Astrid sat silently in the car, looking out on the road along with Hiccup as the twins were messing around in the back. "Ow!" Tuffnut burst out, shaking his hand. Ruffnut laughed at him and slapped her hand against her knee. "How many times do I have to tell you that you have mom's hands? Don't try to thumb fight me, I always win."

Tuffnut rolled his eyes. "Whatever, sis," He said and looked back at Snotlout who was still uncomfortable on his seat in the back. "You seem very comfortable, Snotty. Want me to give you a blanket and a feeding bottle?" He joked.

"Shut up Tuffnut or I'll break your nose."

Ruffnut turned around and looked at him. "What? Like that time when I broke your nose?" She asked and looked at him with a smug face. Hiccup, Astrid, Fishlegs and the twins burst out laughing as Snotlout sat in the back, being all grumpy.

"Is...Is he always like this?" Astrid asked through the laughs. "Most of the time. That's why we bother him so much," Hiccup said and chuckled. Astrid laughed and looked back, looking at the others.

"Don't worry about him, girl. As long as you know how to throw a good punch or two, he won't bother you much," Ruffnut said and looked at Astrid. Hiccup cut in. "Ruff, she's a cheerleader. Not only can she throw a good punch but she's really flexible. I should know," He said proudly and looked over at his girlfriend with a smirk.

"Oh my gods," Astrid laughed out.

"So..." Fishlegs started. "Where are we going?" He asked and looked at Hiccup. "I was thinking, maybe we could eat first and then take a stroll in the park," He said and looked back at everyone for a split second before looking at the road again.

"That sounds great."

There was a long silence except for some low music from the radio going before Fishlegs cut in. "Astrid..." He started. The blonde turned around and looked at the bulky man. "Yeah?" She asked. "Do you...mind telling us about yourself?" He asked.

She chuckled. "Oh, I don't think you guys want to hear my boring story..." She said and looked at all of them. They all nodded, - even Snotlout who leaned forward to show interest.

Astrid sighed and made herself more comfortable in her seat, sitting sideways as she looked over the four. "Well...I was born on a chilly April night at 9:37 AM at Berk Hospital. Dad was right there with my mom when I was born. I had a great childhood. I started gymnastics when I was six years old and when I got into school, I started to train cheerleading," Astrid paused for a second and took a deep breath. "When I was ten, I was in school on a Friday noon and I got called into the principal's office. Hiccup's dad was also there and they told me that my parents had gotten into a car accident. They...had both died," She paused.

Hiccup placed a hand on her knee and she took his hand in hers, holding it. "I got to live with Hiccup and his father over the weekend before I had to move away to my aunt. New school, no friends...I was depressed. My aunt always said that depression was a thing people said they had but never did. It was like the Placebo Effect. I knew I had it but she just neglected it. I...I started self-harming because of the things that were happening," She said and looked at Hiccup.

He smiled at her and nodded slightly before looking back at the road. "I moved back to Berk when I was seventeen, into my old house and I've been living here ever since," She said and looked at them. "That's basically the story of my life as if right now."

They all looked at her with sad expressions. "But..." Ruffnut started. "How did you guys meet and...get together?" She asked.

Astrid laughed. "Well, he was my physics teacher. We had a match in school and after cheerleading, me and my team sat in the cafeteria, talking when I said that I was going to get changed. I was walking out of the cafeteria when Hiccup was walking in. We walked into each other and he saw...my scars. I wore arm wrappings because I didn't want people to see and think that I was that mentally ill. He later invited me to his place so he could keep an eye on me, things escalated and we got together," She said and smiled at them before looking at her boyfriend.

"He's my best friend along with my boyfriend and I can't believe I have such an amazing guy that actually cares about me. He makes my day better and I can't be more grateful to have him," She said and rubbed her thumb over the back of his hand.

There was a sob heard in the background and she looked back. Fishlegs was bawling his eyes out, not uttering a sound while Ruffnut's, Tuffnut's and Snotlout's eyes were glistening with tears.

"I...I'm sorry you had to go through all of that," Fishlegs said. "Are you feeling better now, at least?"

Astrid nodded with a smile. "Yes. Very. I don't know what I'd do without him," She paused and though. "Today actually marks three months that I've been clean..." She said and looked at Hiccup.

He smiled while looking at the road. "And many more months are to come, I hope," He said. Astrid nodded at him and let go his hand.

"We're here."

"Finally! I'm starving!"

°°°

They had spent hours in Dunkin' Donuts chatting, having fun and getting to know each other. Walking out, they sighed, stuffed. Snotlout was walking hunched over from all of the burgers he'd been eating and the others laughed at him. Hiccup walked over to walk beside Astrid and she looked at him with a smile, taking his hand.

He intertwined their fingers and held her hand tightly, not letting her go.

The park was right behind Dunkin' Donuts and they started to walk towards it.

Walking onto a narrow trail in the park, the others headed in front of them, chatting away.

Hiccup looked down at Astrid and smiled. "You know," He started and she looked up at him. "You don't have to be insecure about your scars. They're a part of you and you're perfect," He whispered the last part and Astrid looked down. "I'm not perfect. I never will be. You've seen all of me-"

Hiccup interrupted her. "Yeah. I've seen all of you and all of you is beautiful. You're perfect, Astrid. I love you for all of you, not just your looks or what other guys might love a girl for, - being good in bed. That's not what it's about. Not for me, at least. Astrid, you mean the world to me and I don't know what I'd do without you. You're a huge part of my life and you have been since I first saw you. I love you. I love you too much for my own well being but I don't care. I love you and only you," Hiccup said softly, his hand on her cheek while his other hand was on her hip.

A tear slid down her cheek and he kissed it away, smiling at her. "I promise you, M'lady, I'll always be here," He whispered, his lips a me're inch away from hers. "I love you too," She fought out before he kissed her, his arms wrapping around her waist and her hands landing on his shoulders and neck.

After a moment or two, the two heard Tuffnut yell at them. "Get a room!" He said and looked at the couple. Hiccup didn't pull away though, even if Astrid almost did.

Ruffnut burst out laughing the second after Tuffnut had said that. Hiccup pulled his right hand away from her waist and held it up, showing his middle finger to them. Ruffnut snapped a photo of that before she took a picture of them kissing.

She sent those pictures to Hiccup.

The two pulled away and Hiccup smiled at Astrid, placing his hand on her jaw. "I love you, don't forget that," He said before pulling away fully, grabbing her hands and continuing waking. They walked passed Tuffnut before Hiccup stopped and looked over his shoulder at him, a smirk on his face. "Oh, and, we've already gotten a room," He said before walking off.

Tuffnut's jaw dropped and Ruffnut laughed at her brother. "Come on, guys," She said and they started to walk.

That was an evening Astrid surely wouldn't forget.