As soon as the sisters had left, Helen stared at her family in disbelief, still able to hear the girls shouting outside:
"I can't believe, you, Anna!" was Elsa's growl of anger.
"Why are you always so mad?!" they heard Anna shout back, "it isn't anything to be ashamed of!" Not wanting to listen any longer, Helen got up, closing the windows. There was a click as she locked them, the glass distorting her reflection.
"Well, that was something, huh?" Bob said, breaking the awkward silence. Helen said nothing, sitting back down to feed Jack-Jack, who gurgled happily, oblivious to what had just happened. Violet and Dash were silent as they went back to eating, their leftovers now cold and unappetizing (not that they were appetizing in the first place anyway).
"Queen…" Helen said in amazement, trying to grasp what she had just heard, "but-"
"But that's awesome!" Dash suddenly exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air.
"What's awesome about being Queen?" Violet scoffed, sneering at he brother.
"You can tell everyone what to do, that's what!" Dash cried, "I mean, she'll be able to do whatever she wants because she's Queen-"
"Yeah, and she could die for treason, you know," Violet cut him off bluntly, stabbing her meatloaf with her fork.
"Kids, I highly doubt she'll go against- where was it she said they were, honey?" Bob turned to her for an answer. Helen shrugged. The name was weird, starting with an 'A' or something like that.
"Uh, Norway?" she said, unable to remember where in Norway.
"Eh, close enough," Bob said with a shrug, then to the kids, "but she'll do fine, I'm sure of it." After he said this, there was a few minutes of awkward silence, the sound of metal slicing through meat the only sound, accompanied by Jack-Jack's occasional giggle and clapping of his hands. Sighing, Violet put her fork down, her food untouched.
"Um, Mom?" Violet asked, tucking a strand of her black hair behind her ear.
"What is it, Vi?" Helen asked, "you haven't touched your food!"
"Well, that girl- the one in the green dress, I think- she mentioned something-" Helen and Bob exchanged a look as she went on, abandoning her food completely.
"What did they say?" Helen asked.
"She said that her sister had nothing to be ashamed of," Violet began.
"Well, becoming a Queen shouldn't be anything to be ashamed of," Helen said. In her opinion, it was actually a truly admirable thing for a woman so young to become a Queen.
"Yeah, but then the other one- her sister- she said she almost froze her to death, and that she didn't have any magical ice powers or anything-"
"Wait, what?!" Bob said excitedly, "Ice?! Like Lucius, you mean?" Violet shrugged.
"What else would it mean? He's the only person we know with power like that," Violet explained mildly. Helen sputtered, trying to find the right words to join in the conversation- now it made sense when her sister had snatched the paper and opened it up, talking about how they themselves didn't hide their powers anymore. Oh my god…. she thought, absentmindedly spooning baby food into Jack-Jack's mouth. As she opened her mouth, there was a knock at the door, and she stretched her arm to open it.
In walked Lucius- his superhero identity being Frozone- shrugging on a leather jacket over a blue turtleneck sweater. He gave everyone small nods, saying, "Hey Helen, Bob- Dash, Violet- hey, did you guys happen to see he two girls outside-"
"Yeah, why?" Bob said, waving him over to take a seat.
"I just saw them outside, they were fighting like cats and dogs- I have no idea why they were so dressed up though, I mean, Honey and I don't even do that and we have a dinner planned in two months from now-"
"Lucius, we just met them," Helen cut him off, putting down the spoon. Pieces of pureed carrot clung to the utensil for dear life, not willing to plop onto the table until a few seconds later.
"Well, what's the deal with the designer getup and what not then?" Lucius demanded, rubbing his pointy chin.
"They're from somewhere in Norway," Bob said, waving his fork nonchalantly, "they came to return some mail and all of a sudden the younger sister started spewing something about the older one becoming Queen-" Both Lucius and Helen's eyes bugged- Helen in annoyance and Lucius in surprise.
"Queen?!" he exclaimed, gripping the sides of his chair.
"Bob!" Helen hissed, "that's her personal business!"
"What? They told us!"
"Yes, but that doesn't mean you go blurting it to the whole neighborhood!" As they fought, there was yet another knock at the door, followed by the bonging of the doorbell. Before anyone could say anything, Dash said, "I got it!" and rushed over to grab the knob, too fast for anyone to stop him.
All eyes were at the front door as Dash open fit to reveal an old man, wearing a black waistcoat and dress pants, a pair of white gives pulled over his hands as he clasped them in front of him.
"Good day, young man," he greeted Dash with a nod and smile, "is this the residence of the Parr family?" Before Dash could answer, Helen got up, jiggling Jack-Jack against her hip, trying to get him to burp.
"Yes, we're the Parrs," she said, leaning against the doorframe, "is there anything we can help you with?" The man reached into the pocket of his pants to produce an envelope.
Holding it out, he said, "this is from Her Highness Princess Anna." Helen took it reluctantly. The paper was crisp and yellowed, the family name written on the front in fancy curled letters. The back of the envelope and a was seal, depicting the profile of a woman- Probably her sister, if she's older, Helen thought.
"Wait- then who are you?" Dash piped up, Helen shushing him.
"Forgive me," the man said with a bow, "I am Kai, Princess Anna and Queen Elsa's personal assistant." Looking past Helen's shoulder, he gasped, nodding to her, "I apologize, of it seems you have company. I best be off then-"
"No, stay!" dash said, grabbing the man by his sleeve, pulling him roughly into the room.
"I'm sorry about Dash," Helen apologized as she helped Kai dust himself off, "and thank you- Kai, was it?- but we just met…. Princess Anna and Queen Elsa-"
"The Princess has told me this," Kai agreed, nodding to the res tot the family. Lucius just stared at him, amazed at how many loonies just were walking into his friend's home that day. Clearing his throat, Kai continued, "But being how she is, Princess Anna has decided that she has taken a liking to your family. She had us make these invitations last minute- a few minutes ago, actually." Helen handed the invitation to Bob, who said, "Wait- invitations. There's another one?" Kai nodded, approaching the dinner table. He gestured to Lucius, "Yes. One for this man as well."
Lucius jumped- he didn't want any part in this! Laughing nervously, he got up, chair scraping the floor as he pushed it away from the table.
"Thank you, old man, but I don't do froofy balls, okay?" Lucius joked, clapping Kai on the shoulder, making the old man jump. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out another invitation, extending it towards Lucius.
"But, Princess Anna had me make one for you as well, sir," Kai said, "and the Princess is very stubborn, so I suggest you at least take a look at it." Scowling, he suddenly snatched it from the man, grumbling as he ripped it open carelessly, his eyes scanning the page.
"Well?" Kai prompted.
"Fine. I'll come," Lucius agreed reluctantly, "but only because the Princess says there will be food. And I better not have to get dressed up!"
"A suit will do just fine, sir," Kai explained, then to the Parrs, who sat watching, "and yourselves?"
Immediately, the kids and her husband turned to Helen, Dash and Bob simultaneously trying to give her the best puppy-dog eyes they could. Violet meanwhile shrugged, ignoring the question and going back to plain with her food, which was now hardened after sitting out untouched for such a while.
"Well, Mrs. Parr?" Kai's voice broke through the silence, "I'll need an answer soon, I must chauffeur the Princess and the Queen back to the airport."
"Please, Mom?" Dash asked, a whine playing on his voice, "come on, we never go anywhere!"
"Honey, yu now, this would be a great family vacation-" Bob tried, backing his son up. Sighing, Helen turned to Violet.
"Doesn't matter to me," she said simply.
"Fine," she agreed, receiving a cheer from Dash, who gave his dad a high-five, "we'll pack up after dinner."
"That's settled then," Kai side grudgingly, "now i must go- a certain princess is in need of chocolate." Openeing the door, he said, "I bid you all good night!" and he slammed the door shut, leaving the Parrs and Lucius to finish dinner, and hustle up with packing their bags.