Chapter 20 - From The Moment I Met You ...

( Friday 11th June 2021 )

Three years worth of hard work, three years worth of time and effort, all to be done and dusted by today. Astrid walked the pedestrian street of her city campus looking at the place she had called home for three years. It was a sunny day, the temperature hitting 22/23 degrees, good day to be wearing a tank top and shorts. This year had been a tough one, with hiding a relationship, getting through finals and trying to figure out her family's secrets. But today of all days she was going to enjoy, for she was finally free.

" Yo Bitch!" Oh she forgot she was waiting for Ruffnut to finish her final assessment. She basically pranced on her, the excitement and relief of finishing, they would get their results till late July and graduation till August but still, today was their final day. " we are officially free women! The world is our oyster, and we are pearls" she had weird sayings but Astrid must having been living with her for too long, cause she actually knew what she meant.

" I can't believe it's done, three years, it's crazy" eight years ago Astrid didn't see herself in the position she was in now, finishing uni, boyfriend, her whole life ahead of her. But as much as she'd die to have her parents back she wouldn't change the events, for if she hadn't have lived the life she had she wouldn't have moved to Berk, and she wouldn't have met Hiccup Haddock.

Of course the next thing on her mind was what next?

" I applied for the internship with Haddock, I mean I'm not saying I'm his favourite but he is dating my best friend" Ruff didn't know it yet but she was a intern for Hiccup come September, Hiccup mentioned it a few weeks back saying as much as she drives him insane, Ruffnut's good with numbers and has a savvy business head on when it comes to it. But she wanted Ruff to find out for herself, let her remember the day she got the email saying she had been excepted.

" I think if I get the internship after that I might go into the family business, help out mom and dad," the Thornston had a mining mill from centuries back, all energy resources could be sourced from there, but with projects like clean energy Ruffnut wanted to help out her family business and do something different, it's why she wants the internship with Haddock industry.

" that's great" Astrid didn't know what she wanted to do yet, she knew she wanted to have a studio but dreaming of it and doing it are two different things.

She felt a nudge in the arm, bringing her back from thinking, " what are your plans Hoff? With you and Mr hotty Haddock?" She couldn't help but feel amused, soon her and Hiccup would be the talk of the island, the talk of the Archipelago, but she hoped for the next few weeks they could just ease her into it, and not throw her into the deep end.

" I don't know yet, I guess I need to talk to him about it" today was the day the young couple were waiting for, when she would be finally done with University, but Hiccup did make a good point about a month ago saying about her graduation, and maybe not making a full announcement till after that, maybe in September or October. For now was the issue of when she would move into his, how they would do it discreetly?

" you excited though? Once you're known as the lady dating the heir to Berk your whole life will change"

She hadn't really thought much on how much her life would change. Would she get trolled? Would people loved her? Or hate her? Would she be excepted? And sooner or later she'd have to admit she was an orphan and that eight years ago she became homeless. She'd have to admit it herself before someone else found out and posted it as front cover news. But then Hiccup told her not to feel ashamed of her past and that him and his family and friends would stand by her when the time comes. But it was still scary the thought of bringing it all back up.

She remembered about 3 years ago when she she made the promise to her dear friend, that she would get off the streets and live the she was meant to live.

Xx

( 3 years ago )

The sunny months were always the best months of the year, especially when you didn't have a roof over your head too keep you warm. Even though the nights were cold they were no where near as deadly as the winter months. Since Stormy died Astrid had been looking for ways to get her and Wrink off the streets, earning some money.

So with her mother's camera she'd take photos of the people she had met throughout her time living rough. Like the dumpster diver gang who they would see making camp near supermarket bins, they claimed that area since they could find thrown away food. Some supermarkets due to regulations if the sandwiches were due to be off date they would throw them out with still in the packaging, that's why they claimed that area, but they were nice people and Astrid always seemed to smooth them over into letting her and Wrink have some food if money had been tight.

Then there was the man in the shop, who had served her for over five years while she had been on the streets, if she had been tight he'd let her off with a free packet of biscuits. She'd take pictures of him in his element, serving customers. And with extra money she saved up by her and Wrink cutting back on food she was able to have her photos printed and able to sell.

It's what she was doing now, sat in a corner between shops, a string of rope hung between the two buildings with paper clips to hold up the glossy card for all to see, it was midday and she had sold three already. She'd sell them at a low price but it was more than begging at least. She missed her friend stormy, she had loads of photos of her, some of which she had sold off. Wrink would be keeping an eye on the camp, but she was only about a block away from him so come lunch she might head back and see if he'd want anything from the shops.

It was already midday now, and she was quite peckish due to only having a plain biscuit and a swig of water this morning. So she started with packing away the photos, careful not to ruin them when sliding them back into the plastic bag. She'd swing her camera bag over her shoulder while taking down the string and clips and placing them in the bag with the photos too. Their camp was under a bridge near the train tracks, the cover sheltered them from the weather but the noise could sometimes be annoying. She made her way through the streets avoiding eye contact with well anyone, Wrink was right, now she was a women she had to be sure no one got the wrong idea that she was up for grabs. But also she hated the dirty looks she got off people, so best to just not look anyway, that way her feelings weren't hurt.

She walked under the bridge and saw her tent in the far corner, out of sight, but when arriving she noticed Wrink wasn't to be seen. " Wrink? Wrink!" She placed her bags on the floor and did a little scout round to see if he was off going to the toilet or something. When she came back it wasn't Wrink who stood at the tent but two men, they were tall and buff, one was covered in tattoos with the other had long shoulder length hair. They spotted her immediately, she didn't exactly blend in, her long blonde hair in a single plait down her right shoulder, she stood out.

" can I help you?" They ignored her questions and communicated between them, Rude!

" is this her?" The man with the tattoos asked the brown shoulder length hair man, she didn't know which one intimidated her more, the guy with the tattoos or the other guy who had sunglasses on and couldn't see his whole face.

" I'm not sure, looks like it could be" they sounded unsure with themselves but yet still took a step closer to her, she immediately took a step back. Were they talking about her? Were they looking for her? She was no one? Was it child services? No, she was over the age of 18, they wouldn't care what happened to her now.

" look I don't know who the hell you are but you need to leave, my friend will be back any minute now, and if he sees you here you're dead. So I suggest you leave. Now!" Her threat wasn't taken seriously, they just took another step closer, causing her to back up to the wall behind her. Now all that stood between her and a quick get away were two large men.

" feisty one, I'd say this is exactly the one we've been looking for" the man who looked like a shaggy dog went to touch her face, but a grunt from his friend beside him caused him to stop, they both look and a once tall tattooed man who stood proud was shoved to the ground by the friend she had warned them about.

" you?" The shaggy man knew Wrink? The next thing she knew he was being punched to the ground like his friend. She had warned them, Wrink didn't like to take prisoners. But the tattooed man got up and was now pulling Wrink off of his mate, she didn't know what came over her, instinct maybe, but the next thing she knew she was on his big wide back pulling at his ears and face. Wrink had protected her for five years, she'd be damned before she'd let him take the fall for protecting her.

However with one shove she was pushed back, head hitting the wall hard. Her vision was blurred from then on, and her head was spinning around in circles. She got images of Wrink pushing the man who was on his back off him, so much so the man with the tattoos hit the same wall she did.

Her eyes went back on Wrink and the shaggy man still fighting on the floor, Wrink throwing in a few good punches, but then there was the game changer. In the corner of her eye, through her blurred vision she saw a reflection of some metal object being pulled out of the mans back pocket.

Her face dropped along with the gut feeling in her stomach. The man held a small but sharp knife, and plunged it upwards into Wrink's gut.

" WRINK!" Her scream echoed through the tunnel as Wrink fell on his back with blood seeping out around the knife that was still plunged into his stomach. So much so a lady who was probably passing by came running their way.

" what the hell is going on?" The two men panicked and made a run for it, shoving past the curious by passer and running down the street. But Astrid didn't care, she jumped over to her friend, her family, hands lunging forward instinctively holding her hands around the knife to hold in the loss of blood. But it was already seeping through her fingers.

" oh my god!" The lady only looked to be in her thirties all dressed up with a red woollen coat and her brown hair pulled back in a bun, she looked mortified to see the old man bleeding out on the floor.

" get help!" Astrid pleaded, " call an ambulance!" She paused for a minute, still looking now at the man before the lady found her phone trying to dial the number.

" shit no signal, I'll be right back!" Astrid could heard the clicking and clacking of the ladies heels along the concrete floor. But Astrid's eyes were stuck on Wrink, seeing her efforts go down hill to hold the seeping blood in. Her eyes were blurred but by tears this time.

" Wrink? Wrink, hold on" he looked completely lost, his eyes couldn't focus but he was trying to say something to her. " shhh it's okay, there should be ambulance coming soon, just hold on okay" she grabbed a scarf from the floor and placed it where her hands were, hoping it will hold in the blood more than her hands. She tried her best not to move the knife still stuck in his stomach which could cause more damage.

" no hospital, to - too late!" He slurred out his words as blood dribbled out of his mouth.

" no - no don't say that, it's going to be fine!" She couldn't lose him, he was her friend, her best friend.

" Astrid look at me" she was too focused on her hands till one of his came up to her face and pressed against her drenched in tears cheek. A small smile rises on his mouth as he looked at her like it would be his last. " you remind me of her"

Astrid couldn't help her tears from falling as she tried to listen to him talk, " who?" She felt him brush the loose strands of hair behind her ear smearing blood on her face. If it was his or the other guys she didn't know but none of that didn't seem to bother her.

" my daughter, my beautiful little girl, she'd be 26 now - my baby" he started to do long blinks, open and then shut, he was giving up and she'd be damned if she'd let him give up.

" no no Wrink hold on okay, hold on!" Just on cue the lady from before came rushing back.

" the ambulance is on its way, it shouldn't take long" it was like music to her ears, but that's still didn't stop Astrid from worrying her friend would give up, or the blood that was now soaking up the scarf she held.

" see, don't give up, the ambulance will be here any minute, you just hold on for me okay." But his blinks were getting longer and she could feel the hot liquid seeping through the scarf. She had to hold on, she had to make him hold on.

" listen to me Astrid, I have to tell you - tell you something - something important about you-" with every breath he took, every word he spoke it was waisted energy, she needed him to focus on staying alive.

" shhh, none of that matters right now, save your energy, tell me later" the tears ran down her face as she had thought the dreaded thought of there might not be a later. With him talking the way he was, she started to doubt herself.

" you need to listen - you need to know why they were here!" He started coughing up more blood, which meant he moved, which meant more damage to his stomach. She tried her best to press hard, keeping the knife in to plug the rest of the damage.

" it doesn't matter! None of it does!" She could hear sirens in the back ground as she cried more, just a little longer, hold on a little longer. The lady behind her was useless, just pacing behind her as now more and more people seemed to be interested in what's going on.

" you are so good Astrid, you need to promise to live your life, promise me - you'll make the best of it," she nodded hearing the sirens get closer and closer, she just needed to hold on and then the paramedics can do the rest. " they will know where to find you now - they will find you, help you, you're- you're not - not sa-" he didn't get to finish his sentence. As the ambulance pulled up on the road, it was like all of a sudden he was gone, his hand went limp to the ground and but it was his eyes that gave it away, half open, half shut, lost to the world with no movement.

" Wrink! WRINK!" She shakes him roughly now not caring about the damage she may cause. Continued to do that screaming his name till she was pulled off him by a paramedic. It was only then did she see two others go over to do CPR. It was no use, he was gone, she felt it in her bones, she'd never see him again, never talk to him, he was her constant while on the streets, her home, she'd lost everything, her parents, her home, her friends, Stormy, and now Wrink. She had nothing left but the camera bag that was still on the floor.

The lady paramedic was trying to talk to her, something about a name, but it fell deaf on her ears. She reached over and grabbed her bag, sitting on the floor beside her tent as she watched a man and a women trying to bring her friend back, until they stopped, knowing what she knew, he was gone.

A single tear rolled out of her eye, holding the bag close to her. What would happen now, would he get buried, who would go? What about his family? Did his ex wife even care to come? She didn't know his family, she didn't even know is real name.

Looking back she thought there was no secrets but there were plenty, he knew those men, he knew something about her, but what she wouldn't know now. " miss?" A lady who looked to be in her mid thirties crouched down in front of her.

" I'm sorry for your loss" Astrid only nodded, the shock had gone to her head as she tried to process what just happened. " can you tell me what happened, the lady over there said two men attacked him?" Again Astrid nodded, completely and utterly in shock. Knowing she wasn't going to get anything out of the poor young girl the paramedic helped Astrid to her feet. " come on sweetie, let's head to the hospital and get you checked out" her hand came to the back of Astrid's head and she hissed, she hit her head harder than she thought. So hard it would lead to her getting stitches.

She remembered that day like it was yesterday, constantly stuck in her mind. She wondered if there was something different that could have happened, but in the end Astrid had to come to the facts that those men would have come looking for her anyway, and Wrink would have always put himself in between her and whatever was coming for her. It was just the kind of man he was. Maybe he did stick with her from the start cause she reminded him of his daughter, but come the end Astrid liked to hope that he come to love her and she was, his friend … Astrid Hofferson.

Xx

She sat on the sofa in her apartment, just looking into thin air, what was weird is she didn't even remember coming home. But Ruff was there, banging around in the kitchen, she must have just daydreamed on the walk home. Memories like that take over her so much, it was such a huge part of her life, 5 years, to some it's nothing but from 15 - 20 it can feel like a life time. It felt like a life time to her, and another three years onto that felt like another.

" hey blondie, what's got you into a day dream, you've been starting into nothing for like 20 minutes? Thinking of hot steamy Haddock sex?" Ruff did that thing with her eyebrows making them dance on her forehead. Astrid couldn't help the smirk appearing on her face at the thought, but no, she went back to serious straight face, joining Ruffnut in the kitchen as she was messing about with pots and pans and a big bag of pasta.

" no, I was thinking about a friend I had on the streets" Ruff immediately showed her interest by dropping all she had and facing her, whenever Astrid mentioned those five years Ruff wanted to know everything, like it was the coolest thing.

" no way you had a homeless buddy, cool, where are they, can you bring them here?" As weird as it may be this was Ruff on her normal days.

" no he died" Immediately her flatmates face dropped of guilt, and maybe pity, that was the thing though the streets were no joke, as much as she took the chance instead of going back to that perverts house the streets were the toughest years of her life. And losing Stormy and Wrink just kind of finished her off. She was lucky a little over a month after the man in the black coat found her and changed her life. She wouldn't have know what another winter would have been like on the streets if she had to now do it alone. She had to admit to herself if it wasn't for her benefactor she probably wouldn't have made it through the winter. It was Wrink who kept her alive, and it was a debt she could never pay back.

" oh shit? How?" Ruff immediately regretted asking that but that didn't stop Astrid from answering it.

" he was stabbed, protecting me" her eyes said it all, she blamed herself, always has, those men were there for her, and Wrink was collateral.

" hey," her hand was grabbed by Ruffnut's softly, " that wasn't your fault, it was who stabbed him who's the one to blame." Astrid wasn't one for hugs, but when Ruff wrapped har arms around Astrid's neck she immediately felt better. Something about a hug just made her whole body just relax and not stress about it.

" thanks, I needed that"

Ruff pulled back but held her shoulders with her hands, " right I'm suggesting a big night out tomorrow, it's a Saturday night, the town will be booming, we'll get the gang together for one last hooray!" Prancing round the kitchen she filled her pan with water, putting it on the hob to boil. " I was going to suggest tonight but Snot's coming over and I'm sure you had a day with a hot Haddock" again Astrid laughed while she helped out Ruff with lunch.

" would you stop calling him that" but she was right, she did want to spend tonight with him, maybe pull on a few strings about how much effort she put into her final exams and how she thinks she deserves a little treat.

" but yeah, I think I will give him a call"

Xx

She paced around her small room as her phoned ringed, sometimes she'd get a little nervous incase he was in a meeting or a business call, but then he always seemed to answer. She would sometimes picture what he might be doing now, was he on his laptop with his glasses on, face all scrunched up and focused but then when her name pops up on his phone does he smile? Was he in a boring board meeting as he called it listening to all the department leaders go on about why their department deserves more funding? Does his face light up when his phone rings and he can get away for ten minutes?

The phone stop ringing, 'hello beautiful, you literally couldn't have called at a better time, I just got out of a meeting with the head of production and he really makes me want to spoon my own eyes out.' She chuckled on the other end of her phone, plonking herself back on her bed. 'but anyway I don't want to talk about him, I want to talk about you and today …'he god damn knew today was her last day, he'd been going on about it for the past week now.

" I'm completely done, I'm free from the student gossip and free from being one of Berks university students, I'm free, freeeeee!" She squealed down the line as she heard laughter from him, it was hard to believe that today was the day they had been waiting for. Yet there was still going to be time till the announcement, probably September time to be sure, but at least now if they got caught there would be no scandal or gossip, well maybe gossip but no scandal. They were free to do as they pleased, no more secrets, it sounded weird to say that, she had kinda started to enjoy it just being the two of them. Soon the whole archipelago will know, and she'll have to except it.

' are you free for a quiet meal tonight, the Black Dragon? Our favourite' so her milking him to treat her had already worked without her even trying yet, oh she was good!

" YOUR favourite, but it sounds completely perfect. " quiet night out sounds just perfect, one step closer to be just normal, of course she'd need to figure out what to wear, though Ruffnut would always be up for helping out choosing a totally respectable yet utterly sexy outfit.

" great how does 6:30 sound for me picking you up?" For once they didn't have to worry about being seen, she could happily climb into his car and not have a care in the world to who thinks of anything. This bit made it so worth the not sneaking around anymore.

" sounds great, I'll see you then!" Keeping to her promise she made to Wrink she was going to live her life and enjoy it, Wrink sacrificed everything for her that day, and Ruff was right she needed to stop blaming herself, and make him proud.

In some weird way she hoped him and her parents were looking down on her, happy she was happy. Knowing that she was loved by someone who was kind and amazing and totally boyfriend material as her mother would say. That her mother would be happy she was following her dreams.

Of course she would never know what they actually think, but for peace of mind it made her feel better to think they might be proud of her, that her family were always with her, at heart.

Xx

" to the most artistic, dedicated, hard working, beautiful, funny, and utterly amazing women I have ever met, no matter comes in August I just know you put your heart and soul into your final project, but I know for a fact you crushed it cause how could you have not" they clinked their champagne glasses together as Hiccup gave his very sappy yet very appreciated speech to her.

" thank you. I did put my heart and soul into that last project" taking a sip of her drink. For the past few months her last project had been a little up in the air of what concept to do, she wanted something beautiful yet meaningful.

" can I now ask what the theme was, you aren't going to make me wait for the exhibition in September are you like everyone else?" She laughed, she teased to everyone saying no one will know her concept till the exhibition, even Hiccup.

" okay fine, I guess I can tell you and only you" she winked seductively, cutting into her evening meal. " it was called Perception, looking at the world through people's lives, senses. While taking a few photos of people in Berk I mainly used the ones I had kept from my time on the streets" his ears perked up on the last part, placing down his knife and folk intrigued.

" you still have those?" He knew she had pictures from her life on the streets, he knew she use to sell them. But she had never let him see them, saying they were a part of her life she had left behind.

" I do, I remembered my old friend and a promise I made to him, so i dedicated my last project to him. Even when on the streets he saw life at its brightest, made people seem less closed off and more approachable. Anyway those photos seemed to capture my tutors eye, she like it" Astrid remembered that day, she was so nervous if it was going to back fire, but her tutor loved it, it was dark like some of her previous work, but it also had a brighter ending.

" well that sounds great Astrid really, now i definitely know you'll smash it " he reached over and took her hand in his. " I'm so proud of you, you're the most amazing and utterly astounding person I've even met, and I'm so lucky to have you" she felt like tearing up, she never got emotional like this.

" Hiccup"

" no really, I know you think you're the lucky one but honestly Astrid I was coming out of a dark place when I met you, and you just gave me that push back into the real world. I love you, so much, I can't actually explain to you how much I love you. I love you so much it hurts thinking about not being with you, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I can't now imagine a world without you in it, I see a future with you Astrid, and with that said," he pulled out a black velvet box from his pocket, and placed it in her hand he was holding, when he popped the lid she saw a ring, a platinum ring with a diamond in the middle and what looked to be tiny diamonds surrounding the band. It wasn't too big that it was tacky, but it was big enough to know it wasn't a cheap ring, though when did Hiccup ever do anything cheap. " Astrid Hofferson, will you do me the honour of marrying me?"

She was completely lost for words, the past two minutes literally came out of no where, and she was completely baffled. She said the word too quickly without properly thinking, but she said it as the breath came back to her lungs…

" what?"