Valentine's Chapter=total fluff.
The click of a key tells him Lindsay's here. Stoick dismissed her when she tried to return it, just saying, "'I trust you won't use it for any clandestine purposes." Both Hiccup and Lindsay started stammering and blushing, so he trusts her with the key.
She yells that's she's here and he limps into the kitchen. She greets him with a kiss and a cheerful, "Happy Valentine's Day!"
In the past, this day depressed him. Astrid was in the corner snuggling with some guy who was way better looking than him, and he was alone every year. This year, he's kind of been looking forward to it. Lindsay told him for God's sake not to spend too much on her, and she asked if they could hang out, like he would say no.
Lindsay loves this day. "I mean, it bugs me when I see people with all this sweet stuff and they don't appreciate it, but I wear pink and red and make valentines and eat candy and watch romantic comedies. I think it's wonderful to have a day dedicated to love."
So he's planned something special. He's been vague, but she knows he's up to something and she grins at him instead of inquiring after it.
"Happy Valentine's Day," He replies.
He takes her hand and leads her into the transformed living room he's been working on for an hour. He's hung red sheets over the windows and lit candles, so the lighting is glowing and soft. He set out a picnic on a blanket, complete with two champagne glasses filled with sparkling cider, and stacked by the TV are the DVDs of Lindsay's Top Ten Romantic Movies (and she thought he was zoning out when she talked about it). She blinks and hurls herself into his arms. "You are so amazing!"
She retrieves a small wrapped gif from her bag and waves it teasingly at him. "This will go perfectly with all this."
So of course, he must know what it is. She lets him open it, adding, "This is only one thing anyway." It's a CD she must have burned and when he reads the song titles his heart melts. Firework. Not Like the Movies. Enchanted. Songs that immediately make him think of a moment they were together and happy. Only Lindsay knows him this well, would even think of this idea.
She returns his kiss before asking, 'Do you want your next gift?"
He starts to protest, but she rolls her eyes. "Already got it, Hiccup, if you don't take it who will I give it to?"
He opens it and smiles. It's a little framed portrait of a black panther with green-yellow eyes looking directly out.
It's Toothless.
"I had a painter at the mall do it," she says. "This is part of him you'll never have to keep hidden from anyone."
She beams and she's beautiful and he tells her so.
He presents her with the tiny box he wrapped himself in shiny red paper. She carefully peels it away, just as his heart pounds and he is more and more impatient. She opens the box and tears dribbles out her eyes. "Hiccup!" She fingers the tiny-chained necklace, the heart hanging from it with Always engraved.
She chokes out, "I love you, I love you so much," and again dives into his arms. They stay that way for a long, long time, warm and soft and floating on air.
He can now appreciate Valentine's Day.
Happy Valentine's, Everyone!