Posting this on first day off after a VERY long night shift, so my brain is a little mush. My apologies for any editing mistakes, as well as the long wait for this chap. I just couldn't figure out how I wanted it to end. Anyways, here ya go. Also, I'm hoping to be able to post updates on Upside and TSaW before the end of the week. They are very nearly completed, so providing life goes according to plan...

Zafirya: Sleep deprived brain is a condition that I am far too familiar with. Lol. Don't worry though, you'll get your answers in this chapter (sort of). Also, omg... Why am I now also envisioning Tuffnut and the chicken?! XD Oh dear...

CB73: Yeah, now we can kind of see why Hayden isn't so keen on the holidays. I wouldn't be either after all of that. As for Astrid, her family life was clearly VERY different from Hayden's. I'd be willing to bet that Hayden spent a fair amount of time at Astrid's house because it felt like the home that he never had. Ingrid seems like the type of lady that would treat the sad and lonely neighbour boy just like he was her own son. You're absolutely bang on about Stoick and Hayden, and it was probably the same disconnect that drove Valka away. Although we can see that Stoick is trying to make a change, and you can't fault him for that. Hopefully Christmas works its magic for all of them. I guess time will tell ;)

~oOo~

"So let me get this straight," Heather started mildly. One of her dark brows raised as she peered at Astrid across the small cafe table they were seated at. "You want me, to help you, help Hayden find his Christmas spirit again?"

Astrid took a small sip from her second latte of the morning before answering. Her and Heather had decided to meet up at Bagels and Brew - their favourite local coffee shop/delicatessen - and Astrid had spent the last half hour filling Heather in on everything that had happened over the last couple days. Although she'd only mentioned that her and Hayden shared a hotel room. Not a bed.

She knew that it should seem weird to ask Hayden's ex for assistance, but it didn't. Her, Heather, and Hayden had all been friends well before Hayden and Heather started dating. They'd hit it off pretty much right from the moment that Heather moved to Berk with her family in 8th grade, in fact. Becoming thick as thieves in no time - which meant that Heather knew Hayden almost as well as Astrid did.

Although, there had been a short stint where Astrid was… Wary (she would never admit to jealous) of the beautiful raven haired girl with the perfect figure and startlingly green eyes. Heather had been in Hayden's shop class - and seemingly getting much too close to him for Astrid's liking. It wasn't because she was clingy or thought of him as hers, or anything like that though. No sir. She just didn't want to see him getting used by some brunette bimbo.

"Yes. That's right," Astrid finally replied. Resting her mug on the table with a quiet chink of porcelain on ceramic tile but maintaining her hold on it. "He never used to be such a Grinch, and it bothers me. He did so much to help me, even after the way I hurt him back in senior year. The least I can do is bring back some joy to his life in return."

They were seated on the patio outside with Windshear (Heather's Aussie) and Stormfly laying together near their booted feet. It was an unusually clear day, and they had wanted to take advantage of it. Both of the ladies were still sporting their mittens and winter jackets though, as the lack of cloud cover gave the crisp air a pretty decent bite. If they were anywhere other than Berk, people might think they were crazy. Here, it was just the norm.

"If you want to bring some joy back to Hayden's life, why don't you just ask him out on a date instead," Heather drawled. Her bright green eyes twinkling mischievously.

"Great idea! Why didn't I think of that," Astrid muttered back sarcastically. Rolling her eyes even as she felt a blush rise in her cheeks. "Making him feel like I want to use him as my rebound would just make his whole week."

Heather snorted loudly in response to that. "Technically I think Eret was actually the rebound," she stated teasingly. Not looking abashed in the slightest when Astrid just glowered at her in return. "So, what's the plan?"

"I'm not sure," Astrid relented with a sigh - her anger quickly abating in the face of Heather's infallible good mood. "I'm not really good with this type of thing. You know that."

"You are pretty terrible at it," Heather confirmed with a grin. At Astrid's gasp of feigned injury, she laughed before shrugging and waving her left hand - making the gold band with its solitary diamond on her third finger wink in the wintry sunlight. "Continue," she offered with a smirk.

That had Astrid making a rude gesture at her friend. "Anyways, I was hoping you and Frank might be able to come up with some ideas. Frank always did get Hayden in a way we never could, and I'm not sure I'm the right person for the job anyways." She worried at a loose string on the inside of her mitten for a moment before glancing back up at Heather. "Especially since I'm pretty sure I'm the one that ruined it for him in the first place..."

"You weren't the only one," Heather cut in. "But you were 'the straw that broke the camel's back' as they say," she drawled - making finger quotations for effect. "You were his very best friend Astrid. When you shut him out, it was like a part of him just closed itself off from the world."

This, right here, was why Astrid and Heather got along so well. Heather was never one to sugar coat the truth. She also never failed to call Astrid on her crap - though that did get a bit irritating at times too. Sometimes it's just easier to lie to yourself than to admit the painful truth. Is it really too much to ask to be left to enjoy that fantasy land on your own terms?

"I know," Astrid sighed. The roiling guilt in her stomach making acid burn at the back of her throat. "I still feel terrible about it, and that's why I really need to make it up to him. I just don't know how. Or where to start…"

"Here's an idea," Heather offered - her tone ever so slightly exasperated. "If you want to make it up to him, why don't you just talk to him about it. Maybe try explaining what happened, tell him how you feel, and then spend some time with him to see if he feels the same. I'm sure he'd appreciate that more than something under the tree."

Astrid shifted around uncomfortably in her seat for a moment as she avoided Heather's gaze now. "That… Sounds great," she admitted. Speaking to the table instead of Heather. "It's just that, well… I'm not sure I can. I mean, not without doing something stupid and making it even weirder between Hayden and I than it already is."

"And why is that?"

"It's complicated," Astrid admitted. Feeling her cheeks heat against her will, and casting a glance up at Heather out of the side of her eyes. Truthfully, the more she'd thought about it while tossing and turning last night, the more mortifying the whole thing had become. How could she possibly face Hayden after something like that?

"Complicated in what way," Heather asked blandly.

"I'd rather not talk about it," Astrid muttered. Receiving a raised brow from Heather, but clearly the other girl wasn't about to leave it alone. Huffing a disgruntled sigh, Astrid crossed her arms moodily over her chest as she slumped back in her seat. "If you must know… I, uh, made a bit of a fool of myself."

"Nothing new there," Heather snorted. "What was it this time?"

"Not funny," Astrid grumbled. "Well, you see, I was uh… Looking out my bedroom window last night and happened to see him in his room…"

"And by that you mean you were watching for him," Heather smirked knowingly. "So then what happened?"

"He may have started taking his clothes off," Astrid admitted. Feeling her face grow even hotter at the humiliating memory. "I wanted to look away, but I think all the stress from the last couple days had created a disconnect between my eyes and my brain, because I couldn't stop staring. That, and he looks good shirtless," she confessed guiltily as Heather sniggered. "Like, really good."

"He certainly does," Heather agreed. "And this is embarrassing for you because…"

"Well then my folks came into my room and caught me creeping. Of course they just had to make a big scene about staring at Hayden too. You know what they're like. My dad was even using 'hand-binoculars' like he used to when I was 5!" Astrid felt herself grimace at the memory, and it was plain to see that Heather was biting down on her lip to keep from interrupting again.

"Anyways, then Hayden looks over and sees us all standing there like a bunch of weirdos, watching him undress. Next thing I know, Hayden is hiding and my dad is calling me a Peeping Tom and making fun of me for stealing Hayden's sweater. A sweater which I borrowed at the hotel, but haven't seemed able to give back - or stop wearing - since."

"What is wrong with me," Astrid finally blurted out. "Hayden and I haven't talked for years after I was such a jerk to him! I thought I'd gotten over him, but no! I spend one day with him and all of a sudden I'm sleeping in his clothes again and watching him get undressed like some sort of psycho stalker! What the heck am I supposed to say if he asks about last night?! Laugh it off while I casually ask him about his new tattoo?!"

Throwing her head back, Astrid directed a frustrated growl at the sky that was loud enough to make a passerby stop and stare - not that she cared. "Gods, I can't even apologize to him properly for it. At least not without embarrassing him all over again. He probably thinks I'm such a freak," she groaned. Leaning forward again to bury her flaming face in her mittens.

There was a long pause, and then Heather started laughing so hard she was actually snorting. The hysterical sounds making Astrid glare up in disbelief that her friend seriously found her pain this amusing. "I'm sorry," Heather choked out when she saw Astrid's expression. "That's just… Really funny. You have to admit. Your parents are the best!"

"They are pure evil," Astrid growled back.

"They're awesome and you know it," Heather grinned. Finally calming down enough to breathe and wiping the tears from under her lashes. Astrid just rolled her eyes in return. "Personally, I think you're overreacting. Not that Hayden would ever bring it up himself, but he was probably stoked when he caught you spying on him."

"Yeah right," Astrid muttered with another eye roll. "You should have seen how freaked out he was when he woke up cuddling me yesterday morning."

Heather had gasped and clutched her hands to her mouth in giddy excitement before Astrid had fully realized what she had just blurted out. "Oh my gods! I knew it," Heather grinned. "You slept with him, didn't you?!"

"Not like that," Astrid exclaimed in shock. "Of course not. We just… Slept in the same bed is all." Then as Heather's grin started widening into a wicked leer, Astrid threw her hands up in defeat.

"There were no blankets on the pullout! What was I supposed to do? Make him sleep on the floor of his own hotel room? Besides, we both had all of our clothes on, and it's not like we fell asleep cuddling or anything," she defended herself. "We just… Woke up that way."

"Mmhmm," Heather nodded. Still smirking behind her mittens and looking thoroughly unconvinced by Astrid's argument. "And you didn't enjoy waking up in his arms one little bit," she hedged teasingly. "Haven't dreamed about it since you were 14 in fact. Nope. Not even once."

Astrid's cheeks instantly flushed again with her guilt, and she cursed her pale complexion. "Of course it felt nice to wake up in someone's arms," she grumbled back with an eye roll. "I'm fresh out of a breakup!"

"Or it's because you're still in love with him," Heather countered.

"That's just… So not the point," Astrid spluttered. Too stunned at Heather's bluntness to try and contradict her. "Look, we're here to become the 3 Christmas ghosts to Hayden's Scroogey demeanour, not to rehash all my past mistakes. Now are you going to help me or not?"

Her tone was a little more snarky than she had intended it to be, but Astrid desperately wanted to steer the conversation away from her feelings, and back to the task at hand instead. Heather just arched a slender brow at her for a moment. "Fine, I'll help you," she finally consented. "On one condition."

"What's that," Astrid asked nervously. The wicked gleam in Heather's green eyes making her more than a little anxious about what scheme her devious friend might be dreaming up. Maybe it had been a bad idea to confess her inner turmoil after all. First her parents, and now Heather. Could she trust no one in this Thor-forsaken town anymore?!

"You have to help me at the North Pole," Heather stated evilly.

"Oh gods… Really," Astrid moaned. Thinking in horror of the better part of her afternoons spent keeping bored children and harried parents in line as they waited to get the traditional pictures with Santa. Heather's parents ran the thing, so she'd been coerced into it every year during high school. She'd been sure she'd escaped it for good after leaving Berk though, but apparently not.

Sighing quietly to herself, Astrid met Heather's gaze again. "Fine," she grumbled. "But the 'Santa' better not grope me this year, or I will knock him out again," she warned. "I don't care if it makes all the kiddies cry."

"That shouldn't be a problem," Heather laughed. "Crusty old 'Mildew' finally got put into a care home, and I hear the nurses and care aids don't put up with any of his crap either. So, I volun-told Frank that he was going to be our Santa this year and he graciously agreed."

That had Astrid laughing now too. As Heather's fiancé, there was probably very little that Frank wouldn't do for Heather. Up to and including donning a heavy red velvet suit, an itchy fake beard, and putting up with other peoples' children all day. "I suppose he's jolly enough to pull off Ol' Saint Nick," Astrid agreed with a smirk. "And he'll definitely fill out the suit better than that scrawny old creep did."

"Watch it you," Heather shot back. "If I remember correctly, you have a thing for scrawny men."

"I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about," Astrid tossed back. Plastering on the most innocent expression she could muster.

Heather laughed again as she dug her phone out of her purse and typed a quick message to someone. Then she pulled a bill out of her wallet and carefully concealed it under her empty mug. "What do you say we go down and see how the display is coming along," she finally asked. "The boys already had the tent up by the time I left this morning, but they were hoping to have the overhead lights and the biggest pieces of village set up by the end of the day too. They could probably use our help."

"Oh probably," Astrid agreed with a laugh. Thinking of Frank and Dagur trying to work together on anything. Then she drained the last of her coffee and pushed to her feet. Her and Stormfly following Heather and Windshear back out onto the sidewalk.

As they made their meandering way through the snowy streets, Astrid couldn't help noticing that the town had really gone all out this year. Every shop window had some sort of elaborate Christmas display set up. All of them featuring some strange blend of modern and traditional decor.

Sven's Meat Shop window contained a sort of 'First Christmas' diorama with a rather unexpected take on the typical nativity scene. In place of crowns, each of the 3 kings was sporting a little Viking helmet complete with ridiculously inaccurate ornamental horns. Astrid was also pretty sure that one would be hard pressed to find a yak in an ancient Bethlehem stable. Anywhere else, people would likely find such a thing incredibly blasphemous, but this was Berk.

The square itself was a cacophony of noise - along with the sort of organized chaos that only comes from setting up a large event. Some of the volunteers were busy constructing the temporary wooden booths that would hold the different shops and games. Others were hauling supplies around in large totes and boxes. There were even random bursts of festive song springing up amidst the fray.

The aforementioned tent was standing proud on the far side of the square. Tucked neatly into it's usual spot in the empty lot between Phlegma's Bakery and the small green space where the huge fir tree was always erected. The nearness of delicious pastries was probably the only perk about working in Santa's village - more formally known as 'The North Pole'. That, and people tended to take pity on the poor 'elves' in their rather limited layers of clothing. Often bringing over mugs of steaming apple cider or hot cocoa as the chill of evening set in.

As they jostled their way through the crowd, Astrid could see commotion going on under the huge white tarp. Though she couldn't see exactly what was happening, she could make a pretty fair guess that they were working on stringing up the overhead lights. The heavy canvas backdrop panels and their support stands were still leaning against the wall of the bakery. Already, she could hear Frank and Dagur arguing too.

"The North Star should be bigger," Dagur was saying.

"But it's already twice the size it used to be," Frank offered in a mildly pleading tone. "Any bigger and people are going to hit their heads on it."

"Their problem, not mine," Dagur countered blandly. "Make it bigger."

There was a loud huff of frustration. This was then followed by the bulky form of Frank emerging from around the tent door. "…Don't even have the panels up yet and all he's worried about is the darn lights," they heard him exclaiming moodily as he threw his large hands up in the air. Still grumbling to himself as he began to rifle through one of the blue totes stacked up beside the entrance.

Chuckling as they glanced at each other, Astrid and Heather closed the rest of the distance to the tent without Frank even noticing them. Although this feat really didn't require much stealth at all. He would be lucky to hear them even if the girls were already wearing their elf shoes with the bells on the toes. Especially with the upbeat carols coming from a Bluetooth speaker somewhere inside the tent, and the curses Frank was busy muttering under his breath.

"Hey hun," Heather quipped brightly. Coming up behind her fiancé and leaning around to press a kiss to his cheek. Then she was laughing out loud when he jumped and made a noise like a mouse being trodden on.

"Odin's ghost! Must you do that," Frank exclaimed breathily. Holding a large hand over his heart as he pretended to scowl at Heather. She just grinned and wound an arm through one of his as she leant her head against his shoulder.

Shaking his head fondly at his fiancé, Frank looked over at Astrid now. "Hey Astrid," he greeted with a warm smile. "It's good to see you. I was wondering if Heather was going to talk you into helping out as well."

"Coerced might be a better term for it," Astrid confirmed with an eye roll.

"That certainly sounds like my future wife," he agreed with a chuckle. "She's been bullying anyone she can find into helping with the setup this year." Heather smirked at him even as she elbowed him gently in the side. "Not that you'll catch me complaining," Frank added quickly. "Dagur's driving me nuts."

"Oh? Who else is here," Astrid couldn't help asking. Trying not to let herself get too hopeful about the answer - or too nervous.

"It's just the two of us at the moment," Frank replied with a shrug. That had Astrid arching her brows at him in surprise. Usually there was already a whole group working on the initial setup of the display. She couldn't imagine trying to arrange the huge canvas panels with only two people. No wonder tempers were running hot.

Astrid couldn't help but notice that Frank cast a quick glance at Heather before he spoke again. "We're not entirely alone though," he added. "Scott just went to pick up the workshop and sleigh pieces from Sven's barn. He left about a half hour ago, so he should be back before too long."

"Oh goody. Snotface is here," Astrid grumbled. Twirling one finger in the air like a makeshift baton to demonstrate her enthusiasm. Of course Scott Jorgenson was here. That was just her luck.

When Heather chuckled and Frank grimaced apologetically, Astrid just sighed before heading into the tent. It wasn't like she couldn't handle Scott and his corny pickup lines. A small part of her was even looking forward to it in a weird sort of way. At least cutting Scott down to size again would take her mind off the confusion she still felt about Hayden.

Inside the tent, Dagur was already balancing near the top of a tall ladder. Clearly trying to undo whatever they'd used to hang the star in the first place. His shoulders and head hidden behind the combination of light strands and garland that were strapped to the metal support beams. All of them meeting at the centre point of the tent, where the white and gold star hung down like a great chandelier.

As she watched Dagur struggle with it, Astrid couldn't help thinking that Frank was right. The star was already plenty big enough. It was also slightly misshapen, as if whoever had added the extra lights to it had done so haphazardly. The original star had been just fine. Understated and elegant, like a star should be.

She also knew that there was no point in arguing with Dagur once he set his mind to something. Apparently he had already demanded that they upsize the sleigh and 'workshop' a few years ago. Astrid should have guessed it would only be a matter of time before he set his sights on the star, and eventually even the tent itself. Unfortunately, with the current 12 ft ceiling, the star actually would be a bit of a hazard if Dagur got his way. Although, if she could simply add some arms to make the star a bit wider - and maybe secure it higher up on the centre support - then it might still be okay.

Her mind already busy with this new challenge, Astrid made sure to call up to Dagur as she neared the ladder. Not wanting to startle him and chance having him slip. Even though she worked out and knew she was strong, that didn't mean Astrid could actually catch a falling Dagur. At least, not without breaking herself in the process. The guy had to be at least 200 lbs of pure muscle.

"Astrid!" he shouted back jubilantly. His flamboyant tone slightly at odds with the bulging biceps she knew were concealed beneath the bulky sleeves of his winter coat. A huge smile on his face and his bright shock of red hair sticking out from his head like a halo of fire as he peered down at her. "Thank goodness. Maybe now someone else will finally appreciate my vision," he added loudly. Making sure his voice carried enough that Frank would hear him.

There was a loud huff from the front of the tent that made Astrid laugh. "Yes, the answer to your prayers has arrived Mr. Fussy. Now pass me down that star," she shot back. "Then you can help Frank and Heather get started on those backdrops.

"Oooh, aren't you just the little drill sergeant," Dagur teased. Still, he went back to work on the knot holding the star up. It wasn't too much longer before he finally got it undone. Then he lowered it down far enough for Astrid to grab hold of it.

"Thanks," she grinned up at him. Taking the star back outside where she could sit in the sunlight while she worked. Stormfly coming out to lay beside her - head resting on her paws as she watched Astrid work. After all, it was wintertime in Berk. Might as well enjoy this unexpected break in the omnipresent cloud cover while they could.

Although Astrid knew she wasn't quite as artistic as Hayden (who had designed the original star some 10 years ago), she was still pretty darn skilled. It didn't take very long for her to work in some more twists of wire and another strand of white lights and gold garland. Carefully adjusting the rest of the arms to bring it back to its original grandeur as well. Then she fashioned a new loop to hang it from out of some more of the wire. Triple wrapping it just to make sure it was strong enough to support the added weight before attaching it to the top.

Finally satisfied with her work, Astrid took the star back inside the tent. Looking around, Astrid couldn't find any of the others. Although the framework for the massive backdrops had been erected, so she guessed they were likely outside arranging the canvas panels onto the curtain rods. Sighing in resignation, Astrid struggled herself and the heavy mass of lights all the way up the ladder alone while Stormfly watched anxiously from the ground. The effort making Astrid suddenly thankful for all the days spent doing deadlifts at the gym as she heaved it up over her head.

She was also now immensely glad that she had thought to add that loop to it so that she wouldn't have to try to hold it and tie it at the same time. Once she had it where she wanted it, she allowed most of its weight to rest by the hook over one of the cross beams. Her other hand reaching down blindly to fumble around in her jacket pocket for the industrial strength cable ties that she had brought up to secure it with.

"Need a hand with that?"

She'd been so absorbed in her task that she hadn't noticed the sound of a truck pulling up outside, or of approaching footsteps on gravel. The familiar voice as welcome as it was shocking, and Astrid jumped in surprise. Unfortunately she had been balancing - quite foolishly - on the very top rung of the ladder. This meant that her small jump quickly became a big problem.

"Oh! Oh gods," Hayden exclaimed as Astrid flailed wildly for something to grab onto. Her hand smacking against the side of the star, but rather than providing a solid hold, it nearly fell off the beam instead. Meeting Hayden's eyes for the briefest second, Astrid could see that the green orbs were wide with panic. Oddly enough, the feeling was totally mutual.

Next thing she knew, Hayden had her cradled in his unexpectedly sturdy arms before she could hit the ground. She had one beautiful moment where she got to enjoy the feeling of him holding her like a princess - before the massive star teetered the rest of the way off the support brace and fell. Hitting Hayden on the head and knocking them both the rest of the way to the ground. The aluminum ladder tipping over the other way and landing with a clang on the hard packed earth.

It took a moment for Astrid to get her bearings, and then another to figure out why her forehead felt wet. "I'm alright girl," Astrid giggled as a worried Stormfly pushed in anxiously around the star to check on them. Though relieved that it wasn't blood, the touch of a cold snout on her already chilled face made Astrid shiver slightly, and she turned her head away from the wetness. "Please tell me no one saw that," she added. Groaning into Hayden's jacket, as she was currently sprawled over top of him - face down with her head near his right shoulder and her left arm bent awkwardly between them.

"I doubt it. Pretty sure they're all still unloading Scott's truck out back. They probably didn't even hear the crash of the ladder over the rumble of his ridiculously loud exhaust kit," Hayden drawled. Chuckling softly when Astrid sighed in relief, and the feel of his breath ghosting over her neck did weird things to her insides. Then again, maybe it was just heartburn from all the espresso this morning…

"Never thought I'd actually be thankful for the arrival of Snotlout," Astrid quipped back with a grin. Pushing herself up enough to free her arm as she met Hayden's gaze. He was smiling her favourite lopsided smirk, and the sunlight from outside was reflected in his eyes like little sparks of gold within the deep emerald. His sharp jawline even more pronounced from this angle. Does he even know how incredibly good looking he is, Astrid couldn't help wondering.

"You know, if we stay like this long enough mi'lady, Sir Snotsalot will probably be able to come running to your rescue too," Hayden finally added with another low laugh. Snapping her mind back to the present and she realized she was still staring at him like an idiot. She had also yet to make any effort to remove herself from on top of him. Although he didn't seem about to complain, he was probably getting a little cold from laying prone on the frozen ground for so long.

"Dear gods no. Anything but that," Astrid shuddered. Grimacing dramatically as she hoisted herself the rest of the way up. She could only imagine the lewd comments if Heather and the others walked in to find them like this. Mentally shuddering at the thought, she reached down to pull Hayden to his feet as well. Putting a bit too much force behind it and making him do a cute little hop-step to avoid sprawling on his face instead, which had them both laughing again.

Thankfully they had managed to come out of the incident with very few injuries to speak of. Hayden righted the ladder as Astrid quickly readjusted the star back into shape. By the time the others started bringing the panels in, Astrid was already back up the ladder and Hayden was passing her up the star. No one would ever suspect that the two of them had just been tangled up together on the dirt.

"How's it going in here," Heather shouted out to them as her and Frank walked by with a painted canvas section hanging between them. "Haven't you gotten that star up yet?"

"It would be, but Astrid decided she needed to drop it on my head first," Hayden hollered back. Then his face screwed up in a pained grimace as he added, "and can someone please change the music?! If I have to listen to Bing Crosby sing White Christmas one more time, I'm going to lose it."

"Hey! Watch it you," Astrid growled. "No one insults the classics on my watch." Hayden just rolled his eyes and shook his head, as if he had serious doubts about her use of the term 'classic'. "I will drop this behemoth on you again," she warned as she glared down at him. "Don't think I won't."

"Oh, I know you will," Hayden countered as he looked back up at her with a smirk. "And if insulting this awful song will get you to put me out of my misery, then you'd best believe I'm going to keep doing it." Astrid stuck her tongue out at him in response, and his smirk widened.

Heather and Frank were laughing at the two of them when Dagur and Scott wandered in with the next panel. "What'd I miss," Scott asked. Looking between the laughing couple and the two by the ladder with a confused expression.

"Oh nothing," Heather replied. "Astrid and Hayden were just being unintentionally funny." Her eyes locked with Astrid's then as she smirked wickedly - and Astrid knew Heather was only keeping her real thoughts to herself for the sake of keeping the group on task. Rolling her eyes at her evil friend, Astrid went back to her work. Quickly getting the wire loop tied off before anything else could happen to the poor star.

Thankfully the rest of the day went smoothly. Well, there were no more major accidents that is. Scott did manage to screw Frank's sleeve to the raised centre platform as they were assembling it, but other than that everything else was fine. Though she hated to admit it, even Scott had pulled his weight - and been remarkably helpful.

They had even managed to get both the sleigh and the workshop set up by the time the sun started to set. That meant they would have all day tomorrow to arrange the decorations and really bring the scene to life. All in all, Astrid was incredibly pleased as she looked around at everything they had accomplished.

Hayden suddenly came over to stand beside Astrid then. His eyes scanning the gradually darkening tent and his hands stuffed in the pockets of his jacket. "Well, I'd say we did pretty alright. With any luck, you guys should be done by mid-afternoon," he offered after a moment.

"You're not helping tomorrow," Astrid found herself asking. Her tone coming out a tad more desperate than she cared to admit, and she felt a blush tint her cheeks.

"Nah," Hayden shrugged. "I've got a project that's going to keep me pretty busy. That, and I'm not sure how many days of this I can handle in a row." Then he glanced sideways at her with a smirk. "Although I am looking forward to seeing you stuffed into your cute little elf outfit from high school again. I wonder how tight it's going to be."

Astrid felt her jaw drop as she glared at him for a moment. Had he seriously just cracked a fat joke at her. He was so dead. "I'll have you know that I can still get into my jeans from high school, thank you very much," she shot back at him. Lifting her chin and glaring as she crossed her arms huffily.

It was at that moment that Heather and the others came over too. Heather moving to wrap an arm around Astrid's shoulders as she muttered, "I bet you wouldn't mind getting Hayden into your jeans from high school too." Astrid felt her face go instantly red, and she elbowed her friend in the side, but Heather just laughed.

"Hey Hayden," Heather added in much louder voice now. "Since we're done here, we were all thinking of coming over and sitting under your bedroom window, if that's alright. Astrid was saying you put on a pretty good strip show last night." She briefly shot an evil grin at Astrid before looking back at Hayden again. "She likes your tattoo by the way."

"You have a tattoo," Scott exclaimed in surprise. Staring at his cousin in mild shock, as if finding this news hard to believe. Dagur, on the other hand, barked out a loud laugh and reached out to clap Hayden on the shoulder.

Astrid barely even heard Scott or Dagur. She was too busy glaring at Heather accusingly, while her face grew so hot it felt like it might catch fire. "I told you about that in strict confidence," Astrid growled at her traitorous friend.

"My bad," Heather offered. Giving an unconvincing shrug as Frank sniggered into his hand. "I didn't realize it was supposed to be a secret."

Then Astrid heard Hayden shift beside her, and she was a bit surprised to find that his face wasn't nearly as red as she'd thought it would be. Although one of his hands was rubbing the back of his neck in slight discomfort as he met his cousin's startled eyes. "Yes Snot, I have a tattoo. It's the Haddock family crest, it's on my left pec, and I've had it since I was 19. Maybe if your bedroom window was right across from mine, you would've been able to catch a passing glimpse of it too."

He met her eyes for a moment with a small smirk before glancing back at the others. "If you all really want to sit out in the cold and wait to watch me take my clothes off, be my guest. I rarely close my curtains anyways. Not unless I'm planning to do something worth hiding, that is," he finished with a shrug.

Scott and Dagur started laughing and cracking jokes now, but Hayden just locked eyes with Astrid again. "I think I'm going to call it a night," he added. Clearly directing his words to her alone as he ignored everyone else. "Are you ready to go, or are you planning to hang out for a little longer?"

"Definitely ready to go," Astrid confirmed. Shooting Heather one more glare as she whistled for Stormfly. Then she hooked the leash to the retriever's collar, and followed Hayden out of the tent. All while wishing idly that she had a car. Not because she minded spending more time with Hayden, but just because she felt bad for mooching so many rides from him. Too bad her car just got to the shop today, and she wasn't fool enough to think that anyone was going to work on it until after Christmas.

"See you tomorrow morning," Heather hollered before Astrid could disappear out the door flap. Astrid held her middle finger up in response, and then let the flap drop closed behind her. Just outside, she could see that Hayden had paused at the little table set up under the awning next door. An employee from Phlegma's bakery was selling cups of hot cider by donation to those working out in the cold, and Astrid had to agree that it smelled too delicious to pass by.

Hayden was busy digging a bill out of his wallet when Astrid and Stormfly made it over to him. He nodded to her and handed a 10 to the Santa hat-wearing teen sitting behind the table. Then he grabbed two steaming cups of cider and held one out to Astrid.

"Thanks," she sighed as she took the welcome drink with a smile. Then she glanced back up at him guiltily. "And sorry about that in there. I didn't mean to embarrass you or anything…"

"I'm not embarrassed," he cut across her with a chuckle. "I mean, it was a bit weird with your parents there, but you can watch me through my window anytime you want to." His tone was distinctly teasing, but her cheeks warmed just the same. Still, she allowed a giggle of her own as the three of them started making their way between the now mostly erected booths lining Main Street. Everything looking perfectly festive already, as a mix of Christmas lights and streetlights lit their way.

It wasn't until they were away from the majority of the chaos that Astrid realized they were walking the opposite direction of the parking lot. "Are you walking home," she asked. Looking around as if expecting to see his Lincoln parked somewhere down a side street.

"Yep," he replied easily. Casting his eyes sideways to glance at her. "Technically Scott was supposed to give me a ride home, but I figured you wanted to escape and I didn't think it right to make you walk alone. Besides, it's not like we live that far from town."

Astrid felt that same curious warmth bloom in her chest again. "Aww, aren't you a sweetheart," she teased with a smile. Wondering yet again what she'd ever done to deserve a friend like him.

"Yeah, us Haddock men are just big ol' softies," he quipped back with an eye roll. His dry tone making her laugh, and she leaned over to bump her shoulder against his arm.

The rest of the short walk passed by in companionable silence. The two of them mostly just enjoying each other's company while watching Stormfly play around in the snow piled next to the sidewalk. The houses on either side of the road springing to life with bright Christmas displays now that it was properly dark out. With the clouds having rolled back in, it wasn't even that cold out anymore either. Come to think of it, it was actually a beautiful night for a stroll.

By the time they reached the end of her street, the snow had started again. Just a soft fall of fluffy flakes this time - drifting down to dust their hair and shoulders. Astrid thought that Hayden would leave her at the corner, but he walked her all the way to the end of her driveway. Turning to face her as they paused at the bottom of the concrete path.

He looked like he almost wanted to say something. His hand reaching partway towards her as his eyes searched her face, and she held her breath in expectation. Then he just sighed and gave her a lopsided smile as he stuffed his hand back in his pocket - having tossed his empty cup into a garbage bin along the way. "I, uh, guess I'll see you around," he offered simply before starting to walk back down the street.

Astrid wasn't sure why, but she was suddenly jogging to catch up to him. She couldn't just let him leave again. Had to let him know that she didn't want to only continue to talk in passing, or when they happened to meet by chance. "Wait," she gasped as she reached out to grasp his elbow. Out of breath, not from the jog, but from the sheer weight of emotion pressing down on her chest.

Hayden paused and turned to look at her again - one eyebrow cocked in question. "I, uh, I was wondering if, maybe…" Astrid stammered stupidly. Her hands twisting her empty paper cup into an unrecognizable mass as she struggled to force the words out. Why was she having so much trouble? It wasn't like she was asking him on a date or anything.

"I was wondering if maybe you wanted to come over for dinner tomorrow night," she finally managed. Watching as Hayden's other brow came up to join the first, and she swallowed once to clear her throat. "My mom's making parmesan chicken and I know that used to be your favourite, so..."

She trailed off with a shrug as if it didn't matter either way, even though her heart was hammering in her chest. Her eyes not quite able to meet his for some reason. When she did finally manage to look at his face though, she found him smiling. "I'd love to," he said with a soft chuckle - probably at her weirdly relieved expression.

"Oh! Well, good. How does 6:30 work for you," she replied like an idiot. Making it sound like they were arranging a business meeting instead of a friendly dinner with her parents, and Hayden huffed another laugh.

"6:30 works just fine," he confirmed. "Maybe text me a reminder though," he added thoughtfully. "You know how I get when I have a project." She rolled her eyes in agreement. His tendency to forget everything else once he started into something was a trait that she had always found equal parts endearing and irritating.

Then, as if reading her thoughts, he answered her next question before she could ask it. "My number is still the same as it always was," he supplied with a half shrug. "I never changed it because I was kind of hanging onto the hope that you might want to call me one day. Regardless of what did or didn't happen between us that night, I never wanted to stop being your friend."

Astrid felt her eyes fly wide in surprise at how nonchalantly he'd dropped that bomb, but he just gave her a lopsided smile in response. "Goodnight Astrid." With that, he walked away. Leaving her standing in the snow in front of her house, staring after his retreating form and wondering why she suddenly felt a little like she was floating.

~oOo~

Gotta love conniving friends mixed with pure Hiccstrid fluff. These two are just so darn cute! It kind of makes me want to rush ahead to the best part, but unfortunately life never works that way. We will get to see even more conniving - along with Snot, Ruff, and Tuff - in the next chapter though. That should be fun :P

Catch you on the other side peeps :D