Astrid

Astrid was still in shock somehow as she packed her things. She actually got this job! This was… crazy!

Only 24 hours ago, her life had been pure misery, the chance for her dream job gone, not enough money to afford even small things and an idiotic ex-boyfriend to cry over. And today?

Today was just the opposite. She had the job, she had this terrifying black card and… She held still, heart swelling. And she had Hiccup. She hoped so, at least. She had noticed him looking at her, well, like that, after all. Like this morning, when he had picked her up. She hoped at least that her interpretations were right.

She shook her head and kept packing. This was crazy! Just plain and simple crazy! They had only met yesterday and…and she already wanted to be with him. But that wasn't true, really. They hadn't simply met only yesterday. They'd known each other since they were toddlers, for Odin's sake. And now he was all she could think about. She found herself wondering where he might be and what he might do right now. And she wondered whether he thought of her sometimes, too.

Just thinking of him made her feel good, light. And she wanted to never lose this again! But somehow she had a feeling that ordinary taking time wouldn't work for them. Not after all this time that had passed already. Maybe she was pushing her luck but she at least was ready for more than mere talking and idle holding hands.

But then Hiccup had been acting reserved… Or… An idea occurred to her then. Hiccup had always been shy. Not when it came to her but in almost every other aspect of his life. But things between them were different now than they were ten years ago… Maybe he just needed a push in the right direction.

A plan began to form in her head. She would have to make preparations but… well, she had still the whole day off. And she would need to call Hiccup and make sure he would, in fact, be home tonight. It was, after all, Friday and he could have other plans. She smiled to herself.

And remembered he never gave her his number! Dammit!

Her face fell and her bright mood was dampened noticeably. She could prepare everything and simply hope he would show up. This was a night to celebrate after all! But… There really was only one person with whom she would want to celebrate.

She could go and look for him but she had no idea, where he worked. At his mother's, great! She had no idea who his mother was, either. She knew, in fact, almost nothing about his current life. But only almost.

"Can I ask you something else, Heather?" she asked, thinking rapidly. She knew one thing that could help her now. She knew one of his friends and she knew where he worked. It was far-fetched since Dragonite Engineering was an incredibly gigantic enterprise but who but Heather could produce the information she needed right now? "Do you happen to know a Fishlegs Ingerman?"

The calm and confident woman in front of her, the person who probably kept this whole business running, stared at her, wide-eyed, dropped her pen and blushed fiercely. Astrid tried to hide an amused smile. This seemed to have been the wrong question and she could only think of one explanation, really.

"He's an old acquaintance of mine and I heard he works here, too." She explained to give Heather time to gather herself again. "I thought I could drop by and say hello." Heather still gaped at her but somehow the glint in her eyes didn't look like bashfulness. Not exclusively at least.

"Sure I know Fishlegs" Heather answered and rested her head on her arm, probably in an attempt to try to hide her smile behind her hand. "His office is actually here, on this floor. The last one to the left." She gestured into the general direction, still smiling.

"Great!" Astrid exclaimed, glad her luck seemed to last. "I'll go then. See you next week!" She waved Heather goodbye and left her office.

Heather

Heather was hard pressed to keep herself from laughing out loud as she followed Astrid with her eyes. Oh, how much she'd like to be a fly on the wall right now! But she would have to be content with Fishlegs telling her everything later.

Hiccup seemed to have put a lot of effort into keeping his identity from her, though, and now all this had been in vain.

Oh, but she wanted this entertainment to last. The poor lad deserved a warning.

Astrid

"Astrid?" She heard Heather call out after her and paused. "Tell Fishlegs I saw how late he was today. He'll have to make good for this later!" Astrid chuckled. Was this supposed to be some kind of code? But who was she to judge them…

"I will!" she called back and made her way along the corridor.

As she walked she noted the nameplates at each office door and looked half-heartedly for Mr. Dragonites office. She supposed that would be his name as Mrs. Dragonites son and CEO-to-be of Dragonite Engineering and Heather had used that name, too. She couldn't find it, though, but then he probably wouldn't have to share one of these double-offices. Maybe he even worked on another floor. Well, she would know soon enough.

When she reached the last office to the left she didn't bother herself with reading the nameplate as she could already spot a familiar figure through the open door.