Behind the mask

No one should be alone

Astrid had visited every day, spending hours with the boy as he slowly recovered from his surgeries. He had insisted that she bring their homework along and though he had done relatively little, he had made sure she finished hers. If nothing else, he didn't want to ruin her life like he had his own.

It was now New Years Eve and Astrid was having a party-not a huge everyone-in-the-year-come sort of party but more a close friends only do...just the girls and the Team. Of course, Snotlout had brought an uninvited friend-Lilah-and Eret had infuriated Ruff by arriving with Savannah draped over his arm. Astrid had been amused simply because the pair of girls  had been fiercely ignoring each other before Snoggletog but it seemed that Lilah hadn't been able to manage without her brainless bimbo lackey and the two had clearly made up.

Of course, Astrid's parents were at the party which meant even Lilah and Savannah were on their best behaviour but as the evening progressed, Astrid found herself missing the person who wasn't there more and more. She had found walking Stormfly alone wasn't so much fun and she carefully avoided the street where Hiccup had been run down because she kept seeing the car racing by, hearing the scream and yelp...and the thud of impact.

But Toothless was home now, curled on a blanket in the  kitchen, exercising his best puppy eyes on Martin and Ingrid, with great success. He was hopping around the kitchen happily, harvesting treats with his doggy toothless smile and a permanently wagging tail.

Astrid cast around and found herself feeling lonely. Snotlout and Eret were dancing attendance on their dates and Heather was talking quietly with Fishlegs. Cami and Ruff were bitching to Tuff about the unwanted and uninvited guests. She sighed a helped herself to a handful of snacks.

"You don't look happy," Heather noted, walking up quietly. Fishlegs offered her a drink and Astrid gratefully accepted the soda. She shrugged.

"I don't know," she sighed. "I mean it's great having you guys here but those two..." and she cast an unfriendly glance at the two intruders, "...well, they put my teeth on edge."

"They're asking lots of questions even though we all agreed to keep your secret," Fishlegs told her. She sighed.

"I guessed," she said flatly, then shook herself. "Anyway, how are you holding up? It must be hard with Dagur and Ozzie...you know..."

"In jail, charged with attempted murder?" Heather asked pointedly. Astrid nodded, taking her hand.

"I'm sorry," she said. Heather gave a sad smile.

"You know, I never thought they would be so...callous," she admitted in a small voice. "I know Ozzie wanted to kill Hiccup's dog because it bit him when he broke into Gobber's garage...and I know Dagur had a huge downer on Hiccup because he rescued you...but I never thought him capable of...that!" Fishlegs took her hand gently and smiled...and she looked up at him and smiled back. Astrid's eyes widened.

"Hey...are you two...you know...together?" she asked and Heather smiled.

"Um-yeah," she admitted though her eyes reflected her happiness. "Look, you showed us it doesn't matter if you're cool or athletic...as long as you're happy!" Astrid blinked and forced a smile onto her face.

"Yeah," she sighed.

"I really am sorry, Ast," Heather told her. "When I spoke to Dagur, he promised to leave you alone, though he said he was still after Hiccup...but I swear I never knew he was planning this!" Astrid stared at her.

"Spoke to Dagur?" she repeated. Heather stared...and then she jolted with realisation.

"So that's how he found him!" she gulped. "Oh Thor, Astrid! I am so sorry..." Astrid stared at her and then squeezed her hand.