Chapter 11: In which an opportunity is interrupted

When Hiccup envisioned dating Astrid Hofferson, he never imagined having a relationship with her would be this confusing. One day she's keeping her allotted distance; another day she's so close she's pushing him off the bed. There are times she's allowing physical affection, but Hiccup isn't sure if he has permission to be close to her when she hasn't initiated it.

Receiving mixed signals was an understate!

The night she'd laid his hand on her waist was one of the most exhilarating moments of their marriage thus far. The kiss they'd shared earlier that day thrilled him, but he blinked and it was over. Holding her left lasting tingles on his fingertips. After Astrid's breathing had evened out, Hiccup had scooted closer to her, within the vicinity of her warmth.

All his fantasies couldn't compare to the real thing. If only there could be more moments like that without questioning if they were welcomed.

Hiccup strolled into the great room of their hut carrying a basket filled to the brim with miscellaneous objects. He'd been meaning to stop by his old home to pick up the rest of his belongings, but it was a task he kept putting off. He was surprised (and delighted) to find Astrid home already.

"Hey, what're you cooking over there?" he asked, eyeing the fire in the pit and a cooking pot hanging over it.

"Trying out a broth recipe my mother gave me." A trace of eagerness was in Astrid's voice as she stirred the contents of the pot.

Hiccup placed the basket on the table and walked over to her. He gestured for the spoon she held. Scooping up a spoonful of the broth, he blew on it then took a sip. An encouraging smile alighted on his face.

"That's pretty good. You're getting better at flavoring."

Astrid caught her bottom lip up with the top row of her teeth as she beamed at him. Hiccup's heart pattered at the sight.

Astrid's gaze fell on the basket he'd toted in. "What's this stuff?"

"Just some leftover belongings of mine from dad's house." It was strange to note that his father's house wasn't his own anymore. Another change Hiccup was getting used to.

Astrid peeked curiously over the brim of the basket. She reached in, plucking out a stuffed Deadly Nadder. "You had a dragon toy?"

Hiccup shrugged. "My mom made it for me when I was a baby. Before she…y'know."

Astrid nodded absently, acknowledging she knew exactly what happened to his mother. She set the stuffed dragon down on the table and resumed her plundering. An old sketchbook was pulled out next that she began thumbing through. She paused on one page, carefully examining it. She side-longed an amused smirk his way.

"Is this me?"

Hiccup's face froze in a petrified state. He glanced at the page she turned it to him. Sure enough, it was exactly the sketch he suddenly recalled drawing a few years back. He was around 11 years old when his crush on Astrid had began to bloom. He'd drawn some pretty terrible doodles of her back then, his skills still rough and untuned.

The poorly drawn version of his wife was more like a fatten stick figure holding an axe with a stiff, disproportional arm sticking out way too far from her body.

"Yes," he answered weakly with a grimace. Hiccup was tempted to rip it from the sketchbook, but instead he mumbled under his breath, "This'll go down as legendary embarrassing."

He reached out to confiscate the sketchbook before Astrid could view any more modifying drawings, but she pivoted away from him, holding the sketchbook close to her body. Astrid looked far too amused by this.

It wasn't just the crude sketch of her, but the known knowledge that he had been observing her for this long, a crush that had obviously stood the test of time. He was surprised she hadn't accused him of coaxing his father into setting up their marriage. But there had never been any hint of accusation.

Astrid squinted her eyes at him. "Are there anymore of me in here?"

Hiccup racked his brain. It'd been a couple years since he'd flipped through this particular sketchbook and he couldn't remember exactly what was in. "Maybe?"

Astrid threw him a little smirk before taking the sketchbook with her to the firepit to thumb through as she watched over supper. Turning his attention to the basket of his old things, Hiccup sighed figuring there were worse things out there than a few embarrassing old sketches.


Milady.

The name he affectionately calls her within the borders of his mind. Hiccup isn't sure where the endearment came from, but as he watched Astrid approach him on their wedding day, that was the name that fell into his heart.

He doesn't plan on ever voicing the name to her. They're not at that point in their relationship – and may never be – for terms of endearment that a loving couple would exchange. Besides, Astrid doesn't seem like the type that would enjoy a romantic pet name.

Hiccup keeps it to himself. Until tonight he lets it slip off his tongue…

They'd been all smiles and soft laughter during supper as they shared their day with each other. Hiccup helped Astrid add some vegetables to the broth she'd been cooking, and it'd turned out to be a successful first try for her.

They liberated a couple rolls from the pantry, sopping up the broth at the bottom of their bowls. A drip escaped the corner of Astrid's mouth, sliding down a fraction before her tongue darted out to retrieve it – Hiccup witnessing the entire scene.

Hiccup felt like he was flying during these moments where they connected as if they were made for one another. Astrid was beautiful to him all the time, but it was in these rare moments that she glowed with unabashed freedom from the rough Viking exterior. She tucked her long bangs behind her ear giving Hiccup a clear view of both her stunning blue eyes without the curtain of hair hiding one.

A short while later, she handed him a mug and without thinking, he let slip, "Thank you, milady."

Both their hands froze on the mug in mid-exchange. Hiccup's eyes were wide as he watched her. Astrid showed a hint of surprise and there was contemplation behind her gaze. Hiccup let out a small, breathy laugh as her hand fell, as well as his gaze, and he took hold of the mug.

"I'm so-"

"I like it."

His eyes snapped up. Astrid was not a shy person, but standing there before him, a small amount of shyness came over her. She nibbled her bottom lip as she kept her eyes locked on the bench beside him where she usually sat.

They sat quietly for a while, their sips and the fire crackling the only sounds in the room. Hiccup snuck a glance at Astrid's hands wrapped around the mug. Her thumb rubbed the rough texture. A spark had fire up in the pit of his stomach - or maybe that was the warm drink. Either way, the urge to kiss his wife had completely overwhelmed him.

He took a good, hard swig of warm drink then placed his mug aside, wiping the wet remnants with his sleeve from his lips. Astrid absently gazed into the fire the contents of her mug nearly gone. Hiccup swallowed, his tingling nerves making this all the more challenging to initiate. He'd be taking a major risk, one that may shatter the trust that had been established after all the weeks since their wedding day.

Astrid, I want to be with you in more than name or friendship, Hiccup recited in his head. I want to live up to the promise I gave you on our wedding day to honor and cherish you. I'll do my best to never hurt you or take you for granted.

Hiccup felt as if his insides were trembling to pieces as he moved to take his wife's hand in his. This was it. The confession he'd wished to tell her from the beginning-

The deep blow of the great horn reverberated the walls. Astrid's back snapped straight. Her eyes widened as she whirled to face Hiccup. "Dragon raid."

Astrid wasted no time jumping to her feet, rushing to the door and grabbing her axe from the hook. She glanced upwards as the great horn bellowed once more. "I need to get out there."

Hiccup joined her at the door, his crushed feelings lingering in his chest. No telling when he'd gain the courage to try to kiss her again. There'd be time to mope later. "Gobber will need me at the forge." He caught Astrid's eye. "Be careful out there."

An electric shock rushed up his arm at the hand that unexpected squeezed his. "Be careful too."

With axe held ready for battle, Astrid disappeared into the shadows of the village.