Title: Skare / Chapter 1: Journey's end

Fandom: Frozen in the OUAT–verse

Characters/pairings: Elsa, Hans + various OUAT characters; Helsa/Iceburns

Rating: T

Warnings: spoilers for season 4 of Once Upon a Time, especially 4x03 "Rocky Road" (everything else is AU)

Summary: After one year of living in the World Without Magic, she considers her life to be good. Every day is the same… until it isn't.

Disclaimer: Frozen & OUAT aren't mine, sadly, but the story is.

A/N: this story follows the events of my previous fic, Shards of ice, thus it's recommended to read Shards first.

This fic takes place in some unforeseeable future in the OUAT–verse. I'm guessing the Frozen/Ice Queen arc will end in the mid–season finale, so let's say this fic is after season 4? Anyway, it's AU to whatever will happen in OUAT's canon. Although I skipped some important events, they will be referenced in the story that focuses mostly on the aftermath of defeating the Ice Queen. So let's assume that the Ice Queen is gone, and all is good in Storybrooke (for now).

This is a Helsa story, but OUAT characters will make occasional cameos.

skare - (Norwegian) the icy layer on top of snow that rain creates; snow with hard surface, soft under

It's been a year since Elsa of Arendelle moved to Storybrooke. Confused at first by how this world works, Elsa grew accustomed to whatever this place has to offer. She misses Anna, but she also knows her sister is happy with her husband. After Anna and Kristoff's wedding, Elsa remained in Arendelle for a longer while, taking care of the official matters of the kingdom, learning that her advisors did a good job keeping everything going during her long absence. They were so good at this, Elsa didn't feel needed. Sure, people loved their queen, but she wasn't doing much, other than waving at them during parades and meeting with foreign dignitaries. During one of such diplomatic meetings, Elsa came to a conclusion that perhaps she should move on and do something useful for herself. It wasn't about abandoning her kingdom, but transforming it. During her first stay in Storybrooke, Elsa discovered that only few countries in the Land Without Magic had kings or queens, and their role was very much limited. After talking to her advisors, Elsa succeeded in transforming her homeland, although it wasn't easy. And then she could return to Storybrooke because it seemed that this place offered something for her – not for the queen of Arendelle, but for a woman called Elsa.

Her little house can't possibly be compared to the luxury of her old palace, yet she never complains. She lives in an apartment above the place that used to be the ice–cream parlour; she transformed it into a cupcake store thinking that she couldn't possibly continue the Ice Queen's legacy (besides, a person with ice magic working in an ice–cream shop sounded kinda cheesy). The apartment is just big enough for her with a bedroom, kitchen with dining area, and a small bathroom with a heater that breaks at least twice a month (but Elsa doesn't mind having colder showers, and she can always ask David or Emma to help her fix it; Emma has been a blessing when it comes to teaching Elsa about the wonders of modern technology, heaters included). There's also an additional bedroom that stays empty for now – and probably forever since Storybooke isn't exactly a popular tourist spot. She's thankful that she doesn't have to stay at Granny's; as much as she likes talking to the old lady, it's nice to have more privacy, and speaking of privacy, Elsa had considered staying in town but decided to do so only after learning this place was for rent. She couldn't possibly live with the Charmings, or Emma and Henry, as she thinks she would only be a bother. That's why having her own place is a blessing. Plus, she feels happy knowing she can do something for the community, even if it's only about making cupcakes. Cupcake Queen, kids call her. Still better than being called Dairy Queen. Or a monster. Here, she can be simply Elsa. Perhaps this is her happy ending.

Every morning she brings a box of freshly made cupcakes to Granny's, then opens her own shop around ten. The place is mostly popular among kids, teenagers and couples (her special Valentine's Day cupcakes were sold out within two hours thanks to hiring Ruby to help her advertise). From time to time, Elsa organises baking classes for kids; it always results in a huge mess but they're having so much fun together she doesn't mind cleaning afterwards. On weekends she goes to Emma's place or Miss Swan comes to Elsa's apartment, so they can spend some time together, talking while sharing a bottle of wine (one bottle is fine; Emma once brought two bottles which resulted in Elsa's massive headache the next day). After one year of living in this world, Elsa still has trouble dealing with modern technology sometimes (computers are worse than dark magic, she discovered), but she considers her life to be good. Less stressful than being a queen, that's for sure. She visits Arendelle regularly; however, her native land becomes less and less what she would consider her home. Finally, Elsa found a place where she belongs, and where her magic is viewed as something natural – though she's well aware that Storybrooke is an exception, probably the only magical enclave in this mundane world.

It's getting late, all clients have left except for one. Henry is sitting by the counter, they've been chatting for a while. Elsa starts to suspect he might be going through a "I found my True Love" phase, as he can't stop talking about that one girl from his class.

"Ok, Henry, you know I like talking to you, but I really should be closing now, and get ready for the morning. Someone has to get up early and make cupcakes, right?"

"Can I get those ones?" He points to a tray filled with cupcakes near Elsa. "All of them."

"Don't you know too much sugar is bad for your teeth?" She asks passing him the tray.

"I'm getting them for my mom."

"Which one?"

Their family tree always confuses her. Apparently Rumplestiltskin is Henry's grandfather, so that makes Belle his grandmother, though she looks more like his older sister. Not to mention that his stepmother is the Evil Queen, and her sister is the Wicked Witch from Oz. There is something really weird going on with this family, Elsa often thinks.

"Regina," Henry clarifies, putting the cupcakes in a plastic container. "She might not say it, but I, for one, know she loves chocolate cupcakes. And yours are the best ones."

"Thanks," Elsa gives him a smile. "I appreciate opinions of all my clients."

After he pays and says goodbye, Elsa lets out a sigh feeling how tired she is after a long day. She doesn't mind talking to Henry or any other resident of this town (well, maybe besides Regina; they aren't exactly best friends...), but being an introvert by nature, in the evening she prefers to relax on her own. She needs to clean a little, and then she can lock the shop, go upstairs and have a nice bath. She takes a cloth to wipe one of the tables, remembering that Leroy was sitting here earlier this day; well, he might be a dwarf but he eats like a pig.

She hears the door opening suddenly, and feels a gust of cold wind on her face.

"Don't tell me you need more cupcakes for your other– "

As she lifts up her head and sees the person standing in the door, Elsa stops midsentence, and her eyes widen in surprise. It's not Henry but…

Hans. Prince of the Southern Isles. The man she hasn't seen in more than a year.

He's taller, or maybe she has forgotten how tall he is; his auburn hair is longer, shoulders broader, he seems more muscular. She recognises him, of course, though there's something different about him, not only because he's wearing this world's clothes. He looks like a man whose journey has finally ended because he reached his destination. There's something in his green eyes, Elsa isn't certain what, something very close to... hope? She puts the cloth on the table, forgetting about cleaning.

"Can I come in?" he asks with hesitation.

Elsa takes a deep breath; she has full control over her powers, yet sometimes she may use them spontaneously, especially when she's getting emotional. Her magic is calm this time, although she certainly isn't.

"Of course, come in."

Closing the door behind him (he has a bulky backpack hanging from his shoulder, she notices), Hans walks to her, stopping so that there's a safe distance between them. There's a light stubble on his face, and his clothes, while clean, are torn in some places.

He doesn't look like a prince, but I, too, don't look like a queen.

"Is this your place?" Hans looks around, curious.

"Yes, it is. I live here now, and this is my shop."

"You're the rightful heir to Arendelle's throne, and you chose to stay in this world selling... cake?"

Elsa smiles. "Yes, now that you said it, it does seem stupid, but it was my choice. Arendelle is fine without me, besides I never really was the one in charge of the whole country. People had their queen, but I wasn't suited for the job. Honestly, I know more about making cupcakes than running a country..."

She has an apologetic look on her face.

"I didn't mean to offend you!" he rushes to explain. "I, uh, I must be tired after travelling for a longer while..." Hans takes a deep breath. "It's a nice place."

"Yes... It is."

And then there's silence between them. Elsa begins to panic, thinking of something to say. What she could possibly say in this situation?! She hasn't seen him in a–

"Are you... free tomorrow night?"

Elsa blinks. "Um, yes, I am free tomorrow night."

She is supposed to meet Emma since it's Friday tomorrow, time for their "ladies night", but she can cancel, Emma will understand (she hopes). Hans coming to Storybrooke – it can't be a coincidence. There's something going on here, something important, and she needs to find out what it is. She wants to do this on her own, however, knowing Emma she'll want to intervene and do it her way. Elsa can handle this situation. Probably.

Then Hans asks if he can come talk to her tomorrow night. He asks her for permission, so humble and timid she finds it impossible that the man that stands in front of her is the same one who wanted to take over her kingdom and almost killed her in doing so.

"Yes, of course. I close at eight, just so you know."

He seems relieved, and... happy? What the hell is going on here...

Elsa watches him after he says goodbye and walks out with his back straight, keeping his head high (he still has a posture of a prince; some things never change). Suddenly overwhelmed, she needs to sit down. Why now? After such a long time, after nearly forgetting about him (yet sometimes remembering and wondering if she's ever going to see him again), after he so unexpectedly disappeared when they defeated the Ice Queen... Prince Hans Westergaard of the Southern Isles is in Storybrooke and wants to talk to her, seemingly having something important to say.

Her life has just got more confusing than ever…