Chapter 5

Anna groaned as she felt the bright lights fill her front room. The light was almost stinging her eyes and there was a deep ache in her head. The whole world seemed blurry and groggy. Anna could barely sit up in her own bed. As she finally sat up, she hugged her legs.

It had been a long night and Anna didn't even remember half of it. She remembered picking Jessie up from Ariel's house and getting her to bed, but the rest was a blank. Something had happened... something involving her drinking something and before that... she'd been arguing with someone.

Then she saw the empty wine bottle beside her bed. That explained the massive migraine she was having. Then it all came back to her... how she had freaked out over Elsa, about how they were moving too fast and how she thought Elsa was probably using her to get over her own ex-girlfriend.

Why did she panic like that? Everything was going perfect... she had ruined things as usual. She cried a little, feeling ashamed of herself. It was a mystery why she'd panicked like that. Maybe it was the fact that it had been so long since someone had tried anything sexual with her? Maybe her fear just took over in that instant.

Whatever the reason, Anna knew Elsa wasn't probably going to forgive her for it.

Just then Anna heard the soft noise of footsteps walking to her door.

"Mommy?"

Anna looked over from the covers and saw Jessie stood in the doorway. Her heart broke as she saw her daughter, staring at the broken shell of her mother. "Oh... hey sweetie."

"Are you okay?" Jessie asked. "I heard you crying last night."

The redhead sighed. She had to be honest with her daughter and try and explain things to her in a way a little five-year-old girl would understand.. "I'm sorry, baby. I didn't mean for you to hear me... Mommy was just feeling very sad." She held out her arms. "Come here... Mommy needs a hug."

Jessie got on the bed and Anna hugged her tightly. She felt even more regret after letting her Daughter get dragged into all this. But she was determined to fix this mess. Perhaps... she'd even try fixing things with Elsa... maybe. But Anna knew she needed to help herself first.

"Are you sad because something happened with you and that Elsa lady?"

Anna nodded. "Yes... Mommy made a mistake and we got upset."

"Are you gonna say sorry to her?"

Thinking a moment, Anna knew she wanted to say sorry. Even if Elsa wasn't going to forgive her... at least Anna would be able to tie up her loose ends over that. After all, she'd been carrying the burden of what happened with Hans for five years. The last thing she wanted was her attempt at a relationship again to go just as sour.

"Yes... I think I will, but I'm still a little sad over it."

Jessie then noticed the wine bottle. "What's that?"

A brief moment of panic washed over Anna, as she wondered how best to word it. How would someone try and explain alcohol to a little girl. After a moment of thinking, Anna figured she had a good answer. "That's... Mommy's sad drink. She only drinks it when she's really, really sad, to try and make her feel better."

"Did it make you feel better?"

Her mother looked down. "No... not really. Promise me you won't let yourself get so sad that you're forced to drink that stuff okay?"

"I promise," Jessie said with a smile. Anna knew she'd probably keep that promise.

Anna grinned. "Good girl... now how about we have breakfast then go watch cartoons."

"Yay!" Jessie cheered before running out of the room.

Groaning as she slumped from her bed, Anna stumbled to her feet and stared at herself in the mirror. She looked like death itself. Deep bags under her eyes and her skin looking very wrinkled and worn. She looked liked she'd aged ten years in one night of sleep.

She hated how she'd drunk herself like that. How Jessie had seen her? What kind of a mother was she, letting herself get so sad and depressed in front of her little girl. Jessie needed a good role model in life and Anna... wasn't being that at all.

She decided that right now she would focus on having a great Christmas with Jessie. And from this moment on... no more alcohol. She couldn't risk letting Jessie see her as a depressed drunk woman. Anna was better than that. She had to be.

After she'd gotten herself cleaned up and dressed, she headed downstairs to have breakfast with Jessie. She tried to make sure she still looked happy in front of her little girl. The last thing she wanted was her little girl to be worried sick about her own mother.

When breakfast was over with, the two of them curled up on the couch in blankets to watch cartoons. They'd always done this, every Saturday morning. Anna wondered if when Jessie was old enough they could watch some of the cartoons she'd grown up with, like Ninja Turtles and Batman.

Anna smiled as her little girl was snuggled up beside her. They watched cartoons for most of that morning, Anna doing her best to forget about what had happened the night before and focus on trying to recover.

However, as she saw one of the many commercial breaks ending, Anna then saw the next cartoon on was... Olaf the Happy Snowman.

Normally, she would have been happy to watch her favourite show, but now that she knew that Elsa was the one who created it... well she felt a little empty inside. That Elsa, in her proud work as showrunner, had made one of the most wholesome cartoons in the world... and Anna had only brought darkness to that woman's life.

Jessie then looked up at Anna, noticing her mother was visibly depressed. "Hey, Mommy, what's wrong, you usually love Olaf."

"I do, but Mommy is still a little sad," Anna assured her daughter.

"Oh... Okay."

Anna sighed as the usual opening credits skipped forwards. It was such a happy, cheerful song that would have made Anna's face broaden into a grin.

But all Anna could feel was reminders of the woman who had put her heart and soul into this show. A woman who's heart... she'd probably just broken.

The episode title then came up. "The Queen's Lament."

It certainly wasn't an episode they'd seen before, that was for certain.

xXx

It was a cold and mystical afternoon in the kingdom of Arendelle, a land known for its neverending winter and constant snowfall. Not that the citizens minded, of course. It was a reality of the kingdom being so far north and being the homeland of one of the most powerful elementals in the world.

On top of the largest mountain in the land, Olaf waddled up the snowy slope to the Snow Queen's massive ice palace, saying a cheerful hello to all the various ice creatures the Queen had made. It delighted him greatly as the various creatures and snowmen were like his extended family.

The palace itself was truly a wonder of the world. Made of the finest ice at the Queen's command, It stood almost as tall as the mountain peak that it rested against. Atop the palace was a spire topped with a snowflake, the aura of the building bringing a sense of wonder and enchantment to the frozen wilderness.

As Olaf approached the massive gates, a giant snow monster stood to guard the palace from intruders. He really was a giant, standing much, much more than a head taller than Olaf. With a titanic figure, massive arms that were covered in spikes and empty, cold sockets instead of eyes.

"Who approaches!" he bellowed loudly.

"It's me, Olaf!" the little snowman waved cheerfully. "Hi, Marshmallow!"

The titan smiled a little, leaning down towards him. "Oh. Hello, Olaf."

"Hey big fella, can you let me in?"

Marshmallow shook his head. "No, Queen is busy."

"But she asked me here!" Olaf chirped. "I remember, she sent a message on the icy winds."

"It's okay, Marshmallow," a kind, generous voice said. Both Marshmallow and Olaf looked up, staring in awe at the sight of their creator. Standing on the balcony of the castle was a woman with long platinum blonde hair in a hair braid. On her head was a glistening tiara and she wore a gorgeous blue dress made of the ice itself with a long flowing cape that sparkled in the sun.

"Hi, Queenie!"

The Queen beamed as the giant gates opened, beckoning for Olaf to enter. The inside of the place was just as magnificent as the outside.

"Come inside, Olaf. We can talk better there."

"Okay. See ya later, big fella!" The little snowman waddled in.

As the giant doors closed behind, Olaf stared in awe at the magnificence of the Snow Queen's great chamber. The room took up most of the bottom floor of the palace, giving the Queen a place of solitude and peace to do whatever she pleased.

Walking down the magnificent spiral staircase, The Queen smiled at her creation. "Make yourself comfortable, my little friend." She held up her hand, crafting a chair made of ice for him in a mere instant.

The tiny snowman plopped onto the chair and held his feet in his twiggy arms. "So... what did you want me here for, Your Majesty?"

Sitting in front of him on an icy throne, the Queen gazed at him, but her smile turned into a frown and she sighed. This wasn't something she was fond of speaking about, but she felt she could trust Olaf with this. "I... I have a personal issue, Olaf, one that I am not comfortable with sharing with the rest of my subjects."

"Oh... what's wrong?" Olaf wondered. "You seem sad? Was someone being mean to you?" He pouted. "It wasn't that Prince from the south was it?"

"Oh no, no one has been mean to me," The Queen assured him. "And you know I dealt with him after he tried to woo Princess Annika." The woman then looked down. "It's just... do you remember when I first made you, Olaf?" She smiled, reflecting on happier memories. "Back when I was a little girl?"

"Yes, I was the first thing you ever brought to life with your powers," Olaf chirped. "You made me because you didn't have any other friends. The other kids hated you because of your magic."

The Queen nodded. "Yes, and after that, I ran away and made my home here with you and my other creations. But since I let you and the snowgies explore the human world... I can't help but feel a familiar sensation. I'm.." there was a deep pause. "I'm... lonely Olaf."

"Oh, then why don't you just make another snowman like me?" the little snowman wondered. "I mean... I always wondered what having a twin would be like."

The Queen blushed a little. "I... I don't think I want to make another snowman, Olaf. I..." She was getting quite embarrassed over this. Olaf had such a simple mind and she didn't want to confuse him.

However, Olaf soon realised what the Queen wanted and he smiled. "...oh. I getcha, you want to have someone to give warm hugs to, too."

"I do. A lot." She rubbed the back of her head. "And... possibly more than hugs... I want someone to love, Olaf."

The snowman sat rubbing his chin. Then he grinned brightly. "I've got it!"

"What?"

"Let's throw a big party in Arendelle and invite people from all over the kingdom and beyond!" Olaf suggested. "Then you might be able to find someone then! I mean there will be so many people there! You're bound to find someone you wanna love!"

"You... think that will work?"

"Yeah, I mean Princess Annika met that Prince at a party she was having," Olaf replied. "She gets invites a lot, but I don't think she goes to them. I think she'd rather stay here."

"I see... Tell me, when Princess Annika is at these parties, does she have a particular type of person she looks for or does she like to get on with everyone?"

"Oh no," Olaf admitted. "She says she's quite picky on who she is friends with."

The Queen smiled. "Then... I will have to ask her to help me with this party of my own." She grinned and hugged Olaf tightly. "Thank you, my little friend."

Olaf hugged her back. "You're welcome... ooh, you really do give the best warm hugs!"

xXx

Anna's eyes just opened wide when she saw the Queen hug Olaf. The kindness the Queen had for him, the fact she wanted to be in love and be happy with someone... it all reminded her of someone in particular. Then it finally came to her.

The Snow Queen... Elsa had based the Queen on herself and had written this episode while she was depressed from her breakup. She couldn't bear to see herself sad and neither could Anna. Everything made so much sense now... and Anna knew what she had to do.

"Awwwwww, Olaf is so sweet," Jessie said.

Her mother felt a little smile appear as she felt warmth go through her. Olaf was sweet... and he was the one who in a way, had brought her and Elsa together in the first place. She wasn't going to let last night tear what she and Elsa had apart.

"Yes. Yes, he is, honey. God, I'm an idiot."

"What?"

"I'll tell you later," Anna replied, kissing her on the cheek. She then got off the couch and stretched. "Right now, I've got a phone call to make."

"Are we gonna watch the rest of Olaf?" Jessie wondered.

"You can keep watching it!" Anna chirped. "Just uh... tell me what happens when I get back okay?"

"Sure thing, Mommy!"

"That's my girl!"

Anna then left the room and went upstairs to her bedroom. Thankfully, her phone was there, plugged into its charger. She went to her phone and picked it up. She sighed in relief when she saw that Elsa's phone number was still in the contacts.

Thankfully, in her drunken depression the night before she hadn't deleted it. But even though she still had the number, she didn't know what would happen when she called it. But she had to at least try. She pressed the call button and held it to her ear.

The seconds ticked on by as the phone kept buzzing as it tried to connect her to the receiver. It was agony to wait. She hoped that someone would respond, but she wouldn't be surprised if it just went to voicemail. In that case... well she didn't really have a plan B.

"Come on... come on, pick up," Anna urged.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of waiting, the phone picked up and Anna was met with a voice on the other end. It wasn't Elsa though. It was a woman, but a lot more mature than Elsa, with a slight Latina accent. They seemed rather stern.

"Hello? Who is this?"

"Hi, my name's Anna... is Elsa there by any chance?"

"Wait... you're Anna?"

"Yeah, who're you?"

"My name's Cassandra... I work with Elsa at the studio." There was a pause. "Elsa told us about you. She said you made her happy and smile. How could you break her heart like this?"

"Look, I panicked and I'm heartbroken too, but I want to fix this," Anna argued. "Please, let me speak to her."

"...I don't think Elsa wants to come to the phone right now."

Anna deflated slightly. She dreaded the thought of what had happened to Elsa in her absence. Was she... no she couldn't think about that. "How... how is she?"

"I think you should just hang up right now and never talk to her again."

"No, I won't," Anna insisted. "I... I realise how much she means to me and I mean to her, so please, for the love of all that is holy at this time of year, put her on the goddamn phone."

"I won't warn you again, get off the phone now," Cass ordered.

"Fine, just tell her that I'm sorry!" Anna shouted, before she then heard Cass hang up. "Hello?... Hello?" She grew very frustrated and threw the phone onto the bed in a rage.

So much for trying to call Elsa. She felt her blood boil and how much of an idiot she felt. Part of her wanted to punch Cassandra, whoever she was. But Anna calmed down, realising that anger and rage weren't going to get her anyway with this.

"Fuck," she swore, as Anna then sighed. "Fine... I'll just need to do this the old fashioned way."

xXx

Elsa sat curled up by the window in a blue jumper with the words "Just let it go" written on it. It was a few sizes too big for her, but she didn't care. She was clutching a cup of coffee in her hands, feeling the warmth flow back into her.

She'd spent most of the morning sobering up and recovering from her rather traumatic experience the night before. She didn't blame Anna for getting upset and felt very regretful for everything that had happened, but her own mental health came first.

Thankfully, her apartment wasn't in too much of a mess. Cass had managed to put her Christmas tree upright and found all the decorations. She'd even coaxed Snowy out of her hiding spot under Elsa's bed and Elsa had profusely apologised to her kitten.

As Elsa was staring out of the window at the snow-covered street below her, Cass walked into the room. "Hey, how you feeling?"

"A bit better now, all things considered," Elsa replied. "Is there... something wrong?"

"Elsa," Cass then spoke "... someone just called your phone."

"Who was it?" Elsa wondered.

Cass looked down, not sure how to break the news to her. Elsa already knew who it was and why Cass was afraid to say anything.

The blonde sighed. "It was Anna wasn't it."

"I hung up on her," Cass replied. "She broke your heart, Elsa. I'm sorry, but I won't let what happened between you and Belle again."

"Anna panicked, and I was hard on her," Elsa argued her point. "You shouldn't have hung up."

"Look, maybe you'll see her again and you can make up," Cass urged. "But right now, you need to get your life back in order."

"And how the hell do I do that?" Elsa wondered. "This breakdown with Anna set me back about eight months... I feel like I lost Belle all over again."

"Hey, none of that," Cass stated. "First, finish your coffee. Then we'll brainstorm."

"And then what? We just pretend that this didn't happen?" Elsa remarked. "It's my fault too Cass... I should never have tried to kiss her."

"Hey, these things happen. We all make mistakes on first dates," Cass said. "My first date with Raps went pretty shit remember?"

"Yeah, it was!" Rapunzel chirped.

Elsa looked over and saw Rapunzel in the doorway. She didn't know Cass had brought her with her, but then again, she wasn't exactly surprised.

The brunette rolled her eyes. "I told you to stay outside, Raps," Cass instructed.

"Well, clearly there's no big emergency anymore," Rapunzel stated. "Hi, Elsa."

"Hey," Elsa replied. At that moment though... Elsa had a brainwave. What Cass had just said had finally made everything click. "...hold on...first date..." The blonde suddenly leapt up. "That's it!"

"Huh? What? What is?:

"Guys, my block is gone! And I know how I'm going to apologize to Anna."

Cass and Rapunzel looked at each other in confusion and amazement, before staring back at Elsa. "How?"

"You'll see," Elsa said. "But... you two should probably go, after you help me fully clean up my place. And then we have to call an emergency story meeting!"

Cass nodded. "That's my girl... I'm sorry, I hung up on Anna."

"What's done is done," Elsa replied. "But right now... I need to fix things with Anna. She's probably on her way here right now."

"How do you know that?"

"Because... I know that's what I'd do in her place."

Cass nodded. "I... I understand."

Rapunzel grinned. "This is gonna be like spring cleaning!... only four months early."

xXx

Author's note: So... I decided to put this chapter and the next one out a little early than expected. Sorry, to quote Elsa, it was agony to wait xD. But I do hope that you enjoy it! Also, special thanks to toph_themelonlord on AO3 for pointing out how the Animation side of Elsa's life actually works. I'll see if I can get round to editing the earlier chapters to correct those details.

See you for the last chapter really, really soon!