Notes: Sorry for the delay on this one! I really will try to keep up with it, but Mrs. Claus is my number one priority during this month, I hope you understand!
The date had not turned out as romantic as he had hoped.
After the conversation about Anna's ex, Hans, dinner had taken a turn for the worst. Not that they had started fighting, or anything. It was more that they both clammed up. The mention of Hans had ruined both of their appetites, and nothing Kristoff said could get the teasing mood back. By the time they got back to the cottage, the tension between them was thick enough to cut with a knife.
The sound of the doors slamming shut reverberated through the night air as they got out of the truck and headed up the porch stairs. Silence hung between them as Kristoff unlocked the front door of the cottage and Anna moved past him into the foyer. He felt like hitting something. He had screwed up tonight and he wasn't sure he was going to have another chance to fix things. They only had four days left together, and he had ruined what was left. He wondered if maybe he should head home in the morning and forgo the last few days. Judging by the uncomfortable awkwardness between them, he had a feeling she would be eager to see him go.
She slipped into the bedroom, and he didn't follow her.
He crossed the living room with heavy footsteps and a heavy heart before sinking onto the couch. He wasn't going to try and force his presence on Anna tonight, not after that terrible date. He was going to sleep on the couch just like he had done the first few nights at the cottage, and in the morning he would most likely head back home. He didn't like leaving on this note, but it might be best for both of them.
Kristoff was finally getting settled in on the couch when Anna appeared in the bedroom doorway. She was wearing one of his large shirts and looking fragile and defeated as she leaned against the door jamb, her arms wrapped protectively around herself. "Aren't you coming to bed?" she asked him. Her voice wavered like she had been crying.
"Is that what you want?" He sat up from his supine position and stared at her. Was he getting his signals mixed up? Did she really want him to sleep in the bed beside her?
She bit her lower lip and nodded slowly. "I don't want to be alone tonight."
That was all he needed to hear.
He pushed himself off the sofa and strode across the living room until he was standing in front of Anna. He tipped her chin up with his index finger and made her look into his eyes. Her eyes were red rimmed, and he could see the little salt trails where tears had made their way down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry I hurt you," he whispered, his heart clenching painfully.
She shook her head and then shivered. "It wasn't your fault, Kristoff. I'm just… it's just bad memories. Just the mention of his name does this to me. It's why I need you. You make it all go away for a little while."
His heart clenched again, as if she had reached inside of him and wrapped her tiny hand around it. He couldn't believe how much she affected him when they had only known each other a few days. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and then slipped an arm around her shoulders. "All right, let's head to bed. I'll hold you as long as you need."
Tears slipped from her eyes and she nodded. "Thank you."