Thanks for the support Mantiemo!

Okay I um, I might change the rating ...just to T because this chapter's a little dark, (just the one topic, but it's important) and if do have them discuss this again it might be more in depth.

So yeah. Let's begin.

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"This is the best hot chocolate I've ever had...you never cease to amaze me Elsa." Maxine complimented as they walked to the first floor parlor, the mixture was thick and silky, so rich that only a small amount was drinkable.

Elsa smiled at the compliment, holding the door open for Maxine, heart skipping as she brushed the blonde's shoulder. "Neither do you. We'll be left to our own devices on V-Valentine's day." She blushed at the way that sounded before quickly continuing, "A-as in I...I uh, gave most of the staff an early leave, including our chef. So w-we can cook dinner, Matilda can cook, or we c-can go out on the town?" She suggested nervously. mentally rolling eyes at her inability to form words around Maxine. The first had sounded more appealing after discovering how well Maxine did in the kitchen.

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"Here I'll chop the chocolate, you stir." Maxine's eyes had twinkled as she smirked playfully, and took the knife from the blonde. Elsa had silenlty agreed in fear that her voice would fail. Then she stole a glance at the brunette as she diced the bars with ease, movements precise and quick.

'Well that was unexpectedly attractive.' She had thought with a blush, turning her attention back to the thickening mixture in front of her. Elsa knew those chopping skills couldn't come from out of the blue, and wondered why Maxine had such skills. Her thoughts came to a screeching halt as a gentle hand on her back send sparks up her spine, seemingly effecting her brain functions.

"Careful it's about to boil...I don't want you to get burnt if it splatters." Maxine had said, and the concern in her voice made Elsa's heart and stomach flutter like butterflies. She was able to reel herself in enough, and the pan was moved away from the flame.

She has no clue what she does to you, does she? Elsa blushed, eyes widening as her thoughts proceeded to roam again. 'What if she came up with a cute nicknickname for you? You need to come up with one for her, freckles? Dimples? Max isn't that unique...but she does like it.' The even chocolate slices were added, slowly becoming a delicious beverage.

"H-here Max, you get to try it first." Elsa said pouring the hot beverage into one of the two mugs they had gotten out. Maxine's eyebrow twiched, a smirk forming like the quip Elsa knew she'd come up with.

"So if it's poisoned I die? No, if I die you're coming with, you don't get to choose." Hands on Elsa's waist nearly made her swoon. It was a quick but ineffective warning before Maxine was behind her, pulling the mug away and pouring some into the other.

"On three, it'll be a crazy trust exercise." Maxine stepped back with her own mug and Elsa momentarily frowned at the loss, though she still felt warm tingles in her stomach. 'That's with nearly three layers of cloth, imagine what- ' Elsa clenched her eyes shut, and with a mental shake of her head she halted her thoughts. Her old mantra came to mind, and she turned around with a playful smile.

Elsa chuckled softly toasting, "Here's to possible death by chocolate." and Maxine's dimples flashed as their mugs clinked. 'If that smile doesn't kill me first.'

"One. . .two. . .three!" They both took a sip after the brunette counted, and moaned softly at the rich flavor. That sounded quite- Stop it! Pull yourself together!Elsa scolded herself again with ears burning, wondering if the pink on Maxine's cheeks was from the beverage, or from her...or maybe the 'poison'. Which would now be in both of their systems.

No, the only poison in her system was the thoughts she kept having; the warmth stirring, like the hot chocolate, deep inside- but making her shiver in...well she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"Well, I feel fine...but we better keep an eye on each other just in case." The wink Maxine shot the blonde made her normally pale cheeks flush even more.

'I'll always keep an eye on you, its nearly impossible not to.' She wanted to reply, but she bit her lip and nodded stupidly instead.

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"I really do enjoy cooking, when I wasn't studying I liked to help Yvonne, our castle cook, she taught me a lot. I'd really enjoy making dinner, I don't get the chance very often." Maxine admitted shyly, once again facing the snow goddess on a velvety sofa. Being in the kitchen had also served as a way to avoid her younger sister when she 'needed space'.

Elsa tilted her head in interest, leaning closer to the brunette, "That's incredible, so besides being a secret chef, what else don't I know about you?"

Max took a moment before answering, "Well you know about the magic in my family, my father's passing...it was from a disease. Oh, I told you a little bit about pushing my sister away...but not why." she looked into her mug as if it were holding the answers. Elsa knew opening up wasn't always easy, Maxine didn't have to if she wasn't ready.

So she told her, "If you don't feel comfortable telling me right now you don't have to." yet Maxine shook her head and smiled sadly.

"I want to, it's important. I trust you." The look in her hazel eyes was serious, and instantly made the platinum blonde listen.

"When I was fifteen I-I," Elsa patiently waited for Maxine to compose herself and to organize her thoughts. It was something she had been neglecting to do herself when the brunette was around. "There was a Ball...Wait. Sorry." A frustrated sigh followed. Another pause. "When Margaret was eleven she went through this phase, she wanted to be just like me. It was cute at first, but then I realized there were some behaviors she didn't need to adopt from me." She discarded the mug to the table. "I was 15 when we held our annual Spring Ball, things started to become clearer. . .including my lack of feelings for the boys most girls would swoon over. I felt like something was wrong with me, and I didn't want Mary to know or copy that. S-so for her learning sake, I started talking with this Baron of. . .R-Reidall I think." There was a sigh of disappointment this time, and the brunette let her eyes flutter shut as she did so. The long dark eyelashes that had fallen over tan, freckle dusted cheeks made her heart skip.

"That was the stupidest mistake I have ever made in my life." Elsa's eyebrows twitched at the sudden venom coated tone, and even though she was unfamiliar with the Baron, it was very clear he was one with bad intentions. 'Another Hans' Elsa internally cringed, her stomach twisting at the mention of that Satan spawn. She placed her nearly empty mug on the coffee table next to the other, unable to sincerely enjoy the last few drops.

The way the freckled nose in front of her had begun to pinken, was concerning and she quickly reached a hand out to encourage Maxine. The purple cloth was smooth under her fingers she dared not move, and a small smile of appreciation now graced the comfortees lips. Elsa took that as a small victory.

"I surprisingly didn't mind getting to know him better that night. Mary- unlike me- had friends to keep her company so I let her be. I offered him a tour of the castle... a-and that's when," Her voice had become brittle, and she blew air out of her mouth, while glancing away. A gentle squeeze to the area above her elbow also helped her calm down slightly.

She made a sound, but hesitated before continuing, "t-that's when I was assaulted." Maxine's eyes were now glassy, tears threatening to spill at any moment. Elsa wrestled with the urge to hold her close, as if it were a bear. Her heart sunk to her stomach, which had twisted inside-out at the revelation.

Maxine was hugging herself like Elsa did when she was nervous, or worried, or had any fear based emotion for that matter. The blonde's thoughts swirled like a snowstorm of her own creation, and maybe she thought, just maybe, she could calm this out of love too. Elsa focused and one solution seemed to make it's way out of the storm, 'Just hug her, you won't hurt her.'

And so she did, leaning awkwardly toward Maxine, and hesitantly pulling the fearfully stiff form into her own. 'Maybe you should stop, she isn't reciprocating, and you're leaning in too far, what if you're triggering bad memories.' Elsa tried to dodge the arrows of pure anxiety, wondering what else she could do to comfort the queen.

"Its okay to cry." She whispered, heart thundering into her ribcage, wanting to be free. It felt like an eternity before careful arms snaked around her petite waist, a soft whimper tearing the Snow Queen's racing heart in half.

Comfort was Elsa's only concern, sure being this close could have been stoking a fire in her soul, but the older's tears had put that out instantly. The ice fabric tightened around her waist as it was clutched in a needy grasp, and Elsa responded by rubbing circles into the warm purple fabric over Maxine's back. She didn't even bother questioning her own actions, it just seemed like instinct now as a shaky inhale was followed by a high pitched sob.

The halved heart in Elsa's chest tore into smaller pieces at the sound of utter anguish. She wondered if this story had been told before, and to whom. 'She trusts me' the realization mended her heart a bit, loosely sewing pieces back together. Another choked back sob jolted the fragile body in her arms, and Elsa held tighter as if that would prevent shattering. I don't care if it was a decade ago, I'll find him and freeze his-

Maxine took a deep breath, head still resting on the fur shrug facing Elsa's neck. "I was so weak a-and naive...I didn't want," She paused, and the absence of warm breath, and weight made Elsa shiver. A tear slipped down a pale cheek, melting into the fabric below her, before she felt the absence of arms follow.

The blonde hesitantly pulled away too, mended heart stopping at the deep hazel-grey eyes that met her own. "I didn't tell Mary, I-I haven't told her. I didn't want her to be weak like me, and I didn't want her to blame herself for not protecting me with her presence. She knew something was wrong after the Ball, but I pushed her away." Maxine had rushed the last part, glancing away as quiet sob shook her slightly larger frame.

"M-my mother of course knew something happened, and had run up the stairs dagger in hand, saving me from the...n-nightmare. I'd rather not go into detail now but...m-my dignity wasn't the only thing I-I was nearly stripped of that d-day." Elsa frowned, bile wanting to rise in her throat at the statement. Her jaw ached from clenching it in attempts to hold back her own tears, which slowly slipped from her chin. Her throat was tight as she swallowed the lump of sadness. She was somewhat mirrored to the innocent victim in front of her.

Maxine was good at concealing her emotions, as now mostly silent tears slipped down her cheeks. "A-after that I was repulsed at the idea of males...romantically at least. I didn't want Mary to be like me. I was also afraid of her judging me...because uh...I don't want to frighten you but, I-" Elsa's heart had begun beating violently again, in anticipation, and she reached out to take Maxine's fidgety hands in her own. The warmth reached her eyes that now looked more of a hazel-blue. "I-I I'm attracted t-to females."

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I think I'm getting the hang of writing again- I'm proud of this chapter.