Somebody's Baby - Second Thoughts

Anna shut the door quietly behind her, leaving the buzz of girl talk and soft rock music in her apartment. Pulling the light linen wrap over her shoulders, she stepped out into the evening air.

Summer was on the verge of departing: the days were getting shorter, the nights getting cooler. Anna always loved this change in seasons, the crispness of the air felt fresh in her nose. She made the short walk from her apartment to the pier and stood at the railing, staring across the water at the bright lights of the city. She shivered, though she wasn't cold, the events of the evening finally tumbling to the forefront of her mind.

"A toast then, to the future Mrs. Bjorgman!" the ladies all lifted their glasses, tinkling them merrily, the tipsier ones sending liquid sloshing out onto the floor. Giggles erupted, someone's favourite song came on the radio, as limbs flailed and lyrics were sung badly and at top volume. Elsa took advantage of the moment, touching her sister's elbow and steering her towards the kitchen.

"How are you doing with all of this?" she set down her glass and Anna's as well, and peered into her sister's face.

"Oh I'm fine." Anna replied, smoothing and re-smoothing her skirt, avoiding her sister's gaze.

"Anna." Elsa crossed her arms and cocked her head, "We may have spent a long time apart, but I still know when you're lying."

Anna sat down heavily in a chair, slumping forward with her head in her hands. Elsa immediately took the chair across from her and waited.

"I can't do this." Anna finally whispered, and Elsa had to lean forward to even hear her.

"Why? What's changed?" Elsa asked softly.

"I don't know anything about marriage, about being a wife. How can I be Mrs. Bjorgman? I haven't got a clue about any of it. I was so busy planning the wedding, I didn't take the time to think about the actual marriage. And now, here I am, the night before I become Mrs. Bjorgman and I'm lost." she dug the heels of her hands into her eyes, fighting the sting of the tears threatening to fall.

Elsa paused for a moment, fighting the urge to ask, but in the end she felt she had to.

"Anna, does this have anything to do with what happened with Hans?"

Anna bit her lip and nodded slowly.

"I'd be lying if I said it didn't." She sighed, "I mean, with Hans, I was so ready. I was so ready to be his wife. I didn't balk at being Mrs. Westerguard. I was so sure, about him, about us." Anna rubbed her eyes even more, as if she wanted to erase the memory.

"And now, with Kristoff, you don't feel the same?" Elsa asked hesitantly.

"Oh no! I know in my heart that he's the one."

"Then why the doubt, Anna?"

"I'm just scared, Elsa."

"Scared of being a wife? Or scared that he'll leave you like Hans did?"

"I-I don't know."

"Anna," Elsa placed a comforting hand on her sister's shoulder, "I don't have any answers for you, I think you just need to take some time and think. Maybe you should take a walk, I'll hold down the fort here for a bit. I'm sure the ladies would understand." she smiled and stood, holding out her hand.

The lights of the city and the glow of the stars combined to give the night sky an ethereal shimmer, a phenomenon that never failed to leave Anna awestruck. She stared up at the sky, wondering where she went wrong. Had she made a mistake? No, she had never been more sure of anything in her life.

Was it because her previous engagement had ended so horribly? She was so desperate then, wanting to be with someone, anyone, and he had come along and swept her off her feet. No, this was nothing like that, Kristoff was nothing like him.

Anna wrapped her arms around herself, wishing she had something warmer than the linen wrap, when strong arms came around her.

"Hey."

"Hi."

"Everything okay?"

"Sure. That's why you're out on the pier at one in the morning."

"Sarcasm was never your strong suit."

She elbowed him lightly in the stomach.

"Did Elsa tell you I was here?"

"Yeah. She's worried about you." he buried his nose in her hair, breathing in the scent of her. "Should I be worried?"

Anna bit her lip. Indecision and insecurity assaulted her from all sides and she felt almost ashamed to admit it to this man, who had given her all of himself, without prejudice, without hesitation, with nothing but unconditional love.

"I-I don't know." if she couldn't give him anything, she would at least give him honesty.

Kristoff turned her gently so she was facing him. She kept her eyes firmly downcast, unable to meet his gaze.

"Anna, please talk to me."

"I don't know anything about being a wife." she blurted it out in a jumble, words crashing into each other in her haste to get them out.

"Well, I don't know anything about being a husband."

"Doesn't that scare you?"

"No? Should it? I haven't really thought about it that way." he ruffled his hair and shrugged his shoulders.

Anna sighed, turning from him and placing her hands on the railing. The sky was even darker now, the stars and city lights stood out in stark contrast.

"My entire life, I was looking for somewhere to belong, for someone to belong to. For a while it was at home with my parents, but when they died my world stopped making sense. My sister was my last hope, but she had her own demons to face. When Hans came along, he was so perfect, I thought he was finally someone I could belong to," she closed her eyes and shuddered at the memory, "but I was so terribly wrong."

Kristoff wrapped his arms around her as she sobbed quietly, allowing her to finally mourn all of the pain of her past. As her sobs subsided, he brushed aside her hair and kissed her softly on the neck, holding her until her body stilled.

"Anna, can I say something?" he said gently, and he felt her nod, "You don't need to belong to someone, but you definitely belong with someone."

She smiled, turning her head to look up at him.

"You?" she asked.

"Damn right."

She laughed, throwing her head back into his chest, as he nuzzled into her hair and squeezed her close.

The warmth in the air felt good against her skin as she entered her apartment, the faint murmur of music and talking beginning to fill her ears. Elsa came around the corner to greet her, the tense lines of her face softening once she saw Anna's smile.

"I take it he found you?"

Anna smiled. Yes, he had found her. From the moment they met in that pizzeria, through a few stumbles here and there, he had found her, and they had found each other.

"Yes, he did."

Elsa smiled, taking a hold of her sister's hand and leading her into the room.

"So, are you ready to become Mrs. Bjorgman?"

Anna smiled.

"More than ready."