Disclaimer: I don't know httyd… Who knew?!

Author's Note: PLEASE READ! Did I get your attention? Nice! I just wanted to say that I am going to continue writing this fic… I just said that the last chapter I made my mind go numb and I didn't have enough brain juice to add some spices to it, not the entire story… Thank you!

Oh… and I'm totally a dude! I think… I need to check…. (Unzipped zipper) Yep, totally a dude! Moving on!

Setting: 2 years before the movie.

"Did You Say What I Think You Just Said"

It was another fine day at the village of Berk. The sun was shining with clouds every now and then to add enough shade to not make it too hot to enjoy. The birds were singing, the children running around and having fun, Astrid and Ruffnut sewing under the shade of a big tree, smiles on their faces, men hauling fish from- wait what?!

Hiccup shook his head and rubbed his eyes as if he was imagine things, probably the sun playing with his head. But as he looked again, he still saw it. Was it really possible? Then again, Astrid and Ruffnut were girls after all. It was just that, frankly speaking, those two were more, figuratively speaking of course, manlier than Hiccup, Tuffnut, and Fishlegs combined. He had to rule out Snotlout since his ego was big enough to cover the whole village, and he was being generous about it. It wasn't just the sewing itself but also the fact that Astrid was smiling contentedly, like she was enjoying herself. Of course she was. If she wasn't then she wouldn't be caught dead being seen in public doing 'girly' things. Hiccup smiled softly as he watched Astrid laugh at what Ruffnut said, probably insulting her brother again.

What I would give just to see that smile everyday.

Sensing that someone was staring at her, Astrid looked towards Hiccup's direction and saw him, gawking at her of all things. It took Hiccup a few seconds to realize this before turning around and briskly walking away. She had to fight off the blush that was threatening to escape because of all the people she could be with at that moment it had to be Ruffnut. There was actually nothing wrong with them being together like this because they were the only girls in their age group that can sew AND kick boys' butts at the same time. It was just that Ruffnut had a very big mouth and since the village was not that big news could travel fast. Of course, Ruffnut was not one to talk behind her back but when she got excited then you better believe that she will not hold back.

"Hey whatcha lookin at?" Ruffnut asked as Astrid seemed to stop listening to her and had her attention somewhere else. Just like Astrid, she saw Hiccup's retreating form and figured out then and there why her friend was suddenly quiet. She smiled knowingly. "I see. Now I know why you stopped." That caught Astrid's attention and she glared at the other blonde who was smirking at her.

"I don't know what you're talking about." She muttered, trying to as innocent as possible but knew it was futile.

Ruffnut just rolled her eyes. "Don't even start. I know something is up between you two, so spill or I'll Tuffnut about this and you know that he'll tell Snotlout." Ruffnut warned, already knowing that she had won.

This time Astrid couldn't fight the blush from showing so she just buried her face on the cloth she was fixing. "There's nothing between me and Hiccup," was her muffled reply.

"Who said I was talking about him?" Ruffnut asked haughtily, feeling she one-upped Astrid again.

Astrid only grinned in return "One," she raised a finger, "He's the only person we saw ever since we had started this 'conversation'. Two," she raised another finger, "we were just talking about Hiccup, so why would you randomly change the person of interest?" She raised the rest of her fingers on her raised hand. "Three, you know that the only time that I think of Snotlout is when I want to pummel him. Four, you'd be crazy to think that I was distracted by your brother. Last but certainly not least, Five, I know you have a crush on Fishlegs so that also rules him out." Astrid crossed her arms, chuckling at the dumbfounded look Ruffnut was giving her.

Silence enveloped the two as Ruffnut blinked owlishly at Astrid as she tried to comprehend what her friend just said. Suddenly, Ruffnut laughed which caught Astrid by surprise. She laughed so hard that she started to roll on the grass, clucthing her stomach.

"Now I'm completely sure that something up is between you and Hiccup!" she said in between laughs.

"No there isn't!" Astrid denied but the blush gave it away.

"Yes there is! And the reason I know for sure because I didn't even understand half the things you just said!" she continued to laugh even though Astrid threw her cloth at her.

"Shut up! It's not like that!"

"Then what is it?" Ruffnut asked after she recovered from her giggles.

"Promise me that you will not tell a single soul, or else…" Astrid warned her seriously. Since there was no getting out of it, she might as well make Ruffnut promise not to spill.

"I promise." Ruffnut rolled her eyes. She knew Astrid knew that she wouldn't tell anyone. She made the mistake once and she had the scar to prove it.

"Ok" Astrid took a deep breath, bracing herself for the upcoming teasing. She hardened her eyes. "I sorta, kinda, conditionally li-like him?" She started loud but ended up whispering when her confidence dwindled down.

"What?" Ruffnut wasn't sure if she heard right. "I think I got something in my ear." She wiped her ears clean, there was no way that she heard Astrid said she liked Hiccup of all people. Then again, he has improved for the last couple of years. So maybe it was possible for Astrid to like him, then again...

This is harder than I thought Astrid mentally sighed as Ruffnut crossed her eyes, deep in thought. "Trust me, you heard me right. In case you didn't then I would repeat myself. Yes, I like him, a lot actually." her blush deepened. Where did that confidence come from? She asked herself.

"Ok." Ruffnut rubbed her temples. "So I wasn't hearing things then, good to know. Here's my question then, why?" She asked in genuine curiosity.

"I..." Astrid hesitated, "I honestly don't know." Astrid blinked as she came to this conclusion. Feeling that she was being overwhelmed by this revelation, she started playing with her braid. Why did she like Hiccup? Was there any particular reason? Was it because he was cute? Or was it because he was funny?

This caught Ruffnut off guard. Astrid Hofferson did not act like a typical teen. But then again, here she was acting all flushed and blushing for Odin's sake!

"Ok, let's say that you're not crazy and you really do like him. But, are you sure about this? I mean, maybe it's just a way for you to cope with Snotface's flirting, me and Tuff's fighting, or Fish's ramblings." she tried to find a good explanation for all of this but to no avail. She just couldn't quiet understand why Astrid, the best viking-to-be in their generation, liked Hiccup, the opposite of her. It was throwing her out of loop.

Astrid just shook her head. "Nope, I'm already used to that. This, on the other hand, I'm not." She sighed, thinking whether to tell Ruffnut the truth but she was afraid that she would confront Hicccup about this. Hiccup was still uncomfortable around others. He would run away the first chance he got if Ruffnut demanded him answers.

"So…" Ruffnut eyes sparkled.

"So what?"

"Are you gonna tell him?" Ruff asked excitedly, almost jumping from where she was sitting. If her friend truly liked Hiccup then she would support her through and through.

"What?!" Astrid shrieked. Was she crazy? She thought frantically. "Are you crazy?! There's no way I'm going to tell him! It would be so embarrassing!" Astrid mumbled, holding the cloth to her face, trying to hide it from embarrassment.

Ruffnut snorted "Oh please, it's just Hiccup. He's like, the most decent kid we know. And it's not like he doesn't have a crush on you or anything."

Oh she knew that. It was especially made obvious after that little scene they had in the forest. But she needed to act surprised. Hiccup probably realized that she liked him too. "Really? I didn't know that!"

"Of course you didn't! Your head is always on training!" Ruffnut said matter-of-factly.

"Well… It's not my fault that boys are stupid and we need to teach them a lesson." Astrid really wanted to spill everything to Ruffnut but that would have to wait until Hiccup was accepted in their little group, whenever that is going to happen is beyond her.

"Yeah well good luck with that. I mean, him being Useless and all"

"Stop that!" Astrid snapped.

"Stop what?" Ruff asked bewildered

"Stop calling him Useless because he's not!"

Ruff raised her hands in defeat. "Ok, ok sheesh. I guess you like him more than I thought."

Astrid didn't answer her instead she turned away.

"Anyways, let's finish this so that we could kick those boys butts!" Ruff changed the subject for her own safety from the wrath of the Hofferson girl.

Astrid smirked at her "Now you're talking!"

Author's Note: Whew… I loved writing this chapter! It revealed the fun side of Astrid and the smart side of Ruffnut… Enjoy and don't forget to review!

Additional AN: Another chapter updated... 9/15/2016