Chapter 3

AN: I'm so glad that people are following this story. I didn't imagine that anyone would read it.

I honestly don't know where I'm going with this. I'll start typing with an idea in mind and then- zap, a curveball happens in my mind. I don't know what I'm doing. But I want to see these two happy.

So every time I publish a story, if and when I reread it, I find a ton of errors and typos. It drives me crazy. I've reread this- again- but who's to say that I won't see a mistake until after it's published. Ugh!! Please forgive these. I'm only human.

Speaking of human. Please don't hunt me down with court papers. I'm just playing in a fictional world. I don't intend any harm!!

-x-

Ever the sea captain, Liam had awoken before the sun. In the underworld no one and nothing ever changed. He hadn't exercised while there. Eating, drinking, exercising wouldn't have improved his body. But shortly after arriving in Storybrooke, Liam started to realize that he was once again in a human body and he needed exercise. He didn't have a ship to command, the movement of the sea was a great aid for staying fit. In passing, Killian mentioned how several people would jog in the mornings around town. Some ran in groups, but Liam enjoyed running alone. He found the early mornings exhilarating, the heat from his body against the cool morning air. He was able to drive negative thoughts from his mind with the steady thump thump thump of his own pace.

He rounded the corner leaving Storybrooke's small downtown and headed to the docks. Seeing the ocean was something that eased his soul. He smiled as his eyes landed on the Jewel of the Realm, aka the Jolly Roger. The Jolly was docked but looked happy. Liam ended his run and walked towards his former home, "How are you my lady?" the ship bobbed in the water, and Liam could imagine her replying happily. "I'll see you again soon."

He turned to commence his run back to Granny's but stopped when he saw Elsa walking in his general direction. Liam and Elsa seemed to see each other nearly at the same time and both raised their hands in greeting. When he was close enough Liam said, "Good morning your majesty."

Elsa blushed prettily and said, "Please, just Elsa."

Liam amended, "How are you this morning Elsa?"

"I wish I could say well rested, but I was restless and thought I would clear my head with a walk."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Liam said. "If you'd prefer I'll leave you to it."

"No please," Elsa replied. "Liam, I think I'd prefer some company." They began walking through the neighborhood. "I kept waking up last night from bad dreams and once this sun began to rise I decided to venture out."

"Do you want to talk about your dreams?" Liam asked.

"Yes and no, Elsa replied. "Mostly they were a replay of lunch yesterday with varying degrees of worsening."

"And Anna?" Liam asked.

"I didn't see her or Kristof before I left and if she didn't have bad dreams, she could still be asleep."

Liam chuckled. "I remember when my mother was pregnant with Killian. She slept so much and felt tired most of the time."

"Yes I remember when our mother was pregnant with Anna. She also slept a lot but I remember her almost constant craving for chocolate." She let out a little giggle. "Maybe that's why Anna and I love chocolate so much."

They walked in companionable silence for another block and as the houses came in to view. Elsa commented on a garden they were passing, "Oh, how pretty!" She stopped and looked at some of the peonies growing. Their heavy blooms were reaching towards the sky the fragrance was heady and the scent started to make her feel a little better. "Thank you Liam."

"Whatever for?"

"Your company," Elsa replied. "I feel much better and I can't help but think you gave me some peace."

"Whatever I can do Elsa, I'm happy to help," he wasn't able to tell her that the sun shining off her hair as she bent to smell the flowers was more beautiful than the flowers she'd stopped to admire. Liam found himself at a loss for words but he wanted to see her more. He remembered his offer to find some books for her. "I need to shower and have breakfast but I will be at the library soon. I found a couple of things for you and Anna."

"Oh Liam" Elsa was ecstatic. "Thank you!" He wished that he could tell her that she had been on his mind since the moment they had parted of the day before. At Granny's door, Liam left to do his morning ritual of getting ready for the day ahead.

-x-

Liam was rounding the end of a bookcase when he saw Elsa enter the library. He felt his cheeks flush and began thinking of Captain Silver. There was no way he'd ever tell her that earlier in the shower he'd needed to take himself in hand- that he imagined her in quite provocative detail. But Elsa was approaching him, seemingly none the wiser of his inappropriate thoughts.

"Good morning again, lass."

"Hello, Liam."

"Elsa!" Belle spoke from across the library.

"It's good to see you, Belle."

"I'm glad you're here, Liam mentioned you were wanting to do some research."

"Yes," Elsa said. "I'd wanted to find what your realm has about Arendalle and Northuldra. But I don't know if Liam mentioned yesterday that Anna is now exhibiting powers like mine."

"No," Belle confessed.

"I didn't think it my place," Liam interjected. He received a halfhearted smile from Elsa.

"It's alright," she said. "Obviously it's new and she was scared. Liam offered to get a head start on research," Elsa said smiling again at him.

"I was able to find some things of interest," Liam said. He pointed Elsa toward a table with a half a dozen books on it. "I only skimmed these, so I'm not sure how helpful they will be—"

"Liam! Thank you," Elsa said warmly. "Honestly, you didn't have to-"

"I said yesterday that I want to. And I meant that."

Belle watched their intersection and smiled to herself. She started to have a feeling about the two of them. "Updating the summery or description of our books has been a focus for Liam," Belle said. "It's invaluable to have a second set of eyes to— as Liam said— skim, so that narrowing down time in research is helpful for everyone."

Liam smiled at the complement and Elsa beamed hearing the praise. "Ah- I'll leave you to it, and ah— see if I can find some additional books for you.

A couple of hours passed and Liam returned to Elsa pushing a cart containing a few more books and two mugs of hot chocolate. He was surprised to feel the temperature change as he drew closer. Elsa?" She raised her eyes to his and Liam repeated her name with more feeing when he could see tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorr—" Elsa began.

"Elsa, please don't apologize," Liam sat down next to her. "What happened?"

"It's just that some of these tales — well, I can relate. I know my parents loved me. But when I inadvertently hurt Anna, well their intentions were good. They separated us and the rock trolls wiped her memory." Liam filed the rock troll information away for later. "So many of these stories are about children separated from their parents, their loved ones, then ostracized for being different. I'm different, I can relate."

"I'm sorry that you're feeling sad." Liam paused and picked up the mug of hot chocolate. "Not to say that chocolate cures everything, but it's a bit of comfort."

"Oh thank you," Elsa said smiling and reached for the mug. Their hands brushed as he transferred the mug to her. Their eyes locked briefly, and Liam was the one who looked away first.

"M-my pleasure." Liam cleared his throat. "You mentioned loving chocolate." Elsa smiled as she took a sip.

Belle approached, "Time to lock up Liam."

"I'm sorry, I've kept you late," Elsa offered.

"You didn't Elsa!" Belle interjected. "I've got the locking up routine down to a science. You two head out. I'll leave your table as is and you can pick up the research tomorrow."

Liam went to the back room and grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder. He was pleasantly surprised to see Elsa at the front door waiting. "If you're going back to Granny's, I thought we could walk together." Liam smiled and extended his arm. His heart began to beat a little faster as Elsa slipped her fingers into the crook of his elbow. They walked in companionable silence again.

Liam finally broke the silence, "If you don't mind, could you tell me more about your powers? It might help the research."

"You mean, you didn't hear about the last time I came here and put an ice wall around the town?"

Liam chuckled, "Uh, yeah. I did hear about it. But I take it that, ice isn't your only power."

"When I was little, it was just snow. Mother and Father were loving and happy. Anna came along and I was so excited to have a sister that it snowed all the time! She'd wake me up at night and I would make snow. We'd make snow angels and snowmen. Sandcastles-" she stopped to laugh, and Liam smiled along with her. "Well, snow castles."

"Sounds wonderful."

"It was." But Elsa turned pensive. "Anna was jumping on the snow mountains I was making. She kept jumping and they became higher and higher. I missed and hit her in the head with my powers. The rock trolls saved her. They altered her memories. But like I said, Mother and Father were trying to protect her. Me. Both of us. And without realizing it, I turned my powers in on myself. Everything I touched turned to ice."

Liam pointedly looked down to where her hand rested in his elbow. "But they're under control now?"

"Lucky you."

"Yes," Liam's voice was a whisper. But Elsa heard him. They shared a shy sort of smile as they continued on. She abbreviated her history but hit the major points of her and Anna's lives as well as their time in Storybrooke.

"It was David who reminded me. I don't need Anna physically with me to control my powers."

"I'm glad," Liam said as they took the stairs leading to the BNB entrance.

Elsa blushed prettily. "And now, I have other powers."

"Other powers?" Liam asked.

"Maybe that's a story for another day?" Elsa hedged. "I should see how Anna and Kristof are."

"If I'm not mistaken, Killian and Emma have invited you to dinner soon."

"Yes, tomorrow night! Will you be there?"

"I'm planning on it."

Elsa pulled her arm away. "Thank you for walking me back."

"It was my pleasure."

The two parted for the evening but both wished they had another reason to be in each other's company.

AN2: if you don't like it, don't read it. If you read it and you didn't like it, don't say anything. I'm insanely insecure and even though I want to put this out on this platform, I know in my heart that negative comments will just make me feel awful. Please, please, please just comment if you have something positive to say.