They get him home before sitting him down to break the news.
Anna sends Meg a desperate text in the car, a 'we'll be home in 20 please come over for when i tell kris'. She gets a response almost immediately, assuring her that Meg's indeed on her way, and won't be too long.
That, more than anything, brings a smile to her face.
She's not scared that Kristoff is going to get angry. She's not scared that he's going to reject her or the baby or ask for it to be terminated. They graduate soon, and Bulda would love a grandkid. So would her own mother. Elsa... well, they'll have to tell Mrs Arendelle at some point, though Anna doesn't have high hopes. Everything she's heard... Elsa's mom doesn't seem like she's going to be all that thrilled about her daughter's life.
So they get home and put off telling him because they've just gotten home and Kristoff has washing, and news and pictures to share. Anna paces the living room, fretting while he bustles about the laundry, calling out over his shoulder as he tries to tell a story. Elsa's doing a great job at keeping his attention on her, away from Anna.
They just need to wait for Meg to get there because it's more than just the baby. It's how everyone's relationship has changed. There's been no PDA between Elsa and Anna so maybe he doesn't know about them really progressing. When he'd left, they hadn't even been having sex. Now, Anna's got feelings for someone else, too. They haven't done anything at all – they're friends, nothing more – but they could be.
God everything's such a shit-show. Except, Anna's so happy, too. She doesn't- she can't think of a single time in her life where she's ever felt this fulfilled. Her ex can't hold a candle to this experience at all.
It's kind of an absurd feeling. Loving so many people but being well-loved in return. It's been... fantastic.
Meg arrives just as Kristoff finishes putting on his washing and pulls out a cold beer. Anna's sitting on the couch at this point, so Elsa lets her in. It's obvious that something has happened. That there's news.
She stands up and tells Kristoff to sit down. Meg sits on the single couch, on the other side. She obviously doesn't want to be too close to him, probably in case he starts throwing things. Elsa stands next to Anna, holding her hand.
Kristoff looks between the two of them, almost expectantly. It's not fair that he's been kept in the dark so long, even if it was a little his fault for never being available to speak. Even so, Anna can't completely blame him. She starts out by saying, "So, obviously, we have news. It's not the- we didn't want to break it over the phone or text or Skype. We only just realised ourselves."
He's looking between her and Elsa and there's a little red flush on his face, It's not embarrassment or arousal. Maybe he's figuring out what the secret is.
"Um. I'm... pregnant..."
His eyes go wide and he doesn't say a single thing. Just kind of. Gapes at them before a short, "What?" falls from his lips. Anna trembles and she shrugs.
"I'm pregnant. Knocked up. Harbouring a fugitive. Up the duff. Not sure... how else to say it. It was- it's yours. Before you left."
"But we- we used protection!"
Anna shrugs again. "We didn't change it. And I'm not on the pill or anything. This, uh, this is happening, Kristoff..."
He swallows and nods, before glancing at Meg. "Is she- sorry- are you... giving it up?"
Anna's eyes widen and she looks completely horrified. "No! It's- I'm keeping it. It's my baby, even if you don't... Elsa wants it, too, and I don't... want to carry it for nine months and then give it up. No, um, abortion, either."
He nods, but looks at Meg again. "So... why is your friend here?"
Anna doesn't want to lie, but gosh this is hard. So much harder than anything else she's ever admitted to. "I... really like Meg. And she likes me back..."
Kristoff's expression gives nothing away, and when he speaks, it's terrifyingly flat. Anna feels seconds from crying. "Are you... together?"
Anna shakes her head. "N-no. But... I like her. And she likes me."
Kristoff doesn't say anything for a moment. Anna lets him to his silence. It's a lot to think about. Then he does something unexpected.
He leans forward, head in his hands, and says, "Jesus Christ..."
"Kris...?"
"Why does this keep happening?" he asks, looking up. "First you want to invite Elsa, and then you want to kick her out. I've been gone so you start chasing someone else? What's wrong with you?"
"Enough, Kristoff."
He steps back as though electrocuted. Meg's up in his face, hands balled into a fist, but he barely registers her after that initial shock. He stares at his girlfriends – Elsa's still standing next to Anna, but she's glaring at Kristoff. Anna's looking at him, too, but her whole face is wet and red as she cries silently.
"I'm so sick of you doing whatever you want without thinking about other people. Did we ever even cross your mind? Did you ever think of me, or Elsa?"
"Don't you drag me into this," Elsa hisses at him, stepping forward. "I knew it was happening. I saw it happening before Anna or Meg did. I encouraged it, Kris. I like Meg, and I think she would be a great partner for Anna. You haven't even been picking up the phone. Barely tried to contact us. Life moves on and that's not our fault. But you're talking like Anna's actually done something wrong, and she hasn't. She has these feelings but she hasn't acted on them because she's trying to do the best she can."
Kristoff just shakes his head. "I'm going to bed. I need to think."
As soon as he's gone, Anna breaks down in tears. It's up to Elsa and Meg to pick up the pieces.
It's obvious that Kristoff is unhappy about the whole arrangement, but he does make an effort. Anna doesn't bring up Meg at all, and neither does Elsa. It's clear that it's a topic they're both avoiding, and Kristoff becomes even more upset when he realises. They're obviously doing it to reduce friction, doing it for his sake.
He spies them across the campus one morning, Meg's head in Anna's lap. Elsa's sitting next to them, too, laughing at something one of them has said. They all look so comfortable together.
His gaze moves to Elsa, whose laugh subsides into a tender smile. There's no anger from her. No upset or jealousy. She can accept it – already has. If Anna has the capacity to love like this... well, that's pretty amazing in its own right.
It's just a lot to accept all at once.
But, he tries. Invites everyone – including Meg – to basketball and soccer matches (mostly because they're not quite over for the season, but hockey is). It doesn't, as he expects, end up being Anna-and-Meg and Kristoff-and-Elsa. They all fall into different groups – even him and Meg, sometimes. Those moments are always strained. But it gives him a chance to see how Meg fits into their dynamic. She and Elsa get along better than Kristoff thought they would, something he's both ashamed and a little sad to admit.
There are other issues, too. Reconciling the fact that, not only is Anna pregnant, but she likes someone who isn't part of their dynamic is... hard. Elsa is different; she fits neatly within this little triangle of feelings that they all share with each other. Meg doesn't.
And also, he kinda knows how Anna felt before, when his relationship with Elsa progressed and her own stagnated, because neither she nor Elsa have shown any interest in being intimate with him. When Anna is happy to devote time to Meg... it stings a little when she doesn't do the same for him.
"It's because you were a tool," Meg says to him. They're at a diner and his girlfriends have both gone to the bathroom. He probably shouldn't be complaining to Meg, but she's the only person with as good an understanding of the situation as him.
"What?"
Meg shrugs and takes another sip of her thickshake. "You were a tool. A dick. A douche, a cu—"
"I get it."
She smirks into her drink and shrugs again. "You left them, Kristoff. And then shit went down – and no I'm not telling you. Talk to them – and Anna and I found how much our feelings were reciprocated and Elsa was stupidly happy for us and, I think, for the first time in a very long time... all the love Anna has for other people, she's feeling it returned. She still loves you. But she's hurt and upset that you seem to let everything else get in the way. God, she's even carrying your kid."
Elsa and Anna return at that moment, so their conversation comes to an end. Either way, it gives him a lot to think about.
He gets a job at a local sports centre. It's basically little athletics but it means he gets paid to do what he likes – sports and spending time with kids. It's halfway through a friendly game of hockey with the under-6s that it hits him.
He's going to be a dad.
Even though it fucks with the game, he calls a time out so he can go to the toilets and cry. He could be doing this with his own family one day. If- if he stops messing everything up. He loves Anna, despite her faults and her complications. He's in love with her, and he loves and is in love with Elsa. And Meg... Meg's not a bad chick. He can see why Anna likes her, and he can see why Elsa's friends with her.
It's obvious he's been a bit teary, but the other coach just looks at him with concern. "Everything all right, mate?" he asks. Kristoff nods.
"Yeah, yeah. Thanks. I'm good now."
The first thing he does when he gets back to Elsa and Anna's apartment is pull the closest one (Anna, actually) into a kiss.
"I'm sorry," he says once he lets go. "I'm sorry I was such a cock. I am so sorry for how I reacted and treated you. Both of you. Anna, you should date her if it makes you both happy." Anna's eyes fill with tears, but they're not sad. She tugs him down and kisses him as though her life depends on it.
They only pul away when Elsa clears her throat, loudly, but she's grinning. Anna reaches over to pull her close, and Elsa's arm comes to wrap securely around her waist.
Kristoff smiles, too, a little red in the face. "I'll... apologise to Meg, next time I see her. I don't... I don't want the kid – our kid – to grow up in a family that's always angry or upset with each other. I want our love to be the first thing they feel in this world. And... that came out way sappier than I had planned."
It doesn't matter. Both Elsa and Anna are crying now, and in the same moment, they fall into him, forming a massive group hug. It's perfect.
"I'm sorry, too," Anna begins as soon as they've all calmed down a little. "It was a lot to put on you and you've been great, honestly."
Kris kisses her on the head. "I should have been around for you to talk to. It's not your fault you didn't tell me earlier. I wouldn't have told me, either. As long as everyone is safe..."
They both look at him. "Everyone?" Elsa asks. They can see Kristoff swallow, nervous as he shrugs.
"If you and Meg..." he starts, looking at Elsa before shrugging again. "As long as you're safe."
She smiles, and Anna smiles, and they both have to hug him and kiss him again for that.
"Thank you, Kristoff," Elsa says once they've all separated again.
It's honestly just perfect.
They try sex again. It kinda mostly goes well. Better than if he and Anna were to try again on their own, he thinks, because Elsa just makes everything easier between them.
But then... Anna makes it fun. Because him and Elsa, it's a bit boring. He's big enough, and mature enough, to admit that the missionary position does get a little... static. But how do you keep things vanilla while still spicing it up?
It's not just the addition of a third person, either. It's Anna who makes it fun. Even though some of her favourite sex positions are out of the question while she's pregnant. She's only a couple of months along, only just starting to show; sometimes when she sits or lies in a certain way, Kristoff's certain he can see the slightest swell there.
They're given a sudden, unwelcome reminder that their lease is up in the form of a 'pack your things, it's non-renewable' email, sent by the landlord. The girls are still doing exams while Kristoff works part-time, so it falls to him to organise looking at other apartments. They've only been given a month to find a new place
It's mostly hard because he's still not sure where Meg fits in yet, and he also doesn't want to ask. He doesn't want to make it seem like he wants her gone, because that's not true, and it's certainly not fair.
So he gets a text from the real estate agent during work about this great deal, and when he goes into it, it actually does look like a great deal. Big enough and cheap enough, and there's even a 'rent-to-buy' option for it, too. So, he leaves early and makes his way back to the apartment. Elsa and Anna are both studying for an exam they have at the end of the following week, but he's sure they won't mind taking some time off to have a look at the house.
It's eerily quiet when he gets back to the apartment. Maybe they've gone out for snackage or something? He's about to text them when he hears a giggle from down the hallway. Maybe they're studying in the bedroom with the A/C on? It's a warm day, after all.
He knocks on Anna's door, because it's the one that's closed, and he's already opening it when he hears a, "Hold up!"
Too late. He comes face-to-face with the sight of Elsa, bound and blindfolded in the middle of the bed, Meg kissing her way down her body. Anna's naked and still has the damn strap-on on. Kristoff can tell because Anna's up and off the bed and pushing him into the hallway.
"Two minutes," she says before shutting the door on him.
When she comes out (closer to ten minutes but who's counting?) she's fully clothed. Except Elsa and Meg don't follow her. Oh.
"Are they—"
"Busy. What's up?" Anna doesn't mean to sound as curt as she does, and Kristoff sees her flinch. "Sorry. It's uh. Look, it's just fun for them. I- how... do you feel about it?"
This isn't really a conversation that Kristoff wants to have, but it probably should happen while they're already on the topic. "I said I didn't mind..." He's squirming. He's absolutely squirming and though at least 30% of that is from arousal, the rest is mostly embarrassment. "Um. Can I join?" he jokes. Anna gives a tight smile.
"You'll have to ask Meg. She's not as open to penis as Elsa and I are." That's her attempt at a joke, and while it's still incredibly awkward, it's not quite as tense. "So, um. You're home early..."
It's probably more awkward because Kristoff knows what's going on in the other room, and Anna's still trying to have a regular conversation. He steels himself. Now is really not the time to get turned on.
"I uh, I got a text from the realtor. There's a nice house on offer for a rent-to-buy scheme. He thought it'd be perfect for us. There's a slot to go and have a look in about an hour if you're interested?"
Anna's expression had become progressively happier, smile widening. "You mean it could be ours if we like it?" Kristoff nods. "Then absolutely. I'll um. Go and ask if Elsa wants to come. Do you... mind if Meg comes, too?"
This time, he shakes his head. "I don't know what the living arrangements are going to be," he admits softly. "I don't know what sort of place Meg has in your life yet, let alone what place she's going to have in mine. But... if you want her to come, and she wants to, then I don't see the problem."
Anna's smile grows soft, and she leans forward to kiss his cheek. "Thank you, Kris," she says.
And with that she jumps up. "I'll just go and get them. Wait here."
He does, and it really doesn't take as long as he thought it would for Elsa and Meg to appear. Elsa's bright red, though he's not sure if it's from embarrassment or arousal. He remembers the brief glimpse he got of her in the bedroom. Blindfolded and bound, was it? He kind of can't believe she'd be into that.
Huh. Guess there's more to her than he first thought.
The house is actually really, really nice. It's a little smaller than he'd thought, especially for a three-bedroom. The dining room and kitchen are a single space, and save for the location and lack of door, the living room really is small enough to be a bedroom of its own.
"What are your plans, Meg?" Elsa asks, and Kristoff's glad that he doesn't have to be the one to bring it up. Meg doesn't say anything for a moment.
"I don't really have any," she says, "But. I think I… will leave it to you guys. I've paid out my dorm until the end of the year, so..."
That's actually a surprisingly easy answer. The realtor takes them all through the house and only gives them like, two funny looks. One after he sees Elsa and Anna get all cuddly in the living room, and another when Anna gets all clucky near the pool, talking to Kristoff about teaching their kid to swim. And then the realtor takes notice of that and decides to tout the fact that there's like, two studies and one can definitely be converted into a child nursery or bedroom
They leave feeling really good about it, and they all leave feeling like this could be the place for them. Anna wants to call her mom and tell her but then Kristoff has the awesome idea of, "why don't we just go and see them all and like. Tell them all the good news?" It's a wonderful idea until Anna looks at Elsa, who's staring at her knees.
"Maybe I can say goodbye to your dad?" she says softly. "I missed my chance last time..."
Elsa looks ready to burst into tears. She doesn't – she just gives a little smile – but it's a close call.
They drop Meg off at her dorm first. Anna gives her a long, languid kiss on the front stoop. Kristoff notices that Elsa doesn't. She doesn't even get out of the car. It brings to mind something they should probably discuss.
"So..." he begins, "about earlier..."
Elsa goes bright pink, right up to the tips of her ears. She knows, sort of, what he's going to say. "It's really just a bedroom thing..." she says. "I like her enough but- well, Anna's always with us, too. It's not just me and her. That'd be weird."
"And it isn't already?" Kristoff asks. Elsa looks at him, but there's an easy grin on his face. She responds with an impish expression of her own.
Even so, he still doesn't completely understand. But, that's okay. He did do the friends with benefits thing. It's just. It turned into love. By the looks of it, Elsa's thing with Meg won't.
"Anyway, she's totally mono," Elsa continues. "And I have you and Anna. I don't really need any more than that."
She gives him another smile and wow he really wants to kiss her. So he does. They don't even break apart when Anna gets back (though she did just spend a good three minutes kissing Meg, so she's not going to complain). She does interrupt with a thought, just a little one.
"Do you guys want to try together when we get home?"
Elsa breaks the kiss to send her girlfriend a smirk. "What, still hungry after this morning?" she asks. Anna sticks her tongue out.
"Only because you kept eating my food."
"Ugh, girls, come on," Kristoff interrupts. "Do you know how uncomfortable it is, driving with a boner?"
Anna gives a little cackle. "Well, you better hurry up and get home then, huh?"
He doesn't speed. Almost, but not quite.
Sex is fine until Anna progresses well into the second trimester. People start commenting on her weight, and she gets both hypersensitive and her libido plummets. Morning sickness is not her friend.
She has to run out halfway through her final exam to throw up. The adjudicators are not happy.
They all decide that the sooner they break the news to the 'rents, the better, so they plan it for one weekend in late July. It's about a two weeks away but they need that much prep time. First, Kristoff's family, only because they're closer. They can drive up one afternoon and get back home the next. No big deal (so they make that one for a weekday, just to have some more time off from work).
As for Elsa's mom... yeah, that'll be a weekend trip.
Anna's hesitant to invite Meg, only because she knows Elsa is hesitant because her mother absolutely will not understand the 'involved but not', and then she'll assume Elsa's relationship with Anna is 'involved but not'. She finally does ask Meg, but it's only after Elsa makes it clear that she doesn't give a fuck about what her mom thinks, that she wants Meg there.
Of course, Meg agrees emphatically.
But then her face falls.
"Oh, I- I can't," she says. "Um. Herc- Hercules. His cousin is having a wedding that weekend and he invited me. Seems to think I'm good around alcohol. Or, better than every other girl. I agreed."
Anna's heart sinks a little, but she leans forward and presses a kiss to Megs nose. "Drink enough for me, then. It'll be a hat trick getting through a visit to Elsa's mom sober, so..." Meg lets out a snort. "You're uh... you're still coming to see Bulda- Kris's mom, though, right? And... and mine?"
This time, Meg's the one to lean forward and give a kiss (though hers lands soundly on Anna's lips).
"Wouldn't miss it."
They sign the lease three days before they're due to go to Kristoff's. Finally, his truck is actually useful, and they manage to move almost everything in only two. By the time they're done, the only items left are the TV unit and the couch – everything else is either in storage or at the new place
Of course, nothing's put together at the new house, but at least it's there. They have to be out by the end of the week, but because they've got plans, they actually have less time than that. It's very stressful, and absolutely no one let Anna help.
"You can sort out all the little things. There's no way you're lifting anything," Kristoff had argued.
"But—!"
"Nope," Elsa had interjected. "Don't even think about it. And don't go crying to Meg," she added, a glare in her eyes. "She's not going to let you do anything, either."
So Anna had sat in a grumpy ball for most of the day because they hadn't brought the chairs over at that point. She ends up going out to the supermarket and buying hotdog ingredients, but because the fridge is still off, she doesn't get too much. The result is some very hungry partners, but the offset is that they all – all four of them – fall asleep on the mattresses on the floor. They're too tired to take Meg home and besides. It's really, really nice.
The following day, Anna has a very important thing to do – actually, two things: RSVP to her graduation, and... see the doctor.
Both are terrifying thoughts; that she is actually almost finished her degree, and, even scarier, the fact that she's pregnant and without a job. Jesus Christ this isn't how she thought her life would go.
But whenever she expresses these worries or doubts, there's always someone there to make her feel better. To hug her and tell her she's fine and loved and that none of it matters because even with a kid, there's four of them, and she's only in her early twenties and she has her life ahead of her.
The RSVP is simple because it's all online, but Anna still get a nice surprise when she gets a message from her brother, asking for a third seat because there's no way he's missing this. It improves her mood vastly, so by the time she rocks up to the hospital, twice as many people by her side as everyone else, she's a bubble of energy, fidgeting and jittering all over the place.
The doctor is all kind and welcoming and smiles at first, but when Anna stands up and three people follow, there's an undeniable frown between his eyebrows.
"I'm sorry, but your friends will have to wait here." He glances at Anna's hands, hanging loosely at her sides, and then at Kristoff's. "Your boyfriend is welcome, but no one else."
Anna's whole face falls. "Why?"
The doctor gives a pathetic shrug. "Hospital policy, I'm afraid. Only one person may accompany you."
At that, she brightens exponentially. "Oh, well. You should have said that. Everyone, scissors, paper, rock!"
Meg smirks and sticks out her fist. Elsa and Kristoff follow a little slower, obviously confused. It stands to reason that Meg would come out victorious.
"Alrighty, looks like Meg's coming in today, if that's cool?" Anna's smiling, and ignoring the gaping doctor. Even Elsa and Kristoff have little grins. Elsa steps forward to kiss Anna.
"We'll be waiting here for you," she says, stepping away so Kristoff can do the same. When Anna links arms with Meg and they begin walking down the hall, there's a very definite look of discomfort on the doctor's face.
It's great.
The appointment goes wonderfully, as it would. Anna finds out that she's over halfway through her second trimester (gosh!) and is due around mid-January. They take a urine test and have to check her blood pressure and heart and stuff. Routine stuff. There's not a lot to see on the monitor yet, but she spends the rest of the day just tapping the top of her tummy with her fingers.
"How about Elsa and I go and grab something for dinner?" Kristoff asks. "And- well, we've got time. Do you wanna see your mother tomorrow?"
Anna hadn't thought of that, but it is, actually, a pretty good idea. She is local, so they really could just do a cursory visit.
Plus, she probably needs to thank her mother again because there's a lot of shit that she helped to sort out.
Plus plus, she needs to meet Meg.
"What do you say, Meg? You up for it?"
She looks a bit put out by being called upon, but Meg still smiles. "I said I was, didn't I?"
Anna looks like she wants to say something, but she doesn't. Instead, she turns to Kris. "Alright, you get dinner while I call my mom. I... probably shouldn't have waited half a year... Well, better late than never."
He nods, giving a smile. "Elsa, wanna, er, come with?"
She doesn't look like she does, but when he follows it up with a, "Could use a second set of hands," her eyes widen, obviously understanding something that goes right over Anna and Meg's heads.
"Sure. We, uh, we won't be long."
Meg nods, a bemused frown on her face, while Anna just waves them away. She's got a phone call to make.
It occurs to her, a few minutes later, what exactly was going on.
Elsa and Kristoff are probably going to be a little longer than usual.
Elsa and Kristoff are absolutely longer than they said they would be. Anna just lifts an eyebrow as they walk back in, faces red. Elsa's hair isn't in its plait anymore, and Kristoff's fly is undone.
But no one says anything. They all just give each other knowing glances – in the case of Anna and Meg, it's accompanied by sniggers. For Elsa, she feels like she has to keep biting her cheek to stop the smile from overtaking her face. And Kristoff just looks tired. Typical.
"You were right, Anna," Elsa whispers as she puts the takeout on the table. Kristoff and Meg are fighting over who gets the giant BB-8 mug someone (no one can remember who) got from the cinema.
"Hmm? About what?"
Elsa grins and leans close. "Workout, indeed."
They do go and visit Anna's parents the next day. Their new place is even closer, so it's only a ten minute drive. Meg stayed over the night before and they'd all watched Minority Report on Netflix.
Kris is driving again (and wow they really need to get another car. Or a bus pass. Something) with Anna in the front seat. Meg's sitting next to Elsa, and everyone's obviously a little bit nervous.
They have no reason to be. Not when Anna's mom rushes out to give her daughter a huge hug.
"Mmmm come here, darling! And who have you brought with you?"
Anna's pretty sure her mom's gonna be fine with everything. Her dad's (hopefully) not gonna care, so long as she's happy.
"Mom, you've met Kristoff. This is Elsa, and Meg. My, uh. Partners..."
Her mother smiles. Looks between them all. "Elsa, it's nice to meet you. I'm sorry to hear about your father..." Elsa's eyes widen, and she accepts the handshake put to her. "And Meg! I hope my daughter's been treating you well."
Meg gives a grin. "You've raised a fine daughter," she says. That gets a laugh, and soon they're all bundled inside.
Of course, the topic quickly shifts to Anna's... state. Her father raises his eyebrows, and does that weird patriarchal thing where he stares down Kristoff. But, he doesn't threaten him or ask Anna if she's ready for the responsibilities of a baby, so that's nice.
Mrs Sommers ("Oh, just Lisa is fine. We're all family here!") is happy about the pregnancy, but understandably reserved. She leads Anna away for a mother-daughter chat, and for a moment, all three guests poke their head out, just enough to see Anna embraced in the tightest hug.
They don't spy after that.
It becomes apparent fairly quickly that Mrs Sommers is actually the best mom ever. Once the two return (Anna's eyes a little red, which everyone politely ignores), she sends her daughter off to give Elsa and Meg a tour of the house while Kristoff helps set up lunch.
It's not a huge house; actually, it's a pretty small one. There's three bedrooms and a bathroom, plus a cozy backyard for pets of the smaller variety. Anna's room doesn't seem to have changed much since she'd moved out, but then, looking at the posters on the wall and the disgustingly floral bedspread, neither had her tastes.
When Meg mentions that, it gets a good giggle out of Elsa. Anna just glares for a second before a dark look crosses her eyes. Sauntering over to her hilarious girlfriend, she grabs her hips.
"Oh, I don't know..." she purrs. "I think my tastes have definitely gotten better."
Of course, there's nothing Elsa or Meg can say to that, and by the time they think of some witty reply, the moment has passed and Anna's leading them back through the lounge room.
Anna begs off lunch (which is just as well, because she hadn't warned her mother, so the offerings were cold cuts, devilled eggs, and crunchy noodle salad), and only engages in a little of the relaxed conversation. She's not really feeling up to scratch, and no one notices she's fallen asleep at the table until she gives a little snore.
That's pretty much the cue to go.
"Promise you'll visit again soon," Lisa says, smiling at everyone. "And we want to hear all about our perfect grandchild when they're born, okay?"
Anna nods, "Sure thing, Mom."
And then she yawns again and everyone is pushing her towards the car.
It's only a ten minute drive, but she's fast asleep in two.
Bulda, bless her cotton socks, is absolutely wonderful. She seems to have had some inkling, probably from Thanksgiving, about the nature of Kristoff's relationship with the two girls, because she welcomes everyone into the fold with open arms. Literally. Neither Elsa nor Meg escape her tiny ferocious grip. Actually, the only thing that does save them is Anna – or more specifically, her stomach – as Bulda releases the girls to offer congratulations.
And like, four sandwiches.
It's odd. But nice. She's a bit traditional, but if there's one thing she loves, it's big families. Whether that means many kids, or many adults, it doesn't seem to matter.
"I expect a wedding, though!" she says.
It's obvious Meg feels a little uncomfortable, and it doesn't take a genius to work out why. She's not directly related to Anna, and she's not dating Kristoff.
"Maybe I shouldn't have come," she says in an undertone to Elsa while Anna's off being squashed to death in a hug and Kristoff's trying valiantly to save her. "I'm not part of this." Elsa frowns at her for a moment.
"Of course you are," she says, as though unbelieving that Meg could say something so silly.
And it's weird because they're not together-together, but it doesn't feel wrong when she leans in and places a quick peck on Meg's lips. "You are," she repeats, fiercely. Meg blushes and doesn't mention it again.
It's only the second time they all – all four of them – share a bed, but it's much more uncomfortable. No one but Anna seems to notice. She gets stupidly hot and has to get up and go to the lounge room just to try and catch a few winks. She almost has a heart-attack when Bulda, sitting in the dark kitchen, pipes up with a, "Can't sleep?"
"Heh, no," she says softly, changing route. "I can't believe they're not all burning up in there. It's boiling."
Bulda lets out a little chuckle. "It runs in the family, dear. When I was pregnant with Kristoff he was a hot little bugger. Wonderful in winter, but absolute hell in summer."
Anna glances down at her tummy. It's definitely starting to look less like 'I gorged myself at lunch' and more like 'there's a baby a-cookin' here'.
She sinks into the kitchen chair, near Bulda, who is making a cup of tea. "Would you like one, Anna?" she asks. Anna nods gratefully.
"I don't know what I'm doing," she admits softly after a few seconds of silence. "This wasn't supposed to happen."
"Life likes throwing obstacles," Bulda says. "If you decided against keeping this child, I don't believe Kristoff would blame you. Nor Elsa or Meg. You're the one carrying this child, not them."
Anna shakes her head. "I don't... I do want it. I just..." she trails off, sighing. "It just wasn't supposed to happen like this. I was supposed to be married. It's supposed to be just me and my husband. We'd have a house and a dog and he'd be earning enough that I could stay at home with the kids."
"Do you regret anything that's happened?"
"... What?"
Bulda pulls out the seat next to Anna and puts the pot of tea on the table. Two cups follow, along with the sugar and the milk jug. "Do you regret this? Your relationships, moving, the baby?"
"Well, I wouldn't have chosen it—"
"But that doesn't mean you regret it."
"How can I? I love them, and I love my – our – baby already. How can I regret that?"
"Then, there's your answer. It was supposed to happen. This is the plan the heavens laid out for you, and as long as you don't regret anything, it will all work out. You have three wonderful people who love you, and who you love. Soon, that's going to be four. You'll stop wondering why it happened, and that it shouldn't have, and you'll wonder why you didn't see it for the blessing it is sooner."
"Blessing?" Anna scoffs. "I don't think people think getting knocked up in college is a blessing."
"Ahh, but you're not people, are you?" Bulda says kindly. "Drink your tea. It'll help with the morning sickness, too. Night-night, Anna."
"Wait! How- how do you know about that?"
Bulda cocks her head. "It's Kristoff's baby. Of course you're getting sick. Don't worry, I've got some recipes that will help, too. It'll pass before too long."
And with that, she leaves. The tea is lukewarm and easy to drink. The heat that's plagued Anna since she got up seems to pass, too. She's finally able to return to bed and fall asleep. Meg's hugging Kristoff, and just that image makes her smile.
She's asleep within seconds of her head hitting the pillow.
Elsa's mom is so much more difficult. They'd expected that, but still. Thank Christ Bulda had packed them plenty of tea because they have to drive down and travel sickness on top of morning sickness is pretty much hell on earth.
Or, rather, Anna has to drive down. When Elsa had told her mother she was visiting, bringing her boyfriend and her girlfriend – and she'd made special effort to ensure her mother had heard the word 'girlfriend' – her mother had offered to pay for flights.
She'd only offered for Kristoff and Elsa. A special 'couples discount', apparently.
Of course, they could have paid for Anna, but it was the principal of the matter. It doesn't help at all with Anna's self esteem. She spends two nights straight at Meg's, sulking and feeling down before, the afternoon before they have to drive – a few hours before they do, actually – Elsa and Kristoff come over and Meg pretty much forces her out.
"It's better to get it over and done with," she says. Anna nods miserably. She doesn't even brighten when Meg kisses her. "It'll be over before you know it."
By the time they get home, they have enough time for an Anna-cuddle-sandwich, which turns into an Anna-sexy-sandwich. It certainly makes her feel a little better, but that relief is short-lived because then they have to go.
"This is gonna go terribly," Anna says just as they're piling into the car. She's in the backseat – only easy way to sleep the entire trip. "She's gonna hate me for coming between you two."
"Anna—"
"I know, I know. It's not like that. But how's she gonna see it? Probably won't even be able to kiss you..."
No one says anything, and when she looks up, Elsa's just looking at her, thinking.
"Wha—?"
"I'll be right back."
Elsa returns after a few short moments, biting back a smile. She's got her hands behind her back as though she's hiding something.
"What have you got?"
"Nothing," she says, going to the boot and shoving whatever it is in one of the bags. "A surprise. Now, come on, we've got a long drive. I promise my mother won't be that bad."
Anna disagrees, but she doesn't say anything more. There's no point in arguing.
She actually does manage to spend most of the drive sleeping. Kristoff and Elsa take turns, though they do time it so she can get some rest for the last leg of it. While the girls entertain Mrs Arendelle (and, hopefully, get her to accept the idea of them), he can have a snooze.
She wakes up once, just as they're nearing the residential district. Elsa's shaking her and Anna can't figure out for the life of her why.
And then she looks out the window and spots the stone slabs dotting the landscape and she knows.
It's only early, but the gates to the cemetery are already open.
They walk slowly down the well-kept paths, Elsa always just a half-step in front of them. They're upon one particular grave before Anna even realises.
Kristoff hangs back – he knows this isn't for him. It's for Elsa, and it's for Anna. Despite that, both girls seem at a loss for words.
"He would have liked you," Elsa finally says. "Probably... probably wouldn't have remembered you. But he would have liked you anyway."
Anna moves her eyes from the polished stone to Elsa. Her throat tightens at the tears threatening to spill over Elsa's cheeks, and she takes her hand.
Elsa squeezes back, more ferociously than Anna had anticipated.
She doesn't hold back her tears, but that doesn't matter. She shouldn't have to.
They stay there until Elsa's run out of tears. Until Anna's introduced herself, and they've called Kristoff back to stand together.
It's peaceful, and they soak up as much as they can before it's time to move on; greater challenges await.
No one thinks the peace will last once they arrive at Elsa's home.
No one wants to be the one to voice that, either.
It's pretty obvious from the outset that Elsa's mom – "Call me Mrs Arendelle, Annie. Oh, Kristoff, Judith is fine. There's a boy." – is pretty... terrible. It kinda makes Anna feel worse about not coming to the funeral, if this is what Elsa had to deal with. Mrs Arendelle makes it very obvious she thinks the same.
"Oh, Annie. So, you're the friend who made my daughter's father's funeral so much harder than it had to be. Oh, mhmm, she was quite distraught. Did you have your own funeral to attend? It's the only reason I could see anyone refusing a grief-stricken request like that."
Anna hadn't said anything, but her silence had been enough.
They all go out for lunch, which seems great. It gives them a chance to talk. Elsa's mom offers to pay but Anna still doesn't want to anger her so she goes for something... not cheap, as such. The restaurant they go to doesn't do cheap. But she gets a club sandwich and a soda on a lunch deal so it's only $25. Not too bad. And it tastes pretty good. Mrs Arendelle gets a glass of pinot noir to go with her rare fillet steak and carpaccio. It's about as pretentious as it sounds. Elsa doesn't really hold back, either, but at least she's a little more prudent with a chicken salad and a glass of white.
Anna had expected the 'interrogated by the parent' thing, but it doesn't come. In fact, Mrs Arendelle barely spares two words to Anna, instead making sure Elsa fills the space.
Of course, Elsa begins it by starting formal introductions. "Mom, this is Anna. My, um. My girlfriend."
Mrs Arendelle takes a rather large sip (probably closer to a gulp) and nods. "Mhmm. Kristoff, he came to the funeral, didn't he?" she asks. Her eyes flicker to Anna, who averts her own. The food comes out at that moment, so she busies herself with her sandwich. "Who is he, then, sweetheart?"
Elsa picks up her cutlery and very specifically doesn't look at her mother when she says, "He's... my... boyfriend...?" Her voice gets progressively softer, and Anna can already tell why. She gets the feeling that Elsa's mom, despite already having been told it on the phone, is not going to be as open and accepting as Bulda was.
"Are you asking me, or telling me, Elsa?" Elsa opens her mouth, but her mother interrupts. "Because if you're asking me, I think he's a wonderful boyfriend for you. I know you don't have a lot – or any – experience in relationships," she adds, ignoring Elsa's reddening face, "But he looks like he's going to take care of you. Has he got a job yet?"
"Oh, well, he works at the local little league but he had interviews with the National Hockey League—"
"—Ah, perfect. You couldn't have picked a better first boyfriend. I remember him the first time." Her eyes skip to Anna. "So polite, and so very good at comforting you. Just what you need."
Then she turns her begin her own meal. Neither Elsa nor Anna know what to say, so they just say nothing at all.
Dinner is marginally better. Roast pork with vegetables. Kristoff enjoys it immensely, and obviously gets the seal of approval when Elsa's mother starts using his nickname. Pronouncing his name correctly is usually a struggle for some people.
"Judith, this pork is cooked to perfection," he says around a mouthful of meat. A little trickle of gravy appears at the corners and he doesn't even use the napkin to clean it up – just sticks his tongue out. Elsa glares at him but her mother only laughs, leaning forward to tap her hand to his briefly.
"Oh, Kris. I'm glad you like it. It's one of my best dishes, if I do say so myself."
"Very tasty—" Anna tries piping up, the sincerest smile on her face. She's not wrong, it is tasty. Mrs Arendelle's reaction certainly manages to sour it, though.
"Don't talk with your mouth full!" she cries, sounding almost disgusted – even though Anna obviously hadn't been eating anything when she spoke. "Where you raised in a barn?"
"Mom—"
"She's a guest in this house, Elsa," Mrs Arendelle interrupts. "Some simple etiquette would be appreciated."
Anna looks hopelessly at Elsa and Kristoff, but their gazes are planted firmly on their plates. She doesn't speak for the rest of dinner. She doesn't complain or argue when she gets the crumbs of a – well, it smells like – wonderfully decadent chocolate cake with cream while Elsa and Kristoff have as much as they can fit.
"You don't need to put on anymore weight," Mrs Arendelle had said, and it had taken all Anna's power not to just tell her then and there, that it wasn't just fat. If she were the stupid one not to realise...
Elsa doesn't notice, and Anna doesn't mention it. One more day. She'll get a good night's rest surrounded by her loved ones, and be on her best behaviour tomorrow. Then, they'll tell Mrs Arendelle about the pregnancy and Anna will be accepted into the family and then they'll all be on their merry way.
She refuses to let herself think of any other result.
It's hard to keep thinking it when everything already starts going wrong, though.
"Annie, this is your bedroom. Try not to mess it up. Elsa, you and Kristoff can take your old room, just down the hall. It's just the way you left it – and your bed is certainly big enough for two." Mrs Arendelle is smiling, even though absolutely no one else is. Actually, Anna's pretty grateful for Bulda's tea because whatever Mrs Arendelle is insinuating, it's enough to make her gag.
And then she continues, to no one's delight. "Now, Kris, I don't want to hear any funny business," she says, before leaning in close to whisper, "But the condoms are in the main bathroom. Have fun!"
Anna actually is sick that time. She barely makes it to the bathroom. When she comes back, even Kristoff is kind of green.
"I hate your mother, Elsa," Anna says under her breath. Elsa just looks uncomfortable. Kristoff leaves, mumbling something about taking a shower. Yeah, Anna doesn't really want to be here right now, either.
"Oh, she's not that bad. She's just- surprised, is all!"
"Elsa, she's being a- well, a really bad word that I don't want to say. She hates me. She's disregarding our relationship while putting Kristoff on a pedestal. She doesn't care at all. I can't even share a room with you but she offers Kristoff condoms. And- what was with dinner?
"It's just for one more day, Anna. We'll tell her tomorrow and then we'll be off. It doesn't matter—"
"—To you! It matters to me! This is your family and she might be terrible but the only way she's going to accept this," she says, indicating between them, "Is if you make her. She's not going to listen to me."
Heaving a breath, she grabs her bag. "I'm going to bed. And I guess because I've been banned from your room, I'll be on my own. Good night."
It breaks her heart even more when Elsa doesn't argue against her.
Kristoff's still in the shower when Elsa returns to her room. She sits on the edge of her bed and pulls out her phone, because really, she's not sure who else to contact.
Hi, Meg. I hope you're enjoying the wedding. If you're not too busy, could you give Anna a ring? This visit isn't going well and I've made her angry with me... Thank you xx
She adds the kisses as an afterthought, but they don't feel wrong. She wants to give them to Anna, but probably, the redhead doesn't want to see her.
Elsa's not blind. She can see that her mom is being a bit of a cow. But, it really is just one more day. If they can keep her happy, maybe revealing the baby won't actually go terribly...
She's startled from her thoughts when her phone buzzes with a message.
whatevers going on is between you and her. mayb just try hearing her out? she might b pregnant but she's not thinkin or doin things w/o reason. whats the first rule?
Fuck.
She knows what she has to do.
She's not there when Kristoff gets out of the shower.
"Anna?"
Elsa knocks softly on the wood, aware that her mother is just downstairs having her last cup of tea (with added swigs of whatever she was drinking. Gin, usually. Sometimes bourbon).
Still, despite her quietness, Anna must have heard her because there's a low, "What?" that comes from inside the room.
Letting herself in, Elsa's heart sinks almost straight away. Anna's curled on the bed, lying on her side and not facing the door. She doesn't move when Elsa closes the door behind her, and she doesn't move when Elsa comes to lie next to her, half-spooning.
"I'm sorry," Elsa begins, face pressed into the back of Anna's neck. "I'm sorry for disregarding your feelings. You're right – you're absolutely right. It does matter. I'll have a talk with her tomorrow. Make her understand."
Anna doesn't respond at first. When she finally does turn around, Elsa can't meet her eyes for a few seconds because they're red and puffy and she's obviously been tearing up, if not outright crying.
"I didn't think she'd like me," Anna finally says. "I just... I didn't think she'd hate me, either..."
"She doesn't!" Elsa argues. She looks like she wants to say more, but a glare from Anna silences her.
That would be a lie, too.
So instead she sighs and touches her nose to Anna's. "I'm sorry," she repeats. Anna just nods.
"I know."
They're silent for a while, fully knowing that this kind of contact won't happen – at least not until tomorrow night. Suddenly, Elsa lets out a huff of air that could be a laugh. When Anna frowns, questioning, at least she has the decency to look a little chagrined.
"I uh, I brought the strap-on," she says. "My, um. Surprise. We could ruin the house. And mom's bedroom."
"Eww!" Anna scrunches her nose up, but there's a smile tugging on her lips and a little shine of laughter in her eyes. "You're gross."
"Hmm but you love me," Elsa counters, and yeah, Anna does. She's not about to lose their game and admit it, though, so she shuts up Elsa's gloating with a kiss that turns into a lot more. By the time they break, they're both a little winded.
"Come to my room," Elsa urges once she's caught her breath. "Fuck my mom, and fuck her shitty rules."
Anna wants nothing more than to follow Elsa, but she can't. She actually shakes her head. "No... this is your mom's house. Maybe she won't be so mean tomorrow if we respect her rules?"
They both know there's a slim chance of that happening, but Elsa doesn't argue. If nothing else, at least it won't give Judith another reason to dislike Anna.
Even though it had been her choice, once Elsa leaves, Anna can't ignore her loneliness.
One more day. She just has to get through one more day...
She doesn't have high hopes. She's woken the next morning, loudly and rudely, by Mrs Arendelle, who is opening the curtains and trying to strip the bed – while she's still in it.
"Can't be lazy all day," she says. "I won't accept poor work ethic in this house."
"...Poor... work ethic?" Anna asks, brain still trying to catch up. It doesn't help that the sun is in her eyes and she can barely see the old hag.
"Elsa told me how you're at school on scholarship. Too lazy to work to fund yourself so you take it off the taxpayers. What's next, Medicaid? At least Kristoff pays his own way. He has a good job, according to Elsa. She's already got a lucrative job offer lined up after university. What are you planning on doing?"
Anna keeps her mouth shut. In part, it's an unwillingness to give Mrs Arendelle the satisfaction. Another is because... she doesn't deserve to know she's going to be a grandmother. Sort of. Not that she's probably going to care anyway.
All of a sudden, Anna feels completely overcome with sadness. She just wants this woman to leave.
She doesn't. She continues cleaning and moving around, pausing every so often to glare at Anna.
"I don't know why Elsa brought you along. You haven't appreciated anything I've done for you.
Anna has to keep reminding herself that Elsa wouldn't appreciate her yelling at her mother, but it gets harder and harder the longer she goes on.
"I'm going to join Kristoff and Elsa," Anna says, sliding from bed. Mrs Arendelle makes a noise.
"You will not," she says. "Elsa and Kristoff are still in bed. They must have had, ahem, a big night last night."
"Fine. Then I'm going to have a shower—"
"Oh, not possible. The bathroom is being renovated."
Anna just looks at her helplessly, ignoring the lie to ask, "What do you want from me?"
Mrs Arendelle's head cocks. It reminds Anna of a bird of prey, surveying its next meal.
"I don't want anything from you. I'm just making sure you don't mess up Elsa's relationship with Kristoff. I heard all about the dare from Rapunzel. I heard how you broke Elsa's heart by making Kristoff cheat on her with you. Why she's still your friend, I have no idea."
"What- no, that's not what happened—"
"Are you calling my niece a liar?"
Anna shut her mouth and hung her head.
"Good. I didn't think so. Now, it's probably best if you stay here until it's time for you to leave tomorrow. I would like to spend some quality time with my daughter and her boyfriend. I don't need you there."
She leaves after that declaration. Anna's hands come to wrap around her stomach and coldness washes over her.
"Just you and me today, baby," she says softly. She doesn't want to cry, but it makes little difference.
She's just gonna wait here for Elsa. She'll come and check up on her. For now...
Maybe she can give Meg a call. It'd be nice to hear a friendly voice.
Meg is kind of hungover, which Anna expected. It's a wedding – there was definitely a bar tab.
"Hey, babe," she starts with, voice soft. "How are you?"
Meg lets out a little gurgling groan, and it brings a smile to Anna's face – the first since she'd arrived.
She waits a few moments longer for another answer, but when nothing is forthcoming, Anna continues. "How was the wedding?"
Meg sounds more alert when the, "It was nice," floats through the speaker. "Just your normal, average wedding."
Nodding, Anna makes an encouraging sound, but once again, Meg doesn't speak, so Anna does it for her.
"Did I wake you?"
"Hmm? No, Herc is driving us back. I just... can we talk later, Anna?"
At that, Anna frowns, heart sinking. Those words never mean anything good. "Course we can," she says. "Did- did something happen?" She wonders what Meg's thinking, because it takes her a while to answer.
"It's fine," Meg says in a rush. "I just- I just need to talk and I can't right now. Nothing happened, don't worry. I'll... I'll see you at home, okay?"
Anna nods, even though Meg can't see her. "Okay. L-love you..."
She hears a sharp gasp from the other end of the line, and Meg's voice definitely isn't as strong as it was when she replies, just before Meg hangs up.
"Love you, too."
They take breakfast on the lawn. It's a full English Continental, with fruit and juice, and yoghurt and grains. It's very, very tasty, but there's definitely something missing.
"Mom, have you seen Anna this morning?" Elsa asks. Judith's eyes widen.
"I did. I went to wake her up first and she decided she wanted to keep to herself today. Not that it matters, I'm sure we can find something to amuse ourselves, hmm? But anyway, how are you, Kristoff, dear? We didn't have much time to chat last night."
Elsa's eyes narrow at the conversation shift, but she says nothing.
After breakfast they go to the cemetery. It's her mother's idea, but- "Anna wanted to come. I'll just go and see—"
"Nonsense, Elsa. If she really wanted to, she'd be here. I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to show her later if she really is desperate."
It goes on like this all day until, finally, it's dinner time and Anna hasn't made a single appearance.
"Are you sure you didn't say anything to her, Mom?" Elsa asks her. Judith is dishing up peas to go with the corned beef, and she looks absolutely affronted at the suggestion.
"Elsa! Why would I do something like that? After all, you're the one who's friends with that little harlot. Perhaps being here she's just realised how she'll never be good enough to be friends with you."
"Harlot?! Mom—!"
"Oh, I know," Judith says. "You young people. But Elsa, dear, really. Friends get you everywhere in life. You just need to pick the right ones. What is Anna going to give you? She's got no money, no social standing. Her parents probably don't even own the house they live in. Do they have any contacts? What, exactly, can she give you that makes her worth keeping around?"
"A family!" Elsa shouts. Kristoff's eyes widen but, smartly, he stays silent. He's pretty sure, at this point, Anna won't care that they spilled the beans without her. "Anna's pregnant, Mom. I love her, just like Dad loved you. I won't pretend you loved him back. Not in the end. Not when it was important. But I don't care about Anna's social class, or her wealth. I love her, and so does Kristoff, and she loves us both back. And guess what? She's pregnant with Kristoff's kid and she's going to be a great mother – better than you – and I'm going to be a parent to them, too, along with Kristoff. And I'm so sick of you disrespecting her. Where is she? What did you say to her that's made her stay away all day?"
Judith sniffs. "I didn't say anything that wasn't true."
With a growl, Elsa pushes her chair back and stands up. "Thanks for the dinner, Mom," she says. "I'm going to give it to my girlfriend because she's probably starving, and, oh yeah did I mention, pregnant."
And with that she stalks off, plate and cutlery in one hand and a decanter of water in the other.
She has to pause, once, outside Anna's bedroom, just to steady her breathing. She wants a hug.
Any and all thoughts vanish as she pushes the door open.
Anna's not there.
The truck is still in the driveway, so she hasn't left using that. The gardener said he saw a "redheaded lass" wandering the grounds early afternoon, but that was hours ago. Elsa's in tears. Her mother just rolls her eyes.
"Attention seeking is not a good look," she mutters under her breath. Elsa's too distraught to argue back. She just screams out Anna's name because what else can they do? They've searched the whole house.
Or, maybe not. A few minutes later, Anna appears at the door of the lounge room. She looks unhappy, but unharmed. Kristoff notices her first.
"Anna..."
Elsa rushes past him and, in full view of her mother, grabs Anna's cheeks and pulls her in for a kiss. Her hands run through Anna's hair, loose and soft, and she breaks it only because she's started crying.
"Where were you?" she asks.
Anna glances at Mrs Arendelle before she answers, equally soft, with, "Your room. I was waiting for you and Kristoff to get back..." she says.
Elsa lets out a watery laugh, pure relief bubbling forth. "We couldn't find you." She kisses her again, and this time, they don't stop. Kristoff smiles at them. He'll hug Anna because she needs it, but he's more than willing to wait.
Mrs Arendelle isn't. "Elsa! Stop that at once. I won't have that disgusting stuff under my roof."
Elsa ignores her, even though Anna backs down a little; it's only when she steps forward, forcefully breaking them apart that she turns on her mother.
"Kissing my girlfriend is bad but you offer condoms? Does it just burn you inside knowing Anna's had unprotected sex with Kristoff? My boyfriend?" Mrs Arendelle looks absolutely appalled, but Elsa's not done yet.
"He was Anna's boyfriend first. I've had my fingers and my tongue inside her, Mom. She's been inside me. The best sex I've ever had was with her strap on, Kristoff watching. Don't talk to me about disgusting. I love these people and they love me. That's not disgusting. Your intolerance is."
Holding her left hand out to Kristoff, she clasps Anna's with her other one.
"I think it's time for us to go home. Maybe go and see Kristoff's mother. She loves me, and Anna, and she's really excited for a grandkid. Maybe one day I'll let you visit."
"Please, Elsa," Mrs Arendelle scoffs. "I have no interest in Anna's child. Call me when you have your own."
At that, a very dark look overtakes Elsa's features. "What makes you think I'm having kids, Mom? Why would I need to when Anna's already having one? It's as good as mine. It's a shame you're going to miss out. C'mon, guys. I'm sure my mother won't tolerate this 'deviance' any longer. Let's go somewhere fun."
And with that, she leaves the room, Anna and Kristoff trailing after her.
They don't look back.
It's a really long drive to get home, so instead they end up pulling into a motel. It's not that expensive, but Elsa and Kristoff still refuse to let Anna help pay for it.
"Think of this as us starting to make it up to you," Elsa said. "I'm sorry I was so terrible yesterday. I didn't think she'd be like that."
Anna looks away. She doesn't want to think about it. She just wants the company of Kristoff and Elsa.
They start out cuddling on the bed. The receptionist wouldn't let them hire a double bed, but they just pushed the two twin ones together. It's nice. Anna almost wishes she could enjoy a nice glass of wine.
Kristoff does one better and he pulls out a packet of condoms. "She didn't say I couldn't keep them," he says. There's a warmth in Anna's naval, both arousal and comfort, at the idea. Kristoff and Elsa both wait for her to give a shy nod before moving.
It's slow and tentative, and they're still only at foreplay before Anna remembers something.
She scrambles off the bed to rifle through her bag, and then she pulls out the damned strap-on.
Her baby bump is obvious when she's standing naked. Both Elsa and Kristoff's gaze is stuck there.
It might not be the best time for something new, but if it's what Anna wants, Kristoff and Elsa are both kind of powerless to refuse her. Elsa beckons her forward, and is very aware of the fact that, yes, her boobs have gotten larger. Thanks, gravity.
But it's not the most important thing. She takes the strap-on from Anna and just pulls her in for a kiss. Kristoff's behind her, and very quickly it becomes heated. They're all naked and Elsa's sliding into the harness, the kisses never ceasing.
She sits, back against the headboard, not forcing anything on Anna. The fake dick looks absurd, but that doesn't matter much because soon it disappears into Anna. The redhead controls every motion. Even Kristoff defers to her, and he hasn't even been inside her yet.
He's more than prepared to wait, instead just sitting on Elsa's legs so he's pressed right up against Anna, but she kind of ruins that plan. She leans forward to kiss Elsa, sort of. Her hands actually come up and trap Elsa's head and she mumbles, "Please, Kris."
The position reveals exactly what she wants him to do, and he actually pauses in order to peer at Elsa from around Anna. Her eyes are wide in understanding, but then Anna says it again, and Elsa follows suit.
Anything to make Anna happy.
He reaches around because there's no way he can do this dry. The moment his fingers find Anna's clit, she shudders. It causes Elsa to release a soft gasp, and wow, there's definitely a lot here. He's made sure to put on a fresh condom this time because that's just nasty otherwise, and he pulls his hand back only to coat himself with Anna. Anything left over he presses gently in and around her ass, opening her up.
"Relax," he murmurs. "It'll be easier..."
If anyone had told him a year ago that he'd be doing anal threesome with a pregnant woman, he would probably have laughed at them. But, with Elsa and with Anna, it's different. Anna takes his words to heart, and she stops moving for a moment to let him move.
The sounds she makes are... well, there's really no describing it.
She lets out a sharp gasp when Elsa shifts, moving up so that their chests are finally touching. Kristoff brings one arm around her, just below her breasts but above her belly, steadying her as he uses his other hand to slowly, steadily, open her up. There's no way he'll fit if he doesn't, and the last thing he wants to do is cause her unnecessary pain.
It's slow progress, and eventually Anna just spits out a, "Please..." that has his dick pulsing. She probably won't get any looser just from that, so he removes his hand, using it to steady himself now as he starts entering her.
This time, Anna doesn't even make any noise. She just lets out a gasp and arches her back. Elsa hasn't stopped moving, even though it's really not much. A little in, a little out. They're all sweating, and gosh, this is the longest sex Anna's ever had. But... this is definitely what she's been missing. This is the magic that Kristoff had been able to make with Elsa – the magic she hadn't been able to understand, no matter how hard she tried.
Discovering it, in this moment, makes that confusion worth it.
"Have- have to try this again," she huffs out. Elsa lets out a laugh that's more like a breath of air, and Kristoff doesn't even acknowledge it. He's still too busy concentrating. Finally, he slips in all the way.
And oh wow. If the prep was great, then the actual act is mind blowing.
Anna has to tell them, several times, to slow down, just because there's no way she's going to last long if they don't and the last thing she wants to do is finish. And maybe that's just another thing. How could orgasms be important if it means that she has to stop? How could it be important when she was spending the time with these two gorgeous people.
Her anger and sadness over the last few days have vanished, and she's really completely filled with just utter... love. Hope. Her hands reach up to grab and Kristoff's head behind her, and he takes the cue to lean down and press long, wet, open-mouthed kisses on her shoulders and back. Elsa ducks her head forward to capture one of Anna's nipples in her mouth, and maybe it's the sensations, or maybe it's just the total love radiating off them that sends her into her climax.
It really doesn't take Kristoff and Elsa long to retreat. She's pretty sure they haven't come, but they don't seem interested in it. They could touch each other, but they don't. Instead they throw the condom in the bin and the strap on in the sink, and curl up next to her.
It makes up for the previous night. It makes up for every horrid word Elsa's mom said to her.
And, it makes up for every horrid thought she'd ever had about Kristoff and Elsa not loving her. Every horrid thought of them abandoning her, of running away together. It makes up for every bad thought she's ever had about herself or her body.
It's strange how something so small... makes up for everything...
Anna doesn't see Meg for a few days. They've texted and spoken on the phone, but Meg always seems to be busy. Anna tries not to let it get to her, but she can't help but remember that phone call they'd had.
When they finally do catch up, Meg's still quite... quiet.
"How was the wedding? Did you look pretty?" Anna asks. The question is met with a little smile, but not a real answer. Not really.
"It was good," Meg says, which doesn't really give Anna anything to follow on with. So, she grasps Meg's hands and leads her to the couch.
"What's wrong, Meg?" she asks. Meg's gaze falls to their hands and then aligns on Anna's stomach.
"It made me think," she says softly. "About... everything. You and me, and Kristoff and Elsa. The baby."
Anna doesn't like the way this is heading, but she stays silent. Meg sniffles, and oh dear, because she's not one to cry. Not at all. Anna lets go of Meg's hands so she can put one of her own against Meg's cheek. It's comforting when Meg leans into it.
"I care about you so much, Anna," she says softly. "I think- I think I might love you. But I can't..." She sniffles again. "I only care about you but you care about so many people. It's so selfish of me, but I want to be the centre of your world. At the wedding, there were these people. And the way they looked at each other... You look at me like that sometimes. But you look at Kristoff like that, and at Elsa. And I won't ask you not to. That's not fair on you, not at all. But I... can't imagine a future with all of us. That's not what I'm looking for."
Anna sucks in a breath. "Are you... are we breaking up?" she asks softly. She could say other things, but Meg's obviously struggling. She doesn't want to guilt her into anything.
Meg's hand comes up to cover Anna's, and she leans forward to kiss her.
"I think I love you, Anna," she murmurs, "Which is why we have to."
Anna nods shakily. She's crying, and Meg's crying, but they don't stop kissing. It doesn't go further, but... they won't have the chance to do this again.
It's gotta be worth it. Something to remember her. What they had wasn't usual, but it was theirs.
Elsa gets home before Kristoff, so she's the first to see Anna, sitting on the couch staring at nothing. The TV isn't on, even though it had been one of the first things for them to set up.
"Hey..." she ventures. "Everything... okay?"
Anna sucks in a breath through her nose. "No," she says, head dropping to look at her fingers. "Meg- we broke up. She couldn't... she didn't think there was a future with me. I know what she means, and it- it was friendly..." She sniffles again. Elsa drops her bag on the floor.
"Anna..." she says softly, moving to sit next to her. "I'm sorry." Anna nods before leaning into Elsa. They stay like that until Kristoff gets home. And then he joins them.
Anna's unnaturally despondent over the next few days. It's to be expected. Even Elsa seems a little down, and Kristoff isn't sure how to help.
He feels for them. It's a sudden change, and Meg really had added something good to their lives.
Despite the impression given the day Anna had shared the news, Elsa doesn't seem all that sad. Certainly she feels for Anna, but when Kristoff thinks about it, none of that is directed inwards.
The next morning, while Anna's still in bed asleep, he asks her.
Letting out a breath through her nose, Elsa shrugs. Not in a blasé, I-don't-care way. More like she's not quite sure how to phrase it.
"It- for me, and Meg, it was just fun. There's a reason she didn't 'break up' with me," Elsa frowns. "I am upset, but only because... I don't really think Meg is going to hang around us much anymore. She meant a lot to Anna. She still does."
In a way, Kristoff understands that. In a way, he's sad Meg's broken it off, too.
She really did make Anna happy.
Anna's kind of grateful she's finished school. She doesn't have to deal with seeing Meg every day. Elsa's mother actually bothers to show up to the graduation ceremony, too. She completely ignores Anna, who is definitely showing. Mrs Arendelle seems far too happy with the fact that she's bought Elsa a brand-spanking-new car, and all Anna's parents were able to do was take her out for lunch.
But eh. Her parents don't need to buy her love. Elsa's mom obviously does (and that's a terrible thing to say which is why it surprised Anna so much when Elsa said it).
Of course, the real treat is seeing her brother. He doesn't live in the area anymore, so visits are far and few between. Christmas, usually, though the past year they've both just been too busy.
Anna's a little nervous, actually – not because of some weird "need brother's love" thing but because she's just not sure how he's gonna react. To Elsa, and Elsa-and-Kristoff, and the baby.
She realises as soon as she sees him that there never was a reason to worry. He actually gives the best response, which is to pick Anna up in a hug as soon as he sees her (though he's definitely cautious of her protruding belly), and saying, "So, I'm gonna be an Unky, huh?" he asks, grinning.
Anna looks at him, smiling herself, just before her gaze slides to her partners. "This is Elsa, and Kristoff. My, um, partners."
He looks a bit confused at first, with his eyebrows furrowed a bit. He's not smiling.
But they he holds out a hand for Kristoff. "Hey, man. I'm Marcel. Congrats on the baby." Then, he turns to Elsa. "And, congrats on Anna." He shoots her a wink, and she knows he's joking. When Anna gives him a solid whack to his upper arm, he lets out a little laugh.
They all calm down a bit when Bulda approaches, though Marcel is still giggling to himself a little. It's pretty obvious he's related to Anna. It's kind of cool, actually – he seems kind of cool.
"Congratulations on graduating, Anna. You look very good, dear," she says, smiling. Then, she toddles over to Elsa. "So do you, Elsa. Congratulations."
And then she's gone.
"Wha—? Mom!"
Bulda doesn't seem to hear him, and Anna, Elsa, and Marcel are all left laughing as Kristoff chases after her.
"What about me?!"
Anna's got another appointment the following week. It's hard to believe that she's almost to the third trimester. This check is really just a progress update.
But, it still manages to send her into a mild panic because oh god they're so not prepared for this. There's no clothes or furniture. The study the realtor pointed out is currently filled with boxes, so it's nowhere near being an actual nursery. Of course, they still technically have about three months, but it doesn't help Anna at all when she gets into a mood.
Anyway. This appointment is more interesting than all the other ones she's had because it's the first time she can actually recognise her baby on the monitor. She looks at Elsa, who's staring at the monitor in absolute wonder, and it makes her think.
Does Elsa really never want to experience this?
When the technician excuses herself for a moment, Anna takes the opportunity to ask. Elsa doesn't really have an answer for her.
Well, it's not that she doesn't have an answer. But, in an ultrasound room, is it really the best place to explain why she doesn't want kids? Anna seems to think so, because she keeps looking at her expectantly.
"I... don't really want kids of my own," Elsa starts. "I never wanted to go through childbirth, and until I became close to you and Kris, I never even thought I would find anyone, anyway. I- I don't want a child, but sometimes I do want to be a mother..."
She falls silent, half-expecting Anna to say something. Anna doesn't, though – she just takes Elsa's hand and brings it to her lips.
"I suppose you didn't really want this to happen then?" she asks. "And I'm not upset! I just... want to understand."
Elsa shakes her head. "Anna, I love you. I want you to be happy, and so far, this baby has brought you more happiness than it's brought me grief. By far. I never wanted a kid but I already love yours so much."
Anna snorts. "Ours, goof. You're still Mommy, whether you like it or not." Elsa smiles briefly.
"Good thing I don't mind it, then."
The tech comes back not long after, someone following behind them.
"Anna, this is one of our midwives, Marian."
Anna holds out her hand, confused. "Um, hi. Is, um, is something the matter?"
The midwife shakes her head. "Not necessarily. You see, Flora here has just noticed a little discrepancy and we just wanted to move you for some other tests – another ultrasound, actually."
"Why?"
Marian's eyes flick to Elsa. "Her – I'm sorry, Anna, your – cervix hasn't lengthened as much as it should have, and is still quite short. This other ultrasound will just give us confirmation, and then we can look at treatments."
With an 'okay' from Anna, the midwife actually steps in to do the new ultrasound. This one is called a 'transvaginal ultrasound', and it's about as bad as it sounds. Elsa sits up by Anna's head, holding her hand, but this is an internal one so there's really not a lot she can help with.
At least it gives them a definitive answer: it's too short.
"So, what does that mean?" Anna asks, and it's a little frustrating that she has to. At least the midwife doesn't simplify it too much when she explains. She's not a child, after all.
"Your cervix is short, which means that your baby is closer to the outside world than we'd like. Normally at this stage it should be around one and a half inches long. Yours is a little longer than a quarter of an inch." Anna's eyes widen, and she looks at Elsa.
"...What does that mean?"
"The shorter your cervix is, the more likely a preterm birth will occur," she says softly, slowly. "Very rarely this early, however, and there is still the distinct possibility of carrying your baby to full-term. You're young and this is your first child."
Anna nods, but she doesn't say anything. Elsa fills in the gaps for her.
"So, what can we do?"
Bed rest, apparently. A lot of bed rest and a once-daily progesterone capsule she's gotta insert. Ew.
"Hey, we were right!" Kristoff says unexpectedly over dinner. Elsa and Anna just look at him. "About not letting you help us move."
Both girls crack a little smile. "Guess you'll be doing all the housework, too, then?" Anna asks, and it's obvious she's not entirely serious.
Still, Kris replies with a, "Suppose I will," and a smile.
He comes along to the next appointment because the doctors just want to keep an eye on her. Make sure nothing's happening too soon. It's kind of lucky, though, because one of the first things the tech asks is, "Would you like to know the sex today?"
Anna really couldn't care less, and, probably, neither does Elsa. Kristoff doesn't answer but the way he looks at the two girls, he obviously wants to know. She's not surprised – it's exciting! So, she gives a little nod.
"A boy," the tech says. "A wonderful little baby boy. Would you like me to print out these pictures?"
"Yes please," Anna says. The tech smiles, and when they leave to go and get it, Anna just looks between Elsa and Kristoff. "A boy..." she repeats softly. "We're going to have to think of names..."
"Later," Kristoff says. He presses his forehead against Anna's cheek, moving to press a gentle kiss to it. "This is amazing. You're amazing."
"Hah, nah. We all are. I just wish... I wish Meg were here..."
"Well, what if," Elsa pipes up, "...how do you feel about her being the godmother? I know we're not particularly religious, but... you're still friends, right?"
Anna lets out a dry laugh. "Ugh, sort of. I think... there are still feelings between us. It's too raw for friendship. But maybe in the future?"
The ultrasound technician returns just after that, carrying an envelope with the photographs. Elsa takes it off her while Kristoff helps Anna up. They don't say anything more about Meg, but that's okay. It's not really a topic Anna wants to get stuck thinking about.
They make a detour on the way home to buy a few photo-frames. The pictures are the first ones to go up on the walls, but they're all certain they won't be the last.
It's mid-November when things start moving. Not the baby – no, he was kicking and being a nuisance since September.
No, Anna starts getting cramps, to the point where she almost can't move. She googles it, and according to all the mommy forums, they're Braxton-Hicks contractions, and completely normal.
Except, they don't stop.
She drinks some water and lies down, just like the website says. Closes her eyes and breathes slowly because apparently moving around can set them off, and yeah, she was totally doing a little more vigorous cleaning than she should have been. But still. They shouldn't last more than a few minutes, and by the time she realises it's not working, more than an hour has passed.
"Right, we're taking you to the hospital," she says, scolding her stomach. Elsa and Kristoff are both at work, and she doesn't want to bother them, so she picks up her purse and phone and begins the trek to the bus station. She's got her coat, but it's windier than she thought it would be. Plus, she's the only one waiting at the station.
Those are pretty much the reasons why she's surprised to hear her name being called. Jerking around, Anna comes face to face with Meg. Oh wow. And ow. She mentally frowns at her stomach for being so frustrating, and her heart for being so pathetic.
It's been what, two months since they'd last spoken? She looks good. As good as she did before...everything.
Except she's kinda frowning and oh yeah, Anna's out in the cold, waiting for a very late bus.
"Oh. Um, hi," she says softly. Meg just looks at her. "What?"
"Did you- did you need a ride somewhere?"
Anna tries to smile, and shakes her head. Sure, she could, but she doesn't want it to be awkward. "Nah I'm fine- oof." She looks down at her stomach, curling forward as another spasm rocks her.
Meg takes a step forward, her hands lifting to hover just outside Anna's space.
"Anna..."
"...Actually, can I get a lift to the hospital?"
Meg's eyes widen, and she doesn't waste any time leading Anna to her car.
Anna composes a quick text in the car to send to Kristoff and Elsa. Just a simple 'hey, omw to the hospital. not urgent. be home later!' because she doesn't want them to come home and worry.
It's a bit awkward. Anna's stuck staring at her fingers because she doesn't want to look at Meg. When she does pluck up the courage to glance up, it's like she can't stop.
"Thank you..." she starts softly. Meg snorts.
"Dude, it's fine. Not like I'm gonna leave you alone in the snow. Be pretty shit of me."
Anna smiles. "Not just that... thanks for everything. I- I miss you." Meg's eyes widen in alarm, and Anna rushes to correct herself. "Not like that! I just—" She lets out a sharp exhale through her nose. "Okay, Elsa had this idea that, even though we're not super religious or anything, to maybe ask if you wanted to be the godmother? Because I still care about you – as a friend! – and so does Elsa and you've been there for me and her and the baby since the beginning, and Kristoff likes you too even if it took him a little while and—"
She stops when she feels a hand on hers. Meg is still looking out the front window, but she's squeezing Anna's hand gently.
It's not romantic. Now, it means something else.
Maybe... it's something better...
By the time they get to the hospital, Anna's actually concerned. If she had the presence of mind, she'd probably be texting Elsa and Kristoff an update because if she's completely honest, she's absolutely terrified.
She doesn't calm down until Meg calls Elsa and then hands the phone to Anna.
No one really knows what's going on, and the ER staff just tell her to sit and wait patiently. That just makes it worse. Anna gets up to pee while she's waiting and comes out sobbing because "it's red, Meg. Something's happened oh god—"
It gets them seen-to pretty quick, in any case.
And in the meantime all Anna can think is that it's her fault. Her hands wrap around her stomach but it does little to help hold her together. She buries her face into Meg's side as the ultrasound tech rubs the gel on her stomach, and she just weeps when the sound of a steady heartbeat plays over the speakers.
The baby is okay. But she's not.
"It's extremely early, Anna," the doctor says, when they finally see him. "There are a few treatments – a steroid injection is one. It's gonna help your baby's lungs form, okay? And we can give you something to stop labor – every day helps."
Anna agrees to it all on the spot. Anything to make sure they're all safe.
She wants to go home, afterward, but the doctor refuses. For good reason, and she's absolutely not going to argue with him.
It's just... she had thoughts. Fantasies, really, of having her baby at home, surrounded by her loved ones. Not in some sterile hospital.
It's probably for the best, though.
It doesn't take long to get a room and some rest. The doctors give her some medication for the contractions, and right now, everything's kinda just catching up to her. Meg slips out once she's drifted off into sleep.
She gives Elsa and Kristoff a ring, letting them know what's happened.
When Anna wakes up, a few hours later, Meg's not there. But, Elsa and Kristoff are.
Anna gets a three-day grace period before it all goes to shit again.
But this time she's in the hospital. This time, she's got her partners with her. Neither have gone to work over the last few days, using up their personal time to keep her company. It means when labor kicks in again and they can't stop it, at least they're by her side.
There's hours of crying and screaming. Elsa and Kristoff tag-team holding her hand, and Anna manages to choke out a , "Still don't have a name" between pushes. Her partners are quick to shush her.
When the baby finally does come, they're prepared for him to be washed quickly, a cloth diaper and hat placed on him. Anna bursts into tears when he's placed on her naked chest, even as the midwife encourages her to help him feed.
They'd gone through this, a few days prior. The 'kangaroo care', as it was called, to help him. Gods but he was so small.
They're prepared, two hours later, for the midwife to tell them that he couldn't go home. They were prepared, but it still hurt. After a feed, the doctors need to weigh and measure him, and this time, he doesn't come back.
"He's got a crib in the neonatal intensive care unit. I'll be back after Anna's had a bit of a rest to help with a few things," the midwife says. "Congratulations. You did really well."
And then she leaves the three of them together.
Anna doesn't stop crying until she's fallen asleep – a respite neither Kristoff nor Elsa can find.
The midwife comes back a few hours later. Anna woke up briefly and they'd asked about names, but she'd just said, "You name him. I had the privilege of carrying him..." before falling back asleep.
This time, she has to stay awake. Anna wants to breastfeed, so the midwife gives her advice for expressing while Elsa runs to the pharmacy to buy a pump. They can freeze it and bring it in so he can still get her breastmilk. Anna even gets a little booklet she's supposed to use to record information.
She doesn't get her baby.
She can come in whenever she wants – actually, they encourage her to come in as often as possible to keep doing the skin-to-skin contact and feeding and bonding. It still doesn't change the fact that she gets to go home while he stays in the hospital.
It's the most surreal experience, coming home without her child. They stop to buy some takeout, but no one really feels like eating. Elsa and Kristoff don't pretend not to hear Anna sobbing. They cuddle her, one one each side, and make her feel as loved as they can.
They'd gotten a copy of the birth certificate, but it's still sitting in Elsa's bag. The plan is to hang it up, but without a child there with it, it just hurts.
Olaf Arendelle-Bjorgman.
Anna goes and visits him as often as she can. Every night, though, she needs Elsa and Kristoff to hug her to sleep. She's pumping and storing the milk, but even so her breastmilk begins to dry up, which only sends her into another panic. The hospital prescribes some stuff to make sure it keeps happening, but there's also that feeling of... well, what's the point?
"I can't even feed him properly," she says softly on the drive home one day. "He can't- they feed him through a tube, and even when I'm there he doesn't manage to drink anything!" Kristoff's driving, as per usual, but both she and Elsa are in the back seat. They've moved the baby seat to the boot because it's just salt in wounds, leaving it set up.
Anna's desperate for any contact, and neither have the heart to say no.
Kristoff has to go back to work, but because Elsa's been at her job longer, she actually has the personal leave accrued to stay home. It helps, and it means that she can drive Anna to the hospital pretty much every day.
Anna perks up after a few days, when he finally starts feeding and grows bigger, but it doesn't take long for them all to realise that they can't keep the nursery door open.
When finally the day to take their son home arrives, it's met with equal parts elation and wariness.
Kristoff isn't able to get the day off, but that's sort of okay. There's a lot of paperwork to go through and the midwife wants to make sure Anna has the feeding technique down, now that the tube is gone. It takes a little while, but the first time Olaf latches on, it's met with an amused expression from Elsa, and a look of complete wonder from Anna.
Neither Elsa nor Kristoff have held him yet, and whenever they'd visited, Elsa had stood behind the glass, just watching as Anna did her thing. She already loves him, she knows that. But Anna was the one who birthed him. There's something different there.
The same midwife is on, and when she sees them she just beams.
"Here to pick up little Olaf?" she asks. "You must be very excited." It's obvious, written on Anna's face, but it still deserves a verbal answer.
"You have no idea," Elsa answers softly. Anna's barely aware of anything because she can see Olaf, in his little cradle behind the glass.
The midwife touches Elsa's arm, smiling. "Go and get your son."
He's still so tiny. It's the first thing Elsa truly notices. He's barely longer than her forearm. He doesn't cry when he's first picked up, and Elsa kind of freezes when Anna tries to hand him over.
"Hold him," she says. "He's your son, too."
Elsa has no idea how to do this. She makes a cradle with her arms first before Anna places him there. His little face screws up almost straight away, and god, he's got a set of lungs on him. Elsa sends Anna a pained look, but she just stares back, face all warm and soft.
"Please take him back, Anna, I don't know how to do this..." she says.
Anna laughs – the first since the birth – and says, "What, and you think I do?" Either way, she steps forward and takes him back. "Let's get you home and meet daddy, huh little buddy?" Elsa checks her phone to see a text from Kristoff pop up just at that moment.
omw home. howd the hospital go? need something for dinner?
"Kristoff's not home yet," she says. "Luckily. He's gonna grab something for dinner if you want?"
"I'm easy," Anna says. She can't stop staring at the baby.
Elsa's not surprised when Anna chooses to sit in the backseat with him. She can't judge her, either, because if she weren't driving, Elsa would want to just stare at him, too. The first drive home is absolutely terrifying, even if they are going under the speed limit.
They're climbing out of the car just as Kristoff pulls up. Anna almost starts crying again when she realises that she's actually able to do the 'walking through the house with the baby'. But, she gets to do it with everyone.
There's phone calls to be made and visits to have. Elsa's mother might actually decide she wants, not only Elsa, but her son as part of her life. It's the only grandkids she's going to get. They're going to have to (finally) hang up the birth certificate. It's not going to be easy.
But Anna, walking through the front door for what feels like the first time, doesn't worry about any of this. Olaf's in her hands, Elsa at her left and Kristoff on her right.
And everything is perfect.