A/N: So this chapter is a little different, though it may not be immediately apparent. It's not necessarily about the Elsa of this story. It's also about me. I wrote the character of Rachel Lattimore based on my very very good friend TalkElsannaToMe, as an overall thank you for being such an amazing friend :)

So, without further ado, let us continue.

Elsa gradually awoke from sleep, her face buried in her pillow, limbs sprawled in every direction across her bed. Beside her, Anna was sleeping peacefully, perfectly flat on her back, on top of the covers. Groaning slightly, Elsa slowly clambered out of bed, feeling her joints pop in the process.

Grumbling and muttering to herself, she crossed the room and entered the spacious bathroom. Locking the door behind her, she began to disrobe. Quickly glancing at her slender form in the mirror, she stepped into the shower and turned it on, hot water immediately splashing down upon her. Sighing loudly, the water burning her shoulders, she thought about her life. All the little things that shaped her world up to this point; from joining the military as a young woman, to meeting Rachel, and encountering this quirky young woman Anna. Smiling to herself, she swiftly finished washing herself and stepped out of the shower. Shivering slightly, she reached for her robe and put it on, tying it loosely around herself. She entered the main bedroom to find some clothes for herself, when she came face to face with Anna.

"Oh! Hello, Anna!" She blushed slightly, realising her robe was tied a little too loosely. Rectifying her mistake, she crossed the room to her closet and began removing some clothing.

"Good morning, Commander."

Elsa chuckled. "Oh, please, call me Elsa."

"Elsa. Thank you for allowing me to stay last night."

"You're welcome. But it was on the condition that you'd talk to your mother today."

Anna sighed. "I was rather hoping you'd forget about that."

"Not a chance. Now come on, get ready." Elsa crossed the room to her private terminal and quickly dictated a message to the mother of the quarian, instructing to meet in the starboard observation deck in fifteen minutes. Elsa returned to the bathroom and began to change.

Ten minutes later, the pair were in the elevator on their way to deck three. Anna was silent, staring at her feet and wringing her hands. Elsa was her usual composed self, gracefully regarding the closed elevator doors before her. Gradually, it slowed to a halt and the doors slid open. Taking a deep breath, Anna strode out of the elevator and swept off to the left.

"Let's get this over with, then!"

"Anna?"

"Yes?"

"Starboard is this way."

"Oh."

The pair entered the observation deck where Samantha Traynor was waiting. She turned on the spot and immediately paled at the sight of her daughter.

"Hello, Anna."

"Mother."

Elsa glanced between the two women. "You two have a lot to talk about. So talk. And don't leave until you have worked whatever this is between you out!"

And with that, she turned on her heel and strode out.

Elsa was making her way back to the elevator to return to her quarters when she heard a familiar voice to her right.

"Elsa!"

"Rachel! Good to see you!"

The pair embraced briefly. "Likewise," Rachel replied. "Join me for some breakfast?"

Elsa smiled. "I'd love to."

The two young women walked slowly to the officers' mess. Surprisingly, it was almost deserted, with only a few pairs of crewmembers dotted about. The young man in the galley handed Elsa a plate of scrambled eggs on toast.

"Eggs, Rachel?"

Rachel wrinkled her nose. "Ew, no. I hate eggs. Unless they're in rice. I'll take the croissants."

Taking their food, the pair walked to the nearest table. Sitting down with a slight ooof, Elsa unfolded her napkin and placed it gently on her lap.

Rachel immediately dove in to her croissants.

"So," she began, "waff you fink ov dis 'rian?"

Elsa smirked. "Excuse me?"

Rachel swallowed, seemingly with great effort. "I said, what do you think of this quarian?"

"Oh!." Elsa frowned at her plate, contemplating the existence of her eggs. "I...she seems pleasant enough. A little shy, a little reserved perhaps, but a decent person. I'm concerned about this rift between her and her mother, however."

"Oh?"

"Yes, it's not a minor spat, either. This is a huge, huge quandary they're in. I'm concerned about Traynor, too."

"Yes, I can imagine."

"I'll let them work it out between the two for now, but if this begins to affect Traynor's duties, I'm stepping in. Not that I want to, however…"

"Where's she staying?"

"Come again?"

"If they don't work things out, which from the sounds of it they won't, at least not yet, where is the quarian girl accommodated? I don't recall any quarters being assigned."

"Oh! I-um, she is staying with me."

Rachel's face split into a mischievous grin, and she snickered slightly.

"Oh, don't give me that!" Elsa scolded. "We are just friends. Actually, we're not even that! I barely know her. She just needed some comfort and companionship last night."

"Companionship, suuuuure!"

Elsa kicked Rachel's shin under the table, and the pair immediately exploded in peals of laughter. Tears were streaming down their faces, and they struggled to catch their breath.

"Oh...god...Rachel! You are...evil!"

The culprit wiped her eyes, still red. "Ohhhh, admit it! You've got the hots for this girl!"

"Rachel, please! People can hear! Besides, I don't even know what she looks like!"

"Yeah, but you're going to soon enough!" she retorted, and once more crumbled down into fits of laughter.

Elsa pouted, her face red. "I hate you." Of course, she didn't mean it. Rachel was her dearest friend in the universe.

Rachel snorted. "Nah, you don't."

"Yes, I do! That was not cool!"

"You love me, really."

Elsa smiled. "Yes, I do."

Rachel returned the smile and gently took Elsa's hands in her own. "You're amazing, you know that?"

Elsa blushed. "Me, amazing? No, you're the amazing one!"

"I mean it, Elsa. You've taken this girl under your wing, you've given her a home, a purpose, a reason to live. If that's not amazing, I don't know what is."

Elsa smiled widely. "Well...thank you. So much, that means a great deal to me. But I still think you're the amazing one. Not only for everything you've done for me, but just because you're...you. You're sweet and loving, incredible, fantastic, supportive…I can't imagine my life without you in it, Rachel. You've changed me for the better. Every day I look at you and I feel lucky, blessed even. You brighten my whole day, my whole life, even. And I love you for that."

Rachel stared at Elsa, speechless. "Wow...Elsa...thank you. You are too kind!"

Elsa squeezed her hands gently. "I mean it, every word."

The pair stood and brought each other into an embrace, Rachel's face buried in Elsa's shoulder, holding each other tightly. They stayed like that for several minutes, not caring about the curious glances of the crewmembers around them.

"Elsa?"

"Mmm?"

"You know how I said it's amazing that you took Anna under your wing?"

"Yes...what of it?"

Rachel pulled back slightly and a grin split out on her face. "Bet that's not the only place you're going to be taking her before long!"

Elsa gasped, and smacked Rachel on the arm. "Rachel!"

"Ow! Not cool!"

Elsa laughed, and hugged her friend once more. "Oh, you!"

Rachel laughed. "Come on, lover girl. Let's get to the CIC. We're on duty."

Elsa smacked her friend's arm playfully. "Hey, I'm the Commander! It's me who tells you when we're on duty! Not the other way round!"

Rachel smiled a pretty smile, one that Elsa had come to love over the past six months. "Oh, I am terribly sorry, Commander," she said with mock sarcasm. "Might I have your permission to leave Your Royal Highness's presence?"

Elsa chuckled. "Come on!"

The two strode for the elevator doors and made their way to the CIC, smiling all the way.

When the elevator doors parted, they were suprised to be met by Anna. Though Elsa could not see her face, she could tell the quarian girl was upset.

"Anna? Are you all right?"

The young woman glanced at Elsa, then at Rachel, and finally at her feet. After what seemed like an eternity, she let out a single word.

"No."

Elsa's heart broke. She had never seen so much emotion, especially from a masked face. It penetrated her very soul, and she felt on the verge of tears.

"Um, why don't I leave you two alone?" Rachel said. There was no hint of innuendo in her voice this time. "I'll catch up with you."

Placing an arm over Anna's shoulders, Elsa guided her back into the elevator.

"Deck one."

As the elevator whirred into motion, Anna broke down in tears.

"God, Anna! What is wrong? Tell me!"

The girl shook her head fervently, her shoulders shaking,

The elevator slowed to a stop and opened, and Elsa gently took the girl's hand and guided her to her cabin door.

"Come, sit. You don't have to tell me anything. Just stay here and rest. I have to go, but I'll be back later."

Anna desperately clutched at Elsa's arm, fingers digging in painfully. "Please don't go," she whispered.

Elsa sighed, and leaned over to the intercom panel. Pressing a button, she waited as the tone beeped for a few seconds, until Rachel's voice answered.

"CIC, XO speaking."

"I won't be able to join you on watch today, Rach. Can you hold down the fort?"

"Sure thing, Els."

Elsa guided Anna over to the bed and sat her down. She gazed for a few seconds at the purple-tinged mask, before drawing herself close and wrapping her arms around her.

The two spent the entire day in Elsa's cabin. She comforted the girl in any way possible, including reading her absolute favourite novel, The Winter and the Sun, to her.

Anna sniffed lightly as Elsa set the book aside. "That was absolutely wonderful, I loved it. Thank you so much for reading to me."

"You're more than welcome," Elsa said, smiling.

"Who wrote it anyway?"

Elsa passed the book to Anna. "See for yourself."

Anna looked at the cover for a few seconds. "The Winter and the Sun," she murmured, "by Rachel Lattimore.*

She looked at Elsa inquisitively. "Your XO?"

"The very same," Elsa said fondly. "She wrote it not long after joining the crew."

"She's amazing."

Elsa sighed contentedly. "Yes, she really is."

The two dozed on the bed for around an hour, Elsa drifting in and out of consciousness, and Anna completely zoned out beside her. The door chime tolled.

"Enter."

The door slid open, and Rachel stood in the doorway. "Hey, I just got off duty, I was wondering if-," she stopped short as she noticed the book lying on Elsa's chest.

"You read her The Winter and the Sun?"

"Yeah. Something the matter?"

"I-no. I just didn't...think you liked it that much."

"Rachel! How could you say that!" Elsa carefully rose from the bed, careful not to wake Anna. "I love your stories. All of them! They are amazing, Rachel. Amazing and wonderful, fantastic, beautiful, sweet...I can't find the words, really."

Rachel took Elsa's hand in her own. "Oh, Els...thank you. So, so, so much. You've always been so supportive of me."

Elsa hugged her friend briefly, smiling.

Rachel continued, "I mean it, Els. Have I ever told you exactly how much you mean to me?"

Elsa smiled warmly, "Mm, I think you have. But I'd love to hear it again."

"We've known each other for, what? Six months? And in that time I've never, ever, known anyone quite as amazing as you. You are my best friend, Els. You brighten my day whenever we talk, you make me feel better without even trying. You're wonderful and sweet, funny, kind, caring, and supportive. I honestly don't know what I'd do without you, Elsa."

Elsa was speechless. Taking Rachel's other hand in her own, she began to speak. "Oh...Rachel...that was...wow. I am the lucky one! You're the amazing one! You've made me so much...more. And your stories! My god! I have never, ever, read anything as incredible as those! I can't believe it, my beautiful friend, now my executive officer, writing such amazing works of art that make my heart melt! You're my best friend in the entire universe, Rach, and I love you. For everything. For just being...you." She embraced her best friend tightly, not wanting to let her go. Finally, they parted, a huge smile plastered on Elsa's face.

Rachel cocked her head. "What's that about?"

Elsa's smile grew wider. "You."