The Working Elf Blues by Piper Vaughn Read Free Book Online Page A

to be a fool not to see that. "I'll never forget you."
    Poplar's mouth trembled. "Nor I you, my friend." He turned to the dresser and gathered a few more items. "Come on. Let's get you back to your Wesley."
    They finished packing in minutes. Then, after a few more apologies to his father and a long, teary embrace, Garnet went to stand at Santa's side.
    He took one last, lingering look at Poplar and sent his father a shaky smile. "I love you both."
    Scarlet cleared his throat. "Love you too, Son," he said gruffly. "Be well."
    It was the last thing Garnet heard as he and Santa disappeared.
    *~*~*
    Wes knew the moment Garnet returned to the house. The atmosphere changed, lightening, and the dogs scrambled to the back door. It opened seconds later, and Garnet stepped inside, one bag in his hand, another on his shoulder. Behind him, Wes saw a flash of a red, fur-trimmed coat and a long white beard. Then his arms were full of happy elf and his face was being covered in kisses.
    Shocked, Wes took Garnet's shoulders in hand and set him back. His relief was so intense his head spun and the agonizing knot in his stomach eased for the first time since he discovered Garnet was gone. "What… wh-where did you go?"
    Garnet smiled tenderly. He reached up to cup Wes's cheek. "Santa came and collected me last night. I'm sorry. I know what you must've thought when you woke up alone. I didn't want to leave."
    "But you're back?" Wes asked, still not quite able to believe Garnet had returned. "For good?"
    Garnet nodded. "Forever."
    Wes swallowed, so overwhelmed by emotion that the action almost made him choke. "H-How?"
    "Santa let me go. I'm human now. I have everything I need to live and work here. Santa made sure of it."
    Human? Wes's brain stalled. He studied Garnet's face, and upon closer inspection, he noticed subtle changes. Garnet's eyes weren't as brilliant a green, his skin looked less luminous, his freckles more pronounced, and his ears—his ears! The pointed tips were gone. They were rounded now, as any other human's would be.
    Wes's knees threatened to buckle. "I need to sit down."
    Garnet's expression clouded with concern. He helped Wes to one of the stools at the breakfast bar. "Are you…? Did you not want—"
    Wes shook his head. "I do want. I—I'm just—I—"
    Garnet yanked him into a tight embrace. "I understand. I feel the same."
    Wes buried his face in the curve of Garnet's neck, inhaling the familiar scent and shuddering. "Please don't leave me."
    "Never." Garnet's voice was so fierce Wes might have smiled if he could coordinate his facial muscles. As it was, all he could do was sigh and let Garnet take a bit more of his weight. "Let's go to bed."
    "Yeah." Wes pulled himself together and stood. He grabbed one of the bags Garnet had dropped and let Garnet lead him down the hall to his room and right onto the bed.
    Garnet kicked off his boots and shrugged out of his coat before stretching out beside Wes. "I'm sorry again. I wanted to wake you before we left, but Santa forbade it."
    "I thought you were gone for good," Wes whispered. He slid a hand beneath the hem of Garnet's sweater, seeking the tender skin of his belly.
    Garnet leaned closer and nuzzled his nose. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm here until you get sick of me."
    Wes gave a watery laugh. "That won't happen."
    "Good."
    For a long time, they lay there, snuggled together and breathing each other in. Then suddenly, Garnet bolted upright. "I have something for you. Your gift. I meant to give it to you on Christmas, but I worried it might not be enough."
    "Gift?" Wes went up on one elbow as Garnet slipped from the bed to dig in one of his bags. When he climbed back onto the bed, he handed Wes a small box.
    "Open it."
    Puzzled as to why Garnet felt this was necessary right then, Wes quickly tore off the paper. The box he revealed made him pause. It was a View-Master 3-D Viewer. He hadn't seen one in ages, not since the vague recollection he had of his parents giving him