Hanson was completely beside himself after being startled by his girlfriend of seven years. Just this morning, he talked to Ella, Caylee's battle buddy and got told Caylee was sick and yet, here she was in his barrack telling him she was home. Hanson couldn't believe it, of course, he was shocked but more overjoyed than anything to see her again. Vincent, Thatcher, and Ricky knew she was there because they were working with Ella to keep Hanson distracted and thinking Caylee was sick so they led her to where he would be. For the group of ten soldiers in training, they were astonished to be meeting Caylee in person. The barrack was silent now as Hanson just stood before Caylee.
"What? I get no hug and kiss after you haven't seen me in eight months? Well fine then, I'll just get back on the pla-" Caylee got cut off by Hanson snaking his hand around her waist and pulling her against his figure, then leaning in and smiling.
"Don't you dare," Hanson whispered before pressing his lips to hers while Caylee melted into it and wrapped her arms around Hanson's neck. The two of them stayed in the kiss for almost a full minute before Hanson broke it and hugged her tightly. "Gods, I'm glad you're back," he paused a moment and pulled away to look at her intently. "Wait, is this just two week leave or?" he asked.
"Nope. Tour is over, and I'm home for a while," Caylee replied happily. Hanson pulled her right back against him for the embrace that she returned fully. "Initially, it was just leave time that I planned to take three months ago, then just a week ago, it was announced we were all coming home because the tour was over," she added before separating from the hug again.
"Thank Thor you are home. These nights get pretty lonely," Hanson pressed his forehead to hers with closed eyes.
"Well, you won't have to be lonely anymore. I'm back and can stay at your Dad's while reporting here for drill the first weekend of every month," Caylee informed. "Are you going to stay there too?"
"You know I have to stay here to finish their training," Hanson reminded motioning to the group of ten behind him.
"How much longer?" Caylee asked.
"No idea, they haven't even reached mounting yet," Hanson sighed heavily. "But I'll come see you during the Personal Time or come to me here; it's only a ten-minute flight with the dragons," he added.
"I suppose that is true. Maybe I can help you train them; we were top of our DT class if you recall?" Caylee smiled.
"That could work. You can start in a few days, get yourself caught up to Berk time again and go see Dad and the other two." Hanson told her.
"Aye aye, sir," Caylee giggled a bit. "So these are the ones you were telling me about on the phone during our conversations? The middle school friends?"
"Yes, not all ten of them, though," Hanson turned to face them with Caylee beside him, "Squad, I'd like for you to meet my girlfriend, First Lieutenant Caylee Bog," he introduced.
"It's a pleasure to meet you in person," Sylvia smiled to Caylee.
"Likewise, Hanson has told me so much about all of you," Caylee replied gently, "Which ones are your old friends, Love?"
"These six. Sawyer Jorgenson, Grant Larsen, Raelyn and Taylor Thorston, Franklin Ingerman, and Aubree Hofferson. The other three are Dustin and Heather Bazerk from Berserker, then Sylvia Ostbarg from Hysteria. They got transferred here for reasons I still don't understand but regardless," Hanson shrugged.
Caylee yawned a little now, "I guess I should get to your Dad's to unpack and sleep a little. I'll come back for Personal Time and see you in your office?" she asked tiredly.
"That you will beautiful," Hanson replied as he leaned down and kissed her again.
"Should I bring-" Caylee began but Hanson shook his head to her, and she gave him a questioning look as to why. Hanson moved his mouth to her ear where the others couldn't see it.
"They don't know about Hazel and Caleb, and I don't want them knowing right now. I'll explain why later tonight," Hanson whispered to her then pulled back to look in her eyes.
"I understand, baby. I'll see you later tonight then; I love you!" Caylee told him lovingly.
"I love you a lot more, Cay," Hanson replied to her. With another kiss shared, Caylee released him and headed outside while getting on her Changewing and taking off into the sky to get to Hanson's Dad's house.
"You, Hanson, no longer have an excuse. Cay is off tour and home, you have to-" Thatcher started as Hanson put his hand up to stop him.
"Why the hell do you think I told her to come back tonight? Eight months away from her? There is no way I'm not taking my chance to ask her to marry me," Hanson stated. "After 2030 hours, I expect zero interruptions unless it is life or death. Got it?" he added firmly.
"Got it, sir," Vincent, Thatcher, and Ricky saluted him.
"Good. The rest of you, DT arena in ten minutes. We got work to do," Hanson ordered them.
"Yes sir!" they answered together before Hanson went into his locker and pulled out the ring box, then he left the barrack and moved into his office.
"Aubs? You okay?" Raelyn questioned putting a hand on her friend's shoulder.
"I will be eventually," Aubree replied with her eyes closed as she walked away and continued to get ready for training.
(Drill Sergeant Time)
The training had gone well for once, Hanson's idea to change up their battle buddies and offer advice on how to do better was working. The trainees knew dragon calls correctly, and their dragons knew all the commands they were supposed to follow. Each dragon was given a bath today, as well got measured for saddle fitting while Hanson explained where each of them would be sitting on their dragon to allow the most comfort for both rider and dragon. It was a lucky day in Hanson's eyes, and even the trainee's eye's too. Tomorrow they would get to learn how to mount, dismount, and hover a little before landing, so that was exciting to know.
Everyone had already been through dinner and now back in the barracks for the two with Hanson, and it was easy to see how tense the room was because of yesterday with the argument that took place. "You all did well today," Hanson told them, "A lot got accomplished, and you're all one step closer to becoming dragon riders," he added shortly after.
"What else is there left to learn?" Grant inquired as they were all making it to their beds to enjoy the DS time of not being yelled at.
"Mounting, dismounting, designing your saddles," Hanson began.
"Wait, hang on! We have to design our saddles?" Eli asked.
"It's not required, no. You can choose a standard one from the saddle shed or buy one for your species out of a magazine or online. You can build your own if you want too, me on the other hand, I didn't have a choice being the first person with a Night Fury in hundreds of years." Hanson informed.
"So, Toothless's saddle, you built that?" Heather asked with wide eyes.
"From scratch too. Black leather braided and sewn together, light and padded bottom for added comfort. Then, of course, there are the handles that I can lift up or lay flat, and the last piece is the stirrups so my legs don't get tired of just dangling or don't rub against Toothless which would make him uncomfortable," Hanson explained.
"I was curious, what's it like to fly? You know, up there during the sunrises or sunsets, seeing above the clouds?" Aubree asked seeing as she had been quiet up until now.
"I don't think I have the word to describe the feeling. It's relaxing, peaceful, exhilarating to be so high off the ground and see things you could never have imagined. I love waking up in the morning, summer or winter, and feeling the cool breeze on my face. I just feel-" there was a pause now as the barrack door opened and Caylee came in and wrapped her arm around his waist, laying her head on his chest.
"Free," Caylee and Hanson said together while smiling and staring into each other's eyes.
"Hey, gorgeous. You were supposed to come in two hours," Hanson reminded lightly.
"I know, but I missed you," Caylee replied.
"I'm sure Hazel and Caleb have missed you a lot more," Hanson chuckled a bit. There was that name again. Hazel. And now Caleb, who the hell were they? Every time one of the trainees asked about it, Hanson refused to answer.
"They are sick right now, both running a fever and in bed sleeping it off, or so I was told," Caylee giggled some, "So I came to see you early. Did I interrupt anything?"
"Nah, it's just DS time babe. You remember those I'm sure," Hanson looked over at her.
"Ugh, don't remind me. You know my Drill Sergeant sucked," Caylee huffed.
"Oh, don't even start. Drill Sergeant Rickford was awesome, wish he had been mine," Hanson retorted.
"What was it like when you two were in Basic?" Franklin asked curiously.
"Hard to say. Sometimes it was great, other times I was sure I'd punch my Drill Sergeant in the mouth," Hanson replied.
"I heard that Haddock," came another male voice now as Hanson turned to see another person enter the barrack.
"H-Hey there, Drill Sergeant. How are you?" Hanson said nervously, then the man laughed and patted Hanson's back.
"I'm just fine lad, heard Miss. Bog was back and wanted to say hi to the lass. And you know you don't have to call me that anymore," the male told him with a smile.
"Out of respect, Aiden. You were my Drill Sergeant when I joined, and even though I'm ranked higher than you, I still respect you. Just ignore the remark I made about wanting to punch you," Hanson told him.
"I ain't even mad. I know I was an asshole back then, always said if my recruits had the balls to hit me and get me on my rear end, I wouldn't punish them." Aiden chuckled.
"And you couldn't tell us this why?" Hanson rolled his eyes.
"So, this guy was your Drill Sergeant?" Dustin asked.
"Yep. This is Aiden Trecher, currently the Sergeant Major of the Berk Military to Fort Riddari." Hanson introduced.
"Pleasure to meet ya lads and lasses. I have no doubts that Hanson is training ya well," Aiden smiled. "Why don't you let me tell them a few stories of your training days, Haddock. Word around the base is something big is happening tonight?" the man hinted.
"Ssh!" Hanson hushed him.
"Babe, what's going on?" Caylee asked curiously.
"No-Nothing, Milady. I planned a quiet dinner for us in my office is all," Hanson told her as she eyed him and he gulped nervously.
"Not buying it. I've been with you for seven years Hanson Hiccup Haddock; I know when you're lying or trying to hide something so what is going on?" Caylee put her hands on her hips. Hanson glared at Aiden who shrunk away behind Thatcher, Vincent, and Ricky who just entered the barrack wondering what was going on.
"Screw it. Wasn't how I planned this go but since you and I are as random as they come," Hanson sighed as he reached for his phone and played the instrumental to the song he picked for tonight, he set it up to his docking station and turned it up as Caylee only smiled at him. It was their song. "Your lead," he invited as he removed his hat and outer coat, Caylee removed her outer coat as well and then faced him.
"Even though we have our little battles. You were always in my heart. If I don't show it, still you should know it," Caylee began lightly.
"We don't get along, yeah, we get crazy. It can pull us far apart. But every time we crash, I fly right back to where you are!" Hanson and Caylee sang together as Hanson took her hand in his and pulled her against him firmly while Thatcher, Ricky, and Vincent motioned for the others to have a seat and stay quiet. "No matter how we fall, no matter how we fight. You always hear my call; we always find the light. And when we hit the bottom, love still takes us higher!" slight pause as Hanson picked her up a little and spun her around, "Maybe we stir it up, maybe we throw it down. Love always us up back on solid ground. No matter how we fall, we always fly. Fly together."
Now they just danced around while smiling at one another. "Even when we're opposite and angry, I am ever on your side. I'll always choose you, can't bear to lose you," Caylee started again.
"When we start on the wrong side of the rainbow, but we know where the rainbow ends. We look into each other's eyes, and we find our skies again," both sang while putting their foreheads together, "No matter how we fall, no matter how we fight. You always hear my call; we always find the light. And when we hit the bottom, love still takes us higher! Maybe we stir it up; maybe we throw it down. Love always us up back on solid ground. No matter how we fall, we always fly. Fly together." This time, Hanson supported her back and let her swing in a small dip, but he brought her back up.
"I'm here with you; nothing's better. Our sky is blue, but together. Our love is true; you're where I wanna be." Caylee sang on her own as Hanson continued to dance with her. "Out here with you, nothing's better. Our sky is blue, but together. Our love is true; you're where I want to be. Out here with you, nothing's better. Our sky is blue, but together-" Caylee watched as Hanson released her hand and reached into his pocket, he pulled out a red heart-shaped box while Caylee's eyes widened and she brought a hand to her mouth in shock.
"Our love is true; you're where I want to be." At this moment, the music on Hanson's phone came to a halt, and the barrack was silent as Hanson got to one knee and opened the box to her, "For the rest of our lives, it is your side I want to stand on. I want you to be the first thing I wake up to see and the last thing before I go to sleep at night. It's you that I want to hold in these arms. It's with you where I want to be forever and always. We have been together for seven years, and they've been great. But I don't want to be just your boyfriend anymore; I want to be your husband and share the rest of my life with you. Will you, Caylee Hope Bog, marry me and make me the happiest man alive?" Hanson asked.
Caylee lowered her hand from her mouth as tears were seen falling from her eyes. Finally, she smiled and nodded to him. "Yes," she replied. "Yes, yes, yes, a million times yes I will marry you, Hanson!" she squealed with happiness as Hanson took the ring out of the box and stood up, then he slid it on her finger as she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. Everyone in the barrack began to clap and cheer for them, even Aubree who didn't want to but also didn't dare invoke Hanson's anger tonight after all this. It was official; they were engaged! Hanson had finally asked, and Caylee answered.
Author's Note; Name of the song sung by Caylee and Hanson is called 'Fly Together' from Winx Club. Just in case anyone wanted to go listen to it. Thanks, -Nightstar.
