[Two months later]
"Hi, do you have a minute?"
It was nearly the end of the market. Kristoff was tallying up his order book, leaning on the seat of the sled, and Anna had crept up behind him.
"Ah, sure. Your Highness."
She glanced around. The marketplace was half-empty, with other traders starting to pack up their stalls. No one was looking at them.
"I'm sorry to do this here, but I couldn't wait! I needed to talk to you, to tell you."
"Tell me what?"
"I think -" she glanced around again, and turned so she was facing away from the square. "I think I'm going to have a baby."
"Really?" And this was hard, so hard, because he couldn't do more than smile at her. He couldn't touch her, he certainly couldn't kiss her, he couldn't say anything that wasn't completely casual and innocuous. He couldn't even let his face show exactly how he felt.
"Yes. I think. I'm pretty sure. I haven't told anyone else yet, so keep it to yourself, okay?"
"Of course." Don't touch her, don't touch her, don't touch her.
"And I'll see you later?"
He hadn't planned to come back to Arendelle that evening - he needed to pack up and get home, and tomorrow would be a long day - but her face was so open and hopeful.
"Sure. For a little while."
"Okay, great!"
A woman was approaching the sled.
"You have a customer, I should go!" Anna said brightly. "Nice talking to you."
"And you," he said, and tried to get his mind back to business.
He knew his route by heart now, and could climb up even in the pitch dark. First he had to drop from the bridge onto the rocks lining the castle wall; along there for a short way, then, where the wall had been weathered by the wind and spray from the fjord, it was easy enough to climb up. Down to a low roof, along and up another short wall, sheltered by the tall trees in the castle gardens. Then onto the pitched roof below Anna's balcony.
When she knew he was coming she always left the window unlocked and slightly ajar. He pried it open and pulled it shut behind him, making sure the curtains were also tightly closed.
And Anna flung herself into his arms. He held her tight - but not too tight - for a minute, then pulled back and kissed her. Now he could do and say anything, but this was all he wanted to do.
When they seperated, Anna took his hands and led him to sit on the bed. They sat side by side, legs touching, and she played with his fingers.
"So you haven't told anybody else yet?"
"I think Elsa has guessed? But she hasn't asked, I think she's waiting for me to say something."
"And Felix?" It had taken this long for Kristoff to feel comfortable saying his name, but it was better than 'your husband'. He was tired of that phrase.
"Felix wouldn't notice if I caught fire in the middle of breakfast."
"I'm sure that's not true."
"Maybe if his newspaper caught. Then he'd say 'Everything alright, dear?'"
"You'll have to tell him, then."
"I know, but…" She bit her lip. "That's why you're here, that's what we agreed, and…"
"You think he'll say - that I don't need to come and see you any more." His fingers tightened automatically on hers.
"I don't know. Maybe."
"He can't stop us. He doesn't know how I get in."
"That's true. But…" Anna bit her lip, turning her face away.
"But what?"
"I - I promised to obey him. When I married him. And I meant it, when I said it. If he tells me I can't see you any more, then - but -"
She let go off his hands but threw herself at Kristoff's chest, and he wrapped his arms around her.
"It's up to you," he said. "It's always been up to you."
Felix was writing a book. Or so he said; apparently he'd been writing it for several years already and it was no closer to being finished. It was something to do with horses. All Anna knew for certain was that he spent a lot of time shut up in his study, which was full of books (mainly about horses), papers (horses), and his correspondence (which was occasionally with friends and family members, but was often about horses).
Anna knocked on his study door mid-morning the next day. Better to get it over, and doing it now meant they were guaranteed a private conversation.
"Enter."
She went in and shut the door behind her. Felix was leaning back in his chair reading a letter, and when he looked up he smiled. "Ah, my princess. What can I do for you?"
At least he was in a good mood.
"I just - wanted to let you know. Um. I'm going to have a baby."
Felix raised his eyebrows. "You don't waste any time - well, capital, capital. I appreciate the information." He turned back to his desk. "Was there anything else?"
"...no?"
"Don't let me keep you, then."
Should she ask about Kristoff? But the problem with asking was, of course, that you might get the answer you didn't want. Anna had often found it easier to ask forgiveness than permission but now, she hesitated.
And then turned back to the door. If he did forbid it - her heart ached. She couldn't risk it.
"Give my regards to your friend," Felix said when he hand was on the door handle.
"I will," she said, half-turning. "I mean, if it's still okay for us to -"
Felix sighed. "Anna, repeating myself is getting quite tiresome." There was a slight edge to his voice that she'd noticed before. "I think I've made it quite clear that as long as no one knows how you choose to amuse yourself, I don't need to know either."
"Okay. Okay, I'll - go then." She opened the door.
Felix nodded, picking up a piece of paper from his desk, but said nothing further. Anna left.
