Hiccup must have spent an hour and a half sobering up before Teddy said he could go home, Hiccup got in his car and went straight home-only to be rushed by his father, Toothless, and band mates wondering where the heck he had been for two and a half hours. Of course, Hiccup was twenty-two years old and didn't need permission to leave the house but he understood they were all worried for him to find him not there when they clearly came upstairs from the basement.
"Where the hell have you been?!" Toothless scolded quickly upon Hiccup entering the house to see them all sitting around the living room.
"Bar," Hiccup stated firmly.
"And you drove home after drinking?!" Stormfly shrieked with concern.
"I sobered up first, I'm not stupid. Yeesh..." Hiccup sighed with a slight roll of his eyes.
"How? You were gone for two hours and thirty minutes, there's now way you sobered up after that mu-" Meatlug started.
"I only drank for an hour. Three beers and two shots, that was it. Teddy, the bartender gave me some bread and two water bottles-I sobered up for an hour and thirty minutes before driving home. Trust me, I'm good." Hiccup mumbled some. "Teddy wouldn't have sent me home by my own car if he thought I couldn't drive safely, he would of called me a cab."
"Either way...what did you go there for?" Gobber asked curiously.
"Needed to clear my head and I was out of beer here," Hiccup shrugged some.
"Are you...okay?" Hookfang inquired softly.
"Actually, yeah, I am." he smiled a bit as the others arched a brow at him.
"That's really good, Hiccup. We're happy for you. Is there...a particular reason as to why? Did you go talk to Astrid or something?" Toothless asked him.
"She won't answer my calls or texts-but my being okay comes from the fact that I'm gonna get her back," Hiccup smiled a little, their eyes widened some.
"You are?! HOW!" they asked quickly.
"What's the one thing she asked me to do?" Hiccup asked them softly.
"For you...to stop hiding behind the Dusk persona, to be yourself?" Stormfly mentioned questioningly.
"And for her to be able to be with you rather you are Dusk or Hiccup?" Zap added in.
"Oh my Gods, are you actually gonna do it?" Meatlug asked quickly with excited eyes.
"Yeah, I am. She's right, I hated my life as Hiccup before leaving high school. When I moved away, and became Dusk-that's all anyone saw anymore. Hiccup didn't exist anymore, just like before. Hiccup disappeared when he left Berk four years ago-but he's not the one who came back from Archi. Dusk did. Of course a few people know who I am-just a couple I used to know from high school. But, when they saw me after four years...nothing had changed. They still saw me as a loser, only reason they noticed me was because we said Astrid got pregnant by me. You guys and Astrid know the real me, you know Hiccup. Teddy said something to me tonight that made me open my eyes after I told him everything," Hiccup paused now.
"The bartender?" Gobber blinked.
"That's right. He told me: Your friends and family will stand by you-so will Astrid. Fuck what others think, you do what makes you happy and you keep the negativity out. If you follow your heart-you will always be happy and make it out on top. I explained to him that when Astrid left, she told me what it would take for her to stay and I didn't answer her. Toddy told me to prove to her that I wanted to stop hiding. I went on to tell him what she told me, about if Dusk found Hiccup to let him know she was wanted to see him again. So Teddy tells me this: That means she's waiting for you, stupid. So find yourself, and stop hiding. Show the world who you are, and then show the world what she means to you. I can't tell you how to do that-it's up to you. But I'll tell you this, sitting here at the bar being miserable isn't gonna solve anything. Head home, win her back, and be happy as yourself. So that's exactly what I'm gonna do." Hiccup smiled.
"You're just gonna tell everyone the truth about things since yours and Heather's break up back in July?" Gobber asked.
"Eventually, yes. All I'm gonna do for now-is get Astrid back. But I'm not just gonna go see her and tell her I'm done hiding, no, I'm gonna prove it to her exactly how Teddy suggested I do. I'm gonna show the world who is really under the black wig, then I'm gonna show world what Astrid means to me." Hiccup said gently.
"So you're gonna go see her and bring the press too?" Hiss blinked.
"No. You let me worry about how it comes out, you'll know when it's time. All I ask is that when the time comes, you stand by me and have my back-we all know it's gonna get loud, and crazy pretty quickly..." Hiccup told them.
"I'm your brother, I'm always gonna have your back." Toothless put a hand over Hiccup's shoulder.
"I'm your old man, you know I'll be with ya." Gobber smiled.
"Us too. We're more than a band, we're more than friends. We're family-and families always have each others backs. We'll always stand stand with you, Hiccup." Stormfly smiled standing up and so did the others.
"Then I know everything's gonna be just fine soon," Hiccup told them. "In the meantime, I got a new song to work on. Before you ask, it's all part of the plan." he added before headed downstairs to get to work, this was going to be perfect. The whole plan would be-there was no way Astrid could not forgive him after what he was gonna do.
(Two Weeks Later)
It was finally time for the five year reunion of Berkian High's 2014 graduating class. Granted, it would actually be five years until June but five months early had to work so it wouldn't interfere with prom and graduation of the 2017 class. It was being held in the gymnasium at Berkian High obviously-and never was it announced that Dragon's Roar would be playing. Hiccup had been hard at work on his new song-something for Astrid and only her. Everyone was dressed and ready, face paint on including Hiccup. The only thing he didn't put in was the brown contacts, they'd be a hassle to remove later on. Berk Eye News had been informed anonymously about Dragon's Roar playing at the school but had strict instructions not to show up until a certain time.
"You ready for tonight?" Toothless asked Hiccup.
"More than ready," Hiccup replied with a nod, after that they all got on the bus and headed to the school-they had to go early to set up, and the bus would be hidden where no one could see it for obvious reasons. Hiccup had made sure Astrid was coming tonight, he got a text from Ruffnut two days before of her asking if he was going to the reunion and Hiccup replied with no that he was busy working. This meant Astrid would come knowing he wouldn't be there-and she would be in for a shock when he saw her. Everything was ready for the plan to be set in motion. He couldn't wait-just a few more hours until he was holding her again.
(With Astrid; 7:00pm)
"Are you sure he's not going tonight?" Astrid asked Ruffnut.
"Yes, for the hundredth time, Astrid. Hiccup isn't going tonight, check the message yourself..." Ruffnut groaned showing the text from Hiccup saying: =Not going, got work but if she needs anything-she knows she can call me ~Hiccup= Honestly, Astrid wanted him to be there-she wanted to talk to him about things. She felt bad leaving him the way she did, sure she didn't like that he always hid behind Dusk but a lot of celebrities hid who they really were. Toothless and the others used masks on stage too but that didn't make them any less friends to her off stage. She never minded them having to put on the act to protect her along with Hiccup, so why had she gotten so mad when Hiccup did it? If he was working tonight then it meant he had a gig. "You miss him, don't you?"
"You know I do, Ruff...I miss him like crazy and...I want him back-was hoping to see him tonight but I guess he's not going..." Astrid sighed.
"Well, after tonight-just go see him. It's clear he still cares about you," Ruffnut offered. Astrid nodded, she would. After tonight was over-she would go to Gobber's and talk to Hiccup. Astrid tonight would be wearing a long maternity shirt that reached to just above her knees and also a pair of flats, maternity leggings too. Her hair was down, bangs brushed to ones side, slightly covering an eye-but there was one braid on the left side hanging down. Astrid wore the charm bracelet Hiccup had given her for Christmas, she loved it so she wouldn't take it off. After checking the mirror, she took a deep breath and then left with Ruffnut, Tuffnut, and Snotlout.
(Berkian High School)
Everyone was there, including the chief of police and his new wife-even though they'd been married before. Hiccup was backstage with the band, peering through the curtains to see as people were entering. He wanted to know when Astrid was there, he planned to play a few songs as Dusk before going through with his plan for.
"Alright guys, it's a reunion and we started this four years ago so I think we should use the older songs." Toothless offered to them.
"Tooth is right and I think we should start with I'd Come For You, it made us famous." Zap agreed.
"You lads and lasses ready, everyone just finished checking in who had replied saying they were coming. Looks like the entire senior class except you, Hiccup." Gobber told him.
"Oh, I'm here." Hiccup stated.
"Welcome back to school graduation class of 2014!" the principal yelled out after getting on stage. The room clapped and silenced after a moment. "Gonna be a good night, so let's get on with it. Enjoy the company, food, drink and your entertainment tonight...DRAGON'S ROAR!" after the man stepped off stage, Hiccup and the others came out. Astrid's eyes widened a bit, if Dragon's Roar was playing that meant Hiccup was there tonight! However, just as she was about to rush up, she remembered she couldn't. It would break contract and raise too many questions as to why she knew him so well, this is what she hated about it all-why she'd been hesitating on taking him back. This would be what she had to deal with, knowing it was the love of her life but couldn't be seen with him unless the disguise was off and he was Hiccup instead of Dusk.
"Hello, Berkian High! You ready to have a good time!?" Hiccup called out as Dusk. The room screamed in joy, "Alright then! Little fun fact for the night, Dragon's Roar formed around the same time you all graduated. So in lieu of that-we're gonna play some of our first songs for you! Hope you enjoy it," more screaming and cheering. From there, it began with I'd Come For You-always a favorite. It was going perfectly, everyone was dancing, talking and getting along. An hour in and Hiccup happened to notice how upset Astrid looked, like she was the only one not having fun-he knew why. Because he'd said he wouldn't be there tonight, and he was just not as himself. The very thing she left him for.
Hiccup saw Astrid get up from her seat and move towards the front of the room to Ruffnut. "Hey, I'm gonna go...I don't feel well..." she stated, Hiccup heard it of course. Astrid glanced at Hiccup, disappointment showing in her blue hues. That's when he knew he couldn't do this anymore, they were in the middle of a song-but in his thoughts he actually missed his queue to begin again. This itself got a lot of people confused while Hiccup watched Astrid start heading for the door. He put his head down and lowered the microphone in his hands.
"Dusk, what's up...you missed your queue," came Gobber's voice in the ear piece.
"I can't do this..." Hiccup replied after lifting the microphone as he turned to his band mates and used his hand across his neck to signal them to cut it and stop, they did of course-looking at him curiously. The music stopped as people were wondering what was going on. He only gave them a look as they understood what he mean, they nodded to him. Hiccup faced the crowd again, "Sorry-but I can't keep playing until I do this..." he added, "Astrid Hofferson," he stated firmly. The room seemed to silence as Astrid stopped and turned slowly to look back as the crowd moved aside making a path for her to walk through. "Last month, you asked me to give an important message to someone if I saw them again-well, I found him and he has a message for you too-rather an answer to something you asked of him,"
"I'm listening..." Astrid replied softly.
Slow music began as he took a breath when the lights came down. "Can't blame you for thinking, that you never really knew me at all. I tried to deny you-but nothing ever made me feel so wrong..." it was now the rest of the band picked up on what he was doing and played accordingly along to it. "I thought I was protecting you, from everything that I go through-but I know that we got lost along the way..." another pause as he looked right at her.
"Here I am with all my heart. I hope you understand. I know I let you down-but I'm never gonna make that mistake again. You brought me closer, to who I really am. Come take my hand...I want the world to see, what you mean to me. What you mean to me..." he sang softly as Astrid just watched, a soft smile coming to her lips.
"Just know that I'm sorry. I never wanted to make you feel so small. Our story is just beginning-but let the truth break down these walls," at this time, press and news had come in slow and stayed quiet while recording. "Oh yeah yeah...And every time I think of you, I think of how you pushed me through. And showed me how much better I could be..." he took a breath as the lights went down and no one could really see his face anymore only his silhouette. Hiccup was handed a wet rag as he wiped off the face paint but left the wig on.
"Here I am with all my heart. I hope you understand. I know I let you down-but I'm never gonna make, that mistake again. You brought me closer, to who I really am. Come take my hand...I want the world to see, what you mean to me! Yeah!" he sang out as the lights came back on and her eyes widened seeing him without the face paint on, Hiccup slowly moved down the middle stage stairs and walked towards her. He smiled at her as he reached his hand towards his wig and pulled it off-tossing it back towards the stage.
"You make me feel like I'm myself, instead of being someone else. I wanna live that every day! You say what no one else was say, you know exactly how to get to me. You know it's what I need. It's what I need, yeah!" there was no more disguise, he was standing there singing as Hiccup to her. A lot of others in the room gasped-completed in shock at who was under all that. "Here I am with all my heart. I hope you understand(I hope you understand). I know I let you down-but I'm never gonna make that mistake again(that mistake again). You brought me closer! To who I really am! So come take my hand," he put his hand out to her as she let a few tears fall from from her eyes as she put her hand in his.
Hiccup tossed the microphone back towards stage as Toothless caught it then threw something back at him-which he caught in the now free hand. "I want the world to see, what you mean to me, " he continued softly before getting to one knees and opening the ring box that now rested in palm. Astrid's eyes widened more, the room gasping a second time. "What you mean to me..." he finished. "Will marry me, Astrid?" he asked.
At first, she didn't say anything, her other hand resting on her belly still in shock. "Is this...really happening? Am I dreaming...right now?" Astrid asked shakily. "Did you...really just take off your wig and face paint...are you really Hiccup?"
"Astrid. Last month-what did you ask of me in order to stay?" Hiccup asked her.
"You want to be with me-then you have to be able to be with me as I am, no matter where we go or what we do, whether you are Dusk on stage or Hiccup like now. That's what it'll take for me to stay, you have to stop hiding." Astrid repeated still in shock.
"I'm done hiding, Astrid. This is me giving you my answer to your question if I can stop hiding. I can and I am...This is me, who I choose to be. This is the life I choose to live and I want you and our daughter to live it with me. No more hiding, no more disguises. I showed the world who I really am, and now I'm going to show them what you meant to me. I swear to the Gods...I will never hurt you again. Just...give me another chance-forgive me and just say yes, please Astrid?..." he asked softly.
Astrid stared at him a moment-still shocked and surprised but slowly her lips curved to a soft smile and she nodded to him, a tear slipping from her eye. The room did a light 'awe' and Hiccup smiled as he stood up and slipped the ring on her finger. Hiccup put his hands around her waist as he leaned down and kissed her deeply, the room began clapping for them. Hiccup broke the kiss and she leaned her head on his shoulder. This is all she'd ever wanted from him-to stop hiding and he did it in the best way. He didn't just say he'd stop hiding, he proved it, and proposed to her. The night was far from over now, he just did that in front of hundreds in person, and thousands more on TV. There would be a lot of questions and explanations-but for right now, all she cared about was the fact they were back together.