Thanks to all of my reviewers! You all are the reason why I'm continuing this story! Sorry about the wait. I had to get my giant load of schoolwork out of the way and got a bit overwhelmed. But no worries! Here's the next chapter, and I hope you like it! PM me with any ideas you have.

Chapter 3: E.L.F.S. and My Return

Charlie was flying away with three other elves. One of the elves turned around and landed in front of me. He was dressed in a weird green jumpsuit and had a hat on, not quite covering his pointed ears.

I stared at him. "Hello, Penelope." He said, surprising me. "How do you-" I began. " 'Penelope'. It's sewn onto your hat. That is your hat, isn't it?" He looked slightly concerned. "Yes, and my name is Penelope." I blushed a bit. Charlie looked down at me. "We're gonna bust my dad outta jail! Wanna come?" He asked, excitedly.

"Yes, please!" I wanted to say, but I thought about the last time I'd been gone and how worried Dad had been. Instead I said: "I can't. The last time I disappeared really freaked my dad out." Charlie looked devastated. "But I promise I'll come with you next time." I added, quickly.

"Next year?" He asked, eagerly. I giggled. "We'll see. Good luck, Charlie!" I said, waving to him. He returned my wave. I turned to go back inside, but a hand on my shoulder stopped me. "Hold on, Penelope. I have something for you."

I turned back to the E.L.F.S. leader (as I later learned he was). He gave me a palm sized (A/N: I mean like an average adult's hand, not a child's. ^^) red box and a card with an envelope attached to it. "It's a Christmas gift to you." He explained. I looked at him. "Well, go on. Open it," he urged me. I opened the envelope first and a small, rectangular piece of paper fell into the snow.

I picked it up, before it got too damaged. It read: "E.L.F.S. Official Card for Special Persons", and included a number at the bottom left hand corner. "That's our number. Just in case you need bailing out of jail, or just need a lift somewhere." The E.L.F.S. leader smiled at me.

"Thanks. I'll be sure to call if I ever need you guys," I returned his smile, pocketing the card. I opened the letter next. A strange piano melody played from it: soft and unlike anything I'd ever heard before. "Wow. I haven't heard that tune in years!" The E.L.F.S. leader said, distantly.

"What?" I said, looking up from the inscription. "It's- it's an elf tune. One of the very first ones too. Oh, and there's an infinite amount of battery power in that letter. So, if you open it in 50 years, it'll still play like it's brand new! Cool, huh?" He said, grinning. I nodded, and continued reading the inscription. It read: "To my dear friend Penelope, may you always keep the kid in your heart and stay beautiful. Just like this tune. Bernard."

I undid the bow on the box and gently opened the lid. I frowned, confused. Nothing was inside except a velvet box. I tried to open it, but it was locked and no key was included. "I guess I'll have to ask Bernard where the key is," I figured. "Good luck with that," the E.L.F.S. leader said, sincerely.

I nodded in response. After the E.L.F.S. and Charlie flew away, I went back to my mom's house. I was still holding the box and letter. Charlie never told me what happened to his dad, but I didn't care. I believed that Mr. Calvin was, and still is, Santa Claus.

Ten years later, I was in my dad's attic. I noticed a glint out of the corner of my eye. I walked over to it, and gently picked up the cord. The pendant was very dusty, seeing as how no one had touched it in ten years, but I still recognized it. Smiling, I called the one person I knew would believe me.

"Hello?" He said, groggily. "Rise and shine, Charlie! I found it." I said, unable to wipe the smile off of my face. "I'll be right there," he replied, fully awake. It was spring, and my hair was elbow length and wavy. I was wearing a white shirt and a ruffle blue skirt that went down to my knees.

A few moments later, Charlie came into the attic. "Okay, you woke me up at 3 in the morning, on a Saturday, because you found your necklace?" He said, rubbing his eyes. "Yeah. I want to see if it really does do what Bernard had promised it would." I was thinking back to ten years ago, when we'd first met.

"Penny?" Charlie said, snapping me out of my dreamlike state. "Do you want to come with me?" I asked, blinking. He was taken aback, but nodded. "Hold my hand," I said, offering it to him. He took it, gently. With my other hand, I grabbed the pendant. The attic melted away in a second.

In its place, Santa's Workshop appeared. "Whoa! It really does work!" Charlie and I said together. I hugged him, not knowing why. "Well, well, well. Who do we have here?" A familiar voice asked, causing us to break apart. "Um, hi Bernard." Charlie said, awkwardly.

"Hello, Charlie." Bernard replied, curtly. "Who's your friend?" He asked, noticing me. I stepped out from behind Charlie, the light glinting off the pendant. "Hello Bernard. Miss me?" I asked, smiling at him.