second update tonight, so make sure you've read chapter 50 before you read this one, otherwise it won't make sense :)

happy christmas or something lol you can thank turwen for getting this chapter out early ;)

You wake up sometime in the middle of the night. You're not sure what does it, actually, until you breathe in and get a lungful of tobacco and nicotine, and you realise that Elsa has moved. Your computer blinks from the bedside table, and you realise you must have fallen asleep – even after you said you wouldn't.

But then you breathe in and your nose twitches because it's definitely a cigarette that you smell. Is someone smoking outside the door to the apartment? You turn over to have a look when you realise that Elsa's bed is still pressed against yours, and Elsa is nowhere in sight. That's what makes you sit up and try and get a better look around. You're just fumbling for the lamp light when something on the verandah moves. You freeze, before your eyes finally adjust.

Elsa's sitting out there; you'd only noticed her because she'd moved, adjusting the way she sat on one of the chairs. Her legs are tucked up underneath her, and the door is open the tiniest amount; enough that you can hear the bustle of midnight traffic. And, evidently, enough that the little wisps of cigarette smoke can curl through and invade the room.

She lifts her hand again, taking a drag. After she breathes out, she uses her other hand to bring a glass up to her lips.

This... totally explains why she looks terrible in the morning. You had no idea she even smoked, but why in God's name would anyone ever abandon the luxuries of sleep to breath in literal tar?

Which... is not something you're going to tell her, but you can't help the thought as it crosses your mind.

You're a little torn. You could try and go back to sleep, but despite how good you usually are at dropping off, you know that it wouldn't really work here. Not when your nose feels a little like it's on fire.

Another option is just to pretend that you're asleep, in case Elsa comes back in and also because you're more likely to just drop off if you're in a position to do so.

Or, you could go outside to Elsa. Given the night she'd had, though, you sort of want to leave her alone. If this is how she can find some peace, then you're loathe to disrupt that.

You do none of those options. You make sure you're lying down, but you don't try to go back to sleep. Instead, your eyes remain on Elsa, watching her through the glass door.

Slowly, she finishes that cigarette. There's a few minutes where she doesn't do much of anything else; just sits there, observing the Norwegian skyline. You wish you could see the Northern Lights from here...

She throws back her head and finishes her drink before standing up. You shut your eyes, because you don't want her to know that you're awake and watching her. That would be weird.

And also, that same thought about giving her some peace rattles around your head. She's a grown woman who can make her own decisions and shit.

She doesn't move back to the bed straight away. It sounds like she's... in the bathroom. The sound of brushing teeth reaches you, and you're tempted to open your eyes to look. But then the sound of the water turns off, and there's a flick of a light switch and everything behind your eyelids goes dark.

There's the sound of a sigh before finally the bed moves; Elsa's weight, sinking down into it. You don't know what she's doing, but it feels like she's looking at you. Or, at least, looking towards you. The sheets rustle and you feel them pulled up above you a little more.

And then Elsa moves again. At first it seems like she's shifting, not quite asleep yet, before you realise that's not quite right.

She's moving closer to you.

By the time she's done, her arms are pressed between you, head tucked under your chin. She heaves a huge sigh, breath all minty with only the slightest hint of tobacco; you probably only notice because you know that's what she was doing.

Eventually, she drifts off, but you don't. You'd think your mind is buzzing, but it's not. It's just... not letting you sleep. You commit yourself to feeling tired the next day, and you sort of wish you'd asked Elsa about the itinerary before all the drama.

Not that it was bad! Not that you blamed her, either. It was just hard to see your boss break down and then have to go, "So, what's on the list for tomorrow?"

In your very unprofessional opinion, you reckon that she probably needs a relaxing day. Something fun, and nice, to get her mind off whatever is bothering her. There's plenty of sights to see, and you really want to experience as much of Norway before you go.

It would be even nicer if you could share those experiences with someone.

Maybe it's that thought that lets you move, just a little. After all, Elsa is asleep and any action could be attributed to moving in your sleep.

You lift an arm and use it to wrap around Elsa, drawing her just that little bit closer. She sighs, and you freeze, afraid you'd waken her up. But when she doesn't move or say anything, you guess that it was just a reflex action at someone... doing whatever you just did, and she didn't actually awaken.

She feels so small in your arms, and with that thought, your mind finally quietens, and lets you drift off.