AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yep, this is part 3 of 3. Also, a huge THANK YOU and YOU ARE WONDERFUL to all the fantastic people who have read, reviewed, and of course followed and favorited this fanfiction. It legitimately means the world to me that you would support me in my writing—especially right now. (Don't worry, my family's fine! I'm not trying to be ominous or anything; I've just been a little frustrated with some stuff as of late.) Thank you, thank you SO MUCH again, you are all awesome, I am SO happy and grateful that you're here, and I hope you have a fantabulous day! ~NNT:)

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86: SOMEBODY'S GOTTA TELL HER (3)

Despite another night's sleep in her corset and dress, Elsa felt more rested on the next morning than she had in quite some time.

Knock knock!

"The MOOOOORNING MAIL, Your Glorious Spirit-ness!"

"Come in, Olaf!"

Her face broke into a wide smile unprompted as her lock jostled, the light clicks and clankings of the tumblers being shimmied around as she sat up. Stretching, she yawned, looking to the window. It wasn't completely light out yet, but morning was definitely on its way. And she would be ready for it. For once—despite being back in the castle, with all of its constraints and schedules—she truly wanted to be.

Creeeeeak!

Elsa's bedroom door swung open, revealing the carrot jammed into her lock. Bumbling in a fraction of a second later, a stick-hand bounced up and snatched it back out.

"You have THIRTEEN new Christmas cards, Elsa!" Olaf bubbled excitedly, sticking it back into his face with a goofy grin as he turned back around to pick up the tray, "Some people think that thirteen is an unlucky number, but I think that it's great. Did you know that each of the four seasons is composed of thirteen weeks? That should be relevant information to you, now that you're actually a nature spirit and aren't supposed to be here and all."

He toddled in, the door swinging shut behind him.

Ca-CHUNK.

"Not usually supposed to be here," Queen Elsa corrected him, restraining from a laugh as she moved her legs over the side of the bed. "I'll go back to the Forest as soon as Anna's able to take the throne again. Anything else?"

"Oh, yes, there are other things. And the paper. But I was busy reading all of the cards. I LOVE that tradition!"

Looking down to the tray, Elsa's eyes fell onto the plethora of colorful envelopes, all ripped open with sparkling, highly-decorated cards sticking out. Some of the envelopes had been ripped open so enthusiastically there there was no hope of ever piecing them back together again.

Oh, Olaf.

"I can see that," Elsa chuckled.

"Do you think Jack Frost is going to come back?"

Her breath caught. Olaf set the tray down onto her dresser, turning back to her with wide-eyed innocence.

"I—um," Elsa stammered, her cheeks flushing pink, "How did—?"

The little snowman grasped his hands together in front of his bulbous body.

"I miss him," he said quietly.

Elsa looked down, a wave of guilt washing over her. This was her fault—she'd been making assumptions. And she'd been miserable, but she didn't know that anyone else—!

She drew in her breath.

"How did you hear?" she asked.

Olaf shook his head. "I didn't hear."

The Fifth Spirit watched as he bumbled over to her, coming to her bedside. Looking up, he gazed meaningfully into her eyes.

"My magic can feel it," Olaf stated.

And he placed his twig hand onto her knee.

Her heart sinking, Elsa's face fell. "I know," she said. "I think that my magic can feel it, too."

They fell quiet for a long, silent moment.

"Or maybe it's just because I'm connected to you," Olaf said suddenly, bouncing back with his grin reappearing, "Because you built me? Or maybe it's the sudden reappearance, and then disappearance, of a father figure! Maybe I'm starting to experience abandonment issues and—"

"—It's because you're connected to me, yes."

Her face flushing an even brighter crimson, Elsa stood from her bed, stretching her back against the corset.

"So, your sudden onset of a depressive downswing is affecting my psyche?" Olaf bubbled excitedly, making Elsa's eyebrows pinch together in confusion as she walked across the room, "Now, THAT is fascinating. Do you think that I've been feeling unusually happy the last couple of weeks because of your recent infatuation that everyone knows about but you?"

"You're always happy," Elsa laughed bitterly, rolling her eyes as she reached her makeup table.

Looking into her reflection, she realized with awe that she somehow looked completely rested—despite the soreness and the stress, her eyes weren't even the least bit bloodshot or puffy. Somehow, miraculously, she had gotten a good night's sleep.

Thank you, Mr. Sandman.

Huffing a laugh, the Snow Queen of Arendelle smiled to herself, giving her head a little shake as she reached for her drawer pull.

Are you sure you haven't considered becoming a Guardian of Adulthood?

Chunk! Elsa pulled the drawer out, thoughtfully looking down to consider her makeup collection.

"I'm not always happy," Olaf countered, following her over. "Only about ninety-seven percent of the time."

"Where did that statistic come from?"

"I made it up." He looked at her in innocent confusion once again. "Isn't that how it works?"

Elsa opened her mouth and then shut it.

"I try not to think about that," she muttered. "Anyway, what I can tell you is that I spoke to a friend of Jack's last night."

Olaf gasped. "Aaaaaand?"

"And he thinks that Jack Frost will already be on his way back right now."

Pulling out her favorite lavender eye shadow, Elsa actually smiled, remembering the delightful eggnog-rich conversation. Abdullah was wonderful. And, as for those dreams…

"Oooooooh, that's GREAT!" the snowman exclaimed, leaping up with his top half spinning independently of his bottom, "Do you know when? Tell me, tell me!"

"No." She shook her head. "But I believe in him."

"Well, in that case, I'm SURE he'll be here soon," Olaf exclaimed, beginning to turn and head for her door. "The Hill is going to be REALLY busy today. I'm so excited!"

Feeling much lighter, Elsa laughed. "Make sure to remind them about the Christmas Party!" she called out as he opened the door.

"I will!"

Ca-CHUNK!

Alone in her room once again, Elsa turned back to her reflection, taking stalk of her appearance. Jack Frost would be coming back today. He would.

He had to.

A few minutes later, flicking her newly-braided hair back over her shoulder, Elsa flicked her hand across her new ice gown, a burst of snowflakes settling into a grand spiral on her left hip and sweeping down across the fabric of her skirt to the ground. Jack Frost—at least according to their now-mutual friend—was coming back. And she would be waiting for him.

She wasn't entirely sure what would happen, or where she and Jack could even go from here, but she knew that she could no longer run from this. It was time to stop concealing.

Finishing the snowflakes, the Fifth Spirit looked down to the tray of mail on her desk. Beneath all the cheery Christmas greetings were the usual political notes, invitations, requests, and—of course—the day's paper. She would receive the rest of her briefings later, as Acting Queen, but she usually got a head start on things by reviewing the pile in the morning.

She groaned inwardly. This part of being the queen had always exhausted her, and she did NOT miss it. But did she still… could she really get away with one day of not…?

Not yet?

Her heart light, Elsa gave her head a little shake, then spinning around and nearly running from her room. She couldn't WAIT to see her family. It was December 23rd—and, for the next hour of her life, the news could wait. She was allowed to have a little fun.

When she came into the private dining room a minute later, she saw that Kristoff, Anna, Rapunzel, and Eugene were all already there, speaking to each other in anxious, hushed tones. None of them were sitting around the table, but were instead standing by the fireplace on the far edge of the room, all clustered around a newspaper with their faces grave.

It was Queen Anna who noticed Elsa first.

"ELSA!"

The pregnant young queen broke away from the group, stumbling as fast as she could towards her sister, then falling into the Fifth Spirit's open embrace.

"Are you okay?" Anna gasped breathlessly.

"I'm fine." Elsa straightened, helping her sister to right herself as a pang of guilt hit her in the chest. "I hope that you are, too. And I owe you an apology for earlier."

Anna smiled weakly, shaking her head. "You don't have to apologize."

"No, I—I do. I shut you out," Elsa stammered, "I shut everyone out. But I'm okay now."

If anything, despite her smile, Anna now looked more concerned than relieved. Her brow furrowed as she studied her sister's face. "You are?" she asked quietly. "Are you sure?"

Elsa nodded. "Yes. I spoke to someone last night."

"Who?"

Gathering her courage, Elsa drew in her breath.

"A friend of Jack's," she said.

The conversation on the side of the room hushed, everyone turning to stare at her. Squeezing her eyes shut, the Fifth Spirit sucked in another quick breath of air.

"I don't know how things are going to work out," Elsa confessed, the words tumbling from her mouth in a rush, "But—I've realized that I've been making assumptions about Jack. And that isn't fair. To him. So when he gets back, I've decided that I need to tell Jack how I feel about him."

Opening her eyes, she smiled nervously, looking to her sister for approval. Instead, Anna's smile began to falter.

"When he gets back?" she squeaked. "Jack Frost is coming back to Arendelle?"

Elsa nodded. "Yes. Absolutely," she beamed, "In fact, my contact even thinks that he should be back by tonight."

Still holding her sister's hands, the Snow Queen watched as Anna's smile faded, her look of frantic relief being replaced by a slow and creeping horror.

Elsa looked to the others. Her heart started pounding in confusion as she watched her family members exchange looks, glancing at each other nervously. Looking at Elsa—and then back to the group—Eugene Fitzherbert pulled in his breath.

"She doesn't know," he whispered.

Elsa froze. Stumbling back a step and dropping her sister's hands, she heard herself let out a breathy, uncomfortable laugh.

"Wait," she stammered. "What?"

Eugene glanced downwards, biting his fist. "She hasn't heard," he muttered again, turning towards the others. "She hasn't seen it."

Anna's face was pale. Her expression tight with worry, she turned away from Elsa and started to walk back to the group. "Guys—"

"Today's paper," Kristoff started gravely, looking to Elsa as he held it up. "You haven't seen it yet?"

Elsa shook her head. "No," she stammered, "I—I just came straight here, as soon as I got ready. What are you guys talking about?"

"Kristoff," Anna choked, now standing next to him and reaching to take the newspaper, "If Jack is going to come back anyway, maybe we should wait until—"

"—Somebody's gotta tell her!" he hissed, snatching it away.

"But we don't know that this was—"

"—Don't we?"

"Tell me what?"

Everyone stopped. Queen Anna, King Kristoff, Princess Rapunzel, and her husband Eugene all looked to where Elsa was standing, her eyes wide with fear. A few flurries of snow began to sparkle from the air in her peripheral vision, and the Snow Queen shakily took a step forward.

"What do I not know?" she tried again.

Anna and Kristoff were now both holding onto the newspaper, each grasping one end like they were ready to tug it from the other. Turning to his wife, Kristoff's expression was bordering on desperate.

"Somebody's—got—to tell her," he choked.

Anna's face was pained. Pressing her lips together, she then let go of the newspaper, letting Kristoff take it. He turned, and Elsa watched in terror as he walked towards her, an uncommon fright in her brother-in-law's usually-relaxed brown eyes.

"Elsa—I am so sorry," Kristoff shook, the room deathly still as everyone was silent, "He—honestly had me fooled. I never thought he'd do something like this. Like—"

"—Like what?"

His face grave, Kristoff held out the newspaper. Queen Elsa shakily took it, her blood freezing in her veins as her eyes fell onto the headline.

RECORD-BREAKING BLIZZARD SMASHES KINGSLEY