Hans stood numbly as Sophia danced around him happily. He was... dumbstruck. This was a dream. It had to be. Elsa didn't... he didn't... well, it just wasn't possible. But it was real.
Sophia was ecstatic. She always loved Hans for rescuing her, and for being the father figure she always needed. And Elsa had been the mother she always wanted. Finding out they would be getting married had made her day.
"You're so lonely Uncle Hans!" She exclaimed much too loudly. (The volume at which she would complain was set by Anna's influence, no doubt)
"Um, that's nice," He chuckled nervously, "Could you hold on?" He pulled away from her and went to his new fiancée. Usually when a man gets engaged, he sees it coming. Mostly because he's the one who's asking his love to marry him. Also, he tends to know she loves him, or is at least dating him. Or that she doesn't believe him dead, and is happy with the thought of his demise.
...this was going to be a lot of work.
Anna pulled Elsa into a corner.
"Are you insane?!"
Elsa looked past her to Sophia, "No. I know what I'm doing. This is the only way; I'll get maternal custody of her. Hans gets a throne. Everybody wins."
"He'll kill you!"
Elsa shook her head. Many things that man would kill for; but not out of idleness. If he got what he wanted, nobody got hurt. He only killed people in his way. It was logical- evil, but logical.
Hans took this moment to walk up, "Are you insane?!"
Elsa sighed into her hands, "No, I know what I'm doing..." She paused, glancing past the two to Sophia, "Who's watching Sophia?"
They both turned bright red and ran back to the little girl. Hans wasn't about to let his niece get killed now.
Archer was watching the whole spectacle with interest. How had Hans done this? Sure, his brother was charming, but to actually turn the famed ice queen? Impossible.
"And what of Sophia," He asked.
"Well, if Sophia is raised in Arrendelle, she stays a citizen of that country, and only becomes queen of the Southern Isles if the current ruler is ruled..." Hans glared pointedly, "Unfit."
There was the lace of venom in his voice. I have the belt. I can end your reign, right here, right now...
Archer swallowed hard, "Custody is yours, little brother. And may I say how delighted I'll be to attend your wedding?"
The two exchanged a glance. Elsa watched Hans with interest. Something was different. He was always manipulative. In a way, he was the same man she'd met a year previous. Yet... his eyes were open now. His body was positioned protectively in front of Sophia.
What if he had changed? That was something Elsa had not counted on. Hans was bad. That she could handle. It's not like someone like him wanted a real relationship; he just wanted the throne. The man in front of her was different than she expected.
But she needed him. By the time the courts ruled that the belt was indeed the murder weapon, Archer would have Sophia killed. And then who would be her enemy? Or her friend? Hans knew these people, knew how to stop them. And so she needed him beside her.
Sophia tackled her to the ground.
"I'm so happy for you! You found true love!"
Elsa smiled. At least she could keep Sophia. And that made everything so much better. Thoughts of days watching Anna and Sophia play outside filled her heart, driving thoughts of him from her mind.
...trade a queen for a pawn... and get another queen. Checkmate.