Chapter 10

When Elsa stands up on her hind legs to look out the window, Anna finally realizes just how much she's grown.

When did that happen?

She'd known the puppy for about a month, and she still remembers the first day she saw the tiny thing cowering in an alleyway. Now she was almost as long as Anna's forearm, and could stand to look out her window with no trouble.

And yes, her window was lower to the ground than most, but there was no denying that her little girl was growing up right before her very eyes.

In the next few months, she'd get bigger and taller, have more energy, chew up more of her shoes. It was going to be another learning experience for the both of them, but that was still a little ways off.

Right now, Anna was more focused on the present.

"What is it, girlie?" She said. "Did you see one of your people? Er...puppies?"

At the sound of her owner's voice, Elsa raced from the living room to the kitchen, pawing at Anna's knees. She liked to imagine that Elsa was telling her everything she experienced during the twenty minutes she was taking a shower. She assumed it was a lot of sniffing around and tearing up Jorgenbjorgen.

The puppy's new tag shimmered around her neck, as if to congratulate Anna and say that Elsa was officially hers. The blue pendant stuck out amidst the snow-white fur and jingled with every one of her tiny steps. Anna wondered what Dr. Maren would think about it.

Luckily, she didn't have to wait too long because Elsa had an appointment today.

Anna walked to her closet and pulled out Elsa's leash, "Hey, what do you say we go see Dr. Maren today? Does that sound fun?"

Elsa stood patiently, tilting her head at the leash in her owner's hand.

"I'm sure she's gonna be so happy to see you a- hey, where are you going?!"

The puppy raced down the hallway, slipping and bumping into the wall before disappearing somewhere into her room.

It took maybe five minutes of hearing Elsa whimper and howl in her car for Anna to realize that maybe she wasn't that excited to go back to the shelter. Which, the longer that she thought about it, the more it made sense.

The last time Elsa was there, Anna abandoned her for three days and they stuck a thermometer up her butt. She was probably nervous that that would happen again. This theory was supported by Elsa trying to get on Anna's lap at every red light.

"No," Anna said sternly. "You have a whole seat to yourself. Stay there."

Elsa protested the order with more howling and scratching at the passenger side door, but at least she was staying in her own seat.

"Look, I'll give you a big, honking dog treat when we get back home, but right now we gotta do this first. Besides, don't you like Dr. Maren? I like Dr. Maren...I mean, obviously." Hopefully not to the doctor, or else that would ruin her fifty-step plan to ask her out on a date. So far, she was on step seven: maintain direct eye contact for longer than five seconds.

At the next red light, Anna sighed and spoke to the still anxious Elsa, "Also please don't pee on the seat."

They were about ten minutes out from the shelter, maybe less if she hit all green lights the rest of the way. A minivan pulled up right next to her. Elsa howled at the family inside as if she was asking them to save her.

The kids in the van immediately took notice and began waving excitedly and pointing at Elsa, which in turn excited Elsa so much that she fell off the chair. Luckily, she was used to falling and bumbling around, so she picked herself up quickly to continue howling at the kids.

Anna made eye contact with the parents for a second and gave them an apologetic wave. "Sorry," she said even though her windows were up. "She gets really claustrophobic. Santa Claus, you know?"

The dad muttered the word "What", which proved that the parents couldn't hear her. Which was a relief, because that joke was awful.

"I said…" Anna continued without rolling down her window, against her better judgment of just not even trying to talk to them. Thankfully, a green light saved her from any further embarrassment. "Never mind," she said with one more wave before driving forward.

"It's so good to see you again," said Dr. Maren cheerfully.

Anna tucked her hair behind her air, "Likewise. It's been so long." See it was funny- in her mind- because she worked yesterday, so it hadn't been so long since they'd seen each other.

The doctor scratched Elsa behind her ears and looked up at Anna, "Oh, I was actually talking to Elsa."

"Oh!" Anna looked away, "My bad."

"But it is good to see you again too, Anna," the doctor said assuredly. She only said it out of pity, but it still made her feel a little better. "How has she been? Any concerns at home? Anything you want me to pay extra attention to?"

"No, I think she's doing okay. I mean yeah, she's great. She did bite me the other day though, and it hurt a little bit."

Dr. Maren snapped her head up, ceasing her ear-scratching, "Did she break the skin?"

Anna's eyes widened, "N-no! No, she- uh, it wasn't too bad and there's no scar and it didn't bleed or anything. It just hurt more than her usual bites."

"Usual bites?"

"Well okay, they're not bites per se, they're more like nibbling."

"Nibbling."

"Yeah, you know like just playfully resting her teeth on my fingers. Repeatedly."

Dr. Maren looked at her like she had an ear growing out of her forehead, before finally the redhead's aimless rambling clicked. "Oooooh okay, I know what you mean. Well puppies, especially the more energetic breeds, do tend to bite fingers and toes in a playful manner. It's possible that she miscalculated the strength of one of her playful bites. Keep an eye on that behavior, okay? If the stronger bites become more commonplace, it'll be your job to correct that behavior."

Anna was so awestruck by the way the doctor spoke with such authority and knowledge, that she almost forgot that she was a college graduate too and also knew big words. And that she was supposed to reply. "Uh right. Right, yeah I'll make sure to keep an eye on her behavior and then, you know, behave accordingly."

Anna heard the assistant snicker.

The rest of the first half of the appointment went well and without any more of her intervention. It was reassuring to hear that Elsa looked good and that her cuts and teeth were healing up nicely. The good news made her feel like a good owner. And, of course, Elsa still didn't care for the butt thermometer.

"You're doing an amazing job, Elsa. I love your new nametag," Dr. Maren cooed, and Anna felt a swell of pride in her chest from hearing that. And also a slight loss of breath from hearing the doctor say that in a soft, low voice.

"Thank you," she said without thinking.

But this time, surprisingly, Dr. Maren laughed. It was short and sweet, and barely noticeable (sorta like Anna), but it happened. And there were three other witnesses here to testify. Even if one of them was a dog.

Anna made Dr. Maren laugh, which wasn't supposed to happen until step thirty-nine.

"Okay, we're going to take Elsa in the back now so she can get her shot. There's only one this time instead of three," the doctor explained. "I know that you've seen other dogs get shots before, and you know what this place looks inside and out, but unfortunately only employees are allowed inside. And you're not on the clock."

Anna looked at Elsa. Her ears were droopy and even though she looked calm, Anna could sense that she was afraid of getting pricked again. She sighed, "Yeah, I know," she said with a sigh before walking up to her puppy. "Don't worry girlie, I'll be right here when you're done."

Elsa licked Anna's open palm, and then gave her finger a gentle nibble before being whisked away.

A few minutes later, the hard part was over and Elsa was back in Anna's arms, thankful that there was someone in this room without a needle.

"Same thing as last time, she'll be a little tired for a few hours," Dr. Maren said- without her assistant- while printing out some papers for her to sign. "And if she has any sort of reaction to the vaccine, make sure to call us. Or, you know, tell me when you come into work tomorrow."

"Can do," Anna replied, stroking the top of Elsa's head.

"And then the next round will include her rabies vaccine, after that she'll have all of her puppy shots done with."

"I can start taking her on walks after that, right?"

Dr. Maren nodded and placed the papers on the metal desk, "I'm sure Elsa can't wait for that."

Anna couldn't wait either, she was so excited to show Elsa the whole world again. And to let her know that it was safe to be outside now, as long as she stayed with her. She signed the papers with a smile, the husky stayed on the bench exhausted before Anna picked her back up again.

The doctor took the papers and gave Anna a paper bag, "That's her heartworm medication. Very important stuff, this has to be taken at the same time every month."

"Gotcha," Anna took the bag with her free hand, almost dropping it somehow. "Thanks again for doing this, Dr. Maren."

She shrugged, "It's my job, Anna. Speaking of which, I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning, right?"

"Eeyup, I have two alarms set and everything."

Dr. Maren smiled, melting Anna's heart in the process. Gosh, she could look into those hazel eyes forever. Wait, how long had she kept eye contact for? One, two, three….oh crap. "I'm glad. Then I'll see you tomorrow," she said, oblivious to the redhead's inner turmoil.

But it was a good turmoil. "Yeah, see ya," Anna replied meekly before disappearing out the door.

Six seconds, she was able to maintain eye contact with Dr. Maren for six seconds. Elsa licked her arm as if to say she was proud of her.

A/N: Sorry about the lack of updates, I was busy playing Fire Emblem.

Kidding, I'm never sorry.