Loved - Anna and Eugene

Eugene figured that Anna wanted to speak with him, but things were too hectic right now. So for now he positioned himself in the high backed chair in the royal library facing the open door until an opportunity presented itself. Leafing through a black bound book he had found hidden behind his own favorite book.

Elsa was taking charge of things here in Arendelle as was her right and duty, but for all her training, she hadn't done it before. He thought she was doing fine, but Elsa was hard on herself. Elsa's biggest issue was just dealing with all the people, she hadn't any practice dealing with all the people for a decade. Rapunzel was helping Elsa balance her expectations for herself and her reality.

Rapunzel had had to learn to assert herself because everyone had expectations for what a princess of Corona should be like, but that took no consideration for the woman who that princess was. He had been very proud of her for doing that because Rapunzel had been stressing herself to the point of tears and vomiting, trying desperately to be the princess everyone wanted her to be. He had seen it happening, but didn't know how to help, expect to keep doing the family first things that allowed her to be herself. The adventure with the Princess Aurora had changed a lot of things, for all of them. Rapunzel knew much better how to handle stress and what being a princess was really all about.

Elsa and Anna had their own adventure and now everything was different for them. So much better now for all of them but the new reality was as different as Rapunzel's, though at least they hadn't had to move to a new home but changing their roles was still a pretty big change from what their lives had been before.

Anna walked past the open door.

He turned the page enjoying the story, he could figure why it had been hidden.

Anna peeked around the door.

Eugene looked up and inclined his head to invite her in.

"Hi. How's your day goin'?" Eugene asked.

"Um, fine, I guess." Anna said, as she came in, closing the door behind her. The day was warm, and the windows were open and the fireplace cold.

Eugene didn't bother to keep reading the book as he turned the page. He was just letting her have the time to gather herself. He was guessing what she wanted to talk about, but the way her eyes would come to him sometimes was very different from the look she gave Elsa or Kristoff. They shared something in common and he was open to talking about to someone who appeared to know what it felt like.

"Prince Eugene…" Anna started.

"Just Eugene, please." He said as he flipped the red ribbon into the book to hold his page, closed the book, and set it on the table beside the chair.

She glanced at the chaise lounge by the chess set then sat in the high backed chair in front of him.

She sat up straight like a princess should, but he could tell she was nervous from how she was kneading her fingers.

She wanted something and he could make a guess as to what it was and it wasn't what Flynn Rider would have taken from her even though she had closed the door.

They sat in awkward silence until Eugene leaned forward and gently asked, "What do you remember about it?"

"I was cold. So cold. Then I wasn't."

"It didn't feel like anything, did it?" He asked. "The pain was gone."

Anna nodded her head.

"Was there light?"

Anna nodded. Still looking down.

"Was someone there?"

Anna nodded again.

"Do you know who that was?"

"They." She corrected. "I knew who they were. Mama and papa, Oma and Opa from both sides and great grandparents and everyone. My entire family I think." Anna looked up with a smile like the noon day sun outside. Though her eyes were full of tears.

Eugene felt a slight twinge, only one had been there for him. But his heart felt so warm and full he could not be jealous. His eyes filled too.

"Papa said he was so proud of me. I asked if he was proud of Elsa too. He smiled, really smiled and he said he was." Tears ran down her face.

Eugene took her hand. Of course, she thought of Elsa even then.

"Mama asked if I would keep loving Elsa and I said I would. They hugged me and then I was back with Elsa hugging me." Anna paused.

"Yeah, we saw that part." Eugene said. He had seen it from the road where he and a squad of men were going in search of Anna, not knowing they had just missed her being raced to the castle by Kristoff, Sven and Olaf. Rapunzel had seen it from the gates of the castle after being forced from the kitchens. She had been the last on out making sure everyone else was out. Her bodyguard had dragged her out just in time. No one was hurt but everyone had been forced out of the castle. Then they all ran for the bridge to see what was happening on the frozen fjord.

Anna frowned. "Sometimes though I remember the cold and the …dying."

"Yeah, I do too. It seems to get easier over time."

"Really?"

"It doesn't happen every day any more, so I guess that's better. The stupidest little things will bring the memory back. Try not to get caught up in it." He sat back.

"Yeah." She glanced at the lounge.

He looked at it too, but it didn't look odd in any way. "Something happened there?"

She nodded. "Hans… Kristoff, Sven and Olaf raced me here so Hans could give me true love's kiss and make me better. But-but he said, 'Oh Anna, if only there was someone out there that loved you.' He locked me in here to die, alone."

Eugene found himself on his feet and his hands balled into fists. He hadn't heard that.

"Eugene! He's gone, we sent him home for his brother's to deal with."

He took a couple of breaths and then sat again. "Right, I remember that."

He didn't like going back to the tower because of the memories. He looked at Anna, "Sorry about that. I didn't know."

She shrugged.

He looked around and said, "Maybe you should redecorate."

Anna shrugged again.

There was a long quiet.

"Eugene. May I ask you something?" Anna asked.

Eugene raised an eyebrow. They had covered some of the heaviest ground there was and now she's asking permission for more?

"Sure. What's up?"

"I. I love Elsa with all my heart."

He nodded that was obvious.

"I love Kristoff too, I think."

"You think?" It was obvious to everyone they were in love.

"After Hans I need to be more careful."

"Oh, yeah, him" Even Flynn had choice words for him.

"I'm scared."

"I bet. You're scared of being hurt like that again."

She nodded.

"Rapunzel told me that she thought I had betrayed her and left her to be thrown in a sack by my former partners. She said it was the worst pain she had ever felt. At least until a few hours later when I died in her arms."

Anna looked down and bit her lip. "But how can I love them both so much. If I love Kristoff doesn't that take from the love I want to give Elsa?"

She looked at him with pleading eyes, and it took him a moment to pick his jaw from the floor.

"Um, it, ah. Love doesn't work like that, from what I have seen. At least with some people." Eugene knew his own heart was scarred because of losing his parents, growing up in an orphanage. "Rapunzel loves with her whole heart. She did have some…difficulties with love after she learned that Gothel wasn't her mother. Rapunzel's heart was badly hurt. She was betrayed, much like you were, worse perhaps. It made life -challenging for a while. Then we had our adventure with Aurora and Phillip. Rapunzel found someone, Aurora, who could understand her in ways I still cannot really relate to. Rapunzel loved her kidnapper with all her heart. She loves her parents and Aurora with all her heart."

Anna looked worry. "And you too, right?"

"Yeah, me too. Love doesn't divide, it multiplies. Did your tutors teach you multiplication and division?" He asked.

Anna nodded, looking thoughtful.

They were quiet for a time. Then she found herself staring at his nose.

"What is something on my nose?" Eugene asked rubbing it with a finger.

"Do guys-really eat their boogers?"

Author's Note: I'm calling it good here, I have no more inspiration for this storyline and I would like to try something original for NaNoWroMo, so I'll be working on that from now on.