Author's Note: Sorry for the delay. Please note I have idea if the Vikings ever played Thanksgiving

Chapter 8 The Three Holidays

Samhain: At the end of the ninth week of the term the university held a mixer for faculty and graduate students; masters and doctorate and senior undergraduate students. It was a Friday night and it was Halloween. Astrid elected to go as Elsa from Disney's 'Frozen', it was both sexy and classy. Hiccup elected for a young Captain Ahab, he had a real sperm whale-bone prosthesis. About a half hour before they needed to leave. The two sat down to discuss. "Okay, we have pretty much agreed to not do a couple's costume, I don't see in what universe the Snow Queen and 'Old Thunder' would ever work." Hiccup started.

"It's not my fault you elected for a character with a fake leg. But I have to admit, you do pull off the whale-bone leg. How did you get it anyway?" Astrid asked.

"That's an interesting story, it was after I lost my lower leg, I went with my mom on a few of her trips, for me it was more of an escape. My dad and Toothless bounded surprising well while I with my mom. We happened to arrive at a beach that a pod of male sperm whales washed ashore. I was able to figure a way to get all but one back into the ocean and they all are still alive. The one that didn't make well... we had to do something with the body. I was able to get what I needed for this leg, having it is sort of my attempt to give the poor whale a chance to live-on. Honestly it was only last year that I figured, I got the whale-bone leg, might as be Ahab at least once." Hiccup was really deep here.

Astrid knew she needed to lighten the mood, "You could have gone Flynn Rider and I would have gone Rapunzel, you know from 'Tangled'." she suggested.

"I have this serious moment... I... I give you this deep apocalypse of why I am wearing this costume and you throw at me the one couple costume we could have done after we are ready to go and with no time to change." Hiccup said a little cross, but he was glad that Astrid lighten things up.

"Well I'll be going with my old roommates and Fishlegs, we going as the characters of 'Frozen' Fishlegs is going as Olaf, Snotlout is Prince Hans, Tuffnut is going as Kristoff and Ruffnut is going as Anna. I know we are not the most convincing lot, but we agree to do it. So you can ride on the NightFury no problem, as such odds are few people will realize we are a couple. But to make sure, how about we agree to a hall-pass." Astrid was not sure if she was ready for the whole of the university to know of the Hiccstrid.

"Would you clarify what you mean by hall-pass? I know of the pass to traverse the halls of a school given to students by teachers for certain purposes. But I am going out on a limb and assume that is not what you meant." Hiccup said, Astrid forgot Hiccup had limited dating experience.

"A hall-pass in this context is permission from your girlfriend or boyfriend to see someone else for a short period of time. Often is a week, in in our case the night." Astrid explained. "So there is a chance we may be with other people in the morning."

"I know you don't want to make our relationship public yet, but do you think that's fair for whomever we may meet?" Hiccup asked.

"We just say our... well in your case girlfriend in my case boyfriend... gave a hall pass for the night. It doesn't necessary mean we will have sex with someone else. Besides if anyone is at fault, it will be whatever home-wrecker thinks she landed the white whale, if you know what I mean?" Astrid was not joking, she could tolerate Hiccup acting like he was unattached for the night but she was not going to be so forgiving for the girl that thinks that anything more meaningful than a nice night was going to happen.

"Personally I pity whatever guy thinks he can melt that frozen heart of yours. I don't really like it, but I will go along, just don't shove him into my face and I'll try to be as discrete with whomever I may end up with, odds are I'll have to leave early due to getting water in my sinūs bobbing for apples." Hiccup remarked in his typically manner.

"Sinūs?" Astrid asked clearly perplexed.

"Sinus is a forth declension Latin word, the correct way to say the plural is with a long 'u' not sinuses. Hey I know my language." Hiccup said as Astrid's confusion turned into a glare of annoyance due to his smart mouth. Just then two heard a honking horn. "There's your ride." Hiccup said too cheerfully, but Astrid had nothing.

"See you at the party." Astrid said, still ticked, but she knew she wouldn't stay mad at Hiccup for long. The party for the most part was alright but the better number of the guys there really were not worth Astrid's time. One was able to slip her number into his phone, or so he thought, the poor fool would learn the hard way that he got Hiccup's number, sadly that was the only thing memorable about him, even his name was as blur. The was one guy that made an impression, he too was working for his masters in psychology, his specific field of focus was child-development, his plans were to start a practice that would help abused children see the wonder of the world again, grow from what happened to them and become stronger. His name was Robert... he didn't give his family name; he was dressed as Jack Frost from Dream Works' 'The Rise of the Guardians' and was fun-loving, the two made quite a few 'Elsa-Jack' jokes and it looked like things were going well. Astrid didn't even mind the kiss, it was a good kiss, likely one of the best ones Astrid had, but it lacked something, it lacked effort, it was like Robert was not trying hard enough. "I am sorry, but... this is not going to happened. You're nice and all, but..." Astrid started after the kiss.

"Well maybe if things were different. Best of luck." Robert was surprisingly gracious about the rejection. Astrid was about to leave when she was hand the karaoke microphone. Well maybe one take of 'Let it Go' would be a good thing.

Hiccup too was having fun, mostly playing the games, but he meet someone as well, a researcher in the physics department, a doctorate student who was just about to give her dissertation, Takara-chan... she didn't give her family name, she was dressed as a white whale. They both heard all the harpooning the whale, drowning the obsessed and such jokes, most were tackless, tasteless and poorly executed, but the two shrugged them off. It was nice to meet someone that was interested in the same things, the two even kissed. Hiccup was not sure how the kiss was, but the look on Takara-chan's face was clear that to her he was a great kisser, the dilation of the eyes, the reddening of the checks, the apparent disconnection from the rest of the world. Well Hiccup had seen that same look on Astrid's face the first time they kissed and each time after so he must be a great kisser. But something felt off for Hiccup, like it was too easy, as if Takara-chan was not putting up any resistance. After the kiss it was Takara-chan that spoke. "You love her too much. It's okay." Takara-chan left Hiccup standing there. "Perhaps if we met before you met her." Hiccup couldn't say anything as he heard the beginning of 'Let it Go'. Maybe it was his time to leave

Astrid arrived home as Hiccup had finished changing into comfortable cloths. "Hey babe." Astrid said as she shut the door. "I met this guy, Robert, he seemed nice but I couldn't go through with it. You?" Astrid asked as she took of her shoes and decided to sit down a bit before changing.

"Her name is, as she introduced her self, Takara. Engineering doctoral candidate, her forces is more into computers, hardware, firmware and software. But she sensed how much I love you. I don't think we can do another hall-pass."

"Well at least we tried. So mind popping the popcorn, and I'll get a movie ready."

"How about you get the popcorn and I'll get my laptop so we can get up to date on 'Legend of Korra'?"

"Okay." and the two decided to enjoy what remained of their Halloween night.

The Harvest Fest: Astrid woke late in the day around noon, it was Thursday, November 27. She first noticed the absence of her human-mattress. After that she smelt something good from the kitchen. She got dress in one of Hiccup's shorts and shirts and went down stairs, Hiccup was in the kitchen, if Astrid didn't know any better he looked like he was running around like a chicken with its head cut off, but he was actually in control as he was cleaning for the most part. "What's cooking?" Astrid said in the most alluring way possible as she grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him around kissed him.

"Good midday to you, Milady. I getting dinner together. Gobber, Finn and my parents will be back in time for the game. Toothless is out side staking his and Cloudjumper's meal. My mom can tell the story when she gets here. For dinner we have a turducken as the main meal which I now have marinating in Guinness and there is mixed vegetables in the freezer, just remind Gobber that I will be back by 5pm and it will be a turducken, he'll know what to do in the kitchen." It was then that Astrid noticed Hiccup's get up, it was like he was going for a live TV interview.

"Well good luck with the interview, what's it about?" Astrid asked, realizing this is the first time she ever asked about it.

"It's a surprise for Dad. Just make sure he sits through the half-time corespondent thing for the Viking's game. You may want to put on the Viking's jersey my dad got me. Unless you have your own. I got to go. I love you." Hiccup said and kissed Astrid and he took the key to the NightFury.

Some time before the game, Finn, Valka, Stoick, Gobber and a cloud leopard, the ad for mentioned Cloudjumper, arrived. Cloudjumper went straight to the back yard where he was greeted by Toothless, the large panther started acting like a cub, as if Toothless viewed Cloudjumper like an older cat. "I rescued Cloudjumper a few years before Hiccup rescued Toothless. We often had Toothless, who was still a cub, stay with Cloudjumper, most of what Toothless learned about hunting Cloudjumper taught him." Valka answered the unspoken question as she joined Astrid looking at the two cats. While Toothless was having a gay old time being a kitten Cloudjumper was rolling his eyes. "There are time Cloudjumper finds kitten Toothless amusing. I was expecting Hiccup in the kitchen."

"He said it was a surprise for Stoick. So shall we catch the game?" Astrid asked as everyone headed to catch the game.

It was a close game, the Vikings barely in the lead. Then half-time. After the sports correspondents gave their takes on the stats and projections for the second half, Hiccup was introduced. "And we have a guess here, Dr. Hekkrulf Haddock. Dr. Haddock, you have a little family history with the Vikings?" the main commenter asked.

"Yes, my father was the Vikings' quarterback for their only Superbowl win."

"Let me guess, Stoick 'The Vast' Haddock." one of the other commentators injected saying Stoick's name like a boxing announcer.

"That is right, and as we know Stoick has started his Presidential campaign earlier this year, so Dr. Haddock, we usually don't have people not involved with sports formerly or current, so what brings you here?" a third of the four commentators answered.

"I am sorta of getting a head of the family interviews. I know I can never be a like my father, but I want it to be known I support my father's bide for presidency. He is the best mayor in Berk's history, one of the best governors of the state. Granted our father-son relationship leaves much to be desired for. But I think is comes from when I was at the age kids boast about their physically achievement and stopped boasting among themselves of what their dads did and can do, about seven or eight years old. I had nothing to boast about, well I did but it was stuff kids don't care about. I started to feel so afraid that I could never become like him at his best that I began to feel like I was afraid to become him at his worse. How does anyone become like my father. One of my best memories was one night after my mom left for one of her term aboard, I was about four. I was having a hard time sleeping, I was scared of the monsters under the bed like most four-year-old, but then I heard my father's responding steps, well to me they sounded like thundering thuds, and I knew the monsters were borrowing deeper and deeper under the bed because they were afraid of him more that I was of them. And until I started college I couldn't fall asleep until I heard his steps as he was nearing my room. One time I was trying to pull an all-niter and he literal moved me, in sound slumber, from my desk chair to my bed." Hiccup paused. "All in all my father is a great man. And now we go to the commercials, and after that, can the Vikings widen their lead?" Hiccup said taking command of the set and they went to commercials, the first was a new commercial on Stoick's presidential campaign. It was Hiccup's voice, and it cover the facts of Stoick's terms as mayor and governor and how it would translate to the nation. It ended with Hiccup appearing and he said "Stoick the Vast has done great things for Berk and the state. Its time for the nation. This add was made by Straight-Facts, an independent political awareness group, and is separate from all political parties and affiliates."

After the commercial, Stoick shed a tear. After 5, Hiccup arrived and it was a mad race between Astrid and Stoick to hug him, Stoick won. "Thank you, son. Not for the commercial but for what you said in the interview."

"dad..air.." Hiccup was not faking or being overly-dramatic, he was having a hard time breathing. Stoick let go "Glad you liked it. So dinner soon?" Hiccup asked. Astrid then kissed Hiccup. "Let me guess, that was for doing the interview and commercial." Astrid nodded and kissed him again. The timer went off and it the turducken was done as with the rest of the meal. Dinner was mostly everyone talking about the game, everyone loved the turducken, well expect Toothless, Cloudjumper and Stormfly, Toothless and Cloudjumper enjoyed the fat pig they killed. Stormfly was eating Brazil-nuts. All in all one of the best Thanksgiving in either Hiccup's and Astrid's history to date.

A Yule Engagement: Astrid was lying on the couch reading a book, she was getting a head start on the rest of her Master's classes. Toothless was lying on the floor on his back clearly a happy kitty next to her and Stormfly was on one of her perches. It was her first Christmas with Hiccup. The house had a simple set up, a small porcelain tree. There were a few gifts, mostly from Fishlegs, Ruffnut, Tuffnut and Snotlout. There were a few other decorations, but it was not a lot. Snow was on the ground. Flynn had to go out of town for business, Stoick was busy as a mall Santa, it was something he did during the season, even when he was major and when he was governor. He and everyone else that knew him knew it would be a Secret Service nightmare, but he was still going to be a mall Santa if he was President, Valka was accompanying him as 'Mrs. Claus'. Fishlegs was spending the holiday with his family. Hiccup came in with a tray, on it were two mugs of warm apple cider for him and Astrid, a plate with a boned piece of ham for Toothless and a small bowl of red and green chips for Stormfly.

"One plate of pig for the over-grown kitten, one bowl of chips for the pretty macaw and for the lovely lady, one mug of warm apple cider with two shots of Bacardi rum, no book. As for myself, one mug of warm apple cider no rum." Hiccup said as he placed the tray on the coffee table and severed everyone, taking the book from Astrid, putting a piece of paper to mark where Astrid was before taking a set next to her with his mug. "To a successfully completed term. Congratulations on your graduation with your bachelors and the job." Hiccup said toasting to Astrid.

"And to our kept secret." Astrid said in response and then punched Hiccup in his left upper-arm. "That's for taking my book while I was reading." Hiccup rubbed the spot Astrid stuck him. She then grabbed him by the shoulder of the same arm and pulled him in for a kiss. "That's for everything else." Astrid then took a swig of her cider. The was something odd about it, a metal-like taste. After putting the mug down Astrid put her hand in the mug, what she pulled out awestruck her. It was gold ring with and an emerald, her favorite gemstone. Astrid looked it over and after testing it on a few fingers realized it was a perfect fit for her left ring finger. Then it clicked. She look to Hiccup, he was on the floor on his right knee, Toothless having yielded some space for Hiccup to kneel.

"Astrid, I know we have only know each other for half a year, but after everything I cannot imagine... actually I am afraid to imagine my life without you. Toothless loves you, my parents love you and most importantly I love you. Astrid Hofferson, will you make me the happiest man in existence, by marrying me?" Hiccup asked.

"Before I answer, where did you get the ring?" Astrid asked, she was able to hide her joy, in truth she wanted to scream, 'YES, YES, YES, I'LL MARRY YOU, YOU FUCKING LOVABLE IDOT!' with a face flush red.

"I made it, the emerald is from Byrud, Norway, I found it a few years ago, thinking it would be perfect to make a ring with. The gold is from Sweden, something I bought around the same time as I found the emerald for the same reason. I am an engineer, jewelery making is a field that's not too difficult to dapple with. I do have a diamond that I cut that will fit the ring if you want it instead and there's also a Tiffany encase you want something with a little more class." Hiccup answers, while his words were calm, his face clearly said he needed an answer.

Astrid leaned in and whispered into Hiccup's ear. "Yes. I will marry you." She then embraced Hiccup. "I'll keep this ring as it is. So did you talk with Flynn for his blessing or did you seek my answer first?" Astrid asked.

"I met with your uncle and my parents, before they all left, and it turns out you and I were betrothed when you were two, the betrothal takes affect when you turn 23. Well actually we would be made to live together for 90 days to see if we would agree to the arrangement..."

"Unless you were already married." Astrid interrupted.

"Astrid, let's be honest the only shot I have at girls is Toothless being a wing man in his own style, and odds are anyone else would have reported what happened to animal control and he be put down. And that's assuming I can be separated from my work." Hiccup pointed out, Astrid had to concede that. "As I was saying, if we agree then we would be married. If we didn't, well no hard feeling between my parents and your uncle." Hiccup said and as he got back on the couch. The two then cuddled. "So how shall we tell everyone, and who do we want to know?" Hiccup asked as nestled his head on Astrid's.

"Don't we have to tell that HR guy, 'Bill' about a change in our relationship from 'boyfriend-girlfriend' to 'fiancés'?" Astrid asked.

"Fair enough, but I am not teaching any course for a Master's in psychology and its already recorded that we are in a romantic relationship." Hiccup tried to counter, but one look from Astrid as she got up to face him told it was useless to argue with her on this topic, it was also clear she was comfortable and his idiocy was ruining the mode. "Sorry, Milady. Can we inform our friends and family first?"

"Let's see, there's Fishlegs, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, Eret, Stoick, Valka and Finn. I'll call Finn. You can call Valka, Valka will tell Stoick and Eret. I'll then call Ruffnut, she'll pass it on to Tuffnut, and you'll call Fishlegs. But right now, all I want to do is rest with you right here." Astrid said as she got back into her spot on Hiccup, after getting a blanket. Hiccup noted the absence of Snotlout on that list and carried on. It was going to be one of those cozy lazy days. Toothless and Stromfly joined the happy couple on the couch, Toothless rested his head on Astrid's lap, while Stromfly nested on Hiccup's shoulder.

"We are going to need a steadier couch if we are also going to have kids. I see that smug, bud." Hiccup directed to the panther. Both Astrid and Stromfly got the vibe that the cat was claiming success for the relationship. "You only got me her attention, and if anyone got me her number it was Stromfly. In any case I am the one who did all the work... half the work."Hiccup said trying to assert himself.

"Cherry-Wolf dear, be quiet like a good mattress so we all can enjoy the moment." Astrid said as she pulled the blanket closer to her chin and adjusted her position on Hiccup. After a few minutes Astrid spoke again. "I think we should have a wedding much like our viking ancestors. You know its unmistakeable that I can bear your children, maybe have it June, then the meade-month, and in September we welcome our first child."

"Are you sure about that, you start your job in January, I am not sure of my schedule at the university, and there are your master classes?" Hiccup asked. That was meet with an elbow to his side. Just then the main door opened and they heard Stoick's impersonation of Santa Claus.

"HO, HO, HO, Happy Christmas." just then Toothless leap and started being Kitten Toothless as he caught the scent of Cloudjumper after heading to meet the older cat. Toothless loved being 'kitten', it was fun to act young. Stoick entered the living room and sat in his chair, followed likewise by Valka. "I see you both are happy. So Hiccup did you... um... make the inquiry?" Stoick asked trying to ask without asking.

"I am your future-daughter-in-law, Stoick." Astrid answered as she took out her left hand showing the ring.

"So when do plan to have the wedding?" Valka asked.

"Astrid suggested in June, with signs that we can have children." Hiccup answered.

"Well there is an alternative, you can be married before the end of the week." Stoick said.

"Dad what are you saving?" Hiccup asked not quite sure what is going on.

"Remember your father's private jet? We're offering to have you fly to Nevada so you two can get married legally and we can have the ceremony in June." Valka answered.

Poll: So will Hiccup and Astrid take Stoick and Valka on their offer to have a wedding in Nevada before Christmas? Poll closes on Dec. 15th.