Hey everyone! This is my first story ever on here, and I'm just now starting to write and see where I can get inspiration, so I really hope you'll like this enough to keep reading! I've always loved HTTYD and Hiccup and Astrid's relationship, so I thought I'd play around with that and see where it goes. I hope you enjoy this story! I'll try to update as much as I can. Please review!

It's been 5 months since the war ended. The war against the so called "bad guys" of Berk, dragons. Ever since Hiccup discovered the truth about how dragons really are and put an end to the war, the land had been left with peace and harmony. Dragons now roamed the land freely with coveted company, the vikings, and all seemed well. However, Astrid, Hiccup's best friend, wasn't feeling as happy as everyone else. Ever since she got to know Hiccup, and realized how kind and good natured he was by saving everyone, something had sparked inside of her, something she couldn't explain at all.

Astrid has always been known as the hero, the viking girl who knew who she was and walked like she owned all of the land of Berk. She was always longed after by many young viking men suitors, but she was never interested. She was too passionate about fighting dragons. All Astrid ever dreamed about was becoming the hero to save Berk from the dragons. However, when Hiccup showed her how they didn't have to kill dragons, that dream became a faded memory to her, now. The passion was replaced by something incomprehensible in her eyes. It was Hiccup.

Astrid had never really known love all of her life. She was abandoned at birth and left as an orphan in the care taking of an old widow viking named Edna. Edna had always told Astrid that she was left by the docks of the boats in a basket, crying. No one knew where she came from and no one knew of anyone who was pregnant in town, so she was never claimed. However, Edna took pity on the baby and decided to take it in of hopes of it being of some service to her. Astrid's life is much like a Cinderella story, however, a viking and dragon version of it. Edna would work Astrid to death, slaving away all day and night. She was never allowed to go out and play with the other children, never had decent clothes to wear, and was forced to sleep out in the stables with the sheep. All of her life, she always wondered about her real parents. Where were they? Why did they leave me? What is so wrong with me that they decided to live without me? These questions haunted her mind endlessly. That's why Astrid became the rough and tough girl we see today. She wanted to prove to the world that she wasn't worthless. She wanted to be known as the Great Hero of Berk, the one who saved everyone from the dragons. Then came along Hiccup who showed her how it doesn't have to be that way. Hiccup taught her that she doesn't have to be alone to feel like she's worth something. For the first time in her life, she felt hope for her future.

Ever since the war ended, Hiccup and Astrid became the best of friends. They always went into town together, played with Toothless and Stormfly, and were always by each other's side. It was obvious that Hiccup had been in love with Astrid for so long, and tried on many awkward occasions to try and get her to respond to his affections, but she always changed the subject or would disregard what he would say. Astrid knew that she was feeling something, but was afraid to face it. However Hiccup was growing tired of the games, and an event was coming that may have to force the two to finally come together after all of this time. Astrid needed to decide what she was going to do about the situation. Will she confront her feelings, or risk losing Hiccup as a friend forever?

This where our story starts.

_

"Come on, Hiccup! Hurry up! We're going to be late for the town meeting!" I shouted, beating on his door as hard as I could. It was the first Wednesday of the month, which meant that the whole people of Berk were to go to the Square for the monthly town meeting to discuss upcoming events. I never went without Hiccup, so I had to wait impatiently for him to get out of bed, late, as he always does every town meeting. I started to pace and feel myself fuming.

"HICCUP! I WILL BREAK DOWN THE DOOR WHETHER YOU HAVE YOUR PANTS ON OR NOT!" I shouted, banging my fits on the door again. I then heard a thud inside the house, some whimpers and screams. Of course, Hiccup falling over again. He was so clumsy, the idiot... but it was cute at the same time...

Suddenly the door came flinging open. There he was, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, leaning on the door with the same awkward smile on his face, his hair all wrangled up from sleeping. His clothes were askew on his body, obviously from him trying to pull them on as fast as he could. Typical Hiccup. I thought to myself.
I smiled back to him. "Are you ready? The meeting has probably already started!"
"Oh yeah, I was born ready..." he started to say, as he tried to stand up on both legs when his feet flew beneath him, landing him on his butt. I couldn't help but laugh. I loved it when he tried to act all macho around me.
I held out a hand to him. "Oh, I'm sure you were." I pulled him up in one quick motion, causing myself to lose my balance as well. I almost had smacked my back right in the snow, but then Hiccup caught my abruptly, his hands holding my lower back and shoulders. He looked down on me with a warm smile to his face. I couldn't help but smile back. All of a sudden, I felt butterflies fly all around my stomach, and my face began to feel hotter and hotter with every millisecond. My skin tingled where he was touching me.
"Astrid... You look beautiful..." said Hiccup in a low, sincere voice. The butterflies in my stomach wouldn't stop. Then, I remembered how I looked. I was wearing my typically combat boots, pants, and my hair in a braid with my bangs down. This is how I look everyday... Why do I look particularly different to him today then I would any other day?
The butterflies stopped. I stood myself up and brushed the wrinkles out of my shirt, avoiding eye contact with him.

"Thanks, you look pretty decent yourself," I muttered under my breath. I still kept my gaze down when I heard him sigh heavily. I knew he was disappointed his move didn't work, as they always never do, but there was just a part of me that couldn't let this feeling overcome myself. I quickly put the thoughts out of my mind and looked up at him and tried to show him a half-hearted smile.

"Come on, we better hurry if we want to see your dad make the big announcement," I said, nodding my head toward Stormfly and Toothless, who were waiting outside behind us the whole time.

"Right..." said Hiccup, still looking sad. "Can't wait to hear him yell all across the whole town about how surprised he STILL is about the fact that I wasn't a total screw up. I'm just so overwhelmed with excitement." He walked steadily through the snow. I chuckled at the remark.

"Yeah, sure would hate to be you! I mean, to hear him say that over and over and OVER must really be awful..."

"Yeah, not really helping there, Astrid..." he responded as we got on Toothless. Toothless and Stormfly became good friends just like me and Hiccup. It was pretty ironic how it happened. As I got on Stormfly, I noticed that they had been conversing somehow over the discussion I was having with Hiccup. They were giving each other these humorous looks, like they knew something I didn't.

quickly disregarded the thought of out my head and took off, feeling the wind rush through my hair. The sun had just started to rise, lighting the sky with a purple and pink haze. The sea was frozen from the long winter, and the wind nipped at my cold skin, but the view was so spectacular, I didn't mind one bit. The huge advantage about having pet dragons is the flying. You feel so free and alive, like you can do anything. Hiccup first showed me what it was like when he took me for my first ride on Toothless 5 months ago before the war. That was when I realized that there's more to life than trying to find something beyond yourself, when the thing you're looking for has been right in front of you the whole time... and that was Hiccup. He was the one that brought inspiration and hope back into my life, and because of him, I'm a better person now. As my mind drifted back to the memories, I looked over at Hiccup, riding right next to me. He looked back at me, and smiled that smile I always loved. If only I could tell him... show him how I really feel... But I don't know how...

Before I could ponder on it any longer, we arrived at the square. The announcements hadn't started yet, but Hiccup's dad was starting to walk up the podium right when we got there. We hopped off of our dragons and headed toward the crowd.

"Hey, so much for being late, huh?" said Hiccup, nudging me. "Look who was all worked up for nothing."

"Watch it, Hiccup." I teased back. "One of these days, we will be late, and when we are, you're going to get it!"

"Let's hope it's not painful..." he said, cringing at the thought. I chuckled to myself. He always knew how to make me smile, even when he didn't realize it.

As we made our way into the crowd, the gang immediately spotted us.

"HICCUP! ASTRID! OVER HERE!" shouted the twins, Tuffnut and Ruffnut. They were jumping around and hitting people accidentally, being obnoxious as usual. We worked our way over the group. Fishlegs was standing behind Ruffnut, staring at her. Everyone knew that he's been in love with her for so long, except her, of course. He's even more afraid of love than I am, and that's saying a lot. Snotlout was on the side talking to bunch of girls who were obviously not interested in anything that he was saying. Thank goodness he's not interested in me anymore, I thought to myself. I remember those days far too well. Right when we reached our friends, Hiccup's father took the stand, looking as he always does.

"Good morning, Berk! Welcome to this monthly meeting ritual," he shouted from the podium down to the crowd. Everyone was huddled together like penguins for warmth, waiting for the painful speeches to stop. The chieftain rambled on and on about the livestock and farming situations for about twenty minutes. I was growing more impatient and colder as the speech went on.

"Astrid, are you okay?" asked Hiccup. "You look kind of blue."

"Oh no, I'm not sad, just annoyed by how long this is taking."

"No, I don't mean sad. What I'm saying is that you literally look blue, like the color..." he answered, taking hold of my hand and showing me. The tips were tinted to a slight purple looking color. I didn't even realize I was cold because of the numbness.

"Whoa!" I exclaimed in response. "I can't even feel it!"

"Here," said Hiccup, handing me his tattered mittens. "Take them. You need need them more than I do." I looked at him in amazement. He always surprised me with his kindness. I was never a kindly natured person, and Hiccup was always so kind to me... I never understood it. I pushed his hands away.

"No, I want you to keep them. You'll end up like me in a few minutes if you leave them off any longer." Hiccup looked disappointed again.

"Wait!" His face lit up with an idea. "Let's try this..."

He put the mittens back on and took both of my hands in his. He rubbed them gently to try to get my blood moving again. I couldn't keep my eyes off of him. He was just so kind... I never understood why he was so good to me.

"Is that better?" he said, looking up at me, smiling a little. He pulled me a little closer.

"Yeah..." I stammered. "I can feel them now." Now our faces were just inches apart. I could feel his warmth. The butterflies came back in my stomach again. He was just so kind... and from this view of him, he looked rather handsome... there was something about his dark hair and eyes against the white winter that made his face glow somehow.

"Beautiful..." I whispered softly to myself.

"What was that?" Hiccup said abruptly, waking me up from my haze. I then realized what I said, and ripped my hands from his hold. I looked down in shame.

"Nothing!" I said, frantically. "I didn't say anything..." I avoided eye contact. I could feel his gaze on my face, but resisted not looking up. I knew if I did, I'd repent and just spill my guts to him, but I had to stay strong. I just had to... But then I thought, why do I have to be so strong, anyways?

Before I could answer my own question, the chieftain bellowed across the sea of people toward our direction. Remembering the cold, I quickly put my hands under my armpits. It wasn't as warm as Hiccup's hands, but it would have to do.

"LASTLY!" Hiccup's dad shouted, "I'd like to address our most important announcement of the month! As we all know, the war ended a more than 4 months ago by my son, Hiccup. Of course, we're all still so surprised!" Hiccup sighed and rolled his eyes. I smiled and nudged him, trying to give him more confidence. He stood up straight and smiled for me.

"However, in honor of the 5th month anniversary of the end of violence and in honor of my son's bravery, the tribe council and I have decided to provide an event that we have never held here in Berk!"

The whole crowd murmured with confusion and anticipation. I was slightly confused myself. I didn't think this was going to be the big announcement.

"What's he talking about?" exclaimed Tuffnut, punching Hiccup in the arm.

"You know as much as I do," he answered back. I furrowed my brow in thought. What could it be? A feast? A festival? A pie eating contest? We've had all of these things before... But something we've never had in Berk...

"A ball!" shouted the chieftain. The crowd became even more restless now.

"A ball? What the heck is a ball?" shouted Snotlout, rubbing his runny nose. I rolled my eyes in disgust at him and waited for an answer.

"A ball is a party! It's where we all get dressed up and dance and eat for a night! It will be held this Friday, in two days time. I hope you will all come!" shouted Hiccup's father in response. The crowd cheered in excitement. We've never had anything like this before! Dressing up? Dancing? No one ever really danced in this land. We've been so caught up in fighting dragons all of these years, we've never really had a chance to... have fun.

"Oh! And I almost forgot!" shouted the chieftain as he almost got off of the podium. A hush fell over the crowd.

"In order to be admitted into the ball, you MUST have a date! NO ACCEPTIONS!"
At this, my jaw dropped. Me? I thought. Going into a ball in a stupid frilly dress with some dope holding my hand like I'm a piece of jewelry, babying me all night? No way. I'm a human being! This isn't going to work at all there's no way I'm going to this-
I stopped when I turned around and looked at Hiccup. He was looking at me with the biggest, most stupid smile I've ever seen him smile in my life. There was a certain light in his eyes that I've never seen before now. He had never looked at me like that... ever.
"Some stupid event, huh?" I said to him, punching him in the arm. Hiccup's smile vanished, turning into the most disappointed look he had ever given me. Guess there's a first for everything...
"Yeah," he muttered. "Stupid." He turned around and walked away through the bustling crowd. I followed after him, but got lost in all of the commotion.
Why do I always ruin everything?