A/N: Spoilers for the second movie. Not beta'd.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything having to do with How To Train Your Dragon, this is all for pure fun. I will return the characters when finished.

Weather worn hands paused at the door considering whether or not to make the brave move to knock. Arms making the decision for him, he pulled back the shaking limbs so that they could rest by his side. He would come back another day, he decided.

Turning his back to the door, he didn't notice the movement from within the small house until something soft plundered into his side.

"Stoik!" It yelped, "Forgive me; I hadn't seen you standin' there."

"No need to," he stopped.

Large green eyes looked up at him as he fought to conjure any chance for words that he had left. Licking his lips he gave what he thought was a nod and some other hand gestures that he prayed to Odin would convey what he was trying to get across. "I'm not sitting awkwardly in front of your house debating whether or not to confront your father."

Looking away, he blushed as she giggled, "Yer goin' to have to use yer words," she said, "I don't speak sign language."

Turning away to hide the redness of his cheeks that simply was not going to stay hidden, he coughed, before making a move to speak.

"I was," he paused as his voice squeaked and the blush spread to his ears, "I was – erm – waiting to speak to yer father, about…" he left it hanging.

Looking up, he smiled as she tucked a stray hair behind her ear, "He's inside sitting, Stoik. You coming to speak about, well, whatever you plan to speak about," she stopped to chuckle when he turned away again to hide the even deeper shade of red that was blossoming on his cheeks.

"As I was saying," she bent down and picked up a basket that she had set by her side, "He's inside, sittin' readin', you'll not disturb him by coming inside."

Nodding, he watched her go. Smiling fading, he took in the large door which barricaded his way. "Odin, help me," he prayed.

Not knowing what to expect, he wasn't surprised when he was met with the simply done abode. Valka's family wasn't ever one that he took to be ornate; you get your work done and that's enough. The rest of your time is spent with family.

Further in revealed an even larger room which he could only assume was the living area, where her father was seated reading from old transcripts in front of the fire. Finally becoming close and real, he wasn't sure how to proceed. He had thought out the scenario many times in his head, but that meant nothing if he couldn't act on how he had decided.

Steeling himself, he took further steps in. Slowly, he came to the edge of her father's seat where he paused again. He fought to not bite his lip, what a bad impression that would make, and readied himself to begin the conversation that he had so often replayed in his head.

"Sir," the old man looked up from where he was seated and smiled.

"Yer Hiccup's boy."

Stoik nodded at the declaration, not quite sure of himself on how to proceed. "Aye."

The man seemed to approve of his answer, and gestured to a worn chair on the opposite side of the room. Taking one last look at the door, he awkwardly shuffled to the seat. Cringing as it creaked from under his weight, he turned to the older man who had since put down the wilting documents.

"I expect that yer here to ask for her hand," her father stated, "seeing as I've never seen you anywhere near here except to be around her."

Stoik paused unsure on how to proceed; when he had thought this through he never accounted for her father knowing the reason he was there. His long explanation on how he would take care of her died on his lips as he realized the man wouldn't need an explanation. Glancing at his face, Stoik gathered that, yes, a no or yes answer would suffice. To say it put him back would be the understatement of the island. Her father continued to stare at him from under bushy eyebrows before he laughed and clapped Stoik on the shoulder.

"Having trouble with words?" The old man joked, "I remember when I proposed to her mother. When I had gone to her father, to say it did not end well, well; the older man was something else, that's fer sure."

Stoik forced a laugh as the man leaned back in his chair while deep rumbles echoed through his chest. Feeling very small, and a bit overwhelmed at how lighthearted the situation was playing out, Stoik fought to control himself from bolting through the door. As the silence became more probable, Stoik coughed to clear his throat effectively cutting off the other man's bout of laughter.

"Well, um, I did come to ask ye," he began.

Pausing to make sure the man made no rejection, Stoik continued, "Valka means a lot to me, which I'm sure she means more to you than I will ever know, but I promise you that I will love her to my best abilities, and will make sure she has a roof over her head and food at the table…"

He stopped as the old man held his hand up, "Kind words, young man."

Biting his lip, Stoik nodded in gratitude, "Thank you sir."

"You may call me Baldir, as it seems you will be my son in law very soon."

Halting at his words Baldir stood to stoke the fire as Stoik took in all that he had said, "Sir, I mean Baldir, I haven't properly asked ye."

Baldir smiled, "Ay, you have too. I've seen the way you watch her with respect, and the way you spoil her. I see the way you listen to her when she talks, and support her when she falls." Looking him over, Baldir rested a heavy hand on his shoulder, "I couldn't ask anyone better to watch over my daughter." With that, her father sat back down in his furr lined chair and picked up his transcripts once again.

Glancing at the door like it provided every answer he sought, Stoik stood with every intention of leaving her father to read and coming back another day.

Walking to the door he froze as footsteps creaked across the floor.

"Rushing off to propose so soon?" Stoik looked over to where Baldir had spoken and paused. He probably should ask the host if he could leave. Wasn't that proper protocol?

Deciding that mustering words wouldn't work in the situation, he simply nodded. The man shook his head and for a moment Stoik felt panicked; he had done the wrong thing. Gods, Thor would probably smite him for this.

"Son," Baldir said as he got up from the chair and approached him, "You need a ring."

Stoik nodded, too overwhelmed to fully comprehend what he was agreeing to, as the man placed a small ornate box in his hand.

"It was her mother's, good luck," the man offered as an explanation, but nothing more was said as he went back to the fire.

For the first time that day, Stoik's lips curved into the proper words, "thank you sir."

When the man simply smiled, Stoik knew that his job there was done. All there was left to do was propose to Valka. With the day he had had, proposing felt like it would be the easiest task he would face in the near future.

Squaring his shoulders, Stoik pocketed the treasure and made his way back into the daylight. As it pierced his adjusting his eyes, his brain flew through ideas on how to present the ring to Valka. His Valka.

Whistling an old tune to himself, he made his way to the forge fully intending to tell his friend about the joyfully bizarre afternoon he had just been witness to.

I will update when I can, which looks to be maybe every Saturday or so. Requests for further one-shots are welcome. I don't write slash, and they need to be centered around Stoik and Valka. Doesn't necessarily have to be full out shipping.

As always, review, and let me know how well or poorly I did.

Thanks,

SoulofFireHeartofDragon