So just a note to you guys: apparently I like the name Olaf. In chapter 1 I named Ruff and Tuff's lil brother Olaf, and then later on I named Astrid's dad Olaf. So in this chapter I renamed the little Thorston boy Devon. K? Okay. ;)

I feel like this chapter is short, but it's not; it's about the same as the rest. Anywho, happy reading! ;D

Chapter 6: A Heated Practice

Tuffnut stomped down the stairs to the kitchen, making his presence known to his family. Ruffnut already sat at the table with their mother, eating breakfast. Their younger brother Devon played on the rug a few feet away with a Terrible Terror. Tuff didn't bother looking around the room for his father, knowing that he had gone fishing in the wee hours that morning.

The 20-year-old scanned the kitchen countertop for bread and found only a small morsel left. "Dah crap," he muttered.

Mrs. Thorston looked at him sweetly. "Tuff dear, would you mind going to the bakery and buying us some more bread? There are a few coins on the counter there." Ruffnut looked over at him and smirked, shrugging her eyebrows at him.

Tuffnut scowled and scooped up the coins. "Thank you, honey." His mother stood and went to kiss his cheek, but he swatted her away.

"Blech moooooom-"

"Alright alright," She smiled and shooed him to the door. As he opened it to walk out, she threw over her shoulder, "But you know you'll never get married if you don't at least let your mother kiss your cheek."

Ruffnut snickered from her seat and Tuffnut scowled at her, feeling his ears redden. He looked at her plate on the table, noticing all the crumbs all over her plate. She did this. Ohh, she would pay.

Grumbling to himself and ignoring the women's laughter (and his annoying squirt of a brother's), he yanked the door closed and walked to the village square. He neared the bakery in minutes and stood outside the window as if frozen.

He couldn't go in there. Nope. He turned on his heel and stomped away, not understanding why in Odin's name he couldn't just go in, buy what he needed, and walk out. No big deal. He was Tuffnut Thorston, this shouldn't be a problem!

He stopped and balled his fists. Groaning again, he walked to the bakery door at a brisk pace, yanked it open and stepped in. He didn't make it far before he froze again.

There she was. Amelia: the baker's daughter.

She didn't notice him as she was kneading dough behind the counter. Her chestnut hair was pulled back in a low bun and covered in a white wrap; a few tresses fell to the sides of her face. Her brown and green dress was covered in an apron. Flour reached past her forearms and a few smudges were on her face.

She paused from her kneading and wiped a little sweat off her brow with her wrist. And she looked up to see him standing there, frozen in the doorway.

"Oh, hi Tuffnut," she smiled, her blue eyes brightening. "Sorry, I didn't… didn't hear you come in." She looked away shyly, her eyes flitting back to his every few seconds.

Tuffnut merely stared at her, a smile coming to his face. He could just watch her all day.

"Tuffnut?" Amelia waved a hand in front of him.

"Oh!" Tuffnut shook out of his stupor. "I, uhh… sorry. Umm…" What was wrong with him?

Amelia giggled and pushed a few fallen strands of hair behind her ear. The sound was like music to his ears and he gave a nervous chuckle. "Can I get you anything?" Amelia asked, wiping her hands on her apron.

Tuffnut blinked, then nodded. "Um… yeah, I just need a few loaves of bread."

"Okay," Amelia smiled and grabbed a few fresh loaves and wrapped them. "Anything else?"

Tuffnut dumbly shook his head. "Okay, four coins," Amelia held out the bread and her empty hand. He pulled out the coins and had to bite back the smile when his fingers brushed her palm. "Thanks."

Tuffnut shook his head. "No." He said gruffly, making her blink in shock. Then he smiled and said in a gentler tone, "Thank you."

Amelia felt the blush on her cheeks as she stared back at him with a smile. She didn't see him often and he didn't talk much when he came by, but that was probably the closest to flirting with her that he'd come. She was relieved when the door opened and Hiccup walked in.

"Hi Hiccup!" she smiled at him.

"Hey," Hiccup nodded at her and slapped Tuff on the back. "Nice day, isn't it?"

Amelia nodded. Tuff hummed, not looking away from Amelia. "Yeah… what a day."

Amelia bit her lip and began kneading her bread again. Hiccup raised an eyebrow at his friend but said nothing. He cleared his throat, "Amelia, I'm planning something for Thursday in the Great Hall. It'll be a village-wide thing, everyone's invited. So-"

Amelia waved her hand, having already written out a note. "Say no more, we'll have plenty of bread for you. I'll be sure to let my father know when he returns from the mill."

Hiccup grinned. "Thank you, you're too sweet."

Amelia shrugged, "Just doing my job."

Hiccup looked over at Tuffnut, who was still in a daze. "Well, I guess we'll get out of your hair. See you later, Amelia." The heir grabbed his friend's arm and pulled him away from the counter.

"Whoa, hey!" Tuffnut tried to pull away but suddenly realized what was happening. "Oh. Oh! Bye Amelia!"

The door slammed shut and Amelia stared at the handle with a small smile. "Bye Tuff…"

As soon as they were far away from the bakery, Hiccup burst out laughing and pointed at Tuffnut. "What?" The blonde growled.

"You like Amelia!" Hiccup crowed.

Tuffnut's hands were suddenly on Hiccup's face. "Shutup! I don't need the whole village knowing!"

Hiccup pulled his hands away. "So you don't deny it."

Tuffnut scowled and stayed silent. At Hiccup's raised eyebrow, he deadpanned. "It would be kinda stupid if I did, wouldn't it? Hey, what're you so excited about?"

"Aw man, this is just too good." Hiccup grinned and practically skipped away.

Tuffnut ran to catch up to him, "What, you think I'm incapable of something like that?"

"What?" Hiccup stopped in his tracks. "No! No no, that's definitely not it. I guess it's just a little unexpected. And the look on your face while staring at her? Undeniable." This only earned him a swift punch, but he only laughed. "You need to ask her-"

"NOPE!" Tuffnut roared. "We are not going there-"

"Why not!" Hiccup chuckled, hands on his hips.

Tuffnut spluttered and leaned in close to Hiccup's face. "Dude, she's only seventeen-"

"So? Lots of married couples are a few years apart-"

"And her dad's scary-"

"Ben the Baker? Scary?" Hiccup laughed wholeheartedly, catching a few glances from other villages. "He's not scary!"

"To you! Everyone loves you!" Tuffnut growled.

Hiccup put on a straight face. "I had to earn that reputation."

Tuffnut opened his mouth and paused, taking in Hiccup's expression. "Wait… Are you saying…"

"Just give it a chance, that's what I'm saying." Hiccup smacked his arm. "Talk to her dad, get to know the family. Just get your foot in the door. Your biggest issue is resisting the urge to blow something up."

Tuffnut frowned, "Easier said than done."

"Yeah, well it could be worse. I have to learn to use a weapon before proposing to Astrid." Hiccup raised an eyebrow before slapping a hand to his mouth, and looking around with horror. "Oh gosh, I almost blew it…" he sighed when he didn't see Astrid anywhere.

"Wait what!" Tuffnut exploded. Now it was Hiccup's turn to slap his hands over his friend's mouth. "SHH! Do not blow it!" Tuff nodded readily and Hiccup removed his hands.

"When?"

"Soon." Hiccup avoided eye contact.

"How soon?"

"Soon enough." Hiccup frowned at him.

Tuff crossed his arms, which was difficult as he held the loaves of bread. "Oh come on, you can't honestly give me nothing."

"It's gotta be perfect. No offense, but I really don't want this surprise to go up in flames," Hiccup replied. Then he paused, thought for a moment, then put on a bargaining face. "Alright. If you ask Amelia on a date, I'll give you some intel on the big day."

"What's the big day?"

Hiccup sighed, "That's the code name."

"For what?"

"For…" Hiccup glanced around. "You know…"

"No I really don't. Why are you always so cryptic?"

Hiccup groaned. "For the engagement day." He growled in a whisper.

"Ohhhh that!" Tuffnut grinned with a nod. "Wait… no! No, I'm not asking her on a date!"

"You really don't have a lot of time for something like that anyway." Hiccup mused. "Okay, get her something. Flowers or something, and I'll give you some intel."

"Flowers." Tuffnut put a hand to his chin in thought. "What kind of flowers do girls like? Or wait, she's the baker's daughter. Maybe I should just buy her a bag of flour from the mill. Think she'd like that?"

Hiccup slapped his forehead. "No… just… just go to the woods, pick a bunch of flowers and take them to her. Make sure there are no spiders in there, do not PUT any spiders in there-"

"What makes you think I'd do that to her?" Tuffnut roared.

"Sometimes it needs saying," Hiccup shrugged. "When you take them to her, just be normal, be nice, don't freak her out, engage in conversation but don't talk about yourself nonstop and don't talk all about violent stuff, I heard she's kinda timid with violence. If you remember all that, you'll be good to go!" Hiccup smiled.

Tuffnut's eye twitched. He finally nodded resolutely and laughed, "Ha ha, very funny. No way is this happening."

Hiccup shrugged. "I'll convince you sooner or later. But anyway, I have to go meet Astrid in the Academy. Do not tell a soul of the big day or I will tell everyone that you like Amelia, starting with her father."

Tuffnut's eyes bugged out of his head and he nodded vehemently. Hiccup had to smirk and slapped his friend's shoulder. "Go pick some flowers."

Hiccup turned and walked in the general direction of the Dragon Academy, leaving Tuffnut spluttering in the middle of the street. He chuckled to himself and shook his head. This was just too good. He couldn't wait to tell Astrid; she'd keep Tuff's secret.

He hoped.

Xxx

"I've never seen him so spaced out before. You should've seen the look on his face!" Hiccup picked up a bow hanging on the weapon's cart as he rambled. Astrid chose her own as she listened intently, smiling at the story.

"Seems Tuff is getting a soft side," she commented. "It had to happen sooner or later. Now hopefully he won't go embarrassing himself."

"But he's not easily embarrassed."

"Point taken," Astrid remarked. "Both the twins don't generally care about stuff, but if he genuinely wants to make her happy and does something stupid in the process, he might just get his first dose of reality-stricken embarrassment."

Hiccup nodded in agreement. "Then again, it might be good for him."

Astrid plucked her bow string for a minute, giving Hiccup a level stare. "What?" he asked, shuffling at the awkward silence.

"Why are you doing this again?"

Shoot. She wasn't supposed to ask. But he knew it was coming. Thankfully he'd prepared for this scenario, so he nonchalantly shrugged. "Figured it'd be a good idea. And it might be nice to be able to shoot off Toothless if the situation calls for it."

Astrid puckered her lips and nodded, picking up a quiver of arrows. When she turned her back to face the targets, he slumped as if to sigh out loud. She fell for it. They weren't technically lies because they really were legitimate reasons… though in reality he wouldn't be doing this of his own accord.

"You going to come shoot or am I here for no reason?" she asked sternly while notching an arrow.

Hiccup shuffled over and stood on her left. Astrid drew her bow and he watched her—her stance, her steady breathing, her focus on the target. She let the arrow fly and it hit a perfect bull's eye on her chosen target.

Astrid faced him with a competitive smirk. He gulped as she began to speak, "Okay, I want you to do just what I did. I'll correct you when needed."

He clumsily pulled out an arrow from his quiver, shakily notching it into the bow. Astrid mentally raised an eyebrow. How was he able to create such amazing things like riding gear with such steady hands, but anything weapon-related he was as shaky as a crisp autumn leaf?

"Use your other hand." She said before he could draw the string.

Hiccup looked at her as if she had lost something. "What? Why?"

"Because you're right eye dominant and left-handed. Trust me on this. Draw with your right."

He frowned at her before raising the bow, drawing his right arm back with the arrow. It felt so off, so weird. He should be doing this with his left hand. He'd been left-handed his whole life—another reason he was dubbed a hiccup as a child. But he kept his complaints to himself; there was a reason he asked her to train him. She was practically a weapons expert. He squirmed uncomfortably for a minute as he tried to focus on the target, but Astrid's voice stopped him.

"You're too unbalanced." She walked around him and gently scooted his feet farther apart from each other, careful not to bump his prosthetic too hard. Wouldn't want anyone to lose an eye because he was clumsier than a toddler—another one of his great mysteries she'd never understand. Flawless in the air, but Odin help the guy on land.

She then put a hand on the center of his back. "Stand straighter." When he complied she wrapped an arm around his waist, setting a hand lightly on his torso. "Keep tension here. Your abs are your core. And for as much pounding that you do in the forge, I know you have 'em, so make sure to use 'em." Hiccup brushed off his nervousness with a light laugh and eye roll.

"And then there's your arms…" she mused, setting a hand on his shoulder. "Relax."

"How do you relax when you're drawing-"

"Use your core. Pull the strength from there, not from your arms, because you're making them shake."

Hiccup's eyes widened and he pursed his lips. This language sounded worse than Colors of the Wind. Pull strength from your gut to pull back a bow with your arms? What? "Erm-"

"It's going to take practice. Don't panic."

"I'm not panicking!" He spoke a little too quickly.

"You look like you want to cry."

"Wha- I do not!"

"Yes you do." Astrid walked around him and smirked. "Anyway, relax your arms until they stop shaking."

"Astrid, they're shaking because you're making me hold this so long."

"Focus on the target." She reinforced, forcing him to continue. Hiccup looked ahead at the target. "We'll worry about wind and distance later, but for now use your arms to gently direct it's course."

Hiccup seemed to become engrossed in his focusing because after a full minute, he still didn't let the arrow go. At least he seemed more relaxed. Astrid stood on tiptoes and surveyed his aim. "Aim a little higher…" she murmured. He adjusted his arm and she smiled, "And… shoot."

He let the arrow fly…

And was dumbfounded when it not only hit the target but also hit merely five or six inches off the center.

Hiccup breathed a laugh and put his arm down. "See?" Astrid smiled, now standing beside him. "You can do it."

He looked at her with a soft gaze and couldn't stop his thoughts. "Where would I be without you?"

Astrid waved a hand, "Oh, you'd be hopeless without me."

"O-ho, is that so?" Hiccup grinned widely.

"Name one big accomplishment you've made." Hiccup raised a finger in triumph and she rolled her eyes, "That isn't dragon related."

"Aw come on…"

"And I think I've made my point." Astrid smirked, inspecting her fingernails.

Hiccup set his bow and quiver down and sauntered over to her. "Ya know…" He mused as he drew closer. "There is one thing…"

Astrid's blue eyes flicked back up to his as he walked over to her. "I'm listening."

He now stood in front of her. "I think you know."

"Ohh…" Astrid faked innocence. "You think you made this happen on your own, do you?"

Hiccup lightly pushed a few of her bangs out of her eyes as he lowered his voice. "Why yes. Yes I do. And winning the heart of the most beautiful woman on Berk was no easy task."

Astrid tilted her head to the right an inch, feeling his breath mingling with hers. "It amuses me that you think it's smooth sailing from here."

"Oh no, it's been tough. But I like a challenge." Hiccup finally closed the space between their lips in a passionate kiss, pulling her closer to his body in the process. He pulled his lips away from hers with a light pop a few moments later.

Astrid pinched the edge of her bottom lip between her teeth and lightly cocked her head as if to shrug. "I guess that was passable."

Hiccup furrowed his brows, bending his fingers around the curve of her waist. "Passable?"

Astrid nodded assuredly. "Yeah. You still have a lot to learn."

Hiccup's eyes darted to her lips for a millisecond and he cocked an eyebrow. "Oh really? Like what, exactly?"

Astrid grabbed the collar of his tunic and pushed him backwards, drawing his mouth to hers as his back bumped the stone wall. He couldn't help the loud sigh that escaped him when she ran her fingers through his hair and pressed her body against his. While his kiss had lasted only a few moments, hers lasted nearly a minute. When she pulled away he gasped for breath and had to stare at her with wide eyes, utterly speechless.

Astrid gave a short laugh and rested her forehead against his. Hiccup finally found his voice. "You're right. I've got a lot to learn."

Astrid smiled gently and blue eyes met green. "Good thing I'm here to teach you." She kissed him again, but much slower and gentler this time. He smiled through the kiss and held her face in his hands.

She drew back and he reluctantly pulled his hands away. He stared at her as she adjusted her bangs and glanced around the arena. She suddenly snorted, "We didn't get interrupted this time."

Hiccup chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, for once." He continued to stare at her as she watched some Terrible Terrors fly overhead.

She raised her eyebrows when she noticed his stare. "What?"

His mind screamed, "Marry me!" But instead, he smiled and shook his head. "Amazing how easily you distract me."

Astrid crossed her arms. "Oh, so now this is my fault?"

Hiccup held up his hands. "You started it!"

"Well y-" Astrid started but stopped. She did start it, didn't she? Hiccup smirked, knowing that he'd won an argument. She grabbed him by the shirt, making his lips quirk in anticipation for another kiss, but she pushed him back to the center of the area. "Oh get back to your archery, lover boy!"

"Anything for you, baby," Hiccup winked and went back to his bow. He really did need to focus and start practicing.

Astrid rolled her eyes at him, but her heart swelled. She wouldn't say it out loud, but she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. The thought made her smile broaden, but she quickly wiped it away, not wanting him to ask what she was thinking. But as she surveyed his stance when he drew another arrow, she couldn't help but entertain the thought.

Special thanks to KatieMarie999 for helping me out with dialogue and fluff! I hope this wasn't too much smoochin' for you guys, I know how you can blush :P haha Jk ;)

Anyway this chapter was Monday, so Hiccup's got three days to master archery, prove his worth to Mr. Hofferson, and finish preparing for the Big Day. Will he be ready? What's he got planned? Why I'm glad you asked, dearies! You'll just have to stick around :P Hehe I'm evil today!

Amelia and Tuffnut is random, but I loved the idea of Tuff falling for the baker's daughter. Just something random I came up with and had to insert it in. I won't strictly focus on that couple cuz this is a Hiccstrid story, but it's a thought. Ooo maybe I could do a one-shot of Tuffelia. Hmmm… We shall see, my pretties!

Alrighty, I think that's all I wanted to touch on. Thanks for all the support and reviews, and feel free to leave me another one! See you in the next chappie! :D

~EmK