"Now, tonight, there won't just be dancing, there will be a competition!"

Cheers and groans resounded across the room and Astrid smirked. If people didn't wanna do it, they could sit it out, of course, but the fact that there were more cheers made her more happy than she cared to admit. It was all about the presentation, it was all about the feel of her words. If she had said it in a dull manner, either people wouldn't hear her or they would pretend they didn't. And that was not something to be desired in this business.

Well, almost business.

A sharp tap alerted her to her mother, who pointed at a young man.

"What do you think of him? Good looking?"

She scrutinized the boy quickly, looking him up and down in an obviously disdained manner. Her mother sighed at her obvious refusal, and Astrid knew what was to come.

"Sweet, he's from a good family -"

"It's not about the family, mom." She tossed her braid back and looked her mother square in the eye. "It's about men not wanting their wives to work after marriage." She surveyed the room, talking distractedly. "And I wanna have a good marriage before that happens."

Her mother left, sighing and mumbling something about insanity, but this was ignored as the girl spotted a familiar flop of brown hair near the food table. She narrowed her eyes and walked over.

"Hiccup Haddock?"

The boy looked up, a camera around his neck and a plate in his hand. He gave her a crooked grin. "Astrid Hofferson. To what do I owe the pleasure, milady?"

Astrid crossed her arms at her former college mate. They had never been friends, but her friend Ruffnut had been pursued by Snotlout and Fishlegs, two of his, so they had met, taking an instant dislike towards each other. He was a half flirt, as in it wasn't the kind that Snotlout had displayed towards Ruffnut (which was seriously rude at times) or the kind Fishlegs had (which was seriously barf-worthy at times) but it was still flirting, in his own way. He called her milady, and even though it was just to annoy her, she had to wonder how many girls had heard the same name.

"You're not on the guest list," she accused, pushing her bangs behind her ear, "and therefore -"

He gestured to the camera with his head. "I'm on the camera team, thank you very much. How would you know the guest list, anyway?"

"I'm helping the wedding coordinator."

The truth was that she had pestered the wedding coordinator to let her help, as she did with almost every wedding coordinator or planner she met, only waiting for one of them to finally hand everything over to her, but they never did. Every single one she had ever met had been extremely set on their job. It was something she admired greatly.

Hiccup snorted. "Sucks for whoever it is, then." His eyes lit up, as though he had just been waiting forever for someone to banter with.

She pointed a finger at him and snarled, "Stay out of my way, got it?"

"But of course." He gave her a mock bow and she huffed, unable to find a snappy retort for him. Turning around and walking away was her next resort, and Astrid did so happily.

Fun was really the only word to describe arguing with Astrid. She got worked up so easily, and that could only be seen as an advantage for him. He had not expected her to be here.

Of course, the camera team thing had been a lie. Hiccup had not exactly wanted to crash a wedding, it had been Snotlout's idea because the git didn't want to buy dinner. And hey, who was Hiccup to argue against free food? The camera was something Snotlout had given him in case anyone asked.

People started dancing, and Astrid was there too. Snotlout walked up to him, gaping.

"Is that Astrid?"

Smirking, Hiccup set his plate down before putting the camera up and recording her. She actually wasn't bad. And she didn't seem to get tired, either. Many people clapped along with the music as they cheered her on.

"Give the video to her tomorrow," his cousin suggested, putting his arm on Hiccup's shoulder, "I know which bus she takes back home. She'll be impressed."

"Why?"

"Cause, cuz, you may not be a virgin but you've never nailed a girl like that."

Hiccup scowled at him. "Snotlout, I don't wanna do that to her. She's just fun to mess around with." He huffed. "Plus, what...nailing has taught me is that girls expect way too much afterwards. I don't want a relationship."

The stocky boy clapped his shoulder. "Alright. But still, show the video to her." He smirked. "Unles you're sca-a-a-a-ared."

That settled the matter quite quickly.

Hiccup slipped into the open seat without a second thought and tapped Astrid's shoulder. "Hey."

She turned to him with a smile, but it quickly became an expression of disgust. "Oh...you."

"Me," he confirmed with a grin. He held out the CD. "For you."

She took it with a frown, turning it over in her hands. "What is this?"

"You dancing yesterday. I was up all night editing it," he said proudly, pointing to the CD.

She growled, "If this some form of hitting on me -"

"It's not," the boy reassured her, putting his hands up in surrender, "I just wanted to give you the CD and make a new friend."

Astrid studied him carefully. "Alright. But seriously, don't even try flirting with me. I don't like all this lovey dovey stuff. Dating is for suckers. I wanna start a business." She took out a binder from her bag and gushed. "Wedding planning!"

The adoration on her face was seriously funny, but he held back his laughter. It wasn't funny, it wasn't funny.

It was funny.

"Wedding planning?" he repeated incredulously, biting his lip to hold back laughter. "Why?"

"It's the best business ever! Look," she went on, pointing to random things in her binder, "if you're say...a doctor, then you mess up, then you're probably out. No one will trust you again. But…" She put a finger up. "People will always be having weddings. And they will be calling..." She held up the binder dramatically. "Dancing and the Dreaming! 'What you're looking for, is in here.'"

"There is no logic in that," Hiccup argued, closing her binder, "people will always be getting sick too. That's a terrible analogy."

"Oh, you're just jealous that I have a plan for the future." She crossed her arms. "Aren't you like, rich or something?"

"We could go out for coffee and I'll show you." He offered her a winning smile, holding back from insulting the cheesy name too.

The blonde looked as though she was considering it, but then shook her head and held it up as the bus stopped. "I have to go home right now. See you." She stood up and walked out, giving him one last wave.

Back in his apartment that he shared with Snotlout and Fishlegs - well, only Snotlout.

"You can't leave me here with him," the boy hissed to his chubby friend, "all he'll do is complain to me about how his band won't take off."

Fishlegs gave him an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Hiccup. But we don't all have a rich dad and bread making to fall back on when we can't get a job. This is an opportunity. We can't waste it."

Hiccup slumped. Snotlout wasn't home at the moment, or else he would have tried to get him to make Fishlegs stay too. Especially since he believed the two liked each other. But that was a story for a different time.

The door flew open.

"Hiccup!"

"Dad?" he asked in disbelief as he was scooped up in a hug, and then repeated in a choked voice, "Dad!"

"Oh, yes. Sorry about that." The giant man set his son down, beaming at him. Fishlegs squeaked and went back to packing his clothes, faster this time. "Have you packed?"

"Packed?"

"Oh - you haven't? Hiccup, honestly." He shook his head. "Didn't your mother tell you? I'm bringing you back."

"What?" the boy all but shouted. "No way! I'm staying here!"

"Why? Do you have a shop here?" His father laughed at the ridiculous notion, and Hiccup scowled.

"Actually, a business. I…" He said it so quickly he might have believed himself. "A wedding planning business!"