Stoking the Flame

by KatieMarie999

Growing Up Haddock Story 8.5: Hiccup and Astrid are embarking on a new adventure as grandparents while the twins and all their friends transition into young adult life. Relationships will be tested, but will hardships of life help them to grow closer together or tear them apart? Only HTTYD and R/DoB are canon. T for limes and mature situations.

9. Beauty and the Dork

Well hi there, friends!

Here it is: the final chapter to StF! And you know what that means… The Rebellion has finally arrived! Granted it's not started yet, but AHHHHHH!

Thank you all SO MUCH for sticking around! This is the final chapter to Stoking the Flame. I hope to jump right into TR ASAP but it's different than anything we've written before, so I really want to take my time with it. Not in the take 6 months per chapter kind of way, but… well, tis the culmination of all the things, right? Gotta get it right!

Anyway, this chapter was so much fun and I really hope you all enjoy it. The end of the chapter had me in stitches so I can't wait to see everyone's reactions. Please don't forget to review! All the thoughts on Discord are great as well, but we want this story's numbers to keep rising, so don't forget to do that! It doesn't have to be long, we can discuss all the things in greater detail in Discord.

**Music**

* = 1 asterisk: [Celtic Dance] Blair Douglas - The Landlord's Walk (end 2:46)

** = 2 asterisks: Forgive Me Friend by Smith and Thell (feat. Swedish Jam Factory)

Enjoy! :)

~Em

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Chapter 9: Beauty and the Dork

---

Weddings on Berk were indeed a reason for celebration. The meals were cooked with special care, the decorations hung under the supervision of Gobber, the dragons kept carefully away from the streamers and lines hung between the rafters. Blue and white flags hung with a cursive C & T, signifying the happy couple whose nuptials were coming upon them fast. Berk loved weddings and this one was no different. And yet compared to perhaps the Hjartans, weddings were less traditional. The couple made their own decisions regarding dress and decorations and meal plans, even decided where their beloved friends and family might sit. Even the bride chose her dress, as opposed to Genevieve who would wear her mother's dress on her own wedding day.

Therefore, Taryn was most displeased when her mother insisted that she wear her hair up in a tight intricate style.

Her makeup, simple and lovely, had already been done. Next was her hair. And she refused to let her mother touch it.

"Mom," Taryn said through a slow exhale. "I don't want my hair to be up today."

"But traditionally," Joan Brand said through puckered lips. "The bride wears her hair up and only when she is wed does she bring it down-"

"I've been wearing my hair down for over a year! We've been discussing this for a year." Taryn said hotly. "Cliff likes my hair down and I like it down. It's going to be down."

"Taryn-"

A pale-skinned hand tapped Joan's shoulder as she opened her mouth to argue, her fingers full of Taryn's long auburn tresses. "Excuse me?"

Taryn looked up in surprise at Genevieve, who had a small awkward smile on her face. "I wanted to see how things were going."

"She wants it down," Joan said in a false hushed voice, as if Genevieve, of all people, should understand the importance of propriety. As if Taryn was not sitting right here listening. "I told her that it will look much more beautiful up. She won't regret-"

Taryn lurched to her feet and whirled around. "Mother-"

"Joan, might I please have a word with Taryn alone for a moment?" Genevieve asked.

Joan pursed her lips. "Alright. Maybe you'll talk some sense into her."

Genevieve frowned as Joan walked away. Her irritation fled with a look of shock when she turned to Taryn. "Oh, don't cry! You'll smear your makeup!"

Taryn huffed, plopping back into her seat and snatching a handkerchief from her dresser drawer. "It was no mystery what I wanted to do with my hair today. I've been talking about it for months! So why she insists that it has to be her way, when we are not traditional is beyond me! It's so frustrating." She looked miserable and frustrated in the mirror and looked away. "Today is my wedding day. I shouldn't have to deal with this nonsense."

"I agree." Genevieve said softly. Her lips pursed in thought, she ran her fingers through Taryn's long auburn hair. "What is it about your hair that means so much?"

Perceptive as always, their Gen. Taryn let out a small laugh. "For so long my parents controlled everything I did. Everything I wore had to pass inspection and every hair to be in place, drawn up out of my face. I had to get permission to wear makeup or get my ears pierced or... " She sighed through her nose. "And then when Cliff and I started dating, things changed. My parents, especially my father, seemed to realize how much they were smothering me. That allowing me to make simple choices like wearing certain clothes or putting my hair down is not harmful. It shouldn't be such a difficult concept."

Genevieve smiled. "I understand exactly what you mean."

Of course she did. Before Finn had entered her life, Genevieve's life had been no different than hers. Restricted by rules and confined to certain places based on her gender and traditions, but at least Genevieve had had joy. For a long time, Taryn had spent countless lonely nights wondering if she'd ever have a life.

Cliff had brought her that life. That happiness. He wasn't the end all, be all, of course. She never wanted to make him feel like only he could satisfy her needs as a person because that was a lot of pressure. She wanted to support him through life just as he'd do for her. That was the difference with love. Falling in love and choosing to love. But it had been Cliff who'd flung the door open, and it had been her choice to step through it.

"You know your mom loves you."

Taryn sighed through her nose. "It doesn't feel like love. It feels like pride and control."

"Why though? Why does she do the things she does?"

"I don't know. For a long time I thought it was because of my brother, but… losing Curt has nothing to do with my hair. Maybe it's symbolic of the control she needs to have, but… I don't know."

"Maybe you should ask her."

Taryn snorted. "Now?"

"Why not?"

"Because we're on a tight schedule."

"Yes, but we certainly have time to fix things with your mom."

Taryn's heart was in her throat. "I don't think you understand. We'd be opening a can of worms, undoing years worth of… drama. It wouldn't exactly be a three minute conversation."

"Perhaps you're right." Genevieve said. "It took a few attempts to get my parents on board with everything I wanted to change." She gave a small huff of laughter. "It took Max saving me and Finn for them to realize our bond."

"Yeah."

They sat in silence for a few moments, the tittering of girls in the living room of Taryn's parents' house echoing through the halls. Taryn had had a hard time picking bridesmaids, but she and Cliff wanted an equal number of friends standing with them. Of course he'd picked Erick as his "bestest bruh", further dismissing the idea of tradition by "calling him something as mundane as his best man", as well as Finn and Alton. Therefore Taryn had naturally chosen Genevieve, Adrianna and Inga as her bridesmaids. It was a small entourage, but she was pleased.

"Might I make a suggestion for your hair?" Genevieve asked gently. "Something that I think you and your mother might like?"

Taryn met her dark eyes in the mirror. Genevieve was beautiful as always, her long curls half done in what Helga liked to call a "fishtail braid". Put her in a white dress and she and Finn could be the ones getting married today. But in the soft periwinkle blue dress she looked just as lovely.

"Alright."

Genevieve nodded and called for Joan, who bustled into the room moments later. To Taryn's surprise, she looked defeated.

"Alright Taryn, if you want your hair down then have it down. It's not my wedding day."

Taryn blinked. Despite what she'd said before about not wanting to open the can of worms, she said, "Well… mom, why do you want it up? Is it really because of tradition or… something else?"

Joan pursed her lips, which she only did when she was trying not to cry. "Oh, it doesn't matter."

"But it does," Taryn said, finally standing. "Mom, just tell me. You can tell me."

Genevieve watched on in silence, her dark eyes steady and empathetic on Joan as she took a fortifying breath.

"When you were small, you used to hate your hair. So I always put it up in a bun. It was so short back then that it would stick up in all directions, but you loved it." Joan said, reaching out to touch a long strand of Taryn's hair. "Your father and I always knew you'd grow up to be a lovely woman. And drawing your hair out of your face became a habit. Get up, brush your teeth, hair back, breakfast. I… I guess I never realized how regular it became until suddenly you were a lovely young woman and other rules were thrown into the mix and it was such a surprise when you wanted to wear it down. By that point, I… I confess I forgot what was important. Not the silly little rules. But my baby girl was beautiful and all grown up. And she doesn't want her hair up in that tight little bun anymore. And I… I suppose I just didn't want to let that image go. I always imagined your hair up for your wedding day so when it was finally down..."

Taryn's eyes burned. "Oh mama." She drew her mom into a tight hug and squeezed her tight. "It's still me. I'm just older now."

"I know," Joan said through tears. "I'm sorry if I ever made it difficult for you. I don't like knowing that I made you miserable."

Though tears slipped down her cheeks, Taryn squeezed her tighter. "I love you, mom. Hair will change, but this won't."

Genevieve was beaming with pride. Cheeky little know-it-all. She grinned, as if sensing Taryn's thoughts. She was so perfect for Finn.

Joan pulled back with a sniff and collected herself. "Blast it all, we're on a schedule."

Taryn giggled, swiping the tears off her face. "Indeed."

Genevieve stepped forward with a thoughtful expression. "I had an idea for Taryn's hair, and now I like it even more." She patted Taryn's shoulders so she sat on the cushioned chair in front of the vanity once more. "How about…"

---

"Well at least he's got pants this time around." Hiccup said after entering Cliff's house.

Cliff looked down at the grey pants with surprise. "Well yeah, I can't exactly get married without them."

"Nah, those come off later."

Cliff grabbed a bottle of hair gel and threw it across the room where it smacked Finn in the back. He yelped and ducked out of the way as another bottle of gel flew at him from Erick's side of the room. Hiccup scoffed as he took a seat in a nearby chair.

"Pervert." Cliff muttered, delicately arranging his hair so that it was less poof and more… well, opposite of poof without being flat, like he'd just gotten out of bed. No bed head on the wedding day, please. And no poof. "What's the opposite word for poof that's not flat?"

Erick frowned down at his vest buttons. "Volume?"

"Yeahhh, volume. See, I knew there was a reason I picked you as my bestest bruh."

"I aim to please."

Finn scoffed, observing himself in the mirror. "He had to pay you back for fishing him out of the water somehow. Who else was going to do it?"

"Might have been swept out by the current and lost to the sea," Cliff said. "Another poor soul to sleep with the fishes."

"And the loss of a quiet life to boot."

"Listen here, Haddock-"

Hiccup cleared his throat. "No bickering before the ceremony, please."

Cliff's stomach did a near painful flip flop. It was his wedding day. His wedding day. With a slow exhale through his mouth he gazed at himself in the mirror. He looked ready, at least. But his skin looked wan, his steel grey eyes clouded with nervousness. He promptly slapped his cheeks and stuck out his tongue before crossing his eyes, then promptly snorted at his ridiculousness. Better!

"Ogling yourself in the mirror?" Finn asked, coming up behind him before slamming his palms atop Cliff's shoulders and giving them a painful squeeze.

"I don't ogle," Cliff said, trying not to wince. He looked like he was resisting a sneeze. "I scrupulously scrutinize my features."

Finn rolled his eyes and dropped his hands. "I pray to the gods that Taryn can do something about your vocabulary."

"Considering she said this morning that Darin looked Larson-tastic this morning, I highly doubt it." Erick said, lifting his leg onto a chair to adjust the straps on his prosthetic. "Besides, you don't get married to have your spouse change you."

"But they do change you."

"I mean yes, in the good ways-"

"Hopefully." Hiccup said, gazing thoughtfully through his notes.

Erick waved a hand and dropped his leg. "Yes, in the good ways, but I'm saying you don't marry a person in the hopes that you'll change them into something different than what they're meant to be. Ergo, can you imagine a Cliff without his regular soliloquies or random outbursts of varying intensity, all of which contain a large number of big words that aren't known to the general public?"

"Yes." Finn said without shame.

Cliff promptly shoved him. "It'll mess up my hair and my clothes, but I'll find a way to shove you out the nearest window. Also, Erick? Go pee, you're monologuing, which means you're stressed, and there will be no pee breaks in the middle of my wedding ceremony."

Finn and Hiccup snickered as Erick began to sputter. The door opened with a creak and Alton swept in, his tanned face flushed.

"Sorry I'm late! I got… distracted."

"Oh?" Cliff asked, crossing his arms with a smirk. "Does the distraction involve dark hair and blue eyes?"

"Hey, don't be rude," Finn said. "The distraction has a name."

The men snickered again as Alton flushed a darker shade of red, making his freckles stand out even further. "Oh shut up. It was nothing, just a late birthday present."

"Mhm." Cliff said.

It was well-known at this point that Alton had a thing for Inga. It had been a surprise at first. Alton had kept a tight lid on it, but after he'd made his feelings known and been subsequently rebuffed, Inga had gone straight to her closest girlfriends to discuss this new development. So naturally all the girls had told their male counterparts.

He shouldn't have been so surprised, Cliff thought. They'd been best friends for years. He was under the impression that in most close friendships that were male and female, at least one of them would eventually develop feelings for the other. Whether those feelings would be acted on or addressed would depend on the couple. In the situation of Inga and Alton, he supposed only time would tell. If she'd ever be willing to give him a chance.

Alton seemed to be handling it with all the grace a guy could possibly muster. He didn't mope or complain. There was a brief period where they hadn't been talking, but Inga had eventually mended things. As far as Cliff knew, everything was the same as it had always been. Spending their free time together while he was home and when she wasn't working.

He'd be spending much less time on Berk now though, not with his recent decision to take over Johann's trading business once the old man retired. It couldn't be long now. Johann was still spry for his old age, but he'd been the primary trader for the Archipelago for the better part of fifty years. Alton would be expected to dig deeper into the role, which would require more travel and less time visiting Berk.

Maybe Inga was just afraid to take that step. Maybe she just wasn't ready for a relationship. Maybe the thought of dating her best friend, let alone long distance, was too strange or difficult. She might be quite astute at fifteen, but she was still fifteen. Maybe one day she'd wake up and realize what a great guy she had standing beside her, waiting patiently, hoping silently.

Ah, blast his romantic heart. Today was his wedding day, and here he was romanticizing Alton and Inga's nonexistent love life! How odd.

"What?" Alton said sharply, glancing in the mirror. "Is there something on my face?"

"Nah you're good little bruh."

"What did I tell you about calling me that?"

Cliff snorted. "It's a natural nickname. Quite fitting! Just as I call Erick my bestest bruh, because that's what he is, and I call Finn a party pooper."

"Hey!" Finn whipped around from adjusting his shirt again in the mirror. "I'm not a party pooper today!"

"Do you prefer puffed up popinjay? I think your shirt is fine, by the way."

"I'm looking immaculate for you!"

"Not Gen?"

"Alright boys," Hiccup said, snapping his notebook closed and standing. "Don't get yourselves all riled up. We're meeting at the Great Hall in about thirty minutes so finish up. Grandma Ingerman will escort you."

"We need an escort to the Great Hall?" Finn asked.

"She doesn't trust you four to not get distracted along the way. Cliff is the leader, you see."

"As if I'd be late to my own nuptials!"

Hiccup rolled his eyes as he headed to the door. "Erick, keep them in line please."

"Why do I have to be everyone's parent?" Erick demanded.

"Because you're the most responsible and we need Finn to keep his shirt on and Cliff not to get distracted by the colorful streamers-"

"Oooh we have colorful streamers?"

"I rest my case."

"Wait, Chief! What about me?" Alton asked as he tucked in his shirt.

"Your job is to make sure they don't get past Erick."

"So I'm a sheep herder then?"

Cliff gave a mad giggle and elbowed Finn in the ribs. "I always wanted to be a sheep!"

Finn raised a brow but said nothing. Erick looked quite put out. Alton rolled his eyes but seemed to be fighting a smile.

"Sheep reminds me of a good joke-"

"Sheep remind? Or sheep reminds? Singular or plural?" Alton asked as the door closed behind Hiccup, leaving the four boys alone.

Cliff blinked. "Does it matter?"

"It does."

There was a long pause in which Cliff did not know what to say, the joke forgotten. Which was it? Sheep reminds… or sheep remind…

Finn gave a heavy sigh. "Great job, Alton. You broke him."

"Anything to spare us from a gods-awful pun right now."

"Hey! It'll come baaack to me. Ha!"

His three friends rolled their eyes, Finn so dramatically it was a wonder his eyes didn't get stuck up in his brain. Though he'd practically made it a sport. Cliff had never known anyone to roll their eyes as often as he did. Maybe that was Cliff's doing, with his goofy jokes and dorky humor. But he knew it was playful, Finn's irritation. He didn't stick around with those he had little interest in. They were polar opposites, Finn disciplined and sarcastic and powerful, a living weapon since he was a child. Their future chief. Cliff was dorky and clumsy and was lucky if he could remember to water his plants regularly. He remembered a time when he was a child; he'd see Fearless Finn and think he was so cool and wonder how awesome it would be to be friends with him. It had been a long bumpy road, but he'd never thought he'd gain such a loyal and courageous friend.

And Erick… gods, he remembered the days wishing that he was brave enough to make friends. Hoping that maybe someday he could have a best friend to have shenanigans with and grow up with. Little did he know the journey that he'd embark on, how his own clumsiness would turn out to be Erick's salvation, and Erick would become his closest companion after Taryn.

And if it weren't for Alton, Taryn's biggest supporter, they might never have made it to this day. It had been his final push that had gotten her out the door, toward a life, a new adventure. Toward him.

Looking at the three of them, the solid young men that had always been there, Cliff couldn't stop the sudden burn in his eyes. He was suddenly so thankful, knowing these three were a part of his life and that he'd do anything for them. And he'd do anything for them, too.

"You know I love you guys, right?" Cliff said, his voice thick.

Finn looked up in surprise. Erick gave him an empathetic smile as if remembering his own wedding day.

To his surprise, it was Alton who squeezed his shoulder. "You mean more to us than we can convey, Cliff. We wouldn't miss this day for the world."

Erick stepped forward and pulled him into a tight hug. "You know I'm proud of you. Don't ever change."

Cliff squeezed him tighter. "Thank you. For everything."

Erick's face was splotchy when he stepped back. He gave him a once over and then nodded, as if in confirmation of something.

Finn gave a sudden growl of frustration. "Gods, you guys stop it! This isn't goodbye! He's just getting married!"

Cliff looked over in shock then burst out laughing. Finn was scrubbing at his face roughly, his blue eyes bright. "Finn, are you crying?"

"No! I'm not- shut up. Gods, I hate you guys."

Alton snorted. "Don't mess up your makeup."

Ignoring this, Finn cleared his throat roughly then looked squarely at Cliff. "Break a leg."

Erick rolled his eyes. "Nice pep talk, Haddock."

"I do what I can."

A firm knock on the door pulled them out of their laughter. The door opened and Grandma Ingerman stepped inside.

"Ah, ravishing as always, boys."

"Ooh I shall lavish you with ravishness, milady!"

"Ew, Cliff-" Finn gave him an odd look. "You're about to get married! Save your ravishing lavishness for Taryn!"

"Yeah that was weird, sorry."

Grandma Ingerman gave a chortle. Her greying hair was pulled into a tight knot at the top of her head. Her skirts swished as she stepped inside and straightened their white shirts and brushed wrinkles out of their blue vests. Cliff still wasn't sure how they'd managed to get such a bright color, but he loved it. Combined with the dark shoes and belts, they all looked like a bunch of studs.

Cliff found himself bouncing on his heels as Grandma Ingerman tried to adjust his vest. "The studmuffin is ready to see his cuppycake. Can we go now?"

She laughed. "The cuppycake is getting on her final sprinkles and then it's time."

Finn wagged his eyebrows at him over her shoulder. "Sprinkles."

Oh gods, Cliff thought, forcing his mind onto cute things like puppies and butterflies. He didn't need the word sprinkles altered for the rest of his life. He was quite sure Grandma Ingerman meant shoes or hair sparklies or something, not… whatever Finn was imagining. Not that he assumed Finn was imagining. He better not be. At least not with Taryn, but he could think about that with Genevieve. Well, when they were married. Crap.

Before he could voice any of these concerns, Granda Ingerman stepped back and gave them all one final look. Then she clapped her hands. "Who's ready to get married?"

Cliff's hand shot up, then grinned at everyone's snorts. Then he noticed Finn's hand was up too, a broad smirk on his face. He slapped Finn's hand down. "It's not your turn yet!"

Laughing, Finn slung an arm around his neck and dragged him to the door. "Love you too, bruh."

---

Adrianna could hardly contain herself. She bounced up and down with excitement as the boys approached from the bottom of the stairs. Grandma Ingerman led the way with Cliff and Finn on her heels. Erick and Alton drew up close behind in deep discussion about trade lines.

The brightness of the blue jacket brought out the gold in Erick's wavy hair and made his eyes sparkle. Nothing could compare to how he looked on their own wedding day, but this was a close second.

Erick caught sight of her looking and grinned. Alton made himself scarce as she approached and pulled him in for a firm kiss. He hummed deep in his throat when she pressed even closer, not caring that the kiss was probably more passionate than was appropriate for public eyes, but she didn't care. He looked fantastic.

He looked slightly euphoric when at least she dropped to her heels. "What was that for?"

"You look amazing, Mr. Larson."

"Uh uh," he said, clearing his throat. "None of that now." He smirked. "No time."

Adrianna gave an unladylike snort. "You do say such naughty things."

Erick pecked her forehead and whispered, "Later."

She felt the promise deep in her bones and gave a shudder. She took his hand and pulled him into the line where their friends all stood waiting. His teal eyes flicked down the sleeveless periwinkle blue dress. At first she'd been unsure when Taryn said the girls could wear different dresses as long as they were the same color. And yet all the girls cooed when she'd tried on the strapless gown. She'd tried other dresses, but strangely enough this one seemed to be the most comfortable and showed off her new curves that remained since having Darin.

With her hair curled and pinned up in a messy style with pearls and a white lace headband, which all the girls wore in support of Taryn, she almost felt overdressed. Her wedding had long since passed, of course. But Taryn would hear none of it, saying that she had every right to look beautiful today. Erick seemed to be enjoying it at any rate.

"You're staring." Adrianna said quietly.

His lips quirked and he leaned in close to her ear. "You look like a fallen star."

"Fallen?" She asked with a small laugh. "How romantic."

"Fallen stars shine brighter." His breath was warm on her neck and she felt goosebumps prickle up arms. "You outshine all the rest."

Her chest felt tight, her skin flushed. Suddenly she wished they were anywhere other than there, standing on the windy steps of the Great Hall- But no. She took a deep breath through her nose and let it out. She couldn't let herself get all sorts of flustered, not right now. Not as she found Cliff taking his mother's arm at the front of the procession and Grandma Ingerman placing her hands on the door.

Turning her face up toward his, Adrianna whispered, "I'll gladly burn with you, Erick Larson."

His teal eyes flared and without warning his mouth slanted over hers, warm and needy. He wanted her, she could feel it. But this was not the time nor the place. She set a hand on his neck but he quickly pulled away as the massive doors ahead creaked open.

"I love you," Erick whispered. "More than life itself, I love you."

Grinning, Adrianna slid her hand down his body to take his hand once more, just as Alton and Inga (both very bright-eared, she belatedly realized) stepped forward. "And I love you."

With the sun in his eyes and dimples on his cheeks, Erick kissed the back of her hand before leading her into the Great Hall for their best friend's wedding.

---

That dress. Her hair. The smokey kohl under her green eyes. The taste of her in his mouth since those final moments before stepping inside the Great Hall. It was all Erick could do to not take her hand and find the nearest dark nook and kiss her senseless.

Needless to say, Erick was having a very difficult time concentrating. With every moment that passed, he was reminded of his own wedding day. The streamers and decorations were different, the happy couple and guests were different, everything was so different. And yet it was the same. All he could see was Adrianna.

She flicked her green eyes at him across the dais and gave him a slow smile. Gods help him-

The doors opening was a blessed distraction. Taryn stood with Clyde Brand at the end of the line, resplendent in a white lace gown. The guests breathed a sigh and even Erick had to admit she was a vision.

Cliff lifted his hands to his face, his grey eyes shining. He was grinning brighter than Erick had ever seen. He suspected he hadn't looked any better on his own wedding day. A quick glance at his Annie and he found proud, happy tears slipping down her face. It was all he could do to keep himself planted where he was. Instead, he gave Cliff's shoulder a firm squeeze as Taryn approached.

Her dress was made of lace, complete with quarter length sleeves. It made her look taller. Her auburn hair was half pulled back, any stray hairs curled away from her face. Her hair, which Adrianna had mentioned, was something that Taryn had stressed over. The chosen style was lovely however, curled into sharp ringlets down her back and the upper half twisted into what looked like a loose inside out braid.

Taryn's mother, Joan Brand, looked on with pride in the front row with happy tears streaking her face.

As Taryn approached the dais, Clyde kissed her cheek, his face pinched with emotion. Taryn took Cliff's hands and joined them. Her face was dry as she handed her flowers, white and pink roses, to Adrianna and stared up into Cliff's face.

It was soon apparent that Hiccup couldn't do any wedding without choking up. Maybe he too was remembering Adrianna's wedding day or that soft spot for Cliff was just too overwhelming. Finn offered his father a handkerchief just as he'd done at the Haddock/Larson wedding, eliciting a chuckle from those who'd been to both weddings.

Erick didn't hear most of what was said. His eyes were still on Adrianna across the row. Her eyes were locked on him, drawing his attention further. A squeak sounded from the row of bridesmaids. Adrianna blinked down at Ava Thorston, who was playing with her basket of flowers with rapt attention. Genevieve gave the tiny girl a tap on the shoulder and tapped her lips with a smile. Ava covered her mouth with an adorable toddler giggle and said, "shhhhhh!" Genevieve nodded again in agreement with a grin, perhaps a bit insistently this time.

The crowd laughed at something Hiccup said and Erick snapped back to attention. Cliff was biting his lip and blushing slightly, even as Taryn grinned. He was a horrible best man for not paying attention.

"And yet here we are. After watching you two grow closer together, challenge each other, love each other, I have no doubt in my mind that this was a match made in Valhalla." Hiccup said. "I've watched both of you grow up to be kind, generous and loyal individuals, with no shame for being happy and sharing every last pun in your arsenal, and being there for your friends during some of their darkest moments. You've laughed with them and cried with them. You've joined them in their success and you've picked them up off the ground when they were down. And I would say with no small amount of thankfulness that my children had friends such as you, Cliff and Taryn. And so each of us has come to support both of you in the best day of your life, the day you both will be bonded together from this moment forward until death shall claim you. What sort of future lies ahead of you, I don't know, but I do know this: it will be as beautiful an adventure as any and each of us standing here today will watch on with pride that we were so lucky to be a small part of it."

Cliff looked like he might burst into tears at any moment. "Oh Chief, that was beautiful!"

"Oh no." Finn whispered.

Erick reached out and patted Cliff's shoulder, much to the crowd's amusement. They'd tittered at Cliff's pronouncement and now chuckled as he sniffed loudly and waved at his eyes. Erick wasn't fooled though. He was thriving off the crowd's laughter.

Taryn's eyes were bright but she grabbed Cliff's waving hand and returned it to hover beside their other clasped hands where it should be.

"And now, Cliff Smedley, do you have a token with which you'd seal your bond?"

Finn snorted softly. Alton promptly stepped on his toes.

Cliff turned and held out his palm. Erick pulled the ring out of his pocket and gently set it into his palm. Adrianna did the same for Taryn moments later and soon the gold rings were slipped onto each of their left ring fingers.

Hiccup asked each of them to recite the vows, which Cliff and Taryn both did with equal excitement. Their voices quivered and their hands were tightly clenched. Erick stifled a laugh. He'd not been to many weddings, but he'd never seen a couple so undeniably excited for this moment.

After Cliff's squeaked "I very much do" echoed through the Great Hall, to much laughter, and Taryn's much more natural response, Hiccup said, "Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now- ah, they're already kissing. Okay-"

The rest of Hiccup's dry anecdote was lost to a chorus of cheers as Cliff and Taryn kissed. Her fingers were lost in his mane of curls as she'd pulled him down toward her. Their height difference was adorable. As Cliff would put it, he was the tall to her small.

They broke apart and grinning, darted down the dais, practically running toward the doors as their guests cheered and waved streamers. Erick took Adrianna's hand and sprinted after them. Moments later they were greeted by a beautiful sunset, bright orange with puffy purple clouds scattered across the sky.

Cliff and Taryn were kissing at the top of the stairs. Adrianna giggled and turned away just as Finn and Genevieve appeared from the Great Hall, both of them grinning and blushing at the hoots and hollers being thrown their way. It was their turn to get married next after all. Next came Inga and Alton, her arm looped through his. As soon as they exited the Hall though, Inga pulled her arm away from his with an awkward pinch of her lips and strode toward the girls, demanding to know if their dresses itched as much as hers did.

Inga was petite like her mother, but she definitely looked more like a teenager than a little girl now. Her dark hair was thick and voluminous in heavy curls, pulled back only with the simple white lace headband. She looked far older and more mature in her blue dress and makeup. Alton gazed after her with a slightly sad look but it disappeared with a blink.

"How long until we eat? I'm starving." Finn said abruptly.

"Do you love anything more than food?" Genevieve asked.

"You, of course."

She gave him a sly smile and reached up to straighten his vest. "I do love a man in uniform."

"Hey now, your day is coming." Cliff said as he and Taryn joined the group. Both of them were flushed and beaming.

Genevieve shrugged, nonplussed. "Just enjoying the scenery." She flung her arms out toward Taryn and they embraced. "Congratulations."

"Thank you."

The group exchanged hugs and congratulations, knowing full well that if they didn't do so now they would lose their chance. The sound of scraping chairs and tables echoed from within the Great Hall and they knew the reception would be starting soon.

Erick glanced down at Adrianna with a pang that he didn't show. They would be announced prior to Cliff and Taryn joining the reception, so they didn't have time to sneak away. Not yet. He'd have to make sure someone had Darin, too.

"What are you thinking about with that brilliant mind of yours?" Adrianna asked in a low voice so the others wouldn't hear.

Smirking slightly, Erick cocked his head at her.

Adrianna clicked her tongue. "Still? Oh please-"

"Always."

She blushed at that and cleared her throat. "Men."

Smiling, he reached out and tenderly hooked a stray curl behind her hair. "Beautiful wives."

"Are you two done? We're lining up." Finn said from afar with thinly veiled disgust in his voice.

Indeed, they were lining up. Cliff and Taryn were smirking at them from the back of the line. There was just enough space for them to slip between the newlyweds and Inga and Alton.

"That was fast." Adrianna said, pulling him toward the line. "I guess we're not the only hungry ones."

"Well it would be cruel to leave the bride and groom starving on their own wedding day." Cliff said with a solemn nod as if he'd said something rich with wisdom.

"And that's the best part about being in the wedding party," Finn said from the front. "We get to eat first."

"First in the wedding party," Gobber's voice boomed from inside the Great Hall. "Fearless Finn Haddock and Genevieve Sullivan!"

Without warning, Finn swept Genevieve up into his arms, clearly catching her surprise by the sound of her yelp. The chiffon train of her skirt trailed to the ground as he marched inside to a chorus of whistles and cheers.

"Maybe I should carry you inside." Cliff said to Taryn from the back of the line. "That would be romantic."

Taryn snorted. "I could carry you in and we'd be less likely to fall over."

Adrianna burst into laughter just as Gobber's voice echoed over the throng, "Erick and Adrianna Larson!"

Erick pulled his cackling wife into the Great Hall. The sound of that laugh, laced with hiccups was something he'd never tire of. He hardly noticed the heat of the Great Hall, the resounding cheers, the streamers being thrown over them as he twirled her in the center of the room and kissed her soundly.

Adrianna blushed at the catcalls, though her face was still pinched with laughter. He didn't care. But he didn't want to steal his friends' thunder, so he quickly pulled her out of the middle of the room as Inga and Alton entered. Alton smiled and waved at the cheers but Inga gave a nonplussed salute that set Adrianna and Genevieve giggling.

"And last, but certainly not least," Gobber said from his place beside the largest fire pit. "Our happy couple, Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Smedley!"

Cliff and Taryn emerged through the massive doors to a shout of applause, far greater than any before. Streamers exploded into the air, cups slammed against the wooden tables, feet stomped, hands clapped. It was loud enough to make Erick wince but he didn't cease clapping for his best friend, not as they finally made it to the middle of the room and kissed once more.

Taryn broke away from the kiss and glanced around at their guests, who were still clapping and cheering. She made an unsure face and looked up at Cliff in confusion, unsure what to do next. Cliff shrugged and said something that said an awful lot like, "Let's give the people what they want" and pulled her in for another kiss.

"Ah look at him, he's a natural!" Finn said, elbowing him in the ribs. Erick snorted.

The cheering and clapping died down eventually, though it was many long minutes. It finally ceased as Taryn and Cliff and the rest of the wedding party took their seats at the head table, finely decorated with white linen and blue and pink flowers.

Cliff lifted a long stemmed plant with a burst of blue flowers. "How exactly do you get blue flowers? I thought these were usually white."

"Normally yes," Taryn said. "But if you put colored dye in the water and let them sit after picking them, eventually the buds turn the color of the dye!"

"Nice!" Cliff said, placing the flower back in the jar. "You ladies did well with the decorations."

"Thanks, babe!"

Pounding on the tables suddenly began as Ben the Baker and Cook approached the table with an entourage of servers, each carrying heaping trays of meats and vegetables.

"They must be very excited for dinner." Cliff said.

"No," Erick said with a sly smirk. "They want you to kiss."

"Again?"

"I hope you brought some lip balm."

Cliff's surprised retort was sharply cut off as Taryn pulled his mouth to hers. Cheers rang out through the hall again and Erick rubbed at his ears.

"I'm going to be deaf by the end of the night," he said to Adrianna.

Suddenly her fingers were sliding onto his leg and gripping his knee. Her expression was laced with cool amusement as she looked around the Hall, but when her green eyes flicked to meet his, he could see the mischievous look in her eyes.

"There are worse things I suppose."

Erick set down his glass of water and reached down to take her hand just as it slid up his thigh. He squeezed her fingers. Cruel, beautiful woman.

Adrianna's lips quirked and she pulled her hand from his as Ben the Baker approached with a large basket of homemade rolls.

Distracted as she was, she didn't quite see the look he was giving her. Or perhaps she was ignoring him. He didn't know exactly what sort of game they were playing with each other today, but it was enough to set his heart racing. The dress, her hair and makeup, the boldness of her touches in such a public setting.

He wondered how long he could keep it together before she drove him absolutely crazy.

---

The stifling heat of the Hall was like a cloud over Inga's senses as the night wore on. While she was having a good time and the food had been excellent, she really wanted nothing more than to take this infernal dress off.

It itched in all the worst places. If she could run to her house and change into more comfortable clothes, she'd gladly return. But apparently that was a big no no when you were a part of the wedding party, so she bit back the urge.

At least the blue dress was pretty. She'd not worn many dresses in her day, but as she'd put it on and Adrianna helped curl her hair, she'd blinked in surprise. Gone was the little girl who'd pined after Finn a few short years ago. Suddenly she looked like a young lady.

She'd been embarrassed to go out in public wearing the thing. Her father had stopped dead in his tracks when he'd seen her and then gaped between her and Heather with a pinched, wide-eyed expression. As if someone had forcibly removed his tongue.

Inga had thrust her nose into the air and walked away. She didn't want to hear whatever comments might be brewing beneath the surface. Her daddy was one of the best men she knew, but he was still brash and unbridled. If she had to wear the dress all day, she didn't plan to carry comments around like an ugly unmatching handbag.

Still, it was a strange feeling. Even if it was less comfortable, or perhaps not uncomfortable but just so different from her usual attire that it just felt very different, she felt… pretty. It was decidedly not a Jorgenson trait, and yet…

And then there was the other matter on her mind, perhaps more pressing than the itchy dress. It was sitting to her left and his brown eyes seemed to flick toward her every few minutes, as if he couldn't help himself.

Things had been interesting with Alton since he'd returned. First she'd lectured him at his late arrival, as he was supposed to return a month prior. After laughing himself hoarse at some of the things she'd called him, including (but not limited to) an incognizant oaf, he'd given her a quick hug and said he'd missed her, too. Not that she missed him. Or rather, not that she'd admit it in so many words.

The truth was simple though. She did miss him. She hated it when he left Berk. They'd grown up together and spent all their time together as best friends always did. And when he was gone it was like there was an empty space at her side that couldn't be filled.

And now that he'd accepted Johann's offer to his trading business…

Inga sighed through her nose, wishing she was old enough to have something stronger than the sparkling fruit juice being offered. Not that she knew what sort of stronger drink she'd want, but it would fit her mood better than this "fruitilicious concoction", as Cliff called it.

Alton seemed to be enjoying the party though. Many people wanted to catch up with him as he'd been gone since the end of summer. With a twinge in her chest, Inga wondered how long he'd be gone for the next trip.

The oils had been a wonderful gift, a late present for her birthday. He'd also been gone for his own birthday but her gift seemed much less exciting. Much less pricey, she was sure. Feeling awkward but stubbornly refusing to allow herself to be shallow about the cost of gifts, she'd handed him the small box without preamble. He'd given her a quizzical look before lifting the lid and pulling out from beneath the white tissue paper a leather corded bracelet with sea glass woven into the cord. The pearly whites and turquoise blues had caught her eye and thought it would be something he'd wear, given that the only jewelry Alton ever wore was leather bracelets. If he wasn't wearing the bracelets, he was wearing leather bracers, as if he couldn't stand to have his forearms or wrists bare.

His wrists were sans bracelets or bracers tonight, seeing as he too was wearing the wedding attire chosen for the men, with the exception of the sea glass bracelet. It did something to her chest to see that he'd chosen to wear it. Maybe it hadn't been too simple after all?

Deep in discussion with Helga as he was, he didn't notice her watching. She almost didn't notice it herself until she found herself appreciating the tanned color of his skin, the freckles dashed across his cheekbones, the windswept look of his auburn hair as if the ocean called to him even now. Alton didn't have a dragon himself, had never seemed to want one for himself, but there was a different sort of untamed beauty about him. He might not take to the skies, but he challenged the seas. That came with its own form of courage.

Inba blinked and snapped her gaze back to her glass. That's when she realized the table had gone quiet. Glancing up, she realized they were all staring at her.

"What?" Inga asked defensively.

"I asked how your training is going?" Genevieve asked with a gracious smile. Her dark eyes flicked to Alton for a moment and then crinkled. As if to say, I see you.

"Fine." Inga said, straightening and fighting not to blush. "I helped deliver a baby yesterday. That was fun."

Finn grimaced. "I can't imagine that being fun."

"Only because you're a prude."

"I'm not a prude," Finn said. "I just… don't know why anyone would want to do that."

"What? Give birth or help women give birth?" Inga asked with a note of challenge. "It's no easy feat for either. And besides, it's actually fascinating."

Genevieve nodded. "It really is."

Finn turned to her with surprise. "You've seen a birth?"

"No," Genevieve said. "I've helped make an elder's passing easier, which is also no easy feat for those caregivers and loved ones. I have not been present for the beginning of a life though. I'd love to see what it is like. As Inga said, I imagine it is fascinating. The human body is a fascinating thing."

Finn blinked and looked as if he was fighting a smile.

Helga gave a long suffering sigh. "Your time will come, children."

Genevieve cleared her throat. "Yes, but that is not the same thing as it would be for someone in Inga's position."

"True, but then he'll basically get to be the observer while you pop out his babies."

"Oh gods-"

"What? It's true, don't be such a ninny." Helga said, smirking broadly as Finn laced his fingers and looked away with a resolute expression. "Soon enough you two will be married and it won't be long before Gen's-"

"I may be a healer," Inga interrupted. "But can we not?"

"Please?" Finn added in a quiet voice.

Color had risen to Genevieve's cheekbones in a splotchy pattern.

Alton coughed. "Speaking of weddings, have you both picked a date yet?"

At once, Finn's expression darkened. "No."

Genevieve took his hand. "We… well, it will be some time I'm afraid."

"What's this?" Helga sat up, all trace of amusement gone. "What do you mean?"

"My father wants us to wait until Finn is closer to becoming chief."

Silence took over the table. Finn looked like he'd swallowed something bitter. Clearly he wasn't happy with this, and Inga couldn't blame him.

"But that could be years," Alton said. "Right?"

"Right." Finn said.

"That's not fair!" Helga said. "I mean, your dad's not exactly old, and you've already been dating for the better part of two years!"

"Yeah we went over all this with Kiev." Finn said bitterly. "But apparently it's a… tradition thing."

Inga glanced at Genevieve. Her expression was flooded with guilt, as if she felt horrible. Inga knew how much they wanted to get married. She was no expert on the subject but it seemed sooner rather than later was a better prerogative than when Finn's plate would suddenly be filled with the biggest life change of his life, second only to getting married. Becoming chief would be no small affair. She'd known Finn her entire life. She remembered him boasting as a little kid about how awesome becoming chief would be someday and how he'd get to call all the shots. But as he'd gotten older, he learned what sort of responsibility that would be and how burdensome it would become.

He'd make an amazing chief one day, that much she knew. She had no doubts about that, just as she was confident she'd make an apt healer someday. Confidence wasn't the issue. But it was also a burden. He wouldn't be free in all the ways that he liked to be.

At least to her, it made more sense to get married and figure out that new part of life before taking on such a large responsibility. Why have to juggle being a new husband and wife and chief all at the same time?

And if the sad expression on Genevieve's face was any indication, they'd discussed all this before.

Helga reached out and squeezed Finn's arm. "I'm sorry. Hopefully it won't be a long time."

An encouraging touch from Helga was a rare find. She was the slap or punch the shoulder sort of friend, not the gentle sort of girl. Yet it seemed to pull him out of his dark thoughts and he exhaled through his nose. "It'll work out in the end. Thanks."

Genevieve shot Helga a grateful look. This, Inga imagined, meant that she'd tried to pull him out of those negative thoughts already and had a tough time doing so.

"Hey there, somber looking friends," Thuggory said, slapping his hands onto the table and making them jump. "What's eating you guys?"

"I should be asking you that question," Helga said, leaning back in her seat. Her blue eyes skimmed down his embroidered blue tunic which fit him to exact measurements. "Not a trace of fat or extra material on you, handsome."

Finn gave a snort and rolled his eyes and Genevieve coughed.

Thuggory's lips quirked. "Looking fine yourself, Miss Ingerman."

Indeed, Helga was wearing a yellow summer dress and a gold necklace. She too never wore dresses, claiming that they were too fanciful for one such as herself. And yet she cleaned up nicely. Inga had no doubts that she still had weapons hidden somewhere under her clothes, easy to grab should she need to disembowel the nearest moron who stumbled her way. Not that she seemed ready to disembowel Thuggory.

Inga watched the flirting with raised brows. Alton gave a low snicker and took a sip of his drink.

"A little birdie told me that Gobber's wine is the finest in all the archipelago," Thuggory said, dark brown eyes unblinking on Helga. "Only problem is there are four different kinds. Have any preferences?"

Helga smirked and stood. "You know, I was quite devastated to learn your brother Callan is married. But you'll do."

Finn choked on a laugh as she took Thuggory's hand and dragged him into the crowd. Thuggory shot them a victorious wink as they disappeared.

"Well that's a dangerous pair." Genevieve said.

Alton gave a salute with his empty glass. "Good luck, Thuggory."

Inga snorted with laughter. "Good luck indeed."

Alton matched her grin with one of his own. "Hopefully she lets him down easy."

"Yeah well," Inga said, amusement fading. "Easier said than done sometimes."

His smile faltered slightly. "Yeah."

Way to go, Inga, she thought. Way to kill the moment.

Belatedly she remembered Genevieve and Finn were still sitting across from them, watching with interest. Finn's blue eyes were flicking between them. A knowing smile played around Genevieve's lips, though she was clearly trying to hide it. Uh oh.

A cheer rose up from the crowd, diverting their attention elsewhere. Inga was momentarily grateful as she felt her face flush. She raised her glass of her sparkling juice and frowned as she realized it was empty.

"Want to get another drink?" Alton asked.

Yes. No. If she left the table with him now, Genevieve and Finn would begin to whisper as soon as they were out of earshot, she knew it. But she and Alton were best friends, it was nothing new that they followed each other around. If they wanted to make assumptions, if there was anything to assume, that was their prerogative. Lovebirds and their matchmaking. And besides, Thuggory and Helga were probably at the drink table swapping either glasses or spit, and she didn't wish to be a part of that.

"Let's check out Cliffie's snackages table." Inga said instead.

Alton nodded and rose from his seat. "We'll catch you two later."

"Have fun!" Genevieve said.

Finn caught Inga's eye as she stood and then he gave her a broad knowing smirk. Cheeky little-

Alton's fingers pressed into her back and she stiffened in surprise. She launched into a quick walk, easily leaving him behind. She thought she heard Finn choke on a laugh as the crowd swallowed them up.

"Are you okay?" Alton asked at her side as soon as the snackages table came into view.

The table was piled high with trays of baked goods, including mini pies (both fruit and meat), the nut, berry and chocolate concoction that the groom referred to as "trail mix", shortbread with jelly centers, Ben the Baker's famous sweet rolls, and brownies dusted with powdered sugar topped with a single raspberry.

Inga tried to shake off the memory of his fingers pressing into her spine. "Yeah, I'm alright."

She grabbed a plate and loaded a few snacks onto it and he followed suit. They lapsed into a comfortable silence, the kind that didn't require words. And yet she couldn't help but think that her friends or maybe even her family were watching and whispering about them behind her back.

But was that so bad? They were best friends and… well, he had declared his crush on her all those months ago. It had been so long ago and he'd been gone so much of that time, she'd nearly forgotten all about it. When he inevitably returned every few months, however, his words would return to her without preamble.

Back then it had been so uncomfortable, so painfully awkward. It had taken her a long time to get over Finn, to not feel a pang of jealousy as Genevieve would take his hand. It didn't help that they were so disgustingly in love and made their public displays of affection easily known to all. Finn claimed that they did it to ward off all his adoring fans, but he did everything boldly, without shame or a care in the world. Even now as Inga turned from the snack table she saw them through the crowd. Genevieve had forgone her chair and slid into Finn's lap, her arms wrapped loosely around his shoulders as they talked, his hands around her waist.

What must it feel like to be that confident with the one you loved? Even better, what did it feel like to have someone in your life with whom you shared those feelings? Inga couldn't see herself ever being that confident or bold with anyone, let alone in public. Or maybe… maybe she could… someday. If things were different.

"Inga?" Alton asked.

"Let's sit outside." Inga said promptly and turned toward the doors. "It's hot in here."

Alton followed her without argument. They squeezed through the crowded doors and breathed in the fresh evening air. Inga enjoyed about three seconds of silence before she realized there were more than a few couples standing among the pillars, some of them caught up in tight embraces.

"Oh for the love of the gods." Inga huffed and stalked down the stairs.

"Where are you going?"

Inga didn't reply. She kept descending until they were a healthy distance away from the numerous making out couples. She took a seat on the stairs and set her plate on her lap.

Alton looked amused as he sat beside her. "So-"

"Don't say it." Inga lifted a finger into his face. "Don't even mention it."

Grinning, Alton lifted his hands. "Okay."

"I'll shove this brownie into your face, Brand."

"I have no doubts you will."

"Okay, then stop grinning."

"I can't!" Alton said. "You get so awkward with public displays of affection. It's adorable."

"I…" Inga faltered. Adorable?

Alton seemed to realize his word choice and was torn between taking it back or rolling with it. The pause was brief before he said, "You heard me. It was cute. I'm not afraid to admit it."

Inga wasn't sure what to say to this so she stuffed a raspberry shortbread into her mouth. "People are just so… gushy."

"They are." Alton agreed. "But not everyone is like Helga or Finn. Some people are quieter in their affection."

"Like Erick and Adrianna."

"Right."

They lapsed into silence as they ate their snacks, watching the clouds move across the starlit sky. It was rather peaceful with the cool night breeze and the ocean hissing across the banks below. Laughter and warm auburn light flickered into the night from the Great Hall, but otherwise it was calm.

When their plates were empty Alton stacked them and set them aside. He leaned back on his elbows and gazed upward. The moonlight made his freckles stand out sharper against his skin.

"See that one?" Alton asked quietly.

Inga looked up. It took her a minute to realize he was referring to the brightest star in the sky, winking among its brethren. "Yeah."

"That's the north star. She's the one we follow to bring us home."

"She's lovely." Inga said, turning to give him a smile. She found him not looking at the star, but looking at her instead.

Alton smiled softly. "She is."

Inga was suddenly thrown back to that day in the belly of Johann's ship-someday to be his ship-when they'd apologized for hurting each other and saying things that didn't need to be said. And yet they'd both hinted at something potential. He'd started to speak and then thought better of it, choosing to keep whatever thoughts locked inside. And Inga… she'd decided that she wanted to be his friend, but she wasn't proud enough to say that it could never happen with him. That maybe someday they couldn't be something more. She didn't know the future and she still didn't. In some ways she felt like the same girl as she'd been that day.

But looking at him now, she realized something. That deep down, somewhere in her soul that said she didn't need boys and she preferred Alton as her best friend and her best friend only, there was something else to it. Something that pulsed when he was around. Something that ached when he was gone.

"I don't want you to leave." Inga whispered.

Alton's brow furrowed and he sat up. "I'm not leaving for a few weeks."

"I-I know, I just…" Inga fiddled with the material of her dress. "For that first year or two that you traveled, it was different. Maybe because we were still kids in a way. Sure I missed you, but it doesn't feel the same as it does now. I'm happy for you, that you don't have to be trapped here, that you can go off and have adventures, that you have a future. That you can be free and happy. But… but a part of me still burns inside because I want to be selfish. Because I don't want you to leave. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. And I think I've been avoiding that fact because I didn't want to make it worse. I don't want to let you go."

The words were pouring out of her, more words than she'd realized were pent up after months of thinking it and ignoring it. And yet a weight seemed to lift off her chest now that they'd been spoken. All she felt was relief.

His fingers, calloused from handling rope and carrying boxes and tying sails, were gentle as they turned her face toward his. "Then don't. Don't let me go, not when I can take you with me."

Inga jolted. "Go with you? I can't go with you."

"Not physically. In here." Alton tapped his chest over his heart. "We could write to each other. We use Terror mail as part of the business. We may not see each other much while I'm gone, but that doesn't mean that we can't still communicate. Wanting to have me around… that's not selfish, Inga. You can be happy for someone's success and be sad to see them go, but it's not selfish to miss them."

Feeling somehow warm and tingly, Inga smiled. "I'd like that. Writing letters I mean."

"I miss you too, you know." Alton said. "It's great, living on the seas, traveling. I love every part of it. But it's also lonely and quiet, even with Johann. I think that's why he gets so jabbery when we make port because he hasn't spoken in hours, sometimes days. I can't imagine doing it by myself for decades."

"That does sound very lonely." Inga said.

"Yeah. But knowing that I have Berk to come back to makes it worth it."

"Well yeah, you were born and raised here. Your family is here." Inga snorted. "Plus if Taryn ends up getting preggerz, then you'll have to come home to see your new nieces and nephews."

Alton huffed a laugh. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. They got married today."

"Well, I'll keep you posted in my letters if there are any announcements."

"I appreciate it. But I wasn't just talking about Berk or my family." Alton said. "I was talking about you."

Inga blinked in surprise.

"Do… do you remember what I said to you a few years ago?"

"Which part?"

"The part where I made a horrible mistake and told you I like you after… well, everything that happened?"

"Ah, that night." Inga said with a wince. "A horribly embarrassing night."

Alton blinked and then paused. An Increasingly large pause.

Inga froze. "Oh wait, I meant… Not what you said. I mean yes, it had been embarrassing at the time, but I meant looking back on that day, the whole ordeal of me fighting with Finn and getting myself in a tizzy, which caused that stupid episode, and then you found me on the floor, and then when everyone tried to get an explanation I treated you like a jerk, and later on I again treated you like a jerk. All of that is embarrassing to look back on because I was dumb and immature, and I know I don't have to focus on that aspect of it anymore because you forgave me, but that's the difference between being a kid and growing up. You always look back on your biggest mistakes with embarrassment. I wasn't saying that you were an embarrassment for saying you like me."

A slow smile had stretched across Alton's face. "Thank you for clearing that up."

"Uh… you're welcome." Inga said, slightly breathless. "So you might say that I do remember, yes."

"I never stopped. Liking you. I tried to, this past year, because I knew you wanted to be friends and I wanted to respect that. But dating options aren't exactly that plentiful on the open seas and… I just kept coming back to you."

Inga swallowed, slightly breathless. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying," Atlon said. "That while long distance is difficult, I think we could do it if you wanted to try. We're supposed to return by August. We could… give it a try with the letters and see how it goes, and if either of us decides that it's not working, that's okay. But only if you want to and you're sure. I'm not… I'm not trying to force anything on you at all-"

"No, I know you're not." Inga said. "You're not that kind of guy." She bit her lip and looked away. So many thoughts and feelings were running through her mind. She hardly knew what to say or where to start.

"What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking how strange it is that we're actually talking about long distance dating." Inga said, then froze. As if saying the words aloud made it real.

A flash of glee spread across his face. "I love it when you do that."

"What?"

"Surprise yourself. You thrive off of being blunt and direct and yet sometimes you don't seem to realize something until you say it out loud."

"Huh. I didn't realize that was a thing I did."

"All the time. It's one of the many things I lo- like about you."

Inga gave him a sideways glance. Now he was pursing his lips, as if internally kicking himself. She suddenly grinned in amusement.

"What?" Alton demanded.

"Nothing. You just try so hard to be your absolute best and yet when you loosen your collar a little bit, you speak your mind."

Alton gave a hum of agreement. "I guess we could both do with a little less thinking and a little more bluntness."

Less thinking, more bluntness. She glanced at him sideways, thinking. She shed the layers of overthought of the last few years and considered him. Was he kind? Yes. Did he know and understand her? More than most, yes. Did he have goals and a future? Yes. Did they have similar interests? Yes. Did her family like him? Of course, they'd known each other for years. Was there anything holding her back except stubbornness and fear?

Inga searched her mind. Bluntly. Decisively. She came up empty. No, there was nothing. No reason why she shouldn't take a chance. She still didn't know what the future held and maybe their paths would divert someday. But maybe they wouldn't. Maybe taking a chance wasn't a bad thing.

And though her heart thundered, Inga simply said, "Kiss me."

Alton's face whipped toward hers, utter shock on his face. "What?"

Decision made, Inga nodded. "You heard me. You said we could do with a little less overthinking and more bluntness, so here it is. I like you, Alton Brand, and I don't know what I'm doing or where this might lead. But I like you too, and I have no reason to not trust us, at least until August to see how it goes. So if we're going to do this, we're going to do it properly. So, kiss me."

Alton looked torn between a mixture of shock, amusement and fear. "I forgot how scary your decisiveness can be."

"Hey, you started all this. This is all your-"

Gently, Alton cupped her chin with his fingers and brought his lips to hers. Inga froze, hardly daring to breathe. It was strange and different than anything she'd ever felt before. His lips were soft and gentle with a little bit of pressure, and distantly she felt his fingertips slid across her jaw to rest behind her ear. Her eyes had fluttered shut at some point. Maybe it was instinct but suddenly she was kissing him back. She heard and felt him sigh, as if in relief. As if he couldn't believe this was actually happening.

It was over all too soon. It could have been moments or hours, though the logical side of Inga's brain was sure it had only been seconds. Her breath was tight in her chest as Alton pulled away, only millimeters from her face. The brown of his eyes had flecks of gold, something she'd never noticed before now. Never been so close or looked so closely to notice.

She rubbed her lips together and his eyes flicked toward them. For a moment she thought he'd kiss her again, but he didn't. Instead he smiled gently and brushed a dark lock of hair behind her ear. It was so gentle, it was perhaps more sweet than the kiss.

Distantly she realized her hands had curved around his arms. They felt quite nice actually. She shook her head and cleared her throat. "Well, as far as first kisses go, it'll do."

Alton snorted into laughter. "You really have no tact."

"True, but then again I didn't know what to expect." Inga said, slowly retracting her hands. "I'm sure you've got more experience."

"Actually, no."

Inga looked up in surprise. "What? That was-"

"My first kiss, too? Yeah." Alton gave her a small, shy smile. "I wanted to wait."

"For what?"

"Someone special."

Despite herself, despite every part of her stubborn Jorgenson body that resisted, Inga smiled and looked away. She didn't know what this strange new feeling was in her chest, like a Terrible Terror was flapping wildly, trying to escape. But it was a nice feeling. A good feeling.

"And that's my favorite smile on you. In case you were wondering."

Inga rolled her eyes. "You have a favorite smile of mine? Really?"

Alton shrugged. "I've had years to pay attention. I'm only just getting started."

"Hmm," Inga said, her brows raised. "Well at least we can learn something together."

"What? All my favorite things about you?"

"Well I am pretty spectacular-" Alton choked. Inga grabbed him by the shirt and he went quiet when she pulled him closer. "But I meant this."

Alton had no arguments. As she set her lips on his, it seemed for once they were in agreement.

---

A loud clanging sound rose over the din of the Great Hall, effectively silencing jovial laughter and conversation. Hiccup turned alongside his fellow Berkians and friends from Hjart who'd come for the wedding and blinked at the sight of Genevieve Sullivan standing atop a nearby table, a metal pot and wooden spoon in hand. She was grinning brightly.

"Ladies and gentleman, may I have your attention please?"

Finn was staring up at her in bemusement. His eyes flicked to her feet, likely to make sure she wouldn't topple off. He needn't have worried though. She was sturdy on her feet as she lowered the pot and spoon, and waited for the Great Hall to go quiet.

"Thank you very much," Genevieve said, turning in place so those behind could see her as well. "It may sound odd to those who are not from Hjart, but oftentimes we will play a game with the bride and groom on their wedding day. Therefore, I would love for Cliff and Taryn to please approach the chairs sitting back to back."

The scrape of chairs and tables preceded the murmurs throughout the Hall as people leaned forward to locate the two chairs sitting in the middle of the dance floor. Cliff and Taryn approached cautiously, both looking at Genevieve with confused smiles.

"Each of you take a chair, please," Genevieve said as she dropped to the floor, not noticing Finn as he half stood from his chair with a wince. "And please remove your shoes."

Taryn froze as if thinking she'd misheard.

Cliff, on the other hand, sat bolt upright. "Eshoes me?"

Hiccup exhaled a breath, sharing an amused look with Astrid. She looked like she was barely restraining an eye roll. Many laughs and groans echoed through the Hall.

Taryn twisted in her seat. "Are you shoe-er this is the right time?"

Cliff turned in his seat as well. "Shoe-erly thou art indeed my sole mate."

Scoffs and sighs quickly turned into shouts of indignation, particularly from Finn. He looked outraged. Adrianna was hiccuping with laughter while Erick gently patted her shoulder. They looked so happy that Hiccup was momentarily glad they'd been convinced to get a pair of babysitters for Darin for the night. Mainly, his grandmothers, Lara Larson and Lofn Anderson. He'd been even more shocked when Lara had taken the other woman under her wing and they'd formed a close bond.

Genevieve's voice cut through the groans. "Shoes, please!"

Taryn and Cliff quickly removed their shoes, both giggling to each other over the sides of their chairs. Soon her white flats and his black leather boots were in their hands.

"Now give each other one of your shoes. Okay." Genevieve pulled a folded piece of paper out of her pocket (pockets on dresses were a brilliant idea, Hiccup thought) with a flourish. "Basically I will ask you a question and you must answer not with words, but by raising the person's shoe that best answers the question. Be honest!"

"Honesty is my specialty!" Cliff said, sitting forward in his chair with an eager expression, shoes aloft.

Genevieve snorted and shook her head. "Question one: Who made the first move?"

Taryn and Cliff both grinned and lifted his boot in the air.

"Atta boy, Cliffie!" Thorein cheered from a nearby pillar, a drink in his hand. A smattering of laughter echoed through the Hall.

"Yas!" Cliff twisted in his seat toward Taryn. "I think I'm winning."

"You can't win this sort of game unless you don't know the answers-"

"Question two: Who is cleaner?"

Taryn had flung her shoe high into the air to a chorus of laughter. Cliff winced, indecisive, and then stubbornly raised his boot. She turned and then gasped. "That is so not true! Put that down!"

"You're a stress cleaner!" Cliff said indignantly. "That's not the same thing-"

"You're always throwing food everywhere-"

"Tripping over the rug and spilling snackages is not the same thing-"

"Oh boy, first fight." Snotlout said into his mug with a snort.

"Question three," Genevieve said over the laughter and bickering. "Who first said 'I love you'?"

Grinning, both of them raised Taryn's shoe without pause. A chorus of awwws echoed through the room.

On and on the questions went, many eliciting laughs from the crowd, especially when the couple would pause or playfully bicker about the correct answer.

Cliff absolutely blushed when Genevieve dared to ask, "Who is the better kisser?"

"Ooooooh," the Great Hall said. Taryn pursed her lips, fighting a smile. Cliff shook his head. He knew better than to lose man points by answering such a question. Slowly Taryn raised her own shoe. Noticing the rising laughter of the crowd, Cliff whipped around. "Hey!" She quickly lowered her shoe and her face into her knees, blushing brightly for all to see.

"Who has a better fashion sense?"

Taryn raised her shoe high but Cliff resolutely lifted his boot. She shook her head with a scoff. "Those purple pants with yellow suspenders, Cliff?"

"That was my choice on April Fools Day, but Erick has dressed me for every big occasion for the last five years. I'd say I have better fashion sense."

"You leave me out of this." Erick said distantly.

"I think we all know the answer to this question," Genevieve said with a grin. "Who talks more?"

Cliff's boots rose high into the air.

"Who takes more time in the washroom?"

Taryn's white slippers rose next.

"Who's the pickier eater?"

Taryn's shoes began to fall to their sides and then went straight back up again.

"Who has better hair?"

Taryn lifted Cliff's boot just as Cliff raised Taryn's white shoe. The crowd "aww'd" and they each turned in surprise to see how they'd responded.

"Aw, babe!" Cliff said. "You're so cute."

"Aw baby, you're cuter!"

Snotlout gagged obnoxiously into his mug.

Tuffnut promptly shoved him off the bench. "Be silent, you impetuous fool! You who do not understand true love and all its matchlessness!"

"Uh Tuffnut? You're causing a scene."

"Indeed. Tis the way I roll, Hiccy."

Hiccup sighed, ignoring the way Fishlegs choked on his mead. "What did I tell you about calling me Hiccy?"

"Hey, it all started when you showed up to work with a hickey on your neck when we were eighteen. I don't know who blushed more, you or your father. Who knew that even the mighty Stoick the Vast could blush-"

"Yes, thank you, Tuffnut, now that you've informed the entire Great Hall."

"Oh don't be such a baby," Astrid said, elbowing him in the ribs. "Genevieve's still reading questions."

It was true. After a dozen or so more questions, Genevieve finally threw up her hands. "That's all I've got! Thank you for being gracious and playing, Cliff and Taryn. I hope you both enjoyed it."

Cliff and Taryn put their shoes back on and then stood as the Great Hall clapped. Genevieve raised her hands once more and Hiccup noted how quickly everyone stopped to listen. She'd make a fine Chieftain's wife someday.

"One last thing, though it will be no small affair. I brought with me an entourage of instrumentalists and performers for this happy day. I encourage anyone willing to try to join us! Cliff and Taryn, I wish you both the best, and I hope you enjoy the music!"

Finn was quicker on his feet this time as Genevieve turned to jump down. She blinked in surprise at his upheld hand. She took it with a smile and allowed him to help her down. No sooner had her feet touched the ground than a few sounds plucked through the din.

Hiccup turned in time to see a group of men and women with instruments sitting nearby, plucking instruments or adjusting their positions. Thuggory had what appeared to be a drum and mallet in his hands. Genevieve's best friend Hannah had a small black pipe in her hands, likely a pennywhistle.

*They met each other's eyes and then started a countdown, then a pair of girls began shaking round wooden items in time with Thuggory's drum beats. The wooden instruments, whatever they were, created a shaking noise that filled the air with sound. The music was quiet at first but then the beat began to pick up as the volume rose. A pair of men raised a rebek each and a bouncing jig exploded into sound.

"Ahh I love this one!" Kiev said to Molly, taking her hand and pulling her into the middle of the dance floor.

Genevieve grabbed a young man's hand and led him into a dance that matched her parents'. Hiccup's surprise was quickly extinguished when he realized the boy was her brother, Callan. Finn was watching from a nearby bench beside Helga, a smile on his face.

The other Hjartan guests soon joined in the dancing. A boy who looked vaguely familiar walked to Helga and offered his hand, silently asking her to dance. He looked familiar to Hiccup but he couldn't place his name. Helga raised a brow, nonplussed, while Finn scowled. With a long sigh, Helga dropped her hand into the boy's and shot Finn an amused "let's see how long I can stand this oaf" sort of look.

The music carried throughout the Hall, filling the empty space with sound and light. Hiccup found himself tapping his foot in time with the beat. Strange, he was as musically inept as they came, but the music and dance were fairly entertaining.

Cliff and Taryn were following Genevieve and Callan's movements with surprising ease, which made him wonder if they'd learned some of the dances before the wedding.

The song ended rather quickly, apparently short in its creation. It was only a few seconds before the instrumentalists struck up another jig, this one even more lively than the first. Conversation faded into the background as Genevieve and Callan pulled the group into two large circles and began to lead the people into a strange sort of looping march.

Soon people were bumping into each other and cackling with laughter, even him and Astrid. Everyone seemed to be getting the hang of it though with each pass, raising their arms so the lines of people could pass beneath and continue the march.

Suddenly Genevieve was at their side and hauling them to their feet. Astrid dug in her heels, blushing madly, and Hiccup was keen to agree. But Genevieve grabbed them each with a surprisingly strong hand and dragged them into the circle. No wonder she'd snagged their son so thoroughly. She could be firm when she wanted to be.

Hiccup felt distinctly awkward at first, unsure exactly why he was being strong-armed into this situation. But he soon found that everyone was either laughing, too occupied to notice his awkwardness, or too distracted with their own awkwardness to notice that he too felt awkward. Plus he really hated to step on anyone's toes, especially with his prosthetic, so he focused on following the steps as the person in front of him. The man was a burly Hjartan so Hiccup nearly lost his remaining five toes a few times, but he soon caught the hang of the steps.

Before he knew it, he was laughing. He'd lost Astrid somewhere in the mix and hoped she was also enjoying herself. Perhaps Genevieve had been right to force them to join. It might seem awkward at first, but this was great!

He lost track of time, laughing with random strangers until the song ended minutes or hours later. The crowd clapped and cheered for Thuggory and the other instrumentalists, who bowed, sweaty but pleased.

He caught sight of Astrid through the crowd and pushed his way to her. She was flushed with color, her blue eyes sparkling in the golden light. Suddenly he was reminded of their own wedding day, though there hadn't been dancing. But as their eyes met, she never looked less fearless as she did then.

"That was unexpectedly fun," Astrid said, pushing her hair back from her face. She'd worn it in half a braid today, the rest of her hair cascading down her shoulders like a golden waterfall. Even today she was still painfully beautiful. "Hey, Berk to Hiccup?"

He blinked. "Sorry. Yeah, that was fun!" He glanced around when the crowd began to hush from some announcement he'd heard. People began to take their seats, flushed from the heat. One of the guards on duty had shoved open the massive doors to allow in a cool breeze.

Hiccup took Astrid's hand and pulled them onto the nearest bench. Most of everyone seemed to be taking their seats, but Callan and Genevieve stood in the center of the dance floor. Cliff and Taryn were sitting nearby, watching with expectantly confused faces.

Callan's voice rose above the din. "Cliff and Taryn, congratulations on your wedding today. I wish you both the happiest of lives together. Geneveive and I prepared a song for you, and as such we taught many of your friends the dance that goes with it. So please join us!" He nodded at the instrumentalists who launched into playing.

**"Ohh this is an interesting little jig!" Molly said nearby.

Astrid's brows raised. "You've never heard this before?"

"No!"

Callan held his arms behind his back with a grin as he began the lyrics:

I-I-I, I've been keeping secrets from you dear

There's things of me are

Scared and you're my fear

The crack goes in the ground

Genevieve took up the melody. Hiccup smiled, remembering hearing the sound of her voice that first time. Astrid's eyes flew wide and he chuckled.

And you-ou-ou, you've been

Coming closer to the edge

Wonder what goes on in my head

And so I shut you out

Callan reached out a hand to Genevieve and she took it with a grin. They bowed to each other and then launched into a two-step movement, their hands held aloft between them.

And I guess that we don't

Need to be falling apart

But you will always have a

Special place in my heart

I never wanted this to end

Can you forgive me friend?

As the music exploded into an excited, happy tune, the Sullivans crossed each other's opposite wrist and leapt into a skipping jump that matched both the excitement and beat of the music. Taryn had her hands over her mouth in shock. Cliff was absolutely grinning with delight.

'Cause I fell in the hole

In the hole, in the hole

My heart was turning cold

Turning cold, turning cold

I never wanted this to end

Can you forgive me friend?

Genevieve and Callan performed another series of movements with their hands held aloft. But soon Callan twirled her away and they bowed to each other as if in parting. Others had joined the dance floor, many Hjartans and even a few of Cliff and Taryn's friends, such as Erick and Adrianna, Kaelan and a boy Hiccup didn't know, as well as Morgan and Evan. A lovely woman with red hair took Callan's hand to continue the dance as the music picked up again. But to the entire crowd's surprise, Finn had also taken up a position on the dance floor and held out his hand to Genevieve with a smirk.

"Whaaaaat?" Snotlout demanded. "Since when-"

"I have no idea." Hiccup said with a laugh as the dance took over again.

And I-I-I, I promised you that

We would never change

Say you and me would

Always stay the same

How I let you down

And I guess that we don't

Need to be falling apart

But you will always have a

Special place in my heart

I never wanted this to end

Can you forgive me friend?

When the now massive group of dancers launched into the dance as the music took over, it was quite a sight. It was organized and efficient so nobody ran into each other. It occurred to Hiccup then that this sort of thing must require a lot of planning and practice. How long had they been planning this?

Genevieve and Callan as well as the other Hjartans kept up the lyrics to the song, which likely only made the dancing more difficult. And yet as always, the Hjartans were masters of music.

'Cause I fell in the hole

In the hole, in the hole

My heart was turning cold

Turning cold, turning cold

I never wanted this to end

Can you forgive me friend? (Hey)

Hiccup glanced over at the instrumentalists as they took over, allowing everyone to dance without singing for a bit. Thuggory and the others were sweating but grinning as if having the time of their lives. And he realized that Berk had really missed out in the past few decades when music had sort of fallen by the wayside compared to other things. Well, they'd have to change that.

The instruments quieted as Genevieve and Callan returned with the lyrics. The couples had ceased dancing-or rather, each now had slowed into a small spin of sorts, one set of hands still holding each other close while the other clasped around their partner's back. Callan was singing and gazing down at his wife with an enraptured look, as if she was the foundation for everything. Finn and Genevieve looked no different. Erick must have learned the lyrics because he seemed to be singing to Adrianna, whose eyes were glistening with joy. And Hiccup didn't know when it had happened, but Cliff and Taryn had also joined in the dance. Cliff bent to kiss Taryn and it was perhaps the sweetest thing Hiccup had seen thus far tonight.

So can, can you forgive me friend?

Can you forgive me friend

For breaking us apart?

'Cause in the end

I didn't want this to end

Can you forgive me friend?

Forgive my ugly heart

The music and lyrics returned into double the volume, nearly making Hiccup jump. Everyone launched back into the dance once more, but this time they were joined by clapping from the crowd in time to the beat of the music.

And I guess that we don't

Need to be falling apart

But you will always have

A special place in my heart

I never wanted this to end

Can you forgive me friend?

The chorus repeated, but with the doubled volume, it was also double the excitement, and apparently double the show. Callan and his wife, Finn and Genevieve and a few other couples took running leaps atop some of the tables and continued the dance from there. Snotlout looked affronted and snatched his and Heather's drinks off the table as he glared up at Genevieve and Finn, but they hardly noticed. Hiccup and Astrid cackled with glee.

'Cause I fell in the hole

In the hole, in the hole

My heart was turning cold

Turning cold, turning cold

I never wanted this to end

Can you forgive me friend? Hey!

While the instruments played another few rounds of the tune, Genevieve twined her arms around Finn's neck as they spun. He kept his hands firmly locked around her waist as she threw back her head with a fearless grin. They both looked so happy in that moment that Hiccup felt intensely thankful that his son had found someone so special, that helped him to grow into a better person. Also, who was this Fearless Finn who now danced atop tables without caring what other people thought?

The instruments stopped with a final flourish. The Great Hall exploded into cheers, nearly everyone rising to their feet to join in clapping and shouting. Callan and his wife bowed and then straightened. He raised a hand to Genevieve and Finn, both of whom bowed. Now Finn was blushing, as if now remembering that this had been a public event. He pointed at Cliff and mouthed, I did this for you.

The cheering and clapping continued for endless minutes. Cliff and Taryn finally cut through the crowd, faces split with grins until they approached Genevieve and Finn as they finally returned to the floor.

Taryn threw her arms around Genevieve's neck. "Oh that was beautiful! Thank you! Oh, and Callan, you as well!"

Callan laughed good naturedly as Cliff yanked him into a bone crushing hug. "It was our pleasure."

"We'll never forget this for the rest of our lives." Cliff said. "Thank you."

"And who knew?" Taryn said, turning to Finn with a grin. "He cleans up nice and dances!"

Finn gave a lazy shrug. "Only for special occasions. Too much and I might spontaneously combust!"

"Uh huh." Genevieve said, patting his arm. She lifted her hair off her neck and waved at her face. The air in here had turned stifling. "I wonder where Erick and Adrianna are?"

"They were here a minute ago." Hiccup said, glancing around. "Maybe they went to get drinks."

Finn muttered something low enough that Hiccup didn't catch it, but Genevieve promptly slapped his arm. Hiccup decided he didn't want to know or think about it too hard. They were probably around here somewhere. Maybe they'd just stepped out to get some air because it was very warm in here.

Toothless pushed his nose through the group of people and rested his face on the table.

"Well hi there." Hiccup said. "Where have you been?"

Toothless promptly belched, which smelled like a horrible mixture of fish and wine. His pupils were oddly dilated.

Hiccup sighed. "Ya know, I'm going to have words with Gobber regarding his wine. I don't know why you have to get into it at every wedding."

"It's a celebration, dad!" Finn said, raising a glass. "Toothless wants to celebrate too!"

"It's the sleeping it off for three days after that's a problem."

Astrid scoffed. "You could do with a little more walking."

Finn gagged on his drink and turned away, spluttering.

"What are you saying?" Hiccup demanded, whirling to her. He glanced down at Toothless, who'd fallen asleep standing up with his face still on the table. "Are you calling me fat?"

"Not fat," Astrid said delicately. "Just that middle-age pudge. It happens to us all, you know."

"What- I'm not- Excuse me?"

Genevieve seemed to be fighting a smile and took Finn's hand. "Let's get some air, Fearless Finn."

Finn hummed in an interested sort of way. "I do love it when you call me by my full name."

"Your wedding day is coming, children!" Astrid called after them.

Hiccup snorted. "Eventually."

"It'll be here before we know it."

"Yeah, but can you imagine being forced to wait that long? I wasn't planning to retire for at least a few more years. He's only eighteen."

"Yes. But he could do it. We could bump that retirement up and finally go on that vacation we've talked about for forty years."

"Ha! What's a vacation?"

"I rest my case." Astrid said, lacing her fingers through his. "Really though, he could do it."

"He could," Hiccup sighed. "But I don't want to rush him into becoming chief just so he can get married. That's a lot of pressure and we all know what happens when Finn bites off more than he can chew."

"So talk to Kiev."

"I have and they're not budging. Something about 'proper ceremonial rites' and such. I don't get it."

Astrid rolled her eyes. "It's all this that I love about Hjart," she said, gesturing toward the dance floor and the musicians, a few of which were still strumming lightly, which added to the atmosphere as Cliff and Taryn made their way through the crowd of guests to thank them for coming. "But all the traditionalism is just… it's a lot."

"Hey, we thought it would be longer for some things to change, like allowing their women to train and fly dragons. Now look at them."

"Yes, but forcing a pair of young kids to wait to get married for years-"

"I know, Astrid."

"I mean Finn is no stranger to passion-" Hiccup choked on his mead. "Do we really think it's wise to make them wait?"

"You don't think they're…"

"I don't think so. I think they're trying their best to control themselves, to do it right. Finn has grown a lot as a person and he respects Kiev. He wants to do the right thing. Ever since he returned from Maero and things turned around, he's always wanted to do right by the girl he'd end up with." Astrid sighed through her nose. "I'm just not sure that making them wait is wise. It's playing with fire. Even a little kindling can cause a roaring fire."

Indeed. Hiccup could remember plenty of times for them as young, nearly twenty-year-olds, how passion would mix with desire. One thing could easily lead to another. This was exactly how he and Astrid had gotten pregnant so quickly after they'd gotten married. All that pent up resistance and passion, and… well. He didn't think Finn and Genevieve had crossed that line yet, but Astrid had a point. If they had to wait for years…

But he still held true to his original point. He did not want to retire just for the sake of Finn being allowed to get married. He knew Finn would make a great chief and that day was approaching fast, but not yet. He didn't want to rush it. He wanted to do it right. He wanted it to happen when Finn was ready, and right now… it was close, but they weren't quite there yet.

Astrid took a deep breath through her nose and let it out. "I'm sure it will work out how it's supposed to. It just concerns me a little bit. This is supposed to be a union of two people. One side shouldn't make it unfair by calling all the shots based on silly traditions, that's all I'm saying."

Hiccup nodded. "I agree. I just… I could talk to Kiev again, but I don't want to strain anything. It's only more awkward because we're both chieftains."

"He shouldn't force you to retire just so our kids can get married, Hiccup. Maybe all six of us should sit down and discuss it, and come up with a compromise. Something that won't require you to retire but won't require them to wait until then. You're still relatively young for a chieftain and you're not quite senile yet-"

"Thank you for that note of confidence."

"My point is," Astrid continued. "What are we going to do? Make them wait until they're nearly thirty? Her baby-making window is only so short-"

"Astrid!"

"What?" Astrid demanded. "I want more grandbabies!"

Hiccup sighed heavily but couldn't quite fight the grin. Finn, a father? It was almost too mindblowing to consider and yet he could see it. In a few years. A few long years.

"And curly-haired babies to boot."

Laughing, Hiccup slipped a hand around her waist and kissed her cheek. "I wouldn't let them hear you say all this. Probably give our poor son a mild heart attack."

"Probably." Astrid said, smiling at a fixed point in the crowd. Her smile slowly fell. "I just want him to be happy."

"He is happy. He's never been happier. We don't need to put things on hold but we don't need to rush things either." Hiccup brushed his fingers through her hair. Even after all these years it was still soft like silk. "It will work out. Trust me."

"Does this mean you'll talk to Kiev?"

Hiccup nodded. "I have an idea. A compromise."

"Oh?"

"Twenty." Hiccup said, meeting her eyes. "Let them get married after he turns twenty."

"But the twins' nineteenth birthday is still a few months away-" Astrid faced him, her expression incredulous. "That's two years, Hiccup!"

"Do you have a better idea?"

Astrid's lips were pursed as she thought. The moment stretched on for nearly a minute before she exhaled. "No."

"I don't think it's an issue of trust for Finn," Hiccup said. "But if they want time to go through whatever-"

"Ceremonial bullcrap?"

"Astrid!" HIccup hissed, though it wasn't very reprimanding due to the laugh that came out of his mouth. "Rude! But yes, two years and a few months should be plenty of time for them to get through whatever it is they want to. It's two more years for Finn to get a handle on becoming chief. But that won't be the reason they get married. If I'm still able, I'll continue to be chief after the two years are up. I suppose we can cross that particular bridge when we come to it. But two years is nothing compared to… whatever it could be."

Astrid sighed heavily. Then she nodded. "Two years. Let's talk to everyone tomorrow."

"Well, let's talk to Finn and Genevieve first. I don't want to spring this on them and make any arrangements with Kiev and Molly until they know about it first. It is their wedding after all. Their future."

Nodding, Astrid squeezed his hand. "You're a great father, you know that?"

"And you're a better mother."

Astrid pressed a kiss to his mouth. He traced her jaw with his fingers and smiled softly. A whuffling snore cut through their moment of silence and they withdrew, Astrid glaring down at Toothless still asleep between them.

"We really do need to do something about Gobber's mead every wedding."

"Yeah."

But not now. For now, Hiccup was content to sit and watch the revelry. Genevieve was sitting in Finn's lap across the room. Long strands of her curly hair were twirled around his fingers as they talked with Morgan and Evan, who were also recently engaged. Cliff and Taryn were ensconced in a circle of friends, all of whom were sharing hugs with the bride and cooing at her ring. Cliff set a hand on his hip and stuck out his hand too, wiggling his ring finger.

"Be bedazzled, my friends!" Cliff said loudly, allowing Hiccup to hear. The group launched into cackles even as Taryn rolled her eyes at her new husband.

That only left one last pair that made Hiccup's heart sing, but he couldn't seem to find them anywhere.

"Have you seen Addie and Erick?"

"Hm?" Astrid scanned the crowd. "No actually, I haven't seen them since the dance ended."

"Huh. I'm sure they're around here somewhere."

"Probably."

---

The door banged open hard enough to shut on its own. Erick's mouth was hot and fast on Adrianna's as they stumbled in the dark. She bumped into the corner of a table, which scraped against the floor. Erick pulled her into him until they were flush against the wall with no space between them. She could feel the rise and fall of his chest against hers, feel the rapid pounding of his heart beneath his shirt, his skin, pounding just as hard as her own.

His lips tore from hers and mouthed across her jaw, down her neck, to the swell of her breasts of the strapless dress.

"Erick," Adrianna panted, her hands sliding through his hair.

He returned to her mouth as he took up handfuls of her dress until his hands, hot and firm, found her legs. She gasped into his mouth and threw her arms around his shoulders as he hefted her up, pulling her legs around his hips so every inch of them was pressed together.

Adrianna's head was buzzing, every inch of her skin felt on fire, and yet it wasn't enough.

"Gods you drive me wild." Erick said against the skin of her throat. "From the second I saw you in this dress I wanted you. I've been thinking about you, about this all day." He pressed her deeper into the wall and she bit back a whimper. The sensation of him pressed into her, of his hands on her legs, of the new strength in his upper body from training, it was all enough to make her combust.

"So what are you waiting for?" She gasped, kissing him firmly. The sound of their lips as she pulled away was loud in the silence of the empty barn. It wasn't an ideal location and she was quite sure that the owner of the barn wouldn't appreciate it, but… well, what they didn't know wouldn't kill them, right?

Erick's eyes, so bright in their blue green color, seemed to glow in the darkness. "I-I've never…" He swallowed. "I mean, we've never… not away from home and I've never been this…"

"Wild?" Adrianna asked in a laugh.

He breathed a laugh, gentling his kisses. He seemed relieved that she'd voiced the word. "Yes. Because that's what you do to me, you know. But I don't want to-"

"Don't stop." Adrianna said, flexing her fingers into the curve of his shoulder. "I like it when you surprise me. Please."

The word seemed to make him pause. They'd been married for more than a year and well mapped each other out with long nights and early mornings, but this… this was different. Maybe it was the fact they weren't at home or there was that hungry look in his eyes that he so rarely showed or the fact he'd been staring at her all day, but she wanted more.

"Please what?" Erick murmured, sliding a hand around her leg to keep her in place. "What do you want?"

Adrianna's breath was tight in her chest. This was so strange, for him to tease her like this, but it was enough to drive her crazy. Trusting his strength, she cupped his face with her hands. "Today you called me a fallen star, and I said I'd gladly burn with you. And the look you gave me was a promise." His pulse was fluttering wildly under her hands and she leaned closer, her breath against his ear. "So make me burn."

The words were his undoing. He wrapped an arm around her waist and set her on a nearby table. Her breath hitched into her throat as he laid her back with a hand and pulled off her shoes and undergarments.

As if as an afterthought he strode to the door and bolted it. Adrianna breathed a laugh but it was short because he was suddenly on her. His mouth was still hot on her skin. For a brief moment she wished they were at home so he could strip her bare and place his mouth on her everywhere, but a tiny voice in her head said even with a locked barn door that wouldn't be wise. There were dangerous things in barns, like nails and tools and weapons and-

All thoughts choked off in her mind as Erick grabbed her by the legs and pulled her toward him. He leaned over her and met her eyes. Suddenly she became hyper aware of every sound, every sensation. The flecks of green in his lovely blue eyes that made them the color seafoam.

For a second, his expression softened, just as it always did. As if he couldn't believe his luck. She hoped he'd never stop looking at her like that. It was dark in the barn, just light enough from a ray of moonlight spilling in through a nearby window. The darkness heightened every sensation and sound. Erick was breathing hard, even as she urged him onward.

This was only a part of their relationship now, but certainly one of the most important. This savage push and pull that bonded their souls into one. It had been a similar situation that had ultimately brought them together, but in far less amorous context. There had been no love there in that barn. But this, this, this…

There was nothing but love in Erick's eyes as he made love to her, and she to him. There was nothing that could break them in this cruel yet beautiful world. After years of so much loss and darkness, they'd found each other after such unspeakable pain. When they'd first been married, they'd mutually agreed to never make love outside of their own home. They weren't that sort of couple. Secretly Adrianna had never wanted to do that in any place that reminded her of the worst day of her life. And yet now, her heart and soul had healed so much that even that mattered very little. It wasn't about the place, it was the person. It was only Erick.

He was breathing hard into the crook of her neck. "You drive me insane. I love you, Annie, I love you-"

"I know," Adrianna said, pulling his face up to kiss him. "I know, I know, I know."

She thought of Darin suddenly, how beautiful it would be to give him a little brother or sister. The thought brought a smile to her face and he gave her a quizzical look.

"What?"

She shook her head. "Nothing."

"No, what?"

"I want to have another baby."

Erick smiled and kissed her. "I know you do."

"I want to have your baby."

"Oh I know you do."

Casual as he might try to sound, she could see just how the words affected him. How much he wanted that dream to be fulfilled, more than perhaps anything. How speaking those dreams aloud in their most intimate, vulnerable moments together branded it onto each other's skin, making it permanent, not just a dream but a goal. He kissed her firmly as if sealing that promise. She thought surely her heart must explode from simply loving and being loved by another person.

Her heart, it turned out, did not combust. But oh, did it burn. It burned brightly until they were both spent, like a pair of fallen stars. And even as they returned home some time later, disheveled and grinning and blushing like a pair of sixteen year olds sneaking out at night, their hearts glowed with the memory of that promise.

---

Cliff didn't know what time it was when he and Taryn made it to their little house.

The tiny house had seen many of Cliff's adventures. From moving in with Erick as his first living space away from his parents, to being Erick and Adrianna's first home while he lived at the Haddocks', to becoming his first bachelor pad once they'd moved into their new house.

There were scuff marks on the threshold from all the boots that had trod over it. There was a large burn mark on the floor by the stone oven from the time he'd tried to make biscuits and nearly burned the place down. There was a crack in the west window from the time he and Finn had gotten in a mock fistfight. It had escalated, both of them cackling, until the sound of splintering glass had sent Erick into the living room with his arms crossed. A dad pose if Cliff had ever seen one.

So many memories in this tiny house. And now it wasn't just his. It was his and Taryn's.

Despite his exhaustion, his heart leaped in his chest at the thought. He closed the door behind them and Taryn slumped into the nearest chair, her favorite pink chair he recalled with a smile, and took off her shoes.

"I am exhausted."

"Me too." Cliff said. "Do you want tea or anything?"

"No, I'm alright. Thanks though." Taryn smiled up at him tiredly.

Cliff smiled back and dropped into the nearest seat on the couch. They'd acquired a new couch with plushy pillows, gifted to her by Morgan. Each had hand-sewn flowers and pine trees and little swirls that resembled the wind. The largest of them had an embroidered C & T on them. This one was his favorite.

"Well, we made it." Cliff said. "Now what?"

Taryn snorted and pulled herself out of her chair. "Now I'm going to change out of this dress."

Cliff laughed softly. "Okay." He wasn't sure exactly what was on the itinerary. That thought sent a blush rising up his neck and he rubbed it fiercely as Taryn disappeared down the hall. That was not what he'd meant to think. Itinerary indeed. He meant, of course, how they were supposed to proceed. Perhaps they should have discussed this prior to now. Just so they had a little bit of an idea of how this was going to go. Were they going to just brush their teeth and go to sleep? Or...

Groaning to himself Cliff shoved his hands into his hair and dropped his head back onto the couch. Sighing, he forced himself to quit overthinking. It's only awkward if you make it awkward, that was his motto. This was no different.

Even if this was his first night with Taryn, his new wife, which would surely come with a few awkward moments.

"So Cliff?" Taryn's voice echoed down the hall.

"Yeah?"

"I got something for you, well-" Taryn paused. He glanced down the hall but he couldn't see her in the dim candle lit room. "Technically it's for me but for you to enjoy."

Oh gods. Cliff swallowed hard. "Okay?"

"So I want you to close your eyes and I'm going to come out."

"Are you… sure?"

"Yes." There was no doubt in her voice, only a small trace of… something. Excitement maybe?

Cliff briefly sent up a prayer. Maybe they hadn't discussed this before getting married but boy, maybe she was more eager than he'd realized? That was okay, of course, but it was doing something to his heart.

With a quiet exhale, Cliff closed his eyes and said, "Okay."

"Your eyes are closed?"

"Yup."

"No peeking!"

"Mkay."

Soft footfalls sounded down the hall and curved around the couch as she approached. Cliff kept his eyes firmly shut, though he stiffened slightly when her fingers trailed through his hair as she passed. Gods help him.

She stopped in front of him, which he could tell by sound alone. Then she said, "Okay, open them."

Cliff wasn't sure what to expect in any way shape or form. But as he opened his eyes, he didn't expect to burst out into laughter.

Taryn's laughter joined him throughout the small house.

"Oh my gods!" Cliff said, covering his face with his hand for a moment to rub his eyes and then dropping it again. "What is THAT?"

Taryn was wearing what could only be described as a dragon onesie. It was bright blue with a zipper going down the front and embroidered scales down the hips and arms. It had a hood which rose up around her face with horns and eyes attached at the top. She turned to give him a view of the back, which had raised ridges up the spine and, to his absolute delight, a tail. She faced him again, her face pinched with laughter.

"Do you like it?"

"Like it?" Cliff sat forward and pulled her closer. "I love it! It's adorable! I have to say, this is probably a first as far as wedding nights go."

Taryn giggled and then planted her hands on his shoulders before folding herself atop of him, knees on either side of his hips. She was quite literally in his lap now. To his surprise, the material of the onesie was soft under his hands as he wrapped them around her back.

"Well I had no idea what to do about tonight," Taryn said, playing with his hair. "Expectations and all that. And it was actually Adrianna who told me not to let expectations dictate the night. Just to be ourselves and do what we want, not what is expected." She spoke honestly and with a small amount of delicacy, as if refusing to let the topic be awkward. He felt a strong rush of gratitude for her then. "And then I was talking to Morgan, who was making little dragon onesies like this for a child's play, and I immediately thought you would love this. So I asked if I paid her, if she could make me one."

"Well, I'll have to send her a thank you card."

"She said you'd say that," Taryn said with a grin. "And she absolutely forbade it. She doesn't want to know what we got up to at all hours of the night."

Cliff exhaled through lips heavily. "Well… that's fair, I suppose."

"She did say however that she'd be willing to make you a dragon onesie too if you wish."

"Really? I would honestly. Next paycheck." Cliff leaned forward and kissed her, sliding his hands up her back, the ridges of the onesie flicking between his fingers. "Good thing it's soft too."

Taryn bit her lip. "I thought you'd like this over something frilly."

Cliff blinked. "Well I mean, frilly is nice too. Though I daresay I don't know what my tastes are yet. You'll have to give me a show with all your lady things."

Taryn gasped and stared at him, choking on a laugh. "Cliff Smedley! I had no idea you were so naughty!"

"Hey, I can keep a lid on these things until the right time. We are married now, after all."

"Hmm I'll have to bear this in mind in the days to come."

"Sounds good to me. But hey, the same goes for me. If you want me to strut up and down the halls of our tiny house brandishing everything from my undie drawer, I can. I don't see why this has to be a singularly female thing to do."

Taryn buried her face into the space between his neck and shoulder, giggling madly. "You are so ridiculous."

"I mean, it's a valid point."

Taryn raised her face and kissed him, slowly at first and then deepening it as she pushed her hands into his hair. Cliff pulled her closer, relishing every bit of her. The rose water smell of her hair, the taste of her lip gloss which she'd taken to reapplying throughout the day, the softness of her ridiculous yet amazing dragon onesie beneath his hands. The thought sent a thrill through his chest and he grinned suddenly.

"What?" Taryn asked, breathing harder than before.

Cliff shook his head, nuzzling her nose with his. "I love you."

Taryn's expression was soft and tender. "I love you more."

And so began the first day of their new adventure, Cliff thought. He'd never thought of himself as much of a writer before. A storyteller, for sure. He could see it though. Writing down a tale of a sappy lovey-dovey couple who had adventures. The boy would have bushy curly hair that weighed more than his lanky frame and the girl would wear a dragon onesie as they sailed a ship into the sunset. It was perhaps the dorkiest thing he'd ever thought.

But he didn't mind and neither did she.

---

Three cheers for Em, who wrote almost all of this monstrosity! We're almost done with the series? INSANITY!

Good news for gaming dorks: I've made a bunch of the crew on Miitopia. If anyone wants them, my code is 396967Y. Make your GUH themed team or cast Benen as the Great Sage or something. It's up to you!

Don't forget to leave a review and feel free to join the Discord! You know what, I'm going to have to come up with a place to stick the link that's better than these stories. Check the growinguphaddock tumblr (look that up exactly as I wrote it) and you'll find it!

That's it for now! Looking forward to The Rebellion!

~Katie