CHAPTER 1

It was a typical Norwegian end-of-summer-almost-autumn day: a little chilly for most other people in the world, but perfect for the locals. The only difference was no rain. There was not a cloud in the sky and it seemed like the first time in forever that Anna could go outside without a look of concern coming from Kristoff and the hidden look of dread that only she could notice from Elsa. No, today would be different. Anna was tired of being trapped in the castle. She had spent enough time in there growing up. She never thought about the challenges of having two loving, yet protective figures in her life when she and Kristoff found out they were expecting their first child. You would have thought the protectiveness would have faded by now. After all, it had been six years since the "Great Unfreezing" and since Anna and Kristoff had been together.

Anna got dressed as quickly as she could while Kristoff was still sleeping. Once she deemed herself prepared and ready, she opened up the curtains and made her way back over to the bed. She wanted to make sure she was covered in extra layers with gloves and a hat, along with an extra pair of gloves and another hat in case one went missing or too soaked. Anna wasn't going to leave anything to chance. She was getting out of the castle today and no one would stop her.

She cautiously sat on the edge of Kristoff's side of the bed. Anna was a crazy sleeper. She kicked constantly and moved all over the bed, hence her castle-famous bedhead. Kristoff, however, was a stay-in-one-spot sleeper, but he was a bit of a grump in the morning. He was on his laying side with his back towards her. Anna didn't want to do anything to wake him up too quickly and catch him mad on a day she had been hoping would happen for weeks. She gently put her arm over his body and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Kristoff."

"Hmm?"

"Look outside. It's a perfect day."

"Hmm."

"So I was thinking that maybe I could go with you to get ice today. I won't do anything! I promise! I'll just sit there and watch you slice ice."

"No," Kristoff said groggily.

Anna was done being gentle. She rose and gave him her best shove.

"Kristoff, get up."

"Okay, I'm up."

Anna was standing in front of him with a very serious face.

"I'm going with you to get ice! Today!" Anna said with her index finger forcefully pointed to the ground.

Kristoff would have said no again, but her manner reminded him of the first time he met her and she demanded to be taken to the North Mountain. He also couldn't say no when she acted like this. It reminded him of when she was younger. So hyperactive and yearning for adventure. They were by no means old now, but they had grown up so much since then. Once Elsa and Anna became close again, it was as if they balanced each other out. Elsa came out of her shell bit by bit and Anna, well, she was able to control her excitement...to an extent. He knew Elsa would not be happy about this, but Anna had been stuck in the castle because of the rain recently and this could be the last opportunity they had where it was just the two of them out getting ice. Kristoff and Elsa didn't have much in common, but they could agree on the protection of Anna.

Kristoff agreed that Anna should get to join in as long as Sven was okay with carrying the extra weight. Anna appreciated the joke, but she still gave him a nice punch in the arm.

"You're going to be the one to tell Elsa, though. She and I are supposed to be a team in the 'security of Anna,'" Kristoff said.

"Pssh, no problem," Anna said confidently.