Thank the four reviewers so far for support.. and it seems these are all related and one after another. Maybe this is more one big story instead of a bunch of smaller ones.. *shrug*
Hiccup walked back, side by side with Astrid. After their conversation, he couldn't help but feel more lighthearted then he had in weeks. Maybe months. His pace quickened. Astrid sped up too, keeping up with him.
"Someone's excited!"
Hiccup nodded. "I'm getting married! What could be more exciting?"
She laughed and pushed him. The two of them made it back to the village. The Haddock home came into sight. Hiccup could barely contain his emotions. This was good. Him and Astrid being engadged would boost the village morale.. and he loved her. This was almost a dream. He remembered five years before, staring at her through Gobber's blacksmith window, eyes wide, fixated on her lovely form, in front of a ball of fire. Back then it had just been a crush. Now it was something way more.
Gobber gave Hiccup a rough slap on the shoulder.
"Congratulations, Chief! -Er.. Hiccup."
Hiccup rubbed his now sore shoulder, and gave Gobber a nervous smile.
"Heh.. thanks, Gobber!"
The one legged, one armed Viking seemed incredibly happy about it. Beside them, Valka was hugging Astrid.
"Oh.. I knew this day would come. My future daughter-in-law.."
Hiccup beamed despite the throbbing in his shoulder. He could only hope it wasn't dislocated. But he had gotten way worse from his huge father. The man could throw him around like he weighed nothing, easily picking him up with one hand when he had been small. Well.. smaller. He had grown taller since he was fifteen. And he had grown in other ways too.
"So.." Gobber started. "Guess we have a weddin' to plan."
He scratched his chin with his one hand.
"I'll get on it. Don't you worry, chief." The large man turned to leave the blacksmith shop they had been standing in. "Eh.. when did ya want ta announce this to the village, Hiccup?"
Hiccup walked forward.
"I'll do it. Me and Astrid."
"Okay then. I'll be off workin' on plannin' stuff, then. Be seein' ya, chief."
He hobbled off, and disappeared around the corner. Hiccup turned back to his mother and Astrid. Astrid was talking to Valka about who knows what. Hiccup sighed and walked outside. He saw Spiteloud talking with some Vikings. He noticed a bunch of fishermen returning from a trip, carrying baskets of fish. Dragons flew around, and some perched on rooftops. His eyes travelled up to the Great hall. And then just beside it. Stoick's stone carving in the side of the mountain.
"Dad? You watching? Are you proud? I.. hope you are."
The statue almost seemed to smile at him.
"I'll always do my best.. a chief protects his own."
He closed his eyes. He let everything fade out around him. 'My home.'
"Hiccup?"
He opened his eyes and turned around. Astrid and Valka looked at him.
"We're going to have to find somewhere for your mom to live since the house is going to be ours now. She wants a place of her own."
Valka nodded.
"As much as I like living there.. it's your house now, Hiccup."
Hiccup smiled.
"Of course."
Cloudjumper, who had been waiting around the corner, poked his big head around the side if the shop, and came out the rest of the way, wide owl eyes taking in the sight. He let out a snort and walked over to Valka.
"We'll be living somewhere else now, Cloudjumper."
The Stormcutter grumbled happily and let Valka scratch his chin. He didn't seem to care.
It was after the wedding. Hiccup was incredibly happy. Him and his new wife entered the Haddock house -their house for the first time.
"Welcome, milady, to your new home."
Astrid walked in, and turned to him. "Yeah.. this still seems new.. doesn't it."
Hiccup shrugged. "Well.. we are newlyweds."
Astrid snorted.
"What now?"
"I thought you had a plan. You're the one who asked to marry me."
Hiccup gave a couple of motions.
"Have kids?"
Astrid rolled her eyes. "Not yet. I don't think we're ready for that."
"Not like we have a lot of control over it."
Her response was a half amused snort.
"What?"
"Yeah, okay, fair enough point, Hiccup."
Hiccup lay in bed. He stared up at the ceiling, unable to fall asleep. He had tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable, but had kept Astrid from falling asleep, so he had given up. It was a week after they had gotten married.
Things hadn't gotten harder. Keeping things in order, speeches, planning the village, making sure vikings didn't fight over what sheep or rock belonged to whom, taking care of dragon problems, making sure food was in stock for winter, which was coming up fast, repairing fire damage, and finding any last cowering animals still spooked by the Bewilderbeast... and not to mention meetings with other tribes. Including the Beserkers, Outcasts, and the Defenders of the Wing.. and preparing for the eventual reappearance of Drago. It was all just as hard as it had been before.
He had almost gotten used to it. He did miss the old days. Flying through the sky without any care in the world. Mapping the world. Discovering other dragons. Looking for another Night Fury. When was his life ever easy? If he wasn't the village failure, he was juggling his two lives, secretly friends with a dragon, while pretending to be fighting them. Then, trying to solve the problems of having dragons in the village. He smiled despite all the misery he had gone through back then. The dragon academy hadn't been easy. And Mildew. He had done everything to get rid of the dragons. The fake dragon feet and claws. Hiccup felt a wiggle of unease. He had almost lost Toothless forever. If the dragons hadn't helped get rid of the Outcasts, he wouldn't be here now. Then there was the Edge. The dragon eye.. and failure after failure to outsmart Viggo Grimborn. Then Drago Bludvist. He had tried to talk to him. He had failed, and someone had died. Almost him. But his dad had come in at the last second, shoving him out of the way, taking the blast... He had seen the scene enough times. Replayed over and over in his mind. Stoick shouting his name. 'Hiccup!' 'Son!' 'Dad, NO!'
"...Hiccup?"
Astrid's sleepy, mumbly voice reached him. Had he been saying it out loud? He had been so deep in thought.
"You were talking in your sleep..."
"I wasn't asleep."
"Then.."
"Just remembering old times."
"You..." She yawned. "...just remembering?"
"Mm hm."
"Oh.. go to sleep... Haddock. It's... late."
"I can't. I just can't."
Astrid rolled over and turned to him. Her hand reached out and stroked his chin. He smiled a little.
"I'm fine."
"Yeah, and Snotloud is a saint."
"Well, he is. Compared to some."
"Ha ha. Just try to fall asleep, will, you..?"
"Oh. Fine." There was a long silence. "Astrid?"
"Mm?"
"I love you."
More silence. She was probably asleep.
"I love you too, Hiccup."
Hiccup brought himself closer to her. He finally managed to fall asleep.
Wow. That was longer then I thought it'd be. Well, hope you enjoyed. Feel free to review!
