"Happy Snoggletog, everyone!" The Mayor's voice echoed through the room, his arm draped over his wife's shoulder as he raised his glass. "Welcome to The Haddock House, where we gather every year to celebrate this beautiful festival. It's a time to reflect on family, tradition, and the warmth of togetherness. Here's to this year and the many more to come!"
The healer followed up with a bright, "Enjoy, and may your Snoggletog be filled with joy and laughter!"
The Haddock House erupted in cheers and applause, the air thick with the hum of celebration. Stoick and Valka stood off to the side, deeply engaged in conversation with Finn, Gobber, and a few of the other adults of Berk. Meanwhile, the younger crowd, affectionately referred to as "immature idiots" by some, traded jokes and laughter. Tuffnut, however, couldn't tear his eyes off the clock.
"So, how about we kiss at midnight?" Tuffnut asked, adjusting his fake beard, now cleverly fashioned from his braids.
Most of the group rolled their eyes, but Astrid was the first to object. "No."
Tuffnut pouted dramatically. "Come on! It's Snoggletog! Loosen up, you cruel woman."
Snotlout, tipsy from a few too many drinks, slurred his words. "I'm with Tuff. We always kiss at midnight. It's tradition!"
Heather raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin forming on her lips. "I'll kiss Fishlegs." Fishlegs, flustered but eager, nodded enthusiastically.
Ruffnut added with a smirk, "I'll kiss Eret." Soon, almost everyone had joined in.
"I'll kiss Mindy," Snotlout said, his voice trembling slightly with a mixture of nervousness and excitement as he looked at her, his cheeks flushed—more from his budding feelings than the alcohol. Someone was finally confessing.
Astrid smirked and checked her knuckles casually. "I'll kiss Hiccup." Hiccup gave a short, surprised nod, his expression a bit confused, he expected it, but wasn't quite ready for it.
Tuffnut, ever the troublemaker, wrapped his arm around Elsa, winking at her. "So, it's just you and me now."
Elsa immediately shrugged him off, rolling her eyes. "I'd rather die."
Astrid sighed dramatically, raising one hand to the sky. "If only we had another guy Elsa could kiss." She nudged Hiccup toward Jack with a knowing look, and he, in turn, brought Jack into the circle.
"Hey, weird Berkians! What's going on?" Jack's wide grin was impossible to ignore, and though Elsa tried to resist it, she couldn't stop her heart from fluttering. He looked so effortlessly at home here, as if he had always belonged.
Tuffnut crossed his arms in mock indignation. "Well, this little miss won't kiss me at midnight."
Elsa laughed. "Tuff, find someone else."
"Yeah, she's married!" Jack chimed in with a playful grin, slipping an arm around Elsa's waist.
The room fell into stunned silence. Snotlout nearly choked on his drink, that had remained in his mouth disguistingly long from shock. "Say what now?"
Jack shrugged nonchalantly. "Didn't you hear? I'm her husband for the next few weeks. Fake or not, she's taken, and I'm kissing her tonight."
The group went quiet for a moment, their minds trying to catch up. Why Jack? Out of everyone in Berk, why him?
Embarrassed, Elsa grabbed Jack by the arm and pulled him aside, away from the group. She lowered her voice, trying to stay calm. "Listen here," she said firmly, "I'm not your wife, and there's no way in hell you're kissing me tonight."
Jack's grin only grew wider. "Oh, you will," he said, the teasing edge still present in his voice.
Elsa raised an eyebrow and folded her arms. "And why would I?"
He leaned in slightly, mischief sparkling in his eyes. "Bad luck. You have to kiss someone at midnight, or the year ahead will be cursed."
Elsa rolled her eyes at the ridiculousness, but couldn't deny the playfulness that lingered in his tone. "Alright, sure, I'll kiss." She glanced at him, then quickly added, "But not you."
"But I'm your husband!" Jack protested.
"Fake husband," Elsa corrected with a sly smile.
Jack threw up his hands in mock defeat. "Oh, come on, woman."
Rolling her eyes again, Elsa walked away, leaving Jack standing there, still wearing a wide grin.
An hour later, when midnight struck, the customary kissing began. Elsa and Jack stood at the edge of the crowd, watching as their friends exchanged kisses, their laughter drifting through the room. It seemed, for just a moment, everything else fell away.
"Here's to the new year," Elsa murmured with a soft, sincere but sad smile, her gaze drifting toward Jack.
Before she could say another word, a soft pressure brushed her cheek. Jack's lips touched her skin gently. "You got your kiss," he whispered, his voice quiet, but his intent unmistakable.
Elsa's heart skipped. There was something undeniably kind and gentle about that kiss, a gesture that made her chest ache in a way she wasn't prepared for.
She touched her cheek, as though she could still feel the warmth of his lips there. Was she grateful for it? Or was she disappointed that it wasn't on her lips? She couldn't decide.
Jack didn't give her much time to dwell on it. With a wink, he turned away, leaving Elsa with the lingering warmth on her skin.
As she stood there, trying to collect her thoughts, a voice broke the silence, clear and familiar.
"You're falling in love, Elsa Overland."
Elsa groaned and playfully swatted Astrid's shoulder. "How was your kiss with Hiccup? It looked a little too…intimate."
Astrid blushed, quickly glancing down. "I asked him out."
Elsa's eyes widened. "You did not!"
Astrid laughed, her face lighting up. "Oh, I did. I couldn't wait forever for him to make a move."
Elsa grinned and laughed. "That's so like you. Well done, Hofferson!"
Astrid's expression shifted, a more serious note slipping into her tone. "So, Jack's going with you to Iceland tomorrow?"
Elsa sighed, looking down. "It's either him or I tell everyone I lied. So…I'll be Elsa Overland for a few weeks."
Astrid studied her, sensing Elsa's uncertainty. "What's the problem, though? He's a good guy. He's funny, and handsome…What's the issue? You two get along great, but you push him away for some reason."
Elsa clenched her jaw, struggling to find the words. "Honestly? I don't know. I like him...I think...he's easy to talk to. We get along fine. But the moment he gets too close, something inside me shuts down."
Astrid's hand landed gently on her shoulder, her voice firm yet comforting. "I get it. I've seen it before. Whenever anyone gives you affection, you pull away. But listen," she nudged Elsa towards Jack, who was still standing across the room, "that guy is worth it. He understands you, and he's someone who can truly love you. He makes life more fun, exactly what you need, just…give him a chance."
Elsa's heart lightened slightly. "Thanks, Astrid. You always know what to say." She gave a small, sincere smile. "I know you're right…I'll try not to push him away."
Astrid pulled her into a hug. "I'm always here for you, and I'm so proud of you."
As the night carried on, Elsa couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something…different. Something she wasn't quite ready for, but might just need.
Jack stood beside Elsa, his brow furrowed with concern as he noticed the tears slipping down her cheeks. "Everything okay? Why are you crying, Elsa?" He reached out instinctively, brushing away the stray tear from her cheek. His touch was gentle and hesitant, almost as if he feared breaking the fragile moment.
Elsa wavered, fighting back a lump in her throat. She had promised Astrid that she would open up, that she would be fair to Jack, that she would give him a chance. "Just some old memories." She continued "Jack, I'm sorry. I mean…I haven't treated you nicely. All you've been doing is joking around, and I've been irritated for no reason at all. It's just that I get uncomfortable when I meet someone new." She bit her lip, embarrassed by her own admission.
His expression softened, and in one bold motion, he cupped her face with both hands, his thumbs gently brushing away the last of her tears. "I get it, Elsa," he said quietly. "Don't worry. But hey, we're still going to Iceland tomorrow, right?"
For the first time that evening, Elsa felt a sense of understanding in his words. Without hesitation, she nodded. "Yes, we are. But we also have to hang out at Tuff's apartment later. It'll be you, me, and Tuff."
Jack groaned, his face contorting into a mock grimace. "Why Tuff?" he asked, though he already knew the answer. Tuffnut was…well, Tuffnut. A wild card in every sense of the word, with a penchant for chaos and a particularly annoying chicken. Jack could only handle so much at once.
Elsa shrugged with a smirk. "He invited us, and honestly, I have no idea why."
Jack let out an exaggerated sigh, pressing a hand to his forehead. "Elsa, I'll pay you a million dollars to get me out of this hangout."
Elsa couldn't help but laugh at his dramatics. But when she caught the look in his eyes, she raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you are serious?"
"Yes, I am," he replied with mock desperation. "I'll transfer you the money, please, just, please, for the love of God, save me from this poultry farm nightmare. Isn't it illegal or something?"
She burst into laughter, the sound echoing around them. "I'll have to ask Uncle Stoick, but no, we're still going."
Just then, Elsa's phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, glancing at the screen. "Did you just transfer me a million dollars? You can't transfer such a large amount!"
Jack's expression was one of feigned innocence. "Yes, you can if you're rich."
Elsa's jaw dropped. "Wait, what? You're freaking rich?"
Heads around them turned as Elsa's voice raised slightly in disbelief. Jack, unfazed, simply shrugged, the corners of his mouth curling up into that signature grin of his.
"Well, yeah," he said casually, as if it was no big deal. "I make enough as an engineer, but I started my business back in university to help support my mom and I, so it's sort of a side hustle."
Elsa stood there, processing what he had just said. The weight of it didn't quite sink in until the full gravity of his words hit her. Jack isn't only a businessman. He's a freaking millionaire.
"I'm not accepting your money," she said, still stunned, though a smile tugged at her lips. "And we're going to Tuff's. Now, move your lazy bum."
Jack rolled his eyes, but his smile never wavered. "I tried."
They walked toward the parking lot, the sound of their footsteps muffled by the snow. Jack pulled her gently toward his car, and Elsa raised an eyebrow at him.
"Let's take my car. I'll drop you back home, too. I insist."
"Sure." Elsa reached for the door handle, but before she could open it, Jack quickly slid into position, standing in front of her.
"I need to open the door, you know," she lifted her eyebrow.
He raised an eyebrow back at her, unable to suppress a smile. "Well, what kind of man would I be if I didn't open the door for you?"
Her eyes softened, realizing there was something genuinely sweet in his actions, despite his teasing nature. "Then can you please? It's cold out here."
Jack's grin turned sweet as he opened the door for her with a flourish. "There you go, Your Majesty."
Elsa rolled her eyes at the nickname but couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips. "Thanks, Mr. Overland."
"You're welcome, Mrs. Overland." His words were light, but there was something in the way he said it that made Elsa's heart skip. She wanted to laugh, or to scold him, but for some reason, she found herself at a loss for words.
She had promised Astrid, and herself, that she would give Jack a fair shot. So instead of pushing him away as she normally would, Elsa simply let it go. She climbed into the car, her heart thudding in her chest for reasons she couldn't quite explain.
She could feel it, that tug, an undeniable shift between them that she wasn't prepared for but couldn't ignore anymore.
As Jack slid into the driver's seat, he flashed her a grin. "Ready for our fabulous night with Tuffnut?" The sarcasm was clear.
Elsa gave him a side-eye, groaning. "Let's just get it over with."
Jack's smile softened as he started the engine, and Elsa, surprisingly, felt a hint of something positive. She hadn't expected this, but there it was…something to look forward to. She had no idea where this path might lead, but for the first time, she was willing to walk it. After all, Jack had earned that much.
He settled into the seat, immediately adjusting the car's settings. "I'll turn on the heating and seat warmer for you," he said with a smile, then muttered under his breath. "Oh shoot, I forgot something."
When he opened his car door, Elsa raised an eyebrow, still unsure. "What are you doing?"
Without a word, Jack opened her door, crouched in front of her, and gently lifted her feet one by one. "It's a long drive," he explained, "I want you to feel at ease." His hands were careful as he removed her heels, surprising her with their tenderness.
If Elsa hadn't been impressed by him before, she certainly was now. There was something incredibly thoughtful in his actions, something unexpected. She caught herself smiling, Astrid had been right. Jackson Overland really was one of a kind.
Jack eased back into the driver's seat, facing her with a relaxed smile. "You don't get motion sickness, do you? I'll drive slowly and take breaks in between. Also, I've got some pills in the dashboard if you need them."
Elsa blinked, taken aback by just how…considerate he was. She'd always been self-reliant, not needing anyone's help. But Jack? He seemed to instinctively know exactly what she might need.
"Thanks," she said, the words surprising even herself. Her voice faltered a bit. "But I should be fine. If not, well, I have you to take care of me."
The words slipped out before she could stop them, and a rush of heat flooded her cheeks. Since when did I need anyone to take care of me? Elsa wondered, briefly lost in the moment. She had prided herself on being independent, but here she was, slipping into a softer side of herself she barely recognized.
Jack's grin only widened, his eyes crinkling with warmth. "Well, I'm happy to take on that responsibility."
Elsa, now feeling awkward, quickly changed the subject. "Okay, let's get going then."
Jack raised an eyebrow, gripping the steering wheel. "But seriously, why is Tuff's place an hour away? Berk's quite big, but living that far seems weird. Does it not?"
Elsa shrugged, a smirk forming on her lips. "It's Berk. Nothing's ever not weird. Especially when Tuff's involved."
Jack let out a laugh as he started driving, grabbing his phone and connecting it to the car's Bluetooth. "Any special song requests for Your Majesty?" he teased, glancing over at her playfully.
Elsa shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't really listen to music much. You pick something."
Jack hung back, glancing back and forth between the road and his phone. "Well, I have this one song I listen to a lot…but, uh, I sing along to it. And trust me, I'm terrible."
Now Elsa was intrigued. "Oh, I'm curious now. Play it. I'll be the judge of your singing."
Jack scrolled through his playlist, biting his lip as he pulled up the song. He set the volume a little louder than necessary, and the familiar beat filled the car. He cast a sheepish glance at her, fully aware of what was coming.
Hey Frances, I don't know about you, but
I kinda need a break,
Maybe a trip or something
The first few notes echoed in the silence, and Elsa waited expectantly. Then, he started singing, his voice unexpectedly gorgeous and full of longing. A longing for something he was searching his entire life.
.
Fly me to the moon
.
Elsa was absolutely entirely dumbfounded. She yearned to say a lot, but she couldn't.
.
Let me play up there with those stars
Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars
In other words, hold my hand
.
Jack felt the lyrics while singing and sneakily grabbed Elsa's hand in her lap. Shockingly, she didn't mind.
.
In other words, baby, kiss me
.
He tightly, held her hand in his.
.
Fill my heart with song
And let me sing forever more
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore
In other words (in other words)
Please be true
In other words
.
Elsa shyly peaked at him and noticed he was sneaking glances at her.
.
I'm in love with you
.
The very first time this lyric left his lips in such a smooth rhythm. He truly was in love with her. But no, that couldn't be! He had only known her for two days. Love doesn't happen that fast, or does it? It's not like he had fallen in love before. Or if she had.
How could he know?
How could she know?
.
In other words, hold my hand
In other words, baby, kiss me
Fill my heart with song
Let me sing forever more
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore
In other words
Please be true
In other words
In other words
In other words (in other words)
I, I
I love (I love)
I love you
.
He gulped and let out a nervous chuckle. "Yeah, I…I'm sorry. I just…I sing along, and this one's my favorite song. I didn't mean to bother you, but hey, you said I could! I know my singing's not, like, Taylor Swift material, but it's not that bad. It's just-" Jack felt a strange need to defend himself for some reason.
"Beautiful."
Not quite processing it, Jack blinked twice, completely thrown off. "Pardon?"
Elsa bit her lip, trying to stifle her grin, but it was no use. "I said your singing is beautiful. Seriously, your voice might not be what you think, but there's something about it. You sang every word like you meant it, like you really felt it. It's just…beautiful. Not too raspy, not too soft. Just right." She stopped herself, realizing she might be going off the rails. "I don't know…you're not horrible at it, okay?"
He awkwardly scratched his neck, eyes darting to the road as he tried to process what she'd said. "Umm…Thanks?"
"No problem," she said with a smile, trying to brush it off. Jack kept his eyes on the road, his fingers drumming absentmindedly on the wheel as the song looped again.
"So, uh, why don't you like music?" he asked, genuinely curious.
Elsa shrugged, looking out the window. "I just never got into it, I guess. It wasn't my thing."
He grimaced. "That's…that's kind of sad, you know? I mean, I said that as a music lover. Nothing wrong with your opinion. But hey, I swear, when you get back from Iceland, you'll be into it. I'll make you love music."
She gave a little snort of laughter. "We'll see about that."
Jack kept his gaze straight ahead, but he couldn't resist asking, "So…how's Iceland? Is it like the movies? You know, with all the hot people and that accent?"
For some reason, Elsa felt a twinge of jealousy at his question. "Iceland's just Iceland," she muttered. "Nothing like the movies. They always exaggerate. And no, there are no 'hot' people there. Just creepy jerks." Such a lie she uttered.
Jack let out a dramatic sigh. "That's a bummer. I was hoping to find myself a hot girl while I was there." He waggled his eyebrows at her with a goofy grin.
Elsa swatted at his arm, offended. "Show some respect, Jack. You're my husband!"
His heart skipped a beat, but he masked it with a smirk. "I thought I was your fake husband?"
Elsa pursed her lips, narrowing her eyes. "Fake or not, Jack Overland, for a few weeks, you're loyal to me."
"Aye, Aye, Cap'n!" Jack saluted with his best pirate voice, which made Elsa burst out laughing.
By the time they arrived at Tuffnut's house, Jack was already getting a weird vibe. He parked the car and was out the door in a flash, opening it for Elsa with a theatrical bow. "After you, madam."
Elsa raised an eyebrow, grinning at his weird antics. "What a gentleman you are, Jack."
He winked at her, voice smooth. "Only for you, Mrs. Overland."
She felt a flutter in her stomach, but she powered through it and walked up to the door, pounding on it with a little more force than necessary. "Tuff! Get your stupid lazy ass out here!"
Moments later, Tuffnut appeared, his chicken perched on his shoulder like some strange pet. "Welcome, my dear, dear awesome friends!"
Jack leaned in and whispered in Elsa's ear, already dreading what was yet to come. "Yeah…this isn't gonna go well."
Elsa rolled her eyes and dragged him inside. "Now, you know I love you Tuff, but what's the deal? Why'd you invite us over?"
Tuffnut threw up his hands in mock surrender. "You're leaving tomorrow, and I just wanted to hang out with you guys!"
Elsa stared him down, unamused. "I don't buy it. Tell me the real reason."
Tuffnut let out a dramatic sigh, throwing himself dramatically on the floor. "Alright, woman! Fine! I wanted to play a game with you both."
Jack snorted, half-amused, half-curious. "And that would be?"
Tuffnut flopped down onto the round rug in the middle of the room, throwing his arms out wide like some grand performance was about to begin. "It's a Nut's traditional game. Passed down for centuries!" He paused for effect, then dramatically patted the floor beside him. "Take a seat, so I can explain."
Elsa and Jack exchanged a skeptical glance, but curiosity won out and they sat down across from Tuffnut, cautiously preparing for whatever nonsense he was about to propose. "Alright, explain away, Tuff," Jack said, rubbing his hands together like an eager scientist about to witness a terrible experiment.
Tuffnut pulled a pen from behind his ear like some magician preparing his next trick and began sketching on the white rug. "So, you drink this gross yaknog that gets you drunk, and then you answer the other person's questions," he said proudly, nodding to himself as he pulled out a bottle of something that was definitely not certified safe. "It's Astrid's yaknog but I added some booze. A little extra touch," he said with a wink, clearly convinced he'd just invented the wheel.
Jack and Elsa exchanged a look that could only be described as dread. They had narrowly escaped Astrid's yaknog at the party, and now, here they were, about to dive headfirst into this nightmare.
Jack stifled a laugh, sarcasm dripping from his voice. "So, it's sort of like truth or dare with shots?"
Tuffnut waved a finger at him dismissively. "Don't insult our sacred tradition, Jack! It's called Sofalia Ziwa, not whatever garbage you just said."
Elsa narrowed her eyes. "That sounds like a made-up name, Tuff." She sighed, rolling her eyes but looking oddly amused despite herself. "Alright, let's get this over with. We have an early flight tomorrow."
Tuffnut grinned, like a kid on Christmas morning, and with the energy of a thousand squirrels, filled two mugs with yaknog, now officially laced with alcohol. He handed Elsa one, saying with a flourish, "Elsa, drink this, and answer Jack's question."
Her eyes briefly flickered to the mug, full of questionable decisions, before she reluctantly took it. It was now or never. She downed it in one gulp, and immediately gagged, her face contorting in disgust. "Ugh, this is vile!. No, I've never played your weird Nut game before."
Tuffnut was completely pleased with himself, scribbling a "1" on the carpet under her name, like he was taking attendance at a particularly chaotic class. He pointed at Jack, eyes gleaming. "Now, Jack, your turn. Ask Elsa something."
Elsa, suddenly feeling dizzy from the drink, blinked, unable to stop herself. "Have you ever had a crush?" she blurted out, sounding completely shocked by her own words. When did I get so nosy?
Jack raised an eyebrow, mischief dancing in his eyes. "Yes," he said simply, and with a devilish grin, he slammed down his own mug of yaknog like it was water.
Minutes later, the two of them were cackling at the most random things, their words growing slurred as the yaknog did its magic. The game had officially become anything but traditional, as they both stumbled through the next questions, tipsy as the weekend.
Jack leaned against the couch, eyes half-lidded and struggling to stay focused. Tuffnut, on the other hand, was standing, proudly oblivious to the utter chaos he had set in motion.
Tuffnut, looking completely serious for a split second, announced, "I've got my officiant license."
Elsa blinked. "What?" she asked, completely lost.
Tuffnut, with a completely straight face, started doodling a chicken on the rug. "It's family tradition, okay? All the women get officiant licenses."
"But you are a man." Jack, still squinting at Tuffnut like he was seeing double, raised a finger, like a child trying to ask a question in class. "Wait, but what for? Why?"
"Dunno, man," Tuffnut replied nonchalantly, like this wasn't the weirdest thing he'd ever said. "Tradition."
A thought spiraled into Elsa's mind. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe she was just desperate to stop her head from spinning, but suddenly, she leaned forward and slurred, "Would you…? Could you, you know…Get Jack and me married?"
She grinned at her own ridiculousness, not sure whether to be embarrassed or laughing hysterically.
Jack, looking positively delirious, flung his arms in the air. "Yeah! Let's do it!" He was practically falling out of his seat, but his enthusiasm was infectious. "Marry us!"
Tuffnut didn't skip a beat. He was all-in now, jumping to his feet like he'd just unlocked a secret level in some messy game. "Loki! Let's get this done!" He grabbed a scrap of paper and began scribbling what looked suspiciously like a wedding certificate.
Jack's vision was blurry, like everything was in a funhouse mirror, and he thought he was pointing at Tuffnut, though in reality, it was probably just an empty chair. "Get us married, Nutt!"
And just like that, in a moment of sweet, intoxicated chaos, Elsa leaned forward, wrapped her arms around Jack, and kissed him. It was soft but urgent, like the world was finally making sense in a very tipsy, very 'not quite sober' way.
Their first kiss ever.
"Fly me to the moon, husband," she whispered with a goofy grin, her words fuzzy but her meaning clear.
Jack, his grin enormous and entirely sincere, kissed her back with a passion fueled by the magic of the moment, and a bit too much alcohol. And just like that, with Tuffnut blissfully officiating some ridiculous ceremony in the background, the pair were closer to "married" than they'd ever been.