A/N: Yeah, so sorry about lying earlier! I know in like Chapter 3, I mentioned that Vernon and the twins will NOT be in the story, but then I thought, sure they can't get a hold of burglars on the run, but they CAN get a hold of their married older brother to tell him the news. So of course, he HAD to come back. It really is hard trying to do every brother justice and give them each a role in Hans' journey. Hope you enjoy the next installment!

The next morning, Hans awoke with a splitting headache. He had spent all of his energy on the beach last night, then drug his feet the whole way home. By the time he had reached his bed, all he could do was collapse. He pried open his eyes, struggling to adjust to the sunlight. When his room came into focus, he realized it was nearly lunchtime.

Again, as he dressed, his heart soared upon seeing another foreign ship in port. It still couldn't be Queen Elsa, not this soon. He went downstairs to greet their latest guest.

"My love, it's so good to see you!" Hagen exclaimed, scooping up the woman at the door and spinning her. She let out a gleeful laugh.

"I very well couldn't miss my own wedding," she teased.

"Fiona, it's been a while," Hans called to her as Hagen set her down.

She straightened her long, dark hair, then noticed her fiancé's younger brother. "Hans, where have you been?" She wrapped him up in her arms, and he smiled, enjoying her warmth.

"Arendelle," he replied.

"You simply must tell me everything that happened. All is well? No surprises this time?"

"Well..."

Hagen cut him off. "Sweetheart, lunch should be nearly ready. Allow me to show you to your new room," he offered with a wink to Fiona.

Pink flooded her cheeks. "We'll talk later, Hans. See you at lunch!" Hans rolled his eyes as they scurried off.

Raoul suddenly appeared in the doorway. "While Hagen is...otherwise occupied...some of us are helping unload the ship. Would you care to assist?"

Hans stared at him blankly for a moment. Right. This time, Fiona wasn't visiting. She was moving in. Soon, she would be Queen. "Sure."

He followed Raoul down to the docks, passing Bjorn who was carrying a large wardrobe by himself.

"Need a hand?" Hans asked.

"I got it," Bjorn grunted. Hans could never tell if Bjorn was just naturally quiet and gruff, or if he was always mad about something.

Furniture was being deposited on the dock, where servants and Princes alike helped haul it into the sprawling palace. Vernon and Henrik shuffled off with a chaise, while Hans helped Raoul lift Fiona's vanity. He struggled to keep the drawers shut on their trek to the foyer, where they would decide where it would all go after lunch.

Hans returned to the docks to bring in more stuff, but something hit him in the back of the knee. As he turned, he lost his balance and fell into the sea.

When he resurfaced, he heard laughter. He wiped his eyes and saw Jakob and Nikolai retreating, each carrying only one decorative pillow. Hans snarled at their backs. The salt water around him started to simmer.

"Now is hardly the time for a swim," Raoul said, looking down at Hans.

"Really? The water's great," he said sarcastically.

"Ideal temperatures aside, you should dry off before lunch." He offered his hand and helped Hans out of the water.

Hans trudged back to his room and got undressed. In the privacy of his own room, he thought about Nikolai and Jakob, knowing they tripped him on purpose. His blood flowed hot in his veins, and the water on his skin evaporated. When he was dry, he rolled his eyes and focused on letting it go. They knew just how to piss him off.

When Hans arrived for lunch, he again sat next to Garth, who seemed even more tired and quiet than he usually was. Mila sat on Hans' other side next to Vernon in his rightful seat beside Bjorn. Directly across from Vernon was Nikolai, who smirked in Hans' direction. Henrik, Leif, and Brandt were to his left, while Jakob was off to the right across from Raoul, looking at the empty seats on either side of him.

Hagen and Fiona finally joined them, their faces flushed. Hagen sat at the end of the table, with Fiona filling his usual seat to the right.

When they started eating, Jakob asked, "Where's Mom?"

Hagen's smile fell. "She's...not well."

"She's sick, too?" Jakob cried, rising from his seat.

"No, not sick," Hagen assured him. "Just...not well."

"Oh..." Jakob sank back into his seat and shifted uncomfortably.

Beside Hans, Garth's face drained of color. His sunken in blue eyes widened with fear. Hans quietly leaned over and whispered, "What's wrong?"

Garth looked around the table at his brothers, none of whom were paying them any mind. Still, he looked down at his food, hiding his face with his long hair. "I heard her."

"What did she say?" Hans asked, afraid that Garth might know his secret.

Garth shook his head, his face haunted. "Nothing. Just...wailing."

After years of dealing with her coldness toward him, Hans couldn't being himself to imagine that Queen Freyja cared about anything. None of her sons had ever even seen her shed a single tear. Was Garth entirely sure it had been Queen Freyja wailing?

It had to be. Of course Freyja had loved the King. She loved him enough to endure twelve pregnancies and produce thirteen heirs, and Erik had been the only one who could put her in her place. Her husband and sons were her top priority. Out of all of them, she would grieve the King the most.

After lunch, Hildegarde brought Freyja lunch while the brothers helped move the new furniture into place. Miraculously, most of it fir inside the royal chambers, so only one table and a lamp were added to the sitting room. Once all the big stuff was set, most of the brothers left, but Fiona found Hans out on the balcony looking out at the waves.

"So who is she?"

"Who?"

"The girl you love," Fiona said with a wink.

"I don't-"

She waved a hand. "Oh, please. Hagen told me about that look on your face when you got back. Is she special to you?"

"Of course she is," he said, allowing himself to smile at the memory of her. "Very special."

"You met her in Arendelle, didn't you?"

"She's the Queen," Hans muttered.

"Ooooh, that is juicy!" she said, smiling. She poked him in the shoulder. "She better be coming to the wedding. I have to meet her."

"I invited her," he said, trailing off. He still doubted she would bother with the long journey, yet he continued to stare at the Northern horizon, as if waiting to see her white sails appear.

Fiona eyed him up and down. "I'm almost certain she'll come."

He appreciated her optimism. She would make a good Queen and mother some day.

"I hope so..."