Elf in the Shed (Santa Clause/48 Christmas Wishes Crossover)

Christmas Headache

"What do you mean, you made the doll?"

Bernard winced at hearing Mindy's voice strain, his ear already feeling the strange from the magic—his own magic—which whispered not his ear. According to Lucy's whisper, he'd made her doll, but looking over he noticed how the doll looked like him, but she came closer, handing him the item. "I remember this."

"But you're not a toymaker elf. Mindy says you aren't," said Mindy's rather strange friends.

Bernard frowned at the door, in the back remembering how many times Mindy said that. Too many, he honestly thought as he closed his eyes remembering one time in particular where a much younger Mindy stood in front of him, very small hands clenched and very small mouth told him, "I hate you! You're not a toymaker elf."

"I know. I remember every single time."

"Well, she only said it three times since she's been here," Blake said, making Bernard look up at him, but then he looked over at the Christmas decorations.

"No. I remember hearing it every single time I—well, it wasn't just Mindy who liked to remind me of that. I can remember that quite clearly, and that Mindy is my sister, but everything else about myself, other than the fact I am able to teleport which likely isn't a good thing right now as I don't have control over it..."

"Sammy said that was a very rare gift."

"Gift?" Bernard let out a sigh. "It's a curse and a pain in the neck."

"Bernie." He didn't respond to his sister, but she got closer, so she was in front of him. "Hey, Bernie. I don't understand. You're not a toy maker elf, but you made a toy."

"Criteria met." Bernard stated. "After the fiasco last year, we wanted something with a bit more safety measures than simply a snow globe like I made for Charlie."

"Still have it."

"But you're not a toy maker elf, so..."

"I just know the criteria for making the toy was met, so I made a toy that fit the criteria."

"If you can make toys, why aren't you the head of the toy making department like mom and dad were."

"They..." Bernard felt a flickering memory of the making toys. "I don't know."

"Wait. Maybe you can tell Mindy why she's in the letter department rather than the toy making department?" her friend asked.

Bernard felt his mouth twist, then he looked at Mindy. "Because she was missing something."

"So you didn't think I'd be good at it."

"No," Bernard frowned, trying to remember, his eyes closing. "No. I wanted you to be the best toy maker elf you could be, but stuck you in the letter department so that you could learn what you needed to make the best toys you can. Remember how you were going to rush through the decorations? Well, the same goes for toy making. The best toy maker elves need to be able to meet the criteria needed for the magic in the toy to work, but you can't do that if all you do is mass produce."

"That..."

"So, he remembers."

Bernard frowned. "No."

"This is my fault because I thought you were lacking in Christmas Spirit and that was why..." Mindy swallowed. "I thought that's why you didn't visit."

Bernard frowned. "I didn't come because me not being a toymaker elf was such a disappointment."

"Hold on," Charlie let out a sigh. "Did you just say you broke the Christmas Spirit Cracker because you thought Bernard of all elves is lacking in Christmas Spirit?"

"Yes, well..." Mindy swallowed. "I think it might have been me. I'm the reason Bernard lost his memories, but I was to much in a hurry to stop and ask. Everyone in the family was, wasn't I."

Bernard frowned, feeling a bit of Christmas magic in the air. Emma glanced away. "Well, you weren't the only one. I mean, I thought Christmas was overrated because it was always happy, but you Christmas Elves. If you guys don't have it perfect, then what about us humans. And, you don't look super Christmas with all those bright colors with Christmas reds and greens like these other two."

"I've been a Christmas Elf since before those were considered the official Christmas colors."

"Oh."

"I've got a lot to learn, but..." Mindy suddenly hugged him and Bernard suddenly felt relief, but the fog in his mind started to clear, abliet slowly. "Bernard. I've really messed up. We weren't the only ones to disappear when I broke the Christmas Spirit Cracker! Sammy told me that the head elf's also disappeared, but I know their job is super important at the North Pole. But, even your job, whatever it is, letter department and janitorial is important."

Bernard winced. "Well, I do have to clean up a lot after Curtis, so janitorial isn't a far off job description, particularly after this morning."

There was a definite head ache starting to set in. Mindy pulled away, looking quite pleased. "Wait. You remember."

"I remember." Bernard swallowed, his eyes closing.

"Like, everything including me being a jerk to you?"

"Yes, and I've still got that headache I was trying to get rid of before you so rudely woke me from my nap, but I was under Santa's orders to be resting, but also try and talk to you."

"So now we can find the head elf?" Mindy asked.

One of Bernard's cracked open, swallowing. "Uh, Mindy."

"He said his head hurts," her friend Cam, who he could now remember the name of said.

"I. Oh." Her hands tucked behind her back. "Look. I know I'm in a lot of trouble with you, and likely will be with Santa, but I am sorry for being such a jerk to you." She looked over at Charlie. "And I'm sorry I took apart your phone so that Cam can step on it."

"Mindy, how do you know that the head elf is missing?" Charlie asked, that twinkle in his eye which was unfortunately so like his father when Santa got up to something mischievous.

Mindy pulled a radio out of her side pouch. "I made this and gave one to Sammy. She's..."

"A part of the records department." Bernard pinched his nose.

"Yeah. How did you know?" Mindy asked. "Oh. And don't tell Santa that she's being bad, because she did tell me she was telling on me, so you don't have to worry about telling on him from me, and I will apologize profusely. I'm also so sorry for making your job, whatever it is harder on you."

"I think he already knows."

"What?"

"Never mind Mindy."