The long winter had almost gone and spring was just round the corner as Astrid arrived at work one day. The Diner was doing reasonably well and the bunch of regulars that Rolf knew-Silent Sven (the most garrulous man on Berk), Mulch (short and hairy) and his brother Bucket (large and simple) and Gobber (two-limbed and wildly extrovert) all visited daily, propped up the bar of the diner and ate heartily and Astrid was always cheerful and pleasant, no matter how stressed or tired she was.

Emma was in growth spurt and she was glad her parents had given their granddaughter plenty of clothes for Snoggletog because Astrid's basic wages didn't cover the clothes the child was growing out of. Astrid had been immensely grateful for the basic computer they had bought her to further her studies and she had worked hard every evening, making sure she was forging ahead in her plans. She had finished another online module of her degree with honours and had almost finished another, bringing her close to the credits required for the degree. One more module and all she had to do was to submit the final dissertation which she was already working on.

She changed out of her boots into her work shoes and stowed the boots and her coat behind the door in the tiny staff closet, then reported for duty five minutes early and smiled at Rolf. "How're things?"

He shrugged. "Usual crowd," he muttered, indicating to the orders-all double and treble burgers, steaks and beer. She flipped her pad open, clicked on her smile and walked to the bar, seeing Sven, Mulch and Bucket all lined up.

"Afternoon, guys," she smiled. "The usual?" They all nodded and mumbled greetings as she served up three domestic beers and cast around the otherwise empty space, nodding and walking out to clear a table and run a cloth over a table that didn't meet her own pristine standards. The door creaked and she glanced up to see who was coming in out of the frigid Berk lunchtime...to see a familiar but long-absent tall shape, limping hard, the collar of his battered leather jacket turned up against the chill. She straightened up in shock.

"Hiccup?" she murmured. Then she gathered herself and smiled as he lifted his emerald eyes...and she stilled. The gaze there was miserable...no, worse-desolate. He looked the polar opposite of the joyous man that had walked out of the Diner in late Summer with a happy future ahead of him. Instinctively, she guided the limping man to his usual table and took his coat, staring into his face. "Are you okay?"

He sketched a very wan smile than didn't reach his eyes and he swallowed. "No, not really," he admitted. Her brows furrowed.

"Anything I can do?" she asked automatically and his eyes flicked up but he shook his head.

"No," he sighed. "I just needed to get out, to be honest." She raised a blonde eyebrow and he offered a wan smile.

"Wow," she murmured. "What can I get you? The usual?" He nodded.

"Coffee," he murmured. "And your burger..." He gave a small shrug. "I have missed it," he added wistfully. She briefly rested a hand on his shoulder.

"I've missed you too," she told him sincerely and scribbled on her pad, turning back to the bar and handing the order to Rolf. She bantered with the regulars at the bar and then took Hiccup his coffee, seeing him sitting quietly, staring at the table. She gently placed the drink down...then slid in opposite him. He looked up and took a sip.

"You're not happy," she told him quietly. He looked up and nodded. "Is Ana going to be joining you later?" He flinched and she realised she had said the wrong thing. "I'm sorry," she said urgently, her concern genuine. He took a shuddering breath.

"No," he said in a low voice. "Not any more." she sighed.

"I am sorry," she repeated but his green eyes were sad.

"It...it's okay," he said quietly. "I'm alive..." Then he sipped his coffee. She took his hand.

"I didn't know..." she said genuinely. He squeezed her hand and she stared at him. He looked pale and drawn and there was a faint scar on his forehead and another on the right side of his chin.

"There was an accident," he admitted quietly. "We were looking at wedding venues and a truck skidded on the icy road. We never stood a chance. Our car was crushed. We were both very badly injured..." Astrid's eyes widened and her grip tightened.

"You don't have to tell me if..." she began but he managed a wan smile.

"Ana's alive," he said in a toneless voice. "I was the one worse injured. When we recovered, she decided I wasn't the man she...thought I was, the man she wanted any more...so she left me." Astrid frowned, her azure gaze flicking over the hunched shape.

"Oh," she managed, shocked. She couldn't imagine why anyone who looked so happy would turn so abruptly against the person they loved...but she reminded herself that she didn't know Hiccup that well. In fact, he really was just a casual acquaintance from work. Maybe he had been different when he was ill? Maybe he had been angry and bitter and cruel...but then she looked at the desolate man facing her and knew that wasn't who he was. "Can I help?"

He looked up, shocked and then a tiny smile lifted the corner of his mouth. "No," he admitted quietly, "but thanks for offering."

"Table Four!" Rolf shouted and Astrid groaned.

"That's you," she said and his green eyes briefly lit with humour.

"Saved by the burger," he commented dryly and squeezed her hand once more before releasing it. His grasp was gentle and warm and she found a light blush warming her cheeks. She gave a small smile and rose quickly.

"I'll get you a fresh coffee," she promised and scooted back to the kitchen, pausing inside to calm her breathing and check the order. Rolf gave his most suggestive grin. "I told you he'd be back!" he commented lewdly and she rolled her eyes.

"Yeah," she grumbled, "but poor guy's had some tough times, I think. He's not happy."

"I saw him smile at you," Rolf commented, sipping his bottle of water and smiling as he saw his friend lifted the plate and pick up a fresh cup of coffee.

"I don't know what you mean!" she shot back and flounced out of the kitchen-but the small smile Hiccup gave her as she approached and the sparkle in his eyes made her feel that maybe she had helped him a little. She had scarcely served him when three more couples came in and she was kept busy serving them as he ate-but she kept an eye on him as she went back and forth, serving food and drinks and smiling. Intermittently, she refilled his coffee and smiled at him as he read his book quietly.

But when the parties had paid up and left, he was still sitting at his table, reading. She glanced around: the guys at the bar were watching the game on the small television at the far end of the bar and Rolf was on his break. She grabbed a cup of coffee and sat opposite him, seeing him staring at the same page as he had for the last hour. He blinked as he realised she was there and forced a smile onto his face...but she wasn't fooled.

"Seriously-are you okay?" she asked, sipping her coffee. He quietly snapped his book closed and nodded.

"I just needed to get out of the house, to be honest," he admitted. "I've been there since the accident. And I can't work. They sent me my work from my course but I really can't concentrate because..." And he sighed and pressed a hand to his forehead. "I can't stop thinking about the accident and wondering if I could have done something to avoid it? If it really was my fault as Ana said? Am I that Useless?" Astrid stared at him, seeing his eyes, his entire posture filled with utter despair. Immediately, she grasped his hand.

"Pretty sure an accident is just that," she reminded him. "Look, I don't know what went on between you and Ana but if you were hit by a truck, it wasn't your fault." He shrugged, his head down and horribly lacking in confidence.

"Sorry," he whispered brokenly and she felt him pull away-but as he tried to stand, he gasped in pain and paled, hands snapping round the edge of the table to steady himself. In a second, Astrid was up as well, her hands catching in and staring into his colourless face.

"Hiccup? What's wrong?" she asked urgently, her azure eyes inspecting his face.

"Leg..." he grunted through gritted teeth.

"What?"

"Been sitting too long," he groaned. "It was...hurt...in the accident and I..." He sank back into the seat, teeth still gritted. Glancing at Rolf, she saw the snow had really started to come down.

"How are you getting home?" she asked him, concerned and he visibly forced himself to fashion a small smile,

"Walking," he said tightly. "I'll be fine, Astrid..." She glanced over to Rolf and the man nodded.

"If you can wait another half hour, I'll be off my shift and I can give you a lift," she offered. His emerald eyes popped wide in shock and he instantly shook his head.

"Oh, I couldn't possibly make you drive the wrong way in this weather," he said swiftly but she stared at him and smiled.

"How do you know it's the wrong way?" she retorted. He sighed.

"I've never seen you in my neighbourhood," he told her slowly. "I'll be fine..."

"Hiccup, I won't let you go out on foot on a bad leg in this weather," she said firmly. "I'll get you another coffee while you wait." Sven turned back to them from the bar.

"I'd listen to her, lad!" he suggested. "She keeps us all in order!" He gave a a wink and the auburn-haired man stared up at the blonde waitress, his emerald eyes twinkling in sudden surprise, followed by a small smile.

"You're not going to take no for an answer, are you?" he guessed and Astrid shook her head definitely., her eyes twinkling.

"What kind of friend allows another to walk home through a blizzard?" she asked. "You wait there, mister, and I'll take you home." There was the slightest flick of his emerald gaze up to see her determined face and he gave a grateful nod, a hand unconsciously grasping at his painful leg.

"Thanks, Astrid," he said. "I mean it." She winked.

"Good to have you back, Hiccup."