a/n: last update before i go to california! there will be more when i come back! enjoy this chapter :)

The club was unusually crowded on a Wednesday evening. Everyone should have been at work, but instead, everyone was here dancing to these blasting music. The DJ really needed a change. This whole place needed a change, honestly.

Elsa didn't give a crap now. Her friends were off somewhere, dancing. But Elsa… she liked being here alone with the bartender. It wasn't especially quiet. She just needed some personal space.

Plus… she had a really nice view of this girl's body.

"So what is a girl who - I know - got plenty of friends because she's just so beautiful, doing right here in a bar, drinking all by herself?"

Elsa raised her eyebrows and began bursting into a fitting giggle when she noticed a cute little redhead sitting beside her. "Beautiful? Are you kidding?"

The girl shrugged and propped her hands on the table. "Why, are you?"

Without answering her, Elsa took a sip of her alcoholic drink, eyes gazing at the bartender. "My friends are here. I just prefer to be alone."

"Ah… you're that type of girl." She nodded, amused. "Okay, I can entertain that. So what's your vice?"

"My vice?"

The woman rolled her eyes. "C'mon, can I grab you a drink? I know you're still drinking but I also know you're not done with tonight yet, right?"

Elsa squinted, smirking. She turned her full attention to the girl. "I am not the type of girl to let people buy drinks for me if I don't know their name."

"You'll know it." She bit her lip. "A-And you'll probably even scream it multiple times once I bring you home."

The girl raised her eyebrows. "Are you serious?" Ah, she really burst into laughter now. Must have been all that drinking. She didn't even hear the redhead groan.

"C'mon! I'm so awkward - my friends dared me to flirt, and I know I can't flirt but that's all I could think of! You gotta give me some credit here."

The blonde wiped away an imaginary tear, seeing the girl pout in front of her. "That… was a good try. Though, not something that would bring me home."

"Fine. I'll try harder."

"You can start by telling me your name."

She crossed her arms. "Name's Anna, by the way."

"Anna…" Ah, it just rolled off her tongue so naturally. "I'm Elsa. So tell me, what is a beautiful girl like you, so desperate to bring me home, doing in a club like this?"

"Okay, look… what you did back there yesterday - or I assumed what you did, was…"

Anna groaned, pressing her head against the railing of Elsa's balcony. "I know. I'm sorry."

This early in the morning, she was talking to Meg, unable to sleep… even when she told herself that she yearned to touch Elsa again. But even with the thought being so desirable, it also disgusted her.

So throughout the night, it was filled with hours of twisting and turning. Miraculously, Elsa was still asleep. Well, it's not like I don't twist and turn back then either.

Anna turned back, gazing at their bed, Elsa soundly asleep under the quilt. She sighed, taking a deep breath of the morning air. "You know, I do regret it."

"I mean, of course, you do. Anna, that scared me half to death. I'm not going to say how could you do that in front of Olaf but… honestly, how could you?"

Anna pinched a finger against the bridge of her nose, gripping her phone harder. "I didn't think you two would come out. Shit, I thought I could finally be open and raw about what the hell happened to us until you two came out." She sighed. "I got angry."

"Why, did she not tell you anything?"

Anna chuckled. "Oh, she told me, alright… she told me." And honestly, Anna just had to accept it. Looking back, Anna did… well, made this marriage seem like a servant and her humble queen. To Anna, everything seemed normal because all she wanted was to make Elsa happy. To spoil her. To do everything that Elsa told her to do without question. And why? In fear that Elsa would leave? How ironic.

Anna shut her eyes. "You know, I did wrong. I thought that if we could talk it out, we'd figure something out."

"Sometimes, talking doesn't really help, Anna."

"I know…" She pursed her lips. "I just wish, she wouldn't keep her reasons away from me. But I understand. I have to."

Meg sighed. "Honey, you'll work out."

"I hope so. But I doubt it with Hans in the way - "

"God, can we not talk about that guy? Honestly, it's disgusting."

Exactly. Anna let out a small grin. "Yeah, no talking about that guy."

"Look, whatever she wanted, I'm sure it's to save the both of you."

Anna gazed up at the clear sky. The sun was finally up, bright and shining. The breeze was chilling, but Anna still quite enjoyed this fresh air. "I'm sure. I just… I miss her. I miss Olaf. We're not the same."

"I'm telling you, you'll work it out. I'm sure she misses you too, Anna."

"Yeah, I don't know. But I'll try to believe that. Anyway, thanks for talking with me."

"Hey, no problem." Meg yawned. "Let's just… I'll just go back to sleep. It's Thanksgiving break, for Christ sake."

"Oh, yeah, Happy Thanksgiving."

"Yeah, eat a lot with Olaf."

When they hung up, Anna stayed outside just for the breeze for a little while. She always loved early mornings - even though she was not always keen on waking up early - where barely anybody was outside, and the birds were just chirping in the trees. Right now, she had the time to reflect.

Everything that she had done… that she had said to Elsa was only leaving her to second-guess herself. That perhaps, what Elsa said… wasn't true at all. That Elsa only thought she didn't love her. That Elsa was sick and tired of their marriage.

Anna shook her head and turned back inside. She closed the glass door silently, making her way back in bed.

Elsa's face was so peaceful, while Anna gazed with such softness. Such forgiveness.

Those thoughts… oh, Anna only wished that it was true. Seeing how Elsa was still sleeping so peacefully was just a way to tell Anna that… the woman never really did love her. Not anymore.

"Mm…"

Anna blinked, watching Elsa's eyelids fall open, a hand covering a yawn. "Anna…?"

"Hi," she whispered.

Elsa ran her hand over her face, turning to her back, and gazing hazily at the ceiling. "You're awake…" Ah, her voice was so hoarse. Anna nearly giggled.

"Yeah, I couldn't sleep."

The blonde turned her head to meet with Anna's eyes. "Why?"

She shrugged. "Just… thinking, that's all. I was talking to Meg earlier."

"About what?" Elsa's expression was completely stoic.

"Nothing you should worry about," Anna waved her away. But looking at the blonde, Anna knew she wasn't so convinced.

But they stared in silence, and Anna wished for this silence to continue. She didn't want Elsa questioning her - didn't want Elsa to pry… to know how Anna felt. She felt vulnerable enough.

Elsa shut her eyes and nodded. "Alright." Phew.

The redhead let out a relieved sigh, watching her ex-wife sit up in bed, her fingers running through her hair.

"I'm… happy that you're here." Elsa gazed at her… and Anna just didn't understand those eyes. So gentle… so loving. As if she was unable to control herself, Anna smiled.

"Me too."

Elsa took a deep breath in, looking at her surrounds. "Look, you have every right to be angry at me - in fact, please be angry. But Olaf still needs you."

And you don't? The redhead sat up as well, gazing down at her curled legs. She shook her head. "I'm not angry. I'm just glad you still want to keep me around." She didn't understand what she was feeling at all - not even anger. Perhaps, she was bitter… though only bitter about herself. But for the moment, she was relieved - she felt… at home. To just sit with Elsa in the morning, with the sun glowing on their skin… to just talk about whatever, was something that Anna longed for.

She felt Elsa's arm touching hers as they sat close together. "You'll find someone, Anna. I know you will."

Anna wanted to scoff at her. Find someone? Why? She didn't need to when she still had these feelings for Elsa. "I don't want to. I just want to be with Olaf, that's it."

"Anna -"

"I know." Anna gritted her teeth, her fingers pulled into fists. "I'm not who you want me to be - but I can change. I am changing. And I know I will never be enough for you, but…" She frowned. "Just let me be enough for Olaf. Please?"

Before Elsa could even say anything, the two girls were startled by a loud cry from the other room. "Mama! Mama!"

Anna felt every little hair perk up from her arms, her eyes widened at Elsa. "What was that?"

"Shit..." Elsa didn't even reply to her as she jumped out of bed immediately, Anna quickly following suit. Olaf was crying loudly in the other room, prompting both women's heart pumping with adrenaline and fear.

"Olaf!" Anna was fast to pass Elsa, opening the door to his room to see the poor boy sitting up in his bed, arms holding tightly to his teddy bear. He continued to weep, only opening his eyes to see his mother. Her eyes widened. She had… never seen Olaf crying this loudly before - perhaps, even at all for a long time.

"M-Mama…" he whimpered, arms raising up for her hug.

"Oh dear God, what happened?" With Elsa by the door watching, Anna slowly moved in, sitting next to him. She immediately put him in her arms, her lips to his hair. But even with being in the comfort of his parent's arms, Olaf continued to weep.

She didn't get an answer from him so she turned to Elsa. "What happened…?" she mouthed.

Elsa sighed and walked in, letting herself sit beside Anna as well. She placed a hand on Anna's back. "He's been… having nightmares." She ran her fingers through his thin hair. "It's been a while now."

Anna grimaced, continuing to cradle him. "What? Nightmares? Olaf, baby…" She let Olaf take his time to pull away, his cheeks covered in shedding tears. He sniffled, eyes gazing down. "Baby, please tell me, are you having nightmares?"

He timidly nodded. Fuck.

She was completely heartbroken. Anna was quick to choke back her own tears as well. She smiled ever so softly. "Can you tell me what you dreamt about?"

Olaf shook his head.

"Please? Mama's here, okay?" Trying to lighten the mood, Anna softly pinched his cheek. "Come on, you're a big boy. Nobody's going to hurt you. We're both here."

He turned to Elsa as if asking for her approval in silence. When she nodded, he sniffled, using his arm to wipe away the tears laid in the corner of his eyes. "I-I had a dream… that Mama… y-you were… you left and you said you were never going to love me a-again. M-Mama, please don't leave me…" He started weeping again, his face pressed against the crook of Anna's neck.

"Oh, baby, no." Sighing - as well as choking back apologetic words - she hugged the little man tightly, her hand patting his back. "Shh, it's okay. It's okay. I'm here… Mama won't leave you. I promise."

"I-I really thought you would g-go away…"

Anna bit her lip, shaking her head. "How could I ever go away? I won't, honey. I'll always be here."

"R-Really?" he mumbled. "Y-You won't leave Mom either?"

For a second, Anna didn't know what to say - but all she could feel was this heartache. She turned to Elsa, and the exact same expression that she had was mirrored on Elsa's face. Without a word, she placed a hand on Elsa's, letting their fingers entwine between each other.

Ah, the squeeze of Elsa's hand on hers was comforting. And Elsa came closer, her other hand holding Olaf's… her head placed on Anna's shoulder.

"Mama won't leave us. Right?" she whispered.

Olaf picked his head up, seeing his two parents' soft expression. "Mama, you promise?"

"I promise, baby." I hope.