It was hard hiding things from Astrid that last week, since she was sick with the bug Hiccup had to take care of her and leave things to his friends. Stoick and Calder had returned as they'd promised too and now everyone was rushing around to get things ready. Hiccup wanted it to be perfect, because this was also when he planned to tell Astrid about him being Strike. Astrid was being distracted by Heather and Ruffnut in the house as Hiccup was out with the boys finishing up last minute things. It was being thrown in the main house so Astrid wouldn't get suspicious about why they were all in the backyard.
Astrid's pregnancy was going fine, no one suspected it was fake. Hiccup did have to tell their father's however, there wasn't much discussion on that choice or they'd flip out seeing her 4 months pregnant now at the party. They agreed not to say anything to anyone. Now Hiccup was starting to freak out as the minutes got closer, which meant every moment closer to Astrid learning the truth about his other life.
"Hiccup, will you stop panicking. Everything is going to go fine. We got everything set up in the other room, when its time give us the signal..." Tuffnut told him.
"You remember the song we're playing? Its new, we haven't had time to rehearse it a lot..." Hiccup sighed nervously.
"Hiccup, it's fine!" Fishlegs chuckled.
"Okay okay...sorry this is huge to me..." Hiccup sat down in a chair.
"We know. We've kept this a secret for years...Everyone is going to be so surprised..." Fishlegs nodded.
"I just hope she doesn't hate me." Hiccup mumbled.
"I don't think that is possible son." Stoick said with a hand on his back, Calder beside him.
"She won't hate you. Your dad filled me in when he got me from the airport. Does anyone else know?" Calder asked.
"Nope, its going to surprise everyone." Tuffnut replied smiling.
"Well its about time for it to start. You did say 4pm right?" Fishlegs asked him, Hiccup nodded. "Good. You go get Astrid, we'll be ready here." Fishlegs urged him. Hiccup nodded and got up as Eret and the others came in now. None of them knew either.
"Alright, everyone hide...I'll be back with Astrid in a few minutes..." Hiccup instructed as he left the house and walked back over to Astrid's and his place, he walked in the door and saw Heather and Ruffnut. He gave them the signal to go and hide, they rushed out while Astrid was in her room. She walked out and saw Hiccup there blinking.
"Where'd Heather and Ruff go?" Astrid asked curiously.
"Oh, they had to do something real quick...How are you feeling today?" Hiccup asked her smiling.
"Better...I can actually keep things down again." Astrid laughed a little.
"Good good. Hey, can you come with to the main house for a sec? My dad needs me to find something and well you know me, I always miss what's right in front of me..." Hiccup chuckled to her.
"Sure babe, lets get going then." Astrid smiled as she took his hand and they started towards the door. Hiccup opened it and they walked over to the main house. Hiccup smiled as he opened the sliding glass door and led her in. "Hic, where's the light again, I can't see." Astrid asked.
"I got it...Hang on." Hiccup said softly, he flipped on the light as everyone jumped out and yelled surprise to her, she was in complete shock as he eyes looked to Hiccup now. "Happy birthday, Astrid." He said as he kissed her.
"You asshole! This is what you've been planning for weeks?" Astrid asked after the kiss.
"Yeah it is. And I promise you're going to have the best day ever." Hiccup smiled at her as their friends came up, there wasn't a lot. Hiccup invited their friends, their dad's, and a few people from school who he trusted wouldn't give Astrid a hard time. Since the pregnancy came out, many people seemed to back off and stop talking to them. Hiccup and her were actually grateful for it, they hated the attention. As Astrid looked around she saw Fishlegs, Eret, Dagur, Snotlout, Gobber, Tuffnut, Heather, Ruffnut, Merida, Elsa and her sister Anna, Kristoff, and Rapunzel. Stoick and her dad had come too. Astrid couldn't believe it.
Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Merida, and Rapunzel were slowly becoming part of the group of friends since they were their own group of friends and the two only met because Elsa, Merida, and Anna were paired with people from Hiccup and Astrid's friends. Snotlout was with Anna, Elsa's sister. Merida was with Dagur, and Elsa was with Eret. Kristoff and Anna were an actual couple like Hiccup and Astrid were but Kristoff got paired with Rapunzel. Their groups gradually got closer as they kind of mixed their projects to show a married couple having get togethers with friends.
Astrid was surprised to see them there, they weren't good friends but it was great either way. "Happy birthday baby. I can't believe you're 18 now...You've grown up to be such a beautiful young lady." Calder said as he wrapped his arms around his daughter.
"Thanks daddy..." Astrid replied hugging him back.
"How's my little grand baby in there?" Calder asked now smiling..
"Doing good. Never lets me sleep." Astrid laughed rubbing her belly. Stoick came over now and hugged them both.
"Gah, easy dad, smaller than you remember..." Hiccup gasped out for air. Stoick dropped him as he breathed heavily and everyone laughed as Hiccup caught his breath.
"Aye, sorry son. I forget..." Stoick rubbed his head a bit.
"Its okay...I'm fine. Well babe, your party. What do you want to do?" Hiccup asked softly.
"Well first of all...I want to thank everyone for coming out for my birthday...I'm glad I'm not sick right now so I can actually enjoy it. Second of all...We need music! And I'm sure my boyfriend knows what I like to listen to most, right babe?" Astrid asked.
"Duh..." Hiccup winked as he flipped on the CD player and started the music, it was Fire Storm of course. Astrid squealed excitedly as Hiccup laughed.
"This is the best day ever!" Astrid said as she hugged Hiccup tightly and they kissed, people smiled and clapped for them. Hours passed from that moment. Dancing to the music, talking about the project almost being over not that anyone knew Hiccup and Astrid's was still going. They had told their friends their whole first problem was Hiccup getting a promotion and them having to decide to take it and move or stay. It was enough to keep suspicions off them. At some point around 7:30, Astrid found herself talking to Rapunzel and Elsa in the corner of the room on the couch with some punch.
"So I guess this is the pregnancy corner?" Elsa asked with a light chuckle as she came over hearing the two girls talk about being pregnant.
"Yeah join in, Elsa. How far along are you?" Astrid asked her.
"I–I just found out... I'm about 5 weeks..." Elsa sighed.
"Hey...it's okay. I'm 15 weeks, and Rapunzel is...?" Astrid looked at her now.
"Oh! I'm 9 weeks today..." Rapunzel said with a smile. Elsa sat with them now drinking her punch. It was that moment between them they all smiled at one another. They were the three chosen for the pregnancy project. The times matched up, Elsa was one month, Rapunzel was just two month mark, and Astrid was 4 months. Those were the marks given on the paper. So they knew the truth. And their 'husbands' knew but no one else. Hiccup, Kristoff and Eret came over to them laughing.
"Hello ladies. Enjoying yourselves in the corner?" Eret asked as he kissed Elsa's cheek. Kristoff just rubbed Rapunzel's back lightly since Anna had been looking over. They had agreed nothing public or physical and things were fine that way. Hiccup kissed Astrid right on the lips.
"Yes. We're talking about our pregnancies babe, nice to know I'm not alone." Astrid giggled.
"Aw, that's great babe. Now we know who to invite over when you're bored and want to talk babies and I'll have people to share the pain with." Hiccup snickered as Astrid punched him in the arm.
"SEE!" He groaned as Eret and Kristoff laughed while he rubbed his arm.
"That's okay, Hic! I got slapped for saying that's what sex will do to you." Eret said as Elsa glared at him and he moved by Hiccup now. "Save me..."
"Alright girls...lets settle down..." Kristoff sighed as he leaned against the wall closing his eyes.
"No one is mad, Kristoff. Calm down..." Elsa chuckled a bit. "So I guess we all know who the other's were now..." Elsa said.
"Yeah but we still gotta follow the rules guys...We're not supposed to know...So we have to play along." Hiccup reminded them.
"Agreed, this never happened. We just know we're all pregnant and who the baby daddy's are..." Rapunzel added as they all nodded to one another. The 6 of them continued to talk as if nothing was off, after an hour they did cake and presents. This was the big moment, Hiccup's present to Astrid. Telling her who he was, rather...showing her.
"Hiccup?" Fishlegs asked, Hiccup looked over at him and Tuffnut. Their eyes had the silent conversation and Hiccup nodded as they snuck away from everyone. Hiccup cleared his throat as he pulled Astrid to her feet smiling while he silently walked her to the chair in the middle of the room.
"Hiccup, what are you doing?..." Astrid asked curiously.
"You'll see..." Hiccup winked as he waved his arms a bit. "Hey, can I get everyone's attention for a sec!" Hiccup called to everyone, the music lowered as they looked at Hiccup now. "Thanks. Now that we've done cake and presents, also relaxed...it's time I gave my beautiful girlfriend her gift from me. I hope you're ready babe, this is for you. May I present...FIRE STORM!" Hiccup told her, her eyes widened as Hiccup scurried so she could see the stage outside encased with smoke and two figures at their instruments.
"Oh my...Its Stone and Spark!" Anna exclaimed pointing as the smoke cleared off. Fishlegs and Tuffnut were in full costume but wearing plastic masks that were made to look like their face paint.
"Hello Haddock Home! We've come by special request to give the birthday girl a private show. And you will be getting to hear one newest songs..." Fishlegs called out.
"Where's Strike!" Yelled out Merida jumping up and down.
"Strike is here and you'll see him soon. Now...here's one of our newest songs. Shape Of My Heart. Which has been dedicated to the Miss. Astrid Hofferson by Hiccup for her birthday." Tuffnut smiled as the music began. Astrid blushed as the small crowd clapped. Astrid looked to her right and didn't see Hiccup beside her, Strike's voice began singing the lyrics to the new song and Astrid looked to the front where the band was playing. It was clear to see Stone and Spark, but no Strike. Hiccup was actually hiding behind the curtain singing the song with his band voice. He wasn't revealing himself, not until the right moment.
"Hmm, yeah, yeah..." Strike began singing getting their attention.
"Baby, please try to forgive me? Stay here don't put out the glow...Hold me now don't bother, if every minute it makes me weaker. You can save me from the man that I've become, oh yeah..." Came Strike's soft voice through the speakers. Everyone was looking around for him but only saw Stone and Spark on stage playing the music.
"Lookin' back on the things I've done...I was tryin' to be someone. I played my part, kept you in the dark...Now let me show you the shape of my heart!" Strike, Stone, and Spark sang together. Stone and Spark made small hearts with their fingers and put them over their hearts. The music softened slightly.
"Sadness is beautiful. Loneliness that's tragical. So help me I can't win this war, oh no...Touch me now don't bother, if every second it makes me weaker. You can save me from the man I've become!..." Strike sang out with Stone and Spark singing lower tones behind his own like an echo.
"Lookin' back on the things I've done. I was tryin' to be someone...I played my part, kept you in the dark...Now let me show you the shape of my heart!" It was this moment when a figure emerged from the curtains. To everyone's surprise, it was Hiccup wearing Strike's clothes but no face paint like Fishlegs and Tuffnut were. Astrid's eyes widened instantly seeing him holding the microphone and start to sing.
"I'm here with my confession...Got nothing to hide no more. I don't know where to start...But to show you the shape of my heart!" Hiccup sang looking directly at Astrid now with a soft smile. Her hand slowly came to her mouth in sheer shock of what she was seeing, and hearing. Hiccup was dressed like Strike? It didn't make sense. Hiccup was a fantastic singer, was this part of her surprise that he was taking Strike's place. It seemed reasonable until she heard his voice change to Strike's to sing the next parts with Stone and Spark.
"I'm lookin' back on things I've done. I never wanna play the same old part...or keep you in the dark...Now let me show you the shape of my heart!" Hiccup sang as he walked towards Astrid slowly.
"Lookin' back on the things I've done.I was tryin' to be someone...I played my part, kept you in the dark. Now let me show you the shape of my heart.." Stone set the music to play automatic as he and Spark grabbed their microphones and followed behind Hiccup singing with him.
"Lookin' back on the things I've done. I was tryin' to be someone. I played my part, kept you in the dark...Now let me show you the shape of..." They sang together trailing off as Hiccup knelt before Astrid who couldn't believe it as Hiccup took her hand gently. That's when Astrid realized it. It was in his lyrics. Looking back on things he'd done, like being the son of Stoick the Vast Haddock, and Fury the Dragon Rider on a Night Fury...That he was trying to be someone he wasn't. Playing the part, keeping her in the dark? When Hiccup had come out singing, his first lines were that this was his confession, that he had nothing to hide anymore. Not knowing where to start...It all made sense now. Hiccup wasn't just dressed as Strike...he was Strike.
"Show you the shape of my...heart." Hiccup sang softly as he lowered the microphone now. No one said anything as the music stopped completely. You could hear crickets it was so quiet. "Remember that big secret I told you I'd tell you about for your birthday?..." Hiccup asked gently. She managed a shaky nod to him. Hiccup looked back at Fishlegs and Tuffnut who slowly took off their masks, earning gasps from everyone. "I'm Strike, Fishlegs is Stone, and Tuffnut is Spark...And we're Fire Storm. Surprise babe." Hiccup smiled as he stood between Tuffnut and Fishlegs. All their mouths hung open with shock.
