Note: This might be the chapter where Anna's going to test your patience the most.

Elsa stared into space, minutes ticking by and memories from different times occupying her thoughts. Her fingers were steady on the keys, resting, unmoving. She sucked in a trembling breath and raised her hands a few inches, and then... and then she slammed them back down.

"Stop doing that! You'll break it!" Rapunzel chastised, placing a camera lens inside its case. "Okay, talk. That's the seventh time you sighed for the last five minutes."

Elsa did the eighth. "Why can't I just—urgh. Why is this so difficult?" she grumbled, pressing two fingers on her forehead.

Rapunzel opened her mouth and managed to utter a word before deciding against a sentence. She zipped the bag up and flopped on the remaining space on the chair. "Playing or Anna?" Elsa peeked at the girl through the small gap between her fingers. "Sorry, but your question can be taken in two ways."

Groaning, she slumped on the seat. "Both. I... can't get her out of my head."

"You want to get her out of it? Isn't she one of the reasons why you want to do this? Unless you're not getting anywhere."

"No, no. It's about something she said." Elsa started twiddling with her thumbs. "I told you I saw her at lunch, right? She asked if I was going to the wedding."

"Does she not want you to?"

"She does," she confirmed, wiping the tingle of nerves off her hands and firmly pressing them against the body of the keyboard. "That's... what she said anyway. She also hasn't told her brother about me."

"Huh. So that's what this is about," Rapunzel murmured. "Did you tell her about this?" She gestured at the instrument, and Elsa shook her head. "Why not?"

"I don't think I should when I'm not even sure if I can actually do it," she admitted, pulling her hand back and cupping it with the other. "I haven't even played it right once. What if I told her and... and I failed?"

"Oh, okay. I guess that's, uhm, pressuring you?"

"No," she denied, and the brunette gave her a dismissive blink. "Well, yes. But that's not it. Do you remember what you told me when we stopped over at Starlight?"

"You have to be more specific than that, Elsa. We talked about many things."

"About how I'd feel if Anna is bothered by something and she won't tell me why."

"Yeaaaah? Yeah, I remember."

"Well..." Elsa glanced at the golden invitation resting on the far-off desk. "Lost, confused, and... helpless? It feels like a combination of those."

"I bet." Rapunzel crossed her arms. "I can just imagine what's running inside your head. Knowing you, there's probably a lot in there."

The bluntness of the statement made Elsa laugh breathily for a second. Her small grin faded just as fast. "How do I put this? She... always makes sure that I'm comfortable about something before voicing out her thoughts, but if I ask about her opinion first, she... pulls away. It's..."

"Strange?" Rapunzel offered. "I get it. I noticed it, too. I asked her a few questions myself and she always answered with another question or with nothing at all."

"That... can't be easy for her."

The brunette hummed, tearing her gaze away. "You would know."

The implication died in the air and Elsa let out another sigh. Rapunzel rolled her eyes, returning to her earlier duties; Olaf had assigned her to sort out the inventory while he was on a shoot and to check if all the equipment they would be using for the wedding were in pristine condition.

Needing a distraction and something to ground herself with, Elsa picked up the sheets on the music stand and went to grab the clear book on the desk. "Are there already plans for this weekend? Anything that I should know about?"

"Hm. Olaf's going to the hotel early with those new recruits. He's going to let me and Jack handle the bride's side." Rapunzel huffed as she moved a lightbox away from the door. "Sen's going to stay here and practice though. She also needs to prepare a speech."

"Speech?"

"Oh right, you weren't here yet." She giggled. "She was originally invited as a 'special guest' of sorts. But the couple also wanted her to handle everything music related for the night."

"They're close? I thought they were just schoolmates."

"It's a funny story, actually. But I won't tell you. You'll have to wait. Sen plans to include that in her speech because it irritates Hans."

"O... Okay," she stuttered, half-wondering what Senya was up to. Hans was not a man Elsa would want to mess with if she had a choice. "Should I stay with her then?"

"It's really up to you." Rapunzel shrugged. "You can come with Olaf or me if you want. It doesn't matter. You already have experience with photography. But if you still want to try and perform, you can stay with Sen and practice with her. Anyway, you still have a few days to think about it."

Anna and Elsa had not said a word to each other since their encounter at the hallway. Anna did not mean to ignore her this time, but she had been busy assisting her mother with many things. Because Hans was mostly occupied with the rehearsals and Meg was taking care of her child and her restaurant, she was left with her mother's old-fashioned ways and beliefs.

Every day after class, Anna would rush to wherever Idunn was and assist her, double—sometimes triple or more—checking everything. The venue, the hotel, the food, the wine, the guest list. They had gone over them numerous times that it would be a miracle if the wedding planner didn't have a nightmare about them yet.

This went on for days and it was later that week that Anna found the courage to inform her family that she was not sure if Elsa would come. They had asked her multiple times about it over the course of the week and Meg, aware of their 'misunderstanding', had given her a look when she finally answered. Idunn and Hans were disappointed and sad about the news, and the latter even promised to visit the girl in the studio to try and convince her again. He never had the chance to because of his rehearsals and increasing workload.

The guilt became unbearably strong since that night.

Sooner than Anna wanted it to, her brother's wedding day arrived. She... remained true to her words. She kept Elsa's secret and justified her actions by constantly telling herself that Elsa's identity was not hers to speak of, that it was a personal matter, and that music reminded Elsa of her deceased sister. Anna was not going to remind her of that. She would not do that to her.

Oh, who am I kidding?

"A smile would be appreciated."

Anna glanced at her cousin through the mirror. The beautician had left the room once they were satisfied with their makeup. Their relatives had been coming over and congratulating Hans for the past few hours, and during that time, Olaf and some other photographers came to document his side of the preparations.

Senya, Rapunzel, and Elsa were nowhere in sight.

Anna wanted to think that they were with Belle since she was the bride, but she could not bring herself to ask Olaf for a confirmation. Any attempt resulted in her running away before the man could even catch a glimpse of her.

"I don't want to go," she said.

"You can't not go, Anna. It's your brother's wedding."

"It doesn't mean I have to like it." Anna murmured, slipping a pin off her delicate bun and tossing it to the dresser. "Ugh. I feel sick."

"You could have just told Hans the truth. Elsa didn't ask you to keep it from him, right?"

She inhaled sharply and rested her elbows on the wooden vanity, lightly pressing her hands against her face to avoid ruining the makeup. "It's not that easy. If it was, I would've already done it."

"Do you want me to tell him for you?" Anna stared at her in horror. "I don't want to see you keep doing this to yourself. Do you think he's going to react the same way I did when you cho—"

"Stop."

"No. We have to talk about this." Ariel pressed her hands firmly on the younger girl's shoulders. "It's because of what happened to us before, isn't it?"

Throat constricting and eyes burning, Anna reached for one of Ariel's hands. "Not now. Please." Squeezing. Silently pleading. "It's his wedding day. Let's... talk about this some other time."

"Anna—"

"Please, Ariel. I... I can't do this right now."

The older redhead bit her lips, gaze shifting between the mirror and the top of Anna's head. The seconds passed in agony, heavy in their chests, and Ariel reluctantly nodded. Anna... appreciated that, and she squeezed Ariel's hand again to show it.

"Do you want to go to Belle's place? Or the studio," Ariel suggested. "I know you want to see her."

Nibbling the inside of her cheek, Anna traced the intricate flower design on her pale yellow dress. "I don't want to," she stubbornly replied, receiving a raised brow. "Marshall's with you."

"Okay, you've officially lost your mind." Ariel snorted. She smiled fondly and said, "I didn't expect to see Hans in that restaurant, let alone invite someone he doesn't know to his wedding. He didn't even know that he's Elsa's brother."

Anna stared at her fiddling fingers on her lap. "Do you think he can... ask Elsa to come?"

"I'm sure he already tried." Ariel grabbed a light brown leather purse and patted Anna's back. "But it can't hurt to try again, right? There's still a few hours left."

"I... I don't think I can take it if she said 'no'."

"You won't know until you try. And if all else fails, just tell Hans. Seriously, just tell him. The longer you keep it, the harder it will be. I mean it, Anna. I'm sure Elsa will understand." Ariel glanced at her phone and tapped something before waving it in the air. "Mars is here."

It took Anna a whole minute to calm down. Thoughts swirled relentlessly inside her head; her wants and fears fighting an intense battle and brewing a dangerous storm within. Ariel was right. She always was. Elsa was not a selfish person. She would understand.

But then again...

That was exactly why Anna refused to say anything.

She shot up from her seat, silencing these tumultuous thoughts. They grabbed a coat each and headed to the main hall where they excused themselves from everyone, including Hans. She almost made a run for it when she noticed Olaf right there, taking candid pictures of whatever he could find.

"I'm glad she agreed!" Hans exclaimed, all heads turning to him. "I want to read it. Do you have it?"

Olaf snapped a photo of him before lowering the camera to his chest. "Sen's working on it at the studio."

"What is it?" Anna asked, body stiffening when the photographer's gaze landed on her.

"Chelsea wrote the lyrics for that song Mr. Westergaard requested."

Her brother growled. "Oliver, how many times do I have to tell you to call me 'Hans'?"

"As many times as I have to tell you to stop calling me 'Oliver'," Olaf chuckled, taking another photo of him. "I'm sorry she couldn't come. She's really not fond of letting people know who she is."

Anna's breath caught in her throat, almost choking her right then and there. Ariel nudged her, worry creases forming in the middle of her forehead. Anna swallowed and glanced at the guys talking about Chelsea again, and she tensed when Olaf looked at her.

She coughed. "W... We'll be going now. We'll see you at the venue."

They rushed out of the hall as soon as Hans acknowledged them, saying their goodbyes as they stumbled upon several relatives and family friends on their way out. When a number of businesspeople appeared on the other end of the aisle, Ariel dragged Anna to the exit and out of there fast.

"Do you want me to ask her for you?"

Anna shivered, turning away from the window and to the couple at the front seat. She had been spacing out the entire time, and it was only then that she realized that Marshall parked a decent distance from the studio. Far enough to not be noticeable but close enough to have an idea that it was open.

"It doesn't look like she's in there," Anna said, feigning nonchalance.

"She could be inside," Ariel suggested. "Senya's here. We can ask her."

"Let's just go. Olaf said Chelsea can't come. That's the same as saying Elsa won't be there."

"It doesn't hurt to ask her upfront."

"Ariel, I'll just wait until the event. If she's there, good. If not, then that's fine. I'm not going to force her to come or ask repeatedly."

"You asked once."

"Okay, calm down," Marshall interrupted. "I know my sister, Anna. She's not going to hate someone because they asked the same question." He removed his seatbelt and faced the redhead on the backseat. "You know she's not going to get angry, right?"

"Exactly," Ariel agreed on his side and gestured to the studio. "Now go in there and talk. Tell her what's bothering you. You're making things more complicated than they're supposed to be."

"Well, it is kind of complicated." Marshall looked at the studio as well. "Let's give her more time."

"Until when?" Ariel sighed, sticking out her fingers in a countdown as she said, "Okay, Hans wants to find the person behind a music piece. That person happens to be Elsa who's traumatized about performing. Their emotions are clashing and they're both important to you. But it's not like they're asking you to choose, right? Don't you trust them?"

"Come on," Marshall said. "That's not fair."

"How is it not fair? She's running away, Mars, and running away is not going to solve the issue."

The two raised their own opinion about the situation, and Anna's head began to throb. The voices inside it became louder, drowning out everything including her rational thoughts and the couple arguing by the front seat.

This isn't the right time.

Elsa's rebuilding her relationship with her parents. Music could wait.

These kinds of things are best dealt with one by one.

Anna gritted her teeth.

Keep telling yourself that.

"In the first place, Anna's not going to be paranoid about her brother's reaction if you didn't—"

"STOP!" Anna shouted, glaring at Marshall. He was not going to talk about that. "I'll go, okay? I'll... greet her or something."

It was early in February and the cold remained harsh, nipping at her cheeks as instantly as she stepped out of Marshall's Sedan. The bitter cold burned her lungs, but she held it together and took the first step towards Senya's Volvo.

"Anna!" Senya gasped, shutting the back door with a thud. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be preparing? Not that you don't look good. I think you look amazing."

"Thank you. Is Elsa here?"

"Elsa?" The musician nudged her chin to the front doors. "She's inside. You can go in. It's open."

Anna stared at the 'welcome' sign, apprehension forming on the pits of her stomach. Heart thundering inside her chest, she pushed the door open and found an empty front desk. The door shut behind her with playful chimes and almost immediately, a gentle, fruity sound reached her ears. Her breath stuttered as she recognized what it was. There was a difference, but it was noticeably similar to the piece she had listened to countless times.

Elsa?

Anna swallowed what felt like the hundredth time. Curiosity getting the better of her, she was about to go further in when Elsa appeared from behind a curtain, carrying a box. Her pale blonde hair was tied in a loose low side ponytail, fringes tousled. She was wearing a white t-shirt topped with a red hoodie jacket and black cargo pants, completed with plaid sneakers.

"Anna..."

That broke the spell that was cast upon the redhead. She shook her head rapidly and with a blush, closed her mouth. "You're really not going?" Anna cringed as a tinge of disappointment laced her voice. "Is... Is it because of Hans?"

With a shuddering breath, Elsa placed the box on the desk. "You still haven't told him?"

Anna's gaze dropped to the floor, her fingers picking on the sleeves of her coat. "He invited you as my friend. You don't have to sing or anything. Just... be there."

Elsa smiled ruefully. "I am going. Sen and I just need to finish something here, but we'll go."

"But your clothes..."

"I'm going to change after this. I have to assist them later."

An uncomfortable silence that had become common between them by now had settled in the room. Anna fidgeted on the spot, shifting from leg to leg discreetly. She was inside the studio, and Elsa was there. If what Elsa said could be anything to go on by, she would be coming as a member of Frozen Fractals and not as a guest.

Now what?

Anna pulled her hands further inside the sleeves of her coat and closed them into tight fists, ignoring her freshly manicured nails as they dug on her palms. Her lips quivered as she opened them, and even though her mouth moved, not a single word came out.

"What's happening to us, Anna?" Elsa suddenly asked, and tingles ran down Anna's spine. "Ever since I told you I was the one who wrote that song, you started avoiding me. I thought it was because I kept it from you, but then I found out you knew all along. I don't get it."

"E... Elsa..."

With a crooked smile, she glanced at a golden paper on top of the box she had been holding. "I can't accept this invitation. I don't have a right to be there as a guest. We're keeping this from your brother and—"

"It was my choice!" Anna exclaimed. "I didn't tell him. We don't have to right now. It can wait until you're ready."

"What if I'll never be? Do you plan to keep this from him until then? Even if it takes forever?" Elsa asked, and Anna whimpered. "You said he's going to keep looking if he can't find me before his wedding. I can't let you do that, Anna. I know how it feels to hide something you really want to say to your family."

"That's... That's not... I'm okay with not telling them..."

"Then why does it feel like you're not? Why do you look so... so sad every time you say you're okay?"

Elsa's words struck a nerve and shattered the small willpower left inside Anna.

She was sad. More than that, in fact; Anna was miserable. She wanted to tell Hans, to admit to her mother and sister who Chelsea was. Her family was the only one who was there for her from the very beginning. Lying to them, keeping secrets from them, was not something she was good at. It was not something she loved doing either.

Damn it. "What do you want me to do?" She had not meant to say it out loud, but the words rolled out of her tongue faster than she could even think about them. Her eyes were about the size of dinner plates by the time Elsa opened her mouth. "No, wait! F- Forget I said that! I... I have to go."

"Anna, wait." A hand grabbed her elbow, preventing her from rushing to the door. "Do you want to tell him?"

"Els—"

The grip tightened. "Do you?"

Anna squeezed her eyes shut, shoulders rising to her reddened ears as she trembled. Fear did not allow her to turn around, afraid to see the look of annoyance, anger, or pity that she was ninety-nine percent sure was there.

"Elsa, yo—oh." Anna's lids flew open at the exact time Senya stepped inside. "Is everything all right?"

The hand holding her elbow released its icy grip, and Anna circled her arms around her torso, mentally counting until her heart regained its normal beat. Halfway through achieving a coherent state of mind, she answered the woman with a nod.

Senya tilted her head, returning the gesture before facing Elsa. "You have the keys, right?" As the blonde muttered a small 'yes', she scratched her cheek. "Okay then. Just tell me when you're ready."

The musician went deeper inside the studio and Anna's throat had dried. They were alone again, and heaven knows that another minute with Elsa like this was going to make her snap. Those eyes. Those blue and unreadable eyes fed the mocks inside her head; taunting, provoking, and challenging.

I can't do this.

"I should... I should really go. I guess I'll... see you there?"

Elsa kept staring and Anna could tell that there was still something on her mind. She wanted to stay, truly wanted to, because Elsa said she was confused. Anna wanted to speak up. To explain. But she could not bear seeing that look on Elsa. It was so inquisitive. Curious. Attentive.

I can't.