This is just a Hiccstrid fluff story, about how their relationship grows while they are living on the Edge. I own nothing. Characters and places all belong to C. Cowell and Dreamworks. Enjoy.

The Edge in the summer was dry and sweltering. As the days grew hotter and longer, the inhabitants of this lonely island would halt work and try to cool off in as many ways as possible. Mapping the islands outside the archipelago had been a breeze in the easy months of spring. They would fly out at mid morning, every day, on the backs of their dragons and find new lands to explore. When they had discovered another island or a chain of isles, the gang would spend up to a few weeks learning all there was to know about that particular place. What kinds of dragons lived there, what they ate, the flora and fauna growing there and as Meatlug only ate rocks, Fishlegs would go searching for new types of stone to feed his bouldery friend.

Their research and discoveries had been growing so swiftly that the six vikings had to build a sturdy hut to house all the scrolls of parchment, growing number of books and specimen samples from their research. The hut was adjoined to Hiccup's cabin. Snotlout had insisted they build it near his hut, however they'd already had to rebuild his cabin multiple times because Hookfang had a nasty habit of igniting and burning the place to the ground. So this suggestion had been voted against by the majority. Although, Hiccup had a strange feeling that the twins had a mind to vote the other way. They wouldn't have minded a few more house fires.

Beside the Room of Scrolls, was Hiccup's place. One look at this building and you would know that it was his. The hut was shaped like your regular viking house however, twirling nobs and pulleys were stitched throughout the place, weaving in and out of windows and sticking out of the roof. The other vikings didn't know what half of these strange gadgets did but it all made sense to Hiccup.

His living quarters were pretty austere, he had a bed and a small outdoor fire pit for cooking but his real efforts had gone into building his workshop— where he was now.

Hiccup hummed a tune as he busied himself in his shop. He had tried to redesign the forge where he had worked for Gobber, back at Berk. However, due to lack of resources it was missing a few major pieces of machinery. Hiccup made do. The hearth was a blaze with hot embers making his shop hot and steamy. Hiccup wiped his brow.

He was working on a tool that he had been inspired by the Dragon Eye they had taken from Dagur. When they were first messing around with it, it had let out a cloud of Zippleback gas. This had given him the idea, he could make a weapon from it. At the present moment he was hammering into shape a handle to hold his weapon. The hot steel sparked with each heavy blow, as his hammer came down hard. The forge was dangerously hot.

After he had finished with the hammer, he placed it on the tool rack and looked down at his work. It was no work of art, but a work in progress. He picked it up with the tongs laying nearby and sunk it into the cooling tank. He loved the satisfying sizzle it made.

He peeked his head out the window and spotted Toothless laying in the shade of his hut. His tongue lolling out in the heat.

"Okay Bud!" called Hiccup "Finished!"

Toothless jumped up and bounded over to his viking companion and gazed at him through the window. He watched as Hiccup wondered around the workshop, putting things back in their place and tidying up the place. Toothless made an impatient whine.

"Okay, okay. Coming" said Hiccup.

He yanked a rope that was hanging from a lever attached to the ceiling and a bucket of water doused the hearth and put it out. Hiccup quickly ducked out before the steam became overwhelming, grabbing his saddle bag along the way.

Hiccup looked out over his balcony at the Edge. None of its other inhabitants were out and about. Who could blame them. Thought Hiccup. It's stifling hot out here. Hiccup looked up at the sky, shielding his eyes with his right hand. Nothing was in it but the blazing sun beating down on him. Not a cloud in sight to soften the rays.

"Quick Bud. Lets get out of here." Hiccup muttered patting his dragon on the shoulder and mounting his saddle.

Toothless shot up into the air and the suddenly dived down to the shore line.

"Toothle… Wha— What are you doing!" Hiccup tried to right Toothless' tail to head upwards but his dragon seemed set for the water. Within seconds, Toothless and his unsuspecting rider had dived into the sea and were drenched to the ends of their toes. As they resurfaced, Toothless let out a laugh-like gurgle from the back of his throat.

Hiccup laughed. "Well… that was certainly refreshing. I won't lie." He tried to shake a sodden lock of hair from his eyes.

They took off over the island and headed to a small chain of isles west of Dragon's Edge.

During these hot summer days, the vikings had decided to take one day off training a week and used it to relax and cool off. During these days, the inhabitants would usually spend time by themselves. Spending a whole week with these wild, undisciplined vikings was surely exhausting. However, it wasn't uncommon to go for a walk to the small, cool lake in the woods and run into Snotlout or the twins. There were only a few places to go where one could refresh themselves in peace without being bothered by the other Edge inhabitants.

But Hiccup had discovered a new place. He had stumbled across it one day on an early morning flight with Toothless back in late-spring. West of the Edge was a chain of isles. One particular isle had a large peak protruding from the earth, on top of which, was covered in ice in the winter. It was a good lookout point on a clear day and Hiccup had used it to scan the area for an unobstructed place to test out his flight suit. There, he had discovered the peak-top pool.

He had made a mental note to come and use the pool in the summer and that he would tell no one else of his secret cool-off zone.

After flying for about 10 minutes, the isles came into sight. They would usually practice a few tricks and flight maneuvers, however, Hiccup sensed that his reptile friend was too hot to be pushed for tricks today. They flew in a B-line towards the tallest peak. Landing lightly in a clearing just beside the pool, Hiccup dismounted his saddle and hurriedly moved his way toward the pool which was hidden behind a thicket of shrubs. Pushing through the bushes, he was half way through pulling off his tunic when he heard voices ahead, coming from the pool.

"… things could be worse Stormfly."

Astrid.

Hiccup was already retreating into the thicket when Astrid caught sight of him struggling.

"Hiccup!"

"Wha? A-Astrid! H-Hi.." Hiccup spluttered. He felt defeated. "Hi Astrid".

He looked over and saw her tunic and leggings thrown over a nearby rock, her boots and armour lay on the ground. This registered and his eyes automatically flew back to her sitting in nothing but her breast bindings and her swimming trunks. She sat in the pool, with her arms resting stretched out on the rocks behind her. Feeling awkward and not wanting to look at her in this half naked state, he opted to look down at his boot and suddenly found his prosthetic leg very interesting. "I didn't realise anyone else would be…" he trailed off and started making his way back to the clearing. However, his way was blocked by Toothless who was looking at the pool with longing and wouldn't budge. His tongue hung out of his mouth and he panted like a dog.

Astrid had seen the yearning in the dragons eye and said "Hey, there is room for two more. I won't bite." She gestured to the pool around her.

Toothless took her invitation gladly and hurriedly pushed past Hiccup. "Toothless! Your still wearing your…" He dove into the pool head first. "…saddle" said Hiccup as his shoulders fell in defeat. Astrid gave a hearty laugh and splashed Toothless with water.

"Refreshing, isn't it?" She asked the dragon. Toothless replied with a loud purr and continued to swim around the pool like a seal.

Hiccup remained by the bushes, looking at the scene. He wasn't expecting Astrid to be here. Was he glad she was here? Yes. But how was he supposed to act? They were never really together alone, they were always with the others. He ruffed up his hair at the back and moved forward to sit and dangle his legs into the pool. The water was ice cold and bit into him. It was an uncomfortable but a thoroughly refreshing sensation. He could feel Astrid watching him.

Say something. Say something.

"So, how did you find this place?" He asked cooly as he ruffled his hair again. Toothless swam by unaware of the awkward exchange the two teenagers were having.

"Oh, you know, just was down at the beach," she gestured her thumb down to the shore line. "and Stormfly and I …" She stopped. "Why are you so wet?" She nodded toward his clothes which were still soaked from Toothless' little stunt at the Edge. She noticed how his wet tunic and pants stuck to his slim figure, emphasising certain spots, particularly his crotch. Her eyes darted down to the water.

"Oh this?" he laughed, eying Toothless menacingly in a very un-Hiccup-ish manner. "This is Toothless' idea of cooling down."

"Uh-huh…" she said, unconvinced. "Anyway, yeah, Stormfly and I decided to explore the Isle and I guess we just came across this! The water is cooler up here than anywhere on Dragon's Edge" She said matter-of-factly. "…or on Berk for that matter." She screwed up her face as if trying to think of a cooler, more refreshing spot. Hiccup half smiled. He was thrilled that she was here but also not so thrilled she had found his secret spot.

Hiccup quickly jumped up and removed his sodden pants. Luckily he had been wearing suitable underclothes. He pulled his tunic over his head and threw it over a branch to dry off. Astrid looked up and Hiccup thought he saw an expression of surprise in Astrid's face as her eyes darted up to his shoulders and back down to his knees. It's not as though his body had changed that much over the last few years but he had grown almost a foot taller and his work at the forge had definitely assisted him in growing some muscle tone.

He raised his eyebrows and she went on, talking down to the water now. "I mean, it's not that the lake at the Edge is bad, I love it, but it's so hard to have it to yourself."

Hiccup hesitated. "You know, Toothless and I can come back later if you…"

"No! I didn't mean that." She recovered. "Your all right. It's Snotlout and the others… they can be so…" She struggled looking for a word.

"Irritating? Immature? Tiresome?" Hiccup suggested only a few of the things that the other vikings were.

"Well… Yeah. I was going to go for something a bit more subtle but your description pretty much sums it up." She laughed.

Hiccup sat back down by the waters edge and unbuckled his prosthetic, slowly taking it off. He did this all under the water so Astrid wouldn't have to see his ugly, burnt flesh. After placing his leg by the bushes he slid down into the pool to join Astrid and the dragons.

He gasped as lowered himself down. The cold wrapped around him, cooling every inch of his baking skin. As the water reached his chest, the air in his lungs even seemed to chill. There were a few seconds when he considered jumping out and thawing out but then his body temperature adjusted and he let out a relaxing "Ahh."

"There you go! Better?" asked Astrid with a smirk as she lay her head back on the rock behind her.

"Great" Hiccup said shortly.

They sat for a minute, saying nothing. It was nice to know that Astrid didn't mind him interfering with her own free time and that she didn't think he was irritating, immature or tiresome. It seemed that out of the five other vikings on Dragon's Edge, Astrid was the one he had most in common with and they seemed to be on the same level… intellectually at least. Had she known he had had a huge crush on her for years? He doubted it. He knew she cared for him, but in a friendly sort of way. She had treated him with a few small kisses here and there when they were younger but, that had been years ago. They were older now.

He blushed, thinking about those kisses, and here she was, right in front of him wearing nothing but her underclothes. She had her head resting on a rock behind her with her eyes closed, soaking up the sun. Hiccup took the chance to drink up her appearance. She had grown softer features as she got older, which was highly feminine and much to Hiccup's liking. Her sun coloured hair was out of her usual braid and pulled over her shoulder. The tips of it dangling in the water and a few bits sticking to her neck and chest which had evidently been covered in sweat due to the heat of the day. His eyes lowered to her chest region which had, Hiccup had noted, grown in most recent years, which was… also to Hiccup's liking. Hiccup thanked the gods that she could not see under the water b/c there was something down there that had just risen in his trunks.

She looked up suddenly and he darted his eyes to where the dragons now swam, splashing and gurgling to one another. "It's mighty hot. Odin's eye is shining brighter than any other day this summer." She looked at him. "What had you been up to before you came here? You looked hot when you arrived." She stopped and reconsidered what she had just said, with a short look of panic she recovered by saying "You know, temperature hot… not…" She trailed off.

Hiccup liked to know he was making her nervous but tried to comfort her by acting like he wasn't phased. "Yeah I had been working at the shop… on some stuff."

"Ooft! Wouldn't want to be working in there on a day like this." She gestured towards the sun.

At that same moment, Toothless bounded over to Hiccup and playfully body tackled him into the water with a huge splash. "Toothle—."

Astrid watched half amused as the boy and the reptile wrestled in the water. Hiccup shoved his dragon into the water with surprising strength and they continued to splash and play fight. Boys. She thought. It was at that moment that Toothless swam up to Astrid and licked her from elbow to nose. "Urghh!" She jumped up and glared at the two with annoyance.

Hiccup noticed that she wasn't having fun. "Woah, easy there, Bud. We are lucky to be allowed to stay here with Astrid because she doesn't think we are muttonheads. We don't want her to think otherwise, do we?"

Toothless' ears and wigs flattened as he was being scolded.

"You're okay. Go give Stormfly some company, will you?" He suggested, patting him on the nose.

He turned to Astrid who was now trying to rub the dragon saliva off her skin and failing miserably. Hiccup approached her. He had had much experience with getting dragon saliva off before.

"Here." He grabbed her arm and pulled her over to him where the water was deepest. She tried to protest but he said "Trust me. This has happened to me loads of times. I've worked out the only way to get it off is to err… soak it." He sunk into the water with her, demonstrating to her how it's done. She copied, still rubbing her arms and neck. Hiccup held her wrists to her sides "Stop moving. Let it soak"

"Put a leash on your dragon, Hiccup, for Odin's sake." said Astrid, pointedly. Yet she steadied. "Uhm?" Astrid looked down at Hiccup holding her wrists.

"Oh! S-Sorry." said Hiccup, cheeks turning pink and quickly releasing his grasp. His nervousness returned to him in a heartbeat.

"It's okay." she said, pulling her arms away anyway. Yet she didn't move back to her spot by the rock. She stayed standing in front of him. "So… The others were thinking about having a camp out on the beach tonight, since it will be a warm evening. That could be fun."

Recovering a bit from his close contact with Astrid, Hiccup mused "Yeah, I guess. It could be fun."

"It will be! We haven't done anything fun in ages. Its always work, work, work around here, with you in charge."

"What?! Who put me in charge?

"You just are, Hiccup. You ran the academy, and you're usually right about most things. People follow you."

"Well I'm flattered, Astrid. But I can't think whats better though; spending all day with those muttonheads six days a week or one whole night with them." Hiccup's sarcasm was sewn all through his tone. It made Astrid laugh. Hiccup smiled, knowing he had just made her laugh. He looked down at her.

"Oh hey! You can try wipe off that dragon saliva now. Should wash right off." He made an effort not to touch her this time by crossing his arms over his chest. She started wiping her hands down her arm and up her neck. Then she dived deep into the water until it seemed Hiccup was alone with the dragons. He looked around the water, searching for a sign of her. Something tickled is toes and then his rib cage and Hiccup twisted in the water to get away. He was ticklish. "Ahh" he squirmed.

Astrid surfaced a little way away, wiping her face clean and then flashing Hiccup a sneaky smile. "Your dragon-saliva-ridding method works a treat."

"I know." said Hiccup very un-modestly while ruffing up the back of his hair.

"I see you are a ticklish little girl."

"Am not!" said Hiccup standing up straight to prove his point.

"You are. Don't lie." she said as she swam closer, arming herself with wiggling fingers.

Hiccup backed up. "Don't come near me. I'm warning… I-I'll.. I'll…"

"You'll what? Stutter at me, Haddock?" She smiled cheekily. Then she let all her forces loose on him, poking him all over and laughing as he danced away from her and hid his bare ribs with his arms. He grabbed his prosthetic leg from the side of the pool and tried to use it as a shield against her.

"Arhh, A-Astrid! Please! Okay. I-I'm getting out! I'm getting out!"

Astrid lowered her arms. "Good. Race you to the edge!" and before he knew it she had clambered out of the pool and gathered her things and was already climbing atop Stormfly.

"Wha—." Hiccup whistled to Toothless who was just as confused as he was with his friends' departure. "Not fair!" Hiccup called to Astrid who was throwing on her tunic. "You have two legs!" He swiftly buckled his prosthetic back on and grabbed his things.

"You aren't really using the disability card on me are you, Haddock?" And with that she took off heading East for the Edge.

"C'mon bud! We're not losing today." Toothless took it as a very serious challenge. Hiccup mounted his saddle and they shot up into the air, following in Astrid's wake.