Accidental Fiancé

13: Hand Luggage

Thirteen: Hand luggage

The brandy definitely took its revenge as Hiccup spent the rest of the evening feeling like death warmed over, his head pounding and stomach rebelling. But he had still managed to boil some pasta and throw together a feta and pesto salad to accompany it between sipping water and swallowing aspirin because he didn't want to let Astrid feel he was utterly useless.

After scolding Hiccup gently for being ridiculous in thinking she would ditch him for upsetting Dagur, she had shared the meal with him and made a point of showing her enjoyment at what he had cooked. Wearily he had pushed the pasta around his plate and slumped at the table as she unsympathetically but gently poked fun at his incipient hangover. And all the time, she ignored the brief but desolate window into his world, not sure what to say or how to tackle it-especially while Hiccup was feeling so rough anyway. So she opted for treating him as normal and settled by him on the largest couch so they could watch the smash hit drama series 'Viking Raiders', a programme that harked back to their Viking heritage. Astrid was a huge fan and even through his pounding head, Hiccup had cheerfully watched her enthuse over the latest storyline-about a kidnapped Chief's daughter who was almost as feisty as Astrid herself.

"I can't believe Ana-Marit would have let Jonas and Oddvar get away with that!" she protested as the end credits rolled. "I would have grabbed that axe and cut them into little pieces!"

"Hmm...do your fans know their hero is a violent axe-wielding would-be Viking warrior maid?" he teased her. She gently punched his shoulder.

"Violent? Me?" she teased him as he clutched over-dramatically at the point of impact.

"Agh! The pain!" he groaned. She snorted.

"You know that Eric the Brainless wouldn't tolerate such a wimp on his crew!" she teased him and he huffed.

"My Viking name would be Hiccup the Doesn't-like-to-be-hit!" he retorted and she burst out laughing.

"Thor, that's terrible!" she replied, eyeing him up thoughtfully. "Hiccup the Wimp?"

"Hiccup the Hungover?" he suggested. "And what about you?" She smirked.

"I'm Fearless Astrid Hofferson!" she reminded him and snuggled against his shoulder. "What's on next?" He checked the onscreen guide and groaned.

"Guess My Vegetable," he read and they both burst out laughing. For some reason, the show had been running for twenty years straight in the Archipelago and was a well-loved icon of the schedules...but though Hiccup had sat through it numerous times with Stoick and Gobber, he still couldn't get the point. She grabbed the controller and switched the television off.

"I think we both need an early night," she suggested and he nodded.

"Thanks," he said tiredly-but she bounced up onto her knees and stared into his face, making sure that he was paying attention to her.

"But no more thinking I'm gonna axe you for any disagreement with anyone-Dagur, Heather, Cami, me-because if there is an issue, we talk about it," she told him seriously, hoping he would get the message. "Hiccup-you are helping me...just remember I am here to help you too! Anything you need, anything you want to talk about...I'm here." She rested a gentle hand against his cheek. "And no more getting this drunk, okay? It worries me you saw it as the only way to cope..."

He gently leaned into the touch and then sighed.

"I know," he admitted. "And...it won't happen again, Astrid. I promise." She pecked a kiss on his cheek.

"Sleep well, Hiccup," she said, getting up and heading for her room. He watched her go, longing aching in his heart.

"Sleep well, Astrid."