Jumping timeline a bit here, as I warned I would. :3

Also, thought I should mention that ideas and suggestions for chapters are welcome! I've got a whole list of scenes to work through, but the lovely thing about fic collections is they can never get too big. I certainly wouldn't mind writing about Gobber and the Haddocks for a very, very long time. :)

Length (this chapter): 600 words
Characters (this chapter): Gobber, Stoick, Valka
Summary (this chapter): "We are," Valka gasps finally, "really stupid."

"We are never speaking of this. Ever."

"Well, I think it's rather cozy."

"You don't get to talk, Gobber. This is all your fault."

Offended, Gobber sits up on one elbow. "Wha—who's the one who fell overboard because he was too busy bellowing at the rest of us to hold on to take his own advice?"

"Who's the one who almost drowned himself and me by diving in with only two working limbs?" Stoick retorts. "At least Valka brought a rope."

"Oh aye, her rope was very helpful, right until it snapped."

Valka glares at him over Stoick's broad chest. "It isn't my fault you two oafs are the size of yaks."

"Hey," protests Stoick, wounded.

"Well, I'm the one who saw the island." Gobber settles back down. "We'd be in a sea dragon's belly right now if it weren't for me."

"At least a sea dragon's belly would be warm. And soft. I'm not sure this is an improvement."

"Come on, Valka, at least now you have an excuse to cuddle with your—oof." Valka's fist has surprisingly good aim even in the dark of the cave.

Silence falls. Suddenly Gobber snickers, drawing a wary nudge from Stoick. "What?"

"You fell overboard," Gobber tells him, snickering harder. "I jumped in after you with a peg leg and a hook for an arm. Valka's rope snapped."

Stoick stares at him like he's worried Gobber might have swallowed too much sea water, but then Valka lets out a guffaw, and a grin breaks out on Stoick's face. They all laugh like lunatics for the next few minutes, until they are breathless and wiping tears away.

"We are," Valka gasps finally, "really stupid."

Gobber nods even though she can't see him. "We are that."

They fall into easy silence again. This time it is Stoick who breaks it.

"Gobber, are you sleeping?" He sounds outraged.

Gobber grunts. "Why not? The ship won't find us until the storm lets up. It's cold in here and you make a lovely pillow."

"He's right," Valka says with a yawn. "You do."

"Odin's Beard, did Val just agree with me? Stoick, you heard it! She agreed with me!"

This earns him another swat. "Shut up, Gobber."

Stoick heaves a very loud, very tired sigh. "Next time I fall overboard, I want both of you to just let me drown."

Gobber and Valka's response is simultaneous and immediate. "Not going to happen."

Without needing to look Gobber knows Stoick is blinking at them, startled by their sudden intensity. He almost opens his eyes just to roll them. As if he or Valka would even joke about letting harm come to Stoick. He is Gobber's best friend, and Valka's—well, Gobber isn't sure what Stoick is to Valka yet, but he knew she cares for him as deeply as he does. Today was proof of that.

After a moment Stoick's arm, which Gobber is currently using as a pillow, squeezes his shoulder—a little awkwardly, thanks to the position, but Gobber recognizes the gratitude in the gesture. He grins and hears Valka shift to plant a kiss on Stoick's cheek.

The three of them make themselves comfortable. A few hours later, that is how they are found: piled together and, to Stoick's mortification, sound asleep. Their rescuers kindly say nothing about it, but Gobber wouldn't care if they did and knows Valka wouldn't either. A little embarrassment is a small price to pay for Stoick's life, and—stupid or not—they'd do it all again in a heartbeat. Stoick would just have to get used to it.