Author Note: This is my very first fan fiction ever, and I happen to thrive on criticism of all kind, so please leave a review :)

The Kingdom of Arendelle had been thawed, but that didn't mean tensions were not continually icy. Everyone was pleased to see that the Snow Queen figured out a way to Thaw the Winter of her own creation, and yet whispers could still be heard in terse snippets, eyes still darted in every direction, searching for the source of the awful winter, Queen Elsa. The Queen had not yet returned, though she was obviously found, since the soil was once again visible.

Elsa stared at her sister. She was chatting away with Kristoff about why she wouldn't allow him to take care of Hans for her: something about just because she was a Princess didn't mean she couldn't take care of herself. She had tried to engage Elsa in conversation, but the attempt was short-lived and awkward. It ended, not too abruptly, with Elsa telling Anna that they could talk later, that she was tired right now. The truth was, Anna looked much more tired. Dark circles had begun to form underneath her eyes at quite an alarming speed, and she had long since sat down at one of the benches on the ship.

"Hey, uh-"

Elsa spun around, eyes big and hand outstretched - for what reason, she was unsure - and caught the eyes of the overly-bundled man she had seen with her sister. He started at her sudden movement, and stumbled over an apology until Elsa held a hand up with a soft smile gracing her face.

"No, no, you only startled me," she assured him, "what is it?"

Her voice was soft and melodious, and Kristoff couldn't help but wonder how she was related to Anna, bursting with sound and words as she was. He smiled thinking of how vocal she had been just since he had met her, such a short while ago.

He blinked a few times, bringing himself back to his present situation.

"Oh, um, yeah," he started ungraciously, "I have to help with Sven for a minute: his coat is soaked and he keeps running back and forth across the deck, and anyway, Anna said she doesn't want to sit there alone, and that she doesn't really think you're too tired to speak with her.." he trailed off, wondering if that last part would really be something Anna would want Elsa to know she'd said.

But Elsa just let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, a grin on her face.

"Of course, I never should have tricked myself into believing Anna would ever really listen to me," she said distractedly. Before she went to Anna, however, she sighed. "Thank you, Kristoff," she said, meeting his eyes fully and attempting to keep her hands folded in front of her, rather than wring them near her chest, as she so often did when she was nervous. Kristoff raised his eyebrows in surprise but smiled a sloppy smile anyway, "For everything," Elsa continued before Kristoff could say anything in return. "It was very good of you to take care of my sister like that, and I truly do appreciate it- no, I'm eternally grateful for it, and I will never quite be able to repay you." she looked down, a small breath escaping her, not quite a sigh though, and moved swiftly passed a slightly stunned Kristoff, to the bench where Anna was leaning on her right hand, a blanket covering her legs as they stretched beneath her across the bench.

She had been watching her sister intently, but as they made eye contact, she hurriedly looked out to the water behind them, trying to look distracted. She didn't move, even as Elsa sat down at the end of the bench near her hand.

Elsa struggled for a moment, a bit lost as to how to start a conversation after all that had happened. The only thing she could really think of was-

"You look tired."

Anna jumped, a little late, and sat all the way up, turning to look at Elsa with a slightly-less-than-startled expression.

"Elsa!" she said, her tone a bit too dramatic, "You scared me!"

Elsa smiled at her sister and gave her a knowing look, which caused Anna to look sheepish, but only for a moment because then her whole face lit up.

"Wow, Elsa, I mean- I said it before but- wow. You really look different!" She had raised a hand to touch her sister's hair and, upon seeing Elsa tense up despite her best efforts, dropped it again, the smile still glued to her face. She continued as if nothing had happened.

"I mean, not just since the- well, ya know,- but since we were kids."

The confession confused Elsa, and she looked at her sister with full attention.

"I haven't really gotten a chance to see you, to really see you since I was five.." Anna trailed off, seeing Elsa tighten her hands in a neat little knot in her lap. She tried again; Anna raised a hand to touch Elsa's face, this time ignoring the rigid spell that washed over her sister, and brushed her knuckles across the side of her face, up to her hair.

"It's okay, Elsa," Anna murmured, speaking as if Elsa were an injured animal, sure to take off as soon as they broke eye contact.

"So do you," Elsa started, trying to avoid such dark topics for now, while things were still so new. "Your hair has always been beautiful, Anna," she told her little sister, earning a small smile. "And the rest of you has certainly grown up just as beautifully." She hesitantly raised a hand, placing it over Anna's, which was still held gently to her face, and giving it a gentle squeeze. Suddenly, a concerned frown washed over her features. "Anna, you really look tired," she stated again, rubbing the knuckle of her forefinger under one of Anna's eyes. Her face had paled since Elsa had last glanced at her, and her eyes had a milky sheen to them, fogged with fatigue. Her hand was now limply resign against ELsa's knee, and she had a sleepy smile spread across her face.

""M fine, Elsa," Anna mumbled sleepily, struggling to sit up straighter. "Don't worry 'bout me so much."

Elsa's frown only deepened as she stroked the side of her sister's face with the backs of her fingers, trying to get used to the contact. However, her worry sent a slight chill through the air, and as Anna shivered, Elsa pulled her hand back with a gentle smile.

"How do you feel?" she asked as Anna fought to keep her eyes open.

Anna started slightly, and sat forward.

"I feel fine, really, I'm not actually that tired, ya know, considering all that's happened today, and I don't feel exactly bad otherwise, just a bit like I might be dreaming, ya know, like when you have a dream and you can't seem to get to your destination ever, and so you just keep walking and walking, but you don't really mind cuz you feel like you could just walk forever, and-"

Elsa couldn't help herself any longer and she laughed at her sister's inane babbling.

"Yeah, I think you'll be okay," Elsa said warmly. The cold draft went with her worry and she cupped her sister's chin in her palm, luxuriating in the simplicity of being able to be so close to Anna in so long.

Only because of my mistake. No. She would not let herself go that way, not right now, not with Anna looking so happy.

Suddenly, Anna threw her arms around Elsa, feeling the older girl stiffen abruptly but not caring too much.

"Oh, ELsa," she breathed shakily, "I never thought we would ever be able to be like this again," she admitted, releasing her sister, but scooting closer to her to lay her head on her shoulder. "I mean- after what you said at the Coronation, ya know, about how it just can't be this way ever, I -"

"Anna," Elsa said firmly, causing the younger girl to look up into her sister's eyes, which were flaming crystals. "I only ever said such things to protect you, Anna," Elsa said, placing a hand on either side of Anna's face. "And I promise- I vow, that I will never shut you out again. My door is always open to you Anna." And with that, the redhead let out a constricted sob, wrapping her arms around her sister again.

"I love you, Elsa," she choked out.

"Anna, I love you more than you can ever realize," Elsa murmured into her sister's hair, returning her hug with confidence, the love pouring out of her being enough of a comfort that she didn't ever expect to need her gloves again.

So, alright. Please leave a review! Please! Even if you hated it! If you want, I will continue this story, and turn it into quite a few chapters. Thanks so so so much for reading! :)