Cold Secrets

-M. Lauren

Chapter Thirty

Positioned in front of the mirror, Honeymaren adjusted the collar on her blazer. She fluffed her bangs, settling them flat. All the while her eyes filtered over her outfit, checking it twice. There was not a curl on her head out of place, and her black slacks were perfectly pressed. Yet there was more to keep in mind than her appearance this evening. Honeymaren was acutely aware of that, and it kept her mind painfully distracted.

So distracted, in fact, she didn't notice when someone came to stand behind her. It wasn't until arms wrapped around her waist and Elsa's chin appeared on her shoulder that Honeymaren learned she was being watched the entire time.

She smiled softly. "Are you sure we shouldn't tell your sister we're coming?"

Shaking her head, Elsa turned with her lips to Honeymaren's jaw. "No," she mumbled against her skin. "Catching her off guard will be half the fun..."

Honeymaren groaned. Her head tilted back as Elsa's teeth teased against the bend in her neck. "You're terrible! You know that?"

"Serves you both right," she whispered. "Think of it as my personal punishment for keeping secrets from me… Now, I have one final secret of my own."

Spinning on her, Honeymaren had Elsa's back pressed into the mirror. Her knee wedged between Elsa's thighs, parting her skirt. "No more secrets," Honeymaren dared.

Wide eyes found the browns before hers. "No more secrets," Elsa's breathing hitched before she drew back with a sly smirk. "-after tonight…"

With a hand to her chest, she pushed Honeymaren off her. She tried to slide by, but Elsa was snagged behind the neck. Honeymaren pulled her back, sealing their lips together. An arm wrapped at Elsa's waist and she was lifted off her heels.

Arching over her, Honeymaren dropped her forehead into Elsa's. "I love you, you know that?"

She smiled. Elsa's fingers knotted around her back. "I do know that, and I love you too, but I wouldn't fault you for proving it to me again."

Honeymaren's lips pulled to the side. She pushed Elsa backwards until she had her splayed along the mattress. Straddling her, Honeymaren caressed the length of Elsa's sides. She had her trembling beneath her and Elsa's blue eyes blown wide.

"Okay, this…" Elsa breathed. "-we really don't have time for…"

Honeymaren ignored her, lips ascending Elsa's neck. "Consider it a placeholder… I'll finish where I left off when we get home later…"

Elsa whimpered as teeth latched onto the sensitive spot behind her ear. She allowed her hand to cover the back of Honeymaren's head, encouraging her actions further. But as all thoughts regarding time were beginning to fade away, a cry brought Elsa back to reality. She had Honeymaren turned onto the mattress in a split second. She kissed her quickly before sliding her feet to the floor.

Perched up on her elbows, Honeymaren watched her walking away. She fell back into the bed with a desperate groan. A hand covered her face and she waited for her pulse to return to normal. Once it had, she removed herself from the mattress. She crossed the floor, ascended the stairs, and leaned against the door frame.

Ryder was running circles around Elsa, dressed in only his diaper. She was trying to get him changed into his party outfit, but he'd turned the attempt into a game. Everytime Elsa lunged for him, Ryder dodged just as fast. He went to make another quick turn, but then suddenly found himself confined in his mother's arms.

"Are you sure you can handle this all on your own next week?" Honeymaren teased, handing Ryder back to Elsa.

He went to her willingly. Ryder flashed Elsa a large smile as she tickled his belly. She pulled the shirt over his head and slid him into his pants. She settled Ryder back on his feet, and instead of running again, he sat himself in her lap.

He looked up at his mother- the perfect example of a well-behaved little boy.

"It's four days, thank you very much," Elsa shot Honeymaren a playful glare, her arms circling Ryder's waist. "-and it's only for a few hours. Besides, you know the only reason you're bringing it up is because you have to work while Ry and I get to spend all our time together watching movies and eating M&Ms."

She lowered a hand to Elsa and pulled them up from the floor. "Trying to make me jealous, Snowflake?"

Elsa simply nodded. She brought Ryder's face in close to her own. "Is it working?" She pouted.

Honeymaren leaned in as if to kiss her, but placed her lips on Ryder's forehead instead. "You know it is… and that's why I fully intend to make you pay for it later."

Elsa's voice caught in her throat. Seeing her fumble caused Honeymaren to grin. She took Elsa's wrist in her hand and dragged her forward.

"Come on, you two… We've got a holiday to celebrate!"

Elsa waited until their fingers intertwined before allowing herself to be directed toward the stairs. "First of many?" she asked.

Turning over her shoulder, Honeymaren winked. "The first of many... and that's a promise."

She stopped before the top step and captured Elsa's lips. Ryder's hands tugged at her hair, but she didn't care. Elsa was there, and in front of her, and sighing into their kiss.

Honeymaren drew back back, shaking her head. "I'm beginning to think you'd rather stay here than see your devious plan set in motion..."

"Not on your life. Now, lead the way, Miss Nattura..." Elsa waved her forward with an open hand.

Honeymaren only stalled for another moment, kissing her again quickly, before leading them out toward the car.

Elsa gave a short knock on the door and let herself inside. With Ryder in her arms, Honeymaren cautiously followed. Still leading the way, Elsa kicked off her shoes. She helped Ryder with his before taking him from Honeymaren. Her expression was pensive, anxious even. The uncharacteristic display had Elsa stifling a laugh.

"You don't have to look so afraid, you know? She's not going to be upset."

Turning to her, Honeymaren lowered her eyes. "If being raised by my mother has taught me anything, it's that you should never show up to a holiday party unannounced! There's meals, and planning that goes into it, and-"

Elsa placed her fingers on Honeymaren's lips. "First of all, it's not a party... It's dinner. And secondly, you need to relax… Now, you can stay here and fret if you want, but Ryder and I are going to have some fun."

After lightly pinching her chin, Elsa walked away. Before she rounded the corner out of the hall, Honeymaren had caught up. She stole Elsa's hand with her own and squeezed their palms together affectionately.

Then, they stopped, both waiting for chaos to erupt.

"Hey," Anna greeted evenly with a quick glance in their direction. "Appetizers are in the oven now. The roast is done. Can I get you guys-"

She suddenly stopped. Her back was toward them as she straightened over the stove. Shoulders drawing tight into her neck, she allowed the oven to close with a loud bang.

Anna slowly turned and her brows touched to her hairline. "-anything…" She finished with a breath. Shock continued to streak across her face. "You- you're here?"

Anna pointed at Honeymaren.

"I am."

Her finger swiped back toward Elsa, "-and you... you're here…"

"My sister, ladies and gentlemen, in the art of observation," Elsa smirked.

Simultaneously shaking her head and hands, Anna leaned back into the counter. "You're here together?"

"Well, I mean we could have come separately, but that would have been a little strange, seeing how we were both leaving from the same place and everything..." Elsa's lips stretched further as she lowered Ryder to her feet.

"I- I don't understand…" She fumbled. Anna blinked and lowered her eyes.

Then, in one quick instant, she shook from her daze. She came at Elsa fast, snatching her hand and yanking her back into the hall.

"Kristoff!" Anna shouted up the stairs. "Maren's here! Bring Millie down for Ryder and, I don't know… talk to them or something!"

Elsa was being shoved through the door and onto the front porch. Anna spun her in a single breath. A pointed finger raised between them, but any scolding fell victim to her rapidly growing grin.

"Maren's here!" Anna bounced slightly on her toes. "She's here, and with you, and- oh my god!"

Gasping, she leapt forward. Her arms wrapped around Elsa and she hugged her tight. Anna's face buried into her sister's neck. Her tears began, streaming lines across her bright red cheeks.

"Are you crying?" Elsa sharply pulled back. Laughter stuck to her tongue as she watched Anna crumble before her.

"I'm just, I'm so happy!" She sobbed. "-and I'm so, so, so sorry!" Her arms flung deftly around Elsa once more.

"Anna… It's alright," she soothed, her hands drawing circles into her sister's back. "All is forgiven. Maren and I… we sorted it out. I was angry… and embarrassed… but it was silly for me to waste my time feeling that way. We can all move on now... I promise!"

"I know, but-" Anna choked back. Her arms fell limply at her sides and she shook her head. "I really messed things up for you, and I'm so happy you could fix it despite my mistakes!"

Giggling softly, Elsa brushed the tears and matted hair from Anna's face. "You know, I meant to catch you off guard here, but it was never my intention to make you cry like this!"

She sniffled. "It's not your fault… I've just… I've been beating myself up for weeks! I almost ruined a good thing for you, and-"

"Anna, enough! It's okay!" Elsa took an arm around her shoulder and led Anna back toward the door.

"No, wait! But how? What happened? When did it happen?" She'd turned on Elsa, preventing her from getting inside.

Her shoulders inched toward her ears. "The holiday party…" Elsa rubbed the back of her neck and Anna gawked.

"But that- that was almost two weeks ago!"

Elsa's eyes rolled toward the overhang. "We had some things to sort out before we were ready to face the rest of the world…"

Anna was suddenly crying again. This time, she brushed her own tears away. She shook her head and batted Elsa off with a hand. "It's you, and her. It's the hormones and, god… It's everything! I'm just so happy!"

"I'm sorry, the what?" Elsa dropped her jaw.

Laughing, Anna bent over her knees before raising. "It was supposed to be a surprise! I was going to tell you tomorrow as a part of your Christmas gift, but look at me! I'm a flipping mess!"

Elsa joined in her laughter. She hugged Anna fiercely, and they both turned to tears.

"So, you expect me to believe you didn't know about anything that was going on between these two?" Elsa arched her brow as she dragged a pointed fork between Anna and Honeymaren.

Mouthful and eyes wide, Kristoff shook his head. "No, I swear!" He swallowed. "I only learned who Maren really was on Halloween… and Anna didn't tell me about the case until after that!"

"Looks like there were two of us living in the dark, then." Elsa smirked before taking a bite of her food.

Honeymaren ribbed her. "That'll be enough of that!"

"I was only teasing you…" Elsa pouted and turned her attention back to Ryder who was seated between them.

Though he had a tray filled with his own food, his mouth dropped when he caught Elsa's stare. "More? Ahhh!" He grinned.

Elsa happily obliged, feeding him a spoonful of her potatoes.

She felt Honeymaren's hand fall to her thigh. Heat soared through her skin, and Elsa lifted her gaze.

"What?" She asked. Her brows lowered.

Honeymaren merely shrugged and turned back down to her own meal.

"It was those pants, wasn't it?" Anna asked from across the table. Her attention eagerly flitted between the two women.

"Well, the pants certainly didn't hurt anything, that's for sure…" Honeymaren nonchalantly rolled her eyes.

A steady blush drew across Elsa's cheeks. "If I had it my way… the way I planned it… they would have been something for you to remember me by..."

"Snowflake, remembering you in leather is not going to be a problem. Trust me… Besides, I can still dig them out of the laundry if you're feeling nostalgic?"

Honeymaren's words were clear. Everyone heard her. The comment had Anna laughing, and Kristoff covering his mouth as he coughed up his food.

With a glare, Elsa pushed her shoulder into Honeymaren's arm. "Nice," she deadpanned.

Honeymaren grinned smugly .

"I don't know about you," Anna leaned in at Kristoff's ear. "-but I could really get used to holiday dinners like this one…"

Anna didn't, and wouldn't say, "I told you so", but in that moment- she certainly wanted to.

Wincing, Honeymaren quietly closed the door behind her. She tiptoed from the bedroom where she found Elsa waiting for her. With a hand extended, Elsa held out a mug. Honeymaren smiled and happily accepted it.

"Spiked cinnamon hot chocolate," she told her, watching Honeymaren take a delicate sip. "I made it for tomorrow, but I figured we could have a small taste tonight…."

Honeymaren's lips curled around the edge of the glass. "It's spicy…" She mused.

"I might've added a bit of chili to yours." Elsa shrugged. Blue eyes followed her movements as Honeymaren set down the mug.

She spun her, throwing a hand against Elsa's shoulder. She pushed her onto the sofa and followed her down. Their hips met first, and their lips, second.

"I wondered how long you might last before doing that." Elsa whispered breathlessly.

Honeymaren's teeth nibbled along her jaw. "You, in that skirt," she groaned. "Please, I was nearly tapping my foot to get you out the damn door."

In demonstration, Elsa felt two hands slip beneath the hem of her skirt and claim her hips in a firm hold. "Really? Because I thought it was the pants that did you in?"

Honeymaren snorted. "No, Snowflake… It was you who did me in…. The pants meant I wasn't going to be nice about it."

Elsa openly laughed at the memory. Her head tipped back and her arms laced around Honeymaren's shoulders. "Good, that means my plan worked, then."

Pulling back, Honeymaren arched her brow. Before her, Elsa's blue eyes twinkled.

"The pants," she smirked. "-when I saw them… it wasn't to give you something to remember me by… it was to give you something to fight for instead."

She appeared taken aback by Elsa's words. Her eyes enlarged and her jaw slightly dropped. "Elsa, I-" Honeymaren shook her head. "You should never doubt the lengths I'd go to in order to fight for you."

Fingers tangled into brown curls, and Elsa sealed every inch of Honeymaren into her own curves. "I'm sorry I ever doubted it."

"I'm sorry I ever gave you a reason to."

Elsa smiled, her head tilting sincerely. "Kiss me now and I'll never doubt you again."

Cheers,

M.