Not What You Expected

Author: Nightstar Fury from Nightstar Productions.

Rated: M for Mature.

Disclaimer: I do not own HTTYD, Frozen, Tangled, or Brave.

12; Perfect Christmas.

Hiccup and Astrid stared at Stoick standing in the door way to the house, shocked to say the least. Hiccup stood up now, he was happy to see his father home but the timing of it is what got him the hardest. They'd never spent a Christmas apart since his mother died. Astrid smiled softly seeing Hiccup walk over to Stoick and stare at him, it made Astrid want to cry. Even though Stoick was gone most of the time, he and Hiccup had the perfect father/son relationship. They acted like it'd only been a day when it'd been months. Astrid's eyes filled with silent tears as she saw Hiccup and Stoick just wrap their arms in a tight hug. "I promised I'd be home in time for Christmas, Hiccup." Stoick told him gently. Hiccup only held the hug. Astrid heard sobbing, it wasn't her either. It was Hiccup and that broke her heart. He was tough, he was strong but here he was, crying in an embrace with his father.

After a few minutes, they pulled apart from the hug and Hiccup wiped his eyes. Before facing Astrid with the best smile he could muster as he walked over to her and hugged her tightly next. "Its okay. You don't have to be strong around me..." Astrid whispered to him. Hiccup nodded to her as he kissed her gently.

"Something tells me that you two aren't just friends anymore?" Stoick chuckled now. Hiccup and Astrid both blushed looking away bashfully. "Alright, come on. Tell me what happened this time." Stoick asked sitting down in the chair.

"Well uh...Astrid and I...got together, officially around 12am this morning..." Hiccup said nervously. He knew his father wouldn't be mad but it was still hard to tell your father that you had a girlfriend, and first one at that. Astrid was his first girlfriend, he'd never had one before so this was new for him and he was terrified to screw up and lose her. He was going to tell her about him being Strike and Fury after they graduated, right now there was just to much going on. Stoick clapped his hands.

"That's wonderful! Thank Thor! I was beginning to think I wouldn't have any grandchildren to spoil! Haha." Stoick laughed. Both Hiccup and Astrid went red in the face.

"DAD! Seriously...we just got together! Oh God, Astrid, I am so sorry..." Hiccup said to her quickly. Astrid only started to laugh out hard as well. She held her sides in pain from how much she was laughing.

"Oh my...Okay...I'm calm now...That was just...great. Hiccup, your dad just made that second best thing I've heard today!" Astrid said taking a few breaths. Hiccup arched a brow at her now, obviously confused. "The first was you telling me you loved me and asking if I'd be your girlfriend." Astrid told him calmly now.

"Oooh! Right...still. What the hell dad!" Hiccup yelled at him.

"Oh relax son. No rush on it. I'm just glad you have a girlfriend now. I was beginning to think you were gay honestly." Stoick said, Hiccup's mouth dropped open in shock as the color drained from his face. He couldn't even move now after hearing that. Astrid only laughed again, harder this time as she nearly fell off the couch if Hiccup hadn't noticed and caught her quickly.

"For the love of Thor dad, shut up! You're gonna kill her on me..." Hiccup said now as Astrid began to calm down again. "Breath, Astrid...Its essential to living..." Hiccup stated.

"Oh God. I'm sorry...I shouldn't of laughed but that was funny!" Astrid said happily as Hiccup fixed her on the couch. Hiccup rolled his eyes.

"Two against one is hardly fair guys..." Hiccup crossed his arms over his chest.

"Don't worry Stoick...He's not gay. I can tell..." Astrid said with a slight smirk, both Hiccup and Stoick looked at her now wondering what she was talking about. Astrid pulled Hiccup down beside her now, "Last night when we kissed, when you took the picture. Don't think I didn't feel it..." Astrid whispered to him. Hiccup's eyes widened with embarrassment now as Astrid winked at him as he covered his face. She was never going to let him live that down.

"If you two did anything, I don't want to hear about it! Just don't get her pregnant, Hiccup. I want grand kids but not this early...Maybe in a few years." Stoick chuckled now sitting back in his chair.

"Okay...now that this has gotten completely awkward...can we maybe get back to Christmas morning?...Where we're not talking about me and Astrid's non existent sex life...Because we're never had sex! Seriously, we only kissed like 5 times and went to bed..." Hiccup stated, he felt Astrid pull him down by his collar and kiss him deeply. He blushed deeply.

"I'm only teasing babe...Calm down, its Christmas...don't be a grinch." Astrid winked at him.

"Fine fine...God...I swear mom just rolled over in her grave, she'd have both our heads if she were hearing this right now..." Hiccup chuckled a bit now.

"Odin knows it! We'd both be standing in the corner for this. Sorry Val!" Stoick called out.

"The corner?" Astrid asked with a smile.

"Whenever Hiccup got in trouble, Valka would put him in the corner for however minutes to match his age...He hated it." Stoick chuckled.

"And if dad got in trouble, he'd be in the corner for his age!" Hiccup laughed as he finished his coffee then put the mug down and started grabbing presents from under the tree. Astrid smiled, she had given Heather and Ruffnut some of the left over money from the concert she had and sent them with a list of things to get for Hiccup for Christmas. Astrid had the maid sneak them in after they went to bed. Little did she know that Hiccup had done the same for her, sending Fishlegs and Tuffnut to shop for her. And both of them had gotten a few things for Stoick too.

"She sounded like a wonderful wife and mother. Beautiful too." Astrid said finishing her hot chocolate.

"Aye, Val was gorgeous. And she'd love you, Astrid. She'd be proud to see our son found such a lovely young woman such as yourself that makes him happy." Stoick nodded. Astrid smiled softly as Hiccup handed them each a present with the letter that started their name on it. A for Astrid, S for Stoick, and Hiccup's had an H.

"Thank you, Stoick. I'll do my best with him." Astrid said softly.

"Alright, everyone has a present so we can start." Hiccup said looking at them. Stoick nodded as they all began to unwrap their gifts slowly. Hiccup unwrapped a drawing pad, Stoick got a new shirt, and Astrid got a Night Fury key chain.

"Aw, its so cute! I love Toothless..." Astrid said happily cuddling the small key chain in her palm. Hiccup chuckled, he knew she'd like that one. She looked at Hiccup now. "I wonder who knew that fact about me." She giggled.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Astrid." Hiccup said nonchalantly. "I wonder who knew I like to draw and my current sketch pad is filled up." Hiccup added. Astrid looked away whistling. Stoick watched the two together. An hour passed before they were done, except Astrid who still had two to go. Stoick got some old Viking things that Hiccup and Astrid apparently went to the same shop for, he loved them all the same. Hiccup got drawing things, a Fire Storm poster, and his favorite snack from Astrid and a new laptop from his father. Astrid so far had gotten some clothes, new pair of boots she'd been wanting for a while, some Fire Storm things, and a Toothless and Fury plushie. Seeing she finished he got up and kissed her gently. "Merry Christmas, Astrid."

"Merry Christmas, Hiccup. And you too, Stoick!" Astrid smiled gently. After they cleaned up the living room, Stoick left them to be by themselves. Hiccup was sitting on the couch with her for a few hours, it was only 10:30. "Hey! Can we invite our friends over? You know for Christmas dinner too?" Astrid suddenly asked him smiling.

"Sure if you want too. Let me grab my phone from the room real quick." Hiccup said as he got up and walked in to his room, he picked up his phone. Just as he was about to turn on the screen he heard a loud knock on the door. "Huh?" Hiccup said as he walked over to the door and opened it seeing Fishlegs, Tuffnut, Ruffnut, Heather, Snotlout, and Dagur there. "Umm, morning and Merry Christmas?" Hiccup stated a little shocked.

"Who is it babe?" Astrid called.

"Our friends." Hiccup stated, Astrid turned around and saw them there.

"Oh my God! It is true, you two are a thing!" Heather and Ruffnut exclaimed rushing inside and nearly knocking over Hiccup. Snotlout helped him up with a smile.

"You came all the way here just to confirm that?" Astrid asked them now.

"Come on in, it's cold outside guys." Hiccup said as Snotlout, Dagur, Fishlegs, and Tuffnut walked in and he shut the door.

"Yes, we thought your two were just joking around last night on Facespace!" Fishlegs stated now. Hiccup rolled his eyes.

"We wouldn't it put it up there just to joke." Astrid stated as Hiccup sat beside her now.

"We didn't even know until Eret called Snotlout at like 6 this morning and then he called all of us." Tuffnut explained.

"And he made you come here to check?" Hiccup asked looking at Snotlout now.

"No way. I told him to screw off and get over it." Snotlout chuckled now.

"Good, did he listen?" Astrid asked.

"Of course not, he called me and told me to find out if it was true or not." Dagur sighed. "Don't worry, I told him to get over himself because he lost Astrid forever, and to leave you two alone because you're happy."

"Thank Thor..." Astrid sighed out as she leaned on Hiccup's shoulder.

"Tired already?" Hiccup chuckled.

"Don't tease me babe..." Astrid mumbled.

"Okay, but only because it's Christmas..." He smiled kissing her forehead as she smiled happily.

"Awe! You two are so cute. I knew you two would end up together!" Heather smiled wide now.

"You did not. According to you all, no one even believed this until you got here." Hiccup said to her.

"I called it the night at the hospital! You fucked Eret right up when he got in your way of rushing Astrid inside." Ruffnut grinned. Astrid looked up at him now, this was the first time she was hearing of this incident.

"Wait, hold up...What happened?" Astrid asked him.

"You didn't tell her yet!" Heather said quickly.

"Um, no? It wasn't exactly on the top of my priority list when she woke up..." Hiccup remarked.

"Well...can you tell me now?" Astrid smiled at him.

"Sure. After the ambulance arrived and said they couldn't take you, I offered to drive you myself. They tried to stop me but I threatened them with my lawyer and after that, there weren't any arguments. As we were driving, I was trying to keep you awake so you wouldn't knock out. We were talking about the kiss we had the night after the concert. You passed out, when we got to the hospital I carried you in my arms to the door, Eret cut me off asking what I did to you. I shoved him out of my way and told him to get lost or I'd injure him and land himself in the hospital. After that when the doctors took you in, he started again and Sharpshot ended up coming with me when I went to find out. Sharpshot attacked him for me. That's really about it..." Hiccup explained.

"Yes and after that, he called his dad to let him know where he was...I had asked him if he cared about you. He said you were one of his best friends, of course he cared." Heather started.

"But I jumped in and told him that no one this worried cares as just a friend..." Ruffnut cheered.

"And now you two are a couple! So how did it go?!" Fishlegs asked now with a wide smile.

"Should we tell them?" Astrid asked looking up at her boyfriend now, she'd never get tired of seeing him as such.

"Up to you babe. I'm gonna make us breakfast." Hiccup said as he kissed her cheek and moved to the kitchen area. Snotlout got up and walked over to him.

"I'll give ya a hand." He offered.

"Thanks, Snotlout. Grab the eggs, butter, and milk from the fridge?" Hiccup asked him, he nodded and started getting what he was asked to get. Astrid was telling the story of how they admitted their feelings and hooked up exactly as the clock struck 12am that morning. Hiccup and Snotlout finished cooking 20 minutes later and brought Astrid and himself a plate over. "Here you are mi'lady." He smiled to her.

"Mm, looks great." Astrid smiled.

"The rest of you can grab what you want. I only serve her." Hiccup grinned slightly. They got up and started getting their own food while Hiccup and Astrid ate. When done, he took his and her plate to the sink to wash them. He looked at Dagur and Snotlout holding out his hand to them, they looked confused. "For you telling Eret off and coming to tell me about it. I'm going to consider you both my friends. Its hard to come by and if you lose it, you lose forever." Hiccup told them with a smile. Dagur and Snotlout shook his hand and soon they all sat around the living room listening to music and watching TV, talking about whatever they felt like talking about. Hours passed before it was nearing 4:00 in the afternoon. Hiccup had been working on the dinner all day with help from everyone. They were eating over with Hiccup and Astrid, Stoick had come over to join them. Everyone was having a good time until a sad song came on.

"Oh no..." Stoick sighed sadly. The room seemed to fall silent as they looked at Stoick, who motioned to Hiccup who had almost froze in the kitchen hearing it, he put his hands on the counter and put his head down with his eyes closed. "Hiccup?..." Stoick said softly.

"Damn it..." Hiccup whispered closing his eyes. Stoick and the others looked over now, Astrid was about to ask if he was okay when she heard him singing. Stoick sighed, he recognized it already. He looked to the teens and shook his head meaning for them not to say anything so they just watched.

"It was almost Christmas time. There I stood in another line. Tryin' to buy that last gift or two...Not really in the Christmas mood. Standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously...Pacing 'round like little boys do. And in his hands he held a pair of shoes..." Hiccup sang softly. No one understand what was going on, except Stoick.

"And his clothes were worn and old. He was dirty from head to toe...And when it came his time to pay, I couldn't believe what I heard him say..." The next part took everyone by surprise.

"Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my mama, please? It's Christmas eve and these shoes are just her size...Could you hurry, sir. Daddy says there's not much time. You see she's been sick for quite a while, and I know these shoes would make her smile. And I want her to look beautiful, if mama meets Odin tonight..." Hiccup sang. Astrid already felt tears pricking her eyes as she looked up at Stoick who only closed his eyes nodding.

"He counted pennies for what seemed like years. Then the cashier said, "Son, there's not enough here. He searched his pockets frantically. Then he turned and he looked at me...He said, 'Mama made Christmas good at our house. Though most years she just did without...Tell me sir, what am I going to do? Somehow I've got to buy her these Christmas shoes'." Hiccup paused gripping the counter more tightly as if to keep himself from falling.

"So I laid the money down, I just had to help him out. And I'll never forget the look on his face when he said...'Mama's gonna look so great'." Hiccup continued as he looked up and out the window now.

"Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my mama, please? It's Christmas eve and these shoes are just her size. Could you hurry, sir. Daddy says there's not much time. You see she's been sick for quite a while, and I know these shoes would make her smile. And I want her to look beautiful, if mama meets Odin tonight." Hiccup pulled himself off the counter with his eyes closed, he walked in to the living room and walked past them, there were tears on his cheeks. No one said anything, who could?

"I knew I'd caught a glimpse of heaven's love, as he thanked me and ran out. I knew that Odin had sent that little boy, to remind me what Christmas is all about!..." Hiccup walked outside standing on the porch with his hands in his pockets.

"Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my mama, please? It's Christmas eve and these shoes are just her size. Could you hurry, sir. Daddy says there's not much time. You see she's been sick for quite a while, and I know these shoes would make her smile...And I want her to look beautiful, if mama meets Odin tonight..." He'd sung it in a child's like voice. Stoick put a hand over his eyes, he was trying not to cry as well. Fishlegs and Tuffnut looked at one another and frowned sighing as well. Hiccup lowered his head now.

"I want her to look beautiful...If mama meets Odin...tonight..." He finished looking up at the sky. It was silent now, no one said anything. After maybe 10 minutes, Stoick walked over to him slowly and put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm fine dad." Hiccup said before Stoick opened his mouth. "I'm just going to take a walk...I'll be back by dinner." Hiccup added as he walked off. Stoick shut the door understanding as he faced the teens who were either crying or wanted to know what just happened.

"S–Stoick?...D–did you lose...her on Christmas?" Astrid asked through her tears. Stoick only managed to nod to her, she closed her eyes tightly now.

"Is Hiccup okay?" Heather asked now sitting beside Astrid.

"He will be. Just give him a little time. That song comes on every year, we never know when and it Hiccup's hard." Stoick said sitting down.

"He sang it so well..." Astrid sobbed a bit.

"As he should. He wrote it after what Val died." Stoick stated, they looked at him in shock.

"Hiccup...wrote that!?" Snotlout asked now. Stoick nodded.

"He was 8, the first year we had Christmas without her. I walked by Hiccup's room and heard him talking. I peeked through the door and saw him with a video camera, he was standing before it talking about what happened. You see kids, Val was dying from cancer. There was nothing that could be done to remove it since it attacked her vital organs, slowly moving to her heart. She was diagnosed when Hiccup was only 4. I wasn't wrestling at the time so money was tight for us. The year Val died, Hiccup was 7 it was Christmas Eve and he'd gone in to town. He knew she wouldn't be with us much longer, he found her a pair of red shoes and wanted to give them to his mother for Christmas but he didn't have enough money. He turned to the man behind him, begging for his help. Explaining that his mother was going to die soon and he wanted to give her this one gift. The man paid for them and Hiccup ran home, he gave them to Val and she'd never looked happier. She asked him to put them on her, and he did. That night, Hiccup and I were sitting with her, Hiccup laying with her. She was sleeping, or so we thought. Hiccup sat up and said he couldn't hear her heart beating anymore. He begged her to wake up but it was to late. He wrote that song and sent it in to a record company. I didn't know about it until someone showed up at my door wanting to ask Hiccup if they could use his song with a professional singer. The person who you hear singing is the man who paid for the shoes for him. Hiccup agreed of course, it made him happy that someone liked his song. The child's voice in the song towards the end is Hiccup's when he was younger. The shoes still sit by Valka's headstone in a plastic case. Hiccup insisted she always have them with her. Every year it plays, every year he sings, cries and goes for a walk." Stoick explained.

"Oh my...god...That's...so sad..." Ruffnut cried now.

"And then I come back with a smile and enjoy Christmas with my father and friends because I know my mother wouldn't want me to be upset on Christmas." Hiccup stated standing in the room now. Everyone looked at him now, Hiccup walked over to Astrid and took her hand in his as he gave her a small smile. "Please don't cry. I told you that no woman should ever cry. You're way too beautiful for tears." Hiccup said as he kissed her softly.

"But Hiccup..." Astrid protested.

"No buts. It's Christmas and I intend to enjoy mine with my dad, my friends, and my girlfriend. So come on, to the table. I'll see no more sad eyes tonight, that's an order." Hiccup said as he picked Astrid up in his arms and led her to the table.

"Right you are son!" Stoick agreed now standing up and urging everyone to just do it so Hiccup wouldn't stay upset. Everyone soon followed suit and entered the room and Hiccup spread the food out. They all gasped at it. "It looks very good son and I think that since this is your place and you cooked, you should say thanks." Stoick added.

"Sure..." Hiccup said as everyone put their hands together with the person beside them forming a small circle, their heads were down. "We thank thee Odin for the food we are bout to receive. May you continue to bless us with long lives, family, and good friends. In thy name, we ask it. Amen." Hiccup said.

"Amen." They all said together. Hiccup started carving the ham and handing out pieces, then people got their sides and sat down to enjoy the meal. After an hour they were all full and sitting about the living room again relaxing. Hiccup was by the tree with Astrid, they were talking about presents they had gotten and that's when Hiccup remembered something. He reached for two more hidden behind the tree and handed them to Astrid who looked at him a little surprised.

"Wait...where did these come from? We opened everything this morning." Astrid looked at Hiccup and Stoick now who shook his head and his eyes fell on Hiccup now who shrugged. Astrid looked at their friends who all shook their heads. Astrid's eyes moved back to Hiccup now who smiled.

"Well, don't keep us waiting. Open them!" Heather smiled to her. Astrid took the small square wrapped one and began to tear off the paper, it was just a square box. She pulled the top off to see a car key inside, her eyes widened as she looked to Hiccup now. She knew that key, it was to his car. The car he'd picked her up in, the one he rushed to save her with. Astrid only saw Hiccup smiling calmly at her.

"W–what's this?..." Astrid asked him now.

"A car key mi'lady. And I believe you know to which car." Hiccup replied.

"B–but that's your car!" Astrid exclaimed now.

"Not anymore. You love to drive it so much so I figured I'd give it to you." Hiccup shrugged. "Paperwork is all set, car is in your name. No give-backs!" Hiccup stated quickly before she could say anything else.

"What are you gonna drive?!" Astrid asked.

"The truck?" Hiccup said softly.

"You're a...Ugh!" Astrid huffed at him with a pout all though she was really trying to hide the sheer excitement.

"I know, I know...I'm the best. Now will you just open the other one?" Hiccup smiled at her. Astrid eyed him carefully as she started to open a small rectangular like box, she flipped the cover off and her eyes widened at him. Astrid held it up now, a new cell phone with a custom case of her with Strike on stage, then another picture of her with Fury and Toothless. There was a text message on the screen from Hiccup's number. It had just come through 5 minutes ago. She opened it slowly and read it over, ::Your phone got destroyed in the accident. It was cracked and broken. But I salvaged your contacts, pictures, and music on here for you. Thought you might want a new one with a custom case I designed to show your favorite moments since we started hanging out. Yes, I actually made it myself. Every time you call me, my heart pounds in my chest, and I can't stop smiling all day. You saying yes to being my girlfriend made this the best Christmas I've ever had, and ever will for the rest of my days which I hope you will always be a part of. And Astrid, you will never know how much I truly love you and have since I met you. I swear I always will no matter what. Merry Christmas baby girl. -Hiccup.:: There were tears in her eyes now as she put the phone down on the table as she launched herself in to his arms which made Hiccup chuckle and she kissed him deeply, she didn't care who was watching them.

After a minute, Astrid pulled away from him and blushed deeply wiping her eyes now. "I thought you said you a man should never cause a woman's tears you jerk!" She scolded him.

"No I said no man should ever make a woman cry any tears but ones of joy and happiness. I'd say I did my job right with that smile on your face." Hiccup grinned kissing her again.

"Okay! I think it's time we called it a night." Stoick said as the friends got up and started giving hugs before waving a goodbye. "I'll just lock this. Have a good night. Remember what I said!" Stoick called as he left the house now. It was just the two of them, in one another's arms.

"So did Santa bring you everything you wanted?" Hiccup asked her softly. Astrid smiled again.

"Everything else was a bonus but you're all that matters." Astrid replied. "What about you?" She asked.

"Everything I could ever want is right here in my arms. Merry Christmas, Astrid. I love you." Hiccup said with a loving smile.

"I love you too." Astrid said as they locked their lips in another passionate kiss. It truly was the perfect ending to a perfect day.