WARNING: Some strong use of profanity - Rated M

Waves were playfully crashing against wooden pillars which held up a local pier that extended beyond the boardwalk right by Scarlet Bay and into a blanket of blue. The ocean was gentle that faithful morning, with an array of warm-colored tones with a splash of arctic navy blue and a hint of snowy white. Beyond the horizon, the friendly sun was rising to help shine a light for the locals to seize the day.

On the bay's sandy shoreline, there were a few surfers already on-site catching the first morning waves as if it was their daily routine or ritual to start off their day. One of them was an energetic blonde in her thirties carrying a giant grin on her fair skin face. Unlike the other surfers wearing wet suits that hour, the blonde was bravely fighting the cold with a pair of boardshorts and a short sleeve rash guard underneath her two-piece. She didn't let the low temperature bother her while pushing herself up and confidently stand on her board after catching a chummy wave that was cruising behind her.

From beyond the waters, the blonde surfer saw another woman, a couple of years younger than her waving back at her while carrying a little child. Right by the woman's side was another child, a bit older than the little one. He was doing the same thing the other woman was doing, waving and cheering at the blonde from the beach. The blonde couldn't help it, but let out a burst of laughter while waving back at her family.

After a few sets, the blonde caught her last wave that guided her back to shore. Whenever the wave died out before hitting the sandy beach, the blonde hopped off her broad, picked it up and jogged up to where her family.

"Hey, the swells this morning are amazing. You should go try them?" The blonde gently placed her surfboard onto the ground nearby the blanket where her wife was sitting down with their two sons.

"Maybe you should give Connor a lesson or two, I bet he likes to learn from his crazy mum," The blonde's wife laughed after taking a quick photo of her.

"C'mon Jane, when was the last time you surfed?"

"Elsa, do you think this body is capable to surf after having two boys?" Jane used both of her index fingers pointing straight at her belly. "Plus, I don't feel comfortable wearing a two-piece."

"Who said you had to wear something while surfing?" Elsa grinned mischievously that caused Jane to blush, grabbed the boys' beach ball and threw it at her. "Hey, what was that for?" The blonde chuckled.

"Elsa Kara Anderson! We have kids around us." Jane explained while having her arms crossed over her chest. "Plus like I said, I don't think my body looks good in any bathing suit after getting this scar on my belly."

Elsa saw the sudden sadness filling up her wife's eyes. Then she looked over her shoulders to see her two sons happily building a small castle together. Theo was only two, now walking, and her eldest son Connor was just eight and yet the boy's level of maturity was surprising for both parents. Kids at his age would be acting foolish, causing trouble for both of them and toying with his younger brother. But, the young boy was amazingly kind-hearted like Jane and clever like Elsa.

The blonde couldn't help it but smiled at them while taking Jane's hands with both hands. "You'll always beautiful to me no matter what you look like. I will always love you until the very end." Elsa saw Jane's eyes lighting up. "Plus, you were the one that said 'you married me because of my good looks.'

Jane's eyes opened wide and quickly threw a soft punch at Elsa's arm. "Oh my goodness! Why did I marry a stinker like you?" When Jane was about to continue, she was suddenly pulled forward and her soft lips met Elsa's in seconds. The brunette closed her sapphire eyes as she could taste the salty ocean water between her wife's angelic and warm lips.

"Eww! Mummy and Mama are kissing." The two women's lips slowly departed ways and both let out a chuckle or two whenever they heard their eldest son in the background.

"For stinker, you can be very romantic the best of times," Jane added with a genuine smile.

"I guess that's one of the reasons you said 'yes' years ago?" Elsa grinned with one raised eyebrow looking very confident.

Jane wrinkled her nose and reached for her Elsa's face. With her hands, she began pinching her wife's cheeks. "Whatever you say my obnoxious goofball." The brunette couldn't help it, but cast a grin on her face whenever she saw Elsa looking a bit annoyed like a little child trying to dodge her mother's kisses.

After their brief and intimate moment between each other, Elsa grabbed an extra towel and wrapped it around her body to keep herself warm. For someone that can withstand the cold, she had to be smart and be careful with her health. The blonde sat along with Jane as they continued to watch their sons build their little sandcastle.

"You know we should go on a nice vacation. Maybe a week or two somewhere." Jane broke the silence between each other and looked at Elsa.

"Just us two or with the boys?" Elsa asked.

"Why do you have something in mind for just us two?" Jane stared at her with surprisingly seductive eyes causing the blonde to blush. Elsa simply shook her head 'no.' "I meant a family vacation, silly."

"Where? Should we take them camping or…?"

"I was thinking of showing you and the boys, one of the places I visited during one of my earlier assignments." Jane didn't look at Elsa except focused her attention at the rising sun that was completely over the horizon line that separated the ocean and the sky.

"And that would be?" Elsa followed her wife's gaze and stared at the same landscape.

"Lani."

Elsa slowly backed away from the sight of Anna happily surfing alone in the great big blue. There was a sudden shift in her heart from having this burst of energy to having this bittersweet feeling pulling every heartstring inside her. The woman sat back down on the patio and went back to drinking her morning tea. While her ears were still listening to the playful melody of the roaring waves in the distance, her crystal blue eyes were fixated at the sky that was shifting from a warm gradient color to a shade of blue. She reached for her late wife's journal where she last left it. Her hand gently pulled the string that kept the book together and slowly opened it to reveal the filled up written pages. Even though it was one of the most fragile and dearest things to Elsa, the woman decided to take it along during her trip to Lani. The journal was completely Jane's diary and assignment journal, but, to Elsa, it was like a compass or guide book to help her navigate through this Great Unknown which was the town of Lani.

Fingers flipped through the pages, some were jotted down notes and sketches Jane has written down or drew, yes, Elsa's wife knew how to draw before she picked up a camera. Jane used to tell her she used to love to draw landscapes and sketched out whatever she found during her nature walks. Since then the artist and environmentalist to be shifted into the art of photography. It was a faster way to record her journeys than to sit down and rely on a piece of paper and pencil to collect and draw out her thoughts.

But on some of the pages kept small polaroids which Jane managed to take during her trip to Lani. Some of the colors were fading away, but, Elsa could make out what some of the shots were. There were a few shots of waterfalls, a trail up a mountainside, another trail inside a jungle with a person, maybe a local, in the center of the photo.

"Huh, I wondered if that person still lives here?" Elsa raised an eyebrow at the short husky built man that had his back facing the camera as he navigated through the forest of tropical trees, enlarged roots and curtains of hanging vines.

When she turned into another page, the sound of a never-ending familiar sound broke the soundscape between Elsa and the sea in minutes. The blonde reached into her short's pocket and revealed her phone underneath the morning light.

Dad. Those three letter words annoyingly illuminating on the glass screen and screaming at Elsa's face.

The blonde simply let out a grunt before picking up the call. "Hello." She said nothing else.

"Hello, sweetheart! I know I shouldn't be calling you while you're on vacation, but, this is my father side talking to you. So how was your first day yesterday?" Elsa father asked kindly.

Elsa paused, collecting her thoughts before speaking. "It was interesting."

"Really, how so?" Agnarr sounded curious from the other end of the conversation.

Where to start?

Which one is more important than the other. Should I start off how we ended up getting a flat tire on our first day or how I bumped into my old childhood friend, which I never saw or talked to in a million years! Elsa pondered while starting to pace around the backyard like a confused businesswoman whether to invest in an important partnership or not.

"Elsa are you still there, pumpkin?" Even though his daughter is finally a grown woman and has her own family to take care of, Agnarr will never stop calling Elsa with the various nicknames he and his late wife have thought of for her.

"Yeah, I'm still here. I was just distracted at the view and the surfer...I meant surf. The-the ocean!" Elsa nearly lied to the point she ended up being tongue-tied.

"Really! How're the waters? You used to love surfing, you should get back on a surfboard again and maybe teach the boys a lesson or two." Agnarr happily encouraged her with some suggestions.

Why now you encourage me to go back into surfing again? You never approved of me doing it whenever I was young. Why now? Elsa remembered the moments where Agnarr repeatedly told her not to waste away her life like a beach bum hanging out on the beach for the whole day surfing and hanging out with those people he used to say without air quotes.

What pulled one of her heartstrings was how he disapproved of her friend, Anna, for all those years. Until one particular later afternoon talk with her old man.

Just because Anna lived a different lifestyle than Elsa and Agnarr, didn't make Anna and her family any else useless to society or a distraction which some of Agnarr's colleagues used to call those who hung out on the beach all day and done nothing but surf and "waste away their lives"

But deep inside, there's more to surfing than meets the eyes.

Elsa wiped the sweat off her forehead after removing her surfboard from the back of her father's old Rover, which was hers forever. Well, maybe not forever, as much she loved the massive white lug nut, she knew she'll need to invest in a better performing and better-looking car in the future. That's if she's getting into one of the country's best architectural schools after graduating high school.

"Please don't tell you skipped school today."

The blonde looked over her shoulders to see her father, Agnarr with two of the estate's staffs, Gerda and Kai standing behind him.

My father and his entourage. Elsa concluded while shifting her attention back at the car, gathering the rest of belongings.

"Don't ignore me, young lady, did you skip school again to go surfing with that redhead delinquent friend of yours?" Agnarr narrowed his emerald eyes at his daughter, hands on his hips like if he was Mr. Mean Superman while standing on the front steps of the Andersons' home.

"Did the school call the house or your cell phone today?" Elsa didn't look over her shoulders and walked to the passenger door of the Rover after leaning her board against the trunk side.

Agnarr blinked twice. The old man reached for his phone and scanned through his list of recent calls and voicemails, no message or call from Elsa's school. Then he looked at his two main staffs for any update, both said 'no,' with serious and truthful faces.

"No, I didn't get any calls from your school today." He replied back at Elsa.

Elsa let out a tired and annoyed sigh after putting on her backpack before locking her car. She went over and picked up her board before walking up the flight of stairs that led to two grand double doors into the estate.

"Then you have nothing to worry about." Elsa walked passed her father without giving the man a chance to see her beautiful young face.

"Elsa," Agnarr was never strict from the beginning of their conversation but, carried a tone which the blonde grew to know and became jaded too. Elsa only witnessed how her father would talk and react during harsh and aggressive situations where the man can yell and lose his cool. But, when it came to their casual arguments or these situations, the man was calm and firm towards his daughter. There was a strong scene of weariness and longing tone between the man's lips. His daughter was turning seventeen soon and the next thing he knew, he'll be seeing her walk down the stage to receive her high school diploma and off to college before his very eyes.

"Also, how many times I told you, Anna isn't a delinquent, she's my best friend," Elsa paused and finally looked up to meet her father's stare. "But, thanks for finally acknowledging her as my friend. Took you long enough. Not all surfers are beach bums, they are more than what fucked society sees them nowadays." The last sentence caused the three adults to flinch while Elsa opened one of the double doors and walked inside without a care.

Agnarr shook his head and ran after his stubborn daughter with Kai and Gerda behind him. "Elsa, can we please talk for a moment." Elsa paused in the middle of the foyer before climbing up the grand flight of stairs to her bedroom. "I like to speak with you alone in my studies if you let me?" The old widower added.

Elsa shrugged her shoulders. "Fine, whatever you say. Can it be quick though? I just came home to drop off my things and meet up with Anna in an hour." She kindly gave Kai her belongings, including her surfboard for him to put away in her bedroom. Of course, her board should be placed outside her room's balcony to melt away the remaining board wax.

Elsa's father didn't raise an eyebrow or had his arms crossed over his chest. Like before, this wasn't the single father's first rodeo dealing with his teenage daughter. At the back of his mind, he sometimes fantasies about how life would be if his late wife and son was still around.

Would he be tag-teaming with his wife dealing with two reckless teenagers at home? They would be the best good cop, bad cop parents of all time.

"I promise I won't take most of your busy schedule." He placed his hand over his heart, sealing a scout's honor. In return, the blonde gave her father a nod.

The Andersons walked into a spacious room that was completely surrounded by walls of books stored away in towering bookcases and hung up picture frames of famous architectural designs and blueprints. A majority of those prints were either hand-drawn or laid out on the computer by the man that stood behind Elsa.

"Let's sit down over here," Elsa looked over her shoulders to see Agnarr not standing behind his desk that was pushed against the wall, instead decided to sit on one of the chairs that looked over a grand view of the ocean through the high scale windows. Between the two chairs was a small circular coffee table decorated with architectural books to magazines, one of the covers had a picture of Agnarr on it.

"So what is it you want to talk about?" Elsa moved her long braided blonde hair over her left shoulder, where each hair strain carried a hint of saltwater.

Agnarr paused for a moment and gazed at the horizon line that separated the ocean and sky. Somehow the lonely old man used to feel like he was the ocean and the sky was his late wife. How he desired to be with her once again, but, those days shifted whenever he noticed he missed all those years raising Elsa by himself. Of course, he had help with the staff around the estate, but, since now Elsa was a year away before leaving high school and moving away for college, the man felt he was the ocean once again and Elsa was the sky that was so hard to reach.

"When are you going to take your friend to a nice dinner around town?"

Elsa eyes widen like a frighten barn owl. She shifted her body away from him like his sudden wave of words that deluged out of his mouth, struck her like an unexpected force that would knock her down to the ground and sweep her away. "Wait what?"

The old man looked at her with his firm emerald eyes. "I see how you are when it comes to Anna. I have no problem who you like, admire or love, sweetheart. Love can be a powerful thing. Wondrous actually, but, can be dangerous."

Elsa blinked twice, even though her cheeks were slowly turning rosy red and the warmth traveled up to ears that also turned to the same shade of red. Then she avoided any sudden eye contact from her father, instead, she focused her attention on the ocean view in front of her. The sun was slowly setting for the day, gradually revealing those iconic warm tones that washed across the canvas sky. Some of the shade of orange was similar to Anna's hair, that quickly caused the hair on the back of Elsa's neck to stand.

The energetic burst sensation that quickly dragged your heart and brain through a spiraling vortex ride that only lasted a brief minute or less that took you straight to Cloud 9. A sudden high for an instant. And yet, Elsa was trying to stop herself from going to that particular strange trip.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Dad. Why do you even talk about her? You just called her a delinquent a moment ago." She bluntly stated and yet the word 'Liar' was stamped all over her forehead. Agnarr looked at his daughter, the sudden expression that painted across her face cause him to let out a chuckle or two. "Now what's so funny?" Elsa raised an eyebrow.

Whenever Agnarr collected himself and settle back on his chair. "Look Elsa, there's nothing bad of being in love, just be cautious about it alright? There's no shame of loving someone you deeply care about."

Elsa saw the grand smile on his face, the sudden glow illuminating from his face, it wasn't the sun that was casting late afternoon rays into the room it was this unknown source that can shine a spotlight on someone's face and show that person's true colors. Deep inside, she took account of her father's words.

The blonde truly and deeply cared for Anna as much as she cared about their love of surfing. Not in a million years would she have thought a sport, no, not only a lifestyle but a crazy-good movement that can put two unexpected strangers into a journey where they tested out their limits together as friends. The two of them were a force of nature, according to Anna's adopted father. And that, same goes to whenever it came to love.

"Now don't you have a party to attend?" Agnarr snapped Elsa back to reality after going into a brief reflection trip.

"Um yeah, I should wash up? But, then again Anna and I are going night surfing." Elsa explained.

Agnarr shook his head and let out another chuckle before getting up from his seat. "You with surfing. I'll never understand. Then again, maybe you got your love of the ocean from your mother."

Elsa looked up at Agnarr and saw the bittersweet gaze in his emerald eyes. "You miss her, don't you? Jakob too?"

Agnarr quietly nodded. "Your mother was completely born and raised by the ocean. I grew up on a farm in the middle of nowhere before I met her. Now looking back, I won't be surprised if your little brother picked up surfing too. He was your little shadow after all whenever you two were little." He paused for a moment before collecting his thoughts. "I missed them everyday…"

Just as Elsa got up from her chair, wanting to leave, she stood behind her father and place a hand over his shoulder. Agnarr looked up to meet his daughter's crystal blue eyes. Very similar to his late wife and son. A little gift that was left behind for him to remember about them. Elsa was everything he had left and won't let anything come between them no matter what.

He simply doesn't want to lose another loved one.

"I miss them too," Elsa said softly while giving Agnarr a hug where she embraced his neck while placing her chin on his shoulder.

Agnarr let out a satisfied sigh. "I love you." He lifted his hand and patted Elsa's head.

"Love you too, pops." Elsa lets go of her embrace and walked towards the doors.

"Hold on a second." Elsa paused and turned around to see Agnarr standing up. "Maybe whenever you're free or whenever I'm up to it, we can go surfing sometimes. What do you say?" The old man asked kindly while casting an awkward grin.

Elsa took a moment to let her father's words stunk in. The blonde never thought in a million years, her own old man would think of an idea. Of course, he was a typical businessman that would go golfing during the weekends or day off. But surfing, that was completely out of the blue.

You gotta be kidding me, Elsa thought. Just as she was gathering up a bunch of words to backfire at the man that called her friend and surfing a complete waste of time, she noticed the two black picture frames across her father's desk. One was an old photo of the entire Anderson family, a small family to be exact, it was just Elsa, her parents, and her little brother.

Next to the frame was another one, a lonely one, sadly, it was just a present-day photo just the two of them. Agnarr trying to carry a smile with his set of tired workaholic eyes with a hand over Elsa's shoulder where her face was painted with firm lips and her crystal blue eyes casting a shimmer of bittersweetness inside.

The young blonde simply bites her lip, quickly toss away those words that would break the poor widower's heart to pieces, and let out a deep sigh before speaking. "Sure, why not." Agnarr returned a smile, but Elsa kept a firm face in front of him.

"But, why the sudden change of heart? You usually called the lifestyle a waste of time. Sure, others would say it as a sport or a game, but, I see it as a religion or a sense of escape that really deserves some respect from others. It isn't child's play, some find it as a source to cope with their struggles or a gift for second chances." Elsa lets out another deep breath after finishing.

Agnarr walked up to Elsa and paused whenever he was just a foot away from her. "I wanted to try to understand your passion. Like how I tried to learn how to love and understand why your mother was obsessed with the ocean. Same goes with your brother, I never knew a young child would ever be interested in cars at a young age. That's why I bought him books about cars and toys. That's why I tried to visit and spent time with your mother at her work or out in the field whenever I had the chance." The old man paused, collecting his other set of words before speaking again. Elsa noticed the small teardrops forming at the corners of his emerald eyes.

"Now, since they are gone, I felt like I missed spending time with my family. And I feel like I have forgotten you. We rarely spend much time as a family and you are all I got. I know you don't find architecture or engineering fun or interesting. But, why not give your passion a try, as I've done in the past." Agnarr took a deep breath after he finished as well.

But, I love architecture and all you do in your job. I want to become an architect one day, Elsa confessed slightly in her head. Just like you, dad, but, better.

Surfing was her passion, but, architecture was her calling.

The sound of Agnarr's voice slowly became louder and clearer after her sudden trip from the past. Even though Elsa barely understood what her old man was blabbing about, she sensed no harsh words coming out of his mouth, more like his same old concerned and reassuring tone escaping from his lips and gently slip through the other end of her phone. All in all, Agnarr was being a father after all.

"Also, about the call yesterday. I repeatedly told your team to not call you. Don't worry, I was informed about the manner and gave your team a briefing…"

"Dad, it's alright. To be honest, I wasn't mad at them. Plus, don't be too hard on them."

"A mother in the office as well. Things will never change about you." Agnarr simply cut her off with a chuckle.

Elsa raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? My team is a group of grown adults, they know how to handle themselves."

"There's nothing wrong being a parent at the office. Especially towards your team, Elsa. I used to be like that with my first team of architects. It shows them that you're more human than something else. Like a force of nature." Agnarr kindly explained.

A force of nature. Elsa pondered over the sudden statement that was more than an eccentric nickname for her and Anna. It wasn't a comment, it was somehow the two old friends' identity. The two were a storm together, on a good day, the type of storm that they release joy and laughter. During bad days, it was all anger and tears.

"But, I digress and should leave you be. I bet you and the boys have a lot of plans to do today and the rest of your trip. Now please don't answer your phone, especially if it's one of your fellow junior architects." The old architect stated.

"Sure thing, I'll try my best…"

"No, you better not, please Elsa do it for yourself and the boys. You three deserves a good rest. Now go on, enjoy! See you soon, sweetheart. Bye!"

"Bye." Elsa let out a sigh whenever she pressed the red telephone icon on her phone and stored it back inside her back pocket.

She looked over her shoulders, soon to find Anna was no longer surfing in the water. Just as she secretly wanted to go back watching her, her father's words reminded her it was just a trip for her and the boys, nothing else. But why all of sudden, Anna slowly crept inside her mind - like little butterflies in a quiet meadow appearing with grace you hardly noticed their presence until you saw them with your eyes.

Somewhat how Elsa felt whenever her mind decided to project images of Anna, not the Anna she knew from her past, but, the Anna she just bumped into.

Why all of a sudden I want to just talk to her again, Elsa wondered. Her mind was absolutely baffled and annoyed at the sudden burst of emotions while her mind was happily trying to do cartwheels, feeling a bit jolly to finally see Anna again.

With an annoyed caveman grunt, she picked up her feet and headed back inside - without noticing she left her cup of tea outside on the patio floor. But suddenly returned to pick it up because she remembered she left Jane's journal outside. And she certainly doesn't want to ruin it.

After the call, Elsa decided to climb upstairs and wake up the boys. She tried calling both of their names until one of them decided to wake up. Theo lifted himself upright after shimming around his soft sleeping bag. He met his mother's genuine crystal blue eyes with sleepy sapphire orbs.

"Good morning, my love." Elsa smiled.

"Good morning, mommy," Theo returned with a smile.

"What do you say, I cook us up some breakfast before we head out for another adventure?" She asked him with a glimmer of excitement in her eyes.

Theo placed his index finger on his chin, showing off his thinking face and simply shook his head after a brief moment of pondering. "You shouldn't do that, mommy. We're on vacation! You need to relax. No cooking and no working. You should be having fun too. Not like yesterday when your work called you like that. Why did they call you anyway?" The blond crooked his head to the side.

Elsa felt guilty, her six-year-old was definitely honest and right. "My team was a bit lost about a project we have been doing for the last two months. It's another big one, but, no worries, grandpa helped out the manner." She let out an awkward chuckle.

"That's good! Grandpa to the rescue." Theo lift both of his hands in the air.

"Why not go back to the Pelican's Nest again?"

Elsa and Theo looked over to see Connor slowly sitting right up while scratching the back of his head and stretching his arms, trying to wake himself up. Soon to see his family staring back at him.

"What? Wendy said it was the best place in town for breakfast." He shrugged his shoulders.

Morning time at the Pelican's Nest wasn't different from having lunch or dinner there. A wave of customers came pouring in like how city folks were coming in and out of major train stations trying to go to their next destination to another. Some were workers, quickly grabbing their breakfast to go while some locals decided to grab a table with a view like the Andersons that wanted to grab three spots by the giant counter that also had a spectacular view of the water.

"Well, this is a pleasant surprise! How're our new locals doing today?" Cass came over to the Andersons with a pen and notepad, ready to jot down their orders.

"You know we're just visiting Lani," Elsa laughed nervously.

"Oh c'mon on now Elsa," Cass laughed. "Whenever you visit here, you'll always a local. Even if you just stay here for a day. Now, what can I get you three this morning?"

The Andersons, each gave their personal order to the owner without any trouble which put a smile on Cass's face - giving the woman an extra spring in her feet today. Nothing like servicing up hungry customers with a smile. She went ahead and placed the family's orders as she disappeared into the kitchen to help with her staff. After less than thirty minutes or so, Cass and one of her employee's came by to help her serve the Andersons orders.

"So what fun are you three planning to do today?" Cass tossed over her clean cloth over her shoulders while placing both hands on her hips looking like a superhero.

Elsa slowly put down her utensil after taking a small bite of her homemade waffles. Before speaking, she covered her mouth with her hand while finishing what was left to be chewed. "We were planning to go on a hike to search for some waterfalls."

Cass cast a smile with her emerald eyes glimmering with excitement. "Oh, I know one not far from here! But, you guys will need an actual local to take you there."

"Oh, that wouldn't be necessary, we don't mind doing a little exploring." Elsa returned a smile.

Cass waved one of her fingers while shaking her head. "No, it's best we have someone that knows the island in and out to show you guys the waterfall without getting lost. And I know one of my employee's that can help you guys. Now if she comes into work at least." The woman suddenly narrowed her eyes at the old truck that slowly entered the restaurant's parking lot and parked near her small hatchback.

"Ah, there she is." Elsa looked over her shoulders wherever Cass walked past her and exit out the restaurant to meet up with a lonely redhead that was strolling up the Nest's front patio before entering inside.

The blonde's eyes widen whenever she spotted the same surfer that rescued her boys yesterday.

You can't be serious? Elsa thought right after shifting her body around to face her unfinished waffles. She reached for the spray can of whip cream and began to build a tower of white foam. The boys stopped munching their food for a moment, Connor paused his fork midway before entering a piece of scrambled egg into his mouth while Theo was halfway crewing down a big bite of his bacon strip.

The two both exchanged looks while wondering if their mom was alright.

Whenever Elsa was satisfied with the amount of whip cream that nearly covered her two waffles, also to mention the cream was already touching her scrambled eggs and cut up fruits, the blonde went back to eating it. She tried her best to distract herself, not wanting to look over her shoulders or even listen to the two women's conversation.

Please not her, please not her, Elsa chanted inside her head as she was about to eat a big bite of her breakfast.

"Elsa!"

Damn. Elsa shouted silently with her eyes closed, but, soon opened slowly while turning around. Apparently the blonde was too distracted about her thoughts, she forgot she was in the middle of eating and nearly talked with her mouth opened. She saw Cass smile back at her while Anna had one eyebrow raised up with her electrifying teal-blue eyes meeting her crystal blue orbs.

"Sorry about that," Elsa apologized.

"Elsa, I like you to meet one of my employees. Anna. She's one of my best cooks all around…"

"Aunt Cass, you sure about that?"

The three women turned their attention at Lottie that was eavesdropping their conversation while storing away freshly washed table napkins into the counter.

"Lottie, don't you have some dishes to look at?" Anna cast a mischievous grin on her face.

Lottie narrowed her eyes at the redhead. "You think your hot stuff ain't ya?" She turned her back at her before strolling into the kitchen.

"Sorry about that, crazy co-workers, you love 'em and hate 'em" Anna chuckled.

"I heard that!" The women can hear Lottie's voice coming from the kitchen window.

Cass pinches the bridge of her nose. For a businesswoman and a single aunt - she had to deal with a bunch of adults that still acted like kids ranging from five to thirteen-year-olds at work.

"Are you two done? Or should I ask someone else?" Cass asked Anna while glaring back at her.

"What do you want me to do again?" Anna raised an eyebrow.

Cass grunted. "Do you mind giving the Andersons a tour to the waterfall nearby? I can count this as a day off for you. With pay, of course." She explained.

Anna paused for a moment. She looked over Cass's shoulders to see Elsa and the blonde's little offsprings. The redhead bites her lips. You're serious right? She thought.

"I'm not sure. Did you ask anyone else? How about Mater? The guy knows more of the island than I do." Anna's hands began to sweat.

"It's alright if Anna is busy today, we don't mind exploring the island by ourselves." Cass and Anna turned around to see Elsa smiling awkwardly at them. "We don't want to disturb anyone's at all."

Just as Anna was about to reply, Cass butted in with a response. "Nonsense, Anna will give you the tour! Now, don't be in a hurry to finish your breakfast, Anna here will simply wait for you. Won't you sweetie?" The older woman asked Anna kindly. Anna grunted and returned a nod. "That's my girl. If you girls need me, I'll be in the kitchen helping out."

"Hey, Cass let me help you while I'm still here."

"No Anna, you're on your day off. Stay away from the kitchen, dear. Now go on and have a good time." Cass was already heading into the kitchen with a spring in her feet after singing a little tone. The kitchen door swung open just in time for the owner to enter while Tiana was carrying a tray of freshly baked pastries to be displayed into the glass case in front of the counter for customers to choose and buy.

"She's in a jolly mood." The other woman comment while laying down the tray in front of Anna who was leaning against the counter.

"When is she never in a good mood?" Anna asked her.

"Aren't you suppose to clock in about now?" Tiana quickly changed the subject.

"Cass gave me the day off. Or somehow got a job change." Anna didn't go ahead and explain.

"She just now gave you a day off? How and why?" Tiana looked at Anna with a surprised look.

"Apparently I'm going to be a tour guide for a day." Anna let out a sigh.

Down the counter, Elsa could hear the two women's conversation from a few feet away while also listening to Theo talk about a recent documentary he shouldn't have been watching without her supervision. It was a nature documentary about animals living in Antarctica and there was a part where a sea lion devoured an emperor penguin. The blonde made out what the two women were somewhat talking about her and her family. Nothing rude, it's just Tiana somehow was asking a lot of questions whether Anna knew her.

"Wait, you knew each other since you were kids?" Tiana's eyes widen.

Anna slowly lifted herself up, walked away from the counter and stood by the railing that looked over the ocean. "Yeah, Elsa moved into the same town I grew up in whenever I was I guess young? I don't remember much, I just know we were just kids that loved to surf. That's pretty much who we were."

"Really, nothing more?" Tiana had her arms crossed over her chest.

Anna looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "What do you mean 'nothing more'?"

"Oh you know, like you two were once a couple I assume." Tiana wiggled her eyebrows.

The redhead's face turned redder than the shades of freshly grown tomatoes from Cass's garden that was growing from the side of the restaurant. "You gotta be kidding me. No, we never dated. Ever. Besides that one night during a surfing party..." Anna paused and realized she was opening up doors she locked up years ago which she promised to herself to never unlock ever again. She soon noticed Tiana's hazel eyes continued to grow wider. "Forget it, I am not going there."

"Going where? You were about to tell me a story. It sounds like a juicy love story." Tiana's smile stretched from ear to ear.

"I love me a juicy love story!"

Anna flinched while Tiana cast a shocked face. Both women turned around to see their friend Lottie sitting down by an empty table with her elbows perched on top of the surface while her arms and hands held up her head. She basically looked like a high school teenager eager to hear the latest gossip of 'who did who or who's dating who.'

"C'mon, tell me the story!" Lottie replied impatiently.

"Nothing Lottie, go back to work." Anna glared at her.

Lottie lifted herself up. "Who are you telling me to go back to work? You're not my boss."

Just as the Southern blonde was about to add in something, Anna focused her attention at the Andersons who just finished their breakfast and finished paying Cass. The older woman found Anna and waved at her to come over.

"Hold that thought, Lottie, duty calls." Anna let out a sigh.

Tiana walked up and placed a hand on Anna's shoulder. "Go on and have a good time."

Anna saw the smile on her friend's face and returned a similar hopeful smile as well.

Anna caught up with the Andersons where all four stood by the family's rented Wrangler. While Elsa was busy looking for her keys and the boys somehow couldn't stop and stare at their redhead tour guide. The brothers both exchanged looks whenever they came to look down at Anna's missing left leg. Anna shifted her gaze at Elsa and soon to notice the brothers staring down her leg.

Anna saw their curious faces, a familiar look she's used to when it came to kids. But it was a different story whenever it came to another adult staring at her from head to toe. She wasn't feeling insecure or awkward between the two, instead, their innocent faces put a small smile on her face.

"Looks weird, huh?" Anna earned their attention right away.

Connor looked up while Theo was the one to protest and shook his head. "No, it looks cool! You look like a superhero." The little blond's eyes lite up with excitement.

As for Connor, the boy cleared his throat before speaking. He noticed how the local surfer was smiling down at his little brother similar to how his late mother used to smile at them. Anna was a quiet person from how he saw her, the way her teal blue eyes were soft and calming like the ocean on a good day. She carried a small smile on her freckles face and yet he assumed she had a genuine smile that can light up a room.

"So how long have you been surfing, Anna? We can call you Anna right or should we call you…"

"You're welcome to call me Anna. I rarely let people call me by my last name." Anna returned a smile with a shoulder shrug.

I know it! She has an angelic smile. Connor concluded.

"And I been surfing since I was a little kid. Maybe whenever I was six or seven?" The surfer scratched the back of her head. "My adopted Dad was a big surfer and he always took me surfing whenever he was practicing for a tournament or just wanted a session before and after work." She explained with great respect for the man in her voice.

Anna saw the brunet nod his head, showing her that he understood her story. She noticed how he made a quick glance looking back at the ocean. The surfer wondered if the Anderson brothers surfed like their mother.

I wonder if she still surfs too, Anna pondered while focusing her attention at Elsa who finally found her keys from navigating through her travel bag.

"Found it!" Elsa raised her keys in the air. Soon her crystal blue eyes met Anna's. The way they looked at each her was nothing close to being strangers on a busy street right after bumping into each. It was, well, mostly like two old friends finally meeting each other again after how many years of not seeing each other basically.

How long has it been? Both women wondered silently.

Connor noticed the same expression on his mother's and Anna's faces, the same look they carried whenever Anna brought them home.

These two definitely knew each other, Connor concluded. But, why do they act so awkwardly around each other? Something happened to them a while back, I just know it.

"Psst!" Connor woke up from his thoughts, noticing Theo pulling his shirt while whispering. "Hey, why is mom staring at Anna like that? Does, grown-ups do this all the time?"

Connor raised an eyebrow at Theo. "I have no idea."

"So, the waterfall?" Anna raised an eyebrow at Elsa, the brave one to break the awkward wall between the two women.

Elsa blinked twice. "Oh right! Sorry about that, lost my train of thought there." She chuckled embarrassingly.

Maybe busy staring back at me instead, Anna commented silently in her mind. She walked over to Elsa where they were a few inches away from in each other. The redhead noticed the sudden change in Elsa's eyes, from a swell of calming waves suddenly became frighten as they became swaying furiously side to side.

The hairs behind Elsa's neck became to stand up as a small trail of sweat rained down her neck to her back while her breathing and heartbeat began to increase. Deep inside, her old teenage self wanted to quickly hug Anna, embrace her with illuminating warm touch and yet, her present self was strong enough to push back her emotions and pull her past self away.

"Do you want me to drive or you will?" Elsa asked Anna kindly.

Anna stared down at the car keys for a moment and shook her heads. "I think it's best for you to drive. You won't really experience Lani just chillin' in the passenger's seat. You gotta feel it, taste it, and see it in your own way." The redhead smiled.

Her smile, Elsa bite her lip while her eyes were glued again at Anna's set of teal orbs.

"There goes mommy again," Theo whispered to Connor who was still baffled at Elsa's strange behavior. But his older brother ignored him and poked his nose, a little gesture to kindly ask him to shut up for a moment.

Elsa nodded. "Right. I guess you'll be my navigator then." She returned a smile.

Damnit, that smile and those eyes! Anna quietly commented while controlling her composure. In return, she just shot Elsa a thumbs up and began leading herself into the passenger car. She noticed the boys following her and their mother into the Jeep, like little wolf cubs following their parent for a fun stroll into the woods or mountains. Connor managed to help himself up the SUV without a hassle. Anna saw Theo running around to her side of the car and had a brief moment of struggling to climb up.

The redhead surfer walked over and gave the little guy a hand. "Hold on, I got ya." She lifted Theo off the ground until his little feet were on the side steps and had one hand gripping the bar attached to the side of the car. "There ya go. Go on and put on your seatbelt, okay bud?"

When Theo was settled in his car seat and fasten his seatbelt, the boy gave Anna a thumbs up. Anna returned the same gesture too. Elsa was watching the two while glancing over at the rearview mirror. She couldn't help it but smile at the friendly gesture.

"Ready?" Elsa asked Anna after the redhead climbed up and put her seatbelt on. Anna gave her nodded.

In a few minutes when the engine roared, the four exited out of the parking lot and hopped onto the roadway as they drove off to see the rest of the town. Back in the restaurant, Cass watched them drive away as she let out a satisfying sigh.

"How much you wanna bet those two will end up as love birds?" Cass looked over her shoulders to see Lottie smiled like a goofball.

"Oh, believe me, I think those two have been for a while." Both women looked around to find Tiana grinned back them while drying up freshly washed glass cups. "Those two are just fools. Foolish love. Only thought they were just friends but, they were destined to be more than that."

Yes, I am back! Well, for a little while. I managed to finish up 2 more chapters including one. After that, it's back to writing more chapter outlines and the actual chapters for this story. If you're wondering where I've been, its just work and personal life getting in the way for my writing days. And you can say I was a bit distracted for a few months that I kind of regret getting into. Now I am back to the groove of things and hopefully, get this story rolling again. Many thanks to those who stuck around and welcome to my new readers. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and stay tune for more!