A/n: Wow that ended up much longer than I expected. Sorry, late update, but I rewrote this chapter so many times. Took a lot of inspiration from other things, specifically a certain lake scene from a certain movie. Also shoutout to luvmoony89 because you're awesome.

"So there I was, being held at gunpoint while he's trying to make a run for it, and I thought 'surely he's going to get away', but just then my first left tenant knocks him right overboard. Falls straight into the water."

"Oh, thank God," she said, humoring him slightly as she listened to his story. If he noticed, he didn't show it.

"He was quite intimidating. I mean, the guy's six-foot four, got a scar on the left side of his face from his temple to his chin, and looks like he he could just about crush my skull with one hand; and for some reason he's obsessed treasure that he's already paid an arm and a leg for—quite literally might I add. Imagine being the person in the way of that."

"Terrifying."

"Very." But he could see that she was trying not to laugh. "What are you smiling about?" he asked, mystified.

"I'm sorry, I'm just trying to picture you with a ponytail," she said. Truth he told, she was having very little success. Her answer seemed to surprise him. "Please tell me you went through a long hair phase, otherwise, I'll just be disappointed."

"No! Ok, maybe. Where you even listening to word I was saying?"

"Yes!" she said, suppressing laughter. She really had been, even with her runaway imagination. "I'm sorry. I swear, I'm paying attention."

"And now you're laughing at me," he said.

"No, I'm not." Shaking her head, She covered her mouth with her hand, still fighting that urge to laugh before giving in and letting out a giggle.

"Yes, you are," he said, but he chuckled lightly, clearly not offended. She was relieved, for she honestly hadn't been trying to be rude. "It's ok, I looked pretty ridiculous anyways."

The courtyard was empty as it should have been so late in the evening, save for the two of them sitting on a stone bench and talking, all previous thoughts of the time gone long ago. The moon hung in the night sky, the stars twinkled, the garden was in full bloom, and there was a cool summer breeze in the air. It was a perfect summer night.

Their laughter finally subsided.

"... Actually, uh... my father wanted me to go back into the navy."

"Really?" she asked, looking at him in surprise.

He nodded solemnly.

"When?"

"Well, he didn't exactly give me a date, but I'm assuming he meant sooner rather than later. I think he's under the impression that it's pretty much the only future I'll really have. I'm already an officer. He said just give it a couple years, I'll keep moving up in ranks. Eventually, I could become an admiral."

"That sounds like an incredible opportunity," said Elsa. She kept her head down, her eyes way from him and fixated on her hands which were folded in her lap. She had this sinking feeling in her her chest, but she couldn't understand why. Well, she knew why, but she preferred the version where she simply pretended not to know.

He shrugged. "I suppose, but I managed to talk him out of it."

"Why?" She looked up at him again, eyes wide in surprise and confusion. She regretted the decision as soon a she's made it, for he was looking right at her, and their eyes met.

"I decided the excitement wasn't worth the risk anymore. Not when I think I've finally found something I want to live for."

It was a bold statement, a bold one and a broad one as well. Elsa didn't want to think about the possibly meanings it could have held. She certainly didn't dare to hope it meant what she thought it did. She wanted to say something, anything, but her voice caught in her throat.

"Besides," he added hastily, "I talked to him, and after some convincing, he appointed me as the ambassador to represent the Southern Isles for Arandelle."

She blinked, unsure if she really heard what she thought she heard. "What?"

He grinned sheepishly. "Looking forward to doing business with you in the future," he said, it sounding much more like a question than a statement.

"That's..." Elsa paused, taking a moment to process the information in her head. Once the realization hit, her face broke into a huge grin. "That's wonderful, Hans. I'm so happy for you."

"I wanted to tell you earlier, but, well, you know..."

"Oh, yeah." She nodded, her smile fading from her face. "I, uh..." She sighed, eyes averted away and looking down at her hands. "I'm sorry about what I said."

"About not wanting me here?"

She nodded, too ashamed to look at him. "You do know I didn't mean it, right?"

"It's ok. People say things they wouldn't normally say when they're mad or scared or stressed."

She was filled with overwhelming guilt. "There you go again," she said, groaning as she buried her head in her hands. "Perfect as usual." He was much too understanding for his own good.

"I'm flattered that you think so, but trust me, I'm really not." She was surprised to see that for the first time, it was he who wouldn't look at her.

She sighed. "Sometimes I just... wish I was normal."

"What, you want to just be like everybody else?" he said, looking at her as though she were crazy.

"Only sometimes."

She'd come to appreciate her magic, but there would still be times when she still thought it was much more trouble than it was really worth in the end.

"But you're incredible! You would trade that in to be ordinary?"

She'd never seen him so worked up. "You don't understand." She hung her head low. Her hands felt cold in her lap.

"Do you even know what that's like?" he asked.

"You mean nobody looking to me for answers?" she said. "Not having to be a freak? No more responsibility?" Her voice sounded so wistful that she scared herself.

"It's better than just being a dime a dozen. Having to constantly fight for attention or being told you'll never amount to anything." He fiddled with the fabric of his gloves.

"An entire country is looking to you for guidance. Everybody judging you, watching your every move, just waiting for you to crash and burn." Her lower lip trembled. She looked up at the castle. There were still lights in several of the windows.

"—feeling like you're completely dispensable. I just... I wish I could have a place of my own. Where I'm in charge, and nobody's shadow to stand in." He followed her gaze, looking up at the castle as well.

"Oh yeah sure, always having to be here at eight or there at five and never having time to do what you want," she said, unable to keep the resentment out of her tone. She turned her gaze back down to the floor.

"You're just like everybody else..."

"You're not like anybody else..."

"Yet you're just..."

"You feel so..."

"—Alone."

The word was said in unison, surprising the both of them. They turned back to look at each other.

"Well," said Hans, "it was always a silly wish, anyways."

"What do you wish?" she asked him curiously.

"I don't know what I wish anymore."

An idea struck her. She scooted closer to him on the bench. "Tell me a secret," she said, smiling mischievously.

"What?" he asked, the confusion evident on his face.

"The conversation was getting way too somber, I figured we could try to lighten it up." When he gave her a questioning look, she adjusted herself so that she faced more toward him. "Here, I'll go first. Um, I..." she tried to think of something to say, "like sleeping in late, and sometimes I dream in black and white."

He thought for a moment. "When I was five, I wanted to be a pirate when I grew up."

"I hate spring showers because sometimes the rain turns to ice and it's like being showered in tiny pebbles."

"When I was bored, I would sock slide down the castle corridors."

"I still don't know what happened to my tiara after coronation day."

"My brothers Damien and Derek would often try to convince me I was adopted; one time it actually worked."

"I actually use ice to keep my hair in place, and when I want to hide from my advisors or from Anna, I sneak up to the roof."

"One time I asked my brother William why our last name was Westerguard when we live in the Southern Isles."

"That's the worst joke I've ever heard. What was his answer?"

"He didn't seem to think it was as funny either because he hit me in the head."

"Let's see... Once I spent an entire evening counting every single salad plate we own."

"And how many are there?"

"997. It's not only are we three short but the number's uneven, and it's driving me mad."

"Hm... I haven't danced with you since the ball."

"That's a fact, not a secret," she pointed out.

"The secret is that I still want to."

She looked over at him in surprise, their eyes meeting making her mind go blank. She really wanted to say something clever or witty but was at a loss for words.

Hans gave her a small smile. He stood up, offering his hand out to her.

She began to reach out for him, but a realization occurred to her, and she stopped herself before she could actually touch his hand. She retracted her hand. "I-I'm not wearing any gloves."

"That's ok! I trust you." He took her by the hands. She stood up from the bench and allowed herself to be lead under the shade of a large nearby tree, rolling her eyes but a smile playing across her lips nonetheless.

He let go of one of her hands, twirling her in place. She laughed, her prior feelings of anxiety beginning to fade. "I feel ridiculous."

"Alright, so no more twirling then." Their dancing slowed, one of his hands still intertwined with hers while his other hand went around her waist, and one of hers draped over his shoulder. They swayed back and forth under the canopy of the tree in the almost silence, the only sounds being the chirping of crickets or the occasional rustle.

She rested her head on his shoulder, her body relaxing against his figure. Wanting to be immersed in the moment, she allowed for her eyes to close, and she could feel his head gently leaning against hers as they danced cheek to cheek. She was surprised by her own bravery, allowing herself to be so intimate with someone, but she was enjoying herself too much to be trifled with worry. It was a while before either of them spoke.

Elsa lifted her head from his shoulder, looking briefly up at him before darting her eyes away quickly. "What are we doing," she mumbled, coming back to her senses.

"Being indulgent, I suppose," he said, his voice low.

She leaned in closer to him, their foreheads now touching. "You know," she said, "this really isn't all that bad."

He chuckled softly. "Not that bad, huh?"

"You know what I mean."

He was dangerously close.

"Please, do enlighten me."

She struggled for the right words. "I don't think... I've spent this long in actual physical contact with someone in forever."

"I'll let you know if I start to feel cold." She glanced up at him to see that he had an easy smile on his lips.

They were silent for a long moment. "You know, I'm actually really glad you're back," she murmured quietly as they rocked back and forth.

"Me too," he said. "I mean..." He tilted his head back so he could look directly at her, eyes wide, their foreheads no longer touching. He cleared his throat, gaze shifting around awkwardly, sometimes meeting her eyes, sometimes not. "It'll be nice to get the business experience, you know?"

"Yes, of course." A part of her was slightly disappointed at the direction the conversation had taken, but another part of her was also relieved.

They stopped swaying, but Hans kept rambling. "Plus, nobody needs me at home anyways. And it's beautiful here, and you're beautiful—"

Her cheeks flushed pink, but he took no notice.

"—But that's not why I come here! I mean it is, but it's, uh... and I like seeing Anna because she cares about me even if nobody else does—"

"I do."

"I—What?" He blinked, as if barely registering what she had just said.

"I care," she said earnestly, looking right into his eyes.

Elsa leaned in slowly, the tip of her nose brushing against his. They stood there, foreheads touching, their lips barely inches apart. She closed her eyes, feeling the sensation of his breath tickling her skin. Her hands began to feel cold, her heart racing in her chest. They were so close, all she had to do was lean in just a little more...

"Get a room, you two!" a familiar voice punctured the silence. Elsa and Hans looked up at the castle to see Anna leaning out the window to Elsa's bedroom.

"Anna, what are you still doing in my room?" asked Elsa, who had promptly turned bright red in embarrassment and rage. "Go back to bed!"

"Don't you wanna see who wanted to come say hi?"

For the first time, Elsa noticed another small figure in the window. "Hi!" He waved and grinned a wide, buck-toothed grin.

"Olaf?"

"Elsa!" he cried happily. He leaned over to Anna. "The dreaded ex?" he asked her, gesturing to Hans.

"Yup. Cute, ain't he?"

"And you chose the funny-looking donkey over him because?"

"Don't give me that look, I don't know how true love works."

"Anna!" snapped Elsa, very fed up and still red in the face.

"Fine, fine, I'm gone," said Anna. "Come on, Olaf. I know at least Sven will appreciate our presence."

"Ok! Bye Elsa! Bye ex-fiancé!" And with a last wave they were gone from sight.

They stood there in silence, at a loss for words. Elsa shook her head, still unable to believe her sister's gall. There would definitely be some words later. "Sorry about that. My sister can be, uh..."

He shrugged. "It's ok."

"It's probably for the best." She couldn't bring herself to look at him. "We wouldn't want to rush into things headfirst, right?"

He nodded slowly. "Timing has never really been my strong suit," he said, smiling apologetically. She knew that all too well. He kissed her on the cheek. "Goodnight, Elsa."

Eyes wide, she touched her cheek, the place where he kissed her burning against her icy fingertips, nearly identical to the last time. At last she was able to find words. "I'll, uh... I'll be going then."

Elsa turned away from him, intending to walk away. She hadn't gone two steps before changing her mind, glancing back at him. She paused, then without warning she turned back, and suddenly she was there in front of him again, she reaching up with one hand to pull him into an urgent kiss.

At first there was nothing; he had clearly been caught off guard, and she was worried she'd overstepped some boundary, or perhaps she'd misinterpreted his affections. Maybe he really was just nice. Maybe she really was rushing things too soon. Then after a moment, he stirred, leaning in slightly as he kissed her back, his lips warm and soft against hers, making her senses tingle and her head light.

At last they broke apart, foreheads still touching as they leaned against one another, Elsa's right hand still on his neck, both of them smiling awkwardly.

"You're cold," said Hans, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Sorry," she said. "Nerves."

He shook his head slightly, still smiling. "I thought you didn't want to rush things."

"Unfortunately," said Elsa, "I'm afraid my sense of timing isn't much better than yours."

He laughed softly. "Speaking of time, I'm sure it must be late."

Elsa sighed. "Right." She stepped back from him.

He made a slight bow. "Goodnight Elsa."

She smiled—the kind of smile of two lovers sharing a secret—nodding to him in return. "Goodnight Hans."

A/n: What do you think? Ten chapters in, wow. I had so much trouble with that last bit.