"... I've never been more proud, son ..." spoke Stoik, as he stood before his flesh-and-blood - both father and son stood facing one another, donned in the proper attire for an occasion such as this.

" An' yer mother - I guarantee she's smiling - seein' her boy so happy ..."

"... Dad, I -" Hiccup began, his eyes glazed over with the tears he refused to let fall - a hair-covered hand is his reply.

"Yer mother ..." Stoik continued, " Well, we Haddocks, son, we're held in high regard, always have been - an' well - it was in her family's best interest that their daughter marry into such a family - wealthy and powerful ..."

Stoik shook his head, pinching lightly at the bridge of his nose, and chuckling lightly.

"... your grandfather ... Oh, you're grandfather, son - the man could send shivers down the spine of Odin 'imself, with just one look at 'im - an' yer poor mother didn't stand a chance - an' I was just a boy meself - so ... we were wed - nervous, young, and complete and utter strangers ... wedding night was a mess ..."

He gave a great booming laugh, through tears of joy - clutching his belly, before he spoke again.

"But Hiccup - we GREW to love one another ... an' soon the women could read me better'an words on a page, an' I her - an' you an' Astrid, son - yer both tha' close as is ... yer very fortunate, m'boy -
yer Mom would be proud - I know ..."
"... Dad - I ..." Hiccup spoke, but was silenced once again - by a forceful, and near bone-crushing hug.
" I love you, Hiccup - my son ..."
"... I love you too, Dad - and I love Astrid ..." he'd then released a breath he wasn't sure he'd been holding - and turned to his future, with his father in toe.
" I hope I don't mess this up - the family sword ..." Hiccup swallowed, rolling his shoulders against their dull ache - "... it's heavy ..."
Stoik gave another great chuckle, and struck his son playfully at the back, causing Hiccup to heave a bit.
"... Oh, an' son - one last bit of advice ..."
Hiccup turned to face his father once more.
"... When yer alone in that bed-chamber ... well, alone 'cept for the witnesses, a'course..." Stoik grinned, at his son's horror-stuck expression and pressed onward despite Hiccup's protests.
"Remember to take off that blasted tin leg!" he scowled, giving his son a quick wink. "... could ... get in the way ..."
"... No witnesses!" a very red-faced Hiccup barked, having somehow found his voice through the shock.
"Tradition, son!" Stiok smiled, wearily - winking again, as he stepped ahead of his son, through the threshold.
"... No witnesses!" Hiccup cried, finding himself unable to plead a more convincing case.

* * * *

"C'mon!" called Hiccup, extending his arm to help his wife into the chamber.

The room - he noticed - smelled starkingly of lavender and spring blue-belles, it was dimly lit with candle-light - and their mounth's supply of honeyed-mead, sat waiting on a make-shift bedside table.

Astrid took his hand, and was swept into the room - or more acurately spun their - with a surprising grace, nary a stumble had occured. The bride, grinned broadly - locked in his embrace."Smooth!" she huffed, the word tinged with sarcasm - removing any notion that she was, in fact, impressed with this feat.

He'd merely rolled his eyes at the statement, and kissed her deeply - breaking it and the sounds of laughter and cat-calls that could clearly been heard outside.

"Get lost!" growled Astrid, to the playfully jeering crowd.
" Have fuuuun!" crooned, a grinning Ruffnut, in an overly cheerful sing-song tone - cheerful? Ruff?

One round of mead to many perhaps ...
"Gotta give 'em credit ..." Hiccup grinned, though his face wore a bright pink. "... persistant bunch - now where were we?
Despite herself, a giggle sprang from Astrid's lips, as he began toying with the skin just below her left ear - then lower - and lower.

"... Hiccup -" she cried, his name sounding more like a cry of pleasure than the threat it was intended to be. "Oh, you are SO gonna get it!"

"Mm ..." he hummed in responce against her.

Thump! came the sound beyound the walls, followed by a curious whimper of sorts, and a rather large exhale.
"A little privacy, buddy ..." Hiccup addressed to the large, scale-ly, interuption before him.
Toothless - however - seemed quite unchanged, and merely tilted his head to one side, his tail thumping playfully against the ground.

The Night-fury blinked, at his disgruntled friend, casting his pupils downward - toward Hiccup's make-shift leg.

"Oh." Hiccup coughed, embarrased - "... thanks - I-I forgot ..."

With that, the window was slammed shut, the iron leg unhinged, and a long-standing tradition - thankfully - broken