AN: Holy cow, you guys! I cannot express how happy your reviews make me! The last few reviews I've gotten have all been super sweet and wonderful and they just make me smile super big! So you guys are awesome, thank you! However, I have been getting asked by multiple people if the over. As you can tell by this next updated chapter, it's not. I still have a few more chapters to go so FEAR NOT! You have a little more Helsa to go before the story comes to a close. Also, fun fact: this chapter is one of my favorites because this chapter is what inspired this entire story! When I first thought about writing a Helsa fanfiction, this chapter (idea at the time) popped into my head and I just developed the story around it. So I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Oh, also, Happy Labor Day! Okay, I'm done.

Tallyho!

Chapter 20:

Elsa woke up the next morning with pain in her heart. Today Hans and his family went back home to the Southern Isles. She dressed in her favorite ice blue gown, put her hair in her signature braid and went downstairs to greet her fellow royals, all the while ignoring her anxiety and trying to control herself so her powers wouldn't escape. After breakfast with Hans' family, she, Anna, and Kristoff walked them to the docks where the castle staff was finishing loading the ships. As they said their goodbyes, Elsa couldn't help but notice the Queen of the Southern Isles watching her.

Elsa smiled and walked over to the queen. "Queen Lila," she said, taking her hand, "it's been such a pleasure to see you again. Especially under better circumstances."

"The feeling is mutual, Queen Elsa," Lila said, smiling while clasping Elsa's hand with her own. "I'm glad the war and Hans' trial are over."

"Me too. I can't thank you enough for the help you sent us. We will forever be grateful to the Southern Isles."

"As will I to Arendelle ," Lila said, looking towards her sons. Hans was standing with two of his brothers, laughing. "I've never seen him look so happy. You did a wonderful job helping him. He's a changed man."

"Yes, he is," Elsa said, looking at Hans lovingly. "But I'm afraid I can't take any of the credit. His changing was his own doing; I had nothing to do with it."

Lila raised an eyebrow. "If you say so."

Elsa looked at the Southern Isles queen in disbelief but didn't have time to retort because the queen had patted her hand and walked off towards her sons and told them it was time to get on the ship. Elsa shook her head and smirked. When she looked back at the ship she noticed Hans walking towards her.

"Prince Hans," she nodded.

"Queen Elsa," he bowed. "I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for giving me the second chance no one thought I deserved. And thank you for allowing me to realize what good I can do."

She smiled. "And thank you; for saving my life and the lives of my people. Arendelle will forever be grateful for your bravery. And I can assure you that will you go into the history books; but this time as a hero."

Hans smiled. "And thank you," she continued, "for proving to me that everyone truly deserves a second chance."

"And thank you, for showing me what it means to be loved," he said, as he kissed her hand.

As Hans pulled away, Elsa pulled him into a bear hug. It caught him off guard for a second, but he quickly returned the gesture. The Snow Queen smiled when she felt his arms tighten around her waist. Even if they couldn't be together, she knew that they would always remain the best of friends.

"Write to me?" she whispered in his ear.

"Every day," he replied.

She kissed him on the cheek as she pulled away. "Until next time, Your Highness."

"Until next time, Your Majesty," he said, bowing, before walking towards the ship that would take him home.

As the ships left port, Elsa was joined by her sister and Kristoff; the three waved goodbye to their allies. Anna linked her arm through Elsa's as they began to head back to the castle.

"So…?" Anna began.

"So what?" Elsa asked.

"So, I'm guessing you didn't confess your undying love for each other?"

Elsa smirked. "No, but I'm okay because no matter what, we'll still be good friends. And we finally trust each other which is better than where we stood at the beginning when he first arrived."

Anna nodded. As she was about to speak again, both girls heard Elsa's name being called. They turned around in time to see Hans dive head first into the fjord while his family yelled for him from the ship.

"Hans!" Elsa yelled, running back to the edge of the docks.

"What is he doing?!" Anna cried.

"He's… swimming!" Elsa realized. Turning around quickly, she saw her advisor, Erik standing nearby. "Find me a cloak, quickly! Please!" Elsa told him.

"Yes, Your Majesty," he said, running back to the castle to get a cloak.

Elsa waited at the edge of the docks while Hans swam toward her. To ensure she wouldn't lose control, she did some deep breathing exercises to keep her anxiety low. Right as Hans was a few feet away from the dock, Erik came back with a cloak.

"Thank you," Elsa said, hastily. Putting out a hand over the water, Hans grabbed it and climbed back onto the dock.

Throwing the cloak over him, Elsa began to question him fervently. "Hans, you crazy idiot! What were you thinking?!"

"I… couldn't… leave.. without… telling you," he said, breathlessly.

"Tell me what?" Elsa asked, still shocked.

"I love you," he said.

Elsa looked at him, surprised. "Wait, what?"

"I love you, Elsa. I am insanely in love with you. I can't imagine living without you and I don't want to. I know my past with you isn't spotless and there are probably a million other people who are better than me but I will spend the rest of my life proving to you that I have changed for the better and I will do everything in my power to prove that I can be good for you. And I know you said that you can't focus on anything romantic right now and I know you only just see me as a friend but I just needed you to know. If you don't feel the same, fine. Just tell me and I'll return to the Southern Isles and you'll only hear from me as a friend (unless you never want to hear from me again). But if you do feel the same, just tell me to stay and I promise I will prove my worth to you. As a best friend and a lover. Please."

Elsa looked into his green eyes and knew that no matter what she said, she wanted him and only him. She loved him and she wasn't about to let him go anytime soon. Realizing that she wouldn't be able to find the words to describe her feelings, though, she did the only reasonable thing: she kissed him.

She threw her arms around his neck held him tightly as he wrapped his arms around her waist just as tight. She didn't care what anybody thought anymore. Their past would forever be erased; he had her trust and her heart and she knew she had his. He was her best friend and soul mate. And he had proved himself more than once since he had returned to Arendelle and she knew that his love for her was as real as hers was for him. They were together now, and no one would take him away from her.

When she finally pulled away, a smile immediately formed on her lips. "Stay," was all Elsa said. Hans smiled and kissed her again, this time quick but sweet nonetheless.

As he pulled away, Elsa looked to her advisor. "Erik, will you do me a favor?"

"Of course, Your Majesty."

"Take a boat out to the Southern Isles ship. Tell them that Queen Elsa requests that Prince Hans stays in Arendelle a while longer. If they accept, please be sure to grab his trunk of things and bring them back with you to the castle. You can take someone with you to help you."

"Yes, Your Majesty," he said, calling over another servant who had remained behind. As Erik took off towards the Southern Isles ship, Elsa wrapped an arm around Hans' waist as he placed his arm over shoulders and the two walked side-by-side back into the castle with Anna and Kristoff following them with smiles on all of their faces.