My nights had become much more peaceful in the recent week, my wound aside, having Astrid at my side made all the difference. Waking up each morning to her warmth against my body was relaxing, relieving and, above all, genuinely amazing. We were both relatively light sleepers and I usually woke up before her, though every time I did, every time my grip around her tightened and pulled her that much closer, her soft laugh filled the room.
"Good morning" I whisper against her bare shoulder, kissing her lightly as she laughs lightly and shifts closer, pressing her back and rear against me and locking her foot with my leg.
"Good morning" She answers, her hands finding mine around her waist as she grips them tighter and lets loose a small moan of contentment as my lips trace her neck. "I love waking up like this." She whispers and I smile, still tracing her shoulders.
"Me too." I answer softly and hear her release a long breathe as she presses back against me, any gaps between our bodies gone. This was perfect; I could fall back asleep like this in a heartbeat, with our naked bodies pressed together, her warmth radiating with mine. It's still dark out, the sun has yet to crest the horizon as I feel her shift and roll over, now facing me.
I can see the outline of her face in the dark, her eyes are open, and a smile lightly lines her lips as her arms find their way around my neck and she pulls herself even closer. Pressing her head to my chest, I place a light kiss on her forehead. I feel her arms release from my neck, and she places them on my shoulder as she rolls me onto my back and lays on top of me, shifting the blanket so it's hooked to her shoulders.
"Hope you don't mind." She says teasingly and I shake my head.
"Mind what, having you on top of me? Not even remotely." I answer with a smile, my hands tracing her thighs and up to her hips as she brushes her hair our of her eyes and leans down. Pressing our lips together, I grip her hips and trace her lips with my tongue. I could get used to waking up like this. As our lips are locked, I feel her hips slowly start to rock above mine and smile.
"Now?" I whisper against her lips, my hands helping to guide her hips. She lets out a soft moan as her tongue traces mine before she answers.
"Can't think of a better way to start the day." She whispers, near breathlessly and I smile. It is a great way for us to start the morning, give in to the throws of passion. Drink in each other's presence; we wouldn't always be like these, but while we had our youth, we would be. I would never not have time for her, and I will always strive to please her.
The sunlight from dawn came quickly amid our bed level tumbling and we took our time getting out of bed for the first time in weeks. I had something I wanted to take care of as soon as I could, but didn't want to rush the conversation so, I was glad for this extra time with Astrid in the morning.
Still laying naked in bed, our arms entwined as our lips playfully bite and peck each other's, we'd grown much more passionate since giving in initially. Smiling, she shakes her head as she looks at me.
"Is it weird to say I could spend all day, just like this?" She asks rhetorically and I just smile, shaking my head.
"Not at all. I'm content to make it to where, at least once a week, we can." I say playfully and, horsing my voice, add "I hereby declare a weekly day of rest." I finish and she laughs.
"Yeah, Vikings, rest. We're not exactly… resting." She adds with a shrug and soft bite of her lip and I smile, nodding in agreement.
"We're certainly expending energy" I tease, and she blushes. "So, I'm thinking I'll go have that talk when we get out of bed." I add and she nods, placing a light kiss on my lips.
"Do you want me there?" She asks softly and I smile. "Want, yes. But I think I should do it alone. I want your father to be able to speak freely without changing his words because you are there." I answer and she nods in understanding.
"We can stay like this a little longer?" She says softly and I pull her against me and smile.
"I was thinking that same thing." I say, my lips finding hers again and we lay there together, stealing an extra few minutes before the sounds of dragons cawing becomes prevalent. It was time to rise, and time to have the talk I should've had a week ago.
I left the house before she did and, hopping on Toothless, took a quick flight around the island so he could spread his wings before landing in front of Astrid's parents' house. Taking a gulp of air, I approach the door and knock, waiting with a fair degree of concern of what I'd be facing upon entering. The door opens and I'm met by her mother, smiling I nod my head.
"Good morning, Lady Hofferson, is your husband home?" I ask and she smiles, walking to me and embracing me in a hug which made at least some of my concern vanish.
"Good morning, Chief Hiccup. Yes, he is inside. Come on in." She says and leads me to the table in the main room. Pouring a class of yak milk, I hear the thump of heavy footprints as the tall blonde Viking man descends the stairs. Standing, I greet him.
"Good morning, Mr Hofferson." I say, extending a hand which he takes, further decreasing my fears as he nods.
"Morning, Chief. How is your wound?" He asks, walking past me and sitting down with his wife as I take my seat.
"Much better. I should have come sooner; I feel like this is overdue." I admit and he nods lightly.
"It may be. Hiccup, er, Chief. Before we start, let me just say this." He begins pausing and glancing to his wife. "We've talked, and we both agree that we've never seen our little girl happier. You're not the typical Viking, to be honest, I expected you to die years ago from dragons." He admits and I laugh nervously
"Oh, ha, ha. Yeah, I think a few people expected that." I answer and he nods.
"But I'm glad you didn't. You've been strong taking Stoick's place, which is no easy task to do. More importantly than that, its obvious the impact you have on our daughter. I trusted her to leave to the Edge with you, I trust you now." He says and I release a brief sigh of relief.
"But." He adds, his tone soft but shockingly intimidating. "She is my little girl, our only child. If you hurt her, dragon or no dragon, Chief or no Chief, I will hurt you." He says calmly, making direct eye contact which I ensure not to break as I nod.
"I understand, and please understand this. I would sooner die than to hurt her. I wouldn't be where I am today if not for her." I answer, not breaking eye contact with him. "She means the world to me, and she will be my future wife." I say confidently and he nods, glancing to his own wife.
"May I ask why you haven't scheduled to wed yet?" Lady Hofferson asks, and I nod.
"She and I have both talked about that privately and neither of us feel it is the right time. With the threat of the Dragon Trappers that plague nearby waters, we want to ensure our waters safe for our people, which is why she serves as my General." I add and she nods briefly.
"Yet you feel it is the right time to lay with her." Her father says taking a drink. There it was; the suspicion Astrid had mentioned. My expression softens but not my resolve.
"Tell me, Mr Hofferson, and please take no offense to this. Do your days feel better when you end them sitting with you, laying with you, comforting you? Do your mornings not start calmer knowing she is by your side?" I ask, carefully choosing my words as to not anger them. This was a tight rope I was walking that could explode as easily as it could mellow. His eyes narrow as I nod softly.
"I can tell you that my days are better now. The struggles of life lessened by her simple presence; the ability to talk and sit in front of a fireplace and listen. Knowing the most important person in my life is there with me when I wake up. That makes taking my Father's place more manageable. I had told her this, and I will tell you the same. I would not change anything of the past if it meant changing anything between us. Together, we look to the future." I say, my confidence growing slightly as he sits there and listens, taking a drink. I see his wife grip his arm.
"So, to answer your question. Yes, I do feel that time is right. My home is her home." I finish, settling my voice and waiting for him to respond. He lets loose a deep sigh and places his mug on the table.
"Chief…" he pauses, looking to his wife who nods. I can see a light smile on her face. "Your home is her home, and our home is your home. I had no doubts about your care for our daughter, and if I did, I don't anymore." He answers, extending his large hand across the table, which I take and nod with a smile. "You're doing your father proud, boy."
"Thank you." I answer and glance to Astrid's mom.
"Do you think you two, and maybe Valka, would be interested in sharing supper tonight? We've yet to have a family dinner between us and I think, maybe, the time is right." She asks and I smile.
"I'm sure Astrid would love that, and I am willing to bet my mother would as well. I'll stop by later and let you know after I speak to them?" I ask and they both nod.
"You do that. Thanks for the chat, Chief. And for putting a father's mind at ease." Her father adds and I nod with a smile. That could've gone worse, and I don't think it could've gone much better. Leaving and hopping on Toothless, I track down Astrid. She's at our spot, the cliff overlooking the village. I smile as I see the Deadly Nadder and its rider perched up there and go in for a landing.
I'll be honest, I was worried, I couldn't help it. My father was a warrior, one of the best in the tribe. Even the Jorgensen's backed away from him, but we weren't competitors, we fought for each other not against each other. Hiccup wasn't a warrior, not like that anyways. He fought with words, resorted to violence as little as possible, even refraining to kill his most hated enemies. I've never asked my father how he felt about that, if he thought it a weakness or a strength to seek compromise and offer mercy versus the not.
When I talked to him, he didn't seem mad, I'm not sure I could tell how he felt. He never was one to display his emotions, maybe that was why I always envisioned him exploding in anger, cause I'm not sure I've ever seen it. But how would he react to the Chief of the Tribe being with his daughter before they were married. Hiccup was no Stoick, and didn't demand the same level of respect; he deserved it, but he never demanded it.
Stormfly must've felt my fear in my riding as she caws and sways to set down. "Alright, girl." I say, patting her on the side and taking her down after our morning flight. We had left shortly after Hiccup, I saw him take off for a quick lap but was already in the sky and over the sea before he came back around. Setting down on the cliffside that overlooks the village, I hop off Stormfly and reach into the saddlebags. Pulling out a piece of chicken, I toss it to her and then sit. There hasn't been a snowfall since Aurvandil's Fire, and that was light. But the clouds on the horizon suggested we'd get some soon. Snow or no snow, it was still cold. The air was crisp and cut through my layers of clothing and all I could think of was feeling his embrace.
I can barely remember a time when I didn't long for that, as crazy as it seems. I know what Heather would say, it's not crazy, it's love. I do miss her, maybe I'll convince her to come visit. She won't be hounded by Snotlout or even Fishlegs since her permanent return to Berserker Island made Ruffnut their only chance at a girlfriend. I shuddered at the thought, but it made me laugh regardless. Heather knew about my inclination towards Hiccup before anyone else did, Thor's sake, she might've even helped push me in the right direction.
As much as I tried to stop myself, I couldn't keep my eyes off of my home where I could barely make out the silhouette of the Night Fury outside. What felt like an eternity of watching and imagining out the scene was unfolding couldn't have been more than thirty minutes before I saw movement and the sudden lurch as the Night Fury rocketed to the sky. I loved watching him fly Toothless, it was downright impressive. Stormfly was fast, but not Night Fury fast. Toothless could climb to altitudes so quickly that no other dragons could hope to keep up. Stormfly might be able to keep up on long flights, but not diving or climbing.
Speaking of diving, I feel my lips curl into a smile as I see the Night Fury dive towards me. Hiccup knew where I was, knew I was waiting for him here at our little spot. Before long, Toothless landed and I got up and met Hiccup as he dismounted, pulling him in for an embrace. His suit was cold but just embracing him made me warmer.
"How did it go?" I ask as I release and he shrugs playfully.
"Oh, ya know. I had to dodge a couple axes, he almost flipped the table on me and your mother, wow can she swing a mallet." He says and I roll my eyes.
"Okay, har har, seriously though." I say, looking him in the eyes and stopping his shoulders from hopping.
"Seriously." He pauses and walks me over to Stormfly and we lean against her thigh as he kisses me lightly on the lips. "He knows we're good for each other. I put his mind at ease, or so he said." He answers and I smile. I knew he would.
"How?" I ask as I feel his arms snake around my waist, pulling us closer.
"Long or short version?" He asks softly and I smile.
"Long. I want to know." I answer and he nods and explains everything. How he defended us, explained his position and ours. How he called his home my home and how my father called our home his home. How they wanted supper tonight. Tonight? "They want us to have supper tonight?" I exclaim in surprise and he nods.
"Is that okay?" He asks with a sheepish grin and I furrow my brow and smile.
"Do I have a choice?" I ask sarcastically and he shrugs.
"I mean, it's your parents. They invited my mother too. The first Hofferson-Haddock supper, so they claim." He continues and I groan. Great. Valka was certainly reasonable, so were my parents for the most part. Maybe I'm worried for no reason, it'll just be awkward.
"Have you talked to your mother about it?" I ask and he shakes his head.
"You were my first stop. I figure we can go find her together, before our flight. Maybe we take a day flight to Dragon's Island and back, or just find a place to set down for a picnic, just us, afterwards." Hiccup suggests, bumping hips with me and I smile.
"I think I like the idea of the picnic. Maybe one of the northwestern island plots. Not too far for our dragons." I answer and he smiles, planting a tender kiss on my lips that genuinely warms my face from the cold.
"I'll carry the food; you carry the blankets and gear?" He suggests and I nod as he moves to walk back towards Toothless.
"It's all at our house anyways." I answer and he pauses in his tracks, turning to look at me with a smile. "What?" I ask.
"You said, 'our house.'" He answers softly and I smile, walking back to him and kissing him.
"It is." I answer simply and he smiles.
"Let's find my mother, then we'll head out." He answers and I nod, we hop on our dragons with new plans for the day.
Finding Valka was easy, she always is with the Dragons, and as was expected, she had no problems with having supper tonight.
"Oh, my. A Hofferson-Haddock supper?" She teases causing Hiccup to shift uncomfortably as I laugh and nod. "I'd be delighted." She adds and hugs us both.
Splitting up then, I head to his house to begin collecting and he heads to my parents to inform them of the news. Before long, we're both in the air and heading to the first remote and deserted island we can find, picnic food and blankets on hand, we were ready for a day of relaxation.