=Astrid's POV=
(Friday, 1/4/19-7:20 pm)
(Berk, Archia Isle)
(Haddock Apartment)

I knew it was wrong. All the flirting with guys at school, and now this, bringing a guy over to work on a project and we started flirting and kissing. It led to making out and would have been sex if Hector hadn't come home. He originally told me he'd be working until closing, which at the garage was 9:30 pm. Hector should have returned at 9:45 pm, at the latest. I was still wrong, though. I knew Hector and I were legally married, and me doing anything with any other male, intimately, was considered being unfaithful. However, while I knew after being caught there would be anger and an argument, I did not think Hector would say he was done and wanted a divorce, regardless of the fact our marriage was the binding unification of our father's companies. If our marriage fell, so did the merge. I knew Hector was being serious, he had no doubt in his eyes of what he wanted right now. I had been awful to him, stuck in my anger about the situation of us being forced to marry and live together as a married couple. Forced to act like we're perfect and happy. I was just so mad and I didn't see who it was affecting. Hector was right, we agreed on plans to deal with this stuff and I wasn't keeping up my part. However, knowing my fault now didn't matter because it sounded like Hector knew what he wanted and there would be no changing his mind. I knew I had to try and save this. Even if we hated one another, the company wouldn't be all that suffered if there was a divorce.

Hector was silent, staring at me, probably waiting to see if I'd say something. "Apparently, you want the same. I will call the Haddock Family lawyer in the morning and we can be done with this."

Hector closed his eyes and walked to the bedroom, I assumed he was getting a change of clothes to shower and then he'd probably come out to eat something and finally go to bed. I didn't know what to do. I screwed up, and I didn't know if I could get Hector to change his mind. Hector came out of the room and enter the bathroom, he shut and locked the door once in. I stood there, feeling bad and almost panicking to stop this. I looked around the apartment, it was a mess. Maybe I could clean everything before Hector got out of the shower? It might show him that I'm reliable to helping with the house. Picking where to begin, I got started.

. . .

(8:00 pm)

I worked fast, but effectively. I cleaned the bedroom up first, knowing it was late and Hector would probably want to go to sleep. Next, I took care of the dishes and wiped things down in the kitchen. I even got Hector's dinner on a plate and in the microwave. I'd warm it up when I heard Hector out of the shower. I swept and mopped the floors that could be done with that. I vacuumed too. I tidied up the living room. I put away all my clean clothes, and put the dirty in the basket. I did the best I could with things and once I heard the shower turn off and got the microwave going to reheat dinner up. Hector finally came out, dressed in his pajamas. I got his food out of the microwave and set it at the table with a fork, napkin, and drink for him. It was only a water bottle, but we were sort of due to go shopping. I had to say something to him, I couldn't just let it sit like this.

"What's this?" Hector asked, strolling by the dining room table.

"It's…What I made for supper tonight," I answered. "I-I know you like to eat when you get home, either before or after a shower…I-I figured you might like if it was reheated and waiting for you,"

"Its an appreciated gesture, Astrid, but it doesn't change how I feel about the situation," Hector revealed. "You hate this arrangement too much to even try to make it work. I supposed it wasn't fair, this just doesn't work because we're not compatible. Your stubbornness and anger keep you from trying, but I can't ask that of you, because it would be more forcing of something we don't want." Hector added. "I suppose deep down, I expected this outcome, and thought if I tried hard enough…It would be okay. Foolish concept. You can't force what doesn't come on its own."

"Hector, wait-," I began.

"Thank you for going through the trouble of reheating dinner, but I'm afraid I'm not hungry right now. I'll wrap it up and take it for lunch tomorrow at work after I speak with the lawyer and get this divorce going. It's better that we end things, go back to having it be separated lives…Where we only know each other because of mutual friends." Hector cut her off as he lifted the plate and items, wrapping up the food with saranwrap, and setting it in the fridge, then moved to get to his office. "I'll sleep in my office tonight. I don't think we need to be around each other unnecessarily."

I froze on what to do as Hector disappeared into his office. I needed to do something! I stood there have no idea how to fix this, but I suppose Hector had the right to be upset. He came home to me cheating on him and that was nothing easy to just get over, much less accept and forgive or forget. The only thing I could do was just go talk to him, maybe apologize and promise to never let it happen again. I took a deep breath and walked to the office and knocked on the sliding doors that were facing the living room. There were two entrances to Hector's office/bedroom; the living room sliding doors behind the couch, then a hallway entrance too.

"Yes, Astrid?" Hector responded to my knocking.

"Can we talk, Hector?" I asked.

"I think we've said all that needs to be between us. Now, I'm tired and really not in the mood to fight with you…" Hector replied.

"Hector, please?" I tried softly. "Maybe you said all you needed to, but I haven't…So please, can we talk?" I asked again.

I heard him sigh heavily, and swear under his breath Gods Damnit. "Fine, you can come in…" Hector finally said. I slid the door open to see getting a futon ready in bed-mode. "You said you had things to say, so out with it." His tone showed aggravation, but fatigue.

"I-I'm sorry about what you came home to see, and almost cheating on you…" I started. "I knew it was wrong, and said it was just school project we had to finish from before the holiday break…I only let him come over because we had to get it done for Monday and he couldn't have girls over when his parents weren't home…"

"Make your point, Astrid. All I'm hearing is that you're sorry you knew it was wrong but were going to do it anyway…" Hector growled out while making the futon bed up with a blanket and pillows from the closet.

"Tristan is my ex, I had to dump him to marry you…I had feelings for him before the marriage, and he kissed me first…I'm sorry, I just got pulled in by it and didn't stop even though I knew it was wrong," I explained quickly, looking down and fiddling with my fingers. "I'm sorry…I let my hate of all this get in the way and it kept me from stopping. I know it's a lame reason…I got turned on, and it's been months without anything...Gods, I'm sorry…I'm so sorry, Hector." I said genuinely, looking at him and seeing that his eyes were on me now, but his stance was still arms crossed over his chest and looking annoyed. "I swear I'll…Never do it again. Please…Please forgive me?"

"I don't think I can, Astrid. You knowingly invited your ex-boyfriend over to what is supposed to be our apartment without ever asking me if it was okay to have a stranger over. Maybe he kissed you first, but you should have pulled back and reminded him you're married and that it couldn't happen. If it turned you on, you still should have stopped and kicked him out. Feelings or not do not change our legally binding marriage." Hector informed. "I could have forgiven a kiss if you had stopped it there, but you didn't, and you admitted that if I hadn't come home when I did, you would have had sex with him."

"I know…I know, and I'm sorry. Please? Please overlook my foolish mistake, just this once…" I asked desperately.

"Why should I?" Hector inquired now. "You claim it turned you on and you thought you could get lucky with your ex? That it's been months without anything? You had me. I know we both hate this marriage shit, but another thing we agreed on that you didn't keep to was that we said we'd have sex as roommates. You could have come to me any time we've been here at the apartment and asked to have sex. Believe me, I wouldn't have had any objections to getting laid. You're not the only one who hasn't slept with anyone since the wedding night, or did you forget there is two of us in this thing?"

"If you've wanted it, then why haven't you come to me?" I wondered.

"Because I knew how much you hated this, so I figured I wouldn't push anything until I know how you were settling into the marriage. I figured I'd sit back and wait for you to come to me. Besides that, it's not like I've gone without a release in the past five months that we've moved here." Hector shrugged.

"So you've been cheating too?" I asked, surprised.

"Psh, you wish you had a way out of me being mad at you for cheating. No, I haven't slept with anyone. Just like you, I've had many offers from old hookups, and plenty of suggestive flirting. I turned them all down…With I'm married now. And though let down by my answer, they've respected me." Hector stated. "When I say I've had releases, it's because I masturbate, Astrid. I don't need a person to get off with, there's other methods." He rolled his eyes. Okay, I should have expected that was the answer. "I know you hate me and this, that's why I'm not trying anymore. Let's just end it peacefully, Astrid. We get divorced, both go back to our parents' homes. Take the same stuff we came with, no splitting, and we don't have kids to worry about."

"What about the business merge?" I inquired now. "We get divorced and both our father's companies suffer…This deal rides on our marriage…" I reminded.

"Should we have to suffer a life we both hate over business? I'm sure if they want it bad enough, they'll renegotiate terms," Hector mentioned.

"No, they won't and the merge has already started on these terms…There's too much invested with the current deal around our marriage. It's more than the business that would fall, Hector…It's our father's friendship too…All the people that would end up out of work…The awful companies that would take over with the fall of this one…" I looked down. "Please? I-I may not like this situation, but…I don't want to hurt my dad's company, or him…" I looked at Hector again. "I'm willing to let go of the stubbornness, and hate. I'll work with you, fully. I'll never be unfaithful…I'll treat this like a real marriage and…Try to like you, at least, as friends…" I meant what I was saying too. "Please? Please just…Don't file for divorce, Hector. I'll do…Anything you want, but please don't end this marriage and destroy our father's futures with the merged company…You know how bad things will get if they lose this. Please? I'm begging you," I was in front of him now, actually on my knees.

"Get up, Astrid…" Hector sighed. "It's late, I'm too tired to think about this right now…But you make decent points for me to consider the weight of my decision and who else it affects. So I will only think about not ending the marriage, and I will let you know when I've decided." My eyes widened with hope. "Don't get excited…I said think about not ending it, not that it wasn't ending. Now…Move along. I just want to sleep until tomorrow morning. I work at 11 am."

"Okay…Thank you…" I got up and looked at him. "Good night,"

"Night," Hector replied as I left the office room and closed the door for him. I heard him groan out and then maybe a flop on the bed. There was a heavy sigh before I saw the lights go out. I made sure everything was off and doors locked with shades drawn before going to the master room. I only prayed that Hector would take what I said and believe that we could still fix things and make it work between us. This was an eye opener for me that I fucked up and this was my chance to do better, maybe. Hopefully. I used the bathroom first, then went to the bedroom. I got dressed in my pajamas, and sit on the bed to relax for the night. I watched a little TV, messaged friends, but finally shut things down in the room and went to sleep around 10:15 pm.

. . .

=Hector's POV=
(Sunday, 1/6/19; 5:00 pm)

I didn't say a word to Astrid after Friday night's little chat. I needed time to think about the consideration of not ending the marriage and giving her another chance. I didn't feel like she deserved one after all this time. As of three days ago, we've been married for six months, and she chose to invite a stranger over, who happened to be her ex-boyfriend and get lost in all the old feelings even knowing it was wrong and she should have stopped. She let desire fog her mind and cease all logical thoughts. I know hormones run crazy as a teenager, but still. Astrid knew she had me if she wanted to have sex. I feel like she just felt it was awkward to approach me and say let's have sex. She knew I was tired from work and maybe assumed I wouldn't be in the mood. I wish she would have just asked, or shot me a message about wanting it. It was whatever now, the damage had been done and I needed to make a decision before tomorrow when we returned to school after the long holiday recess.

I tried to give it some thought during free time at work, but that kept me busy. I got her car done and had someone drop it off last night before I got home. I got to the apartment and she actually thanked me genuinely, and she gave me a freshly cooked meal for dinner. We talked casually, but not about the consideration. I think she's trying to show me that it could work. The house was totally cleaned up, and she did both our laundry. Wash, dry, and fold. She even did dishes before dinner, then washed our stuff afterward. We relaxed on the couch a bit, but I ended up with a headache and went to bed early around 8:30 pm. She did get me an aspirin first, before I made the choice to just sleep it off. Today, I woke up to breakfast, and coffee ready when I came out of the bathroom. Again, she handled everything and told me to just take it easy on my off day.

Even with all this, I was still pretty mad about her behavior the last five months, and the almost cheating on me thing. She's only acting this way now to save the merge. And that was all I needed to make a decision on what to do. Here we are before dinner and I feel I should say something and see what happens. I took a breath and looked over at her from my office, she was watching the end of a show, and then planned to make dinner. I watched the credits start and she stood up to stretch.

"Astrid…" I got her attention as she turned around and looked at me. "Come here. We need to talk about two days ago," I saw nervousness creep into her facial reaction, but she nodded, turning off the TV and then coming into my office. "I thought about what you asked me to, with not ending the marriage,"

"And…What did you decide?" Astrid wondered softly.

"I still think it's for the best we divorce. Being forced to stay together our of this business merge is exactly what we hate, so I think we should just stop being forced…" I told her truthfully.

"No…" She looked upset and defeated almost as I found myself wondering why she'd be hurt about us ending things. I get the merge failing, but this seemed more…Personal.

"Then level with me, Astrid." I told her firmly. "I get you're trying to suddenly make this work after 6 months, and that's great…But it's only to save the business merge and an old friendship. You seem awfully upset about losing this marriage when you didn't want it in the first place. I'm offering you an out, that benefits us both. Why are you against divorce now?"

Astrid sighed. "There's never been a divorce in my family…" She mumbled.

"Speak up, Astrid…" I told her firmly.

"There…Has never been a divorce in my family, not even back in Viking times. We've always been a family of honor and tradition. I…Refuse to be the first, even if it's my fault…" Astrid confessed. "I do hate this situation, but…Not more than I would hate to dishonor and hurt my family with repercussions that could ruin our family name as Hofferson's if it came out that we divorced because I was stupid and let my disdain cause me to make dumb choices…The divorce would ruin my family name, I'd dishonor them and all my ancestors, and future descendants. The divorce would also destroy high profile company merge and friendship of over forty years…" She continued as I listened. "So please…Please don't end the marriage, Hector…I know I screwed up, but don't punish my family…Please? I'll do anything if you let us stay married…"

"I thank you for being honest with me…And because of that, I will change my decision," I remarked.

"Y-You will?" Astrid asked quickly.

"Don't get excited because this isn't going to go the way you think," I stated seriously. "I will agree to stay married to you, legally, but only for show to the public eye and our parents. ," I began as Astrid showed she was listening. "That means at school, in public eye, and with our parents…We will appear happily married to one another, fully accepting that we're married and living together-," I paused. "But outside of those three instances, we're not together. I'll explain so there's no confusion. We're married, legally, but separated. You can be with whoever you want, and so can I. Sex, dating, whatever…But we keep it private, for obvious reasons that we can't be seen with other people or it's gonna raise questions. Okay? We'll both still live here, together, but inhabit two different rooms. I will remain in here, and you can have the master. We still need to work together to keep it clean, but we do not need to do each other's laundry, or cook each other meals. It's personal choice. You will still need to find a job…I can't keep paying for all of it myself. It's starting to affect my general health, that's why I've felt sick and gotten a lot of headaches lately. We clear on all this?"

"So you want to stay married, legally, but we'll be separated? Free to basically lead our own lives, but outside public eyes? Dating and sex is okay? No repercussions of cheating or whatever?" Astrid questioned, making sure she got it right. I nodded to her. "But with public, we keep up the married act? Still work together like roommates?" I nodded again to confirm. "If sex is a thing with someone else…Where will it get done? Public is out, hotels, bars, motels…People would recognize us."

"Wear a disguise. Wig, contacts, change of clothes to something not like you. Use a fake name, or have whoever you're fucking use their name…I don't care. And be this a fair warning…If you get pregnant, Astrid, by any of those guys…The arrangement is off. I will file for divorce, and you can explain to everyone the truth as it was your screw up. You admitted that it was. I refuse to raise a child that isn't mine." I said firmly.

"What if you get a girl pregnant?" Astrid inquired.

"Won't happen. I'm far too careful or I'd have, at least, three kids by now from prior hookups. So, be that your warning on this whole separation thing. Don't get pregnant. But also, keep in mind that eventually…Our parents will want grandkids, so you'll have to sleep with me at some point to keep up the charade," I warned.

"Okay…I guess that's fair and…Acceptable. As…Roommates, would we end up screwing if the…Opportunity came up?" Astrid pushed.

"I don't think we need to worry about that anymore until it comes time to provide, at least, one grandchild. When that time comes, we'll discuss things. For now, free reign to sleep with whoever you want…Just be safe about it." I repeated. "Are the terms acceptable?" Astrid nodded. "Good. Then we're in agreement?" I offered my hand to her.

"We're agreed to stay married, but separated. Free reign to have outside hookups, but continue the married charade with public eye and continue to work together as roommates." Astrid shook my hand. I nodded to her and she got up to leave the office now.

This was more than fair. We didn't love one another, so why act like it constantly by staying faithful. She cheated on me, and was willing to do anything to stay married. This was my solution; we stay married, but are separated. I think this arrangement would work out well for both of us.