a.n. My computer is hassling me. I'm not updating because I'm resisting the urge to slam my fist through a screen.

Hans was sitting in a corner of a dark room, blade shaking in front of him, terrified. He had a problem he didn't really know how to deal with; he was truly, deeply happy.

...

Okay, so he was being paranoid. But who could blame him? All his life, he'd been a soldier, blood, ash, smoke, etc. Now that he was in a domestic situation, healthy and cared for... it was very difficult for him to relax. Hence the saber rattling and corner stashing.

He grit his teeth and tried to imagine where the attack would come from. No doubt the Black Spot pirates were sitting in the dens, scheming ways to attack his home. He would kill them all!

They thought he had let his guard down, but he hadn't! While people like Elsa were smelling flowers or talking to friends, Hans was backtracking his own footsteps, and, and...

His nerves calmed and he slid the sword into its sheath. Each panic attack was getting smaller and smaller. Mentally, he knew he was being ridiculous. Baragor was far away, and, unless there was a traitor in Arrendelle, he was safe with his woman.

Elsa.

Hans took a second to remember what it was like being with her. She had gotten under his armor. He loved her. Not that he would ever say it out-loud, no, no, no, NO! But he allowed himself to feel it, and that was enough, right? It's not like having these inense feelings for her were going to build and build internally until he finally told her what was on his heart.

It wouldn't be fair to her.

She knew he cared, and that was enough. Well, it was enough for him. Although he tried not to think about it, she was all he had left. His family hated him, his country found him unsuitable, and even the council in Arrendelle distrusted him. But Elsa cared.

In an attempt to calm himself, Hans went through a list of names for her child. And it would be hers. Hans was under no delusions; he could never be king in Arrendelle. Elsa had made a choice to become a mother, a choice that Hans was more than happy to acquiesce, but there was no way his son would ever know him, just as he had never really known his own father, or his father before him.

Walking through the halls, Hans found his way to the council chambers.

"Mr. Westerguard!"

A huge smile split his face- he couldn't help it.

"My queen," He bowed. She smiled in return.

"Would you care for a walk?"

"It would be my pleasure."

He offered her his arm and she took it. Councilor Deerman was walking by and glared at the two. Hans shrugged. Elsa did what she wanted, and it was time they learned to fall into line like him.

"I've called an emergency meeting for good reason," She whispered to him. Hans smiled. Sometimes, before she would make an announcement, she would speak to him first. It was mostly due to the fact that he was her most ardent supporter, and partially due to the fact that he was a much more savvy player in politics.

"Do you have good news?" He smirked.

Elsa pursed her lips, "No..."

Hans hung his head, "I'm... sorry to hear that. Soon, though, I'm sure."

She nodded, "Are you free this afternoon?"

"For you? Of course, my queen."

Immediately Elsa brightened up, "I have received word that Baragor has named himself protector," the brunette quieted for a moment in time for her lover to snort loudly, "of the Southern Isles."

Hans' eyes went wide, then narrow, "...interesting."

"No insights?"

Hans shook his head, "You know... Baragor has been a bit of a mystery to me."

Elsa bowed her head to keep him from seeing her smile. It failed.

"What?" He asked.

She let herself snicker a bit, "Westerguards... you live and work in such close quarters to each other, but have no idea what's going on in the others' lives!"

Hans gave her a dry look, "And you don't have that here in Arrendelle?"

She blushed, "Well... there may be one or two things in the past that I've kept from Anna."

"Hm-hmmm..." He smirked, getting a bit flirty, "I'm not sure she could handle your wild side, my queen."

Elsa released her grip on his arm and walked towards a fountain hips swaying, "Because you barely can?" She sent a glance over her shoulder. Hans grabbed his heart, pretending to be wounded, "Anna has actually managed to take it pretty well, considering."

"Well, I'm sure she doesn't know every little detail..." Hans quirked an eyebrow.

"I tell my sister everything, Mr. Westerguard," Her hands drifted to the water, "Every... little detail," her eyes went down to his waist, and he crossed his arms.

"...heeeeeey..."

Elsa laughed loudly, "Oh, relax. It's not like I can compare you to a host of other lovers, you know..."

"Not counting Anna," He muttered under his breath. That earned him a splash of water in retaliation.

"Ew!"

He pulled her to his feet, "You're really beautiful, you know that?"

"Yes... but it never hurts to hear."

Hans shook his head, "I'm not entirely sure locking you in your room was because of your ice powers. Daddy was probably trying to keep you away from the boys..."

"Like you?"

"Yes, exactly like me."

Hans took her arm and walked her to the chambers. He couldn't get the idea out of his head that her father would be horrified as to what had happened to...

A little girl.

What if the baby was a girl?!

In the past, his father, and grandfather had boys. His extended family was mostly male. But... what if he had a beautiful young girl?

...

Hans felt himself entering a state of paranoia again. Every man in this palace was a threat!

He was no fool, he knew what the world was like to girls. The rape, the hate. Although he had been raised chivalrous, the thought had never really crossed his mind that someday he might have a baby in a pink blanket with wide, trusting eyes.

It was a good thing he would be having a boy- or, rather, that he would have no child whatsoever. Elsa would have the child, and raise the child. Hans would simply be Arrendelle's protector- if that. It was not beyond reasonable, that he might be shipped off, or die in some war. Regardless of Elsa's plan, the Westerguard suddenly found himself terrified by the thought of his baby girl.

Suddenly, things that seemed to be mischievous boyhood tendencies became the harsh realities of light. Something had to be done! Hans escorted his lover to the council room, ignoring the stares from Councilors Deerman and Miller. Sitting himself across the table from them, the ex-prince nodded amicably. This was no time for political machinations. It was time to secure Arrendelle's future once and for all!

Elsa began the meeting with a well-structured argument on her country's current standing with the Southern Isles, "I want to make clear to all of you that the most important thing is not that we are a separate nation, but that we are a free one."

Her council nodded. Hans frowned. Freedom was never really an option for him. But now that he had it, he could see why some people would want it. Terribly confusing, this 'freedom' stuff. Not having to obey orders, or die alone was a very tempting offer, yet he also knew the world was filled with criminal extremists and it was his duty to fight them, to the death if necessary. Therefore, he took her speech with a grain of salt; freedom was protected by people without freedom.

"Your highness," explained Deerman, "We have received a note from the Protector of the Southern Isles..."

There was a great deal of silence. Baragor was a bit of a tough subject around her since the council had played a key role in losing Arrendelle's statehood to a pirate.

"And?" her voice was cold.

"He," Miller cleared his throat, "He asks for you."

Hans burst out laughing. He didn't care everyone was staring, or that they might think him insane. This was nuts.

"Oh! Wooooow! So he really is crazy!" Hans wiped his eyes clear of tears, "But we're not doing that."

Elsa was disturbingly quiet.

"My queen?"

Her jaw quivered guitily.

"NO! No, no, no, no, no, no, NOOOOOO!" He said, "We tried this before. You cannot negotiate with this man, he will destroy you!"

"I have to, I'm queen!" She snapped. Hans turned red. Not only did he not like being reproved but-

"Not anymore. In the eyes of the Southern Isles court, you are not queen."

"In the eyes of the Southern Isles court, you're a traitor and a coward!" She countered. He went stone still and glared.

"Good. Because, as Protector, I can guarantee you're not going anywhere! Guards!" Soldiers marched into the room, "Her highness has decided to exchange herself for her sister in prison. We leave for the Isles, tonight!" Hans stomped from the room, "And make sure my boat is ready!"