Epilogue

A/N: Well...it's time. The final chapter. The final words. The final fic I'll ever upload to this website. For more than six years, I've poured out idea after idea, sentence after sentence, story after story into this website and I...I could have stopped a long time ago. And I didn't. It was the love and support I kept on receiving from loyal readers who would show up with every update and who pestered me with PM's when I went on long breaks not knowing if I'd return to a story.

I gave everything I could into this fic, I drew from the rawest of emotions and the most vivid experiences because I didn't want to be ever be accused of being impersonal with my work, I always want each chapter to resonate with someone. I want people to find solace in these words and know they're not alone in their struggles. And maybe that's a lot of importance I'm putting on fucking fanfiction but I don't care. I love this. I love what I do. I don't get paid for this, but it might be the most worthwhile thing I'm doing with my life right now and I'm honestly okay with that.

From the bottom of my heart, once again, thank you to all my FFnet readers. You were here first and I'll never forget your support and your kind words. I leave you with this one last chapter, hopefully it's better than anything I've ever written. I'd hate not to leave on a high note.

Be kind to yourself and catch me on AO3 if you want to see what I do next. And don't forget to drink water.

- Djupcake

Two Months Later

Anna knows that an acceptance email from Copper Springs Community College is more of a formality (they're almost required to take in all their applicants), but that doesn't stop her from breathing a sigh of relief when she reads the words, "Congratulations on being accepted." She excitedly forwards the email to Pastor Tom with her own comment saying, "I did it!"

Hey, itt feels good to be wanted. Plus, after her last conversation with her admissions counselor about her scholarships, it's looking like she's also right about tuition not bankrupting her as much as she already is.

A few minutes later, while editing her English presentation for tomorrow, she jumps a little from her phone vibrating. With a little hesitation, she picks it up to see what the notification is, and is more than relieved to see the message on her screen.

Pastor Tom: I knew you could do it! Proud of you :)

She's a little embarrassed by how good she feels after reading that.

Though the embarrassment fades, along with her initial excitement, when she looks at the time on her phone. "Shoot," she exclaims while closing her laptop. She's been so preoccupied with keeping her A in English that she nearly lost track of time. Which is the last thing she wants to do on the first Sunday that Elsa's finally free.

She almost trips over herself while putting on her pants and shoes. Quickly, she looks herself over in the mirror to make sure her hair isn't too messy and there's nothing on her face, thankful that she already brushed her teeth and took a shower earlier. Before leaving, she tapes thirty dollars in gas money to Rapunzel's door and grabs the keys to her best friend's car. Now that she has a job, it's time to pay her and her family back for everything. Despite their insistence that she doesn't have to.

She safely but hurriedly reverses the car out of the driveway, and in no time at all she's on the road again. It's been a while since she's driven outside of Copper Springs alone, and she keeps catching herself looking over to the empty passenger seat to say something. Thankfully, though she may be alone on this drive, she isn't lonely.

She listens with a dorky smile on her face to the playlist Elsa sent her. The one re-titled Songs Anna will definitely like. With every update, every song that Elsa adds, that title remains true. Anna's always surprised when every new song resonates with her. Although, it's admittedly not that hard to impress Anna when her music knowledge consists of ninety percent worship music.

Anything is a fresh change of pace, but Elsa's suggestions are always more than spot-on. She's especially taken a liking to all the songs by girl in red.

Aside from the music, her dorky smile is also due to the great anticipation of finally getting to talk to Elsa, finally getting to see Elsa, finally getting to hold Elsa. They text every day and send each other silly pictures of themselves, but nothing ever beats being able to see each other in-person.

And finally after eight weeks, she gets to be with her love.

They agreed not to put a label on their relationship for now, maybe even never. Mentally, they didn't want to keep deciding whether they were sisters or girlfriends. And combining the relations to make the term "sister-girlfriend" is definitely not happening because, according to Elsa, it's too "Sweet Home Alabama" to be taken seriously.

Love is the word they naturally decided on for describing what they were to each other. It's adorable, still has a bit of neutral tone to it, and it encapsulates their relationship perfectly. They're the one that the other one loves more than anything. They're the one who they find easiest to show love towards. And they're one each other thinks about when they even think of the word "love". It's cheesy, imperfect, and they'll certainly think of a better expression in time, but right now it works.

Just like them.

It's why Elsa started calling Anna "her love" in the first place. Which, when Anna learned that, made her love Elsa even more.

This magical February morning brings with it a late winter chill that won't freeze Anna's fingertips but still has her turning on the heater. Valentine's Day was a few days ago, and the only reason she's not too upset that they didn't get to spend it together is because Elsa surprised her with the fact that they could celebrate it today.

She hopes that the red sweater she's wearing doesn't make it too obvious that she's still feeling that holiday spirit, and also wonders if she should have bought the stuffed otter holding a heart that she saw at the store the other day.

Even now, she's still nervous when it comes to being in a relationship. A real, good relationship that she wants. But then, that's the reason they're taking things slow, right?

Besides, they can't exactly go any faster given all the time they spend apart.

Despite doing the whole school thing longer than her younger sister, Elsa found it difficult to get back into the rhythm of going to classes and doing homework. The semester she spent in Ghana messed with her mental clock, and it's been a tough re-adjustment period. And Anna's constantly flipping between easily staying productive and letting Senioritis dictate her last four months of high school. So, whether they like it or not, their busy schedules are keeping them from dwelling on how much they miss each other.

Which is a lot.

Now on the long country road, with the sun barely hurdling above the treeline, Anna knows that it's a straight shot from here to Oaken's. She does the mental math and realizes the last time she was driving alone to Oaken's was nearly ten months ago.

Which is a day that will always stick with her since that's when she asked Elsa if she'd ever been in love.

It's crazy how it hasn't even been a full year yet. Ten months ago, that innocent day in April, she unknowingly took herself down the path that she's traveling right now. And then, Elsa went to Ghana and left her sister to stir in denial and despair over her newfound feelings- which isn't really Elsa's fault, but still how dare she do that? October and November brought more denial and...Hans. Gosh, what a nightmare that was. But that would pale in comparison to what would happen a short month later. Lopez Peak, Natura, the breakup, the barbecue...the confession.

Her mother and father still haven't made contact with either of them, but that doesn't stop Anna from jumping a little whenever her phone goes off. Much like it goes off right now.

Without thinking, she picks it up and looks at the message.

Rapunzel: Grr, I told you not to pay me gas money! :(

She makes a mental note to reply to Rapunzel later, telling her to deal with it.

Then came December, which Anna's still reeling from. It's hard to believe she ever found the courage and stupidity to kiss Elsa, but it's harder to believe that Elsa kissed her back. To this day, she still wonders if this might all just be a long, elaborate dream and wonders what will finally wake her up.

But when she thinks of Elsa's warmth, her eternally assuring voice, her lips...they're far too real for this to be a dream.

Finally, the treeline comes to an end and civilization comes back into view. The small town where Oaken's Hearth and Home is has never felt so inviting. She excitedly flicks on her turn signal and eases into the exit. One glance at the clock tells her that she's going to be a couple minutes late. Hopefully, that's not enough time for Elsa to craft a cruel and unusual punishment for not being on time.

Anna figures that she'll barge in, say a hurried hello to Oaken, and give her sister a big, tight "I'm sorry"/"I missed you" hug, but that plan goes out the window when she sees Elsa in the parking lot leaning against her car.

She's wearing jeans and the pink flannel she borrowed from Anna. There's a coffee cup in her hand and a smile on her lips. Anna almost backs into a minivan when Elsa winks at her as she's trying to park.

Safely in her parking spot, Anna quickly tugs off her seatbelt and takes the key out of the ignition.

Elsa places her coffee on the trunk of her car and walks over to Anna. "You know the rule about being late," she says with a smug grin.

Anna paces over, meeting her halfway. "Shut up and kiss me," she says before placing her hands on Elsa's cheek and fulfilling her own demand.

Elsa's initial gasp is covered up by a chuckle that sends vibrations between them. She doesn't take too long to reciprocate as her hands find their way to the sliver of skin along Anna's waist from her sweater riding up. Her lips are just as soft and gentle as always, and wow...there really is no place like home.

The only reason Anna pulls away is because she can't wait any longer to hold Elsa. Her hands find their way around her older sister's waist and she hugs her like she's trying to keep this dream from ever ending. Again, Elsa reciprocates almost immediately, and Anna can't decide whether it's better to hold Elsa or to be held by her. Right now she gets both, and she counts herself the luckiest girl in the world.

"I'm sorry for telling you to shut up," Anna mutters into her neck.

"It's okay. The kiss made up for it," Elsa replies.

Anna holds her sister tighter, though ironically her next words are, "Can we go inside now? My feet are getting cold."

Elsa turns to kiss the side of her sister's head and says, "Of course, my love."

When they walk inside, they're greeted by the warm walls of the diner and an even warmer welcome by Oaken himself. He ushers them to their booths and says that Elsa already placed their orders in so they'll be out soon. They've never told Oaken they're related, and he's never asked. All he has to know is that they're happy every time they come in, and that he's happy to see them. This time however, he jokes about them missing the Valentine's Day special and Anna boldly states that they'll be sure not to miss it next year.

When Oaken leaves to get their drinks, she can tell that Elsa wants to ask where that courage came from. But the rules dictate that she can't, not until they've both finished eating.

And for Anna, she's fine with it this time around. Now that they're inside the diner, time isn't a factor anymore; worries don't matter, nothing matters right now but them.

Sure they still have a lot of things to work through like finding an apartment, figuring out Anna's transportation situation, and considering Pastor Tom's offer for Elsa to become Hillside's official LGBTQ+ pastor. Their parents could try to come back into their lives at any moment, and they'll need a plan if/when that happens. And there's more they need to consider with their relationship like what they're allowed to do in public, who they should tell (if they even want to tell anyone), and what it's going to take to build a life together. It's heavy, scary, and a little overwhelming.

But right now what they have is enough, and what they don't have will take care of itself in due time. Anna reaches over and holds Elsa's hand, smiling because with her sister here...

...she's okay with leaving everything else unspoken.