Part 25

"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. Her eyes glittering in anger, she pushed through and stood boldly by Hiccup, a hand resting possessively on his shoulder. Unconsciously, he leaned into the comforting touch, the tremor obvious to her. "You're a loathsome, shallow, gold-digging, vicious witch! Hiccup has done NOTHING wrong and certainly has never deserved to be made to feel so worthless and ostracised by you!"

"Hey, Ast-that's pretty..."

"Shut the frick up, Ruff!" Astrid snapped. The female twin backed down instantly: she knew better than to cross an angry Astrid Hofferson. "I have watched every single damned date Hiccup has been on as his wingman, and believe me, that poor guy has been put through Hel by all of you-from trying to teach him archery in the freezing cold to shoplifting-you weirdo-to ice-skating to just trying to smooch the poor guy-yes, I'm looking at you, Ruff-and through it all, he has gamely gone along because he was looking for someone who would want him for him."

"And who are you?" Merida asked. But Ana knew.

"The waitress," she sneered. "His friend. I thought you were his girlfriend, to be honest, when I first turned up-but you clearly just had his best interests at heart. So you have been tailing him through all his dates? That's pathetic!"

"Wait-you knew about the dates?" Astrid asked. Ana smiled smugly.

"Of course," she said. "I know his email address. I saw it on the website. I mean, how many 22 year old auburn-haired, green-eyed engineering students are there in Berk? So I set him up. And it was hilarious to hear about how useless he was from all my friends as they all took him out for a spin..."

And they all knew about his leg, she realised. They planned the dates deliberately to humiliate him, to make him feel worse about himself and the things he couldn't do with his prosthetic leg. None of them was interested in him at all.

Gods, that is cold.

Astrid's fists balled and her eyes flashed with rage.

"Why?" she ground out through her teeth.

"Because it would be a laugh," Ana said. "He was no good for anything else. I couldn't bear to touch him now. I mean, he's not complete any more. He's just...nothing. And it was clear he couldn't find anyone else because he had to advertise!" Astrid stiffened at the implication.

"So why were you on the site?" she breathed dangerously. "You so pathetic you have to advertise as well? What's your excuse, bitch?"

Ana's eyes snapped with anger and the laughter died. Pretty much every eye in the restaurant was on them now. Several patrons had ordered more drinks and some canapés so they could enjoy the show. Hiccup could even hear bets being taken on the blonde to win. He knew where his money would be.

"It's clear you've been on the site as well," Ana sneered. Astrid smiled grimly.

"Never said I didn't," she hissed. "I know all about my life. I have a family. I work. I support my friends. I have a guy I like-but I've blown my chance. What excuse do you have apart from being a lazy, self-absorbed, manipulative bitch?"

"Why did you call her a gold-digger, Ast?" Ruff asked and Astrid glared at the female twin, though not as much as everyone else.

"Hiccup...isn't as poor as the average student," she admitted. "He's such a nice guy, he wouldn't even realise people would eye up his material assets and weigh them against him. I was wondering why Ana would stick with him even when it's clear she never loved him-and that can be the only reason!"

"He's loaded?" Ruff asked, her eyes trailing one the hunched and embarrassed shape. Hiccup was shaking his head wearily as Astrid gently rested her hand on his shoulder again.

"He's just a guy who deserves a break," she said gently.

"He's already had one," Ana sneered.

"You know-I'm not sure where this vindictive hatred comes from, but it sure isn't deserved," she snapped, her eyes trailing over the other woman. "I guess he ruined your plans of marrying a handsome, rich young man you can manipulate to your will by the accident. And while you could pretend while he was intact, you couldn't bring yourself to be even near him when he had lost his leg. But you lied about what happened so you could still play the victim!"

"What?" Ana began but Astrid cut her off.

"He saved your damned life!" she snapped. "The driver of the truck was drunk, the brakes were shot and the truck was overloaded. It was a death trap. The driver was in fact asleep as it crossed the line and hit you. Hiccup saw it coming-and at the last instant, he turned the wheel to spare you the brunt of the impact, taking it himself. He saved your life-and almost lost his own. He was in ICU for weeks and had his leg amputated at the scene. You were removed immediately from the wreck and only suffered a broken arm. And the poor guy certainly didn't deserve to be rejected the moment he wakes, let alone told he's a monster, not human and utterly worthless!"

Her hand curled possessively around his shoulder.

"He's not worthless-he's worth everything!" Astrid declared sharply. "He's brave, selfless, kind, generous, smart, witty, patient...and I would go out with him in a second if I hadn't misinterpreted what he said and blown my chance. Because he was so good to me in my hour of need and all I want is for him to know what I feel for him and..." Ana's face moved into a sneer.

"Awww-the waitress loves the cripple!" she sneered.

Astrid punched her full in the face and she went down, her friends staring.

"DON"T CALL HIM THAT!" she shouted.

"And I'm not even a waitress anyway," Hiccup murmured dryly.

"You...you..." Ana screeched, scrabbling to try to get to her feet. But Astrid was standing between her and Hiccup, fists balled and glaring ferociously. Elsa stood by her cousin and helped her up. The other diners-and Ruff-were already chanting FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! But behind her, Hiccup rose, a warm hand very gently resting on Astrid's fist as he faced his former fiancée and her friends.

"You know, I guess I always knew I was more in love with you than you were with me, because you could barely stand to kiss me and even hold my hand," he said sadly, "though I had hoped, maybe, you would learn to love me. And yes, I think I knew you loved my bank balance more than me. I mean...you barely looked at me until my Dad died and I inherited everything...and then you kind of came onto me. But even the money wasn't enough when I lost my leg."

"That was your own fault!" Ana sneered. "You should have left when I said, instead of delaying to speak to the manager..." For the briefest of moments, his emerald eyes flashed in anger.

"I was doing it to make you happy," he said. "The date you demanded for the wedding was already booked and I was checking if there was any way he could move that booking-for you." Astrid stiffened, her heart melting in sympathy that even when he guessed her affection wasn't genuine, he was still willing to do what he could to make Ana happy. "But we wouldn't have been at Freya's Lodge at all if you hadn't insisted on the most expensive venue on Berk. I just wanted a small wedding in the Meade Hall, Ana. I wasn't worried about trappings-but you were obsessed."

"You frickin' cheapskate! You wanted me to get married in some scummy hole instead of the most beautiful surroundings that I deserve!" Ana accused him. There were collective gasps: the Meade Hall was the most revered venue in all Berk. Hiccup took a slow breath, the hand on Astrid's trembling. It was clear he was finding this very difficult. Astrid gently closed her other hand around his and he lifted his chin slightly, his fingers gently lacing with hers.

"Ana," he said quietly. "You have blamed me for the accident-which wasn't fair. You have sneered that if I had left earlier, we would have missed the drunken driver who hit us-and maybe there is some truth in that. But then, I have to remind you...just to be fair...if you hadn't demanded we go to the Lodge that evening because you just couldn't wait to see the venue of your dreams, then we wouldn't have been there to be hit at all!"

There were gasps from Ana and her friends-except Ruff, who was smirking.

"Advantage Hiccup," she announced.

"You bastard!" Ana snarled. "How dare you blame me for the accident! You were driving!" He gave a small shrug.

"You blame me because we were hit by a truck driven by a drunken driver who was asleep at the wheel with defective brakes," Hiccup said quietly. "You blame me for being there. I was merely pointing out the only reason why we were there to be hit in the first place-was you!"

"You..."

"I think I have a right to an opinion," he said evenly, his eyes glittering. "After all, I was the one most harmed by the accident, Ana. I turned to save your life-because you would have been killed if the truck had hit us full on. I was dying, trapped in that wreck-and the only way they could save my life was to cut my leg off at the scene. I underwent emergency surgery four times while I was in hospital and spent three weeks in a coma. And the moment I woke, what did my loving fiancée do? Assure me she was there for me? Reassure me she still loved me? Or did she dump me because I was less than a man any more, no longer human and utterly repulsive to her?"

"I'm guessing the last one," Ruff commented. Astrid glared at her.

"Ana-leave me alone," he said wearily. "I've had enough. I don't deserve any of this...or any of you…" And he paused. "Except you." And he turned to Astrid. Her eyes widened and she stared up into his serious face. She swallowed.

"H-Hiccup?" she murmured.

"Astrid-all through this, you have been the one person who was always there for me," he said softly. "You were my friend before I got engaged-and I guess you sort of liked me?" There was a small pause and she nodded self-consciously. "You were so generous when I arrived with Ana-and you knew she wouldn't ever let me back. And when I returned, absolutely broken, you were so kind to me. You made sure I realised there was something worth going on for. You made me go out, you drove me home when my leg was agony, you rescued me from those horrible dates and every time, when I was rejected and down, you picked me up."

She lowered her eyes shyly.

"And I realised the best part of every date was the aftermath, where you took me home and we had coffee and you made me feel better...where you treated me like a real person." He stared intently into her face, gently lifting her chin. "You know, I would have gone through a hundred disastrous dates if I could spend that short time after with you," he told her.

She blinked, her eyes shining suspiciously bright.

"And-and I fell for you, with your strength and your determination and your kindness to someone who really didn't deserve any of it," he added, his voice dropping. "I fell for the woman who was a fantastic mother, a hard worker, a caring and supportive friend; a woman who was proud and independent but who sometimes needed help-whether she would acknowledge it or not!-and who was determined to forge a better life for her and her daughter. And-and I thought you couldn't possibly want someone as damaged as I was. But you didn't recoil from my scars and I hoped..." He paused and sighed. "When you moved out, I knew you didn't feel the same."

She blinked again, a tear sliding down her cheek at his defeated tone.

"But-but I did," she said thickly. "You are the most amazing, kind, patient, brave man. You accepted my insane suggestion and endured all those horrible dates and I found myself envious of those women because they got to be with you. And when you took me in when Dagur was after Emma, I was amazed at how welcoming and generous you were. But when Emma was sick and you took us into hospital, I feared you wouldn't want all the chaos I bring. So-so I offered to move out...and when you said yes, I knew you d-didn't want us any-any more..."

He sighed.

"Didn't you realise I love you?" he asked.

There was an audible intake of breath in the restaurant except for Ana who opened her mouth to sneer something...until Ruff 'accidentally' elbowed her in the stomach.

"You-you do?" Astrid whispered. He nodded, a small smile tilting his lips. Her eyes widened in wonder. "That's lucky," she managed, "because I've fallen in love with you too." His eyes widened in shock and sudden joy.

"You l-love me?" he managed and she smiled as the calm, confident Hiccup vanished in favour of his self-conscious and stammering alter-ego. "R-really?" She smiled and nodded, reassured at his overjoyed expression.

"Of course, mutton-head," she sighed.

"Why would any-OW!" Ana began, doubling up and clutching her stomach. Ruff rubbed her elbow.

"My bad," she grinned.

"Even with the missing leg and the scars and the nightmares?" he murmured.

"Yes," she confirmed, stroking his lightly freckled cheek. "That's if you love me with my scabby one-bed apartment and pink-obsessed daughter and waitress job and psychotic ex- and my custody battle..." He feigned a frown.

"When you put it like that..." he began and then leaned close, smirking slightly. "Yes," he breathed, gently clasping her shoulders in his hands. She shivered at his warm touch, electricity zinging through her.

"Just kiss her, already!" Ruff shouted and various whistles sounded from the enthralled customers. Astrid stared up into his emerald eyes, dark with love and desire.

"Shut up, Ruff," she murmured as his lips met hers, their eyes closing simultaneously as they both leaned into the kiss. Her hand slid up round her neck while one of his slid down to her waist, holding her close. When they finally pulled apart, they rested their foreheads together, suddenly aware of the whooping and cheering surrounding them from the excited patrons. Berkians loved a good show and this had been the best for a long time.

"Oh Thor," Hiccup murmured, a light blush warming his cheeks.

"Don't you dare blush, Mister Hotlips," Astrid whispered back and he blushed far more obviously. Ana was scowling and her friends-except Ruff-were all muttering about how disgusted they were. And then a small, lightly-built dapper man with determinedly friendly expression and a neatly trimmed greying beard walked up: 'Trader' Johann, the proprietor. He looked around.

"Good customers, is everything to your liking?" he asked in a friendly voice.

"I want them thrown out!" Ana announced. "That woman attacked me!"

Boos and hisses rang through the restaurant.

"I'm really afraid I can't do that," Johann said, looking round his customers. Many were regulars and they had all tendered their verdict on the couple. "I rather think you attacked this young man before that happened-and the young lady stepped into his defence. Quite frankly, Miss, you had it coming."

"I...I..." she said in outrage, her mouth working helplessly. Johann turned to Astrid and Hiccup, who had his arms protectively wrapped around her.

"Sir, Madame-I cannot apologise enough for the way you have been treated," he said in a servile voice. "Please let me assure you that Johann's in no way condones such disgraceful behaviour in our establishment. We pride ourselves on a friendly and welcoming atmosphere-and I am so glad that I gather you have finally confessed your obvious attraction for each other..." Astrid gave a smile and snuggled into Hiccup's chest and he gave a very self-conscious smile.

"Um, thanks," he managed. Johann nodded.

"Please allow me to make up for your travails by offering you the finest table in the house!" he said, indicating to a discreet booth elevated at the far side of the restaurant with a commanding view down the hill over the city. Astrid's eyes widened in shock. "On the house..."

"Excuse me..." Ana interrupted in an angry voice. "As I was saying..." Johan turned to her and his dark eyes gleamed.

"I am so sorry, Miss, but there seems to have been a mistake with your booking," he said with an edge of steel to his amiable tone. "Your table is no longer available. I would be grateful if you would vacate the building-to avoid embarrassing yourself and upsetting my customers further..." Ana gaped and the others-except Ruff who was standing to one side, roaring with laughter at her 'friends'- harangued Johann-but four very familiar shapes got up and lumbered towards the protesting girls. Sven, Bucket, Mulch and Gobber grinned and manhandled them out of the door while Johann decorously saw the young couple to their new de luxe table. Astrid stared into Hiccup's smiling face and glanced down at the table for a second before smiling back.

"Are you sure?" she asked before Gobber interrupted them. The two-limbed man shuffled his wooden leg and crossed his arms.

"There, laddie!" he said with a grin. "Told you tae listen tae yer godfather! Now git in there and ask her!" Hiccup rolled his eyes.

"Gobber!" he huffed as Gobber gave a massively indiscreet wink and grinned at Astrid before lumbering back to his friends-who improbably seemed to have managed to get a table at Johann's. As, surprisingly-did Rolf, Bekka, Louise and Jenna, the other staff from the Diner. Astrid gaped.

"You...you're here?" she mouthed. Rolf winked and tipped his beer at her.

"Wouldn't have missed this for the world!" he shouted as she turned back to Hiccup.

"And what was Gobber going on about?" she asked directly.

"Ah-the famous Astrid forthrightness," Hiccup smiled. "Gobber may have phoned me and told me to stop being such a complete mutton-head. That you were the perfect girl for me and that I was being an idiot not seeing it. That if I had considered for a quarter of a second, I would have recalled that you didn't believe anyone would want to go out with you because of Emma. And that if I didn't say something to you, declare my love and get you to realise how much I care for you, then he would and then he would kick my ass. And he claimed Godfather Privilege which meant I was duty- and honour-bound to obey him this once..."

"Is that actually a thing?" Astrid asked with a smile. Hiccup shrugged.

"Given the success of his plan, I guess it may be a thing now," he admitted.

"So..." Astrid said, looking into his familiar, brilliant emerald eyes. "Are you going to ?"

"Um...I already thought I did," he murmured anxiously. She stared at him-then burst out laughing.

"I love you," she murmured.

"Will you go on a date with me?" he asked urgently. She squeezed his hand.

"I thought we already were," she smirked.

"Um...and how's it going so far?" he asked, his tone a little nervous. She lifted his hand and kissed it.

"Perfect," she murmured as Johann delivered a bottle of Champagne and deftly filled two flutes. Hiccup grasped her hand and kissed it.

"Then Astrid Hofferson, will you be my girlfriend?" he asked her breathlessly. She sipped her champagne and smiled.

"I thought you'd never ask," she grinned as he leaned in to kiss her once more. He smiled once more before their lips connected.

"Best. Date. Ever," he breathed and kissed her again.

A/N: Last part tomorrow