Fifty Three: Family Christmas
The house was large, airy and warm, with fires burning in every fireplace and a nine-foot high elegantly decorated spruce not looking out of place or too large in the huge green oak entrance hall. A large staircase swept up and round to the upper level and lights twinkled off the crystals from the chandelier hanging above the main hallway. Marta, Astrid and Hiccup put their bags by the stairs and the boy looked around, stunned: this house rivalled his parents' and for a moment, he felt at home…until Astrid nudged him.
"Welcome to our humble home," Hagen said, his deep voice with the familiar Hysterical twang sincere. "We are so happy to welcome you, Hiccup. My sister tells me that you lost your parents recently. I hope we are able to compensate just a fraction for that loss on this happy occasion."
There was an awkward pause as he scanned the words for sarcasm-and found none. The man was being genuinely welcoming-something he had become unused to and he nodded with a smile.
"Thanks so much for your kind welcome," he managed. "Um…and Merry Christmas…"
"Can we look after him, Pops?" the taller and slightly older daughter asked and the man nodded.
"Heidi-you and your sister can show him around while Marta and Astrid catch up with us," he said cheerfully. "I've some mulled wine on the stove so it should be ready once you've given him the tour…" Feeling Astrid's glare, Hiccup smiled and leaned close to her. Her jealous reaction was something he didn't know she had in her but it bolstered his confidence and quashed the brief flicker of uncertainty that he had felt in the car.
"Milady-you have nothing to worry about," he reassured her. "I know you didn't mean anything when you answered your Mom. It's okay…" And then he released her hand and followed the girls, allowing them to drag him along the hallway to begin his tour of the house. Agnes gave a small chuckle, her eyes trailing after her daughters.
"I haven't seen them this excited for ages," she smiled. "I wonder which one of them will get him?"
oOo
It was amusing to watch the girls vie for his attention, both confident and flirty as they took him through the living room, large dining room, kitchen, den, cellar, gym and pool and then up to the six bedrooms and four bathrooms on the upper floor. And it was on the upper floor that he found himself needing to resurrect his 'confident Hiccup' persona, the guy who had been leader of the gang and Cami's boyfriend because the flirting was getting rather more than just innocent. Heidi was more forthcoming, confident and pushy while Tiril was more openly flirty, hinting that she would be very happy to unwrap Hiccup as a Christmas present-a hint which he just smiled lazily at.
"Come into my room!" Heidi said as they paused at the door of a large room directly next to the one he had been assigned, her hands knotted in his and hauling him bodily backward. It had taken all his strength to brace himself and stop her-for she was almost as tall as he was and clearly very fit. Then he felt a shove in the back and he found Tiril pushing him in as well, making him stumble and land on his knees on the deep green carpet. He immediately scrambled up.
"Er…I'm not sure your Dad would be happy I was in here," he pointed out, trying to back to the door-which was guarded by an eager Tiril.
"We won't tell him if you won't," the younger sister said, flicking her braid off her left shoulder in such a familiar gesture that he knew she had to be copying from her cousin.
"Our Daddy may look like a nice guy but he has a real Viking's temper and he would snap you in two if he knew you were making advances on his little girls," Heidi warned him.
"And what would Astrid say?" Tiril taunted him. "She gets really jealous and if she found you had been in here…well, she may not be your girlfriend for much longer…"
"And if I pointed out you two dragged me in here not he other way round?" he asked ironically. Sharing a glance, they both laughed at him.
"Who would believe that?" Heidi as ket scornfully.
"Probably Astrid, her Mom, your Mom and your Dad-since they all know you very well," he said, hearing Toothless whine and scratch at the door before grabbing Tiril and hauling her close, almost lifting her off her feet. She was trapped in his tightly wrapped arms, her feet on tiptoes so she had no purchase and he spun her around to make her dizzy, all the time staring calculatingly into her eyes-and then dropping her in the middle of the carpet. "Thanks for the tour!" he said, staring down at her dizzy shape and bolting through the door to his agitated mutt and down to the rest of the family as they were still staring at him in shock.
The main family room was light and warm, with large leather couches with fleecy throws and thick rugs on the floor. The family's dog, Rufus-a huge russet wolfhound-was occupying the main place by the fire and Toothless whined and stuck very close to Hiccup as he perched on the end of the couch, trying to sit by Astrid-but Tiril squirmed in between them and linked her arm with his.
"You wanna see my trophies?" she asked and he blushed not at all sure what she meant by that. There was a pause and he shook his head.
"I just want to sit down, to be honest," he told her. She pouted, a fake expression he recognised from Cameron when she wasn't getting what she wanted.
"Awww…and I was going to she you the vid from my last competition-where I became Archipelago Champion…" she whined.
"Only because you pulled an illegal move and the judges didn't pick it up," Heidi grumbled loudly. "Otherwise I would still be Champion…"
"You're both winners," their father soothed and Hiccup stared at him: the man seemed far too good to be true and he eyed his good-natured face suspiciously, recalling the girls's words. "Now go help your mother in the kitchen…" Both girls pouted then and made excuses to go to their rooms, Tiril casting Hiccup an inviting look before she departed. Hagen sighed. "I apologise," he said the the auburn haired teen. "They've always been competitive and hated that Astrid was so successful when she was at school. They always try to upstage her-and I think they imagine they can just snap their fingers and you will come running to them…" Hiccup sighed.
"I have learnt the value of true friends and putting those above superficial things like wealth, connections and power," he said. "And Thor, I sound old and boring!" Then he glanced at the glowering Astrid. "Your niece has been a true friend and I really really like her. I'm not about to throw all that away just because two spoilt little girls think they can play me. No offence intended." She looked up and the creases in her brow smoothed as she smiled at him.
"That was pretty crushing," she commented and stole at look at the door. "Though they won't take no for an answer…"
"Then I will have to find a way of saying it more clearly," he admitted. "Not that I haven't already tried…meanwhile, could I offer to help you, Mrs…Agnes…" He stuttered to a halt realising that he didn't know their family name. She laughed at him and rose.
"Call me Agnes, Hiccup-and I would be delighted," she said genuinely. "I mean, my niece can't cook, my daughters don't want to…it will be a pleasure for once in not doing it by myself!"
"I always used to help Dad-when he yelled at me-because Mom couldn't cook at all," he explained, rising to his feet. "Seriously, she burnt the egg nog one year and…" Agnes frowned.
"But egg nog doesn't require cooking…" she said, walking to his side. He nodded.
"I know. And my Dad pointed this out as well as the fact that she had managed to burn the bottom out of his favourite pan at the same time…" The woman smiled.
"I just hope you've inherited your culinary skills from your father," she said.
In fact, Agnes was surprised at how well the boy could cook. When he really thought about it, he could recall his family recipe for cranberry and mead sauce, which Agnes was happy to try while he watched her baste and season the turkey and make her own stuffing recipe, which he paid close attention to, recalling Marta's words. They peeled the potatoes and carrots and prepared the cabbage between them and Hiccup made the gravy as well before they finished decorating the yule log. And through it all, Agnes talked to him as if he was normal person and for a brief period, he was transported back to previous Christmases, cooking with his father and feeling part of a family. Eventually, as the turkey was in for the last half hour, they returned to the family room to find the girls had returned and Astrid was sitting slumped in her seat, glowering.
"…and of course, I had to turn Chad down because he was a lousy two-timing so-in-love-with-himself ass," Heidi said smugly. "I mean…as if…"
"And he was so 'Heidi I love you and can't live without you'," Tiril added, her eyes firmly fixed on her cousin.
"While I was so 'Chad-you piece of…'" Heidi added.
"Enough," Hagen said firmly, passing round cups of mulled wine to everyone. "Astrid-how has your soccer been going? Marta tells me that you have been winning all your matches…" Self-consciously, the blonde nodded.
"So far, we're topping the league," she admitted. "Freya's Girls Boarding School was rough-as was Meathead-but we've still got a 100% record…"
"Only because you haven't played Hysteria High yet!" Heidi told her smugly.
"They're after midterms," Astrid retorted. "And we've got a 4-0 record over them since I moved…" There was a cool silence.
"But this year, we're in the team," Tiril said smugly. "So you can kiss your perfect record goodbye…" Astrid laughed.
"Girls-it's nice to know your coach is so desperate she ropes in two Snowboarders instead of proper soccer players," she retorted. "Of course, you do realise you'll be away on International Duty for the Tour when the match is on?" There was pause and they shared a horrified look. "You may be bitches but you're my cousins and I always look out for your results-so I memorise the dates of your competitions on the Snowboarding Tour…unless you've been dropped from the Archipelago squad…" Agnes and Marta were both trying to smother their giggles and Hagen roared with laughter.
"I see Astrid still has your numbers!" he roared.
"Burn," Hiccup murmured. Blushing fiercely, the girls glared at their cousin.
"You think you can keep him?" Heidi sneered.
"I'll just have to snap my fingers and he'll come running…" Tiril added.
"Um…sitting right here," Hiccup piped up, feeling acutely embarrassed.
"You think you can compete with this?" Astrid shouted, grabbed Hiccup's jumper and hauled him towards her.
"Um…what are you doing?" he asked warily as she slammed her lips onto his, her hands lacing round the back of his neck to pull him close. He leaned in, hands gently clasping her shoulders as his lips moved sensuously over hers, feeling her relax and enjoy the kiss. When they pulled apart, the room was in silence.
"Nope, I doubt they can compete with that!" Marta commented, raising her mulled wine as the two bushed.
"Are you feeling better now?" Hiccup asked Astrid quietly as she dipped her head, suddenly looking self-conscious.
"Oh Thor, yes-but are you?" she whispered back and he grinned.
"Definitely," he replied. "And not an 'ewww' in sight…" And the he glanced at the cousins. "Except from them…" Both girls were glaring at the couple and they burst out laughing at Heidi and Tiril's discomfort.
"And…presents!" Hagen said desperately, heading for the tree and the selection of parcels wrapped carefully in golden foil wrapping. He returned with his arms full. "These are for you all…" and he handed packages to his family while Astrid gave red-wrapped parcels to her cousins and aunt and uncle-and a larger parcel to her Mom…and, shockingly, a package to Hiccup. He stared in shock and embarrassment.
"Um…what is this?" he asked warily.
"It's called a Christmas Present and is a gift commonly given at this time of year," Astrid grinned.
"And my sarcasm has already taken hold," he sighed. "It is highly infectious after all. I mean...why are you giving me a present?" He wasn't expecting the punch to the shoulder and he yelped at the very firm impact before looking defensively at her. "Why would you do that?" She smiled at him.
"Because you're my boyfriend and you've had the shittiest year ever and what you really need from the people who care for you is a sign that you aren't alone," she said gently. He stilled and stared into her eyes, his expression suddenly flooded with gratitude.
"Oh, thank Thor," he managed and sped out, returning with two small parcels, wrapped with some craft paper. He handed a flat one one to Marta and a smaller squashy one to Astrid. "Because otherwise I would be feeling very embarrassed about this." They both gaped, Astrid looking up at his earnest face, seeing the sparkle in his emerald eyes. "Um...nothing new because I am quite frankly completely poor...but anyway...enjoy..." Astrid nodded and ripped the paper open-to reveal a gilt medallion on a white gauze ribbon, shined to reveal the runic Viking design. He rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment.
"It's beautiful," Astrid breathed. He gave a shy smile.
"Um...it was my mother's," he explained. "My Dad gave it to her as a Betrothal gift and she treasured it-though she didn't wear it much because, well, she wasn't really a jewellery type of person. And I hope you like it because it would be really embarrassing if you didn't..." Astrid smiled and arched an eyebrow.
"Betrothal gift?" she repeated.
"Oh Thor...I should probably have thought of this a bit better but it was something that meant a lot to my Mom and one of the few things I have left of hers but I couldn't think of a better person to look after it and...maybe I'll just go an hide in the woodpile for the rest of the day..." Smiling, she carefully tied the ribbon around her neck and glanced down at the medallion.
"It's beautiful," she reassured him. "And it means more to me than anything because it is so precious to you..." Then she grabbed him and kissed him again and he finally relaxed.
"Thank you," he breathed, hugging her.
Marta opened her parcel to find a picture frame with a photograph of Astrid in full soccer mode, scoring a goal which Hiccup had taken during her most recent match. The frame was one of the ones he had rescued from his home and she smiled and thanked him for his thoughtfulness. Astrid's present to him was a thick woollen sweater in the Berk High colours that actually suited his auburn hair and green eyes well and he thanked her with a chaste kiss. Smugly, Astrid stroked her medallion.
"But I thought we were betrothed," she teased him. "I expected much more passion..."
"Thor-help!" he quipped. Then the girls sashayed forward and fluttered their eyelids at him.
"Haven't you got presents for us?" they pouted and he turned to face them, his brows finally drawing down in a scowl. He had had just about enough.
"No-because I love Astrid and quite honestly, I don't even like you two," he told them bluntly. "You've been disrespectful, invasive and deliberately set out to upset Astrid-who is my girlfriend. And I can see why neither of you have a boyfriend-because though you are both physically attractive, you are scheming manipulative bitches who deserve all the losers and two-timers who are all the people who seem to hit on you!"
"Now-steady on, lad..." Hagen said as the auburn-haired teen turned to face him.
"With all due respect-no," he said firmly. "They may be your daughters but they have no manners at all. I have never met them, I don't know them and what they have shown me has been what I've just described. You think I'm going to be nice to a pair who have gone out of their way to be bitchy to my girlfriend Astrid in front of me? I don't think either of them know how lucky they are! This time last year, I was that sulky spoilt kid, enjoying expensive gifts and wanting to go off so I could text my friends and FaceTime my girlfriend...but here I am, spending part of Christmas Day visiting my parents' graves and having no home or family to visit. So no. They can take in my words and either sulk or take them on board and become better people."
"Hear hear," Marta murmured, glancing at her sister. Agnes looked up-and then nodded.
"I am afraid Hiccup is correct," she conceded. "Heidi, Tiril-apologise to our guest and then go take the vegetables off the stove. Now!" There was a shocked pause and then the pair got up, mumbled apologies and scuttled from the room, utterly mortified at their humiliation. Hagen opened his mouth to protest but his wife shook her head. "No, my love. For once, let them be in the wrong and learn the lesson. This young man has earned his dinner twice over-once for helping me actually make it and the second for pointing out what we should have." She looked over at the shocked teen, who was waiting to be asked to leave, and nodded. "Thank you."
oOo
Overall Christmas Dinner was a merry meal and the girls sulked throughout the excellent turkey with all the trimmings. Hagen begged for more of the mead cranberry sauce and Agnes dryly commented that she would have to ask Hiccup for the recipe, which made both Hagen and the girls sit up straight. The Yule log and steamed plum pudding were a triumph and everyone settled by the fire for the evening, replete and completely stuffed. Toothless had feasted on turkey and was overjoyed at the warmth and acceptance of Rufus-who turned out to be a complete softie. And sitting there with Astrid leaning against him dozing, drooling lightly on his shirt, the boy felt happy for a short period.
Of course, they had eaten mince pies and played Christmas games later on-finding the girls were as competitive as Astrid was which made a simple game of Cluedo almost come to blows. Monopoly had been a fraught affair and even Scrabble had been played with no quarter given-though Hiccup had actually won. And the girls had finally realised he was serious in what he had said and backed off, allowing them to watch the big movie on TV as one large and happy family.
And outside, when he took Toothless out into the dark garden just before bedtime, he stared up at the brilliant stars, his breath curling around him like small clouds and smiled. Smiling at the Pole Star, he felt a brief sense of peace, as if his parents were watching over him.
"Happy Christmas, Mom and Dad," he said.
