Over the next week, Kristoff had come over a few more times, or invited Anna along on his daily walks with Sven, and they had spent a little more time getting to know one another. Anna learned that he had named Sven after an old reindeer he had befriended when he was little on the farm, and Kristoff had learned that Anna had a fluffy white cat named Olaf when she was young.

Sure, the knowledge was relatively shallow, but it was something, and Anna, honestly, was cherishing the time spent with him. She had always wanted a real friend - someone who she could be herself with, and who would be content to just sit around in pajamas, watch television, and just veg out with her. Kristoff might just be that friend.

That's why she got so upset when he came over, and started acting weird.

"You look nice…"

Anna jumped at the voice in her doorway, and snapped her head around to look at the tall form leaning up against the frame. "Oh," she breathed, relief rolling up her back, a smile stretching at her cheeks. "You scared me…"

"Sorry…" his voice was a low rumble, and he kept his gaze relatively downcast. "Why are you so dressed up?"

Swallowing hard, Anna bit at her lower lip. "I, um…" She couldn't stop shifting nervously in place. "I have a date with Hans tonight… I thought I mentioned that?"

Kristoff let out a small laugh and rubbed at the back of his neck. "Right… Guess I forgot."

Silence fell heavy over them for a few moments, before Kristoff turned on his toe and walked out of her room, heading back towards the living room to sit with Elsa. Anna was tempted to go follow him, but her phone started vibrating on her nightstand. Groaning, she threw together her bag, pulled on shoes, and darted out to the living room.

"Okay, I'll be back by eleven, like I promised."

Elsa smiled up at Anna, who was obviously distressed by Kristoff's irate and hunched over form, and nudged her elbow into her friend's side. "Have fun, Anna."

She waved hesitantly, saying goodbye to both of them, and pouting as she exited after Kristoff continued to just offer her short grunts.

As soon as the door shut, Elsa hit Kristoff in the shoulder. "What is your problem?"

"Hey!" He rubbed at his arm and kept his eyes locked on the rug. "Nothing. I don't have a problem."

Crossing her arms across her chest, she gave him a more than knowing look. "Kristoff, you act like I don't know you at all."

He couldn't help the pout that puckered at his lips. "I just…" Kristoff trailed off, squeezing his hands together in his lap. "I hate that guy. I don't think he's changed."

Concern washed over Elsa's face, teeth catching her bottom lip with worry.

xxxx

"So," Anna giggled, her arm linked with that of her suitor's. "You said you had a surprise for me tonight?"

Smiling, Hans reached into his pocket to retrieve his wallet, and slipped out a thin plastic card. "Ah yes." He held it out between two fingers, waiting for Anna to take it from him. "Honestly, I don't think there's any harm in you having a glass of wine or two at dinner with me…"

Personally, he felt the relatively large year difference was strange, and felt the judgemental eyes of strangers on him when she was unable to order a drink. She was barely past twenty, and he was close to twenty-seven. And he didn't like people judging him.

She was hesitant, examining the ID card between her hands, and shrugged. "I don't know… I -"

"Oh, Anna," he murmured, running a hand down her cheek delicately. "It'll be fine." As long as she didn't actlike a child with a fake ID.

When he started moving again, Anna just held tightly on his arm, and continued to keep her eyes locked forward. It wasn't like she hadn't done this before, but something felt… off. Why did he have that made for her? She hadn't made any indication of wanting it…

"Why?"

Hans stopped, turning his head down to face her. "Why what?"

Suddenly, she felt nervous. His gaze made her stomach flip, in a not-so-good way, and she felt uneasy. "Why did you have a fake ID made for me?"

He rolled his eyes, a laugh bubbling up from his chest. "Well, why not?" He pressed a kiss to her slightly parted and confused lips, catching her jaw between his thumb and forefinger. "I figured it might be weird for you that I'm having a drink, while you can't."

"O… Okay…"

They walked to the restaurant in silence, his thumb running carefully over the knuckles of her hand that was laced through his arm.

While you can't.

Was he bothered by the age difference?

Did he not want people knowing how young she was?

xxxx

They were seated quickly, and things had started off well. The whole dream date she had thought up in her mind since she was little. Hans had held out her chair for her, ordered for her (correctly guessing what she wanted, no less!), held her hand delicately, running his other hand softly over her knee, which was barely exposed under the hem of her dress…

And he paid all of his attention to her.

Well… mostly.

Sometimes something else caught his eye, and Anna would touch his arm, or lean in a little closer to catch his attention again. "So I think I've made a new friend."

"Oh?" Hans asked, turning in to face her. "That's wonderful. What is she like?"

Biting her lip, Anna hesitated. She. She. Should she not confess that her new friend was male? Would that upset Hans? This was new to her, and she really wanted to do everything in she could to keep their relationship on the right track. "Oh… they're um… Really wonderful. A good friend of my sister's who I guess I kind of just clicked with."

Hans nodded, forcing a smile to stretch on his lips. It was obvious to him that her use of they meant… "I'm sorry, your friend is a male, isn't he?"

A smile and a laugh. "Y-yeah… is that okay?"

He placed a hand over hers, and left a gentle kiss on her cheek. "Of course it is, Anna! Did you think I would try to police your friends?" Guilt was a helpful tool, too, he supposed.

"Oh gosh," she was growing a little more frantic, her hands waving in front of her. "No, no! I just… wasn't sure if you'd be comfortable with the idea of me only having one friend so far, and him being… well, a him."

"Anna…" His hand drifted up her thigh, making her jump and blush a deep red. "I trust you."

A softer smile spread across her lips, and he knew it so well. The smile that meant she trusted him, too. The smile that meant he had her just within his reach. The smile, he decided, that meant maybe this wouldn't be the worst thing he would have to settle for.

xxxx

After settling down with a drink, Elsa turned her attention back to her best friend. "So… When you say he hasn't changed… What was he like, when you knew him?"

Kristoff rolled his shoulders and took a long swig of his beer. "A manipulative asshole, basically." Picking anxiously at the paper label wrapped around the bottle, he continued. "I don't know if it was a game to him or what, but he would lure girls in to dating him, and a few months later, they would be… different."

Elsa bit at her lip, and tapped at her glass. "What do you mean, different?"

"I think he abused them, honestly. Maybe not physically but..." Kristoff ran his fingers through his hair, and sighed. "A couple years ago, I found one of them outside his apartment… I was walking Sven and she was on the curb, crying… I sat with her and she just seemed… broken? I don't know."

He shook his head violently, as if willing the memory away. "Just keep an eye on her, okay? I don't… I don't trust him."

Placing a comforting hand against his shoulder, Elsa nodded. "I will. I still think Anna will know to get away if things got bad… Maybe he has changed..."

"Maybe."

xxxx

As the night went on, Anna still found herself fighting for his attention. Even when he was having a conversation with her, his eyes seemed to drift. He would look at the clock, at the bar, cast his eyes down at his plate…

She had honestly intended on only having one drink, that was it. Just some wine with dinner. Maybe a second glass, if it was that good…

But Anna had hit four glasses by the time dinner was on their table and Hans had had another woman order a drink for him, having it sent to the table, and laughing with her friends when he gave them a tilt of his glass and a wink.

Kristoff wouldn't do that, she thought to herself as she sipped at her glass. When they were together, Kristoff only paid attention to her. He didn't even notice the glances he got from other women walking past.

Anna clenched her fist tightly on the table, tossed back the rest of her drink, and willed herself to stop thinking about him because it's not like they were dating and he definitely wasn't interested in her and she wasn't interested in him and she definitely was dating H-

"Anna, I think you should slow down."

"Excuse me?" she asked, tapping her nails against the wine glass. She was definitely a lightweight, and she felt like she was swimming under water.

"I said I think you should slow down." His voice was stern, and his hand on her arm was a little rougher than normal.

"Hey…" She couldn't take her eyes off of his hand holding her forearm. "That… hurts…" Voice in a low whisper, Anna grasped at his hand with her free one, trying to loosen the grip his large fingers had on her skin. "Why're you doing that?"

Hans sighed, and hastily let go of her arm. "I'm sorry, Anna. I think we should go…" Pity, really. He had hoped she would be able to control herself. At least he had learned for next time...

"No," she slumped down in her seat, raising her arm up to call over the waiter. "I'm still eating and I want another drin-"

In one swift motion, Hans had her wrist caught in his palm, had lowered it to the table and sat beside her, his mouth close to her ear. "Anna, please behave," he hissed, his voice low and demanding. "You don't need any more to drink." He had tried to be pleasant...

A whimper came from her parted lips as she twisted her arm in his ever tightening grip, begging for him to let go of her. "Let go…"

"Stop acting like a child." He had tried to be kind...

Anna didn't know if it was the alcohol or something else, but all of the sudden she felt a large lump forming in her chest. She wasn't a child. She wasn't a child. But he was managing to make her feel so small - so much like one.

"I'm not…"

Hans sighed and loosened his grasp on her wrist. "Why are you doing this, Anna? Please just come with me." He had tried to reason with her…

Anna felt afraid. "No…"

Standing beside the table, Hans offered his hand. "Anna, please come with me." Just once more, he'd try...

She turned back to her food, and started cutting into the meal before her.

Hans sighed, and sat back down at the table. She was a spirited one, that was for sure. He'd be settling, yes, but he thought again that maybe he should have picked a someone else… No, no. Ultimately, she was an easy target… Doe eyed and desperate for a relationship…

"Anna…" He was growing frustrated as she continued to ignore him, and Hans was just about ready to leave her there. She could find her own way home, for all he cared.

His phone began to vibrate in his pocket. A heavy sigh passed between his lips as he answered it, turning away from Anna as he spoke, but enjoying the way she watched him curiously. The call had been from a subordinate, about a problem that needed fixing, but could wait if he needed it to.

It was an excuse to leave, at least.

He would be fine to see her again when she calmed down. She was tolerable on a normal day.

"I'll be right there," he finished, hanging up the phone and turning back to the redhead. "I'm so sorry, Anna." He ran his hand across her cheek. "I have to go… for work. It's urgent."

She pouted again.

"Do you want to come with me, or finish eating?"

Her gaze was barely on him as she placed another forkful of food in her mouth.

She was a child. He was almost starting to regret picking her.

After leaning over to place a kiss on her forehead, Hans waved over a waiter and handed him plenty of cash. "All right, Anna… I'll send a car. He'll be here soon and you can leave whenever you are ready."

He had chosen a child. But he had to follow through.

He didn't have time to court someone else... Not that women in this city were willing to do more than just sleep with him.

Blue eyes rolled up to look at him as he said farewell, and he sighed, turning away from the table with a small shake of his head.

After the disaster that was this night, He would have to do something to get her back under his thumb. A little planning was necessary, but he had a feeling she would be slightly less angry in the morning.

xxxx

By the time Kristoff had gotten back home, Sven was eagerly awaiting his arrival to let him out into the backyard. He did so quickly, patting the mutt's head and leaving the door open to sit down in the kitchen.

At least Elsa was… being cautious now. But she was obviously still open to leaving things up to chance…

Kristoff jumped when his phone rang, whole body tensing when he saw Anna's name lighting up the screen.

Shit.

xxxx

Anna had decided to sit at the bar and have a couple… okay, four more drinks, while waiting for the alleged car to show up.. Drinking helped people forget things, right? Well that's what they said, anyway. But really, all she was feeling was sleepy and sad and alone.

Hans had really left her at this restaurant, hadn't he? Left her to wait for some stranger to pick her up?

Glancing at her watch, barely making out the numbers, she realized that she barely had fifteen minutes before she said she'd be back home… and that it had been about two hours since Hans left her. With a muttered curse and some amount of money tossed onto the bar, Anna hobbled as best she could out towards the entrance.

The alcohol hit her in a totally new way when she stood up. Her head was swimming, eyes struggling to focus, and her legs felt like jelly under her body. Was the door this far away when she came in? No way… The restaurant must've stretched… It was going to take forever for her to get outside...

But suddenly she was sitting on the curb past the valet stand, digging through her purse for her phone. She had to call someone. She thought she had heard someone ask her if she needed a cab, but she waved them off… Anna wasn't entirely sure that she could remember Elsa's address in her current state.

Who to call… She really only had three options - Hans, Elsa, or... Kristoff…

It didn't even need a second thought.

"Hello?" His voice was gruff and frustrated.

"H-hi…" Anna felt tears welling up in her throat. "C-can… can you…"

"Anna? Are you okay?"

She hiccupped. "No…"

"Where are you?"

She struggled to read the sign. "Simon's Seafront or something… I d-dunno..."

"... I'll be there in fifteen minutes, okay?"

Sniffling and wiping under her eyes, Anna nodded to herself. "Okay…"

"Don't move."

"I won't…"

xxxx

He knew Hans hadn't changed.

xxxx

Anna had her head buried in between her knees when she heard the rumble and squeal of Kristoff's old truck pull up in front of the restaurant, and kept her head down when she heard the engine die. She knew she probably looked like a hot mess, and pressed her head further down between her knees when he sat beside her.

His hand pressed against her back, rubbing in soft circles. "What happened?"

Leaning into him, Anna rested her head against his shoulder, sighing in relief when he pressed his cheek against the top of her hair, hand still moving over the silky fabric of her dress. She shook her head when he asked again what had happened.

"Do you want me to take you home?"

She lifted her head and leaned more weight against him. "Mhmmm…"

Standing, Kristoff offered her a hand and a smile, and helped her to her feet, steadying her as she wobbled on gelatin legs.

"Are you drunk?"

Anna wrapped her arms around his neck and nodded, her hair bouncing around her ears. "A little…"

With a groan, Kristoff slipped one hand behind her back, and the under other her knees, before hoisting her up and off the ground. "All right, Princess… Into the truck we go…"

A tiny giggle bubbled up out of her chest into the crook of his neck, and she snuggled into his grasp. It was funny, how much better she felt once he was here. It was probably just because of her state of inebriation, and because of Hans leaving her… But she felt warm and happy and safe in his embrace.

When he moved to put her into the seat, she held fast onto his neck.

"Anna… you have to let go…"

"Okay…" She didn't.

"Anna…" Kristoff reached up behind his head to grab her wrists and gently tug her off of him. He placed her hands into her lap and patted them before walking around the front of the truck and climbing into the drivers seat. This girl was certainly a handful…

After a minute of driving, he glanced over to Anna, who had taken her hair down and was tugging absentmindedly on her curls. "So…"

He blushed when she looked at him, with alcohol-pink cheeks and half-lidded eyes.

"Do you wanna tell me what happened?"

Anna kept playing with her curls, biting her lip and staring at him for a minute before she spoke. "I think I made him mad…"

Kristoff could feel irritation boiling in his stomach. "What do you mean?"

"I mean… he gave me an ID and I…" Anna tucked her hands under her arms. "I guess I acted childish and he said I could go home with him or he would call me a car but that was like two hours ago and no car came but I don't know if I just missed it or if he forgot to call or what but I… Yeah..."

His fingers were grasping the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles were turning white. "What is his problem?"

Her hand landed on his thigh and Kristoff found himself relaxing under her touch. "N-no… No it was mine… My fault…" Anna slid herself across the cab, and pressed her head against his shoulder, and ran her fingers up his forearm. "I basically told him to go…"

She was snoring lightly against his arm before he had a chance to reply.

By the time they got back to the apartment, Anna was fully passed out, only waking once he had to shift her in order to unlock the door. She only pressed herself further into his arms, mumbling nonsense against his neck as they made their way back to her bedroom.

"All right, Anna… Can you change by yourself?" She shook her head into the crook of his neck and he sighed. "I don't know if you want me to change you…"

With gentle hands, Kristoff lowered her feet down to the floor and set her upright in front of him. He couldn't help himself… He ran his fingers over her hair, brushing it back off of her face, smiling when she finally lifted her blue eyes to meet his. He shivered when her dainty fingers found their way into the hair at the nape of his neck.

"Hey Kris…"

"Yeah?"

"You…" Her voice was a whisper, slightly slurred under her breath. "You wouldn't leave me at a restaurant… would you?"

"No…"

Nodding, she pulled him closer. "I didn't think so…"

Kristoff felt his breath hitching in his chest, felt his hands slowly moving to rest on her hips. Everything was wrong with this. She was drunk. He wasn't who she wanted…

"Anna…"

She kissed him, then, all soft lips and warm breath and he wanted to… Oh, he wanted to more than anything else right now but all he could taste was alcohol and this wasn't right.

Kristoff placed firm hands on her shoulder and pushed her away, groaning to himself when she looked at him with those pure, trusting, lustful eyes, confusion flickering dully in them.

"Come on, Princess. Bed time."

He was careful as he lifted her, pulled the covers back and laid her down. His hands worked softly as he unbuckled her heels and placed them beside the nightstand. He even made an effort to fluff the pillow that was under her head before pulling the covers up over her.

"Good night, Anna."

"Wait…" Her voice was tired, obviously fighting sleep as she reached blindly for his collar. "Can you stay here tonight?"

Kristoff blushed, resting his hand on top of hers. "Like, out on the couch?"

"No…" Sliding closer to the edge of the bed, Anna patted at the empty space on her mattress. "Here… Please…"

He was too tired to fight, honestly, and kicked off his shoes with a sigh. He crawled under the covers, tensing when he felt her hands reach out for him, but relaxing as she pressed the rest of her body up against his. As her nose nuzzled into the crook of his neck and her breath fell hot over his throat, Kristoff felt completely at home. He could smell the sweet florals of her soaps, and found his arms coming tightly, almost protectively, around her. Blushing, he pressed a soft kiss against her forehead.

"Night night," she sighed, breath hot against his throat, causing another shiver to shoot down his spine. "Thank you…"

"Anytime…"

Kristoff waited for her soft snores to start before letting himself drift off.