HICCUP'S POV

I sit back down and reach for a basket filled with small rolls with cheese in the center. Everyone else has already began eating. Eret and Snotlout are complementing Astrid in the placement of the flowers and candles around the room. I smile to myself as I spread some yak butter on the rolls I grabbed.

I have a slight twinge as I feel a pair of blue eyes watching me. I turn my head to Astrid, who has a slightly puzzled look on her face. I show her the smile my mother loves; she looks away. What have I done? She hasn't acted this way toward me since dragon training.

"Hiccup, are you competing in the dragon races tonight?" Eret asks me.

"I was planning on it. Why, do you and Skullcrusher have some new tricks up your sleeves?" I tease. He rolls his eyes and continues eating.

"Astrid, are you competing tonight?" I ask, though it's very unlikely for her not to.

"Yeah." she replies shoving food in her mouth. Probably a way to get me to stop talking to her.

Once dinner ends, couples make their way to the dance floor. My friends head that way as well. I stay seated watching the people dance and laugh. My nerves have officially gotten to me.

"Hey. Um, I got you this." Astrid says suddenly, handing me a box. I examine the soft wood imagining what it contains.

"You gonna open it tonight?" She prods.

I chuckle undoing the latch. Inside I find brand new tools. This must have taken her weeks to save up enough to buy.

"Do you like them?" She asks unsure as I stare wide eyed at them.

"I mean their amazing Astrid. Thank you." I lean over and kiss her cheek.

"So are we going to sit here all night?" She asks persistently. I lead her over to the dance floor.

ASTRID'S POV

He rests his hand on the small of my back. I watch our feet as we turn slowly. The clicking of his foot keeps me in time with the music.

Still no "happy anniversary" from Hiccup. What is taking him so long? My anger grows intense causing me to lash out at him.

HICCUP'S POV

"You son of a half troll-rat eating-munge-bucket!" she hollers at me suddenly. I stop and stand there staring blankly back at her, wondering what I've done to upset her do much.

"What is with you lately? You act like something is troubling you, but when I ask about it, you brush me off. You spend all this time today decorating the Hall, but can't say 'happy anniversary' to me? All of our friends remembered, but I've heard nothing from you." I open my mouth to say something, but am cut off by another round of out bursts.

"If you think I have to put up with this, you're wrong. This is not boy I fell in love with. This distant glare in your eyes the last few days unnerves me."

She begins to cry, which is strange. Astrid rarely cries. I've only see her cry maybe twice in the twenty years that I've known her.

Everyone watches the scene play out. I touch the pocket that contains the ring. I take her hand and lead her to the spot where she comforted me, and kissed me for the second time on this same day (Snoggletog) five years ago.

I let go of her hand, tears swelling up in my eyes. I don't dare let them spill over though. I open my mouth but no words are forth coming.

"So?" She persists.

I need to say this right or I may lose her forever. I take out the box and fumble with it. I look up at her as she stares back quizzically.

"It's for you." I say. "But before I give it to you I need to say something first."

I take her hand and go back out to the dance floor. No one has moved. I pull her to the center just like my father did with my mom. Knowing this May not end well, I take a deep breath and begin.

"So far this had not gone the way I hoped it would. The exact reason I've been a nervous wreck all day." I say looking at her. She stands with her arms crossed, probably contemplating what in the world I'm doing.

"I know I've made mistakes recently, and left you wondering. I won't act like this again, I'm just..." I trail off. I glance up at the ceiling for help. Then I see the flowers.

"Do you know what these flowers are called?" I ask gesturing around us.

"Hiccup, stop changing the subject." she says.

"No. Just answer the question."

"I have no idea."

"Astrids." I say. "It took me five days to collect them all." A sign of recognition crosses her face.

"The flowers you found. This is how you were going to show them to me?" She asks. She hugs me whipping the tears off my cheeks. So much for holding them in, she's always been the stronger one any way.

"But I don't see what this has to do with the..." She begins. My crooked smile spreads across my face.

"My gods. Hiccup." she says. I get down on one knee.

"What do you think Astrid? Would it be too terrible to spend the rest if your life with me?" She breaths an exasperated laugh.

"No. That would be amazing!" She answers repeating my line.

She helps me up, hugging me before I can completely regain my feet. I rest my head against hers. By this time were both crying. I pull away and hold out my hand. She places hers in mine, and I slide the ring in her finger. I pull her close again, pressing my lips to hers.

ASTRID'S POV

My body melts into his until we are almost one being. Our bodies fit perfectly together like the other half of me has finally been reconnected. Heat spreads from my lips and travels into my fingertips. I run my fingers through his hair as he rests his hands on my small. When we break apart, I realize the crowd around us is cheering.

HICCUP'S POV

I honestly forgot that there were people watching us. Our friends come up to congratulate us. Once they leave, my mother comes up and hugs Astrid.

"I'm so happy for both if you." she says rubbing the side of my arm.

"Thank you Valka." Astrid replies.

The music starts up again and everyone returns to dancing. I rest my head against Astrid's as we turn in small circles.

"I'm sorry about the last few days. I've had slot on my mind." I say.

"I can tell."

"That day in the cove, I was trying to figure out how to ask you. I decided to go with what my father had done. He asked my mom in the middle of the dance floor on a holiday. So , I thought I could ask you on Snoggletog and our anniversary. Happy anniversary by the way."

"Thank you." she responds.

"Then I thought I could put those astrid flowers around the room, that way you and the village could enjoy them. So then I headed back to Itchy Armpit to collect them. I kept them in water so they wouldn't die. By the way, the ring is my mother's. She gave it to me to give to you. It was the one my dad gave to her when he proposed."

" I love you Hiccup." she says kissing me on the cheek.

I smile and kiss her lip again so I can feel that fire that courses through me one more time.
🐉
The dragon races after everyone got tired of dancing. I won. No one was shocked. I lay in bed thinking over the day, and how much happened since I was laying in bed staring at the ceiling, just like I am now, earlier this morning. The day wasn't perfect but it had the ending I had been hoping for. Astrid had said yes. Which is surprising seeing how five years ago I couldn't even get a date. I was the total outcast of the village. The laughing stock. I can honestly say I will cherish today for years to come.