It was March 24th and the spring caressed pale skin softly with its calming breezes. The gorgeous scent of florals hung in the air as the sun set over the glistening lake. Kristoff combed his hair delicately back, attempting not to mess it up. He had abandoned his usual rugged looks and had acquired a clean, dapper appearance. He stood outside of the large home for quite some time, thinking it odd that there was no loud music loud music or extravagant decorations lining the property as there had been at previous "small get togethers." All that lingered was soft piano music and the beautiful scent of rose perfume. He closed his eyes for a moment, inhaled slowly and deeply, and then proceeded to open the door of Elsa's elegant, fairytale home.
A surge of excitement and extreme anxiety struck his gut like a dagger. His breath was caged within his chest as his eyes searched every crevice of the foyer. As he exhaled, his entire body dropped with disappointment. There were merely strangers with kind faces, servants and employees filling the home. Where was Anna? Would he ever see her again? She seemed unreal now, just an idea that his mind had created to brighten his longest days. Just an imaginary friend. His eyes glassed over with the thought. He idly wandered around the foyer, allowing his freshly shined shoes to tap and echo with the soft music of the piano. Suddenly, a soft hand touched his shoulder and he startled, swiftly turning on his feet to see who the hand belonged to. His eyes met platinum blonde hair that, no doubt, belonged to Anna's older sister.
"Kristoff, I'm so pleased you could make it," Her eyes scanned his considerably more presentable appearance and she gave a slight smile, "Anna will be pleased as well. I'm sorry your family couldn't make it as well. Anna would have enjoyed their company for her birthday." Elsa's voice was sounding slightly more nasal than normal, as if she were crying. This worried Kristoff.
Kristoff rubbed the back of his neck and gave a weak smile. He hadn't allowed his mother or other family members come. He knew they would make a great deal of his and Anna's friendship. He didn't want to risk embarrassment. "Yeah, well," He took a breath and tried to choose his words carefully, as to come off as a gentleman, "I hope she'll have a good night, regardless of my family's, or my, presence."
Elsa looked into his eyes with a delicate gratitude, "Oh no, I think your presence will make a lovely birthday surprise." She began to walk off to greet a plump, happy man that appeared to be a relative of Olaf.
"She doesn't know I was invited? Elsa, wait…" But Elsa was already deep in conversation with the Olaf look-a-like. Kristoff began to panic slightly. He swallowed harshly and closed his eyes tightly as he began to make his way up the stairs to the only bathroom he knew of in the house, the bathroom in which he was searching for when he initially ran into the spunky redhead. His tapping shoes were beginning to become an annoyance to him as he made his way up the sparking staircase. Warmness began to reach his throat and he made his way faster to the powder room.
Finally reaching the large bathroom he ran cool water against his large palms and gently pressed them against his eyes to calm himself. What was he doing? What was wrong with him? He felt all…goofy and nervous and-
"Kristoff? …is that you?" A soft voice came from the threshold of the bathroom. The large blonde froze with his palms pressed to his eye sockets. He reluctantly dropped his arms and looked towards the source of the voice. Standing in the doorway was an angelic, ginger-haired woman. Her hair was much longer now. Long, copper waves grazed the bottom of her ribs now. She was such a unique woman for the time, and her hair was no exception. His eyes scanned her brilliant pale skin which looked more delicate than the emerald green silk that was wrapped around it. The dress was long and flowed to the floor but the neckline plunged into a deep V. She was breathtaking, beyond the most beautiful thing Kristoff had ever seen. She looked as if Hans hadn't even laid a finger on her. She looked untouchable.
"Anna…"
The petite woman impulsively leapt into the broad man's thick arms. He chuckled oddly, trying to keep the nervousness from showing. After 30 seconds she released her grasp on his waist and looked into his chocolate brown eyes. Her brows slanted in confusion, "Hey…"
He smiled uneasily, "What?"
"If you weren't such a rag-a-muffin I could have sworn you were a gentleman," She smiled sassily.
His smile broadened, "Yeah? Well, you don't look half bad yourself, Dollface."
Both of them stood in comfortable silence as they stared deeply into eachother's eyes and smiled. Anna bit her bottom lip, unsuccessfully attempting to hold back a wide smile and a sort of unwarranted blush.
Breaking the silence Kristoff reached into his coat pocket, "I, uh, I have somethi-"
"Anna?" Elsa peered within the bathroom, "Oh, so I see you found her."
"Yes, he certainly did," Anna giggled, "Is the cake ready?"
"Yes, so if you two powder room pals would make your way down the stairs, we have a party to go to." Elsa began to walk down the hall, "I'll tell them to start lighting the candles. I'll meet you down."
Anna giggled and looked back at the tall, handsome man beside her. Her blush had yet to subside as she looked up at him. He was in what appeared to be a new tux with perfectly combed hair. He looked like a million bucks, but better. She wrapped her arm around his, looked back into his eyes and said, "C'mon, you big rag-a-muffin. We gotta cake to eat!"
No one was surprised that the cake was an enormous mountain of chocolate. The sparkling candles awaited Anna's birthday wish as she stood, staring at them in awe as everyone sang Happy Birthday to her. Anna's eyes grew misty as she pondered wishes because she came up empty. She was happy. For the first time in her life she was having a happy birthday. Her eyes searched the room and landed on Kristof's. Closing her eyes she smiled, made her wish, and blew out her candles.
Elsa wrapped her arms around her little sister and kissed her left cheek, "I love you."
"I love you too, Elsa. Thank you." They stood, embracing each other for a while, until their tender moment was interrupted by a harsh sneeze. Anna giggled and loosened the hold on her sister.
"Elsa, do you have a cold?"
"No…No, I'm fine"
"Elsa…."
"I'm Fine." Elsa said sternly.
Anna smiled, and led her sister into the foyer and into the staircase, "Elsa, Please go to bed. You've done so much for me. I can take care of you tonight.."
"No. I'm fine."
Anna looked at Elsa with a look of skepticism.
"Anna, I- Fine. I'll go to bed but," She placed a delicate hand on Anna's freckled arm, "I can take care of myself. A cold never bothered me, anyway. Just…Have fun?"
Anna's mouth turned gently into a smile, she kissed her sister on the forehead, and told her goodnight.
Making her way back to the Dining room, Anna was greeted, once again, my Kristoff. He was smiling and holding one gigantic slab of chocolate cake.
"I cut you a piece. I hope it's big enough for your appetite."
Anna giggled and took it from his hands, "C'mon, let's share."
With her one free hand Anna lead the large blonde man through the foyer and out the door. There were a million twinkling lights strewn across the garden that Kristoff had not noticed while he was walking to the mansion. The garden was beautiful, as if something from a fairytale. He chuckled at the thought of himself being Anna's prince.
"Doesn't it look like a fairytale?"
Kristoff looked over at her, "Yes, sort of…"
"Oh, hush. It does. It's perfect." She sat in the cool grass and Kristoff laughed as he realized she had been barefoot all night. He sat down next to her and watched as she licked chocolate frosting, innocently off her fingers. He felt an overwhelming sense of goofiness.
"So…" He began, "I brought you something…" Her aqua eyes lit up and she dropped her cake. Squeals were coming from her cake-filled mouth.
"It's not much it's just… It's from me and ma and-"
She quickly grabbed the small box from his hands and she ripped the gold wrapping into pieces. Kristoff sat nervously watching as she pulled the crystal necklace out of the box.
"It's uhm," He coughed, "for protection my ma says. I have one too. He attempted to untie his bowtie and unbutton his shirt to show her but was unsuccessful. It turns out he knew how to dress formally, but had no idea how to undress.
Anna giggled, "I love it but…why would you need protection. You're a big ol' bimbo." She hit his heavily muscled arm playfully.
"Nah, my mom says mine is for-"
"Romance?!" Anna blurted jokingly.
Kristoff's face went scarlet and he looked down, "No it's for… something else, I think"
Anna watched him as the large man shyly looked down at the grass. She bit her lip as she inched closer to him slowly. "Well," She leaned in and kissed his rosy cheek gently, "Thank you."
Kristoff's scarlet red ran deeper now and Anna took notice. Surprisingly, her face flushed at the thought of his and her stomach curled into dancing knots. Her face lingered closely to his for a moment as their eyes met. Kristoff's mouth was slightly agape and breathless. He looked down at her perpetually red lips and then up into her eyes.
"Besides," Anna said in an airy tone, "I don't really need this… do I? I mean…I have you for protection, right?"
Kristoff smiled to one side, "Right." He was done for, "Anna I…"
"Yes?" She inched closer to his face and his hand softly touched her's.
"I think…"
"Yes…?"
"We should see what it looks like on you," He picked up the necklace within her hand and wrapped it around her neck then kissed her forehead.
The petite redhead's eyebrows furrowed and she looked almost furious, "That's quite the habit of yours, isn't it?"
Kristoff's face contorted in confusion and he looked into her eyes, "I-I'm Sorr-"
"Kissing me on the forehead? You're making a habit of it."
"I-I don't. I-"
Anna laced her fingers around kristoff's half-untied bow tie and pulled him close until their lips met. She kissed him softly for a long time. As she began to pull away, Kristoff's large hands gently touched her back, keeping her close. He kissed her back with every drop of passion he had stored within himself. Anna melted under his touch. She pulled herself into his lap, just so she could feel his body as close to hers as possible. She wanted his warmth, his strength, his gentle heart. Finally, Kristoff brought himself to stop kissing her. Her eyes remained closed for a small moment and he counted the fading freckles that gathered on her cheeks. Piano music lingered in the distance and they both grew more speechless by the moment.
Searching Anna's eyes, kristoff's mind went back to the night Hans had hurt her. His eyes became moist and his stomach churned. He pulled her close to him so her head rest against his massive shoulder.
"I missed you, Anna." He pressed his cheek against her tussled red hair, "I missed you so much."
In that moment he wondered if the doll could ever love the destitute. If the princess would ever care for the pauper.
