In the last couple of weeks since Elsa had returned home, Joseff was standing up on his own a little longer every day. It was now only a few weeks before Joseff was going to have his first birthday on November 9th, and his entire family thought he would be able to start walking, even with just a few steps, very soon.

Kristoff was not working as much as he did during the summer months, so he was home more with Anna and Joseff. Almost every day, for nearly the past year, he and Anna would look after Joseff and do everything for him together, from feeding him to changing him to playing with him.

But today was different. Today, and even for the past few days, Kristoff was taking complete care of Joseff and doing everything for him. Anna was very surprised at his offer, but he said he wanted to do it for her sake, so she could take more time to sleep as long as she wanted in the mornings and to spend more quality time with Elsa, including getting out of the palace for a while.

Anna was a little bit skeptical that Kristoff take care of Joseff on his own with little to no help from her, but he insisted. He really wanted to do some bonding with Joseff, just the two of them, and he thought Anna deserved some time of bonding herself with Elsa.

"Well, that's very sweet of you, Kristoff," Anna had said when she finally agreed.

"My pleasure, Anna," Kristoff had responded, taking her in his embrace. "And when the week is up, we can share stories about what each of us did when we were apart."

"Sounds good to me," Anna agreed, then they shared a kiss.

So that conversation had taken place a couple of days ago. Since then, Kristoff was spending much of his time with Joseff and Sven, while Anna was spending much of her time with Elsa and Olaf. One thing that Kristoff was doing so much with Joseff was helping (and encouraging) him to learn to walk. For hours each day (when Joseff wasn't napping), Kristoff helped Joseff to stand up for longer amounts of time, though in little by little steps.

He wanted to do all he could to help and encourage Joseff learn to take his first few steps, and if and when he did, Kristoff would then surprise Anna and Elsa when Joseff could do a fair, small amount of walking.

Right now, the father and son were hanging out together in the palace gardens. Kristoff had decided to try a tactic in getting Joseff to walk, even at just a very small distance, with Joseff holding on to his fingers. Since he first learned to stand up in his crib, Joseff had gotten much better at standing up without any support, so Kristoff thought now was about the right time he could take a couple of steps, though with some help.

While he sat down, Kristoff gently placed Joseff on the grass, making sure he was touching it with his feet so he could help him get used to the idea of standing rather than sitting. Then, while facing his son, he gently took Joseff's little hands in his big ones and looked him in the eye.

"Okay, Joe. I realize it may be a while before you can walk on your own without any help from me or your mama. But Mommy and Aunt Elsa would still be thrilled to see you do something new, so why don't we work together in helping you learn to take a few steps with some help?"

Joseff smiled widely, which made Kristoff grin. "Ahhh, that's my boy!" He gave Joseff a big kiss. "Come on, then, let's get started!"

When the day was over, Joseff had barely managed to take two steps forward before he almost fell, even with Kristoff's help. But despite that, Kristoff still felt a level of pride for Joseff. And for the next several days, Kristoff continued to work with Joseff in helping him with walking.

Even when the time that Kristoff had offered to watch Joseff for a week was over, Kristoff managed to work out spending amounts of time with Joseff (just the two of them) in order to help him stay on track and taking a few steps each and every day.

When that first week was over, Anna had come to Kristoff and said, "So, what big things have you and Joseff done all week?"

Not wanting to reveal it yet, and because he wanted some more time, Kristoff answered, "Something big…but it's a surprise, and it's not ready yet."

"Will it be ready soon?"

"I hope. Just…give me another week, okay?"

"Okay."

Kristoff didn't want to take too long in surprising Anna and Elsa, but he also knew that he couldn't make Joseff hurry up with walking. Throughout the following week, Kristoff was very calm and patient with his son, and he was very pleased when Joseff had managed to walk a total of ten steps when the week was finished.

"Well, son, you have managed to walk ten steps at most with help in the past almost two weeks, so you are good to go in showing Mommy and Auntie Elsa this brand new step. Are you ready?"

Joseff clapped his hands together, which made Kristoff laugh. "Okay, then, let's go!" At the moment, they were together in the nursery, and Kristoff picked Joseff up from the floor and adjusted him in his arms.

Anna and Elsa were talking in Elsa's room, along with Olaf, when Kristoff and Joseff entered. "Hey Anna? That surprise I had for you?"

"Yeah?"

"It's finally ready."

"Great! What is it?"

"It's Joseff," Kristoff answered, holding Joseff forward. "He can walk?"

"Joseff can walk?" Olaf asked excitedly.

"Yes. Well, he can walk a little bit, and with help. I've been working with him for the last two weeks to help him. I'm sure you would have wanted me to tell you when he could take a couple of steps, but I wanted to help him try do as much walking as he could and then surprise you when he could."

"Oh, I understand, Kristoff. It is more exciting when you see a baby taking some steps rather than just one."

"Will you show him doing it?" Elsa asked.

"Of course, that's why we came in here," Kristoff replied. As Anna, Elsa, and Olaf gathered together on the floor, Kristoff settled himself, too. He had positioned himself so that everyone would be looking at him and Joseff from their sides. In doing so, it would be easier for them to see Joseff walking as Kristoff stood in front of him to give him the support.

Kristoff gently set Joseff on his feet on the floor. When Joseff was positioned so he could stand up without easily falling, Kristoff carefully took both of Joseff's hands. "Okay, Joseff," he whispered. "Let's show them what you can do."

A few seconds later, while looking into his father's eyes, the little prince took two noticeable steps forward. Having been watching eagerly, Elsa and Anna gasped with delight, while Olaf let out a giggle while he clapped his hands. Hearing what sounded like encouragement to him, Joseff managed to take eight more steps with Kristoff's help before he started to fall down, though Kristoff caught him in time.

"Oh, honey, that was absolutely wonderful!" Anna squealed with delight. She took Joseff in her arms and eagerly kissed his face.

"We're so proud of you, sweetie," Elsa agreed, and kissed Joseff, too, after Anna gave him to her. "Maybe by the time of your birthday, you'll be able to do some more walking, and on your own."

"It also won't be too long before he starts talking, too," Anna stated. "I wonder if he'll say 'mama' or 'dada' first." Then something occurred to her. "Hey Elsa? You and Olaf both have two syllables in your names. Maybe they could be among Joseff's first words, too."

"Maybe. We'll just wait and see," Elsa said before she and everyone else proceeded to tickle Joseff.