Elinor fluffed her pillow in her hands before laying down in the bed. She'd positioned it right against the headboard only to pick it up again. This time giving her husband a look.

"Well Fregus?"

"What." He said confused.

"You're not going to say anything about your daughter."

"What about her?"

"Fergus she's been secretly dating someone. She might as well have been lying to us."

"Oh come now Elinor, I don't think that was her intention."

"She made us look like fools in front of our guests."

"Our guests looked like fools to me, so were even." He smirked.

"Be serious. Merida's been seeing someone who could be a conman."

"A teenage conman Elinor."

"Don't give me that, you know it's possible."

"I also know what Merida said. She said he's a nice lad. He's smart and a hard worker, qualities that don't seem too bad." Fergus said sitting up eyeing his wife.

"I had just wished she would have mentioned it before. She doesn't talk to me like she use too."

"Ya mean when she was four." Fergus laughed. "Back then the girl would talk to anyone willing to hear her tell a story."

"No I mean she'd actually tell me things, and we'd talk. Its becoming harder and harder to communicate with her."

"Okay fine. I'll pretend to be Merida and you can talk to me."

"Fergus." Elinor said not in the mood.

"Seriously. Talk to me as if I were, like a dry run. Then later have the real conversation with her. You might find out more."

Elinor thought about it, weighing it on her mind before deciding to go ahead.

"Alright, that doesn't sound too bad."

Fergus took a deep breath, closing his eyes, getting ready to jump into character. He changed his demeanor and the sound of his deep voice to something more high pitched and girly.

"I don't want to date Macintosh, I want to be free and let my hair flow in the wind as I ride through the land firing arrows into the sunset."

He looked at his wife smiling satisfied with his portrayal of his daughter, giving her a nod to continue on. Elinor couldn't help but smile and chuckle at the silliness of her husband.

"You're ridiculous."

"Aye but you love me anyway."

"I do." Elinor said climbing into her husband arms.

"And you love Merida just as much if not more. And if I recall you mentioned that you'd at least give him a chance."

"I did and I will meet him."

"Well I'm sure she'd appreciate that."

(0.0)

"Merida? A word?" Elinor said giving a slight knock on the door.

Merida didn't say anything but kept her eyes on the arrows she was cleaning. Something she always did to calm her nerves.

"I wanted to talk to you about your…boyfriend."

"His name is Hiccup."

"Is that his real name?"

"It's Henry."

"Me and your father aren't happy that you kept Henry from us."

"If I had told you…" Merida started but was stopped by the simple hand raise of her mother.

"We understand what it is like to be young, so we would like to meet thing young man and get to know him."

"What? No."

"Merida as your parents we have the right to know what kind of boy he is."

"I told you earlier he was a nice guy. Trust my word and just leave it alone."

"I can't just do that. I was thinking that maybe you'd invite Henry to the Celebration Festival and we could meet him there."

"Huh?"

"I think it's the perfect location that has a happy and comfortable atmosphere…allowing us to really get a feel for his character."

"But Hiccup and I are just starting out don't you think it's a bit soon to meet the parents, especially you and da? Wouldn't it be more comfortable for you to meet him later, much much much later?"

Elinor placed her hands on her hips becoming impatient and slightly frustrated.

"Fine. Merida you will have two choices bring Henry to the Celebration festival so me and your father can meet him or bring him to the house and we will have dinner. Those are choices, make a decision."

"That's not fair."

"Choose."

"Fine. The Festival."

Elinor breathed a sigh of relief, now that the hard part was over. She'd tried to handle it calmly but ended up giving her an ultimatum. Why couldn't Merida understand that she was trying to do what a caring mother should do.

(0.0)

The boys were ecstatic to be at the park. It must have been a life time since they'd been. The sun was shining, there were things to do, and they were completely unsupervised.

Well almost completely, Merida was watching them.

She was becoming something of an enigma to them. Over the past month or so she'd been happy and depressed. Just a while ago she'd walked into the house with a face as red as her hair and now she wasn't even chasing them in the park. She was sitting on a bench lost in thought.

They'd urged her to come and join, but her heart wasn't in it, and a Merida that was like this was upsetting to them. So they would have to lift her spirits, it was practically their job.

They stood looking at each other in their triangle shaped conference meeting mentally discussing all the possible options. Harris was about to say something when a shape caught his eye. It was big to ignore and to interesting to not bring to his brothers' attention.

They all turned with a big smile on their faces. Merida was sure to love this.

(0.0)

"This is horrible." Merida thought. "Mother wants to meet Hiccup. Damn that Colin, what's his problem. Opening his big mouth. I mean I wanted to introduce him to her, but I wanted to set the terms, now I'm being forced."

Merida sighed this was not how she had planned things. She was regretting not taking Rapunzel's advice about to her sooner. And to make things worse she wanted it done at the Celebration Festival.

"But then again that's way better than a one on one dinner at our house. How am I even suppose too ask that kind of question."

"Hey Hiccup." Merida practiced. "Come meet my folks…..ughh to casual."

"Hey Hiccup. I love for you to meet my parents. My mother really wants to meet you….and that just sounds creepy."

"Hiccup. You. Me. Dinner. My house." She said holding up her thumbs. "I. Sound. And. Look. Stupid."

"Sup Hic…Hic? Goodness just say it normally."

Merida took a deep breath.

"Hi Hiccup…"

"Hi Merida."

Merida nearly jumped out of her clothes when she heard someone greet her back. She turned and saw Hiccup standing there with a smile on his face. Even though she realized it was him

"Hiccup? What are you doing here?"

"Toothless is running around getting rid of some energy."

"Oh." Merida said trying to calm down. "Aren't you afraid of him running off like last time?"

"No I think I've finally explained it to him plus I have this whistle now. When I blow it his suppose too come right to my side in minutes flat."

"I see."

"So what are you doing here?"

"I'm watching my brothers. There here…somewhere." She said looking out for them.

"Should they be running around by themselves?" he asked concerned

"If you're worried if something bad might happen I wouldn't worry that much. Anything that's interesting enough to keep their attention out of my sight is…probably in trouble itself….. I should go look for them."

"I'll go with you. I'd really like to meet the we devils" Hiccup said doing his best impression of Merida when she would say it.

Merida could only laugh at his attempt.

"It's more of a 'wee'. But you were very close. If it makes you feel better its cute when you try."

"Thanks." He said with a hint of a blush intertwining his fingers with her own. "I think you're cute when you use your Scottish accent."

Merida stopped walking while still holding onto Hiccups hand. She didn't release it causing the moving Hiccup to jerk back a bit.

"Huh?" He said confused by sudden stop his face coming close to Merida's as she leaned in batting her eyes.

"Ye dae, dae ye. Weel Hiccup ah cuid talk lik this a wee bit more...if ye lik."

Hiccup's face went from blushing pink to embarrassed red.

"N..no..I didn't..I..I wasn't..suggesting that." Hiccup tried only to incite Merida into a fit of giggles.

"I'm only kidding Hiccup." Merida said giving him a quick kiss on the cheek, which didn't calm him down in the least. "You're really are cute." Merida said with a smile.

"It's my curse." He said with a smile. "But if I may ask why you don't always speak with an accent you were born there right."

"My mother and father are from Scotland originally, they got married young which isn't abnormal in Scotland, and ended up moving here to start a new life."

"How young were they?"

"Uh...around my age I think. They would always travel back to Scotland when they got a chance for holidays and such. While my mother was pregnant with me they were in Scotland and I ended up coming out earlier than expected."

"So you ended up being born in Scotland."

"Yup. But my grandfather ended up getting really sick so my mother ended up staying there for five more years before coming back here."

"What about your dad?"

"He was here."

"While you and your mom were in Scotland?"

"He had a good job, and was doing very very well. So he would come and visit during holidays and such."

"Wow." Hiccup said in disbelief. "That's some kind of long distance relationship, your parents are amazing."

"Even I envy the bond they have with one another. What about your parents?"

"Their also doing the long distance thing. Not five years long of course. Right now my mom's in Indonesia, she studies exotic animals making sure their safe and they don't go extinct. Actually…" Hiccup said taking out his phone. "She sent me this picture a few days ago."

Merida took a look at the photo. Seeing a huge scaly creature on all fours, its tail curled around its body. She also saw a woman with a huge smile and braids crouching nearby unable to contain her excitement.

"Is that a giant lizard?"

"It's called a komodo dragon. She's obsessed with them right now."

"A dragon? Those things exist?" Merida said excited.

"Yeah, you wouldn't believe the kind of animals that around today." He smiled.

"You have her eyes."

"Most people say I take after her rather than my dad. She's only been gone a couple months, should be back in a few weeks."

"She travels a lot?"

"Not as much as you think. But we're not apart that much sometimes I'll go with her, sometimes my dad, and sometimes we'll go as a family."

"Your dad must miss her like crazy?"

"I think he does. He's not one to show his emotions about that type of thing. But I do know he's a lot more enjoyable when she's home."

"I can understand that. My mom's a lot easier to deal with when my father's there."

"This is first time you've ever brought up your mother. I've heard you mention your dad a couple of times, and you're always talking about your brothers. What kind a person is Mrs. DunBroch?" He asked innocently.

Merida was about to answer, but something caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. She really didn't hope it was what she thought it was. Since what she thought it was her brothers riding a bear.

"You've got to be kidding me. What are they doing?" Merida said aloud with regard to Hiccup.

"What are who doing?" Hiccup asked looking around until he noticed what she saw. "Is that Toothless?"

"And those would be my brothers."

The boys happily trotted up to their sister beaming with satisfaction. Their faces saying it all 'look at what we caught'.

She had wanted to be angry so they would know that this was not something they could do. But her resolve broke when she heard Hiccup stifle a laugh.

"Looks like toothless has found some new friends." Hiccup laughed aloud now that Merida had joined in.

Toothless was just happy to be in the company of his owner, and to see Merida again. He had thought he had found three tiny Merida's but now the real one was standing in front of him.

"Get off of him ya wee devils. He isn't a toy."

The boys did as they were told, pleased to see her in a better mood.

"It's okay he seems to be enjoying the attention. Aren't you bud?" he said rubbing his head.

The three boys watched the boy, he was new. They were almost positive they'd never seen him before.

"Boys this is Hiccup." Merida answered.

Hiccup.

"Hiccup. These are my brothers Hamish, Hubert, and Harris." Merida said placing her hand respectively on their heads introducing them.

Hiccup.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Hamish, Hubert, and Harris." He said more to himself than to them trying to remember if he'd be able to tell them apart even when they weren't always standing in that order.

Hiccup. The boys were positive that they had heard that name before. Hiccup. Hiccup. Hiccup was the name of the boy who hurt their sister.

'Who needs Hiccup anyway?', they remembered her saying, and this was that Hiccup. Who else would have that name? Who else would have that name and the guts to make Merida that upset, it was none other than this guy right in front of them. A guy who didn't deserve to be there, standing by their sister.

The boys abruptly walked away from the two, they'd handle this.

"Sorry about them." Merida said confused. "They're normal more friendly and easy going."

"Maybe I did something." He said rubbing his head.

"Don't worry about it. They'll find something else to keep their attention I'm sure. I actually wanted to talk to you about something."

"You know you can talk to me about anything."

"Okay, but it's more of an ask."

"Well than ask me anything." Hiccup smiled.

Whatever Merida wanted to ask Hiccup could tell she was nervous. He carefully took her hand once more trying to put her at ease. Showing her that whatever it was he was there for her.

"You know the Celebration Festival coming up?"

"Did you want to go?"

"Yes. I do. Are you going?"

"Is this your way of asking me out?" he said raising an eyebrow. "Because I thought we already went through that phase of our relationship, not that I'm not liking it."

"I guess I am, but that's not really what I wanted to ask."

Hiccup started to ask what she had really wanted but the force of a small object had hit him in the back of the head. He immediately placed his hand to rub the sore spot turning around in the direction it had come from behind him. But saw nothing.

"Ow. What was that?"

"What wrong?"

"I think I was hit in the head."

"By?"

Hiccup started looking around and noticed the only thing it could be. He bent down picking up an acorn, but shot up with an urgency when he felt the same pain hit him in his butt.

"Ouch." He screeched placing his hands over his bottom.

"Again? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Hiccup said, once again not seeing anything. "It's probably nothing. What were you going to ask me?"

"The Celebration Festival's coming up and I thought…"

Hit.

"…Ow. Seriously." Hiccup thought ignoring the pain that had hit his leg.

"Since anyone and everyone will be there, and it's a festive occasion…"

Hit.

"Oh come on." Hiccup thought as shot at the back of his neck.

"We've been dating and my parents are interested in meeting you. So I thought I'd introduce them to you as my boyfriend."

Hit.

"Give me a break." Hiccup shouted fed up with the constant attacks.

"What?" Merida exclaimed.

Hiccup turned to see Merida making a very mad and confused face. She had obviously thought he was talking to her when she had ask if he'd meet her parents.

"Wait. She wants me to meet her parents. She wants to introduce them to me…..And I just said give me break."

Hiccups eyes widened at his mistake.

"No. No. Nononononono. I was not talking to you. I would never say that. It's just something or someone keeps throwing acorns at my back."

Merida eyes slightly adjusted down to see all the acorns surrounded behind him from bouncing off his body. She then noticed three curly red heads bobbing up and down behind a bush.

"BOYS!" She shouted startling them and Hiccup. "Come here right now."

The boys sullenly walked towards her, hands behind their back. Merida placed her hands on her hips, taping her foot.

"Did you throw acorns at Hiccup?"

The three refused to meet her eyes. It's not like the really did anything wrong, he hurt their sister so they hit him with acorns. It wasn't even a fair trade, he was getting off easy.

"Boys." Merida egged. They nodded their heads reluctantly. "Show me your hands."

Hiccup watched as the boys held out a stick and rubber band fashioned as a slingshot.

"Now apologize."

The boys walked over to Hiccup handing him their slingshots. Hiccup confused, and a little scared took the slingshots.

"Sorry Hiccup that's probably the best you'll get out of them."

"Don't worry about it really."

"Boys go wait for me by the car." She demanded with a point of her finger. They didn't argue but followed the instructions.

Merida turned her attention back to Hiccup.

"I'm really sorry about them."

"Seriously Merida don't worry about it. They're probably just worried about some strange guy hanging out with their sister."

"Great. Just want I needed. I really thought they'd take to you."

"I'm sure they will. They might need time to get use to me. I'm sure I can at least impress your parents or get them to not throw acorns at me." He said with a soft smile.

"So you'll meet them?"

"Well of course."

Hiccup didn't have time to relish in the smile that was on Merida's face. In a moments time her arms were wrapped around his neck enveloping him in a hug.

"Thanks Hiccup." She said in his ear.

She slowly pulled away not completely releasing her arms. After locking eyes Merida soon found his lips with her own catching him in a quick kiss.

"No problem." He squeaked out.

"I should get going but I'll call you later." Merida said as she backed away.

Hiccup eyes followed her as she walked to her car and noticed he too was being watched by the triplets. He offered a friendly goodbye with a wave of his hand in an attempt to get on their good side.

He then watch as they simultaneously drew their fingers across their throats then acted out a dramatic death by falling on the floor, their hands reaching out as if they were grasping for air.

He was snapped out of their rendition of his life to come when Toothless walked up beside him.

"And where you while I was getting my butt handed to me by three grade school kids. They might really kill me."

Toothless uninterested turned and headed for the truck ready to leave.

"Thanks for your concern as always." Hiccup said walking with him. "Although they did a pretty good job with the slingshots."

(0.0)

"Hey Hiccup, ready to go?" Jack said walking towards him.

"All good. How was football conditioning?"

"I had fun and Flynn's a pretty cool dude. Are you sure you're not interested in coming out?"

"I'm perfectly happy watching from the sidelines."

"You and Merida both I suppose. You know Rapunzel is still trying to rope her into cheerleading."

"Whenever she doesn't have archery practice she's in the shop classroom with me trying to avoid her."

"Alone time with the girlfriend. Must be nice?" Jack said nudging him with his elbow.

"She's sorta been frantically briefing me on her parents, since she wants the meeting to go well."

"I can understand that. If the parents don't approve then the relationships done."

"You'd think she'd break up with me because her parents don't like me?"

"It's definitely something to consider. Flynn says her parents are really old fashioned."

"I figured as much, and since when did you and Flynn become best bros."

"The football field is a bonding experience, which is why I keep asking you to come."

"No thanks besides I get the feeling he doesn't like me."

"Stop being paranoid."

"Am I? I get the feeling that he's giving me a skeptical look over whenever we're together."

"You just need to get to know him."

"Becoming friends with Flynn can wait. I think I should focus on winning the DunBroch's over, all of them."

"Body still sore from the acorns?" He snickered.

"Hilarious. But they were like little ninjas. I couldn't seem them coming, and the slingshot was pretty creative once I got a second look at it. They'd shaved down part of the twig so that the acorn would travel a greater distance when the rubber band was pulled. Which actually gives me a great idea to when them over those little geniuses."

"Evil little geniuses." Jack mumbled. "Listen I know you would love to discuss their building technique but they're not the main focus. The Celebration Festival's not far away."

"Right. I've got to be the best me and impress them, so they'll approve of our relationship."

"Just be yourself. Your regular artsy machine crazed dog loving straight "A" student being self." He joked.

Hiccup couldn't help but laugh along at Jack's effort to cheer him on. He was never one to go the Celebration Festival, and this would be his first one in a long time. This would also be the first time he would be meeting the parents of a girlfriend, so his whole being was filled with nervousness.

But he was determined to succeed.

Merida was dedicated enough in their relationship to introduce him to her parents. Although he had introduced her to Gobber, that was an accident and this seemed to be a bigger milestone. The happiness in Merida's face when he had agreed to go was edged into mind forever.

He would not let her down. Mr. and Mrs. DunBroch were going to love him.

(0.0)

Merida sunk into the empty seat across from Rapunzel and Flynn. After archery practice, and cheerleading practice, and football conditioning the three needed a break from everything to just relax. And Merida needed to relax. Things were running loose and she couldn't control it. So there was no better place than being beside her friends.

"I think you're worrying about nothing." Rapunzel said sipping her smoothie. "I think your mom is going to love him."

"What do you think Flynn?"

"I think he's weird." Flynn said nonchalantly before getting a glance at Rapunzel, then he changed his posture. "I mean hear me out, the guys a bit of a shadow chaser."

"A shadow chaser?" Merida asked.

"You know, someone who's always in the background never joining in, keeps off the grid."

"You mean a loner." Punzie added.

"Exactly shadow chaser."

"Oh Eugene cut it out. Stop acting out you're just mad since Merida went and got a boyfriend while you were gone and you're taking it out on poor Hiccup."

"I'm not mad cause I don't care. All I'm saying is I want to have a more careful look at this dude. Examine his character."

"Sounds like ya care to me." Rapunzel said taking another sip.

"You sound like my mother." Merida said running her hands through her hair, leaning all the way back into the booth.

"Merida don't listen him. Hiccup's not the typical guy you would usual go for we can all see that, but. And you listen to this but, you too Eugene. But you like him even more. You like him because he's not typical or the norm. And if you like him and he makes you happy, super happy in fact, then how could we…" She said looking at Flynn. "…and your parents not love him."

"You think they'll like him. You think my mum will like Hiccup even if he's not a MacGuffin or Dingwall or a Macintosh?"

"Macintosh?" Flynn scuffed. "How could she not like anyone more than a Colin Macintosh."

"I'm sure she will." Rapunzel smiled.

"Thanks Punzie. I needed to hear that, and thanks Flynn for…being honest and worried."

"Anytime." They both chimed.

"Besides." Flynn began to add. "You're telling him everything he needs to know, so there's no way anything could go wrong."

They both noticed how Merida's eyes seem to dart to the ground refusing to make eye contact.

"Merida. What exactly haven't you told him yet." Rapunzel asked.

O.o Cliffhanger. Yes my lovelies cliffhanger. Next chapter will be the Celebration Festival so look forward to it. I hope you enjoyed. Please comment. xoxoxoxoxo