There was a small noise that escaped the queens lips and Hans could not tell if it was a positive response or not.
"Hans, what are you doing here?" She quickly reached for his hand and pulled him into her office. Sticking her head out to see if anyone had seen him. He was dressed in commoner clothes to not reach attention to him, bit nonetheless it worried her someone would recognize him.
"Hans, have you gone mad?" She shook her head and looked over him to make sure he was not hurt. When she saw him over she blushed. He was quite the sight, even dressed as he was. He had aged fine over the years, his shoulders were more broad, and his eyes were as soft as ever. He was excitingly beautiful.
"I told you I was coming." He furrowed his eyebrows. "You act like this upsets you."
"Of course this doesn't upset me." She suddenly held on to her head and Hans could see the sudden stress in her being. "You risked your life-"
"Elsa... You confessed your love once more." He was starting to get angry again. "You said that if I returned then Gretel would have her mother." He stopped and breathed. "And that I would be your husband, your consort."
Her blue eyes were on his colored ones. Sometimes she couldn't tell what color they were. Occasionally they were hazel, then green, and sometimes the color of green only in a darker shade.
"Hans... Your mother, she said you had not come. She-"
"I came Elsa. Isn't that all that matters?" He tilted his head his eyes suddenly saddened.
"You were tricking me again weren't you Elsa?"
She shook her head and took in a deep breath. "No Hans I love you. I have no doubt about it."
She bit her lip and looked hopeful towards him, "Gretel is she-"
"Yes, I brought her along, she's safe." He slowly inched towards the queen making Elsa back up slowly as well, until her thighs hit the edge of her desk.
She blushed suddenly and her eyes met the ground. It had been so long since she had had any physical contact. She bit her lip and placed her left hand on her chest as Hans pressed himself against her body.
"You look as beautiful as ever."
The prince took her smaller hand in his and he lifted it so it rested softly on his cheek.
"I've missed you so much Elsa." He placed a kiss on her hand. His lips were warm to her.
"I've missed you too Hans." There was a moment of quietness between the two, and their eyes locked.
The prince settled the papers he had in his hand to her desk but quickly returned to her eyes. "Elsa, may we-"
"We may." Her eyes were hooded suddenly and Hans knew what he had to do. He leaned in close with his eyes closed to her, his fingers resting on her chin.
She expected to feel his lips, but they never came.
"Elsa," he suddenly let go of her and shook his head.
Her eyes went wide and she could not help remember what Anna had once told her about the prince. His harsh words towards her sister bounced in her head, would he say the same? 'oh Elsa, if only there was someone out there who loved you.'
"Hans?" She reached out to him and looked puzzled. She hadn't known how much she needed him. There really was no other who made her feel what he did. She clenched her hand to her heart in hope that he would not betray her. "Hans?"
The prince took in a deep breath.
"Elsa, Gretel."
"Of course." Elsa went on back to her desk suddenly relieved and signed the papers James needed and handed them to the prince. "Go, I will go after you this moment."
"But what about the royals?" He asked skeptically. Had she not thought of them more important?
"I have not seen my daughter in five years Hans, I think these people can wait."
Xoxoxo
The air was suddenly stale and the prince was somewhat nervous. The queen had said she would follow, but it had been an hour already since he had gone into the forest towards James lands. He was waiting under the shade of a tree, the horse loose from the carriage eating away at the wild grass.
It wasn't until another hour passed by that he could see the faint silhouette of the white queen. Her blazing frost steed stood high above ground and she looked as stunning as she ever could. His heart was racing and his stomach churned. He was in love with this woman that had made him suffer for so many years.
"I was beginning to think you wouldn't show." He whispered to himself but greeted her with a smile.
"I'm sorry for my delay, Prince Hans." He was slightly upset with the formal way she spoke his name.
He stood from his spot from under the tree smiling towards her. She would never know what she could do to him.
"Where is she?" Her eyes were suddenly worried and she looked around. There was a river near by and Hans caught on to her thoughts.
"Elsa, she's with James. I would never allow her to be near a river unwatched."
There was a blush suddenly on her cheeks. After all he had taken care of her.
"There are a few things you must know Elsa. However, I think it best that Gretel herself should tell you."
Elsa got off the horse and walked out towards the prince.
"She is excited to see you Elsa. I have not told her why we were away. She..." He began but he closed his eyes.
"I will not hurt her Hans. I promise." She looked to him and placed her hand on his shoulder.
His eyes went to hers and there was a kind smile on her lips.
"Please trust me."
His heart clenched and he sighed. She had asked that of him and she had failed him. Maybe for Gretel it would be different.
Xoxoxo
Hans kneeled towards the little princess and quietly whispered into her little ear.
Elsa was nowhere in sight, she had stayed outside promising Hans she would respect his decision on seeking Gretel out himself. He wanted to go to a quiet more private place where Elsa and Gretel could properly meet.
James and his family had been kind enough to give them a basket full of food and drinks, as well as a blanket so they could share a moment as a true family. A small picnic.
Gretels eyes widened at the news of her mother awaiting outside.
"She's really here, papa!?" She began to blush and with a smile ran off to get the dress her father had given her.
"Gretel, what are you doing?" Hans began towards his daughter who was quickly undressing.
"Go away papa, I'm changing!"
Hans placed his hands behind his back and closed his eyes to respect his young child's wishes. His mother had done well to teach the little lady.
There was so much excitement in her that there was snow flurries inside the room.
"I can't believe queen Elsa is outside waiting for me!" She ran from one room to the other with the blue dress her father had given her.
"You think, papa, that she will let me call her mama?"
Hans suddenly smiled at her comment and rose his shoulders. "I think you should ask her that."
"Oh papa..." Gretel suddenly calmed down, her arms wrapping around the princes waist. "I'm so happy..."
Hans could see her smile and her flushed cheeks. Suddenly though, his heart clenched. Oh Elsa, please don't hurt her.
Xoxoxo
Elsa sat on her blazing snow steed, her thumbs fumbling together. She was nervous. What if Gretel decided she didn't want to see her anymore?
The door to James home finally opened and out came the big man, followed by a smiling Hans. The two men began to chat in the porch and all Elsa could hear was the faint laughs of the quiet conversation.
Her heart began to beat fast when she saw no sign of her daughter anywhere. When Hans caught sight of her he reassuringly smiled out towards her and went back to his conversation with James.
There was three knocks at the door and a beautiful giggling little girl, with black hair and a pretty pink dress came about running. She caught on to James legs and giggled as the man tried to catch her. It was not her daughter.
Elsa's heart raced even faster when at the foot of the door stepped out a fair haired child, with familiar blue eyes. She was wearing a beautiful blue dress with slight shimmers made of white stones. And Elsa knew that it was her. That was her daughter. That was Gretel.
She stared at the girl and slowly unmounted her steed. Her breath left her chest and her her stomach felt churned. There was that familiar scent of wild berries once more, a scent that she had not recently smelled.
"Gretel..." She stood at the foot of the horse and she could not move. There was a million emotions running through her being. It was overwhelming.
Tears fell from her eyes and she hugged her chest. She could not believe that after all those years she finally got to see her daughter once more. She was afraid, really, what if Gretel did not want her as her mother?
Hans took notice of this and quickly caught up to the queen. "Elsa, are you alright?" James stared off at the couple but turned back to the little princess at his doorstep.
"Is that queen Elsa? She's sad, did I make her sad? "
James suddenly chuckled, "I think it's the contrary, child."
She turned to look to the big man then her eyes went to his grand-daughter who was hugging onto the man as if holding on to dear life.
"Gretel!" Hans called out to her, holding Elsa against his shoulder as she sobbed there.
"Papa?" She began running out towards her parents and Elsa caught sight of this. She quickly pushed away from Hans and ran up to her daughter to meet her halfway.
"Gretel!" She ran to her.
Gretel quickly opened her arms to reach Elsa and Elsa cried the whole time they hugged.
Hans smile went hard. His throat thick, he wanted so much for them to be a happy family. So much for them to be together. So much for Elsa not to dissappoint Gretel. He saw it so difficult for that to happen.
For now he would enjoy the day. For now he would let Elsa and Gretel bond. For now he would be happy.
James walked up to the prince and handed him the promised basket of goodies and smiled patting the prince on his back. "Go on and got em' son. You deserve some happiness."
Hans smiled at the mans words and sighed. "You have no idea James, how much I feel in debted to you."
James boomed his famous loud rumble of laughter and walked on back to his grand-daughter who happily awaited him. He picked her up and placed her on his shoulders, the pretty child giggling the whole time, he walked into his home with one last wave towards the royal family.
Gretel, on the other hand, though happy simply stood there in her mothers arms. She did not know how Elsa would react if she was to hold her back or if she moved. Then without worry her thin arms wrapped around her mothers neck and the child cried. She cried out of happiness. She cried out of relief. She cried because after all, she did have a mother.
Xoxoxo
The three royal members sat in the midst of the forest near a peaceful river. They were sitting just under a tree, with their food spread out on the picnic blanket. There was wine and laughter. Something that Hans had longed for, for such a long time. Gretel was running around in her mothers pile of snow, and for a moment life seemed perfect.
"Papa!?" She looked to Hans and threw a snowball at him, Hans without thought got up and grabbed at his daughter, tickling her until she could not laugh anymore.
Elsa stared at the two and how the fit of laughter ended in a hug and a kiss on the forehead. She smiled sadly knowing that she had lost so many years. She hugged at her shoulders and Hans turned to face her with a big goofy smile. It died down slowly as he noticed her mood.
The prince settled the child down and Gretel looked out towards her mother as well. "She feels left out, papa."
Hans chuckled and ruffled at her neatly done hair, making the child whine in response.
With a small towards his daughter he returned to the queen.
Xoxoxo