Hiccup was standing beside Sylvi still in full chief attire. The black pants, gray boots, red tunic shirt, crest of the tribe on his belt which was around his waist, then of course the two brown shoulder protectors, the right having the symbol of a night fury with one red tail fin that held on his black fur cloak. His chest was protected with brown armor, this was also on his arms and covering the backs of his palms too. He had arm guards as well. He was slightly leaning against the couch as Sylvi rubbed his arm. "Do you want me to stay while you talk to them?" Sylvi asked.
"Of course I do. Syl, you're my wife...I'm not gonna send you off just because they are here, this is still our house." Hiccup smiled.
"I'm just checking is all. I know this is all your business..." Sylvi replied gently.
"Its past business. Fury Isle and the tribe are current." His eyes turned on the Hooligans now. "Well, you had questions before." Hiccup said.
"Sorry lad, its a bit much to take in to just pick out questions at random..." Gobber stated rubbing the back of his head, "Maybe...?" Gobber pressed.
Hiccup sighed, "You want me to tell it from the day I left, don't you?"
"If ya wouldn't mind, would be easier than us just asking questions..." Corey Hofferson added.
"Very well. Grab a spot and sit down...I got 7 years to get through in one night..." Hiccup mumbled as he turned his head into his elbow and coughed hard a few times.
"Are you...alright?" Stoick asked reaching a hand forward.
"I'm fine..." Hiccup said crossing his arms over his chest, Sylvi got up and felt his forehead.
"You still got a fever and that cough is terrible, you should be resting. You are so stubborn, Hiccup. Just like your dad..." Sylvi smiled softly shaking her head.
"I was until I got called to the docks to deal with this...And what can I say, like father like son." Hiccup shrugged gently.
"I am not that stubborn." Stoick huffed.
"Wasn't referring to you." Hiccup snorted, "I was talking about my dad."
"Hiccup I am your dad." Stoick sighed.
"Pfft! Hah, is that what you're calling what you did to me? You wanna call what you did and said parenting?" Hiccup shook his head trying not to laugh, finally he took a breath moving to a picture on the wall and took it down carefully. Showing it to the Hooligans they could see it was of an older, larger man and Hiccup smiling standing beside him when he was about 14 or so. A picture the chief's had done with their sons. "This man is my dad. The one who took me in when I left Berk, claimed me his son and heir to this island. He taught me, protected me, cared for me, loved me. That's what a father does and you Stoick, you did not do those things. So the man you see me standing with in that picture, that is my dad." Hiccup said firmly now as the smile left his face. "Now if you want this story then I suggest you hush and let me tell it, you can save questions for after." Hiccup stated.
"Stoick fer once in yer life, listen to the boy...Oops. The man." Gobber sighed.
"Thank you, Gobber. Hiccup has told me a lot about you. How you supported him when he chose to leave." Sylvi smiled.
"He's like a son to me, lassie. I'll never not support him. I knew he'd be safe when he left because I met Toothless." Gobber felt all eyes on him now. "Might'a said to much..."
"You knew...he left on a Night Fury?" Stoick asked now in shock.
"Course I did...How do you think Hiccup got off Berk, Stoick. He didn't take a boat or walk...He flew on his dragon, I met him the night Hiccup left...I knew he'd be safe. Well...that and the other thing..." Gobber said looking to Hiccup for confirmation if he could tell them now. Hiccup nodded.
"What other thing?" Astrid asked.
"A year after Hiccup left, I got a letter from him saying he was okay. Then since, I've gotten a letter every 2 years..." Gobber admitted. Stoick was to his feet right away.
"You knew where he was! I asked you, why did you lie to me." Stoick said loudly.
"I swear to Thor if you wake my daughters up because of your yelling, Stoick then you will be spending the night in prison...Now sit down and be quiet. I said save questions for later, if you let me talk just once you might learn about the last 7 years..." Hiccup said firmly, Stoick was quiet and sat back down. "First of all, Gobber didn't know where I was. I sent my letters through trader Johann...I only sent word so he'd know I was alive and safe, happy too. And he didn't say anything because I asked him not too. I knew if anyone knew I was making contact other than him, you'd start searching for me and since this island has peace with dragons, I didn't need a group of dragon killers coming in and messing it up." Hiccup sighed.
"Alright, Hiccup...You have our attention. We won't talk, just...explain all this." Fishlegs said, the others nodded.
"I'm going to make some tea." Sylvi said getting up slow with a hand on her stomach.
"You stay down. You have two months left and I don't need another early labor happening like with the twins...Iris told you to take it easy. I want to meet our baby too but not before he or she is ready to make an appearance. And besides, I still have to finish the room upstairs. I need another month or so. I'll make it." Hiccup said kissing her cheek before moving to the water crank and setting the small pot over the metal wire grate which rested on a brick built fireplace. Hiccup gave a whistle as Toothless lazily came over. "Light it up bud." Hiccup smiled, Toothless fired a small blast to get the fire going then he went back to his spot and fell back asleep.
"You're so good to me." Sylvi blushed as she took off her outer layer of clothes and relaxed now.
"Well yeah, I am your husband. I vowed to do these things. This ring is more to me than just a piece of metal." Hiccup said intertwining his fingers with hers, she smiled softly with a hand on her belly.
"Oh, baby is kicking Hiccup! Come feel, you always miss it because you're busy..." Sylvi said lifting her shirt a bit and placing his palm on her bare belly. Hiccup closed his eyes a moment, then they opened when he felt a kick against his hand. He smiled wide now with a laugh.
"Gonna be strong lil guy. I can tell." Hiccup said.
"Oh stop it, you don't know it will be a boy. Could be another girl, can name her Sky to go along with our sun and moon." Sylvi giggled as Hiccup rubbed her belly a bit, earning another kick.
"No way babe, that's a boy. And even if it was a girl, I'd still be happy." Hiccup kissed her lightly.
"I say we ask Toothless." Sylvi mumbled.
"Fine...Toothless, come here a sec. Prove my wife wrong, she's having a boy. Isn't she?" Toothless came over and lifted an ear listening to Sylvi's stomach, then sniffed her before nodding his head happily. "Hah, told you." Hiccup grinned victoriously.
"Watch it chief...or no fun for a month." Sylvi huffed.
"Because you can go that long." Hiccup chuckled as he leaned in and kissed her neck making her cheeks flush a dark crimson.
"I hate that you can do that to me!" Sylvi pouted.
"Not my fault you're attracted to a fishbone." Hiccup retorted. Sylvi cleared her throat a bit and motioned to the Hooligans sitting there blinking at the scene they'd just witnessed.
"You aren't exactly a fishbone anymore there, Hiccup. You've filled out a lot in 7 years..." Sylvi grinned as when Hiccup turned around to check the water she smacked his rear.
"Syl really?!" Hiccup mumbled.
"What? My hand slipped babe..." Sylvi said innocently.
"Let me tell you why that's bullshit." Hiccup remarked.
"So...um...Are we...going to get to hear the story?" Tuffnut asked.
"Allow me to remind you that you are guests right now and in my house. I'll get to it when I'm good and ready..." Hiccup stated firmly. Hiccup finished the tea and handed Sylvi a cup, then one for himself. "The rest of you want any, help yourselves." Hiccup sipped his a few times before setting it down. "Alright...Basically the story goes like this. The reason I kept sneaking off into the forest...was to see Toothless. Remember that night I said I shot down a Night Fury and no one believed me?" They nodded to him. "Well, here he is...He's missing his left tail fin because of me. I found him in the forest, he looked weak and defenseless, and I knew how that felt so instead of killing him...I cut the ropes and set him free. He pounced me, I thought I was dead but he only roared and let me live." Hiccup began slowly.
"And you...built him that tail, right lad?" Gobber asked. Hiccup nodded.
"He was trapped in the cove just below Raven Point, it had been my fault so I made him a new tail but the only way he could fly was if I controlled it which is why I don't just ride him. I fly him. He and I have to work together...We're partners and best friends." Hiccup smiled as Toothless warbled and laid his head on Hiccup's lap while he scratched under his chin making Toothless purr calmly. "I was sneaking out to see Toothless, I knew if...anyone found him they would kill him because he couldn't fly and get away...But then you caught me and well you know how that went. But anyway, skipping to that night. After I said goodbye to Gobber, he wanted to know I'd be safe so I told him to meet me in the cove and make sure he wasn't followed."
"And I wasn't." Gobber smiled.
"I know. So Gobber met me there, met Toothless. I told him dragons weren't dangerous and I'd prove that one day...I told him I wasn't changing my mind, that I had to set out and find who I was in this life, my purpose...I told Gobber we'd see each other again one day. When the winds and tides changed. I left Berk on Toothless that night. We flew 30 days, stopping at night to sleep. We'd stop once or twice during the day for a quick break and to eat before starting again. We got caught in a bad storm, Toothless's tail got struck by lightning and we crashed here on Fury Isle." Hiccup explained.
"And he was out a good two days too. Toothless barely let us near him to check on Hiccup but Thurmond managed to get through to him." Sylvi piped up now.
"Thurmond? Thurmond the Peaceful?" Gobber asked.
"Yep." Sylvi smiled. "You know 'im...?"
"Long time ago on a mission for Stoick, I stopped here to resupply. It was long before 'Iccup was born though, I think Valka and Stoick were newlyweds then." Gobber chuckled.
"He took me in after crashing here...He made sure I was okay, he didn't hurt Toothless...He didn't force me to do anything, and...after I told everyone here what happened...I was invited to stay. I accepted happily...A place where humans and dragons lived in peace? Couldn't say no to that. 3 months later...I was living with Thurmond, in this house too...And he asked me if...I'd like to have a dad again." Hiccup smiled looking at the picture, Sylvi put her hand on his shoulder softly.
"I remember that day, you were so happy..." Sylvi said lightly.
"I've had a lot of happy days since coming here, Syl...But, I told Thurmond I'd accept. So he adopted me, claimed me his son and heir. He actually started my chief training right away, I loved it. Spending every day with him, learning about it all. I became Hiccup Hagebak after the adoption was sealed...That first year was amazing, I loved everything that I got to see, do...I even managed to fall in love after I turned 15..." Sylvi blushed now. "She and I started dating after she turned 15...I had...friends, a dad, a home, a girlfriend...Thurmond...even changed the name of the tribe from Fury Isle, home of the Peace Keeper tribe to Dreki Riddari tribe...Life was perfect..." Hiccup's smile fell, his head lowered a bit.
"What...happened?" Astrid said softly.
"My dad got really sick and...we couldn't save him...His dying wish was to see me become chief of the island...but, he didn't make it that far. I was named chief 2 months later...And I took the name he wanted me to have, to hold and represent while I led this place. Hiccup Hagebak the Dragonborn; Son and heir of Thurmond Hagebak. Chief of Fury Isle, home of the Dreki Riddari. That's old Norse for Dragon Rider. So there I was...15 years old and running a village, that's when I sent Gobber the letter. Syl convinced me too." Hiccup said.
"Why Dragonborn? You weren't born a dragon..." Stoick asked.
"Its because I'm the first human to ever bond with a dragon, the first one to ride a dragon, to see that change and peace was possible. My dad always said..." Hiccup looked down closing his eyes.
"That you have the heart of a chief, and the soul of a dragon. Only you can bring our worlds together. That is who you are." Sylvi leaned forward hugging him. "I know you still miss him."
"I always will, Syl...After he died and I became chief, around a year later when I was 16...Everyone wondered when I'd take a wife, of course I had Sylvi...My girlfriend for over a year, but she and I weren't rushing things. But one day...I just decided it was time to ask her so I made her ring...and asked her to marry me. She said yes and we were married 3 months later." Hiccup smiled now looking back at them.
"And you...obviously consummated your marriage given you have kids." Gobber said.
"That we did." Sylvi smiled.
"But wait, isn't that against Viking law?" Snotlout asked.
"It is actually. Grounds for exile from a tribe..." Stoick said.
"Its also against Viking law to harbor a Night Fury in a cove, and to have peace with dragons right? You tell me when I've ever cared about Viking law. When I became chief, I changed it. I needed and wanted a second in command, and the only person who can be that is the chief's wife. I was 16, I couldn't wait until I was 18. I suppose I could of, I just didn't want too. No one on my island cared..." Hiccup mumbled.
"Fair enough...So what happened after that?" Ruffnut asked now.
"Well after the wedding, 5 months later. Syl was feeling really sick so I had Iris come over to check on her. Then I was told she was two months pregnant with twins. 6 months after that, Sylvi went in to labor a month early and then we had our girls. Selena meaning moon and Solana meaning sun." Hiccup smiled wide.
"And why did you name them those names?" Gobber said.
"Because Selena was born first when the moon was still out, and Solana was born about 10 minutes later when the sun was out. Seemed only fitting. So from there up until about 7 months ago we just raised our girls, and I ran the village. Then one day, Syl told me she wanted to have another baby. That happened and that's why she's pregnant now. And...that it really. Yeah, that's everything from when I left Berk to now." Hiccup shrugged.
"Well that does answer a lot of questions. But still some unanswered ones like...How did you know we were in the water?" Astrid asked.
"Aerial patrols spotted you after the storm passed, he told Gunnar, Gunner sent Eret went out with the boat. Gunnar saw Stoick's belt crest and came to get me." Hiccup said.
"And who...is Gunnar, and Eret, Viggo, and the Ryker fellow?" Stoick asked.
"Gunnar is my brother, second in command when I can't be." Sylvi smiled.
"Eret is an ex dragon trapper. Viggo and Ryker are brothers, also ex dragon hunters. I...converted them shall we say into accepting dragons so they reside here as guards for me." Hiccup explained.
"And...Those three who tended are injuries earlier?" Fishlegs asked.
"Iris, head healer. Then her helpers, Dagny and Alva. And before you asked, the gentleman who found me in the hall when we entered was Colden. The blacksmith here." Hiccup added.
"Huh...Not as crazy or confusing as I thought it would be..." Tuffnut blinked.
"I try to keep it simple. However...It is late, and I have work to do tomorrow. Unfortunately I do not have the room to hold at 14 of you here so 7 of you will have to go to the inn." Hiccup said.
"Stoick. You, Gobber, and the kids stay here. We'll go to the inn." Spitelout said now.
"We aren't kids anymore..." Snotlout rolled his eyes.
"You're still mine so a kid you will be called until you have them of your own." Spitelout remarked.
"Aye, that's how we'll do then. If its okay with you chief?" Gobber smiled.
"Fine with me." Stoick said.
"I was talkin to the lad, you know. The chief of the island we're staying on." Gobber sighed.
"Its fine. Wait here..." Hiccup yawned opening the door to his house. A guard walked by and stopped.
"Everything alright chief?" The guard asked.
"Yes, fine. Would you do me a favor? Take these 7 to the inn?" Hiccup motioned to Spitelout, Corey, and 5 others.
"Aye sir, come along." The guard bowed then led the 7 out. Hiccup closed the door and moved to 3 rooms on the main level, opening those doors.
"Stoick and Gobber share. Ruffnut and Astrid share. Snotlout, Tuffnut, and Fishlegs share. Stay out of the door near the stairs. That's my office and I'll know if something gets touched. I will see you in the morning for breakfast. I bid you a goodnight." Hiccup helped Sylvi to her feet and led her upstairs. "Oh and Toothless will be staying downstairs to keep an eye on you. If you hurt him, its you I feel bad for..." With that he was gone from sight.
"Well this has been a night to remember...I can't believe he's been here this whole time...and chief." Ruffnut said.
"Right, I thought he was dead..." Snotlout blinked.
"That's cuz none of ya had any faith in 'im. Now go to sleep...I for one and tired." Gobber entered the room. Stoick nodded agreeing. The rest went to bed as well. It had definitely been a long night and sleep was needed by all. Hiccup included, he knocked out around 9. He was still sick so he needed his rest. Hopefully tomorrow would be better.