Hollywood vs. Deanna Frost & Selena Frost

[SnowQueenSCW]

OOC: Takes place immediately following Selena’s second RTG roleplay and onward.

Frost No More

”Not Yet...”

Eyrie Tower  
Manhattan, New York  
August 3, 2026
4:37 p.m.

“This time...” Selena whispered. “You decide...”


For several seconds, Deanna Frost did not move, nor did she breathe properly. All she could do was simply stand there, her mind trying desperately to serve two desperate functions:

1 – Calm down her racing heart, fuelled by the fear that Selena was going to throw herself off the roof like she had promised a year ago.

2 – Make sense of what Selena was actually doing in front of her!

The wind moved around them, catching loose strands of Selena’s platinum-blonde hair and a bit of her braid. Manhattan continued exactly as it always had. They were too high up to hear every sound fully, but the occasional horn, bus, yelling managed to make its way up to them – though no one on the balcony really heard it.

Loud, full, oblivious - The city did not care that Deanna’s entire world had just compressed itself into the space between Selena’s fingers.

Her wedding ring.

The one Deanna had worn for more than a decade. The one she had continued wearing through separation, divorce, anger, humiliation and every miserable month/year in which calling Selena her wife had no longer been legally accurate...

It had disappeared from her belongings only days ago. And Selena held it between her thumb and forefinger... Knelt down before her.

Deanna just continued to stare. Behind her, she could hear the children breathing, which seemed ridiculous as she slowly thought of it. Of all the things her mind could choose to notice, it was Amiliah breathing too quickly through her nose. David’s sneaker scraping against the balcony floor, and Elsianna shifting her weight somewhere behind Deanna’s right shoulder...

And yet, nobody spoke. There was no speech. No justification. No carefully constructed explanation about why this was happening. No revelation of some ‘master plan’ but the Snow Queen.

She was simply waiting, sapphire eyes never leaving Deanna.

Another few breaths and, slowly, the redhead’s voice returned. “You took it.”
Selena’s eyes lowered. “Yes.”

It was such a simple answer that Deanna almost laughed. And maybe she would have, if not for the feeling of something hot twisting inside her chest. “You took my wedding ring.”

“Yes.”
“From my bag.”
“Yes.”
“Without asking me.”
Selena swallowed. “Yes.”

There it was.

A tiny flash of the woman Deanna knew too well. The woman who had spent years believing that if she could endure enough punishment without defending herself, the punishment might eventually balance whatever ledger existed in her head.

Deanna’s jaw tightened. “Stop that.”
Selena blinked. “Stop what?”
“That.”
“I’m answering you.”
“No, you’re standing there-” Deanna flinched in realization. “Kneeling.”

For the first time, the corner of Selena’s mouth moved. It wasn’t quite a smile, but Deanna hated that she noticed. She hated even more that it made something inside her flutter.

Gazing down at the ring in her hand, Selena gave a slight shrug. “I took it because I saw it.”
“Oh! That clears everything up.” the redhead laughed.
“I know.”
“Selena...”

The Snow Queen exhaled slowly, knowing such humour, given the situation, was only working the last of her partner’s patience. “When I saw it in your things, I...” Her fingers curled slightly around the ring. “I realized you were still carrying something I had no right to assume belonged to me anymore.”

“You saw the ring and decided what it meant for me.” Deanna’s voice cut through the air, silencing the former world champion as the redhead stepped forward. “You decided I was carrying something that belonged to you. You decided maybe I shouldn’t be. You decided you had no right to it. You decided what I deserved.” Her voice cracked on the last word, while Selena looked as if she had been struck.

Deanna closed her eyes. “Gods...” she sighed in agitation.

“I shouldn’t have taken it.” Selena slowly admitted.
“No.”
“I can put it down.”
Deanna’s eyes snapped open. “No.”

The word came hard enough that everyone behind Deanna seemed to become even quieter. “That’s not what I said.”

Deanna looked down at the ring again - For years, she had kissed it before leaving for matches... A stupid little ritual.

Not stupid... Private.

A promise she had made without ever saying it aloud.

Remember who you chose.
Remember why you fight.
Remember who you are trying to come home to.

Even when there had been no coming home to Selena.
Even when the house had contained an empty side of the bed.
Even when the office stayed untouched.
Even when Deanna bought orange pekoe tea for someone who wasn’t there to drink it.

The ring had remained... and Selena had taken it, then brought it here. To the place where, one year earlier, Deanna had begged Selena to give them time.

Deanna’s throat tightened at the sheer weight of it all. “What are you asking me?”

Selena did not answer immediately, which only frightened Deanna further.

Finally, Selena looked at the ring. “I don’t know.”

Deanna almost recoiled at the answer, but Selena continued before she could.

“I think that’s the point.” The answer stopped the younger woman. “If I tell you what this means, then I’m doing exactly what you said.”

Deanna stared, refusing to speak as Selena’s next words filled her. “I could call it a proposal.” She felt her heart skip a beat. “I could call it asking you to take me back.” It did it again. “I could call it asking you to forgive me. I could call it asking if there’s still a place for me in that house.” Again and again, Deanna was sure she’d collapse from just the woman’s words!

Behind her, Amiliah made a tiny sound, causing Selena’s eyes to briefly move toward the children before returning to Deanna. “But those are all things I want.” Her gaze dropped again. “And I’ve spent too long deciding that what I want somehow gives me the right to define what something means for everyone else.”

Selena slowly opened her hand again, showing the ring once more. “So I’m giving it back.” She looked up back at Deanna. “What happens after that is yours.”

The tears came anyway, despite Deanna’s best efforts. She turned her head sharply, staring toward the skyline as if Manhattan might somehow offer assistance - It did not. Of course it didn’t.

A hundred emotions raged within her, a storm she had no chance of being able to control. How long had she dreamed of this? Prayed for this? Wanted this with every part of her? How long had she dreaded it? Feared what it meant? Believed it could never happen? How long had she hated herself for wanting it? After everything...

A small hand – a spread of warmth - touched hers, causing her to gaze down.

Amiliah gazed back at her. Her youngest daughter stared up at her with enormous green eyes.

“Are you going to marry Mother again?”

Elsianna groaned. “Ami.”
“What?”
“Maybe don’t ask that right now.” the eldest advised.
“But that’s what this is.” Amiliah pressed.
David shifted awkwardly. “I don’t think anybody knows what this is.”
“Mother is on one knee with a ring!” Ami reasoned before casting her eyes back to her mothers, Deanna last.

“Ami...” Deanna barely managed. The child looked up at her earnestly, but she had no idea how to answer her daughter. “I... I don’t know.”

Amiliah frowned, causing Deanna to squeeze her hand. “That’s not a bad answer.”

The little girl clearly disagreed but, remarkably, stayed quiet, which was enough to let Deanna return her attention back to Selena.

She had not moved.

A year ago, Deanna had found her beyond the railing. Today Selena would not even move from one knee unless Deanna asked.

The contrast hurt.

Because part of Deanna wanted to close the distance immediately. Part of her wanted to take Selena by the face, pull her to her feet and say ‘yes’ to whatever version of forever Selena was brave enough to offer.

Her heart had already answered. It had never been particularly subtle where Selena was concerned.

It remembered snowstorms.
Their first home.
Birthdays.
Hospital rooms.
Christmases and Yuletides.
Fights resolved at two in the morning.
Arguments over which parent had ruined dinner.
Almost a decade of ordinary things that had become extraordinary only after they disappeared.

Deanna loved her - That had never been the difficult truth. The difficult truth was that love had not saved them...

Taking a deep breath, Deanna slowly moved her hand from Amiliah’s. “I want to say yes.” she confessed to her entire family. She saw Selena’s entire body change – almost imperceptible. Shoulders drew tighter. Breath caught... Hope was cruel that way.

Deanna felt her own tears spill at the knowledge – she knew Selena so well. Better than anyone inside and outside SCW.

“And that’s why I can’t.”

A cold silence filled the space, all three of the Frost children showing different expressions in reaction to their parents’ words. Deanna turned back to the kneeling woman just in time to see Selena’s eyes close.

“Not yet.” Deanna’s own words caused those same eyes to open, as she stepped forward until only a few feet remained between them. “I need you to hear all of that.”

Slowly, actually nervous, Selena nodded.

“No.” Deanna shook her head. “Don’t just nod because you think this is where you’re supposed to accept whatever I say.” The slightest flicker of irritation crossed Selena’s features – causing a smile to almost form on across Deanna’s features. “Say something.”

Selena looked at her for a long moment. “What would you like me to say?”
“There she is.”
Selena’s brow furrowed. “That was irritating.”
“It was supposed to be.”

Another tiny almost-smile came to the redhead, but she forced herself to refocus, taking a steely breath to steady herself.

“I love you.” She stared down the woman she had looked up to for so many years, then loved beyond measure for even longer. The woman that had been the strongest person in her life, then the most pained and tortured, then the most lost and broken, then... then... then... but always back to that one truth.

“I love you, Selena.” she saw the Snow Queen’s throat move. “I know I’ve said it before. I know I’ve shown it in some incredibly stupid ways.”

“That makes two of us.”
Elsianna cleared her throat. “Probably more than two.”
“Definitely more than two.” David added, causing Elsianna to elbow him. “What? You got to talk-”
“Quiet.” Elsianna whisper-ordered.

Deanna laughed at that. She couldn’t help it. Then she looked back at Selena. “I forgive you.”
Selena stared at her, surprised. “For what? There’s a rather extensive list.”

Despite everything, Deanna laughed again. “Fine.” She took another step. “I forgive you for forging my name.” Selena’s gaze dropped. “I forgive you for taking the opportunity I earned because you convinced yourself you knew what I needed better than I did.” Selena swallowed. “I forgive you for the NX.” A wince. “The drinking.” Another. “The things you said.” Selena’s eyes shone. “I forgive you for running.”

That one landed deepest. Deanna saw it.

“But forgiveness doesn’t erase any of those things.” she refused to lose her resolve now.
“I know.” Selena nodded.
“And it doesn’t make me trust you the way I used to.”
“I know.”
“It doesn’t put you back in the house.”
“I know.”
“It doesn’t put us back in the same bed in the same way as before.”
“I know.” Selena nodded in understanding, creating a pool of relief in Deanna.

“And it doesn’t make this-” Deanna pointed between them.“-ready.”

“I know.” another nod from the platinum-blonde.

Deanna studied her face. There was no argument.
No bargaining.
No declaration that Selena could prove everything immediately.
No sudden offer to surrender wrestling, leave New York, relinquish the Tag Titles or wander into exile until Deanna changed her mind...

Just pain... and acceptance.

Deanna crouched before her, seeing the former world champion’s eyes widen. “I’m scared.” she admitted.

Selena’s expression softened. “I know-”

“No. I don’t think you do.” Deanna took a breath. “I’m scared because I know how easy it would be for me to pretend that everything is okay or pretend that none of this ever happened.”

Selena said nothing.

“I could say yes right now.” Deanna’s voice weakened. “I could go home and open your side of the closet. I could put the tea back where you keep it. I could move my pillow six inches to the left and wake up tomorrow pretending the last two years were some horrible detour.” The tears returned to her eyes. “And I would be happy.”

That admission hurt more than anything else...

“For a while.” she sighed “And then something would happen. Not necessarily something huge. Maybe I make a decision you hate. Maybe you lose a match. Maybe I win something you think you should’ve had. Maybe Elsa says something angry or does something. Maybe SCW puts us on opposite sides of something again.”

“But we’re the tag-team-” Selena stopped herself, not letting her instincts talk any further.

“I know.” Deanna repeated Selena’s overused phrase for today. “But any of that could happen... and I would spend every second waiting. Waiting for you to leave. To run. To make a decision for us – for all of us.” she eyed their children for a second before returning to Selena, seeing the platinum-blonde’s head lower. She reached out and touched Selena’s chin, causing her to look back up. “And you would spend every second waiting for me to realize I made a mistake taking you back.”

Something broke across Selena’s face. “Yes.”
“That’s not a marriage.”
“No.”
“That’s two people waiting for the building to collapse.”
Selena’s voice barely existed. “Yes.”

Deanna removed her hand. “That’s why I can’t say yes.” She inhaled slowly. “But I’m not saying no.”

She felt something in herself settle – not disappear. Just... settle. There was a difference.

“I don’t want another grand promise.” Selena gave a weak laugh at that.
“I appear to be very poor at those.” she replied.

“I want...” Deanna tried before finally having her thoughts together. “I want Tuesdays.”
Selena blinked. “What?”
“Tuesdays.”

Deanna pushed herself upright. Selena remained kneeling, staring up at her. “I want boring.”
“That may be the least flattering proposal response anyone has ever received.” Selena remarked.
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”

Deanna folded her arms. “I want to know whether we can have dinner without turning it into a referendum on our entire relationship.” She continued. “I want to know whether you can disagree with me without deciding I’d be happier if you vanished. I want to know whether I can be angry with you without immediately wondering if I’m about to lose you.”

“I want school nights.” the redhead continued. “Grocery lists. Elsa being mad at both of us for completely different reasons.”
“I am confident she can accomplish that.”
“I can hear you.” Elsianna shot out behind them.
“I know.” Selena shot back, causing Elsianna to roll her eyes.

Deanna smiled despite herself. “I want to know whether we can survive ordinary life. Because we already know we can survive disasters!”

Selena looked at the ring again. “That...makes an unfortunate amount of sense.”
“Thank you.”
“It wasn’t a compliment.”
“I’ll take what I can get.”

Deanna finally looked at Selena’s open palm. Slowly, she reached down and picked it up.

Ten years.
Three children.
A marriage.
A divorce.
Two years – more really - of hell.

All of it represented by something that weighed less than a coin.

Deanna held it between her fingers. “If I put this back on-”
Selena immediately answered. “It doesn’t mean yes.”

Deanna stopped and their eyes met.

“No.” Selena corrected. “It means whatever you decide it means.”

Deanna looked at the ring. Then slowly slid it onto her finger, seeing it settle into the indentation it had left behind.

Home.

“I’m sorry I took it.” Selena’s words brought her back.
“I’m still angry you did.”
“I know.”
“Good.” She eyed Selena. “Do not steal my jewelry again.”
“That seems reasonable.”
“Any of it.”
Selena laughed a little. “I wasn’t planning an escalation.”
“You stole the wedding ring. There aren’t many places to escalate.”

Selena’s expression became thoughtful. “The tiara?”

Deanna slapped a hand over her mouth and laughed - It escaped anyway.

Behind them, Amiliah giggled, David following suit. Even Elsianna’s expression cracked.

For several seconds, the Eyrie balcony held something it had never held for the Frost family before... Laughter.

Eventually, Deanna lowered her hand. Selena was still kneeling.

“How asleep are your legs right now?” Deanna asked.
“Alot.” Selena admitted. “I actually have been unable to get up for about five minutes.”
“Oh, for the love of-”

Quickly, Deanna pulled Selena to her feet, the Snow Queen’s eyes never leaving hers.

“Are you sure?” she asked hesitantly.
“Selena.”
“Right.”

Reaching her full height, both women realized that they ended up closer than either intended. Deanna’s breath caught, and she heard Selena’s catch as well; their hands remained joined.

For one dangerous second, she thought Selena might kiss her. For one even more dangerous second, she wanted her to.

Selena didn’t. She waited... Again.

Deanna hated how much that mattered. Her eyes dropped to Selena’s lips before she could stop them.

“Do you want me to?” Deanna looked back at her, seeing Selena immediately regret asking.
“No.” she answered. “Not yet.” She felt something warm and miserable passed between them.
Selena exhaled. “Your new favourite phrase.”
“Get used to it.”
“I suppose I should.”

Deanna squeezed Selena’s hand before releasing it. Then she turned toward the children. All three stared. Amiliah looked personally betrayed by the lack of kissing. David looked relieved that nobody had died.

Elsianna simply looked at Selena - that was the harder one. Her eyes moved to Deanna’s hand that wore the ring. “So... what happens now?”

Deanna opened her mouth but stopped. A month ago, she might have answered for everyone. A year ago, Selena certainly would have. Instead, Deanna looked at Selena but neither spoke.

Elsianna’s brows rose. “Seriously?!”
Deanna smiled faintly. “I think we figure that out.”
“Together?” Amiliah asked hopefully.

“Yes.” Deanna answered. “Slowly.”
Selena nodded. “Slowly.”
“Alright.” Elsianna nodded. “That’s good enough for now.”

To the side, David shoved his hands into his pockets. “So... are we done with the terrifying emotional stuff?”
“No.” Elsianna answered automatically.
“Probably never.” Selena tried in a gentler tone than her daughter’s.
David sighed. “I knew it.”

Amiliah tugged Deanna’s shirt, gaining the redhead’s attention. “Can Mother come home?”

Every adult expression changed. Eventually, Deanna crouched in front of her. “Not like before.”
Amiliah frowned. “But can she come?”

Deanna looked past her to Selena. The woman just stood there, waiting for Deanna’s answer. The redhead quickly looked down at the ring.

One day... One ordinary thing... the thought and answer came to her at once and she stood to her feet.

“Dinner.” she stated, gazing back at Selena. “You can come to dinner.”

For a moment Selena simply stared. Then, “Okay.” That was all.

David immediately asked, “What are we having?” effectively breaking any lingering tension.
“I don’t know.”
“Pizza!” Amiliah declared.
“Pizza isn’t romantic!” Elsianna reasoned.
“It’s Italian!” David countered. “If Spaghetti is romantic in Lady and the Tramp – so’s pizza!”
“Yeah!” Amiliah declared.

Selena glanced toward Deanna. “Chinese?”
Deanna glared. “You remember what happened last time you ordered Chinese.”
Selena’s brow furrowed. “That was not my fault.”
“You ordered enough food for fourteen people.”
“I was accounting for leftovers.”
“For a month?”
“Growing children!”
David looked offended. “I ate most of it.”
Selena gestured at him. “Thank you.”
“That doesn’t help your case.” Deanna said.

The argument followed them toward the elevator. It was absurd and small and completely unimportant...

And Deanna loved every second of it.

At the doors, however, Selena slowed. The others entered first. Elsianna stood at the back, arms folded, David leaned against the wall, and Amiliah repeatedly stabbed the button for the lobby despite the fact that it had already illuminated.

Deanna looked at her as she stepped inside. “What?” the redhead asked.

Selena glanced toward the balcony, then back toward Deanna. “I just...”

The old hesitation. The old instinct to ask whether she was truly allowed.

Recognizing it immediately, Deanna extended her hand. “Dinner.” she stated calmly and patiently.

Selena looked at it... then stepped into the elevator.

The doors began to close. For one last instant, Deanna could see the balcony beyond them. The place where one year ago she had promised that if nothing changed, she would return and let Selena go.

The doors narrowed the image... Then erased it.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Deanna looked down at her hand. The ring sat exactly where it had for more than ten years, and Selena stood beside her.

Not wife.
Not stranger.
Not forgiven enough to erase the past.
Not condemned enough to lose the future.

Something... between.
Something unfinished.

The elevator started downward, the jolt causing Selena’s shoulder to gently brush hers. Neither moved away. And for the first time in a very long time, Deanna did not need to know what happened at the bottom.

Not yet...