"For the first time in forever,

I'm getting what I'm dreaming of.

A chance to change my lonely world,

A chance to find true love."

As they got closer to the edge of the city, Elsa could feel her hands start to shake. She'd been able to keep her composure through the chasm for Anna, so why was she faltering now? Conceal it, don't feel it.

Warm fingers interlaced themselves with her shaking ones. Anna's eyes were patient and kind, and Elsa wanted to cling to them and block out everything else.

"I'm here for you, Elsa," Anna reminded her in a gentle tone, "We'll face this together."

Elsa felt her heart swell with love at the girl's words. She nodded, giving the hand a soft squeeze. "Together."

They slowly walked hand in hand through the icy city. Anna marveled at everything until she began to notice that some of the buildings were damaged or destroyed. Elsa watched the redhead's face grow confused as their feet crunched over pieces of the shattered structures. Anna slowed their pace.

"Elsa…what happened here?" she was nearly whispering, "And where are all the people?"

Elsa couldn't bring herself to say anything at first. Every time she allowed herself to think about that fateful day, it would all come crashing back to her. The screams of children, the harsh clashing of steel, the deafening boom of buildings being blown to pieces…

"War." She finally answered, her voice cracking despite her best efforts to sound calm.

Anna's eyes widened as she looked around again, seeing everything with a newfound perspective. Her hand tightened its grip. "Oh, Elsa…" she breathed, her eyes misty, "I'm so sorry…"

Elsa shook her head, willing herself to stay strong and not break down in front of Anna. "Don't be. It isn't your fault."

They continued walking through battered, yet beautiful city, and still hadn't come across any people. It wasn't until they reached the city's center that Anna saw it.

They both stopped, and Elsa released the redhead's hand and pulled away. She knew that Anna would hate her after she saw what she had done. "Now you realize how dangerous I am, Anna. This…this is all my doing."

Anna said nothing for a moment as she observed everything. There were people, tons of people…but they were all frozen solid. It was like someone had carved ice statues in different poses and littered them all over the place. There were some in windows, some caught mid-run, others fighting each other. But it was all still; eerily unmoving. A moment frozen forever in time.

"You…did this?" Anna turned to look at Elsa, whose eyes were filled with regretful tears, "Why, Elsa?"

The blonde sniffled and shook her head, her arms clutching her sides. Anna was going to hate her now. She felt her heart break a little more at the realization. "I-I was so young and, and…M-Mama and Papa were…" she fought off a sob as it wracked her body, "I just…I just wanted the fighting to stop…people were dying, and…I was so afraid…"

Elsa felt warm arms wrap around her shoulders. That was when she allowed herself to feel it, to feel everything that she'd kept locked away in the darkest part of her heart. She cried, she sobbed. Elsa allowed herself to be weak for once, to admit how afraid she was. Because Anna was there, Anna was strong and she was brave. Elsa felt safe, even amidst all the horrors of her past memories.

As she calmed down, Elsa felt like a heavy weight had been lifted from her heart. Now it was only filled with her love for Anna.

"You are so strong, Elsa…but you don't have to bear everything by yourself, okay?" Anna's voice was gentle, and her eyes lacked any form of fear whatsoever.

Elsa pulled away and nodded. "I'm sorry." She knew Anna didn't need an apology, but she felt like she should give one anyway.

Anna smiled at her. Elsa loved that smile like a flower loved the sun. "So, shall we keep moving? Or do you want to stay here for a little longer?"

Elsa smiled at how caring Anna was. I love her so much…

"I'm fine now," the blonde assured her, "Our destination is right there."

She pointed to the towering ice castle across the town square.

Anna followed as Elsa led them through the crowded epicenter. It was eerie how silent everything was in that moment, as if the horrid depictions of chaos surrounding the two girls did not exist. Anna almost bumped into an ice statue of a man with a sword raised to strike. There was a frozen little boy cowering before him, his young eyes wide with fear.

Anna paused at the sight, wondering what would've played out had Elsa not frozen everything when she did. The redhead cringed.

"Do you think they're still alive?" she wondered aloud, absently trailing a finger along the little boy's frozen cheek.

Elsa stopped and turned around. Her delicate brows knitted together in thought as her eyes took in the unmoving people around them. Anna could've sworn she saw her shiver.

"I'm…not sure." Elsa replied quietly, as if she didn't want the ice people to hear them, "I can feel their presence here…but I think that may just be my guilt haunting me with their ghosts."

Anna took Elsa's hand and gave it a squeeze. Oh Elsa, please don't blame yourself for wanting peace. "I can feel them too, Elsa." She said. And she could. It was almost like the cold air was charged with a silent energy.

Elsa smiled at her, and Anna felt her heart flutter in her chest. It was a beautiful moment between the two. Until Anna saw the flag one of the invading soldiers was carrying. Red, white, and gold…That's the flag of Southern Isles! Did Prince Hans know about this?

Before she could say anything, Elsa was leading them into the enormous castle. And boy it really was enormous! It must've been five times the size of Elsa's castle.

"Unlike my castle, this one was carved by hand," Elsa stated reverently, "It has been standing long since before I was born."

Anna took in the beautifully shaped arches and elaborate trimmings with newfound awe. It was mind boggling how much work probably went into this place.

They both paused for a moment as their eyes met the silent scene before them.

On the throne across the room, the King sat frozen with an arrow in chest. His ice-encased wife was hunched over him with a sword in her back. A rotting skeleton was speared to the wall by ice across the room. Anna averted her gaze.

"Were the other buildings in the city carved by hand too?" she asked, trying to distract herself.

Elsa nodded, drawing her haunted gaze away from its fixation. She led them away from the throne room and the atmosphere brightened immediately.

"Yes, though some of the newer ones I was allowed to help with." She replied with a small smile.

Anna grinned at the thought of Elsa getting along with her fellow people and helping them. I bet they all loved her and her powers just as much as I do.

She followed the blonde up the stairs and down a long hallway. "Now, let's see…I think the royal library is somewhere around here…" Elsa mumbled to herself, eyes skimming over each doorway.

They came upon a room that was three stories of wall-to-wall books. "Wow," Anna breathed, her head bent all the way back to take it all in, "I bet Belle would have a heart attack if she saw this."

Elsa giggled. "She'd probably never leave." She added in amusement.

Anna stared at the blonde with surprise. "You know Belle?"

Elsa smiled sadly and nodded. "As well as the others."

A heavy silence settled over them as Anna was once again reminded that she could not remember her past with Elsa. I wonder how Elsa feels about that…do I make her sad?

Anna cleared her throat to try and force down the lump that had formed. "Does it bother you?" she asked as her eyes fell to the floor, afraid to see the pain in those deep blue eyes, "That I can't remember you?"

She heard Elsa sigh heavily. "I would be lying to you if I said no." the blonde nearly whispered.

Anna bit her lip to keep it from trembling. I knew it, she's been so kind to me all this time, and I hardly noticed how uncomfortable I was making her! I'm terrible. Tears stung her eyes as her heart clenched painfully in her chest.

A slender hand cupped her chin and brought her gaze upwards. Anna's heart calmed itself as she took in the gentleness behind deep blue irises. Elsa's gaze was filled only with affection and tenderness.

"Just having you here with me brings me happiness," the blonde stated softly, "Anna, I…" she paused briefly, "I only wish to see you happy."

Anna's heart over flowed with feelings of love as she lunged to embrace the taller girl. Her head curled beneath Elsa's chin, the blonde's fluttering heartbeat sounding against her freckled cheek. Anna smiled as she listened to it. Slender arms encircled her and pulled her closer.

"I am happy, Elsa," Anna murmured quietly against her pale neck, the blonde shivered, "Because I'm with you." She finished softly.

Elsa's heart felt like it was going to burst out of her chest. Anna was saying things that made her want to never let the redhead go, to keep her all for herself until the end of time. But alas, she knew that it was selfish to want such things. So with a final squeeze, she pulled away.

She smiled warmly. "Let's start looking, shall we?"

Anna nodded happily and they both set to work scanning the numerous shelves. Elsa had found a few texts documenting an earlier account of a person with ice powers, but the descriptions were very vague and didn't carry anything useful to their situation.

"Hey, check this out!" Anna held up a journal with a picture of a little blonde girl in a white dress. It was obviously a younger and more timid looking Elsa. "You were so adorable." The redhead cooed.

Elsa flushed with embarrassment as she took a closer look at the image on the page. She looked so small in the picture, it was hard to believe she had once been so innocent looking. "I believe I was five in that picture."

Anna turned the page and skimmed over the text. "Why would there be a field journal on you here?" she finally asked.

Elsa sighed helplessly. "Everyone thought I was special. 'A gift from the winter goddess, the Blessed One' they said." She grimaced, "More like the Cursed One, if you ask me."

They had no idea I would freeze all of them solid.

"That's not true Elsa!" Anna stated vehemently, closing the journal and taking her hand, "You are so amazing, and I wish you could see that."

The blind adoration was too much for Elsa to bear and she pulled her hand away. "Anna, I am dangerous," she said quietly, her voice slightly bitter, "Don't you see? I caused the fall of an entire kingdom!"

"No you didn't, Elsa! You saved them!" Anna disagreed, her voice raised, "They're all alive, Elsa, I can feel it! And I've seen what was happening. They were unprepared and under siege! They all would've died if you didn't stop it!"

By now Elsa's eyes burned from the tears that welled up unbidden. She didn't want to relive this anymore, she didn't want to be here. She didn't want to believe that it wasn't her fault. Because then whose fault would it be? Who could she blame?

"I, I still could've done something!" she stuttered brokenly, "…I could've, I-I could've…"

"What else could you have done, Elsa?" Anna's voice was softer now, "You were only six years old. Alone, scared…You had to bear things no child should ever have to face."

Elsa watched as Anna's eyes filled with tears as well. Several quiet moments passed as the redhead fiddled with something around her neck. Elsa's eyes widened when she caught sight of what it was. Is that…?

"The necklace…" she breathed.

Anna wiped her eyes and looked down at the snowflake pendant on its silvery chain. She immediately blushed. "Oh, this? I just feel better when I hold it close," she explained shyly, "Kind of like a comfort charm, or something."

Before she knew what she was doing, Elsa placed her hand over Anna's. "Do you wear this often?" she questioned, trying to keep her voice steady. After all this time, she still wears it…

Anna blinked at their hands, before her eyes flicked upwards to lock with blue. The mood in the air seemed to shift, and suddenly it seemed more difficult to breath for both of them. They stared at each other for a long moment, an unseen tension pulling between them.

"I never take it off," Anna replied, her voice more breathy than usual, "It is very precious to me."

Elsa fought to keep herself from falling into those beautiful teal eyes. She was slowly failing. "Why do you think that is, Anna?" she whispered the question.

Suddenly something seemed to click in Anna's head as she spoke. "You...gave this to me, didn't you?"

Elsa nodded, her eyes never leaving Anna's. "It was my mother's. I gave it to you to remember me by." She quietly admitted, "It made me feel better that something of mine would go with you when you left."

"Elsa…" Anna whispered thickly, her eyes desperately searching the blonde's, "What were we to each other?"

Several charged moment passed. Elsa felt her heart pounding in her ears. "Everything." She whispered. That one word carried every single emotion she'd felt for Anna: the love of her smile, the desire for her embrace, the pain of losing her, the fear of hurting her, and the joy of her presence.

And then Anna kissed her.

At first, Elsa thought that she was dreaming, or hallucinating. This was the first time Anna has kissed her. Then she kissed back, and the feeling of it all overwhelmed her and brought tears to her eyes. It was as if her heart had never been broken, as if she hadn't suffered for three long and lonely years. All that mattered was Anna. Then again, that's all that had ever mattered anyway. She allowed herself to deepen the kiss and pulled the redhead closer. I love you, Anna…so much, so desperately that it feels like my heart beats only for you and you alone…Like our hearts are only two halves of one whole.

Suddenly Anna pulled away. Her whole body was shaking, and she fell to her knees, gasping loudly.

"Anna?!" Elsa immediately dropped down to hold her steady. "Anna what's happening?! Are you alright?!" her voice grew more and more frantic with each syllable. Panic gripped her heart like a vice.

Anna clutched her chest, her eye's clenched shut in pain. Her convulsing turned into pained sobbing.

Elsa started sobbing as well, cradling Anna's head delicately in her lap. She didn't know how to help her beloved, and it was destroying her. Was she dying? Was it the curse? Please! Please, be okay! Please Anna…

A shaky hand clutched at the material of her icy dress. Elsa looked down to see that Anna had buried her face into her stomach, tears streaming from her eyes.

"I remember, Elsa." Anna whispered brokenly, "I remember everything."

Elsa was speechless. She couldn't find the right words to express her feelings, and so emotion-filled tears flowed down her cheeks instead.

"Elsa…"Anna sobbed into her once more, "Elsa, I'm so, so sorry…"

The blonde quickly shook her head, pulling Anna up into a protective embrace. She pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head. Breathing in the lovely scent of her hair. She had honestly never felt more happy or relieved.

"Do not apologize, my love," she whispered into the red locks, "None of that matters anymore. You came back to me."

Anna sniffled. "B-But Elsa…I hurt you so much…you had to suffer all alone for three years, and…I…I'm so sorry...I love you, Elsa. I love you so much…I'm sorry, I…I…"

Elsa hushed her softly, running a hand over her hair. "They say that a passing storm only makes the sun seem brighter afterwards. Such is my love for you, Anna. No amount of suffering will be too great for me to withstand, for the strength of my love will be greater still."

Anna smiled as tears ran down her face. She stared into Elsa's deep blue eyes and reverently cupped the blonde's cheek. "If it counts," Anna murmured against her lips, "I never stopped loving you, even if I didn't know it. My heart never forgot."

Then they kissed. It was a gentle, yet all-consuming kiss, which steadily grew in passion. Elsa's arms encircled Anna's waist and pulled her closer. If this was a dream, then Elsa wanted to never wake up. Her heart was pounding furiously in her chest and her breath had long since left her lungs. It was perfect.

They both pulled away, panting and staring lovingly at each other. Elsa couldn't help a giddy giggle that escaped her lips, which Anna reciprocated.

"So, I suppose the curse is broken?" she asked.

Anna nodded with a smile. "I guess it is…who knew that a kiss was all it took?"

Elsa returned the smile. "I would've kissed you three years ago."

After a brief moment of more giggling Anna shook her head. "I don't think it was just the kiss, though…I think it was more of our feelings finally coming together…or something like that."

"'Only unity shall save thy heart'," Elsa recited aloud, "The prophecy held the answer all along."

A shadow of worry fell over Anna's eyes, and Elsa felt her tense in her arms. "What is it, love?" the blonde asked with concern.

Anna looked at Elsa. "'And beware thy selfish enemy'…Elsa," her voice was laced with apprehension, "Hans is still alive."

Suddenly, the horizon didn't seem so sunny anymore.

Finally! Am I right? I may have cried a little bit while writing this chapter. (You can't prove anything!)

I'm sorry it took me a little bit longer to get this chapter out, my laptop officially kicked the bucket, so I actually had to rewrite over half of this. Also, I have a question for you all...a couple of my readers asked if I was going to have Anna and Elsa, um, *blushes* get together, if you know what I mean. What do you think? Should I change the rating to M and do a 'sexy time' scene?...Goodness, this is quite a bit more embarrassing than I expected it to be...Ehem, uh, sorry for such a long end note...I'm just going to go crawl back under my rock now...