Well, you asked for it and I delivered! After a 2-week break, I present to you the sequel to "Family Ties"! This brings my total of Frozen fanfics up to 5. I'm not sure if you'd actually call it a sequel, but it does take place a year after the events of "Family Ties". And I'll be expanding on Elsa and Fredrik's relationship. :) That's what this story will mostly be about, so I hope it satisfies you "Elsrik" shippers. :) (By the way, thanks to LilyGHall for the clever ship name.) Anyway, hope you enjoy, and as always, please review! DISCLAIMER: I do not own Frozen or any of its characters. Only Kirsten and Fredrik are mine.
Chapter 1: Courtship
It was a fine, breezy summer day in Arendelle. The sky was a clear, turquoise blue and there wasn't a cloud to be seen. The air was warm and pleasant enough that you no longer needed a cloak, and the streets of the village were packed with people enjoying the beautiful day, whether they were at the market shopping for household essentials or just taking a leisurely stroll in the warm sunshine. Even the princess and her family had been seen earlier that day walking around the castle grounds, talking and laughing and playing with their little daughter, Kirsten, who was now a year old. Only one person had not joined in the festivities.
Elsa was sitting at the desk in her study, poring over sheaf after sheaf of document: trade negotiations, ball invitations, requests for meetings, and other seemingly unimportant messages. Since the announcement of her and Prince Fredrik's courtship a year ago, her workload seemed to have doubled. Most of the messages she had been receiving lately asked about (or, rather, pushed for) an impending engagement. She had sent several carefully-worded messages back that quite clearly stated that due to her current workload, an engagement would not be happening anytime soon, and it was a distraction she couldn't afford right now. As stressed out as she had been lately, she was surprised that the room hadn't frozen solid.
But the truth was, she didn't know if she was ready for an engagement, or marriage, for that matter. True, she had taken a big step forward by accepting Fredrik's proposal of courtship, but she was hesitant to let it go any further, for fear of hurting him. She had always dreamed of sharing a life with someone special, something akin to what Anna and Kristoff shared, but that dream had always been overshadowed by her powers. She didn't think she was capable of loving anyone that way. She had grown very fond of Fredrik in the last year, but did she love him? He did make her feel so comfortable and at ease, something no one had been able to do for years, apart from Anna, of course. Only time would tell.
Elsa was so lost in her thoughts that she almost didn't hear the soft knock on the door. "Come in," she called, and the door opened, revealing Fredrik, smiling and carrying a tray that clinked while he walked. Elsa smiled back as he approached her desk, genuinely happy to see him.
"Hi," he said, setting the tray down on her desk and then leaning in for a kiss. He lingered for a moment before breaking apart. "How are you?" he asked, sitting down across from her.
"Exhausted," Elsa replied. "I've never had so much work."
"You've been shut up in here for most of the past few days," said Fredrik. "I'm starting to miss you." He smiled again.
"I know, I miss you, too," said Elsa, truly meaning it. "But I've just been so busy lately. I don't know if I'll ever catch up."
"Don't worry, you will," said Fredrik, reaching over and squeezing her hand. She just smiled.
"So, what's all on that tray there?" she asked, eyeing it carefully.
"Gerda thought you could use a little snack break, so she whipped up some of your favorite chocolate pastries," Fredrik replied, smiling.
"I love that woman," said Elsa, laughing and taking a pastry. "She knows just what I like. Join me?"
"Love to," said Fredrik, smiling again. "Thought you would never ask."
Elsa swatted him playfully before moving around to the other of the desk and taking the seat next to him. She turned herself sideways and dangled her feet over the arm. She knew it was very un-queen-like, but for once, she didn't care, and besides, no one but Fredrik was there to see her. "You know," she said, taking a bite of her pastry and smiling mischievously at him. "I'm starting to think that you offered to bring the tray up just so you would have a legitimate reason to distract me from my work."
"I would never distract you from your work," said Fredrik, leaning towards her, also smiling.
"Uh-huh, sure you wouldn't," said Elsa, leaning even closer until their foreheads were touching.
"Never," Fredrik whispered, and he kissed her, cupping her face in his hands while she linked hers behind his neck. The chairs soon got in the way, though, so Fredrik picked Elsa up in his arms and sat back down with her in his lap, all the while never breaking contact. Elsa could feel that familiar tingling sensation deep inside her, starting at her toes and slowly working its way up. Her heart was thundering and her breathing was erratic.
They were startled apart by a loud knock on the door. Actually, it wasn't really a knock, more like a slap. Elsa smiled at Fredrik.
"That must be Kirsten," she said, disentangling herself from him and standing up. "She hasn't quite learned how to knock yet." She went over to the door and opened it and, sure enough, there was little Kirsten on the other side, barefoot and wearing a pink sundress. Her light blonde hair wasn't quite long enough to do anything with yet, so it just lay in cute little curls on her neck and forehead.
"Well, look who we have here," said Elsa, smiling and turning back to Fredrik, who she hadn't noticed come to the door with her. "Another surprise visitor. Hello, there, my little sunshine."
"Essa! Essa!" Kirsten cried, reaching for Elsa with her little arms. Anna and Kristoff had taught her to say Elsa's name, but she couldn't quite get the "L" out yet. Elsa laughed, bent down, and scooped her little niece into her arms. Kirsten then planted a big, slobbery baby kiss on Elsa's cheek.
"Thank you," said Elsa, wiping her cheek, but she was still smiling. "Where are your mama and papa?"
"Right here," said Anna, coming around the corner, with Kristoff right behind her. Both looked out of breath.
"What happened to you?" Elsa asked, smirking.
"Well, we took Kirsten out for a long walk in the garden to try to get her tired enough for her nap," Anna began.
"But she managed to get away from us," Kristoff finished.
"So I see," said Elsa, looking down at Kirsten. "How did she know where we were?"
"Oh, she didn't, but you know Kirsten," said Anna, shrugging. "She likes to run through the halls and hit random doors. This time, she just happened to find a room that was occupied."
Elsa blushed and looked back at Fredrik, who just shrugged. It was then that Anna noticed Elsa's slightly disheveled appearance. A few stray strands of hair had fallen out of her braid and her dress looked a little rumpled.
"So, what were you two doing in there?" Anna asked slowly, looking from one to the other of them.
"Just talking," Elsa answered.
"Uh-huh," said Anna, crossing her arms and looking unconvinced.
"Anna, please," said Elsa, guessing where this was going. "Fredrik just came to bring me a snack and to talk. He figured I needed a break. And you know that I've been working a lot lately, so that's all I've been doing, okay?" She knew that Anna knew what she and Fredrik had just been doing, so instead of trying to convince her otherwise, she was sending her a secret message not to tell anyone outside the family.
Anna was still eyeing Elsa suspiciously, but her sister was giving her a very queenly glare, so she just shrugged and said, "Fine. Your business is your business."
"Thank you," said Elsa. "By the way, I think Kirsten's asleep." She looked down at her niece, who, sure enough, was fast asleep in her arms, her thumb in her mouth.
"How do you do it?" Anna demanded.
"Do what?" Elsa asked, confused.
"Get her to fall asleep so quickly and easily," Anna answered. "She's never fallen asleep that quickly for us."
"I have a very soothing voice," said Elsa, smiling. "Here." She held Kirsten out for Anna to take.
"I'll take her," said Kristoff, and Elsa gently handed Kirsten over to her father. "And Fredrik, you and I are going to have a talk later." He smirked knowingly at him.
Fredrik smiled and put up his hands in defeat. "Whatever you say," he said.
Kristoff kissed Anna on the cheek and then disappeared down the hall to the nursery to put Kirsten down for her nap.
"And I'll talk to you later," said Anna, pointing at Elsa and winking. Then she, too, disappeared down the hall after Kristoff.
"What was that all about?" Fredrik asked, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her.
"I think I have an idea," said Elsa. "But knowing Anna, it could be anything. Now, if you don't mind, I have to get back to work." She turned around and pecked him on the cheek before ducking out from his embrace and walking back to her desk. Fredrik chuckled to himself. God, how he loved this woman.
As it turned out, Elsa was finally able to get caught up in her work. She managed to finish by early evening and was able to eat dinner with her family. So that evening found them eating a delicious dinner of roast pork and boiled potatoes. Anna and Elsa, along with Kirsten, who was sitting on her mother's lap, were sitting on one side of the table, and Kristoff and Fredrik were sitting on the other side. They had finished exchanging pleasantries and were now having their own private conversations.
"So," Anna was saying. "Are you going to tell me exactly what happened between you and Fredrik this afternoon?" She smirked.
Elsa tried to ignore it, but it was hard. "Well," she said, taking a sip of wine from her goblet and grimacing; she wasn't much of a drinker. "He said that Gerda had prepared a little snack for me, and I think he offered to bring it to me just so he would have an excuse to see me."
"And?" Anna pressed.
"And what?" Elsa asked, confused.
"Oh, come on, Elsa, something else must have happened," said Anna. "I noticed your dress was all mussed. What else were you two doing in there?" She nudged her sister playfully.
Elsa looked across the table at Kristoff and Fredrik, who were still deep in conversation. "Okay," Elsa sighed, looking back at Anna. "But this stays inside the castle. I really shouldn't be telling you this at all; it is not entirely proper for a woman of my station to discuss her love affairs with anyone. But you're my sister, and I trust you. I know you'll keep this a secret from anyone outside the family."
"I will," said Anna, nodding. "I promise."
"Okay," said Elsa. "This is all I'm saying. Fredrik and I kissed again, only this time, it was a little more passionate."
"You two are getting pretty serious, aren't you?" Anna asked, smiling.
"You could say that," Elsa said slowly, fidgeting with her hands under the table. Thankfully, nothing more than a few small snowflakes escaped, which no one but her saw.
"I do say that," said Anna, setting Kirsten down, who was squirming in her lap. "What are your feelings for him?"
"Excuse me?" said Elsa, narrowing her eyes at her sister.
"You heard me," said Anna, smiling. "What are your feelings for him?"
"I think," said Elsa hesitantly, looking across the table at the men, making sure she wouldn't be overheard. "I think I might love him," she finally whispered.
Anna stifled a squeal behind her hands. "Really? Oh, my sister has finally found someone to love!" And she wrapped Elsa in a tight hug.
Unfortunately, Kristoff had heard Anna's stifled squeal and turned to look at the sisters. "What's going on over there?" he asked, smiling at them.
"Nothing," they said, and then gave themselves away by giggling.
"I think I'll be retiring now," said Anna, picking up Kirsten and standing up. "It's almost Kirsten's bedtime, anyway. Elsa, why don't you come, too? We might need that soothing voice of yours." She stared pointedly at her sister and gave a small wink.
"If you insist," said Elsa, also standing. "Although I don't know why you need me to calm your own baby down." She smiled and Anna playfully hit her on the arm as they disappeared from the hall.
Kristoff smiled and shook his head. "Those two," he said. "You'd never believe that they were separated for thirteen years."
"Kristoff, I want to talk to you about something," said Fredrik seriously, "Well, actually, someone. I didn't want to mention it while Elsa and Anna were here, because I didn't want them to overhear, especially Elsa."
"What is it?" Kristoff asked, also serious. But he thought he knew what was coming, and wasn't disappointed.
"Well, ever since you welcomed me into the family, I've considered you as a friend," said Fredrik, shifting somewhat uncomfortably in his chair. "Anna and Elsa, too. But lately, I've been feeling a little more than friendship with Elsa, if you know what I mean."
"Well, how do you feel when you're around her?" Kristoff asked.
"Well, my heart thunders whenever she looks at me and my throat constricts whenever I try talking to her," Fredrik answered.
"I know exactly what you mean," said Kristoff, smiling and nodding. "I felt the same way about Anna. My friend, you're in love."
"You think so?" Fredrik asked, looking his friend dead in the eyes.
"It couldn't be more apparent," said Kristoff. "I've been through this before, so I recognize all the symptoms."
"I've been thinking about asking her to marry me," said Fredrik quietly.
"Fredrik, do you love Elsa?" Kristoff asked seriously.
"Yes, I think I do," Fredrik answered.
"Then do it," said Kristoff, smiling. "What are you waiting for?"
"Nothing, I guess," said Fredrik, smiling back.
"Then go for it," said Kristoff, clapping him on the shoulder. "A little word of advice, though. Don't tell Elsa what you're planning, or Anna, either, for that matter. She's really close with her sister and a bit of a blabbermouth. But don't be too secretive, or they'll think something's up."
"Okay," said Fredrik, chuckling. "How do you think I should do it?"
"Well, I proposed to Anna at the most unexpected time," Kristoff answered, smiling again.
"When was that?" Fredrik asked.
"At Elsa's twenty-second birthday ball," said Kristoff. "I remember it like it was yesterday. Anna was really mad because I had had a 'secret meeting' with Elsa and she thought that there was something between us. She wouldn't come out of her room for a couple days."
"Really?" said Fredrik. "I can't imagine that. She seems to really love you."
"Well, she does," said Kristoff. "Sometimes, she just goes through these mood swings. I still don't know why she picked me."
"You're sweet, charming, and sensitive," said Fredrik, smiling. "I can tell just by the way you two look at each other. I only hope that Elsa and I will be able to share those same moments together."
"You will," said Kristoff, smirking. "If you ever get around to proposing to her."
"Okay," said Fredrik, still smiling. "I'm going to need some help, though."
"Don't worry, I'm there for you," said Kristoff. "Like I just said, I've been through this before. And I think I know the perfect way to do it."
Well, that takes care of chapter one! I'm not sure how long this story will be, but it probably won't be as long as "Family Ties". I guess we'll just see how it goes. :) Again, hope you enjoyed! Another chapter coming soon!
EDIT 10/9/15: To my readers: I made a few revisions to this chapter, mostly in terms of sentence structure, rearranging certain sentences so they would flow better. I fixed a couple of grammar mistakes as well.