AN: I'm not even gonna apologise for how long this update took... xD

Chapter 13

The creature was confused. Everything had happened so fast, she barely could grasp it all. All she knew at this point was that she was lying on the ground, between her two humans. Each of them was holding one of her shoulder and hands, and even though the ground was uncomfortable and cold, she felt warm and safe between them.

But what was even more striking, more important, more mindblowing was the fact that she was able to understand them. And she couldn't even explain it right. Before, the mere concept of words had been entirely alien to her. All she'd heard when they opened their mouths had been strange and incomprehensible noises, nothing that made even the slightest bit of sense to her ears. But now, that had changed somehow. Now, she heard words, and even though she still didn't understand the words themselves, she still knew what they meant. As if something deep inside her chest was translating what they said. It was wondrous, scary and exhilarating alike.

"Are you okay?" the smaller human asked, concern in his beautiful green eyes. "You just fainted, how are you feeling now?"

The creature let the words roll around in her mind, taking in their meaning. She wanted to reply that she was fine if maybe a little cold, but when she opened her mouth the words wouldn't come. She frowned, the sensation of her lips moving so unusual and distracting.

The bigger human chuckled, a little cautiously. "If you're cold then we should get you off the ground. We can figure out everything else later."

They pulled her back onto her feet, their movements in perfect synchronisation, even as she still tried to process how they'd known what to do. She hadn't even said anything!

"But you did," the smaller one said, the meaning of his words echoing from deep within her. He tipped with his finger against his temple. "In here. As if… I don't know. As if we can hear your thought?"

They could hear her thoughts? The creature blinked, stunned. Could it be that easy? So if she thought of all the times she'd watched them from afar, all the times she'd secretly swam around them, all the times she'd wanted to get closer, to get to know them–

"Woah!" both her humans exclaimed at the same time. Their eyes looked weird, as if they weren't really seeing her right now, unfocused.

"That was… that was a lot of information," the bigger one muttered and shook his head as if to clear it.

Without them needing to explain, the creature understood. They'd really seen all those memories, and where rightfully overwhelmed. So she tried to contain herself and thought a focused I'm sorry?, even as she felt giddy, excited. They understood her!

Both humans began to laugh, quietly, and the smaller one said, "Don't worry, it's okay. We'll manage. And I'm glad you showed us all this. It truly answers a few questions... So you were as fascinated by us as we were by you all this time."

The creature gave a cautious smile and tried out a gesture she'd seen them do before, lifting her shoulders a little and letting them drop again. It felt appropriate.

At the next moment, her head began to spin and she had to grab at their arms more firmly to keep standing. Just like before, her throat felt uncomfortably dry. Her knees became weak and she stumbled, made worse by the fact that the smaller human had let go of her. When she looked for him, he stood a few steps away, where the water came out of the wall. He was filling a glass with water, looking at her expectantly. But she didn't pay him much attention, her focus on the water. What was this strange sensation?

"It's called thirst," the bigger human explained, his voice soothing. "It happens when we don't drink enough water."

His words registered in her mind but she barely paid them any attention, gladly accepting the glass when the smaller one held it out to her and gulped down the cool water. Ah, that was much better.

When she looked up, however, she was met by two sets of eyes watching her in anticipation, as if they expected some form of reaction from her. Confused, she glanced from one to the other. Had she missed something?

"Huh, that's strange," the bigger one muttered. "Hiccup asked whether you're feeling better now. But you didn't seem to have heard him. How are you now?"

Fine, she conveyed absentmindedly. Her eyes were on the smaller human, the hiccup, and her heart sank. He was speaking now, his mouth moving and she could still determine the words he said. But she didn't understand them anymore.

Was she losing the connection to them again? She was so relieved to be able to communicate with them, she didn't want to lose that again. Without her help, her hand clung harder to the bigger human's arm. At least she could still understand him.

"Did you hear that?" he now asked. There was concern in what she felt in his words, worries.

But that wasn't enough to soothe her. The creature shook her head in negation, her shoulders slumping. She just wanted for this to work. Why wasn't it working anymore?

The hiccup looked concerned too, and placed a hand to her upper arm, his thumb rubbing over her skin.

"Hey, hey," he said. "Don't get upset. We'll figure something out, okay? Ah, sh…" He broke off and shook his head, a sad expression on his face. "Eret, could you–"

The creature's head jerked up and she stared at the hiccup with wide eyes.

I can understand you again!

Joy bubbled up inside her and she felt like jumping through the waves when she felt his thoughts in her mind again. Whatever connection she had to them, apparently it wasn't broken after all.

"You can?" the hiccup asked, and the creature nodded in affirmation. "Huh, interesting. I wonder…"

"What is it?" the eret asked, echoing her own confusion.

"Let me test something." The hiccup let go of her arm and took a few steps back, away from her. He said something, but whatever it was, the meaning was lost on her.

"Did you understand what he said?" the eret translated.

The creature shook her head, but this time, she wasn't as anxious as before. More curious.

The hiccup came closer until he stood next to her again, and again said something.

"And now?" the eret asked, curiosity in his voice as well.

The creature's hope fell a little. No, she still hadn't understood what he'd said.

"And now?" the hiccup asked after placing his hand on her arm again.

The creature's eyes lit up. Yes! Yes, I can understand you.

The hiccup gave her a radiant smile and a wave of warmth rushed through her. It was so good to know this new connection didn't break off right away again, and it was also good to see him smile like that, to feel his touch on her skin.

"So, do I get this right?" the eret asked. "We can only understand each other as long as we keep skin contact?"

The hiccup nodded. "Looks like it."

The creature thought about this for a heartbeat and then placed her hands over theirs on her arms, happiness thrumming through her in powerful waves.

I could get used to this!

. o O o .

With mixed feelings, Eret watched the Undine as she flitted across the entire house. She was a curious one, inspecting everything she saw, from the TV and their PlayStation to pictures Hiccup had made and that hung on the walls here and there to the kettle he used to make some tea for them.

With being able to feel her emotions and thoughts, it was clear she meant no harm to them. She was so ingenious, so full of open joy and wonder. Every now and then she came to one of them, took their hands, and asked about something she'd found, and every time he felt nothing but excitement and happiness through their strange connection.

But somewhere deep within his mind, Eret still worried. Even if she didn't mean to harm then, that didn't automatically mean that her presence didn't pose some indirect threat, either. He couldn't pin down why he felt that way and when she was touching him with that bubbly cheerfulness of hers, it was impossible to be worried anyway. But a small grain of doubt stayed nonetheless.

However, she was distracting enough to easily forget about those doubts for the moment. One the one hand, there was her absolut lack of sense for personal space or appropriatness. She was still wearing Hiccup's shirt, thankfully, but with how close she always came, to cuddle and to seek skin contact alike, and with her well-shaped bare legs, it wouldn't have made much differnce if she'd been entirely naked. Claiming that he didn't notice how attractive she was would have been a lie.

There was another thing though that was at least equally distracting. She was entirely silent. No sound escaped her, no word or random noise. Even when she laughted, it was only the shaking of her shoudlers and her tangable giddyness that gave her away. It was eery.

Eret's thoughts got interrupted quite fittingly by quiet laughter. When he looked up, he spotted Hiccup sitting on the couch with the Undine next to him. She looked confused by Hiccup's reaction and he was visibly making an effort to calm down and explain.

"No, no, I'm not the embodiment of a bodily reaction. Hiccup is my name. A nickname, to be precise."

With his lips twitching in amusement, Eret came closer and sat down at the Undine's other side. This was a conversation he'd more or less been waiting for and he didn't want to miss it. Without doing more than glance at him, she placed her hand on his bare arm, including him in their conversation.

"What a Name is?" Hiccup now apparently repeated her question. "Uhm… that's…"

"A name is a word, or sometimes more than one word, by which a person or sometimes a thing is known." Eret helpfully jumped in. Words were more his strength than Hiccup's. "It's what others use to address them or refer to them."

The Undine had turned to look at him. She looked thoughtful, her round head cocked to the side as she was processing his words, trying to understand what he'd meant through their connection. A few moments later, she nodded, understanding brightening her eyes.

Eret had to suck in a breath and hoped that without saying anything she couldn't determine what he was thinking. That she was incredibly beautiful when she lit up like this.

So… so you are Eret. And the smaller human is Hiccup. Yes?

Chuckling, Eret nodded. He might keep the term 'smaller human' for a later time, just because.

"Yes, that's right," Hiccup affirmed eagerly. "And who are you? Do you have a name as well?"

The Undine visibly slumped in on herself. No, I do not have a name. I was always on my own. I'm just me."

Something that felt like a fog of loneliness echoed through her thoughts, and Eret couldn't help but feel for her. It made her seeking them out in the first place even more understandable.

"So, should we just keep calling you the Undine then?" Hiccup asked.

What is an… Undine?

"An Undine is… is a water spirit."

"A spirit of the sea, in your case. And until not so long ago, nobody believed you truly existed," Eret jumped in when Hiccup didn't say more. "We thought you were just a local myth."

A myth…

Her quiet thought sounded more distant than her usual words. She was processing what he'd said and what he'd meant, Eret realised. All the legends and stories he'd researched over the past weeks…

Fear leaked through their connection and she recoiled, vigorously shaking her head.

No! No, that is not who I am. That is not me. Please! That is not me!

Hiccup reacted quicker than Eret did, holding on to her hand more firmly and placing his free arm around her shoulder to pull her into a comforting hug.

"Hey, hey, it's okay," he said, calm but insistent. "We believe you. We didn't believe in those legends anyway, don't worry."

She was breathing quickly, almost hyperventilating, but at least somewhat calmed again at Hiccup's words. Eret felt bad for upsetting her like this, and he reached for her hand with both of his, trying to draw her attention.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to frighten you. Those are just stories some people like to tell, fairytales. Don't pay them any mind.

Her breathing calmed further, and she nodded. But those stories are awful. Why would they say such things about me?

Neither Eret nor Hiccup had a good answer to that, so they both shrugged.

"We won't call you that then," Hiccup assured her. "But is there some other name you might want us to call you?"

She hesitated but then just helplessly lifted her shoulders. I do not know any names, her voice echoed in their minds, sounding sad. But then she perked up. But maybe you can pick a name for me?

She threw them both hopeful glances, then frowned, and from one moment to the other much disappeared.

Eret blinked, but he was kind of used to this by now. She moved too fast for his eyes to see, and when he glanced around he spotted her standing at a sideboard and gulping down the glass of water standing there. Many of those glasses were standing all over the house by now. She needed to drink almost constantly as it seemed. Probably because she was a creature of the water. That was certainly something to look into… at a later time.

"So, we're to pick a name for her?" Hiccup said quietly, a smirk playing around his lips. "I guess Ariel would be too cheesy?"

"Hah! If she's Ariel then I'm obviously Prince Eric," Eret threw back, grinning. "Which makes you… Vanessa?"

"Ew," he grimaces. "I hope I'm much prettier than that sea witch."

"Well, I'm sorry to say that she at least has the better singing voice."

At that, Hiccup stuck his tongue out but still couldn't help laughing.

What is so funny?

The Und– she'd reappeared between them without a warning, her hands searching the connection to them immediately, and even though her sudden appearance had startled him… Eret had to admit that he'd rather missed her gentle touch.

"We were just goofing around," Hiccup explained, still chuckling. "Do you really want us to pick a name for you? A name can be something very… personal."

She nodded eagerly. Yes, I want that. You are the only ones that matter.

Eret could feel the full meaning of those words, heavy and sad. They weren't just the only ones that mattered to her. They were the only ones she'd interacted with. Ever.

Hiccup was right. Choosing a name for her, that was a strange and very personal request. But everything about this day with her was strange and he didn't even want to think about the personal aspect. She'd only left the ocean because of them.

"Alright," he said out loud. "Let's see. How about we see what names we can come up with and maybe you hear one that you like?"

She nodded, waiting.

"Uhm…" Hiccup looked around the room, thinking. "How about… Natalie? Keira? Emma? Miranda? Zoe?"

Amused, Eret's eyes followed Hiccup's to their Blu-Ray shelf, understanding where these suggestions were coming from. But he had to admit, the names weren't bad suggestions.

She didn't seem to be so certain, though.

Can you repeat those names?

She asked and let go of Hiccup's hand. A little puzzled, he did as asked, and she listened, brows furrowed in concentration. But then she shook her head.

None of them sound… right.

Eret understood what she meant by right. She was looking for a name she could pick out of their speaking pattern even when they weren't connected.

"Okay, I see. Others then. Uhm…" Hiccup's eyes wandered on, landing on the old bookshelf that had been here long before them. "Maybe… Jane? Emily? Charlotte? Astrid? Mary? Anne? Virg–"

She perked up in the middle of his suggestions.

"Say them again," Eret conveyed her silent request. Hiccup did as asked and this time, she nodded eagerly.

That one! That's a good name.

Hiccup, who'd gone back to holding her hand, cocked his head. "Astrid?" he asked, reading the name in her thoughts.

She nodded again. It's that… sharp noise in the middle? Easier to pick up on.

"All right," Hiccup said, grinning. "Astrid it is then."

"A fitting name," Eret mumbled. He caught the sly smirk Hiccup threw him at the compliment, and judging by the slight blush on her cheeks, Astrid had understood it, too. But what could he say? Her beauty was supernatural, very literally.

A little louder, he added, "Happy to meet you, Astrid."

Beaming, she threw herself into his arms and hugged him. A little perplexed at first, he awkwardly returned the gesture patting her back. That didn't seem to be enough for her though, as she tugged at Hiccup's arm until he joined the group hug.

Thank you!

. o O o .

The day went by in a blur. The creature – no, she chided herself. Astrid! – couldn't remember to ever have been this happy in her entire existence. She'd picked up her courage and had left the water. She'd gone to meet her humans and in opposition to what her instincts told her, they weren't horrible, soulless being. They were kind. Friendly. Good. They'd even given her a name.

And Astrid loved her new name! It gave her a feeling she hadn't known before, a sense of… a sense of herself. She was Astrid. Astrid was able to spend time with her humans, with Eret and Hiccup. And all these new impressions had her at a constant high all day.

But when the sky changed colour and the sun was about to disappear behind the waves, she knew that they had to part.

The ocean needs me. And I need it, too.

She tried to convey more of what she meant, that even though they'd provided her with all the water she'd needed, she would need more to recharge.

"That's all right," Hiccup said, squeezing her hand. "You can come back to visit us whenever you want."

"Exactly," Eret agreed. "You know where to find us, after all."

He blinked when she took off their borrowed shirt and gave it back, looking caught off guard. But what was she supposed to do with it? She couldn't take it with her now.

I'll be back as soon as I can then.

Astrid hesitated for a moment but then moved closer to Eret. She'd been close to them all day, feeling their skin beneath her fingers, their arms around her shoulders, and she'd enjoyed it all more than just because it meant she was able to communicate with them. But there was one thing she hadn't done all day, not since those first awkward minutes. Something she really wanted to do again before she left them. So she stretched and pressed her mouth to Eret's, tasting his lips with her tongue. They were so warm, his heart beating against her chest and his hands settling on her hips. It was a wonderful feeling, one she would savour until she could see them again.

She turned to feel the same closeness to Hiccup, his eyes dazed and mouth hanging open as he gazed at them. Giggling to herself at his expression, she moved in and even wrapped her arms around his neck. Something inside her even made a funny flip when her tongue found his and his low moan rumbled through them both.

Then she stepped back, waved at them, turned, and jumped back into the ocean.

It would be a long while before she would settle tonight. The joy in her heart wouldn't calm down and for hours, she kept playing with the waves, daring them to rise higher only for her to still jump over them. This had been, without a doubt, her best day ever.

. o O o .

Hiccup gazed at where the Undine, Astrid, had disappeared. She hadn't just jumped back into the water, no. And her – naked! – body hadn't turned into a big fishtail as some part of him had halfway expected, either. Instead, she'd… flown apart, somehow, like water splashing from a glass. She seemed to have dissolved into liquid, becoming one with the ocean and the waves.

"Huh… not what I'd expected," he murmured.

Eret snorted. "I'd say that's the theme of the day."

When Hiccup turned to look at his boyfriend, his eyes were cast unseeingly into the distance. His fingers were touching his lips and there was a worried crease between his thick eyebrows.

"You know that I don't mind, right?" Hiccup said in a solemn voice. "That she kissed you, I mean."

Eret blinked, then chuckled and shook his head. "Yeah, I know. And I'm not above admitting that I didn't exactly mind watching you two, either." He paused, taking a deep breath. "But that's not really what this is about."

"Oh, I know," Hiccup conceded, sighing. "We'll have to talk to her when she comes back. Explain some boundaries. I get that she doesn't care about running around naked, and personal space is difficult when she needs skin contact to communicate with us. Those kisses though…"

It was more than just that and he knew that. It was her pure joy of being close to them, palpable in every single one of her touches. It was in how greatly she enjoyed the physical contact, often seeking way more than would have been necessary. And it had been in her thoughts and emotions, the way she regarded them as hers, herself as a part of them now. She was too pure and too innocent to understand all the implications, but at least emotionally she was already committed to them. Even as she didn't even know what that meant.

"Yes, all of that," Eret murmured. Then he let out a heavy sigh and rubbed his large hands over his face. "But before that, we need to talk. Because you can't tell me you didn't feel it, too."

Hiccup knew what Eret meant, denying it would be a lie. Yes, he had felt it too. The attraction. The allure she had on them, even without trying to be seductive. There was a chemistry between them, something that just seemed to draw them toward each other.

Eret was right, they had to talk about what that might mean for them. But for now, Hiccup didn't know what to say.

. o O o .

So... I hope this chapter was enjoyable enough to make up for the long wait? I certainly enjoyed writing some first tentative fluff. ^^