"What am I doing?" Anna laments, pacing around Merida's apartment.

"I don't know. What are you doing?" Merida asks, from the couch, following Anna with her eyes. "You still haven't explained that to me. You barged in here and starting repeating the same question. . . should I break out the Reese's?"

"What am I doing, Merida?"

"Walking back and forth and asking me that question."

"What the hell am I doing!?"

"Raising your voice and adding two words—"

"Merida, I need your help!" Anna stops pacing right in front of Merida, fists shaking at her sides in desperation, all of her friend's remarks ignored.

Merida lifts her hands chest-high in an attempt to calm her. "First you have to tell me what the hell you're doing. I can't help you if I don't know."

Anna deflates and collapses on the couch next to her best friend. Merida allows her a couple of minutes to collect herself before patting her knee supportively.

"You good now? Can you tell me what's wrong?" she asks.

"Elsa and I are getting coffee tomorrow. . ."

Merida's eyes widen. "As in a coffee date?"

"No!" Anna stands and starts to pace again. "Just a friend date. We're going to some place called Oaken's, and it's at noon, and I don't know why I even agreed to this."

"If it's not a date, then what's the big deal?" Merida asks, cocking her head to the side and lifting a brow.

"It's the whole idea of, well, being alone with her. I don't know. Should I be freaking out like this? Why am I freaking out like this? What am I doing!?"

Merida closes her eyes and rubs her temple with her fingers, letting Anna ramble and repeat herself. Sometimes she wonders how Anna handles herself in front of her students and the onslaught of parents when the true Anna is awkward and full of words that are ready to spill over her lips. Especially when she's nervous or overwhelmed like she is now. It's a miracle that Anna survives parent's night.

"Anna, if it's just a friend date, then don't worry about it. You two are going to grab a coffee. Big whoop. You and I do that all the time and we're not romantically inclined or anything of the sort." Merida looks up to gauge Anna's reaction, but the words of wisdom fall upon deaf ears as Anna continues to prattle on.

Cobalt eyes roll, and Merida stands, walking into the kitchen. She opens the fridge and takes out a king-sized Reese's, opening it as she returns to the living space. Anna still hasn't noticed her friend moving around and does't even hear the familiar noise of her special snack being opened. With one swift motion, Merida takes the chocolate and peanut butter goodness and crams it into Anna's open mouth.

Anna chokes for a moment before she chews, gazing at Merida with astonished eyes.

"Sit," Merida says sternly, and Anna scurries to the couch. "You need to calm down. You are overreacting over a coffee date—which isn't even technically a date. Elsa is putting in an effort to get to know you while not intoxicated, and you're doing the same. Taking her up on this offer means you two can get a fresh start like you want, right?" Anna nods shyly, blushing with embarrassment. "Okay. Then there's nothing to worry about."

Anna swallows so hard that tears form in her eyes. She quickly wipes them away before speaking.

"You're right," she mumbles, her hand falling in her lap. "I always do this. I'm sorry."

Merida softens. "Don't apologize," she says, sitting beside Anna and resting a hand on her friend's knee again. "I get that this can be a wee bit nerve-wracking. Especially when it involves Elsa, the girl that you slept with and had high expectations about. Reality is a bitch, and that's probably why you've been feeling this way."

Anna nods, looking down at the carpet.

"You want another Reese's?"

Another nod.

"Alright. You wait here," Merida chuckles, getting to her feet again.

Meanwhile, Elsa is sitting in her home office, glaring at the notifications from the dating website she joined last month. Several girls have messaged her in that time, but Elsa hasn't checked it since Kida stood her up (and still hasn't apologized or even acknowledged her). Elsa scrolls through them and, though the girls are attractive, she's just not interested.

Her mind turns to the morning she'll dedicate her time to Anna. Just the two of them, starting over. . . That's the plan at least.

Elsa heaves a sigh and stands, stretching and cracking her aching back. She still can't believe Anna said yes to coffee. Elsa meant what she said, however. She really does want to stop this awkward nonsense and be friendly with the redhead since neither of them seems to be able to let it go.

She ponders this as she tiptoes past Olaf's bedroom and into her own. She flicks on the bathroom lights and splashes water in her face before staring at her reflection in the mirror. Her icy eyes stare back at her, blinking slowly, stray platinum hairs sticking to her face from the water.

Why can't she get it together? She's never been this way with other girls. Is the guilt really too much to handle? Or is there another reason she can't get Anna out of her head, making her desperate for some reconciliation and peace between them. It'll make their lives so much easier once they actually become civil and enjoy each other's company, rather than Anna wanting to throttle a cowering Elsa, who just so happens to have had sexual fantasies about her.

"Why me?" Elsa grunts to herself.

She straightens and goes to get ready for bed, hoping that tomorrow will bring progress.

With Olaf safely in his grandparents' care for the day, Elsa heads over to where she and Anna agreed to meet. Her palms are sweaty on the steering wheel, driving through the light September rain, hoping that she can keep her head through the. . . well, not so much a date, but an outing of sorts. Keeping it as professional as she can, Elsa keeps reminding herself that they are not trying to date, but trying to be friendly. She suggested a café that is familiar to her, and Anna said "whatever, I don't care where we go" in her email response. Numbers were not exchanged, Anna saying that texting is out of the question for now. Not wanting to anger her anymore than she already has, Elsa kept it to email.

So, the agreement was more of Elsa taking the reins and Anna following indifferently. That's fine with Elsa. She likes when she has control over a situation, and lately it has been very difficult to have with Anna. At least at this location, she can indulge in her favorite hot chocolate in all of Arendelle as a means to pacify her nerves.

When she arrives, Anna is standing by the front door with a fascinated expression on her face as she looks at the sign. She's wearing the cutest little olive green raincoat Elsa has ever seen with a matching pair of rain boots. Elsa parks right behind Anna's Prius and gets out of the car, drawing her navy peacoat close to her body.

"Hey," Elsa greets.

"Hi. . ." Anna replies, not looking away from the sign.

"What's the matter?"

"Wandering Oaken's Trading Post," Anna reads, though it comes out sounding like a question.

"Yeah, it's an Arendelle landmark, essentially. A local hotspot," Elsa says, raising her brows at Anna's befuddlement.

Anna knows that Arendelle has many small mom-and-pop shops and restaurants but even though she's been here for two years, she's never gotten the opportunity to explore any of them, aside from the doughnut shop down the street from her apartment on Sunday mornings. She's heard of Wandering Oaken's, but didn't expect it to be. . . this.

The outside of the shop looks like a cabin, the windows stain-glass and glowing yellow from the light inside. Two wooden troll statues stand in place by the front door, the door itself wide and tall with a rosemaling border. The sign bearing the shop's name is hanging from the roof, which provides some cover for the seating area outside on rainy or snowy days, and a few patrons are sitting there now, enjoying the chilly weather. The whole place has an ambience of warmth and homeliness, a safe haven where weary travelers can go for a good cup of coffee.

"You mentioned it in your editor's letter," Anna remembers suddenly, her confusion slipping away. That's where she's heard the name.

"Huh?"

"Engage Fashion Mode. You wrote the piece in the most recent issue of Crowns and Gowns."

Elsa stares. "How. . .?"

Anna smiles at her. "Uh, it's not exactly a big secret to be kept, genius. I was going to find out sooner or later, don't you think?" Okay, that's a lie. Without Merida, I wouldn't have thought to look Elsa up.

"I mean, I guess," Elsa says. "Anyway, are you okay with this place? We can go somewhere else—"

"No, no, it's fine," Anna says hurriedly. "It's just. . . I dunno. I've never been here before."

Elsa does a double take. "And you've been in Arendelle for how long?"

"Shut up, don't judge me," Anna defends, marching towards the door.

"I'm not judging you," Elsa says with a laugh, following her.

Anna slips inside, Elsa close behind her, and comes to a stop, feeling as though she's stepped into another world. The area surrounding the pair is also made to look like a cabin, matching the outside aesthetic. To their left there is a stone fire place on a wall surrounded by couches and cushiony armchairs for slow days and for those who order simply from the counter near the back. Tables and chairs that look they they were built up in the mountains by a strong lumberjack are scattered about the room for regular patrons who order from the menu. There's a small host podium to Anna's left, where a tall blonde man is smiling.

"Ah, Elsa!" he says jovially, his Scandinavian accent thick on his tongue. "It's good to see you."

"And you, Kasper. How's business?" Elsa asks.

"Booming, as usual. Would you like a table for you and your. . . friend?"

"Yes, my friend," Elsa confirms. "I think we'll sit by the window."

"As you wish. A server will be with you momentarily," he says warmly, extending his arm and inviting them further in.

Elsa moves around Anna and tilts her head, silently telling her to follow. Anna does so, sinking across Elsa at one of the round tables. They have a perfect view of the street life outside and the rain falling from the sky above.

"This place is so warm and cozy," Anna finally speaks.

"Yeah, it is. I love coming here," Elsa says, shedding herself of her coat and hanging it on the back of her chair, making herself at home.

Anna sits on the edge of the chair awkwardly, freckled fingers resting on the top button of her raincoat. She glances up at Elsa, who is leaning back in her seat and looking out the window with mild interest. Deciding to just go with the flow, hoping she'll loosen up the more as this outing goes on, Anna unbuttons her coat and drapes it over the back of her chair.

"So. . . uh. . ." Anna fidgets, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. How is she so calm? Why am I being awkward? I can handle her!

In truth, Elsa is incredibly anxious. She has no idea how she's managing to keep her ship afloat in such choppy waters. Her palms are still sweaty and she honestly has no clue what they're going to talk about, or if anything she says is going to be remotely interesting. Hopefully nothing will set Anna off, causing an emotional shouting fest between the two of them.

Again.

"You're a very good writer," Anna says, deciding on breaking the tension herself. Good, Anna. Start with a compliment instead of being a humongous bitch to her like usual.

"Oh, you think so?" Elsa says, hiding a smile. She loves being praised about her work.

"Yeah. Very captivating stuff. Why not write more?"

"Well, those days are behind me to an extent now that I'm editor. I write poetry, and I have a few unpublished short stories collecting digital dust in a file in my computer." Elsa rolls her shoulders back. "But I like being a journalist. I used to write for my college's newspaper, too."

"You're just full of experience, then," Anna observes.

"I suppose so. It's definitely a passion. Like you and teaching, right?"

Anna nods. "It's something I truly enjoy doing."

Elsa is about to say something back when a large man stops beside the table and hovers over them. Anna looks up, and her eyes widen at the true size of this human being. He towers high above her at a height that's well above six feet. He gives them a big, cartoonish grin, his upper lip hidden behind a bushy strawberry blonde mustache. His sweater is such a blend of colors and patterns that it's practically screaming in Anna's face. In his paw of a hand, he's holding a pad of paper and a pencil.

"Hoo-hoo! Hello, Elsa," he chirps, accent as Scandinavian as the host's, waving the fingers of his free hand at the older woman.

"Hello, Oaken," Elsa says pleasantly.

"Wait. Oaken?" Anna stammers.

"Yup. Anna, this is the Oaken of Wandering Oaken's. Oaken, this is my friend Anna. She's never been here so allow me to order us two medium hot chocolates and a bear claw to share."

It's then that Anna realizes they don't have menus. She's about to protest and ask if she can see one, but Oaken is already jotting down Elsa's order.

"I got it. Anything else, yah?"

"If I think of anything, I'll let you know," Elsa says. "Thanks, Oaken."

He turns on the spot and jogs off to the kitchen. Anna, visibly shaken from the amount of person just shoved in her face, turns to face Elsa.

"You okay?" Elsa grins.

"Yeah. . . No. . . I mean, I guess so. . ." Anna shakes her head and fidgets. "Hot chocolate and a bear claw?"

"Mhm. I figured since you've never been here, I should introduce you to the best of the best. And don't worry, I'm buying."

"Wait, what?"

"It's the least I can—"

"Hold on." Anna grasps at her knees, digging her fingers into the fabric of her leggings. "Why are you being so nice to me?"

"I should ask you the same thing."

Anna's shoulders drop. "Well. . ." She plays with her fingers nervously. "I figured it'd be better than biting your head off like usual. I mean, you said a fresh start."

"And I meant it. So that's why I'm being courteous. Besides, you bought a majority of the shots at the Queen of Hearts so I'm buying you a hot chocolate."

"I thought we agreed on coffee?" Anna says coyly with a playful smirk.

"I changed my mind," Elsa replies, smirking back.

There it is, Anna thinks. That friendly banter we had back in the bar, back at family reading night. This is the Elsa I like. "Fair enough." Anna finally settles her back against the chair, shoulders relaxing. "I know we said no Olaf talk, but where is he if you're here?"

"He's with my parents. They're going to the mall today." Elsa crosses her legs, her fingers playing with the bracelets on her wrist. "My mom will probably buy him something he doesn't need."

Anna chuckles. "A doting grandmother, huh?"

"You have no idea. She was thrilled when I told her I was pregnant. She bought half the stuff that was in Olaf's nursery." Elsa shakes her head. "My dad tries to tell her to dial it back, but she never listens."

"Were you a spoiled child?" Anna grins.

"Actually, I wasn't. I was raised like every other child, just in a larger-than-average home. Mama says it's her job to spoil Olaf because he's her grandson, and she doesn't know if I'll have another one in the future so. . ." She trails off, aware that she's getting too personal.

Anna tries to recall their first ever conversation to see if Elsa had mentioned how or why she got pregnant. Clearly Elsa is a lesbian—she proved it to Anna that fateful night in the darkness of her apartment—so in vitro was the most likely, and most obvious, path that Elsa had taken. There's an itch to ask her, but since this is their first outing as tentative friends, Anna doesn't want to cross any boundaries that Elsa may have drawn out. Asking such a question is extraordinarily personal, and Anna knows she doesn't have the right just yet.

She decides to ask instead, "Do you want anymore kids?"

Elsa shrugs. "Maybe. My hands are full enough as it is. I don't know if I can balance a rambunctious seven-year-old, my career, and another crying baby at the same time. Plus, I don't have another room to make into a nursery unless I convert my office into one. But I need that in order to work from home when I need to, in case Olaf gets sick or something."

"You've thought this out," Anna says.

"I do that a lot. Do you want kids?"

"Oh, sure. In case you haven't noticed, I love kids."

Elsa laughs. "I never would have guessed."

A few minutes of talking later, Oaken comes lumbering over with two enormous mugs of hot chocolate and a plate with the biggest bear claw Anna has ever seen.

"Uh, we said medium," Anna says, observing the drinks as they're set down on the table in front of herself and Elsa.

"Yah, these are medium," Oaken says.

Anna gapes at him. "Are you sure?" Her voice cracks with disbelief.

"Don't worry about it, Anna," Elsa laughs. "Thank you, Oaken. Bring the bill now so we can leave when we're ready."

He gives her a warm smile, nodding in understanding, before trotting off.

"These cannot be mediums," Anna whispers.

"Oh, but they are. With Oaken, portions are always a size larger than what you order. And the food? It's made for giants." Elsa sits up and lifts her mug, taking a hearty sip. "That's why I love this place. You get a lot for your money. Take a sip, it won't bite you."

Anna reaches over and cradles her mug between her hands. It's the perfect temperature, and it smells delectable. She takes a drink, and her cheeks heat up with the flavor of the most delicious hot chocolate she's ever had.

"Whoa," she gasps, setting it back onto the table.

"Good?"

"Amazing."

"Try the doughnut."

Elsa is already ripping a bit away to nibble on as she speaks, as if she does this all the time—and she does, Anna reminds herself. The redhead follows the blonde's example, feeling a slight pang of guilt for eating a pastry that doesn't come from her usual shop.

But when she lets the doughnut melt on her tongue, and she hums in satisfaction, chewing the rest of it.

"Where has Oaken's been all my life?" Anna wonders out loud.

Elsa giggles. "Right in front of your face, but you've been too caught up with being serious Miss Eldr to notice it."

Anna rolls her eyes. "Whatever, Miss Fönn."

With the bill paid, mugs empty, and bar claw eaten, Elsa and Anna are filled to the brim with their rather unhealthy breakfast. They gather their coats and tug them on before heading outside together.

"Thank you for breakfast," Anna says politely.

"You're very welcome." Elsa smiles at her as she draws her attached hood over her head, the rain coming down harder than it had been earlier. "And look at that, we went a whole conversation without mentioning our one-night stand or yelling at each other from across the table."

Anna snorts, but not unkindly. "Yes. It was a nice change."

"Hopefully this will help move things along," Elsa says. "I had a lovely morning with you. See you Monday."

"Huh?"

"You still teach my kid, remember?"

"Oh, right, of course." Anna buttons the last button on her raincoat. "Have a good day, Elsa."

"You too."

They part ways and get in their respective cars, driving off in opposite directions, rain lashing at the little Toyota and blue Lincoln as they idle into traffic.

Elsa is all smiles when she gets home. The outing was far more successful than she had anticipated, and she feels as though she can finally rest easy knowing that she and Anna are on good—well, better—terms. Civil terms. The way a teacher and parent should be.

She has about an hour before Olaf gets home so she decides that her social life doesn't have to end so early in the day. She calls Jane and has her come over for an actual cup of coffee.

When Jane arrives, she sits at the bar that separates the kitchen from the living room, her favorite mug sitting in front of her, waiting to be filled with the coffee that Elsa is making.

"I'm glad it went well for you," Jane says with a smile.

"It really did," Elsa confirms. "I feel. . . better. And we laughed a lot." The rich aroma of coffee fills the room as it filters down into the pot. "We didn't discuss our one-night stand so it really felt like a fresh start."

"You always say that Oaken's is the best remedy to any problem."

"It is, I swear. Hot chocolate and a bear claw is the number one cure."

Jane chortles. "Including getting over the fact that you had sex with your son's teacher."

"Any problem, Jane. From failing a test to a hangover to having a one-night stand with a stranger who turns out to be the teacher of your kid. Oaken's solves it all."

"You should be their spokesperson," Jane smirks.

"This is why I'm a journalist and not in advertising," Elsa plays along, pouring Jane her coffee. "Cream and sugar?"

"Yes, please." Her eyes follow Elsa as she opens the fridge and takes out the cream. "So now what? Are you and Anna going to go out again? As friends I mean."

"I don't know. . . Maybe. I think I'll leave it up to her to initiate it." Elsa passes the sugar bowl to Jane and watches her friend add a spoonful to her drink. "I don't want to seem pushy or desperate—and not in the clingy, crazy way. I mean in the way where you want to be friends but you're not totally certain if they want to continue the friendship with you."

Fine brunette brows rise in Elsa's direction. "I'm not aware of the latter. Care to explain it again?"

Elsa rolls her icy eyes. "Har har." She leans her hand on the granite countertop, standing across from where Jane is sitting. "Drink your stupid coffee."

"I love you, Elsa," Jane laughs. "You know I'm just giving you a hard time."

"Whatever," Elsa mumbles into her coffee, making her friend laugh again.

There's a knock on the front door and Elsa sets down her mug to answer the door. Her parents and Olaf stand at the threshold. Elsa resists the urge to roll her eyes at the stuffed polar bear now in her son's possession.

"Hi, Mama!" Olaf sings, hugging her around her waist.

Elsa smiles and rubs his head lovingly. "Hello, little guy." She turns to her parents. "Did he behave?"

"Oh, of course. He's just like his mother," Elsa's father, Agdar, says with a proud smile. "We had a great time today."

"We had Panda Express!" Olaf chirps, resting his chin on his mother's stomach so he can look up at her. "I had orange chicken and rice!"

"Was it good?" Elsa grins.

"Yeah! And Gramma let me have a small soda."

"Sounds like a great day, kiddo!"

"Why don't you go and put your new toy in your room," Elsa's mother, Idunn, suggests to Olaf.

"Okay, Gramma!" He unlatches himself from Elsa and skips down to his bedroom, saying hello to Jane as he passes.

Once he's out of sight, Elsa fixes her mother with a look. "He doesn't need another stuffed animal."

"Oh, hush," Idunn says, waving her daughter's stern expression away. "I was doing my job as a grandmother. He saw it and liked it, so I bought it!" She ignores her husband shaking his head at her. "It wasn't even that expensive."

"I don't want him growing up with the mentality of getting whatever he wants whenever he wants it," Elsa says calmly. "He'll just end up like the rest of the kids at his school."

"Don't worry so much, Elsa, darling," Idunn insists.

Elsa looks to her father for help, but he merely shrugs with a small smile. "Sorry, honey."

"Thanks, Papa. You're a real help."

She thanks them for watching Olaf for the morning and bids them goodbye. When she returns to the kitchen, she finds her son sitting beside Jane on the other stool, chattering away about his day at the mall. Jane is listening politely with a kind smile on her face, occasionally taking sips of her coffee.

". . .and Grandpa let ride the little train that goes all around the mall!" Olaf is saying as Elsa tunes into the conversation. "It was so fun!"

"Did you get anything else besides that polar bear I saw?" Jane asks.

"No, Gramma let me pick one toy today," Olaf says.

"This time," Elsa adds in Jane's direction, making the brunette giggle. The comment flies over Olaf's head, his little mouth still running with details about his day.

Eventually Jane has to leave after she finishes her coffee, thanking Elsa for the invitation, and bidding the Fönns goodbye. Elsa washes the coffee mugs, Olaf still sitting at the bar, kicking his legs.

"What are we gonna do now?" he asks.

"Since it's raining out, maybe you can watch a movie," Elsa suggests.

He purses his lips in thought. "No. . . Can we play Mario Kart?"

"Together?"

"Yeah!"

"Alright." Elsa puts the mugs on the drying rack. "But don't be mad if I kick your butt."

"No way! I'm the best!" Olaf declares, hopping off the stool and following his mother into the front room where Olaf's Wii is set up. "I call Mario!"

Elsa chuckles and sits in one of the armchairs. "Fine. Hand me a remote, please."

Pouring rain beats onto the roof of Anna's classroom. Outside lunch has been cancelled for the day and all the students are inside their classes. Anna plays a Disney movies that she has on hand for such occasions on the TV, and a few kids watch it from their desks as they eat their lunches. A couple of kids are on the rug near the teacher's assistant's desk with the blocks and Legos, building a city together. Olaf, Sven, and Winifred—whom Anna calls "the trio" since they're always together—are at their desk cluster, chattering away over the lunches that their parents lovingly packed for them.

Anna sits at her own desk, chewing the PB&J she made for her lunch. Her teal eyes dart from the class to her computer screen. Her email is open, and she's contemplating on whether or not she should send Elsa a message. After such a lovely morning with her last Saturday, Anna is tempted to try another outing but at a place she picks instead.

While she adored Oaken's—and might have stolen away to purchase a coffee to go on Monday morning—she wants to do something in perhaps a more casual setting. Maybe go to the park. . . something simple like that.

These aren't dates, Anna, she thinks to herself. But friends can do those things, right? I mean, I do them with Merida all the time. It's probably because Elsa and I have had. . . relations. Ugh, why is this so hard—"Chip, put that down right now!"—to decide. Maybe I shouldn't worry so much. Or maybe I shouldn't ask her. This is stupid—"Vanellope, please give Dot her toy back, I'm not going to ask you again."—and I'm about to lose my mind. Do it. Just fucking do it.

Anna heaves a sigh, setting down her sandwich and starts to type out a suggestion to Elsa. Enough time has passed between their last outing and now so Anna pushes herself to initiate the contact this time.

This would be easier if I had her stupid phone number.

Thunder rolls overhead, and half the kids in the class scream, making Anna jump. She calls for quiet, calming them all down and telling them that the thunder can't hurt them inside. A couple of kids are still whimpering at their desks, and Anna frowns in sympathy. She saves the email as a draft and closes it before crossing over to sit in her armchair by the rug in front of the whiteboard.

"Everyone, come here, please," she says. "Make room on the rug."

Soon, twenty-eight pairs of eyes stare up at her expectantly. She smiles warmly down at them and puts her hands in her lap.

"I'm going to teach you a song to sing when things get bad and scare you," Anna says sweetly, and a couple of the students bright up. "How many of you have seen The Sound of Music?" Several little hands shoot up, but most students look confused. "Alright, for those of you who don't know, this song is called My Favorite Things."

"Oh! I know that song!" Winifred says excitedly.

"Me too!" gasps Marie.

"Then you can help me teach it," Anna grins.

The rest of lunchtime is full of Anna teaching the kids how to sing the song; and, by the time the bell rings to signal its end, everyone knows it and is singing it loudly. Thunder boomed several times over the course of the lesson, but they were all too busy having fun and singing to care or get scared.

Proud of herself and of her students, she allows the rest of the day to be free play, making the students cheer. Their history lesson can wait. They'll get the uncut version in high school and college anyway, Anna tells herself humorously. But seriously, I'll have to go over it tomorrow briefly.

"You're the best teacher ever!" Olaf says over the commotion.

Incredibly flattered, Anna can't hide her smile. "Thank you, Olaf."

A while later, the bell rings to end the day. Since it's raining, the students have to stay in class after school until their parents pick them up. After a certain time, however, Anna will be allowed to escort those who are left to the auditorium with the after-school volunteers who usually keep and eye on the kids out in the yard.

Anna watches over the kids as they squeeze in a couple of minutes of play before their parents collect them. Ever the self-important mother, Buffy Biltmore is the first to get her daughter, ignoring Anna completely and marching out without a word. Anna rolls her eyes once Buffy's out the door.

One by one, kids are picked up as the time falls away until there's only a handful left. Elsa and Kristoff come in together a bit later. Anna looks up from her desk and, her breath involuntarily catches in her throat at the sight of Elsa. Rain is shimmering in her platinum hair, making it sparkle as if it is smothered in glitter. She's wearing the same peacoat-hoodie combination from their outing and a pair of mauve skinny jeans that disappear into clearly-expensive rain boots.

Anna bites her lip nervously and quickly focuses her attention on the papers in front of her.

"Hey, Miss Eldr," Kristoff's voice says, forcing her to glance back up. The large man is standing in front of her desk, a smile on his face.

"Hello, Mr. Bjorgman. How are you this afternoon?" she says politely.

"I'm well. Yourself?" he replies kindly, signaling to Sven that it's time to go.

"Just fine, thank you."

"I hope Sven wasn't too much trouble for you today. I know the rainy days are often the busiest for you guys."

"No, he was great."

Sven comes bounding over with his backpack over his shoulder. "Thanks for teaching us the song, Miss Eldr," he says.

"You're welcome, Sven. Have a good weekend," Anna says.

He smiles big and takes his father's hand. Kristoff waves with his other hand and heads outside.

During the whole exchange with the Bjorgmans, Elsa moved to Olaf's desk to sit with him. He shows her the drawings he did during the free time, and Elsa asks him questions and remarks one which one she likes the best. Then, as Olaf starts to pack his things, Elsa approaches Anna's desk.

"How's it going?" Elsa says with a casual smile.

"Oh, you know. . . It's going," Anna says, suddenly overcome with shyness.

"Oaken told me you got a coffee the other day." Her smile becomes a knowing grin. "Did I convert you?"

"Maybe a little bit. I still prefer my little doughnut shop down the street from my house to his bear claws, but the coffee at Oaken's is far better than theirs." Ask her now. Forget the email; ask her in person like a normal human being. "Uh. . ." She steals a glance at Olaf, who is talking to Dot before he leaves. "What are you doing Sunday?"

Elsa blinks, slightly taken aback. "Huh?"

"S-Sunday. What are you doing in the afternoon or whatever?"

"Are you asking me out?"

Anna's face burns bright red. "No! No, as friends. . . like we did last Saturday."

"Oh." Anna can't tell if Elsa looks relieved or disappointed. "I'll have to check my schedule. But once I find out, I'll email you, okay?"

"Wait, here." Anna removes a post-it from a dispenser that is shaped like an apple. "Have my personal number. Emailing is silly." She scratches it down quickly and hands it to Elsa. "If we're going to be friends, I might as well allow you to have it."

"Thank you," Elsa says, slightly surprised. "I'll text you then."

"Sounds good," Anna says, straightening her back, feeling good about taking charge. "I look forward to hearing from you."

Olaf appears at Elsa's side in that moment. "Mama, I'm ready."

Elsa smiles down at him and buttons up his white rain coat. "Say goodbye and thank you to Miss Eldr."

"Bye! Thank you!" Olaf says with his buck-toothed grin, waving enthusiastically at his teacher.

"Bye, Olaf," Anna says. "Bye, Miss Fönn."

Elsa inclines her head and leads Olaf out of the class, hand-in-hand. Anna watches as Elsa opens her snowflake-patterned umbrella outside the door and holds it over her and her son. They vanish from sight as they take a left towards the parking lot exit. The redhead lets out a breath and casts her attention back onto her remaining students.

Merida sits on her couch once again, watching Anna pace in front of her.

"What am I doing?" Anna laments for the umpteenth time.

Merida sighs.

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