Accidental Fiancé

26: Reluctant Celebrity

Twenty Six: Reluctant Celebrity

Life suddenly became busy once they arrived home and the ruckus from the Ron the Viking interview began to settle. Hiccup had insisted on accompanying Astrid to the match the afternoon after the interview, straight after he was released from hospital and definitely against doctor's orders. Wearing a brown beanie to cover his stitches, he, Heather, Dagur and Mala had cheered the Valkyries furiously as they hammered the Bog Ladies five-nil. There had been more than a few cheers from the home crowd when Hiccup had appeared outside the HABS box and he had waved shyly and nodded self-consciously before the attention had turned back to the team. This time, the other HABS had ignored him but he had no longer cared, for he had people with him that made the match a pleasure to attend. And as usual, he had sneaked into the back of the Press Conference and waited for Astrid...and this time, they had nodded to him and kept their questions on the match. In recompense, Astrid had beckoned Hiccup up and whispered a request-and when he had agreed, they posed for a few pictures for the sports journalists and had made a short statement which had sent normally tough football reporters home with huge grins on their faces and immense feelings of satisfaction in getting one over their society column colleagues.

Hiccup had been bombarded with queries from work from everyone from the Managing Director to canteen lady Frida and he had assured them all that he was alright, though his conversation with Gary turned into a lively debate about the new aileron design for the aircraft they were working on. Stoick had stayed in one of the hotels in town and had spent the day being shown around Archi by Astrid and Hiccup and then they had invited him back to the apartment for lunch. He had been suitably impressed because even he didn't make the large and impressive space feel crowded.

"I love the view, lass," he commented thoughtfully. "Reminds me of old Berk Harbour...though I miss the mountains..."

"That's true," Astrid agreed. "I mean, my runs here are so flat...but back home, I'm lucky if I run about ten yards which aren't on a hill..."

"That's Berk," Hiccup agreed. "I mean my times here are much quicker because it's flat but I miss the challenge of running round the Upper Town." Astrid glanced at him: he had been coy about his running but she resolved to go out with him and see just how good he was. Stoick chuckled at them.

"I believe you may be in trouble, son," he commented. "I recall that Astrid is rather competitive..." Hiccup started laughing.

"Not much..." he sassed. "I mean, she could turn brushing your teeth into a competition."

"It's always a competition!" she reminded him smugly. "Competition is the very essence of life!" Stoick sniffed.

"That as may be... but...what's cooking?" he asked and Hiccup grinned, walking to the kitchen and opening a bottle of wine.

"Lemon and thyme roast chicken, baked potatoes, cabbage with cheese sauce, bread sauce, stuffing and gravy with Asgard Mess to follow," he said as Stoick stared in shock. "Don't worry, Dad-I'm doing the cooking...and Milady-you have your own pudding this time!" he teased her. She gave a smile and sipped her Pinot Grigio.

"I'm still stealing yours," she replied and he pressed a hand to his heart with a wounded expression.

"And here I am, a poor beaten-up guy and my beautiful girlfriend is still stealing my dessert," he said dramatically. "Woe is me..."

MEOW!

"Okay, bud," Hiccup said with a grin as Toothless leapt straight up onto the kitchen counter. "And you can steal my chicken. But no cats on counters, remember?" The little black cat gave a purr, sat down and pointedly licked his paw. "And...still no love for the beat-up Viking..." he sighed. Astrid paused and wrapped her arms around him, tilting her head back so she could pull him into a kiss. His arms closed around her warm shape.