A/N: Hello! Thank you so much for your patience with this chapter being a little later than normal. I've already started chapter 18 :)

Until then, you're awesome, thank you so much! and most importantly, enjoy :)

Everything was absolutely not okay! Awful! Terrible!

Elsa was working on college applications. Which meant that she was absolutely not paying attention to Anna! Terrible!

Anna watched instead of doing her own work. The dull, grey afternoon clashing with the mediocre, harsh yellow light of Elsa's bedroom was even a flattering composition on the elder's light palette. That didn't even make sense. It's just not fair, honestly. Anna wondered, totally, completely, definitely not jealously, how Elsa could look so good no matter what.

She continued to observe how the girl's face minutely changed as she went through her work. The way Elsa's brow furrowed in concentration, lightly crinkling her smooth forehead, her eyes narrowed in focus. The way Elsa's tongue poked just out of the corner of her mouth as the clacking from her keyboard took concentrated pauses for seconds at a time. It sorta kinda reminded Anna of when a cat gets distracted bathing itself. Looking up in confusion, unknowing that its tongue is still flopping out of its mouth.

Olaf did that a lot.

Anna giggled.

Elsa smirked, eyes still trained on her screen, probably proof reading her personal statement again. Anna's own computer sat on the bed, now asleep due to inactivity. "Hmm?"

"Nothing," a dismissive shrug, but still tittering.

A challenging eyebrow raised, sky blue eyes shifting their focus to freckled, smiling cheeks. Anna really liked that expression. She shifted on her knees as Elsa spoke. "It's clearly not nothing."

"It's nothing but you being cute."

Elsa blushed, belying her silly little grin by looking away. She went back to editing her application, but not before quietly mumbling "not as cute as you." Quietly enough that she was probably expecting that Anna wouldn't hear.

But she did hear. And it made Anna feel all warm and smiley inside, and all pink on the outside.

"And you should probably finish up your application, too." Elsa glanced at the now all but abandoned laptop. "If it hasn't timed out yet," she teased.

That did not make Anna feel as warm and smiley.

Quite the opposite, really. My application. To college. She gazed at the dear friend and so much more before her, a lump forming in her throat alongside longing in her heart.

She opted to throw a piece of popcorn at her crush-friend.

"Agh, Anna!" She mostly laughed, putting her hands up and curling defensively all too late as the offending kernel bounced off the delicate bridge of her nose and directly into her shirt.

"Why do my work when I can watch you do yours?"

Elsa noted the delayed onset of Anna's smile, her less pronounced than normal dimples. "And waste your snack food in the process?"

"You're worth wasting food for," she batted her long lashes, giving the sweetest possible face.

In fairness, the elder did have to choke back a rather loud and sudden laugh. She snarkily retorted "Awe, I'm worth a piece of popcorn? That's so sweet." As she finished speaking, so did she complete fishing the rather lucky little morsel out from where it nestled between her breasts, flicking it back at Anna.

In a show of momentary agility, Anna caught the popcorn in her mouth and swallowed it. "Actually, it's savory. And look, no food wasted after all!"

Elsa was sure the perplexion she felt within was written on her face. "That was kinda gross, Anna."

"How is that gross when we'd definitely have no problem licking each other right smack dab in the-" she turned bright red, Elsa surmised that this was the moment that Anna's brain caught up to her rather eager mouth. "I'm gonna just- just gonna- well I'll stop right there. Sound good? Yeah, good. Eheh"

Elsa shifted in her seat, her flushed body reflexively searching for something somewhat firm to press on for just a moment, now that she had that picture in her mind. She took a deep breath, fighting the urge to fan herself, and sharply snapped her attention back to her computer. She didn't even dare a glance back at Anna, so she was not privy to the comical shade of crimson the girl had become. "The- the um- the sooner we finish our applications, the sooner we can go get hot chocolate." She tactfully changed the subject.

"Ughh, but I don't wanna work," Anna whined, throwing her body back with a subdued thump against the mattress.

"It's a lot easier to get it done if you pretend to be more mature than a five-year-old."

Anna's voice came back muffled. Apparently, she had her arm dramatically draped over her face. "But Elsaaa," she complained, continuing in-character. "I want truffles, too!"

Elsa laughed, affectionately rolling her baby blue eyes. "Let's finish here, then maybe, if you're good, we can get truffles, too." Obviously, she had nothing but intention of adding truffles to their roster of dessert tonight, now that Anna asked for them.

"You sure you don't want me to be a bad girl?" Anna sat up, winking.

Elsa's eyes bulged unnaturally large, she felt the blood rush to her face, neck, and shoulders. Ears burning, breath held taut, she choked out a frantic "Anna! Work! Now!"

At that, they settled back into their routine. Elsa couldn't help but notice Anna adjust in her seat and shift her eyes. Her shoulders became looser, hanging just a little lower with her chin.

As minutes dripped along like molasses, it became disconcerting when the elder realized that that look of disinterest in unfocused teal eyes wasn't simply that. Elsa chewed her lip in concern, watching as Anna pretended to work, only to idly scroll on her phone a short while later. When she was caught staring, she shied her gaze away, back to her own screen, but was shot a little smile nonetheless. It looked... strained.

She knew what was wrong. Or, at least, Elsa was pretty sure she knew what was wrong. After all, quite a litany of issues had befallen Anna in a short amount of time. She still had a lot to work through. Elsa didn't even realize she was holding her breath. Or staring. Again.

Still, she hesitated. Anna hadn't brought anything up. What if she just needed to handle this on her own?

Why'd that thought hurt?

Maybe Elsa was overthinking this. Or maybe I'm not.

"Anna?" she said before her brain could really catch up. The red head looked up. "Are um- is everything okay?"

There was a soft sigh cutting the air as Anna ran a hand through her hair. She seemed to gather her thoughts for a few moments. She gestured her arms to her computer. "Are we- are we gonna, you know, keep in- keep in touch?"

A few silent, expectant seconds slipped by as Elsa garnered her meaning. It wasn't what she expected, but it was no less uncomfortable. Her heart clenched. Now their subject matter better fit the gray, clouded, bitter cold, and damp weather outside her window. Funny, at that very moment, the world was getting dark. "Of course," she whispered.

Anna nodded, mostly to herself, and licked her lips. She didn't want to be overly presumptuous about the implied but thus far unrealized nature of their relationship, so she held back several of her other questions. "Okay," she breathed. Then, to lighten the mood, she added "as if I'd ever let you escape from me anyway." She grinned a little.

Elsa rolled her eyes. "'As if you'- as if I'd let you fall off of the face of the Earth, silly." Anna giggled. It stifled a little of each girls' concern, but Elsa still choked down her consideration of what their relationship would become.

Because it really brought up a troublesome fact.

A truth she could not avoid, no matter what she did.

Unwilling or unable to face it right then, she focused on her day with Anna. Not the past, not the future. Just now.

"So, how was archery yesterday anyway? I forgot to ask." Anna clung to Elsa that evening, arm in arm as they walked through a dark, brisk downtown street. Technically speaking, Christmas was twenty-seven hours away, if one was counting, which Elsa was. The two were huddled, not only for warmth, moseying down the sidewalk to their dessert destination: a small, local chocolate factory. Famous for its cocoa and truffles. What a coincidence. It's like Anna knew the place intimately.

The night time air seemed to silence most of the surrounding noise, save for the occasional roar of a passing car or chatter of a passing couple. White, resplendent lights dangled elegantly along the walkways, buildings, and trees; the girls' breath billowing and glistening in the festive illumination. In the distance, at the other end of the main, drag stood a mighty and perfectly decorated tree. It must have been fifty feet tall, hung head to toe with coordinated ornaments and lights. Families and friends took merriment pictures before it, and Elsa heard the piercing laugh of a child playing on it.

"It was fine," she began, her voice warm in contrast to the chilling air. Anna raised an eyebrow. Something she'd picked up from Elsa, who got the hint and elaborated. "Merida said I'm getting better, that soon we might be able to do it competitively." The elder shrugged modestly. The street they were strolling seemed to act as a wind tunnel, just an excuse to snuggled a little closer.

"Elsa! That's way better than just 'fine', that's like- like great! Or fantastic! Or absolutely incredible because you're amazing, if you'd like to go that far!" She then took a moment to cop a feel of Elsa's rather toned biceps. "And I'll say you're ready for competitive archery," she fawned.

Bashfully blushing and biting her lip, Elsa mentioned "it was exciting, yes, but it's more fun when you're there. Oh, and Merida said we need to start 'strength training'"- she made air quotes with her free hand, pulling Anna out of a collision path with a street lamp with her other - "turns out she meant rock climbing."

"You went rock climbing without me?" Again with that quirked eyebrow, and if Elsa didn't find it so sexy, she'd probably have had the peace of mind to tell Anna to stop stealing her moves.

She chuckled, rolling her head a little. "No, no we didn't go yesterday. Later this week."

With a victorious nod, the younger quipped "good, because I want to be there to see your first attempt at climbing walls."

Now, it was Elsa's turn to use her own look. One eyebrow up in a challenging position, she smirked at Anna. "You just want an excuse to stare at my butt."

"Hey hey, it'd be enjoyment enough to watch you fall on your butt." With an impish wink dissolving flawlessly into an innocent pout, she effortlessly teased "but also, yeah, guilty as charged," with a joyful bump of the shoulder.

Elsa didn't feel so cold. In fact, her neck and face felt particularly warm with their new found blush, and even in the heavy glow of the Christmas lights bathing the heavenly beauty before her, she could see the belying crimson encroaching upon Anna's confident facade.

"I guess that means I'll have a chance to watch your butt, too."

"I'll wear extra tight pants, just for you, then."

The blonde's heart skipped a beat or two or three, and she nearly stumbled over her own feet. She recovered without falling, thankfully, and opened her mouth to speak only for it to slam shut when her brain couldn't work itself out of a fit. Once again, she attempted to vocalize anything but a squeak, failing to do so before being interrupted.

"Anna?" A familiar, smooth, yet all too imposing and intrusive voice broke their banter.

Panic beset upon Anna, entrapping her heart with a forceful, frozen grip and stealing the life out of frantic lungs. She'd hardly had time to register the boy stepping towards her when he was occluded by Elsa's body.

"Stay away from her!" The blonde's voice cut loud and confident through the fragile night as she placed herself immediately between Hans and Anna. Her shoulders were pulled back, chest out, and fists by her side.

Anna let her breath out.

"I just want to talk to-"

"No."

Hans tried to side step, Elsa guarded.

He became frustrated, grunting and trying again. "Get out of my way, freak!"

"Stay away, Hans," a wavering voice demanded. It sounded more like a request. Elsa glanced back to see Anna standing behind her, uneasy but standing tall. She smiled. That's my Anna.

Returning her now pointed attention to the boy, Elsa threatened "if you take one step forward, so help my God, I'll-"

"You'll what? What could you possibly do?" Cocky, confident. Maybe time to kick him in the cocky.

"I'll- I'll-" Elsa balled her fists, knuckles turning white. "You'll regret it."

He leaned in so his face was just inches from her own. "Oh, I don't think I will," he growled. His breath stank.

Then he tried to shove Elsa aside. Anna yelped, jumping back, and before the blonde knew what she was doing, her knuckles were connecting sidelong into his punchable, big nose with a thud and a CRACK!

He stumbled sideways, clutching his face, sanguine liquid dribbling from betwixt his digits. Brown eyes widened in disbelief for a moment. "Did- did you? You- you just- You BITCH!"

Elsa advanced. "Stay away from Anna," she growled lowly. She surprised herself with how threatening her voice sounded. "Or I'll break it again."

"And I'll spit on you!" Anna's voice rang from behind the victor, her freckled fist pumping into the air, and Elsa had to try really hard not to giggle because Anna was just too freaking cute sometimes.

"Now git."

"This isn't over, asshole," he snarled, but she didn't give him the satisfaction of her attention. From behind, she heard his angry huff and footsteps retreating. Shaking her now sore hand, she met familiar aquamarine eyes.

Adrenaline wearing off, they were ridden with tears now.

Elsa gasped.

"Anna!" She rushed to her, a tender hand cupping the younger girl's slightly rounded cheek. "Anna are you okay?"

"Elsa- I- you- he just- I was scared, but you- then he- and- and then you- you protected me," she sputtered, walking a very thin line between crying and laughing. "You're so brave- you- I don't even know what to say, you put yourself in danger, for me?"

Elsa smiled, blinking back her own brining eyes, hot tears tickling along her lids. "Of course, Anna," she assured as a delicate freckled cheek leaned into her palm. Anna closed her eyes, a peaceful, affectionate smile resting placidly upon her face. The moment felt so... intimate and private, despite being downtown. "I always will," she muttered without exactly thinking it through.

When Anna gasped and lit up, standing just a little straighter but not pulling away, Elsa knew she struck a chord with the girl. Anna sniffled, her little button nose scrunching up just the slightest, and she opened her eyes. They were watering, but alight with such deep and thorough joy and affection. Between another sniffle and a sob, she choked out "can I- can I kiss you, again?"

This time, the elder's heart stopped beating altogether as time seemed to slow down. She drew a trembling breath rife with anticipation. Shaking herself in the stillness of time, she only just whispered when she exhaled. "I want nothing more."

And this time, when they kissed, it was less timid.

It lasted longer, Elsa was pretty sure, as they clung tightly to one another, Anna on her toes as they prolonged their lips' embrace.

No longer was it cold out as Anna began to move her lips against Elsa's, their beating hearts flush to one another, so close not just physically. Fledgling, Elsa followed the lead, their soft, tender, tactile lips falling into a dance sloppily at first, though they did eventually find a common tempo. Anna laced her hand into Elsa's hair on the back of her head and pressed in farther, lighting a sparking within the older's spine and weakening her knees. The rising motion of Anna's lips conveyed something that her mind had been dying to say, but her words failed to capture.

Elsa melted, no longer supporting the entirely of her own weight. Somewhere, in the back of her occupied mind, she was quite sure she knew what she was being told. Anna's tongue brushed hotly against red lips, which Elsa mercifully parted, allowing a new depth to the kiss and a novel type of dance to form between the two.

Her heart pounded, the hand pulled at her hair, Anna exhaled and the searing breath trickled into her mouth and across her cheeks and she wanted more.

Eventually, they parted, panting and flush, Elsa needing to lean into Anna to support her overwhelmed body. They remained there, ragged breaths, foreheads still pressed together, and the remnant trade of saliva still tickling their lips, teasingly reminding them of every staggering sensation they'd just been enraptured by.

"We're really bad at this whole probation thing," Anna mustered between gasps.

Elsa chuckled, strained from her lungs, but levity building the high within. "Yeah. Yeah we are."

"I don't really care." She shrugged.

"Neither- neither do I," the blonde agreed. A beat passed in silence as their eyes met, smiling.

"Chocolate," Anna chirped, biting her lower lip.

Grinning, Elsa nodded. "Hot chocolate." They resumed their leisurely stroll towards fresh dessert, still arm in arm, but Anna now resting her head against her protector's shoulder. She reveled in the contact and her steps felt a little bit lighter. Elsa was still having a little trouble walking, but she managed.

"And truffles! Don't forget about truffles," Anna jabbed her finger in mock aggression onto Elsa's chest.

A beautiful, melodic laugh rang out from Elsa's mouth. She stifled a smirk by chewing on her own lip. "And truffles."

The night was thick, surrounding Elsa in her room as she fretted over her journal, pen in hand, fingers unsure where to begin verbalizing her thoughts. So much had happened that day. Her and Anna's brief conversation about college was festering, poisoning the girl with discomfort and heavy, dreadful concepts. She thought back to Kristoff's ice sculptures. Magnificent, but transient. The moments with them were enough for Kristoff.

But would that be enough for her?

Her heart sank.

Would that be enough for Anna? For them?

Elsa swallowed a thick lump in her throat. Her mind felt a little jumbled and overwhelmed with all it was feeling and processing, but one thought came through clearly time and time again as she sat in deep contemplation.

She didn't want Anna to be temporary.

She wanted Anna to be permanent.

And that just circled right back to her rather uncomfortable epiphany earlier. That inevitable fact. Elsa sighed deeply. She finally put pen to paper, making real her brutal truth.

When I leave for college, I will hurt Anna.