The next day, Elisa had managed to avoid Ben the entire morning, not wanting to see him. But unfortunately, it didn't last long. Because it was Family Day and Elisa had to be there. She arrived with her friends, anxiously fidgeting the ring Ben gave her around her finger. It felt like she was walking to her death. She felt nervous and she knew if Ben talked to her, she wouldn't be able to avoid him.

When she entered the room, her eyes immediately scanned the yard, spotting the prince. He was with some other students, preforming just like they always did at the beginning of Family Day. But as if he could sense her gaze, as he sang, his eyes flickered towards her. They stared at each other, and Elisa swallowed hard. She averted her eyes, forcing herself to look away.

"Come on." Evie nudged her, linking her arm with Elisa's and dragging her away. Elisa let her friend drag her, following her through the crowd. Evie lead her over to a table where food was, and Elisa's stomach grumbled at the sight. She didn't eat anything today and she was starving.

She noticed the boys were already eating, taking a liking to the chocolate fountain. She wasn't surprised and she couldn't blame them. She loved chocolate. "Wow, you guys really are hungry." She chuckled, her gaze lingering on the strawberries. She had a weakness for chocolate covered strawberry.

"Chocolate makes everything better." Jay hummed, shoving another chocolate covered strawberry in his mouth.

Elisa chuckles and her gaze went back to the strawberries. She reaches out, her eyes lighting up at the thought of having one. But then she saw the ring on her finger and her mood fell. She pulls her hand back and wraps her arms around her torso. "Right." She nodded with a heavy sigh as her heart clenched.

She was starting to regret wearing that ring. Every time she looked at it, all she could think about was Ben. She just wanted to make this pain stop. She didn't want to feel like this. Why was this affecting her so much? She didn't even like him. Sure, he was kind and sweet and handsome and she loved being around him, and his hugs were nice, and his kisses-

"Hey," Evie speaks up, looking at her with concern. "El, Mal said you had a panic attack last night." Elisa snaps out of her thoughts and turns to glare at Mal, who shrugged in response. Evie continues, turning back to her. "Are you okay?"

"Evie, I'm fine. It's no big deal." Elisa rolls her eyes, her gaze falling on the chocolate covered strawberry. She looks back at the ring on her finger and hesitates before she took it off, handing it to Evie. "Can you hold onto this for me?"

"What?" Evie questions, her eyes widening in surprise. "I thought you loved that ring. Why don't you want to wear it anymore?"

"Because every time I look at it, I think about him." Elisa sighed, her heart clenching. She didn't want to be reminded of Ben. Not right now. Not when the plan was happening soon. She needed to focus.

Evie nods in understanding, her gaze softening. "El, are you sure-"

"Please, just take the ring, E." Elisa interrupts, holding it out. She really didn't want to discuss this right now. "Just for now. Until we go back to the Isle."

Evie was quiet for a moment, her eyes flickering between the ring and her friend. She finally sighs, nodding her head. "Alright, fine." She agreed, taking the ring and slipping it in her her purse.

"Thanks." Elisa smiled slightly before her gaze goes back to the strawberries, and she can't help but lick her lips.

"Here." Jay chuckles, offering her the plate with chocolate covered strawberries, causing her eyes to widen. He laughs, looking at her with amusement. "El, you've been eying these since we got here. Go ahead, have one. Or ten. Whatever you want."

Elisa hesitates, not wanting to take his food. But then her stomach growled and she gave in, reaching out and taking one. "Thank you." She smiled at him, taking a bite. She couldn't help but moan, her eyes closing as the chocolate and fruit taste hit her tongue. She forgot how much she missed eating these. There wasn't anything like this on the Isle. Something she learned quickly. Well, she already had an idea of how bad things were on the Isle. But seeing it in person was different.

"I see someone's having fun." A familiar voice spoke, and Elisa's eyes snapped open. She looked up and her breath hitched, her heart skipping a beat as her eyes met Ben's.

"Ben, hi." Elisa managed to say, swallowing hard as her heart fluttered. Why did he have to be so handsome? 

"Hey." Ben smiles at her, his gaze soft. He glances over at her friends with a hopeful smile. "Do you guys mind if I steal her for a moment?"

Panic rose in her chest, her mind immediately going back to last night. Her heart was pounding and her palms were sweaty. She could feel her fight or flight mode kicking in, and she desperately wanted to run away. But before she could do anything, Ben was gently taking her hand, and she found herself following him. Her body was working on auto-pilot, her brain still panicking. She followed Ben, her heart racing as they walked over to a table. She was tense and she was sure Ben could feel her hands shaking.

"Are you okay?" Ben questions, stopping and turning to her. Concern filled his gaze and he frowns. "You're shaking."

"I-I'm fine." Elisa muttered, avoiding his gaze as she pulls her hand away. She wrapped her arms around her torso and cleared her throat, her gaze flickering around the garden.

Ben's frown deepens, his gaze softening. He hesitates before he reaches out and gently cupped her face, turning her to him. "El, what's going on? Last night, you ran away from me and then you told me you can't be with me." He pauses, his heart aching. "Did I do something wrong? Because if I did, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. Please, just tell me what's wrong." He pleaded, his thumb gently brushing her cheek.

"No, it's not you, Ben." Elisa shook her head, closing her eyes. She swallowed hard and took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.

"Then why can't you be with me?" Ben asks softly, his thumb brushing her cheek. "Was it something else? What was it? Please, just tell me. Let me fix it. I want to be with you, Ellie. I thought you wanted to be with me, too. So, please, just tell me."

"Ben," Elisa opens her eyes and pulled his hand away from her face. Her grip on his hand tightened, not wanting to let him go. But she knew she had to. She couldn't let him get hurt. Not again. "I can't. I'm so sorry, but I can't."

"Why?" Ben questions, his gaze flickering across her face. "I know you feel something, El. I know you do. This isn't just on me, I know you care. Why won't you let yourself be happy?"

"Because it's not real!" Elisa snaps, tears brimming her eyes. "It's not real, Ben. This, us, it's not real."

"Yes, it is. I know it is." Ben shakes his head, his thumb caressing her hand. "We have something, El. I know you feel it."

"No, Ben, you don't understand. It's not real. It's a spell." She mumbles, reluctantly pulling away. "I'm so sorry. I should've never even agreed to it. I shouldn't have let myself fall for you. I should've never fallen for you. I-I didn't-I didn't want this to happen."

"Wait, hold on, wait." Ben mutters, his eyes widening with surprise. He steps closer, reaching out put a comforting hand on her shoulder. He was confused by what she was talking about, but he could see her beginning to panic and he needed to calm her down. "Slow down, okay? Just slow down. Take a deep breath."

Elisa starts to relax at his touch, his thumb was rubbing soothing circles on her shoulder. She takes a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. Ben waited, giving her a moment before he spoke again. "Now what was that about a love spell? Wait...Did you use it because I was with Audrey? And you weren't sure it could happen on its own?" He tried to guess, hoping that would help explain things.

Elisa hesitates, biting her bottom lip. "Ben..." She mumbles, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment. "Y-Yeah, yeah, you're right." She decided to go along with what he said, not wanting to tell him the whole truth. She couldn't. "I-I used the love spell to get your attention. I know it was wrong, and I shouldn't have done it. But it wasn't just because you were with Audrey, either. I-I did it because I liked you. And I have way before I was sent to the Isle. Just being apart made those feelings grow, and-and when I got back, I couldn't fight it. A-And I was jealous and upset seeing you and Audrey together. I know I had no right to feel that way or to use a love spell on you, but-"

She let out a surprised noise when suddenly, Ben was cupping her face and pulling her into a kiss. It was different from their other kisses, though. This one was slow and passionate, and Ben was making sure Elisa knew how he felt. She could feel all the love and emotions and she felt the same. But she couldn't let herself get carried away.

"W-Wait." She muttered, reluctantly pulling back and taking a step away. Her lips were still tingling and her heart was pounding, her knees felt weak. But she couldn't lose focus. Not now.

"You're worried I'm only kissing you because of the spell." Ben says, his eyes full of determination. "But I'm not. I'm kissing you because I love you. I knew this whole time you put me on a love spell."

Her eyes widen and her heart continues to race. "So...So, what, you just been pretending? This whole time, you've been pretending?"

"No, of course not." Ben shakes his head, taking a step closer. "El, I've always felt something for you. And when you came back, my feelings only grew. They became stronger, and I fell in love with you. I wanted to tell you, but I was afraid. Afraid of losing you. Plus I was with Audrey and I didn't want to hurt her." He pauses, his hands reaching up to cup her face again. "And then the love spell happened, and yes, I was mad. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I didn't care. I couldn't care less that you used a love spell on me. It didn't change the fact that I loved you."

Elisa felt a warmth grow inside her, and she couldn't help the smile that formed on her lips. He was willing to forgive her for using the spell. He wasn't angry with her. She couldn't believe it. "Really?" She murmurs, her hands coming up to rest on his waist. "You-You don't care? You forgive me?"

"Of course I forgive you." Ben smiles at her, leaning down. He was so close, their noses were brushing against each other. "I love you, Ellie. Nothing's gonna change that. Even a love spell."

"W-Wait, how did you know this whole time?" She questioned, her heart fluttering at his touch and her face turning red. She couldn't believe how close they were. If she moved just a bit, their lips would be touching again. She was tempted, but she was curious about how he found out.

"The love spell washed off in the Enchanted Lake at our first date." Ben explains, his thumbs gently caressing her cheek. "But that still didn't change the fact that I had feelings for you. My feelings were real. This whole time, this was real."

"O-Oh." Elisa blushes, her heart warming. "S-So, um...What does that mean?"

"It means," Ben starts, leaning closer. "I still want you to be my girlfriend. I still want to be with you. What do you say?"

Elisa bites her lip and closes her eyes, thinking for a moment. Ben's touch was comforting, his fingers were caressing her skin. He was being patient, letting her make her choice.

She took a deep breath, trying to decide. She could feel his breath on her lips, he was so close. And she didn't want to pull away. She did want this. She wanted to be with him. But she was still afraid. Afraid of the plan she and her friends have, but also afraid of getting hurt. She knew her answer. She opened her eyes and her gaze flickered between his. He was staring at her, waiting. She didn't say anything, instead, she closed the distance and kissed him. Ben didn't hesitate, his lips moving in sync with hers. His hands moved from her face, down her sides and settled on her hips.

Elisa pulled him closer, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her fingers ran through his hair and his arms tightened around her, keeping her pressed against him. Elisa wanted to be as close as possible, she was melting in his touch. She wasn't sure how but he melted her frozen heart. She always claimed she didn't have a heart, that it was frozen. But Ben had thawed it. He showed her what love was, and she couldn't get enough of him. She felt safe. She felt loved.

But her heart still ached, and she felt a pang in her chest. The guilt was creeping in, and she felt horrible for kissing him while knowing what she had planned. What she and the others were going to do. She finally broke the kiss, reluctantly pulling back. Ben chased her lips, and she couldn't help the small giggle that escaped her. 

"Wait." She spoke, her hands resting on his chest to stop him. She could feel his heartbeat, his heart was racing fast just like hers.

"Right, sorry." Ben mumbles, his cheeks reddening. "So, is that a yes?"

Elisa smiles, biting her bottom lip as she nodded her head. "Yes, Ben. I want to be with you."

"Good." Ben smiles, his arms tightening around her as he pecks her lips. "I'm glad to hear that, Elisa."

A sense of relief washes over Elisa as she leans into Ben's embrace, feeling a weight lifted off her shoulders. She can't deny the warmth that fills her heart knowing that Ben's feelings for her were genuine, even after the love spell had worn off. But amidst her happiness, a nagging feeling of guilt still lingers. "Ben," Elisa starts, her voice barely above a whisper, "There's something I need to tell you."

Ben's brows furrow with concern as he gazes down at her. "What is it, El?"

Elisa takes a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before speaking. "I... I haven't been completely honest with you." She looks down, unable to meet his gaze. "There's something I need to tell you about me and my friends."

Ben's expression shifts to one of confusion, his grip on her tightening slightly. "What do you mean? What's going on, Elisa?"

Elisa takes another deep breath, steeling herself to reveal the truth. "My friends and I, we-"

"There she is!" A cheerful and familiar voice interrupted her, causing the two to pull away and look over to find who said that. Elisa couldn't help but perk up at seeing her family coming over to her. Her father had been the one who spoke, grinning at her as he got to her before the others. Jack Frost didn't hesitate to hug his daughter, his grip was tight and his touch was cold but familiar and comforting.

"Dad." She mumbled, hugging him tighter as she closed her eyes. She had missed her family so much during her time on the Isle. She felt a mix of emotions — gratitude for their presence and support, but also a pang of guilt for keeping secrets from them. As she embraced her father, she made a silent vow to herself that she would find a way to protect her loved ones from the impending chaos, no matter the cost. Ben was confused and curious about what Elisa had tried to tell him before her family came over. He could sense that something serious was going on, but he didn't want to intrude on their moment. Instead, he offered a polite smile to Elisa's family before stepping back, giving them some space.

Elisa's mother, Elsa, joins in the embrace, her icy touch sending shivers down Elisa's spine. Despite the cold, it felt comforting to be in her mother's arms again. "Elisa, darling, we've missed you so much." Elsa murmured, her voice filled with warmth and love.

"I missed you, too, mom." Elisa replied, hugging her parents tightly. She could feel tears brimming her eyes, her heart swelled with joy and gratitude for their support. She didn't realize just how much she had missed them until this moment.

"It's good to see you, kiddo." Jack murmured with a sigh, kissing the top of her head. He had missed his only daughter so much. He had been worried about her the entire time she was on the Isle. Now that she was back, he was relieved and overjoyed.

Elisa felt a hand on her shoulder and she looked over to see her older brother, Jax, smiling at her. He looked just like their dad, though his skin was a bit paler and he didn't have the snow white hair. Though his hair was a sandy blonde, similar to their mom's. "Hey, little sis. Glad to have you back."

"Good to see you too, big bro." Elisa smiled, letting go of her parents. She pulled her older brother into a hug, her heart warming when he hugged her back. She hadn't realized how much she missed him. She used to hate the relentless teasing and the pranks he would play on her, but now, she found herself wishing that he would pull one on her again and that she wouldn't mind hearing him tease her.

"How was the Isle? Are you alright?" Her aunt, Anna, questions as she steps up and hugs her niece. She had always been like a second mother to Elisa. Her aunt was full of energy and light, always looking for the bright side of things. She admired her aunt and tried to be like her, even if it was a bit difficult at times. "We've all missed you dearly. It wasn't the same without you here."

"It was...Rough. But I managed and found some friends who helped me survive there." Elisa admitted, pulling away from her aunt. She glanced over at her boyfriend, seeing that he was now talking with her parents. Her heart fluttered at the sight, warmth filling her chest. She couldn't help the smile that spread across her lips, her gaze softening.

"Well, you're home now." Her uncle, Kristoff, wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into a hug. "And we're all happy to have you back, kid."

"Thank you." Elisa muttered, closing her eyes and sighing. She had never felt so safe, so loved. Being with her family, her home, it felt right. She didn't want to lose that again.

"Oh, there's so much we have to catch up on!" Anna exclaims, her face lighting up with excitement. "Tell us everything we missed!"

"Well," Elisa starts, taking a deep breath. She couldn't stop herself from glancing at her boyfriend again. He was still talking with her parents, but he looked over and smiled at her. She couldn't help but smile back. "Um, Ben and I are dating." She couldn't hide her happiness when saying those words, she was practically beaming.

"Oh, I'm so happy for you, sweetie!" Anna exclaimed, hugging her niece once more. "I knew you two would be perfect for each other."

"I'm happy for you, kid." Jax says, offering a kind smile. He was happy his little sister was able to find someone to love and to be loved by. She deserved it, and he could tell how happy Ben made her. He walks over to Ben, offering his hand for Ben to shake. "I'm glad you two are finally together." Ben smiles, looking relieved as he shook his hand. But Ben grimaces a little when Jax tightens his grip and pulls him closer, his voice low and threatening. "But if you ever hurt my little sister, you'll have me to answer to. Got it?" He let go, his smile back on his face and acting as if nothing happened.

"Uh, yes, of course." Ben nodded, rubbing his hand. His grip was a lot stronger than he thought. He wasn't sure how strong Jax was, but he would rather not find out.  

"Good." Jax says, patting his back a little hard, causing him to stumble. Ben quickly regains his composure and stands up straight, trying not to let his fear show. Jax grins, knowing that he was a bit scared. "Then I'm glad we have an understanding."

Ben nodded again, swallowing the lump in his throat. He didn't want to get on his bad side. "I would never dream of hurting her. I care a lot about her." He was genuine, and his voice was filled with passion. It was clear he truly cared about her, and that was good enough for Jax.

"Alright, please don't scare him away, Jax." Elisa quickly chimes in, standing by Ben and intertwining her hand with his. He seems to relax more at her touch, his body easing a bit. "He's important to me. Please be nice."

"Of course, sis." Jax chuckles, reaching over to ruffle her hair. "I'm just looking out for my baby sister."

"Well, maybe don't threaten my boyfriend." She says, swatting his hand away with a scowl. "And mess up my hair."

"Yeah, yeah." Jax laughs, taking a step back. "Come on, mom wants a word with you."

Elisa sighs and glances over at Ben, giving him a kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you later, okay? I gotta go talk to my mom."

"Of course." Ben smiles softly and squeezes her hand. "I'll see you later."

Elisa smiled back at him, letting go of his hand before turning to follow her brother and parents. She glanced back at Ben and smiled again, her heart fluttering in her chest. He looked back at her with a look of admiration, causing her face to flush. She turned away, her cheeks burning, and she walked after her family. Her cousin, Krystal, was now there talking with her parents. She greeted her cheerfully before she continued talking to her parents. Elisa didn't know what they were talking about, but she didn't think it was important.

"Hey, mom." Elisa spoke as she approached, smiling warmly at her.

"Hello, sweetheart." Her mother replies, reaching up and brushing her bangs out of her face. "You have no idea how much we missed you. We were worried."

"I'm fine, mom." Elisa reassures her, taking a hold of her hand and gently squeezing. "Don't worry. Everything is fine. I mean, it was rough, but it's not like it was all bad. I met new people, had a few adventures. And now, I'm back. So there's nothing to worry about."

Elsa sighs, looking into her daughter's eyes. She knew she was lying, something was bothering her. But she didn't want to push. "Alright. If you say so."

"Trust me, I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me." Elisa smiles at her, hoping to ease her mother's worries. "How have things been going back at home? And at the Enchanted Forrest?" She questioned, referring to the kingdom her aunt ruled and the Forrest her parents helped out at.

"Good, everything's going good." Anna nods, a small smile forming on her face. "It's been peaceful, no threats or anything like that. But the forest is thriving. It's been great."

"That's good. That's really good." Elisa sighs in relief, grateful that there were no issues. "I really miss being home. It was really hard being away for so long."

"I bet." Her mother frowns, her gaze softening. "You shouldn't have been there. You belong here. With us. I hate that Audrey and Chad made you lose control of your powers and got you banished for something you couldn't control. And that it took so long to get you back. If I could've, I would've gone myself to get you and bring you home. But..." She trailed off, her frown deepening.

"I get it." Elisa sighs, her shoulders sagging. "You couldn't do anything, mom. No one could."

"Well, you're back now. So, that's all that matters." Jack chimes in, placing a hand on his daughter's shoulder. He smiles reassuringly, squeezing her shoulder gently. "You're back, and you're safe."

"And we're not going to let anyone take you away again." Jax adds, standing next to his father and wrapping his arm around Elisa's shoulders. "You're staying here. With us."

"Right. Right." Elisa sighed, nodding her head. as she leaned into his embrace. 

She couldn't help but glance over at her boyfriend. She knew the truth, no one could stop her from leaving. Not even Ben. And she would have to eventually leave, she was a villain and her friends were villains. They weren't supposed to be there, and they had a plan. They would have to go back to the Isle and complete it. She felt a pang of guilt, she was starting to grow attached to her boyfriend and her new life. She wanted to stay. But she had a job to do. And she was going to do it, no matter what.