Chapter 6

The next morning Astrid waited down in the kitchen for Hiccup, feeling slightly nervous about seeing him after their blow out last night. She knew that Heather had gone to see him last night because between drinks she had heard the knocking and subsequently him opening his door to let her in. Past that, Astrid wasn't sure how long she stayed or what was said. She just hoped that whatever was said between the two it was enough to get him down the stairs this morning.

At no point did she want to explain to the General that she yelled at his Son and now he's refusing to leave his room.

'He'll probably strip me of a rank, damn it.' For the hundredth time Astrid thought, as she reflected on her actions last night and the repercussions that could await her. Not that she didn't deserve it.

Tapping her foot on the floor, she could admit now that she had been careless, impulsive and let her emotions get in the way of her job. 'Why couldn't I just shut up and do my job? Who cares if he doesn't leave his room anyway?' she thought bitterly balling her hands at her side, her nails pressing painfully into her skin. The only reason she kept coming back to for her actions was that she saw a bit of herself in Hiccup; before she was completely ruined. Hiccup still had a chance, and he was throwing it away. A chance she never got and to be frank a chance that she wishes she had.

The sound of footsteps coming down the stairs pulled Astrid of her thoughts her eyes expectedly looking up at Hiccup's form coming down the stairs. Reaching the kitchen, he headed straight for the coffee maker, never once glancing in her direction. Astrid followed his movements like a hawk, what she found surprised her. They were normal.

There was no tension, no sadness…just normal. 'Other than him not looking at me of course.'

Blue eyes watched Hiccup as he finished making his coffee and grabbed an orange off the counter, before turning around and heading towards the front door. Still not speaking or acknowledging that she was even in the room. Astrid slowly followed behind his retreating form unsure of what was going on.

'Is him not saying anything a good thing…or…' she watched as he climbed into the passenger seat of the vehicle again without so much as a word. Stepping around the vehicle towards the driver side door, Astrid opened it quickly and hopped inside. Sparing a quick glance to her right she found Hiccup looking out the passenger side window casually taking a sip off his travel mug, perfectly composed. Something on even a normal day he wouldn't be able to do. Astrid narrowed her eyes and focused back on the road ahead before starting the vehicle and sending a silent prayer to the Gods to give her patience.

Astrid watched as Hiccup walked into the front door, book bag draped over one shoulder. The day had gone fine. No complaints, no stuttering, no anxious actions it was a perfectly normal day. Of course besides the fact that Hiccup had not uttered a single word to Astrid. He spoke nicely to his other classmates even joked around with them but not once did he even glance in her direction. Not once.

The two crossed the threshold of the house and walked into the living room where they found the room noticeably absent. Other than Heather who was in the kitchen, everyone else was gone. She lifted her head at the sight of the two and greeted them, "hey you two." Astrid nodded and Hiccup took a seat at the kitchen table.

He looked around for a minute, "where is everyone?" He asked grabbing a slice of the apple she had just cut up and grinned when she batted his hand.

Heather held up her fingers and ticking them off as she named the roommates, "Tuff and Ruff went to go see their parents, Snotlout is at the gym and my Fishlegs is studying. He's got a test in a week but isn't wasting anytime. You know how he is." She shrugged and sat down beside Hiccup at the table.

"What are you going to do this evening Hiccup?" Heather asked him curiously.

He shrugged and popped another apple slice into his mouth, "I have a project due in two weeks. Probably just work on that." Heather nodded in agreement.

During his whole exchange Astrid watched silently, leaning against the wall taking in every word and action between the two. It was causal and friendly. She watched Hiccup seeing him in this new light, confused her. He seemed so relaxed in the conversation and interaction that he was having. 'Could he have really changed that much after just one day?' She wondered as she watched Hiccup get up and head for his room upstairs. Her eyes following him up the stairs before dropping back down to Heather when she lost sight of him. Heather, who was now staring straight at her extended a hand out to the chair in front of her, inviting her to sit down. Deciding she would like to speak to someone today, she sat down in the chair facing the other girl.

"I want to thank you." Heather unexpectedly said. Astrid cocked an eyebrow in clear confusion for the girls statement.

"Odin knows it wasn't the best way to go about it but…what you said last night to Hiccup resonated. He wants to get out of this weird place he's been." Astrid nodded her head in agreement. "Actually, I would like to speak with you about a few things. You know the degree I'm working on and what I'm specializing in." Astrid nodded again.

"Well considering who you are and what you do…I figured you might be a good source of knowledge." She said happily. Astrid looked at her hopeful face and gave a mental sigh, "fire away."

Heather pulled a tablet out of no where and began tapping on the screen, Astrid assumed to take notes. "Ok first off, have you ever been to see a psychiatrist?"

Astrid gave an unamused look at the question and crossed her arms over her chest, "what kind of question is that? You know they are mandated."

Heather nodded her head quickly, "you're right, what I meant was have you ever seen a psychiatrist outside of the military mandated appointments?" Astrid paused, thinking about her answer before she gave it. "Yes."

Green eyes stared into blue for a long minute before Heather got the nerve to ask the next question, "would you…would you mind telling me why?" Blue eyes narrowed before closing. Astrid took a deep breath and leaned back in her seat, taking another deep breath before opening her eyes and staring down at her hands.

'How do you answer a question like that? My life's fucked up? I've prayed for death on 4 occasions? I've killed more people than I could ever hope count?' She contemplated morosely.

Finally she decided to give Heather as general of an answer as she could, since she was no where near ready to open up to the other girl. "Dr. Seaclaw says too many reasons." Astrid gave a slight chuckle thinking of the usually frustrated Doctor who had to deal with her. Appreciating the fact that she could almost give her therapist reasons to go see a therapist.

"Dr. Seaclaw!" Astrid's eyes widened at Heather exclamation. "You-you see Dr. Seaclaw?!"

"Yes?" She hesitantly answered, since it looked like Heather was about to leap over the table and attack her in excitement.

"Oh my Thor! Dr. Seaclaw is a celebrity in our field, I'm a huge fan!" She beamed and sighed dreamily. "I can't believe you know you him! He's the best of the best and generally only works with the most elite soldiers,The Berk Guard, since they are usually the most stressed…" The stars in Heather's quickly faded away as she stoped abruptly and looked at Astrid, eyebrows furrowed, "…why do you see Dr. Seaclaw?" Saying nothing Astrid just stared at the other girl her face becoming hard. Easily conveying the answer to Heather.

Heather carefully put her tablet down on the table, "You're…you're part of the Berk Guard aren't you?...Oh Odin, no wonder you are the way you are." Heather leaned back in her seat and brought her hand up to her head.

"Hey what the Hel is that supposed to mean?" She asked, clearly offended by what Heather said.

"Well the way you act, your obvious PTSD…it kind of all makes sense now." Astrid's eyes narrowed again, 'obvious PTSD…who does she think she is?' While she was thinking of various ways to show Heather how obvious her PTSD was she failed to notice the girl in front of her go stiff and eyes go wide. It was only when she started talking in an abnormally scared tone did Astrid pay her any attention.

"Wh-why would…would they have someone from the-uh-the Berk Guard to protect Hiccup?" She asked, voice shaking and her hands trembling slightly. Taking in Heather's whole demeanor, Astrid knew she wasn't going to like the answer to the question that she was about to ask; but she still did.

"Because Hiccup is in a lot of danger…Is there something you need to tell me, Heather?" A nervous chuckle could be heard. Which only caused Astrid to narrow her eyes more firmly on her target. Frustration beginning to prickle at the edge of her mind at how Heather was acting. Now she absolutely certain she would not like her answer.

"So-uh-promise you won't get mad?"

Her eyebrow twitched, "Never."

Music pounded all around Hiccup as he made his way through the sweaty crowd, a red cup of alcohol firmly in his grasps. The dimness of the room helped him move around without getting much attention. Which is exactly what he wanted at the moment, since his anxiety pulsing along with the music.

After his forced realization last night about how he's been acting the last two years and his talk with Heather he had come up with the plan that got him here. One he hoped would start him on the path to getting his life back.

Phase one of the plan was simple, ignore Astrid. He was still rather upset with her, even if she was ultimately right with her accusations. 'Where does she get off telling me what she knows about me? From a file especially?!' He thought angrily as he took another drink of beer.

Astrid had made no effort to share anything about herself or really get to know him. Apparently she had all the information she needed from a file and one week together to break him down completely. '…And yet she was right…' he took another drink.

Finally making it over to the other side of the room Hiccup perched against the wall taking in the whole party scene. He hadn't been to one since Freshman year, so he was pretty rusty on what to do. So he figured he would look around a bit before participating. After watching couples grinding on each other and idiots having a drinking competition for a while Hiccup began to think about how the day went ignoring Astrid. It had been a total success in his book.

He started the morning just like he always did coffee and a quick breakfast; she was standing in the kitchen waiting for him and of course she looked as beautiful as always. Which made his betraying heart flutter a bit. He forced himself to ignore it.

After he grabbed his coffee and orange and breezed right past her; like she was wasn't even there. Of course he saw her stare, he saw her stare at him all day. Giving him strange, critical looks. She was trying to figure out how he was acting the way he was and to be perfectly honest it wasn't easy. Well ignoring her was but being semi outgoing was still difficult. He used to be very outgoing but when he shut himself off after his Mom's disappearance its like he had just forgotten how. So pushing himself to be the old Hiccup today had been taxing but he found it got easier and easier as the day went on, at least enough to get to phase two of the plan; escape the prison.

Last night after he had come up with the plan and told Heather her part, he had made quick work of the window sensor in his room. His engineering geared mind, easily tricking the piece of equipment to think the window was still shut when it was very much so open.

So when he and Astrid had come home from school, he made sure Heather did her part in distracting his bodyguard while he went upstairs, slipped out the window, on to the porch roof and down to the yard bellow. Where Tuffnut, Ruffnut and Snotlout were waiting in Tuffnut's old van down the street.

He had to admit to himself the whole thing was exciting, while the anxiety was there lurking in the background, he liked having his heart race because of something other than fear. He felt more alive in the last few hours than he had in years. 'Now I just have to think of a way to get home without Astrid finding out.' Unfortunately, he hadn't quite gotten that part of his plan nailed down especially depending on the level of alcohol he consumed. Shrugging he decided to put the thought out of his mind and enjoy his freedom at the moment.

Looking back across the room he found Tuffnut and Ruffnut both dancing with respective partners to the still deafening music and Snotlout was now drinking and laughing loudly with a large group of guys in the corner. This was also part of the plan Hiccup had not been able to factor in; what he would do once he got to said party. It had been a long time since he had been to a party and even back when he did go to them he never danced with anyone. Maybe Heather but they were practically siblings so it wasn't that type of dancing. He also didn't feel the want or need to get hammered, buzzed was fine, he didn't want to go far past that.

His eyes swept the room again as he took another drink from his cup, still trying to find his place at the party, when out of no where a short red head appeared before him. Startling him enough to choke on some beer that went down the wrong pipe.

"Hi!" Her bubbly voice travelled above the music to greet him. Snapping his gaze down to meet her happy hazel eyes, Hiccup instantly felt the familiar anxiety creeping back up.

She leaned in close to him, "want to dance?" He could smell her perfume she was so close, it smelled flowery, almost too sweet. The quick smell triggered something in his mind that told him he preferred something different. Something not so fake, something warmer and fresh smelling. 'Something like what Ast-'

Snapping himself quickly out of that dangerous train of thoughts, he realized that the tiny red head was still staring expectedly at him waiting for an answer to her question. Pushing down the anxiety he gave her a rapid nod before he felt her hand wrap around his own and pull him out into the mass of bodies.

Almost instantly he regretted his decision as he felt the small red head wrap her arms around his neck and pull herself impossibly close to him as she began to move to the music. Not knowing what to do with his own hands, he opted to just have them suspended in the air at least a foot away from her. Feeling awkward as he stood there not moving as muscle while she ground her body intimately against his own, he decided to lean down and talk to her. Hoping to distract the two from what was happening at the moment.

"What's your name?" He asked far to loudly.

"Fangsbreath but everyone calls me Fay." She unlocked her hands from around his neck and reached down to his hands and skillfully guided them to her hips. A movement that almost caused Hiccup to have a heart attack.

"Now, what's your name?" She asked after putting her hands back around his neck. Running her fingers through his hair.

"Uh-uh my-my name is -uh-Hiccup." He stuttered out glad that the room was dim enough for her not to see his incredibly red face.

She grinned up at him, "Hiccup…I like it." Her movements started again but this time with his hands now on her hips he was forced to somewhat move with her. Deciding to try to replicate the movements of his arms with the rest of the body he slowly began to sway in rhythm to her. While he knew he wasn't very good, mediocre at best, he kept moving starting to feel more comfortable and starting to enjoy the feeling of the girl in his arms. Even though something still felt off about the situation.

It was only when he looked down into the hazel eyes of Fay and found himself wishing they were a piercing set of blue ones instead, did he realize what it was that felt off.

'He wanted Astrid in his arms. Not Fay.'

Shaking the thoughts from his head he focused back on the feeling of the girl in his arms and not about how it might feel to have Astrid in his arms instead. To have Astrid stare up at him in such an intimate way. A way he was sure is and would always be just a dream for him.

Quickly pulling his gaze from Fay, Hiccup looked up into the crowd, hoping to clear his mind, when shockingly he found the same blue eyes of his thoughts actually staring at him. Though they weren't looking at him in the seductive manner he hoped for, no, these blue eyes looked deadly; and they were pointed straight at him.

It took only a minute for his mind to process that he could actually see Astrid, his own eyes widening at the realization.

'Oh Thor that means…I'm so dead.' He glanced quickly to Astrid's right and saw Heather and Fishlegs standing meekly beside her. Offering a small wave when they made eye contact. Sweeping his eyes back to Astrid he saw that she had never taken her piercing gaze off of him even as she began to stalk toward the pair. Thankfully Fay was completely oblivious to the whole exchange and was still happily dancing in front of him; unknowingly becoming his human shield.

Hiccup watched as Astrid glided across the floor making a b-line for him while still maneuvering around drunk couples with a grace he only wishes he could have. All the time never taking her eyes off of his, he felt like he was falling into some sort of trance as he watched her come closer and closer. Then before he knew it Astrid was standing right behind a still gyrating Fay, who had yet to notice Hiccup had gone still. He could almost feel the anger radiating off of Astrid at this point only causing his heart to speed up more. His past anxiety flaring higher than ever before; and then it happened Astrid reached forward and tapped Fay on the shoulder.

Fay's long red hair swept against his chest as she whipped her head around to see who was interrupting her dancing. Icy blue eyes cut into hazel as Astrid pinned down her prey.

"Excuse me, can we help you?" She asked her voice having lost some of its former bubbly tone.

"You can help me by leaving. Now." Astrid wasn't mincing words with the dumb female. Fay looked from Astrid and back to Hiccup who still looked shocked at Astrid's appearance. "You know this blonde, Hiccup?" Both sets of eyes now looking at him.

The question seemed to break Hiccup of his shock enough to remember his still festering anger at Astrid, which surprisingly at the moment outweighed his fear of her. "I'm ignoring you." He told her pointedly and glared at her.

Returning the glare, "well that's obvious and you can ignore me later when we get home." At the word home Fay quickly unwound her hands from Hiccups neck and pushed away from him. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Home?!"

"Uh, um I-I-I…," Hiccup stuttered. 'How do I explain Astrid is living with me, does everything with me but isn't my girlfriend?' he thought sardonically.

Deciding to take the lead and get rid of the still unnamed red head herself, Astrid closed the distance between her and Hiccup; sliding her hands up his chest and into his hair and pushing her body into his own. Turning to look at Fay, Astrid laid her head against his chest, "yup, home. Now please leave my boyfriend and I alone. We need to make up after our fight." At the word boyfriend, Fay's face went as red as her hair, giving one last glare at Hiccup before she stomped off into the crowd.

For the second time that night Hiccup had a woman pressed intimately against him but this time though the experience was completely different than the first. While Fay smelled too sweet and her short height made the fit between them not quite right; Astrid smelled perfect and the way her head rested on his chest at just the right spot made his heart flutter with excitement. His earlier thoughts hadn't been anything compared to the real thing. 'If only she didn't hate me…and I well…I don't know what I feel for her.' Lost in the feeling of her in his arms he failed to notice that she had wrapped some of his hair in the hand until she gave it a firm tug.

"OW! Hey!" He instantly let go of her and rubbed the tender patch of skin on the back of his head.

"You deserve that for sneaking out. Now come on we have to go." Before he could protest Astrid was dragging Hiccup out of the house and past his sympathetic looking group of friends. Once outside he saw the direction she was pulling him in, the black SUV. Gathering his strength, Hiccup wrenched his forearm out of her firm grip. He brought his arm up to chest and rubbed the tended skin that now sported five crescent indents in the skin from her nails.

"What is your problem?!" Astrid turned and faced him fully an angry scowl still on her face as he yelled at her. "My problem Hiccup, is you!" She yelled back without hesitation while gesturing towards him.

"You just gestured to all of me." He said dryly while crossing his arms. "And why does it matter what I do anyways? Why does it matter who I am?" His arms flailing wildly, forgetting that they were in a very public location.

With out a seconds hesitation Astrid shouted back, "I don't know!" Instantly feeling her anger break from the controlled shell that she kept on her emotions for the second day in a row. All because of one person, Hiccup Haddock.

Astrid approached him, her steps rapid, "but you needed to hear it! Even…even if I delivered it in kind of a…shitty way." Astrids anger beginning to fade as she realized exactly what she had just said. Letting out a sigh she turned away from him hands balled at her sides.

Hiccup watched as Astrid's anger morphed into something he had never seen on her face before. Not quite able to place the emotion, the best he could figure was it looked like...remorse? His eyes widening at his realization, 'could…could she be sorry? I-is she even capable of that?' He wondered as he saw her take another deep breath before turning around to face him again.

"I suppose I-uh-could have been a bit more tactful in what I said last night." She said looking at the ground. Watching her carefully Hiccup realized that this was the closest that he would get to an "I'm sorry" from Astrid at the current time.

Relaxing his posture some Hiccup shrugged. "I suppose what you said had some merit…I need to make a change." He said before gesturing around at the house behind them with the party still very much going on. "Which is what I'm doing here, so I don't see why you stalked me down at this party, I know I broke the rules but it's just a few hours away." After he finished he crossed his arms again standing firm, expecting an answer to his questions this time not just a demand to go home.

Taking yet another deep breath Astrid look at Hiccup's face, firm resolve written all over it. "Hiccup there's something you need to know about me." She paused and gave him a glare when she heard him mutter under his breath, "yeah no kidding."

"Anyways…I'm part of the Berk Guard, Hiccup." She told him, short and to the point hoping that he would be able to draw his own conclusions on what that meant. Just as Heather had done.

To say Hiccup was surprised would be an understatement, 'she's part of the Berk Guard?! They're like super soldiers only going on the most dangerous…' Eyes widening he looked back at Astrid who gave him a stiff nod.

"So-so there really is a threat…a really dangerous one at that." Again she answered with a stiff nod. 'Oh Thor,' his legs began to feel less than stable making him land with a plop onto the grass lawn. Bringing a hand up to his head, Hiccup looked like he could have been just another sick partygoer but the pair knew the truth.

Glancing slightly upwards when Astrid crouched down in front of him hand extended he could help but think of how much his life had turned upside down since she came into his life. "Come on Hiccup let's get you back home. We can talk more once we get there."

Hiccup began to extend his hand towards her waiting one when a small red light a distance behind Astrid caught his attention. Moving his head to the side to look around her he noticed the blinking red light under Tuffnut's van which was parked down the street. "What the…?"

Astrid saw the strange expression on Hiccup's face and turned her head to follow his line of sight. The second she saw the red blinking light she knew exactly what it was a sprang into action. Launching herself forward onto Hiccup, covering his body with her own, the two hit the ground only seconds before the explosion went off. Sending both their worlds into darkness.

So I no nothing about bombs so just play along like this one could be real at all. Please.

Now the action and fun really begins!