A/N: You remember how I said this story would be short? Ha. Ha. Ha. No.

My brain has other ideas, clearly. Wonderful.

…

The wind was tugging at her braid and blowing at his as she looked left and right on one Saturday afternoon. But nothing stood out to her, so she addressed her companion. "Hiccup, what is this thing you wanted to show me?"

They were sitting on a bench in Raven Point Park. Hiccup, on her left, glanced at his phone, which he had laid on his thigh since first sitting down.

"You'll see it; any minute now milady."

I hope so anyway. Come on, Gobber…

"You've been saying the same thing since we got here, Hiccup."

"That's because it's still true. You're not going to retract that condition of yours, are you?"

"Nope."

"Thought not. That's why we're here, waiting."

"That's why we're-Hiccup, am I going to be a referee?"

"Mediator, actually. Though I guess you could see it as the same thing."

"I didn't ask to be one."

"That's why I didn't tell you; in case you said no. However, this way you can't say I didn't try and I won't need to explain how talking to my dad went, since you're here. Win-win."

"Hiccup." Her tone didn't convey happiness.

"Look, this way there's a proper chance things will go smoothly. And you won't be alone. I called Gobber to mediate as well-for my dad."

"So I'm mediating for you? Why? It's not like you're bad at talking."

Hiccup nailed her with a flat stare. "I would like to refer you to our many prior arguments. Now picture me arguing with an older, more stubborn version of myself. Hence me getting two mediators for this thing."

"Right… so let's pass the time before they show up. What made you decide to join the army?"

"I'll condense that story, shall I? Broke up with Cami, graduated High School, moved out of the Haddock castle, moved south to study in Aberdeen, came back to see if Berk had changed any, visited and got drunk at Gobber's bar. Gobber then decides I need to do better in life; turn things around. So he calls an old friend from his army days. Lo and behold, Finn Hofferson walks in. The rest is as they say, history."

"Um… why did you get drunk in the first place? Must have been serious if Gobber wanted you to get better on the spot."

"Honestly can't say. I just remember I wasn't in a good place back then. Aggressive. Vulgar. Crude. As much as you used to be, back in high school each time you lost on sports day."

"Oi!" She protested, but was clearly only half serious, judging by her tone.

"Search your feelings, you know it to be true. Anyway, what about you?"

"What about me?"

"Did you ever want to be anything besides a physical therapist? I wanted to be a mechanic at first. Studied for two years in Aberdeen for it. What's your story?"

"Uh…"

"I'm not dropping this by the way. Start thinking, babe."

A long pause ensued, going on for long enough that Hiccup concluded she wouldn't answer. But then. "I wanted to be a skydiver, once. But things always stopped me for one reason or another. Then, eventually my uncle Finn got injured and the idea died on that day," Astrid shrugged. "That satisfy your curiosity?"

"Skydiver, huh?" Hiccup squinted at her. "Are you perhaps a daredevil in disguise, milady? A thrill seeker? In any case, would you believe me if I know a guy who knows a guy who teaches a skydiving school?"

"No. Sorry. But if I did believe you, I'd ask how you found and came to know such a guy."

"So you believe me but want me to think otherwise, then?"

"I didn't say that."

"Your choice of words implied it. Also, you're smiling, milady."

Astrid shrugged. "So what if I am?"

Hiccup chuckled. "Quoting me now, Astrid? Fair enough."

"Mhm. So any idea how long we need to wait for them to show up?"

Hiccup's phone vibrated, which was cause for laughter. "There's your answer," he grinned, checking his phone. "Okay, let's go look for them and get this over with."

"Sounds like a plan."