Saturday mornings had always been precious for Hiccup. After the long week of early starts, it was his one opportunity to rise when he felt like it, not when he had to. Provided he didn't receive a call from a devastated family member to tell him their loved one had passed and they needed his help, of course.

This Saturday was no different to any others in that sense. Fortunately for him, his phone had stayed mercifully silent so far but the idea of sleep had fled a long time ago. Lying back in bed with his arm tucked behind his head, Hiccup thought about the week he'd had. Astrid had been a surprising package, a blonde warrior that he could never have predicted or expected. He had no qualms calling her that, for she'd had to fight long and hard to ensure her Uncle Finn's wishes would be the ones respected…not some false ceremony dictated by her other uncle, Heff Hofferson.

He admired her courage and tenacity, her ability to keep on going despite how tough the opposition was. In the time they'd spent together he'd also been witness to her vulnerability, and he felt privileged that she had allowed him to do so. He'd helped many people through the process of arranging a funeral for their loved ones, but never had he felt so drawn to anyone as he did to her.

Hiccup sighed, deciding he might as well get out of bed. Thinking about her was achieving nothing. Once the funeral was over he would never see her again anyway. So he had better get used to the idea now.

Opening the fridge door, he stared at the practically bare shelves searching for breakfast inspiration. It looked like grocery shopping would have to be on his agenda for the day. Being a busy bachelor meant some weeks he was likely to pick up something fast and easy rather than cook, although he still tried to eat healthy if possible.

After a leisurely breakfast reading the newspaper over toast and tea…checking out the funeral notices of course…he tidied up his few dishes before planning what he was going to tackle next. Standing in the middle of his lounge room, he contemplated whether to start cleaning the bathroom or do the vacuuming first when his mobile rang loudly from its spot on the recharging cradle. Tripping over some books on the floor, Hiccup hastened to pick up the phone before it rang out.

"Good morning. Haddock Family Funerals. You're speaking with Hiccup."

"Hiccup?" came a familiar feminine voice.

The sudden surge of warmth he felt at the sound of her voice surprised him, and he found himself smiling like a goofball. He was surely glad none of his over-zealous crew were here to see him, standing in his pyjama pants and singlet top looking like a total grinning fool. He would never hear the end of it.

"Astrid? How are you? Is everything all right?" he asked fairly quickly, remembering to take a breath.

"Uh…yes. I'm fine. I'm so sorry to bother you on the weekend like this. I know you're probably busy," she told him, her voice wavering a tiny bit with concern that she'd interrupted his important private time.

Hiccup glanced around his dishevelled home, knowing that he really needed to clean it. That thought was flicked aside immediately over his preferred option of talking to Astrid instead…without the others listening in.

"No, I'm fine. Nothing that can't wait," he answered with a smile, choosing to sit and nestle into his favourite spot on the couch while he talked.

"You sure? I can call back another time," she offered politely.

"I'm sure. I was only debating which part of the house needed to be cleaned first. You actually saved me from a tragic fate. I was about to split myself in half to see if I could get it done faster."

Astrid laughed, all hesitation gone. "That would have been tragic," she agreed with a giggle. "I'm glad I was able to save you."

Hiccup sighed dramatically. "Thank you. I'm forever indebted to you. Now your every wish is my command."

She snorted. "That was a foolish thing to do…offering to do whatever I wish. The possibilities are endless for all kinds of mischief," she teased.

Hiccup laughed, "I'm sure I'll go along willingly. What was your request today, ma'am?" he asked in a mock serious tone.

Astrid seemed to stutter, abruptly reminded that she had a purpose when she picked up the phone a few moments ago that hadn't involved flirting with a tall auburn haired man.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I, um…I remembered something when I was going through some family photos…and it's rather an unusual request…but I wanted to find out if it was possible first," she asked hesitantly.

Hiccup was intrigued. An unusual request? He'd come across a lot of those in his years as a funeral director. He wasn't sure she could surprise him with hers.

"My uncle was an avid collector of weapons…Viking weapons in particular. I wanted to know if I could bring some in to display."

Okay, so he was wrong.

"Weapons? What type of weapons are we talking about?" he asked, curious about what she had in mind.

"Oh you know…the usual. Axes, swords, shields…that kind of stuff," she answered.

Hiccup thought for a moment, then frowned thoughtfully. Of course he had reservations about the whole deal. Sharp objects at a funeral with Astrid on one side and Heff the other? Things could get ugly real quick.

But he reminded himself that this was Astrid, and she wouldn't have asked if it wasn't important. So he decided to offer an olive branch.

"Sounds interesting, although I'm not too sure about it. Could I maybe ask you to come in on Monday and bring the ones you want to display?" he asked, thinking if he could personally inspect her choices first, maybe bloodshed could be avoided while still allowing for Finn's personal hobbies.

She breathed out a sigh in relief. "Yes, I can do that. I'll bring in Uncle Finn's favourite pieces."

Hiccup raised a brow at this. "His favourites? How many weapons did this guy have?" he asked, knowing he sounded incredulous.

Astrid laughed. "Would you believe he has an entire room stocked with weapons? He didn't just collect them, he also knew how to wield them. We used to go out a few times each year with some friends, and have mock Viking battles. Uncle Finn was the one who taught me how to fight with an axe. I'm very good, if I say so myself," she told him, the pride evident in her voice.

Hiccup smiled into the phone, sitting back and slinging one arm behind his head in a relaxed posture. "I'm sure you are. Although I don't know if I'm brave enough to ask for a demonstration."

She huffed. "If Heff keeps giving me grief, maybe you won't have to ask."

Hiccup grinned. "That's what I'm afraid of."

Astrid laughed, settling back onto her own couch. She had been unsure whether to call Hiccup since it was the weekend, but it had been important that she find out and she hadn't wanted to wait till Monday. Plus, he'd told her to call if she needed anything. Now, sitting here and listening to his slightly nasal tones over the phone, she found herself so glad she had.

"I'm sure we aren't the first argumentative family you've had to separate before," she scoffed.

"No," he readily agreed. "But I would have to say you'd be the first where an axe was involved."

"It doesn't have to be an axe you know. I could just as easily go for a sword…or bludgeon him with a hammer," she retorted.

Hiccup grimaced. "Gruesome."

Astrid grinned, then chuckled. "I suppose I shouldn't be telling you any of this. You'll likely get the idea I'm about to skewer the man and won't let me bring any of Uncle Finn's weapons."

Hiccup told her in a flat tone. "Somehow, I don't think a lack of weaponry would stop you if you were on a vendetta."

She laughed out loud, pleased he'd called her out. "You're right there, I suppose. We must be the worst family…if you want to call us that…you've ever had to deal with."

Hiccup snorted. "You're certainly up there, I won't deny that. But the worst? Not by a long shot."

Astrid was surprised. "We're not? How could anybody be worse than us?"

Hiccup huffed loudly. "You'd be surprised."

It took very little for the two to slip into an easy banter, Hiccup sharing some of the funnier stories…while keeping client confidentiality…that he'd had the misfortune to be involved in. Astrid then told him some of her finer…and some not so glamorous…moments on the battlefield with her uncle. Hiccup laughed along with her at the slip ups she'd been mortified over. She teased him about his, and Hiccup's sharp wit kept her giggling like a pre-schooler.

The more they spoke, the more at ease they became with each other. All good things, however, must unfortunately come to an end, and this one ended when Hiccup happened to see the clock on the wall. He jolted. They'd been talking for over an hour!

He nervously cleared his throat. "Um…Astrid? As much as I've enjoyed your company, I've just realised we've been talking for quite a while."

Astrid must have noticed the time too, for he heard her sharp intake of breath. "Yes…er, it's been a long while. I'm so sorry about that," she apologized.

"Don't be. It's been nice to chat," he assured her, his voice warm and soothing.

He could hear her smiling when she said softly, "It really has been."

"Um…I had better go now. My dust bunnies are reproducing madly and need to be reined in," he said lightly, trying to ignore the beat increasing in his chest.

"Well, that simply won't do," she replied, pretending to be serious. "You'd best be onto those pesky bunnies before they take over."

Hiccup chuckled. "I'll make sure to do that." He paused for a moment. "I'll be there on Monday when you come in," he promised. He had intended to remind her of her original reason for calling, but it had suddenly felt strange to have such a formal discussion with a client that he'd just spent the last hour having a very casual conversation with. Especially when he was still dressed in his stripey pyjama bottoms and a singlet while lounging on his couch.

Astrid seemed to have the same issues. "Um…yeah. Okay. I'll see you then. Thank you for everything…again," she said in a slightly flustered tone.

Hiccup's smile could have been considered a little forced. "No problem at all. It's been a pleasure."

Astrid hesitated. "Okay. Thanks. Bye then."

"Bye."

"Seeya Hiccup."

Astrid finally hung up, but Hiccup remained sitting with his phone clutched to his chest. Rethinking over their conversation, he suddenly wasn't sure if what he'd done was a good thing or not and he found himself more conflicted than ever before. It felt like he had well and truly stepped over the line in his director-client relationship, treating her like a friend rather than keeping a professional distance.

Hiccup frowned at the revelation, feeling sick to his stomach.

What was he supposed to do now?

-oOo-

Monday morning shone brightly, much to Hiccup's disgust. After his quiet Saturday morning when the only phone call he'd received was Astrid, it had pretty much gone downhill from there. He'd taken three more phone calls from devastated families, and had spent most of his time consoling them before bringing their loved ones back to the mortuary.

In between times, he'd managed to do his grocery shopping so he at least had food in his pantry for the next week. Then he'd had to spend time on the computer, updating his website and then starting on his financial records for tax time... before his accountant started breathing down his neck. Every week it seemed to be an endless cycle of paying bills, then recording it all. Fishleg's idea of a receptionist kept popping up, and he had to reluctantly agree it was becoming more of a necessity if he was to have any time to himself.

The work day had started earlier than usual for Hiccup, as he needed to come in and start on the madness that this week was going to bring. Finn's funeral on Tuesday was shaping up to be a major event with the expected crowd of mourners promising to be more than their generous chapel could comfortably seat. He suspected Heff Hofferson was planning on creating further problems so Hiccup had been forced to pull all his staff in as assistants for the day. Something that Snotlout had already started complaining about, since he hated suits.

Thoughts of his phone call with Astrid had been firmly pushed aside under the onslaught of three extra families to spend time with, as well as the funerals already planned for the week plus all the normal background office work that needed to be done. If he found time to breath, he'd be surprised.

Besides, it still made him sick to remember how he'd crossed that invisible line, so it was easier not to. He knew she was coming in this morning, but he was still undecided how to approach her. Maintaining his usual professional demeanour seemed a little cold, but at this stage, it was all he had to fall back on.

Before he knew it, Fishlegs was informing him that Astrid was waiting in the arrangement room. He smoothed down his shirt and tie, then nervously approached the half open door…only to be confronted with the sight of several weapons laid out on the table.

Astrid's head snapped up at his entrance, accidentally knocking an axe to the floor.

"Woah!" Hiccup jumped back to avoid the...thankfully... sheathed weapon.

Astrid gasped, her hand shooting out to push him back.

"I'm so sorry about that," she apologized, her cheeks turning red in embarrassment as she hurriedly bent to pick up the wayward item.

Hiccup subtly picked up each shoe-clad foot, checking for damage. "That's okay," he said, chuckling nervously. "Just rather fond of my toes staying where they are. No biggie."

Astrid was about to say something further, but blinked when she unexpectedly found twin blondes attempting to rush into the room, wedging themselves in the doorway in their hurry.

Hiccup frowned. "Guys! What are you doing here," he hissed.

"Snot said there was weapons, sharp blades and spikes in here," said Tuff in reverential tones, practically drooling as he gazed lovingly over the weapons before him. He didn't know where to look first.

Without asking for permission, he and Ruffnut were already up against the table, touching and caressing the implements with worshipful delicacy.

Astrid was standing to the side, obviously gob-smacked by the actions of the intruders. Hiccup rubbed the back of his neck nervously, not sure how to handle the interruption but also realising he had very little chance of shuffling out the two interlopers until they'd had their fill of what they'd come for. He decided he had better introduce them, so Astrid at least had a head start on their madness.

"Er...I'm very sorry, Astrid. Unfortunately, these two weapon loving bozos work for me. Please meet Ruffnut and Tuffnut. Normally I keep them hidden out the back...except for special occasions.

Tuff turned to the startled blonde warrior with tears in his eyes, "We love you! Can you please marry Hiccup so we can come round and play with your axe and spears?" He was so emotional that nobody would have been blinked twice if the tears had started to fall in large drops.

Hiccup and Astrid glanced at each other, both blushing at Tuff's glib suggestion and the unexpected outpouring of emotion from the dreadlocked man.

Tuffnut didn't notice their reactions, nor did he wait for an answer, turning back almost immediately to the table to gently raise a deadly looking club with a spiked metal head.

"I have dibs on the mace…I loooove Macey," he told anybody who was interested enough to listen.

"Macey?" asked Hiccup, intrigued despite himself.

Ruffnut's fingers danced over the remaining weapons, seemingly unable to make a choice for her favourite, but Tuff was cradling the spiky weapon close to his chest and stroking it.

"It's her name," he spoke lovingly, his eyes full of adoration for the metal object.

"Of course it is," murmured Hiccup dryly, forgetting for a moment about his 'client.' He cast a critical eye over the weapons display but only managed to see in his mind's eye the very detailed hypothetical damage that could possibly be carried out either by his own staff or Astrid herself. It was not a very pretty image, and he shuddered.

"Uh…I don't think we'll be able to have all these weapons on display," he said nervously. "I'm sure it breaks at least several law codes, not to mention my own codes."

Ruff pouted. "Trust Hiccup to be the wet blanket. Come on Tuff, put the weapon down. We have to go," she ordered roughly.

"But…Macey!" moaned Tuffnut despondently when Ruff ripped the weapon from his hands.

"Tuff…we talked about this…remember?" his sister warned. Turning to leave, Ruff dragged a reluctant Tuffnut out of the room, shoving the mace towards a surprised Hiccup. He took it against his chest with a grunt.

It seemed a little quiet after the twins sudden departure from the room, so Hiccup gingerly placed the spiky weapon back onto the table in its original position.

"So…uh, no weapons?" Astrid asked, her expression one of disappointment.

Hiccup couldn't bear to see that look, and he felt himself already giving in. "Maybe one favourite weapon only?" he offered as a compromise.

Her hand shot straight to the axe that had nearly claimed his toes earlier. "This one," she said firmly, thrusting it towards him.

He clumsily grabbed at it, trying not to drop it. Once the handle was safely in his grasp, he sighed in relief to himself. Accidentally removing his own toes didn't sound like a great way to start off a busy week. He set it carefully back on the table.

Glancing over at a clearly unsettled Astrid, Hiccup thought he had better break the nervous tension with an apology.

"I'm sorry I had to say no to the other weapons…especially when I asked you to bring them in. I didn't think they would all be so…sharp," he told her.

She shrugged in acceptance. "That's okay. I honestly didn't think you would give me the chance at all, to be honest. So being allowed to have Finn's favourite axe on display is a major win in my eyes."

Hiccup chuckled nervously. "I think I'll have it firmly secured in any case. Don't want any...accidents...to happen." Whether he meant the twins or Astrid herself, he didn't elaborate.

Astrid nodded. "I have no problems with that. Although, as you said on the weekend, I don't need a weapon."

And there it was. Hiccup froze, not sure how to react. Astrid solved it for him.

She snorted darkly. "Let's just hope Heff doesn't give me a good reason to go after him."

Hiccup chuckled weakly. "Let's hope not."

Astrid frowned, then raised worry-filled eyes to his. "Do you think he could still mess this up for me? For Uncle Finn?" she asked.

Hiccup's heart ached for her, remembering what she was facing. With only one more day before the final event, her biggest adversary still had the potential to undo all that she had worked so hard for. All they had worked for. Without stopping to think about it, he reached forward to give her a supportive hug. She didn't hesitate, wrapping her arms firmly around his middle and seeking comfort in the warmth of his embrace for the few moments it lasted.

Hiccup pulled back, but couldn't find it in himself to regret hugging her when he saw the sense of relief shining in her eyes. Attempting to reassure her with all the conviction he had, Hiccup spoke, "I've got my team primed and ready, Astrid. You can bet we will fight tooth and nail to make it all happen, okay?"

Astrid found herself melting at his words and she relaxed for a split second before a sense of coldness overcame her. After tomorrow, life was going to be so much more lonely without Uncle Finn...or Hiccup...in her life. And she didn't know how to change that.

It wasn't long after that that Astrid left. Hiccup watched her go, thinking that after tomorrow, his life was going to be dull in comparison to the energy that seemed to revolve around her. But he couldn't do anything about it. She was a client, about to say goodbye to her beloved uncle Finn with only the malevolent Heff as her remaining relative. Hiccup knew Astrid had enough complications in her life right now without him adding any more problems for her. There was nothing else he could do, except straighten up and act professional. He had other families who needed his help just as much.

-oOo-

Hiccup couldn't stay focused on Astrid when he had so much work to get through, so it was later in the day while he was engrossed in composing an email to a client that Tuffnut walked into the office. Hiccup barely paid the man any attention as he had another four emails he needed to urgently respond to before his next appointment.

"Hey Hiccup," Tuffnut sang out.

"Hmm?" murmured Hiccup, not diverting from his task.

"How many people do you reckon are dead in the cemetery?"

Hiccup spared his friend a brief glance, but kept on typing. "Umm…a few thousand I suppose? I'm not really sure, Tuff," he answered vaguely.

"I know how many," the lanky blonde told him smugly.

It was a sign of Hiccup's preoccupation, that he didn't even hesitate.

"Okay, Tuff. How many are there, then?" he naively asked.

"All of them," was Tuff's reply.

It took a moment to register before Hiccup caught on. He blinked, then dropped his shoulders with a defeated groan. "Walked right into that one."

Tuff cackled. "Yes, you did. Serves you right for not paying attention."

Hiccup grumbled, going back to his email. "You've been hanging out with Snotlout too much, I think."

"Ah…Snotlout. I knew there was a reason I came in here," Tuff began.

"You had a reason? Apart from annoying me?" asked Hiccup dryly.

Tuff shrugged and grinned. "That's a given. You forget who you're talking to."

Hiccup shook his head grimly, still typing. "Not by a long shot, Tuff. Not at all possible."

Tuffnut cackled, pleased with his notoriety. He was quiet happy to stand and bask in the glow of that knowledge, so Hiccup felt the need to prompt him for his original purpose.

"So what about Snotlout?" he asked pointedly.

"Oh yeah…he's having trouble with the cremator again," came the casual reply.

"What? Why didn't you say that straight away," groaned Hiccup in frustration, getting up from his seat. He had so much work to get through today and this interruption was the last thing he needed.

Walking into the hallway with Tuff on his heel, Hiccup could easily see the thick smoke that was seeping from around the cremator doors and rising up to curl along the ceiling in wispy waves.

Tuffnut had a Cheshire-like grin as held his arms out wide. "Welcome to the smoking section. If you want the non-smoking section, I shall have to redirect you to the cemetery."

Tuffnut waited for Hiccup's reaction to his riddle.

Hiccup remained unmoved, shooting him a flat glare instead.

"Cause nobody's smoking there," Tuff prompted with a roll of his hand.

Hiccup frowned. "I got it. It wasn't funny. Where's Snotlout?" he demanded.

"He had to put a fire out," replied Tuffnut with a casual shrug, at the same time as the man himself appeared around the corner.

"There's no fire," growled Snot irritably.

Hiccup raised a brow and Tuff stared at him in mild horror.

Snotlout faltered. "Of course there's a fire, but it's where it's supposed to be. Not…wherever Tuff thinks it is," he added impatiently.

"Is there a problem?" Hiccup asked quickly, wanting to get to the bottom of this situation quickly so he could either go into damage control, or return to the multitude of tasks that still waited for his attention.

Snotlout shook his head. "No. There was a blockage, but it's all sorted out now."

Hiccup nodded in relief, mumbling to himself, "Good, cause it's so thick in here we could add a couple of strobe lights and start a disco."

Tuffnut perked up. "Now that's an idea."

Hiccup growled, "Reject it," before he went to air out the building from the residual smoke by opening doors and windows, and turning on fans. Snotlout did the same while Tuffnut stood in the middle and pouted.

"Boy, what a stick in the mud. What would your grandfather say if he was alive to see you now?"

"If he was still alive, he'd be wondering what he was doing in a coffin," was the quick-as-a-flash response.

Snotlout snorted. "He got you there."

Tuffnut was unperturbed. "Was your grandfather buried? I wouldn't want to be buried in a cemetery."

He waited expectantly, and finally Hiccup caved. "Why not?"

"Too many stiffs. Hey, did you know you can't be buried if you live within a 40 mile radius of the cemetery?"

Snotlout screwed his nose up in confusion, flapping open the last door. "Why not?"

"Because you have to be dead first," was Tuffnut's triumphant reply.

Snotlout's head thudded against the door, and Hiccup snorted.

"That was just super bad," Snotlout complained. "If you're gonna tell a joke, at least make sure it's a good one."

The two men started to bicker over what constituted a good joke, so it was a relief when Fishlegs stuck his head into the hallway to inform Hiccup his next appointment had arrived. He left the other two to finish clearing out and headed back to the office.

-oOo-

It wasn't long after his last client left, that an old familiar name popped up. Hiccup was filling in a form when the phone rang. Automatically picking it up, he answered with his usual greeting. The voice on the other end was tremulous and wavering.

"Er, my name's Sam. I was given a message to call here and ask for Myra Mains?" the man said uncertainly.

Hiccup blinked.

He smacked his face and sighed quietly, but decided to play along. "Well, we certainly have Re Mains, but I'm afraid yours aren't here."

"Are you sure? I was told to ring this number and ask for Myra Mains," Sam insisted.

Hiccup waited for a moment, to see if it would sink in what the man had just asked for. There was an awkward pause, so Hiccup thought he had better help the man out.

"Can you say that name quickly for me?" he asked, to Sam's confusion.

"Myremains," he said obediently. "Oh….OH….oh, I'm so sorry," he said, totally flustered at being caught out.

Hiccup had to chuckle. "No problems. Happens more times than you would think. Just do me a favour, and don't pass the joke on. Otherwise I'll get another twenty calls and I'm rather busy today."

"Okay, I'm sorry. Bye."

"Bye."

Hiccup put the phone down, still chuckling. Fishlegs looked over, "Something funny?"

"Yeah, Myra sends her regards," said Hiccup.

Fishlegs grinned and shook his head. "That joke still going round, is it? You know, the day I meet someone named Myra, I will probably fall over laughing."

"Just don't do it here, and you'll be good," said Hiccup chuckling.

-oOo-

Hiccup stood up from his seat, arching his back to release the tightness there. It had been a very long day, but he still had two more arrangements to complete before he could go home. Unfortunately, he knew this next family well. It was always an extra special time when his services were called on by friends. The whole process became so much more personal.

The old lady entered carefully through the entrance door, assisted by her middle aged daughter.

Hiccup met them in the foyer.

"Mrs Reynolds. I'm so sorry about your husband," he greeted the elderly lady, his tone reflecting the sincerity and warmth he held for her. Leaning forward to give Mrs Reynolds a consolatory hug, she kissed his cheek fondly. Straightening up, Hiccup offered her his arm which she took willingly.

"Thank you my dear, but don't feel sorry for me. It's a blessing for poor old Frank that he's gone now. He hasn't had much of a life these last few years in that nursing home. Dementia is a cruel mistress," Mrs Reynolds told him while they slow stepped into the arrangement room. She took her time to ease into a chair with the help of Hiccup and her daughter, then sighed in relief once the pressure had been taken off her arthritic hips.

Hiccup held out the second seat for Mrs Reynolds daughter, who smiled at him as she seated herself.

"Thank you Hiccup."

"My pleasure, Rose," he responded with a polite smile.

Hiccup turned his attention back to the elder lady with a touch of sadness in his eyes. "It's lovely to see you again, Mrs Reynolds, but not in these circumstances."

She chuckled quietly. "Yes, we have to stop meeting this way. People are starting to talk. And please, stop calling me Mrs Reynolds. I feel old enough as it is. We've done this enough times now that we deserve to be on a first name basis. Don't you think so, Hiccup?" she asked, her gaze still firm, even if her body was failing.

Hiccup smirked fondly at the straight talking old lady. He'd always enjoyed her company on previous occasions where he'd helped her bury family members.

"Yes Esme. I do. Thank you."

"Don't thank me dear. I haven't paid the bill yet."

Hiccup had to laugh, while Rose rolled her eyes in long-sufferance at her mother's antics.

At the hint towards business, Hiccup pulled his paperwork closer, shuffling through it to see what he needed first. He scanned the sheet in his hand.

"We'll get down to it then. I need you to double check the information we already have for the death registration. Oh! I see Frank was married before?" Hiccup sounded surprised, having heard so many stories about Frank and Esme's life together over the years. He'd always assumed they were sole partners.

"Yes, we found each other later in life after our previous partners died," Esme responded with a small reminiscent twitch of her lips.

"He's not your first husband?" Hiccup asked curiously, feeling bold enough to ask such a question.

Esme shook her head. "No, dear. Frank was my third, bless him. All three of them died in one way or another." She learned forward conspiratorly. "Some of my friends are calling me the 'Black Widow' now. Trying to scare off any prospective suitors," she finished with a teasing wink.

"Do you intend to get married again?" he asked, trying not to sound astonished. Esme Reynolds was on the wrong side of eighty. Not that there was anything wrong with that.

She laughed delightedly. "Oh dear me, no thank you, Hiccup. I intend to live out the rest of my years in glorious widowhood surrounded by my family…if they don't shuffle me off to the nearest nursing home first."

Rose stared at her mother, aghast at such a suggestion. "Mum! We would never do anything like that," she protested.

Esme chuckled, reaching over to pat her daughter's hand tenderly. "I know you won't Rose. But when I become too much of a burden, I fully expect you to drop me off there. I have no problem with those lovely nurses running around after me, bringing me cups of tea and biscuits while I chat with all my friends. If Frank had been in his right mind, he would have loved all that female attention too, don't you worry about that. He was a skirt chaser to the end, my Frank."

Hiccup choked.

Rose was scandalized. "Mum!"

"Oh, don't look at me like that. Frank was a loyal man to the core. He only ever went sightseeing. He always came home for dinner…." Esme glanced sideways at Hiccup, and gave him a saucy wink. "…if you know what I mean."

Hiccup's brows shot up at her words, and he found himself blushing a little.

"Mother…do you have to?" chastised Rose crossly.

Esme waved her hand dismissively. "Oh bosh. Hiccup's a grown man. I'm sure he already knows about the birds and the bees, don't you Hiccup."

Hiccup blushed harder, but tried to keep a straight face anyway. "Um…yes. I believe so."

"There, see? No harm done. Besides, I can't say much about Frank when I'm currently seeing five men every day," she added with a twinkle in her eye.

Hiccup blinked a few times. Rose shot her mother an exasperated look.

"Er…?" Hiccup wasn't exactly sure where to go after that statement.

Esme continued without batting an eye. "Yes. Will Power comes to get me out of bed in the morning, then Billy Tea pops over for breakfast."

Hiccup breathed out a quiet sigh of relief and relaxed. He smirked, waiting for the rest of it.

"…After that, Arthur Ritis shows up and he keeps me busy going from joint to joint. I'm always tired at the end of such a day, but I still go to bed with Johnny Walker. There was another one, who was it?...Oh yes, that's right. Al, he's the last one. Al Zheimer visits every now and again. Usually when I don't want him."

Hiccup chuckled while Rose shook her head, a small smirk showing she'd heard this story a few times before.

"Glad to hear you're keeping busy," he told Esme in a droll tone.

She shot him a look full of mirth. "Cheeky boy," she admonished him with a grin.

Hiccup laughed with great delight. Mrs Reynolds was certainly a treasure.

With Mrs Reynold's sharp wit keeping him on his toes, Hiccup proceeded with the rest of the arrangement. It all went rather quickly as Esme and Frank had pre-arranged their funerals years before. There was only a few signatures required and last minute details to take care of. Once all that had been accomplished, Rose and Hiccup helped the old lady back to her feet and assisted her to the reception. Rose excused herself to go bring the car closer to the exit, while Hiccup held onto the older lady's arm for support while she waited.

Mrs Reynolds thoughtfully eyed off the young man standing patiently beside her.

"So, Hiccup…have you found a nice girlfriend yet?" she asked interestedly. She was old enough to get away with such questions, and besides, she'd known him long enough that she considered him a good friend of the family.

He hesitated, then shook his head regrettably. "No, Esme. I don't exactly get a lot of time to socialize," he replied in a dry tone. "The dead are not too accommodating in that regard."

Her eyes glittered with the scent of opportunity.

"Well, I'm surprised the girls aren't waiting in line for such a nice, handsome young man as yourself," she responded coyly.

"You and me both," Hiccup muttered with more than a touch of irony.

"You know dear… I have three unattached granddaughters you could meet. Well…two at least. The third's just finalising her divorce," Esme slyly told him in a tone Hiccup felt compelled to run from…rapidly in the opposite direction.

"Ah, no, Mrs Reynolds," he began nervously, attempting to refuse without offending the old lady.

"I won't take no for an answer," Esme interrupted with a determined smile. "Dinner, tomorrow night. My house. And don't bring a thing," she told him firmly.

Hiccup began to panic.

"I'm sorry, Mrs Reynolds…" he began again, trying to be polite.

The old lady frowned at his reservation. "You don't want to disappoint an old woman, do you?" she tried to persuade him. "You know, I don't have much time left on this earth and I so wanted to make sure my girls found a nice man before I die."

Hiccup put a hand to his chest, his eyes wide as he fought to find a way out of this situation that didn't involve being emotionally blackmailed by a granny.

"I'm flattered that you think of me as a good candidate for your granddaughters…but I have to confess…I'm not," he told her, trying to keep the desperate tone out of his voice.

Mrs Reynolds was puzzled at that. "You're not? Why not?"

"I…I…," Hiccup cast around the office frantically for any ideas and saw the paperwork for Finn Hofferson. Astrid's name immediately came to mind. "I already have a girlfriend," he blurted out suddenly.

"A girlfriend?" Mrs Reynolds was quite confuddled now. "But I thought you said you didn't have a girlfriend?"

Hiccup's deep shrug was apologetic. "Wellll…we're not official yet. I haven't asked her properly, but we've been sort of seeing each other….a lot actually," he half-fibbed madly, hoping the elderly lady wouldn't see through his bluff. Or that Astrid would ever find out. He didn't think he could run fast enough.

After a lengthy pause where Mrs Reynolds keen eyes were focussed directly on him and Hiccup had to fight the urge to tug on his collar, she finally glanced downwards.

"Oh," she said in a disappointed tone. "I'm sorry to hear that.

She gave a small sniff, and Hiccup felt absolutely terrible. He reached forward to pat her hand where it rested on his arm.

"Tell you what…if it doesn't work out, I'll come to dinner with you and your granddaughters," he offered in consolation.

She gave him a small grin, the twinkle back in her eye. She patted him gently on the cheek.

"Thank you, Hiccup. I always knew you were a good man. But I don't think I'll be seeing you anytime soon. This girl…she sounds kind of special."

Hiccup let his mind wander back to a certain blonde-haired woman who had stolen a lot of his thoughts lately, and his smile held a wistful quality that he didn't know was on display.

"She is," he agreed softy.

"Well then dear, I wish you both the best of luck," said Mrs Reynolds sincerely, preparing to leave when her daughter came back to hold open the door. "Good bye Hiccup. Thank you for everything."

-oOo-

Hiccup had barely finished escorting his client through the front door when he was immediately accosted by his staff.

"You have a girlfriend?" Fishlegs, asked, his eyes wide in incredulous wonder. "When did this happen?" he demanded.

Snotlout and the twins were practically hanging over the broader man's shoulders, eager to hear their boss's answer.

"No! I don't," Hiccup denied vehemently. "I was just saying Astrid was my girlfriend so that I wouldn't have to be matched up by Mrs Reynolds to her three granddaughters…lovely as I'm sure they all are," he protested.

There was a pause.

Ruff spoke up quietly. "Nobody mentioned Astrid's name. You only said you had a girlfriend."

Hiccup's mouth fell open, and he gaped at them realising what he'd done.

"Uh…um, no, I…ah…" he stuttered, unable to provide any kind of coherent reply.

His four friends stared back at him with various expressions of shock, mirth or glee.

Snotlout shouted triumphantly, "I knew it! I knew she was his girlfriend. Didn't I call it?" he bragged loudly. "And you tried to throw us off by saying she was 'just a client'," Snotlout mocked.

Hiccup's heart beat harder in his chest at Snotlout's words. He already knew that the idea of Astrid being his girlfriend had crossed his mind…several times in fact…over the last few days. But he also knew he'd dismissed that idea just as rapidly because she was his client. But having his inner turmoil so openly exposed when he was barely managing to control those thoughts himself was more than he knew how to deal with.

"She's NOT my girlfriend," he said sharply. "How could she be? I'm cremating her uncle, Snotlout," he reminded the other man forcefully. "Now can you please leave her alone…and stop saying those idiotic things," he demanded, his fists clenched tightly by his side as he fought to keep himself under control.

Snotlout wouldn't leave it alone. "Of course she is…and you know I'm right," he answered smugly.

Hiccup opened his mouth to give a rebuttal, but could not think of a single word to say in return to Snotlout's persistence. He knew that no matter what he said, his friends would continue to harangue him about Astrid. The idea of being so forcibly reminded of what was not possible was more than his bruised and beaten heart could take.

He snapped.

"That's it." Grabbing his keys and jacket he almost ran from the room.

"Where are you going?" Fishlegs yelled at his escaping friend. "You have an arrangement with the Davis family in ten minutes."

Hiccup yelled back. "You take it. I've gotta go." Then he was gone.

Fishlegs was astounded. He turned to the others. "Where does he have to go?"

Snotlout sniggered. "Boy needs to find his self-respect…and a great wingman." He puffed up proudly. "Luckily, I know just the guy."

Ruffnut cuffed him. "He needs you like a hole in the head," she scoffed. "He's already found his girl. He just needs to man up and go get her."

Fishlegs watched Hiccup's black sedan disappear down the driveway, and hummed thoughtfully to himself while the others argued. He cared about his friend deeply, but he had to agree with Ruffnut. Maybe not right now before Finn's funeral, but it was time for Hiccup to put aside his worries…and 'man up'.

My only excuse is Esme made me do it…and I apologize to Myra. Next chapter...the funeral.