Fate~ Hiccstrid Modern

Chapter 18: Barely the Beginning

Though I've never seen myself as a dress-up kind of girl, prom with Hiccup made a girlie-girl out of me. My dress was a pale blue with a bodice of sewn glass diamonds on the v-shaped neckline. My hair is styled in a braided bun updo. My shoe was a black flate to match my equally black boot that I could now use without the need of crutches, thank goodness!

I was ready. Ready for the night to start and last as if it never was going to end. To go with my Prince Charming of only one leg and dance the night away the best we can with max two properly functioning feet. I was ready for every day with Hiccup.

Walking down the stairs, one slow step at a time, there stood Hiccup at the bottom with his back facing me. He wanted to do a first look picture, the camera staged to his right with a button in his hand. When I was at the bottom of the stairs, I tapped his shoulder. Hiccup took a deep breath before turning around.

His eyes widened, filling with tears as he took in the sight of me. His hands grazed my arms as he found my hands, bringing them to his lips as he kissed my fingers, his eyes never leaving mine. "Astrid, if the Goddess of Love and Beauty were to see you right now, she'd have realized she made a miracle that would take her place. You are beyond any human word that defines beauty, and if I could reach them, I'd pull the stars from the sky and place them under your feet, for they are meant to let you shine."

My heart swelled. Tears filled my eyes, but I willed them away. "If you make me cry with this make-up on, Haddock, you will not like the outcome."

Hiccup chuckled as he cupped my face. "Come what may, as long as you are by my side."

I huffed, annoyed. Show off!

At the dance, Hiccup and I stayed seated for all the dances that were fast paced. I'm still healing, you know. But every slow song, we were on our feet, enjoying the closeness of each other and the beat of our hearts. Especially the last dance of the night.

Hiccup held me close, his head leaning on mine as my ear was placed on his heart. "You know," he said. "I don't want this to end."

I snorted. "Well, we can't stay at prom forever. We have to go to college and grow up sometime."

"I meant us. I don't want us to end. Ever."

I leaned back to look into his eyes, laughter filling my lungs. "So, what? You going to propose to me right now?"

"That's the idea."

My eyes met his, and humor was not drifting in them. He was serious. "Wait, Hiccup, we're only seventeen."

"And I don't want a moment to go by where you aren't with me. I love you, and as long as you'll have me, I want to be a part of your everyday life for eternity."

I nodded and leaned my head against his chest. "No ring until after the first year of college."

"Okay."

"I can't promise I'll be easy to deal with."

"Never wanted easy."

I giggled. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

I looked at him again. "So, high school isn't the end of our story?"

He smiled, wide and beautiful. "High school was barely the beginning."