THREE: Snowy Shenanigans

Drenched and dripping-and laughing all the way-they sped upstairs and towelled down, then changed into their skiing gear and headed out. Astrid in her sleek baby blue expensive skiing suit and white angora woolly bobble hat and Hiccup in his black BerkMart ski jacket and pants, his green knitted bobble hat on his head. Astrid took his hand and they walked down and then she pulled him to the door at the bottom of the hotel, punching in the code she had been given and clicking the light on in the ski garage. She swiftly went to her equipment and looked over at Hiccup. "You got kit?" she asked and he shrugged.

"Boots," he shrugged, gesturing and she smiled, then sized him up by eye and expertly fitted his boots to the hire skis she had selected from the small selection in the hotel garage, grabbed a pair of sticks and clipped her feet into her boots. "But I'm really not any good...and um...you're apparently so amazing that your rivals have to gang up on you to stop you!" She chuckled and walked across the him, beckoning him to sit down and expertly putting his boots on. And then she paused and patted his left foot. She looked up, her eyes wide.

"Is this…?" she asked and he nodded, his head dipping.

"Yeah," he sighed. "Lost the foot in the accident where my Mom died...but my skiing isn't really much worse since I was hopeless before and…" She snapped the clips closed and stood up.

"For what it's worth, I am very impressed," she said to him, taking his hand. "It's very brave-and I wouldn't have known otherwise." His eyes widened.

"Really?" he asked. She nodded.

"Yeah," she told him with a grin. "Some of those Paralympians are amazing. I mean really amazing. And the fact you're here and willing to have a go just blows me away, Hiccup. I mean-I'm a bit nervous getting back on snow but if you are willing to try, then I know I'm going to be okay."

"You may need to remind me how to ski," he told her. "Haven't been since Dad died…" She beckoned him down and kissed him.

"Maybe it's the large number of champagne cocktails they served us during the meal but I know you're going to be fine," she told him as they walked to the edge of the cleared path and put their skis on, before they slithered over to the little drag lift. Hiccup immediately looked nervous.

"Did I tell you I am horrible on these?" he asked her as a small child almost knocked him over. She came up to his knees and had a huge crash helmet, a bright pink ski-suit and short little skis and was yelling at the top of her voice. Four more tiny children sped through and took the pair of them down. Astrid started giggling again as they clambered up and managed to get onto the lift. Hiccup's lift paid out as far as it could, recoiled and then catapulted him into the snowdrift by a bush. He waved an arm.

"I'm okay!" he called and managed to scramble up. Astrid glided to his side, helped him up and towed him to the bottom of the lift. This time, they made it to the lift and she got him safely up to the top of the slope. Hiccup looked down and his eyes widened in sudden anxiety.

"I think this may be a terrible awful very very very bad move," he told her suddenly but she grinned.

"If you get to the bottom, Hiccup, I will give you a kiss," she told him and side-slipped down a couple of yards. "Bend your knees, toes in, on your edges first and weight forward…" He looked up, very stiff and nervous.

"I bet you say that to all your pupils," he mumbled.

"Only the really cute ones," she giggled and then saw him grin.

"Okay...for a kiss…" he said and slowly flattened his skis slightly. Inching forward, he reached Astrid. She grinned and slid down a bit further. "Hey!"

"When you get to the bottom…" she reminded him as he skiied uncertainly after her. He was breathing hard and slid to a halt when he reached the bottom as she giggled and glided easily up to him. "Well done!" she congratulated him and pressed a quick kiss on his cheek.

"Aww...is that it?" he pouted. She chuckled.

"Another run, another kiss," she promised. Standing up and a little more confident, he staggered over to the lift and more confidently slid up the slope with Astrid smiling and coming up behind him. He managed two more runs before he fully regained his confidence. This time, he gave a sly smirk.

"Okay-this time, it's on," he said and tucked his arms in, flattened his skis and shot down the slope. Astrid gave a smile-and then her eyes widened. "Look out!" she shouted as the group of kids cut straight across Hiccup's path. Unnerved, he leaned away from them and rocketed off the the side, zooming in the path of a dozen other skiers and accelerating.

"Oh Thor," Astrid muttered and shot after him, skating to increase her speed and tucking as she wove expertly across the slope. There were oohs and ahhs at the sight-but Hiccup was out of control, arms windmilling and screaming as he sped unerringly at the only tree on the slope. "LOOK OUT…!"

And then he hit. There was a collective 'OOH' across the slope and then Hiccup peeled off and collapsed backwards like a felled tree. And then all the snow from the branches landed on him.

"HICCUP!" she shouted and screeched to a halt at his side, unclipping her skis and digging him out of the snow. He groaned. "Are you okay?" He winced and then gave a thumbs up.

"I'm good!" he said muzzily. "How's the other guy?" Astrid looked up at the tree and smiled in relief.

"I think he'll live," she told him and helped him up. There was a red mark on his forehead but it looked like he'd escaped without too much harm. "And now, my hero, I think I owe you a hot dog and a Mulled Wine!" He sat up and gave a sigh.

"Oh Thor, thank you," he sighed as they dug him out, dusted the snow off him and slipped down to the bottom of the slope. Astrid stowed their gear and brought him back his snow boots while he sat down on a bench to wait for his head to stop spinning. He smiled up to her in relief. "Well, now I can say I skied with the great Astrid Hofferson and even outran her on one run on the Nursery Slopes at Dragon's Edge! So I can retire undefeated!" She gently batted his shoulder before she helped him up and they walked to the hot dog stand, where he treated them both to a hot dog with extra onions and mustard while she paid for two large glasses of Mulled Wine.

"Thank you, Hiccup," she smiled as she looked up into his sparkling eyes, his nose and cheeks red from the cold. "This has been the best New Year's Eve ever." The music was playing over to their left and people were still enjoying the slopes as they stood under the stars. Heather, Fishlegs and Dagur were out as well, enjoying the Mulled Wine. The husky host and the woman were holding hands and clearly a couple while Dagur-without eyebrows and his short spiky hair very singed-was hugging them both and downing shots of Akvavit between bites of hot dog. All the hotel guests were out and enjoying the festivities while Ruffnut and Tuffnut were dancing wildly to the music and Snotlout was unsuccessfully trying to chat up Camicazi, who slapped him as they watched. Hiccup smiled.

"I should thank you too-for not throwing me out of my own room and giving me the best evening ever," he told her. The countdown was starting and everyone was staring up the slopes into the stars. "You've made me feel like someone actually might value me."

"While you gave me my confidence back-and made me feel valued as well," she told him. Her phone buzzed and she glanced at the screen-and then she started laughing.

"What?" he asked her.

"Word sure gets around," she laughed. "Apparently the Tour are going to reopen the investigation into my crash-with Felicia and her friends provisionally suspended-and the Archipelago Olympic Committee have already filed a protest about my race!" Hiccup chuckled.

"Boy, that was a busy dinner," he laughed. She looked up into his face, wrapping her arms around his middle. "And maybe a victorious New Year?" She smiled.

"You know, I think I would give that up if I could maybe spend some of it...with you?" she asked a little hesitantly.

"Me?" he gasped. "But-but I'm nobody…"

"Not even the only teacher in your family," she smirked.

"While you're the only Olympic medallist ever to come from Berk," he replied.

"But I was wondering-would you want to spend some of the New Year with me?" she asked him. He leaned closer to her, his eyes half-lidded.

"How much of it?" he asked and she leaned forward.

"Approximately all of it," she said and kissed him. Around him, there were shouts of "HAPPY NEW YEAR!" and fireworks began to explode overhead. Smiling and pulling back to get his breath, Hiccup stared into her eyes.

"I think...I would love that," he said. "Happy New Year, Astrid." She smiled and leaned in again to kiss him once more.

"Happy New Year, Hiccup," she grinned as the rockets exploded above the new couple.

A/N: And Happy New Year 2019 to you all! -hp