Hiccup painfully attempted to carry two jugs of water, one jug of milk and three baskets of fruit, the half a mile it took him to get home. So far, he was failing. Of course, he'd be the one stuck collecting groceries after his father had forgotten. And of course, Jack would refuse to help. "The no-good, son of a queen," Hiccup muttered under his breath.

He almost tripped, apples tumbling out of the basket. If he didn't have a strong hold of the stuff, everything else would have flown out too. Hiccup cursed as he attempted, again painfully, to pick up the mess he'd managed to create. His arms were aching and his back was sore. He could drop everything, if he really wanted to. He could let it go, (*get it, huh, huh. Cuz Jack's mum is… nevermind). Go home, giving no fucks. Still he couldn't, he'd get in way too much trouble and seeing Jack's smug, stupid face just wouldn't be worth it. Maybe he could ask for help. But Hiccup was a stubborn little shit and he knew it. Plus, he was too awkward, embarrassing himself would be just as bad as seeing Jack's annoying, little face. So, with a new resolve and determination, he lugged the groceries back home. He cursed when he'd realised he wasn't even half way home.

Hiccup was just past halfway when he mysteriously felt some of the weight had disappear. He felt the ache lessen immediately. As it turned out an old and rather unwelcome face had made itself known and helped him with the bags. If he was glaring she pretended not to notice.

"Are you going to say something or just stand there?" she asked, as she continued to walk without waiting for him.

"Hey, Astrid," he greeted, begrudgingly, jogging to catch up with the girl, "If you're looking for the Prince, he's not here right now. Maybe come back next time," he added sarcastically.

"Are you always so rude?" she sighed, adjusting the baskets easily, while Hiccup struggled, he scowled.

"Why are you still here? I thought I said the prince wasn't here." He expected her to taunt him, knowing there was no need to keep up a front. Not like Jack would care what happened to him anyway.

"Sorry for helping you, maybe I should leave?" she threatened.

Rather than responding scornfully, he held his tongue. While, Hiccup didn't like to submit easily, he couldn't have her leaving now. Plus, the help was nice, he admitted.

"Thanks," then, "why are you being so nice?" Kind treatment wasn't something Astrid gave often.

"Do I need a reason?" when Hiccup made a face she sighed, "Okay. To apologize I guess. I've been a dick to you. Sorry."

"Okay, yes, but why now? You've been a dick for quite some time now. What changed?" Hiccup was genuinely puzzled, "to get points with Jack, a word in about how kind you really are?

"NO! No. I was thinking. Hey, did I ever tell you why I was so mean to you."

"No." He didn't think she needed a reason. Everyone else evidently didn't.

"Well, I use to have a crush on you." Sensing Hiccup's confusion, she continued, "Yah, I know, you of all people." Hiccup couldn't even be offended, he was too shocked to. He'd, also had a crush some time ago on Astrid, if he'd known the feelings were mutual… "Anyway, you rejected me, I got pissed, I made your life hell, the end."

"Reject! You didn't even tell me."

"I did. You were too busy drawing in that damned book. You just waved me off." She shook her head. "It's over now."

Wow. Somehow, Hiccup felt like a jerk. "Sorry. If 'd known maybe we could have been…" He drifted off.

"Let it go," she quickly changed the subject which Hiccup was thankful for. "So. How is the prince?"

"An annoying, self-entitled, conceited pig." He answered without missing a beat. Honestly what was Astrid expecting. "Seriously, it's like the brat has been waited on hand and foot his whole life and isn't used to people not treating him like he's the sun and moon itself."

"Isn't that exactly it, though?"

"I KNOW! That's what makes it worse. He actually expects us to treat him like royalty. He's not even the prince of this kingdom."

"Sorry, he sounds terrible."

"Yah, well, he's not all that bad." Hiccup added. He did help heal the relationship between him and his dad. Hiccup thought back to the girl Jack had found. She looked like she was having fun. "I guess he just isn't used to 'the commoner's – "

"Astrid!" called a foreign voice loudly, cutting Hiccup off. He recognised the girl that was running up to him, her wild ginger hair bobbing up and down. She was in his class and often sat with Astrid and another ridiculously long-haired girl, called Rapunzel. They didn't talk so Hiccup had no idea what her name was, though.

"Hey," Astrid returned the greeting, "what's the problem?"

"Nothing. Just wanted to see you." She took Astrid's bags, completely ignoring him. "Still up for tonight?"

"Yeah. See you there."

"Great." Before Hiccup could ask what was going on or who the girl was, she leaned in to kiss Astrid on the cheek. He thought it best not to ask.

They continued to walk to Hiccup's place in silence, Astrid occasionally laughing to something the girl had said. Hiccup did his best not to feel awkward, but it was hard when two girls next to you were practically making out. He had picked up the girl's name as Merida.

When they finally made it to his house, he suppressed a sigh of relief. He thanked Astrid and Merida for their help and hurried into his home in hopes of avoiding any more PDA, taking the groceries into the kitchen where his father was waiting for him.

"Good morning," he greeted, "I got your stuff."

"Thank you, son. I know it was a lot."

"It's okay." I don't mind feeling like my arms are going to break, he thought, but kept it in his head. He turned to leave when he heard his father.

"Thank you." He said, almost unsure of himself. "Not just for your help, but for everything. After your mother…" he drifted off, "I know it's been hard. You've been so strong. Stronger than you need to be. Thank you." His father stared straight into his eyes, and Hiccup knew his father had meant it.

He didn't know why, but those last two words almost had him breaking down in tears. Everything Hiccup had previously thought of himself, were destroyed by his father's words. He didn't hug him, or even say much. He felt his eyes glaze over with tears. He picked up his sketch pad, silent, not really knowing what to say. So, he didn't say anything. He walked away to be truly by himself.