chapter word count: 581
noir heart: thirty-six
They say you never stop learning until the day you die, and it's totally true - Jack had no idea heavily pregnant women move so fast.
He barely darts out of the way as, having overcome her initial disbelief, Anna rushes from the hallway with her arms wide open, and practically tackles her elder sister in a tight, needing, loving embrace - though he fights so hard to suppress a snort at Elsa's posture; instead of regal and poised, she's bent at a hilariously weird angle to accommodate Anna's huge bump.
Of course, the small amusement is overwhelmed by just how over-the-moon Anna looks, her eyes closed in joy as she nuzzles into Elsa's shoulder while the blonde whispers comforting words into her ear, an effort to soothe the gentle, quiet sobbing.
"I missed you so much, Elsa..." mumbles Anna, clawing her fingers into the back of Elsa's black Bardot dress.
Elsa's reply is soft as a feather, and accompanied by a light stroking of her younger sister's back, "I missed you too, Anna. It's good to see you again."
This is too tender a moment for Jack, even if his interaction thus far with Elsa has been dangerous, seductive and doing well to reinforce his suspicions. Clearly Anna has been waiting for this day for a long time, judging by the 'Elsa finally came home'. The situation begins to evoke a light sensation of discomfort, so, while scratching his temple to dissuade the feeling of being an intruder in a private moment, he averts his eyes and awkwardly shuffles away.
Out of the corner of his eye, he notices Anna pulling away whilst tenaciously grasping her sister's hands, and busies himself with staring intently at the oh-so-interesting ceiling while she gushes, "My God, it's been so long! How are you? You look different-" she rambles, but hastily amends, "-it's a good different! I mean, wow-"
"It has been a long time, Anna. Five years; far too long to be away from you." Elsa agrees grimly, keen to interrupt the rambling.
"Way too long! I mean, phone calls and emails only?! I swear, I was that far from breaking into that asshole's house-"
"Anna..." Elsa gently hushes her decidedly more feisty sibling...or at least attempts to.
"-making him pay for what he did to you-" Anna continues, oblivious to both Elsa's insistent tone and, his curiosity having been drawn by the ranting, Jack's sentinel-like gaze.
"Anna."
"-and dragging you out of there myself-"
"Anna." Elsa loudly interjects.
"What? I would have totally-" Anna tries to indignantly override her, and it isn't until Elsa steps aside and pointedly clears her throat, "-done it...oh, who's Mr. Tall, Chiseled and Handsome?" she finishes, finally registering his presence with the curling of a sly smile.
"Anna, this man is Detective Jack Frost of the Arendelle City Police Department." Elsa smoothly introduces him, while he nods a curt greeting.
"Detective..oh!" Anna repeats slowly, then promptly gasps at the realisation, "Detective! I-um-wasn't really going to-it's the pregnancy hormones, they're...uh...murder..."
"Uh-huh." Jack grunts with a voice as deadpan as his expression as he folds his arms.
"Seriously, I-wait..." Anna frowns deeply and trails off as, he suspects, the nature dictating his presence finally dawns on her, "...did you say detective? Elsa, what's going on?"
i missed updating, and missed you guys and gals so, so much.
special thanks to: stefalove, hornedgoddess, oninoko (hai!), fantasy oh yea, jpbake, heartonfire (haaaaai!)and original reader (your review made my morning) for reviewing!