Chapter 12
"Finally back home!" Astrid happily announced as she opened the door for Hiccup who was on crutches. Astrid had been discharged three days prior and had gone back to pick up Hiccup since he was in no condition to drive. They also needed to stop by the pharmacy to stock up on some pain meds.
"Oh…," Astrid said upon realizing that their bedrooms were on the second floor and that there was no elevator to make it easier for Hiccup.
"It's fine, I can manage," Hiccup announced as if reading her thoughts. "I can probably sleep on the couch. It's very fluffy you know,"
"You will do nothing of the sort," Astrid huffed as she closed the door. "I can help you up and down the stairs."
"Astrid you really don't…"
"I insist," She countered amid Hiccup's protest. "It's either I offer you my shoulder or I Princess-carry you up those stairs."
Hiccup groaned as he was certain Astrid could probably make good on her threat as he had seen her benchpress his weight.
"Fiiiine!" Hiccup grumbled.
"Thank you. No one should feel restricted in their own house." Astrid stated while she put the prescription meds away in the fridge. "You just take it easy and recover while I make lunch,"
Hiccup nearly choked upon hearing Astrid would cook and was about to insist that he'd do it. So far he'd managed to limit the times she cooked with convenient excuses but he realized that today that wasn't going to fly. Hiccup was actually glad to be able to sit down. His ankle was throbbing from the elevator ride, though he never said anything for fear Astrid might take it badly. He suspected that she was somehow blaming herself for the whole incident. Yet he had no way of bringing it up casually.
Hiccup thought that that would be the end of it but oh how he was wrong. Astrid was very helpful, in fact she was exceedingly helpful over the coming weeks as his ankle healed further. He still walked with a limp, which according to the doctors was permanent, and at times during cold weather with a cane as his leg throbbed a lot more then. Yet Hiccup had learned to manage and could be self-sufficient given his new limitations, if only Astrid would stop treating him as if he was made of glass.
Things finally came to a head one night when Hiccup snapped at her for coddling him. Astrid looked shocked and dropped the remote she had been intending to hand him before standing up and wordlessly leaving the room, nearly running up the stairs. Hiccup watched the whole thing and, unsure if he fucked up or not, called his mom immediately.
"Mom.. I…" Hiccup said after the call was picked up after two rings.
"Son, yer mother is a little busy right now," Stoick was the one to answer the phone instead which made Hiccup pause.
"Dad, why are you answering mom's phone?" He questioned but before Stoick could answer he added "Wait, nevermind. I need some advice."
"Did ya screw up with the lass son?" Stoick asked.
"WHAT NO! WE… UHM… MAYBE? I don't know!" Hiccup went from defensive to confused in about three seconds. "Dad, are women always this complicated?"
"You have no idea son. No idea," Stoick muttered. "Now just between you and me how did ya screw up?"
"Uhm, well, I might have snapped at Astrid because she was… you know… pitying me. I mean, she's been treating me as if I'd break for the last week. It's been really noticeable too,"
"Hiccup, do you know what tomorrow is?" Stoick asked.
"Tomorrow? Uhm…."
"It's when Eret's trial starts," Stoick muttered.
"The trial starts tomorrow?!" Hiccup's brows shot up. "Astrid never mentioned that,"
"Son, take it from me. I don't think the lass is pitying you. I think she just feels terrible right now. I'm pretty sure she's been blaming herself for the incident the whole time too. What ya need to do is assure her it's not her fault."
"Wait… how do you know all this?" Hiccup questioned.
"Ah… well… yer mom and Astrid have brunch sometimes." Stoick told Hiccup offhandedly. "They're swapping recipes too ya know…. My poor soul!"
"So mom tells you,"
"Yes but Astrid doesn't know I know and you will keep it that way SON!" Stoick warned. "Valka is going to kill me if she knows I've told."
"Well this shouldn't have come as a surprise. I know you're always a sucker for gossip." Hiccup mumbled as he thought back to the time he saw his dad whispering with Uncle Gobber. The fact that Stoick didn't rebut that statement said it all.
"Now you listen here son," Stoick continued. "Ya need to go apologize to the lass for snapping at her. Comfort her, let her tell you her woes. And for Thor's sake don't antagonize her!" Hiccup raised his brow at the receiver when his dad uttered the last line.
"Speaking from experience?" He questioned.
"The last time I antagonized yer mother she fed me a honey cauliflower smoothie for two weeks…..I couldn't refuse… ya know how yer mother is. Let's just say son… I would rather face a horde of dragons than drink that stuff again." His dad muttered.
"Stoick my honeybun!" A rather seductive voice came from the background and Hiccup had to lift the phone off of his ear to check if he'd heard right. "Are you ready for some fun,"
"Ack! Valka… Hiccup!" Stoick must have motioned to his wife that he was on the phone because next thing Hiccup knew Valka was on the line.
"Hiccup dear, so glad you called,"
"Uhm… hi mom?" Hiccup said, unsure how to proceed and blushing when he realized just what they where planning.
"I'm going to borrow your father for a bit now sweety. Why don't we have dinner tomorrow? Feel free to bring Astrid. Lovely lass! Ciao!" Hiccup blinked as the call was ended so quickly and then shook his head. He'd rather not think about what his mom and dad get up to at times.
Hiccup grabbed his cane and with a groan pushed himself up and off the sofa before ambling up the stairs. "Astrid," He called out when he finally reached her door and knocked.
"GO AWAY!" Came the muffled shout from the other side.
"Astrid…" Hiccup persisted. "I just want to say I'm sorry,"
There was a thud from the other side and then Hiccup could hear rapid footsteps approaching the door before it was yanked open. On the other side stood Astrid, with her mascara running down one of her cheeks.
"Why are you apologizing?!" She questioned with a frown while not really caring about the state she was in herself. "I'm the one who should be apologizing!"
"Well… I snapped at you…" Hiccup answered. "I shouldn't have snapped at you,"
"But I was the one treating you like you were a Ming vase!" She countered. "You had every right to snap. After getting to my room I realized that how I treated you was unacceptable. So I should be the one to apologize!"
"I know you're stressed Astrid. The trial…"
Astrid shot Hiccup a look before muttering "Valka told you huh,"
"Uhm…. something like that," He nervously rubbed the back of his neck.
"Either way the trial shouldn't…" She was going to say but Hiccup interrupted her.
"But it is getting to you isn't it?" He questioned. "You blame yourself for the incident when you shouldn't,"
"But if I hadn't left Eret then…" She muttered.
"Then he would have still been a jealous douchebag he is now," Hiccup rebutted. "Get this through your head Astrid Hofferson. You are not responsible for the actions of someone else. Eret chose to cause that traffic accident and I chose to shield you. I would still choose to shield you if it happened again, and again, and again."
Astrid blushed at Hiccup's declaration. "Now I know you might want to wrap me in bubblewrap after the whole ordeal but I think we need a night out. Both of us need to destress. Why don't we check out some of the new eateries on the boardwalk."
"Hiccup Haddock, are you asking me out on a date?" Astrid raised a brow at his forwardness.
Back in the present Astrid was laying in the bed she and Hiccup now shared. There was a baby cot in the room as well which baby Nuffink occupied. Meanwhile Zephyr had gotten Astrid's old room.
She smirked when she heard the bathroom door open. Steam wafted out as Hiccup walked towards the bed shirtless while drying his hair.
"What has gotten you all so giddy Milady?" He questioned.
"Oh, just thinking about our boardwalk date and what it led to," She answered. "You know I think somewhere between the dunk tank and the grilled squid kebabs I realized that you were the man for me that night." This caused Hiccup to blush which made Astrid snort. She wanted to laugh aloud but the baby was sleeping…. Finally.