Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's Notes: Trying to update as soon as possible. Happy Mid Autumn Festival for those in a China-! We've had one too many mooncakes here! Therefore, holiday means a break and writing!

Let it Go-ohhhh, I just discovered your fic a few weeks ago and loving it! Honored you would stop by!

Marriage of Convenience

Just how long were they going to stay in their room? Patricia sipped on her third cup of tea. Oh, she enjoyed her tea, but she only divulged in two cups a day. A third cup usually meant something was on her mind.

The butler placed a fresh tray of biscuits and cucumber sandwiches before his lady. "Is there anything more I can do for you, my lady?"

"Um. No, no, thank you...wait," the beautiful widower waved her fingers in the air,"do go check on Hans, please. It is almost noon and I have yet to hear from him...wait...I'll just go do it myself."

The butler bowed.

I haven't seen him in a long time...A part of me wonders if this is my same brother? He isn't telling me everything. And last night, he seemed more than closed off after he danced with Miss Anna. I'm going to find out what is going on.

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The darkness was wonderful. Anna stretched like a cat before rubbing her eyes. The curtains were as thick as wool and didn't let a single ray of light into their chamber. Her body felt rested...very rested. How long had it been since she had slept so deeply?

Her hands felt around the large four poster bed until it met warm flesh. Red colored her cheeks. He kept his promise. He had stayed with her, but was he even awake? "Hans?"

"..Mm.."

"Are you still sleeping?" Her fingers found his tangled locks. Brushed a few strands from his face.

"Yes, I'm still sleeping and I will continue to sleep, so please, let me sleep." The Prince of the Southern Isles may have been a gentlemen, but he wasn't much of a morning person. It was as if exhaustion finally caught up to him. Finally having the opportunity to sleep, he did.

Anna stood from the bed and began to feel around the room.

Bump. That was a chest.

Bump. That was a chair.

Crash. Oops.

Her fingers grasped what she assumed was curtains and pulled them open. Light spilled into the black room. Yes...it was morning. It was way past morning. "Oh, Hans, we need to get up. It's probably noon!"

Hans buried his head in the pillows and let out a groan. It was the first time in awhile he got to sleep. To be lazy. Oh, that was rare for him. Soft hands dug into his back muscles. Worked out kinks from the night before. He felt lips touch his shoulder.

"Good morning, my love," she whispered in his ear,"we need to get up."

"Blood rushed into his ears. Turning from a renewed energy, he grasped his wife's waist and met her lips. "I'm thinking we can just stay here all day," he whispered before smirking at her.

Someone knocked.

"Just a minute-"

The large door opened from the outside of their chamber. The creaking noise from the ancient oak doors separated them quickly. Anna, with a flushed face, pulled a sheet to quickly cover her body and buried her face in her husband's chest.

A look of annoyance was on Patricia's face," I have been waiting for your company since breakfast. Did anyone ever tell you that it is unacceptable to stay locked in your chambers...doing this...when you are in a lady's establishment?"

Hans responded kindly to his sister,"We will be down shortly, my lady, I apologize for the inconvenience. We shall ready now."

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Anna felt her face flush at a gown that had been provided for her. The maids hurried her bath and dressed her hair in a matter of minutes. There was no talk or play, only work. So different from Gerda. The princess smiled as she remembered her faithful friend. She would talk her ear off every morning about the outside. Oh, she missed her.

Lucy brought in a dress from Patricia's wardrobe,"My lady says if we are to present you to London society, you should look the part. She has chosen this for you." There was no argument from the young red head.

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"You seem rather frazzled, dear heart," Hans smiled as he kissed Patricia's cheek. Good rest and a fresh pair of clothes made him feel like a million dollars. Sitting on the chair in front of her, he picked up a biscuit from the platter.

Patricia smiled in response,"I haven't seen you in years...and when I do see you, you sleep away the time we have together in bed. I think it a little rude, don't you, Red?"

"I was very tired."

"...oh, you looked very, very tired..."

Hans wiped his fingers on a napkin and took her hands in his,"I feel happy for the first time in my life, Patricia. I feel free-"

Squeezing his hands, she lowered her voice,"My maids went to the market this morning. Maids are full of gossip, you know...but Lucy informed me that they saw some uniformed guards that are not from here. They were very inquisitive about if anyone saw a new face in London."

"It can't be. We just arrived here. London is too far-"

"...they're looking for their princess, Hans, and rumor has it The Ice Queen isn't very happy."

His eyebrows furrowed in anger,"She can be as angry as she wants, we will not be returning to Arrendale."

"You have to think of the bigger picture. Everyone saw her at the ball last night, she's a fresh face. And when a new face comes into town, so does a juicy story. If you stay, they will find out who she is by connecting the dots. All your dreams of starting fresh will not happen, Hans, I promise you. London is a thriving city but you know the King of England enjoys peace."

"Why would the King need to worry about Anna and I?"

"Because even the King knows of Queen Elsa's ice powers. Do you not remember when the Duke Of Weaseltown tried to shame Arrendale's name in the trading business? Their boats were frozen solid for a week! Everyone has heard the stories, Hans, and no one wants to cross her. If you're hiding here, I'm sure she will find a way to threaten the King if you stay on his lands."

So, things weren't looking up for them. Did he really just spend the last few weeks of his life crossing the seas to start fresh to already be found? Elsa moved fast. Aggravated, Hans stood angrily,"We will move north then, but we will not go back there."

"Dear one, is she really worth the risk of your life? I love you, but you've let a silly princess control your logical mind. Hans, why would you take a princess from her land? Do you know what will become of you if you do not sail her home? The Ice Queen will freeze you once she's learned what you've done to her sister. Bad, bad move."

"I won't send Anna back to that frozen grave."

"I never thought I would see you like this. I thought you were different from your brothers. You had such a good heart. What happens when you tire of her? Women aren't little toys that you can play with and then forget about them when you are done. She is very beautiful, but she's very wrong for you. She doesn't dress like a royal, she acts as if she has never been introduced to society, and she just doesn't suite you. You need a woman of poise and elegance. You need a woman from the Southern Isles."

"I will never go home while my brother is on the throne nor will I stay under his leadership. As soon as he sees me, he will send me on the next ship to war...! He tried to kill me, Patricia, KILL ME. I will not go back."

Her hand patted his,"Oh, Hans, I didn't know..." Standing, she wrapped her arms around him.

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They both knew what hatred felt like in their family. Hans was the youngest brother and the most favored, that never set well with the older brothers. His entire life was full of being ignored, bullying, and many times physical abuse. Even though he had a hell of a life, he had somehow overcome the hatred and saw the good in life.

Patricia was never a true sister of the royal blood line. She was a half breed. Hans' father,when in a drunken stupor, had made unwise decisions and bedded a maid unwillingly. She had been threatened her job if she spoke of the incident. She had become pregnant and the King wanted it to be kept quiet. He sent the maid away to work in his other estate, Golden Crossings, and never fathered his own child. She was forgotten and never recognized as a true daughter of the King.

One night, when Hans was locked in a closet, his eldest brother teased him,"You're not our real brother, you're a half breed, just like the wench at Golden Crossings!" The young Hans never forgot that day.

It was at a ball when Hans saw a pair of eyes that matched his own, facial features that looked like his father, and a birthmark on the young lady's hand that made him seek her out.

Within the hour, they had opened their hearts and learned just who they were: brother and sister. Even if not full blooded, they had the same father, that was what mattered. And for the first time, Hans felt happy. He was loved.

The Southern Isles was a beautiful country and had a strong family, but was buried in secrets that would make the country sink one day.

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"What will you do?" A handkerchief pressed the tears that had assaulted her eyes. Too many memories! The hurt had been tucked away after she married her Alexander. He was a good man. He loved her and never cared of her past. Her husband made her into the strong woman she had become...now, if only she could help others be strong.

"I don't know." He whispered.

"Stay here with me. We can start all over."

He tried not to laugh,"Maybe I need to stop running away. Maybe returning to Arrendale is the only answer."

"But you can't...If what I saw this morning wasn't a dream...You've soiled a princess...what if she is with child?...Oh, Hans, you've messed up..."

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She couldn't stand it any longer. Anna gathered her green skirts in her hand and stepped from around the corner. It had taken a lot of strength to stand there silently and listen to their conversation. Tears had threatened to spill down her cheeks at any moment.

"Good afternoon, my lady, would you like some tea?" James, the butler, stood beside the ginger haired beauty with a tray.

"N-no, thank you..." Her eyes dropped to the floor and studied the swirls of the Persian rug."

"Good afternoon, Anna. Did you sleep well?" Patricia beamed a smile. One of the best qualities of a lady of society was to show friendship even when you were just gossiping about them behind their back.

The young prince stood and came to her side. Lightly, he placed a chaste kiss on her cheek,"You look beautiful, darling. Do you want to go for a carriage ride later?"

"Are you sure that's wise? I don't want to ruin your reputation because I dress like a pauper and don't know the ways of society..."

Clattering dishes interrupted them,"Oh my."

"...am I a toy, Hans?! Is this some type of a game? Did you even mean anything you said? Was it all a lie? How many other women have there been-"

A string of curses flew out of his mouth in his language's dialect. Grabbing her firmly by the shoulders, he shook her. Damn women and their confusing emotions. Her tears spilled down her cheeks. Shook her once more as if to make the common sense return to her head. Those tears made his heart ache.

"Don't cry, sweetheart," he murmured into her hair. His left arm wrapped around her small waist. His hand gently cupped her cheek before he lowered his lips to hers. And in the middle of the storm, there was a calm.

Her back pressed against the lounge chair. Oh, if only she could disappear! The princess had heard every word. Why was she so offended? She was being honest and trying to be upfront! Dare she say she was trying to help the young princess by showing Hans where he was at fault? It wasn't proper for a princess to be a mistress!

"You're not a game, Anna, you're the only one for me...I never lied...there was never anyone else." The two shared another kiss.

A golden ring reflected in the light. Patricia felt her insides twist. The young princess had a ring on her finger, but not just any ring, it was the King's ring. Biting her bottom lip, she began to question herself. "You...she...You're..."

"Patricia, she is my wife," he stated slowly,"I thought you understood."

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Patricia was quiet at dinner. What could she possibly say? Hans had finished his duck rather quickly and bowed,"I will take my leave early. I am to meet Frederick about a job." Taking two fingers, he slipped them under Anna's chin and kissed her lightly.

The front door shut and the horses could be heard on the gravel in the front of the large home. Anna and Patricia finished their meal in silence. "Will you take refreshments in the parlor, my lady?"

"Yes, James. Anna, will you join me?"

The two sat across from each other. One would sip tea, the other would stare into the roaring fire. Normally, simple conversation would follow. But their situation made it a little more difficult.

"Anna, I must apologize to you, I had no idea you were wed..."

"You were just watching out for Hans, I understand."

A single hand rested on her shoulder,"I will never be able to take back my words. I was just so worried. My life wasn't easy, you know...Hans and I are very close and I guess I was very protective..."

For the next hour, the widow opened up her heart to this stranger. She shared her hurts, her struggles, and her fears. Anna, with tears in her eyes, held tightly onto Patricia's hand. For some odd reason, it all made sense now.

Words were said, people were hurt, but hearts could mend. Anna felt her heart explode. How lonely Patricia must have been growing up. "You must have been so lonely."

"Loneliness is the hardest thing to live with. Sometimes, I wondered if I should even live. It hurt so much, but then Hans came. My wonderful brother. I use to feel dirty and like an outcast, but he made me feel like royalty. He is a good man. He's my best friend...and my brother...he just...took that loneliness away..."

Loneliness is the hardest thing to live with.

The thought echoed in her mind. As much as she was angry at her sister, a part of her wondered just how lonely Elsa was at this exact moment? Was it possible she was just as scared as Patricia had been?

"...are you scared, Anna?"

"I'm very frightened...but I can't let fear control me...I ran away from the loneliness and I found a love I never thought I could have...now that I have it? I want to share it...Elsa would keep herself locked away. She never talked to me...I would hold conversations at dinner and she would stare into space. It felt so empty inside of those walls...I had to escape...and when I had the chance? I did. But now that I'm away, all I can think of is how empty she may feel...or hurt...or lonely..."

Patricia softened her tone,"And what will you do?"

"I can't run away. I have to go back. Arrendale is my home...and my people...I'm so very scared, but I can't run away anymore."

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Anna paced enough to wear a hole in the floor. What time would he be home? So much was on her mind. Was it possible she may be right? Or was her thoughts silly? Her motions stopped as their chamber door opened.

Hans, with a candle in his hand, began to untie his coat. It had been a frigid evening. London was known for their rains and sure enough...it had turned into a downpour. He sat the candle on the stand and began to shed his wet clothes. A loud slap could be heard as his shirt hit the ground.

"Hans," Anna whispered. Her hands grasped the blanket on the bed and pulled it down,"here, come and rest, it's warm."

Running his hands through his wet hair, he nodded. Yeah, he needed to get warmed up. The two sat in silence. They sat on the bed together, their bodies touching to absorb their warmth.

"I must go back to Arrendale. Elsa won't stop searching until I am found. I was so selfish to run...I forgot about my people in Arrendale. Oh, Hans, I've been such a bad princess...what if they're frozen because I disobeyed Elsa? What have I done? What if-"

As slow as the setting sun, her prince lowered his lips to hers. Traced a finger on her bottom lip and assaulted her gently. The two were drunk on one another. Anything just to forget the world for a brief moment.

Hesitantly, he pulled away,"If you never would've ran, I never would've married you...so I'm thankful for that...but you're right...we can't be selfish...I can't be selfish...we will return to Arrendale..together...we won't run, Anna..."

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The decision had been made.

Returning to Arrendale was the only way to bring peace to their torn apart lives.