just letting y'all know that updates for all my fics may be sporadic until the end of june, after which i will be on holidays and will return to a normal update schedule. just so you know :) next chapter will hopefully be the beginning of the norway trip :)

You don't get a chance to talk to her during the morning tea break. You're a little surprised to find that the seminar is an all-day thing. You just happen to be in the first group. After lunch, you'll go back to your own job and the other half of the building will go through the same thing.

You keep an eye on her, but Elsa doesn't move from her seat at all during the morning tea (and, well. You can't exactly go up the stairs to chat). You don't know if she did it on purpose, but it doesn't really matter. She doesn't seem to care. When it ends, you plan on waiting for her, except Hans swoops you to a nice restaurant for lunch, which sounds like a much better idea than waiting for someone who doesn't want to talk to you. You'll just...schedule a meeting with her and add it to her planner, or something.

They're led to a seat in the corner, out of the way and private, but not too far from the entrance. Hans has offered to pay, and like. He doesn't have to. But he wants to, and you're pretty sure that these are actually dates now. He's never asked you on a date, not using that word, but this is a little more than a friendship thing, you think (you hope).

"Is this a date?" you blurt, just before your eyes widen and you realise exactly what you said. Hans gives an awkward little chuckle, hand coming up to rub the back of his head.

"Well, I mean," he begins, and your heart sinks a little because maybe he was just being friendly. A friend. But then he continues. "I would...really like it to be," he said, and he looks about as uncomfortable as you feel. He doesn't meet your eyes when he says, "You are...a really nice person, and I'd love to get to know you better. If- if you'd let me."

You can't stop the grin from appearing on your face. Gosh, even Hans looks bashful. You look away, and you only manage to meet his eyes when you feel a gentle pressure on your hand.

Oh god he's holding your hand.

You're powerless to stop the blush, and you don't ever want him to move it. He has to, of course, because it's hard eating one-handed (not to mention impossible to hold someone's hand while moving, in your case) but throughout it all – lunch, and the return to work – Hans has a look on his face that tells you he wants to regain contact, too.

You told him, during lunch, the issues you've had with Elsa. Not specifics, just that something happened.

"I still want to work with her," you'd said. "She's nice, if a bit... odd sometimes. But we're supposed to go to another country next week and she refuses to talk to me!"

Hans had offered a sympathetic smile, but it was his next words that were most useful. "Maybe you need to just, I dunno. March in there and tell her what's what. From the sounds of things, she's been quite...hot and cold. It's not fair on you." His face had fallen to his lap, but his eyes still flickered up to your face when he continued with a, "I don't want to be presumptuous, but I'd wager that travel isn't as easy. There are obstacles you face that I don't even think about. Especially because it'd be your first time. The earlier you know what's up, the better. I, uh, assume."

You'd nodded, not at all minding the assumption. He was right (and at least he was thinking about that). You don't want to miss out on this opportunity because Elsa was being like this.

When you arrive back at work, Hans takes your hand and squeezes. "You can do it," he says softly, and then, without warning, presses his lips to your cheek. That was a date, and this was a kiss, and once again, you wish you weren't at work because you're twenty-three and this 'first kiss' business is taking its sweet time getting to you. But, now isn't the place. You just squeeze his hand back and nod.

"Thanks," you say. "I'll let you know how it goes."

You head straight for the lift, the date and the kiss giving you an extra boost of confidence. You're going to sort this out.

It's the first time you've ever truly taken advantage of the 'knock and enter' policy, you think. Or, at least, the first time you've ever appreciated it. Elsa's sitting behind her desk,and when she sees you she almost jumps up. As it is, she pales a bit, and doesn't meet your eyes.

"We need to talk," you hear yourself saying. It's gotta be the success of the day (either that, or the seminar actually worked), because you're definitely way more forceful than you ever thought you could be. Elsa seems to react to it, though. She clears her throat and nods her head, and she indicates the space in front of her desk.

"What- what would you like to discuss?" she asks, and you realise that she probably thinks you're going to quit, or ask to be moved. It...seems to be the first thing she always thinks, when things go wrong. She thinks people want to leave. Huh. It's odd, and possibly something to think about, at a better time.

"You're avoiding me," you say. There's little room for discussion, but Elsa still tries. You hold her back with a mere lift of your hand. "You're avoiding me because I said something you weren't prepared to hear. I didn't expect you to react so badly, but I won't apologise for saying it. I needed to say it. But," you continue, because Elsa looks decidedly unhappy and this wasn't supposed to be a bitch-out session. "But it's become obvious that my...grievances were based entirely on error and miscommunication." You smile. "You're not a bad person, not at all. You just... freaked me out a little."

You watch for several intense seconds as Elsa tries to get her bearings. She swallows thickly, but she doesn't look away.

"I... have been avoiding you..." she began softly; hesitantly, "because I didn't want to...scare you anymore than I had already done. I didn't realise how much actions came across until you mentioned it, and then I felt terrible because that is an awkward, scary place to be. I didn't want to- to pressure you into anything else..."

You let out a relieved smile because this is exactly the person you thought Elsa was. You didn't think she did it on purpose, and you're mostly sure you're right, now. Your attention is drawn back to Elsa when she gives a little cough.

"I, uh, I understand if you don't want to attend this Norwegian conference anymore. I don't want you to be uncomfortable, which it might be as Olaf is unable to attend. It would be just us for over a week..."

You blink in surprise. "Of course I want to come," you say, only a little confused. "I've never been to Norway before." Plus, you have another week to repair this work relationship a little more, too.

Elsa just gapes at you for a moment – obviously not expecting you to agree. So, you shoot her another smile.

"I better get back to work," you hear yourself say. Elsa's expression falls a fraction, but she hides it away before you have a chance to comment. "I appreciate this chat," you say instead, and Elsa nods. She walks you to the door.

"I really am sorry," she says, just as you're about to leave. "For making you uncomfortable." You grin.

"I know you are, and it's why I forgive you."

This time, when you wheel yourself down the hallway, it's clear of the sound of a shutting door.