=Normal POV=
[Friday, 6/17/2022-7:30 pm]
[Isle of Berk; Bazirk Residence]
Neither of them cared that they were kissing for the first time in eight years, or the fact they weren't even dating right now. Hiccup finally got the answers he wanted out of the explanation Astrid had been wanting to give all this time. When Hiccup saw her crying after confessing to still loving him; it felt right to kiss her. And if Hiccup felt like that's what needed to happen; he went along with it, and that's where they were right now. Hiccup and Astrid were still kissing; it was deep, intimate, passionate like the kisses they used to share before leading into making love to one another. Hiccup used one free hand to cup her cheek, and Astrid just let him. The kiss set their hearts and bodies on fire; the passion and everything they had before reigniting and bursting out of control. When Hiccup wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her closer to him; they fell back on the couch, still making out.
"We…Have to stop, Astrid…" Hiccup murmured against her lips. He wanted her. Gods, he did, but it wasn't right to do it this way.
"D-Do we?" Astrid whimpered a little.
"Yes…You know we do. B-Before it goes too far," Hiccup stated.
"Wouldn't…Be the first time we just do it," Astrid reminded.
"Ast, babe…Is that really how you want us fixing things to go? Starting with sex?" Hiccup asked. Astrid knew he was right. "I'm not disagreeing with you, but…Let's…" Hiccup stopped, groaning as he felt himself start getting hard. "Fuck…We gotta stop…We have to now or I'm just gonna take you. I don't…Want things to go that way. We still…Need to talk about some things…"
"I know…" Astrid replied. After a final kiss shared, Astrid pushed herself off him and Hiccup sat up. The two of them were blushing like mad as Astrid tucked her hair behind her ear and they didn't look at one another. "Sorry…" she cleared her throat a bit.
"My fault…I kissed you first…" Hiccup admitted, clearing his throat.
"I just realized that you…Called me babe," Astrid mentioned.
"Felt right," Hiccup told her lightly. "To say it, given the circumstances," he added.
"Yeah…" Astrid nodded. "Did you…Mean what you said about fixing things?"
"Astrid, I'm not going to lie to you; I never have. Much like what you said to me; I couldn't move on with anyone else because they weren't you. I couldn't just…Put you behind me and move on. Seven years ago, right before my first tour of duty to Syria for a year…I told Heather, Dagur, Eret, and Thuggory about my past with you; what ultimately made my decision to join the military. I made a statement about what I did being the best choice for me, and Heather came back with asking me if I was sure about that. Then adding that I still loved you. I made it clear to her and the guys what my response was," Hiccup informed.
"What…Did you say?" Astrid wondered.
"She always has a special place in my heart and life. No matter what I do, where I go, who I might be with, or how many years pass; until I take my last breath, I'll always love Astrid Hofferson," Hiccup repeated. "I continue to stand by that, years on, Astrid. I-," he started to say before he was interrupted by his cell phone ringing. "Hang on," he pulled the device from his pocket and checked the ID. Hiccup tensed a little seeing that it was Viggo.
"What's wrong?" Astrid asked, seeing his worried face.
"Please…Please don't be another death," Hiccup whispered as he answered the call and set it to his ear. "Haddock here," a pause. "What? Hang on, I can hardly hear you," he got up, leaving the bedroom. Astrid was worried and followed him, not surprised to see everyone still in the living room. And now finding Gobber, Stoick, and Valka there. Hiccup brought the phone down and looked at the screen to see that the call was lost. "Damn…Lost him,"
"What's up, Hiccup?" Dagur asked.
"Viggo just called, but the call dropped," Hiccup informed as he tried to call back twice. "He's not answering,"
"Isn't he in Iraq?" Eret asked.
"Yeah; he should be by now. He was only in the Archipelago for a few days for the funeral of his brother," Hiccup nodded. "Hang on…" Hiccup pressed a button on the side of the phone until he beeped; once it did that, he brought it closer to his mouth like a radio. "Hunter Chief, Hunter Chief; this is Night Fury, over," Hiccup released the button.
"Uh…" a few of those in the room started.
Suddenly, there were two beeps in return. "Night Fury, this is Hunter Chief. How copy? Over," came a male voice, likely Viggo.
"Three out of five. How do you read? Over," Hiccup replied.
"Reading you three out of five, Night Fury. You need to-," Viggo started. There was gunfire and two loud consecutive explosions. Hiccup instantly looked at Dagur, Eret, and Thuggory; the four of them were looking at each other with concern. "Son of a-Forget it! Haddock, come back. Like now!"
Hiccup's eyes widened a bit. "What the hell is going on? Are you radioing me while on a mission?! The captain will have your head,"
"This is Bludvist. Grimborn was radioing you on my orders to do so. Now; we have limited time to speak and there's a situation that requires your immediate attention. So, go pack your stuff and get back here on the double, Lieutenant Haddock. Is that understood, soldier?" Drago ordered.
"Sir, yes sir," Hiccup said firmly. "Wait, my immediate attention?" he asked.
"Need your specific skill set for a mission. Bring Toothless too. A chopper is coming to your on-file residence in one hour to take you to Berk Base; then you're catching a jet here. Your team can remain on their leave," Dragon informed.
"Wait, we're his team; we go with him everywhere!" Dagur argued.
"Not this time, boys. Enjoy the rest of your time off. Those orders came from HQ, so don't go disobeying them. Haddock, start getting ready. We promise we'll make it up to you for cutting into your leave," Drago stated.
"Don't worry about it, Captain. I'll be ready. See you in a few hours. Haddock over and out," Hiccup responded before pressing the side button as it give a beep and he slipped it into his pocket. "Toothless!" the dog poked his head out Hiccup's room. "Pack up, bud!" the dog responded with a bark.
"What's going on, son?" Stoick asked.
"Okay, you're not supposed to know…But I don't want to hear it over and over again, so I'm gonna tell you, and then you're gonna shush and leave it alone. Got it? No questions, no discussions," Hiccup stated as the group nodded. Hiccup took a deep breath. "There's a reason I've been jumping ranks outside of the typical requirements to earn them. There's a reason I don't always join you for normal training. And the reason is that I'm a Special Operations Soldier. I lead a second team that handles higher priority missions, and that's what I'm being called back early for. Bludvist doesn't order these; he just passes the message; I get these from Military Headquarters, and I can't say no," he explained.
"We kind'a had a feeling you were," Eret stated.
"Enlighten me," Hiccup rolled his eyes.
"Dude, you just said it," Thuggory mumbled.
"Not always part of training, jumping ranks, leaving in the middle of the night because you can't sleep and need to clear your head then come back looking like you went through a landmine field…Yeah, we knew something was up and figured you weren't gonna tell us, so we left it alone," Dagur replied.
"Huh…You guys do know me," Hiccup blinked. "Well, yeah…There you go. I'm an SOS," Hiccup shrugged. "I should probably go pack," he said.
Heather got up to hold his hand. "Be safe, okay? We can still talk about things with us when you get back right?" Heather inquired. Hiccup saw Dagur facepalm hard and assumed it had something to do with the fact he'd told her already that things between them wouldn't work out.
"Uh…" Hiccup rubbed the back of his head a little. "About that…" Hiccup started as his eyes fell on Astrid for a moment; then he sighed. "Look, Heather…I don't…Think it's gonna work out with you and me. It's…Nothing against you; you're great…And I'm sure you're gonna be somebody's special someone…But, you're not mine. I see you as more of a friend or sister than a lover…I…Hope we can keep what we have now as friends, or siblings…If not, I understand completely,"
Heather looked at Hiccup, then at Astrid before sighing. "You…Want her back, don't you?" Heather asked.
"Yeah, I-I think I do," Hiccup admitted, totally shocking Astrid with the confession. "We talked about things, and-," Heather put a hand up to have him be quiet.
"You don't need to explain, Hiccup; I understand. I suppose I had a feeling this could happen with you being on Berk, having mutual friends between you two. I saw how you two interacted last Saturday at the park, almost an instant click to see one another again. So you don't need to explain it to me; thank you for being honest, though," Heather smiled softly with her hand on his chest. "Thank you…For the chance at least, and being honest. I just want you to be happy, doesn't matter if that's with me, Astrid, or someone else,"
"Sort of in my nature to do that…" Hiccup nodded. Hiccup faced Astrid. "As for you," he paused as Astrid tensed. "We've waited eight years. Honestly; I'm not gonna be able to focus at all on work if we don't settle this before I go…" Hiccup sighed as he looked at her seriously. "I've been on plenty of dates, had a few relationships…But they aren't you," Astrid's eyes widened a bit. "I wasn't happy, not like I am with you. Astrid, eight years went by and the first time we see one another again; we were able to laugh and joke as if nothing changed. I'll never have that with anyone else. What you told me before I kissed you; being unable to move on because you love me…I feel the same. It's not because we never cleared the air or didn't have closure; it's just because we have something special that can't be stopped…All this time we've only needed each other,"
"Don't you mean we had?" Astrid inquired.
"I know what I said," Hiccup retorted. "Not had, still have or we wouldn't be able to act like we used to," he informed. "Astrid, I'm gonna be dead serious with you…Alright?"
"Okay," Astrid nodded.
"I want you back," Hiccup said firmly. Astrid's eyes widened a little. "I want us back. We've still got the friendship, and the mutual feelings for one another. You admitted to that, and so have I. You're the girl I proposed to because I wanted to spend the rest of my life with only you, and eight years has not changed my desires. No matter anything; this is where I've ended up. You and me in each other's lives where nothing has changed. We talked, we cleared the air, and I get your side as I hope you get mine now…" Hiccup continued.
"I do…" Astrid replied.
"Do you still want to be with me?" Hiccup asked.
"Yes. Gods, yes, more than anything," Astrid responded.
"The one thing I gotta make sure of, though…Before we go doing this, and it's only because of how against it you were before, despite saying you'd support it…Are you cool with me in the military, Astrid? Like dead serious question…I know it seems like a stupid thing to ask, but it's kind of a make it or break it deal for me and us getting back together…" Astrid stared at him as everyone was quiet.
"It's…Not stupid…" Astrid said softly.
"I've been in eight years as of two days ago, and served two full tours…In four months; it becomes three. Okay…I'm not gonna lie to you about what I do for work; I'm always training, and if not doing that on an island base, or the mainland base…I'm fighting in wars. I'm an active duty soldier for the United Islands of the Barbaric Archipelago Military; I'm in the army at the current rank of Second Lieutenant," Hiccup informed sternly as he could already see the concern and worry in her eyes. "I can be called to train or fight any time, even if I just got back. As you well saw; it can happen any time, fair or not. I can be wounded, and I can end up killed…" he saw Astrid tense up nervously, biting her bottom lip. "Tell me the truth; are you okay with us being together and me being in the military?"
"Can…We still talk and stuff while you're doing all your military duties? You won't just…Disappear and go months or years without making contact, will you?" Astrid questioned after finding her voice.
"You and me not being in contact these past years was because of the break up, and I didn't want you being unable to move on with your life because of you worrying about me," Hiccup reminded.
"Well, I worried about you anyway," Astrid stated.
"I…Actually have no rebuttal to that. But my response to the contact thing is this; I cannot make promises that we'll be able to text and stuff like we used to before I joined. I can promise that I'm home every night, unless it's drill weekend or I'm deployed. I can't talk all during the day, and deployed…I really can't make that call because it gets crazy over there. The only thing I can't tell you is that I'll do my best no matter where I am. And I'll keep you up to date on things to the best of my ability…" Hiccup replied.
Astrid took a deep breath, glancing off to the side. "I need to know if you're okay with dating me and knowing I'm in the army, Astrid. I already resigned my contract of service for another six years; I did it on Monday since it needed to be done before the end of June, and honestly; I didn't think this whole…Possibility of getting back together thing was gonna happen. And your answer right now, Astrid; it plays a big role in us getting back together. I know you'd support me, but this is more of a question about if you can handle me being in the military…" Hiccup added in after taking a short breath.
"It's…Hard to gage, Hiccup. Yes, you know I'd always support the things you want to do…But I know nothing about being the lover of a soldier…" Astrid admitted. "Do I have to do anything different? Like…I'm just confused on that position,"
"All you need to do is understand that I'm a soldier twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week no matter what. That means, that while I'm your boyfriend, fiancé, husband even…If I get the call; I go. It could be for a meeting, it could be training, or it could be another deployment. Like I said; I've been on three in the last eight years. They can be as short as six months, and as long as eighteen months. I could go to one war, and immediately ship to another back to back. You don't have to do anything differently, except understand my duties as a soldier," Hiccup explained.
"Is it…Hard being with a soldier?" Astrid inquired.
"Well, I've been mostly single through my time in the service, so I can't really give you an accurate answer. But…You can always ask Mala; she and Dagur go through all that, and they have kids. But I can tell you that they make it work because they love one another, and their family. There is…Love, understanding, trust, and communication, as all relationships require," Hiccup enlightened. Astrid nodded, understanding. "Can you handle me being in the army?"
Astrid knew she had to answer him, and while she didn't like it; she loved Hiccup more than anything. And Astrid waited eight years to explain to Hiccup her mistake; he'd forgiven her, and the bonus was that there was now a chance to get back together because the love between them was still strong as ever. But the one stipulation was her being okay and handle Hiccup in the army now. She knew he couldn't, and wouldn't just quit for her. Hiccup made the sacrifice once when they dated the first time; he wasn't going to join for her. Astrid felt it was only right, and fair to make the sacrifice this time. Astrid would support Hiccup being in the army, and one way or another as many other couples and families did; they would make it work.
"Yes," Astrid finally said. "I can handle it, and support you fully, Hiccup,"
Hiccup smiled, and breathed a sigh of relief while intertwining his fingers with hers. "Then I see no reason why we can't get back together," Hiccup informed gently. Astrid smiled, locking her fingers with his. "Just remember that I leave in literally fifty minutes now, Ast. I'm probably not gonna be back until it's over,"
"I had actually forgotten you were on leave," Astrid stated. "Only for four months, though, right?"
"Yes; we'll be back sometime in October. Not sure on the official date yet," Hiccup nodded.
"And…You're stationing in Berk?" Astrid questioned.
"Correct," Hiccup replied. Toothless came out with a small duffel bag which had in it a leash, his food bowls, and a camo vest. "Good boy, Toothless," Hiccup rubbed the top of his head; then zipped up the bag. "Oh, and you gotta be fine with Toothless; we're a package deal," he chuckled.
"Who wouldn't be okay with him? He's adorable," Astrid reached over to rub Toothless's head, making the dog pant and change to standing beside her, and sitting calmly. "Aw,"
"I've never seen him take to someone so easily before. Even Eret, Dagur, and Thuggory took Toothless almost six months to even tolerate them being near and touching him," Hiccup smiled.
"Maybe he senses that you're happy with me?" Astrid offered.
"It is very possible," Hiccup nodded. "Well…I should go pack," he added, checking his watch.
"Can I help at all?" Astrid inquired.
"Sure; you're probably more organized than I am at packing," Hiccup smiled. "Come on," he offered his hand as Astrid took it and the two of them returned to the bedroom.
"You alright, sis?" Dagur questioned.
"Hm? Oh, I'm fine. Like you said; it never would have worked between us. Even without the sibling-like relationship," Heather smiled. "Their hearts only belong to each other," she added.
. . .
[8:30 pm]
It had been an interesting night, to say the least. What started out as setting up Hiccup and Astrid on a blind date to just talk had turned into Hiccup getting sent back to Iraq a week early, and it seemed that he and Astrid were getting back together as a couple. No one ever heard an official statement saying the two were dating again; it was more of Hiccup saying that he wanted Astrid back, and her wanting to be with him again, but Hiccup's stipulation was that she had to support him being in the military, be able to handle him being in the army which meant a lot of work, and sometimes being away from each other for extended periods if Hiccup was deployed. It seemed Astrid was able to do what Hiccup was asking for, and he said he saw no reason they couldn't be together, but did that make it official? Truthfully, the others in the Bazirk home were desperately hoping to see Hiccup and Astrid become a couple and kiss. Everyone was really hoping for the kiss.
The hour ticked right by; Astrid helped Hiccup pack, and he changed into his uniform. Everyone was sitting together, chatting a bit as the sound of a chopper was heard coming closer. "I…Guess that's my ride," Hiccup stood up, grabbing his bags, and Toothless's while heading outside. To be on the safe side; this was happening over the main street, which two cop cars stopping traffic from passing while everything happened.
"Lieutenant Haddock?" asked the person who opened the back sliding door.
"That's me," Hiccup replied.
"Pass up your bags," he called. Hiccup passed up his and Toothless's bags. "Now the dog," he instructed.
"Watch out," Hiccup said as the man stepped aside. "Toothless, ya ready, pal?" the dog barked at him. Hiccup crouched down as Toothless backed up; then barked once in position. "Go, bud!" Hiccup yelled. Toothless darted forward in a run and got on Hiccup's back as he lifted up fast and Toothless jumped off Hiccup's back up into the helicopter. "Good work, Toothless! Sit boy," he called up.
"You and that dog have some connection," the man chuckled.
"Go on; I'll be right up," Hiccup told the soldier, who nodded and headed up the rope ladder. "Wish we had more time," he said to the group of family and friends.
"Hey, we'll see ya on Saturday," Thuggory reminded.
"Right back to kicking butt," Eret nodded.
"Four months will fly by with how busy you guys get," Gobber chuckled some.
"Hope so," Hiccup nodded, going into hug his Godfather.
"We love you, son," Stoick hugged him, kissing the top of his forehead.
"Be safe, baby," Valka kissed his cheeks.
"I'll do my best," Hiccup nodded softly. He then hugged Mala, Heather, Adelaide, Minden, Ruffnut, the Bazirk twins before doing handshakes with his army buds, Snotlout, Fishlegs, and Tuffnut. Lastly; he faced Astrid, taking her hands in his. "Sorry about all this; I was really looking forward to spending the week with you before I had to go back…"
"Hey, its your job…I understand. We can talk on Skype, e-mail, text, call maybe?" Astrid asked.
"Well, texting and calling won't work out there. But the other two, probably yes. Just remember I get busy and sometimes the net isn't working right, or bad signal. It could go a couple of days before you get a response," Hiccup reminded lightly.
"Hiccup, I waited eight years for you…As long as I know you love me, and we're together; I think I can handle a couple of days between responses until you come back home," Astrid smiled a bit.
"You just reminded me of something I forgot to do," Hiccup said as Astrid arched a brow at home. "I promise to be less shy and scared this time, but…Astrid…Will you be my girlfriend? Again?"
Astrid could have cried being asked that question. "Yes," Hiccup cupped her cheek as he leaned in and kissed her deeply. Astrid melted into it, kissing him back as her arms went around his neck and one of his arms moved around her waist. The group standing in Dagur and Mala's front yard started cheering and clapping; it was official, Hiccup and Astrid were back together and dating. Hiccup pulled away from the kiss, just like before; if he didn't stop, he blow off orders to take her right inside and show her how much he loved and missed her. Hiccup reached back, holding onto the rope ladder. Astrid stepped back, watching him climb up. "Call as soon as you can!"
"I will! I love you, Milady!" Hiccup called once at the top.
"I love you too, babe!" Astrid replied. Hiccup gave the signal for the chopper to go as it began headed off. "See you soon," she whispered. Not long after, the chopper was out of sight. It was sad to see Hiccup have to leave, but Astrid was over the moon that she and Hiccup were a couple again. And Astrid would absolutely not mess this up because there would be no more chances.
