=Astrid's POV=
(Friday, 6/28/19-7:30 pm)
(Archia Isle City)
(Dreki-Viking Enterprise)

I was fully prepared to spend the night alone at the apartment, but was shocked when Hector came home early and informed me that I was invited to the celebration of the merged company too, as his wife and date. I guess it made sense, the problem was I had no idea what I'd wear to such an event. I felt bad when we arrived late, but that wasn't Jason's fault and hoped Hector wouldn't be too upset. I'm sure it didn't look good on him to arrive without me beside him. I guess things hadn't started until I came, and the look on Hector's face was something I had been surprised to see. He said I looked great and called the party to begin. I'm glad Hiccup and I talked two weeks ago, we really needed to and shouldn't have put it off. Maybe we shouldn't have fought at all. In two months, we'll have been married for a year and we fought most of this year. I shouldn't have been so awful to him, all the fights showed me how bad I'd been. I felt bad and wished I could make it up to him, but I guess we're working towards being a real couple now. The hooking up arrangement was over, and Hector and I had mutual feelings for one another even if we weren't sure the level. I was happy we were taking it slow to see how things went. With school over, we had to cycle into the real world and work full time jobs. I know Hector will be super busy with his position as CEO and Owner, which I was still shocked that my dad and his dad hadn't verified the contract they signed so carelessly. Hector wouldn't budge of changing things, he stood by what he said at our high school graduation party; our fathers deserved what happened and they should live with it too. Sadly, I had to agree. After how Hector laid into them with their selfishness, yeah, they deserved to lose the company they merged over our marriage.

Perhaps what Hector said was harsh, but truthfully, it needed to be said. Our fathers, even our mothers were all carrying on that things went great and were perfect, but none of them stopped to think that all their carelessness was going to affect them. It was our marriage that secured the merge between companies, and they were excited when things began, but no one was paying attention except Hector and he took the chance to call them out as soon as he could. It was Karma, and I was glad that it hit them finally. Forcing their kids to marry over business, it was ridiculous. However, while Hector and I were forced to get married and live as husband and wife; we've come a long way in so little time. From fighting and arguing, a temporary situation where we slept with other people, to now where were getting along and might actually be a couple. We've come so far. Tonight, I'm all dressed up for this event and shockingly, I'm having a good time. My friends are here, parents, in-laws, colleagues. Hector is here too, he's been at my side all night. Most of the chatter has been business, but sometimes it's about life. There was food and music, some couples danced, but most were talking to one another. We had a sit down dinner not too long ago, everyone was recovering from that. I was at the table with Hector, our parents, Glenn, and friends. It was peaceful, mostly. I know our parents were still sour about the contract thing, losing the business and giving everything to Hector. It was their own fault.

"Usually these kinds of parties are boring," Heather chuckled. "You made it fun, Hector."

"Everyone is having a good time." Drew added.

"Work events don't have to be dreadful," Hector smiled. "It's all about setting the scene."

"You did a marvelous job, babe," I told Hector, a hand on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close, I rested my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes.

"Thank you. Are you tired?" Hector asked.

"No, relaxed." I replied calmly.

"Well, if you get too tired let me know and we can leave." Hector informed.

"Wouldn't that be irresponsible considering the party is for you?" I wondered.

"It's to celebrate the merge overall. That's it's complete. They all knew I'd be CEO, the only new bit is that I'm owner too." Hector said.

"You sure you can handle everything?" Syrus questioned. "Seems like you were stressed with it all before."

"With school out of the way now, yes. It's just work and I basically sit behind a desk all day." Hector stated. "And I remind you that I was forced into everything. Senior year was a given, but the marriage…The company. There were bills to factor in when Astrid was unemployed. That's stressful to a teenager, when I have to take care of things I shouldn't until I'm in my late twenties or thirties."

"Good point," Roxanne shrugged.

"You handled it well," Glenn smiled.

"Did I have much choice, Uncle Glenn?" Hector looked at him.

"Well…" Glenn started.

"No, I didn't." Hector stared. "You know it. I know it. Everyone knows it."

"It was for the best outcome." Spencer remarked.

"For you or me?" Hector turned his attention now. "Don't start this tonight. You know I have no problem going off on you, Dad. By all means…Push this, and everyone can find out the means of which this merge was created. The company you and Mr. Hofferson lost due to your own failings because you couldn't stop for just a moment to see all the outcome of all your pushing for what you wanted. Not those involved. Just you two." He added. "I'm sure there are some here who don't know about the arranged marriage. The adult matters you pushed your son into and had no regard for."

"Hector, watch your tone. We're still your parents." Vivian reminded.

"And you're only here as guests," Hector's eyes shifted to her. "Not here as owners, the boss, not even employees. You are here by my invitation, Mother." He informed. "That can be revoked."

"It is expected of children to respect their parents." Marcus sighed.

"And for seventeen years, all I did was respect my parents, Mr. Hofferson. I did good in school by studying hard and keeping my grades up. I did chores at home. I helped my parents out. I worked, paid my car insurance, and phone. It might have been under my parents' names, but I paid them the money." Hector explained. "Respect, sir, is a two way street. If you want respect, then you must give it as well. The same goes for trust, and kindness. And that is a lesson I learned from my own parents. What bothers me is they let business take precedence over family."

"We've made the family bigger, Hector," Spencer interjected.

"The only thing connecting these families is the marriage you forced your children into." Hector remarked calmy. "And marriages ending is fairly frequent these days." He added. "You taught me that family was everything. Always do for your family, make sure they are okay. Safe. Protected. Happy. You taught me to always be kind, trusting, and respectful…But you did not keep to your own lessons." He continued. "You also taught me that my choices were my own and to be careful with them. That…Was a lie."

"It wasn't." Vivian tried.

"Was it my choice to get married at seventeen? No. That was my parents' decision. Was it my decision to work for the company? No. That was my parents' choice. Was it my choice to have sex with Astrid on our wedding night. No. We weren't given a choice. Did I want to get an apartment at seventeen? No. I was told to. Did I want to struggle for months, working myself until I ended up sick to support myself and my wife. No, but you strapped me in the situation. With your choices. Not mine. None of things, since the end of Junior Year, have been my decision." Hector said gently. "Did I have a choice. No. Was I respected? No. Was I, rather, am I happy? Not really. Things may be less stressful and better than in the beginning…But it does not erase what happened. It doesn't take away what I was made to do. What Astrid was made to do. Maybe she won't speak out, but I won't hold my tongue on the saying of respect my parents when they broke their own words and didn't respect me."

"Children respect adults." Angela stated.

"And we're no longer children, Mother." I spoke up. "Hector and I are both eighteen. Legal adults in the eyes of the Archipelago. Perhaps before it was…Required. But we're married, and neither of us live in our childhood homes anymore. Respect now, is no longer expected. I take my husband's side, respect is given when respect is received."

"Astrid!" Marcus seethed.

"Enough, Dad." I sighed. "As Hector informed, you're a guest here. If you cannot control yourself due to your own failures in this situation, you can leave or be removed. I won't have you making a scene because you're angry that you've been schooled by your son-in-law, who happens to be correct. You and Mr. Haddock were so caught up in your business, you didn't think about anything else and ended up losing what you worked towards. It is your own fault, don't take your anger out on my husband." I said. "You made the choices you did. Live with them, and suffer the consequences of your actions."

"Despite how far we've come from initially hating one another…We're friends and managing to survive this. But I'd like to say that if your companies really needing saving that bad and the marriage factor had failed…I'm certain you would have renegotiated terms." Hector added next. "You've no one to blame but yourselves. Now, I don't intend to continue this further. It's a party and I'd like to try and enjoy it. I'll remind you, to my parents; I will always love you, but I will not forgive your actions. You only proved to me that your job, work, business…Whatever it is, came before family. Before me. You took over my life. You took my life from me to suit your own needs and wants. I won't fix the contract you both signed to give me the company as its CEO and owner. It was your mistake and probably Karma for what you did to the children you claim to love so much." He informed. "Do you want to know the real reason I signed that contract a few weeks ago, despite knowing I could easily rush to you on Toothless to bring you into things, point out your flaw in the agreement?" He asked as the parents nodded.

"Hector took back control of his life." I chimed in. "Hector saw an opportunity to get out from under your controlling ways. Yes, maybe Hector would have been CEO with you as owners, but you would have been on top of him constantly. Just as you did before he took over, even yelling at him for being sick and demanding he come in. He's not a puppet for you to control. That's why he signed that document without telling you your mistake first. So he could have his life back, be in control once more." I remarked. "And I'm proud of him for doing so. Now, I'll ask for the last time that you drop this. If you bring up the matter again, I'll call security myself. Leave my husband alone, we have our own lives to live."

"Quite right," Hector agreed, though I saw he was surprised at what I said. I'm sure we'd talk later. Hector was right, I felt the same way about things. I defended his words. I supported him and I felt great for doing it. Hector kissed my cheek lightly as I laid my head on his shoulder.

. . .

=Normal POV=
(9:00 pm)

After the whole thing with Hector and Astrid had to deal with involving their parents, again, the night was calmer. The party continued, though some had departed. Hector considered shutting things down early, but then again; it was only set to go until 9:30 pm. Another half an hour wouldn't make much of a difference. People were having a good time, even Hector and Astrid, who partook in some of the dancing. Hector mostly had to talk to people about business and Astrid was learning quite a bit of how things worked, she never cared in the past, but if she was going to work in the building, she should understand how things went. Right now, Astrid only did reception, but maybe she could move up. Make more money to help out Hector, or do more at home to actually start saving money up. Astrid did still need a new car, hers wasn't going to survive the rest of the year and that was Hector and Glenn's professional mechanic opinion. It's another reason Hector had Jason drive Astrid tonight, he'd been worried her car wouldn't make the drive to the city.

"What will your hours be like, Hector?" Cassandra wondered.

"I'm aiming for 7 or 8 am to maybe 4 or 5 pm Monday through Friday. Maybe drop in for a few hours on Saturday and Sunday unless events or meetings occur on either of those days." Hector replied. "But at the same time, I don't feel the need to spend so much time here as long as things are running smoothly and I remain reachable at all times for emergencies. We'll see how it goes now that I'm available full time."

"As CEO, you should be here all the time to watch over things." Marcus sighed. "Spencer and I were."

"That's you two, paranoid you'd miss something," Hector commented. "I'll ask you to consider who else was in the equation while you worked every day, from Dawn to Dusk. The traveling. The meetings…Were your family's content with things? Available if they were sick, able to help with the work around the house, not home for dinner?" Marcus and Spencer went quiet, looking at one another. "Perhaps not my situation, but what about available for your children? When they were sick, school events, outside activities? Or did work come first because you couldn't afford to take time off, worried that something would happen?" Again, Spencer and Marcus said nothing. "Your families suffered your decisions to never be around. I can't speak for Astrid's life, of course…" He paused.

"But I know, Dad, there were many nights where mom hated how much you worked because she felt like she was doing things alone, as a single parent. Hated when you ran late, missed dinner. Traveled a lot when she was pregnant, and you knew she had a hard pregnancy with me. Pretty sure I've heard mom mention you even missed a few wedding anniversaries." Hector stared. "And that was just mom. For me, you've missed science fairs, awards, elementary and middle school graduations. Mom used to have to take time off work so I could go to the doctors, or have to be picked up from school cause I was sick. Actually, I think once or twice, you sent your assistant to pick me up. Sometimes you worked so early or late that I wouldn't even see you all day."

After a moment, Hector started again. "Obviously, I know you're my father, but my point is that I don't recall most of my childhood with you being part of it. Where were you, Dad? That's what I used to ask mom. Where's Dad, Mom. But you know who was always there for me, Glenn. Despite his position of manager and owner of his auto-shop. Glenn always took time off work to be at things for me." He informed. "In all this, I've really only been mad at you. Not mom, because, at least, she was there for me. And her excitement of the wedding, and me taking over was because she knew you'd finally be home. I'm only mad at mom that she didn't defend the idea of me marrying at seventeen, but I know her reasoning behind it was that it meant I'd take over after the merge finished and she'd get to have you back. Work wouldn't be able to pull you away anymore. And do you know why I agreed to work in the company even though I really never wanted to…"

"Why?" Spencer questioned softly.

"Because I thought I'd get to see you more. Actually get to spend time with you, try to bond with you since we never did any father-son stuff while I grew up." Hector responded. "The night I sat in your home office while you talked out all this merge stuff was because I knew it made you happy to have me there and see me involved. Because you finally get to see me doing something and looked so proud to my dad. And then you ruined it when you came out and told me you were securing that merge with an arranged marriage between Mr. Hofferson's daughter and me. So forgive me if I refuse to spend my every waking moment at the company because I want to make sure I don't make your mistakes where I'm not around for my family. My wife and child, when I have one." Hector remarked. "And don't take it as a personal attack. Again, I can't speak for Astrid or Mrs. Hofferson on how things were…But my indicator that I'm not wrong is the fact you're both quiet and look guilty."

"You're not wrong," Astrid said. "I don't know about my mom's side of things, but I know I often wondered why daddy always had to work." She added. "Your perception of things is astounding, Hector."

"I'm an observer with an eye for detail." Hector replied gently. "Now, the evening will be over soon and I believe we have time for one more dance before I have to go say goodbye to everyone. Would you be interested in joining me?" He offered his hand after standing up.

Astrid placed her hand in his as Hector brought her up to her feet and then wrapped his arm around her waist. "I'd love to."

Hector led Astrid to a place away from the table and danced with her while a slow song played. It was clear to the friends that Hector and Astrid were on the same page, and they were getting closer with certain things handled and cleared up. The parents had nothing to say because it all looked the same to them thanks to Hector and Astrid originally agreeing to act like a married couple from the beginning to them and anyone else in public. The friends knew the truth, Hector and Astrid had hated one another in the start, but to see this now showed how far they came. Surely, it wouldn't be too long until they were an actual couple while still married. It's what the friends hoped for, knowing prior that Hector had feelings for Astrid and she had rejected him. However, Astrid and Hector were getting along and things were looking up for them. Hector and Astrid never told their friends about the talk two weeks ago, although Drew knew thanks to the chat he and Hector had during the graduation party. Hector and Astrid liked one another, but were taking it slow as there were still a lot of things happening. Hector needed to be able to trust Astrid that she wouldn't break his heart again, and also, Hector and Astrid needed to work out on their own how to manage work and home life. For now, things looked good and hopefully, it could only get better from here.