It had been two days since Anna's showcase in the courtyard.

Elsa sat at her desk staring at the papers before her, not reading them so much as looking at them as her mind wandered. The familiar hands of the clock in her study signified that the time was currently ten past noon. She huffed, papers forgotten for the moment. Her mind was far too distracted for her to be analyzing taxes right now.

She was supposed to be enjoying her day off with Anna.

Unfortunately, however, it seemed that the world wouldn't stop to let them relax and enjoy their brief excursion. There always had to be a problem hiding somewhere. And today was just one of those times where Elsa had found one.

She had spent her morning in an emergency meeting called by the advisory board. Elsa had invested more time playing referee over the six than anything else, and the blonde suppressed the urge to rub her temple at the recollection.

The group had been terribly rowdy. Not that they weren't always rowdy, but today...more so than usual, and with very good reason. Letters from two of the kingdom's trading partners had arrived before sunrise, both of them bearing alarming information.

The Southern Isles had ceased trade and communication with the Kingdom of Corona and the Kingdom of Hedmark.

At first glance, the information didn't seem too critical in terms of how it affected their kingdom. Both Corona and Hedmark could potentially demand more from them in response to their loss of a trade partner, but they could always recover from that.

It was the implications of the southern kingdom that the six council members had been far more worried over.

Corona and Hedmark were the Southern Isle's primary trade partners. Very similar to Arendelle's agreement, they relied heavily on Corona for sustaining crops, and Hedmark for construction materials. Though it could have been possible that they had found alternative entities for trade, it was unlikely that it would be enough to compensate for their original arrangements.

And since the advisors' job was apparently to be over dramatic about everything, they had come up with an explanation that they had insisted on being the true reason for the falling-out.

Elsa shuddered at the possibility.

War.

She had dismissed her advisors' concerns, saying that it was unrealistic. If the Southern Isles had any motive for expanding their kingdom in the form of conquering, then they would have done so earlier. There was no incentive in place that she could recognize that would suggest an antagonistic move from the kingdom.

Unless something happened there…

If she had to be honest, a part of her dismissal for the possibility was led by denial.

Yes, handling the logistics of the kingdom's army was a part of her studies growing up, but her father's rule was one filled with peace and good relations with foreign kingdoms. Her preparation for armed conflict was minimal. She had nothing to go off in terms of example, really.

As a ruler, she always saw herself as someone who needed to be fully equipped and prepared for her tasks. Thus, most of her time was spent in her study, simulating speeches and negotiations in her mind before actual execution. She wasn't very good at improvising. And war was definitely not something she could wing, and certainly not something she was prepared for.

And she doubted Anna would be ready for it either.

Elsa sighed stressfully.

The news had taken a toll on her mood. After the meeting, she had found her sister in the dining hall enjoying breakfast. Not having the appetite to join her, she had apologized to the younger girl, telling her that they would have to postpone their 'date' to a different time. Anna had smiled and told her not to worry about it, but it was clear that the redhead had been disappointed by the change in plans.

Elsa's heart clenched at the memory. She felt horrible for calling it off, but she'd feel even worse if she had ruined their time together with her terrible mood. She and Anna were different in that they had separate methods for dealing with stress. While the younger girl liked to distract herself with activities of leisure, Elsa had a more direct approach of locking herself in her study and getting as much work out of the way as possible.

Which is why she was now holed up in her office working on Monday's paperwork.

Sadly it was proving to be unproductive. She was repeatedly getting distracted.

Her thoughts now in particular were focused on her sister.

Anna...

As blissful as their time together had been so far, in the past two days Elsa found herself starting to worry over a certain issue despite continuously telling herself to ignore it.

She was happy. Elsa had accepted the newfound fact since the day that they had consummated their relationship. Anna was the only person that she would ever accept as a lover. And she wanted so badly for them to be together.

But she could only ignore the repercussions for so long. Sooner or later their relationship would have to come to light, and Elsa feared that that day may be closer than she would've liked.

Anna had said that their people would accept them, but Elsa wasn't so sure. She was reminded of her coronation when her powers had first been revealed. The shock in her peoples' eyes had been undeniably present. It was true that they had eventually accepted her powers, but the events leading up to the moment had been so rare and fortunate, and had almost cost both her and Anna's life. She just couldn't see how this would turn out in the same way.

Elsa tried to block it out, but the question forced its way into her mind.

Would I have to choose...between Anna and the kingdom?

The blonde shook her head in frustration, her desk noticeably glazing over with a thin layer of frost. The mere possibility of having to choose between the most important person in her life and the kingdom that her parents had entrusted her with, combined with the worries of a potential incoming war that she was totally unequipped for, was too much for her to handle right now, and Elsa dropped her face into her propped hands, as she once again sighed heavily.

So fixated on reducing her state of distress, Elsa failed to notice the door to her office open.

Anna peaked her head inside and blinked in surprise at Elsa's position; face completely buried in her hands. Upon realizing that the blonde had not the slightest clue that she was there, she grinned mischievously and stealthily snuck her way to the front of her desk.

She bent down to whisper inches away from Elsa's covered face.

"Hi."

The queen yelped and nearly jumped out of her skin at the suddenness of Anna's appearance in front of her.

Anna laughed loudly at her reaction.

"Oh my god, Elsa. You should've seen the look on your face!" She said while clutching her waist, trying to calm her tears of laughter.

The queen's face reddened.

"Anna, you should have knocked!"

The redhead wiped her eyes mirthfully. "And miss out on the chance of seeing you jump out of your seat? No way!"

Elsa huffed irritably. "Brat."

"Aw, don't be like that, Els. I was just joking."

Elsa didn't say anything, and Anna's smile dropped at the seriousness of the older girl's silence.

"Hey..." Anna reached forward and grabbed ahold of Elsa's hands. "I'm sorry. I should have knocked and I apologize if I scared you." She lowered her voice slightly. "Will you forgive me?"

Elsa's eyes softened as she shook her head. "It's okay, Anna. It's not you...I was just...a little stressed earlier..."

Anna reached out and tucked a strand of loose hair behind the blonde's ear.

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

Elsa's heart tightened at the concern in the redhead's voice. She opened her mouth to speak but it quickly closed again, as if she were fighting with herself to let the words spill out. She wasn't sure if the news of the Southern Isles had made its way to her yet, but Elsa didn't want to worry the younger girl.

Finally, she sighed and shook her head, deciding instead to dismiss her worries. She lifted her head and straightened her shoulders before giving Anna a reassuring smile.

"I'm glad you came. Did you need something?" She asked, changing the subject.

Anna blinked at her sister, thrown by the sudden change in topic, but quickly smiled as she remembered why she had come here. "I wanted to drop something off for you."

Elsa raised an eyebrow curiously. "And what's that?"

Anna ran outside of the study to pick up the stack of papers that she had left by the door, carrying the hefty load and depositing it onto Elsa's desk with a loud thump.

Elsa's eyes widened.

"Is that…?"

"Mhm, all of the remaining tax forms for this upcoming month." Anna affirmed with a proud smile. "I figured that you'd want to start on tomorrow's paperwork, since it's how you usually cope with stress." She smiled knowingly. "And because I'm such a great sister I went ahead and got it done for you!"

Elsa stared at Anna.

The irony of the situation was almost laughable. Earlier the cause for her stress had very much to do with her younger sister. Yet, here the redhead was now, being the sole reason for her relief in the matter.

She really didn't deserve her.

Elsa leaned forward and kissed Anna lightly on the lips.

"You're amazing. You know that right?" She said with an adoring smile.

Anna smiled back brightly and then responded by walking around the desk and seating herself on the older girl's lap.

Wrapping her arms around Elsa's neck she leaned in close. "Now that the papers are out of the way, would you be so inclined to resume your date with me, my love?" She whispered the last part coyly.

Elsa gave a fond smile and pressed her forehead to Anna's.

"I would love that."

The pumpkin patches of Arendelle were a notorious place for scenic views. They sat snugly on a beautiful hill right on the outskirts of town. And though the season was winter, today the gods above had blessed the land with clear skies and ample sunlight, leaving the air chilly but still comfortable enough to enjoy time outside.

The two sisters had agreed to meet here within the hour, giving them ample time to prepare supplies for their planned date. With plenty of delectable foods made by the castle staff brought with them for consumption, the two had proceeded to enjoy a pleasant afternoon picnic, and were now conversing together on a table cloth at the center of the patch.

"I know you mean well and all, but did you really need to bring your sword?" Elsa looked pointedly at the sheathed weapon attached to Anna's waist. "We're having a picnic, not going to battle, Anna."

"I brought it because of you, you know." Anna started. "Ever since you yelled at them, the guards have been super diligent about maintaining security. This was the only way for me to convince them to not follow me!" She explained with a pout.

Elsa cocked an eyebrow. "You could've just told them that I was going with you. I have ice powers."

"Really?" Anna said with faux surprise. "I never noticed."

Elsa responded to her sass by flicking a puff of cold air at her face, and the redhead giggled at the ticklish feeling.

She moved closer to wrap herself around Elsa's arm. "Regardless, I just like the feeling of being able to protect you for once. And who knows, maybe a group of bandits will show up."

"You sound like you're looking forward to it."

Anna replied with a wide grin, affirming the blonde's assumption.

Elsa shook her head playfully. "You stinker," she said and then proceeded to bring Anna's body closer to hers, which the latter gladly accepted as she cuddled into her.

A peaceful silence fell over the pair, the two relishing in the simple feeling of the other's embrace.

It was all too serene. And for Anna in particular, surreal.

It was crazy to think that the nightmares she had experienced when Elsa was gone had taken place in this exact same setting. The only difference now was that the blonde was here with her, and the happiness she felt was real. It almost felt too good to be true, and Anna was suddenly hit with fear at the possibility that this may be another dream, and any second now she would awake without Elsa in her arms.

Anna tilted her head up to look at her sister's resting face and slowly but surely, she felt her fears lift away.

Elsa was gorgeous.

For the longest time Anna had believed that she was attracted to the opposite sex. Three years spent being back with her sister had her slowly experience change, but not quite come to terms with the truth. With Kristoff she had never once experienced any feeling of passion that many described as present in romantic relationships. It had her confused, and for a while she felt guilty. Guilty, because in almost every case she would've preferred to spend time with Elsa over him, or at the very least with the both of them. She had decided to never press the issue, figuring that as long as Kristoff cared for her, that would be enough to make her happy.

It wasn't until Elsa left that she finally bore witness to the truth.

The blonde had captured her heart.

Anna had fallen for her sister, hard.

It was scary.

Intimidating

But most importantly...it was her happiness.

And the vividity of all of the details on the older girl's beautiful face gave her solace to know that this was in fact not a dream. It was her reality.

Elsa had opened her eyes then and smiled softly at the look that Anna was giving her. "Whatcha starin at?"

"You." Anna replied.

Elsa ran her finger along her own mouth. "Is there something on my face?" She asked with slight embarrassment, afraid that she still had some leftover sandwich from their meal earlier.

Anna giggled and shook her head and leaned in really close to Elsa. "I was just thinking...how nice this is."

Her expression shifted as she suddenly felt herself get emotional at her next words.

Elsa's eyes were on her curiously now, and she forced herself to continue.

"Two weeks ago I had this...horrible nightmare.' She started."All my memories of you were taken away. I lived my entire life in that dream as if you never existed…" Anna felt her voice shake as she pulled herself closer to Elsa.

"That's what made it so scary...having to even imagine a day without you alive."

Anna forced the forming tears away and steered her resolve to gaze earnestly into Elsa's blue eyes.

"Being here with you now...like this. It just makes it so easy for me to say it...I don't ever want to live another second away from you, Elsa."

The blonde felt her heart melt and break at the same time for the younger girl.

She had no idea that Anna had gone through something like that and it pained her to know that she hadn't been there for the redhead in her time of suffering.

She gathered Anna into her arms and whispered softly into her ear. "I'm so sorry." She ran her fingers through auburn locks, causing the redhead to tear up again. "I'm here now, and I promise I won't ever leave your side again." She said assuringly.

Despite her tears, Anna was able to smile softly. "Together?" She asked the familiar words.

Elsa smiled back. "Together."

An emotion passed through the redhead's eyes, one that Elsa couldn't discern, and then suddenly Anna was leaning in close to her.

"Can I kiss you?"

The older girl tensed up at that.

They were in public, and though there was no one in their proximity at the moment, someone could easily walk by into their view without them noticing.

The negative thoughts from her study earlier came crawling back, settling in the back of her mind like whispers.

This is careless.

If someone saw us then rumors could easily spread.

Just say no.

Yet, even with her worries, Elsa couldn't bring herself to listen to them. She wanted this too. Anna's gaze was like honey, and she found herself leaning in closer and closer until their lips were mere centimeters apart. All she needed to do was close the gap, and she was just about to, when suddenly-

"Hey Anna! Hey Elsa!"

The queen jumped away from Anna like a rocket as her heart beat wildly at the intrusion. But as she took in on who exactly had walked in on them, she breathed a sigh of relief, and then quickly glanced at her sister, hoping that she hadn't offended her with her reaction.

Anna didn't seem to have been, or if she did, she hid it well. Her attention was now on their guest. "Olaf, you're back!" The redhead said with a smile as the fellow snowman waddled his way to their picnic blanket. "Did you enjoy your trip to the North Mountain?"

In the past month, the fellow snowman had put it on himself to visit Marshmallow and his fellow snowgies up in Elsa's ice palace. He had stated to Anna at the time, 'that they were like his brothers, and that he felt obligated to spend some time together with them occasionally.'

"Yup, I had a lot of fun! I didn't see you two at the castle, so I just followed my gut, and well, I always seem to be able to find you guys!" Olaf said with a cheerful smile. "Do you guys want a hug? I like hugs. Did you know that hugs have an enormous amount of health benefits; including lowering blood pressure, improving sleep, and reducing stress. Oh did I mention that it reduces stress too?" He finished with an innocent smile.

Despite the nervousness from him interrupting their intimate moment earlier, Anna and Elsa couldn't help but giggle together at Olaf's rambling. The snowman may have grown out of his existential crisis from before, but his onslaught of knowledge was still very much part of his jolly nature. Anna and Elsa moved forward and happily accepted the snowman's proffered hug.

"Thanks Olaf. We were just enjoying our picnic. Would you like to join us?" Anna offered.

"Ooo yes I love picnics! Are Kristoff and Sven here too?" He said looking around them.

Anna's expression fell as she smiled sadly. "Kristoff...needed some time away."

Olaf's smile fell. "Oh.."

"He'll be back. Just...give him some time. I'm sure he would love it if you visited him though." Anna said encouragingly, trying to bring back the snowman's happy spirit. "At his old house, remember?"

Olaf's face lit up again. "Of course I remember! The really shady looking one made out of wood. I always wondered what it would be like to live in a cabin. Did you know that cabins are not one hundred percent made out of wood, they also have a material called mortar and dried manure…" Anna smiled as Olaf continued his scientific explanation. She turned her attention back to Elsa.

The blonde was looking off in the distance, facial expression strained, something clearly on her mind.

"Hey." She began, waiting for her sister to acknowledge her. Elsa turned and met Anna's imploring teal eyes. "What's wrong?"

At her questioning gaze the queen sighed and slumped a little. "It's…nothing."

"Does it have to do with what you were stressed about this morning?" Anna offered.

Elsa's eyes widened as she was once again impressed by her sister's observation skills.

She stared at the younger girl, unsure of what to say, until finally deciding to settle with a nod.

Anna didn't press her, she wanted Elsa to open up about it, so she reached out for the blonde's hand and drew comforting circles in her palm to get her to relax.

Elsa looked down at their intertwined hands and her heart softened at the gesture, finding enough confidence now to reveal her worries to her sister.

"I'm scared...about what's going to happen to us."

The bluntness of the statement completely caught her off guard as Anna failed to conceal her surprise.

"What do you mean?" she asked somewhat warily.

Elsa, noticing the slight change in demeanour from her sister, quickly brought her hands up in front of her to elaborate. "I didn't mean it like that, Anna. I want us to be together...more than anything. It's just that..." She trailed off.

Elsa sighed again.

"I just don't want us to have to hide it..."

Anna's brain connected the dots for her. The way she seemed so nervous about kissing her earlier. The way she had reacted at the mention of Kristoff.

Of course she would still be scared.

"You're still worried about our people, aren't you? That they won't accept us?"

Elsa nodded and continued.

"I want our people to know. But I'm scared...I know you said that they would accept us, and I want to believe you...but I just can't help but be concerned."

Silence accompanied her when she finished.

Elsa looked hesitantly at Anna. Her sister was an optimistic person and was used to seeing the brighter side of things, but even with her get-go attitude, Elsa wasn't sure how the redhead would address this issue.

Anna had decided to say nothing, and it instead turned her attention to Olaf.

"Hey Olaf."

Her friend was currently preoccupied with admiring the pumpkins in the vicinity of the patch, but quickly perked up at his name and bounded over to them.

"Yes?"

Anna looked at Elsa and smiled, hoping to bring comfort to the older girl. "If we're going to start somewhere, we might as well start with him don't you think?"

Elsa simply stared in confusion.

Anna looked down at the snowman.

"Olaf, I'm in love with Elsa."

Elsa's jaw dropped in shock. She certainly hadn't been expecting that.

The snowman's response was immediate, gasping wondrously at the news. "Like love love?"

Anna giggled. "Yes. Love love."

"Ooooo, does that mean you two will be getting married? When's the wedding? Oh I hope it's in the summer! I love summer. You know when all things are hot and absolutely perfect for a snowman like me? Is that why you two were kissing earlier?" The last question was asked out of nowhere, surprising the both of them.

Elsa blushed but Anna just laughed at the spontaneity. "Yes, we've kissed, but we haven't gotten as far as marriage yet." Anna wiggled her eyebrows at Elsa, and Elsa's face turned even more red at that.

Olaf seemed pleased with the answer. "Well, you two should definitely get married. Anna seems a lot happier now that you're back, Elsa."

Anna reached for Elsa's hand. "You hear that. I'm a lot happier."

"Anna…"

The younger girl silenced her by placing a finger on her lips, eyes fiery and determined.

"No matter what happens Elsa. You'll always be enough for me. Peoples' support or not."

Her words were heartwarming, but Elsa still struggled to fully push her worries away. Anna would sacrifice everything for her. If it meant hiding for the sake of preserving their relationship, then the younger girl would. And that terrified Elsa. Anna had sacrificed enough. She deserved to have her wishes fulfilled for once.

"I don't want you to have to choose…" She managed to whisper.

Anna's eyes widened briefly at her words, but quickly switched to mirth as she shook her head and smiled affectionately.

She would have to work a little harder to get her sister to come around it seemed, and she was just fine with that. Patience was never her strong suit, but for Elsa, she would give her all the time in the world.

"Come, follow me."

Elsa took Anna's offered hand with a questioning gaze. "Where are we going?"

The redhead smiled. "I think it's about time you get to know your people better."

The Arendelle bakery was swelling with the wonderful aromas of fresh, warm bread and sweet pastries. The ambiance had an almost cozy feel to it, so comforting that Elsa's nervous expression had been replaced by a small smile as Anna dragged her into the modest building.

"Hi Halima!" Anna said cheerfully as she stepped inside. A familiar face by the oven turned to acknowledge her entrance.

Halima had been the head of Arendelle Bakery since King Runeard's rule. It was Anna's favorite place to visit in town, and the older woman was more than familiar with her, always giving the younger girl a sample of her freshest bread whenever she had decided to visit.

"Your Majesty." Halima welcomed. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

"Not you too!" Anna groaned. "I told you to call me Anna! Has Mattias been brainwashing you?"

The older woman laughed heartily. "I have no idea what you mean, dear." She teased.

Halima then noticed the other royal standing behind Anna.

Her eyes widened. "Queen Elsa! I apologize, I didn't notice you were here as well."

Elsa smiled and brought a hand up. "No apologies, necessary."

Anna rushed to her side, and wrapped an arm around the blonde's. "Elsa and I were just enjoying our time back together, and I thought it'd be nice if we dropped by since she's never had the chance to try your bread before. My sister here is too shy to actually leave the castle and get to know people. Isn't that right Els?" She smiled cheekily at the blonde.

Elsa responded by poking the younger girl's cheek in which Anna giggled.

Halima smiled fondly at the pair. "I would be happy to serve you, Your Majesties. It's such a relief to know that the rumors are true."

"Rumors?" Elsa inquired.

Halima nodded. "Word is that Your Majesty has returned home from the Enchanted Forest. I can speak for all of us here in Arendelle, that we could not be any happier. We have missed you dearly, Elsa."

The words surprised her immensely.

These people adored her sister. They respected her and loved her like she was a part of their family. Elsa was their ruler too, yes, and her people treated her as such, but Anna was the one who went out of the way to interact with her people on more than a few occasions, and so it was very pleasant to hear such kind words come from someone that wasn't directly from the castle.

"Thank You, Halima." She smiled truthfully. "I'm happy to be back as well."

"Of course, Your Majesty."

The older woman returned to the oven and withdrew a freshly baked loaf of bread. Placing it on the countertop, she cut two slices off of the loaf and placed each in their own respective bags. She returned and handed the items to the two monarchs. "Here, you two, fresh from the oven. Feel free to visit any time, Your Majesties. You two are always welcome here." She said kindly.

Always welcome.

Elsa's heart warmed.

"Thanks Halima!" Anna said cheerfully and moved forward to kiss the older woman on the cheek, the latter chuckling at the doting.

"Thank you, Halima. For everything." Elsa nodded respectfully in appreciation.

Anna had already made her way out of the bakery and Elsa went to follow her but was stopped by the older woman's outstretched hand.

"She loves you dearly, Elsa. Take good care of her, okay?"

Elsa knew that she had of course meant that the redhead loved her like a sister, but she had been unable to completely calm the heartfelt emotion those simple words had stirred up in her heart.

"I…" Her voice caught in her throat. "I will." She managed to say. The older woman smiled and bowed before bidding her farewell.

Anna was waiting for her outside. When the younger girl saw her, she offered her hand for her to take. Elsa smiled softly and did such.

The two spent the rest of the afternoon visiting the different parts of town. It was amazing to see how Anna knew most of the names of the townsfolk, and even more so how all of them had expressed their open satisfaction for her return to the kingdom. The fishermen at the harbor had been particularly vocal.

"Our Queen Elsa has returned! Long live her Majesty!" The group of men cheered voraciously. They proceeded to sing a song for her, in which Anna joined in on; dancing merrily and joyously together at the tune. Elsa couldn't help but laugh at the endearing display by all of them.

The queen felt her heart get lighter and lighter as the day continued. The smiles of joy and the many kind words she had received, demonstrating the citizens' support of her being reunited with Anna, attributed to a reprieve that had the blonde beaming for the remaining time.

At a certain point, a group of young children had run up to her and had overwhelmed her with affectionate hugs.

"Queen Elsa's back!" They said together.

"Can you show us the magic?" One of them begged her.

The queen succumbed to the children's pleading looks. Raising her hand upward, she fulfilled their wishes by filling the proximity with sparkling particles of ice that fell gently from above. Soon the ground around them was covered in a thin layer of soft snow, the children cheered with glee and insisted on Elsa joining them in making snow angels.

Of course, Elsa agreed, and the blonde partook in the fun, a carefree grin plastered on her face the entire time. All the while, Anna observed the older girl, and smiled tenderly at the interaction.

It was the most fun they both had in years.

The time of evening had made its entrance. A beautiful sunset hung in the sky, signified by hues of pink and orange reflecting majestically against the calm waters of the fjord.

Anna and Elsa walked along the docks, enjoying the peaceful sound of waves crashing against the pier. Their date had been everything that they had hoped for, and for Elsa, her heart felt many times lighter than it had at the start of the day. And she had only one person to thank for that.

Anna squeezed her elbow and Elsa looked over at the younger girl with a smile.

"That bread was delicious wasn't it?" Anna asked.

Elsa agreed with a nod. "It was. I would even go as far as to say that it's better than our own at the castle."

"Maybe we should hire her!" Anna suggested brightly. "Then we can enjoy such delicious bread whenever we want!"

Elsa pondered the proposition thoughtfully. "That would be nice. But I don't know how long she'd last having to put up with your appetite." She teased.

"Hey! I'll have you know that Halima loves making food for me."

"Of course. Who wouldn't love serving my adorable dear sister?" They both giggled and Elsa brought Anna closer by the waist.

They sat together on the edge of the pier, taking in the lovely view before them and enjoying the comfortable silence between. Anna felt herself sigh in content. If the word 'romantic' could be described in one scene, this moment would be it.

With that thought, she had the immediate urge to express her appreciation for it.

"Elsa."

The older girl turned her attention to her.

"Thank you for today." She said.

Elsa blinked in surprise before smiling softly.

"I should be the one thanking you…"

Anna inched forward to press her forehead to hers.

"I just...didn't want to see you upset." She said while gazing deep into her sister's eyes. "I'm not saying that I don't worry about us...Elsa. But these people. Our people. They love you. They love you more than you know."

Elsa believed it. She hadn't realized that she had forgotten such a simple fact. Hamila, the fishermen, the young children, all of them had shown that to her today. That they were more than just her citizens. They were her...family. Not a bond formed by blood, but one built upon trust through years of her and Anna's just ruling. This was her home. Their home.

Anna placed a hand on Elsa's cheek, cupping her fair skin.

"Have faith. I trust in us. And I trust that our people will too. It's true love, remember? We'll get our happy ending."

Elsa felt her voice waver at the overwhelming affection that had bloomed in her heart for the woman in front of her.

"When did you become so wise?" She whispered.

The redhead looked at her as if the answer was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Since the love of my life came back to my side." She said.

Her flowing hair glistening in the evening light, the warm gaze in her eyes filled with undeniable devotion. The moment was all too much for Elsa. And before she knew it, the words had left her mouth.

"Can I kiss you?"

Anna's smile was radiant as she responded to the familiar question.

"Please."

Time seemed to slow.

The two leaned into each other, accepting the contact that they both yearned for.

Closer and closer until their noses were touching.

I love you.

But then just like before...

They were interrupted.

A gust of harsh wind blew between them forcing them apart.

"Oh for the love of…" Anna growled, prepared to give a peace of her mind to whoever had decided to interrupt their intimate moment again, but stopped herself short as she recognized the being that had shown up before them.

"Gale?" Anna and Elsa both said in unison.

It was indeed the wind spirit. Unseeing in form but undoubtedly present as a visible item was being held up by a draft of air.

Elsa noticed something was off. The spirit almost seemed to be talking to her, whispering weakly. The energy usually accompanied with the spirit seemed to be fading as the blonde could feel his lifeforce diminishing as well.

"He's dying." She stated.

Anna looked at her disbelievingly. "What?"

As if their words had been heard, the spirit disappeared completely, zephyr dissipating into stillness. The item previously being held up by the spirit dropped into Elsa's open hands.

The blonde's heart stopped.

It was Yelena's staff.

Only…

There was blood on it.

Just like that, their date was over and the love of the moment gone. Her body shook at the forboding darkness that suddenly seemed to hang over them.

Elsa met Anna's gaze with a look of urgency, her voice speaking the truth that none of them wanted to hear.

"Something's wrong."

A/N: Sorry for the wait y'all. Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

So I ended up splitting this chapter into two, which is why it's not as long as I promised.

Taking my time now, going forward. Next chapter may be out in a week, but no promises. Don't wanna force myself to write if I'm not in the right mindset.

Appreciate all the support I've gotten up until now. Thanks for reading, and feel free to leave a review!

Until next time!