Author's Note

Okay, so I have absolutely no idea where the last couple of months went. However, I do hope everyone has had a great time and you will enjoy this shamelessly delayed update! Thank you so much for standing by this fic, it does seriously mean the world.

Lots of love, LsB

Going South, Part 1

It's cold. Elsa, still in her half drowsy state, searches for her personal furnace in bed. Incapable of locating Anna she shifts around restlessly.

"Oh, good to see you're actually alive. I was starting to wonder."

Elsa's eyes snaps open, the haze immediately vanquished from her mind.

"What are you doing in here!?" Barely capable of keeping her temper in check she quickly shifts to a sitting position, sending her unwelcome visitor a cold glare. "Don't you know it's rude to just barge into someone's room while they are sleeping?"

Snow's eyes slowly scan Elsa, not missing the gun in her hand.

"I do apologize." She drawls out the words as her eyes slowly make their way back up to meet Elsa's. "After meeting your friend down the hall I figured this would be the best time for you and I to have a private conversation."

Elsa's eyebrow rise at the mention of Anna, something that doesn't go unnoticed by Snow.

"She's cute by the way, we had quite a nice chat, her and I." She speaks the words nonchalantly, but that was the thing about Snow; nothing is ever just a casual remark, everything is always said or done with some hidden thought or purpose.

Elsa bites the inside of her cheek. She wants to behave, not just for Kristoff's sake, but for Anna's too. She wants to be able to actually be civil and not always raise havoc in her wake, but God did the woman in front of her make it difficult.

There is simply something so infuriating about Snow, and no this is not solely due to their shared history - it is something that was present already when they had first met.

Elsa and Kristoff built this place together after he left the Fireflies. It had been their project to start a safe haven away from the constant power struggle between the military and the Fireflies, and so they had. It was not much but it was there, and soon it had flourished.

Snow had been among the first handful of people who had found this place and already from the start sparks had ignited between her and Kristoff - and unfortunately also her and Elsa, but not in a positive way. They would constantly butt heads, with Kris trapped in the middle. It seemed as everything turned into a struggle and everybody in the camp suffered because of it.

Then one fateful day things escalated; one of the new people had been caught stealing from the supplies, Elsa and Snow had "of course"once again disagreed about how to deal with the situation and soon their disagreement had divided the camp into two large parties. Snow wanted to exile the chap, making an example, but Elsa feared the possible consequences of simply ignoring the reason behind Al's behavior.

Al told them that he had only been taking stuff to keep a band of raiders at bay; that he had made a deal with them that as long as he would give them some food and meds they would leave the camp alone. He only did it for greater good of the camp, and the reason he hadn't told anyone was because they had threatened to kill his wife who they were holding captive. But Elsa's concerns fell on deaf ears, Snow could be the most charming and convincing speaker when she wanted to be, so the people supporting Elsa quickly fell in numbers.

A day didn't pass after Al's involuntarily departure from the camp, before the scavengers launched an attack and soon the greatest tragedy in the camp's short history struck them. Since they had been completely unprepared and lacking the proper training and firepower to deal with a situation like this, it ended with half the camp's population being killed.

However, the camp prevailed and in the aftermath Snow managed to convince the remaining survivors that the tragic event could have been avoided, if only people such as Al had been denied entry from the beginning. They could not continue to welcome every needing soul when the reality of their situation was, that every single person allowed access could pose a threat to the community. If they wanted to survive, they had to start putting the camp above all else, which also included that harsher punishments had to be installed. Either you conformed completely or you didn't at all.

This resulted in Elsa pretty much packed her bags right after the decision had been made. Kris told her that firmer rules gave people the sense of security they were at the current time so desperately needing, and as soon as this whole thing had gotten a bit behind them things would go back to normal. However, the new turn of events frightened Elsa, reminding her too much of the military state she had been trying so hard to get away from. She could probably have challenged this new mindset, but even she knew that in that time the group needed to stand united, she would only be making things worse and potentially ruin what little solidarity there was left.

She didn't care about the snarly whispers, people calling her a coward or worse for her decision to leave in, what in their opinion was the camp's most dire hour. However, the look on Kristoff's face, him silently begging her to stay; that was what hurt beyond words.

Still, she had walked away, and pretty much stayed away until she one night had found her way back to the familiar gate begging for shelter for herself and the two boys then in her company. Back then she hadn't payed much thought to the fact that they so quickly had granted them entrance, too caught up in the current drama. But coming to think of it, there hadn't really been much debate - the boys had been welcomed. And now, with Flynn saying that he and Punz had heard about this place meant that word must be spreading, because they were in fact allowing people to take residence again judging from all the new people here. Maybe Kriss had been right after all?

Dwelling on the matter didn't help anything however, what's done is done. But despite all the time that had passed, Snow still had the ability to get under her skin.

"Anna, she told me you were planning on leaving as soon as possible. That you are only passing through."

Brown eyes meet frosty blue.

"Is that true?"

"Yes, we intend to leave as soon as possible". Snow presses her lips together, her mouth forming a thin line, as Elsa speak the words calmly.

"Why?"

Elsa's eyebrow rise at the question. That's none of your damn buisness, almost spills from her mouth but instead she settles on: "We have plans."

"Oh."

"Oh? If you have something to say just say it."

"Okay, I think that you're being incredibly selfish." Snow says.

"Excuse me?" Elsa's cold demeanor could make anyone flinch, but Snow remains perfectly calm.

"You heard me. And I'm not just talking about now, but in general you seem incapable of putting other's needs before your own." Elsa blinks in disbelief a couple of times, not knowing whether to take offense or start laughing over the absurdity of the conversation.

"Do you care to elaborate on that or did you just come in here to insult me?" Elsa knows her unfazed exterior bothers Snow to no end and to be honest she takes great pleasure in the fact.

"When the camp needed you the most you left."

"I did what was necessary."

"Oh please, you did what was most convenient to you." Elsa feels the anger rising but she refuses to let the other woman get a rise out of her.

"Things got hard, so you bailed."

"You know what Snow? I don't really care what you think."

"No, because that's the thing with you Elsa, you don't really care about anyone do you? Not even the best friend you just left behind."

This knocks some wind out of Elsa and unfortunately it shows.

"What I did was for the sake of everyone! Our disagreement were tearing the camp apart."

"WE NEEDED YOU! You and I might not always have agreed but what you did was kicking the morale of this place while it was already down." Snow is flustered, and she tries to gather some of her composure.

"And then you came back with those two boys, but then you left AGAIN! Just like you intend on doing now." Snow lets out a defeated breath. "Do you really have no idea what you did to those kids? How disappointed they would get each day passing without you returning?"

"I-I had to make sure that they couldn't track us down."

"For two years? Elsa you told them that you went looking for their mom!" Anger turns into regret, but Elsa knows that if she could have done the whole thing over again, she probably still wouldn't have returned earlier. It isn't just about being confronted with Kristoff and the place she left, it is also about being confronted with a part of her past she still doesn't feel ready to face.

"Those boys needed you, they still need you, just like this whole place needs you." The statement catches Elsa completely of guard with its earnesty.

"It might not be that you and I always agree but you were always an important asset to the group and not only because of your medical skills." Snow's clenched jaw loosens slightly as she moves further into Elsa's personally space. "So, it might not be that you and I care much about each other, but we do both care for the same thing, and the same someone. However, as it has come to my attention, not in the same way as I earlier had suspected."

Elsa has to stop herself from rolling her eyes at the last part, she should have suspected some latent jealousy rage lurking behind Snow's infuriating behavior.

"So I'm going to ask you to please, please reconsider your decision of leaving." Snow turns towards the door.

"You could be happy here, both you and your friend. Just think about it..." And with those last words she is gone. Elsa sits back on the edge of her bed; closing her eyes and rubbing her forehead in frustration.

"Elsa?"

"Anna." The name sounds more like a sigh of relief. But the slight frown on the young woman's face quickly has Elsa puzzled. Her eyes fall on the piece of paper in Anna's hands she seems to be nervously fidgeting with.

"Something wrong?" She asks with slight concern as Anna keeps shifting her weight.

"I uhm, I got a map from your friend. He said something about you not having to outdo yourself then?"

"That's great." Elsa says rising to her feet, still not quite understanding the other woman's change in demeanor.

"Yeah it's just.." Anna is searching for words as her gaze remains fixed on her feet; Elsa carefully closes the distance between them. "Have you changed your mind?"

"Anna, I don't understand?"

The younger woman takes in a small breath as if she needs courage before meeting Elsa's eyes.

"I mean about finding the Fireflies' research facility."

"What? Anna, no."

"Because, if that's the case, then... I understand." Anna tries to put on a small smile but the glasslike shine to her eyes catches Elsa's attention immediately.

"You have family here, people who depend on you, so if you want to stay I completely understand. But Elsa, I have to go." Ever so carefully Elsa traces the tip of her fingers over Anna's delicate features, before cupping her face in her hands.

"Silly girl." The stray tear that finds its way down Anna's cheek almost has Elsa's voice trembling.

"Have you already forgotten what I promised?" She brushes away the tear with her thumb and gets lost in the most beautiful pools of blue.

"Whatever happens, we'll stay together."

Before Elsa has the time to react Anna closes the distance between them and claims Elsa's lips with her own. There is such a blind force of need behind the action that Elsa's mind immediately goes blank.

The kisses soon turns more desperate and hands starts to wander. Rational thoughts of verbalizing concern and questioning their actions are forgotten as Anna's fingers finds their way up underneath Elsa's shirt. A gasp leaves her lips as Anna's hand finds what it has been searching for.

Elsa's eyelids slides closed and she bites her lower lip. The thin layer of fabric separating Anna from her sensitive flesh is not near enough to protect her from the overwhelming feeling of want spreading through her body like a wildfire.

Clothes are shed as Elsa is being guided back to the bed. Anna's porcelain skin is mesmerising; impossibly soft to the touch. And every freckle is a conquest Elsa wishes to claim with her mouth.

Elsa feels herself being pushed down on the edge of the bed; Anna's eyes are dark with hunger as they trail over her body.

Elsa's breathing grows shallow as the last piece of clothing hits the floor and Anna sits down, straddling her thighs.

"I want you." The words are delivered with a bite to her pulse point as Anna slowly starts to grind against her.

"I want you so bad." The words are a husky whisper and Anna works her way up Elsa's neck to her ear, but all Elsa can focus on is the sensation of Anna's body rubbing against her own.

"Do you want me too?" Reduced to nothing but a mumbling mess Elsa manages to nod her head, her hands curling to fists in the bed sheets.

"Then show me." Anna grabs her hand by the wrist and guides two fingers inside her mouth. Elsa lets out a moan as Anna seductively sucks on her fingers before slowly guiding them down to the place where she needs them the most.

"Fuck." Is all Elsa manages to utter as her eyes rolls back in her head and Anna lets out a soft moan - soon followed by many others.