"I'm back," Eugene whispered in Rapunzel's ear as he came up behind her while she stood with Anna at the desert table looking at the birthday cake. He glanced around, "Wait…where is Hans? I left him with you."
Rapunzel turn to look up at him slightly confused, then looked through the crowd on her tip-toes, "Oh, I'm not sure. He was here a few minutes ago – but Anna took a break from dancing and we started talking. He must have wandered off."
Eugene cocked an eyebrow as he said flatly, "You lost him. Come on, you promised…"
"He's not lost, he's just not right here. He's a big boy, Eugene. I'm sure he's safe," she replied with a giggle.
Resting his hands on his hips, he leaned forward to whisper in her ear, "I'm sure he's safe, too. I just want to make sure he doesn't do something stupid."
That made Rapunzel laugh harder than it should have, "Like what? Going into the wrong restroom? Forgetting what fork to use for dessert? Get mixed up with ruffians or thugs?"
Eugene looked at her exasperatedly and she took it as a cue to continue guessing, "Conjugating verbs incorrectly? Demonstrate how bad he is at differential equations? You have to give me a hint!"
Anna began giggling at that.
"You are a terrible wingman, you know that, Blondie?" his voice raising an octave as he huffed.
"Well, I'm a wing-woman, not a wing-man! And we just have very different styles!" she exclaimed, far too joyfully for his souring mood.
Hans couldn't have gone too far, he hasn't even met Elsa yet. Wait…no…no…no…no…he wouldn't, would he?
"Has anyone seen Princess Elsa? Birthday girl, where's your sister?" Eugene asks quickly as his eyes dart into the crowded dance floor.
Anna looks in the direction of the terrace, "She had stepped out to get a little fresh air while ago when I started dancing…wait, no, she's back inside." Anna smiles brightly and waves her arm up over her head excitedly to get Elsa's attention.
Eugene rolled his eyes, kissing Rapunzel on the cheek as he whispered to her, "Please help me out here, I'm trying to help Hans meet your cousin and not look like an idiot. I'll be back when I track him down."
Rapunzel smiles smugly as she crossed her arms in front of her, "Of course. By the way, he's out on the terrace. He just texted me back. When I make a promise, I never, ever go back on it."
He chuckled as he pulled her back to him for a quick kiss, "Ever."
He begins quickly walking across the ballroom to the outdoor terrace, as he approaches the open doors he sees Hans. Grabbing two flutes of champagne off a passing tray being carried by a waiter, he finds himself disappointed as he gets closer to Hans – finding him standing with his back to the ballroom and leaning his arms on the railing, his head dropped.
Crap…he would. Damn it, Hans, I love you but you are freakin' idiot.
He clears his throat as he stops beside Hans, the sound causing Hans to turn his head slightly and catch Eugene out of the corner of his eye. "I can't help but notice you are standing out here looking, well, a bit lost. Good sir, if you're thinking of jumping you may want to reconsider…I brought champagne! If it's time to commence the drunk-fest, I bet we could find a good karaoke bar around here - you could sing while you drink, you love that!" Eugene says with a sympathetic expression as he offers a champagne flute in his extended hand.
Hans accepts the glass with a dazed expression and a quiet laugh, "No. I'm fine. Better than fine."
"You got impatient and approached Princess Elsa by yourself, didn't you?" Eugene says quietly as he settles parallel to Hans, arms resting on the railing and looking out over the city lights.
Hans smiles bigger at that, looking down into his champagne and taking a sip before saying "Yes. Yes I did."
Eugene tilts his head to the side to glance at him, giving him a look which says, "and then…"
Hans raises his chin proudly and with a serious expression he quietly states, "Eugene, I don't kiss and tell."
"WHAT?!" Eugene sputters as champagne goes down his chin as he tries to wipe it way, laughing, "I did not see that coming."
Hans looks down at the champagne flute and chuckles, "She invited me to meet with her privately later tonight in her suite, so we could talk. It's called discretion, Eugene."
Eugene stands there dumbfounded, staring at Hans and waiting for him to start laughing and tell him what really happened.
Hans takes another sip of champagne and stares back with a pleasantly dazed expression returning to his face.
Eugene finds his voice, "Okay, I love you like a brother…more than a brother I suppose, since I've met all twelve of yours and they are awful, so maybe that isn't a good analogy. I want to see you happy, really…I do. You've dealt with enough in your life that you deserve someone amazing to walk with you and support you, but a word of advice. I know your track record with women and I know you have a type: gorgeous young women who are petite and blonde with big blue eye. And the harder to get, the bigger the conquest, the more you pursue; every girl I've ever seen you interested in has been the same. All I'm saying is that you need to be careful. I'd hate to see you burn any bridges, or for her to get hurt. Don't be demented and envision a romance that isn't there and try to sell that to her, she's the future Queen of Norway, not some sorority sister you're trying to bed. I don't know her very well, but Rapunzel is very protective and won't take you toying with her cousin lightly."
Hans' expression shifts into a self-depreciating smirk as he nods his head, "No, I got it. All those girls, all that time, I know I was misguided and in a fog and cruel…this is different. Just, trust me. Okay?"
"With my life, man. I gave you my talk, my conscious is clear. Just look before you leap." Eugene said as he raised his glass.
"I'll toast to that."
Within moments, Anna knew.
Elsa couldn't stop smiling as she spoke with quiet excitement to Anna about the timing of the birthday cake and toast, her eyes sparkled and she seemed alive. How can one person have such an effect on another? Like flipping a switch…Anna decided she'd ask Elsa tomorrow, away from the party where it was quiet. The entire room erupted into song as the cake was wheeled out, Anna beaming a grin the entire time.
Elsa bid goodnight to Anna, wishing her "the happiest of birthdays" and told her that she would be retiring for the evening in their suite. "But please feel free to stay and enjoy the night as long as you'd like…you're the birthday girl, so the party shuts down when you do!"
"Thank you, Elsa, for everything. Best birthday, ever. Really. I love you." Anna said quietly with a soft smile as she hugged Elsa good night.
"Thank you, for finding Hans…" Elsa said very seriously as her voice trailed off, like she needed to say more but was unable to find the words. She opened her mouth again, exhaling in frustration as her eyes began to search the room, as if what she was trying to say would suddenly appear.
Anna kissed her on the cheek and looked back at her with a happy grin and a wink, "We'll talk tomorrow, ok?"
Elsa returned the kiss on Anna's cheek as she pulled her tight, "Ok. I love you, too. See you in the morning, Anna."
"Your Highness, Mr. Westergaard." Kai announced formally as he opened the door to the balcony of the suite to escort Hans out to the small outdoor garden space. She turned to face the two men from the railing where she had been looking out over the lights of the city, lost in thought anxiously waiting for Hans to arrive. She caught his eye for a moment before turning to address Kai, nodding with a shy smile, "Thank you, Kai."
"Is there anything else, may I bring any refreshment out for you, Your Highness?" Kai inquired.
"Thank you, perhaps something to drink? I didn't taste the champagne during the party, perhaps you'd like to join me, Mr. Westergaard?"
Hans nodded politely, "Yes, thank you."
Kai nodded and shut the glass door behind him, leaving Elsa and Hans alone, standing on opposite sides of the moonlit balcony in awkward silence as they stared at each other, almost in fear of breaking the spell from earlier. Elsa composed herself first, wetting her lips as she looked at her fingers woven together in front of her as she spoke, "I wasn't entirely truthful with you earlier when you asked me if I knew who you were." She felt her heart begin to race as she glanced up to see his expression shift from a one which appeared collected and calm to another slightly bewildered. She smiled apologetically as she sighed, "I don't know exactly who you are, Hans Westergaard, but I am hoping you may be able to tell me why I have dreamt of you almost every night of my life."
Let that crazy fact sink in before you turn tail and run away from the demented Princess…
She stood before Hans very embarrassed and feeling quite exposed as she just confessed out loud something absolutely absurd. Mortified, she finally met his gaze to find him looked at her handsome and very bewildered, his mouth agape and eyebrows slightly raised. In a heartbeat he regained his composure and whispered, "I'm sorry, I can't."
Elsa's face fell in resignation of her stupidity with regards to sharing her secret about him. She brought her hands to her cheeks to hide the flush that she was sure was erupting with her embarrassment and looked down at his feet, her eyes beginning to threaten tears.
If something fell out of the sky to strike me dead I would be eternally thankful.
Nothing could have prepared her for what he whispered next.
"I can tell you that I have dreamt of you almost every night of my life, as well."
Her chin snapped up to bring her eyes to his, "What?"
He nodded his head and begun walking slowly towards her, a nervous chuckle escaping as he smiled at her with awestruck wonder. He stopped in front of her and took her hands gently in his, "You can feel that, when I touch you? It's like an energy or excitement or thrill I've never felt before rushing through me and driving me to claim more…why? What is this? So you feel the same?"
She exhaled a shaky breath as her eyes widened, studying his face. His brow was furrowed and eyes slightly narrowed as he looked at her, lips parted as he steadied his breath. She watched his green eyes begin to dilate while his gaze dropped to her lips; she experimentally ran her tongue over her lower lip to see his pupils dilate further in the moonlight. She felt a thrill in having the power to make his body react to hers with such a small gesture, the sensation pooling tight in her abdomen as his eyes fixed on hers. She whispered, "I can feel that, yes…"
She was unsure how long they stood there staring at each other while holding hands, but long enough for Kai to return and announce himself with a clearing of the throat before setting the tray down on the table and inquiring if there was anything else he could do.
Elsa managed to regain her composure enough to respond, "No, thank you, Kai. Have a nice night, Anna should be back soon from the ball."
With the click of the glass door they were left alone, again. In silence.
Hans poured the champagne into the flutes while Elsa stood by his side. "To finding dreams," she offered with a clink of the crystal. They sat snuggled on the loveseat talking and sipping from the crystal flutes, "Should we share dreams first or real life?" she asked with a giggle as he rested his head upon hers.
"Yes." Hans replied with a chaste kiss to her hairline, sending shiver through her. "You have to start at the beginning…"
