Oh wow this fic was ever so slightly neglected, huh?

Well, on we go.

-HTTYD-

"I could definitely get used to this."

Hiccup chuckled at his girlfriend, who was perched on a stool, papers in front of her as she watched him putter about her kitchen, making dinner for the four of them.

"Are you not already? This isn't the first time I've cooked for us."

She shrugged.

"I just... like it. It feels good, this whole domesticity thing. Seems to come kinda naturally, don't you think?"

"I do. So by all means, get used to it. Did you pick up the drinks?"

"I did, they're in that bag there."

Astrid pointed him to a large tote bag on the side, which he investigated and found the wine he'd told Astrid to get - he brought ingredients, and cooked, so she insisted on paying for the wine and juice for the kids. He put the juice in the fridge, since Maddie liked hers chilled and Alexis didn't care so long as it was fruity and within arms reach.

"How was work today?"

He asked as he diced some vegetables, occasionally glancing toward the living room door to check no sounds of screaming children or things catching fire. Astrid sighed, rubbing her face.

"Tiring. But I love my job. I just hate paperwork."

Astrid managed to make looking tired look good, in Hiccup's completely unbiased opinion. He wanted to kiss her and then make her take a nap, but she'd say no to the nap, especially as she liked to linger and watch him cook.

The kids had, naturally, been thrilled to hear they were finally getting to do family sleepovers. Small children didn't exactly understand the adult-relationship implications, so to them, it seemed like a long time to have waited.

Not that Hiccup expected such implications were a certainty, but it was a step forward in their relationship and he was happy with the progression. He was never really one for casual relationships; he was serious about Astrid, though he didn't ham it up in case she thought he was obsessive and rushing them.

"Wine?"

He asked once the food was all cooking and he had to wait, and Astrid made a grateful noise of assent. Smiling, he poured her a glass, got a kiss for his troubles and then filled cups to take through to their kids, who were transfixed by a documentary about reindeer (that Hiccup had seen, and so was content they weren't going to see anything getting mauled or harvested after death).

"Is Mala taking Maddie tomorrow?"

"Nope, just Sunday this week. She's got a work thing and has to travel tomorrow, so she won't be home til Saturday night."

Working out their lopsided custody was getting easier, though Hiccup was still as certain as before that Mala wouldn't last more than the year settled in England when her heart belonged in Australia. He was still happy to see Mads get so much time with her mother, and though motherhood was never Mala's calling in life, he was very much content she was happy to spend time with her daughter. And no matter what happened, Hiccup was never going to not be grateful she'd been willing to carry the child to term for him, because it was a monumental request and he wouldn't, couldn't have blamed her if she said no.

"Ah. Well, just means Maddie gets time with you or your mom."

"Yeah. Is Viggo still coming by tomorrow evening?"

"Yeah, but we have the whole day together, the four of us, and Lexi loves seeing her dad."

Astrid turned her attention back to her papers, so she had a hope of getting things done that evening and their day tomorrow was free to be enjoyed. Hiccup stirred and spiced and mixed, checked the kids were alive periodically before sending them to wash their hands while he plated up and Astrid set the table. It was a regular evening occurrence, the four of them sharing dinner, relaxing in front of the TV with children starting to doze off on their laps, while insisting they definitely weren't tired and got progressively more cranky.

"I'll go put up the air bed and get the spare covers for Maddie."

Astrid commented as she shuffled a half-asleep Alexis over, short dark hair sticking up comically where it had been resting against Astrid's chest for a bit. Maddie was flat out asleep, and would undoubtedly be grizzly when woken to brush her teeth and get in to her pyjamas. Still, Hiccup was fairly used to it, and thankfully, Mads was so keen to get to bed she was quiet, agreeable and practically in a rush to do as she was told, yawning and smiling as Hiccup tucked her in while Astrid did the same.

"There's a nightlight here, just in case you need it ok?"

The little light was soft, barely noticeable but enough to illuminate the way should one of the kids get up for the loo in the night.

"Thanks mom. Night."

"Night dad."

"Night kids."

Door closed behind them, Hiccup smiled over at Astrid, who returned it, the two returning to the sofa where she curled in to his side for lazy evening snuggles. She let her hair down so he could play with it, idly running his fingers through messy blonde tresses, breathing in the scent of peaches from her conditioner.

"I better make sure the kitchen is tidy, don't want to risk having left a knife lying around if those two are awake before us in the morning."

Astrid huffed, but reluctnatly let him peel himself out of her embrace, following him to the kitchen and helping clean up, running a cloth over the sides while Hiccup placed washed plates in the drying rack. Drying his hands on a tea towel, he noticed Astrid watching him rather intently.

"What's up?"

She tapped her fingers against the side of her leg, then beckoned Hiccup over. He went, happily, enjoying the rather intense kiss Astrid bestowed upon him. Though he enjoyed the words whispered against his ear by her even more.

"Fancy an early night?"

-HTTYD-

Hiccup, clueless: "Why would we do that? We have no wor- oh."