Hank thrust his hands through the drawers in his father's bedroom, cursing his Dad's hoarding habit. As he swept his hands through the piles of junk inside, more just filled up the previously empty spots making sure that Hank accomplished absolutely nothing in his search. With a cry of frustration he ripped the drawer out of the dresser and emptied the contents onto the floor of the bedroom. Glass trinkets broke on the hardwood floors but Hank did not care one bit. His Dad probably wouldn't have even cared; he never looked in these drawers anyways.

Hank dropped to his hands and knees and sifted through the junk, spreading it all around to try and get a better look at everything. A few coins, some small toys from his childhood, one or two medals of service passed down through the family, a shaving kit, some kind of flute, a couple of brass rings with engravings, another shaving kit, a note, and no sign of the box he was searching for. Hank sighed and picked up the note.

Dad,

Going to be late at the castle tonight with Queen Elsa, don't wait for dinner.

–Hank

Hank scrunched the paper and gazed towards the sky.

"Why would you keep this note!?" he screamed, frustrated that he could never confront his Dad about his horrible knack for never getting rid of anything.

Hank grabbed at the drawer under the previous one and ripped it out of the dresser. Kicking aside all of the previous items he dumped the contents on the floor yet again. He could clean up later, he promised Elsa he would only be an hour and his pocket watch showed that it had already been thirty five minutes. He wouldn't be able to take his time going back to the castle.

He kicked the pile of junk in wild hope that he would get lucky. Looking down hurriedly, he couldn't help his eyes from lighting up. In a move that he found much too easy, Hank reached down and picked up the box he was looking for. He turned back to the sky and silently thanked whoever was on his side this day.

It was a small wooden box that had the initials H. E. roughly carved on the lid. Hank ran his hands over the marking before opening the box and chuckling at the memories.

"Hey, come into my room for a second!"

Hank rolled his eyes and put down the plate he was washing. He probably shouldn't humour his father and his obsession with pointless trinkets anymore, but he didn't have the heart to stop. He forced a smile and traversed the short distance from the kitchen to his father's room to find his Dad excitedly staring at a wooden box. His old brown eyes seemed mesmorized by the insignificant thing. Hank couldn't help but liken it to a child with a new toy. The contents of his father's drawers were spilled all over the floor in one of the biggest messes he had ever witnessed in the house. To him, it even rivalled Princess Anna's chocolate disaster of last year, and they had almost commissioned a stain glass window for that.

"Nice box, Dad," Hank sarcastically drawled. "Are you sure the racoons won't miss their latest scrap of garbage?"

"I didn't raise you to be so ornery, Hank," Will scolded. "I don't think the Queen is looking to date an asshole either."

"I'm not looking to date the Queen!" Hank defended. "For the last time, Dad, please leave that alone."

The knowing gleam in the older man's eyes warned Hank that he would never leave that alone. With a sigh Hank sat on the bed next to his father and waited for an explaination. Will slipped his arm around his son and brought the box closer to his view. It was plain, wooden, and had crude initials carved into the top. H. E., his mother's initials. He raised an eyebrow, his curiosity appropriately piqued.

"This is the most important box in the world," Will explained, "Because you were born from it."

Hank frowned. "I'm pretty sure I was born from a different box, Dad."

He deserved the smack he received. He must have spent too much time with Elsa recently, who would have gotten an adorable blush to accompany her smile from that line.

"Metaphorically, Son." Will opened the box to reveal a modest diamond ring. A slim, simple silver band topped with a rock no bigger than a quarter inch. It was the kind of thing Hank liked, a taste imported from the teachings of his Mom.

"This is your mother's engagement ring. I spent two full month's pay on it, and was only able to eat in those months because the King gifted me with food. He offered to pay for the whole thing but I refused, this was something I had to do for myself." Will smiled nostalgically and passed the box to Hank. He inspected it for a moment, unsure of what exactly he was supposed to do.

"Why does it say H.E. on the lid?" the son asked.

"What do you mean?" the father countered.

"She wasn't married to you yet. It should have said H. A. for Helena Aakre."

Will laughed and slapped Hank's back. "That is exactly what she asked before opening the box! My God, Hank, her eyes. Her eyes were more beautiful than any diamond I could have bought when she realized why I had put those initials on it. She was crying before she even got the thing opened."

Hank looked inside the box again, appreciating the red velvet inlay the ring sat in and the carefully greased hinges on the back of the lid. Everything about the item in his hands screamed love.

"Why are you showing me this now?" Hank asked.

"Well, you bring that to work tomorrow where Queen Elsa will be waiting for you like usual. Then you-"

"It's not funny if this whole thing was supposed to be a joke."

Will swirled his jaw and frowned. "I'm sorry. It isn't a joke. I just was thinking about Helena and…well, I know she would have wanted you to have this one day. When you're ready, when you find that girl, this box is yours, Hank."

Will carefully took the box from Hank's hands, closed the lid and placed it once again in one of his dresser drawers.

Without even realizing what he was doing, Hank was running out of the door. The box was tucked safely into the pocket of his uniform, but that didn't stop him from feeling for it every few seconds. He really shouldn't be running so soon after an eight day coma, and his legs were constantly reminding him so. His muscles screamed and stretched in protest but he pushed them, because for better or worse he had found that girl. He was far beyond the point of caring about consequences. Dying does that to a man.

"Nice stride, Hank!" a neighbor called. He ignored it and pushed on, running through the village as fast as he could and trying as hard as possible not to slow down. Every time he closed his eyes he saw the tears in hers before he left. Every time he thought about slowing down he was whipped on by the anger she displayed to that girl in the throne room. She needed him now and he was determined not to make her wait one second past the time he had promised. He would finally give her everything he had.

Panting as he ran, he caught sight of the familiar docks looming on the horizon. He was getting close.

The sled pulled past the docks late afternoon. There was no fanfare or celebration, not even a small group to greet them. Good, Elsa thought, knowing that it was for the best if she didn't see any citizens for a while. For the first time in what felt like years the Queen turned her attentions away from her thoughts and surveyed her companions. Eugene was eyeing Corona's ship in the harbour, showing not just trace hints of the longing in his heart. Rapunzel was cuddled up next to him, sleeping peacefully. Ghosts of tears were haunting her cheeks but at least her dreams seemed pleasant. They didn't deserve this and they never should have gone out into the wild. Elsa clutched at Hank's motionless hand to harvest its warmth. For the entire trip back she was alternating between her guard's hands, switching when she had made one too cold. It disgusted her to use him like this but she didn't know what else to do. Every time she felt the heat of his blood was a reminder that his heart still beat, that he would be back with her.

She was going to sneak a peek at Anna and Kristoff but knew exactly what they would be doing. Kristoff would be staring straight ahead and looking horribly uncomfortable. Maybe he would be frowning in concern, but he wouldn't show much past that. Anna was staring at her, she could feel the gaze. Elsa had no intentions of meeting her eyes for a little while.

The sleigh stopped in front of the stables and Kristoff jumped out as quickly as he could. Running up to Sven he inspected his reindeer thoroughly, rubbing the muscles in his legs, patting down his fur, checking the bottoms of his hooves, until Sven nudged him away. The reindeer smiled and nodded his head. Tears welling in his eyes, Kristoff wrapped the animal in a bear hug and refused to let go.

"I thought I was going to lose you on this one, Buddy," Kristoff sobbed. From her place in the sleigh, Anna smiled and clutched at her heart. Elsa wanted to react; to cry, to laugh, to do something. She couldn't. It bothered her how much nothing she felt.

"I won't leave you that easily, Kristoff," 'Sven' replied in an equally choked off tone.

Eugene gently shook Rapunzel awake and helped her to the ground. He rounded to the back and stared at Elsa for a few moments. She returned him an icy glare. She knew she shouldn't have, she knew he was just trying to help, but she didn't care. For what felt like the hundredth time her life had been turned upsidedown and she was tired of it. She was angry.

"Want me to help bring him in?" Eugene asked, not at all deterred by her cold demeanor.

"No," Elsa replied, calmly and sternly. "If you want to leave, I want you to get on your ship and go home. I don't need your pity."

"Elsa!" Anna scolded. Elsa didn't even turn around to address her.

"I'm not in the mood, Anna."

Eugene looked from Elsa to Hank and narrowed his eyes a bit. "I'm not leaving until I can thank him."

Elsa's face went unchanged. She wished she could express how happy that made her. She wished she could just show her friends how much their support meant. She just couldn't. Everything that had happened had dulled her heart and she imagined it would take more than a whetstone to sharpen her up.

The Queen nodded and stood up. She used one hand to shoo Eugene away and the other to conjure up another slab of ice under Hank. This time she showed virtually no effort as she levitated the ice off of the sleigh. Her companions could only watch in amazement as she carried him all the way across the long bridge leading to the castle and kept going. An icy wind knocked the large wooden door open. Nearby workers, maids, guards, and servants alike cowered out of Elsa's way and shivered with the cold air she wrought. She marched without slowing and without breaking her attention from the task at hand. She didn't stop until she reached her bedroom at the top of the castle.

She lowered the makeshift stretcher to the ground and gradually dissolved it with the rubbing of her fingers together, lowering Hank safely to the ground. She propped her arm against the wall and sighed heavily, the act of carrying him here being way more strenuous than she anticipated.

"Queen Elsa?" she heard from the end of the hallway.

She grit her teeth and clenched her fist. The spot on the wall where she was leaning started to freeze solid. "I'm not in much of a mood for talking right now, Kai," she answered, turning her hauntingly calm face to his person. He looked unfazed by her threatening posture but betrayed his worry when he glanced at Hank.

"What happened to Captain Eriksson?"

"Ask Anna."

He took a few steps closer but an outstretched hand from the Queen stopped him.

"Elsa…"

"Just leave me alone!" she screamed, tears freezing on her cheeks. "I want to be alone…"

Kai stood his ground. "Would you like help bringing him into your room?"

Elsa's outstretched hand clenched at something that wasn't there and a jagged wall of ice spikes shot up from the ground between her and Kai. From her side of the wall, the Queen slumped to her knees and pulled Hank into her lap. She stroked his unconscious face and cried, praying for him to wake up.

From Kai's side of the ice, the servant marveled at the small cut that had just appeared in his forearm, the offending icicle laying bloodstained on the ground next to him. He wondered if she had meant to do it or if it was just a side effect of her distress. Either way, it was a stern enough warning; he was going to leave her alone for a while. He covered up the cut quickly, not wanting anyone to see it. If he got it wrapped quickly there would barely be a mark the next time he tried to speak with the Queen. If it was an accident, seeing the cut would only worsen her condition. He picked the icicle up and hurried off to his quarters, praying that whatever ailed Elsa would be alleviated soon.

Hank ran across the long bridge to the castle, attracting stares and raised eyebrows from any who saw him. Anyone who knew Hank would have never expected to see the sight of him actually doing something urgent on the job. He was well regarded as the most coddled guard in the history of Arendelle, with the most stress free job they could imagine. Nonetheless, here he was running into the castle as if his life depended on it and that action begged attention.

"Eriksson!" he heard a newly familiar voice yell. He ignored the voice but slowed to a halt when a hand reached out to grab for his shoulder. He frowned and turned to the foreigner.

"I'm in a hurry, Rider, could we talk later?"

"Eugene," the taller man corrected, "And I've been waiting eight days to talk to you."

Hank swirled his jaw and pulled his pocket watch out. He still had ten minutes.

"Okay."

"Okay? That's it? You're out for a week and you don't have any questions? No, 'I missed you?' Just, okay?"

"It felt like a good night's sleep to me," Hank explained.

"It felt like an eternity to us," Eugene countered. "To Elsa."

Hank fumbled around with the box in his pocket and nodded. The men looked at each other for a few moments. Hank wondered how long this was going to take. Eugene wondered what to say next. He opted for action instead.

Hank narrowed his eyes as Eugene swept him up in a warm hug. It didn't take long for his face to soften into a smile and for him to return the embrace. Hank smacked Eugene's back twice and ended the hug.

"A beard suits you, Hank," Eugene complimented.

Hank shrugged. "Elsa will shave it off as soon as she feels like it."

Eugene chuckled and wiggled his eyebrows knowingly. Hank rolled his eyes but chuckled a bit too.

"I needed to thank you," Eugene said. "Thank you. You saved my life and, more importantly, Rapunzel's."

Hank shook his head firmly. "Elsa saved your lives."

"Who knows what would have happened if you hadn't sacrificed yourself like that," Eugene argued. "As far as I care, you're the hero here."

"Eugene, I don't-"

"Just accept my thanks. Please."

Hank frowned but nodded. They were awkwardly silent for another few moments. Eugene cleared his throat.

"So what's got you in a hurry?"

"I'm taking your advice," Hank replied.

Eugene looked confused for an instant before his eyes lit up with realization. He clasped Hank's shoulder affectionately.

"Next time, you're coming to Corona," Eugene insisted, "And I want you to be wearing a crown."

"We'll see," Hank answered before a push from Eugene sent him back on his path. Once again, he started running to Elsa's study.

Knock, Knock, Knock.

"Elsa?"

"I don't think we should be bothering her, Anna," Rapunzel whispered.

"Oh come on, it's been five days since we got back. I think we've given her enough time to brood."

"This is a bit different than losing a favourite dress or something, Anna," Rapunzel warned.

"Sometimes I lose one of my arms," a snowman spoke up from beneath them.

"I know," Anna said to both of them, reaching down to pat Olaf's head. "I just don't want to leave her alone, and I want to see Hank."

Anna knocked again. "Come on, Elsa, let us in."

"The doors unlocked," Elsa yelled at the door. Her voice had a bit of an edge that made Anna hesitate. Olaf didn't hesitate and pushed through the door into Elsa's room. Anna and Rapunzel nervously went in behind him.

"Hey, Elsa! I haven't seen you in so long! I haven't got to tell you what it was like to be King yet."

Anna observed the room and found it mostly the same. Same plain walls, same four poster bed, same carpet by the large window. Hank was motionless on Elsa's bed and she was sitting on a chair next to him, holding his hand. There was a bottle of some sort of alcohol on the vanity with a glass.

"Wow, he looks clean," Olaf said, jumping onto the bed to see Hank.

"I try to keep him washed," Elsa explained to the snowman with a tired smile. "It's hard, he's heavy." She ran a hand through the stubble on his cheeks. "I won't shave him until he's awake though."

"How are you doing, Elsa?" Anna asked.

"How do you think I'm doing, Anna?" Elsa sarcastically returned.

"Come on, we have a guest," the younger girl pleaded. Elsa acknowledged Rapunzel with a polite nod.

"I know and I think she understands."

Rapunzel shook her head. "I understand but I'll never know what it's really like. I'm sorry, Elsa."

"It isn't your fault," the Queen offered.

"Don't worry," Olaf comforted with a stick arm on Elsa and Hank's conjoined hands. "He'll wake up soon."

Elsa frowned. "No, Olaf, it isn't-…yes, thank you. I know he will, especially with kind people like you watching over him."

"Wow, you seem to be in a good mood," Anna observed with a smile. Elsa flashed her a glare and signaled with her eyes to Olaf, the innocent snowman. The younger sister frowned in concern.

"Elsa's always in a good mood, Anna!" Olaf cheered. Anna couldn't help herself from letting out a very inappropriate snigger. Luckily nobody seemed to notice. "How about we talk about something happy?" Olaf continued. "Who else is super excited for Anna's baby!"

Elsa flinched. Rapunzel started eyeing the door lustily and Anna could feel the beginnings of sweat on her brow. The happy snowman just bounced in his spot, looking to each girl in the room.

"What, nobody is looking forward to it?" he asked. His eyes widened. "Not even Anna!?"

Elsa set her hand on Olaf's head and rubbed it gently. "We're all very excited, Olaf. Trust me." The sad gleam in the Queen's eyes betrayed her true feelings. Anna was positive she was staring at the very face of longing, the visage of someone who will never have what they want the most.

"I just wish I could know what it's like to be a mother," Elsa added with a fake smile. Rapunzel whimpered and turned around, hiding her face. Anna felt guilty, even though she knew she shouldn't. Olaf was confused though.

"Don't you already know, Elsa?" he asked quietly.

Elsa raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Well," he started before trailing off, looking down and swirling his little snow foot in place on the bed. If snow could blush Anna was sure she would be seeing it right now. "You created me and I've always…well, I've always kind of seen you as my mother."

For a split second, Anna thought this would fix everything. When the Queen's fake smile looked real and pride shone in her platinum-framed portrait of a face. Then it all came crumbling down in a waterfall of tears as Elsa buried her face in Hank's chest and wept. Olaf reached out for her back but Anna grabbed him quickly and pulled him off the bed.

"It's okay, Olaf, let's go," she urged, pulling him along by his twig arm. She grabbed Rapunzel too, who seemed like she was barely keeping it together, and hurried them all out of the room. Olaf glanced back to the sight of Elsa hugging Captain Eriksson like her life depended on it before the door was shut and all he had left before him was the sound of his mother's tears.

Two quick knocks on the door. Elsa looked to the grandfather clock in the corner. 59 minutes, she thought.

"Come in, Hank."

He opened the door and stepped in, closing it behind him. He looked nervous. Elsa wasn't used to that.

"What did you get at your house?" she asked.

Hank swirled his jaw around. "First, tell me what you wanted to earlier," he said. "Please," he added when she looked very disapproving.

She sighed and stood from her chair at the desk. Hank followed her to the couch in front of the hearth and took a seat when she patted the cushion next to her. She crossed her legs a few times to try and get comfortable until Hank slid his arm around her shoulders. She snuggled into his side and relaxed.

"Kai told me you were wondering how you lived through your wound," Elsa started. She stroked his chest along the line where she knew the giant pink scar was. She was very happy to see him barely react to the touch. "The trolls told me it was their ale that we drank at Anna's wedding."

Hank's face contorted and his eyes begged an explanation. She gave him one. "They said it had healing properties in it that did something to increase the production of your blood. It kept you alive."

"No wonder that slop tasted like medicine," Hank said. Elsa smiled faintly, missing him. She missed the way he said these kinds of things without even realizing he was telling a joke. Eight days was longer than she remembered from the last time she waited for something. It mustn't have been important.

"I wish none of this ever happened," Elsa whispered. Hank immediately reached over to try and take her in an embrace but she pushed him away. "I'm not finished yet." He politely sat straight on the couch and folded his hands in his lap, as if he needed to show Elsa he would not be moving them towards her again until she asked for it. The corner of her lips crooked up but she forced it back down, trying to get into an appropriate mood.

"The trolls told me something else, Hank. Do you remember when I explained to you why I was isolated in my room for so long?" Hank shook his head. Elsa wouldn't say it but she felt betrayed. "You don't remember?"

"You never told me."

"Oh." She uncrossed her legs and crossed them the other way, tapping the tips of her fingers together. "You were never curious enough to ask?"

"Of course I was," Hank replied. "I wondered that every single day I brought you dinner, I wondered it when we would eat dinner together, I wondered while I sat with you in this very room as you did your work, I wondered it while I watched you sleep next to me in the nights; I just didn't want to bother you with asking. It's obviously something very personal."

Elsa raised an eyebrow. That was way more words than Hank would usually use.

"Are you okay, Hank? What did you get at your house?"

"I'll tell you when you're finished explaining to me what happened with the trolls," he said in a nervous forceful tone.

Elsa pursed her lips and uncrossed her legs. Catching her nervous habit, she froze her thighs with the tap of a finger and exhaled deeply. Hank frowned and reached for her legs but she slapped his hand away.

"I'm just going to say it and get it over with," Elsa began. "I'm barren."

Hank's face was unchanged and he was naturally quiet. She watched his pupils change size as he processed the information.

"When I was a kid the trolls took my ability to have children in exchange for Anna's life." No tears, the Queen was impressed with herself. "A fair trade, all things considered."

Hank nodded and swirled his jaw around. He was looking for words and Elsa let him. She suddenly felt a lot more patient.

"I-" he paused and scratched at the stubble on his chin. "I'm-" his lips twisted and he ran a hand through his hair. Finally, he slouched in his seat and undid the top button of his uniform. "There really is nothing to say to that, is there?"

"No, I guess not," Elsa replied, calm as an ancient stone. She rubbed her fingers together and her thighs unfroze. She gently got up and retrieved a fancy bottle of foreign cognac and an empty glass on her desk. Taking her seat next to Hank she poured a stiff drink. He watched her down half of it like it was water. She offered him the glass and he took it, drinking the rest. She took it back from him and poured another.

"I thought I wasn't allowed to drink in my uniform?" Hank teased uneasily. She drank the entire glass this time before pouring another one and handing it to him.

"When have I ever upheld that rule?" she countered. He shrugged and took a sip of his drink. Elsa's saliva was all over the rim of the cup from her sloppy chugging. He eyed it suspiciously, unsure if she would get mad at him for wiping it off.

"If you drink enough of that it makes you forget for a little," Elsa whispered pointing to the glass in his hand.

Hank swished the contents around and took another small sip. "That's what my Dad used to say too." Elsa held her hand out for the glass expectantly. Instead, Hank put the glass on the end table on his side of the couch. "Drinking never brought my Mom back, Elsa. It never really helped him either."

"Well, it helps me. Let me have this." Elsa cuddled into his side and tried to reach over him. He pushed her back down and grabbed her hip to keep her in place. He watched her frown, but what he felt was the cold creeping from his fingertips up to his wrist and through the large veins in his forearms. He bit back a scream and forced his stiff arm up to her face. Realization flickered in her eyes and the cold dispersed, heat slowly returning to his blood.

Hank tested his fingers and was glad to see everything moved. "I'm not going to hold that against you," he offered. She nodded slowly. No tears, she was very impressed with herself. She shimmied down the couch a few inches to separate herself from Hank. They were quiet for a few minutes, Hank flexing his arm and circling his wrist, Elsa staring at the open hands in her lap. She felt the warmth of the alcohol in her throat finally making its way to her tummy, heating up her abdomen.

"Hank?"

"Yeah?"

"If it were up to you…" she turned to look into his eyes, expecting hate, and finding something worse. Indifference. "Would you make that deal again?"

His creased features softened and he tentatively reached a hand to her lap, grabbing one of her own. "What do you mean?"

"Anna's life for my ability to have children. Would you make that deal again if you had the choice?"

His dark eyes were wet and quavering. Elsa wondered how she looked, and hoped her visual façade was as strong as her vocal one.

"Is it bad if I said no?" Hank mumbled. There was only so long these tears would stay back, still she impressed herself further.

"Yes."

He let go of Elsa's hand so that he could bury his face in his own. "I know," he answered, dejected.

She rubbed his back as he stayed in that position, head in hands, hiding his face from her. She reached over him for the glass of cognac but stopped herself halfway there. Now wasn't the time.

"I've been thinking about this, Hank," Elsa said. He didn't move. "Thinking about what's best to do." She grabbed the back of his hair gently and pulled his head up to face her. He wasn't crying like she thought. "I want you to get on that ship with Rapunzel and Eugene tomorrow."

He frowned and motioned to speak but she shushed him with a finger to his mouth.

"I want you to go to Corona and live a new life there without all of the ghosts of Arendelle. Eugene would be happy to take you into the palace guard and I'm sure he would give you a very comfortable position. You can move on and forget about everything here, forget about me. Find yourself a nice, normal woman and settle down with a large happy family. Doesn't that sound nice?"

Hank pursed his lips. "Permission to speak freely, Queen Elsa?"

Elsa raised an eyebrow. "You've had that since you met me, Captain Eriksson."

"Then how about you shut the fuck up!"

Elsa recoiled from the roar. His brow was furrowed and his teeth were bared. He grabbed her shoulder and pulled her face closer to his. A snowfall began almost immediately and she felt her body icing up. She did her best to stop from freezing him in fear. He looked like he was going to hit her. Her tears still wouldn't flow.

"You really think that's the best thing for everyone right now? You think I would just be able to move away and forget you? This is the kind of thing we work through together, Elsa. What the hell has gotten into you?"

His face was less than three inches away from hers. She held her breath and steeled herself for her response. "I should ask you the same," she rebounded, staying quiet to contrast his yelling. "Cursing is no way to address your Queen."

"Does it seem to you like I give a damn about formality right now?"

"Maybe you should, or I won't listen to you," Elsa said, turning her head from his.

"Elsa," he pleaded. "I realized a long time ago I could never leave you. I've been attached to you in some way for nearly ten years. You are my life. It hurts me deeply that you could ever even think that sending me away would fix anything. We'll deal with this, we'll hurt together but we'll be okay. We'll move on and love our lives. Are you listening to me, Elsa?"

She didn't react. Hank felt like his blood was boiling despite the snow falling onto his skin and the frostbite taking his fingers. He grabbed her chin and forced her back to his eyes.

"I'm going to say my piece and freezing me dead is the only way to stop me."

Elsa narrowed her eyes. He was actually daring her to do it, daring the Queen of Ice and Snow to kill him.

"You would challenge me when I'm in this state?" Elsa spat. He pulled her even closer and she could feel his breath tickling her lips.

"I would challenge you whenever you needed it," Hank promised. "Because I know you would never do it. I know you will always do the right thing in the end. Not for me, not for Anna, not for your parents, not for Arendelle, but for you." She closed her eyes but he shook her head, forcing them open. He leaned in so far his lips were lightly brushing against hers. The arm he was using to hold her slid down her curves, leaving a trail of melted dress in its wake before settling tightly on her ribcage. "What are you going to do? What do you want, Elsa?"

What did she want? She wanted Anna to be safe and healthy. She wanted the prosperity of her kingdom and its people. She wanted children. But in that moment there was only a single thing on Elsa's mind. A thought that consumed her entire being and made her limbs slack. A thought that calmed the snow and thawed everything around her. She could only find her voice in a strained whisper.

"I want to be with you, Hank."

"Good."

And he kissed her. She was so enamoured in the kiss she didn't even notice him remove his grip from her jaw and grab something out of his pocket. She entangled her fingers in his hair and forced her tongue into his mouth as he tried to push something into her hand. Every spot he touched her became bare as her dress instantly melted at the contact. Tired of his pushing against her hands she accepted the object and continued on. Hank slipped out from beneath her and stood, taking a few steps away from the couch.

"Elsa, wait-"

He was silenced once again by her lips. Expertly, she fashioned a wickedly sharp razor out of her ice and swiped it once down the length of Hank's abdomen. His uniform jacket and shirt were cut away leaving bare chest and the faintest long line of red where she nicked him. He grabbed her by the shoulders and held her at arm's length before she could continue.

"Wait, Elsa, wait! Look at the damn box!" he begged. "That is what I went home for!"

Her curiosity engaged, Elsa finally paid attention to the item in her hands. A slim wooden box with the initials H. E. crudely carved into the lid. She looked to Hank, silently asking an explanation.

"I made a decision, Elsa. That's something I should have done for you a long time ago," Hank said, the nervousness creeping back into his face. "Open it, I promise you I'm serious."

Elsa raised an eyebrow and carefully ran her hands over the varnished wood. She traced the initials with her hands, thinking that she knew exactly what it was but not wanting to get ahead of herself. She opened the box slowly, craning her neck to get a peek inside…

Then shut it as fast as she could.

"What-" Hank tried to ask before getting cut off.

"Is it really the best time for this?" she asked.

He nodded, sure of himself. "No better time." The Queen tapped her fingers along her thighs and stared at him.

"Take a knee, Henrik," Elsa ordered. He did so willingly, his lips twisting in confusion.

"Hold out you hand," she continued. He complied and she placed the box in his open palm. The hurt burning in his features was oddly adorable to her. She caressed his cheek lovingly and smiled, her eyes beginning to water up.

"Do it properly," she instructed, her voice cracking on the last syllable.

Smiling in relief, Hank cleared his throat. "Elsa, will-"

"You aren't getting off that easy," she interrupted. "Kings need to address their people and you need to work on that. Embellish it, Hank."

The soldier swirled his jaw around and switched the knee he was leaning on. He thought for a moment. "If I knew that we would be in this position right now all those years ago when you scolded me for knocking on your door I probably would have turned tail and ran. The idea of what I'm about to do is terrifying and exciting, and I can't do it with anyone else. Everything in my life the last few years has been you and you are all I want to know. I've loved you for a long time." Hank opened the box and presented the modest ring to her. "Elsa, was that a decent enough speech to make you want to marry me?"

She couldn't hold in her wide smile, all teeth. "Short, I guess, but sweet." There were tears, finally. Probably the best feeling tears in her life. "Are you sure you want to marry someone who can't bear your children?"

Hank smiled. "I'll only ever want to marry you."

"Then I accept," Elsa replied, trying to sound regal. Instead, she sounded like an excited ten year old. "Now stand up and kiss me, Captain Henrik Eriksson."

Hank got up slowly, his wobbling knees betraying him. She grabbed his shoulder to steady him and held out her left hand. Hank removed the ring from the wooden box, nearly dropping it with fumbling fingers. He slid the ring onto Elsa's finger and frowned when it was a little bit too big.

"We can get it fitted," she assured him before throwing her arms around his neck and pulling him into a grandiose kiss.

There she was, the Queen of Arendelle, kissing her best friend, her most trusted guard, and her fiancé. Her dress showing skin through the handprints and spots where it melted, his uniform sliced wide open down the middle. She has selective anxiety issues, bouts of depression, the unique ability to manipulate ice and cold, and she would never have children of her own. However, she also has her family, her friends, and her love. What more could she ask for?

She'll be okay.

A/N

This wasn't edited much so make sure to point stuff out and I'll go back and fix it. I was so exhausted after this I was afraid I would start to change everything if I read it over too in-depth and then it would be delayed another two weeks.

It's finished! If you would have told me two months ago when I had 25,000 words of this thing finished already that I wouldn't be done until today I would have laughed at you. What started as a 10k one-shot sequel kept inflating into something rivaling Split the Ice Apart in length. It's better for it.

Tell me what you think please, either in reviews or PMs. I want to know how you all feel about the ending. I warned some it would be bittersweet and I think I delivered on that. What were your favourite parts of this story and your favourite chapters? I would love to know.

I do have a part 3 in mind BUT I don't have the drive to do it entirely by myself. I want part 3 to be community made, as in, made by all the people who have enjoyed this up until now and I. If you would like to be involved in a writing, editing, advising, whatever role for part 3 send me a PM and I'll get this sorted out. There is already some interest from a few writers. I'll take as many people as possible and I will not discriminate in any way. If you want in, you get in.

Thanks for reading, I know this wasn't as good as Split the Ice Apart but I hope you liked it anyways. Until next time,

AirbornAnomaly