Ch. 4 Family

December 24th

Christmas eve morning dawned grey and snowy, but the interior of one small house was filled with the color and laughter of six friends preparing for the holidays. Every year since high school, North had volunteered to be Santa Clause at the local children's home where he would hand out gifts as well as read stories and play with the kids untill they all fell asleep happy and he would start planning for next year. Sometimes one of the others would go with him if there was a particularly large number of kids, but for the most part, Christmas was North's holiday and you didn't mess with it unless you wanted to find an actual lump of coal in your sock drawer. (Guess who'd had the black socks to prove it...) Tooth, Sandy, and Aster had their own little ritual of watching old Christmas specials together on tv until they all fell asleep on the couch, only to be woken up by North banging through the door at midnight shouting "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

Jack always spent the holidays with his family after a few days of shopping and recuperating from homework; but this year, he realized, would be his first Christmas with Hiccup and he wasn't exactly sure what to do. The others were busy trying to get North into his elaborate Santa Clause outfit, so he took the opportunity to speak to Hiccup alone in the kitchen. Taking out six cups, Jack plugged in the electric kettle and started searching for a box of instant cocoa. Hiccup wrinkled his nose and took a saucepan from the cupboard. "Let me make you some real hot chocolate."

Jack leaned on the counter to watch while his boyfriend placed the mugs in the sink and poured hot water over them to warm up before adding chocolate chips and milk to the saucepan.

"Is this one of those things your mom did?"

The brunet nodded as he looked for a spoon to stir with. "Yep. I've been using her recipe cards for so long I've got them memorized. Can you dry those mugs please? This is almost ready."

Jack grabbed a clean towel and began lining the warm mugs up next to the stove. "Hey, Hic? I'm supposed to be going home in a few hours but I don't want to just leave you after what happened yesterday, so I was wondering if you'd like to come with me and meet my mom and my sister. You don't have to; if you want to stay here I can take their presents over and come back and we can stay in with the others, or go to a movie, or something..."

His voice trailed off a little as Hiccup silently filled the mugs and set the pan to cool in the sink. After he dried his hands, Hiccup took a deep breath, "Well, if it's okay, I think I'd like to meet your family. We've been together for a year and I know I'm not going anywhere any time soon."

The look on Jack's face was brighter than all of North's tree lights put together and Hiccup found himself on the receiving end of a bear hug. "Do you have any idea how much I love you?! I'll call to double check that they're going to be home, then we'll go drink that hot chocolate you made before it gets cold."

Hiccup tried not to laugh as he listened to Jack talking excitedly with his sister on the phone, while he found a tray to carry the mugs. "Hey squirt! Are you guys gonna be home when I get there?... Well I just needed to be sure because I'm bringing a very special present with me... Noooo, I'm not telling you what it is... Ha, ha, ha, threats and bribes don't work through the phone. Just be ready to have some fun... Ha! Okay, tell mom I'll be there at three... I love you too, kiddo."

Jack pocketed his phone and took the small cocoa tray while Hiccup carried their two mugs. "Um, Jack? I don't have anything to take to your mom's. Should I, um, cook something? Or would that be wrong? Maybe I should get some flowers."

Jack gave his boyfriend a quick kiss to distract him from worrying and laughed. "Relax, Hic, I've got an idea that everyone will like. We just need to do a little last minute shopping."

-

When Emma had hung up with her brother, she went to the living room and flopped face-down on the couch. "Jack said to tell you he's coming at three. He also said he's bringing a really special present but OF COURSE he wouldn't tell me what it waaaaas! Ughhh! I could die from curiosity before he gets here!"

Helen was elbow deep in paper and bows that were spreading across the floor where she sat wrapping presents. "I hope not; if you died you'd never find out what the surprise is. It's only two more hours, Emma, I think you'll survive."

Two hours and ten minutes later Helen heard pounding feet as her daughter ran to answer the door, followed by a delighted shriek and her son's deep laughter. Going into the living room, she saw a tall boy about her son's age with reddish brown hair and gentle green eyes, laughing with her children. When he saw her, the boy smiled and held out his hand.

"Hello Mrs. Overland; I'm Hikke Haddock, it's very nice to meet you."

Helen completely ignored the boy's hand and instead gave him a tight hug. "I've been waiting so long to meet you! I don't think Jack has stopped talking about you for the last year."

Both boys blushed and Jack led the way into the kitchen with the shopping bag. "Okay! Let's get this stuff put away before it goes bad."

Emma pulled a package of hazelnut flour from the bag and read the label. "What's this for?"

Jack put a box of eggs in the fridge and lined up the other things on the counter. "Stuff for making cookies. Hiccup's going to teach you how to make some Nut- Nutop- um, Norwegian macaroons."

"Oooo, yummy! Do you want me to call you Hiccup or your regular name?"

The freckled brunet laughed. "Hiccup's fine; it's what my friends call me anyway. Do you have some baking pans?"

Emma rolled her eyes and slumped dramatically against the counter. "Only a hundred more than we'll ever need. Mom is always making something for bake sales and the seniors she works with. What kind do you want?"

Jack left the two cooks to their work and joined his mother in the living room. "Those two seem to be getting along great. I hope it's okay that I didn't give you a heads-up; Hiccup only came back yesterday."

Helen patted the seat next to her on the couch and Jack sat down. "I'm so glad you did, Jack, I really have been wanting to meet him. He seems every bit as sweet as you told us. Aww, don't be embarrassed, I'm just happy for you. Maybe helping me decorate that tree will get your face to cool down."

Jack grabbed a box of tangled lights and shook his head with a grin. "I seriously doubt it."

Hiccup couldn't remember the last time he had actually baked with someone instead of leaving a cold plate of cookies out for his father before going to bed. Emma was a fun kid and definitely Jack's sister, and though she was considerably cheekier, she had that same innate kindheartedness that he loved so much in Jack. When the cookies were finished, Hiccup scooped them onto a plate and let Emma carry them out to the living room with some pot holders while he brought four mugs of milk to go with them.

"Ta Da! Nøttetopper til Jul!"

Jack gave his sister a little round of applause before taking a mug and one of the warm cookies. "I am very impressed your highness! These smell delicious, Hic. Oh man, they taste even better!"

Hiccup blushed at the praise and took one for himself. "Thanks for suggesting it; I haven't made them in a long time. Oh, I made sure that the kitchen was clean when we left, Mrs. Overland."

Jack's mother closed her eyes appreciatively as the flavor of warm hazelnuts danced over her tongue. "I'd rather you call me Helen, but when I'm eating something as heavenly as this, you can call me anything you want. Would you mind giving me the recipe for these, or is it a family secret?"

Emma took another cookie and started soaking it in her milk. "I already wrote it down for you, mom, it's in your recipe box. These are definitely too good not to make again."

The next few hours were spent with talk and laughter while they all got to know each other a little better. Soon the sky was dark and Emma started to yawn. Jack picked up his groggy sister and carried her to her bed while Hiccup helped Helen tidy the living room. Emma groaned as she was covered up with a blanket, even though she was still in her clothes, and squinted up at her brother.

"Jack?"

The boy tucked the blankets closer and hummed softly. "Hmm? What is it Em?"

"I hope Hiccup stays with you forever."

-

Emma's words were still on Jack's mind as he drove back towards the shared house twenty minutes later, and his silence must have been noticeable because Hiccup gently brushed his arm. "Are you alright, Jack?"

"Just thinking about something Emma said. Do you mind not going back to the house yet? I think I need to drive some more."

Hiccup was slightly concerned but knew Jack would talk when he was ready. "Yeah, go ahead, I'm not tired."

Winding his way aimlessly along Burgess's deserted streets, Jack finally pulled into an empty parking lot and turned off the car. The boys sat in silence for a long time until Jack saw that Hiccup was shivering. "Sorry. Let's get you back home."

"I'd rather snuggle, and besides, I am home, Jack; wherever you are is home."

Jack felt his heart thump a little harder as he wrapped his arms around his boyfriend and buried his nose in the waves of his thick chestnut hair. "You smell really good."

"I should, I used your shampoo this morning."

They sat breathing peacefully for several minutes, and Hiccup was almost asleep when Jack's deep voice rumbled softly through his body. "Hiccup? How long do you want to stay with me?"

Hiccup shifted so he could look at Jack's face. "What do you mean? Like, at the house? Cause I told you I can stay with Snotlout if you think your place is too crowded."

"No, I... I mean how long do you want to be my boyfriend. Someday you might want to move on to other things, or other people. Emma said she hopes you stay with me forever, but I don't want you to feel like you're stuck with me just because I'm your first boyfriend."

Jack looked down at his tightly clenched hands and braced himself for the worst. Hiccup thought he understood where he was coming from and sat up, taking Jack's cold, hands in his. "Jack... You were, and still are, my first boyfriend, and I love you more than I know what to do with sometimes. I am going to say something extremely sappy but I want you to know that I mean every word of it."

Jack chanced a glance into hazel green eyes that he knew held only the truth. "What's that?"

"When our lips touch, I swear I can taste the next sixty years of my life."

Happiness bubbled up through Jack and he threw his arms around Hiccup's shoulders, gripping handfuls of his ratty old green jacket that in the moment felt like the most wonderful thing in the world. "I don't know what I'd do without you. Thank you for saying that, I mean it."

Hiccup chuckled and held Jack a little tighter. "I meant it with all my heart; sixty years is hardly enough time, but I'll take every second I'm offered to be with you. I love you."

"I love you too, Hiccup... Forever."

Gobber was usually able to make it through the holidays by cheering up his friends with some Viking ridiculousness or other, but with everything that had happened in the last few days, waves of old memories seemed to knock him down every time he thought he'd gotten a solid grasp on them. He'd spent the day pouring over old photos and feeling himself come apart at the seams. After a while he'd simply fallen asleep on the couch with several photo albums scattered across the coffee table and floor, and only the sound of the phone ringing had been enough to wake him.

"Yeah, hello?"

"Gobber? The phone was ringing for two minutes; are ye alright?"

The man rubbed tiredly at his eyes, and sighed. "Erm... no, actually. This whole thing with Hikke has brought up some painful memories that I thought I'd been able to let rest."

"Do ye... do ye need to be alone, or could ye take some company?"

Gobber knew his friend was in about as much pain as he was, so he gave in. "No, come on over. I'll heat up some food and mead by the time ye get here."

After hanging up, Gobber looked over at the photo albums on the table. Did he want to share that part of himself? Confronting Stoick about his son had been... not easy, exactly, but there had been a certain courage he'd felt from standing up for someone else. Would he have that same confidence again if he needed it? The books were back on the shelf by the time Stoick let himself in. Many long years of friendship had honed the men's communication into one of trust, knowing if either of them wanted to talk, he would when he was ready, so Stoick wasn't overly concerned when Gobber didn't speak to him.

While they ate, Stoick's mind churned in turmoil and confusion about his son. Had he overreacted to the whole situation? Had Hikke really been like that for years without him noticing? Was he actually in a relationship with someone and not told him about it? Was he such a terrible father that his own son felt he couldn't talk to him? Was there a way to salvage the situation while still doing what he thought was best as a parent? Or, since he was now over eighteen, would Hikke simply choose to never speak to him again?

"Where did I go wrong?"

Gobber sighed heavily and shook his head. "By not listening to yer son when he spoke. Ye did yer best all these years to provide for him, and ye have, but he needed something else."

"Be honest with me, Gobber; can I fix this, or have I just lost my son?"

"I think that depends on ye. Are ye willing to be open minded about the situation without judging? And, if Hikke doesn't change his mind, are ye willing to accept his decisions for his own life?"

"Ye now that I only want him to be alright. Since ye seem better informed on this subject than I am, would ye mind me asking some questions?"

The next several hours were spent, somewhat awkwardly, but still productive in Gobber's opinion, and by the time he went back home, Stoick felt he needed to speak to his son. Trying Hikke's cell phone proved useless since he hadn't turned it back on, so he tried sending an email instead. How one short paragraph could take over an hour to write, he'd never know, but finally the message was sent and Stoick got ready for bed.

When they got back to the house, Hiccup nearly burst out laughing at the sight of Tooth, Sandy, and Aster sprawled over every inch of the couch, and each other, fast asleep. Jack hung up their coats while Hiccup got his phone out to take a picture, stopping when he saw the notification that he had an email. Thinking it might be from Toothless he opened it, face falling when he saw it was from his father. Jack noticed the slight shift and touched his shoulder. "You okay?"

"Um, yeah. Can- can I use your room to read this?"

"Sure, go ahead." Jack watched him shut the bedroom door, wishing he could be in there holding him.

Hiccup curled up on Jack's bunk, squeezing his peppermint scented pillow close to his chest for comfort as he read his email.

-Hikke,

I'm sorry I blew up at ye the other night and at Nathaniel yesterday. I'm only worried about ye as any good parent would be, and I hope ye won't hold that against me at least. I want ye to thrive, to have that good life. I want ye to know that I won't stop paying for yer tuition, since I want ye to have the education and opportunities that I never had. I wish we agreed on the other matter, and I still hope ye talk to someone or get some help. Not because I don't love ye, but because I do. Yer all grown up, and I can't make ye do anything, but please let me know that yer alright once in a while, and maybe try going out with Astrid.-

Hiccup blinked through a few tears that fell onto Jack's pillow as he looked out the window at the snow. "He'll never get it..."