A/N: I'm pretty bad at keeping to a fairly consistent update schedule, huh?
Well, this chapter has been in the works for awhile and I hope it was worth the wait. It's currently 2:30 am where I live, and I have no regrets in spending the past 4 hours writing this for all you wonderful people.
Also, I've noticed that there are a few individuals who comment on nearly every chapter: Elsanna Fan 1, Claire Cooper, DoubleConciousness, Sir V, malekoydaerb, and ajunebuga. I notice your names in the reviews most often. Y'all are awesome. (If there are more of you that frequently comment that I skipped over, let me know and I'll make up for it next chapter. :p )
As of 11/11/2014, there are 161 of you following this story and you all rock.
And I'm rambling.
Enjoy!
"So, a little birdie mentioned that today was somebodies birthday." Elsa noted with a cheery tone as she walked into the classroom and took her regular seat next to Rapunzel, who was completely engrossed in what appeared to be a new book. The brunette gently shut the book and smiled at Elsa when she sat down, greeting her with a short nod.
"Did this little birdie happen to have long, braided pigtails?" Rapunzel asked, shifting in her seat so that she could properly address Elsa.
"This morning, yes. Although she seems to have taken a liking to wearing it down the past week or so." The blonde replied as she took out her notebook and pencil from her bag.
"Ever since she went on that date, huh?" Rapunzel shrugged. "She told me it went really well and that she was looking forward to even more dates with this girl."
Elsa smiled to herself, concealing the little joy she took in Rapunzel's naivety towards the fact that she still didn't know who Anna had went on a date with. At first, Elsa was slightly offended at how Anna kept Rapunzel in the dark. But after she had explained it to her, she decided to go along with the joke and keep it from Rapunzel for a while. "I've heard the same. I've also heard that this other girl is looking forward to more dates with Anna as well."
"I'm happy for her. She never really looked like she enjoyed herself around the guys she's dated." Rapunzel rubbed the back of her neck and leaned back in her seat. "Her face just lights up when she talks about this new girl. It's nice to see her so happy."
Warmth flooded Elsa's face as she was sure she was blushing at the comment from the girl across from her. Imagining Anna light up when talking about her made the blonde's heart beat just a little faster. She couldn't help that small smile that was slowly taking over her face, and she decided to switch the subject before her actions gave anything away. "So, what are you doing for your birthday?" Elsa asked, already knowing the answer from conversations with Anna.
"The fair is in town! This evening I'm heading downtown with Anna, Jasmine, and Merida." Rapunzel hastily replied, voice full of obvious excitement. "Will you come too, Elsa? It'll be fun, I promise! There's even supposed to be fireworks later on and the entire fairground will be covered in lights!"
Elsa chuckled and gave an affirming nod, much to Rapunzel's excitement. The request came at somewhat of a surprise to the blonde. Anna had invited her to go, but she declined the offer stating that it wasn't right for her to randomly show up to something she wasn't invited to. Especially considering Rapunzel didn't know her too well. "I'd be glad to."
"It'll be perfect! If only Eugene cou-"
Rapunzel was cut off when the entire room suddenly became quiet, she shifted her gaze down to the front of the room where the professor had just walked in and brought up a powerpoint on the screen. "So, who's ready to learn about derivatives?"
"Anna!"
Anna's wide eyes shot up to meet Elsa's as the candy bar she had taken a gluttonous bite out of fell onto the table. She picked it back up and inspected it before sticking it back into her mouth. "Yeah?"
"I asked you a question." Elsa asked coyly before closing her notebook and shoved her pencil into the rings.
"Oh yeah, sorry. What was that?" Anna asked as she shoved the rest of the candy bar into her bag. She had woken up late and didn't get a chance to eat breakfast before coming to class. The moment her class went out she made a mad dash towards the vending machines in the study hall where she coincidentally also agreed to meet Elsa.
Elsa rolled her eyes but couldn't help but smile a little. "What should I get your cousin for her birthday?"
Anna scratched the back of her head, propped her elbows on the table, and rested her head in her hands. "She's not really one for gifts. Honestly, she just enjoys spending time with friends. It's strange though, her birthday always seems to fall on local fairs and stuff." She shrugged and leaned back in her seat. "Any kind of nighttime event with lights or fireworks, really."
"Are you sure? I'll feel awful if she's expecting something and I show up empty handed." Elsa added, sounding a little uncertain. Anna realized that this obviously meant more to Elsa than she thought. Reaching across the table and taking the blonde's hands in hers, Anna looked up and waited for Elsa's shifting eyes to catch her own. The moment they did, Elsa's entire demeanor seemed to shift and she took a deep breath.
"I know my cousin, Elsa. She'll be happy simply that you're there." Anna said and added a reassuring smile. When the woman across from her returned the gesture, Anna could swear she felt her heart skip a beat. There was something about the blonde's smile that she couldn't exactly put her finger on, the more comfortable she grows around Elsa, the more she wants to see her smile. The past few days since their first date weren't as awkward as Anna subconsciously feared they would be. Things between the girls really hadn't changed a whole lot. Except now there was more hand holding and kissing. Which I have absolutely no problem with… Anna realized how long she had been blankly staring at Elsa while she talked, probably about Rapunzel's birthday, and shook her head slightly to regain her senses.
"-and I've never even been on a Ferris wheel." Elsa finished, seemingly unknown to the fact that Anna barely heard a word she said. But, that last little tidbit was all Anna needed.
"Never been on a Ferris wheel!?" She nearly shouted, breaking the calm of the room. Realizing how she startled Elsa, she nervously cleared her throat as she brought down her voice several registers. "Never been on a Ferris wheel?" She asked again, this time much more quiet.
"Anna, my grandmother barely let us out of the house to go to school. Why would she let us go to any event which would involve a Ferris wheel?" The blonde replied and pulled Anna's hands up to her chin before resting her head comfortably on the redhead's knuckles.
"Not even on birthdays or holidays?" Anna asked, trying her best to not insult Elsa or make her feel bad in anyway shape or form.
Elsa shrugged and shifted her eyes to a blank spot on the floor. "If we did, it was something small. For my thirteenth birthday we went to the movie theater. Fifteenth, we went to the mall for professional photographs, I think."
"Well, how about we think of tonight as a way to make up for all of those celebrations you missed out on?" Anna excitedly offered with a small grin. "It may be Rapunzel's birthday, but you'll still be hanging out with pretty cool people at a fair for goodness sakes!" She clicked her tongue, winked, and put on the cockiest face she could muster. "And me, of course."
"Are you asking me out on another date, Ms. Aren?" Elsa asked with an inflection in her voice that caused a chill to shoot down Anna's spine. She let go of Anna's hands, crossed her arms, and leaned back in her chair. Sometimes, it was strange for Anna to see Elsa have this kind of confidence. It wasn't just around Anna, either. It seemed like Elsa was coming out of her self-built shell a little more every day. But, remembering the shy and awkward girl that Anna first met a few weeks ago, it's strange knowing that they're the same person. And Anna was genuinely happy for Elsa.
"Well, it is my cousin's birthday…" Anna started before leaning on the table. "But I could probably manage to steal you away for a ride on the Ferris wheel." She crossed her arms and did her best to imitate the girl in front of her. "If that's no issue with you, Ms. Delle."
Elsa was the first to break the form when she couldn't hold back a giggle. Anna soon followed and before long they were hand in hand again. "I'm thinking about skipping econ to take Rapunzel out to a late lunch before heading over to the fair." She shrugged before locking eyes with the blonde on the other side of the table. "I know you don't have any classes on a Friday afternoon. Wanna come?"
"That depends, where are you taking her?"
"Probably Tony's, it's close to campus and I could get whatever I want there for free." Anna added. Which was true, ever since she took Kristoff's recommendation to apply for a job there, she began to take advantage of everything that was available to her. This included eating there for free, as long as she replaced whatever she ate. Free food and all she had to do was cook what she ate later? It was a no brainer for Anna.
"Is that even legal?" Elsa asked with a small chuckle.
"I don't know. I don't even think I'm legally hired. I literally just walked in, asked about a job, and he tossed me an apron and a hair net." Anna replied with a chuckle of her own and adjusted her hands so that her fingers were interlocked with Elsa's. "Tony says I'm the best cook he's had in years, and he pays me for doing what I enjoy. I can't really complain about legalities."
"Has he added jerk chicken to the menu?" Elsa asked again with a large grin across her face. Anna scrunched her face and scoffed in return. "You know I'm only playing with you." Elsa added.
"I'm well aware, blondie. Eventually when I beat you at chess, I'd like to see how you fare cooking chicken fajitas with a beautiful woman in your kitchen." Anna teasingly retorted. She shrugged before making eye contact with her girlfriend. "Which means I'll have to put a mirror in the kitchen."
A slight blush came across Elsa's face, which came with a slight smirk. "Smooth, Anna."
"Thanks. I've been saving that one for a couple days now." Anna admitted and brushed back a strand of hair behind her ear. "So, you in for lunch?" Just as Anna asked, an audible gurgling noise was emitted from the other side of the table, causing Elsa to jerk back and cross her arms across her stomach in embarrassment and Anna to giggle. "Come on, Rapunzel will be getting out of class soon and I told her we'd be waiting in the parking lot." Elsa nodded curtly in agreement as she promptly stood up, making sure to interlock her fingers with Anna's the moment she was ready to leave.
"Your cousin still doesn't know about us?" Elsa asked as they entered the hallway which was fairly empty save for a person here and there seated with their nose in a book. Anna looked over at the blonde and shook her head.
"At this point, I think it's kind of funny to see her frustrated over being in the dark about it." Anna mentioned with a small chuckle. "She's threatened me more than once that she'll introduce my face to her frying pan like she did her boyfriend awhile back."
"I'll never understand what it is with her and frying pans." Elsa commented as the pair entered the parking lot.
"You don't have to understand it, you just have to be cautious about it. I mean sheesh." Anna stopped in her tracks and turned Elsa so that they were face to face. "I've seen her toss one clear across her living room just to kill a fly that had been bugging her for hours. She hit it dead on, and I nearly needed a new pair of pants."
"That's sounds…" Elsa nervously coughed and gazed to the side. "tactical?"
Anna shrugged before the pair continued on their way towards Rapunzel's car. "She's normally a really nice person. But, wow, you uh-" She rubbed the back of her neck and leaned against the car when they reached their destination. "-you do not want to get on her bad side."
"Noted."
Anna was about to open her mouth to speak, but was cut off when Rapunzel appeared out of seemingly nowhere behind her. "Well, hey you two." Rapunzel greeted as she rounded the car and unlocked the driver's side door. Anna made sure her and Elsa weren't holding hands before entering the passenger side.
"I'm glad you could make it, Elsa!" Rapunzel cheerily said as she turned her head to smile at the blonde in the back seat. "Jasmine and Merida will meet us over at the fairgrounds later, they're both still in class."
"Have you heard anything about Eugene?" Anna asked as she took no time to blast the air conditioner as the car started. "I know you mentioned that he was trying to get out of work today." She took off her drawstring bag and placed it in her lap, drumming her fingers silently on the box inside of it. The same box that Eugene had entrusted her to give to Rapunzel later.
Rapunzel shrugged as she pulled out of the parking lot. "I don't think he'll be making it, Anna-banana. He mentioned something about 'lumps and bumps that oozes.'" She grimaced once she finished her sentence, giving a half smile when she heard Elsa chuckle in the back seat. "So, Anna." She turned to meet her cousin's expectant gaze. "Tell me more about the date you went on last night."
Anna chuckled nervously, taking a quick glance at the wide-eyed blonde in the back seat. She rubbed the back of her neck nervously as her cousin waited expectedly. "Why uh-" Another glance at Elsa. "-what do you want to know? I've told you everything about it." It seemed as if the air in the car just got a little thicker as Anna's breaths started to become heavier by the moment. Rapunzel turned her head back towards the road before looking into the rearview mirror, straight at Elsa. A cocky grin grew across her face. Anna has seen this look before, and she knew exactly what was about to happen. She gripped the fabric of her shorts and began to nervously rub the fabric between her fingers. This is either going to go really good, or really… not so good.
"So Elsa, did you at least kiss my cousin goodnight?" The words from Rapunzel's mouth seemed to echo through the car for a brief moment. Anna twisted in her seat so she could look at Elsa, she couldn't help but smile when she saw her bewildered face. She's cute when she gets caught off guard. Elsa noticed that, and the bewildered look quickly relaxed and was placed with a smug grin.
"I would have loved to." She giggled and crossed her arms across her stomach. "But she fell asleep on top of me the moment we sat down on the couch."
"Anna!" Rapunzel laughed as she playfully shoved Anna, causing her head to bump against the window. "Jasmine and I told you to be calm, but not so calm so that you fall asleep on the woman!" She laughed again and rolled her eyes, clearly not taking any offense to being kept in the dark about her cousin and her roommate.
Anna recalled that night, waiting up for Elsa on the couch while she was in the bathroom. She had just began calming down once all of the nerves left her, and the day's events quickly took their toll on her. By the time Elsa joined her on the couch, she was half gone already. All it took was for her to sit down so that Anna could crawl up to her and fall asleep. Despite being on a couch and in a fairly awkward position, it was probably the best sleep she had gotten in a long while. Although Elsa's skin is always fairly cool to the touch, that night she was warm and inviting. The very memory of that night made Anna a little drowsy. "How did you find out anyway, Punzpunz?" Anna asked.
"Merida-"
"That explains so much." Elsa commented as she rolled her eyes and smiled.
"Definitely. I ran into her this morning when I invited her to go with us tonight, and she brought up running into you two in the hallway with a basket full of Anna's underwear." Rapunzel added as she pulled up next to the entrance of the restaurant, which was barely more than a hole in the wall.
"I think you'll be pleased to know that I'm wearing underwear today-" Anna started before being cut off from the blonde who flew forward from the back seat and pushed her way between the cousins. Rapunzel brushed blonde hair from her face as Anna barely had any room to breathe.
"So you weren't wearing any that night! That's why Merida had the basket!" Elsa excitedly shouted as the conclusion finally dawned on her. "It wasn't Mr. Oaken at all!"
Rapunzel pushed the last blonde strain from her face as she tried her best to awkwardly peer across the blonde's head. "What about Mr. Oaken?"
"I'll tell you during lunch." Anna giggled as she took the moment to surprise Elsa with a short peck on the lips. "I'm paying."
"But it's free." Rapunzel chimed in before the trio left the car and entered the restaurant.
Upon arriving at the fairgrounds, Elsa wasn't too sure what she expected. The sun was set low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the entire field as a few stalls already began to turn on lights. It wasn't as crowded as she feared, but it was still fairly early. Everything smelled like popcorn and sugar, two scents she actually enjoyed on their own. But when put together, it made her stomach turn slightly. She instinctively gripped Anna's hand and when Anna noticed this, she began to reassuringly rub her thumb across the back of Elsa's hand. She took her eyes off of the various stalls and noticed the large Ferris wheel towards the back of the fairground, dwarfing the other assorted rides around it.
"Isn't this great, Elsa?" Anna asked with a large grin across her face as the turned to face the blonde. The ringing of assorted bells, whistles, and circus-like tunes filled her ears and it took her a moment to fully process what Anna had said.
"It's certainly like nothing I've never experienced." Elsa commented as she crossed her free arm across her stomach. To her surprise, she was more excited about the fair rather than nervous or even terrified. She figured as long as she stayed near Anna, Rapunzel, Jasmine and Merida, nothing could really go wrong. It brought a kind of comfort to her which she couldn't explain.
"It's your birthday, Rapunzel. I think it's only fit that you decide what we do first." Jasmine mentioned, breaking Elsa out of the small trance she was in. She just recently met Jasmine the very moment they arrived at the fairgrounds, and she was fairly intimidated by the respect she seemed to demand just by her stance and the confidence she exuded. But, Anna seemed to trust her. And that was enough to calm her nerves.
"You see those swings?" Rapunzel commented as she pointed towards the ride near the center of the fairgrounds. Although not as tall as the Ferris wheel, it still managed to dwarf everything around it. Elsa could hear the glee filled screams of the patrons extended into the air by the ride, and at first it frightened her. But the more she saw the swings swing around, the more entertaining it began to work.
"Last one there has to eat last weeks haggis!" Merida shouted as she scrambled out of the small group and dashed towards the line for the ride, nearly crashing into several people on her way.
"What's haggis?" Anna asked innocently, turning her head towards Elsa with a face that looked to be a mixture of curiosity and slight disgust.
"It has something to do with sheep organs stuffed inside the sheep's stomach, I think." Jasmine answered before Elsa could open her mouth. "Whatever it is, I don't think I want to eat it." She chuckled as she quickly caught up to the redhead who had nearly tripped over her own feet. Elsa jerked and nearly stumbled as Anna dashed towards the pair, Rapunzel in tow. Finally regaining her composure upon reaching the back of the line, she realized exactly how many people were around her. The line had begun to quickly fill, circling the fence that acted as a barrier to the ride. She crossed her free arm over her stomach again, feeling the knots that began to form.
"You're wearing clean knickers tonight, right Anna?" Merida teased, forming a large grin when she saw Anna scoff and roll her eyes.
"I appreciate the favor, Merida. But is this going to be a running thing with you?" Anna replied with a hint of disdain in her voice.
Merida shrugged and stuck both her hands in her back pockets. "Probably, to be completely honest with you."
"What's this about underwear, Anna?" Jasmine chimed in, trying to cover her sly grin with her hand.
"It's… a long story." Anna played off, casting a sideward glance towards Elsa who couldn't help but smile at the banter between the girls.
"Not really. She asked me to throw in some of her laundry so she'd have some in time for her big fancy date thing." Merida explained as she took a large stride towards the moving line.
"Running into her in the hall was pure luck." Rapunzel commented, getting her two cents into the conversation.
"Yeah. Luck. Sure." Anna rolled her eyes and leaned her head onto Elsa's shoulder.
"Well, I suppose it worked out in the end." Jasmine added, sizing up the two women. She grinned to herself and turned toward the shifting line. "You two look adorable together.
"Than-" Both of the girls started to say in unison, stumbling over their words to allow the other to finish their statement. Eventually, Anna started giggling too hard to say anything audible and Elsa nodded towards Jasmine. "Thank you." She said between small chuckles. Before someone else could speak, they were all alerted to the attendant who had gotten their attention, letting them know it was their turn on the ride. Elsa recognized the masculine voice, and upon reaching the man, Anna broke off from her side to give the man a fist bump.
"Kristoff, you dolt. What are you doing here?" Anna asked as the group, save for Elsa, moved past her to take their seats as the gate closed.
"Oh, hey Anna." Kristoff said and nodded towards Elsa, who returned the gesture. "Elsa" He shrugged and gestured towards an open row of seats. "Working here gives me something to do tonight other than deliver pizza. Plus, they pay more than minimum wage an hour."
Anna lifted herself up to the suspended swing and buckled the belt across her waist. "If you ask Tony, I'm sure he'll give you a raise."
Elsa remained silent as she took her seat next to Anna, buckling her own belt and taking her girlfriend's hand in her own.
"Yeah, but I owe a lot to the man. I don't want to impose and push any boundaries." Kristoff commented before waving off the girls and returning to the gate. The moment he picked up on a signal given by another worker, he flipped a switch and the ride began.
As the swings slowly began their ascent, Elsa became aware of the growing distance between her and the ground. Shifting her body weight, she was able to move the swings fairly easily. Even though she knew this had to be normal, it still bothered her slightly. It wasn't long before Anna noticed this and got her attention.
"It'll be fun. I promise." Anna reassured as Elsa let herself relax, enjoying the view of the entire fairground. More people began to fill in the assorted stalls and tents as the sun was now barely peaking over the horizon. And just then, the ride began and they were soon swinging around the large central column of the ride. The air rushing over her face was its own certain kind of thrill, never mind the height. She managed to look over at Anna who had a large grin spread across her face, and amongst the screams of the patrons behind and in front her, she could hear Anna giggling beside her. Anna's cheerful demeanor was contagious as she soon found herself smiling, and even laughing, herself. She suddenly felt free to a certain degree. Free from and kind of stress and troubles on the ground. Amongst the screams and laughter, she could distinctly hear Merida screaming from somewhere behind her. Anna soon noticed Elsa looking at her as the ride began to slow down, and she swung her arm around, planting her hand on the back of the blonde's head. Pulling her in for another quick kiss, her feet gently hit the ground again as Anna backed up and smiled.
When the group finally departed off the ride, they found themselves situated on a large table next to a stall selling cotton candy and other assorted sweets. Merida had managed to take a detour on the way to the table, and she eventually joined the rest of the girls at the table with a large turkey leg. From the looks of it, she appeared to be trying to stick as much as it in her face as she could. "Merida?" Rapunzel asked, breaking the ambient conversation.
Merida just grunted in response, looking up towards the brunette with wide eyes and mouth full of turkey.
"Whatcha doing there, buddy?" She asked with a hint of a grin and a light chuckle.
Merida managed to swallow the massive bite before setting the behemoth of a turkey leg on the table and wiping the leftover grease off her face with her sleeve. "Stuffing my gob. Why?" She asked innocently before taking another massive bite.
"Is it good?" Jasmine chimed in, just as Merida swallowed the bite and wiped her mouth with her sleeve again.
At this point, Elsa decided to excuse herself from the table. When Anna got up to join her, she sat her back down at the table as she went off on her own towards the stall selling all of the sweets. She reached into her back pocket and pulled out her wallet as the attendant leaned over the counter. "What can I get for you?" The young man asked as he gestured up towards the menu above the counter.
"Um-" Elsa started as she pulled out a bill and stuck her wallet back into her pocket. "Could I get some cotton candy, please?" She asked timidly as she rubbed the bill between her thumb and index finger.
"Sure thing, what flavor?" He asked as he turned his back to pick up a cone.
"Regular, please." Elsa replied as she turned towards the table real quick to find things just as she left them moments ago. Merida stuffing her face, with Rapunzel and Jasmine watching in awe, trying their best not to laugh.
"What size?" The man asked, causing Elsa to turn back towards the stall. She pondered for a moment before giving her answer. Paying the man, she said thank you as she took the large cone and made her back toward the table. When she sat back down and picked off a piece to place in her mouth, she found Anna staring at her with a small smile gracing her lips.
"I'm proud of you, you know." Anna said under her breath.
"What for?" Elsa asked as she offered the cone to Anna, who took off a piece and stuck it in her mouth.
"A few weeks ago, there's no way you would have done that on your own." She stuck another piece in her mouth and shrugged. "It's really nice to see you coming out of your shell, is all."
Elsa couldn't help but smile and shake her head. "I have you to thank for that." She tore off a piece of the cotton candy. "After meeting you, I learned that I jumped to conclusions way too quickly about people." Noticing Rapunzel casting a glance towards the cotton candy, Elsa offered it to her. The brunette quickly tore off a piece and thanked the blonde before returning to her conversation with Jasmine and Merida.
"Not everyone is as nice and chill as the people you've met so far." Anna chuckled to herself. "Some people out there can be real assholes."
Elsa handed off the cone to Anna as she took her hand in hers and nudged a little closer. "I have no doubt about that. But still, it's nice to finally realize that isn't the case with everyone." The evening had begun to cool down drastically, and even though it didn't bother Elsa, she still enjoyed the warmth that seemed to radiate off of Anna. Suddenly, Elsa jolted slightly when she felt Anna's pocket vibrate against her thigh. Pulling out her phone, Anna quickly handed the cone back to Elsa as she stood up from the table.
"I have to go to the uh… bathroom?" She looked down at Elsa's concerned face and winked. "Yeah. Bathroom." She said again as Elsa watched her confidently stride towards wherever it was she was going.
"So, how did you meet Anna, Elsa?" Jasmine asked when Anna had disappeared into the ever growing crowd. Elsa turned her head towards Jasmine and gave a short shrug.
"She's my roommate. We live in the large building across from the main building." Elsa explained as Jasmine nodded, and gestured toward the cotton candy. Elsa gave a quick nod as she ripped off a piece and placed it in her mouth.
"Those rooms reserved for the post-grads and honors students?" She asked again after she swallowed her bite of cotton candy. The more Jasmine spoke, the less Elsa felt intimidated from her. The more she spoke, the more she felt like a person instead of some deity or important political figure.
"It's kind of a long story. But, yeah. Your sister punches your roommate in the face and you end up dating her." Elsa chuckled and visibly dropped her shoulders. The thought of Aleks was something she tried to avoid, the wounds from their fallout still fairly fresh.
"So it was your sister that punched her in the face?" Rapunzel angrily asked, butting into the conversation. Her eyebrows had come together, and her normally cheery face was replaced with something much more cross. Elsa rubbed her thumb against her palm underneath the table and lowered her head, suddenly wishing she had worn her hoodie tonight.
"Y-yeah." Elsa timidly admitted. Not wanting to look up towards Rapunzel, she shifted in her seat and tried to further explain. "I had nothing to do with it." She muttered under her breath.
"Elsa, Anna had shown up to dinner that night all torn up about something. It took me days to get her to tell me what happened, but she wouldn't tell me who." Rapunzel continued, seemingly growing more aggressive as she spoke. "You couldn't stop her?" She finished as Elsa noticed her digging her nails into the wood of the table.
"I-If I had known, I would have, Rapunzel." Elsa tried to explain as calmly as she could, fighting back a pressure behind her eyes that she was all too familiar with. She clenched her fists under the table, knowing what would happen if she isn't able to keep emotion in control. Elsa looked up for a moment to notice Jasmine get Rapunzel's attention and whispered something. Rapunzel slowly sat back and brushed back a strand of hair that had gotten in her face.
"I know, Elsa." Rapunzel started, soon returning to her normal cheery disposition. "It's just that Anna has been through a lot, I don't want to see even more nonsense piled onto her plate." She finished, crossing her arms and leaning forward with a half-smile to try and alleviate the situation.
"It's o-okay. I understand." Elsa said as she looked back up towards the brunette who now had a full smile across her face. This helped a little, as Elsa unclenched her fists and drummed her fingers against her thighs. "I wouldn't do anything to hurt Anna." She said confidently, trying her best to match the smile from Rapunzel.
"I believe you." Rapunzel noted with a nod.
"Doesn't make your sister any less of a ninny." Merida chimed in as she finally finished devouring the monster turkey leg.
The next half hour or so was filled with idle chatter, at one point Jasmine had disappeared and came back with a funnel cake to share with the group. The sun had finally finished setting, and now every stall was lit up with bright lights and neon. There was also a visible change in Rapunzel, who seemed to have a permanent grin stuck on her face. The large Ferris wheel towards the back of the fairground was brightest, with assorted lights and neon lighting up the entire wheel and then some. Elsa was sure that the fair was at full capacity at this point, people partaking in different rides, games, or simply sitting around and enjoying nice company like Elsa was at that moment. After a while, Elsa began to grow slightly worried about Anna and considered texting her asking if she was okay. Just as she pulled her phone out, her attention was turned to Rapunzel who had launched herself off of the table and bolted toward a figure coming around one of the stalls.
"Eugene!" Rapunzel shrieked as she nearly jumped into the man's arms. He gave a hearty chuckle before wrapping her into a close hug. Anna appeared behind him, and Elsa promptly stood up to greet her.
"Hey there, you." Eugene said as he nodded towards Anna, Elsa, and the other two who were still seated at the table.
"I thought you couldn't get off work?" Rapunzel asked as she kissed the man and looked up at him with the same large grin.
"I pulled some strings." He replied with a cocky grin as he gestured towards Anna. "Your cousin here made sure I knew where to find you."
"That's where you ran off to?" Elsa asked, turning towards the redhead. Anna nodded before laying her head on the blonde's shoulders and held Elsa's hand with both of hers.
"Nineteenth birthday, huh?" Eugene commented as he scanned his surroundings, shielding his eyes from some of the brighter lights. "What's up with you and lights?" He chuckled and kissed Rapunzel on the forehead.
"How long are you staying?" Rapunzel asked as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Elsa couldn't help but smile at this display. She had heard a lot about this man through Anna and Rapunzel, and she had grown a bit of a respect for the man despite not actually meeting him. Elsa laid her head against Anna's.
"Get a room, ninny!" Merida shouted as she stood from the table to join the rest of the group, followed shortly by Jasmine who probably had half of the funnel cake in her mouth. Merida looked up at the woman and shook her head, causing Jasmine to roll her eyes and lightly slap her shoulder.
"Glad to see you haven't changed, Merida." Eugene laughed, much to Rapunzel's confusion.
"You know Merida?"
"I've had a run in with her father a few times back when I was hanging around the wrong crowd." Eugene explained as he shrugged and casually stuck his hand in his back pocket. "I'm only here for the night, unfortunately. But-" He began as he looked over towards Anna who was nodding furiously with a large grin. "There's something I'd like to ask you, Rapunzel." He seemed to be growing more nervous, with a slight shake in his voice when he said Rapunzel's name.
"What's going on, Anna?" Elsa whispered only to be greeted by Anna gingerly placing a finger over her lips, effectively silencing her.
"How long have we been dating now?" Eugene nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "Awhile. A long while." He chuckled as he drummed his fingers on his back pocket. "And it's crazy, because at first, I never could have ever guessed that you would have such a large impact in my life."
"It has been a pretty crazy ride so far, right?" Rapunzel commented as she rested her head against the man's chest. It was clear to Elsa that Eugene meant a lot to Rapunzel, and it warmed her heart to see this kind of love in person rather than a storybook or movie.
"Rapunzel, I spent all of those days, years, without you chasing down some unreachable daydream." He looked over once more towards Anna for a much needed confidence boost. "Before meeting you, I just wanted to live on my own, living in a mansion made of hundred dollar bills." He cleared his throat before continuing. "I was living in a blur. But now, you're here. You're here, and you're looking up at me, blinking in the starlight. You're here, and it's crystal clear where I'm meant to go." And then, Eugene pulled a small black box out of his pocket and got down on one knee.
"Eugene, what are y-"
"Rapunzel, my entire world has shifted because of you. And at last, I see the light." He pulled open the black box, revealing a small engagement ring that seemed to glimmer in the lights. "I love you, Rapunzel. And now I'm asking you to marry me."
It wasn't long before Rapunzel fell to her knees, only to have Eugene lunge forward to support her. Elsa could see the tears beginning to pour down the sides of her face, and it felt as if the entire world paused for a moment while everyone waited for her response. This display even caused several patrons to stop dead in their tracks to watch what was going on. She felt Anna grip her hand as she heard her sniffle, and when Elsa looked down, she noticed the tears collecting in Anna's eyes. Elsa noticed that even Merida was standing completely still. At that moment, Rapunzel muttered something under her breath.
Eugene placed his hand underneath her chin and lifted her head with a smile. "What was that?" He asked calmly as the entire world stood still around them.
"I said yes, Eugene." She lunged toward him, tackling him onto the ground in a fit of crying and laughter. "Yes, I'll marry you."
The crowd that had gathered around the two erupted in a vigorous cheer and celebration, shouting their congratulations to the two as they continued to lie on the ground laughing and crying. When they finally got back up to their feet, Rapunzel wiped her face and punched Anna in the shoulder.
"You knew about this and didn't tell me?" She asked through the tears she couldn't stop. Her hair was sticking to her face, eyeliner smudged and tears streaming down her face. Still, she looked like she couldn't be any happier. She returned to Eugene's side, who promptly took the ring out of the box and slid it onto her finger. Taking a moment to admire the ring, Rapunzel soon raised her head and looked at her friends gathered around her. It seemed as if everyone was wiping a tear from their eyes, or in Anna's case, a lot of them. "Thank you all for coming tonight." She said as she looked up towards her new fiancé and kissed him on the cheek.
Anna wrapped her arms around Elsa and soon began to embrace the blonde. "I'm happy for her." She muttered into Elsa's shirt.
Elsa returned the hug and rested her chin on Anna's head. "I am too." She admitted as she wiped a tear from the corner of her eye that was about to fall. Suddenly, Anna took her by the hand and pulled her towards the crowd.
"I believe I made you a promise." Anna mentioned as she continued to drag a stumbling Elsa through the fairgrounds.
Elsa eventually managed to regain her composure and match Anna's speed as she whisked around stalls, people, poles, anything in her way. It wasn't long before the two found themselves at the gate of the Ferris wheel, which was much larger up close than it was at the front of the fairground. "Are you sure about this, Anna?" She asked, slightly nervous at the large construct in front of her.
"Elsa, I just saw my cousin and best friend get engaged to the love of her life. I want nothing more than to be with you, right now, on that Ferris wheel. Humor me, okay?" She stated simply as she looked up at Elsa and smiled.
Elsa couldn't argue her with that point. It wasn't long before the two of them were seated onto one of the carts, and the wheel slowly began to turn. The higher they got, the smaller everyone on the ground got. Elsa was even able to point out Merida and Jasmine at one of the game booths, with Eugene and Rapunzel seated at one of the tables near them. After a couple minutes, Elsa deemed the Ferris wheel much more enjoyable than the swings. It was slow, leisure, and calming. And best of all, she had Anna snuggled up next to her with her face buried in her shoulder.
"Elsa?"
"Ye-" She was cut off when Anna pulled her in for a kiss. This time was different, though. It was much more passionate than the normal quick kisses she was used to. She didn't mind the change, though. Their lips seemed to conform to each other's perfectly, and when Anna pulled away, Elsa found herself trying to linger on for just a moment more. "What was that for?" Elsa asked softly with a small giggle as Anna lifted herself off of the seat and onto Elsa's lap.
"Indulge me." Anna muttered softly under her breath.
The added weight didn't bother her, but the look in Anna's eyes was something else to be discussed. Their usual glimmer was replaced with a subtle, sultry gaze as she closed them and kissed Elsa again. She could feel Anna bring her hand up to Elsa's cheek and she lightly scraped her nails against her face. It sent a chill down her spine that she had never felt before, and she liked it. Possibly even craved it. She wrapped her arms around Anna's waist, and when she did, she could feel Anna's tongue glide against her bottom lip. This took her as surprise, and she inhaled sharply, Anna noticed this and a small mewl escaped her throat and vibrated against Elsa's lips. This was the breaking point for Elsa as she dug her nails into Anna's waist and parted her lips, welcoming Anna's tongue as it caressed hers. The two didn't fight for dominance as much as they danced with each other. It was a strange sensation for Elsa, but she couldn't get enough of it. She became aware of every nerve in her body. The weight of Anna, the fabric of her clothes against her skin, the cool breeze that tickled her skin. She felt a kind of closeness with Anna as their tongues flirted with each other. When Anna finally pulled away, she rubbed her thumb against her bottom lip and smiled.
"Wow." She commented with a short, nervous chuckle. From the top of the Ferris wheel, she looked over the side at all of the people in the fairgrounds, the neon lights, and the sounds of games and music.
Watching Anna observe the crowd, Elsa raised her hand up to Anna's face and turned her towards her. "Have I ever told you how beautiful you are?" She muttered as Anna smiled.
"Yeah, I know you are." Anna commented as she pulled Elsa's face towards her once more for another kiss.
Smooth, Anna.