It didn't take long for her to find Hiccup as he hadn't gone far from the cabin. He had followed the path around the back of the cabin down to the shoreline of the beach and Astrid found him sat on the beach staring out across the crystal blue lake. He was skipping stones across the flat surface of the lake and had she not just witnessed what happened before he left the house, Astrid would have thought that Hiccup was just chilling out. But of course, she knew that he wasn't.

He appeared not to notice her as she came up behind him but she knew that he was probably acutely aware of her presence. Yet Hiccup made no move to leave. He didn't say anything either, he just threw another stone out across the lake, causing it to skip twice before sinking under the surface. The pebbles on the beach crunched under Astrid's feet as she walked down towards the shoreline and though it was evident that Hiccup knew she, or someone at least, was their now. He did not look at her, he just remained silent. Astrid could see now as she looked at him that his eyes were red and puffy from crying and hung under them were dark bags from lack of sleep. He sat with his legs crossed and his back bent forward in a position that looked very uncomfortable and he fiddled his fingers through the pebbles on the beach.

She sat down quietly next to him and began to think about what she would say to him. Suddenly, he changed his posture, he uncrossed his legs and pulled them close to his chest, leaving his hands sprawled out on the beach behind him for balance. She feared that he would get up and leave but he didn't budge past this point. Carefully, Astrid reached out with one of her hands and gently placed it on top of his, he flinched slightly at her touch but did not leave.

"I'm sorry," they both said at the same time, surprising each other and causing an involuntary laugh. Astrid saw a smile tugging at the corners of Hiccup's lips then fading just as fast. He was the first to carry on.

"I'm sorry I shouted at you," Hiccup said remorsefully. His voice was hoarse and croaky from crying and remain at a very quiet volume as though he was too tired to speak any louder.

"You don't have to be sorry Hiccup," Astrid replied her voice solemn and sweet, "I have been an absolute idiot. I saw you with Heather the night before I got with Eret. I saw you guys kissing. And I overreacted, I went off to Eret and left you. I just couldn't bear the thought of watching you with another girl so I felt like I had to avoid you. It was such a stupid thing to do and I am sorry Hiccup." Hiccup's eyes seemed to dim down at what she just said and he began to speak quietly but clearly,

"I was coming to see you that night Astrid, I had something I wanted to tell you and something I wanted to give to you. And… she… she took it from me."

Fresh tears began to brim in Hiccups eyes as he relived the pain of that night, but this time he wasn't alone. Astrid saw the tears beginning to form and pulled Hiccup into her, pressing his head into her chest and stroking his hair soothingly.

"What did she take from you Hiccup," she asked.

"I never got the opportunity to tell you my secret," he cried quietly into her chest, wetting her top, "and she stole my first kiss. The one I wanted to give to you." He felt stupid saying it now, it was so cheesy and cliche and he didn't even know if Astrid felt anything for him but he couldn't bear to hide his thoughts any longer. Astrid was quiet for some time as he cried into her and he began to think he had ruined it all, that she didn't feel the same way before she broke the silence.

"What was your secret Hicc?" She asked tentatively, using the nickname which she hadn't called him in such a long time. She pulled his face up out of her chest to look him dead in his wet, puffy yet still beautiful and captivating green eyes. "What did you want to tell me?"

He was quiet for a moment as he sniffled slightly to clear his airways then he whispered quietly in a very nasally voice,

"That I like you, Astrid. I like you a fucking lot." A small strange smile formed on his lips and she smiled back at him, putting on the sweetest voice she could; the one she would only ever reserve for Hiccup.

"I like you too Hicc. more than you know. And I know I can't do anything about how I acted, and I acted like an absolute idiot. I pushed you away to hide my feelings for you because I couldn't face you not feeling the same way. But if we can move on. I can do something about how you feel now. She didn't take your first kiss from you Hiccup, any more than a mother kissing you would. She could try but it would never work unless you wanted to do it with her. And perhaps I can give you a better experience of a first kiss?" A smile tugged Hiccup's lips and he felt a part of his old characteristic happiness (the happiness he had felt with Astrid) return to him.

"Perhaps," he whispered back invitingly as she leaned in closer to him. He followed her lead until their lips met in the middle.

In a moment that could be described as no less than magical.

She had finally done it, she had finally kissed Hiccup. And though the two of them still had things to talk about she finally felt like she would get the guy of her dreams. The was between his legs, leaning back into his body as his arms wrapped tightly and possessively around her, yet she didn't feel uncomfortable. His touch just made her feel safe and content.

"I'm sorry Hiccup," she said once more not giving him time to reply, "I should have been there to help you, I should have given you a chance to explain. I can't keep thinking that if I did then we would be together without all this added baggage." He sighed audibly,

"Astrid," Hiccup said, "There is no baggage for me. I don't care about what happened over the past couple of months. I want you in the here and now, and in the future. So you can stop apologising, Milady." She smiled at the mention of her old nickname before she realised something.

"I need something to call you now that we are together," she said as she turned her head around, not moving from where she was sat, to face him.

"What do you mean?" He asked, "You already have a nickname for me."

"Yeah but Hicc is so mainstream. I need something that only I get to call you."

"Is someone getting possessive already?" He asked with a smile.

"Oh shut it you," she replied, smiling just like he was but she still punched his arm. It was very awkward to do from where she was sat but he deserved it. She snuggled into her chest slightly as she said: "I have you now and I don't want to lose you."

"And you want everyone else to know I am yours," he added with a smirk.

"Okay maybe that too," she caved.

"What about Baby," Hiccup suggested.

"I don't know," was Astrid's response.

"Hiccy?"

"Okay. That's just weird. and no."

"Umm…" He paused as he began to think hard.

"Babe!" Astrid suddenly shouted out as she smiled at him, "Yeah I like that."

"How is that any different from Baby?" Hiccup asked with a raised eyebrow.

"It just is."

"Whatever you say, Milady."

"Oh just shut it, Babe." They shared a smile before she turned back around and leaned into his chest breathing a sigh of content.

For the first time in months, She felt at home.

"They've been gone a really long time," Fishlegs said, his voice sounding slightly worried, "What if something happened to them?"

"I bet they were eaten by a bear. Or... oooh oooh… A fire breathing dragon," Tuffnut joked with a smile, "Yeah, definitely a dragon. Everyone knows bears don't actually exist."

"Tuff my friend. You are an absolute moron," Snotlout laughed from where he was sat on the couch.

"And you're not helping," Fishlegs carried on, "Seriously guys though, what if something happened? What if they are in trouble and need our help or Astrid couldn't find Hiccup?"

"Fishy," Ruff said the softness in her voice surprising the two other boys, "I am sure they are fine. They are probably just having a little… fun shall I say." She smirked at the confused look on Fishlegs face as Snotlout and Tuff burst out laughing. Fishlegs looked at Ruffnut with a very confused expression on his face and asked,

"What do you mean fun?" Ruff smiled at him and made a gesture that Fishlegs immediately recognised and turned bright red.

"First off Ruff, Eww. Secondly, if I wanted to do that I would do it up in my bedroom not out in the woods," a voice said rather sharply from behind them and the four of them turned around to see Hiccup and Astrid who had slipped in the back door unnoticed. They stood with Astrid in front of Hiccup, leaning back on his chest whilst his arms were wrapped around her body. A massive smile was plastered on Hiccup's face.

"Really? Eww." Hiccup said with a look of mock disappointment.

"Just shush you, Astrid replied to her boyfriend as she tilted her head up to look into his eyes which he responded to by kissing her gently on the forehead. When Astrid looked back down she saw that all of her friends were staring at her with dumbfounded looks on their faces.

Ruffnut was the first to speak up,

"How on earth did you leave this house acting like you didn't know one another and come back like this?" She asked obviously very confused.

"We had a long chat and cleared some things up," Astrid replied to her friend.

"Okay, one final question then, Ruffnut said, "What is this?"

"I guess we are boyfriend and girlfriend," Hiccup replied, moving one of his hands up to rub the back of his neck in his classic awkward posture; though the other hand remained tightly held around Astrid as if asking for confirmation of his statement. She squeezed his hand lightly in reassurance.

"Oh great," Snotlout sighed, "So now we have to deal with all the sappy coupley stuff from them."

"Would you rather that or us ripping each other's throats out?" Astrid asked in reply to his statement. Snot looked like he was about to reply before he was cut off by a very enthusiastic cry from Tuffnut,

"HICCSTRID!" He shouted as he ran at the two of them and wrapped them up in a hug.

"Hiccstrid?" Hiccup asked, very confused.

"It's your ship name. Like a mix of Hiccup and Astrid," Tuffnut responded, "And what I will be calling you from now on my little lovebirds." He backed off over to his sister before speaking again,

"Looks like you owe me twenty quid Snotty," he stated with a smile. Before Snotlout could argue with the blond Astrid spoke up,

"Wait. You bet on me and Hiccup getting together?" she asked sounding annoyed at the blond boy.

"Yeah," Tuff replied, oblivious of Astrid tone of voice, "And I am making twenty quid off of it."

"Oh, Tuffnut Thorston. I am going to kill you!" Tuff finally noticed the very annoyed blonde and looked to Hiccup for support as he held his arms around Astrid's waist to stop her. But he simply mouthed the word "Run" to his friend before he was forced to let go of his girlfriend as her struggling became too much for him to handle. Tuffnut gulped and took off up the stairs like a mouse running from an angry cat (which funnily enough was almost exactly what he was doing), quickly followed by Astrid.

"So you and Astrid, huh?" Fishlegs said to Hiccup after Astrid had gone scrambling off up the stairs after Tuff.

"Yeah," Hiccup replied a little awkwardly, though he couldn't help the grin slipping into his face as he thought about all that had happened in the past few hours. Astrid Hofferson, the girl of his dreams, was his girlfriend.

"Well I'm glad that you are finally looking like yourself again man," Fishlegs stated warmly.

"What do you mean?" Hiccup asked, slightly confused.

"Well no offence dude," Fishlegs replied, "But you have been a bit of a grouchy ass the past couple of months. Not like yourself at all. But I can see that the old you is already starting to come back, but I would suggest getting some sleep Hicc. You look absolutely exhausted." Hiccup walked over to the kitchen after his friend had said this and stared into one of the mirrors to see what his friend meant.

Despite how happy he was right now, he looked like a mess. The black bags still hung under his eyes from lack of sleep and his eyes were still puffy and rimmed with red from crying. "I could definitely use a rest," Hiccup thought as he looked at himself before he turned back to his friend.

"Yeah. I'm gonna go up to bed now guys," he informed all of his friends who were still in the living room. Fishlegs gave Hiccup a thumbs up as he headed to the stairs and made his way to the second floor. Hiccup passed Tuffnut, making his way downstairs whilst rubbing his arm, as he walked up the stairs and then ran into Astrid when he reached the top of the stairs. He accidentally bumped into her as his tiredness caught up to him and his movements were becoming sluggish.

"Sorry," Hiccup replied really quickly ash he knocked into Astrid but she just smiled at him.

"It's alright, Babe," she replied, "If you were coming up to get me I'm about to come downstairs again."

"I was actually going to go to bed," Hiccup replied as he smiled slightly to her in reply, "But I could stay up for you." She looked up at him and saw the state he looked in for the first time since they had left the beach.

"Gods no Babe, you look exhausted," Astrid exclaimed, "You should definitely go off to bed. I can see you tomorrow and I'd rather you sorted yourself out than stay up for me." She stretched up on her tiptoes and kissed him quickly on the lips before heading off downstairs' turning around half way down to gesture for him to go to bed. Hiccup obliged and headed to his bedroom. Too tired to get undressed, he flopped down on his bed and fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.

Finally, I get to write some Hiccstrid fluff. I hope you guys enjoyed it and rest assured there is so much more to come from this cus as long as I have ideas I will keep writing chapters. Soon we will find out how Eret reacts to Hiccup taking "his" girlfriend but it won't be for a few chapters as it is time for some cuteness and just more of the gang.

Please let me know what you thought and I will see you in the next one.

-Pluckycross