EPILOGUE

"How about… Brynhild?"

Elsa winced; her mind half paying attention, and the other half simply growing frustrated with choosing a name. At this point, the names just kept getting more complicated to pronounce, with less vowels involved. "That's… not pleasant. It reminds me too much of that tragic German legend."

Anna puffed out a breath that blew at her bangs, dropping her arms to her side, sheets of parchment tucked under them. Sheets containing potential names for their child. "Well, I have nothing else in mind. Do you have any ideas?"

"Perhaps we can name them after your parents?"

Anna blinked. "M-My parents?"

"Oh, now that I've mentioned it… you never really talk about your parents, even after all this time," Elsa said, arching a brow at her wife as she set the book of names she had been looking through down on the table. And Elsa could see the look on her face—the insecurity and uneasiness. The princess sighed. "I know it might be hard speaking of them, because I feel the same way as you do with my mother, but… I'd like to get to know them better." She smiled. "How they raised such a beautiful young lady who would sacrifice anything to be with her loved ones."

Anna couldn't help but gratefully smile at that. "I suppose it's long overdue, isn't it?"

Elsa shrugged. "Come, sit down with me." She patted the seat next to her, the other hand resting against the swell of her growing belly. It had been four months since she laid with Kristoff, and she couldn't be more glad to have done that. Yes, it was a difficult and an uncomfortable situation for both parties, despite Anna being fully supportive and even excited at the prospect of what they would create.

Indeed, it didn't seem so important now that she was heavy with child, kicking and alive in her belly. Yes, it had gotten the tiniest bit large enough to be visible, but Elsa could notice every little detail of her body changing, even if Anna didn't.

Seeing Anna situate herself next to her, she let her wife place a hand on the side of her belly before speaking. "So we're married, having a baby in a few months. I think it's time we open up to each other more, don't you?"

"W-What?" Anna bit her lips from the excitement of feeling the warm feeling of Elsa's skin on her hand. "Oh right… well…" Her hand fell, only to hold Elsa's hand tightly. "Um, well, you already know that my mother knew how to read and write, and… we weren't exactly poor like… how I was when I first met you." She nervously chuckled. "Sometimes I wonder what would've happened if they hadn't… well, you know."

"You probably wouldn't have pushed me," Elsa teased, hoping to ease away the shadow of pain on her wife's brow.

"That was one time!"

Elsa giggled, prompting a pout running across the redhead's face. "And I hope you still don't while I'm pregnant." But seeing Anna glowering at her, legitimately offended, she raised a placating hand. "You wouldn't, I know. Sorry."

"Good," she grumbled, lips pouting. Elsa couldn't resist them, and leaned over to leave a gentle kiss that had Anna's brief surliness melt away. "So about the name. I've come up with so much, maybe it's your turn now?"

"Ah, ah," Elsa admonished her, waggling a finger. "I asked about your family. You always do this, change the subject when I try to ask you about them. Come on, I want to know how my wife came to be the perfect, redhaired angel that she is."

Pursing her lips for a moment, Anna rolled her eyes. "What a line. There's really not much to tell… my father was a merchant. Traveled a lot so most of the time, I only spent my days with my mother. I was thirteen when she taught me how to write—and I know it sounds kind of strange to hear that I've been taught by my mother, but most of the wealth did come from her family, and only my father was supporting us for quite a bit…"

Her grin fell and so did her eyes. Elsa could already feel the atmosphere thickening as she knew how Anna was going to feel with the few words that were going to come out of her mouth soon. She grabbed her wife's hand, but Anna didn't seem to notice.

"And… one day, Father came back sick. Really sick. His face was all pale, he couldn't get up, he couldn't eat… he started vomiting everywhere. Mother didn't know what to do, nor did she know if anyone could heal him. She spent so much on trying to cure him, and to support me, but all she got in return was… his illness."

"Anna…"

"Well, once they both fell ill, we started losing what money we had, and… Mother was cut off, and Father couldn't earn any more, s-so—"

Elsa cut her off with another kiss, this one just light enough to distract before she was already sitting back again. "Shh, it's alright. You don't have to get it all out at once, I'm… glad you're able to tell me now."

She shrugged. "I just… miss them very much. I've been alone for over ten years now ever since they've died, and I just kind of wish I could've done something to help them. For a thirteen-year-old, I should've had some common sense to know they were going to be gone, and I could've helped—"

"Anna!" The redhead blinked. "Please, don't put all that on yourself! You were a child, of course you couldn't have filled the role of two adults. They understood, I'm sure—and knew that if you were able, you would have. I'm certain of it."

Slowly, she dabbed, though she scarcely looked happier than before.

"Besides… you have me and I will take care of you like how your parents would, understand? I love you." Elsa kissed her cheek, bringing her wife into a hug. "And I know I won't be able to replace your parents, but… I'm sure my love for you will help, yes?" Elsa didn't know if these words were comforting enough, but feeling how Anna's body had slackened against her own gave her a certain relief—and a hope that maybe Anna was slowly accepting that she would never be able to rely on her parents like she used to.

It was a good few minutes of quiet later when Anna sighed, "But we still need a name for baby… Guinevere?" The wrinkling of Elsa's nose said it all. "Not Guinevere. Right."

"How about we name our baby… after your parents?"

Anna started, eyes gazing at Elsa as if she had never seen her properly before. When Elsa raised her eyebrows to prompt her, she breathed, "Do… you even know their names?"

"Well, I was hoping you would tell me… but our names combined works too? Perhaps?"

"Oh… well, my father's name was Yngvarr, which is very common. Mother's was Alva. I'm… oh, I did love them so, but I don't know if you'll want to give our child either of those."

"Hm… what about… Alvarr…?" At the suggestion, Anna sat back, interested. "Alna? That one's not as derivative as the first, but…"

"But what?"

"Oh, just that… I like the name to start with an 'A'. For obvious reasons." When she smiled over at Anna, the bashful look she got in return was well worth having said it. "But think about the names, alright? We have all the time in the world. Or rather… a few months, at least."

Anna tried to hide the blush she had, turning away when Elsa kissed the back of her hand. "God, I can never get over your flirting…"

"You do it all the time."

"I-I do, but it's so rare to see you do that…" Anna turned her gaze back to the blonde, smiling earnestly. "It's a good different, don't worry!"

"Then I guess I should do it more often? You look so endearing when you're flustered." Elsa laughed, reaching out to poke her beloved on the nose. Following that was a kiss on her cheek. "Now that we've gotten the names aside… what do you want to do?"

"Ha-ha, don't think you can distract me with kisses and pretty words!" Anna said, setting down her papers to pick up the book Elsa had discarded. "A name is important! Even if it's difficult and there are only so many names that start with 'A'...but even so!"

Nodding for a few seconds, Elsa shrugged at her and said, "Alvarr or Alna for now. I like them, and they have a nice sound to them. We'll just have to see which one suits our baby more when she—or he—arrives."

"Right, right…" A shadow passed over her wife's face, brow furrowing with it. "The castle has a royal midwife, yes? Or someone like that. How skilled is she? Because if… Well, you never know with these things, and if she doesn't do her duty correctly, I… I don't think I could bear losing you."

"Anna, of course! If you like, we'll have two midwives!" Seeing the true concern there, Elsa grasped her face in both hands and drew her in to kiss her cheeks gently. "My dear, I am definitely not taking this pregnancy lightly. We shall have the best of care."

"Yes...our child deserves the best, don't they?" Anna said, and a portion of her earlier smile returned. "And with you as her mother, they'll get it. Guaranteed."

"I suppose… but I think you'll be the one spending more time with our baby." Elsa's heart swelled with love as she smiled. "I've seen how you are with children. I wouldn't be surprised if our baby prefers you over me as they grow. Of course, I'll be too busy with papers to be with you two in a few months time."

"Really? I thought you'd be spending the most time with the baby, while I go out and work." As Anna puffed up her chest, Elsa rolled her eyes, already familiar enough with what joke was coming to predict it. "After all, I am to be the ma-"

"The man of the house," she finished with a sigh. "I know, Al, I know."

Her wife gasped. "Oh! If we have a son, we should name him Alfrid, don't you think? Alfrid Alvarr of Arendelle!"

"That's…" A moment later, her lips pulled into a smile. "That is absolutely perfect. Oh, Anna, that's just the name!" Fetching her wife up into her arms, she twirled her around, earning a giggle from the redhead. "You marvelous thing, I could kiss you!"

"What makes you think I'd stop you?" Anna cackled with joy. As Elsa found out a moment later, she didn't.

And just like their kiss, the couple was filled with gratitude and butts. After all the hardship living with such a judgmental father, Elsa was still staying strong-and her strength only came from the woman she loved so dearly. She was finally living in her own happy ending.