A/N this is my first attempt at putting a story online. Don't give up after the first chapter, it gets really good. and if you don't like it, review! but if you like it, review!

Chapter One: One Year Later

Hiccup was looking at his leg piece as he sat down on a rock in the cove him and Toothless had started their everlasting bond in. Berk was throwing a party in the Mead Hall but he didn't want to go. Even if the party was for him. It had been four season changes since the battle thus marking its anniversary and everyone in the village wanted to celebrate "The New Hiccup." That was his unwritten nickname.

Everyone had thought he had changed but he knew better. He never changed. They were just seeing him from a different angle now. Luckily he had two people in the village who didn't call him that and one of them was approaching.

"You're not at the party." Said a voice coming from behind him.

"They don't even know I'm not there." He replied. He didn't have to turn around to know who it was. Her voice was the one thing that would stick in his pea sized attention span, often remembering everything she had said to him that day. Her voice was strong enough to wake him from his deepest sleep and soothing enough to lull him to sleep. Her voice was perfect. Everything about her was perfect.

"They're having a lot of fun and with everyone in the Mead Hall, it's easy to lose sight of you." She excused for the others. "But I know you're not there."

"Astrid… That's not what I meant. They don't know I'm not there. But they know 'The New Hiccup' isn't. He sighed as he turned around to meet her eyes. Yet another perfect part of her. The Gods didn't know they had left the ocean and sky in her eyes but surely they knew they were missing.

"'The New Hiccup' doesn't exist, you and I both know that." She said with her voice in calm mode. "It's their way of appreciating the you they never got to know."

"You think so?" he asked. It did make sense to him.

"I know so. I overhear them all the time. Talking about how they shouldn't have looked at you as being a problem, not an answer." She answered. "They're all very apologetic about it. But none as much as I…"

He could see it in her eyes. Unfortunately, those big blue eyes didn't hide raw emotion well. She was recalling how she used to treat him not more than five seasons ago, and she was beating herself up for it.

"Hiccup…" she managed to get out.

"Don't beat yourself up over it. It's in the past now. This is the present." He told her.

"No. let me finish. Please." She had never gotten the chance to apologize for what she did. She was going to use this time, this day, this anniversary, to ask for his forgiveness. "I treated you wrong because I was blinded by the same thing the others were. But when you took me on toothless that day… you cured be. I could see you for you. And I swear, with your forgiveness included, that I will never treat you anything less than you."

"Astrid. I forgave you 4 seasons ago. A whole year ago. When you risked your life to save me in the ring."

She was on the verge of crying. She quickly gathered herself before continuing. "Thank you… For everything. For showing me what true friendship is and for being you."

"Is that all we are? Is that all we'll ever be? Just friends?" Hiccup questioned.

"You know my father. I was scolded for a week after kissing you in public when you woke up. He thinks you aren't the right man for me and that I marry to someone more 'Viking like'" she finished. Hiccup had noticed a great sadness in her.

"Yes, I do know your father. But he doesn't know me. I'm the guy who savors every second I'm with you. The guy who would do anything for you. The guy, asking for your hand in courtship. To Hel with what your father thinks of me. If you feel the same way about me, you wouldn't let anything get in your way of me. I'm willing to do anything for you Astrid. Anything-" he tried to finish as he was cut off by one Astrid Hofferson lunging at him and tackling him to the ground while finishing off with the strongest kiss he had ever received.

"I accept and give you my hand in courtship." She said as she helped him up. "Now… about that party."