The automatic doors slid open, and the chaos of the airport receded behind her. Outside, Elsa's breath caught. There was Astrid, standing a few feet away, radiant beneath the golden wash of the afternoon sun. Her easy smile had an energy all its own, lighting up the moment like a beacon. One arm waved high in the air, entirely unbothered by the stares of passersby.
For a heartbeat, everything else faded...the hum of engines, the shouts of travelers, even the weight of Elsa's overstuffed bags.
There was only Astrid.
Her stubborn and furious best friend.
The moment consumed her. The bags dropped to the pavement, forgotten, and her feet moved instinctively. Before she even registered what she was doing, Elsa closed the distance between them, crashing into Astrid's open arms. She clung tightly, her face pressed to her shoulder, holding on as though making sure Astrid was real.
"I missed you so much," Elsa whispered, her voice cracking as the tears came, unbidden and unstoppable.
Astrid's arms encircled her, firm and comforting. She took a slow breath, as though breathing Elsa in. For a while, she said nothing, just tracing gentle circles on Elsa's back, anchoring her in the moment. Then her voice came, quiet and warm. "I missed you, too. So much." She hesitated before adding, "kind of regret not going with you."
Elsa let out a shaky laugh, tucking her face into the crook of Astrid's neck. "Told you you should've," she teased, her voice muffled against Astrid's skin.
A soft sigh escaped as Astrid's head dipped closer. A tear fell, landing warm against Elsa's shoulder, its path dampening the fabric of her sweater. "Yeah. I should've," she admitted in a whisper, her breath hitching.
Pulling back just enough to meet her gaze, Elsa's tear-streaked face softened. Her hands came up, thumbs brushing Astrid's wet cheeks, her smile shimmering through her own tears. "Well, look who's a crybaby now."
Astrid sniffled, her lips curling into a playful glare as she punched Elsa's shoulder lightly. "Shut up. You cried first."
Their laughter bubbled between them, a bright spark of normalcy amidst the swirl of emotions. Around them, the airport hum carried on, oblivious to the world the two of them had created in that moment.
When her gaze dropped to the luggage lying haphazardly on the curb, Astrid stepped forward without hesitation, hefting both bags as if they weighed nothing. As always, her effortless strength earned a soft shake of Elsa's head.
Sliding into the passenger seat, Elsa exhaled a long, relieved sigh, feeling the tension dissolve as the familiar scent of Astrid's car washed over her. Leather and faint traces of vanilla, it smelled like home. Years of shared drives, late-night snacks, and open-window gossips had given this space a special magic.
From the driver's side, Astrid snapped her seatbelt into place, her movements confident yet relaxed. Glancing toward Elsa, she flashed a grin that was equal parts cocky and fond. "You're the best," Elsa said quietly, the words soft yet full of sincerity.
"Obviously." Astrid tossed her hair dramatically before reaching across to squeeze Elsa's hand. Her voice softened. "You're the best. I'm glad you're back."
"Me too," Elsa murmured, leaning back as the weight of her trip seemed to melt away.
The car reversed out of the parking lot, slipping back into the flow of traffic. Astrid's gaze darted sideways, her tone growing curious. "So…how was the wedding?"
Elsa groaned theatrically, throwing a hand to her forehead as if overwhelmed by the thought. "A total disaster. Everyone was horrible, entitled, and just…ugh, the worst. You know, assholes as always."
The glint of amusement in Astrid's eye turned into a small smirk. "Spill it. You've got a captive audience and a long drive ahead."
What followed was a stream of chaotic, exaggerated descriptions, Elsa's hands flailing as she mimicked guests and detailed every cringeworthy interaction. Astrid laughed in all the right places, her subtle nods and smirks drawing even more out of Elsa.
But then, the energy shifted.
The excitement in Astrid's face dimmed slightly. When the car fell into a lull, she asked quietly, "Why didn't you come with Jack?"
Silence enveloped the car. Elsa crossed her arms, her posture closing like a door. Her head turned to the window as if to avoid the question altogether. "It's…a long story," she murmured, her voice thick with tension.
Astrid's brow furrowed, concern seeping into her expression despite her effort to keep things light. "Well," she began carefully, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel, "we've got another hour. I can handle long." She offered a faint smile, though the sadness in her eyes betrayed her unease. "Only...if you want to share, of course."
The seconds stretched. Elsa brought her hands to her face, pressing the heels of her palms into her eyes with a deep, unsteady breath. Astrid kept quiet, her focus alternating between the road and the weight Elsa carried beside her.
Finally, the silence broke. "Do you believe in past lives?" The question came suddenly, low and raw, Elsa's voice heavy with both trepidation and exhaustion.
Astrid blinked, her breath hitching for a moment as she tried to process what she'd just heard. Her hands tightened on the wheel, though her voice stayed calm. "What?" she asked softly, unable to mask her surprise.
The road stretched endlessly ahead of them, blurred in the golden light of the late afternoon. Tentatively, she nodded, her eyes flicking toward Elsa's profile. "I guess I do," Astrid said, her tone careful and curious. "Why?"
Elsa remained silent, staring at the passing scenery. Astrid stole another glance, trying to read the storm cloud hovering over her friend. "Whatever this is," Astrid murmured, "you can tell me. I promise, I'm here for all of it."
For a moment, Elsa didn't respond. Her hands trembled faintly in her lap, and her gaze stayed firmly out the window, but her lips parted as if to speak. Something deep within her, something long hidden, was clawing its way to the surface.
And Astrid waited, her heart beating quietly but steadily as she braced for whatever came next.
And, it has started raining.
Words spilled from Elsa's lips, halting at first but growing into an unstoppable current. Everything she had been holding back poured out, her pain filling the car like an unseen flood. Astrid sat beside her, her steady presence grounding the fragile moment. The soft patter of rain on the windshield felt oddly cruel, too calm for the storm raging between them.
The car rolled to a stop, engine going quiet as it idled in front of Elsa's house. Timing, it seemed, was playing tricks on them. Astrid tightened her grip on the steering wheel, her knuckles white, as she processed Elsa's words.
"So…this is your third life?" The question came softly, as though spoken too loudly, it might break the fragile atmosphere.
A nod was her only response, Elsa's gaze fixed on her lap. She fidgeted with her sleeves, her fingers running nervously along the worn fabric of her sweater. "Yeah," she said, her voice almost lost to the rhythm of the rain.
Questions filled Astrid's mind, but one surfaced above the rest. "And…that's why you left him? Because you didn't want him to go through the same ending again?"
"Yes." Shadows deepened under Elsa's eyes as she closed them tightly. "For once in my life, I felt wanted," she murmured, her breath uneven as if the words themselves hurt. A single tear escaped, tracing a silver path down her cheek. Her eyes opened, meeting Astrid's for the first time since her confession. "I mean…romantic love."
A bittersweet smile curved Astrid's lips, barely there, but enough to soften her tone. "You still have people who love you, you know. I love you."
"I love you too," Elsa replied, her voice cracking as another tear slid free. Her chin trembled as she looked down at her clasped hands. "But he made me believe in something I thought never existed. When I met him…I thought maybe, just maybe, I could have that kind of love." Her hands trembled harder now, knotted together like they were trying to hold her together.
Rain streaked the windows, the sound growing heavier as the silence stretched between them. Reaching out, Astrid placed her hand over Elsa's, warmth meeting Elsa's chilled skin.
"You deserve that, Elsa," Astrid said quietly. "More than anyone."
A sharp, bitter laugh escaped, tearing from Elsa's throat as she shook her head. "The universe doesn't think so. Lifetime after lifetime, it's taken everything from me. And this time, just as I finally dared to believe in happiness, it showed me how he's always died. Every fucking time, Astrid. How could I stay, knowing that?" Her head snapped up, desperation shimmering in her tear-filled eyes. "I couldn't let it happen again. He loves me, but he deserves a future, one where he's happy, where he lives."
Her words struck Astrid like a physical blow, the heaviness in her own chest making it hard to breathe. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her voice steady as she murmured, "Elsa."
A new wave of tears spilled, and Elsa leaned back against the seat. "I didn't even tell him I loved him," she whispered before the dam broke entirely. Sobs poured out of her, guttural and heart-wrenching, echoing in the confined space of the car. Her shoulders shook violently, and her hands clutched her stomach as if bracing against an ache too powerful to contain.
Astrid let her cry, though the sound twisted her heart painfully in her chest. Guilt and helplessness warred inside her, but she refused to let herself cry. Not now. Reaching over again, she rested her palm firmly on Elsa's trembling shoulder. "He knows, Elsa. He knows you loved him," she said firmly, though her voice cracked under the strain.
The tear-streaked sweater sleeve Elsa used to wipe her nose did little to hide her brokenness. "If he thinks I never loved him, it'll be easier for him to move on," she argued, though the words sounded like a plea for someone to convince her otherwise. Her eyes searched Astrid's for any validation, but the answer came in a different form.
"Come here," Astrid said, her arms opening wide.
The invitation was met with no resistance. Elsa folded into her, the force of her sobs shaking them both. Astrid held her tightly, her embrace as unyielding as a lifeline. Her fingers traced gentle circles on Elsa's back, her voice too choked to offer anything more than a quiet, "I've got you."
Neither moved for a long time. The rain danced harder against the glass, streaking the windows in chaotic paths that blurred the world outside. Slowly, Elsa's cries softened, though her face remained buried in Astrid's shoulder. The warmth of the embrace fought off the chill in the air, and for just a moment, the pain between them felt bearable.
"You're not alone," Astrid whispered into the damp strands of Elsa's hair. Her voice held a quiet conviction, like a promise that could never be broken. "I am here. I am here."
And so they stayed, wrapped in the weight of everything unsaid, holding onto each other while the rest of the world disappeared.
Warmth wrapped around them like a blanket the moment they stepped inside Elsa's house.
The rain had left a chill in the air, but the quiet hum of the heater and the soft glow of table lamps chased it away. Elsa walked to the living room first, her movements slow, almost hesitant. The weight of everything she'd just shared seemed to linger in the heavy set of her shoulders.
Dropping onto the couch, she tucked her legs under her, pulling an old throw blanket across her lap. The fabric smelled faintly of lavender, likely from the sachets she kept hidden in every corner of the house. Astrid followed, settling into the opposite corner of the couch with her hands loosely clasped between her knees. Neither spoke at first, letting the storm outside create a rhythm that softened the quiet.
"I've been trying to piece it together," Elsa said finally, her voice hoarse and low, rasping from all the crying. Her fingers moved mindlessly over the stitching of the blanket draped across her lap, tracing the same thread over and over as if the motion could soothe her thoughts. "In each life, I've searched for the soul Gothi talked about. The one tied to us, the one that gave us another chance." She lifted her gaze, her hollow blue eyes meeting Astrid's across the room. "But I can't figure out who it is."
Astrid folded her arms, her brow furrowed in deep thought. When she closed her eyes, her lips pressed into a thin line, trying to focus on the fragments Elsa had given her. "It could be a friend," she mused. "A sibling, maybe. Or a parent. Who else could it be?" Then her eyes flew open, and she sat upright, holding up a finger like she'd cracked a code. "But wait. Elsa, what about the woman from your dream? That girl in the cape. It's her, right? So…it's a girl. But who? It's not Anna, not your mom and it's not me."
Rubbing the back of her head, Elsa frowned. "Yeah, I guess I missed that part. But…you're right. It could be her."
Astrid leaned in, the weight of the revelation electrifying her movements. "Did you see her? Even her hair or anything? Any detail could be a clue!"
Closing her eyes, Elsa tried to force her mind back to the fleeting images of the dream. Her breathing slowed as she concentrated, and then, out of nowhere, a picture of a young girl sprang to life in her head.
The faint image sharpened in startling detail. A girl with golden blonde hair and striking blue eyes.
Her eyes flew open, wide with shock. "Blonde hair…and blue eyes." Her voice trembled as realization dawned. "Astrid, I never saw her like this before. Why did she just…appear in my head?" She blinked rapidly, her hands running down her arms as goosebumps rose along her skin. "This doesn't make sense. Why her? And why now?"
Throwing herself back against the couch, Astrid groaned. "If only Gothi wasn't such a stubborn muttonhead! We'd literally have all the answers in a second."
A weak smile tugged at Elsa's lips. "Yeah."
That mischievous spark lit up Astrid's face in an instant. Her gaze flicked to the spare axe leaning by the corner of the living room, and her grin turned wicked. "Want me to threaten her for answers?"
Elsa's mouth fell open, her disbelief quickly replaced by laughter. A laugh, warm and genuine, bubbled from her chest, filling the room in a way it hadn't in what felt like forever. "You did not just say that!" she sputtered, clutching her sides.
The warmth in Astrid's chest swelled at the sound, and she grinned even wider. "Oh, come on, Elsa. Think about it...she's like a thousand years old. She can't run too far. Easy target."
"Oh my God!" Elsa held up her hand, still laughing. "You seriously need to stop."
But Astrid couldn't help herself and continued her teasing grin. The laughter slowly faded, leaving a comfortable silence between them as they sat quietly, each lost in their own thoughts.
Moments later, Astrid's head snapped up, her eyes so wide it looked like they might pop right out of her skull. "Elsa!" she gasped, her voice laced with urgency. "I am about to ask something weird."
Slightly startled, Elsa raised a brow. "You always ask something weird. But that look on your face is making me nervous."
Jumping to her feet, Astrid stood frozen for a moment, then turned to look Elsa squarely in the eye. "Maybe it wasn't…a person. What if it was a-" She trailed off and hesitated, her hands gripping the back of the couch as if grounding herself.
"Astrid, just spit it out," Elsa said, exasperated.
Clearing her throat, Astrid exhaled shakily, taking a moment before changing course. "A doll," she said casually, waving her hand as if to downplay the suggestion.
The corner of Elsa's mouth tugged downward as her eyes narrowed. "A doll?" Without another word, she rolled her eyes and reached over, giving Astrid a light shove back onto the couch. "You're impossible. How can you not take this seriously?"
Astrid's grin faltered, but she hid the truth behind a smirk. Deep down, she knew the answer had struck her seconds earlier, before she'd brushed it off as a joke to cover her unease.
Forcing a casual shrug, Astrid sunk into the cushions, giving no hint of the storm swirling inside her.
If her hunch was right, then this mysterious girl wasn't just someone who connected Elsa and Jack. She was the heart of it all.
The one who gave them their chance.
And if Astrid was right, there was so much more at stake than either of them realized.
Because...
It was their daughter.
So sorry for the late upload but well here we have it!
And the mystery has been solved!
Thanks for reading it guys and especially the special ones that leave a comment on every chapter! You know who you are!!!
I will update this soon.