Living The Dream
Rated; M
Pairing; Hiccup X Astrid
Disclaimer; I do not own anything from HTTYD; it belongs to Dreamworks/Cressida Cowell
Out With The Old
=Normal POV=
(Tuesday, December 31, 2019-4:45 pm)
{Berk; Ingerman Home}
Fishlegs was a bit nervous to be leading this ordeal by taking Snotlout, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut to Helheim's Nest Hotel to speak with Hiccup and Astrid. However, it had been their choice to let the former three friends talk and have a go at getting forgiveness, and possibly friendship too. Fishlegs hoped this would go fast because he wanted to enjoy the celebration with Heather. Fishlegs still wasn't sure how things would go between the two of them, but he was positive he wanted to stick around and find out. Fishlegs now stood in his backyard with Meatlug saddled and ready for flight beside him. All the blonde-haired boy was waiting for to leave were the twins and Snotlout to show up.
"Hey, we're here," Tuffnut called from the sky on Belch's neck.
"Alright, remember what I told you earlier, though…I have no say in them forgiving or telling you anything…" Fishlegs reminded as he got on Meatlug and joined the other three riders in the sky.
"We know," Snotlout nodded.
"Alright…And no one is following you, right? You're not wearing a wire for their parents?" Fishlegs inquired.
"Fishlegs! Just take us there!" Ruffnut grumbled.
"Don't shoot the messenger, okay?! I'm only doing this because Hiccup and Astrid made me promise to make sure that their parents won't figure out where they are staying or any other personal information," Fishlegs sighed.
"We get it. If we wanted to bust them, though; we would have told one of them that you've been in contact about six months with them! We're not gonna tell, Fishlegs," Snotlout stated.
"Okay. Follow me," Fishlegs said as he led them into the sky and towards the hotel.
. . .
(5:05 pm)
{Berk; Helheim's Nest Hotel}
"Wow, Hiccup and Astrid weren't kidding when they said they were at a nice place," Snotlout blinked as the four riders were coming up on the hotel.
"You knew they were in a hotel?" Fishlegs inquired.
"Kind of from Snoggletog Eve. Hiccup said it was a bed and breakfast place because the hotels were booked," Snotlout informed. Fishlegs brought the four of them in for a landing, Toothless and Stormfly were in their stables relaxing, but excited to see the others. The riders got off their dragons as Hiccup and Astrid were in their room, peering out from behind the curtains to see the arrival.
"Well, I guess it's time…" Astrid mumbled.
"Let's just get it over with," Hiccup told her as she nodded. "We'll play giving them any information on how their apology goes," Hiccup opened the door and moved the curtain aside to reveal himself and Astrid beside him to Snotlout and the twins.
"Well…I'm gonna go and see Heather while you five chat…" Fishlegs quickly scrambled off when he saw Heather waving for him to come down to her room since she was aware of what was going on. Snotlout, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut stared at Astrid and Hiccup, shocked to see how much they had changed in almost two years. Hiccup was considerably taller standing at about six foot one inch, and Astrid's height was five foot nine inches at least. Astrid kept her hair in a braid that went over her right shoulder. Hiccup's auburn hair remained about the same, it was just longer and flowed down instead of being in many directions like it was when he was eighteen. Both of their figures had changed a bit too; Astrid had a more defined chest and rear-end whereas Hiccup's had his skinny body, but larger upper body.
"Wow," Ruffnut blinked.
"You guys look-," Tuffnut began.
"Different," Snotlout finished.
"B-But in a good way," Ruffnut quickly added.
"Thanks. Well, come on in," Astrid invited as she and Hiccup moved back inside the room. Snotlout and the twins followed, then Hiccup closed the door. "So you saw Fishlegs hanging with us and decided to seek us out?"
"We've been trying for a while…But had no leads to go off of how to contact you," Snotlout said.
"And my parents, as well as Astrid's no nothing of this little meetup?" Hiccup inquired.
"No. We haven't said anything to them," Ruffnut said.
"So why did you want to see us?" Astrid pushed, already knowing the answer but not wanting to beat around the bush.
"Back before Fishlegs managed to get in contact with you two…We were all saying that it was wrong of us as your friends to not support your desires to want to get out of Berk and see the world…So, we wanted to apologize for not being good friends," Snotlout sighed, but Hiccup could see the sincerity in his facial expressions, and hear the apologetic tone in his voice.
"Yeah, we were jerks," Tuffnut stated.
"We're sorry, Hiccup because you've wanted this forever. And you too, Astrid because you never told us in fear of getting the same reaction that Hiccup got," Ruffnut frowned.
"I have no excuse. I'm your cousin; your family. I should always support your desires," Snotlout lowered his head.
"We hope you can forgive us…And maybe we can be friends again?" Tuffnut hoped.
"Well, it's gonna be a long shot on that. We don't know if we can trust you not to say anything to our parents…" Hiccup folded his arms over his chest.
"Like we told Fishlegs earlier…If we were going to say something to them; we would have already when we learned Fishlegs was with you two and that Heather girl at lunch a few days ago…" Ruffnut stated.
"That may be true, but how can we trust you won't slip up and tip them off?" Astrid remarked now. "You two can't keep a secret," she motioned to the twins.
"And you've always told on me when something didn't go your way. Or we don't see eye to eye," Hiccup pointed to Snotlout.
"You can't," Tuffnut and Snotlout sighed.
"But we're not asking you to trust us," Ruffnut suddenly piped up causing Hiccup and Astrid to stare curiously. "Just for the opportunity to prove that you can," she added. "Let us show you that you won't be making a mistake in forgiving us, or being friends…"
Astrid looked at Hiccup now. "What do you think, babe?"
Hiccup weighed the options silently for a few moments, holding his chin while he did so. Finally, he looked at Astrid. "We give them what we gave our parents on Snoggletog Eve; one chance to prove what they've said today is the truth, and that they can be trusted,"
"That seems fair," Astrid nodded in agreement. "How much are we telling them?"
"For now, I think it's best if we only give a little. Tonight is supposed to be a celebration of this year ending and the next beginning, so I'd rather not cloud that with serious matters such as this," Hiccup informed. "And we have to return tomorrow, so there is that to consider,"
"How about we accept the apology and forgive them for two years ago. We can see also…Possibly give them our phone numbers, and the general location of where we are staying when not on holiday or other matters," Astrid offered.
"And then after some time passes; we can give more information," Hiccup stated. "Yeah, I like that idea. Alright, we'll accept your apology and forgive you three. We'll give you our numbers and where we're going, but nothing more until you prove yourselves trustworthy of everything. Fishlegs did the work, and you will have to as well,"
"We're willing…A-Are we considered friends?" Snotlout asked.
"Yes, but once you have our numbers…You have to name us something that isn't us…That way if you're ever with mine or Hiccup's parents; they don't suspect anything is up," Astrid remarked.
"Done and done," Ruffnut and Tuffnut said together, nodding.
"Okay. Get your phones our and take our numbers down," Astrid told Snotlout, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut. The three did so, waiting anxiously and happily that they were forgiven and friends with Hiccup and Astrid once more. "Mine is 298-315-4706," she enlightened.
After waiting about a minute; the looked at Hiccup ready for his next. "298-617-4350," Hiccup said. "What did you put us as?" he wondered.
"Drake and Naddie," Snotlout said as the twins nodded, confirming they had used the same.
"It works," Astrid approved of the choices.
"What does Fishlegs have you as?" Tuffnut asked.
"Fishlegs as Astrid as Ashley, and myself as Hayden; he went with modern names, and if anyone asks him then his answer is people he went to school with who share his love for dragon knowledge," Hiccup responded.
"I like Fishlegs' names better. Can we do that?" Ruffnut questioned.
"Sure," Astrid replied. After the three teens made their contact names switch for Hiccup and Astrid; their phones were put away.
"So, where are you guys headed tomorrow?" Snotlout wondered.
"Denmark," Hiccup stated firmly. "And that's all we're saying, for now," he added immediately afterward.
"That's cool," Tuffnut shrugged. There was a somewhat awkward pause between the five of them now, and it was broken by Gobber's voice.
"Lad! Lassie! I'm 'ere!" the man announced. Astrid pulled open the door to let the man in, and right behind him was Heather and Fishlegs. "Hope I'm not interrupting nothing?" he blinked seeing the twins and Snotlout there.
"Not at all, Uncle Gobber. We were just finishing up with them…" Hiccup mentioned now.
"And…All is good?" Heather inquired. Astrid nodded to her as she smiled. "Well, maybe they can join us? I like making new friends!" Heather giggled a bit.
"I don't see why not…" Astrid looked at Hiccup. "But your call," she added while linking her arm to his then resting her head on his shoulder.
"Would you three like to join us for our New Year's celebration? We're just going to hang outside with the dragons, listen to music, have some snacks, and talk until the fireworks at midnight," Hiccup invited Snotlout, Tuffnut, and Ruffnut.
"Yeah, that'd be awesome!" Tuffnut said as Ruffnut agreed by nodding.
"I'm down," Snotlout grinned.
"Great! Then let's get this party started!" Gobber cheered. Hiccup and Astrid shook their heads, laughing a little, but nodding nevertheless.
. . .
(11:45 pm)
It was a fantastic time with everyone together. The group enjoyed snacks, some music, sitting around and talking to get to know one another better and catch up on old times. Things got a bit worrisome with Snotlout's father called him and asked why he wasn't at their party yet, which referred to as the Jorgenson/Haddock New Year's celebration. This happened around 8:30 pm and Snotlout just answered that he was with Fishlegs, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut at the Thorston apartment for their own New Year's bash. Hiccup and Astrid could see that Snotlout and the twins were trying to prove themselves, and honestly, Snotlout doing what he did was a good start. Now, it was fifteen minutes to midnight as the gang all helped get things cleaned up and put away so that they could just sit back and enjoy the firework show at midnight. Five minutes later; the group of friends was sitting in chairs or against their dragons looking up at the sky above. It was a perfect night to bring in a New Year.
Heather was sitting next to Fishlegs while Astrid was in Hiccup's lap, leaning against his chest while Hiccup's arms were locked around her midsection. The twins and Snotlout were against their dragons and Gobber was leaning on the stables. Most everyone had some kind of drink in their hands, relaxing until the show began. Hiccup and Astrid' hotel room looks over the island of Berk and the water surrounding it. The view was spectacular as far as sunset went, and the rest could only imagine how it was when the sun rose up in the mornings.
"So what time are you three leaving tomorrow?" Fishlegs asked.
"We have to be back before 9 pm, don't we, Hiccup? Heather looked back at him.
"I believe so," Hiccup nodded.
"When will you be back on Berk?" Ruffnut wondered.
"No idea, but we'll let you know as we get the information," Astrid smiled a bit.
"Nice," Snotlout replied. Nine minutes went by more calm chatter between them, and then it was down to the final minute of the year 2019. Hiccup and Astrid stood up with Heather and Fishlegs; then the remaining guests did the same. The ending fifteen seconds were upon them now.
"Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five," the group began saying together. Hiccup and Astrid faced one another, smiling. "Four. Three. Two. One. Happy New Year!" they shouted out. The fireworks began going off as Hiccup pulled Astrid in close, placing his lips to hers in a hard, passionate kiss. Gobber smiled, shaking his head at the two, but happy for them as Snotlout, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut felt the same. In a shocking turn of events, Fishlegs had kissed Heather's cheek, but she did one better by turning her head, and their lips met in a short kiss. The two both blushed afterward, embarrassed.
"This was awesome," Ruffnut said after the firework show ended ten minutes later at 12:10 am.
"Indeed. Now, it's time for everyone to get home," Gobber reminded.
"See you guys next time you're on the island?" Snotlout asked.
"We'll let ya know," Hiccup nodded as Snotlout, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, and Gobber were mounting up to get to their apartments or homes.
"And we'll text in the meantime," Tuffnut chuckled.
"We'll reply when we can; we do get busy sometimes," Astrid stated.
"Got it. Have a good night you two," Ruffnut said. Not long after, Snotlout, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut had gone. Gobber was right behind them. Fishlegs and Heather hugged, promising to stay in as much contact as they could. This happened while there were overbearing glares from Dagur, who showed up at the last minute to see Heather and Fishlegs sharing a kiss. After Fishlegs left, Dagur and Heather went to Heather's room. Last was Hiccup and Astrid into their room. After using the bathroom and snuggling into bed; they kissed and fell right to sleep. The next day, they were back at Drakonian Palace to get more work done. Now, it was January 1st, 2020. As the saying went; out with the old and in with the new.