Author's Note: It's been a while (at least a few years) since I've been wanting a fic for this song. It wasn't what I had pictured the story to go but I'm quite happy with this. And I've made this like a study regarding realistically written stories or something. If anyone is curious, thi song is part of a trilogy—it's a Japanese songs by HoneyWorks. The first one is Crybaby Boyfriend, then Like, Dislike and finally, the namesake of this fic, The Beginning's Goodbye. It's such a good trilogy that hides it melancholy behind happy and upbeat tunes. I suggest you give it a listen, it would be worth it!

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters and the plot is loosely based on a song. Also, I'm currently writing this on my phone so forgive me for any mistakes. I really should get to fixing my laptop soon.

"Here we are, at the end of the road."

"Don't cry anymore."

Elsa woke up with a start. The lady across her eyeing her weirdly which made her lower her bucket hat into her hair a bit more. Turning her head towards the large window of the train, she watched as the lush green fields pass them by—a telltale sign that she was nearing her childhood town.

It's been long since she had set foot there, the last time—

She shook her head clear of the memory, liberating but still too painful to bear.

Elsa fished her phone from her bag and stared at the unsent message she had composed earlier—a spur of the moment for someone as cautious and rational as her.

It read:

Hey, I don't know if you still remember me but I'm coming to town in a few days. Maybe we could catch up? I miss you and everyone really.

Elsa knew, of course, that her recipient has never forgotten who she is—not by a long shot. What she was worried about was if he had already changed his number or deleted hers, in that case she would freeze up with the thought of introducing herself.

But in some part of her conscious mind, she knew he had already memorized her number by heart, just like she did his. The blinking text cursor was mocking her, telling her to be reckless and press send. Maybe he still—

Stop.

She took a deep breath and pressed another key. Erasing the sentences she had worried over for at least a day.

Leaning back into her chair, she heaved a sigh. This is what they both wanted.

Pulling a pair of headphones from her bag, she plugged it into her phone, scrolling across her playlists to listen to that one Japanese song she's been listening to, on repeat.

When she finally found it, she should've just searched for it instead of scrolling through countless songs—she thought, she pressed play. Taking off her hat, she pulled the headphones over her ears and closed her eyes, maybe she can calm her nerves before disembarking on the place that she's had many memories on.

"Elsa!"

Elsa jogged towards the redhead who was frantically waving both her arms to catch her attention. Elsa had to suppress a chuckle.

"Even without all the waving, Anna, I would have noticed you." Elsa calmly said to her little sister who was beaming up at her. The whole station was empty aside from the station workers and some stragglers.

Anytime now, Elsa thought and, lo and behold, in just a second Anna lunged at her sister. They exchanged 'I miss you's all the while walking towards where Anna had parked her car.

"Where's Kristoff?" Elsa asked. Anna visibly stiffened at the mention of her, now, boyfriend. "He's, umm, he's somewhere…out…there."

Elsa was confused at the answer but decided not to pry. Still, it was weird how Kristoff wasn't with Anna. Last she remembered, the guy was practically Anna's shadow. So it won't be a surprise if Kristoff suddenly appeared in the backseat of Anna's car.

But no such thing happened.

As they drove towards their house, Anna talked about everything that had happened in Arendelle. Every new store, new house, new neighbor just down the street—Elsa quite enjoyed the stories but she can't help but notice a certain topic Anna was avoiding.

"Anna, what about—"

"How about you, Elsa?!" There was an obvious shake in the car, from Anna slightly turning the steering wheel. As always Elsa decided to drop the subject. "How's the big city life? I've heard your songs you know, Kristoff and I bought all the albums."

Elsa sighed. It may have escaped Anna's attention or she was really focused on driving, so Elsa just looked out the window—at the familiar, and at the same time unfamiliar, houses and streets she used to run on.

"It's kinda tiring. I'm in the studio every day and always following deadlines and signing autographs." She decided to humor her sister. "I'm surprised my arm hadn't fallen off." She said and grabbed her arm, making her wrist plop around.

"Elsa!" Anna said, suppressing a laugh. "I can't believe the famous Ice Queen can crack a joke." Anna said. Elsa just shrugged and leaned back on the car seat, crossing her legs. "I—I changed quite a bit."

There was somberness in the way she said it and this time, Anna noticed. "I guess we all did."

Elsa was surprised her room was the same like she left it. Her father's vinyl collection and her mother's books were still at the shelf to the right of her bed. She neared it and thumbed the records. An absence of a couple of photo frames had not escaped her but at the same time it made her feel relieved.

Maybe laying on of dad's record would relax me, just a little bit. She fished out a record and walked towards a phonograph, she'd save all her middle school allowance on, and plopped the record unto the loading dock. A soft, melodious tone filled the air and she dragged her suitcase into her closet. She's unpacking this tomorrow, she thought.

Eyeing her now bare ceiling, Anna must've emptied it out, she felt really grateful for the measures Anna took to make her comfortable but she just wished she had left the glow in the dark stars. She's quite fond of it.

Rolling into her sides, she closed her eyes, only wanting to rest them for a while.

But she fell into a dreamless sleep.

"Why are you crying?!" She said in between her laughs. She knew it was rude of her to make fun of someone when they cry but they weren't even watching a sad movie nor were there any harm done to him or to any animals in the cutscene.

"Because…" He half whined, sniffling, and pressed the A button on the controller, only to cry a bit harder because of the next scene. "Look at him! He's so precious!"

Elsa smiled tenderly at the man sat on the floor beside her, as she ran a hand through his tousled hair. She was sat on top of her bed reading a book while he played on her PlayStation when he suddenly sniffed and cried.

Elsa then diverted her attention to the screen and watched as a black haired character stared at the floating lights with child-like wonder in his eyes.

"He's been hurting for so long." He continued, his sniffles never dying out.

Elsa once again smiled and offered a tissue that was situated at her nightstand, placed there by Anna since she's had a cold a week prior.

"Crybaby." She half-teased, half-endeared him as she placed a soft kiss on his forehead before sitting back down, this time caged between his arms as he continued to play the game and she went back to reading her book.

Elsa came down to a good-smelling breakfast, she was sure Anna wasn't the one manning the kitchen then—her sister and cooking does not belong in the same sentence. Yawning while she avoided looking at the stairs' wall, Anna had decorated it with her albums and she's still a little bit embarrassed about it, she made her way into the modern kitchen and came face-to-face with Anna's boyfriend, Kristoff.

"Morning." He greeted and tossed a pancake into the air, flipping it, before catching it with the pan again.

"Good morning." Elsa said and sat at the island counter, propping her chin up with a palm of her hand. Kristoff was one of their closest friends, he was born in Arendelle but was raised in Burgess instead. He came back here at the second year of Elsa's middle school and he and Anna had been fast friends. He slid a mug in front of her and winked.

Elsa rolled her eyes. She didn't even noticed he was brewing her coffee.

"Stop that. I might think your stealing my boyfriend." Anna said, yawning, as she entered the kitchen. Her hair was still a mess and when she sat beside Elsa, her body was already slumped unto the counter. Elsa chuckled.

"I might, you know." Elsa teased. "He just gave me coffee."

Anna bolted upright and was about to barrage the other girl with threats but seeing as it was just Elsa she sighed. Elsa laughed again.

"Morning, sis." She offered and kissed the redhead's cheeks.

Kristoff then placed three plates unto the counter and they started to eat their breakfast. Anna, like the ray of sunshine she is, started talking again. This time though, Elsa wanted to try a little something. So in the middle of Anna recounting the time where she and Kristoff decided to go into a hike and was hit by a snowstorm, Elsa made her move.

"Speaking of going out, I kinda noticed you weren't in the station with us yesterday Kristoff." Elsa bit a blueberry from her fork. Both other persons had visibly stiffened. "Why is that?"

There was silence and Anna was looking at Kristoff, pleading him not to say anything. If Elsa hadn't grown up with her though and had memorized all her tell, she wouldn't have known.

After a moment Kristoff sighed. "I can't hide anything, honey. You know I'm kinda not good with secrets from Elsa."

Anna let out a defeated breath. "I kinda sent him to do a little something for me." She said, eyes averting the blonde woman. "I was with the boys." Kristoff said. Anna stiffened in worry and guilt.

"What?" Elsa asked quietly, already knowing what that something was. Anna hurriedly waved her arms, trying to placate her sister.

"I know, I know, you said that it doesn't bother you anymore but I was just worried about you and maybe—"

Elsa sighed and placed her fork down, the action though made the two of her companions flinch. "Anna, I'm not mad. Besides, how long has it been? Four? Five years?" She pretended, as if she doesn't know the exact number of days since she decided to pursue a career in music—and left everything behind. "And we both decided to end it. So don't worry about a thing." She smiled and pinched the younger girl's cheeks.

"But your songs—"

"Are just that, songs." Elsa sighed and stood up, bringing her plate unto the sink. "I get inspiration from everything around me. The books I've read, movies I've seen, people I met in real life. It doesn't mean it's all about me and my feelings all the time. No need to worry, really." She smiled once again before announcing that she needed a bath. She had planned to roam around the town and visit the places she had missed.

"Remind me not to be in a tense situation with Elsa again." Kristoff said, feeling the breath return to his body. "I know. I thought she was going to stab me with the fork!" Anna said, exasperated.

"I can still hear you, y'know." Elsa half-yelled, half-teased, which made both parties to hurriedly wolf down their breakfast.

Elsa pushed her sunglasses upwards. She was really conscious someone might recognize her. She hoped if they do, she'd be at least left alone.

Anna walked in front of her in a dark green, long sleeved, blouse with cutouts on the shoulder and light pink, knee length skirt. She on the other hand, opted for the comfort of jeans and oversized sweater, a real pick me looking attire next to her sister's but comfortable nonetheless. She's worn her fair share of skirts that the sight of them made her kinda abhor the fabric.

"Ooh! Elsa remember this?" Anna said running towards the front of some shop. "This used to be that café we frequented, now it's turned to a music store!" Anna ran back to Elsa and whispered, "This is where we buy all your stuff."

Elsa turned red in the face. Anna was already dragging the poor woman into the store with her since she hadn't yet brought the new EP her older sister released. Elsa was reluctant but was appeasing her little sister.

If this is a record store, someone might recognize me. She pulled the sleeve of her sweater closer to her fingertips.

And someone did.

When Anna was about to open the door, never really looking where she was going since she was busy tugging her older sister, the door opened on its own.

"I'm sorry." A soft voice sounded and Elsa eyed the stranger that exited the store. She had beautiful golden blonde hair that was cut to her shoulders and the greenest eyes she has ever seen.

"Rapunzel!" Anna exclaimed, shock and fear evident in her voice. Now, what in this cinnamon roll had Anna all scared of her? Elsa thought.

"Anna, hi." Rapunzel, the blonde girl, said waving at Anna.

"You're named after a fairytale character?" Elsa questioned. Rapunzel just laughed, lightheartedly. "Well, my parents really loved that story. The not dark one." She smiled. Elsa found herself smiling back. "But you can call me Punzie."

Anna was still frantically looking around.

"Wait." Rapunzel said. "You're Elsa! Elsa Windbloom!"

At that, Elsa and Anna both told her to shush.

"Oh, sorry." Rapunzel covered her mouth and looked at them sheepishly. "I'm a huge fan."

"Hi." Elsa waved shyly. "I'd rather just be Anna's sister for the time being."

Rapunzel face showed signs of shock and Anna, well, Anna looked like she was ready to vomit anytime. "Nobody told me you were Anna's sister!"

"Considering we had the same surnames and she made a song titled Anna, I'm shocked you hadn't figured it out." Anna grumbled. Elsa wasn't sure what had gotten to her little sister to make her act anything but polite to the lady.

"Yeah, that was my bad." Rapunzel scratched the back of her neck in embarrassment. She was about to say something else but was hesitating about it.

"If you want me to sign something, I can. Although I don't have a marker with me." Elsa smiled. She was used to this, though her smile now was genuine. Sometimes, she just gets too tired to please everyone else that she plasters on a fake smile when faced with people—not that she hated her fans, she just wants a little her time.

"Really! I have a marker right here!" Rapunzel said and produced a marker from her sling back. She also took out the new EP Elsa released from the store's bag.

"Why'd you have a marker anyways, you expecting to run into celebrities or something?" Anna asked. Rapunzel smiled shyly. "Well, when I want to pass the time, I doodle."

"Here." Elsa gave back the marker and the EP. Anna was still looking around the vicinity.

"Thanks!"

Elsa was about to ask her sister why she was on edge the whole time they were talking with the blonde girl when the door to the record store opened once again. Anna stiffened visibly.

"Blondie. I told you to wait for me at the register." A man with silver hair said, ruffling his already messy hair. "You were taking too long and I wanted to listen to the EP already." Rapunzel turned and pouted at the man.

Anna tugged at Elsa's hand but the blonde was rooted into place. Her face neutral and business-like. The redhead bit her lip, worried for her sister.

"I was just looking for—"

The man had seen the sisters and stopped in his tracks. The hand that was ruffling his hair dropped beside him. "Anna!" He said and jogged towards them.

"Hey." Anna said weakly. He ruffled the younger woman's hair which earned him a whine.

"I just fixed my hair."

He chuckled and looked at the older sister. "Long time no see Elsa."

He still recognizes you.

"Hi, Jack." Surprisingly, Elsa's voice didn't waver nor did it show the turbulence of emotions running inside her mind.

The man smiled and replied a single hi.

"Elsa, let's go." Anna said, this time tugging a bit harder making Elsa move. "I still need to buy your EP!" Elsa acquiesced and followed her little sister, excusing herself from the two other persons.

Before the shop's doors closed on them though, she heard Rapunzel say, "I didn't know you knew each other!"

Then the door completely closed and she never got to hear the man's reply.

"Guess what?" She happily said as they walked home together, their arms swinging in between them—hand intertwined.

"What?" He said chuckling. It was rare to see her so excited.

"A producer emailed me. Said something about seeing the festival performance." She said, swinging their arms between them a little bit more.

"Well?" He urged. "He said he'll want to sign me but I need to send a demo first so the others would want to agree."

They stopped at the small bridge that connects the two sides of town. "I mean I'm not expecting or anything, but I'm happy. He went out of his way to get my contact information and emailed me. That's a step forward isn't it?"

The wind gently blew around them, making her hair dance. Strands had escaped from her French braid and it framed her face perfectly.

"Well, I just know that someone'll sign you. And if no one does? Then I will."

She laughed at that and her laugh sounded like the reason he gets up every morning. "Well, I might just take you up on that offer."

Between the two of them, she was always regarded as the strong one. The one who can take everything life throws at her. The personification of perfection and he, the crybaby. But at that moment, he felt like she can depend on him.

She always can.

"I don't know what I'd do without you." He suddenly said. Overwhelmed by every emotion he felt towards her. She just laughed and bumped him with her shoulders. His face reddened.

"You're so cheesy." She said before placing a kiss to his cheek. "Now c'mon, let's go home. I don't want Anna finishing off the chocolates all by herself." Tugging at their connected hands, they walked towards the direction of their homes.

Yes, he would never imagine a life without her. Like the sun, he would always count on her to chase away the darkness. She will always be—

Kristoff almost jumped at the loud bang that followed the opening of the front door. He had already moved in a couple of years later and got Elsa's permission which was as rare as a blue pig. Hiccup and Astrid jumped up from the couch, they were playing Smash Bros., ready to welcome their bestfriend back.

But Anna entered the living room alone with no sign of Elsa and she looked so pissed and worried at the same time. Kristoff, being the good boyfriend that he was, hurriedly stood up and prepared an iced chocolate milk and some chips from the cupboard to somehow appease the angry spirit.

Plopping down the sofa, where Kristoff sat, Anna hurriedly grabbed the controller and proceeded to pummel Hiccup's character.

"Anna where's Elsa?" Astrid asked.

The blonde's voice seemed to snap the redhead out of her state. "Astrid! Hiccup! What're you doing here?"

Kristoff then placed the drink and snacks on the coffee table and kissed Anna on the cheek. "Thanks, honey."

"Well, we wanted to see the bigshot! Where is she?" Hiccup joked. At the mention of her sister, Anna's mood fell.

"We met with Merida and she swept her away."

"What?! No fair!" At that, Astrid hurriedly sprang up again and took out her phone, dialing their fiery friend. When the call was picked up, she hurriedly asked where they are and sprinted towards the front door. They didn't even notice the girl grabbing Hiccup's keys before the car's ignition started.

"Honey, you look down. What happened?" Kristoff asked.

Anna was about to answer but stopped herself. "Actually, Kristoff, can I talk to Hiccup alone?"

Kristoff sensing that Anna needed this, nodded and kissed her again, this time on the lips. "Anything you need." He said and stalked off towards their shared room upstairs.

Hiccup waited for the redhead to start the conversation. He had surmised what she wanted to ask. Anna was only this emotional when it comes to her sister and other things important to her.

"We saw Rapunzel today." Anna started. Hiccup winced. They had kept that a secret from Elsa after all.

"She didn't know." Hiccup said which made Anna nod. "I was about to tell her when that happened but I was just afraid it'd hurt her." Anna sighed. "Jack was there too."

Of course, Hiccup thought.

"She's Elsa. She's going to figure it out on her own." Hiccup once again nodded.

"Hiccup…" Anna suddenly said, facing the brunette on the sofa. "You're bestfriends with both of them. Surely you've had something about—"

Hiccup averted his gaze away from Anna's expectant ones. In his silence, Anna continued. "They were perfect together and then suddenly, they just—" Anna paused, looking for the right words. "—stopped being together."

"Elsa suddenly accepting a record deal and Jack changing. I was—I didn't know what was happening. Elsa said the decision was made by both of them but her reaction, seeing Jack again—it was too much!" Anna threw her hands up in exasperation. "I made everything so that Elsa can have her vacation without a hitch. She's been overworking in the past couple of years."

"I know." Hiccup said, "Barely had time to talk to us on the phone."

"So what happened?"

"I—All I can say is that both did agree on the break-up." Hiccup sighed.

"That's all?" Anna asked. Hiccup nodded. "I never really got into the details but they said they decided on it together and that they could stay as friends."

Hiccup almost looked bitter. "But they didn't. They avoided each other like plague."

It must've been so hard for him. If it was hard for everybody, a dozen times more for Hiccup. Anna thought.

"Then suddenly, Elsa announced she was going away and Jack, well, he wished her good luck before going back to not speaking with her again."

"But, I think," Hiccup paused, unsure of how to say what was in his mind all these years. "I think, Elsa was the one who suggested the break up."

Anna was waiting on Elsa's bed when she came in. It was almost midnight and Merida, Astrid, and Elsa had decided to hit up the local bar. Luckily, Elsa wasn't really drunk but there was a slight blush on her cheeks, signifying she was, at least, a little tipsy.

In all of Anna's life, she hadn't really seen Elsa drunk. Not that she's seen Elsa drink.

"Anna! You waited for me?" Elsa said and sat down beside her sister, making the dip in the bed even out. "Astrid and Merida was a blast to be with! Although they always mentioned "my songs", they're still the same as ever." Elsa air-quoted the my songs part and she plopped unto her bed, both her legs dangling from the side.

"Elsa?" Anna started.

"Hmm?"

"What happened between you and Jack?" Anna asked. Elsa never told anyone what happened, even Hiccup, who was the closest to the two was kept in the dark.

"That girl from earlier, was she—" The sentence died at the blonde's lips. Anna could only guess what she was asking. It was hard for them, when Jack and Elsa broke up. Both of them was close with everyone and everyone was afraid to, and will not, pick a side. Elsa and Jack continuously told them that they stayed as friends but acted like they were strangers.

"Yes. It's been at least a year, I think." Anna said, looking at her sister out of the corner of her eyes. Elsa, however, was staring at the ceiling.

"I figured. I know that look." She sighed, before continuing. "Five years, three months, and seventeen days."

"What?" Anna asked, bewildered.

Elsa looked at her wristwatch and continued. "Make that eighteen days."

"Elsa what—"

"Since the day we broke up."

Anna could only stare. Elsa patted the space beside her and Anna complied, plopping down, careful not to let any strands of her sister's hair under her weight. Anna looked at Elsa, urging her to continue. The older woman's eyes were far away—recalling a memory.

"We were happy, too happy, and it scared me senseless. I've always believed in equivalent exchange so I thought this happiness must be equal to severe pain later on."

"Don't get me wrong, I've never doubted our relationship. I love him, he loves me. But I doubted the happiness I felt—big time." Elsa sighed and raised a hand up, looking at her sprawled fingers as if reaching for something. She doesn't really know the reason behind her action.

"That day, we meet at the library—we had a paper due the next week—when I heard Jack talking to Hiccup. He said he was gonna propose on graduation day."

Anna gasped, earning a chuckle from Elsa. "Of course, Hiccup, ever so rational, told Jack to think it over, that it was too soon. But you know Jack, once he has his mind set on something, even a hurricane can't stop it."

"He is quite stubborn." Anna supplied still reeling from the information.

"Indeed, I was ecstatic about it. I mean, he's going to propose! But the rational part of me told me Hiccup's right. That it's too early. We were just seventeen."

"That doesn't mean marriage would soon follow. Some people get engaged for years." Anna softly told her sister.

"I know, but the word haunted me. Made me paranoid. For weeks I tried to get it off my brain. Tried to rationalize why Jack had said that. Made sure not to let my paranoia affect how I act around him. Until, I couldn't take it anymore."

"I told him I heard his and Hiccup's conversation that one time. He was embarrassed but he said he'd still do it. Says he don't know what he'd do without me." Elsa sighed, letting her hand fall to her side. "And then I realized, we've never really known life without each other. We practically grown up together, we're bestfriends, and dated at the start of high school. The perfect love story!" Elsa raised both her arms in exclaim and then let it fall back again.

"I was scared."

"He was too dependent on you." Anna agreed. Everyone could see Jack was always with Elsa everywhere.

Elsa smiled sadly and shook her head. "It seems like everyone had it the other way around, even Jack thought so."

Anna, once again, was taken aback by what Elsa said.

"Everyone always thought I was the strong one. That without me, Jack would've probably just cry all day. That Jack was dependent on me. But I was dependent on him."

"I can't cry in front of others, nor breakdown, because I am our father's daughter. I have big shoes to fill. But with Jack, I can be anything. I can cry, can laugh without hindrances, can be Elsa. Without him, I'm just a scared little girl who pretends she's so tough even though she wanted to run to the bathroom and cry."

"Elsa—"

"And I was really scared with that realization, Anna. I cannot be dependent on Jack. I cannot place that burden unto him. I don't want to control his life, in the future, just because I'm afraid to lose the piece of solid rock I had on my sanity."

"I don't deserve him, not like that." Elsa then looked at Anna, unshed tears glistening on her eyes. "So I vowed to myself I need to be independent first, need to stand up for myself, before I could even start to deserve someone like him."

"Then why—"

"Apparently, seventeen year old me was not good with words." Elsa chuckled sadly. "I said I would never marry him and it grew into a big misunderstanding. I explained it was because I wanted to be independent and it was like a nail on the coffin, Jack thought I was seeing him like he was a burden."

"The misunderstanding grew and grew until we both couldn't take it anymore. We decided to break up."

"It wasn't messy, we both accepted the fact that we were too dependent on each other and that we have to be our separate selves first."

"Suddenly, we just," Elsa then raised her hand and mimicked an explosion, "drifted away."

"I never realized how much of my life I spent with him. I was a walking doll. Until I found my only escape."

Anna grabbed her sister's hand and laid it down between them. "Your music."

Elsa nodded. "I had told you earlier that a producer sent me an email, I sent a demo and they agreed to sign me."

"I was being a coward. I was running away."

This time, the dam that's been holding Elsa broke, and tears poured from her eyes.

"I had thought I was doing fine. That me counting the days since we broke up was a sign of me moving on. But no, it was of me coping up with the greatest loss of my life. I had lost my other half."

"I had contemplated on coming back, you know. Of running back to Arendelle. But I've always pushed myself into my work that I lost myself in it. That if I had ran back, it would defeat the purpose of me trying to better myself for him." Elsa said in between sobs, Elsa was right, Anna had never seen her cry, not like this.

"Then when I finally felt that I deserved him, he had found another." Sobs racked her body that she turned on her side, Anna hurriedly shuffled to reach out and hug her sister. "It's my fault, I never communicated my feelings with him properly."

Anna just let the revelation sink in. The pain and suffering Elsa must've underwent all those years and the pain of seeing the only light in her life get snuffed out in front of her eyes.

"I—I always resented you a little bit." Anna began, chuckling. "When mom and dad died, I never saw you shed a tear at the funeral. When Olaf died, you didn't even see him off. I was the only one by the vet's side when he slid the syringe in. And then you and Jack broke up and the atmosphere on our friend group was tense. I always thought you were selfish for dropping that bomb on us when we always thought you'd be together." Elsa's sobbed harder. "Now I know you're not really as cold as I thought you were. I just didn't see you cry. We all did not. Elsa—" Anna said softly, clasping both her sister's cheek in between her palms and squeezing softly. "—it's time to stop pretending to be strong."

With Anna's gentle tone, and her words, Elsa cried harder. She didn't care if she looked abhorrent. Didn't care if snot was running down her nose and entering her open mouth. All she knew was that the acting was over.

"I'm always going to be here Elsa." Anna hugged her sister again, this time both of them crying.

"It's not bad to depend on others when you know you can't handle it all to yourself. I'm glad you opened up to me."

The two women laid there crying their eyes out. Sobbing until their sobs turned into hiccups.

"She's a good girl you know." Elsa said.

"I know," Anna replied, pink dusting her cheeks and nose red, "I just feel like she'd stolen Jack away."

The silence was not uncomfortable nor comfortable either. Only their occasional sniffing were a constant reminder that they had not gone deaf.

After a while, Elsa talked to Anna—spilling to her everything she had kept bottled up inside.

When their eyes finally closed, the first rays of the sun was peeking on the horizon.

When the two sisters awoke, they laughed at how each of their faces have puffed up from all the crying they had done, it was already late in the afternoon. Washing their faces and trying to make sense of their unruly hairs, they then walked downstairs, expecting to be face with emptiness.

Instead, they were greeted with streamers of every color, balloons and varying dishes. What surprised them was that everyone came, everyone except Jack, that is, Anna noted. Everyone tried to urge the sisters to join them but Elsa refused, knowing pictures will be taken and that she had to freshen up. So they had to wait for another hour before Anna and Elsa was to join the party.

Anna then walked towards Kristoff. "Did you—?"

"I know something happened between you and Elsa last night, you two are practically glowing. And I know it involved a lot of crying so, I texted everybody that we should hold a welcome back party for Elsa."

"You're the best!" Anna said suddenly hugging the burly man. "But, everybody?"

"Well, not really. I didn't text Jack." Kristoff winced. Anna just smiled up at her boyfriend and looked at Elsa who was near enough to hear their conversation. Fear flashed in Elsa's eyes before being replaced with determination and she nodded.

Anna kissed Kristoff's cheek, unknowing of the agreement both sister shared. "I guess we have room for two more."

It was already dusk when the door to the Windbloom house opened. Everyone had not expected there to be an additional guest at their impromptu party, except Kristoff and the two sisters, so it was natural that all present there gave each other a wary glance. When a certain white-haired man and his companion turned and stepped into the large living, everyone was practically going bonkers.

"I can't believe I'm in Elsa Windbloom's house!" The blonde woman whispered and practically jumped up and down—reminding Elsa about her own ball of excitement that was clutching her hands so hard right now.

The whisper wasn't even that loud but with the silence of the space around them, it was as loud as someone shouting it over a megaphone. The blonde turned red and covered her face and Elsa chuckled.

That seemed to dispel the tension in the air and Jack had that soft smile on his lips as if to say that that's his Elsa right there, someone who can bring comfort in everything—or that was what Anna was imagining Jack's smile had meant.

"Hey. Come in we don't bite." Elsa said smiling and ushered the two new comer but it hadn't escape Anna the way her hand tightened around hers and the slight waver of her voice.

It wasn't long before Jack and Rapunzel had eased into the party and everyone had exchanged stories. Although, the girls were quiet reluctant with the pair at first, at least they weren't giving anyone the side eye.

And it wasn't long after that when Elsa excused herself and disappeared somewhere. When asked by their friends, Anna would answer she was on a call with her label or some business related matter so they wouldn't dare look for the woman. Anna knows better and casually glanced towards the doors towards the garden, which Elsa frequented when in one of her melancholic moods.

Everyone was having fun, playing video games, eating the food, being boisterous and loud. Just like how Anna remembered when they were kids. She smiled and sipped on her red cup.

"You really outdone yourself today, honey."

"Does that mean I get to sleep in the bed now and not in the couch?" Kristoff teased. Anna laughed and nudged him in the side. "A thousand points more and maybe I might offer you a pillow."

"Harsh." Kristoff commented and laughed alongside his girlfriend.

Anna had done a wonderful place with the garden, Elsa thought as she continued down the hedge maze that was now as tall as her. When she was a kid, it felt like it was a thousand meters higher up and always panicked when she thought she missed a turn even if she had memorized the way by heart.

Fairy lights snaked overhead in straight lines held by poles placed after ten meters or so. The hedges were also trimmed neatly on each side that she can't help but run her hands on the leaves. She took wrong turns here and there, courtesy of her getting lost in the feeling of nostalgia as she tried to make her way into the center of the maze.

Where she remembered a wide open area with a single fountain and two kids chasing each other around the perimeter, never caring about tomorrow, just that—at present—they had each other.

It was almost an hour of Elsa navigating the nooks and crannies of the hedge maze, that she reached the center. The sun had already sunk so low in the horizon and the sky was dark, with stars dotting it in white. The fairy lights now glowed harshly in contrast with her surroundings and someone with a strikingly white hair was on the ground with his hands behind his head.

Jack must've entered the maze a couple minutes after Elsa and had found his way into the center with the many paths towards it, beating the exploring Elsa into reaching the center first.

Feeling conscious of her oversized shirt, that hang off one shoulder, she froze in her step and decided to turn back still not ready for seeing the man alone.

Although it seems that fate had other plans as the quietness and lull of the night, made her step noticeable.

Jack hurriedly sat up and looked at the direction of where the sound came from. Electric meets ice as they stood there frozen before Elsa decided to break the silence with a clear of her throat. That seemed to snap the other party into his thoughts as he hurriedly smiled and waved at the woman. Elsa steeled her resolve and walked towards the man, not because she wanted to—oh no, she wanted to run away so much—but because it was what she came here after all, to see the night sky in her favorite spot.

"Hey."

"Hi."

Elsa casually sat, glad she was wearing jeans, and plopped into the grass. Not caring about her companion, or at least that's what she wants to appear. In reality, she was ready to bolt and her lunch was halfway to her throat.

Crossing her feet at the ankles and entwining her finger on top of her stomach, she tried to think of any song or else she would lose control of her own mind. When no movement was made by her unexpected companion, she cast a glance at him and had the urge to run away, laugh, and blush at the same time.

He was still stood there and looked at her like she was not real.

"It's been a while." She whispered. She can now feel the tears starting to well up inside her but years of practicing had made her keep it in. "Yes, it has." He replied and plopped down, only an arm's length away. Her fingers itched for contact.

Pregnant silence filled the air as the two continued to stare into the sky—reminiscent of their childhood where they spent countless hours in the same field just being with each other. To Elsa the chasm in between them had grown over the years but a single thread had always connected them, or so she wanted to believe.

The sounds of the party indoors can be heard where they were at, it seems as though they were playing some of her songs which caused herself to blush and the man beside her to chuckle.

"I missed you."

The silence was broken with those tree words and suddenly Elsa was transported into their fight. When he misunderstood what she was saying and she couldn't word her feelings better. Elsa chose not to say anything, still not good with her emotions even after all these years and one crying session with Anna. How badly she wanted a piano right there.

"I always thought we were going to be each other's end game." He continued, never once fazed by the fact that she was still silent akin to a porcelain doll placed beside him. He also never casted a glance towards her, keeping his eyes heavenward.

"In those years I found myself trying to be better, but I can't. I turned away from our friends, turned jokes as a coping mechanism, refused to listen to your songs as if they were the plague itself. I was a mess, but I always thought I would be fine and you would come back."

He sighed and adjusted his position and continued. She was scared to let out a breath to loud or move or anything that would break his train of thought, partly because he might clam up and treat this as if nothing happened, never speaking to her again and partly because deep inside, she had been busy with herself that she doesn't know the things he's went through the years they weren't together.

"I was letting myself go."

A soft sigh, a shuffle and then it was silent again.

"Until I met her."

Elsa berated herself for visibly flinching. The silence was back again, and neither of them was too eager to break it. It was awkward, very much so that when they heard a loud bang coming from the house, they took no time into standing up and heading towards the party inside, both of them facing a different path towards it—Jack's the fastest one towards the entrance and hers the most long-winded one, in an effort to not meet somewhere in the middle.

"It's cloudy, isn't it?"

Elsa glanced up once again but not noticing a single cloud in the vastness above. It was a clear night, with the ambience of the fairy lights that circled the perimeter of the circular space at the center of the hedge maze, and the stars glittered without a care in the world. Elsa decided not to speak, afraid that if she did, her emotions would get to the best of her and make her beg for him. For him to love her again. For him to choose her again. For him to pick her as a favorite again. But that would undo all those years of herself trying to be independent, to be better deserving of someone like him.

So much for that, she bitterly thought but the feeling was replaced by fondness as she basked in the silence that the two of them had found themselves in as they faced different directions.

When she didn't reply, he started his step forward. After a while, she started hers.

It seems that the crybaby had changed, she thought and smiled bitterly, looking heavenward for any reprieve. Forgetting is hard.

When Elsa had come back, Jack and Rapunzel weren't on sight. She doesn't know if it was for the best or for the worst but all she knows is that she has to be drunk—blackout drunk. So she strides towards the drinks and chugged a bottle of beer. The crash was Hiccup and Astrid almost breaking the glass coffee table when they tumbled in their steps while playing Just Dance.

Their talk wasn't that fulfilling. Like some closures are on the books she's read. It wasn't freeing, instead, it was oppressive. Her thoughts still a jumbled mess and so was her emotions. And what had he meant when he said it was cloudy?

Thousands of question raced around her mind but it wasn't soon after when the alcohol had took hold of her brain.

In the morning, she found herself with a massive headache and a couple of missed calls from a number she knew by heart.

It wasn't until she was back inside the recording studio, a few months later, that she figured out what he had meant that fateful night they had their so-called closure.

One of her songs was playing on the background and a lyric caught her ears.

"Those carefree memories poked and poked at the balloon that is my heart. Cloudy with a strong chance of tears."

That's when her knees gave out from under her and she started crying.

It was a couple of months and a year after that she came home to her unit in the city, after a long tour, when she noticed the unmistakably fancy envelope in a pile of dozens of fan letters. She picked it up and felt her heart stop.

A sign that she should really stop loving him.

Two names written under two gold rings, and her name neatly scribbled above a line. A small stick-it page with neat handwriting that said:

I know you're busy and I know we aren't close but Jack would want you here.

It was a few days before the big day that Elsa sent her regards through an arrangement of periwinkles and daisies, contrasted by darker colored geraniums, and accompanied by a letter that says she's sorry she cannot attend because she is "surprisingly" busy.

Rapunzel tried her hardest to hide the tears that escaped her eyes when she saw the flowers.

It was years after that when Anna decided to visit Elsa since she had not returned their calls yet only to find her unit empty of her belongings. A handwritten letter propped on her bedroom's pillow saying how she need a time on her own. The letter was at least a few months old and Anna silently accepted the older woman's decision.

She placed a hand on her cold pillow, the ring on her finger glinting in the darkness, wishing the older Windbloom safe travels.

Author's Notes: Okay, I know the ending sucks. We live for a happy ending in stories, we gobble that shit up. But I wanted to write something realistic. You're first/ultimate love won't always be your endgame. I just wanted that prompt with Jack and Elsa. There are some questions left unanswered and the ending feels rushed, I know, it's because I'm lazy. But I planned (this just means I don't know it I would actually write one) a sequel to this or an accompanying fic, with Jack's side of the story.

I'd really like to write kinda angsty fics for a while. And I still haven't finished chances yet. The story for the fifth word still escapes me. I really need to organize my thoughts lol.

Anyways, peace out stay safe and sanitize! Love y'all!

Word Count: 7716