She grunted, choking back sobs as she gripped the bed sheets. The pain was different now, intensified as agony stretched her body and a force compelled her to push through it.

"You're almost there, Anna," her sister soothed, wiping a dry cloth along her sweat-beaded brow and padding the moisture from her wet mangled hair.

"One more push, your Highness," the midwife instructed as she held Anna's legs firmly apart, but the princess was no longer listening; she had given in to her cries, sobbing wretchedly as her face burned bright red. The midwife's young assistant looked on, clearly distressed by the princess's anguished face and unrelenting wails.

"Anna." Elsa gently nudged her sister and pressed a cool hand along her cheek. "You need to push one more time, Anna." Her sister fluttered her eyes open and took in deep breaths. Elsa's cool touch eased her distress and her sobs slowly subsided in her throat.

"Just one more time, Elsa?" her voice cracked just audibly.

"Just once more."

Anna leaned her head against her sister's soothing hand, closing her eyes.

"Hold my hand," she murmured, reaching toward Elsa's free arm.

Elsa took her hand and slid onto the bed beside her. She exchanged a meaningful look with the midwife and slow nod, encouraging her to proceed.

"Your Highness, you're going to need to hold this one, okay? Start pushing when the contractions hit you. And don't stop until the end."

She nodded timidly, gripping Elsa tighter.

When her next contraction came, Anna anxiously held her breath and began to push. Moments later she heard the midwife cry out instructions.

"Okay, here we go. Push!"

But she was already pushing and briefly wondered if it was more for their benefit than her own.

Anna grit her teeth and pushed harder, her eyes squeezed shut and her fists clenched. An undiluted torrent of pain tore through her and she clutched her hand and fingers tighter around Elsa's hand, unaware of the nails that cut into her sister's flesh. Perspiration beaded down her face and her body trembled, threatening to collapse.

"I can't," she cried, feeling her efforts wane and her strength slip away. "Elsa, I can't do this anymore."

"You can, Anna," the Elsa replied, unaffected by piercing fingernails that carved into her palm. "You are!"

"Almost there!" the midwife informed as she readied her hands for what came next. But Anna didn't need to be informed, her body was already telling her as much. She could feel it coming, tearing through her weakened and tender flesh. An unnerving scream briefly jarred her from the moment, until she realized it was her own. But her sister's voice grounded her, tickling her ear with warm breath as she urged her on with soft words. Anna pushed and pushed, and just when she thought she could no more, a second current of strength compelled her further.

"No more!" she screamed, releasing Elsa's hand and dropping back against the pillow as her strength finally abandoned her. No more.

But there was no more need to keep going. The midwife lifted a bright red baby and quickly suctioned the mucus from the mouth and nose. Within moments, the infant's first cries filled the princess's chambers.

"Oh, Anna," her sister cried. "She's beautiful."

A girl.

Elsa squeezed her hand but Anna was too exhausted to respond. She struggled to open her eyes. Her labored breathing had subsided but the pains of labor had left her sore and drained. Sleep was sweeping over her but she fought against it, the occasion too important to miss.

The queen walked over to the midwife and watched as the old woman checked the infants' vitals and clipped the umbilical cord, and then, with a warm damp cloth, began to wipe the blood off her tender body.

"May I?" The queen asked hesitantly. The midwife glanced over to the fatigued princess for consent, uncertain how to address her queen's request.

"It's okay," Anna replied, soothing the panicked midwife with a weary smile.

While the midwife's assistant attended to Anna, Elsa took the damp cloth from the midwife's hands and gently wiped the baby clean. She wiped cautiously at first, unsure just how frail newborns were, but she quickly got her bearings under the instruction of the old woman. The hair was trickier, but when she finished the newborn's wispy silvery blonde hair was hardly visible against her pink complexion.

With the midwife's help, the queen wrapped a small yellow blanket around the infant and held her in her arms. The newborn's cries abated as she curled in Elsa's arms against her chest and opened her eyes for the first time. Elsa felt a hitch in her throat as the lovely specimen stared back at her with inquisitive eyes.

"Can I see her?"

The queen tore her eyes from the infant's face, sheepishly making her way to Anna as the princess found the strength to sit up in her bed.

"Midwife, can you give her a hand?" The queen requested as she was unable, her arms already occupied. The midwife and her assistant adjusted several pillows against the backboard and helped the princess settle comfortably against them before the queen carefully placed the child in Anna's arms. She beamed, exhaustion quickly giving way to her newfound delight.

"She's got a bit of a pointy head!" Anna gushed, chuckling softly. "Just look at her, Elsa."

The queen sat beside her and gently ran her fingers on the infants pointed head.

"Ah, that'll go away," the midwife interjected. "Newborns get that from the stress of the birth."

Anna nodded but nevertheless seemed unaffected by whether her child's head would take shape or not. "But she's healthy, right?"

"Yes, Your Highness. Perfectly healthy."

The princess smiled and pressed a kiss on her infant's forehead. The queen signaled the midwife and her assistant for privacy and the two quickly left, bowing as their queen silently thanked them.

"I can't believe how much she looks like you," Anna remarked, caressing the baby's cheek.

"You think?"

"Just look at her hair. And her eyes. She looks so much like you and mother." She laughed. "Kristoff is gonna be so jealous."

Elsa smiled, but she couldn't imagine her brother-in-law taking any offense to the newborn's strong royal genetics.

"I don't think you'll have anything to worry about," Elsa needlessly assured. "Just one look at this little creature and he will be completely enthralled."

"Yes," Anna replied, just as smitten. "Yes, he will."

Watching them, Elsa fought back the small thread of jealously that had sewn its way into her heart. It was a tiny thing, a stitch really, but that stitch envied Kristoff for all the things she shouldn't want.

"And don't worry about Kristoff," the queen added. "I sent for him as soon as you went into labor."

In the days leading up to their first child's birth, Kristoff had grown anxious and overly attentive to Anna. She was touched, at first. But when her due date passed and the baby still had not come, Kristoff became unbearable. Anna couldn't find a moment's peace with his constant attention and tireless scrutiny of her body's every little hiccup and spasm.

Then yesterday, after he insisted on accompanying her into the bathroom despite her protests, she decided she'd had enough and sent him on a fool's errand to garner herself a moment's peace.

"A golden flower?"

"Yes, that's what the physician said."

Kristoff looked at her suspiciously.

"And that will help ease your labor?"

"Yup," she replied glibly. "Guaranteed to have a complication-free childbirth."

"Oh, I suppose I could ask Grand Pabbie about it." He'd contemplated. "I just don't want to leave you all alone. What if the baby comes when I –"

"Please, Kristoff. It'll be fine. And don't worry, I won't be alone."

Anna had been right about that that last part. Elsa had been with her through every step of her labor, coaching her and holding her hand, unfortunately Kristoff had missed it all. He was bound to be disappointed, that much was clear to her, but he wouldn't dwell on it for too long.

"It's okay," she assured her. "I'm not worried. I'm just glad you're here."

She squeezed Elsa's hand for good measure.

"And so is this little one," Anna cooed softly at the child.

The queen smiled warmly.

"And does this 'little one' have a name?"

The princess scrunched up her face in thought as she glanced between the infant and the queen. Elsa raised her brows, surprised that her sister seemed to be so deeply contemplating what the queen had imagined to be a very simple and straight forward question.

"Anna?"

The princess looked hesitant.

"We wanted Kristopher for a boy" she replied.

"And for a girl?"

Anna bit her lip. "Krisanna?"

"You can't be serious."

"Yes? No? I don't know," Anna fidgeted nervously with the infant's blanket. "We sort of joked about it. Combining couples' names is sort of the rage right now, so we figured…but it's not like we were serious. We just really thought it was going to be a boy."

Elsa couldn't deny her amusement, but there was no way she was going to allow her sister to brand the child with such an embarrassing name.

"And where did you get that idea?"

"Pabbie."

The queen chuckled softly and affectionately ran her fingers through Anna's matted bangs, carefully smoothing them out and brushing them to the side.

"But I don't think it matters anymore," Anna went on, relaxing under her sister's warm ministrations. "Especially now that she's here. Any name we would've come up with wouldn't have worked. I think –"

But before Anna could finish her train of thought, a loud ruckus coming from the hallway distracted both women. As the ruckus got closer, the frantic voices of the midwife and her assistant chorused in objection and then the chamber door swung open loudly with a crack as Kristoff and Sven burst through. The new royal quickly dismounted, his clothes soiled with dirt and sweat from the frenzied journey back. He took no more than two steps before the midwife tackled him to the ground.

"No, means no!" she huffed as she successfully overpowered the brawn mountain man. "And you too!" She scolded the reindeer. "Out!"

Sven backed out of the princess' chambers, his eyes wide with fear. Then she pulled Kristoff up to his feet, his arms stretched painfully behind his back. "And you," she began, twisting the man's arm for good measure. "You're not getting near that child until you've cleaned yourself up."

Before Kristoff could protest, the midwife dragged him out the room and closed the door behind her. It was only now that Anna realized that Elsa had erected a pane of ice around them, her fist clenched white and trembling. The queen, embarrassed by her drastic measures, quickly dematerialized the icy shield, and the startled infant, stunned by the commotion that had transpired just moments ago, overwhelmed the room with her fevered cries.

~X~

They both agreed that Krisanna would be a terrible name. Kristoff was still coming to terms with the fact that Grand Pabbie had been wrong about the baby's sex. And like Elsa predicted, the fact that the child didn't look much like him didn't bother him at all.

"I guess there are just some things that love experts can't predict," he mused. When Grand Pabbie had informed him that the first child he fathered would most definitely be a son, Kristoff made it his mission to have everything ready before his boy's arrival. The baby's room was painted blue and papered with pictures of ships and anchors. The closet was stuffed full with mini sailor outfits and tuxes, traditional vests, and mini 'mountain man' jammies to match with his own.

He supposed it could have been worse. An image of a burly mountain baby boy in a frilly pink dress quickly came to mind.

"I'm glad she doesn't look like me," he declared. "She'd be miserable as a husky mountain princess."

"Oh, I wouldn't mind," Anna protested, but she was already falling in love with her newborn's features; her inquisitive azure blue eyes and button nose that reminded her so much of Elsa and their mother, and her downy silvery blonde hair that curled up at the tips. Her flushed skin was already beginning to pale to a more natural complexion.

"Is she really gonna grow out of that cone head?"

"Oh, stop it. She's adorable."

"I know, I know," he held up his hands jokingly before returning his attention to the infant nestled in her arms. "But seriously, what are we gonna call her?"

Anna bit her lip, hesitant to answer.

"What about Irene?" Kristoff suggested. "After your mom? I supposed she could look like an Irene." He leaned over to the baby "What do you say kiddo?"

But the newborn looked bored and yawned before she closed her eyes.

"A 'No go', huh?" He ran a thumb over her little cone-shaped head, wondering if her future would be one filled with hats.

"Stop that!" Anna scolded gently. "I know what you're thinking."

"Well then, what do you think? Does she look like an Irene to you?"

"Elsa."

"Hmm?

"I think she looks like an Elsa."

Kristoff nodded. "I think you're right."

"Elsa," he contemplated aloud, and then turning to the sleeping infant he called the name once more. "Elsa?"

The newborn slowly opened her eyes, clearly annoyed by the disturbance.

"Elsa, huh?" A grin slowly formed on Kristoff's face. "Your sister's gonna be so embarrassed! Mind if I get to be the one to tell her?"

Anna rolled her eyes.

~X~

When Anna had first announced her engagement to Kristoff, the queen was tempted to object. The two had been dating for nearly a year and, although significantly longer than her courtship with Prince Hans of the Southern Isles, Elsa was convinced that Anna was simply too young.

And unworldly.

Elsa had wanted Anna to experience more of the world before settling down. She had intended on sending her abroad to spend a few months with their aunt and uncle in Corona, and maybe after to their uncle's ancestral estate in the north. She was confident that Anna's wild spirit would certainly have no objection to that. The girls had reconnected over the past year, but Elsa had wanted some more time with Anna before sailing her off to enjoy the world. But when Anna resolutely announced her engagement, Elsa could not compel herself to say no.

She had still hoped Anna could make good use of her youth and 'sow' her 'royal oats', although perhaps in more chaste fashion. Even engaged, the princess wouldn't have to settle down for a few more years. But Anna had no intention of waiting with a long engagement. She insisted on being married within the month. That's when the rumors of 'Shotgun' weddings and illicit love affairs began to circulate throughout Arendelle.

Elsa could not bring herself to ask, too afraid of her sister's reply. But the thought of it continued to irk her and her affection for Kristoff quickly dispelled. Everything seemed fine on the surface, Anna's unbridled laughter continued to resonate cheerfully within the castle walls, but she would only engage in terse responses when questions of her abrupt engagement would arise.

Their uncle by marriage, the esteemed King Claudius of Corona, had insisted on a pre-wedding celebration for Anna. "We need to celebrate this great news!" He'd exclaimed drunkenly when they broke news of the engagement during an intimate family dinner. Kristoff sat rigidly next to Anna, uncomfortably dressed in coattails and clearly wishing he were anywhere else.

"We'll throw a pre-wedding Gala in your honor," he decided, holding up a topped glass of red wine with as much majesty as a sailor. Wine spilled over as he took his drink, spattering over the white tablecloth. Queen Isabella, their late mother's older sister, sighed, taking the glass from the flushed king. Rapunzel looked away, embarrassed, while Eugene grinned in amusement. Anna looked just as amused and stifled a laugh, while Kristoff offered his best wooden smile.

"I'm not sure that will be necessary," Elsa interjected. "The wedding's in less than a month. We'll barely have time for those preparations."

A brief silence fell over the table before their aunt Isabella expressed her disapproval. "That's just too soon, dears. Rapunzel's wedding dress took four months alone to make. I can't imagine what sort of festivities a month of planning will yield."

"It's okay Aunt Isabella," Anna replied. "We're just really excited to be married soon. Everything else is just window dressing."

"But you're so young!" their uncle cried out. "You should be enjoying the romance of youth, sowing wild oats! You should give it a few more years before you marry and start having—" He paused, the wheels in his head turning. "Wait, you're not preg—"

"Okay! I think it's off to bed for us," Aunt Isabella interceded as she quickly rose to her feet and took her husband by the hand. "If you will excuse us," she nodded apologetically to Anna and Elsa and smiled sympathetically at the unsettled groom before she dragged her husband away.

"And don't worry about the Gala," their uncle called out before he disappeared out of the dining room. "We'll take care of it."

Once the King and Queen were out of sight, their red-faced cousin looked up to her hosts and apologized emphatically. "He usually doesn't drink this much, really. I just hope he didn't overstep...he tends to do that."

~X~

The Gala was much grander than Elsa had expected. Despite their aunt's claims that a month didn't allot enough time to plan much of anything, the pre-wedding party was impressively lavish. Elaborate ice statues greeted the guests at the main entrance and a grand chocolate fountain rippled down a dozen tiers for guests to dip their favorite desserts. The floral arrangements replicated an outdoor garden, suffusing the ballroom with the scent of lilacs, and the food looked something like a feast orchestrated for Olympic deities. Despite the short notice, the Gala itself was not short on guests. Delegates from all their allied kingdoms had come to represent, and likely to get their first glimpse of the mountain man who had possibly compromised the virtue of the young Arendelle princess.

The rumors of a shotgun wedding had already spread outside the castle walls and Elsa had come nowhere near asking her sister of the validity of these whispers. What bothered Elsa more was the fact that Anna seemed to be oblivious to the gossip, and Anna was certainly not that naïve. Even Kristoff was not blind to the whisperings. He'd already heard of the betting pool among some of the locals; people placing scandalous bets on how soon after their marriage Anna would give birth.

The queen had kept an eye on the princess all evening, looking for any answers in the smallest of details. Anna's slender waist gave nothing away, and Elsa assumed that it would be too soon anyway if she was still early on. Her breasts seemed no different. Though small, they were full and pert, nicely accenting her petite girlish figure. I could easily cup them in my hands, she thought fleetingly as the champagne warmed her cheeks before mentally chastising herself.

"It must be hard for you," a man's voice deduced as footsteps approached from behind. "Watching her slip away."

Elsa stiffened and she struggled not to expose her alarm, instead taking a moment to recompose herself before turning to face the stranger. It surprised her to find no trace of haughtiness or malice on his face. He was actually rather attractive, his dark complexion complemented by playful brown eyes, with short dark hair that curled over his forehead.

"I understand you two are quite close?" He smiled warmly, a gleam of boyish mischievousness in his eyes.

"Yes," she replied, a little unnerved by the stranger.

Reading her unease, the man quickly scrambled for his manners and bowed respectfully.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty. I should have introduced myself," he paused before taking her hand and cupping it in his. "I am the not-so-esteemed Prince Naveen of Maldonia."

The prince bowed once more, this time pulling her hand to his lips and smiling coyly.

Well, he certainly is…charming, she mused.

Cupping her hand once more in a tender caress he took a half step closer before he let her go.

"I have no siblings," the prince revealed. "But I can imagine how hard it must be to see them move on to new lives."

He was close enough that she could feel his warm breath as he spoke, and the queen was speechless, taken back by the prince's complete disregard for her personal space.

"Perhaps, we could go somewhere and talk?" He implored. "Privately?"

It was only when he pressed his hand upon her face that Elsa recoiled and regained her senses. She had been completely caught off guard by the playboy prince and could not find the words or the social etiquette to articulate her disinterest. Come-ons by international playboys were not something that normally happened to the Icy Queen of Arendelle and so she had no point for reference.

"I, I, um," the flushed queen stammered. "I'm gonna go now."

And she turned away without waiting for the prince's reply, seeking refuge outside the ballroom walls.

Across the dance floor, Princess Anna stared in surprise as her sister whisked out of the Gala, the queen's face unmistakably burning red.

~X~

She'd made it as far as the library when she heard a voice call out her name.

Oh God, no! He didn't follow me, did he?

Thinking quick on her feet, she hid herself behind the nearest pillar and peered nervously toward the entrance of the library.

"Elsa?" It was not the voice she had expected; soft and girlish, with a musical timbre. Elsa cautiously stepped out from behind the pillar and into the openness of the candlelit library.

"Anna?"

Her sister's delicate frame peered from the entrance, cast in a shadow as she leaned against the doorway, struggling to catch her breath.

"Elsa, are you there?"

"I'm right, here," she answered stepping into the low light that illuminated the center of the room. This was her chance to get things out in the open, she realized, her nervous energy returning.

Anna made her way slowly into the room, the light casting the shadows away, and magnifying the red hues of her honey blonde hair. Elsa intended to meet her sister half way but hesitated when she took notice of the princess' somber expression.

"Anna, what's wrong?"

The princess stopped in her tracks.

"I saw what happened in the ballroom," she replied.

Oh, that.

Elsa laughed sheepishly.

"I must've looked like some inexperience school girl."

Anna, however, made no sound, clearly not amused; her staid expression confusing the young queen.

"An—"

"Do you like him?"

Do I what?

"I don't understand. What are you—"

"The prince, Elsa." Anna paused nervously, but went on before she could get a reply. "It surprised me because you've never shown any kind of interest in anyone before."

Another pause.

Her cyan blue eyes gleaned and reflect bits of red from her hair in the candlelight, intensifying her gaze. Elsa felt her tongue go numb as she stared dumbly as her sister.

"You only ever looked at me." Anna moved toward her, closing in on the space between them, and Elsa was captivated by thoughts that usually only came to her in passing. Like the way her freckles traced along the curve of her neck, or how the straps of her dress rested loosely off her shoulders, and the soft curves of her chest just above her bodice... Elsa looked away, ashamed for a moment before meeting Anna's gaze.

"You're misunderstanding something here," Elsa tried to explain, her voice finally making its way back to her. "I'm not in any way involved with the Prince of Maldonia...in anything other than awkward conversation."

"That's not what it looked like."

Anna's prodding was starting to make her angry. She could feel her control begin to waver and her temperature begin to drop.

"And what about you?" Elsa shot back, vehemence seeping in her voice. "What are you hiding?"

"This isn't about me, Elsa," Anna replied, looking away.

"Oh, yes it is!" the queen asserted, taking Anna by the wrists to get her full attention. "Just say it, Anna! Everyone else is already saying it. But I want to hear it from you."

Their faces were just inches apart. Elsa could easily count the lashes in her eyes and feel Anna's warm breath as it caressed her cheeks. She could smell a hint of lavender from her freckled neck.

Anna pulled away, tearing away from the queen's heated stare, her skin burning. Elsa was struck by her own shame, as she noticed how those freckled shoulders slumped slightly and gave way to a small tremble.

"I need to know, Anna," she continued in a much softer tone, reaching a hand to console those delicate shoulders. "You're getting married in two days. Just say it. I'll understand."

She expected Anna to turn around and fall into her arms, weeping, as she affirmed the truth of the circulating rumors. Elsa braced herself, steeled her emotions to mask the disappointment and sorrow that she already felt creeping up on her. What she didn't expect was Anna pressing up against her, gently restraining her wrists behind her back as she closed the gap between their lips.

Her eyes widened in shock. Anna's lips felt warm upon her own as they tried to coax a response. Elsa felt an ache build up inside, her body tingling almost feverishly from the inside out. Her flesh grew tender and she felt a startling jolt of nerves as Anna began to draw her hands up the nervous queen's arms, all the while erotically tracing her fingers upon her skin. The sensation was more than she could endure, and a soft moan escaped her. When Anna pulled away, Elsa was flushed and short of breath, her face completely mortified over her unrestrained physical response.

"Do you understand now?"

Anna's face was colored by a lustful glow even as she glared at Elsa resentfully.

For how long? She wanted to ask her. How long have you felt this way? But her throat was dry and her tongue was useless once again.

Overcome by a sense of humiliation over her newly exposed feelings, the princess retreated further into the library, hoping the darkness could mask her growing shame. She hadn't expected Elsa to follow after her.

She nearly jumped when Elsa touched her bare shoulder.

"It's okay Anna," the queen uttered softly, unable to make out more than her shadow.

"Is it?" the younger girl replied as she turned around.

Elsa didn't speak, instead she reached for her, seeking out her hands, but she couldn't find her in the dark.

"I'm right here," Anna said as she grabbed for the queen's waist, and she would have settled in her arms had Anna not stumbled and pulled them both tumbling back. She had expected the hard marble floor on her back, so it surprised the princess that their fall was cut short by a plush sofa. Elsa's petite frame was flush against Anna's now, her face buried in the crook of the princess' neck, and her flesh grew hotter when she realized that the princess' thigh was pressed suggestively between her legs.

They remained still, warming each other with their increasingly labored breath, but even without movement, the pressure between Elsa's legs was slowly mounting. Mumbling an apology to her sister beneath her, Elsa shifted, but as she did so Anna also tried to readjust her legs and in doing so, unintentionally thrust harder between her tenderness.

Elsa gasped, clutching her sister's body tighter against her own. She tried to swallow back the throbbing ache that settled in the pit of her stomach and the longing that was welling up in her chest.

"Anna," the queen murmured, her senses once again overcome by the scent of lavender. Lust and magic stirred inside as her lips made contact with that lovely neck. She traced her lips down her shoulder, suckling and biting down softly when she reached the strap, and realized that she'd been wanting to do that to Anna all night. The princess groaned beneath her as she reached her arms around Elsa then pushed them up and rested them possessively around her neck. She felt a warm hum in her chest that slowly threatened to overpower any remaining shred of reason.

"What are we doing?" Elsa mumbled, tentatively seeking Anna's lips. "We shouldn't be doing this."

Shouldn't be. Despite that, she could not force herself to stop. Her lips, her tongue, her hands, they all seemed to have a will of their own. And they all wanted her.

"It's okay," Anna replied as she captured Elsa's lower lip and suckled tenderly, her fingers already working on undoing her buttons. "Just this one time, just for tonight. And we'll never speak of this again."

~X~

Neither of them ever brought it up. Elsa was Elsa and Anna was Anna, and there were no lingering or heated feelings burning between them. After the wedding, Anna recommitted herself to Kristoff, her feelings for Elsa decidedly purged after a night of passion. The fact that she often went back to that night, while she and her husband made love, didn't really mean anything. And the fact that Elsa continued to express no romantic interest in other men didn't really bring her relief. And never mind the fact that both were lying to themselves.

The rumors of Anna and Kristoff's shotgun wedding were also dispelled when the smallest Arendelle was born just nine months after their wedding. Even then, new rumors gave rise from whisperings behind closed doors. After all, the problem with feelings contained is that sooner or later they explode.

A/N: This chapter was originally intended as a one-shot.