Sorry for the wait on this chapter - I've been bogged down by studying for a maths exam... ugh. Anyway, I hope you like it - my longest chapter yet!

"Kristoff, what if Elsa's gone… for good?" Anna mused, sitting in front of a crackling fire with her fiancé's arms wrapped around her. Kristoff looked down at the young princess – she had matured so much in the past two weeks since Elsa's disappearance. With the reigning queen missing, Anna was in charge and all the responsibility and stress was placed on her small shoulders. He wanted Elsa to be okay, if for nothing more than to relieve Anna of her pain. He wanted her to be carefree again… and happy.

"Don't think about that. You know she isn't – I know you could tell if she was," he reassured her.

"Yeah… but I just want her back now. Hasn't she been through enough without being kidnapped and taken to God knows where? I know Elsa can handle herself… and it's great having Punzie and Flynn helping to find her, but I'm still worried," her voice was thick with emotion and he squeezed her eyes shut trying to hold back tears. She was sick of crying – she had been crying for the past fourteen days. She wanted to do something. She wanted look for Elsa herself without some stupid council objecting. Warmth suddenly flowed through her being as she became aware of how much Kristoff calmed her. She loved his company and how free he made her feel. She didn't feel free right now though. She felt tied down by responsibility and worry. She wanted her sister back… she wanted her best friend back.

Suddenly, the study doors flung open to reveal a panting Kai. He jogs over to Anna and Kristoff, a letter in his hands. The princess repositions herself to look more formal, and Kristoff took to standing just behind her chair.

"Your Majesty, it's a message from Flynn Rider in the Southern Isles. It was addressed to Princess Rapunzel, but she told me to show you. It is to do with the Queen." Anna's breath hitched as she – informally – snatched the letter out of Kai's grasp and read the letter, mumbling a few key words.

"She's there! Kristoff she's there! Elsa's in the Isles!" she squeaked excitedly, "Flynn and his contact there are working out a way to break her out! They're going to bring her home!" Anna jumped up and down like a little girl. Kristoff hated to poison her hope – especially when he was yearning for her childlike happiness to return – he didn't want crippling disappointment to be the alternate.

"Woah there… calm down Feisty-pants. Save the celebrating for when she's here. I don't want you getting your hopes up when something could still go wrong."

"Yeah… maybe you're right," she sighed but a small smile was still on her lightly freckled face, "but at least we've got a chance."

Hans plagued Elsa's thoughts the entire next day. The way he held her and comforted her… all felt too… real. And just the fact that she let him comfort her was disturbing on so many levels. She kept telling herself he was a monster. An evil seed planted on God's good Earth to test her.

But he held me.

Remember what he said.

He calmed me.

Remember what he did.

What if he's changed?

He can't be trusted.

He apologized for his brother's actions.

But not his own.

What if I feel something for him?

Don't be a fool.

But why else would I insist his wounds be treated?

It means nothing.

What if it does?

It doesn't.

Elsa felt a chill come from her palms, realizing her powers were slowly returning. She realized how hungry she was when the midday glow came and went. Wondering why neither Heidi nor Sierra had come with food and/or information. She glanced over at Hans who was staring up at the ceiling but soon regretted it when her differing thoughts began anew. She had felt the warmth of his arms around her and the close contact had soothed her more than she would have liked. She remembered the soft hum of his voice as he whispered calming words to her. But what she hated most of all, was that she felt safe enough to fall asleep with her supposedly 'hated' enemy grasping her. Could she really be this stupid? Falling for the same thing Anna did? Her little sister was already at a disadvantage by not knowing his true intentions. But Elsa did. She knew he was a power hungry psychopath that was willing to kill to become king. He had told her that he intended on murdering her not two days ago. And yet, Elsa still felt her heart soften when she looked into his green eyes last night and only saw concern.

He was worried about me.

He's a liar.

Not anymore.

How the hell do you know?

I can just tell.

You're a gullible idiot.

Maybe…

No, you are.

But maybe not.

She saw him move out of the corner of her eye and it wasn't long before she realized he was coming over to her. His lean, muscled body loomed over her sitting form. He was trying to intimidate her, and to be honest, it was working. Her breathing sharpened but she met his gaze – the last thing she wanted was to look weak, especially when her entire opinion of him was shifting.

"May I help you?" she mumbled under her breath, trying to seem as disinterested as possible.

"I think you know the answer," he breathed, his voice ragged. He almost seemed desperate and that unsettled Elsa greatly. Even so, she kept her wall tall and unbreakable.

"I'm sorry, I'm confused. What do you want from me?"

"Why did you help me?" he said gesturing to his shirt that hid a thin layer of gauze wrapped around his torso.

"Why did you help me?" she countered, avoiding his question.

"I… I don't know," he growled, obviously annoyed with himself and her.

"Well I don't know either," she stated flatly, void of any emotions. She stood, and only realized too late how close their bodies were. She could feel his warm breath on her skin and a deep blush spread across her cheeks. Suddenly unnerved, she hastily stepped toward the back of the cell, hiding her face from his prying green eyes. She heard a small chuckle escape his lips and she could tell he was smirking.

"It seems I do have an effect on you, My Queen," his mocking tone triggered a foreign type of irritation that sent a light frost in every direction.

"Your powers are returning?" Hans' tone suddenly changed as he acknowledged the familiar chill in the air.

"I suppose they are."

"Elsa just drop the Goddamn game, will you!?" he barked, causing her to jump at the sudden outburst.

"Well what do you expect me to do," she spat, "tell you every single insecurity I have and expect you to not take advantage of them? You are a liar and a hypocrite."

"I'm the hypocrite? You froze your sister's heart while trying to 'protect' her! Then you turn around and say I'm the dangerous one?!" Elsa's chest tightened as he mentioned the 'incident' with Anna.

"Oh yes, because you are the golden sibling now aren't you! You promise your sister the world when you know won't be able to come through for her." She saw the determination in his eyes.

"I would never lead her on."

"Do you have a choice?"

"Why did you help me?"

"Because nobody deserves to suffer… not even you." That was all she needed to say for Hans to close the distance between them and catch her lips in a passionate kiss. Elsa was caught off guard by his tenderness and found herself reciprocating against her better judgment. His lips were soft and warm on hers and she was so lost in the sincerity of the kiss that by the time Hans pulled away, a small whine escaped her lips at lack of contact.

"I'm sorry… I know you said–"

"No! I mean… it's fine…" Elsa interjected rather hastily. She felt her hands shaking as the sobering realization hit her – she enjoyed that. She enjoyed her 'worst' enemy kissing her. An awkwardness hung heavy in the air as neither Hans nor Elsa said anything, deliberately trying to avoid making eye contact. Finally, Hans broke the silence.

"Elsa… just understand that–" he started but was soon cut off by the thudding of footsteps. They shared a confused glance both thinking the same thing. Neither had eaten in over a day, but they knew there were too many footsteps for just Heidi or Sierra bringing their daily meal. All questions were answered when the door crashed open, revealing Heidi being restrained by two guards and King Viktor himself. Hans stared at the scene before him, an unsettled feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"Viktor… what are you doing with her?" He asked seeing the undeniable fear in his sister's blue eyes.

"Brother, with all the people you know, you really couldn't have found a more experienced spy?" The king chuckled as he pinched one of Heidi's cheeks, "These two guards found her looking for a key in the guard room – the key to unlock your shackles."

"Look, I'm sure it was just mistake!" Hans reasoned. Tears fell from Heidi's eyes as she realized what was coming. Hans mouthed a "You'll be okay" even though he knew it was a lie.

"Please Viktor… just don't hurt her," Hans begged, his voice cracking slightly, "She doesn't deserve this." Elsa stood towards the back of the cell, horrified at the situation playing out before her. She heard Viktor laugh sadistically as the king produced a clean dagger. She watched the last few tears escape from Heidi's eyes as the weapon sliced across her throat. She heard Hans scream profanities and threats as his little sister fell to the ground like a ragdoll. Blood pooled on the floor around Heidi's body and Hans threw himself against the bars trying to reach his sister and her murderers. Viktor and the guards left. Heidi stayed. And Hans collapsed onto the ground – a distraught, shattered mess.

I know... I know. I suck. #Angst