She had been searching for Hiccup for almost two weeks and the man really did disappear without a trace, again. She knew he was still on Berk but there was no announcement for another tour-he had an apartment in Berk so he had to be planning to stay for awhile, or so she thought until she went there to discover that he wasn't living there anymore. The person she spoke to was an artist who explained she had just moved in two weeks ago and the previous renter had moved out but she didn't know where to. Astrid tried to find him on Skype, email address by his name, both of them: Dusk and Hiccup, but nothing came up. She didn't have his cell phone number, she couldn't find the recording studio where it all happened. She needed to find him and what was worse she couldn't tell anyone why because she wanted him to know first so they could figure out what to do about it. Keep it, give it up for adoption, abortion even. Astrid needed to talk to him, she was already eight weeks along-two months in.
Not wanting to talk to Hiccup without proof to show him and information about the pregnancy, she did go see her doctor again and get set up with an Obstetrician who she'd be seeing for now until it was decided upon what to do. The doctor's name was Milly Saunders, she was very nice and understanding when Astrid explained that the baby's father did a lot of traveling and couldn't always answer his phone so he wasn't aware of the pregnancy just yet. Astrid did get started on prenatal vitamins, and had sonogram pictures to show Hiccup-whenever she found him. Astrid was sitting in her room, trying to figure out how to find him-she didn't know where to look, she didn't well enough to know where he would go or be. The time was currently rolling on 7:30pm, her parents were at some dinner with friends so she was alone.
"Come on...think like Hiccup, who would know how to find him..." Astrid said frustrated at the situation. Then it hit her: Hiccup knew the bartender that night, his name was Teddy-maybe he could find him? Astrid grabbed her things as she headed to the bus stop and it took her downtown fifteen minutes to where the bar was, she entered it and looked around to see Teddy behind the bar as always.
"Hey, girl. Haven't seen you in a while. Having a drink tonight?" Teddy smiled wide.
"I can't...I wanted to ask you something and I really hope you can help me," Astrid replied.
"I'll do what I can for ya, little lady. Shoot?" Teddy asked her.
"That guy I was with about two months ago. His name is Hiccup, do you know how to contact him?" Astrid asked softly.
"Aren't you two friends and you can contact him?" Teddy blinked confused now.
"We had lost contact...four years ago and it was coincidence we met in here. I...didn't get his number and...he doesn't live at the place he was two months ago. Please...I need to talk to him, it's really important, Teddy. Can you help me out?" Astrid pleaded.
"Are you in some kind of trouble?" Teddy asked, Astrid shook her head.
"No...well, maybe? Listen...we...had that night and...I'm pregnant with his baby," Teddy's eyes widened a bit, "Yeah, so can you please help me?"
"You're gonna wanna go to 0115 Strike Avenue, that's where he lives. I have it on file for cab use...please tell him not to yell at me for giving it to you?" Teddy pleaded.
"You won't get in trouble, I promise. Thank you so much, I've been looking for him for two weeks..." Astrid breathed out in some relief as she hugged Teddy around the neck-then rushed out to get back on the bus. The ride was short, about twenty minutes roughly before it dropped her off on Strike Ave. Astrid looked left and right to find the numbers on the houses, she sighed-clearly it was going to be a long walk down the street to find 0115 since she was only at 75. Astrid pulled her sweater a bit to close it as she started down the street. The walk took another fifteen minutes as she finally found it-big house too. He lived here? Big upgrade from what he had. Astrid walked up the pathway and took a deep breath as she reached her hand up and knocked on the door.
It took two minutes but finally opened revealing Gobber, the manager of Dragon's Roar standing there. "Can I help you?" he asked.
"I-is...Hiccup here?" Astrid asked softly.
"You're the lass from the concert, aren't ya? Who was backstage with your other friends?" Gobber inquired, Astrid nodded to him.
"Please...I need to see him, I wouldn't...of come all this way if it wasn't important..." Astrid pleaded a bit. Gobber sighed and nodded as he stepped aside to let her in.
"They are downstairs practicing, I'll take you to him." Gobber offered small smile.
"Thank you so much," Astrid smiled back, Gobber shut the door and led her down the stairs to the recording studio.
Gobber moved to the sound board and flipped a switch to get their attention, "Hiccup, need you to come out here a sec. Someone to see ya," Astrid saw his eyes narrow a bit.
"I swear to God if it's Heather, I'm filing a damn restrain-" he stopped after coming out to see Astrid standing there, "ing order..." he finished now, "Astrid?" he asked.
"Hi..." Astrid smiled a bit, nervously.
"Not that I'm not thrilled to see ya or nothing but I said I'd find you next time I was free to go drinking. Didn't think you were that desperate," Hiccup chuckled a bit, "But in all seriousness, what in the name of Odin are you doing here? How did you even find me?"
"Don't kill him-but...Teddy from the bar gave me your address. Don't get mad...I basically begged him for it..." Astrid twiddled her fingers some.
"Again, didn't think you were that desperate to have me again but if you give me like an hour-I can make time to take you for a few drinks," Hiccup smiled at her, jokingly of course.
"I was desperate to find you, not go drinking or...do...that again. I've been looking for you for two weeks actually. Um...can we go somewhere and talk...privately?" Astrid asked softly. Hiccup arched a brow at her as he sighed.
"I'll be back in a few minutes guys," he told the band as they nodded, obviously curious as to what was going on between the two of them and why Astrid would come all this way just to talk to him. "Come on, we'll talk upstairs in my room..." Hiccup motioned for her to follow him, she nodded and followed behind as they went up the stairs, through the living room-then down a hall to a door on the left. Hiccup opened it and let her in first, then himself before shutting the door. "Alright, so what's going on now that you've found me after two weeks,"
She was nervous, telling him she was pregnant shouldn't be this hard-but it was. "I just...I really needed to talk to you...something happened since we last saw one another..." Astrid started.
"Astrid, what's wrong. You look really nervous and scared right now, are you in trouble?" Hiccup asked now, a little concern in his voice.
"I swear, Teddy asked me the same thing," she sighed softly. "No...I'm not...in trouble but...I found something out and thought...you should know about it," Astrid added.
"Well, let's hear it then?" Hiccup urged.
"Hiccup...I-I...I'm pregnant." she stated outright. Hiccup stood there a minute, before sighing a bit.
"You know, Heather tried the same thing a few weeks ago. Really expected better from you, Astrid." Hiccup stated firmly.
"I'm not lying!" Astrid fumed instantly as she opened her purse and showed him the sonogram pictures, pushing them into his hands quickly.
"These say you're seven weeks along, we had sex two months ago and it was protected. So congrats I guess, but it isn't mine..." Hiccup replied to her. "Time frame doesn't fit,"
"Check the date, Hiccup. That was taken a week ago, which means I'm eight weeks right now. Two months along, try telling me it doesn't fit the time frame now. You're the only person I've had sex with in the last two months. Even with Eret, I didn't have sex with him the entire three weeks leading up to your tour ending concert. There's no way it's his. This is your baby, Hiccup. I wouldn't of searched the last two weeks for you and begged the bartender to give me your address if it wasn't yours. I've been looking for you so I can tell you that I'm pregnant, and we need to figure out what to do," Astrid told him.
Hiccup checked the date on the sonograms, they were dated for a week before the current one. That would make her eight weeks along. Fuck. He had to assume that the condom broke or something because he knew they were protected-he should of checked it after they were done and he threw the bedroom garbage away on his way out to Gobber's that afternoon too. Astrid was pregnant with his baby. Oh Gods, Astrid was pregnant with his baby! What the hell was he going to do now.
"Does anyone aside from me know about this?" Hiccup asked her.
"The doctors but I said you've been traveling and can't always your phone. Oh...Teddy too. I had to use it to get him to tell me where you were. No one else though. I've been keeping it a secret. It's not gonna hold much longer, I'm already starting to show-it's why I'm wearing the sweater lately..." Astrid explained. Hiccup closed his eyes as he sat down on the edge of his bed, this was all he needed. Not.
"So you're two months along and have been to the doctor obviously. Anything else I should know?" Hiccup questioned without looking at her.
"I've...been taking the prenatals for now and...the expected due date is March 28th of the next year. I-I haven't made any decisions on keeping or not, it's why I wanted to talk to you first..." Astrid informed lightly.
"No abortions. I'm against it-it's murder anyway you look at it. Baby has a heartbeat, then it's alive. I won't kill an innocent life, that's not fair to the baby..." Hiccup mentioned.
"I'm against it too. So...I guess that only leaves...two options left," Astrid sat beside him now.
"I can't...do adoption either, I'd...hate knowing my child that I made is being raised by someone else. It would kill me to know. And I know there's other options like open adoption and stuff-but that's not fair to the child, it would get confused on real parents, adopted ones..." Hiccup sighed.
"I understand, I don't know if I could give up the baby after carrying it for nine months inside me...I've seen mothers break down having to do it, or change their minds last minute..." Astrid agreed with him. "Does...this mean we're keeping the baby?" she asked.
"I guess so, neither of us can go through with the other options. Alright, where...do we go from here? I mean...you know my lifestyle, Astrid..." Hiccup looked over at her.
"Well, I was...always taught that...parents should both raise their child." Astrid mentioned.
"So you're saying we should try and do this together, as a couple and see how it goes?" Hiccup asked her.
"We can try at least and...if it doesn't work out we'll...share custody I guess?" Astrid shrugged a bit unknowingly.
"Sounds reasonable. The parents should both be involved in the child's life regardless of the parent's relationship status. However, I do want one thing understood..." he started as Astrid looked to him now, "I don't want this getting out. I don't want you getting swarmed by paparazzi so we can't be seen together with me being Dusk. I don't want anyone making the connection, okay? It's not to be an ass, I just don't want you getting stressed out or hurt in the lifestyle. Heather got hurt a few times by raving fans and pushy paparazzi, I don't want that happening to you."
"I understand. So we can be seen...as we are now, but not if you're performing or dressed as Dusk?" Astrid asked.
"Exactly. It's Hiccup and Astrid, not...Dusk and Astrid. I'll...let the others know so they don't start suggesting I bring you to formal events and what not. You know where I live now, I've been looking for another apartment but for now, this is where I am. I'll give you my number and email so you can reach me..." Hiccup told her.
"Alright. You're not...mad at me, right?" Astrid asked.
"What? No, not at all. It took me by surprise but I'm not mad. We both got drunk, we both had a hand in it-even if you did start it." Hiccup chuckled a bit, "So...are we dating now?" he inquired.
"That depends, are you going to ask me to be your girlfriend?" Astrid arched a curious brow and give him a playful smile.
Hiccup got up as he offered his hand to her, pulling her to her feet. "Astrid, would you...be interested in being my girlfriend?" he asked now. Astrid giggled a bit and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down a bit until their noses touched.
"I would be very interested, Hiccup." she replied.
"Is that a yes to being with me or wanting to be with me?" Hiccup laughed a bit staring into her eyes.
"Yes to both," Astrid answered as Hiccup leaned down and kissed her deeply, she melted into it happily. They broke it a few seconds later, "Shouldn't you...go tell your friends and boss?"
"I suppose so, come on." Hiccup took her hand and led her out, then down the hall to see the others sitting in the living room.
"Quietest sex I've ever heard," Sparky snickered as Astrid's cheek heated up and she hid her face behind Hiccup's shoulder.
"Oh shut up. We weren't having sex, just talking." Hiccup mumbled.
"You gonna share with the rest of us?" Hookfang asked next.
"That's why we came out here. For starters, you're gonna be seeing a lot more of her because we're dating now. Secondly...she's pregnant." Hiccup said as their eyes widened.
"Wait, she's...pregnant? With your baby from that drunken night you two had two months ago?" Toothless asked getting to his feet now.
"Yeah...she's eight week along. We're...keeping the baby and are dating. However, and pay attention-we're dating as Hiccup and Astrid. She's NOT Dusk's girlfriend. Well, you know what I mean. I don't want anyone making the connection, to keep her safe. You guys and girls remember the time Heather got pushed down by an out of control crowd, I don't want that happening to Astrid-especially while she's pregnant. I want her out of the spotlight so she won't be with us for events, and she won't be seen with Dusk." Hiccup informed.
"Makes sense, don't worry. We got your back," Zap smiled.
"You always do, that's why I love you all." Hiccup smiled back. "You, milady, will be staying here tonight and I'll drive you home tomorrow. Buses stop coming this way after 8pm, and I still got practice til 9:30pm." he told her.
"No objections here, I'm exhausted from walking anyway...took me fifteen minutes of walking from the bus stop to find the house," Astrid replied as two of the guys got up to make a spot for her to sit down. "Thank you,"
"Why didn't you take your car?" Hiccup asked.
"It's broken and I can't afford to fix it right now, school takes up most of my money." Astrid smiled gently.
"I'll fix it. I'm good with cars," Hiccup chuckled.
"You don't have to do that," Astrid told him.
"I don't want you walking everywhere or taking the bus. Meet some strange people on there: perverts, weirdos..." Hiccup smiled.
"Yeah, met my fair share. Was a guy on the bus ranting and raving about the world ending, get his guide to surviving." Astrid laughed some. "So, I didn't like interrupt anything downstairs, did I?" she asked.
"Nah, we were trying to figure something out for a verse-been stuck on it for about a week." Stormfly replied.
"I hate when that happens," Astrid said as they all looked at her, "What did I say?"
"You write lyrics?" Meatlug questioned.
"From time to time if they come to mind," Astrid shrugged a little.
"Huh, maybe she can help us. If we showed you what we had so far, think you can try and think of something to go with it?" Toothless suggested.
"I-I could try..." she stated a little surprised.
"Wouldn't hurt, come down with us?" Hiccup asked her, she nodded as they all got up and moved back downstairs and into the recording room where Hiccup showed her the paper on the stand in front of his microphone. Astrid picked it up and scanned over it slowly. "Any ideas?" he asked.
"Perhaps...think maybe you could play what you have so far?" Astrid looked at them.
"Sure, might wanna step out though-gets a little loud." Stormfly beamed.
"I can handle it. I've been in a recording studio before, besides...I listen to all your songs as loud as I can make them on my iPod," she giggled a bit as she stayed beside Hiccup sat down on the stool. The music began as she listened to everything it offered while thinking of what could fit with it.
"You call to me, and I fall at your feet. How could anyone ask for more?" Hiccup started.
"How could anyone ask for more?" came the echo of Toothless, Zap, and Hookfang. Hiss and Spark were by the sound board.
"And our time apart, like knives in my heart. How could anyone ask for more?" Hiccup went on.
"How could anyone ask for more?" Toothless, Zap, and Hookfang repeated softly.
"But if there's a pill to help me forget-God knows I haven't found it yet. But I'm dying to, God, I'm trying to..." Hiccup smiled some. "'Cause trying not to love you, only goes so far. Trying not to need you, is tearing me apart. Can't see the silver lining, from down here on the floor. And I just keep on trying, but I don't know what for. 'Cause trying not to love you...only makes me love you more!" he sang.
"Only makes me love you more!" repeated just Zap. The music softened now as Hiccup kept his hands on the microphone.
"And this kind of pain, only time takes away. That's why it's harder to let you go(That's why it's harder to let you go). And nothing I can do, without thinking of you. That's why it's harder to let you go(That's why it's harder to let you go). But if there's a pill to help me forget, God knows I haven't found it yet. But I'm dying to, God, I'm trying to!" another pause. Astrid noticed this is where the lyrics would end after another chorus. She picked up the pencil sitting in front of the book and started writing.
"It's trying not to love you, only goes so far. Trying not to need you, is tearing me apart. Can't see the silver lining, from down here on the floor. And I just keep on trying, but I don't know what for. 'Cause trying not to love you-only makes me love you more!" Hiccup handed her the microphone as she blinked and nodded for her to go ahead. Astrid bit her bottom lip as she took it from him and closed her eyes.
"So I sit here divided, just talking to myself. Was it something that I did? Was there somebody else? When a voice from behind me, that was fighting back tears-sat right down beside me, and whispered right in my ear. Said: I've been dying to tell you..." she sang as she motioned for them to adjust the music to what she singing-slower. "That trying not to love you, only went so far. Trying not to need you, was tearing me apart." she had them pick up the music more, "Now I see the silver lining, of what we're fighting for. And if we just keep on trying, we could be much more. 'Cause trying not to love you! Oh, yeah, trying not to love you-only makes me love you more. Only makes me love you more!" Astrid finished as she handed him back the microphone.
"That was fucking awesome, just gonna throw that out there!" came Hiss's voice from outside the room on the speaker.
"Hell yeah it was. Wow, Astrid! That was really good and fits perfectly!" Meatlug and Stormfly exclaimed. Astrid blushed a bit.
"How'd you come up with that?" Hookfang asked curiously putting his sticks down and they all seemed to move closer for the answer.
"I-I don't know. Just seemed right to add in since most of the song was talking about the fact this person was trying not to love someone, not being to see or understand why trying so hard only made them love the person more. So I just...added in that the other person felt the same way and that if you really love someone-you should always fight for it because you never know what it could lead to," Astrid explained.
"It was amazing, and you just helped us finish one of the new songs," Toothless told her.
"You can record it with Hiccup's voice later on. And I'm sure I don't need to remind you that she'll need to be credited for her work," Gobber mentioned now.
"Oh no, it's okay. I was happy to help...crediting me would make people wonder who I am, and Hiccup wants me out of all that," she said quickly.
"Give her an alternate name to use, like you do, Hiccup. If anyone asks, we can just say she's a lyrical assistant and part of the crew that works in the back. The press don't care about people in the background, keeps her safe and gives her credit?" Toothless offered.
"That could work, well, Dragon's Roar lyrical assistant..." Hiccup said as Astrid blushed slightly, "What name you wanna go by?"
"Dawn Winters. Nothing beats the sunrise coming up to light up the sparkling snow on the ground," Astrid smiled.
"Beautiful, just like you." Hiccup kissed her lightly and she returned it. "Work for you, Dad?" he asked after breaking it.
"Yep." Gobber nodded smiling. Hiccup smiled, a damn good night this turned out to be. Finished a song, got Astrid as girlfriend-something he only dreamed about back in middle and high school years, on top of that...he was going to be a father in seven months, to a baby he and Astrid made together. He was actually really excited about it all.