(REALLY LONG) AUTHOR'S NOTE: (I swear, the chapter is down there! JUST SCROLL!) Once again, to publicly respond to Guest Reviewer Guest986, regarding how I keep the fanfiction pretty much a total secret: Yeah, here's how a couple of my physicist friends found out about it by accident… sigh…

STORYTIME: So, in grad school about a year and a half ago, I had some of my friends over to work on our Fourier Optics homework (pronounced "four-ee-aye," or "shoot-me-now") (seriously, Fourier is actually really useful and cool!), and while I was cooking us some dinner during a break, the subject of movies came up. When asked what my favorite movie was (after naming a few different movies I loved for different reasons), I finally said that my favorite movie OVERALL was probably ROTG.

Now, even though I ship Jelsa in TOTAL SECRET, I'm pretty open about adoring the character Elsa from frozen, and have some of the merchandise. This inspired one of my friends to start up the following conversation:

HER: Really? Rise of the Guardians?

ME: Yeah. INSANELY artistic movie!

HER: Did you know that there's, like, an entire FANDOM on the internet putting together Elsa and Jack Fro-

ME: -AHHH, HA HA HAAAAAAA, WHAT, WHAAAAAAT?! OH, HOW HILARIOUS; I, UH, HAD NO IDEA, NOR HAVE I EVER HEARD OF SUCH A RIDICULOUS THING.

Thinking that I had successfully and smoothly diffused the situation, I turned back to keep stirring the pasta sauce.

But then. She said. THIS:

HER: I know, right? (*turns to other friend*) And it, like, doesn't even make sense. I mean, she's all mature, and stuff, and he likes... having fun... they'd never be together at ALL.

ME: (*brain implodes*)

With my secret online life under wraps, I somehow managed to keep my mouth shut as the conversation moved on to other topics, leaving me silently and mindlessly stirring the pasta sauce (which I completely ruined, of course), whilst staring blankly into space and trying not to scream, for the next twenty minutes.

Finally, she turned back to me.

HER: Uh... [my name]? Are you alright? You've been really quiet for a while.

ME: (*silence*)

THEM: (*silence*)

ME (*slowing turning about, threateningly gesturing with spoon*) Now, SEE HERE.

So... not a ton of people know (MOST people don't), but a couple people have found out by accident, mostly those two friends, who are now under multiple death threats from yours truly not to ever ever ever ever EVER tell anyone about Ice Alliance. ;) In the meantime (AHEM)-it means the WORLD to me that you guys are all still here, I love you forever, HUGE thank you to those of you that reviewed, and I hope you have a fantabulous day! :D

RESPONDING TO GUEST REVIEWS: NOTE TO SELF, about procrastinating responding to Guest Reviewers after posting the chapter: That did not work. OKAY, so I apparently completely forgot to come back to that last chapter to keep responding to people, aaaaaand, I am WAY sorry. Let's try this again, shall we?

To Reviewer EJR Horselady: Okay, you're not technically a "guest reviewer," but that's a good enough question that I figured more people probably have it, so I'll respond publicly. I imagined that the pre-Guardian Jack almost CERTAINLY would have been allowed into the Workshop (to ask questions and stuff), if he'd ever—you know—knocked on the front door? ;)

To Guest Reviewers Dark Angel, Illumilottie: I love you forever, and you are fantastic; thank you so much! Please keep being adorable.

To Guest Reviewer Radibugz: You cannot know how much that meant to me. Honestly, um, for the exact reasons you stated, that's why I am trying so hard to keep everything true to canon—and, eh heh, part of why I'm still a little bit in denial about the fact that I'm writing fanfiction at ALL. XD At the same time, I've really gotta ask (if it's okay)… if that's how you feel about fanfiction, how in tarnation did you find this? I seriously want to know. XD

To Guest Reviewer llama: Oh my word, I LOVE Rainbow Rowell! Gaugh, she is wonderful. As are you. Please keep being wonderful. Yay!

COSPLAY ALERT: Her name is flowergirlcosplay on instagram, and she is FANTASTIC! While her "Jack" failed to show up for the photoshoot (BOO! BOO and HISS, to him not showing up!), she was still able to get THIS fantastic picture, to go along with chapter 58: (after "instagram-dot-com", copy-paste in) "/p/Be8Ru6vh3CL/" to see it! :D Thank you SO MUCH, flowergirlcosplay! :D

CONTENT WARNING: You won't believe this, but there's some sexual tension and innuendo in this chapter. (I know. You would never have guessed.)

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60: PITIFUL

As much as Elsa loved Jack Frost's kindness, intelligence, and wit, she had decided by this point that she really, really, really liked his hands.

Now sitting at breakfast with Anna and Kristoff, the Snow Queen was still struggling to analyze how Jack had been acting over the previous twelve hours. It was probably improper. No—it was definitely improper, how much he was touching her. But when he'd walked up and hugged her from behind that morning, Elsa had forgotten literally everything in her surroundings, except for where his hands were on her waist, and how overwhelmingly lovely it had felt. Jack's hands were surprisingly strong. And safe.

And cold.

And now (as if THAT hadn't been enough!), Jack wanted to take her out again, after she got through meeting with her confounded suitors. Like—on a date. Analyzing it, Elsa had concluded that Jack was probably planning on using the date to break to her that she needed to improve with kissing. If that was what he was going to "explain" to her, anyway. It was a little embarrassing to be so hopeless, with such things, but Elsa knew in her heart that she had no IDEA what she was doing—and that the logical conclusion to all of this was that she had been horrible, and that Jack was taking pity on her.

It was so kind of him to distract her with a date, though. He was probably trying to soften the blow. Oh, Jack Frost was thoughtful…

And yet—even though he was so far out of her league—Jack hadn't yet stopped touching her, throughout the course of the entire meal. She knew, knew that he needed to touch someone, after so much time alone, and as long as he wasn't inappropriate, she was fine with it. But even by three hundred years' standards, it felt like his constant touching was starting to get a little excessive.

And, making it rather difficult to eat. Every time that Elsa had tried to take a bite in the previous twenty minutes, she was suddenly interrupted by the fact that Jack was touching her arm, or playing with her fingers, or even nudging her foot with his own, with accompanying grins and glances. Meanwhile, their chairs were crammed so close together that Elsa was half-expecting the Spirit of Winter to pull her into his lap again for another session of fervent kissing—which she had no problems with whatsoever. She might have even done it, if Anna and Kristoff hadn't been sitting across from them, exchanging knowing glances and smirks throughout the entire meal.

Still, mulling everything that had happened as she unsuccessfully attempted to have a normal breakfast, Elsa couldn't shake the feeling that she was getting—manhandled. But Jack's touch felt so nice, and so cold, and so wonderful, that the Fifth Spirit had half a mind to just let the Spirit of Winter do whatever he wanted, just because he was so gentle about it.

Well—and, because he was—you know.

Jack Frost.

"I was thinking we'd go out again after her audiences," Jack was currently explaining to Anna, while subtly squeezing Elsa's hand under the table. "For—a while. Maybe. I mean, she has four guys to see today."

"Four!?"

"Wow," King Kristoff commented, scoffing as Anna set her jaw. "They have REALLY filled up her schedule."

"Tell me about it."

Jack let go of her hand, and Elsa, seeing her chance, started to reach for her scone. An instant later, his palm started sliding across her lower back, and she froze.

Uh—hello?

Queen Elsa's breath caught as Jack began rubbing her back, his hand caught between the surface of her dress and her capelet. Giving up on the scone, her heart started pounding, and she helplessly pulled her own hand back into her lap.

"She'll be okay, though," Jack said softly. "We're going to get her through this. Aren't we, Snowflake?"

Shifting uncomfortably in her seat, Elsa blushed. "Oh—um," she stammered as Jack began to smile in encouragement, still rubbing her back, "Yes. That—I would imagine so."

"Did he just call her, Snowflake?" Kristoff whispered in Anna's ear.

Elsa blushed harder, her eyes flickering in Kristoff's direction. Apparently not hearing the comment, Jack gaze dropped down to Elsa's dress, his palm slipping across her back again and then settling onto her opposite hip. Before she could respond, Jack then gave her a quick squeeze, making her jump with a squeak.

His smile widened, and he pulled his hand back, throwing Elsa a quick wink and turning away.

Queen Anna's eyes bulged. She looked to her husband, and he cleared his throat, looking in turn to Jack.

"What do you mean, we?" Kristoff demanded, his eyes narrowing.

"Oh. Well, I—uh," Jack said, suddenly nervous as he glanced downwards, remembering that they were being watched, "I've been—I go in, with her."

"Wait," Kristoff scoffed, "You mean, you—you've been chaperoning Elsa's audiences, Frost? Is Elsa okay with that?"

"—Yes!"

Everyone turned to her.

Feeling their stares on her face, Elsa suddenly felt uncomfortably visible. Fighting it, she drew in her breath.

"Yes. Jack's been kind enough to come to my audiences with me," she explained. "And I—I'm fine with it. I really appreciate it. Actually."

Kristoff's left eyebrow twitched up skeptically again. Glancing to Anna, he then reached for his glass, bringing it to his lips with a shrug.

"Huh," Kristoff huffed.

As he started to take a drink, Jack suddenly took Elsa's hand again under the table, and she looked to him. Shifting in his chair to face her, she then watched as he then carefully turned it over, reaching across and covering it with his other. Giving it a soft squeeze, he looked up into her face.

"I'll always go with you," Jack said softly.

From across the table, King Kristoff stifled a snort.

Not noticing, Jack continued to stare into her eyes, bringing her hand to his lips and placing a gentle kiss on her knuckles. As he reverently looked back up to her, Elsa felt a wave of confusion sweep over her features.

Jack's usually piercing gaze had gone hazy, like it was soft with—well, with that—look he'd been giving her all morning. It was just so—kind, like his eyes always were, but there was something more; a dreaminess, like his mind had wandered off to someplace else, but had still taken her with it. It was just so caring, and loving, and—!

"Heh," she stammered.

To this, Jack's soft smile cracked into a grin. As he dropped his head forward, clearly restraining from a laugh, Elsa realized with a sudden panic what that look actually was.

He pities me.

Oh, no.

The realization felt like a stab. Wincing internally as her eyes started stinging, Queen Elsa bit down hard on the edge of her lip, and nodded.

It was all she could do.

"Oh—I—um," she stammered, feeling heat rushing to her face. "Thank you. For that."

Jack smiled kindly, and Elsa winced, feeling the epiphany stab her once again. He then nodded, giving her hand an affectionate squeeze before letting go of it to reach for his drink.

I am SUCH a fool! Elsa thought frantically, breaking eye contact and looking down, A silly, self-flattering FOOL! He is SO far out of my league, and I was stupid enough to think I could successfully kiss him without making a mess of everything, and—and NOW look what you've done, you IDIOT girl!

Elsa swallowed hard. For a moment, she had thought that maybe, maybe he was touching her because he needed to be touched, but—no. This was pity—and nothing more. He was trying to comfort her, because he'd seen how hopelessly awkward she was, and was kind enough to try and help. He didn't love her. Elsa would be lucky if someone as is incredible as Jack was would even like her, but—no. He was just that kind, and he was pitying her, because she was pathetic.

Elsa squeezed her eyes shut as the truth sank in.

He pities me because I'm pitiful.

Oh, she was a wreck.

Letting out her breath, the Fifth Spirit sadly threw a wistful glance in her childhood hero's direction. This was why she belonged up in the Enchanted Forest, living with the spirits and away from society, where she wouldn't bother anyone. Jack Frost was smiling again, easily carrying on a conversation with her sister like the adorable, charming pile of wonderfulness that he was; his blue eyes and white hair even more startling, now that Elsa was freshly aware of how impossibly too good for her he was. Oh, Jack was handsome… beautiful, even. She'd never really seen herself as thinking of a boy as "beautiful" before, but with Jack, it was WAIT HE'S NOT TOUCHING ME.

Elsa jolted. Seizing the opportunity, she lurched forward and snatched up her fork, her stomach roaring in relief as she frantically shoveled three forkfuls of potatoes into her mouth. Relaxing back into her seat again and chewing as fast as she could, she was just about to start ANNnnnnnnd he's touching me again.

Jack's hand, this time, had somehow found its way onto her knee under the table. Her muscles going rigid, Elsa swallowed, trying to calm her pounding heart as her stomach growled.

Okay. This was a little frustrating, but at least she'd gotten three bites in, before she was suddenly—never mind. As much as she needed his pity, he needed physical touch. It was a fair trade, between friends. And she shouldn't flatter herself. This was fine.

This was FINE.

From across the table, Queen Anna heaved a sigh. "At least these are the last suitors, though," she clarified. "Right?"

"They should be," Jack shrugged. "But don't worry. We're planning on having some fun with 'em."

On the other hand, Elsa thought, picking up her fork and shifting uncomfortably in her seat as he rubbed his thumb over her knee, If this is pity, it's by far the TOUCHIEST pity that I've ever seen.

"Some fun with them?" Anna laughed, "What do you mean?"

"Oh… you'll see."

He glanced knowingly at Elsa and gave her a playful nudge with his shoulder, not pulling his hand back from her knee. Smiling nervously, Elsa then put down her fork, reaching for her glass.

She was just starting to take a drink as Jack suddenly squeezed her knee, making her jolt. The juice sloshing in its glass, Elsa pressed her lips together in frustration and set it back down.

At SOME point here, I'm going to need to be able to eat something.

Picking up her fork to try again at her breakfast, only half-hearing the others starting up the conversation again, the Snow Queen let out her breath. She was probably overreacting. Jack was just a little—needy. That was all. It wasn't even like it had anything to do with her; SHE was just a friend (if that!), and she had ice powers, so that his freezing hands wouldn't bother her, like they would everyone else. Maybe instead of inwardly freaking out every time he was touching her again, what Elsa really needed to do was to calm down, and to eat her breakfast, and to not read too much into EXCUSE ME, WHAT.

Elsa froze in shock as Jack's hand suddenly moved up onto her leg, casually resting on top of her skirt as his fingers started to curl around her thigh. Her mouth falling open as she stared down at his hand, Elsa's grip on her fork tightened, a fine layer of frost beginning to spread over its length as flurries of snow started to materialize out of the air.

WHAT.

Elsa closed her eyes. Pulling in a long, calming breath of air, her mind raced in the analysis, reviewing the facts as she tried to decide how to respond.

Yes: she did, in fact, have half a mind to let the Spirit of Winter touch her however he wanted.

The OTHER half of her mind, however, was The Queen Half. And The Queen Half insisted that—no matter HOW incredible Jack was—things were going to be proper.

Sucking in her breath, Queen Elsa forcefully put down her fork. She spun around to face him, catching his hand with her own before it could wander any further up onto her leg.

"JACK."

He abruptly stopped talking, his eyebrows lifting as he looked to her. Seeing her expression, his smile faded.

"Uh—yeah?" he asked softly. "Everything okay?"

"I'm fine. It's just—!"

Elsa carefully drew in her breath, pressing her lips together and closing her eyes as she struggled to gather her thoughts. He didn't mean to be improper. And he needed to touch someone, but…!

She opened her eyes again. Elsa then looked down to where his hand was still resting on her leg, caught under her own.

"Jack—I'm right. Here," she exhaled, her gaze lifting from his hand. "I'm not going anywhere. You can stop—checking."

A wave of confusion swept over his face.

"Checking?" Jack laughed. "What are you talking about?"

"I know you've been alone for a while," Elsa tried again, glancing meaningfully to her leg and starting to push his hand back down towards her knee. "And I usually don't mind, but I'm—I'm just trying to have breakfast, and it's kind of difficult to eat, and—and to think, when you keep—"

Her voice trailed off, and she swallowed hard, looking back up. Jack gave her thigh a tiny squeeze, his eyes soft with concern as she stiffened.

"When I keep what?" he asked quietly, leaning in close to her face. "What is it? You can tell me, Snowflake."

Elsa glanced to her leg again, noticing that Jack had started absent-mindedly running his thumb over the fabric of her skirt, clearly missing the hint. With effort, she drew in her breath.

"When you keep—um," Elsa whispered. "Touching me."

Jack froze.

After a few seconds, his mouth fell open, all the color draining from his face. Looking down to her thigh and realizing where his hand was, he suddenly jerked it back into his lap, blushing furiously.

And instant later, Jack reached up and started frantically rubbing the back of his neck.

"Wait, wha—what?" he laughed desperately, his eyes darting to Kristoff's in terror, "I—ha, ha! I—uh, I wasn't—what are you talking about!"

Elsa exhaled. "You keep touching me."

"No, I haven't—it—!" Jack's cheeks flushed, and he let out another anxious laugh. "No, I'm not!"

Elsa's mouth fell open in shock.

"Yes! You are!" she stammered, her voice growing louder as Jack started to cringe, "You haven't stopped touching me for this entire time!"

"I—"

"—Touching my hand! Touching my arm! Touching my knee!" she sputtered, making him shrink away from her, "Touching me, touching me, touching me, over and over and OVER again; your foot has been wrapped around my ankle this entire time, and I really love being close to you and everything, but I think that all of this is getting a little out of—wait, what's so funny?"

Elsa cut herself off, looking up again to realize that Kristoff and Anna were practically sobbing with laughter as the Spirit of Winter leaned forward onto the table, burying his face in his arms in humiliation. Rocking back in his seat, King Kristoff clapped his hand over his eyes, Queen Anna giggling uncontrollably as Jack Frost shrank further and further into his chair, wincing as his ears and neck flushed a nearly-purple shade of crimson.

"Elsa?" Anna laughed breathlessly, her eyes blurry as she struggled to speak, "Can I please talk to you for a minute?"

"Why? What's wrong?" Elsa stammered, "Did I—is everything—"

"—Let's go out into the hallway."

SCREECH!

Queen Anna shoved her chair back against the wood, then using the table to push herself up onto her feet as her husband guffawed, shaking his head as Jack cringed even further into his seat. Clearly restraining from bursting out laughing again, the enormously pregnant young queen walked around the table and lurched towards her sister, grasping her arm and motioning for her to get up. Elsa did so, her breath catching.

"Why is everyone laughing?" she choked, "It isn't—I was just—"

"—Let's talk about it outside."

"B-b-but I usually like the touching!" Elsa blurted desperately, her mind racing as Anna bit down on her lip to restrain from laughing again, "It doesn't normally get distracting! So, it's fine. Lovely, actually. Jack has very nice hands—"

"—HALLWAY, Elsa."

The Fifth Spirit snapped her mouth shut. Blushing and looking down to her hands, she anxiously fidgeted with her fingers, her capelet flowing out behind her as she followed her much more socially-adept little sister out of the room.

This instant that the door closed behind them, Elsa whipped around to face her.

"I just wanted him to stop touching me!" she stammered, her eyes stinging, "I—it—just for a little bit! I just needed two seconds without being distracted to get down some food, because ruling a kingdom is hard, and running reforms is hard, and seeing suitors is hard, and routinely humiliating myself in front of The Spirit of Winter is hard, but combining everything blowing up in my life right now as I'm back in the castle, so HELP me, Anna, I would like to not be HUNGRY!"

"Elsa—"

"I know it was under the table, but you have to believe me!" she interrupted, her vision starting to go blurry, "Because I KNOW what I saw, Anna! I mean, I know that he wouldn't ever mean to do anything, you know, inappropriate, but—but I saw what he was DOING, and—"

"—Elsa, we all saw what Jack was doing."

Elsa stopped talking, looking up at her little sister in shock.

After a few moments, Queen Anna smiled good-naturedly, shifting on her feet resting her hands on her stomach. Elsa felt her lungs contract.

"You—um," she choked. "You did?"

Anna smirked. "Well," she drawled, one of her eyebrows twitching upwards. "His tail was wagging the whole time."

Elsa's face went pale. "So—so, you're saying I shouldn't have asked him to—"

"—OH, no," Anna exclaimed, "You were TOTALLY in the right to call him out. Especially if he was making you uncomfortable."

Elsa fell quiet, rubbing her hand over her opposite elbow. She looked down to the floor.

"Maybe a little bit," she whispered.

To this, the pregnant young queen nodded resolutely. "Well, then I'm glad you said something," she said, drawing herself up. "If that puppy was getting on your nerves—"

"He's really not a puppy, Anna—"

"—It's an analogy. Stay with me, here," Anna insisted. "If that puppy was getting on your nerves, then you had every right to give him a quick smack on the snoot. I was just stopping you before you beat him to death."

Elsa's breath caught again.

"Wait, do you think," she stammered, "Did—did I embarrass Jack?"

"Jack embarrassed himself."

"So, he is embarrassed?"

"Um…"

Queen Anna fell silent, looking to the side. As her unspoken response sank in, Elsa's heart leapt into her throat with horror.

Oh, no.

She'd ruined everything. Here Jack was, being SO kind to her, and—oooooh, no!

Her head spinning, Elsa stumbled over to the wall, throwing out her hand and collapsing against it as flurries of snow began to materialize out of the air. Turning around and leaning against it, she then tilted her head back to stare at the ceiling, trying to hold in the tears building up on her eyes.

Her sister took a tiny step towards her.

"Elsa—"

"—I have made—a mess—of everything," Elsa choked, her voice hardly more than a squeak as flurries of snow fell around her, "And he's—he's Jack Frost. I've made an idiot of myself in front of Jack Frost, Anna!"

Burying her face in her hands, the Fifth Spirit started to cry.

Frantically flicking the tears away, Elsa blushed furiously, her cheeks flushing as she sank down against the wall in humiliation and gasped for breath. She'd embarrassed Jack. It was all her fault. She'd ruined everything. She was a hopeless wreck, and there was no chance of her ever learning to be anything else.

The flurries were falling harder and faster around her in the hallway, snowflakes swirling into the carpet as she struggled to keep her breathing even. Through her heavily blurred vision, Elsa could feel her sister start to come closer, and gasped.

Elsa balled her hands into fists. "Don't—!"

"I just want to hug you," Queen Anna said softly.

"But the baby—and," Elsa stammered, her eyes darting up to the snow flurries, "It—too cold—"

"—Not too cold for a hug, Elsa."

Before she could protest, Anna lurched forward and embraced her, her pregnant stomach barely allowing her to reach more than a few inches past it. Feeling her sister's warm, surprisingly strong arms around her once again, Elsa pulled in a ragged breath of air.

"I just—!" she choked softly, sobbing again, "I—I like him. I really, really like him, Anna."

"I know."

Anna squeezed her, and Elsa embraced her in return, sniffing as her heart rate started to slow again. She was—but—it—!

"I like him," Elsa whimpered.

"It's okay."

"He's amazing," she stammered, more tears rolling down her face, "I didn't want—I mean, I didn't mean to—"

"—I know."

The flurries stopped materializing, and Elsa gave her head a tiny shake. Sniffling again, she gulped, feeling Anna starting to straighten up.

"I'm sure it's not as bad as you think," Anna said reassuringly. "If he's anything like he's been in the last few days—"

"—It's different now."

Elsa shyly looked back into her sister's eyes as Queen Anna let go, taking a step back out of the hug. Sniffing, Elsa let out an anxious laugh.

"It's different now, and I've ruined everything," she choked. "Including my makeup. My makeup was perfect, five minutes ago."

To this, Anna closed her eyes, pressing her lips together and visibly restraining from a laugh. Swallowing with effort, she pulled in her breath.

"Alright… how have things changed?" Anna asked carefully, stepping back from her sister. "I mean, besides the way Jack's pupils have started turning into little hearts whenever he looks at you."

Elsa laughed weakly, shaking her head. Oh, Anna…

What would I do without you, Anna?

"Well, last night we—um," Elsa admitted softly, rubbing her arm across her nose, "We tried out some—things. With each other. And it was fun, but I think I ruined everything."

Anna sharply sucked in her breath.

"We kissed," Elsa clarified quickly.

Anna exhaled, collapsing against the wall beside Elsa in relief.

"Good," she gasped, "Because I'd—well, never mind. But I thought you said you'd kissed before."

"Yes, but this time—we kissed," Elsa whispered, crossing her arms over her chest and looking down to the floor. "Like—a lot. A lot of times. And, I think I was horrible, and he's trying to figure out how to break it to me gently."

"Why do you think that?"

"Because it's logical. And," she continued, interrupting before Anna could protest, "Jack kept saying that there was something he needed to explain to me. And that he wanted to talk about it after my audiences."

Queen Anna opened her mouth to speak, but then abruptly snapped it shut. Glancing up to the ceiling in thought, she considered this for a long, silent moment.

All of a sudden, Anna's eyes lit up.

"Oooooooooh," she breathed, a look of comprehension dawning over her face, "I—ummmmmm, you know what? I think I—yeah. I think I'm going to let Jack take this one."

Elsa sniffed. "What do you mean?"

"Nope! I'm not explaining it!"

The pregnant young queen shook her head, crossing her arms over her chest and restraining from a laugh. Her eyes bright, she grinned up at her sister.

"Just—just go and enjoy your date," she laughed, "Alright? I am not stealing Jack's thunder on this."

Elsa nodded, even though she was still confused. Swallowing hard, she fidgeted with her fingers.

"I must have been horrible," she whimpered.

"I think you should stop worrying, and go on your date."

Anna smiled slyly, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. The Fifth Spirit sniffed again.

"Jack's very kind," Elsa admitted, the snow flurries now completely gone the air. "If I'm really that bad, I'm sure he'll find a way to help me be less—awful. And to break it to me gently."

"I think you need to wait for Jack to talk to you, Elsa. Now, come on," Anna laughed, "Let's go back in. You need a chance to actually eat your breakfast."

Elsa blushed. "I've messed up my makeup," she whispered, "And I never mess up my makeup. Even with the Nokk, I don't mess it up. I—I don't want to go back in, if it looks like I've been cry—"

"—Actually, it's fine. Just—here."

Elsa sheepishly looked up as her sister lifted a hand to her face, smudging away something from just under her eye. Elsa sniffed.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

"Do you think he hates me now?"

"I'm sure Jack is fine," Queen Anna chuckled, shaking her head. "Boys are just as resilient to awkwardness and we are. He'll get over it."

Elsa swallowed hard.

"I am really bad at this," she whimpered.

"Maybe a little bit."

Elsa's cheeks flushed as Anna stepped forward to hug her, embracing her the best she could with her enormously pregnant stomach. Anna laughed softly, making Elsa smile in embarrassment as she squeezed her.

"Don't beat yourself up about it, though," Anna whispered into her ear. "You wanna know a secret?"

"Okay…?"

Pulling back from her, Queen Anna grasped her sister's shoulders, visibly restraining from a smile as she raised her eyebrows.

"Literally everybody is bad at this," she chuckled.