Hiccup looked up from the book he was reading when a shadow fell across his face. "You're late."
He was in the park, sitting on the same bench when his father and Gobber had met with him and Astrid. Only this time, Cami was the person he had been waiting for.
"Was busy."
"Uh huh. Sit."
She didn't move a muscle.
Hiccup rolled his eyes. "Fine. Be that way," he set his book aside and leaned forward a little. "What happened between you two? Why did Bertha disowned you?"
Cami crossed her arms with a sigh. "Thanks for the reminder. It was the picture; even you can figure that out."
"I'll ignore you calling me stupid to ask why I wasn't consulted over this, by either you or her. You're not one to refuse to communicate. Your media appearances suggest as much."
"Yes, because when you get disowned, you think of some guy you dated for a bit back in Highschool."
"The guy in question wants to help you get un-disowned, because he knows what it feels like when one can't talk to a parent. It's not fun. So spill the rotten beans."
"You got the expression wrong."
"On purpose. Say something, Cami."
She didn't at first. She regarded him carefully, then stepped over to the park bench, dropped his book in his lap and sat down beside him.
"How exactly can you help me with this?"
"That's for me to know and you to never find out; provided what I have in mind works."
She threw her hands up, suddenly exasperated. "Really Haddock."
"Hey, I remember a girl who would say something similar whenever I asked her why she picked me. I'm just returning the long overdue favour."
"Uh huh. So what now?"
"Cami Haddock, I'm Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the third. You're my honorary sister until further notice. Don't make me regret my decision by the way, or I will flay you alive."
Hiccup could not recall Cami ever being rendered speechless before, but her stunned expression and the knowledge he had made her mute for a short time, would be a memory he would take to his grave.
…
Back at home, Hiccup wandered into the kitchen to find Astrid cooking something.
She glanced at him, smiled, then resumed cooking. "Hey."
He stood behind her and his arms encircled her waist. "Hi. When you're done, I want to show you something."
"Later. You're being distracting."
"Famous last words, milady. I'll be back in a bit."
It turned out that 'a bit' was twenty minutes. Enough time for her to have finished cooking by the time he returned.
Smirking, she put her hands on her hips. "What time you call this?"
"Time to show you something. C'mon. Get your coat."
…
A short while later, Hiccup pulled his car to a stop.
Astrid stared ahead, blinked a few times, then turned to stare at him. "Hiccup. Graveyard. Why?"
"I want to show you something and it happens to be here. Step out of the car and close your eyes."
She looked at the graveyard entrance again. "But why? What's here?"
"Just do as I ask. Everything will be clear soon."
"It better be," Astrid grumbled, taking off her seat belt.
Shortly thereafter, Hiccup placed a hand over Astrid's eyes and the other on the small of her back. With a nudge, he led her forwards.
"Is this really necessary? You already told me not to look."
"I want to be extra sure that you don't see anything until I'm ready."
"This better be worth it."
"Now that's a subjective term. I might be in trouble. What will you do if what I want to show you isn't good enough?"
"I'll decide your fate later. Are we there yet?"
"Almost. Ten more steps I think. Kinda hard to tell."
"Right."
"…And we're here." Hiccup withdrew his hand. "You can open your eyes now."
Astrid did so. Looking down, she found herself standing in front of her father's grave, with freshly laid roses arranged neatly by the gravestone.
Her hands curled into fists. "Is this some kind of sick joke?" She spun on her heel in search of him. "Hiccup, you better have an explanation for-"
She cut herself off as she saw Hiccup had gotten down on one knee. His good knee. Her anger fled as quickly as it had arrived.
Her jaw worked silently before she spoke again. "Hiccup?"
"Hold out your hand, Astrid. I need the ring to do this better than before. Also I apologise for the… choice of venue, but it ties into what I want to say next."
Astrid's lips parted, her mind whirring. "Hiccup?"
Reaching out, he carefully grasped her hand. Tugging her a little closer before he slid off her ring. His other hand retrieved a black velvet box from his pocket and he deposited the ring into it.
"Now I can propose properly. With words instead of writing."
She shook her head. "Hiccup you already proposed. I said yes, remember?"
"Do you count that as good enough? Because I don't. Let me do it better."
"Oh," she blinked. "Okay. Please continue."
Smiling, he nodded. "Astrid, you've been there for me since we bumped into each other as adults. You've been nice to me even when we've argued; each argument started by me and my stubbornness. You've pushed me to get back on speaking terms with my father and gave me the drive to face Cami and reconcile with her. Now I want to return the favour."
He held up the black velvet box.
"I want to be by your side, ready to support and care for you as you did me. Starting by helping you deal with the loss of your father. That's why I brought you here instead of proposing at home. Those flowers were mine. All this to say, will you marry me?"
She nodded and took back her ring, slipping it on her ring finger as he stood up. Then she closed the distance and punched him on the shoulder.
"Ow. Why?"
"That was for not telling me about the flowers sooner."
Then she grabbed him by the collar and kissed him. "And that was for everything you said. It was a great proposal. Now, allow me to respond in kind."
"How? How will you respond in kind?"
Astrid licked her lips and gave him a look.
"…Forget I asked. You know, you're quite fond of that look. Temptress."
"Not just any temptress. Yours. Let's go home, babe."
