I am so sorry it's been over two weeks since I've updated… Life's gotten pretty real since graduating college and it's taken a toll on me.

For anyone who doesn't follow me on Tumblr (x-sodenozangetsu-x) OR read Still of the Night, I started a new job in an office a little over a week ago. Apparently, that job was not suited for me and had me suffering three panic attacks in the span of two days. Needless to say, for health and happiness reasons, I quit and went back to my old job. While I got a raise, I am now full time instead of part time, which means less free time. Also, I've been slowly recuperating from my panic attacks and really have just gotten back into writing.

That said, I'm not entirely happy with this chapter, mainly because it's a lot shorter than I wanted it as I had planned to have this chapter be Elsa's big reveal. BUT, I didn't want you all to have to wait any longer 'cause I'm just nice like that. ;) Next chapter will have Elsa's LEGIT big reveal, so I suppose enjoy the cuteness while it lasts 'cause there's a lot more angst coming!

Chapter Twenty-Two: Baby Steps

My phone vibrating on my nightstand wakes me around three Wednesday morning. Rolling over groggily, my hand reaches blindly for it before pulling it under the covers with the rest of me. Seeing Elsa's name on the screen though, I sit up at attention as I answer.

"Elsa? Are you okay?"

"I had another nightmare, Anna," is her whispered reply, her voice choked with sobs. "Then when I woke up and you weren't there…I-I panicked."

"Do you want me to come over?" I immediately ask. "I don't mind, really."

"No!" she cries, although I can hear the lingering doubt in her voice as she says so. "I just…wanted to hear your voice."

I smile on my end. "We can FaceTime, if you want," I tell her. "That way, you'll technically be able to see me. It'll almost be like I'm right there next to you!"

Elsa laughs softly as she utters, "O-Okay."

"Great! One sec!"

Pulling my phone back, I tap the button for FaceTime and am greeted with darkness and a little picture of me up in the right-hand corner. Settling back into bed, I prop my phone against the pillow next to me.

"Ready," I say.

There's shuffling on the other end for a moment before a light turns on, and soon I can see Elsa's face smiling shyly at me, the soft lighting showing the redness in her eyes and the still-wet tear tracks on her cheeks.

"Oh, Elsa…"

"Thanks for this, Anna," she says as she too lays back in her own bed.

"You know I'd do anything for you, Els," I tell her with conviction. "Even take a subway to your place at three in the morning."

Elsa chuckles. "Is it that late?" I see her roll over to assumedly check her bedside clock. "I'm sorry, Anna, you must've been sound asleep."

"Elsa," I shush her, "it's okay, really. Do you want to talk about the dream?"

She shrugs and looks down at the sheets. "It wasn't much different than the ones before. I'm in the car, it's upside-down, dad's still and bleeding from his head, and mom's screaming in the passenger seat."

I shudder involuntarily. "I'm so sorry, Elsa. I wish I could give you a hug or a kiss right now."

She smiles meekly as she looks at the camera. "You're really helping more than you think you are right now. I… I never really thought of doing this when I have dreams and you're not with me."

"Well, now we're prepared for the future!" I exclaim with a grin. Elsa matches it briefly before she's frowning again. When I hear her sniff, I scoot closer to my phone, and, by extension, closer to Elsa. "What is it?"

"I…" She hiccups and rubs her eye. "Every time I try to go back to sleep, all I see are flames and mom's screams haunt me. That, or I just relive it over and over again."

"How long have you been up?"

Elsa looks away and bites her lip. "You'll be upset…"

"Because it's been a long time?" I guess. "Elsa, I won't be mad at you if you waited three hours before calling me or three seconds."

Letting my words sink in momentarily, she ends up mumbling, "I've been awake since one-thirty." She stares up at me with sad eyes. "I wanted to try and handle it myself s-since Milo wants me to start…not relying on you as much."

"Screw what Milo said," I snap. "If it's hurting you or bothering you this much, you call me; no matter what time and no matter where I may be. You'll move on from me when you're ready and not a moment sooner, okay?"

Elsa blushes as she whispers, "I never want to move on from you, Anna."

I giggle and blush myself. "You know what I mean, silly."

"You're not mad though?" she asks next. "That I didn't call you immediately?"

I shake my head. "Not at all, Elsa. It means, even if you aren't aware of it, you're learning—and, more importantly, wanting—to deal with things yourself. I think Milo would be proud, honestly."

Elsa's blush intensifies at the praise. "Thanks."

We continue FaceTiming for almost two more hours before I notice Elsa fighting to keep her eyes open. Smiling gently, I reach out to touch my phone screen as if to caress Elsa's cheek itself.

"Think you can sleep now?" I ask.

Elsa hums in response, but opens one eye after a moment, looking vulnerable once more as she looks to me.

"Will you…stay on the line with me?" she asks. "Just for a while?"

My smile grows. "Of course I will, Elsa. I won't hang up until you fall back asleep, alright?"

"And can you…talk?" she asks next, her blush only increasing with each word. "Since I…can't h-hold you?"

I can't hold back a laugh at the question, but it's anything except mocking.

"I love talking almost as much as I love you, you know that." I grin as she looks away in embarrassment. "But yes, I'll talk to you. A dozen bedtime stories coming right up!"

I'm on my fifth story of Kristoff and I getting in trouble in middle school—those were my most rebellious years—when I notice Elsa's heavy breathing and a small, serene smile on her lips indicating she's back in a deep slumber. Grinning once more, I roll onto my back and bask in the calming rhythm of her breaths before I too am lulled off to sleep. My phone only hangs up when it dies hours later.

XxXxX

"Where are we going, Annie?" Olaf asks me as we descend into the subway station hours later. "The subway we usually take isn't at this station."

"We're making a detour before work, buddy," I explain. "We have one stop to make first; then we'll get to the library."

"Where are we going?" he asks again.

I beam down at him and wink. "It's a surprise!" He giggles at my enthusiasm. "You'll like it though, don't worry."

"Is it super hero training?!"

I roll my eyes as we board the train. "That would be awesome, but unfortunately no. Our time has yet to come."

As we take a seat, I pull Olaf into my lap. Every now and then, his parents will ask me to take him to and/or from daycare if they are unavailable. Today just happened to be one of those days. I don't mind it in the least, but I just had one thing I had to take care of first.

"Wow!" Olaf gasps as we walk up to a tall building once off the subway. "That's the biggest building I ever sawed!"

"'I've ever seen,' Olaf," I correct him amicably. "But yes, it's a tall building."

"What is it?" he asks before gasping again and jumping up and down. "Did daycare move here?!"

I laugh. "No, I don't think the people who live in this building would appreciate dozens of little kids taking over their homes. Although, one probably wouldn't mind."

"People live here?!" He strains so hard to see the top of the building that he almost falls backward. "Even on the toppest floor?"

"You bet!"

"Can we live up there?"

I'm not sure if the 'we' he's referring to is him and his parents, or him and me, but either way, I chuckle once more.

"Sorry, buddy; these places are too expensive for most people's taste."

"Then why are we here?" he questions as we finally enter, paying rapt attention to his reflection on the marble floor.

"Remember Elsa?" I ask.

A grin immediately splits his face. "Yeah!" He hops as he waits for an elevator. "She's coming to work with us?"

"If we can convince her," I reply. "It's a surprise. She doesn't know I'm coming; or, she probably forgot."

"Cool!" Olaf shouts. "I hope she will!"

"Let's go see then, huh?"

Olaf nods eagerly and basically drags me into the elevator before its doors are even fully open. After asking which floor, I let him push the button and he squeals in joy the entire time we rise. Apparently he's only ridden a few elevators before. Upon stepping out and asking what number she lives in, I tell him and he bounds off down the hallway.

"Olaf!" I call out, loud enough for him to hear me but not to be heard by the floor's occupants. "Don't knock until I get there!"

He obeys and waits patiently, bouncing on the balls of his feet. As soon as I get there, he begs me to knock.

"Hide behind me and then pop out after she answers, okay?" I tell him with a big smile. "That will really surprise her."

Olaf giggles and nods before he moves to stand behind me, out of Elsa's immediate sight. Raising a fist to knock, I shush Olaf's continued laughter and bring my fist down.

Tap tap ta-tap tap!

Elsa opens the door a moment later and stares at me quizzically.

"Anna? What are you doing here?"

I nudge Olaf with my foot and he springs out from behind me with a cry of "surprise!" Elsa stumbles backward a few steps from the outburst before she's smiling and laughing with us.

"Olaf!" she greets. "What are you doing here?"

"Annie takes me to the library with her sometimes and we came to get you first!" he explains.

Elsa looks back at me. "You're bringing me to work?"

Looking down at Olaf, I roll my eyes. "See, I told you she'd forget." He laughs before I look back to Elsa and say, "It's Wednesday, remember? I told you at the tournament that you could come to work with me to distract yourself. Plus, they really miss you."

"Yeah, Miss Elsa, we do!" Olaf adds for good measure. "Please come read to us?"

She smiles and squats to Olaf's level. "I'd love to come with you all."

Olaf cries out in joy and grabs Elsa in a hug. I ruffle his hair as he pulls back and tell him to go call the elevator for us. He immediately takes off back down the hall, now humming happily.

"I had totally forgotten you mentioned this Monday night," she tells me abashedly, ducking back inside her apartment for a minute to grab her keys and a jacket.

"I figured you would," I start with a grin before she smacks me playfully, "but I thought if I had Olaf with me, you wouldn't be able to say no."

"Oh fine, make me the bad guy," Elsa giggles.

"What can I say?" I shrug. "I know how to get what I want."

Taking my hand, she kisses my cheek before we follow after Olaf.

"That, you do," she purrs while nuzzling my neck.

"Annie!" Olaf giggles once we approach. "You're all red!"

Even more heat rushes to my face as Elsa laughs too and I shoot her a weak glare to which she mirrors my earlier action and shrugs, smiling smugly. At least she refrains from kissing me again in front of a kid. I don't think I could handle that. Olaf would get to the library and tell everyone in sight, even the strangers there for their own business.

And no, I'm actually not exaggerating this time.

XxXxX

When we arrive, Olaf is immediately sprinting from us towards the playground where the kids are for recess-despite it being the end of Novemeber-and I can only thank the heavens that the playground is outside. Seriously, the next block over could hear him.

"Guys! Miss Elsa's back! Miss Elsa's back!"

Eight kids look to Olaf before looking behind him and spotting Elsa and me. They each break out into adorable smiles before basically charging at Elsa. Two kids remain on the playground who have yet to meet Elsa, watching curiously as the others dart off. Eventually, their curiosity wins over and they follow too.

"I didn't know I was missed this much!" Elsa exclaims with a laugh as basically every kid fights to hug her.

"Honestly, neither did I," I respond with my own chuckle. "I'm kind of jealous, actually. I never get hugs like that."

"That's 'cause we see you all the time!" Ellie exclaims. Quickly, she dashes over and gives me a squeeze as well. "But we like you too, don't worry."

"Good to know," I retort with a roll of my eyes.

"Besides," Marshall pipes up, "you're on TV! I saw you fighting again!"

Grinning, I squat. "I did pretty darn well, didn't I?"

He nods excitedly. "Third place! That's so cool, Anna!"

"She wouldn't have done that well without me," Elsa adds in with an almost cocky tone. "I trained her."

Immediately, all the kids, even the ones who don't know Elsa, gasp and look to her once more.

"You did?!"

"Really?"

"You fight too?!"

While all the other kids fire question after question at her, unable to contain their adorable excitement, Olaf quietly raises his hand, though his eyes are wide.

"Yes, Olaf," I call on him, smiling because he always raises his hand, even when it's not really necessary.

"How come you weren't on TV with Anna?" he asks.

It's an innocent question from perhaps the most innocent child in the world, yet it's loaded to a capacity of which only Elsa and I can comprehend. My amusement quickly dies and I glance to Elsa to see how she reacts. Surprisingly, her smile remains intact.

"Well, I haven't fought for a while," she answers. "The last time I would have been on TV, you all were probably still too young."

"Why don't you fight anymore?" Marshall asks next.

"O-Okay, guys, that's enough questions!" I cut in. "Let's all go inside and get ready to read, huh?"

I'm met with a cacophony of moans and whines and the most pitiful puppy-dog eyes you'd ever see.

"Come on, Anna!"

"We're curious!"

"Please Annie?"

"Guys, it really not polite to ask tha-."

"It's alright, Anna."

Blinking in surprise, I look to Elsa who's standing next to me, hand on my shoulder, and a determined glint in her eyes.

"I'd like to tell them," she says with conviction.

"But Elsa…"

She grins a bit sheepishly and shrugs as she says, "They're a bunch of kids. I can do this. Besides," a flash of fear shines in her blue orbs, "it's good practice for tomorrow, right?"

I have a feeling I'm going to lose this fight regardless of what I come up with. With a sigh, I nod my head as if to grant her access to tell her tale. "I guess you have a good point." I fix her with a glare though and state, "But only if you really want to and not just because they're asking, get it?"

Elsa just further surprises me by chuckling. "I get it, Anna," she replies. "I want to."

"It's something serious, isn't it?" Olaf states rather than asks, and the other kids immediately lose their spark of excitement.

"Yes," Elsa answers, "but it's nothing you all don't deserve to know."

"Can we at least go inside?" I question. "So we're more comfortable? And warm?"

The kids—and Elsa—actually agree to that, and soon we're all seated in another semicircle around Elsa waiting for her to tell her story.

"First," Elsa begins, "how would you politely ask someone a question you knew might make them uncomfortable?" She looks around at the kids and shoots me a smile as she passes over Olaf and me. "Let's say you think your friend's pet died, but you're not sure. How would you ask?"

Stitch raises his hand and blushes when Elsa calls his name. "You should ask if it's okay for you to ask," he mumbles.

Elsa nods and then calls on a girl named Alice who asks to give an example question.

"I heard your pet died," she presents. "I'm sorry; is that true?"

I smile as she answers, knowing she's the oldest in the group—going on six—and is probably one of the only ones who can probably even begin to understand what's going on among a bunch of four year-olds.

Elsa's smile brightens. "Exactly. Now," she huffs lightly, "I asked that of you because I am going to be asked a question like this tomorrow night on live TV. Going off what…" she looks to me for Alice's name and I mouth it to her, "Alice said, how should the TV guy ask me why I quit boxing?"

Olaf eagerly raises his hand—so fast it almost hits me in the face, actually.

"Olaf?"

"Can I ask why you quit boxing, please?"

Knowing a TV personality isn't going to be nearly as polite as that, I can't hold back a giggle. Elsa chuckles a bit as well, but nods.

"Very good, Olaf," she commends. "And since you all asked so politely, I'll tell you…"

I'm not even lying when I say that all the kids scoot closer to Elsa, and I'm sure all their eyes are focused solely on her.

"About a year ago, I was in a car wreck," she explains. "I'm sure a lot of you know car wrecks aren't good, but some of them can be a lot worse than others. Unfortunately, I was in one of the worse ones. I got really hurt and fell asleep for a long time because of how hurt I was. I didn't wake up for two weeks, and when I did, I realized how hurt I really was."

I tighten my hold around Olaf subconsciously, wondering how in the world Elsa is going to attempt to explain losing her arm to a bunch of kids.

Of course, to gauge how to tell them, she asks another question, and I realize how good with kids Elsa really is. Not only does she give off a motherly vibe, she also knows how to talk to them in ways they can understand. Something even I sometime struggle with after working with kids for months now.

"Does anyone know someone who doesn't have both of their arms or legs?" she asks.

A couple kids nod their heads. One boy, Abu, speaks up.

"My uncle lost his leg in the war," he says.

Elsa smiles sympathetically before addressing the group again. "Not everyone is lucky enough to live with all four limbs. Some people even live most of their lives like this. I'm telling you this because I am not one of those lucky people."

I'm also not exaggerating when I say a collective gasp fills the room at this.

"In the car wreck, I lost my right arm," Elsa reveals, rubbing her right arm absently.

"But you have a hand still!" Ellie pipes up.

"It's not real though, is it?" Abu asks. "Uncle has that for his leg. It's called a pros…pro-se-tit!"

Elsa laughs. "Prosthetic," she corrects. "But yes, that's what it is."

"Will you ever have a real arm again?" Stitch asks.

Elsa shrugs. "Maybe," she says. "It's hard, but you can do it. A lot of people, though, rely on robotics."

"You could have a robot arm?!" Olaf immediately cries, so loud several of the kids shush him and others laugh at his exuberance. "You could be a Transformer!"

"Olaf," I chide gently.

He immediately frowns, but Elsa's repeated laughter causes him to perk back up slightly.

"I could have a robot arm," she says. "And if I get one, you'll be the first person to see it, okay, Olaf?"

The boy in my lap grins and his eyes light up like it's Christmas morning. Elsa probably has no idea she literally just made this kid's day. Or that she better uphold that promise.

When we leave the library that day, I take her hand—her right hand—once we're on the subway, and trace its contours with my fingers.

"How are you feeling?" I ask as I remove my hand in place it in her left. She instantly latches on.

"Good," she responds in a whisper. "I mean, it wasn't broadcast on live television, and it was said so kids could understand, but… Yeah, I feel good."

I bump her forehead with mine. "It's still big, Elsa," I tell her. "A huge step. You've told my parents and a bunch of kids because you wanted to. You got a spot on live TV tomorrow night because you wanted to. A little later this time tomorrow, anyone who wants to know will because you wanted them to."

"Well, baby steps, right?" she asks me with a coy smile.

"Baby steps," I whisper back, kissing her lips.

"Will you spend the night tonight, please?" she asks, her eyes shimmering the way they always do so I can't turn her down.

"Definitely," I reply with a squeeze of her hand.

"And an ice cream and Netflix marathon tomorrow?"

I grin. "Wouldn't have it any other way."