A/N: A short one this time, I'm sorry. It's been a weird week. This chapter is mostly just fluff. I need fluff in my life right now. Gonna steer away from the smut for a bit, I think everyone's had their fill of that, right? (Hah!) Anyways, I realized while writing this that I had no idea how I wanted to characterize the Coronan royal family, so I just kinda decided to...wing it. I don't know if I like the way it turned out, but oh well. Also, Eugene is hard as hell for me to write for, and it's weird. I can usually do sarcasm pretty well, but I dunno.

I hope I didn't flub it too much. Next chapter we'll get back into the action. :)

"Both within the family and without, our sisters hold up our mirrors: our images of who we are and of who we can dare to be." -Elizabeth Fishel

Dinner was going better than expected.

The two sisters had only been able to visit the royals in Corona a handful of times since Elsa's coronation, and it was definitely nice to be able to have a family dinner again.

Elsa ended up sitting next to Eugene, and she found the man fascinating. Elsa hadn't ever spent much time with the man, so she did her best to try and get to know him. She wound up asking him for the story of how he met Rapunzel, knowing that the princess had a rather tragic upbringing, and he was more than happy to oblige. Of course, he embellished every small detail and Rapunzel ended up telling the bulk of it.

Elsa laughed when she learned that he was a former criminal, and he made a face at her.

"Really, laughing? That's harsh! I'll have you know I was a very accomplished thief!"

Rapunzel giggled at him and interjected. "It's true, he stole my crown once." Her expression contorted as a sudden thought came to her, and her husband laughed at the face she made. "Well, it wasn't really mine at the time, since I was living in a tower in the forest when he took it, but I mean, technically it belonged to me even though I wasn't there, and-"

King Thomas chuckled and interrupted the woman. "You're rambling, dear."

Eugene continued, "Anyway, before I was interrupted," He picked up his wife's hand and kissed her knuckles, smiling, "I was a wanted man before this beautiful woman showed me the error of my ways. Besides, it got really annoying being hunted down."

Elsa smirked. "I completely understand. It's not a fun experience."

He raised an eyebrow, his eyes laughing. "Being hunted by men who want to marry you is a bit different from being hunted for your life, your Majesty."

Anna giggled from across the table. "Oh, she's well aware. Have we never told you all the full story of Elsa's coronation?"

The queen of Corona let out an uncomfortable laugh. "Well, we've heard about twenty different versions of it over the years, dear. All we got were rumors, really. I've always wanted to ask, but I thought it would seem rude..."

Anna practically bounced in her seat and looked to her sister. "Can I tell it?"

The emotion Anna received through their link was one of amused resignation. "Fine, but don't make me out to be too much of a bad guy."

The younger sister rolled her eyes, but sent a mental hug to Elsa. "You were never the bad guy!"

"Definitely not, I just froze over our entire kingdom because I'm the nicest queen ever."

It Anna didn't know her sister, it might have seemed that the older woman was mocking her, but she knew that Elsa still felt entirely guilty for everything that had happened. She could feel Elsa trying to hide her shame with sarcasm, and Anna just frowned sadly.

"You are. The whole thing was an accident and we both know it."

The queen of Arendelle was about to reply with more sarcasm, but was stopped by a hand on her arm. She looked up at Eugene. His amused look had never left his face, but there was sympathy hiding behind his smile. He grinned at her, "Hey, it's okay. Let Anna tell the story, we won't judge you. Just look at me! I married into this bunch, and I got a free pass. You were born into this family, they'll let whole lot more slide before criticizing you!"

Elsa was utterly nonplussed and gave the man a strange look. His grin grew wider. "Besides, even if you're some crazy murdering psychopath, you're our crazy murdering psychopath. We forgive you!"

Anna and Rapunzel erupted into a fit of giggles. Elsa just sighed loudly and ran her hand through her hair, but a tiny smile graced her lips. "Well, that's encouraging. I guess..."

The King and Queen of Corona said nothing, but Thomas was laughing to himself while Primrose was politely hiding a smile behind her hand. They were used to this sort of behavior from their daughter's husband.

The dark haired man turned back to Anna. "Now, milady. If you'll start the the beginning...?"

The redhead immediately launched into the story, talking animatedly. Elsa sat back, admiring the way the woman told her story. Her younger sister talked with her hands, and was energetic in every way she moved. She was slightly worried that Anna would pull on Elsa's powers while she spoke, but the older woman kept a lock down on the flow of magic.

It turned out she really didn't need to. Anna was utterly comfortable with herself and the rest of their family. Elsa was thrilled to see that her younger sister could still continue to be herself even with such a large threat looming over her head. Then again, she wasn't too surprised. Her younger sibling was full of affection for her family and everyone around her. 'I guess it really is true that love will thaw..."

Anna paused in her story and looked to her sister, confused. Elsa was taken aback for a moment when she realized that the princess had caught her wayward thought. She gave the younger girl a sheepish grin, and Anna's eyes shone. Her younger sister raised a single eyebrow in amusement, then took up her story again like nothing had happened.

The others at the table looked momentarily confused at the interaction between the two sisters, but became quickly immersed in Anna's retelling of the story. Elsa shook her head, trying to quiet her thoughts. It was too easy to forget that the two could hear each other mentally, and she admonished herself for being so forgetful.

Anna never ceased her talking, but Elsa could feel her sister send a sensation of love and confidence through their link. Elsa sent it right back to the younger woman, admiring how completely at ease Anna was at being the center of attention. She adored the woman, and took the time to look her up and down. Staring at her curves and delighting in the way Anna simply carried herself.

Her princess was beautiful, and Elsa would never tire of looking at her.

Anna could feel her queen's emotions as Elsa ogled her, and she blushed. She knew her sister could tell how she was reacting to the staring, and it only caused Elsa to continue eyeballing her up and down. Without missing a beat in her retelling, she sent a small mocking glare at her older sister.

Elsa only smirked, but she toned it down, preferring to sit back and enjoy the rest of Anna's narrative.

After the story was over and her sister was done astonishing everyone with the climactic ending and her heroics, Eugene smiled and slung his arm over Elsa's shoulders, laughing. Elsa flinched at the contact slightly, but grinned at the older man. He shook a bit with his laughter, "See, there's nothing to be ashamed of! You didn't kill anyone at all!"

Elsa grimaced. "Well there was some people who got frostbite, and most of our crops were ruined that year, and-"

"-but you didn't even murder anyone! You're perfectly nice!"

"I'm pretty sure your definition of nice is messed up if all it takes is for me to not murder people."

The man beamed. "Nah, you just gotta get to know people, is all!"

Rapunzel hugged the man's arm and laughed at his unwavering optimism. Elsa was pretty sure Anna found a new hero. She sent her younger sister a look, and Anna grinned back. 'He's got a point, you know!'

Elsa groaned and turned back to her food, but she couldn't seem to wipe away the pleased smile that appeared on her face.

She woke up the next morning to the sun in her face. It was way too warm.

Elsa shucked off the covers and concentrated a bit, bringing the temperature down a few degrees. She grinned and stood up from the bed, stretching. Walking softly, she padded across the room and into the bathroom. She walked through the large tiled room and slipped into her sister's room, where she found the redhead sleeping soundly, bundled in an ocean of comforters.

Chuckling lightly to herself, Elsa made her way over to the younger woman's bed and climbed in, sitting with her back resting against the headboard. She was sitting on the pillow Anna was using, but the woman didn't stir at all. In fact, Elsa could barely make out her sister in the mess of pillows and blankets piled on top of her.

Elsa reached under the covers and began rubbing Anna's back lightly. She ran her fingers down the young woman's side, feeling the small lines of fresh scars. She knew her own body reflected the same white patterns, and she traced them lovingly. The redhead, reacting to the touch, groaned and tried to bury herself further into her cocoon. The ice queen laughed. "It's time to get up, blob monster. We've got stuff to do today."

She could feel her sister's thoughts slowly begin to coalesce. It was mostly just a hazy sleepiness tinged with annoyance at having to wake up. Elsa heard a grumble of what she thought might have been words from deep in the blankets, but she had no idea what the vague sounds were trying to convey.

Her hand stopped it's motion on Anna's back. "Say again, love?"

Another mumbling, louder this time but no more distinct. Elsa shook her head. "I have no idea what you're saying."

She could feel her sister struggle to put words together in her mind, and she grinned at how ridiculous the situation was. She continued, laughing, "You're going to have to speak up if you want me to understand you."

Anna decided that speech was much too complicated and gave up trying to use her vocal cords. 'Ughh...what time is it?'

Elsa grinned, amused at her sister's antics. "Just after dawn. The sun's awake, so I'm awake."

Anna scoffed, though not out loud. Elsa could feel the indignation through their shared link. 'That only works for the aurora and you know, it. Cheater.'

"Just think of it as payback for constantly waking me up in the middle of the night when we were kids." She resumed rubbing the younger woman's back, and she could feel the contentedness rolling off of her sister in waves.

Anna yawned. 'That's gonna put me right back to sleep you know.'

"Doubtful. I'm going to keep bothering you until you wake up."

She groaned. 'Well then you get to be here all morning. I'm comfy.'

The princess rolled over with the blanket, covering Elsa's legs with the comforter. She attached herself to her older sister's leg and used it as a pillow, wrapping herself around the limb as much as possible. Elsa took up running her hand through Anna's hair, as it was easier to reach.

Anna hummed happily and Elsa sighed. "It's way too warm under all these covers, I don't know how you can stand it."

The younger woman shrugged slightly, then said something unintelligible against the older woman's leg. Elsa's confusion trickled down their link, and the princess tried again without words. 'You can regulate the temperature, just fix it.'

"Then you won't be warm."

'It's too hot anyways.'

Elsa's hand stopped it's ministrations andlooked down at her younger sister. "Then why are you wrapping yourself up like a caterpillar?"

Another small shrug. 'Comfy.'

Elsa raised an eyebrow, and although her sister couldn't see it, she felt the emotion behind it. Elsa knew there was something the younger woman wasn't saying. Anna frowned, then sighed once she followed her sister's thought process, knowing she couldn't hide anything. 'Missed you.'

Elsa ran her thumb along Anna's cheek, noticing the slight pink tinge. She could feel her sister's bashfulness clear as day. She sent encouragement to the younger woman. "Why are you embarrassed that you missed me?"

Yet another shrug, and her leg was grasped a little tighter. Elsa tried to be as comforting as she could. "I missed you too, you know."

And it was true. They had both decided it was a better idea to sleep in separate beds while they were visiting Corona, at least until they were able to figure out the maid's schedules. They would be fine if the room servants were to walk in on them cuddling, but anything else and they would scar that person for life. That, and they'd probably both be tried and hung for being heathens if that person decided they wanted to tell the royal family their secret. It was best not to take any chances in a place they were unfamiliar with.

Though as logical as the decision was, it didn't make either of them feel any better about the situation. They knew they would have to be separated for most of the trip, but it was a hard truth to live with. Their new bond didn't make things any easier. Elsa knew exactly how lonely Anna had felt the night before, because she had felt the same way.

Anna sighed softly and tried to push the negative feelings to the back of her mind. She felt marginally better when she felt Elsa try to do the same. A thought struck her. 'Why are you waking me up so early? We don't have any plans until just before noon.'

Elsa smiled. "Time for practice."

She felt Anna's eyebrows furrow against her leg, and her sister's confusion was palpable. 'Practice? But why would you need me to practice your pow...Oh."

Elsa nodded. "We need to see what you're capable of, dear one."

She abruptly felt a stab of fear come from the younger woman, and she had to cut off Anna's access to her powers before they were able to manifest. The temperature still dropped a few degrees before she was able to get a hold on it. Anna looked sheepish, but she was still largely worried. Elsa gave her a warm grin.

The princess burrowed her head into Elsa's leg. 'Are you sure?'

The queen laughed out loud. "I'm positive."

She pulled her leg out of her sister's grasp, and motioned for Anna to sit up. The younger woman did so, and Elsa took her into her arms, kissing to top of her head lightly. The princess ducked her head under her older sister's chin and curled in on herself, pressing as close to Elsa as she could.

She didn't dare try and speak out loud. She knew her voice would shake. 'I'm scared.'

Elsa smiled lovingly down at the younger woman. 'You have nothing to be worried about. I'll be with you the whole time. I have more than enough control and can stop anything you manage throw at me.'

Anna's mouth quirked into a small frown. 'But what if something happens to you?'

Elsa ran her hand down her sister's stray strand of white hair and tucked it behind Anna's ear. She spoke out loud, "You can't hurt me with my own power, love."

Anna grumbled into her sister's shoulder. Elsa laughed lightly and pulled the younger woman's chin up so they were eye to eye. She smiled brightly. "It will be okay. Nothing bad will happen."

Anna managed a small smile. "Promise?"

Elsa's eyes lit up. "I promise."

She brought her sister's lips to her own softly, and Anna sighed happily. She pulled back after a few moments, grinning. "Time to get going."

The princess nodded and released her hold on her older sister, stretching. Elsa immediately missed the contact, but Anna sent a rush of affection down their link. The queen returned the emotion, smiling down at the younger woman. Her sister shoved her slightly after she was done stretching.

"Go get dressed, Elsa. I can manage on my own!"

She playfully shoved the younger woman back, but took the advice and jumped out of bed before Anna could retaliate. Smiling brightly, she walked towards the door that connected to her own room. She heard her younger sister blow a raspberry at her from across the room, but chose to ignore it.

Elsa couldn't help her inner chuckle, and she knew Anna returned the sentiment.

Not a bad start to the day, all things considered.