Sorry that I haven't been updating very often. This semester was incredibly taxing, and I've finally managed to sit down and write some more. I'll be updating as soon as possible now, especially since finals are almost over.

Thank you all so much for your patience. It's greatly appreciated

Elsa hands Anna a mug of tea as Anna helps Olaf with some homework at the dining room table. Snow is falling outside, December now making its presence known. Elsa sits beside Olaf and watches them work, liking that Anna only leads him to figuring out the answer, never giving it to him. Elsa occasionally helps out to give Anna a small pause so she can sip her Earl Grey, which has become their common tea to share whenever Anna comes over.

Since the holidays are right around the corner, Elsa has really gotten into the spirit of the season. In the front room, there's a lovely Christmas tree that's decorated to the nines. When Anna had seen it that evening, she had stared at it in awe. Even the house is beautifully decorated, incorporating everything from tinsel along the mantle to a bundle mistletoe hanging from the beam between the living room and foyer. Elsa had winked at her when she noticed that Anna spotted it. Anna has plans to kiss Elsa under it later.

As Olaf works out a math problem on his own, Elsa takes a look at the clock. It's nearly six, which means it's almost time for her an Olaf to get ready. She looks to Anna, who is watching Olaf write with careful eyes, her own mind working the problem out in her head.

"Anna," Elsa snaps Anna out of her concentration.

Anna looks up. "Yes?"

"Tonight Olaf and I are going to the Holiday in the Park. Would you like to join us? It's technically dinner tonight so I'm buying," Elsa says, affectionately rubbing the back of Olaf's head.

"What's Holiday in the Park?" Anna asks.

"They block off Lett Drive and have food trucks, fundraisers for the high schools' sports teams, live entertainment, and all the shops are open."

"It's really fun!" Olaf adds.

"Uh. . . I dunno," Anna seems apprehensive.

"Hey, if anyone from the school sees us, we'll just say we ran into each other and decided to hang out. Punz and I hang out all the time, and she has mom friends from the school, too, so it's not such a big deal." Elsa smiles. "Besides, people are usually so invested in the event that they don't care too much about what others are doing."

"So there's no actual park involved?" Anna jokes, managing a smile.

"Not really, no. They just call it that for whatever reason. But we can go to a park and have a snowball fight after dinner," Elsa offers.

Olaf perks up. "Yeah!"

"Alright, that does sound fun," Anna admits. "I'll go with you."

"Does that mean I can stop doing my homework?" Olaf asks hopefully.

Elsa laughs and ruffles his hair. "No. Finish your homework and then we can go."

Olaf pouts but turns back to his math homework. Anna giggles, patting his shoulder as she stands to follow Elsa into the kitchen. As she sips her tea, she looks at the Christmas cards on Elsa's fridge. Anna's own fridge is also covered in cards, though it's less than Elsa's collection, and she shares the same card from Rapunzel and Eugene.

"Thanks for inviting me to everything. Like, I can't wait to go with you to your office party on Friday," Anna says.

"You can still say no about tonight, though," Elsa tells her. "If you're apprehensive about it."

"No, I want to go. It does sound fun. I just wish I could hold your hand without worrying about getting caught and questioned," Anna sighs.

"I know how you feel. This is hard, but I am enjoying your company and I like what we have so far." Elsa comes to stand next to her and pulls her into a side hug. "If we're lucky, one day we won't have to worry about it."

"I hope so." Anna leans into her and closes her eyes. "For now, it's the best we can do. I always anticipate the moments we can spend alone together without the prying eyes of the public."

"Just the prying eyes of my child." Elsa glances toward the tiny hall—which holds the washer and dryer—that leads into the dining room, half expecting Olaf to poke his little head in to spy on the two women.

"Nonsense. He's pretty well behaved. . . for the most part. I think he gets his misbehaving streak from his mother." Anna grins up at Elsa, earning a playful pinch in her side from her girlfriend. Anna squeals and squirms away, but Elsa gently grabs her arm and pulls her close.

"You wanna take that back?" Elsa smirks.

"Or what?"

"Or. . ." Elsa pinches her side again, eliciting a laugh from Anna. She bites her lip and meets Anna's eyes, excited about her new discovery. "Ooh, someone is ticklish."

"A-Am not."

"Are so." Elsa makes another lunge for her, but Anna manages to slip her arm from Elsa's grasp and scampers away, giggling behind her hand.

"Elsa! Knock it off." But she's still smiling. Her arms are crossed over her stomach with her hands over her ribs in a form of makeshift armor.

"Take it back, and maybe I will."

"Never!"

Elsa merely steps an inch forward before Anna darts away and uses the bar as a shield. She's still giggling though, like the mere idea of being tickled is tickling her insides. So cute, Elsa thinks briefly before moving around the bar quickly and chasing Anna down the hall. She manages to corner her between her bedroom door and Olaf's, grabbing Anna around her waist as they laugh.

"Caught you!" Elsa runs her fingers across Anna's ribcage.

"Ah—! Elsa!" Anna cackles, trying to wiggle free.

"Take it back!"

"N-No! You're only proving my point!" Anna decides to counter Elsa's attack and manages to dig her fingers into Elsa's side. Elsa lets out a laugh involuntarily and lets go of Anna, eyes wide and lips suppressing a smile. Anna grins wickedly. "Run," she suggests.

Elsa bolts for the living room. Anna follows her and chases her around the couches. Olaf, hearing the fun going on without him, abandons his homework and watches the two grown women acting like schoolgirls for a split second before he decides to join in on the battle.

He gets himself between Elsa and Anna, and Anna tickles him instead. He laughs and snorts as she attacks his sides. Elsa pauses, slightly breathless from running, and watches her girlfriend and son have fun. For a moment, she thinks the image is pure and perfect—Anna is acting like Olaf's other mother. But that thought fades quickly when reality nudges the back of her mind. Shaking the thought from her head, she comes to Olaf's rescue by tickling Anna next.

"Hey!" Anna squeaks.

Elsa grins and cries, "Olaf, run!"

Olaf jogs to the couch and hides behind hit, bouts of giggles still coming from him. Eventually, Anna surrenders to Elsa and pleads, "Alright! I take it back. Please, before I pee myself!" That makes Olaf laugh harder.

"Okay, okay," Elsa chuckles, raising her hands chest high as a sign of a truce.

Anna is still smiling, clutching the back of the couch, and panting. "Let me use the restroom before we go."

Elsa watches her go to the guest bathroom door and enter inside. Then she turns to Olaf and tells him to finish up his homework. He nods and skips back to the dining room, rejuvenated from the break filled with laughter and fun. Elsa lets out a breath and leans her hands onto the back of the couch.

The thought of Anna acting as Olaf's mother comes flooding back into her mind's eye. It didn't bother or scare her, but it did raise a small concern. She and Anna have only been dating for about two and a half months, and Elsa knows better than to imagine an ideal world where she and Anna fall hopelessly in love and marry. She wants Olaf and Anna to have a close relationship, but she also doesn't want Olaf to get too attached to her.

This was just a little hiccup, though, she tells herself. It won't happen again. Anna knows the lines and not to cross them. . . and she didn't tonight. Olaf seems to have shrugged it off rather easily.

But it gives Elsa a spark of hope and a spark of something else she can't place.

The air is cold as the trio walks from Elsa's car and toward Lett Drive. Anna is slightly cautious as they step foot on the close off street, eyes scanning the area for parents or nosy staff from the school. Her guard is let down, however, when Elsa takes Anna up to a sushi truck. Her stomach growls at the sight of the sushi burrito displayed on their menu.

Worries forgotten, Anna scans the menu for the perfect burrito. Olaf is bouncing up and down beside his mom, telling her exactly what he wants over and over again. Elsa is calmly examining the menu, saying, "yes, darling" to Olaf whenever he tells her what he wants.

To the unknowing eye, perhaps, Anna thinks, the three of them look like a normal family spending a pleasant night out together. But, she reminds herself, they're not a family. She's only dating Elsa. They aren't married.

She casts a glance at the hyperactive Olaf, remembering how she made him laugh so hard that he snorted adorably. Did Elsa stop Anna just because they were all playing, or did she stop her because it was too familial?

Anna forces herself to look back the menu. These stupid doubts still plague her mind even though she's tried time and time again to force them away. She just needs to enjoy her time with Elsa and not worry so much. At least, that's what Merida suggested when Anna confided these worries into her. Somewhere in the distance, she hears Elsa call her name. Anna blinks and turns toward her.

"Yes?" she asks.

"What would you like?" Elsa offers her a small smile.

"Oh. . . uh, the spicy tuna burrito."

"You got it."

"Thanks, Elsa."

"Why don't you wait over there with Olaf?" Elsa juts her chin toward a bench underneath a small sycamore tree. Anna nods and walks over, Olaf following close behind.

They sit together and Anna observes the crowd. Just as Elsa said, there are booths set up for fundraisers along the center of the street, every shop has its doors open and lights on, she can hear music playing in the distance to her right, and even spies a firetruck parked near the edge of Lett Drive with excited kids hanging off of it.

Anna has never been a part of the Arendelle society like this. She avoided social events that involved the entire city—or at least a large gathering of citizens—during her first year here. Merida never really mentioned them to her, so Anna didn't give them much thought. She wonders why her friend didn't offer to expose her to the events.

The only thing that Anna involved herself in was the fundraising fair that Arendelle Elementary held at the end of the year to raise money for the next year. But that was on familiar territory. It was for the purpose of education. She does, however, feel more connected to the city just by taking part in something like this. More so than when she moved here, for sure.

She looks to the side as Elsa approaches them a couple of minutes later with their dinners. She sits on Olaf's other side after she hands Anna her dinner. Anna does feel a little disappointed that Elsa isn't choosing to sit next to her, but has a feeling Elsa is respecting Anna's cautious behavior by making it seem like they're just friends.

After they finish eating, Elsa takes Anna through her favorite shops on the Drive. Anna finds herself purchasing a couple of things for Christmas, intent on shipping out a couple of things to her parents and sister. Olaf soon asks for ice cream, despite of the chill that flows through the air. When Elsa says sure, Anna looks at her like she's crazy.

Elsa just smiles and takes them to a soft serve truck. "Anna, dear, when it's cold out, you must eat something cold to regulate your body temperature."

"You're crazy," Anna states.

"Maybe, but that's perhaps why Olaf and I don't mind the cold. The best time to eat ice cream is when it's cold out. Care to indulge into the method of my madness?"

Anna rolls her eyes playfully. "Such madness, but yes. I'll give it a shot."

"Chocolate or vanilla?"

"Chocolate, please. My favorite."

With cones in their hands, the three keep walking along the streets. Elsa donates some money to her old high school's softball team and the baseball team while Anna watches Olaf explore the firetruck for a bit. As she finishes her dessert, she hears a voice of a parent behind her. Her stomach drops at the familiar, stuffy tone as it carries itself over with as much ego laced in it as possible.

"Miss Eldr!" chirps Buffy Biltmore, but her smile is so fake as Anna turns to face her.

"Mrs. Biltmore. What a pleasure." Anna sends her an equally fake smile but hopes hers isn't as obvious.

"What, may I ask, are you doing here this fine December evening?"

What do you care? "I'm just exploring your lovely city's events for once, ma'am. I haven't come here before so I thought I would see what all the fuss is about. Actually, Miss. Fönn recommended it to me when I last saw her."

"Is that so?"

"It is. What are you doing here tonight?"

"A social obligation."

"I see. Where's Josephine? I'm sure she would love the firetruck like many of the children do."

"She's at home studying. I wouldn't have her or my Quentin lower themselves to playing with such things. It's irresponsible for a parent to allow a child to climb dangerous equipment anyway." Her eyes glance over to Olaf as he sits in the driver's seat, pretending to drive it around and making the appropriate noises. "If Miss Fönn isn't careful, her son could be a danger to the crowd."

Anna's jaw sets. "I assure you that Olaf is under the supervision of trained professionals such as firemen and myself. I'm keeping an eye on him while his mother performs kindnesses to the public schools here in Arendelle. Have you ever donated to a sports team, ma'am?"

Buffy ignores the question as her brow twitches. "Do you babysit now?" she asks condescendingly, as if it's something to be ashamed of.

"No. I'm just doing a favor."

"Hm. . ." Buffy gives Anna a once-over before pursing her lips. "I'll figure out your game, Miss. Eldr. Why not 'Mrs'? You're an. . . attractive young lady, for some, perhaps."

"I haven't found the right person." Anna's stomach twists into knots as she thinks of the awful things Buffy is trying to figure out. She also takes some offense toward the pause Buffy made when she was describing Anna's appearance. At least my face isn't permanently pinched to look like there's a bad smell in my nose all day long, Anna wants to snap at her.

"And nobody has asked you for your hand?"

"It's never gotten that—I beg your pardon, but what business is it of yours?"

"I know all there is to know about the staff of Arendelle Elementary. I know of the promiscuous nature of that hippy art teacher Mrs. Fitzherbert, the silly dolls and toys that Miss Bergman has in her class that she lets both girls and boys play with, Mr. Sullivan's frat boy history, Mr. Thatch's odd teaching methods, and so much more. The moment they step out of line, I can have their poison removed from the school in a second." She snaps her fingers and Anna winces against her will. Buffy smiles sourly. "And I just want to know everything about the new girl. . . everything. Just in case."

This woman is fucking batshit! Anna's spine shivers as the gravity of Buffy's words crash onto her shoulders. She has flashbacks to sitting in the administration office, shaking in her seat, as the PTA mom screamed at the headmaster, demanding Anna's head. This can't happen again—

"Ah, Miss Fönn," Buffy says bitterly, looking past Anna.

"Buffy," Elsa says pleasantly, coming to stand next to Anna, who realizes that there is little distance between their shoulders. She looks up into Elsa's face and feels instantly protected when she sees a little warning flash directed towards Buffy in the pools of icy blue. "How are you?"

"Just leaving."

"That's not quite a feeling or an answer to my question, but I understand. My presence can be overwhelming on women. I suggest you leave before you swoon too hard."

Buffy's face turns a delicate shade of puce. She glares at Elsa, gives Anna a stiff nod, and storms off. Anna lets out a breath she didn't know she was holding and clutches her chest.

"Thank you, Elsa," Anna sighs.

"What was she bothering you about?" Elsa says, still watching Buffy walk away.

"Cryptic stuff. . . Does she really know everything about everyone at the school?"

"To a degree. I don't know about everything, but I'm sure she tries." Elsa glances down at Anna. "Don't let it scare you, though. She's just trying to get into your head."

"Okay. Can we leave and go have a snowball fight, please? I want some privacy so I can finally kiss you and hold your hand."

"Sure." Elsa turns to the firetruck and calls, "Olaf! Come on, bud."

He pouts, but jumps down onto the street before bounding over to Elsa. He takes her hand, and the three walk back to Elsa's car.

The elevator chimes and the doors slide open. Anna tentatively steps inside the reception area and looks around at the decorations. A voice calls to her but she doesn't completely understand them since she's taking the area around. The voice calls again and Anna jumps, snapping back to reality. She flushes, eyes falling on the receptionist, who is smiling at her kindly.

"I'm sorry?" Anna says shyly. "I didn't catch that. . . twice."

"I asked if there was something I can help you with?" the receptionist repeats smoothly.

Anna searches for a name of some kind and spots a nameplate with "Sally" printed across in bronze letters.

"Y-Yes. I'm looking for Elsa Fönn."

"Oh my god!" another voice cries. Footsteps follow and a very thin, very tall woman appears from behind a group of cubicles. "Is this her!?"

"Meg—" Sally tries.

"Are you Anna?" Meg struts up to her.

"Yes. . ?" Anna says with uncertainty.

Before she knows it, heads pop up from the other cubicles and stare at her. Anna blinks and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear nervously.

"You are a cutie," Meg says. "Our dear Elsa has exquisite taste. And she certainly isn't a liar. You have the same gorgeous eyes and hair she gushes about."

Her ears and face are burning. "Thank you?"

Behind Meg, Sally picks up the phone and calls Elsa. Her voice is humorous as she says, "Your date is here, and come quickly because Meg is harassing her."

"I am not harassing Elsa's hot date," Meg scoffs.

Sally rolls her eyes, putting down the phone.

"You're in for a treat," Meg turns back to Anna with a smirk. "Our office parties are always crazy. We get hammered and have these big orgies and—"

"Meg, oh my god." Sally pinches the bridge of her nose.

"What? It's true. I'm sure this ginger has a little snap to her."

"Keep talking like that, and I'll give you the boot," Elsa says as she walks out her office. She snaps her fingers at her employees who are still staring at Anna and they giggle before returning to what they were doing before. "Meg, stop making my girlfriend nervous."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Meg snickers, batting her lashes.

"Uh-huh." Elsa rolls her eyes. She turns to her staff and says, "Please finish up, all of you, so we can get this party started on time this year."

Meg pats Anna on the shoulder, winks, and says, "Welcome to our HQ. See you at the party." She walks back to her desk.

Elsa guides Anna to her office and closes the door behind her. Anna steps in further and feels less tense as the familiar scent of peppermint and snow that follows Elsa around fills her lungs. The office itself oozes with Elsa's magic touch and eye for placement. It feels homey and welcoming, yet it looks sleek and modern.

"Sorry about them," Elsa says. "Especially Meg. But they're journalists so they have to snoop into everyone's business. It's in our nature."

"It's alright," Anna giggles.

Elsa kisses her forehead. "Make yourself comfortable. The party will start in a moment. . . oh, one more thing." Elsa kisses her lips this time. "You look lovely tonight."

"Thank you. So do you."

"Only because I have you to complement me."

"Oh, stop," Anna grins. She watches Elsa go over to her desk and sit in the chair behind it. "So, just gathering from the general reaction, how often do you talk about me at work?"

"I see Meg has let the cat out of the bag." Elsa chuckles. "I talk about you when they ask, but it usually gets me blabbing on and on about how wonderful you are."

Anna rolls her eyes playfully. "I'm sure. Meg told me you've mentioned my gorgeous eyes and hair?" she teases.

"My employees are gossips," Elsa teases back, glancing up from her computer. "But don't worry, they know to keep it in the office."

"I wasn't worried. . ."

"I just wanted to assure you that they won't go running to the school. They're good people."

"Elsa, it's okay. I think it's nice that for once we can be together in public without being weary of PTA moms."

"We can actually hold hands," Elsa laughs. "It's a miracle."

After a couple more minutes of Elsa wrapping up her work and Anna taking in the stunning view of the city from the windows, the party outside begins. Elsa takes her hand and leads Anna back into the main part of the office. The employees are all mingling together and enjoying the food spread out for them to nibble on.

For once, in public, they can express their feelings without the fear of prying eyes—or, not entirely prying eyes. Elsa has her arm around Anna's waist, and Anna is happily leaning into her throughout the night. Of course, Elsa's employees like to nose themselves into their conversations, but Anna is happy to discover that they're all rather pleasant people. Rapunzel's party had been limiting since parents were around, and they haven't been able to be affectionate outside their homes since they've become official. The support of a small crowd is comforting to them both. They feel like they're doing something right.

Anna ends up losing Elsa at some point as Mulan and Aurora drag Anna off to give her a tour of the office. Cinderella swoops in later to chat Anna up and pour her a drink while Kuzco interrogates her about her favorite designers. When Anna manages to break away after Sally tells him to cool it, Elsa is nowhere to be found. Anna looks over the room for Elsa until she suddenly appears at Anna's side with a Styrofoam cup of hot chocolate.

"Where'd you get that?" Anna gasps.

"Break room. Want one?"

Anna nods, and Elsa leads her to the break room to the vending machine that produces weak but ingestible beverages. They take a couple of moments to drink quietly before Jane walks in.

"There you are." Jane smiles at Elsa.

Elsa returns the smile. "Here I am. Were you looking for me?"

"I was. I haven't been formally introduced to your girlfriend since she kept getting attacked by our oh-so-lovely co-workers." Jane approaches Anna and sticks out a hand. "I'm Jane Porter. I'm the Executive Director."

"It's nice to meet you," Anna says pleasantly, taking Jane's hand. "Elsa's mentioned you before. You're college friends, right?"

"That's right."

"Jane's one of my closest friends," Elsa clarifies. "We were roommates."

"Oh! Right!" Anna grins. "Then you know all of Elsa's dirty little secrets. May I ask for some details on college-aged Elsa that Rapunzel hasn't told me since you have the inside scoop?"

Elsa rolls her eyes as Jane laughs.

"Sure!" Jane chirps. "What would you like to know?"

Anna snickers as she asks, "How promiscuous was she?"

"She was the one who swooped in on the sorority girls wanting to experiment with their sexuality," Jane says. "It wasn't unusual for a strange girl to come down the next morning after a rager: red in the face and giggly."

"Jesus," Elsa mutters humorously as Anna cracks up.

"Well, well!" Anna elbows Elsa in the ribs. "Look at you. You helped them figure things out. How kind of you."

"It was selfless charity work," Elsa decides to play along. "And some of them actually did realize that they liked girls exclusively or liked both genders. I made the world a better place by bringing forth more beautiful queer women."

"You need a parade in your honor."

"You know what? Yes. Yes, I do."

Jane snorts into her hand. "Any other questions, Anna?"

"Yes!" Anna claps her hands.

"Oh, I'm sorry, are we not done tormenting me?" Elsa says.

"Nope! Okay, Jane, did Elsa have actual serious girlfriends in college?"

"Of course," Jane says, positively amused by Anna. "Elsa was a lovely and loyal girlfriend to all those she dated."

"Awh, that's good to know."

"You get one last question, and then we have to do the White Elephant game," Elsa says.

"Okay, lemme think of a good one. . ." Anna bites her lip as she thinks. Then she perks up and says, "Who was Elsa's last girlfriend before me?"

"Well, she—" Jane begins but Elsa cuts her off.

"No," Elsa says hardly. "No, we're not talking about that."

Jane shuts her mouth and Anna looks startled at Elsa's sudden coldness.

"Elsa," she says, "I'm sorry. I. . ."

"It's okay. I just don't want to talk about it. Let's go." Elsa walks out briskly.

Anna looks to Jane for some clue, but Jane only smiles sadly, shrugs, and follows Elsa out the door.

"Great going, Anna," Anna grumbles to herself. "Only you can ruin a perfectly good night." She walks after the other two women.

Anna feels awful as she sits in Elsa's office, the party slowing down outside the doors. The White Elephant had just wrapped up, but Anna had refused to participate. She had just watched them have fun, Elsa warming back up as she enjoyed her co-worker's company. Anna eventually retreated into Elsa's office, and is now gazing out the window and admiring the twinkling city lights.

The door opens and shuts behind her, and Anna can see Elsa's reflection in the glass. She doesn't say anything, but follows Elsa with her eyes as she approaches Anna.

"What are you doing in here all by yourself?" Elsa asks.

"Giving you space," Anna says quietly.

"Anna, I'm not mad at you. It's. . . it's just a delicate topic."

Anna sighs. "I understand. I just feel bad."

Elsa is quiet for a minute before taking Anna's hand and leading her over to the couches. She guides her to sit beside her, and they lean back, Elsa inviting Anna to snuggle. Anna gratefully accepts the invite.

"You know what? You told me about why you're here and what happened back in Andalasia, so I think you deserve to know my past as well," Elsa says.

Anna's eyes widen. She starts to prattle out, "Elsa, you don't have—"

"I want to. Relationships require communication. Let me share this with you. The last thing I want is for this to blow up in our faces in the future."

"Only if you're ready."

"I am." Elsa kisses her head. There's a beat before Elsa draws in a deep breath and begins. "So. . . my last girlfriend was this girl Emma. I met her in senior year of college. She was blonde, strong, wore a red leather jacket all the time, and drove a beat-up yellow buggy." A small smile graces her lips as she recalls the past. "She and I were together for two years, and I was head over heels in love with her. In fact, I had wanted to marry her."

Anna looks up into Elsa's face, mouth slightly ajar in surprise. Elsa is focusing on a random corner of her office, replaying her memories through her head. The muffled music and chatter outside the doors seems to fade as they share this intimate moment. Elsa waits another minute before pushing on, smiling fading.

"I was young, but I was starting to get pretty successful. I knew what I wanted my life to be. I like planning ahead, I like having everything in order. So, when I saw the pieces falling into place, I wanted to take action and be an adult. I had just been made editor since my superior was stepping down, I wrote this big piece that made my career, I was about to get a house, and I wanted to settle down and start a family of my own. I wanted to start it with her.

"A little into what could have been our third year together, I bought a ring and took her out to these really pretty gardens. I was so nervous, but I managed to get her alone so the pressure of a public proposal wouldn't be too bad. I got down on one knee, poured my heart out to her. . ." Elsa trails off.

"And she said no," Anna finishes.

Elsa grimaces. "More than that. She proceeded to tell me that she was actually wanting to break up for some time. She wanted to keep dating around and didn't feel like I was the one." Elsa lowers her gaze from the corner and to her lap. Her hand was resting on her left thigh on its own. "She said all of that as I was still on my knee, glued to the ground, and tears flowing down my face. I had to drive her home after that so you can only imagine how awkward that was. I cried all the way back to my place once we said goodbye."

"Oh, Elsa. I'm so sorry. That must have been terrible."

"I was absolutely heartbroken. It took me a while to come to terms with it. I had really, really wanted to start a family. Then I realized that I didn't need anybody else to have a kid. So I thought about it, talked to my friends and family about it, and waited until I had reached a stable point in my life. I got an in vitro treatment not too long after, and I got lucky and got pregnant from the first session. Nine—well, nine and a half—months later, my little boy was born. That's been my life for almost eight years." Elsa watches as Anna's hand reaches over to take her own, intertwining their fingers. "And now I have you."

"Now you have me." Anna smiles.

"I mean, I'm not saying we'll get married, but this is has been wonderful. I hope it will continue to be."

"I'm sure it will." Anna pulls her closer. "Thank you for sharing this with me."

"Thank you for listening."

"Of course."

They fall silent, the buzz of activity and conversation from the other room fading into the background. Anna closes her eyes and listens to Elsa's heartbeat. After a while, they both get up to join the last of the party. A couple of the writers are a little buzzed and are singing Christmas carols off-key near the snacks, surrounded by some of their co-workers. Others are milling about what's left of the snacks and drinks.

Anna tells Elsa's that she should go home and finish up some work. Once Anna bids everyone goodbye and thanks them for including her, Elsa walks her back down to her car.

"I had a great time tonight," Anna says, pulling her coat closer to her body. "Thank you for inviting me."

"I'm glad you could make it." Elsa leans over and kisses her softly. "Have a safe drive home."

Elsa watches as Anna drives off before heading back upstairs to collect her things.

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