Think of this as a "deleted scene" from Becoming Free. After a few re-reads I realised there was no real moment where "I love you" was said for the important first time. Well, not in a manner I was happy with when I noticed. Despite the note last chapter, I think I will leave things in the order they are for now and re-arrange things after I 'complete' this collection of stories.

Elsa knew she was falling deeply in love. It had started off a little bit physical attraction, a little bit of fellow feeling, an inkling that the other woman cared for her and much more seizing upon a chance to have the kind of relationship she'd never dreamed of when realising that Freya liked women too than Elsa would care to admit. It shamed her to think that it had been the case, that a factor to her initiating deeper connection had been something so shallow.

Then again, maybe it wasn't? She had spent much of her life not feeling a thing and that prompting desire to chase a potential relationship, even as base as it was; "She likes women too, I have a chance", was an opening of her heart to a risk of great damage. Hearing the words of such a past strewn with tragedy had opened up a flood of care and admiration for Freya that had prompted the kiss. Oh, it had been physical attraction and endorphins that had first given Elsa the idea to kiss Freya after that dance, but heart and mind had wanted the kiss she actually initiated.

Now, as autumn days drew to their end in a fast approaching winter, Elsa was finding herself smitten, love struck even and reaching depths of love she hadn't known to exist.

It was in all the little things, the ones no book had warned her of. The way those green eyes looked into hers, the feeling that fluttered though her when Freya smiled. The gaze that followed her departure no matter what the reason or the location. Elsa hated that she would have to thaw and leave their private ice rink but when she would turn for one last look and a little wave the farrier was always watching. A perceptible gladness in her posture that hadn't been there before their relationship developed.

"Will you stay with me forever?" Elsa whispered. They had removed themselves to bed, nothing had transpired between them but hand holding and cuddles, Elsa was still too fearful of much contact without fabric between them and Freya respected that. She was currently held in a loose embrace an arm laid over her, she below the sheet and Freya above with a blanket. A calloused hand held in her un-gloved grip and turned in to face her partner, Elsa was just watching her. Freya was probably asleep, her face was somnolent and her hair tousled in a manner that would surely annoy the woman if she was awake.

"I would stay with you more than forever." Freya mumbled back, just as Elsa had decided no reply would come. Warm breath caressed her face and Elsa smiled, she never felt cold anymore, not with the warmth of love given so freely. Freya put up with a lot of impositions that even Anna and Kristoff did not suffer. Theirs was a relationship that by its very nature had to be most secret, the good grace with which she accepted early morning stealth and late night concealment, not to mention the moments when Elsa had to interact with her as subject and Queen, was virtually limitless. It had come to a head just before the recent festival but still Freya had stayed.

"I love you." Elsa said softly. She knew that this was a first for them; she had not dared speak the words aloud for fear of breeching some line or crossing some point and risking tumbling further than she could return. Right now though, held close enough to hear a heartbeat, Elsa was not worried anymore. She loved Freya, so she had said it.

Green eyes were revealed, Freya was woken now and looking at Elsa with some expression Elsa had no experience to read. Just as a brief stab of anxiety threatened, lips were upon hers, soft and seeking, gentle but backed by a force of emotion. Elsa closed her eyes and let the kiss grow deeper, drawing a hand up to play with black curls. For all the emotion swirling around, she also really did like how Freya tasted as they kissed. When they parted Elsa opened her eyes again to an emerald regard.

"I love you." Freya said with such a depth to her tone there could be no doubt. "In case the kiss didn't make that clear."

Elsa giggled, she hadn't expected anything like that kiss. If the now sinking anxiety gave a slight manic edge to the tone Freya didn't mention it. That had been the surprise about Freya, a surprise almost daily that she did not seek to dig out the melancholy and anxieties Elsa had. Anna had made it a mission to heal her sister, sometimes her relentless attempts since the thaw made Elsa tired and emotionally spent. That was where Freya would provide solace, respecting Elsa's limits and supporting her when needed but never seeking more information or demanding some extra effort from Elsa. Soothing silence, gentle words if any, all little things that helped over big gestures.

"Are you okay?" Freya asked quietly, once more her warmth caressed Elsa.

"I love you." Elsa said back, this time she initiated the kiss.

As they drifted to sleep Elsa couldn't help but smile. "Stay." She breathed.

"Even after Forever."

So fluff that was needed (in my mind anyway). This slots in pretty much how I mentioned, between chapter 15 and chapter 16 of Becoming Free. This little short took a lot of prompts from Stay by Two Steps From Hell. I love the vocalist and the lyrics were so nice that I knew I had to weave them into a story somehow. Look the track up on Youtube, it is very pretty even if the main focus of TSFH is music it doesn't mean it isn't lyrically sound.