Time Flies

Author's Note – Well. That was a long break between chapters. I did mean to have this done by Christmas, but… well, the length should tell you why it wasn't. This was kind of a transitional chapter. A lot had to happen.

Disclaimer: Any and all Santa Claus characters belong to Disney. The original characters, however, are mine.

Chapter 10 – Fall On Your Knees

            The Time Flies fit into the landscape of Destiny perfectly. They were grey, and the mists were silver – the Flies might have been created with Destiny in mind. It was not a reassuring observation.

            Not that much would be, in the circumstances.

            "You're having problems with Time Flies?" Cupid's panic wasn't helping, either. "I thought those things were supposed to be gone. Father Time swore they were gone. But they aren't gone, and they're here, and – " A realization hit Cupid. "And this is the problem that Father Time was having at his workshop. Oh, this is not good."

            "Talk about the understatement of the century," Ebony snapped. "What will those things do when they get hold of us?"

            "They'll absorb your magic," Bernard told her. "I don't know what they'll do to Cupid. Or to me."

            That worried her. Bernard was guiltily pleased that Ebony would be upset for his sake. It made him feel justified in his frantic search for her – as though he had the right to worry about her in return.

            "Could they kill us? They don't look as dangerous as everyone seems to think." Cupid looked hopefully at the advancing Flies. "They're kinda scrawny, aren't they? Smaller than me, and that's saying something."

            "I don't know," Bernard said impatiently. "I don't think they can kill, or they'd've done it already. But they attacked me earlier."

            "And me," Ebony added. She glared at the Flies. "Bloody pixies."

            "But you're in a cage. They put you there for a reason," Cupid pointed out.

            "They can wait for us to die. Destiny…" Bernard hesitated.

            "Yeah, I can see what it's doing to you." Cupid grimaced. "You know, I just don't think the whole 'mist' look is me. Mind if I don't hang around much longer?"

            Bernard and Ebony glanced at one another. Their thoughts were clear. Intellectually, they knew that Cupid couldn't help them out of this, and that his staying would only put him in the same danger they faced – but emotionally, they didn't want to be left alone.

            "Tell Father Time what happened," Bernard said at last. "Better go quick, before they block you."

            Cupid nodded, and dove away.

            The Time Flies blocked him.

            "Or I could stick around for a while." Cupid gulped.

            The Time Flies were close enough now that he could see their faces – twisted by hate, marred by bitterness, consumed with anger at the whole world. What were they planning? A horrible thought struck him – what if Ebony had faded enough already that they could draw out her essence? What if they were here to destroy her? Bernard drew Ebony closer to him. He'd die before he let them have her.

            Cupid pulled out his bow and fitted an arrow to it.

            "I thought your arrows wouldn't work on magical beings," Bernard said, frowning.

            "The magic won't," Cupid agreed. He smiled savagely. "But the arrows will." He took aim at the closest of the Time Flies. "Just let 'em get in range."

            It didn't take long. The Flies were coming faster and faster as they got closer, as though they could sense that their prey had no escape left. As soon as they were in range of the arrows, Cupid fired.

            Half the ranks of the Flies exploded. The rest of the Time Flies scattered, screaming in eerily human voices.

            Cupid stared at his bow in shock. "Did I know I could do that?"

            "Oh, you didn't, silly! I did!"

            "Good Lord…" Bernard gaped at the figure hurrying through the mists. "Bianca?"

            "Of course!" Bianca smiled brightly, a glaring contrast to the serious situation. "Daddy was getting awfully worried cause you hadn't come back, and then Cupid went after you – hi, Cupid! – and he didn't come back, and then Daddy realized there was going to be an attack at the Workshop, and he said I'd better go see if I couldn't fetch you out before he couldn't protect you anymore."

            "But – that – " Bernard gestured helplessly at the Flies.

            "Oh, that?" Bianca giggled. "I got that from Santa. He said it was an improved version of the Christmas party popper or something, and he would've given you one, but you ran off too quickly. It worked awfully well, didn't it?" Bianca frowned prettily. "I don't think it was supposed to work that well, though. I think something funny happened to it when it hit this foggy stuff. The fog covered it all over, and when the fog went away the popper looked all different. But I thought it still looked ok to use, and I guess it was."

            "I guess," Bernard agreed numbly. He'd seen the version of poppers that Quentin had been working on. They couldn't blow up a cardboard box, let alone half a horde of Time Flies. He suddenly remembered that woman, Lady Destiny. Had she –

            "So can you get us out of here?" Ebony interrupted Bernard's train of thought.

            "Sure! The exit's right that way – " Bianca stopped. "Oh. You're all locked up and stuff, aren't you? That's no good." She looked at Cupid. "How do I get them out?"

            Cupid blinked. "Why would I know that, sweetheart?"

            Bianca shrugged. "Well, I don't know, so someone else has to. Bernard? How do I get you out?"

            Bernard shook his head helplessly. "I don't know – make the barrier go away somehow, I guess."

            "Why don't you sing that Cinderella song at it?" Ebony suggested acidly. "Bibbidi bobbidi boo – and it's gone!"

            "Oh, you think that would work?" Bianca gave the barrier an intense stare. "Bibbidi bobbidi boo – go away!" She snapped her fingers at the barrier.

            It disappeared.

            "Oh, yay!" Bianca was delighted. "That was a great idea, Ebony! You're awfully smart, aren't you?"

            Ebony was astonished. "I can't believe that worked. Am I imagining things?"

            Bernard shook his head. "Does it matter? We've got to get you out of here." He managed to stand on his own, but Ebony couldn't make it. Whatever strength she'd regained when he saved her, it wasn't enough. Bernard leaned down to lift her, but he couldn't even get her off the ground. Destiny was draining him, through her.

            "Let me help." Cupid swooped down and scooped Ebony up. Bernard blinked. He hadn't thought Cupid large enough to lift Ebony at all, let alone so easily. He pushed aside his feelings of jealousy – he should be the one to carry her – and struggled forward.

            "How far is the door?" Bernard asked. "I was pretty far from it when I was attacked."

            "Really? You must've gone the wrong way or something. It's just over this way." Bianca pointed. Sure enough, there was the door, hovering in the middle of the mist.

            Bernard stared. "But it was further away – I know it was!"

            "Maybe you knew wrong," Bianca suggested. "Let's hurry, ok? I don't want my hair to get all bleached like hers."

            She led them through the door into the hexagonal room through which Bernard had originally entered Destiny. However, it looked much different this time.

            For one thing, it contained a group of about ten bound and gagged Time Flies.

            "Oh, you stopped them!" Bianca clapped her hands happily. "That's so good! I was awfully scared we'd get back and then we'd have to go straight back out and rescue you."

            "Fortunately, that won't be necessary," Father Time said with a smile – a smile that faded as he caught sight of Ebony and Bernard. "Oh, no – they were in Destiny too long, weren't they?"

            "What do you mean?" Scott looked from Father Time to Bernard and Ebony, worry etched across his face. "They're out now – that's good, right?"

            "I hope so." Father Time waved a hand at the door to the Present. The entryway slid open. "Take them through there – it leads to Atlantis. Mother Nature will be able to help."

            Bernard glanced at Ebony, then down at himself. Mist was entwined in their hair, and he was sure his eyes were the same shifting silver that Ebony's were. And then he thought about what he'd had to do to save Ebony – how he'd had to connect their souls. Thinking back on it, he was increasingly worried that it seemed to have been successful. Magic that strange, in as unpredictable a dimension as Destiny, should not have worked. Not unless it was – Bernard hesitated to think it – Destined.

            He wasn't sure Mother Nature would be able to help them. He wasn't at all sure they could still be helped.

            Mother Nature frowned down at the two sleeping figures of Ebony and Bernard. "I just wish we knew what those kids did in that Destiny place of yours," she said to her brother.

            "What do you mean?" Father Time asked warily. "They did something? Something bad?"

            "I can't tell," Mother Nature said, frustrated. "It might be. Or then again it might not be. All I can say for sure is that these two are bound."

            "Bound? What do you mean, 'bound?'" Scott asked. "That sounds pretty bad to me."

            "Oh, not necessarily," Cupid hastened to reassure him. "It's actually pretty common. You and Mrs. Claus are bound."

            "Not that kind of bond," Mother Nature said ominously. "This is something else. My guess is that he had to do something pretty spectacular to save her life. Probably something he had no business doing."

            "Something that involved taking her shirt off?" Scott asked.

            "I think that came later," Cupid said, trying to be tactful. After all, the girl's father was standing right there. "The whole reason I showed up at all was that there had been a great act of love performed, and let me tell you, that does not happen every day. It takes a lot to qualify for 'act of love' status."

            "Like Sonny and Cher?" Scott joked, trying to lighten the mood.

            "Like Romeo and Juliet," Cupid said flatly. "There's gotta be a sacrifice involved – a serious one. Your elf put his life on the line for that girl with whatever he did, and he knew it. And he did it anyway."

            "She matters that much to him?" Mother Nature asked.

            Cupid nodded wordlessly.

            "So what does this mean for them? Will they be ok?" Scott asked, breaking the weighty silence.

            "It depends on how you define 'ok,'" Mother Nature said. "Will they survive? Yes. Will they be the same as they were before?" She shrugged. "Who knows?"

            "I'm betting not," Cupid said. "Acts of love tend to alter the people involved."

            "And I think there may be other complications." Father Time bent closer to the pair, as if studying something he hadn't noticed before. "The threads of Destiny…"

            "I know, I know, they're weaving, right?" Scott said impatiently. "You mentioned."

            "No, this is something else," Father Time said, brows knitted. "Whatever they did, it happened in Destiny. A place where reality itself is unstable. I think that perhaps there is more to what happened here than simply an act of love. Perhaps… perhaps her threads are longer than even I knew."

            Scott and Cupid exchanged glances. "So is today Cryptic Day or something?" Scott asked. "Mind explaining?"

            "There are powerful forces at work here," Father Time said slowly.

            "Yes. That would be us," Scott said.

            "No – not us. Other forces." Father Time looked at Mother Nature. "Do you remember them?"

            Mother Nature seemed to be struck by lightning as the realization hit her. Literally. Sparks shimmered down her arms to crackle at her fingertips. "The Powers That Be… I always thought they were a myth, created for those of us who live in mythical lands."

            "Hold it – the powers that what?" Scott looked from Mother Nature to Father Time, getting an increasingly bad feeling.

            "The Powers That Be," Father Time said again. "The ones who live – no, I suppose they can't really live – who exist outside of reality. Not just in a separate dimension. I don't quite know how to describe it, except to say that they are not like us. Not bound by the laws that confine us. They are immortal, unchangeable, incomprehensible."

            "So… like us," Scott repeated.

            "No." Father Time glared, realizing Scott was joking with him. "This is no time for jolliness. If the Powers are showing themselves, then something serious must be happening. Something that surrounds these two. You might at least try to be concerned – this is your elf, after all."

            "Don't scold him," Mother Nature told her brother. "He's only acting as he must. Have you ever known a Santa who didn't react to stress by joking?"

            Father Time shook his head. "That isn't the issue," he said, deflecting the question. "The issue is that these two – "

            Bernard stirred. All conversation stopped at once. Bernard opened one eye – then saw everyone crowding around him, and snapped awake.

            "What happened? Why are you – where's Ebony?" The elf looked around frantically, until he realized the girl was in the bed directly beside his. "Thank God."

            "She's alive," Mother Nature said. "Whatever you did, it saved her life."

            "Good." Bernard breathed a sigh of relief. "Good."

            "What exactly did you do in there, anyway?" Scott asked, voicing the question everyone wanted to ask.

            Bernard looked away, not meeting anyone's eyes. "I just… called her back," he said evasively. "That's all."

            It was clear he wasn't talking. Mother Nature shook her head. "Well, it worked like a charm," she said. "You should try calling back some of my rainforests."

            It took Bernard a few seconds to realize this was a joke. Belatedly, he smiled. A real smile. Scott grinned to see it. His Head Elf was back.

            "So… what exactly happened when we got out of Destiny?" Bernard asked. "I remember going through that door… and then… then…"

            "Then you blacked out," Mother Nature told him. "Destiny was hard on you. Worse on Ebony. You're in Atlantis, now, and in Atlantis you shall stay until I pronounce you fully healed."

            "But – Christmas – "

            "Will go on without you," Scott filled in. "We're managing. It's nowhere near as smooth as usual, and I think Curtis has developed a caffeine addiction trying to cope, but we're dealing. We can keep it up till you're better." He looked at Mother Nature. "When will he be better?"

            "That depends." Mother Nature gave the elf a critical glance. "Normally I'd say only a day or two, with the healing powers of Atlantis working on you, but since you seem to have tied yourself to Ebony somehow, you'll probably have to wait until she's healed, as well."

            "Is she hurt that badly?" Bernard turned paler than he already was.

            "Not hurt, exactly," Mother Nature said. "But Destiny drained something from her – energy, essence, call it what you will – and she needs time to rebuild it. That could take a day, or a week, or a month."

            "It'll take five days, seven hours, and thirteen minutes," Father Time spoke up.

            Mother Nature glared at him. "Whose realm is this? Yours? I don't think so."

            "Sorry," Father Time said unrepentantly.

            "Five days?" Bernard looked down at Ebony for a moment. Then he nodded. "I can deal with that."

~*~ Five Days Later ~*~

            "I can't wait for Bernard to get back." Curtis slumped into a chair beside Judy.

            "Well, he'll be here any minute now," Judy said. She sighed. "I don't know how he does everything. We've barely been managing splitting it between us. I'm just glad he won't be gone longer."

            "Join the club." Scott stood in the doorway with Carol beside him. "Want to come with us to the main room? That's where they're coming."

            "Sure, we – they?" Curtis stopped, puzzled.

            "Yes, they," Scott said. "Bernard and Ebony? The people we've all been waiting for the past five days?"

            "Why's that Ebony girl coming?" Curtis asked. "Isn't she Father Time's daughter? She ought to stay with him."

            "She wants to see the North Pole," Scott said, but there was a tone to his voice that said he wasn't telling everything. "I think she'll like it here."

            "So what? Everyone likes it here," Curtis said blankly. He shook his head. "Well, Bernard's coming back. That's the main thing. And he'll be ok now, right?" Sudden worry struck Curtis. "Right?"

            "Of course," Scott reassured the elf. "He and Ebony are both fine. That's why Mother Nature kept them so long – to make sure."

            With that, Scott hurried out with Carol, expecting Curtis and Judy to follow him. The two elves exchanged worried glances.

            "He isn't telling us everything," Judy said, frowning pensively. "That isn't like Santa."

            "You don't think he was lying, do you?" Curtis asked, as they headed to the main room. "I mean – you saw what Bernard was like last time he came back. What if he's like that again?"

            Judy shook her head firmly. "Santa would have told us," she said reasonably. "I know he wouldn't lie. Not to us." She thought for a moment. "I don't think it's something bad he's concealing, though. It's dreadfully important, but not bad."

            At that point, they reached the main room, and the conversation ended. Judy and Curtis stared around in amazement.

            "This has to be every elf in the Workshop," Judy whispered, awed. The room was packed with elves, shoulder to shoulder, as many as the space could hold. Even the upper levels held elves leaning over the railing, to get a better look.

            "It can't be," Curtis objected. "There are too many of them." He seemed to be doing quick calculations in his head. "This many elves… it would have to be…"

            "Half of Elfheim," Kioshi finished, squeezing through the crowds to get to Curtis and Judy. "Give or take a few elves. There are even more waiting outside the Workshop."

            "They care that much?" Judy smiled. "Bernard will be happy. I don't think he realizes how important he is to the North Pole."

            "Are you crazy?" Curtis stared at her like he was certain the answer was yes. "He's our leader. Everyone knows that."

            "Everyone but Bernard," Kioshi said. "As far as he knows, he's just the Head Elf, second in command to Santa. But he's more than that, now. He has been for centuries. We can deal with the loss of a Santa – another one comes in just one year. But we'd be lost without Bernard."

            "But we'll never have to be without him, right?" Curtis said. "It's not like he's going anywhere."

            "Not anymore," Judy said soberly. "But I think he might have."

            "Where would he go?" Curtis scoffed. "Back Underhill?"

            "Nowhere so definite." Kioshi's eyes were dark and unreadable. "If he had left, it would have been to where we may not follow."

            Curtis looked from Judy to Kioshi. "You two are talking in code, aren't you?" he accused.

            Judy smiled. "Don't worry about it, Curtis," she said gently. "We – " She stopped, as a hush fell over the elves. "They're coming!" She grabbed Curtis's hand in her excitement. "They're coming back!"

            In the lone empty space in the center of the room, in a shower of golden dust, Bernard appeared, accompanied by a girl the elves didn't recognize. She had to be Ebony Hiems. Ebony stared at the gathered crowds, clearly not having expected quite this many people. She turned to Bernard.

            "Popular, aren't you?"

            Bernard didn't answer, turning slowly in a full circle to see all the elves who had come to meet him. "Um… hi?" He waved hesitantly.

            "Bernard!" Judy ran towards him, unable to restrain herself any longer. Curtis and Kioshi weren't far behind. Judy flung her arms around Bernard, hugging him tightly. "We missed you so much!"

            "Hiya, Judy!" Bernard hugged her back, though he was still more than a little confused. He lowered his voice. "What's with the gathering?"

            "Everyone wanted to see you," Judy told him, grinning. "To make sure you're really you."

            Bernard frowned. "Wasn't I always?"

            Judy just sighed contentedly as she released him. "It's good to have you back, Bernard."

            "What she said," Curtis agreed. He held out a hand formally.

            Bernard blinked. "You've got to be kidding." He gave in and shook Curtis's hand. "I've mentioned that you're really weird, right?"

            Curtis just shrugged as he stepped back, letting Kioshi take his place. "Hi," Kioshi said.

            "Hi," Bernard replied. Then he did a double take. "Kioshi – you're grinning! You never grin."

            Kioshi laughed. "I'm that glad to see you here again," he said. "Don't expect it too often." He glanced around at the elves. "You might want to say something to that lot, before they go mad with curiosity."

            Bernard looked around at the elves again. He hadn't realized that this many of them would come to see him. Had it been that much of a problem that he'd left the North Pole? And if it had been, what exactly were they expecting of him?

            "Hi, everyone," Bernard said finally, pitching his voice to carry to all the elves in hearing distance. "I'm – well, I know I've been away for a while, but I'm back now. And it's really good to see everyone again." He grinned. "I missed the North Pole a lot. All of you, too."

            At that, the elves cut him off with a cheer. It was all but deafening, echoing around the room. Bernard turned red, but beneath the embarrassment he looked pleased. As the applause and cheers died away, he motioned Ebony forward.

            "Everyone, I'd like you to meet someone," Bernard said, as Ebony came up to stand beside him, looking more than a little overwhelmed by the crowds staring at her. "This is Ebony Hiems, daughter of Father Time. Ebony," Bernard smiled at her, "meet the Christmas elves of the North Pole."

            Ebony craned her neck to see everyone who had gathered. She waved cautiously. "Hi. Um… nice to meet you." She looked around again. "All of you."

            The elves stared at Ebony as much as she was staring at them, clearly unsure how to react to this girl. On one hand, it was pretty much common knowledge that she was the main reason their Head Elf had been gone for so long, and for the major depression he'd fallen into. But on the other hand, there was the way he'd smiled at her… Slowly, but with growing enthusiasm, the elves began applauding the new arrival. Ebony shifted awkwardly from foot to foot, not dealing with the applause as well as Bernard had. She looked relieved when it was over.

            "Right," Bernard said. He frowned. "I think that pretty much covers it. So don't you all have work to do? Christmas isn't going to wait!"

            With a burst of laughter, the elves scattered, until the only ones remaining were Bernard, Ebony, Scott, Carol, Judy, Curtis, and Kioshi.

            "It's good to have you back, Bernard," Scott said, grinning widely.

            "It's good to be back, Santa," Bernard replied.

            Ebony looked Scott up and down. "So you're Santa Claus?" she asked.

            "Sure am," Scott said cheerfully. "Originally Scott Calvin. Charlie's dad. And this," he pointed to Carol, "is my wife, Mrs. Claus. Carol Calvin."

            "Call me Carol." Carol smiled. "It's nice to meet you at last, Ebony. We've heard a lot about you."

            "Oh, yeah?" Ebony blinked. "When?"

            "When Bernard first met you," Carol said. Her smile became a smirk. "He had quite a few things to say about you then."

            "Shouldn't we be getting back to work, now?" Bernard asked loudly, before that conversation could continue. "Christmas, remember? That busy time of year that rolls around every winter?"

            "Yes, you lot should go work," Carol agreed. "I'm sure you have more than enough to keep you busy. Ebony, you can come with me."

            Ebony drew back towards Bernard. "Come where?" she asked suspiciously.

            "To see if we can find you a room, of course," Carol said, grinning. "I assume you're staying here?"

            "Well – " Ebony glanced at Bernard, then back at Carol. "Am I invited?"

            "Of course!" Carol told her. "For as long as you like."

            Ebony started to smile back. "Could be a while," she warned.

            "I doubt anyone will object." Carol looked from Ebony to Bernard. "Come on, then. Let's leave these workaholics to it."

            As they headed for the residential areas, Carol casually took a good look at Ebony. So this was the girl Bernard loved? Carol could see why. Ebony moved easily, confidently, and her eyes held the promise of a quick mind and a sharp wit. Other girls might be prettier, or more charming, but Ebony had something all her own. She and Bernard would make a good match of it.

            "It's beautiful here."

            "Hmm?" Carol blinked, startled out of her reverie as Ebony spoke.

            "This place – the North Pole." Ebony looked around at the busy, colorful scene. "Its like a fairyland, or something." She shook her head, smiling. "You know, if I'd known that something like this existed, I'd've believed in Christmas a whole lot longer."

            "Christmas?" Carol raised an eyebrow at the choice of wording. "Not Santa?"

            Ebony shrugged. "It never seemed real to me," she said. "The season. It's partly the commercialism – the stores and so on. But…"

            "But it's also the way people act," Carol filled in when Ebony paused. "I know. I felt that way, too, before I met Scott. You love Christmas when you're a child, but as you get older, your illusions shatter."

            Ebony smiled sadly. "I never loved Christmas."

            "What?" That stopped Carol dead in her tracks. "Never?"

            "Nope," Ebony said. "Never knew I should. I wasn't raised with it, you know. The orphanage was run by the state, and they weren't allowed to celebrate any holidays with religious meaning. That pretty much meant all of them. Then, after I heard about it from other kids, and from my foster parents… well, I thought it was stupid."

            "You thought Christmas was stupid? Why?"

            "A fat guy in a red suit flies around with free presents for everyone?" Ebony shook her head. "Didn't sound too likely to me. All I saw were the same people, acting the same way that they did every other day of the year. Mean, self-centered, hypocritical, you name it. Besides," she sighed, "I always figured that if Santa existed, and he could lug around toys for every kid in the world, he could dig up a couple parents for one girl. I mean, I needed a family a lot more than some rich kid needed video games or soccer balls. Since Santa never bothered with my Christmas wish, I decided he wasn't real."

            Carol, horrified and saddened by this story, impulsively pulled Ebony into a hug. The younger girl stiffened, but the magic that came with the office of Mrs. Claus was such that she soon relaxed enough to hug back. After a long moment, Carol released Ebony, blinking back tears. She got the feeling that this girl wouldn't react well to pity.

            "You have a family here, Ebony," Carol said, taking both the girl's hands in her own. "I know Bernard and Scott will agree with me on this. You will always, always be welcome wherever we are."

            Ebony blinked, stunned. "Wow," she said finally. "You people really are nice, aren't you?" She shook her head. "First a father, then brothers and sisters, then this. Looks like Santa was delivering with interest."

            "Well." Carol shook her head, bringing herself back to the task at hand. They had reached the residential area. "Anyway, here we are. What kind of a room would you like?"

            Ebony shrugged. "Doesn't matter."

            "Nonsense," Carol said firmly. "If you won't tell me, I'll just have to guess." She studied Ebony thoughtfully. "High up, I'd say, with windows. Bold colors, nothing pastel. You're fond of green, aren't you? I'd heard your hair was green."

            "The dye came out," Ebony said defensively, fingering a strand of her pale brown hair. "It looked better green. Much more interesting."

            "Very interesting, I'm sure," Carol agreed dryly. "So green as one of the colors. And some shade of red? This is the North Pole, so you might as well embrace it as escape it. Not Scott's cherry red, though. Something deeper. Hmm." She frowned, considering. "As for furniture… something comfortable. Soft, relaxing, but also welcoming. And decorations… hmm."

            Carol slowly circled Ebony. The girl turned her head, trying to follow the woman's movements. "Look, don't bother too much, ok?" she said uncomfortably. "I can just stay in a guest room or something."

            Carol smiled. "We don't have guest rooms. Really, this is fun for me. We almost never have visitors."

            "Really?" Ebony blinked. "Yeah, I guess you wouldn't. Secret workshop, and all."

            "Exactly," Carol agreed. "Now, then. I think I've got your measure. Let's pick a room, shall we?" She led the way down the hall, and up one flight of stairs, until they reached a room. Instead of opening the door, Carol laid her hand beside the doorknob, concentrating briefly. Just visible under the doorframe, silver glitter sparkled in the room.

            "What was that?" Ebony asked suspiciously.

            "I was just… attuning the room to you," Carol said innocently. "Now it will only unlock for you, or for anyone you allow. Touch the doorframe, beside the knob, to unlock the door. To allow someone unlocking privileges, have them touch the doorframe, then put your hand over theirs." She stepped back, and gestured for Ebony to try it. "Go ahead, look inside."

            Warily, Ebony touched the wall as Carol had instructed. Nothing happened. Frowning, she tried the doorknob. It moved easily under her hand. She opened the door – and gasped.

            The room was beautiful, with everything just as Carol had described it. The walls were a soft gold, with emerald green drapes along the ceiling. The carpet was the same shade of green, soft and thick enough to encourage bare feet. A deep burgundy sofa sat opposite two cream-colored armchairs, with a dark wood coffee table centered among the three. The left wall held towering bookcases, empty and waiting to be filled, and the right wall led to a bedroom. Curious, Ebony peered inside. There was a four-poster bed, hung with translucent gold and silver curtains out of a fairy tale, with a green bedspread and embroidered throw pillows in every shade of red from blood crimson to wine burgundy.

            Turning back out, preparing to thank Carol, the far wall caught her eye. This wall was almost entirely a giant window, with a cushioned seat in front of it. Ebony couldn't resist going to see what lay outside. Her eyes widened. These rooms didn't face the workshops. On the ground, several stories below, was the elfin city, delicate buildings spiraling out of crystalline snow. It was lovely.

            A little too lovely, in Ebony's opinion. She looked at Carol, her suspicion growing again. "Why are you doing this?"

            "What?" Carol raised her eyebrows.

            "This – this room. Why give me this?" Ebony wanted to know. "I'm no elf, no part of your city. I have no claim on you. And you have to know I can't pay you back. Why be so kind to me? It's not like I've done anything for you or any of your people."

            Carol hesitated, knowing she had to tread carefully here. It wasn't just the room Ebony was asking about. The question went deeper.

            "Well, most elves don't live here in the workshops," Carol said, answering the superficial question first. "Most of them have homes and families down in Elfheim, the city. We usually have far more rooms than we need. And the furnishings are magical, so you needn't worry about them. That was the magic I worked before we came into the room. The furniture was here, but that was all. I was fitting the room to what I knew about you."

            "You have good taste," Ebony said as Carol paused to think what to say next.

            "Thank you." Carol smiled briefly. "Ebony, will you answer a question for me?"

            Ebony narrowed her eyes. "Depends on the question."

            "You don't question me out of cynicism, do you?" Carol asked. "Why do you think you're so undeserving of the North Pole's generosity?"

            Ebony turned away at that, staring out the window, down at the traffic patterns in the city. Carol frowned, wondering if she might have pushed too hard, too soon. She was about to change the subject when Ebony spoke, her eyes still on the window.

            "He could have died."

            All at once, Carol realized what Ebony had to be thinking. "That's not your fault, sweetie. You didn't know – "

            "Whose fault was it, if not mine?" Ebony demanded. "I was the one stupid enough to get captured, after he told me not to follow him. I was the reason he put himself in danger. He – " Her voice caught in her throat. "He didn't tell me what happened while I was gone, what he was like, but our minds were joined in Destiny. I saw it. I did that to him. I've got to be the worst thing that every happened to him, and you're acting like I'm just some sweet little girl he met." Her head bowed. "All I've done so far is hurt him."

            "That is not true," Carol said forcefully. "Don't say that. Don't ever say that! I saw the way he looked at you when he introduced you to the elves. You say you've been in his mind? Well, did you see what he was like before you met him? Too scared to do more than glance at a girl who wanted more than friendship, throwing himself into his work to hide the fact that he was terribly lonely? He changed after meeting you, Ebony. You changed him. You aren't the worst thing that ever happened to him – you're the best. You made him the person he always should have been."

            At that, Ebony turned, her eyes searching Carol's. "But I'm the reason he nearly died."

            "Maybe, but no one blames you for that," Carol said. "You were only in danger in the first place because you couldn't leave him to face that danger alone. And Destiny – well, no one knows who's responsible for anything, when Destiny is involved."

            Ebony snorted. "That's just what people say when they don't want to take responsibility for what they've done."

            "Now you're talking like a normal person," Carol said disapprovingly. "You can't do that anymore, dear. You're a child of Time, born of magic. You have to understand, these things aren't just escapes, or excuses. There are higher powers in the world. Destiny is a real force. You and Bernard were meant to meet. You were meant to go to Destiny, and he was meant to follow you. And whatever happened between the two of you there was meant most of all. You must believe that."

            "I don't see why," Ebony said. "I've been a child of Time for my whole life, and I've never believed in Destiny yet. I'm more of a free will type girl, thanks. I made the choice, so the responsibility lies with me. The blame lies with me."

            Carol sighed. "All right, let's leave Destiny out of it for the time being. You're saying that it's your fault Bernard was in danger, right?"

            "Right." Ebony perched on the window seat, drawing one knee up to her chest, tension in every line of her body.

            "Because you were the reason he went into Destiny in the first place?"

            "Right."

            "So let me see if I follow your entire line of reasoning here," Carol said. "He went into Destiny to save you. You were in Destiny because of the Time Flies. The Time Flies captured you because you went to help him against his warnings. Am I right so far?"

            "Yes," Ebony agreed. "And you aren't exactly helping your case."

            Carol gave a lop-sided smile. "Work with me for a minute, here. So the Time Flies were the ones who brought you to Destiny. You didn't want to go there, any more than you wanted to get captured. It was a case of terrible bad luck."

            "I don't believe in luck, either," Ebony said stubbornly. "Admit it – this all happened because I did something stupid. Everything was my fault."

            Carol pursed her lips, thinking. This wasn't getting her anywhere – it was the verbal equivalent of walking in circles. Maybe she should try a different approach.

            "Do you know how I came to the North Pole, Ebony?" Carol asked.

            Ebony blinked, startled by the abrupt change in subject. "No – no, I don't think so."

            "Then I'll tell you." Carol sat on the window seat beside Ebony. "I was the principal at Charlie's school. And – well, Charlie's a good kid, but he used to act up a lot. I think it might have been to get Scott's attention – but that's not the point. Last year, just before Christmas, Charlie decided to spray paint the school gym. Needless to say, I was not too happy. I called a parent conference, for Scott as well as Laura and Neil.

            "Now, Christmas is a pretty busy time for everyone up here. Scott needed to be here, but he also needed to be with Charlie. There were… other reasons for him to go to the human dimension, but it was a while before I heard about that. Anyway, Scott was really worried, because what he needed was to be in two places at once. Even with magic, that can't be done. So he, Bernard, and Curtis – "

            "Who's Curtis?" Ebony interrupted.

            "Oh, didn't we introduce you?" Carol thought back. "I guess we didn't. Well, he was the elf who shook Bernard's hand. He and Bernard do a lot of work together. Anyway, the three of them got this idea – an incredibly stupid idea, might I add – to use a machine of Curtis's to clone Scott. Basically, they made a giant toy Santa to be in charge while Scott was off with Charlie. It was all right at first, but then Curtis gave it the Handbook, with all the rules that everyone should follow but doesn't."

            "Bad move?" Ebony guessed, intrigued in spite of herself.

            "Very," Carol said. "While Scott was in New York taking care of Charlie – and falling for me – " she grinned, "the toy Santa decided to take over the North Pole, cancel Christmas, and give everyone coal. And I think he put Bernard under house arrest."

            "He what?" Ebony's eyes flashed angrily. "Is he still around?"

            "No," Carol said, smiling. "No, he's gone. But I'm not at that part yet. Curtis realized he'd done something pretty stupid, so he went to find Scott at the Millers' house. Scott went back to the North Pole, and Charlie and I went after him. There was a big battle – the toy Santa had created an army of giant toy soldiers – and Scott chased down the toy Santa on the sleigh. Scott became the real Santa again, and Christmas was saved – but there was a lot of danger. Curtis in particular still feels terrible about it."

            "But he – " Ebony stopped. "Oh, no. No. I will not give in to logic. I refuse!"

            "You see what I'm talking about, then?" Carol said relentlessly. "You don't blame Curtis, do you? It was his idea to make the toy Santa. He was the one who gave it the Handbook. Since he chose to do those things, isn't everything that happens because of them his fault?"

            Ebony scowled. "Yes," she said sulkily.

            Carol brushed Ebony's hair away from her face in one of the motherly gestures that came with the transformation to Mrs. Claus. "I can see you don't mean that. Ebony, please. Bernard would never want you to blame yourself for what happened to him. Ask him, if you don't believe me. He'll tell you the same. Call it Destiny, or chance, or whatever you like – things happen that are beyond our control. Just because you put this in motion, it doesn't make it all your fault. You didn't intend to do something bad – quite the opposite! You meant to do something good and wonderful – you meant to protect him."

            "But I should have known – " Ebony protested weakly.

            "Because you know now?" Carol shook her head. "Haven't you ever head any of the sayings about hindsight? If we all knew what the consequences of our actions would be, the world would be a considerably different place. Maybe better, but then again maybe worse. You said you're a free will type girl? Well, if we have free will, that means that we don't get to know what will happen. If we know the future, it's preordained. If the future is already set in stone so that we can see it, we have no power to alter it. If we have no power to alter the future, then our choices have already been made for us, and we have no free will."

            "So you're saying I shouldn't take responsibility for anything I do, because chance rules the world?" Ebony asked skeptically. "That's not much better than Destiny."

            "You're deliberately misunderstanding me," Carol said, smiling slightly. "You know perfectly well what I meant. You didn't mean for anything bad to happen to Bernard. Yes, something bad happened anyway. Welcome to the world, sweetie. It happened, but it wasn't your fault."

            Ebony shook her head. "You're sure you were a principal back in America? Not, say, a lawyer?"

            Carol laughed. "Very sure. It takes some real twists in logic to fathom how kids think."

            "I guess." Ebony smiled back reluctantly. "No more self-pity for me, I suppose."

            "Certainly not," Carol agreed. "Now, why don't we see about finding you some other clothes? Not that those robes from Atlantis aren't lovely, of course."

            "Lovely. That's one word for them." Ebony picked at one sleeve sourly. The robes Mother Nature had lent her were delicate, lacey, and pastel pink. She had a strong suspicion that Bianca had been involved in picking them. Bianca was the type of girl who thought everyone liked pink. "How soon can we go?"

            "I thought you might like that idea," Carol said dryly. "We can go now, if you like."

            "I do like," Ebony agreed quickly. "Very much so."

            As Carol led Ebony out to the storerooms of extra materials, she smiled. She'd been wondering if Ebony's feelings for Bernard were as strong as Bernard's were for her. After their conversation… well, now she knew.

            "I think that's enough work for one night."

            Bernard jumped, looking up from the papers he'd been poring over. "What?"

            "I said," Scott repeated, louder, "I think you've worked long enough for today. Wouldn't want a relapse, would we?"

            "I'm just finishing," Bernard objected. "Anyway, I've got a lot of time to catch up on."

            "Bernard, I guarantee we are right on schedule," Scott said. "Ahead of schedule, even. In fact, we are so far beyond the schedule that we've passed it going the other way. You just recovered from a very draining experience. You shouldn't stay up till all hours. You need to rest and recover."

            "I've been resting and recovering," Bernard said impatiently. "Christmas is nearly here – "

            "Christmas," Scott interrupted, "is not for eighteen more days. We're already the last ones in the workshop. I'm not letting you stay here till three in the morning."

            "I won't stay till three," Bernard said. "Just till – till seven, or seven-thirty – "

            "It's already eight," Scott informed him. "Look, you won't be able to work at all if you collapse from exhaustion."

            "But – "

            "And just think how upset Ebony will be if you don't go see her on her first night here," Scott added. "Don't you want to make sure she's settling in, see how she's doing? It's a little disconcerting to come here after living with humans for so long."

            "I guess." Bernard hesitated. "I do want to see her."

            "Then go," Scott urged. "Best not to keep the womenfolk waiting. Besides," he grinned, "from what you've told me, she'd have no problems barging in here looking for you if you don't go to her, and that would disrupt your work way more than just leaving ever could."

            "Yeah. Yeah, you're right." Bernard stood up. "I'll just clean up here – "

            A knock sounded at the door, and for a moment Scott thought it actually was Ebony. Then he turned to look.

            "What the hell is that thing?" He took several steps backward. The creature standing in the doorway was quite possibly the most hideous thing he'd ever set eyes on. Its bottom half could have been a giant spider, except for the scorpion's tail, but its top half was almost entirely lizard-like, with a snake's head. Its fiery red eyes glared at both men.

            "What?" Bernard looked over, alarmed. Then he caught sight of it and groaned. "Oh, no. What now?" Scott noted, bemused, that Bernard didn't sound particularly frightened. Extremely annoyed, yes. But scared? No.

            "I come bearing a messsage from Her Gracce Danica Emryss," the creature hissed.

            "I got that part." Bernard crossed his arms. "And who are you?"

            "I am Nathair, sservant to Her Gracce," it replied. "Will you hear the wordss of your lady mother, Your Gracce?"

            "Don't suppose I have a choice?" Bernard scowled.

            "Your Gracce iss pleassed to jesst," Nathair said, bowing. "Her Gracce wishess me to inform you that she iss aware of Your Gracce'ss mosst… unfortunate activitiess of late, and she iss grateful that Your Gracce hass ssurvived unsscathed."

            Bernard waited a moment. "Really?" he asked suspiciously. "She said that?"

            "It iss my duty to convey the ssentimentss that Her Gracce holdss deep in her heart," Nathair said smoothly. "Even when they are not sso coarssely voicced aloud."

            "I see." Bernard rolled his eyes in disgust. "And might I ask what sentiments my sainted mother did see fit to voice aloud?"

            "Wordss are but a veil for the true feelingss of beingss ass complex ass Her Gracce," Nathair replied. "To repeat the ssimple wordss sspoken would be to ignore Her Gracce'ss intent in sspeaking."

            "Let me guess – she forgot my name again," Bernard said cynically. "Or maybe started swearing at me for being a disgrace to her bloodline? Was she drunk? I suppose she'd have to be, sending a message to me, of all people." He shook his head, holding up a hand to forestall Nathair's reply. "No, don't bother answering. I don't want to have to untangle another one of your sentences. I can guess pretty well what she probably said. Tell her thanks. It's always encouraging when your mother notices that you nearly die – and only five days after the fact, too."

            Nathair bowed. "I shall be ssure to convey your true feelingss on the matter to your honored mother," he said.

            "I'm sure." The sarcasm dripped from Bernard's voice. "You go right on back and do that."

            "Ass ssoon ass I have related the remainder of Her Gracce'ss messsage to Your Gracce," Nathair said calmly.

            "Was there more?" Bernard snorted. "Should've guessed. Mother dearest would never waste a precious hour of a servant's time, just to see if I'm ok."

            Nathair inclined his head in a manner that implied he was far too polite to argue with one of his betters. "Her Gracce wishess me to remind Your Gracce that the Sseelie and Unsseelie Courtss convene in three dayss' time, and that it iss your duty ass a noble of the realmss to attend."

            Bernard stiffened. "Tell her to go to hell."

            "I am ssure that iss merely an expresssion often ussed by the Chrisstmass elvess, meaning that you will be pleassed to do ass Her Gracce requesstss," Nathair said. "I shall inform her of it directly."

            "Go ahead," Bernard said, shrugging. "Say anything you like. But it won't change the fact that I'm not going to that Court."

            "Your Gracce'ss family will be mosst dissappointed," Nathair warned. "The Lady Tasha in particular ssendss her regardss, and wishess to meet with you to asssure hersself that Your Gracce iss indeed well oncce more."

            "Tasha?" Bernard asked, touched in spite of himself. He'd always had a bit of a soft spot for his half-sister. His eyes narrowed. "An interpretation of her true feelings, again?"

            "Unfortunately, the Lady Tasha iss not sso adept at conccealing her true feelingss ass are Your Gracce and Your Gracce'ss mother," Nathair said with delicate distaste. "Her wordss are her own."

            Bernard couldn't help but grin. Yes, Tasha's words would certainly be her own. Her habit of saying exactly what was on her mind had earned her the dislike of a good portion of the Unseelie Court, just as it had won her his respect.

            "Shall I tell the Lady that she musst be dissappointed?" Nathair asked.

            "Tell her…" Bernard shook his head. "Tell her I can't leave the North Pole right now. Court or no Court, it's nearly Christmas. I've been gone for too long as it is. Mother can just make my excuses."

            "Neither Her Gracce nor the Lady will be content with ssuch an ansswer," Nathair warned.

            "I'll risk it," Bernard said. "Give Tasha my love."

            "And Her Gracce, of coursse."

            Bernard shrugged. "If you like."

            Nathair bowed a final time to Bernard, nodded coldly to Scott, and disappeared in a shower of crimson sparks.

            "So… what was that again?" Scott asked.

            Bernard shook himself out of whatever thoughts he'd been immersed in. "What? Oh, that. That was one of my dear mother's servants."

            "Your mother has servants like that?" Scott grimaced.

            "Oh, he's not too bad," Bernard said, shrugging. "Just ugly. You should meet some of the dangerous ones." He paused. "Actually, maybe it would be better if you didn't. They don't like humans much."

            "Eat us for breakfast, do they?" Scott quipped.

            "Not anymore," Bernard said seriously. "Queen Titania passed a law."

            Scott's grin faded. "Doesn't sound like a very nice place."

            "You don't know the half of it." Bernard sighed. "Well, at least I have an excuse not to go to the Court this year. Last time they held it during summer, and I had to go."

            "What is that Court, anyway?" Scott wanted to know. "Royal court, court of law, or what?"

            "A little of both," Bernard said, after thinking a moment. "All the nobles gather every twenty-five years, to discuss problems and debate laws. Technically, Queen Titania and King Oberon rule Underhill, but the Sidhe nobles are very powerful, too. The Court is where they compromise." He sighed. "At least, that's the surface reason. The Court meets from mid-morning till mid-afternoon. The rest of the time is filled with parties and balls. Have you ever been to a Sidhe ball?"

            "Er – not that I can remember," Scott said.

            "It is the single most boring event ever to be imagined," Bernard said. "I'd rather muck out the reindeer stalls. I'd rather take inventory of the number of children who celebrate Christmas. I'd rather read Curtis's Handbook!"

            "That bad?" Scott asked.

            "Worse." Bernard shook his head. "Well, I'm not going, and that's it. Maybe I'll visit Tasha another time."

            "Who's Tasha?" Scott asked. "Family? A cousin?"

            "My half-sister," Bernard said. "Mother remarried after she left my father. Twice, actually. One daughter from each marriage. Tasha and Fiona are my half-sisters."

            "You never mentioned before that you had sisters," Scott said, a little miffed.

            "You never asked," Bernard pointed out. "Look, I'm not too happy about my mother's family, all right? Most of them aren't very nice. Being half Unseelie isn't something I'm proud of."

            "All right, all right." Scott let the subject drop. "So weren't you about to go visit Ebony?"

            "Oh, yeah." Bernard smiled at the mention of his love. "Right. You're sure you don't need me for anything else?"

            "I've spent the past ten minutes trying to get you to leave," Scott said. "Why would I want you to stay longer?"

            "Point." Bernard grinned. "I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

            "See you then." Scott waved as Bernard teleported to the residential area.

            Bernard started heading for his own room, then frowned. That wasn't right. He wanted to see Ebony. Which room would she be in?

            Well, no way to find out except to ask.

            While Bernard and Ebony had been recovering in Atlantis, they'd realized something very odd that had happened as a result of their time in Destiny. They could read each other's minds. Not in the usual way of telepathy, where it required a lot of effort, and a Reach, but as easily as thinking. It was like speech – except without any speaking.

            Ebony? Bernard asked silently. Where are you?

            Bernard! She sounded so happy to hear from him, Bernard couldn't help but grin. It's about time. I'm in my room. It's gorgeous – you've got to see it. Along with that statement came the location of her new room.

            On my way, Bernard assured her, teleporting to right outside her door. He knocked.

            There was a brief pause before Ebony opened the door. "You didn't do your golden sparks thing," she said, a little disappointed.

            "I can't," Bernard explained. "It's your room. You haven't given me access. No one can teleport into your room until you – hey, wait – "

            Ebony grabbed his hand, put it on the doorframe, then covered it with hers. There was a brief sparkle over their hands. "There," she said matter-of-factly. "Now you can come in whenever you like."

            Bernard blinked. "You shouldn't do that for just anyone," he said.

            "I wouldn't," Ebony said breezily. "Just you." She tugged him inside. "Look at this place! Isn't it wonderful?"

            Obediently, Bernard looked around the room. For North Pole standards, it was actually a little plain, but he decided not to mention that. "Wonderful," he agreed. "And your new clothes are beautiful."

            "Really?" Ebony grinned, twirling around to give him the full effect. She had a dark green shirt of crushed velvet, and an ankle-length black skirt shot through with silver threads. "Carol picked them. She designed the room, too. She's got great taste."

            "So I see." Bernard smiled. "So, have you seen a lot of the city?"

            "Not the city," Ebony said. "Most of the workshop, though."

            "Good." Bernard took her hand. "Then why don't we go for a walk?"

            He teleported them out of the room, to a hill on the edge of the city. Ebony gasped. From that spot they could see the entire city of Elfheim, in all its sparkling glory. She turned to Bernard, eyes wide.

            "You live in the most beautiful place on Earth," Ebony told him.

            Bernard grinned. "I know."

            They started to walk along the outer edge of the city. Bernard had always liked it out there – quiet, calm, and peaceful – but he suspected that was a little of his Sidhe heritage showing through. The Christmas elves were very social beings, and most of them preferred to walk the busy paths of the inner city.

            "So you do like it here?" Bernard asked, wanting to make sure. "I mean, really like it? Enough to stay?"

            "I don't know yet." Ebony shrugged. "I think I could. It's weird, being able to decide where I want to live. I never really liked any of the places I had to live before. The only thing about this place is…" She hesitated.

            "What?" Bernard frowned. What could anyone not love about the North Pole.

            "Well… what's with all the little kids?" Ebony asked. "So far, the only adults I've seen are Santa, Carol, and you. Why are all the other people so young?"

            Bernard frowned. "Well… they're Christmas elves. And most of them are older than you."

            "Yes, I noticed that part," Ebony said. "But where are the adult Christmas elves?"

            "These are the adult Christmas elves," Bernard said. "They never reach puberty. The oldest only grow to about thirteen or fourteen. Most stop at twelve."

            "But – you – "

            "I'm not a Christmas elf," Bernard explained. "Well… not entirely. I'm half Christmas elf, and half – " He stopped, to avoid the confusion that he knew would come if he didn't clarify. "S-I-D-H-E. It's pronounced 'shee.' It's a different kind of elf."

            "A kind that grows up?" Ebony asked warily.

            "Yes," Bernard assured her. "We definitely grow up." He paused again. "Look, I'd appreciate it if you didn't talk about that too much. I don't really like not being a pureblood."

            "I can do that," Ebony said. "Though really, I'm pretty glad you aren't a Christmas elf. I don't think I'd fall for a twelve-year-old." She grinned.

            They walked in silence for a few minutes, enjoying each other's company. Bernard was the one who broke the silence.

            "Ebony?"

            She glanced at him. "Yeah?"

            "Remember when we were in Destiny?"

            "Be a bit hard to forget," Ebony said, grinning. "Of course I remember."

            "And… do you remember why you didn't die?"

            "Um." Ebony thought back. "You called me, didn't you? It's a little hazy. All I remember is that I was alone… and then you were there. In my head. And you never really went away." She leaned against him. "It's kinda nice."

            "Yeah." Bernard bit his lip nervously. "Look, Mother Nature was talking to me about that, and there are some things you should know. Things she thought would be better coming from me."

            Ebony pulled away. "What kind of things?" she asked suspiciously. "Bad things?"

            "Well… maybe. Depends on the interpretation." Bernard sighed. "When I called you back, I bound us. No one's quite sure what it was I did, but you and I are tied together."

            "That doesn't sound so bad." Ebony started to relax.

            "There's more." Bernard tried to phrase it as gently as he could. "You remember when we met, and I said that you could choose whether to become fully human or to become fully magical?"

            "Yes…" Ebony clearly didn't like the sound of this.

            "It seems that the choice has been made for you." Bernard took her hand. "Ebony, you can't become human anymore. You can't go back to that life."

            Ebony looked down. "Oh." She was silent for a minute. "Ok."

            Bernard blinked. "Ok? Just – ok?"

            "Sure. What, you want something else?" Ebony asked. "Why would I want to go back to that life? Let's think a minute here. I can be a college student barely scraping by, majoring in the incredibly useless field of art history, looking at a future of a whole lot of nothing, or I can stay here, learn magic, get to know my family, and be with you. Not a hard choice, when you think about it."

            "But – but you said you didn't know if you wanted to stay," Bernard protested.

            Ebony blinked, thinking back. "Oh, that? I thought you meant if I wanted to stay at the North Pole." She rolled her eyes. "You should be more specific. So was that it?"

            "Yes." Bernard paused. "Well, no. That was everything Mother Nature told me to say, but I have a few other things I'd like to say. Just from me to you."

            "Ok." Ebony leaned against him again, moving his arm to circle her shoulders as they walked. "Go ahead."

            "Um." Bernard wondered how to say it. He hadn't had much practice. Maybe he should have asked Scott for advice. Or Carol. Carol always gave good advice. "Ebony…"

            "Get on with it," Ebony told him.

            Bernard closed his eyes and steeled himself. "Will you marry me?"

            Complete and utter silence. Ebony stopped walking, and Bernard's arm fell away from her shoulders.

            Eventually, Bernard risked opening his eyes to see her reaction. She was staring at him, stunned. She probably hadn't moved since he'd asked her. Bernard wondered anxiously if maybe he'd moved too fast. He definitely should have waited to talk to Carol. She would have told him what to do.

            "Bernard," Ebony said, in a very slow, even tone. "Did you just propose marriage to me?"

            "Um. Yes?" Bernard said. "Are you angry?"

            "Angry." Ebony blinked. "Angry? Why would I be angry?"

            "Well… you sound angry," Bernard pointed out.

            "Do I?" Ebony shook her head rapidly, to clear it. "I'm not. I'm just confused. No one's ever…" She frowned suddenly. "No one told you to do this, right?"

            "Told me to do what? To propose to you?" Bernard asked blankly.

            "Yes. Not – not Mother Nature, or my father, or someone, because I'm stuck here?" Ebony's eyes narrowed into a glare. "Is this a pity proposal? Are you feeling guilty because I can't go back to Earth and be human anymore? Is that what this is?"

            "No! How can you even think that?" Bernard demanded. "I love you, all right? And I can't stand the thought of not being with you! It nearly drove me mad when I thought you were dead. I want you to stay with me forever, do you understand that? Maybe you aren't ready for that now. I probably should have waited a while to ask, to let you get used to this place. You want me to wait? Fine. I'll wait. Let me know when you're ready for me to ask again. I'll wait as long as you need – months, years, centuries, you name it. I'll still want to marry you. I'll always want to marry you."

            Ebony stood frozen in the snow after Bernard's tirade. "You – you really – " She turned away. "God, I'm a horrible person, aren't I?"

            "No – no, don't say that!" Bernard said, distressed. "I didn't mean to upset you. I just wanted you to understand – "

            "I do understand," Ebony said. "I – I just couldn't believe it. Things don't turn out this perfectly. They just don't. Nothing's ever turned out perfectly for me. There's always a catch. Everyone always wants something from me." She shook her head. "It's this place, isn't it? It's magical. People aren't this nice anywhere on Earth."

            "Well… Elfheim is magical," Bernard admitted. "But I like to think that everyone has the potential to be nice. Deep down."

            Ebony turned around and smiled at him. "I love you, Bernard," she said quietly. "I don't think I could love anyone but you. I would be honored to marry you."

            Bernard reached out to caress her cheek. She smiled. "So what? Is that it?"

            He grinned, and pulled her close.

            The next morning, Bernard – who all the elves agreed was far more cheerful than was normal for so close to Christmas – had barely started going over the daily to-do list with Scott when Judy rushed into Scott's office, looked harried.

            "Santa, there's a lady to see you," she said. "And you, Bernard. An elf lady."

            "Oh, no." Bernard sighed. "If it's my mother – "

            "It isn't." A young woman entered the room. Delicately pointed ears poked through her vivid red curls, and her dark brown eyes flashed with impatience. "There you are, Bernard. I've been looking all over this city for you."

            "Tasha?" Bernard blinked, not having expected his half-sister to show up at the North Pole. "Um… did you need something?"

            "Yes. You." Tasha folded her arms, looking extremely displeased. "And incidentally, shouldn't you be resting? Mother said you nearly died, but here you are up and about at all hours of the day." She glared at Scott. "What sort of place are you running, Mr. Claus? My brother should not be working!"

             "If you can stop him, it'll be more than anyone else could do," Scott said.

            Tasha shook her head. "I suspected as much," she said gloomily. "You are all right, then, Bernard? Not seriously hurt?"

            "I'm fine," Bernard said. "I survived, and I'm certainly strong enough to get back to work."

            "You might be strong enough to work, but you aren't going to," Tasha said. "Or have you forgotten that you have to come to the Court?"

            "Of course I haven't forgotten," Bernard said. "Mother just sent her lizard up to remind me. I remember perfectly. I'm just not going."

            "You are," Tasha said flatly.

            "I don't have time," Bernard insisted.

            "Then you'd better make time," Tasha said. "Do you have any idea what they're discussing at this Court?"

            "How much they hate the human race?" Bernard guessed. "Or whether velvet is more stylish than silk?"

            "Hardly." Tasha gave him a withering glare. "The main topic this time is those stupid Time Flies you helped release."

            "I didn't release them!" Bernard objected, stung.

            "Well, you'd better go tell the Court that, hadn't you," Tasha said. "Because you're the one they're blaming. Or didn't you know that those things are all settling Underhill?"

            Bernard winced. "That's not good."

            "No, it's not," Tasha agreed. "That's why there was so little notice about this Court. It wasn't supposed to be till spring, because Titania said that she's not letting you weasel out of these things. You're a noble, and you'd better act like one."

            "Great," Bernard muttered.

            "So you'd better show up," Tasha said. "I've been defending you as much as I can, but I'm one of the only ones. Besides, at least you've fought one of those things. None of us have, and the nobles are going half mad." She looked over at Scott. "You got that? We need him back home. You're not to keep him here."

            "I'm not the one to tell," Scott pointed out. "He doesn't do what I say, anyway."

            "I do," Bernard objected. He paused. "Usually. Sometimes, anyway. Half the time. Nearly half. At least a third."

            "Enough. If I'm a figurehead, at least don't tell me about it," Scott said, laughing.

            "Right, then," Tasha said. "I've got to get back home. Mother thinks I've gone to buy a new dress." She leveled her glare at her half-brother again. "You had better show up for that Court, Bernard. I'll see you Underhill within twenty-four hours, or I'll know why." With that, she turned and strode out.

            "So," Scott said after a moment. "That was your sister. Nice girl. Very direct."

            Bernard shook his head, grinning. "You should see her when she really gets going." The grin faded. "But it looks like I really am going to have to go Underhill, at least for a little while. If I don't go to defend myself, they might just declare me traitor or something. They already don't like halfbloods. And even if the Court lets me off, some of the nobles…" He sighed. "Can you do without me for a little longer?"

            "Sure," Scott said. "It'll give you a chance to rest a little longer. Say," he grinned, "why don't you take Ebony?"

            "Ebony. Oh, Lord, Ebony!" Bernard paled. "I think I may have to take her. I've got to present her to Titania."

            Scott blinked. "Really? Why?"

            "Because…" Bernard took a deep breath. "Because Ebony and I are engaged."

            The look on Scott's face was priceless. "Engaged? Like engaged to be married? That kind of engaged? When did that happen?"

            "Last night," Bernard said. He thought about saying something else, but decided there wasn't really anything else to say.

            "Well… congratulations, then," Scott said. "Does anyone else know?"

            "Not yet," Bernard said. "We were going to tell her family tonight. I guess we'll have to tell them sooner now."

            "Well." Scott took a deep breath. "Well. Why don't you go and get ready to leave, then? I'll call Curtis, and the two of us will finish up here."

            Bernard nodded. "I'll let you know before I leave."

            "Good. Do that," Scott said. As Bernard teleported away, Scott pulled Curtis's bell cord. Might as well get started.

            Ebony wandered through the workshops of the North Pole, feeling a little lost. She didn't really know anyone here except Scott, Carol, and Bernard, and they were all busy. She'd considered going to Atlantis to talk to her siblings, but she'd had to scrap that idea once she realized she had no idea how to get to Atlantis. So she decided that she might as well walk through the workshops, to get to know her new home a little better.

            It wasn't working.

            With Christmas so close, everyone was working frantically to get done. No one had much time to spare on one girl. The few elves she'd tried to talk to had told her politely but firmly to please go away and let them work. So she was wandering on her own.

            "Excuse me! Miss Hiems?"

            Ebony turned around. The elf girl who'd called her stepped forward shyly, brushing back her wild red hair. "Yeah?" Ebony said.

            "Hi. Um… I'm Genevieve. From the Clothing Design Department. You met me yesterday?"

            "Right," Ebony said, remembering. "You were asking about my hair."

            "That's right." Genevieve smiled. "I – um – I found something you might like." She pulled something out of her pocket and handed it to Ebony.

            Ebony examined it, and started to grin. It was emerald green hair dye. "Thank you, Genevieve!"

            Genevieve shrugged. "I just – I thought you might like it. And I want you to be happy. Because – well, anyone can see that having you happy is the best way to make Bernard happy."

            Ebony's grin turned into a slightly suspicious frown. "You're friends with Bernard?"

            "Oh – not really." Genevieve looked down. "I mean, I'd quite like to be his friend, but I don't think he wants to have anything to do with me. Or at least, he never did before. Now that he's got you, he might not mind so much."

            The penny dropped. "You're his ex!" Ebony accused.

            Genevieve nodded sadly. "But – please, don't worry. He was never meant for me. I always knew it. I can read the future, a little, and I saw in his that he had a great destiny, and a great love, ahead of him. And that love wasn't me. I want the two of you to be happy together, believe me. And – " she bit her lip, "and if there's anything I can do for you, just let me know. Maybe you and I won't be friends, either, but I'd really like not to be enemies."

            Ebony considered this for a moment. "I guess we could work on that," she conceded. "But if you try to steal him from me, I'll dropkick you."

            Genevieve's eyes widened before she realized it was a joke. She smiled. "That sounds fair. Er." She hesitated. "If you ever – you know – need anything, please ask me. I really want you to like it at the North Pole."

            "Ok," Ebony said. "I may just take you up on that."

            "Please do," Genevieve told her. "Really. Look, I have to go now. Christmas coming up and all, you know? So… bye, then."

            "Bye," Ebony echoed. Genevieve smiled and darted off, looking very relieved.

            Ebony blinked, looking down at the hair dye again. She grinned. Well, at least she had something to do now.

            Bernard teleported to the hallway in front of Ebony's room. All right, so she'd given him permission to teleport in… that didn't mean he felt comfortable doing it. After all, they weren't married yet. He rapped on the door.

            When Ebony opened it, he had a flashback to the first time he'd met her. Her hair was, once again, a brilliant deep green.

            "Hi, love," she said, grinning. "Notice anything new?"

            "You – your hair," Bernard said, blinking. "It's – green." Slowly, he began to grin. "You know, you just didn't look like you without the green hair." Feeling mischievous, he reached out and tugged a lock of it.

            Ebony laughed. "So, didn't you have to work today?" she asked. "Or are you calling in sick?"

            "I was at work," Bernard said. "But then… well, it turns out I have to leave again. I need to go Underhill, to the Sidhe Court. And I think you need to come with me."

            "Do I?" Ebony raised her eyebrows. "Do I get to ask why?"

            "I have to present you," Bernard said awkwardly. "To the Court. You know, as my fiancée."

            "Oh." Ebony's face lit up. "Oh! Really? That's great!"

            Bernard blinked. This was not the reaction he had anticipated. "To the Sidhe Court," he clarified. "You did get that part, right? Great is not the word I would use."

            "Well, I would," Ebony said brightly. "You're presenting me! That means this is official, right? We're really engaged?"

            "Of course," Bernard said. "We've been really engaged since last night. You were paying attention, weren't you?"

            Ebony rolled her eyes. "Yes, but this way it will feel real. Like I'm meeting your family. I will get to meet them, won't I?"

            "I doubt you'll be able to escape it," Bernard said glumly. "You won't like them, you know. Most of them are awful."

            "That's ok." Ebony smiled. "I want to meet them anyway. As your fiancée! Oh, you have no idea how exciting this is!"

            "You're right. I haven't." Bernard sighed. "Well, you'll find out soon enough, I guess. How long do you need to pack?"

            Ebony shrugged. "When do you want to leave?"

            "Now, if possible," Bernard said. "We have to stop by Atlantis, first."

            "We do? Why?"

            "To tell your family about the engagement," Bernard reminded her. He grimaced. "I really don't know why you think meeting families is fun."

            "You're what?"

            Bernard gulped as Father Time looked from him to Ebony. "Engaged, sir. Er. You don't mind, do you? I mean, you do give your consent, right?"

            Father Time started laughing. "As if I could stop you two from wedding even if I wanted to! Of course I give my consent. Didn't I tell you before you went into Destiny after her that you had my blessing?"

            "Oh. Did you?" Bernard blinked. "I… forgot."

            "Understandable," Father Time said. "So, have you decided on a date yet?"

            "We haven't even been engaged a day yet," Ebony pointed out. "When would we pick a date?"

            "True," Father Time agreed. "Well, congratulations, both of you."

            "Thanks," Bernard said. There was an awkward silence.

            "Oh – you two are heading Underhill now, aren't you?" Father Time said. "Because of those Flies?"

            "Among other things," Bernard said.

            "If you are, you'd better take Dimitri along with you," Father Time advised. "You might need someone who can fight those things, and since I can't go, Dimitri's your best bet. He's learning to control his magic remarkably quickly."

            Bernard frowned. "Well… I don't know if the Court will like that…"

            "They'll like anything that gets rid of those Flies," Father Time said firmly. "And it will take Time magic to do it, make no mistake." He raised his voice. "Dimitri! Dimitri, come here!"

            After a minute, Dimitri made his way through the foliage of Atlantis to the group. "Yes?"

            "Your sister and her fiancé are going Underhill to fight the Time Flies," Father Time said. "I think you should go help."

            "Me?" Dimitri blinked. "Well, I guess I – wait. Fiancé?" He stared at Bernard and Ebony. "Are you two engaged?"

            Ebony grinned. "Since last night."

            "Oh. That was… fast," Dimitri said diplomatically. "Congratulations, then."

            "Thanks," Ebony said, grinning.

            "So, when are we leaving?" Dimitri asked.

            "As soon as you're ready," Bernard said.

            Dimitri nodded. "Give me twenty minutes."

            Twenty minutes later, they gathered again. "Ready?" Bernard asked.

            "Yep," Ebony said, as Dimitri nodded.

            "All right, then," Bernard said. "Here we go." He snapped his fingers.

            It wasn't like a normal teleportation. Traveling Underhill was different from anything else in the universe. There was a sensation of being surrounded by mists, not unlike those of Destiny, and then a brief, terrifying moment of being wrapped in impenetrable black velvet. And then – with a flash of blazing gold – they were there.

            "Well, it's about damn time," a feminine voice snapped. As Bernard's eyes cleared, he recognized his mother, Danica Emrys. They had appeared in her bower, where she sat enthroned like a queen. "Finally decided to show your face, did you?"

            "Hello, Mother," Bernard said, resigned.

            "Don't you give me that," Danica said heartlessly. "You ought to be ashamed to speak to me, after what you've done. I ought to have you thrown to the pixies. Imagine, releasing a magical menace onto your own homeland!"

            "I didn't!" Bernard snapped.

            "Oh, so you deny it?" Danica laughed harshly.

            Bernard peered at her suspiciously. "You've been drinking again," he accused her.

            "And why shouldn't I, with an embarrassment of a son like you?" Danica asked. "You don't even have the courtesy to be properly respectful of your mother. And not only that, but you come here with human servants. The nerve!"

            "We aren't servants!" Ebony said angrily.

            "Aren't you?" Danica raised an aristocratic eyebrow. "You can't possibly be friends. My son is a Duke of the Blood Royal – he wouldn't dare stoop to associating with the likes of you." Her eyes narrowed. "Or maybe he would. After all, he's proved time and again that he is completely indifferent to the responsibilities of his rank. Maybe I should throw the lot of you in the scorpion pit – get rid of the pair of you, and teach my brat of a son some manners."

            Danica waved an imperious hand, and a pair of giant wolves entered the room. "Remove them from my sight," she commanded. "At once."

Author's Note: Well. Bernard's family isn't turning out quite the way I'd intended, but I think it seems to be working. I quite like Tasha. Danica I'm not too fond of – but who would be? Anyway, next chapter, expect to meet the Sidhe Court. Also, we've met one of Bernard's ex-girlfriends. The other should be showing up any time now. ^_^

Thank you to everyone who reviewed!

Rood-Roosje, Katie, Pearl_light, random reviewer (Thanks for the location information. Where did you find it?), Jessica, EmmaCF, Nevyn, TheAlmightyMasterT-Chan.

Zhai'helleva!

 - Mystica