Thin Ice

One

It was a decision that she had been thinking over and over, though she really did not have to.

She knew she had to do it.

The decision was announced for the very first time during her press-conference after she had won the gold medal during the regional competition, despite not executing her routine perfectly the way she had planned it, one which would send her to compete internationally.

If she wasn't stepping out, that is.

They had bombarded her with questions on why she had chosen to abandon the chance all of the sudden, to waste the very chance to win another medal, to suddenly called off her routine. Yet she had remained silent, refusing to give them the explanation at the time, though she did promised that there would be one eventually. She was just unprepared to lay it all out now.

Her sister had chased her down the halls then as she was returning to gather her belongings before heading back to the hotel they were staying, grabbing her wrist as she demanded for an answer, as she also had not been aware of the sudden decision.

"It's not about that." Elsa had shook her head when asked if the recent death of their parents a couple months ago had been the one reason why she had decided that she had enough of skating, even when it did took a great effect of sadness to her. Talking in the halls would be foolish though, as someone could pass by and overhead them, thus why she had tugged her younger sister to her private break room, making sure she had locked the door before turning her attention back at the awaiting girl. "I'm pregnant, Anna."

"Wait, what?" With brows furrowed in disbelief, the strawberry blonde haired girl had eyed her older sister. "Are you sure? Because if you had taken the test it could have been wrong and-"

"I took three different tests, all resulting in positive." It had been a hectic day for her back then, as she had locked herself in the bathroom glaring at the small white sticks as she sat on the toilet for hours. "I also went to the doctor to be absolutely sure, I see and hear the heartbeat of my child there."

Finding the need to sit down, Anna had stumbled backward until she let herself sunk down onto the black leather couch. "It's really not the best timing, huh?" The platinum blonde haired woman had shrugged, as she had passed the shock of discovering her pregnancy already, leaving her feeling determined about her decision more than ever. "You're not showing yet though."

Her nose scrunched up, knowing the point her sister was trying to express, as she folded her arms over her chest. "I'm not risking my pregnancy for some medal." She had plenty of those; this baby in her womb though was something entirely new and precious. "I can't even train properly anymore, not when I want to vomit with every spin I make." She had been sweating right after finishing her routine on the rink not only from exhaustion but also from forcing to keep her meal down.

"Okay, stupid question since I should have asked this earlier but... who's the father?"

She also had prepared herself for that question, as it was only natural to be asked about the identity of who had fathered her child, especially when she was never known to have a romantic relationship with anyone. "Hans Westergaard." An ice skater just like her, competing in the male category so he was not exactly her competitor, one she had once partnered up for a small amount of time. "We slept together a couple of times." They had agreed to keep their relationship to themselves, tired of having their lives exposed by press into public's eye, yet apparently that would not last long now.

"I thought you don't like the guy." It was natural for Anna to question it, as she was not wrong on the part where she didn't like him; at least she didn't before she could actually know him personally. "And why didn't you tell me any of this sooner?"

"Relationships among athletes can be scandalous, Anna, you know that." It could end their careers, should people find it to be in any kind of way problematic, their professionalism questioned, and worst their lives would be lacking even more peace than before. "We never really talked about the future anyway."

"Wait, does he know?" Met with silence, the younger sister let out a loud sigh as she got up from the couch to meet her sister at eye's level. "He has to know, Elsa, he's the father."

"I was planning to, mind you; I just haven't found the right way to do it." She needed to find a proper way, words that she would use to him, all the possibilities that she would have to face and how she would react to each and every one of them, especially the worse ones. "But of course I'm going to tell him, just... keep this to yourself for now, okay?"