Wow, time really gets away from me. Can't believe we're almost done! Thank you to diamondsinmyhair for the sweet art you made!

-HTTYD-

Planning a wedding with the enormous flock of wary dragons all over Berk and the threat of Grimmel coming any day now was no easy task, but then again Eret suspected Berk was in dire need of the somewhat normal cause for excitement. And the Chief getting hitched (at last, he'd heard some say) definitely fit the criteria. And, as Hiccup was busy with that and dealing with his wife-to-be being pregnant (Valka had told him once Astrid had the chance to tell a less-violently-ill Hiccup), that left Eret as the only human the Night Furies were at all happy to trust.

Luckily, with Hiccup so busy, Toothless had plenty of time to roll around cheerfully with his kin, and there was lots of time for the Night Furies to get used to the idea that they were in a place that was safe. As more and more recovered from wounds and returned to their flock with news of positive treatment and good care, that probably helped too. With the Alpha vouching, Eret hoped they would at least allow Berkians near them, though it was obvious the flock wanted to return to their homeland as soon as it was safe.

"Eret?"

The human voice made many of the Furies turn, but they relaxed a bit when they saw it was Valka. Valka knew not to push them, and they seemed to recognise her as Eret's... mate, to them, so she was permitted to come and go to see Eret when he was with the dragons. Which he mostly was, as keeping an entire flock of spooked, distrustful dragons calm and chasing Berkians away was an all-hours call.

"Hey. Come join the party. Everything alright on Berk?"

He held his hand out to grasp hers as Valka approached, breathing in her scent as they embraced.

"Yes, yes. No signs of anybody who shouldn't be out on the seas, and now Hiccup's up and about he's given everyone a very stern warning to leave the Night Furies be."

Eret nodded, the two pulling apart so Valka could look over his healing wounds.

"I'm fine. Couple of the burns itch something awful, but nothing hurts too much right now. How are you and the little one?"

"Oh, we're fine. The babe is getting more active. I think they miss you talking to them at night."

Eret chuckled, rubbing her bump a little before directing his words to it.

"Hey you, I won't be away forever. Don't give your mom a hard time."

Valka giggled lightly, shaking her head as she wrapped her arms around him again. Their embrace was disturbed by something bumping in to their legs, and when they parted to look down, there was a small Night Fury there looking up at them with bright blue eyes. Valka looked over to the older dragons, and Eret spotted the two he expected were the parents based on how closely they were watching the interaction. Still, they gave a short nod, as though permitting them to return attention. Valka knelt down slowly, reaching out to let the little dragon get her scent.

"It's often the young ones who reach out first. Less jaded about the world than their elders."

"Yeah, I've noticed. That one we found on the ship only started trusting us after her hatchlings were all over us. I hope she's ok. I'd hate to think Grimmel tracked her down."

"I hope so too, but you said she left the area, so Grimmel wouldn't have thought of looking for her when he only knew of one pack."

Valka said, and Eret hummed in agreement, leaving her to tickle the little Fury under the chin until they rolled over, batting her hand with their little forepaws. As often happened with baby dragons, once one started playing others wanted to join in, and it wasn't long before there were a dozen of the youngest Furies rolling around the two humans. Tripfire had checked in, but she was still on translation duty while there were Furies being treated, and Cloudjumper and their kids were often with her still. Eret didn't begrudge her a long rest anyway, though he did miss her terribly.

The playtime was disturbed by a sharp whistle, and many of the dragons puffed up, a few snarling as if in warning. Valka stood, confusion on her face for a second before her expression cleared.

"Oh, that will be the fish."

"Ah, yeah. We better get it. You guys stay put."

They got fish brought along daily, but not always at the same time and so the Furies weren't used to it as a regular event just yet. Eret made sure they saw him heading over, finding a dozen Berkians on their dragons just past the trees, all carrying baskets and baskets of fish. Having grown up with fishing most of his life, Eret knew they were going to have to send some of the others further out soon before they over-fished the water around Berk trying to sustain so many who didn't go hunting for themselves.

"Thank you."

Valka said as they accepted their delivery, then waited to see the Berkians leave before they started carrying the baskets down. The Furies were used to this part enough that they cleared away so the fish could all be dumped in a pile, some keeping overexcited juveniles away from fish much too big for them. They left the dragons to eat, sitting a little ways away together.

"So Hiccup's back on his feet- ah, foot, almost all the Furies are out of recovery, and Berk gets a day off training and preparing to see the Chief tie the knot. Are there already rumours?"

Valka laughed.

"Aren't there always on Berk? Hiccup has said his near-death experience is what has prompted the rush, and I don't doubt that could well be true. Still, it won't be the first early birth Berk has looked the other way on."

Eret almost made a quip about how theirs would have to be a very early birth, but managed to stop himself when he realised it probably wouldn't be a very funny joke after Hiccup had been almost too early.

"Just think, you'll be a grandmother and a new mom at the same time!"

Valka rolled her eyes, nudging his shoulder before she leant against him, chuckling.

"Why do I put up with you?"

"My devastating charm and incredible good looks?"

"Hmm. Must be something, otherwise I'd have knocked you off your dragon years ago."

Valka doubted she could have held back from crying even if she wasn't a few months pregnant, but with the emotional up-and-downs that often came with carrying a child, there was no hope. She did at least manage to keep from making any sound, and they were undoubtedly tears of joy she wept as she stood there, watching Gothi wrap Hiccup and Astrid's hands together. They were both radiant with happiness themselves, an uncommonly sunny day shining down on Berk as the two stood in their traditional white-and-gold clothes, both with brooches proudly displaying symbols of their dragons.

Hiccup looked younger than he had since Stoick died, beaming brightly at his new wife as all the weight seemed to life from his shoulders.

Gobber was of course standing in as Hiccup's father next to Valka, and Astrid's parents stood over the other side for her. Berk cheered and clapped and whooped, and when Valka spared a second to look for her own husband, he'd vanished from his spot. Brow creasing in confusion, Valka glanced around, eventually spotting him at the back of the amassed crowd. He seemed to be looking up at something, so Valka followed suit and spotted something rather remarkable.

"Oh."

The two leaders of the Night Fury pack were there, well above the people but clearly there to see what all the fuss was about - especially since Eret had spent more than an hour or two away from them for the first time since they'd landed on Berk. Tripfire seemed to spot the same thing when she looked for Eret, and had soon took off. That somewhat unfortunately drew attention, and there were oohs and ahhs as everyone else spotted the Furies.

Amazingly, Eret managed to coax them down a little, gesturing toward where Hiccup and Astrid stood. Toothless was right there too - looking quite adorable in his flower crown, Valka had to admit - and his presence seemed enough to convince them. Cloudjumper listened to whatever Tripfire yelled down at him, and Valka got the message herself seconds later when Cloudjumper used his big wings to 'shoo' everyone back a bit, clearing a space.

They already knew and trusted Hiccup well enough, but it was probably the first time they'd really met Astrid. From the back, it looked a little like Hiccup and Astrid were about to perform some kind of dragon wedding, which Valka chuckled about as she and Eret headed back to the front, helping keep the others from crowding the dragons.

"Hi there. Hey, Astrid, come meet the leaders of the pack."

Hiccup reached out and grabbed Astrid's hand, still smiling, pulling her closer. Astrid didn't need a lesson, holding her hand out without touching them so they could get her scent. The dragons took in the two's joined hands, then leant up and sniffed warily at Astrid's hand. Valka's heart soared when her son and his wife both reached out, and the two dragons leant in to their touch. She'd often found it interesting how most dragons seemed to recognise that gesture, and respond in similar ways.

"Alright, that's an awesome wedding gift."

Hiccup grinned, giving a little nod to the dragons. Astrid nodded her agreement, smiling back at her husband. Eret cleared his throat.

"Congratulations guys. I should uh, get the dragons back before Berk gets overexcited."

Hiccup turned to him, smile finally dropping a little.

"You're not coming to celebrate? I mean... you are family, after all."

Valka felt pride and love swell in her chest at her son's words, and Eret looked more than a little stunned.

"Oh. Uh. Yeah, I'll be along soon, just let me get the Furies settled in. Guess we don't have to worry about them getting interrupted. Berk never misses a party."

The Berkians began to head up to the Great Hall while Eret left with Tripfire and the Furies, but as he'd said, he did join them again a little while after. Valka had already had her turn officially congratulating the newlyweds, and so she sat a little ways away watching everyone else get their turn. Her husband soon joined her, dropping next to Valka with a smile.

"Astrid must really be good for him if he's so deliriously happy he called me his family for the first time."

"Oh, definitely. I've never seen him happier."

With the food and drink freely flowing, everyone was in high spirits. Gobber was absolutely in his element whenever there was a loud, raucous party, and Berk absolutely deserved a day off from all their worries. The dragons gleefully joined in the festivities - a couple of the Stormcutters who'd come back with the Furies had even come along to see what the fuss was, though they kept to the sidelines most of the time.

As they were now officially wed, Berk would no doubt be awaiting the announcement of a pregnancy with anticipation. It was an unfair scrutiny, one Valka was intimately familiar with as a former Chief's wife. And truthfully, Valka doubted either she or Astrid would have chosen to fall pregnant with a potential war looming over them, but the gods worked in their ways and one thing she did know was that both herself and Astrid could rely on their partners for support. Eret fussed, but he never made her feel incapable... though Valka had probably chided him for it once or twice in a particularly bad mood.

"I better get back soon. With everyone drunk off their ass, someone is bound to try something."

Valka sighed; she understood, but she missed him dearly.

"Yes, that's probably true."

Eret hesitated for a minute, then turned to Valka.

"Why not come up with me? They seem to be coming around, I could probably swing letting you camp out with me up there."

Valka considered it, before nodding. They weren't needed up on the land by their home at the moment, and gods only knew she didn't want to sleep alone another night. And if the dragons did not like her being there, Valka would leave.

They headed to say goodbye to Hiccup, who was obviously quite tipsy as he stood up from his seat, balance wavering a bit.

"Heyyy. Thanks for coming Eret."

"No problem. I'm very happy for you Chief."

Valka smiled at the two, and Hiccup leant over to hug her.

"You too mom."

"Of course, son. I hope you both have a wonderful evening."

Eret poorly stifled an immature snicker next to her, and Valka rolled her eyes before Hiccup hugged her again. Then she dragged her husband away before he could cause further ridiculousness.

"Come on, let's go supply for the night before it gets dark and we trip over tiny invisible babies."

Valka chuckled at Eret's words, and they headed off to get some gear for the night. Thankfully, though they seemed reticent at first, the Night Furies seemed to understand Valka nesting down with her mate for the night in their own way, and when they were more or less left alone by the two, they went back to settling down themselves.

The two settled down for the night, sky beginning to darken above as Eret stretched out, pulled his cover up over himself and looked up at Valka expectantly. He waited patiently while she figured out a position that was comfortable, then smiled over at her. Her hand came to rest on her belly, feeling those reassuring little movements and thinking, hoping for a safe future for them. Hiccup had been born into the war between Vikings and dragons. Valka didn't want her baby - or Astrid and Hiccup's, for that matter - to be born into another war.

-HTTYD-

Chapter 55 in the bag! Everyone excited for 56?