After a Thousand Years (48 Christmas Wishes/Santa Clause Crossover)

Another Day, Again

"Why does he have to be so exasperating?" Patty thought to herself. "And so oblivious."

"Who's Bernard Elfbright?"

Patty was startled upon hearing one of her younger sisters speak up and turned, frowning at Pepper and Mint, who was waiting for her when she got home. Mint, as usual, clung to her twin sister, watching their older sister from right behind. She let out a sigh. "Not now. I've told you to stop asking me. To stop asking Mindy as well."

"But you know who he is? And why does Mindy not talk about him? Why she refuses to talk about him?"

"Mindy doesn't talk about him for a stupid reason," Patty said. "And I'd rather you two not cause more friction between those two." She let out a deep breath. "And I really don't want to talk about Bernard right now." This earned her a glare from Pepper and a curious look from Mint. "Not when Mr. Oblivious thinks I'm into Egan, although I suspect this may have to do with my conversation with Mindy the other day."

Eventually, Egan tracked her down. "I told captain oblivious I'd straighten things out with you."

"You mean captain oblivious who recognized you from the feel of your magic?" Patty sighed, shaking her head. "I don't know what to do with him, Egan."

"Tell him, rather than letting him keep guessing." Egan let out a sigh. "And my magic is very easy to recognize.

"And what if he doesn't reciprocate," Patty said. "While it's true your magic is easy to recognize, it seems like I'm the only one whose magic he can't pick up on the presence of?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Ever notice how nobody can ever get the drop on him?" Patty said.

"Yeah," Egan let out a laugh. "Unless he's super lost in thought, none of us other Christmas Elves could sneak up on him, and I couldn't at all. But you could. Even when he wasn't lost in thought, and it was hilarious seeing him nearly jump out of his skin when you did. And then he'd turn red when all the little elves laughed."

"You could never sneak up on him because you're magic is so easy to identify, nor can you pull it back like your older brother could."

"Hey," Egan said.

"Let's face it. It's why he's being introduced to the Council of Elders, isn't it?" Patty said as Egan rolled his eyes. "And everyone else, including Santa can't sneak up on him unless he's lost in thought because he's able to sense their magic. So why am I the exception to the rule? Because I'm the only one whose magic he can't pick up on."

Egan frowned. "I'm sure that's not true. Although....."

"Although, what?"

"You could test that theory. You know, by visiting him and seeing if he ever notices your presence?"

"Yeah, but," Patty wasn't sure of the idea.

"Isn't it an ideal time to test the theory, since he can't see you or hear you?" Egan said, smirking. "However, if it is true that he can't sense your magic, I'm not so sure it means you're not his one. It might actually mean, you are." He took a deep breath. "Plus, something tells me you're not sure what to say to him yet, what with how silent you were until he completely messed up by assuming you and I were together. His sister's idea, by the way."

"I figured Mindy was involved somehow," Patty sighed. "She did mention having such a misconception."

"And you didn't tell me?" Egan sighed, shaking his head. "Would have been nice to know. But you're going to want to visit him, and what are you going to talk about? Mindy, which is a sore subject. The reason you left, the real reason, and not this silly idea of his that he has of you, that you left because you were mad at him, and not because you wanted to build up your administrative skills so you could better support Mr. Head Elf up there, right? Or how about how you feel about him?"