Thirty Two: The Final Secret

Heather flicked through the news channels as she sat in the waiting room in Berk General Hospital, checking her emails and reading desperate requests for interviews from every news outlet in the Archipelago and many international ones as well.

"Even Reuters," she murmured.

"Look, I'm surprised that Housewife and Helmet Magazine isn't asking for an interview as well," Dagur commented, pacing backwards and forwards.

"They were second," Heather told him dryly.

"Really? So who was first?" Dagur asked, interested despite himself.

"Archipelago Beekeeper Magazine," Heather said glumly.

"Ha! And they call me deranged," he said and sat in the chair by her as a group of four people walked it, chattering loudly.

"…said we should wait in here," the tall, husky blond young man said, talking to a pair of lanky blonds who were so alike they were clearly twins. The female with three fat plaits slid her arm though his.

"Don't worry, Fish," she reassured him. "I'm sure he'll be fine…"

"Oh yeah? And when did you get your Medical Degree, Butt-Elf?" the male with long blond dreadlocks said, slumping in the seat by her. Heather frowned.

"Ruff? Tuff? Fishlegs?" she guessed and they looked up.

"Heather? What are you doing here?" Fishlegs asked as the twins jumped up and embraced her.

"Thorston sandwich!" Tuff announced.

"I'm Astrid's manager and I got over here as soon as the owner of the Valkyries could fly his plane back from bringing Astrid across after Hiccup," she explained. "She rang me once they got to hospital and Hiccup went into surgery. He saved her life."

"What?" the fourth person asked. Snotlout glared at her, his blue eyes narrowed in disbelief. "Hiccup saved Astrid?"

"Snotlout-what are you doing here?" Fishlegs asked him. "You weren't really Hiccup's friend at School and you bullied him." Dagur frowned and rose to his feet. He walked over to Snotlout.

"Excuse me," he said determinedly. "Are you Snotlout Jorgensen?" The raven-haired stocky young man nodded.

"Yeah-I'm Hiccup's cousin," he said lazily. "What's it to you...whoever you are?" Dagur nodded thoughtfully-then punched him in the nose.

"Then you deserve this for everything you put him through!" he told the young man, who was trying to staunch his bleeding nose. Looking around, Snotlout saw the others…then they all started cheering. Annoyed, Snotlout glared at them all.

"Shut up Fishface, twins and…whoever you are…" he snapped as Astrid walked in, looking exhausted. There was a bruise on her face and her shirt was stained with blood. "Hey babe-come to see the Snotman?"

"Ugh, no-not if you were the last male on Midgard," she told him crushingly.

"Aww, c'mon babe-you know you're just pining for all this manly Vikingness..." Snotlout leered, earning him another punch in the nose from Astrid. He whined in pain. "Owwww!"

"Ugh. And yuk," Astrid growled.

"How is he?" Heather asked as the others all paid attention.

"He's out of surgery and he'll live," she said with relief, earning herself a huge hug from Heather, Dagur and then the twins. "Guys-what are you doing here?" she asked in shock.

"Are you kidding?" Ruff asked her. "It's all over the news. Hiccup leaves you, comes home, the psycho bitch attacks him in his home, you arrive, bitch attacks you, Hiccup saves you from being stabbed and you subdue her. And Hiccup is fighting for his life!"

"Wow-that's astonishingly concise," Astrid commented.

"I can make it more rambling if you want," Tuff offered and she waved her hand.

"No-that was just fine," she said quickly. "Have the police said anything?"

"Bella is in jail for violating her restraining order and has been charged with unlawful entry, malicious wounding, attempted murder and grievous bodily harm," Heather reported. "And no prospect of bail this time!"

"Good," Astrid growled. "I should've hit her harder."

"You broke her jaw," Dagur commented proudly. "That's my sister." The twins frowned but Heather hugged Astrid.

"Has his father arrived yet?" she asked but Astrid shook her head.

"He lands in an hour-it was the first flight he could get," she reported. "I'm going back to sit with him."

"Tell him we were here when he wakes," Fishlegs said in a worried voice and she flashed the husky boy a smile.

"I'm sure he'll be grateful," she said honestly and turned to the door, glancing at the stocky raven-haired man who was still moaning about his nose. "Well, mostly…"

"Hey!"

"We'll be waiting, Bestie," Heather called. "And I'll send Dagur in shortly with a drink and some refreshments…"

"I'm not hungry," Astrid said shortly.

"Well, you'll have something to eat," Dagur told her firmly. "He wouldn't want you to harm yourself watching over him. He did it for you, after all…" Astrid sighed.

"Yes-and I didn't deserve it," she said dully and left the room.

Walking along the white corridor, Astrid found herself running over every moment with Hiccup-and especially those frantic final moments. She paused outside the room, closing her eyes and seeing again the moment when the knife slid into his body. And the mist of red at seeing him fallen…and his words.

Astrid? Will you marry me?

At least I can die with it being real.

She pushed the door open and walked in, glancing at the supine shape. Hiccup had come through the surgery and was lying, pale and still, an oxygen mask on his face, two IV's in his right arm and both hands bandaged, where cut tendons from the knife had been repaired. He was swathed in a hospital gown that made him appear paler and his auburn hair was the only real colour he had. The two little braids had been renewed in his hair and easily, Astrid settled back in the chair and took his bandaged left hand in hers.

"Wha' t'k y' s'long?" Hiccup slurred, his voice hoarse and she stared at him, feeling his hand squeeze hers gently. His bleary emerald eyes fluttered open. A huge sigh of relief shuddered through her and she lifted his hand to her mouth, kissing it tenderly.

"Thank Thor," she sighed. "The others are here-Heather, Dagur, the twins, Fishlegs and even Snot…though I had to punch him…"

"Dad?" The tone was so hopeful that it almost broke her heart to answer.

"He's in the air as we speak," she replied. "He lands in an hour or so. There were no flights."

"But you came…" he managed. She leaned forward and kissed him.

"I have friends who own planes," she reminded him. His lips twitched.

"Useful friends," he murmured. "Mine can just do your apartment up terribly…"

"And Mr Sassy is finally back…" she smiled, her heart lifting as he slowly lifted his hands.

"What…?" he murmured, turning them over and back, frowning as he saw the evidence of surgery.

"When you grabbed the knife, you cut tendons in your hands," she explained. "I insisted on the finest hand surgeon who was flown in from Archi with Heather and Dagur to ensure you will design and paint again…"

"Oh…you found them," he murmured and she smiled, making sure he knew she was pleased with the gift.

"You are a really talented artist," she told him firmly. "Far more than any of those asses in the HABS box."

"It was just a hobby…" he mumbled self-consciously. He was making the effort but the legacy of years of Bella was still hard to shake off, even with the knowledge she couldn't hurt him any more.

"You're amazing," she told him, her thumb stroking over his bandaged knuckles. His eyes snapped wide open, suddenly filled with panic.

"Toothless!" he gasped. "Bella caught him with the knife. He was sitting on my chest, purring. There was blood on his fur…" She moved so she could stare into his eyes.

"He lost half his tail," she explained. "He avoided any other injury. He's only in the vet's because you're here, Babe. He's fine."

"He saved my life," he said quietly.

"And he deserved the largest piece of tuna we can get him…"

"Lox," Hiccup murmured. "He'd bite your hand off for salmon."

"Let's not try that because he already bit Bella's almost to the bone," Astrid suggested and he managed a pained chuckle.

"My stomach hurts, my back hurts and my left ankle really hurts," he told her quietly. She nodded.

"When she stabbed you, she did miss anything really vital though you were bleeding heavily," she explained. "When she pushed you down the stairs, she had already stabbed you in the back-but she hit a rib and just bit into the muscles, nothing vital either. But your left ankle was badly broken when you fell down the stairs and needed pinning and plating."

"My dancing days are over," he managed and she grinned.

"Oh no-you're not getting out of it that easily, Mr Sassy," she reminded him. "From now on, you're my only partner at dances…and absolutely everywhere else. No clubs for me-ever again...!"

"Dagur may have a say in that…" Hiccup suggested and she smiled.

"Dagur is my brother and is gay," she told him easily as he stared in shock. "Yup. Though he would never make a friend feel uncomfortable, by the way. He just wants you to be happy-and us to be happy together…" Reaching up, he managed to hook his arms behind her neck and pulled her down into a tentative but heartfelt kiss.

"So do I…" he murmured.

"SON!" The door burst open and the anxious shape of Stoick filled the doorway-and then froze in total embarrassment at the sight of his adult son kissing his fiancée. There was an audible slap as he face-palmed. "Odin-I really have to learn to knock first," he mumbled loudly as Hiccup looked up-and his face lit up.

"Dad!" he exclaimed and Stoick came forward then, scooping his only child into a very careful hug, only relaxing when he felt Hiccup hug him back.

"I'm okay, Dad," he said carefully. "And wow-a non-rib breaking hug! You must be worried…" And then he paused as Stoick pulled back.

"I thought I'd lost you, son," he said gruffly. "The thought that Bella had almost killed you when I hoped you were safe with Astrid…was heartbreaking."

"It's okay-it's all sorted," the blonde said reassuringly. And then she stole a glance at the young man. "Sir-could you do us a favour?" He nodded.

"Of course," the Mayor said. "What?"

"Marry us," Astrid said. "Now." And then she glanced down into Hiccup's eyes. "That is…if you still want to…?"

His lopsided smile of delight was answer enough.

"But lass…" Stoick began.

"Sir, you are the Mayor-the Chief-of Berk and you have the power to wed couples," she reminded him clearly. "All we need a couple of witnesses…"

"Dagur and Heather?" Hiccup suggested and Astrid nodded. Eyes twinkling, Stoick finally nodded.

"Are you sure you don't want to call your parents, Astrid?" he asked her gently but she shook her head.

"I want to marry Hiccup," she said determinedly. "We can have a blessing or party of whatever later. But for now…I got so close to losing my Hiccup…through my own stupidity as well as Bella...and I'm not risking another day without him being certain I am his and his alone." His fingers twined with hers.

"Wow…still thought slavery was outlawed," he sassed gently. "If you are mine, I am yours, Milady. It's only fair…" A smile lit her face at the words, simple and honest and genuine, a world away from many of the people she mingled with, day after day. And she knew, without any hint of uncertainty, that this was the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with-and who she would need to convince of her love. And sure, he was lean and very bruised and bandaged and lacking a lot of self-confidence…but he was kind and brave and smart and sassy, a man who had survived being all but destroyed by a woman who only wanted him for what she could leech from him. Astrid wanted to spend the rest of her life, if necessary, to repair the damage to this engineer and artist and runner and friend…and soon-to-be husband.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I know," he said gently. "I've loved you for about ten years. And if you just remained my friend, it would be enough."

"I want more," she breathed, leaning towards him.

"Me too," he sighed as his lips met hers.

"Are you absolutely sure?" Astrid mumbled.

"Never moreso," he murmured as they kissed. Stoick cleared his throat.

"I'll go and get your friends, shall I?" he asked as they kissed, not looking up. "Yup, good thinking Stoick. I may need to go get a license printed as well…Possibly fit in a small three course meal...I'll be back…oh never mind…"

When he returned fifteen minutes later with Heather and Dagur and a sheaf of papers, they were still kissing-though Hiccup was now propped up in a sort-of sitting position on a drift of pillows and he wondered how his son could recover from life-saving surgery so well-but in his heart, he knew. Astrid was his dream and he was willing to give everything he had if she was finally offering the love that he craved. Heather was grinning and Dagur was shaking his head at the sight of the couple.

"That's my brother," he murmured then caught Stoick's expression. "Metaphorically," he added hastily.

"Dagur, Heather-I need your help," Astrid said firmly, her hand still wrapped around Hiccup's as she reluctantly pulled back. "Heather-could you stand at my side-and Dagur-can you stand over there, by Hiccup's side?"

"Okay, what's going one?" the former soldier asked suspiciously.

"I need two witnesses," Stoick told them bluntly and as one, the siblings stared at the Mayor-and then at the couple.

"You're…" Heather's voice was incredulous.

"…getting…" Dagur's was astonished.

"…married?" they finished simultaneously.

"I believe that's the purpose of getting engaged," Astrid said smugly. "Right, babe?"

"Mmm-what? Oh yeah," he replied tiredly. "Still full of morphine but wouldn't change a thing."

"We can wait…" Astrid said gently, seeing him look paler and he gave a whine.

"Don't you want to marry me?" he asked sadly.

"More than anything," she sighed and the emerald eyes flicked up.

"Then marry us, Dad," the patient said and Stoick smiled, raising his hands.

"Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of the Aesir and the presence of these witnesses to marry this man, Hiccup Haddock, to this woman, Astrid Hofferson…"

"Have you got a ring?" Dagur whispered to Hiccup and his eyes widened in shock, looking plaintively at his father, but without missing a beat, Stoick pulled a golden chain from his pocket…and hanging on it was a golden ring, inscribed with the runes for SVASS-beloved in old Norse. As he continued the familiar words, he handed the chain to Dagur, who suddenly found himself appointed Best Man. Hiccup blinked in the realisation that his father had unhesitatingly handed over his dead mother's wedding ring, which he knew Stoick had treasured since the day she died when Hiccup was only a small boy of four. Gratitude flooded his expressive eyes and he saw Stoick's lips curl up under the beard in a smile as he continued the ceremony, saying the words with gravity and honest joy. Both Hiccup and Astrid said affirmations without a stumble and Hiccup felt his heart soar as he slid the ring onto Astrid's left third finger, realising it fitted perfectly. And somehow, it seemed as if his dead mother was with them as well.

"…then, by the power invested in me by the Archipelago government and the Gods themselves, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Son-you may kiss the bride."

Hiccup smiled at his father's words, seeing the man's face almost splitting with the grin.

"Will you, Mrs Haddock?" he asked and she smiled and leaned forward.

"I thought you'd never ask," she smirked as she wrapped her arm around him and pulled him into a kiss that seemed to never end. Heather sighed as she checked her watch.

"Thor…how are we going to explain this?" she groaned.