Oh, hello. Welcome back. If you want to read the original story minus like 80% of the typos, find me on AO3 or deviantart.
Chapter: Traveling with Hiccup
After everyone got settled in the car, Jack decided to catch up on some much needed sleep. Stoick was still reeling from Valka's 'pregnancy' comment. Hiccup was watching Jack carefully. He was worried that Jack's nightmares would go on for a long,long time. They pulled into a diner for a early breakfast. They took a booth by the front door. A waitress came by quickly and offered them the local special: a meat mug. Jack was still drowsy, and nodded off before his order could arrive. Stoick excused himself from the table.
Hiccup stared out the window.
"Jack's really tired." Valka said.
"He was having nightmares, so I don't think he got much sleep." Hiccup explained.
"Oh, that's too bad." Valka responded.
The waitress re-appeared with their orders. He placed a plate of waffles in front of the sleeping Jack. "Wow, I didn't realize you waited that long.." The waitress said before walking off.
Hiccup touched Jack's shoulder. "Jack. Jack, wake up."
Jack stirred from his sleep. "..."
Hiccup sighed. He cut into the waffles and offered Jack a forkful. "Here."
Jack blinked at him before eating off his fork.
Stoick loomed above them. "I see our food's here."
Jack nearly choked.'Why doesn't he make any noise when he walks?! He's like a giant viking batman.'
Jack fed himself for the rest of the meal, not making eye contact with anything but his plate.
Stoick had ordered the mysterious meat mug. He sipped and chewed every now and then, sending Jack scathing looks. Hiccup was starting to get annoyed with his father's behavior. 'Why can't he just be an adult about this? '
After all, they were a couple now. It was still a strange concept to Hiccup after seventeen years of being single...but it was still a fact.
'For whatever reason Jack and I are together now. If my Dad can't accept that, I'll have to make him accept it.'
He offered Jack another forkful of waffles. Jack reluctantly ate it, glancing at Stoick, who was in the middle of a staring match with Hiccup.
Valka snickered behind a cup of tea. 'Like father, like son.' She wondered who would give in first.
Jack's phone rang, he excused himself from the table and headed outside. When he was out of earshot, Stoick addressed his son.
"You mind telling me what that was about, Heccup?"
"You mind telling me why you've been glaring daggers at Jack since we got in the road?"Hiccup responded, arms crossed.
Stoick's voice went up an octave. "Who do y'think yer talkin' to?"
"I wonder." Hiccup replied. "Is it Stoick the vast or Stoick my father?"
'There it is, that famous Haddock temper.' Valka said looking away.
Meanwhile, Jack was on the phone with Rapunzel.
"Did you guys make it to Berk yet?" She asked. "They said that part of the country is gonna get hit with a snow storm!"
"Yikes." Jack looked at the sky. It was full of heavy gray clouds. "We aren't there yet, but we'll probably get there by tonight."
"I hope so." Rapunzel said.
Jack could hear the concern in her voice, so he decided to change the topic. "How are things over there with you?"
"Amazing! We're throwing this huge party for Elsa-slash-new year's. All these people are coming...I mean, I know you guys can't go cause of North's new year's party but I still wish you could come! Oh, and get this! This guy named Hans has been hanging around the house the last two days. He goes to college with Elsa. He's really funny. I think he likes Anna."
"Yeah? That's great. How are your cousin's doing? I remember you telling me about Elsa making the dean's list."
" 's going to be interning at the mayor's office-that's what the party is for. The preparations are going well. Anna's getting a little carried away with the streamers I think. I mean, December is still far from over."
"You're right." Jack shivered. His coat was only half zipped. He tugged gently at the scarf Hiccup made him. "Have you heard from Merida?"
"I don't think the DunBroch's have left Burgess yet.I got a text saying JIm was coming over for dinner. It's only a matter of time before Elinor starts making them matching sweaters."
Jack laughed. "I'm pretty sure that's what they're getting for christmas. But I think Jim knows that. He seems like the type to be in it for the long haul."
"Yeah. And he's great with the triplets. They're a good match…" She stopped talking.
Jack got the feeling that Rapunzel felt like a fifth wheel when they hung out together. Jim and Merida weren't exactly an item, but they did seem like they were off in their own little world. As for Hiccup and himself...Well, Hiccup was adorable, so there was no helping his desire to latch on to him. Rapunzel claimed she didn't have feelings for Hiccup anymore, but Jack wondered about that. After all, if it wasn't for Hiccup she might still be up in that attic. And if it weren't for Jack, maybe Gothel would be…
A sharp pain jolted through Jack's chest. He felt twice as cold as he was, standing outside a diner, on vacation. What right did he have to be here now? Where would he be if things had gone differently?
"It's pretty cold out here, Goldie." Jack zipped up his jacket. "I'm gonna go back in and finish breakfast." He shuddered.
"Okay, I'll let you go." Rapunzel responded. "Tell everyone I said hi!"
"Okay, Goldie. Talk to you later."
"Bye Jack!"
"Bye."
He hung up and headed back inside. What he found was Stoick and Hiccup in the middle of a shouting match.
"I'LL TREAT YOU LIKE AN ADULT WHEN YOU START ACTING LIKE AN ADULT!"
"AND I'LL START LISTENING TO YOU WHEN YOU SOUNDING LIKE AN ADULT!"
Valka looked up at Jack from her empty teacup. "Oh Jac dear, finish yer breakfast so we can get back on the road."
"Uh.." Jack reluctantly sat down next to Hiccup. "Sure...Rapunzel says hello."
Hiccup smiled. "Oh, that's great."
Soon they were back on the road. The ride was relatively quiet, as Stoick and Hiccup weren't talking. Hiccup looked out the window. The snowfall seemed to be getting heavier. Soon the little flakes were big flurries. "I think we should stop for the night." Hiccup said. "While we can still see the road."
"Rapunzel said this area is going to get hit with a snow storm." Jack added.
"Nonsense." Stoick replied. "If we keep going we can be there by morning."
Valka squinted out at the road. "I dunno, Stoick. The boys might be right. We can't drive if we can't see."
Stoick growled and muttered something under his breath. He continued to drive.
Hiccup crossed his arms. "You are going to stop right?"
Stoick didn't reply.
"Dad?" Hiccup said.
The car swerved as Stoick moved it out the way of a car. Stoick beeped his horn. "Damn fool was on the wrong side of the road..." Visibility was getting worse.
It wasn't long before they were checking in to another motel.
As Hiccup and Jack settled into their room, Jack spoke.
"You mind telling me what happened between you and your Dad?"
Hiccup let Toothless out of his cage. "Nothing happened...Dad was just being stubborn. Again."
Jack sat on the edge of his bed. "About what? When I came back into the diner I thought you to were going to start wrestling or something."
"That's the problem. When Dad gets mad, he stops acting like a parent and more like...a professional wrestler. Come Toothless." He put the cat on a leash. "Let's go for a walk."
Jack stood and yawned. "Hang on, I'll come with you."
Hiccup shrugged. "It sounds like you need to get some sleep Jack. Stay here, I'll be right back."
With that, Hiccup and Toothless left. Jack supposed they would be alright...unless Toothless started running...and Hiccup couldn't keep up...and fell...
Hiccup was barely down the hall when Jack came running out of his room.
"Ah! What !?" Hiccup asked.
Jack was relieved. "Oh good, it didn't happen yet."
"What didn't happen?" Hiccup asked.
"The fall and the..oh, nevermind. Let's just walk."
Hiccup shrugged. "Okay, sure."
They walked down the hall and downstairs. Toothless trotted happily, sniffing everything he passed. Jack tried to press a little harder. "So...Back to you and your Dad. Getting your point across to him is hard, isn't it? "
"Yeah." Hiccup nodded. "Sometimes when I talk he doesn't hear me at all. Most of the time I don't bother arguing with him. It's just easier that way, but..."Hiccup paused.
"What's wrong?" Jack asked. "Is it your leg?"
Hiccup frowned. "What? No. I'm going to go talk my Dad."
"Okay." Jack took the leash from Hiccup. "I'll take Toothless back to the room."
Hiccup found his way to his parents' room. He stopped in front of the door. After taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door. "Dad?"
Stoick opened the door. "Son?"
Hiccup twisted his shirt with his hands. "Uh...I just wanted to...um…"
Stoick opened the door wider. "Come in, son."
Hiccup stepped into the room. "I just...I wanted to say, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you back at the diner. I know you have my best interests at heart, and it seems like things are moving a little fast...But I'm okay. I can make my own decisions, but that doesn't mean I won't listen to your opinion." He rubbed his arm.
Valka smiled. 'For a moment there, I thought we had a little Stoick in the making, but it looks like Heccup knows when to throw in the towel.'
"I'm...also sorry." Stoick rubbed his neck. "I know yer old enough to make yer own decisions. Everythin' just happened so fast."
"Just know that no matter what happens, yer father and I will be there for you." Valka added.
Hiccup smiled. "Thanks."
When Hiccup returned to his room, Jack and Toothless were a;ready asleep.
"Thanks for waiting up, guys."
They woke up early the next morning.
"How far are we now?" Jack asked.
"Not very." Hiccup said. "We'll be in Alaska in a few hours. After that we'll take a boat ride to Berk."
They chatted idly on and off before the car made it's way to a dock. The drove right on to the back of the ship. It was rigged down. The ship itself was of decent size, and able to carry at least two dozen people. The sky was tinged with pink and gold. Jack check the time on his phone. "But it's only three thirty."
Hiccup shrugged. "It's winter. Daylight hours are over."
"Seriously?"
"Seriously."
Jack leaned over the railing and stared ahead. "..."
There were tiny islands along the coast. He could see different animals bunching together on them. He began to squint as the sunrise came the end. A large mountain-like form seemed to rise from the waters ahead. "So far there's been tiny islands..otters…" He pointed ahead. "What's this?"
Hiccup followed his line of sight. "This? This, is Berk."
The next chapter should be hella long. Hella long I tell you.