Chapter 6 - Sparking That Inner Flame
Authors note: not my favourite chapter, but has to be done to lead onto the next - let some secrets become to hard to handle...
( Thursday 5th November 2020)
Hiccup having a day off was rare, but from time to time when the business was on quiet seasons he would book a few days or so off. He loved work, at first he didn't but when I realised he was making a difference to his people with the clean energy he started to love what he did, and understood why his farther loved it once. When at the age of 23 when he got this job he thought it was some kind of punishment, but in reality it was the greatest thing that happened. And so he loved to work. But occasionally he took a few days off to recharge.
Take this morning, it was 10:02 now and he had gotten up, sent Astrid a quick morning text, made himself some breakfast giving Terri a few days off too. He then dragged toothless out for a morning run around the woods that surrounded his cove.
He seriously didn't know how Astrid did this for a hobby, by the time he was coming home he was gasping for air.
He'd quickly got home and showered and was now wondering what to do with the rest of his day. He had called Astrid the other day tell her he had a few days off, and knowing she had Thursday as a flexible day he thought she'd be free but today she had plans, and he didn't want to be that boyfriend that always demands she spend time with him. But he missed her, and when he had days off he'd like to spend the with her. And Toothless of course.
But he could use the day to draw maybe, read a book, or binge watch the entire serious of Peaky Blinders. He didn't know yet.
The door bell rang setting Toothless off on his barking fest. He found it bizarre, he never had random visitors before, he usually was always aware if anyone was arriving.
Luna was usually was the one to answer the doors, and as he was sat in the living room he could see Luna ready to go answer. " Luna, I've got the door!" He shouted, meeting her in the main entrance, she was checking to make sure he was sure, and when he gave her the nod she carried on with the rest of her work.
To be honest he didn't want her answering the door cause he was hoping it was Astrid, that she had changed her mind or had plans cancelled. And if she was gonna be at his door he was gonna be the one to answer it.
" surprise!" But it wasn't Astrid! When he opened the door instead of seeing his blonde girlfriend, he was greeted by his parents! His parents were at his house, and immediately a nervous smile was planted on his face.
" mom? Dad! What are - what are you doing here?" He opened the door fully to let them in from the November weather.
" what we can't visit our son sporadically?" His dad said as both his parents started to take off their winter coats.
Stoick Haddock, he was a proud Haddock born and raised in Berk, where as Hiccup took the family business far and wide, he visited other countries and traveled, Stoick was a man of Berk, and was stubborn in his ways. However now Hiccup was in charge of the business, he took a step back and let Hiccup do his own thing. He was a retired man in the energy business but as a Haddock his work never ended really. He was in politics, the highest of them all cause of his family lineage.
Now Valka Haddock was a different, she wasn't born a Haddock but a Jorgensen, and married into the Haddock line giving birth to a baby boy. She was a odd girl growing up, never fitted into her family, until she met Stoick, like Hiccup with Astrid, Stoick was completely head over heels, madly in love with her. She loved animals and so with Stoick in politics, Valka long side the all pets vet and his godfather Gobber, she and him made a pet sanctuary around the north west of Berk for abandoned animals.
" no dad, of course you can visit, it's just unexpected is all" he took his parents coats and placed them in his coat room.
" well we would have called but we thought the surprise might have been better," his mom straightening her, came came over to him, hands on his face. " let me look at you " him and his mom and a close relationship, however sometimes she can be pushy and annoying, his mom was more like him so he got on with her well.
" mom! I'm fine" he shook her hands away, she would always do this.
His dad however, they were more like to butt heads, both stubborn boys, but both softy's at heart. When Hiccup really needed his dad, Stoick was there.
He looked over at his dad, stood large and proud, however the older man did come over and shook the boys hand.
" son" with a quick nod.
"Dad" he nodded back, noticing the awkwardness building up. He thought best to talk in the kitchen, that way Luna can help out number them. " why don't we go for a coffee" he leads the way, bringing them into the kitchen where Luna was helping out some cleaning staff with the polishing.
" Luna could you put the kettle on please" she nodded obediently but then smiled and waved when she noticed Valka.
" oh Valka you look amazing" Luna admires Mrs Haddock, as Luna was about 5-10 years younger than Hiccups mum, Luna admired her, and aspires to be like her.
" thank you my dear, I've been taking these vitamins I'll write them down before I leave" giving her a cheeky wink.
His mom looked quite young for someone who was coming up to 55, however she hated women her age having plastic surgery, so his mom tried to find natural ways of looking young and healthy. She took plenary of vitamins to help her body and skin, she was into aroma therapy massages, and facial cream that decreased wrinkles.
She looked like an older woman but with younger features, not stretched out like a canvas.
The three Haddocks has taken their seats, Luna shooing out the rest of the staff, Hiccup got down the cups and started making their drinks.
" so son how's work?" His farther asked him this every time, however he felt like he was an investor in this company since he once ran it himself.
" yeah good, I'm growing it not only in the Archipelago but the whole world, bringing in new clients 10 fold." Hiccup never doubted that his farther wasn't proud, he told him quite a lot.
" that's fantastic my boy, good work" but he still felt like he was still under his dads wing a little.
" Stoick enough about work now, how's life going son, your friends? Anyone new in your life?" His mother always had this conversation, wanting to know if he had found 'the one' yet. And for once he finally had an answer for her and he couldn't tell her.
" mom not this again" he poured the boiling water into the 3 cups in front of him.
" I know son it's just that you are 27 nearly 28 and I don't know it just you've been single ever since Cami and -" she struck a nerve by mentioning her name, he snapped after putting the boiling hot kettle down.
" mom we talked about Cami! And what she was willing to do, the lengths she went to, the lie-" he stopped at the thought, she was the girl that tipped him over the edge, that messed with his head so much that he dropped off the face of the earth to just get some peace. She was the one that made he think he could never be loved, not properly, not until Astrid.
" I know son, I was there" his parents were the one that got him through it, told him that everything would be sorted, till Cami finally slipped up that it was a lie. She messed with his head so much.
" all your mother is saying is that it's been 4 years now, and we are just worried is all, you haven't been with anyone since then" it was true, after Cami he didn't really socialise with women - apart from Heather. He dated her back before Cami, he was 20, and they only really did it just to see if their friendship was meant to be more, turns out it was not! In fact it just strengthened their sibling like bond even more. So after Cami she was one of his support systems, helping him to understand that not all girls are like Cami.
But what his parents didn't know yet was he had finally got over the 'never be loved' stage, and he was in a very happy relationship with a stunning lady, that he couldn't tell them about. Well he could, he trusted his parents, but then where would it end, maybe in a few months time he could ask Astrid about telling his parents, having them introduced, but he knew she didn't want the life of dating a Haddock yet. And if he was being honest, he didn't blame her, if he could just shut off the Haddock signal he gives off when he walks into a room he would. But money, wealth and power was just too strong.
" I know dad" before the three could continue on with this 'fantastic' conversation, Hiccups phone began to ring in his pocket. And lifting it out to see Astrids name pop up on his screen it brought a huge smile to his face, one that didn't go unnoticed by his parents.
" excuse me, I have to take this" he scurried out of the kitchen like a child who had forgotten to clean their room and their mom had just found out. Only after knowing he was in the clear of the kitchen and securely in the living room did he answer the phone.
" hey beautiful! I'm glad you called" and he was truly.
" well that's always a good thing to hear," her giggle at the end was slightly muffled by the back ground noise, like she was on the bus or something.
" hey where are you, it sounds busy" he looked over his shoulder to see his parents still sat in his kitchen, drinking their coffee.
" I'm on a boat" the word boat caught his attention, turning away from the kitchen and focusing back on her.
" a boat? Why?" He didn't know it but she was heading to Cannibal Isle which was about less than an hour in a boat, from what she had found out about Cannibal Isle was that it was owned by a tribe once before Berk had taken over it. It now had to towns on it and the rest was covered with warehouses, trading outlets and the reason she was going, had the largest cemetery in the Archipelago, and it was where her parents were buried.
" just needed to head out of Berk, don't worry I'll be back before it even gets dark" and since it was November that would be around 4 ish.
Astrid's parents died 7 years today the 5th of November wasn't always a good day for her, but ever since being in Berk the past few years she had dealt with it well. Ruff knew about her parents, but she never told her about the foster parents, or the fact she was homeless, it was something she didn't want anyone to know about, but Hiccup.
After her parents had died they had left somewhere in their wishes to be buried on Cannibal Isle and ever since living at Berk, she would visit her parents grave every now and then.
"Okay well please be safe yeah, text me when you get back so I don't send out a search party" he heard her giggle on the end on the phone, cause that was such a Hiccup comment, and what she found funny was that he would send out a search party, especially for her.
" yeah course I will, I love you, you know" her comment sent a smile rushing to his lips, the corners of his mouth shooting upwards.
" I love you too Milady"
Xx
Meanwhile Stoick and Valka were sat in the kitchen, drinking their coffees while Hiccups went cold. They would occasionally look over through the long hall way and into the living room where Hiccup was stood while on the phone.
" who do you thinks on the phone?" Valka asked her husband who was now currently looking through a biscuit cupboard to find his favourite: hobnobs!
" I don't know, maybe a business call?" He came back to his chair, dunking his biscuits into his coffee.
" nooo, it can't be, you and I both saw the huge smile on his face when I saw the caller ID " typical Valka, always fishing for something that may or may not be there. " I think it's a girl" the excitement in her voice wasn't hidden.
" oh and how can you be sure of that?" Before she had time to answer his question, Luna was coming up the stairs that was from the laundry rooms and cellars, Carrying a fresh pile of clean clothing in her arms.
" oh Luna, again you mustn't let me leave without that list of vitamins" Valka smiles over a the smaller women came over to her.
" I won't Valka thank you, you'll have to excuse now, I've got to get Hiccup's washing upstairs before they crease." While she walked past with the pile of washing to head down the hall for the staircase, Val noticed something on top. Something small. Something red. Something lacy. Something not Hiccup's.
She gasps, immediately knowing what it was. " oh my gods Stoick" she made her husband jump, while he was drinking his drink, spilling his coffee down his big red beard.
" Jesus Val!" Dabbing his beard with some kitchen roll.
" did you see it, on top of the washing?" She was ecstatic from the sound of her voice, while Stoick was trying not to smell like coffee.
" see what?" She groaned as her husbands slowness.
" I saw red lace underwear, girls red lace underwear!" He knew was she was hinting, and as much as Stoick wanted to be a grandpa as much as Valka wanted to be a grandma, he didn't push on Hiccups love life like she did.
" are you sure it wasn't a sock?" Val was getting old like he was, they were mid 50s and he was coming up to his 60s soon. Maybe she was loosing her sight.
" oh Stoick!" She slapped his arm playfully, " I know red lace underwear when I see them. I'm telling you Stoick, secret calls, red lace underwear. Our boy has a lady and he's not quite ready to tell us yet" she was so certain on it.
" oh yeah? Well maybe it's because you can't go five minutes without asking the poor lad" he dipped his biscuit into his coffee again.
" you think it might be Heather?" Stoick scoffed but she carried on anyway, " I spoke to her farther the other day, apparently she's seeing someone in the city, and I asked, it's someone from her uni days" he knew where she was heading, Heather went to uni around the same time Hiccup, Snotlout and Eret did. And she was getting at the fact that Hiccup and Heather once tried to make them into a relationship. " I think it's Heather!" She was certain.
" gods Valka, didn't Hiccup say him and Heather were better off as friends?" Stoick and Oswald have been friends for years and as much as Valka was hoping their son and Heather would get together, it would be awkward between him and his old friend.
" yes but things change, I'm telling you Honey, our son is seeing someone and I'm putting my bet on it being Heather Berserker"
Xx
Astrid got off the ferry just before 12, keeping herself to herself, the small town was a very clicky town, if you were an outsider, the folks weren't that welcoming. The cemetery was a 10 minute walk from the docks, and it was a peaceful walk along the coast, gave her time to think about what to say. She'd have to talk about Uni, her living with Ruffnut, her and Hiccup!
Gods she wished her parents were here to talk too. To ask her mum advice about boys. To hear her dad complain about boys. She just missed them.
She entered the cemetery quietly, entering with respect of out those who were visiting their lost loved ones, placing flowers on their graves. Astrid never placed flowers down, not cause she didn't want to but she only visited her parents grave once in a while. She didn't want to see dead flowers on her parents grave.
Their names shared one grave, right at the end of cemetery looking out over the sea. She loved this spot, it was peaceful. She sat in the spot that was exactly in the middle of both her parents name looking out to sea.
" hi mum, hi dad, been a while. I've been so busy since the last time I came here, moved into a new apartment, started third year, and - I met a guy" her cheeks blushed at the thought, like she was telling her real parents, really there in front of her.
" I know, I know, I'll tell you about Uni first, I'm doing well, grades wise, but I really want to talk about this guy, this amazing, funny, sexy guy! You'd love him, he's kind and caring towards me, he loves me, and," she felt her cheeks burn up, " close your ears dad, mom? I gave my virginity to him, because it felt right with him, I trusted him and he didn't disappoint. I trust him with every fibre in my body, I love him, and it's not just sex either, I truly am happy with him." Tear began to run down her cheeks, burning against the cool air.
" I just wish you could meet him, I wish you could give him the stamp of approval mom, I wish you could tell me how happy you are that I've finally got a good one. I wish you could give him the cold shoulder dad, tell me that no one is good enough for your little girl, and then we'd have a fight and I'd threaten to elope" she giggled through her tears, knowing that she would never do that, but would have liked the opportunity to do it anyway.
" I just want you to know that I'm happy, that I'm okay now, that you don't have to worry, and I love you guys so so much, so much"
Xx
" oh Hiccup me and your farther just had an amazing idea!" He'd avoided their small talk ever since he got off the phone, allowing them to ambush him with their 'amazing idea.'
" we think cause it's coming to the end of harvest season this week, we could throw a bonfire in your back garden, in celebration of coming to the end of the autumn months. Like we use to when you were young" November was the last autumn month in Berk however it was technically known as winter too cause it always snowed in November, like clockwork.
" oh sure let's just throw a bonfire like that" he clicked his fingers to emphasise the extreme lengths of just setting up a bonfire tonight.
" well why not?" By this point Luna was in the kitchen, ready to continue with her days work.
" cause we can't just plan a bonfire in less than a day it's impossible" Hiccup was thinking of the reality side to it all, he knew trying to organise a bonfire, invite guests and getting food and drinks ready would be ridiculous.
" I can arrange that Mr Haddock! If you want?" Luna spoke out, causing the three Haddocks to face her.
" really?" Stoick wasn't convinced but Valka already had it in her mind that this was going ahead.
" Perfect you see, sorted" while she said that to Hiccup Luna was already on her phone planning for tonight's bonfire.
" what about guests, people aren't just gonna turn up" he knew if he asked his friends to come, some would, but then what's the point of there are only ten of you at a bonfire!
" leave that to me son, I can get them here in the matter of hours, and Stoick will help, won't you honey?!" He had no where to run, he had to agree when she lightly slapped his arm.
" course love"
Again the smile appeared on her face, looking up at her son who was now standing in the kitchen, " I guess I could call my mates, see if they wanna get drunk for free" he shrugged trying to ignore his mothers ecstatic smile. " but what about food, and drinks how do we do that?" His parents couldn't think fast enough, but before they could come up with a solution Luna stepped in.
" I've just put it on the staff group chat, everyone is willing to do over time as the snoggletog season is coming up, and Terri said he's on his way to the supermarket now, getting food and drinks, he'll be here for about 3:00 - 3:30? He's willing to clock up a few hours too." The snoggletog month was in December- next month. And people loves to get gifts and presents coming up to this day. So with that sorted Hiccup had no other excuse to say no.
" fine! I'll call my friends, you get us some guests - but mom? I'm doing this if you promise to leave the girl thing alone now, no more questions " she nodded slowly, but smile beamed on her face. He did enjoy it when his mother was happy.
Xx
Astrid got in for around about 3:57 pm, nearly bang on time for what she promised Hiccup, sending him a quick text to let him know she was safe at home, she threw her bag on the coffee table that sat between the L shaped couch. She looked around the main room, the dining table had stacks of dirty plates on it, the kitchen had dirty pans in the sink, when she left this place it was immaculate, which meant one thing. Ruffnut!
Without thinking she barged into her best friends room, seeing her on her bed, under a muscular man, with black hair. " oh gods !" She thought they were naked for a second, the the guy was only shirtless and Ruff was still in her underwear.
" Jesus Ast! knock!" She shot up putting on one of her oversized T-shirts, he placed his top back on too.
" sorry I thought you were alone! I - I'll leave you to it, I'm going to clean the kitchen" Ruffnut knew where Astrid went today, and knowing she had just come back to a pile of dirty plates, she felt awful.
" Astrid wait!" She ran after her, and of course the guy beside her ran after her, bringing them all into the main kitchen/dinner/living room.
" I'm sorry for the mess! How was today?" She came over and gave her a hug, which of course he guy didn't know why so he just stood in the middle of the room looking like an idiot.
" it was good" the two blondes turned to the guy, which of course led to the awkwardness off Astrid and him not knowing each other.
" oh shit yeah, Astrid- Snotlout. Snotlout - Astrid." The two shook hands, not knowing that they both had one thing in common, Hiccup Haddock.
" nice to finally meet you, Ruffs goes on about you a lot" he said, his voice sounded confident, sure of himself, he stood tall and proud but not as tall as Hiccup. She'd place her bet he was from the West, he had this arrogance about him like Thug and Bear did.
" oh really, well it's nice to finally meet you too," his eyes stayed glued to hers, narrowing in to where her eyes were red and puff.
" oh sorry," immediately her self-confidence went down, rubbing her eyes with the coat sleeve. " I was just at my parents grave" he immediately looked apologetic, but didn't say anything. Instead he got a text, and went to check on it, while Ruff check on her friend.
" good chat with the folks?" She asked that every single time, it was a joke really to try and cheer her up, 7 years without her parents was a long time.
" yeah I guess," she was gonna continue but Ruffnuts play thing was making himself known again about this text he just got.
" hey Ruff? You know how you were saying you could use the extra cash?" Ruff was always wanted extra cash, however the thing was that she could never hold a job, always screwed things up cause she didn't liked to be bossed.
" yeah?"
" well I think i can get you one, my cousin his throwing a last minute bonfire at his house, and he always hires random people for things like this, he's a bit of a snob if you ask me" parties, hiring folk, snob, yep definitely west side.
" great! You think you could get both me and Astrid a job" Snotlout nodded before she had time to decline.
" woah wait! I don't work for snobs" she whispered to Ruff While Snotlout made a call.
" so? It's for one night and you could use the cash too" thing was, even though Ruff knew about Astrids parents she didn't know about her being homeless for 5 years and she especially didn't tell her about how she got 30,000 at the start of September. She didn't want to think she was rich, but then look into her background and you'd think differently.
The thing was, she got all this money to help pay for uni, and a lot of it did, but she put a massive chunk of 20,000 a year so that she'd have money to put to a house or a place to live after uni, if she was gonna work for a magazine completely like she hoped so, it was gonna be expensive to live. So a little extra cash can't hurt to spend on herself, for a treat.
" you're right, little extra cash can't hurt" she just thought Ruff would find it fun to work together, it was just a guess considering how happy she was.
" perfect! Snot we will do it!" He came back to them after hanging up, smile on his face.
" great, just got off the phone with my cousin, he said it was fine for me to bring my girl and her roommate to work" he swung his arm around Ruff when he said 'my girl'.
Hiccup however had no clue that his cousins girl was his girlfriends roommate, and both were coming to this last minute bonfire of his, where his parents were, his friends were, where everyone they were keeping their relationship a secret from, were!
Xx
Mayhem! That was the word he would use. His house was taken over by hundreds of guests, some he knew, most his mother knew. Entering his house by the chunk, they were mainly from north west/ west town or the city, all of them drinking their why through the bottle of his fine wine.
His mother loved parties, but he did not, the mess that came after it, and he had to hire double the amount of people to help clear it away the next day thanks to his friends mainly. However his mother did like to host, so he let her take over when she wished, that's what he was doing now, drinking a mead straight out of its glass bottle, watching as his guests ate through Terri's food, and drinking this fine wine, burning wood on the large bonfire.
He was thankful for Terri, coming in on his day off, he was thankful for Luna and the staff under her wing who were helping serve out the food. His back garden was now filling up to the max.
" Haddock!" The English accent bellowed through his house, Hiccup was stood by the bifold doors, so looking back he had a clean view of who just entered his house. Eret Eretson, with his arm around Heather, the two wrapped up for the November weather.
" hey guys" have gave them each a hug, Heather a more warm hug, while Eret a more manly one. Once that was over Eret's arm went back around Heather quite comfortably giving her a squeeze.
Hiccup had to admit, he found it nice that both his friends had found each other and were happy together. Eret was always a closed off person, and to have Heather there for him was nice to know. And Heather has been his friend since birth, he knew she always craved to be in love and find a partner, he was glad it was Eret.
" so who's idea was it to throw a bonfire?" Eret had know Hiccup for about 7 years, ever since first year uni, and Eret knew Hiccup was not one for last minute parties.
" moms" he took the time now to show them his parents who were chatting by the bonfire in the garden after walking past his now covered outdoor pool. His pool was unusually used in the summer, however in the past few years it can freeze that thick that you can walk over it.
" your parents are here?" Heather had a good relationship with his parents, especially with his mom, since her mum died before Heather could remember.
" makes sense" Eret knew Valka from being friends with Hiccup, and he knew his mother was a social butterfly.
" I'm gonna have to say hi to them, feel like I haven't talked to them in ages!" She slipped out of Eret's arm to walk to the bonfire. Leaving the boys by the open bifold doors.
" you know I officially asked her to be my girlfriend, I'm surprised you didn't see it on social media" the larger man took his mead from his friends hand, drinking it as if it was his own.
" I did, I just knew you would cave eventually" the two men laughed, it was a standing joke that Heather would be the woman to finally break Eret Eretson. But it was true, Eret truly cared for Heather, and Hiccup knew that, for he wouldn't let Heather go out with someone who was bad for her.
" ha ha, whatever! What about your girl? You invite her to this?" He only told Eret and Snotlout about this new girl he was seeing, but they didn't know who she was yet.
" no she had plans" and it was true she did, however he knew she got back before 4 after the quick text she sent, and as much as he'd love to ask her to come he knew she would say no. To many people.
" dude she has you wrapped around her little finger, can't wait to meet this girl" he wanted more than anything to introduce Eret to Astrid, the two would get on, and he'd hope Heather would like her too.
He looked down at his phone flicking through the pictures of her, 6 months he'd been with her now, he was contemplating on asking if he could begin to tell those close to him, only his mother would be a problem soon enough.
Xx
" why are we in the woods?" Ruffnut moaned, and moaned a lot! She was not one with nature, Astrid knew that from day two of meeting her when a bee got through the window.
But now they made their way through the woods Astrid was understanding why Ruff hated nature, she had been bite five times already. However the way the moonlight shined through the gaps in the trees, the photographer in her wanted her to stop and take a picture.
" the back entrance is just over here" he pointed in the far distance to where a bright light shined through the dark woods.
There was a similarity about this place, she couldn't put her finger on it, Snotlout had taken them through the woods on a tiny dirt path road, and now they were trudging through mud.
" why we going through the back?" Ruff asked complaining about how many bites she was getting.
" thought it would be fun!" Her new boyfriend was definitely something. The sound of people started to get louder, and Astrid could swear she could feel the heat from this bonfire. As they squeezed through the back gate entering the back garden suddenly everything became clear. Why this place seemed to be similar, the travel, the woods and now this back garden. She knew it cause she literally spent her summer here.
" holy shit! Who is your cousin?" Ruff asked, of course she wouldn't know, she'd never been to this house. But Astrid had, a lot. And seeing him walking through the gardens just now proved it.
" it's Hiccup Haddock!" She said it not even thinking, she was still in disbelief.
" really? How do you know?" She didn't have to say anything, all she did was point.
Pointed a long finger to the guy who walked through the gardens like he owned the place, cause he did. The guy she was keeping a secret from everyone, the guy who apparently had a cousin who was dating her best friend. The guy who was her boyfriend.
And as she brought her hand down, not letting her gaze leave him, he caught sight of her, stopping dead in his tracks.
Face mirroring hers.