Chapter 12

Hiccup's POV

I groaned and covered my head with the blanket. The sunlight was streaming through the windows and a bird had just decided to perch itself on the ledge outside and chirp his little heart out. The sound was like getting hit with a sledge hammer.

"UUGGHH" I say as the chirping just wouldn't stop.

"Well you're definitely hung over." Astrid comments and floats to the side of the bed.

"Too loud Astrid." I grumble and try to bury myself under the blankets.

"Well I might just have the cure. Now up you get." Astrid said and made the blanket fly off me.

"I whined and tried to grab them but I ended up tumbling out of bed. "Should never have accepted that first glass of whiskey." I mumbled while standing up shakily.

"No you shouldn't have." Astrid commented. "But I wouldn't blame you."

I slightly wince at how loud Astrid's voice sounded and the events of the previous night came flooding back.

"Astrid…" I say hesitantly and she immediately understood that I remembered. "I… eh…"

"You don't need to say anything Hiccup. In fact I really like you too." I hear her say and I saw her aura get a little erratic. "Can I ask you to wait for me a little longer? I need to think this through because there may be a way for us to be together."

"O….Of course Astrid. I..Is there really a way?" I asked silently hoping that it was true, my migraine momentarily forgotten.

"I need to find a particular item first, but it should be possible. I left a fail-safe in place when I was still alive." Astrid mumbled. "But for now, we need to cure that hangover of yours." Astrid said and floated through the door. She popped her head back in the bedroom to add. "Also your ex won't be bothering you anymore."

As Astrid left I had to blink a few times to process this. I then yelled "Astrid what did you do?!"

I quickly decide to take a bath and tried to freshen up. The headache medicine in the cabinet was still not quite doing its job.

As I finally stumbled down the stairs I headed for the kitchen. Upon entering I found Astrid throwing all kinds of vegetables into the blender.

"Astrid, what are you doing?" I ask to which I simply receive a smirk.

"Making a hangover remedy of course." She simply stated while closing the lid and turning the blender on.

"Astrid…" I say uncertainly. "I really don't think that that will be drinkable."

"Oh don't be such a prude Hiccup." Astrid remarked and then changed the subject. "Also I think you can tell your friend Sadie about me."

"What brought this on?" I couldn't help but ask.

"I took a liking to her, and I'm sure she'll be here soon to return your carriage." Astrid stated.

"Astrid, it's a car." I remind her.

"Speak of the devil." Astrid said. "She's here and she brought company."

I head out to the front windows and indeed I see Sadie pull up the driveway in my car and her father's police cruiser behind it.

I open the door to see Sadie and Alvin approaching.

"Good morning! Hiccup you have got to hear this!" Sadie happily said. "You wouldn't believe what happened last night."

I slightly cringe at Sadie's loud voice, which she noticed. "Ah, the fabled hangover." Was all she said.

"Morning Sadie, Alvin. Now what has you so excited?" I ask.

"Well dad arrested your ex Melanie last night." Sadie chirped happily. "She was yelling loudly about an axe wielding ghost trying to kill her and a possessed house."

This made me pale a bit. 'Astrid, what the hell did you do last night?' I couldn't help but wonder.

"Aye, that she was. Kicked me in the shins as well when I tried to take her in." Alvin interjected breaking me out of my musings.

"Can't say I'm not a little curious now lad. This would be the second time something like this happened." Alvin commented.

I let out a sigh. "Why don't both of you come inside so I can explain." I tell them.

"Lad, I didn't mean to say you had anything to do with this." Alvin states.

"I think you guys will be pretty surprised. I just want you to promise me that you won't tell a soul about what I'm going to reveal to you." I reply and hold open the door for Sadie and Alvin who nodded now obviously intrigued.

I guide Sadie and Alvin to the parlour where they each take a seat.

I let out a breath. "Okay, what I'm about to confess will seem out of this world, but please keep an open mind."

"Of course we will Hiccup. You're our friend." Sadie told me and I could see Alvin nod.

"So Sadie, remember what you told me about this house being haunted the first time we met." I ask her.

"Of course I do. It's just a local legend." Sadie replied looking perplexed as I shook my head in a negative fashion.

"What if I told you this house was actually haunted." I say to them and I saw Sadie quirk an eyebrow while Alvin let out a laugh.

"You had me going there lad." Alvin replied.

"Dad…" Sadie said trying to get his attention.

"DAD!" Sadie now shouted and pointed to something behind me.

I saw Alvin still and take a good look. "I…Is that tea set floating!" he then yelled.

Sure enough a tray containing some tea and scones floated past me and landed on the table. I couldn't help but let out a laugh.

"Astrid you can quit showing off." I say while not taking my eyes away from the gob smacked pair.

Astrid them materialized right next to the settee causing Sadie and her father to jump in surprise. "Greetings, I'm Astrid Hofferson, the humble ghost which inhabits this manor." Astrid introduced herself while curtsying. "May I offer you some tea and scones."

"…Cough….SHOWOFF…..Cough…." I say only to receive a floating pillow to the face.

Sadie and Alvin simply sat there looking at Astrid. I took a seat on the settee and was enjoying their astonished looks.

"Hiccup, drink this." Astrid said and handed me a glass. I wasn't really looking and took a sip of its contents. Immediately I gagged and ran towards the kitchen.

"OH MY THOR ASTRID! WHAT WAS THAT!" I shouted while trying to get the vile taste out of my mouth.

"Hangover remedy!" Astrid shouted back, and this was what broke the tension. Alvin and Sadie couldn't help letting out loud laughs as they almost doubled over from the scene.

I came back into the parlour and gave Astrid a glare. "I can't believe you made me drink that." I told her.

"It worked didn't it?" Astrid asked with a smirk. "Your headache is gone."

"Astrid, my taste buds are gone as well." I grumble earning me more laughter.

It was Alvin who finally asked. "I'm guessing Astrid over here had something to do with your ex being scared as hell."

I look to Astrid who was trying to look innocent but wasn't really succeeding. "Astrid?"

"Fine! After you came home drunk I sensed someone on the property." Astrid replied. "Turns out the little leach thought she could take advantage of you while you were intoxicated."

"Okay?" I asked, and Sadie added. "Oh this will be good."

I saw Astrid smirk. "I caught her trying to get in through the garage and thought that she needed to learn her lesson."

"Well from what I saw this morning I'd say lesson learned." Alvin commented. "I'm just a bit confused by the axe part."

Astrid lets out a laugh and points to the mantle. "Hiccup fixed up my family's axe. I thought it would be appropriate when I told her that if she ever came near Hiccup again I'd gut her like the slimy leech she was."

Sadie couldn't keep in the snickers. "Hiccup I knew you were a peculiar guy, and this confirms it. You might be the only person who ever gave a ghost an axe."