Dark Paths (Helsa)

Ten

"Oh, come on, Hans. It's a simple button, so work." Elsa heard. Hans was the one to say it though, with Elsa's eyebrows furrowed she hesitated to knock on the door. She went to knock on the door when Hans opened it angrily but his eyes widened when he saw Elsa. "Elsa. Hey." He said and scratched the back of his head. "Sorry if you heard me. I couldn't get my pants button to fasten."

"That's okay," She said and moved aside so he could leave his bedroom. "I was wondering if you could show me down to the dining hall."

"Oh," He nodded and started to walk down the hallway. "Follow me." He smiled at her and continued walking down the hall with her at his side. "So," Hans muttered, peeking over at her then looked down at the floorboards. "May I escort you to the party?"

"As a date?" She asked, walking down the steps and watched her feet so she wouldn't fall.

"No, it couldn't be as a date. People would begin to suspect us." He said and gestured towards two double doors with large brass handles. "Here's the dining hall. I hope to see you later." He smiled and opened the door for her, watching as she walked into the dining hall.

"Ah! Elsa. Please, come in." Leo said and stood up from the table in the middle of the room. The room had dark red walls, shiny black marble floors and a deep mahogany table in the center that stretched far in the room. Their breakfast consisted of breakfast sausage, hot cakes and fresh squeezed orange juice.

"Breakfast looks delicious." Elsa smiled and sat down at the table, grabbing a napkin and laid it across her lap. She looked up at the food and started to place her breakfast onto her plate.

"Would you like to discuss the business matters while we eat?"

"Oh, yes. Of course." Elsa nodded. "Arden would like me to discuss the trade routes, to get more in the mix and get more products into our countries." She said and watched as Leo nodded and took a bite of his hot cakes.

"I'll discuss it with my council but I'm sure that we'll be able to do something about this." He said and smiled over at her warmly. Elsa took small, wholesome bites of her breakfast, feeling herself become full. "I hope you're excited for the party tonight."

"Yes, I am." Elsa smiled and took a sip of her coffee, wondering where Hans was and what he was up to. "Is it a formal dress party?"

"Just wear your finest dress you've brought with you and Helena said for everyone to wear a masquerade mask for fun." He smiled and noticed Hans standing at the doorway of the dining hall. "Hans, would you like to join us for breakfast?"

"I was actually coming here because Helena has requested your presence." Hans said and started walking over towards the table, briefly smiling at Elsa. "It was about the party. She's in the ballroom."

"Oh," Leo nodded and laid down his napkin on the table. "It was a pleasure speaking with you, Elsa. I'll tell you tomorrow what my council and I have decided." He smiled over at her and left the room quickly to see Helena.

"Helena is doing quick work to have your party be wonderful." Hans smiled and watched as Elsa took a small bite of her bacon. "So I was thinking that maybe I could take you out on my boat? I have a small one that's nice and we can stay out all day until the party starts."

"I'd love to!" She grinned and pushed back from her chair, ready to go at that moment. She wanted a break from the castle, to get out into the sunlight and fresh air.

~~~~~~

"Just jump in the water!" Hans yelled from the ocean water. After being on the boat for an hour Hans decided to anchor the boat and get down to his underwear, jumping into the water and waited for Elsa to jump in. She was down to her bra, underwear and a light over dress, just in case anyone would happen to drive by in a boat.

"I'm scared its cold!" She yelled, wanting so badly to jump but her body and mind wouldn't let her.

"Well, of course it's cold. It's the ocean but if you swim right over to me I'll keep you warm." He smiled and watched as she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She jumped straight into the water, popping out right in front of him with a smile. "It's not too bad, is it?"

"No," She smiled and pushed herself away from him, splashing him once she was far enough away. He stared blankly at her for a second then dipped under the water, swimming over to her and grabbed her hips, lifting her up into the air while she squealed and dropped her behind his back. "Hans!" She yelled once she came back up, her hair a wild mess.

"You started it, little missy." He smiled and swam over to her, pulling her into his arms and kissed the top of her head.

"We'll have to head back to the castle soon. I'll have to shower so I don't smell like the sea water."

"But that's the best part, smelling like fish!" He joked and started to pull them towards the boat. "You know, the more time I spend with you the more I realize how much I missed you over the years."

"Why didn't you ever come back to Arendelle after you became an admiral?" Elsa asked, twirling around one of her strands of hair.

"I thought about it but it took me awhile to become an admiral. I wasn't sure where your lives would be or if you didn't care to see me ever again. I don't think I could've handled that." He said, surprised with how honest he was being but was also happy. He knew that with the honesty between them that they could only grow stronger with their bond.

"I wanted you to come back. I thought about you sometimes and wished I wouldn't have stopped our kiss and if maybe things would have ended up differently." She muttered, pulling herself up on the boat's ladder and grabbed a towel to dry herself off then threw Hans a towel once he was on the boat. "But here we are and I wouldn't change anything."

"Fate has a funny way of twisting our futures." He said, feeling that fate had thought about their relationship and maybe it was meant to be and Arden was only a set back.