Bernard x Oc

Welcome Back

Bernard couldn't believe that Alfina Alvin was in his room. The girl had her bow and arrows strapped over her shoulder and a smile across her lips. The head elf sprinted over to her, and the two hugged. Alfina had her head on his chest, and he rested his cheek on top of her head, "I missed you, snowflake." Bernard whispers.

"Snowflake? Well, that's new for you to say." Alfina glances up at the tall elf; her cheeks have a slight red tint as she stares at his brown eyes. Bernard brushes her bangs away from her eyes and gently smiles at her. Taking in her features, Bernard noticed that her blonde hair had streaks of brown, and her white skin was a bit darker from being in the sun.

Alfina chuckles as she smiles at her friend, "Mother Nature brought me here. Something is coming, and I am needed here." Bernard smiled, shook his head in amusement, and spoke, "What's coming then?"

Alfina drops her smile and stares at the head elf with a grave expression, "Krampus is returning soon." Bernard's smile falls as he stares at Alfina, frozen in shock, "W-what?"

Alfina knew that he would be shocked by her news. She pulls away from the elf, noticing the frightened look in his eyes. Bernard quivered slightly in fear as he stared at the twelve-year-old. His eyes glazed over as memories of Krampus tried to resurface in his mind. Alfina takes his hand and gently rubs his wrist. The glazed look leaves his eyes, and the older hugs her again.

KNOCK!

KNOCK!

The sound on the other side of the office door startles the two friends, "Bernard?" A male voice calls out. Alfina smiled, knowing who was on the other side. Bernard was about to step toward the door but was stopped by the twelve-year-old, "Let me, Bernard," Alfina stepped to the door and took the handle. Opening the door wide, Alfina made sure that she hid behind it as Curtis appeared on the other side.

"What is it, Curtis?" Bernard questioned.

The tiny elf glances around, confused about how the door opened by itself with the head elf standing on the other side of the room, "Umm, the list is ready to be shipped..." Curtis slowly spoke as he scanned the room. The tiny elf takes a few steps inside as Bernard tries not to give away Alfina's position. Alfina watches as Curtis walks in and slowly moves her way behind the younger.

Bernard realizes he can't hold back the grin forming on his lips, catching Curtis's attention, "What?" The younger frowns at the older's strange behavior. The girl raises her hand above Curtis's shoulders, ready to scare him. Bernard pursed his lips together and watched Alfina shout behind Curtis.

"BOO!"

Curtis jumps in the air with a loud screech, "Aiii!" The head elf and child laughed as the younger tried to calm his speeding heart and take deep breaths. Bernard gripped his sides, and tears fell as he laughed. Alfina walks in front of Curtis with a giggle, "Hi, Curtis!" She chirped wholeheartedly with a smile.

The younger gasps as he gazes at the pre-teen in surprise, "A-Alfina!?" The elf had his hand over his heart as he stared at the young girl. Finally, Bernard managed to calm down and walk over to Curtis, "Curtis? Are you okay?" The young elf glanced at the older and nodded his head, "Y-yeah..."

Alfina nodded in approval and faced the head elf, "Ni don't sinte yare so indome pele-, mal ni indome vare-tye."

The two elves gasp and stare at the pre-teen, "D-did you just speak elvish?!" Curtis gapped at Alfina. The pre-teen snickered at the elves' reaction, "Yes, I practiced elvish. It came from a movie, and there was a translation, so I taught myself how to speak it. Mellon."

The two elves turn to each other and back at Alfina, "Well then," Bernard began, "Ni'm glad tye taught yourself." He smiled and gave out a chuckle. Curtis shook his head in amusement and rested his hands on his waist.

Alfina set her bow and arrows down next to Bernard's desk and gave the elves another hug, which they gladly returned. Curtis raised an eyebrow at the girl, "How did you get here, Alfina?" He questioned. The pre-teen brushed her hair away from her eyes and smirked at the younger, "Mother Nature brought me here. And for a good reason too."

"Mother Nature told Alfina that Krampus is returning." Bernard slowly mentioned, causing Curtis to flinch and glance at the head elf worryingly. Alfina rests her hand on the elf's shoulder, "I am here, and I will protect all of you." She assures them both. Curtis nods his head at the girl, "Okay..."

Bernard wraps his arm around Alfina and then leads her out of the office and into the toy factory. Some elves glance over and recognize the young girl next to their head elf. Judy and Quintin gasped and bolted to the girl, "Alfina!" Judy squeals in excitement and wraps the girl in a tight hug, "You're here!"

"Welcome back, Alfina!" Quintin hugs the pre-teen with a toothy grin. The other elves that recognized the girl stopped working and stared at her with broad smiles, "WELCOME BACK, ALFINA!" The elves spoke at once.

"I am glad to be back!" Alfina calls out so that they can hear her. Bernard turned his attention to the naughty-nice centre and began packaging the list. Then, taking a letter, he wrote a small note and added his initials on the bottom.

"This is ready to be shipped to Calvin's house!" He called out to the shipping elves.

Alfina took Bernard's hand and smiled at him, "Don't worry, Bernard. Scott Calvin will come around and take over."

"I hope so, Alfina." The head elf sighs, "But that's not the only thing that worries me now."

The girl shakes her head at the stressed elf, "Let me worry about 'him.' You worry, as usual, about the new Santa."

The older gazes at his friend, and a small smile forms on his lips, "Okay, Alfina. I'll try."

Ni don't sinte yare so indome pele-, mal ni indome vare-tye: I don't know when he will return, but I will protect you.

Mellon: Friend

Ni'm glad tye taught yourself: I'm glad you taught yourself.