Astrid was sitting down in front of Stormfly, her Deadly Nadder, with a displeased expression on her face as she stared out into the oceanic view. She was just a few minutes away from the Academy to her left, and was sitting on a grassy field. She was alone, aside from Stormfly being with her, until someone spotted her.

"Hey, Astrid! Whoa, what's with you?" Ruffnut, Tuffnut's twin sister, asked. She'd seen Astrid lone and come over for a friendly chat, but the look on Astrid's face startled her somewhat. She'd never seen her friend look like this. It wasn't the kind of displeasure that came with not getting something right, it was the kind that came with someone not living up to the standards you've set for them. And whilst Ruffnut was caught off-guard with Astrid's slightly hostile face, she was also intrigued as to who cause it.

"I'm perfectly fine, Ruff. Can I help you?" Astrid asked, not turning around. Ruffnut decided to sit on Astrid's right side. She didn't believe Astrid's 'I'm fine' for one second.

"Okay, cut the yakcrap. What's wrong?" She asked. Ruffnut looked into Astrid's ticked eyes and positioned herself in a manner that said 'I'm not going anywhere until you start talking.' Astrid groaned in frustration. In her peripheral, Ruffnut could see the guys – Hiccup, Snotlout, Fishlegs and her brother Tuffnut – come into view. They spotted the girls, and were about to head over when they heard Astrid speak up.

"Ruff, this stays between you and me, okay?" Astrid asked, and Ruff nodded her head at Astrid. Ruffnut pretended that the guys weren't there, but she knew they were. "Okay… It's Hiccup." Astrid started. Ruff could see Hiccup's face twist in confusion, and the others looked at him, then Astrid, then him again.

"What about him? You two are, like, a thing, right? So, what's wrong with him?" Ruffnut asked. Astrid sighed, pulling her legs up to her chest.

"It's not so much that there's something wrong with him, Ruff… It's more of what he's not doing enough of, and I'm questioning myself because of it." She said. Ruffnut's expression now synced with the guys' – including Hiccup's – as they twisted into further confusion.

"What?" Ruffnut asked, after a moment.

"Don't get me wrong; I still think he's amazing, and I have thought that since I first went on that flight with him and Toothless… But… It's like… I thought we were in a relationship, ever since I gave him a kiss on the cheek that night, but I'm not so sure now… I mean, I have to grab him by the shirt if I want a kiss. Even then, I'm the one kissing him! He doesn't kiss back, and he's always got the blank look on his face afterwards… I'm starting to think that even though he's friendly with me, maybe I'm doing something wrong or maybe he doesn't like me like I thought he did so he's not returning my kisses or even initiating them. I'm starting to feel like maybe he doesn't want me the way I want him. That he's… He's holding back because I'm not what he wants… Maybe I never have been and he's just putting up with my advances because he fears me or something…" She said. Ruffnut looked at Astrid with understanding eyes, and pat her on the back.

Unbeknownst to Astrid, Ruffnut looked up and around and saw the boys standing there with amused faces. Ruffnut glared at them, and went to give Hiccup an even darker glare, but froze when she looked into the Auburn-haired boy's eyes. The boys then quizzically followed Ruffnut's frozen stare and were then taken aback, as well.

Hiccup's eyes had darkened considerably. Where they were once a Forest Green, they were now as dark and Black as Toothless' scales.

"I just don't know what to do… Should I talk to him? Or should I break up with him so that he can do what he wants with someone else? Someone that he might be more happy with..." Astrid said, sadness in her eyes, and Ruffnut managed to break free of Hiccup's intense stare and look sadly at her friend.

"Astrid, I think you should just prepare yourself." Ruffnut said, seeing Hiccup walk towards them with a predator-like stalk in her peripheral.

"Prepare myself for what? Breaking up with him?" Astrid asked, looking at Ruffnut with helpless eyes.

"No, I don't think so… I think you should prepare yourself because Hiccup is right behind you." Ruffnut said, finally looking over Astrid's shoulder to see Hiccup only ten steps away. Astrid's head whipped around so fast, her braid smacked Ruffnut in the face.

"Hey!" The blonde twin hissed. But, she went unheard as Astrid's shocked azure eyes locked onto Hiccup's dark intense ones.

"Hiccup?! How long have you been here?! What did you hear?!" She asked, panicked, as she stood up and backed off a few feet – towards a sleeping Stormfly.

"I've been here long enough." He responded, his usually higher awkward voice now deep and rough with an emotion that no one other than Astrid could figure out – lust. "And I'm going to tell you this once, and only once, so pay attention." He continued, and stepped up to Astrid. He had grown over the years, so he was at least a head taller than her.

"H-huh?" Astrid replied, her eyes going wide and a blush spread across her cheeks. Ruffnut got up and went over to the guys, thinking it was a bad idea to be near them. Astrid tripped over a rock behind her foot, losing balance, and she thought she was going to smack the ground hard, so she prepare herself… Only to be caught in muscular arms that belonged to Hiccup. Her face went a darker red. Hiccup pulled her up, closer to him, and held her in tightly to him so that she couldn't escape.

Stormfly woke up, smelling the air, and then ran towards the cliff. She jumped and flew off towards the Academy, and the others got the hint. Ruffnut and the boys decided it was best to get the hell outta there, and fast, so they all legged it. They wanted to stay and watch, but knew the lover's needed the privacy – hell, even Stormfly knew it was best to leave.

"Hi-Hiccup?" Astrid questioned.

"Astrid." He said her name in a way she thought she'd melt into a puddle, right then and there, because of how heated it sounded coming out of his mouth just then.

"Hmm?" She replied, not trusting her voice.

"I thought you knew, but I guess not. I have been holding back, but not for the reason you think." He began, which caused Astrid to look into his dark eyes with confusion. "I've not been responding the way you want because I didn't want to trap you."

"Trap me?" She asked, finding her voice at his statement.

"Yes, trap you. Because, as the Chief's son, when I am expected to take over I am to choose a wife, as well. And once I choose someone, she can no longer choose anyone else for a husband. She is stuck with me. I wanted to give you a choice by not responding to you. Stay with me, knowing how cold I've been towards our relationship, or go and find someone else who will love you without reservations. I wanted you to find someone else. I wanted you to not have your options stolen away from you just because of my selfishness. I held back because of my heritage's expectations. I didn't want you to be stuck with me because of traditions. I wanted for you to be able to choose, should you not desire me anymore." He explained. Astrid looked into his eyes, touched that he was just trying to look out for her.

"But Hiccup, surely I thought you knew." She began, playfully starting with something very similar to what he did. "I've stayed by your side, all the while knowing for years just what you've told me, regardless of your coldness for a reason, you know." She said, and his eyes flashed green.

"You knew? And you still stayed? Why?" He asked.

"Hiccup, why else would a girl stay with a guy if she knew that if she did then she would have to marry to him once he took over the tribe?" Astrid sarcastically drawled out, staring into Hiccup's eyes gently.

"You mean, you…" Hiccup started, his jaw going slack and widened eyes flashing green again.

"Yup. I've been waiting for you to just ask me already, but you were always cold… I thought that you just didn't want me like I did you." She told him, looking down with sadness. Hiccup's eyes went Onyx. He then let go of Astrid and knelt in front of her, taking her left hand in his. Her eyes were the size of dinner plates.

"Astrid, I've been in love with you since I was 10 years old. I never said it, I never hinted at it, and I sure as hell never let anyone know about it because I didn't want to trap you with me when you deserved the choice of choosing your intended. However, now that I am aware of your intentions towards for your future, I am now down on my good knee and will be asking you one very important question." Hiccup stated, looking into Astrid's eyes with pure, unfiltered love. Astrid was taken aback by just how much love she saw there in his darkened eyes.

"Then ask me already." She quipped, smirking slightly but reigned it in. Hiccup did the same.

"Astrid Hofferson, will you be my wife and help me guide our tribe in the right direction in the future?" He asked, one of his hands going into a pocket underneath his breast-plate armour and coming back out with a silver ring that was decorated with one of Stormfly's scales on top. The inside had engraved, Two Heartbeats, One Soul. Astrid's eyes teared up, but let her love for Hiccup show through her eyes and gave a hearty smile.

"Yes, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, I will marry you and I will aid you in guiding our tribe's future for the good." She said, accepting his proposal. He slipped the ring on her finger and stood up. Hiccup stared into Astrid's eyes and gave a smirk.

"You're stuck with me now, Astrid. Prepare yourself." He taunted. Astrid bit the bait.

"What do you mean? I've been prepared for you to propose for years!" She jokingly laughed.

"That's not what I meant you should prepare for." Hiccup laughed briefly, before staring at Astrid's lips. Astrid stopped laughing just in time to see Hiccup give her a devilish grin before he slammed his lips against hers. Astrid squeaked, but melted into the kiss. Hiccup held nothing back in this kiss – he poured every ounce of his love and lust for her into it, and Astrid mentally pictured herself grabbing a jug or two of water to cool down. The kiss was ended, almost as fast as it had come, by Hiccup. He pulled away to stare at his beloved's face – which was dazed and red-faced and love-struck, all in one. Hiccup gave her a loving smile.

"Wow…" Astrid breathed, and Hiccup chuckled.

"What you feel now is how I've always felt when you've kissed me. I just never showed it." He admitted, and Astrid gaped at him with wide eyes.

"Seriously?!" She gasped.

"Yup. Every time. You should've seen my face the first time you kissed my cheek. Toothless even gave me a dragon version of laughing at me. I looked exactly like you do right now." He laughed. Astrid blushed further. "Then again, this is the first time I've taken the initiative, so I can understand your surprise at my boldness." He laughed.

"You're right, I am surprised… But I'm also just as turned on by it." Astrid said, a smirk settling on her features as Hiccup stopped laughing immediately and stared at her in shock. She was about to laugh and say 'just kidding', but he sealed his lips over hers again before she could even blink. Her eyes widened at his sudden attack, but melted into it once again.

This time, the kiss had turned into a make-out. By the time they'd finished kissing each other, both their lips were slightly swollen and they both had love bites all over their necks. Hiccup's hair was unruly mess, Astrid's braid had come loosened and their clothes (or armour in Hiccup's case) were both dishevelled.

"Next time, Astrid, just tell me you want me to be straight forward about something." Hiccup said, holding his lover's hand as they both made their way back to Berk. She looked at him sheepishly. "And from now on, I won't hold back. Be prepared for random attacks, fiancée." Hiccup smirked, and Astrid's face flushed once again. Her face was so dark it almost resembled the colour of her skirt. Hiccup laughed.

When they got back to Berk, they still held hands, Astrid was staring at the ground in embarrassment and Hiccup had a smirk on his face. His eyes were green again, though. Snotlout, Ruffnut and Tuffnut & Fishlegs saw them and walked over to them. They were surprised to see Astrid looking everywhere but at Hiccup, and at the couples' appearance.

"Whoa, did you guys, like, do it in the woods?" Tuffnut joked, and Astrid's cheeks flared up.

"No, we didn't. But I did give Astrid a couple of things… The first, well…" Hiccup spoke up, and lifted up Astrid's and his joined hands – his right and her left – and their friends eyes' locked onto the ring. Their eyes had widened.

"You proposed to her?!" Ruffnut gaped.

"Yup." He smirked.

"Wait, what were the other things?" Snotlout asked.

"N-Nothing! I-It's none of y-your business!" Astrid stuttered. Stuttered. The gang looked at Hiccup with wide and questioning eyes and he just smirked. Hiccup took great amusement in Astrid's reaction when he stepped closer to wrap one arm around her like a tourniquet – only not that tight – whilst the other revealed her neck to the others.

"Whoa…" Fishlegs said.

"And I'll gladly give her more if she asks." Hiccup said mischievously, laughing when Astrid's face became scarlet. Hiccup couldn't resist, so he bent his head down and put his mouth next to her ear. "Nah, I'll only give you such intimate markings in private. I could never do something like that to you in front of people, especially now that you're my fiancée. I look forward to our next alone time." He whispered, his deep gruff voice low enough for only her to hear. Astrid's eyes bulged as she squeaked, and Hiccup let her go and began walking away, whistling a tune and acting as if he hadn't just low-key seduced Astrid, as she was left there with their friends. Her face was flushed beyond anything anyone had ever seen on her before, and her eyes were like dinner plates as she stared after Hiccup.

The gang was left wondering just what Hiccup had said to her to make her squeak like a mouse and look so bothered and embarrassed.