Elsa woke up to sunlight streaming in through the bedroom windows and the smell of bacon, french toast, and grits floating up from the kitchen. No alarm was buzzing and it was well past eight o'clock. Tiana had been home for just over a day and it was now Saturday morning - Elsa's first chance to actually enjoy a day with the woman she loved. She had no responsibilities save to go savor the breakfast that was already drawing her down to the kitchen by her nose. Smiling and clad only in a silk nightgown, she descended the steps and began her day.
"Good morning, sleepy-head," Tiana teased. She was already showered and dressed.
"Good morning, Tiana," Elsa responded, pulling the other woman to her and kissing her.
"Hey!" She screamed in response to being dragged away from her cooking. "I'm almost done, just sit down and let me finish up."
"Yes, ma'am," Elsa joked back, taking a seat at the dining room table. Tiana did not believe in eating in front of the television; meals were to be shared as a family without other distractions.
Soon, all of the food was piled in front of the blonde, alongside a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. "Where do you find the time?" Elsa had to ask. "How long have you been up?"
"Since six, I think. You know I've never been one for sleep," Tiana responded, sitting down across from her partner and digging into the food.
"You know, sleep is kind of important. I don't want you just dropping dead on me or anything. You have to take care of yourself," Elsa insisted as she poured syrup on her French toast.
"I take plenty of care of myself. When's the last time you've hit the gym, hun? I keep my food as healthy as I can with soul food, and I already went jogging when I first woke up."
Elsa tried to remember the last time she'd been to the gym. It has been a while. "You know how busy work keeps me," she explained defensively.
"I know, but I promise you can still find some time to exercise. You used to always join me."
"Then you stopped being around often enough for it to be a habit."
Tiana looked hurt. I should not have said that. "I'm sorry I'm never here," she responded glumly, looking down into her grits.
"I didn't mean it like that. I'm so proud of you for everything you're accomplishing, I just have trouble keeping exercise habits on my own. I promise I'll get back to it, just when you're here invite me to join you, okay?"
"So you'll go jogging with me tomorrow morning, then?" Tiana asked, cheering up.
That sounds like Hell. "Sounds heavenly. I'd love to."
"I'll keep you to that, Elsa," Tiana said seriously. "I'm not letting you up and die on me of a heart attack in twenty years. This is exactly why I bought you that stationary bike a few years back, so you could go over papers for work while still getting some exercise in. When's the last time you used it?"
Probably the day you bought it for me. "It's been a while. As much paperwork as I've had of late I should really take advantage of that more. There would probably be fewer wine and coffee stains on my legal files."
This at least elicited a giggle from Tiana and her expression softened. "I just want to make sure you take care of yourself. Your metabolism isn't going to manage everything on its own forever."
"Don't remind me," Elsa whined back, "I've gained five pounds this year. When I was in my twenties I could live off of fried food and carbs and still keep a perfect figure. Being old sucks."
"Maybe I shouldn't be feeding you so much junk food then. You know my preferences, but I should really stop using so much oil, and maybe a few more salads and a few less beignets wouldn't be a bad idea for either of us. I've gained a couple pounds too," Tiana reasoned, looking guiltily at the load of fat and carbs before them.
"Oh no, you are not taking away my beignets," Elsa panicked. "I'll exercise more, but not that."
"I could always try making healthier beignets. Change the oil, use less of it, less powdered sugar, mess around with the dough to make it a bit lighter."
"You wouldn't dare," Elsa growled.
"I wouldn't, I could never go that far," Tiana laughed. "But if we keep gaining weight I'll have to consider it."
"How about an after-breakfast jog?"
"I already showered."
"You can shower with me afterward, it'll be a lot more fun that way," Elsa grinned lasciviously. "Plus it's an extra work out."
Tiana seemed to approve of that idea. "All right, we're jogging two miles, then if you still have the energy we can have some more fun in the shower."
"Two miles?" Elsa gulped.
"Gotta keep that ass firm," Tiana explained. "Otherwise it won't make that nice thwack when I smack it." She demonstrated the sound she meant.
"Hey now, I thought we were saving that for after," Elsa pulled the younger woman to her and kissed her again, their lips sticking slightly from the syrup. "Let's clean up and have that jog."
Exhausted and newly showered, the two lovers collapsed back into their bed in each other's naked embrace. "That was nice," Elsa breathed.
"It really was a nice jog, a little cold out, but still nice."
"Yes, the jog." Elsa bit Tiana's neck, eliciting a slight moan in response. "That is exactly what I meant. I'm glad you understand me so well. You know how much I love jogging."
Tiana glared back, sliding a hand up Elsa's abdomen. "I know you do, I'm glad you're getting so into it, it's important to enjoy your exercise." When her hand reached its target, she pinched a firm mound and Elsa's body rocked back in shock and pleasure.
"I enjoyed my exercise plenty." She climbed on top of Tiana, pinning the other woman's arms to the bed. "And we're about to have some more if you don't stop that."
"Hey, you started it," Tiana replied, gazing hungrily up at the blonde.
"Semantics."
"Says the lawyer."
"Shh," Elsa put a finger to Tiana's lips. She promptly bit it. "Ow."
"What are you going to do about that case?" Tiana asked, after releasing her love's finger.
"Where'd that come from?"
"Thinking of you being a lawyer. I know you have to defend him, but what are you actually going to do? I've seen how heavily it's weighing on you, tell me about it," she sat up and looked at her girlfriend with concern-filled eyes, her nudity only a slight distraction now that the mood was thoroughly dampened.
Elsa leaned her head against the soft flesh of her partner's chest and let out a loud sigh. "Well I think I'm going to win it. I just don't know what I can do to make sure I can live with it. The victim wasn't even his patient anymore, the case should be pretty easy, but I'm going to hate myself so much."
"Don't hate yourself. I love you. You are doing this because you have to." Tiana's fingers traced through the light blonde hair cascading over both of them.
"I don't have to, that's the thing. I am choosing to do this and I know it. I could go be a lawyer for an organization that actually helps people, I could retire with my more than ample savings—"
"You could just be my kept woman," Tiana added. "Just let me take care of you, then I'd actually be able to see you when I'm home."
"Exactly, I don't need this at all. I can't pretend that I'm desperate for the work, I'm just power hungry and want to prove myself. It's selfish, and I'm going to hurt that poor woman."
"If the case is as open and shut as you make it sound, it wouldn't matter who the lawyer was, she'd be hurt no matter what. As much as your client sounds like a complete asshole, he deserves representation just like anyone else, and while you may be the best," Elsa managed a half grin in response to that, "it doesn't sound like you'll have to show off those skills to win. Don't hate yourself for something that would happen regardless."
"The image still doesn't look good," Elsa sat up, looking to the younger woman. "Thanks to you I'm rather annoyingly famous, so this disgusting excuse for a human being has an open lesbian, who's a partner in a prestigious law firm representing him. It makes me look like a complete sell-out and I can already feel the media about to swoop in on this to start devouring my carrion."
"Well if you'd stop keeping dead rodents in your pockets that wouldn't be an issue," Tiana joked, trying to lighten the mood.
"But I need my lucky half-decayed whole rabbit to win the case. Otherwise all my lawyer powers will be gone," Elsa insisted, her face taught with the false fear.
"Then at least keep it in an airtight container so you stop attracting scavengers." She sighed; this concern couldn't just be dismissed with humor. "You really think they're going to make a spectacle of this?" She sat up and ran a hand along the blonde's exposed shoulder.
"I know they will. I expect half of them to make me out to be a traitor to the cause and the other half to make him look good, saying that his wretched abuse has the official lesbian seal of approval so there's nothing wrong with him. I don't blame Gaston for wanting me on this case, I make Thompson look like less of a monster, and that's the worst part of it. I just hate every possible result of this."
"Breathe, think about making equity, think about what this will mean for your career."
Elsa hadn't even noticed that her breathing had quickened. She seemed almost near hyperventilating. She tried to calm herself and followed Tiana's advice. "That only makes it worse. I am a sellout."
"Then in that case my cashing in on my sexuality to ensure more publicity for my restaurants is also selling out. Join the club."
"That's not the same. You're not using it to hurt other people like us, you're using it to sell good food."
"Yeah, but that good food will clog their arteries, I've probably killed more gay people than Thompson has." They both managed a dark chuckle at that. "I don't think you're a sellout, I think you're just doing what you can to get ahead. If you make name partner, you'll never have to defend another homophobe, right?"
"Not unless they have enough money that refusing them would be career suicide due to losing the firm their business," Elsa explained sardonically.
"Keep climbing up that totem pole until you don't have to listen to anyone else. Do whatever it takes to accomplish your dreams. As much as you'll hate yourself for doing this case, you will get over it. If you abandoned what you've been dreaming about since you were a teenager, you never would."
She's right. I hate it when she's right. Which is always. I hate always. "Can I still bitch about it?" Elsa asked worriedly.
"Of course, that's the most important part," Tiana agreed, her eyes crinkling in a smile.
Elsa sat up and looked into Tiana's eyes, without a trace of humor in her own. "Promise me you won't hate me for this? Promise me that you won't hate me for defending someone who has devoted his life to hurting people like us. Well, if we were broke and vulnerable."
"I highly doubt he's going after the broke ones," she faltered, tears starting to shimmer in her brown eyes. "But no matter what happens, I could never hate you. You're the love of my life, Elsa. This won't change anything."
They held each other in a tight embrace, tears silently falling from their eyes. I hope I can believe that. I don't know if I'd be able to say the same if I was you.
Elsa's phone rang. She really didn't want to go into work today, there was no way there was any possible event that could occur that would be so important that she would want to get out of bed with Tiana on a Saturday. By the third ring her curiosity took the best of her and she asked Tiana to hand her the phone since they had somehow ended up on each other's sides of the bed in their cuddling.
"I'll give you two some alone time," Tiana said, wrapping the sheet around herself as she handed Elsa the phone before walking out of the room.
Elsa stared after her in confusion, then looked down at her phone. It was Anna. I don't think she's called me since just after Olaf was born. "Hello?" she asked hesitantly, convinced that it was somehow a wrong number.
"Oh, good, you still have the same number! Wow, it's so good to hear your voice. It's been way too long, Elsa," a familiar voice answered on the other end of the line. It was strange, in Elsa's head Anna always sounded like she did when she was fifteen - when Elsa had first received custody of her. All of the emails had still sounded like her teenage sister. It was strange hearing the difference those fifteen years had made. Her voice was so similar, but yet so different. Her baby sister was an adult.
"It's good to hear your voice too. Wow, you're up early, isn't it only nine over there? Can't believe my baby sister wakes up before noon on Saturdays now," Elsa teased, remembering how difficult it had always been to wake her up, even on a school day. Eventually she had learned that she had to stay there until her sister actually crawled out of bed or else she would just go back to sleep. She really has grown up.
"Unfortunately Olaf does not appreciate my beauty sleep. My son still has to eat, I can't just sleep all day anymore," she replied, sounding more annoyed than Elsa had expected. I really can't treat her like a kid anymore.
"Sorry, I know, I really am glad to hear from you. What's going on?"
"Kristoff just left for work and Olaf is playing video games, otherwise believe me I would not be saying this stuff out loud in my house right now."
"Stop sounding so dramatic and just tell me, Anna." Elsa was starting to worry.
"I have a date tonight! I'm so nervous. I haven't had a date since I was sixteen. What do I wear, what do I do, what am I even thinking? How do I do this? Tell me this is crazy, talk me out of it, pick out my outfit, I need your help."
"What do you mean you have a date? With whom? Does Kristoff know?"
"No, he doesn't know," Anna hesitantly replied, guilt heavy in her words. "But it's none of his business! We're splitting up. Oh, that was the other thing I need help with, can you help me get a divorce? You're like the best lawyer ever, I'm sure you can knock one out in no time."
Elsa sighed, staring at the ceiling. "I would really advise that you hire a lawyer who's actually passed Oregon's bar. I can't do anything for you other than help with forms, and when you have a child to deal with, an actual lawyer will make a big difference. I do know someone who moved out there after law school, but she's an ex-girlfriend and we haven't talked in a while."
"Please please please please please," Anna begged. "Just ask her, if she says no you don't have to do anything more, but I'm completely lost here, I wouldn't even know what to look for."
"All right, fine, I'll try contacting Elizabeth, but I'm not making any promises."
"Thank you soooo much! You're the best sister ever!" Elsa had to hold the phone away from her ear as her sister screamed for joy.
"If I was the best sister ever, I think we would have remembered what each other sounded like."
They both grew somber for a moment before Anna broke the silence. "So, my date..."
"Who are you even going on a date with? How did this happen?"
"Well, um, I, erm, Elsaaaaa..." She whined, scared to tell her older sister what had happened – terrified that she would tell her she was making a bad decision.
"Tell me," Elsa said firmly, knowing full well that Anna could go on like that for hours.
Anna paused again before finally admitting everything. "Her name's Esmeralda, she's the music teacher at my school, she's really cool, and she's pan, and I did totally know another queer person! Even if she had never told me. Can I use that word? Is that okay? Should I just say LGBT? Or am I part of it now so it's cool to reclaim the term? She uses it. She's really awesome, but apparently she's had a thing for me for months and I never even noticed. I asked her out yesterday. She's taking me out for dinner, her words, she's insisting on paying, and she told me that it was okay if I backed out at any point, that she knew I was still questioning. She's been so understanding. What am I gonna do? What if I can't go through with it?"
Elsa cut in when Anna paused for breath. "You have a date with another woman? So you do really think you're gay? I had thought maybe you were just freaking out about me."
"I don't know. I am so incredibly confused, but I think I like her, and I know she likes me. I have to find out right?" She sounded almost as excited as she did terrified.
Maybe she really is. How did I never notice? Wasn't it my job to help her figure herself out? "But you asked her out, even when you were so confused? That's pretty impressive."
"Giselle kind of talked me into it, she's going to be babysitting Olaf."
"So you're not sure that you want this? Try not to break the poor girl's heart at least," Elsa sighed, regretting saying it as soon as it left her mouth. "But look after yourself, don't do anything you're not comfortable with, she's a big girl, she can look after herself. Won't Kristoff kind of freak out if he gets home from work and you and Olaf are missing?"
Anna didn't say anything for a few seconds. Apparently that had not occurred to her. "Maybe," she agreed reluctantly.
"You should tell him."
"I'm not ready to. I'll just leave a note saying that I'm out with Esmeralda and that Giselle is looking after Olaf, he knows we're friends, he doesn't have to know it's a date yet. Not unless it becomes something serious. Which I mean it might. She's really cool. I think she's pretty hot too, but I'm still trying to figure out what that means to me. I at least know I'd kill to have abs as flat as hers."
"That doesn't sound that much like attraction. Wanting to be someone isn't the same as wanting to be with them." I really don't want her to end up hurting herself. She's always been pretty reckless, she can explore her sexuality without just jumping into bed with someone.
"I caught myself staring at her breasts once," Anna insisted, as she recalled the event.
"Even straight girls stare at tits."
"Well that doesn't mean I am one. Straight I mean, not a tit."
"You're a good little tit," Elsa argued, prompting a laugh from the phone.
"I think I might really like her. I don't think I'll regret this."
Elsa's heart and voice softened. Maybe this isn't a terrible idea. "Just take care of yourself, stay safe. Try not to move too fast, it's your first time, I don't want you getting your heart broken either. Remember that dental dams are a thing!"
"What are dental dams?" Anna was clearly confused.
Elsa sighed, remembering the last time she had to discuss safe sex with her little sister. "They're like condoms for oral. Don't get an STD, you don't know that Esmeralda is clean."
"You can get STD's from oral?!" Anna screamed in Elsa's ear in surprise.
"You're a teacher! How do you not know this?" Elsa was beginning to worry again.
"I was an elementary school teacher! They don't tell us anything. Now I'm an English teacher, it doesn't really come up much."
"Get some dental dams, just in case, but you shouldn't be having sex with her right away anyway. You don't know what you want, take your time."
"It's not like I just leap into bed with everyone," she whined. "I've only ever been with Kristoff."
"And how many dates had you two been on before you slept with him?"
Elsa could hear Anna's frustrated breathing. She clearly did not want to admit the answer. "Zero, but we'd been friends for ages."
"You'd known him for a week."
"A month!"
"Get dental dams."
"Fine!" she grumbled.
"Please just take care of yourself. I still can't believe you asked her out."
"I can't either! I'm so excited."
Elsa smiled. It was difficult to be upset when Anna was happy. "How'd it happen? I know Giselle made you do it, but how'd you go about it? Please tell me you didn't just text her."
"No! Of course I didn't. And Giselle didn't make me. At least not quite. I wanted to anyway! I walked into her classroom during lunch; Esmeralda's, not Giselle's. She was playing some music on her phone and singing along. Her voice is amazing! The classroom was empty and I waited in the doorway until she was done. After the song, I knocked on the door frame and walked towards her. She looked really surprised to see me. I think she thought I was avoiding her, and I may have kind of been. She asked what was up. I think she was nervous but that may have just been me. Then I just leapt, I told her I was still unsure of everything, but if she really meant it earlier, I wanted to try going out with her sometime. She seemed shocked, but happy. She has a really beautiful smile. She said yes, but she was taking me, and then she spent a while assuring me that it would be okay whatever happened, that I could change my mind at any point, that I was under no obligation to do anything just because she bought me dinner, that kind of stuff."
"Well, she sounds reasonable at least. I'm proud of you. That was your first time asking someone out." Elsa stood up and stretched, smiling at her sister's new affair. Maybe this will be good for her.
"Yep, it was terrifying," Elsa could hear the smile in her sister's voice. "So what do I wear? Do I have to wear plaid?"
"No, Anna, you don't have to wear plaid. Just wear something nice, dress how you would if you were going on a date with Kristoff."
"But what if I don't look gay enough?"
"I wear dresses, do I not look gay enough?" Elsa teased, letting some genuine annoyance into her voice.
"No, I mean, kind of, but no! You can dress however you like."
"Exactly, just wear something nice. Don't try to be someone you're not. She likes you," she emphasized the final word.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"I'm really glad I called you," Anna said, sniffling.
"I'm glad too."
"I don't know why we haven't talked in so long."
Elsa shut her eyes. I do. "I don't either. I've missed you."
"I'm gonna go pick out my outfit."
"It's still morning there, you have a while."
"I want to be ready, you know how bad I am at procrastinating, I want to look perfect, so I have to get started now or else it'll never happen."
"All right." Elsa paused. "By the way, I'll probably be able to see you in a month or two, the big trial is on Wednesday. I can't believe the idiot waited that long to hire a lawyer."
"Oh wow, I didn't realize it would really be that soon. I'm really excited to see you! Tell Tiana I'm a big fan."
"You could tell her yourself if you'd like," Elsa laughed.
"No! Too scary! Maybe next time. I'll talk to you later, Elsa."
"I'll talk to you later."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
They both hung up. Elsa sighed at the phone, things had seemed so normal, like they were supposed to be. Maybe I really have gotten over it. She leaned back against the pillows and stretched. Guess I'll go tell Tiana the good news.
She found her girlfriend quickly, in the kitchen, as always. She was making them a delicious, but not particularly nutritious lunch of shrimp po' boys. "How'd it go?" Tiana asked, as she heard Elsa approaching. She was still only wearing the sheet and Elsa was wearing even less. I'm glad we don't have that many windows.
"Well it looks like she might be getting a girlfriend soon," Elsa laughed, taking a seat at the table.
Fortunately Tiana was no longer handling shrimp and hot oil by the time Elsa had relayed this news, as she almost spilled lettuce everywhere. "But she's still married!"
"They're pretty well over, I even said I'd put her in touch with a divorce attorney. Speaking of, I should probably email her, give me a minute, I'll be right back."
"It can wait until after lunch—" Tiana said to the empty chair that Elsa had vacated. "Really now, if you're not back before it gets cold I'm eating both of these!"
Elsa returned a few minutes later, wearing a bathrobe. She found Tiana and their lunch at the table. "Sorry, I just had to send a quick message to Elizabeth before I forgot. Last I'd heard, she'd moved to Portland and had even been doing divorces. Not sure how affordable she is, but I don't think she hates me anymore, so maybe she'll do it as a favor for an old friend."
"Rude, leaving me in the middle of lunch and getting rid of my view," Tiana replied, gesturing to Elsa's robe. "Why would she hate you anyway? Unless you did the same thing to her," she teased, her accent stronger than usual.
"No, I was eighteen, and juggling her, college, and being Anna's legal guardian was too much for me, so I ended things with her," Elsa spat back. It was an old wound, but it wasn't one she liked thinking about. "She didn't take it well. We patched things up a few years later, but I don't think she ever forgave me."
"Oh, honey, I'm sorry," Tiana's voice softened again, though her accent remained strong. "That was her? I didn't realize, I was just giving you a hard time," she pushed Elsa's sandwich closer to her, by way of apology.
"I know you didn't. I shouldn't have snapped at you, everything with Anna is just making it feel fresh again. I'm sorry." She ate her sandwich to show her contrition. It was a very easy way to show her sincerity, but it had the desired effect.
"Well eat up and I'll try not to be so easily offended in the first place. I'm glad that you're helping Anna, she certainly needs it." She resumed eating her own po' boy. She had taken a few bites in annoyance when Elsa had run off, instead of waiting for her like she normally would.
"She was too scared to talk to you on the phone, it was kind of adorable," Elsa informed Tiana in an attempt to change the subject.
Tiana laughed, expelling a piece of fried shrimp onto the table. She covered her mouth while she tried to control herself, "Well she should be scared of me – my secret ingredient is people."
Elsa stared at her sandwich in mock horror, "Wow, people are delicious."
"I know, right? From everything I've heard from documentaries on cannibal tribes they're not great, at best, but if you cook them right they apparently taste just like shrimp."
"It must be the seasoning."
"Like Mrs. Lovett said, it's all in the coriander."
"Is there even coriander on this shrimp?"
Tiana glared at her. "No. Way to ruin the joke."
"Sorry, my dear, I'll go back to believing I'm eating human meat with cilantro if it'll make you feel better," Elsa declared magnanimously.
"It would a little," Tiana wiped at her eyes playfully. "Wow, I'm impressed you know that they're the same thing."
"You've taught me a lot," Elsa grinned.
"Let me answer the phone the next time she calls. It'll be hilarious," Tiana insisted with an evil smirk.
"Now that I can do," Elsa agreed, as both of them laughed mischievously.
"I'm looking forward to meeting her," Tiana announced as their diabolical laughter died down. "A vacation sounds really nice. You and I have been doing basically nothing but work nonstop for years."
"I thought you loved your work," Elsa replied.
"I do, and I know you love yours, but we need a break from time to time." She leaned her head against her partner's shoulder. "We need time together, we need social time, it's as important for our health as that exercise earlier."
"I really enjoyed that exercise," Elsa joked, running a hand up Tiana's thigh. "Aren't we getting social time right now? I mean it's really nice to just spend a day relaxing with you. I haven't let myself have a Saturday off in quite a while; you're right, I really have been working nonstop."
"I'm glad that we're spending today together, I've missed you so much," Tiana kissed her cheek before adding, "but you do remember we have other friends too, right? When's the last time we've had any company over?"
Elsa stared off into space as she tried to recall and pulled her girlfriend closer. "I'm honestly not sure. I don't think we've had any friends over in almost a year, the last time I can recall was that Halloween party."
"That was two years ago."
"No it wasn't, it was last Halloween."
"I wasn't here last Halloween. If you mean the one where we dressed up as Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus, then that was the Halloween before last."
Elsa stared down at Tiana. "That was two years ago? Wow, okay, then I think it's officially been long enough we probably don't have friends anymore."
Tiana laughed, "I'm sure we still have friends, they just think we're crazy recluses. I saw on Facebook that Anya has a new girlfriend, why don't we invite them over tomorrow? I know it's last minute, but we could have a dinner party."
"You really want to cook on your day off?" Elsa asked, to which Tiana only indicated the plates in front of them. "Fair enough. You have any friends you want to invite too?"
"Anya is my friend, just because she's your ex doesn't change the fact that I probably talk to her more often than you do."
"I don't think I've talked to her in almost a year," Elsa acknowledged, proving Tiana right.
"I'll invite her then. You just have to help out with setting everything up and be your usual beautiful self," Tiana decided in a tone that brooked no argument.
"All right, tomorrow we'll see Anastasia," Elsa agreed before kissing Tiana happily. It has been a while, seeing her does sound nice. "I love you."
"I love you too," Tiana grinned, before going into party-planner mode.
