Chapter 10: You are my Sunshine

"Hi."

Icy blue eyes blinked up rapidly at the dazzling set of eyes staring into her own. Elsa could feel her cheeks lighting from the proximity of the gorgeous redhead, the feeling of the warm weight pressed up against her, and from the realisation that if Elsa leaned up a little bit she could connect their lips.

Up this close she could count the stars of the galaxy sprinkled across Anna's bridge and cheekbones. The galaxy which was quickly disappearing under the redness emitting from the depths of Anna's dermis.

Elsa felt a lump in her throat and her mouth going dry, preventing her from formulating words.

Elsa's eyes roamed over Anna's face, taking in the way the redhead was shyly biting her lip and the way the corners of her eyes crinkled in embarrassment. And holy shit, she could feel Anna's strong arms clenching up under her neck. She realised that those arms had cushioned her impact with the cold unforgiving concrete and her heart swelled up at the protective gesture.

And yet even though her heart was full from the arms sneaked up behind her head it was accompanied by a slight sense of horror at how easily such a small thing came to Anna.

She didn't even hesitate when throwing her arms around Elsa. Anna didn't care that she might end up hurting herself in progress of protecting the older woman – it was already like a second nature to the redhead, and that terrified Elsa more than anything.

She was going to hurt her and yet all Anna could think of, when there was no time to think but to act, was Elsa's well being.

That realisation in itself was enough to bring a pang to Elsa's heart and the blonde forced her eyes to lock with Anna's. The longer she stared into the depths of the redhead's irises, the more of rational thinking and her insecurities ebbed away to make way for the pure adoration that Elsa felt in the deep crevices of her being.

My god her eyes...

Elsa never liked blue eyes – they remained her too much of her own – but she was sure that Anna's were an exception she would gladly allow.

The blonde spent a good portion of the previous night staring into Anna's eyes like a lovestruck fool, and she still wasn't able to fully appreciate their beauty in the dim light of La Ratatouille. In the bright morning daylight, the first decent morning of May, could Elsa truly see the wide spectrum of the colours swivelling around the blue backdrop of Anna's iris.

She could see the green indents intertwining with the grey veins that criss-crossed the light bright blue surrounded by the dark limbal ring. The morning sun came up from behind Elsa, catching in Anna's eyes and bringing the green nebulas out from behind the greys and blues and making the redhead's eyes teal.

In the dim light of the restaurant, Anna's eyes were tinted grey and the transformation to the green tint left Elsa feeling more breathless than she already was. Oh how she wished to reach out and graze her fingertips across the redhead's cheeks, to pull their faces closer until all that existed in the world was Anna.

Gods, I'm hooked.

Elsa smiled sloppily at the woman perched above her, settling gentle hands on the slope of Anna's midsection. She allowed her fingers to graze the soft cotton of Anna's green tank top.

Anna wiggled at the feather light touch, her stomach muscles flexing, and bit the inside of her cheek to deny the laughter gathering in her throat from coming forth. Tickles were Anna's greatest undoing. The blonde felt Anna stir above her and she snapped back to reality, making Anna want to pout at the sudden realisation that crossed Elsa's face.

Quick hands pushed at Anna's tank top clad stomach, making the redhead lean back on her heels and extract her arms from underneath Elsa. Anna tried her best to suppress the disappointment that flared up in her stomach at the premature separation.

The blonde woman caught a glimpse of disappointment rippling under the surface of the redhead eyes when she pushed her back. She also briefly noted that her neck felt unusually colder from the lack of Anna's flesh. She nearly scowled at the sensation but pushed the thought aside as she once again connected her eyes with Anna's.

"Hello," she smiled, prompting the redhead to smile back at her. The blonde woman pushed herself up on her forearms, keeping her eyes trained on the redhead.

"Sorry, I don't usually-" the sentences died short on Anna's lips. The redhead was midway through the process of getting up off of Elsa but by the luck of being, well, Anna, she caught her foot on an invisible crack in the pavement and toppled forward again only barely managing to brace herself against the concrete.

Their faces came dangerously close again and she could feel a cold waft of air gliding on the heated flesh of her cheeks.

"Whoops?" Anna giggled breathlessly.

"Are you alright?" the dazzling set of blue eyes inquired worriedly. The cool air tickled her lips and her tongue darted out to taste Elsa's breath on her lips.

Oh shit. Were her eyes always this blue? Man...

"Me? Oh yes I'm fine!" the pushed herself back again. Sitting back on her heels she reached up to tousle her braided hair and sheepishly smiled down at the blonde woman.

"This is awkward." An elegant brow rose and a playful grin tugged at Elsa's lips.

"But just 'cause we're – I'm awkward!" The blonde grasped Anna's warm fingers between her cold ones and Anna's breath hitched at contact. She felt a tug on her hand and realising that Elsa was pulling her up into a more vertical position, her head snapped back from their intertwined hands to stare into the Arctic blue. She could feel the word vomit coming up.

"You're gorgeous." The words left her lips in a breath and wouldn't have registered with Anna's brain if it wasn't for Elsa raising her brows as if in a question. "Wait? What?"

Elsa hid her chuckle behind her hand, eyes shining with laughter and something that resembled adoration. Anna's stomach saltoed at the look designated only for her and a warm smile erupted on her lips.

"Thank you," the older of the said gently, eyes crunching up from smiling. Elsa noted that she smiled so much more whenever Anna was around and decided that it was definitely a good thing. It was too long since anyone managed to make her feel so free. It was nice, refreshening, and something Elsa wanted to continue.

To accentuate her thanks, Elsa leaned forward and planted a lingering kiss on Anna's cheek, feeling the redhead's skin heating up against her lips. When she leaned back she hid a satisfied smile at the blush embracing the redhead's cheeks in a fiery hug. Not to mention the gobsmacked, hanging open mouth expression at the brief contact.

The blonde allowed the redhead a minute to compose herself, quenching down the desire to trail her fingers under Anna's chin to close her still open mouth.

"No problem!" The redhead spluttered, blue-green eyes glancing at their still intertwined hands and a cheeky grin stole across her lips. "Does that mean that everytime I compliment you I get a kiss? 'Cause I'm like totally on board with that."

Elsa couldn't resist rolling her eyes at the grinning redhead. "Only if you do the same."

Anna put on a mock contemplation look, even twisting her lips in a way that made Elsa want to kiss her all over, and finally nodded, her braid bond hair jumping at the gesture. "You've got yourself a deal Miss Arendelle."

And just like that, Anna leaned forward and connected their lips in a leisurely, feathery kiss. Before Elsa could reciprocate, Anna was pulling away, each centimetre drawing Elsa's lips into a pout. The redhead must have noticed for she leaned back in again, setting another light kiss on Elsa's cool lips.

The redhead broke the kiss and instead of moving away, pressed their foreheads together. "For last night," she said in a way of an explanation, nuzzling their noses against each other.

Elsa allowed a smaller smile graze her lips. She enjoyed the feeling of their skin touching and sighed softly. "I'm glad I bumped into you, I needed my dose of Anna."

"Of course, Miss I'm-up-at-ungodly-hours," the redhead grinned up at the eye roll, "What are you doing so far away from your apartment at this hour anyway?"

"I could ask you the very same question. I live in Mayfair, what's your excuse Miss Detective?" Elsa teased lightly. She kept their hands connected as she straightened up and trailed her fingers across Anna's jaw.

"No fair, I asked you first," Anna pouted and pushed a fallen bang out of her face. "And anyway, it's sorta obvious that I've been jogging."

Elsa let her eyes Anna's appearance. The dark navvy tracksuits hardly did her curvaceous figure any justice, however the tank top had a generous neckline and from her slightly elevated position, Elsa could look down and see the curves of Anna's breasts peaking out. The blonde licked her lips unconsciously and knowing that her eyes had darkened, glanced back up to meet Anna's teal eyes.

"Indeed you are."

The redhead swallowed thickly at the unabashed desire directed at her.

"So what are you doing then?" she choked out past her dry throat.

"Oh you know, the usual, killing and such," Elsa said lightly, making Anna chuckle.

"Seriously? That's a completely different side of you."

"I'm just kidding. I was only heading to Tiana's," Elsa bit her lip, suddenly unsure. She was glad for one that Anna took her words as a joke, but she hoped to whatever gods above that the redhead wouldn't deny her her next request. "Would you like to come with me?"

Anna's eyes light up at the inquiry and she tightened her grip on Elsa's hand before replying. "I'd love to."

And just like that, Elsa breathed a sigh of relief, tugging at Anna's hand to lead the redhead towards her original destination.

Tiana's Palace was a quaint restaurant tucked into as much of a desolate corner that being near Hyde Park, and in London centre, allowed. It had a unique atmosphere created the buzz of patrons, the sounds of cooking coming from the kitchen, the jazz music and the lively spirit of the owners – Tiana and her husband, Naveen – to produce a music unlike any other in the confines of the metropolis.

Elsa found the place when she was still doing her Bachelor's degree. She was walking through Hyde Park per habit and stumbled upon the newly open restaurant. The musical quality of the place was what drew her in at first, the food made her want to stay there forever. However the exuberant cheery blonde that welcomed her initially by throwing her surprisingly strong arms around Elsa's neck and then proceeded to drag Elsa to a vacant table, made Elsa never want to come back.

But she did – just for food. At least that's what she told herself.

Truth was, she enjoyed going there in the early mornings after her walks for a cup of coffee and some well made pastries. The atmosphere was enamouring, and the owners were a delight to talk to.

She found out from Tiana that the blonde woman whom nearly scared Elsa away was none other than Charlotte La Bouff, the daughter of the Mayor and the woman who funded the restaurant. For that alone Elsa approved of her and tolerated her company whenever Tiana or Naveen were too busy to talk to her.

She never brought Merida or any other of her previous girlfriends to Tiana's Palace, feeling that it too much of a home to let them into it. It was Elsa's get away. All of her troubles seized to exist whenever she stepped through the threshold. It was hers, and she used to never want to share it with anybody but herself. That is, until today.

The decision to bring Anna, to let her into her home, wasn't a thought out one. It just came by Elsa and she decided to go with it. Maybe, in the depths of her soul, she knew Anna wouldn't think less of her when she saw that this place was more of home than the house she was born in. Maybe Anna wouldn't hate her for what made her the way she was today. And maybe, just maybe, she wouldn't stop loving her if she found out what Elsa truly was.

Throughout their walk, their hands remained connected and the reality of their maybe relationship seeped through Elsa's pores. She nearly deterred them from the path leading up to Tiana's, unsure once again. After all it wasn't said that Anna wouldn't think less of her upon seeing the place, that she wouldn't hate everything that destroyed Elsa. What if Anna took one look at the restaurant, see into the crevices of Elsa's being and left her just like that because her insides were too ugly for the purity of her insides.

Elsa was about to lead Anna down the path which would bring them out in front of a different restaurant, a safer place, a place where she wouldn't expose herself as much. But Anna rested her head against Elsa's shoulder and looked up at her with those teal eyes, and in that moment Elsa knew that everything would be fine. It was Anna whom she was thinking about, Anna could never hate her.

With that, Elsa led them up to Tiana's Palace and through the threshold. Only to be greeted by Charlotte La Bouff.

"Elsa!" the cheery blonde threw herself around Elsa, effectively breaking her hold on Anna's hand. "How are you? And who's that?" Blue eyes rounded onto Anna and hold around Elsa's neck relinquished.

The redhead stared at the young woman sandwiched between Elsa and herself. Anna's eyes darted down to the ample cleavage that the pink dress provided, and quickly brought her eyes up again. She extended her hand, "I'm Anna, nice to meet you."

The blonde woman pumped Anna's hand excitedly and while introducing herself animatedly, "I'm Charlotte, but you can call me Lottie if you want."

"Ah, sure, yeah."

Charlotte grinned back at the redhead woman and quickly glanced between Anna and Elsa. "Are you-?"

"Oh Lottie, don't harass Elsa and her friend," the dark skinned woman interjected quickly before Charlotte could finish her question. She quirked her eyebrow at the blonde woman and crossed her arms. She turned dark eyes to Anna and her lips broke out in a smile.

"Tiana," she said in a way of introduction and extended her hand to Anna.

"Anna. Are you the owner?" They shook hands and Anna stole a look around the large interior of the restaurant. Taking in the more the homey entrance littered with bistroic tables and then the large arch which separated the establishment into two, and which led to the more ornate section.

"Yes, I am." Tiana's voice brought Anna's eyes back to the dark skinned restaurant owner and she offered the woman a wide smile.

The two newly acquaintanced women led Anna and Elsa to the usual table which provided a view out to Hyde Park, took their order and left them. Tiana and Charlotte exchanged a smile, the blonde giggling as they went.

"Do you think?"

"I hope so, they look nice together."

Elsa watched the retreating backs of the two and swallowed thickly past the newly forming lump in her throat. She snuck a glance at Anna who was admiring the high-celling building and taking in all the small details. Her eyes seemed to shine whenever she spotted something green and Elsa couldn't help but to chuckle.

Anna snapped out of her reverie and locked her eyes with Elsa's, immediately looking down and tucked a loose bang behind her ear. The blonde was looking at her with such an incredulous expression, brimming with such emotion, that it made Anna feel like a shy teenager talking to one of her long time crushes for the first time.

"Do you come here often?" she managed to finally say after a drawn out pause that started to border on awkward.

"Every morning. Although it's the first time I brought anyone with me."

"Not even Olaf?"

A shake of Elsa's head was her answer.

I'm sorta special then.

"Indeed you are." A chuckle had Anna burying her face in her arms. She was sure her face was red all over again. God damnit, why couldn't she control her mouth around Elsa. It was second time that morning she made a blunder and this time it wasn't 'cute' or anything along the lines, but plainly self-centred and shallow and none of the things that she really was (or was ready to admit to being).

Her thoughts were interrupted when a tall dark-skinned man, who introduced himself as Naveen to Anna, brought out their plates. Naveen slunk away quickly, giving Elsa a wink as he left, leaving the blonde woman equally red and spluttering.

The Detective took pity on her companion, who was trying her hardest to look anywhere but Anna, and enveloped the blonde's hand with her own – squeezing lightly. The tension between the two women evaporated as they exchanged shy smiles and turned their eyes to their plates.

Anna's eyes nearly popped out when she saw the dark chocolate slice of heaven sitting amongst the white powdery snow on the ornate plate. She could feel her mouth salivating and she forced the excess down her throat before she started to drool all over the table and further embarrass herself in front of Elsa.

She had to suppress a moan when the first slice of the brownie slid down her throat, and licked her lips clean of the liquid chocolate. Never noticing the lingering look Elsa aimed toward her lips.

They ate their treats in companionably silence, exchanging fleeting looks accompanied by bitten lips, and stealing pieces from the other's plate. Anna pretended to be annoyed each time Elsa's fork ducked down into the brownie in front of her but she could never maintain her charade when she looked at Elsa's laugh filled eyes and petite smile around the fork.

It was all too soon that eight rolled around and it was time for Anna to leave and get ready before she had to face another day to trying to put together the mystery of Claude Frollo. Just the thought of going into office again and sieving through the frightening small amount of evidence they managed to collect made Anna want to both cry and shout. It was utterly frustrating and seemed like a perfect crime with an equally perfect dead end.

"If you want I could give you a lift down to college?" The redhead offered with a smile when they left Tiana's with kind parting words and a promise to come back. She barely missed the wide grin that Tiana and Charlotte gave Elsa and the shushed word of 'You better keep her' before the blonde woman joined her in the May sun which only served to illuminate her blushing face.

"My college is rather far from Yard building." The older woman remarked as they headed down towards to where Anna parked her car.

"I don't mind, I get to spend more time with you."

Elsa couldn't find a proper answer, she did want to spend more time with the beautiful redhead. And so she climbed into Anna's car and let her drive them first to Anna's house in Cambridge Street. After all, Anna couldn't go into Yard in her running clothes.

While the redhead dashed upstairs for a quick shower and a change of clothing, Elsa made herself at home in the living room. She scanned the walls for any other pictures of a younger Anna in hopes of catching a glimpse of the youthful smile she saw days before. Alas, the walls of the living room lacked a defining personal touch (something that surprised Elsa) par Anna's laptop and few bills littering the coffee table. Regardless, the room still held warmth of being lived in.

Elsa's eye was drawn to a painting above the fireplace and she squinted. The paint strokes and the style looked familiar but she couldn't place where she had seen it. It wasn't a famous artist, of that she was sure, being passionate about art made her acutely aware of the different styles used by various artists. This particular style had a dream like quality to it – like something taken out of a fairytale – and by gods if it wasn't remarkable then not even Anna's beauty was.

But who painted it.

She allowed herself to ponder on the evasive name, knowing the feeling that the painting brought out in her and then tried to work backwards to link it with the large range stored in her mind. She let the feeling of childlike wonderment and happiness fill her for a minute, she could nearly feel the name pounding at the insides of her skull but her tongue wouldn't form it.

In all her ponderings she never heard Anna descent down the aged stairs nor hear the redhead's brief airy chuckle when she saw Elsa gazing at the painting with a firm look of determination screwing up her eyebrows into a frown.

"Rapunzel painted it," Anna finally said out loud. She smirked when Elsa turned to her as if she wasn't expecting to see Anna standing there, looking every bit the Anna Bunker she oft saw in newspapers and on the TV. The redhead's sat in a twisted bun upon her silky hair and her clothes screamed 'I'm a professional'.

Elsa swallowed, giving the painting one sidelong glance before she turned her attention fully to Anna.

"That's why it looked familiar."

They clambered back into the car and Anna zoomed down the busy streets to get to Gordon Square. Elsa didn't speak, knowing that the morning London traffic was pure hell to get through. She focused instead on the music playing through the radio and the buildings they passed by.

"I can't believe I never asked you before, what are you doing in college? Like a PhD or something?" The redhead asked when they forced to stop at yet another red light.

"I'm doing a PhD in Political Sciences," the blonde answered with a shy smile. She expected one of the standard questions of 'Oh is it difficult?' or even 'What's next after you get the degree?', and she mentally prepared herself for the questions, how ever they might be phrased.

"Do you like it?"

Elsa blinked a few times at the question. She wasn't expecting it and her mind stuttered upon hearing it. She could always lie, it wasn't the first time she was asked the question. Lying could always get her out of an uncomfortable situation, but then again it would be Anna she'd be lying to and that would be unforgivable. Anna deserved only the truth from Elsa, and truth she would get, even if it hurt Elsa to say it out in the open.

"No, my father thought it'd be good for the business for me to do it. But no, I can't say I enjoy politics." Her teeth worried her bottom lip and she glanced out the window to see how much farther they were from UCL.

"Politics for business? Wouldn't economics be better? What kind of business is it?" The young redhead chuckled, glancing at Elsa from the corner of her eye.

"A very political business. That and he wanted me out of the house."

"I see. If you could do anything you want, what would you do? I'm sure you could, I don't know, change?"

It was Elsa's turn to chuckle at Anna. "You can't change your PhD just like that. You need to do an undergraduate. And anyway, it doesn't really matter what I like."

An uncomfortable silence stretched between the two women. Elsa stared firmly out the window, back straight and ever poised, while Anna looked mildly distressed at Elsa's words.

"Of course it matters what you like, it's your life. Not your father's or anybody else's, but yours." The blonde nodded after a minute, letting Anna know her words registered with her. The remainder of the car journey was silent, save for Anna's curse every now and again.

It wasn't until they arrived in the parking lot in front of the main building of the college, that Anna did speak, determined to fix her blunder and make it right with Elsa.

"Hey," she spoke up before Elsa could gather her things and leave with a brief goodbye. A quirked eyebrow was the only indication that she got that Elsa was listening.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. Could I maybe make it up tonight? At 8 at mine?" She looked at Elsa hopefully and finally when the other woman smiled and nodded did the weight of a hundred stones drop off her shoulders like dust.

"I'd like that. Thank you for the lift," Elsa leaned in and pressed their lips together in a feather light kiss. She was out of Anna's car before the redhead could say 'Hey!' and disappeared into the main building with a small wave.

Anna realised that her face was spilling into a smile, but she had no desire to hide her joy – both at the kiss and at the fact that she'd be able to see Elsa later on that night.

The long-ish drive down to Yard seemed shorter than it should've to the Detective and she parked her car in the underground parking cheerily, a smaller smile still attached to her lips.

She made her usual way up to her office, momentarily forgetting the deadend case that awaited her when she entered the office. Her peace of mind was shattered by the lumbering stature of her partner.

"You won't believe it," he said in a way of good morning.

"What?"

"They've found a witness! Some bloke was delivering goods to a shop and saw the happening."

Anna dashed down to her office, dropping down her handbag and the light jacket and turned to Kristoff.

"Who's with him?"

"Aurora."

Ta-da! Hopefully this meets everyone's standard. It's nearly 3 am here so I'm off to bed. Please tell me what you think and all that jazz.