Wow, it's been a while. April sorta vanished out from under us all. Terribly sorry.

-HTTYD-

Valka jerked awake with a gasp, one hand clutching at her stomach while the other reached next to her. Instead of warm, bare skin, she found soft material, the residual anxiety of her nightmare slowing her memory.

"Valka?"

Mala's voice managed to bring her back down just enough to remember that yes, Eret wasn't there. She was on Berk, and probably the safest resident on the entire island just then, with Throk and a half dozen of Mala's best trained Defenders sleeping outside the house in tents (they'd been offered better places to sleep, but they were dutiful guardians).

"Are you alright?"

"Bad dream."

She pushed the covers off herself, still feeling shaky as she rubbed her belly. The bump itself was barely noticeable, but it was reassuring to feel the solid shape of it under her skin. Cool night air rushed to chill her clammy skin, Mala following her. In the cloudy moonlight that came through the open window - the building got awful stuffy, insulated against the altitudes chill a little too well - Valka could see Mala's hair in a slightly ruffled state, which was a rare sight in itself.

Valka poured herself some water, still unable to keep herself from cradling her bump. Mala, with her endless wisdom, watched quietly for a moment.

"Was your nightmare about your pregnancy, perhaps?"

"From what I can remember. I just woke feeling so scared for them."

Much of the nightmare had already filtered away, grappling for details fruitless as they disappeared like smoke between her hands. Mala squeezed her shoulder gently, waited patiently for Valka to get a hold of herself. The two women sat down, Valka feeling as though the gown that hung up on the wall waiting was watching her somehow, urging her to get a grip and be well rested for the morning. She half expected Mala to say the same - her friend was a rather practical woman.

"Has this sort of thing happened before?"

"Once or twice, over the last couple of weeks."

"Ever since you and Eret finalised a date, yes?"

Valka nodded.

"That doesn't mean I'm not sure about Eret."

Mala didn't take offence at Valka's slightly sharp tone, answering with calm patience.

"I never implied that it did, but you have had a lot of fear and done a lot of fretting over this moment, especially with some of Berk none too fond of the union and you still rebuilding a relationship with your son. On top of which, you have confided in me some concerns about your pregnancy. I think that given everything that you have going on in your life right now, a few bad dreams are perfectly normal."

Well, Mala wasn't wrong. About any of it.

"Yes, I suppose you're right."

Their friendship was, in some ways, unconventional, Valka knew. They'd gone months, even a year without seeing each other, and Mala's tribe were completely opposed to flying upon the backs of dragons, while much of Valka's life had been shaped by the feeling of flight. Valka had ended up in the young woman's life by complete chance, and only the mercy and faith of the Defenders had kept she and Cloudjumper alive to fight another battle, save another dragon. Mala was quite a rigid, ruthless Queen, more than capable of a massacre if she felt it necessary, while Valka wanted little more than peace, for humans and dragons.

They were very different women, though they shared some core values and beliefs.

But she really was incredibly grateful for Mala's presence in her life. Especially that night, steady and comforting as pre-marriage jitters and dark dreams shook them both from peaceful slumber.

"Of course I am" the moonlight caught Mala's smirk, the spark of playfulness in her eyes that was seemingly reserved for Valka alone "now, do you feel ready to return to bed, or would you like to stay up for a while longer?"

Undeniably calmed by Mala's reasoning and soft, gentle voice to match the night, Valka felt she could at least try to get more sleep. Rather than fuss about any of it, Mala openly offered to let Valka cuddle her for comfort if it would help her sleep well. Mala was not Eret, but she was warm and solid and someone Valka deeply cared for, and though moments like that evening would be rare, she cherished the friendship and comfort offered, and valued that Mala so rarely showed such a tender, gentle side to anybody else.

She hoped Eret was sleeping better down in the village, having been put up by Gobber for the evening. Though he had joked that the tradition keeping them apart the night before their ceremony seemed somewhat moot - Valka was already carrying his child, and she had been wed before, so it wasn't as though they were preserving her chastity. He'd never tried to get out of it though, obligingly honouring Berk's traditions without a single complaint.

Valka woke with Mala still holding her, though her friend was already wide awake despite the barely-there-sunrise telling of an early hour.

"Did you sleep better?"

"I did. Thank you."

A small smile and a short nod was Mala's answer, but Valka understood well enough that now Valka wasn't overly emotional, Mala's regal mask was slipping back into place before they were seen by anyone else that day. Because that was just what he was like, Eret had left fixings for breakfast that morning for the two of them, as in Eret's words...

"I know Mala is brave, but that doesn't mean she should have to brave your cooking!"

He was ridiculous, and Valka loved him for it. Gods, they were to be wed in only a couple of hours!

The thought made her stomach almost too twisted up to eat, but a small nudge from the little one growing inside her reminded Valka she needed to eat. While she heated things, Mala had cleaned up and dressed herself before heading out to send her people on water-fetching duty. They ate together in companiable silence, the sounds of dragons beginning to wake for the day coming in through open windows.

At her first wedding, Valka's presentation had been more of a group effort, but then she had been about to marry the Chief. This time around, it was only Mala, which she didn't terribly mind - the two had shared baths before, and gods knew Valka needed the help when it came to taming her hair. As she sat obediently while Mala placed intricate braids in her hair, Valka was surprised by her friends words.

"I must confess, I did not approve when I first realised something was developing between yourself and Eret. I did not trust him as you did. But I trusted you to make your own decisions, and since then Eret has definitely earned my respect, just as he earned your heart."

Taking a minute to mull her words over, Valka eventually nodded.

"Thank you. I appreciate your honesty. And approval, which I think was hidden in there somewhere."

Mala laughed lightly, nodding when she'd circled around to Valka's front to check her handiwork.

"Lovely. He will scarcely be able to believe his luck."

That got Valka laughing too, shaking her head fondly at her friend. She hoped they'd find other times where Mala could be as she was, free and funny without so much weight of leadership on her shoulders.

There was a squawk outside Valka couldn't help but identify as a Nadder, before there was some muffled speech outside and a smart rapping of knuckles on the door. Mala looked to Valka, question of expecting anyone? clear on her face, followed by a slight frown when Valka shook her head. As Valka stood, Mala crossed to answer the door.

"Ah. Astrid Hofferson."

"Morning Mala. Just came to say we're about ready when Valka is."

Eret had left herbs for her stomach-settling drink, and Mala had steeped it for her, so Valka downed that before she stepped in to her boots and crossed over toward the door.

"Where's Cloudjumper, and the children?"

"Getting dressed."

Valka was perplexed, but Astrid offered no more explanation, simply a ride down the slope of the mountain upon Stormfly's back. A couple of the other riders were there waiting to help the Defenders of the Wing get down too, though all of them looked to Mala for permission before they dared even get close.

Mala stayed at her side as they walked toward the spot, small crowd already assembled. Valka spotted Hiccup first, still looking a little uncomfortable with being the centre of attention as Chief. After that, she saw Cloudjumper, Tripfire and their offspring, seeming quite smug to be 'up the front' as it were, and she laughed to herself as she saw what 'getting dressed' had meant.

Then she saw Eret.

"Rise and shine!"

Eret leapt violently from his sleep spot and landed heavily on the floor, grunting in pain. He was very confused and panicked that he'd been captured and put in a cell again, before his eyes and brain started to focus and he realised he was actually in Gobber's home.

"Wow, you're an early bird."

"I am when there's a wedding! I love weddings!"

Rubbing his face, Eret yawned and looked out of the window. It was barely even light!

After the initial shock of his wake up call, Gobber did present Eret with tea and breakfast, which helped wake him up. He spent the next hour or so taking a bath and getting ready, Gobber giving him another run down on how everything would go.

"Nervous?"

"Not really. I mean, I never really expected to be able to settle down after Drago... happened to my tribe. So everything that has happened since I met Valka has pretty much been one long, pleasant surprise."

Gobber nodded, sinking down to sit next to Eret. He lifted his organic hand to pat Eret's shoulder.

"From what I've gotten to see since you got here... you're good for her. She's happy, and I know Stoick would want that for her."

Eret swallowed thickly, and nodded. For someone who clearly knew Stoick better than anyone, perhaps excluding Hiccup, Eret felt as though Gobber was offering the highest praise that he could.

"Thanks. I promise to take good care of her."

"Aye."

They stood, Eret plucking at his tunic a little.

"What's wrong?"

"Never really worn white before. I grew up in a lot of snow, if we wore white we'd probably get lost."

"Well, it suits ya."

Chuckling, Eret left Gobber to his harmless ogling. It probably wasn't often Gobber was in the company of anyone he could be assured of his safety. Not that Eret had managed to gauge Berk's level of acceptance. Gobber was popular and well-liked amongst the villagers, but Eret didn't know if they knew.

"Well, we better get out there. You're meant to be there first, after all."

"Right, right. Where's Tripfire and the kids?"

"Getting dressed."

Eret frowned in confusion - he couldn't imagine anyone getting clothes on to Storm or Junior, let alone Tripfire. And that was even if anyone made clothes that would fit a complicated dragon-shape like a Stormcutter. Gobber wouldn't say more though, and after Eret made sure he'd not missed any spots while shaving, he was being chivvied out the door by Gobber, who was simultaneously trying to wake up the ever-exhausted Grump.

As soon as Eret spotted the family of Stormcutters, he burst out laughing.

"Did someone really put flower crowns on all of them?"

"Oh, don't worry, you've got one too!"

Astrid, who appeared to be responsible for the flowers currently adoring the six dragons. Their responses seemed quite mixed. Tripfire didn't seem to mind, but Cloudjumper and Alva were pouting, while Vali kept exhaling hard to watch it jump a little. Storm and Junior seemed to be considering eating them. Astrid hopped over to him, stretching up to place the weave of flowers upon his head. The colours were quite soft, but then he supposed it matched the white clothes, and contrasted with his dark hair.

"Well, thanks. They're not poisonous to dragons, right?"

"Of course not. We know what baby dragons are like."

She reassured him, giving Eret a playful nudge before she crossed over to where her future husband was standing. Hiccup smiled at her, the two kissing in greeting - though, having seen them together, Eret wholly expected that it was somewhat perfunctory and that they definitely spent at least part of the night together - before the Chief turned his attentions to Eret.

"Well, Berk clearly dressed you."

"You can say that again. Although I think Tripfire makes it look better."

Hiccup laughed as he took in the decorated Stormcutter family, the tiny old elder of the village trotting along at his side, flanked by her usual flock of Terrible Terrors.

"You can't take it off yet Cloudjumper, Valka hasn't had a chance to see you in it yet!"

That didn't really seem to appease Cloudjumper all that much, but he stopped trying to shake it off. After a minute or two, Hiccup approached Eret properly.

"I know I've not been the most openly supportive about all this, but I'm trying."

Eret nodded.

"You're here, and that means a lot to me, because I know it means a lot to Valka."

Before Hiccup could answer, his betrothed walked by, a heavy-looking basket in her arms.

"If he managed to win Mala over, he's obviously a good choice."

"Yeah, but as her son, I'm supposed to be very discerning aren't I?"

Astrid hummed, then looked Eret up and down.

"He's alright."

"Astrid!"

Giggling, Astrid headed off with her boyfriend shaking his head.

"If it helps, your girlfriend is not my type."

It wasn't until the words left his mouth that Eret realised that they could have been taken very inappropriately, but thankfully Hiccup seemed to see the funny side and snickered.

"Helps a little. We better finish setting up so Astrid can go get mom. You ready?"

"Absolutely."

Eret, as it turned out, was not ready. To marry Valka? Absolutely. But to see her, clothed in soft white as she seemed to glow under the morning sunlight? The realisation it was really, actually about to happen hit him, left Eret feeling a little dizzy, giddy even. His face broke into such a smile his cheeks hurt, but he couldn't suppress it for a second. Valka stood opposite him, and at the nod from Gothi the tiny little elder, Eret reached his hands out to her, and Valka placed her hands in his.

If he was truthful, the actual ceremony of it all wasn't what he remembered. He remembered the way Valka's eyes glittered in the sun, and the soft way she giggled when one of the flowers in her hair started to come loose. He remembered her smile as Gothi wrapped a length of fabric around their hands, and the way juvenile Stormcutters chirped nearby, not quite understanding the procedure but it seemed Eret and Valka's jubilant mood was contagious.

Eret remembered the way Valka leant in as he kissed her, the gentle flush on her cheeks when they parted, and how dragons roaring drowned out any disparaging whispers from the back.

And he definitely remembered Cloudjumper tipping his great horned head until his flower crown slipped off, landing over Valka's head to rest around her neck to her great amusement.

Hiccup congratulated them first; Eret knew he'd remember that too. Mala wasn't far behind, and Eret took the approval from both of them very seriously; there was little doubt they were the two most important people in Valka's life.

Atali and the Wingmaidens had been invited, by Hiccup himself before Valka could even ask, but their hatchlings weren't yet strong enough to make the trip, so Wingmaiden Island was a spot they planned to visit soon.

In all honesty, Eret had expected more backlash from Berk as a whole on the day, and by the way she squeezed his hand sometimes as they stood in the Hall with most of the village, he suspected Valka had too. There were some who obviously didn't approve, either of Eret or of Valka somehow betraying Stoick, but the reception was largely warm and welcoming. The copious amount of drinks available likely played some part in that, but it was definitely better than a brawl breaking out or something, which had almost happened before, when the news of their relationship first spread.

They went through the traditions of first dances, but Eret happily allowed Hiccup to cut in and dance with his mother. That didn't mean he escaped dancing - Mala made sure of that. It was a little awkward, because Mala was definitely leading rather than following and Eret struggled to compensate for the shift at first, but there were no death threats this time around.

"Not gonna tell me you'll gut me if I hurt her?"

"I have no need to remind you, you are clearly already aware. And I do also believe your feelings and intentions toward her are genuine."

"You would be right. I know how lucky I am, and I'm gonna do my best not to mess it up."

Mala gave a curt nod, slowing her steps as the music wound down slightly.

"See that you do, and know I will be watching."

As the tune slowed to a near-stop, ready to move onto another, Mala gave Eret an expectant look. He realised almost too late, inclined his head in a bow before she smirked and walked away. He heard a distinctive laugh nearby, turned to find his new wife watching.

"She's one of a kind, huh?"

"Oh yes" Valka agreed, closing the distance between the two and sliding her arms around Eret's middle "but so are you."

He embraced her in turn, smiling when she squeezed gently before they pulled apart, staying linked through holding hands. There were several dragons to one side, quite impatient to get more of their attention. Valka led him over happily, letting go so they could have more hands free to pet each dragon in turn. Tripfire had waited long enough, it seemed, and leant down to lick Eret across the face, dislodging his floral headwear and making his new wife laugh as she watched.

"Thanks, Tripfire."

She cooed, clearly pleased with herself. Eret couldn't really stay mad at her though.

If Tripfire hadn't come into his life when she did, then everything that came after it - him staying with Valka, them falling in love, her falling pregnant, them getting married - would never have happened.

-HTTYD-

Stormcutters in flower crowns... who could resist!? Certainly not me.