Elsa grumbled to herself as she stepped into her apartment. Another long day trying to control full grown adults like they were children. She dropped her briefcase on the kitchen counter, her other hand immediately going up to untie the severe bun, allowing her braid to cascade down her back as she continued to drop her professional air now that she was home. And I have the next few days off. She smiled to herself, going to her bedroom to change into more comfortable clothes, slipping on a pair of loose, though short, shorts and a simple black tank top. Her hair remained in its loose braid, hand going up every once in a while to brush back unruly bangs, though she didn't necessarily mind.
She stopped at her briefcase once more, humming as she flipped through her cases slowly. She was a mediator, and a good one. She worked full weeks most of the time so she could afford longer times off in between. These cases were new, so she only needed to read them through before going back to work officially on them. She skimmed them quickly, taking them to her desk, setting them in her in-box, making sure she didn't lose them before going back to her kitchen.
Elsa hummed to herself, enjoying the peace and quiet despite living in such a busy city. She could still hear her cousin lecture on and on about a single woman in the big city, but Elsa had simply rolled her eyes at her and assured her she'd be fine. And she had been, for five years since she left for college, and then started her business, she'd not even been harassed in the street. She knew she was probably just lucky, but even so, she couldn't help thinking that her cousin should be eating crow about now. "Rapunzel's always been a worrier, though…" she allowed, speaking to herself.
She grinned down at her dinner, the smell of chicken and Italian spices filling her home before taking it and her glass of wine to the sitting area, plopping down on her comfortable sofa and clicking her television on. She found a movie to watch and settled in, ready to enjoy dinner.
Elsa, though usually graceful, was now slumped on the couch, head tilted to the side, mouth agape, drool tricking onto her arm. She jumped, nearly falling off of the sofa and onto her hard wood floor, a loud banging coming from her door. She groaned and rubbed her face, frowning at the dampness on her arm and the side of her face. She glared at the front door. "It's-!" she glanced at the clock. "Three am!" She grumbled a few fairly creative curses as she stomped towards the door.
She checked the peephole, but whoever was out there was in a hoodie and was looking away, but they held a few full duffle bags. She frowned and grabbed the metal bat that sat in her umbrella stand. She'd been safe so far, it didn't mean she was reckless. She made sure the chain was on as she opened the door. "Who are-"
"Elsa…!" Her eyes widened, the mysterious figure becoming clear. Her baby sister, red hair in messy braids, eyes red and puffy from crying, one of the bags was on the ground, the other over her shoulder, her free hand grasping a swollen belly. "I need you…"
The blonde was frozen in place for a full minute, taking in the form of her sister, how much she'd changed. Anna almost felt like Elsa might shut the door in her face. When it shut, she felt her heart break, but she could hear movement and then the door was flung open. Anna gave a watery smile before reaching down, squatting with difficulty to grab her bag but Elsa beat her to it. "J-Just come in, take a seat." Anna nodded, making her way in, thanking her sister quietly as she was allowed in.
Anna admired her sister's home, standing in the center of it as Elsa took her other bag and set it at the end of her plush sofa. Hardwood floors, shelves of books, knick-knacks on the mantle, photos, old and new, a few she recognized. She even spotted one of the two of them above the fireplace. She smiled slightly, though her hand was still unconsciously over her swollen belly.
Elsa watched Anna from the kitchen, standing over the stove as she made up some hot chocolate, she knew it was Anna's favorite, hers as well. After leaving for university she'd lost contact with her sister, and she'd felt bad, but at the same time it had been an almost mutual separation. She was five years older than Anna, a large space of time, at least to her. By the time Elsa was focusing on her future as an adult, Anna was still out playing with her friends, still enjoying the light pressure of middle school. The last time she heard from Anna was the invitation to her graduation. She'd been unable to attend, but had sent a gift and a congratulatory letter. Now her sister was here, 6 months later, obviously pregnant and seemingly in trouble in more ways than just one.
Elsa placed some cookies on a plate, setting that on a tray with two mugs of cocoa, bringing it to the living room and setting it at the coffee table. Anna quietly made her way to the sofa, carefully sitting down and sighing softly. "Thank you…" She murmured softly as she took up her warm mug, hands trembling slightly. Elsa kept her expression schooled, but she could see there was much more to what had happened than what was apparent.
"Anna…I…Are you…" Elsa would have found this funny if it weren't so serious, that the professional mediator was at a loss for words. Anna did smile, though, sipping her chocolate and then setting the mug back down.
"Yea…I um…it was an accident…I mean…I'm 18...Not many plan this kind of thing so soon." She shook her head, hands caressing her belly affectionately. "It was…it was a guy…we'd been dating a while, a few years…he proposed after graduation…but um…I found out I was pregnant…" She had tears in her eyes now, quickly blinking them away, still not looking directly at her sister. "He didn't stick around…I was so stupid…!" Elsa could feel Anna's pain, just looking at the anger, the hurt, the betrayal, flitting across her baby sister's face quickly.
"Why aren't you home…I thought you were staying with our Aunt and Uncle…?" Anna shook her head quickly, laughing almost bitterly.
"Are you joking…? Forget the fact they're one pitcher of koolaid away from fanaticism, but I wasn't going to burden them with another kid right after they managed to raise me and Rapunzel already…it wouldn't be fair…" Elsa sighed, rubbing her face slowly.
"Did you…have you thought about school…?" Anna gave another bitter chuckle.
"I can't do school…I was going to take a year off…see the world, be an adult, and then when Hans proposed I thought, this will be perfect…I've got no job, no school, no home, a baby coming…I-I didn't know where to go, Elsa….I don't…I don't have anyone else…" Elsa sighed, looking away from Anna a moment, unsure what to do or say to placate the young woman. She was going to be an aunt, but her sister was basically homeless. She couldn't kick her back out. Taking a steeling breath she nodded, turning back to Anna.
"Are you hungry?" Anna wiped a stray tear, looking at her older sister curiously.
"Um…y-yea…I haven't eaten since I left home…that was yesterday…" Elsa winced, that wouldn't do, for her health or the baby's. The blonde headed back to the kitchen, pulling out a few things to make a quick meal for Anna, avoiding what foods she'd heard were bad for expecting mothers.
"You can stay here, a few days…I"ll help you, Anna." Anna's eyes widened slightly, almost surprised.
"A-are you sure? I mean, I know I just stumbled into your home but…I didn't expect…" Elsa shook her head.
"It's fine, I live comfortably enough, besides…I'm going to be an aunt, I better reconnect with you if I'm going to be a good one." She gave Anna a small smile, the younger girl blushing slightly and nodded.
"Thank you, Elsa…I've missed you so much…" Tears sprouted to Anna's eyes again, Elsa's smile fading slightly, she looked back down at what she was doing, cooking in silence as she brought food back to her sister.
"I have a second room, a guest room, but it's got a comfortable bed, and it's own shower…you're welcome to stay until you've figured something out…" Anna took the plate, eating quietly.
"Thank you…" Elsa smiled slightly, watching her sister eat quietly a moment before taking Anna's bags into the guest room. She made sure there were fresh towels in the bathroom, checking the time. Nearly 5 am now. She heard the plate clinking against her sink before Anna appeared in the door. Elsa smiled at her warmly, trying to keep the smile off her face as Anna tried to remove herself from her hoodie. She helped her out of it, chuckling at Anna's red face.
"I'm going to take a shower before bed….thank you again, Elsa…really…" Elsa shook her head, blinking in surprise as Anna enveloped her in her arms, holding her tightly. Elsa's arms slowly returned the embrace, rubbing her back in slow, soothing circles. When they finally separated Anna cracked a small, though wholly genuine, smile, before moving towards the bathroom. Elsa left the room, heading for the kitchen she rinsed the plate, making a note to properly wash it after breakfast. She shut off all the lights, locked her front door, and made her way to her own bedroom, sliding into bed, the sound of her sister in the next room keeping her awake until it stopped.
Elsa released a slow breath and rolled over, clutching her pillow before falling asleep slowly, wondering what tomorrow would be like. Some start to my vacation…
A/N:
So, random thought. It just came to me, I dunno...I like it, I have a feeling it won't be near as long as I plan for Darkness Falls to be, but for what it's worth, I feel really good about this as well. Enjoy! Remember! Please leave reviews!
