Whoo! Hiccup and Astrid are dating! And a plot twist is about to happen. A serious plot twist. Don't worry isn't nothing weird, like vampires or anything, it's a normal real world plot twist. (Astrid's not pregnant.)

Thanks for all the support for this story and the positive reviews - I really appreciate it!

X

Chapter 14: Working Weekends

Girlfriend.

Girlfriend.

Girlfriend. How could one word leave such a balloon in his chest? Hiccup swallowed. If someone told him a month ago that he'd be sitting here, eating Chinese, with his girlfriend, in her apartment, he would have laughed at them. But here he was. She was sitting across from him, her smiling wavering, concern flashing across her face.

"What's wrong?" Astrid asked.

"Nothing, it's just…it's a little hard to wrap my head around." Hiccup shrugged. "I'm not used to having a girlfriend." It even sounded strange on this lips, like a foreign word he wasn't used to.

"Or being a boyfriend?" Astrid smiled.

Boyfriend. It sounded just as weird. When he heard boyfriend he pictures a broad shouldered guy in a jersey and expensive jeans and driving a shiny red sports car.

"Hiccup?" Astrid asked. She leaned in a little closer.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm good." Hiccup nodded. "It still sounds a little weird."

Astrid, his girlfriend. He was her boyfriend.

Astrid smiled. She leaned in the rest of the way and kissed him. Her hand traced his cheekbone. Her lips were remarkable soft. She slid her hand into his and gripped his fingers in hers. She leaned back, and he couldn't help but follow her a small distance, and missed the feeling of her lips at once. She smiled, looked down, and let out a girlish giggle.

"What?" Hiccup asked.

"So…you don't want a relationship that's just about sex," she paused, "But does that mean that you don't want to do anything?"

Hiccup felt a lump in his throat. She was smiling wickedly and he knew what she was thinking. But, feeling a little fiendish himself, he asked, "What do you mean?"

Astrid's smile widened. She reached forward and placed a slender hand on his knee. Was it a trick of the light or was there a light blush on her cheeks?

"You know, like oral stuff," Astrid said lower, like it was a secret passing between two students during class.

Hiccup felt his throat go dry and couldn't quite swallow. He hadn't forgotten about that morning. She'd offered him a blowjob. He would have taken it, too, if her phone hadn't interrupted. He wasn't any less nervous now than he had been then, maybe a little more.

"Hiccup?" Astrid asked.

"What does that mean, exactly? I mean, for us?"

Astrid's smile faltered but quickly returned. She licked her lips and set back in her chair. His nervousness was joined by another. Had he said the wrong thing? He was trying to think of something to add, something intelligent and romantic, but he had nothing.

"Well," Astrid said, inhaling and biting her lip, "It's like a trade off…instead of sex, I'd blow you and then you'd blow me."

Was Astrid nervous? She looked nervous. Hiccup hadn't seen her nervous before. She always appeared so strong and confident. But she was looking down, her eyes glancing up at him with a shy smile, and it was pushing on something inside his chest that left him speechless.

"What does that mean?" Hiccup asked. He felt his cheeks burn. He felt so ignorant in asking, "I didn't know girls could be blown."

Astrid blinked at him. She opened her mouth but nothing came out at first. She stuttered, a strange sound to him, and then giggled. She blushed and tucked a loose lock of hair behind her ear.

"What's funny?" Hiccup asked. Surely, it was him. It was probably a stupid question.

"Your innocence is adorable." Astrid smiled, half-laughing.

Hiccup felt the burning intensity.

"It's like a blowjob but for girls." Astrid said, her shamelessness returning.

"But…girls don't have…" Hiccup said, stumbling over his thoughts as they became words.

"…penises. We're grown-ups here, Hiccup. We can use grown-up words." Astrid said with a straight face that reminded him a bit of a teacher. The moment of her serious face passed and she broke out in that girlish giggle. "There are other things down there."

Hiccup, suddenly embarrassed, nodded.

"You know what I'm talking about?" Astrid asked. A wicked glint flashes across her eye as she said lowly, "Do you need me to show you?"

"No," Hiccup found his voice. "I know what that is."

Astrid giggled and smiled at him, "Right, it's the female version of a penis. Sort of. Not really. It's way better."

"Oh, you have experience to back that up?" Hiccup asked.

"Yes." Astrid nodded. She laughed. "No, but I'm not looking to exchange it. Besides, it'd be a bit of a downgrade."

They were both laughing. This, sitting here, talking, being around her, it felt so natural.

"And that is what I'm supposed to blow?" Hiccup asked.

"Yeah, that's what going down on a girl means. It's a blowjob for girls."

"That sounds gross." Hiccup wrinkled his nose. She expected him to put his mouth there?

"Sex is gross but we do it anyway." Astrid smiled. She sighed, "You're cute when you blush."

Hiccup knew he was blushing, through the whole conversation, but it suddenly felt like his entire face was on fire. He placed a hand on either side of his face and their comparative coolness felt like ice. Astrid leaned forward and rest her elbows on her knees.

"So?" She was looking at him, a brow raised, a small bit of that girly shyness was leaking into her cheeks.

She was waiting for an answer. He swallowed. That lump in his throat was back. Astrid was leaning closer. Her hands were on his knees. In a quick decision he reached down and picked her hands up with his, holding them.

"I'll try it, but not today. Someday." Hiccup smiled. He could feel the thumping against his ribcage slowing down.

To his relief, she smiled, her teeth poked out from between her soft pink lips. She gripped his hand.

"Okay," she nodded. Then her expression grew serious, "So you want to go to school?"

"Yes," Hiccup nodded.

"Does that mean you'll move in, too?" Astrid smiled.

Hiccup inhaled and found releasing it hard. He hadn't really thought about it. He'd taken time to decide about going to school. He'd had time to think it through. But he'd ignored that tidbit. His thoughts drifted back to the fortune cookie in his pocket. He'd moved away from Berk for a change. He'd left his home, his few friends, for a change. School would be a change. Astrid was a nice change.

"Yes," Hiccup nodded. Before she could say anything he added, "But my lease still has a while to go."

"That's fine." Astrid said. "You can take your time with moving. It'll be less stressful that way. I mean, a slow adjustment is easier to take than a quick one. And…I guess this gives you the chance to go back if you don't like it here."

"I don't think that'll happen." Hiccup smiled.

Astrid smiled back at him, her reassurance leaking into him, brightening his doubt.

X

The next few days passed by in a blazing blur. They ate together when they could, with Astrid's school and Hiccup's work. They slept in the same bed with less than an arm's length between them. Hiccup had gone home but returned with a small bag of necessities, including his toothbrush which Astrid had made him throw away because it was old, clothes, non-girly soap, and a razor.

"You shave?" Astrid had asked.

"Yes?" Hiccup raised a brow.

Astrid had reached out and stroked a hand along his jaw. "I guess I didn't think about it. You never seemed to be that unshaven."

Hiccup had groaned off that fact that he couldn't grow a lumberjack's beard and Astrid had laughed at him.

Astrid woke on Sunday morning to Hiccup's even breathing. He slept on his back and she slept on her side. She wanted him to sleep on her right so that when she opened her eyes he would be there. He was a lovely sight to wake to. His mouth was partly open and his hair was messed from where he'd rustled it against the pillow. His jaw was strong and defined. His cheekbones were gently curved. His eyes were amazing. He was beautiful, even if he didn't know it. Part of her didn't want him to know. His shyness was beautiful.

They shared a bed but they hadn't touched. She didn't want him to feel pressured into doing anything he didn't want to. But she wasn't used to this…hesitation. Was it because of her? Because of…nineteen? She couldn't begin to understand how he felt about it. She wasn't sure how she felt about it. Sighing, she retuned her gaze to the ceiling.

She was okay with not having sex until he wanted to. He was a man, after all, and sooner or later he'd want to. But it wasn't the sex that she liked about him. She enjoyed his company. She liked the sound of his voice. His honesty was refreshing. She could really get used to him being around.

"Good morning," Hiccup's morning whisper broke her thoughts.

"Morning," Astrid smiled, turning back to face him. His eyes were so bright in the morning.

Hiccup groaned as he stretched, reaching upward to the ceiling and arching his back, popping a few things. He released and his limbs fell back onto the bed. He sighed and he sat up and threw his legs over the side of the bed.

"Where are you going?" Astrid asked.

"I have to pee."

He scooted off the bed. She listened to his uneven footsteps as he walked to the bathroom. He'd been careful with his prosthetic around her. He wore pajamas pants to bed and usually socks, too. She's only caught a glimpse of it here and there. It had been metal and peach colored plastic formed into the shape of a human foot. She'd like to see it closer. She understood that he might be self-conscious about it but from what she'd seen it looked like a marvel. It didn't look ugly at all.

She heard the toilet flush. The door opened and Hiccup's uneven footsteps came back into the bedroom. He slumped back onto the bed. Astrid rolled over and reached up to run a hand along his back, feeling his shoulder blades beneath his t-shirt. He turned around and she let her hand fall back down to the bed.

"Yes?" Hiccup yawned.

She padded the space beside her. He smiled sleepily and leaned back onto the bed. He crawled next to her and slid an arm under her pillow. She curled into his side and laid her head on his chest so that she could hear his heartbeat.

"What do you want to do today?" Hiccup asked.

"Hmm…I don't know. There's this cute coffee place downtown." Astrid said.

"Coffee sounds nice. What do you want for breakfast?" Hiccup asked. He pressed his cheek to her hair.

"Coffee. I don't keep my girlish figure by eating breakfast."

"Right, so downtown coffee shop?" Hiccup asked, a smile on his words.

Astrid nodded against him.

X

It was eleven o'clock when Hiccup and Astrid sat down inside the downtown café. It smelled of cake and coffee and had a soothing dark atmosphere. One wall was devoted to shelving wine and one corner was reserved for poets' night. Thankfully, that was on Thursdays. They ordered coffee and an omelet for Hiccup. He ate while Astrid sipped. The omelet was half gone when Astrid's phone buzzed.

She reached into her coat pocket and smiled an apologize for the interruption. She withdrew her cell and quickly read the caller's name and number that flashes across the screen.

Shit.

"Hello?" Astrid smiled again at Hiccup.

"Hey, Pigeon, good morning!" said the fake-cheery male voice on the other end. She could hear someone talking low in the background.

"What's up? This isn't my weekend." Astrid said, trying not to sound annoyed. She glanced over to Hiccup would was watching her with interest while he chewed.

"I know, I know, but one of the girls called in sick. That brown-haired girl with weak knees, you know?"

"Chelsea." Astrid corrected him.

"Right, her. Well, we're a girl short tonight. And, I always enjoy seeing you around here. You bring another step of class."

Astrid sighed heavily.

"Oh, come on, Pigeon. You'll get time and a half!"

"It's not about the money, Eret." Astrid sighed. She looked down at the table. She didn't want to look at Hiccup during this conversation.

"Please, Pigeon? The only other girl is that annoying fake-redheaded girl."

"Britney."

"Right, even her name is annoying. Come on, please?"

Astrid sighed. "Fine. What time?"

"The usual, five."

"Fine."

"Thank you, Pigeon. See you at five."

Astrid hung up and dunked the phone back into her coat pocket. She wrapped both hands around her coffee. She didn't want to talk about it but she knew it was unavoidable.

"Who was that?" Hiccup asked.

"Work." Astrid said.

"Eret? Wasn't that the guy from the library?"

How could he possibly remember that? Men aren't supposed to remember stuff. But of course, he's Hiccup he would remember.

Astrid bit her lip. "Yes. That's how we know each other. He's kind of my manager. Someone called in and he wants me to take the shift."

"And you said yes?"

"He made it hard not to. Practically begged me." Astrid sighed. "So I'll go to work tonight. Are you okay with staying by yourself?"

"Yeah." Hiccup nodded. He took another bite and chewed it while he looked at her. "Why wouldn't I be? Are you afraid that I'll burn down the apartment?"

Astrid smiled. "Not at all. I'm more afraid of finding moldy food in the sink or dirty socks in corners."

X

At four-thirty Astrid said goodbye to Hiccup, kissing him lightly on the cheek, and headed down to the waiting cab. The sun was set when the cab stopped outside of a

dainty corner pub whose windows were tinted dark gold. Double doors were set into the stone frame of the old building. A clean sigh above the solid doors read, Rachel's.

Astrid didn't walk in through the front door. She walked around to the alley. The alley door was guarded by Frank, an intimidating black man who always had a cigarette between his lips. He looked mean and unfriendly but he was a teddy bear.

"Evening, Pigeon. I didn't think you were working tonight." Frank said, pulling the door open for her, talking with the smoke held tight in his mouth.

"I didn't either. Eret called me this morning with the good news." Astrid smiled.

Frank nodded and she went inside. The darkness of the backroom was gloomy and she could hear the soft techno music of the restaurant floor. She sighed and headed into the green room.

"Astrid?"

"Hey," Astrid nodded as the other girls greeted her.

The green room was well lit with bare bulbs lining the top of a wall-length mirror. A counter ran beneath it and several of the girls sat in front of it, adding blush or liners. On the other side of the room were the uniforms, nearly organized and on hangers. Astrid grabbed her and began to change, placing her own clothing on the hanger, and trying to ignore Kelly and Sasha discuss hairdressers. Apparently, Kelly's last hair appointment had gone terribly wrong.

"What's wrong with it? It looks goods." Astrid said, fluffing the back of Kelly's short curls.

"Oh, sure you'd say that. You have perfect hair." Kelly whined.

Astrid shrugged. She tried.

Rachel's was a restaurant. The food was good and the wine was expensive. The air was dark and the music was just loud enough to mar a conversation from reaching to far. The lights weren't too bright and the tables were always clean. It was a local place that stemmed from a mother company in St. Louis. They didn't advertise. They didn't need to.

Astrid spied herself in the mirror. Her make-up was fine and her hair would do. She adjusted the collar of her shirt. She looked like a bartender from Cabaret, white blouse and black vest, with an adjustable plunging neckline that depended on how many buttons she undid. Tonight she as feeling a bit more modest and left one button high than she normal would.

Damn it, she'd forgotten to change bras. She could see the blue under the white shirt. The black vest covered most of it and there wasn't anything she could do about it now. This ensemble looked better with a black one. It blended in more. Whatever. It's not like it matters much in a place like this.

The girls that worked at Rachel's weren't hookers. It was true that they were paid to be attractive and friendly. The food on the menu was good but there were secrets that could be ordered off-menu that were more expensive that any bottle of wine.

Astrid walked into the office where the time clock rested on a wooden table. She reached for her time card.

"Pigeon!" Eret called out. He was sitting at the desk with his ankles crossed and resting on the corner. There was a half-drank draft resting on a book with multiple water-rings. "I'm glad you came in."

"You think it's time to upgrade this contraption?" Astrid said at the time clock punched the time onto her card, ten until five.

"Nah, I like it's accuracy. And I like the sound it makes." Eret shrugged with a smile.

Astrid knew that smile. They taught it in business class. It was fake-nice 101. He had a natural charisma but lack in brains. He was street smart but couldn't take a test to save his live. He prided himself on being a womanizer. He could charm dimmer woman into his bed in under an hour, he said. He came off as brash and stupid but he had a good heart under it all.

Eret unlocked the doors at five o'clock sharp. Sunday night was a slower night with most middle-aged and older customers. Astrid didn't miss how the men looked at her, like she was some half-dressed sultry picture in a men's magazine. Their wives, however, either ignored her completely or berated her with cold eyes and sharp tongues.

"It's because you're fucking hot," Eret had said when she'd complained. "You're what every man wishes he could have and what every woman wishes she was."

Like most night, people come and go, eating, drinking and talking. Astrid kept her eyes open and ears perked. She memorized faces and voices. Eret kept an eye on the place, making rounds, keeping the books. No one seemed to want anything extra tonight and that was fine with Astrid. Of course, this location wasn't the prime spot for the extras.

It was ten to eleven when Astrid clocked out.

"I'm so tired." Astrid groaned, rubbing her neck. She was also hungry. Hiccup might have made dinner but odds were that he made it only for himself.

"There's some coffee left over." Eret said. He was organizing the night's records.

"No, I'm good." She said. Her stomach growled.

"Hungry?"

"No,"

"Liar." Eret smiled. "There's food in the fridge. Make yourself a sandwich."

"No, I'm good. I've got food at home." Astrid yawned.

"Are you working next weekend?"

"I thought you were in charge? Shouldn't you be on top of this stuff?"

"I am!" Eret said, defensively. "I haven't worked out the schedule yet."

"I'm working in St. Louis next weekend."

"Ah," Eret nodded. His expression darkened. "Any luck tonight?"

"No." Astrid said lowly.

Eret sighed. "Well, better luck next night. Good night, Pigeon."

"Night," Astrid nodded. She headed to the alley door. The cab should be there any minute.

X

Before you ask - Pigeon is a nickname. No, Eret and Astrid aren't hitting on each other. That's a different story. They're a total bromance in this story. They enjoy pushing each other's buttons.