The response to the last chapters end made me think of the Friends finale, the whole GO AFTER HER yelling...
Except Hiccup is a much better man than Ross, of course. Anywho, onwards!
-HTTYD-
Astrid realised she'd been excessively snappy and dramatic with Hiccup, but she was already tired and felt stretched thin, and then to have what she realised was a real disappointment - she honestly thought something had been developing between her and Hiccup?
But no, he was talking to her about how he and Mala were getting close again and that left Astrid... stung. Of course, she understood - if they could make it work? That was best for Maddie, and Astrid would never argue about putting ones child first. Though after all the talks of how Mala didn't want to be a mother, she was surprised... but it wasn't her business. And with Hiccup off the market again? It never would be.
Astrid scolded herself on her way, for being so ridiculous and for being such a drama queen in public. Nothing had happened, Hiccup owed her nothing, and she would just-
"Astrid! Wait! Gods you're fast!"
She turned, confused, finding Hiccup jogging after her and, by the flush on his face it wasn't for exercise he was moving at more than a walk. Astrid stopped, waited for him to catch up, then for him to catch his breath as he pressed a hand to his side and rubbed his ribs.
"Did that really give you a stitch?"
"Hey, I didn't warm up!"
"So what did you chase me down for? Other than to give yourself a heart attack?"
Hiccup straightened up again, breathing a little less terrifying now.
"Mala and I aren't getting back together. She's not even moving in with us."
Well, now Astrid felt exceptionally daft for overreacting. Not that she'd let on to Hiccup about that.
"Oh. Well, I'm sorry for snapping but I really do have stuff to do. I shouldn't just have walked out though, I don't know what came over me."
Hiccup nodded, a gentle smile on his face already.
"It's fine, we all have bad days and I should have checked how you were feeling before I dumped on you. No worries. See you later?"
Astrid nodded, feeling a smile cross her own face now.
"Sure. Later."
They shared a laugh after that, realising they were saying goodbye only to head back in the same direction, to get their cars from near where they had dropped off their kids. Saying goodbye again when they got there, Astrid got in her car and waited for Hiccup to drive off before her head fell against the wheel with a groan. Wow, she really had made a grade A fool of herself.
Thankfully, Hiccup didn't decide she was completely bonkers and tell her to stay far, far away from him. Astrid would have had a very peculiar explanation to make to her child if he had, trying to rationalise how she'd alienated Maddie's dad by making assumptions.
Astrid went to work, and thankfully it was more than distracting enough to take her mind off of the weird morning. On her lunch break, Astrid debated whether it was the worst idea in the world to ask Hiccup out. Just because he was single didn't mean he was interested... her mind wandered off to things like his easy smiles and Valentines gifts, the comfortable way they interacted whenever Astrid and Alexis went over for dinner, or he and Maddie came to her.
Besides which, his mood that morning suggested Mala moving back to the same country as he and Maddie was something that was causing him stress in some way or other. Astrid wasn't going to add pressure to that. So she finished her cold pasta, drank an overly bitter coffee - Hiccup's high quality brands had ruined her entirely for her usual instant - and went back to work.
When she left work that evening, Astrid found a text from Hiccup on her phone, requesting information on when she and Lexi were free to go over again - Astrid got the feeling Maddie wanted to talk about Mala moving back, and so wanted her little best friend. So she checked her rota, fired back a list of evenings she wasn't working and headed home. Hiccup offered a date for a couple of days time when both were free, and Astrid checked with Lexi before agreeing.
"How was work mom?"
"Good kiddo, how was time with grandma?"
"She wanted to know when I grow my hair back. Do I have to?"
"Of course not munchkin" Astrid ruffled the short strands "it's your hair."
She rolled her eyes internally at her mother, making note to have another talk with the woman about pressuring a small child about such things.
"What if I get dresses as presents again?"
"Say thank you because that's polite, and then you decide if you wear them or not. I already made your dad promise no dresses for your fifth birthday.."
"Oh. That's good. Will you tuck me in?"
Smiling, Astrid nodded, sending Alexis off to change into her pyjamas while she put the kettle on for a cup of coffee, then headed up to make sure teeth were brushed and clothes weren't crumpled up on the floor. Tucking the blankets in, Astrid kissed her forehead, standing up.
"Night kiddo."
"Night mom."
Sleep was the closest to quiet time Astrid got from her little bundle of energy. Supplementing herself with coffee, Astrid reluctantly plowed through some paperwork, then rotted her brain on awful TV until she no longer felt it was questionably early to go to bed. The older she got, the earlier that 'questionable' time got.
"Maddie!"
There were hugs only seconds after they got into Hiccup's house, both parents smiling at the sweet sight.
"Come on in, Frozen is waiting!"
Astrid refrained from groaning at the thought, eyes already drawn to the mug Hiccup always used for her on the side and practically dreaming of his coffee. The kids quickly headed in to the living room, and the dreaded music began... Hiccup pulled the door too, chuckling.
"Sorry, I promised Mads."
"It's fine. One day you'll hate it too and understand."
"Can I make it up to you with coffee?"
"It's a start."
Laughing to himself, Hiccup presented her with the lovely brew.
"So uh, where is Mala?"
"Uh" Hiccup checked his watch "yeah, she'll have landed. Australia. Getting ready to move, since she took the job here."
Astrid fell quiet for a minute or two, simply enjoying the wonderful coffee. It was so good!
"How's Maddie taking it?"
"She's... confused, but mostly excited."
Hiccup seemed oddly twitchy, shuffling from one foot to the other, not quite meeting her eye and just generally looking a bit uncomfortable. Astrid was concerned she had done some kind of damage to their friendship before, with her ridiculous behaviour.
"Is everything alright?"
"Mhmm. Fine. Why do you ask?"
"You're acting like you have ants in your pants."
Hiccup blinked.
"I uh... right. Ok. Guess I'm doing this now."
Astrid felt her face wrinkle in confusion.
"Doing what?"
Still shifting, Hiccup lifted a hand and rubbed the back of his head.
"This. Would you uh... would you wanna go on a date sometime?"
-HTTYD-
Oh, I wonder what she'll sayyyyyy
