Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Also, so sorry for the late posting again. Wild horses, yo. For the record, this particular chapter's been written six different times because previous versions were lost due to technical difficulties. Going back and editing it was a nightmare, because I'd written it so many times, I couldn't remember which version actually stuck! Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. This and the follow two are, again, noticeably shorter than previous ones, but there simply was no better way to split them up without making one chapter ridiculously long in the process.
Christmas Eve they spent at Eugene's, at a much more subdued party than was normal for the group. Part of it was because Anna's friends were still more than a little freaked out that she'd nearly killed herself through sheer stubbornness the night of the Halloween party; the rest, refreshingly enough, was that everyone seemed able to bring a date to the event, which wasn't something that had occurred before. Sure, Eugene and Rapunzel started dating back in Freshman year, and Elsa was just as welcomed as Anna by this point, but the rest of their friends were typically single or dating on and off, not really wanting to bring whatever significant other they had presently along for a night of drunken ridiculous shenanigans.
That was not the case tonight, though. Aladdin had met a beautiful girl named Jasmine while running late for one of his classes- he'd stopped to help her out of a jam, then skipped the rest of his class to talk to her- and Sven had brought along a friend he met through his automotive mechanics class, though he was very vague on whether or not they were dating. Vanessa was there with a rather good looking young man named Eric, though she insisted they were merely good friends from high school who'd recently reconnected. Even Kristoff wasn't there solo, which was a case of the blind leading the lost; Merida had made another curiously timed visit to the States for the holiday under the pretense of visiting Elsa- and subsequently accompanying the engaged couple to the Netherlands for New Years- and coaxed the man into being her date. Now, they were stumbling through trying to figure out if they were there as acquaintances, friends, or actual dates, and neither Elsa nor Anna were particularly inclined to assist them quite yet.
If there was one thing the redhead had learned to be thankful for, it was having just the right amount of meddling in her relationship. If those continued to flounder through the initial stages, one of them would step in and lend a hand, but for now, they could try to work things out for themselves.
Plus, maybe Anna was enjoying the pleading looks her best friend kept shooting her a bit too much; payback for his sneaky interference and assistance the previous year.
After everyone arrived, they all sat down and had a meal- like, with real food that required neither microwave nor delivery and eggnog to drink, which was somehow less potent than whatever 'jungle juice' usually filled Eugene's ridiculously large punch bowl. Apparently, Rapunzel was an excellent cook and Eugene had hidden that fact for far too long, in their opinion. Everyone was even dressed somewhat respectable, too- slacks, button up shirts, blouses and skirts, dresses. Of course, in Anna's eyes, Elsa outshone everyone else with her simple evening gown of black and royal purple, and she was assured many times by her fiancée that she looked absolutely amazing in her new suit, even though she left the jacket at the door.
It was a little jarring, when she stopped to think about it, almost as if everyone had matured overnight. It wasn't that abrupt a change of course but... it was still weird to notice as suddenly as she did.
Then, Eugene teased them briefly about their necklaces clashing with their clothing choice and Rapunzel was rather swift to regale them with how she spent the better part of an hour helping him figure out which tie to wear, so he had no room to talk. He immediately shot back that it was only because he got the ties mixed up with the silk restraints she loved and couldn't tell them apart. Aladdin made a comment about keeping their bedroom activities away from the dining table and no one could keep a straight face through Eugene's over-the-top reaction to such 'scandalous' talk as he began sipping from his cup with his pinky extended, raving about how classy gentlemen wouldn't be so crass.
Apparently, maturing didn't mean everything changed.
After dinner, they all mingled around the house, mostly making idle conversation in between catching up on recent events. What with the hospital and the wedding preparations, Anna had been busy to the point of exhaustion nearly every day, especially since she was back to working at the restaurant and catching up on her college courses. Her beloved was trying to subtly suggest that she quit her job and just let the blonde take care of the expenses but Anna wasn't having it. Out of a combination of pride and a desire to surprise Elsa with random purchases and gifts, the redhead was bound and determined to stay in the work force until something came up. The winter break, however, was just the thing she needed to relax and reconnect with her friends.
"You're kidding." Anna fought to contain a laugh as Jasmine shook her head, long black tresses swaying with the motion.
"No, when I say he was being completely serious, I'm being honest. He actually thought a monkey was an appropriate gift for a four year old." The redhead couldn't bear it anymore, busting out a laugh at her friend's expense, though he was engrossed in a debate with Kristoff about some hockey team and didn't notice. Jasmine chuckled, glancing his way before sighing softly. "It was sweet, though, how upset he got at the very suggestion of taking it back. I'm pretty sure it doesn't like me, yet, but... I guess we'll get used to each other."
"What did he name him again? The monkey?"
"Abu." The raven haired woman shook her head. "That was his second choice; you don't want to know his first."
"I can probably guess but I'd rather not." They laughed again, Anna recovering as Elsa reappeared at her side, greeting her beloved with a kiss. "Where did you run off to?"
"Merida needed coaching on 'how to talk American'," the blonde replied, chuckling softly. "Those two are almost as hopeless as we were."
"Lucky for them, we're here to throw a lifeline when necessary." She pressed a quick kiss to her lover's temple. "Jasmine, this is my fiancée, Elsa. Jasmine's here as Aladdin's date."
"Pleasure to meet you." The two women shook hands.
"Likewise." Jasmine smiled. "Congratulations on your engagement, by the way."
"Thank you." The blonde beamed, pressing closer to Anna's side. "I'm really lucky she said yes."
Rolling her eyes playfully, the redhead snuck a kiss, briefly debating if it would be considered rude to slip away for a few minutes to just spend some time wrapped up in her beloved. Unlike the previous year, she wasn't busy working herself to exhaustion to preoccupy her mind but free time was pretty scarce all the same. Between arranging for her dress fitting and helping Elsa coordinate things for their wedding, Anna had really buckled down on her studies in preparation for the dreaded finals. Elsa, meanwhile, had dedicated more time to work; with a firm grasp on the lowest levels of the company she 'took an open position' in the nearest distribution center, shifting her focus to learning the ins and outs of the supply chain. It was a bit of a farther drive, which meant earlier mornings and later nights, but things would even out again once the holiday season passed.
Though it was cutting in on their couple time, the changes were part of the territory, and just made the few quiet hours they could spend together all the sweeter.
"Hey, Feisty Pants." Their host sidled up to the trio, an easy going grin on his lips. "I realize you're a bit busy but, uh, could we talk for a minute?"
She had half a mind to pout at being pulled away from Elsa again so soon. However, Anna just nodded and gave her fiancée another kiss before moving away, following Eugene out to the front porch and sitting down at a bench they'd stolen from some public park their freshmen year. The redhead would feel bad about the larceny if they hadn't torn down the park the following month anyway, replacing all the old, mostly wooden benches and play equipment with all metal.
"So, what's up?" She looked over at the man, noting again how sharp he looked. It was strange, almost, to think this was the same man she'd always considered to be the wild one of the bunch.
His confidence slowly slid away, replaced by a contemplative nervousness. He leaned back, staring out across the yard as the wind slowly began to pick up, stirring the few flurries that had fallen earlier in the night. Anna was about to get worried when he sighed, gaze shifting to her. "How'd you know that it was the right time?"
"Um... for what?" The redhead cocked her head to the side, genuinely curious and a touch concerned. Eugene being serious was... weird. Not a bad weird! Just... weird.
"To get married." He ran a hand through his hair. "Punzie and I have been together for, like, almost four years at this point. I love her and I don't think... breaking up isn't an option, ya know?" He shrugged. "But I don't know if it's the right time. Like, am I supposed to go all out? Should we talk about it first? Do I tie a bow around my dick and say 'surprise, it's yours' or what?"
"Okay, never put that mental image in my head again, thanks." Anna laughed, getting a slight chuckle out of her friend in return. "How long have you been thinking about popping the question?"
"Since you did, honestly." Eugene sighed, shaking his head slightly. "I mean, I heard what you and Blondie said, and I just... looked at Punzie and I really wondered about us..."
She took a deep breath, mentally turning over his words for a moment before speaking. "First, I'd like to point out that Elsa asked me first. I mean, yeah, she was being super sneaky in doing so, but she should get credit for that. Next, I'd like to gently remind you that you shouldn't make a decision, especially something bit like this, based solely on someone else's relationship."
"I'm not!" The young man instantly countered, though he sighed almost immediately after. "I mean, okay, so it got me thinking about it-"
"And asking my opinion about it." The redhead lightly pointed out, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Do you want to get married, Eugene?"
He opened his mouth but nothing came out, one hand scratching at the back of his neck as he deflated. "I love Punzie- can't imagine what I'd do if she left... but... marriage?" He sighed again. "I never really thought about it before. That always seemed like something for... more responsible people, like you and Elsa."
"Eugene." She warned, raising a brow as he rolled his eyes.
"Okay, look, it's true! You two have been together, what, a year and a half? You'll be married before being together for two years; so, yeah, I'm kinda looking at that as some sort of indicator. Hello, look at our friends!" He gestured towards the house behind them. "We're just getting a handle on all this stuff, you know? You're the only one who has any sort of... experience on this."
The redhead blinked, sitting back in her seat. "Huh."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"No, come on, Feisty Pants, I'm being serious here! I need help!"
Anna smirked at him. "Yeah, and a couple months ago, I needed your help. Oh, how the tables have turned." Eugene groaned while she laughed, lightly knocking his shoulder. "I'm just messing with you. I certainly don't keep a blow up doll on stand by-"
"One, I would almost forgive you if you did, and two, still being serious over here."
"I already told you!" She shook her head. "Look, maybe you should sit Rapunzel down and talk to her about the future. Do you know what you're doing after you graduate?"
Eugene nodded, stroking at his beard. "Yeah, the museum's always hiring security guards. It doesn't pay great but it's a foot in the door, ya know? I eventually want to work for that security firm over on Fifth street but I first need to get some work experience."
"Security? Really?"
"Come on." He gave her his best roguish grin. "Is there any security system in the city that I can't beat?"
"I distinctly remember you texting me from inside a dumpster, convinced you were about to be arrested-"
"Let's not dwell on the past, shall we?" Eugene chuckled, waving a hand in a vague motion. "We're getting off topic."
"No we're not." She nudged him again. "What's Rapunzel's plan after graduation?"
He tilted his head back. "Well, she wants to be an architect and she's really good. There's an internship open here... but she's also got her eye on one over in Richmond."
"And if she takes that?"
Silence filled the air, disturbed only dimly by the sounds of the party still in full swing within the house.
"I want to go with her." She looked at him, raising a brow and prompting elaboration. "If she wants to move to Virginia. Three years... I don't want to walk away from that, not for a job."
"Maybe she doesn't want to, either." The redhead smiled. "Talk to her about the future, Eugene. Ask her opinion, listen to her response. See if you're both on the same page. Because once you are..." Her smile widened. "Well, then it's obvious! And isn't that the advice you gave me?"
For a moment, he just looked at her, the gears in his head turning. Then, suddenly, he laughed. "Well, you got me there!" He sighed and shrugged. "Maybe I'm over-thinking it."
"You are, but you're over-thinking it because you care." She stressed, again raising a brow at him. "Doesn't that tell you something about whether or not you're ready?"
"Of course not! I'm Eugene Fitzherbert, I'll have you know; I am the embodiment of mystery!" He declared, puffing his chest out briefly before Anna made to punch him. They both laughed, settling back against the bench as he continued. "Knowing Punzie, after all this, she will propose to me. Wouldn't that be a great story to tell the kids one day?"
They both laughed again and, really, the redhead wouldn't put it past Rapunzel to take control of the situation if Eugene couldn't quite find the words. That was part of the reason she was one of Anna's bridesmaids, seeing as the redhead didn't have many female friends to hold the position, aside from Vanessa. "If you need to talk to a minister, the Pastor we're using is a great guy."
"I'll keep that in mind." He laughed, shaking his head. "But, come on, just between us. Aren't you a little scared about the commitment? Getting hitched this young? The whole ball and chain thing? Just a bit?"
Anna cocked her head to the side. Truthfully? Sure, she was a little scared, but not of the idea of getting married. If anything, the preparation for it was the daunting part. Invitations, dress fittings, floral arrangements- sure, Elsa took care of most of the details, but the sheer number of details was staggering. Almost a little upsetting, too. It wasn't going to be easy- things worth doing rarely were, that was part of the reward- but just thinking about all the little things that needed to happen between now and then was a bit stifling, when she allowed it to bury her. How the blonde managed to handle all of those details and timelines on top of everything else was mind boggling, truly.
She wasn't about to give him ammo to torment her fiancée, though. "Um, I'm sorry, have you met Elsa before? Why would I be scared?"
Favoring her with a flat look, he reached out and flicked her nose. "I seem to recall you being a bit more worried a few months ago."
She scowled briefly, the sting slightly more than usual given the chill in the air. Of course he'd bring that up; it took four entire weeks for him not to burst into laughter every time they saw each other. "Yeah, and we worked through it together. That's what it's all about, right?"
Eugene nodded slowly, sighing heavily after a moment. "You can't just give me a straight answer, can you?" He rushed to amend his words when she shot him a positively gleeful smirk. "I meant an easy answer! Easy! As in... not difficult!"
"Good example," Anna replied, allowing the moment to slide by without comment. "The simple answer is they don't exist."
He laughed, standing up and straightening out his dress shirt. "So they're right up there with unicorns then? Great. Well, thanks for your help anyway. I'll talk to her about it... sometime soon... I guess. Maybe."
"It'll work out." Anna assured with a wide smile. "Just follow your heart."
"Yeah. You coming in?"
The redhead laughed, getting up and following him across the porch. She was about to make a comment when the door opened, Kristoff stepping out and giving her a slightly nervous smile.
"Hey, Anna! Could I... uh... talk to you for a moment? Or at least talk at you?"
Eugene threw her a smirk. "Someone's popular."
She rolled her eyes. "It's not like he's asking me for relationship advice." Her gaze shifted to the blond, smile growing a bit smaller at the worsening expression he wore. "Or... maybe he is."
"Good luck, buddy." Eugene gave his shoulder a few good natured pats, closing the door to give them privacy.
That's fine; she wasn't that cold anyway. They walked over to the bench, the redhead reclaiming her former spot while her best friend sat beside her, fiddling with his tie to buy himself some time.
"So..." He coughed into his hand. "I think Merida might be flirting with me."
Unsure whether to be exasperated or amused by that comment, the redhead tilted her head and feigned innocence. "Really? What makes you think that?"
She listened to him for twenty minutes, somehow managing to keep a straight face throughout Kristoff's verbal hemorrhage. Part of her was ecstatic about the chance to turn the tables and have an 'I told you so' moment over the blond, but she resisted for the time being, allowing him to run his course. Eventually, he talked himself into figuring out where he stood with the Scot and thanked her for listening. After getting in a few mandatory teases about the 'love expert' himself come to her for help, they just sat there for a little bit and soaked in the winter scene around them.
"You know, we don't really talk as much anymore," he said eventually, glancing at her. "Is it weird that it doesn't feel like we're drifting apart?"
"Nah, we're just growing up," Anna replied with a laugh, shrugging slightly. Sure, they didn't see each other as much as when they were living together, but they were still close. She paused. "That part is weird, though."
"What, did you think we'd just stay in college for the rest of our lives?"
"Would that be so bad?" She pointedly looked at her ring. "Uh, forget I said that."
They laughed, silence following shortly after like a blanket settling over them. It wasn't awkward, thankfully; more like comfortable and familiar.
"Anna." He swung his gaze over to her, a small grin on his lips. "You think the rest of us will be as happy as you and Elsa?"
"I don't get why everyone's suddenly measuring themselves against the two of us, but yeah." She nudged his shoulder. "As long as you go talk to a certain Scot and not my Snowflake."
The front door opened and Anna smiled wide, instantly standing up as Elsa stepped out onto the porch, though her gaze was on the other blond. "May I steal my fiancée back or are you two still talking?"
Kristoff stood up, grinning. "She's all yours."
"Better be," the blonde replied with a little extra smugness, nodding indoors. "Merida was looking for you, by the way." The door closed behind her best friend, leaving the couple alone in the cold night air, Elsa taking the spot Kristoff just vacated. However, that left just a bit too much space between them for her liking, so the redhead instantly cuddled up to her fiancée and nuzzled into the woman's chest as arms circled her. "Hmmmm, someone's affectionate."
"I'm your fiancée; I'm allowed to be affectionate." She mumbled in reply, the slight chill that had started her shivering chased out by the warmth filling her heart. "Can we stay out here for a little while?"
"You're going to get cold."
"Nuh-uh, not with you by my side!"
"Okay, and what if I get cold?"
Anna pulled back just far enough to raise a brow at her. "The cold doesn't bother you, remember, oh Scandinavian Barbie?"
"Really? You go there first?" Fingers brushed against her sides, prompting her to tense. "Not even a 'Snowflake'? Someone needs to learn some manners."
"Oh, please, no, don't do it, come on, we're having a moment, no tickles!" The redhead started to squirm, which only made her fiancée hug her tighter as a show of mercy. Relaxing once more, Anna brushed a kiss to one rosy cheek. "I love you, Snowflake."
"I love you too, Sunshine." The blonde brushed a kiss against her temple. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas."
As they sat, curled around each other, Anna thought back to Eugene's comment, idly running her finger against the cool metal encircling her finger. She was going to be marrying the single most amazing woman she'd ever had the pleasure of meeting, almost two years after giving up entirely on any sort of romantic pursuit. Somehow, she was now 'the experienced one' within her circle of friends in the romance department now.
Wasn't life funny, sometimes?
"Are you laughing?"
"I'm not trying to," she replied, fighting back giggles. "It's just something Eugene said. Apparently, I'm the romantically experienced one now and our relationship is the benchmark by which all other relationships are measured."
"That's vaguely terrifying." Elsa pressed another kiss below her ear. "Who are we supposed to turn to for help now? Our parents?"
"Hey," she said, poking the blonde. "Don't ruin a nice sentiment with such nightmares. Could either of us survive one conversation with my mother about sex?"
Just the idea had both of them busting out in laughter, curling further into their embrace in the process. They stayed out on the porch for another five minutes before heading inside and rejoining their friends, at Elsa's behest for her sake, seeing as she was already starting to shiver a bit more than was entirely healthy. Although Anna was eager to see how Elsa would like her Christmas present- matching monogrammed bathrobes and a monogrammed mahogany picture frame for the blonde's work desk- the couple remained at the party much longer than they expected, just chatting with their friends.
A few days later saw them on a plane bound for the Netherlands with Merida in tow. Ingvar's New Year's Party- that both of them were sure would double as an engagement party despite their objections; there was no point in trying to pretend otherwise- practically demanded their attendance, citing a litany of excuses that belied how badly he wanted to introduce his future daughter-in-law to the elite company that frequented the Aren estate for events such as this. On her second trip to the Netherlands, the redhead found it strangely easier to adjust her sleep schedule, though she wasn't able to completely dodge the jet lag. Not that she was complaining about immediately catching a nap with Elsa once they arrived.
Waking up to Ingvar's thinly veiled encouragement about 'enjoying' their stay, however, she had a few gripes about.
"I told you this would happen." The redhead mumbled as they retreated to their room, keeping up her pouting until the blonde came over and hugged her.
"Would you rather go back to the first time you two met?" Anna sighed happily as lips skimmed across her neck, melting into the embrace.
"Well, no; I'm too terrified of your death glare to do something that drastic." She earned a swat to her arm for that comment but laughed it off, heading to grab a fresh set of clothes from her suitcase. After a bit of a debate over breakfast, Anna had won the battle, insisting Elsa shower first, which would give her some time to catch a little bit more shut eye before properly greeting the day. Best to set everything up now so she wouldn't forget about it later. However, before she could get too far, she was redirected towards the bathroom. "Aren't you going to-"
"Merida is covering for us by telling my father I'm using her shower, the bedroom door's locked, there's another lock on the bathroom, and the stall fits two quite comfortably," the blonde quickly supplied, slipping a familiar foil packet into her hand. "This is about as close to undisturbed intimacy as we're likely to get. Unless, of course, you're not up for it."
Anna turned, pulling her beloved into a fierce kiss that quickly dispelled any notion of objection on her part, smirking as she pulled away. "You're brilliant, my beloved Snowflake."
"I have my moments." Elsa was just a bit smug in her reply, nodding towards the bathroom. "Shall we?"
They emerged about an hour later, invigorated, refreshed, and a little sore... not necessarily in the fun way. The redhead had previously entertained the fantasy of sex in a shower; the reality was a mix of really hot, pretty funny, and a little more dangerous than she thought possible.
Not that she was complaining. The tiles were a bit more slippery than she initially accounted for and it would've been really embarrassing if they ended up seriously injuring themselves but, all in all, it was a pretty good experience.
Their wedding was an interesting affair, to be sure. Although there was a little resistance from Ingvar and Idunn- who had, quite frankly, never expected Elsa to have a tradition Norwegian wedding, but at least anticipated walking her down the aisle- and even some from Merida- Anna had never heard the terms 'frilly' and 'frou-frou' used so vehemently before- when the day finally came, everyone was excited. And emotional.
Very. Emotional.
Oh, and scared shitless for no reason. That, too.
"This is it." Anna breathed, looking at herself in the mirror. Her dress was breathtaking, an absolutely stunning combination of lace and fabric and these little pearls that caught the light just right. Alone, it was beautiful, and... she looked good in it too, she guessed. "This is it."
"It really is, Feisty Pants." Kristoff smiled, poking his head through the tent flap and jerking his head. "Everything's ready. Are you?"
"Oh, I'm ready. I'm so ready. I'm- I'm- I'm scared out of my mind." Anna blew out a breath, growling at the end. "Why am I scared? I shouldn't be scared! I know that! I'm marrying the- literally, the most amazing, beautiful, brilliant, kind, caring woman on the face of the planet, why am I scared?"
"Because today's a day you never allowed yourself to dream about," her best friend replied, entering the tent fully and going to her side, putting a reassuring hand on her bare shoulder. "Today, you're affirming to everyone and anyone that, despite all the odds, you found something precious, something you're willing to fight for and protect. And you're not letting go, right?"
"Never." Anna breathed out, her shoulders beginning to lower as the weight of her anxiety started to slip away.
"Good." He chuckled. "Now, like I said, you never thought you'd get to this point, so you're staring out into the unknown and getting ready to jump. What's going to be waiting for you when you jump?"
"Not what... who." The redhead smiled, spinning around with a wide smile. "Elsa's going to be waiting."
"She already is." He smiled again, sweeping an arm towards the opening he'd just used. "Ready to jump, Feisty Pants?"
"Now I am!" She quickly snatched up her bouquet, smoothing out her dress one more time before starting for the exit. "Let's do this."
"That's my girl!" Kristoff laughed, pointing her towards the screen that was set up behind the guest seats, where her father was waiting. "I'll go take my place now. Wait for the music, okay?"
"I won't forget!" Anna assured him, hiking up her dress and practically running across the grass, catching her breath as she reached her father. The day was beautiful, sunny with just the lightest hint of a breeze, and the park was transformed from a simple little patch of land on the edge of the city to a hub of activity.
Cliff was wearing his very best tuxedo, a warm smile on his lips as tears pricked at his eyes. "My little girl. You look more beautiful than I'd ever imagined."
"Thanks, Dad." Anna hugged her father, smoothing out her dress and waiting for the musical cue as patiently as she could. "Have you seen Elsa yet?"
He chuckled, patting his daughter's hand as he slipped her arm through his. "Yes, I have, and trust me when I say: you need to lean towards me when you see her."
The redhead raised a brow, unsure what to make of her father's advice but shoved it aside as the quiet park suddenly sprang to life, live music by her friends and setting Anna's heart fluttering. This was it. The big moment.
At the predetermined mark, Cliff and Anna stepped together around the barrier, both sides of the aisle filled with happy, friendly, and in some cases over enthusiastic faces. Both of their families were in attendance as well as their friends, those not a member of the wedding party standing among the rows of chairs. Even Mr. Westergard and his sons were in attendance, the thirteen men making the couple's acquaintance again during the New Year's party, though Hans was- quite thankfully- absent.
But when Anna's eyes landed on her soon-to-be wife, her heart stopped, her jaw dropped, and the world fell away. There, standing in a form fitting white tuxedo with blue trim and an undershirt that complimented her eyes so very, very well, was Elsa, gazing at the redhead with the most adoring, lovestruck expression she'd ever seen on the blonde. She looked magnificent, like a heavenly, sharply dressed angel come to earth, standing at the altar beneath an arch of roses, just waiting for her.
"One foot in front of the other, Anna." Cliff muttered, trying his hardest not to laugh as he half escorted, half dragged his daughter the rest of the way to the dais. Elsa stepped down from her spot beside the alter and Anna readily released her father's arm in exchange for the blonde's. "She's all yours, Elsa, and has been for a while. Please, take good care of her."
"I wouldn't dream of anything less, Dad," Elsa replied, unable to tear her gaze away from Anna. The redhead was having much the same issue.
When she did manage to look away, it was to see Merida, Olaf, and Marshall standing on Elsa's side, with the Scot taking the position of Maid of Honor. True, Elsa was technically the groom in this ceremony, but seeing as Anna had a Best Man, they thought it prudent to simply switch the titles.
And because Anna could not keep a straight face through telling Kristoff he was going to be the Maid of Honor. That may have been a factor as well.
Behind her, the redhead could feel the energy radiating off Kristoff, Rapunzel, and Vanessa but found it could barely hold a candle to the weird squirming her insides were doing, excitement and nerves clashing together until she couldn't tell the difference between the two.
As the music faded, the Pastor cleared his throat, smiling out across the assembly before his gaze landed on the two women before him. They hadn't known the man especially long but found his humor rather infectious; he certainly wasn't the traditional priest, which made him the perfect master of ceremonies for their somewhat unorthodox union.
"Dearly beloved, family, friends, various national powers, and whoever else decided to attend." He paused, waiting for the few chuckles and snorts to die down. "We gather here on this joyous day to bear witness to a magical moment in the lives of these two young women. This is the day they officially join their lives together as one, for all on Earth to see, the day they pledge their hearts to one another, and the day that they rake in awesome gifts- at least one of which will be a blender." More chuckles erupted from the guests and at least one of the groomsmen, most likely Olaf if Anna had to guess. If she was properly paying attention, it would probably be very obvious, but she was more interested in watching Elsa from the corner of her eye. "Regardless, today is not about the material or even the physical, no; today is a day of the spirit and the heart. Although this is a binding ceremony, it is merely to affirm what can be seen so clearly by any and all who meet Elsa and Anna: that they are so deeply in love that their hearts beat in time, that their souls are merged into one being, and that they are at all times so engrossed in each other, neither has any clue what the minister is saying right now."
Anna felt the blonde beside her stiffen at the same time she did, their gazes snapping to the robed man before them, a raised brow and smirk on his face as the congregation snickered.
"Welcome back to the party, you two." He gently chastised, sweeping his gaze over the wedding guests. "Really, though, whatever I can say about the relationship built between these two will never truly do their love justice; it is something beyond words. Still, as we are each human, as we each struggle and triumph in our personal ways, Elsa and Anna will speak their own vows, pledges to each other, promises they not only intend to keep but are looking forward to keeping, to further distinguish their union as something they have forged together. Elsa, you first."
Anna turned, facing the blonde and fighting to keep herself from swooning. Maybe it was the way that tux hugged her body, maybe it was the way those blue eyes were shining with love, maybe it was the golden sun necklace sitting proudly against the blue of her shirt and beneath her bowtie; whatever it was, the way Elsa looked in this moment was something the redhead never wanted to forget. They held each other's hands, light tremors running through both of them, a combination of nerves and excitement.
"Anna, my eternal Sunshine," Elsa said, her voice holding that same tenderness as when they made love for the first time. "Despite all the languages I know, there's no way to put into words how you make me feel. The moment we met was the first time I ever thought something was missing in my life; it took almost losing you to realize that you were that something." The blonde's shoulders dropped slightly, smile turning wistful. "I know I haven't always made it easy on you, Anna. We've had our disagreements and our hard times; I've had my moments of doubt and frustration. But today, there's no place I could even imagine myself being other than right here, standing before you, asking you to join your life to mine for the rest of our days. I love you dearly, Anna, and I'm yours. For now, forever."
The redhead sniffled, trying to hold back the tears of joy.
"I promise, before our friends and family-" she glanced at the minister "-and whoever this guy is-"
"Hey, the position of wise-cracking minister has already been taken." He smiled, raising a brow. "Unless you want to switch places?"
"Never," Elsa replied, prompting another giggle from Anna before the blonde continued. "Anna, I promise before everyone that I will love, honor, and cherish you; that I will be your staunchest supporter and closest confidant; that I will take you as you are, every inch that constitutes your being, your faults and your scars, wholly and fully. No matter what distance separates us, you will never be far from my heart, for you will always be my one and only Sunshine."
Dimly, she was aware of the various cooing and awing coming from the assembled guests. Over Elsa's shoulder, she could see Merida rolling her eyes, though the action seemed a bit forced, and she bit back a laugh at Olaf practically bouncing in place.
The minister turned towards the redhead. "Your turn, Anna."
She took a deep breath, barely able to remember the words she'd rehearsed barely an hour prior. However, once she raised her gaze to meet Elsa's, what she'd written didn't seem to matter, and she spoke straight from the heart.
"Elsa, meeting you has changed my life in so many ways- good, good ways- that it's hard to recognize myself sometimes, and I couldn't be happier about that! We've come this far, side-by-side the whole way, but we've still got a long way to go. I'm not going to let you take all the credit for the difficulties we've faced but I look forward to every challenge we've yet to encounter because I know there's no other place for me than right here, with you." She lifted a hand, cupping Elsa's cheek gently and giggling when the blonde leaned into her touch. "I love you, Elsa, like I've never loved anyone before, and I want you to never question that I'll always be here for you. When you need someone to lean on, I will be your crutch. When you need someone to cling to, I'll be your rock. When you find yourself lost, I will be your light to guide you home. When the world is too much and you just want to retreat, I will be your castle, and you will always be safe in my arms. You are my precious Snowflake and I could not ask for more."
With tears forming in her eyes, Elsa's hands suddenly slipped around her waist and Anna was all too eager to meet the blonde halfway, gripping onto the lapels of her tuxedo, ready to lose herself in the embrace of her love-
-until a hand suddenly struck forward and blocked their path to each other.
"Hey, cool it you two," the minister said softly, a grin tugging at his lips. "We're not to the fun part yet!"
With matching blushes and a little reluctance, Elsa and Anna settled back in their positions, apologetically nodding to their audience as everyone did their best to stifle giggles. Pulling his hand back once he was sure they wouldn't immediately try again, the minister continued the ceremony.
"Folks, I've stood here many times, uniting the hearts and lives of people of every size and shape, every color and creed, and I tend to hurry things along because I really hate this uniform." He pulled at his collar to illustrate his point. "But here and now, I'll be honest- I'm tempted to drag this one out."
Anna whipped her head to the side, glaring at the minister, noting Elsa was giving him much the same expression from the corner of her eye. His response was to laugh.
"And that right there is why, ladies and gentlemen! All too often, two hearts- two lives only become joined to one another after the ceremony is completed." He reached out to gently clap a hand on each woman's shoulder. "But not with these two. Today, this ceremony is a mere formality; from the moment I met Elsa and Anna, I could see their hearts and souls were so entwined, it would be impossible to separate one from the other. They share one life, far more intimately than any mere piece of paper or title could coerce." Anna relaxed, returning her gaze to the beautiful woman in front of her, her smile returning as those blue eyes met hers, shining with barely restrained tears of happiness. "True love is a fickle creature- difficult to find and nearly impossible to tame! Yet, here it stands before you, as plain as day, and though they share this deep and strong love, they are not blinded by it. They acknowledge that there are still trials ahead of them, troubles that will test them, but they relish the challenge, confident in the knowledge that they will never be alone in facing whatever may come." He squeezed their shoulders. "Rarely am I so honored to witness a love as pure as theirs. With that said, I think I've tortured these two enough. The rings, please."
Anna turned, accepting the ring from Kristoff and feeling a nervous energy running through her as she held the cool metal. Upon Elsa's insistence, they'd opted to join their engagement rings to their wedding rings a few weeks prior to the ceremony, seeing as they shared the same motif, and she'd sorely missed the contact ever since. With subdued diamonds peppering the band, the light could catch each ring's design brilliantly- Anna's the snowflake while Elsa's had a sunburst.
As Elsa turned back to her, the redhead felt herself calm considerably, offering her right hand as they finally reached the moment she'd simultaneously dreamed of and dreaded. The last moment she could realistically back away from the future she craved. The fear fell away as their gazes locked once more.
"Do you, Miss Idunn Kendra Elsa Aren, take Miss Anna Andersen as your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in good times and in bad times, until death do you part?"
"I do... and even after," the blonde replied, gently slipping the ring onto Anna's finger. She nearly lost her composure right there, only managing to keep a handle on it thanks to the promise of getting to return the favor shortly as the minister turned towards her.
"And do you, Miss Anna Andersen, take Miss Idunn Kendra Elsa Aren as your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, in good times and in bad times, until death do you part?"
"I do," she said, gently sliding the ring onto Elsa's finger and feeling her heart swell at the pure joy and love she could see reflecting in her new wife's eyes. "For ever, for always."
"Then, by the power vested in me, I hereby pronounce you wife and wife." The minister lowered his voice slightly. "Okay, now, you may do the thing."
They needed no further prompting. Surging forward, Anna wrapped her arms around the blonde's waist as their lips met, feeling the ever pleasant sensation of familiar arms sliding around her shoulders. The kiss started off chaste enough as their audience began clapping, but soon the world fell away and Anna began to lose herself to the feeling of Elsa's lips against hers as their passion rose.
"Hey, whoa, I didn't mean that thing!" The minister gently chided. "Save that for the honeymoon you two!"
"That's the hard part." Elsa muttered, smiling as she fought to catch her breath.
Anna couldn't agree more, pulling Elsa towards her to plant a gentle kiss against her lips. "But we'll try to behave for now."
The minister nodded, coaxing them into turning to face their audience with their arms linked.
"Now, may I officially present to everyone for the first time, Mrs. Elsa and Anna Aren!"
Anna felt her cheeks begin to cramp with how wide she was smiling but she didn't care. As everyone rose and applauded them, the redhead turned her head to see Elsa staring straight at her.
"I love you, Snowflake," she said without thinking, linking their hands together.
"I love you too, Sunshine." Elsa reached up, brushing her fingers gently against the redhead's cheek. "More than I'll ever be able to say."
"That's okay." She winked. "Tonight, you can show me."
They both laughed lightly, taking their first steps as a married couple down the aisle, smiling and waving with their free hands at their assembled loved ones. All the way up to the reception, they didn't let go of each other.
The reception was... exactly what anyone could expect from such an event, given the names on the guest list.
Sitting at the main table, Elsa and Anna were surrounded by their friends, though the redhead admittedly wasn't paying much attention to anyone aside from her wife.
Wow.
Just... just wow.
They were married. As exciting and wonderful as that thought was, there was still some little portion of her that couldn't believe it. She was married. She was married, to the most beautiful, kindhearted, forgiving, downright wonderful human beings on the planet- her Elsa, her Elsa, her one and only!
"Sunshine?" Her gaze snapped to meet her wife's, having zoned out at some point while staring at her. The blonde was smiling, blue eyes sparkling as she squeezed Anna's hand. "Are you alright?"
"I've never been better," she replied without thinking, leaning forward to claim another kiss that her beloved was all too happy to melt into, giggling the moment they broke apart.
"Hello? Is this thing on?" Kristoff tapped against the microphone a few times until he got the feedback he was obviously looking for, drawing everyone's attention and annoyance effectively. "Great. I think it's about that time for the best friends of the happy couple to embarrass them- oh, I mean honor them, of course, so please give Mrs. and Mrs. Aren a round of applause before they bury their heads in the tablecloth for the rest of the night."
Elsa leaned towards her slightly, a polite smile on her face. "How bad do you think they're going to get?"
"Knowing Kristoff?" She laughed eying her best friend as he motioned for Merida to join him on the bandstand. "Well, he's not as vicious or ruthless as our parents, so we'll be fine."
"The first thing we hafta do, o' course, is pull ou' our phones!" The fiery Scot drawled, somehow sounding at least a little intoxicated and startlingly lucid at the same time. In the intervening months, Merida had worked ridiculously hard on speaking so that Kristoff could understand her easier, her accent subsiding in most conversation unless she was particularly incensed or talking with her family. "Mark th' calendars, folks; ten months from now, there'll be a new Aren!"
Elsa and Anna groaned in unison, their gazes drifting to Ingvar.
"It wasn't me this time!" He immediately protested, pointing towards Bulda, who was giggling like mad.
"Sorry, you two, our hands were tied." The blond shrugged, offering a weak smile in his defense and quickly moving along. "Anyway, we'd like to propose a toast!" He picked up a champagne glass, the rest of the reception party mimicking the movement. "Anna, I've been your best friend for years. Now, I think I share that duty with Elsa, and I couldn't ask for a better partner in driving you insane." Everyone laughed and even the redhead had to roll her eyes. "Really, there's no better match for you. Elsa's wonderfully stubborn, emphatically dedicated, and she loves you so much, it's hard to imagine things going any differently than now. I know you've had a hard time on the road to where you are now but I also know you've got what it takes to go the distance, Feisty Pants. Regardless, here's my advice: don't lose sight of what's really important, don't be afraid to be weak, and don't you ever make me go dressing shopping for or with you again, because that was awful and I just don't have the shoulders to pull off strapless like you do."
Everyone laughed and, this time, Anna nearly dropped her glass. Okay, so she might've got a bit more mileage out of embarrassing her best friend than was entirely necessary.
"An' Elsa, mah dear mukker, wha' a fine mess ye'r in now." The Scot smirked, laughing as the blonde made a show of sighing heavily and shaking her head. "There was a time when ye told me ye'd sooner run away ta some monastery in India than get shackled ta someone. Fer what it's worth, Ah'm glad ye changed yer mind." Her expression softened considerably. "Ah never thought ye culd be as happy as Anna makes ye an' Ah'm doubly happy ta be proven wrong. Just this once." Everyone chuckled as she gestured with her glass. "An' Anna, what a difference ye've made. Yer support an' dedication have really saved us all a lot o' headaches; it can't be easy standin' up ta Her Majesty when she's angry, but ye've done it. Elsa, Ah'll come over an' give ye a beatin' if ye screw this up, that's a promise! So, here's mah advice fur avoidin' that: take tha time ta listen ta her, take tha time ta appreciate her, an' take tha time ta remember that any union is like a bank account. Ye only have what ye put into it, it'll change over tha years but always increase in value if ye invest, an' closin' it ou' results in far too many penalties."
Elsa nodded somberly, turning her head enough to catch the redhead's gaze the two sharing a sweet kiss before their friends continued.
"So, here's a toast to our best friends, who've found best friends in each other."
"Ta honor tha commitment ye'll bear in tha years ta come."
"To remind you that we're all here beside you, when things get tough."
"An' ta drink ourselves under tha table in the meantime."
They raised their glasses and spoke in unison. "Mrs. and Mrs. Aren, may you both continue down this road and find all the love, joy, and peace you both deserve."
As everyone drank from their glasses, the newly married couple exchanged a glance loaded with the affection they felt for their friends before following suit. In the back of her mind, Anna added another promise to the vows she'd made earlier in the day: keep her friends. Their support was absolutely astounding throughout everything they'd been through and so very touching.
"Sunshine?" Her attention snapped to her wife once more, smile becoming even brighter as the title passed through her mind. "It's time for our dance."
The redhead looked up, seeing both Ingvar and Cliff heading towards them and Kristoff and Merida leaving allowing the band to take their spots. Taking her father's hand, Anna followed him out to the dance floor ahead of Ingvar and Elsa, tears springing to her eyes for absolutely no reason that she could possibly think of aside from how unbelievably happy she was. After a moment, the band started to play a slow waltz, both sets of fathers and daughters moving to the music.
"If it's any consolation, your mother cried at our wedding, too," Cliff said with a grin, glancing towards his wife. "Laughed and cried through most of it, actually. My mother was convinced I'd done something wrong."
"Really? Grandma Andersen thought you'd screwed up your own wedding day?" She pulled away the hand resting on his shoulder to wipe away her tears, accepting his handkerchief a moment later. It removed some of her make-up too but, if Elsa was being honest, she didn't really need it anyway.
"Hey, you know how it goes; if she's upset, it's usually his fault." He shrugged, bending forward to place a soft kiss on her forehead. "But I know you'll do everything in your power to avoid that."
She nodded. "You taught me well. Mom, too."
As the song wound down, her father smiled, a single tear slipping down his cheek. "And we are so proud of the person you've become, Anna."
They hugged, only letting go when a hand landed on her shoulder, her wife smiling reassuringly and the traces of her own tears already wiped away. With a kiss to her father's cheek, Anna stepped into Elsa's arms, hardly surprised when a familiar guitar strain started up and officially began their first dance as a married couple.
"Wise men say only fools rush in..."
She'd specifically told Elsa to surprise her, that it would be practice for whenever something came up unexpectedly that threw them off.
"... but I can't help falling in love with you."
Best. Surprise. Ever.
And just when she was expecting it, Elsa started singing. "Take my hand, take my whole life too."
Together, they sang the next line. "For I can't help falling in love with you."
"This truly is the happiest the day of my life, Sunshine." The blonde whispered, looking on the verge of tears again.
She completely understood the feeling. "Mine too, Snowflake. But tomorrow will be better."
"Is that so?"
"Of course. It's one more day I'll have with you."
A brilliant smile was the only response before they were kissing again, losing themselves in each other as the song finished, to the cheers thundering around them and at least one lewd catcall- which Rapunzel promptly smacked Eugene for, much to his protest. From there, the night marched steadily into the wee hours of the morning, with so many people congratulating the new couple, it was a little difficult to get everyone's name straight, much less muster an intelligent reply. Especially when every glance at her new wife had Anna bursting at the seams with giddy excitement.
They honeymooned in Norway, in the same town Elsa was born. For most of the time they were there, a horrible snowstorm raged just outside the hotel.
They were blissfully unaware of it.
Author's Note: I wrote the wedding scene right after finishing the scene with Anna punching out Hans in The Kingdom. That was the moment I realized it didn't really fit with the rest of what I'd written and I needed to write another fic. I also went to a wedding while writing this, which did help with some of the ideas.