I don't own How to Train Your Dragon, Rise of the Guardians, or Lord of the Rings. Enjoy! :)

Chapter Two

Jack stretched his back as the lights in the library started to dim. He put back all the books he gathered, grabbed his bag, and headed home. Berk Academy was a huge circular building separating in four sections: the Elementary Wing, the Intermediate Wing, the Senior Wing, and the College Wing, with the Library in the center connecting to all. Though Jack quickly found out each Wing has its own nickname: the Hatchlings for the Elementary Wing, the Whelplings for the Intermediate Wing, the Elderlings for the Senior Wing, and the Ancientlings for the College Wing—which he inherited another nickname from his new found friends: Old Man Winter—he blamed his snow-white hair for that.

Speaking of snow, Jack was surprised it snowed early in Berk. Already one month in, with Halloween soon approaching and it dumps like it is Christmas Morning in the North Pole. Jack wasn't complaining; he loved the snow! But he usual had to wait 'til late in November for the snow to fall in Burgess. So waking up this morning and seeing the town covered in white made his day.

He opened the door and immediately smelled the sweet aroma of hot chocolate. Pausing only to take his snow boots off, Jack hightailed to the steaming cup sitting on the table and took a long sip, not caring if his tongue and throat were burning.

"I guess I have to make another cup for you." Jack grinned at the brown-auburn male coming down the stairs. "Better make it three more; I love my chocolate." Hiccup chuckled and started to boil some more water while Jack headed upstairs and dump his bag on his bed and flung his coat and scarf on the ground, before lying down. He glanced over his nightstand, seeing pictures of his two cousins, Jamie and Sophie; his aunt and uncle, Debra and Leo; his best friend, Aster; and his mother, Valka. He grabbed the picture of his mom and smiled, missing her.

His was orphaned as a babe—his parents died in a car accident. With no immediate family, he was placed in foster care, until his was adopted three months later by this woman. She was the most caring mother he'd ever known, even if she's a bit eccentric. She held him when he cried; laughed at all his jokes and mischievous deeds—though on a few occasions scolded him. Never raised her voice against him and always defended him; even hunted down his extended family. Wanting to hear her soft voice, Jack quickly dialed her number.

"Hello?"

"Hi Mom; it's me."

"Jack! Oh my son, I've missed you boy."

"I missed you too Mom. How's everything back at Burgess?"

"Góðr. Jamie and Sophie miss you and are saving their allowance to come see you—though I doubt Debra would allow it, especially since school started and all." Jack laughed; he could see the little ankle-biters scheming such a plan and his aunt telling them no.

"So how is college in Berk?"

"Góðr. The classes are great and learning more about Vikings and the Norse ways, it gets me going."

"Ah, that's mine Viking! My Jokul Frosti." Jack beamed at the Norse version of his name; he loved when his called him that. They talked for a few minutes more before she had to go and meet Aunt Debra for dinner, being that it's a four hour difference between Berk and Burgess. Saying goodbye, Jack checked his phone and realized how late it was.

"Ten thirteen? How long was I at the Library?"

"Three hours or so."

Jack looked at Hiccup, seeing another steaming cup of cocoa in his hand. He slid his mother's picture under his pillow and accepted the hot beverage. "I guess time flies by when you're surrounded by books." Hiccup nodded and sat on his bed.

"So you speak Norse." Jack nodded.

"Yeah, my mom is of Viking decent and learned Norse from her birthplace. She's been teaching me since I first learn to talk, though I'm not as good as she."

"You said she's of Viking decent. Aren't you also of the Viking bloodline?"

"No. She adopted me when I was two months old. But she's says I have the spirit of one." Jack chuckled and Hiccup laughed with him. A comfortable silence fell between as the white head sipped his drink. He wondered about the man next him. He is two years his elder, has a quick-witted humor, and has dashing good looks. A small blush formed on his cheeks and he drank some more hot chocolate.

"So, what about your mom? I don't mean to pry, but I've seen no pictures of her." Hiccup nodded.

"She died. I was only three months old. Dad took her on a three-day fishing trip when a storm hit them. When the Coastguard recused him, they went on search for her body, but she wasn't found; they assume she drowned at sea."

"I'm sorry." Hiccup shrugged.

"Can't really miss what wasn't there in the first place. But, I do imagine what it would be like to have one. Though, it's worst for my dad; to lose the one you love would be awful. I've tried getting him with someone else, but he always told me his heart is for his wife." Jack's heart melted. He wasn't all for romance cliché and stuff, but for Hiccup's father to keep true to his love, even when she's gone from this world; it touched and pulled at his heartstrings.

"Hiccup! Jack! I'm home!" Hiccup's father's voice boomed upstairs. Hiccup grinned and hurried down the stairs with Jack right behind him. He met Stoick a couple days after he arrived at Berk and was shocked how big and muscled he was compared to his lean and muscled son. And the huge braided beard growing from his face reminded Jack of Gimli from the Lord of the Rings and made him wonder if there was dwarf blood in his DNA.

After Stoick hugged Hiccup, he went to Jack and hugged him as well. Jack learned he became like a second son to the Viking Chief in the short he'd been here. Just like with Hiccup, Stoick takes in his interest, asks about his day; even brought him on a couple fishing trips—like a real father.

"It's good to see you boys. Hiccup, Gobber said you can have a two day break."

"You sure it's wise for him to run the forge without me?" Stoick waved him off.

"He'll be fine Hiccup. He has run the forge many times before you were even born; a couple days without you won't do any harm.

"Right. Anyways, are you back a bit earlier than usual?" Hiccup noticed. Stoick nodded his head. "Aye. But the ice is coming in thick early this year; it'll be hard to catch fish this winter and for shipments to come in as well."

"I'm sure we'll be fine dad; we Vikings always survived."

"I know, but I can't help worrying about the safety of the village; people need to eat you know. Speaking of eating, is there any dinner left?"

"Actually it's still in the oven; Jack came home late as well. I'll set out some plates."

Jack internally cringed; he didn't know he kept Hiccup waiting with dinner. He went to help him set the table when he felt Stoick's hand stop him. "And what've you been up to Jack?"

"Oh, just some research in the library." Jack could see the small twinkle in the large man's eyes.

"Ah! Nothing like spending good long hours in the library." Jack nodded and sat at the table while Hiccup served them a fish dish.

After a few bites, Stoick finished his meal and retired to his room. Jack and Hiccup finished a few minutes later and added their plates to the Stoick's and headed to bed.

"Goodnight Jack." Hiccup said before he escaped into his room.

"Night Hiccup." And Jack too slipped into his room, flopping on the bed. He didn't find what he was looking for; perhaps he'll have better luck tomorrow.

Jack cried huge tears as the pain flared from his knee. He was only hanging from the tree in the backyard when he slipped as he was trying to climb to higher. Hearing his mommy approaching him, Jack held out his arms and felt her warm arms wrap around him, cooing gentle and soothing words. Her soft voice slowed down his tears and he looked at her, lip jutted out and eyes all watery. She gently picked him up and carried him to the bathroom, where she treated his wound. As she did, she started singing a soft melody, one he hadn't heard before. But it filled with him love and he snuggled against his mommy, letting her voice carrying him to sleep.

Jack woke as the memory-dream faded. He smiled, remembering asking his mom to sing that song every time he was injured or was sad and soon he too knew the melody.

Snuggling against the sheets and pulling his comforter more over him, Jack went to back sleep as his mother's soft voice sang to him.

I'll swim and sail on savage seas

With ne'er a fear of drowning,

And gladly ride the waves of life

If you will marry me

Hiccup splashed his face with cold water as the song replayed in his mind. As child, he learned of this old courting Viking melody from his father, telling him how he met his mom and asked for her hand. Hiccup committed the words to memory so that he too would court his partner the Viking way, like his father. Course, he was eight when he decided how he was going to woo and ask for marriage for the girl of his dreams. Once the age thirteen came around, he knew he'd preferred boys over girls—still has the same idea, but on the island, there weren't many available guys who swung that way. And those who came who did, only stayed for brief periods before heading back home or on to another adventure. He thought he had move away from Berk to get a guy, 'til he met Jack.

He stumbled across the white head on the internet, the younger male searching for a place to stay while he took college on the small island. Hiccup was more than happy to accommodate for him and was glad he did—Jack Frost is the best looking guy Hiccup found. There were few others he found attractive, but they were flings, not enough time to get know each other, not like he got to know Jack over the course of the month. And knowing more about the snow-loving boy each day made Hiccup fall for him more. He really considered asking him out, but knowing the other boy won't be living in Berk forever like him, he couldn't; then again, he shouldn't let his chances slip by just because of that one factor. Who knows? Maybe in the long run he'll get down on one knee and ask for Old Man Winter's hand.

Hiccup chuckled at the thought—first the asking for the date, then the asking of the hand. After he finished dressing in sweats and a loose long-sleeved shirt, Hiccup trudged downstairs and started cooking some breakfast for him and Jack—his father was already up and locked in his office doing Chieftain work and it was twelve thirty-three in the afternoon.

As he finished up frying the bacon and eggs, he heard Jack tumble down the stairs and into a seat, fully dresses—though his ice-blue eyes were dull with sleep. "Morning Hiccup."

"Morning sleepyhead; did the Sandman sprinkle too much dust onto your eyes?" Jack nodded his head.

"Yeah… Thank some high divine that my first class today starts at two." Hiccup chuckled and placed breakfast in front of the sleepy youth and hot chocolate. At the sweet aroma set in front of him, Jack immediately reached for the steaming cup and chugged half of it; whip cream and all. Hiccup shook his head, smiling that someone could drink such a hot beverage without screaming in pain. He placed another cup of the sweet elixir in front the now awake Frosty, knowing he would want another one, seeing that he finished the first cup.

"Make sure you save room for your food; can't just run on liquid chocolate."

"Of course I can! I've done it before." Jack protested, puffing his chest out, which made Hiccup snicker. "No wonder you're all skin and bones; no protein."

"Well, protein doesn't seem to do you any good. You're a toothpick compared to the rest of the town." Jack retorted. Hiccup only raised an eyebrow.

"And yet I have more muscle than you Frosty." Hiccup even flexed his biceps to prove his point. Jack laughed and hearing his childlike laughter, Hiccup couldn't help but stare at him with a goofy grin on his semi-freckled face. And then a spur-of-a-idea sprang into his mind.

"After your classes, want to go to dinner with me?"

"Yeah! I'll be happy to."

It took Hiccup a few seconds to register what Jack said. But once he did, he grinned.

"Great! I'm sure you want to do more research in the library afterwards, so I'll pick you up at six then?" Jack grinned nodded.

"Yeah, that'll be great!"

"Great! I'll see you at six."

Both grinned and as Jack quickly ate his breakfast and headed out the door, Hiccup pulled out his cell and called a few numbers. Tonight, he was going to make Jack feel special.