Elsa was turning 17 today, but she couldn't care less. She only wanted one thing, but she knew her wish was not going to be allowed. She wanted to see Anna. Even being allowed to talk to her through the door would be wonderful, but she knew her parents would never allow it. She remembered how things went so terribly wrong and she lost the one thing she really cared about. It was an accident. It really was… she never meant to hurt Anna. She tried to catch her. She shook her head and tried to get the memory to leave. It was best to not think about it. It haunted her enough in her sleep anyways. No she just needed to think about how well the last secret conversation Anna was able to devise between them went. It wasn't a long conversation. It had only lasted a few moments, but those few minutes meant more to Elsa than anything, because Anna cared enough to stop for a few minutes just for her. It had been two weeks since then, and Elsa understood that Anna was being extra cautious since they almost got caught last time. It didn't mean that Elsa didn't miss her sister terribly, but she understood why it had been a while. She tried to keep herself busy instead of counting the minutes until she talked to Anna again or straining to hear any trace of her sister somewhere in the castle. Elsa knew she was being ridiculous, but she was feeling more and more stir crazy. Maybe it was time to work on adding more details to her blue print of the castle. That would keep her busy for a while.

A knock at the door startled her from her thoughts. It was Gerda. She just knew from the knock. She quickly scurried over to the corner with her hands behind her back so Gerda didn't have any need to be uncomfortable in being in the room with her. Gerda always claimed that she was never uncomfortable with her power, but Elsa was fearful that someday she would see the same look cross Gerda's face that was always on her parents whenever they visited and entered her room. She glanced up from the floor when she heard the lock on the door click as it was unlocked. The door slowly opened as Gerda poked her head in and smiled before she entered the room.

"Good Morning Princess. I brought you your favorites this morning! And possibly a treat later."

Elsa gave Gerda a small grin. She and Kai both tried so hard, and have been the best support that Elsa had these days. Since she was sanctioned to her room after the incident they were the only people she saw regularly and was able to talk to for longer than a few stolen minutes. Her parents came every once and a while to see if she had any better control on her powers, but if Elsa was being honest her powers have only gotten worse not better. She no longer had any control over her powers. The most she had managed was her current seven day streak of no ice mistakes. She had little hope that it was going to last though. Every time she thought that maybe just maybe this time she had finally gotten it under control ice seemed to slip out. She was to afraid to hope that this time would be any different. It would just hurt more when she failed once again at keeping control.

"… and your parents plan to see you today. I thought I should let you know."

"Thank you Gerda. Maybe if I tell them that I have had control for the last few days maybe they will at the very least let me talk to Anna through the door for a while. Do you think they'll say yes since it is my birthday? I haven't been allowed to see or talk to her in nine years. The only contact I've had with her is when she knocks on the door and tries to get me to answer before she eventually gets caught. It kills me not to answer, but the few times I have…"

Elsa looked down and her eyes were a little glassy. Gerda knew what she meant. The punishment that occurred to the girls whenever they were caught talking to one another. When only Anna was caught talking there was only slight yelling, but if Elsa was caught talking to Anna it was a whole different story. Hating to see Elsa look so down today of all days she had to interfere.

"Princess I know today is going to be different. I don't think it would hurt to ask your parents, but I think we both know what their answer is going to be. Don't worry too much though."

Gerda moved slightly forward, and Elsa panicked.

"NO… DON'T COME ANY CLOSER… I don't want to hurt you. Please just… Thank you Gerda."

Gerda's heart broke. It has gotten so much worse. The longer the girls were apart the worse it seemed to get, especially with Elsa. It wasn't good for her to be trapped in this room. Gerda couldn't wait for her surprise to Elsa later. She just had to keep her cool and wait. This was key. No one could know. She gave a slight nod to Elsa and left the princess' room. Things were going to change. It may have taken nine years, but Gerda had finally accomplished it.

Elsa went to pacing around in her room repeating Conceal don't feel… Conceal don't feel… She was not going to loose control today. No ice mistakes. If she had any hope of seeing Anna today she had to keep control of this stupid curse. Once again Elsa had lost track of time in her mental ramblings, and she had no idea what time it was. All she knew was that her food had gone cool, the sun had moved in the sky, and someone else was knocking at her door. It was a stiff knock. She knew who it was. It was her father's knock. Her parents were on the other side of the door. She could do this. Taking a deep breath she walked to the other side of the room to her corner again. And waited for her parents go enter her room. She kept her gaze fixed on a spot near the door as she hear the door unlocked.

Her parents entered her room. It was silent for a moment as they all stared at one another. Finally her parents spoke.

"Elsa we came to wish you a happy birthday. Your father and I came to see if there was anything you would like this year."

This was her chance. She could possibly see her sister!

"I want to see Anna."

Her parents instantly became ridged.

"Elsa you know that is not possible."

"I could stay way over here and she could stay by the wall on the other side of the hall. I just want to see and talk to my sister. I'll even coincide to seeing her and just talk to her for a bit through the door. Please… I just want Anna."

Her father's voice boomed, "NO ELSA! You know you cannot see or talk to Anna. It is not safe! Are you really willing to put your sister in danger? You have no control over your powers! You could hurt her or reveal your powers to her. Don't be selfish."

Elsa didn't know where she got the nerve to yell back, but it all came flying out of her.

"NO YOU LISTEN! IT IS NOT A SELFISH WISH! I HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN HERE FOR A MISTAKE NINE YEARS AGO! YOU KNOW I DIDN'T MEAN TO! I'D RATHER DIE THEN HURT ANNA! I HAVEN'T HAD AN ICE MISTAKE IN DAYS! BESIDES THAT I'M WILLING TO JUST TALK TO HER FROM BEHIND THE DOOR…" Elsa was loosing her fire… it was a pointless fight. All she did just now was get herself in trouble and more guards along the hallway for a while to make sure Anna stays away.

"I just want to talk to my sister."

It was quiet for a beat. And her father just glared at her.

"Elsa, dear please understand we just can't allow it. Please just let it go for now okay?"

Elsa stared at her mother then her father. This was a pointless battle. They weren't going to listen. They never did before, so why did she keep trying?

"I guess then some more books and some more supplies so I can make some blueprints and drawings."

"Elsa those are things you can get any day… That's not much of a gift."

"It's all I want besides Anna."

With that Elsa turned away and hoped her parents would leave. Soon she hear the door shut again with the lock ominous click of the lock and she knew her parents were finally gone. Elsa was sort of glad that they were now gone. She did not want them to come back. She just wanted to be left alone. Why did she have to be cursed with these powers? Why did she have to be different? Why couldn't she just be normal?

Elsa was laying haphazardly across the top of her bed just staring at a random spot at her ceiling. This felt like the day that would never end. She wasn't so sure that today was the shortest day of the year. It seemed to be dragging on. She was so wrapped up in her own mind that she didn't notice the sound of feet seemingly inside the wall. All of a sudden she was torn from her thoughts when two bright blue eyes popped over her and obscuring her view of the ceiling. Elsa was so shock she thought that her mind had officially snapped.

"Anna?"

"So you do recognize me! I was worried you wouldn't anyways… Happy Birthday Elsa!"

"An..Anna?"

Then Elsa heard the sweetest sound. Anna giggled and it wasn't muffled through the door. It was right there. She shot up right and spun around and saw Anna falling back on her bed.

"Careful you stinker! Almost knocked heads there. I mean that wouldn't have been too bad. I've got a pretty hard head, well my tutors say that and that I've got a thick head but it's not my fault I don't get math! They move too quickly..."

Anna was brought out of her babbling from a wet laugh erupting from Elsa.

"How… What… Anna?"

Elsa couldn't figure out what was happening. How was Anna here in her room? All she knew was that she had never been so happy before in her life.

"Elsa? Are you okay? I can leave if you want me too, but Gerda told me that you miss me, and that you had a fight with Mom and Dad and weren't answering to anyone… I got worried and Gerda found a way for me to get in her without our parents knowing… I still don't understand that by the way, anyways so she found these old secret passages in the walls and our rooms are connected through these things, so we can see each other whenever we want! Though I have no idea how to navigate these things yet or how to find the hidden entrance ways yet… but that is pointless if you really don't want me around in here in which case I can leave and stop bothering you if you just want to be left alone."

"DON'T GO!"

Anna sat there wide eyed because one she was shocked to hear Elsa's voice so loud. Part of her forgot that Elsa could raise her voice above her normal quiet speaking level, and two she had not heard Elsa responded so adamantly to anything in a while. It was like Elsa was afraid that if she blinked Anna would disappear and abandon her.

"Okay I won't… I promise."

Elsa smiled so large that Gerda who was watching from the hidden entrance in the wall saw and felt her heart expand. She hadn't seen Elsa like that in too long. She knew this was the right thing to do, and felt bad having to interrupt the two sisters.

"Princesses, I hate to interrupt but I just wanted to let you both know I'll be back later with Princess Elsa's dinner and something extra for you as well Princess Anna even though you already had dinner with your parents." Anna giggled knowing Gerda fully knew she was never really full, "I'll be back soon."

Before Gerda left Elsa sprung up from where she was perched on her bed to stand in the middle of her room. With her grand smile gracing her face Elsa just had to express her gratitude.

"Gerda! Thank you for this. You have no idea how much this… Just thank you."

After a quick nod back Gerda closed the wall and the girls were left alone. Elsa stood there in the center of her room staring at Anna, and not quiet knowing what to do. It had been so long, and she could hardly believe her sister was really there. Elsa could list every little thing Anna loved when they were little. She held on tightly to those memories. They were the only pieces of Anna she had left for so long. Now she wasn't sure what to say or do. She could hold a short conversation like they had been whenever they could sneak a few moments in, but it was different with Anna standing right there in front of her. It killed her to admit, but she had no idea what Anna liked anymore. She didn't know this version of Anna.

"Elsa come back and sit down, or is there something you wanna do in here?"

Elsa was starting to panic. Oh this was a terrible idea. I could hurt Anna. I'm just a monster that can't control this stupid curse! Elsa's eyes slammed shut, and her breathing started to become shallow and quick. She stared to back up until her back hit the wall. Her hands were up against her chest. Better my powers hit me instead of Anna… I can't do this… Why can't I be normal? Why can't I control this?

"Elsa?"

NO NO NO… Anna is still here CONTROL IT! Conceal don't feel… Conceal don't feel…

Elsa's train of thought was broken when she felt two arms firmly wrapped around her. Flinging herself away Elsa wailed, "NOO DON'T TOUCH ME! I DON'T WANT TO HURT YOU! Please…"

Elsa was in full panic curled up against the far corner, and Anna sat a little ways off starting wide eyed at her sister. Elsa's hands curled close to her chest and she started crying.

"…Elsie you're scaring me. I don't know what to do. I promise not to touch you again, just please tell me what you need."

Elsa was pulled back enough to the present to start to access her surroundings. Anna was crying and scared and it was her fault.

"Anna I'm sorry… I'll be okay just stay over there okay? It's not safe for you to get too close to me okay?"

Anna nodded her head and stared wide eyed at Elsa. What happened to her sister? She was not like this when they were little. Whenever Elsa started to panic Anna would hug her close and hang onto her until she calmed back down. Elsa loved hugs then, but now… Anna was scared for her sister and she didn't know how to help.

"Okay. I can do that Elsie… so umm want me to catch you up on the castle staff? I know you always liked to keep up with them, and I haven't been able to tell you through the door recently… but it's not like I haven't tried! There are so many guards that keep stopping me from coming by. They always tell me that I can't bother you or that silence was asked for in the hallway or that it was by our parent's orders. I don't really get that either, but I won't bother you about that now… Anyways umm what was OH! Right. So let's see remember Oskar the cook? Well he and his wife, Nora, are now expecting a baby! I can't wait for the baby to be born. They said they let me play with it and look after it sometimes! Though I know nothing about babies other than they are cute… Maybe I'll just play with the baby, but wait how do you play with a baby… Can babies play?"

Anna was pulled from her rambles from a soft laugh. She glanced up and saw Elsa sitting more relaxed in the corner with a small smile on her face while she laughed. Anna grinned. She didn't know what set Elsa off like that before or what she did to bring Elsa back to smiling and laughing no matter how small all Anna knew was that she was just happy she was able to fix it.

"Oh shush! What do you know about babies humm?"

"More than you would think. I may have experience with only one baby, but I helped Gerda a lot." Elsa grinned larger as she remembered.

"Wait.. What? When was there a baby to help with? Why didn't I get to join in?"

Elsa let out a slight laugh as she saw Anna trying to figure out this mystery baby.

"Silly it was you! It was a while ago now, but I remember quiet a bit and I don't know if it applies to all babies I just know you were very cute. You had me won over the moment I saw you."

Anna sat there entranced by Elsa. She had the softest of smiles on her face and almost a look of longing as she remembered.

"Really? Tell me more!"

"Well at first I was told to keep away and to leave you alone. That you were too small to play with, but I was not very good at listening. You were so small and cute… I just wanted to be around you. I'm pretty sure I drove Gerda crazy because I was always hovering nearby if you were in the room. Though one night Gerda changed her tune and started showing me how to look after you."

"What happened?"

Elsa chuckled and smiled at Anna.

"Well you were crying. I kept trying to sleep and you were wailing away over on your side of the room, so eventually I just went and climbed into your crib. I figured if I hated to be alone and didn't want to be asleep when the sky was awake like it was that night then maybe you didn't either. I sat in the crib and just talked to you and tried to make up stories for you. At some point you had stopped crying. Apparently Gerda was standing in the door way for sometime watching us and how I got you to stop crying. Since then She showed me everything and allowed me to help take care of you."

"That's amazing Elsie!"

A tear ran down Elsa's face, and Anna panicked.

"I'm sorry! Don't cry!"

Elsa laughed and shook her head.

"I'm not upset you goof. It's just I haven't been called that in so long. I thought I imagined hearing it earlier, but I guess not. I thought you forgot about that name so long ago. You stopped calling for your Elsie so long ago."

"Oh… Do you want me to stop calling you that? I mean I know you're older now and it was a name I gave you when we were really little.."

"No. It was always your name for me. I could never hate it. Okay that's not completely true, but.."

"What do you mean? If it bothers you I promise never to say it again!"

"ANNA! It's not like that. I meant that the name grew on me. The name started because you couldn't say my name right. I got so frustrated because I couldn't get you to say it right, but I couldn't stay mad cause your face always light up and you looked so proud when you yelled 'MY ELSIE'. It eventually became my favorite thing to hear, because it meant you were near by."

"So I can keep calling you that then? You don't hate it?"

"Anna for all I care you could called me oh I don't know… Herbert and I would be glad."

Anna giggled, "What? Elsie your are too funny! I was just worried that you just well… it doesn't matter."

Elsa grew serious.

"Anna anything that has anything to do with you does indeed matter. What is it?"

Anna stared at her lap as she fiddled with her hands.

"Well you see I stopped calling you Elsie because Mom and Dad told me you hated it and didn't want to be called by a baby name. That you preferred Elsa. I figured it might have been true since you never answered me when I tried to call you through your door you never answered. That maybe if you out grew the childish name then maybe you out grew me too."

"Anna I could never out grow you. I never told them that I hated the name either. I just never answered before because I'm not allowed to. Technically I'm braking so many rules when I talk to you through the door during our secret conversations never mind right now, but maybe just for a little bit I can be slightly selfish."

"Wait you never mentioned that you are not allowed to talk to me! But why? This doesn't make sense…"

"Trust me Anna it makes sense. It truly does. I obeyed because it meant you were safe, and I was updated on how you were. I would willing walk into fire if I knew it would keep you safe and happy."

Anna sat there trying to make sense of all of this, but it all didn't add up.

"Elsie I don't understand any of this, and if you walked into fire understand I'm running in after you!"

"Anna if I walk into fire you better not follow me, believe me I would be fine but that's beside the point. The point is I will do anything for you. Please understand while this all might not make sense to you it is all for you. Please believe me. Everything I do is to keep you safe."

"WHAT ABOUT YOU THOUGH? WHO WILL KEEP YOU SAFE! WHAT NO ONE SEEMS TO GET I'M NOT HAPPY WITHOUT YOU!"

Elsa stopped and really took Anna in at that moment. She saw what no one else was willing to tell her these past nine years. Anna wasn't okay. She was hurt, angry, and had this haunted look in her eyes. While she was keeping Anna physically safe from her powers she was allowing Anna to still be hurt emotionally and mentally.

"Oh God Anna… Sunshine it's okay. See? I'm right here. You are okay now, your Elsie is here. I'm going to fix this even if it kills me alright? You're not alone anymore. Momma and Papa are wrong and just don't get it, but we know better… alright? I'm going to ask Gerda if she can help. Kai might help too- I trust him at least. I need Dr. Nilsen too, maybe he can help me…"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU NEED? ARE YOU SICK? IS THAT WHAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN HIDING FROM ME ALL THIS TIME?"

"NO! I mean well… oh how do I explain this to you? You used to know, oh it would be so much easier if you remembered."

"THEN TELL ME!"

"I CAN'T!"

The girls sat there in silence for a moment before Elsa softly spoke again.

"I can't tell you… I'm not allowed to and I'm afraid what will happen if you truly know, so just please hang in here for a moment while I try to find a way to explain this to you… I am sick, but it's not something you can catch from me. I've had it all my life and it used to be under control and now it's not. That's why I had to go away. I didn't want you to get hurt from it. I just… I need Dr. Nilsen's help to see if he can help me find a way to manage it better if I am going to be safe enough to be around you again."

Anna sat there nodding her head as she tried to wrap her head around what her sister was saying. It made sense and helped to place this whole mess into perspective. Elsa obviously didn't want to be separated from her, but she allowed it because she thinks she is dangerous, but she is not infectious. What she couldn't understand was why her parents didn't want the girls to have any contact at all.

"I think I understand to an extent. I just don't understand how you are dangerous. Honestly I don't believe that one bit. I think you have been lead to believe that, and I don't think that Gerda or Kai put that stupid idea in your head. I hate this but I think I really do believe that it is the same people that have kept us apart. No I know it was Mom and Dad. I love them, but they are just so wrong about this. Tell me what I need to do."

"Anna they mean well you know that. It's… It's complicated. If I knew you were okay then I wouldn't lie and disobey them on using those secret passages to see you, but I can see you're not so… I'll find a way to make myself safe…"

"Elsie you're not dangerous!"

"Sunshine I am."

"Well I don't believe that. Hey Elsie, why do you keep calling me sunshine?"

Elsa gave a soft smile at her sister.

"Cause you're like a little sun. You remind me of warmth, happiness, and hope. It comes off of you in rays. You're my little sunshine."

Elsa then felt panic grip her in a vise when she saw Anna burst into tears. She didn't know what to do. She wasn't even sure what she did that caused her sister to cry like this. She knew she wasn't physically hurt, so it must have been something she said. Oh why couldn't she do anything right? Her arms ached as she tried not to reach out and gather her baby sister as close to her as she possibly could. Like if she held Anna tight enough she could fix it, but she can't hold Anna. She could hurt her, and that well that wouldn't help Anna at all. So Elsa sat there terrified and not knowing what to do. Then she remembered something from when they were little.

Anna was startled enough to stop crying and only have tears rolling down her face as she stared in awe at her sister. She was singing and it was the most beautiful thing Anna had ever heard in her life. She vaguely remembered that Elsa used to sing to her when she had nightmares when they were little, but she could not remember what it sounded like. All she knew was that she was mesmerized by her sister. Enchanted more like. She could sit and listen to her sister sing forever.

Elsa noticed Anna was no longer crying and staring at her with the widest eyes filled with pure awe. She stopped singing and gave Anna a soft smile. Relief filled her now that Anna had stopped crying and she could see that she was now okay. She had helped. She had done something right.

"I.. Why did you stop singing? It.. You… Your amazing!"

"Thank you Anna. And I don't sing really. I only do when you want or need it. I'm glad me singing still works. I hate… when you are… I just… I'll do anything for you."

Anna slowly scooted closer to Elsa. Soon she was right next to her, she looked into Elsa's eyes and then slowly lowered her head down to lay in Elsa's lap. She curled up and laid as still as she could. Elsa was as stiff as a bored and terrified to move. She wasn't sure why she allowed Anna to come this close never mind touch her. Soon she felt her powers were going to cooperate and stay inside. Her body ached, but she didn't mind at all. She was touching Anna and she was safe. A tear slipped past as she sat and marveled at the moment. She sat there trying to memorize how the weight of Anna in her lap felt and how…

"You're warm"

"Humm?"

Anna was content laying in her sister's lap and was trying not to fall asleep. Elsa's voice startled her and she was not quite sure she understood her sister's wonder in that statement, but she was not going to question Elsa right now. She was just going to enjoy this moment. As time passed she felt Elsa's body relax and she soon felt a phantom weight wrap around her. A small smile graced Anna's lips as she realized Elsa had wrapped her arms around her even if she was barely touching her. Anna shuffled her self closer and pressed herself up against Elsa and waited almost expecting Elsa to push her away, but gave a soft sigh when she felt Elsa wrap her arms more securely holding her close. The girls stayed there just enjoying the moment. A moment neither of them thought they would ever have had until it happened, so now they were just enjoying this moment.