Thirteen: The Invitation

Astrid, Hiccup and Hanna settled into a routine that rapidly felt natural. Hanna woke early and usually found Astrid already up, making breakfast. When Hiccup woke, his daughter was already eating her insanely sugary breakfast cereal and was happy and relaxed while Astrid easily made him a breakfast of eggs and bacon, bagels with eggs or salmon or pastries. Waving his daughter off to school was strange and Hiccup kept feeling pangs of guilt though he insisted that he took her in at least one day a week. But once at work, he was reassured that Astrid would collect her and ensure she was cared for. And Astrid herself was happy because she was able to tailor what she did to what Hanna wanted. And she ensured that sneaked in among what she did were activities that enriched her charge as well.

So they visited the park and went on the slides again, so Hanna didn't have any hang-ups about them, despite her bad experience with the bullies, along with the swings. Hanna had insisted on ice cream, despite the cool weather, and Astrid had enjoyed the delight in her face at the sweet treat. And they had also visited the petting zoo, the city farm, Mulch's Sheep World, the Aviary and the Penguin Exchange. And Astrid had taken the little girl swimming twice a week and had been very keen to ensure she was able to swim well.

The parents at the school gate were less welcoming and looked at Astrid with suspicion. A number of them muttered whenever they saw her and she heard whispers that she was Hanna's Dad's new girlfriend. And it made her angry at the assumption and the subsequent savage gossip that he 'had barely waited for his wife's body to cool' before moving on. A large portion of her wanted to march up to the women and put them straight-but the part of her that had learned that anger was not the best, first resort had forced her to keep her eyes fixed on the door of the school waiting for the little shape to come streaking out, grinning and waving at her Nanny.

Two weeks after she started, Hanna raced out of the school, her coat not done up as usual and hair wispily escaping from the braid-as usual.

"Astrid! Astrid! Astrid!" she yelled, running towards the blonde. As usual, she waited for the little human missile to crash into her legs and for Astrid to bend down and be hugged.

"Heya Hanna-how was today?" she asked gently. The little girl grinned and waved a crumpled envelope, somehow smeared with jam and chocolate.

"It was awesome, Astrid!" she said happily, handing over the envelope. "We did painting and mine was definitely the best because I didn't get green paint on my face like Halvard and I didn't spill the water like Olivia and I didn't get my paint outside the lines like everyone else. I got a gold star!" Astrid grinned at her enthusiasm.

"That was brilliant, Hanna," she said, opening the envelope which was addressed to "Hanna's Mom." She sighed: some people didn't think and she resolved to hide the envelope and just hand the invitation to Hiccup: the poor guy didn't need the additional pain of someone else's thoughtlessness.

"It's from Thorstein Badgerson," Hanna supplied helpfully, standing on tiptoes and looking at the brightly coloured invitation. "His birthday is on Friday and on Saturday his Mom wants everyone to go to the Paint Factory." Astrid raised an eyebrow.

"Why is she only sending out the invitation now?" she murmured. "It's Tuesday."

"Thor says his Mom has organ-ise-ational incomp-et-ence," Hanna said frowning. "I think he means she only remembered it was his birthday at the weekend and had to sort out his party yesterday..."

"Thor sounds like a bright boy," Astrid commented. Hanna nodded and allowed the woman to zip up her pink anorak.

"He always gets his sums right and is almost as quick as doing them as me," she said thoughtfully.

"And do you get yours sums right as well?" Astrid checked gently. Hanna nodded absently.

"Yeah, they're easy," she admitted. "I mean, Dad and Mom taught me to count and add when I was younger and Mrs Fanghook doesn't set sums anywhere as hard as Dad did. Mom used to tell him off but he was always careful to explain how to do them so I understood and could do them the next time. So I know how to do sums. I can do adding and taking away and some timesing and dividing as well! But Mrs Fanghook doesn't do that yet because Wartnut Thorston can't even add single figures properly yet."

"Everyone is different, honey," Astrid told her, as she pocketed the invitation and took Hanna's hand. "Wartnut just sounds like he needs a bit more practice. Maybe he doesn't have a Mommy and Daddy who taught him sums."

"He doesn't have a Daddy at all because he left," Hanna said easily, casting a sideways look at the scruffy blond boy who was chatting to his lanky blonde mother. She bore a passing resemblance to Ruffnut and Astrid guessed she was probably a relative. In the insular Berkian population, there were still significant extended families because Berkians always tended to end up back home.

"Well, you don't have a Mommy so that is something that you have in common," Astrid pointed out as they headed away from he school. Hanna pouted.

"He's one of the meanest kids in the class," she protested. "He was mean to me when Mom died and he always calls me a baby and teases me that I should want my Mommy."

"That isn't nice," Astrid murmured as Hanna's mittened hand closed on hers.

"He's going to be at Thor's party as well," she mumbled.

"Well, I'm sure that Thor's Mommy won't let people be mean at his party," Astrid assured her. "And it may be that your Daddy or I could come along to make sure you're okay." Hanna's face lit up.

"Could you? Both?" she asked suddenly. "That would be really nice..." Instantly regretting the words but unable to take them back, Astrid nodded.

"We'll check what your Daddy says first and then take it from there," she said honestly without agreeing anything. Hanna grinned and started pulling. "What is it, honey?" Astrid asked in amusement.

"We need to get home quicker so we can ask Daddy," Hanna told her as if it was obvious but Astrid had to try to smother a smile.

"Don't you want to go pet the yaks, Hanna?" she asked.

"Wanna ask Dad," Hanna pouted stubbornly. Sighing, Astrid stopped.

"He's still at work," she reminded the little girl. "Look, if we go see the yaks and draw him a nice picture, I'm sure he'll be really happy and much more likely to let you go to Thorstein's party." Hanna looked up, big green eyes wide and then she nodded.

"Okay," she conceded. "I want to see Mr Bucket, the yak with the bucket on his head anyway. He's funny..." Smiling, Astrid led the little girl away, casting a look at the other adults. Most of them had blanked her as usual and she wondered what would happen if she turned up at the party with Hanna. It would be an interesting afternoon.

oOo

"Daddy-can I go to Thor's party?" Hanna asked as soon as Hiccup entered through the door. He smiled at her excited voice and cast a look towards the kitchen to Astrid, who gave an apologetic shrug and fished the invitation out of her pocket. Swiftly, he put down his bag and shed his coat so he could hug the little girl and swing her up in his arms.

"Party, eh?" he smiled, tickling her. She squealed and fidgeted.

"No, Daddy. Agh!" she squeaked as she laughed and then flung her arms around his neck. "I love you, Daddy," she sighed. "Can I go to the party?"

"Saturday afternoon, 1pm," Astrid supplied helpfully. "It's at the Paint Factory."

"Not much notice," Hiccup commented.

"Thor said his Mommy has organ-ise-ational incomp-et-ence," Hanna told him proudly.

"More like the assumption that everyone will scrap their plans to allow their kids to come to the party-which most will, to be honest," Hiccup grumbled as he put Hanna down. "They do this every time."

"Oh?" Astrid asked, bringing him a cup of coffee and shepherding Hanna into the kitchen for tea. Nodding, Hiccup followed.

"Eirik Badgerson is the Finance Director of Viking Snacks," he explained. "The man is loaded and has to be incredibly organised-so there is no way they forgot Thor's birthday as no doubt they claimed. His wife doesn't work-she's the blonde barbie doll who spends all her time in the beautician's, the manicurist, the hairdresser, the pedicurist, the masseuse-and who is the most fiercely competitive mother on the island. Seriously. She will have planned everything to the last decimal point so everyone will be envious of what they've done for their little one. And anyway-you have to book six months ahead to get into the Paint Factory on a Saturday."

"Ah..." Astrid nodded, checking the oven and taking out the casserole dish. "I do know that Hanna kind of likes Thor. I think they're friends." Hiccup looked over at his daughter and she nodded.

"He's nice," she confirmed. "Can I go, Dad?" Hiccup nodded.

"Of course, Princess," he confirmed.

"Will you come?" Hanna persisted. Hiccup sighed.

"Of course," he said as Astrid dished up the delicious-smelling mutton stew and vegetables.

"And Astrid?" Hanna persisted as Astrid served the dumplings as well. Astrid sighed.

"If your Dad wants," she said. "Though I'm not sure they're extending the invitation to the hired help..." Hiccup frowned and looked up into her face. There was a slight edge to her voice that clued him in that the gossips hadn't been so kind to her.

"Maybe Astrid wants to spend time with her family?" he suggested but Hanna looked immediately upset.

"But we're her family!" she protested. "Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease, Astrid?" She turned her pleading green eyes on the blonde and she sighed, serving Hiccup and herself before sitting down.

"Okay," she sighed. "I guess you want me to get the present?" Hanna nodded and speared her dumping on her knife, starting to nibble the edges. "What does he like?"

"Well, his Mommy and Daddy always get him cars and vans because he likes cars but I know he really likes dragons," she whispered conspiratorially. Smiling, Astrid bisected her dumpling.

"I'll sort something out," she promised and began to eat. Savouring yet another excellent meal, Hiccup cast a look over at the woman and saw her look concerned. Astrid always seemed calm and in control-but there was a subtext there. From experience as the only male collecting a child, he knew that the women at the school gates were not the most welcoming to an outsider and ruthlessly gossiped about anyone who wasn't part of their 'yummy mummy' clique. And then she looked up, her blue eyes catching his careful inspection and he blushed.

"It will be okay," he whispered as Hanna still continued attacking her dumpling. "I'll protect you from the mean Mommies." She smiled back.

"But who's gonna protect you?" she replied softly as his eyes widened.

"Um...I was hoping maybe...you would?" he replied as she grinned.

"We'll see."

oOo

Saturday was very cold and clear, a proper Berk early winter day. The leaves were mostly fallen from the few deciduous trees and the world was rimed in sparkling white frost when Astrid threw open the curtains. Grabbing a swift shower, she sped downstairs, hearing no sounds from either father or daughter. Carefully, she wrapped the Bumper Book of Dragons that she had bought Thorstein and rested the card on top for Hanna to sign. And then she went out to the yard and did a series of stretches, jogging and set out for a quick run. Wrapped up warm and breathing easily, she sped round a swift five mile circuit that she had been mapping out over the three weeks she had been with the little family, accelerating towards the end and satisfactorily beating her previous best time.

By the time she got back, Hanna was awake and quietly playing in her room with Anna and Elsa so when she quietly walked up the stairs, her knee aching a little from the exertion, the little girl grinned at her.

"Your face is all red," she told the blonde and Astrid gave a smile, stopping into her room and crouching by her.

"I've been running," she whispered. "It keeps me fit and helps my knee get better." Hanna nodded.

"I've got a poorly finger from where Wartnut bit it," she commented, lifting the finger with the little Frozen plaster on it. "If I run around, will it get better?" Astrid sighed.

"Not really," she admitted. "Do you want breakfast now?" Hanna nodded.

"Can I have crumpets?" she asked. "I want the butter and chocolate paste to go into all the little holes so when I bite I get oozy chocolate..." Chuckling, Astrid got to her feet, giving the briefest grimace as her knee twinged.

"I think we can allow that-provided you have some milk and juice as well," she said as Hanna grinned and jumped up, grabbing Olaf as well.

"Okay," she said happily and followed Astrid down the stairs.

When Hiccup emerged, Hanna was smeared with chocolate and drawing her version of the 'coolest dragon ever' having signed the card with carefully wiped hands to stop the chocolate getting on the paper. Kissing his daughter and smiling at Astrid, he walked to her side and helped her make the fried bacon and eggs, because he always felt guilty at seeing her cook for him. So she allowed him to make excellent bacon, egg, sausage, tomato, baked beans and fried bread and savoured a meal that someone else had made. And she couldn't deny that seeing the pride in his emerald eyes at his accomplishment and her enjoyment of the breakfast made her heart flutter a little faster.

Hiccup was more than happy to spend time with his daughter while she had another shower and washed her hair, before changing and phoning her family. It was a welcome break, snatching an hour for herself and catching up on the news from her extended family before heading down and finding Hiccup and Hanna building with lego. Her eyes widened, for she hadn't even known they had some, but she was impressed at what the little girl had made.

"That's Elsa and Anna's castle and that's Olaf and that's a ship that's taking bad Prince Hans back home..." she explained as she looked up. Hiccup nodded.

"And what's that?" he asked.

"A dragon-because you like dragons," the little girl told him simply. "Hey, Astrid-have you seen my castle?"

"It's awesome," she said cheerfully. "You think you should get dressed now, Hanna?" You've got a party to get to..." Squealing, Hanna jumped up.

"Can I wear my Elsa dress? Pleeeease?" she begged but Astrid shook her head.

"Only if you want it completely ruined," she told Hanna firmly. "The Paint Factory involves getting covered in paint and though it's water-based, your Elsa dress would be trashed, honey. Wear some jeans and a pink jumper." Hanna pouted.

"Daddy..." she tried, turning her big eyes on her father-but Hiccup shook his head as well.

"Astrid is right," he told her gently. "You'll be heartbroken if you lose your Elsa dress. You can wear it after you have a bath once you get home from the party..."

"You're mean," Hanna condemned him as she got up and ran up the stairs. Astrid shrugged.

"I had a look online-and I'm not sure I've got something old enough to risk," she admitted. "It looks horrendous." Hiccup grinned.

"You mean the finger painting, the hand painting, the paint missiles, the paint water-pistols, the face painting, the painting wall, the edible gels..." he teased her.

"My nightmare," she admitted.

"You don't have to come," he reminded her but she sighed.

"I promised-and you shouldn't break promises to small children," she reminded him. "Or their fathers..." Hiccup gave a sudden smile, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

"I'm just glad I even feature on your list," he admitted. She chuckled.

"You are definitely on my list," she told him. "And I promised to protect you from the scary yummy mummies, didn't I?"

"DADDY! This jumper's broken! I can't get my head through this hole!" Hanna yelled as she appeared at the top of the stairs. Hiccup wandered to look at his daughter and burst out laughing, for Hanna was trying to force her head into the arm hole. Following him, Astrid had to cover her mouth so Hanna wouldn't hear her laughing as well. Struggling to walk for laughter, Hiccup managed to scramble to his daughter's side, his face hurting from laughing and rescued her from the pink sweater.

"It's okay, honey," he soothed her as she glared at him.

"That wouldn't have happened with my Elsa dress!" she told him tartly but he managed to pull the sweater over her head as Astrid arrived to help her with her pigtails, making sure the little pink bobbles were firmly in place.

"Do you want your Elsa dress covered in green and orange paint?" Astrid asked her. "Especially if that mean Wartnut is there?"

"I s'pose," Hanna conceded reluctantly. And then she jumped up. "Is it time to go?" Astrid sighed.

"Yes," she murmured as Hiccup dashed to change and Astrid ensured the little girl was ready. Tutting and yelling for Hiccup to hurry up, Hanna was waiting at the door, bouncing with excitement and running to the car. But Hiccup couldn't help noticing that Astrid was looking more anxious than he could recall and definitely very unenthusiastic. And he wondered what the other parents at the school gate had been saying.

Finally, after driving the whole way across Berk to an industrial park, they pulled up outside the gaily decorated and very busy repurposed warehouse. The place was crowded with cars and parents dropping their little ones off. The facilitators, dressed in coveralls carefully marked with paint splashes all waved and grinned as the children yelled and shouted, waving at the three shapes by the door. One was a blond boy of Hanna's age, his blue eyes sparkling with excitement and a huge grin on his face. At his side was a beautiful and expensively-dressed woman with perfect make-up, nails and hair, looking intensely proud of her son. And at her side was the shape of a short-haired woman in dungarees, barefoot with a bright orange silk scarf wrapped around her short brown hair.

Hiccup pulled up and helped Hanna out before they walked to the door and watched the little girl wave eagerly, Thorstein ran forward and hugged Hanna.

"I'm really glad you came," he said as she grinned and gave him his present.

"This is for you," she said happily, handing over the card. His eyes grew round as he ripped the paper open and saw the book.

"Mom! Look at this! This is the most awesome present ever!" he exclaimed as the elegant woman gave a false smile.

"That's nice, dear-now put it with the others. You can play with it later," she said and looked up at Hiccup and Astrid. "And you must be Hanna's parents."