Twenty: Advent Anxieties

"What do you think?" Astrid frowned as she glanced up at Hiccup, who was inspecting the engine carefully. As an engineer, he had offered to accompany her to check out the prospective car she had identified from the ads in the 'Berk Raider' newspaper. He leaned over and his keen emerald gaze swept the pristine metal.

"Hardly been used," he admitted. "And the test drive?"

"Like a dream," she replied, trailing a hand over the sleek bright blue lines. The little SUV was a 'Deadly Nadder' from Berk Auto, a limited edition model with enhanced manoeuvrability and very sturdy and durable. The four wheel drive meant it would power on through the sometimes-vicious Berk winter and ensure that she could get where she needed to.

"My Aunt Mathilde barely drove her-because she was nervous of rain, wind, fog, snow, ice, sleet, sun, dark and other traffic," the seller-a bluff man with a huge brown beard-explained. "She only went out on temperate cloudy days when the roads were deserted."

"Hence the 126 miles on the clock after seven years," Astrid realised. "I thought that was faked." Lars rolled his eyes.

"If only," he sighed. "We bought her the car to ensure she still had her independence and then she used to ring me all the time for rides. That or Black Sheep Taxis."

"They're a good firm," Astrid commented.

"My third cousin Sven runs them-and they are excellent-but the poor drivers found her treating them like personal chauffeurs," he shrugged. "Since she fell and broke her hip, her driving days are officially over so the car needs a good home." Astrid's eyes gleamed as she looked over the pretty SUV.

"I'll take her," she said, smiling and Lars grinned in relief.

"Oh, thank Thor," he sighed. "At least she's going to a good home. I know my Aunt was very worried she would be looked after properly..."

"Stormfly," Astrid murmured. "I'll call her Stormfly..." Chuckling, Lars handed her the keys.

"I think my Aunt would approve," he admitted as they went into the house to complete the paperwork.

Driving home, Astrid felt a small thrill of satisfaction at her purchase. In her Lyon days, there had been talk among the male players of Lambourghinis and Ferraris while the women were more inclined to invest in homes and fashion...but Astrid hadn't really concerned herself about the trappings of success, merely the process of achieving it...until that was no longer an option. Yet Stormfly was exactly what she would have wanted: practical, tough, beautiful...and she found herself already planning to fit a car seat for Hanna so she could travel with her Nanny to all her activities once the weather really got cold.

She blinked: she had automatically pulled up in front of Hiccup and Hanna's home and parked while she had still been pondering. And then she smiled and jumped out, seeing Hiccup pull up and park behind her. He smiled as he emerged.

"You look pleased with your purchase," he said cheerfully as he walked to her side. "And you certainly weren't hanging around..." She cocked an eyebrow.

"Too fast for you?" she teased him. He chuckled.

"You are too competitive for me," he said, raising his hands slightly in surrender. "And I already know that competing with you would result in defeat! I can't see Astrid Hofferson losing to a one-legged fishbone!" The self-deprecating tone made her heart thrill a little-or maybe it was his smile. She swatted his shoulder firmly, causing him to yelp.

"I am...I was...a professional sportsperson so I am seriously competitive," Astrid admitted. "In fact, all my family are. You should have seen us at Charades at Christmas when I was in High School. It almost ended up as all-out war!" She chuckled at the memory.

"I guess I'm lucky that my Dad and Gobber weren't really Charades types," Hiccup commented as they headed into the house. "I mean, Dad was huge and not especially subtle. His idea of a suitable Snoggletog game was something active...or a Maces and Talons tournament...though I usually ended up defeating Snot and Uncle Spite in the final...with Dad roaring me on and shouting 'that's my boy!'" Astrid blinked. "Yeah, well, not exactly conventional. Mom passed when I was much younger and Dad and his best friend and my Godfather, Gobber, raised me. My Uncle also refused to go see his in-laws at holidays so my Aunt used to go alone...and Snot and Uncle Spite often ended up with us..." He rolled his eyes. "Lucky us." Recalling Snotlout's behaviour, she nodded.

"Can I ask you..." she began and then paused. His eyes flicked up as he hung up his coat and glanced at her.

"I hope you know you can ask me anything, Astrid," he said honestly, his emerald gaze candid. She smiled and gently rested her car keys beside the phone on the hall table. She smiled.

"What are your plans for Christmas?" she asked him directly and was rewarded by his eyes widening.

"Um...I was kind of hoping if I ignored it, it wouldn't happen?" he suggested, cringing slightly at her stern expression.

"Oh, you did not just say that!" she scolded him as he rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously. He nodded.

"Well, Heather used to organise everything, especially since we had nothing in the way of families and all I had to do was turn up and help her with the cooking..." he admitted. "And admitting Christmas was coming would be admitting it's ten months since she's gone and that I have to go on and do everything that she used to without her and will have to do for the rest of my life..." His voice stumbled to a halt and he closed his eyes, looking away.

And then he stiffened in shock at a gentle touch on his shoulder as Astrid hesitantly offered a comforting hand. He looked at her and his eyes opened, shocked, seeing her blue eyes wide with comforting reassurance.

"Hiccup-you don't have to do this alone," she told him gently. "That's why I'm here. That's why I asked! Hanna has received her first Christmas party invitation and she's got a part in the Nativity as an angel-so it can't be deferred any longer. We have to have a plan."

"She's an angel?" Hiccup asked.

"Third angel," Astrid hummed. "But she does have a speaking part. Hardly any of her year have any words. She's been practising for days. I think she wants it to be a surprise for you so please act surprised when she tells you after school today..." He nodded.

"Don't worry-I'll be suitably impressed," he promised.

"Good," Astrid commented as she led them into the kitchen and put the kettle on. "Real or fake?" He blinked.

"Um...coffee granules are just fine," he mumbled. She burst out laughing.

"Christmas tree," she explained as he face-palmed.

"I may need a written agenda on what this conversation is going to cover-because I'm totally confused," he admitted, blushing. Resting his coffee in front of him, she plopped into the seat at his side and fished out a piece of paper and a pen.

"Christmas," she reminded him. "Focus, Hiccup! Christmas tree. Really or fake?"

"Real," he sighed. "Heather always got a real one-and then we rehomed it afterwards in Berk Forest..."

"Real," Astrid murmured, scribbling on the sheet. "Are you here for the big day or will you be going to friends..." Hiccup sighed.

"Family Christmas," he mumbled.

"Turkey?" she pressed on, hearing the wistfulness in his voice. He nodded.

"Heather was insistent...even though there were only three of us...well, two and a half..." he explained. "And then we had lots of turkey sandwiches, turkey pie, turkey stew, turkey soup..." Smiling at his dry voice, Astrid made a note.

"Small turkey. But all the trimmings," she murmured. "Traditional pudding or..."

"Tiramisu," Hiccup interrupted unexpectedly. "Heather hated dried fruit. Tiramisu and jelly." Eyebrows arched in surprise, the blonde dutifully noted the dessert.

"You know that Hanna will want to throw a party?" she asked him. There was a thud as he hit his head on the table.

"A houseful of small children," he sighed, his voice muffled as his face was still pressed against the table. "Especially after that fiasco at the Paint Factory. Oh Thor..."

"That is why you have me," Astrid said firmly. "Look, if you want a party, you limit numbers, plan games, ensure the food isn't so sugary the kids get terminal sugar highs and make sure they have a fun time...with no paint, fake cheese or alcoholic parents..."

"You need to get a restraining order out then-because they will be dying to poke around our home and see what my Nanny does," Hiccup mumbled. Unable to stop herself, Astrid laughed at his chagrin.

"Don't worry, Hiccup-I'll protect you from the scary Yummy Mummies!" she promised as he peered up from over his arms.

"Please," he mumbled. "But it is a good idea. I trust you..." He straightened up and Astrid smirked at the sequin he had stuck to his forehead. Carefully, she leaned forward and peeled it off.

"Sorry-must have missed that one," she apologised contritely. "But I suggest waiting until she gets home-and then you can get the credit for allowing her to have the party. You will be the best Dad ever and I'll do all the work..." He sighed.

"I'll help...and I know the others will as well," he said as she chuckled.

"This is going to be very interesting," she murmured as she turned back to her list.

oOo

"Daddy! Can I have a party! I've been asked to three and it's been ages and I want to ask Thor and Wartnut and Sorrel and Meri and Ulric and..." Hiccup staggered as the little girl ran into him at full speed, still clothed in her outdoors coat and boots. Astrid was closing the door and unwinding her scarf, smiling as he scooped her into his arms.

"Hello, Princess-how's my favourite girl today?" he asked, feeling the excited little girl hug him eagerly. Then she grinned.

"I did all my sums right again and I got a bonus point for helping Wartnut understand how to do taking away," she told him proudly. "We had mince pies and talked about Christmas trees and I practiced my line and I'm everso good now. Can I have a party?" Feeling her squirm, Hiccup looked into her face and recalled Astrid's words, suddenly appreciating her planning.

"Are you sure, Princess?" he asked as Hanna nodded vigorously.

"We haven't had a party here for ages and ages and last year Mommy said we could have a party this year when I was older and now I am older so can I have the party?" Forcing himself not to wince at the casual reminder that Heather had made the bargain, he looked back into the sparkling green eyes, so reminiscent of his dead wife.

"I think...yes..." he murmured. "As long as Astrid is happy..." Immediately, Hanna hugged him again and then squirmed to be let down.

"Thank you, Daddy!" she said happily and flung herself against Astrid's legs. "Pleeeeeeeeeease, Astrid?" Laughing, Astrid took off her coat and outdoor things and then nodded.

"As long as your Dad's happy, I am as well," she said. "Now shall we get those boots off and have a snack?" Hanna nodded.

"Yes please, can I dress as Elsa for the party?" she asked hurriedly. "Can we get people to dress like Frozen?" Astrid made a show of thinking as she removed Hanna's boots and hung her coat up.

"Are you sure, Hanna?" she asked carefully. "I mean...there really aren't that many characters in Frozen and if you make everyone dress like Frozen, there may be several Elsas and Annas..." As expected, the little girl scowled.

"I want to be the only Elsa!" she protested, pouting and looking up at her father. "Dad..."

"I think Astrid is right," he said, crouching down to look into his daughter's eyes. "But if we do Fancy Dress and maybe ask your friends to dress like a characters from a Disney movie, then you can still be Elsa but there are loads of other people they can be..."

"Like...?"

"Like Belle from 'Beauty and the Beast'," Astrid suggested as the little girl's eyes widened. "Or maybe Aladdin or Jasmine or Genie from 'Aladdin'...or Ariel from 'the Little Mermaid'...or maybe Rapunzel or Flynn from 'Tangled'...or Merida from 'Brave'...or maybe older Princesses like Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty or Snow White..."

"Those are all films?" she asked and Astrid nodded.

"And we can watch them all over the next few weeks...though your poor Dad may have Disney overload..." She glanced up apologetically but Hiccup's eyes sparkled with good humour.

"I'm the father of a small girl," he admitted. "So I'm resigned to spend my life watching Disney films, buying pink things and hearing lots of squeals and squeaks. Besides, I remember some of those from when I was little..." Hanna flung herself against him and hugged him.

"You're the best Dad ever," she sighed as he rose unsteadily and carried her towards the kitchen-just as the doorbell rang. Sighing and hoping that it wasn't Gerda, Astrid walked to the door and opened it-to find Tuffnut cowering. He scrambled past her, slammed it shut and glanced worriedly over his shoulder.

"Tuffnut?" she asked in surprise. The male twin looked up, giving a wide, false smile.

"Hiya Astrid," he said hurriedly. "You mind if I hide here for about a month...?" She frowned.

"What? Why?" she asked him as he crawled into the kitchen.

"It's all very simple," he said as he crawled under the table. "Hiya, Hiccy. Hiya, Terror."

"Hiccy?"

"Hi Unca Tuff," Hanna said, kicking her legs and sipping her orange juice.

"Tuffnut, why are you hiding under the table?" Astrid asked, going to prepare a snack for Hanna.

"I lost Thorston challenge," the male twin admitted and sighed. "Now I have to do a forfeit and my sneaky sister will make me do something so horrific and sneaky that it will probably make your eyeballs bleed!"

"Tuffnut! Little ears here!" Astrid growled. "Not withstanding that Ruff is my friend. If she asks me where you are, I can't lie to her..."

"Aww...c'mon..." Tuff whined but Hiccup cleared his throat.

"Tuff-you can't ask Astrid to lie to one of her friends..." he reminded his friend. "But you can stay here tonight while she cools down. But you'll have to have the couch."

"Can't I stay with you, Hiccy?" Tuff asked, his head popping out from under the table.

"No. And definitely no," Hiccup told him firmly.

"Astrid...?"

"No. And ewww!" the blonde told him firmly.

"Hey Unca Tuff-you can help me with my homework?" Hanna piped up. "I've got to draw all of Santa's Reindeer. Do you know all their names?" There was an awkward second where Astrid and Hiccup shared glances and mentally checked off the list while Tuff emerged from under the table, smiling with completely unfounded confidence.

"Of course I do, Terror!" he said brashly. "Um...Rudolf...Dasher...the fat one...Elvis...Sven...Pointy..." Astrid and Hiccup shared another look and the auburn-haired man could tell his Nanny was trying not to laugh as Tuff continued on his increasingly inaccurate list. "...Elvis...Tuffnut Junior...Junior Tuffnut Junior..." Hanna laughed.

"Silly Unca Tuff," she announced. "That's two Elvises. And Sven is in Frozen." Thinking quickly, Tuff filched one of Hanna's pieces of toast.

"He's moonlighting," he said quickly as Hanna frowned.

"Daddy-what's moonlighting?" she asked innocently. Astrid snorted as she put some more bread in the toaster and began to prepare the dinner.

"Oh Gods-this is going to be a long evening..." Hiccup sighed.