My Hope

Author: Nightstar Fury of Nightstar Productions.

Rating: M for Mature.

Disclaimer: I own nothing from Dreamworks HTTYD or Dreamworks Dragons. I also don't own any of the songs I may use.

28; His Hope.

{Astrid's POV}

It had been a week since my talk with Olivia and true to the rather forced agreement, she kept away. Yeah, I almost felt bad about slapping her but then again, I didn't. She admitted to purposely trying to take Hunter and Toothless out, that crash could of killed him if it weren't for Toothless catching him. And Toothless lost his tail fin saving Hunter. Granted Hunter fixed that tail fin but the fact still stood that Toothless couldn't fly without Hunter now and again, that crash could of killed them both. No way I wasn't taking the chance I had to slap her for it, and then threatening to expose her for the act she committed to essentially blackmail her into giving up. Sure it wasn't my style but when you involve the man I love and his little girl who I adore as my own then I tend to fall...out of my norm to get my point across.

Today it was Hope's 3rd birthday, I was setting up with Heather, Rylee, and Violet while the boys were putting up the food tents and or bringing food from a pick up at a store. Hunter was the only one we were waiting on to get started and we had no clue where he was. Hope was with us, she was running around being entertained and watched by Stormfly, Toothless, and Strykeout. The other dragons were there too, Hunter and I had insisted on a big backyard where ever we moved too and this place had the best one so we took it. Our rent was about $1,200 with the gas included. We paid our own electricity, phones, car insurance, and anything for Hope.

"Will someone call Hunter and find out where he is please?" Violet stated.

"On it." I said pulling my phone and pressing Hunter's contact in my phone. I pressed it to my ear to wait for a pick up.

{Hunter's POV}

I knew the party started at 3pm, I hadn't forgotten. I'd been getting text messages for the last 45 minutes asking where I was but at the moment. I was busy getting something for Astrid's birthday, hers was only a few days ago too. Hope's was Tuesday and Astrid's Thursday which is why we took today, Sunday to celebrate both. There was still an 30 minutes until 3pm, why were they in such a rush? I only shook my head as the salesman came over to me now with a smile. "Welcome to The Dragon's Treasure. My name is Raymond, What can I help you with today?"

"Hi, I'm here to pick out an engagement ring for my girlfriend, hopefully fiance by the end of tonight." I chuckled a bit.

"Ah young love. Well I think we can certainly help you find the perfect one. Any price range to mind?" Raymond questioned.

"Keep it under $2,000 and we're cool." I replied.

"Yes sir, all of our engagement rings are right over here if you'll come with me sir?" Raymond smiled. I nodded and followed him over to the case with the engagement rings. "Why don't you tell me a little about your girl and we'll see if we can find the perfect ring for her?" He suggested.

"Well she's...smart, funny, drop dead gorgeous with blond hair and blue eyes that you can get lost in. She's...simple, kind, caring...There aren't enough words to describe her. But I know she's the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, the one I want becoming my daughter's mother...Sorry, I'm rambling." I said nervously.

"Oh no, that's fine. You said she was simple, so safe to say she doesn't want...extravagant?" Raymond asked softly, I shook my head to him. "Well a lot of men prefer the simple, one stone rings. The fun choice there is gold or silver. Given your description of her, I'd like to assume that she isn't one who likes to show off what she has?" Raymond looked to me.

"Not at all. She's very outgoing, feisty with a bite to her if you get on her bad side but she only means it protectively." I informed.

"Ah yes. Well gold bands tend to be more of...a show off type. Something to be noticed easily, your girlfriend sounds more like a conservative type. So lets take a look at some of the silver band rings. Most of these come as wedding sets too, but we can go more into that later. Do you happen to know her ring size?" Raymond arched a brow.

"4. I was with her when she ordered her class ring last year." I smiled.

"Very good then. Well here are a few of the silver, one stone engagement rings. These here are round stones, representing in a way someone who is...all there, whole in a way. Sure of themselves, no hesitation, complete. Now you said you had a daughter also, who your girlfriend adores?" Raymond smiled.

"Yeah, Astrid is great with her...Even calls my daughter her step daughter." I laugh a little. Raymond pulled out one and held it up to me.

"This is 14 carat solitary, triple braided rope in white gold with a round stone in a twisted setting. Given your description of your girlfriend, and relationship with her, also hers with your daughter it seems perfect. A simple one stone ring, the braided rope band that creates a twisted sitting to hold the circle stone. As if to say...3 lives becoming one whole family. A way of joining yours and your daughter's lives to hers to make it come full circle." Raymond explained. I looked at it while he gave his explanation, it really was the perfect ring for Astrid overall.

"Its beautiful...She'd love it, that I'm sure of." I smiled wide.

"And this ring also comes as a wedding set. The bands for it are right here, females on the right and males on the left. As you can see they follow the same braided pattern as well." Raymond said.

"And price on it?" I asked.

"For you, $850.00. The engagement ring on its own would have been about $1,000 but when you by the set it knocks off quite a bit. We call it the wedding set deal. The bands would need to be re-sized but I assume there is time for that." Raymond chuckled, I nodded to him.

"And this ring today, is size 4?" I asked, he nodded. "I'll take it. The engagement ring today and definitely be back for the bands when the wedding planning begins." I told him, he nodded and went off to get it ready. I heard my phone ringing as I lifted it to see Astrid calling, I only smiled wider. "Hey beautiful."

"Where are you babe? It's almost 3." She says gently.

"My apologies Mi'lady. I'll be there shortly, I promise." I tell her.

"Alright, your daughter is getting antsy with you not here yet." She chuckles.

"I know. Tell her I'll be there really soon, I'm getting her one more present." I say.

"Okay. See you soon, love you."

"Love you more, Astrid." I hung up the phone, Gods she made my heart soar. I gave Raymond my card to pay for the rings, he was putting the bands on hold for now until I came back for re-size purposes but I was paying for it all today. He cleaned the engagement ring, and put it in a blue box, the color of Astrid's eyes. I couldn't wait to get home. I slipped the box in my pocket as I left the store to get back home for Hope's party. Well, technically Astrid's too.

{Regular POV}

Right around 3:05pm, Hunter pulled into the driveway of the house and went straight for the backyard where Hope practically tackled him down. "There you are." Astrid smiled as Hunter got up holding Hope on his side then kissing Astrid's lips lightly.

"I said I'd be home soon." Hunter chuckled now.

"Where's the present you were getting her?" Astrid blinked.

"She'll get it later. For now, lets get this part started." Hunter replied, Astrid only shook her head. Hunter put Hope down and she began to run around happily as Hunter greeted everyone else there. Two hours into the party everyone had eaten, done presents, now getting ready for cake. Hunter had gone inside to get the cake ready with candles and lit to start singing.

"Hope, time to do cake!" Astrid called to her.

"Coming Asty!" Hope called back rushing away from the dragons to get to the back patio where everyone was but while running she tripped and slid forward a bit, instantly crying. Astrid was first her side to pick her up.

"Are you alright sweetie, let Asty see?" Astrid asked, Hope sat on her knee and lifted her summer dress a bit to show her one scraped knee while sniffling a little, tears welling up in her green eyes. "Awe, its not that bad. I know what will make it better." Astrid smiled softly as she picked Hope up then brought inside the house towards the bathroom. Hunter saw his daughter crying and got worried.

"What happened?" Hunter asked quickly.

"She just tripped and scraped her knee a bit. But its okay daddy, because we're going to go fix it right now. Right Hope?" Astrid smiled, Hope nodded to her. "I got it." Astrid said, Hunter nodded as Astrid set Hope down on the toilet seat then got a soft rag from the closet. Astrid ran the cold water and got the rag wet then squeezed the water out before carefully dabbing the scrape. "See the cold helps." Astrid told her then removed the rag and got the anti-bacterial cream using a Q-tip to lightly apply it. Astrid got a big band-aid from under the sink as she opened it and placed it on the scrap gently but making sure it wouldn't fall off. "See and in a few days it won't even be there anymore."

Hope smiled as she wiped her eyes nodding, Astrid picked her up and carried her back outside where Hunter was waiting with the cake and all their friends and family. Astrid sat her down in 'birthday girl' chair and knelt beside her. "It still hurts..." Hope whimpered.

"Then I know only one other thing that will make it better..." Astrid smiled softly as she lightly kissed Hope's knee, then one on each cheek, finally one on her forehead. "My mom always kissed my boo boos better. She called them mommy kisses because only a mom kiss can make boo boos better." Astrid said. Hope smiled wide.

"Really?" Astrid nodded.

"Ask her yourself." Astrid replied motioning to her mother.

"It's true, Hope." Astrid's mother, Alexandria replied gently with a nod.

Hope stared at her knee then smiled wider, "It doesn't hurt anymore!" Hope exclaimed, as Astrid winked. Without warning, Hope threw her arms around Astrid's neck tightly hugging her. "Thank you mommy." The whole yard went silent. Astrid's eyes widened but after the one second of shock she hugged Hope back tightly.

"You're welcome sweetie." What else could she say but that? She did love this little girl as if she were her daughter and Hope saw her as a mother. Astrid couldn't, wouldn't deny Hope that joy. The hug held another few seconds before Astrid leg go of her. Astrid looked up to Hunter who almost was frozen in shock at what his 3 year old just said.

"Hunter?" Astrid asked standing up now and snapping her fingers in front of his face. Hunter finally snapped out of it and looked at Astrid, then Hope, then back to Astrid.

"I forgot the lighter inside, can you go get it for me babe?" Hunter asked, "Should be in the junk drawer." Astrid smiled nodded and headed inside. Hunter knelt before his 3 year old now. "Hope, why'd you call Astrid mommy?" Hunter asked now.

"Because Asty said that only mommy kisses can make boo boos better and she made my boo better when she kissed it." Hope replied. A few people went 'awe' or chuckled.

"But that's not the only thing that makes a mommy princess." Hunter replied.

"I know but Asty has to be my mommy, Daddy." Hope said firmly.

"Oh and why's that?" Hunter smiled.

"Cuz she's nice and smiles a lot. She's nice to me, plays wiff me, sings for me, and makes my boo boos better. Oh and she makes you happy, Daddy. Nana told me that when a mommy and daddy are really happy together they have a kid. You and Asty are happy togeffer and you have me so you're my daddy and she's my mommy. Right?" Hope asked. Hunter fought the urge to glare at his parents for telling his 3 year old such information. Oh well, he was planning to propose anyway, this just made it all the better. His daughter loved Astrid as much as he did.

"Did I...miss something?" Astrid asked as she returned outside now. Hunter stood as he took the lighter from her and set it down on the table.

"Right you are princess. Asty does make me really happy, and we do have you." Hunter replied as Hope's eyes almost lit up.

"What's...going on?" Astrid questioned. Hunter took her hand in his staring into her eyes.

"Its your birthday too so I got you something. Just stand there, I wrote you something." Hunter smiled as let go of her and had his phone playing a music instrumental as he took breath. "Grandma and grandpa painted a picture of 65 years. And one little house. More than a memory. More than saying I do. Kiss you good night's and I love you's..." He paused as Astrid blushed a bit. "Me and you baby, walk in the footsteps. Build our own family. One day at a time. Ten little toes, a painted pink room. Our beautiful baby looks just like you." Hunter smiled at her now as she had a smile smile on her face.

"And we'll build this love, from the ground up. Now 'til forever it's all of me, all of you. Just take my hand. And I'll be the man your dad hoped that I'd be. And we'll build this love from the ground up. For worse or for better. And I will be all you need. Beside you I'll stand through the good and the bad. We'll give all that we have...And we'll build this love from the ground up." Astrid's smile grew listening to him as the rest just smiled swaying to the music.

"This life will go by. In the blink of an eye. But I wouldn't wanna spend it without you by my side. The clouds are gonna roll, the earth's gonna shake. But I'll be your shelter through the wind and the rain!" Hunter sang louder.

"And we'll build this love, from the ground up. Now 'til forever it's all of me, all of you. Just take my hand. And I'll be the man your dad hoped that I'd be. And we'll build this love from the ground up. For worse or for better. And I will be all you need. Beside you I'll stand through the good and the bad. We'll give all that we have...And we'll build this love from the ground up." Hunter smiled as he took her hand again, pulling her towards him, their noses touching as he began to dance with her.

"Someday we'll wake up. With thousands of pictures. 65 years in this little house. I won't trade for nothing, the life that we built. I'll kiss you goodnight and say I love you still!" He kissed her softly as she closed her eyes laying her head on his chest.

"And we'll build this love from the ground up. For worse or for better. And I will be all you need. Beside you I'll stand through the good and the bad. We'll give all that we have. And we'll build this love...From the ground up. From the ground up..." Hunter finished as Astrid pulled her up and stared at him lovingly.

"I love you, Hunter." Astrid said gently.

"I love you more, Astrid. And just like the song, I don't want to spend this life without you by my side. So lets build this love from the ground up. I won't trade this life for anything. My daughter loves you as much as I do, and after today...I think she needs you as much as I do." Hunter stopped now as his hand moved into his pocket and pulled something out, he dropped to one knee as Astrid's eyes widened, her mouth dropping open slightly. "For worse or for better, through the good and the bad. Astrid...I promise to always stand by your side as your husband, if you will always stay by mine as my wife. Lets start making our own memories to put on the walls, the first being our wedding..." Hunter asked as he opened the box revealing the ring to her.

All gasps around the patio now. "Hunter..." Astrid whispered out.

"Hope's gift from me was getting you as her mother. But, this is my gift to you. Me as your fiance, soon to be husband. And Hope as your daughter. Will you marry me, Astrid?" Hunter asked softly, one of his hands still holding hers.

"Say yes mommy!" Hope said suddenly from beside Astrid's leg. The smile returned to her face as she let the tears fall freely.

"Yes..." Astrid replied softly. "YES!" Astrid yelled now as Hunter took the ring out of the box and slid it on her finger gently, not long after that the two shared a deep kiss while the guests of the party around the table began to clap. Mother's, Rylee, and Heather wiping their eyes while the males all high fived one another smiling. Hunter now picked up Hope in his free arm and kissed her cheek while Astrid kissed her other cheek.

"Can we have cake now?" Hope asked. Hunter and Astrid laughed but nodded.

"We sure can princess." Hunter replied smiled. And sure enough cake was had for all and what went from a simple birthday party turned into a birthday/engagement party. Hunter or Astrid couldn't of been happier either. For Hunter, all he could think about was how he managed to be this happy. But it all came down to one thing, rather one person. His daughter made this all possible, his Hope.

{Authors Note; Alright my awesome fans. So ends the story "My Hope". Hope you all enjoyed reading it as I did writing it. Not sure what I'm doing next, I'll leave it up to all of you. There is a poll at the top of my authors page, a vote for the next story. It closes Tuesday, 8/9/2016! Thank you again for all the amazing support! And I'll be back soon with a new story for ya all! -Nightstar Fury}