Taking a deep breath, she turned her head towards Valka who gave her a reassuring smile and then stepped forward.

Pushing the door open, the pleasant smell of roses and plastic wafted into her nostrils and she sighed, a smile on her lips.

Slowly walking in, the boutique looked neat with white, off-white, ivory and some blush dresses hung on display mannequins and in plastic bags on racks along the walls.

"Welcome to White Satin Bridal Boutique. What can I help you with?" A tanned, black-haired woman asked as she walked up to them from the counter.

"Yes. I booked an appointment for today to try on wedding dresses. Astrid Hofferson," She said with a smile and reached her hand forward.

The woman gave her a smile as she took Astrid's hand. "I'm Makayla. Welcome. Who is this?" She asked and gestured towards Valka.

"Oh. This is my fiancés mother, Valka," Astrid said with a smile. Makayla reached forward and shook hands with Valka. "Hello," She greeted.

"So, lets get you settled down-" She started and looked at Valka, gesturing to a couch further in the boutique before turning towards Astrid, "-and lets get you into a changing room so you can tell me about that fiancé of yours."

Astrid nodded.

"Go on, dear. I'll have a look around until you're back," Valka said and patted her shoulder, giving the blonde a reassuring smile.

Following the dark skinned woman towards a changing room, she hugged herself for reassurance. God, she wished Hiccup would be there. His support and opinion would be greatly appreciated but she wanted to surprise him with the dress, - if she did find one.

"Here it is," Makayla motioned as she opened a matte black door. Astrid nodded with a smile as she slipped in, the older woman walking after her.

Closing the door, they say down and Makayla clasped her hands together. "So, tell me a little about yourself and your fiancé."

Astrid inhaled. "Well, his name is Henry Haddock. Most amazing man I've ever met. He's caring and compassionate and he's been there through all of my hard times," She started and slowly searched for a picture of him on her phone while she spoke.

Makayla watched with a smile. Astrid raised her phone and turned the screen towards the other woman. "He's perfect in every single way, shape, size and form."

"I see. Is that your baby?" Makayla asked and pointed at the infant in Hiccup's arms. "Yes. Abigail. I found out in hospital..." Astrid said and trailed off, turning her phone towards her to look at the picture before putting her phone away.

"At the hospital? What happened?"

"Well...Henry went out to meet his father to get some errands done and they were in a car crash. His father died on impact and he crushed his left foot, having to get it amputated. I was just recovering from...being suicidal when I got the call from the hospital. They weren't sure he'd survive or not and i was devastated. To the point of me...not wanting to live anymore," Astrid said quietly, inhaling ever so often. "I don't remember how but he somehow came home, saved me and I woke up in a hospital room a day or two later."

"Oh, that must've been so horrible. I'm so sorry for all the things you two had to go through. But...how did the baby come along?" Makayla asked before catching herself. "If it's not too personal, of course."

"It's fine. I forgot to take birth control for a few days and when I was in the hospital, they could see that I was pregnant. We decided to keep it and later, Abigail was born. Henry proposed right after delivery," Astrid said with a smile.

"Oh, that's so beautiful," Makayla said before shaking her head to clear her thought. "Anyway, what kind of dress are you looking for? And at what price point?"

Astrid thought for a second.

"Definitely something simple and long sleeved. Maybe a little lace but still flowy and not too complicated. I'm comfortable at around three-thousand," She said with a small smile.

"Anything you'll be wearing to it?"

"Yeah. A cherry blossom flower crown."

"Noted. Stay here and I'll see what I can find. I have one dress specifically in mind that I think you'll love," Makayla said as she stood up.

"Thank you."

•••

The door opened and in came Makayla, - slightly struggling from the dresses she held. "Okay, I found six totally different dresses and I want your opinion," She said and put one by one on the rack, showcasing them.

Once done, she turned towards Astrid. "So, which ones do you like?"

Astrid bit her lip, one dress catching her eyes as she stood up. "Hmm..." She hummed and pointed at a dress full of sequins. "Definitely not this one. And not that one either. They're beautiful but I don't think I'd feel so great about looking like a disco ball," She said with a chuckle.

"Okay. Those two are out."

"I actually saw this the second you came in," She said and grabbed each side of the plastic cover the dress was in. "It made me feel some kind of way that I can't explain."

"Want to try it on?"

Biting her lip, she nodded, still self conscious about her fading scar.

Getting into it wasn't as hard as it seemed and she liked the fact that it has a slightly open back with a few buttons.

"There, last button done. You wanna turn around and look at yourself?" Makayla asked and looked at the blonde.

"I-I think," Astrid fought out, not sure how she'd feel if it wasn't the right dress. It was comfortable, flowy, long sleeved and it had laces. Everything she asked for.

Turning around, she laid eyes on herself, her eyes drifting up and down the gown.

It was beautiful and just so...right.

It was everything she had asked for and every imagined of wanting. She had always had a picture in the back of her mind about a wedding dress and this was it. This was the mysterious dress she'd been looking for.

"I..." Astrid tried to say something but she didn't find the words. "You're beautiful. It's like it was made just for you. Do you want to show it?"

Not knowing what to say, she just nodded and grabbed the front of the dress softly, turning towards the door and walking out.

This one is definitely it, Makayla thought.

Walking out towards the big room where Valka sat, her heard started to race when she saw Hiccup's mother turn around.

What if she didn't like it?

Valka was a replacement for her parents right then and there. She had wished they'd be there to watch her grow up and, - even if things could've been avoided - gotten happily engaged and married but life had a way of changing certain things.

Her heart skipped a beat when she heard Valka gasp loudly.

Stepping up into the round platform in front of the white couch, stared into the mirror in front of herself before turning around.

"Astrid-"

"You don't like it, do you?"

"What? You have to be joking. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. You look gorgeous in it and I know Henry will break down when he sees you," Valka said with a reassuring smile.

Tears started to well up in her eyes. She missed her parents. She wished they could be there to give her a hug and assure her that things would be alright.

Why did they have to die? And why did she have to become the way she did?

Permanent solution to a temporary problem.

Valka was there for her like a second mother. They had connected instantly during her pregnancy and had a great relationship.

God, Hiccup. What would she do if she didn't have him? Where would she be? And where would he be? Where would they all be?

She had him. The dress reminded her of the good and bad things about her life. Mostly about trying to leave the bad behind and welcoming the new and good things into her life.

Their life.

Arms wrapped around her shoulders and she buried her face into the woman's shoulder, holding her tight.

"You're absolutely breathtaking, Astrid. You are anyway with and without the dress. You deserve to be happy for once," Valka said, as if reading her thoughts.

Astrid nodded and sobbed, slowly pulling away.

"You're right. I have Henry and Abigail. I couldn't have been more happy than I am right now. I'm blessed with them and I'm determined to turn my life around for the better," Astrid said as she turned around to look at herself.

"I'm getting married. This is the dress. Yeah, it's bringing out both good and bad memories but life can't be picture perfect forever. I'm gonna get married to my fiancé. In this dress," She said, a big smile and a determined look on her face.

"Amen. Come on, let's get the dress off you do you can sign the papers and pay."

She had succeeded in choosing a dress.

And she couldn't wait for the wedding and finally marry the man of her dreams.