The Business of Grieving

by Appleye2

Modern AU. Death is a somber business for funeral director Hiccup. It was also the last place he ever expected to find love. Hiccstrid. WARNING: Contains descriptions of death and funerals. THANK YOU! For all your great support. This story will be continued...

7. Chapter 7

Warning: This chapter is about the actual funeral and its aftermath. Tissues may be required. Also, I've kept this funeral simple in its execution for various reasons.

It's also a really long chapter.

---

Tuesday morning arrived far too quickly for Hiccup's peace of mind. He wasn't ready. Not after yesterday's accidental reveal of his rawest emotions left him still reeling. Conjuring up Astrid as a girlfriend to avoid Esme's matchmaking scheme was only meant to last the few minutes till their conversation ended. Unfortunately, his crew had overheard and confronted him with his own wishful thinking. It had been too much and he had fled.

Sleep had taken a long time in coming last night, what with fantasy dreams of holding Astrid in his arms smashing headfirst into the brutal reality of 'never going to happen'.

Hiccup shook his head, attempting to dislodge those thoughts. He needed to focus on Finn's funeral...and figure out how he was going to face Astrid. Especially as this would be the last day he had with her. Not that she would be thinking of him. It was her uncle's funeral, after all. That little reminder was enough to sober up his escalating emotions. She had much more devastating things to think about than his inappropriate crush.

Right. Time to start work, then.

It was still early by the time Hiccup arrived at the funeral home. Familiar territory, of course. Nothing unusual about that. Especially with the large number of people expected to attend. A big crowd generally involved longer preparation time, plus this funeral had the extra bonus of antagonistic relatives threatening to derail what he and Astrid had spent so much time carefully constructing.

Always a fun time. Not.

Hiccup had barely finished punching in the security code before his phone rang. A heavy sigh escaped him at the harsh sound. Resignation made his bones heavy and he had to take a moment before answering. He could only hope the call wasn't from a distraught relative asking for an new appointment. He had more than enough on his plate for the week.

It wasn't.

The call came from an unexpected source. Not unwelcome although he needed to make some last minute minor adjustments for Finn Hofferson's funeral as a result. Not really an issue of course, but it may just give Hiccup an advantage to help control...certain elements...during the service. If needed. He didn't want to be too gung-ho about it all. Even if a small vindictive part of him really hoped it was needed.

He squashed that part down.

First though, he had to contend with some sniggering soon-to-be ex-employees. His choice to hastily flee the scene yesterday came with repercussions. Ones he couldn't avoid. A spike of anxiety coursed through at the thought of being forced to re-open wounds he had barely managed to slap a band-aid on overnight. Deflection and diversion would be the key to survival in this situation.

It wasn't till Snotlout dawdled in...late again...already dressed in a full suit and tie that Hiccup had a burst of inspiration.

"Hey Snotlout. Looking good in the penguin suit. Maybe you should wear it all the time."

Snotlout scowled, right on cue. The man hated wearing suits and Hiccup knew it. He fell for the trap and instantly started complaining. Which of course, was the perfect invitation for the twins to become involved. And they did, almost as if Hiccup had orchestrated the entire thing, leaving him free to walk away.

He was, after all, a professional and there was work to be done. Personal feelings and really annoying friends would just have to wait.

Moving within the chapel, Hiccup flicked on the switches for the entertainment system. Reaching the microphone he began the sound check, allowing his thoughts to drift. A large crowd of mourners were expected for the popular security guard. None of them seemed to care about Heff's claims of 'cowardice' towards his brother. Hiccup's lips lifted with a smug tilt. And perhaps a small amount of gloating. Today's events were about to prove the obnoxious man wrong. And Astrid right.

Satisfied the chapel was ready for when the first attendees would arrive, Hiccup walked through the side door that lead to the reception and office. Only to stop short when he spied something shiny and spiky half hidden under a desk. Something familiar.

"Tuffnut!" he yelled, already knowing who to blame.

The dreadlocked man himself sauntered around the corner. "You hollered?"

Hiccup pointed to the Viking weapon, last seen being returned to the carpark with its owner the previous day.

"Why is that here?"

Tuff picked up the mace, cuddling it against his chest and stroking it affectionately. "You asked for her."

Hiccup blinked. "What?"

Tuffnut gave him a look as if he'd lost his marbles. Hiccup wasn't totally sure that he hadn't.

"You know...when you told Astrid she could leave the extra weapons."

Hiccup shook his head, then wiggled a finger in his ear for good measure. Maybe he hadn't heard that right.

"When I what?"

"Told Astrid to leave the extra weapons."

Hiccup was about to open his mouth to deny this allegation when Tuff's words clicked. "Weapons? As in plural?" he asked, urgently scanning the rest of the room.

Tuff shrugged in confirmation unconcerned, while Hiccup felt as if he were sliding out of control down a very slippery hill.

Dread rose in his chest. Where were the other weapons? All he could think of was Astrid clashing with Heff and a supply of sharp implements for her to choose from. Not good.

Hiccup shook his head. "I only allowed the axe, nothing else. Where are the rest of them?"

Tuff turned to the door. He lifted his hand to cup his mouth and yelled. "Hey, Ruffnut! You got my babies?"

"Yeah!" was her muffled reply.

A clanging of metal announced his sister's arrival, Snotlout trailing behind swinging a Warhammer and giving Hiccup instant heart palpitations. Before he could say anything, Ruffnut threw a sword towards him forcing Hiccup to clumsily grab for it, thankful for the scabbard covering the sharp edges. A feeling of deja vu hit him. Hadn't he already been in this position, except with an axe, once before?

The answer of course, was yes. Which was a bit disconcerting.

"What are you all doing?" he asked, his voice tinged with exasperation as he gently placed the sword on the desk. Then moved it further away when he spotted Tuffnut eyeing it off.

Snotlout flexed his arms, hampered a little by the stiff jacket he was wearing. "What's it look like? We're Vikings. Ready for battle."

Hiccup shot him a look. "In full dress suits?"

Snotlout frowned as he thought about that little oddity. Then nodded as if he'd come to a decision. "Yeah, you're right. We should totally strip down."

When Snot began to unbutton his shirt, Hiccup's brows shot up. A naked mad man wielding a Viking hammer was about to become part of the funeral entertainment unless he put a stop to it...now. He spun on his heel.

"Ruff! It's your job to keep Snotlout fully dressed." He paused, then added, "Use duct tape if necessary."

The wicked grin on Ruffnut's face was more than enough to make her co-worker audibly gulp and hurriedly redo his buttons. She handed the spear she held to her brother then turned to rummage through a desk drawer, triumphantly emerging with a roll of tape.

"Now, let's not be hasty..." Snot backed away, his hands raised in the air.

Hiccup didn't wait to hear the rest. He had a job to do.

Fishlegs was already in position outside the front of the closed chapel doors, greeting the assembling guests and distributing service booklets. Hiccup schooled his face into an appropriately sombre expression. After all, this was his stage and he had years of experience to perfect his act. Regardless of any stray Viking weapons and slightly unhinged staff.

Scanning the gradually thickening crowd, Hiccup searched for a familiar blonde. He soon found her off to the side, talking quietly with a man Hiccup assumed was Finn's boss. A quiet sigh of relief flowed from him. She was here.

Flicking his gaze over her form Hiccup was quick to note her pale face, as if she'd already cried her fair share of tears that morning. It was to be expected of course but that didn't stop his heart thudding in sympathy for her.

Hiccup continued to greet people, his mind only half on the job as his gaze kept drawing back to Astrid. Was she okay? Had her uncle caused more problems for her? He didn't like not knowing, and he could admit it was driving him to distraction.

Case in point.

"Hiccup?" Fishlegs hissed.

Hiccup startled, snapping back to attention. An elderly lady was eyeing him strangely, her hand out waiting for the service booklet he had yet to pass over.

"Oh, sorry ma'am. Here you go." He finally released the item, receiving a glare in return.

Apologizing again, Hiccup could feel warmth moving up his cheeks. So much for practised professionalism. One fierce blonde was all it took to shatter that skillset.

Fishlegs tapped his watch and Hiccup nodded. It was time to start proceedings. While his partner opened the chapel doors, Hiccup attempted to catch Astrid's eye. Family needed to be admitted first and she was of primary importance as far as he was concerned. However her back was turned to him, obviously in the middle of a serious conversation if the hunch of her shoulders was anything to go by.

Tearing his gaze away from Astrid, Hiccup forced a grim smile to his lips as he beckoned Heff and his family instead. The older man shot him a glare so venomous Hiccup felt for sure he'd be laid out beside Finn if the other man had his way. They brushed past and Hiccup nearly stumbled when Heff shoulder checked him on his way inside. Instead, he kept his balance and his cool, refusing to show his ire.

Turning, he watched the three well-rounded adults as they progressed through the chapel, not trusting any of them. Two made it to their designated seats. One didn't.

Heff paused briefly beside Ruffnut who was currently manning the sound system. If she was here than Hiccup had to presume that Snotlout was still dressed appropriately and in position. Alrighty then.

Hiccup's eyes narrowed at the scene before him. What was Heff doing? Ruff appeared unperturbed although nothing much unsettled her anyway. Whatever it was, he knew the female twin could handle it. Ignoring them, he turned back to the rest of the crowd, nodding politely as he finally allowed them to pass through.

Astrid was still standing next to Finn's boss, deliberately hanging back. She obviously preferred the company of Finn's closest friends than chance any contact with Heff and his arrogant entourage.

Not that he could blame her.

At that moment, a friendly face appeared before him. Hiccup jolted at the sight of the broad and muscular man, his longish black hair pulled back with a leather tie. Hiccup's formal smile morphed into a genuine wide grin. He extended his hand.

"Eret! How are you?"

Eret shrugged, clasping his friends forearm. "Same old, same old." He pointed towards the video camera and tripod tucked under his arm. "Mind if I set up?"

Hiccup shook his head. "Nah. All good. Your boss at the news station called this morning to let me know." He was about to let the bigger man go do his job when a thought occurred to him.

"Hey Eret, can I ask a favour?"

"Sure. What's up?"

Hiccup leaned forward to briefly whisper the situation and what he needed. His friend raised a brow.

"Er...sounds intense, but yeah, I'll do it."

"Thanks man."

Eret bumped his fist to Hiccup's, his smirk decidedly devious as he slipped inside the building. Hiccup grinned. Things were looking up.

-oOo-

Heff Hofferson was a man used to getting things done his way. Except when it came to his fiery and arbitrary niece Astrid. And now this blasted funeral director, Hiccup Haddock. Heff didn't know how the man could continue to function as a funeral director with the way he was behaving, defying his explicit instructions.

Ever since his decision for a quick and silent cremation was rudely over-ridden by Astrid and supported by that young fool, Heff had tried his best to have this farce of a funeral conducted the right way, hoping to minimize the scandal that his cowardly brother had wrought upon the Hofferson name. But that senseless Haddock had refused to listen, daring to tell him that Astrid's word was final. All because of a worthless piece of paper that stated Astrid was the executor.

Heff huffed indignantly at the notion. All it proved was his brother was as ineffective in death as he had been in life. And now they were stuck with his gullible niece in charge. But Heff was a persistent man. He still had a few tricks up his sleeve.

When that young fool Hiccup had beckoned him forward into the chapel, a quick scan showed him Astrid was further away, her back to him. Heff didn't recognize any of the crowd with her, nor did he care to. It only mattered that he would officially be the first to enter as an important family member of the deceased.

As it should be.

Brushing past Hiccup...if the man chose to stand in the way that wasn't his fault...he paused just inside the threshold of the chapel. A skinny looking blonde woman was playing with the sound equipment. At least, Heff thought it was a woman. The too-short men's suit she was wearing threw him a little. But not for long. Smirking at his change in good fortune, his hand slipped into his pocket. She would do nicely.

Catching the woman's attention he discretely produced two disks, the blonde eyeing them off with an impassive stare. She didn't know it yet but this fortunate woman was about to become his primary weapon.

Puffing his chest out, he spoke to her in his most commanding tone. "These are the music choices and the video presentation." He added in a pompous sniff to show his superiority. "See to it they are played and there will be a handsome reward in it for you."

Heff opened his jacket just enough to reveal some incentive...a couple of large dollar bills poking out from his inner pocket. He fought back an arrogant sneer. A little cash in the right palms always worked.

The woman shot him a sly grin and Heff knew he was on a winner.

She held out her hand, palm up. "Sure thing."

Heff placed the disks and the cash into her greedy paw, pleased to have finally found a wedge into this whole unpleasant business. He wasn't rich and successful without reason.

Pointing his finger at the female employee, he gave her a self-assured smile. "You are on track for great things."

"Yep. Great things for me," the woman agreed, leering at him.

His smile dropped. Feeling a little unnerved, Heff hastily pulled away to join his wife.

With his back turned, he didn't see Ruffnut pocketing the money or the disks being casually tossed over her shoulders before she carried on with her original task.

Heff was almost at his seat when he couldn't help but notice the distinct lack of funeral flowers atop the coffin. Horrified, he swung his gaze over the awful display of Finn's ragged old fishing hat along with a smelly fishing rod. To add insult to injury, carefully secured to an easel holding Finn's smiling portrait was a battered Viking axe. Shaking his head at the appallingly uncultured arrangement, his lips pursed. This situation needed to be remedied immediately.

Hovering in his periphery was another funeral home employee, waiting patiently to escort him to his seat. Turning, Heff did a double take at seeing the same person from before. His chin wobbled as he briefly glanced backwards to see that no, the first one was still in position. Plus this second one was most likely male. Obviously twins, then.

Dismissing that information as irrelevant, he waved his hand towards the simple coffin display. "What is this monstrosity? I want this removed at once and replaced with a proper flower arrangement."

The male twin seemed unperturbed by his demand. "Certainly sir. What do you want me to remove?"

Heff's chest expanded, fury filling him. "That hideous….thing."

Tuff blinked. "I'm afraid you'll have to be more specific. Do you mean your wife?" he asked, waving his hand towards his surprised wife. "I mean, she's not likely to win any beauty contests but she hardly deserves to be called hideous."

Heff could feel the steam pouring from his ears. Frustrated, he gestured wildly again. "I mean the…the fishing rod, the hat and the…that imbecilic weapon."

Seeming to find offence, Tuffnut was quick to defend. "That axe is not imbecilic." He spoke hotly but Heff was willing to bet the lanky employee didn't even know what the word meant. It sure wasn't a compliment. Although what Tuff thought was of no concern to him.

"I want them all gone and replaced with flowers, you nincompoop," Heff ordered.

Tuffnut's expression settled back into neutral. Finally. It seemed the young man had remembered his place.

"Flowers? You want flowers?"

Heff nodded. "Yes, flowers."

"Okay, what kind of flowers?"

Heff growled in frustration. "I don't care! Anything." This was taking far too long.

Tuff began ticking off the possible options on his fingers. "Red, yellow, white?"

Impatience flooded him. "White of course, and maybe some yellow. I don't care as long as it's appropriate for a funeral."

Tuff heaved out a dramatic sigh and even Heff could recognize the fakery in the other man's exaggerated grimace.

"Sorry, we are fresh out of appropriate flowers…or any others for that matter. Can I suggest an old fishing rod, a hat and a Viking weapon instead?"

Frustration roared through Heff, his round red face growing rounder and redder. Huffing and puffing with self-righteous indignation, he could only wonder why all the buffoons had been left for him to deal with.

-oOo-

After sending Heff and his family into the chapel, Hiccup's next goal was to collect Astrid. However, before he could take a step in that direction he found his path suddenly blocked by Tess. Somehow, he'd managed to miss the ample woman's presence in the crowd.

She sidled up to him.

"Hey handsome. You look mighty fine in that nice suit of yours." Her simpering voice flowed like rancid fish oil over his skin as she reached up to pat down his lapel with an overly familiar stroke.

The bold move stunned Hiccup for a moment, the woman's overpowering perfume making him breathless.

Fake eyelashes fluttered at him. "So ...did you bring a date to this shin-ding? Cause if you didn't, I'd be happy to be your plus one." If that was supposed to be some kind of subtle hint, the pout of her bright red lips and the accompanying girlish giggle made him want to shudder.

Removing her hand with a firm grip, he took a discrete step back before clearing his throat.

"Ah…thank you for the offer Ms Hofferson…but I'm afraid I will have to decline. I do need to co-ordinate this…shin-ding." Hiccup kept his tone formal, hoping to squash any possible romantic notions this woman seemed to be entertaining.

It didn't stop her. Stepping way too close into his personal space, she gazed seductively up at him through her long lashes. Too bad Hiccup wasn't buying it.

"That's okay, sugar." Her hand stroked over his chest before gently tugging on his tie. "I love a man who knows how to take charge. I can wait," she purred.

Hiccup forced himself to swallow down his revulsion. Stepping back again, he corrected his misaligned tie.

She followed, not allowing him to retreat. Hiccup could feel desperation starting to rise. What was it going to take to get her to back off? Outright rudeness amongst all these people was not an option. As the funeral director, it was his responsibility to remain composed regardless of what happened around him. But a tenacious woman with dollar signs in her eyes was a definite first for him. There were no instructions in the procedure manual for this one.

Fortunately for him, the cavalry arrived in the form of a ferocious blonde woman.

"Are you such a skank that you have to make a fool of yourself at a funeral?" Astrid hissed.

Tessa's sniff was blatantly dismissive of the younger woman. One manicured hand casually plumped up her dark curls. "I'm a widow now honey…with a son to provide for. Never too soon to start looking for another man."

Hiccup's eyes widened. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was she for real? He was at a loss on how to respond to that, but a quick glimpse of Astrid's tightened fists and burning glare showed she was ready to explode. His thoughts went straight to the axe at the front of the room and found himself so very grateful he had tied the weapon securely to its display stand.

And hoped desperately that the extra weapons were hidden safely away.

"Yeah…no point waiting till Finn's actually cremated," Astrid snarled sarcastically.

Tessa scowled in return and it was during that moment of tension that Hiccup heard Snotlout behind him eagerly whispering, "Catfight!"

He turned to shoot an exasperated glare at the black haired intruder. Snotlout rapidly cleared his throat before moving forward to intervene.

"Hey sweetlips!" he interrupted, addressing Tessa and holding out his arm to her. "How about I escort you to your seat?" he offered in a pleasant tone, with only a small twitch of his brows.

Tessa turned to Snotlout, her smile overly bright and her eyes wide. Much like a cougar on the prowl. "Oh sugar, you sure can."

The two walked away, but her voice still carried back. "My, don't you look handsome in a suit."

Astrid and Hiccup watched them go. It was at this point that Hiccup noticed Heff and Tuffnut having some kind of one-sided disagreement up front. Unfortunately, Astrid noticed it too.

"Was it too much to ask for? Not even five minutes in and he's already creating a scene," she seethed, low enough that only he heard.

Internally, he had to agree with the statement. He sighed, already saying goodbye to his hopes for a well-behaved Heff and an uneventful service. Especially when he noticed Astrid's eyes casting past her pompous uncle towards the axe on proud display. His sense of alarm shot straight up when she stepped towards it. Hiccup was quick to snag her around the waist, dragging her back against his chest. The feel of her so close to him was creating all sorts of twists and twirls in his gut, but he ignored those for now.

"Where are you going?" he asked worriedly in her ear, his grip tightening as she briefly struggled. If she thought for one moment he was going to allow her free reign she was about to be rudely surprised.

Astrid angrily stabbed the air with her finger, pointing towards the weapon. "I just need that for one moment. That's all. One moment to sort this out," she half begged, half demanded, confirming his fears. Hiccup gulped, his vivid imagination flashing up the potentially gory result if he allowed that to happen.

"Ahh…that would be a no," he told her, with a heavy emphasis on the 'no'. "First of all, that axe has been securely tied up. We don't want any accidental 'beheadings' now, do we?" It was supposed to be a joke to lighten the situation, but the nervous warble in his words didn't really help. He aimed for distraction instead. "And secondly, if I'd known you were planning a service for two I would have charged you double."

The glare she shot him over her shoulder showed his efforts had definitely fallen flat.

Regardless, his arm stayed snug around her waist, not really confident that letting her go would be a wise choice. A fierce woman with a vendetta to fulfil was no joke.

He chose to beg instead, his voice low. "Please Astrid, stay here and let me find out what the problem is."

Emotions flicked across her face as her desire to wreck carnage fought against his request to stay put. Finally she relented, much to his relief.

"Fine," she bit out tightly. "But if he doesn't pull his head in, I'll be taking it off."

Hiccup sucked in a sharp breath at her warning. Rapidly excusing himself, he rushed towards the commotion. His stride barely slowed as he reached Heff and tersely ordered, "A word, if you don't mind."

Continuing forward Hiccup opened up a side door in obvious invitation, his expression grim as he waited for a red-faced Heff to enter first, out of sight of the crowd flooding into the chapel.

Tuffnut grinned at the older man. "You're in trouble," he sing-songed. Hiccup shot him a look that shut him up instantly.

"I'll just be over here…doing my job," Tuff declared loudly, pointing in the opposite direction.

Heff visibly puffed up with indignation, his posture stiff and formidable as he walked through the door. Hiccup remained unimpressed, his stare flat and hard. He was about to follow the other man through when he faltered. A sliver of silver caught his attention, hiding behind the bunched curtains guarding the catafalque.

Macey.

His eyes narrowed as he sort out Tuffnut, for who else would be responsible? The man's obsession with the ancient weapon was becoming a little disturbing... something that needed to be discussed in the near future.

His gaze swept towards Astrid who was watching him with blazing intensity. He didn't dare glance back towards the weapon. If she noticed it would be all over, red rover.

He suppressed a shudder, cursing his overactive imagination when it combined a wildly screaming Astrid, a spiky mace and a fleeing Heff. Now that was something to relive in his nightmares.

Time to go.

He closed the door with an ominous 'click'.

Hiccup leaned forward, bracing his arm on the wall and forcing Heff backwards.

"Just a friendly chat," Hiccup told him, his voice deceptively calm. "Astrid has worked tirelessly to make sure this funeral honours the memory of Finn as a hard-working man who would do anything for those he loved..."

Heff's derisive snort interrupted him. "She would believe that, of course. That girl sees everything my brother did through rose-coloured glasses." He attempted to stand up straighter, but Hiccup refused to budge. He slumped back down with an annoyed narrowing of his eyes. "I insist on making this funeral acceptable...not whatever emotional rubbish she wants to do."

Fire lit up Hiccup's gaze at the man's contemptuous words. He leaned in further, causing Heff to cower slightly. Hiccup had hoped it wouldn't come to this but it didn't surprise him in the least that Heff was still willing to fight Astrid's plans only minutes before the service was due to start.

Recalling the early morning phone call he'd received, Hiccup had no qualms pulling out his trump card. Perhaps it would finally silence the older man.

"Reporters will be here with their video cameras, and I would hate for anything other than the scheduled program to go ahead…you know…just in case the disruption ends up on the Berk News," he warned quietly.

Hiccup stood from the wall then pretended to brush imaginary dust from the other man's shoulder. "Wouldn't want you to look bad now, would we?"

Heff batted Hiccup's hand away, his red face glowering. "Are you threatening me? Because if you are, I should tell you…."

Hiccup interrupted, all feigned wide eyed innocence. "I'm just keeping you up to date with what's happening…that's all. I'm sorry you felt threatened…not at all like those discussions you had with Astrid…or me." His tone dropped into one of hardened steel. "Was it?"

A smart man like Heff could easily pick up the real message.

Behave... or suffer the consequences.

Heff began to splutter indignantly but Hiccup smoothly opened the door wide to the chapel ensuring they would be clearly seen by all. Astrid's mace flashed at him, tempting him to bring it out from hiding.

No. It could stay there.

"I'm glad we had this pleasant chat." Hiccup waved the way forward. "After you," he invited, his expression back to neutral.

Heff took a moment to regain his composure before walking stiffly towards his seat. His gaze scanned the room cautiously. Sure enough, there were three news cameras being set up around the perimeter of the room, ready to catch any and all interactions from every angle.

Right on cue, one camera in particular swung towards him. The black haired operator looked up and winked. Heff paled, gulping hard.

Tuff strolled over, pulling out a white hanky with dramatic flair before making a show of dusting down a reserved seat.

"Your seat, sir," he said gleefully. "Prime position for the most important people."

Heff narrowed his bulbous eyes at Tuffnut's obvious sass but said nothing. The corners of his mouth pulled down unpleasantly as he carefully sat, his expression haughty.

Hiccup stood by, waiting. Once satisfied Heff was seated and not about to do anything stupid he looked up to search out Astrid. Finding her still obediently standing where he had left her, he couldn't help the small smirk tugging on his lip. She'd stayed despite her overwhelming desire to 'sort it' herself.

Pride surged within him. Good for her.

Moving forward, he deftly dodged the other guests filtering in. Reaching Astrid he leaned in close, gently grabbing her elbow to guide her towards the front of the room. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft in her ear. If she needed more time he was fully prepared to turn on his heel and take her outside.

He could see the fury she held for her so-called family, evident in her clenched fists and flushed cheeks. But it was the other tell-tale signs which prompted his concern. The shimmer in her eyes hiding unshed tears. A forced smile that wavered, no matter how hard she tried to keep it steady. It all reminded him like a punch to the stomach that she was here for the funeral of her beloved Uncle Finn.

Still, she nodded firmly. "Yes, I'm fine. I'm determined to get through this." Her gaze shifted to Heff, her glare murderous. "If I get the urge to break down, I know a way to make any tears dry up straight away."

Hiccup chuckled quietly as he led her to seats opposite Heff. "That's the spirit." He released her into the welcoming embrace of Finn's boss and work mates. With a last quick glance to reassure himself that Astrid really was okay, Hiccup left to go back outside. The service was about to begin and he had work to do.

-oOo-

Hiccup smiled, relaxing as he watched the positive response from the crowd when the first notes of the modern, heavy metal song filled the chapel. The deep bass resonated through his chest and he found himself shifting with the rhythm along with all the other bodies in the room. Even his own crew were captive to the beat.

His gaze found Astrid. A wistful smile played on her lips, her eyes closed as fond memories played over in her mind. Hiccup found he couldn't look away, mesmerized by the softness she unwittingly displayed for all to see. Was she thinking about dancing with her uncle as a girl, unfettered by the tragedy that dogged her later life? Would she think of Finn whenever this song played in the future? Hiccup certainly hoped so. He was suddenly glad he'd managed to convince her to be confident in her choices. Heff had wanted a more classical composition, and while there was nothing wrong with that music choice, it wasn't Finn and Astrid.

Movement at the front caught his attention. Straightening up, Hiccup watched as Heff turned in his seat to glare at Ruffnut. What was that about? Eyes narrowed, he caught Ruffnut shrugging carelessly at the man. Realisation struck. Heff had spoken to Ruffnut on his way into the chapel. Had he told her to play his own music choices? Hiccup had to suppress a growl. From what he knew of the guy, he wouldn't put it past him.

Tensing up, Hiccup waited to see what Heff would do next. A quick glance to the side showed Eret, his camera trained towards the rotund man. Heff must have seen it at the same time if his forceful exhalation was any indication.

Tuffnut chose that moment to tap on Heff's shoulder, intervening with a 'eyes forward' gesture. Grudgingly, the older man complied although the pure venom in his glare let Hiccup know he was far from happy. As if Hiccup cared about his satisfaction. It was Astrid alone that was on his radar.

In more ways than one.

Giving himself a mental shakedown, Hiccup swore silently. He obviously needed to remind himself a few more times that she was strictly off limits. No relationships with clients.

Hearing a brush of fabric behind him snapped him to refocus. Shifting, he quietly seated the last minute stragglers while the music faded away, the mood turning sombre when the celebrant stepped forward to begin the introduction.

It was real now.

Scanning across the room, Hiccup checked on the placement of his crew. Tuffnut was of course, standing closest to Heff and his immediate family. And possibly doing some kind of Irish jig. Hiccup could only roll his eyes. Life was never boring around the twins, that was for sure.

Continuing his perusal, he found Snotlout on the opposite side, closest to Astrid. No surprises there. The self professed ladies man wouldn't be anywhere else. Hiccup swallowed a snort. Best to keep that reaction for later.

Ruffnut waited patiently beside the audio equipment at the rear of the room. He spied her crossing her eyes as she scowled at her brother. Maybe 'patiently' was too strong a word. At least they were quiet this time.

A familiar sparkle under the last row of seats closest to the female twin caused him to straighten up. A spear that should have been locked away had mysteriously made its way into the middle of a funeral. Yeah, maybe not so much of a mystery. Ruffnut was the culprit.

Hiccup huffed in frustration, startling a mourner standing beside him. Hiccup offered the man a quick apologetic smile before turning to glare pointedly at his worker, then at the spear. Ruffnut merely sniggered quietly to herself then ignored him.

There was nothing Hiccup could do. Fishlegs had already left to man the office, leaving Hiccup staged centre back to oversee it all. Hopefully the rest of the service would flow according to schedule without any further Viking surprises. Such as a missing sword and a warhammer.

The celebrant started to speak, her doleful tones echoing through the sound system as she welcomed all those present to join her in celebrating Finn's life. Hiccup found his eyes drifting towards the framed photo Astrid had supplied, one of Finn wearing a smile that showed he wasn't afraid of a challenge and taking his happiness wherever he could find it. The portrait reminded Hiccup of his own father who had lived with a similar philosophy, even when the odds had been stacked against him. A twinge snagged Hiccup in the chest. His hand lifted to rub it but it wouldn't ease. A familiar feeling, and like so many other times before, Hiccup chose to ignore it.

His gaze flicked back to the lectern where Astrid had taken the celebrant's place. She was elegant. Calm. He watched as she sucked in a deep breath. Steadying herself. Her clear voice sounded out as she began to read the carefully constructed eulogy she had written. It was beautiful. Hiccup found himself enthralled along with the rest of the audience while she wove a wonderful story built from memories, both good and bad. Laughter followed when she related the highlights of Finn's life, connecting them all to a man who had lived large and loved big. It was easy to see how much she adored her uncle, how much she understood the type of man Finn was.

It was heart breaking.

Except to Heff, apparently. Hiccup watched the other man as he glowered at the blonde woman the entire time she spoke. No doubt he was fuming over her audacity to extol his brother's 'crass' behaviour. Hiccup had to shake his head. It was hard to take the man seriously with an attitude like that. All that animosity and for what? He couldn't fathom it. All he knew was that Heff was missing out on the wonder that was Astrid.

Hiccup had to rub the ache over his heart again. He could pretend it was still about his dad but he wouldn't lie. No, it was all about the girl standing behind the lectern staring at him as if he was the only person in the room. He offered her an encouraging smile, impressed with her composure. If he had to wipe a small drop of moisture from the corner of his eye at her heartfelt words, who could blame him?

Astrid's speech ended with only a slight wobble, neatly returning to her seat to the sound of appreciative applause.

Quiet descended on the room moments before the celebrant raised the question, "If anybody else would like to say a few words?"

Hiccup tensed. Normally, he wouldn't dream of interfering with family wanting to express their heartfelt emotions at this time, but he knew enough about Heff to suspect a gushing posthumous declaration of his brotherly love was the last thing the man intended to say. A glowing narcissistic report on his own attributes while minimising Finn's character was much more likely.

His foot shot forward, ready to intercept. However it was soon obvious Tuffnut had it all under control. Hiccup relaxed, watching in fascination as his lanky friend appeared to stumble just as Heff was about to rise. A quiet snort escaped him when Tuff asked in a low voice that still carried across the silent room, "Hey, are your shoelaces untied? Oh no, that was mine. Sorry about that."

A few tiny grins hidden amongst the audience showed others had also heard. Oh well. Better than the alternative. His gaze flicked to the news cameras. How sensitive were their microphones? Did he care? No.

Hiccup settled back on his heels. Potential disaster averted. Full steam ahead. Or so he thought. His eyes widened as he noticed something unexpected. Tessa was preening herself, ready to stand and speak...and possibly proposition half the men in the room. Instantly, he was on high alert, a sharp flick of his fingers to Snotlout an unspoken order to get involved. Thankfully, Snotlout was onto it straight away.

Surreptitiously, the stocky guy stepped into Tessa's line of sight and threw her his most charming smile. She paused, her curiosity aroused. Snotlout wriggled his fingers in a small wave. She beamed at him, fluttering her lashes in reply. The whole scene took only moments but it was enough. The celebrant continued on, Tessa's opportunity lost. She huffed as she slumped back, her ruby red lips pouting in disappointment.

Hiccup released the breathe he had been hanging onto, his heart beating faster at the close call. He couldn't believe he'd almost allowed Tessa to break through his carefully planned defences. Especially after she'd targeted him earlier. Mentally kicking himself, he switched to Astrid. Had she noticed?

It was only a small gesture, but Hiccup saw it. Yeah, she'd noticed. At least she hadn't decided to take a little Viking justice into her own hands...yet.

Although there was still time enough for that to happen.

The slideshow that Hiccup had so diligently prepared flickered to life on the screens. Out of habit, he scanned the crowd. He liked to watch their reactions to the photos flashing up a lifetime of memories. To him, a slideshow added so much more to the whole event. People were visual creatures and it always hit him right in the over-abused organ in his chest to share such private photographic highlights of another person's life. Even if he'd never met them before, by the time he'd spent a few hours pouring over their pictures he often thought of them as old friends. Or maybe that was just him.

As expected, there were more than a few eyes needing to be discretely wiped. Hiccup cast his gaze towards Astrid. He could feel the soft smile playing over his lips as he watched her. She was so absorbed in the images, he didn't think she even heard the gentle laughter that echoed around her as the audience showed their appreciation for the trip down memory lane. All to the soundtrack of one of Finn's favourite songs, the upbeat tempo easily matching the vibe of the photos.

Except for Heff, of course.

What on earth was the man doing? Was he mouthing silent obscenities to himself while watching the movie? The way his round face changed from blood vein red to a dark puce seemed to indicate he was. The question was, why? The answer became apparent when Heff partially rose from his seat to glower at Ruffnut again. Ahh. It seems bribery hadn't been confined to just music. The slideshow had also been on the agenda.

Hiccup tensed, but once again Tuffnut had it all under control.

"Do you need medical help, man? You look like a bee stung your nose, it's so huge and red and ugly looking. Oh, you don't? I'm sorry. I guess your schnozzle was already that big. You should probably get that looked at...maybe a plastic surgeon or something." Tuffnut's voice was low but still clear.

Hiccup barely managed to suppress the urge to laugh out loud. He knew he shouldn't, but it was impossible not to be entertained by the mini show going on in the front pew. Tuffnut was the puppet master using strings of propriety and the illusions of respectability to control his unwilling subject.

Although with the amount of steam that seemed to be rising from Heff's ears, maybe a fire extinguisher would be needed too.

Heff's beet red face scowled at the lanky dreadlocked man who had been thwarting all his futile efforts so far. Not that Tuff was concerned at all. He merely gave his charge a non-subtle reminder towards the news cameras recording the entire event.

Hiccup grinned, bouncing on his toes for a moment. He glanced towards Astrid, only to see her give a quick swipe across one cheek. His smile dropped, replaced with a look of empathy instead.

He was so focussed on Astrid that he didn't notice his staff had temporarily disappeared. He jolted when without warning, a madwoman that resembled Ruffnut ran screeching down the centre aisle, a spear raised high in one hand. The dress jacket she had been wearing only moments before had been hastily replaced with a Viking tunic. Tuffnut roared in response from the left, his jacket also replaced and with Macey in his hands as he leapt to the attack, much to the shock and amusement of the entire audience.

Hiccup's rapidly beating heart caught somewhere in his throat. He watched helplessly while Snotlout, dressed similarly, handed the missing sword to Astrid with a quiet whisper in her ear. Snot then straightened and issued a blood-curdling yell at the twins, waving his warhammer and jumping into the fray. Astrid stared at the sheathed weapon for a moment, before she pushed herself to her feet. Hiccup waited with baited breath for her reaction to this utter disaster that he had no control over. As per usual.

Her scream became the most frightening of all, the scabbard quickly dispensed with as she joined the impromptu mock Viking battle being performed at the front while snapshots of Finn dressed in Viking garb in the middle of his own battle, flashed behind them on the screens for all to see.

The audience roared with encouragement, the clashing of metal almost lost under the volume of sound while the four participants danced and attacked each other with all the finesse of a junior ballet. Astrid twirled and plunged, the clear victor as each of her 'opponents' fell to her obvious skill, one by one collapsing to the ground amid dramatic groans and flailing of limbs.

Just as the last photo of a grinning Finn floated on the screens, Astrid performed one last jab of her weapon, the very sharp end of her blade ending under the wobbling chin of a super-anxious Heff. She pinned him with a savage look in her eye as he paled, sweat rolling down his face.

Hiccup's heart stopped.

Loud applause and piercing wolf whistles broke out.

A few faltering heartbeats later, Astrid finally lowered the sword.

Hiccup let go of the breath he'd been holding with a forceful 'whoosh'. So much for preventing Astrid taking out an axe insurance policy. She'd slipped past the fine print by using a sword instead.

He hastened forward to collect the discarded scabbard. Reaching Astrid, he gently prised the weapon from her tight grip before sheathing it and discretely handing it to a twin. He didn't care which one. As long as the sword was gone... and Heff remained unpierced.

The whole event only lasted about twenty seconds, but Hiccup was sure he'd lost about ten years of his life. His poor heart was still beating frantically in his chest as he guided her back to her seat, only pausing so she could take a bow to her enamoured audience.

The blood was still rushing through his ears as the celebrant took her place behind the lectern, her light humour reclaiming the room's attention after such a rousing performance. Despite the unplanned nature of it...courtesy of his weapon-mad employees...it still felt like Finn having one last laugh with his friends. Hiccup was sure the man himself would have loved it.

He couldn't help a snort. Thinking of the type of funeral that Heff was so desperate to see conducted against the one that had raced away from Hiccup was a little mind-blowing, to say the least. He chanced a look at the blonde warrior in the front row. Her cheeks were slightly flushed from the exercise but he could still see a tiny smirk hiding there.

Relief overwhelmed him. She was okay.

Good. Because he wasn't. He cast a heated glare towards his supposed assistants. They were obviously very pleased with themselves. He had to wonder though, was the word 'propriety' even in their vocabulary? He doubted it. The lecture he had lined up for them was already being planned out in his mind, before he decided to toss it out. Really, what was the point? The twins and Snotlout would always do whatever they wanted, regardless of anything he said.

He sighed, choosing instead to refocus on the celebrant. And bringing his blood pressure down.

By the time his palms had stopped sweating...and he no longer felt like a candidate for an angina attack... It was time for the final committal. The mood in the room dropped to sobering levels. Hiccup moved into position, his steps fluid and gracious as he reclaimed his professional persona.

Traditionally, family were invited first to come forward and sprinkle rose petals over the coffin. Before Heff and the rest could rise, Hiccup stepped towards Astrid. His hand extended towards hers. Their eyes connected, a wealth of emotions passing between them for just that moment before he guided her towards Snotlout and the petals he held. He watched with single minded dedication as she courageously approached the coffin containing her beloved uncle. One hand trailed tenderly while the other sprinkled the blood-red petals.

Stepping away, her chin lifted high. Pride filled his chest at her determination to keep it together. Even if the wetness holding court on her lashes gave away her true feelings. If there was ever a moment for a long comforting hug, this was it. But he couldn't. Instead, he took her hand under the guise of guiding her back to her seat, rubbing his thumb over hers in a gesture of reassurance. A brief flick upwards of her lips showed her appreciation. He captured her gaze with his own for a few moments before he was forced to let go. Even as he directed the rest of the audience to pay their last respects, his eyes continued to drift back to her.

Silence filled the high ceilinged room punctuated by the soft sniffles and throat clearing of those present, their last goodbye to a good man they knew and loved. The celebrant finished her concluding talk, disturbed only by the gentle whirring of the motorized curtains closing in front of the catafalque, slowly hiding Finn's coffin from view. The drapes were still swaying when music began to pump loudly through the speakers. A hard rock song, one of Finn's favourites, became his final message to all. Live and Love.

The main doors opened, the crowd rising from their seats ready to exit. Hiccup kept his place, nodding politely or skilfully dodging those who hurried past. He didn't blame them. Funerals were full of strong feelings that many simply didn't know how to navigate.

His eyes slid to Astrid. She hadn't yet moved from her seat, sitting quietly while others congregated around her to offer the grieving niece a few kind words of support. Her head dipped gracefully, accepting their condolences.

Heff was also attempting to linger, his frustration evident. He was obviously keen to 'discuss' something with Astrid but Hiccup was willing to bet it wouldn't be good. He was not going to easily forget the man's attempts to meddle with the service.

Tuffnut stepped forward again. "This way my good man. Don't want to be the last to arrive for the wake, do you? Not good form, you know."

When Heff's lips turned down in an obstinate frown, Tuffnut pretended to search around, muttering loud enough for the older man to hear quite clearly. "Now, where did I leave Macey and her sister sword?"

An audible gulp escaped Heff's throat, accompanied by the loss of several shades of pale. He turned, ushering his wife and son down the centre aisle and out the double doors with barely a glance at the solitary camera still operating, the dark lens focussed right on him.

Hiccup watched him go, allowing himself a small satisfied smile. The funeral hadn't quite gone as planned, but the end result was still the same...he'd promised Astrid a fitting farewell for her beloved uncle. And they had delivered, even if it was slightly unconventional.

The sole remaining camera operator shut down his camera, packing up his equipment with practised efficiency. Hiccup wandered closer.

Eret finished collapsing the tripod before straightening up to greet him. "All good now?"

Hiccup smirked, extending his hand. "Yeah. Thanks for that. I owe you one. Hope I didn't mess up your job too much."

His friend chuckled, grasping Hiccup's forearm briefly before releasing him. "Nah. All good. I do need to ask, though, are funerals usually this much fun?"

Hiccup hit him with an incredulous side eye. "Fun?"

"Yeah. That Viking battle was inspired. Plus that skinny dude you had up front was a total comedian."

"Tuffnut?" Hiccup sighed, the sound long-suffering and drawn out. "He's a total something, all right. Just haven't figured out what, yet."

Eret snorted. "Sounds like a story. I'll have to catch it another time. Got another gig to get to now."

"I hear you. Thanks again."

Eret had his bag slung over his shoulder, the tripod tucked under his arm. He flicked a two fingered salute. "Later, dude.

"Later."

Hiccup wandered up the aisle, collecting leftover bits and pieces while he kept his eye on Astrid. His staff filed past him, herding out the last of the stragglers. At long last the only ones left were Astrid and Hiccup, the twins and Snotlout having conveniently found other places to be. He shut and locked the chapel doors then turned to observe her. She rose quietly from her seat and approached the closed curtains.

Lifting her sad eyes to him, she asked quietly, "May I?"

Nodding his confirmation, he reached back for the remote control, flicking it to open the curtains just enough for her to slip through.

She approached the closed coffin, one trembling hand reaching out to softly caress the cold timber. Standing with her head bowed, Hiccup could see her hunched shoulders shaking with immense grief.

A rush of empathy flooded through him. So brave and dignified, she had refused to break down and cry in front of her remaining family. Now though, the walls were crashing down. This was the final good bye, no more chances to be had. No more delaying the only outcome.

Astrid openly sobbed and Hiccup felt like crying himself. His feet carried him straight towards her, towards the broken figure who had lost the last person she truly cared about. He couldn't prevent his actions, even if he wanted to.

Approaching quietly, he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Astrid?

Astrid did not reply. Instead she surprised him by swiftly turning and sliding her arms around his waist. Clinging tightly to his slender form, her sobs sounded muffled against his shirt. Hiccup automatically pulled her closer, keeping her surrounded with all the comfort and warmth he could offer. She'd caught him off guard but there was no way he was going to push her away. If this was what she needed, he was glad to provide it. Even if he had no right to do so.

No longer could he deny this woman wasn't extra special to him...regardless of how much he protested to the others that she was 'just a client'. So holding her like this felt so right...and so wrong, all at the same time.

Days could have passed, stars and planets revolving around them while Astrid remained attached to Hiccup as if he were the only thing keeping her from falling apart. Hiccup let her, his heart swelling in pain for the deep grief she was suffering. Keeping her enveloped in the safety of his arms was a private torture and privilege at the same time.

Finally though, it had to end. Her sobs had long since subsided before she loosened her hold on him. Hiccup gently released her, already feeling like he'd lost something unique and irreplaceable. But he had to let her go. Regardless of what had just happened, he was still her funeral director. She was still his client.

His hand hovered behind her lower back as he guided her past the curtains into the main part of the chapel. They paused, his gaze full of regret.

"I'm very sorry, Astrid. But I have to take him now. Will that be okay?"

Astrid nodded, her posture defeated as she unravelled crushed tissues hiding in her hand, searching for a patch intact enough to wipe her eyes. Hiccup shifted, grabbing a tissue box and holding it so she could take some fresh ones. Gently, he claimed the old crumpled ones, curling his fingers into her palms before pocketing them.

Stepping back, his gaze remained on her, assessing if she would really be okay. He needed to shift the coffin from where it still rested on the catafalque and allow the others in for cleaning, but he didn't want to rush her with practicalities. They could wait.

Without warning, Astrid moved towards him. Hiccup blinked at the abruptness. With an impulsive lunge, she grabbed the lapels of his jacket, pulling him down to crush her lips to his in a searing but brief kiss.

Standing back she released him with a quick flick, her eyes wide in shock. She'd obviously surprised herself as much as she had him.

Hiccup could only stare, his jaw hanging slack. The buzzing noise in his head almost drowned out the sound of muted cheering coming from the adjoining office.

Astrid's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Umm...yeah. I really wanted to say thank you," she stammered out.

Hiccup blinked owlishly before his brain finally unfroze...partially. His jaw snapped shut. If that was the way she wanted to show her appreciation, then Hiccup had no problems with it. At all. But he somehow doubted kissing funeral directors was a normal reaction.

He stuttered, his tongue suddenly too thick. "Er, um...thanks, that was good. I mean, you were good too. OH!...I think I'm trying to say, you were very brave throughout the service. I'm glad you didn't allow your Uncle Heff to spoil the day."

He cringed inside at his clumsy words but she didn't seem to take offence. Instead, he watched as a wistful smile loaded with far too much sadness twisted her lips, her face pale and slightly puffy from crying. "Thank you for that."

An awkward silence fell over them. Hiccup shuffled uncomfortably, his mind maddingly blank.

Routine. Maybe that would help. What was he supposed to be doing now? Oh, that's right.

"Um, I kinda need to ...you know." His hand waved vaguely towards Finn's casket.

One kiss. That was all it had taken to destroy his ingrained professionalism, effectively turning him into a bumbling fool. His lips were still tingling with the feel of hers. Never in all his career had he felt like this before with his mind turned to total mush. Thoughts flitted through, a vague reminder telling him he needed to keep it together...even if it was only an illusion.

He cleared his throat, straightening his jacket.

Astrid startled. She must have drifted miles away too. "Oh, right. I guess I had better go then."

"Sure."

Astrid hesitated, drawing in a shaky breath. One hand landed under her throat as she took a last lingering look at the coffin still visible through the gap in the curtains. Then she turned and strode rapidly out the chapel doors, closing them behind her.

Finally, Hiccup was free to turn the casket around but somehow his limbs didn't feel that strong anymore. In fact, he felt a lot like a limp strand of spaghetti.

Snotlout sauntered in through the hidden back door, the smug grin on his face and the wild gleam in his eye causing Hiccup's heart to drop.

"Hiccup, you sly dog, you...We saw it all..."

He may have said something else but Hiccup's attention was diverted to the blonde figure he could still see through the glass doors. She stood dejected, looking lost and so very alone.

"Er, Snotlout...can you take over please? I need to check on Astrid," he said absently, before heading through the doors.

He slowed his steps as he approached, not wanting to startle her.

"Astrid?"

Clouded blue eyes lifted to his, her dazed expression unsettling him.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice loaded with concern.

She shook her head, her face crumpling although no tears fell. Worried she was about to collapse, he moved to gently slide his arm around her waist before leading her to the nearest bench. He kicked himself for his stupidity. She had literally just suffered an emotional breakdown, long overdue after fighting so hard to suppress her feelings all this time. And all he could offer was to politely shove her out the door? What a dunce. Yes, her kiss had rattled him but that was no excuse. He shouldn't have left her alone.

A quick glance towards the empty carpark revealed she hadn't driven herself here. While he was relieved she wouldn't be driving in her current state of mind, he had to wonder.

Crouching before her, he took her hands in his.

"How were you planning on getting home?" he asked, his tone worried.

She sucked in a deep breath before answering. "Walk. I need to clear out all the stale air left over from them."

A tiny spark flared in her eyes at the mention of 'them'. Hiccup already knew who she meant, glad to see her fighting spirit hadn't totally abandoned her, but his brow furrowed. He didn't like that idea any better than her driving. Before he could think too much about it, he opened his mouth.

"You're in no fit state to walk anywhere right now. How about I take you to the wake? You can catch up with your friends and..."

Her head shook with a frantic motion. "NO! Not there. I can't...I can't face them right now. I can't watch their smug faces and listen to their...lies. Pretending they ever...cared. Not now. Please? Could you just order me a taxi to the cliffs overlooking the ocean at Raven's Point? They can leave me there. Please?"

Alarm shot through him, his thoughts straight away jumping to conclusions about the type of actions a depressed person could take at the ocean cliffs.

"Astrid..." he began hesitantly. How should he broach this? Sensitivity was required, big time. He kept his voice gentle. "What are you going to do there? I don't want you to hurt yourself?"

Her eyes opened wide at the unspoken suggestion. "No! I wouldn't do that...it's just... that's where Uncle Finn used to go whenever he was feeling down. He used to say the sound of the waves crashing against the cliffs always made him feel better. Helped him think."

Hiccup felt relief washing over him at her answer. She just wanted to visit a familiar and comforting space. Perfectly acceptable.

"Oh...of course. I will be happy to take you there myself," he told her, even if the idea of sending her to an isolated location was not really sitting well with him. The professional side of him thought sending her straight home in a taxi was the most responsible thing to do, but the more compassionate side of him wanted to do everything he could to help her cope with her loss in the way she felt best.

He knew he was going to hear all kinds of lectures from Fishlegs about responsibility and consequences, but right now he didn't care. He wanted to do this...for her. Besides, he had a few things of his own to think about. Like that kiss, for example. Maybe the waves would do him some good too for he already knew he wasn't about to leave her there by herself.

"Let me grab my keys, and we'll be right to go, okay?"

She tried to rebuff his offer. "You don't have to do that. A taxi will be fine."

His hand dropped gently on her shoulder. "No, Astrid. I'm sorry, but I will be taking you. I want to make sure you're safe."

Astrid regarded him carefully, seeing the earnestness there. He was going to do this anyway and she didn't feel up to arguing with him. Plus, the idea of Hiccup wanting to make sure she was safe felt…comforting somehow. She relented.

"Thank you," she said gratefully, eyes already closing as she rested her head back on the wall behind her.

Hiccup rushed into the chapel, only to find his four friends waiting for him.

Fishlegs was onto him straight away. "Hiccup, what's going on?"

Avoiding eye contact, Hiccup side stepped the questions he knew were coming. Right now, he wasn't sure what the answers would be.

Rushing past into the office, he threw over his shoulder, "Astrid's not feeling the best. I'm going to give her a lift home."

Where were his keys? Of all the days to misplace them, it would have to be today? Feverishly, he lifted papers and folders. Still no keys.

A jingling sound behind him caught his attention. "Looking for these?" Ruffnut asked, holding the desired item up high.

Snatching them out of her hand, he pushed roughly past them all. "Thanks. Gotta go."

Fishlegs spluttered in confusion. "But...?"

"No time, Fish. Talk later."

Hiccup wasted no time slipping behind the wheel of his black sedan and driving round the front where Astrid was already standing. She climbed in.

Silence filled the sedan. Hiccup kept stealing glances towards his passenger as he drove, but she was clearly being held captive by her own thoughts, her gaze unfocussed as she stared out the window.

The black sedan came to a smooth stop in the carpark at Raven's Point. Turning off the engine, he remained in his seat and waited. It was a few moments before she moved.

"Thank you, Hiccup. I appreciate you doing this for me," she told him, her voice quiet. She reached for the door release, only to find her way stopped when he placed his warm hand over hers.

Her confused blue eyes met his green ones.

"I'm not leaving you here by yourself."

She hesitated for a moment then shrugged, seemingly unconcerned. "Your choice what you do. It's a free world."

Motioning for her to stay put, he walked round to her side. Offering his elbow, his eyes warmed with the amiable grin he gave her. A soft smirk graced her lips at his efforts, but she placed her hand in the crook of his arm anyway.

Together they walked to the cliff edge, leaning on the railing overlooking the ocean without words. Hiccup could see straight away why Finn liked this place so much. The stiff sea breeze seemed to flush all the cobwebs from his mind, making him feel calmer. He inhaled deeply, the salty scent reminding him of younger days spent relaxing on the beach when he had nothing better to do than play and unwind.

"Your uncle was right. This is a good place to come," he told her, his tone soft and appreciative.

Astrid merely nodded, her eyes already closed as she lifted her face into the cooling flutter of air rushing over her tear-swollen cheeks. A gentle smile lifted the corner of her lips when she took in a healing breath of sea breeze.

The two stood silently shoulder to shoulder for quite some time, simply looking out over the endless waves rolling over and over towards the cliffs where they noisily crashed against the rocks. The sound created a soothing influence on the confusion that both held in their respective hearts, allowing them to think more clearly.

Hiccup glanced sideways at the blonde woman beside him. He was pleased to see her natural colour had mostly returned and she seemed more at peace with herself. Astrid turned, catching him watching her. She blushed.

"Uh…thanks for helping me back there." Astrid couldn't believe she'd sobbed so noisily into his jacket like that. Her gaze flicked over the wet patch still visible on his shirt and she squirmed a little. She'd offer to pay for the dry cleaning if she thought he'd accept. Normally she would push the matter, but right now she didn't have the mental strength. Not today.

Anyway, she doubted he'd judge her for her actions. He'd already seen her cry after boldly telling him she wouldn't. Grief was part of his job, after all.

Kissing probably wasn't.

She shoved that thought aside. Not going there. Not till the flames heating her cheeks had left, anyway. Choosing the slightly lesser of the two disconcerting subjects, she continued.

"I didn't know I had that in me. I...I guess with all that's been going on with Heff and all the funeral arrangements I haven't had much time to think about the fact that he's …gone…and never coming back," she told him quietly, her voice cracking with emotion.

His hand reached out to briefly cover hers before pulling back. "That's okay. I know when dad died I fell apart a few times too. I don't know if I've ever really gotten over his death…but it does become easier to manage over time."

She chanced a glance at him, seeing the calm acceptance he now had regarding his father. Astrid couldn't help but wonder if it was possible for her to ever be like that, able to talk about her uncle without breaking down. She wasn't sure she could.

Hiccup watched the turmoil reflected in her blue eyes. All the suffering she was going through. She didn't believe him.

He nudged her shoulder. "Hey...trust me. It will happen. Just don't try to pressure yourself in the meantime. If you need to have a day curled up in your pyjama's watching sad movies with a couch full of tissues, then let it happen. Just try not to run out of clean pj's. Or tissues." He was half joking, wanting to see a smile on her face.

He got one. A weak one but still a smile.

"I'll try...Thanks."

Hiccup only nodded, not saying anything more. Side by side they continued to lean on the railing, their shoulders close enough to touch. Faces to the wind, enjoying the solitude on this wild stretch of coast. Settling their souls.

Time progressed and Astrid began to feel guilty for keeping Hiccup away from his work. She wasn't his responsibility.

She glanced up. "You know, you can go back anytime you like. I'll be fine here. I can call a taxi later when I'm ready."

Hiccup shook his head, his expression kind but firm. "I'm not leaving you alone, Astrid. I don't care how long you want to stay here." He hesitated a moment. "It would worry me too much, you being here by yourself."

She eyed him cautiously. "So...is this all part of the service, then? Should I expect my bill to jump up?"

His gaze connected with hers, his eyes soft. "It's called being a human being. I'm not your funeral director right now. Just your friend."

Astrid searched his face, looking for anything that would give her reason to pull away. Sincerity and compassion were all she found. He knew what she was going through. He'd been there himself. He was only offering friendship, and she could really use some of that right now.

She nodded. "Thank you."

Turning back to face the ocean, Astrid watched the waves rolling over each other in a continuous mesmerizing pattern, the sound of water crashing reaching her ears a fraction later. A lone seagull cried, its wings beating silently through the air. Peaceful.

"You know, I plan to scatter Finn's ashes here," she told him, her voice so quiet he could barely hear. "But I want to keep him with me for a while first." She turned to him and he could see the uncertainly in her eyes. "Is that selfish of me? To not want to let him go straight away?"

Hiccup shook his head. "No, of course not. It only shows how much you love him. You'll know when the time is right."

She let loose a small relieved sigh, as if he had soothed a worry she had been holding onto. Which he had.

The two stared out at the waves in silence for a little longer. Hiccup's brows pulled together in a slight frown.

"Not to be crass or anything, but can I ask how you would scatter your uncle's ashes from here? This wind is constantly coming in... and scattering upwind is never a good idea," he said idly. "It leaves rather a dry taste in your mouth."

Astrid grinned, a vivid picture in her mind of her uncle having the last laugh.

"Actually, that would suit Finn right down to the funny bone if that happened."

Hiccup snorted. After hearing so many stories about Finn, Hiccup felt sorry he'd never have the chance to meet the man. He would have really liked him.

"No, I intend to charter a boat and scatter on the waves just out to sea." She pointed towards a spot past the breakers.

He nodded approvingly. "Good move."

Astrid sighed, the sound wistful. "Uncle Finn really loved his fishing. Said he couldn't imagine being anywhere else. He even made me promise I would cremate him so that his ashes could be spread out in the ocean."

She twisted her face into a sour grimace. Hiccup had to wonder why. He soon found out.

"Finn knew his brother would have him buried in a cemetery wearing a suit and tie, and he really didn't want that to happen...which was why he made me his executor."

Hiccup's lip twitched. "He obviously knew you would do everything in your power to make it right." He nudged Astrid's shoulder. "And you did. I'm impressed with how well you handled it all…today and last week."

Astrid's smile was brief, knowing that a large part of that had only been possible due to Hiccup's support.

"If I didn't have you to guide me, I don't know how well any of it would have gone…especially with Heff trying to cause such a mess. But you…you were so calm the whole time, keeping it all together…keeping me together. I think you were wonderful."

Hiccup cleared his throat, a little flustered at her sincere words. Especially when he remembered how panicked he'd actually been at the last part. 'Calm' had definitely fled.

"I only did what was needed. The rest was all you," he replied, deciding to humbly deflect her kind words instead of making any comments regarding the twins unexpected surprise. She'd been there too. Besides, he knew she wasn't just talking about the funeral. She meant the week leading up to it.

Astrid turned to him, "I know what you did, Hiccup. You don't have to be modest around me."

Hiccup dropped his gaze. "Thank you, but I really can't claim any of the credit. You were the one who came up with all the ideas. I was only lucky that you and I work so well together."

She smirked softly, "We do make a great team, Hiccup. A great anti-Heff team."

Hiccup could feel the warmth moving up his cheeks, not knowing what to make of that comment. He did know that he was so very glad he was able to support her against her last remaining relative, who had consistently threatened to derail the whole process from the very beginning. Although he probably could have done without the heart-stopping flapping about of sharp weapons orchestrated by his guileful staff. Especially when they had brought about his greatest fear and armed Astrid.

He leaned slightly towards her. "Thank you, by the way."

Astrid looked up, confused. "For what?"

"For not skewering your uncle Heff."

Her lip twisted, as if she couldn't decide what to commit to...a frown or a grin.

"I can readily admit I was more than a little nervous when you had him pinned like that."

Her lips relaxed into a wide mischievous grin. "So was he."

Hiccup burst out laughing, his shoulders shaking.

Self-satisfaction coated her smirk. "I told you I didn't need an axe."

He nodded in agreement, his laughter easing. "You did. And if you recall, I never doubted you."

Her eyes claimed his as she turned slightly towards him. "No, you didn't."

Hiccup's laughter died away completely, remembering the conversation they'd had on Saturday morning. The feeling he'd had at the time, of what it would like to be more than just client and provider. Pure wishful thinking about something impossible.

He broke eye contact, turning to face forward again. He needed a distraction, but what? A burning question buzzed the back of his mind. He cleared his throat, hoping he wasn't about to make things worse.

"If you don't mind me asking…and I'll understand if you don't want to talk about it…but why was your uncle Heff so against a public funeral for Finn?"

Astrid sighed heavily, her features pinched tight into a frown. She didn't answer for a moment, leaving Hiccup to think she didn't intend to. But then she started talking.

"My dad and Finn were born only a year apart. Heff was much older. He'd always been jealous of them and how close they were. Dad used to tell me that if ever there was a snitch, it was Heff. When they were kids he was always running to their parents and getting dad and Finn into trouble. For everything. Even when they had grown up, he was still dobbing them in. Once he rang the police and told them dad had received stolen goods just because a friend had arrived late one night at his house. Of course he hadn't. He was actually helping his friend hide a special present for his wife as a surprise. Which was ruined when dad's friend had to come down and explain it all."

Astrid shifted irritably, her fingers restlessly drumming against the fence rail. Hiccup was about to tell her she didn't need to say anything more, but she continued.

"Heff always seemed to believe that he was above the rest of us and that we were a 'stain' on the Hofferson name. Sure, grandpa had made some money with his business, but he was a down-to-earth kinda guy. Dad and Finn were like that too. They'd rather have a beer with their mates then sip champagne. Heff would only 'associate' with all the so-called upper class hanging off grandpa's monied coat tails and pretty much ignored us. Even though he wasn't any richer than any of us. We didn't care, except somehow Heff got a lucky break. He did something for somebody, wrangled free shares in a company that suddenly shot up in value. Viola! One instant rich guy. On top of that, through a technicality he ended up being the sole heir of grandpa's fortunes when the old man died. Now Heff believes he's in the right place and we are just low-life plebs because we're not as snooty as he is."

Hiccup frowned, unable to comprehend why Heff would make such choices. And why would he so greedily keep his own family away from the fortune they deserved as much as he did? It didn't make sense.

"Didn't your dad and Finn fight for their share of the inheritance?"

Astrid shook her head, a few loose strands from her braid catching in the breeze. "Dad was already dead by then, and I didn't want one dollar that had already been in my uncle's filthy hands." She made a face at the unpleasant memory. "Finn was fighting with Tessa over the divorce settlement because she wanted more money for Ross…she was still trying to claim her kid was his…and he didn't want to give her any more reasons to pursue him. So no, neither of us felt it was worth it."

Hiccup watched her, his mind turning over. "Haven't you wanted to pursue the money since? Surely it would help you out?"

Astrid shot him a side-eye. "I haven't spared a single thought about fighting with Heff over money. Besides…uncle Finn left the bulk of his estate to me. He made some serious investments that the others don't know about, so I won't be missing out on anything."

Hiccup smiled, relieved that something good had come from all of this. Although he knew Astrid would prefer her uncle over money any day of the week. But still, it was good to know that Astrid wouldn't be disadvantaged by her greedy uncle Heff's actions.

Astrid turned, closing her eyes to take advantage of the soothing cool breeze as it caressed her skin. Hiccup stared, mesmerized by the curve of her high cheeks, the softness of her lips and the gentle flutter of her lashes. Even the shape of her nose and chin were fascinating. She was perfect. An image forever imbedded in his mind.

Her eyes popped open. Hiccup hastily dragged his gaze away, not wanting to be caught staring like some kind of crazy stalker. She'd probably think he'd brought her to this isolated site for his own sketchy purposes. He almost snorted to himself. His own thoughts would easily condemn him if she could read his mind.

All those thoughts came to a screeching halt when he realised she was telling him something. The pain in her voice was clear despite how softly she spoke, her gaze unfocussed as she stared out across the deep blue of the sea.

"The police rang me yesterday….to tell me what happened to Finn."

Hiccup found himself tensing at this news. He waited cautiously, knowing the reason for Finn's death had been a major worry for her. Especially with the way her relatives had been branding him a coward.

When the silence continued, he gently prompted. "What did they say?"

"He was a hero."

Hiccup's shoulders dropped in relief. He hadn't doubted but it was nice to have it confirmed. Especially against Heff's accusations. Astrid continued her uncle's story.

"As you know, he worked as a security guard. He and his partner had been warned to keep an eye out for any suspicious behavior around a certain storage building. They suspected it was being used for illegal purposes. So when they cornered a guy who had broken in, it didn't take them long to secure him. But Finn saw a second guy hiding with a gun trained on his partner. The guy fired his gun, but Finn's warning saved his partner. He chased after the shooter. He hadn't deserted his partner...but he hadn't waited for back up either. Unfortunately for Finn, he was ambushed by a group of men he hadn't seen. They shot him point blank. He had no chance to escape."

Tears drifted silently down her cheeks but she made no move to wipe them away. The breeze soon did half the job for her. Hiccup reached up with his thumb and quietly did the rest, his heart heavy with the story she had told.

She glanced at him, but said nothing.

Hiccup settled back on the rail beside her. "So, why didn't you mention this at the funeral?"

Astrid sighed, the sound heavy with the load she had been forced to bear. "Because it's not official yet. I was told purely to put my mind at ease. I'm not allowed to say anything until the investigation has been completed. Besides, anybody who mattered at the funeral already knows that Finn is a hero. And the others…..they don't matter. Not to me, anyway."

Hiccup could only smile at her bravery and determination to not let the nay-sayers get into her head and tarnish her image of her uncle. It was the fire in her that he really appreciated. She may be temporarily down, but she was not going to allow herself to be beaten.

Still, he had to ask. "Does Heff know?"

Her lip lifted in a silent sneer as she shook her head. "No. And I'm not telling him either. He can find out on the news like everybody else. But I doubt he will even care. He won't change his opinion of his brother just because of some police investigation."

This bothered Hiccup quite a lot. That somebody would willingly think so badly of their own sibling, just because he didn't fit in with Heff's own societal expectations. It also made him quite worried for Astrid. What was going to happen to her? Was Heff and the others going to continue to harass her too?

Frowning, Hiccup chewed on his lip in thought. He couldn't begin to express how much the idea disturbed him.

A stronger gust blew in, tousling Hiccup's hair. Astrid shivered, her thin dress no barrier against the cold. Hiccup noticed and took off his jacket, placing it around her shoulders.

She immediately protested, attempting to take it off. "You'll get cold too."

Hiccup placed his hands over her shoulders, forcing her to keep the jacket on. "That's fine. The cold doesn't worry me."

Astrid paused for a moment. Hiccup was always so gallant, regardless of who he was with. No wonder he had such an impeccable reputation. After all, it was partly because of that selfless quality that she had found herself attracted to him in the first place. Her and quite a few other women if rumours were to be believed. Not that she considered him a player, it was just that people naturally gravitated towards him.

Even when the painful grip of grief threatened to overwhelm, her thoughts had spontaneously turned to him. She knew he felt the connection too, she'd seen it in his eyes and heard it in his voice. Maybe that's why she kissed him. To test that connection.

The middle of a funeral was not the appropriate place to start a romance, she was well aware of that. Still, when he had held her so closely while she'd fallen to pieces, it had been nice to think of what it would be like to do it again. Without the tears, of course.

Now the funeral was over, her chance of seeing him again had just plummeted to practically zero. She still had so much to deal with in sorting out her uncle's affairs. And he would likely baulk at a relationship with a client. Still, something had driven him to accompany her to the sea cliffs. He could have easily walked away.

Right here and now might be the only opportunity she had to find out. It might be considered greedy, but if Finn's death had taught her anything it was to take whatever happiness she could find. Her heart twisted as she imagined Finn's smiling face telling her to go for it.

That's when she decided she would.

Astrid eyed off Hiccup, wearing an expression he couldn't decipher.

"How 'bout we share it?" she suggested. Before he could think of a response she had already pulled his arm around her while snuggling her back into his chest.

Hiccup was astounded by her actions, feeling shocked and wanting to pull away. This was so far beyond any professional distance he had been attempting to keep that it was totally off the charts. Although he had to admit his recent actions had already blown way past 'professional courtesy'.

Still, he felt that this was too much and was ready to retrieve his arm and step back. But when she gave a contented sigh, he hesitated before finally deciding 'Stuff it'. He relaxed, shifting his hand around her waist to a more comfortable position while the other remained on the railing.

It also didn't hurt that yes, he did feel warmer with the blonde woman leaning against him. His cotton shirt hadn't really been any more of a barrier against the icy sea breeze than her dress had been. If anybody questioned his sanity after this, than that would be his only excuse.

What? It was feasible. Keeping warm was important.

Hiccup sighed. He knew he was supposed to be her funeral director, but at this very moment he didn't want to be. He just wanted to be Hiccup, the man. Astrid's friend. Still, his head began to pound with troublesome thoughts demanding to be heard, reminding him that this woman in his arms was his client. He shouldn't be here at all. He should have turned around and left when she had told him to.

Hiccup shook himself internally. No, he could never have done it. Even if she had been a regular client, he could never have left her here by herself. Despite all his efforts to convince himself otherwise, Astrid had reached his heartstrings, compelling him to do all he could for her. Right now, she needed him and he wasn't going to turn away. Even if her close proximity was beginning to drive him just a little crazy.

Astrid wriggled a little, reveling in his warmth. Hiccup's breath hitched at the movement, his emotions in a turmoil over what the action had done to him.

"Isn't this better?" she started to say with a breathy laugh. She half-turned to face him, but the words died in her throat when she found his mouth only inches from her own. Her breath hitched as her gaze flicked up, capturing his darkened eyes staring back at her, his want and need barely disguised there.

Astrid was reminded of her own impromptu action earlier in the chapel when she had kissed him. He obviously cared for her, and she already knew how much she cared for him. This was probably wrong but she couldn't find it in herself to pull away.

Astrid only hesitated for one tiny fraction of a second, before she reached up to tentatively caress his cheek. That simple action was all the encouragement he needed. Hiccup gently lowered his lips to her own willing ones, the kiss between them sweet and tender, but meaningful. When they finally separated, Hiccup pulled her in a little tighter, tucking her into his chest and wrapping both arms around her.

Breathing in a slow, deep breath, Hiccup felt at peace and in turmoil, all at the same time. Taking the initiative to kiss her had been very rewarding and felt so right. He thought that perhaps he should say something but words seemed superfluous at that point. He was frightened of saying the wrong thing and breaking this first tentative and fragile connection they had made.

So he was content to have only this moment, standing there with the most beautiful woman he had ever known in his arms. The persistent voices at the back of his mind tried to scream at him, telling him he shouldn't be doing this, it was the wrong thing to do. He didn't want to listen to them right now, so he shut down that part of his mind, silencing it.

The young couple stayed in each other's arms for a little longer, before Astrid started to stir. She loosened her grip on him, smiling softly up at him. Hiccup let her go and they walked companionably side by side back to the car. Opening her door, Hiccup waited till she slid into the seat before closing it and walking round to his side.

On the drive back, Hiccup kept shooting glances at the silent young woman beside him. Neither felt compelled to fill the silence with a lot of words, each contemplating their own noisy thoughts instead. It wasn't until he had opened the car door for her and she was standing outside her house, that Astrid spoke.

"Thank you so much, Hiccup. For everything."

She reached up to gently cup his cheek and he leaned into her hand. They gazed at each other, their eyes saying all that words couldn't. Wishing for another time and place when they both could have been free to pursue whatever it was they had accidentally started.

Leaving him there, Astrid walked the few steps further to her front door, pulling out her keys as she went. Unlocking the door, she pushed it open and paused to turn around. He was still standing where she had left him, watching her.

With a tiny twitch up of her lip, she lifted her hand in farewell, then closed the door.

Hiccup waited only a moment longer, before sighing and turning to leave.

Despite all that happened, he knew this was the end of it. They each had their own lives to continue with. He had a business to run, and she had an uncle to grieve.

He didn't know if he would ever see her again.