Tangled Vows

Chapter 16

Despite the days passing by and life moving forward, Hiccup could not erase his conversation with Ingrid from his mind. It remained there, implanted in his brain like a parasite unable to live outside his memory.

No matter how Hiccup thought about it, he couldn't do it. Asking Astrid to stay, convincing her to stay in Berk for the rest of her days, whilst still staying married to him. It was ludicrous. Even Hiccup was having a hard time convincing himself to ask her to stay, he couldn't do it.

He didn't want her to stay. Once these three months were over, he'd be glad to see her leave. At least, that's what he told himself.

A knock erupted from the front door one evening, whilst Hiccup was stewing in the kitchen over that dinner. Words encircled his brain, tangling together into a kaleidoscope of confusion and guilt. Hiccup couldn't stomach it any longer, and was thankful for the distraction as he got up to answer the door.

Swinging open the door, he was met with a large, familiar figure holding a case of beer by his side. Looking up to see his old friend, a smile appeared on their faces as they took each other in their sights.

"Fishlegs?" Hiccup announced in surprise, glad to see his old friend again after so many weeks without him. 

Since Astrid had returned to Berk, he hadn't seen much of the rest of the gang, too afraid of what they would do or say to Astrid to let them know she was back. Yet, he couldn't hide her from them forever, and now that the rumour mill was spinning, it was almost inevitable that they would want to know whether it was real.

"I thought you could use a drink. It's been a long time." Fishlegs replied, holding up his six-pack of beer victoriously with a hearty smile pulling at his features. 

"You have no idea," Hiccup couldn't refuse such an offer and invited him inside.

Hiccup had forgotten that Astrid was in the house, still cleaning up the living room and finishing dusting off the shelves, so sauntered back into the kitchen and took a seat without acknowledging her existence. However, Fishlegs noticed her and gestured to her presence in the house as though it were abnormal or she was a ghostly apparition.

"So, it is true? She is back?" Fishlegs confirmed, pointing towards Astrid with mild confusion as he stammered towards the kitchen table. His eyes remained on Astrid, certain that she would fade or disappear from his sight if he were to look away.

Having already taken his seat, Hiccup looked up at Fishlegs, then over to Astrid. Smiling to himself, Hiccup felt amused at Fishlegs's shocked silence and knocked on the table to attract his attention again. This snapped Fishlegs from his stupor and he quickly took a seat at the table, lifting the case of beer onto the table so that Hiccup could get that drink he needed.

"Is that why you came round? Because you didn't believe the rumours?" Hiccup asked with a chuckle, seeming incredibly nonchalant about the whole thing whilst Fishlegs's brain was reeling with this new information.

Shaking his head, FIshlegs turned back to Hiccup and took a bottle of beer from the case. Both men popped the beer cap off with ease, Hiccup slammed his against the side of the table, getting the cap to pop off with a twinkle before collapsing onto the floor. 

"I mean, I heard she was back, I didn't think that she was living with you too," Fishlegs replied, taking a swig from his drink and turning back to look at Hiccup.

"I am here, you know. Rather than talking about me as if I'm not." Astrid called out to them, her hands on her hips to show her displeasure over their conversation.

Hiccup smiled, nodding at her. "Really? And here I was thinking that this was all some terrible nightmare."

"If this whole thing was an illusion, Hiccup. This would be purgatory." Astrid replied, rolling her eyes as she tried to return to her earlier task.