a/n: this is part one of the epilogue. part two will be posted soon after.

Four.

The doctors had done four surgeries on my shoulder, yet… among all the successes, there'd bound to be failures. It wasn't fun. Stress… Anxiety… Depression… All at once, they came slamming into me. But Anna was the one to keep me from falling down. She was my support.

My rock.

But even with all those failures, acting as my rock meant nothing to me anymore. I would only become a burden.

After spending thousands of dollars for some lousy surgery, I decided to just accept my unchanging fate.

Anna was still supportive. Caring. Loving. She didn't push me to go further when I had enough.

Things hadn't changed a bit. I was still the same, shoulder still not recovered, and Anna was still in my arms. Safe and sound. Things weren't always easy. I still had nightmares, and when I thought Anna didn't trust me anymore-with me flinching away from her every night—she was patiently whispering sweet soft nothings to me, careful of where she touched, careful of what she said. What did I do to deserve her?

Little by little, she opened me up and I'd barely noticed.

I stared at myself in the mirror as I tightened my tie around my neck. There were cameras all around me, a production crew getting ready for the interview that was going to start in a few minutes.

I sighed as I stare at myself in the mirror. Pale skin whiter than snow, blue eyes brighter than the ocean… Was this how I really looked? I turned to my watch. 11:52AM.

Eight minutes… good enough.

My body shuddered with contentment when I found slender arms wrapped around my waist, hands pressed against my stomach. Her warm breath brushed against the crook of my neck and I struggled to resist the enchanting feeling. I smiled. She poked against my waist. "Hey."

"Hey, yourself." I poked her back. She giggled.

"Are you sure you're ready to do this? I don't want you to force everything out that you don't want. You read the questions right?"

I nodded, and fiery red hair peeked over from my shoulder. Eventually, so did those big bright teal eyes. I placed my hands above hers and stared into the reflection. She entwined our fingers together. Mm… warm. Just what I needed.

"Don't worry," I placed a chaste kiss on the back of her hand. "I'm sure they won't cross the line."

She pouted. "You know I worry."

"And I'm telling you not to. Don't give me that look."

"They'll ask some really personal questions, I've seen the paper."

I chuckled, "Oh have you now?"

She cradled us left to right slowly. "Mhm. Don't question me, you know I'm right!"

Unbelievable.

"Then I'll answer them personally."

"They asked you to play…"

"I'm fine with that."

"You can't!"

"I can try." I turned my head to her and I felt her lips on my cheek. I grinned. "Shouldn't you be sitting in the audience?"

She shrugged. "I can't help my girlfriend get ready? Look alive, Elsa!"

I laughed and she'd put a little color to my cheeks. I let go of her hand and grabbed the earpiece so that I could put it in my hair. "Then be useful and slip this in the back."

She took the monitor and clipped on the back of my pants. "Anything else, ma'am?"

Her arms wrapped around me from behind, and I could feel her chest and her breath against my skin.

I checked the time and turned to face her. "Mm… a kiss will do for now."

"You don't have to tell me, I'll just do it anyway." Her eyes rolled and immediately leaned in to my lips, hers pressing gently and warmly on mine. Ah, her kisses were the best. I sighed deeply in bliss, my arms hugging her waist tight against mine. I leaned in closer, swallowing a slight groan rising from her. Gods… Her warmth contrasted against my own… and her gentle fingers grazed down my back. I shuddered with pleasure.

Anna knew I could not help but crave for more of her. She pressed a hand above my chest and pushed me away with a smile. Our cheeks flushed deep scarlet, and I swore… my heart was beating harder than ever before. She could feel it against her palm.

She smiled against my lips, voice ghosting on my flushed skin… and I wanted more… "Whoa there, tiger…" she whispered, giggling at my greed. "I thought it was going to be a little kiss?"

I growled as her thumb brushed across my lips. It was tempting to wrap my tongue around her skin, but I did not let my desire control me. "When are our kisses 'little'?"

Anna contemplated there for a second. "Okay, you're right. But you have to go now." She grabbed my wrist and looked at the time. "Yup. Right now." She took a good look at me, her hands tidying up my fringes. "There."

"Ma'am? It's time." I looked over to her shoulder to find one of the staffs with a clipboard in one hand.

"I'll be right with you."

"And Miss Smith, you can't stay in here."

She groaned. "Okay, one last thing though."

I raised my eyebrows as she took my hands in hers. She took a deep breath. "You deserve all of this, Elsa. For that you've done for us. And gods, I don't even know what I'll do without you. You are trying so goddamn hard to work… 'us' out for such a long time. I'm proud of you, Elsa. Very."

My chest tightened and I knew… I shouldn't feel guilty for the past. But I was. Guilty and vulnerable to the heart, but happy and content. Had I not met her… I wouldn't be where I should've been—having her in my arms. It would've been miserable.

I grinned slightly. "You're my very best friend… everything that I needed, how could I give up on 'us'?" I breathed, pulling away to look at her eyes. Tears…

I brushed her fringes back, my thumb caressing her beautiful freckles. "I love you."

"I—"

I squeezed her hand, my lips pressed against her knuckles. "Anna, I have to go. I'll catch you later. You should go back to your seat."

With one last longing kiss, I left, the door shutting close. I didn't have to hear her say those three words, I knew she loved me. Gods I did not deserve her.

When I came to the set, I met with Dianne who led us to our seat We'd spent some times getting to know each other before as I got myself ready. I trusted her not to ask me to confess something that seemed too… personal. Either way, she seemed enthusiastic. Cameras were set all around us and the seats behind them were filled with people. It was a bit overwhelming. Though, it was nothing I couldn't handle.

"Two minutes!" one of the staffs yelled.

I brushed my fringes back as I looked around to see Anna coming out from the back. She waved to me, and I smiled tightly. There was something about her eyes that I couldn't put a finger on. Was it something that I'd said? Perhaps… was it because I didn't give her a chance to say those three words back? My eyebrows furrowed worriedly and she'd caught it.

Leaning myself back, I watched as she mouthed to me, "I love you". My racing heart slowed down. Adorable.

"Miss Snow, shall we get started?"

I snapped away from her love, and gave my attention to Dianne.

"Of course," I grinned and made myself comfortable, but guarded.

"And in 3… 2… 1… Cameras are rolling."

Dianne cleared her throat and took a little peek at her notecard before turning to the camera. "Hello, everybody, and welcome back to Dianne's Network. I hope everybody is sitting comfortably in their seat because we have a very special guest this afternoon. We've… not seen her for a while because of an incident that happened 17 years ago. But she's here today to make that change. And just looking at her now… wow, she's a very beautiful woman. Very wealthy, and taking over her Grandfather's company, Snow Enterprise. Please welcome, Elsa Snow."

The sound of clapping filled the room and the cameras turned to me. I took a slight bow, and in the corner of my eyes, I could see Anna. She seemed a bit too anxious, but also excited.

"Thank you," I began, my voice soft and careful. "I'm very pleased to be here today."

"And we are thankful you're here, Elsa. So tell me." She shifted in her seat as we shook hands. "You've… disappeared for years, and after that incident, we never heard from you anymore… other than a few photoshoot a couple of years ago. Why now?"

My lips pursed tightly at the question. Oh how should I say this when there were too many to say? I laced my fingers together, blue eyes looking down to my feet. "Well… long story short, I've had a normal life as a child after that." I nodded. "And… there are things that have changed my life, flipped it upside down, and… I can tell you, I do not regret any of it."

"I've also heard you've hurt your shoulder pretty badly then, is that true?"

I chuckled, and somewhere in that laughter, it seemed a little broken. "Yes, that is true." Mumbles sounded in the audience but I paid no mind to it. Clearly, Anna didn't either… her eyes fixed completely on me. I put my left hand palm on my right shoulder.

I raised my hand to stop her before she could even open her mouth. "I assume what you're going to ask me next is, 'can you still play the violin', yes?"

She nodded. "You were a prodigy, after all."

"A prodigy…" I chuckled, wistfully. "I was a child, nothing more, nothing less. I was good, but not the best, Dianne."

Silence.

"No, I can't play anymore." There wasn't much emotions in my voice. "I've had… four unsuccessful surgeries, and this is one of the times when you know you… should just stop."

"I'm sorry, Elsa, and I'm sure everyone here will give you their support."

I licked my lips. "Of course. But… if you have a violin, I can try playing a few notes."

She raised her eyebrows. "Oh no! We mustn't get you hurt again."

"Please don't fret, I think I can handle it." I smiled with gratitude.

My eyes slowly met with Anna's and she gave me a concerned expression, her head shaking 'no'. What could I say? I decided to ignore that. "Please, I'd like to show everyone what I'm capable of."

There was silence, and the occasional murmuring through the crowd didn't seem to worry me. The woman sighed. "Well… you are the guest, so alright. We have a violin just in case you wanted to play. But please, if anything, be careful."

I only wished people wouldn't treat me so delicately. I stood up and straightened my tie as I watched the staffs hurry through the back to find a violin. Ah, the color was white. Were they trying to imitate mine? "Thank you," I said, as I took the bow and the instrument in my hands. I examined the hair of the bow. Ah, they'd put the rosin beforehand.

My mind scrambled for a piece to play and I settled with Chaconne, Partita No. 2 in D minor. Everyone became silent and I peeked over to Anna as I slipped the chin rest beneath my chin, fingers resting against the strings. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

And in my head, I was there—under the building with the lights shining down above me with intensity. I wore a dress, with a slit cut above my right thigh, and the red cloth trailed behind me on the ground.

This is where I should be. Where I could've been.

Looking up, the lights blinded me, but I could see the dome—the people standing as they clapped for me. Ah, I was on the stage and the only thing I could feel was the heat against my cheeks.

I took a deep breath, in and out. In. Out. And slowly, my bow glided down. The start was intense, but I played the notes with grace… the sounds flowing out with ease. Chills ran down my spine as the bow slid up and down against the strings idly. The pain didn't register in my brain, and I was in peace. Together with the sound—

One last stroke of the bow, and I'd stopped. My eyes snapped opened to hear the sounds of hands clapping together in front of me. Ah, I'm back.

I lifted my head from the violin, in utter surprised to see people up from their seats. Cheers. Encores.

So this was how it felt like again?

Anna was smiling at me and I could barely see the tears that rested on the corner of her eyes. I was rendered speechless and slowly—through grateful—I bowed. The cheers grew loud, and I could hardly register the voice in my head.

"Wow, that was very beautiful, Elsa."

My heart was once again in frantic. I smiled gracefully as I took my seat. "Thank you. I… never knew what I was capable of."

Dianne chuckled. "Oh, I'm sure everyone else does. Your grandfather would be proud."

I tilted my head down at the though. "I'd hope so."

"Speaking of which, how did you cope with your Grandfather's death? He was very special to you, after all."

So it has to come down to this?

I crossed my legs together, and I could feel my heart stopping with a screech. I didn't know what else to say. There were times where he wouldn't even cross my mind anymore. I smiled to myself, "I… miss him, dearly, yes. I love him and… I've thought about him, but I would never cry about it anymore." I hadn't cried at all. "You could say that, I'm coping with it quite well."

"I'm sure he'll be very proud of you."

"Well, I can only hope," I replied.

"And I also heard… you have a special someone these days?" My fingers twitched and my heart was pounding again. "What kind of person is he?"

"She," I corrected, and a broad smile crossed my cheeks.

Dianne laughed, "My apologies, let me start over again. What kind of person is she?"

I looked over behind the camera to see Anna looking at me intensely, her smile widening, cheeks flushing. My blue eyes softened, the moment she chewed on her lip from anticipation. She squirmed in her seat, holding herself back from pouncing towards me. Oh, how little they know about me.

I tilted my head, and let my fingers draw towards my neck to feel the necklace. "She's… everything I'd wish to have."

Everyone made an 'aw' sound, and I could feel myself grinning again warmly and proudly. Anna was my pride, and really, all that I needed. I shifted in my seat, watching the woman. She had a polite smile until I continued, "She's… very beautiful, though I know she doesn't always admit it. She's very kind-hearted, gentle when she wants to be," I chuckled and I knew, Anna couldn't help but to laugh along. "She's good-nature, forgiving… and…"

"I can see you love her very much. You've gotten speechless."

"I do." I nodded. I could not help, but to give her my widest grin. "I love her very much. We've… been through ups and downs, and… I really am surprised and thankful that she's still with someone like me."

"Oh, I'm sure many people would love to be with you. You are smart, beautiful, talented… anybody would kill to be with you."

I chuckled, gratefully. "Well, you aren't wrong, Dianne." Now, I was sure Anna was gazing at me with jealousy. I couldn't care less. I don't have to be reminded of… her…

"Oh? So there are people near you that…"

That's it. "Now, that would be another discussion for another day."

Dianne nodded apologetically. "My apologies. Is your lover here with us today?"

My eyebrows raised. "Yes, she is…" I turned to her to see her shaking her head furiously, her braids swaying rapidly. "Though, I don't think she seems quite ready to be here."

She laughed. "That's alright, at least we all know, that you have a very special loved one here with us."

For the next few minutes, we continued talking until everything wrapped up splendidly. It was quite hot being under the light for this long. I could feel the back of my neck sweating immensely. Gods, the smell. I should hurry and change…

Rather than my wonderful girlfriend jumping into my arms, other women took this chance to ask me to take a picture with them. My blue eyes darkened with uncertainty, brows furrowing from their eager pleads. Quite overwhelming, I have to say, considering I've been in isolation from the media for a while.

"I'm sorry," I smiled, showing a little bit of pity. "I'm afraid, I won't be taking any pictures for now."

Ah, Anna.

Looking around for her was nearly impossible. But nobody could mistake those auburn tresses.

I was quite glad to see her standing by the door, waving at me.

Gods, how I wish Olaf was here.

I sighed, head dropping to the ground. "Please, I'd like some space." Short. Simple. Cold.

And as if I was made out of ice, everyone stepped back in silence. "Thank you."

Anna hugged my waist as I came to her full view. "Hi," she grinned, a slight blush warming up her cheeks. "That was… very nice. Talking about me this whole time. Also, what the hell was that back there?" She turned around to look at the small crowd with an adorable frown.

Chuckling, I let her hook her arm around mine. I opened the door. "We can talk about this when we get back to the dressing room." I checked my watch. "Hungry?"

She shrugged and in the corner of my eyes, I could sense her need to kiss me. I clamp a hand over her mouth. "Not now, babe. There's still people here."

Anna pouted, eyes looking quite innocent. She whipped my hand away, sharply. "Not sure what you're talking about."

Oh?

Here we go again, with the stubborn, mendacious woman. "Hm. I'm not so sure about that. Don't worry, you'll have plenty of opportunity to do that, tonight." I winked. Suddenly, her cheeks reddened. At least we had this time to be alone.

I closed the door to my dressing room, immediately flipping her against the door. She gasped in surprise, eyes filled with shock. Holding her wrists to her sides, I leaned into her, my nose burrowed in her beautiful hair. Mm… the scent is intoxicating. And she was all I needed to quench my dying thirst.

"E-Elsa…" she gulped, her head tilted… and her skin slipped from her blouse… freckles dotting beautifully across her shoulders. I licked my lips with temptation. But I mustn't.

"And I hope you'll be able to meet my... expectations back home," I whispered, and I let my fingers run through her gorgeous soft hair. She shuddered, purring against me with content. Oh, she knew what I wanted… what I was asking for. There was no way she could deny me from having her.

"O-Obviously," she squeaked. Her body trembled against mine.

Smiling, I pecked her on the cheek—Gods, it was hotter than the surface of the sun. " Well then… remind me, when we get home," I whispered "But I doubt I would need any."

My arms unwrapped around hers and I stepped towards my desk to take off my earpiece and loosen my tie. I placed them on the desk. Hm. I looked at myself in the mirror. Gods, these makeups really did not do justice on how pale and frail I looked.

She let out a shallow breath. "Seriously… You are unbelievable."

In the corner of my eyes, I noticed her gazing at me. She seemed quite flustered, struck by my ministration. Though, I wondered when will she ever get used to this? We'd been together for a year now (of course, not including… those times). I would've expected her to… play along every time. I sat myself behind the desk as I fixed my hair up until I found her arms sliding down my shoulders. "Honestly, you didn't have to startle me like that to tell me that you'll do unthinkable things to me later on," she smiled, and it was alluring. Shame, I couldn't do what I most wanted to do right now. What could I say?

Think, Elsa. Think.

Her scent rushed through my brain as she got closer. But I stayed on my ground, my eyes watching hers intently.

"What are you doing, Miss Smith?" I questioned, darkly. Not a slight of seriousness.

"Doing what you want." Anna slowly leaned in towards me, and found her favorite spot against my neck. Her lips caressed against me… fingers rousing my deepest desire. I tilted my head, feeling her nose nuzzled against my skin, and her deep intake of breath. The heat imprisoned in the bottom pit of my stomach was ready to burst. I sighed, her hands slowly trudging down beneath my clothes. My desire for her body had overcome my thoughts.

I held her fingers, tightly.

"You shouldn't tempt me, Miss Smith," I purred. My heart pounded hard against my chest, but I did not let it show. I was thrown by her… sudden eagerness and the sight of her eyes embracing my whole from the mirror.

She raised her eyebrows, teal eyes watching mine darken with hunger.

Oh, how I wish I could bend her over the desk…

I leaned back, taking her chin in my fingers, and tilted my head towards her. She turned to me, her eyes taking all of me in. Her breathing was soft, tickling my cheeks like feathers. "I'd hoped we would hold out on this until tonight…" I whispered. Her cheeks flushed pink at the foolish thought. She was too close… her nose brushing against mine. And her smile quickly widened with want, eyes roaming down to my lips.

"I guess, I'm a little too impatient for that," she giggled and slowly, her lips were on mine, my hand cradling her cheek gently. I sighed into her scent… her touch of her fingers massaging every tight muscles on my shoulders. She moaned lowly into me as my fingers raked through her auburn hair, shuddering with pleasure… and I could not stop.

I leaned close to her and let her fingers entwined between mine with love.

It's strangely compelling…

Slowly, she managed to pull away when she knew I wanted more. She chuckled lowly, looking into my eyes blackened into lust. Her blush brightened. "Y-You'll have to wait, ma'am," she muttered. She stepped back and I sighed, in disappointment.

"You should know, I'm not that patient either," I replied. A bit too roughly, but she didn't seem to mind. I propped my head against my fist, elbow to the armrest. I shut my eyes as she continued to massage my shoulders.

"We'll have to see about that, Miss Snow. I love you."

I smiled, graciously. "And I you."