Sorry about the late update!

Might help to re-read the last bit of chapter 29 to refresh your memory as to what's going on...

Anna opened her eyes slowly; she tried to adjust to the sunlight as quickly as she could and just like any other time, she failed. She tried again, several times, with the same result.

It's going to be one of those days, I guess.

She remained with her eyes closed, laying on her back. She pulled the blanket all the way to her face, refusing to let the sun hit her. She heard movements.

Of course Elsa's already up. What time is it anyway?

She couldn't bring herself to check the clock, her eyelids still felt quite heavy.

"You know? When I invited you back to my apartment I didn't think you'd spend the night..."

Wait a minute... That's not Elsa.

Samantha's voice galvanized her recovery. She pulled off the blanket right away and sat up.

"Don't tell me I fell asleep," she yawned.

"Fine, I won't say anything. But you might want to check the time."

It had been a couple of months since she had last visited Samantha's apartment. The unfamiliarity of the place had her looking everywhere for a clock but she gave up when she spotted her phone.

"Shit!" She almost lost her balance as she landed on her feet. "I'm already late for my first class!"

"Oh, don't worry. It's just one class..." Samantha tried to calm the redhead down.

"Not just one class, Sam. It's calculus class and I really need to be there!"

"Really? Skipping one class won't even matter a few weeks from now, I don't know why you're making it a big deal... Tell you what? Why don't you just take the rest of the day off and spend it with me?"

Having a hard time trying to find all of her belongings, Anna didn't seem to be paying attention but she responded nonetheless, "I have to prepare for finals." She said absent mindedly.

Samantha approached her and grabbed her by the shoulders to get Anna's attention. "Is there any way I can convince you? We had fun last night... We can have even more fun today." By the time she finished talking, Anna was staring at her and Sam only hoped she was actually changing her mind.

"No can do, maybe another time?" Anna asked nervously, shaking Samantha's hands off her. The look the blonde gave her looked like she had finally given up and Anna sighed. Then she remembered she was in a hurry, "where the fuck are my shoes?"

"Living room, as well as your bag."

Anna followed Sam into the living room, where she gathered the last of her things and said bye to the girl. She debated whether she'd have time to go back home and change her clothes while still manage to be early to her other class.

Crap, I need to grab my notes.

How had she managed to fall asleep at Sam's? Many questions ran through her mind as Samantha finally let her go of the embrace.

"You could have stayed for breakfast at least..." She said as Anna was exiting the door. The redhead looked back to give her small smile of gratitude. "Oh!" Sam continued, "don't forget to say hi to Elsa for me!"

Anna's face went blank. Shit, Elsa! What is she going to think?

It took her longer than necessary to walk to her first class. Technically it was her second class but she had already missed the first one, which really gave her no time to stop by the dorm and grab at least her backpack. Despite all the running she had done with Elsa previously, her body felt fatigued as she sat on one of the back seats of the lecture hall. The professor had begun class when she entered the room but luckily enough, she wasn't the only one who had arrived late. She took a deep breath and looked around, trying to find someone who would lend her some paper and a pen.

That's what you get for drinking last night! She shook her head to dismiss the memories of the previous night. She really needed to pay attention to the lecture and did not need to dwell on it.

One thing she couldn't really get off her mind, however, was Elsa, or rather Elsa giving her the cold shoulder. On her way back to campus, in the middle or running and catching her breath, she had tried to call Elsa. She had left her the previous day with no explanation but all her efforts went with no avail. Elsa refused to answer her calls that morning and so she had to resort to various texts, which also went with no response. Anna was growing impatient, all she wanted to do was get out of that room, no longer caring whether she missed the class or not. She was having a difficult time paying attention anyway. She needed to find Elsa and confront her and, most importantly, explain herself and ask for forgiveness. But even if she wanted to do that, Elsa was probably in class and wouldn't want to be interrupted; whatever needed to happen would happen eventually.

And it did.

The stubborn redhead knew Elsa perhaps too well. She knew that if Elsa had avoided her during the morning, she would probably do so for the rest of the day and maybe even after that too so she figured she needed to stay one step ahead. She also very well knew that Elsa's last class was one hour before hers. The blonde would probably go home knowing Anna wouldn't stop by till later and then leave to avoid a confrontation.

I already skipped one class, why not two more? She kept telling herself to alleviate the situation. She needed to be back in the dorm before Elsa, but as she sat on her bed with her back against the wall and her feet dangling off the edge, she began to feel very impatient. What if Elsa has other plans today? Should I keep calling her?

She stared at her phone, as if magically she would receive some sort of sign that could help her make a decision. Though she did receive a sign, but not from her phone, rather from the opening of a door. Elsa. Her heart skipped a beat and the anticipation pushed her to stand up.

Elsa walked into the dorm and stopped midway after taking a moment to realize Anna was in there as well. She opened her mouth to say something but thought about it better and refused to give her a word.

"I've been trying to reach you all morning," Anna stood awkwardly, not sure on how to approach.

"I was busy," Elsa's voice was monotone.

"Well, I guess I can talk to you now?" Although she intended for that to come out as a claim, it came out more as a question after noticing Elsa's behavior towards her.

"I'm still busy."

"No you're not." Elsa gave her a look as the redhead stomped her foot down, trying to sound serious and make a point.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. You're not busy."

"Even if I wasn't, I'd rather go somewhere else. I wasn't expecting to find you here." That was true, she had underestimated the redhead but she had to give her credit for memorizing her class schedule. She tried to suppress a laugh at the thought of that, hopefully Anna wouldn't read her off easily. Elsa believed she had a right to be upset at her. She looked at Anna, who surprisingly hadn't caught that small sign of weakness in her resolve and tried to make her sigh not too obvious. Anna shifted her eyes, as if she wasn't really prepared for the argument.

"Why didn't you answer my calls?" Anna finally said, her voice sounded quiet, small even.

"I was in class. I thought you knew that."

Anna pursed her lips and nodded. She understood and of course she knew that, she was in such a hurry to explain herself that she kept using the wrong words. "Okay... You know what I mean. You're trying to avoid me Elsa."

"Or maybe I've just been busy."

"But you always respond to my texts..." Elsa noticed how the girl's shoulders sank into her body. Anna was right, but why was Elsa still trying to avoid this conversation? Did she not want to be in good terms with Anna? Maybe despite what she kept telling herself, or the redhead, Samantha still ignited some kind of fury inside of her. In an attempt to not get into another one of their arguments, Elsa picked up her bag and made her way back to the door without saying a word.

Unfortunately for her- or fortunately- she still wasn't sure, Anna was full of surprises that day. Before she dare even touch the door knob, Anna stood in front of the door, extending her arms and spreading her legs in an effort to block the blonde's exit. Elsa cocked her head, confused and motioning for an explanation.

"If I have to stand here all day for you to talk to me, I will and you know it." Anna had the most serious face Elsa had ever seen.

This time, Elsa couldn't and didn't want to hide her exasperated sigh. "Ugh. Are you sure that's what you want Anna? Cause I've got nothing to say. You on the other hand..."

"You're angry at me." it wasn't a question and Elsa didn't take it as one but she couldn't help but notice the hurt behind the redhead's tone.

"Or indifferent."

"No, if you were indifferent you wouldn't be trying to avoid me. I know you, Elsa."

Elsa crossed her arms. "Fair point. Now that we've established that, can you move?"

Anna's arms, which seemed to have grown tired by the way they were lingering midair, shifted up on cue to Elsa's response, which was obviously a no. "I don't want you to be mad at me." Her eyes were pleading.

"Anna..." Elsa tried, it was hard for her to stay mad at Anna then and there, especially with the way that she was acting but then she remembered. "You slept with her, didn't you?"

Anna narrowed her eyes as she processed her thoughts. Sure she had spent the night at Sam's but why would Elsa think she slept with her? "You think I would?"

"Well you sure as hell didn't spend the night here, that much is for sure." She wanted to say so many things, how she had waited for a call from Anna the previous night or how she'd waited up all night for her return only to be reminded that she was definitely not coming by the sound of her morning alarm but she thought better about it. She didn't want to sound desperate or needy or much less attached to someone who didn't seem to reciprocate those feelings.

"I slept at her place, yes. But that's it."

"And I'm supposed to believe that?" Of course she believed that, she trusted Anna and she was sure the redhead wouldn't do something like that especially when they had admitted their feelings towards each other but she wanted to hear her say it.

"Elsa, I wouldn't do something like that. Especially if I don't feel like that about her, she's a friend okay? I... I didn't plan on staying over but I lost track of time and next thing I know I'm already waking up..." She noticed the way Elsa's face softened, "And I should have let you know. I mean, I was but before I left you had already gone inside."

"You could have called, Anna-"

"I should have called, you're right. It was my mistake and the reason why I've been trying to reach you is to apologize." Elsa opened her mouth to say something but Anna wanted to get her feelings out of her chest all at once. "I felt pretty bad about it, I still do. I mean, you do all this things for me and you're willing to tolerate Sam and here I go and screw things up but please believe me when I say that nothing happened between her and I... I'm sorry."

"God, Anna. Why do you do this to me?"

"But I didn't do an-" She was about to protest but Elsa smiled.

"I can't stay mad at you. I really want to but it's impossible."

Anna was relieved and surprised. "You've been mad at me before and I thought you wouldn't talk to me for days..."

"Well it's kind of hard to stay mad at you while you're talking to me in that position," the blonde eyed her from top to bottom and laughed.

"Hey! I couldn't just let you escape alright?" She stood firmly again after stretching around.

"What would you have done if I got through you?"

"You wouldn't have gotten through me, what are you talking about?"

"Oh please, we both know I'm stronger..." Elsa winked.

"We're going to have to test that theory sometime." Anna challenged, not sure how far Elsa was willing to go.

"What do you propose?"

"You don't want to know."

"I wouldn't be asking."

Anna found it best to distract herself with something to do and perhaps that way Elsa wouldn't mind the topic change so much. "So umm..." She searched her head desperately for a different topic, "wait, you never did tell me how Hans was involved with your father's ordeal."

Elsa's smile let Anna know that she had in fact noticed the change in conversation, but the blonde continued anyway. "Ah, yes. Hans is the person who is trying to make business with my father."

"He... He told you?"

"No but I've been connecting the dots, plus he matches the description."

"What made you reach that conclusion?"

Elsa sat on her chair and Anna followed and leaned on the desk next to her. "I've been thinking... My father said someone approached him, right?" Anna nodded, she was there, of course she knew. "At first I thought it would be someone in a high position, like Oaken but I never thought it could be someone like Hans."

"What if it is Oaken?" Anna interrupted.

"It couldn't be him, he would have come to me first or right after meeting with my father."

Anna stared into space, thoughtful. "And what is it about Hans, then?"

"Well," Elsa paused, her thoughts bringing a wicked smile to her face. "You don't honestly think he's been pursuing me just because of my good looks, do you?"

Anna laughed and shook her head, "you never know... but, okay so you think that's the reason?" Somehow that made her feel relieved, at least Hans wasn't really trying to go for something serious with Elsa.

"He took me out to lunch yesterday," that quickly took Anna's attention and the girl stared intensely down at the blonde. "He didn't mention anything about business, he's smart and I know he's trying to do things very carefully."

"I still don't understand." She put her hand up to her chin. "He just took you out to lunch, that doesn't mea-"

"I know it sounds like I'm over analyzing it but you need to hear my logic behind it." Elsa grabbed Anna's other hand which rested in her lap. "No one asks you out for lunch and the first thing they bring up is some tragic childhood memory."

"Where are you getting at? What did he say to you?"

"He just said he lived in poverty when he was a child and that his parents struggled and that's the reason why he is the way that he is."

"Okay, he lived in poverty, so what?"

"There's a reason why he told me that Anna... His "story" may or may not be true but why would he tell it to me?" Anna narrowed her eyes and then gasped at the realization; she finally knew where Elsa was getting at. "He wants me to confide in him. It's a mind game," concluded Elsa.

"He wants you to trust him but for what reason?"

"He's planning something and I don't know what yet, maybe I'm just too mistrusting but I know he's up to something."

"Well, what are you going to do about it?"

"I don't know yet. He doesn't know I know something's up so I can definitely use that to my advantage. Once I figure out what he's up to I can start playing my own games. He did ask about my parents right after which seems suspicious enough, don't you think?"

"Ugh, don't get me wrong. I thought he was attractive when I first met him but now I just want to shave his sideburns off!"

Elsa chuckled, "I don't know whether to be alarmed or laugh it off."

"Did you tell him anything about them? Your parents, I mean," the redhead asked after a nod.

"I was very vague. He didn't seem satisfied, that's for sure."

"You amaze me sometimes, I would have never known it was Hans if it was me in your position."

"Don't underestimate yourself. I wouldn't have skipped class today to come and kidnap me if I was in your position."

"Kidnap?! Pfft, this is not even close to a kidnap."

Elsa giggled, "oh yeah? What is it then?"

Anna thought about it for a few seconds. "Umm, it was more of an intervention."

"Intervention for what?" The blonde was amused, now that she had to stop pretending to be mad at Anna, she could really be and enjoy herself.

"To get some sense into you!" Anna lightly poked Elsa's forehead with her index finger several times. Elsa just scrunched her nose and closed her eyes, causing her forehead to wrinkle. "Hey! Stop tickling me!" She jerked away.

"You started it. You always do."

"Yeah, it's always my fault, huh?" She was being sarcastic.

"I'm glad you admit it." Anna stared at her with an incredulous look on her face, amazement or confusion? Elsa didn't know. "And now you're staring..."

"I'm... I'm not staring. I'm admiring, there's a difference." That made Elsa blush but she was enjoying the attention. "You know? I was thinking..."

"What's that?" Elsa asked.

"I know we got off to a shaky start and I know we agreed to take things slow," she clarified. "-but that doesn't mean we can't, you know go out and stuff? I mean, we don't have to or you don't have to agree if you don't want to. I'm not forcing you to but it'd be nice, I would enjoy it very much. So I was wonde-"

"Yes, Anna." Elsa was staring at her with a big grin on her face to which the redhead was oblivious.

"I would totally understand if you didn't, no hard feelings or anything. I just figured I might as well ask."

Afraid that Anna wouldn't stop rambling, Elsa stood up and grabbed the girl's wrists. "Anna!" The redhead finally stopped, "I said yes..."

She said yes... wow, she said yes!She couldn't hide her excitement, nor did she want to, so she did the only thing that she could think of and shockingly enough, Elsa was up for it. The redhead held Elsa's face in between her hands as soon as the blonde let go of her. Perhaps the hungry kiss took Elsa a bit by surprise but she kept up with the pace soon enough, placing her hands on Anna's small waist.

The redhead chuckled and broke the kiss.

"What now?" Elsa looked at her curiously.

"Nothing, I just... I need to make sure you're not afraid of heights or anything. You don't have any phobias I should be aware of?"

"You're starting to worry me... Maybe I should have said no," Elsa joked and Anna pouted. "-but no, not that I'm aware of."

"Good." Anna leaned in for another kiss but Elsa placed her hand on the redhead's chest and stopped her.

"Hold on... What are you planning?"

"It's a surprise, I can't tell you." She pursed her lips.

"Do I need to make you tell me?"

"You wouldn't. All you need to know is that you're in for a hell of a ride. I want you to feel the rush I feel whenever I look at you, but maybe even then it won't compare."

Elsa didn't say anything then, all she did was smile and caress the girl's cheek after which she leaned in for another kiss.

AN: Woah, 30 chapters already? It's been a good journey, don't you guys think?

So I know I took a while writing this chapter but I honestly didn't know how to further develop the plot. I now have a more concrete timeline and next chapter is also almost finished. I think you'll like it considering I've enjoyed writing it. Things are finally looking up for the two girls, don't you think?

I'd love to hear from you guys!

Beta: Bijnaam.