Chapter Two – He Could Be the One
Music blared in her ears as she strode casually out of customs and retrieved her bags. She walked out with a casual grace and attitude that had everyone watching her. Still, she paid no attention, she just listened to the loud blaring tunes in her ears. Until it was drowned by high pitched screaming and yelling. She turned to face the source of the noise and grinned as three girls came hurrying towards her. Pulling out her earphones, Astrid opened her arms as Heather crashed into her, followed by Rosie and the Ruff casually joining.
"You're here!" Heather squealed happily.
"No, I'm over there in the corner not being smothered. Yes, I'm here!" Astrid retorted, laughing slightly at the excited reception she received.
"It's so good to see you again Astrid! There's so much to do before the wedding!" Rosie said as she let Astrid go.
"It's great to see you too! Don't we still have ages?"
"Well technically we have three weeks nearly. But that will fly by! And we need to get your dresses sorted now you're here, I need to decide if I want the one I have held, need your opinion… there are final decisions to be made and decorations and such need preparing… I have a first dance to rehearse, speeches and vows to write or practice… And we're going to have individual bachelor and bachelorette parties, we're going for a spa weekend…"
"I suggested Vegas." Ruff said shrugging.
"Spa weekend sounds great. Now breathe, Rosie! It'll be fine!"
"Where are you actually staying Astrid?" Heather asked suddenly. Astrid had stayed with the Haddocks the last time she was here, but to Heather's knowledge Hiccup and Astrid hadn't spoken since before she left.
"Eh, hotel room around the actual wedding. Probably another hotel now."
"You haven't planned that?!"
"Nah, I wing it. You know me!"
"We could call Hiccup and Stoick. I'm sure they'd have you again. Or Valka…"
Astrid shook her head.
"Hiccup doesn't know I have come back yet, as long as you didn't tell him, I would like to keep it that way. If only for a few days. Or he will ask me to go there, and that's just asking for trouble." Astrid said as they travelled out to the car park where Rosie's green bug was waiting for them.
"Does that mean you aren't going to start things with him then?" Heather asked disappointed.
"Rosie where we off to first?" Astrid asked ignoring Heather's question.
"Depends, we have an appointment at the bridal shop for dress fittings and such at two."
"Ok?"
"How fast can you wash up?" Rosie asked grinning back at Astrid.
"You calling me filthy Rosie?" She replied grinning.
"Maybe. But you've had a long flight and are probably sticky and uncomfortable, and we're going to try really nice dresses so you might just want to freshen up."
"Whose shower am I borrowing?" Astrid said with a shrug and grin.
After a quick but refreshing shower, and changing into a clean pair of shorts and a fresh vest, Astrid and the others were sitting sipping champagne in the bridal shop as Rosie perused.
"Here, I've found some dresses I quite like, try them on at your leisure guys, just see what you like." Rosie said point to a collection of dresses she'd picked, now hanging outside the changing rooms. They each grabbed one and went to try them on along with Rosie's younger sister – Rachel, and her childhood best friend – Lorna.
"So, Astrid, you dodged my question in the car." Heather said from behind one door as she threw her dress over it and pulled on a pastel yellow bridesmaid one with a pink ribbon.
"Don't know what you're talking about." Astrid replied, dropping her shorts and putting on a short pale pink bridesmaid dress with a layered skirt.
"I actually don't." Lorna replied.
"Oh, Astrid had a bit of a thing with Hiccup, you know him, back when she visited, but he was seeing someone else so they never got anything off the ground." Rosie called from outside.
"Isn't Hiccup the tall cute one with brown hair?" Rachel asked, leaning on the doorframe of her changing cubicle in a pale green dress with straps, down to her toes and with a shimmering sating overlay.
"Yeah that's him."
"Oh I like him. He single now then?" Lorna asked.
"Yeah but…"
"Astrid, come one! Is anything going to happen with Hiccup?" Heather asked stepping out and staring at the closed door of Astrid's cubicle. Ruff was already sat on the sofa again in a mid-length dress with pink bodice and yellow skirt. She sipped her champagne.
"We need answers Astrid!"
Astrid opened the door and stepped out.
"Look, I'm not saying anything for certain. Do I like Hiccup? Yes, yes I do. But I've not seen him since he was with psycho. And regardless of what you've told me Heather, I need to have a chance to get to know him again."
"But you guys were so perfect!" Heather complained.
"He won't be on the market long." Lorna said. "He's gorgeous, cute and a total catch."
"Ha! He's still smitten with Astrid!" Ruff laughed.
"Come on As, you've already said you like him! And you know he's a great guy…"
"Smooth talking"
"Oh here we go." Ruff said, raising her glass as Astrid started to sing.
"So rockin,
He's got everythin' that a girl's wantin,
Guitar cutie"
"True." Heather added grinning.
"He plays it groovy" Astrid shimmied and leaned on the frame.
"And I can't keep myself from doing something stupid,
Think I'm really falling for his smile,
Get butterflies when he says my name!
Oh!"
She jumped up onto the sofa between Ruff and Rosie and continued to perform.
"He's got something special,
He's got something special,
And when he's looking at me I wanna get all sentimental,
He's got something special,
He's got something special,
I can hardly breathe, somethings telling me,
Telling me maybe he could be the one,
He could be the one,
He could be the one,
He could be the one,
He could be the one,
He could be the one"
Heather clapped, Rosie giggled and Ruff grinned, Lorna and Rachel apparently did not know what to make of this outgoing girl, singing and dancing around the bridal store. Astrid had moved confidently to another area to continue.
"He's lightning,
Sparks are flying,
Everywhere I go he's always on my mind and,
I'm going crazy,
About him lately,
And I can't help myself from how my heart is racing,
Think I'm really digging on his vibes,
He really blows me away!"
"Is she always like this?" Rachel asked them
"Pretty much" Heather replied, Astrid still singing proudly.
"First time I met her she sang 'Big Girls' to me and danced on the bar." Rosie said, giggling.
"So she's one of THOSE girls?" Lorna commented, looking at Astrid a little distastefully.
"Don't judge until you know her." Ruff said. "I find she's just outgoing and confident. Astrid isn't shy. She's not one of THOSE girls if what you mean is a slut and attention whore. Astrid just doesn't give a fuck what people think."
"…He could be the one,
He could be the one,
He could be the one,
He could be the one,
He could be the one!"
"So, is Hiccup really smitten with her?" Lorna asked.
"Yup. He has been since the moment he met her." Heather said brightly.
"Not that any of us were complaining." Ruff added.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I had mentioned my friend Astrid before. I told Ruff and the others I thought she'd be perfect for Hiccup. And he had a psycho girlfriend at the time so meeting Astrid kind of triggered him to realise he was unhappy…"
"And be Hiccup again!" Ruff said, holding up her champagne glass and Heather clinked it.
"He's got something special,
He's got something special,
And when he's looking at me I wanna get all sentimental,
He's got something special,
He's got something special,
I can hardly breathe, somethings telling me,
Telling me maybe he could be the one,
He could be the one,
He could be the one,
He could be the one,
He could be the one,
He could be the one"
"Yay! Very nice Astrid!" Heather laughed as she sat back down.
"So he COULD be the one then?" Ruff said with a nudge to Astrid's ribs.
"Oh I hope so!" Rosie said smiling.
"Easy girls. Could be. Not is. And besides, aren't we here for Rosie's wedding? Not to fantasise about one for me and Hiccup?"
"Yeah but it's fun to do that too." Heather commented. Astrid rolled her eyes.
"Ok Rosie, we're in the dresses, which do you like best?" Astrid asked trying to change the subject.
"Hey Fishlegs, I bought that stuff you wanted." Hiccup said as Fishlegs opened the door to the dual level apartment he shared with Rosie.
"Oh, thanks Hiccup. Really appreciate that. It wasn't a problem was it?"
"Nah, Dad just printed and copied them at work. No Rosie?"
"She's out dress shopping with the girls. Got to sort out bridesmaid dresses and stuff as well."
"You don't get a say in them then?" Hiccup asked with a grin, putting the box of paper down on the coffee table.
"Of course not. My opinion on them doesn't count. I just have to make sure I wear the right suit and correct colour tie. Coffee?"
"I'd love one."
"Besides, I think they were looking at possible wedding dresses too. And I am not allowed to see that. Rosie says it's bad luck." Fishlegs shrugged as he made coffee for them both.
"I don't really get why?"
"Me either. But girls get a little crazy about weddings."
"No kidding. Even Heather seems majorly hyper about it! Ruff, not so much."
"Yeah well, Ruff would sooner just wear a baggy t-shirt and pair of jeans."
"True. She must be a bundle of fun right now."
"Yeah. But Rosie still has Heather, her old friend Lorna, you remember her?"
"The brunette who flirted with me at Rosie's 21st? In the short skirt? Had far too much to drink and nearly got in on with Snot?"
"That's the one."
"Ah. So, she's a bridesmaid too?"
"Yup. Along with Rosie's younger sister Rachel. She's the one with dirty blonde hair. She was a little giggly with you and then tripped over Ruff's foot and smashed that vase?"
"Oh yeah, you can see she's Rosie's sister. Similar features."
"Yeah."
"Do I have to walk down the aisle with one of them? Or do I get to go with you instead?"
"I believe that is also out of our hands. The girls decided months ago who you would walk with."
Hiccup looked at him quizzically as he handed him a mug of coffee.
"I believe the deal was, Ruff had to be a good bridesmaid and not moan, and Astrid had to walk with you, dance with you at least once and be in a photo just the two of you." Fishlegs sipped his coffee as he sat on the sofa. "I guess the girls were banking on it being a jolt to get you two together or something."
Hiccup felt his heart skip a beat.
"I'm going to walk with Astrid?"
"Apparently." Fishlegs calmly sipped his coffee again.
"Excellent! Hopefully we'll get to catch up before the actual wedding…"
"I expect so. I think she was coming into town… oh… might be today even."
"What?! No one told me she was coming back! Are you sure?!"
"Well Rosie said she was going dress shopping with the girls after going to the airport. And Astrid is a bridesmaid. She's been putting off doing the dresses until Astrid was around. So I should think so… Hiccup?"
Hiccup was on his phone dialling Heather frantically.
The girls all laughed loudly as they waited for Rosie to come out in another wedding dress. When Heather's phone rang, she gasped and hushed them.
"Shhhh guys! It's Hiccup!"
Astrid sat back and zipped her lip.
"Hello?" Heather said down the phone, putting it on speaker so the others could hear.
"Hey, Heather…"
"Hi Hiccup!" The other girls called.
"Oh… Hi! Heather am I on speaker?"
"Yeah! We're just trying on dresses! What's up?"
"Is Astrid there?"
Astrid flashed a look at the phone and then to Heather and Ruff who both shrugged.
"Heather? Is she there?"
"Errr…"
Astrid rolled her eyes, like that wouldn't give it away."
"Yeah she is." Lorna said for her.
The others all looked at her and held up their hands to question.
"Who's that?"
"Lorna, hey Hic! Long time no speak!"
"Oh right, hi. Heather, can I speak to Astrid. What am I saying, I'm on speaker. Astrid?"
Astrid hesitated and looked at the phone and the others for nearly a minute.
"Hey Hic"
"It's actually you. I didn't realise you were coming back yet."
"Yeah well, slightly last minute decision. The girls wanted me here to do dresses and for the spa weekend, so I came back early."
"Oh right. Well, it's great your back. Maybe we can catch up sometime? Toothless would love to see you. So would Dad, Gobber and mum."
"Yeah I'm sure we can do that sometime."
"We're going to the usual haunt tomorrow night Hic. You and the guys should join us!" Heather interrupted.
"Sounds great. Meet you guys there at nine?"
"See you then!" Heather said brightly.
"Bye, Astrid, Heather… Ruff, Rosie… errr Lorna, Rachel!"
"Bye!" They called.
Astrid shot Heather a look.
"Seriously? And you," She pointed to Lorna. "Why did you tell him I was here?"
"I didn't see the harm. You are here. And he obviously wanted to know if you were around, you said you liked him…"
"Things are a little complicated. Yes I like him but I was planning to have a few days without him knowing I'm here."
"Well nothing to be done now." Heather said.
"What's so complicated?" Lorna asked bluntly.
"No offence, but it's actually none of your business. So if you DON'T mind, keep out of my business."
Lorna looked mildly annoyed and glared at Astrid who simply downed her glass of champagne.
"Guys, please don't fight." Rosie said as she came out. Everyone suddenly sat up or stood. Even Ruff sat up and stared.
"Oh Rosie!"
"You look so beautiful!" Lorna said
"You do look good." Ruff admitted.
"Stunning. That one really compliments your curves and the simple decoration really suits you!" Astrid said smiling brightly.
It was a long satin dress with a longer train, the neck was overhanging fabric, there was a simple ivory ribbon around the waist area. It really was beautiful and so simplistic.
"You guys think so?" She asked, standing on the step, in front of the mirror.
"Absolutely!"
"That's the one!"
"I think it might be." Rosie agreed.
The girls all refilled their glasses with more champagne as the ladies came over to take orders and details.
Hiccup was very excited that Astrid was back, and he spent all night telling Toothless about it. And he could barely contain his excitement as it got later in the day following day. He showered twice to get the smell of animals out of his hair and skin, and then looked at his shirts to decide which one to wear. His phone rang, Snotlout to tell him they were here in the cab and to 'hurry up!'.
"About time! Berk Dragon please!" Snotlout said as Hiccup finally climbed into the cab with them.
"Sorry, was getting ready."
"Hiccup, it takes my sister less time to get ready." Tuff said
"I was not that bad."
"I know, Ruff is just really quick. Though sometimes she takes longer than you."
"Come on, let's get our party heads on!" Snotlout grumbled.
"You going to try things with Astrid tonight?" Tuff asked.
"I'm just going to let things happen in their own way… but yeah… I might encourage the idea!" He said grinning. He was really excited to see her again.
It took them nearly half an hour to get to the bar and they hurried inside. It was already packed, but finding the girls was easy enough. You could hear Astrid yelling loudly from a mile away.
"Hiccup! Over here guys!" Heather called.
Astrid took a drink from James, laughing with him as they came over.
"It is good to see you back. You staying long enough to want a job again?" James asked grinning.
"Maybe. I'll let you know if I need some extra cash!"
"Astrid!"
"Tuff! Snotlout! Hiccup!" She hugged all three at once. "It's great to see you all!"
If anything, Astrid looked even more gorgeous than she had the last time he saw her. She was still the same, long blonde hair, slightly tanned from her travels… She looked amazing. She had on a blue party dress and it really showed off her gorgeous legs. Hiccup really had missed her.
"You look amazing." He told her with a crooked smile.
"Thanks Hic." She said, flashing him one of her dazzling smiles. Gods he had missed that smile. "James! I think we need some drinks! Shots for all!"
"Alright, just for you!"
"Love you James!" She laughed as he poured shots for everyone. Fishlegs pulled a face.
"Oh come on honey, one shot?" Rosie pleaded.
"Yeah honey, one shot?" Tuff said, batting his eyes, which they all copied, batting eyes and begging Fishlegs with various pet names including 'honey', 'sweetie', 'babycakes', 'snookums' and 'sweetiepie'.
Fishlegs could barely hold in a laugh as they did so and consented to do one shot making them all cheer loudly. Tonight promised to be a whole lot of fun. Hiccup watched Astrid down her shot and woop and call for another.
"You can still hold your drink then?" He grinned.
"Better than you can honey!"
"Wanna bet?"
"Don't need to. I know you." She said flashing him another grin. "I can definitely hold it better."
"What is that meant to mean?" He challenged.
"That I could drink more than you and still be in total control and know exactly what I'm doing, not vomit, avoid the headache and know what I did come morning."
"I could do that!"
"And I could completely resist the flirting you'll try and not try get it on with you."
Oh. She grinned dangerously. So, she was going to play that game was she? Hiccup called for another shot.
"Oh the game is on. It is so on."
She clinked her shot with him.
"First one to try something buys the other a steak dinner."
"Deal."
"May the best woman, or man, win."
And she downed the shot, the game had begun.
