Chapter Six: A Rude Introduction

It was with some trepidation that Astrid turned the key in the door and opened it, walking into the Haddock home and dropping her suitcase to the floor. She was dressed more casually in dark blue jeans and trainers, a fitted azure lycra top under a loose baby blue cashmere sweater and warm ski jacket. Carefully, she closed the door and then grabbed her things and made her way up to her new room.

The spare room was a good size, with a double bed with white sheets, pillowcases and duvet and a bright blue and white patterned blanket. The carpet was a deep blue and the walls a light buttercream col

our, with heavy gold drapes over the wide window. A waxed pine double wardrobe was pushed in the corner and a dressing table with seat and mirror sat by a chest of drawers. Casting around, she efficiently unpacked, placed a picture of her parents, brother and sister by the bed and a framed picture of the team in her last season, with her sitting grinning in her last month as a soccer player. She stared at the image for a long moment-then walked away.

She checked the bathroom and found it filled with Hanna's toys, products and bubble bath. The top shelf of the cabinet had what had to be Hiccup's things and she glanced at her wash bag before she took it back to her room. This wasn't her home: she was a guest and it would feel wrong to put her personal things among theirs. Especially since they would clearly be filling the space of the dead Heather. She shuddered: it would just feel intrusive.

Arriving downstairs, she inspected the sitting room and kitchen, peering in the cupboards and seeing an ordered and spotless space with a selection of pastas, rice and ready-made pasta sauces. A fruit bowl was filled with red apples and the fridge contained mince, yoghurts, milk, cheese, vegetables, a couple of steaks and a pot of tahini. Closing the door, she looked around and then nodded, before walking back into the hall and finding a little sheath of papers. On the top was a letter from Hiccup, thanking her again for taking the job and hoping she would be happy with them.

She smiled. She could hear his light, hopeful voice saying the words in his mind and in truth, she had taken a liking to the man. He seemed genuine and just as clearly adored his daughter. He was also clearly still grieving for his dead wife and not coping too well...but there was something about him that made Astrid want to do her absolute best for him and Hanna, who was a cute, bright and very friendly little girl. She flipped through the information: Hanna's medical history, her allergies (none), her preferred foods and the things she wouldn't eat, the address of the Nursery and finishing time. Hiccup confirmed he had mailed them with her name, confirmation she was his new Nanny and a photograph and asked if she would be willing to collect Hanna as he had a lot of work to catch up on due to the interviews. Smiling, she texted him that she would collect Hanna-and then she set about planning what she would do with the little girl.

She set out in plenty of time and walked to the Nursery, pleasantly surprised that it was only twenty minutes. As she currently didn't have a car, she was intending to walk though she would scout the ads for a suitable used car for when the weather really got cold. She arrived ten minutes before the end of school and stood at the railings, waiting as the other parents assembled. There were a few curious looks at her and she waited for someone to say something-but there were whispers and looks only.

And then the bell rang, followed by a steady trickle of children emerging. Hanging back, she saw Hanna emerge, her green eyes scanning for her Dad-and then widening as she saw the blonde shape waiting for her. She grinned, waved and raced towards the blonde.

"ASTRID!"

The eyes turned to her again as she leaned down and scooped the little girl into a hug.

"Hiya, Hanna," she grinned back. "Your Dad asked me to collect you so he could do some work." Hanna nodded solemnly and then leaned close to her Nanny.

"I think that's a good idea," she said. "He always looks so stressed."

"He has a stressed face?" Astrid asked, taking her hand. Hanna nodded.

"He looks very sad but says he's okay," she revealed as they started off down the road. "But I know he misses Mommy."

"You do too, don't you sweetie?" Astrid checked and Hanna nodded.

"I don't understand why she's not allowed to come home," she said stubbornly. "I mean I know Daddy says she's with Lord Odin but surely he must know we miss her and that it's making Daddy sad, so why can't he just send her home?"

They walked along for a few yards as Astrid considered and then she squeezed the little girl's hand reassuringly.

"Your Mommy was very. very sick," she told the little girl. "I know they didn't tell you about it because they thought you were too young. But you are big enough to understand, I think. Sometimes, when people are very very sick, they just can't carry on and their body stops working, like a car or television breaking down. And though doctors are very clever, sometimes things are so badly wrong even they can't mend it and make people better."

Hanna looked up into her face, her big green eyes wide with surprise.

"And Mommy was that sick?" she asked in a soft voice. Astrid nodded.

"She fought very very hard and your Daddy would have given everything he had to save her-but in the end, her body stopped working and she died," Astrid told her. Hanna walked along, biting her lip for a moment. Then tears rolled down her cheeks.

"She isn't coming back?" she asked as Astrid stopped and crouched down to hug the little girl.

"No," she sighed. "When your Daddy says she's with Lord Odin, he means her soul, her spirit is with him. When someone is very good, very special and very loving-just like your Mom-then Lord Odin asks them to stay with him. And then, one day when you are old and your life is spent, you can see them again." Hanna buried her face in Astrid's shoulder.

"But that's so long..." she sobbed as the woman sighed and hugged her.

"I know, Hanna," she sighed. "My Uncle Finn died when I was five-not much older than you. And it took me a very long time to understand why he was gone and wasn't coming back when he always returned from his adventures before. I kept writing to him and hoping he would send me a reply. I even sent letters to the Temple of Odin in case he was there-because I was told the same as you. And I still miss him and sometimes feel very sad when I think that I will never see him again. And other times, I feel happy because I loved him and I know he loved me-and still loves me, wherever he is. And though I can't see him, it doesn't mean he can't hear me in my prayers. So you know what I do?"

"What?" Hanna's eyes were fixed on the beautiful face, the blue eyes shining with honesty and her lips smiling.

"I think-I must do the very best I can do and be the best person I can be-because one day, I will see Uncle Finn again and I will want to tell him what I've been doing with my life. And I think I never want to have to answer the question 'why didn't you take the opportunity to do that?'" She smiled and looked into the girl's eyes. "Does that make sense?"

Hanna nodded.

"When I meet Mommy again, I want to have lots to tell her and I want her to be proud of me and happy that I have had an amaze-ing time..." she said, struggling with the word. And then she nodded. "Thanks, Astrid. But why didn't Daddy say all this?" The soccer player rose and held the girl's hand as they started off again.

"I think your Daddy is very very sad because your Mommy isn't there-and he misses her so much that he can't see past that yet," she said. "And that's why you and me are going to help him." Hanna nodded more eagerly.

"How can we do that?" she asked. Astrid smiled as they rounded the corner and entered the last street before Fury Road, where the Haddocks lived.

"Well, we can all be as good as well can, tidy up our toys, stop any mean women from the Council upsetting him and make sure your Daddy realises that life isn't as bad as he thinks," she suggested. Hanna was practically jumping up and down with excitement.

"And maybe we can find a new Mommy," the little girl suggested. Astrid frowned.

"But sweetie..." she began but Hanna frowned.

"She won't ever replace my Mommy," she said sternly. "But not having a Mommy means that Daddy is so sad...so if he finds another one, will he become happy again?" Astrid frowned and wondered what she could say. And then she smiled.

"Maybe one day," she said carefully. "But for now, I think he needs you and you will be enough. Sometimes, it just takes time to heal from losing someone. And he will always miss your Mommy. But as time goes by, he will come to terms with it and move on. And then you will maybe get another Mommy." Hanna nodded happily as they walked up the drive.

"I really like you, Astrid," she said. "Maybe you will be my new Mommy when he's all better?" She just started laughing as she unlocked the door and let her in. Carefully, she closed the door, got Hanna out of her outdoor clothes and then got her a small snack of rye bread and honey and apple slices with a glass of water. Chattering away, the little girl was just telling Astrid how well she had done in painting when the doorbell rang. Frowning, the blonde rose and walked along the hallway to the door, then carefully opened it up.

A squat, stocky women with greying black hair, blue eyes, thick-rimmed spectacles and a sturdy tweed suit glared at her-then shoved her aside.

"I knew it!" she said in an officious voice. "I know that worthless wastrel would leave that child unsupervised with some unsuitable..." She was striding along the hall towards the kitchen and the wide-eyed shape of Hanna sitting at the table when Astrid caught up with her. Without hesitation, the blonde grabbed the woman's arm, expertly twisted it and pinned it high between her shoulder blades and slammed her face-first against the wall.

"You better give me one good reason why I don't break your wrist for home invasion and assault!" the blonde breathed menacingly. The woman struggled but vainly, for Astrid was very strong and the grip was expert. "You barge in here and make a bee-line for a child in my care. I am calling the cops..."

"That would be a mistake," the stocky women growled. "I am Hanna's Social Worker."

"Are you?" Astrid hissed, increasing the pressure and making the woman yelp. "You haven't given me a name or shown any ID. You haven't asked permission to come in since you have no legal right of entry. You have trespassed and threatened a minor in my care. Berk Social Work Regulations (1993, amended 2006) state you must always present photographic ID at every encounter and work with families and their representatives. If you are not granted access, you are required to leave."

"I...I have my ID...in my purse..." the woman gasped.

"Remove it very carefully," Astrid growled, not reducing the pressure at all. "And slowly, or I will break your wrist and then I will call the cops." Fumbling and shocked, the stocky women's thick fingers managed to fumble the little plastic card out. Astrid snatched it and finally released the woman. Glaring at Astrid, the social worker rubbed her wrist pointedly as Astrid closed the front door and walked to her phone, which was lying on the table. She thumbed in a number that was clearly on speed-dial and looked at the woman as the phone was answered.

"Hello? Is that Berk Family Services Department? Yes, I wish to lodge a formal complaint against Social Worker Gerda Jorgensen, who has shoved me aside and forced entry without giving her name, showing any ID or asking permission to enter," she said angrily. "Yes, this is Astrid Hofferson, on behalf of Miss Hanna Haddock. I am a registered Nanny, Berk Register number 34989 and the way this woman behaved made me suspect she had entered for the purposes of harming the child. I have restrained her and if my complaint is not acknowledged by email within the hour, I will complain to the Berk PD."

Gerda Jorgensen glared at her, eyes narrowed in hatred. It had been much easier when she had been dealing with the bereaved and anxious father, who was terrified of losing his daughter-but a Nanny, who seemed annoyingly familiar with the law and extremely competent in self-defence, would be a much harder prospect.

"Thank you," Astrid said briskly. "I will await the email. Yes, I am happy to see the internal report and I will contact the Ombudsman if I am dissatisfied with department's response. Thank you." And then she hung up, looking sternly at the Social Worker. "I am sure you heard that I am Hanna's new Nanny. I am fully qualified and registered and more importantly, fully aware of my rights and those of my employer and the child who I am employed to protect. Now, I expect a rational reason why you seemed to think visiting now, when my employer is at work and the child is just having a snack before we sit down and play, is appropriate and what you are suspecting may be the issue?"

Gerda thought quickly, her dislike of the blonde rapidly solidifying into hatred.

"I had heard that a new unknown person had collected the child from Nursery," she said. "I felt it was my duty to ensure that I checked that it was an appropriate person..."

"So you have spies at the school gate, do you?" Astrid asked her dryly. "Today was the first day I collected her. And that was about 30 minutes ago-so just what else do the taxpayers of Berk pay you to do? I am not aware of any problems with Mr Haddock apart from the fact that he is recently bereaved and has employed a Nanny as a responsible father would to help care for his motherless child."

"And I want to speak to Hanna..." Gerda insisted. Astrid looked up and saw Hanna pulling a face. She smiled.

"You may speak to her in my presence-but if she asks you to leave, then I will require you to leave," she said firmly and Gerda straightened her tweed jacket and stomped down the hallway to the young girl, who was eating her apple slices.

"Is that all you have had?" she demanded. Hanna blew a raspberry at her.

"I've had breakfast and a snack and lunch and now bread and honey and apples," she said. "What have you had today?"

"That's none of your business," Gerda snapped.

"Boy, you really need to learn how to talk to children," Astrid said in a low voice. Gerda growled.

"How has this woman been treating you, child?" she asked firmly.

"Astrid is really nice. Not like you-you're mean and rude," Hanna said defiantly.

"Children really don't sugar-coat the truth, do they?" Astrid murmured.

"And now I want you to go because I want to play Frozen with Astrid and Anna and Elsa and the cotton wool Olaf she made yesterday," Hanna said clearly.

"And your time is now up," Astrid said firmly to the older woman. "Thanks for dropping by. I'll see you to the door." Furious but unable to find fault with her reasoning, Gerda was shown out, pausing at the door and turning to glare at the blonde.

"This isn't over," she hissed. "It isn't right, a single man having a young girl in his care. One of these days, I will find a reason to get her away from him and into a more suitable and appropriate environment." Astrid blinked and stared at her.

"So you think ripping a child from her only family to salve your own personal prejudices is in her best interest?" she checked. "Wow. That is some messed-up thinking."

"And you watch yourself, girl!" Gerda threatened. "I'll look into you and you may find your precious registration is a thing of the past..."

"Thanks for that," Astrid said amiably. "Always good to know. Good day!" And she slammed the door in the woman's face. Leaning back against the door, she let out a shuddering breath as she heard the footsteps recede and the sounds of a car starting and driving away, she lifted her phone. Carefully, she stopped the voice memo recording and replayed part of it to check the quality-and smiled as she heard Gerda's vicious words perfectly clearly. So she carefully saved the memo and copied it to her cloud storage before she walked back to Hanna.

"Is the mean lady gone for now?" the little girl asked as Astrid sat down and sipped her tea.

"She'll be back," she murmured. "And she really doesn't like your Daddy, does she?" Hanna shook her head.

"I liked you stopping her," she said in an awed voice. "That was epic!" Astrid smiled.

"Let's keep that a secret from your Daddy, okay?" she asked. "He may get even more stressed if he knew. I'll tell him Gerda came round today but we can keep the pinning her against the wall bit to ourselves, okay?" Hanna nodded.

"Okay," she said. "Can we watch Frozen?" Astrid gave a small smile.

"Okay-we can draw our favourite Frozen characters and then we can watch it," she agreed. Hanna smiled and jumped from her chair, taking Astrid's hand.

"I think you are going to be the most awesome Nanny ever..." she said.