To say Elsa was paralyzed would be an understatement. Maybe this was a dream? The snow lightly fell around them as the clouds allowed glimpses of morning light to show over their city. After all their trials and adventures, they've returned to finally put an end to this. Yet in the midst of everything, Elsa comes face to face with the last person she expected. The surprise was also clearly evident on the man standing in the doorway, looking like a completely different person without his uniform. He seemed to be struggling with the same problem as her, judging from his expression.

Finally overcoming her shock, Elsa finally closed the distance and embraced him. Tears threatened her eyes finally knowing for certain he had survived. After hearing him groan from what sounded like pain, she tried to let him go only to realize he had embraced her as well. She averted her gaze to Anna and Kristoff who were trying to act like they weren't paying attention. As she stepped back to look at him, she had to ask. "How are you here?"

He smiled brightly at her and her heart fluttered. "It's a long story, but come in before someone sees." He stepped aside to let them in, and checked the street before shutting the door behind him.

Once inside, Luc stepped into the room. "Mr. Larsen, Mrs. Larsen, you have company."

The elderly couple came in from the kitchen and upon seeing the three familiar faces, Mrs. Larsen dropped her glass to the floor in shock and Mr. Larsen let out a loud cheer of joy. They immediately ran to them and took in their appearance before hugging each of them. Luc moved around to clean up the broken glass, a smile on his face as he watched the reunion. Questions were asked quicker than they could be answered. Mr. Larsen pulled them all into his den. "Everyone please sit, we have to talk."

Mr. Larsen took a place in his chair with his wife in her identical chair next to him. His joy almost immediately turned to dire concern. "What happened? Why isn't your father with you?"

Anna instantly started rattling off about Germany but her excitement betrayed her and made her story gibberish.

Elsa decided to explain. "Father is somewhere in Arendelle. Colonel Hans brought him back here."

Fredrick brought his hand to his face in defeat. Elsa and Anna went back and forth detailing their experience since leaving Arendelle, leaving out some details pertaining to Elsa's powers. As they spoke, Elsa began to question why they were still keeping this a secret from Mr. and Mrs. Larsen. Kristoff and Olaf both knew and she was actually more comfortable around them as a result of it. She quickly dismissed the idea. She would tell them, when the time was right. For now, the less people that know her secret, the more secret it is.

After finishing their story, Mr. Larsen briefly explained any events that had occurred since their departure. Aside from a seemingly larger presence of soldiers in the city, there was nothing of great importance. After a few moments of laughter and expressions of welcoming love, Mr. Larsen requested to be alone to gather his thoughts and assess their situation.

Mrs. Larsen began to lead them to the kitchen to get them some food, but Elsa pulled Luc aside to the fireplace where they both sat on the couch. Anna noticed but continued to follow Mrs. Larsen. She spoke as they sat. "I'm glad you made it back. Doesn't seem like it's been that long since we were last here." Luc smiled at the memory and nodded his agreement, his mind a whirl of thoughts.

The two sat in silence for a moment before Luc's face lit up in realization. "Oh! I almost forgot!" He reached into the pocket of his coat and retrieved a blue cloth Elsa instantly recognized.

Her eyes widened as she took and unfolded it to find a large red stain on it with the verse still visible where her mother had stitched it. "I'm so sorry, it got dirty." Elsa wasn't mad but very concerned. "Is this... blood?" Luc hesitated but finally nodded.

Against her better judgement, Elsa's curiosity got the better of her. "What happened over there?..." Luc froze in place at the question. His silence was deafening, but Elsa allowed him to remain silent. She wouldn't force him to talk about it should he desire not to. "Thank you for returning it."

He smiled at her genuineness and she had another question. "So are you no longer in the Wehrmacht?"

Luc spoke up this time. "No I'm not. I was discharged and sent home from the front."

Elsa nodded. "Home? Back to your family?"

She knew nothing of his parents or if he even had any siblings. Aside from his character, she knew nothing of him or his life. He seemed discomforted at her question. "Yes, but I came back to Arendelle shortly after."

A heavy silence settled between them for a moment before Elsa took her courage in both hands and decided it was time she learned more about him. "Were they happy to see you?"

Luc looked shaken, but he answered her honestly. "Somewhat. They were happy to learn that I survived, but I wasn't exactly welcomed with open arms. My relationship with my family is... complicated."

Elsa fought back a laugh. "You're telling me, I've crossed country and ocean to put mine back together. You seem to have turned out alright, it can't be that bad." They both shared an uncomfortable laugh over her comment.

He stared at the fireplace for a moment. "I don't know what you're expecting to hear Elsa. My past with my family isn't glamorous."

"I just want to know more about how you came to be who you are."

Suddenly, it was almost as if everything came out like a waterfall that had been held back. "I am who I am because of people like Mr. Larsen... My parents are National Socialists and I was raised in their politics. At first I simply accepted whatever they told me as fact but... as I got older, I started questioning things. Then when I was thirteen, I said something they didn't like and my father beat me... So that night I ran away. A friend of mine across town hid me in his basement for two days before I snuck onto a train to anywhere but there. I wound up in a small village where a middle aged couple took me in and fed me... That was where I first heard the Gospel. They were so happy, and loved each other like no two people I'd ever seen before... I wanted whatever it was they had, and they shared it with me. After a couple of weeks, they convinced me to return to my parents and share the Gospel with them, but I was instead greeted with shouting and another beating... I don't think I ever got along with my parents again..."

Elsa couldn't find the words to describe her sorrow for him. It broke her heart to hear the anger between him and his family. He didn't look at her, he simply stared into the fireplace lost in thought. "My past isn't something I'm proud of. It's why I intend to leave it in the past where it belongs. That's why I came back to Arendelle."

She nodding in understanding. "I'm sorry Luc, I had no idea..."

He didn't take offense to her asking, he just wasn't proud of it. "It's okay. I'm sorry you couldn't find your father. I'll do whatever I can to help."

She brushed her feelings of heartbreak for him aside and smiled at him. "Thank you."

"Do you know where he might be?"

"No, all we know is he was brought back here. Have you seen Colonel Hans?"

Luc looked surprised at her question. "No, but I haven't exactly been looking for him either."

"I think he has my father in the port. That's where he had him before and it's where he locked up Anna and myself the first time he caught us."

Luc looked at her concerned. "The first time?"

Elsa quickly realized her admission. "He caught up with us in Skien, but we got away."

"I see... Well maybe I can reach out to some of my old unit... If they're still stationed in the city, they might know something."

A voice spoke up behind them. "I think that would be an excellent place to start." Mr. Larsen entered the room by himself and sat in a nearby chair.

"I can ask some of the people that work in the port if they've seen or heard anything. Elsa, I must insist that you and Anna remain here. We can't risk them finding out you're back in Arendelle." He sternly pointed at her. "And I mean it this time. No sneaking off in the middle of the night."

Elsa blushed at the embarrassment of what he was referring to and how it went horribly wrong. "To be fair, I was only caught because Anna hit Luc and the guards heard it..."

Mr. Larsen maintained his eye contact signifying he wasn't amused at her reasoning.

Elsa finally conceded. "Very well, no sneaking out."

"Thank you."

The rest of the morning passed with laughs and stories of adventure from Anna. That afternoon, Luc went to the port area near the barracks to see if he found any of his old unit while Mr. Larsen went to the market to see what he could learn from the local vendors.

They returned near nightfall and neither of them brought good news. Luc found no familiar faces among the many soldiers near the port and Mr. Larsen learned no useful information either.

That night, Elsa and Anna settled in their beds for the night.

After some time, and still not being able to fall asleep, Elsa heard rustling across the room. "You still awake?"

Her sister's voice answered somberly. "Yeah."

Elsa sat up in her bed. "Are you happy to be back?"

Anna rolled over to look at her. "Not as much as I thought I'd be."

"Me neither... I don't know why I thought things would be different... We're right back where we started."

Anna looked confused. "What makes you think that?"

"Father is here somewhere, we're still hiding, and have no idea where he is."

"Elsa, you can't just disregard everything we've been through. This has all happened fast but it's changed me, I know it's changed you too."

"How so?"

"Seriously? Elsa, you were so reserved before all this. You had your whole life planned out. Now, you've faced things that would break a weaker person. You've stepped out of your comfort zone, and pushed yourself beyond anything you've ever done before. You've been so strong when our fam-, when I needed you most,... I'm so proud to call you my sister."

Elsa crossed the room and embraced her sister as tears threatened her eyes.

"And how has this changed you?"

Anna thought on it for a moment.

"I'm not afraid anymore. Whatever happens, we'll face it. And we're going to make it through this."

Elsa smiled. There situation had not changed, but Anna was right. This journey had changed them. "Let's thank God for bringing us this far. And ask him to continue guiding us."

Anna nodded. "Alright." It had been some time since she prayed with her sister. The two silently bowed their heads as they began to pray.

Kristoff sat near the fire with Luc. The two men didn't know each other very well so they mostly sat in silence. Luc was the first to speak up. "So Elsa mentioned they were captured again in Skien. How'd that happen?"

Kristoff sighed. "A man gave us shelter in his home. I left that evening to find us a ship to take us to the continent. When I came back, the Germans had raided the house and took them captive."

Luc nodded, an unspoken accusation written on his face. "Tough situation. How'd they escape? Or were you busy booking dinner reservations?"

Kristoff stood from his chair and tensely stared Luc down. "I don't need a Nazi judging me!"

Without hesitation, Luc rose to meet Kristoff's piercing stare with his own. "Watch it, I'm not a Nazi!"

"Oh, I suppose I just imagined that uniform... and I've seen the animals that wear it."

Luc put his finger in Kristoff's face. "You don't know anything! I could say the same for your kind!"

Kristoff chuckled. "My kind?"

"Partisans. Cowards who hide in crowds of women and children and only step into the light to cause chaos!"

"That's enough boys."

Both of them turned to see Mr. Larsen standing in the doorway. "Sit down."

They sat without protest.

"Kristoff, you don't know Luc. So how can you presume to know anything about him? And Luc, you don't know how brave and selfless Kristoff has been in helping Anna and Elsa. So how can you say as much about him?"

When neither of them responded, he continued. Having put their bitter words to rest, he knew it was time to get to work. "No doubt the Colonel brought Agdar back here because he wants something. He would've left him to rot in Germany otherwise. I need you both if we have any hope of finding him, and you're not much help if you're going to behave like immature children." He continued laying out his plan of Kristoff checking his local contacts and Luc checking with his old unit for any sort of information.

Unknown to them, Elsa stood outside listening to everything. She knew they meant well and would do anything they could, but they didn't have much time. Olaf would be returning soon and he was their best chance of reaching Sweden.

The following day started early with Luc departing for the port and Kristoff making his way to the market. Neither of them barely spoke a word to each other that morning.

Elsa sat looking out of the upstairs window watching the people pass by in the street below. She was soon joined by Anna who immediately noticed her distracted gaze. "What's on your mind?" Elsa simply stared ahead. "I heard Kristoff and Luc arguing last night." Anna shrugged her shoulders. "Men argue all the time, at least they didn't fight." Elsa laughed softly. "They probably would have if Mr. Larsen didn't step in."

Anna smiled at her sister before noticing something blue in her hand. "Elsa... Is that-"

Elsa held it out to Anna and she immediately noticed what Elsa noticed when it was handed back to her by Luc. "Oh my gosh..."

Elsa remained silent as Anna examined the cloth. "Elsa, what happened to him?"

"I don't know... He wouldn't talk about it."

Anna handed the cloth back to Elsa. "He will when he's ready. And if he never does, that's okay."

Elsa nodded. "I know... I pray we find father today..."

Anna put a comforting hand on her sister's shoulder. "We all do..."

The following three days ended with disappointment upon disappointment when everyone returned to the Larsen house with no news. Kristoff learned nothing useful from the vendors in the market, and Luc said his old unit at the port had been replaced with a new one. He did however see Colonel Hans exiting the command headquarters in the port.

Upon seeing the man that sent him and his friends to the horror that took his friend's life and was now seared into his memory, Luc struggled to keep his fuming anger beneath the surface. He persisted, knowing his reason for being there, but it was to no avail. His efforts yielded little information beyond what he described as a noticeable deterioration in the SS officer.

That night, everyone sat eating dinner in silence. Elsa and Anna barely touching their plates. Mr. Larsen noticed and attempted to reassure them, but his words fell on deaf ears. Elsa was lost in thought, knowing she couldn't stand by anymore. Olaf was due back any day now and so far, they had gotten nowhere.

Suddenly, an idea took root. Once again, it was what most would call a foolish idea.

She stopped for a moment to wonder why it was always her that came up with ideas such as this?

This time would be different though. She needed help. Other times, she had acted on her own and without care of other opinions. Sometimes, it worked out but sometimes it ended in disaster. This time, she couldn't take that chance. They had come too far and too much was at risk for her to do this alone.

After dinner, she motioned for Anna to join her in their room.

Once the door was shut, she sat next to Anna on the bed. "I have an idea that might help us..."

Anna was immediately on board. "That's great! But why all the secrecy?"

"Because you're not going to like it. So I need you to hear me out first..."

Anna was more reluctant now. "Okay... Let's hear it."

"I'm going to give Colonel Hans the business in exchange for our father."

Well it took much longer than I hoped but I finished this update. I apologize for any errors but things have been busy and some of this chapter was rushed, but I'm dedicated to finishing this story one way or another. :) I want to thank Jacob Flores and Desteny Star for their encouraging reviews! They were very motivating for me to continue the story! I hope everyone enjoys this update and I wish everyone here a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! :) I will update as soon as possible!