surprised. "You do too?"
"Bernard's story is well known to me," said Winter, "because I happened to be in the vicinity. He has spoken of it, on his own, a few times when he didn't realize I was present."
Elle nodded. "Omnipotence. Must be a lot to cope with."
"It is," Winter admitted. "But the entire Council knows his story, and Mother Nature has filled in the details that I didn't hear from him." She gave Elle an inquisitive look. "How much do you know of it, I wonder?"
"Not much," said Elle regretfully. "But then, Bernard isn't one to be free with his life story. All I know is that his name was Theodulus at one point, that he lived in the fourth century, and now, that he was raised by Saint Nicholas."
"So he really didn't tell you then," Winter said thoughtfully. "I would have thought...well, with the similarity in...but that's not really for me to say." She smiled faintly. "I think his tale could be told better if he told you himself."
"Yeah, well. I don't see that happening anytime soon," huffed Elle. "We're hardly on good terms right now. By which I mean, I'm hiding from him, because if I see him, I'm going to want to bite his head off."
"I see." Winter could see, in fact, that although Elle was indeed very angry with Bernard, there was a sadness behind her words, and a longing. Almost as if... "You do wish he would find you though, don't you?"
"Oh, fine." Elle threw up her hands. "I wish he would, yes! Because I'm fed up with never really giving him a piece of my mind! He was right there, dammit, and all I did was gush about LOTR!" Then she realized when she'd said. "Sorry. But I just...I wish he wouldn't be so...so superior all the time. He never really got mad at me; just kind of passive-aggressive. Which is annoying to the hilt. So I always just bottled up how I felt...and now, I'm all super conflicted, because, why the heck did he come back for me?" She started crying. "And even worse, what if it was only because he needed to revert the timeline?"
"Oh, dear." Winter wrapped an arm around the sobbing elf. "Shhh. Goodness, you overthink so! "
"W-what do you mean?"
Winter sighed. "My dear, if Bernard just wanted to revert the timeline, all he had to do was have some elves kidnap you and bring you back to the Pole."
Elle realized this was true. "Oh."
"Bernard came, because he wanted you back." Winter smiled at the thought. "He isn't terribly good at flirting himself, Elle. I don't think he knew how to win your heart. And I know that's why Jacquie was helping him. She wanted to see you two together, like you should have been."
"So...what do I do now?" Elle asked. "He doesn't know what to do, I don't know what to do...stalemate."
"I think," said Winter, "that you should do what you need to do. Give him a piece of your mind...only, don't be too rough on him. After all, he may be seventeen hundred years old, but inside, well...the romantic side of him is just barely older than he looks."
Elle laughed at this. "That seems about right."
"But most importantly, be honest. Tell him how you really feel. I doubt you'll be disappointed." Winter rose.
"Thank you," said Elle, looking up at her best friend's mother. "Thank you for...for everything. I feel like you've just been my fairy godmother."
Winter smiled. "You're welcome, Elle. I was glad to." She grew serious. "But remember: only you can choose what the future holds. You must decide who you wish to be...not Santa, not Jack, and not Bernard."
Elle nodded.
Winter looked up and around, at the white walls surrounding them. "Well, I'm afraid I have to be off," she said. "Fino and Fiera want to cook dinner again tonight, and I'm afraid that some sort of war may break out over the entrée. I don't want to return home to find my kitchen's been fire and brim-stoned."
With laugh, Elle said, "I'm confused. They're troublemakers, yes. But fire and brimstone?"
"Troublemakers, and pyrokinetic sprites as well," Winter stated. Elle was floored.
"You mean..."
"They're chock full of magic, and mischief." Winter smiled at the thought of her children, then at the girl before her. "Goodbye, Elle. I hope that we meet again soon."
Goodbye, Winter," Elle said, watching as the sprite disappeared into snowflakes and was gone.
Elle sighed. She would have to tell Bernard where she was. How could she not?
Something had to get resolved.
But how? She didn't have his number?
Then, she knew.
And without any apparent reason, she went back to twirling in the snow. Why not?
The snow tunnel had gone with Winter; now, a beautiful, slow storm of fluttering flakes had begun. It felt like a dream, that snow. It was like in the movies, when the heroine dances in the middle of nowhere to a song that plays in the movie, but not in her reality.
It was like Disney.
And so Elle did what Jacquie would have done.
She started singing.
The table was covered with a large map. Scott, Carol, and Judy stood, strategizing about which sector of the city to comb through next.
And Bernard?
Bernard was feeling angry.
The worry had passed. Sure, he still felt it, but it had been mainly replaced with anger. How could Elle do this to him again?
When he found her, she was getting an earful for sure.
Among other things.
In his head, Bernard felt an odd vibrating. Like a bee buzzing in his skull.
And then, a familiar warmth.
Two words came to mind.
Lake. Washington.
"Bernard?" Carol was watching him. Scott and Judy looked up. Bernard was standing, wide-eyed. "What is it?"
It was. "Elle." This was it. He looked up. "I know where Elle is."
All of the others stared at him for a moment. "Well? What are you waiting for?!" Carol exclaimed.
Bernard hesitated.
"GO!" All three of the others yelled.
And Bernard disappeared in a shower of silver sparks.
Scott cocked his head. "Huh. I didn't know he could still do that; what with the..." He stroked his chin meaningfully. Carol elbowed him. "OW!"
"He's still an elf, Santa," Judy said. "Even if he looks like a twenty- something year old."
Elle spun in the snow, laughing and, oddly, crying. It just felt right. Giving up the fight she'd always kept within herself. Winter had been right. This reality had brought her worldly comforts; but very little emotional, and it had troubled her even more mentally.
Singing. Singing with all her heart, as if she were in a Disney movie. Why couldn't she be? She was in love with a character from one.
Dancing bears, painted wings
Things I almost remember
And a song someone sings
Once Upon A December
It all made sense, finally. Why she felt like she had never quite belonged here. She hadn't! It was so simple, in the end.
And Bernard? Well...
Elle's mind flew back to standing beside him, watching him beam with pride at the Workshop bustling around them with organized energy. Walking with him along the streets of Elfsburg. And that moment she'd woken up, only to fall bawling into his arms. Possibly the best moment of her life.
Someone holds me safe and warm
Horses prance through a silver storm
Figures dancing gracefully
Across my memory
Sure, she was angry with him. He shouldn't have been so stupid as to fall for Tabitha's flirt, or have ignored her all those long weeks; or have been so difficult at times. But she still loved him, and was going to make sure that he knew it before agreeing to return to the Pole. She would be damned, literally, if she had to go back to the way things had been before. She couldn't hide this feeling away, and anyway, she didn't want to.
They couldn't go back to the way they were before. Because she was a different person. And this time, he wasn't going to change her. Either he took her how she was, or she would walk.
Far away, long ago
Glowing dim as an ember
Things my heart used to know
Things it yearns to remember
She was twirling out onto the wooden dock, her hands above her head as she sang. Just letting herself be cliché, and a bit of Disney princess. She felt like one. How was it possible to be so happy when you were still so angry?
It was at this point that Bernard materialized next to the bench she had been sitting on. He couldn't see her through the snow, nor hear her over the wind. Which was surprising: the snow was far from a blizzard, and the wind was only gusty. No; the Magic was keeping her from him. It wanted him to pick up the journal.
Its bright red cover caught his eye. He picked it up, and opened it.
It was Elle's handwriting.
And he read every word she had written there.
Then, he looked up, his resolve ironclad. Oh, was she going to get it now. No need for Jacquie to tell him to 'man up.'
The 'stupidest thing she'd ever hoped for,' indeed.
The Magic got out of the way. It had prepared them both for this, and it's job was all but done.
Elle's voice echoed through the air, and Bernard could see her, dancing on the dock.
Beautiful, in the snow.
Someone hold me safe and warm
Horses prance through a silver storm
Figures dancing gracefully
Across my memory
Not that Elle could see him. She was too caught up in her perfect, childish moment to notice the dark haired elf/boy/man gazing at her with a lot more than just pride.
He didn't want to ruin this. It was just too perfect.
Disney was like that. He knew, better than anyone.
But he walked quietly towards the dock anyway.
Far away, long ago
Glowing dim as an ember
Things my heart used to know
Things it yearns to remember
Elle reached the end of the dock, and let her hands fall, looking out over the water. She could actually hear the music, from the movie; though, whether it was only in her head or not, she couldn't tell.
Did it really matter?
And a song
someone sings
Once Upon A December
The last notes echoed out away into the wind, and the music faded out. But there was a peace inside of her, and she felt that everything would be okay.
Then, she turned around.
Okay. Good feeling gone.
"Bernard?" Elle whispered uncertainly. It was possible she was hallucinating from hitting that high note at the end.
But, she wasn't.
"Elle," said Bernard simply. He didn't try to hide the look on his face like he normally did. That wasn't the point anymore; not to lose face.
He would lose as much face as necessary to get her back.
"Um...hi." Elle asked, tucking a few curls behind her ear while blushing furiously. Crap. He'd caught her singing. Singing! Belting out Disney, of all things!
"Hi." He couldn't seem to form sentences. He was struggling with a mixture of anger, relief, adoration, longing, and irritation—which wasn't exactly making things easy for him. "That's all you've got? Hi?"
Elle looked at the ground, fighting with her own emotions. They had absolutely surged at the sight of him; much to her surprise. She was full to bursting, and wanted to just gush everything out. Indeed, she decided to do just that. "Bernard—"
Then her eyes fell on the journal. In. His. Hand.
Ohmygod. He'd read that journal. Elle's gut just knew.
Emotion switch.
"WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT?!" Elle hollered, storming down the dock to take back the book.
Bernard glanced down at the book in his hands. "You left it on the bench."
"You are NOT five years old! I should NOT HAVE TO TELL YOU NOT TO TOUCH stuff that doesn't BELONG TO YOU!" She snatched it out of his hands roughly and slipped it into her pocket. Now, her anger had flooded back, and she didn't try to hold it back. "You stupid, insensitive, ASSHOLE! This is MINE! I didn't think I needed to write death threats in the front cover like a CHILD, but I guess I was wrong!"
Bernard's brow furrowed. "I'm not the one who RAN OFF LIKE A CHILD!" he said, raising his voice to meet her tone.
"Don't you EVEN get smart with me!" Elle fumed. "I do NOT have the patience for your lip right now."
"So I'm supposed to shut up and takes YOURS?"
"You're the one who can looking for ME, remember?" She found that she was shaking, she was so mad at him. "And THAT was a BIG mistake, let me tell you. Because I have a HELL of a lot to say to you, SIR."
Bernard's face darkened. "Oh, and you think I don't have a lot to say to YOU, MISS 'I'LL RUN AWAY FROM ALL OF MY PROBLEMS'?" he snapped, taking a step into her space. "You're the one who left me, TWICE."
"And you're the one who BROKE MY HEART, then came back to observe the damage!" Elle yelled.
"Ah, hmm. Really?" Bernard crossed his arms. "Because that's sure not what you WROTE, now IS it?"
"YOU HAD NO RIGHT TO READ THAT!" Elle was beginning to cry, she was so upset. She stomped her foot, feeling very childish indeed. "Those were my PRIVATE thoughts, and you DIDN'T NEED TO KNOW!"
"Actually, I did," corrected Bernard flatly. "I DID need to know those things, but, unfortunately, you don't seem to think that I CARE about what it is you're thinking. And yet, it's apparent that you DESPERATELY hope you're wrong."
"Shut up!" Elle reached up to slap him, but Bernard grabbed her wrist.
"I wouldn't do that, if I were you," he warned. Elle narrowed her teary eyes at him in an effort to look fierce, but it really only made her look like she was having a hard time seeing. "You're difficult enough to be around without your going around slapping people."
Somehow, this hurt a thousand times worse the normal coming from Bernard. Elle visibly wilted at his harsh words, her eyes widening in a way that made Bernard feel like a total monster. Seeing them brimming with new tears didn't exactly help him stay angry, either. It made her look so vulnerable, weak...it made him feel protective, and eager to comfort her. But he didn't want to. Not yet.
"You lied to me, Elle," he said sharply. "You didn't tell me how you really felt."
"Yeah, no shit, Sherlock," Elle bit. "Neither did you. At least I wasn't flirting with other ELVES!"
"OH, so CURTIS doesn't count?!"
"It was a kiss on the goddamn CHEEK!" Elle stomped again, pounding her free fist on his chest. She was full on crying now. "I didn't TORMENT you, the way you did to me."
"Oh yes, you did," Bernard insisted. "You did in worse, subtle ways that you didn't even know about," he hissed, squeezing her wrist more tightly.
Elle was completely overwhelmed. She had never seen Bernard like this. Jealous, bitter, angry, yes; but never AT her. ABOUT her, maybe. But never AT her. His eyes were...well, scary. She whimpered as he clamped her wrist painfully tight.
Well, she had wanted to see him angry. Wish granted.
"You're still doing it, even now," he muttered, his eyes dark and livid. "Crying...trying to look beautiful, earn my sympathy."
"W-why did you come back?" Elle stammered. "If you hate me so, why did you come back?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Did I say I hate you?" he asked. His face softened.
"You don't have to. It's all over your face," said Elle miserably, pulling out of his grasp. She rubbed her sore wrist, and stepped away from him.
"Well, you don't exactly look like you love me, as you PROFESS to," he said. "Apparently, looks aren't an accurate indicator."
"Oh, how witty," Elle said, rolling her eyes; but feeling the sting of his comment. "Asshole."
Bernard glared at her. "You just can't make anything easy, can you?"
"Yeah, well, you're no cake walk either, buddy." She snorted. "Honestly, why can't you just say what you came here to say, and be done with it? 'I have NEVER loved you, nor will I EVER love you, so stop hoping, you stupid little girl.' Right?" Her eyes filled with more tears, and she looked away to hide them.
Bernard froze, a look of shock plastered onto his face. Then, he grew angry again. "DON'T PUT WORDS IN MY MOUTH."
"Then say them YOURSELF, dammit!" Elle screamed.
"I WILL!"
"FINE!"
"FINE!"
"FINE!"
"FINE!"
"So, say it then!"
"I LOVE YOU, DAMMIT!"
They both stood there, literally fuming as they panted from their yelling. But their eyes were wide. Bernard was shocked. He'd done it. He'd finally done it.
And Elle was...
...
...
"What?" She gasped, looking horribly confused. "I-is this this some kind of SICK joke? Because if it is, you are SO dead."
"No," said Bernard breathlessly, shaking his head. He swallowed. "It's not." He scoffed, then face palmed. "God, I'm blowing this whole thing, AGAIN."
Elle didn't know what to say. Or do. He'd floored her with that one.
What do I do; oh God, what do I do?! Bernard thought frantically, seeing her face falling at his response.
Elle looked down, her lip trembling. "Bernard, I..." She trailed off, tears falling off her face and into the snow.
"Elle..."
She kept looking at the ground. "Do you really mean it?" Elle asked quietly. Her voice was oddly calm and collected for the girl who had been screaming at him moments before. Even. Painfully so.
It was all over his face. Oh God, It was all over his face. He really did. Winter was right. He really did.
Bernard took a step closer. "Yes."
She gave a short nod, and gave a small huff, as if deciding something. Bernard was suddenly hit with the fear that she would run off again. "Elle? Please...I'm sorry; I didn't mean what I said. I was just so worried...I didn't know where you were, and with Jack out and...I didn't know what to do—"
But he never got to finish his sentence, because Elle lost her cool. Again.
Only this time, it meant that the she grabbed Bernard by the lapels of his coat, and kissed him, rather desperately.
For a moment, Bernard was too shocked to move. And that moment stretched on, and on, and on...
Until Elle pulled away. "I'm...I'm so sorry," She breathed raggedly. "I shouldn't have run off...I didn't know what to do, either; I just knew I couldn't deal with loving you and having you not need me, and..."
Bernard laid a finger to her lips. "It's alright." He soothed. Elle sniffled, trying not to cry AGAIN. "I understand, I just worried." He sighed, and kissed her forehead, while slipping his arms around her and pulling her close. The way he'd wanted to for a very, VERY long time. "I've got you now. I've got you."
Then, he kissed her back, gently.
And for a minute or more, the world was perfect.
When it was over, Elle reached up, and took his face in her hands. " I love you too, dammit," she whispered against his mouth. "I love you too."
The snow fell down around them, and Bernard was glad no one else knew where they were.
Because he didn't think he could stay calm if somebody horned in on their moment.
Elle, for her part, was too lightheaded to think about it.
"Bernard," Elle said, trying to break the kiss. "Bernard!"
"Hmm...what?" Bernard pulled back, only to find (with some excitement) that Elle had woven her fingers into his hair.
"Jacquie," said Elle. "She went home."
"Yeah, " Bernard said, surprised. "The Council called her back. I'm not sure why, but I don't think she's in trouble."
Elle nodded solemnly. "I see."
"How did you know?"
"Her mom came to talk with me."
"Winter?" Bernard was shocked. "When?"
"Just a bit before you came." But obviously Elle's mind was elsewhere. He could tell she was still thinking about Jacquie.
"I think the Council just doesn't want her to get too involved, " said Bernard. "With you and me, I mean. They want us to...to..."
"Self-sustain," Elle finished. "I get it. It's just..." she sighed. "We parted so badly. I don't want her to think I was really mad at her; because I wasn't."
"She knows," Bernard said. "You guys have been friends for too long for an argument to get in the way."
"I hope so."
There was a silence.
Then, Bernard realized that Elle was looking at him with an odd expression on her face. "What?"
"Your...face," she stuttered. Then laughed outright. "Bernard, is that...stubble?"
Bernard swiped at his cheek self-consciously. "Ow! Yeah...yeah, I guess so."
Elle chuckled.
"Don't laugh!" Bernard argued. "It's not funny."
"No," said Elle humorously. "A beard is no laughing matter. Even a shadow of one." She grinned, ignoring Bernard's peeved look to kiss him lightly. "I like this," she said. "It's an easy way for me to point out that I'm only kidding, without the long conversation with it."
"I like our long conversations—I MEAN, arguments," said Bernard meaningfully.
"Oh, stop acting like you're my parent." Elle shoved him in the chest lightly. Then, she laughed again. "Shoot, you could never be my parent; you can't even tell when girls are flirting with you." She scowled at the memory. "Any elf who tries that now will have hell to pay," she growled possessively.
Now it was Bernard's turn to laugh—then scowl too. "And if Curtis so much a lays a finger on you, in any way that's not STRICTLY platonic, I will personally see that he loses his—"
"BERNARD!"
What?" Bernard reddened. "JOB. I was going to say JOB. Good grief. Mind out of the gutter, why don't you?"
"Yeah right. I've seen what goes on in your head." Elle rolled her eyes. "Honestly. Men. Or...male elves. Whatever."
"And, just what did you see?"
Elle gave him a dubious look. "Really? Don't make me bring up the cherry stem comment."
Bernard's jaw dropped. "You...you did hear that?" he squeaked.
Elle nodded seriously. "And you're going to have to follow through on you half of the bargain."
"Aha! So it was a good thing then." Bernard kissed her ear, and Elle laughed. "Don't worry. Have I ever steered you wrong?"
"Um, yes?" Elle said. Bernard gave her a disapproving look. "Sorry to wreck your little quote there, but..." She shrugged.
"I guess that's true enough," Bernard admitted. "I wasn't exactly on top of my game last time."
"Time..." Elle muttered, then cried, "Time! Time, Bernard! We've got to get back!" She grabbed him by the hand. "The others must be worried sick!"
"They knew I was coming after you," said Bernard, a bit injured. He didn't want this to end. "Elle! Elle, we can't go back. Not till we figure this out."
Elle stopped, and turned. "Bernard..." she said slowly.
"I won't go back without you," said Bernard insistently. "And I know that you may not want to go back." He had his business manner on. "So...if you won't go back, I'm staying here."
Elle's jaw dropped. "Bernard...Bernard, you can't! No. No, you—"
"Yes," he pressed. "I'm not going to live without you, Elle."
"But...the Pole! They need you..."
"And I need you." Bernard pulled her back towards him. "I've given seventeen hundred years to that place; if I need to give that up, then I will." It was not a question. His mind was made up; and this frightened Elle a great deal.
"No! No." He kissed her lightly, but Elle pulled away. "God. LISTEN. TO. ME. We're going home, and that's final."
Bernard's eyebrows rose. "Home?"
"Yes. Home. To the Pole." She looked him right in the eyes, with her most stubborn look. "Home is where the heart is," she said softly. "And you need to be there. My choice is made."
That was so sweet that it practically hurt. "Your family," whispered Bernard. "You have a second chance here; to have everything you could ever want." He tucked a stray curl behind her ear. " I...don't want you to have to give that up."
"I already have," Elle said. "I'm not supposed to be here. This reality was never meant to exist; this family I have I an illusion. A lie Jack created to pacify me. And it will hurt others if I stay, anyway; and I can't do that."
"They would understand."
"That's not good enough!" Elle cried angrily. Bernard shushed her. "Well, it isn't." She made an exasperated noise. "Dammit, Bernard! Do I have to come up with a foolproof reason for why I want to go back?"
"I just don't want you to regret it later," said Bernard, with a nervous look.
Elle's face softened. Poor thing. "Well, stop worrying. I'm not going to. And anyway, I'm pretty sure we have a job to do! I'm pretty sure stuff is seriously screwed up up there right now, isn't it?"
"Well..."
"Yeah, I thought so." Elle chuckled, and shook her head. "Well, there's still one elf who can unravel that mess."
"Honestly, I'm hoping that the timeline will revert before I have to," sighed Bernard.
"Actually, I was talking about me."
Bernard started. "Hey!" He gave her a playful nudge.
"Well, I'm the one wearing the sparkles and pointy ears here," Elle pointed out. "You're sporting stubble and Calvin Klein."
Yeah, well. I can't exactly help that."
"It's okay." Elle gave him a wry look. "I think I'll miss it, actually. It's pretty...sexy."
"Sexy!?"
Elle burst into wild laughter. "Come on. We've got to get back to the Pole." She frowned. "Um, how do we get in touch with Santa?"
"Well, he's...kind of at your house," Bernard admitted.
"Oh." Elle spaced off a minute before shaking her head. "Well, then. We've got to get back to my house. Come on! Last one to the car is a glazed Christmas ham!" she shot off away from the lake.
"You have a car?" Bernard laughed, dashing (through the snow) after her.
"Yeah...well, sort of. It's in the family."
"Which car?"
"The red Maserati by the gate!"
Bernard decided not to tell Elle that he could teleport them back to the house.
Because of...reasons.
Whew! That was a doozy!
Romanticism is tough, man! At least for me.
And thank you, SafyreSky. For everything (:
Oh, PS: I don't own Disney. For obvious reasons.
And yes, Anastasia is my favorite Disney movie. Also for obvious reasons ;)
Well, besides TSC, of course.
Kay, somebody please let me know what you thought! Surely some of my followers can drop a review for me!
Seriously, I'm really nervous about this. Was it okay? :/
Thanks for reading, and watch for an update!
Cheers,
-Ana