Happily Never After

Part 10

Part 9: Premeditation

"Now mom... please don't do anything drastic," Hiccup said once Valka had let him go and he caught a breath.

"Oh honey, what makes you think I'll do anything?" Valka questioned as she gave her son a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Because you're way too calm about any of this," Hiccup muttered "And I know you. You're only this calm when you're plotting someone's downfall."

"Hiccup you have such a wild imagination," Valka replied offhandedly. "I'm not going to be doing anything so don't you worry. Now why don't you and Astrid head back to the party and enjoy. I had them add those little caviar horderves you love to the menu when I heard you were coming."

"Mom seriously don't do anything," Hiccup groaned as the three exited the small meeting room and approached the ballroom.

"Hiccup, honey for the last time. I'm not going to do anything," Valka uttered in an exasperated tone. "And as much as I love your date's idea of using the salmon as a weapon I feel that the tuna would be much more appropriate." She winked at Astrid now as if telling her to go ham should they encounter trouble again.

"MOM!"

"Hiccup don't stress over it," Astrid laughed at Mrs, Haddock's implication. "Why don't we check out that open bar a bit more and get some good food."

"Fine, fine...." Hiccup sighed. There really was no use arguing when two women ganged up on him like this. He might as well enjoy the rest of the night.

Thankfully the rest of the night was more or less uneventful. Astrid and Hiccup actually did enjoy themselves as they steered clear of Delise and her lot. By the end of the night, nearly midnight to be exact, Astrid was giggling as she held onto Hiccup's arm. They were making their way out of the ballroom as the gala was winding down.

"You're a nice pillow," Astrid mumbled as her cheeks were a bit flushed from all the bubbly she'd had.

"And you're drunk," Hiccup commented though he too was sporting a flush which became more apparent as they stepped outside in the cool air. He might have had one too many whiskeys.

"This is nice," Astrid mumbled.

"Hmmm?" Hiccup questioned as they made their way to the waiting limo.

"Just going out like this, you know, kind of like a date," Astrid giggled. Of course she knew that it hadn't been an actual date but her drunken self liked to think it was. "I've only been on one date... like ever,"

"Wait, what do you mean?" Hiccup stopped, causing Astrid to also stop walking. He was definitely confused by her statement just now.

"Oh you know.... The whole thing with that douche Eret," She made a dismissing motion. "He took me to one movie and a burger after he found out we were soulmates and then he insisted we meet each other's parents." She explained. "Never took me out again unless it was dinner with his or mine family,"

"And you never asked him to have a date night?" Hiccup questioned as they were walking again and reached the limo.

"Uuuggghhhh... that... that mulch bucket kept making excuses to not go," She groaned as she slid into the backseat. "I gave up asking after a year,"

"That's...," Hiccup couldn't comprehend that guy's thought process. Here this Eret guy had a woman that wanted to make things work between them and he goes and bollocks it all up. "If you were my soulmate I'd take you on as many dates as you wanted." He heard himself saying. Astrid giggled before leaning out of the car again and wrapping her arms around Hiccup's neck.