Disclaimer: I own Nothing.
"I-I'm not sure about this." I stammered, pulling on my braid nervously as I looked out the window to yet another big house just on the outskirts of Arendelle. More like the suburbs. At first I was against the idea of visiting Anna's dad, mainly because I wanted to spend the day curled up with her while we watched the snow fall. There was no snow and she'd managed to coax me out of there anyway. Oh well.
"Relax, he'll love you." Anna's fingers twined with mine comfortingly. "And don't worry, they're sort of on trial separation so none of this will get back to my mother." She assured.
"That's not what I- wait, they are? Sort of?" I squeaked, looking wide-eyed at her. That's certainly news to me.
"I suppose I should tell you some of these things sometime, shouldn't I?" Anna giggled, bringing our hands up to her mouth so she could kiss my knuckles. "Let's just say that I get along with Ariel's dad more than she does and my mother adores Ariel."
"Yes, I believe you'll need to elaborate so I don't try to piece false facts together and come up with my own weird theories." I suggested. I remembered Ariel mentioning that Anna's original last name had been Reistad...but here she was talking about Greg st. James? Her laugh interrupted my thoughts and when I looked at her, she was staring fondly at me. Well, hello there. It was a look she hadn't given me before and I found myself flushing suddenly as my stomach flipped out. Whoa.
"I love you." She whispered and leaned forward, catching my lips. I figured that this was yet another side of her only I would ever get to see and I became a little terrified at that realization. She just turned eighteen...god I'm such a cougar! Speaking of-
"B-but what if he asks what my profession is?" I pulled back. "Hi, my name is Elsa, I'm your daughter's teacher and I just so happen to be sleeping with her too?"
"Works for me." She shrugged nonchalantly.
"Anna! Be serious!" I felt my face burning. Now when she says it like that...
"What? Honesty is the best policy." Anna snickered.
"I'm not applying for a job here!"
"You should. I think he'd pay you twice as much as the Weasel and the fact that we're dating is a bonus on all of our parts." She grinned like a maniac in all her glasses-wearing green hoodie glory.
"You...I didn't-" A chuckle escaped my mouth unbidden. "You're impossible." I buried my face in my hands and finally laughed. I wondered if this was how other people acted in their own relationships. Sure, Anna and I had a sort of unique one, but I meant along the lines of complete dorkiness! It was like either of us just said or did anything to see the other smile, no matter how dumb we needed to act. Well, if that isn't love then I had no idea what is. "I love you." I tilted my head at her waiting for her to kiss me again. Which she did, right before she got out of the car and hurried around to open my door for me. Screw being scared. I was never afraid of scary movies. What gets the people going is the suspense and when it finally happens, all you think is...I told you so.
I bit my inner cheek, trying my best not to shrivel under Mr. st. Jame's scrutiny. He looked fairly young, possibly in his late forties but my was he handsome! He had a light beard that covered the majority of his lower face, somewhat arrogant thick eyebrows and his hair was grown out some but parted down the middle and pushed back, though it still came back to frame his strong face. He must have been working on something, or working out from the looks of it. Glorious dark fading to white hair aside, his eyes shown a nice gray color, his frame that of a linebacker and he completely towered over me like he was about to pick me up by the scruff and toss me out.
"So. You datin' my daughter?" He rumbled, squinting his eyes at me and I gulped.
"Y-yes." I hesitated. "For about t-three months now? But I've known her for at least five months though."
"Do you know who I am?" He barked and I'd just about wet myself. He doesn't love me. Anna you damned liar! And where the hell did you go?!
"Of course. My parents own two of your boats." I stated in all the decency of a frightened animal. A least I managed to say it without stammering, though my voice was light, like I was a kid being scolded for stealing a candy bar.
"Which ones? I have several as you know." A thick brow raised in question, but his gruff features gave nothing away and his eyes bored into mine. Shit, shit, shit! What were the names? I'd never had a desire to go bouncing around the ocean in them with Them so I was at a loss of words.
"Uh...they're fast- or-or one of them is and the other is like..." Think Elsa!
"260 Stinger?" A heavenly voice answered for me and when I snapped my head to the side, Anna was leaning against the doorway, smirking at us.
"Those. Yes, it's my dad's pride and joy." I practically whimpered in relief when she came to sit next to me. She'd only mentioned one, but it was enough for me. She was here now so I felt a little more at ease.
"You weren't supposed to help her, smartypants." Anna's dad huffed, though he had an amused look on his face.
"Not everyone is a powerboat enthusiast, Dad." She snorted. "And what sort of girlfriend would I be if I let you run her off with your rich guy attitude?" Her fingers found themselves in mine and I gripped her hand like a lifeline. Well, your dad certainly scared the shit out of me! Though, I wasn't about to run off because he was so intimidating.
"Well, she stood her ground if anything." Now there was a gentleness in his voice when he pushed a hand through his luxurious hair. I watched it immediately fall back in dark wisps around his chiseled face. He could ooze arrogance if he wanted and I was sure no one would dare question him on it. "Forgive me. I'm wealthy and eccentric. Especially in front of my little Anna." His smile was lethal enough to make anyone swoon and I wondered why anyone would think of leaving him. No wonder Anna's attached to him. Perhaps his earlier statement? Anna's mother is the main one that gives her hell and he adores her, so...
"Keep it up and I'll start treating everyone like that too." Anna chuckled before leaning in to me and kissing my hand as she did so. Right in front of him! I felt my face beginning to heat up.
"Hmph. So Elsa, what do your parents do?" He casually leaned back in his chair, nursing what appeared to be a scotch. Great, I hope that's to calm him down.
"M-my mom's a professor at the University, she teaches Psychology and my dad works in construction. Well, actually he demolishes old buildings and whatnot." I answered somewhat confidently.
"Ah." He took a sip. "And you? There's no way you're still in high school, so says your class ring."
My throat went bone dry. Uh, why on earth did I wear it today?! Right, because I always wear it. Anna's thumb rubbed in to my hand, trying to offer me enough comfort to answer honestly. "I'm a teacher." I relented. Here goes then. I'll love you no matter what, Anna.
"Oh? You're so young." Again his brow quirked. I stiffened and if I hadn't chanced a glance at Anna, I would have missed her trying to hide a smirk. What's with that look? "Where at?" god, it sounded like he already knew!
"Arendelle High School." I trudged on.
"Subject?"
"English lll."
"Is my daughter a student of yours?"
"Yes- I-I mean-" BUSTED! My face drained of color as silence settled over the room. Fear isn't real, fear isn't real! My heart began to thud around in my chest and my stomach twisted uncomfortably, a cold sweat broke out across my neck. Motherfu- Elsa you're an idiot! My breath increased from the quietness and I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me whole.
A snicker.
I stared wide-eyed at my girlfriend as her snicker turned into a giggle and then to a full on laugh. Even her dad had the biggest grin on his face when I looked over at him. Um, did I miss something?
"I told you honesty was the best policy." Anna whispered. My mouth was still on the floor when Anna's dad guffawed in delight.
"So you really weren't pulling my leg!" He stood up and I had to crane my head upward in order to maintain eye contact. "She's also as gorgeous as you described. Stand up so I can give you a proper greeting." Without my consent, he hauled me up and immediately crushed me to him. I grunted in surprise but regretted it when that little supply of air left my lungs and didn't seem to want to return. I couldn't help but wonder if a person could be hugged to death. Well, at least I can say I'd had sex before I died.
He released me and I flopped back next to Anna on the couch in a heap. Air. Glorious, magnificent air, I'll never take you for granted again! I smiled weakly, trying my best to be discrete about gulping in oxygen. When he excused himself for another drink, Anna gently kissed my forehead.
"Are you okay?" She asked.
No. "W-what do you think?!" I whispered harshly. "I think I need a fresh pair of pants- is he always that intimidating? He's handsome and all, but my god I'm shaking!" And I was. My hands trembled slightly, making me feel like a complete idiot for freaking out so bad. I'd thought I'd controlled myself enough, but holy cow I was not expecting it to happen like that!
"I'm sorry." Anna murmured, wrapping her arms around me securely and continued to whisper sweet nothings into my ear until her dad came back with another glass for himself and he surprised me by handing me a glass of wine.
"Again. My apologies." Now his face was more open, body language relaxed but still in control and I wondered how he was able to do that. I was about to take a sip when something occurred to me.
"Wait, you knew?" I asked suddenly. "You knew I was Anna's teacher?"
"I make it my goal to know everything there is to know about my daughter." He answered. "As you know, she isn't like other girls and because of that she was basically introverted from the time I met her. Her mother only ever seemed to remind her of that and while I loved her mother with a passion, I could not take the way she was treating her own daughter, telling her that she wasn't normal, that she needed to get surgery done in order to be officially called her daughter." A sharp breath and Anna squeezed my hand. "I-it broke me. I adopted Anna right then and now we're dealing with this separation and who will either get both of our daughters or..." He hesitated. "Either way, I want Anna. It would be nice to have both of my daughters, but Ariel is pretty much attached to her mother."
My mind reeled suddenly. Wow. Just...wow! No words came to mind even after he continued.
"When she suddenly reappeared a few weeks ago with this new attitude, this new glow." I tried not to blush. "I didn't know what to think so I asked."
"I try not to hide anything either." Anna spoke up, then scratched the back of her neck nervously. "I-I kinda spilled it from our first kiss."
I bit my lip. "J-just so- for the record, I-I never intended to seduce her..." I trailed off, noticing I wasn't getting anywhere fast. He stared. Grinned. Clinked our glasses together before patting my leg soothingly as if to say calm the hell down I'm not going to kill you.
"I know dear. I'm glad you were able to open her up some more. I like you."
"I'm in love with your daughter." goddammit! What is up with this word vomit of yours?! I buried my face in my hands, completely mortified. It was like he was a lie detector and I was compelled to be totally honest with him. His and Anna's laughter only made it worse.
"That's really good to hear, darling." The look he gave was sincere, heartfelt and I was suddenly glad I'd declared that.
I love you, Anna and I'll see to it we get you out from under your mother. Looking into happy emerald eyes, I smiled and brought her hand up so I could kiss it. She squeezed back, grinning bigger than she ever had.