A/N: So, the 'cook from Ireland' who ' was a carrier, but not sick herself' and 'transmitted it to her employers, unaware that she carried the disease,' who was called 'Typhoid Mary' was a real person. Mary "Typhoid Mary" Mallon (23 Sept 1869 - 11 Nov 1938) was an Irish immigrant who became a cook for wealthy New York families. Due to common practice at the time, Mary did not wash her hands before cooking, and unknowingly infected 53 people with typhoid fever between 1900 and 1907, three (historians disagree about whether the number of dead were three or five) of whom died. Mary refused to believe she was a carrier, and had to be forcefully quarantined twice, once from 1907 - 1910, and then again from 1915 to her death in 1938. Mallon was the first ever person within the United States to be identified as an asymptomatic carrier of disease- meaning while she carried the disease, she did not show any outward signs or symptoms- and it is because of her that good hygiene practices were brought about in New York state and later all across America- such as washing hands before and after preparing food and after using the restroom.

Just a bit of history for you.- Licia

Late November, 1854

Osborne House,

East Cowes, Isle of Wight, Great Britain

"You and Hans create the most beautiful children, Elsa." Victoria shifted her hold on little Netta, gently tapping the baby's nose, eliciting a smile from the little girl.

"May I hold her, Mama?" Vicky asked, reaching for the baby.

"Ask Auntie Elsa, Vicky." Her mother nodded to the Snow Queen, who sat beside Hans on the chaise in the royal family's sitting area, interjecting on occasion during her husband's conversation with Albert. The fourteen-year-old Princess Royal crossed the short distance between the two queens and gently tugged on her aunt's sleeve.

"Auntie?" Suddenly, big blue eyes were pinned on the young girl, and she stepped back to curtsy instinctively, but Elsa stopped her.

"What is it, Vicky?"

"May I hold the baby?" Elsa glanced at Victoria, who shook her head over her daughter's shoulder; it was very clear that whatever Victoria thought in regards to newborn babies, once they reached that stage of adorableness, even she was unable to resist. With a soft chuckle, Elsa turned back to her oldest niece, smiling at her.

"Of course." She leaned close, and the girl met her, their heads bent close. "Though I fear your mother will be reluctant to give Netta up." The teenager followed her aunt's gaze, before returning to her mother.

"Auntie said it was okay, Mama." Victoria glanced at her daughter and then back at the seven-month-old. After a moment, the British queen reluctantly handed the little girl over, and Vicky immediately proceeded to press kisses to the baby's auburn curls. With her new niece now absent from her arms, Victoria stood, going to Elsa and taking the hand that rested on the armrest. The queen looked up. Anna was sitting beside young Alice, and Lord Bismarck, who had accompanied the family as the princess's companion and stood beside the piano, listening to the girl as she practiced her scales, and Milla and Affie- both at ten years of age now- were traipsing around the halls, causing Gods only knew what mischief as Annes and Helena, both eight, chased after them. Anja who at six was Princess Louise's age, sat playing with Louise, Sof and Liesel not far away from their parents.

"How have things been, Victoria?" Elsa asked, removing herself from her husband's embrace and getting up. She turned back when Hans caught her hand, leaning down to accept the kiss he gave without him missing a beat of his conversation with Albert. The two women locked arms as they left the sitting room, making their way through the royal family's private quarters.

"Chaotic." Victoria chuckled, as Milla dashed by, auburn hair in long sausage curls and held back with bows, the simple light green of her dress making her fiery hair stand out all the more; the ruffles of her bloomers brushing the tops of her high-button boots. "Camilla, be careful."

"Yes, Auntie." The girl curtsied quickly before hurrying into the sitting room, Affie, Annes and Helena- Lenchen, as the family, including the Scandinavian royals, called her- chased after her.

"Be careful, all of you! We don't want you or your siblings getting hurt, especially the baby!"

"Yes, Mama." Annes called back; Lenchen and Affie glanced back, catching their aunt's stern look.

"Yes, Auntie!" They quickly bowed or curtsied to her before rushing to catch up. Once the children were gone, the two women continued on, Elsa gently covering Victoria's hand with hers. The two royal families were spending time at Osborne House, which Victoria and Albert had bought back in eighteen-forty-five; the sprawling estate was similar to Halsten and Jannicke, in that they were private residences for the family when they wanted to escape court life. Albert, like Hans had done with Halsten, had designed it himself, making sure it would meet their growing family's needs, and it was now a gorgeous sprawling estate. Eventually, they made it outside, and, midst the November chill, proceeded to wander through the countryside.

They had celebrated Milla's birthday two days earlier, and the young Crown Princess had delighted in seeing the expansive grounds, and when Victoria had offered to go riding with the girl, she'd been thrilled. Osborne was similar to the Arendellian and Southern Isles residences in that the family's private apartments were quite domestic and homey, and meant for the children to spend as much time with their parents as possible. The children had delighted in the Swiss Cottage on the grounds, and in the first days into the visit, Elsa and Hans had gone in search of their children, only to find them with their 'cousins' as the adults called them, in the cottage, cooking under a maid's watchful gaze.

The crisp autumn air filled their lungs as they walked, and Elsa reached up to hold her bonnet down, only to remember that they had left Osborne without bonnets, gloves, nor shawls. It felt liberating, if she were honest. "You're awful quiet, Elsa. Is something wrong?" She glanced at Victoria, considering her words carefully.

"Hans told me last night before bed that I am not serious enough." Victoria chuckled softly, stopping at her friend's soft glare. "And yet when I retorted back that he is entirely and completely too serious, he responded by calling me tempestuous and romantic."

"Well, how dare he." Victoria chuckled, clearing her throat to cover it up. "Tempestuous, perhaps, and Annalei is far more of a romantic than you are, Elsa, but you do have a touch of romanticism to you."

"That is ridiculous." Elsa responded as they continued on. It took Victoria a while to cover up her laughter, and through a choked giggle, she leaned close, asking,

"And what did you say?"

The Arendellian Snow Queen glanced at her friend, blue gaze serious. "That he is far too logical and mathematical. He is not tempestuous at all; it takes so much for his moods to change, that sometimes I fear my darling husband does not know what to do with himself. And what example is he setting for the children?"

They stopped, having reached and entered the stables; Elsa removed her arm from Victoria's grasp, going to a nearby sack hanging from a hook and removing an apple. She returned as Victoria perched on a bench and gently patted the nearest horse's snout, holding the apple in her palm for the animal. A moment passed, as the animal stepped back, unused to such a cold touch, but when it realized she meant no harm, it allowed her to continue stroking it, eventually reaching for the apple. "A very good example, it would seem to me." Her friend's glare caused her pause. "I am simply saying, Elsa, that perhaps there is much to be gained from Hans'... logical thinking. You are quite perfect together in every way, how can you not see that?"

"I do see that, Victoria." She returned to the sack, removing it from the hook and returning to the stall. "I just..." She sighed, slumping against the wood, the sack still in her hand. Before she could continue her thought, something grabbed at the thick braid woven around her head, and she turned, to find the horse nickering at her, as Victoria laughed softly. "All right, all right. Calm down." Rummaging into the sack for several minutes, she removed a carrot, holding it out for the horse, who took it happily. "I just... he is fighting me on this meeting with the Sultan, and refuses to see reason."

Victoria remembered the countless letters she and Elsa had exchanged in the last year, about her mentions of her correspondence with the sultan's wives, and then the mention of a request to meet in person to form an alliance. She knew that Hans was not happy about it, but at the same time, she understood Elsa's feelings behind it as well. "Elsa, you are monarch of Arendelle, not Hans. It is you who has the final say."

"But the decisions we make-"

"I know, but if this is what you feel is best, then." She shrugged. "Have you suggested he come with you?" A nod. "And?"

"He-" But before she could finish, the door the stall opened, and Anna slipped inside, having come in search of them. "Annalei, what is it? What's wrong?"

The princess had tears streaming down her cheeks, and was shaking, the shawl she wore near falling from her shoulders. She rushed to her sister, throwing her arms around the queen. "I... I told Lord Bismarck that... that I... I love him..."

The two ruling monarchs shared a glance. "That's good, isn't it?" Victoria asked excitedly, glancing between the sisters. "I don't understand, why are you crying, Annalei, if that's good?" Anna turned to Victoria.

"Because he said that he loves me too, but as long as he sits upon the queen's council, he cannot give his heart to me. He won't jeopardize his loyalty to Arendelle and her crown or the monarch that wears her." She turned back to Elsa, who looked as though she'd been doused in ice water. "Oh, Lise, I don't think I shall ever been happy again."

"Oh, Anna." Victoria sighed, exasperated.

Slowly, the monarch met her sister's gaze, reaching up to caress her cheeks. "No man would give you up, unless he knew it was his duty." She kissed her sister's forehead. "When you give your heart, Annalei, you will do so without hesitation, whether that is to Lord Bismarck or someone else." The princess shook her head, burying her face in her sister's shoulder as Elsa pulled her closer.