Life As We Know It

Rated; M for Mature
Pairing; Hiccup & Toothless(Tallon)
Disclaimer; I do not own anything HTTYD-related. Everything belongs to its original creator.

70)

=Hiccup's POV=
(9/15/2019-7:00 am)
(Archipelago; Isle of Berk)
(Hooligan Village; Docks)

As much as I said I needed to think about my choice to stay king or not; I knew what I'd pick right after Drake and Toothless implored that I shouldn't just quit my position as it literally gave me all the power. Not that I was power hungry and wanted to be in charge of everything, but this did let me change all the things I thought I couldn't before. Being Chief of Berk gave me some leeway, but it did not rescue me from the laws and traditions that all tribes followed. Now, as King of the Archipelago; I can change these things for myself…And after hearing the other Heirs and Heiresses; they're begging me to change it for them too. How could I not stay king and make everything better? I wasn't going to thrust the Archipelago into the modern world. No, it would take Odin only knows how many years to get things here like they are everywhere else. And besides, not everywhere else in the world was advanced either. Like the Amish people, or those who lived on islands with a small group of people. But I could change things so that way they could live easier and more comfortably. It seemed everyone was on board with the idea. I also felt they believe they don't have a choice as I'm king and you don't go against your leader.

Regardless; I spent the rest of the lock down contemplating how to go about beginning this. The snow was light in the morning on the 9th, the day after I made my decision to stay king. The storm itself tapered around 3 pm on the same day. To make things easier on everyone; we only cleared paths to homes and the stay area from the Great Hall. We used the dragons to make it faster. I did a damage assessment with Toothless and the dragon riders on Scardian. It wasn't bad, just a lot of little things that would take some time next to all the clearing, and doing other daily tasks. Everyone went home when I said it was clear, we returned to the hall for dinner at 7:00 pm, and then it was back to our homes to get a good night's rest as the work began on the 10th. And that has been our week until today. The Chieftains, and their offspring helped, even the modern group too. That's likely why it all went so fast while I oversaw, directed, and jumped in to assist if needed.

We only had one bad day where not much got done; it was due to strong winds and a thunderstorm. Everyone stayed home that day, except Toothless and his family as they took the chance to teach Toothless how to channel lightning and work his abilities. Toothless could now easily shift between human and dragon, so we got to enjoy our flights again. But didn't forget about Scardian; we both still flew him when Toothless was human. With everything done in the village, recovered from the storm; I knew it was time to make sure everyone got home this time. Starting with the modern group; they'd been here since June. Well, some of them; the rest had been there since July. It was already the middle of September, so everyone needed to get back to normal lives. I would return to Norway after my father's punishment ended; this gave me more time to sort out Archipelago Affairs. I knew, for the most part, how I was going to do things; I just hoped it would work.

Right now, as agreed the night before, everyone traveling was on the docks; I had the Norway group pack up and get ready to return home. And this time, I was making sure they got there. It would be a full trip there today, then likely spend the night, and I'd return to the Archipelago the next day. However, the Chieftains also needed to get home; they'd been gone far too long. Not that it mattered; I had the riders go out during cleaning and restoration to make sure all the islands were set and inform them that their leaders would be home soon. So, what I planned to do was bring the Chieftains with me to Norway when I took the modern group back. They wanted to see it anyway, so what the hell? One day won't make a difference. My concern, of course, was the barrier. At the same time; I wasn't as scared about it closed as before. Toothless and I were in love and accepted by everyone. Toothless's changing wasn't due to the barrier at all. I wasn't afraid of anything anymore. So, I pre-warned the leaders that if we got stuck on the Norway side; they better okay with it as we wouldn't get back for another month. Toothless's family is also returning to Norway. I was making it so everything went back to normal, only I'm king now.

"It's 7 am now. If we make good time, we reach the boundary marker in three to four hours. Past that is another three and a half to four hours to Norway for those of you making the journey. Spitelout, you're in charge until I get back. My father's punishment stays in effect until I return and touch boots back down on this dock. Clear?" I asked.

"Yes, sir." Spitelout said.

"If that barrier closes, don't expect the return to be tomorrow night. It will be a month from now, give or take a few days." I informed.

"We got this, King Hiccup." Sven waved it off.

"Just Hiccup is fine, guys…" I sighed. "That being said…Load up in your assigned boat from last night." I added. Without any kind of arguing or hassle, everyone loaded up and got settled for the trip.

"Set sail! We head for the Southeastern Boundary!" Toothless announced, looking up at his father and siblings who were already in dragon form and beginning to fly. Toothless elected to stay human and ride with me on the boat. After everyone was set; we raised anchor and headed Southeast.

. . .

(11:00 am)
(Barbaric Archipelago)
(Southeast Boundary Marker)

Floating up to the marker; I began to get nervous and Toothless already took hold of my hand. I looked at him with nervousness in my eyes.

"Ssh, everything is going to be fine, love. Remember? As long as we're together?" Toothless began.

"Then we'll always be alright and everything will work out." I replied with a nod, the fear and nervousness fading away. Toothless just had that effect on me and I didn't mind one bit.

"We doing this the same as last time, Hiccup?" Cuyler inquired from the wheel of his ship.

"Yes, all together at the same time." I responded firmly. "We can't take the risk of it sealing half of us in here…"

"Understood." Cuyler nodded as his coworker on the other boat nodded too. Toothless took control of driving the ship as I just watched, desperately praying to all the Gods and Goddesses that the barrier wouldn't close again. That it would go back to being passable all the time.

"Alright, let's do this. All together at the same time." Toothless stated. Not more than five minutes later, all three boats side by side went through the barrier. Once through completely, I kept my eyes open and watching intently. The barrier never flashed or closed; I kept testing it with my hand and arm for a good half hour.

"Huh. Guess there's no keeping the king down." Snotlout snickered.

"SNOTLOUT!" A fairly large group of people yelled to quiet him.

"It was just a joke!" Snotlout stated.

"Seriously, though…How…Is it still open?" Toothless asked, standing beside me now.

"Not sure. I know it was fine for us all those years of the back and forth. It started sealing when dad and the others came through in March…So…This doesn't make any sense to me when a group this big wouldn't activate it. It closed with ten coming to Norway, three returning to the Archipelago. Then the numbers I really don't feel like counting, but the bottom line is that every time this barrier was crossed since March…It would become impassable and the number crossing was bigger each time. This is, by far, the biggest group…And it's still open after thirty minutes. It normally shuts almost instantly." I said, trying to think on it as Drake hovered beside Toothless and I now.

"I believe I may have discovered the cause, son." Drake said.

Toothless glanced at him. "I'm inclined to hear it, but let's get to Norway first. I'd rather not have to translate every time you talk."

"Fair enough."Drake nodded once to his son.

"You know I can hear him, right?" I rolled my eyes. "Regardless, getting to Norway is top priority. We'll assume for now that it's staying open and we can check tomorrow when we come back. Continue sailing, on to Norway! If it stays good, we should be getting there around before dinner time." With nothing left to really say or do; they got sailing towards Norway.

. . .

(4:30 pm)
(Norway)
(Hiccup & Toothless's House)

"This is our stop." Toothless smiled as we pulled up to our home dock and hopped off to get it tied in place.

"We'll head to ours and dock there." Cuyler nodded. "You keeping all of them with you?"

"Don't have much choice. They haven't been here before, and I can't expect them to know how to handle this despite what they know of it from stories." I informed. "We'll see you tomorrow at some point."

"Of course. You'll be at work, right lad?" Henrik chuckled.

"Restaurant is closed on Mondays, Henrik…" I rolled my eyes at him.

"I was teasing! Lighten up and get the stick out of your ass, boy." Henrik sighed.

"I'll get the stick out when situations wanna stop shoving it in more!" I growled.

Henrik laughed. "Fair enough. I'll make it known you're still on vacation for a bit longer when we all go to work on Wednesday."

"Appreciated." Hiccup replied as the other two boats headed off, leaving Hiccup and Toothless with the Chieftains, Heirs, and riders.

"Not gonna lie, feels weird to be back." Dagur stretched his arms up.

"Good weird or bad?" Heather wondered.

"Good. I love it here, so laid back and no stress." Dagur smiled.

"Now you see why I didn't want to leave." Hiccup chuckled. "Come on, let's get inside. If we happen to have any food that didn't go bad; I can make dinner."

Still taking it all in, the leaders moved with the riders and heirs or heiresses towards the large house in the woods. Toothless's family had already set down in dragon form, carefully, and shifted to their human sides with ease before walking on the porch as I grabbed my keys and got the door unlocked and opened up. Toothless flipped on all the lights and instantly grabbed me around the waist; twirling me once and kissing me deeply once I was against his frame.

"What was all that for?" I blinked.

"Happy to be home." Toothless smiled.

I blushed a little. "Happy and thankful to be home." I replied in agreement. Toothless shut the door once everyone was in and had them just find places to sit. We brought in extra chairs from the outside shed for those who didn't grab a chair or couch to sit on. Of course I already made it known to stay off my chair. Mine and Toothless's house, there was no way we weren't sitting on our own stuff.

Not all the leaders came, so it wasn't as big a group as I thought. Some just sent their kid along for the experience since they'd all be living it soon if I had my way. It was mostly heirs or heiresses. Dagur, Mala, Alvin, Viggo, Ryker, Norbert, and Mogadon came, but that was it for leaders. Atali didn't come, but she sent her second in command, Minden, along to see things and report back when she returned to the Archipelago. And it was my assumption that Viggo, Ryker, and Alvin came because this is where their kids and grandkids grew up, so they wanted to see it. Dagur and Mala came because they liked it. Mogadon was curious and wanted to see it for himself. The riders came because why the hell not, and apparently had fun last time they came. The heirs or heiresses that came were Camicazi, Thuggory, Gala, Magnor, and Soren. Heather came because she was a dragon rider, Astrid's best friend, and also Dagur's little sister. Gobber came too, just because it was for me who he loved like a son. Obviously, Toothless's family came and his father had already taken off to alert the rest of the pack staying in Norway he was back, plus catching them up. Alva, Dag, and Cort stayed behind at the house.

"So….No chance of us extending this a couple days to see one of your work nights?" Thuggory hoped with the others.

I instantly shot him an unamused look. "Can't blame us for asking, can you? Everyone else already got to see it." Camicazi giggled.

"I will think, and only think, about it. Restaurant isn't even open for business for another three days, and I had not anticipated us being here that long. I don't even know where I'm putting all of you yet…" I sighed.

"Where did you put your dad and them?" Viggo wondered.

"First week were in the two spare bedrooms down that hall. The rest of the time was up in that loft." Toothless pointed to the two places. "And that was when there was ten of them not twenty-four…" He added. "Seriously, where are we putting them this time?"

"Split them up among what's available. Some may have to take the living room floor is all." I shrugged. I honestly wasn't worried about it. I knew it would be a thing to figure out when I said they could come. "We've got the two bedrooms, loft, and here in the living room. It should be more than enough. It's not like we have to worry about crossing the living room to use the bathroom; we have our own."

"Very true." Toothless nodded to him. "Well, let's get that taken care of while you, hopefully, scrounge up food to cook. I miss it. I'll handle them, like I did the first time."

"You're the best. And if we have it, I'll make your favorite." I kissed his cheek.

"No, no. You're definitely the best, your-" Toothless began to bow to him.

"Tooth, I swear to the Gods if you don't knock off that formal bow shit just because I'm king of the Archipelago; you will get nothing from me tonight." I warned.

"Aw come on, that's not even fair…I was looking forward to mating you again." Toothless pouted.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "Just for that, I'm not making your favorite anymore."

"Oh, so mean." Toothless teased. "What if you're my favorite?"

"Then you're grounded from sex for a week. And yes, I can be." I moved into the kitchen as I heard him muttering about it being cute when I'm mad. "I heard that you pain in my ass, Toothless."

"I'll make it pleasure later, promise!" Toothless called.

I whipped around. "TOOTHLESS!" He only laughed and quickly hurried the others to get up so he could show them everything, and to hurry before I killed him.

"He's gonna hurt you…" Gobber stated.

"Nah, he'll be fine later when I start kissing his neck or give him a back massage. Won't take much after that to-," Toothless started.

"TOOTHLESS RASERI!" I glared as Toothless tensed and turned slowly.

"I love you…" Toothless tried.

"Uh huh…Sure you do." I muttered, turning to find something to make for dinner.

"When he tries to kill you, I'm not stopping him." Dag, Alva, and Cort sighed.

"Why are you purposely making him mad?" Ryker asked.

"Because it's fun, and I know he's not actually mad at me. This is us just playing with one another; he knows I'm kidding with him. Mostly." Toothless said. "If he were actually mad and upset, he'd have walked away and slammed the door to the bedroom. I just know him that well." He smiled as I saw it from the corner of my eye while opening the fridge. "It actually takes quite a bit to get him mad."

"Like what Stoick did?" Mogadon wondered.

"Nah, that wasn't even mad either. That was upset and hurt because it was betrayal. It sounds angry because he yells, but he's not." Toothless revealed quietly. I still heard him, but I knew he was trying to hint with the quieter tone not to bring all that up again. I knew it happened, everyone did, but I wanted it to be done and over with. I didn't say anything and just kept scoping out the fridge; there wasn't anything I could really make for a large group like this. "Anything good in there, babe?"

"No, nothing that would feed this many people. I'll run out to the store and grab something for tonight." I stated while closing the fridge and moving into the living room to get my wallet, phone, and keys. "Be back soon." I kissed his cheek and headed out the door before he could say anything. I really just needed some air right now and having to go to the store worked, aside from the fact that I had to go there to pick up food. I hopped in the car, flipped it on, secured my seat belt, and then drove down the road to get to the store. Toothless was right, I wasn't mad at him; I knew everything he said was jokingly, and I didn't really care he said it all. Everyone knew we had sex now, so whatever. I knew Toothless liked my reactions, and just like he'd do anything to see me smile; I do for him as well. That's just how we are; what makes us so perfect. I truly love Toothless, and I couldn't wait to marry him.