Disclaimer: Don't own HTTYD or the awesome HTTYD Sparta remix. (Look it up on YouTube. You might pee yourself with laughter.)

Author's Note: Thanks for favoriting, reading, and reviewing. Hopefully you're still reading. It has gotten kind of long and almost out of hand. For that, I apologize. Enjoy this chapter!

It was just like when he was training Toothless all over again: Astrid knew he was around but she never saw him.

That night, Hiccup came to Astrid's bedroom to ask how her Nadder, Thunderer, was doing. In the midst of their pleasant conversation, they were interrupted by Camicazi who entered without knocking.

"Hiccup, my mom wants to talk to you again."

Astrid gritted her teeth. Why did Camicazi always have to interrupt them? Hiccup was the only person on this blasted isle that paid her any notice. She snapped at the Bog-Burglar Heir, "Why doesn't she get off her fat butt and talk to him herself?"

Camicazi glared at her. Hiccup gave Astrid a warning look. "It's fine, right, Astrid?"

"It's because she wants to talk to Hiccup privately." Camicazi said.

"Why can't I come with you?" Astrid asked.

"You would get bored." What a lame excuse. Astrid didn't buy it. She raised an eyebrow. "Well you would. Talking politics isn't very much fun."

"Then why do you do it?" Astrid said, trying to get him into divulging what he and Bertha were up to.

"Because if I don't then-" Camicazi shot him a look and he stopped himself.

"Then what?" Astrid demanded.

"Why do you care so much?" Hiccup asked.

Astrid was stunned. Why did she care so much about not seeing Hiccup very much? It wasn't like she was jealous, like last time. But it wasn't as if she'd gone full circle either. She thought on it for a moment. She supposed it was loneliness: Camicazi had brought her leg back to full strength rather quickly and she had been some company. But throughout most of the process, she bragged about her doctoring skills and ability to swordfight. No one on the island seemed to pay her much attention. They were all busy talking to Hiccup. When he wasn't busy, he was good company for her. She had to admit, Hiccup was good to talk to. Not that she really cared what he did. It was his business.

"Because-" She began, but her cheeks grew too pink for her to finish. Hiccup had plenty of company, even enough to make up for his lack of friends back on Berk. He wouldn't want to hear what she had to say. Besides, she was being all overemotional anyway. Vikings weren't supposed to be like that. Her expression became blank. "Never you mind. It doesn't matter. It's stupid, really."

"No it's not." said Hiccup, "Camicazi, tell your mother I'll be there in a moment. Astrid and I need to talk about something."

Camicazi left the two alone. "No we don't." said Astrid, "I told you, it doesn't matter." She looked away.

Hiccup stroked her cheek. She recoiled. "Yes it does. And we do need to talk about it. I haven't seen you that upset since we arrived."

"Why do you care if I'm upset?" Astrid said scathingly.

"We're getting married, Astrid," Hiccup reminded her, "As your husband, it's my responsibility to-"

"Woah, woah, woah! As my husband? Hiccup, we're not married!"

"Our parents wanted us to get married," said Hiccup awkwardly, "They have our best interests at heart and we should follow their orders."

Astrid laughed hysterically. "That's funny coming from you, Mister I-Went-Against-Everything-Vikings-Stand-For-And-Flew-A-Dragon! Talk about disobeying your parents!" She pointed out.

"You flew Toothless, too. That's beside the point." Hiccup argued.

"Oh really? Then what is the point?" Astrid bellowed. She was boiling. He was wasting her time with all this dragon dung. Now he'd gotten her all fired up.

Fire filled Hiccup's eyes. And he used a voice Astrid never knew he had. "OH FOR THOR'S SAKE, ASTRID! ARE YOU REALLY THAT UNINTELLIGENT? WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO FOR YOU TO REALIZE HOW MUCH I CARE ABOUT YOU? I ONLY WANTED TO TALK TO YOU BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WAS GOING TO COME BACK!"

Astrid stared at this Hiccup. This wasn't Hiccup. He was a monster. She had created him and deeply regretted it. He was scary.

He wasn't screaming anymore, which Astrid thought made him scarier. He had this look on his face as if he wanted to kill someone. He merely looked at her with that horrible expression in silence. Astrid had nothing to say. It took her a long time to get out any words.

Eventually, she said, "What do you mean you didn't know if you were going to come back?" but it came out as a squeak. She had to repeat herself, in order for a sullen Hiccup to understand her question. Was Bertha going to kill him? Had he messed up their uncivilization that much?

Hiccup changed again. His face softened and he went to the other extreme. "That doesn't matter. It's my fault. I haven't been spending time with you. I was afraid that you were still mad at me from the whole carrying you away on a dragon incident."

Still mad at him? Quite the contrary. Hiccup seemed so much cooler since that incident. He had trained a whole horde of dragons for a village just because he happened to land here and had the desire to save her.

Astrid averted her eyes from this other Hiccup. She saw something wet fall onto his tunic. She quickly looked up again. He was crying?

"Hiccup?" She asked concernedly.

"It's nothing." It was most certainly not nothing. He was crying. "I- I just wanted to find out why you were so cross. And now I see why. It's because I'd be a horrible husband. I didn't pay attention to you. And when I was stressed, I… exploded."

Astrid hated to see him like this. She hesitantly wrapped her arms around the skinny torso of the sobbing Hiccup. Had she imagined that he said that he cared about her?

"Hiccup…" She said.

"No. Don't say anything, love," he whispered, "I brought up the whole wretched topic of our arranged marriage because… after everything that's happened between us… I know this sounds crazy… but…I'm crazy…I…I still want to get married. I'm sure of it now. More than ever. I don't have to marry you to find out if I truly like you. I know I do. Astrid… I love you."

Astrid couldn't let go. Not when he was like this. But she didn't want to give him false hope. Love? That was a little extreme. They weren't exactly in a position to love one another. But then, how else could she describe her feelings for Hiccup? Was love too strong a word?

"Oh, Hiccup."

There was an awkward cough behind Hiccup. The two quickly broke from each other's embrace and saw Camicazi standing in front of them.

"Er… ready to go?"

Hiccup collected himself. He looked as if nothing had ever happened. He nodded. "Yes. Come on Toothless," he called to his Night Fury. Once the dragon joined him, he started downstairs.

Astrid watched him in disbelief. How could he so readily go off with Camicazi if he loved her? Did he love her instead? No, he didn't know what love was. Well, neither did she.

Just before Hiccup disappeared from sight, he turned around, grabbed Astrid around the waist, and gave her a kiss.

She was so surprised she didn't have time to react. Unexpectedly, he tasted so sweet. It was unlike any of the tough and tasteless food on Berk. She craved that taste. What was it?

When he pulled away and walked down the stairs, his eyes not leaving her until the last possible moment, Astrid finally realized how beautiful those eyes were.

Author's Note: Wow. That was draining. I'm kind of proud of Hiccup. Not gonna lie. So, he didn't think he'd come back, huh? What does that mean he's up to? I kind of got the idea for this emotional palooza halfway through the chapter. Please tell me how I could improve these emotional paloozas. They're not my specialty but I would like them to be. Writing is fun. Aye?