The head elves // Bernard x Oc

Scott Calvin

"WHAT!"

No word or signal or anything from Santa. The elves got skittish. Yes, they would be happy if there would be a new Santa but they loved Albert. He had been kind to them, even accepted his new life automatically. Tiffany paced around the security room. The sound of beeping was heard making the blonde's head shoot up. The sleigh was on the move.

She smiled as she watched the red dot move across the globe. Bernard grinned as others cheered. "Christmas is back on track!" Judy says holding a cup of hot cocoa out for Tiff. "Thank you." Judy nods and walks over to the wrapping station. From what Tiffany has heard, Judy had been talking to one of the elves in wrapping. "So, Tiff, about the whole thing about you and Chris-" Bernard cut himself off as he watched her brows furrow. "Um, yeah. We just weren't meant for each other." She told him sipping her cocoa. "Oh!" He seemed a little overjoyed at that but acted sad when she gave him a look. "I mean.. oh.." She laughed a little. "So anyone pique your interest?" She asked awkwardly.

Bernard spluttered a little before answering. "W..Well there is this girl. But she would never think of me like that." Tiffany hummed. She turned to him and grabbed his hand making him turn red. "Anyone would be lucky to have you, Bernard." She spoke softly. He gave a shy smile. She turns away, letting go of his hand.

Bernard watched as she walked out of the room, a relieved look settling on her face. "We've got a problem." A Vital Elf spoke, her rosy red cheeks, pale. Bernard looked at her with worry splashing his face. "What is it?" He asked, only receiving a gesture to the computer with a nod of her head. He turned and realized the difference in Santa's heart rate. What began as slow and unrhythmic when he had left, his heartbeat was now fast and almost beating in tune with a Christmas Carol. This wasn't Albert. "Uh oh." The words fell from his lips, not knowing what else to say.

378 years. That's how long it had been since the last incident. In the last incident, Albert was going through a rough time with his wife, Merry. The two had been fighting after she failed to conceive a child for the third time in one year. Bernard noticed how much it had affected the man. It didn't help that she had gotten sick from something called Tuberculosis, it had run in her family on her mother's side, which had taken her in her peaceful slumber. It is said that once Mrs. Clause and Santa fall out of love, Mrs. Clause will either forget her life at the north pole or die. The Creators were not as merciful as some may think.

Tiff. How was he supposed to tell her? She had just finally relaxed and decided to take a break from all the stressful work she had been doing. Bernard stepped back from the computer, eyes wide as saucers before he stumbled out of the room and ran down the hallways. He knew if he didn't tell her, it would only make things worse.

Tiffany sat in her office, sipping the hot cocoa, a smile planted on her face with a tint of her gracing her cheeks more than usual. After she had asked Bernard the rather random question, she began realizing how different he had been acting around her. How shy and puppy-like he was now. She remembered when the two had first started talking...

"You're one grumpy elf." Tiff laughs, her nose scrunching as she did so. Bernard turned to the girl with a glare, not understanding why she decided to insult him. "I'm not grumpy. I'm hardworking." He scowls, pushing past the girl and checking up on some of the elves. "I was joking. No need to be so serious." Tiff mumbles, scratching her now pointy ears. She had been living in the factory for a week or two, and she had already succumbed to the elfication process.

Bernard huffed and turned to stare into her eyes, his turning into tiny narrowed ones. "If I wasn't serious, nothing would be done." She smiled up at him and shrugged. "True, but when was the last time you had a break? I've only been here a week and all I've seen you do is order elves around." Bernard stayed silent and let out a sigh, looking away from her and down at his clipboard.