"Would you like to say hello?" Elsa softly asked.
"Uh huh." The girls nodded. Elsa reached Ellie's hand first and put it where her stomach began to curve towards her pelvis. She did the same with Annaleise's, pushing the girls hands down gently. They felt a sudden flutter. They shot a look up at Elsa, their mouths agape with the look of "what just happened?" "Hei bror eller søster" Ellie whispered into her mother's stomach.
Annaleise laid her ear on Elsa's stomach."Jeg elsker deg."
-Previously, a few months earlier-
"So, girls, you must have some...questions." Jack cleared his throat, the girls sitting on the edge of their parents bed, contently listening to their father.
"Is mama sick?" Ellie innocently asked, clutching her polar bear plush in her arms.
"Mama isn't sick, snowflake," Jack smiled. "Well, sometimes she doesn't feel well during the day but that's normal."
"Is that why mama's tummy is round?" Annaleise asked as she curled up to Elsa's side, poking her mother's swell. Elsa softly chuckled and placed her hand over the red-head's hand, Annaleise looking up to her and smiling.
"Do you know why it's round?' Jack asked, swinging Ellie on the other side of Elsa, snuggling under her mothers arm.
Ellie and Annaleise looked at each other, shaking their heads.
"Well girls," Elsa looked to jack, Jack sitting down on the bed. "We wanted you to be the first to know that you're going to be big sisters."
"Big sisters?" Ellie asked.
"Yes, you'll be big sisters to either a new baby sister or brother." Jack added, his hand upon Ellie's shoulder.
"Baby brother or sister?" Annaleise asked, looking to Elsa.
"Mmhm." Elsa smiled, kissing Annaleise upon the forehead. "Do you have any questions you'd like to ask?"
Ellie nodded her head, gently placing it against her mother's slight swell.
"Can you still make snowflakes?"
"Of course I can.""Elsa giggled, waving her right hand in the air and creating a small snowflake, letting it fall onto Ellie's nose. The princess giggled as the cold flake landed on her nose and melted within an instant.
"Mama, when will bror eller søster come?" Annaleise asked, her big blue eyes staring up at Elsa's.
"Springtime, elske." Elsa smiled, lifting Annaleise's chin. "That means that your brother or sister will be here in time for the Spring Festival."
"Oh. I see." Annaleise replied. "Will the baby take our place?"
"Goodness no, love! No one can ever replace you two, ever." Elsa figured that this would be one of the questions the girls would ask. She looked to Jack, motioning for him to continue on.
"When the baby comes, we will still love you just as much. If we spend more time with your brother or sister, it doesn't mean we don't love you any less. Babies need more attention after they're born, just like you two did when you were newborns." Jack smiled, booping Annaleise's nose."Do you remember when Anders was born? How he needed a lot of attention because of how small he was?" Jack asked.
Annaleise nodded no, Ellie nodding yes.
"That's how it will be come springtime." Elsa said, re-adjusting herself upon her pillows.
"Do we get to help when the baby comes?" Ellie asked.
"Of course, elske. We would love it if you and your sister helped take care of your new sibling. You'll get to know each other faster."
"Yay!" Annaleise chirped, snuggling under Elsa's arm as she placed her hand on her mothers swell again. "When the baby gets here, can we play with it?"
"Not for a while, love. Maybe after a few months you can, your brother or sister will be too small to be able to play with." Elsa replied, Jack handing her a cup and a couple of vitamins that she forgot to take that morning.
"If it's a boy, he should be named Law...Lawence." Ellie had a bit of a hard time trying to say Laurence, but Elsa and Jack knew what she was trying to say.
"Laurence was your great-grandfather's name." Elsa smiled. "What if it's a girl?"
"Apple." Annaleise said with the straightest face a three year old could ever have.
"Love, I don't think we'd call your sister "Apple."" Jack snickered.
"Emma?" Annaleise asked, a grin upon her face.
"Emma." Elsa smiled, recalling a certain Emma from a few years back. She looked to Jack, who nodded a "yes.". "Emma is a lovely name."
"Laurence or Emma." Jack smiled, placing a kiss upon Elsa's forehead.
"Lawence or Emma." Both girls giggled, Elsa pulling them close and kissing them upon their cheeks.
"Congratulations, your majesties." Lord Buface, or as Annaleise, and Anna loved to call him when he wasn't around, "Lord Buttface", complimented the queen and king as the Jul Ball came into full swing. "When is Arendelle expecting their next prince or princess?"
"Springtime," Elsa replied, her arm wrapped around Jack's, her hand resting on her swell. "April at the latest."
"You must be very excited for the little one to come," Lady Buface smiled. "How do the girls feel about getting a new brother or sister?"
"You know what, they're doing surprisingly well with the concept. They haven't really had many questions about where..you know.." Jack winked, the group looking over to Annaleise and Ellie playing with Anders as Anna held him by his hands.
"They're at that age where they WILL ask. Just give it time." Lad Buface winked. Elsa unlinked from Jack's arm, pulling Cecily aside.
"Cecily, I have to ask. After your youngest son was born, did Elena happen to act differently when he got more attention?"
"I suppose she did feel a bit jealous at first. It didn't last long once he turned two months. Elena was very eager to help with whatever she could and, now that you mention it, it made it much easier to have more than one person help."
Elsa smiled, looking over to her girls as Kristoff balanced them on his muscular arms.
"I'm sure they'll be just as excited as you and Jack are." Cecily smiled. "Just remember, these children will one day get married and have children of their own. Oh, speaking of that, when do you plan on telling Annaleise about her betrothal to the prince from Olkstad?"
Oh, that's right. I've almost forgot about that.
"Not for a while. I don't think either of us will discuss it until she's at least past the age of fifteen. She'll have a lot on her plate. Besides, she is the future Queen of Arendelle when she comes of age."
"It may not look like it now, but I believe Annaleise will be a great queen, like her mother."
"Believe it or not, I've thought the same thing quite often. I just worry about their teenage years. That's the thing that really terrifies me."
"Believe me, teenagers are quite a handful. A little rebellion, angst, sass, and sibling rivalry never hurt none." Cecily laughed. "Boys are easy, girls...are not."
Elsa slightly sighed, once again looking to Anna and Kristoff with Anders and the girls. Anders had fallen asleep in Kristoff''s arms while the girls and Anna sat in the corner and munched on sandwiches. Anna swung her arm over to Kristoff, sandwich in hand, and gave him a bite of the cucumber sandwich. The princesses giggled as Anna ate the rest of the sandwiched, Anna making faces at them as they laughed hysterically.
"They're so cute at this age. But they grow up, and, sometimes, become absolutely obnoxious and argue a lot. Good luck." Cecily snickered, Elsa rolling her eyes at her and shaking her head. "But I'm sure they won't be as bad as my girls."
"You want a bet?" Jack asked, floating behind the two women.
"I don't gamble, Frost. But my husband does. I'm sure he'll take any bet of yours any day."
"Jack, it's getting late. The girls should be getting ready for bed." Elsa nudged her husband, Jack getting the picture. She yawned, her hand covering her mouth as she yawned. She hadn't been this tired in a long time, especially before the girls were born. There were maybe a few instances where she fall asleep during meetings purely on accident, but never during a ball. "And I think I should do the same thing. Sorry to cut this short, Cecily. But I did enjoy the chat."
"My pleasure, Elsa." Cecily smiled, leaning in to whisper in Elsa's ear. "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. We have to reschedule our next meeting to after the new year. Half of the council will be on holiday until the second week of January."
"Thank you for reminding me," Elsa yawned. "I'll make sure to let the palace staff know so they can make preparations."
"Okay girls, time for bed." Jack broke up the fun, both girls giving him the "aw, come on" stare.
"But papa, we were having fun!" Annaleise pouted.
"I could see you were, but it's time for bed. You don't want the morning grumps, do you?"
"No...I guess not." Ellie shyly replied, Anna kissing her goodnight on the cheek.
"Goodnight girls!" Anna smiled, giving Annaleise a kiss on the forehead.
"Night Aunt Anna!" Both girls hugged their aunt, jack scooping them up in his arms, carrying them out of the throne room and up the stairs to their bedroom. By the time he opened the bedroom door, both girls were out like a fire that lost its flame. The girls were sound asleep on Jack's shoulders, Jack placing them in Annaleise's bed so he didn't have to unfold a second bed's sheets. He placed a goodnight kiss upon their cheeks, covering them with the soft sheets and turning the light off, closing the door softly behind him.
Elsa made her way up the stairs, supporting her back as she walked down the hall and into her room. She quickly undressed and changed into a light nightdress. She washed her face, brushed her teeth, unbraided her hair and began brushing the tangles out, her eyes drooping by the second. She yawned and placed the brush on the nightstand, crawling into the silky ice blue sheets under the wintry moonlight, yawning once more as she wrapped her arms around an extra pillow, taking a deep breath and sighing as she felt a slight fluttering come from her middle.
"Godnatt kjærlighet." She quietly whispered, Jack placing a kiss on her cheek as she drifted off to sleep.
-April-
"Are you girls excited for your brother or sister to come?" Anna asked as she ran a comb through Ellie's ebony black hair.
"Mmhm!" Ellie replied, nodding her head up and down. Annaleise sat on Anna's bed, watching Anders roll around with Kristoff while her mother and father met with Dr. Gaither. Earlier that morning, Annaleise had tried to help Elsa and Jack put the finishing touches on her new siblings room. Jack was constantly telling Elsa to take it easy, but of course Elsa refused. She couldn't just sit back and watch, it made her absolutely bored to death. Soon they found themselves arguing over the tiniest details, such as not putting the crib next to the window, whether there should be stuffed animals inside, things like that. It had gotten to the point where Elsa snapped at Annaleise for accidentally dropping a porcelain bear on the floor. The poor girl's eyes filled with tears, running out of the room and into the library where she hid herself under a pile of pillows and blankets, hoping no one would find her. Never had anyone snapped at the princess. Maybe a stern warning, but never a snap.
"Did I just...snap at her?" Elsa asked, taking a seat in the rocking chair next to the crib.
"Looks like it. I'll go find her." Jack said, starting to leave as Elsa pulled on his wrist, stopping him.
"No, I'll go. I don't mean to get angry at her." Elsa sighed, Jack helping her up as she began her search for Annaleise.
She first checked her office. Not there.
Her and Jack's bedroom. Not there.
The girls room. Nope, not there.
The library? Perhaps. Maybe there was a princess who was hidden under a mound of pillows of blankets who though she had gotten herself into a tremendous amount of trouble. "Goodness, that's a big mountain of blankets. Excuse me, blanket mountain, have you seen my daughter?" Elsa playfully asked, knowing full well Annaleise was hiding in there due to the mound moving up and down.
"NO." The mound replied.
"Oh, that's too bad." Elsa sighed. "I was really hoping that I could talk to her. I scared her and I think she deserves an apology."
The mound shifted, Annaleise pushing the numerous blankets and pillows off of the couch, a slight frown upon her face. She wiped the tears from her eyes as she looked towards her mother, a bit nervous to talk to her after accidentally dropping the porcelain bear.
"I sorry," Annaleise sniffed, wiping the snot from her nose with her arm. "I didn't mean to break the bear."
Elsa pulled her daughter close, stroking the back of her fire-red hair with her hand.
"Elskling, I'm sorry for snapping at you. Your father and I..we've been arguing over the littlest things and I never intended to get upset with you. It's just a bear, we can replace it."
"Are you and papa okay?"
"Yes, love. We'll be just-"
"Mama?" Annaleise asked as Elsa's hand flew to the underside of her swell, letting out a slight moan. "Er du ok?"
"I'm okay love. I just need to lie down for a little while. How about a quick nap, hm?" Elsa pulled one of the remaining blankets on Annaleise's side of the couch, laying it over her legs as she situated herself on a pillow, Annaleise joining her as she snuggled under her mother's arms. For a good half hour, Annaleise had already dozed off as Elsa endured the dull pains in her back. She slightly winced at this long, tightening of her muscles, trying not to wake Annaleise. It wasn't until about twenty minutes later that she shot straight up, groaning in pain, waking Annaleise from her nap. Her big blue eyes looked to her mother, Elsa holding her swell as she took deep breaths.
"Mama, are you hurt?"
"No, Annaleise. Your brother or sister is getting ready to come now." Elsa took a deep breath , the pain finally subsiding. Annaleise jumped off of the couch, Elsa standing up and taking Annaleise by the hand, leading her down to Anna and Kristoff's room. Elsa knocked on the door, Anna and Ellie greeting her at the door. Ellie went to Elsa, Anna picking her up to give her mother a hug.
"Mama, when is our brother or sister coming?" Ellie asked.
"Soon love. Really soon."
Anna could take subtle hints that when she meant soon, she really meant soon.
"Annaleise, Ellie, why don't you go play with Anders and Kristoff? I need to talk to your mother for a minute or two."
"Kay." Ellie giggled, chasing her sister into her aunts room.
"Elsa, by soon do you mean, "soon soon"?"
Elsa nodded, biting her lip as she supported herself on Anna's door frame.
"Let's get Jack, then he can get Dr. Gaither while I stay with you."
"Anna, not this time." Elsa winced.
"But what about you?"
"Stay with the girls. It's their first time being big sisters, and they need someone to keep them occupied until baby comes."
"Okay, if that's what you really want." Anna replied, leading Elsa to her room, running off to find Jack.
Elsa laid upon her side, drawing her knees as far up to her chest as she could bring them, slowly releasing and drawing in ice from her fingertips."Soon, little one. Soon."
"Auntie Anna, why can't we see mamma?" Ellie asked, Anna braiding her hair.
"Mama is bringing your baby brother or sister into the world, and she needs daddy's help to do so." Anna said in the easiest way to explain to a three year old.
"Oh." Ellie said, going back to her picture book as her aunt continued to braid her hair.
Annaleise and Anders looked out the window in the library, watching the rain pour down over Arendelle.
"Annaleise, do you want your hair braided?" Anna asked.
"No thank you," Annaleise said in a sad tone.
"What's wrong?" Anna asked, picking Anders up and kneeling down with Annaleise.
"Will mamma and Papa love the baby more than us?"
"Of course not. Your mama and Papa will love you two as much as your brother or sister. It might seem like they are spending more time with him or her, they still will love you no matter what." Anna said, watching the rain with her niece.
Annaleise gave Anna a huge hug. As she did,Jack came into the library, a huge smile on his face.
"Girls, do you want to meet your new brother?" He asked. Annaleise and Ellie ran to his side and held each of his hands, walking to their parents room.
"Elsa, they're here." He said, opening the door quietly.
"Be very careful." He whispered as the girls gently climbed onto either side of Elsa.
"Say hello to your sisters, Laurence." She smiled, Laurence bundled up in a bright blue blanket. He cooed and looked at Ellie. Then he looked at Annaleise and he started to cry.
"Shh, it's alright." Elsa said, loosening the blanket. Annaleise was a bit upset that her brother cried the moment he saw her. Tears began to fall down her cheeks and she ran out, not knowing that he was just hungry.
"Darling, can you-" Elsa began to say as she prepared to feed Laurence. She kissed Ellie on the forehead.
"Goodnight, darling," she said.
"Goodnight mamma." Ellie replied, taking Jacks hand.
"Goodnight Lawence." Ellie couldn't perfectly pronounce his name just yet.
"Annaleise." Jack whispered, looking for her with Ellie. "Annaleise where are you?"
"Sis?" Ellie asked, holding Jacks hand.
They looked throughout the whole palace, but they had one more place to look; the stables. Jack put Ellie over his shoulders and flew outside to the horse stables. They then heard quiet sobs coming from around Sven's stable. And there was Annaleise, sobbing into Sven's fur.
"Bror ikke liker meg, bror ikke liker meg!" She sobbed. Jack came up to Sven and found his daughter, huddled up. She looked up at Jack, tears staining her face. "Pappa, he doesn't like me." She cried.
"Now now, he was only hungry, that's all. All babies are fussy when they are born. Just like you and your sister were." Jack explained.
"You sure?" Annaleise asked, wiping her nose with her wrist.
"Positive." Jack smiled, picking her up.
Unlike Annaleise and Ellie, Laurence kept Elsa and Jack up every single night for two weeks. He wouldn't eat much, which made both him and Elsa very irritable and sometimes she would snap at Jack, always apologizing to him right after. Elsa had never snapped at the girls, ever. Although, one afternoon, Annaleise and Ellie asked to help Elsa with Laurence for a few hours.
They were very helpful at getting him clean clothes, a new blanket and new diapers. The crib was low enough that the girls could easily peer in to see their brother. Annaleise lightly touched his arm and a small flame shot out of her finger and slightly touched Laurence's hand. He began to cry, loud enough to scare Annaleise out of the room, running to her own room.
Elsa ran into the room after preparing Laurence's bottle and saw Ellie calming her bother down.
"Is he alright?" She frantically asked.
"He's fine." Ellie said softly, Laurence holding onto her finger.
"Where's Annaleise?" Elsa asked,,catching her breath.
"She ran out. Lawence cried and it scared her."
Elsa had a feeling this would happen with one of the girls. She quickly walked to Anna's room to get her to keep an eye on Ellie and Laurence while she searched for the red-head.
Annaleise made a mad dash into the library and hid behind the sofa. She started sobbing into her knees, the panels of wood in the corner slowly becoming charred, but not enough to get a flame going. She looked behind her and immediately stopped crying, realizing that the charring came from her. She of course had made small flames when her parents weren't looking, but had never been able to char anything.
"Annaleise? Where did you go?" Annaleise heard her mother frantically ask, up and down the hallways. She quickly climbed onto the couch and buried her head in the pillows and began crying again.
"Mamas not going to be happy." She sobbed into the pillow. Elsa had stopped speed walking, she was still terribly tired, and took a few breaths and heard sobs coming from a few feet away. She followed the sound of the sobs to the library, where she saw Annaleise hugging a pillow tightly, crying,
"Oh thank goodness." Elsa thought. She had found her in weirder places of the palace, even if she wasn't being reprimanded for something small. She sat next to Annaleise and placed a tired hand on her shoulder. Annaleise turned her head, her eyes red from crying and snot starting to come out of her nose.
"Darling, what's the matter?" She asked in a very calming tone, though she did not feel up to being very calming at the moment.
"He doesn't like me...every time I try to hold his hand, he cries. He cries loudly and it scares me. He hates me, I know it."
Annaleise continued to cry. Elsa grabbed a tissue on the table next to the couch and put it up to Annaleise's nose.
"Blow." She blew her nose and wiped her eyes. Elsa pulled Annaleise close and hugged her. "Darling, he crys at everything. He's a baby. You and your sister weren't as bad, but your brother just needs more...well...tending to." Elsa explained, brushing the light brown bangs out of her daughters forehead.
"Mama, are you mad at Papa?" She sniffled,
"No, we are just tired. We could use a nap, or two." Elsa wiped Annaleise's nose again. "One more try?" She asked.
Annaleise nodded yes and followed Elsa back into her room. She picked Annaleise up, who looked at her baby brother, who waved his hands in the air. Annaleise hesitated, but touched her brothers tiny hand. He didn't cry. In fact, he actually smiled at her.
"Hi Lawence. Don't give mama and Papa trouble. They need sleep like you." She said, letting go of his hand. Elsa turned with Annaleise and saw Anna had fallen asleep with Ellie, the two of them developing a drool line on their mouths.
Laurence had surprisingly fell asleep quite fast, giving Elsa the opportunity to lie with her sister and daughters for a nap. A well deserved nap.
