Annalise looked at herself once more in the mirror, wondering if she over did herself. If anything, she learned in the world of ballet, it was how to be seen when at a party. After yesterday with Mathias and Anja, she was lucky to clear her mind to even place the last pin in her hair. Countless parties her parents took her to, galas and more. It was a world that was never resting or ending, well until she got here. This was the only one that Mathias stated was in the area until further notice, since the elites wanted to 'wine and dine' as he said.

So, there she was, looking at the small bouncing curls of her hair that was loose as the rest was set in a relaxed braid, the small red daisies added a small flare she knew would catch eyes and match her perfectly as well. The red taffeta dress gave her butterflies as she looked over her handy work once more, happy she changed the black waist sash to white. She was quite proud of her work, both in the dress and her hair.

"Annalise, you almost ready?" she heard him ask through the door.

"Oui, un moment." she replied, slipping on her heels.

Looking over herself once more, she finally left the room, wondering what the others would be like. Once out, she saw Mathias cooing over Anja as he readied her stuff to go.

"Ok, coat, hat, mittens and blanket, your seat is ready, so what is Uncle Mathias missing?" she heard him say to himself.

"Her bag, mon cœur." she told him.

Mathias spun around to see her, just for his jaw to slack and stare off at her as his eyes widened. She knew she wasn't far in the same look of awe in her face from him, he was handsome before her. The red wine shirt matched her dress quite well as it defined him even more to her. The black slacks upon him showed his legs as he slumped down in the chair, his mouth still open. Wondering upon his actions, she looked down upon herself as a small fear climbed her spine.

"Too much?"

"Nej!" he nearly shouted as he jumped out of the chair. "No, I mean...wow. It's not bad at all, I just wasn't expecting you to be so...so uh so..."

"Go ahead Mathias." she smiled at him.

"Beautiful." he finally got out.

"Merci." she nodded to him, making her way over to Anja as her gentle sigh filled the room, "We are ready then, non?"

"Oh, yea we're ready as long as you are." he said moving beside her.

Annalise looked at him, there was something off about him but she couldn't place her finger on it for it seemed like he was trying to be cautious around her, like he knew something that he wasn't supposed to know, but she brushed it away. Only then did she fully look up at him, those dark crystal blues pulling her closer to him as the heat of his body came off him like a makeshift heater. It was marveling how attractive he was and the sudden thought of kissing him came to her mind. She had no idea why it hit her but it was there as she stared at his full lips. She tried so hard to pull away from the thought, to get out of the house and pretend it didn't happen, but the hand that laid upon her waist made her stop.

"Annalise." she heard him whisper.

"Je suis désolé. I did not mean to stare."

The familiar goofy smile graced him as he rubbed his neck, "It's ok, just didn't want to push boundaries."

She gave a light nod, moving away from him as she grabbed her things, "Well then, let us go."

The after party was what most would think, just that. People mingling here and there as a live band played for them, gentle classical music lifting the air as the heavy scent of foods and smoke lingered. She found herself where she always felt most comfortable, away from everyone. Well, not that she was away in general.

"So, she was no issue for you both?" she heard Kitty ask again.

"Oui Kitty, I promise. Mathias and I were just fine with Anja." she reassured the mother.

"Don't worry, she's like that with all of us." Trine smiled.

"I can't help but worry." Kitty replied.

"It's a mom thing. Seen a lot of it in the Labor and Delivery Ward." Olivia stated.

"That's what makes you a good mama." Valeriya pointed out.

"I can see that." Annalise nodded to them, "But truthfully she was no problem for us. It was really fun to have her."

The evening was quite pleasant in her mind, speaking with the girls as they let the time pass by with little interruption. Anything and everything was place on the table for conversation, and it awed Annalise.

"Ok, so as of now, we Nordics have two government workers, a gymnastics coach, a seamstress and dancer, and a midwife." Trine pointed out.

"I am just a few steps away from gaining the pure title of OBGYN thank you." Olivia stated.

The laughs shared between them made the air bubbly and happy as the thoughts of war and the knowing evil that laid outside the borders nonexistent. The view of white hair came to sight as Annalise saw Emil approach them, a puzzled look upon his face.

"What's the matter Emil?" she asked.

"Not to intrude on you girl but have any of you seen-"

Olivia cut him off as she snapped her fingers and pointed to her hair. Curiosity got to all of them as they leaned over to see Emil lift her hair and there within her dark locks was Mr. Puffin, tucked away and sleeping.

"Really?" he asked the bird.

"He's behaving and not hurting anyone." Olivia told him as she placed her hair back, "Go enjoy yourself with the boys before you have any interruptions."

With that he was gone as the others came to sight, speaking with one another over lord knew what. She caught Mathias within the crowd, his laughter would drift to her ears occasionally, a soothing knowing that he was close by.

"Beter Kitty." she heard Trine warn.

Her head snapped back to the others as a woman approached Kitty, the visible tension was almost suffocating as she called her full name. She sat there with Olivia as the two of them shared tight words in Russian, watching as Kitty seemed to sink into herself as she told the woman about them. Once she landed on Valeriya, the Ukrainian smiled her usual cheeriness and shook the Russians hand, just for harsh words to spill and her wiping her hand upon her outfit.

"Whatever was just said, it was nasty." Olivia whispered to her as Valeriya's eyes widened in shock and anger.

The Russian got harsher between the two women as the older spat something at Kitty, making Valeriya gasp and Kitty sink into the seat, just as the woman walked away from them all, her nose stuck up in the air. Oh, how Annalise knew that look too well. Displeasure, that's what it was.

"Kitty?" Trine called out to her.

"Excuse me girls." was all they got as Kitty got up and walked away.

"Kitty wait!" Valeriya called out to her, "It was just words."

But she was gone, being tucked into Lukas's side as his eyes narrowed at a corner of the large room, leading Kitty away from the crowd.

"That wretched bitch." Valeriya hissed, "Diseased peasant, I'll show you diseased."

That was unlike the woman. Valeriya let more spill out in her native tongue until she realized she had gained an audience from them, "Vybačte."

"No, don't be." Trine replied, "It's not the first we've dealt with Kitty's family."

"Wait, that was her mother?" Olivia asked.

"Tak." Valeriya replied, "And nasty at that. Kitty brought up Anja to her, saying she could meet her grandchild and all that woman said was, 'I'm no grandmother to a worthless child'. It irritates me."

"Ja, we saw that before when she was pregnant. After her change, she and Lukas went to Russia to deal with diplomatic situations and for her to see her family and tell them the news of the baby and her sight being fixed. All she got from them was that he was sleeping with her for he felt bad for her, and that he was using her for looks, not due to love. Kitty pretty much vowed never to step back home for that reason."

"That's harsh." Olivia spoke up.

"It's life. Anyways, let's get off the depress train and get back to the mood we were in before that woman came over." Trine said as the music changed.

A tap to her shoulder caught her off guard, making her jump as she heard Mathias's voice, "Oh easy there. Didn't mean to startle you."

Annalise spun around, glancing up at the happy face, "Thought I'd have a moment with you."

She let out an oh, glancing back to the others as they gave her small nods of approval as Trine smiled at her, "You know you don't have to ask to go."

Giving a wave goodbye, she took his hand as he led her to the large floor, "Thought I'd have a small dance with you, just the two of us."

Annalise smiled at his gesture as they made their way to the middle, the few moving bodies ignoring them as he pulled her close. She tried to figure out what he was doing as his fingers entwined with hers, but before she could utter a word, he silenced her with a chuckle.

"Don't worry, I got you." he smiled as his one arm came around her waist.

Slow and steady they were off, in step as they moved gently to the music. A simple slow dance to calm the nerves and bring couples close as her mother would say, yet this felt different in her mind. It felt surreal yet perfect as she grew closer to him.

"You can rest your head on me if you want." he noted, and she did just that.

Her stare wandered the faces around them as his heart kept her grounded to him, giving her proof that he was there, well not that his touch didn't do that. The gentle rumble of his chest gave her a notion that he was humming along as they swayed as one, it soothed her as she felt her eyes grow heavy. She wasn't sure how much time pass, nor cared. It was heaven being against him.

"Enjoying yourself, tiny dancer?" he whispered in her ear.

Annalise gave a small hum as the song moved to another, lulling the air around them as more came to the floor. His grip never lessened as they moved around to the melody.

"I cannot help that I am a good dancer." she smiled at him.

"Oh, that you are, in all ways."

Annalise looked up at him, noticing the tone in his voice as his grip changed ever so slightly. His eyes averted from hers as she tried to see what he meant, "How do you mean by that?"

From the hidden tone he gave to instant shock, he glanced down to her as the color faded from his face only for his cheeks to blossom in a deep red.

"Mathias?"

"Uh..." he tried to avoid her glare but she gave no end to him, "Ok, ok, truth. I kind of ended up watching you practice through the crack of the door and it just shocked me and I didn't want you to get mad at me or be upset that I kind of spied on you."

He didn't, did he really see her dance? She felt worry and judgement grow in her belly as she tried to pull away.

"Nej Annalise, nej." he said to her, holding tightly to her, "It wasn't bad it was very good. Truly wasn't expecting that dancing, but it was amazing, honestly."

"You didn't find me...well, dirty?"

"Dirty? Why would you say that?"

Annalise looked to the ground, "My father said that women that dance so risqué are dirty and whores."

"What, no! No, I don't see you like that. In truth, any dance is an art form, it takes constant practice and dedication to master what you can and even then, you could surprise yourself and do more, just like writing and drawing. Some people find different versions of dance 'dirty' for how it's done. That would be one but mostly, according to Sadiq, the art of belly dance isn't to entertain men, it is mostly for women for their entering of womanhood and marriage. Like a rite of passage."

"When did you learn this?" her curiosity peaked.

"Uh..." his blues shifted away from hers momentarily, "This morning before the meeting began."

"Mathias." she couldn't help but giggle at him.

"Hey, I wanted to learn and the internet is shifty."

"Only you."

He smiled at her, pressing his forehead to hers. It was then that she realized the world grew quiet, people seemed to disappear as he was so close. All her fears and worries were gone as he became so close to her. His scent, his warmth, his emotions wrapped her like a protective, heavy blanket that she never wanted to unravel herself from.

The music slowed to a stop as the couples around them gave applause and gave her a true idea of how crowded she was upon the floor. Her fingers gripped onto him harder as she felt the world slowly unravel as faces and sounds became louder and misshaped.

"Annalise?" she heard him call.

She glanced up, focusing on those deep blues, "Do you need out of here?"

She gave a feverish nod as his hand entwined with her own, giving a gesture to escape the growing number of bodies. A gentle tug to her arm was all she needed to get away as she tried to follow him. It was harder than she thought, so many people had flood the floor as she and Mathias danced together, and she didn't notice until it was becoming too much. Every face she saw glanced down at her with burning eyes as their voices were louder than before.

Her hand became cold as a group of bodies hit her, making her lose sight and touch of him. No. Not this. She felt it all pile on her as everything grew louder and brighter, things turning into obscure images and temperatures flying around of all degrees. Panic settled in her as the need to escape grew. She swore she could hear her name being called, yet the mass of bodies seemed like an outdated horror movie as it all just got worse. She tried to focus, tried to get herself grounded and away from the chaos. Her hands shot up to her ears, doing their best to relieve the buzzing noise that consumed her mind, her vision slowly joining in as things blurred together from her own tears. It was becoming too much, she knew it. Backing away, bumping into bodies, she felt the urge to scream. To just let out what was building up, no matter how people reacted. It was slowly getting out of her own hands.

"Mathias." she let her voice call out. "Mathias!"

The people didn't stop. Their eyes keep burning her as their words deafened the world, she was trapped and no way out. It felt like an eternity, waiting for it to end, for it to ease yet it never came, and she couldn't take it anymore.

"Mathias!" she screamed out his name just for arms to hoist her against something solid and into the air.

She was being carried and she couldn't tell by who or where they were taking her. She tried to escape, pushing off them as she flung her body around, yet the arms held her tight, not once giving a moment in to her. The buzzing and loud voices and noise gradually grew quieter as her vision cleared just enough to see a dimly lit room yet she just wanted away. There was no rhyme or reason for her actions but just that. It was then she noticed she stopped moving and was sitting upon something firm yet uneven as something grabbed her hands, pulling them away from her ears.

Annalise shook her head fiercely, wanting nothing to do with what was going on around her. She could faintly hear someone arguing with her, telling her to calm down and to focus, but she couldn't. It was too far and her mind just couldn't accept the sudden change that came to her surroundings and how fast it was. A hand gripped tightly to hers as fabric was placed between her fingers and then she heard his voice.

"Annalsie!" he finally broke through the fog.

She felt herself calm down, everything going back to normal as the soft cotton material was pressed to her fingers, smoothing it under her tips as the solid chest rose and fell. The familiar scent came to her as the warmth of his body once again wrapped around her, giving her a peace of mind that was once lost.

"Annalise?" his voice seemed so off, so broken almost.

She couldn't say anything. Her one hand was still firmly stuck to her ear as she pressed her other to her shoulder, willing deep within her to eradicate the breakdown she had. His fingers caressed her back as his other arm pulled her closer to him, only then did she move. Laying her head upon his shoulder, she could feel his heartbeat, slowing down after racing it seemed. Her fingers never left his shirt, rubbing the materials within her fingers as she took in the room. She noticed it to be his office space within the government building, seeing the Danish flag upon the wall.

A low rumble from his chest came to her ears as she realized he was humming to her, doing what he could to settle her down. She focused on him, every aspect of him to keep her grounded to the world around her, and finally it worked.

"Mathias?" she whispered, yet gained no reply.

His humming stopped as he held his head upon his free hand as the other continuously rubbed her back. A shaky shudder left him, making her wonder what was wrong. Moving from his shoulder she looked up at him, just to see his eyes distant and sad, upset with something as small wells filled them.

"Mathias?" she tried once more.

"Annalise." finally catching him, "Oh god, Annalise. I'm sorry."

His arms enveloped her in a tight hug, another shaky sigh leaving him, "Mathias what's wrong? Why are you sorry?"

He didn't answer her which only raised more questions to her. As his grip lessened, she tried to see his eyes once more. Just to hear him speak, "I hurt you."

"Hurt me? How?"

"I let you go." he stated, "I let you go in that crowded room and I didn't hold onto you like I should've. Like I promised. I promised to never let anything hurt you and yet I did the very thing I said I never would. I panicked trying to find you, doing whatever I could to get to you."

He paused as he wiped his hand over his face, "Finally finding you and hearing you scream...it...it was like hell opened up before me. You screamed my name, god it still echoes in my head. The guilt and pain I felt as I saw you there, so scared and unsure of the world. Something I see every day and yet I can't imagine, well wait I can thanks to Brie and Juliet, but still. Even you were fighting me here, your moans and vocal protest to me was like someone taking a knife to my heart and carving 'your fault' into it. For it was, I let you go."

Annalise sat upon his lap, stunned by his words, unsure of what to say or do. No one had ever said anything like that to her. No one ever gave her an ounce of worry or fear of losing her or wonder if she was ok, yet here he was, blaming himself for something that really was out of his control. And her heart ached for him. It ached in his pain and ached for the knowledge she had of him and how she felt as well.

Before she could think, her lips found his forehead, placing a well-meaning kiss to him. She felt comfort in the action as he seemed to calm down as well. Pulling away, she looked upon him as he looked up at her, eyes full or wonder and awe.

"You didn't lose me on purpose, did you?"

"No, never."

"Then it was an accident. You didn't mean it and couldn't stop it." she told him, "I know you are trying to protect me from things, but you cannot protect me from everything."

He tried to protest as her finger landed upon his lips, "It is a fact Mathias. Powerful Viking, King of Scandinavia or not, you cannot always protect me. That's life. Yet I am very grateful that you try so hard to do so. It makes it known that I am loved."

His usual goofy grin came to view, "Think I don't?"

"I did not say that." she smiled at him, her face moving closer to his, "I know you do and as do I."

She felt his breath fan over her chin as she gazed into those blues once more. The desire there again as she moved closer. Her words were true, even before meeting the nation of Denmark and understanding what she was and what was to come and around her, she was in love with him. Wanting to know his hugs, his touch, his smell, his everything. And now, she was going to have his kiss.

"You sure?" she heard him whisper.

"Oui, plus jamais."

With that, she met him. Full, soft, warm lips met with hers as the world just vanished into thin air. Her body became warm and calm as his arms gently wrapped around her, just for her own to lock behind his neck. Such peace filled her as her mind spun on a world she never fully knew could exists, yet with Mathias it was possible.

Pulling away, the world stopped spinning as he held her to him. She really shocked herself with that, her boldness and curiosity gaining her as she smiled down at him.

"Well then, seems you liked that with how red your cheeks are." he chuckled at her.

"Like you can say differently." she poked his cheeks as they too were blooming with blush.

"You got me, so then, what does this mean?"

Annalise giggled at him as she placed another tender kiss to his lips, "It means that the King has gained his Queen."