"Here we are!" Astrid pointed to the large, stylish tower block. "We're on the fourth floor."

"Very nice!" Hiccup tried a compliment.

"Thank you!" Astrid smiled, and they began the short walk to the spinning glass doors.

~~~?~~~

"Oh, Astrid, you didn't tell me you were bringing company!" Beka exclaimed. "I would have cleaned! Well, looks like we'll have to make do. Sit down, dear!" She motioned Hiccup to a comfortable looking armchair. Right next to my one… Astrid thought, a little nervously. They took their respective seats, and Beka left to make dinner.

"Are you the one that was in the car crash?" Harold pottered in. Astrid could have sighed. Harold didn't know the meaning of the word 'tact'.

"Erm… Er…" Hiccup stuttered, taken aback. He began to subconsciously shuffle his prosthetic a little.

"Harold…" Astrid warned. "Not. Helping. Very. Much."

"It's okay… It's fine, Astrid…" Hiccup sounded dazed.

"Er, Hiccup? Are you okay?" Astrid found his unfocused eyes a little unnerving.

Hiccup didn't reply. He was unnervingly rigid.

"Oh for Thor's sake, Harold! You've made him have a flashback!" Astrid scolded, getting up quickly, and making her way over to Hiccup.

"It's okay, it's all in the past… It's all over now…" Astrid muttered the soothing nonsense that was usually used in these situations into Hiccup's ear.

After a few tense minutes, Hiccup seemed to calm down, his breathing became more even and his eyes focused.

"Are you okay?" Astrid asked.

"Yeah… I'm fine. I'm sorry…" Hiccup looked down, ashamed at his display of weakness. "I can go now if you want."

"No! You stay right here." Astrid put her hands on his wrists, pinning him down gently for emphasis. Hiccup flinched a little.

"Oh. Right. Sorry." Astrid withdrew her hands quickly. "But you are not. going. anywhere. You hear me?" She gave him a firm glare.

"Okay, you can't argue with an angry Astrid!" Hiccup laughed.

"Yeah, she gets pretty scary when she's mad." Astrid had forgotten about Harold.

"Harold, would you go and do something in your room? We would like a bit of privacy." Astrid pointed out the door. Harold thought for a moment.

"Okay." He pottered our the same way he came.

"Whew." Astrid sighed. "Don't mind him, he doesn't mean any harm."

Hiccup smiled.

"I think he's nice." He tried. Astrid smiled, perching herself on the arm of his chair, feeling something warm, glowing inside of her.

"Hey, Astrid, I really am sorry about what happened at-" Hiccup began to apologise again.

"Don't be." Astrid leaned forward, and…

They kissed.