Hiccup had no idea what to do.

How could he explain this to her? She hadn't heard the full conversion! There was so much more she needed to hear! How could he make her believe him?

He was brought out of his thoughts by the shrill screech of an angry princess.

"HICCUP!"

Heather's bellow could be heard on the other end of the castle.

"You rat eating, good for nothing munge bucket-"

Hiccup winced "She told you?"

"Of course she told me!" Heather all but yelled, eyes blazing "What in Helheim is wrong with you?! How could you say something like that? Why would you say something like that?!"

"It's... Complicated" he almost cringed at the vague description.

Hiccup knew why Heather was so angry, she had every right to be. She was just protecting her friend. Hiccup also knew he could explain everything, but he wanted Astrid to be the first to hear it.

"I don't get it Hiccup" Heather sighed exasperated "What you said... That wasn't you at all"

"I know it wasn't" he brought a hand to his forehead in a distressed manner "Look, that conversation she heard, there was a lot more she doesn't know about"

"Even if that's true, why would you insult her like that? You could've just denied having romantic feelings for her without undermining her"

"I know, I know, believe me I know" he moved his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose "Look I could tell you everything, and you'll probably hear it at some point anyway, but I really want to sort this out with Astrid first. Do you know where she is?"

The way Heather looked at him, it was too gentle to be angry, yet too cold to be sympathetic "She said she needed to be alone. I think she went on a flight with her dragon, I don't know where to"

Instantly, Hiccup felt himself deflate with defeat. If she'd gone on a flight, she could be anywhere. If it was up to him, he'd fly everywhere to find her. He'd fly to the end of the Archipelago and back so he could find her and explain himself. But it wasn't up to him. He left in just under an hour. His father had been very strict about leaving on time. And frankly, with all of his disobedience this trip, he didn't have much room to argue. He wouldn't be able to find her and get himself ready in that time. He prayed she'd come back soon.

"Great" now it was his turn to sigh "Right now, I've gotta Toothless ready for the flight home. I suppose I just have to see her when she returns. Or send her a terror mail or something from Berk. I honestly don't know. "

"Just do whatever you need to do Hiccup" Heather stare cut into him deep. She began to leave but he needed to know.

"Wait Heather!"

She turned around, face neutral. Her features were so calm it was almost scary.

"Do you think she'll forgive me?"

"I hope so" she confessed "You affected her a lot more than she lets on"

"How so?"

"I've known Astrid for 10 years. And in those 10 years, she's never cried" came her cryptic response.

"S-she was c-crying?"

Her look was answer enough. His heart sank to his stomach "Oh"

"You need to fix this Hiccup"

He really, really did.

xxxx

"This is so stupid" she muttered to herself, desperately dabbing at her face.

Astrid didn't know what was happening to her. She never behaved this way. Her emotions were always intact. They had to be. She could not afford to give other servants more ammunition against her. Astrid was a Hofferson. Despite her tarnished family name, she knew the truth. Hoffersons were - are - not weak.

Yet here she was, reduced to a puddle of tears in a lonely room located Thor-knows-where in the castle grounds.

Something about the conversation with Hiccup... It just broke her. Suddenly, her emotions were impossible to contain. She'd practiced hiding her emotions for years, some would even call her an expert. And now all her hard work was for nothing.

In some ways, it sparked anger in her. She didn't know why Hiccup had such a big grip on her life. He had no right to do this. He was not allowed to come in and mess up almost every aspect of her life and just leave again. It wasn't fair to her. She was perfectly content with her life before he came along. Not happy, maybe, but that was okay. She never strived for, or even desired, happiness in the same way others around her did. Astrid didn't need Hiccup.

But, curse her wretched heart, she still wanted him.

True, maybe she'd started this whole mess when she dressed as the Princess, but then he certainly contributed as well. It was almost funny, she lamented to herself bitterly, how someone could have the power to make you feel like you were soaring in the clouds and then also have the power to make you feel like you were 6 feet under.

"Astrid?" the voices of Ruffnut and Tuffnut blended together and echoed around the isolated room.

"Oh, hey you guys" Astrid automatically got up and wiped away a stray tear "What's up?"

"Just the person we're looking for!" Tuffnut exclaimed, slinging his arm around her "Ruffnut and I were having a little disagreement and we need the input of an expert"

"Sweet talking won't sway me Tuff" She scoffed in an amused fashion "What's it about this time?"

Maybe this is what she needed, maybe she needed some normal.

"So we were discussing diseases and death, you know, all that fun stuff. And then Ruffnut, the heathen, decides to say that the best way to stop disease is by burning your clothes. Everyone knows the best way to stop disease is by eating mouldy bread!"

"That's not true! Burning clothes is way better!"

"Mould!"

"Burn!"

"Mould!"

"Burn!"

"Mou-!"

"You guys" she interrupted, smiling as much as she could "Hate to break it to you, but both of those are terrible"

"Oh yeah well I take back my expert comment! You CLEARLY don't- Hey Hoff what happened to your face?" Tuffnut interrupted himself

"What? Oh nothing, don't worry" her smile became fake as she wiped away a rebellious tear.

"It looks like someone rained on your face!"

"Awww geez Tuffnut I'm blushing" she mocked, somewhat bitter "Look it really doesn't matter"

"Oh my gods! You're crying! The great Astrid Hofferson is crying! This-" he was cut off by a swift punch to the arm delivered by Ruffnut.

"Hey! Astrid doesn't cry! It's... The dust! The dust! The dust you hear me, the dust!" Ruffnut insisted as Astrid threw a grateful smile in her direction.

"Thanks Ruff"

"Anytime. You wanna talk about it?"

"The opposite actually, I want to get my mind off of it. I think I'm just gonna go on a flight, that's what Heather thinks I'm doing anyway"

"If you're sure"

"Hey A, you want a hug?" the male twinn offered.

"Um..." Astrid hesitated slightly.

Before she knew it Tuffnut was rushing towards her. She felt arms wrap her around her. But...

"TUFFNUT YOU MUTTON HEAD! THAT'S A HEAD LOCK!"

"LET ME HUG HOW I HUG!"

Despite the soul crushing pain in her chest, Astrid found the strength to laugh.

This, to her, was definitely normal.

xxxx

"Hey girl" Astrid smiled gently "Guess what just arrived at the castle?"

Astrid slyly brought out a barrel of chicken which Stormfly expected without hesitation.

"Just my way of apologizing" she said with a tiny grimace "I'm sorry for ignoring you this week"

The way Stormfly looked at her, it was pity. Dragon pity.

"Oh come on Stormfly, don't look at me like that" she smiled as best she could "Really, I'm fine"

Another look that saw right through her.

"Alright, I'm not fine" she confessed "But I promise, I'll be okay"

At that, Stormfly gave her what she could only assume was a hug. An act that Astrid accepted with pleasure. Even if not everything worked out for her, there always going to be things that made the hardships worth it.

"You know what Stormfly, this week has been absolutely crazy" Astrid began, adjusting her dragon's saddle "Between Prince Hiccup and the late night meetings... A lot has been going on."

Stormfly nuzzled her in a comforting manner.

"Well I certainly need a break" she giggled lightly "And I have a feeling you need to stretch your wings. Why don't we get away for a while, yeah?"

Stormfly sqauwked happily.

"Yeah, I thought so" She said amusedly "To be honest, I need to figure out some stuff away from here. I was a bit of a silly girl. I allowed myself to actually fall for the Prince. Of all the people in the world, it had to be a Prince. I actually thought he was different. That he might really feel... Well I suppose it doesn't matter anymore. I was wrong, clearly"

The chuckle that escaped her sounded so wrong. It was bitter and twisted. Soon she realized she was getting emotional again and attempted to blink back tears.

"Oh gods, look at me. A teary mess in the stables" she said, desperately scrubbing at her face "I guess with everything that's been happening, my emotions are getting harder to contain. But that's not me at all. It's just right now, I feel so many things. I'm overwhelmed, and I'm upset and a little angry. Plus sadness, confusion. Gods, so many emotions. But time with my favourite dragon will always make me feel better. So come on Stormfly..."

She made the final adjustments to her dragon's saddle.

"Take me anywhere girl"

She heard a soft gasp from behind her.

"You"

The end is nearing you guys... Wow I don't know if I'm ready XD.

Fun fact #3: All the serious stuff was never meant to be a part of the story. I've written some fanfiction in the past but it was always very angsty. I really wanted to try something different. But as it would turn out, I'm kind of incapable of doing a story without any angst whatsoever. Plus with the setting and context of the story, as well as the way I'd set up the characters, all the seriousness kind of made sense. But hopefully I've managed to balance seriousness and comedy well, I don't know, this is the first time I've written comedy for fanfiction.

Next chapter: Final Confrontation.

As always please feel free to review! All feedback is appreciated (just make sure any criticism is written constructively)

Shohini :)