This is Berk. It snows nine months of the year, and hails the other three. But occasionally, if you get really lucky, it'll rain.

That's what Hiccup tells himself when he gets caught in a sudden rainstorm on the way home. He can see the chief's lodge just over the next hill, but at the rate the icy drops are pouring down, he won't be anything short of soaked by the time he gets there.

"I'm home," he hollers morosely as he makes his way up the path. "I didn't drown, if anybody cares."

The door swings open and a giant black creature bounds out, silhouetted in the warm light of the fires burning in the great hall. Suddenly Hiccup is pinned to the ground, and the cold rain water on his face is replaced with something warmer and far stickier.

"Easy, Toothless," he groans, pushing the dragons head—and more specifically his tongue—away from his face, "You know that doesn't wash out, bud."

Toothless whines, giving Hiccup the most impossibly wide-eyed pleading stare, but he gets up with a huff and plops back on his haunches. Hiccup gets to his feet to see another slender shadow in the doorway and his heartbeat quickens. He's pretty sure the rain is getting harder (Maybe colder too. Is that stinging feeling the beginnings of sleet?), and there's dragon slobber dripping down his collar, but his feet are stuck.

"I told Toothless you weren't going to beat the rain." Even with a teasing smirk on her face, Astrid is somehow still impossibly beautiful. Also just plain impossible.

"Well hello to you too," Hiccup grumbles, "My day was fine, thanks for asking."

Astrid rolls her eyes. "Stop being such a drama queen, and come inside."

Hiccup glances sidelong at Toothless. The dragon tilts his head to the side, then his ears perk up and he grins. Hiccup begins sidling backwards."Well I was thinking that as long as I'm out here I might as well check on this thing I need to check on…"

Astrid exhales an exasperated puff of breath, and her bangs fly up from her face. "Fine, but don't expect me to come out there wi—Toothless!"

Quick as lightening the dragon had darted up the stairs and shoved Astrid practically headlong into Hiccup's sopping wet arms. She glares up at Hiccup.

"You were saying?" It's his turn to smirk.

"That wasn't fair," she sputters, shoving him in the chest and pouting, "Now I'm all wet!"

Hiccup shrugs. "So am I." His arm snakes round her waist, pulling her firmly against him for a kiss.

She gives in for a minute before pulling away, indignant. She tries to continue glaring past the smile creeping up the corners of her mouth, but when that fails she settles for a casual slug in the arm. "Now I'm even wetter!"

Hiccup laughs, still holding her. "Yeah, yeah, I love you too," he jokes before bending down for a second kiss. But her eyes are wide and a bright red blush is spreading over her face. He blinks. Has he never told her he loves her? He must have. Maybe not…Gods, he needs to think before he opens his mouth. But before he can open it again to explain-probably make it worse-she covers it with her own, kissing him soundly.

She pulls away a moment later, grinning. "Took you long enough."

Hiccup's nervous laugh of relief sounds distinctly like his namesake until she joins it with her own fond laughter. She twists her fingers in his hair as they stand, foreheads practically touching. The rain doesn't stop, but Toothless stands over them, wings folded into an enormous canopy. He lets the fire in his belly build up, sending waves of heat off his body to warm the oblivious couple while he lifts his silly, joyful face to the heavens and sticks out his tongue to catch raindrops.

Hiccup sneezes, ruining the moment and prompting Toothless to herd his human friends quickly inside. They both stand, dripping, by the fire. Astrid wrings out her long, thick braid and wrinkles her nose in distaste as it flops like a damp rope against her neck. Hiccup wrestles his shirt over his head, pausing to rub it vigorously through his hair. He hangs the drenched article over the grate and exchanges it for a dry one Astrid hands him.

"How did you—"

"I told Toothless you wouldn't beat the rain."

"Thanks. Do you have anything—"

"No." Astrid smiles wryly. "I wasn't exactly planning on going out there."

Hiccup sighs and berates himself for his lack of forethought. An inquisitive hum behind him heralds a champion in the form of Toothless with a thick woolen blanket held gently in his mouth.

"Thanks, bud." Hiccup takes the blanket and wraps it tenderly around Astrid's shivering form. She leans into him and hums with quiet pleasure as the warmth smothers the chill in her bones.

"I wasn't going to stay," she admits, suddenly drowsy, "but I don't think that rain is going anywhere."

"No," Hiccup agrees. "Why don't you just sit in front of the fire for a bit and get warm and all the way dry?"

He pushes her down onto the thick fur rug before fetching a few more furs to make sure she's comfortable. She looks up at him from her little nest with big, innocent eyes.

"There's room enough for two. Why don't you sit with me?"

She doesn't give him much of a choice. She grabs him by his metal leg and pulls it out from under him, sending him crashing to the floor. He shouts and flails his arms, landing purposefully on top of her. She squeals, Hiccup grumbles, and Toothless tilts his head, bemused. The dragon darts across the room and wraps himself around the tangle of limbs and blankets, trapping them in their nest.

Hiccup sits up, wincing. He eyes the dragon, who hums with satisfaction and clearly isn't moving. He turns to Astrid. "So, room for three?"

She laughs softly. "I guess so," she replies, and snuggles up to Hiccup, closing her eyes and sighing with contentment. He drapes one arm over her shoulder and relaxes against her. Heat rolls off of Toothless' skin in pleasant waves that keep time with the constant thrum of his low and steady pulse.

"We—"Hiccups eyes water as he gives an enormous yawn. "We probably shouldn't fall asleep here."

"Too late," Astrid mumbles, her breathing already slow and even. She feels Hiccup's smile against the top of her head. "Hiccup?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you too."

Hiccup's face is too tired to break into the full grin he feels inside. He presses a kiss to the top of Astrid's head, and the three of them sleep before the fire until morning.