A/N: Hey guys, so, basically this is the second book of TTAFH, now I know you all thought this story was done, but then I threw in that little surprise plot twist and now we're seeing there life as partners, not sisters, this is their new chapter, so this is like the second book in a series. We have a few consecutive chapters set in a short time span and then I have more chapters prepared that jumps through important snippets of their lives together. So keep following, here is the first and kind of small chapter, it was part of the next chapter but it didn't really fit the tone so i'm posting it separately.
Enjoy.

To Thaw A Frozen Heart

Part Two

"Hang on, let me get this straight, you're not really sisters?" Kristoff asked bewilderedly, Joan by his side looking just as confused as her partner, whilst Elsa and Anna sat on the couch opposite, snuggled up in each other's arms.

"We're not sisters." Elsa confirmed with a smile. "My mother had a one-night stand and fell pregnant with me; Anna's father met another woman whilst our parents were on a break and she fell pregnant with Anna. We have completely different parents."

"They weren't on a break," Anna corrected lightly, "they were separated indefinitely."

"Is this going to turn into a scene from Friends?" Joan chuckled lightly as she moved closer to Kristoff, his burly arm wrapping around her waist, stroking her belly softly.

"We were on a break!" The four friends yelled collectively before laughing together at just how in sync they were.

This was nice, all four of them together, laughing and joking, they hadn't had the chance to spend much time with their friends since they moved back into their own place, life always seemed to be getting in the way.

Kristoff had taken back the reins on his handyman business and Fixer Uppers was getting more clients than ever now that his name had taken off. His eagerness to work and his attention to detail, along with his generous heart meant that word quickly spread and now he was in high demand, even having to hire extra staff just to keep up.

Then there were Joan's studies in leadership and management, and the girls were at university most days and on top of that they had their jobs, their busy lives left little time for socialising these days and any free time they did have, Elsa and Anna preferred to spend it at home together.

"Anyway," Elsa continued after poking Anna in the ribs softly, earning her a surprised squeak and a playful glare. "It doesn't matter what they were to teach other at the time, it doesn't change the fact that Anna and I are not related, not biologically anyway."

"Wow, I just… wow. This is just so much to process." Joan said numbly, "I mean, after all that… after everything with… I mean. Wow."

Elsa and Anna shared a look and a small smile before Anna spoke up. "Yeah, it's taken us a bit to actually process it and we're still coming to terms with it but we're getting there, it's just a lot to take in, y'know?" Anna gave Elsa's hand a squeeze and kissed the side of her jaw. "I'm still not sure what to feel, elated because we no longer have to hide, confused and angry that this was kept a secret from us, furious because of how Elsa was treated by my father and disgusted that we went through all that with Hans when the battle we were fighting was non-existent anyway. It's just a lot to wrap our heads around."

"Yeah, I totally get that!" Joan replied understandingly, "I just can't believe you went through everything you did, and in the end, it was all for nothing. Hans is so lucky he's already dead or I'd hunt him down and kill him myself, doubly if he had managed to split you two up. I'm just so sorry that you went through all that pain only to find out that you needn't have. God, he's just really lucky he's rotting in the ground somewhere." Joan finished bitterly, it was quite clear she'd like nothing more than to wring that ugly neck of his.

"Yeah, but if things hadn't happened the way they did, would Anna and I even be together now?" Elsa questioned, "I mean, if we were told from the start that we weren't sisters, then Elsa wouldn't have been locked away and we may have grown up together like sisters and we might not be together now. If Hans hadn't told Anna about how I felt towards her she probably wouldn't have figured it out and we all know I would never have told her, and besides, everything we went through, it just shows me how strong we are when we're together, we wouldn't have made it through all of that if we weren't made for each other. I like to believe – no, I have to believe, that everything happens for a reason and there was a purpose behind everything we've been through, if not, then this was one hell of a battle for nothing and I really can't live with the thought of that." The blonde finished with a sad smile as she kissed the top of Anna's head and held her a little closer. "We can't change the past, but we can learn from it, and we can grow from it, that's all we can do."

Joan returned a comforting smile and nodded in agreeance, "That's a good way of looking at it, you've grown so much, Elsa, the girl you were before wouldn't have seen the good amongst the overwhelming bad. I'm proud of you, and I know Anna is too." She stood and walked over to where Elsa was sitting and pulled the girl into a tight hug, rocking her from side to side. "I just can't believe you guys can actually be together officially now! No more hiding, no more secrets, it's just incredible, you two must be thrilled!" Joan exclaimed excitedly, still shaking her head in disbelief as she pulled away from a slightly shocked Elsa and strode back over to Kristoff's side, curling up in his arms again.

Anna chucked softly and nodded. "We are." She agreed, "but we're still getting used to the idea, it will take us a while to really adjust to not having to hide, but we're getting there, it's not like people really knew us as sisters in the first place, but there was always that threat, that someone might recognise us and get suspicious, it's odd not having to look over our shoulders anymore, it's going to take a lot of adjusting, I think. I mean, Hans tormented us for so long, we were always on high alert when we were out, and we always had to be so cautious-"

"And you're so extreme." Elsa interrupted, teasing Anna lightly as she tried to lift the mood which had become somewhat heavy with the topic at hand.

The redhead rebutted with a roll of her eyes and an exasperated sigh. "Anyway," she drawled before continuing, "that fear still lingers, even though he's been gone for over a year, I still have flashbacks and every now and then when we're out, I think I see him out of the corner of my eye, but when I turn to look, he's never there or its someone else. I don't think we'll ever fully relax, but we'll adjust over time."

The friends talked for a while longer about the girls' revelations and then Anna explained how she had already met her mother and found out that she had another family out there, a half-sister, brother, step-father, and now Elsa had actual in-laws too! It was all so much for the group to take in, and the more Anna talked about it, the more it hit home that this was real, that it wasn't just some dream or fantasy, she and Elsa were free to show their love for each other publicly without the fear of being caught.

There would never be another Hans to ruin their lives.

"Okay, Kristoff and I actually have some news of our own to share!" Joan said excitedly, taking Kristoff's hands in her own and clutching them tight as she looked between her two friends, biting her lip to suppress her smile.

"Well… what is it? Tell us!" Anna demanded impatiently as she bounced in her seat, Elsa shaking her head beside her.

"We're…" Joan paused for dramatic effect…

"Pregnant!" Joan and Kristoff announced together, both wearing matching grins so bright they could light up the room. The burly blonde was absolutely beaming with pride as he placed his hand over Joan's belly, stroking it lovingly.

"Oh my god!" Anna squealed, and she and Elsa broke out in exclamations of congratulations.

"That's amazing, I'm so happy for you both!" Elsa smiled, "how far along?"

"Fifteen weeks." Kristoff beamed. "And… it's twins!"

"What!" Elsa and Anna cried in unison as the redhead raced over and wrapped her arms around her two friends, holding them tight.

"Oh, my god! I'm so happy for you two, twins! Wow, that's amazing!" Anna practically sang, so overjoyed for her friends, she couldn't believe they were going to be parents, things really were changing dramatically for the four of them. "Are you going to find out what you're having?" She asked as she rubbed Joan's belly proudly, she could feel the slight bump, the growing belly beneath her fingertips.

"Yeah, we're going to find out at the twenty-week scan, I've never been one for surprises." Kristoff said as he grinned proudly, fatherhood was going to suit him.

"Yay!" Anna squealed, "I get to go baby shopping!"

"Do you have any names picked out?" Elsa asked curiously, she too looked excited at the prospect of newborn snuggles, perhaps there was a conversation she and Anna needed to have…

"No, not yet, well, nothing official yet, we have a few we're playing with, but we might wait until they're born before we decide." Joan told her friends, chuckling as Anna's fingers found their way under her shirt and began stroking at the warm skin there.

"Ugh! I'm just so excited, I can't believe you're going to be parents!" Anna looked up to Elsa who was looking at her too, an expression on her face that Anna hadn't seen before, soft, loving, hopeful?

"And you and Elsa are going to be aunties." Joan announced proudly.

"Us?" Elsa practically breathed in surprise.

Kristoff chuckled softly, "yes, of course you. Elsa, you and Anna are like family to us, we'd be honoured for you to be aunts to our children." He then pulled something out of his back pocket and held it up, "would you like to see the sonogram?" He asked.

Anna squealed again and practically snatched the black and white images from her friend's hands, cooing over the slightly odd-shaped babies in the pictures. She was so proud, so excited, things were finally working out for all of them, their lives were all back on track, everyone was growing up, it seemed.

Elsa stood from her place beside Joan and sat herself next to Anna as she peered over the redhead's shoulder, her arm going around her girlfriend's waist as she stroked her hip affectionately. "They're gorgeous." Elsa said softly, "one of them has your nose Kristoff."

"Oh, god, I hope not!" Joan scoffed with a laugh, "can you imagine, that nose, on a baby? Our poor child!" She mock teased earning her a playful glare from the burly blonde. "Love you really, babe." She said.

"Well, I think they're perfect, guys. Really, you're both going to make amazing parents." Elsa beamed as she turned her attention back to the images in Anna's hand. The redhead felt her girlfriend press a soft kiss to her temple before she leant in close and whispered in Anna's ear, "I want one."

Anna sucked in a sharp breath and held it, her eyes going wide in surprise. She wasn't sure what to say, how to respond. True, she definitely wanted children, she loved kids, and she loved the idea of herself and Elsa as parents, but kids weren't even something they had discussed before, it wasn't ever a possibility until now and even though the thought of them having a little (or big) family of their own excited her to no end, it was just a little too soon for them to be thinking about that right now.

"Later." She whispered back, her voice strained and unsure, this wasn't the discussion to be having in front of their friends.

Most of the talk for the evening centred around Joan's pregnancy and parenting, how excited they were, how they'd already begun shopping for baby items, all that exciting stuff. Kristoff and Joan stayed for dinner, the girls hosting a barbeque in the backyard in celebration, the relaxed atmosphere and joyful mood made for one of the most enjoyable evenings the girls had had in quite some time.

"Soooo…" Joan drawled as she leant in close to the two women, her arms leaning on the wooden table before her. "Now that you two aren't sisters anymore, and since Anna kind of proposed… does that mean that wedding bells will be chiming in the not so distant future?"

Anna began choking on the mouthful of Coke she'd just began to swallow, grasping at her neck as she tried to suck down some air. Elsa's eyes widened comically as she turned bright red and made a strangled noise in the back of her throat.

"I'll take that as a 'no' then." Joan laughed as Elsa belatedly thumped Anna on her back, helping her to breathe again.

"Err.. well… you see…" Elsa squeaked, unable to form a sentence, her mind obviously screeching around in her head.

Anna finally managed to clear her throat and regained control of her breathing enough to speak. "No. Ah, well not yet." She began to explain, her voice strained again. "I… I mean, we, err, haven't really talked about it yet… Just, just let us get our heads around not being sisters first, we're just taking this one step at a time."

"Ahh." Joan hummed as she nodded her head slowly and leant back in her seat with a smug smirk on her face. "So, it's just a matter of when, not if… well, then…what about kids?"

Anna slammed her head down on the table as Elsa squeaked beside her and jumped in her seat, the metal legs scratching against the brick paving below them. Joan and Kristoff began laughing loudly, their reactions obviously humorous to their friends, not so much to the girls though.

"It seems you two have a lot to talk about then." Joan laughed as she gave Anna a pointed look and then waggled her eyebrows suggestively. "Don't wait too long, our kids are going to need cousins to play with."

Anna groaned into her hands that were now covering her face to try and hide her fierce blush and obvious mortification, meanwhile, Elsa mumbled something unintelligible that maybe sounded like something along the lines of 'oh, my god.' And buried her face into Anna's back.

Anna snuggled up to Elsa in bed, her head resting over Elsa's chest, she could hear her girlfriend's heart beating a little faster than usual as Elsa ran her fingers absentmindedly through Anna's hair. The redhead pushed herself up onto one arm and tapped a finger to Elsa's forehead, "what's on your mind?" She asked.

"Hmm?" Elsa hummed, caught off guard by Anna's question. "Oh, it's… nothing, really."

Anna gave the blonde a disbelieving look and rolled her eyes, "there's clearly something bothering you, so out with it missy, you know you can talk to me Elsa." She implored softly, they hadn't come all this way for Elsa to begin shutting her out again.

Elsa blushed and scrubbed her face as she groaned into her hands, "it's just… well, what Joan said before…"

"-marriage and children?" Anna finished for her and then chuckled lightly when a blonde head began to nod slowly. "Yeah. That is something we need to talk about." She agreed nervously. "I mean, Joan is right, I did kind of propose back then."

Elsa made that little strangled noise again and Anna felt the heated flush underneath her lips as she pressed them to Elsa's head. "Ugh," Elsa grunted, "who would have thought us not being sisters would make things more complicated?" She asked with a groan.

Anna chuckled and ran her fingers through Elsa's hair soothingly, hoping to calm her partner's obviously racing mind. "Well, how about this; for now, we stay as we are, girlfriends, partners, and when we're ready, once we've had time to really process everything and become comfortable in this new life, then one of us will pop the question when we think the time is right?"

Elsa seemed to mull over Anna's words for a moment before smiling softly and nodding. "Yes, I'd like that, not now obviously, but… later." Elsa lifted her head a little and pressed her lips to Anna's lovingly.

"Later." Anna repeated when they drew apart. "What about kids then? You said you wanted one before." Anna's own heart began thudding a little louder, beating a little faster, she could place that expression of Elsa's from earlier, now. Longing. Not the same kind of longing she'd seen in those eyes before, one full of desire and promise, this one was softer, loving, nurturing, it was clear Elsa longed to be a mother.

"I do, very much so." Elsa agreed, a broad smile spreading across her cheeks as she closed her eyes and sighed softly, "but not yet. I'm not ready yet and since nothing in our lives has ever been 'normal' I'd like to do something traditional for once, marriage first, then babies." She explained as she pulled Anna into her chest again and began stroking the hair back from her face. "But yes, I do want children… you want them too… right?" Elsa asked nervously.

Anna chuckled and nodded, placing a kiss to Elsa's collarbone. "Yes, I definitely want kids, just not right this very moment, Kristoff and Joan are just going to have to wait for their kids to have cousins."

"A couple of years, maybe?" Elsa half asked, half told Anna.

"Ooooh yeah, definitely." She agreed wholeheartedly, she still felt too young for a family herself and she and Elsa were only just beginning in their new life, they still had a lot to work through first, maybe in a few years when they've been settled in this home for a while, had been working long enough to have their own savings rather than surviving off Anna's inheritance, been married, then they'd come back to the topic of having kids.

She knew they couldn't wait too long, it's not like they could just start trying whenever they wanted, they'd need to see specialists and find a donor and all that exciting stuff, and she knew there were probably waitlists and checks and things to be done, so the sooner they got onto it the better, but they really didn't need to rush, not yet anyway.

"So, marriage and kids, definitely going to happen, but at some stage in the future, not right now." Anna affirmed, "got it. Glad to see we're on the same page about all of this, you kind of freaked me out before, I thought you wanted kids like, right now."

"Ha! Sorry, ah, no not now, just… later."

"Later." Anna agreed once more before the couple fell silent and slowly drifted off to sleep.