25 Elle Expressions | Day 24

Elle is Fierce

It was the twenty-fifth of June and Elle was working as hard as she could. She was doing incredibly well, but everyone was getting even more concerned about her. Eldon had been through several rows with her trying to insist on maternity leave. But try as they might, nobody could convince Elle that she was going to take any time off.

Elle was down at the stables that morning to see the Reindeer. Donner was singing to herself as usual while Dancer was bopping in tune. Comet and Cupid were nuzzling their noses together, they had been a couple for nearly five decades now! Blitzen was playing hide and seek with Vixen and Olive, neither of which he could find so easily. He had already found Rudolph, he's never so good at hiding so he got the grumps and quit the game.

'Morning Santa.' greeted Rudolph who tried to be cheery.

'Hello Rudolph, how are we all this morning?'

'Same old, same old.' Rudolph explained. 'I'm surprised you're still at work.'

'Oh, don't!' groaned Elle. 'I've been having it from everyone lately, I can't afford to stop working. The workshop needs a Santa.'

'Oh well it's not my business so I'll keep my nose out of it.' Rudolph rolled his eyes. As Rudolph walked away, Olive peeked her head out from a giant pile of hay close by.

'Santa?' whispered Olive.

'What are you doing in there?'

'Charades- no, hide and seek. How's the baby?'

'The baby's doing fine, thank you.'

'Have you done the scan yet?' Olive asked excitedly.

'Yeah that was a while ago, we're expecting a boy.'

'Ooh I can't wait!' Olive whispered with delight, she was still trying to win her game of hide and seek. 'Have you and Eldon thought about names for the baby, yet?'

'Oh we've decided on a name already. We're calling him-' Elle paused for a moment.

Meanwhile Eldon was working in the warehouses, making toys. He had just stopped for a moment to get himself a coffee when running down the corridor to his surprise was Dasher. Dasher was followed by a medical team but skidded to a stop just after the doorway when he saw Eldon.

'I think I saw him!' he exclaimed to the medical elves and they all rushed up to the door. Eldon was confused and approached them.

'What's going on?' he asked.

'Eldon?' Dasher asked.

'Yeah that's right?' Eldon answered, still confused and concerned.

'No time, your wife's in labour!'

Eldon followed everyone back to the stable where Elle was laid down with a hay-bail as a pillow and a blanket to cover herself while the reindeer were making sure that she was okay, to the best of their ability. Luckily Hoho had been close by and so had been there to assist until the medical team's arrival.

'And my parents said I couldn't be a mid-wife!' gloated Hoho to himself just as everyone else arrived.

'Thank you, Hoho.' the actual midwife patted him on the shoulder. 'Give us some space please.' Hoho moved out of the way and everyone started to gather around Elle to assure all was well. Eldon sat beside Elle and grabbed hold of her hand. It was a matter of seconds before Eldon was in extreme pain from the fierce grip Elle had on him! And it obviously wasn't a walk in the park for Elle either, she had been through sleigh rides, toy making, loss and so much since she started out at the workshops, but nothing compared to this!

Come back tomorrow for the conclusion of this story and second series!