Homecoming 1
(after Book 4)

''This is New Berk, at Snoggletog. The greatest time of the year.''

Vikings were settled on the fortress-like island of New Berk for years now, but still now they couldn't stop thinking how life was better there than on former Berk. Not only did they have a lot more space on their berkian isle, a bigger village, giant lakes to fish around them, breathtaking heavenly landscapes, but they also had a nicer weather.

High above the first layer of clouds, the air was pretty chilly but there were less storms. When it was snowing, the whole island would be covered in white and silver, the thick blanket becoming the perfect playground for children and dragons.

''The lights, the haunting songs, the holiday shopping, the yaknog shooters, and most of all, the dragons.''

Joke took a deep breath when he pushed open the door of the hutt, taking in the sweet perfume of home. He had left the outside and its crispy fresh winter scent for the one of burning wood in the fireplace, mixed with dry fir tree and holly hanging on the beams as Snoggletog decoration.

Snoggletog was his favorite time of the year, winter in general was his favorite time of the year. At the beginning, he didn't know why he liked this season that much, finding back his blood mother and hearing her talk about Haze had helped hom realise this cold season was actually nagging at his memories and filling him with nostalgia. Cold and snow had been bringing back blurred memories of the island he was born at.

Snoggletog had always been magical to him, and the ever-constant presence of snow on New Berk was not changing it. However, the more years were passing by, the more Joke felt like these holidays were more and more amazing, especially since the birth of his children. After all, Alwine's birthday was on Snoggletog day, adding one more reason to party. The house was lively with the children, and even more when the dragons visited, or their friends visited. That year, the dragon riders had decided to all gather at the Haddock-Storm's hutt for the party, since it was one of the biggest houses, big enough to welcome the whole Fury family when they wanted to came and stay the night.

Since it was the time of the year when there was more cold and flu – not even mentioning Black Plague Friday when everyone without exception was sick and coughing – Joke had a lot of work to do, so Hiccup was in charge of cooking. It didn't deter Elska, Astrid, Eret, Olgarg, Reekfrid and Gobber to help out. Fishlegs had offered help too, bt Hiccup had declined seeing how his stout friend was already overbooked with his own children at the Chaos Farm.

One week left from Snoggletog, and this ws the first evening that promised to be peaceful for the chieftain couple, Joke was looking forward to it. A tender smile crept on his face as he spotted his husband sleeping in the chair next to tthe fireplace, their six years old son sprawled on his belly, just as fast asleep as his father. The healer took a moment to look at the both of them. As Haldrik was growing up, he looked more and more like Hiccup. It was obvious the boy took a lot more after Hiccup than Joke. He looked like a perfect copy of Hiccup, save for the snowy locks, the palish skin, the high cheekbones and the fact his chin was rounder, and most of all the shape of his ears.

Joke smiled softly and leant in to plant a kiss on the boy's forehead, before giving the same affection to his husband's cheek. The chief smiled even before opening his eyes.

''Hi babe.''

''Hi chief. How was your day ? Not too tiring I hope.''

''Not tiring, but really long. I missed my husband. Come here.''

Joke chuckled as Hiccup pulled on his sleeve to reach his lips and kiss him.

''Where are the girls ?'' The healer asked.

He was talking about Alwine and Zephyr, Astrid and Eret's daughter who was spending some days with them. The two girls had a bit less than a year gap but they were getting along like sisters, they were as unseparable as twins.

''Upstairs in Awie's room. Or in the attic, who knows with these explorers.''

''I'll check on them, I let you put Hik to bed ?''

''As you wish, Milord.'' Hiccup joked before kissing him again.

Joke's eyes followed his husband as he took their son upstairs to the rooms, a silly smile on his face. He loved to tease his husband, and their son's nickname was just another way to do so. He couldn't help it, it was just too funny to confuse Hiccup because the auburnet never knew when Joke was calling for Hik or Hic.

The white-haired man shook his head and climbed the stairs too, heading to Alwine's room. It was suspiciously quiet. Their girl used to be a prankster like himself, and she was always playing tricks with Zephyr. As he was walking along the corridor, he wondered what they were up to, only to find the room empty. Well, almost empty. Moonshine was there, sleeping under the girl's bed, tucked in a fur. It took a bit of time for Joke to realise the tail edging from behind the bed was in fact belonging to Daylight, indicating the grumpy boy of the Fury family was there too. Actually, Joke suspected the fiveth of them to be there, one was going nowhere without the others.

He frowned a bit and exited the room, slowly closing the door not to disturb the sleeping dragons. Hiccup came out of Haldrik's room and saw him.

''Did you know the Night Lights were here ?'' Joke asked.

Hiccup tilted his head.

''No, they must have crept in while I was asleep downstairs.'' The chief sighed and ran a hand on his face. ''I suppose you didn't see Toothless or Lumiverse ?''

''Nope.''

''Great, then they'll burst in soon, you know how they are when their kids are missing.''

Joke smirked.

''Aren't we the same with Awie and Hik ?''

Hiccup hesitated, then smiled.

''I guess we are.''

''You totally are, Hic.'' Joke teased.

The auburnet shook his head in reply, smiling amused. Joke sticked his tongue to him and headed to the attic, unfolding the ladder and climbing on it. He did it slowly and without a noise, wanting to take the girls by surprise. As he was climbing, he could head muffled voices coming them, they were whispering and seemed focused. He opened the hatch and spotted the girls in a corner, sitting on the floor, they looked like they were reading a big book.

Both girls looked a bit alike, they had lean frames and limbs and liked to wear the same type of furred skirt, much like to Astrid's. If Alwine was usually dressed in green and had a single white braid hanging on her back, Zephyr rathered blue and red and her raven hair was tied in too thick braids flailing around with her every move.

The girl looked like a tiny version of her mother Astrid but with Eret's color. Her skin was darker, her hair black and thick, her eyes the same light brown color, and she had her father's large nose and round ears. Unlike Alwine who was energic and curious, Zephyr was bolder but also nervous like Eret, and easily embarrassed. So when Joke crept behind them and scared them with a 'boo', the dark-haired girl was the first to jump and scream, making both Haddock-Storm burst in laughter.

''Uncle Joke, that's not funny !'' Zephyr grumbled.

''Sorry, I couldn't resist the temptation.''

He patted the top of her head as an apology, before noticing both girls' face was a bit pale.

''What's wrong, girls ?'' He asked.

Alwine's green gaze dropped to the big book she had on her lap, and she quickly closed it as if trying to hide it.

''Nothing.''

Obviously, her father didn't buy it.

''Awie.''

His stern voice made her look up, she looked ashamed and a bit afraid.

''Daddy… Did grandpa Stoick hate dragons ?''

''What ? No ! What makes you think so ?''

The eight years old girl lowered her head and squeezed the bok against her chest. Joke recognized it as the Book of Dragon, the very first version of it. When vikings had made peace with dragons, rather than take the time to erase charcoal from the book, they had decided to replace it with a new book where they added all the informations they gathered by studying dragons. Joke had happened to wonder what had happened to the previous book, but he had not thought Hiccup had kept it in the attic.

''He wrote everywhere to kill the dragons on sight.'' Alwine muttered shyly.

Joke smiled softly at her and patted her head.

''Don't worry about that, kiddo, that was a long time ago. Our ancestors used to fight dragons, yeah, but we made peace with them. Grandpa Stoick loved them, he had a dragon-friend too, you know ?''

Alwine didn't reply and seemed still as sad, so Joke knew he hadn't convinced her, still he didn't see what he could add. He pressed his lips in a thin line and ended up stretching his hand to her.

''Give me this and go back to your room, I think you have visitors.''

Alwine's green eyes instantly lit up as she realised what her father was implying.

''The NIght Lights ? They're here ?!'' She exclaimed, jumping to her feet. ''Come on Zeppy, let's go see them !''

Both girls giggled and rushed to the ladder, carefully climbing back. Joke chuckled as he heard them ran to Alwine's room, then shriek and laugh while the Night Lights started to bustle about, obviously woken up by all the noise. He shook his head in amusement but his smile dropped as he looked down to the book. Alwine seemed convinced Stoick hated dragons, and he couldn't really blame her seeing how they were described in this book. He hadn't convinced her and this was a problem he knew he had to fix, he couldn't let his daugther think this of her grandfather. He would have to talk about this with Hiccup.


Finally ! I got the idea to write a TLB version of Homecoming !
Sadly this short story will be the last one of this book because I think I have explored all I could of this universe and I want to focus on writing the other stories I have in mind.
Don't worry though, Homecoming will have four or five chapters so this isn't the end yet.

Love you guys, see you next week !