Lizzy had helped her grandfather to bed soon after he'd finished telling his story. With him in bed she'd set to work tidying up and was now stood in the short hall to the front door, her hand poised on the light switch. With a deft movement, the living room and kitchen were darkened, with the only light creeping through the gaps in the curtains. As she gathered up her bag and coat to leave, she stood at the doorway to Hiccup's room, checking in on him before she left for home. Sat in a basket by her grandfather's bed, the German Shepherd perked up and looked at her with soulful green eyes.
"Go back to sleep, Toothless." she whispered. The dog tilted his head for a moment, before resting it back on his paws. She quietly crept into the room and placed a kiss on her grandfather's head, before stepping back and smiling fondly. "Good night, Papa."
Without a sound she exited the room, closing the door behind her.
Hiccup lay still and silently in his bed, his mind withdrawing from his apartment... and from New York.
He was somewhere unfamiliar, but peaceful... and he felt the sensation of flying.
Out of the darkness emerged a shape, a knife's edge... which flowed and expanded, growing into a much larger object.
It was covered in rusticles, devoid of paintwork and decking, and had most of its railings stripped away. What superstructure remained was mangled and collapsed in places, and the funnels were long gone. The bridge had been completely lost, and the foremast had smashed against the crumpled bulwark.
Despite the considerable damage and the subsequent years of decay, the deteriorated hull of the R.M.S. Titanic was still recognisable, there were still traces of beauty in the grand ghost ship.
He was still flying, drawn towards the wreck. Hiccup homed in on the A-Deck enclosed Promenade, passing empty doorways and shattered windows. Above him, the ceiling was festooned with encrusted pipes, dangling cables and more stalactite-like rusticles.
As Hiccup drifted along the deck, he bore witness to a metamorphosis that began to occur. A brilliant warm light began to glow from the darkened windows and doorways, flooding out onto the promenade. The light appeared to transform the ship, restoring it to it's former grandeur.
The promenade was as he remembered it from 1912, and he turned as he felt the strong urge to enter the Grand Staircase.
The door was opened for him as he entered, a smiling steward on either side. Within the landing was a crowd of faces, many of them familiar.
To his left were the members of the ship's orchestra, who held their instruments proudly as they bid him welcome. Beyond them was Tommy, his face beaming in warm welcome. Behind the Irishman, Benjamin Guggenheim nodded politely, whilst Father Thomas Byles behind him offered a kind smile.
To Hiccup's right, John Jacob Astor happily bowed in recognition, whilst Cora waved as she was held by her smiling father. Beyond them were Fabrizio and Helga, her hands wrapped around his arm as the couple beamed at the new arrival.
As Hiccup approached the staircase, two more faces came into view; First Officer Murdoch and Thomas Andrews. The shipbuilder gave Hiccup a warm smile and a nod as the younger man passed.
Above him, the upper landing of the staircase was just as crowded, filled with friendly and welcoming faces. Stood on the mezzanine by the clock with his back to Hiccup was an unmistakeable figure, and in response he felt his cheeks flush and his mouth smile.
Jack Overland looked over his shoulder, casually turning as Hiccup reached his level. The American held his left hand out, which the young Scotsman took. They both stood there, taking in the moment, reunited after so many long years apart.
Above and below, the crowd watched as the two young men hovered, before they finally shared a passionate kiss.
The sound of applause reverberated all around them from the crowd. Despite the barriers of class, despite the trials of adversity... despite the separation of the years and of life and death, Jack Overland and Hamish "Hiccup" Haddock were back together, and they would never let each other go.
The End