Kristoff never truly liked royal functions. There were many reasons; they were uninteresting, stuffy, and often too long. He didn't know anyone there besides Anna and Elsa, but, somehow, everyone seemed to know him. And they all kept talking and talking and none of the topics were interesting because everything was small talk and no one was interested in mountains. Or snow. Or reindeer.

Now these reasons were all true and irritating, but one thing especially bothered Kristoff, as much as he tried to suppress it. Royal functions meant dignitaries. Young, handsome, important male dignitaries. And they always had an irritating way of seeking out Anna.

They'd swoop up in an ostentatious show, kissing her hand and smiling at her as they 'properly and formally' introduced themselves for far too long, while Kristoff stiffly stood there, knowing that, while they were definitely pushing boundaries, and while he didn't even like them being within a five foot radius of her, they technically weren't doing anything wrong. So he couldn't beat them into a pulp. Yet. But he'd like to think they understood just what he was willing to do.

This particular function was especially annoying, because it was medium sized. It was large enough that plenty of eager men were able to flood into the castle and make goo-goo eyes at Anna, but small enough that all guests were invited to stay at the castle, and dine together, and get plenty of extra chances to brush by Anna, or ask her to dance, or kiss her hand. And, of course, they had all agreed to stay.

There had been some mingling, a little dancing, a lot of tension, but it was finally tie to dine. Kristoff sat to Anna's left, Elsa to her right. And it was highly improper to speak across the table, of course, so Kristoff was able to breathe a sigh of relief and just enjoy his love's company.

"Are you having fun?" Anna asked nervously, biting her lip adorably.

"Of course! Just wait until I tell all the other mountain men. They love twirling."

"You don't have to be sarcastic." Anna swatted him playfully, but Kristoff saw her smile a little before she turned away to ask her sister a question.

She turned back to Kristoff quickly. "You're not going back up to the mountains too soon, are you?"

Kristoff hesitated. He loved Anna, that much was clear. And he didn't like being away from her. But he did like being away from, well, everything else. Especially all these dignitaries. "I was thinking….in a couple days?" Hopefully they'd all be gone by then.

"In two days?" Anna said slowly, which was quite an adjustment when one was used to hearing her quick chatter.

"That's the plan, yes. Why?"

"Nothing worth hanging back here for, right?" Anna said, her mouth forming a hard line.

Kristoff gulped. He forgot something. "Is there another ball?" he guessed.

"Oh no, no. Nothing important. Just our one year anniversary."

Shit.

"Oh, God, Anna. I'm so sorry. I just forgot." Kristoff stumbled, knowing that no matter what he said, it wouldn't be right. Because now he had just joined the list of people who had forgotten about her.

"You never forget what's important to you." Said an Italian young man, seated across the table.

Shove it! Aren't you supposed to be gagged in your little manners box? Thankfully, Anna didn't respond to him. Of course, she didn't say anything to Kristoff either. She just looked down at her plate and quietly ate.

"Your highness, the council has some news for you." A manicured man laid a gentle hand on Elsa's shoulder. Elsa suddenly looked very afraid, and Anna looked up at her sister, pushing her brow together. There had been no talk of a council! What was so important that it had to be discussed right now? And why had he spoken the news so quietly that no one who wasn't right by Elsa could hear it?

Anna slumped lower in her chair, but angled away from Kristoff. He reached out a hand to try and grab her arm. And though Anna did not swat or push him away, she gave no indication that she wanted Kristoff to touch her, and thus he stopped. He turned back to face his plate and sighed.

Forgetting a milestone anniversary would've been a problem with any couple, but it was a thousand times more important to Anna. When they had first started officially dating, she was so damn excited all the time, wanting to celebrate every single little occasion because they all felt important to her. First date! First kiss! First sled ride! First time Kristoff let me go harvesting! First time Kristoff forbid be from ever coming ice harvesting again because I almost killed myself like eight times! Every occasion was a milestone, and each one made her excited to think and talk about. But Kristoff talked her down a little bit. He couldn't exist at this constant state of zealous that Anna managed to function at, and he promised her that they'd do all their celebrating in one big day – their one year.

She was a little hurt by that. What was wrong with enjoying everything? Was he not as happy? Did he not enjoy being around her as much as she enjoyed being around him? Did he want her to…go away?

But he had assured her of course not. He loved her, he cared for her, and he was happy to be around her…he just couldn't jump around and celebrate every day. It wasn't in his nature. He wasn't trying to shut her out, he was just trying to love her his way.

And she understood. She gave him a big hug and pulled him out of the castle because the leaves were falling from the trees and there were a thousand new things to be excited about.

And though he had forgotten the date, only the date, she saw it that he had forgotten about her. He needed to talk to her and wanted to pull her aside, but he was sure that'd cause some huge social upheaval and every diplomat would overreact and label it as the scandal of the decade. If he messed up more things for now, Anna would have more work to do later.

He poked at his food and tried to sort out what words to say, hoping that when he did get a chance to speak to Anna they'd all pull themselves together and he could make her understand how much he loved her, even if he sucked at showing his romantic side.

…

Still looking too forlorn, Anna sighed and rolled food around her plate, ignoring both the pointed looked of Kristoff and of the other nobles.

"Anna, we have to talk. Now." Elsa had returned to the dining room and she spoke quietly but firmly, scaring her sister. What could be so crucial that it had to be dealt with now?

"Elsa, what is it?" Anna tittered, closing the heavy doors behind them.

"Your one-year anniversary is coming up with Kristoff-"

Anna scoffed. "Tell me about it."

Elsa continued, hardly registering her sister's reaction. "And, well, you two seem rather serious. And-uh-well, I went and spoke to the council because I foresaw some…consequences you might not have considered."

"Like what?"

"Well, marriage is not just a union for two people who love each other. Not for royalty. Almost all marriages have a political edge. The joining of kingdoms, the securing of alliances, access to resources…it's not bad, per se, it's just…how it's done."

"I don't understand." Anna said, only half-lying.

"And Kristoff is not royal, obviously. So you, being a princess, might not be able to-"

"No! Elsa, please tell me you talked them out of this stupid rule! They can't stop me from being with someone I love just because he doesn't have some wheat for us to use, or – or – or whatever!" Anna clenched her fists, her breaths coming in sharp gasps.

"I know, I know." Elsa said soothingly. "And we debated this for a long time. I'm on your side."

"I know you are! I didn't mean to imply that you-"

"I know, sweetheart, I'm not accusing you." Elsa took her sister's hands. "They, of course, were not so easily persuaded."

Anna bit her lip.

"But we talked. For a while. Several months, actually."

"You started back-?"

"I saw how much you and Kristoff loved each other. And I knew they'd take a while to convince."

"Did you? Please Elsa!"

"Mostly." She said, nodding a little. "They say you have to entertain the idea of a royal marriage."

"Okay." Anna nodded, pausing and scrunching up her face. "There, entertained the idea. My answer is no. Are we done?"

"That's not quite what they meant. Letting you do this…there's a couple provisos. The one that concerns you is that if a man of noble blood proposes to you in the next three days, you must accept."

"They must've dragged out the decision! They knew all the men would be here! Ugh! I can't believe this!" Anna sneered, looking over her shoulder as if she could see through the door and glare at the eager-to-be-suitors.

"It's frustrating, I know." Elsa said, catching her sister's attention again. "But you've managed to hold them all off for the past year, I'm sure you can do it for three days. They think you're charming, Anna, that's all. If they'd do anything, it'd be to ask for a dance or a walk, which you can still say no to. Who proposes marriage right away?" she laughed a little.

"Some people do." Anna bit her lip. "One royal man did, who says another one won't?"

Elsa's smile dropped as she realized what her sister was saying. "Well, he's not here! And we all know the situation with…that one. Come, come. Let's head back inside before the dessert course comes out!"

Anna nodded cheerfully, grabbing her sister's hand and pushing open the doors. What were the odds, anyway?