AUTHOR POV

The Hofferson clan was one of the more powerful and influential clans on Berk. They were fierce warriors and had a higher social status than most families, even the Haddock family. It even showed in their outfits, as Astrid wore a heavily customized outfit and her friends wore normal viking garb. Although Mr. Hofferson and Stoick didn't always see eye to eye, they worked well together in protecting Berk from invaders.

Hoffersons were very selective in whom they married. Hofferson women would only choose the strongest and brawniest men from noble families. That had been a tradition for many years. Knowing that Astrid was a talented warrior, her father let her focus on training and reaching her full potential and never pressured her into choosing a mate.

Today, however, Astrid's father had some news for her...

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"Dad? Are you in here?" Astrid asked from outside.

"Yes, Astrid. Can you come in here for a minute?" her father called.

Astrid swiftly walked into their living room.

"Yeah, Dad?" 

"Sit down, Astrid. I have something to discuss with you."

"Okay..."

The young shieldmaiden sat down in her seat across from her father. Mr. Hofferson stood tall, with broad shoulders and bulging muscles. He had long, golden braids of hair like Astrid and had dozens of battle scars running across his body. 

He spoke with a deep and dignified voice. "As you know, I've always told you not to worry about finding a husband and just focus on your training, right?"

"Right..."

"And I'm glad to see you improving so much as well as having fun. You even went out on a mission to the Cursed Peaks without my permission."

"Uh, yeah, about that," she nervously rubbed her arm.

Her dad chuckled, "It's fine. You don't need my permission for those things anymore. I trust you're old enough to take care of yourself."

"What is this about, Dad?" Astrid asked.

"Well, what I really want to say is that... I think you should start thinking about accepting suitors."

"What?" Astrid yelped. The thought of marriage hasn't crossed her mind in years and the sudden mention of it nearly gave her a heart attack.

"I know this is sudden--" Mr. Hofferson said. 

"But I don't want to marry anyone right now," Astrid groaned.

"Relax, I know you're not ready to get married," he explained. "But you have to choose someone to be engaged to."

"But--" 

"No buts, Astrid," he said, crossing his arms. "It's Hofferson tradition and we will follow it. Actually, your mother wanted you to be married by now, but I wanted to give you more time. Now, you really must have a suitor, at least."

But Astrid already had someone in her heart. A clumsy, hopeless boy that had made her happy since they were kids. But that couldn't help her now. She couldn't say that she already belonged to Hiccup because neither one of them has confessed to each other. Plus, Haddocks were not a noble family. Besides all that, her father would never let Astrid be married to someone who couldn't lift his own body weight.

"Fine," was all Astrid could say. She knew this day would come eventually and she wouldn't be able to run away from it. She was also too scared to fight her dad, who had already given her more time than the other girls from noble clans.

"Great! I've already narrowed it down to two choices to make it easier for you," he said. Her father's intimidating aura was replaced by the calm side that Astrid liked more. 

"Who?" Astrid asked.

"Do you remember Devon and Lesgard? You used to play with those boys when you were little. They are both from noble families."

"Does it have to be someone from a noble family?" Astrid dared to ask.

"Of course. It is not an option. We must always seek to strengthen our family's connections," he stated.

Astrid stopped her resistance in fear of offending her father. So, she played along with his wishes for now.

"Okay. Can I at least meet them first? I'd like to know who I'm getting potentially married to," she said.

"Very well. Who do you wish to meet first?"

"Hmm..." Astrid thought about it carefully.   

"Now, I don't want to make you lean toward one side, but I think Lesgard is a better match for a Hofferson," he said. "But the decision is completely yours, Astrid."

Astrid looked up and tried to recall her memories with either boy. "I'd like to meet Devon first. I remember him being more fun," she said. 

"Alright. I'll arrange him to visit tomorrow and you two can get together," her dad said. "Thanks for being understanding about this. I'm glad you haven't picked up any bad habits from that Haddock boy, always running away from every viking tradition."

"Yeah," she said before leaving. 

"As if I'm gonna marry anyone else but Hiccup," she thought to herself, smiling deviously.

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(A couple days later)

Astrid was in her bedroom, preparing to greet her suitor who was arriving to Berk. Her father wanted her to wear her best dress, but Astrid was never much for wearing gowns. It took some effort to dig up the one dress that she had from her closet.

Snotlout and the twins were walking down the street and stopped at Astrid's house. Thanks to the reliability of Berk gossip, they had heard of the news last night, and they wanted to check up on her.

"Astrid? Are you there?" Ruffnut called from outside.

"Huh? Yeah! I'm just-- ungh! Just getting ready for today!" Astrid replied through her second floor window.

"Hey Astrid, need some help in getting dressed?" Snotlout grinned.

"How about never? Ruff, will you smack him for me please?" Astrid said.

"Idiot," Ruff smacked the Jorgenson boy. "How about me, Astrid? You want my help?" Ruffnut asked.

"No, thanks, Ruff! I'm okay!" Astrid's voice came from her room.

"I can't believe Astrid's getting married," Fishlegs commented.

"Ha, that's one bad thing about being nobles; too many traditions," Snotlout said. "I just feel bad for the poor guy who's getting shackled to that battle axe."

"Do you want me beat you to a pulp?" Ruffnut shook her fist.

"Hey, Astrid! Can I officiate your wedding? I got my license . I promise I won't say anything stupid," Tuffnut proposed. 

"Uh, sure, but don't count on there being a wedding," Astrid replied to her friends outside.

"Okay, we'll see you later, Astrid! Remember to smile and giggle, right?" Tuffnut said.

"Haha, very funny!" Astrid responded.

"Astrid's getting married, Astrid's getting married..." Tuffnut sang as they walked down the road.

"Ugh, stupid idiot..." Astrid went back to dressing up.

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Hiccup paced back and forth outside Astrid's house, his mind on another planet. 

"Okay, come on, Hiccup, come on! You can do this!" he thought. "You like her, and she... might like you too. If she says yes, we're good. If she says no, I hope I don't kill myself. So... no pressure there."

Hiccup gave himself a few slaps on the face before turning toward her house.

Suddenly, a few knocks came on her front door. Mr. Hofferson walked up to open it and saw Astrid's best friend, who occasionally visited their house. Mr. Hofferson didn't mind it that much, considering his daughter barges into the Haddock home on a regular basis.

"Good morning, Hiccup. Here to see Astrid?" he said.

"Yes, sir, may I see her?" Hiccup asked.

"She's upstairs getting dressed, but you may wait outside her door."

"Okay, thank you," Hiccup said.

Hiccup entered the Hofferson house and walked upstairs to Astrid's room. 

He knocked on her bedroom door. "Astrid? Are you decent?"

"Yeah, come in," Astrid replied through the door.

Hiccup opened the door and saw... Astrid topless, being only slightly covered by her chest bindings. Hiccup's cheeks blushed furiously. He had seen Astrid in her bindings before, but that was when they were kids. Now it was different...

"What's the matter with you?" Astrid asked, oblivious of the issue. "Come inside and shut the door. Can't you see I'm getting dressed?"

"Exactly why I shouldn't be in here, Astrid!" Hiccup thought in his mind. But there was no way he was leaving her room.

Although his inner gentleman scolded him, Hiccup couldn't make himself leave and he awkwardly sat on her bed.  

"What are you getting dressed for?" he asked, staring at any part of the room other than Astrid's chest, which still didn't have a proper cover!

"You haven't heard?" she asked, furrowing her eyebrows. She wasn't that surprised, as Hiccup didn't exactly involve himself in Berk hearsay.

"Heard what?"

"I'm meeting a suitor today," she said.

Hiccup's heart dropped to the abyss. "What? Does that mean you're getting--"

"No, I'm not getting married," she interjected. "Not yet, anyway. All my parents need me to do is be engaged a suitor. Whether I marry him or not is still my decision."

"So you're not going to--"

"Don't be silly, Hiccup. Don't you know me? I'll simply get engaged for a little while, my parents will get off my back, and then I'll reject him for marriage. Then, the matching process will start all over again," she declared triumphantly.

"When did you become so cunning?" he asked, grinning slightly.

"Easy. I asked myself, 'How would Hiccup get out of this viking tradition?'" 

"Ah, so you're saying I'm a bad influence on you," he stated.

"My dad seems to think so." 

Astrid finally put on her dress, allowing Hiccup's eyes to relax and roam freely again. It was a simple green dress, with some gold linings running around the waist. It was slim fitting, and it didn't droop down too low, giving Astrid plenty of mobility. 

"Aren't you gonna take off your leggings?" Hiccup asked after he noticed she was still wearing them under her dress.

"Why? You wanna see more?" Astrid smirked.

"No, no!" Hiccup waved his palms. "I just think that your dress makes you look so ladylike."

"Fine. This is the only time I'm wearing this dress, so I might as well make it work." Astrid slipped off her comfortable leggings and threw them at Hiccup's face, who then smiled and folded them.

He breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Astrid wasn't planning to marry. However, Hiccup suddenly realized how urgent the matter was. He could potentially lose the love of his life to some stranger he's never even met before. 

He still has a chance, but there's no time to waste.

"So, um, Astrid. If you're not too busy tonight... " Hiccup clamped his eyelids shut. "willyougo outwithme?"

"What?" she asked. She was busy braiding her hair at her table. "You know how much I hate mumbling--" 

"Will you go out with me tonight?" he repeated much slower, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Like dragon riding?"

Oh great Loki, now he knows how Astrid felt when she tried asking him out that first time. 

"No, not like dragon riding." His voice carried a certain confidence that Astrid instantly noticed, probably because his voice usually has none.

"Are you... are you asking me out on a date?" she turned around to face him, her face filled with hope.

"Yes I am." Hiccup's confidence hit its peak and then crashed down. "B-but if you have to be with your suitor, or if you just don't want to, then I totally understand cause you probably have something better to do. Hey, look at the time, I should get going n--"

"Yes. I'll go out with you."

Boom, he was in.

"Yes?!" Hiccup's eyes bulged out.

"Yes, you dummy. I think it'll be fun," she chuckled. She tried to keep her cool, but Astrid's heart was singing a thousand love ballads in her head. She couldn't believe that they were finally going out on their first date! 

She thought she would be an elder before Hiccup got the courage to ask her. However, it was kind of a weird time. Of all the days in the year, he had to pick the worst possible day to ask her out. Not that she would refuse. "Where should I meet you?" she asked.

"Just come to my house when you're ready, then we'll go out," Hiccup explained.

"Go out where?"

"It's a surprise," he sung.

Astrid wondered what the boy could be planning. Whatever it is, she would be glad to finally just spend time alone with him.

"Astrid, hurry up! Devon is here!" her father called.

"Okay! Be right there!"

Astrid stood up and patted herself off. She fixed up her dress and put on her last minute accessories. 

"Okay, I gotta go. I'll see you tonight, Hiccup," Astrid rushed.

"Take your time. Don't forget to smile," Hiccup grinned.

"Why does everyone keep telling me that? I smile all the time, see?" Astrid smiled at him, reducing Hiccup into a quivering piece of jelly.

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A/N: If you haven't watched season 4 of Race to the Edge yet, go watch it now cause it's AMAZING!!!! If you don't have Netflix, all the episodes are out on KissCartoon and other sites.

THIS IS YOUR SPOILER ALERT 

I shouldn't need to give a spoiler alert because I don't know why you're here reading this fanfic instead of watching the series. 

That kissing scene was just perfect! We slogged through so many filler episodes in past seasons and now we finally get the payoff with Hiccstrid! That sunset behind them and the music was great. Usually, I get mad at the writers and say I could do better than them, but this time, they did a great job.

Pretty much all the episodes this season had great plot and character development. Hiccup wasn't as bland and flawless as he was in previous seasons. Even Fishlegs and Snotlout grow somewhat this season. If this is the standard for a kid's show now, then I'm hopeful for the future.

I'd like the show to focus on something other than fighting dragon hunters next season. There's a big world out there for them to explore. Until then, I'd have to read fanfics instead.

I'm pretty sure Hiccstrid has more kisses than between any Disney pairings. It's surprising that Dreamworks is doing better at romance than Disney recently.

This season reminded me why I love this ship and franchise so much. Alright, enough of my rambling. I still gotta work on the next few chapters. Thanks for reading!