Author's Note: Well, it's been a hell of a ride. I hope you all enjoyed it and thank you for sticking with it. I know it took a while, but I hope it was worth the wait. I've loved writing this story and I'm sad to see it finally come to an end. Here's the final epilogue, I hope it gives you all the closure you need. If you'd like more stories like this, my first novel comes out next month. Feel free to message me for more information about it. Thank you again!

Anna stared out the window as they drove through the middle of nowhere in Connecticut. They'd just stopped at a gas station to grab drinks and take care of necessities. She was glad that it was so close, but she still couldn't believe the day had finally come. She'd barely said a word for the past hour, as thoughts of just how she was going to cope kept passing through her head.

"How're you doing?" Elsa asked, taking her eyes off the road for a moment to study her.

Anna ran her fingers through her hair, glaring at the long strand of grey that had come in the year before. Elsa insisted that she was still the most beautiful woman in the world, but she could say that – she never seemed to age, while Anna could feel the years finally catching up to her. "I'm fine."

"Honey, you don't have to pretend. I know how scary this is for you."

"It's just four hours away."

"That's not the point."

She sighed, staring back out at the ramshackle houses they were passing. "I'll be okay."

"Honey, I know what you're going through."

Anna started to spit something back about how she couldn't possibly understand, but she caught herself. Of course she did, it was the whole reason they'd had that split for over a decade; and besides, she was losing Olaf too. "It just came so soon."

"I know." Patting her thigh, Elsa gave her a warm smile. "But it's going to be okay. We can visit him as often as he can tolerate, and you'll get used to it. You have to let him grow up and be on his own."

"No. I'm just going to find a device that'll make him my baby again, so he'll never leave."

Shaking her head, Elsa stared at the road, glaring at the car in front of them that had decided to go fifty on the highway. "I know it feels like that now, but it'll get easier. And we can require him to call you every Sunday or something, if you'd like. Otherwise we'll stop giving him money for food and video games."

"You think that'd work?"

"Sure, he's very bribe motivated."

"Hey!" Anna glared at her.

"I'm not saying that I didn't foster it, but it's very easy to buy his affection."

Grumbling, Anna turned back to the road. Another gas station flew by, a few smaller buildings, then another one. "Do you think he'll want us to visit?"

"I'm sure he will. How else will he be able to go get a nice dinner?"

She chewed on her lip. "Maybe. I don't know. I just – What if he doesn't want us around? Maybe it's too weird having his parents come, or like he wants to be cool, or what if he ends up being friends with a bunch of homophobes?"

"I think Lilo would scare them off pretty thoroughly."

"I guess you're right." The cool glass pressed against her cheek as a cow stared back at her. It faded into the distance before she could decide if Elsa would laugh at her for pointing it out. "And I'll have more alone time with you. That'll be nice. Right? I mean, it will. I know." With a heavy sigh, she leaned back into her seat. It was so hard to look on the bright side.

"Yeah, of course. I mean, we are U-Hauling."

"It's been like an hour and you've made that joke three times." I was gonna make it the next time!

"The radio is broken and the engine is too loud to hear the music from my phone over it. Making U-Haul jokes is the only thing keeping me sane."

"Well then it's failing."

"Anna –"

"I didn't mean it in a mean way. Sorry." Grabbing Elsa's hand, she couldn't help but admire just how beautiful her wife was. After twelve years together, she was still the most wondrous sight Anna had ever beheld. And seriously, how did she not have any grey hairs? She didn't even have any wrinkles other than some crow's feet by her temples. It wasn't fair. "I love you."

Elsa chuckled. "I love you too. Hey, I'm getting kinda hungry, want to grab a burger or something?"

"If you just started eating breakfast this wouldn't happen. We told the kids we'd grab lunch with them when we got to Cambridge."

Grumbling, she glanced in the barely existing back seat for the snacks they'd bought at the convenience store. "Fine, then give me that doughnut."

"Want me to feed it to you?" Anna grinned, forcing herself to just enjoy the moment and not think about what was coming.

"Sure. Sounds fun."

Unbuckling herself, Anna leaned into the back, snatching the plastic bag of fried delights from its spot on the floor, her ass bumping into Elsa's arm as she climbed halfway out of the seat to reach it. She yelped as Elsa responded in kind, hitting her butt back. "Hey!"

"Please, you loved it. I know you better than that."

"Well, if you don't need that hand to drive, I can definitely think of some better uses for it than swatting my ass."

"I'm not fingering you while I try to drive!" She was laughing too hard to sound convincingly outraged. "I would kill us."

"Please, if you can drive in New York then you can handle a little multitasking."

She shook her head. "And you say I'm crazy."

Chuckling, Anna held out the doughnut. "Fine, I guess it can wait, but don't think I'm forgetting about it."

Biting into the pastry, Elsa rolled her eyes. "I just do not understand how you still always want it. I mean, haven't you heard of lesbian bed death? We've been together for over a decade, let me get some rest."

"Please, like anyone else you've dated has been any better. I think you actually need it just as bad, you just like us pursuing you."

"Think what you want." She took another bite of the chocolate doughnut, pulling to the side to pass a car that had apparently decided the middle of the highway was a great place to just slam on their breaks.

Anna stole a bite of the doughnut before holding it back.

"Thought you weren't hungry?"

"It's chocolate," she mumbled back, her mouth still full.

"Maybe I should just feed myself then, if you're gonna steal my food. I'm starving."

"Fine, I'll behave." She held it still, trying to focus on the intimacy and the fun, and not on her kid leaving her alone. Well, not alone, with Elsa. But still. "Think maybe he could call me twice a week?"

"I'm sure he'd be fine with that." Chomp. "You know how much he loves you. Just don't go trying to interrupt his studies. The course load is supposed to be pretty intense. And from what I've heard it's only gotten worse since we were in college."

"But I was buried under school work. I barely had time for anything. How will he call me?"

Her cool blue eyes fell on Anna's, for a moment longer than they strictly should have while driving. "He'll find time. Don't worry. If he doesn't, we'll just have to drive up here – in a vehicle with working speakers – and make him talk to you."

"Promise?"

"Of course I do, Anna. Besides, I love him too, you think I'm going to put up with him just ignoring us? No. I'll fly him back home if I have to."

"I know. I'm sorry, I keep acting like this doesn't affect you."

"It's okay. It's clearly getting to you more, I don't mind focusing on that. I'm going to miss the hell out of those kids, I'm just not willing to torture myself over what-ifs. But, I've gone through it all before, and you haven't. So it's completely understandable that you're having a tougher time coming to terms with it. But right now, you're just catastrophizing, when it's all happened and you're living your life, you'll see that it's not as bad."

"Is that what it was like for you?"

"Oh, hell no. But I had terrible coping skills, and you're way healthier than I was."

Chuckling, Anna found herself genuinely smiling for the first time the whole trip. "I hope you're right."

"I am. If there's one thing I know, it's you. And I know that you're going to be okay. And I'll be there keeping you distracted."

She quirked her eyebrow at her partner. "Oh, and just how are you planning on doing that?"

"Use your imagination."

"No, my imagination is kind of lacking. I think I need details. Explicit, sordid details, of every little thing you're going to do to keep me busy. Otherwise, I'm just drawing a blank. So tell me, Elsa, what're you gonna do?"

A crooked smile on her lips, Elsa tried to concentrate on the road. "I think the waiting will be good for you."

"Nope, tell me now, or I'm just going to go back to freaking out and worrying."

Sighing, Elsa gave in, and told her all of the various ways that she intended to distract her. A few of them weren't even sexual, but that wasn't as fun to listen to, so Anna got her to focus on the good part. Now if only she'd put that hand to some use.

By the time they finally made it to Cambridge, Massachusetts, everyone else had already been there for an hour, and taken the time to find an empty parking spot near the school – which they saved for the U-Haul – and a restaurant to try out. Between the fermented pizzas and a burlesque club called Cuchi Cuchi, Olaf was apparently going to have some interesting food opportunities to avoid, but Kristoff had picked out a restaurant called Legal Sea Foods, presumably as a joke at Elsa's expense, but they had steak, so she was immediately interested.

"I'll drop off Nani and the kids, and then come back for you, so we can leave the truck parked here," Kristoff suggested. "That sound good?"

"We can just walk," Elsa suggested. "It's only a few blocks away."

"Yeah, but we're going to be moving things for the next few hours, I'd rather wait to start exercising until then."

Elsa shrugged. She apparently didn't take much convincing. "Sure. We'll just wait here then. See you in a couple minutes."

Even as bad as the traffic was around the school, it was only five minutes until Kristoff's shiny new Mercedes pulled up again. Once he'd moved to New York, he'd found a job at a far higher end dealership, and even after all these years, he still seemed to enjoy showing off that paycheck. "The place is packed," Kristoff said, "But Nani said it was just a fifteen minute wait. That cool?"

"Yeah, I'll live." That chocolate doughnut likely hadn't been enough for her, but as often as Elsa put off eating for work, there was no way that would be an issue.

"It look good?" Anna asked.

Kristoff shrugged. "It looks like a kinda ritzy seafood place."

"So, good then."

"Sure."

They filed into the car and headed off. The area around Olaf's new school really was beautiful. I hope he'll actually enjoy it, rather than just staying locked up in his dorm room all the time. Maybe I should suggest that he join a sport or a club? But I don't want it to interfere with his studies. Or calling me.

As they went inside, Olaf's waving caught Anna's attention. He and Lilo were sitting on opposite sides of a table, with Nani at the booth kitty-corner to her child. Kristoff took the seat next to her, and Anna and Elsa filed in across from them, with Anna taking the seat closer to her son. They'd all been pretty hungry and had to deal with parking, so there hadn't been much time for conversation when they first met back up. "Think I'll be coming here a lot?" he asked. "Maybe when Marsha visits. Her school isn't that far, and her parents actually got her a car, so I could take her here when she visits. If the food's as good as it smells, I mean."

"Pass," Lilo grumbled. "I'll just eat ramen in the room then. It's better than seeing you two make doe eyes at each other until the place closes. Again."

"It was one time!" He bristled, his cheeks coloring as he hid his face under his mop of blond hair. Anna had always found it amazing how much more he looked like his aunt than his father. Granted, she had a thing for blondes, so the blue eyes and the darker blond hair were definitely from Kristoff, but he was so much thinner, built more like his mother's side of the family.

"It was four hours! You were my ride!"

"Well, I won't have Mama's car to borrow, so it won't happen again."

"Actually," Kristoff began.

"That's something we were hoping to talk to you about," Elsa finished.

"We wanted to make sure it was something trustworthy, new, safe." Kristoff and Elsa getting along was still such a welcome change from when he'd first found out. Now they almost sounded like they were friends, but back then Nani had had to threaten him to get him not to try to pull anything with the kids.

I can't believe he didn't notice it. "Wait, that wasn't Mom's BMW."

"Nope." Elsa's teeth flashed in a playful smile. "That was yours."

"No way." His jaw dropped.

"Of course, I didn't get anything," Lilo grumbled.

Nani chuckled. "You're the one who insisted on getting a motorcycle license instead of a driver's license. I'm not buying you a motorcycle."

"Then buy me a car and I'll trade it in for a motorcycle. Easy." They adjusted their leather jacket, pretending that it was just a casual request, and that they hadn't been desperately pleading for one for the past two years.

"No."

Groaning, Lilo toyed with their fauxhawk, flopping it over to the other side, changing it from the right side's green, to the other's black. "You never want me to be a badass cyberpunk hero."

"Not really, no," Kristoff said. "We want you to be safe."

"But safe is boring!"
Ignoring her, Kristoff asked, "So, have you two gotten your schedules yet? Like, I know you told me the classes you had, but do you know when they are?"
Olaf nodded. "Yeah, I have Tuesdays and Thursdays off." His lopsided grin still looked as childish as ever, even now that he was – Anna swallowed. It was still so hard to think of her baby boy as a man.

"Yeah, because you only have three classes." Lilo flipped open the menu. "Get on my level. I have five, so I'll be graduating before you."

"But three is full-time, why would I need more?"

"Like I just said, to finish early. I'm still waiting to see if they'll let me take that fencing class, even though I'm at max credits."

"I'd be willing to take that! At least, if you get in. We haven't sword fought in years."

"Well, we haven't shared a room in over a decade, it seems like we're going to be going back to a lot of old things."

"Should I sign up?"

They nodded. "Sure. If they don't let me take it officially, I can just audit it." Lilo hesitated, offering an unconvincing grin as they turned to Elsa. "Mom, buy me fencing gear?"

Anna chuckled. Lilo only ever tried calling anyone mom or dad when they wanted something. Not that she could blame them, none of the people who raised them were technically their parents. I just only ever called Elsa mom to make her not do things, or to tease her.

"Ask Kristoff, he makes like twice what I do."

"Yeah, but you love me more."

"She does not," Kristoff grumbled.

"They both are gonna need it," Elsa reasoned. "But we also just paid for a car."

"Yeah, but not for me!" Lilo insisted. "This is all the more reason you should be spoiling me. You two should give me the same amount of money you spent on Olaf's car. Then I can buy my own fencing gear." They smirked. "And a rifle. I could just go get a hunting license and make sure Olaf and I are never hungry. See, this is the best plan. You need to give me all that money."

Kristoff chuckled. "Nice try. Get a driver's license and we'll give you a car."

"You just don't want me to have any fun."

"Yep, that is exactly right. That is why we got you that big fancy TV, and the supercomputer, and your phone, we just hate you having fun."

"The computer is for school."

"Then why do you play so many games on it?" Nani asked.

"Also for school."

Olaf chuckled. "Exactly. So, really, when we spend that money you give us on video games, it's just studying. So, it should only count as school supplies. And we should still get more stuff for food."

"And alcohol," Lilo added.

"You're eighteen," Elsa pointed out.

"So money for alcohol and a fake ID. Geeze, do I have to think of everything?"

Despite herself, Anna laughed at that. "Would you all just pick out what you want to eat already?"
"I assumed fish," Kristoff said.

"Shrimp," Olaf added.

"They have lots of different kinds of both," Anna explained, her voice slow and measured. "You have to actually pick something specific, so they know what to make you. I'm hungry."

"Well I'm getting the fillet mignon," Elsa said. "And I'm starving, so yeah, everyone hurry up, and maybe the waiter will actually stop by." She leaned against her hand, her elbow propped up on her chair.

Anna squeezed her arm. She should've just got her that burger.

"Wow, this place is expensive," Olaf breathed, studying the menu. "I don't know if I'll be able to afford to take Marsha here."

"If it's just an occasional thing, let me know, and I can send you a little bit extra," Anna said. She knew just how tough long-distance relationships could be, and if she could make things a little easier for the two of them, she wanted to help. They were so cute together, and he'd been there for her for all of that stuff in high school. Sometimes I swear I'm as invested in my son's relationship as he is. I just really like the girl and I think she's good for him. I hate that she didn't get in.

"You mean it?" His eyes lit up and he looked ready to leap from his chair for sheer joy.

"Of course. You know how much I like Marsha."

"She likes you too. She says you're way nicer and more understanding than her parents."

Anna found herself beaming. She had definitely earned that, after letting her stay with them for a month when her parents were being especially difficult, but it still just felt so wonderful to hear. "Well, I'm glad. Tell her I say thank you."

He tapped out a quick message on his phone. "Done. And I'm gonna get the popcorn shrimp. Do you think they can make them not as spicy?"

"You could probably just get them without the sauce."

"Yeah! I'll ask about that. Thanks, Mama."

Anna grabbed her partner's hand, lacing her fingers between Elsa's. She could handle this. She'd visit a lot, and they could maybe come here again, and Olaf seemed so happy already. He was going to love college. "You'll call me every week, right? Like, twice?"

"Of course, Mama. I'm gonna miss you so much."

"I'll miss you too." She nodded, wiping away tears that were already starting to form in her eyes. She wasn't going to just start crying in the middle of a restaurant. I raised such a good son. I never called Elsa when I went off to school. Though, I didn't realize that she wanted me to. I would have. I think.

The waiter finally showed up. They had the best timing. Anna dabbed at her eyes with her napkin as Kristoff and Nani ordered, taking a shaky breath to try to calm herself down. "I wanted the swordfish steak." Her voice still sounded like she was on the verge of tears, but she was managing. She was going to make it through this without making a big scene.

"So, which class are you most looking forward to?" Elsa asked. "Other than fencing."

"Damn it," Lilo muttered.

"Our introduction to video game design sounds really cool. I've done a little bit before, so maybe it'll just be stuff I already know, but I just want to make sure that I have all of the basics down."

"The philosophy of alternative literature."

"That's not game design," Olaf grumbled.

"We need some English credits to graduate, and this one sounded interesting."

"But I'm so tired of English," he whined. "I thought I was done with that."

"I could help you find a class that you'd like for it next semester?" Anna offered. "I did teach it for a couple years, I'm sure I can help you pick out something that won't be too dreadful. 'Cause believe me, I know how boring it is."

"I like it," Lilo muttered.

Nani mussed up their hair, causing it to be half green and half black. "I still can't believe you didn't go for that for your major. When you were a teenager you seemed so set on being a writer, and all of your English teachers said you should do it."

They shrugged. "There's no living in that. Besides, you can write in video games. Once I have all of my training, I can combine my two passions to make the greatest game the world has ever seen – with the most convincing combat due to my fencing classes – and the best story ever. It'll win a Hugo award despite not even being eligible."

"But I thought we were going to start our own company," Olaf muttered.

"You can help too. I need someone to design all of those enemies."

"Do we get to share the award?"

Lilo's eyes narrowed. "I suppose."

"Awesome!"

"I'm just glad you actually wanted to go to college," Kristoff said, presumably referring to a few minutes back in the conversation. He must've been thinking about it that whole time. "I was always worried you'd take after me and just go find some job and never bother with school."

"But you need to go to college."

"Exactly." He patted his son on the shoulder. "And because of that, you'll be able to get a way better job. Not that I don't love mine, but I didn't have that many options. Even if you don't like video game design, with a degree you'll be able to do so many things."

Nani snorted. "Or just get a very small pay raise at a government job."

Kristoff glared at her. "It makes a big difference."

"Sorry." She chuckled, planting a kiss on his cheek. "I didn't mean to undercut your point. All my time in college was just sort of a waste."

"But I'm going to love game design," he insisted.

"Of course you will," Elsa replied. "You've known what you wanted to do for years, just like I did. And you're going to be amazing at it. I still remember that little shooter you made at that summer camp a few years ago. It was really good. You're going to be the best at this."

"You really think so, Mom?"

"Of course I do."

Why does he always hang on her every word? "I think you're going to be amazing too, sweetie."

"Thanks, Mama."

Anna sighed. At least it was something.

"You had the swordfish?" A voice to her right asked.

"Oh, yeah, thank you!"

He set all of their food around them, and everyone promptly dug in. It had been a long drive, and they had a lot ahead of them. They barely bothered with any more conversation as they tore apart the seafood – and the single steak. The swordfish was absolutely amazing. Even Tiana would be happy with it. I'm definitely going to have to give him that money to take his girlfriend here.

As he set the last box down, Kristoff asked, "Did you want us to help you set everything up? There's a lot to go through."

Olaf shook his head. "Nah, I think we're okay."

"Yeah, I really just want to get to unwind for a little, then we'll figure out where everything goes," Lilo said.

"Okay," Anna replied. "The sticky tape for the posters should be in the box with them. Um –" she looked around, trying to think of anything else they may need. Her eyes settled on the mini-fridge that came with the dorm. "Oh, did you want us to take you grocery shopping! And that fridge is so small, maybe we could go to the store and get you another one. You're going to need the room, right?"

Lilo flopped onto the unmade bed. "But I'm exhausted."

Biting her lip, Anna nodded. "You don't have to."

"We'll go, Mama. Just give us a few minutes." Olaf grabbed his phone from the pocket of his jeans, his face lighting up as he saw what must have been a message from his girlfriend. He started typing away on the device.

Kristoff sighed. "You probably just want us out of your hair." He met Anna's eyes, trying to give her a hint.

"They're going to need food," Anna insisted.

"We have a dining plan," Lilo pointed out.

"Yeah, but then you have to go over there to eat, and I'm not even sure where the dining hall is," Anna insisted. "Don't you want some snacks in here at least? Some chips, chocolate milk?" I know I'm being desperate, but I'm just not ready to leave them alone yet. I can't.

Lilo hopped off of the bed. "You had me at junk food."

"Yeah." Olaf sighed, pocketing his phone. "All right."

"You can drive your new car," Anna suggested.

His eyes lit up. "You're right! Yes! Let's go!"

Elsa held the keys out and he snatched them up. "Do you need any help getting it off the rack? I don't want you damaging it before you even get it on the road."

Shaking his head vigorously as he ran for the door, Olaf replied, "Nope. I can do it!"

Anna held her breath as she watched him back out, Kristoff shouting instructions from behind the car. This just drove in how much her little boy had grown up, but she still worried so much for him. The rear wheels touched down on the ground, then the front, and he pulled around, parking parallel to the truck. "Get in!"

Anna and Nani got in, leaving Kristoff and Elsa to take Kristoff's car. "So, how do you like it?" she asked, peering over his shoulder from the back seat. Lilo had called shotgun.

"I love it!"

"Yeah?" Kristoff and Elsa had gone over the whole thing, barely including her, but she got to give it a test drive at the dealership, and it had handled like a dream. Plus it had seat warmers, and that was definitely the best part.

He stepped on the gas, immediately having to slam on the brakes as he hit a red light. "Do you know where the grocery store is?"

"Take a right," Lilo said. "I saw it on the way in."

So he did, and they met up with Elsa and Kristoff at the store. Despite Lilo's insistence, they didn't buy them beer, but they bought all of the other necessities two college kids could use, including a gift card for a pizza place that delivered there, and another mini-fridge. Anna had done all she could for them, besides sending them money, and helping with schoolwork however she could. Olaf and Lilo would have to do everything else on their own, and she was just going to have to accept that.

"I love you, Mama," Olaf said, once they'd stuffed everything into the fridges and cabinets.

"I love you too." She squeezed him tight, doing her best not to cry. When did he get taller than me?

"I promise I'll call." He didn't try to break free of the hug, that was a good sign, right?

"Every day?"

He chuckled. "At least twice a week. How about Thursday and Sunday?"

"Okay," she muttered.

"You'll be okay. You've got Mom, and you can come visit all the time."

Pulling back, she stared into her son's warm blue eyes. "Are you sure? I will come up every weekend if you let me."

His broad grin reminded her of his father's. He did look like him in a certain light. "How about once a month?"

"Okay."

Elsa wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Come on, honey, don't have that be the last way he sees you for a month."

Anna blinked away the tears starting to form and nodded. She was right. "I'm so proud of you. My son, getting into MIT. I couldn't possibly be prouder." She shuddered, but managed to avoid collapsing into tears. "Study hard, and try to have a lot of fun. Don't go to too many parties, but try going to a couple, if you're comfortable with it. College was an amazing time for me, and I want you to enjoy it. And use condoms!"

"Mama, I have a girlfriend!"

"Well then she should use condoms," Lilo added.

He huffed, glaring at her.

"Lilo, the same applies to you, though maybe you should go to a few less parties than you want."

They stuck their tongue out at her.

"Stay out of trouble. And help Olaf with his classes. And don't give him a hard time for only taking three."

Nani added, "And don't blow up the school."

"What about just the dorm? I was thinking of setting up a meth lab in the corner, and there's always a chance."

She rolled her eyes. "Just stay out of trouble. And be good for once."

"Nope, I'm too evil to be good. It's not happening."

Olaf chuckled. "I'll look after them."

"You better." Tears streaming down her cheek, Nani threw her arms around both of them. Not needing any further invitation, Anna joined in the hug.

Elsa and Kristoff both hugged the kids once the other two were done.

"You're gonna do great," Elsa said.

"Yeah, just don't do anything I did," Kristoff added. "Though I wasn't near as smart as you kids."

"I know," Lilo shot back.

"Don't talk to your teachers like that, and you'll do amazingly."

"No promises."

"Love you, Papa," Olaf said.

"You too, kiddo. So, how about I order the two of you a pizza, and we all leave so you can enjoy your dorm without us old people dragging you down?"

"Anchovies?" Lilo asked.

"On half of it," Olaf added.

"I know how you two like it. I've just been ordering food for you for eighteen years." Kristoff gave them both another quick hug and grabbed his phone. "Come on." He waved for everyone to leave. "Everyone else is going to think they're not cool."

"But they're the coolest," Anna insisted.

"Damn right we are," Lilo replied.

Elsa grabbed Anna's hand, smiling at her, her own eyes shimmering with tears. "Let's get going while we still can. We have a long drive home."

Anna nodded. She wasn't ready to leave, but she supposed she had to. "Okay."

They left, leaving the kids to enjoy their dorm. Of course, they weren't kids anymore, no matter how hard she tried not to accept it. She gave one last look at the door behind which those two young adults were going to be living for the next year. At least it wasn't too far away.

When they got back into the car, Elsa held her for a while, as she sobbed into her dress. Her fingers ran through her hair. "I love you," she whispered, kissing the top of her head.

"I love you too," she sobbed.

"It's going to be okay."

"I know." Pulling back, she wiped her eyes and blew her nose. "They can look after themselves. I hope."

"They can. We should worry more about the school than them."

Anna chuckled, managing a half-smile. "Maybe."

"Let's go home. We can grab Motorino."

The smile grew fuller as she laughed again. "You're so predictable."

"I'm a simple woman with simple needs."

Anna kissed her, a quick chaste one, but still desperate. "Well I need you."

"Then let's get home."

As Anna nodded in response, her phone started to ring. Panicked, she checked the display, but it wasn't either of the kids – adults – it was just Giselle. "Hey," she said, holding it to her ear. "It's Giselle," she whispered to Elsa, as she finally pulled out of the parking spot.

"Hey. Olaf and Lilo all safe in their new dorm? How do they like it? Did you give them our presents?"

"I did yesterday. They loved them. They said to say thank you and give their love to the three of you."

"I just know how useful those things can be for their textbooks. The digital versions are almost always cheaper."

"Yeah. I'm sure they appreciated that. Those books are gonna –" Anna shook her head. They'd be able to afford it, but it was absolutely going to hurt. "Thanks."

"My pleasure. They settling in okay?"

"Yeah," Anna sighed, staring out the window, trying to keep her eyes on the dorm the best she could manage. "I think they're going to love it. They couldn't wait to get us out of there."

"Esmeralda says the drugs there are really good."

"Don't tell me that!"

"I'm just joking."

"Esme doesn't joke about drugs."

Elsa stared at her, but Anna just shook her head.

"How about you? Not the drugs, I mean are you doing okay? Are you handling him being away, or should I come visit?"

Anna swallowed. She could do this. She had to. "I'm going to be okay, eventually, but right now, it's still pretty tough. I just can't believe he's really gone." Vigorously shaking her head, Anna tried to blink the tears away again, but they wouldn't stop. "I'm just gonna miss him so much."

"I know you are. I'll be there tomorrow. I can get a few days off. I'll see if Jack or Esmeralda want to come too."

"You don't have to," Anna insisted.

"No, we don't. But we're your friends, and we're always gonna be there for you. Honestly, I thought you'd learned that by now."

She supposed she had. Anna didn't have to be alone, no matter how much she was going to miss her son, she had lots of people in her life who she loved. She had her wife, her best friend, and her other best friends, who were all going to be there for her. Maybe she wasn't okay yet, but she was going to be. Just like Olaf was going to be okay. And besides, she was visiting him in just another month.