"So…"

"So," Anna laughed, holding the warm mug between her hands. "What now?"

She had barely lasted three days before calling up Kristoff and asking if he was free. He had barely waited thirty seconds before saying she should come over today. She packed up Eli and snagged his favorite treat from Bulda's - which she had been informed by a very reliable source was carrot cake - and headed up to the house on the hill.

Unsurprisingly, it was a small, possibly hand built cabin, with a large stable out back. It didn't look like much, but the second Anna stepped inside she was overwhelmed by the familiar warmth of a home. A fire was lit, fluffy blankets were on almost every chair, pictures of his family lined the halls, and Anna admired every corner of this little cabin.

Anna ran her hand over intricately painted designs on the cabinetry and smiled. "Is your family Norwegian?"

Kristoff's smile grew as his cheeks reddened. "Yeah, how'd you know?"

"Mine was too," she laughed as she straightened her back. "I've worn many church dresses with this kind of rosemaling."

He told her about how his birth mother had taught him a little bit of it before she passed, and the desire to stay connected to her was enough that he continued to teach himself the art as he grew up. Kristoff showed her more that he had done, on small boxes and the sides of his guitar, and even the one failed attempt at embroidery that had wound up in a tangled mess.

"I still like to keep it though. It was for something special."

As he ran his fingers over the fabric, Kristoff's face softened as if he was remembering something fondly before he snapped out of it and placed the small cloth back onto the table. "Hey, Eli," he started, turning to head towards the boy who was staring at the reindeer with fascination. "Let's go."

Eli grabbed his hand and looked up towards him with such awe, that Anna could barely catch her breath. But she quickly followed them outside, standing a few feet behind and observing. Something about Kristoff made her trust him with Eli, with her absolute heart and soul.

Every time he looked at her, Anna couldn't help but let her imagination run completely wild. Them, together here. Them, together with Eli. Just them, together.

Maybe it was just seeing him hoist Eli up onto his shoulders, maybe it was just seeing him treat Eli like he were his own. Maybe she just wasn't used to men wanting to be around her kid. Or maybe he was different.

They played in the snow all afternoon, building snowmen and making snow angels, and Anna felt herself getting emotional. Kristoff glanced at her with worry, but she waved him off and heaved a snowball right towards him, laughing and running as soon as he came at her, arms outstretched. He did his best to teach Eli how to make a little igloo, smiling proudly as the little boy crawled in and out, giggling uncontrollably.

And of course, they met the reindeer. Sven was front and center, stealing all of the attention, and Anna laughed at Kristoff shoving him away and telling him to stop being such an attention hog. Eli pet at their fur, and hugged the little one who had dragged him up here that first fateful night, and soon it grew too dark to stay outside.

They moved inside, their jackets and socks spread out in front of the fire to dry, and Eli laid himself down on the plush carpet. They ate cake and drank hot cocoa, and Anna had never felt happier.

"I guess now…" Kristoff rested his chin in the palm of his hand. "We just talk?"

"Oh," Anna replied, making a bridge of intertwined fingers and placing her own chin upon them. "Just talk, huh?"

Kristoff blushed and wiped a hand over his face, scratching at his jaw. "Well… How'd you end up here?"

With a gentle roll of her eyes, Anna regaled her story of young love, unexpected pregnancies, love lost, and moving on. She tried to leave out the part about his family on her tail, but Kristoff had weaseled the whole truth out of her.

"And you couldn't go back to your family because…?"

Anna heaved another sigh, laughing slightly as she wiped under her eyes. "My sister was really sick. And my parents found this doctor across the country…" She blew out a heavy breath and leaned back in her chair. "They got into a nasty wreck when I was fifteen trying to get to him. So I was pretty much on my own from then on."

Kristoff frowned, his brows knitting together. "I'm… so sorry."

"Don't be!" she reassured him, waving her hands in front of her face. "It's a bit of a sob story but it's not all bad." Her head turned to look at Eli, who was now asleep on the carpet, curled up into a little ball. "I got him out of it."

"But—"

"Your turn!" Anna interrupted, laying her palms flat against the wooden table. "Tell me some of your backstory."

Kristoff laughed, running a hand through his hair. "Not much to tell, I guess." He shrugged and gripped his mug a little tighter. "Parents died when I was around seven. They didn't have any family here so I was thrown into foster. Bulda and Cliff were my fourth foster family, I think?" He shrugged, and continued. "They kept me. And then many more siblings after me. Still to this day they're fostering and adopting. It's all pretty incredible."

Anna nodded, and hummed. "So that's why you're so good with Eli."

"Yeah, I guess." Kristoff smiled. "I've always had little kids around me. So yeah."

"And, if you don't mind…" Anna's face grew almost mischievous, and she leaned in a little closer. "Why do people in town call you all those …"

Kristoff's face dropped instantly, and he sat back in his chair. In thirty seconds flat his demeanor completely changed. "I do mind."

"I just —"

"Yeah."

Lifting his mug to his mouth, Kristoff felt himself closing off again. It was inevitable, wasn't it. He was going to be tarnished for life because of something that happened years ago. Because small towns gossip and don't know how to mind their business.

Anna sat back as well, drinking the last of her hot chocolate before placing the mug gently back onto the table. He could see confusion crossing her features, but he couldn't talk himself into being more amicable again. She knew what people said about him, had mentioned it twice now, and it was starting to feel like she just wanted to find out the next piece of news to talk to their neighbors about.

They sat in silence for a few moments, Anna worried and Kristoff shut down, before Anna moved to stand. "So I guess it's getting late…"

He nodded, and stood up quickly. Her running for the door only confirmed his fears. "Sure."

Anna moved to gather up Eli in her arms, his still sleepy head resting on her shoulders. "See you later?"

Kristoff's arms were crossed over his chest, and he only nodded, averting his eyes.

Pressing her lips together, Anna nodded back feeling hurt rising in her chest. She didn't know what to do, didn't know how to make this better. She couldn't even comprehend how cold he was being after a lovely day together. It wasn't until Eli's little hand rose up and waved, his small voice coming out from deep in Anna's sweater, that she felt her heart drop.

"Buhbye Mr. B. Love you."

She practically ran out the door, and Kristoff felt like he was going to cry.