Greetings, beautiful people!

Sorry for the wait and thank you for your patience. There aren't enough hours in the day, I swear.

Anywho, hope you enjoy this next chapter.

Another minute. Another white hair.

It's the day after Elsa froze your heart and already you're feeling significantly weaker.

Back at the girls' house, Kai and Gerda are attempting to recreate a formula Mr. and Mrs. Andersen concocted when Anna and Elsa were children. Apparently it'll slow down the freezing process.

Nevertheless, even if they do succeed, you'll most likely be dead within a month.

At school you notice the Andersen sisters are avoiding each other.

Anna is still processing the fact that her twin is an ice-powered mutant. Elsa is still processing the fact that she told her.

Today you're supposed to be going back to their house after school for more tests. Hopefully doing so will help Gerda and Kai find a cure.

You enter the school cafeteria and see Anna eating lunch with Kristoff and their friends.

Elsa is sat alone at another table.

Anna waves and beckons you over.

Instead you smile politely at the redhead, putting up a hand to decline.

She notices you glance in her sister's direction and realises your intentions, giving you a nod of encouragement.

You nod back, then proceed to Elsa's table.

"Hi," you say to the blonde, carrying your lunch tray. "Mind if I join you?"

Surprised you'd still speak to her despite what she's done, she sets her book down and swallows. "Not at all."

"What're you reading?" you ask casually.

She traces a finger over the book cover and looks at you with earnest eyes. "Please, you don't have to pretend everything is fine, especially not for my sake. I don't deserve-"

"Elsa, this isn't your fault," you insist. "I shouldn't have startled you. If anyone is to blame it's me."

You reach for her hand.

She retracts it before your skin can make contact.

"Don't be afraid," you say. "You won't hurt me. I trust you."

"But I can't control it," she whispers. "What if I make you worse?"

You manage a smile. "Trust yourself, Elsa."

Hesitating, she slowly places her gloved palm against your bare one.

Nothing happens. At least, nothing bad.

The warmth of her touch radiating through the material of her glove causes your heart to race, sending waves of heat coursing through your body you never thought you'd ever feel again.

"Are you okay?" she asks nervously.

You nod, smiling.

Elsa blushes and smiles back.

You take it up a notch and weave your fingers between hers.

In the background, Anna and Kristoff are grinning at the two of you from their table, teasing you by making heart shapes with their hands.

How very mature.

You shake your head in amusement.

"I don't believe it," breathes Elsa, wide eyed as she gazes at your interlocked fingers. "I'm actually holding someone's hand. It's been so-"

"Hey, guys, check it out! Looks like the Ice Queen and the nerd are dating."

It's Hans.

He flashes a smirk at you both while his friends make comments of their own.

Elsa self-consciously withdraws her hand from yours and clutches it to her chest.

"Back off," you snarl. "Haven't you got anything better to do?"

"My," Hans sneers. "You're a mouthy one, aren't you?"

Afraid she'll lose control, Elsa stands up to walk away.

Hans and his friends form a circle around your table, obstructing her.

"And where do you think you're going, Ice Queen?"

Witnessing this infuriates you. "Leave her alone!"

"Leave her alone?" Hans raises an eyebrow. "Or what?"

Elsa is close to snapping from the stress, her powers threatening to freeze everything in sight.

One of Han's friends labels her a 'freak' and the others laugh.

"Or this!" You shove Hans and he stumbles backwards, accidentally flipping a lunch tray off a nearby table and it landing on his head, caking his hair with food and splattering his precious letterman jacket.

The cafeteria falls silent.

Everyone is watching.

Anna and Kristoff get up from their seats to intervene.

Humiliated, Hans rises to his feet and grabs you by your shirt.

You brace yourself.

"Hans!" Anna yells. "Let go of my friend!"

"You're friends with this loser?" he asks in disbelief.

Kristoff folds his arms and glares in the other boy's direction. "You heard her, Westergard. Let go. Right now."

Hans notices Mr. Weselton approaching and gives an exasperated huff, releasing you.

"Just wait," he says in a menacing tone, nostrils flared. "You'll regret this. I'll make sure of it."

-x-

Later - after she's scolded you for being so reckless, but also thanked you for sticking up for her sister - Anna offers to drive you to her house once school is over.

You accept, of course.

You also spend the entire journey glancing in the passenger side mirror at Elsa's car following behind.

This time when you and Anna proceed up the driveway towards the house, Elsa walks with you instead of rushing inside like yesterday.

You and Anna share a look of delighted surprise.

Not having to hide her secret from somebody other than Gerda and Kai, Elsa hasn't felt so free in years.

"Good news," says Kai, greeting the three of you at the front door. "We found your parents' notes. The formula should be ready soon."

You brush your fingers against the delicate knuckles of Elsa's gloved hand, as if asking for permission to hold it again.

Remembering what you told her, to 'trust herself', she allows you to do so.

Anna can't help but notice and feel elated.

She was right about you. She knew you could do it from the moment she met you. She just knows you'll be the one to thaw her sister's frozen heart.

Only problem is you're dying. And if the formula doesn't work, there won't be a lot of time to save you.

An hour passes.

In one of the guest bedrooms, Gerda administers the formula to your arm via a syringe.

Again, Elsa apologises for putting you through all this and you tell her it's okay, that there's nothing to forgive.

Meanwhile, Anna is out on the landing, talking on the phone to Kristoff.

"The North Mountain?" she says. "Camping this weekend? Sure. Sounds awesome!"

Elsa's ears prick up. "Excuse me," she says, leaving the room.

You continue to listen.

"Anna," the blonde says. "Please reconsider. You know there are wild animals up on the North Mountain. Don't be a fool."

"Well, if you're so worried," the redhead replies, "why don't you come with us? You can protect me and my friends with those super cool ice powers of yours. No pun intended."

Elsa blinks at the audacity of her sister's suggestion. "Anna, you haven't told anyone, have-"

"Of course not!" Anna mentions that she intends to invite you along, as well. "I'm going camping regardless, Elsa. I plan on having fun this weekend. So can you."

Excited by the idea, you roll off the bed and stagger onto the landing, panting and blushing as you realise both twins are staring at you like you're crazy.

"I'm-I'm in," you announce. "I'll go camping if Elsa does."

Anna grins.

"Fine," sighs Elsa, supposing she can't disappoint a terminally ill person, especially when your condition is a direct result of her actions. "You win. I'll go."

Erupting into an outburst of goofy cheers, you and Anna manage to make Elsa smile.

-x-

The next few days are much easier. Your condition isn't as aggressive anymore thanks to Kai and Gerda's formula.

You've been at the Andersens' house every evening after school so they can keep track of your progress. Also, you and Elsa have been spending a lot of time together.

The pair of you are currently lounging in the living room.

She's lost in one of her books, hair down in a side braid instead of her usual bun.

You're trying to find something decent to watch on the movie channels, but there's nothing to your liking. You'd rather watch Elsa.

She's so beautiful when she's concentrating. The way she bites her finger as her blue eyes scan the words of each page sends shivers of pleasure tingling down your spine. She makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

You've lusted after this girl for months, pined for her, wondered everything about her. And now here she is, sat inches from you on the same sofa. She could have chosen to sit anywhere else in the room. But she chose to be near you.

Nothing pleases you more than for her to be comfortable around you. Knowing she can't hurt you with her powers is to thank for that. Even her gloves are off, next to her in case someone else enters the room.

"Mind if I put my legs up?" she asks, glancing at the space separating you both.

"Course not," you say. "It's your house." Besides, you'd never reject an offer to get closer to her.

Giving a shy smile, Elsa proceeds to place her socked feet on the empty sofa cushion and resumes her book.

You pretend to watch television, surreptitiously scanning her from head to toe out the corner of your eye.

She's twirling a loose lock of blonde hair around her finger while she reads, then - as she reaches a particularly intense part of the story - stops twirling her hair and bites her lower lip in anticipation.

You feel giddy. Is it possible to actually be teased to death? If you didn't know any better you'd think she was doing it on purpose.

But you do know better. Elsa is one of those girls who genuinely doesn't realise just how unbelievably gorgeous she is.

Her toes curl in the most adorable way as the book continues to engross her.

Noticing she has quite small feet for somebody her height, a mischievous smile forms on your lips as you get an idea.

You quickly run a finger up the arch of her foot.

Elsa instinctively jerks it away, dropping her book. "What was- Did you just-"

You chuckle at her reaction, at how the sensation caused a tiny amount of snow to shoot out from her fingertips.

"Ticklish?" you say playfully, raising an eyebrow.

Elsa's eyes widen. She hasn't been tickled since she was a child. "Don't you dare!"

"Do what?" You lightly poke her side. "Tickle you?" You do it again.

"Yes!" she giggles, swiping at your hand. "Stop!"

Grinning, you shake your head. "Not unless you make me!"

More snowflakes escape from her fingers as she explodes into a fit of laughter.

It's the sweetest sound you've ever heard. Sweeter than your favourite song.

Elsa then manages to gain the upper hand by grabbing your wrists and pinning you to the sofa. She's practically straddling your hips, her thighs pressed against them, trapping you.

You're completely at her mercy as you go utterly weak in her grip, melting at her touch.

Hair dishevelled and heart pounding from you tickling her, it takes a few seconds for the blonde to catch her breath.

For a moment, you gaze into each other's eyes.

Elsa's braid tickles your cheek as she slowly leans in.

Is she-Is she about to do what you think she's about to do?

The living room door flies open and Olaf bursts into the room. "Elsa!"

She rolls off of you and pulls her gloves back on, looking at her little brother with a concerned expression. "What is it, Olaf?"

"It's here!" he exclaims. "My new video game arrived today!"

Elsa relaxes and shakes her head, smiling.

Olaf doesn't even notice the smatterings of snow scattered around the carpet. He's too excited.

You snap yourself out of your daze and plaster on a friendly face for the boy. "What game is it?" you ask.

"Blades of Ice 7," he answers enthusiastically. "Want to play?"

Your eyes light up. "Are you kidding? I love Blades of Ice!"

Elsa reveals that she, also, is a fan of the series.

With that, the three of you spend the rest of the evening playing Olaf's video game until Elsa has to put him to bed.

A single thought remains at the back of your mind the whole time.

Was she really going to kiss you?

-x-

The weekend has arrived.

Kristoff is driving you, Elsa and Anna up to the campsite on the North Mountain where you'll be 'sleeping' tonight.

"Well, guys," he says, "here we are."

He parks his jeep with the other cars and the four of you exit.

Insisting you and Elsa go enjoy yourselves, Anna snuggles into her boyfriend as he wraps an arm around her.

You and the blonde feel equally out of place among all these happy-go-lucky teenagers.

They keep staring at her and whispering, wondering why the 'Ice Queen' is here.

She slides her hand into yours and squeezes it apprehensively.

You squeeze back to remind her you'll be right there beside her no matter what.

At the campfire, where everyone appears to be swigging alcohol and roasting marshmallows, Anna and Kristoff join in.

Elsa tells you that fire makes her uncomfortable and the two of you venture off for a walk.

You stay on the path until she spots a lake not too far from your location.

She leads you towards the isolated area excitedly.

"Watch this," she says, summoning her powers. "Are you ready?"

You nod.

With a wave of her hand, Elsa freezes the lake.

Your jaw drops in amazement. She truly is something else.

Elsa materialises a pair of ice-skating blades onto the soles of your shoes, clasping her hands together as she admires her handiwork.

"Oh, Elsa, they're lovely, but I don't skate."

"Oh, come on!" she says, taking both your hands and pulling you onto the ice. "You can do it!"

She can't stop giggling as you clutch onto her for balance.

"Is this because I tickled you?" you ask, nearly falling once again and accidentally pressing your blushing face into her bust.

She just laughs good-naturedly and assists you in regaining an upright stance.

This new Elsa. This free, happy Elsa who can use her abilities without fear of hurting anybody is making you feel something unexplainable.

It's something more than butterflies. You're certain of it.

Within half an hour, you're skating on your own.

Elsa claps proudly and suggests you take a break.

You agree and skate back to 'solid ground' all by yourself in an attempt to impress her.

"Well done," she says, tentatively placing a hand on your arm.

You remove the blades from your shoes so you can stand properly and then smile at her. "I've got a great teacher."

Much to your surprise, Elsa throws her arms around you and buries her face in your shoulder, crying.

"I'm so sorry," she weeps. "If it wasn't for me your life wouldn't be in danger. I never meant for any of this."

Unwilling to allow her to blame herself, you cup her face with both hands and stare deeply into her eyes, the reflection of the frozen lake glistening in them.

Her skin feels and looks up close exactly how you imagined. Soft and fair as freshly fallen snow.

How can somebody so beautiful honestly believe herself to be a monster?

"Elsa," you whisper, wiping icy tears from her cheeks. "You are the nicest, gentlest, warmest person ever. I'd rather die tomorrow having known you than live a hundred years without."

Taken aback, Elsa has no words. Only a kiss.

Until next time.

;)