Okay, I know this is almost two weeks late… But, well, it's just a bonus and not one of the main shorts I wrote for this project. And hey! It's finally done!

This short… is a tough one. Bittersweet. On AO3, it comes with the "Choose Not To Use Archive Warnings" tag.

And I wrote this short in a way that, hopefully, it can take place in whatever time period you like. It could be an AU during the Viking times, I guess. Or it could be a modern AU. Or anything in-between. Whichever you prefer.

. o O o .

Follow Your Heart

It was early morning, the sand crunching beneath her feet. The cool morning air was thick with mist, the waves lapping at the beach more audible than visible. Smiling, Astrid took a deep breath of the salty brine and continued her walk along the shore.

She more felt his presence than anything else. His silhouette was barely visible in the swirling mist, his voice nothing but a whisper on the breeze around her. But she could feel that he was close, watching her as she walked.

She sat down in her usual spot, a large piece of driftwood that had one gnarled branch reaching up into the sky. Perfect to lean against. Her gaze wandered out over the endless sea, the mist having lightened with the rising sun.

"It's been ten years today," she said, smiling melancholically. She didn't get an answer, hadn't expected one. But she thought she could feel him coming closer, listening to her every word. "Do you remember? I'd just moved to Berk that day and had to stay at the inn before moving in properly…"

. o O o .

She'd been warned that the weather on Berk wasn't exactly welcoming, had been prepared with warmer clothes and sturdy boots. But she'd not expected to be soaking wet from only the five-minutes'-walk from the harbour to the inn. Shivering and cursing under her breath, she tried to open the door without letting any of her bags land in the muddy puddles on the ground.

"Wait, let me help you."

The voice came from a young man jogging toward her down the hill. Relieved, she took a step to the side and let him hold the door open for her.

"Thanks," she sighed wholeheartedly.

"Anytime," the young man replied, green eyes sparkling beneath his hood.

He was handsome, she noticed, with stubbles on his chiselled jaw and countless freckles giving him an adorable touch. Attractive. She wouldn't have minded looking at him for a little bit longer, but it was not to be. Before she could say anything, he gave her a nod and a smile, and then vanished into the tavern room. But maybe she'd meet him again, Berk wasn't that big, after all.

The innkeeper, a friendly elderly woman, directed her to her room, and as she unpacked her bags, she mused that the people around here seemed to be friendly enough to make up for the bad weather. She changed into fresh clothes, then headed down again in search of some food. Hopefully, there would be something to warm her up.

When she entered the tavern room, however, her hopes dropped a little. It was crowded far beyond what she'd expected. But then again, Berk wasn't big and this was quite possibly the only tavern on the entire island. She looked around for a free table and grimaced when she found none. Just people everywhere, eating and drinking, laughing and enjoying the warmth of a burning hearth.

She was about to give up and ask the innkeeper whether she could take some bread and cheese up to her room, when her eyes caught sight of someone waving at her. How she even noticed the motion amidst the chaotic tavern room she did not know. But it was clearly directed at her.

At first, she reflexively expected it to be some crude pick up thing; it had happened a few times too many before. And it wasn't as if she knew anyone on this island. But then she recognised the waving man as the one who'd held the door open for her. Without the hood and heavy black raincoat, she hardly recognised him, but his gleaming eyes were unmistakable, even across the room. His lips were pulled into an open smile, and with that untidy mop of auburn hair and a green shirt, he looked even more handsome than before.

Astrid hesitated for only one moment before weaving her way through the crowd. To her initial disappointment, there was no free space near him either, but the young man quickly pushed the man next to him further up the bench and scooted over, making room for her. "Ragnar, stay on your side, will you?" he chided with humour in his voice. "Can't leave the lady standing, right?"

She hesitated again, glancing around once more, but then gladly took the free seat. Usually, she prided herself as being well able to care for herself, but after a day of travel, she wouldn't turn down a little support. "Thanks," she sighed, leaning back with relief. "I was just about to give up on something warm to eat."

"Ah, we can't have that," he replied. He raised his arm, gesturing at the burly man standing behind the bar. "There's some good stew tonight. I'm Hiccup, by the way."

Astrid raised her eyebrow. "Hiccup?"

Hiccup shrugged. "Actually, it's Henry. But the only person calling me that is my grandma. So unless you're her in disguise, I'm Hiccup." He grinned at her, the way one corner of his lips tilted up higher than the other somehow utterly endearing.

"Hiccup it is, then," she laughed, feeling surprisingly at ease around him. "And I'm Astrid."

Now, it was on Hiccup to raise an eyebrow? "Astrid? Really?"

There was a mischievous spark in his eyes, one that made her frown. "Why? What's wrong with that name?"

"Oh, it's nothing," he replied lightly. His lips were twitching though, making her suspicious. However, before she could say anything, a young woman, a barmaid apparently, appeared next to her.

"Here you go, Hiccup. Two bowls of mum's stew. Anything else?"

Hiccup only shrugged. "The usual."

With a questioning look, the barmaid turned toward Astrid next.

"I…" she began, not sure what was expected of her. "What's 'the usual'?"

"A tankard of our best beer. One of the mid-sized ones, because the big ones are too much for him."

Now, it was on Astrid to throw Hiccup a questioning look.

He blushed and said a little sheepishly, "It's true."

Chuckling, she turned back toward the barmaid. "I'll take one of those too, then."

The woman nodded and left. Astrid had barely reached for her spoon before she was back though, placing two still rather impressive tankards in front of them.

"Thanks, Cami. These are on me."

Still stunned about how quickly the woman, Cami, had returned, Astrid watched her leave this time. And even though she didn't like to admit it, she was impressed by how easily she navigated the crowded room, pushing aside men certainly twice her weight with apparent ease.

"How… how does she do that?" Astrid asked, bemused.

Hiccup followed her gaze and smirked. "Cami is a force of nature. Don't even try to make sense of her."

Astrid frowned but accepted his words with merely a shrug. They seemed to be on good enough terms and the amusement in Hiccup's voice told her that he was mostly joking.

She reached for her beer. "Thanks for this, by the way. Next round's on me."

"You're welcome," he replied, with a warm smile this time that made her insides flutter strangely. "Consider it a 'Welcome on Berk' gift."

She let her spoon sink into the bowl again and looked up at him, confused. "How do you know I'm new?"

Hiccup laughed, his shoulders shaking even as he tried to suppress it. "That question alone would give you away," he chuckled. "You might not have noticed yet, but Berk isn't exactly big. I've lived here all my life, so I know a stranger's face when I see one. Besides, I know that Helka Hofferson's niece is moving to Berk to support her. And if that's not you, then I wonder how many people there are who look just like her."

Astrid scrunched up her nose but didn't reply. She should have guessed as much; her aunt had warned her that she would be 'the new one' for quite a while. And he had a point, the family resemblance between her and her aunt was indisputable. So she decided not to bother.

"Yeah, you're right, that's me," she admitted, shrugging and rolling her eyes but still smiling. "It really is that obvious, isn't it?"

"Mmh…" Hiccup hummed, looking her over from head to toe. "Yep."

They ate their stew with more light conversation in-between. Astrid managed to pay for the second round of drinks – the beer watered down considerably this time – and by the time those were almost empty she felt as if she'd known Hiccup for all her life.

Talking to him – being with him, really – was surprisingly easy. They seemed to click naturally with just enough contrast to keep their conversation interesting but otherwise being in sync like she'd been with nobody else before.

"Can I ask you something?" she asked at least two hours after she'd entered the tavern room.

Hiccup just cocked his head, nodding and waving a hand to indicate for her to go on. The curiosity on his face was true and friendly. Astrid felt as if she could talk to him about everything.

"What did you mean earlier? About my name, I mean."

"Oh, that." He smirked. "Well, the name is a little presumptuous, don't you think? 'Divine Beauty'? Come on, you have to admit that it's a pretty arrogant name: And, sorry, but you don't live up to it."

Astrid could do little but gape at him. She was used to men making comments about her name, but not like this. Never like this! Had he really just called her ugly? Flabbergasted, she contemplated how to react, whether to simply leave or to punch his arm first.

But then she noticed the mischievous gleam in his eyes, the teasing smirk playing around his lips as he took another mouthful of beer. Oh, he was good, poking fun at her vanity. Cheeky. But in a way, she liked it. It gave their conversation this sense of companionability, as if they'd been friends for years already. And even though they'd only met a couple of hours ago, it felt just right somehow.

"Whatever you say... uhm," she hawed, frowning to herself. On any other occasion, she'd used his surname for this statement. But as she spoke, she realised that she didn't even know his surname. In fact, she knew close to nothing about him. Somehow, that didn't sit well with her.

"So… what are you doing here?" she asked, trying to stir their conversation toward getting to know each other.

He seemed confused though. "Here as in here on Berk? I live here."

Astrid shook her head. "No, I meant here in this tavern. All on your own. Isn't that a bit odd?"

"Huh. Maybe it is odd," he agreed, weirdly melancholically all of a sudden. He looked at her for a long moment, then nodded slightly as if only to himself. He leaned a little closer, elbows resting on the table, and sighed. "I just couldn't stand staying at home today, you know?

There definitely was a natural companionship between them, one that ran deeper than it had any right to. "Is that a general statement or did something happen?" It was too personal a question. But it felt right to ask it nonetheless.

Hiccup's lips twitched into a humourless smile. "Both, in a way. You see…" He paused, taking a deep breath. "My father is the leader of this island. The Chief, if you want to use that phrase. He wants me to follow in his footsteps, but… well, that's simply not who I am. So I've been nothing but a failure and a disappointment to him ever since I can remember."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

She placed a hand on his arm to offer comfort, marvelling at how warm he was. Suddenly, she found herself wondering about how it would feel to get embraced by those arms, to feel his warmth all around her. Somehow, she missed that heat.

She shook her head to chase those thoughts away. Yes, he was attractive; she'd noticed that the moment she'd first gotten a good look at him. But this wasn't the moment to think about that.

No matter how appealing the idea was.

"So… what do you want to do?" she asked, to get herself back on track but also out of honest interest. The longer she talked to Hiccup the more interested she became in him, and not just physically.

"I… I want to see the world," he said, looking up at her and with a crooked smile. "Which is kinda the answer to your earlier question," he added with a sigh. "I'm not just here because Dad and I disagree in general, but because I couldn't stand him moping around and shooting me angry looks or disappointed comments all the time. You see, I'm leaving. Tomorrow. There's this research ship, the Night Fury. Once or twice a year, they start from Berk for an expedition all around the world. When I was little, I used to spend hours on a shore at the northern end of the island. From there, I would watch the horizon, impatiently waiting for the Night Fury to return and for the crew members and explorers to tell their tales." A fond smile crossed his face. "Anyway… Tomorrow, they're leaving for another trip. And I'll go with them. It's not even that I'll be gone forever, only a few months. But Dad thinks it's a complete waste of time and tried only-the-Gods-know-what to keep me here."

"That… must be tough." She grimaced, thinking back to her own family always so full of support for whatever anyone wanted to do.

Hiccup shrugged, sitting up straighter again. "It's all right. I'm used to it by now, and I know that he means well. He just doesn't understand me, never has, and probably never will." He chuckled. "But at least I have my grandma's – his mother's – blessing. She always tells me to follow my own heart. So that's what I'll do."

Astrid nodded. "I'm glad you have at least some support." She paused, taking a swallow before slightly changing the topic. "So, what exactly will you be doing on this journey?"

His face lit up at her question. "Oh, the main goal is to explore the Arctic," he explained. "I'm going to assist, take notes, and…"

Attentively, she listened to Hiccup explaining the goals of this expedition. The longer he talked, the more animated he became. His hands – his entire arms, really – flew around to visualise his words, his eyes gleaming with excitement. His joy and anticipation were infectious, and she couldn't help but smile as he talked about seeing the northern lights and endless ice deserts.

"That sounds amazing," she agreed when he was done talking. "I can see why you want to go on this expedition and not stay on this island forever." She cocked her head, chin resting on her propped-up hands. "So, what's the plan then? How long is this journey going to be? You won't spend the winter up there, will you? And what are you going to do afterwards?"

Chuckling, he shook his head. "That would be pretty foolish, wouldn't it? No, this is meant to be a relatively short expedition in comparison. Only four months, six at the most. Although, it already happened that the crew got surprised by an early winter and had to spend the icy months on another island. So it could be up to a year before I come back. And then… well, I don't know yet. The thing is, I don't necessarily want to leave Berk, you know? This is my home and I like living here. I just don't want to waste away as some kind of bureaucrat, or at least not without having tried something else first. So… I guess I'll see?" He shrugged, a little sheepishly.

"I think that sounds reasonable," Astrid reassured him. Then she put on a sad face, clearly exaggerating. "But I'd hoped to see you around more often now. And now I hear you might be gone for an entire year? That sure is a disappointment."

He raised an eyebrow, a lofty half-smile on his lips. "Is that so?" He leaned closer, close enough for his breath to caress her skin as he spoke. "Well, I won't be gone forever. You could always... wait for me."

Snorting, she shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Don't count on that."

. o O o .

A gust of wind came from the north, cold and unforgiving, and Astrid pulled her cloak tighter around herself. But even as she was watching the waves as they rose and fell, breaking against the hidden rocks beneath the surface, her thoughts were somewhere else.

In her mind, she relived that evening when she'd met Hiccup, everything still so clear in her mind even after all this time. The night had burned itself into her memory, irrevocably. Forever.

She still marvelled at how easily they'd bonded, from strangers to friends in merely a couple of hours.

And then so so much more than that…

. o O o .

Astrid couldn't say at which point their friendly bantering had turned into outright flirting. But all of a sudden she found herself throwing him heated looks through her lashes, biting her lips and grinning inwardly at how it made him suck in his breath every time again. Hiccup wasn't unaffected by the change of mood either, the intensity in his eyes growing every time they dropped to her lips.

Astrid had struggled for all her life to interact with other people, but with Hiccup, it was different. It was like a dance, easy and simple, natural. Back and forth, a teasing comment here, a light touch there. When her leg brushed against his beneath the table, more or less accidentally, and he bit his lip in response, she wanted nothing more than to tug it free with hers. She imagined how his mouth, so easy to twitch into a grin, would feel against her own, how his eyes would look burning with passion. She wanted to hear her name drop off his lips, wanted to feel his work-roughened hands on her skin. She felt as if she already knew him but it wasn't enough. She wanted to know everything.

When the room slowly cleared, most guests having left by then, Hiccup looked around wistfully. "I think it's time for me to leave, too," he sighed, then added with a chuckle, "It's gotten later than I planned to stay. Good that my bags are all already packed for tomorrow."

Astrid felt a strange pang in her chest. She didn't want to part from him, not yet. But he was right; it was too late to stay any longer. She had no doubts that Cami wouldn't refrain from kicking them out eventually.

She accompanied Hiccup to the entrance area where they had to part, him to head back to his father and her to head upstairs to her room. They were both reluctant though, fidgeting.

"I… guess I'll see you around then," she eventually said with a somewhat sad smile on her face. "When you're back, I mean."

Hiccup gave her an unreadable look before he nodded with a similar expression, though warmth filled his eyes. "I'm looking forward to it." Then he nodded her goodbye and turned, heading for the door.

Astrid didn't think. It was pure reflex that made her follow him and made her grab his arm to pull him back around, pure instinct that made her stretch until her lips clashed with his. It took him less than a heartbeat to react, his head tilting to kiss her back and his arms winding around her. Before she knew it, she felt the wooden wall against her back, his hot chest against her front. His hands were on her waist, her back, so warm and holding her so tight. It was everything she'd hoped for. She sighed, pulling herself closer against him, deeper into their kiss. He gasped against her mouth and she seized the opportunity to slip her tongue out, tasting him. His woodsy scent of wind and leather surrounding her made her dizzy. It was perfect.

They only parted when they needed a break to breathe but stayed close, foreheads resting against each other.

"Stay," she murmured into the small space between them. Her hand was gliding down from his hair, along his neck, his jaw, feeling rough stubbles. Her thumb brushed over his lower lip. She didn't want to part, wanted to stay this close to him. Wanted to kiss him some more.

A moan rumbled from deep inside his chest, something between longing and desperation. "Astrid, I–" he groaned, but whatever sensible reason he wanted to bring up, she didn't want to hear it. Instead, she silenced him with a finger over his lips.

"Just for this one night. Don't leave just yet," she whispered, then added more quietly, "Please."

. o O o .

The sun had risen higher by now.

Smiling softly, Astrid leaned her head back against the tree branch, enjoying the light and the warmth on her face, the sounds of the waves, and the cries of the seagulls far above her.

In her mind, she was reliving that night which had been, without any doubt, the best of her life. She'd thought that there had been some deeper connection between her and Hiccup before already when they'd talked for hours in that brimming tavern room. But that had been nothing compared to that night in her bed. Exploring hands on skin, getting to know the other, and whispered words, her name on his tongue like a prayer. Endless kisses, some deep and passionate, others soft and sweet. The way they'd matched so perfectly.

For all her life, Astrid had prided herself as being realistic and practical. She'd never been one to believe in soulmates, love at first sight, or other romantical nonsense like that.

Not until that night.

. o O o .

Astrid woke to the light of early dawn, as usual. But instead of most other days when she would start her day without delay or wasting time, today she felt like not leaving her bed at all. She just felt too comfortable with Hiccup's arm heavy around her waist, his chest burning against her back. She'd been right the night before, being encased in his embrace was fantastic.

With a content sigh, she snuggled closer against him. Soon, they would have to get up; Hiccup had a ship to catch, after all. But not yet, they still had a few minutes. And she didn't intend to miss out on even one of them.

Hiccup was awake; she could tell by the changing rhythm of his breathing. But it took him a while before he said or did anything. Then his arm around her tightened, and with his face buried in her hair he mumbled, "What have you done to me?"

Astrid chuckled, the vibrations doing interesting things to where they were touching. "You already forgot? Was it too much alcohol after all?" It hadn't been, she knew that well enough. After the second round, they'd only drunk water. Besides, she was pretty sure that last night had been as memorable for him as it had been for her.

Hiccup snorted, but his amusement didn't last for long. He shifted behind her until she could roll onto her back, then leaned over her again, looking down at her with those intense eyes of his. His hand came up to brush aside a wayward strand of her hair, caressing along her brow and down her cheek.

"I don't know what to do anymore," he murmured, swallowing as his fingertips reached her lips.

He didn't need to elaborate; Astrid knew exactly what he was talking about. This night had been the beginning of something good, something true and powerful. She could feel it deep inside her, thrumming and glowing, so warm and light. It could become something real – but it would need time to grow.

And Hiccup was about to leave in only a few short hours.

She could see his struggling, saw how troubled and torn he was. She knew what she hoped for him to decide, but then…

"Yes, you do," she murmured in a serious but also sad tone. "What was it your grandmother said? Follow your heart," she reminded him lightly, using the words he'd said the night before.

Slowly, Hiccup shook his head. "I… I just don't know what it wants anymore," he said quietly.

She let out a hiccupy sigh. Oh, yes, she knew what she wanted him to choose. But she also knew, deep down, that it would be the wrong choice.

Her hand reached up to absentmindedly trace his features. "It's not so difficult," she whispered. "Just think about how excited you were only yesterday. You want to see the world, remember? And you've waited so long, all those days you spent at the shore. So you're going to leave with the Night Fury today. And…" she paused, chewing on her lip. "And we can figure out everything else when you're back."

Gasping out a small laugh, he nodded. "Right. Except that I shouldn't count on you waiting for me, if I remember correctly." He chuckled, but then quickly became serious again and let his head drop until it rested against hers. "I don't know whether this is the right moment to say this," he mumbled. "It feels… strange. It's not even been a full day, after all. But Astrid, I have to tell you that… What I mean is… I-I think I lov–"

She cut him off with a finger over his lips. When he pulled back, there were so many emotions crossing his face. Most of them, she felt, too. But it was too soon…

"Not now," she whispered. "Don't say it, not yet. Wait until you're back. Tell me when you're sure about it and when I have the time to react properly."

Chuckling, he nodded, the warmth in his eyes nearly causing her to melt. "Okay."

When the first rays of sunshine fell through the window, they got up and dressed, though reluctantly. Their time was running out, and despite her words of encouragement, she simply didn't want to part from him.

"I better go now," he eventually sighed. He was a little breathless from the kiss they'd just shared, his hands resting lightly on her waist. As if they belonged there. "I need to get my bags and I at least have to say goodbye to my dad before I leave."

Astrid nodded against his chest but didn't reply. She didn't fully trust her voice not to break.

"The Night Fury is going to set sail in two hours," he eventually went on. "So maybe… if you have the time, I mean, then you could…"

With a smirk, Astrid pulled back to look at him. She'd wanted to tease him a little, but when she noticed his cautious expression, her face softened.

"I will be there."

. o O o .

Two hours.

Two hours before the Night Fury would set sail.

Two hours in which Astrid properly unpacked her bags, ate a tasty breakfast, and wandered around in the town of Berk to get familiar with its narrow alleys and old houses.

Two hours in which she missed Hiccup more than she was willing to admit.

More than once, she found herself pondering about whether she should try to find him, to talk to him. She had no idea where he and his father lived, didn't even know his surname. But if she asked after the house of the chief or mayor or whatever title his father held, then surely someone would be able to point her in the right direction. It would be simple.

But she didn't do it. Not because she was nervous or afraid of how he might react, though. No, she feared what she might do. Because she knew what she wanted to do. She wanted to hold him tight and not let go again. She wanted him to stay, might even beg him not to leave. Four months weren't even that long, but right now, it felt like an unbearable eternity.

So she stayed away, even contemplated whether to go to the harbour at all. But she'd promised she would be there and she really wanted to see him one last time before he left.

It wasn't difficult to find the harbour nor had she any problems identifying the Night Fury. It was a large ship, mostly black, and there was a considerable crowd at the docks in front of it, giving their farewell to the crew. At first, she feared to have problems finding Hiccup among all these people, but it was an unnecessary fear. Her eyes found him immediately.

As if something inside her had known where he was.

He was kneeling next to a wheelchair with an elderly woman in it, presumably his grandmother. They were hugging, the old woman giving him an affectionate kiss on the cheek which Hiccup returned without hesitation. The sight made Astrid smile.

Then Hiccup looked up, his eyes landing on her as if he'd known she was there. His face brightened and he quickly excused himself before jogging toward her.

"You came!" he gasped before kissing her with a passion that would leave no uncertainties about their relationship in those around them. One hand was at her waist pulling her close, the other cradling her cheek, and Astrid felt safe and cherished like barely ever before.

"Of course I did," she replied, chuckling. "I promised, didn't I?"

Her eyes wandered over his shoulder and landed on his grandmother a few steps behind him. She was smiling at them, the joy in her old eyes genuine.

"I told her about you." Hiccup had followed her gaze. "And I think she likes you."

Astrid squeezed his hand. "Do you tell her about all your one-night-stands?" she asked, teasingly.

Hiccup frowned, but only for a moment before his expression smoothed. "No, I don't. But… Astrid, you're so much more than that. You know that, right?"

She hummed and leaned against his chest. She wanted to be as close to him as possible, for as long as possible. Hiccup seemed to feel the same, holding her in a tight embrace.

"I've been thinking," he eventually mumbled into her hair. He pulled away a little, his eyes searching hers. "I… I could stay, you know? I don't have to leave. I could tell them that I changed my mind. My dad would be thrilled. If… if you want, I mean..." He trailed off, shrugging and waiting for her response, his eyes burning into hers.

Astrid's heart was beating in her throat. She'd been thinking about whether or not she should ask him to stay, and now, here, he was offering to do so? She had to close her eyes, her hands at his back clenching into his jacket.

"No," she whispered. "No, you have to go."

"Why?"

Oh, he sounded so vulnerable, so hurt. Trembling, she opened her eyes again, a reassuring if sad smile on her lips.

"Not because I don't want to spend more time with you," she reassured him. "Believe me, I want nothing more than to see where this–" she gestured back and forth between them, "–will lead us. But… but I don't want this… our future... to be built on you giving up your dreams."

Hiccup took a deep breath and then nodded. "Okay. Okay, I see your point. You're right. Very prudent of you." He chuckled. "Those are going to be the longest – hopefully – four months of my life though. And… well, here's hoping that I'm not wasting my one and only chance right now."

Chuckling, Astrid shook her head. "I have a confession to make," she said, grinning.

"Oh?" Hiccup cocked his head, one eyebrow raised.

"Yeah…" She held his gaze. "When I said you shouldn't count on me waiting for you… that was a lie."

Swallowing, he got a little closer still. "Is that so?"

She nodded, smiling. "It is. Hiccup, I'll wait for you, no matter whether it takes four, six, or even twelve months for you to come back. I will be waiting for you."

His eyes flared up with joy, bright and blazing, before he leaned in for another kiss. It was deep and fierce, almost indecent with the way he all but curled around her. Astrid was giggling into his mouth, happiness like a condensed bubble surrounding them. No, not happiness. It was something else, something warm and strong. This morning, she'd kept him from saying it out loud, but that didn't mean that she wasn't feeling it, too – no matter how little sense it made yet. It was still there, this powerful feeling blooming in her chest, like soaring through the sky, light and free.

Love.

"I wasn't completely honest either," he murmured after… she couldn't even say how long. Just now, his lips had been pressed against her forehead, but then he pulled away, his eyes brimming with emotions.

"Oh?" Astrid replied in the same way he had, lips twitching.

Hiccup nodded. "I said you don't live up to your name… but that was a lie. The truth is… it doesn't do you justice."

She blinked, then burst out laughing. "That's got to be the corniest pick-up line ever!" she giggled.

Hiccup chimed in, chuckling as his hands reached for her own to idly play with her fingers. "Still true though."

Still trembling with silent laughter, she shook her head at the romantic dork in front of her. Her dork.

Before she could say anything, however, the ship's loud horn echoed through the harbour.

"That's my cue," Hiccup murmured wistfully. "I need to go."

Astrid nodded mutely and took a step backwards, actively keeping herself from holding him back. He followed her though, his eyes serious as they deeply looked into hers.

"Wait for me," he murmured, his voice low. "Wait for me along the shore. Please."

"I will," she promised, reassuringly squeezing his hand. "I'll wait until you come back."

. o O o .

Astrid took a deep shaky breath. As always, her eyes were cast out toward the horizon.

Searching for a black spot to appear.

Waiting as time passed by...

. o O o .

Time passed surprisingly quickly.

Days became weeks, and Astrid settled into her new life. She had her own rooms in her aunt's house where she took care of her in-between working on her book. She went grocery shopping, prepared their meals, cleaned the house, and enjoyed long conversations with Helka. Three times per week, she drove her to meetings with her friends, and even though Astrid was still very much 'the new one', she nonetheless felt accepted by Berk's population – especially by Hiccup's grandmother Bruna who happened to be one of Helka's closest friends.

Every now and then, the elderly woman would pull her aside and tell her stories about her grandson. How curious he'd been as a child, not content until he'd explored every last corner of the island. How stubborn he could be when he'd set his mind on something. A trait he shared with his father. But he was also sweet and caring, reliable and honest. And with every story she heard, Astrid fell more in love with him.

Every day, she spent at least one hour at the northern shore, gazing out over the waves and looking for a certain black ship. It was too soon, she knew that. It would still be many weeks or even months before he came back. But she enjoyed the solitude, the chance to dream of him and to picture their future in her mind. It should feel insane; they'd really only had that one night. But there still was this connection between them, that feeling of security and warmth. She couldn't wait to explore it further, to let it grow.

One day, she felt strange, though. It was about a month after he'd left, and she'd just woken up after a turbulent stormy night. A look outside the window told her that the wind had barely lessened as it hadn't for days now. She stayed inside all morning, but it made her feel queasy, anxious. Restlessly, she walked over into the kitchen and checked the fridge and cabinets. They were all well-stocked, there was no need for her to leave. No good reason to go outside in this weather.

But did she need a reason?

"I'm going to the shore," she called to where Helka was reading a book.

Her aunt looked up, one eyebrow raised even as her lips twitched. "I'd recommend you not to, but I know you wouldn't listen anyway. So I'll just tell you to be careful not to get blown away."

Smiling to herself, Astrid wandered through the wind. The shore was a good walk away on the other side of the town, but nothing she couldn't manage on foot. And she'd been there every day since Hiccup's departure; it felt wrong to stay away. And really, the longer she walked, the better she felt. The strange queasiness in her belly had nearly disappeared by the time she reached the town's centre. However, when she spotted the unusual crowd that had gathered at the harbour, the anxiety from before came crashing down on her again. It was too soon for the Night Fury to be back.

So, what else had happened?

When people spotted her, they made way for her, murmuring and not meeting her eyes. Astrid stumbled forward, looking for a familiar face, for someone who'd tell her what had happened. Eventually, she spotted someone, and it took her a moment to understand how she'd been able to overlook him until then. Stoick Haddock, the mayor of Berk and Hiccup's father, who usually towered over everyone else, was kneeling on the dirty ground, crying in anguish.

Something inside Astrid clicked, but she refused to acknowledge it. Instead, she slowly stepped closer, searching for any hints or signs that her conclusion was wrong, that there was another explanation for this man to show his emotions so openly. She'd almost reached Stoick when a frail hand closed around her wrist. When she looked up, she saw into Bruna's pale green eyes. They looked… broken.

"I'm so sorry, child," she whispered, her hand around Astrid's arm shaking. "But… the storm. It's been the strongest in years. The news just reached us. It capsized and sank. The ship. The Night Fury. There… there were no survivors."

Around her, the world was spinning in circles. Astrid stared, shocked, at the old woman, her mind refusing to accept the truth.

"No," she gasped. "No, that's not true. It's not possible! We… we wanted… No!" She stumbled backwards, shaking her head as her vision got blurry with tears. The queasiness from before returned with force, and the last thing she remembered was that she was puking her guts out onto the paving stones a moment later.

. o O o.

A warm breeze blew from the west. It caressed along the back of her neck, felt almost like the touch of a lover. Astrid tilted her head, leaning into it, and smiled despite the lonely tear that ran down her cheek.

Ten years. Ten years had passed since that one night she'd had with Hiccup. But in moments like these, she still missed him.

Absentmindedly, she reached up to where she could feel the memory of his touch, closed her eyes to listen to the echo of his voice in the wind.

Wait for me along the shore.

She had, every single day. People had told her to move on, maybe to even move away. But she'd stayed, had kept her memories close. Some called her crazy for still coming here where she could swear that she saw his outline in the mist, heard his voice in the wind, felt his touch and his presence. And they were probably right, she mused. But that wouldn't keep her from coming back tomorrow. Here on the shore, she felt close to him, as if he was here, waiting for her to visit him.

When she eventually stood up, her eyes landed on the ring on her right hand, the sunlight catching in the carved stone. It wasn't a wedding ring, of course, it wasn't. She'd never even gotten the chance to tell Hiccup that she loved him, at least not to his face. And yet, this ring felt like a wedding ring. Once, it had been Bruna's engagement ring and that of Hiccup's mother after her, and Bruna had passed it on to Astrid when she'd died five years ago.

Her hands were trembling when she lifted them, brought the ring to her lips to breathe a soft kiss on it. "I love you," she whispered into the wind.

Then she straightened, wiped the tears away, and after taking a deep breath, she walked back home.

It promised to be a wonderful day, sunny and warm. Many people were up already, greeting her with friendly smiles as she passed by. She stopped at the market place and bought some bread, apples, eggs, and a book she spotted at one merchant's stall. On her way back home, she felt light, the sun warming her face and the cries of the seagulls accompanied her all the way. Yes, people had advised her to leave after what had happened, to start anew. But how could she leave a place that had so quickly become her home? Even after Helka had passed away two years ago, she'd never even thought about leaving, not once. Besides, it wasn't just about herself anyway, not just her who felt at home on Berk.

"Zephyr?" she called upon entering the house she'd inherited. "Are you up already?"

"Of course I am!" came the reply, the eye-rolling nearly audible. "I'm over here. Breakfast is ready."

It had been a valid question in Astrid's opinion. While the girl was always full of energy and practically always up and about, she was also prone to forgetting the time, staying up until late in the night, and then sleeping in until noon. Something she'd inherited from her father, according to Stoick.

"Thanks, honey." Astrid smiled at the set table, then went to hug her daughter tight.

"Mum!" Zephyr complained. "Can't breathe!" But she giggled, returning the hug with all the strength the nine-year-old girl had.

Astrid savoured the moment, needed it to get grounded again today. The anniversary had brought up memories, sad and good ones. But all in all, happiness overruled the sadness in her life.

"I brought you something," she said as they sat down to eat. "I spotted this book on the market. It's about constructing and manufacturing, and I thought it would be interesting for you." She waved out of the window to where they'd repurposed an old shed into something of a workshop.

"Oh, really? Thank you!" Zephyr's eyes brightened with excitement

The sight gave Astrid a sting in her heart. Zephyr just looked so much like Hiccup with her auburn hair and the freckles all over her face. She might have inherited Astrid's blue eyes, but even the expression in them was entirely Hiccup's.

She had to fight to not let her daughter see her pain, didn't want to dampen her joy. But as it was, Zephyr's face fell on its own a moment later anyway.

"What's up, honey?" Astrid asked. "Something bothering you?"

Zephyr shrugged. "Nothing, just… Well, grandpa said that I shouldn't waste my time with stuff like this. Something… something about it having done enough damage already. I think he meant… because of Dad."

Astrid sighed. She knew how Stoick felt about anything regarding science and engineering, about studying and doing research. In his mind, those things were the reason why Hiccup was gone now. But Astrid couldn't see it that way, remembered all too well how happy and excited he'd been when he'd talked about his dreams that night. What happened had been an accident and could just as well have happened with him going fishing instead.

Smiling encouragingly, Astrid reached for her daughter's hand. "Being curious and learning what interests you is a good thing. Don't let your grandfather talk you out of what you want. Do you know what your father would tell you?"

Zephyr shook her head, listening avidly.

Astrid closed her eyes for a moment, steadying herself. It would be easy to feel like Stoick, to be bitter and resentful of what had taken Hiccup away from her. But somehow, she didn't have it in her to feel that way. His curiosity and excitement had been a part of him, and trying to take that away from him would only have been another way for him to die.

Of course, she often thought about how her life would have been if he was still with her. With them. She missed that life, the lost opportunities. But all in all, she was happy. And even though she sometimes regretted her decision from ten years ago – to encourage him to go instead of begging him to stay – her reasons back then still rang true.

Even now, as she looked at Zephyr, waiting and looking at her with those same intense eyes, she had no doubts about what Hiccup would say. She could picture him so well, the excitement on his face, and even thought that she could hear his voice saying the words.

"Follow your heart."

. o O o .

I want to leave the interpretation of the end to everyone individually. Should Astrid have made Hiccup stay? Knowing what we know, it seems like the answer is clear. But without knowing that, would it have been better if he'd given up his dream for her?

And what about what Astrid sees and feels at the shore? Is that really Hiccup, his spirit watching over her? Or is it just her imagination, just wishful thinking?

And then... Those last three words there at the end… who said them? It seems to have been Astrid, but is that true? Maybe it was Stoick instead, realising that his granddaughter was just like her father and that, maybe, it had been the restrictions that had made Hiccup take that more extreme measures.

Or… or could it have been Hiccup? Maybe he survived after all? Maybe he lost his memories or got lost. And it took him ten years to find his way back.

I'll leave it up to you to decide which version is yours. Or are there other interpretations? I'd love to hear them. :)

...

So, now this is done... I wanted to write something hopeful, despite the death, and I hope that worked. As so often, this one-shot was inspired by a song. It's Spirit Of The Sea by Blackmore's Night, and this Hope between Despair is what I always connected with this song, ever since I first heard it over 20 years ago.