"Mom, Astrid. Astrid, Mom."

"M-Mom? You found your mom?!" Astrid stuttered.

"Crazy, right?" Hiccup shrugged.

"Oh honey, she's beautiful!" Valka cooed, approaching Astrid like she was a wild animal. She delicately touched her hair. "Oh lass, I remember breastfeeding you as a babe!"

Astrid's face contorted in a grimace, not sure how to feel about that.

"You'll have to excuse her, lass. My wife has been alone among the dragons for the last fifteen years."

"What? What did I say?"

Stoick spoke softly in her ear.

"It's perfectly natural!" Valka responded, louder. "Phlegma was ill, so I breastfed her for two weeks. Who fed Hiccup after I was taken?"

Stoick sighed. "Phlegma."

"Hear that, Astrid?" Hiccup droned. "We're bosom buddies."

She kicked him. "Don't make it weird!"

Hiccup hopped on one foot as he held his throbbing shin. "Yeah, I deserved that." When the pain started to subside, he resumed his normal stance. "So, what made you come out here to escape?"

Astrid groaned. "I was on a…'date' with Snotlout. If you could call it that. I swear, he is the most tone-deaf, egotistical, annoying sack of crap!" She looked ready to break something. "And you know the worst part? He has these moments, these little nuggets of decency, where he seems like he'd be a really good friend to have, and then it's like he becomes self aware of it and switches into Snotlout the pig-faced creep!" She smacked her face and dragged her hands down her cheeks, stretching her eyelids. "It has to be his dad. If he could get away from Spitelout for a week. He might be able to become…an eighth of the man you are."

"Aw," Hiccup said with a smile.

"But enough about me! You have a mom!"

"I have a mom!"

"Mom!"

"Mom!"

"Yes, yes, dear, I'm here." Valka wrapped her arms around him and rested her cheek on his head. "And here I was afraid that leaving you with your father would turn you into a boorish meathead."

"Thank you for that, darling." Stoick said, sarcastically.

"Hey!" Hiccup chirped. "You used sarcasm! I must be rubbing off on you!"

"Son, I flew out and back into this cove on a dragon, you don't think you're influencing me?"

"I'm dying here, Hiccup," Astrid pried. "How did this happen? I assume you two didn't find the nest."

"We found a nest." Hiccup then explained how they had traveled too far north and Toothless and Stormfly heard the call of the alpha. He described the island, the caverns, and his introduction to his mother.

"And then he goes, 'you're as beautiful as the day I lost you' and, I'll admit, I almost cried."

"Aww!" Astrid sang, looking at Stoick. "I didn't know you were such a romantic!"

"Well lass, didn't have a reason to be so before."

Astrid's heart broke a little.

"It's alright my love, I'm back now. Even if it takes years to find peace with the dragons, I'm still here on Berk. You can see me every day."

Stoick raised her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "What I wouldn't give to wake up with you each day."

"Damn, your dad is so smooth." Astrid whispered.

"Kinda like me, ah?"

"No."

Hiccup then explained what else he had learned. That the dragons all had an alpha that controlled them, and likely, there was a queen nearby that was causing the raids. Things took a serious turn then, as they discussed what this meant.

"How are we supposed to stop a dragon the size of a mountain?" Astrid asked.

"Well…train it?" Hiccup suggested.

Valka scoffed. "Train an alpha? No, darling."

"But you were so friendly with the Bewilderbeast–"

"Because he was friendly to me first. That alpha is benevolent in nature, and isn't threatened by anything. Certainly not little ole me. But also, and more importantly, he only eats fish. If he had an appetite for red meat, I wouldn't be here."

"So, you think Berk's queen likes red meat?" Astrid clarified.

"That's my working theory, based on what I've seen." Valka's mouth pulled into a frown. "I'd like to be more helpful, but the behavior of the alpha up north is so different from what I remember of Berk's raids. Dragons, no matter how kind and intelligent, are still animals. They will be motivated by food. However, these raids may be for control, or something else. We won't know until we observe."

"We can't observe it until we find it," Hiccup added.

Stoick hummed. "My love, didn't you say the alpha up north has a call and all the dragons in a certain distance come to worship it?"

"Yes!" Valka chirped. "If we get close enough to the queen, our dragons should be able to find it!"

"True," Stoick amended. "But what is stopping our dragons from doing whatever that dragon wants? It's making all these others raid us. Why wouldn't it work on these three?" He gestured to Toothless, Stormfly, and Cloudjumper.

Hiccup and Valka exchanged a look, both hoping the other had the answer. Neither did.

"I suppose, I will go make some more observations with the north alpha," suggested Valka.

"But–" Stoick took her hand.

"In a few days," she clarified. "I'll stay here a bit longer. And then I'll go back. Just for a little while. Now that I'm with you, it's going to be hard to stay away."

Hiccup glanced at Astrid, who had her face turned toward the ground, a sour frown on her lips.

"Yeah," he whispered bitterly. "Hard to stay away."

—-

Hiccup was hard at work. Despite what Stoick had said about not having to work hard on Astrid and Snotlout's house, Hiccup spent much of his day there. It got him out of normal work in the forge, which would have been making weapons for raids.

The shell of the house had been completed. Soon, he and the other men would get to work building furniture. Though Hiccup had already built the bed. It had kind of been his own personal joke to see just how big he could make it. He stopped when it could comfortably fit a Monstrous Nightmare.

But now, he was working on the shingles. Each one had been cut with a curve, so they looked like dragon scales. Once upon a time, the houses had been decorated to represent dragons, in an effort to protect them from destruction. It hadn't worked, but the designs had remained. Astrid and Snotlout's house would have a gable decoration carved to represent a nadder, though he hadn't finished it yet.

It was a warm spring day. The sky was blue with big billowing clouds. The wolfsbane and saxifrage were in full bloom. Children played in the streets, and men and women alike bustled about.

Hiccup tried not to think about all of it, and instead, just work while his mind ruminated on the dragon problem.

Perhaps giant earmuffs would work? How else would he get Toothless to block out the alpha's call?

He hadn't heard from his mother in a week. She was still gone up north, on her newest journey. And all he could do was hope she found something.

"Hey!"

Hiccup stopped his hammer for a moment to look down to the ground. Snotlout stood there, looking awkward as ever.

"Hey," he offered back.

"Need help?"

Hiccup blinked a few times in surprise. "Uh, sure, if you want. There's another hammer down in that bucket." He pointed.

Snotlout climbed the ladder to the roof and got to work, building his own house.

It's about time, Hiccup thought, bitterly.

They worked silently for a little while, while Snotlout sighed. He sighed again. And then louder and more exaggerated.

"Can I help you?" Hiccup bit.

"Well…" Snotlout mused. "I was just thinking…you and Astrid are close, right?"

"I'd say so."

"Well, since she and I are getting married, I figured, I should probably…you know…get along with her?"

"Things aren't going so well, huh?" Hiccup held back a smirk.

"It's weird. She'll come and find me, and she's pleasant enough, and then she'll get this look on her face like she got a whiff of yak dung, then she storms off. I don't know what to do about it. I chalked it up to girls being weird, but I figured I'd at least ask someone who figured her weirdness out."

Hiccup rolled his eyes. "Well, there's your first problem. Astrid isn't weird. She's very level-headed. She just doesn't like people who boast. So if you want her to stick around you, try being humble."

"Hum-ball? What's that?"

"Gods above…okay, you know that thing you do when you talk about how awesome you are?"

"My favorite thing."

"Don't do that."

Snotlout scoffed. "Then how will she see how awesome I am?"

"She has eyes and ears. She can notice for herself."

"Astrid's eyes and ears obviously don't work if she's hanging out with you."

Hiccup rolled his eyes and felt the weight of the hammer in his hand a little too keenly. One expertly placed thwack would make Snotlout shut up. Yes… "Look, you asked me for advice, and I'm giving it to you. You don't want to get along with your wife? Fine."

Snotlout 'hmph'ed and crossed his arms over his chest. "I didn't even want to get married. This is all my stupid dad's fault."

Hiccup set his hammer down, now intrigued. "You didn't want to get married?"

"I mean, one day! And yeah, I figured it would be Astrid, because she's the hottest and the best warrior…but then you guys had to get all buddy-buddy and made my dad panic." He pouted. "If anything, it's your fault!"

"My–! Snotlout, I didn't have any friends until Astrid came along! I still don't really have friends! You, Fishlegs, and the Twins are acquaintances at best!" He crossed his own arms. "The Hoffersons are the ones that suggested Astrid be nice to me."

"Oh, so are you saying it's their fault?"

"Your dad is the one that made the bet, so it's all on him!"

"Yeah, but Astrid lost the fight!"

Hiccup wiped his hands down his face. "I get it now, Astrid." He muttered to himself.

"What was that?"

"Here's another tip. Astrid is always right. Even when she's wrong, she's right."

"That's dumb advice."

"Once you get close to her and better understand her, she'll concede to being wrong on occasion. But right now, you have to treat her like everything she says is correct."

"But–"

"Just, trust me."

"I wouldn't trust you with a plate of food."

"You want me to booby trap your house?"

Snotlout frowned, and then giggled. "You said booby."

"How am I related to you…?" Hiccup shook his head, and then got back to work shingling. "Love takes time and effort. If you really want her to like you, then you need to try."

"I am trying!"

"I don't mean you need to tell her all the reasons that she should like you. I mean, you should attempt to love her."

"I like her plenty!"

"Even if she wasn't beautiful? Even if she can't fight anymore?"

Snotlout was quiet then, the rug pulled out underneath him.

"What else do you like about Astrid?" Hiccup tried.

Snotlout didn't answer.

"Try to find an answer to that question, and perhaps that will help."

Snotlout turned it around on him. "Okay, well, what do you like about Astrid?"

"Me? Why does that matter?"

"I need a hint, Hiccup! Give me something to look for in her! Throw me a bone!"

"Okay okay!" Hiccup gnawed on his lip, trying to find an answer that wouldn't get him punched. "Astrid is very confident. She takes what she wants and doesn't apologize for it, but that doesn't mean she does it without thinking. In fact, she does what she thinks will help the people around her the best. She's determined and passionate. She's hardworking, and doesn't back down from a challenge. She's…very smart and clever. She's kind, and can be very gentle."

"Oh I'm going to barf."

Hiccup frowned. "Just answering your question."

"Is she a good kisser?"

Hiccup's face went bright red. "W-w-what makes you think I would know a thing like that?"

Snotlout gave him the most knowing smirk he'd ever seen. "Oh come on, Hiccup."

"No really! We're just good friends!"

Snotlout chuckled. "Unless you don't know about that..."

"Know about what?"

"That you were walking around with a hickey on your neck after that blizzard last winter. It's all anyone could talk about for a week!"

"What?!" He clapped a hand over his neck, where Astrid had sucked on his throat. "I NEVER! I WOULDN'T–YOU'RE CRAZY!"

"Wow, I forgot how terrible of a liar you are. So spit it out. Is she a good kisser? How far did you guys get? Give me all the juicy details!"

Hiccup scrunched his nose up. "You're worse than the ladies that gossip at the well."

"Mom makes me fetch the water. SPILL!"

Now this was a place of power Hiccup had never been in before. He had dirt that Snotlout wanted. Dare he dangle it like a carrot? Barter?

"She's a terrible kisser," he finally said.

"And that's how you got a hickey?" Snotlout drawled.

"Look at me, Snotlout. You think I could have thrown her off? We had gotten cold in the blizzard, and were cold. I suggested huddling for warmth, and she…took what she wanted, and didn't apologize."

"Damn."

"Yeah. She bites. Hard. And she has sharp nails. And she's really into hearing sounds of pain, so she ground her knee into my groin."

Snotlout grew paler and paler with every word.

"There was also talk about her getting rope and a whip, but I talked her out of that."

"Okay okay, I get it. Astrid is…a fighter through and through."

Hiccup shrugged. "I guess all I can do now is wish you luck. You'll need it."

"Right." Snotlout gave a defeated sigh. "Oh, almost forgot." He tossed a bag of gold coins to Hiccup.

"What's this for?"

"Her wedding ring. Dad said you'd know how to make one."

"Oh…yep. S-sure do…"

"Cool. Thanks!" And he started back down the ladder.

"That's it? You're not going to keep helping?!"

"You're doing great, Cuz. I wouldn't want to get in the way. Ciao!"

Hiccup yeeted the hammer into the distance.

—-

Later that week, when he had finally built up the nerve, Hiccup went over to the Hofferson house and knocked.

"Well hello Hiccup," Phlegma said, with a slightly sad smile on her face. Most people wouldn't have noticed, but Hiccup was astute.

"Hello Mrs. Hofferson. Is Astrid available?"

"Yes!" She practically shouted. She hurried over, and Hiccup was startled by her appearance. She wasn't wearing any armor, but a cream colored dress with a blue apron over it. The neckline of the dress gave him a funny feeling in the stomach. "Please tell me you have a huge errand you need my help with."

"Astrid," Phlegma reprimanded. "You've got to stop procrastinating on your dress!" She gestured to the pile of dainty blue fabric on the table.

"I've pricked my finger so many times that once more, I'll start a fountain and ruin the dress!"

Phlegma scoffed. "Fine fine, just don't stay out too late."

"Thanks!" And she left with him. "So, what's up? I hope I'm not actually in the way of whatever you're doing."

"You won't be in the way," he assured, as he started walking towards the forge. "I just need to get your measurement for…your ring."

"Oh." She deflated. "They've got you doing that now?"

"Yeah."

"Well, if you make it, it'll be all the more special."

"I can't promise it'll be fancy. I can do fine detail work, but it's been for other things, not jewelry."

"You know I'm not a fancy girl. Whatever you come up with, I'm sure it'll be great."

"Well, that makes me all fuzzy inside. Thank you, Astrid." He smirked. "Now, while I appreciate the total freedom, I would like some direction. What metal do you want? Gold or silver?"

"Just those options? I want something strong, but not crazy expensive on my finger that I'd feel guilty about."

He chuckled. "I had a feeling you were going to say that. I think I'll experiment."

"Careful with that word around me, Haddock."

Hiccup sputtered. "I didn't mean–!"

Astrid patted his back. "I'm just messing with you!" Gods, it was so nice to be around him again. He was so much nicer to talk to than Snotlout. Of course, she knew that, but knowing and experiencing were two different things.

When they arrived at the forge, Gobber was putting things away, though the fires were still up. "There ya are, boy. Here to work on the ring?"

"Yep. Or at least try."

"You know you just needed a bit of string, right? You didn't need to bring Astrid here."

Astrid groaned. "Oh but Gobber, you don't understand! I'm dying at home! I just needed to get away from my mother!"

"You will in a few months, lass. I thought you'd be eager to stay with her."

"I'm eager to pretend I didn't hear that."

"I get it. I know when I'm not wanted!" He dramatically put his hand to his head. Then he gave Hiccup a poke in the chest. "Be good."

"As if I would do anything!"

Gobber cackled as he meandered away.

Gobber's comment infused the air with a bit of awkwards as the two teens stood next to each other. "You…needed my measurements?" Astrid prompted.

"Oh…right. Go ahead and take a seat."

Astrid hopped up on a counter, as she always did when she visited the forge. Hiccup left and returned quickly with a ball of twine and a piece of charcoal.

"It's really very simple. I just have to wrap this around your finger, and mark it where it overlaps. Then you're free to relax."

"Sounds simple enough." She held up her left hand.

He took hold of her fingers. "Astrid! Your hands are freezing!"

"My hands are always cold." She shrugged.

"Well, they have to be warm for me to measure, or it will be off." He wrapped both of his hands around hers, and breathed on her hand.

"Uh huh, sure."

"I'm serious! Your fingers shrink when you're cold. Something about blood flow."

"Huh. I did not know that." So she allowed him to hold her hand, pretending that she wasn't enjoying his touch as much as she was.

Then, when he deemed her hands warm enough, he wrapped the string around her finger. "Is this tight or loose enough?"

"I think you're pulling on it."

He relaxed the line a little.

"That feels right."

"Good…good…" he marked the twine and let go of her hand. "And there we go!" He looked up to smile at her, noticing that he was too close. Her face was right there, her eyes drinking him in, that magnetic connection taking hold. He grew closer, his eyelids growing heavy.

If he wasn't imagining it, her eyes were on his lips, and she was leaning in.

She was too beautiful. Her hair was braided perfectly, and the forge illuminated with a haunting orange glow. Without her pauldrons, her slim and feminine shoulders were all on display. As she leaned forward, her neckline dipped, exposing her perfect collarbone and the tantalizing swell of her breasts.

Someone had to sacrifice. Someone had to stop this before it turned into something that would only bring them pain. More than it already was.

Hiccup reached his hand up and pressed his thumb to her lips. "I…"

"Thank you." Astrid mumbled against his thumb, before pressing a little kiss to it and pulling away. "You always were the more level-headed one."

"Astrid," he swallowed, moisture collecting in his eyes. "I don't want you to marry Snotlout."

"Surprisingly, I don't want to marry him either." She smirked.

"I just wanted to say it, in case…"

"In case I thought you were okay with it? No, Hiccup. I didn't think you were."

"If you need anything–"

"You're my number one man." She confirmed with a nod. "Spitelout said hanging out with you wasn't proper, but Snotlout said he didn't care."

Hiccup sighed then. If Snotlout was allowing their friendship, then perhaps things would be okay. "That's good." Now all he had to do was get over this crush he had on her.

Who was he kidding? Crush? No. He was undeniably in love with her, and would continue to be for years.

Hiccup finally pulled away from her and went to the workbench.

"You sure I can stay here? I won't be a distraction?"

"You're always welcome here, Astrid." He said earnestly. She would be a distraction, but one he didn't mind.

—-

After 24 hours of work, Hiccup finished Astrid's ring. It was one of his best works, and he was hesitant to give it to Snotlout early. So he kept it in his backroom, in the box, on his desk. Sort of as a reminder that he had to get over her.

But it was becoming increasingly difficult to do so. Especially when she was becoming more and more beautiful everyday. The lack of axe and armor did nothing to soften her edge. She appeared as brutal as always, but when they would end up alone together, she would relax, and almost appear delicate. Where everything else on this island threatened to hurt him if he wasn't careful, Astrid always made herself a safe place.

He couldn't indulge. But he was ever so grateful for her consideration.

It was mid-afternoon. Valka was back and Hiccup and Stoick had taken respective breaks from work to go eat lunch with her in the woods.

"Oh, Ingerman's chicken soup! I haven't had that in years!" Valka gushed, as she recognized the dish from just the smell.

"Did you eat anything that wasn't regurgitated fish?" Hiccup asked, with a chuckle.

"Of course! There was fresh fish, and regurgitated chicken! And lots of wild fruit."

"Okay okay, not while we're eating." Stoick reprimanded. "Or I'll regurgitate this soup."

Hiccup elected to change the subject. "So…any new thoughts on the alpha?"

"I am afraid not, my love." Valka sighed. "I spent much time observing my alpha, but he never sent any commands. The other dragons seem to come and go as they please. What's more, I haven't seen another Nightfury. Not in all the years I spent there. Deadly Nadders and Storm Cutters, yes, but no Nightfuries. I don't know how they react to alphas."

"We've been catching eels again," said Hiccup. "They've been working well since Spring. That should give us some time."

"Hiccup…" Stoick began to reprimand.

"Dad, I know what you're going to say. But this is all I have right now! We have to find a way to stop that Alpha, wherever it is, or else the raids will just keep happening." He stirred his soup around in thought. "Maybe Toothless and I should go out looking for this thing. If the northern alpha is peaceful, we might never get the information we need from it."

"Absolutely not! I'm not letting you get anywhere near that nest by yourself, let alone without a solid plan. No, we will take another fleet by ship."

"That's a worse idea!" Valka and Hiccup said at the same time.

"Is…this a bad time?" Astrid piped up from the entrance of the cove.

Stoick relaxed. "No lass, come and join us."

Hiccup scooted over to make room for her on the log he was sitting on. She had brought her own lunch to eat with them, as well as some chicken for Stormfly. "Here girl," she tossed the leg to her dragon.

Stormfly swallowed it with a gulp and sang a happy song.

"And this is for you, Mrs. Haddock," she handed her a triangle wrapped in wax paper.

"Mrs. Haddock, that's a name I haven't heard in forever!" She laughed as she took the gift and unwrapped it. "Oh dear, is this your mother's kringle cake?"

"Yep! She off handly mentioned that you used to love it. So I stole a slice for you."

Valka tore into it messily, the way she ate most days. "Better than I remember!" She sang.

"That was very kind of you, lass." Stoick smiled at her with a gleam in his eye.

"It was no trouble! Actually…I came asking for a favor."

"Whatever you need," Hiccup assured.

"So, I've been eating dinner with the Jorgenson's a lot. Spitelout can be…a bit daunting."

"What did he do?" Valka asked lowly.

"Well, nothing too bad. He's just been going on and on about how our wedding is going to be the event of the year and that everything is going to be perfect…" She frowned. "He gave me this look a few times that seemed to indicate if I messed anything up, I'd regret it. So I was hoping you could lead me through the ceremony a few times until I have it down?" She looked at Hiccup.

"Me? Why me?"

"Son…you're the one officiating, remember?" Stoick reminded.

"Oh! Oh no! I totally forgot!" He stood quickly, startling Toothless, who laid at his feet. "Dad! I haven't practiced or prepared at all! The wedding is in a month! Spitelout is going to kill me!"

Valka chuckled to herself.

"Now son, don't panic. You have a month." Stoick sighed. "I don't blame you for getting distracted. Your uncle has had you doing almost everything for this wedding." Then he muttered something that sounded like, "the asshole," under his breath. "Why don't you and Astrid go up to Gothi's and rehearse up there?"

Hiccup was about to ask why his father couldn't just teach them, but figured he was fishing for an excuse to spend some alone time with his wife.

"She taught me, afterall."

"Okay. Yeah, that's a great idea, dad."

"Don't forget to have Gobber or Fishlegs go with you to interpret her writing. I heard Fishlegs has a real knack for it."

"Then while he's there, he can teach me too." Hiccup chuckled. "Can you get away for a little while?" He asked Astrid.

"Oh please, you know I'm always looking for an excuse to get out of housework. Besides, it's wedding practice. Mom can't argue with it."

"Then let's go find Fishlegs."