They had been waiting in the car for what seemed like fifteen minutes. If it was up to Anna, she would have gone in the house in no time and tackled the matter head on, but this wasn't her father, or her house, or her decision to make. Elsa insisted on waiting, she admitted she had waited for that moment for years and now she wasn't sure she was ready.

At least she's willing to give it a try, Anna thought to herself.

Anna had managed to make small talk in the few minutes that they waited, complimenting the house and the landscape. It did come to a surprise when she found out Elsa's father was practically a millionaire but after the few surprising seconds and after they drove into the gates of the spacious mansion, it all made sense; the pieces fit perfectly.

"And here I thought your country house was beautiful..." Anna said, jaw completely hanging.

"It is something, isn't?" Elsa replied but it was as if she wasn't really there. Anna only nodded.

They both knew Ygrette was already inside. They spotted her car as soon as they parked in front of the set of steps.

They waited like that, in silence now that Anna ran out of things to talk about. Sure she wanted to ask Elsa a million questions about her father but she knew that would probably just make the blonde more uncomfortable.

"Okay let's just get this over with," said Elsa as she took off her seatbelt and stepped out of the car, quicker than Anna could comprehend what was going on. She followed the older girl until they were standing in front of the large wooden doors blocking their passage.

Elsa stared at it, motionless and Anna placed her hand on the blonde's shoulder, reassuring her. "It's okay, Elsa. This is something you have to do to possibly get your family back..." Elsa put her head against the door but even then Anna could see the pain in her eyes.

Ugh, I wish I could just hug her and make all her problems go away and never let her go.

As if noticing Anna's resolve to just get it over with, someone on the other side opened up the door.

"Miss Elsa, we weren't expecting to see you here," a chubby, almost bald man said.

"Umm, yeah. I- uh, I changed my mind last minute." Elsa tried to avoid eye contact.

"And you've brought a friend!" For some reasons Anna thought the man was overreacting with excitement. "I'm sure your father will be glad to hear you've finally decided to join. Come in!"

They both walked inside, following the man down a hallway, passed several doors. Anna believed they'd never get to talk to Elsa's father if they continued at this rate. They finally reached two big doors and that's when Anna knew that was it, more so because Elsa grabbed her hand and held tight.

"Sir, I found your daughter on the way in." The man left as soon as he informed Elsa's father of their arrival.

Elsa didn't walk in until her father spoke. If Anna thought Elsa was a serious person, the blonde's father was like a stone.

"Elsa," the tall man nodded their way. "I'm glad you relied on your better judgment and decided to join us."

"Well, I couldn't do otherwise with so much insisting on my sister's part." Elsa stated, as she finally approached the man sitting on one of the arm chairs; Ygrette was sitting opposite him.

"I take it you'll stay for dinner then, and your friend here?" He managed to acknowledge Anna.

"Yes, this is Anna. Anna, this is my father, Adgar."

Anna smiled awkwardly and nodded at the man staring intensely at her. "Sir," was all she said. The man refused to take her eyes off her after a few seconds, only to go back and stare at his daughter. He stood up and Ygrette followed, which meant Anna and Elsa had to follow as well.

Wow, and I thought Elsa was serious.

They followed the man into what seemed to Anna like many more hallways and countless doors until they finally arrived at the dining room. The big room was well lit, but the dark colors of the green, tall walls made it seem quite dark.

"Elsa, may I ask about your reluctance towards this visit?" Adgar asked as he sat on the farthest end of the table, Ygrette not hesitating to sit right next to him while Elsa kept her distance. Anna noticed and stayed close to the blonde.

"It's been a long time since you've wanted to talk to me, I figured this was untrue." The blonde responded with what Anna recognized as indifference, the cold Elsa she had met at the beginning of the school year was back.

Her father waited until the servant poured him a drink, eyeing carefully as if he was about to make a mistake and spill it all over the table. "Nonsense, you know I keep my word," the man said as the servant retreated.

"That hasn't always been the case," Elsa eyed him. It was like a staring contest and there was no saying who would win.

"Perhaps we should talk about that topic after dinner?" Ygrette interrupted, switching her attention from her father and then to her sister repeatedly.

The man turned to look at his other daughter and smile at her. "Indeed, you're right. Let's forget about the topic for now."

The silence that followed was broken by the opening of door and the sound of plates being placed over the table as everyone was served.

"Your sister tells me you're in business?" The man insisted.

"She has informed you well, my internship will be ending soon but I might have a permanent position once it is over," Elsa answered confidently, shooting a glance towards Ygrette.

"Wonderful," her father continued, "that's actually one of the reasons why I wanted to see you."

"About my internship?" Elsa asked, startled.

"Correct. Well, your future position rather." The man began picking at his food and Anna noticed the tension that was slowly building in the room.

"Do go on," Elsa responded with an obvious lack of excitement.

"A certain fellow contacted me - quite the gentleman if I must say - he explained the interest of his company towards mine. If I'm being honest, I have to say he got my attention and thus I have considered it." All the attention was on him, Anna and Elsa wondered how this was relevant to Elsa's job but Adgar continued, "we met a few days after and we agreed to work together. Now, you may be wondering how all of this involves you..."

Elsa nodded; she was so intrigued by the conversation that she had completely forgotten about her dinner.

"Well, as you know, you're sister is busy handling other matters for me and I'm usually not around-" Elsa opened her mouth to say something after understanding where this was going, "-I actually didn't even consider you as a candidate until the man brought you up. You will be representing my firm in North Aim." The man finished as he took another bite of his meal.

"I refuse," Elsa said before she had time to think about what it could mean for her.

"Elsa!" Ygrette called her and eyed her carefully; questioning what in the world she was doing refusing their father like that.

"No, no. I understand. See I figured you might say that but what you don't seem to understand, my dear Elsa, is that the only reason you can have a permanent position at North Aim is due to this deal I'm presenting you with."

Elsa was growing furious; of course her father was behind all of this. He was using her for his own benefit and he wasn't going to let him, not even if that meant giving up on an important opportunity. Anna kept staring at her, worried as to what Elsa's next reaction might be. She grabbed the blonde's hand under the table and gave her a small smile after they made eye contact. Elsa seemed to relax and she sighed as she continued to speak, "is that the only reason for the invitation?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Was there supposed to be another reason?" Adgar asked, taken aback.

Elsa took a sip of her drink, hoping it would somehow calm her anger down. "Well you could always ask how I've been...or try to catch up." Anna couldn't help but notice how Elsa's words were full of hope.

"Oh, Elsa," he shook his head and smiled, "it's always the same with you, isn't it?"

"I can say the same," she replied.

"Perhaps you should be trying to be more like your sister."

That sparked more ire in Elsa than she thought possible. The next thing she knew, she was slamming her hands on the table as she stood up. "I've had enough," she walked towards the door where Anna followed, not knowing what else to do. "And my answer is still no."

They both made it out of the house, Anna trailing after Elsa who was too angry to notice the girl behind. The redhead tried keeping up with her speed but decided not to after almost falling while walking down the steps.

"I can't believe this..." Elsa kept murmuring and pacing around next to her car, "who the hell does he think he is?"

"Elsa..." Anna tried but the girl was too into her thoughts to listen. She noticed Elsa's white knuckles and the force on her clenched fists. She could also tell the girl was on the verge of tears as she noticed the red color on her eyes but Elsa held it in. Knowing that the blonde wouldn't listen to a word she said, she grabbed Elsa's shoulders and pulled her closer to her, hugging her until she calmed down. Elsa's body was stiff at first but she slowly let go and sank her head on Anna's shoulder. "It's okay Elsa. Coming here was a mistake. I'm sorry I made you come but we can leave now and you'll be okay."

"Crying because daddy didn't give you what you wanted?" A female voice approached them from the back, both girls knew immediately it was Ygrette's.

Elsa lifted her head up to look at her sister, "You!" She shook out of Anna's embrace and walked towards her, "you had to play apart in all of this, didn't you?"

"Relax Elsa; just take the deal, will you?" Ygrette asked, half smiling.

"I already said I wouldn't, forget about it!"

"You know that it's going to happen, father always gets his way..." The brunette continued.

"Oh yeah? And are you going to help him get it?" Elsa was raising her voice, something she rarely did.

"You bet I am, this is for the good of the company and you WILL do it, Elsa."

"That's enough," Anna stepped in, pulling Elsa towards her once again. Ygrette eyed her warily.

"Anna, please try to make ger understand." Ygrette tried a different approach.

"For god's sake, she already said no! Leave her alone," the words came out louder than she anticipated but surprisingly enough, Ygrette only nodded and stepped back, only to walk away.

Anna returned her attention to Elsa, who was broken and shaking at this point. "Okay Elsa, we're getting out of here. I'm going to drive, so just let it all out; you don't have to worry about them." She helped Elsa into the passenger's seat and proceeded to get into the driver's seat. She couldn't resist looking at Elsa every once in a while as they drove back into campus. Elsa didn't say anything on the way back, she only stared at the window, thinking about her father and his proposal. Anna had to admit, she was a bit worried about the blonde's behavior and she must have made an expression to make it obvious because Elsa noticed and grabbed and held to her hand for the rest of the drive back.

Anna wanted to ask Elsa many questions after they arrived back at the dorm but she didn't want to invade her privacy or maker her feel uncomfortable. There must be a reason why Elsa declined the deal her father had proposed and Anna was hoping Elsa would let on about it but the blonde had been quiet since they left.

Maybe she'll just sleep it off, Anna though. A few minutes after they walked in they had gotten ready for bed, however, Anna found Elsa sitting on the redhead's bed. Logically, she was taken by surprise but maybe Elsa just wanted to talk after all and hence she obliged. She sat next to her, giving her her full attention but waiting for the blonde to start up the conversation. As if reading her mind, Elsa did.

"I'm sorry you had to see that," she couldn't bring herself to look at Anna.

Why is she saying sorry? It's not her fault!

"Elsa, the last thing you need to be doing right now is apologizing... I convinced you to go because ...well, I didn't know your father would be the way he is," Anna chuckled nervously.

"That was nothing," Elsa kept staring at the floor, "for some weird reason I thought he would want to talk to me, to catch up, to mend our relationship but he didn't even ask how I was or if I needed anything. He just wants to use me!"

Anna tried to find an argument to refute and explain Adgar's behavior, but Elsa was right, he did only try to use her. What kind of father was that?

"Is that why you said no?" Anna tried to get to the bottom of it.

"Yes. I'm not giving him the pleasure, even if that means I don't get the job, I'll just find one somewhere else."

Anna stayed quiet for a while, trying to take it all in. "I don't see you working for North Aim anyway," she continued. "Yes, you're doing a fantastic job as an intern but once that's over and once you graduate, you're meant for something bigger, Elsa, I know it." She smiled.

"There will be no more working on archive rooms," Elsa joked, her mood seeming to change slowly.

"No more having to deal with me."

Elsa stared at her, "I love having to deal with you though... Even if you give me a headache sometimes."

"Hey!" Anna exclaimed.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding!"

They both sat, staring at each other and smiling. The room was dark, save for one lamp which allowed the girls to look at each other.

"You know? I've been thinking..." Anna started.

"What's that?"

"It's hard to believe we used to hate each other. Think about it, we were even considering switching roommates."

"That seems like such a long time ago. And look at us now."

"I wouldn't have it any other way, I like how far we've come," Anna made a pause before she continued. "Even if... Even if we're not together as we want to be, I like where we stand."

Elsa nodded, "well, hopefully things will be cleared up for us and we can move passed this point." Elsa stood up, noting the time, and walked to her bed, "it's getting late and we have work tomorrow."

"On the plus side, we won't be coming back soon," Anna joked.

"But I'm still making you wake up early."

"Alright, nevermind, forget I said anything." Anna said as she turned off the lamp.

They both tried to sleep and even though they were indeed tired, the memories of the day played too vividly in the minds, causing them to stay awake. For Elsa, it was her father's proposition. She kept asking herself it she was doing the right thing. As for Anna, she kept thinking about Elsa, she now knew what she felt for her and vice versa. She also thought about how close they'd been that day, after each other's confession. But mainly, she kept thinking about the kiss they shared and no matter what, she couldn't keep it out of her mind, not that she wanted to anyway.

"Elsa?" Anna tried, knowing Elsa wasn't asleep after all the shifting she heard.

"Hmm?"

"If our relationship hadn't changed, would you have moved or kicked me out?"

"Is this what you think about at night?" Elsa laughed and gave it some thought, "to be honest, I wouldn't have put you through that. I'm not that evil."

"So your threats meant nothing then," Anna mocked.

"No, they did. I would have been the one to leave..."

"Oh yeah? And where would you have gone, Els?"

"My apartment."

"What? You have an apartment and I didn't know about it?" Anna asked, somewhat shocked but they more she thought about it the more it made sense, "why are you in a dorm if you have an apartment..?"

"Well, a dorm was more convenient because of the distance. I wouldn't have to commute and also, my sister hadn't moved out quite yet."

"Ah, I see. You had to share a place." Elsa didn't respond to that which only confirmed it for Anna. "You know what? I've been thinking about your sister..."

"She's just like my father, isn't she?"

Anna turned to lay on her right side, despite the darkness she felt they need to look towards Elsa's direction. "Yes and no. What I mean to say is... I don't think she's like him at all, from what I observed from tonight anyway."

"What makes you say that?" Elsa was more curious than ever.

"I think she's only doing what she's doing to please him. She doesn't want to disagree with him, even if it's something she doesn't want to do."

"Hmm. I never thought of that, or noticed. The way I see it, she's always been on his side and against mine."

"Well that might be because you're biased but... Next time, if you pay close attention you'll see what I mean."

"I will," Elsa said after she yawned.

"Go to sleep, Elsa," the redhead said playfully.

"Oh shush, you're the one keeping me up."

"Fine, I'll stop talking," Anna's smile was made evident by the way she said her words.

"Thanks for being there for me today, Anna. It really meant a lot."

"No problem, what are friends for?"

AN: An update so soon? The chapters have gotten easier to write as the plot develops, hopefully I won't have any delays soon so I can keep you guys updated.