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Darkness had settled onto the earth and everything it touched by the time Elsa and Marie entered Small Falls. They had spent the day exploring The Mall of America, and Marie enjoyed seeing Elsa react to all the stores and commodities it held. Elsa had even bought some new clothes and accessories for them both along with the day's meals upon her insistence.

As Marie parked her car in front of her apartment building, her heart fluttered when Elsa reached over to grab something from the backseat. Every time they accidentally brushed hands in the mall, Marie could feel herself turn a deep shade of red. There was not a second that went by that the previous night's events had not played out in her mind, and not a moment where her body and heart had stopped pounding. Elsa's hair brushed Marie's arm, and Marie could not help but think of how soft it felt. It had felt soft the previous night as well. Focus, Marie! she thought to herself. She cleared her throat as she fiddled with her keys. "Is there anything you want for supper? I could make some spaghetti."

Elsa's arm brushed Marie's side, causing her to shiver. Marie swore she saw Elsa crack a small smile. "That sounds great," Elsa said, purposely lingering near Marie. Marie shot out of the car and bit her lips when they throbbed.

They grabbed their luggage and made their way to the apartment. As they were climbing the long and narrow set of stairs, one of Marie's neighbors, a middle-aged woman who consistently smelled of cigarettes, was making her way down the flight of stairs. "Ugh, these will kill me one day," the woman grumbled upon seeing them.

"No kidding," Marie replied humorously, flinging her luggage on her shoulder.

The woman stopped. "You're in 203, right?" Marie and Elsa nodded. "You left all your lights on. I tried knocking last night but you must have not been home."

Elsa and Marie exchanged glances. "Yeah, we just got back," Marie said. She dipped her head. "Thanks for letting us know." Her neighbor grunted and continued down the stairs. They continued climbing as Marie turned to Elsa. "Did I leave any lights on?"

"Only a nightlight for the birds," Elsa responded. Suddenly they heard screeching ringing out in the halls, and Marie felt her stomach drop. She bolted for her apartment. It was her birds, and even though they were always making some kind of noise, this screeching was different. They were in serious distress. "Look!" Elsa pointed to the bottom of Marie's apartment door as they reached their destination. Light was beaming through the crack, a familiar kind of light that Marie immediately dreaded. Fury burned inside of her, and she unlocked her door as Elsa raised her hands, ice forming in her palms. They nodded at each other as Marie shoved her door open with her shoulder.

Countless balls of light were hovering all over the apartment. Twamley was on top of the bird cage and was emitting a shield of darkness over it, protecting the budgies within. The birds called out to the two women when they heard the door open. Marie growled in pure anger. "Leave them alone!" she yelled out as she dove towards the cage.

"Wait!" Elsa called out. Marie stopped. Elsa stepped forward and outstretched her arms. The light flickered and made its way towards her, and Marie tensed, bracing herself. A smile formed on Elsa's face as the light moved over her body like water in a stream.

Marie blinked rapidly. "It's not hurting you?" To her right, Twamley lowered his dark shield and puffed up in utter exhaustion.

"No," Elsa replied. "But I'd check the rest of the apartment just to be safe." Marie flicked her arms to the side as she conjured darkness, and she checked the inside of the bathroom and bedroom. They were clear.

"What's it doing here?" Marie asked rigidly. She checked on her birds. They were less afraid but still alarmed, their little beady eyes staring unblinkingly at the balls of light. Marie cooed at them and stroked the cage. Twamley fluffed up and closed his eyes.

Elsa turned her palms upward, and Marie flinched as the light took on its original circular forms, completely surrounding them. "I'm not sure, but it's not evil." Elsa giggled as a ball of light swung around her playfully. "I see. I think I understand. It's magic in its purest form." She looked at Marie. "Hold out your hand." Marie hesitated. "It won't hurt you."

Marie obliged and slowly held out her hand. A ball of light approached her and hovered over her palm, bobbing up and down almost as though it was expecting something. Marie began emitting darkness from her hand, and to her surprise, the light immediately combined with the darkness. The two swirled and twisted upon meeting each other, and soon the ball vanished completely. Marie took a step back. "Whoa," she uttered.

Elsa approached Marie and the birds. She gently scooped up Twamley. "You okay?" she asked the magical creature. Twamley fluffed up and settled into her palm. Elsa smiled. "He must have been protecting them for a while."

Marie scoffed and crossed her arms. "If it's not here to hurt us, then why would Twamley have to protect them?"

Elsa lifted Twalmey up to one of the lights. Darkness immediately began seeping from him and combined with the light like a sponge soaking up water. Marie quickly blocked the light from stealing anymore darkness from the poor tired bird. "He was protecting himself and them," Elsa said. She fixed her blue eyes on Marie. "Marie, I think it's here for you, or rather, your darkness." She motioned at several masses that floated around them. "Look. They're pure light. There's no darkness in them at all. I think they came here to be rebalanced."

Marie shifted uncomfortably. "How can you tell?"

Elsa put Twamley down and touched one of the balls of light. "My magic can feel it." She closed her eyes for a second. "I can feel it." She moved one of the lights to Marie. "Try giving it some darkness."

Marie picked up the birds' cage and moved it to her bedroom and shut the door. To her surprise, several balls of light bobbed after her. She swatted some. "Go on," she hissed. "Give me some space."

Elsa giggled, and Marie cracked a smile, but it soon faded. The royal tilted her head to the side and observed Marie. "You're afraid it's from your father, aren't you?"

Marie looked at her. "Aren't you? I mean, how could it not be?"

"He's not the only one that has light magic, Marie." Elsa grabbed her hands, and the light began to swirl around them both. Elsa and Marie watched in complete awe, squeezing each other's hands tightly as the light moved around them. Elsa looked at Marie with a gentle smile. "But I think if it is from him, it fled." A light ball floated between them and pulsed ever so slightly. "Remember what my mother said? That light and darkness cannot exist without the other? I think the light came here because Twamley was the closest being with darkness, but now you're here, and you can rebalance it." Elsa lifted her hand to the ball of light, and very gently, she closed her fist around it. Marie gasped as Elsa absorbed it. The light moved up her arm and to her chest. Elsa closed her eyes and gripped her jacket over her chest, her breaths becoming labored.

Marie immediately conjured darkness around her hand. "Whoa! Be careful!" she exclaimed, bringing her hand to Elsa's chest. Elsa gripped her shoulders as Marie pressed her hand against Elsa's chest, her eyes glossy. The rest of the light kept circling them as Marie combined the light in Elsa's chest with her darkness. Elsa let out a small whimper as Marie pulled out the light as she gripped Elsa's lower back. She stepped back once it was gone, and the two women stared at one another. Marie held out her hands. "Alright, if that's what you want," she spoke to the light. She looked at Elsa. "Step in if things get too intense." Elsa nodded. With a deep breath, Marie closed her eyes and readied herself. She clenched her fists as darkness began to coat her skin. With a huff, she blasted darkness from herself in one big wave. Elsa gasped as darkness soon spread across the apartment, knocking over stray items and dishes in the process. Marie gritted her teeth and conjured even more darkness. The light immediately sprang at her, soaking up the darkness with incredible speed.

Elsa reached out a hand when Marie grunted in pain as the light began sticking to her. "Marie!"

"Not yet!" Marie said through clenched teeth. She panted and pulled her arms in closer to her body, conjuring even more darkness. The light kept coming, but it was starting to disappear once it combined with the darkness, but Marie was not emitting enough darkness to keep up with the light that stuck to her like flies to a mudpie. Elsa covered her eyes in the brightness. "I'm not done," Marie growled as she kept summoning darkness. She tensed her entire body as though she was lifting something very heavy. Her breathing became even more labored. "Goddamn! How much does it need?!"

"Slow down!" Elsa cried out, her hair flying in all directions from the light and darkness that whipped around them wildly. "You're going too fast!"

Marie tried to lessen the amount of darkness she was letting out, but whenever she tried, the light would seep into her skin as though it was burning her. She faltered, one of her legs starting to give out. "I know what I have to do," she called out. She eyed Elsa. "Remember when Meghan absorbed too much magic? Remember what we did?"

Elsa gasped, her eyes growing wide and teary. "You remember?"

Marie groaned as more magic clung to her. "Elsa!"

"Right!" Elsa shook her head to focus. "Yes!"

"Okay." Marie's body could not take much more. "Ready?" Elsa nodded, and Marie took a deep breath. In one fluid motion, she turned her arms upward and soaked up every inch of light and darkness into her body. A rush like she had never felt before invaded every sense. Her vision brightened, her skin burned, her limbs tensed with newfound power. She gritted her teeth and groaned in pain. It's too much! she thought. I can't contain it!

The magic inside of her exploded outward. Elsa dove forward and, with a blast, froze the light and darkness that shot from Marie. Marie fell forward but Elsa caught her. It all happened in less than a second. Ice completely coated the apartment along with every ounce of magic that had just escaped Marie. Elsa stroked Marie's head as they slunk to their knees. "It's okay," Elsa breathed into Marie's ear as she held her. "It's over." Marie let her body relax against Elsa's as she continued to stroke Marie's head. She could only watch as the ice, light and darkness began to disappear. Elsa closed her eyes and nestled her face into Marie's hair. "That was reckless."

Marie groaned in pure exhaustion. "I get it from you," she said playfully, but speaking only caused her to cough.

Elsa shook her head. "You scared me…"

Marie managed to flip over on her back. She looked up at Elsa, who looked away. "I'm sorry," Marie said. She lifted one of her hands and stared at her palm. "I thought that there needed to be an equal amount of each, but that wasn't the case." Elsa looked at her curiously. Marie lowered her hand. "There needed to be a huge amount of darkness to be balanced with that amount of light." Her body protested in pain as she tried to move. "It's just like my sword. There is a sliver of light in the middle and the rest is darkness." She rubbed her eyes. "Maybe that's its natural balance."

Elsa cupped her chin. "That makes sense," she said thoughtfully. "Imagine a nightlight, or even a star. It shines so brightly in the darkness, even if the dark is everywhere; you can still see the light." She looked down at Marie. "A single light can shine brightly in the dark."

Marie nodded. "But that light can be swallowed if it's too dark."

"And too much light can eliminate the dark," Elsa finished.

Marie shook her head as she pushed herself up. "What I don't get is how the light left my father. Can magic do that?"

Elsa tucked her legs underneath her. "Magic can get out of control. Mine did, and I ended up causing an almost eternal winter in the middle of summer." She cupped her chin again. "When Dominic stole your darkness, he lost control of it, and you were able to take it back. Who says light can't do the same?" Marie jumped when Elsa suddenly gasped. "Marie, look at your arm!"

Marie did and froze. The veins in her arms were glowing. She lifted her arm with a gaping mouth. "What?" she uttered as she stared at her veins full of light.

Elsa touched the veins, and as quickly as it appeared, the light vanished within Marie. The ice queen looked at Marie. "I think you just got stronger."

Marie blinked as she stared at her arms. "Yeah…but if it takes that much darkness to balance out the light, I have to get even stronger." She clenched her fists. "Much stronger."

Her chest fluttered when Elsa chuckled and placed a kiss on her forehead. "And you will. But for now, rest."

Marie leaned against her TV stand. "Alright," she agreed. She looked at Elsa, who was gazing at her. Marie felt herself blush. I don't think I'll ever get used to how she looks at me, she thought to herself. It was always a soft, gentle gaze, one that simultaneously set Marie at ease and set her entire being on fire. They finished taking their winter gear off and brought in their luggage, which they had left outside of the apartment by the door. As Marie unpacked, her thoughts ran wild. Was the light really trying to find her to rebalance itself? Did it exist outside of her father, or had it really fled him to find her instead? Marie poked her head out from behind her bedroom door. "Hey, I have a question for you," she told Elsa, who turned to her and nodded. Marie leaned in the doorway of her room. "How can you absorb other magic like that?"

Elsa sat down on the pull-out bed. "I got the idea from Anna. When she stabbed me with your dark sword, I somehow absorbed it and the rift opened." She played with a strand of her hair. "I'm not sure how I did it, just that I was really determined to do so."

Marie joined her on the bed, her facial expression twisted in thought. "Water has memory, darkness has emotion…what does light have?"

Elsa held out a hand. "May I?" Marie conjured a dark ball, and as usual, a sliver of light shone in the center. Elsa took it in her hands and observed it closely. "What did it feel like when you absorbed it?"

"Hm…" Marie crossed her arms. "When it started to burn me, I just kept thinking of how I had to rebalance it, how important it was." She stood and began pacing around her small apartment. "Remember when the dark figure, or Iduna, showed up the first time in Arendelle? When you had to fight me? She said that we both had strength of will and that's why we were chosen." Marie held out her hands and gestured between them. "If darkness is emotion, maybe light is willpower or strength?"

Elsa stood as well. "That makes sense!" she said excitedly. "That's how it felt for me, too. Almost as though I had to be strong enough or determined enough to handle it." She walked away while cupping her chin. "You have darkness because you can handle strong emotions. You've lived through them, but you've also got a strong will."

Marie's face fell. "So does my father." Her jaw tensed at the thought. "He can't handle strong emotions, but he's one of the most stubborn and willful people I know." She sighed. "My brain hurts."

This induced a soft laugh from Elsa, causing Marie to smile. "Let's talk about it another time, then," Elsa said as she approached Marie. She stopped less than a foot away from her, and Marie felt her heart begin to pound in her chest. Elsa stroked her cheek. "You've done well."

A couple of hours passed, and Marie felt well enough to make supper. As she fried some beef for the spaghetti, her mind eventually started to come down from the day's excitement, but it would not stop replaying the previous night. She snuck a quick glance at Elsa, who was reading a book. Marie felt nervousness build inside of her as her body began to pound with her heart. She poked the beef in the skillet. "What are you reading?" she asked.

"It's your copy of Plato on Love," Elsa replied. She turned the book so Marie could see the pages. "I like the notes you took."

"Ah, that's a good one," Marie said. When they made eye contact, Marie looked away. She could still feel Elsa stroking her head and holding her even after hours had passed. If she was being honest, she could still feel Elsa's body over her own from last night. Marie nearly shoved the skillet off the burner at the thought. "Um…" She cleared her throat. "Got any plans later tonight?"

She heard Elsa chuckle softly to herself. "No," came her response. "Why?"

Marie stirred the noodles that were boiling on the stove. "I was wondering if you wanted to play a card game with me. It's pretty simple."

Shuffling sounded behind her, and Marie jumped when Elsa spoke right behind her, "I'd love to." Elsa looked over Marie's shoulder. "May I help?"

Marie blushed and moved over. "Yeah, sure!" Their arms brushed as Marie grabbed the tomato sauce. "Add this to the meat." Elsa obeyed, and Marie showed her how to prepare the rest of the meal.

As Elsa was stirring the pasta in with the meat and sauce, she smiled. "I want to make you supper sometime."

Marie blushed even deeper. The urge to kiss Elsa had been on her lips the entire day, and being close to her was not helping. "I'd like that," she responded as she looked at Elsa. Their faces were close enough to feel the other's breath.

Elsa turned her gaze back to the food. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable last night." Marie reached over Elsa to grab a couple of bowls from the cupboard, her cheek brushing against Elsa's. Elsa sucked in a breath and gripped the counter.

Marie trembled as she pulled away. "Let's play after we eat," she suggested, and Elsa nodded as her face flushed.

They sat down to eat in silence. Marie snuck several glances at Elsa, who met them almost every time. After the fifth time, Elsa set down her empty bowl. "You're staring."

Marie slurped the last of her noodles. "I can't help it," she muttered out loud, not meaning to voice her thoughts.

"Oh?" Elsa smirked. "Why is that?" Marie coughed in surprise and pounded her chest as the food in her mouth went down roughly. Elsa leaned towards her. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah!" Marie took a large drink of water. "I'm fine."

Elsa propped herself up on her elbow. "How long are we going to do this, Marie?"

Marie blushed deeply. "L-let's play the game first!" Like lightning, she seized the deck of cards from her bookshelf and sat back down. She cleared her throat. "This game is called War. You set down a card from your deck and whoever sets down the highest card gets to keep them both until someone has the entire deck. Aces are high." Marie felt herself shrink. "U-um…th-the winner gets to ask the other one a question."

"What kind of question?"

Marie's entire body grew hot. "Anything you want…"

Elsa eyed her for a few seconds before responding with, "Alright." After the deck was split evenly between them, Elsa laid down the first card. It was a seven. Marie laid down a five. Elsa took the cards and added them to her pile. For the next several minutes, they played back and forth without saying a word. Marie's birds were even silent. Marie eyed Elsa's pile and noticed that her own was larger. She thought her heart was going to pound out of her chest. The game dragged on for another half hour. They laid down a card. Marie took them both. They laid down another card. This time Elsa took them both. Marie exhaled heavily as her pile grew even larger. Elsa bit her lip, which was curved into a smile. She shuffled her pile. "Was there a certain question you wanted to ask me?"

"I want you," Elsa's voice rang in her head. "I want you so badly."

Marie refused to look at her. "O-only if I win." She took the cards when hers won. "What about you?"

Elsa let out a chuckle. "Yes." At last, the game finished with Marie being the winner. Elsa leaned on her arm. "What is it that you wanted to ask me, Marie?"

Her voice, the way she was sitting, how her reddish-purple shirt hung over her chest and brought out the blush on her cheeks, the way her eyes were staring right into Marie's soul: everything about Elsa was driving Marie mad. She gripped the sheets below her. "U-um…" Marie closed her eyes. Just ask her! she thought to herself. "I-…" She looked at Elsa. "May-?"

Elsa gripped the sheets as well and leaned forward, her body trembling. "May I kiss you?" she asked hurriedly.

"Yes," Marie breathed. She shivered as Elsa placed a hand on her cheek. She stroked it, and Marie shivered even more as Elsa's breath mingled with hers as their lips parted. Marie watched as Elsa closed the distance between them, and their lips finally met.

It felt like fire. Every fiber of Marie's being lit up, and she found herself leaning into Elsa's kiss. Elsa's lips were soft and warm, and her touch was gentle. Marie closed her eyes and kissed her back. Their lips pressed against each other's in a familiar sense of fervor, and Marie's memory played out the times that they had kissed before, times that were still foggy to her but still there, still existing and begging to be remembered. Their lips separated but immediately found each other again. Elsa's hand drifted through Marie's hair as she kissed Marie even deeper than before. Marie squeezed Elsa's hand, their fingers intertwining like lost lovers, and that was what they were: two souls that had swirled and danced into one being only to be separated and found again. Marie wanted that dance to continue. She had longed for it for the past two years, not knowing why, but wanting it still.

Elsa pulled away, her breathing heavy. She remained close to Marie, cupping her face. "I thought I'd never be able to do that again," she breathed onto Marie's lips. Her eyes began to fill with tears. "I thought-" She was interrupted by Marie kissing her. Elsa's eyes grew wide, and she froze, but her body began to relax as she fell into the kiss. A single tear ran down Elsa's face, and she moaned slightly as Marie's kiss deepened. Marie pulled away, but Elsa found her again, her lips begging to touch Marie's. They kissed again, and pulled away, only to kiss again. Elsa touched Marie's face with both of her hands and whispered, "I love you."

Marie sucked in a breath, and Elsa thought she had gone too far until Marie pushed her backward onto the bed. She hovered over Elsa, her own eyes beginning to gloss over. "I feel like I've waited for you for a thousand lifetimes," Marie said softly, gazing at her.

Elsa pulled her in. "You don't have to wait anymore." Their lips found each other again. Marie's arms slipped underneath Elsa and clung to her desperately, pulling her as close to her as possible. Elsa moaned and squeezed Marie back, one of her hands grasping Marie's hair. Marie's lips separated from Elsa's so she could breathe, and she barely had time to before Elsa pulled her back in. Marie gripped the sheets next to Elsa's head as they kissed. They tousled, gripping each other's faces, hair, and body, not knowing where their hands would lead them but wanting the other's touch no matter what. Marie began kissing Elsa's face, and before she could react, Elsa flipped Marie onto her back and leaned over her. Elsa breathed heavily, her eyes glossy. "How do I tear myself away from you?" she breathed onto Marie's lips. They gazed at one another as Elsa stroked Marie's face ever so softly.

"Don't," Marie begged. She cupped Elsa's face. "Not yet." They kissed, and Elsa pressed into Marie even harder. Marie hummed and pulled her in, her hands gripping Elsa's back as Elsa kissed her passionately. Elsa hummed back, and it was pure ecstasy to Marie. She kissed just as passionately back, inciting another hum from Elsa. Every sound Elsa uttered gave Marie even more elation, and she never wanted it to end. Please, she thought as Elsa lips covered her own. May it always feel like this. She felt tears well in her eyes. Just like this. Elsa's lips pulled away from Marie's, and they both breathed heavily onto the other. Elsa laid her head on Marie's chest, her body trembling slightly. Marie stroked her head. "What's wrong?"

Elsa dug her fingers into Marie's shirt above her collarbone. "If I don't stop now, I won't be able to stop," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Marie continued to stroke her. "Who says I want you to stop?" she asked, her own voice trembling.

Elsa nestled her face into Marie's neck. "I've never done this before," she admitted shyly.

Marie thought her heart was going to burst out of her chest. She knew Elsa could feel it pounding against her own body. "Me either. I've never been with a woman before." She closed her eyes and shook her head. "Rather, I've never been with someone like you."

Elsa lifted her head and gazed at Marie, her eyes reflecting the light of the yellow-toned lamp near the bed. "Do you remember the last thing you ever said to me before you were pulled back?" Marie had a feeling what it was; there could only be one thing, but she genuinely did not remember and did not want to say what it was until she did. She shook her head after making up her mind. Elsa lowered her gaze for a moment. "That's okay," she said softly as she sat up, averting her gaze. Shyly, she added, "Until then."

"Until then," Marie responded as she also sat up and leaned into Elsa. "Can we still kiss?"

Elsa smiled. "I'd like that." They leaned in and, ever so softly, kissed one another once more.

That night as Marie laid in bed, her thoughts still raced, albeit they were now focused on Elsa. Marie covered her head with the blankets and squealed softly, kicking her feet as though she was a teenager again. Elsa had that effect on her. She closed her eyes happily. A knock sounded on her bedroom door. She sat up. "Come in."

Elsa opened the door and peeked at her. "Were you sleeping?" she asked politely.

Marie tilted her head back and grinned. "I don't think I'll be able to sleep for a while."

A smile came across Elsa's face, and she entered the room and sat on the edge of the bed. "Me, either." They stared at one another for a few seconds before Elsa shifted. "I was wondering if I could ask my question even though I didn't win."

Marie grew curious. "Of course."

Elsa's eyes ran over Marie's bed shyly. "I initially wanted to ask if I could kiss you, but I changed my mind." She gripped the red quilt that lay on the bed. "How much do you remember?"

To Elsa's surprise, Marie patted the pillow next to her, and Elsa climbed under the covers to join her. Marie immediately felt her body grow hot. They both sat up with the covers over their bodies, which were stiff with nervousness. Marie cleared her throat. "Sir Ian," she answered.

A look of surprise came across Elsa's face. "Really? You remember that much?"

"Yeah," Marie admitted. Her eyebrows furrowed. "I remember us in the gardens and our kiss, but after that, things get kind of blurry." She hugged her knees. "I get a really bad feeling whenever I try and remember what happened, but I have a feeling I know what it was. That's when Dominic took my magic, isn't it?"

Elsa's eyes averted and grew dark. "Yes." She gripped the blanket again, her knuckles turning white. "He almost killed you, and I almost killed him for it, but you stopped me." Marie set a hand on Elsa's clenched fists. She relaxed slightly and looked at Marie. "You showed more grace that day than anyone I've ever met." She held Marie's hand. "Will you tell me when you remember something? I want to help if I can."

"Yeah, I can do that," Marie replied, leaning into her. Elsa leaned into her and nestled her head against Marie's. They both grew silent until Elsa asked, "Can I stay here?"

Marie asked at the same time, "Can you stay here?" They both stopped and looked at each other before laughing. Marie felt herself blush. "D-don't worry! I won't try anything or stuff like that…"

Elsa's facial expression slightly fell. "Oh…Why not?"

Marie grew even redder. "B-because you said!" She slid underneath the covers a little and added, "Didn't you?"

A soft expression came over Elsa's face, and she ran her hand along Marie's collarbone. "I did," she said huskily. She raised an eyebrow. "But I can still tease you a little." Marie frowned in a playful manner and suddenly grabbed Elsa and began tickling her. Elsa laughed uncontrollably as Marie's hands poked and tickled her sides, and the two tousled underneath the covers until Elsa ran out of breath and flopped down on the bed in defeat.

Marie gazed at her as she hovered over Elsa. "Everything I said that day in the gardens I meant."

She let out a surprised grunt as Elsa flipped her over on her back. Elsa rested her forehead against Marie's and rubbed them together. She pulled away, her eyes glossy. "You undo me," she breathed. Marie ran a hand over Elsa's face, and Elsa slowly drifted downward, her lips parting as they neared Marie's. They kissed, their bodies pressing together as Elsa shifted her weight on top of Marie. She pulled her lips away and eyed Marie with a look that made her melt into the bed even further. Elsa trembled. "I-…" She faltered and gripped the sheets on either side of Marie's head. "I-"

"It's okay," Marie whispered as she pulled Elsa in and held her. She stroked the back of her head and squeezed her. "Give it time."

Elsa nestled her head into Marie's neck. "I love you," she breathed, gripping Marie's shirt tightly. She pulled away when something warm dripped onto her head. Marie was crying. "What's wrong?"

Marie looked at her, unable to stop tears from leaking from her eyes. "What did I do to deserve your love?" she asked quietly.

Elsa smiled and rested her forehead on Marie's. "You were yourself." Marie kissed her fervently, and Elsa melted onto her and cupped her face tenderly in her hands. They separated and found each other again and continued to do so as the night passed by, slowly slipping them into a state that felt like it would last forever.