This is a series of one shots with different AUs, Big fours, or anything else that involves Merida and Hiccup. If any of you have suggestion or requests your more than welcome to ask me.

I don't know Brave nor do I own How to Train your Dragon or any of the characters in the movie. Although there behaviors may be change for the one shots.

Set in Modern times with Hiccup being a mechanic and the rest of the Big Four (plus Flynn) are in college.

Hiccup's point of view

I sighed to myself as I opened the door to Gobber's auto shop, thinking about just how routine this was all getting. I walked to the back of the shop into the employee only area and change out of my school clothes into a green wife beater shirt, and some old faded blue jeans.

"Your early lad" Gobber mutters from the hood of a ford truck, he had a wrench in his hand or was his hand the wrench, I couldn't tell from here.

"Should I apologize for that?" I say getting to work on a Toyota engine.

I could hear Gobber grumble to himself "A college student shouldn't be so eager to work…they should be off with friends enjoying life rather than working."

"I'm going to need money it I want to get Toothless off the ground." I say referring to my custom made black motorcycle that was on the other side of the garage waiting to be finished.

"I still think it's a stupid name for a bike" Gobber says wiping some sweat off his forehead "if ye had just bought a car like I told you to rather than trying to build that damn thing in the back ye wouldn't be late."

"That bike is not a waste of money…. its custom…and it will be better than anything on the road when I'm done with it." I didn't lift my head as I checked the oil on the car, but I knew that Gobber was shaking his head.

"And just how much more money and time is going to go in that bike before you are actually able to ride it." I sigh this seemed to be the argument of the month. Just as I was about to open my mouth to protest the phone rang.

I walked to the phone grabbing a rag to clean off the oil on my hands. "Hello" I say picking up the phone leaning against the wall.

"Hey Hiccup its Fishlegs I got a car coming in if you got room."

I looked around the almost empty garage "yeah we got room bring it in."

"Alright you may want to get ready though"

I raised one of my eyebrows "why what's wrong with it?"

"You'll just have to see it yourself, but it's the customer I'm warning you about though." I could hear someone yelling in the background, but before I was able to question what he meant the line went dead. I looked at the phone before hanging it up telling Gobber we have a car coming in. He nodded and we went back to work in silent.

It was maybe a half hour later when we heard the tow truck. I heard Gobber walk out first, but when I heard the string of cuss words and some frantic yelling I ran outside. My eyes widen on the site. Fishleg was pulling a 1965 blue mustang with white racing stripes. Normally I would be in awe at such a car, but this car was damaged. The whole side of the car was missing paint the front end was crumpled in itself at least five inches, a huge dent on the right side. Gobber was talking to someone that I assume is the driver.

The guy was probably about my age maybe a year or so older than me, but what was weird was his hair, it was white as snow. The white haired boy was wearing a blue zip up jacket with a black undershirt with a snowflake on it, dark blue jeans, and sneakers. I walked closer to two because the white hair guy seemed to be panicking.

"Look I need this fixed as fast as possible." He shouts panic evident in his voice.

"Like I said before the fastest we could get this done is at least a month."

"I can't wait a month," the guy shouted.

"What's going on?" I asked walking into the conversation. Fishleg was working on getting the car one of the empty spots of the garage.

"This lad here thinks it's easy to fix a damaged car." Gobber mutters, crossing his arm sounding offended.

"That's not what I'm saying" the boy shouts turning to me his blue eyes wide. "Look this isn't my car it's my friends and if she finds out what I did to her car she will kill me."

"Look…" I say trailing off not catching the guy's name.

"Jack" he says taking a deep breath.

"Jack that car has a lot of damage even if we were to work on it all day it would still take two three weeks to finish," Jack sighed muttering something to himself that sounded a lot like "I'm dead."

"Look why don't you and Gobber go inside and talk and I'll take a look at the car try to give you a good estimate. In the meantime why don't you call someone to pick you up?" Jack sighed again looking up at the sky, shaking his head as if he couldn't believe this was happening to him.

"Yeah that sounds like a plan," he says taking his phone out of his pocket, as Gobber and I walked inside the shop.

After a while I heard Jack go back into the main shop ready to talk to Gobber. I looked over the car and could only sigh it looked like an amazing car or at least was. Who ever the owner was took really good car of it, but to fix all the dents and replace some of the parts under the hood it would take a while especially to get the paint redone, by the time they spent fixing it they might as well get a new one.

It might have only been fifteen minutes later that I walked back into the shop to tell both Gobber and Jack what I thought would be a good estimate. However right as I walked up to Jack a white Honda came speeding into the shop parking lot.

An older guy walking out of the car, he had black hair and a little hair on is chin. He was wearing a white shirt with a grey vest and some jeans. He was probably two years older than me three max. Before I could get a word out Jack looked at me and said, "give me a second." He ran out the door and the two were talking for maybe a second when a purple Bug speed into the parking lot. I couldn't see who was inside, but I could tell that the two boys seem to pale when they saw the car.

Out of the passenger seat came a blonde with her hair braided that reached the back of her leg. She was wearing a purple skirt with a pink shirt and a violet sweater; she was also wearing ballet flats. Her face was a little green, which matched her green eyes that were wide. She looked afraid especially when she made contact with the boys she mouthed something to the boys, but I couldn't make out what it was. Suddenly the driver door swung open and for a moment I thought my heart stopped.

Out came a beautiful red headed girl, her curls literally out of control. She was wearing a blue top that had a sweater like collar and trim she was wearing black jeans with a blue pattern bandanna tied at her waist, a leather bracelet on her wrist and some sort of silver necklace with a medallion. She turned around and her blue eyes were blazing like raging storm.

"JACK OVERLAND WHAT DID YO DO TO MY CAR" she shouts thick with an accent. I could tell from here that Jack flinched and before I knew it he was running into the shop. "JACK GET BACK HERE" she shouted, chasing after the boy, completely ignoring everyone else. The girl in pink walked over to the older boy looking worried as her eyes followed the girls figure. They talked for a bit and walked over to me.

"Hi I'm Rapunzel and this is my boyfriend Flynn." She says introducing herself and the man standing next to her.

"Henry" I say using my real name.

Rapunzel nodded "So Henry how bad is it." I sigh shaking my head. "That bad" she says her voice getting smaller.

"Come look for yourself." I say walking back into the garage, holding the door for the two. They walked in and hesitantly walked towards the car.

"Oh my god" Rapunzel said putting her head in her hand while the boy just gave a low whistle. "Jack is so dead." She mutters putting her hand to her mouth as if horrified, by the car.

"Its not the worst I've seen" I say trying to make them feel better.

Flynn shakes his head "Doesn't matter Merida is going to freak when she see's this. This car is like her baby she's had it since she was sixteen."

There was an awkward silence until we heard the sound of footsteps. We all looked over to see Jack running in the garage. "Dude you have to help me" he shouts hiding behind the older male.

"No way you're on your own, she nearly killed me when I wouldn't tell her where you were. I am not getting anymore involved." Flynn says stepping away from Jack as if he was death himself.

Jack seemed to open his mouth to protest only to give a yelp as the red headed girl ran inside. However she seemed to stop when she saw her car. Her mouth opened in surprise her eyes no longer angry, as she took rushed steps towards the ruined car. "What…how…this can't…" she was shaking her head trying to piece everything together. For a moment she was still and after that moment her hands curled into fist and she whipped her head so fast that for a moment her hair seemed like fire. "JACK" she shouts lunging at the boy.

I don't know why put as she lunged I grabbed her around the waist as Jack seemed to jump behind Flynn. "Let go" she shouts her accent so thick I can hardly understand her "I'm a kill that boy." She says struggling to get out of my grasp. The girl was maybe a foot shorter than me, but she was definitely feisty. I tightened my grip on her so her thrashing wouldn't hurt as much. "Let go of me you…" she growls trying to kick her way out. She was struggling so much that her hair was hitting me and although it smelled nice and felt soft against my cheek I did not want it in my mouth.

"Merida" shouts Rapunzel rushing over to the girl "you need to calm down okay, just remember your mantra." I could feel a harsh breath leave the girl her voice still a growl as she say "I do not look good in prison orange. I do not look good in prison orange." The girl in my arms started to repeat this over and over again, and I couldn't help it was too funny that I started to laugh. The girl tilted her head to look at me and raising one eyebrow asked, "Who are you?"

"Uhhh" quickly I remembered that I didn't know this girl and was holding her extremely close to me. I loosen my grip ready to let her go when Jack shouts "It's a trick don't let her go." Merida whipped her head around glaring at Jack who ducked behind Flynn who also seemed to take a step back.

"Uhh I'm a little lost here so can some one tell me what to do," I say feeling my face go a little red.

"You can let go of me. I won't kill him." She says crossing her arms over mine "to many witness." She mutters. I chuckle at her attitude and let go of her, but not straying to far. She seems to observe me for a moment until she extends her hand "Merida" she says.

I open my mouth to reply Henry only to hear someone say "HICCUP." I sigh knowing that voice anywhere it was my annoying cousin who I liked to call Snotlout.

"What" I shout back. Snotlout walked in the garage taller and bigger than me or even Flynn. His hair was in disarray and he was wearing a black wife beater and black gym short.

"Just wanted to let you-" he stops talking for a second and I see his eyes land on Merida. "Well hello there" he says completely ignoring me and getting pretty close to Merida "and who might you be."

"Someone that's not interested." She snaps crossing her arms. However this only seems to grabs Snotlout's attention to a certain area. Merida must notice this and I could practically feel the loathing radiate off of her. Snotlout being the idiot he is probably thinks she is just playing hard to get.

"Ahh don't be like that," he says stepping closer to her. I stepped in front of her shielding her from my stupid cousin.

"Just leave her alone Snotlout she's not interested." Snotlout only raised his eyebrow at me.

"Oh really and who would she be interested in then…you maybe." He says laughing before pushing me out of the way. He places a hand on Merida's shoulder. "So how about a movie you, me, tonight."

She was glaring dagger into him looking at his hand and than back at him and than she beings to smile. "Mer" I hear Rapunzel say a warning in her voice, but Merida's grin only grows. The next thing I know Merida is grabbing Snotlout's hand and in a quick motion twisting it pinning it behind his back. Snotlout grunt trying to get out of Merida's hold, but she only seemed to twist his arm more.

"I am not in the mood to deal with a little boy and his ego understand. My car is just totaled, and I'm trying to figure out whether to kill my child hood friend for doing it, so trust me I will not think twice about breaking your arm." Snotlout grunts and I have got to say Merida defending herself was pretty hot. As I thought that I could feel my face get a little red.

"So I'm going to let you go and your going to walk away, am I clear." When Snotlout didn't reply Merida twisted his arm thrusting it up higher. Snotlout grunted before shouting "Alright." Merida let him go and walked next to me again. Snotlout was slow to get up rubbing his arm. He snarled at Merida who only rolled her eyes unimpressed. He muttered to himself before walking away, not even bothering to tell me what he came in to bother me about.

"So Hiccup," she says turning to me eyebrow raised.

"Uhh yeah" I say rubbing my neck in embarrassment "My real names Henry, but everyone calls me Hiccup."

"Why" she asks her head tilted in confusion.

"I was uhh" I gave an embarrassed laugh "in my neighborhood we really loved playing Vikings because our ancestors were Vikings, so we all gave each other names, mine was Hiccup because I was smaller than everyone I guess you could say I was the runt."

Merida seemed to scan me over with her eyes and I tried my best not to shift under her gaze. "You don't seem like a runt to me" she says innocently enough, but I could still feel myself getting red.

"Merida are you…are you flirting" Rapunzel asks with a gasp. Earning a gasp from both the boys behind her.

"What no" Merida shouts taking a step back a light tint of red on her face compared to the flare of red that appeared on mine.

Before I knew it Jack was engulfing Merida in a hug. "Oh my best friend is finally growing up. Interested in boys I'm so proud." He hugs her, a teasing smile on his face, until he freezes finally realizing where he just placed himself. Merida smiles quickly putting Jack in a headlock and giving him a nuggie.

"Don't think for a second that you're off the hook just yet. You may be my childhood friend, but you still wrecked my car. You ass." She let go of him and he slowly stood up, grinning "But I'll give you two choices one I get to hit you one time right here right now and get to use you as target practice with my bow or I get to slap you five times when ever I want."

Jack looks at her for a moment "and that will get put this to rest."

She shakes her head "Physically yes, but I will never let you live this down and I will use it in future arguments."

Jack sighs "Fair enough I choose option one."

"You sure?" she asks smiling.

"Yes lets just-" he was interrupted by a punch to the face. "Ahh shit Merida couldn't you wait until I was done talking" he asks, grabbing his soon to be bruised cheek.

"Nope and as for the target practice we will go there right after this." She turns away from Jack and heads towards me. "So Hiccup why don't you and I talk business and than if you're not busy you can watch Jack squirm as he takes his punishment."

I look at her for a moment captivated by her smile. "Sure" I say walking towards the store, opening the door for her.

We talk for a while since Merida pretty much made it easy for us by saying just fix it and she will pay whatever the price is at the end. I tried to tell her it was going to be expensive and gave her an overall estimate, but she didn't care, she just wanted the car fixed. We did the paperwork and told her it would probably take three weeks to a month to finish. She pursed her lips at the news, but didn't argue. After everything was done, she asked if she could get her things from the back of the car. Gobber gave her the keys and she got a backpack and a case of some kind from the back.

"So Hiccup you free to see me shoot a couple of arrows at Jack." Her eyes were filled with mischief and I couldn't help, but laugh at how Jack seemed to squirm.

"I got some time," I say feeling like I couldn't say no to this girl.

"Great you can ride with Flynn, since Punz car is so small" she says walking back to the small Bug placing her stuff in the back seat.

Flynn walks over to me and says, "This is going to be fun." I walk back inside and tell Gobber I'm going on break and be back soon. Gobber tells me to just take the whole day off and start tomorrow early in the morning since it was Saturday. I look at him oddly, but thanked him and left getting into the white Honda with a excited Flynn and a pale Jack.

As we went to wherever it was we were going the guys and I started to talk. It turns out that we all went to the same college. Flynn was old enough to be a junior, but he just started college this year and was still undecided, Jack was also a freshman who was also undecided. Flynn and Rapunzel, who was a sophomore and an art major, have been dating for almost a year now. Also Jack and Merida, who was a freshman business major who is involved in a ton of sports, have been friends since they were seven.

"So Hiccup" says Flynn pronouncing the nickname oddly "tell us a little bit about yourself."

"Not much to tell really." I say leaning against the seat. "I'm an engineer major and have worked at that body shop since high school."

"That can't be it," announces Jack leaning over his seat to look at me. "What about a girlfriend? Or what you do for fun? Do you have any sibling? Come on man give us something."

I sigh "No girl friend" I say trying not to scoff "I like working at the auto shop either working on someone else's car or my bike. No siblings only child."

"You have a bike," says Flynn.

"Yah I made it from scratch should be finished in about a month…well maybe two now that I have to finish someone else car." Jack gives an innocent whistle and Flynn laughs.

"I still can't believe you did that to Merida's car. You of all people."

"I know, but it wasn't my fault some drunk dude ran me into the cement wall when I was exiting the free way, but no, no one asks me how the damage happened they are just ready to kill me for it." He says slumping in his seat pouting. "Its not like I wanted to hurt Merida." He mutters.

Flynn sighs "Why don't you text her what happened and maybe she'll take it easy with her punishment."

"You think, I know Mer, she's not reasonable when she's angry. "

"Worth a shot right. If anything it might stop her from shooting you with an arrow worse comes to worse she shoots you." I can see Jack glare at the older boy before he sighed, reaching into his pocket for his phone.

"Why is that car so important to her" I ask, not wanting to sit in silence.

Jack answers as he types quickly "Mer is the daughter of a business tycoon, her parents own multiple bars and restaurant, not to mention real state here in the US and in Scotland, I pretty such they have a fashion line to. Point is her parents are loaded and kind of had this image they wanted her to have. Anyway one day they get into this massive fight because her mom wanted her to date this one guys son and Mer said no, some things got said and Mer storms off. She found that car when she was running away from her house. She called me told me to get a bag ready, picked me up, and we ran away for at least a four days, just driving where ever. We came back home of course, Mer just needed to cool down a bit, after that that car was her escape. She loves that thing almost as much as her bow and horse."

"She owns a horse."

"Her family owns a couple, but she only rides one. She's a champion rider." He says like its no big deal.

"Wow" I say stunned thinking about how I have no chance with this girl. 'Just my luck I always get interested in the girls I have no shot with' I thought frowning.

"Yah she's a champion archer to, she trains in hopes of going to the Olympic. She actually trained with a gold medalist for a while. She's pretty good at sword fighting to, but she hasn't competed since she was like thirteen." Again he said it like he was talking about the weather.

Finally after a while of driving we made it to our destination. When I got out of the car I noticed that it was an archery range. Soon a purple Bug was parked next to us. I watched as this time Merida got out of the passenger seat and Rapunzel the driver. Merida opened the back seat and got her case out which I'm assuming has her archery gear.

The girls walked over to us and Merida stopped in front of Jack. "Alright so after reading your text I've decided that since everything wasn't completely your fault and I was being a lousy friend for not giving you a chance at explaining yourself before I tried to kill you. I have decided to only shot one arrow at you."

"Mer" shouted Flynn and Rapunzel in surprise, Jack didn't though, he only sighed.

"Apple on the head" he said, Merida nodded and from behind her back produces a red apple. The two walked into the range as Rapunzel, Flynn, and l trailed behind them questioning their bond.

Needless to say Merida teased Jack the whole time. She would get ready to fire and in the last minute fix something on her bow or switch positions. Jack was nervous as hell, but who wouldn't be an arrow is about to fly at you, but at one point Jack just started to get annoyed. Merida would only snicker to herself. Rapunzel refused to watch burying her head in her hands, and Flynn started to tease Jack to, egging Merida to let the arrow fly.

Finally Merida shot the arrow it went right threw the apple on Jack's head. Jack seemed to take a sigh of relief a little shaken from having an arrow speeding towards him. Merida walked over to him taking the apple with the arrow in it, dusting it off before biting into it, arrow still in it. Jack said something to her with a serious face, but she only laughed. They walked back towards us awfully close and I couldn't help, but wonder if they were more than childhood friends.

Afterwards Merida exclaimed that we were going to grab a bite to eat and I tried to get out of it, however Merida all, but glared at me stating that I was coming. I gulped not in fear, but none the less agreed.

It went like this for the month that it took me to finish Merida's car. They would invite me to movies, or lunch. I gave them my number and they gave me there's. We began to hanging out at school, sometimes they would even go to the auto shop and hang out there while I fixed Merida's car. I wasn't going to lie it was nice to have people to hang out with, but I knew that it would all end eventually. After all when her car was finished they would be gone to. Than it would be just like high school, alone working in Gobber shop until something better happens. I was hoping college would be better, and it was I mean no one was picking on me, but no one paid attention to me either well that was until they needed something. I sighed to myself, but finished the car as quick as I could while enjoying the moment.

Finally the day came when Merida's car was actually finished. It was just she and I, everyone else to busy to come. "So here she is good as new," I say, taking off the cover that I put on it for more dramatics.

Merida looked at the car in shock and for a moment I thought I did something wrong, until she started to do her little happy dance, that to me was just adorable, not that I would ever tell her that in fear of getting hit. "It's amazing Hiccup" she says walking around the car, her hand gently running across the new paint.

"You like it" I ask not used to getting such positive response for my work.

"Like it, I love it" she says engulfing me in a hug her arms wrapped around my neck bringing me to her height, well her height on her tip toes. I froze for a moment, because in the month that I have got to known Merida I really started to like her and I mean really like her, but like I said before I knew I had no chance with her.

"Its amazing." She says with a sigh, her breath landing on my neck, which caused me to stop breathing for a moment. She lets go of me, a smile on her face and although I try to return it I know it doesn't look half as good as hers.

"So Mer I was uhh…um" I lean back scratching the back of my neck never good with words.

"Yes" she asks, looking at me in a way I have never seen before.

"I was wondering…if you-I mean you don't have no, but um if you would uh-" I was rambling my words getting tongue tied and I knew my face was getting red, but she didn't seem to mind.

I closed my mouth taking a deep breath ready to try again only to have Merida's phone start to ring. "Can you hold on a minute Hiccup?" She asks, taking her phone out of her pocket.

"Yah sure" I say cursing at myself for being so…so…me.

"Hello…oh hey Aster." I cringe I have never met the guy before, but Merida seems to spend a lot of time with him she's either going to meet him or just came from meeting him whenever she's late meeting up with us. "What are you serious…but its…how could I get the date wrong…are you sure…" She sighs "Alright I'll be right there…no I have my car back you don't need to pick me up…kay see you in a bit." She hangs up the phone, the smile on her face gone.

"What's wrong?" She sighs again putting her phone away.

"Aster and I have a paper due tomorrow and I haven't worked on it because I thought it was due next week uuuuhhhh" she groans "so now I have to go and work on it with him because I have no idea what to write, not to mention my grammar sucks."

"Oh well, at least your cars done." I say handing her the keys.

She gives another small smile "yeah" she says, not sounding as enthusiastic as before. "Well I better go if I want to actually get some sleep tonight." She says, not looking at me.

"Yah that's probably for the best" I say, feeling kind of depressed.

"But you were going to say something weren't you" she says turning to me her eyes looking at me for an answer.

"Yah…I was, but you know it's not important." I say, not looking at her.

"Are you sure?" she asks, trying to placing a hand on my arm, I sidestep the action and say, "Yah I'm sure." She nods her head and says goodnight before jumping in her car and driving off. I sigh to myself just standing their for a moment before grabbing my bike from the back room and start to work on it. "I'm such an idiot." I say to myself.

The next day I didn't expect any invites to lunch, or even a text. And I wasn't that heartbroken when I didn't get any. As school ended I packed up my things and walked straight to the bus stop to get to Gobber's shop, having no reason to not go in early. For the past month we would all try to hang out with one another whether it was grabbing a bite to eat or just chilling under a tree talking about random things. When it was time to go to work sometimes they would even come with me, but Flynn would always offer me a ride to Gobber's shop because Rapunzel had it in her head that someone would try to attack me on the city bus.

I sat down on the bus bench thinking about how for one month I actually had friends, a life. They didn't care that I couldn't weight lift to save my life or play sports. They didn't care if I messed up or got something wrong. I sighed thinking that for the first time in my life I was actually accepted. 'I should have taken longer on the repair job' I thought, leaning against the bench. Just as I was about to sink into a quick depression, a white Honda pulled in front of me the passenger window rolled down.

"Hiccup what the hell are you doing?" asked Jack looking at me as if I had grown another head.

"I was uh waiting for the bus." I say lamely.

Jack just rolls his eyes "I can see that. I'm asking why though? Don't you know people get stabbed on the bus?" Jack says repeating one of Rapunzel arguments for why the bus was dangerous. Honestly what that girl thinks is dangerous is odd. Buses bad, but tall six-foot muscular dudes with tattoos friendly.

"I thought…I mean- I didn't get a text from anyone so-" I was cut off by Flynn.

"Hiccup we haven't text you some times and you would have the common sense to wait. Now get in the car before I get a ticket." Jack reaches around back and opens the door. Hesitantly I get in not really sure what was going on, but I get in, shut the door, and put my seatbelt on.

"Now do you want to tell us why you didn't wait for us like usual?" Flynn asks, starting to pull away.

"I just said-"

"We know what you said Hiccup, but you're a terrible liar." I didn't say anything how do you tell the people you're in a car with that you thought they were so superficial that they were only hanging out with you for a car to get fixed.

Jack stared at me for a moment and his eyes widen and like he read my mind he says, "You think we were hanging out with you for Merida's car didn't you."

I turn to look at him my mouth open to protest, but nothing comes out. "That's it isn't it" shouts Jack, his eyes getting darker his expression turning serious. I still don't say anything. "Wow Hic thanks for thinking so badly about us."

"Its not like that" I shout.

"Than what is it?" said Flynn stopping at a red light.

"Its just" I say shaking my head trying to find the right words for this "Its just I was always the odd one in school, I never met anyone's expectation, not even my dad's. I wasn't what people expected and I was shunned for it. I didn't have friends so when…" I sigh crossing my arms "so when you guys started hanging out with me it didn't make sense."

"And that was the only logical thing you could come up with." Jack said his voice to even, face to serious to be Jack.

I shrug my shoulder not knowing how to explain myself. Flynn just sighs "Hic I'm going to tell you something about ourselves alright. When I was little I was dropped off at an orphanage, no one wanted me, so I grew up as a thief, I went to juvie a couple of times was in the system until I was 18. The only reason I stopped thieving and went to school was for Rapunzel. Rapunzel was the only one I can say actually cared about me. Now Rapunzel is a more personal and complicated story, but lets just say that she was never allowed to leave the house for anything. She was home schooled, never played outside, never had friends, she was always alone." Flynn stopped talking, his grip on the steering wheel tightening.

Jack placed a hand on his shoulder, but continued, "I didn't know who my dad was, it was just my mom, sister, and I. By the time I was eight I had lost both of them. I was picked on a lot because of my natural white hair, and no one would stand up for me, except for Merida. Merida and her family took me in when I had no one else and although Merida was surrounded by people no one understood her. No one tried to figure out who she really was, she was meant to wear a mask because her mom although she loves Merida unintentionally made Merida feel like she was suppose to be something she's not, like she was a disappointment."

There was a long pause and for a moment I wondered why they were telling me this. "You still don't get it do you" asked Jack his eyes softening a bit.

Flynn laughed and although it didn't reach his eyes, he still sounded somewhat amused "You know Hic for some one so smart you sure can be an idiot. The reason why we get along is because we're the outsiders, the oddballs, the ones no one has time for, nor cares about. We're friends because we understand."

I was quiet for a moment "friends until how long?" I ask, my voice tight.

Jack laughs and says "forever" and although I would usually never accept that answer it made me smile a bit.

"Forever sounds good to me," I say, finally looking at the two. They both smile and Flynn chuckles "good because I wasn't aware we were giving you a choice."

The rest of the car ride was quiet and when I got to the auto shop I noticed a purple Bug and a blue Mustang in the parking lot. This time I couldn't keep the smile off my face. We all walked inside, Gobber nowhere in sight until we reached the back of the garage.

The garage was decorated with balloons and streamers a banner saying HAPPY BIRHTDAY HICCUP. There was a table filled with some of my favorite foods and on a smaller table was the largest birthday cake I had ever seen. Gobber was there stuffing his face. The girls were nowhere to be seen, but Gobber not sure what to do shouted Happy Birthday food still in his mouth. The girls hearing the noise came out from the back and looked disappointed to see us.

"Flynn we weren't ready," said Rapunzel closing the door behind her. "You were suppose to text."

Flynn scratches the back of his head "oh yeah sorry Punz I forgot. We were talking and I guess I uhh forgot."

"Way to ruin the surprise boys." Merida stated hands on her hips.

"Hey he's still surprised aren't you Hic" Jack nudges me, but I'm not paying attention to him, still looking at…well…everything.

"Hiccup" I look down when I hear a Scottish voice asking me if I'm all right. I nod a real smile on my face. "Yeah I'm just…" I could tell my voice was getting higher and my throat tighter "I'm just really surprised is all."

"See success" shouts Jack, but Merida only rolls her eyes since she technically couldn't yell at him for doing something wrong, something I learned that Merida loves to do.

"Are you really surprised?" she asked looking at me suspiciously.

I nod my head at her still to shocked to speak. She must notice I wasn't lying and pulls me over towards the food. Which apparently was all handmade by Rapunzel and all my favorites. It was really the nicest thing anyone had ever done for me. The guys didn't mention what happened in the car, and everyone was having a good time. Gobber patting my shoulder making a comment about how it was about time I made some good friends.

As it got latter Merida told me I had to close my eyes. I did and I heard something getting wheeled in. When they finally let me open my eyes my mouth dropped. There on the table were the finishing pieces for my bike.

"Well what do you think" asks Merida, when I didn't say anything she kept talking "we remembered how you said you need a few more pieces for your bike so we asked Gobber what you need and all pitched in to get them for you. We thought since its your bike you would want to add them on yourself."

I still couldn't say anything, "That's not completely true we pitched in, but Merida practically bought it." Shouted Jack, Merida turned shouting at him her face a bit red. But I couldn't help it; I picked her up, by her waist spinning her for a moment before hugging her completely. Her face got redder, almost matching her hair, but you could tell by the smile on her face she was happy. "So you like it," she asked.

"I love it," I say tucking a curl behind her ear. "Thank you" that's when I remembered there were other people in the room. "Thank you, all of you." I say, noticing that Gobber was missing.

"Well don't just stand there, add the parts and lets hear your bike roar" shouted Jack. I turned around and noticed Gobber wheeling in my bike. Smiling I went to the toolbox and grabbed all the tool I would need. I'm pretty sure it was close to midnight when I finally finished the bike, but everyone was still there waiting. Finally after tightening the last bolt. I stood up sighing wiping my hands with a rag before grabbing the keys. Everyone gathered around and waited for me to turn the key.

I slowly turned the keys and with a loud roar the bike came to life. Everyone cheered as I revved the bike. It getting louder and louder. Rapunzel out of nowhere handed me two helmets. One was all black helmet with emerald cat like eyes above the lenses, but it wasn't just black, Rapunzel made it look like the helmet was covered in black scales. 'It looked like a dragon head' I thought, examining all the details. The other helmet was black as well but on one side of the helmet I recognized my old Viking family crest and on the other side was a design of a dragon stretching its wing.

I took the one with the eyes and before I knew it Merida took the one with the dragon on it. I looked at her in surprise "Since I did put more money in your gift I get first ride." She answered pulling her wild hair into a ponytail before placing the helmet on. I smile and put mine on to, before jumping on the bike. Merida jumps on behind me wrapping her arms around me. For a moment my heart stopped beating and I thought that this was all to good, that everything that happened today had to be a dream. I revved the engine kicking up the kickstand and took off out of the garage. Merida was giggling behind me no fear what so ever. I went as fast as I could trying to see just how good all my handwork was. I smiled loving today even with its rocky start.

For a while I thought about going back to the garage, but I decided to stop at the park first. I killed the engine and pulled down the kickstand. Merida let go of me and slowly got off the bike. I followed suit and putting my hand on her lower back guided her to the picnic table we always stopped at. Like a rebel Merida sits on the table while I lean against the side.

"That was awesome Hiccup" Merida was practically giddy.

"It was and it's all thanks to you" Merida gets serious for a moment and bops me on the head.

"Oww What was that for?" I ask, rubbing my head.

"For being a idiot that doesn't believe in himself." She says smiling again.

I stood up and started to walk in front of Merida leaning towards hers. My arms trapping her, but she seemed content with where she was. "You'll find out I'm an idiot about a lot of things" I say a small smile on my face.

"Oh and in what other department are you an idiot in." I pause looking up for a moment, wondering where to begin.

"For starters people, I'm an idiot when dealing with people. Especially with people I like, friends and crushes I become an absolute buffoon."

"Well you seem to be doing just fine around us Hiccup." The way she said us made me pause for a second.

"Well the more time I spend with you guys the better I get." I say leaning a little closer.

"And just how much more time do you think you'll need to spend with us until you feel comfortable dealing with people, epically friends and crushes."

I lean in a little closer our noses touching. "Who know" I say feeling her breath on my face. "But I do know one thing." Her eyes flutter close as she says "and that would be."

"I have forever to figure it out." Not thinking I leaned in and gave Merida a peck on the lips, nothing impressive, nothing over the top, but to me it felt like the world was on fire. I pulled away not wanting to pressure her into anything after all we've only meet a month ago and although I could say with no hesitation that I was slowly falling for her. I didn't want to push her into something she didn't want.

As I pulled back Merida, opened her eyes. A smile I had never seen on her before present. Her eyes simmering with something I couldn't quite place. She smiles standing on the bench so that she was hovering over me. I craned my neck not breaking eye contact, and she placed her hands on my face. She was getting closer, getting beautiful by the second. Just as she was a centimeter from my lips I felt more than heard her mummer "yes we do," before her lips touched mine.

I smiled into the kiss feeling her do the same as I wrap my arm around her waist hosting her off the bench. She broke the kiss giggling touching her forehead to mine.

"We should get back." She says quietly and although I would much rather stay here with her alone I couldn't find it in myself to disagree with her.

"Whatever you want princess" She gave a small snort as I lowered her to the ground grabbing her hand and leading her back to the bike. I couldn't keep the grin off my face as we put our helmets back on, and I couldn't help, but think that nothing was ever going to be the same again and that delighted me more than anything. 'Best birthday ever and to think it all started with a ruined car.'