Unforgivable (Helsa)

Chapter Twenty-Three

"W-what?"

Ivar stammered the moment he heard his son's request. John let out a sigh before looking up at his father once again. "Do consider it, f-father...I'll go with you, do whatever you want, just spare Hans and Helena."

"John, I can't do that", Ivar says shaking his head. "Hans is no good guy. He may seem like it on the outside but trust me, he is far from that. Man isn't capable of love at all."

"What about Helena? Please, Helena is like a sister to me", John begs his father. "Without Hans, Helena would be left with no one. Just me...or even Queen Elsa."

"Queen Elsa?", Ivar asked him, giving him a confused looked.

"Hans knew being sent back to the Southern Isles would mean a death sentence...which is why he asked the Queen a crazy, absurd favor...to adopt Helena to which the Queen agreed to", John replied and Ivar was shocked by his words. "Please...for me. Don't do this."

"John...", Ivar pursed his lips at his son.

"Father...", John said offhandedly as if it was a foreign word to him. "I have no power whatsoever. I get that. But Hans is a good man and I can prove that to you. He's misunderstood...he would do anything for his daughter and he even sacrificed his life for me...you're his brother, father. Don't do this please..."

Ivar gave his son a long and hard look. He was silent, as if absorbing everything his son had just told me. John waited anxiously for his answer and it felt like forever but finally, Ivar let out a defeated sigh.

"Fine...I'll leave him alone along with Helena", he says and John felt like a heavy burden was lifted from his shoulders. "But when I do, I want a favor from you."

"What is it?"

"It's that you never see Hans or Helena ever again...", he says and John felt his heart drop in his chest. He nods his head understanding the situation.

"I understand...I won't ever see them or associate myself with them."

-

"Papa! No! Let me go!", Helena cried as Hans tickled her stomach.

Elsa watched in amusement as Helena played with her father. She smiled tilting her head at the scene unfolding in front of her. "Alright, alright...", Hans chuckled letting his little girl go before placing her in front of him. "So, Helena, what have you been doing while we were away from each other?"

"Playing games with Krista and Mama Elsa", she replies with a cheeky smile and Hans raises a brow the moment he heard 'Mama Elsa' from her mouth.

"Mama Elsa?", he asks before turning to Elsa who gave him an awkward, slightly humiliated smile. "She calls you Mama Elsa?"

"Yes", she nods her head. "I'm very fond her and well...one day, she called me Mama so I panicked and said 'call me Mama Elsa.'"

"Mama Elsa...", Hans repeats before turning to his daughter. "Is Mama Elsa treating you well? Is she like a mama to you?"

Helena nodded beaming up at Elsa who gave her a smile. "And she's going to be a mama soon too."

"Wait, a mama?", Hans gasped before turning to Elsa who bit her tongue nervously, feeling her cheeks redden from embarrassment. "Your majesty, are you..."

"I am", she nods her head. "I'm pregnant."

"Wow, that is great...congratulations, your majesty", Hans smiles at her.

"Thank you", she says.

"I hope this war will be over for you soon so you can focus on your husband and child", Hans says and she nods her head.

"Hopefully...", she sighs. "Oh, and I've spoken to Frederic already...about your history."

"What did he tell you?", Hans asks her, he looks scared, worried about what she might have to say.

"He didn't disclose exactly what you two did...but told me there things you regret and your friendship will never be rekindled", Elsa replies and Hans let's out a sigh of relief. "I don't want to force it. What's done is done...I just need to move on with my life and finish this war..."

"Can I ask any update on the war, your majesty?", Hans asks Elsa and she nods in response.

"Yes, well, you did help in the war. It would only be fair if you knew what was going on...", Elsa nods her head. "So, Princess Beatriz and her husband have devised a plan to ambush, capture, or assassinate King Philippe whichever one seems the most...practical to end this war once and for all."

"I see...", Hans nods before picking up his daughter and standing up, Captain Nicolas helped him up. "I do wish you all the best, your majesty in both the war and your pregnancy."

"Thank you...", Elsa nods with a smile. "And I wish you all the best with Helena and I hope you and Queen Annette can come to an understanding."

"I do hope so too", Hans nods with a smile.

They locked eyes for a moment. It didn't feel awkward, weird, or anything really. It felt...familiar actually to Elsa. It wasn't like when they were in love but rather the time when they friends but Elsa quickly shook her head. She shouldn't be thinking back to such a time. Hans still attempted to kill her ten years ago and she will not let that slide easily.

"A-anyways, I best be going. You can spend the day with Helena. I'll have Gerda and Kai fetch her before dark", Elsa tells Hans who gives her a grateful smile.

"Thank you, your majesty", Hans says to Elsa before turning to Helena. "Sweetheart, we get to spend the day together!"

"Really?", Helena grins before turning to Elsa. "Thank you, Mama Elsa. I love you."

Elsa felt her heart leap in her chest the moment she heard Helena say that. Hans too was equally as shocked and it took a good few moments before Elsa recovered and smiled awkwardly. "I-I do too...", she says not knowing what to say before quickly walking away and heading inside the castle.

No, no, she thought to herself as she leaned against the castle door. She can't be attached to Helena...she doesn't want create an ever bigger wound in her heart when she sees Helena leave...

But Elsa closed her eyes and remembered why she was letting Hans go so easily...it was because of Helena.

And that's when Elsa realized, the bond she created with Helena...is like the bond a mother has with her child.