CHAPTER 41: LETTING GO

"Oh my gosh! Henry?! Did you use the stairs or the elevator?"

"I used the stairs, but it's okay."

"You used the stairs?! There's an elevator, Henry!"

"I wouldn't always have one present in every building, right? I chose to use the stairs Regina...it's okay." Henry said, trying to stop her panic, but surprised and amused at the same time to even be treated differently by Regina, who he'd never really been friends with, despite how long they've known each other. She flickered her gaze between his eyes and the prosthetic, rolling her eyes and shaking her head in disbelief.

"You know your stubbornness is the most annoying part of your personality, right?"

Henry smirked, now there was the Regina he was used to. "Yeah...I know."

"Well, come in. I'm not going to keep you waiting by revealing how shocked I am that you actually paid me a visit."

"When you put it like that, it makes me feel really terrible." Henry walked into her apartment, with Regina closing the door after him.

"Good, you should feel terrible." Regina ushered him to the couch, where he sat down, stretching out his prosthetic and trying to hide the pain of choosing the stairs over the more comfortable option of the elevator. Regina watching him, immediately noticing his discomfort.

She gave a faint smile. "It hurts, doesn't it?"

Henry shrugged. "I'll get used to it."

"How are you doing, Henry?"

"I'm doing okay...how about you?"

Regina snorted. "Just okay? You're back to the board, and your return is pretty much the talk of Haddock aviation, even after that huge party was thrown on your behalf."

"Yeah...that was...something."

"We are all glad you're back, Henry."

Henry corked an eyebrow, giving her a quizzical glance. "Are you sure that's not sarcasm? or..."

Regina scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Please... not everyone is a fan of that...like you are."

"Thank you. I'm glad to be back. I felt like a whole year of my life was stolen from me."

"You had a whole year off work without getting fired? You really don't know how lucky you are, do you?"

Henry smiled. "Uhm...Regina, I uh..."

"I know why you're here Henry. Do you think I'd believe you came to see me just for the sake of a visit? and on a workday?"

"I'm sorry I didn't wait till the weekend...I just need to..."

"Ask about Astrid? Why did it take you so long, Henry? It's been over a year now since she left and this isn't the first time we are meeting each other since then."

"Because I'm not supposed to go after her. She left to start over, far from every pain I caused her. We broke up so I should have moved on by now...especially after a whole year of her absence."

"There's nothing wrong with asking about her, Henry. You were in the hospital and no matter what happened between you two, she should have been there...at least as a friend. The fact that you want to know the reason why she wasn't there...doesn't mean you haven't moved on."

Henry sighed, biting his lower lip. "Uhm...Can I be honest with you, Regina?"

"You haven't moved on?"

Henry shook his head. "No...I really haven't."

"Then go after her Henry!" Regina exclaimed. "Look, before Astrid told me about her feelings for you, I'd noticed your feelings for her."

"When did she tell you about that?"

"Remember the class you had with us at the hanger? When we were literally forced to stare at your face for three horrid hours?"

Henry gave a soft chuckle. "Yeah?"

"It was the day she told me that she was in love with you...or at least didn't deny when I asked her about it."

"Really?"

"Yeah. At first, I didn't believe her feelings were reciprocated genuinely. I thought you were probably messing around with her because you were still with Heather, but when you actually made a move towards being with her in Wisconsin..."

Henry scratched the back of his neck slightly embarrassed. "Actually...she was the one who made the move...I'm more of a coward than I look."

"You're not a coward. You were in a relationship back then, the only cowardly action you committed was that you didn't tell Heather the truth...and up till now." She paused, giving him a cold glance. "You still haven't done that."

"She committed over ten years of her life to me, Regina. I can't hurt her in return."

"But you're hurting her even more by lying to her...and she knows that. You are in love with Astrid, Henry...and I noticed it before you even realized it. You then realized it, but then proposed to Heather to run away from it. I was there, I watched you run after her when she broke down at your engagement party. I watched the way she reacted to your proposal, when we both found her drunk at the club...and I watched how worried you were about her husband seeing her that way, but I didn't understand it then."

"Her husband was..."

"I know...even before you found out about it."

"She didn't even tell me about it. I met her husband...and figured it out."

"She went through a lot Henry, but she was able to get through all that...because of you, Henry." Regina went on. "You have no idea how much hope you've given her Henry, you didn't have to, but you chose to care...and she fell in love with you."

"But...why didn't she come to the hospital when I was there? I needed her to..."

"She did. She told Heather not to tell you she did, but she was there Henry. At first, she was hesitant in fear of meeting your father again, but she snuck in countless times in their absence and even joined Heather to take care of you."

"Henry's jaw dropped in shock when she confirmed his suspicions. "You mean...Astrid, was there?"

"Yes. She loves you so much Henry, and there was no way she could have left without seeing you."

Henry ran his hand through his hair, sighing in frustration. "Why does she feel like the best way to solve this is by running?"

"She's Astrid. She didn't grow up with love or grow up to believe that she deserved to be loved. You, on the other hand, you understand it enough to know that you're supposed to hold onto it...and not run from it."

"So what should I do? What if she just keeps running?"

"Then you keep going after her. Teach her how to love by loving her. She would open up her heart to you one day, enough to believe that she is worthy of love."

"Where is she now? Have you been able to contact her since she left?"

"No, not really...but I do know the state she lives in, but not the exact location. I'm sorry I couldn't really get anything from her."

"Whatever you have would be good enough for me, I'm willing to look for her...no matter how long it takes."

Regina smiled. "You've grown up so much, Henry. You're not that hiccup who wasn't brave enough to set his own path, letting himself get pushed by the people around him."

"Wow. A lot of insults passed on as a compliment but...I'll take it...Thank you."

"She's in Clevland Henry, I took a peek into her boarding pass when she left. I had told Heather, but don't get mad about it, it's not easy for her to let you go."

"I have no right to get mad at her. I just need to gather the courage to tell her the truth."

"You should have done that a long time ago, instead you went ahead with your marriage plans."

"So she's in Clevland?"

"Hopefully, she's still there. It's been a year now, she could have changed location or something."

"I'll start from Clevland, and I'm not going to stop...until I find her."

"You dare not stop. She left Michigan...because of you."

"Thank you, Regina."

"Don't thank me yet...until you're sure...it's not too late."

"It's funny how Alex used this invitation to ask you on a date."

Astrid glanced at her reflection in the mirror, running her fingers through her straightened blonde hair. "I wasn't fooled, Lydia. I could've still rejected his offer."

"But you didn't."

"Only because you were going to be there too. It's a ball thrown in honor of the launch of George's company, how could I say no?"

"But as Alex's date?"

"Lydia, how else could I have gone to the party?"

Lydia rolled her eyes, still trying to get the wing of her eyeliner straight. "However you choose to look at it, it's a date...and just so you know, we are going to different cars and in different directions after the party."

"I know Lydia and it's a good thing because I think it's time I told him the truth."

"About what?" Lydia quickly titled to her direction, eyes glowing in shock. "Don't tell me your gonna...Astrid come on!"

"I'm serious, I can't keep leading him on like this, Lydia."

"Astrid, you haven't even given him a chance...not enough to conclude that you're leading him on!"

"I have given him a chance, but I just can't see him that way...and I should tell him about it so he doesn't spend any more time...going after the wrong girl."

Lydia sighed in frustration. "So up until now, you're still in love with Henry Haddock?"

Astrid glanced at her in silence, tempted to deny that fact, but she couldn't run from it...even by trying to date other guys. She nodded slowly, tears beginning to cloud the corners of her eyes. Lydia stared at her in silence for a while, before walking up to her and pulling her into a hug.

"Don't you think you should go back and see him? I'm sure he misses you as much as you miss him."

"He's probably a married man by now. I told you he was supposed to get married before his accident...it's probably too late."

"Gosh, I'm really interested in meeting this guy who managed to make the great Astrid Hofferson fall deeply in love with him."

"I deleted the last of his picture, but I'm sure there's a lot of news about Haddock aviation, he has to appear on one of those."

"What if...he comes here, Astrid...Would you go with him then?"

Astrid snorted, shaking her head in disbelief. "Why would he come here? It's not like he knows where to find me...and I haven't even told Regina about it."

"You haven't called to find out if he has moved on, or if he's as miserable as you are right now?"

"What would that solve? Even if he hasn't married his fiancee, it doesn't mean he would still want to be with me."

"And what other reason would there be? You've already been away for so long, how much more do you both want to torture each other?"

"Maybe I haven't gathered up the courage to face him, but if I do...I need to be sure that there is little hope of a future with him."

"How would you know that if you haven't cared to check up on him? Why don't you try calling Regina?"

"Alright, I would, okay? I'm just...ashamed."

"Of what? your past?"

"No! not that. I'm ashamed that I left him when he needed me the most in hopes of moving on, only to return without achieving that?"

"Really? You're going to include pride in this?!"

"It has nothing to do with pride, Lydia."

"I think it does. Why should it matter that you finally came to realize that you can't move on from him? It doesn't matter now, you need to go back and talk to him."

"I know Lydia. As I said, I need to courage to do so...but I don't have that...not yet."

"I get it...but when you do...don't hesitate...he might be missing you too."

"I really hope so Lydia...I really do."

"Heather? Why did you want to meet here? You need to see a client?"

Heather shook her head. "I'm leaving on a long vacation, Henry...I might come back...or I might not..."

"What?" Henry squinted with a confused look, eyes flickering to the hand luggage and wondering the reason behind their sudden decision. He studied her for a while and his heart dropped, he could tell she'd been crying for a while now. "I might be willing to fight for the people I love, but...I can only fight so much."

Henry took her hand in his, panic hitting him instantly and he began to understand her words. "What is this about, Heather? We did put all the cards on the table, right?"

"I did...but you didn't..." Tears began to creep the corners of her eyes. "You're still in love with her, Henry...and I don't blame you for that."

"Heather..."

"I don't blame her for it either. Astrid's an amazing person and I would have done the same. You don't choose who to love Henry...you met Astrid for a reason because she is the right girl for you and I wouldn't punish you for that by keeping you away from her."

"Heather...come on...don't do this."

"I have to...Henry. I have to do this because I love you...because I want you to be happy." She looked away sniffing, as more tears streamed down her eyes.

"See I was jealous of Astrid, because of the way you looked at her at our engagement party. The way you loved spending so much time with her and how I couldn't make you as happy as she could. It took me a long time to accept it, but...I'm ready to let you go, Henry. I just can't keep holding on, when your heart is with her."

"I also love her and can't keep you away from her. She sacrificed her love for you and stayed away...because of me and it's time...I do the same."

Henry shook his head in disbelief, tightening his grip on her hand. "No...no...you just can't..."

"I lied to you, Henry." Heather increased her tone, her voice now wavering. "Astrid did visit you at the hospital. She would often sneak in after pleading with the nurses, just to be with you. The braid on your hair that you asked about...she did that too. She wanted me to keep it from you so you wouldn't come after her but...you have to."

Heather pulled out a sheet of paper and a flight ticket. "It's her address in Clevland. I booked a flight for tomorrow morning. Go after her, Henry...or you'll never be happy." Henry stared at the papers in her grip in absolute shock. Tears rolled down his eyes as he stood there watching the pain of the girl who had always put his happiness before hers, the girl who loved despite the numerous times that he'd hurt her. He bit his lower lip so hard, hating himself so much for not being able to keep to the promise he made to her on the day of their proposal.

He hated himself for lying to her and making her hold onto false promises when she could have moved on to someone better and more deserving. She had done so much for him that even giving his life wouldn't be enough to repay her, and this? this is what he could give in return? After eleven whole years of love and unending support? He moved towards her and pulled her into a hug, holding her back from leaving.

"You're not going anywhere. Would you for once just think about yourself first?"

"I am...I won't also be happy if you're not with the girl you really love." He could hear her break into a sob, she was pulling away, but he kept holding on.

"Come on Henry...you need to go after her."

"What about you? I have hurt you long enough Heather...I just...not again...not this time."

"I have to go to Henry. Come on...let me go."

"Eleven years Heather...you've invested eleven years of your time and effort into this relationship."

"It's alright Henry...I wouldn't trade those years for anything because...they were the happiest years of my life." Heather sobbed into his shoulder, trying to pull away from his grip. "I stayed to be sure you got better, but please Henry...you need to let me go now."

He had to let her go, to find someone more deserving and worthy to be with her, someone who would love her in return and not take her for granted. She needed to find someone who would cherish her and make her happy. He wasn't that person, and he couldn't hold on and make her suffer for it. He slowly released his grip from her, wiping the tears from his eyes, but they kept coming. He was in love with Astrid, but Heather was still important to him and the idea of losing her was heartbreaking.

"Here." She pulled the silver diamond ring from her finger and placed it in his palm. "Give this to her...It belonged to her from the start."

Henry glanced at the diamond ring in his palm and closed his fist, shutting his lids and bearing the pain of letting her go...It was the best he could do for her now.

"You wouldn't...forget me...right?"

Heather smiled, the swollen bump underneath her eyes was even more visible than before. "You are my first love Henry...we never forget that."

She then waved, pulling up the handle of her hand luggage. "Goodbye...Hiccup. Don't worry...I will be back...I just need to convince Astrid to be her maid of honor on your wedding."

Henry swallowed, fighting more tears. "Thank you Heather...for everything."

"If you want me to accept that appreciation, you'd get on an evening flight to Ohio tomorrow. Don't make me regret letting you go."

Henry nodded, giving a faint smile. "One last hug? For this worthless heartbreaker?"

She smiled and pulled him into a loving embrace. "I'll be fine...don't worry."

He pulled away after a few seconds and Heather to hold of her hand luggage. "Bye, Henry."

"Bye Heather. I'll miss you...much more than you know."

"I'll miss you too."

Henry watched Heather walk towards her gate until she was out of sight, before taking one more glance at the engagement ring in his fist, tears streaming down his face. He'd meant it when he proposed to her with the full intention of standing by her side forever and the last thing he wanted was to hurt her, but he did...over and over again. It was better that he let her go, maybe if he did much earlier, she would have found happiness and the true love that she deserved.

"Where is she?!" A very familiar voice echoed behind him with desperation in its tone and he turned back to face the tall blonde guy who had been in love with his fiancee for the longest time. Freddie. "Heather? has she left already?!"

Henry nodded at him in shock and fear of a similar violent reaction from Freddie like the last time he'd hurt Heather like this, but it subsided when he noticed the hand luggage in Freddie's hand. "Yea...are you...going after her?"

"You were right Henry, I should have told her about how I felt. I was a fool for just giving up to you so easily back then. I should have at least fought for her. I'm going to do it this time, and I'm going to do it right."

Henry smiled at the ray of hope and happiness that came out from this disaster and assurance of a happy ending for Heather. "Go get her, Freddie." Henry leaned forward almost in a whisper. "Or it would be your fault this time...and not mine."

Freddie hugged Henry and raced towards the same gate Heather had entered, with Henry watching with a smile beneath the tears. The pain of letting him go was only a door to finding happiness with her true love, Freddie, and he sure as hell wasn't going to get in the way of that.

"You looked the best tonight."

Astrid smiled, leaning on his car as he closed the door after her. "Please...I didn't even fit into the theme of the party. I'm sorry you had to..."

"Come on.." Alex chuckled, slipping his hands into the pocket of his pants. "You do have a habit of standing out and I definitely was the proudest date tonight."

Astrid's gaze instantly fell to the ground, guilt rising from his sweet words. Alex was a lot like Henry, and his personality made her question why he was still single and hadn't been taken before now. Lydia had told her of his past cold attitude towards the topic of love and how it changed entirely on her arrival. That fact alone somewhat proved the sincerity of his feelings for her, making her feel worse that it wasn't all reciprocated.

She really wanted to give him a chance, as he hadn't given her a single reason to hold back, but she just couldn't...not when she had someone else engraved on her heart. She'd seen this as an opportunity to tell him that some stubborn skinny brunette nerd already held that spot in her heart, but looking at him now, it seemed a lot easier when she'd made this decision. Alex didn't deserve to be hurt but also didn't deserve to be led on and used on his very first attempt on love.

"Uhm...there's something I've wanted to tell you for a while now..."

Alex leaned forward with so much beam in his eyes from the joy of a successful date with her. Her heart dropped at the thought of that joy vanishing as a result of her words. "Alright. You can tell me anything."

"It's about...your...proposal...about...us."

"Well, I know my boundaries, and I know that this date doesn't you've accepted it...but I'm willing to..."

"I can't give you what you want, Alex." Astrid cut in, trying to stand firm to her decision, despite the effect it could have on him. "I just can't..."

Alex was silent for a while, with a confused expression before speaking up. "I...I don't understand...did I do something wrong? I'm sorry if I might have..."

"It's not you Alex...it's most certainly not you." Astrid struggled with her words but pushed them out anyway. "You are an amazing guy. You're focused, responsible, and have treated me with so much respect...you're the kind of guy that crosses every checklist and I wouldn't hesitate to give you a chance, but..."

Astrid looked into his eyes which reflected instant pain, the kind of pain she really didn't want to cause him but had to in order to let him go. "I'm...I'm in love with someone else."

His reaction was far from what she'd been expecting. He just gave a faint smile without any hint of surprise or shock to her revelation. It was almost like he was fully aware, but had been waiting for some kind of confirmation. "I figured out you might be...is it your ex-husband?"

Astrid rolled her eyes, almost offended by his statement. "No no, of course not. It's...someone else in Michigan...that I..."

She stopped when he immediately looked away giving a soft chuckle which was his means to hide his pain, but also confused Astrid on his true reaction to this. She gazed at him in silence till he looked up, catching her gaze. "It's been a year since you moved from Michigan to Clevland, if he isn't doing anything to get you back, then I can't be blamed for choosing not to give up on you."

"He has probably moved on, but...I just can't seem to do the same."

"If you open your heart to love again, believe me, it wouldn't be as hard as it seems."

"That's the problem...I can't...because I love him...because I miss him...because every second I spend away from him feels like torture and it feels like I'm dying slowly." Astrid almost broke down, but stopped, realizing that he couldn't bear her burden while also being on the losing end. "I'm sorry Alex. You deserve someone who would love and cherish you and I wouldn't want to hold you back from finding her by lying to you. I'm not that person...I'm sorry."

Alex exhaled, losing control over his ability to hide his emotions, he nodded with a faint smile. "It's alright. I do understand and I hope...he doesn't waste any more time because he needs to realize...just how lucky he is."

Astrid smiled, a tear creeping down the corner of her eye. "I'm sure he does."

"He has to...because...you're one of a kind Astrid...and you shouldn't feel like you're alone. It doesn't matter if my feelings for you are reciprocated or not...I'm here for you, whenever you need me...don't forget that, okay?" He reached out and gently wiped the tear with his thumb, staring into her eyes.

She leaned forward, pulling him into a hug that he didn't hesitate to return. She hoped that this wasn't a mistake and a wasted second chance to true love.

"I would never forget."