I don't own Frozen. Stolen Ice and its characters were created by Aesla.

"That's not all, of course." Anna said to the video-call of Jane on her laptop. She snuggled backwards into her pillows, already underneath the covers when the surprise call had come through. "On Friday, I'm actually going to be hosting a poetry reading for a local high school. I've gotten a sneak preview of the poetry- don't tell anyone-" She winked at Jane, who hid a smile behind her gloves. "And it is just TERR-ible. The worst. Angst and drama and black souls. I can't wait to hear them read this stuff out loud!" Anna laughed nervously, tugging on one of her braids. "Does that make me a terrible person?"

"No, I think it means you have taste." Jane replied. "You're a terrible person for completely different reasons."

There was a jab there, unspoken, but Anna ignored it and stuck her tongue out at Jane. "Well, I doubt charity work at the local library is undoing thousand dollar thefts..." She said wishfully. "but it feels like a start, you know? I'm helping other people find their raison d'être sometimes."

"You sound very happy, A- Anna. I'm glad to see you doing so well."

"Aw, thanks." Anna gathered up a bunch of her covers and hugged them to her chest, turning to face Jane. "Although, if we're being honest... I haven't been doing that well lately, I think."

"Oh?" Jane's mask succumbed to concern, and she leaned forward into the webcam. "What's wrong? Do you want to talk about it?"

Do you want to talk about it?

"Someday I'll be able to tell you how much it means to me to hear that." Anna said, quietly enough that Jane tapped her headpiece gently, indicating she hadn't quite caught that.

"Um, well, it's kind of, really embarassing to talk about. I'm not sure how to even begin talking about it." Anna laughed and bit her lip. "Um. I don't have a frame of reference for talking about it. So I'm just going to, kind of..." She made a frustrated grunt and flopped onto her back. Jane was quiet, waiting patiently, folding her hands in front of her and resting her chin on her gloves, watching Anna conservatively.

"I had a breakdown." Anna said abruptly, immediately grimacing. "Sort of. I'm not really sure what it was. I was at the library, and I was really, really tired, I hadn't slept well the night before or the night before that, and someone asked me a question and I can't remember what it was but it reminded me of... then, and I just..." Anna held her hands out in front of her, frustrated. "...It got cold. Hard to breath. My heart was pounding. I sort of fell down. Just on my knees, I didn't hit anything. It felt like I was really, really far away from myself, if that makes any sense at all." Anna scoffed at herself.

"That sounds like a panic attack." Jane said, wringing her hands together in distress. "You're okay?"

"Yes! Yea. I'm fine now." Anna tried to smile reassuringly at her laptop's webcam but wasn't sure she meant it. "It lasted about ten minutes, the other librarian on duty got me into a backroom before anything dramatic happened. He sent me home but that was about it." Anna said, growing quiet. She bit her lip and furrowed her brows, thinking.

"How many times has this happened?"

Anna looked to the webcam in surprise. "I just told you about one time!"

"It's bothering you. Really bothering you. You're biting your lip and scrunching up your face."

Anna was quiet for a minute, then rolled onto her side to face her laptop and Jane, holding her blanket up to cover her body. "It's happened a few times. Never in public like that, though. I haven't told anyone yet. I'm... I'm kind of ashamed to. I kind of wish I hadn't told you."

I need you to think I'm stronger. I need you to believe that...

"So why did you?"

"...I wanted you to think I was stronger. I need you to believe that... but I'm through with lying and pretending things are okay if they're not." Anna sighed, reaching out and touching the laptop screen with a few fingers. Jane watched, her face difficult to read. "Look at me, though. I'm having breakdowns in public." Anna gave a sad laugh. "I thought I was stronger than this. I really did. I've been moving forward and making progress, and, and I really believed in myself..."

"Just because you're wounded doesn't mean you're weak, Anna. You're growing and healing. I'm very proud of you." Jane said earnestly.

"You mean that?" Anna asked like she'd just been told christmas was real, moved enough that she was squinting through tears.

"I've said it before, haven't I? It hasn't changed. I just... I thought you needed to hear it again. You've always reacted strongly that way. I mean, in the physical sense, you get emoti-"

"I know what you mean." Anna said, smiling as best as she could. A tear forced its way down her cheek, and she wiped it away quickly, hoping Jane hadn't seen it. "I know what you mean. I, um. I need to get some sleep before I start getting weepy. I'll hear from you again soon?" She asked hopefully.

"...yeah. Soon." Jane admitted, smiling. "Next time I want to tell you what I've been up to."

At that, Anna couldn't stand it anymore and extended a hand out to her screen, pressing her palm against one of the corners. Jane stared for a few moments, then the snapping of a glove came through the speakers, and Jane placed her bare hand against the screen where Anna had her hand.

"Same time?" Jane asked, knowing the answer already. They'd developed this so neither of them would have to feel the guilt of being the one to hang up first.

Anna nodded, and they both used their free hands to hover over the power buttons to the Skype chat.

"Good night, my love." Anna whispered.

"Good night, my... Anna. One, two..."

On three they hit the power button at the same time, the last ghostly image of each other's comforting faces in the black of the video screen.