Author's Note: Hi, guys, for the final time. I can't believe this story is over! Thank you everyone who left a review or just made it through to the end. It's been a long journey we've been on, you and me. But this will be the last chapter. Originally, I was going to post an Epilogue. In fact, I had it all written and then I read it back and I realized I hated it. I'm the type of reader and writer who does not like to tie up all the lose ends. I hate open-ended endings, but to have all the questions answers just seems a bit convenient. My epilogue could pretty much be summed up in "They lived happily ever after." And I hate that type of ending. So, I'm sticking with this chapter as the ending. As always, let me know what you guys think and thank you.

Chapter 24. Today

"The hot and the cold are both so intense. Put 'em together, it just makes sense!"

—Frozen, Olaf

The organ sounded in the grand ballroom and at the same moment everyone rose from their seats, turning to watch their queen walk Princess Anna down the aisle, towards the priest and groom. Elsa felt tense, watching all eyes on her. She was still unused to the attention. And yet, today she was not its center. Tightening her grip on Anna's hand, she smiled over at her sister.

Anna smiled back on her, saying through gritted teeth. "I can't breathe in this dress!"

Elsa smiled even more, glancing down at her sister's exquisite white gown, covered in literal snowflakes and icicles. Anna was indeed an ice princess. Elsa turned her attention towards Kristoff. He stood tall beside the priest, dressed in a crisp, white suit which looked nothing like his usual fashion. At his side proudly stood Sven, who insisted on being the best man despite being a reindeer. Elsa then glanced back behind her towards a small snowman carrying the back of Anna's train. Olaf looked proud to be part of the procession, his carrot nose high in the air. Everything was wonderful.

Almost.

Her smile vanished as a figure moved into her vision beside Kristoff. The tall figure wore long red robes, lined in patterns of black and gold. An exceptional costume. Her eyes moved up towards the black hair just as the red eyes turned towards hers.

Elsa tripped, catching her foot on a nonexistent snare in the carpet. Luckily, Anna tightened her grip and kept her sister from falling.

"What is he doing there?" Elsa said angrily through gritted teeth, glaring fiercely towards the fire prince standing beside Kristoff.

Anna just grinned, watching her sister's face. Letting out a soft chuckle, her voice was lilted with laughter. "Kristoff said he wanted a real best man. You know, a more human one. And Hadyn was there."

Elsa tightened her empty fist, continuing to talk through gritted teeth. "I should have thrown him out of the castle days ago."

Anna pocked her sister with her free hand. "Stop being such a stick-in-the-mud. It's my wedding!"

The ice queen took a deep breath, trying to calm her anger. Anna was right. Whatever the soon-to-be married couple was trying to do to set her up with Hadyn, it was still Anna's wedding. Plus, people were looking at them strangely for whispering so much as they drifted down the aisle. Keeping in her annoyance at Hadyn's attendance, Elsa stuck her chin in the air and focused on the Kristoff.

She kept her attention on him as the two sisters reached the end of the hall and their hands separated as Anna's focus turned on her groom.

The priest's voice bound the two lovers for the rest of their lives as Elsa and Hadyn stood silently behind. Elsa felt a sense of peace, despite Hadyn's presence. Anna looked so happy, as did Kristoff. Oh, how good had things turned out for them! As the priest pronounced them husband and wife, they kissed and the crowd burst into applause. Elsa smiled as well, as her eyes finally drifted over towards the fire prince. He was smiling. It was gentle smile as he watched her.

She looked away.

Two hours later, Elsa finally found her way away from the guests in the reception hall. The cutting of the cake had been completed. Eating had commenced. The orchestra played gentle waltzes as Anna danced in Kristoff's arms, her face bright as their eyes seemed to only see each other.

Elsa watched them, pleased by their happiness. And yet there was a part of her heart that ached as well. A part of her heart which she hated to accept. A distant hope that she could dance with Hadyn like that. Shaking her head, Elsa decided she needed some fresh air.

Her feet brought her to the edge of the garden, to a small alcove overlooking the lake. She took a deep breath of the fresh air, remembering briefly that this was the first place she had met the fire prince, nearly a month ago.

"Gorgeous view, isn't it?"

Elsa jumped slightly, and turned towards the silky, deep voice.

Hadyn stood before her, still dawned in the fine, red robes. Despite her anger towards him, she could not deny how handsome he looked tonight.

She gulped, feeling slight heat rush to her cheeks. Elsa turned away, hoping he didn't see her blush.

What he had just said had been the first words he had ever said to her. And so Elsa continued as how their first conversation had gone.

"It is," she said. "Do you like the snow?"

"Now really. It's quite…cold." Hadyn came to stand beside her, facing her. "But I wasn't talking about the snow. That dress is…breathtaking."

Elsa tightened her fist, determinedly focusing on the lake. "I really do not want to hear a compliment for you. Can you not leave and return home?"

His voice lowered. "Is that what you truly want?"

Elsa didn't respond, a glob forming in her throat to prevent her from responding.

Hadyn stepped closer, placing a hand gently on her own which sat gently on the railing of the balcony. "If you want me to, I will. But first, let me explain."

"Explain what?" Her voice sounded hoarse. "That you love me and then you don't?"

Hadyn shook his head. "I never meant…I do love you. I just never wanted to hurt you. Everything my cousin did hurt you so badly. All the lies I told you hurt you. I could never ask you to love me after everything I did. I decided that, maybe you liked me, but you couldn't care for me like I did for you. That you would recover quickly if I left. But if I stayed, I would only hurt you."

"How sacrificial of you," Elsa commented dryly. "I appreciate that you never asked my opinion on the matter."

He smiled. "There's the sarcastic ice queen I fell in love with. You're right. I should have talked to you. I'm just…I'm not so good at communicating my feelings. I never have been. Maybe if I was open with Jain, he might not be dead."

"If you were so certain about leaving, why are you still here?" Elsa felt it difficult to breathe, telling herself it was simply the strange energy coursing between their hands.

Hadyn released her hand and reached into his suit. A second later, he pulled out a folded piece of paper. Opening it, he held it to the dim light of the lanterns in the garden.

It was the sketch Elsa had done of him.

Gasping, Elsa tore it from his hand, and demanded, "Where did you get that?"

"Kristoff gave it to me."

Elsa cursed her new brother-in-law, telling herself to punch him the next time she saw him.

Hadyn himself seemed amused while she felt nothing but embarrassment.

"Well?" Elsa demanded. "What do you want me to say about it?"

He raised his hand to ran it through his sleeked dark hair, messing it up a bit. "How about you start with admitting you love me."

Elsa bit her lip as the words immediately sprung into her mouth. Only her teeth kept the words back. Why did they come so quickly?

Swallowing the words, she demanded, "What makes you think I love you? I drew that picture while I was trying to figure you out."

"You did."

"What?"

"You have figured me out. You know me better in one month than anyone knew me in my entire life. You know me. I'm prideful. I'm playful. I fear commitment. I have a dark past, full of death and fire. But then you are fearful too. You fear people you love leaving you. Getting hurt because of you. You are stubborn and prideful too. We are so similar, you and I."

Elsa clenched the paper in her hands, trying to keep her emotions back. It was so difficult.

Hadyn stared at her for a moment and then asked, "What are you thinking? I would dearly like to know what you are thinking."

Elsa glanced up at his red eyes, trying to keep her voice even. "I…I don't know what to think. You made me so angry at you for simply turning and leaving that day after you said you loved me. You were annoying from the first moment I met you. You wouldn't give me peace. You disrupt my comfortable life. But…" She paused.

"But?" Hadyn pushed.

She felt tears spring up to her eyes as her empty hand moved up to touch her heart gently. "But you made my heart beat so fast. Every moment I waited for you to show up. To demand we practice magic, or tease me. But all week, you didn't. I was so angry at you."

"I know. And I'm sorry. I know—"

"But it made me realize something," Elsa interrupted.

"What?" Hadyn seemed to be holding his breath.

Elsa's voice dropped away, so soft that when she spoke it was only a hushed breath of air which escaped as her lips formed the words, "I do love you."

That seemed to be enough for Hadyn, though. He reached forward and pulled her into his arms, wrapping her tightly in a fiery hug. Elsa let her arms reach around him as well, hugging him in return.

Silence settled over them as they stood unmoving. Just to hold each other, wanting to never let the other one go, was enough.

Soon, the moon would rise and guests would begin to slowly depart. But Hadyn would stay.