Magical

Chapter 35

    Once again, Scott and Jack landed in the past. Immediately, Jack tried to rush over, shouting about getting his coat back. Scott grabbed him and covered his mouth, shutting him up.
    That's when he saw himself run out the house in a pair of boxers, a jacket, and a pair of boots. "Whoa, freaky!" Scott said in response at seeing himself.
     Past Scott yelled at the Santa on the roof that immediately fell off. A second later, Past Rose came running out the house in her black trenchcoat and knee-high boots, Past Charlie following behind.
     "You got him!" Past Charlie shouted.
     Present Scott wrestled with Jack as they argued over what was best for the Pole. Meanwhile, Past Scott was chasing his kids up the ladder and onto the roof. A second later, Past Scott put on the coat, asking his daughter, "How do I look? Nice?"
     "And you're too late!" Present Scott told Jack.
     With that, the magic overtook them one last time, transporting them back to the correct reality. Scott saw his wife walking with her parents and he shoved the snow globe back into Jack's arms, shouting, "Hey, Carol!"
    Jack sighed and said to himself, "Well that didn't turn out the way I'd hoped."
                             * * * * *
    Meanwhile, Scott reunited with his wife, apologizing for everything that had happened, telling her how much he really loved her. He explained to her parents that they had just gotten on each other's nerves, finally deciding to reveal the truth to them about who he was, regardless of the SOS.
    "But Scott, the SOS!" His wife reminded him.
    "The SOS is about keeping secrets and secrets aren't for family and I'm tired of keeping it from yours." Scott said. "So if you guys would follow me to my factory...."
     The in-laws then followed behind Scott, bewildered.
                           * * * * *
     When they entered the factory, Bud and Silvia were surprised at what they saw. Everywhere there were elves working.
     Scott raised his voice, "Elves! Stop working for a minute! I'd like for you to say hello to the in-laws!"
     "Hello, in-laws!" The elves shouted.
     "Hello." Silvia said.
     "How you doing?" Bud asked, confused. The elves went back to work. "So they're not little Canadian's. They're elves." Silvia was starting to come to the same conclusion. "Listen, if they're elves, then this isn't a toy factory. This is Santa's workshop. And if this is Santa's workshop," they looked up to see Scott putting on his coat and hat, "then he's the guy." Scott walked over to the pair. "You! You're the guy! You're Father Christmas!"
     "It's a little freaky but...you'll get used to it. Everyone else did."
     "Wow! If you're Father Christmas, then that means I'm Father Christmas' father-in-law. I'm Father-In-Law Christmas!"
     "And I'm Mother-In-Law Christmas!" Silvia added, laughing.
     At that moment, each member of the Council of Legendary Figures arrived, including their guardians, all of which Scott introduced to the in-laws. All had arrived thanks to Charlie who was also in the workshop, helping the elves.
     "Wait a minute! If all these guys has a guardian, you have to have one too!"
     "Yep. That would be my daughter." Scott said.
     "Rose?"
     "She guards the Pole and me. And I couldn't be more proud of her."
     And that was when Rose and Bernard decided to come strolling into the workshop, hand in hand.
                          * * * * *
    Meanwhile, Rose woke up to find herself in Bernard's arms as he held her tightly. She began to stir and he immediately smiled down at the woman he loved.
    "B, you're back!" She said.
    "You can't get rid of me that easily." He teased his wife. "Guess you'll just have to try--"
    He was interrupted as Rose launched herself into his arms, kissing him like she never would again. Bernard smiled as he kissed his wife back, running his fingers through her hair.
    "Harder." He finished when she broke the kiss.
    He chuckled as he helped her to her feet. When they were both standing, he leaned in to kiss her again but was surprised when she slapped him!
    Bernard looked in astonishment at her. "If you ever leave me again, B--!" She warned.
    Her husband had the nerve to laugh. "Consider me warned."
    "I'm serious." She said. "I almost lost you!"
    He grabbed ahold of her hands, half as a loving gesture, half to keep her from smacking him again. "I know." He whispered. "I know you wore about me." His expression softened, looking at her tear-stained face. "But it's ok. I'm here now, Snowflake, and I promise I will never let you again." She nodded. "Do you remember what I told you when I proposed to you? And the same words I told you at our wedding?" He placed a finger under her chin and tilted her face up so he could gaze into her eyes. "I told you that ever since we met, I knew you were special. You still are and I still love you. You don't have to worry about what comes next, because, no matter what, our love is stronger than anything. Stronger than a family that was falling apart. Stronger than a silly law in a book. Stronger than an evil imp putting a spell on you. Stronger even than when we're worlds apart. You are the love of my life and you will be forever. Never doubt that I will always be here."
     Rose smiled. "I never will again." She promised. They shared a short hug when Rose suddenly remembered something. "B, there's something I need to tell you." Bernard gave her an encouraging smile. "It was something I wanted to tell you that day..."
     "What is it?"
     "I'm...I'm pregnant."
     Bernard's eyes widened in surprise. "Pregnant?"
    "With twins actually. A little boy and girl from what Eve told me."
    "Twins?" She looked up at her husband in time to see a giant smile spread across his face. "We're gonna have twins! I'm gonna be a dad!" He shouted, excitedly.
     "And I'm gonna be a mom!" She said, happy tears in her eyes.
     With that, Bernard picked up his wife and spun her around before pulling her into his arms to celebrate this perfect moment.
                        * * * * *
     A few minutes later, the pair made their way into the workshop. Scott walked over to hug them both tight.
    "Bernard, you're back, old friend!" He shouted.
    Every elf in the workshop immediately stopped what they were doing and rushed to hug their head elf. "Bernard!" They each shouted as they surrounded him.
    Bernard shook his head. "Uh...
Snowflake? A little help here?"
    Rose laughed as she clapped her hands. "I know you're all very happy to have Bernard back but we've got work to do so chop chop!"
    The elves rushed back to work.
    "Bud, Silvia, I don't believe you've met my son-in-law and my Head Elf, Bernard."
    "No we haven't." They both immediately said. "Nice to meet ya, I'm Bud Newman and this is my wife, Silvia."
    "We're the in-laws and Carol's parents."
    Bernard nodded, turning his usual business persona back on, the same he'd used when meeting Scott and Carol for the first time. "I'm Bernard. Nice to meet ya, in-laws." He started to walk off when the words sunk in. "Wait a minute! In-laws?" He glared at Scott. "Santa, you didn't." Scott shrugged sheepishly. "But what about the SOS?"
    "Secrets aren't for family, son. I could no more keep the secret from them than I could from either of my kids or my wife or any of the rest of my family."
    Bernard rounded on the in-laws. "Don't worry." Silvia said. "We won't breathe a word to anyone."
    "Make sure you don't." Bernard warned. "Because if anyone were to find out..." He placed his hands on his head and gasped dramatically, just like he'd done back when Curtis had tried to make the Toy Santa.
    "I think they get it, B." Rose said, rolling her eyes at her husband fondly.
    "Well someone has to be the voice of reason in this family. Especially now that we've got two new members coming in." He rubbed his wife's stomach gently. "I already missed enough time with you and them while I was in that coma. I don't intend to miss anymore."
    "Wait, coma?" Bud asked. He looked at Scott. "You told us he was on a business trip! Secrets, hey?"
    "It was kinda necessary at the time."
    Bud shrugged. "Eh. Fair enough. But no more secrets. We are family after all. And we gotta stay in the loop!"
    "I couldn't agree more."
    "Well, now that we've got that settled..." Rose began. "We still have a lot of work to do before delivery."
    "Exactly! Which means it's time for me to get back to it!" Bernard added. "Which reminds me, where's Curtis?"
     And that's when Curtis arrived with more news. News concerning Jack Frost.