Part 24

Hiccup had stayed away from the Diner for a week after he had been attacked and worse, he had refused to answer Astrid's texts and calls. She had been wracked by guilt, both for his injury when he had been doing her a favour and worse, because Gobber's words had made her realise that he had feelings for her which he had given up on. He believed she had rejected him-which was why he had asked her to leave. He was heartbroken again-and it was all her fault.

And she realised with utter devastation, she had thrown away her chance with a kind, generous, wonderful man who hadn't been scared off by Emma.

Who had actually wanted Astrid for herself.

Work had been hard when every day she stared at the door from the start to the end of the shift with no sign of the much longed-for tall, lean auburn-haired shape. She had soldiered on because that was what she did-what she had to do-but her world was little colder and a little darker without her friend there. So she had cornered Gobber and asked him how she could get through to Hiccup-but he had been pretty pessimistic.

"The laddie is stubborn," he admitted. "He's brave and straight as they come-but if he believes yer've rejected him, he'll be trying to deal with the pain. Ye need tae speak tae him, lass!"

"But how?" she had asked in frustration, pacing up and down. "He's stopped coming here and he won't return any of my calls. Short of turning up on his doorstep-and even then I doubt he'll open the door for me-I completely blew it!" Gobber had patted her gently on the shoulder and leaned close.

"You'll have one more chance, lass," he told her. She gave a bitter laugh.

"Yeah-the final Date," she said in frustration. "Knowing my luck, it will probably finally be the girl of his dreams and he'll meet her and fall in love and I'll do my duty like a good wingman and watch him find the girl of his dreams...and damn it! I should be happy for him. And I AM happy for him if it happens because he deserves to be happy but...but..." And she covered her eyes with her hand. "Because it should've been me," she finished at a whisper.

After she had gone home, Gobber stared after her and at his friends. They all nodded as the two limbed man fished out his phone and thumbed up a familiar number. He pressed dial and after four rings, it was picked up.

"Hello?"

"Laddie-it's yer godfather. I need tae talk tae ye..."

oOo

The date was held in Johann's restaurant, a venue Hiccup had been wary about because it had been one of 'their' venues from his break-up with Ana. The place was homely, decorated with wood panelling and artefacts from the man's extensive travels all over the world. The restaurant was always popular, always busy and Astrid had been lucky to get the last tiny two-person table so she could watch over her friend. So she dressed in her best turquoise silk shift dress, dark tights and shoes and a simple silver chain the only accessories. Her normal variegated blue purse came with her. Emma had kissed her for luck on her way out.

"You look lovely, Mommy," the little girl had said as she wished her mother goodbye. Astrid and Emma were still with Astrid's parents because Astrid couldn't bring herself to return to her apartment. Reluctantly, she knew she would have to start looking for a new place because though Dagur was in jail, the attack on Hiccup reminded Astrid that the man had friends and knew some very unpleasant people. Her old apartment was just too vulnerable.

"Thank you, baby," Astrid replied, kissing her. "You be good for Nana."

"Are you going to see Unca Hiccup?" Emma asked directly. Astrid sighed and nodded.

"Yeah," she said. Emma reached up and hugged her as strongly as she could.

"I don't understand why Unca Hiccup is so mad at us," she said. "I TOLD Jelena not to put him in prison. Why don't they listen to me, Mommy?" Astrid smiled and kissed her daughter.

"I guess because you're too young," she said quietly. "Though they should because you're my daughter, which immediately makes you amazing!" Emma leaned closer.

"Just tell Unca Hiccup you like him and everything will be alright," she said conspiratorially. Astrid sighed.

"It's not that simple," she sighed. Emma forced her mother to stare into her eyes, her small hands firm on Astrid's cheeks.

"Make it that simple, Mommy," she advised Astrid.

But Hiccup hadn't arrived yet as Astrid settled, ordering a soda water and inspecting the menu. Her parents had given her some money to ensure she could get a decent meal at the restaurant, even though she would be there alone. But as her soda water arrived, the date arrived-and she was gorgeous.

Elsa Frostrup was tall, slender and beautiful with white-blonde hair and cool blue eyes. A sparkling white dress sheathed her stunning figure, the detailing catching the light like little ice crystals. She sat elegantly and Astrid felt an unfamiliar curl of jealousy coil in her chest, seeing a woman who would meet all of Hiccup's physical preferences. Astrid knew she looked plain and underdressed by this goddess.

And then she smiled as Hiccup arrived, tall and still limping slightly. He was handsome in black skinny jeans, deep blood red silk shirt and black single-breasted jacket, the single button done up and emphasising his lean silhouette. His hair was flatteringly messy around his stern face, his emerald eyes wary-but he smiled when he saw Elsa, handed her a small bouquet and kissed her chastely on the cheek.

Damn. When did he get so hot? Or so good at this dating business?

They ordered wine as the waiter came for Astrid's order and she went for the shrimp cocktail and the Cajun chicken salad. Elsa was leaning close to Hiccup and talking in a low voice. And she was smiling, damn her. Astrid called up her profile on her phone and reviewed it: the girl was 24, a meteorology student and was looking for a committed relationship. She admitted to having a turbulent past, with a controlling family who had insisted she be isolated and conceal her feelings. But she had undergone intensive psychotherapy and was at peace with her past and ready to move on.

She seemed perfect. And Hiccup seemed to be really hitting it off with her.

It was really everything she had feared as Hiccup leaned forward and shared a couple of words, the effect of which tilted the woman's lovely face into an arresting smile. Astrid chewed her shrimp cocktail sourly, knowing this was going about as well as she had imagined. Hiccup was looking happy, the girl was perfect and they were hitting it off. Yes, Astrid had completely blown her one chance and now, she as forced to sit here and watch the man she had fallen in love with hit it off with another girl because she was too stupid and lacking in confidence to tell him how she felt-and hear his very tentative declaration of his own feelings.

And now it was too late.

Despondently, she ordered a beer and sipped the amber liquid as the door opened and a noisy party entered, all dressed up and ready for a good night out. Astrid glanced up sourly-and then her eyes widened, seeing fate once more step in to ruin her friend's date...this time in the cruellest way possible.

"Elsa?"

A familiar voice cut across Hiccup's reply to her question and the stunning blonde looked up, her blue eyes widening in delight at the sight of the copper-haired woman standing by the table, surrounded by her friends.

"ANA? Gods, I haven't seen you for months!"

"I didn't even know you were in Berk!"

"I transferred this semester..."

Hiccup was frozen, his breaths accelerating and eyes closed in defeat. Even when he found a pretty much perfect woman, she had to turn out to be one of Ana's friends. Or, as it seemed, cousins... Then the copper haired woman glanced at her companion and her face pulled into an expression of distaste.

"Oh Elsa-I thought you had better taste than that!" she scoffed. Hiccup raised his head, his face colourless.

"Hi, Ana. Nice to see you too," he managed with as much sarcasm as he could muster. Elsa looked up in shock, a look of betrayal in her eyes.

"Ana?" she said softly. "You-you know Hiccup?" Ana gave a small smile.

"Of course," she said superiorly, her pretty face twisted into a merciless smile. "This is him. My ex-boyfriend."

"Fiancé," Hiccup said in a dead voice. "Have you forgotten? We were engaged."

"Well, until your stupidity nearly got me killed," Ana told him cruelly. "And you ended up so wrecked...why would anyone want you?" The last word was scornful. Hiccup flinched.

"Well, he was a bloody wuss on our date-and a useless lookout," Cameron added, leering at him. "I ended up having to use him as a diversion-all he was good for. And he's a virgin!"

"A coward-too clumsy and pathetic to try anything new," Heather added. "Honestly, he was just so unwilling try to accommodate anything I wanted to do!"

"Can't take instructions and is a sexist pig!" Merida added. "And he wrecked my car!"

"Just a skinny lightweight," Ruff commented, though she looked uncomfortable. Staring at the table, every scrap of hope instantly stripped away, Hiccup found he couldn't even move.

"He's crippled-lost a leg," Ana told Elsa. "Still got major psychological issues too." The blonde looked at him, her face twisting in betrayal.

"I was completely honest with you," she hissed. "How could you lie to me?"

"How-how did I lie?" he asked her, his tone harried. "We've been here for about ten, fifteen minutes and we're just getting to know each other. I'm not about to start telling you about the accident where I nearly lost my life and did lose my leg before getting to know you." His eyes glittered. "Why would I entrust my most personal and private secrets to someone I don't know and maybe I can't even trust?"

"You nearly killed my cousin!" Elsa accused him. "I heard the stories. She told us all at Snoggletog about the bastard who nearly killed her through his stupid recklessness and who just didn't want to do anything she did!" He shook his head.

"And this is where you just listen to her and none of the facts," he sighed, looking utterly defeated. "Go ahead-have a laugh. All I wanted was to find someone who would treat me as a human being-not as some freak or loser." He stared up at Ana. "Just tell me this, Ana: did you ever love me? Because I can't really believe you ever did when you dumped me straight up after I woke up on the coma in ICU." Ana pulled a face.

"You were so pathetic, so needy-and so...ruined," she said. "Looking at you...repelled me!" Hiccup flinched and he raised his eyes to look at Elsa, who was also inspecting him as if he was a monster. "Worthless..."

He couldn't help it then: he flinched again and drew back from the devastating assessment. Elsa had already snatched her purse and rose, glaring at him as if he had come after Ana with a knife, not spared her as much as he could at a devastating personal cost. He began to tremble as the girls began to laugh scornfully, his breathing accelerating...

"Just wait a frickin' minute!" An angry voice cut across the cruel words and they all turned to see Astrid Hofferson rise from her table and storm over to them. And she looked absolutely furious...