Prompt: Stargazing
With a final soft click from the luggage lock, Elsa was packed. Dusting her hands off on her jeans, Elsa grabbed the water bottle off the bedside table, drinking greedily as Anna watched on from her position on the bed, wiping off the sweat on her forehead with the back of her other hand.
"You fly out two days from now, right?" Anna had long since engrained the flight's day and time in her memory.
"Mmmm. Somehow my flight hasn't changed." Elsa said lightly, lying down next to the strawberry blonde. "Try not to be too ecstatic when I leave this airspace."
"You will be able to hear my whoops of joy from the plane." Anna smiled wryly, turning and laying on her side to face the blonde. She cupped a cool cheek in one hand, hesitating as she glanced towards Elsa.
Elsa leaned into the warm hand, closing her eyes, waiting patiently. She could hear the rustle of sheets as Anna scooted closer to her. Strands of burnished copper hair fell lightly on her skin, tickling her face as Anna leaned down, giving her a simple peck on the lips. Elsa leaned into Anna silently, wrapping her own arms around Anna, before pulling her head back after a brief moment.
"Did you have plans for us tomorrow?" Elsa asked, turning so that Anna could wrap her arms around her waist more easily. She stroked the Anna's hair, savoring the feeling of Anna's warmth diffusing throughout her. The copper-haired woman let out a contented sigh before replying.
"Of course! You're free all day tomorrow right?" Anna mumbled, her face buried in Elsa's torso. Popping her head up to look at her partner she said, "You can still sleep in though. I just wanted a late brunch and then I'd like to take you out for the rest of the night."
"Mmmm. Thank you." Elsa buried her face in Anna's hair, grateful the she hadn't scheduled anything for the morning. It had taken her nearly a day and a half of non-stop packing and cleaning to get ready for the day after tomorrow and she was exhausted. "We should get ready to sleep. It's nearly one in the morning."
Anna made a noise of discontent, but hopped off the bed to shower. Elsa flopped herself spread-eagle against the mattress, letting her weary mind rest as her girlfriend of two and a half years cleaned off the sweat and grime of helping her pack.
Luckily they were sharing a cozy one-bedroom apartment that wasn't too expensive, Elsa had mused to Anna earlier in the day. It was cheaper than most other places around their campus, meaning Anna could afford to live there on her own.
"I can handle my own checkbooks just fine on my own you know." Anna had mockingly huffed at her, before securing one of Elsa's cardboard box in the closet.
She was going to miss her. Already there was a growing hole in her heart where Anna belonged. The forlorn and sullen silences that often pervaded their meals soon after they had discussed their plans for the year had torn away at Elsa. It wasn't as if they were breaking up. Not that Elsa would have blamed Anna if she had just ended their relationship then and there at the dinner table just six months ago.
Elsa hated it sometimes, how little of her affections she was able to show Anna. Hated how stifling it was that Anna often tiptoed around her, so unsure of how much physical contact she could endure that day. Of course, it wasn't Anna's fault that she just sometimes needed her space. Anna did her best to accommodate her, and that would have been enough to win over some of Elsa's affections even without all the other little things that endeared Anna to the blonde.
The shower gave off a muted hiss as hot water rushed through the pipes in their apartment. Elsa closed her eyes, letting the sound wash over her. While muted by the door and the running door, Elsa could make out the faintest of lyrics floating out from the strawberry blonde.
"Let me uncover the silver in you… Witness the beauty of your re-pair." Floated out from under the door. Elsa hummed along to Anna's singing, having memorized the lyrics and rhythm to all of Anna's favorite songs long ago. Twenty minutes later the groan of the water ceased as Anna finished her shower. Elsa popped her head up in time to see Anna stepping out of the bathroom in her navy-blue pajamas, toweling off her fiery hair. Captivated by the flush of her partner's cheeks, Elsa wanted to do nothing more but reach out and capture that warmth in her hands. Anna plopped herself down in a sitting position next to Elsa, wringing out the last drops of water from her hair with her towel.
"You could just use my blow dryer." Elsa remarked, sitting up and taking the towel off Anna's hands to put back in the bathroom.
"Where's the fun in that? My hair is just going to end up a mess anyways in the morning. And you're taking it with you when you leave, no point getting in the habit now." Anna shot her a crooked grin, tinged with sadness. "I tried not to use up all the hot water, though I guess you prefer cooler showers anyways."
Stifling a yawn and giving the strawberry-blonde a small peck across the forehead in appreciation, Elsa got up and made her way towards the bathroom, ready to wash away the weariness of the day's labors. She turned the shower up to a nice lukewarm temperature, waiting for a moment for the water to rush back through the pipes before stepping into the soothing stream of water. Rivets of water ran down her leg as she just let the shower water roll over and massage her back. A sigh of pleasure escaped her lips at the blast of water on her mid and lower back, the soreness of the previous few days of heavy lifting being kneaded away by the jet of water.
She glanced down at the small recessed shelf that had contained both her and Anna's shower sundries. Her half was now bare except for a small bar of soap and small containers of shampoo and conditioner that would be thrown into her carry-on two mornings from now. She sighed. Tomorrow was coming too fast, too soon.
Grabbing the shampoo, she began to slowly lather her long, unbraided hair. Anna loved braiding it, she mused, so much so that she had nearly forgotten how to do it herself. Another thing she'd have to relearn when she was in Belgium.
Elsa leaned into the jet of water, closing her eyes and feeling the streams of water and suds slip down her face and neck. Massaging and digging deep into her scalp, she scrubbed away as her thoughts continued to drift, placing herself on autopilot. Mornings would no longer be filled with Anna's extreme hairdos, the clatter of cookware and the delicious smell of Anna's trademark scrambled eggs.
She wrung out her hair with one hand, grabbing the conditioner with another. As she massaged the goop into her hair, away from her scalp, a memory flickered upwards, dragging a giggle and smile out of the blonde. As she rinsed out the conditioner, Elsa remembered the last time she had bathed with Anna, back when Anna had caught a cold during the previous summer. Any attempt to wash her hair ended up with both of them covered in suds from her flailing and yowling from Elsa's brutal attempts to untangle and unknot her hair.
Elsa never understood why her partner had chosen not to take better care of her hair, it became so gorgeous and silky when properly maintained. The smile began to fade as she began to fret over whether or not Anna would take care of herself once she left. While Anna was definitely the more domestic of the two of them, much more could be said about her hair maintenance habits.
Picking up the bar of soap, she lathered herself up, savoring the feeling of the soap suds steadily dripping down between her toes. Scrubbing herself down raw, she could feel the day's exertions slowly begin to sink into her, a protracted fatigue lazily latching itself onto her. Letting the last suds wash down her legs, she slowly turned off the shower, the groan of the pipes easing and quieting as she turned the knob. She stood there, motionless, enjoying the faint steam that permeated the shower stall before throwing open the door, letting the cool air in.
Toweling herself off, she made her way over to the bathroom sink to brush her teeth and blow dry her hair. She never understood why Anna complained so much about using her blow dryer, it only had a single button and a dial. Running the toothbrush across her teeth, she made a note to get Kristoff to help manage the unruly monster that was Anna's hair while she was gone. She set the toothbrush down, picking up the blow dryer with one hand as she ran the other through her hair. Elsa hummed to herself as she methodically dried her hair out, feeling her skin prickle from the heat.
Replacing the towels on their racks, Elsa returned to the now dimly lit bedroom. Anna was already fast asleep and sprawled across the blankets as Elsa padded across the hardwood floor of their bedroom. Elsa quietly pulled the blankets up around Anna, slipping under the covers to join her. Burying her face into the sheets, she breathed in deep. The sweet scent of Anna's ever so slightly perfumed body-wash wafted upwards to meet her nose. It was a refreshing feeling, sheets filled with the smell of the one she loved and no others. She turned to rest on her back, settling into the soft down pillows.
Anna shifted at Elsa's movement, unconsciously wrapping her arms around the blonde's neck. Elsa stiffened momentarily at the contact, before relaxing and pulling Anna in closer, resting Anna's head against her collarbone. The fatigue dragged on her with greater force now, as she closed her eyes and let sleep wash over her.
-x-x-
"No, no. I can definitely imagine it," Anna pointed a piece of french toast at Elsa, sticking her tongue out. "You as a fancy-schmancy barista working in some upscale coffee shop. Just imagine the beautiful latte art you could make."
Anna sighed dreamily at the thought as Elsa scrunched up her nose. "Ignoring the fact that I only drink coffee out of necessity, what makes you think I'd even make a good barista."
"Well for one thing, you've got some super attention to detail. I swear, you probably know the exact number of freckles I have all over me." Anna laughed, a sweet bell-like sound that always warmed Elsa's heart, as Elsa blushed and pointedly looked away. "And also, you're so empathetic, I'd bet you'd make a great conversation partner for all those wandering souls stepping into your establishment."
"Oho, so I'd also be owning the place?" Elsa said, amusement bubbling in her voice, "How do I find the time to run such an establishment, bond with my customers, and brew the most delicious morning nectar on this side of Arendelle?"
"I don't know! It's just a thought. If we weren't who we are now, you could be that person, and I could be some vagabond who happened to drop in one morning." Anna leaned back into her chair, crunching away thoughtfully on her bacon strips before adding "And then plenty of mornings after that!"
"So even all those fictional me's gets to enjoy their healthy dose of Anna?" Elsa asked, amused at Anna's antics.
"Of course!" Anna smiled up at her, "How could you all not? Having an Anna in one's life is obviously a major part of all healthy lifestyles."
Elsa shook her head, smiling faintly at that remark. Anna pouted playfully, before continuing to dig into her brunch. "Big appetite today?"
"Gaht ra hrole day erhad ov us!" Anna, struggling through the hash browns she was chewing on, nodded energetically. She swallowed and continued. "You should dig into your own plate! The biscuits and gravy are to die for."
"More coffee and tea for you two sweethearts?" Their server had glided over without them noticing.
"Yes, please!" Anna chirped, holding out her mug. "My companion here would like more hot water for her tea as well!"
"I'll go grab that real quick, darlin'." She flashed the pair of them a smile and moved off to refill the coffee cups of the other patrons.
"But really," Anna continued nonchalantly, pouring out another dollop of ketchup onto her plate. "Don't ever stop being an architect."
"Why is that?" Elsa looked up from her own platter of food, bemused by Anna's words. "I didn't know you approved of my career decision with such gusto."
Anna peered down at her plate thoughtfully, her knife grinding to a halt in her speared sausage. "The look on your face?"
"Hmmm?"
"That look, that you get on your face." Anna tapped her chin with her fork, "When you're working in your design studio at your desk. You've just got a look of such intense passion and joy when you're just pouring over a design or problem."
"Why can't you ever look at me like that?"Elsa froze as another voice from the past intruded into their conversation. The memory of looks of hurt and bitterness on their face as Elsa struggled to explain herself rose to the surface at Anna's words.
"Elsa? Are you okay?" Anna stared at the blonde, concern filling her eyes.
"Here's your hot water, dear!" The two of them were snapped out of their tiny bubble as their server returned, oblivious to the sudden tension. "Enjoy the rest of your brunch!"
"S-Sorry." Elsa stammered out, attempting to give Anna a reassuring smile. "Just remembered something from a while ago."
She was grateful that Anna choose to drop the subject, picking again at her plate as Anna attacked her remaining toast and hash browns. How long had it been since she had last thought of that moment? If her life with Anna now was a cozy dream, that time before had been a neverending nightmare. She shook her head vigorously, oblivious to Anna's head turning around to face her in concern.
"Are you..." Anna started before letting letting her words trail off, thinking better of it. "Shall we get the check?"
Elsa absentmindedly nodded, pushing around the remaining bits of toast and bacon on her plate as Anna called their server over to pay. She dragged herself out of her detachment as the server returned with the check, snaking her hand on top of the bill and deftly yanking it away from Anna. "Allow me."
"But you're the one going away." Anna pouted, reaching for the bill across the table, their server wisely disappearing and leaving them to their own devices. "C'mon, it's my turn anyways!"
"Seeing as I'm the one going away, shouldn't I get to decide if I buy my girlfriend some brunch?" Elsa smiled at her, genuine affection filling her eyes, placating Anna. "I'm not going to get the chance for a long while you know."
"Hmmph. Same for me..." Anna sighed conceding the meal to her beau, twirling a copper braid between her fingers as Elsa slipped the crisp bills into the holder. "But fine, you win for now."
"Well I for one, can't wait to see what else you have planned." Elsa laughed as they stood up to leave. She felt relaxed, a far cry to the sudden burst of insecurity just moments ago. Tilting her head at their server in goodbye, Elsa and Anna made their way over to the strawberry-blonde's car.
-x-x-
"Iced mocha frappes for Anna and Elsa!" The barista called out over the din of the coffeehouse. The pair flashed him a grateful smile as they accepted their drinks and wriggled their way out of crowd into the warm summer evening.
Releasing a breath into the tepid breeze, Elsa turned towards Anna. "Where to now?"
"Mmrmm." Anna choked on her mouthful, holding out a hand to let Elsa know she was okay. "Sorry! Just lost myself in this drink. God, I've been craving this for a while... Let's just take a walk in the park for a while, we've got some time to kill before the main event."
"Main event?" Elsa smiled gently, relieved that Anna was alright. "Should I be quaking in my boots?"
"Well, sweetheart, for starters you're not wearing any boots, though you definitely don't look bad in those Converses." Laughing as she dodged Elsa's playful swipe at her shoulder, precariously attempting to keep her frappe from spilling, "Hey hey! Think of the frappe!"
"I'm sure I'll get over my neverending guilt." Elsa deadpanned, grinning at the radiant sunflower of a girl before her. "And you were saying?"
"Errr… Right." Anna paused, drinking deeply, and wiping her mouth with her glove before continuing. "Let's just, stroll around the park a bit, and just talk?"
"Talk?" Anna pointedly turned away to avoid Elsa's bemused eyebrow raise.
"Yes, talk!" Anna twirled in place, miraculously keeping every drop of her drink in its fragile plastic container, the lid hanging on for dear life. "Ever since hell month started, we haven't had a chance to really talk! And right when finals end, we had to rush around and pack for your overseas master's program."
Elsa stiffened up at that, forcing herself to relax as she reminded herself that Anna hadn't meant anything bad by that.
"So, we're going to spend the time before the main show just chatting and catching up!" Anna, oblivious to what had just transpired, turned back to face Elsa, a dab of whipped cream at the edge of her mouth, beaming.
Reaching out with her thumb, Elsa wiped off the whipped cream, shaking her head in amusement. "Alright, since you let me buy you brunch, I shall let you lead the way."
Anna blushed at that, unsure whether it was from embarrassment or from the casual physical contact. Nodding and suddenly feeling shy, she reached out to take Elsa's free hand, pulling the blonde forward to her side. The two of them followed a well worn path, winding around the lake, past a rickety wooden boat center, and around the numerous fountains the decorated the park area. Despite Anna's initial declaration, a contented silence fell over them, with neither one wanting to breach the serene quiet with words.
As they passed a familiar light pole however, Elsa began to giggle. Anna whipped her head around in surprise. "What? What's so funny?"
"Do you remember-" Elsa paused in an attempt to suppress the upsurge of giggles, "That time you ran into this pole to catch up to me?"
"Oh dear god, are you never going to let me live that down." Anna felt her face burn red. "You were about to leave and I was trying not to mow down the people around you!"
"Still… It left quite the impression on me." Elsa grinned slyly at the furiously blushing woman besides her. "I learned that the bombast and liveliness from before wasn't just from the alcohol."
"I'll have you know that I hold my spirits quite well." Anna mockingly stuck her nose up in the air, sticking her tongue out. "And I was quite the gentlewoman wasn't I?"
"I wouldn't hesitate to confirm that." Leaning in close to Anna, Elsa squeezed Anna's hand gently.
"Awww. You're going to make my face explode at this rate." Anna teased, her face still bright pink. Taking a quick look at the sky, Anna noticed the dimmer orange-red glow of the approaching sunset. "Looks like it's almost time…"
"Almost time for the main event you keep mentioning?" Elsa teased, gently ribbing her girlfriend.
"Yes!" Anna said, dragging her towards the more private wooded areas of the park. "Now let's see if my brother pulled through for me..."
"Still dragging Kristoff into your schemes I see."
"He's a big softie, wanted to give you a decent send off, but you know him. Not like he's going to come right out and say it!" Anna turned back, grinning at the blonde.
"I'll have to thank him then." Elsa smiled, she and Kristoff rarely interacted, but he had always been friendly to her, in his own gruff way. "Is he going to be there to help you with this main event?"
"Welllll. Probably not. I told him we'd need a little bit more privacy, sooooo…" Anna let her words trail off, winking at Elsa. Pulling the taller woman deeper into the forest, their path illuminated by the last rays of the setting sun, the two made their way through the forest.
"Don't worry, I've got a flashlight if the sun sets before we get there!" Anna remarked cheerfully as Elsa tightened her grip on Anna's hand. "I'm not going to lose you."
Heart skipping a beat, Elsa nodded, putting her faith in the strawberry-blonde to lead the way. Through storm or fair weather, Anna was a constant light forward for her, melting away the dark tunnel that had clouded her for so long. How had her life been so muddled before? Just the past few years with Anna had been enough to nearly put it all behind her. Lost in her thoughts, she almost missed the fact that Anna had come to an abrupt stop.
"We're here!" Elsa felt a momentary disappointment as Anna released her hand, only for the hand to fly up to her mouth in surprise as Anna bounced forward, flourishing freckled hands.
"Looks like big bro didn't disappoint! What do you think?" Anna grinned like a cheshire cat as Elsa took in the small glade that Kristoff had meticulously set up for Anna. Dim lanterns shaped like candles softly glowed in the shade, perfectly illuminating the blankets that had been laid in the clearing. A small picnic basket with snacks and drinks was cached away by Anna's favorite telescope.
"It's amazing..." Elsa breathed, taking it all in. "I guess you finally get to take me stargazing."
"A fitting farewell, don't you think." Anna smiled lovingly at the blonde, "Sharing with you, the person that makes me happier than anyone else in the world, something dear to me that also fills me happiness."
"I- I don't know what to say." Tears welled up, obscuring the sapphire crystals of Elsa's eyes. Anna gently took her hands, leading her over to the blanket, squeezing her hands in reassurance.
"I found this place... Maybe three or four months ago? I was trying to get some good shots of the stars and I just stumbled across that path that lead here. My sense of adventure just took over I suppose, eheh." Reaching the blankets, Anna laid down on her back, patting the space next to her for Elsa. "Just far enough out that the light pollution isn't as bad, but still close enough to get cell reception!"
"It's amazing." Elsa whispered, lying down besides the excited bundle of energy that constituted her girlfriend.
"I'm not sure why I'm whispering but look straight up!" Anna whispered excitedly, "You can see Polaris just off to the side over there! See?"
Elsa craned her neck and turned her head towards where Anna was jabbing her finger, eyes focusing on the bright speck of light.
"Polaris is the brightest star Ursa minor!" Anna chirped, excitedly reciting facts that she had ingrained in her mind since early childhood. Elsa let Anna take her hand in her own as she traced out the constellation for them. "Looks like a bear I'd draw right?"
Elsa giggled softly as Anna continued, "But most people recognize it as the Little Dipper since it's apparently easier to see a ladle than a bear, but I digress."
"Wasn't Polaris used to guide ships back in the day?" Elsa struggled to keep up, dredging deep for facts she had learned in history long ago.
"Yes! In fact there are still some people who navigate old-school and rely on the star charts and sextants, those are used to measure the angle between the star and the horizon, and Polaris is one of the main guideposts since it just happens to be in the perfect position for that!" Anna beamed.
"If you look off to the west you can also see Spica!" Anna guided Elsa's finger to point towards the small speck of glittering light, "It's the brightest star in the Virgo constellation, which happens to be my zodiac sign as I'm sure you remember."
"I'd never forget." Elsa snorted, knowing full well Anna was making fun of her disbelief in astrology and anything relating to it.
A short lull fell between them again as they soaked up the view. Anna looked over at Elsa nervously, wondering if she had become bored. Relief seeped into her as she saw Elsa's eyes wide open and mouth slightly agape at the vast ocean of twinkling specks. She squeezed the hand that she was still holding onto, causing Elsa to turn her head back towards her, curiosity filling the crystal blue eyes, curiosity that reinvigorated Anna.
Fifteen minutes slowly melted into an hour which quickly become two hours as Anna fired off fact after fact, gleefully reciting trivia to Elsa, who contentedly herself with just listening and losing herself in Anna's passionate responses. She closed her eyes, filling her mind with images of stars and constellations as Anna described them in minute detail.
"And then-" Silence and fireflies descended upon the pair as Anna paused, noticing Elsa's stillness. She turned towards the blonde, seeing closed eyes and a gently rising and falling chest. Smiling, Anna leaned down towards the blonde, tightly woven copper braids lightly brushing against Elsa's sheer shawl.
Closing her own eyes, Anna leaned down further, pausing millimeters above Elsa's lips. She held that position for a moment before opening her eyes again. Stormy sea-foam green eyes met warm sapphires as the two of them held their gaze for a moment.
"Hey, you." Elsa murmured softly.
"Hey, me." Anna whispered back, giggling. Elsa snorted and playfully pushed Anna off her as the coffee smell from her breath took her by surprise. "Oi!"
"Apologies, princess, but it seems your breath has held onto a little too much of your frappe." Elsa laughed as Anna pounced on her again.
"Hey your breath is no bed of roses either." Anna shot back teasingly, "And okay, in my desire for sweet, sweet mocha, I may have killed the mood just a little bit. But you know what? Totally worth it."
"Oh really now?" Elsa raised a single meticulously groomed eyebrow at the copper-haired strawberry-blonde.
"I got my my caffeine and got to roughhouse a little with you." Anna snuggled up against her blonde beau. "Two-hundred percent worth it."
Elsa ran a hand down one of Anna's braids at that, unsure of what to say next. Content with letting Anna's warmth slowly seep throughout her body, Elsa watched as the fireflies floated around them, little flames in the night. Anna flipped herself over, settling the back of her head against Elsa's collarbone, watching as the twinkling night came into existence.
"I love you." Elsa turned her head down towards her girlfriend, bemused by Anna's sudden proclamation.
"What brought that on?" Elsa murmured into Anna's ear, nuzzling her gently.
"I know some people just say that, and they say that so often that it loses its meaning." Anna fidgeted, hands raising up to toy with her braid, arching her head back to look at Elsa. "But I mean it every time. Honest."
Elsa smiled at the seriousness in Anna's eyes. "I know. And I treasure every single time you tell me those words."
Anna returned the smile, going back to watch the stars. A comfortable silence fell upon the pair again. Elsa turned over the Anna's words over and over in her head, feeling a sudden rush of clarity and torrent of emotion.
"I love you too." She blurted out. Anna gave a start turning to look at Elsa in surprise.
"I know." Anna smiled, tears forming in her eyes as she nestled her head against Elsa's chest again. "I know. Even if you don't say it often, I know you do."
"I'm sorry." Elsa felt the words leaking out of her. "I'm leaving tomorrow for a year and this is probably the third or fourth time you've heard me say that in the two years and a half that we've been together. Doesn't help that I'm terrible at all the physical aspects as well.."
"Don't say that… It's nice to hear you say it, I won't lie." Anna replied, propping her chin against Elsa's solar plexus. "But everyone's different, and I know how important that phrase is to you."
Elsa wrapped her arms around Anna's waist, feeling a gnawing pit suddenly open up in her stomach as Anna continued. "As for the physical stuff… I'm happy with where we are and with what you're comfortable with. As long as you're happy, I'm more than content."
Elsa nodded, tears filling her own eyes, as relief washed over her.
"How do you do that." She murmured, bringing her forehead down to meet strawberry blonde strands.
"Huh?"
"Say stuff like it's just so obvious and just make everything in my head become quiet and peaceful. Somehow shutting everything else up and letting me feel like I'm floating on cloud nine, with not a care in the world." Elsa could feel her face flush as her heart sped up in time with Anna's, the lull in their conversation taking over the shaded clearing.
"Did I ever tell you about how I got into astronomy?" Anna murmured suddenly, her voice husky with emotion.
"Do tell." Elsa settled onto her side, devoting her full attention to the copper-haired wonder before her.
"It was silly. I was reading some editorial written by some hack who thought that all romances had to be picture perfect and follow some set formula. But he gave one analogy that really stuck." Anna smiled, tracing the Virgo constellation in Elsa's palm. "Great couples are like a pair of stars in a constellation, even though they might be far apart the two seem absolutely inseparable."
Elsa went quiet, turning over Anna's word in her head. She felt a slow warmth filling her chest as Anna's almost teal, sea-green eyes caught her own. Anna gently moved aside Elsa's blonde's bangs to look straight into the sapphire crystals that had captivated her since the day they had first met in that bar so long ago.
"You're going to fly away tomorrow afternoon, but that's okay. Because your plane is just going to be like another star in that vast sky. And even when we're far apart, it's going to be like you're right there with me. My twin in our own little constellation" Anna smiled softly through teary eyes. "No… You're more like my own little Polaris, guiding my little dinghy through hurricanes and dead winds."
"You're the one who's a guiding star." Elsa murmured back, face flushed red at Anna's words, tears rolling down her cheek. "I'm going to be so lost without you..."
"Well… Fun fact, Polaris is a multi-star, so there are actually four other little Polarises around the main star." Anna said with a smile, tears flowing openly as the two held their gazes. "So I guess we'll be guiding each other from afar for the next year."
Nodding, Elsa shifted herself over closer to Anna, burying her face in her collarbone. Anna froze momentarily from surprise, before embracing the love of her love, settling her chin on Elsa's head, a hand gently running circles along Elsa's shoulder blades.
"I don't want tonight to end." Anna buried her face in Elsa's hair. "I don't want to say goodbye to you for a year."
A muffled, "I know," emerged from around her chest. Anna could feel her shirt sticking wetly against her frame, whether from sweat or tears, she couldn't tell anymore. She looked up, towards the sky.
"It seems so unchanging..." She muttered, to no one in particular. "But we just keep spinning onwards, and tonight will end with tomorrow just around the corner."
Elsa pulled her head up from the strawberry-blonde's chest. "It's never a good sign when you're the one who starts getting faux-philosophical."
"Can't help it. It's either muse eternally or start getting really sappy." Anna smiled and pouted, a tactic that, combined with the teary eyes, was doubly painful on Elsa.
"Well..." Elsa gingerly turned herself onto her back, settling the back of her head onto Anna's chest again. "I'm still here right now."
"You are." Anna whispered, as much to the forest and sky as to Elsa. "Let's enjoy the last few hours while we can."
"You know..." Elsa remarked, glancing up at Anna. "We should take your telescope out for a spin, seeing as Kristoff took the time to bring it out here."
"Good ol' big bro, always one step ahead of the game." Anna smiled, pulling the two of them up, "Let's show the old girl some love then..."
-x-x-
"Are you sure you didn't forget anything? We still have time to go back home and grab it if you did." Anna fretted around Elsa as the pair headed down the terminal.
"Anna. We double and tripled checked this morning." Elsa covered her mouth as she yawned, gently patting Anna's head with the other hand. "I've got everything I need. Don't worry."
"Sorry, we should have gone home sooner last night..." Anna turned her eyes downwards at her feet. "You're going to be exhausted for your flight..."
"I can get my sleep on the plane, Anna." Elsa smiled tiredly down at the downtrodden woman besides her. "It's going to be a long flight, and I'm more than happy that I got to spend as much time with you as possible."
Anna fell silent at that, a light blush highlighting her freckles. They quickly approached the self check-in lines and Elsa silently punched in her flight information into the screen. Anna fiddled with her braids as Elsa grabbed her ticket and the two of them made their way over towards the baggage check-in.
"Backpack, carry-on, and two checked bags tonight?" The flight attendant flashed the pair a practiced smile.
"Yes." Elsa handed over her passport and ticket over to the flight attendant.
"Alrighty then. Let's weigh those bags and you can make your way over to security." Elsa and Anna helped the attendant pull the luggage onto the scale. "Both your bags are just at weight, so you're all set! Once your get through security your gate is down the right concourse, the third one to the right. Have a pleasant flight!"
Thanking the attendant, the two made their way over to the security area, settling themselves onto a bench nearby.
"Sooo…." Anna kicked at the floor, unwilling to look Elsa in the eye. "One year?"
"One year." Elsa softly replied, gently patting Anna's leg. "I'll be back before you know it."
"It's going to fly by and I won't even notice you were missing." Anna forced a smile onto her face as she turned to face Elsa. "When it's time though, I'll be right back in this airport, ready to leap into your arms and welcome you back home."
"Try not to knock me out when you do that." Elsa quipped, laughing as the strawberry-blonde stuck out her tongue, feeling Anna take her hand in her own.
"Let me have my moment here will you!" Anna smiled genuinely at her now, squeezing the held hand gently.
"If it's any consolation, I'm going to start missing you the instant I clear security." Elsa murmured, running a thumb along the back of Anna's hand. "But hopefully you'll be spared the sight of me blubbering all over the place."
"Well if you're lucky, you won't need to see security detain me as I try to follow you." Anna giggled, wiping away the tears that were threatening to spill out. "Are you sure you don't want to get a move on?"
"They don't start boarding for a while."
"Right..." Anna fiddled with her braids as the clock ticked onwards. Elsa watched her intently, brain slowly clicking away. Anna, feeling the burning glance, turned towards the blonde, confused. "Is there something on my face?"
"Don't forget to properly take care of your hair." Elsa blurted out, clapping her free hand over her mouth at the outburst.
"Uhhhh… I'll keep that in mind?" It was Anna's turn to raise her eyebrows now. "Worried that I'll just shave it all off if I get annoyed by it?"
"You know I wouldn't stop you from doing that." Elsa pouted, "It might make me a little sad though, to see your beautiful braids go away."
"I guess I'll just have to make sure to grow them back out for you." Anna chirped, smirking. "Don't worry, I'd look terrible bald. Ugh, it would be nice not to deal with the bedhead in the morning though..."
"Well…." Elsa laughed as Anna glared at her. "Alright, alright. I'll lay off my hair maintenance speech, just this one time."
The two laughed, almost missing the boarding call for Elsa's flight. "Gate C-10 will be open for business class boarding in ten minutes. Please make your way to the gate now."
"I guess it's time to say goodbye." Anna stood up, pulling up the blonde with her. "Have a safe flight. Call me when you get there?"
"Are you sure you'll be awake then?" Elsa teased, pulling her arms through the backpack straps.
"Ye of little faith." Anna punched Elsa lightly in the arm. "I'll prove you wrong this one time!"
"I look forward to it."
The two made their way over to join the line at the security gate. Elsa wondered if Anna could feel her heart-rate slowly rise the closer they got to the gate. She got her answer a moment later as Anna squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"You're going to be fine. Just, pre-flight jitters." Anna smiled at her, eyes filling with tears as they came to a stop next to the entrance of the security checkpoint. "Looks like I can't follow you past this point."
"No, it doesn't look like you can." Elsa fidgeted with her backpack strap.
"C'mere." Anna held out her arms, a watery smile plastered over her face, "Have fun, try not to party too hard, and don't get yourself into trouble!"
"Shouldn't those be my words to you?" Elsa choked back tears as she embraced her soulmate. "I'm glad Kristoff is still around or I'd go crazy worrying about you!"
"Dependable big brother to the rescue." Anna was crying into Elsa's shoulder now.
Elsa clutched at Anna, burying herself in the warmth that she would be leaving for a year. She felt her throat constrict and the butterflies in her stomach seemed to grow out of control. Pulling back slightly from Anna, she looked straight into Anna's eyes, burning the sight of the slightly flecked sea-green storm into her memory.
Her own eyes found themselves drawn towards Anna's lips, slightly parted.
"You know how people sometimes get lost in those important moments?" Elsa breathed out, not really sure what she was saying. "Even if those moments are happening in super public areas like airports?"
"Yes?" Anna looked at Elsa curiously.
"I think I understand how that happens now." Elsa leaned down, eyes closing, capturing Anna's lips in her own. She pressed deeply into the kiss, cradling Anna's head with one hand, pulling the surprised woman closer to her. Anna leaned into the kiss, seizing desperately onto it, pouring every ounce of love and affection she had into the action, pulling her arms tightly around Elsa. Running out of air, Elsa pulled back, winded from the kiss.
"Y-you know." Anna replied, still in a state of shock. "Most people save that for the return."
Anna's widened to saucers a moment later upon a sudden realization as Elsa smiled tearily down at the blonde. "I figured I'd leave you with a memory you wouldn't forget."
Anna's hands slowly touched her lips, her eyes shining with wonder and slight incredulity. "You kissed me? You kissed me!"
"I guess I've still got a few surprises left in me. I'm not going to get the chance for another year after all." Elsa blushed, feeling slightly embarrassed. "And I didn't want to always force you to have to be the one to initiate everything."
"Well… How am I suppose to properly function now?" Tears flowed down Anna's cheeks as a bittersweet smile blossomed across her face. "You can't just leave me after a kiss like that, that's probably illegal you know."
"I guess I've got to go on the lam now. Let's hope the statute of limitations for this particular crime expires before I get back." Elsa managed choked out.
"Gate C-10 is now open for boarding for business class seats for rows A - E. Passengers please report to the gate for boarding."
"I guess you really have to go now." Anna wiped her nose with the back of her hand. "Might as well go quick, rip it off like a bandaid."
"We'll Skype everyday, promise." Elsa reluctantly let go of Anna, queueing up to get through security. Anna followed her from behind the glass barricade, smiling reassuringly at Elsa whenever the blonde anxiously glanced back. As Elsa made her way through the x-ray scanner into the main concourse she turned back to see the copper-braids just barely visible through the crowd. Waving one final time she made her towards her gate.
"Just one year. And I'll be back..." Elsa murmured to herself. Just one year, and she'd be home once more, warm and cozy with the person who made her explode with happiness. Thinking back to the previous night, Elsa smiled tearily, taking in a deep breath and making her way towards the gate. Strapping herself into the seat, she took another deep breath, settling into her seat. Her life with Anna had only barely begun, and she had so many years to look forward to in the future.