"No, not this." a blouse flew onto the floor.

"Definitely not this!" a voice shrieked from the walk-in closet as a pair of colorful bell-bottoms joined the blouse.

"OMG Astrid what are you even doing with this in your closet!" Dagur asked askance as he waved a neon green afro at her. He tossed it on the growing pile while continuing rummaging through Astrid's closet.

"Sentimental value?" Astrid mumbled as she was also not entirely sure why she had kept that wig. She sat at her vanity table, applying her makeup while Dagur's wife, Mala, watched in exasperation as her husband was digging through the closet.

"Honey, all we need are shoes. Can't you pick one that will go with the dress already?" Mala asked looking more resigned than annoyed. 'She must be used to this.' Astrid thought as she saw Mala roll her eyes at her husband's antics in her vanity mirror. Despite popular belief, vampires did have reflections. Astrid often wondered how vampires in the Gothic novels got ready for a ball if they couldn't see how they looked with makeup on. Sure lipstick was easy to apply, but eyeliner, no siree.

"Why can't Astrid wear the heels that we picked out the first time?" Mala asked. Dagur scoffed and then replied "Those are baby blue! Astrid's dress is indigo!!"

"Well it matched the previous dress." Mala argued. "Why didn't you want that combo again?"

Dagur stuck his head out of the corner to look at his wife horrified. "That dress was cornflower blue! It doesn't make her eyes stand out."

"He's still doing it?" Astrid asked Mala as she remembered Dagur picking out petticoats with her.

"How do you think we met?" Mala laughed. "I had to break up a fight he was having with a tailor over swatches of cloth."

"The man tried to sell me coral pink when I asked for salmon." Dagur huffed.

"They look the same!" Mala grumbled.

"And this, honey, is why I did our interior decorating!" Dagur said in a triumphant manner.

"I'm going to put that interior decorating to good use by making you sleep on the couch you insisted on buying if you don't hurry up. It's nearly seven." Mala warned as a pair of platform shoes joined the pile.

"But my artistic vision!" Dagur whined now.

"Your artistic vision can wait!"

"Fine!!" Dagur huffed and showed the women a pair of silver shoes. "It matches Astrid's clutch."

"See, that wasn't so hard honey." Mala said as Astrid quickly wore the shoes. "And take a look. Henry is right on time!" She said as she saw a car pulling up through the bedroom window.

"On time! He's 3 minutes early!" Astrid gasped as she checked if she had everything in her purse. She jammed her powder compact inside and then closed her clutch. "How do I look?" Astrid asked giving a twirl as the doorbell sounded.

"Brilliant!" Mala told her while Dagur said "Very pretty." They both shooed her down the stairs and told her they would lock up after she left. Astrid smoothed out her knee length skirt and checked if the sash around her waist was good before opening the door.

"You gotta love a man whose early for a date." Mala told her husband who nodded. Both remained on the stairs and out of sight as they watched Astrid greet Henry.

"Astrid you look gorgeous." Henry told her as she opened the door. He watched the lacy short sleeves move as a gust of wind blew past while Astrid closed the door. "Here you must be cold." Henry told her as he offered her his jacket.

"Who said chivalry was dead." Astrid laughed as she took Henry's offered arm. Both Dagur and Mala were secretly watching from a window upstairs as Henry opened the car door for Astrid. "Bonus points for chivalry." Dagur stated as he watched them drive off. "So how's Hiccup taking it?" Dagur asked. "You usually see him in the mornings while opening your boutique."

"Believe it or not, he might be okay with Henry and Astrid dating. He was a little shocked at first when Henry suddenly showed interest in Astrid though." Mala told her husband as she took the spare key that Astrid had given them out of her pocket. "I get the feeling he'll step aside if it means his brother and Astrid are happy together."

"But he took Astrid for coffee." Dagur whined. "He's interested in her too. I even named a ship after them! Hiccstrid!!"

"Yeah, but I get the feeling that he also wants to see his brother happy." Mala replied as she swatted her husband's shoulder. "You know what Henry is like. He always hated this town and its many........ Oddities. I think Hiccup's just happy to have his brother off of the couch and getting out there."

"You know, no one thought that Henry would come back." Dagur muttered as they locked Astrid's front door. "Even Hiccup was surprised when he showed up on his front door one night asking for a place to stay. Henry also keeps avoiding Stoick."

"Those two still haven't reconciled." Mala groaned. "I know Hiccup's putting up with Henry, he even helped him get settled into an apartment, but even he doesn't know why Henry came back."

"Henry doesn't talk much." Dagur agreed. "While I get that he wants to keep things private the least he could do is tell his own brother what is going on."

"I know." Mala agreed. "Henry's on his phone most of the time, ignoring the world around him, but that's what you'd expect from this generation."

"Now who's sounding like an old woman?" Dagur teased as they searched for a spot to change into bats.

"Oh shut it you old gold miner!" Mala replied back as she elbowed him.

"Hey, you fell for this old gold miner!" Dagur argued. "Maybe I should grow out my beard again."

Mala gave him a glare and said before changing "Don't you dare!"

"Babyyyyy, Honey pooo, Snuggles!!!" Dagir shouted as he changed too. "I was kidding!"

Meanwhile Astrid and Henry had been heading out of town. "So where are we going?" Astrid asked as she looked at Henry in what she supposed was a normal manner. "Or are you keeping it a surprise?" She didn't want to scare the man by blatantly staring.

"Oh we're just heading to this lovely restaurant I know in the next town." Henry told her while smiling. Astrid nodded as she wasn't sure she could speak right now. She was sure she would just blurt out "Your smile is so nostalgic, it reminds me of my former fiance that was brutally murdered by the person I had put most of my trust in."

'Yep, mood killer indeed.' Her mind supplied in a haughty manner. Astrid briefly wondered if she could mentally smack her own mind. 'That must be where migraines come from.' she thought.

The next town was more like a small bustling city. Henry parked opposite a four-star French restaurant and announced that they had arrived. He jumped out of the car and opened the door for Astrid. Astrid couldn't help but smile and blush as she saw his blue eyes upon her. The restaurant they were entering was named Balthazar and they were immediately greeted by a hostess.

"Good evening Monseigneur, Mademoiselle. Do you have a reservation?" She asked.

"Two under the name Haddock." He told the hostess who then guided them towards a table for two. "Your waiter will be with you shortly." She said while handing each a menu."

Astrid smiled but said nothing as she looked at the menu. She smiled as she could read the French part just fine.

"Good evening Monseigneur, Mademoiselle. May I take your order?" A waiter came not that long after.

"Ouie Monseigneur, I would like to have the Salade." He told the waiter who proceeded to give him a funny look. "Are you sure seigneur?" The waiter asked.

"Yes I would like to have the Salade as appetizer."

"Very well seigneur." The waiter scribbled down. "And for you mademoiselle?"

"I would like the La bisque de homard for an appetizer." Astrid told the waiter.

"Excellent choice madam. May I interest you bot in our wine for the day? It is a lovely sweet Rose."

"I do love Rose. What do you say Henry?" Astrid asked.

"Whatever the lady wants." Henry told the waiter.

"Very well sir, and would both of you like for the Entree?"

"I'll have the filet mignon." Henry told the waiter who scribbled it down. "I'll have the Carré d'agneau rôti á la croûte de thym frais."

"Very well." The waiter said as Astrid also informed him of her allergy for carrots.

While waiting for the food Astrid and Henry talked a bit. She had a feeling that he was trying to impress her. When the appetizers came she actually had to laugh. She got a bowl of soup while Henry got a plate with a lettuce leaf on it.

"What in tarnation?!" Henry exclaimed. "I ordered a salad."

"No, you ordered a Salade." Astrid had to stifle a giggle. "Which is either a head of salad or a leaf."

"But..... but!" Henry mumbled.

"A salad would be salade Parisienne."

"You could have warned me." He mumbled as he took a sip of the Rose that the waiter had poured earlier.

"I thought you knew." Astrid told him. "Don't you come here often?"

Henry's cheeks pinked a bit as he admitted. "Well, I've never been here. I just wanted to impress you. But I think you know more French than me."

"I grew up in France." Astrid admitted, she just didn't say when. "I moved to England much later. You probably know the place. Essex?"

"I can't say that I do." Henry admitted.

"Lovely place in the Southeast of England." Astrid stated.

"So, why did you leave England? If you don't mind me asking?"

"It's rather complicated. I guess you could say I was searching for someone." Astrid admitted. "Have you traveled much?" She then asked.

"Not a lot." Henry admitted. "Especially not with my line of work."

"What is your line of work?" Astrid asked curiously.

"Oh..... eh......... I'm a manager." Henry admitted just as their Entree came. "I manage a chain of warehouses."

"Bon appétit Monseigneur, Mademoiselle." The waiter wished them as he placed their plates in front of them. Henry and Astrid tucked into their food with gusto but Henry frowned when his meat was stringy.

"What is with this beef?"

"That's not beef. That's pork." Astrid stated and then explained at the confused look Henry gave her. "Filet mignon is a pork dish in France."

"Oh" Was all Henry could say. In the middle of his dinner Henry had to excuse himself when he told Astrid that it might be a work emergency when this person was calling. He apologized profusely before heading towards the back of the restaurant to answer the call.

"What do you want?!" Henry hissed into the receiver once he was out of earshot.

"You still owe me money Haddock." A gruff voice said from the other side.

"I'm working on it Krogan." Henry whispered. "I just need more time."

"I've given you quite enough time." The voice on the other hand stated. "If you can wine and dine a woman you can certainly pay me back." That statement caused Henry to freeze.

"How did you find me!" He hissed.

"You weren't that careful with covering your tracks Haddock. You think you could run away?!"

"Look, just........... give a three weeks. I'll get you your money." Henry pleaded. "I'm working on it. Come on Krogan, we're friends right?" it was quiet on the other end of the phone for a few seconds before Krogan spoke up again. "Fine Haddock, but I'll give you two weeks and not a second more. Don't even think about running away again. I'll always find you. Remember, you have friends. I have friends. The difference is, I don't care if mine live or die." Henry let out a gulp as the call abruptly ended.

He returned to the table looking a little pasty and Astrid asked if everything was alright. "Everything is fine." Henry assured her. "It was just a mis-communique. Nothing to worry about."

"Alright. You just look a bit worried."

"Nothing to worry about Astrid." Henry stated as he took her hand in his. "Now, how about you tell me a bit more about yourself."