Chapter 16 - ' The Secret Love Life Of Bachelor Hiccup Haddock'

( Mid March 2021)

Late starts on a Monday was always a golden day for Astrid, Ruffnut was in early for business at 9am on the dot, Astrid could roll out of bed, make coffee, eat breakfast and have a lovely slow shower while her friend practically ran to uni since she was always late.

Today's start was 11, which means if she got in late last night from Hiccups or a club it wouldn't be a strain on her. However this weekend she spent it with Ruff, she needed a girls weekend and Hiccup was up to his eyeballs in work so it was a win win for both of them. So today was actually a nice morning, just standing in front of her full length mirror picking out an easy outfit. She went for her white skinny jeans and her black and white Adidas jumper, her plain white small converse and opted for putting her long platinum blonde hair in a high ponytail knowing she was having a casual day.

The snow had melted come March but the weather still wasn't the best, still cold grey mornings with showers of rain here and there. So she threw on a black trench coat so she looked like a trendy student to go with the gloomy weather. The end to the second term was nearly close and she was so near to her final term of her final year, the thought was both scary and exciting at the same time. She didn't know what she was going to do when she left, the university gave her loads of choices but which one was for her, she didn't know. But it was exciting because she will be free from being tied down as a student and finally be able to go out with a Haddock without anything looming over her. But it was still a frightening thought too.

She gathered all her things for a day of uni, her camera bag swinged over her shoulder along with her handbag and her printed portfolio case in her other hand. This was a normal routine for Astrid when heading into uni, has been for the past 3 years, one reason she was happy it was all nearly over.

Lugging her stuff down the elevator and through the lobby wasn't that bad, it was when she was walking through the streets and there were the rude people who'd rudely push past her nearly knocking her stuff all over the floor. " Fucking twat!" She'd harshly whisper under her breath as she carried on.

That was another thing, after uni Hiccup has now made it clear he wanted her to move in with him, and she was looking forward to not having to live in the city anymore, she have her own personal chauffeur in Hiccup if she needed, or she'd could go out and use the money she saved for a place to go towards a new car. That all implies where she gets a job after all this.

Walking into Berk university the whole place was booming with young students all in their late teens, early twenties. Never seen before she noticed them all hovering in circles surrounding around a magazine or newspaper. Some celebrity must have died or a royal baby must have been born. Something that got people gathering over news on a paper back magazine.

" Astrid!" Next thing she knew someone had slammed into Astrid's back nearly making her heart jump out of her body.

" Jesus fucking christ!" She cursed before looking back to see who it was. It was Ruffnut no doubt, she must have just left her lecture and ran into her. " Ruff! You trying to give me a heart attack?" Again she sorted herself out with all her photography stuff shoving it back over her shoulder.

" sorry! I've just been looking everywhere for you!" She was out of breath, frantic, looking like she had been in a panic state, and looking for her?

" why? You know I have a lesson at 11" she had a lesson in 25 minutes to be exact, usually she liked to come in early just to set up her place at her desk and get her self sorted before her tutor came. Ruffnut knew this of course, so that probably why she was looking for her before she went into lesson. Technically they were stood out in the street still of the university, but right outside her building so Ruff was probably waiting around for her.

" you haven't seen?" It only came clear now that Ruff was holding a rolled up magazine in her hand. It was when she unrolled it that her eyes fell on the front page, or more like the picture that was plastered on it. The words bright and red for all to see said, ' Hiccup Haddock's secret romance revealed!' In smaller writing it went into detail, ' witness stated that the young billionaire arrived at family lodge for Valentine's Day with a young blonde to share a weekend of passion'

The front cover was of her, on Hiccups lap in the hot tub with her bare back to the camera, Hiccups face was shown but only from the side, her face was covered by not only her hair but his hand that covered her face. But they still had a picture of her bare back, practically naked, practically fucking the heir to the island on the front fucking page.

" what the fuck!" She took the magazine from her to look closely, it stated that more information was to be found on pages 14 - 17. Of course she flicked furiously through the pages till her eyes landed of more pictures of her and Hiccup in the hot tub and a witness statement about seeing a ladies underwear on the floor of Hiccups hallway. " that slimy -" she couldn't even bring the words to her mouth. All her eyes did was scan for her name.

" does it say my name?" She asked Ruff who stood patiently beside her.

" no, but there are rumours of it being a student" her heart just sank further into the pit of her stomach, the last thing she needed was her being slated by her friends and the magazines for dating a Haddock, but now her bare body was all over the island, probably the archipelago, probably on the internet for all to see.

" I'm so fucked!"

Xx

" Fuck" he split his coffee.

" oh Fuck fuck fuck!"

Grabbing tissues to soak up the spilt coffee from his desk. He blamed himself, he wasn't concentrating, but to be fair he didn't expect an online article of him naked in a hot tub along with his girlfriend to appear on his computer while taking a sip of his morning drink.

He couldn't believe it, it was all over the internet, his blood was boiling with rage, whoever took that photo was on private land, who even knew that they were there? And he could have strangled that slimy sleaze ball Mildew.

He was going to ruin them, all of them, starting with the photographer, then Berks general news, then Mildew, then then... someone else. He was furious! His life was on the front covers of all news there was, but this, practically naked for all to see. The thought of some weirdo getting off at the look of his girlfriends bare back just sent his blood boiling, this was against the rules surely, against privacy, but then the news was always hard faced when it came to him.

" Er Mr Haddock?" Greta came in, even without a knock, but then when she held the newspaper in her hand, showing the picture that was publish everywhere he knew why. Greta was great at keeping his personal life private, she knew about Astrid but never divulged in anything. She wasn't a gossip and Hiccup trusted her in keeping his private life all hush, and since she was so good at it Hiccup didn't let that go without a reward for the extra help.

But honestly Greta loves her job and like Hiccup an awful lot, he was a lot younger than her so she sort of looked out for him and his personal life. So when seeing this newspaper on her desk this morning her heart sunk more for them than anything.

" i know Greta thank you" if anything Hiccup was happy for her loyalty for coming to show him. She saw he was busy tidying up the spilt drink as he answered.

" shall I get you a refill sir?" He saw the sympathy in her eyes when she spoke, so with a smile he just nodded, letting her take his mug while he still dabbed his desk.

" shall I delay all meetings till further notice?" This was why he loved her as a PA! She knew exactly what he needed before he did, knowing that his personal life would be the talk of every conversation he would need to get his head round it.

" thank you Greta, really for everything" with that said she gave him a small smile before heading out without another word leaving her boss to stare at his computer with mixed emotions. On one hand he wanted to throw his monitor threw a window, another was terrified for if Astrid had seen it and how devastated she will be.

Xx

Lunch had never been so long.

Her lesson dragged of course all she could do was look at her phone over and over on updates on 'Mr Haddocks new squeeze!' Or avoid questions other students asked wondering who it was.

But now was worse, sat inside a small cafe her five friends huddled on a table along with three girls from the running society, Aya being one of them. And of course the main topic was the front page cover.

Her eyes couldn't look up but when they did she would notice Thugs not leaving her. She was positive he knew, by the way he sat just staring at her. He was sat beside Aya and all she could do was go on about it, she was obsessed with the popular families of the archipelago and loved the Haddocks, in fact she was nearly as bad as Ruff but she wasn't saying anything about this, for obvious reasons.

" it's obviously a student" Sasha said, she was a friend of Astrids on the running society and had a small crush on Bear so always hanged out with them whenever.

" no I'm not sure, what would a billionaire like Haddock be doing fucking a student?" Bear argues for he believes he knew that the girl was some model of some kind. " I mean she's hot you can tell from the pic, fit body, it's obvious she's some model, I mean if I were a billionaire I'd be wanting to fuck a model too"

Her ears were bleeding, her whole body felt like it was shaking and her throat was literally ready to be sick, that's how ill it made her. Ruffnut's hand landed over hers while under the table, it was small but it was something to distract her.

" well if it is a student I'd be fucking disgusted!" Tanya, another runner sat next to Sasha, the two could be twins with their exact brown hair colour and eye makeup. " I mean he's an ambassador, he technically has shares in this university, and he's fucking a student, it'd be like a tutor sleeping with a student" her insides twisted as she spoke, she was going to be sick, she was going to be sick!

" technically it's not illegal!" Fishlegs spoke up and her stomach calmed for a second. " I mean if she is a student then she's a consenting adult and so is he" for the second she could have kissed Fishlegs, loved him, as he sat nervously after speaking out, but she lived in that single moment ... till it got ruined.

" yeah but it's still wrong" Thug spoke out, however his stare still never left her, her whole body froze as he spoke, but his eyes never left her. " he could be manipulating her, making her think he's what she wants while he gets what he wants. In her pants!" Now she was furious, she should be allowed to stand up for her boyfriend but keeping them a secret was top priority, so she held her tongue, biting down on it till it bleeds.

" dude I'm telling you it's a model!" Bear once again took control of conversation, drawing them all back to her unauthorised pornographic photo that was leaked everywhere. " Tuff you agree with me don't you?" He dragged Tuffnut in now who was sitting quietly before in between Bear and Fishlegs.

" yeh I mean I think it is, I mean Bears right who would you rather, a model or a student? Cause I know who I'd go for." For some reason the two were for sure that it was a model Hiccup had sat on his lap, but if it drew them away from her she'd take it.

" see!" Bear once again held court going back on Tuffs comment, " it has to be. I've been with a lot of women at this uni for the past 3 years, I'd know if this lady was a student by just looking at her, I'd know even if she was stood right in front of me" he sounded so sure, and if Astrid had known for a fact he was wrong she might have believed him. But in fact the girl they were looking for wasn't in front of them, but sat beside them trying her upmost best to bury her head in the sand.

" well I don't care who it is" now Aya spoke up, she had sat quietly letting the others have it out with what they thought. " however I know that if it is a student that explains a lot of things" Astrid at this point shut off from what her friends where saying, she was too busy biting her nails and listening to Ruffs quiet words of making sure she was okay, she didn't even notice Aya taking casually to the boys, Thuggory in particular.

" like what?" He asked taking his focus of Astrid for a moment when becoming intrigued with what she had to say.

" only a few things really, like the large donations at the beginning and seeing him more around the campus. But mainly at the Dreadfall ball, I saw him with some ambassadors at the bar but I could have sworn I didn't see his name on the list of supervisors." While the others switched on Thug became more invested in where this was going. He turned to face her completely, compelled to hear more.

" what was he wearing? A burgundy reddish suit?" He remembered seeing a man of his height that night, but he hadn't put two and two together till now.

" yes he was, but that was my first thought about it really, the next was I have a friend in Stockholm who messaged me on Hogmany day saying she saw Hiccup Haddock climbing into some taxi with a blonde" Thugs brain went into action, the clogs clicking together as it all made sense, Dreadfall, Snoggletog, Hogmany and Valentines! It was all making sense. He felt stupid really but then was more furious to say the least. As he turned to see what the other party might be thinking when he went to look for Astrid she was gone, and so what her blonde crazy friend.

Astrid left as soon as possible, she slipped away with Ruff when people were busy with something else, she couldn't breath in this suffocating place. Right now she needed to get this sorted, she needed it to go away, and there was only one person she knew who could do that. " I have to go, I have to go to Hiccups office"

" what? Now?" Ruff stumbled after her as she walked into her design building and headed straight for photography. " Astrid what about your lessons? You're just gonna up and leave in the middle of the day?" Where as Astrid could see where her bestie was coming from she didn't care at that moment.

She barged through the double doors of her photography studio, it was a large high ceiling roof so it made a small echo, the room was empty though so she casually walked in with no one to question. Ruffnut however still scrambled behind her, some what trying to make her friends see sense that leaving now wouldn't be the best option, that it would make people suspicious of her.

" I don't care Ruff, I need to get this story off the internet off the front covers and the only person I know who has that power is Hiccup!" She shovelled her stuff off the desk in her bags, throwing them one by one on her shoulder.

" okay fine then what are you gonna tell everyone else why you had to leave so abruptly?" Ruff still thought this was a bad idea, she knew how students loved to gossip and if she wasn't careful Astrid could be the topic of their next gossip.

" I'll write an email explaining I was ill, I have been feeling sick, I feel dizzy? Something along those lines" she gathered her stuff on her shoulder and in her hands, the only thing now that stood in her way was Ruffnut.

" you know if you put those symptoms in an email they are all gonna think you are knocked up or something" with arms crossed and eyebrows raised Ruffnut had a fine point.

" you're right, I'll lose the dizziness and just say I was feeling sick, food poisoning!" With that she walked past Ruff quickly, but not quickly enough as Ruff was on her heels following her through the halls of her building. Astrid loved that her friend cared but right now she just needed to see Hiccup, she needed him to tell her he was going to sort it, that everything was going to be okay, even if deep down she knew it was bullshit, she just needed him to say it so she'd feel somewhat better.

Ruffnut pulled her to a hault just before they exited the front doors of the building " Astrid are you sure you wanna leave now, I don't trust that this 'she's some sort of model' crap is going to last. The majority believe it's a student, and with you leaving isn't that just solidifying it ?" Again her friend made good points, but it still didn't stop the pit feeling in her stomach, she needed that to be lifted, and it wasn't going anywhere if she stayed here.

" look I know what you mean, but I have to go, I can't stay here listening to people go on about my naked body plastered for all to see! And there are hundreds of blondes in the university, I'm not betting that one of them notices it's me, not yet anyway." Ruff knew that there was no convincing her to stay, she had put her foot down and there was no going back now. She'd known this from living with her for 3 years now, sometimes Ruff could change her mind but that was usually when she got Astrid intoxicated, other than that Astrid was like a brick wall, very hard to move.

So she shrugged knowing it was best to leave it and let her friend do whatever, at the end of the day it was Astrid's life not hers. " okay, I'll make an excuse for you if anyone ever asks - and yes" she butted in before Astrid did, " I will avoid Thuggory at all costs" with a huge smile of her face Astrid hugged Ruff with what arms she had left. She couldn't help but thank the gods for this marvellous friends she had got, if it wasn't for her University would have been a completely different experience.

" I love you!" She squeezed as much as she could with the bags still wrapped around her body.

" yeah yeah, go on"

Watching as Astrid ran through the doors, probably heading to the closest bus stop that will take her to Haddock Industry, Ruffnut contemplated on getting fully invested in her best friends relationship as technically she already was. Those two owed her a meal out for all the secretaries she's been keeping, or in Haddock's case a brand new fucking car!

Xx

Yet again Astrid found herself sat on a dusty bus, the seats smelling like they hadn't been washed since the 70's. They were that bad Astrid's eyes would twinge every time she got on one, the dust flying up in the air every time she sat down. She couldn't wait for the day she'd never have to get on one of these again. That day she'll host a fucking party!

People watched as she lay all her photography stuff over the seat next to her and the floor space with her feet, another thing she hated about busses, nosey swines that think they can judge her on her business. The road to Haddock Industry was about a 10 minute drive if there was no traffic, but this was the city centre of Berk, there was always traffic!

From where she sat pressed against the window she could see Hiccup's building from here, it was one of the highest buildings along with a Hilton hotel and the Forest Hotel, a building she could now say she was very familiar with. She always like to spot his building out, she someone felt invested in its success because it was Hiccup's success. She knew all about it, Haddock Industry main factor was it's Haddock Energy branch, it was the largest branch of the Haddock's empire. Their clean energy was not only branching out around the Archipelago but it was now going world wide, which put a huge smile of her face when she saw how excited Hiccup was when talking about it. But not only did Haddock Industry have an energy branch, they were invested in a lot of things, property of course, since the Haddocks literally own the land they walk on they had control over what was built and where. They'd sell land to anyone who wished to build on it but with an agreement that the land was still Haddock owned, Haddock Industry also worked along side with Bogburglar Construction, again she didn't question cause this was Hiccup but sometimes she wished he didn't work with his ex's family's business, just felt off to her.

Anyway the company was split into 12 departments give or take. The first department includes Human Resources and Personnel as well as Haulage too, then on the first few floors when walking into the building. It was in the name really, this department was head of employment and dealing with staff problems, in other words if anyone had a problem they would come here. Which means Hiccup wasn't constantly bombarded with questions. Haddock Haulage was another branch too like Haddock energy that came under the name of Haddock Industry, but anything like parts for energy and electric was through Haulage and so was Interior too for the land and property. The next department is Marketing and advertising, Hiccup made sure Haddock Industry was known for their work through the amount of marketing they do. Haddock Marketing was also good for when new buildings were being build or new housing plots, with the name Haddock Marketing the asset was bound to be noticed. After that the following department is Accounting and Finance, this is the department Hiccup works with a lot, he likes to keep track of what's going out and what's going in, he has to make sure profits are being made with every sell and deal. This department also helps in splitting wages for staff from each department, basically gives Hiccup a less harder job. The department after that was Geographical - this department kept track of all projects and branches that went world wide, she knew of course that her boyfriend kept track of them all mainly but the Geographical department had all the ins and outs of the contracts ( the boring stuff as Hiccup would say).

The next department is one Hiccup at the moment is completely wrapped up in, Energy and Electrical, also known as Haddock Energy, with the big energy tower project costing billions this department was particularly run off its feet. Astrid avoided that section at all cost, too many people, to many questions. The next department was one Astrid personally tried to avoid for the same reason Hiccup did, Interior and Architectural Construction, or more like the department that worked along side Bogburglar Construction. Anything and everything that had to do with construction, land and/or property was through this department. However even though the two avoided it due to personal reasons, Haddock's Architecture was very important to the company. Like it's known the Haddocks own every inch of this Island and some islands surround it, architecture was a main source of planning and development when branching out to a modern world.

Before the next department there was a section for food and dinning as well as a small nursery paid by the company. Hiccup gave a lot to his staff as he hoped they would work hard for him since he paid their wages. But he was very fair with his employment, he didn't care if the employee was male, female, parent or not, as long as they did their job. But if they were parents, and for some reason child care was the problem they're have to come to their supervisor and/or Human Resources and apply for a place for their child/children to get in the company's nursery. Quite clever really, that way his employees weren't skipping off earlier than necessary.

Production was the next department after that. Astrid didn't really hear about production, it was kind of kept quiet really, but basically production was making sure all product plans whether it was to do with land or energy or electricity, production made sure it was met on time. The next department before reaching the final department was all about Research and Development, or as she said R&D, basically any project or branch Haddock Industry took, this department would research into it and make sure there was a developing interest for Haddock Industry. Further more if there was a future project like the one Hiccup is working with now, the R&D would be the department to teach down every little bit of detail going towards it.

The final department is of course where all the magic happens, since this department was Hiccup's domain. As well as being the department the security run from, Head office, along with the main conference room and PA offices like Greta's was included in this section, where all the big hard decisions came from. And all made by Hiccup! Anything that was run through the company it had Hiccup's go ahead first, and this was probably months worth of decisions in a conference room with board members. The board was made up from 12 members, Hiccup being the top one, the following 10 was the heads of all his departments and finally the empty chair at the end, this chair was for anyone Haddock related to come sit ( at Hiccup's request) to offer an opinion to the Family company. Mainly that was Stoick, but his mother had been one to join before as well as Gobber, even though he was a Belch, he was family at heart.

That was the Makeup of the famous Haddock's company, people would die for the information she had, but no one knew, well for now no one knew. The buss stopped at Haddock Industry bus stop, a stop many people would get off for if they worked here. She would get off many times in the past 9 or so months, but something was different about this time. For when the bus does closed behind her and went on it's way with its journey, from behind it revealed the mass amount of journalists with cameras flashing and live recordings being taken outside the made doors of Hiccup's building. The security team kept them from entering but that didn't stop them from spotting every person that entered and exited the huge building. And their main interest, Blondes!

She was so screwed, there was no way she could get through that without her picture being taken, and once that her face is released it won't be long till one of her classmates or friends start putting two and two together. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

A loud engine from her right caught her attention pulling her eyes from the crowd. A dark blue Aston Martin Vanquish pulled you in front of her, beautiful car, she recognised the model from when Hiccup was looking at getting one and replacing his Audi. However when he went for a Black Lamborghini Huracan EVO, so that begged the question on who this was?

The window pulled down to reveal Heather all done up with a head scarf and sunglasses in the drivers side. " Get in before they eat you up alive" she nodded at the reporters and journalists all scratching for a bit of news on who the secret blonde was. So she nodded and climbed in to the right side taking up the raven lady's offer.

" thank you" she said as she climbed in as quickly as possible with all her bags. She closed the door as soon as there was room and looked to see if anyone noticed a blonde girl climbing into a blue Aston Martin right in front of the 'billionaire bachelor's building'.

" no problem, I know the look of a girl in trouble, and trust me I've been in the limelight of cameras in my time growing up, those bastards are hard faced" Heather drove off taking a turn to her right which took you to the under ground parking lot for Haddock Industry. For some reason she had a pass that got you straight in. It was true Heather must have been in the 'limelight' as she called it, over in Berserker island a girl named Heather Berserker got your attention, plus her family was in land which meant giant bank balance. Hiccup had mentioned how they were into Hotels and apartment blocks, wherever they could buy land they would whack a building up to make profits. Berserker hotels were usually found on A) Berserker Island of course and B) an island called Dragons edge.

Dragons edge was an island owned by the Berserker family, they bought it off the Haddocks back in the 1920's to build hotels and apartment blocks on it. Dragons edge was set out similar to Berserker island. Berserker island had a small city, but smaller than Berks, and had one large town and one village, it was mainly for retirement, quiet and peaceful. It's why Heather came to Berk a lot. The rest of the land was made for hotel resorts and apartment blocks for vacations.

Dragons edge was just like that but a bit smaller, they had no city, just a large town for shopping, it had small villages for residents but the lot of the land was once again used for hotels. However Hiccup did mention that there was an academy called dragon academy for students with learning disabilities.

With that under your families belt the things that would be said in the papers could be unimaginable. Probably why Heather's so use to it.

They pulled up in a parking space just near the elevators. The parking lot was quiet, most people entering was already in work, the next rush hour would be at leaving time. For a moment the two women sat in the car as Heather turned off the engine. " I was lucky you were there to be honest, a little longer and no doubt one of the camera men/women would have noticed me" the thought made her sick to her stomach, the picture on the front cover of every magazine today, everyone staring and drooling all over the image of her bare back with Hiccups arms wrapped around her as she sat upon his lap.

" guest it was just lucky timing" Heather shrugged. She opened her door indicating Astrid to do so herself, both climbing out together. Astrid less elegant than Heather with all the bags she had to carry.

" bet I can guess why you were here in the first place" she spoke as she locked her car, watching as the blonde struggled with her bags.

" you saw the papers then?" She flung them over her shoulder a bit amused look on her face.

" yeah, it's why I'm here really, wanted to look in on him, this stuff really grates him - do you need a hand?" While the two walked over to the elevators Heather noticed Astrid struggling with all her bags. She had offered her help but the blonde still shook her head.

" no it's fine, and that's why I'm here too, the last thing I thought I'd see today is my picture like that all over a magazine. And I know Hiccup and the press don't go well together, there are comments all over the internet claiming it to be Cami, I saw it on the bus" the elevator pinged, and the doors opened, letting the girls walk in slowly.

" that Bogburglar bitch always seems to get where gas's wouldn't, anywhere to get her name on the front page of something" as the doors shut behind them Astrid watched as Heather pushed the button for the top floor. It was now that she got a good look at her boyfriend's close friend, in how glamorous she looked. The pale silver headscarf had be left in the car, letting her long raven hair dangle down her back in a slick back ponytail. She had her Chanel cat eye sunglasses pushed on top of her head, the Gant trench coat wrapped tightly over her body to show off her figure. It covered her top, whatever she wore, but what Astrid could see she was wearing leather black pants. Something only Heather Berserker could really only pull off. She had creamy Valentino's to finish off, she was as Astrid put it, a picture of wealth. She knew when her relationship finally came out she would come to Heather on how to be socially appreciated with the Haddock family and all the people that came with them.

The next thing she knew the doors were opening on Hiccup's floor with a ding, bringing her back into the room, " yeah tell me about it" she was ushered out of the elevator by Heather, through the familiar halls of Hiccups top floor knowing which turns to take without getting noticed.

When they got to the CEO's wing she felt a huge weight being lifted off her shoulders, especially when she saw the face of Greta, Hiccup's PA. She stood up immediately when she saw the two walk in, her eyes faulted when she saw Astrid, straight away the blonde knew the older woman had seen the image. Without saying anything before Greta spoke, " he's in his office, it's all clear for the rest of the day" which meant Astrid would not be disturbed by anyone interrupting them.

She thanked her quickly before rushing in the direction of Hiccups office door with all her bags still hanging off her shoulders. Heather trailing behind her walking very elegant un like the blonde.

From Hiccups point of view he didn't know what to except when his office door burst opened and a blonde blurred figure rushed into the room, before he had time to register Astrid had already thrown her bags to the side and was making her way to him with Heather hanging round the door. He got up from his swivel chair he was previously sat on after having a heated conversation with the news company that had posted at appalling picture of him and his private life. For some reason they didn't give a damn of the consequences, which only infuriated him more.

When he saw Astrid walking towards him he could believe how quickly his anger just lifted. Meeting her half way he wrapped his arms around her small frame, squeezing her tight as she buried her head into his chest and shoulder. She hadn't realised it till now but she needed this hug, this embrace that only Hiccup could give. This whole situation was a messy, she felt violated by the blurred picture of her bare back for all to see, the lump in her throat just kept getting bigger and bigger she couldn't contain the small tears that escaped her eyes, especially when it came to feeling safe within her boyfriends arms.

Hiccup looked up from where his face was once buried into Astrid hair, he saw heather smiling at the two, she honestly felt so happy her childhood friend was finally in a relationship he deserved. He mouthed a 'Thank you' to her knowing she had a hand in getting Astrid into the building unseen. She gave a simple nod to let him know she appreciates his thanks. " I'll let you two talk, it looks like you need it"

She left without another word, leaving the two to have their heart to heart. Hiccup rubbed her shoulders over and over as she let out a small sob here and there, " hey, you okay?" It felt a bit bitter sweet asking that, she probably felt how he did, sick to his stomach, angry, humiliated. He maybe use to the random pictures of him on the local news paper or the front of a magazine, but this time was different, for one he was in the private property of his own home, and two it was of both him and Astrid in a very private intimate moment, and well nude. It was an embarrassing feeling.

" how did this happen?" She pulled back to look up at him. " I thought it was a private location, I thought no knew about it. How - how can they even show an image like that, surely there are rules!" He felt her slip from his grip, though he was questioning it himself, how did someone know they would be there, in that exact position, someone talked.

" I don't know Astrid, really I don't know what to say, I've been racking my head round it over and over but I don't understand it myself. The news company are convinced they did nothing wrong, and are willing to go to court which could cost us both millions. I just wanna know who talked, wanna know who told them exactly where we were" he sat back down on his swivel chair not knowing what to say to her. He promised he'd protect her from this world and now this happens, so much for his word.

She walked over to him, feeling exactly the way he felt, climbing onto his lap loving how he instantly wrapped his arms around her. " you think someone talked?" She watched as he shrugged his shoulders. " you don't think any of your friends, our friends would do that?" A smile appeared on his face when she said 'our friends', she had made close friends through him, Heather, Eret, Snotlout. He'd even say she'd gotten close to not only his parents but Gobber too, the two for on like a house on fire when they were together, teasing him of course.

" no I don't think they would, but I definitely think someone did, I just have to figure out who" he had a list longer than his arm of people who had the resources to tear his reputation - his family's reputation - to the ground, the question was, who? He looked back at Astrid, her face filled with concern, talk about feeling out of depth, she felt she was drowning.

" hey, what you feeling? Are you processing all this?" Even though her head nodded to his question, her eyes told him something different, she was terrified, drowning in this situation they were both stuck in. He feared this for her, feared that something like an image on a magazine - in this case a basically nude image - would destroy everything they had. The media can destroy the strongest of people, and there was no doubt in Hiccups mind that Astrid was one of the strongest, but they break something much more deeper inside.

" I - I don't know, you should have heard them today, students, what they were saying about me" his eyes narrowed a little.

" about you?" As far as he knew no name about the blonde was mentioned, did she know something he didn't.

" well about the girl, but basically me. They were just talking about me like i was a piece of meat dangling on the end of a stick," Hiccup felt his blood boiling at the thought of the things that were being said. The feeling in the pit of his stomach felt like it was sinking into his whole body making the anger build up into rage. " they were basically talking about me like I was a porn star on the front of a magazine, like I wanted my picture on there. While I was sat right next to them feeling like I wanted to throw up on the table."

He knew where she was coming from, how she was feeling, he saw it in her eyes. She basically had her body revealed to the entire archipelago, to her friends - even though they had no clue yet - her privacy was exposed for all to see. And it was his fault. He promised her from the start he'd protect her from that part of his life till she was ready for it, and yet now the entire island, entire archipelago was gunning for his girlfriends face so they could expose their secret relationship before they could announce it themselves.

He listened as she carried on, his guilt building up every second, " they were going on and on about how disgraceful it was if an ambassador of the university was fucking a student, like it was basically a teacher fucking a student"

" hang on it's not illegal for me to have a relationship with a student, I just fund the university, I'm not a teacher there" it was making out that they were just having a sexual relationship, no feelings just sex, well it wasn't that, and he was not some dirty pervert praying on a young blonde beauty, he loved her, and he'd scream it from the roof tops if he could.

" so if you had the chance, you'd tell the people at the university about us?" She questioned it with a raised eyebrow, would he not be embarrassed to introduce his orphan previously homeless student girlfriend to all his richer friends.

" hell yeah!" He scooped her up within his arms making her fall into his chest even more as she giggled uncontrollably, " I'd scream it from the roof tops the minute you give me the go ahead" she still laughed into his neck and jaw. " I love you Astrid Hofferson, and I don't want to hide that, I never have" it was true, all those month ago back in June he said he didn't care about what people think, that he felt deeply about her and wanted to tell the world if he could. But it was her who wanted to keep it a secret for her own reasons, and now she was questioning him about it. She felt hypocritical.

" I'm sorry, for making you keep this secret, for asking you not to tell your family and friends for months, I'm sorry" she never got use to apologising, cane with being on the streets for five years, you learn not to feel sorry cause you're in survival mode. But three years here, in her home she had learnt not stop being on survival and learn to be a normal human being. Which meant apologising when being in the wrong.

" don't be sorry, I'm sorry, I promised you I'd protect you from this, all of this is my fault, I should have known." He was kicking himself for being so stupid, he missed something was too distracted with it all that was going on, he should have been more careful.

He felt her hand brush his hair slowly out of his eyes, " it wasn't your fault Hiccup, you couldn't have known that anyone who we didn't trust knew we were there. And let's be honest we got this far, it was bound to come out eventually right" he had to laugh at the irony of it, they knew they were working on borrowed time these past few months. But neither he or she would have wanted their little secret to unwind this way, with their partly nude image plastered all over the magazines and newspapers.

" never the less, my promise still stands, I'll protect you" a smile appeared on her face as she looked down on him, she crawled up his lap slightly resting firmly on his groin.

" oh Hiccup, my knight in a tailored suit" she got a small humorous laugh out of her side joke, it's what made them so good together, they had the same sense of humour. Her snarky remarks weren't over yet as she was already coming up with a few things to say about how she didn't need protection. That was till something caught her eye on his desk, a sheet of paper peering out from under all his paper work.

Before he knew it she leaned over and snatched it from under the pile, " oh no that's nothing!" But it was too late for him to try and get it from her, she had already seen. It was a detailed drawing, of her, from the waist up! She knew he was a talented drawer, she had seen his drawings before, but this one was very intimate, the way she looked, the way her arms were positioned seductively, the way he paid close attention to the detail of each breast. He'd drawn it from memory that was obvious, she hadn't posed for him like this, so he must have done it from memory.

It was strange to think he actually remembers every little detail from the way her smile creates little creases in the corners of her mouth,to the shape of her button nose. She didn't need to worry that he'd one day forget her when he went away, apparently an image of her was cemented in his head. " like I said it's nothing, just a drawing" he tried to take the picture away from her but she snatched it back keeping it still in her hand, amused look on her face.

" ah ah, is this what you do when you miss me? Draw intimate images?" He saw her seductive smirk appear through the corners of her mouth.

" maybe" his hands wrapped around her smoothly.

The piece paper was dropped to the floor, Astrid's smile was growing by the second, leaving Hiccup wondering what she was thinking. The next thing he knew she was lifting her jumper over her head to reveal her bare chest, she'd opted for a bra free day, and now her bare breasts were on show, as clear as the ones Hiccup had previously drawn in the image that was now on the floor. " why have a picture when you can have the real thing?" she was a different women today than she was a year ago, so confident in herself, all thanks to Hiccup having the confidence in her, in the first place.

He was at first astonished, she was beautiful, his was in a trance by how beautiful she was. 'Divine beauty' it don't even compare when you saw Astrid in real life. She was perfect in every way. But then reality hit, his beautiful goddess of a girlfriend was sat firmly on his lap, half naked, turning him on by the second, and his office door wasn't locked. " Astrid! Someone could walk in!" He pulled up against his clothed chest, her breasts hidden in his shirt and tie with a bundle of giggles.

" let them! Unless you want to stop?" Her hand hovered over his tie and she slowly untied it, her mouth just wandered over his lips, over and over kissing him with such passion and heat. She was intoxicating, and he was completely under her control.

" miss Hofferson, you'll be the death of me" she kissed him again, and again, over and over with the two giggling between the gaps of breath.

" gods I hope" she whispered as she pushed him further into the chair, lips not leaving his, and letting his hands run all over her bare back.

xx

Berk's docks always seemed quiet and calm at this time of night, the boats all tied up, rocking against the side as the tide pushes them against each other. Nate looked down at his watch, 8.46 pm, the damn lady said shed be here by 8.30! He hauled his camera bag over his shoulder from where he had previously left it resting on the floor. Shooting nervous looks over his shoulder to sudden sounds. Ever since his the newsagents published his picture he was getting the sense he was a wanted man from people in high places. They say the Haddocks had the opportunity, money and means to make people disappear, and as a young man his late 20's he didn't want to find out how good they actually was at that. No prize money was worth this, he would take the next boat to the main land and go from there, he didn't care where but he wasn't willing to cross paths with a family like the Haddock's.

There was a sound of a cough coming from behind, he jumped with such terror he nearly lost his camera to the depths of the waters. " someones jumpy" the lady stood casually, wrapped in a thin coat, a baker boy hat to cover the majority of her face from prying eyes. Nate seemed to relax a bit when he realised she was the one he had been waiting for.

" Well you would be when you probably have a bounty on your head" he looked over his shoulder once more, no doubt thinking he could be shot or something drastic like that. The girl only laughed with amusement at the thought, he thought the Haddock's were some sort of mafia of the Archipelago.

" Don't be do dramatic!" She took a few steps to the left of him, sitting on a bench that was near the sea edge. Nate waited till she patted beside her before taking a seat.

" You're late" he said, not much confidence in his voice, she was one of them you see. The rich! Camicazi Bogburgalar she had a lot of friends that could make him disappear just like the Haddock's did, and she'd have the means to do it too, she was known as ruthless and working for her was a danger in itself.

" I had a job to do, but don't worry, I'll make it worth your while" pulling out of her inside pocket she held a brow this envelope filled with cash she had promised Nate. It was her idea you see, she told him the place, the time, the perfect point to sit and wait, she wanted the shot of Hiccup Haddock and this girl he was this, only thing was he didn't get the picture everyone wanted, the one with her face. But that was her plan, not to get the face, but to open a small can of worms and watch as the mess gets larger and larger.

She handed it over, him excepting it reluctantly, " I've also put in a little extra for the hassle" she was so cold and hard face. This was a business transaction, a disgusting one he might add, he needed the money, and she sorted him out.

His mother was on the main land, he medical bills were turning into debt, she fixed on him like glue, telling him she could sort his problems for just a few little photos. She gave him the time, place, told him where he could sit and weight till the two came in view, she wanted a picture that shown the young Haddock CEO but the girls face had to be hidden. He wasn't stupid, he knew who the girl was, a student no less at the university, but she was paying for his silence too. But even if she wasn't, he would have said anything, Nate just wanted a quiet life, leaking something like a name would ruin his life that he knew, but when Camicazi gave him thei deal, the money was hard to say no to.

" can I just ask, why all of this for pictures that only give questions and no answers, everyone now wants to know who the blonde girl is and yet you didn't want me to show that?" Her eyes were fixed else where, she wouldn't look at him, like he was below her. Which he was, she was a lady and he was her pawn.

" I want to be a grenade, and I want Hiccup to see me tick before I explode. Her identity will come out eventually, I just want to have my fun first. Just wait and see, there is more to come" she wasn't right in the head this girl, from what Nate could make out she was on a revenge path with the heir to the Haddock empire.

For once Nate felt bad for Hiccup Haddock, for he wouldn't wish this girls wrath on anyone. By the looks of it she would bring his whole world crashing down and all Nate could do was pray to the gods, for Camicazi was coming for the one and only - Hiccup Haddock!