Rose laughed as Bernard told her a story from his younger days, waving his arms around. The pair had been dating for over four months and, so far, they'd been keeping their relationship a secret, mostly because they were both nervous to tell her father about it.
     Bernard pulled Rose into a slow dance as music played in the little room they were in, holding each other close. Suddenly, they heard the sound of the heavy door open and footsteps approaching.
     Uttering a low curse, Bernard grabbed Rose's wrist and pulled her through the nearest door, shutting it behind him. The room they raced into turned out to be a glorified broom closet so they were pressed tightly together.
    Bernard grinned. He felt like a teenager again, sneaking around, hiding with his secret girlfriend from  her father. "I can't believe I've turned into the girl who hides from her dad in a broom closet!"
     They both laughed quietly. They suddenly realized how close they were and leaned in. Their lips connected and they melted into each other's arms.
     Just then, the door was wrenched open and the pair leapt apart as Curtis let out a screech. "What the heck?!" He screamed. "You two? What? Santa!!"
    With that, he turned and ran. Both Rose and Bernard chased after him. The three elves raced through the village and toward the workshop. They burst through the doors and several elves let out noises of surprise as they were pushed out of the way.
     The three elves burst into Santa's office where the big man himself was sitting behind his desk, accepting a mug of hot cocoa from a pregnant Judy. Both of them looked up when Curtis, Rose, and Bernard burst through the doors, shouting at Santa.
      "Quiet down!" He commanded. "One of you shut the door and all of you sit down."
      All of them rushed to do as he asked. Soon, there were three elves sitting at Santa's desk, feeling like children who had been called to the principal's office. Santa took a sip of cocoa, gesturing one of them to speak.
     Immediately, Curtis blurted out, "Rose and Bernard are together! I saw them making out!"
     All three of them were hit with a spray of hot cocoa as Santa did a spit take. Judy gently patted him on the back and handed him a towel to wipe his mouth.
     "Would you repeat that? Please?" Santa said, gritting his teeth.
     "Bernard was kissing Rose in a closet in the dance hall!" Curtis explained.
     Santa took a deep breath. "I see. Rose? Is this true?"
     Rose grimaced. "It's true, daddy. Bernard and I have been dating for four months now. I'm sorry we didn't tell you. It's just--"
     Scott cut his daughter off with a wave of a hand before turning to his head elf. "Bernard? Anything you'd like to say?"
     "I've been dating your daughter and I know I shouldn't have kept it from you, boss, but I love her. I would never do anything to hurt her or you."
     Rose smiled. "Aww, B! I love you too!" She turned back to her father. "And it's true. I love him."
     Everyone waited to hear what Santa would say. He shook his head. "Aren't you a little old for her, Bernard? And you do realize this is my daughter you're messing with?"
     "Well...sir...I...I mean..." Bernard blubbered through his words.
     Santa started laughing. "I'm sorry!" He managed between fits of laughter. "I just had to mess with the two of you! I already knew. I've known for awhile now."
    "Wait, what? Dad you knew?" Rose asked.
     "How long?" Bernard asked.
     "Of course I knew! I'm Santa. I know everything that goes on around here. And I say since the Christmas I accepted my role."
     "We didn't even know then!" Rose called out.
      "Really?" He raised an eyebrow. "It seemed pretty set in stone when Laura and Neil told me they saw the two of you kissing in the backyard." He started laughing again. "Neil was freaking out. Best Christmas present ever!" He dissolved into uncontrollable laughter. Judy elbowed him sharply and he quickly covered, "Um...I mean that was very wrong of you to scare him like that." He turned towards Judy. "Why don't you get some drinks so we can celebrate." Judy nodded and left the room. As soon as she was gone, Scott said, "It was still hilarious!"
    "So...you're not mad?" Rose asked.
    "I could never be mad at you, pumpkin. And I like Bernard. You're good for each other. Do you love him?"
    "With all my heart." She said, smiling at Bernard.
    "And do you love her, Bernard?"
    "More than she will ever know."
    "There you go. I approve. Was there any other issue that needed to be resolved?" The three shook their heads. "Good."
     They stayed for awhile longer to enjoy their drinks then left. Before Bernard left, Santa called him to stay. "By the way, Bernard. I may have accepted your relationship without much hesitation but just remember: Rose is still my daughter. And if you do anything to hurt her, I'll hurt you. Got it?"
     Bernard knew that the big man was serious so he nodded. "Yessir. But, no offense, if I do something to hurt her, I'd never be able to live with myself. So whatever you do will be next to nothing by comparison."
     Santa nodded and Bernard left the room.
                             * * * * *
     A few days later, Rose and Scott had to go visit Laura as she was about to give birth. She had a daughter whom she decided to name Lucy. Both Rose and Scott stayed there for a couple weeks to help out before they had to go back to finish getting ready for the holidays.
     As time passed, Scott came to be known as the best Santa ever and Rose's powers grew. They visited their family as often as possible (Rose more than Santa) and had an even better relationship with their family than before Scott became Santa Claus.
    Everything was going great. So, of course, something would go wrong...