JACK

When Jack yawned the next morning and opened his eyes, it took him a moment to remember why his room didn't look like his room. The realization came quickly and Jack returned to more important matters, such as rubbing his eyes. He looked over at Hiccup, who appeared to still be sleeping soundly, before he glanced over at the clock. The alarm wasn't set to go off for another ten minutes, but Jack didn't think it was worth it to go back to bed for a mere ten minutes. Instead he lifted himself out of his bed as quietly as he could, then tip-toed across the hardwood floors towards the door. He paused when one of the boards squeaked and immediately checked to see if he had woken Hiccup. He didn't know how Hiccup would react to being roused early, and he didn't want to find out. Fortunately he didn't. He made a mental note of where the squeaky spot was and continued on his way.

Jack made quick work in the bathroom, showering and brushing his teeth in a record seventeen minutes. As he walked back across the hall to his and Hiccup's room, he could hear the alarm going off through the closed door. As he opened it he found Hiccup sitting in his bed, upright but eyes closed and head bouncing to the music.

"It's a good song," Jack commented to alert Hiccup to his presence. Hiccup smiled and opened his eyes at the voice, acknowledging his roommate.

"Yeah, it's one of my favourites. I hope you don't mind that this is the station the alarm was on."

"No, it's fine," Jack reassured with a smile.

"So, Mr. Earlybird over here is showing off by beating the alarm by a whole ten minutes, hm?" Hiccup heckled as he got out of his bed.

"Oh sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," Jack apologized, but Hiccup just waved it off.

"It's alright. I was awake anyways. I had been for like five minutes before that, I just didn't feel like getting up. It's not abnormal for me to beat the alarm anyways."

"Oh, well, it is for me," Jack laughed. "Normally an earthquake wouldn't get me out of bed."

Hiccup chuckled before heading for the door, and Jack could only assume he was making a beeline for the bathroom. When the door clicked closed Jack made his way to the closet, selecting what he'd wear for the day.

It was as Jack was picking his clothes that he realized something: today was their first day back at school. So much had happened just this weekend alone, Jack would never understand how everything had lined up into the perfect storm. Now they would probably have some explaining to do when they got back to school, especially since he was pulled out on Friday. He shook his head, electing to cross that bridge when he came to it.

He brought his clothes over to his bed, and he was in the middle of removing his shirt when he heard the door open once more. He didn't know why but he froze when he realized it was Hiccup, the material blocking his face which turned a pale red.

"Oh hey, Jack, I, uh, I just forgot this," was all Hiccup said before the door was closed once more. Jack shook his head at himself and put his shirt back down. He needed to remember that he no longer had his own room and that things like this were going to need to be accounted for. Wondering where he could get some guaranteed privacy his eyes once more wandered back to his closet. Stepping inside he recalled commenting to himself that it would be big enough to change in. Deciding that this is where he would be changing from now on, he closed the door and got dressed for the day.

...

Jack made his way downstairs before Hiccup returned from the bathroom. He wasn't sure if the brunet actually needed this long or if he was making sure to avoid another incident, but he didn't care. As he descended the stairs, momentarily having to think to remember where exactly the kitchen was, he listened to see who else was up. Aster had mentioned last night he had class later in the day so he was most likely sleeping, and he was pretty sure he heard three voices coming from the kitchen, indicating Aster was the only one left sleeping. He then realized that Sandy may still be asleep, but if the man had a job to get to then he was most likely up as well. As he entered the kitchen, his guesses were confirmed.

"Good morning Jack," Toothiana said as she spotted the boy. "I'm making pancakes, is that alright? We also have cereal of you prefer."

"Pancakes are fine, thanks Mrs. Frost. I mean mom, I mean Toothiana, I mean…" Jack stumbled, still not entirely sure what to call his biological mother. He was partially glad his mother had been on her way out of the room when he'd entered so she didn't have to hear that.

"That's alright sweetie. You call me whatever you feel comfortable, alright?" she asked, setting a plate of pancakes and some syrup in front of the boy at the table. Jack smiled in return but did not reply. As Jack dug into his pancakes, Hiccup entered the room as well.

"Morning m…everyone," Hiccup started, stopping himself a little earlier than Jack had. Clearly he was having the same problem, and it made Jack feel better to know that he wasn't alone. Within a few seconds though he was sitting next to Jack with his pancakes, acting like nothing had happened. Valka hadn't had the chance to hear Hiccup's slip up either, as she returned after it with the newspaper.

"So, Hiccup," Jack said between syrupy bites of amazingly light and fluffy pancakes, "What do you want to do about Astrid, Fishlegs, and Ruffnut?"

"What do you… oh," Hiccup said, the realization dawning on him. "Right. Well, what do you think?"

"Well they'll find out eventually, so I figure we should be the ones to tell them. Right?"

"Yeah that's true," Hiccup conceded. He took another bite while he thought of exactly what they should do. "I think the best time is lunch. They'll probably ask about where you went last week anyways."

"Yeah, you're probably right."

"You boys do whatever you're comfortable doing," Valka piped in. "Don't let others dictate what you have to do."

"She's right," Toothiana agreed from the other end of the table, giving North more pancakes. "But hurry or you'll be late for school."

"Right," both boys said in unison before finishing their breakfast and heading back upstairs to grab their bags.

VALKA

"You know, they were confused about what to call us when you were getting the paper," Toothiana mentioned after the boys had left for the day.

"I figured they would be," Valka sighed, opening the paper on the table. Toothiana took the seat across from her, finally taking the chance to eat her own breakfast.

"But so I know, what are you comfortable with? For Jack and for Hiccup."

"Well, I never really thought about it. What about you?"

"Personally I don't mind them both calling both of us mom. If they want to that is. What about you?"

"That sounds fine to me. But you're right, we need to let them decide on their own."

"So, what are you reading?" Toothiana asked, effectively changing the topic. It was a change that Valka welcomed; while she had been putting on a brave face this whole situation was still rather rocky for her.

"Oh, just the classifieds."

"Why are you reading those?" North asked, officially rejoining the conversation. He had been uncharacteristically quiet over the last few minutes which had led both ladies to forget he was even still in the room. It was impressive considering the man's stature made him hard to miss.

"Well I'm going to need a job now. I have my expenses and then there's the university fund and rent…"

"Rent?" the Frosts asked in unison.

"Well yes, I mean I wouldn't feel right living here without contributing."

"Is very generous of you, but that won't be necessary," North assured. "You are like family!" He decided to leave out the fact that as soon as he had learned of the whole scenario he had gone out and set up a university fund for Jack. Before she could continue to argue, however, North continued. "But tell me, what did you do before you quit your job?"

"Nothing actually. I mean I worked retail when I was a teenager but when I got married I just sort of became a homemaker. Which was sped along since we had…the baby young." Valka said, treading carefully around the last part of the sentence. She wanted to say Jack originally, but technically she had had Hiccup. "My main marketable skill is cleaning."

"Actually," Toothiana started after a quick glance at her husband, "That would be quite a useful skill around here. I mean I'm at the office most of the day and North works late on a regular basis, and sometimes the house and the cooking get left behind. The number of times a week we order take out sometimes is just terrible! I mean some of that stuff is so loaded with sugar and it ruins our teeth!"

"Of course if you'd rather get a job that is fine too," North added, making sure Toothiana wouldn't go into another one of her dental hygiene rants and to assure Valka she could do whatever she wanted to do to contribute. "We were going to hire someone soon regardless, so if you would like the position it's open."

"Well it would mean less job hunting and I'd get to spend more time with the boys since I'll almost always be here." Valka paused to think for just a second before she said, "I'll do it!"

"Excellent! Then we start interview now," North said, folding his hands on the table. He looked Valka over once and said, "That is what you wear to interview?"

Before Valka could even process a potential response Toothiana had playfully slapped North on the shoulder, and the three of them began to laugh.

"Alright, I've got to do the dishes and run," Toothiana said as she tossed the dishes into the sink. "My first appointment is in an hour."

"Go ahead," Valka said, coming up behind her. "Last time I checked this was my job," she laughed, and Toothiana smiled.

"Thank you!" she said as she made her way to the door. "Maybe now I'll get to get set up and settled in before my first patient!"

"Always a good thing!"

"I'm afraid I must be off now to factory as well," North said, standing up and bringing his plate to Valka. "Thank you again for this."

"No, thank you," she smiled, and North was off with a chuckle.

Valka made quick work of the dishes before she wiped down the counter and table and had everything put away. She spent a few minutes meandering the main floor, seeing what needed to be done. She found a few spots that needed dusting, a couple of rooms that could use a good vacuuming, and the fridge was running low on some supplies. She decided to leave the grocery store for later and found a Swiffer in the front closet.

Her day went pretty normally; if she had been in her old house it would have felt like a normal day by herself with Jack at school and Stoick at work. She tried not to think of those days now, but she envied how much simpler they seemed. Ignorance really was bliss sometimes.

She was meandering they upstairs hallway in her so far unsuccessful attempt to locate a vacuum cleaner when she was startled by a suddenly opened door. She made no sound of surprise, and Aster would barely have even noticed her had he not heard her walking down the hall from inside his room.

"Oh, hey Valka, how are you?" he asked, sealing his bedroom door behind him.

"I'm alright, thanks," she responded, but before she could continue Aster asked another question.

"How'd you sleep? I know it can be rough in a new bed and place for the first time. When I went to Australia I couldn't sleep right for almost two weeks." Valka was touched by the sentiment, appreciating that he actually seemed to care about her rather than adopting a 'whatever' attitude as he had with the boys.

"I slept well, thank you," she smiled.

"Good to hear." When the conversation lulled at that point, Valka asked the question she had meant to earlier.

"Do you know where the vacuum cleaner would be?" she asked, figuring if she was going to get it done in the next hour she was going to need a little direction.

"Oh, it's in the closet at the end of the hall," Aster responded, thrusting a thumb in the general direction. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to miss my train." Aster picked up his bag, which Valka hadn't even noticed at first, and he started to walk off but he was stopped when Valka asked him another question.

"Do you need a lift?"

"No, that's alright, I have my car."

"What about breakfast?"

"I'll have something at school, thanks though!" Aster said, continuing his walk. Valka took three steps towards the closet before she realized something.

"Aster, are you parked in the garage closest or farthest from the front door?" she called, running to the top of the stairs to try and catch him before he walked out of the door.

"Farthest, why?" Aster responded, fortunately not quite out the door yet. Valka made her way downstairs and grabbed her keys from her jacket.

"I'm blocking you in. I'll come move my car," Valka said.

Aster nodded with a smile, and as they walked along the front path he asked, "So, any plans for today?"

"Just cleaning the house," Valka supplied, opening the door to her car while Aster opened the garage. He thought over the sentence before stopping dead in his tracks. Valka moved her car over to the side of the driveway closest to the door so she only blocked the workbenches, and when she got out Aster was sure to add something.

"Hey, just so you know I normally clean my own room so feel free to ignore it." Aster didn't wait for a response before he got in his car, and he drove out of the garage a little faster than normal. He sincerely hoped that she wouldn't go in there, since he had left his tattoo equipment lying out. He hadn't told anyone that he had given himself a tattoo yet, and that was not how he wanted his family to find out.

Valka, on the other hand, stood on the driveway confused as Aster drove down the street. She wondered if he was hiding something in his room, but in the end she decided that she'd respect his privacy.

...

Not much to say this time. I hope you enjoyed. Leave a review if you'd like. *shrugs*