𝟷𝟶. Thanksgiving
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Noelle snuggled further into the warmth of her bed, however, when a chuckle that wasn't her own echoed through the room, she opened her eyes to see Bernard next to her. "Oh, uh... Good morning," Noelle muttered as she looked up at him, her head had been resting on his chest. "Good morning... I didn't mean to stay the whole night, but you seemed to have had a nightmare and I couldn't bear leaving you alone," Bernard told her though he honestly didn't want to leave the moment she had snuggled into his chest, the Head Elf adored Noelle Calvin in a way that he hadn't expected.
"Well, I apologise if sleeping me overstepped any boundaries," Noelle replied with a blush, she didn't want to move away from the warmth coming from Bernard or the softness of his sweater. "You haven't, Sweets. Truthfully, this is the most comfortable I've been in a while," Bernard told her before mentally cursing himself for his words. "Glad we are on the same page then," Noelle expressed before moving to lay her head back on his chest, she closed her eyes and let out a deep breath. Bernard let his arms wrap around Noelle's body as he relaxed, and he closed his eyes.
"If your father catches us like this, he may have a fit," Bernard whispered through the peaceful silence. "Two things, B. One, my father knows to knock and wait till I approve his entry. And two, I'm eighteen and he trusts that I can make decisions on my own," Noelle replied to Bernard who felt eased at the knowledge that Scott wouldn't just burst into the room and catch his daughter cuddled up to his Head Elf. "I don't know if the warmth is coming from you or that adorable sweater of yours, but either way, this is the most comfortable I've ever been," Noelle muttered softly as sleep threatened to take her out. Bernard turned his head to look at her, a smile on his face.
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Thanksgiving finally came around and the father-daughter duo had finished their dinner before deciding to take a walk. It wasn't long till they reached the Miller household that Noelle looked up at her father, uncertain of his intention but quickly assumed that he wanted to see his son. "Let's just do it," Noelle told her father before walking ahead of him and ringing the doorbell as Scott followed after her, his full Santa look only missed the suit at this point and Noelle knew that Charlie was the key to finally getting their Dad to realise the truth.
Neal opened the door, his eyes were wide and uncertain seeing Scott and Noelle standing at his door. "Hey, Neal," Scott greeted. "Scott? You're not supposed to be here," Neal replied as Noelle and Scott stepped into the home, Neal moved to block the foyer doorway preventing them from walking further into the home. "Don't make me beat you up, Neal," Scott warned him. "Oh, would Santa really beat someone up?" Neal asked with a mocking tone. "I'm this close," Scott threatened, his thumb and pointer finger held together with a small gap to symbolise his words.
"So you still believe you're Santa?" Neal asked him with a scoff. "I don't know," Scott replied with a sigh. "What do you mean you don't know?" Charlie's voice caught Scott and Noelle's attention, the two pushed under Neal's arms and walked into the living room where Charlie was being held back by Laura. "Of course you are, Dad. How can you say that?" Charlie begged, "Think of all those kids!" Noelle looked down at her brother's words hoping they would get through to their father. "The only kids I'm thinking about are you and your sister," Scott exclaimed to his son.
"Dad, we're fine. You can't let them down," Charlie replied to Scott. "He's right. They all believe in you. In us. Please, Dad," Noelle added with pleading eyes, Neal and Laura sharing a look of concern. "Charlie, listen," Neal spoke but Charlie was quick to shout over him, "You listen! You think you know who he is. You don't!" Laura frowned at her son's attitude, "Charlie. Honey, listen. You're confused." Noelle scoffed at her mother's words, she just wished they would listen to them instead of thinking that they were lying to them. "I know exactly who he is!" Charlie snapped.
"Charlie! He's not Santa," Neal exclaimed. "He is, too, Santa. We went to the North Pole with Noelle. I saw it. The Elves are real old even though they look like me," Charlie argued back before looking at Scott, "Bernard called me Sport, 'cause he knew everything. Right, Dad?" Noelle smiled softly at the mention of Bernard, her stomach filling with butterflies. Charlie pulled out the snowglobe that Bernard had given him and threw it to Scott, he looked down at it before shaking it. "Remember!" Charlie exclaimed as Noelle watched the snow globe with a soft smile.
"Thank you, Charlie. Thank you, Noelle," Scott pulled both of his children into his embrace, he finally understood the truth. "I love you, Dad," Charlie and Noelle whispered in unison. "Could you guys leave us alone for a minute?" Scott asked Laura and Neal, "I mean, so I can say goodbye to him properly?" Neal immediately wished to say no but Laura sighed, "Sure." Neal shook his head at Laura but followed her into the kitchen leaving the three Calvins alone for what she believed was a simple goodbye. "So! You saw the ball come to life," Charlie exclaimed to their father.
"You bet I did," Scott replied sweetly before looking at Noelle, "I guess we better go." Charlie grinned widely as Noelle smiled. "I'll get my stuff!" Charlie exclaimed, he moved to rush off but Scott stopped him. "Wait, Sport. Wait, wait," Scott grabbed Charlie's shoulders, "I think it's a much better idea if you stayed here with your Mom." Charlie frowned at his father's words, he looked at Noelle for help but she stayed silent deciding to let their father handle it. "I want to be with you, Dad. With you and Noelle," Charlie pleaded with Scott. "Boy, I love hearing you say that," Scott chuckled.
"You mean I can go?" Charlie asked as Noelle heard the familiar jingle of Bernard's magic. "Boy, this bird is dry. Haven't you people heard about basting?" Bernard asked from the dining room. Noelle giggled at Bernard's words, he looked at her with a smirk before he stood up taking his coat off the back of the chair. "Bernard!" Charlie cheered happily. "Hiya, Sport," Bernard greeted as he ruffled Charlie's hair. "Bernard, can I go? Please, can I go, Bernard?" Charlie begged. "It's okay with me," Bernard answered him as he stood next to Noelle, she smiled up at him before looking at Scott. "C'mon, Dad, let him go," Noelle said.
"Well, alright, get your coat and shoes!" Scott told Charlie who quickly moved to get the needed items. "You'll have to help me teleport them to the North Pole. But understand, once you use Elf Magic for the first time, you've completely accepted your role as the Christmas Spirit," Bernard informed Noelle who simply smiled. "How do I do it?" Noelle asked him. "All right. You simply need to envision the Workshop, the sounds, the floor and ceiling, the presence, and most of all, you need to let the magic flow through you without any fear," Bernard expressed to her.
"Are we ready to go?" Scott asked Charlie who nodded. "Okay, hold our hands," Bernard instructed. Scott took Noelle's left hand while Bernard held her right with Charlie holding his free hand. Noelle closed her eyes and pictured the Workshop, its beautiful design and the clear space in the middle of the room, she pictured the Elves working hard around them. "Open your eyes, Sweets," Bernard whispered to Noelle, she opened them to see they had successfully teleported to the Workshop. "And you didn't even need my help," Bernard added as they all dropped their hands, and the Elves cheered for them.
"Judy, take Noelle to her office and give her the Christmas Spirit manual for her to study while I help Charlie and Santa," Bernard instructed. "Okay," Judy accepted before moving to walk ahead, Noelle turned to her father and brother. "I'll see you both later," Noelle said before smiling at Bernard. "I'll be there soon," Bernard told her before watching Judy lead Noelle away from them and down the hall. "The manual will seem boring but it will tell you what you need to know," Judy assured Noelle who smiled happily. "I'm fine with reading whatever may help me be the best I can be," Noelle replied to Judy who was happy to hear those words.
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Rosemary Speaks
And so Scott finally believes he is Santa Claus.
They're finally at the North Pole with weeks left till Christmas!
What might happen between Thanksgiving and Christmas?
See you in the next chapter!
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