That question was a good one. It was one she had been thinking about herself, wondering how long it had taken. Had it really just been this night, this day, where she thought of Ruffnut as anything but a friend? Consciously, maybe, she had kept her at an arm;s length: those feelings were dangerous. Mindy had allowed herself to love only one person, and he had died: why risk that emotion all over again, that anguish that came with keeping a straight face?

"Since that day with the beer and the ageing," Mindy finally said. "A part of me knew then, but when you were weirded out, I had to recover. When I figured you told Hiccup I knew I had to bury it further. The worse thing is anyone thinking you pushed, or that I manipulated you. I wanted...I wanted you not to deal with these idiots gossiping and laughing about you because I won't fucking let them. If...if you just want us to forget, I'll do it."

No. That sucks, I don't want that. Damn it. These sacrifices blow.