Chapter 11

Astrid's and Toothless's head went back and forth in unison as they sat on the bed watching their favorite one legged person pace furiously around his room.

Back and forth

Back and forth

His arms flailing wildly and then gripping his hair in exasperation as he recapped the events of the day.

"Oh Ast you should have seen the building it's perfect. Well o-of course other than the fact that the owner is Heather's ex." Running his hands down his face he made another turn on the carpet.

"I mean how weird is that going to be? He seemed nice enough today but what-what if it's a ploy to, you know, get on my good side and then he beats me up?!" Hiccup stopped to face Astrid arms now spread and eyes wide. "You should have seen this guy…mountain of muscle let me tell you!" Back to pacing.

"Hiccup…" Astrid gently called out to him but was completely ignored.

"I-I mean how could he not want to beat me up?! Apparently, Heather broke up with him for me! ME!"

"Hiccup…" again ignored.

"How did I-I not realize she still had feelings for me?!" Spinning around to face his wife again his eyes now looking petrified. "D-Did you know? Ast you-you know I would never do anything right? I do not feel that way for her anymore." He walked right up to her and grabbed both her hands.

"I love you Ast, only you…" his eyes pleading with her as he looked at her calm face that to his shock was sporting a slight…smile?

'What? Why isn't she mad, oh no it's past that point…oh God I'm screwed.'

Astrid gently squeezed his hands the smile still in place, "are you done yet?" Letting go of his hands she patted the bed beside her clearly wanting him to get off his feet and stop the incessant pacing he was doing.

Hiccup took the invitation and slowly sat down, giving Toothless a gentle pat trying to calm his nerves. Praying that her reaction would be favorable.

'I did just tell her my ex is still in love with me…GOD this is so messed up.'

"OK so first, I trust you Hiccup. I know you wouldn't do anything; Heather…well, Heather…I don't know but I'm pretty sure she wouldn't do anything like-like come on to you. And even IF she did I know you would tell me because…" Astrid gestured to the space he had just been pacing, "clearly you can't keep anything in." She gently smiled again calming his nerves a bit more.

"Next, yes…yes I did realize she still had feelings for you." She averted her eyes as a guilty look spread across her face.

Hiccup sprang back up to stand in front of her at her confession, "w-wait you knew?! Astrid why didn't you say anything? D-do you know how-how stupid I feel right now?!" His wild eyes stared her down as his mind raced. A thousand feelings ran through him at once; frustration, confusion, anger but most of all hurt. Astrid was supposed to be in his corner. So that only left him wondering one thing, why?

Astrid stood quickly after him and grabbed his flailing hands bring him and his thoughts to an immediate stop. Hiccup stared right into her beautiful blue eyes which now shown brightly with concern and he could feel his racing heart slow gradually. He was finally able to calm down enough to ask her again; "why Astrid…why didn't you tell me?"

Astrid reached up with one hand to cup the side of his face while the other slowly intertwined with one that he was holding. Her thumb ran across his cheek bringing his frazzled nerves completely down enough to listen to her. Also it made him more likely to agree with anything she said, that tended to happen when she touched him in anyway. He instantly became hers.

"I didn't tell you, babe, because I thought you would figure it out on your own. I know you're trying to rebuild the relationships between you and your friends so I thought saying anything about it right now would ruin that. Obviously, I had no idea that you find out the way you did." She leaned in a gently brushed her lips against his and pulled away, "I'm sorry babe."

Never having it in him to stay angry at her leaned back in quickly and sealed her lips to his again. This time not so gently or quick. Finally pulling away he rested his forehead against her own, "thanks Ast. I'm not really mad at you, more at myself for not realizing it."

A grin spread across Astrid's face, "babe, I hate to say this but a blind man could see she still had feelings for you." She pushed away from him a bit to grin up at his face.

"Gee thanks." He said sardonically with a slight glare.

"Anyways babe don't worry about it too much, let her sort out her feelings herself and if you ever feel the need, address it. Now about this "mountain of muscle" that is her ex, it sounds like he doesn't have a problem with you, so I'm sure you're fine." He winced at her last statement.

"You don't understand Ast if this guy slapped me he would knock me out let alone if he wanted to punch me for real."

Astrid threw back her head with laughter and tangled her fingers into his hair, "I'm sure you could take him babe."

"O-ok I know you're by default on my side because you're legally bound to me and all buuuttt that's a bit much, Astrid. This guy would flatten me." Images of how many ways Eret could leave his body in traction started flooding Hiccup's brain. None of which he wanted to experience.

A gentle tug on his hair brought him out of his pain filled thoughts and back to the smirking eyes of his wife.

"Oh yeah, one word babe…Chad." Her eyes crinkled even more.

'…Chad…?'

He racked his brain trying to remember, Chad, and why his wife seemed to think whoever that was meant he could take on the deadly weapons that were Eret's arms.

"Chad…Chad…Chhaaaaddddd…Cha-." He abruptly stopped when the smug face of a college track runner flashed into his mind. His eyebrows immediately raised with the revaluation of the man from his past.

"OH Chad!" He laughed, "definitely forgot his name, you're right though maybe I could take him. Hey you know what I didn't forget, that night, I could never forget it. Probably one of the best of my life." He grinned down at Astrid thoughts of the night that changed…everything flooding his mind.

*Flashback to a few months after Hiccup meets Astrid*

The music blasted inside of the Frat house which is why Hiccup found himself, Astrid and several of her friends standing in the backyard together talking.

"I can't believe she roped you into skydiving tomorrow Hiccup!" A small redhead named Jen said.

"There was no "roping"" Astrid made quotations with her fingers. "Hiccup is clearly just a better friend than all of you." She mock glared at the three other women and pointed her finger.

"Uh huh" Jen sent a side glance at him saying she knew exactly why Hiccup had agreed to go with Astrid and it wasn't because he was just a good friend.

The past few months since meeting Astrid had probably been some of the best in his life. The two of them spent all their time together; from cheering her on at her track meets, to late nights hanging in her dorm bingeing their favorite shows, or even her dragging him to hole in the wall restaurants that served some of the best food he's ever had. His life that had seemed so bleak just a few months ago now…now was filled with purpose and excitement. He was truly living. All because of her.

He instantly knew when meeting Astrid that he was attracted to her, who wouldn't be, she was gorgeous. It was only when they starting spending so much time together, that he discovered what an amazing person she was, and subsequently started to fall for her…hard.

It surprised him at first how he felt for her, not because he never thought he would fall in love again, but because of how in love he was with her. This feeling, this love, was nothing like he had ever felt before. Sure he had all the normal signs of being a lovesick puppy; butterflies in the stomach, strong attraction, longing to be with her all the time. He had experienced all that with Heather so he he knew what love was or at least he thought he had.

He found what he felt for Astrid were all of those feeling plus so much more. Nothing that he had ever experienced before.

Just being with her brought out a person in him he didn't know even existed, someone that years of belittling comments and ridiculous expectations had almost crushed. Someone strong and confident, someone he was proud of.

He came to the realization recently that once he found the right person he easily moved on from Heather, but no matter how amazing the woman he would never be able to move on from Astrid. She had ruined him for other women, beautifully and irrevocably ruined him.

'And I couldn't love her anymore for it.'

Of course even with his new found confidence he was still Hiccup, so he couldn't confess any of this to her so there he stayed as the best friend. Until he died of old age or he somehow tricked her into even feeling one tenth of what he does.

So while he had said nothing to Astrid he had spoken a little bit to her friend Jen about his feelings, the same Jen who was currently giving him "the look" because she knew exactly why he had agreed to jump out of a Goddamn airplane tomorrow. To put it bluntly he was most definitely roped in by Astrid's pleading blue eyes, his unrequited love for her made him putty in her delicate hands and Jen knew that.

Jen's voice broke him of his thoughts and brought him back to the topic at hand; his impending death tomorrow.

"yeah well we will cheer on the two of you from the ground, while you two act like idiots. You know even if we aren't up there with you Astrid we're still there to support you." Jen's tone had gotten gentle towards the end, showing how much she did care for her friend.

Astrid wrung her hands in front of herself nervously. "T-thanks guys that means a lot to me. I-I know it seems crazy what I do every year on the day they died but I don't know…it-it just means a lot that you're there."

Without thinking Hiccup draped his arm around her shoulders pulling Astrid to his side to comfort her. "W-we're here for you."

'I'll always be here for you.' He thought.

To most people what they were doing tomorrow would sound crazy; honoring your deceased parents by doing something dangerous doesn't exactly sound sane. But when Astrid had explained to him the reasons behind it Hiccup couldn't help but be more drawn into the women than before.

Every year since their deaths Astrid would do one thing on the anniversary that she had never done before. She told him when she was younger and didn't have the means to do much so she would go volunteer somewhere locally or try cooking something new. One year she had convinced another girl at the orphanage to let Astrid cut her hair, apparently it didn't go well. The most important thing was it just had to be something she had never done before. Something she would have never been able to do if her parents hadn't sacrificed themselves for her. It was her way of honoring them and unfortunately this year, she chose skydiving and convinced him to go with her.

Looking down at the women pressed to his side he knew no matter what insane thing she came up with next year and the years to follow he would do it. As long as she would have him; he would be there for her.

'Damn, I'm whipped and she's not even mine.'

Astrid had just looked up at him to give him one of her stunning smiles when a smug male voice cut through the sentimental moment.

"Astrid why are you letting that freak touch you?"

Standing right behind the pair stood one of the star runners for the colleges male track team, Chad. He stood 6 feet tall, with short brown hair and bright blue eyes and while not overly muscled he was definitely better off than Hiccup. It was well known that Chad a huge thing for Astrid, in his mind they were probably the perfect power couple, but she never gave him the time of day.

"Seriously, hanging out with the one legged "mascot"? You can do a lot better, Astrid, like me." Plastering a disgusting smile on his face which was obviously his attempt at looking suave but the amount of alcohol he had consumed made that impossible.

Not wanting Astrid to deal with the jerk Hiccup responded for her. "G-Go away Chad, we're fine here without you."

Only an inch or so shorter Chad whipped his angry eyes up to Hiccup's own. "Stay out of this gimpy, don't even pretend that you are in ANYWAY good enough for her!"

'Ouch but he's right…'

Before Hiccup could respond the furious blonde at his side lunged out shoving Chad in the chest and knocking him back a few feet.

"ENOUGH! How dare you say those things to him? Making fun of his leg? What the fuck is wrong with you Chad?!" Astrid balled her fist at her sides clearly holding back the urge to punch him square in the nose. "You know NOTHING about him and how amazing of a man he is. Ten times the man you could ever even hope to be! Yes he may have only one actual leg, which doesn't slow him down at all by the way, but he's absolutely brilliant. He plans on spending his life helping people making their lives better and what do you plan to do, huh Chad? Whatever it will be I'm sure you will only be there to help yourself not giving a damn about anyone else!" At this point Astrid was poking a finger into his chest to emphasize each word while everyone in the back yard watch on in fascination.

"And you think you can get with me, HA! It's no wonder I'm in love with him. Every guy pales in comparison to Hiccup!"

'…wait what?...LOVES?!'

Hiccup was sure he couldn't have heard her right, she loved him? No, in no universe did the perfect, amazing and beautiful Astrid Hofferson loves him! It's just not possible…but that's what he heard. He couldn't let Astrid verbally assault Chad anymore he had to know if what she said was true. Nothing else mattered at the moment.

"Astrid."

"And let me tell you another thing Chad-."

"Astrid."

"I bet if Hiccup-."

"ASTRID."

Astrid whipped around to turned her furious glare on Hiccup. "WHAT?!...Oh…sorry Hiccup. I um was sort of worked up...I'm sorry he said those things to you. He-he had no right and oohhh it made me so mad! I just wanted-."

His quiet voice broke through her angry ramblings, "d-did you mean it?"

Astrid stopped talking immediately and looked up him a questioning look on her face. She clearly didn't know what part of her verbal tirade he was referring to.

Taking a deep breath and wetting his impossibly dry lips and mouth, Hiccup continued. "Did you mean it when y-you said you were in-in love with me?"

A sharp gasp and wide blue eyes were the only response he received.

'Obviously she didn't know she said that.'

"I uh-uh, Hiccup, I-I didn't realize I said, um said that out loud." She took a beep breath before continuing and looked at the ground, "th-the thing is Hiccup, I uh…yes-yes I meant it. I know you're not ready for anything like that Hiccup, I-I mean between you're family, friends and ex, y-you have more important things to think about than-."

Hiccup had stopped listening after she said she meant to say she loved him. His brain gone on complete auto pilot as his heart thudded dangerously in his chest. He was sure at any moment he was going to go into cardiac arrest with how fast it was beating, it couldn't have been healthy. He had to speak, he had to tell her how he felt; what came out surprised both of them.

"Astrid, shut up."

Her blonde head whipped up to meet his eyes, shocked blue stared into his resolute green and before either could anticipate another move he leaned down capturing her lips with his own.

A fire ran through him that he had never felt before; none of the times he had ever kissed Heather could even compare to this moment. The feel of her soft lips moving against his own, the way she fit perfectly in his arms...all of it, everything. Quickly he gathered her closer to himself, he was never going to be able to get her close enough. It was impossible.

After to short of a time he pulled back only far enough to rest his forehead against her own. Panting he was barely able to get out his own confession, "I love you too, Astrid. More than I ever thought was possible."

Seeing Astrid's beautiful blue eyes, reflect the same awe and love as his own made him unable to contain his joy any longer so he swept her off her feet and swung her around both laughing in happiness. This had to be the best moment of his life thus far and if this was any indication of the future, he couldn't wait. The moment of course couldn't stay perfect for long because right then Chad's voice pierced through his happy bubble.

"You have GOT to be kidding me! She can't honestly be attracted to this one legged bean pole?!"

Having had enough Hiccup put Astrid down and spun around to face the obnoxious jock and tell him off once and for all.

"Chad, Astrid clearly doesn't like you and I'm right in agreement with her so why don't you go get another beer and get lost."

Chad's response was a firm shove to Hiccup's shoulder clearly not taking "no" and "get lost" for an answer.

"If you think I'm going to listen to a cripple-."

CRACK

A strong left hook to Chad's jaw sent him spiraling to the ground dazed and very confused looking up at a pissed off Hiccup.

"Stop calling me names asshole."

Hiccup didn't have time to brace himself when he turned around before a blur of blonde launched into his arms knocking him to the ground and began peppering his face with kisses.

"That *kiss* was *kiss* amazing *kiss* babe!" Astrid wasn't the only excited one every person in the back yard began to cheer. They were cheering for the new couple, for the surprisingly solid punch, for someone finally standing up to Chad; all of it. Getting swept up in the happiness Hiccup hugged Astrid close to him both laughing at all that had happened. How their lives had changed in a matter of minutes.

Finally calming down Astrid stood up and offered a hand to her now boyfriend pulling him to his feet.

"So babe it looks like you're going to have no choice but to join me on my yearly adventures of trying something new. Do you think you're up for it?"

Not even needing to take a moment to think he answered her, "without a doubt, milady."

The next day he and Astrid jumped out of an airplane. It's was one of the most amazing experiences he had ever had and when it was over he held Astrid as she laughed and cried simultaneously against his chest. He knew then that no matter whether she chose another death defying activity or just a spa day, he would see her through it. Just so at the end it was his arms she would cry and laugh into, the man who loved her more than anything in the world.

So how did you like that flashback? First kiss, first I love you, first punch! Lots happening. This chapter was super sappy but I kind of love that, the Hiccup and Astrid love story has unfolded a bit more. By the end of this story you will see how they come to be truly un-shakable in their devotion for one another because of all they have and will go through together. :D

And as always thank you, thank you, thank you for the reviews! They make my day reading them.