Author's Note: Hi, guys! This is the second-to-last chapter. I'm so excited to be done with this story, but I'll also miss writing it. It's like parting with dear friends (a.k.a., my characters. Yes, I have issues.). Anyway, this isn't the action-packed chapter like last week's. Instead, it's much more thoughtful. However, I hope it explains exactly why Hadyn simply walked out in the previous chapter. As always, let me know what you guys think and I'll see you all next week for the final chapter!

23. Tomorrows

"I know it all ends tomorrow, so it has to be today."

—Frozen, Anna

The sun stung Hadyn's eyes. It was the sun. It wasn't his eyes, weary from lack of sleep. Without a second thought, he stomped over to the window and roughly pulled the blinds closed, cursing that the sun had to rise every morning. Darkness would be better.

He rubbed his eyes, glancing back at his satchel. It was almost packed.

Bong! Bong!

The town bells rang loudly, a deep resonance which echoed through his sparse room.

Knock. Knock.

Hadyn turned, clenching his jaw. "Who is it?"

"Hadyn, I'm coming in."

The male voice sounded through the door and, a moment later, Kristoff slipped into the room. He was dressed in a suit, his blond hair slicked back. He looked nothing like the disorganized, reindeer-loving fellow that he was.

Hadyn bowed his head. "Kristoff, shouldn't you be preparing for the ceremony?"

Kristoff rolled his eyes, closing the door behind him and crossing his arms. "We need to talk."

"Oh?" Hadyn queried. "Would you care for a drink?"

"No."

Hadyn shrugged. "Well, I need one." He moved over to a table and poured himself a glass of whiskey.

"Hadyn, the girls told me everything."

Hadyn paused in pouring the glass. "Indeed? How fascinating." His tone was bored.

"I know you were the one who cleared up the misunderstanding between Anna and I. I wanted to thank you for that."

"No need to thank me," Hadyn commented dryly. "I was the one who brought Jain here and it was he who made this mess. So it was my fault anyway."

Kristoff snorted. "You enjoy taking all the blame, don't you? But you know it's not your fault. Your father's, maybe. Jain's, yes. But yours? No way. But you know what is your fault?"

"That is a lot of buts." Hadyn smiled cynically, taking a sip of the drink. "Tell me, what is my fault?"

"It has been a week since Jain's death, and you've hurt Elsa more in this week than Jain ever could."

Hadyn glanced up at the groom, narrowing his eyes.

"She cares about you. And, for some reason, she believes you cared for her to. I heard her telling Anna that you said you loved her. And now what? You've been avoiding her, staying in your room as much as possible, and moping about your sad fate. I would expect that from a coward, but not from you. After you professed your love for her, why are you acting so coldly?"

Hadyn didn't answer, simply turning away and clenching the table's rim until his knuckles shone white. His breath rattled with anger, but he kept his mouth shut.

"I don't get it. If you care for someone, you do whatever's best for them."

"Exactly." Hadyn's voice rose.

"How is you ignoring Elsa going to help her?"

"Because I'm not good for her. You don't know anything about the person I was back home. I'm a killer. I go out hunting bandits instead of learning how to run a country. I'm irresponsible. I have a quick temper. I can never stay in one place for too long. I'm everything Elsa does not need. She needs stability."

Kristoff snorted. "Is anyone really stable, though? I mean, seriously. It sounds to me as if you're afraid because you've never cared for someone as much as you care for Elsa." He walked forward, putting a hand on Hadyn's shoulder. "Did I ever tell you about how I realized I loved Anna?"

Hadyn didn't shrug the hand off, merely shaking his head.

"I was leaving. I was leaving her to marry her prince charming. But then I turned back. I went back for her, not because I knew I was right for her, but because I preferred being wrong with her than being right without her. I didn't want her to be hurt, and if she was, I would be hurt with her. Being alone is so lonely. I had Sven, but he was quiet and not half as annoying as Anna. She talks a lot, if you hadn't noticed."

A smile flickered on Hadyn's face.

Loud calls came from some distance away, faintly calling Kristoff's name.

Hadyn shook Kristoff's hand off. "You should go. It's your wedding."

Kristoff rolled his eyes. "You're so frustrating." He whacked Hadyn on the back of the head. "Come to your senses and don't run away. You make it seem as if you're incapable of settling down, when it's a choice. Your choice. So make it while I try to escape the hairstylist. See ya at the ceremony!"

He turned and hurried to the door, looking back when he reached it. "And, Hadyn, please take a bath, you smell like you've been sleeping in a barn for weeks. I should know. I've done it enough." Winking, the groom vanished.

Hadyn smiled and rolled his eyes. He hadn't realized until now just how perfect Kristoff and Anna were for each other. They were both crazy.

His smile quickly vanished, however, as his eyes drifted back to his bag, still open on his bed. His plans were to pack. To get out of Elsa's life. She'd be hurt, but surely she didn't like him that much. She'd get over him. If he stayed, he'd just hurt her more.

Hadyn brushed a hand through his greasy black hair. What an idiot he'd been! Kristoff was right. He'd pursued Elsa vigorously, and at the first sign of her touching his heart, he had run. It was something he'd always done. He'd run from his father after his mother's death. He'd run from his responsibilities when his father wanted him to start learning politics. He'd ignored all of Jain's problems so he didn't have to deal with any of it. And look what happened there.

He shut his eyes, remembering a memory he hadn't thought about for years. A desert where two young boys played, wrestling as a tall beauty watched them. Hadyn's mother. Jain had been a young boy with such talent. He was always the smart one. Jain had the intellect; Hadyn had the brawn. They were a perfect pair. They could get out of any trouble together.

Then Hadyn's mother died. He'd shut everyone out of his life. Even Jain.

What would have changed if he hadn't?

"I'm sorry, Jain," Hadyn murmured.

Jain had been as hurt as he was. He was as fearful too. After everything that had happened, Hadyn still couldn't blame his cousin. Hadyn's father had turned him into a monster with years of pressure and neglect. If Hadyn had known, could he have saved him?

Hadyn moved over to the window, peaking out of the curtains into the blazing sun. Snow shown in the garden before him. Elsa's ice sculptures dotted the garden. His focus turned to one of them: the horse. He remembered the day he'd first shown her his powers. How surprised she had been. And yet, that day what had he felt? That it was a game? And yet, she impressed him.

He shook his head, about to close to curtain again. However, he caught a sparkle of light.

Elsa walked slowly in the garden, donned in an elegant ice blue gown which sparkled in the morning sun. She was beautiful.

At that moment, she glanced up at the castle. Hadyn closed the curtain, hoping she hadn't seen him watching her.

His feet stepped back, taking him with them. Turning away from the window, he walked past his mirror. His reflection looked like a mess. Dark circles ran under his eyes. Again, Kristoff was right. He needed a bath.

The thought that he smelled as if he'd slept in a barn for a week made him smile. Kristoff was hilarious, as was his fiancé. They'd welcomed him so easily. Given him their friendship without asking anything in return. He'd never experienced that before.

And Elsa…she'd been so guarded, and yet she had always cared. Even after she learned about the bet, she'd come to save him. Actually, he should rephrase that: she did save him. She was uncontrolled and she was full of fear, but then so was he. What a pair they would make!

Hadyn lifted his hands to the level of his eyes, watching as flames slowly appeared around his fingertips. They shared a power few understood and they had endured trauma both because of their power and because of how others reacted to it. But most importantly: they were both human, full of imperfections and stupid decisions.

He'd lost her. Hadyn was sure of that. The moment he had turned his back on her and left, there was no way he could expect her to take him back. To love him.

Turning back to the table, he picked up his glass and downed the rest of the liquor. Only after he put it down did he notice something lying on the table. A piece of paper. Where had it come from?

Hadyn lifted it in his fingers, certain Kristoff must have left it there when Hadyn hadn't been looking.

His eyes widened at the rough sketch. It was his face. He turned to the back of the page, on which was written a short note.

Elsa drew this.

She loves you.

You love her.

We all love you

So do you have the courage to stay?

-K & A

Hadyn stared at the picture for a moment, almost rolling his eyes about how dramatic they were. He turned the page over and looked down at his face. How had she captured him so perfectly? The darkness behind his eyes. The smiling humor in his lips to cover up the pain. Everything was him. Even the professional portraits of him at home could not match this simple sketch.

He looked up at the mirror, staring at himself in the distorted glass. How could she know him this well, when he had tried so much to hide himself?

A smile touched his lips. A decision. That was what was needed in this moment.

And he had made it.

Without a moment's hesitation, he turned and headed towards his wardrobe to dress for a wedding.