Sometimes I feel like I'm feeding neglected fish...
Since ya'll are so turtlally fintastic for wading, I wrote a long chapter!
...well yeah kind of...long
Thanks enochpowell and JediMayukiDaAWESOME for the added support!
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"Uh yes. We just call ours Brashens- Bush trolls. Very mercurial creatures...but they can be cute sometimes. Mary said they helped her with a situation once, gave her advice, sang a little song and everything. And me? They lured me into one of their ground traps and laughed for an hour...and then they left me there...in the dark."
Anna started to giggle at the story, before pausing at a crucial detail, "Wait- how'd you get out?" Kristoff seemed to be wondering the same thing, eyes full of confused curiosity.
"Uh, well I'm not exactly sure...I just remember waking up in my bed at noon."
Elsa shot the brunette a very skeptical look, "Are you sure you weren't just having a very realistic dream?" she asked carefully, features softening when she affectionately stroked the woman's arm.
Anna glanced at Peter who seemed to be aware of it as well; they were one baby step away from cuddling. Elsa was the one fully engaged- an arm wrapped behind Maxine's waist, and knees bent in a side-sitting position resting over her violet dress.
Though Max wasn't returning the embrace, her fingers were tracing shapes on Elsa's space violating knee. "I'm sure." The movement paused, " When I left my room the hall was empty, and I found Mary with mother crying in her room. Turns out my family had sent out a search party, because it hadn't been a simple 12 hours...I was gone for a whole 36 hours, and no one knows how I got into the castle."
"That's a little shady, but my family would never do such a thing. Well, the pebblings...or kids, maybe. But not for that long!" Kristoff's voice raised during his reply.
Anna's eyes widened, "shhhh." Jax had finally fallen asleep in her arms twenty minutes after his sister- currently in the nursery with Gerda.
The ice harvester cringed as his son twitched, both parents sighing in relief after he relaxed again. "Those bush trolls sound more like leprechauns in my opinion." He finished softly, eyes stil locked on the heart-swelling swaddled baby.
Peter chuckled, "Mine too. I do happen to have a book that could provide some insight to the reasoning behind their irrational behavior. I'll send it over, because I have to prep for tomorrow." He explained, stretching as he stood.
The princess's eyes widened once more, but so did Elsa's. "Oh?" They inquired in unison, very curious at this point.
Maxine however, nearly choked as she tried to contain a laugh. "By moping?" Anna couldn't help but snicker at the instantaneous jab.
The Earl crossed his arms and slowly backed toward the door. "Touchè lady lover." He stopped and smirked victoriously, fireplace causing his eyes to twinkle mischievously.
"Oh, stop picking pickled peppers Peter. Clearly I have the upper hand. So shut your crusty pie-hole." Her eyes flashed, and Anna scanned the room to see if she was the only witness. Kristoff was repeatedly dozing off in a process he called 'resting his eyes', and Elsa was unashamedly ogling at Maxine's chest.
Apparently even she had her moments.
Nevertheless the strawberry-blonde tried to find a projectile but couldn't, so instead she kicked the underside of the coffee table.
Thunk.*
Elsa blushed deeply as her eyes darted to the source of shock. 'Elsa! Your sapphic is really showing.' Anna warned silently, her facial expressions conveying the message clearly.
Meanwhile Peter's jaw had dropped because somehow Maxine knew about Elsa's preference. Which added yet another peice to the crazy puzzle Anna was trying to solve.
"These words are razors to my wounded heart." Peter exclaimed dramatically with a frown.
Elsa, who was functioning normally again, quickly intervened. "Max, play nice and apologize."
The fiesty brunette curled her lip at him, the exaggerated delay reprimanded with a nudge. "...Sorry." she muttered, rolling her eyes at the smug look Peter adopted.
"Thank you. Your Majesties, Your Highnesses it's always a pleasure." He bid farewell with a bow before gracefully taking his leave.
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Elsa was very content at the moment, snuggled against Maxine like a clingy girlfriend. It was impossible to resist the mind-numbing reactions her touch caused, but perhaps she was too close. Especially after that whole infirmary situation.
Her fears were calmed when Max shifted closer, "Petty Peter is a prudish pain in the posterior." a shake to the champagne bottle made her burst with unqueenly laughter. It was the kind of tear-jerking, stomach-aching laughter she had been experiencing much more frequently since meeting Maxine.
Anna's giggling could be heard too, but Max just smiled shyly in adoration, the tiniest of blushes tinting her dimpled, freckled, kissable cheeks.
A few moments after settling back down, the gentle motions on her knee were followed by a squeeze. "Hey baby blue, I'm going to take a late bath before dinner if I may." Her face was so close...Elsa glanced at her lips and took a soothing breath.
"Of course, I should probably do the same." After the impromptu comforting session from this morning, they didn't have time to follow their usual schedules.
An interrupting, "Ahem." grabbed their attention from the sofa across the table. "Sorry, Kristoff always tells me I'm too overprotective- but Els you should probably keep an eye on her. I don't want anything to accidentally happen, especially if you randomly loose conciousness Dani." Anna's suggestion made her stomach flip, and the temperature dipped momentarily.
Being in the same room as Maxine- while in the nude. That was...well- 'Early, it's way too early to think about things like that. Calm down.' She cut off her curious lust driven thoughts.
'She's really protective of herself, there's no way she'd...'
Max was hugging herself. "Absolutely not." The crossbow snapped, tone sharp and dangerous as an arrow, and cold enough for even Elsa to feel. The sudden hostility pierced her heart, but Anna looked even more hurt.
That wasn't acceptable.
"Maxine Tytanius Danette." The Snow Queen countered coolly. The Dutch Queen tried to look unfazed, but Elsa's own tone sliced right through the facade like an icicle. "I am not going to lose you, all because you want to be a stubborn ass. Neither is Mary, Jake, Anna, Kristoff, or your mother. If that's not eye-opening enough, imagine never getting the chance to hold your niece." Elsa sighed, reeling her icy chill back in as Maxine stared blankly at the table.
Her soft voice barely broke above a whisper. "I don't want to lose you either."
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After their third argument in the history of knowing each other, Maxine apologized. She had definitely been dramatic, but it was out of fear. Elsa of all people should have understood that.
Elsa had asked for two scented baths to be drawn separated by a curtain, which was now the only thing between them. Maxine looked down at the pink scars that stood out against her pale skin. 'I really need to tan this Summer, I look like a siamese cat.' She mused, holding up a tanned hand for comparison.
"Max?"
Elsa's melodious voice made her smile, "Yes?" she slipped her hands back under the lavender and cedarwood scented surface with a tiny splash.
"C-can you sing for me? Or tell me a story I- the silence is worrying me a little." She was so shy and cute about it, Max chuckled and thought for a moment.
Elsa always complimented her singing, and plus she had told enough stories for today. "Of course kitten, any song preferences?" A quiet giggle followed.
Max wished she could would see the adorable blush Elsa was probably suffering from. "No, I just love hearing your angelic voice. Especially after you told me you couldn't sing."
This was the perfect chance to execute the 'give Elsa her first kiss and make her fall for me' plan.
"Fine, but you owe me a dance after dinner...in the garden Miss 'I-don't-dance'." She held her breath waiting for a response.
"Deal."
"And in my defense I don't love singing, I do love writing lyrics though. So...this one is called Imagination. Um, about my crush." Max rolled her eyes and blushed. It was one of the less obvious ones she could think of.
"We walk, we laugh,
we spend our time walking by the ocean side
Our hands are gently intertwined,
A feeling I just can't describe
All this time we spent alone,
thinking we could not belong to something so damn beautiful
So damn beautiful" Not being able to see the blonde's reactions was nervewracking, but she continued strong with her eyes closed.
"I keep craving, craving, you don't know it but it's true
Can't get my mouth to say the words they want to say to you
This is typical of love,
Can't wait anymore, I won't wait
I need to tell you how I feel when I see us together forever," She took a deep breath and rested her head against the tub's edge.
"In my dreams, you're with me
We'll be everything I want us to be
And from there, who knows?
Maybe this will be the night that we kiss
for the first time
Or is that just me and my imagination?" She couldn't help but smile even more as she finished with even more flare to impress Elsa.
'I'm really going to do this. In the garden...like most of my daydreams. Right under that willow tree she absolutely loves.'
"Max, you're amazing...that was beautiful. You're beautiful. Wait. Ugh. That's obvious." Elsa stumbled over her words...something that apparently only happened when she was flustered. "Thank you Max, I loved it."
Maybe she would develop a habit of randomly singing to Elsa to see her reactions in person. It sounded cute, it probably looked cute too. "Anytime baby blue."
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"Anna this is awkward...we should be taking a nap while we still have time." Kristoff complained more than their children, and was driving her up the wall.
"Oh shush. You fell asleep in the library while I've been up since four o'clock this morning. Don't talk to me about wanting a nap." She narrowed her aqua eyes and instantly corrected his childish behavior. "Now hush and listen."
There was a melody again, Maxine's singing. 'Yes! She's singing to her, that's really cute.' Anna sighed in content before grabbing her husband's hand and pulling him toward their room.
"Max was singing to her again. Isn't that adorable?"
Kristoff's slumped shoulders snapped up as he focused. "Super cute. Just like you fiestypants. Sorry I haven't sung to you lately, it's just been so busy w-" The princess spun on her heel, and pressed her lips against his.
He melted into the sudden attack, carefully holding Jax in his free arm. "Watching you sing our kids to sleep each night is just as meaningful, if not even more. You're an incredible husband and father, and I love you so much for that." She whispered quietly, looking up as she lowered to her original height.
He blushed, pressing a tender kiss over fiery bangs. "I love you too Anna, I can't say more than life because you are my life. So are our children." Anna took a deep breath to fight back tears. He was too sappy to handle at times.
"Come on baby, you need to catch up on your rest."
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After dinner just as promised Elsa led her outside, to where the garden had turned into a Winter wonderland. The willow tree was iced over, moon shimmering through the crystals in a breathtaking display.
In reality though, Elsa was the showstopper.
After their bath Elsa let her hair down, bangs loosely tucked back with a snowflake clip that matched her updated dress design. It was the same teal color, but the knee slit made a well-desired comeback, and it was one armed.
The newly exposed skin was like an eye buffet, one she couldn't stop exploring. 'It's just an arm. You've seen it before...calm down.' She convinced herself as she then led Elsa into the otherworldly sanctuary.
Elsa's beauty was only enhanced by the picturesque Winter scene. "Woah." Max breathed, unaware of her body's actions as her arm positioned itself for dancing, hand gently grasping Elsa's waist.
The woman stopped admiring her surroundings, eyes locking with Maxine's as she blushed and stepped closer. "I- uh...so you wanted to dance?" Max nodded silently in reply. "You sang last time so I guess it's my turn?" A smile grew as she nodded again, voice most likely going to fail if she tried to use it.
Especially when Elsa closed their stance and began to hum. The beat was obscure and picking up on it, the blonde gently tapped the rhythm into her shoulder. It continued until they began to move confidently, Maxine taking the lead as they circled under the icy willows branches.
Elsa's powers even added to the moment, a breeze turning the icy willow branches into a beautiful chimes that acted as their musician.
"...This ain't easy, it's not meant to be
Every story has its scars.
But when the pain cuts you deep
When the night keeps you from sleeping
Just look and you will see
That I will be, your remedy..."
The mellifluous voice made her fall over and over again and Elsa seemed completely oblivious, absentmindedly using her hypnotic smile and looks as deadly weapons.
Maxine took an unexpected step forward at the perfect time, backing her into the ivy coated tree trunk as the song ended.
Those blue angelic eyes widened at the slight shock, hands grabbing onto her waist tightly, but a quiet giggle followed. Or maybe it was a nervous giggle. 'Well, it was definitely a cute giggle.' Max mused with a blush.
"Why are y...oh." Elsa had begun, stopping at the careful hand that slipped to her rosy cheek. "You...were- Are you..?" She breathed hesitantly, eyes darting for any signs of an answer.
The brunette glanced away, "It doesn't have to mean anything." Her heart clenched as she tried to play it off as nothing. ". . .un-unless you want it to." Her teasing confidence slipped but she leaned closer, the simper that graced her lips holding steady.
Elsa was blushing furiously to Maxine's delight, but there was a hesitation in her baby blue eyes. They darted back and forth, drifted to her lips, and then returned to her iridescent hazel eyes.
Something was wrong, because it loosely modeled the look she had given Peter, her mouth opening and closing briefly, "Maxine?" The unexpected formality instantly grabbed her attention.
'I've overstepped.' Was her first heartbreaking thought, her mind replaying Peter's rejection as her own. However this version lacked a cool breeze, or any ice. In fact Elsa's hands were still holding on to her, loosely, but her warm touch remained.
"Yes?" It came out as a whisper laced with worry and anxiety. Then the temperature dipped for a moment and Maxine held her breath her breath, chest pounding until it returned normal.
"Do you remember your confession...and how I said you weren't alone?" The older woman nodded slowly, unsure of where this was leading. "I truly meant it. . .I-in that c-context."
Maxine's gaze drifted to the ground as she thought, 'In what context? What did I say?' Her brows knitted but she couldn't put her finger on it at that nervewracking moment. Especially since she could feel Elsa's gaze, waiting. "I don't..."
Then it hit her. Elsa was confessing.
Then it was the blonde's turn to avoid Maxine's eyes, but she wasn't having it. "Elsa." Her voice was suprisingly steady, authoritative almost, before catching in her throat as their eyes met again.
There was a a pressure below her eyes as tears tried to form, but she smiled in reassurance to ease any fears, 'What was I going to say?' Maxine's brain proved to be useless as those captivating eyes pulled her in. Maybe that was it. "Sorry, I-"
Elsa blushed, "Your eyes are really hypnotic." she murmured with the grace of a majestic swan. The emotional, dumbfounded brunette watched as Elsa subconsciously moved closer again.
Where did her debonair go? Maybe it was sucked into those gorgeous blue whirlpools along with her breath.
Her freckled, dimpled cheeks were burning, "I- Well, your eyes are like maelstroms, they pull me in...they pull me under and it's hard to catch my breath." Maxine managed to breathe, heart echoing through her body while she leaned down, as if to prove her point.
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Elsa let out a short breath, like the air had been knocked from her lungs by the comment. Before she had the chance to fully react, a careful hand cupped her flushed face and peach-colored lips closed in.
This was really happening. Somehow, someway, warm intoxicating breath caressed her own, causing her eyes to instinctively flutter shut.
It felt like an eternity as her heart nearly jumped from its cage. It was nearly silent other than her audible blood flow and thundering heart. Her shaky cool breath mingled with the warm and made her shiver in anticipation.
Then petal soft lips caressed her's, gentle as a snowflake landing on exposed skin but so much warmer. The heat flooded her body, becoming visible as magical explosions behind her eyelids, before dancing down her spine. Max's violet dress was grasped tightly in fear of weakened knees giving out, so the Dutch Queen wrapped her strong arm around Elsa even tighter.
Delayed by her awe-struck daze Elsa timidly kissed her back and fought the urge to smile stupidly in the process. This whole ordeal seemed too good to be true, ending much too quickly after Max pressed another feather soft kiss on her tingling lips.
Baby blue eyes landed on the most beautiful woman she had ever seen, now tugging a nervous lower lip between her teeth as hazel eyes studied the ground beside them. Her confidence was incredibly indecisive, but a small smile broke out when her gaze returned.
'She's trying to kill me.' The blonde's heart skipped as she continued to stare, tongue absentmindedly darting across the residual peachy flavor Max left behind.
At some point Maxine's hand had slipped to caress the area below her ear- along her slender neck and jaw, but now soft fingers tucked back strands of platinum blonde hair. Meanwhile Elsa hadn't the confidence to move from the waist placement, so she stayed for now, opting to rest her head on Max's shoulder instead.
It was familiar, comfortable, warm, safe- until she felt a shuddering breath. It was one she had felt before...earlier that morning even. 'Is she crying?' Why? Maxine was incredibly tough, she didn't cry over miniscule problems.
"Max?" The second shuddering breath paused when Elsa shot back up to examine her friend. Maxine of course wasn't making it easy, avoiding eye contact like it were the plague. "Maxine."
Elsa tried to move in sync with her, ultimately failing as the tall woman looked up at the tree's canopy. "Maxine Danette." No response.
The Snow Queen had to readjust her comfy arm placement to forcibly hold Maxine's face still. "Maxine Tytanius Danette!"
She easily could have pulled away, but for some reason she didn't, choosing instead to be vulnerable. In fact she had the looks of a scolded puppy as teary hazel eyes glanced away for a moment.
Elsa started an interrogation. "Did I do something? I'm sorry." Max agressively shook her head and frowned, "Are you okay?" a nod followed, "Did you see something?" another shake concluded the simple answers. "What's wrong then love?" The air became colder, fear now grasping control as she worried.
Maxine was nervous, eyes darting as she pursed her memorable lips. "I- I just didn't want to mess it up, a-and I... what if it wasn't what you had e-expected?" She managed, arms now crossed over her stomach, trying to isolate herself.
She could tell that wasn't the complete truth, but it would have to do for now. "It was better than I had ever dreamed Max." The younger queen was in the perfect position, so she stretched to place another soft kiss on Maxine's addictive lips.
That only made it worse, tears slipping down her freckled cheeks and onto her hands. "Okay Max. Try again."
"I- I'm menstruating?" That was unexpected, but definitely not something to question. Elsa rolled her eyes and swiped the tears away. She would find out eventually...maybe she could even find out while Max slept tonight.
"Don't ask me, but why don't we grab some chocolate and snuggle up for the night?"
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Songs
Imagination- Shawn Mendes
Remedy-Adele
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"Thanks for watching, if you could click that subscribe button and leave a comment in the little box below, I'd really appreciate it. I'll catch you next time on the net. *waves goodbye*"
(I'm so done with fish puns )
UP NEXT- The next chapter's probably going to be super fluffy for Valentine's part 1.
