This had to be the happiest he had ever seen Berk.

People were busy still serving food and drinking and laughing and running with dragons, both adults and babies. Lots still would need to sleep on the Great Hall's floor for a day or two until the mess was fixed, however, in a closed space, no matter how wide that room was, dragons would warm it up by just being present.

Children from both species were playing, chatter was all gleeful and Artichoke couldn't think of a single soul to be unhappy at that moment. Stormfly had busied herself with her offspring. Her cubs were energetic, and rather smart, mind you, at least when compared to others, not that he gave any time to focus on others. He noticed they couldn't eat for themselves yet, without the big, sharp teeth they mother had. He offered some human wood toys, but they'd still rather play amongst each other. It was alright. Just knowing his Nadder was here and safe made this night infinitely better than the two previous ones.

He did have freaked out a little.

Okay, maybe a lot.

Artichoke had never been particularly good at dealing with sadness. Distraction, training, playing, anything to not dwell on that horrible feeling ever since his grandparents died when he was still so little. People died, it was a pity, but not a big deal, he'd tell himself. Not to count the 'boys don't cry' chant he'd hear here and then. The blond kid spent his entire life growing to be a warrior, as was expected from his people and culture. And so he'd gotten mixed understandings about strength, which, up so far, he was fine dealing on his own.

When his parents had the betrothal contract between, he and Hiccup, it got heavily implied, given the common knowledge of their laws, Artichoke would become Chief someday, since Hiccup was not simply an only child and only heir, but also deemed unfitting for ruling back then, blame it on the conservative and prejudiced views of her gender, or on how many messes she'd get herself into before the war was over, clumsiness and all…

At first, Artichoke didn't long to lead Berk into the next generation. He wanted to be another sailor and explore the outside world and managed to weld both his new responsibility and wish as a faraway plan until… Well, until Hiccup turned out to be nothing like they had sized her up as. His wife had turned out to show unimaginable growth and leadership skills, along to unexpected intelligence and heroism, ever since her secret with dragons managed to save their whole tribe and end the war. And then she'd pull things like this and… It is amazing, truly is. She is amazing.

And he… wasn't. Well, he stupidly thought it was his responsibility to fix things, to replicate Stoick's choice to not let the dragon's sudden departure shake the tribe by not even letting his friends get down about it. They were right on being sad while he had been a stressed wreck trying to… Not feel it. Plus that stupid plan of using Meatlug's eggs to surprise others… What a terrible, terrible idea.

But now there was Hiccup, walking alone on the flooded Great Hall, their savior twice now… She still looked hollow, and he understood why.

"Hiccup", he approached, "I know this must be really hard for you, seeing everyone with their dragons…", yeah, talking so honestly was still rather weird, but if Hiccup had done all of this by following what she thought was right… He really needed to learn how to comfort people. It had always felt as if talking about it made it worse, as an example, Hiccup was holding her shoulders down, looking at the floor. "But you really did a wonderful thing", he leaned in, so his eyes were in the same level as hers, which was already unnatural with their regular posture. She gave him half a smile. "Thank you", he said and kissed her quickly.

It was another thing he needed to get better on, though he'd consider better than their first kiss, back when they got home after Red Death's final battle. Hiccup had been unconscious under Gothi's care for days until she finally woke up, missing half a leg and fixing their three-hundred-year war. Defying doctor's orders, she insisted on go flying with Toothless the very same day she had woken up from that coma. And Artichoke knew he couldn't nor shouldn't stop her then, just pressed his lips on hers, because was something he wanted to do for a while.

It had been awkward and quick and this one wasn't much different but had definitely gotten better. He decided to pull her in for a hug, since that's what people usually did to comfort others, and felt her melt a little on his embrace.

"Arti, where did Toothless go?", it was a childish, whining question, one he'd done himself about Stormfly and could never blame her for asking over and over by now…

"I don't know", he replied, simply, hating not having a better answer to give, until he saw her.

Yep, that was her. The only fully black dragon, Toothless. The Night Fury was at the Great Hall's door, looking around sheepishly, rather shy, and silent, searching. And so he grinned, having an idea.

"Wow, man…", Artichoke said, letting Hiccup out of their hug, an arm long distance between them now. "Wouldn't want to be you right now", he hoped he wasn't as bad as lying as Fishlegs had showed himself to be. "I mean", he continued, "you brought back everyone's dragon, except yours", he was poking the wound, and it'd be cruel in other circumstances, but Hiccup's expression got really annoyed and she seemed to be buying it.

"Yeah, this is really not helping… At all", she said, rightfully bitter, but he couldn't hold back his own excitement no more and pushed her backwards, being around Toothless for long enough to know the dragon would run in at any sign of her rider at danger.

And so everyone let her pass, and Hiccup saw her.

"Toothless!", Hiccup exclaimed, though the duo didn't run for an embrace, as everyone else had as soon as she'd brought their dragons back. They just stopped, staring at each other awkwardly until Hiccup broke space, her two arms around the Night Fury's neck. Two days apart and their reunition was beautiful, slowly granting smiles and stares from those around them as the girl suddenly broke her grip, holding an accusatory finger with no real anger in it "bad, very bad dragon", she said, and Toothless only followed her hand. "You scared me to death! Don't ever stay away that long again and what is in your mouth?". Artichoke approached the duo, what is in what?

But the answer came quickly and very, very wet, as the dragon didn't simply take off whatever she was holding, but rather ruined the cuteness of the scene by wrapping Hiccup's entire head in her mouth, soaking the girl with sticky dragon saliva. Ew, he couldn't stop but think and knew others shared the disgust with the view.

Hiccup was truly completely wrapped with it, something on her head now though.

"Yeah, you sh- you found my helmet", oh right, she commented it went missing earlier that day, saying Stoick wanted her to get it for a few candy distributing tradition. Hiccup simply chuckled at it, still happy to see Toothless and taking off the saliva excess until something clicked inside of her. "Hey! You found my helmet!", the dragon went in for her own display of affection now, rubbing herself against the girl's hand just like Stormfly would push herself against his to demand being petted. "Is that where you've been?", she stopped for a moment, holding Toothless face on both her hands. "Buddy, thank you" and they hugged again. "You are amazing". You both are, he thought, and walked towards them.

"Happy Snoggletog!", Artichoke said, and the crowd cheered.