Sorry everyone. Life is very busy so your patience is a blessing.
Getting time alone with Astrid was very hard to do. With his duties as chief and her helping run the academy there just wasn't enough hours in the day. However with some begging and extra hours of work he had managed to get the evening away with his lady.
He convinced her to take a ride on Toothless together to an island not far from Berk that had an amazing view of the sunset but a waterfall. The only person who knew where they would be was his mother, for emergencies. He couldn't help but enjoy the closeness of her body to his as she clung to him. The last time they had even hugged had been over a week ago and it'd been all too fast for him. When the landed Hiccup took the fur and food he had brought out of Toothless's saddle bags and told the dragon to go explore. Laying out the fur he gestured for Astrid to sit down,"My lady."
"So what are we doing here babe?"
"We never get to be alone together anymore. I miss our time."
She leaned her head onto his shoulder, "Me too."
"How have you been?"
"Oh same as ever. Snotlout thinks he is in charge so i have to knock him down a few pegs everyday. The training is pretty easy. Your mother has been a great help, though lately she has been talking about when she was the Great Lady of Berk."
"Oh yeah?" A lump formed in his stomach.
"Yeah it's been kind of nice actually."
"Why is that?"
Astrid sat up and looked him in the eye, "Hiccup most people think we are secretly engaged already. They keep waiting to be summoned to the Great Hall for the announcement."
"Do you want that? Do you want to marry me?"
Her eyes twinkled," Are you asking?"
Hiccup didn't think he had ever been so nervous in his life, but he knew there was no life for him without her. "Astrid Hofferson. You are the missing piece that makes me whole. I have loved you almost as long as I can remember and it would be my honor to be your husband. Would you allow me that great honor of being your husband?"
Astrid smiled and true to herself, she punched him, "That's for taking so long. But yes I would love to marry you Hiccup Haddock." She kissed him with everything she had. It seemed like forever when they came back up for air. Snuggling close to each other, they lay in comfortable silence watching the water cascade down.
"I'm going to have to talk to your father."
"Take your mother with you."
"Are you ok with that?"
"I don't have much say."
Hiccup turned his face to look at her. "You do. You have always had a say in everything with me."
"My father won't respect or allow me to be there. Your mother as the Chief's mother is allowed only because of that and because Stoik isn't here. My father may respect that I'm a Dragon Rider but not when it comes to this. He respects the traditions and as far as they say I'm property."
"You know I don't think that way. You can always say no to the marriage."
"I want to marry you. To be able to sleep next to you and raise kids in the future."
He pulled her close," Then I'll make it happen. As soon as I can so we don't have to go soo long without each other again."