Author's Note: Sorry for another delay. I moved my girlfriend in with me across the country and that took quite a while. Though as my beta now lives with me, that may help with ensuring prompter updates.
Anna sat at the kitchen table, sipping a cup of coffee when she heard the familiar sound of Kristoff's truck door slamming outside. Elsa and Tiana were still asleep upstairs. I guess I'm dealing with this alone. I can handle it.
The doorbell rang. Why does that hurt all the more? Hell, he still has a key, ringing the bell just seems so wrong, but I guess he really is gone. I know it's what I wanted, and it's still what I want, I know exactly who I want to be with, and it certainly isn't him, but it still hurts.
She answered the door, and met Kristoff, who looked like he'd rather be doing anything else in the world. "Hey, Anna," he offered, the hurt still clear in his voice.
"Good morning, Kristoff," Anna replied, trying not to sound like she was at a funeral. "Would you like some coffee?"
He shook his head. "No, that's all right, I'll just get the rest of my stuff. Did you pack any more of it?"
"A little, but I've been kind of busy."
"I figured. I'd packed most of it anyway, I should be out of your hair before too long. You're still okay with me picking up Olaf tomorrow for Christmas, right? I don't want to deprive you of that."
"Of course. Kristoff, you're still his father. We'll do presents tonight, it's when we always did it anyway. You'll have time to set up some furniture and everything."
"All right, thank you." He glanced down at the threshold, before finally stepping inside his old house. "You don't have to help me move the stuff, I've got it."
"I want to. I mean I want to help, not like I just really want you out of here. Sorry."
He gave a pained laugh. "Christ, Anna, you make it hard to be mad at you. Big stuff first. I think I only have two or three trips left."
When Kristoff returned from the first trip, Elsa and Tiana had joined Anna in the kitchen. "Hey, want some pancakes? I made plenty," Tiana offered as he walked in.
He met Elsa's eyes for a moment in a silent exchange that Anna couldn't begin to fathom, but nodded. "Yeah, all right. I suppose I can't exactly turn down free food made by Tiana Rose."
"Who said it was free?" Elsa teased.
"I'm pretty sure I bought the ingredients."
"That ought to cover it," Tiana replied, as Kristoff joined them at the table, and she grabbed him a plate.
Anna protested, "Tiana, you don't have to do everything. You're a guest."
"I don't mind. Nice to have someone who actually appreciates my cooking." She shot Elsa a playful glare.
"Tiana, my darling beloved, I adore your cooking. You are the greatest chef in the world. No one else could ever appreciate it like I do." Elsa demonstrated this by theatrically bringing a forkful of pancakes to her mouth and moaning once they hit her tongue, eating with slow exaggerated chewing.
Tiana's glare intensified.
Kristoff came to the rescue. "I'll appreciate any pancakes someone will offer me."
They ate as quickly as they could to get back to the work at hand, and so that they could stop dealing with the awkwardness of Kristoff both living and not living there. It wasn't quite the atmosphere that Anna would have preferred, but it was still nice. I'd much rather have some alone time with my sister. I just mean that I really miss her, not like I'm after anything weird, she's been gone for so long and I have so little time with her. That's all. Nothing else would make sense. I'm not in love with my sister. I know she didn't love me, not like I thought she did, and it's not like I returned her non-existent feelings. "Those boxes aren't going to move themselves, lets get to it."
"We'll help," Elsa offered.
Tiana gave a far less playful glare, but nodded her head. "Of course we will. Why wouldn't we?" she offered with a clearly forced grin. I wonder when the last time either of them had to actually do any manual labor was. No, you will not picture Elsa all sweaty in a tanktop, stop it.
Between the four of them, they were able to load the truck in record time. When Kristoff drove off, the three women retreated to the kitchen for some bottled water. Anna stared as Elsa wiped the bottle against her forehead and guzzled down half the bottle. Why is that even hot? I mean I sure am thirsty. She grabbed herself a drink, downing it without even noticing, her thoughts elsewhere.
Elsa's dress clung to her, and even in the winter chill, what little skin she had visible was glistening.
By the time they had finished the final load, and Kristoff had bid farewell and hugged the newly woken Olaf, Anna was barely able to keep her eyes off of her sister. How am I even going to handle this for the next week and a half? No wonder she avoided me for so long – right, that wasn't the actual reason. I'm really wishing it was. Not that I would do anything if it was of course, that would still be wrong. It would just be really nice to know.
They all sat around the Christmas tree, Olaf waiting eagerly by the tree, his gaze wandering over the presents much as Anna's was following his aunt's curves. "You did get the present we ordered, right?" Elsa asked. Her voice was right in Anna's ear and it was more than a little bit distracting. "Anna?"
Right, answer, don't just ogle. "Yeah, of course, it's the big one under the tree."
"I'm glad. I've never actually been here to see him open my presents before. This is really nice."
Anna nervously sipped at her hot chocolate. Wow, even being reminded of her having all but abandoned me isn't enough to make this stop. I wasn't this bad when she first got here! "It is. I'm so glad you're here. We're finally a family again."
"Mama..." Olaf whined. "Can we open the presents now?"
"All right, honey. Who's that big one for?" She gestured towards the present Elsa had ordered.
He hauled it into his lap and studied the label intently. "It's to me! It's from Aunt Elsa and Aunt Tiana."
Hearing a murmur of surprise from Tiana, Anna couldn't help but giggle. "I wonder what it is. Why don't you open it?"
He shredded the wrapping paper, pulling the box from the scraps. "Oh, wow! Mama, look what she bought me!"
"Elsa, you didn't have to –"
"You'd mentioned him playing with his Nintendo a lot, and I know this is a fancy new console, so I figured it'd be a good present. I hope it's not something he already had."
Anna stared at the PS4 Pro, wishing she could afford to spend that much on a present. I'm going to be having enough trouble just making the mortgage without Kristoff, and she can just spoil him like that. "Thank you. Olaf, what do we say?"
"Thank you so much Aunt Elsa, Aunt Tiana. Can I go play it now?" He hopped up to his feet, the box clasped firmly in his hands.
"Don't you want to open your other presents?" Anna chided him.
He found a game-shaped present from Elsa. "Yeah, I do!" He tore it apart to find a copy of Knack 2. "Thank you, Aunt Elsa." His grin threatened to extend past his cheeks.
"You can play it once we finish with presents. How about that one?" She indicated one from her.
"Thank you, Mama!" he chirped, ripping one of the two Starfleet badges from the packaging.
"It works too. You and Lilo will be able to communicate properly when you're playing Star Trek."
"I love it, Mama. I can't wait to show it to Papa!"
That shouldn't hurt so much. I know Star Trek was always their thing. Hell, I had to have him help me pick this out. "I'm glad you like it."
Once Olaf had torn through a few more of his presents, Anna stopped him. "Olaf, don't you want to hand one of us our presents too?"
"Oh, right, I'm sorry Mama. I was just so excited. Here, Aunt Tiana, this is from me and my mom, I hope you like it."
My little gentleman. Tiana beamed, taking the gift. "Thank you so much, Olaf. I wonder what it is." She gently tore open the wrapping. She must have learned that from Elsa. "Oh, Olaf, it's beautiful. Thank you so much. Thank you, Anna." She held the pendant up so that Elsa could see it. "I'm going to wear this for filming next month."
Olaf dug through the presents for a moment before handing Elsa one. "My Mama said that you could really use this."
"Why, is it a massager?" Elsa asked, the joke fortunately flying over Olaf's head and right into Anna's.
"No, of course not, no, that'd be be silly," Anna insisted. "It's nothing like that."
Elsa opened the gift to reveal a basket with soaps, lotions, bath salts, bubble baths, and a couple bath bombs. That seemed so much more innocent when I bought it. She pushed away any thoughts of Elsa trying them out. "I love it, Anna. Rose and honeysuckle are two of my favorite scents. How did you know?"
"I just thought they'd suit you. I'm glad you like them."
"Olaf, mind handing your Mama her gift for me?" Elsa asked.
He handed a present to Anna.
"I meant the one from me – right, yours first. Good thinking." She beamed amicably at the child. She really does have a way with him.
"Aww, Olaf! Thank you so much." She held up the drawing of three figures standing next to a small child. The people were labeled 'Mama,' 'Aunt Elsa,' 'Aunt Teena,' and 'Me.' "Look, it's us!"
"I love it," Elsa said. "You really captured your Aunt Teena's good looks."
Tiana half-smirked back. "Your very essence is inscribed upon that paper."
"Look, we're holding hands," Anna chimed in.
Tiana took the drawing from Anna, examining it with a critical eye. "I have some connections in the art world, maybe you should meet."
"Lilo says I shouldn't tie myself down yet."
"Lilo is a very wise Jedi ninja," Tiana replied seriously.
"I'll grab your present now, Aunt Elsa."
Anna's heart beat in her chest as she fumbled with the paper. She unveiled it to find something more wondrous and terrifying than she could have possibly imagined. "A spa day?"
"I thought you and I could have some good sisterly bonding time, and after everything you've been through, it seemed like you could use it. I guess you had the same idea for me."
"I love it. So much. Really, thank you. I just really have to go to the bathroom. I'll be right back." Anna hurried out of the room, desperate to hide her almost certainly blushing face. How the hell am I going to handle spending naked time with Elsa?
Anna rang the doorbell to Giselle's house. The door swung open and one excitable redhead wrapped the other in a massive hug. "Anna, it's been too long!"
"I just saw you last week," Anna insisted, feeling the life being squeezed out of her.
"School doesn't count. It's been at least a month since we last hung out outside of work." She released her first victim and promptly latched onto Elsa. "You must be Elsa! I've heard so much. Sometimes it seems like you're all Anna can talk about." And all I can think about. "She's said nothing but great things."
"Are you sure you have the right person?" Elsa awkwardly patted her back. "Anna, do you know some other Elsa?"
"Is she cute?" Tiana asked teasingly.
"Don't be silly." Giselle laughed, pulling back to examine the woman she had been crushing. "You look just like in her pictures. I'm so excited to finally meet you. I'm Giselle."
"Anna's told me about you. I think she used the term 'work wife.'"
"Oh, did she now? Well I was there to help her discover her sexuality. You projecting on me now, Anna?"
Anna's face was reddening quickly. Why did I think this was a good idea? "What, are you too good to be my work wife?"
"Oh, no, I'm honored. We shall be the envy of all other work marriages." Her gaze traveled to Tiana. "Um, sorry, and you are?"
Tiana blinked, her mouth dropping open. "You haven't heard of me?"
"No, Anna didn't mention anyone else. Oh, wait, you must be Elsa's girlfriend! She did mention you, was it Tina?"
"Tiana Rose," she replied, her voice faltering.
"Nice to meet you, Tiana." She pulled the flabbergasted woman into another hug. "I'm Giselle, Anna's work wife."
A lanky man, with long black hair, in a nice looking, but oddly Victorian black suit, appeared at the door. "Oh, they're here! Good evening, it's a pleasure to meet you all. Anna, it's been months. You really must come over more often. I made a quiche."
"I made fudge," Tiana offered.
"Oh, that sounds delightful. I can't wait to try it." He took a few steps towards them, sweeping Anna into another massive hug. At this distance, Anna could see the skulls making up the pinstripes of his suit, and the collar faintly visible under his shirt's collar.
When he pulled away, he extended his hand to Tiana. "I'm Jack Skellington. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Tiana Rose," she repeated.
"Tiana Rose, Tiana Rose, why does that name sound so familiar? Oh, it's on the tip of my tongue."
Her eyes widened. She looked so hopeful.
"Oh, right, you're that chef! The one on TV. I never did watch your show, but I've seen you in a few commercials."
Looking utterly crestfallen, Tiana only nodded.
"Well I'm thrilled to meet you. I'm sure your fudge is amazing." He turned to Elsa. "And you must be Anna's famous big sister."
Elsa took his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you." Anna could see her studying his garb. Please don't say anything embarrassing. Please. "I love the suit. I dated a goth girl in college, would've loved to see her in an outfit like that."
"Oh, thank you. It was on sale."
As they all went inside, Tiana shot Elsa a panicked look, as if pleading for help. Elsa only shrugged in response. And stopped herself from giggling. Don't want to make her feel bad, but it is kinda nice to see someone not know her for once.
Giselle gestured towards the living room. "Make yourselves at home, Jack just put the roast in the oven a couple hours ago. Should only be another hour. Sorry, I wasn't expecting you quite so soon."
"Yeah, the snow was just really starting to come down, so I figured we should head over here before it was too late. I hope that's not a problem," Anna replied.
"No problem at all, Anna. I'm always happy to see you, and I've been dying to meet your sister for years." She turned to Elsa. "She's told me so much. I hope you can live up to your reputation," she added with a jovial laugh. "Jack?"
Jack gave a slight nod. "Right, of course. Could I get any of you a drink?"
A few minutes later, they all sat around the living room, with their drinks in front of them. Anna, Elsa, and Tiana were all on the couch, with Giselle in an armchair and Jack sitting on the footrest in front of her. "I'm really glad you could all spend Christmas with us," Giselle said. "Though I'm sorry Olaf couldn't join us. I miss the little guy."
"He misses you too." Anna sighed. "I promise I'll bring him over to visit before too long."
"How about you let me babysit again next time you have a date? I do believe you mentioned some cute new girl in your life."
Anna's eyes fell on Elsa before realization hit her. Oh, right, Moana, we kissed, I am dating someone! I think. "Oh, yeah, of course. That sounds great. I would love for you to do that."
"That was your cue to tell me about her, honey."
"Right. Sorry." How do you manage to be this awkward? "Her name's Moana. She's a friend of Nani's – she's a pilot."
"Are you two official yet? You told me about your kiss, and what you just said, but that's about it."
Jack perked up in his seat. "A pilot? I bet she's seen all sorts of interesting places. Has she said much of what that's like? I wanted to be a pilot when I was little."
"Oh, what do you do instead?" Elsa asked. "I assume you're not another teacher."
"What, because of my clothes? I guess that is a bit of a dead giveaway, isn't it."
Elsa faltered, her eyes going wide. "I didn't mean it like that."
"It's fine. I get more than enough stares when I drop her lunch off for her. I'm an engineer. They're a lot more accommodating."
Elsa nodded. "That makes sense."
Giselle groaned. "The girl, Moana, talk, now."
Anna blinked. "Yes, ma'am," she grumbled, Giselle covering a laugh with her hand. "We're not official yet, but we have decided that we're actually at a point where we're going to try dating for real. We had just been being friends, and that clearly didn't work well." She felt an affectionate hand on her thigh from her sister. Anna immediately downed her drink. Right, Moana. Focus, Anna.
"I'm proud of you," Elsa said. "I know how scary this has all been. I wish I could've helped you figure yourself out when you were younger." This sent some very exciting images into Anna's head, as she considered exactly how Elsa could have helped her explore her desires. She crossed her leg, pulling away from Elsa.
"Thank you, sis." Have I ever called her sis before? "She seems like she could be really good for me. She's so confident, and sexy. She just really seems to have it all together. She knows who she is, and what she wants, and I'm pretty excited that I seem to be part of that. I'm just hoping that I don't screw it up by jumping into things before I'm ready. So far I'm two for two there."
"Don't think like that," Giselle insisted. "If it's meant to be then it's meant to be. I'm sure you and she are going to be something special."
"I hope you're right. She's just really wonderful." Anna leaned against Elsa. "She makes me feel really safe. She seems to really understand me, and I know she won't pressure me. She's just always there for me when I need her, and I know I can really trust her."
Elsa gave her a warm smile. "Wow, it's sounding like you're already falling for her. How long have you known her again?"
Anna examined her empty drink, and instead grabbed Elsa's, taking a quick sip. "Oh, just a month, we've just really clicked."
"Well I think it sounds amazing," Jack chimed in. "And she's a very lucky girl to capture our Anna here."
"That she certainly is," Elsa agreed, placing an arm around her.
Anna squeaked.
"I think we embarrassed her," Giselle added in a singsong. "I'm really happy for you, Anna."
"How about you two?" Tiana asked, swooping in for the rescue. "How'd you meet?"
"Us?" Jack looked to Giselle.
"Tell them, dear."
"It was at a Halloween party. She was a princess, I was a werewolf."
"Not what I was expecting," Elsa replied.
"We hit it off, spent the whole party on the balcony talking, and then met up again the next day." Giselle shot him a look. "She asked me out. I think she was pretty surprised the next day, but she did a good job of hiding it."
Laughing, Giselle corrected "I did not. I freaked out for like a solid minute."
"You did a marvelous job of not showing it, then. I only caught it in your eye for a moment, and then we were off to dinner."
"I've always had a thing for tall guys. I assure you, my giving in was completely shallow, and not at all my having already gotten over my own biases."
"Of course, my love. We went to a nice Italian place, and stayed there talking until they closed."
"Then we had another date the next day. I don't think either of us even asked, it just happened," Giselle added.
"It was so cute seeing you freak out about it the next day," Anna insisted, happy to no longer be the focus of attention. "You were still having some trouble getting past the goth thing, but you liked him so much already. You even asked me to try to talk you out of it."
"I did not!"
Anna smirked. "Of course not, I have no idea what I'm talking about."
Jack rose to his feet, towering over the sitting women. "I'm just happy she came around. I've got to go check on the roast and get started on the sides."
"Go along then, dear. Would you refill Anna's drink while you're at it?"
"Right away, my love."
Once Anna had her new drink, and Jack was back in the kitchen, Giselle kicked her legs up. "So, Elsa, Anna told me you just made partner, congrats."
"I was already partner, I just made equity, but thank you."
"Oh, sorry. I don't really know lawyer stuff. Working on any interesting cases?"
"Nothing too exciting, but I did just manage a merger between two pretty major companies."
"Well that's good." Giselle tapped a finger against her lip as she tried to consider her words. "Oh, how did you two meet? I don't think I ever heard."
"Back before I was famous," Tiana put a heavy emphasis on the last word, "I was catering for a party at her law firm and we just got to talking. I guess it wasn't too different from how you two met."
Giselle sipped at her drink. Anna was enjoying watching her fumble and had decided to let her awkwardly try a few more topics before she'd save the day.
"Oh, I left their present in the car," Tiana said suddenly. "Elsa, would you help me carry it?"
Elsa gave her a sidelong glance. "Yeah, fine, let's go."
They wandered out, and Giselle let out a quick sigh of relief. "I don't even know what to talk about with her," she whined. "She's kind of intimidating."
"Yeah, she definitely is."
Giselle plopped down next to Anna, putting her legs in her friend's lap and leaning her head against the armrest. "I'm glad I finally got to meet her. I know how important she is to you. I'm really glad she's back in your life."
"Thank you. I'm glad too." Anna rested a hand on Giselle's ankle, her mind beginning to wander. Part of her wanted to tell Giselle about her internal struggle, but she knew it was crazy. I just need to keep this a secret until the day I die.
"You two seem really close. And you seem so much happier, though I'm sure Moana had something to do with that. So things are really good between you and Elsa again?"
"They are."
"I'm glad."
"I am too. I'm so in love with her – I love her so much." I did not just say that. I refuse to believe this is a possibility. I don't care how badly I wanted to tell her, that wouldn't have just slipped out. I imagined it – yep, that's the answer. "She's just really great."
Giselle quirked her head at her, sitting back up. "What was that?"
"I love her, she's my sister, of course I do."
Anna had to turn her head to avoid the intensity of Giselle's gaze. "That's not what you said. Anna, whatever you're going through, I'm here for you. Did you really mean that?"
Anna felt herself nod before she had a chance to decide on how she'd respond.
"Oh. Anna," she placed her hand on her shoulder. "Tell me everything."
"Where can I even start?" Anna began.
"Well you've known her your entire life, so probably not at the beginning. How did this happen? Does she know? Are you going to tell her?"
Anna bit her lip. She's handling it way better than I thought she would, but I really was not ready to make this real. "Giselle, just forget it, I'm talking crazy."
"No. Tell me. Now."
Glaring at her, Anna relented. "It started a month ago, I think. I was trying to figure out why Elsa had been ignoring me for so long. I was really glad that we were talking again, but she refused to tell me what had happened before, and made it sound really serious, so I had to figure it out if I was going to make things work. I was talking to Nani about it, and I came to the realization that the only logical reason for her ignoring me was that she was in love with me, of course now I know it was the exact opposite, but it made sense at the time."
"What do you mean 'the exact opposite?"
"She'd resented me for running off to Portland instead of staying with her, but that's not important now, we've moved past it. But the point is, when she told me that, when I found out that it wasn't because she was in love with me, it broke my heart. It was all I could do not to start crying then and there, and I've just had to pretend that everything with her was fine, but I love her so much. I thought that she'd confess, and then I'd say it back, and we could figure things out, but instead, she'd just resented me. She hated me for hurting her. I don't know what to do, Giselle."
"Oh, honey." She pulled Anna into a hug. "It's okay, we'll figure this out."
"We will?"
"Yes, but not right now, when they're going to walk back in any second. I promise though, we will figure out what to do here. If there's any chance of her returning your feelings, I'll even make sure you two get together."
Anna pulled away to look into her friend's eyes, not quite willing to believe what she was hearing. "You can't promise that. It's more than enough that you're here for me to vent to. Besides, she's my sister, hell she might legally be my mother. I can't get together with her."
Giselle fixed her with a stony glare, quieting any further protests. "Do you love her?"
"You know I do."
"Then we'll figure this out. As long as she's not tricking you into this, then none of that matters. Besides, you're both in your thirties, it's not like there's much of a power dynamic anymore."
Before Anna could respond to claim that she still worshiped her big sister, and that that certainly caused somewhat of an imbalance, the door opened, and Elsa and Tiana returned, carrying several things of alcohol. "Sorry, we didn't have the chance to wrap them," Tiana explained, offering two bottles of expensive wine "I wasn't sure what you liked, so I got you a white and a red."
Elsa offered two bottles of Balblair 1983. "We would've gotten you something a bit more personal but Anna just said to get booze."
Trying to conceal her renewed blush, Anna explained "I had so much trouble finding something to get you myself, especially when we're having a dinner party, that just seemed the safest bet."
Giselle giggled heartily, her eyes still on Anna. "I'm never one to say no to expensive wine. We'll finish this later."
"Oh, sorry, were we interrupting something?" Elsa asked.
"Nothing that can't wait."
Jack returned from the kitchen. "I'm pleased to announce that dinner is served. Won't you all come join me in the dining room? Oh, and bring those," he gestured towards the bottles of wine and scotch, "the Cabernet will go perfectly with the roast."
Elsa looked to Tiana who begrudgingly nodded her head. "It will."
They all seated themselves at the table, as Jack cut them slices of the roast.
"Wow, this actually looks really good," Tiana confessed, eyeing the food before them. The roast was visibly and olfactorily seasoned well, and the quick work of the knife showed how tender it was, the candied yams had a perfect glaze, the broccoli wasn't overdone, and the salad was fresh and crisp. "I've had professional chefs serve me worse."
Jack looked pleased by that. "I'm glad to hear that."
"I've always been quite happy with his cooking," Giselle added, placing a hand on his forearm.
"It looks very good," Elsa offered tentatively.
Is she really that scared to offend Tiana? She has seemed kind of easily offended of late. Is it because of me? No, that wouldn't make sense, she's been all into me – unless it's because Elsa called her out for her flirting with me? Aww, did a celebrity get jealous over me? Anna smiled slightly, helping herself to a thick slice of the roast and double helpings of the side.
Tiana did the same, and Elsa followed suit. After she took a bite of the roast, she gave an approving nod. "You could manage on my show, maybe teach a few of these neophites how to properly season their food. I know it's all the rage to say that meat should be able to stand on its own, but there's a reason spices have been so culturally and financially significant for millenia. They taste good."
"I'm glad you see it that way. I keep a rosemary bush growing in the window for that very reason."
"You really haven't read my cookbook or anything?" She still seemed utterly shocked by this notion. "I love rosemary. I use it and thyme in almost all of my cooking."
"I actually have a thyme bush growing in my garden," Jack replied, beaming proudly.
"I have my own back home, but I may have to steal some while I'm here, if you don't mind of course, Anna's kitchen is sadly bereft of any fresh spices."
"The powdered stuff is just as good," Anna insisted meekly. Am I really trying to fight with Tiana Rose about cooking?
"At least she's cute," Tiana offered.
"She's very cute," Elsa agreed.
Anna's eyes widened and she saw Giselle give her a quick smirk. "What?"
"Sorry, I was just joking." Elsa looked like she'd just caught her doing something rather inappropriate. It's kind of adorable. "You're smart, Anna, obviously, and Tiana knows that too. I didn't mean to upset you."
She is so bad at reading my flustered reactions. I guess that's a good thing. "No, it's okay. I shouldn't have been arguing with Tiana about cooking, I mean she's literally the greatest chef in the world. It'd be like trying to argue with you about the law. I don't know what I'm talking about."
Elsa's guilty look seemed to only grow. "You're still allowed your opinions. I think powdered spices are fine too. Even if she always throws them out of our cupboard."
"I threw them out because they had gone bad, since you never use them."
"Okay, that's true. Maybe we should move to the topic with the most experts in the room. I'm sure neither Tiana nor I can argue with you about teaching."
Sure, if I had any idea what I was doing, that'd be true. Put me back in elementary school and I can teach your pants off – not that Elsa ever wears pants – stop thinking about taking Elsa's pants off – but I've been a complete wreck at teaching high school so far.
"I'm sure you're right, Anna is an amazing teacher," Giselle said, flashing another grin. "I actually sat in on her class once. I think I learned a few things, and I can't say that about most teachers."
"What do you teach, Giselle?" Tiana asked. "I know that the other sexy redhead is an English teacher, but I know so little about you."
Elsa elbowed her.
Giggling, Giselle replied, "I'm a biology teacher. Though I also run the LGBT club, and gave said sexy redhead some pamphlets on the subject when she first started questioning."
"Well I'm glad that our youth are in your capable hands. I certainly would have appreciated it when I was finding myself."
Elsa handed Tiana her wine glass. "Oh, Anna, you had mentioned that to me. Did you ever end up checking out any of the groups?"
"I didn't. I've just been so busy with everything else, and I apparently had enough other queer friends that it wasn't really necessary. Besides, I had you, Elsa. You were all I really needed. To help with figuring myself out I mean. Talking to you helped a lot." Stop thinking about bending her over this table. You'd get food all over her dress.
"I'm glad I was able to help you. I'm always here for you, whatever you need."
I don't think you're here for what I need. "I know, Elsa. Thank you."
"Any time, seriously. We'll have to talk some when we go on our spa date." She beamed at Anna.
Anna on the other hand, swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. I forgot about that. Holy fuck, can I even handle that with her? I'm acting like a dog in heat, what if I do or say something stupid? What if my eyes wander too much? I know she just wants to spend time with me, and I want that too, but I had no idea this was going to be a such a big issue for me. "Of course. I can't wait." Her chipper tone sounded far too forced, but it was the best she could do. What am I going to do?
Anna went through the rest of the meal, unable to focus on any of the conversation. She was quite certain that Elsa and Giselle had both noticed it, by the few glimpses she caught of them giving her puzzled looks, but Tiana seemed distracted by her new victim, and Jack seemed utterly oblivious. By the time they were driving away, Anna realized she'd missed half the dinner.
