Kristoff did not like this situation.

No, not one bit.

It was stupid and unnecessary and god awfully predictable, like a particularly bad episode of déjà vu. Only he seemed the only one capable of seeing the obvious predictability of this.

Maren was not thinking clearly, which was unfortunate and rare for her—too blinded by love or too new to have yet collected enough data on Elsa to foresee what was likely about to unfold—though he had tried to warn her. And Anna, well, Anna—even if she had picked up on the subtle cues that Elsa was about to bolt, she would likely go right along with whatever Elsa's harebrained plan was this time, and follow her straight into the perilous unknown, rather than successfully talk her down from it.

He had seen that happen one too many times before—and he could not allow it again. It had been a long hard road learning this—learning that by doing nothing, he was indirectly putting Anna's life at risk or enabling Elsa to break her heart, and that, he had a big problem with. This time, he had a right to get involved.

He glanced around himself, double checking that the area was still clear of draugrs or any other critters that may be lurking nearby. It was clear, he sighed. Elsa's intentions were never malicious, and he loved her too, which was the other large chunk of the reason why he was out here now—skulking around by the river in the middle of the night like some demented swamp creature, because his sister-in-law was most likely about to do something irreparably stupid. Like running away alone in the middle of the night—how many times had he seen that happen before?

Elsa herself was not harebrained or stupid, far from it—just her ridiculously risky plans were. Sometimes she was just too wickedly smart for her own good, in ways that baffled even him—and he was quite proud to usually be the master of contingency plans. Hopefully at least, he was one step ahead of her this time. But most times, she could outthink him, seeing every possible solution and choosing the shortest, most direct (usually most risky) path to that efficient solution—which is what he knew she was likely going to do now.

He had seen her do this countless times before, much to his own dismay, as she crushed him during their regular chess matches—losses which Anna tallied amusedly and never let him live down. Once Elsa had even sacrificed her queen early on and still won which had really galled him and been a particularly embarrassing loss. (He still beat her sometimes though). He had also witnessed the numerous occasions when her icy crack-whip smarts became downright frightening as she debated and outmaneuvered countless diplomats in the blink of an eye, usually leaving a whirlwind of confused, infuriated or enamored men in her wake.

Only Elsa.

No, there was no doubt whatsoever in his mind that whatever Elsa was planning would work, and work well—that is, assuming she didn't die first in the process. Her disturbing level of foresight had a bad habit of putting her own life directly at risk, and by association Anna and Maren's lives—the two chaotic variables this little genius never seemed to account for. So it was up to him to account for those variables, and contain the problem before it got out of hand. But containing Elsa when she was on a mission like this, was like trying to contain Pandoras Box—nearly impossible unless one acted quickly, efficiently and before too much damage could be done. And that's where he found himself right now, lurking in the trees by the river, waiting for Pandora to show up so he could shut her down before she had a chance to do something devastating.

And there she finally was, right on time. Pandora herself, ghosting towards the river like a bright white beacon and packed with a bag that suggested this was not just an innocent nightly stroll. Predictable—though he sincerely hoped he was going to be wrong about this. He glanced around her to make sure no creatures had followed her or lurked about—there were none. But the white outfit really had to go, there was absolutely no camouflage whatsoever with it. It's like she intentionally wanted—

To be noticed.

Damn her.

That is what she wanted. She wanted the draugrs to follow her, follow her away from camp to god only knows where. Off to her ice cave presumably, where the sea monster would likely kill her before she got there, if the draugrs didn't pick her off first. There were so many holes in this plan, holes she probably had thought of, knowing her, but here she was, ready to throw her life away anyway. He needed to shake some sense into her.

'Out for a nightly stroll with the draugrs?' Kristoff said finally, unable to contain the annoyed sarcasm in his voice as he emerged from the tree-line. Let him startle her, he didn't care right now.

And she was startled. For a moment he saw her eyes go wide and she sucked in a surprised breath, then stopped dead in her tracks—just feet from the river, folding her arms to stare at him. Clearly she didn't account for him as a variable either. She was too smart to try and defend this. He had caught her and she knew it—hence the irritated face.

'I came to check on Nokk.' She tried anyway in a flat, unaffected tone that she must know, wouldn't fool him. They were too alike she and him, and they both knew it. So the fact that she just tried to lie annoyed him even more.

'With a travel bag?' He returned wryly and walked closer so he was between her and the river—between her and her water horse. There would be no surprises tonight. She didn't move, but looked up at him with icily cold eyes as he neared. Eyes resolute to follow whatever idiotic plan she had devised. 'Maybe, that would work on your sister, and just maybe even your girlfriend. But not with me.' He paused as cold, dark and chilling anger skated across her piercing blue eyes, silently warning him to tread carefully—but he pushed anyway. 'I honestly can't believe you're doing this again.'

The cold anger melted as quickly as it had flared up. She huffed a sigh, her icy facade crumbling quickly into the person he knew and loved. The person who would talk to him logically and succinctly about her problems when Anna's enthusiastic support just wasn't enough for her calculating mind. 'What else am I supposed to do?' She asked, her tone still sharp, but a flicker of desperation in her eyes had replaced the cold anger.

'Come back to Arendelle with us—come visit the trolls like we all talked about!' He whisper hissed, his own frustration flaring, unable to fathom why she was so dismissive of this sound plan.

'Forgive me, if I don't exactly trust the trolls.' Elsa hissed and backed a few paces away from him as he'd seen her do before when she got heated or emotional. Some part of her was still afraid she'd hurt someone. That's what this was really about, he realized. She narrowed her eyes at him. 'Look, I need answers Kristoff. Facts about how to fix this. From Ahtohallan, not cryptic premonitions from the trolls.'

He knew she harbored a deep-seated mistrust or fear of the trolls from her childhood, but there was more to this than just that. 'That's not what this is about.' He rendered flatly, succinctly. This seemed to catch her off guard, but she stayed silent and said nothing. 'You're scared.'

'What?' She asked, a flicker of the cold anger returning to her eyes.

He softened. 'You're scared of them getting hurt because you think the creatures are after you.' He nodded towards camp indicating Anna and Maren and the rest of the people that resided there. Elsa's eyes went wide for just a brief moment, he had hit the nail on the head. 'That's also why you won't come back to Arendelle, isn't it?'

She squinted at him, the annoyed, calculating look she gave when he had made a particularly good chess move. 'They are after me.' She said unemotionally, almost sadly like a solemn acceptance. Not quite acknowledging his accusation either.

'How do you know?' He had to ask, because so far he had seen no real proof that the creatures were targeting her specifically.

'I just—I just know. I can feel it.' She said, and he could tell by her tone that she meant it truthfully. 'Magically.' She added as if to ward off further questioning, which worked. He had no idea what to say to that.

'Elsa, there are still too many unknowns here—what about the squid?'

She shrugged. 'I'm going to freeze the ocean this time.'

He sighed, she had thought this through—of course she did—and once again, she was somehow making logical if not rational sense. But it was not checkmate yet—he had to try another tactic. 'What about Anna, and Maren—and me?' He tried, unable to think of another way to get at her.

For the first time she faltered and glanced downward. 'Thats why I'm doing it this way.' She said quietly, and he knew exactly what she meant. That's why she was doing this alone. She looked back up at him. 'I thought you of all people would support me in this.'

He shook his head slowly. 'You know what this will do to her if something happens to you.' He added solemnly, remembering the shell of a person Anna had become during the brief time she thought Elsa had died. 'She can't live without you.'

'Yes she can.' Elsa snapped quickly, defiantly. 'My sister is stronger than you give her credit for.'

He took a deep breath. This was not something he wanted to tell her, or even admit to himself—but she was not grasping the gravity of her own actions. 'Elsa look, I know I come in second in Anna's life—I've always known this and I'm ok with it, because I love her more than anything—'

'That's not true.' Elsa cut in, her voice shaky but commanding. Only it was true, and he knew she knew it.

'Elsa, it is true. Did she ever tell you the specifics of what she did when she thought you died?' She shook her head weakly, her eyes suddenly glassy and she looked down away from his face, folding her arms around herself. 'Well she wouldn't tell me either, but I know her well enough to understand why she wouldn't—and to piece together what she did do.'

Elsa was still looking down, shaking her head. 'I don't want to know.' She whispered.

'Well I'm going to tell you anyway, because you need to understand the gravity your decisions have on other peoples lives.' He said sharply.

'I was a queen, don't you think I know that?' She answered sadly, it wasn't a rebuttal just a plaintive statement. She was still looking down, wouldn't meet his eyes but didn't protest further so he continued.

'I don't think you do.' He answered, then paused. A deep breath then: 'She wanted to die Elsa.' He said softening his tone, but letting the words sink in for a moment. A tear rolled down her cheek from downcast eyes he could not see, and he felt some welling up in his own eyes. He did not want to do this—but it was perhaps the only way to get her to see the truth.

'She tried to kill herself, I believe.' He said, his own voice breaking. He fought to keep himself in control as two tear filled blue eyes finally shot up to meet his, her head shaking in disbelief. 'She, somehow managed to get herself out of that cave—for you. Then she found and woke the giants—for you. And then she led them to the dam on a suicide mission…' He trailed off, his voice cracking again. Elsa was still staring at him wide eyed, tears spilling down her face. 'She wasn't going to outrun them, and she knew it.' He added, then took a deep breath and composed himself. 'When I—when I found her, she had tripped or something, I think. I'm not sure—but she just laid there on the ground, unmoving. Like, like she had finally given up. She saw the giants on top of her, looked right up at them and—didn't even try…'

'Stop. STOP.' Elsa croaked out, her hands squeezing her head, wet eyes clamped shut. 'Stop.' She whispered again as snow started swirling around her.

Then, she started crying.

Tears welled up in his own eyes at seeing her cry like this, so openly and vulnerable. Rare for her, but when she did, she looked so like Anna—small and fragile and broken and he was suddenly regretful that he had been the cause of it. The pain of the memory he just described hit him anew, and all he could do was step forward and wrap his arms around her.

She was taller and colder than Anna, but her hugs were very similar—gentle and all encompassing and she didn't pull away—just let him hold her as she cried and the snow continued to circle around them. Up until he met Anna, he had never hugged anyone at all in his entire life. Not a single soul, and he never thought he would. But Anna had changed all that. Her hugs were the best thing in the world—they made him feel loved and alive like he never knew he could feel, they felt like home—and sometimes, people just needed a hug. These two girls had changed him—changed his life for the better. He loved them, and would protect and stand by them both for the rest of his days.

'Elsa, your parents took choices away from both of you. Give Anna—and Maren—the choice to stand by you, even if they choose to risk their lives doing it. Don't do what your parents did and make choices for others in the name of protecting them. You know firsthand how that doesn't work.' She was still crying into his chest but he felt her nod in confirmation.

'Elsa!—Kristoff?' Anna called as she ran towards them, a worried and confused expression on her face. Maren ran right beside her, a staff in hand and bow and quiver strapped to her back. Kristoff smiled at seeing them approach, trying to communicate that everything was fine. He had snuck out of the lavvu and hoped to deal with this without alerting Anna, but somewhere he knew that was unrealistic. Elsa peeled herself off of his chest, quickly wiped her eyes and turned slowly to face the two. Anna glanced around nervously at the snow that Elsa had not yet been able to get under control, and Maren stared directly at her with a worried intensity that Kristoff understood.

'Elsa?' Anna offered gently, her face pained at seeing Elsa's tear-streaked face.

Elsa took a breath, then removed the travel bag from her shoulder and tossed it to the side. Anna and Maren both watched her with a confused expression, then they smiled sadly.

'I'm sorry.' Elsa said quietly to both of them, then her breath caught as she tried to fight off more tears.

'For what?' Anna asked gently and moved a step closer. Kristoff could tell she was resisting the urge to pull Elsa into a hug, he was glad she waited.

'For taking away your choice.' Elsa said with a shaky voice. Anna still looked at her with a sad quizzical expression, but Maren seemed to understand. 'Together. Promise me we'll do this together. I broke that promise Anna—I'm so sorry—I never want to break it again. To either of you.' Elsa added and glanced at Maren who nodded.

Anna's eyes filled up with tears and she smiled the saddest smile Kristoff had ever seen. 'Oh Elsa.' Anna got out before rushing forward and gripping Elsa in the tightest hug he had yet to witness. Elsa surrendered to Anna's embrace and immediately the snow dissipated. Maren noticed too, glancing upward and smiling.

'I'm sorry Anna, so sorry.' Elsa cried and muttered repeatedly into Anna's shoulder.

'Elsa shh, it's ok. I love you.' Anna assured as she held her sister, her eyes glanced up at him with a confused expression. What did you say to her? Anna's eyes asked. What she needed to hear—he would tell her later. He just smiled then glanced at Maren who pulled her smiling eyes away from the sisters to greet his.Thank you. She mouthed silently, her eyes filled with relief. He smiled in return.

In the same moment, Anna reached out a hand and waved it at Maren, still holding Elsa tightly in the hug. Maren smiled and reached out, Anna found her hand, grabbed it and yanked her in. Maren fell into place and put her arms around both of them, kissing Elsa's hair gently. Then she looked up, smirked at him and reached out her own hand and shook it. He smiled and grabbed Maren's hand and allowed her to yank him towards them. He chucked and wrapped his much larger arms around all three of them—holding them securely.

His family.

They had weathered so much together, good, bad and everything in-between and he loved them all so very much. They still had a long road ahead, but he was not worried about what the future held—because somewhere he knew, as long as they had each other, everything would fall together.


A/N: Everyone needs a Kristoff hug. :)

Song: We can Work it Out - The Beatles/Colplay version