Through The Ups & Downs

Couple; HarrisonXAddilyn

Rating; Mature

Disclaimer: I do not own HTTYD or any songs I might use! Also, from this point in the story and in future chapters, I do not own the character; Ella(Eira) Solveig. She belongs to my good friend, ShadowSpirit020.

17) Finally On Leave

{Harrison's POV}

[Friday, August 14, 2015-8:30 am]

What a night! Fury Fire Unit pulled a double shift patrolling in a neighboring village. It was only supposed to be eight hours long, ended up doing sixteen because of a reason I still haven't been told. 8 am yesterday to 4 pm was the first guard. Then, we added another eight hours making it 12 am today that we got back to the barracks to give the report, take off the gear, use the restroom, and finally lay down to get some sleep. The last time I saw on the clock before knocking out was 1:20 am. However, now it was going on 9 am, and I was finally awake, showered, and dressed for the day. One of the first things I wanted to do was greet my girlfriend, but as it turned out, she had left for a six-hour patrol at 7:30 am so I wouldn't see her until after lunch around 1:30 pm.

Yes, Briana and I had been together a full week today and figured after the first two weeks, we could tell our friends. It got discussed on Monday about the fact we couldn't keep it from them for long, or they might get upset that we kept secrets. I still had not told my family either. I knew it would get to Addy and I wasn't ready to deal with that while deployed because I knew she would be upset that I said she and I could talk after the tour ended and I was back in Berkville, yet, I ended up starting a relationship with Briana. I knew I wasn't obligated to return Addilyn's feelings, but maybe I should have just let her know I didn't feel the same. Of course, I didn't realize until Briana, and I became friends and now dating as a couple.

I would tell them eventually, maybe after Bri and I saw how things would go? I didn't want to tell everyone she and I were dating, then have us break up for whatever reason. It seemed wise to wait for the time being, right? That's how I saw it at least. I know Briana has not told her family yet either. It was better this way for a while; we'd come out about it when we felt stable enough, yeah, that's a good word to describe it. One of the only things I wondered lately was when I might get my off time. I could use a little out of a war zone for a bit, I missed my family a lot, and I probably would get five to seven days like the rest of my platoon. Most of them had already gotten their leave as early as the three-month mark of arriving here.

Going away for a week, I'd be gone from Briana, but I was sure we would be able to talk still. Skype and texting, just as we did now when we weren't on missions but still away from one another. We did it a lot at night after retiring to our barracks; we'd message one another until we were tired enough to sleep. So, what did I do with my morning now since Briana was on her guard? I suppose I could go to breakfast, that would be a good start and then maybe call home and say hi to everyone? It was a decent plan. I grabbed my phone and left mine and Trevor's barrack room.

[9 am-Mess Hall]

I reached my destination and saw my platoon sitting together with Aaron and Glenn not that far away sitting with other leaders. I got my food and then took a seat beside Syrus after he had moved over to make space for me to join them.

"Morning, Harrison!" the twenty-eight at the table greeted me.

"Hey, guys and girls," I replied with a smile as I began eating my eggs, sausage patties, and two pieces of toast with strawberry jelly. I also had a cup of coffee; it had become an acquired taste over the last few months I'd been here. September would mark month five of the tour, so, it was almost over.

"Slept in, huh?" Dexter asked.

"Yeah, I was tired," I said with a nod. After that, it was engaging in light conversation as everyone ate their food and relaxed. When I finished there around 10 am, I decided to take Toothless for a fly around the camp, and maybe a little beyond to where Briana was. I couldn't go down and see her, but I made sure she knew I was there, it warmed my heart to see her smile up at me. As the fly was over, I let Toothless rest up in the stable while I sat in there with him and decided to call home to see what everyone was up to today.

I knew Addilyn was over with Regina; both were babysitting Nate for summer break. Franklin and TJ had part time jobs; I believe I got TJ in at Berkys after a call to Calvin back in June when TJ mentioned he wanted to work there. As far as I knew, Regina didn't intend on going to college. When school started up again, I was confident that she would continue to come over after the school day finished to watch Nate until Mom and Dad came home from their work day. However, Regina would work a part time job three or four days a week until 2:30 pm which is the time she would go to my house to get Nate off the bus and watch him.

Addy, I knew without a doubt was going to college; she wanted to be a daycare worker, taking care of kids that were newborn to seven years old, which is when they'd start Kindergarten. I also knew that she was furthering that education to become a teacher for elementary school children. For now, though, Addy was helping Regina with watching Nate. Addy had a car; it was easier for the three of them to go out and do things as a group or so I understood. I forgot what summer job Frankie had, I think he was working with his dad in the family business and then would be going to college to learn how to be a business owner.

TJ didn't plan on going to school, but the last time I spoke to him, he'd been considering it again. Good for him if he did, that's all I could say. I had my job, and I loved it. Calling home for me depended on what time it was. Back in Berkville right now, it was 8 am. Dad started work between the hours of 6 am, and 9 am at the police station and got the weekends off, but he would go in if there were an emergency. Now for Mom, she was the principal of Berkville Academy. However, there was still summer school, and she had to be there for that and to get things ready for the upcoming school year. I already mentioned what my friends were doing with jobs. How I made my calls were as followed:

Nate, Addy, and Regina first. Then Mom and Dad. Finally, Frankie and TJ, but only if they weren't working already. By the time I finished with all the talking, it was 11 am for me. There was still two and a half hours left until Briana got off her shift and we could have a late lunch together. What the hell did I do with my free time now? I guess I could go back to sleep with my cell set to an alarm to wake me up for 1:15 pm? Yeah, that sounded good. Exiting the stables, Aaron met me. I saluted him, and he returned it.

"At ease, Haddock," Aaron informed, and I relaxed a little. "I feel I must apologize to you, lad," he began.

I arched a brow. "Whatever for, sir?" I asked curiously.

"It just dawned on me that you never got to take your leave. I was sure I had sent you already, but when I checked over my list, you're the only one who hasn't taken it yet," Aaron stated.

"Well, I could have told you that, sir. I know I haven't gone, I wasn't all that worried about it," I admitted. Most of my time, as others took their breaks from war was spent with Briana, so I hadn't cared so much.

Aaron chuckled a little and patted me on the back. "You're a good kid, but every soldier is entitled to their leave and has to take it. You get a full week and can go as soon as you find a flight home out of KWI, your time starts when you call and check in to tell us you've landed safely back on Arc Isle," he explained.

Right, I remembered now. Trevor mentioned it when he came back that it took him almost a week to find a decently priced flight home and then back again. That's how it worked; I had to find a commercial flight to take out of KWI(Kuwait International Airport) and into AIIA(Arc Isle International Airport). Also, it had to be round-trip as I needed to return before midnight of the last day. Well, it looks like I found what I would be doing while I waited for Bri to get back; find myself a flight home for my leave time.

"Will do, Major Hagebak," I nodded to him as he walked away, and I sighed moving to my barrack room and getting my laptop powered on to start searching for a flight because some of these last minute ones cost a fortune.

[1:45 pm]

I looked all this time and found nothing that was reasonably priced; everything was $2,500 or higher. Not something I wanted to pay because that was just the flight to Arc Isle; there were choices below the departure ones for the return trip back to Kuwait. Overall, the price would be $5,000, and that didn't include any hotels I might have to stay in overnight; there had to be a better way to do this. I sat back at my desk and checked the time. Briana should be getting back any minute, and we could go to lunch, I might as well take a break for now. Closing my computer, I went outside and saw Toothless, then Briana rubbing under his chin.

"Hey, you're back!" I said with a smile.

"Yep, just got in about five minutes ago. Toothless saw me and begged for my attention," Briana replied with a smile, I looked around quickly to see if the coast was clear and confirmed that it was so I gave her a kiss on the lips.

"HAH! We knew it!" the kiss was interrupted by our friends. Briana jumped a little at the surprise and held onto me as we saw Trevor, Syrus, Dexter, Skye, Andy, Olivia, Chelsea, and Ella pop out from their hiding places.

"We knew something was going on between you two! So spill it, Haddock!" Trevor and Syrus demanded.

"Well, we were going to tell them next week anyway, babe," Briana informed with a soft smile.

"True," I sighed a little. "Alright, the truth is that Bri and I are dating," I watched their eyes widen, and mouths drop open. And here it comes...

"WHAT?"

"WHEN?"

"HOW?!"

"WHY?" got yelled from different people in the small group surrounding us.

"Harrison and I are dating. You know, as in boyfriend and girlfriend?" Briana clarified. "It happened last Friday when we admitted to liking one another during the fly on Toothless," she stated as our friends started blinking.

"You took her on a flight?" Skye asked, and I nodded. "We're not supposed to be on dragons,"

"Briana was just my passenger, and no one will get in trouble as long as you keep your mouths shut. I took her to watch the sunset from a sky view. We admitted to having feelings for one another, so we agreed to be a couple. And we're just not showing it off to people in case the officers don't approve so if you could maybe not make a huge deal out of it then we'd appreciate it,"

"Well, I suppose it makes sense then. If they went public about the relationship, it could be a problem. Members of the same company aren't supposed to date," Andy stated.

"Yeah, but we're only temporary members of this company. We have our own back on Arc Isle, this was just for the tour," I reminded.

"True," Andy nodded. "Well, we're happy for you. Just be careful," Briana and I nodded to him as the other congratulated us too.

"Speaking of Arc Isle," I mentioned as I grabbed their attention once more. "Hagebak just granted me my leave time,"

"I was beginning to think he forgot about you," Trevor chuckled.

"He did forget about me," I muttered, clearly unamused. "Either way, I can't find a cheap flight anytime before October, which is when the tour ends,"

"Why don't you take Toothless, babe? Why do you need a plane when you have a dragon?" Briana suggested, and my eyes widened a little. Why hadn't I thought of that?! Toothless was a Night Fury, fastest dragon around. I could be home in twelve hours with his speed and maybe a break or two in between!

"You're a genius!" I kissed her quickly then rushed off to find Aaron to make sure it would be okay to take Toothless instead of a plane. I didn't see why I couldn't. I was licensed to fly Toothless anywhere as long as it wasn't higher than ten thousand feet which are the height planes flew.

[An Hour Later]

I raced to the barrack to pack my stuff; I was leaving on Sunday at 5: 30 am! Aaron said I could take Toothless, but I had to check in at every break and the same rules applied that my leave counter started when I landed in Berkville. I couldn't wait to do this; all I needed was a map and compass, those were two things I knew how to use well. I already told Briana and our friends. I chose Sunday because it was a day I knew everyone would be over for picnics. See, my family was good friends with the parents of my buddies, and they always did a Sunday gathering, and I would be landing at 5:30 pm, just in time for dinner. Wouldn't this be a surprise for them?

[Sunday Night; Berkville-Haddock Household-5:45 pm]

Okay, so I landed a little later than expected because of the winds causing a problem to fly in, but I was just coming into Berkville now and heading right for my parent's place. The flight wasn't bad, Toothless and I planned his flying speeds depending on how far we were going between countries. I checked in with Aaron or Glenn, called Briana too during the breaks. However, now, it was time to surprise the family and friends. Toothless and I got a good peek from behind a large tree for the opening to land, and then we shot out and landed in plain sight.

"Harrison!?" they exclaimed as I grinned a little.

"Surprise," I said. Oh, it was a good feeling indeed to see their shocked faces that Toothless and I was there in the backyard. I was still in my ACU, Aaron said it was required. I didn't care because right now at this moment of landing, I was finally on leave.