#olympicsau

“Only because you're so bull headed.  Shall I mention how you fell?  When was that, hmm?  Oh yes!  Last week.”

“That only happened because it was pouring rain and I was in a rush and the crutch got stuck and-”. Kristoff paused, giving Sven a suspicious look.  “Wait.  How did you know about that?  I didn’t tell you anything about it.”  The realization hit Kristoff as to how his friend found out about that particular embarrassing incident he’d rather forget ever happened.  “Anna!  She told you?”

“Sure did.”  Sven gave Kristoff a smug smile, watching Kristoff lock his knee brace.  “Tells me all sorts of good information.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”  Kristoff scowled up at Sven.

“Nothing,” Sven chirped back innocently.  He walked away from Kristoff in the direction of the stables.

“What did she tell you?”  Kristoff called out to Sven, slight worry in his voice.

Sven just ignored Kristoff and instead yelled back.  “Come on.  Doc wants you to walk as much as you can.  Let’s go find Anna.”

“What did she tell you?” Kristoff asked a little firmer, refusing to move away from the Jeep.  

Sven just looked back at him.  He pointed next to him giving Kristoff an order and a goal to aim for.  “All your weight.  No cheating!”

Kristoff grumbled under his breath and started the slow, calculated movements towards his friend. Suddenly he froze as a new thought washed over him.  “What have you told her?”  Kristoff yelled at Sven, unable to hide the panic in his voice.

The walk to the stables took more out of Kristoff than he anticipated.  He thought he was making good progress, but every time he tried to push himself a little farther, his struggling would only remind him of how much work was still ahead of him.  Less than a month ago he was out on the pitch in top condition and now he could barely walk a hundred feet without having to take a break.

They stopped for a few minutes to allow Kristoff to rest and show Sven his horse and the new horse Anna had recently acquired.  She was in the process of training it for the dressage and one of the top riders in the US had already expressed interest in using him for the next competition season.  

“Up for a little more, or do you want to quit?” Sven asked.

Kristoff saw the challenge in Sven’s eyes and there was no way he was going to back down no matter how much his knee was killing him.  He started walking slowly out of the barn, a bench outside along the fence his goal.  “I should never had let you go to therapy with me.”

“Oh quit your grumbling.  You know you like me pushing you”

Kristoff was surprised that he was able to make it all the way to the bench with not too much effort.  Little steps, he kept reminding himself.  It had only been two weeks since the surgery and he was already off his crutches, but his body and mind wanted him to move quicker.  Still, the competitive side in him was a little proud when the therapist mentioned that he was about two weeks ahead in the healing process it took most patients recovering from ACL reconstruction surgery to get to.

“Ah!  There she is!”  Sven pointed out.  Kristoff followed Sven’s gaze to the field.  Anna was out on Olaf with one of her students, practicing jumping on the beginner heights.  

Keeping his eyes on Anna the entire time, Kristoff unlocked the brace and sat down with a sigh of relief.

“Doing alright?” Sven asked.

“You have no idea how good it feels to be able to bend my knee again.  These last few weeks sitting around barely doing anything have been killing me.  I’m surprised Anna’s still talking to me.”

“She didn’t mention anything-”  Sven broke out into laughter when he caught Kristoff glaring at him.  “Hey you should be happy we get along so well.”

“I am,” Kristoff admitted.  “But the two of you together can be a dangerous combination.  Probably at my expense too.”

“Can’t argue that,” Sven chuckled again.  “But seriously, with the move, her sister being out of town, and your surgery we have been talking a lot.  And she’s never complained. Not even once.”

“She’s too good for me,” Kristoff mused, only half joking.

“Fact.  But for some reason she seems to tolerate you pretty well.  Actually may even like you.  I can’t figure it out.”

Kristoff looked back out to the field at Anna, smiling as she moved about effortlessly on the horse.  He’d never tire of seeing her out there.  It always reminded him of Rio when he went to her meet and saw her riding Olaf for the first time.  As much as he tried to resist it back then, he knew that was the exact moment he lost his heart to her.

“I really love her, you know.  I can’t imagine my life without her anymore.”

Sven placed his hand on Kristoff’ shoulder.  “I know.  It’s plastered all over your face.  Both of you are the same really.  I can hear Anna’s smile over the phone whenever she talks about you.  It’s sickening, really.”

Sven was only able to keep the smile off his face for a few seconds.  Kristoff matched it for a moment before turning serious again.  “Thanks again for coming out to help. I know it's not your first pick of things you could be doing during the mid-season break.”

“Nonsense.”  Sven waved him off.  “You’re family.  And Anna is too now. I’m happy to be here and it’s nothing you wouldn’t do for me- haven’t already done.  I’m just glad you had the move planned over the break so I could help.”  Sven stretched, finishing by putting his hands behind his head.  “Don’t worry bud, I’ve got this all covered.  You’ll be settled in your new place in no time.  We just need you to focus on getting that knee better so you can figure out whatever it is you want to do now that you’ve quit on me.”

“Sven, listen…” Kristoff started, but was interrupted when Anna called out his name.  She had just noticed they were there and gave them both an enthusiastic wave.  Kristoff waved back and nodded to her when she signaled she wouldn’t be much longer.  He watched her ride away, lost in thought at how lucky he was to have her in his life.

“What were you saying?”

“Hmm?”  Kristoff looked over to see Sven staring at him.

“I was talking about you quitting and you went to say something.  Change your mind already?”

Kristoff paused to make sure he had Sven’s full attention.  “You know I love Rugby.  Always will.  But as bad as this may sound, I think getting injured was the best thing.  I shouldn’t be playing anymore.  My heart's not in it.  You know I’ve been drifting ever since college.  I only meant to play for one year in the league to bide my time before I figured out what I really wanted to do.  Then the Olympics happened and deciding to continue to play for the league got me out here.  I feel like I’ve been launched forward the last couple years without being able to stop and the only thing I know that’s real and concrete and right is Anna and moving out here.”

Sven nodded his head.  “I get it.  I really do.  And something will come up for you.  I can feel it.”

“I have no idea what that will be.  But I’m home.  This is where I belong.”

“Alright, remember.  No lifting anything.”

“I won’t.”

“And you’ll go slow.  Promise?”

“I will.”

“The couches already delivered so you can sit if you get tired. Please try to stay out of the way.  I don’t want your knee to get knocked into.”

“Anna,” Kristoff chuckled walking carefully up the driveway.  “I’m just going to stand around and watch to make sure no one breaks anything.  I’ll stay out of the way, and be completely useless.”  

“Thank you,” Anna said back, stopping at the front door to wait for Kristoff.  “And helping put everything away in the kitchen is not useless.  Who else is going to reach the top of the cabinets?”

Kristoff came up next to Anna and unlocked the front door.  “I’d carry you through the door, but…” Kristoff gestured down at his knee.

Anna went up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek.  “Next house.  When it’s really ours.”

It wasn't the kiss that made Kristoff’s cheeks burn red, but the implication of Anna’s words.  They were taking a huge step moving in together and Kristoff was ecstatic.  All he wanted since the day he moved out here was this.

He worried that the relationship was moving too quickly for Anna.  It would keep him up at nights even if it was all in his head.  But every time that fear crept up on him, Anna always was there showing him they were on the same page.  

It was Anna’s idea they move in together.  When Kristoff casually mentioned one evening that his short term lease was coming up and he had to decide if he was staying in his apartment or moving, Anna was unusually quiet.  He left the next morning for a week of away games and regretted every second he was gone not asking her if something was wrong.

He should have known better.  One of the things he had quickly learned about Anna was she never shied away from telling him how she felt.  As soon as they saw each other again, Anna brought up the idea.  She already researched places and had all her points lined up ready for his protest.   We both travel, so there’s lot’s of times you can have to yourself if you need… we’re over at each other’s places all the time anyway… it’s kind of a waste for us to both be paying for a place if you really think about it… and I like having you with me… we can save money… maybe for a place we can buy…. in the future!  But soon.  Well, not soon soon, but soon enough.  No rush- only when we're ready if that’s what you want and- why are you laughing!

That conversation started it all.  And now they were walking into their first place together.  The townhouse they rented would be the largest place he lived in since being on his own and he wasn’t sure at first what they would do with all the space.  That thought was quickly squashed as he looked around.

Boxes were everywhere, a some half opened with the contents spread all over the floor.  In the living room sat their new furniture, which also meant their new bedroom set should be here as well.  Kristoff was grateful knowing that at least no matter how much or little was accomplished today, the bed would at least be set up for them to crash into from exhaustion.

“I brought as many boxes over during the week as I could,” Anna explained.  She gave them a sheepish look at the items all over the floor.  “Sorry about the mess.  I tried to put some of it away, but I realized I wanted to wait until you were here so we could do it together.”

She was biting her lip in nervousness and wringing her hands together.  Kristoff opened his arms, inviting her to him.  Anna Jumped into his embrace.

“Easy!”  Kristoff laughed.  “I’m still fragile.”

“Oh, stop,” Anna said into his chest, gripping around his waist just a little tighter.  “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”

“We bought furniture together.  I think I’m stuck with you now.”

“Kristoff!  I’m being serious!”

Kristoff bent down to kiss the top of her head.  “Of course I’m ready.  All I’ve ever wanted is to be with you.”

He felt a content hum come from Anna.  “Me too,” she said and his heart almost leapt out of his chest.  Everything felt so right and Kristoff knew he wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer before he had to ask her the most important question of his life.  Of their lives, really.

“I love you,” Anna murmured, still holding tightly to him.

“I love you, too.”

Just then a burst of activity came through the door.  Sven was walking in, carrying a stack of boxes.

“I asked you to do one thing.  One thing!  Open the garage door.  Is it done?  No.  Instead I see you two in here making googly faces at each other.”

“Sven, we just walked in,” Anna laughed at the face he was making at the two of them.

“I’m slow, remember?”  Kristoff added.

“No comment.”  Sven walked past them to deposit the boxes in one of the rooms. “And who’s idea was it to move both of you at the same time?” He asked walking back into the room.  “Because I’m slightly hating you for it right now.”

“There are movers getting my stuff,” Kristoff protested.  “And there’s some more people to help coming in a few minutes.”

“Yeah, but we still have to grab all your boxes!”

Anna snaked her arms off of Kristoff and walked into the kitchen.  She returned, holding an open beer for Sven.  “Peace offering?”

“Just keep ‘em coming,” Sven said, trying his hardest to still act annoyed.

“You’ll be thanking me tomorrow when everything's moved in,” Anna said.

“So it was you!”

“Guilty.  Now come on.  I’ll bet you dinner I can carry more boxes in than you.”

“Easiest bet ever.  What’s the most expensive restaurant in this town?  I’m pretty hungry.”

“You sure about that?” Kristoff asked as he watched Anna slip out the door to the garage.  “She’s pretty quick.”

“Yes.  I’m-” Sven stopped, noticing Anna was gone.  “See you later.  I have a bet to win,” he said, racing out the door.

Kristoff took a break to rest his knee, sitting on the barstool at the kitchen island.  It ended up working out that he was in the house to direct everyone.  The movers asked constantly which room to put all the pieces.  A few of his teammates had also shown up to help and he spent a ton of time just trying to figure out where to put things.  

It had finally started to quiet down.  The movers and his teammates were all gone.  All the large pieces were all in the correct rooms, with only the boxes staged in the garage that still needed to come in.  Sven and Anna were both still shouting out their box total whenever they walked inside.  So far, Anna was up by five boxes, but the lead was most likely going to start to take off. She showed no signs of slowing down, while Sven was starting to lag.  Kristoff laughed to himself when he heard Sven call a truce and suggest they take a short break.

On the counter his phone dinged.  He noticed the call he ignored a minute ago had left a message.  It was a local area code, so he decided to see what this could possibly be about.  After listening to the message the first time, Kristoff scrambled to find a pen, or anything he could write with.  He managed to find a sharpie laying around and hit play on his phone again to hear the message.  He quickly scribbled down the number on an open flap of a box and tore it off.

“There’s a clean set of sheets and blankets for the bed in the guest room,” Anna said sitting down on her new couch.  “Brand new too!  I’ll make up the bed after we bring in the last of everything. It will be nice now with the extra room you don’t have to sleep on the couch whenever you’re in town.”

“Thanks.  I really appreciate it.”  Sven paused causing Anna to look over at him.  “Please say something if you think I’m ever over here too much.  This is your place now as much as his and I don’t want to wear out my welcome.”

Anna smiled over at him.  “Sven, nothing changes.  You’re always welcome.  I mean it.”

“Don’t tell him that.  Now he’ll never leave.”  Anna and Sven both looked over at Kristoff walking into the room.  “Babe, I have to make a call.  I’ll be out back.  It should only be a few minutes.”

“Oh, okay.  Take your time.”

As soon as they heard the back door close, Sven asked.  “What was that about?”

Anna shrugged.  “No idea. I’m sure he’ll tell me about it later if he thinks he needs to.”  She reached over to take the beer Sven offered her.

“So, I haven’t asked in a few days,” he said, sitting back against the chair.  “How are you doing with the move and the surgery and everything?  Still good?”

“Yes.  Really, I’m good,” Anna answered honestly.  “It's been so much easier since Kristoff’s been able to walk on his own.  And it’s like this weight’s been lifted off him when he told the league he wasn’t coming back.”

“Has he said anything about what he thinks he may want to do?”

“A little.  There’s always a job from him at the barn, but I know he wants to find something himself.  His coach came over a few nights before the surgery.  We all had a long talk and I think it made him feel better about his options.  You should ask him about that.”

“I’ll make sure of it.  He said the league’s paying him out for the rest of his contract?”

“Yeah.  It gives a whole year to figure out what he wants to do.  I know that took some away his concerns about leaving.”

“Well, I’m happy for you both.  Even if the SOB had to go and get his knee wrecked in the process.”  Sven leaned over to clink Anna’s bottle.  “To new beginnings.”

“To new beginnings,” Anna said back.  She took a sip of the beer along with Sven.  “Can I tell something I haven’t told anyone else?”

“Sure.  Anytime.”

“When Kristoff took that hit and he didn’t get up, I thought I was going to die.  I felt so helpless sitting in the stands without any way to get to him.  And then when he had to be helped off the field and they took him out of the stadium, I hated every part of Rugby and I was so angry Kristoff put his body through that.  Later, after I got to the hospital and I knew he wasn’t seriously injured, I realized how unfair it was to have those thoughts.  It wasn’t like I haven’t put him through that as well.  Kristoff had to have gone through the some of the same emotions that time he saw me thrown from Olaf.”

Sven nodded.  “I remember when he called me after you fell.  I could hear how scared he was even after he knew you were okay.  But he knows how much you love what you do and wouldn’t ever want you to quit if you didn’t want to.”

“I know he’d never asked me to stop.  Wouldn’t dream of it.  And I wouldn’t ask that of him.  But I’m so happy that he’s done.  And I feel like it’s wrong.”

Sven leaned forward and looked Anna straight in the eyes.  “Do not feel bad about that ever.  This sport is brutal and you need a purpose to play.  Or maybe it’s that you don’t have one somewhere else.  Either way, I suppose it doesn’t matter.  I love playing.  It’s in my blood.  I’ll probably try to keep playing no matter how bad I get hurt.  Kristoff loves the game, but he’s found his purpose.  Here.”  Sven gestured to Anna.  “We both know he wasn’t coming back after his contract was up next year and I hate that he had to get hurt.  But I promise you he’s happy and this is what he wants, including you to keep riding as long as you want.  The rest will all fall into place.”

“What will fall into place?”  Anna and Sven both twisted their heads to see Kristoff walking into the room again.  He gave Anna a soft smile before turning his direction to Sven.

Sven smiled wickedly back at Kristoff.  “I was just thinking how I predicted you two moving in together in 6 months.”

“And?” Kristoff glared back.

“And I think it’s time for another one.  Engagement prediction, perhaps?”

“Okay that’s enough.”

“We’ll talk later,” Sven said, pointing back and forth between him and Kristoff.

“Anyway,” Kristoff said, walking over to the couch to sit next to Anna.  She tried to stop from giggling at the sight of how red his cheeks were. “I just got the craziest call.”

“Oh,” Anna responded.  There was something in the look of his face that made her feel like this was good news.  Kristoff took her hand in his and she squeezed it encouragingly.  

“Yeah.  It was the university.  They’re looking for an assistant Rugby coach.  Said they heard I was retiring and they wanted to know if I was interested in coming in for an interview for the position.”

“What!”  Anna tried desperately to stay seated.  But there was something in the back of her head screaming this was something Kristoff was meant to do and she wanted to jump into his arms.  “What did you say?”

His face lit up in that lopsided grin Anna loved so much.  “I have an interview on Thursday.”

Anna squealed and threw herself on top of him to kiss him, knocking him back until she was lying on top of him.

“Easy!  And it’s just an interview.”

“I’m sorry,” Anna said between kisses and laughs.  “So sorry.” Kristoff’s arms came around Anna as he kissed her back.

“And on that note, I’ll be in the garage,” Sven said getting up.

“Just like you said, Sven.  All falling into place!” Anna called to Sven as he walked out.

“Don’t ever doubt me!  I have a knack for knowing these things!”  He quipped back.

“What’s that about?” Kristoff asked.

“I’ll tell you later.”  Anna grinned at Kristoff.  “After I’m done kissing you.”