"Are these eggs hardboiled?" an older lady asked, her failing eyes squinting hard at the basket of eggs on the buffet table.

"Err," Elsa stammered, "Yes?" What else would they be? Raw?

"Oh I just can't stand hardboiled eggs. They simply ruin my stomach," the woman bemoaned, moving onto a platter of fruit.

"I see, ma'am," Elsa replied, although the woman had long checked out of the conversation and was now busying herself with slices of melon.

What had Hans wanted? He had never taken in interest in either her or Anna before, so why did he come to see Elsa specifically today? Maybe he's just being welcoming, Elsa scolded herself. No need to be so suspicious.

But still. The youngest Eriksen was unlike his elder brothers. When Elsa and Anna's parents died, the older Eriksens tried their best to cheer up the Arendelle sisters. One effort resulted in a football in Mr. Eriksen's morning porridge, Elsa recalled with a small giggle. She missed those boys, but they were either married now or off at school, and she hadn't seen them in years. I wish I had been nicer to them, she thought miserably. Elsa at the time had been so devastated by her parents' deaths that she was unnaturally cold to the rambunctious Eriksen brothers.

"Elsa!" Olaf called from the kitchen.

"Coming!"

Stepping into the kitchen, the large man was prepping for the day's lunch. "How are we doing on eggs?"

"Just fine," Elsa assured. "It's been a little slow this morning."

Not listening to her at all, Olaf popped something into the girl's mouth. "Eat."

Elsa made a sound of protest, but chewed down. It was delicious! "What is this?" she asked, when finished.

"This new cookie recipe I'm trying. Raspberry and white chocolate, but oh it's simply not good enough!" Olaf wailed dramatically.

The older sister cautiously placed a slim hand on the chef's shoulder. "Well, I thought it was simply superb." She hadn't touched anyone but Anna in a long time.

"Really?" Olaf whispered, wiping away his tears of frustration.

"Yes," she said with what she hoped was a winning smile. "You're the best chef I know."

"Oh you darling girl," Olaf praised, kissing her sloppily on the cheek. "Now get back to work!"

"Yes, sir," Elsa teased before scurrying back to her station.

Being back in the real world was nicer than she had hoped.

Kristoff was lugging a bright pink suitcase up the stairs. Why does the service elevator have to be out? he bemoaned. Knocking on Room 510, he called, "Your luggage is here!"

Shuffling, and then, "Just leave it out there—I'll get it later" through the door.

"Err," Kristoff began, "I suppose?"

The woman behind the door slipped five dollars through the bottom of the door.

"Thanks!" Pocketing the money, Kristoff gleefully made his way back to the lobby. Not many people remembered to tip, and he could use the money.

Anna was sitting at the reception desk. How could it be that the sun filtering through the window was hitting her ginger locks in just the way to make them glimmer like a jewel?

Gulping hard, Kristoff approached the girl he had known for ages. "Hey Anna," he greeted.

"Kristoff!" she said cheerily. "Sven has been such a good boy all day!" The large dog poked his black head out from the desk, giving a loud woof.

"Shh!" Kristoff pet the dog, feeding him a carrot. "You're not really supposed to be here, remember?" Dogs, unless they were paying customers', were not allowed at Southern Isles Hotel and Resort.

"Oh, so you do remember that rule. I just thought you were simpleminded," a drawling voice said behind him. Again? Kristoff mentally cursed.

"Hans," Kristoff straightened up and turned around. "I'm sorry, sir, it won't happen again."

"See that it doesn't," the tall boy frowned. "I hate mutts."

Anna looked absolutely mortified. As Kristoff left grumpily to help an old man with his luggage, Hans smiled widely at her.

"So, Anna," he started.

"Y-Yes?" she stuttered. He hardly ever took such notice.

"Elsa…do you know what she's doing this Saturday?"

Anna furrowed her brows. Well, if it were any other week, Elsa would be in her room as usual, but this week was different… Elsa was really trying this time. "No, I don't, but I'm sure she doesn't have any plans!" Anna offered. Maybe Hans was just trying to be nice.

"Oh good," he grinned. "Do you think you could pass along the message that I'd like to grab coffee with her Saturday morning?"

"Sure!" Anna beamed. What a nice boy—she knew Hans really cared! How kind of him to offer to help Elsa become more social.

"What?!" Elsa shrieked.

Clapping her hands to her ears, Anna repeated herself. "He just wants to get coffee! It's not a big deal, Elsa!"

Her first day had been fun but tough, and the last thing Elsa wanted to hear was that her younger sister had volunteered her for a date with one of the most conniving men on the planet.

"I don't like him that way, Anna," Elsa tried to say more calmly. It still came off as a threat.

Anna looked entirely bemused. "What? He's just being nice. He wants to be friends!"

How could Anna possibly be so naïve? Hans clearly had something up his sleeve. Elsa folded her arms tightly. "Well, I'm not going," she said, enunciating every word slowly.

Anna promptly dissolved into a puddle of tears. "Elsa-a-a," she moaned. "Please? For me? He'll absolutely hate me if you don't go!"

Elsa shut her eyes, wishing she could just go into her room and lock the door. That's what the old me would do. The new me is going to…

"Fine."

Anna looked up, her limpid green eyes overflowing with dramatic tears. "What?"

"Fine," Elsa repeated tersely. "I'll go. But don't ever volunteer me for anything again without my consent."

Anna leapt up out of her seat. "Yay! Elsa! Thank you!" She embraced her sister so strongly Elsa feared her spine would snap.

"Okay, okay," she breathed, struggling for air. "Now I have to get to bed. We've got work tomorrow."

Elsa could practically feel her sister's beaming gaze on her back as she retreated to her room. How could she disappoint someone who had taken care of her for so long? Kicking off her shoes, she laid on her bed. Saturday was going to be awful.