Chapter 13: Facing the past.

This morning Anna woke up in a far better mood, probably because it was the best sleep she'd had in a while. Between an exhausting love making session and falling asleep girlfriend's warm, loving arms, she wasn't sure she had ever slept better. She was confident nothing could let her down that day.

Just as she was entering the dining room together with Elsa, however, she saw Elvira sitting at the table eating a bowl of cereal. She frowned, wary of what she knew could be a very awkward and tense encounter, especially with Elsa in the same room. Fortunately, the older girl just kept eating, not even glancing at them as she munched on her massive bowl of Cinnamon Crunchy Oats, and Anna sighed in relief. She could do that; ignoring each other was what they'd been doing the past few years after all.

"Hey Elsa, do you want eggs and some coffee? Or would you prefer something else?" Anna asked as she went to tell the servants to make their food.

"That's perfect. Thank you." Elsa answered with a little smile, but then gave her a questioning glance as she pointed with her head to Elvira, as if asking why she hadn't even said hello to her sister. Anna groaned and was about to just keep walking and pretend she hadn't seen Elsa's unspoken question, but then remembered she had promised she'd treat Elvira civilly. She let out a long, silent sigh before turning to her sister.

"Uhm… Elvira?" When the older girl didn't answer, Anna was very tempted to proceed to ignore her once more, but… no, she'd promised. "You want something?"

"Nah, I'm good." She answered as she kept eating her cereal, not even glancing at Anna.

"Oh. Okay." She said before going to the kitchen and ordering hers and Elsa's breakfast. When she came back she sat next to Elsa, who was opposite from Elvira. The room lapsed into a tense, uncomfortable silence… which Anna missed when Elsa started asking Elvira questions.

"So… how are you?" The blonde said awkwardly, but Elvira didn't answer and Anna decided she couldn't let her be so rude to Elsa.

"Elvira. Elsa asked you something." She chastised, making the older girl roll her eyes and finally look up to address the other girls.

"I'm fine, thank you. And you?" She said in a mocking tone, clearly not interested in the answer to her question.

"Don't do that!" Anna said angrily.

"Do what? I answered, didn't I?" Elvira retorted equally mad.

"Yes, but you didn't answer nicely!"

"Well, excuse me, if I don't use the tone you want!"

Elsa sighed. Both girls were too intense for their own good, and she had no idea how to appease them. Maybe she should just distract them? Ask them a question?

"H-hey, how about we forget about this?" She interfered, flinching a little when both girls' glares landed on her, but she didn't desist. "Elvira, what did you and Kristoff do when we left yesterday?"

"We had sex." She shrugged, like it was obvious. Elsa paled, fearing for her friend's poor heart that would be soon broken by Anna's sister, but Anna just groaned and buried her face in her hands.

"I didn't need to know that." The redhead complained.

"I was joking." Elvira rolled her eyes. "Even if it was obvious that the boy is infatuated with me, we did nothing like that yesterday; he said I was too weak and needed rest."

"But… you're alright now, aren't you?" Anna asked concerned.

"Yeah. The antibiotic and painkillers Kristoff gave me were very effective. It's down to a dull throb now."

"Oh… good."

"I'm glad you're feeling better now." Elsa said honestly.

"I'm sure you are." Elvira said in a monotonous tone. It made the blonde feel like she didn't believe her.

"So… what did you really do?" Anna asked, now curious about Elvira's relationship with Kristoff; he seemed like a nice enough guy and her sister sure needed someone with their feet on the ground. Not to mention, if she fell for him, she'd probably stop bothering her.

"We talked. Mostly about The Clone Center." Elvira said as she took a spoonful of cereal into her mouth.

"Really? Did he said something we could use?" Elsa asked eagerly and Anna eyed at her sister with a hopeful expression.

"Not much, but he said he'd investigate." At this, Anna's and Elsa's faces fell, but Elvira rushed to continue. "However, he did tell me something interesting; Weaseltown lets a few selected students enter his lab and see how it all works. The only requirement is at least one recommendation from an influential scientist or researcher. So I'm thinking about going to the university and maybe ask a favor from a couple of teachers."

"Great! Do you think that'll work?" Anna asked, beaming at what she obviously thought was a great idea.

"I don't know." Elvira shrugged. "Most of my teachers hate me, but I'll ask the ones that are more neutral."

"You know they wouldn't hate you if you weren't so damn stubborn, rebellious and actually went to their classes." Anna chastised her.

"Yes mom." Elvira answered in a sarcastic way that made clear she didn't care. Then, she stood up. "Now, if you excuse me, I'm going to the campus." She started walking to the exit, but was stopped by Anna.

"Wait! Don't you want us to go with you?"

"I can do this on my own." She answered dismissively.

"But... Maybe we could help you? I just really want this to work." Anna pleaded. Elvira looked at her for a moment, pondering if she should accept, and of course Anna made her famous puppy dog eyes. With a sigh, she relented.

"Alright, you can come. But don't take long, I'm leaving in fifteen minutes." That said, she exited the room.

"Yay!" Anna jumped from her seat, grabbed some bread, stuffed it on her mouth and took Elsa's hand, trying to drag her upstairs as the blonde casted a longing glance towards the breakfast the servants were just bringing in.

"Wait, Anna, can't we at least have breakfast?" She asked, trying to stop her. "I'm really hungry."

"You heard her; she's leaving in fifteen minutes, and I'm pretty sure she won't wait for us." Anna argued. "We'll buy something at the campus." She added once she saw Elsa's pouty face. "They sell some chocolate doughnuts that are just delicious!" She added with a wink, knowing her girlfriend could never say no to chocolate.

"Okay, fine." She agreed and let Anna lead her towards their room so they could get presentable enough to show up at Elvira's school. She was pretty excited too, now that she thought about it; she'd never been to a university after all.

"Okay, so… rules." Elvira started as she drove towards the campus. "Elsa, you'll have to keep that cap and sunglasses on all the time. We don't want anyone recognizing you." Elsa nodded, knowing it really was of utmost importance for her survival to keep as low a profile as possible. "Also, don't talk to my friends… actually don't talk to anyone I know." She said as an afterthought.

"Why? Are you afraid they'll tell us your dirty little secrets?" Elsa asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, I just… I have a reputation to maintain."

"And that reputation doesn't include taking your cute little sister to the university?" Anna asked in a teasing tone.

"That reputation doesn't include hanging out with pretty girls if I'm not going to bang them." Elvira said tensing up, like that reputation of hers didn't exactly make her proud.

"Well… technically you are planning on banging Anna…" Elsa pointed out, even if she was sure she shouldn't, and earned a death glare from the older girl in return.

"Don't ever speak about my intentions with Anna like that." She snarled.

"Why?" The blonde asked defiantly, a scowl forming on her face too. "Isn't that why you want to take her from me? So she can be just another one of your little playthings?" She knew she was doing just what she'd made Anna promise not to do, but she couldn't help it; the thought of having to compete with Anna's sister for her love was sometimes too much for her to handle.

"Listen, why don't you go f…"

"Oooookay!" Anna interrupted Elvira before she could say whatever nasty thing she was planning to say. "Why don't we all calm down and stop being hostile with each other?" At this Elvira just rolled her eyes, but Elsa casted her an apologetic glance. "As Elsa pointed out to me yesterday, this isn't helping anybody. I mean, I know you're angry with Elvira for trying to steal me, and that you, Elvira, are obviously jealous of Elsa… but look at me! I just discovered my sister has a crush on me, and the most powerful corporation of the country is trying to kill my girlfriend, who also happens to be my sister's clone. I should be on edge all the time! But I promised I'd control myself and I will, for the sake of all of us, and I want you to make that too." For a moment both girls just stared at her guiltily but then Anna prompted them to do them what she'd just asked. "Come on, promise."

Elsa sighed and looked briefly at Elvira, glancing down when she saw her staring back at her through the rearview mirror with a bored and resigned face. She knew Elvira also didn't like this agreement but had no choice. Neither of them could resist Anna.

"I promise." Elsa sighed.

"Yeah, me too." Elvira seconded. "Now, can we please stop talking about nonsense? We're here."

Elsa then looked out of the window and… the air literally escaped her lungs. Arendelle's University was massive! The entrance gate was open, but she could still see the great golden letters spelling the name on them, together with two golden crocuses at each extreme. Past them, many different buildings could be seen, as well as green areas and cafeterias where students, no doubt, usually hanged out. But of course, it was summer break, so almost no one was there. Elsa wished she could someday study at a place like that.

"Wow." She exclaimed unconsciously.

"You like it?" Anna giggled, smiling kindly at her. "I study here too."

"You wish." Elvira intervened with a teasing smirk. "You are only about to start studying here. I, on the other hand, have been here almost four years." She stated proudly.

"It's amazing!" Elsa continued, marveling at all she saw. "What are you going to study?" She then asked turning to Anna.

"Uhm… " Anna deviated her gaze. "Law."

"Law? That's great." Elsa exclaimed, trying to appear excited, but when she kept seeing Anna's not-so-happy face, she added. "Right?"

"She wanted to study art." Elvira interfered. "But our parents didn't approve, and so she chose law to make them happy."

"Hey! It wasn't just to make them happy!" Anna argued. "You can't really make a career out of art." She pouted, upset and uncomfortable.

"Like you need money or a job." Elvira rolled her eyes. "We're rich! We can just live off our parents' money! You didn't have to comply, but you did because you've always been the perfect daughter." She said in a mocking tone.

"I thought we'd agreed not to be mean with each other." Elsa glared at Anna's sister.

"Whatever, I just said the truth." Elvira shrugged as she searched for a place to park the car.

"Are you okay?" Elsa whispered to Anna, noticing Elvira's words still seemed to affect her.

"I'm fine." She said defensively. "Let' just get out of here." That said, she got out of the car just as it stopped, Elsa following close behind with a worried expression on her face.

They decided to split, since the two girls couldn't really go with Elvira to talk with her professors. So, while the black-haired girl went to solve that, Anna thought it was best to take Elsa to the small cafeteria she'd went once and have a proper breakfast. She'd buy her all the chocolate doughnuts she could eat as an apology for having dragged her into this. Now that she thought about it, Elvira probably didn't need them that much.

"Is it much farther?" Elsa asked as she hugged her mid-section. "My stomach is growling." At this, a growl-like sound could be heard. Anna laughed.

"Don't worry. We're almost there." Anna assured her as she kept walking, her had holding Elsa's firmly.

"You know? I've never been to a university before." Elsa admitted as she smiled, looking around her.

"I know." Anna chuckled, and when Elsa understood it was pretty obvious, she followed suit.

"You think you could maybe, I don't know, show me around?" Elsa asked. "Only after we eat some doughnuts, of course."

"Sure." Anna smiled, that precious carefree smile that Elsa hadn't seen for the past two days because of the Elvira issue. She just hoped she'd see it more often now.

Elvira, on the other hand, wasn't having such a good time. She'd first talk with professor Milo, who was very young and didn't seem capable of hating anyone, and so she hoped he'd be understanding and give her a letter so she could get into the Clone Center. However, she had a feeling it wouldn't be easy, and since she had no idea of how to convince someone to do something without recurring to violent or corrupt methods, she was starting to become anxious. Not that she cared if this plan worked out or not, mind you, but she didn't like to accept defeat.

"Uhm… Hi, professor Milo." She said after she knocked on his office.

"Oh! Elvira, come in, come in." He answered tearing his gaze from the large collection of papers in his desk. He was a geologist, but he was more interested on philosophy, mythology and history, and he usually talked about them from the geological point of view. His discoveries so far were scarce but important enough for his signature to be able to get her into the Center, and so Elvira would talk to him even if she had hated every bit of the subject he taught. "What can I do for you?"

"Well, you see… I've been thinking a lot, and I came to the conclusion that I've been a bad student." She admitted, and though it was all part of the act to get a signature, she still felt bad about it, especially when with a teacher as kind and comprehensive as Milo. "And I want to correct that."

"That's good. Improvement should always be one of our main objectives." He commented in a way that made her think she had the recommendation letter on her hands. "How can I help you with that?"

"I heard the Clone Center lets some students enter their facilities and see how it all works if they are recommended by a scientist, so…"

"You want me to give you a paper so you can get in." He finished for her.

"Yeah." She nodded. "Will you?"

He looked to the side, took his glasses off and started cleaning them.

"Look, Elvira, you're a good kid. Despite what other professors may say, I think you're very intelligent and could be an excellent scientist."

"But?" She asked, anxious as she detected some doubt on his words.

"But I think it's not my place to give you that letter." He finally said, putting his glasses back on.

"Huh?" She asked confused. She didn't expect that answer.

"What I mean is that you were in my class only one semester, and you weren't even the top student. I don't know your true capabilities or your work ethic, so I can't in good conscience give you a letter or recommendation."

"I see." Elvira sighed disappointed.

"However." He added, making her look up with hope. "I think you should still ask your other teachers. Your thesis advisor would be the most appropriate." Elvira winced at his words; her thesis advisor and her didn't have the best of relations, especially after she abandoned her thesis for almost an entire semester. She'd prefer avoiding meeting with her if possible.

"Thank you for your time, professor Milo. I'll take your words into consideration." She said politely, hoping this way he would change his mind, but when she saw he didn't, she sighed and left.

"So, how did you find the doughnuts?" Anna asked.

"You were right; they're the best I've ever tasted." Elsa answered as she rubbed her swollen stomach. "Though, I probably shouldn't have eaten as many as I did." She added, wincing at the slight pain she felt on her abdomen.

"Probably." Anna chuckled, remembering how just minutes before they'd stuffed their faces with the sweets. "Now, where do you want to go next?"

"I want to see where you're going to study." Elsa answered, but regretted it when she saw Anna's smile disappear for a moment. "Only if it's okay with you." She added.

"It's fine." Anna sighed with a resigned expression before taking Elsa's hand and starting to lead her towards the building. "Come, it's over there." But Elsa still noticed the little frown and pout that told her Anna wasn't fine at all. She needed to discover why that was. She didn't like to see her girlfriend upset.

"Doctor Doppler?" Elvira said as she entered her teacher's office. He was a funny teacher; he usually dressed himself with brown suits, but from time to time, he'd use an all astronaut suit, claiming it was from when he worked for the NASA. No one ever believed him due to his slim complexion and terrible eyesight. His wife, however, now she was an astronaut and had actually been in one of the first manned missions to Mars… and that's partially why Elvira had picked him. In that mission a young man, Jim Hawkins, that had always dreamed to be an astronaut, was included once Dr. Doppler had revealed he had actually helped him discovered a new planet when he was only seventeen. Jim had been a rebel, but the professor had believed in him. She just hoped he'd do the same for her.

"Ah, miss Summers what can I do for you?" He asked, looking at her with his usual kind smile.

"Well, you see…" And so Elvira told him that she felt terrible for wasting her time in his class and she wanted a second chance, which would surely mean going to the Clone Center. If only there was someone kind enough to give her a recommendation letter. She thought she'd put a pretty good act, and besides, Dr. Doppler, as intelligent as he was, usually wasn't good at noticing when someone was lying to his face.

"Oh, I see." Dr. Doppler nodded thoughtful. "Well, I don't know many biologists or chemists, or anyone that studies something related to clones, really. But maybe I could contact some of my colleagues and ask around to see if someone can help you." He answered.

But when Elvira just kept looking at him with a confused expression, his eyes suddenly widened in understanding. "Oh! You want me to give you a recommendation letter?" He asked surprised, and Elvira nodded, trying not to roll her eyes. "Well… I guess I could, but I'm not sure it would be of any use to you. I mean, I'm a doctor and a scientist, but… I'm not involved in that field of knowledge. I doubt they'd let you get in if you show up with an astrophysic's letter."

"I could try." Elvira shrugged, trying to appear confident even if she was having some doubts.

"I really don't think that's the best way to go about it." He said with an apologetic expression. "How about you ask your other teachers and if you don't find anyone willing to help you, you return to me?"

"But…"

"Please, you at least have to try." He insisted, his expression telling her he wouldn't relent.

"Fine." She sighed defeated. She'd have to keep searching.

"Here we are." Anna said, opening her arms in front of the building as if making a presentation, but she still seemed a bit desponded. "My future world of study."

"It's… big." Elsa said, eying at the normal-looking building.

"I guess." Anna shrugged.

"You don't seem very happy about the prospect of studying here." The blonde pointed out, worried about her girlfriend's down casted attitude ever since her career was mentioned.

"Arendelle University is great. I always wanted to study here." Anna answered defensively.

"But?"

"But…" Anna sighed. There was no point on keeping this a secret to the person that mattered most in her life. "I really wanted to study art, not law."

"Why didn't you just…do what you want? Even if it means not going along with your parents?" Elsa asked carefully, not wanting to upset her even more.

"I just couldn't." Anna hugged herself and looked to the side, uncomfortable about this subject.

"I mean, you told me Elvira rarely does as they say, so why couldn't you just do what you want for once?" She insisted.

"Because I'm not Elvira!" Anna exclaimed frustrated. "I never do as I want. I've always had to be the good daughter because there already was a rebellious one. I never did anything my parents didn't want me to do unless it was Elvira's idea." She sighed, a pained expression taking over her features. "I don't want to disappoint them. I don't want them to feel like both their daughters are failures." She concluded, trying not to cry, but it was pretty obvious she was holding back her tears.

"Come here." Elsa said, opening her arms so she could fall on them, sniffing slightly but still fighting hard to not crumble down completely while the blonde started caressing her back in an attempt to comfort her. "You're not a failure, and no matter what you chose, I'm sure your parents will understand. And if they don't, then they don't deserve to have such a wonderful daughter."

"Y-you think so?" Anna asked between sobs, wanting to believe in Elsa's words even if a part of her still clutched onto the ideas her parents had imposed on her ever since she was little.

"Yeah." She nodded as she pulled back and wiped the few tears that had managed to escape from Anna's eyes, noticing she looked quite cute with her red eyes and pouty mouth.

"Thank you." Anna managed to cast a little smile before leaning in and capturing Elsa's lips into a brief but meaningful kiss, trying to communicate through it all the love she felt for this beautiful woman that was trying to help her feel better even when her life was in danger.

"What are girlfriends for?" Elsa replied blushing at the intensity of the kiss and the adoring way Anna was looking at her.

"I'd guess for kissing, but yeah, also to comfort one another." Anna answered jokingly, but then glanced at the clock that was at the entrance of the building ad frowned. "I don't think we have much time for either though; we should get going to where we need to meet Elvira."

"Okay." Elsa sighed; she was really enjoying her time alone with Anna, but of course it wouldn't last. And so, they headed back from where they'd come.

"Professor Maleficent." Elvira said as she entered the office of her thesis advisor. She was a very important and scary woman; even she would cower when seeing those stern eyes. That's why she'd been her last option; they weren't on the best of terms. But she'd already asked her five other teachers; she didn't have anyone else.

"Ah, Elvira. The word must be ending if you finally decided to come here." She said eying at her in a disapproving way.

"I-I'm sorry. I've had a lot going on and…" She stared, but was promptly interrupted when Maleficent got up from her chair.

"Yes, I heard of the accident." She said with a glare that made goosebumps appear on Elvira's skin. "However, you were absent long before that." She continued, coming so close that Elvira gulped and had to take a step back. She wasn't invading her personal space, not really, but she had an aura that made you want to give her some distance.

"I-I know, and I swear I meant to come earlier, but…"

"I'm tired of your excuses!" She snarled and the black-haired girl gulped. "I want results. The subject you chose should be easy for a genius like you!"

"I-I…"

"You know why I decided to be your advisor? Because I thought you could be a great scientist, even though everyone said you were a complete idiot." Elvira felt a twinge of pain on her heart, and also anger at herself. She didn't know Maleficent's opinion meant that much to her. Maybe because she was the first person who ever believed in her, and yet she'd managed to disappoint her. "But congratulations, you've proven them right. Now get out of my office! I won't be your advisor anymore." She yelled, pointing to the door. Elvira was shaking, her hands clenched into fists wanting to do something, anything, to make her change her mind, even if she knew that was pretty much impossible. She'd screwed up and she'd ended up proving once more what everyone else thought; she was a failure and she'd never accomplish anything in her life. Her teachers had said it, her friends, her grandparents… her parents.

She hated it. She hated herself. Why couldn't she be more like Anna? So smart, kind, funny, beautiful, nice... perfect. Everyone loved Anna. Everyone thought she was the best at everything, and she… she was just the black ship. She knew that's why she started to hate Anna, and then that hate turned into love (because really, when you hate someone for being perfect, it's easy to fall in love with them), romantic love that made her feel more despicable than she already was, and that made her distance herself from the object of her twisted desires.

And now she'd never be able to rekindle her relationship with Anna, not even as sisters. She wouldn't save Elsa. She had failed as always.

"Elvira?" Maleficent's voice pulled her out of her thoughts, and just then she noticed her head hurt like someone was repeatedly hitting it with a hammer, her nails were digging into her skin because of how tight she was clenching her fists, and her cheeks were wet.

Her cheeks were wet. She was crying.

She angrily wiped her tears with her sleeve and, mumbling an apology, rushed to get out of there. However, a firm grip on her hand stopped her.

"Elvira, wait." Her teacher's concerned voice was heard over the thumping on her head. "Where are you going?"

"Out of here." She said through clenched teeth as she tried to hold back the stupid tears that were threatening to fall. Maleficent sighed.

"I can't let you go in this condition. Not knowing you'll probably do something stupid." At her words, Elvira felt the need to get out increase, but she knew she didn't have an option, so she let her guide her to a chair and reluctantly sat down, looking at Maleficent with what she hoped was an angry glare, but her red and wet eyes didn't help much.

"I'm fine." She protested, but even she didn't believe that.

"Elvira, what I said wasn't to make you feel bad." Maleficent started as she sat at the table across from her and entwined her hands in front of her. "I want to see you reach your full potential. I don't want to sit and watch as you keep doing one reckless thing after another just because you know your father will be there to save you." Elvira finally looked up at her eyes, and this encouraged Maleficent to continue. "You are brilliant, Elvira, one of the best students I've ever had, but you just act like a rebellious kid, instead of the adult you are now. You live in your own world, but it's time you come down to reality and take some responsibility. I just want to make you see that."

"That's what I'm trying to do." Elvira finally seemed to find her voice. "I want to do something important, something that matters, but no one will give me a chance." She sniffed and wiped her tears, hating those damn liquid-producing glands. At this, Maleficent sighed.

"And what exactly do you want to do?"

"To bring down the Clone Center." Elvira admitted with a defeated tone of voice. She had nothing to lose now.

"Why?" Maleficent asked confused. "I thought you supported the production of clones as it's beneficial for the health of the people."

"I have proof. Not all clones are as brainless as they made us think." She found herself saying, even if she wasn't sure it was a good idea to trust her with something like that.

"And… which proof is it that you have?" She asked very intrigued, but also cautious; after all, she'd gone to the Center many times and never noticed anything abnormal. More so, one of her best students worked there and he'd never said anything like that.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Elvira answered dismissively.

"Then show me."

A/N: Hi, sorry for the delay. I meant to get this out much sooner but I was sick, I got back to school and I was having writer's block, but I hope you still like it nonetheless. And please fav/follow, and/or leave a review if you did. I'd specially like to know your opinions about Elvira; do you like her? Dislike her? Hate her? Would you like to know more about her in later chapters?

Anyways, that's all for now, see you soon :D (also, you could check my other fanfics if you want. Please?).

Thanks to my beta reader moonwatcher13 :)