Not What You Expected
Author: Nightstar Fury from Nightstar Productions.
Rated: M for Mature.
Disclaimer: I do not own HTTYD, Frozen, Tangled, or Brave.
36; Explaining Things.
Hiccup was making adjustments on Toothless's tail when he heard his name be yelled from the house, eyes widening with fear he raced back to the house as fast as his legs would carry him. Hiccup pushed his way through the door and through the kitchen to see Astrid standing with a look of complete shock, and disbelief in her blue eyes with Gobber standing there a little confused. "There ya are lad!" Gobber said as he walked over and gave him a bear hug smiling.
"Gobber! Can't breathe!" Hiccup wheezed out, Gobber released him and he took a few deep breaths. "Thank Thor...Whew...Okay...Astrid, why'd you yell? What's wrong?" Hiccup asked going beside now.
"Oh she's fine. Just shocked with joy I'd say!" Gobber exclaimed with a laugh.
"Hiccup...He...I...to you...are married..." Still couldn't shake the shock of what she had been seeing.
"Hey hey...breathe...In and out...come on babe..." Hiccup coached her softly as he brought her to the couch. Astrid took a few breaths and looked at Hiccup, almost worried and still in disbelief. "Now calmly...tell me what's wrong." Hiccup told her as he sat beside her. Astrid handed him the marriage license slowly with shaky hands. Hiccup began to read through the paper as his eyes began to widen.
"Are you telling me...that w–we're.." Hiccup trailed off now as Astrid nodded.
"Why is it so hard to understand, yes ye two are married. Wasn't that the whole point of the weddin' a month ago...Ye did ask me to marry you right?" Gobber asked them as they both now looked at him.
"Gobber, we said it was a school project to fake a marriage between us! Just the vows and being on camera, a small party...How in the hell did this even get legal! We were minors, there is so much paper work in marriage. We didn't even apply for a marriage license!" Hiccup yelled at him.
"You didn't have to. We thought the papers in your packet were actually there to fill out, so your dads and I did them. Then I turned them in. Since they both signed, they were agreeing to a minors wedding. We thought it was part of the project to have to show how the process went. Once I did the ceremony, I turned everything in and they did the rest. I thought you knew I was a minister, Hiccup." Gobber stated to him now.
"No those were printed out for research on marriage...in order to show the process...and you and our dads filled them out!" Astrid snapped. "Do they even know this marriage was real!"
"We thought they had to be...I'm sorry lass. Once they were filled out and the wedding was over. I had Heather and Fishlegs sign as witnesses then took it to town hall. I thought it was a real wedding, Hiccup. I'm sorry...You get 60 days to annual it if you don't want it anymore, just go to town hall and explain the mistake..." Gobber said to them. Hiccup and Astrid looked at one another now with a sigh.
"Gobber can you just...give us some time to talk?" Hiccup asked.
"Yes. I'm sorry again...I take full responsibility...I'll even tell your dads myself..." Gobber said as he walked past them and headed outside.
"Gobber...don't say anything right now...Astrid and I need to talk about a few things regarding this marriage..." Hiccup said to him.
"Course lad." Gobber nodded before leaving the house. Hiccup looked at Astrid now, neither of them knew what to do. As if things couldn't of gotten more crazy with Astrid being pregnant, now they were legally married to one another. How did one even respond to such news? Thinking it was fake just for show and then all this? Then Astrid did something he didn't expect she just started laughing uncontrollably as Hiccup arched a brow at her, why was this funny?!
"Astrid, I fail to see what's so funny about this! Don't you understand that we are married, legally married right now. You're legally Mrs. Haddock and all those documents say it...Will you stop laughing, this is a serious problem." Hiccup grumbled. Astrid grabbed his collar and pulled him close to her as she kissed him deeply now. After the kiss she pulled back with a light giggle as he blinked very confused now. "What was that for?" He asked finally finding his words.
"Hiccup! This is perfect..." Astrid told him with a big smile.
"I am very confused right now, Astrid...please explain this to me? We're...18 years old and having a baby, and now we're legally married or actually we've been married for almost a month now...How is this perfect! Our fathers are going to kill us when they find out!" Hiccup said starting to panic. Astrid rolled her eyes at him.
"Did we just switch roles? Aren't I the one freaking out and you the calm one who sees reason?" Astrid asked him. "Our dad's aren't going to kill us...they're gonna kill Gobber for turning in that paperwork. As for being pregnant...they might not be thrilled about it right away but...now they can't say you'll just runaway because we're married. And by the way...I don't mind sharing the room with you now." Astrid winked at him. Hiccup crossed his arms over his chest looking at her with an arched brow.
"Hardly the time for jokes babe...Are you saying...you're okay with this?" Hiccup asked now.
"That's exactly what I'm saying, Hiccup. Why not?! Hiccup, we are MARRIED. Legally! You said you'd marry me one day when things weren't so stressful right?" Astrid said.
"Astrid...I didn't mean right now though. We went over this earlier...I wanted to give you the wedding of your dreams babe, not some...play thing we did for school that was poorly mistaken about on Gobber's part...I wanted to be married to you, Astrid, but not like this...not where it was...unintentional..." Hiccup sighed out closing his eyes. Astrid held his left hand with his and stroked her fingers over his ring.
"Love is the reason we are here. In marriage we not only say 'I love you today' but also, 'I promise to love you for all of our tomorrows'. In the days ahead of us there will be stormy times and good times. Times of conflict and times of joy. I ask you to remember the advice given to us. To never go to bed angry. Let our love be stronger than our anger. Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend than to break. Believe the best rather than the worst. Confide in your partner, and ask for help when you need it. Remember that true friendship is the basis for any lasting relationship. Give your spouse the same courtesies and kindness you bestow your friends. Remember to say I love you, every day." Astrid said softly to him, Hiccup's eyes opened widening and looking at her now. That was the beginning of their wedding ceremony. She'd changed the words slightly but he still didn't understand what she meant.
"Yes Astrid, I remember that day perfectly. I don't see what it has to do with us right now." Hiccup stated.
"Hiccup..." She said gently looking in to his eyes now. "You keep saying you want to give me the wedding of my dreams...Even if what we had that day was only just for a school project...it felt every bit real to me. Hiccup, that wedding...was perfect. It was the wedding of my dreams because all I ever wanted in my wedding was my family, good friends...and the man I love. And that day Hiccup...I had all of that. Unintentional or not, Hiccup...we both said I Do that day and we both said 'We would live together in marriage? To love comfort, honor and keep each other for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others and to be faithful to only one another, so long as you both shall live?'." Astrid replied stroking his cheek now.
"But Astrid come on...we said those vows on a cheap, $20 set of silver rings from the store..." Hiccup mumbled.
"Do you think I care? Hiccup let me tell you something...From the moment you proposed with this..." Astrid said showing the heart shaped engagement ring, "I never took it off. Not even to shower...this ring hasn't left this finger ever, except when I took it off for the wedding ceremony and put it right back on after we kissed. The price of the rings doesn't matter, the fact they are a strong plastic, doesn't matter. What matters is we stood up in front of our closest friends and fathers...to pledge our love to one another, and vow to hold on to that love forever more." Astrid smiled as he looked at her now, he could see the utter joy in her eyes. "Since that day Hiccup...even without it being official...I've felt married to you. We take things on together, we're here for one another. And now that I know it was all real...I've never been happier to be unintentionally married to you." Astrid added.
How could Hiccup possibly tell her they couldn't stay married now? Everything she said was true. Sure it was unexpected and supposed to be all fake but wow they really were married. They did say real vows that day, and exchange rings. It was real to him that day, and every bit of what he could asked for and more. Hiccup finally smiled at her as he pulled her close to him, "Neither have I. You're the best thing in my life and accidental or not...I'd never take back that day. Well then Mrs. Haddock...Until death do us part, you're stuck with me..." Hiccup chuckled. Astrid's eyes lit up with such a gleam.
"Not even death could separate us, Hiccup. I love you." Astrid cried now.
"I love you so much more." Hiccup said as they kissed deeply, staying locked in one another's arms. After 10 minutes they broke apart smiling happily. "You're right babe, who cares if it was only supposed to be fake that day...it was real to us and now it'll be real to everyone else. But first...Gobber is going to get the grand honor of telling our dad's...and then we'll tell them about the baby..." Hiccup said softly.
"Well they are both away so we'll need to call them. I'll go first..." Astrid said reaching for her phone and pulling up her dad in her phone and pressing it, she took a deep breath waiting for him to answer. It went to voicemail. "Hey daddy...how are you? I'm great...just...wondering when you're coming home. Miss you a lot and feel like we haven't talked in ages...Call me back. Love you." Astrid said smiling then hung up.
Hiccup now pulled out his phone from his pocket and called his dad who answered right away before the first ring ended.
"Hey son. Glad you called. How's things at home?" Stoick asked with a laugh.
"H–hey dad. Everything is fine, just fine...How's work?" Hiccup replied.
"Oh its great. We're actually getting ready to pack up and come home." Stoick answered. Hiccup arched a brow now.
"W–we? Dad, who else is coming back with you? Another wrestler?..." Hiccup asked now, Astrid cocked a brow obviously confused too.
"No son, Calder is with me. Didn't we tell you, he's working for me now. He organizes all my matches and stuff since I fired that other guy a few weeks ago." Stoick laughed. Both Hiccup and Astrid's mouths hung open in shock.
"Wait so you two are together right now?" Astrid asked first.
"Yes we are dear! We'll be home in an hour, I got your message. I was about to call when Hiccup called Stoick." Calder said now.
"Great...that's...wonderful. When you get back...can you come to the house? Astrid and I...have to talk to you guys..." Hiccup gulped.
"Will do! See you soon!" Stoick called to them. They hung up as Astrid and Hiccup both paled, they had an hour to get ready and then tell their dad's everything. Hiccup took a deep breath to calm down.
"Okay, everything is alright. Lets get this place clean, I'll get Gobber back over here..." Hiccup said getting his phone again and dialing Gobber's cell.
"Ello, Iccup...You and the Mrs. Get to talk?" Gobber asked.
"We did, can you come back?" Hiccup asked.
"I'll be over soon." Gobber replied.
"Right, thanks Gob." Hiccup smiled. Gobber hung up as Hiccup put his phone away as he and Astrid started cleaning everything up. Dishes, sweeping, moping, vacuuming, dusting, even some laundry. Everything was done 10 minutes before the hour was up and the two were sitting down on the couch just waiting for their fathers to arrive, and Gobber too.
"So we're going to tell them about the baby first? Or the marriage?" Astrid asked.
"I think we should tell them about the marriage first, might soften the baby blow..." Hiccup stated as there was a knock, Hiccup got up and opened the door seeing Gobber there. "Thanks for coming." Hiccup greeted letting him in.
"You're like a son to me Hiccup, remember that so what did ya call me back for?" Gobber asked.
"You're going to be telling our father's what you did..." Astrid stated. The sound of two men clearing their throats was heard they saw Stoick and Calder there.
"Tell us what?" Calder asked first.
"Dad..." Astrid and Hiccup said together. "Come inside...and sit down..." Hiccup said smiling softly. Stoick and Calder looked at one another then walked in as Hiccup shut the door and moved to sit beside Astrid holding her hand gently. "Gobber...tell them." Hiccup said. Gobber looked at the two very confused fathers and sighed heavily.
"Alright what's going on you three?" Stoick asked now.
"Stoick. Calder. You have to understand that this is my fault and I misunderstood the lad when he asked me to marry them a month ago..." Gobber began calmly.
"He did ask you to marry them, Gobber. I was there with Calder. We both heard it." Stoick replied with a heavy sigh now.
"No Stoick...I mean I really married them. By accident mind you..." Gobber said again in a firmer tone.
"Gobber, what are you saying? We saw you do it. It was for their project." Calder added now.
"But I didn't know that...And I married them...permanently..." Gobber said becoming a bit nervous now.
"It's not permanent, Gobber. It ends in May before they graduate. I don't see the problem here..." Stoick said staring at the three of them. Hiccup was growing tired of this, neither Calder or his own father understood that Gobber was telling them he preformed a real marriage and everything was legal.
"For the love of Thor. What Gobber is telling you is that he legally married us by accident a month ago!" Hiccup yelled. The room fell silent now before the two fathers looked at one another and then started laughing.
"Alright, good one you three. Little early for April Fool's jokes but that's the best I've ever heard!" Calder laughed with Stoick. Astrid didn't find this funny although she laughed too when she found out but hers was for a different reason. Astrid got up, grabbed the marriage license, her new social security card, drivers license, and insurance cards and tossed them on the table in front of them.
"It's a little frustrating you wouldn't take this more seriously because its true! These came in the mail today. And no, its not for the project. Those papers you filled out thinking it was to show the marriage process, were only for research. They weren't meant to be filled out. Gobber assumed this marriage was real and you two signed papers, filled out the application to our marriage license, and made it so Gobber could legally marry us last month! You legally consented to a minors marriage and Gobber turned everything in to the town and married us in February! It's not a damn joke!" Astrid snapped at them. Their laughing came to a quick halt now looking at everything.
"Astrid, even with all this doesn't mean anything...Gobber's not a licensed minister. So this marriage isn't legal. The town made a mistake." Stoick said.
"Heh...actually Stoick...I am licensed as a minister for the town of Berk..." Gobber chuckled nervously as he pulled out a small red card and handed it to Stoick who read it with Calder now. "I got really bored one night and just did it online...This is what I meant by...I accidentally married your kids a month ago. I didn't know it was a project...I thought you two really wanted them married...So when you filled out those papers...I turned them in and when they said everything was in order...I married them..." Gobber informed them. Stoick and Calder stared at one another as shock finally took over as they looked over everything.
"This isn't a joke...Astrid and I are legally married to one another and now with all these...she's officially Astrid Haddock." Hiccup said calmer now.
"GOBBER!" Calder and Stoick yelled together angrily now.
"Don't you blame him! You filled everything out!" Hiccup yelled.
"We thought it had to be for the project! We knew it was a project!" Calder replied now getting up.
"You should of asked us, you know the two people this project affects most!" Hiccup's eyes narrowed. Astrid walked between the two and pushed them apart with her arms.
"Alright that's enough!" Astrid yelled at the top of her lungs as the two backed off, Calder sat back down as Hiccup crossed his arms over his chest.
"We'll go to town hall first thing in the morning and get this fixed..." Stoick said in a rough tone.
"No." Hiccup and Astrid said together now taking both of their fathers by surprise.
"This is not up for discussion! You two are too young, and still in high school!" Stoick firmly.
"And we'll be done in 3 months..." Astrid said softly.
"You two are not staying married!" Calder said standing up again beside Stoick.
"Yes we are. We may of gotten married at 17 because of you two and him...but we're 18 now and legally free to make our own decisions about our lives." Hiccup told them, they both looked at one another.
"I'm so pleased to hear you'll be staying together!" Gobber announced happily.
"Not the time Gobber..." Hiccup stated firmly.
"Right, sorry...so am I done here? I have things to finish at the shop..." Gobber asked. Hiccup nodded as he scurried out before Stoick and Calder could grab him.
"Now both of you sit down..." Astrid commanded. Stoick and Calder huffed and sat back down on the couch with their arms crossed. "Hiccup and I weren't thrilled to hear about legally being married either when Gobber brought that stuff over...but after we talked about a few things, we realized that there was no reason to annul the marriage because its what we wanted." Astrid explained.
"I had plans to marry Astrid after high school anyway, in fact I was going to propose the night of the graduation party..." Hiccup stated as Astrid now looked over to him. Was that true? Had he really planned to as her this whole time. She smiled softly, he had way to many surprises. "Like my WIFE said, we weren't thrilled either but we sat down and talked about things and realized that while February's wedding was only supposed to be for the sake of the project...it was everything we could of asked for and more in a wedding." Hiccup said as their fathers eyes began to soften and their arms lowered.
"Daddy you know all I ever wanted in a wedding since I was a little girl was just something small. Family and friends...celebrating the union of me and the man I love...Hiccup is that man. He's not a boy and I think you have no choice but to agree with that after all he's done for me..." Astrid said gently. Calder sighed and nodded.
"I remember baby but you two are only 18...is this really what you want, to be married so young? I know you're both 18 and can make your own choices but...an unintentional wedding? Something that was supposed to be fake?" Calder asked her.
"Daddy, it felt real to Hiccup and I. We knew it was only for the project but it didn't feel that way standing up there facing him and taking our vows, exchanging rings, the kiss...that still happened. We didn't just stand there, exchange rings and kiss...We stood there, taking vows, exchanging rings, and kissing. It was all real to us. Hiccup and I...got to have our first dance, we got to eat, I got my father daughter dance with you, we did a bouquet toss, garter removal and then the garter toss...We laughed and had a good time with family and friends and neither of you can deny it! You two were laughing it up." Astrid reminded them softly.
"She's right. We had decorations, we had food, cake, dancing, witnesses...what part of that isn't a real wedding guys...come on...yeah it was supposed to be for a stupid school project but it was real to us...and now...its real to everyone around us. Astrid and I are married, legally and that's how we're choosing to stay...because that day was everything we wanted in a wedding. Trust me, I wasn't happy either...but Astrid got me to understand. She was for once...my voice of reason." Hiccup stated.
"Stoick, daddy...this is what I want. I want to stay married to Hiccup...he makes me the happiest girl alive. He is every bit of what we took our vows for...he's loyal to me, he's there for me when I'm sick, there for me when I need someone...above all...he loves me." Astrid said smiling as Hiccup put his arms around her now.
Stoick and Calder looked at one another now before closing their eyes and sighing. "Alright...we'll allow this. Not just because we're forced to by law...but because you are both happy and all a parent asks for is their child's happiness..." Stoick said softly. Astrid and Hiccup smiled wide as they kissed one another gently. "Looks like I just gained a daughter..." Stoick added with a laugh.
"Aye and I gained a son, one I know will take care of my little girl forever." Calder smiled nodding. It was then that Hiccup and Astrid began to chuckle nervously at them.
"I–I'm glad you feel that way..." Hiccup said now.
"Now just...remember that happy feeling you both have right now...and uh...stay sitting because we do...have one more thing to tell you...Something else that was supposed to be fake and ended up being real..." Astrid said as she took Hiccup's hand. Calder and Stoick both calmed down and looked at the two now.
"We're listening..." Stoick and Calder said together. Hiccup took a deep breath as Astrid nodded to him to go ahead.
"Astrid is pregnant..." Hiccup said in a calm tone. Calder and Stoick's mouths dropped open now. "And we already decided to keep the baby." Hiccup added now. The room was in utter silence as Astrid and Hiccup waited for the responses from their fathers.