Elsa's phone buzzed twice, pulling her focus away from the canvas in front of her. Grimacing at the paint stains on her hands, she grabbed a rag and went to the sink, stopping to glance at the message on the screen.

Hey Elsa, it's been ages! Wanna hang at the usual spot? I'm bringing someone I want you to meet. - Kristoff

She turned the tap on and got to work on the stubborn paint splotches. Kristoff had been her best friend through all of high school. The two of them had stuck together like glue, fighting off the bullies and offering a shoulder after hard breakups. As they finished high school and moved on to college and jobs, they had kept in contact less and less, especially when Kristoff had moved a few states away.

As she scrubbed, Elsa pondered the rest of the text. Kristoff must have met a girl, she thought, and probably wanted Elsa's opinion of her. The two of them were always seeking each others' opinion when they hooked up with a new sweetheart. Elsa growled at a particularly resilient spot and dried her hands, then grabbed her phone and typed out a reply.

Sure, I'm doing nothing anyway. See you at 1?

Dropping her phone back on the bed, she crossed the messy studio apartment to the closet and grabbed the shirt that looked the least wrinkled. She pulled it on and studied herself in the mirror. The messy braid, paint marked-face, and wrinkled shirt stared back at her, daring her to think about leaving the apartment. Elsa stuck her tongue out at her reflection and fixed her hair a bit, then grabbed her phone and headed out.

Her jeep sat outside, baked in the sun, the black painted peeled. She climbed in and turned the key. The engine sputtered and she kicked at the car with an angry grunt. Giving it another try, she turned the key again and the engine grumbled to life. With a sigh and a last glance in her rear-view mirror to check her hair, she headed off to meet Kristoff and his lady-friend.

The jeep growled and purred as Elsa pulled into the parking lot of the coffee shop she and Kristoff had treated like a second home throughout high school. She cut the engine and took a deep breath, letting it out as she made sure her hair was still alright after the windy drive. Satisfied enough with her appearance, she left the jeep and went inside.

"Elsa!" The voice greeted her the moment she entered, and brought her back to all those years ago. She spotted Kristoff across the shop and walked over to his booth. She sat down and he handed her a styrofoam cup. "I hope you still like vanilla mocha."

"Always," Elsa replied. She took a sip of the scalding liquid and sat back in the booth with a sigh. "Ten years, huh?"

"Nearly, yeah. Why didn't we keep in touch?" A frown crept up Kristoff's face and Elsa looked down at her cup. It really was her fault. She had gotten swept up in art school and painting and forgotten her old friends.

"Sorry," she sighed, "I should have called, or at least sent a letter or something."

Kristoff laughed at that, and looked out and away, towards the other patrons, then towards the little girl busily playing on the floor. Elsa took another sip, then a deep breath. "I guess letters are more of your corner, right? Maybe I should have sent a painting." Elsa cringed at her own words and sank down into her seat. Why did she think stupid jokes really mend together a relationship that fell apart ten years ago?

"Really, though, don't beat yourself up about it, Elsa," Kristoff said, pulling her out of her thoughts. "I could have sent something too." The two of them sat for a bit, avoiding eye contact and drinking their coffee. As Elsa took a particularly long sip, she remembered Kristoff's text. Gulping down the burning coffee and coughing, she set down her cup and leaned forward.

"So where's Ms. Kristoff?" She raised an eyebrow, expecting some mystery girl to appear out of thin air. Kristoff coughed.

"Well, here's how it is. After high school I met this great girl, right? Her name was Hannah, and she was amazing. At least, she was at first." He sighed and sunk into the chair, then looked up to meet Elsa's eyes.

Elsa reached out, gently grabbing her friend's arm. "What happened?"

"She cheated on me with a younger guy. Some rich lawyer punk," he said, sadness coating his words. Elsa's heart sank. "She took whatever she could out of the divorce."

"I'm so sorry, Kristoff," Elsa said as she squeezed his arm, wishing she knew a better way to comfort her friend. "Um, how long ago was this?"

"Four years ago, give or take a few months," he replied. "Luckily, she didn't get the most important part of my life." He gestured to a girl sitting at the next booth, and she came over to the table. Hopping into the booth next to him, she smiled up at Elsa. Elsa smiled back, looking at the girl more closely. Freckles covered her face and neck, and her long red hair was pulled aside into two small braids. Her big blue eyes beamed up at Elsa, then turned to Kristoff as she leaned into him.

"Elsa, meet Anna," Kristoff said, "my daughter."