The Christmas Clause : Bernard and OC

Room Service

In the hushed ambience of their hotel room, Noel and Bernard entwine their bodies on the bed, their limbs intertwined like vines. The flickering light from the television casts an ethereal glow upon their faces, illuminating the love that radiated from their eyes. Noel shifts slightly, grabbing her cocoa from the side table.

'Bernard, I just dont think it's a good idea!' Noel awkwardly chuckles, taking a sip of the cocoa from the mug. 'Scott is going to need us, so is Carol and Buddy. He's coming up to two years old and we still haven't met him.'

'I know, Snowflake. But we agreed last night, this is the best decision for us.' He reaches for her free hand, placing it within his own. 'You even said it yourself'

'I know.' She takes a deep breath, replacing the mug to the side. Noel returns her gaze to Bernard, his eyes glistening. 'It's a good job I love you.' He chuckles, pulling her closer into him, his gingerbread sent filling her nose.

The sound of a knock at the door jolted the pair out of their reverie.

'Who is it?' Noel asks, her voice trembling slightly.

'Room service?' Bernard questions, moving over the edge of the bed.

Noel exchanges a puzzled glances, remembering they hadn't ordered anything.

Cautiously, Bernard rises from the bed and approaches the door. As he opens it, a slightly older, familiar elf stepped inside, carrying a tray of hot cocoa. Curtis, looking dishevelled, squeezes past Noel, into the dingy room.

'Room service!' He chuckles, placing it down on the bed.

Noel looks to Bernard, the bewilderment glowing from his face. 'Curtis! What are you doing here?'

Curtis lets out a tired sigh and sinks into the one of the chairs in the corner of the room, its cracked leather creaking ominously under his weight. He runs a hand through his hair, his eyes flickering to Noel, who merely shrugs in response.

'I took temporary leave,' Curtis mumbles, his gaze fixed on the worn carpet.

'Temporary leave? What happened?' Bernard asks, his voice a mixture of curiosity and concern.

But before Curtis could answer, Noel jumps in, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint, knowing Bernard would hate the following question.

'Speaking of work, Curtis, how's Scott doing?'

Curtis looks up, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. 'Santa? He's doing alright. Just... busy. You know how it is with the family and all.'

Bernard, still utterly bewildered, attempts to interject. 'Wait, what are you talking about? Noel, you know we're not supposed to be talking to him, it's against Kribble Krabble.' He returns his gaze to the small elf, 'Curtis, you can't be here!' The young elf, caught in the crossfire between his two friends, holds up a hand in a futile attempt to quiet the growing chaos, but is cut off by Noel.

'He's come on his own, no one's going to know. Besides, he's on leave.'

'Why is that, Curtis?' The former head elf asks, his tone changing slightly into the dominant side. The side Noel loves and desires.

'Hey, let's just say, things are a little complicated at the moment,' Curtis sits up in the chair, his voice devoid of emotion. 'But I've left Betty in charge so it'll all be ok.'

'Betty?' Bernard raises a brow, his cheeks beginning to glow. 'Who's Betty?'

'You know who Betty is, B.' Noel interrupts, linking her arm with his as she pulls him beside her on the edge of the bed. 'Yeah, I know who Betty is, I'm just making sure Curtis does!' He slightly yells, raising his hand at the elf.

Noel rolls her eyes before resting her head on Bernard's shoulder, 'Anywho, why are you on leave?'

'Let's just say there were a few mishaps at the Pole last year, but I fixed it.' He pauses for a second, his glittering cheeks flustering slightly. 'Well not just me, Lucy and Charlie helped too.'

'Well what happened?' Noel asks, rising from his shoulder.

'Nothing important.' Curtis chuckles, brushing down his coat. 'But I have decided to leave the Pole,' Noel perks up rapidly, followed by a growing red Bernard. 'Only temporarily, I wanna travel.'

Bernard, his brow furrowed with confusion, trying to cut through the conversation once again. 'But what about the - '

'Bernard, you know how it is,' Noel interrupts, a sudden coldness creeping into her voice. 'Sometimes it's best to let people, elves, handle things their own way.'

Bernard, now feeling distinctly out of place, settles back onto the bed, his silence filled with a growing sense of unease. 'Well, as you're here,' He turns to Noel slightly, her hair filling her face as she settles down beside him. 'We need to talk to you about something-'

'You're finally married, I knew it,' Curtis butts in, jumping up from the chair ready to congratulate his friends. 'Quintin owes me a cookie!'

'What?! No, Curtis!' Bernard jumps, pushing the smaller elf back down.

'You were betting on us getting married?' Noel asks, eagerly.

Yes they'd been together for what feels like forever, but marriage??

'Yeah.' Curtis laughs, grabbing one of the cocoas from his tray. 'You should have one of these before they're cold.'

Bernard turns to Noel quickly, her face lowers with confusing yet disbelief. 'Curtis, we are not married! At least not yet.' Noel raises her head once again, a smile grows softly on her face.

'We are retiring as elves.' He announces, gently grabbing her hand within his, pulling her up from the bed.

'You're what?' The young elf questions, looking up at the couple.

'We know it's a lot but it's our decision.' Noel begins, her soft smile growing. ' a big decision. But it's important for us.'

'Noel and I have discussed it all. We'll get a house on the coast, maybe a dog. Would you like a dog?' He asks Noel quickly, earning a nod before turning back to the elf. 'We'll get a dog and live our lives as, humans.'

'But what about the Pole?' Curtis queries, his face lowering to the floor as he sniffles. 'What about Santa?'

Noel turns to Bernard who squeezes her hand lightly, a glow resting upon his cheeks. She lets him go briefly before kneeling down towards an upset Curtis. 'Scott has his own family now. And with you there it'll be complete.' He looks up for a moment, 'You may even find an elf of your own.' She winks before returning to her Bernard's side.

'You're not even going to go back for a last time?'

'We don't think it'll be right.' Bernard tells him as he pulls Noel into his chest.

The room grows cold for a moment, the happy memories from the Pole come flooding through the windows, draping through the curtains and around the couple. Curtis looks back up at them with a proud face, ready for his own future.

'Well, the Pole's going to need their Head Elf back.' Curtis chuckles before motioning Bernard down with a wave of his hand. 'That'll be me, by the way.'

Noel and Bernard join in Curtis' laugh, pulling him into a group hug. She pulls away briefly, 'Stay for a little while. We need the company.'

'I won't go until you say.' Curtis grins, pulling his chair closer to their own before grabbing the menu off the side table. 'How about we order some room survive?' Noel chuckles as she falls into the seat beside him, shaking her head slightly.

'What it was a long journey!'