Chapter Eight

"Sir, wait! I-"

Whatever Ingird needed to say was lost on deaf ears. Kristoff would have toppled her over had she not jumped away in time as he bolted out of the tiny room, breaking into the corridor that was beginning to flood with the orange glow of the early morning sun. Despite the new weakness spreading to every muscle and bone in his body, he somehow managed to keep his pace as he flew through the castle with the intent of getting to Anna's chamber.

It's not real, Kristoff thought frantically. It's not real, Kristoff. It isn't real until you see it for yourself. Don't believe it. Don't...

He climbed the necessary stairs two at a time, ignored Kai, and tripped over his own feet twice in the time it took to get to Anna's door. Kristoff didn't even allow himself time to catch his breath before tugging open the door and rushing in.

He stopped the moment he was inside. Kristoff was seemingly in a trance as he stared at his wife, not even noticing the sound of the door clicking closed behind him. Anna looked angelic, peaceful, as her skin bathed in the beam of sunlight shining through the window's translucent glass. Her hair was still loose and sprawled across her shoulders and pillow. Her arms were still lazily resting at her sides upon the blankets. With the exception of her freckles, her face remained colorless. She looked exactly the same as he'd left her.

The only differences were the two little hints of blue and the subtle, upward curve of her mouth.

And it was those small differences that meant everything.

"Kristoff," Anna whispered.

"Anna?" Kristoff choked out.

He didn't get his hopes up, because he must have been dreaming. Ingrid did not just tell him Anna was awake. Anna's eyes weren't open, and she certainly wasn't saying his name. No; it couldn't be true. He'd been staring out the window at the sunrise for too long, and now he was hallucinating. Yes, that must have been it. In fact, he was certain he wasn't even in Anna's room. All he had to do was shake himself out of it, and the dream would be over. He'd be back near the kitchens, waiting with bated breath to hear that Anna was dead, gone forever.

"Kristoff," Anna repeated, smiling.

Without speaking, he slowly walked toward her. He was afraid to touch her, terrified of validating his belief that none of it was reality. Once he was at her side and bravely began to reach for her, Kristoff was almost positive his heart had stopped. He absentmindedly wondered exactly when he'd begun shaking.

His hand brushed against her cheek.

Soft. Warm. Real.

His glance shifted to her chest.

Rising. Falling. Real.

He stared into her eyes.

Open. Twinkling. Real.

Just to be sure, he softly and briefly kissed her. She reciprocated.

Real. Real. Real.

"Anna?!" he gasped. He took hold of her hand and felt her squeeze back.

"Hi," she whispered. Her tearful eyes smiled along with her lips.

"Anna!"

Kristoff buried his face into her neck and enveloped her in his arms. He could hear her beating heart and feel her delicate hand in his hair, and her voice... he thought he'd never get to listen to that beautiful voice ever again, yet there it was, saying his name in tiny whispers.

Euphoria, he decided, manifested in pure warmth accompanied by tears. As he held Anna, Kristoff could feel the most unique and welcome of fires scorching ever fiber of his being as his body trembled in a bizarre combination of weakness and strength. Anna was okay. Anna was okay. She was in his arms, awake, and breathing. She was home.

For the first time in days, Kristoff was beyond happy to cry.

"Anna," he murmured into her neck. "I... I thought I lost you... forever..."

"You can't get rid of me that easily," she weakly chuckled. Only Anna would crack a joke at such a moment, and even with the tears cascading down his face, he couldn't help himself. He laughed – not just because it was funny, but because her need to add humor to everything was just further proof that his Anna was alive.

"I love you..." he breathed.

"I love you, too."

"I love you," he repeated, pulling back to gaze at her face. "Anna, I love you so, so much. Don't ever forget that, okay? I love you."

"Kristoff..."

Even in her current state, a faint blush spread across her cheeks, but he didn't care. He needed her to hear it, and she was going to hear it every single day far more often than she ever did before.

"And you're...?" he asked. "You... you're... how are you feeling?"

"I'm okay, I think," Anna said, "but I feel so tired..."

"Do you need more sleep?"

"More? How long have I been asleep?"

"A few days."

"A few days?!" Anna exclaimed. "Kristoff, what happened?"

"Ingrid didn't...?"

"No! The second I woke up, I saw her and asked her why she was there. Then she said she was going to fetch you. Kristoff, what's going on?"

"Anna, it doesn't matter now. You're here. You're okay. That's all that matters."

"Kristoff," Anna insisted, "please..."

"You really don't remember?"

"All I remember is being with you and then having a lot of sudden pain because the baby..." Anna gasped and her eyes widened in horror. Her hands instinctively flew down to her tummy where the swell had lessened a bit since the birth. "Our baby... no..."

"Anna, shh, no," Kristoff soothingly assured her as her lip began to tremble. "The baby's fine, I promise."

"Are you sure?"

He smiled. "I promise. Anna, he's perfect. He's absolutely perfect."

Kristoff squeezed her hand as joyous tears swarmed her eyes.

"It's a boy?" she whispered.

"Yes," he said softly with a nod. "We have a son. A beautiful son."

"Bring him to me," Anna said. "Kristoff, please, bring him here."

"Anna, are you sure you don't want to re-"

"I've been resting for days," she argued with a grin. She began to lift herself up against the pillows. She winced slightly, but she managed to pull herself up into a sitting position.

Kristoff didn't want to leave her side, especially not so soon. Selfish as it was, he wanted more time with her, just her. But Kristoff knew Anna; she wouldn't back down, and he didn't blame her in the slightest. He leaned in for a kiss, which she happily returned, though he seemed to overstay his welcome.

"Kristoff..." Anna laughingly urged against his lips.

"Alright," he chuckled. "I'll be right back, okay?"

"Oh, please hurry," she sighed as he left. "I can't wait to meet him!"

If Kristoff hadn't known better, he would have wagered that the wooden floors of the palace's corridors had been replaced by clouds during the five minutes he was with Anna. As he walked to the nursery, everything felt right in the world. He couldn't wait to bring the baby to her. He imagined her face lighting up upon his return, the gleam in her eyes as he placed their boy into her her arms, her first coos over his little face...

"Oomph!"

Lost in thought, Kristoff didn't pay much attention as he rounded the corner into the corridor that contained the nursery. As a result, he walked straight into one of the servants, and all he could see was the linens she'd been carrying flying everywhere before settling on the floor in a sloppy heap.

"I'm sorry!" he hastily said. "I'm so sor... Gerda."

Kristoff had not seen Gerda since the afternoon he'd wrongfully chastised her. As he looked at the woman standing before him – the woman who'd showed him nothing but kindness and care since the moment her first stepped into the palace with the intent of asking Anna to dinner all those years ago – he was consumed with his behavior of the past several days. How, how could he have yelled at this woman, at Elsa, at everyone? How could he have forgotten Petra that morning and scared her senseless a few days later?

Ever since their courtship, Kristoff had always jokingly told Anna she was going to land him in the nuthouse someday. As it turned out, not having her around was what truly brought out the worst in him, and he wasn't surprised in the least.

"Sir," Gerda said. "I-"

Kristoff caught her off guard by pulling her into a tight embrace. It didn't shock or offend him that she didn't return the gesture; Gerda was always adamant about respecting the boundaries of the royals despite his, Anna's, and Elsa's countless reminders that she and Kai were family at this point.

"I'm sorry," Kristoff murmured. "Gerda, I'm so sorry."

"Sir, it's okay," she replied, awkwardly patting him on the back.

"I'm sorry."

"Sir-"

"You know I'm not talking about the linens, right?" he asked as he stepped back. "I mean, I'm sorry about those, too, but-"

"Sir," Gerda repeated. "I know, and it's quite alright."

"I didn't mean any of it," Kristoff rambled. "I was just so worried about Anna, and I hadn't gotten any sleep and... that's no excuse. I should have never snapped at you. You were only trying to help, and I can't even begin to tell you how much that means to me. I'm just so sorry, Gerda. Please forgive me."

"There's nothing to forgive, Sir," Gerda responded kindly. "I understand. These past few days have been a challenge for us all. Just know that I always have your family's best interests at heart."

"I know. Anna and I can never thank you enough for that."

"How is the Princess, Sir?" Gerda asked cautiously. "If you don't mind me asking. Is there any news?"

"She's okay." Saying it out loud only added to his relief; it felt more real. "She's awake."

"Oh," Gerda breathed in relief. She brought a shaking hand to her mouth before bringing it to her chest. Eyes welled with tears, she shifted her gaze upward. "Thank you."

"Here," Kristoff said, crouching down before the pile of tousled linens. "Let me help you clear this up."

"No, no." Gerda knelt beside him and placed a stilling hand on his arm. "You will do no such thing, Sir. Please, go spend time with the Princess."

"But I-"

"No," she repeated. She tenderly squeezed his arm and smiled. "The Princess needs to meet her baby, and he just woke up. You go bring that little angel to her, okay?"

"Okay," he agreed with an appreciative nod. "Could you please send Petra to Anna's chamber? Not right away, I mean, because I'm sure she'll want a little time with the boy, but-"

"Of course, Sir. Say no more."

"Thank you, Gerda." He hoped she knew how much her meant by that.

As promised, the boy was awake when Kristoff arrived in the nursery. He was wiggling around in his bassinet and staring up at his father with the wide, expectant blue eyes he inherited from Anna. Kristoff grinned down at him.

"Are you ready to meet your mama, sweetheart?" he sang. "Come on."

He carefully lifted the boy and cradled him against chest, making sure to support his fragile head. Being so eager and excited to bring the child to Anna, Kristoff wanted to break into a sprint, but he walked as slowly as his legs would allow, all while whispering to the boy and giving him tiny kisses on the top of his head. His smile was as wide as a fjord as he reopened Anna's door, and he felt as tall and proud as the North Mountain when he saw her face.

When Anna had introduced him to Petra four years before, he felt a tidal wave of emotion the second his daughter was in his arms for the first time. That wave had resulted in a downpour of the happiest tears he'd ever cried. Anna, however, was crying the second he stepped through the door. She didn't bother wiping away her tears as he walked toward her, for her arms were already outstretched and waiting for her child. Even Kristoff could feel a delightful sting in his eyes as he placed their baby into his wife's tender hold.

Anna wept and smiled as she cradled their son. She gazed into his little face in awe, and Kristoff could tell she was head over heels in love already, just like she'd been with Petra.

"Hi, sweetheart," she cooed through her tearful grin with a hint of laughter. "I'm your mama. I'm so sorry I haven't been here for you these past few days, but I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere, okay? I promise. I love you so much, my sweet boy. I love you."

She snuggled him closer and planted small kisses all over his face. For a couple of minutes she just stared at him with a smile, completely lost in him.

"He's perfect," she sighed in bliss. "Kristoff, he's so beautiful."

"Just like his mother," he murmured.

"He does look like me, doesn't he?"

"See? You got your wish," Kristoff chuckled.

"We both did," Anna hummed. "You and I both know all we wanted was a healthy baby."

"Yeah," he agreed. "And he's perfect. Anna, he's an angel."

Anna ran her fingers along their son's tiny hands. "Ten fingers," she swooned. She glanced up at Kristoff. "Ten toes?"

"Ten toes."

"And he's been eating properly?"

"Yes. Bergitta found a nurse for him for these past few days."

"Ensure she has the highest honor bestowed upon her," Anna declared. "Kristoff, please see to it that woman and her family have everything they need. Food, housing, clothing, everything. I'm sure Elsa won't object."

"I promise."

"C'mon, sit with us," Anna said happily, nodding toward the space beside her on the bed.

Kristoff was more than happy to oblige. Once he sat down, Anna rested her head on his shoulder as they both gazed down at their son. The little boy stared back, but he wasn't wiggling around anymore, having since relaxed in his mother's arms. Kristoff took the boy's little hand in his own and drew soft circles on the back of it with his thumb.

"We made this," Anna whispered. "Can you believe it?"

"It's amazing."

"We still have to name him. Unless you already...?"

Kristoff shook his head. "I wanted to wait for you. I... I couldn't do it without you. Do you have anything in mind?"

"Well, I had been preparing for a girl, of course," Anna joked with a smirk, "but I did think up some boy names, too, just in case you were right."

"So, you're admitting I was right, then?"

"No," Anna giggled, "I'm admitting you got lucky."

"I certainly won't argue with that," he murmured. He couldn't argue with that. He was the luckiest man in the world. "So?" he continued. "What were you thinking?"

"Well, I-"

They were promptly interrupted by the door bursting open. They both looked up, bewildered, to see a grinning Petra in the doorway.

"Mama?" she gasped.

"Oh, Petra, darling!" Anna exclaimed, extending her other arm.

"Mama!"

Petra ran to them and jumped onto the bed, straight into Anna's side. By the time she threw her arm's around her mother's neck, she was both crying and laughing. Kristoff's heart melted at the sight.

"Mama, I missed you!" their daughter cried.

"I've missed you, too!"

"Are you okay?"

"I'm so much better now, sweetheart. I promise."

"Good," Petra sighed. She pulled away and wiped her eyes. "I love you so much, Mama."

"Oh, Petra, I love you, too. More than you'll ever know!"

Petra hugged Anna again, then pulled back. She seemingly noticed the baby for the first time as both her smile and eyes widened.

"Aleksander!" she exclaimed.

"Aleksander?" Anna queried. She tilted her head toward Kristoff with an inquisitive smile. Kristoff was equally confused, so he shook his head and mouthed I don't know.

"Papa said he didn't have a name yet," Petra explained, "so I had to call him something." She looked up at her parents. "What's his real name?"

"Well... um..."

Anna's voice trailed off as she glanced at Kristoff with an eyebrow raised. As she smiled, Kristoff knew she was thinking the exact same thing as he was. Aleksander. It was a strong, proud, steadfast name, perfectly suited for their son. He was, as Marta had called him, a fighter. He grinned and offered Anna a subtle nod, silently agreeing with her.

"His name's Aleksander," Anna told Petra. Their daughter beamed.

"Really?!"

"Yes."

"Oh, I love you, Aleks!" Petra laughed. She leaned forward to give her baby brother a kiss on the forehead.

The four of them spent the next twenty minutes together. Kristoff held Aleksander for a while after Anna insisted, then they both allowed Petra a chance after she promised to be very careful. Petra didn't really hold her her brother – it was more like he sat in her lap and was propped up by her chest – but she was very gentle and cautious the entire time he was in her care, eager to prove she could be the perfect big sister. Naturally, Aleksander ended up back in Anna's arms after a short while, and she fawned over him just as much as she'd done with Petra when she was born.

For a brief minute, Kristoff was melancholy as he watched Anna snuggle with their baby. He thought of what Ingrid had said after the birth, and if turned out she was correct about Anna no longer being able to bear children, this was their final moment like this to share. This was the last time they'd welcome a new member to their little family, at least until grandchildren. He'd never again experience the wonder and awe that came with watching his wife's belly grow, the joy and love that came with feeling their unborn child's tiny, yet powerful kicks, the terror and excitement that accompanied hearing that first cry. Anna would find out in time, and he knew it would break her heart when she did.

In spite of it all, though, Kristoff was happy. He'd never know what he did to deserve the three people before him, but he knew now more than ever that they weren't just people: they were miracles. His miracles. For as long as he could remember, he believed everyone only got one, but he'd been gifted with three. Never in his life had he felt so grateful and blessed.

"Papa?"

Kristoff looked directly down to see Petra tugging gently at his sleeve; she'd somehow crawled across Anna's lap to get to him. Her face was ridden with concern.

"Papa, your eyes are wet," she whispered. "Are you scared again?"

Kristoff smiled and smoothed a hand over her hair.

"No, sweetheart. Not this time. I'm just so, so happy."

Petra grinned and threw her arms around him.

"Me, too."

"C'mon now," he whispered. "Let's give your mama some time with your brother, okay?"

"Okay."

Petra, however, refused to let him go, so he lifted her off the bed, not that he minded; he'd never tire of carrying her.

"We'll be back later," he murmured to Anna.

"You sure?"

"Yeah. You need your time with him."

"Thank you," Anna hummed. "I love you so much, Kristoff. I love you all."

"I love you, too."

"Me, too," Petra chimed in, though her voice was muffled as she continued to lean on Kristoff's chest.

It took a couple of days, but Anna was close to being her usual self again. Walking was initially difficult for her, but with Kristoff by her side for support when needed, she was soon able to move around again on her own, albeit slowly and with frequent breaks. Her fever went away entirely as if it had never existed. For the time being, she did not venture downstairs, but Kristoff was certain she didn't mind; it just gave her another excuse to spend more time with the baby.

On the first night Anna was cleared to return to the bedchamber she and Kristoff shared, they spent the night as a family. Anna slept on her back with Aleksander on her tummy, while Kristoff slept on his side. Petra curled up between them both with her arms thrown around Kristoff's neck.

Around three in the morning, Kristoff quietly lifted Petra's arms away from him so he could sneak out of bed. He loved his daughter very much, but whenever she was in the big bed, her tiny self somehow succeeded in taking up nearly all of Kristoff's side of it, barely allowing him a sliver. As such, he needed a brief walk to stretch his muscles. He grabbed a quick glass of water from the kitchen before heading back to their room.

"Kristoff?"

He was just about to turn into the last corridor when he heard his name. He turned to see Elsa, walking toward the stairs with a book in her hand.

"Can't sleep?" he asked.

"Just a nightmare," Elsa admitted. "Thought a lighthearted story might help."

"And?"

"Not a chance," she laughed quietly.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yes. Just... overthinking things, I suppose."

Kristoff raised an eyebrow. "Anna?"

"How'd you know?" Elsa asked with a grin.

"Lucky guess." Kristoff would have been lying if he said he hadn't had a couple of nightmares about Anna since she woke. Sleep still wanted to play with him, taunt him with the horror of losing his wife, trick him, even for a moment, that it was actually real.

"I suppose... well, I just keep thinking about what you said," Elsa quivered. "What if it really was my fault?"

"Elsa, I-"

"I don't want you to apologize," she hastily added, "because you really may have been right. It makes sense, doesn't it? And if she can no longer have children because of me... she'll never forgive me. None of you will."

"Elsa." For the umpteenth time that week, he felt guilty. "Even if... well, you never meant for any of it to happen."

"That doesn't make it alright."

"I know," he sighed. "Listen, if it makes you feel any better, I was right about one thing."

"What's that?"

"That your hands really did cause all of this." When Elsa hung her head in shame, he placed a hand on her shoulder and continued. "I was just wrong about what it meant. Come with me. Let me show you something."

Kristoff led Elsa toward his and Anna's chamber. He'd left the door slightly ajar, and he pushed it open a bit further and leaned against the frame. Elsa stood cautiously beside him, eyes narrowed in curiosity.

"See?" he asked, gesturing toward his sleeping family. Petra was still sprawled out, claiming nearly half the bed. Anna was drooling away and snoring quietly, and Aleksander was perched lazily upon her chest.

"Kristoff, what-"

"If it wasn't for your hands," he began, "I wouldn't have this. I wouldn't have them. If you hadn't started that freak snowstorm, Anna would have never ended up in the middle of the woods looking for you. She never would have never stumbled into Oaken's and I wouldn't have met her. And even if I did meet her under some other strange circumstance, we would have never had a reason to get to know each other. If we hadn't needed to climb that mountain to find you, Anna and I never would have become friends, much less fallen in love. Petra and Aleksander wouldn't exist. So... I meant it. This fine mess really is your fault," he added cheekily.

"Kristoff," she whimpered, lower lip trembling, "I don't know what to say..."

"You don't need to say anything, but I need to thank you," he said. "Thank you, Elsa. Thank you for giving me my family. I know you told me not to apologize, but I'm so, so sorry I chastised you the other night. Can you forgive me?"

"Of course. That was never a question. I just wonder if I can ever forgive myself."

"You can," he assured her. "We... well, we'll never really know for sure what caused Anna's troubles, so you can't blame yourself for them. And if you ever do, just remind yourself that something good came out of your powers. Something amazing."

"Thank you, Kristoff," Elsa said earnestly. "Not just for that, but for being good to my sister. I'm so happy you found each other."

"Papa?" came a sudden whisper from the bedchamber. They both turned to see Petra stirring and lifting her sleepy head in search of her father.

"You better get back in there," Elsa chuckled. "Maybe now you can get back some sleeping space."

"Fat chance," Kristoff scoffed with a laugh. "Good night, Elsa."

"Good night, Kristoff. And thank you."

As Elsa made her way back down the corridor, Kristoff slipped back into the chamber and closed the door as quietly as possible.

"Papa?" Petra whispered again.

"I'm here," he murmured, slipping back beneath the covers. Petra cuddled up to him right away, settling her face into the crook of his neck. She fell back to sleep almost immediately. "I'll always be right here."

"Me, too," Anna muttered.

Kristoff shifted his eyes over to Anna, whose eyes were hooded but open. She was softly stroking Aleksander's head as she grinned smiled at her husband. He smiled; even with the tousled hair and small bit of drool lingering on the corner of her mouth, his Anna was still the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.

I love you, he mouthed without a sound.

I love you, she reciprocated.

That was all they needed. Together, they closed their eyes and dozed off, preparing themselves for a whole new day, a whole new life, with their children.

Author's Note: The end! :) Thank you all so, so much for sticking with this! I hope you enjoyed it!

See you all soon for more Kristanna fun!