A/N: Thank you SO MUCH for the reviews and support!

Elsa's soft knock came a short time before lunch was to be served (he had overslept and missed breakfast), when there was no answer she gently pushed the door open and peeked in. The bed was empty, a shirt, waistcoat, tailcoat, cravat, and gloves lay on it, but she didn't see Hans. She stepped into the room, walked over to the bed, and ran her fingers down the buttons on his coat.

The sound of something tapping on porcelain made her turn to find the source. She carefully stepped towards a dividing screen that was partially open. Hans stood at the basin naked to the waist with his back to her.

She could see the tattoo that covered his right arm went partially over the back of his shoulder, and the long, thin scar he had received from a pirate's sword ran from his left shoulder until it disappeared below his waistband on the right side. In the mirror's reflection she watched as he carefully ran the straight razor along his neck and tapped it against the basin to clean the blade. She smiled and giggled to herself as he contorted his face attempting to rid it of any unwanted stubble. He splashed water on his face to clean any remaining shaving foam and dried with a towel. He raised his chin, closed his eyes, and ran the tips of his fingers down his throat checking one final time for any strays. Satisfied with the results he turned to find Elsa shamelessly staring at him. He froze when he saw her and blanched. "Elsa!" He ran to hide behind the screen that separated the bathroom from the rest of the room. "Can you please hand me at least my shirt and gloves?" he asked from behind the screen.

"You realize I have seen you in less."

"I haven't forgotten the mortifying condition I was left in."

She brought him the requested items then reached around the screen, grabbed his gloved hand and pulled before he could tuck in his shirt, "Neither have I," she placed a hand on the side of his face, frosting his sideburns and gently kissed him.

She pulled him over to a chair, pushed him down, sat in his lap, slid her hands up his chest into his hair and captured his mouth with hers. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tightly against him; his one hand on her back, the other gently pressing the back of her neck. Her one hand slid beneath his shirt; the heat of his bare skin under her touch exhilarated her senses and drew frost from her skin. He shivered as her fingers left trails of fast melting ice on his chest and shoulder, but the reactions of his body were only partially in response to the cold. Her lungs burned begging for air, and steam rose when they finally parted when neither could wait any longer, "I could really get used to this," Hans smiled.

He was shocked when she pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it to the side. Her eyes slowly went from the waistband that came just above his navel, up his abdomen, and up his chest; he turned his face away and blushed under her scrutiny. It had been entirely inappropriate for her to indulge herself in the beauty of his form when he lie ill the winter he spent in Arendelle, but now she could fully appreciate the indentations of his abdomen, the broadness of his freckle spotted shoulders, the definition of chest and arms. He noticed her looking at his scars and suddenly felt extremely self-conscious, "I'm sorry about the multitude of scars. I'm the only of my brothers so badly marred. Vigo is missing an eye, but that's from an unfortunate fall onto his toothbrush as a child…" Elsa stopped his rambling with a frosty touch to his lips.

"There's nothing to apologize for. They are part of you," she traced her fingers over the newest scars on his left shoulder and bicep then turned her attention to his right arm and let her fingers glide over the ink marked skin, "It's beautiful," she followed the patterns of arrowheads and waves from the top of his shoulder until they stopped above his wrist. "Why is there Arendelle's crocus?" she turned his arm over so it was face up.

"An act of contrition."

She brought it up to her mouth and gently kissed it leaving an intricate snow flake that seemed to melt into his skin, "Now it only serves to mark you as mine," she smiled and reached to trace the scar on his side only to have her hand gently lifted to his mouth and gently kissed. A smirk formed and she raised a curious eyebrow. Before he had a chance to react her hands were on his sides and he erupted in uncontrollable giggling.

She stopped moving her fingers only due to her own laughter. He grabbed her hands, "No," he cleared his throat and lowered his brow, "No," he said as sternly as he could.

"You're so cute," she leaned in and rubbed her nose against his.

"I have commandeered an enemy vessel unassisted, escaped a kidnapping, and survived at least four assassination attempts. I am one of the most decorated admirals of the Southern Isles," he pouted, "I am not cute."

She slipped her hands from his, draped one arm over his shoulder and whispered in his ear, "would you prefer deliriously tempting?" she flirtatiously grinned as she ran a finger down the center of his chest and abdomen leaving an icy trail.

He leaned his head back, closed his eyes, and bit his lip as desire rushed through him. He lowered his eyes to meet hers, "Your majesty, you don't play fair."

"What fun would that be?"

"I'll remember that," he returned her playful smirk.

"I supposed I should let you get dressed," she sighed as she got off of his lap so he could stand, picked up his shirt and pulled it over his head.

"I think I should do the next part," he stepped back pulling the hem of the shirt from her hands and tucking it into his trousers.

"We should announce our engagement to your parents soon," she anxiously wrung her hands; despite all that had happened she feared he would tell her that he had changed his mind.

He paused with one hand down his trousers. He realized his position and quickly withdrew it, "You will have to return to Arendelle soon, so the time we will be able to spend together like this is limited. When do you think we should?"

She smiled and helped him on with this waistcoat, "I was thinking of speaking to them privately this afternoon."

"I won't be able to be present."

"That's alright, I'm sure I can handle asking for their blessing," she buttoned his waistcoat and tied his cravat, "I'm glad I finally know what these are for," she used the tied piece of satin to pull him into a kiss. He wrapped one arm around her waist, and the other hand slipped beneath her braid. He curled his fingers and pulled her hair causing her to lean her head back and give him ready access to her neck. He nibbled, sucked, and kissed his way down her throat and over her collar bone, "We're never going to make it to lunch like this, and someone will come to find out why."

She was terrified as she stood before the set of tall, intricately carved wooden doors of the great chamber. King Anders opened the door, "Queen Elsa, is there something you need?" His soft green eyes and kind smile were reflected perfectly in the face of his youngest son.

"I would like to speak Queen Adelaide and you for a moment if I may," she nervously played with her fingers.

"Certainly," he opened the door further and stepped aside to let her through. She found herself in a massive parlor decorated with paintings of their children and themselves; their wedding portrait took up an entire wall, "I will go fetch Adelaide, please, make yourself comfortable."

She examined the paintings and found the ones of Hans as a young child were always accompanied by his adorable grin, but after a certain age he looked as though he might have been painted post mortem.

Individual portraits of the princes as adults lined a wall. She walked along admiring the amazing accuracy and skill of the artist they had commissioned them from; Wolfgang looked every bit the perfect Crown Prince and Klaus managed to still look timid. Reinvald's portrait showed more of the man she had seen adoring his wife than the arrogant narcissist the paintings of him from adolescence onward had shown him to be.

"That one was done only two years ago," Adelaide smiled as she entered the room, "this one was just completed a few months ago," she guided Elsa to a large portrait. The canvas was taller than she was and the image on it made her heart skip a beat. There stood Admiral Prince Hans Westerguard in full regalia, holding his hat in one hand; the other on the pommel of his sword that stood parallel to his legs. His mouth held a confident smirk and there was no doubt that this man was alive, "Beautiful isn't it?" Elsa blushed and tried to keep her eyes from venturing below the waistband of the snuggly fitting white trousers he was depicted in, "And Hans thinks he's hideous," Queen Adelaide rolled her eyes and walked to a chair.

"Would you like some tea?" King Anders asked before sitting down.

"Oh, no thank you," Elsa walked over to the group of chairs in front of the fireplace and sat down across from the couple.

"Now, my dear, what is it you would like to speak with us about?" Queen Adelaide asked with a warm smile.

"Hans."

"Is there something wrong with him?" Queen Adelaide's eyes widened with fear.

"No, there's nothing wrong," Elsa forced a nervous smile.

"Oh, good," the elder queen let a sigh of relief.

"Then what do wish to discuss with us about him?" King Anders asked slightly confused.

Elsa took a deep breath to calm herself and pull back the frost that had begun spreading from beneath her feet, "I wish to take him as my husband."

The royal couple exchanged stunned looks, "are you asking us to bless your marriage to Hans?" King Anders asked skeptically.

"Yes, that is precisely what I'm asking."

Queen Adelaide covered her mouth with her hands before springing to her feet and embracing the young queen. King Anders smiled with tears forming in the corners of his eyes, "We couldn't bless a marriage more."

Queen Adelaide and King Anders could barely contain their smiles at dinner. Hans sat as his usual place next to Gemma moving her plate and rearranging her food while stealing sly glances at Elsa. Elsa had trouble keeping her mind off of what was under the tailcoat, waistcoat, cravat and shirt. She blushed when her mind wandered to what was beneath his trousers and she realized how much she was anticipating their wedding night.

Elsa was rescued from her thoughts by King Anders lightly striking his glass with his fork. He stood when he was certain he had everyone's attention, "Tonight, Queen Elsa has a wonderful announcement to make," he smiled at Elsa and gave her a nod before sitting back down.

Elsa stood, smiled at Hans and cleared her throat, "Fate has things planned no one could ever imagine," she glanced around the table at all of his brothers, sisters-in-law, and close friends, "as scandal seldom stays silent, I will assume that everyone at this table is well aware of the events that took place at my coronation," a reluctant murmur of agreement rose from the table. She smiled, "What has transpired since then only a few are aware of. I will shorten the story to say that somewhere between the letters, snowball fights, and pirates I fell in love with the last man I would ever have thought I could," she look directly at Hans and smiled with watery eyes, "and he and I are to be wed."

"Took you long enough," Eugene laughed as he slapped Hans on the back.

Hans grinned, "You mean it took her long enough."

"Oh, really?" Eugene looked at Elsa with a smile and a raised eyebrow; she blushed, smiled, and looked away. He laughed, "It was getting really annoying watching you two pine after each other."

"I'm sorry the emotional repercussions of the worst events of my life inconvenienced you," Hans rolled his eyes.

"Apology accepted," Eugene smiled, "I knew you would get use out of that coat I sent you."

After his twelve brothers, twelve sisters-in-law, her sister and brother-in-law, the few guests, and one very happy set of parents Hans and Elsa finally ran out of people to receive congratulations from, "Well that was exhausting," he covered his mouth to hide his yawn as he escorted her to her room.

"I wasn't expecting that to take so long, but I only had Anna's engagement announcement to use as a reference and I didn't take into account the size of your family."

"It can be a bit overwhelming," The guards that still shadowed his every move were not far down the hall limiting his options, so he decided it was best to take a socially acceptable approach in light of the bite mark incident. He lifted her chin with the tips of his fingers and placed the softest, most romantic kiss he ever had on her waiting lips. He smiled as he pulled away and looked deeply into eyes, "Good night, my love." He continued down the hall to the tower leaving Arendelle's queen breathless.

Elsa and Hans had no time alone in the days following the announcement of their betrothal. Queen Adelaide kept Elsa and Anna busy most of the time discussing every aspect of the wedding in great detail; having been instrumental in planning the weddings of her other twelve sons she had it down to an art. It was to be held in Arendelle in three months. Much to Elsa's displeasure Queen Adelaide insisted Hans remain in Baltia until a week before the wedding.

"I understand you want to spend as much time as possible with him, but it will be better to be separated for just a little longer," Queen Adelaide said as she sat with Elsa and Anna in the sun room.

"May I ask how?"

"It helps reduce certain risks," she responded with slight discomfort.

"What risks? Kristoff and I were together all the time."

Queen Adelaide sighed, "The risk of making certain mistakes."

"I'm sorry, but I don't follow," Elsa was slightly confused.

"Anders and I spent most of our time before our wedding together and, how do I put this delicately, Wolfgang and Naatan weren't as premature as everyone was led to believe."

"A week before will be fine," Elsa turned bright red, and Anna tried her best not to laugh.

"I won't be able to see you for nearly three months?" Hans was not happy with the decision, "we haven't had a moment alone since the night of the announcement," they stood in the dining hall with the rest of the guests after dinner was finished.

"I know, but your mother made a good argument, and you would be terribly distracting while Anna, Gerda, and I put the wedding together."

He leaned forward and bewitchingly whispered in ear, "But I like being distracting."

The chill that ran down her spine as his warm breath moved across her skin served to reinforce Queen Adelaide's warning, "You can distract me all you want after the wedding."

He raised an eyebrow and flashed a wicked grin, "Is that a promise?"