AN: Y'all, I am so sorry this has taken so long to update. I just reeeeeally wasn't feeling this chapter. I hope it's not horrible but it's just a filler. There is a bunch of softball jargon so if you aren't familiar… :/ sorry! And I hope I don't take as long on the next one. But no promises.

Chapter 22

The week after she came back to Arendelle, Anna cancelled her subscription to the Giants live-streamed games and turned off her Google alerts for 'Kristoff Bjorgman'. She went to Opening Day, that was her indulgence. But now, she had to move on. She had her own season to focus on. Anna kept up on random game highlights and what the ESPN talking heads were saying, but she refused to give into the temptation of actually watching him, pining after him. Kristoff had quickly become a fan favorite and was even voted to the All-Star game, Anna wasn't surprised.

The semester flew by so much faster once her games started. Anna blinked and finals were over and the campus was shutting down for the summer. She had turned in all her projects and had even passed all her certification tests with the state. She was now a certified physical trainer in the state of Colorado. She didn't really know what she was going to do with that but it was something.

It was no surprise when the softball team won their conference. It was really just a box they had to check. The Aggies were ranked fifth this year and therefore were selected to host a Regional tournament again. They had a real shot at the Championship this season and Anna was laser focused. Or at least she tried to be. She met with Dr. Yelena as much as her schedule would allow but she was distracted enough that her anxiety was kept at bay. Because the Regional tournament was the same weekend as graduation, the seniors missed the opportunity to walk across the stage. And Anna was ecstatic. Graduating from high school without any family was hard enough, she didn't want to do it again in college. But her and the rest of the seniors still donned their caps and gowns over their uniforms, and had a little photoshoot at the field. It was better than any boring ceremony.

The baseball team had also made it to Regionals but due to their lower National ranking, they weren't hosting this year. That put all the attention and glory on the women's team. The Regional tournament had been a cake walk. None of the other three teams even gave them a real fight. And then a few weeks later the Arendelle Aggies swept the Texas Longhorns in front of a packed stadium at The Stables. When Merida struck out the last batter in the top of the seventh inning, Anna tossed her glove so high she thought it might hit a bird. They were going to Oklahoma City!

The Women's College World Series was a big fucking deal. ESPN and all their channels dedicated the week to the games. Eight teams made it to OKC. Two, four team brackets with a double elimination style match up. The winner of each bracket then goes on to play best two out of three. The Aggies found themselves in Bracket 1 with Arizona, Washington and UCLA-all softball powerhouses and all previous champions. Arendelle had never won a title in the school's history. They were the bracket's underdog.

So it was a big fucking surprise when the Aggies beat all three of them to make it to the CWS Finals.

Anna had never cried because she won a softball game. Crying after a loss? Yeah, happens to everybody. But these were tears of joy. She was blubbering and snotty and her ribs hurt from the dog pile but fuck it was worth it. This was it. The next day they would be playing their first game against Oklahoma University.

Nervous was not the right word. Anna was quaking. Coach spent the entire evening going over game film of Oklahoma. Their pitcher was good. Like good good. Her go to was her rise ball. Even when batters didn't swing, the umpires liked to call it a strike. And when batters did swing, the spin on the ball was nearly impossible to get on top of, resulting in unproductive pop outs.

The next morning, Anna and Rapunzel were getting ready when there was a knock at their hotel door. Looking through the peephole, no one was in the hall. Assuming it was just a prank from their teammates, Rapunzel didn't open it and the girls went back to finishing their hair and make up. (This shit was on national tv, they needed to look good). When Anna opened the door twenty minutes later to head to the bus, she almost stepped on the two sets of bouquets. The one on the left was a mixture of sunflowers and red roses. Rapunzel squealed and reached for them. The one on the right were bright pink peonies. Anna moved into the hall and picked them up. There was no card.

"Flynn!" Rapunzel gushed. "I told him we were rooming together. Ugh! He's the best!" Rapunzel carried her bouquet like a pageant queen and headed towards the elevator. Anna, slightly embarrassed that Flynn felt the need to send her flowers so she didn't feel left out, put the bunch back in the room and shut the door.

Anna felt off. Yeah, she was nervous as shit but as the game started it was something else. Something with the flowers. She just felt so humiliated. It wasn't Flynn's fault. He was just trying to be nice. But, fuck, was she the group charity case? The poor fifth wheel in their group now?

Arendelle beat Oklahoma 7-1. Anna played horribly. Well, she didn't make any errors at short stop and she went 2-for-3 but she felt like she didn't contribute to the win at all. She wasn't focused. And when she got back to her hotel room she saw the flowers again. Tomorrow could be the last game of her career. She wanted to be focused. So, even though the flowers were beautiful, Anna took them down to the parking lot and threw them in the dumpster. Rapunzel didn't even ask about them.

Anna woke up before her alarm. If they beat Oklahoma today, Arendelle would be National Champions. If they lost, they had another shot the next day. If anything, it was a best case scenario. Oklahoma were the ones with the pressure on them. It was 'lose and go home' for them.

Anna wanted to remember everything about this day. She felt far better today compared to the day before. And when she stepped onto the field for the National Anthem, Anna knew they were going to win.

The Sooners came out red hot today. They scored three runs in the first innings alone. And Arendelle didn't answer back until the fourth inning. And by that time, they were trailing by five runs. It was the bottom of the sixth inning and Oklahoma was leading 7-4. Arendelle was still within striking distance. They were the home team so they were now up to bat. The Oklahoma starting pitcher was still in the game but everyone was confused as to why. She was clearly struggling the inning before but still her coach sent her out. The poor girl had started off the inning by walking both Moana and Tiana and now Anna was up to bat. The catcher went out to the mound to give her a pep talk and then Anna was stepping into the batter's box. Sweat was pouring down the pitcher's face and arms. She bent down for her chalk bag and did her best to absorb the perspiration. When she stepped onto the mound, Anna was ready. This girl had just thrown four balls in a row to Tiana, so Anna knew she was going to come out with a first pitch strike.

WHACK!

And Anna was ready for it. She sprinted out of the batter's box but slowed to a jog once she hit first base. The ball had soared over the right field fence and landed in the crowd sitting in the grass area. The umpires twirled their index fingers over their heads signalling a home run. When Anna hit third base and looked toward home plate, a huge grin plastered onto her face at her teammates going wild for her. They were all tied up, 7-7.

Merida held the Sooners to zero runs in the top of the seventh inning. All Arendelle had to do now was score one run and they were Champions. One run. The Oklahoma coach finally wised up and replaced his pitcher. The new pitcher's motion was jerky and according to the scoreboard she was a sophomore without much experience. Odd choice in this situation, Anna thought, but she wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Ariel was leading off the inning. She was a smart batter. And it paid off when she took ball four and jogged down to first base. Aurora was up next and it only took two pitches for the young pitcher to throw a ball in the dirt that the catcher couldn't block. Ariel was standing on second base without even needing to slide. Anna and Rapunzel were shoulder to shoulder gripping the dugout fence as they cheered on Aurora before the next pitch. The Oklahoma pitcher took an extra moment to calm herself before she started her windup. She left her curve ball hanging and Aurora launched it between the center and right fielder. Ariel took off running, her long red braid flailing in the wind. Anna tried to watch the fielders, the ball and Ariel all at the same time. The center fielder got to the ball first, picked it up and lined it to the awaiting second baseman. Ariel was rounding third. The catcher was in front of the plate, glove ready.

Throw. Catch. Slide. Tag.

Anna froze as all eyes were on the home plate umpire. It felt like an eternity but then he shot his arms out in the international 'safe' motion and Anna screamed. And Rapunzel screamed. Everyone was screaming. And hopping the fence and running onto the field. The team beelined straight for Aurora who tossed her helmet and met the crowd at the pitcher's mound. The Oklahoma girls slowly left the field so Arendelle could celebrate.

The Arendelle Aggies were College World Series National Champions.

Anna had never taken so many pictures in her entire life. It was a week after their victory and she was still going through all of them. She even debated making an instagram. Anna was sitting on her bed, grinning at the different pictures her teammates had posted with the trophy-cuddled up in the hotel bed, buckled up on the plane, spinning on the luggage carousel-when Rapunzel came into the doorway.

"You all packed?" Anna asked.

"Yup, I'm all loaded up." Rapunzel was clearly sad.

Anna stood and walked over to the blonde. "Next time I see you, Flynn will be making an honest woman out of ya." Anna tried to cheer Rapunzel up as she hugged her.

Rapunzel pulled back, "I feel like I've asked you this a thousand times but I've never gotten a straight answer. And now I'm leaving and- What are you going to do once you leave here?" Rapunzel was the last one to pack up in The Palace and head home. Well, last except for Anna. Her room was still completely intact, the stack of moving boxes untouched in the corner.

Anna shrugged, unbothered, "I have an airbnb set up in Estes Park and I'm just going to spend some time in the Rockies figuring some stuff out. Maybe after that I'll get a Sprinter Van in Utah, hit Zion and Bryce Canyon and maybe even Arches. Maybe I'll take a year and head up to Oregon and Washington too. Then I could settle down and work for a non-profit I care about. And by that time you'll be popping out kids so I'll have to come visit. But whatever happens, don't worry about me Blondie, I can handle myself."

"Well as long as you are in Salt Lake City the second week of July I don't care what you do." Anna and Rapunzel both knew that was a lie.