"Little prince, little prince, where could you be?" Elsa sang as she moved carefully, slowly through the gardens. This wouldn't be the first, or last, impromptu game of hide-and-seek they'd ever played together, but it would certainly be one of the more dangerous ones. Anna had requested their presences fifteen minutes ago, and if there was one thing about Anna she knew to be absolutely certain, it was that she did NOT enjoy being kept waiting when she deemed something important enough to officially summon both her lover and their child. Of course Aren was aware of all of this. The fact of the matter remained that he knew he could get away with it. First-Child Syndrome would continue to be in effect until his little sibling was born, and that wouldn't be for a few months yet. So for now he waited in the cover of the branches, looking down upon the blonde head of his mom, trying to hold in giggles.

She didn't even know where he was, he was SO going to win this round!

Except she did know where he was. He was her child, it was her duty to be aware of his idiosyncrasies and those similarities he shared with herself and her dearest. One of those similarities happened to be a penchant for scaling trees like a monkey. Something she'd always done and something Anna had delighted in watching her go about doing. While the at-the-time young girl had been amazed by the feat, it had been one she'd never really been able to do herself. So she'd stuck with watching from the ground as Elsa would dump snow upon unsuspecting passers-by, shaking with laughter with every surprised shriek that would grace their ears. Plus, she could sense his use of the winter magic which ran through his veins, that magic which was a part of her as much as him. Sneaky little snow monkey was trying to play HER old trick.

"Gotcha!" she crowed as she shot a blast of magic straight up above, spinning on her heel and taking a step to the left with her arms outstretched to cradle the bundle of six-year-old joy to her chest as it fell from the sky. He was shrieking with laughter, positively wailing as she snuck her chilled fingers up under his tunic and began to tickle his tummy.

"N-NO FAIR!" He pushed at her hands, trying to save himself from the torture; that only spurred her on, and she went about pressing her lips to his stomach and blowing the biggest raspberry she could. She finally stopped when they were both breathless with laughter, and sat herself down on the ground in a graceless heap with him nestled comfortably in her lap, his head tucked under her chin. He was warm. Warmer than she would ever be, at least. Still cooler than Anna always was, but pleasantly warm nonetheless. She pressed an affectionate kiss to his downy-soft hair, smiling to herself when he let out a displeased grunt at the display. "Mooom," he whined, swiping blindly at her, fingers tapping against her chin as she attempted to jerk her head out of the way. "Quit it!"

"I'm sorry, my dear prince, you are simply too irresistible!" she cackled madly, leaning down to layer more kisses all over his face while he squealed and tried to squirm out of her hold. He succeeded eventually and this started up a short game of chase through the gardens that lasted up until Gerda came out, red-faced and panting, eyes wide and frantic.

"YOUR MAJESTY!" Elsa and Aren both peeked out from behind a thick bush, groaning when Gerda caught sight of them before they could duck back behind the foliage. Elsa caught on to the urgency of the moment when she found Gerda's fearful eyes. Holy frozen hell; what had her so freaked? "I-I fear for your life…" She paused to gulp in air, half bent over and bracing her hands on her knees, "-should you leave her waiting any longer." Aren and Elsa shared a wide-eyed glance before they turned back to her and nodded in unison.

"Yes, of course," Elsa forced a smile, hoping that maybe if she imitated the calm Anna always admired her for, she might actually feel it. But dread was curling around her heart, a thorny vine that was growing, prickling underneath her skin and leaving her in a state of quiet panic. Oh gods above, she was going to be kicked out of the bedroom. She wouldn't be able to hold Anna while she slept and that was really the ONLY thing that allowed her to close her eyes and drift off at night and-and what if she even restricted Aren from her and WHAT IF-

"Mom," She didn't need to look at Aren to know he'd just rolled his eyes, to know that he was smiling up at her as one of his hands found hers, their fingers threading together as best they could. "It's okay. I've got this!" She glanced down at him as they walked past Gerda – who offered them luck and wished her well ("That I should see you alive in the morning would be a blessing…") – and back into the castle, towards the study that had once been her father's. His chest was puffed up and there was an utterly confidant smile curling at his lips. The dread unthreaded itself from her heart, it's beat returning to normal and the crawling of her skin settling.

"I certainly do hope so, little prince; your mother might still just mutilate me though," she muttered with a shaky laugh, running a hand through her hair. It was wild naturally, but after the chase through the gardens she would be willing to guess it was absolutely rabid. Maybe she could make up an excuse; YEAH! She'd been running to get to Anna an-and then she'd, uhhh, err, she'd… Damnit. She had nothing.

"I'll tell her that I need you to not die." A brow twitched as she turned to face him, stopping her almost too-fast walk towards where she could feel the tension gathering in the air. It was a fog, a miasma of hormonally enhanced fury that was choking the hallways leading directly to the study.

"Thank you," she deadpanned. He only giggled and grinned up at her, nodding once and giving her a thumbs up.

"Sure thing, momma!" Cheeky little smartass… He was just lucky he was so cute. She told him so as she pinched his cheek, earning an annoyed, distressed groan and multiple protests as he swiped at her hand. "Quit it! We're gonna be MORE late and mother's REALLY gonna kill you dead then!"

"Oh, shoot! You're right, come on!" She leaned down, scooping him up into her arms quickly and all out sprinting the rest of the way to the study, huffing and puffing and sweating all the while he threw his hands up and laughed with glee. At least ONE of them was having fun. She stopped just before the door, letting out a long, breathless groan as she set him down and tried to catch her breath in five seconds flat. She'd no time to waste, even if it was well wasted for the betterment of her health. "A-Anna!" she called as she pushed the door open, moving to take a step inside while Aren slipped past her and walked towards where his mother stood, the fire in her eyes matched only by the blaze of the sun on the most sweltering of summer days – but of course, the sun on those days, were it to be believed to be a conscious being, would be overtaken by such a jealousy for that fire present in the red-head's eyes. "I'm so sor-"

Thunk!

Air rushed by her, and she watched in disbelief as a few strands of her hair fluttered by her face and to the floor. Blinking slowly, she turned to stare at the letter opener stuck into the door jamb. Up to the HANDLE. She was going to die. There was no two ways about it, Anna was going to strangle her, or stab her, or do something twisted and dastardly to her that would ultimately result in her death. And she would deserve it for knowingly, deliberately keeping her waiting. Even Aren had paused mid-stride to stare wide-eyed at his mother.

"There had better be a very good explanation for your tardiness." Despite the blaze in Anna's eyes, her voice was calm, quiet. Deathly so. Elsa would have felt better if she were screaming. Quiet Anna was dangerous Anna. That meant she wasn't angry. She was beyond angry, so far beyond it she simply couldn't yell anymore.

"I, I, I…" Shit, shit, SHIT! What did she say? What COULD she say!? She couldn't say anything, not a thing, because no excuse was good enough! Obviously her hair was fine so she couldn't say that her scalp randomly caught fire. And that was really the only good reason why she could have been missing. "Umm, I, uh-"

"M-mother?" There was a pitiful sniffle tacked on at the end of the almost-whisper, whimper of a cry. Elsa's eyes fell to Aren; his big blues were shiny, glossed over with tears. One hand was fisted in the skirt of Anna's dress, his bottom lip was poking out just so, so that it wasn't overly dramatic, but still enough to be believable. He sniffled again, swiping at his face with one hand and casting his eyes down when Anna's met his. His cheeks tinged pink, and Elsa watched with amazement as Anna's eyes softened and a small smile – evidenced by the twitching at her lips – began to make itself known. Oh, he was GOOD. "I-I'm s-s-sorry! I di-didn't mean to make momma late! I just wa-wanted to play!" Anna sighed, shook her head as she kneeled down before him and hooked a finger under his chin, tilting his face up so she could kiss his forehead.

"You're a sweet boy, Aren," Anna murmured as she pulled back, stroking her other hand through his hair; he continued to sniffle, but allowed a watery smile to tug at his own lips now. He was almost TOO good. "But you're in just as deep as your momma." He snapped out of the water works immediately with a sigh and the slumping of his shoulders. "You just happen to be cuter."

"Hey!" Anna shot another glare towards Elsa, quieting her protest immediately. Elsa flinched, shuffling her feet nervously before she took a deep breath and finally took the steps that would bring her fully into the room, shutting the door behind her. "S-so what did you need us for, anyway?" A change in the subject might distract Anna from her well-deserved fury… right? Anna sighed – or maybe huffed? Elsa couldn't quite tell, it was an annoyed sound anyway – and stood carefully, one hand supporting her swollen belly while she gripped at the large desk with the other to help her stand. Her eyes fell to Anna's stomach, her fears forgotten as a grin split her face. She continued to move forward, towards Anna, ignoring the way Anna continued to glare at her (though it was much weaker now, softer once she took in Elsa's gleeful expression and where exactly it was directed) as she extended a hand and laid it over Anna's.

"I'm still mad at you," Anna whispered, trying not to smile at the look of pure adoration painting her lover's face. Elsa hummed her agreement, catching Anna's eyes with her own once again.

"I know. And I am sorry for keeping you waiting. He," she cast a quick glance to the quiet Aren, watching the exchange with a smile. "-decided on an impromptu game of hide-and-seek in the gardens."

"And you indulged him. You're both at fault, and you're both in trouble, but that isn't important and I didn't call you here to reprimand your childishness. There's something more that I must discuss with you, and as it involves the both of you – or really what you two are capable of, what our next future children will be capable of – I decided that I should take into account your opinions…" Elsa almost rolled her eyes, holding on the urge . An undignified snort still makes it past her lips and Anna glares at her shortly.

"Sorry," she clears her throat to cover the laugh that next bubbles up, easily schooling her features to fit Anna's attempt for seriousness. She even withdrew her hand from the swell of the younger woman's stomach, folding her hands in front of her and letting out a slow breath to truly calm herself. "Sorry; you were saying?" The glare continued to bore into her face for a few long moments before Anna rolled her eyes and began again.

"Our next child will be born within another few moons," She rubbed a hand almost absent-mindedly over her stomach as she spoke. "And I believe it entirely plausible to assume that they will also control the whims of winter-"

"And she'll be super strong!" Aren piped up, grinning up at his mom.

"And how are you so sure of that?" Anna asked, glancing between the twin grins that were next turned upon her by her lover and their shared child. Those two were so alike at times it was almost frightening.

"We can tell," Elsa told her as she bent down, hefting Aren into her arms with a grunt of effort. To him, she spoke with a smile, tickling at his tummy once more, "You're getting quite heavy, big man."

"I'm not too heavy momma, you're just not strong enough!"

"Oh is that what it is?"

"Pardon me, dearest ones," Anna called to them, smiling gently but shaking her head at the two. "I do believe I was the one overseeing this meeting, at some point. I'd have to assume that it would be within my right to question the two of you troublemakers on how exactly you know that I'm going to be having a girl…?"

"Oh!" Aren gasped, flushing. He started to fidget in his mom's arms, looking entirely guilty. "I-I didn't mean to ruin the surprise…" Elsa smiled at him, the smile quite identical to the one Anna had fixed upon them both just before.

"You didn't mean to, little prince," she comforted him, though he still wore a guilty, displeased sort of frown when he glanced up at her, big blue eyes almost hopeful. "We can tell." This she aimed at Anna, her smile growing wider and somehow smug. "I can tell. There's a different feel surrounding the winter than last time. A strength, and… and something more. Different from Aren. He can tell the difference as well." Elsa paused, chuckling, leaning forward to nuzzle the crown of Aren's head, pressing a kiss there when he giggled and wrapped his arms around her neck. She shifted her hold on him then, searching for a more comfortable position for him to balance on her hip as she moved closer to Anna. Her hand found itself back upon the swell of the younger woman's stomach, and she smiled down at the bulge lovingly, fingertips caressing. Anna was smiling, eyes sparkling as she looked down at the pale hand upon her abdomen.

"A girl…" There was a wonder decorating the breathless exhale that brought a smile to Aren's face. Mostly knowing that all was forgiven – or that no one had really minded his ruining the surprise in the first place – and he was in the clear. Funny, though, how she hadn't picked up on the fact that his baby sister was going to be incredibly powerful… Maybe she hadn't been paying attention, she seemed to have forgotten the fact that she was mad at them at least. "That settles it! We simply must tell the council about this."

"Our girl?" Was she really so eager to set up marriage contracts? She couldn't imagine any other reason the council might be interested in the news that they were having a girl…

"No, darling," Anna giggled, leaning forward to press a kiss to her cheek. "Your powers. It's time they know. If she is to be so strong-" Or maybe she had picked up on that fact… "-I think it best that they know. However, it is you two that contain the magic; ultimately it is your decision whether or not you want to say anything." She looked between the two, beseechingly. She wanted this, NEEDED this. Their magic was beautiful and as selfish as she could be she just wanted to share this with the whole of world! It would really only help them in the long run. Fear and respect were things she understood and wielded well, both against her love and their little one(s)… along with letter openers, BUT…

Her two loves were having a silent conversation, staring at each other for long moments. She almost felt she was intruding, and she might have left but for the fact that Elsa hadn't moved her hand from her belly, and even as she considered moving away she felt a kick. Elsa's head whipped around, face lighting up with a smile.

"Yes," Elsa breathed, glancing up at Anna, still smiling that brilliant, breath-taking smile. "Yes we should tell them." She dropped down to her knees then, kissing the spot where the baby had last kicked. "I want everything to be perfect for our little girl."

"What about me?" Aren was trying to pout at them, really he was. But… his mothers were always silly, and he was smiling at the two instead.

"Your life is already perfect little one! Let us spoil the next child, hmm?" Elsa finally drew her hand away from Anna's stomach, turning to ruffle Aren's almost-blonde hair. He ducked out from under her hand, scrambling back with his hands pressed over his head, trying to fix his hair. It was getting so long now, he'd have to start pulling it back from his face soon.

"I agree with mom," He spoke up, after his hair was back to a form of his personal satisfaction. "We should tell 'em. I wanna be able to build snowmen with my little sister whenever I feel like it."

"There's no doubt about it," Anna sighed softly, almost sorrowfully. She looked to Elsa, moving over to her and draping herself dramatically against Elsa. "He is our son!"

"He better be," Elsa growled, wrapping a possessive arm around Anna. Anna rolled her eyes, smiling when Elsa planted a kiss on her forehead. "Heck, knowing us he'll probably fall for his baby sister!" They both laughed shortly, while Aren watched on with a smile, not really paying all that much attention anymore. Until his mom had suddenly unwound her arm from around his mother; before he could even blink she was on her knees before him, gripping his shoulders tightly and glaring seriously into his wide eyes. "If you touch your baby sister before she's ready, I'M GONNA—"

"Aren, sweetie," Anna smiled sweetly down at Aren, tugging sharply on the ear she'd between her thumb and pointer finger, effectively silencing Elsa.

"OWOWOW, Anna please let go that huuuurts!" Somewhat silencing.

"I know I said you and your mom were both in trouble, but as it turns out, only she is. You can run along back to the gardens. We'll be out shortly," Her smile was almost convincingly sweet... But his mom whining for mercy skewed that image just slightly. Still, he knew better than to make trouble for himself when his mother was angry.

"I love you," he ran to his mother, hugging her around her waist as best he could… nodding to his mom (he wasn't going anywhere near her, she'd beg him for help and he hated having to tell her no) his affections and running towards the door to slip out.

"WHAT-" She tugged on the ear.

"OW!"

"DO YOU THINK-"

"OOOOW! Please, I'm sorry!"

"YOU'RE DOING!?"

"I'M WRITHING IN PAIN! But I figured that was, OW, pretty obvious!" Anna finally let her go, but only after one last pull on the reddened ear. Elsa cupped it with both hands, eyes watering as she glared up at her unamused lover. "I thought you were about to rip it off!"

"I almost did. Shame on you, Elsa! He's only six!" Elsa regained her feet, still rubbing at her thoroughly sore ear.

"It's not like I really said anything of consequence! I just… politely warned him-"

"Politely," Anna snorted, rolling her eyes. "Right."

"Oh please, don't tell me the thought hasn't crossed your mind once or twice. Can you really blame me for taking precautions? I mean, this is our baby girl we're talking about. Our princess, our…" Her ear forgotten, Elsa moved over to Anna, dropping to her knees without hesitation and pressing kisses against the bulge of Anna's stomach. "Our baby. We're going to have a little girl, Anna!" Anna, even with her (slowly fading) ire, found herself smiling down at the entranced blonde.

"Yes, darling, we are," she agreed with an unconvincingly irritated huff. "Changing the subject won't work-"

"I'm not…" Elsa drew back, frowning. She shook her head and sighed, standing once more, though one hand stayed attached to Anna's stomach. As if she couldn't even imagine pulling away. "I just meant that she's a girl, our girl, and it's only proper I should be concerned about her well-being."

"So you have stooped to threatening six-year-olds for her safety?"

"No action taken for the future safety of our baby is too great or too small. And for that matter, are you not concerned that Aren might take after us more than he already has? I love him, truly and deeply. I did not know I had the ability to harbor so much emotion for anyone – never mind TWO people – before I loved you, and him. But now we're going to have a little girl and… I'm so happy, and I love her so much already but… If Aren were to hurt her or force anything of her, I'm not sure WHAT I would do…" Her eyes had faded as she lost herself in her thoughts, frown marring her features. A warm hand over top of the one she'd still upon Anna's stomach, squeezing gently, brought her back to the present. Where the mother of her children was smiling at her so sweetly.

"You are a hypocrite."

"Hey!" Elsa was smiling, despite the indignant tone. "I waited for you to be ready!"

"Ah," Anna's face lit up, and she stared up at the blonde expectantly. "So what you're saying is…?"

"What… what I'm saying… is…?" Maybe she was just slow, but she wasn't really sure where Anna was going with any of this. But as long as she wasn't trying to rip her ear off anymore….

"What you're saying is that if he TRULY takes after us, he'll love her deeply and…?"

"And he'll… talk to paintings?"

"What you're saying is that if he TRULY take after us, he'll love her deeply and wait…"

"W-wait for…. Winter…?"

"He'll wait as long as he must for her to come to him should she return his affections?"

"Um… yes? Yes! That exactly." Anna chuckled, leaning up to press a kiss to Elsa's cheek. She moved away before Elsa could turn and taste of her lips, moving towards the doors to the study and glancing back at the playfully scowling blonde.

"Well come on! What are you waiting for dear? Our child awaits us in the gardens. And we've got but more business to attend to involving him, and you, and I."

"Oh?" Elsa followed after her, coming up behind her and wrapping an arm around her, kissing her temple fiercely. "And what would that be?"

"Well, as you can see," Anna looked down to her tummy, both hands rubbing over it affectionately. "I'm rather pregnant."

"Really? I hadn't noticed," Anna rolled her eyes, reaching up to pinch a grin-stretched cheek.

"Cute."

"Aren't I just?" Anna was smiling, even as she shook her head at the blonde.

"In any case, I'm quite pregnant. And for the life of me, I haven't the faintest clue what to name my next child..." She leaned her head against the blonde's shoulder, offering the now-frozen blonde a wide smile. "I don't suppose you know two pretty, young blonde's that would be willing to help a lady out, would you?"

"You… you want my help naming the baby?"

"Well, yours and Aren, but yes." She was grinning, but Elsa still stared at her, somewhere between shock and disbelief. Anna began to grow worried. "Honey, are you well?"

"You want me to…" A twitch at her lips was shortly followed by a grin breaking through the ice of her frozen expression. "You want my help?"

"You're too happy about this…" She tried to step back from the blonde, but Elsa had managed to wrap her arms around Anna and lift her from the ground, spinning her around. "ELSA! Stop I'll throw up!" Elsa set her down, after one last full spin, and it was then that Anna struck her arm, harshly. "WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!?" Elsa pouted, rubbing at the spot – okay, um, OOW – gingerly.

"What? I got excited!"

"Clearly," Anna rolled her eyes, huffing as she tried to straighten out her dress. Not that it mattered. She wasn't particularly self-conscious, and no castle staff would hold it against her for being in a state other than perfect, pregnant princess. "Don't do it again. You could hurt yourself. Or me. Or the baby." On the last, she glared at Elsa, her hands wrapping around her stomach protectively.

"Jeez, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I just… Jana."

"You just Jana?"

"No! No I meant," Elsa broke off to chuckle and shake her head. "You're silly."

"And you aren't making sense." Elsa stepped closer, and though Anna tensed – don't you DARE try anything, her eyes screamed, clutching still at her stomach – she allowed the blonde to stop before her. She was eying the bulge of her stomach, and slowly she sank to her knees, grasping Anna's hands with either of hers and gently prying them off. She pressed kisses all over the swell of Anna's abdomen, earning a soft smile from the red-head.

"Jana," Her eyes sparkled, grin brighter than the sun. "Aren and I have been…" she chuckled sheepishly, still smiling. "Well, we've been talking about names."

"Have you now? And what would you have done if I'd decided to name her myself?" Elsa shrugged, still smiling, still worshipping the unborn child she could feel moving under her stroking hands now.

"Nothing. As the mother, it's your right to name the child. I and he and you will love her regardless of her name or who named her."

"Well you're no fun." Elsa chuckled, standing slowly and nuzzling her nose against Anna's.

"But you love me."

"Hmm," Anna smiled lightly, moving to step around Elsa and towards the gardens once more. "Sometimes." She grinned when Elsa snorted, knew the woman to be rolling her eyes, and then the blonde was at her side, arm winding back around her waist. She let her head fall onto Elsa's shoulder, sighing. But happily. She was content. Truly and utterly. "So Jana?"

"Mhmm."

"Sounds rather close to my own name… Your creativity is failing you, dear, and it's rubbing off on Aren."

"Oh please," Elsa scoffed. "Are you really so full of yourself?"

"Hmm, no I'd have to say I'm full of you," She pat her stomach for emphasis, earning a chuckle and another roll of the eyes from the blonde. "But really, that was the best you could come up with?"

"I'm personally offended that you are so unenthusiastic about the baby I am naming. Me. Myself. I'm naming her, not you." She stuck her tongue out at Anna, smiling as she continued and Anna took a turn to roll her eyes. "And perhaps, dear one, you should close your eyes and think about a beautiful, bouncing baby girl. Look at her. Feel her in your arms. Jana. It's… perfect, in its simplicity. Like she will be."

"If you say so…"

"As a matter of fact I do say so. And I'm Queen. So my word is law," she stuck her tongue out once more for good measure. "So there."

"Whatever you say, oh great and powerful one." Anna grinned at her, leaning over to press a soft kiss to her cheek. "Tell me, oh wise and knowing ruler of Arendelle, how exactly are you going to reveal your hand to the masses?"

"Well…" She was biting her lip and tapping her chin, humming lowly to herself. "I think… Perhaps it would be in my best interest to reveal that our previous rulers chose to keep it from the public. And that I thought it best to bring it to the attention of the peoples."

"Slander mother and father? I never knew you to be quite so underhanded. I like it," Anna's grin was mischievous when Elsa's surprised glance cut to her face.

"I-I would never… I mean, it is not my intention to slander them I just… I mean not to speak ill of the dead just that—" Anna stopped suddenly, and stopped her sister with a tug on the arm and a soft press of her palm over Elsa's stumbling, stuttering mouth.

"Elsa, dearest, fret not. Save your breath and bite back those apologies and allow me a moment to compose my thoughts. I'm no good at metaphors, so I'll have to put it quite bluntly…" She took a deep breath, blowing it out as she allowed her hand to fall from Elsa's lips. "It's politics, not playtime. Yes, they were our parents and we owe them that respect. Yes, they are deceased and we owe honor to the dead. And yes, by all means they were a fair and just King and Queen… But they made a mistake. And the brilliance in admitting that they made a mistake is that it indebts the people to you. You righted the wrongs of our blood, you trusted the people so much as to tell them, you were so loyal to your family that you even waited this long to reveal it. But, indeed, you are the one revealing it. And you are much better at playing the game of politics than this."

"I should be," Elsa smiled, but it was strained. "I just… I can't stop thinking about them as of late. What they would think should they see us now. Every action I take as Queen, I find myself questioning what mother or father would have done and…"

"Elsa," She didn't look up immediately. The carpet was far less interesting, to be certain, but it demanded less from her emotionally. "Elsa, look at me." The soft demand was hard to resist. And she knew better, truly, than to resist it. Anna's eyes were soft, but her expression was hardened and serious. "The dead are dead and buried. And while it is both important and admirable to survive them, and keep them alive within our hearts and memories, it is most important to do right by them and allow ourselves to live. Not in fear of the phantoms of times long gone. Not with the threat of their glorious past forever looming above. We live as we should live, because we see it as the best that we are, and that we can be. Love them, but allow them to pass on peacefully. One day you'll be a great ruler. But only once you allow yourself to be the ruler that you wish to be."

She was silent for a long while. Or what felt it. Just thinking. Just looking into almost-blue eyes and losing herself in the depths of them. Eventually, she smiled. Chuckling, and shaking her head she stepped closer to the woman she cherished, wrapping her in an embrace.

"When did you become so wise?"

"I've always been wise," She was smiling as she pressed a kiss to the top of Elsa's head. "You just weren't listening." Elsa drew back, expression oddly neutral.

"I'm sorry, could you repeat that? I just got lost in my own head for a second there..."

"Oh you're so funny." Anna rolled her eyes and huffed as she turned from the wickedly grinning blonde, moving back down the hallway towards the gardens, Elsa's laughter following her as she sped to catch up. "You missed your calling as a court jester."

"Really I did," Elsa nodded solemnly. "But I much prefer being Queen and… other mother to two beautiful, brilliant children."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves now. We have no idea how fine or intelligent Jana will be." Elsa was silent for a moment, if only to savor the sound of her daughter's name rolling from Anna's tongue. She'd accepted it. And that pleased her.

"Ahh, but you forget," Anna glanced at her, skeptical, waiting for another joke, frowning just so. "With you as her mother, she'll be absolutely perfect." They stopped just before the entryway to the gardens. And only because she'd caught Anna off-guard. The redhead grinned suddenly, leaning over to once more press a kiss to the elder blonde's cheek.

"You are a wise and knowing ruler, hmm?" she chuckled at the dopey grinned aimed her way as they at last stepped into the garden. "Sometimes." For a pregnant woman, she could certainly move fast. And hide herself amongst the foliage quite easily. Anna always had loved hide-and-seek. She stepped into the gardens wearing a smile; one that didn't dwindle for the remainder of the day. Not even when Aren successfully dumped a pile of snow on her head. After all, Aren loved hide-and-seek too. And Elsa didn't mind losing.

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The only thing I've really actually changed while reposting these is the ANs. So, quick one, I may or may not continue more one shots for this. Because I really love Aren and this chapter had always been my favorite. BUT in any case. Here this is. Do with it what you will.