I can't believe it's been two years since the last update.

Most of my Fanfiction writing from summer 2014 through fall 2015 (the 3 full-length stories & some other one-shots) was done during a "wilderness" period of my life: I had just graduated from college with some very marginal grades, my spiritual/personal life was in shambles, and I was having difficulty with finding a full-time job.

Remember that Chapter 35 ended with Brian proposing to his dear Frosty in a very romantic way!

Chapter 36:

Anna danced through the castle halls, hugging or high-fiving every single person she passed, chanting at the top of her lungs. "Elsa and Brian, sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby—"

Elsa hastily pulled her into their now-shared bedroom with a panic-stricken look on her face. "Anna, please! I'm so nervous!"

The redhead remained blissfully oblivious. She twirled around the room and tossed one handful after another of rose petals into the air. "What are you so nervous about? Brian loves you, you love Brian, and you're getting married and living happily ever after. What's so complicated about that?"

Ice was beginning to creep across the carpet. "Everything! I still can't believe that this is happening. Sometimes I have to pinch myself just to make sure that this isn't a dream."

Anna continued to dance around the room, whistling and humming to herself. She beamed excitedly at the blonde. "Well, it's not! A girl spends her whole life dreaming about her perfect wedding. And we've only got a week until yours, so let's get moving!"

The older girl's tone was fraught with ambivalence and hesitation. "So you're not the least bit concerned that this isn't too good to be true?"

"What do you mean?"

Elsa fidgeted. "What I mean is... well, have you forgotten who I am? Don't you think it's a little strange that someone could love the Snow Queen this much?" Doubt and fear were slowly but surely clouding over Elsa's face. How was this possible? It wasn't too long ago that she was accused of striking down one-third of Arendelle with a most hideous plague. It hadn't even been four months since the day she lay chained in the dungeons, beaten within an inch of her life, as a baying mob screamed for her to be burned at stake. Night after night, Henrik's smirking face and lustful sneer continued to taunt her in the darkness.

The redhead may have possessed a quite a bit of adolescent immaturity, but she certainly was perceptive and sensible enough not to continue frolicking around in her sister's distress. Instantly, Anna's flippant demeanor gave way to genuine tenderness. She sat down on the bed and pulled Elsa into a warm hug. "What's not to love about you? You're beautiful, kind, smart, brave, and you're the best thing that's ever happened to this kingdom. You went to the ends of the earth to save Arendelle from destruction!"

Elsa wiped away a tear. "But I was meant to be alone my whole life. I made peace with that idea when I was just eight years old. And in just one week, I'm getting married! How can that be? How can someone as wonderful as Brian love an emotional basket case like the Snow Queen?"

Before Elsa could continue to moan and weep about her pitiful lack of confidence and inability to be loved, the door burst open. There stood Kai and Gerda, with Henrik Jr trailing behind them. Gerda beamed at down at the ebullient little boy. "Look who it is, Joey!"

The child who was once a Westergard toddled across the room as fast as his stubby little legs could move, and flung both arms around his adopted mother. "I wuv you Mommy!"

Elsa lifted the child into her lap and gently caressed his wispy red hair. Freshly one year old, little Joseph was a spitting image of the now-deceased King of the Southern Isles, replete with auburn hair and green eyes and a slender, pointy nose. But physical characteristics were the extent of their resemblance. Under Elsa's tender, watchful care, not a single vestige of meanness or subterfuge had sprouted in his soul. He was so sweet and adorable, and could melt the coldest heart and put a smile on the most obdurate face with his cheerful voice and affectionate hugs. When Elsa had made public her decision to adopt Henrik's orphaned bastard child, the rest of Arendelle heartily supported her in this journey to metaphorically right the past. Henrik Jr represented the loss and failures of his father's generation, and the hopes of a brighter tomorrow.

"Mommy loves you too, snowflake. More than anything in the world."

As Elsa continued to cuddle with the adorable little boy who had become her son, a pinecone suddenly bounced off the window. Below, a group of children could be heard yelling, "Come on Frosty! Do the magic!"

Anna grinned from ear to ear. "So, what was all that 'Nobody loves the Snow Queen' nonsense?"

Brian took a long, wistful sigh as he trudged down the Portrait Gallery of the castle. His countenance was that of one who was marching to the guillotine. "What have I gotten myself into?"

Kristoff laughed heartily. "What are you so bummed about? Arendelle is at peace, the Westergards are gone, and you are seven days away from spending the rest of your life with the woman you love."

"Me? King of Arendelle?" Brian drifted numbly down one hallway after another. The walls were adorned with a magnificent lineup of paintings depicting past monarchs at their coronations. From the ones who founded Arendelle over five centuries ago, to Adgar and finally Elsa. Brian tilted back his head in petrified reverence. Etched into these walls was a proud legacy that he was intimidated to become a part of.

The royal physician stepped in front of a mirror and gingerly slipped on his new kingly attire, with the crown and scepter included. "Ugh, I look like such an idiot!"

"You don't look like an idiot," Kristoff corrected. "You look like a university valedictorian, a Nobel Prize winning scientist, and a man who can perform open-heart surgeries with his eyes closed. But most importantly, you look like the fellow whom Elsa has chosen to give the reins of the kingdom to."

Brian sighed. "You really are from a family of love experts."

The blond man adopted his ridiculous imitation of Sven's voice. "Not bad for a guy who talks to reindeers."

"No Kris, I'm serious. I can't thank you enough for all you've done for me this past year. Without you, I would've never had the courage to step one inch in Elsa's direction." Brian's heart overflowed with gratitude and affection towards the brother he had found. Scenes from the past year flashed through his memory. The pool room in the tavern… while all the other men were completely engaged in sophomoric bantering over the insignificant details of the game, Kristoff had taken the time to breathe words of encouragement into Brian's defeated, deflated soul. The night Henrik was finally laid to rest… when the wicked Westergard goaded Brian to despair and reminded him again and again of the gutless coward he used to be, Kristoff had fought by his side and willed him to victory. The day Henrik Jr arrived in Arendelle… when Brian had nearly forfeited his future with Elsa in a fit of uncontrolled emotion, Kristoff had been there to talk sense into him. Truly, the ice master was as solid and dependable as glaciers of the North Mountain.

Kristoff picked his nose vigorously. "Don't mention it, Doc. You're our friend, and very soon you will be our brother."

Then he dipped the contaminated finger into his mouth, and gave Brian a sly wink. "But don't tell Anna about this."

Next chapter = wedding and the road to happily ever after! And maybe the 7th Westergard hasn't given up on trying to court Elsa just yet...