Summary: Anna gets involved in breaking a curse on the Southern Isles. When fate throws them together, she must rely on Hans. But Hans has his own problems and needs Anna more than she needs him. In the midst of saving a kingdom, Anna can only wonder if she's doomed to repeat past mistakes as she begins to fall for the man she shouldn't. HANSANNA pairing.

Disclaimer: I do not own Frozen nor am I affiliated with Disney in any way.

Notes: This story came about by picking up bits and pieces of lore and fairy tales, and exploring the idea of love in its messy form. I've kept this fic in the aftermath of the movie canon. I've also chosen to keep with a blend of modern and historical elements, much like the world of Frozen in the movies, so if you are looking for strict 19th century prose and social norms, etc., you will not find it exclusively here.

Rated M for sexual content, language and violence. I do not post anything on this site that I wouldn't have read at age sixteen. If the library and books stores allowed me to borrow and purchase Harlequin romances at that age, the content is appropriate.

"Well, I don't understand why we have to go there anyway," Anna remarked while carelessly stuffing a gown into her trunk.

"You," Elsa corrected, "don't have to go at all."

Anna snorted. "Like I'm really going to let you sail to the Southern Isles alone."

Elsa raised her eyebrows wryly. "It's a coronation, Anna. It's kinda a big deal, and besides, they invited Arendelle as a sign of good faith."

"Why not send a dignitary then? You know they just live for being all hoity toity as the queen's representative at these kinds of events."

"Because," Elsa reminded, "a sign of good faith should be met by the queen herself. The Crown Prince, Vilhelm and Princess Grete are extending to us an olive branch. They are trying to mend relations between our two kingdoms."

Neither woman needed to address why the proverbial olive branch was being offered in the first place. In fact, Anna's room had gone uncomfortably silent as neither knew what to say about him.

Prince Hans.

Anna tended to shut down at the mention of his name, she knew it was why her sister was avoiding it now. And really, what could be said of the youngest Southern Isles' prince? Certainly not that he had stolen and broken Anna's heart all in a vicious plot to usurp the throne from Elsa. Anna had thwarted him in the end, but she would never forget the sting of his betrayal…

"Anna!"

Anna blinked at the sound of Elsa's crisp voice, bringing her back from those dark memories. She looked up at her sister and gave her a weak smile, unsure of how many times Elsa had called her name before she responded.

Elsa's brow wrinkled softly in concern. "You were doing it again."

"I'm fine," Anna mumbled.

Elsa wasn't convinced. "Are you sure you really want to come with me? You don't have to if—"

"—Yes!" Anna was surprised how loud her answer was. There was no way she was going to be left behind. Not this time. The last time she'd stayed behind on a trip, their parents hadn't come back. It was unthinkable to stay behind this time. Elsa was all she had, and she'd almost lost her once. She wasn't doing it again.

"Anna…" Elsa paused apprehensively. She seemed to be weighing whether to speak or not.

Anna stared at her expectantly, waiting for her to continue.

Elsa sighed in resignation. "There is a chance you'll see Hans there. You already know he's finished serving his sentence, and it is his brother's coronation."

Anna bristled at the sound of his name spoken out loud.

"I know." She smiled again at Elsa, doing her best to convince her that she was okay even though the smile never reached her eyes. "I'll be fine."

"Well," Elsa began, eager to change the subject. "At any rate, I'm sure you'll have plenty of new, enthusiastic, young men to dance with."

Anna laughed. "You forgot to add, 'only because I don't dance'."

"Well, I don't," Elsa replied stiffly. "Why can't ice skating be a thing anyway?"

Anna rolled her eyes. The topic of Elsa's innate displeasure of dancing was always one Anna found amusing. "One of these days you'll have to dance with at least one of them. I mean, do you have any idea what it's like to have a man dance with you only because he can't dance with your sister?"

Elsa answered with a vague shrug.

Anna grinned mischievously. She put on her best princely air, standing tall and lowering her voice to a husky, seductive timbre. "I must know, Princess, what is your sister's favourite colour? Does she prefer poems to songs?"

Elsa burst into a fit of giggles.

"What is her favourite flower?" Anna continued. "Tell me, how can I woo your sister and garner the affection I covet so greatly?"

Wiping tears of laughter from her eyes, Elsa shook her head in disbelief. "They don't really say things like that to you, do they?"

Anna raised her eyebrows and gave her a laconic stare.

"Oh God!" Elsa gasped. Her laughter quickly renewed, louder than before. "That's why that one sent me that obnoxious bouquet of weeds!"

"What?" Anna asked aghast, feigning shock and placing her hand up to her heart tragically. "You mean dandelions aren't your favourite flower?"

Both sisters burst out laughing.

When she had calmed down, Elsa looked seriously at Anna. "I am glad you are coming with me. I really don't want to go alone."

Anna was touched. In the past year since the two had reconnected, they had made a lot of headway and worked out a lot of things in their relationship, but it still meant so much to Anna to hear that Elsa needed her. She knew Elsa wouldn't be travelling to the Southern Isles alone alone—she would have her royal entourage of servants, councillors, her lady in waiting, and Kai, their royal advisor with her, but Elsa still wanted Anna with her too.

Elsa excused herself after awhile, needing to go finish her own packing, and go over the last few details with the steward before leaving.

Anna's lady in waiting, Carol, had just entered Anna's room when Anna heard the distinct commotion outside of the ice harvesters returning to Arendelle. Anna grew excited. Kristoff and Sven were back delivering ice! She rushed her packing, squishing and crumpling various clothing items until they fit in the trunks.

Carol tsked loudly when she saw how Anna was packing the gowns.

"Why don't you just leave what you want to take on the bed, dear?" Carol suggested. "I'll pack these properly."

Anna gave the woman an embarrassed grin, and a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, Carol! You are a lifesaver!"

She ran down the hall, down the stairs, and out into the courtyard. "Kristoff!" she yelled, recognizing the big, blonde ice harvester immediately in the crowd. She was waving wildly when he turned and caught sight of her.

He pushed impatiently through the crowd to get to her, with Sven, the reindeer following after.

"Hey, beautiful." He smiled softly and kissed her cheek. It was always how he greeted her, even after they had stopped being sweethearts. She hugged him back, not caring what any of the onlookers in the crowd thought. She would always have a fondness for Kristoff regardless of his station or their relationship status.

Sven bullied his way between their bodies, effectively breaking apart their hug as he eagerly awaited Anna's attention. She laughed and gave Sven a bigger hug.

After the initial exchange of pleasantries and news, Kristoff ran his hand through his hair. "So off to the Southern Isles, I hear. I bet that'll be fun."

Anna laughed at his sarcasm. "Yeah, so much better than hauling ice in the mountains without bathing in days."

"I don't smell anything." Kristoff raised his arm for a sniff and grimaced. "Okay, maybe I do."

"I missed you, you know, smell and all."

It was Kristoff's turn to laugh. "I missed you too." He was looking at her with those brown eyes again, the ones that said he missed her more than just as a friend.

"You guys are back earlier than usual," Anna commented, nervously tucking her hair behind her ear, and trying to ignore the subtext to his words.

Kristoff shrugged. "Elsa sent for us, Olaf needs someone to watch over him while you guys are gone. She thought it'd be best if we had him up in the mountains where he could stay frozen without her magic sustaining him."

Anna nodded, she remembered Elsa saying something about that a week ago while Anna was being measured for a new gown.

"We're not here for long. Just to pick him up, then off again. I won't even get to see you off."

"Well, while you are here, you want to grab some desserts with me?"

Kristoff wrinkled his nose. "You know I don't care for sweets, but how can I refuse my—er, a princess?"

Anna pretended she didn't hear the slip of tongue, and grabbed him by the hand. "To the kitchens!"

Anna had never really fallen for Kristoff as hard as he had fallen for her. She doubted that after Hans she would ever fall hard for anyone again. She had still loved Kristoff, it was just in her own, now careful way. They were sweethearts for a brief while before both realized it would never work. Anna was currently the crown princess of Arendelle, and Kristoff was an ice harvester. Their worlds couldn't have been further apart.

Anna was always thankful that Elsa had never intervened, even though she knew that Anna couldn't be with Kristoff forever. She had let them have their time graciously, and Anna would always cherish the time she had been granted with Kristoff. They had parted amicably, both knowing it just wasn't meant to be. They had remained good friends to this day.

She suspected Kristoff still had romantic feelings towards her, and often debated whether it was a good idea to remain so affectionate with him. She wasn't sure if her natural disposition around him was leading him on. Still, it was hard to be any different than what she was around him.

Anna was happier than usual to see Kristoff. She couldn't put her finger on it or explain it, but she just needed to see him. With the Southern Isles trip forefront in her mind, perhaps she needed to be reassured that good men still existed.

It wasn't until they were in the kitchens eating that she realized just how nervous she was to go to the Southern Isles. She could put on a façade of 'fine' for Elsa, but never Kristoff. Sometimes she swore he knew her better than she knew herself.

She fretted silently with the ever-growing scenarios she'd come up with in her head about what the Southern Isles trip held. What if she did see Hans? How was she even supposed to act?

"You're nervous about seeing him again, aren't you?" Kristoff asked between mouthfuls.

"No!" she lied, really not wanting to talk about it. She poked at her plate of sweets, suddenly their appeal gone.

Kristoff wiped his face with his sleeve. "Look, he's the one that's going to be nervous."

Anna tilted her head in confusion. Kristoff had a way of diffusing her worries with his brand of bluntness. "Oh? And why is that?"

Kristoff reached for a hunk of cheese. "Because," he said, pausing to take a bite. "Last time he saw you, you punched him in the face clean off a ship."

Anna giggled. Kristoff always had a way of making her feel better, and calming her nerves. For lack of a better word, he was her rock. He managed to keep her grounded and self assured.

Kristoff was really the only one who could bring up the unpleasant topic of Hans and not make her feel like a complete fool. Kristoff had always maintained that Hans had been the foolish one since he had not seen what he'd had in Anna. It was nice to have someone speak of Hans as an idiot, rather than as a dangerous man. She really wished Kristoff could come with them.

"Seriously, don't even worry about it." Kristoff placed a friendly hand atop hers. "Even if you do see him, I doubt he'd be stupid enough to approach you."