Authors note: The last time we left off Elsa and Hans were left conflicted. Will the truth be revealed? We shall see...

Any way thank you for all of the reviews. Now for your pleasure, here is a new chapter, thank you for reading and please review when done.

Steam billowed from the land giving it a mystical aura. It was an amazing place but right now Elsa did not care much for it.

As she sat down on the ground she relaxed a bit as she had finished explaining her story. Looking Paddie patiently listened before sighting and saying "My answer is the same as always, I will not help",

"Why not?" asked Elsa both angry and desperate,

"You know why" said Paddie sighting, calming down Elsa asked again with hope "Not even some advice?".

This made Paddie hesitate before saying "Alright, but I am not going to tell you more",

"That is fine" said Elsa,

"Then my advice is this... this is something only you can solve, nobody else" said Paddie as he got up and began to walk away.

"That's it? Nothing more?" asked Elsa even a bit upset. But Paddie paid no mind and left.

As he did Elsa frowned as she knew he was right, but what could she do? This John person, how she was not sure, but somehow, someway he made her heart sing in a way that nobody else but Hans had before.

She sighted and looked down, thinking the pros and cons. Yes she knew Hans would have wanted her to be happy, move on and find somebody else, but she did not want to.

Why?

Because in truth she did not want to and she did not want to risk it. She did not want to find another man to fill what could have been, she was perfectly fine on her own and did not miss having that kind of relationship in her life. Yes she missed Hans and yes she wanted him and their relationship back, but she had come to terms with his death, that he was gone and he was better off without her in his life. Regardless she was perfectly content alone, doing her job on her own and waiting till she crosses over to the other side to hopefully be reunited with Hans.

As for the risk, she was not stupid, she was not going to risk sharing power with anybody as she found it hard to trust anybody after hearing what the council and others in the past though of her. They did not want to marry her, they want power.

And even if John Winters only wanted her there was not a chance in the world she would even let him try to marry her. She knew the laws well, royals especially herself are not allowed to marry commoners. Plus if he tried it was guarantee that he would not only be wasting his time, energy and love, but he would surely go through a lot of worse trials than Hans had gone through. It would not be fair for John and even herself to put the poor guy through that.

He is or at least he seems to be a good guy and he deserved to be with a woman who would not make him jump through hoops of fire or risk his life constantly to prove his love and worth for her.

After hours of thinking Elsa nodded. She made her choice.

Four weeks later:

Sitting down Hans poked and pushed food around his plate, his mind elsewhere. Though Agnaar could not see he could hear the fork scratching against the plate before he asked "Something in your mind?", this made Hans jolt back to reality and said "I am sorry, I was not paying attention" before quickly asking "Do you want me to make you another plate?",

"No no, I just noticed you seem a bit out today" said Agnaar as he sat on the opposite side of the table and asked "Is there something in your mind?"

"Nothing, just thinking" said Hans as he took a mouthful of the food on his plate, it was cold,

"About what?" asked Agnaar curious, Hans hesitated to answer but before he did he heard a knock on the door.

Curious Hans said "Be back", getting up Hans walked over to the door and looked through the peephole to find, much to his own surprise, it was Elsa.

"Elsa?" Though Hans as he opened the door to greet her but much to his surprise she said "We need to talk".

Outside in the back of the cabin was a small garden, they were alone, not a single soul to eavesdrop, which was what Elsa wanted.

Both she and John were quiet, but she noticed how Johns/Hans hands moved, he was nervous. With a breath Elsa said "John, you are a good man",

"Elsa I-",

"Let me finish please, this is hard as it is" said Elsa sadly as she interrupted John/Hans. He said nothing more so she continued "I must confess that I like you, I trust you, I enjoy having you around, not just as a worker, but more",

"Queen Elsa, I am flattered" said John/Hans rather surprised as this was not something he expected to hear,

"That's why what I have to say will be difficult" said Elsa then continued with a sad tone "I cannot have you around".

This struck John/Hans hard as his face changed quick from surprise to sad and devastated.

"I really do like you, but I cannot have you around John" said Elsa then explained "I love another, his name was Hans, he was... is.. the love of my life, I know and can move on, but it's my choice to stay by him and even if that was not the case I do not trust anybody to rule by my side, I rather be alone and not share my power than take chances",

"But Queen Elsa-" he tried again, more desperate again,

"Please understand, this is hard for me, but despite that I promise I will make it up to you" promised Elsa "I will give you some land and a castle, along with a pension and some servants so your lives can be easier and if you want I can set you up with a good woman, all you have to do is take Agnaar and leave, never cross paths with me again".

There was silence after that, at first Elsa though he would agree but much to her surprise he said "I can't Elsa".

This made Elsa angry and she snapped "Why not? I offered you riches! Land! Servants! And you dare to go against me?! What will it take for you to-",

"I am Hans!" John/Hans finally blurted out making Elsa stop and stare in shock.

He said that, but Elsa could not believe it, did she actually hear what she though she heard?

"Pardon?" She asked in a shocked and weak voice.

"I am Hans!" Hans blurted our, as soon as he did he regretted it. This was not how he wanted Elsa to find out as he stared at her.

She looked at him, part shocked and part not believing him, before asking in a weak and shocked voice "Pardon?".

Swallowing a bit Hans cleared his voice and said "I am Hans" then braced himself, sure that he going to either be frozen to death or have Elsa screaming at his face, calling him a liar.

Much to his surprise neither happened. He flinched when Elsa reached for him, her hands pressed against the side of his face as she stared at his face, gently she stroke then moved her hands to the top of his head, digging them into his hair and stroking his scalp gently, it was very enjoyable. Always was as this was something Elsa always did in the past.

Suddenly her eyes widen in shocking realization as she whispered "It... you...", taking one hand he kissed the palm, this was something only he did to her. Something very intimate he never shared with anybody.

"Hans?" She said in shock, he nodded and said "I am so sorry... I wanted to tell you but-".

Suddenly Elsa screamed "You idiot! Why did you not tell me!?",

"I am sorry I just-",

"I could have killed you Hans! Why?! Why did you not tell me!? I would have never made you go through all that if you had told me!? What if you died!? What if I killed you?!" She screamed and cried.

At that moment Hans realized she was not mad at him, rather she was mad at herself.

"Elsa I am sorry... but I was afraid" said Hans sadly.

This seemed to hit her hard as she turned and looked at him sadly and asked "why?"

For a moment Hans did not respond before asking "Can I discuss that with you, Anna and Kristoff?"

It had taken all day before Kristoff and Anna arrived, the wait made Hans more nervous as he now sat on a chair in one of the many living rooms of the castle, in front of him was Anna, Kristoff and Elsa, all waiting for answers, very patiently.

This was not exactly what he had in mind when he was going to tell the truth.

In fact he was scared they would gang up on him and scream and such at him. Especially Anna as he knew how temperamental she was in the past. Of

Course there was a chance that they changed but he was still rather scared.

For moment there was no words exchanged, then finally Elsa began "Hans... why?".

This made Hans feel a little relief, but not quite as he was ready for the other shoe to drop any second now. Taking another breath Hans spoke "Why? Why did I not come back or why did I not tell the truth sooner?" He paused then said "I was afraid...",

"Afraid? How could you be afraid? Are we not your family?" asked Anna, her voice a little raised but controlled, it was clear that she was hurt by his answer, so was Elsa and Kristoff.

"Hans, we consider you family, we opened up our home and hearts to you, we forgave you" added Elsa sadly "I wanted you in my life",

"Why? You don't need me" said Hans,

"But I want you! I want you in my life! Nobody else! I want us to be married, have a family! How could you think of something so horrible?" asked Elsa, tears streaming from her face. She was happy he was alive, but sad that he did not come back sooner.

"How was I supposed to know? All I knew was that I was not wanted here" said Hans then hesitated "You all never spend time with me, but made time for others, I was not allowed to join in family trips or game nights or even dinners... I spend days alone because every time I tried to talk to any of you either I was insulted or told that there was no time for me..." tears began to fall as old wounds opened up "And the dates... too many times I was left behind waiting for somebody who never came... somebody who spent her time complementing others, spending time with others",

"And because of that you though that I did not love you?!" Elsa growled a little angry,

"You told me you forgave me yet you always criticize my looks, what I did, you destroyed my gifts because they were not up to your standards, you let others insult me or treat me badly" said Hans "I always defended you and your honor, I always treated you with respect and love... yet you never did the same..."

There was silence as Hans sighted yet again and continued "I am human Elsa, I make mistakes, I understand what I did was terrible and did all I could to make it right... that's why I left and never came back... I wanted to save you any pain and difficulty that would come with being with me... I did not want to make you choose between me and your family... because I agree with what you all think... I am not good enough... I am not worthy... for you"

To that he straightened himself, looked at them with fire in his eyes as he then looked at Kristoff and said "And I am not the only one who thinks this or had the same feelings".

To that Kristoffs eyes widen, while Anna looked down in a bit of shame while Elsa turned and growled "You knew?!",

"That Hans was alive no... but I do agree with what he says" said Kristoff silently cursing Hans for exposing him.

"Why did you not say anything?!" demanded Elsa,

"I tried! You and Anna never listened!" snapped Kristoff at her "I get that you two are close, but the world does not end and start with the two of you, there are many others here yet you two act as if only you two exist, as if only the two of you matter".

"That's not true" said Elsa in denial,

"It is" there was a whisper. Elsa looked at Anna who looked close to crying.

"I am sorry Elsa, but Kristoff and Hans are telling the truth" she said as her voice trembled. As she did she remembered the past. She was truly ashamed as she many years back when Kristoff was found her focus was on her sister, Kristoff was lying in bed, hurt and depressed that he could no longer walk or move normally again while she spent all her time with Elsa, even when she was with Kristoff all she spoke about was Elsa and her worry for her. Never once she asked about how he was or spoke to him about how he felt till one day he blew up at her.

It took almost loosing him to make her realize how horrible she had been to him.

Though things are okay now, she still could not help but feel guilty about what happened.

Hearing this Elsa stared, she knew yet had been in denial, it was easier that way. So knowing now that her fears were true.

That Hans really did though that he was not loved or wanted...

It broke her heart...

"I don't blame you Elsa, I am not mad at any of you" said Hans breaking the silence "I agree with all of you as not even I would want somebody with my past near me",

"No no" said Anna quickly "You are not to blame, it is my fault, you proved yourself many times over yet I did not want to give you a chance... I was so focused on the past and my sister... I lost my way",

"No Anna, you were hurt and you were looking out for me... you are not to blame, it is my fault" said Elsa sadly "If I had not been such a coward, had I just put my foot down sooner non of this would have happened, I should have stood up for you and defended you, not gone along with what my father said".

After a bit the group began to laugh a little, "Makes me wonder how we still have a relationship, our communication is terrible" snickered Kristoff,

"Yes, I guess being isolated does that to you" laughed Elsa between tears,

"And being stuck in a bubble" agreed Anna.

Soon all of them were laughing, good hearty laughs. They were all so nervous that this conversation would turn into a never ending screaming match, so seeing this was a huge relief for all of them to the point that it felt silly that they were so afraid.

After a bit they calm down and looked at one another, at that moment they realized they did not know what to say, what else to do.

Turning to Hans Elsa swallowed and decided this was probably her last chance, so she said...

"Hans... I love you... I did before and still do" began Elsa before hesitating afraid, afraid of asking as she does not want to know the answer, but she pushed on "I know I did not show it before, I did not tell you before, but I will now" she reached and took his hand "You are my sun, my moon" she squeezed his hand "You are my choice Havi..." with weak hope she finally asked "Can we try again?".

Hans looked, his heart said yes, but his mind screamed at him no. He looked at her, he loves her, but he could not go through what he did before. He was older now, there were things he wanted to do, like be married, have kids, he could not do it if he was forced to go through what he did in the past.

He simply did not have the time or energy to waste on something that may or may not happen. Which to him was a big deal as not having kids is a dealbreaker for him now and at his age he knew that window of opportunity was coming to a fast close.

But then again there is a huge probability that the past will not repeat itself.

Still it was a huge gamble, it was a whether he did or did not...

"I don't know" Hans said honestly, to that Elsa was ashamed to admit that she could not hide her disappointment as her face dropped in sadness. In truth she was close to bawling her eyes out as it confirmed her worst fear yet again and she did not blame him as not even she would want to be married to herself.

"If that's what you want we will respect you" said Anna with a weak smile "You deserve to be happy",

"I just need sometime to think about it... that's all" promised Hans as he did not want to make them think that he said no right now.

"Alright, take all the time you need" said Kristoff.

Hans said nothing and just looked at Elsa, who weakly smiled and nodded.

"I will be back... I promised..." promised Hans as he got up and left.

To be continued...

Authors note: The truth is out, after all that happened, but what will be the end? Will Hans choose to leave or stay?

We shall see in the next chapter, please keep an eye out for the next chapter and remember to review when done.