Chapter 25 - You have Christmas trees growing in your garden?

Nothing smelt better than bacon in the morning. Rashers and eggs sizzled in the frying pan as Elsa cooked up breakfast for the family. It felt surprisingly normal considering just how not-normal they all were.

She smiled as she cracked the eggs and added them to flour and milk. Anna loved pancakes as much as she did. Just the thought of her messy morning hair and ecstatic face was enough to give her a spring in her step as she walked around the kitchen beating the mixture to the rhythm of the Christmas tunes playing on the radio.

I did well last night. She couldn't help but be proud of how she had maintained control over her power. Even better, Anna believed in her. It wasn't that she ever doubted Anna's support, but now the moment had passed and she could reflect on it she could truly appreciate the innocent awe her girlfriend had as she gazed upon Elsa's creation in the sky. She wasn't afraid. She didn't hate her. It's insane to think this is real.

Perhaps a good night's sleep was all she needed to feel better. She hadn't felt so positive in what felt like forever. Or maybe it's just the endless love Anna showers down on me.

"You're up earlier than me. That's quite an achievement." Elsa jerked up to see Kristoff working the coffee machine.

"Want a coffee?" He asked as he fumbled through the cupboard in search of the coffee beans.

"Just a shot of espresso, thanks," Elsa replied as she glanced back down at her cooking. "Would you like breakfast?"

"I couldn't say no to bacon pancakes," he said with a grin. That hadn't been part of Elsa's breakfast repertoire, but she figured it would be easy enough to combine it. She idly wondered if Anna would like bacon pancakes for a change as she pulled another packet of bacon from the fridge.

"I didn't think you'd still be here," Elsa admitted while casting a fleeting look over to Kristoff. She had never really thought much about him, let alone about his family arrangements. Did he even have family? After everything that had happened she was all too aware just how complicated families could be.

"You can stay," she quickly added. "After everything you did for Anna... for me... You're welcome here anytime." For the first time she looked him over properly. Beneath the scruffy blonde hair and bright chestnut eyes there was kindness, but also caution. Subconsciously Elsa steeled herself and pulled her guard up.

"Thank you, but I am heading home this afternoon," he replied with a smile. "I wanted to make sure Anna was ok first," he hesitated while glancing over at her. "And I wanted to talk to you alone."

"Oh?" Elsa raised a brow, dread settling in her stomach. She turned back to whisking her pancake batter as she prepared herself for the conversation.

"I figured it'd be nice to talk to you about Anna while she is in bed."

Not a talk he wanted to have while she is present then. Elsa rationalised it in her mind: Anna didn't have anyone else to protect her. Of course her closest friend would take on that role. I'm not the only one who wants to keep her safe.

"I think it's amazing she's got you," he opened with positivity; classic. Elsa could not help but brace herself for the 'but' to follow.

"But –" There it was. "Anna's always needed someone. Even after me and Sven found her she was always looking for the next person. We kept her out of trouble as much as we could –" a large grin spread ear to ear as he relived what Elsa could only have assumed were some of his best memories. "- but you know how it is with her."

Do I know how it is? She was always only ever mine... even when she wasn't.

"The way she looks at you like you complete her world, she's smitten with you. I think she has been waiting for you since you left her."

Elsa held back the involuntary shudder her body was attempting to make. She had known Anna was waiting for her so when Kristoff spoke it aloud why did it spark so much guilt?

"She's a generous girl. She'd give you her whole soul if you let her. Just..." Kristoff paused as he handed Elsa the small espresso. She took it with one hand, still not facing him. She wasn't sure she could while he was talking so frankly about Anna. Distracting herself with whatever she could, Elsa poured the batter into a pan and focused completely on breakfast.

"...Make sure you don't take it all and leave her with nothing." The implication that she was completely responsible for Anna's happiness was a weight she could only compare to the burden of her powers.

"I'm not telling you this to upset you or scare you off. I can tell you care about her. I think you're a good calming influence on her, with the added bonus that she actually listens to you."

Are we still talking about Anna?

"You have the power to make her the happiest girl in the world, but you also have the power to shatter her. Kind of makes the ice magic seem easy to handle now, right?" he tried to inject some humour. Elsa couldn't even fake the smile beneath the weight of responsibility. She didn't need this, not with so much else going on.

How do I hold all of this together without dropping something?

"Sorry, maybe it was a little much. I just figured I wouldn't get another shot at this for a while," he sighed as he leaned back against the kitchen counter with his coffee. Elsa turned the gas off on the bacon and continued on the pancakes, doing all she could to not let her fear spill out into the kitchen.

"Anna's not going to leave you. There is no way she'll come back to uni. I'll keep in touch with her of course but by the time I see you guys again I expect you'll be in some swanky flat in the city." He just kept talking.

Pull yourself together. You won't be able to run away when you're in an office talking to the board: Talking about what Father would have wanted. How will you achieve anything if you can't do this? The slap of reality was what she needed to turn to finally face Kristoff. Concerned brown eyes gazed back and she knew at that moment he did not trust her. Who could blame him? She had messed so much else up in her life.

"You're right, she probably won't go back to her studying," Elsa conceded but stood her ground. "But I will give her the world. Know that I won't break her heart." Not again.

Kristoff took a minute to digest her flash of conviction. "...Alright," he nodded, patting her back. "That's all I wanted to hear," and with just a few words the tension had been diffused.

He helped himself to the bacon pancakes and headed out to the dining room. Elsa blinked, and then noticed he had taken the second plate too. Her lip crept up in a small half-smile, not begrudging him having breakfast with Anna before he left. They were friends after all; Elsa would have her for the rest of forever. She shivered at the mere idea of it, but it wasn't as crushing as it had been moments earlier with Kristoff. It felt good. It felt exciting.

With a spring back in her step, Elsa plated up the remaining breakfast and dropped it into Kai in the drawing room.

"How are you this morning?" Elsa asked him brightly.

"Very well," he said with a gentle smile, putting his newspaper down to accept the plate. "And you seem much sprightlier this morning."

"I had a good day yesterday. I learnt Mother plays chess, and I even won a game. Anna is here with me and last night I actually used my power without it destroying anything." The pride was undeniable.

"Ah, that explains the winter wonderland outside," he with a knowing grin. "Have you tried to make a skating rink?"

Elsa stared at him in disbelief. She had half expected to be harshly told off for being so brazen with her magic, not that Kai was ever the one to discipline her. Even so, she had just assumed he followed the same hard line of thinking as her parents.

"I can't say I've ever tried," she admitted slowly, trying to work out just how she could do it. The garden where she stood had frozen over with ice last night but it hadn't been intentional. Would it even be flat enough? What about the snow? Could I just sweep it aside?

"Your old ice skates are still in the loft. Give it a try sometime," he suggested with an innocent wink. Elsa's heart swelled with a childlike joy.

"I will make it happen, so make sure you have your skates too."

A sweet, buttery smell wafted through the room, followed by the unmistakable scent of freshly cooked bacon. Anna sat bolt upright in bed, almost head butting Kristoff in the face.

"Woah! Is that how you greet Elsa in the morning?" he joked, holding out the pancakes. Anna's eyes were like saucers as she took the plate.

"Elsa enjoys every second of it," she said instantly, mouth full already.

Elsa had made these. No one else could cook pancakes as well as her, not even Kristoff. And she put bacon in them. Her mouth was transported to culinary heaven with every mouthful.

Kristoff raised a brow but did not question it.

"I know it's pretty rude of me to barge into your room. I just wanted to catch you before I head off. It's Christmas Eve after all. I need to get back to my family."

Anna snapped up. "It's Christmas Eve?" she asked in disbelief. The days had all melted into one long mess that she had completely forgotten just how close to Christmas it was.

"No, of course! That's fine. I'm sorry I dragged you away for so long. Thank you, again. For saving Elsa and probably me. I would definitely have gotten myself captured without your help - earlier than we did, anyway," Anna said quickly, all at once feeling terrible for keeping him away for so long. And for ruining his whole internship, and every other thing since... and before.

"It's fine, really. It was quite the adventure," he grinned. "You can call me, you know. Whatever happens, I'll be there," he promised.

Anna was almost glowing in gratitude.

"Thank you. I don't know what I would have done without you." Anna leaned over and hugged him, holding the plate in one hand and wrapping the other around him. She buried her head into his shoulder and let out a contented sigh.

You're the best.

As promised, Elsa was on her hands and knees in the conservatory as she planted various new plants alongside her mother. The woman had been impossibly stubborn about her nightly activities and Elsa had long since given up probing for possible reasons. It wasn't unusual for her parents to keep their secrets. In fact Elsa would have gone as far as saying it was the quality they had excelled the most at.

She took a brief glance at her mother; dark circles beneath her eyes, carefully concealed by makeup were the only sign she had been out late last night. Aside from that she had acted as if it hadn't even happened.

Elsa sighed silently to herself as she positioned the herbs within the patch before sitting back and wiping the sweat from her brow. It had been a bigger task than she had anticipated. Her biting frost had killed almost everything in here aside from the single tall tree that loomed over a rocky water feature: the only flash of green left in a room which used to be filled with so many colours and smells. The bitter guilt for causing even more hurt for her loved ones could only be erased by helping to fix it.

Even as they worked Elsa peered over every now and then and caught the care and focus her mother put into every action. She had always admired Iduna's dedication to the room. It had always been so carefully maintained, never a dead leaf, never a sick plant. It was so pristine.

She closed her eyes and inhaled a deep breath of the sage and mint before her. As a child Elsa recalled stealing books from the library and lying on the couch below the foliage. She grinned when she thought of those sinful books. I should show them to Anna. She'd love them. Just the idea of reading something so naughty together with her excited her to no end.

"Less daydreaming, more work," Iduna called over without even looking around. Elsa straightened with a blush, certain her mother could read her mind.

She crawled over to start on another flowerbed. Elsa didn't know much about botany but she was sure her mother had only given her the cheaper herbs and flowers; the ones easily replaced if she was not gentle enough... or if her cold touch withered them.

"May I ask you a question, Mother?" Elsa asked as she diligently worked.

"I am waiting."

"What made you want to make the garden inside? I understand that you'd usually be able to avoid the seasons... the frost..." She caught her mother roll her eyes.

"For the final time, Elsa, the plants will grow again."

"Sorry -"

"- Stop apologising. It does not befit you."

Elsa wore a wry smile. She was growing to appreciate her mother's sharp rebuttals. She knew Iduna would have respected her far more if she just had some conviction in herself but it was difficult when she felt so responsible for everything. It was something she knew they'd likely never understand each other on, yet talking to her had been so refreshing.

"You asked why I wanted the garden inside," Iduna continued. "It was primarily so I could grow species not local to this region. I pick each one carefully for many reasons. Some are superficial; colours, smells. I want the room to look pleasing," she hesitated and Elsa caught her debating whether to carry on. "...The second reason is because I also enjoy grafting and fusing seeds and plants; creating hybrids, playing with genetics."

Elsa closed her eyes in shame. All she could think was how she must have destroyed her mother's life work.

"Dominant and recessive genes were discovered through crossbreeding plants. I find it all very fascinating. I am sure it will bore you though. You were always more like your father; a natural talent with computers and coding."

"No, really, it's interesting. I never really knew quite how into this you were. I always so caught up in myself I never saw anything else," Elsa didn't pause long enough for Iduna to chastise her for the remark. "So, seen as you're a professional in the world of genetics, what about me? What do you think I am? You said I was born with this power. Do you think I get it from you or Father?"

Iduna took much longer than Elsa thought she'd take to reply. Elsa hadn't spent nearly enough time researching what her origins could be. She had idly looked into some scientific, pop-culture and conspiracy theories but she'd never seriously considered any of them. Since learning so much more about her mother and her past she couldn't help but wonder just how much research she had done into it.

"...I don't know," she let out a breath as she replied. "But I am grateful you weren't using that magic when I was carrying you for 9 months. You could have made things incredibly uncomfortable."

It was such an expected response Elsa almost laughed. It didn't surprise her to find her mother not knowing. If her parents had known surely they'd have done something more than hide. Surely they'd have reversed whatever had caused this curse.

"I wanted to ask your opinion about something... about me. When I was in that lab -" Elsa didn't stop working or talking despite catching her mother pause. "- they said I could do life changing things with this magic: freezing polar ice caps, bringing water to area affected by droughts and who knows what else. Big things. Should I be working towards things like that? Trying to save the world?" She hadn't had much time to reflect on it properly since escaping but now she was free and back in her old life it had been impossible not to look to the future.

"Elsa," Iduna began patiently, moving away from her plants and over to Elsa so she could kneel beside her. "You are one woman. Even if you made a blizzard just how far can that stretch? A few miles? Perhaps further, but not far enough. What those people wanted was to replicate what you can do. Once they can do that they can amplify it and most likely sell it."

Iduna must have caught the disappointment in Elsa's eyes because she continued. "You could do so much more with the company. You have all of the power and influence of a global brand at your fingertips."

Elsa balled her hands into fists as she looked away from her mother. The challenge of being responsible for her father's legacy still weighed heavy.

"I know it's hard. Focus on saving yourself before trying to save the world." Iduna leaned in to kiss her cheek before moving to the hanging baskets.

Elsa took the breath she had been holding. She was right. She couldn't do everything at once. Anna, the company, her magic; she needed to take it slowly.

"Mother... Thank you."

Elsa had been free from working on her mother's gardening for little over half an hour when she saw the taxi out the large bay window. She was on her feet within seconds, hand touching the glass. A flicker of frost danced between her finger tips and the surface as she anxiously stood on her tiptoes in an attempt to get a better view of the car.

"Is it him?"

"Yes," Iduna confirmed it without even looking up from her book. It was all Elsa needed to hear. She was out of the room in a flash.

Racing through the hallways, Elsa skirted past Kai and burst out of the front door. She looked up, heart stopping in her chest. Olaf's half-wave and small smile greeting her moments before she bounded into his arms.

"You're ok." Elsa was almost in tears as she held onto him.

"Of course I'm ok. You saved me with your magic remember?" he asked with a warm smile.

Elsa pulled back just enough to meet his dark blue eyes. He was alive. Hell, he survived a gunshot. Her hands tightened on him, mind unable to quite believe this was real.

"I feared I had made it worse," Elsa whispered, withdrawing one hand to graze ever so lightly across where his wound was. She couldn't see it under his coat but she could feel it as if it was happening at that very moment: the thunder of the gunshot, her hand slick with blood, the air heavy with iron, her magic pulsing at her fingertips. Elsa held back the shudder as she clenched her fist to keep the ice at bay.

Not seeming to notice, or perhaps he had and just wasn't afraid, Olaf took her hand and squeezed it gently.

"Ice is pretty bad for bodies," he said, but his face grew into a wide smirk. "But apparently whatever you can do is special," he paused. Elsa's breath caught, hanging on every word. Could I have truly killed you? She wasn't sure why she was surprised. It was exactly what she had feared. After all, she had killed before all too easily; all too painfully.

"It turns out your ice did a pretty amazing job sealing the wound. The hospital was astounded it didn't do any damage. In fact, they believed it promoted my recovery. When they asked me how it was applied I told them I was part of a clinical trial. I didn't want them bothering you."

I healed you? Elsa looked down at her hands in disbelief, mind racing with possibilities. Is that how I kept Anna warm after the lake and in the snow? I did it all without even thinking? Could I do more? Could I actually use this power for good?

"It does however mean the police took a statement. You know, with gunshot wounds having to be reported by the hospital. Hopefully it'll just lead them to Weselton..."

Elsa shuddered at the mention of his name, a waterfall of haunting memories crashed down on her. She straightened and took a breath as she regained her composure. She didn't need to think of him, Hans, what had happened or the potential for the police to come investigating. She was home, Anna was ok, Olaf was here: everything was good. She couldn't allow that to be spoilt. There were so many other things she needed to focus on; to be strong for.

"What I mean to say is thank you for saving me." The sincerity of his words almost appeased Elsa, but the gratitude only served to remind her just how this whole mess had started.

"Don't be ridiculous. You were the one who risked everything for me. You shouldn't have done that you know. You were stupid to think you'd get away with it," Elsa told him sternly. "Don't ever do it again."

His smirk in response was anything but the reaction she was looking for. They both knew he'd do it again in a heartbeat. Hell, she'd have done it for him. You really are my best friend.

"...Thank you," she murmured begrudgingly, still holding him. She meant it, but that didn't mean she approved of it.

"You're looking well. Coming home was a good choice," he said, eyes only on her. Elsa didn't miss the fact he stopped there. A choice you should have made sooner. She knew it was true. How much easier their lives could have been... How much less regret she could have carried.

"Yeah. Things have been... surreal, at best," she admitted, unsure just how she could possibly explain everything to him. Where to even start?

"It's ok." He assured her. "You don't need to explain."

"I really do," she sighed. "Are you alright to walk? I'll give you a tour of the gardens while I tell you about everything that's happened these past few days."

Olaf cheerfully linked his arm with Elsa's.

"Sounds perfect. Lead the way."

"So you and Anna are like, 'official' now?" Olaf asked, grinning ear to ear. Elsa had to stop herself from face-palming. Out of everything she had explained to Olaf, which was pretty much all that had occurred in his absence, she didn't think that would be his highest priority. So much for her stolen phone or the fate of their company.

"Yes? No? I don't know," she groaned. "I just want to take things slowly. Everyone here has been so supportive and understanding. It's been so... freeing to be myself in front of Anna and my mother." Elsa gazed up at the clear sky, embracing the cold and allowing it to permeate through her whole being. She took strength from it before continuing. "But I don't know how easy that'll be in a room full of executives and in front of the press. I'm not naive enough to think that stepping into this role will just be ignored by the world."

"You love Anna though." It was a statement, not a question. Elsa wished she could have had his conviction. Thinking it and saying it were two very difficult things. It was as if telling Anna would chain her down: chains that would not easily be broken if circumstances forced them apart. More accurately, if Elsa's magic became too much of a risk.

"I know you think otherwise, but you deserve happiness too, so don't hold yourself back," he told her while giving her a side glance. She pretended not to see it as she kept her gaze firmly fixed upon the limitless blue above. She wouldn't argue with him about what she did and didn't deserve. It was a familiar question, one that she knew the answer to all too well.

"Speaking of which," he brightly changed topic before Elsa could sink down into the dark depths of her mind. "What are you going to do with Snowflake Studios?" he asked, looking the most serious he had since arriving. Elsa took a moment to pluck up her courage before replying.

"I assumed I would give it to you -"

"- Not a chance," he flat out refused. Elsa turned to face him indignantly.

"Why?"

"Because I can't make anything on my own. I'm not asking you to give up your family legacy or anything crazy but Snowflake Studios is yours too. I don't think it would be right for you to give it up. Even if it's on the back burner for a while, we'll get back to it one day when you're bored of attending meetings and bossing people about." It was enough to get a genuine smile from Elsa. He was right. She hadn't really wanted to give it up. It just seemed so selfish to hold onto it when she couldn't devote anytime to working on any projects. Then again that contract with Hans means we can't even work on our big project without him anyway, and that certainly won't be happening. The thought of losing all of that work was heartbreaking. She had no doubt Hans would fight them every step of the way if they tried to continue it solo.

"We'll essentially be on hold for however long it takes me to settle into my new role. What will you do in the meantime?" she asked, already resigned to the fact he had won.

"Oh, I don't know. Probably sponge off of my rich best friend until I find someone who'll hire me." His smile widened to a smirk. Her eyes narrowed and she did everything she could to restrain the smile tugging at her lips. She would never begrudge supporting him but that didn't mean she would let him know that.

"I suppose it would be rude of me not to give you somewhere to sleep," she sighed as if it were some sort of chore.

Elsa did not think it possible, but Olaf's toothy grin widened even further.

"I knew you wouldn't let me down."

"So I have a plan for this afternoon, and I know I'm probably over stepping some sort of line here, as it's not my house and all... even though I lived here for almost 4 years, well technically more like 3, or maybe even 2 -"

"Anna," Elsa interrupted.

"Right. Rambling. What I was going to say was we should get a Christmas tree. Its Christmas Eve, Elsa, and look at the house!" Anna threw her arms wide. "There's nothing in here to even signify it's the holiday season."

Anna watched as Elsa took in the suggestion for an impossibly long time. She waited with bated breath as she saw the cogs turn in her girlfriend's mind.

Ever since Kristoff mentioned heading home for Christmas Anna had, had the itching need to celebrate Christmas. It had always been her favourite time of year and she clung to those happy family memories where she was a child. She longed to have those memories with Elsa.

"She has a point Elsa, when was the last time you decorated a tree? I know you never had one at your flat," Olaf said knowingly from where he sat on the sofa. Elsa shot him a scowl.

"Then it's settled! ...Right... Where can we get a tree on Christmas Eve?" Anna asked. The silence that followed did nothing to reassure her about this plan. She pulled her phone out but halfway through her internet search Elsa piped up.

"We have some in the garden."

"You have Christmas trees growing in your garden?" Anna asked dumbfounded.

"Well it is a tree and we have many trees," Elsa didn't seem to comprehend just how crazy Anna found this.

"Huh. Maybe this plan will work."

"You know, I never understood the tradition of decorating a tree. I mean, we technically murdered this innocent sapling which, might I add, has spent many years growing up to be this big. And now it's in the house and we're dressing up its corpse in lights and bright colours," Olaf chirped with far more joy than Anna felt the topic warranted as he wrapped lights around their tree.

When the trio had awkwardly found the tree on the far side of the estate Anna had demanded that this had to be the one. It was perfect: its height, its fullness, its colour, all of it had been just right. Carrying it back had been a challenge, but now it was up in the drawing room it was looking positively glowing... and about a foot taller than it should have been. Even in Elsa's manor with its high ceilings the tip of the tree reached the ceiling.

"Now you put it that way it is rather creepy," Anna agreed morbidly. Shaking the feeling off, she rummaged through the Arendelle family's box of Christmas decorations. It was a wonder to find so much here. In all of her years here they had never once decorated the house for Christmas. She had long wondered if Elsa had even celebrated Christmas with them, but this box proved she had.

"Oh, wow," Elsa leaned over Anna and plucked out a homemade star out from the box. "I haven't seen this in forever. I had no idea it was still here." Anna couldn't help but smile as Elsa examined the tatty star with fondness.

"Father cut it out for me. I distinctly remember the cardboard being too hard for me to cut," Elsa said with more warmth than Anna had ever seen in her when discussing her family.

"I can't say I did it much justice," Elsa was still smiling as she held it up. It spun on the string, gold and silver glitter sparkling in the light. "But Father still put it on top of the tree regardless."

"Then I believe it needs to go back up there." Olaf pinched the star from her hand, scooted up the ladder and placed it right at the top. "Perfect!" he said as he leaned back to admire it.

"It looks good," Anna agreed, giving Elsa a glance. The sincere pride radiating from her was enough to give her more joy than anything else, and yet she couldn't help but look down at the box of decorations in her hands. The last time she had decorated a Christmas tree had been with her family.

I'll make it look perfect. Not just for Elsa, but for you too, Mum, Dad.

Elsa froze as Iduna entered the drawing room, and Anna couldn't help but catch the tension between them both. Of course Christmas was a family time for them both. We should have invited her to join us. Anna lamented. It was impossible to tell if the woman was mad. She hid everything so masterfully beneath a wall of stone.

Iduna looked over the tree with an appraising eye. "You put the star on top," she noted, turning back to Elsa. "It looks good. You have an eye for decorating," she praised her. Elsa seemed to take the breath she had been holding.

"It was actually Anna who did most of the decorating. Olaf and I were more like moral support," Elsa replied, giving Anna a quick side glance. Anna smiled, nodding along happily, and then froze, realising just what Elsa had said. As much as she'd have loved the praise, she really didn't need Iduna's unyielding gaze.

"Your choice of colours is delightfully tasteful. Who knew you were so proficient at decorating?" It was a rhetorical question, Anna knew that much.

Why does everything that woman says sound like the opposite of a compliment? She didn't dare voice it aloud.

"Thank you, I think?" she murmured. Elsa's sharp elbow to her ribs forced her to say it with more meaning. "I mean, thank you, yes, thank you!"

Iduna nodded in appreciation; at least Anna took it as appreciation. Who knew what she was ever thinking.

"Oh and Elsa, don't pin anymore snowflakes to the ceiling. I don't want to have to re-plaster it," she told her firmly and Elsa straightened.

"Yes, Mother," she replied quickly as if she was a child. Anna snickered beside her, which earned her a second elbow to the ribs. It was worth it.

Anna could barely contain her laughter the moment Iduna took her leave.

"Yes, Mother," she mimicked Elsa.

"Don't give me that. You're absolutely petrified of her," Elsa said as she shoved Anna. She couldn't deny that.

"So, erm, do you think she'll notice if we stick these ones up?" Olaf asked from across the room. He held up a selection of paper snowflakes, along with a paper snowman.

"Why don't we tape them to the windows?" Anna suggested, as if this was the best idea she had ever come up with. She used to do it at home all the time. She could just imagine how amazing a paper snow scene would look on the massive bay windows of Elsa's manor.

"No," Elsa shook her head with a chuckle. "The sticky marks will drive her even crazier. Pin them to the ceiling with the others. She'll be furious but she won't say anything. I'm pretty sure I could get away with murder and she'd swallow it."

"Ooo, Elsa, lying to your mother! That'll earn you some negative karma points."

"It's all for the greater good though right? Our first Christmas." Anna blushed, all at once finding Elsa standing far too close to her. Her breath caught as she looked up into those cerulean eyes. So much love gazed back at her.

Our first Christmas.

She could envision it already. The two of them waking up tomorrow morning, spending the morning in bed together, the afternoon having dinner and opening presents – not that either of them had, had the opportunity to really think about presents. Gifts aside, the dream seemed so perfect.

I need to get Elsa a present. A belated birthday present and a Christmas present. She frowned as she tried to work out just what she could possibly conjure up at this late hour.

There was nothing for it. She'd never find a present so late in the day, but there was one thing she could give her... Anna didn't hold back. She reached up and claimed her lips in a kiss so fierce Elsa stumbled back.

"Save it for the bedroom!" Olaf called out. "No shenanigans until we are done."

"Such a taskmaster," Anna smirked, not releasing her arm from Elsa's waist. "Where did you find him again?"

"Oh, I don't know. He was some weird person I met online."

"Are you sure it's safe to meet people on the internet? What if they end up stalking you?" Anna questioned with the most serious face she could muster.

"Mm." Elsa glanced at Olaf, seeming to consider it. "You're right."

"I am here and I can hear you!" Olaf called over flatly as he stuck more snowflakes to the ceiling.

"I think you need to be safer when talking to strangers online," Anna totally ignored him.

"I'm fairly certain I am safe with you to protect me." Elsa leaned down to give her a peck on her nose. It sent a thrill through Anna.

"You'll always be safe with me." Anna didn't care that it was a reckless promise to make. She may have had no power or money to fight Hans and those who sought to hurt Elsa, but she damn well intended to try.

"My hero," Elsa's silky voice whispered ever so quietly in her ear. It wasn't what Anna had been waiting so desperately to hear, but it was enough for now. She was almost shaking as she thrust Elsa into a tight embrace.

I'll be your hero, forever.

The sound of rain pattering against the window was the only thing that broke the silence. It was fitting; Anna couldn't help but think as she looked over her old room in the dead of the night. It was as she remembered it, lonely, dreary and so impossibly grey. Despite all of Elsa's good intentions this room had never been her home. It never would be. A smile played on her lips as she thought about just what would constitute a home: Elsa's room. Their room. In just a few short days it had turned into something they shared. Anywhere with Elsa.

Anna opened her wardrobes and sighed at the sight of the boxes. Even now she couldn't bear to sort through the belongings from home. Everything her parents had left behind... She slammed the door shut, clenching the handle. Even after four years it was too soon.

Elsa is the reason you're gone. She rested her head against the wardrobe door, her whole body trembling as her heart fought with her mind. But Elsa is my reason for living. She could not help but lament just how cruel fate had been.

Taking a deep breath Anna opened the door again. She summoned up all of her bravery to pull the boxes out. She knew exactly what she was looking for, despite not knowing just which box her prize was hidden within.

Nerves held her back as she opened the lid of the first box. Squeezing her eyes tightly shut, she threw her hands in and rummaged about. Old clothes and toys were discarded to one side as she fought her way through the mess.

"Why didn't I pack these properly?" She murmured to herself but she couldn't honestly curse her old-self. Tears pricked at her eyes as she remembered walking back into her flat. Everything had been like any other day. The laundry had been ready to be loaded, three balls of yarn still sitting on the table from where her mother had been teaching her to knit, her father's tools still strewn across the living room floor where he had been fighting to find everything he's need for the trip only a few weeks earlier. They were all hollow memories, like she had been nothing more than a wisp in those short, final hours she was home.

Anna had never packed anything so fast in her life. Everything was thrown into storage. There was no time to make decisions. She'd keep it all until she was ready to face it. Today wasn't that day.

Holding back all emotion she reached in again. "Please, please be in here. Don't make me search every box," she murmured as she reached down, fingers desperately fumbling between old cassettes and VHS videos. The feel of something soft made her heart race. Anna immediately hoisted it up.

Her eyes lit up with life again as she looked over the scruffy doll.

"Storage didn't do you any good at all," she muttered aloud as she placed the doll down and dove in for the other. Having retrieved them both she hastily thrust the lid back on the box, stuffed it in the wardrobe and slammed the doors shut.

Sliding down the door until she hit the floor, Anna rested her head back and took a moment to catch her breath.

She held up the dolls and looked over them with a solemn smile.

Anna thought back to the days when she had knitted with her mother. She had felt so stupid when she had made these; two dolls made from scratch over so many weeks.

Will Elsa really appreciate this? She could not help but worry as she brushed the ginger hair out of one of the dolls faces. It was made in her own image, although after all these years Anna wasn't convinced it really resembled her. Eyes flickered over to the second doll: flowing blonde hair, icy blue dress and button eyes. Elsa had been so much more enjoyable to make.

"Is it weird to make toys out of your school crush, and then give them to her as a Christmas present?" she asked herself, already knowing the answer. It was stupid. More than that, it was quite possibly insane, but it was too late to come up with any kind of alternative present... and she had already found the Supergirl t-shirt from Elsa.

"If I just touch you two up a little I can make you both perfect," Anna murmured before getting up and pulling her old knitting supplies out from beneath the bed. Needle in one hand and book of patterns in the other, she got to work repairing and perfecting the aged dolls.

A/N: Long chapter. I'm hoping once I am past these couple of chapters I can start writing slightly shorter ones again.

I was aiming to have this one out a bit earlier, but I'm late as usual. The next chapter is set during Christmas Day so the original plan was to publish it on Christmas Day, but what with how busy my life has been recently I can't guarantee I'll be able to finish it on time. I'll see how it goes.

Thank you FlyOnTheWall14 for your feedback on this chapter :D