Hello readers! This will mark my second foray into the world of HTTYD! My first fic, and first fic ever, Depth of Betrayal was alright, then I wrote a mess known as Warm Days and felt like I was forcing it out with no rhyme or reason. That project came to an end after a laptop melt down and I felt like doing something else.

So, I wrote this in my downtime while working on other stuff. Most certainly AU, with cameos from plenty of other stuff.

I don't want to have this AN be too long, so enjoy!

XXX

Astrid put down the plates of food on the table, smiling widely and wishing the family a good meal. Despite the fact that the smile was an entirely faked, way too over the top affair, it would win her a decent enough tip. As she traipsed back to the kitchen, she let the tray she'd been carrying slide back onto the stack. It was so damn late, and she had no idea why such a random, seemingly happy family were at dinner so late.

"Everything okay out there, Astrid?" The cook yelled hoarsely, his throat worked far too hard yelling at lazy line cooks and slow waiters all day.

"Yeah. Nothing wrong with the order." She said as she passed. The cook grunted in approval and continue mulling about back there cleaning things up. That family was the last in the restaurant. They had actually locked the doors already, so it wasn't like anyone else was coming in. She leaned against the wall with a sigh, feeling the burning in her feet only slightly alleviate.

She reached into her apron pocket, pulling out the tips for the evening. Well, the tips for the entire day, actually, since she had worked from seven this morning until now, eleven. Normally, nobody would work such a hellish shift, but she needed to, and her boss was a great guy. He understood her situation and did everything he could to help. By everything, that meant giving her as many hours as she wanted and letting her keep all her tips, instead of splitting them with the other waitresses.

The best part? They couldn't even bitch about it. When one of them did a few weeks ago, he just asked her when last she worked a sixteen hour shift. Shut her mouth immediately, and she didn't complain anymore. In fact, she and Astrid were pretty close friends now. Friends in a waitress way, which meant only at work and never anywhere else.

Two hundred and seven dollars. A good night, and one that would at least keep the lights on for another month. She pocketed the money and checked her phone. Five minutes since she dropped off the food. Time to go check and make sure everyone's drinks are topped up. She stopped at the kitchen door, trying to work up her energy. She threw on the fake smile and went out.

That ass hole wore a designer leather jacket and had a Rolex on his wrist the size of a fucking sundial, and he only tipped fifty two cents on a credit card. What a dick. Astrid rolled her eyes angrily, letting out a pissed off groan. Rich guys were all such ass holes. So much for the fake smile. She quickly gathered the dishes and brought them to the back, then cleaned the table. In the building now it was her, another waiter, the cook, the dish cleaner and their boss.

After doing a cursory run through the dining room, she dubbed the place clean enough, checked in and was let go for the evening. She got into her car, closing her eyes as the soreness of her body came up like a storm, announcing its presence as soon as she was comfortable. It was an old friend; even though she was only twenty two, being sore from work had been a thing her whole life.

Astrid Hofferson was not born to a wealthy family. She wasn't even born to a moderately middle class family. Neither her mother nor her father had ever gone past high school, and both of them worked low wage jobs. Despite that, they were as happy as could be. Yeah, they didn't always have money for nice things, but she, her little brother and their parents were happy as long as they had each other.

It was her, then her little brother who was eight years younger than her, Luke, her father and her mother, Ingrid. They were literally the happiest family on the block. Even on Christmas, when there was only one present each under the tree, they were happy. Dad would grill out every Sunday, no matter what was happening. It was a family thing. Their family, the Hoffersons, the happiest poor people you'd ever meet. Astrid was doing well at a local tech college, and she worked hard enough to pay her own tuition. Things were great.

It used to be that way. Then, two years ago, there was the accident. The accident that changed everything. She still remembered every single detail. She remembered opening the door with a smile, expecting dad, Luke and hamburgers. She was greeted by a police officer. He told them what happened. She remembered crying in her mother's arms while they went to the hospital. She remembered saying that she couldn't go in to identify her father's body; he was dead.

She remembered when Luke was finally out of surgery. She remembered the smiles on her and her mother's faces, knowing that he was at least alive…if not all of him. The gap where his right foot and upper leg should have been was stunning at first, but it did nothing to diminish their happiness. They would work through it. They had always worked through it.

He was twelve then. He took dads death hard, as did they all, but they took it with straight faces. The three of them stayed strong. Always had. They helped each other deal with it and they moved on. Hoffersons had never been ones to dwell on the past. They stayed strong, even though the hospital bill sent their lives to shambles.

It was almost a hundred thousand dollars. Without insurance, they had to fork it up, and it was nearly impossible. Astrid, who was the only one who had decent credit, immediately took action. She dropped out of school and set to paying the bill. For the past two years, she had fought to get the debt down, working her sixteen hour shifts. Her mother couldn't work, because Luke needed someone around the house who could help him.

Thankfully, the neighborhood came together and raised enough money to buy the family a second car, thus allowing Astrid to have one to get to and from work while her mother had one to help Luke get to school and back. It was a blessing from some higher being that the neighborhood was so good to them. They had done all they could to repay the deed, but with the bill still looming high in the seventy thousands, it was hard.

Their debt was so bad that, when they applied to have a prosthetic made for him, the hospital refused to fit Luke for one. Thus, he was stuck in a wheelchair, which was why mom needed to be with him all the time. His friends helped him out at school, but that was only until the end of the day. He took it like any Hofferson would. He didn't let it get him down, not even in the slightest. He still had his smile, which doctors said was great, seeing as many people who lose limbs also lose their will along with their limbs.

They were happy with each other, and they were alive. That's all that mattered now. She started the car and left the mostly empty lot to the hot summer night. She drove down the still busy streets of Rock Hill, continuing on until she reached old town and the street that had been her home all her life. She locked the car twice and went inside the house, making sure to lock up tight.

She loved her neighborhood, but break ins were common around here, and tight locks helped stop them. That, and pistols that she knew everyone had. She had two, one upstairs and one down. She and her mother knew where they were and how to load them. Even though they were always loaded. She put her keys down silently on the counter, spotting the lightly dozing form of her mother on the couch. It was late enough that Luke would be asleep already.

She went over and checked on her mom, making sure she was sleeping in a way that wouldn't leave her sore in the morning. She went to the desk in the corner, where all the bills were stacked up. She found the electric bill envelope and slid ninety bucks in, sealing it after. She put it on the counter, underneath her keys. She would bring it to the mail box in the morning.

That left her with about a hundred dollars to add to her savings. The next part of the hospital bill wasn't due just yet, so she could toss this into her ever shifting bank account. Groceries were well enough stocked, and there was plenty of gas in both cars. Maybe she could even afford to buy herself a new pair of jeans to wear for work. The ones she had on were fraying terribly.

She climbed the stairs quietly and pushed open Luke's door. He was sleeping soundly, his wheelchair sitting easily within reach should he need to go to the bathroom during the night. She brushed his ear length, brown hair out of his face and dropped a light kiss to his forehead.

"Love you…" She whispered to the darkness. She left and went to her own room, slumping down to her pillow. She didn't have to work tomorrow until two. It was like a gift from someone to allow her to sleep in.

"Astrid…" She shifted in her sleep, grumbling about being woken up. An insistent poke in her side pulled her from her sleep completely, and she rolled over. Luke was sitting in his wheelchair, a melancholy look on his face. She rose on her elbows, smiling warmly at him.

"Good morning, bud. How you doing?" She yawned, stretching her arms over her head. She glanced at her clock. Nine thirty.

"Well…not so great…" He trailed off, and immediately Astrid knew what was wrong. Luke knew that she was working so hard to pay off his hospital bill, and that she was working so hard to keep him and mom afloat. She knew that when he got like this, it was when he needed something that money needed to spent on. She had told him a million times that she would get whatever he needed, but he still hated asking for it.

"What is it, Luke?" She prodded, swinging her legs out of bed. He sighed and gestured down to his lap. Sitting in it was his only pair of jeans.

"My jeans ripped yesterday while I was getting out of the car…I need a new pair…I can deal with shor-"

Astrid scoffed at him, flicking his forehead. "How many times have I told you that you don't need to feel bad about asking for stuff? It's fine. I need a new pair too. I'll head over to the mall today, okay?" His previously upset look lightened, and his wide smile returned.

"Thanks, sis. How was work last night? A lot of tips?" She stood up, stretching her long legs, smirking at him.

"Two hundred beans," She laughed. He held up a hand, and she gave him a high five. He spun his chair expertly, allowing her to get to her dresser, where her hair ties sat.

"Sweet…so…I don't have school today. Professional development or something…so…can I go to the mall with you?" She cocked an eyebrow at him, her hands on her hips.

"Why do you even ask? Duh," She shooed him away so she could get dressed and all that, and the boy gleefully trucked away. He was confined to that wheelchair, but he definitely made the best out of it. She quickly took a shower and braided her hair into a single thick strand that hung down to the middle of her back.

She got to the stairs and glanced at the single thing the hospital had done for them, if only because they were obligated to. Their stairs were outfitted with a motorized chair and rail, so that Luke could go up and down. He had refined to an art really, being able to fold his own chair and hold it on his lap while he went down, and then flipping it open again easily and hoisting himself into it.

"Good morning, mom." She said, throwing a quick hug around her mother. The woman trapped her in and left a sloppy morning kiss on her hair.

"Good night last night, if the sealed bill is anything to go by," Ingrid said, ruffling Astrids hair. She tried vainly to swat her mom's arm away, smiling the whole while.

"Yeah. I'm taking Luke to the mall today. We need new jeans. Do you need anything?"

Her mother smiled warmly at her, and at Luke who was sitting in his chair at the table, eating cereal. "Only for my babies to be safe and sound." Astrid rolled her eyes comically, but she understood her mother's words. She rarely asked for anything for herself, and normally said exactly what she had. Due to her not working, her own clothes rarely tore up like hers and Luke's, so she didn't often need replacements. When she did, she said so, but it wasn't often.

Still, Astrid would bring her something back. Something that she could afford on their tight budget. Sometimes it was something from the knick-knack store, like a funny magnet or something. Other times, she had been able to afford a shirt or a pair of pants. It really depended on what sales she could find.

"Eat up, Luke. We'll head out as soon as you're ready." She called, sitting down on the couch.

The mall was busy today. She wasn't sure why, seeing as it was a Thursday, but it was what it was. It was easy enough to find jeans for both her and Luke, and she even scored a nice sale on them too. Both pairs only cost her about thirty five bucks, and she even got a sweet deal on a clearance blouse that her mom would love.

She was marching through the mall, Luke wheeling next to her, the two of them window shopping. It was something they had gotten used to doing, even before the accident. Window shopping was fun, and they often got to make little jokes about the things they saw. Astrid often stared longingly at the beautiful dresses and gowns that they passed. She could never afford one, but she liked to dream that one day she would be able to.

"Hey sis, do you have extra money? Can we go eat at the food court?" He asked. She would have said no, in the interest of conserving their cash, but she did actually have a good bit extra. She smiled and nodded, and Luke motored ahead. He was always careful to not run into people, a skill that she was always amazed to see.

They made it to the court and looked at all the options. That was, until her eyes settled on a place in the corner. Delicious. Japanese food. She poked Luke, knowing that he loved it as much as she did.

"Look. Teriyaki chicken," She prodded. He wordlessly sent his chair that way, cheering about soy sauce or something or other. She followed along, laughing at his antics. They got into the line and ordered quickly, enjoying the wonderful smell of the grill. The food was expensive; well, expensive for them, but it would be delicious.

The chef called out their order number and they grabbed the food. Luke, rolled ahead, but she remembered that they had forgotten napkins. "Luke, hang on, we need napki-" As she turned to get them, she bumped into someone, sending her and all the food crashing to the floor.

"Fuck…" She let the word slip without thinking about it. Twenty three bucks of food…gone. She scowled at the ground, disappointment screaming through her. That was when she processed a hand being held out to her.

She looked up at the man who she had run into and stopped for a second. He was really cute. "I'm so sorry, miss! I wasn't watching where I was walking!" He said urgently. She took his hand and he pulled her up. In that moment, she got a good look at him.

Taller than her, about a head taller, with a mess of auburn hair atop a soft face. His sharp jawline was tinted brown with the subtle shadow of stubble, complete with a tiny scar just below the right corner of his lip. He wore a simple long sleeve shirt, brown with a black bar across the chest. His long legs were clothed in dark, stone washed jeans, which covered the tops of black and brown trainers.

Luke rolled up, staring at the food on the ground. She knew that he was disappointed and that he wanted it, but she also knew that he understood the monetary loss as well. He wouldn't ask for more. As it turns out, he didn't have to.

"Are you ok?" She looked back into the gentle green eyes.

"Yeah, I'm fine…I'm sor-"

"Not at all!" He interrupted. "It was my fault. Please, get whatever you want. I'll pay for it. I was heading here anyway." She blinking in surprise at his offer. She knew that she would like it…and so would Luke. She shot him a quick glance, and he had a hopeful look in his eyes. He would go with whatever she said, but he really wanted that food, and it wasn't like they could afford to get more.

"Sure. That's nice of you. Thanks." They got into line along with him and ordered again, the same thing. The chef said he saw what happened and threw on a double meat order for both of them, no charge. The man who had knocked her over thanked the chef and set in their orders.

When he was done and they were waiting, he turned to Astrid. "Again, I'm really sorry about that," He said, and for once she heard genuine apology in somebodies voice, instead of the pretend shit that people usually pulled out.

They got their food, and immediately, Luke piped up, always eager to make friends. "Hey, why don't you eat with us?" He offered. Astrid hadn't wanted to eat with this stranger, but he was actually proving to be kind of nice, so she went along with it.

"Would you?" She added. The man smiled and nodded thankfully.

"Of course. Lead the way."

They found a table nearby, and to her surprise, the man kicked away one of the chairs, making room for Luke. Odd. People usually didn't do stuff like that. They sat down while Luke rolled in. Once they were set, he spoke. "Sorry, again…I usually don't run into people."

Her brother answered before her. "It's cool," No, it really wasn't, but at least he had offered to buy their food for them when theirs was lost. That was nice. "I'm Luke Hofferson. This is my sister, Astrid."

"Harry Haddock," He said, shaking Luke's hand and holding his out to her. She took it, and he shook it firmly. "It's nice to meet you. Although, it could have been less messy." She allowed a small smile to cross her face while Luke laughed loudly.

"So, Harry, what do you do for a living?" Luke asked, the signature question that dad taught them. You always ask about someone else's life before talking about your own. Making New Friends 101.

Harry swallowed the food in his mouth before answering. "I'm in robotics, on the side of physical therapy and enhancement." He answered simply. Astrid widened her eyes in surprise and she started to like this Harry even more. In the brief time that she spent taking college classes, physical therapy was her focus. She had a resume out in open job listings, but nobody really wanted a drop out.

"How about you two?"

Astrid beat Luke to the punch. "I'm a waitress right now, but I used to be in college." She answered. Harry cocked an eyebrow at her.

"What classes did you take?"

Astrid smiled. "Well, I took a lot of class for physical therapy in college. It was my focus," Harry grinned widely, holding up an open hand to her. She greedily accepted this sudden show of friendship and slapped his hand. It wasn't often that they found someone who was so openly friendly.

"Have you got a job?" He asked. Luke, who had been smiling and laughing, suddenly went quiet. Astrid put a hand on his leg, giving it an affectionate squeeze.

"Well…I have a resume out in an online database, but I never finished college," She admitted with absolutely no embarrassment. She had a good reason for dropping out. "Most employers aren't interested in a drop out, so nobody has contacted me." She answered sadly. Harry apparently grasped that the mood had changed if his frown was anything to go by. She wasn't really surprised by his next question though. Probably one of the more common questions of her life.

"Why did you drop out?" She shook her head gently, not wanting to answer. Harry was nice and all that, but he had no business knowing why she had done the things she'd done. She would have left it at that, but Luke chose otherwise.

"I had an accident," He said somberly. "Lost my right foot."

"Did you get a prosthetic?" Harry asked, and Astrid noted that he was kind enough to not look under the table to see if Luke was really missing a foot. The boy shook his head.

"The hospital bills…we can't afford much. Even toda-"

"That's enough, Luke." Astrid said sharply. She knew how talking about it hurt him, because he still felt that it was all his fault, even though they had gone over how the accident was never his fault. The man whose was at fault was still rotting in jail. She shut the lid on her food, nudging Luke to do the same.

"Thanks for the food, Harry. It was nice to meet you." She said politely. Luke said the same, and the two of them walked away. She glanced back and found that Harry had not moved. He was staring down at the table. She and Luke quietly made their way out of the mall and back home. By the time they got there, everything was forgotten and they were two happy siblings again.

XXX

So, to continue from above, this will follow a strict update schedule. Every Thursday morning, and I will hold to that as best I can.