AN: Thanks for the kind comments of reviewers frankenjones, wannasalad, Master Kosa, Gcohen, sedryn, and MilandaAnza from the last chapter. Now that the manuscript arc is over, the last arc is finally going to take focus. I'm seeing the end draw near! It has been a long while since I've completed a story that isn't a one-shot, so I'm quite excited. I've made plans for five more chapters, so if everything goes well, the story will be finished this spring. Thanks for having stayed with me for so long! Just a reminder, this last arc will have some focus on religion and its relationship with homosexuality. The characters' views by no means reflect my personal views, nor do I want to use the characters to pass judgement on anybody's views. I do apologize that as an atheist (with very little Christian upbringing in my childhood), there is just so much research that I can do before writing this, so if I quoted things out of context due to my ignorance, please don't take it personally. I just wanted to convey different viewpoints that seem to me common in our current society, how they affect the characters' interactions with each other, and also how the characters are not just embodiments of such views - that regardless of conflicts, there are still things that do not change between them. Hope you'll like it!

PS - and thanks sedryn for some useful suggestions! I really appreciate it!

(This is the July 2016 revised chapter)

Courtship of the Grad Student

Chapter 20

Elsa's car pulled into Anna's driveway. Anna hopped out, followed by the blonde who was struggling with holding the towel and pork buns and trying to lock the car doors at the same time. Anna laughed and returned to Elsa, taking the buns from her hands before heading over to unlock the front door of her home.

"Go dry yourself in the washroom. You're totally soaking my pork..." Anna's voice trailed off the moment she opened the door to see who was sitting inside her basement suite, "...buns."

"Buns?" Elsa wondered what the heck was Anna talking about. She moved to the side of Anna so she could cross the doorway, only to be similarly shocked, grounded to where she stood.

"Are you not going to come in, Anna?" A stern, male voice spoke. It was Anna's father.

"Why are you here?" Anna asked, a little accusingly.

"Am I not allowed to visit the place I rent?"

True, her parents paid her rent. It wasn't for this reason, however, that she had given her parents keys. She wanted them to come down and visit her whenever they wished, and this was not the first time they had surprised her like this. What she didn't expect, nor did she appreciate, was for them to waltz into her house and seemingly demand an explanation for what she hadn't done wrong.

"You're not here to visit, Pa. You are here because of Uncle Nik's wedding."

"It is not a wedding, Anna, but I am here to talk about it, yes."

"Then I have nothing to say," she answered, about to storm through the living room into her bedroom. Her mother stopped her by grabbing her wrist and gently easing her down to the sofa.

"Anna dear, let's just sit down first. Your father isn't meaning to reprimand you or anything," she said, turning towards Elsa, "And your friend is still standing there. Maybe you'd like to introduce us to her?"

Reminded that Elsa was still standing by the closed door, Anna reluctantly nodded. "Elsa, they are my parents, my dad Agnarr and my mom Iduna."

Before Anna could introduce her, Elsa took over and greeted the couple, "My name is Elsa Snow. I'm Anna's lab mentor and friend from the University of Arendelle. Nice to meet you."

Anna wanted to add on to what Elsa just said, but Elsa shook her head very slightly to stop her. Anna hesitantly swallowed her words. Elsa then stepped forward to shake Iduna's hand and Agnarr's. Though Agnarr did give her hand a solid shake out of politeness, it was clear his mind was elsewhere.

"Anna has told me a lot about you, Elsa. You don't mind me calling you by your name, do you?"

"It's quite alright, Mrs. Summers."

"Oh, Iduna is fine. Anna said that you've been helping her out a lot in the lab. I'm glad to hear that she has finally found a friend at university. You know, maybe we're just too nosy as parents, because Anna has had trouble making friends since she was a kid. She used to get so bored at home she'd bike around the halls, and there was this one time she crashed into our family's set of antique armour and broke off the gauntlet!"

"Fortunately, she has yet to break anything more expensive than a beaker at our lab," Elsa answered. This drew a laugh from Iduna, but Agnarr barely smiled. Understanding the situation, Elsa turned towards the kitchen, "I'm sure you and Mr. Summers are tired from your travels. Let me heat up some food for you. I just happen to have bought these delicious Chinese pork buns. I think you would like them."

"Thank you very much, Elsa. I really appreciate it," Iduna called after her. By then, Agnarr finally returned his gaze to Anna.

"I don't want to be saying this in front of your friend, but..."

"Pa, I said already. I'm not changing my mind about Uncle Nik. I support him."

"I know you love your uncle, but love doesn't mean to let him do as he pleases. Would you not turn in a murderer even if he were your relative?"

Anna felt anger flare up again, "A murderer? You're comparing Uncle Nik to a murderer? He just loves a man - how is that in any way comparable to murder!?"

"Anna," Iduna called her name softly, stroking her hand, "That's not what your father meant. You know this."

"I don't know what he means anymore..." Anna muttered.

"I mean that I love my brother as much, if not more, than you love him. I grew up with him, you didn't. But because I love him, I can't bear seeing him walk down the wrong path and forsake the salvation otherwise promised to us."

"Why do you have to take things so literally out of the Bible, Pa? That book is more than a thousand years old and has been edited who knows how many times to fit the political and personal agendas of whoever was in power at the time. How can you use that to condemn Uncle Nik? He's the kindest person I've ever known!"

"The Bible may be old but that doesn't diminish its value. As a Christian, you shall not cherry-pick whatever you want to hear and ignore what you do not agree with. The Lord is for you to follow, not for you to doubt."

"I never said I doubt God, I'm doubting the book written by humans, edited by humans, interpreted by humans! God is perfect, right? God is almighty, right? God loves us, right? Then why did God make gays if he hates gays?"

"It is a test, and I am trying my very best to help Nik pass this test. God did not create murderers for them to be murderers, or rapists for them to be rapists - God created them to be human, to have human desires, but they succumbed to those desires and became dictated by their evil. But so long as they repent, God is forgiving. They too can be saved. Don't you understand, Anna? I want Nik to be saved too. I don't want to see him descend into eternal hell!"

"You will not compare Uncle Nik to a murderer or a rapist!" Anna shouted, so loud that Elsa almost dropped the pork buns she was taking out the microwave. There was a deafening silence as Anna glared into her father's serious eyes, Iduna looked down towards the ground in powerlessness, and Elsa just worriedly stared at Anna.

"You need to calm down and listen to what I say, Anna," Agnarr said, only to have Anna shake her head at him.

"No. You are the one who needs to take your head out of your holy book and start looking at the world around you, Pa."

Anna did not wait for him to answer, opening the front door and running out into the rain. Iduna called after her to no avail.

"I will keep an eye on Anna. If you need anything, please let me know," Elsa said to Iduna before she followed Anna outside.

It was still raining heavily outside, but the mood had lost its romantic feel. Anna's excitement that Elsa had come to pick her up from the symposium, her plans to celebrate Elsa's victory over Weselton...it all dissipated. It was after she ran a full block down the street that she even remembered she had just left Elsa at her house. Feeling guilty, she turned back, but her feet stopped, refusing her command. She really didn't want to return. Images from childhood came back to her, the times her father would hold her up with his strong arms so she could reach up high into the skies and bat at falling snowflakes with her hands. The man she just faced was the same man she had always looked up to and depended on for protection. He was her idol, her shelter, her encyclopedia. Now, she lost it all. She knew what she had just said to her father wasn't wrong. It was unfair that she should feel even the faintest tinges of regret for saying them. But still, it didn't ease the clenching of her jaws, the furrow of her brows, the tears that threatened to fall. Why should she be the one to feel bad? He should be the one to apologize!

The rumble of engine and squeak of stopping tires caught Anna's attention. She turned towards the road where Elsa had just parked her car.

"Elsa?"

"So you were saying I was making your buns wet? What are you doing here getting yourself wet?"

Anna wanted to joke about it, say that she didn't have any buns with her now so it was okay, but those words wouldn't escape. She closed her eyes, hard, then uttered...

"I don't want to go home."

Elsa got out her car and drew Anna into her embrace. Anna fell limply into her arms.

"Don't be silly, Anna. Home is where your loved ones are, so...if you don't mind...I...I will be your home, okay?"

Anna hid her face into Elsa's chest, latching on, pulling close.

"Un...please take me home, Elsa."

The night had set in. Agnarr remained seated on the sofa while Iduna stood to take a call from the phone set on the cabinet.

"Alright. Thank you for taking care of her, Elsa. Please keep me updated. Goodbye."

With that, she ended the call and came over to Agnarr's side again, "Elsa just called. She said Anna is doing fine, just a little upset still. She'll be spending the night with her friends on campus."

"Her friends...I wonder if they are the ones teaching Anna these...abominations."

"Agnarr, please. You're making this more difficult than it needs to be."

"But what am I to think? My little girl has always been so good. She followed the Lord's words and had a kind heart."

"She still has a kind heart. That much I can see."

"Just showing her kindness in the wrong way." Agnarr was insistent, and Iduna felt it was useless to continue arguing with him. Still, Agnarr did not stop there, "She keeps getting hung up on my comparisons with Nikolas' sins and that of murderers and rapists without seeing the bigger message I'm trying to convey. A small sin, a large sin, is still a sin. Nikolas can only be forgiven if he repents. We all have sins and only repenting will save us. Why can't Anna see this? By attending Nikolas'...celebration of sin, she's doing nothing but encouraging him to continue down that path to condemnation!"

Iduna sighed, "That may be true, but you said already, Anna cannot see this, and the way you say it is not helping. 'Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.' The first line of Matthew 6.1. Saying that you are right and Anna is wrong repeatedly will not get you anywhere. Show her you love Nikolas as you say you do. Show her regardless of what sins Nikolas commits you will still forgive him and accept him. It's his wedding, for goodness' sake! It doesn't matter what we think of it, but clearly this is important for him. Why can't you just let Anna attend? Why shouldn't we attend?"

"So you're saying if he murders someone, I should go help him?"

"But he is not murdering someone. He is not hurting anyone. Even if he were a murderer, your obligation is just to stop the murder, not to kill the murderer. 'There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbour?' - James 4:12. Nikolas and Anna know of the Bible, have read the Bible, have made up their minds about what they think of the Bible, and your judgement of them will not change this. They have their free will to practice whatever it is that they want; this is what God has given them, what God has planned for them. Our love for them should not stop because of our perception of their actions. Even if they were murderers, we should still love them, accept them, give to them. We cannot demand others to live a righteous life. We can only demand from ourselves."

"But they are my brother and daughter! I can't...I just can't watch them go on like this!"

Agnarr was a tough man. Though not overly tall or muscular, he still held an impressive stature. But now, Iduna knew he was close to tears. He held his face in his palms and his voice shook with emotions. Iduna could do nothing but hold him in her arms.

"I know. I know you are worried for them. Then let us pray for the Lord's forgiveness. We must have faith that He will make everything right again."

It had been two days since Anna started living at Elsa's dorm room.

Classes were out. It was time for final exams to begin. Anna had four exams scheduled for next week, and one the week after, but she had yet to start studying. It wasn't that she felt she was already prepared, or that she just wanted to procrastinate - the moment she sat down by herself to study, memories would flood her. Her father's distrust and disappointment were more than she could take, not just because she loved her Uncle Nik and couldn't help but feel angry at the way her father was treating him, but also that her father was indirectly reprimanding her relationship with Elsa. She had a hard enough time realizing her own feelings and expressing them to Elsa, finally to have her accept them, and now her family told her this was all wrong? She had anticipated that this would happen, but even so, it still hurt when it did.

"Anna, you sure you want to keep working? Even Kristoff has taken a break to study. Would you really be okay for your finals?" Elsa asked while Anna stacked yet another box of P1000 tips. Hardly anybody used these, and the twenty boxes they had on their shelf would probably last them a couple months. Then again, Elsa really didn't have anything else for Anna to do. The biohazard trash had been autoclaved, the experiments she had planned were all completed while they awaited new enzymes to arrive, even the bench was sparkling clean.

"I'll take a look at the summary section of the research grant you were working on," Anna said, sitting down by the computer to edit the document. Elsa just stared at her back, not knowing what to say. In the end, she could only relent.

"Alright. I'll buy lunch from across the street. We can eat together after I come back."

Anna almost wanted to jump out of her seat and follow Elsa, but thought that she probably shouldn't. Ever since the argument with her dad, she had been clinging onto Elsa - if she kept doing this, Elsa would probably suffocate. She didn't want to be such a high-maintenance girlfriend.

"Cool. I'll wait here," she said instead, turning back to the screen. Elsa forced herself to tear her concerned gaze off Anna and made her way downstairs.

The lab building was emptier with the undergrads off to study, but the campus itself was busier. Students came and went from the libraries, dorms, and restaurants, making Elsa somewhat uncomfortable the moment she came out the building to walk among them. She held her coat tighter to herself despite not being bothered by the cold at all, hiding the bottom half of her face within the high collar.

"Excuse me, are you Elsa?" She heard someone call from a nearby distance. She nearly jumped, but did manage to gather herself enough to shift her eyes towards the voice.

"Iduna!?" She called upon recognizing the woman. Iduna smiled.

"Sorry, I called the number you gave me, but nobody answered, so I thought I'd come by to see if I can catch you around the lab building."

"Oh, that's my dorm phone number, so that's probably why nobody answered. Is there something I can help you with?"

Iduna smiled, gesturing towards the coffee shop in the near distance, "If you don't mind, would you like to have a coffee with me? It's on me."

"I can use some caffeine, but I'll pay. Please don't worry about it."

The coffee shop was very crowded. It took them ten minutes to get their coffee, and despite waiting another ten minutes, they still couldn't find a spot to sit. The tables were all occupied with students studying for exams, textbooks, laptops and notes all lying there - it didn't seem like anybody had the intention of moving out of their seats.

"Maybe we can take a little stroll? I'm not sure if you mind the cold though," Elsa suggested.

"No, a stroll would be perfectly fine with me," Iduna answered.

Thus, they made their way across campus to the small garden overlooking the ocean. The garden was a popular lunch spot during the summer, but with flowers wilted and trees bare now, it looked a little miserable. However, this made the garden nice and quiet - perfect for their conversation.

"So what would you like to talk about, Iduna? Please, be frank with me. I do not mind," Elsa said.

"Then forgive me if I'm too forward about this. I was hoping you could ask Anna to come back home," Iduna said. She displayed no hostility, but it was clear that she saw something about Elsa that Agnarr hadn't. "I know you've been taking good care of our daughter and I really thank you for that. I want you to know that I'm not blaming you for Anna's behaviour. I just think that she might be more willing to listen to you than Agnarr and I, so..."

"I...it's not that I do not want to help you, Iduna, but I'm not sure if it's really right for me to tell Anna what to do in this case."

"Of course, I'm not expecting this to be a magic cure. I guess what I'm trying to say is...it would be great if you could tell Anna for us that we still really do love her. She does have a home to return to. We don't want her to feel like we're pushing her away."

Elsa was troubled. With Anna still so upset, she didn't want to bring up the issue in front of her. She also didn't feel like she had the right to do it. What position should she take? What would be best for Anna and how could she decide this?

"I will tell her what you said, but I think it might be better for you to tell her yourself. After all, I think the words would sound different coming from you than coming from me."

"I know. I will," Iduna answered. She took a seat on the stone bench and stared out into the waters far below the railing. "Anna has grown a lot, far faster than I thought she would. I should be happy, but as a parent, it's sometimes hard to let go. You know what I mean?"

"I can only imagine..." Elsa's voice trailed off, but she had more to say - it just took her a while to gather the words. The past months with Anna came to mind, her awkwardness, her determination, but also that subtle uncertainty about herself at first. Now, that uncertainty was gone. Anna had grown. She now shone with a stronger light, and that shouldn't be something to be ashamed of. "But I think Anna's growth is a good thing. She is now more sure of herself than ever, and such confidence has enlightened those around her. I am proud to say she has supported me greatly. Though I may be her mentor, she was not the only one to learn from this process - I have benefited greatly as well."

"I see," Iduna answered, smiling to Elsa's sincerity. She was relieved to know that Anna now had someone who cared so much for her that she would speak favourably on her behalf even in her absence.

Elsa was surprised when Iduna suddenly placed a hand on hers. She widened her eyes, only to feel Iduna's warmth flow seamlessly into her veins.

"Elsa."

"Yes?"

"I am very happy to see that Anna has you by her side."

Elsa didn't know what to say, or even how to feel about what was being said. Should she lie and clarify that there was nothing going on between Anna and her aside from student and mentor? Or would that just make it worse, seeing as Iduna didn't specify what she meant here. She just nodded slightly for lack of a better response, but Iduna didn't seem to mind her passivity.

"You see, Agnarr isn't a mean-spirited person. Stubborn, yes, but ultimately, he has Anna and her Uncle Nik's best interests at heart. He doesn't mean to hurt them."

"...I guess I can see that."

"What he has seen in life is not what Anna has seen, so naturally, as Anna gains experiences that are different from his, and thus formulate opinions that do not conform to his line of logic, he becomes frustrated that he can no longer understand her. He is worried that she is being influenced negatively, but that's not what I think is happening. Like you said, I think Anna is growing up, and that's a good thing.

But I can't easily convince him of this. His brother, Nikolas...you probably know already, but he's getting married with a man. Agnarr thinks it will lead him to hell. He thinks that the only way to save him is to change him. I know not everyone will think this way, but this is Agnarr we're talking about. He's terrified, really, because he doesn't want to lose those of whom he loves to the eternal fire. Real or not, he believes in it. Anna may be right that he's foolish. But a fool will not recognize his own foolishness. Telling him that his worries are just nonsense isn't going to help him.

I...I know it's too much to ask of Anna and Nikolas to forgive him, but I don't have a choice. Someone has to take a step forward and make a compromise, and I've tried with Agnarr, but he wouldn't listen. Of course, I'm not saying that Nikolas should give up his love to please Agnarr, or for Anna to give up her support of Nikolas either. But is there any way to reach middle ground here? Maybe Anna can send Nikolas her blessings on paper, or by phone, or...just so Agnarr would not know about it? You see what I'm saying?"

Elsa was an intelligent person. Maybe she was not used to human interaction, but her power allowed her to understand her fellow human beings to a deeper extent than most. She knew Iduna wasn't lying when she said she was glad that Elsa was by Anna's side, but Elsa did take the hint that Iduna was not only referring to Nikolas' wedding when she talked about hiding Anna's conflict with Agnarr from him.

It was not that Elsa couldn't understand Iduna's thinking. She sympathized with her plight, and honestly, she had no qualms even if Anna were to decide to go along with Agnarr on the surface so as to not anger him. But...

"Iduna, I will be honest. I understand your concerns, and I really do want Anna to reconcile with her father, but ultimately it's her decision. I cannot promise anything in her stead."

Iduna nodded, "Of course. Of course. What am I saying?"

Elsa could feel disappointment in Iduna's aura. She really wanted to help her, but this was not the way to do it.

Instead, she sandwiched Iduna's hand with her own. "Please don't worry too much. I think we can trust Anna and her father. They love each other, and that alone should eventually resolve any conflicts between them."

It was an hour later that Elsa would return to the lab.

"I bought sandwiches. They're outside in your cubby hole. You want to eat now?" Elsa asked Anna. She turned around wearily.

"Yeah. You took so long I nearly starved to death. I need to revitalize."

"Right, right. Sorry I took so long, Princess," Elsa said, bending down a little to offer Anna her hand. Anna took it and Elsa pulled her up from her seat, leading her out onto the hallway where they retrieved the sandwiches.

They went down to the lunch room to eat. Long after the usual lunch hours, the area was empty. They took a seat by the Christmas Tree.

"Did you hear about the Decorate the Tree contest?" Anna broke the silence.

"So...sorry. What did you say?" Elsa wasn't paying attention. She had been thinking about her meeting with Iduna.

"Is something wrong, Elsa?"

Anna didn't ask why she was late, but Elsa really didn't want to hide anything from her either. After much contemplation, she finally spoke.

"I ran into your mother when I was getting lunch."

"What!? What did she say to you?" Anna grabbed onto Elsa's hand protectively. Elsa shook her head.

"Believe me, it's not something to worry about."

"What do you mean it's not something to worry about? Why did she come talk to you in the first place? About Uncle Nik? Or...does she know about us?"

"I think she knows, but she is not against it, which is why I'm saying it's not something to worry about."

Anna let go, sighing in relief. "Last thing I want is for her or my dad to start getting on our case. But Elsa, I swear, even if they say no, I won't change my mind about you. I won't let them hurt you, alright?"

"I know, Anna. I trust you."

Anna nodded, finally calming down a bit. She took a bite from her sandwich, but it tasted bland. Elsa rubbed a hand down her back.

"Easy now. I know things are hard for you, but you need to let it go sometimes."

"I don't know how. I mean, it's great knowing my mom is supportive, but Pa...I don't know how to face him."

"Your mom was saying that you need to know he loves you too. He still does and always will. He just has some obstinate opinions..."

"It's not just an opinion when he's hurting someone with it!" Anna shouted, then looked down to the ground guiltily, "I didn't mean to raise my voice on you. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I understand."

"I know you and Ma are just trying to help, and I thank you for that. But I can't just let my dad get away with hurting Uncle Nik, and me, like this! What right does he have to judge us? He says he loves us, but at the same time, he compares us to murderers and rapists. Murderers and rapists, Elsa! To him, my falling in love with you is like killing someone!"

Elsa reached forward to wrap her arms around Anna, letting her snuggle into her embrace.

"It's okay. Regardless of what he thinks, you and I know that our love is not like that. We're happy together. Our friends are happy for us. There is no reason to feel ashamed."

"I get it. I'm not ashamed either. But why does Pa have to be like this? While everybody else is happy for us, happy for Uncle Nik, he has to be such an asshole about it! I want to tell him about us, because I want all my family and friends to celebrate your presence in my life. But at the same time, I'm scared. I don't know what kind of horrible things he'd say, not just to me, but to you too, Elsa. I don't want that. I just don't!"

"Then don't tell him. It's okay. I don't mind."

She hugged Anna tightly, but Anna struggled and pushed Elsa gently away. When they faced each other again, Anna faced Elsa's gaze head-on. Elsa tried to hide it, but there were hints of worry and hurt on her face. Anna clenched her teeth.

"Elsa, tell me what my mom actually said to you. Did she tell you to go away?"

"No, Anna. I said already, she is happy for us. She wouldn't say that."

"Then what did she say? Say it. Don't hide it from me."

"She didn't say anything, really, but I guess what she means is that we should probably keep our relationship away from your dad. You know how he reacted to your uncle's wedding. He's not going to take it well if we were to tell him about us."

Now Anna made a fist. Her knuckles became white. She could feel her teeth grind together, and whatever guilt and sadness she felt about her conflict with Agnarr disappeared to anger.

"You did not promise her."

"Of course I didn't! Anna, I know this is between you and your dad. I'm not going to butt my head into this without consulting you."

"Thank you," Anna said, then grabbing onto Elsa's face with both hands, pushed herself onto Elsa's lips.

Anna did not beg for entry. She just entered. Her tongue invaded every nook and cranny of Elsa's mouth, her gums, her teeth, her palate, the crevice beneath her tongue. Even from her sitting position, Elsa was being pushed against the wall beside her, forcing her to shift so that she could lean onto the hard surface with her back. Nearly robbed of her breath, she pushed weakly against Anna, but Anna just held her hands down to her lap, drawing a moan from her. When Anna finally moved away from her mouth, Elsa was panting for air, but Anna wouldn't let her go, moving down to suck on her neck.

"Anna...not here...it's the lunch room for goodness' sake! Someone can come in here at any time...uuuun!"

The slight pain on her neck drew her attention. This was not the usual soft kiss, but a hard, possessive one. Only after hearing Elsa's cry did Anna let go, heaving as she stared at Elsa.

"Sorry. I...didn't mean to...did it hurt?"

"It's just going to leave a mark on my neck, that's all."

"Sorry. I should've asked first. I...I just wanted you to know, I'm not going to give in to my dad, or my mom for that matter. I have no intentions of hiding what we have between us. You are mine, and of course, I'm yours."

She was blushing at the embarrassing statement she just made. Elsa laughed.

"You're so silly."

"Oh come on, Els. Don't rub it in!"

"Fine, fine. I'll keep your feelings in my heart but forget the exact wording you just chose. Is that cool then?"

Anna nodded, holding onto Elsa's hand. "To prove my conviction, would you like to come with me to Uncle Nik's wedding? You know, as my significant other?"

"Just to prove your conviction?" Elsa teased.

"That and I'm sure you'd love Uncle Nik. I really want to introduce you to him and his husband. Is that okay?"

"Of course it is. I'd be happy to accept your invitation."

End of Chapter 20

- as usual, your comments, suggestions, and impressions are all welcome!

