Disclaimer: I do not own Frozen, nor its characters but I do own the substantial thing in this fanfic! The plot.

Second Chances

Chapter One: An Invitation

Anna groaned, "Elsa, c'moooon. Can't you do that later?"

"Anna, not all of us have the luxury of time that you have." Elsa said, not looking up from the long document she was reading, "And before you ask, no I can't build a snowman. I've got five meetings to get to after this trading contract is signed."

"But you're the Queen? You can afford to cancel at least one meeting." Anna pouted.

"Anna," the elder of the two sighed, meeting her eyes. She tried not to subject to the little pout that her sister was giving her, "Maybe tomorrow, okay?"

"You always say that." Anna murmured but left anyway.

Elsa sighed. She really did wanted to spend time with her sister but ever since she had thawed the fjord over, Arendelle had been given a lot more attention by neighboring isles. There were documents to be signed, trades to be established, alliances to be formed...and little to no time for leisure. At least, for her.

She dipped her pen into the black ink and elegantly wrote a decline message on a brand new parchment. There would be no trading with Wesselton any time soon.

(*)

"So you see, I've barely been able to spend any time with her because of all this stupid 'meetings' and 'contracts'-which are a hundred feet long at least!-and-argh!" Anna exclaimed. She swung her legs back and forth childishly, "I only get to see her breakfast and dinner time and we don't even talk then! I thought ever since the eternal winter scenario things would go back to normal..." she trailed off, "Well, now that I think about it things are back to normal seeing I'm talking to you but I meant..."

The portrait of Joan of Arc stared back silently.

"...Yeah, you're no help at all."

"Hey-o Anna!" a voice sounded behind her. She swung her head back swiftly, accidentally unbalancing herself. She let out a little groan as her body collided with the floor. She opened one eye and let out a little squeak of surprise when she saw a huge patch of brown fur.

"Sven?" she said, confusion tainted her voice as the reindeer licked her face fondly, "Did you just talk?"

"No, actually, that was Olaf."

"Kristoff!" she grinned, getting up and tackling her friend, "You're back!"

After exchanging hugs and greetings Olaf and Sven had left leaving Anna and Kristoff alone. Her friends' return had lightened up her mood considerably.

"Two weeks!"

"Yeah, well, middle of summer y'know, ice is really in demand right now," he said, grinning, "It's good to be back."

"You're only saying that 'cause the food's better here."

"Hmm, maybe." he teased, earning him a light shove, "So I've got to know, were you talking to that painting when we got in?"

Anna felt her cheeks heat up, "Uh, yeah I mean no. Well, yes but...I used to, um, talk to them when I got lonely when I was a...a kid." she stammered.

"Mmhm?" Kristoff smirked as though he didn't believe her.

"No, really! I got that bored!" Anna insisted.

"Wow," Kristoff laughed, "Don't worry, I understand. People think I'm weird just because I speak reindeer. Lonely childhood, huh?"

"That's a way to put it." Anna said, if a bit bitterly, "But c'mon, enough with the nostalgia! I want to know, what happened during your trip! Did you bring me any souvenirs?"

The two left the portrait room hand in hand.

(*)

knock...knock...knock...

Elsa looked up from her book, staring at the door. She didn't recognize the knock as 'Anna's Signature Knock' (as she had taken to call it) so she supposed it was one of the servants.

"Come in," she said, composing herself as the door creaked open hesitantly.

"Kristoff?" Elsa said, arching an eyebrow.

"Um, yes Your Majesty uh...hi?" Kristoff said obviously uncomfortable.

"Hello. What is it that you need?" she said.

"Just, uh, Anna was asking...no I was asking, no...my family-the trolls?-yeah, they were asking if they could invite you and Anna over. Just a simple dinner at...you is, if you aren't busy."

Elsa blinked and thought over what the ice deliverer was trying to say, "Tonight? Will the trolls be okay with me coming along?"

"Uh, yeah. Yes to both, if it's okay with you too, I mean..." he rubbed his shoulder nervously.

She ran over her schedule for today and her lips formed a tiny smile, "Yes, actually. I think I might have time..."

One of her meetings had been cancelled for another day so she supposed...

"Yes I'll definitely be going."

"Oh? Great," Kristoff nodded, "Um, we'll be leaving at around sundown. Me and Sven can take you, we'll be at the gates at...around sundown," he said, awkwardly, "Okay...uh, bye?"

"Goodbye, Kristoff," Elsa said, amused.

(*)

Elsa was waiting at the gates exactly as the sun touched down below the mountains. Anna arrived only seconds later but the mountain man and his reindeer were nowhere to be seen.

"Hi," Elsa said, acknowledging her sister. Anna jumped, "Hi! Oh, hi me?"

"Deja vu."

The two cracked a smile.

"So...dinner with the trolls, huh?" Elsa said, "What's the occasion?"

"Hm? Oh didn't Kristoff tell you?" Anna said, running a hand through her hair. She had let it down today and though different than her usual braided pigtails it was...a good different.

"No, he didn't."

"Must've slipped his mind then. I'll tell you! It's Grand Pabbie's birthday today!"

Elsa nodded, "Oh? He's turning how old?"

"Hm...1004?" Anna contemplated, "Somewhere around there?"

"Oh." Elsa said trying to stay indifferent.

Her sister burst out laughing, "You...should've seen your...face!" she wheezed, "I'm just kidding! H-He's turning 507!"

Just as Elsa opened her mouth to reply, a shadow caught her eye. She turned to the side and recognized the burly frame and the animal-like figure beside it, "Well, it looks like our escort is here."

"Yeah!" Anna grinned goofily, "Kristoff! Hi!" she began running towards him and practically threw herself at him. Elsa smiled, she approved of their relationship but they always insisted that it was nothing more than a friendship. She herself began walking towards the couple (and reindeer).

"So we're off?" Kristoff asked, readying the sled.

"Yeah!" Anna said as Elsa nodded. They arranged themselves on the sled as Kristoff took his place on Sven's back, "Oh, I forget to tell you, Your Majesty, uh, it's Grand Pabbie's birthday today, um...that's why..."

"Yes, Kristoff, I know. Anna told me about it, no worries," the Queen said, "No need for formalities here, you can call me Elsa."

"A-alright, Your Ma-" he caught himself, "Elsa."

The three rode on in companionable silence to the Valley of the Living Rock.

Author's Note

This is my first Frozen fanfic and let me say that I'm super excited to get back to writing after months of hiatus. This movie really hit me home for personal reasons and I knew that I just had to write about it so here's the result! I'm so sorry if it seems a bit rushed but...I'm just doing this for fun (okay, maybe not the best excuse for writing without quality) and I don't gain for posting this anyway.