A/N: Sorry for the late update, all! Been working on a new oneshot! Hope you like this chapter!

Elsa's world came crashing down on her at that moment. She sat in the crowded waiting room, head in her hands, tears cascading down her face. The doctor had left long ago, leaving the two girls to wallow in their grief. Anna sat beside Elsa silently, her arms wrapped around her sister, head resting on her shoulder. For how long they sat there, Elsa did not know. It didn't matter, though. All the mattered is that Rachel was in a coma, nearly lost to her, and her future mother-in-law was dead. She suddenly recalled the animosity she felt to the stoic woman long ago, when Rachel had informed her of their relationship, and chuckled ruefully to herself, as she realised how much her attitude to Gretchen had changed since her and her daughter's reconciliation.

"Miss Arendelle?" a voice called, but Elsa did not hear, still lost in her stupor.

"Els," Anna nudged her sister, and she jumped up.

"Yes?"

"You may come through," Dr. Schwartz said. Elsa raced through the double doors, Anna hot on her heels. Schwartz led them down the long corridor, through another set of doors that read 'Intensive Care Unit'. The room that followed was darkened, and Elsa could see empty beds lining the walls. Schwartz stopped at the end, and held open the curtain that surrounded the last bed. "Ten minutes, okay?"

Elsa ignored her, only concerned with seeing her Rachel. She stepped through the gap, Anna following, and let her eyes adjust to the darkness. What she saw next broke her heart.

Rachel was lying on her back, head in an immobilising collar. Her beautiful face was cut and bruised, both eyes were black, her nose looked to be broken, there was a gash from her forehead to her left cheek, crossing over the eye which was swollen shut. Looking down, Elsa could see a cast on her left arm, from her wrist to her shoulder, and her gown had ridden up to show her entire abdomen bandaged. Elsa's eyes worked their way down to her legs. She could see her right foot under the covers, but were the left foot should be, there was nothing. Tears welled up in Elsa's eyes, and she grasped Rachel's cold hand in her own. Leaning down, she placed a tender kiss on her fiancée's lips, letting it linger for a while, hoping against hope that it would bring her around. Her prayers, however, were left unheeded, and Elsa sank to her knees, cupping her own face with Rachel's hand.

Anna crouched down beside her and wrapped her arms around her sister.

They stayed by Rachel's bedside for the next thirty minutes, which at that point an extremely vexed Dr. Schwartz ushered them out. "Ten minutes means ten, not fifteen, not twenty, and certainly not thirty!" They traipsed out dejectedly, but Schwartz stopped them. "Wait! I'm sorry for being so brusque with you. I know what it's like to lose a – that is, what it's like to be in this situation." She fanned herself with her file, flustered. Elsa touched her elbow comfortingly, smiling with great effort.

"It's okay, Amanda," noting the doctor's smile at remembering her name. "Thank you, for everything."

Amanda reached into her breast pocket and pulled out a card. "This isn't exactly policy but this is my number. Since I'll be Miss. Faulkner's – that is, Rachel's doctor for the foreseeable future, I want you to call me if you need to...you know, talk, okay?"

Elsa didn't reply, only flung herself into the arms of the young doctor. Amanda gasped with surprise, and returned the hug.

"Thank you," Elsa whispered into her ear.

"You're welcome," Amanda laughed. "You can come back in an hour if you wish, okay?"

"I do, and thank you again!"

The two parted, and Amanda left with a smile, striding down the hallway and out of sight.

"What a nice person," Anna remarked.

Elsa nodded, still unsure of what to do with herself. She turned around, perhaps with the intention of finding something to eat, when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She spun around, and was suddenly face to face with a tall, brown haired woman wearing a lab coat.

"Are you Miss Arendelle?"

"I...yes." Elsa replied

"I'm Belle Rogers, I'm on residency here at the hospital. I've been assigned to work with you both during Miss Faulkner's recovery.

"Oh! Okay! It's um...good to meet you, I guess."

Seemingly reading Elsa's thoughts about sustenance, Anna informed Elsa of her plan to visit the cafeteria, and strode off down the hallway.

"We can go back inside, if you like," Belle offered, gesturing to the double doors.

Elsa nodded, and entered the dark room and strode to the end, the student doctor following in silence. Just as they had congregated at Rachel's bed, the doors swung open and a young police officer jogged in.

"Lawson?"

Lawson looked directly at Elsa. "You!"

"You remember us?"

"Of course I do! I pulled you over for having sex while driving, I'm not likely to forget that!"

Belle snorted.

"You knew? Why didn't you say anything?"

Lawson smiled. "I don't know, really. You are so truly in love, maybe it...restored my faith. She looked at Rachel sadly, "I thought I told you two to drive safely?" Her voice was full of regret.

"It wasn't her fault..." Elsa murmured.

Lawson lay a hand on Elsa's shoulder comfortingly. "I know it wasn't, dear. Which is why I'm here. I was first on the scene after the crash. My name is Miranda, by the way."

"Elsa," the blonde replied.

"I just wanted to make sure everything was okay, and to say that I'm personally here, if you need to...talk, or anything.

"You're the second person to say that," Elsa smiled, feeling a brief flutter of happiness.

Miranda shrugged. "Like I said, true love restores people's faith. You don't see it often." She smiled, and left the room, leaving Elsa alone with Belle. She smiled awkwardly at the young doctor, and Elsa could have sworn she winked. "I could see you didn't want to leave, so I thought I'd let you back inside. But only for a little while, okay?"

"Thank you, Belle," Elsa said pleasantly.

The young doctor smiled at Elsa. "Have a drink with me."

Elsa narrowed her eyes. "What? Where are you going with this, Belle?"

Belle flushed. "You're so hot, Elsa."

Elsa gaped, unsure of what she just heard."Excuse me? You realise that is my fiancée lying there, don't you?"

"Oh come on," Belle whined. "It's not like she can hear us. She's probably not even going to ever wake-"

Elsa rounded on her, fists clenched. "Don't even think of finishing that sentence!"

"You know you want it..." Belle whispered seductively.

"Get out!" Elsa roared, sending Belle hurtling out of the room. Still furious, Elsa approached Rachel's bed, taking her fiancée's hand in her own. She leaned down and gave her a tender kiss, crying softly.

"I'm sorry you had to see that, snowflake. Don't you worry yourself about her, okay?" She stroked Rachel's hand gently, willing it to move, twitch, anything, but she remained motionless. Elsa sat at her bedside and lay her head on Rachel's shoulder, inhaling her delicate scent.

"I will never leave you, snowflake. We're going to get through this, one step at a time, okay?" Elsa wasn't quite sure why she was talking, she was positive Rachel couldn't hear, but she couldn't stop herself.

"When you get out of here, we can go out for a nice dinner. Just you, me, Anna, and Mom. Even Luke. All the people who love you, snowflake. We can go home afterwards, and make love all night. We need to plan our wedding, too! How do you want it, hmm? All white, in a big church? Or outside somewhere, maybe? Somewhere you can see the sky, in a wide open-" She stopped speaking abruptly as an idea dawned upon her.

"Rach...the island. The island where we went camping! Where I proposed to you! It's so beautiful there, and peaceful!" Elsa squirmed excitedly in her seat, clutching Rachel's hand. "I want this to happen, snowflake, so wake up soon, okay? I can't handle this much longer, my darling. You are my heart, my soul, my...everything. I can't be without you."

Elsa sat there for the next half hour, her mind no longer quite as numb as it had been before. She allowed herself to be filled with happy thoughts, thoughts about their upcoming marriage, all the good times they had together, their passionate and intense lovemaking. She even caught herself smiling once or twice, until the reality of the situation drowned out any happy thought. At that moment, her phone began to ring. Wearily, she tugged it from her pocket and squinted at the screen. It was her mother. "Shit," Elsa swore. She realised that in the panic and frenzy she had not called her mother to inform her of the accident. It was morning, and Alice had most likely returned from her Aunt's, to find Elsa missing. Taking a deep breath, she answered. "Mom?"

"Where the hell are you?" Alice's voice pierced through Elsa's eardrums

"Mom, listen-"

"You could have at least called me! Or left a lousy note!

"Mom! There's something I have to-"

"How could you be so inconsiderate? I-"

"Rachel's had an accident, mother!" Elsa shouted down the phone.

"What?"

"A car accident. She's in a coma, mom. Gretchen is...she's dead. I'm at the hospital now." Elsa dissolved into tears. The line remained silent for a few moments, until Alice spoke again.

"Hang in there, sweetheart. We're on our way." The line went dead. Elsa briefly wondered who else she'd be bringing, but all thoughts were quickly consumed again by her anxiety and fear.

The doors to the ICU swung open, and in strode Dr. Schwartz. As soon as she was about to speak, Elsa cut her off. "I'm not leaving her side, doctor."

Amanda looked as if she were about to argue, but at the last moment her expression softened. "Fine. But if anything happens, if we need to get people in to treat her, if another patient comes in, you need to leave, alright?"

Elsa nodded. "Fair enough."

The doctor smiled, approaching the bed quietly. "How are you holding up?"

Elsa shook her head. "I don't know. This is all so bizarre. Did you know, a couple of months ago I'd never even met her? Anna persuaded me to meet her, I didn't even want to go. You know, I was perfectly happy being little old me, and now look. I can't imagine my life without her in it." She hung her head, tears streaming down her face.

Amanda approached her, and lay a hand on her shoulder. "I loved someone once, you know."

"Once...?" Elsa asked warily.

Amanda nodded silently. "I did. She was my whole world. We met when I was eighteen, and were together for sixteen years before...no. I shouldn't say, not now."

"It's fine, Amanda. What happened?"

"She died," Amanda said sadly. "Cancer."

"I'm so sorry," Elsa replied.

"No, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have told you that, considering...everything."

"It's okay, Amanda," Elsa said, placing her hand over the doctor's. "Wait...sixteen years?"

"Yes," Amanda replied.

"So you were thirty-four when she...?"

"Yes, Elsa."

Elsa frowned, Amanda didn't look to be much past her late twenties.

The doctor chuckled, apparently noticing Elsa's confusion. "I'm forty-one, Elsa."

"What? Forty one? No way!"

"It's true."

"Wow, if I may say so, you look really good!"

"Thank you!" Amanda smiled, pulling up a spare seat and sat down beside her. "It really is a wonderful thing, isn't it? Love."

"Yes, it is," Elsa said, before bursting into a fresh wave of tears.

"Oh, honey..." Amanda put her arm around Elsa, rubbing her shoulder comfortingly.

"She's not going to make it, is she?" Elsa whispered, sobbing.

"What? What in the world makes you say that?"

Elsa shook her head, cheeks wet with tears. "B...Belle told me t...that she w-wouldn't ever w-wake up!"

Amanda's jaw dropped. "She said that?"

Elsa nodded, lip trembling.

"Oh, Elsa, honey...she is going to wake up, okay? You just have to believe, do you understand me?"

"I do."

"Good. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to have a little word with Belle. Between you and me, I never liked her. She's a disgrace to this profession." She stood, and looked sternly at Elsa. "Don't repeat that, okay?"

Elsa smiled genuinely, and even managed a laugh. "Okay, I won't!"

Amanda nodded, and strode from the room. Just as she opened the double doors, she almost ran into Elsa's mother and sister.

"Whoa! Can I help you?"

"Mom!" Elsa exclaimed. "Anna!"

"Hey, Els!" Anna chirped. "Look who I ran in to!"

"You must be Mrs. Arendelle," Amanda observed. "I'm Dr. Schwartz, I'll be working with Rachel for the foreseeable future. It's a pleasure to meet you." She extended her hand to Alice, and then to a previously unseen woman behind her.

"Cally!"

"Els!" Her cousin was shorter than Alice by about a head, with striking green eyes and short, cropped black hair.

"How is she?"

"She's...stable. She's in a coma, but we don't think it should last too long. There was significant trauma, however, including a substantial head injury, but she's responding well. Unfortunately though, her leg was pinned during the accident and badly damaged. I'm afraid we had no choice but to amputate. On the other hand, I'm afraid to say that her mother -"

"Yes, we know about Gretchen," Alice replied. "I spoke to Elsa on the phone earlier. May we go in?"

Amanda hesitated, but relented. "Go on, then. Be prepared to leave, though, if needed."

Alice nodded, and entered, Cally following. She rushed up to Elsa and gave her a bone-crushing hug, squeezing the air out of her lungs.

"Oh, Elsa, I am so so so sorry!"

Elsa clung to her mother, a fresh wave of tears overpowering her. Cally stood by awkwardly, occasionally shooting an attempt of a comforting smile at her. Elsa, however, didn't mind Cally's lack of social skills, before she met Rachel, she was much like that herself.

"Hey, Cal," Elsa greeted, as she and her mother parted, forcing a smile through her tears.

"Els," Cally replied. Elsa was expecting such a reply, so she was beyond surprised when Cally flung herself into Elsa's arms, hugging her tightly. No words were exchanged, but none needed to. Elsa knew that such a display of affection was difficult for her cousin, and she was touched that she made the effort. Finally parting, they sat at Rachel's bedside, Elsa taking her cold hand in her own once more.

"Why don't you get some sleep, Elsa," Alice suggested. Anna nodded in agreement. "You do look exhausted."

Elsa shook her head. "No, I'm staying here."

"But Elsa - "

"Mom! No."

Alice fell silent, and slouched back in her uncomfortable plastic chair. Elsa's stomach rumbled, but she paid it no mind. Until she knew Rachel was safe, she couldn't eat. She couldn't drink either, or smile, or laugh, or leave. She would do nothing but stay by her beloved's side until she knew she was all right.

"You really love her, don't you," Cally observed.

"I do, Cals. With all my heart."

Cally smiled, an expression which did not often adorn the sullen young woman's face. She moved around the bed to sit closer to Elsa, and lay her head on her shoulder. Elsa felt a warmth from her cousin, one of sympathy and love, and it caught her off guard.

With a crash, the doors to the ward swung open, and Luke barrelled in, wheezing. "I came as soon as I could," he gasped, clutching a stitch in his side. "Elsa!" He went to her and embraced her, before standing by Rachel's bedside. "I'm so sorry," he said, to no one in particular.

Anna gave him a weak smile.

The five of them sat through the night, not talking of much. Elsa needed their presence right now, and they all understood that. Amanda took the time to visit them several times during the night, though Elsa noticed that she looked just as exhausted as herself.

"Don't you want to go home," Elsa asked her, at around six-thirty in the morning. The mood in the room was quiet and sombre. Luke had long since passed out, hunched over in his seat, his head face down on Rachel's bed.

Amanda shrugged. "I'm fine. Maybe in a few hours, I will. I want to be sure she's fully stable."

Elsa smiled, immensely appreciative of the doctor's efforts. Amanda returned the smile warmly, laying a hand on Elsa's shoulder. "What's the first thing you want to do when she gets out of here?"

"We're going to go home, order the biggest pizza we can find, and sit in front of the TV all day, and do absolutely nothing."

"Sounds good," Amanda chuckled.

Alice stood and stretched, grunting as her back popped. "I think I'm going to get some food. Elsa, you want anything?"

The blonde shook her head.

"Elsa, you have to eat!"

"Fine," Elsa mumbled, voice weary with tiredness.

"Good. Anna, Cally, you want anything?"

"We'll come with you," Anna said. "I need to stretch my legs. Oi, Luke, wake up!"

Luke rose, grumbling, annoyed at having being disturbed. "What?"

"Food. We're going to get some, and you need to eat, too."

He shook his head. "Nah, I think I'll be going. I have an early shift."

"Call them," Anna implored. "Tell them you aren't coming in!"

"Can't, Anna. My boss will never let me off."

"Your best friend is in a coma, Luke!"

Luke nodded. "You're right. I'll call her." He left the room to make the call, and a few minutes later returned, furious. "Well, that's that."

"What did she say?"

"Long story short, she said no. And she also topped it off with 'nice try'."

"That bitch!" Anna swore.

Luke nodded, and hugged his ex-girlfriend, even giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. It was nice that they were civil with each other, Elsa thought to herself.

"I'll see you soon," he said. "All of you."

Anna nodded, and waved goodbye as he left. A few moment later, she, Alice, Cally, and the doctor departed to the cafeteria, leaving Elsa alone with her fiancée. She lay her head on Rachel's bed, still clutching her hand in her own, and closed her eyes. She drifted in and out of consciousness for a few moments, before the doors to the ward banged open. Elsa jolted up, only to be met face-to-face with Belle, the young student doctor who so brazenly offered herself to her.

"You!"

"Yes, me," Belle snarled. "Do you realise how much trouble you got me in to?"

"Good!" Elsa snapped. "You deserve it. You're a doctor, for fuck's sake, do you realise how inappropriate that was? Rachel is my fiancée, and you do not tell me that she won't wake up!"

Belle bit her lip seductively. "I should be furious with you, but I love a bad girl!"

"Excuse me?" Elsa could hardly believe her ears. After a dressing-down from her superior, she was still trying? Belle drew closer, and Elsa could feel her hot breath wash over her face. She wrinkled her nose; it did not smell pleasant.

"Back off, Belle. Now," Elsa warned.

Belle leaned in for a kiss, but before their lips touched Elsa shoved her away, hard. Belle grinned devilishly. "Oooh, you're sexy when you're angry!"

Elsa slapped her, hard. Belle reeled back, her cheek already flushing angrily. "You little bitch! You're lucky I like a bad girl, else you'd be regretting that!" She turned on her heel and stormed out, leaving Elsa alone.

The blonde returned to her seat by Rachel's bed. Sinking into it, she grasped her fiancée's hand in her own and burst into tears. She wept in solitude for a few moments, before Alice, Luke, Cally, and Anna returned. Seeing her distress, they all immediately rushed to her side, offering hugs and comforting words.

"What's wrong, honey?" Alice asked.

Between sobs, Anna regailed them in the tale of Belle's brash advancements, how she tried to kiss her and got a slap in return, how scared she was for their next encounter. By the time she was finished, Alice was red in the face, seething. "Does Dr. Schwartz know about this?"

Elsa nodded. "She does, and she's had words with her. Didn't stop her, though."

"Excuse me," Alice said, rising from her chair. She strode out of the ward, ostensibly to find Amanda.

Several minutes later Alice returned, a very disgruntled Amanda in tow. "Is this true, Elsa," Amanda asked her. "Did Belle make these advances towards you?"

Elsa nodded silently.

Alice turned to Amanda. "What are you going to do about this?"

"Nothing much I can do, personally, I'm afraid. It'll have to be taken to the board of directors. But rest assured that everything that can be done, will be done, okay?"

"Thank you, doctor."

"In other news," Amanda continued, "Rachel is ready to be moved from intensive care. She's stable, all we can do now is wait."

"Really?" Elsa leapt to her feet, smiling genuinely for what seemed like the first time in forever. "That's wonderful!"

The doctor smiled. "It certainly is good news." She called for two orderlies, who wasted no time in wheeling Rachel from the room. Elsa and her family followed, eager to help get Rachel settled in the new room. To Elsa's surprise, it was private, and much more pleasant than the darkened ICU. A huge window was on the far wall, light streaming in, and a vase of lilacs adorned the bedside table. Elsa took her usual seat by Rachel's bed, holding her hand firmly.

"I'm so sorry, Rachel..." Elsa whispered to the unconscious girl.

"What are you sorry for, Elsa?" Cally asked brusquely. Alice shushed her.

"I'm sorry for everything, snowflake. I'm supposed to protect you...and I couldn't." Sobbing gently, she leaned over and placed a light kiss on Rachel's lips, just as she did the day before. But something was different this time, her lips felt somehow more...real.

Elsa frowned, and kissed her again, lingering for longer this time.

"Elsa, honey, what's wrong?"

Elsa pulled back, barely able to believe what had just happened.

"Her lips twitched!"

Amanda rushed to Rachel's bedside, and pulled a little flashlight from her breast pocket. She opened Rachel's eye and shone the light at it, flicking it back and forth.

"There's a response," she said. "Definitely something." She straightened and turned to Elsa excitedly. "She's coming out of it, Elsa! I can't say for sure when, but it'll be very soon!"

"Oh, Amanda, thank you!" Elsa hugged the doctor tightly, causing her to gasp with surprise. "You're very welcome, Elsa, but I did very little. It was all her," she said, glancing at Rachel.

"Would you like to come to our wedding?" Elsa's question was abrupt, she even surprised herself by asking it.

"I-what?"

Elsa faltered. "I'm sorry, Amanda, I-that was presumptuous, we barely know each other. It's just that you've done so much for us, and-"

"Elsa, I would love to go," Amanda replied, beaming.

"Really?"

"Really!"

Elsa squealed, and hugged the doctor again. Amanda laughed, and excused herself, going off to attend to her other duties.

The day dragged by inexorably, waiting for Rachel to wake. Elsa didn't know how long it would take, it could be minutes, or several hours, but she couldn't risk not being at her side when she woke up. Rachel's hand was in Elsa's own, and it seemed to feel warmer to the touch. Alice, Cally, and Anna all excused themselves at various points during the day, either to visit the bathroom or find more food, but Elsa remained at Rachel's side.

Just as she was feeling like she was about to drop off, Rachel's hand squeezed her own. Elsa jolted up, excitement bursting through. "Rachel? Guys, come here! I think she's waking up!"

Alice pressed the assistance button, and a few seconds later Amanda tore through the door.

"She's waking up! She squeezed my hand!"

Amanda pushed through, and quickly examined Rachel. "You're right," she exclaimed, pulling back. "Now, we wait."

The coming minutes were unbearable. Elsa stroked Rachel's face gently, and received a gentle squeeze every so often. Rachel's eyes began to twitch, and she moved her head slightly.

"Come on, snowflake, come back to me," Elsa murmured. "You can do this, sweetheart...I need you more than anything right now..."

After what seemed like an eternity, Rachel's eyes opened. Elsa squealed, cupping Rachel's face.

"Back off for a second, Elsa," Amanda instructed. "Give her some space."

With great difficulty, Elsa straightened, but kept her hand firmly on Rachel's.

"Rachel, my darling...can you hear me?"

Rachel didn't reply, but her eyes flitted back and forth, jumping between each member of the group standing around her bed. A confused expression crossed her face.

"Rachel...?" Elsa was growing worried now.

"Give her some time," Amanda said softly. "She's going to be very disoriented."

Rachel moved her lips, obviously trying to speak, but no words came out.

"Come on, sweetheart, I know you can do this..."

An expression of great concentration appeared on Rachel's face, her brow furrowed. "Where am I?"

A huge sigh of relief echoed around the room, and Elsa squealed with joy. "Oh, Rachel, my sweet Rachel! You're in the hospital, my dearest. Can you remember what happened to you?"

Rachel frowned, trying to recall. "No...I can't..."

"That's only natural," Amanda offered. "With time, the events surrounding the crash will return."

Elsa leaned in and kissed Rachel on the tip of the nose. Rachel looked at Elsa again, a confused look on her face.

"What is it, snowflake?" Elsa asked softly.

Rachel's expression turned concerned, almost panicked, and she spoke three words Elsa would never have thought she'd ever hear.

"Who are you?"

A/N: So yeah. Belle. Bitch be cray cray, but I couldn't resist writing her, even if she is a bit over the top!