Anna did not come out of her room for quite a while. Kristoff wasn't dead... he just wasn't. He couldn't be... he was okay... wherever he was...

Or was he? The thought ate away at her, causing her to feel sick. Trying to hold back tears, she quickly ran to the washroom and threw up, her nerves getting the best of her.

He's got to be alive... he's got to! He wouldn't die on me, I know it! She screamed at herself, washing her face with a damp cloth as she tried to catch her breath. Her thoughts turned to the trolls. Maybe they would be able to tell? But she didn't want to worry them...

She made her way back to her room, hugging her body and taking in deep breaths to keep herself from crying again. She sat down on the floor beside her bed and stared out into space, her eyes huge.

"Kristoff... don't be dead... please don't be dead." she turned around, leaning her elbows on the bed as she put her hands together and bowed her head. "Don't let it be true... please, God, let it not be true. Please God, please help Kristoff. Please, please help him God, please. I... I don't know if I could live with myself without him around... please God, please help him." she prayed, slowly realizing something.

She realized not only that she truly loved Kristoff, but that she was falling in love with him. And it made her hurt even more with the thought that she may not ever see him again to tell him how she felt.

After he'd been found by Sven and Eugene, Kristoff had gotten up from the ground and shook Eugene's hand.

"I've heard about you. You were in town during the freeze, right?" Kristoff asked. Eugene nodded.

"That I was. Weirdest. Vacation. Ever." he said, chuckling, "I remember seeing you and your friend here around town that day, selling your ice. I never got to speak to you, but I do remember seeing you two."

Sven nuzzled Kristoff's arm as Kristoff turned to him and petted his head. Sven snorted and nodded at Eugene. Kristoff looked at Eugene, surprised.

"You've been staying with him?" Kristoff mumbled to Sven as Sven grunted back, nodding his head. Eugene raised an eyebrow. Could he really understand the reindeer? Well, it wouldn't be the weirdest thing he'd seen, that's for sure.

"Have you been taking care of Sven this whole time?" Kristoff asked Eugene. Eugene looked over at Sven, who whined and tilted his head, giving him a small smile. Eugene smirked at the reindeer.

"Well... yeah. I found him down in the cells when we-" he began, but was cut off by a tight hug from Kristoff.

"Thank you. Thank you so, so much. You have no idea how much I appreciate this. Thank you." Kristoff said as he continued to hug Eugene. Eugene slowly raised his arms and hugged the man back, patting him on the back. From the looks of the bandages and the cuts and bruises on his face, the poor guy had been through pure hell. He finally let go of Eugene, standing eye to eye with the man. Eugene put a hand on his shoulder and tapped it twice.

"It was no problem, Kristoff. He's very well behaved if I do say so myself." Eugene said, giving Sven a wink.

"Oh believe me, for someone who looks so innocent, he can dish it out sometimes." Kristoff replied, earning himself a dirty look and a snort from Sven.

"What do you mean by that?" he said for the reindeer.

"Oh you know exactly what I mean, don't you try and hide from it. Every time I try to give you a bath you wanna kick up all the mud and dirt you can and then drag me around on your back when I try to get the top of your antlers because you're stubborn and won't bend down." Kristoff argued. Sven huffed in response. "Okay, let's not argue now, I just got you back, we've been to hell and back, let's just forget about it, 'kay?"

Sven nodded his head and grunted happily, giving Kristoff yet another sloppy kiss on the cheek.

"Have you... always done that?" Eugene asked, "Talked for him and... stuff?"

"Well... yeah." Kristoff said, putting his arm around Sven, "Never had anybody else to talk to growing up. Mainly because they wanted nothing to do with me. Then I found this knucklehead and kept him around and we've been together since."

Eugene had his arms crossed, nodding his head as he stroked his beard. "Well, my wife's got a relationship like that with a chameleon so it's not like I haven't seen something like this before." he admitted. Kristoff sighed in relief. That would be the last thing he needed, some guy thinking he was totally crazy.

"Oh... cool. Anyway... I think I'd better get back to the castle. Prince Eric said he had his chef cook for me and I'd feel bad if I let it go to waste." he told Eugene.

"Nah, it's fine. As a matter of fact, I think I'll come with you. I met with Eric last night so it shouldn't be a problem. This way we can discuss getting you back to Arendelle."

Kristoff tensed at the thought. The thought of Arendelle and finally being back excited him. Elsa and Anna must be worried sick...

"Sounds fine to me." he sad as the two began to make their way back to the castle.

As Eugene and Kristoff approached the castle, they were stopped by the guards when Kristoff tried to bring in Sven. Kristoff firmly stated that if his friend wasn't allowed in, he wasn't coming in either. He'd been away from Sven for just one day, but the poor reindeer had been scared to death by being imprisoned alongside his best friend and traumatized as he actually killed another living thing and lastly, depressed over the apparent death of his best friend, which proved to be false, but was still a traumatic moment for him. Within a few minutes, Eric was at the door with Grimsby at his side, ready to board the ship for his birthday celebration. It was later in the afternoon, the sun beginning to set when Eric approached.

"What's going on?" he asked. Sven huffed in response, causing Eric to look over at him. Suddenly, his dog, Max came running from the castle, barking excitedly as he saw Sven. He stopped in front of the reindeer and sniffed at his hooves, Sven looked down quizzically then looked over at Kristoff, who shrugged at him. Sven looked back down at Max and sniffed him, his large muzzle about the size of Max's head. Sven's breath blew back Max's long hair out of his eyes, allowing him to see Sven. The dog bounced around happily and pawed at Eric's leg. Eric chuckled and petted him and looked over at Kristoff.

"Who's your..." he said, trailing off as he gestured to Sven. Kristoff looked over at Sven and smirked a little.

"This is my best friend in the whole world, Sven." he told Eric as Sven straightened up and tried to look as proper as he could. "Eugene's been watching him for me for the past night."

Sven snorted and bowed his head slightly to Eric.

"He says hello." Kristoff clarified.

"Ah. Well, hello, Sven. Nice to meet you." Eric said, playing along as he pet Sven's head, "I guess there's no harm in letting him in. After all, we do have Max here."

Max looked up at Eric and panted happily before barking.

"Eric, are you sure about this?" Grimsby asked, eying Sven. "After all, he is a rather... er... large animal."

"Ah, come on, Grim. He's Kristoff's best friend and he seems well behaved enough. Actually, we could get him cleaned up like we did with Kristoff. Get him to feeling a little better." he said, turning back to Sven, "Would that be okay?" he asked Kristoff.

"Actually yeah, he's not big on the whole bathing thing but he'd probably love one right about now." he said. Sven whined and nuzzled him, smiling a little. Kristoff smirked. "Yeah, I think he'd like that."

A few minutes later, Eric had sent Sven to get probably the best and most thorough bath he'd ever been given (Kristoff had insisted on eating his meal wherever Sven was just so he could make sure he'd be okay). After being bathed and dried, Sven's coat of fur shined for a moment before frizzing up and making him look a lot fuzzier than he did before. As his coat frizzed up, Kristoff tried his best not to let out a loud guffaw as he choked a little on his food. Sven still shot him a deadpan look as Eric's servants began to brush his fur. When they were finished, they even gave Sven a fancy scarf to wear around his neck. Before he had left to board his party boat, Eric had told the servants to feed Sven whatever he wanted, which of course was nearly the whole vegetable cabinet between him and Kristoff.

After the two were finished, they lounged on the beachfront, barely able to move due to how much they had eaten. Sven lay on the sand with Kristoff's upper torso resting on his body, his arms sprawled out across the reindeer's back.

"You realize if we ate all that food at home Gerda would probably beat us with a stick?" Kristoff asked the reindeer sleepily, who gave him a drowsy snort.

"Now don't you... go... falling asleep on..." Kristoff yawned, trailing off as his head dropped down onto Sven's back, resting on one of his arms. Slowly, he began to snore, one really loud snore roused him.

"What?! What happened?" he asked Sven, who had begun to fall asleep as well. Eric had invited them and Eugene to the party, but Eugene said he had to prepare for thee voyage back to Arendelle to return Kristoff and Sven and Kristoff didn't want to leave Sven at all so Eric had gone on with Grimsby, saying that they would be back later on.

Kristoff heard Sven give a small, content sigh and it made him smile a little. He scratched Sven's head and asked him, "Hey buddy, I know I don't have the lute, but... you want me to sing your song for you?"

Sven turned his head and looked up at Kristoff with big, brown, pleading eyes and whined, nuzzling him. Kristoff chuckled and petted Sven's muzzle.

"Okay, I can take a hint." he told him, clearing his throat as he began the song. "Reindeers are better than people... Sven, don't you think that's true?"

He then threw his voice for Sven, singing the next part of the song. "Yeah, people will beat you and curse you and cheat you! Ev'ry one of 'em's bad, except you." Sven smiled and nudged Kristoff with his nose as Kristoff scratched behind his ears and said in his own voice, "Aw... thanks buddy."

He then continued, in his own voice, "But people smell better than reindeers. Sven, don't you think I'm right?"

Sven tilted his head as Kristoff sang for him, "That's once again true, for all except you."

"You got me." Kristoff sang in his voice, "Let's call it a night."

"Goodnight..." he sang for Sven, who nudged him again. Kristoff kissed the top of the reindeer's head as he finished the song in his own voice, "Don't let the frostbite bite..."

Sven laid his head down on the sand and closed his eyes as Kristoff looked up, the stars beginning to come out. It had been so long since he'd seen them and out here on the beach, even though the air was crisp, the stars were beautiful.

"Nice duet." he heard a voice say. He turned around to see Eugene, leaning against the fence, his arms crossed. "Very adorable, super sweet. You mind if I join you?"

"No... you can come out here if you want." he said, blushing as he turned back to the water. Out in the distance, he could see Eric's boat and hear music playing. Suddenly, he heard a loud boom, rousing Sven from his nap. The reindeer perked up his ears and looked out as fireworks came from the ship, exploding in the air, flooding the stars with bright colors. Kristoff had heard of fireworks, but he'd never seen them before. They were just as amazing as he'd heard.

"Wow..." he mumbled as Eugene sat on the ground next to him.

"I'm guessing you've never seen fireworks?" Eugene asked. Kristoff shook his head. "I've only seen 'em once. Then there was all those years seeing those paper lanterns in Corona. Those were always really nice."

Kristoff had heard about the paper lanterns growing up. Grand Pabbie would always tell him, Sven and all the other troll children about Corona and their "Lost Princess" and how she was taken by a witch for her magical hair. It had become one of Kristoff's favorite fairy tales but once he found out the Lost Princess was not only real but also Anna's own cousin, he couldn't contain himself. He had freaked out, thinking it was the coolest thing in the world with Anna just looking at him, giggling.

He didn't realize quite how much he missed her until now.

"Yeah... I've heard about them..." Kristoff mumbled, staring off into the stars and watching the fireworks. He wondered if Anna had ever seen fireworks. Probably so since she had grown up in a kingdom...

Eugene looked over at the blonde man. His brown eyes looked so... sad. Why would he be sad though? He was alive and safe and reunited with his best friend so... he should be happy, right?

"Hey, pal, you okay?" he asked.

"...Yeah..." Kristoff fibbed, darting his eyes away from the fireworks for a moment.

Lie. Eugene thought.

Eugene moved over closer. "Come on, what's wrong? You can tell old Eugene, it's all right, I won't go blabbing it all over the kingdom." he assured him. Kristoff sighed, looking down at his bandaged wrists. Hans had made him feel so... useless. So helpless and... vulnerable. He knew he was human, just like everyone else and just as susceptible to taking a beating or getting hurt but... not like this. What if worst came to worst and he was protecting Anna or Elsa and Hans did something like that again? Or...

No. He wouldn't think about it, not even for a second.

"It's just... I guess... I guess I'm just ready to get back home is all..." he murmured.

"Are you sure you're telling me the whole truth?" Eugene asked, raising an eyebrow. Kristoff turned away slightly, catching a chill as the breeze picked up on the beach.

"Yeah..."

"It's Anna, isn't it?" he heard Eugene say. Kristoff looked out at the water, his eyes wide with shock. "I know how she feels about you. She writes about you to my wife all the time. Every single one of her letters it's either 'Kristoff this' or 'Kristoff that' or 'This is what Kristoff and me did today' or 'Kristoff taught me how to do this' or 'I showed Kristoff this and you should have seen his face'. It's really kind of adorable. On a somewhat sickening level but, then again, blondie and I would probably make anyone throw up with how cute we are. Most of that's my fault, I guess." Eugene explained, resting his arms on his knees and looking over at Kristoff. "I know you must miss her. And her sister. They sure are worried about you."

Kristoff looked over at Eugene, who noticed his brown eyes gleamed slightly under his blonde locks as he rubbed them slightly. "Th-they are?" he asked. Eugene heard the slightest break in his voice and it stabbed him in the heart. This poor man had been through hell... he could tell just by looking at him. Under all the bandages, bruises and cuts he was just... a normal guy. Just like him. And even 'normal guys' had their breaking points. Eugene clasped his shoulder and shook it slightly.

"You bet. Anna's put up all sorts of posters and been asking everyone if they'd seen you and Sven. She's crazy without you, man."

Kristoff looked away from Eugene and turned his face away from him, biting down on his knuckle as he closed his eyes tight.

Come on... don't you do it... be strong, Kristoff he told himself, but he felt himself starting to slip away.

Eugene traced a hand across Kristoff's back to his other shoulder as he felt the man's body begin to shake slightly. Eugene then realized what was happening...

Kristoff was crying.

"Hey, what's the matter? It's okay..." he said.

"It's just..." he heard Kristoff say softly, "I... I've been alone all my life... except for Sven and my family... they were great and so was he but... I just never thought..." Kristoff said, his voice beginning to break as salty tears began to fall from his eyes and down his cheeks, "I just... never thought... someone of her standard would ever... consider even looking at me like I was something more than just a... grumpy, smelly idiot... I never thought that... she could ever like someone... someone like me..." he continued, a sob escaping his throat, jerking his body from it's still position. Eugene brought him closer and hugged him around his shoulders.

"It's okay..." he said softly as Kristoff rested his head on Eugene's shoulder, his body shaking with sobs. Eugene wrapped his other arm around him, giving him a much needed hug. "Look, I may not know you very well, but from what Anna says about you, you sound like the best type of person. She says you're gruff... but you're honest and direct with people and I like that in a person. She says you sometime smell but you clean up quite nicely. She also says you're pretty handy with most things. I mean, you took her to find her sister when you could've easily just left her out there by herself and to me, that takes guts. It takes a real, honest, respectful person to do something like that."

Kristoff wiped his eyes as he listened to Eugene. He sniffed and rubbed his nose, feeling guilty now.

"I'm...sorry." he mumbled.

"What? Man, you have nothing to be sorry about!" Eugene protested. Kristoff wiped his nose with the back of his hand and wiped his eyes.

"No... I'm sorry I cried all over your shoulder is all..." he choked out. Eugene stifled a laugh, which made Kristoff smile. "You're laughing at me."

"No, honestly..." Eugene said, trying to hold in the laughter.

"Yeah, you are." Kristoff said, beginning to laugh a little more. Pretty soon, the both of them sat laughing on the beach as the wind blew a little harder, producing a chill in the air.

A storm was coming.

In the midst of their laughter, Kristoff looked out on the horizon and saw the waves had become more and more treacherous and the wind had picked up so much it roused Sven from his sleep, who snorted in worry.

"Storm's coming. We gotta get inside." Eugene said, getting up and helping Kristoff up, "Come on, we gotta go."

Kristoff began to follow but his thoughts turned to Eric on the ship, in the middle of the ocean.

And the storm was headed straight for them.