Writer's note: Hope everyone is staying safe and well!

Chapter 31: In which life continues...

I love you.

Those three words floated into Astrid's subconscious. Distant and elusive but carrying the warmth of the summer sun that resonated in her. The feeling coaxed her from sleep.

He was there. Always there, like her very own source of strength. How did she survive without him before? In the misty confines that swirled about in her mind, she let go and fell in – wanting nothing more than to give all of who she was and all that she had to him.

Completely.

Astrid was thankful for the heat of the forge. It gave her an excuse as to why her cheeks glowed. It definitely had to be the heat and not the feeling of where Hiccup's lips graced her body that morning. It didn't help that she sat there in the forge, watching him swing a hammer as sparks sizzled into the air.

When did her gaped-tooth, fishbone of a husband become this attractive? Maybe it wasn't altogether his appearance – although, the longer they were married, the more physically attractive she felt toward him – but maybe her attraction was mingled with the affection she held for him. How had she'd fallen this deeply?

Hiccup slid the sleeve of his shirt across his forehead, wiping away the sweat that had accumulated there. His eyes suddenly flicked up to meet hers, and Astrid sat up a little straighter, glancing away and clearing her throat. Hiccup dunked the rod into the water barrel to cool and then made his way over to her.

Gobber was gone taking care of other duties he was in charge of in the Chief's absence. Though the young newlyweds were still excused from their own duties, Hiccup was eager to improve Toothless' tail prosthetic, hoping to find a way to make a lighter version to gain speed while in flight.

"May I steal a kiss, milady?" Hiccup asked, sauntering up to her. His gape-toothed smile and shining green eyes would be the death of her.

"Should I be worried about your life of crime?"

"Only if I start stealing from someone besides you. Which, I can guarantee, will never happen."

Astrid grinned. "In that case, steal away."

Hiccup met her where she perched, pressing a soft peck against her lips.

"Where have you two been hiding the last few days!?" a voice ripped through the condensed space of the forge.

Hiccup jumped away from her making the stool Astrid sat in teeter. They snapped their heads to the source of the voice finding Ruffnut standing there, hands planted on her hips.

"We weren't hiding," Astrid retorted, sliding off the stool. "We were given some time off."

Ruffnut narrowed her gaze. "For what?" At Astrid's reddening cheeks, her mouth fell open. "Did you two finally—" and she clicked her tongue.

Hiccup's mouth fell open. "Ruffnut knows!?"

"She figured it out. Don't worry, she didn't tell anyone." Astrid snapped back to her friend, hoping the delicate secret had not been spilled all over the place. "Right, Ruff?"

"Of course not! I wouldn't jeopardize losing the girl bonding (which I've never had before) just to tell my brother juicy tidbits!"

She turned back to Hiccup, who didn't seem completely convinced. "See? It's okay. Ruff gave me the moon tea and has helped me a lot over the last few weeks. It's been nice having someone to confide in."

At that, the tension in Hiccup's visibly loosened. He nodded at Ruffnut. "Thanks, Ruff, for being a good friend to Astrid."

"No problem." Ruffnut saluted. "Happy to help. I'll make some reason to tell the guys why you two haven't been around." She pivoted to leave, throwing over her shoulder, "Maybe something along the lines of one of you are dying."

All Astrid could do was shake her head. She glanced over at Hiccup who looked lost and confused. She wondered if he'd ever get used to Ruffnut's crazy antics.

"Not sure what just happened, but I never thought I'd hear Ruffnut, help, and confidant put together."

Astrid shrugged. "Me neither, but maybe we're all growing."

She knew how difficult it'd been for Hiccup to get used to the idea of friends, especially ones who had ridiculed him for most of his life. The other teens had accepted him after he'd flipped a one-eighty in dragon training. No more teasing. No more throwing around the term "useless". Even Snotlout thought his cousin was kinda cool. Just as Ruffnut had become Astrid's confidant, Fishlegs had bonded with Hiccup over their nerd knowledge of dragons. They really were all growing.

She'd gotten used to the taste of moon tea, and thankfully so now that she had a reason to need it. Keeping track of her blood flow was also something she had begun to do. Astrid hadn't thought it important before. She trooped through the cramping pains and did what she had to do when the blood made its appearance. Now, keeping track was of the utmost importance.

She didn't want a baby. Not yet, at least. The idea of having children had never truly crossed her mind before now. Her goal in life was to be a mighty warrior, a shieldmaiden for her tribe. If the gods wished for her to die in battle and enter Valhalla in victory - that wasn't what she desired anymore.

Hiccup had thrown that hyper focused future right off the highest cliff on Berk.

She didn't wish to fight anymore. Not in the way that she had before. She wanted to soar through the clouds and seek grand adventure and cuddle by a fire. She craved for more than just the smooth wood of her axe handle in her hand. Her desires were deeper, more meaningful nowadays. The warmth of Stormfly's scales. The misty wisps of clouds through her fingertips. A calloused blacksmith's hand in hers. It was like the world had greatly expanded around her and there was no limit to its possibilities.

The door opening tore her from her musings by the fire. She looked up to find Hiccup maneuvering his way through the entrance carrying something rather large underneath a sackcloth. Astrid stood to meet him.

"What do you have there?"

"A gift," Hiccup presented proudly as he set the wrapped object on the table, "for my wife." The smile he turned on her was brighter than the firelight.

Astrid's brows drew together. She set her mug down, and carefully unwrapped the clothe. She gasped, turning questioning eyes to Hiccup. "A saddle?"

"For you and Stormfly," he replied, "ready and waiting for the day when you two finally get to fly together."

Astrid glided gentle fingertips over the smooth leather, mesmerized by the intricate weaving. She'd noticed a new saddle drawing casually laying on his desk with other drafts, but assumed it was for Toothless. He'd put a lot of thought into the project – all for her. Astrid pressed fisted fingers on her chest, longing more than ever to disappear into the clouds and touch the sky with the dragon that had stolen her heart.

Words weren't needed to show her appreciation as she grabbed Hiccup's cheeks and kissed him.

"I'm guessing you like it?" Hiccup asked in a husky voice that only occurred when they were being passionate toward each other. Astrid rather liked hearing him speak that way.

She smooshed his cheeks. "You're amazing."

Hiccup shrugged his shoulders, grinning. "I can't help it."

That remark deserved a smack to the shoulder. "And too cocky for your own good."

Hiccup feigned offended, which Astrid just laughed off. He knew exactly how she reacted to his quips.

"I was thinking," Hiccup moved on, "maybe it'd be a good idea for you to learn how to fly Toothless." He absently fiddled with the saddle. "If we're in a situation where you have to fly him, or if something ever happens to me —"

Astrid snapped her eyes to his face. She wanted to scream that nothing would ever happen to him – not while she was alive and swinging – but there was never a guarantee of that. Living the life of a Viking involved occupational hazards, especially if you were one that was breaking every rule in the unwritten book of Viking life.

She smiled, encouragingly. "That's a good idea. When do you want to start?"

Hiccup grabbed her hand, his eyes shining with excitement. "How about tomorrow?"

"3rd position."

Astrid followed the command for the umpteenth time and clicked the pedal. Hiccup had spent more than half an hour explaining the intricacies of how the rigging worked. He'd been quizzing her for a while, making sure every position and what it was used for was second nature to her. Astrid understood his concern for her to memorize the workings of the prosthetic, but she was also getting antsy sitting flightless in the saddle.

Toothless seemed to share her thoughts. He squirmed and groaned, waiting for the special torture of being a test subject to be over. Astrid leaned down to pat him in reassurance that he wasn't the only one losing patience.

"5th position."

Astrid gritted her teeth, the excitement of flying Toothless for the first time wearing thin. "Hiccup!" she snapped. Hiccup stared wide-eyed at her sudden outburst. She drew in a deep breath and continued more calmly, "I think I got it. Let's just get up in the air. Now."

Hiccup nodded. "If you think you got it—"

"I do!" she insisted, quickly.

Climbing up, Hiccup settled behind Astrid and wrapped his arms around her waist. She felt his diaphragm suck in, ready to give the command to take off, but then he released the breath and remained quiet – remembering this was her turn to take the reins.

Astrid smiled. This was her time. "Let's go, Toothless."

Toothless warbled in glee. Wiggling down, he shot off into the air, his wings pumping double-time to gain air. Hiccup clutched her tightly, pressing his chest into her back – a familiar position for them. It was different being in front. There was nothing to break the wind that cascaded around her body, but the force from it felt invigorating! Astrid wasn't sure she wanted to go back to riding passenger after this.

She almost forgot to change the pedal position as they neared the first sea stack off the coast of Berk. They skimmed by the jutting rock, an excited hoot escaping her. Testing her training, she flew through more oncoming sea stacks, switch the pedal in turn. She asked Toothless to gain altitude. As they soared up through the clouds, she switched positions and Toothless leveled out to a glide.

Astrid's body vibrated with adrenaline, tingling all the way to her fingertips and toes. She imagined how it would be riding Stormfly. Her very own dragon. How she wanted that more than anything! But for now, flying Toothless was a nice start.

The arms around her middle gave her a loving squeeze, and a kiss was pressed on her neck. She'd almost forgot Hiccup was behind her, the rush of her first flight in the rider's seat diverting all her attention.

"Not bad for your first time."

"Not bad?" Astrid snorted. "You mean, fantastic."

Hiccup chuckled by her ear. "You're right. My wife is fantastic."

Astrid's cheeks stained pink. Hiccup never missed an opportunity to call her his wife, and Astrid secretly loved it.

They circled around the outskirts of the island for a while. Astrid practiced changing pedal positions and getting the feel of making the split-second decisions of which position was needed. They had leveled out close to the clouds again when Hiccup spotted something in the water.

"Astrid," he hissed by her shoulder. "We need to get out of here!"

Astrid turned her head, curiously. "Why?"

He pointed in the distance. Astrid squinted her eyes, the sun shimmering off the water making it hard to view. She gasped at the small shape of a fishing boat on the surface. Two tiny figures – from what she could tell - one tall and one short, were on the deck.

"Is that Bucket and Mulch?"

"Looks like it. Get us turned around and disappear into the clouds."

Something different in his tone caught her by surprise. Authoritative was not a way she'd ever have described Hiccup, but in that moment, that was the only way she would have. Tucking it away for later, Astrid did as she was ordered.

"Do you think they spotted us?" she asked after they broke through the clouds to bluer skies.

"I hope not." She sensed a hint of worry. If anyone feared a dragon was loitering on or close to the island, a search party would be sent out. There was no place to hide in the cove, and Toothless wouldn't be able to escape if he was cornered there. They'd find out soon enough whether it should be a real concern or not.

Hiccup was quieter that evening. Astrid glanced over at him, the firelight dancing on his somber features. He was worried, she knew, about Toothless. No word had spread so far of a dragon near the island. Maybe they hadn't been spotted.

His thumb absently rubbed her knee through her nightgown. She watched him and could imagine the gears turning in his head. Hiccup never stopped thinking, never calmed his mind, and she wondered for the umpteenth time how he got any sleep.

Though it had only been a little over 4 months since they had wed, Astrid could see a drastic change in her husband. Physically, he remained smaller than her, but he had matured tremendously. She knew Toothless had a lot to do with it. Hiccup had needed a purpose, one that he had to find on his own, and he'd found it in the Night Fury. Hiccup needed Toothless as much as the dragon needed him.

Astrid reached for his hand on her knee and laced her fingers through his. He gave her a small but genuine smile. His smile gave her hope that there was a chance everything would be okay in the end. In uncertain times, that's exactly what she needed, even though she didn't know it before. She would do whatever it took to give him hope as well.

Astrid scooted to the edge of her seat, letting go of his hand. She brushed her thumb across his cheek, her eyes drinking in the freckles that adorned his skin. Leaning in, she closed the distance and her lips were on his. Hiccup's palm rubbed up on arm to her neck and tangled in her hair as he deepened the kiss.

Astrid broke away, her eyes searching his. Hiccup's eyes were a gleaning gaze and she knew she had his full attention. She pulled him over to the pallet of furs they'd laid out in the room. Not wasting time with pleasantries, she shed her nightgown onto the floor. Hiccup's bedclothes joined hers with only their underdrawers remaining. Astrid laid back on the furs, her head finding the pillow roll. Hiccup knelt beside her; his member already flagged through the fabric of his drawers. She grinned as he crawled on top of her, the tip of him brushing her thigh.

She knew what she wanted. Her and Ruff had a conversation not too long ago about leaving a mark of passion. She desired to be marked by her husband, and in turn, she wished to mark him.

She met Hiccup in another kiss as he bent over her. Astrid didn't let him linger there. Grabbing his head, she guided him down the column of her throat as Hiccup peppered her with more kisses. She smiled, delighted that he was following her lead. She guided him passed her collarbone and down her chest, stopping at the beginning swell of her breast.

"Astrid?" Hiccup's eyes flicked up to hers as his warm, shaky breath huffed over her chilled peak. His face had never been this close to her breasts before, and the redness in his cheeks showed evident of that.

"Mark me," she demanded, breathlessly.

When Hiccup stared at her in question, she gently led him back down to the swell of her breast, his lips hovering a hair above her skin.

"Right here. Kiss, right here." She weaved her fingers in his hair, keeping his face against her chest.

Hiccup's body went rigid as he tentatively kissed her in the place she held him at. His body's tension began to ease as he kissed more, his mouth opening to lave at the spot. Astrid released a shuttering breath, the feeling igniting other places on her body. She fished blindly for his left hand, bringing it to her unoccupied mound. Hiccup didn't need a hint as he began to squeeze and pinch. If Hiccup wasn't distracted from his cacophony of thoughts yet, she didn't know what would help.

"Suck there," she encouraged, combing fingers along his scale.

He pulled up just enough to catch his breath before forming an 'O' with his mouth. Astrid gasped, surprised by his vigor. His hand stilled upon her breast but kept his hold on it. She raised her neck, planting a kiss in his hair as he continued to suckle her skin. He paused, breathing again before diving back down. This time, his hand came alive and squeezed the mound it held. Astrid moaned at the feel of his member twitching against her most private area.

After several more seconds, she raised his head, detaching him gently from her skin. Hiccup looked at her, his eyes lucent. A wet ring of saliva was around his mouth. He looked every bit of disheveled, and Astrid couldn't help the giggle of delight that escaped her.

"Can I—" Hiccup started but paused, swallowing loudly, "can I—" he couldn't quite get the question passed his lips, and instead squeezed her breast to indicate what he wanted.

Astrid nodded, nibbling her bottom lip in anticipation. Hiccup ducked his head back down, kissing the sensitive spot where he'd just marked her. She nearly came undone as his mouth closed down upon her nipple. He took her into his mouth, drawing out long, torturous suckles and leaving the peak of her nipple stiff.

Hiccup stopped his ministrations when his cock twitched hard against her. "Astrid, I need to—"

She helped him out of his underdrawers before wiggling out of hers, and without hesitation, Hiccup was buried inside her. He groaned into her neck as he took a few seconds to regain his bearings. Though they'd had several rounds of practice by now, Hiccup's body was still adjusting and within a dozen thrust, he let loose within her. He pressed his forehead to her chest as she clutched at his hair.

Astrid had learned that coming to the pinnacle of her pleasure was more elusive than his when they joined together like this, but the attention beforehand always made up for that. She enjoyed being close to him and this was as close as they could get without melding into one.

They cleaned themselves up and returned to cuddle on the pallet of furs. Astrid laid on her back, beckoning Hiccup to rest his head upon her chest as she wrapped her arms around him. She absently stroked his hair and glanced down to find a darkening spot at the swell of her right breast. A pleased smile graced her lips. It would be her turn to mark him next.

Bonus material: Written from Hiccup's perspective to accompany this last part.

The close call earlier that day had spun a whole heap of worries. Toothless was a sitting duck in the cove. He couldn't fly away, and he could only defend himself for so long before being overrun. The caves on the other side of Berk were too far to walk to each day to feed him. Any solutions Hiccup came up with, his mind immediately shot down. Only two options would work: leave Berk forever or defeat the ginormous dragon to end the war.

It must have been obvious to Astrid what was on his mind. There was nothing more effective than Astrid's way of distracting him. Mark me, she'd uttered, and that was all it took. He'd followed her instructions. He'd give her whatever she desired.

"Your turn," Astrid murmured into his hair, "where do you want to be marked?"

His mind was a puddle of water. Anywhere, he'd managed to get out. Quite honestly, anywhere her lips played would leave him a spiraling mess and Hiccup was completely fine with that. Astrid chose the base of his throat. He clutched her waist as she straddled him, the reversed position new to them. He found he liked it a lot, her on top and in control, and noted to trying it again later.

For now, he enjoyed the ministrations of her mouth upon his neck. He held her hips, the naughty little thought of sliding lower to the curve of her backend crossing his mind. The tip of Astrid's tongue flicked across the sensitive spot where she was at work, and all Hiccup could do was lie there like the puddle he was.

After Astrid wiped the saliva from his neck with the edge of the furs, she collapsed beside him and they fell asleep nestled together – the day's worries forgotten for the time being.