Elsa readjusted the wrap draped across her shoulders for the nineteenth time in the last five minutes. Or maybe it was six minutes. In any case, she knew it was nineteen times because keeping track had been the one thing keeping her from pacing and if she started that, there would be no guarantee that it wouldn't turn into walking back to her rented room. So Elsa fidgeted with her wrap, creating wrinkles upon wrinkles, while she waited for the train to arrive.
"Excuse me, sir," she stopped a passing porter, "is the train from Syracuse on time?"
"Yes, ma'am. The last stop reported it left on time." He pulled out his pocket watch. "It should be here in a few minutes."
"Thank you."
He tipped his hat and continued on his way, dodging piles of trunks waiting for the train.
Mayhem from porters hustling back and forth with carts full of luggage, groups of traveling salesmen carrying large cases of sample wares talking loudly with each other, and families searching for the correct platform while weaving through the crowds, surrounded Elsa in a cloud of noise and motion.
"Papes! Get your papes here!" A newsboy with threadbare clothes and a side bag full of newspapers limped by on a crutch. "California becomes the thirty-first state! Read all about it in the Tribune! Papes! Gets your papes here…" His shouts were swallowed up by the arrival of the train, the smooth movements of taking money and giving out newspapers never slowing.
"The six o'clock train from Syracuse is now arriving on platform eight! Please stand back!" Employees in crisp blue uniforms shouted over the squeal of brakes while motioning the crowd back.
Passengers began disembarking almost before the train came to a full stop. Elsa's head swung side to side looking for her sister.
"Elsa!"
If it weren't for the column behind her, she would have fallen from the collision of Anna throwing herself at Elsa and wrapping her in a tight hug.
"Elsa." Sniffles reached her ears and her collar dampened with tears. "I missed you so much."
"I missed you too, Ladybug." Arms tightened around the shaking body, tears of joy falling from her own eyes. How inadequate the word 'missed' felt. Aches from missing her sister had caused more than a few sleepless nights. But Elsa had endured. Belief the suffering would wipe away her sinful feelings kept her going. With a sinking heart, she realized three years of exchanging letters, hundreds of miles, and hours spent on her knees praying didn't help.
Elsa was still in love with her sister.
"Thank you, sir." Elsa handed over several coins in payment for hauling Anna's trunk the fifteen blocks to her apartment.
"Thank you, ma'am."
If he made any motion of thanks, or rudeness, Elsa didn't notice, as she couldn't tear her eyes away from watching Anna explore the small room, taking in the hanging prints and various knickknacks she collected over the years. The corner apartment was barely half the size of her spacious room back home, though it was large by city standards. Windows on the two outside walls let in plenty of light until the sun completely disappeared below the horizon which saved her money on candles and kerosene. Since the small table with two chairs, wardrobe, and dresser came with the room, Elsa only had to purchase the bed.
The one bed.
The one bed they'd have to share.
The one bed they'd have to share and would barely be big enough for both of them.
Elsa felt her stomach drop through the floor, mentally cursing herself for worrying about seeing Anna again and not the actual problem of her living space. It wasn't too late to find her sister a hotel room. Money their parents sent every month sat, untouched, in the bank. That hefty sum could easily cover the expense and then some several times over.
"I love this place." Anna plopped down on the cursed bed. "Two weeks isn't going to be nearly enough time. You know, I don't have any reason to go back home so soon…"
Smiles that big should be illegal. How many times had the mere chance of seeing it pushed Elsa out of her safe, little corner and into trying new things? A lot. A whole lot.
"It isn't as big as you're used to. I can find you a room nearby." It may be a flimsy excuse to put some distance between them but it hadn't been an hour and Elsa felt a nearly overwhelming need for more attention, more smiles, more laughter, just more more more.
"No!" Smile vanished in an instant, Anna stood, looking panicked. "Please don't send me away."
"Of course not." Half dozen steps and Elsa wrapped her arms around Anna. "I want you to stay but you should be comfortable, Ladybug." Addiction was a strange thing. Two months ago she had finally believed herself capable of handling being close again, one hug proved her wrong.
"Then I'm staying." Arms that clutched her desperately relaxed and Anna snuggled into her. "When you agreed to let me visit, mother and father had to stop me from packing immediately. Something about clothes becoming musty after being packed away for two months."
"You're just excited to see the Fox Sisters' show tomorrow." Part of Elsa knew she should step back out of the embrace but it was squashed by the larger part of her that craved the closeness. Nuzzling at her neck sent a shiver through her. This was new and tested Elsa's control almost past her limits.
"The Fox Sisters were an excuse." More nuzzling. "This is what I was excited for."
"You're saying you aren't excited?" Warnings flashed to step back immediately or suffer dire consequences. Elsa did not miss the look of disappointment as she did.
"Fine. I am excited but I wouldn't have been upset if I never saw their show." Anna took a step closer, erasing the little bit of space put between them. "I'm here to be with you."
"Oh." Desire roared through Elsa at those words said in a husky whisper. Eyes strayed down to lips so perfect, they haunted her dreams for years. "It's late. I'll make us supper while you unpack. I emptied the top drawer and made room in the wardrobe." Three hesitant steps back out of the circle of temptation. Finally, she was able to take a breath not tinged with cinnamon and she missed it instantly.
"Wait, I have a gift for you." After opening the trunk, Anna pulled out two piles of folded white cloths bound in green ribbon. "I hope you like them." An uncharacteristic nervous smile tugging her lips when she handed them over.
"I'm sure I'll love it." Anything Anna gave her would be treasured. Stowed away in the drawer of her nightstand were various gifts received over the years; a rock shaped like a heart, a thin book of poetry from a local author, various colored hair ribbons worn until they started to fray, stacks of letters, Elsa even pressed and saved the flowers Anna would tuck into her hair. Treasures she'd pull out when the loneliness overwhelmed her.
"Are you going to open it or just stare?" Pink high on her cheeks, Anna motioned to the bundles.
"Right." Saying she'd rather stare at her might not go over well and cause the rest of the visit to be uncomfortable. When the ribbon for the first stack fell away, Elsa's eyes widened and she hurried to the table by the window, the dying light of day brighter there. "Ladybug…"
Words clogged her throat as she separated square after square. In total twenty-six embroidered handkerchiefs covered the table, each bordered with intricate white work designs, and bright splashes of colored embroidery thread created designs in the lower corner. Blue birds, tulips, butterflies, chickens, cats, roses, violets, and even their house decorated them, each bit of cloth with a different design but all had a small red ladybug included. Elsa caressed one of a cow lazily grazing in a field and decided this one would go into her nightstand drawer.
"Do you like them?"
"What?" So enthralled by the beauty of the handkerchiefs, Elsa had forgotten Anna was there.
"Do you like them?" Anna bounced on her toes.
"Of course I do. They're amazing." Being incredibly biased to love them didn't stop her from seeing the amount of skill it took to make them. "You didn't have to make them."
"I… uhh… I actually had to." Teal eyes dropped away.
"You did?" Why would one have to embroider handkerchiefs?
"When you moved out here, mother said that every time I missed you, I should do something productive like knitting or embroidery." Her hands fidgeted and Elsa reached out to still them.
"Thats why you made them? You missed me?" From creating the patterns to choosing the colors to painstakingly sewing each tiny stitch, Elsa knew hours of work went into each one. And all because Anna missed her.
"Not exactly." Words spilled out as though saying things quickly was absolutely vital to the explanation. "I never could pick up knitting so I decided to work on my embroidery and I found I liked it a lot and last year after I finished with the table cloth father asked for me to stop since all of mother's gowns had embellishments and so did mine and all the pillows and all six quilts in the house and every set of napkins and-"
"Ladybug, breathe," interrupted Elsa, concerned her sister would pass out from lack of air.
"Right. I can do that." Anna continued at a more normal speed. "Since I was asked to stop, I started making those for you."
"You did all these in one year?" It took effort to not let her jaw hang open in an unladylike fashion.
"Yes."
"Did you do anything else?"
"YES."
Elsa raised an eyebrow.
"No, really I did."
The eyebrow stayed raised.
"Fiiine. I used most of my free time on these but I also drew patterns and taught a few neighborhood kids." Anna blinked innocently as though everything was completely normal.
"How often did your tutor reprimand you for being distracted?" Though she'd guess being bored with the lesson had more to do with that. Her sister's brilliant mind was usually overshadowed by her rambunctious nature.
"You said I can use the top drawer?" She didn't even get a full step away before Elsa pulled her in for a hug.
"Thank you for the gift, Ladybug." Foreheads pressed together, Elsa closed her eyes and enjoyed the closeness. "I really do love them."
Sounds of passing wagons and shouts from the street were heard in the silent room. Neither moved from where they stood until growling from Anna's stomach broke the stillness.
"While you unpack, I'll make supper." Elsa leaned back a little, wanting to make up for the last three years apart.
Before she even opened her mouth to respond, Anna's eyes widened and her head whipped to the side.
Yet another reason Elsa rented this specific room from Widow Hayward, besides the location to her job, could be heard outside.
"Moo Cows?" Anna rushed to the window and peered down.
"Yes, Moo Cows." She hoped her sister never stopped calling her favorite animal by the childish nickname.
"Elsa! There are Moo Cows next door!"
"Yes, there are." Once she stepped next to her, Elsa peered down and watched the twenty milking cows be herded to the stable.
"But we're in New York." Anna watched until the last animal disappeared.
"We are." Yup, positively worth the extra noise and stench of animals in the middle of summer. "Every morning, those living in the area line up to buy fresh milk and then the cows are taken out to graze."
"Do you think they'll let me say hi to them tomorrow?"
"I already asked Mr. Bunt and he said you can even pet them." Arms flung around her in a tight hug. "But I think he's going to be surprised you're twenty-two and not five."
"I don't care because I get to pet Moo Cows." Lips pressed a kiss to Elsa's cheek. "You are the best sister ever."
"For you, I try." Guilt nudged at her when desire flared yet again. Two steps back and Elsa turned towards the small kitchen that was no more than a short counter and small wood burning stove. "First, food and after you can tell me about your trip." Physical distance let Elsa lie to herself that she wasn't rushing headlong into ruining her life beyond all hope, and she prayed for a few more precious memories together before everything fell apart.
"That was amazing!" Anna's awed tone kept Elsa from voicing her own opinion. "The Spirits answered so many questions! When that man's dead brother answered his question about…" And off she went, bubbling over with excitement.
Try as she might, Elsa could not drum up any excitement about the Fox Sisters' performance. It felt cheap and beyond belief. She had spent the entire forty-five minute show reliving that morning; waking up with Anna in her arms, snuggling close, how her sister refused to let either of them up until she reminded her of the 'Moo Cows,' the amusement in Mr. Bunt's face at how seriously she talked with the animals while petting them, and the feel of Anna clinging to her arm, as she did now, when they walked. Their unhurried stroll down city streets in search of a midday meal took them several blocks from the theater.
"I couldn't believe it when they turned into ducks!"
"What?" Jolted out of her thoughts, Elsa wondered what in heavens her sister was talking about. "Ducks?"
"Welcome back." A tap on her shoulder and laughter laced Anna's words.
"Sorry, what were you saying? About ducks?" Concentrate on what Anna said, not the feel of her pressed to her side.
"I also said they flew around the room and turned green. You responded with 'yes, dear.' What were you thinking about?"
Cheeks heated in embarrassment.
"You didn't have to but thank you for coming with me."
Lips pressed a kiss to her warm cheek. In less than twenty-four hours she received seven kisses. Each one thrilled her and set her nerves on edge.
"I'd do anything for you, Ladybug." Like moving hundreds of miles away from everything she knew to give her sister space to live a normal life.
"I know. Like letting me stay with you or," here Anna stopped them and turned to face her, "going to shows you don't want to or believe in."
"It's not that I don't believe in Spiritualism, it's just that-"
"Hello ladies." A deep voice with a strong Irish accent broke in.
"Good afternoon, sir." Elsa grabbed Anna's elbow and started walking away.
"No, don be li' tha." The redheaded man pushed off from the building he leaned against and stepped in their path. "Hello."
"Sir, we are late for an appointment." Elsa tensed, ready to pull out her hat pin and, as their mother taught them, use it as a weapon to fend off the stranger. Experience showed her it would ruin the hat pin but she'd willingly sacrifice it to keep Anna safe. People walked by refusing to meet her eye.
"I coon escort you-"
"Daniel James O'Connor!" No amount of city noise could mask the anger in that feminine voice. "Leave those ladies alone!"
"Stay outta this, Siobhan." He didn't turn around or drop the charming smile directed at them. "Go back to your lidle restaurant."
"Don't make me get your mum." Now people stopped to stare at them.
"I'm not scared of me mum," Daniel scoffed. "I am a grown man."
"Is tha so?"
Daniel froze at this new voice and his face went pale. "Mum?" He turned to face the older woman behind him. "You should be at-"
Elsa worried the man would pass out when his face paled even further.
"And Gram. H-h-hi." Eyes darted around, looking for some sort of escape from the two women glaring at him. "I-I-I was just-"
"I'm glad we ran inta you, Danny." One of the women marched up and grabbed him by the ear.
"Ouch! Mum, why-OUCH!" A sharp tug on his ear had Daniel turning around.
The old woman with deep wrinkles and iron-colored hair came up to his other side, grabbed Daniel's free ear, and said something Elsa couldn't understand.
"Ladies, I apologize for my poor behavior."
They didn't have time to process the turn of events let alone accept his apology before both women were tugging him by the ears down the street.
Words tumbled from the oldest woman's lips and the younger one nodded.
"I agree, mum. There are plenty chores at home Danny can do."
He didn't get a chance to protest before being hauled down an ally.
People laughed and walked on again, surely excited to share the story later that evening around the dinner table, conveniently forgetting that none of them stepped in to help.
"Are you ladies alright?" Where once the Irish accent had been thick to the point of barely being understood, it now softened, giving the woman's words a light tinkling sound. She stood tall at somewhere near five-foot-ten with long, nearly black hair falling in waves down to her waist.
"Yes. Thank you for your help." Hat pin no longer in danger of being ruined, Elsa relaxed her tense shoulders.
"I think he will regret stopping us." Anna cackled, clearly enjoying the man's misfortune.
"Oh, I'm sure Danny already is." Sharp green eyes moved between them, probing, looking for something. One corner of Siobhan's mouth curled up then the other, and in moments the once serious face blossomed into a delighted expression. "Let me offer you both slices of cake at my restaurant as an apology. It just came out of the oven."
"There's no need to. None of that was your fault." Cake sounded wonderful but Elsa didn't want Siobhan to feel responsible for another's actions.
"It's already past midday, a plate of food also," Siobhan ushered them two doors down where sounds of a busy restaurant spilled out every time the door opened. "I'll tell Mrs. O'Connor that I'm adding it to Danny's tab. She'll make him pay."
"In that case, lead the way…" Eyebrows furrowed, Anna looked questionably at their host who escorted them to a table against a wall. "'Siobhan' was it?"
"Yes, Miss Addams. There are pegs in the corner to hang your hats." She pointed towards the front where three lady's hats hung already. "I'll bring you both a plate of the daily special."Before either could say a word of thanks, Siobhan slipped through the room with expert ease.
"This place looks lively," observed Elsa once she returned after hanging their hats. A single table out of the fifteen was empty and there wasn't even standing space available at the crowded bar.
"Elsa," eyes focused on the back door leading to the kitchen. "Have you met Siobhan before?"
"Excuse me?" The question caught Elsa off guard.
"She knew our last name." Now Anna's gaze focused down on the table, her posture tense. "You could have told me."
"Ladybug," Elsa held her sister's chilled hand and interlaced their fingers. "I've never met her before. It must have been a lucky guess."
"She looked a lot like Claire," whispered Anna sounding so incredibly sad that Elsa tightened her hold.
"I hadn't noticed." Honestly Elsa had not noticed the similarities between Claire Beecham and Siobhan until Anna pointed it out. A few years older than her, their neighbor had subtly made her interest known and Elsa decided to try one last time to erase her unwanted feelings. But her sister caught them during their first, and only, kiss. Four months later Elsa moved to New York.
"It's okay. I know how much you liked Claire." Anna's voice shook and the smile wavered.
"I promise, I've never met Siobhan before and I haven't even thought of Miss Beecham in years." Desperation to convince Anna gripped her. Letting her believe a close relationship between them would put a mask on Elsa's true feelings but she couldn't. Hide by omission, yes. Outright lie, no.
"But I found you two kissing. I know you liked her." She looked resigned and Elsa didn't understand why.
"Here you are ladies, two plates of the special and two slices of spiced cake." Metal plates landed with a thud so much food was piled on. "Can I get you some tea? Beer?"
"Tea would be wonderful." Elsa pulled her hand back. Sausages, mashed potatoes with gravy, and carrots looked delicious. The smell reminded her how hungry she was, even with her stomach in knots over Anna.
"Yes, tea please." Even their hostess saw Anna was upset.
"I'll be right back." Siobhan frowned then hurried to the bar and back with a pot and two cups. "Is there anything wro… can I get you anything else?"
"No, thank you." Once the woman left, Elsa leaned forward and stared into her sister's eyes. "That kiss you saw meant nothing. I was trying to forget someone else and it didn't work. We haven't spoken since that afternoon."
"Oh." She finally relaxed and a tentative smile replaced the sad look."Do you still care for her? This person you were trying to forget?"
"We should eat while our food is hot." Elsa focused on the plate and picked up her fork.
"Elsa? Do you still love her?"
Chatter and clinking of utensils of other patrons filled the space between them.
"Do you?"
Sometimes she really disliked Anna's persistence.
"Yes." Elsa refused to lift her gaze and stared at the plate.
"Okay." Several beats of silence between them passed. "Mmm! This is good."
Elsa watched Anna enthusiastically tuck into her food before trying the it herself.
"It is good." Decades of ingrained manners kept Elsa from inhaling her food, though it didn't stop Anna from slowing down once she started.
"Did I tell you about the night that ended with Kristoff in jail for a week?" Her eyes gleamed with mischief.
"Oh my lord. What happened?" Elsa had a sneaking suspicion Anna played a part in this.
"It started off when I got my hands on a bottle of father's whiskey…"
Stories were traded back and forth during the meal. Anna, updating her about the going-ons in Syracuse, and her, sharing stories about the two children she tutored.
"Was everything to your liking, ladies?" Siobhan stacked the empty dishes.
"It was wonderful." Anna shifted in her seat and looked around.
"The facilities are through the green door." It didn't take a mind reader to guess what she needed.
"Thank you. Excuse me, I'll be right back."
Anna wasted no time making her way across the room.
"You should tell her." Plates were placed back down on the table and Siobhan sat in Anna's chair.
"Tell who what?" Bewildered didn't begin to describe her.
"Tell Anna your feelings." Green eyes stared unblinking into hers. "You should tell your sister you love her."
"Of course I love her." Elsa glanced around them, hoping no one noticed them talking. Luckily it seemed everyone else was engaged in their own lives.
"Tell Anna you're in love with her." No hesitation in Siobhan's voice, no shying away in disgust, no hate in her eyes. If anything, Elsa thought she saw hope in the other woman's expression.
It felt like an explosion went off inside her. That feeling never even spoken out loud before was calmly uttered by a complete stranger.
"I'm not-" At the shake of Siobhan's head, Elsa stopped the lie on the tip of her tongue. "How did you know? Wait," her mind raced, "how did you know her name is Anna?" From the day her sister was born, she had called her Ladybug. There were a handful of times she didn't use the nickname but those had been extremely rare.
Siobhan leaned back with a satisfied smile. "Ever since I was a wee babe, I've had The Sight. All of the women on my mother's side do." The lilting Irish accent grew stronger as she spoke. "Most lost it when they grew up."
"But you never did?" Elsa didn't know what to think. She didn't believe in these things but she struggled to think of an alternative explanation that didn't involve an even scarier answer.
"I didn't. Charlatans tell you that it's a wonderful, amazing gift but it's not. At least, not always." With a deep, sad sigh Siobhan continued. "Most of the time when I see something, I see sadness. Unrequited love, life changing accidents, and death. Too much death."
Not once had Elsa considered the down side of actually having a gift like that, not with all the unbelievable people boasting in the news.
"Sometimes, I get to See happy things." The once sad smile grew into a large, unrestrained one. "Knowing what to do for a babe not expected to live the night and helping them thrive. Encouraging a person to follow their 'impossible' dream at the exact right time. The moment when I met my husband and trying for his heart despite my friends questioning my sanity."
Elsa stilled, not daring to breath.
"Or when I meet two strangers who could have something beautiful together."
There it was. The one thing she wanted and feared to hear.
"I can't. Other people will talk if we both never marry. They will be cruel to her." Trying to deny her feelings to this woman seemed futile.
"Other people," she scoffed, her lips twisting into a sneer. "Other people believe that because they have a bit o'money that they're morally superior to others. Other people believe that if you have an accent," here Siobhan motioned to her own mouth and flicked her fingers up, "you are too stupid to care about. Other people believe it's their god-given right to own another human because of the color of their skin. Other people can go to hell."
"Uhhh…" Elsa gaped, unable to form a single argument against the tirade.
"Your sister deserves to know why she's been alone for three years." Siobhan smiled then looked behind her and stood up to gather the dirty dishes once more. "Besides, do you think you're the only pair of 'spinster sisters' in the world?"
"What?"
Siobhan laughed and walked away, weaving her way around the tables full of people.
Unseeing eyes watched her. Thoughts whirled through Elsa's head, crashing into each other and sending her feelings into disarray.
"Elsa? Elsa!"
Someone shook her shoulder.
"Huh?" Her surroundings came back into focus. "Ladybug?"
"Are you okay?" Anna cupped her cheek. "You're as white as a sheet."
"I just need some air." Standing, she hoped her sister didn't notice the tremor in her voice. "Are you ready to leave?"
"Are you sure you're all right?" Doubt laced Anna's words.
"I'm sure." Stronger this time, Elsa was eager to leave behind those knowing eyes watching them. "Let's fetch our hats."
They did just that and, stopping periodically to look through shop windows, they didn't arrive back to the apartment until late.
Elsa stood near the hot stove brushing her damp hair. In the corner behind her, a folded partition stood where Anna washed herself using a cloth dipped into a large basin of hot water. Two kerosine lamps lit the room brightly, the sun having gone down long ago. Curtains pulled close across the windows kept anyone on the street from peering in but still she tightened the sash on her robe.
"I feel so much better." Anna stepped out in her night clothes, toweling her wet hair.
"I'm sorry there isn't a tub in here. It's the Lewis' family night for it." With seven kids, they got the tub to themselves two nights a week while she and the other eight tenants shared nights.
"Again, it's okay. I'm clean and that all that matters." Robe now on, Anna joined her by the stove.
"Turn around and I'll brush your hair." Hours after talking with Siobhan, Elsa's mind refused to settle down. Back and forth, to confess or not, her thoughts went. Back and forth. Back and forth until she didn't know up from down. A few more minutes away from that concerned expression would settle her nerves.
"Mmmmm," Anna groaned. Voice husky with pleasure she spoke. "That feels wonderful."
Any calmness Elsa had from the familiar act immediately flew out the window and drowned itself in the fountain down the street. Concentrating on her breathing help steady her long enough to finish drying Anna's hair.
"There. All done." Even with her mind screaming to step back and escape, Elsa stayed where she stood, hands to the side and heart racing.
"Thank you." Turning to face Elsa, Anna leaned in and placed a kiss on her cheek.
Words dried on her tongue. 'Tell her' repeated in her mind over and over, echoing louder than the heartbeat in her ears.
"Elsa?"
'Tell her.'
"Elsa, what's wrong?"
'Tell her.'
"Come on, you're scaring me."
That broke the loop. When she saw tears filling scared eyes Elsa pulled her sister in for a hug.
"Nothing's wrong." Just like the day before, tears dampened her neck.
"Don't lie."
"I'm not lying." Elsa let them to the bed and sat down. She used her sleeve to dry Anna's eyes. "I've just had a lot on my mind."
"Is it something you can tell me about?" Watery eyes studied her, ready to listen with her full attention.
'Tell her.'
"I don't know. Maybe?" She had planned to say no. She had planned to deflect. She had planned to stay quiet forever.
"You know you can tell me anything." Anna took her hand, thumb stroking over and over her knuckles. "I promise to listen."
"I know you will."
A memory from when she was fifteen came back to Elsa. The two of them arguing bitterly over something long forgotten, her stomping out of the house into the freezing cold weather, snow laying inches thick over the ground but she refused to go back inside for her coat, instead she sat on the porch swing and shivered. Seconds later Anna, still looking furious, stepped out dressed warmly and thrust out her own coat and scarf into Elsa's arms and sat beside her. They stayed like that for a while, stewing in anger until she turned to Anna and asked if she wanted some tea.
All their arguments had been like that. Even if it took days to reconcile, they would check on each other periodically then go back to their respective corners. Elsa's mind drifted to the handkerchief with the little cow in the corner tucked safely away in her nightstand.
"I love you."
"I love you, too." Anna responded immediately.
Elsa laughed. Of course her sister wouldn't know she meant it differently this time. They said 'I love you' constantly. She brought Anna's hand up to her cheek and nuzzled into it.
"I love you." Elsa injected all of her love into her voice and all of her desire into her eyes, and hoped beyond hope Anna understood.
"Okay." Head tilted in confusion for a few long, endless moments. "OH." Eyes widened when realization dawned.
"Yeah, oh." What else was there to say now? Elsa refused to say anything that might sway Anna's response one way or another.
Lips descended on hers in a brief, sudden kiss. "I love you, too." Another tentative kiss, full of hope and yearning.
Surprise and shock stilled Elsa at first. Then they were really kissing, a crush of lips, entwining of tongues, desperate nips, and satisfied groans.
"I love you," Elsa repeated, joy infused in every syllable.
"I love you, too." Another kiss. "I really love you." Anna grinned against the next kiss.
The rest of night was lost to the press of lips against lips.
Shouting from the street nudged Elsa awake. She lay there, eyes closed, just listening to the sounds from outside and remembering the night before. Nothing beyond kisses were exchanged due to them both being exhausted from the busy day. But what a night it had been. Even if they spent a lifetime only kissing, she'd die happy and satisfied. Elsa finally opened her eyes then looked beside her.
The bed was empty, touching the cold mattress indicated it had been that way for a while.
Elsa bolted upright and looked around the room. No Anna in sight, even her bag by the door was gone. She told herself not to panic, her sister might have just stepped out to grab food for breakfast. Chiming of the mantel clock. Ten in the morning. Her heart sank but she kept believing Anna would be back any second.
Ten-thirty, Elsa finished dressing, getting ready for the day.
H
Eleven, Elsa finally stopped trying to read after realizing she had been on the same page the whole time.
Eleven-thirty, Elsa brewed a pot of tea to settle her stomach.
Noon, Elsa sat staring at her ice cold cup of tea and was thankful she hadn't tried to eat anything.
As the clock ticked towards twelve-thirty, she finally let herself admit Anna had left. Daylight must have shed an unflattering light on the night before and set her careening out of the apartment. In a week or so a letter would come asking her to send the trunk with everything in it back. She might even ask for her gift back. Hopefully, after a few years, Anna could forgive her. Perhaps it would be best to move again, away from the memories of last night. California was now a state and big enough to hide in. A letter of recommendation from the Bennett's would surely land her a position quickly. If not, she knew how to clean floors and dust.
Ticking of the clock grew louder in the empty room.
One o'clock chimed and Elsa struggled not to be sick.
Curse Siobhan's words and false hope. The one time Elsa let her guard down led to this. One good punch to the nose before she left town sounded satisfying. Until then, getting drunk until she forgot her own name would have to do and the bottle of sherry in the cabinet was just a few steps away. If she had the energy to stand, which she didn't.
"Elsa, I'm back!" The door swung open and Anna bounded in. "Sorry I'm late but there was a mishap with a printing and Mrs. Griffin had to take care of that before our appointment. But then everything went wonderfully. I can't wait to tell you all about it!"
"Anna?" Did she fall asleep at the table? Hopefully god will grant her a wish to never wake up and spend all of eternity in this moment.
Rushing of feet to her side barely registered. Anna's worried frown came into view. "Elsa, you don't look well. Are you sick? Do I need to get a doctor? I'll get a doctor. Where is the doctor? Don't worry, I'll find one right away."
"No," barely able to croak that out, Elsa clutched onto her dress, stopping her sister from rushing out. "You're back?" No, don't question this. Anna might leave again or she'll wake up.
"Of course I'm back. Why wouldn't I be?" Fingers caressed her cheek, wiping away tears Elsa didn't know were falling.
"I woke and you were gone. You l-left." Sobs shook her trembling frame. Arms wrapped around Elsa and held her close. "You were gone and-and I was alone. I thought you weren't coming b-back."
"Sshhh. Of course I was going to come back. Didn't you read my note?" Rocking gently, Anna rubbed her back soothingly.
"Note?"
"On your nightstand. I'll go get it." Anna leaned back to step away.
"NO!" Fear shook Elsa. If this really was Anna here in her arms, she had no plans of letting her go anytime soon.
"I'm not going anywhere. I promise." Hands resumed rubbing her back and she twisted to look at the bed. "Shit. It's not there. It must have fallen."
Elsa nodded, hardly able to breath past the lump in her throat.
"It said that I had an appointment at ten-thirty with Griffins Publishing on Lexington Street and that I'd be right back." Anna tilted Elsa's chin up. "It said I love you."
"It did? You do?"
"It did and I do. Of course I do." Their kisses the night before were tentative as they explored and learned each other. This was filled with love and promise. "I love you very much." Anna slipped across Elsa's lap, opened the bag on the table, and pulled out a leather folio filled with papers.
"What's that, Ladybug?" Elsa leaned her head against Anna's; nerves finally settling down at the weight on her lap.
"Last month, Griffins Publishing put out an advertisement in the paper for a job in their archives. Someone to handle copper plates, keep them organized and safe, and to create a detailed organization of everything stored. Mrs. Griffin told me that their last employee didn't do anything put the plates on random shelves in all his six years of employment and they're hiring four people to get the warehouse into serviceable shape." Anna paused and opened the folio, revealing beautifully colored embroidery patterns.
Deer, irises, meadows, constellations, and even fantasy creatures like dragons and mermaids, filled every turned page. They all took Elsa's breath away.
"They were also looking for patterns. Their monthly subscribers can't get enough of them so they want to put out a quarterly magazine dedicated to new and exciting patterns. She hired me in the spot and wants first pick of my patterns." Smug was a well deserved look on her.
"You have a job?" Hope beat in her chest.
"Yes."
"You want to stay?"
"I hated being apart." Kisses trailed down Elsa's jaw to her ear. "You can't get rid of me now."
That sounded perfect to her.
This was for the March prompt from the tumblr elsanna-shenanigans DOT tumblr DOT com
Prompt: Journey
Obligatory Restriction: No mention of Elsa having supernatural powers
Bonus 1: There was only one bed
Bonus 2: Include at least one cow in the story
Bonus 3: Title your story using a Journey (the band) song of your choice - you can go with the song's title or the lyrics (song used Open Arms)
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