Chapter 3: The beach.

It was finally morning and Elsa and Anna were on their way to the latter's family's private plane. Both were half asleep in the redhead's car back seat while the driver took care of transporting them to their destination. Anna's parents had been informed of her plans, but they thought she was going with a friend from school (a.k.a. a girl she really liked and wanted to impress), and they didn't have a problem with paying for the whole trip and providing them with comfortable and luxurious transportation… However, when they had insisted about meeting her friend first, Anna had told them she was busy at the moment and promised to present her to them as soon as they came back. To make sure they didn't go to bid her goodbye when she left, they had been on their way about five. But this only delayed the encounter.

Anna wasn't sure what to think about her parents meeting Elsa. Sure, maybe with their influences they could be able to help Elsa but… The Clone Industries were one of her father's most important sponsors. It was partially thanks to them that he had won last year's elections, but just as they were able to easily put him on the presidency, they could as easily remove him of the charge. After all, that little weasel that was the CEO practically ruled over Arendelle, more than Anna's father even. He owned many important public services and probably a third of the country.

So Anna wasn't sure if her parents would be willing to risk everything (their career, their position, their stability) just to save a girl who shouldn't be able to think in the first place. Because Elsa was just an error, one in thousands, so insignificant that they shouldn't even be worried about her. However, Anna knew she was more; she was a human being, a very nice and beautiful one at that, and she didn't deserve to die… But she wasn't sure her parents would agree with her. They were not bad people, she knew that, but they were always obsessed with what was supposed to be, not what really was. And Elsa was supposed to be brainless… she was supposed to die to save Elvira… The Clone Industries were supposed to have everything perfectly sort out… errors weren't supposed to exist. And Elsa could prove this was wrong, and their world could collapse.

Anna pressed her palms in her scalp and groaned. All this thinking at this early hour was giving her a headache. They were supposed to be going on vacation, having fun, she'd worry about the future later… though she certainly should start thinking about a plan to save Elsa.

Not now. When I'm more awake.

"Ms. Summers, we're here." The driver's voice saved Anna from herself and she sighed relieved.

"Thanks." Anna said and then turned to Elsa, shaking her slightly to make her wake up. "Elsa, come on, we've arrived."

Elsa slowly opened her eyes and blinked several times, obviously not yet completely awake. She yawned and looked at Anna with sleepy eyes, which, together with her messy hair were an adorable sight to the younger girl. The redhead giggled, took her hand and led her out of the car (well, maybe dragged is a more precise word), then left her reclining on it while she fetched their bags from the trunk and handed them to the staff that'd put them on the airplane. When she went back to Elsa, she found her already sleeping with her head pressed on her hand and a little strand of saliva slowly falling out of her open mouth. Anna couldn't help it when she giggled and took a photo of her. She looked ridiculous… just like her when she woke up. Then, she took Elsa in her arms (she was surprisingly light) and climbed the plane's stairs before putting her in a comfortable seat and taking another for herself next to the sleeping blonde.

"Ms. Summers, I'm your pilot, Mr. Andersen." Said a man with a blue uniform that appeared in front of her. "Where do I have the pleasure to take you today?"

"To the most beautiful beach ever in this country: St. Olaf!" Anna exclaimed enthusiastically. She'd always liked going to that particular beach with her family when she was younger, and the idea of going with Elsa really exited her.

"Very well. We'll be leaving soon. Please, ask to the flight attendant here, Jane, if you need anything." He said as he turned around and pointed to said attendant.

"Hi, I'm Jane. Can I help you with something?" The girl introduced herself. Anna thought for a moment before deciding she'd like to wake up before the plane was in the air, in case anything happened.

"Can I have a cup of coffee?" She asked.

"Of course." The attendant smiled and left to retrieve the cup. She returned a few minutes later and gave it to Anna. "Here you are. Would you like milk and sugar?" Anna nodded and the woman gave her some sugar packets and milk powder before politely retiring. Anna started putting the sugar on the coffee, but she was very clumsy, even more when she wasn't completely awake and, when she realized she had dropped the other packet of sugar and tried to fetch it, the cup slipped from her hands and landed on Elsa's pants, making her wake up with a scream.

"Ooouuch! What the…?" Elsa looked at Anna first with pain and confusion and then with an accusatory gaze as she rubbed her leg soothingly. All traces of sleep were gone.

"S-sorry." Anna said feeling nervous and guilty. "I accidently dropped my coffee on you."

"C-coffee?" Elsa asked eying at Anna's cup with interest.

"You wouldn't like it. Not this one anyway; I'll take you somewhere to get a good one if you want in the future." Anna said, hoping to make it up for her with this. The blonde nodded and the looked around as if she didn't know how had she gotten there.

"Where are we?" She asked.

"My family's plane. We'll soon be leaving to our first destination."

"Oh." Elsa looked around and her gaze stopped in the small window. A smile appeared on her lips. "Great. I've never been in a plane before."

"I hope you like it." Anna said just when a voice sounded from the speakers telling them to put on the seatbelts and turn off any electric device. Anna turned off her cellphone and was just grabbing the seatbelt when she found Elsa was looking her, clearly trying to copy her movements. "Here, let me help you." Anna said letting go of her belt to grab Elsa's instead and fastening it around her hips. Then, she was about to retreat when she looked up and found herself very close to Elsa. Both girls blushed and Anna quickly backed up, almost falling from her seat. Elsa giggled softly, to Anna's embarrassment, and then, obviously noticing the redhead's discomfort, turned to look at the window, hiding her smile, but unable to hide her blush.

Oh… she's so beautiful. Kinda reminds me of my sister when she was younger. She has that same flawless skin, same bright blue eyes, and same perfect blonde hair. Her breasts are larger and her waist smaller, of course, and I never saw my sister blush like that when I touched her, but that's what I like about her… Like a friend. I like her like a friend. Nothing more. Nop. Not at all.

Anna could lie to herself all she wanted, but she was certainly developing a crush on the clone. If she had paid more attention to herself she'd found that her body felt warmer than usual, her hands were sweating and a small silly smile was plastered on her face, but of course she was busy looking at the object of her fantasies. It was weird though; she usually didn't fall that easily.

In that moment, the girl she was shamelessly ogling turned to look at her and moved her lips as if speaking, but Anna just kept looking at those wonderfully pink and wet lips that seemed to be extremely kissable wondering how they tasted. Until Elsa waved her hand in front of her eyes to catch her attention.

"Anna?" She asked.

"Uh… sorry, what?" She said blinking and looking down nervously, pretending she wasn't considering kissing her just seconds ago. Elsa giggled.

"I asked you if you've traveled by plane before."

"Yes!" She answered a little too loudly due to the anxiety she felt and wasn't sure why. "I mean… yes." She repeated it less loudly when she saw Elsa jump a little at her unexpected yell. "Tons of times, but it excites me every time."

"I can see that." Elsa smiled at her, but as soon as it had appeared, the little grin was gone. "But… I-I… I'm scared." She admitted, looking down and blushing in shame. "I-I mean, I'm excited and all but… the last time I was on a metallic machine at hundreds of feet from the ground I was in a special cage that would protect me even if it fell. This is the first time I'm exposed to a real death risk and…"

"Elsa." Anna interrupted her looking at her with amused but sympathetic eyes. "It's highly unlikely that this falls. I was afraid the first time I traveled on one of these, of course, but you really have nothing to worry about. Okay?" Anna took her hand hoping this would relax her.

Elsa looked at their intertwined fingers for a moment before looking up and answering with a smile:

"Okay. Just… don't let go." The last part she pronounced it nervously before turning back to look through the window just when the plane started moving.

Elsa was so tense that she clenched Anna's hand extra hard to the point of almost hurting her, but fortunately for the redhead, as soon as the plane was on the air, Elsa slowly relaxed and started looking at the clouds in amazement. It was really funny to see her jaw hanging opened in delight and Anna had to bite her lip in order to keep her laughter in. She couldn't blame her though; the sight was a beautiful one with all those cotton-like clouds contrasting with the intense blue sky due to their pure white color. But the sight of Elsa's smiling face, so full of happiness and wonder and lacking the usual traces of stress, fear and worry that didn't suit her quite well, was an even better one.

Anna just wished to be able to keep that expression on her face the rest of the week.

Anna decided that, before going to the beach, they needed to go shopping, so they just left Anna's luggage at the hotel and headed straight to the mall (Of course it was a beach hotel, so Anna had to leave Elsa in the car with a blindfold covering her eyes, arguing the first time she saw the ocean had to be special).

Before exiting the car Anna gave Elsa sunglasses and a blue cap in case it was true that there was a bunch of professional detectives (hired by the Clone Center) looking for her. She also combed her hair in a french braid so she was more presentable.

Once both girls were ready, they entered the mall… but Elsa felt like they had entered to another word. It was really loud and crowded, full of bright advertisements, stores that sold all kinds of things, people who carried around lots of bags, kids either playing or crying… it was all so different from what Elsa had known until then.

She couldn't help it when she went out running after the first thing that got her attention and then another and another while Anna tried to catch her.

"Elsa!" Anna shouted, almost out of breath. "Elsa, don't… don't run. No! Don't go to the food area now! Great. Fuck, I'm tired." With great difficulty Anna kept following the very fast blonde until she finally caught up with her at the food area, ordering an ice-cream.

"That'd be $6.50" The vendor said as he handed Elsa the cone.

"6.50 what?" She asked confused. She'd never paid for anything in her life.

"Uh… " The vendor looked at her clearly wondering if she was just kidding or playing innocent to leave without paying.

"I'll pay." Anna said out of breath as she deposited a couple of bills on the counter. "And I'll have one too. Chocolate." The vendor nodded and Anna turned to Elsa with an angry face. "Fuck, Elsa don't do that again!"

"Ask for an ice-cream?"

"No! Running away like that!"

"Oh. Sorry." She blushed. "I wasn't thinking. I just got excited."

"It's okay, just don't do it again." Anna said relaxing her expression and her tone of voice. Blushing Elsa was so cute she couldn't stay mad at her. "And don't ask for anything if you don't have money."

"Okay. I don't know what money is, but okay." She joked, giggling. Anna giggled too and, after getting her own ice-cream, took Elsa's hand and led her to the clothing store.

First of all, according to Anna, Elsa needed a swim suit. And not a one-piece one, as Elsa wanted, but a bikini that barely covered anything, in the blonde's opinion, and that she didn't see the point on buying. She literally said it would be easier to go to the beach without clothes… which of course made Anna's mind imagine it (it didn't help that when Elsa said it she was coming out of the changing room wearing said bikini that left little to the imagination) and she ended up running to the bathroom to get some paper for her bloody nose.

Once Anna had returned from the bathroom, Elsa had changed into her clothes again and the redhead had paid for the bikini, they went to buy some more essential clothes (Again, according to Anna) that Elsa would need on the beach. Like shorts. Really, really tiny shorts. And tight. Elsa again protested, but Anna bought them anyways, together with a couple of sleeveless shirts (white and almost transparent) that Elsa, of course, was opposed to, using the argument that they barely had any cloth compared to other thicker shirts.

Finally, and to compensate for her controlling attitude, Anna let Elsa decide her PJ's and the clothes she'd be using the next few days. Elsa decided for mostly blue, green or violet shirts that, Anna thought, looked really good on her, jeans, a couple of sweaters and jackets and tennis shoes. Perfect for any occasion.

Then, once it was all paid, they headed to the beach.

"Are you ready?" Anna asked excitedly as she positioned Elsa where she deemed more appropriate for her to see the sea for the first time.

"Uh… I think so?" Elsa said, more concentrated on the intense light that was filtering through the blindfold and the overwhelming heat she felt. She briefly wondered if they were in front of a giant fire.

"Great!" Anna removed the blindfold in one swift movement and Elsa had to blink a couple of times to adjust her eyes to the intense luminosity she was presented with.

The first thing she noticed was white; the sunlight reflected on the sand in such way that was almost blinding. Then, once her eyes stopped hurting, she noticed the blue ocean. It was a beautiful greenish blue, like Anna's eyes, and it went on forever, past the horizon and beyond Elsa's line of sight. Elsa had never seen such a massive amount of water in one place, and she had to admit it was certainly breathtaking, even more if she paid attention to the waves, not too tall but not too small either, that were topped with white foam. She wondered why the water made those forms when approaching to the shore.

The sight was even more perfect than the many photos she'd seen of different beaches, at least in Elsa's opinion. There were many people around, messing with the otherwise smooth sand, and lots of giant colorful umbrellas, towels and chairs where people were enjoying cold drinks, reading magazines or just laying around. It felt more real. More natural.

"Well, what do you think?" Anna asked her with a happy attitude.

"It's… wonderful." Elsa said, eyes wide, as a huge smile graced her features. "I never thought the ocean was so large."

"Yeah, it's pretty shocking the first time, isn't it? It makes you feel… small." Elsa nodded at Anna's words.

"Oh, Anna, I really like this." She said turning to look at the redhead with a great amount of gratitude showing on her face. "But… it's too crowded here, do you think we could go somewhere… calmer. I'm just not used to being with so many people and someone could recognize me."

"You are right. Besides, someone could recognize me and that would be worse. Stupid paparazzis."

Elsa raised an eyebrow at Anna's use of that strange word but said nothing as the younger girl put the sunglasses again on her nose (She'd taken them off to put the blindfold), took her hand and led her away.

They walked by the shore, just where the sand was barely wet and not burning hot (Elsa had ran like crazy towards the water when her feet had been burned, and chastised Anna about how she hadn't warn her), just watching the sight silently. It was somewhat peaceful, aside from some kids who asked them to hand them a ball, a few teens that passed running in front of them towards the sea and the great amount of whistles directed to them that Anna recommended to ignore.

"Why are they whistling?" Elsa asked, eying at a gang of guys with smiling faces sitting near the shore.

"They want to have sex with you. Us." Anna answered.

"But they don't even know us."

"I know." She sighed. "Just… don't look at them, alright?"

They kept walking as Anna reprimanded herself for making Elsa wear those tiny shorts and transparent shirt just because her libido wanted to see her wearing them. It wasn't long before a pair of assholes appeared in front of them keeping the girls from walking. Anna tried moving past them, but they wouldn't let her.

"Can you move?" She asked without looking them at the eyes.

"You're being a little rude, aren't you?" Asked one of them. Anna sighed.

"Not as rude as you are." Anna answered looking up with her best furious look.

"Hey, look we just wanted to invite you to our party." Said the other guy, trying to calm down the feisty redhead.

"Not interested." Anna quickly replied, trying to push past the guys but, again, they blocked their way.

"Come on, why not?" He insisted. "You could be our dates."

"Because I know you just want to get laid."

"What kind of people do you think we are?" Asked the other one, feigning to be offended, but Anna could see through his mask.

"Don't play innocent with me. I know your kind." She retorted.

"Well, why don't you let your friend speak? She's more gorgeous than you anyways. Do you wanna come with us, babe?" He said the last part looking at Elsa.

For a moment Elsa seemed hesitant. A party was supposed to be fun, as far as she knew, and she wanted to experience life as much as she could, but she didn't like those guys attitude, and she trusted Anna's judgment better.

"N-no, I don't." Still, her voice sounded insecure when she answered.

"Really? I think you do." The other intervened "Come on, we promise you'll have a good time. Forget about your boring friend here." Elsa just shook her head, not trusting her voice. This situation was making her feel unease. "I'll give you a kiss if you accept." He winked as he said the last part… and then he fell to the ground clutching his private parts.

"Hey! Are you crazy?!" His friend yelled at Anna, who was still looking at the fallen boy with disgust.

"It's not nice to hit on other people's girlfriends!" She shouted before taking Elsa's hand and running away as fast as she could.

"Girlfriend?" Elsa asked as they were running.

"I just said it so they don't get any ideas with you." Anna answered, still with a murderous expression.

"I think the kick was more than enough." Elsa answered with an accusatory look in her eyes.

"Uh… Oh, look! This section of the beach is beautiful!" Anna stopped running and forced Elsa to look in the direction of the sea. She knew it was just a distraction technique, but she let it slip. "We should swim here."

Before Elsa could say something, Anna took off her own shirt and shorts, tossed them to the ground and got into the water. The blonde looked around, noticed there was no one near and decided to do the same, after all, she had never swam in the sea… or any other place for that matter. So, forgetting about Anna's aggressive behavior towards those random guys, she stripped until she was just wearing her bikini and went to the enthusiastic girl who was shouting her to join her.

Elsa carefully stepped into the water and stayed there for a moment, enjoying how the sand moved under her feet due to the motion of the waves, causing a pleasant sensation to appear on her body, making her relax. Then she kept walking until the water reached her waist and she was in front of Anna, who smiled at her happily and mischievously at the same time. Elsa had to admit she looked beautiful… and that that stupid bikini that, she had thought, barely covered enough, suddenly was covering too much of her. Even if the green color really complemented the redhead.

Suddenly, a splash of water in her face made Elsa close her eyes, stopping her unconscious leering of the other girl. When she looked again, she saw Anna laughing like crazy, clutching her sides, and she knew what had to be done; she splashed as much water towards Anna as she could. The redhead, however, wasn't one to let the other have the final word, or splash, in this case, and so she counterattacked (after wiping the salty water off her eyes). Elsa screamed and backed off, but ended off tripping and falling into the sea, and her giggles made water enter her mouth, which made her cough and try to get up.

"Oh my god, Elsa are you alright?" Anna said approaching to her, worrying she might be drowning, but when she was just in front of her, she noticed too late Elsa's playful grin and was met with yet another splash of water on her face.

They kept playing in the water until Elsa's skin was almost completely pink and Anna's freckles had doubled. There was a lot of swallowing salt water, pushing each other into the waves, and (Anna made sure of that) touching, mainly to make each other trip, but still, the redhead really liked having the opportunity to feel Elsa's bare waist under her fingers. Elsa, on the other hand, was more concentrated on her first experience in the sea, but she still thought Anna's closeness was nice. She almost wanted to spend the rest of her week at the beach.

After going to the hotel and taking a shower to get rid of the salt in their skin, Anna took Elsa to a pizzeria that was on the beach to have dinner. Both girls were literally starving, so when the pizza finally came, they both practically inhaled their first piece. Then, with their hunger dulled, they were able to relax and watch the last rays of light disappearing under the sea.

As Elsa was taking another piece of the delicious food (not as delicious as chocolate though), Anna asked her:

"So… did you like this day?"

"Absolutely." Elsa said without a doubt. "It was nice. And fun." She smirked. "Specially making you swallow all that salty water."

"Oh, come on! I'm sure I made you swallow half of the ocean!" She retorted pouting and Elsa giggled.

"That's true." She admitted. "But still, it was fun." She then reclined on her chair, but flinched as soon as her back touched the backrest. "But… maybe we should go somewhere uh… colder tomorrow."

"Don't worry, I have an ointment that will heal your sunburns sooner than you'd think possible." Anna said smiling. "But sure, we can go somewhere colder. Actually, I think I have the perfect place."

"Where?" Anna rolled her eyes at Elsa's curiosity.

"It's a surprise."

"Alright, but it better be fun."

"You have no idea." The redhead smirked.

After that, the girls kept talking about silly things, like how many new freckles they'd gotten, as the sky became darker and darker and the stars appeared like bright points, which prompted Anna to suggest that they lied on the sand and saw how many figures they could imagine. This way they spent a few more hours until Elsa finally fell asleep thinking this had definitely been the best day of her life.

She didn't notice when a pair of arms lifted her up or when they deposited her on her bed after the owner of said arms kissed her goodnight, but she went to sleep with a smile on her lips.