The citizens of Arendelle didn't believe the highborn nobles when they proclaimed him a usurper. That day on the ice when he raised the blade to sever queen Elsa's head had been witnessed by a select few. The mountain man -husband to princess Anna in this world- had run as fast as those lumbering legs would take him. Hans knew he wouldn't make it.

Speaking of Anna, last he had seen her was locked in that library to die. And so there was nothing between him and the queen. She paid him no mind. Her entire frame contorted in grief, golden almost silver hair, graced over her shoulder presenting the slender nape of her neck. Her blood would herald his victory. At least it would've had he succeeded.

Hans groaned and sat up. On the bedside table his phone shone like a beacon in the azure of dawn. Her name the undisputed ruler of his contact list. The blankets bunched up under his fist. He shouldn't call her. What was the point? She didn't even like him. This was just a ploy to get free food! "Ugh! Why couldn't you just have left things the way they were?"

Hans stomped to the kitchen and yanked the fridge door open. Six bottles of beer rattled at the intrusion. He groped past the plate of half eaten pizza, tub of greek yoghurt, cartons of milk and jars of pickled herring to pull out a bowl of blood red lingonberries. He poured them into a sauce pan with water just enough to cover then turned on the heat. The flames licked the pan as he adjusted the temperature.

"We got a newbie over the line!" yelled a dwarf in checkered flannel. Hans held his sword aloft, blinking to numb the sting at his temple. "Woah, easy there buddy. Put it down."

"Where am I? What is this place?" said Hans. "Storybrooke. Name's Leroy."

The dwarf held out his hand in friendship. Hans sheathed his sword, but didn't shake. The road had taken him into a town with gas lamps taller than any he had ever seen. They also didn't seem to have candles in them. Further down he could see boxes playing moving pictures in colour, and giant steel carriages with rubber wheels.

"This is incredible." "Uh, yeah it's nifty…I guess, but how the hell did you get past the line?"
"What?"
"The town line! Ok, you know what where you from? Hey! I'm talkin' to ya!"

Hans walked past the bumbling dwarf. The smell of fresh apple pie mixed with the dew of cut grass. A flurry of snow blanketed the roofs. It was fairly quaint. A bell chimed. Suddenly, a rag tag group streamed out from what he assumed was the local eatery.

"Leroy what's going on?" said a woman cradling a child with hair black as ebony and skin white as snow. Behind her followed two men. One had a sheriff's badge, and the other seemed to have a hook for a hand.

"It's not quite the same but his clothes…"
"Mate, this aint the time to berate a chap for his attire."
"No! Killian, David's right. It kind of looks like something from Arendelle."

Hans looked at the three strangers and bowed. "Prince Hans of the Southern Isles. You know of Arendelle? I've travelled to many distant lands but I confess I've never heard of your town."

"Well, it's not exactly on the map. Forgive me, this is David my husband. My daughter's fiance Killian. And my name is Mary Margaret."

"Ya heard of the enchanted forest no doubt?"
"I can't say I-"
"Alright, who do we got now?"

The group turned in unison and a woman in a maroon jacket walked up to them. She had blond hair, but more golden than the queen of Arendelle. A beauty despite the odd attire and stern expression. It was worth a shot.

"Is this town under queen Elsa's domain?" said Hans

They chatted amongst themselves, and the blonde woman seemed to have heard of his exploits in Arendelle. Soon Hans found himself dragged to a cake shop. There she was! It was her and yet she looked different. Actually, even better than when he saw her last. Black leggings accentuated her legs and he felt his face grow hot. She was walking around in her underwear? A cream long sleeved rufflle top left her shoulders bare and a brown belt was cinched at her waist. He grabbed the hilt of his sword out of instinct. When she turned around the basket of cupcakes she held fell in a heap.

"Hans?"

The water bubbled and Hans stirred in an ample amount of sugar. He would never forget the way she looked in that moment. Her mouth agape just a fraction, even in shock she was graceful. Colour flooded her cheeks as if in embarassment, but it was her eyes that stunned him most. They sparkled like sapphires, but it was the same expression she had when he had told her Anna was dead. She looked at him like her whole world had crumbled to dust.

Back then he contemplated running away to a safer harbour. One without those eyes to haunt him. One without any connection to his previous life. It was wishful thinking at best. Magical portals were finicky according to the resident wizard Mr. Gold. He was stuck in Storybrooke forever. Elsa had come along on that faithful talk that changed his life, though she stayed as far away from him as possible. He drifted behind the group to walk beside her, ignoring the ice emanating from her hands. Her whisper was as cold as the element she bent to her will.

"If you do anything to harm Anna I'll finish you myself."
"So Anna is here too?"

Elsa looked away.

"And her fiance?"
"Kristoff."
"Ok. Anyone else?"
"Not that it should matter to you, but no. There's no one else from Arendelle or the Southern Isles."

He stopped walking and she looked behind her.

"What are you doing? We're almost at the inn."

He hoped he didn't look too concerned, though the blood rushed to his ears and he clenched his teeth before smiling.

"I suppose we can't keep this our little secret?"
"Excuse me?"

He kneeled before her, head bent in shame.

"Hans get up you're embarassing us."
"Please, I can't make up for anything I've done to you or yours. Granted, I can't fully say I regret any of my actions but-"
"Is this an apology or a chance to gloat?"
"Queen Elsa, on my word as a prince I swear that this is the last you will hear of me."
"God give me strength! Must you be so dramatic?"

She scoffed, and hauled him to his feet. They walked the rest of the way in silence.

The sauce thickened with a glossy finish, studded with softened berries. Hans turned off the heat and flicked through the cupboards to find an empty mason jar. The jam had begun to harden and slopped into the jar. Clicking the silver lock into place, he topped it with a floral knot from a forgotten birthday present.

In his bedroom he grabbed the phone and gulped. He exhaled and raked his hand through his hair. His thumb hovered over her name. The digital clock on his bedside table read eight o'clock. Ok. Prince Hans of the Southern Isles. Slayer of abominable snowmen. Naval commander to the finest soldiers to ever sail the seven seas. She's just a girl. No, a woman. A queen. Nothing he hadn't done before. The device responded so quickly he wasn't even sure his thumb imprinted on the letters. It was ringing.

"Good morning! Hello?" said Elsa "Uh…"
"Who is this? Hello?"
"I wonder if I could stop by to give you the lingonberry jam?"
"Lingonberry….oh! Oh! Hans! Yes, that would be great. Let me see, meet me at Granny's?"
"Sure. Great. We could have some coffee?"
"Wonderful. See you in an hour. Good bye."
"Good bye…"

The phone clicked and he was bathed in silence.