Almost over!
-HTTYD-
Hiccup was released from hospital four weeks later.
He could have gone home at two weeks, but the burn on his hip got infected and he spent four days full of potent IV antibiotics and another week sick as a dog from them. Astrid refused to leave even though she was discharged already, going so far as to hold the thing Hiccup was throwing up in to, then cleaning the sweat and pained tears from him afterward.
He didn't deserve her.
Even so, Hiccup left smiling - he had started to get limited feeling and movement back in his legs. According to his physiotherapist, that meant he was close to being back on his feet. Hiccup tried not to get too excited since they couldn't give him a time frame, but the most exciting thing for him was that he could go to the bathroom by himself again with a special wheelchair and railing that Eret had put up in their bathroom while Hiccup was convalescent in his hospital bed.
Their mother wanted Hiccup and Astrid to come back to her home, but their own was actually better - everything was on one floor. Once Hiccup was in there, he could get about by wheelchair. No stairs behind their front door.
Eret had taken Hiccup's car to the auto shop he worked at, and had permission from his boss to work on it in his spare time. Hiccup would be amazed if it was salvageable having been hit and burnt, but Eret was insistent.
"Here we are lad" Stoick, four weeks sober and over the worst of his shakes pushed Hiccup's chair "home sweet home. Yer ma still wants you back with her."
"I know, but this place is more accesible for me."
Eret, Astrid and their dad had rearranged the furniture to ensure Hiccup's wheelchair could get around the place, and all the burns on his hands and arms were healed to shiny, pink scar tissue. He was already drawing again.
"So ah, ye need anythin' else?"
"Nope. Got a physio tomorrow, I want to take a nap in my own bed. And a bath not done by nurses who changed me like a baby."
Astrid smiled, then looked up at their dad.
"I got this dad. And Eret offered to help if I can't lift Hiccup up."
"Ah. Suppose it's no' a new thing for ye to see."
They hadn't yet addressed the elephant in the room. Stoick knew his children were a couple, but they hadn't talked about it yet.
"Dad-"
"No. Let me."
Hiccup and Astrid both fell silent
"Ok?"
"I don' like it. It's... yer both my kids an' I'm not happy this happened" he took in a deep breath, then straightened up "but I can't tell my daughter not ter stay with a guy who took that blast for her."
Hiccup felt impossibly small sat in his chair looking up at the seven foot man-mountain that his fathers form cut, but it sounded like he was slowly coming around to accepting the relationship between the two.
"Righ'. If ye don't need anythin... I gotta go finish movin' outta yer mothers house."
The accident had come at a time that meant putting their parents marital breakdown on hold, and now it was almost some quiet non-event that everyone had come to terms with. As the Haddock patriarch turned to leave, a new voice joined in.
"Hey Mr Haddock. You didn't tell me you guys were back!"
"We just got back. Literally."
"Ah. I just got up. Late shift. Made some good progress on your car by the way. Engine is back in working order, just bodywork to do now."
"No rush, I'm not exactly road ready yet."
Hiccup's own insistence was that they could joke about his temporary disability - if everyone treated him as a delicate invalid, fragile and breakable, he would go crazy.
"Well we'll see who's back in one piece first. You or your wheels. Ah... other wheels that is."
Eret gestured to the wheelchair, chuckling. He and Astrid were both fantastic at treating him little differently.
"You wanna sleep or bath first?"
"I better bath first so if you need help Eret will be around?"
"Works for me. I'm gonna go shower and eat, come get me if you need me."
Hiccup didn't like that he needed help, but he wasn't going to insult the people who cared about him enough to offer it. Eret let himself out, Stoick long gone it seemed.
"I'll go start your bath. No bath bombs until you're healed... you got waterproof dressings in that bag?"
Astrid indicated his pharmacy bag, brought back from the hospital with him to continue treating the few open injuries left.
"Yeah. Not too hot, I'll be heat sensitive for a while. Luckily Throk was understanding about me having to quit."
She kissed his scarred cheek with a smile, nuzzling at his unmarred one. She was still tender when she stood up, but Astrid was expecting to be back in college within a fortnight though only for class - no late study sessions. Hiccup could take care of himself for a couple of hours at a time.
They were getting there.
Hiccup boosted himself up onto the side of the bath with colt-like legs that sort of stayed where he put them sometimes, his arms and a little support from Astrid. With how the burn wrapped his hip, he needed Astrid's help to change it. Her joke about bending over as they put on latex gloves to do so admittedly made him chuckle. It had been infected once - neither of them wanted to go through that again.
"There we go. We'll save the prostate exam for next time."
"Even if you did, I wouldn't feel it. I can barely feel my hand when I piss yet."
"Yeah well I'm still not allowed sex for like a month. I wonder if the doctor would have fainted had we asked when it was likely both of us were back at it. We hadn't gone more than a week without sex since we got together."
The bathwater was probably pleasantly warm, but Hiccup's burns tingled at the heat immediately. He was stiff from inactivity though, and the water helped ease tense muscles. Astrid washed his back, helped wash his hair and tipped water over to rinse shampoo and conditioner from it so he didn't have to try and lie down in the bath.
"It's weird. I can only sorta feel my legs have water on them. If I close my eyes I almost can't tell at all. But... I can do this."
Hiccup wiggled as best he could, causing faint ripples in the water by his legs.
"You'll get there babe. We'll both get better. For now, you sit and I'm gonna go get Eret. You want something to put on?"
"He saw me in diapers, I think him seeing me naked is slightly less wounding to my pride to be honest. Put a towel on the bed for me? I'm not blow drying my hair but I'll not want soggy pillows."
Leaning down to kiss his wet hair, then his lips, Astrid smiled as she grabbed a towel from the warming rack.
"You got it babe."
He felt a bit daft sat waiting for her to come back with Eret as the bath drained, playing his fingers along the shiny burn scars on his legs. They were completely numb but somehow knew the water was warm. His body confused him. Eret appeared in time for the last swirls to vanish down the plug hole.
"I realise this sounds suggestive, but I'm gonna take off my shirt so you don't soak it."
"My heterosexuality is intact despite having seen you topless before Eret. Just hurry? I'm starting to get sleepy and I need to take my meds before I conk out."
Eret chuckled, bending over the side of the bath and lifting Hiccup like a baby. Or more like a ragdoll, he supposed. Astrid put a towel on his wheelchair, another on his lap as soon as he was sat.
"Thanks."
"No problem buddy. I'll get you a glass of water for your meds while Astrid helps get you into bed?"
"Mm. Thanks. Honestly. Above and beyond friendship."
Eret shrugged, bashful as he rubbed the back of his head.
"You need help. I'm willing and able. And Astrid's not meant to do heavy lifting for another fortnight. Anyway, go get dry before you catch a chill."
He left replacing his shirt, so Hiccup rolled himself out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. Astrid towel dried his hair and back since he couldn't lift his arms up high, then helped him into his pyjama bottoms once the rest of him was dry.
"Ok. Antibiotic, pain killer and anti inflammatory. Then I think this is for if you get sick again from the other meds... you're about to sleep, do you need that?"
Hiccup shook his head, adept at transferring himself sideways from chair to bed and back again before he left the hospital - the arms of his wheelchair were collapsible, removing the obstacle. After some truly undignified crawling and dragging, Hiccup made it onto the bed. Eret knocked, still respecting Hiccup's privacy despite having just handled his naked body.
"One water. Encased in the finest glass, delivered to one mister-"
"Eret, shut up and come in would you?"
He peered around the door with a grin, coming in to give Hiccup a glass of water.
"Are you staying in with him or am I staying to amuse you?"
Astrid wavered for a minute, then turned back to Eret.
"Stay. I'll have to wake him in an hour or so else he won't sleep tonight."
"You got it. I'll put the kettle on."
Eret left and Hiccup pouted.
"Leaving me?"
"I gotta get back to sleeping at night before I'm back at college. If I lay down with you now I'll sleep. Get some rest babe, I'll wake you in a little while."
Hiccup relented with a sigh, knowing she was right. She did gift him with a few sweet kisses that left them both smiling, then handed over his tablets and tucked him in. Gods he was happy to be back home, even if he was still in recovery. The bed absorbed him, the familiarity of the sheets and Astrid's scent sticking itself to his skin as he slept.
She woke him as promised an hour or so later, a bit groggy but feeling infinitely better for the nap itself. Eret made him tea and between the two of them, he and Astrid made an amazingly edible pasta. Hiccup was just so glad to not be eating hospital food again that it was the best thing he had eaten in weeks.
Their mother came over to fuss around him after she finished work, checking on Astrid and thanking Eret for being such a steadfast friend to them all. Eret waved her off with a smile, then had to head off to get ready for work.
"How are you feeling son?"
"Peachy. Honestly, the drugs are still in my system and half my body is still numb. So... all things considered, I'm good. And I'm back on home turf which helps."
Smiling, their mother stayed for an hour or so to chat but she could see the two had everything in hand wherever possible. She came back the next day with a walker frame, which Hiccup could use to hold him upright when transferring from his wheelchair to something else.
"It was recommended by a woman at work. Her husband has been wheelchair bound for years with MS."
"Oh. Cool. Well, not cool for him but you know what I mean."
She nodded, watching Hiccup figure out how to use it to stand himself up. His legs couldn't really support his weight still, but it meant he could turn to sit on the sofa or his bed without sliding and crawling. Anything that helped him have a little independence was fine by Hiccup.
For all the anticipating Hiccup did for getting feeling back in his legs... he had several days of wishing they were still numb as the feeling came back. The first sensations he got back were all pain; that was normal apparently, since it was one of his nerves primary functions as a warning system. But it hurt.
Hiccup could stand up under his own steam by the time Astrid went back to college, though he used the chair to move around still - if he fell while alone he was fucked. It made more sense to wheel about the place until he could walk again. Astrid got back into her stride unbelievably fast, and Hiccup was constantly proud of her.
Eret came through again, delivering round a set of crutches he had from breaking his leg a few years ago. He had come round on the morning to say that Hiccup's car was fixed, and when he saw Hiccup using the walking frame to lean against in the kitchen - standing tall (ish) - he zipped back to his own place, Hiccup heard thumping and shifting through a store cupboard through the walls and then Eret came back with the crutches.
"You wanna come see your wheels back on form?"
"Uh, not today. Physio this afternoon. Saving my strength. Thanks for these though."
"No worries. Ryker said the car can stay there until you're back on your feet... figuratively."
Physio really was gruelling but Hiccup had to rebuild his slightly wasted leg muscles, though Astrid often eyed the increased muscles in his arms and shoulders from moving with mostly his upper body for over two months appreciatively.
"Is it meant to hurt this much?"
"Unfortunately. It's actually a good sign. Muscles grow by the tearing, repairing and then growing of new fibres. The pain is from stages one and two. Come on. Parallel bars and then you can sit down."
Hiccup had honestly never expected to become attached to his wheelchair, but it was the most beautiful sight after a hard physiotherapy session. Still, with the parallel bars under his hands, Hiccup could force out a few shaky steps. It was almost strange to see the world from so high up again, and medical appointments were almost the only time he left the house.
There were mirrors in the studio he did physio in, and Hiccup had sweat through his t-shirt working his legs. He had a spare, but as he lifted the sweaty one off Hiccup caught sight of his bare torso. Many of the scars were starting to fade, though they were flushed red with his exertion at the minute. The biggest one, on his hip, was finally closed over, he noticed. It was bumpy and ugly, rough scar tissue that was raised above the rest of the skin.
Astrid would probably love it. Hiccup had learnt just how much she liked his scars recently; she looked at them the same way she had all the bruises her teeth had left in her skin before, when they could be intimate. They still weren't - Hiccup wasn't incapable of erections anymore, but his sensation was still dulled and Astrid refused to have sex while she'd enjoy it more than he could.
Three and a half months after he came home from hospital, Hiccup was walking again. With the help of a stick due to periodic weakness, but he was mobile, ambulatory and Eret no longer had to get him out of the bath. His last scan had shown all the swelling on his spine was gone - now it was all a matter of rehabilitation.
More importantly; Hiccup was driving again. Oh, it took a little while for him to feel alright getting behind the wheel, but it was important to his sense of independence and a benchmark of recovery for him.
"Astrid? You ready?"
"Hang on!"
Hiccup tapped his stick on the floor as he waited, his girlfriend finally coming out to fix him with a winning smile.
"Dropped my hair bobble. Had to find a new one and my braid started coming loose. Ready?"
"Yep. Can you grab his gift?"
Astrid nodded, picking up the hefty box full of their dads birthday gift. Hiccup locked the door and knocked on Eret's, hearing a "hang on!" from him too. He came out a minute later, holding a wrapped box under his arm and locking his own door before pocketing his keys.
"Let's go. You sure you don't want me to drive?"
"I'm not drinking. You might. Makes more sense."
Eret shrugged in agreement, then they headed out. Hiccup could hardly believe how fantastic Eret's job on the car had been, sleek black paneling restored beautifully and it ran as wonderfully as ever. He ran an affectionate hand over the hood. Heather hadn't broken his love for the car.
And Astrid intended for them to re-christen it as soon as Hiccup was capable. Their physical relationship had resumed, but the acrobatics of sex in confined spaces was a little beyond him for now.
"Are we picking up mom?"
Astrid quizzed, wanting to know if she was sitting front or back of the car.
"Nope. She's sick. Actually sick, not dodging the birthday. I took her a massive batch of soup earlier."
"Ah."
She clambered in and moved her seat forward so Eret would fit behind her, buckling her seatbelt as Hiccup manouvered himself into place. They headed to Stoick's new place, only crossroad traffic lights really able to get to Hiccup now. He always looked both ways. Twice.
Their dad gave them both bone-crushing hugs, ushering them in and greeting Eret warmly. Circling Hiccup as he recovered meant the two had discovered they could talk about cars for hours, and so Eret was naturally invited to the family birthday celebrations. It was a pretty exclusive list - only people who knew Hiccup and Astrid were together were there that day. Other relatives had celebrated the week before, where Hiccup and Astrid were perfectly socially-acceptable siblings.
There was excessive food, a fairly moderated amount of alcohol and Stoick was only allowed a measured amount of beers. He hadn't complained yet at the agreed restrictions on alcohol consumptions.
"So, how goes recovery lad?"
Spite quizzed while Eret and Stoick were chatting over his gifts - Eret got him car parts to play with and Hiccup and Astrid got him a new motorcycle helmet. Hiccup was still amazed there was a bike that could hold him.
"Pretty much done. I mean I need this thing" he indicated the stick "but I'm up and about and nothing needs dressing."
"And Astrid?"
"Completely back to normal. The worst was the three months she couldn't go climbing while her leg and internal scars healed. Not that Astrid minds having scars."
Hiccup touched the one on his cheek self-conciously, Astrid's mild burn on her face having healed almost invisibly within a few weeks. She liked his scars though, kissed them whenever she felt like it and reminded him "scars are sexy" over and over.
It was still a tad surreal for Hiccup to see his dad almost completely sober at the end of a social engagement, but he was also rather proud that Stoick seemed truly intent on staying away from a fresh drinking problem. Eret was asleep on the floor under the pool table - their fathers home was the quintessential bachelor pad - and Spite had been carted home by his wife an hour before.
"I wanted to talk to you two."
Hiccup raised an eyebrow, feeling Astrid's previously lax grip tighten on his hand. Their dad wasn't overly emotional or drunk, displayed by his dulled accent not making an appearance.
"About what?"
"Me and your moms divorce lawyer... their company has an adoption legalities expert. Ye still want to dissolve yer adoption don't ye?"
There hadn't been any big blow outs through the divorve proceedings, but they had gone through legal services to ensure finances were separated correctly and the like. Astrid nodded stiffly, as though worried their dad would be upset.
"Yeah. We kinda have to at some point."
"I know. I jus' wanted ye to know yer still my daughter."
His accent spiked into being again, which probably comforted Astrid - he was emotional as he called her his daughter.
"Thanks dad. Anyway, you were saying?"
"Right" he cleared his throat gruffly "well I chatted to the lawyer and she said shes dealt with this sorta situation once before. Courts don't have to grant a dissolution apparently but she's good at her job. And that now you're an adult, it's gonna be more likely to be granted if you make the petition."
"If I do are you gonna be agreeable? Mom already said she's on board."
"Aye. I'll sign whatever I have to."
Astrid beamed and threw her arms around their dads bulky body, hugging him tight. He clearly enjoyed such a reward for supporting a relationship he ultimately wished had never started. But it was impossible to argue with a happy Astrid face, it was like arguing with the sun.
"You're the best, dad."
As they were leaving, Stoick retrieved Eret to dump him into their car - still lightly snoring away - and Astrid collected any of the stronger alcohol in the house left over, putting it into an empty gift box to take with them.
"Better safe than sorry."
"Mhmm."
Stoick agreed stiffly, scratching at his beard that was showing the first stripes of greying through the reddish orange of Viking heritage. Hiccup's own scratchy stubble was mostly black and dark brown, darker than the hair on his head but it could turn lighter when longer for all he knew. He didn't really want a beard.
Astrid set to researching how to petition for her adoptions dissolution the next day. Hiccup helped wherever he could, but between Astrid and their adoption lawyer - a sparky, brilliant woman called Erin - he was basically useless. Of all the four Haddocks involved, Hiccup was the least important in these happenings. Astrid was the adoptee, their parents the adopters.
Naturally, he still went along for the meetings, for moral support and a genuine curiosity and investment in the proceedings. Erin was quick witted and moved like a tiny tornado; she was barely five two but made up for it in sharply barbed humour and pure attitude.
"I recommend us petitioning this court, I've worked with these judges personally and they are fair and generally listen to the child. I know your parents are supportive but that could sway other judges to say your family bond with them should remain intact."
"It will. Just not on paper."
"Yep. If your parents are willing to sign saying you'll have a legal inheritance from them despite terminating parental rights that will boost your case, and then after the dissolution you can name them your legal next of kin with a pretty simple form. We can basically make everything the same except your adoptee status. I can't guarantee you won't have some weird experiences in the future unless we wipe parents off your birth certificate, but the dissolution will give you two all the legal rights of any other unrelated people. And that's what you're after yeah?"
Blinking at the overload of paper and information whirling around Erin like magic, Hiccup nodded. Astrid leant in, rapping her fingers against the desk between them and their lawyer.
"I know lawyers are meant to be impartial but I wanted to be sure... does our relationship bother you?"
"Worried I'll sandbag you in a court room? Nah, I'm behind you two one hundred percent. I married my cousin, I picked family law and adoption because this sort of stuff matters to me personally. Now let's get this petition in front of a judge."
Their court date arrived, and Hiccup felt the urge to go to Astrid every three seconds as he sat back in the audience rows. They were otherwise empty except for Eret, Spite and a couple of law students who weren't allowed to disclose any of the names involved to anyone else.
"I think I presided over your last adult adoption case counsel, is this a pattern I should be looking for?"
"I picked the court not the judge, judge. Is there anything else you need to ask my client?"
Erin gestured to Astrid, who looked ridiculously sexy and sophisticated in a deep navy suit. Hiccup hadn't taken his eyes off her legs for nearly long enough. The judge probably thought he was a pervert.
"No, I think I have all the facts. If you would all leave, I'll summon you back when I've made my decision."
They went to stand and sit around outside in a courtoom hallway, Erin bouncing around checking the time and chatting with passing lawyers. Astrid sat with their mother, the families feelings delicate despite the assurances from all that this would only change things legally rather than emotionally.
Emotionally was where it truly counted, but there was no denying that Hiccup and Astrid's life would be infinitely easier if they were no longer legally brother and sister. A court clerk appeared about an hour later, by which time they were all going a little nuts waiting.
"He's ready for you now."
Everyone got up immediately, filing into the courtroom again. Hiccup's heart pounded and Astrid took his hand.
"Alright. I've made my decision."
-HTTYD-
If the whole adoption dissolving thing is hugely wrong legally then sorry but it's rather difficult to find anything on adult dissolutions!
Everyone ready for the final chapter?