Rose gritted her teeth in annoyance as she tried, and failed, yet again to erect a shield around the Pole. "Argh!" She growled. "I still can't do it!"
     Bernard placed a hand on her shoulder comfortingly. "Calm down." He said in a quiet yet firm, commanding voice.
     "I can't!" Rose shouted in frustration. "It's been 7 months and yet I can't do something is simple as shielding the Pole from outsiders!"
     Bernard shook his head. "Shield magic is the toughest magic of all. If it were easy, no one would ever get targeted or hurt. Trust me, Snowflake. You're doing just fine." He hated seeing her so upset.
     Rose shook her head, her now much longer and redder hair swaying with her. "I need a break."
     "Just once more." Bernard pressed. Rose pouted and Bernard chuckled as he slipped his arms around her. "Ok. First, you need to relax. Deep breaths. Think of something to calm you." She slowly melted into his arms, taking deep breaths. "Good. Now think of something you love. Your family and friends. Picture them in your mind. And picture that you are protecting them. Now, let the magic flow."
     Rose took another deep breath as she thought of everyone important to her: her father, her mother, her stepfather, her brother, and, finally, Bernard. She felt the magic flow through her and shoot into the air with not so much as a noise.
     She opened her eyes. "I did it?"
     "You did it." He smiled.
     "I did it!" She shouted excitedly, jumping up and down. "Thank you, Bernard! Thank you thank you thank you!!!"
      "You're--mm!"
      He was cut off as she pulled him into her arms, kissing him excitedly. Unlike last time, this one was short, her pulling away after a second, a blush rising on her cheeks. Why did she just do that? She knew he wasn't into her like that! He had to be at least a couple hundred her senior! To him, she was just a child.
     Bernard blinked as Rose pulled away from the kiss. This was the second time she had kissed him and he still had no clue if she even cared for him that way. And, honestly, he couldn't blame her. He was too old for her and it wasn't like he could give her the life she deserved.
     "Wha--?"
     Just as Bernard was about to ask why she did that, he was interrupted by the sound of Santa calling out to them. He raced over as fast as possible, joined by Judy and Curtis, the new Keeper of the Handbook.
     "Did you just do that, princess?" He asked his daughter.
     "I did it! I really did it, dad!" Rose shouted, excitedly.
     "I'm so proud of you!" Santa held his daughter tight.
    Bernard smiled at the sight but inside he was screaming. He needed to know what was going on between him and Rose! If only he could find a private moment with her...maybe then he could find out...
                             * * * * *
     A few days later, Bernard found Rose cleaning up some boxes from the floor, trying to help out, like she usually did.
    As she struggled to pick a few up, Bernard walked up and grabbed a few from her hands. "Don't overdo it, Snowflake." He said, softly.
     "Thanks, B."
     He helped her get the boxes moved where they needed to be. Afterwards, he turned to her with a nervous smile. "Are you hungry? I mean...I know this great little diner in the village if you are..."
     She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Bernard, I'd love to go on a date with you!"
     He was taken aback. She said yes? "Really? Ok."
      Bernard took her hand and led her out to the village and to the diner. It was a beautiful thing, looking like those old-fashioned diners from the '60s, and she loved it. They found a booth and sat down.
     A pretty young elf with curly blond hair can over to take their orders. She was sweet, complimenting Rose's hair, and playfully teasing Bernard about being on a date. They ordered the same thing and the waitress playfully teased them about that before leaving.
    Rose and Bernard settled in, both very nervous. "So...." Rose started, trying to ease the tension, blushing as she took a glimpse at Bernard. "There's still so much I don't know about you."
    Bernard swallowed. "What would you like to know?"
    Rose thought about it. A lot of the questions she thought of seemed really personal. "Um...well for one thing, were you always this way? Or did you used to be human like me?"
    Bernard wrinkled his nose in a way she thought was cute and replied, "I was born an elf. We usually age until we're to an age we like and then we stop aging. Most elves like being children but I...I guess I was different."
     "Maybe you knew there was someone waiting for you." Rose suggested, the blush covering her face.
     "Maybe I did." He whispered. "You're so beautiful, you know." He reached over to move a strand of hair that had fallen in her face and tucked it behind her now pointy ears. "Your ears..." He whispered, glancing at them.
     Rose covered them in embarrassment. She was self-conscious of them now that they had changed. "I know they're..."
     "They're beautiful." Bernard interrupted, gazing into her eyes. "Just like the rest of you."
      She smiled. Bernard was about to lean in to kiss her when their moment was interrupted by the waitress returning with their food and drinks. "Enjoy, shug!" She called as she went off to take care of another table.
     Bernard wanted to scream! Every time he tried to get a moment with Rose, something always got in the way!
     They ate their food as Rose asked more questions. "How old are you exactly?" Rose had asked at one point.
     Bernard looked a bit embarrassed. "Um...about 2,947 give or take a few years."
     "Wow. I didn't expect....I mean... you don't look it." Rose stumbled with her words.
     Bernard smiled. "Hey. You couldn't have known. And you're beautiful when you blush." He teased.
     He decided he was gonna talk to her when they left. Maybe then he'd have a moment to explain what was going on.
     So, after they ate, Bernard took Rose's hand and led her out into the snow again. She shivered slightly and he took his coat off, draping it over her shoulders.
     She turned to him when he did that and it looked as if she was trying to figure something out as her eyes kept changing colors and she bit her lip.
     "Bernard..." She whispered. "What are we?"
     He took a deep breath. "What do you want us to be?"
     "I'm not sure." She muttered. "I don't think you like me the way I like you and I don't know how things work with elves."
     Bernard raised an eyebrow. "That depends on how you like me." She bit her lip harder. "Can I just say something and you not hate me for it?" Bernard placed a finger under her chin and tilted her face up so he could gaze into her eyes. "I think I'm falling in love with you."
   Her eyes widened. "You love me?"
   He nodded. "What I feel for you...I can't describe it. It's nothing I've ever felt before. And...I no longer want to imagine my life without you in it. So, yes, I love you."
    She stroked his face gently, a smile on her face. "B, I love you too. Why do you think I always called for you? And kept kissing you? And, yes, I was too scared or whatever but--mm"
    She was cut off as he kissed her, one hand up in her hair while the other was pressed against her back. Immediately, her heart started racing and she threw her arms around him.
    He parted for a second to let them both breathe. "So...what does this make us?" Rose asked. "Because I seriously don't know how things work with elves."
    "Like I said, we can be whatever you want. If you want to be boyfriend and girlfriend, that's fine with me. I already consider you my soulmate so whatever label you need to put on it is fine."
    "Would you want to be my boyfriend? I mean...I know I'm pretty young by your standards..."
    "Age is but a number, my love. As long as you're willing, I'll be whatever you want me to be."
    "Did you just call me your love?" She asked, smiling.
    He blushed. "Well...I...uh..."
    "It's cute. I like it. And I think boyfriend and girlfriend would work best."
    "Good." With that, he pulled her back into his arms to kiss her again.