A/N: Sorry for the delay everyone. Hope this chapter makes up for it.

If it does, consider supporting me on kofi as a way of thanks. Search for Silvolde/Silvolde4143 if you do. I'd appreciate it :)

…

That evening - the evening on the same day of his second proposal, Hiccup had just finished brushing his teeth when he smiled, seeing a creature wrap her arms around from behind and press her lips to his cheek.

"Y'know," Hiccup began, turning just so to murmur into her ear. "I've never really noticed how many freckles you have. Benefit of being this close to you I guess."

Astrid smirked, resting her head on his shoulder. "Count away then, babe. I'm not going anywhere just now."

"Maybe later. I want to ask the big question."

Astrid's head left Hiccup's shoulder. "Hmm? What 'big question'?"

"Marriage."

Her face cleared instantly; no trace of confusion was left behind. "Oh."

"Yeah…"

There was a pregnant pause. "When and where?"

Hiccup blinked. "What?"

"When and where do you want it? I was thinking next year or something."

"Uh…"

Astrid laughed lightly. "You didn't think that far ahead, did you?"

"I honestly didn't think you'd accept my proposal, twice. Forgive me if I'm not as caught up with this as you are, apparently."

"Okay then. So what should we-"

Hiccup turned his head again, cupped her cheeks and kissed her on the lips, cutting her off. "I'll go with what you decide. When and where. Just so long as it's only close friends and family. Emphasis on close. There's no way I'm inviting Snotlout or the twins."

She laid her head on his shoulder again. "Yeah, that would be bad."

…

The next day had Hiccup and Dagur standing outside, in a corner of the courtyard of the base.

They watched as the recruits jogged past, the drill instructor, a firm stick of a man, bald and of west Scottish descent, bringing up the rear.

"Place your bets. Who will stay and who will leave?"

Dagur sideyed his companion after a few seconds of no response, to find him jiggling his leg with a hand pressed to the wall behind them for stability.

"You good?" Dagur prompted, now noting how his eyes were shut tightly and his face was contorted in pain.

"Never better… phantom pain… love it…"

"Should I call Finn?"

"N-no… It'll… pass… soon. It's gone now. Sorry about that. What were we talking about?"

Dagur quirked an eyebrow. "You need to see Finn."

"Until doctors can cure phantom pain, no. No I don't. What good would that do, Dagur?"

Silence formed between them and Dagur slowly turned back to observe the procession of recruits once more but kept glancing at Hiccup every few seconds as well.

"You going to make a bet or do I need to drag you to Finn to get your head checked as well as your leg?"

Hiccup snorted. "Threatening to abduct a one legged man. Low blow."

"Still waiting on a bet, brother."

"Fine. Ginger in the middle. I bet he'll give up just before the end of basic. A week or two before. He looks like he doesn't care, so eventually he'll slack off, a drill instructor will notice and target him and then he'll crack. But he'll slack off towards the end when he thinks he's safe."

"Interesting. I bet the stick at the end, just ahead of the instructor. Give her three weeks, she'll go home."

"Nah, she'll last longer than that. She might even get determined and make it all the way. Actually I'm almost certain."

"Alright. What do I get if you lose?"

"I see a Toblerone finding you, since you love those chocolate whetstones so much. What do I get if you lose?"

"Deep heat."

Hiccup rolled his eyes. "Dagur, I'm not getting muscle pain here. It's nerve damage. It's my brain trying to communicate to the nerves in my leg which obviously aren't there any more. A cream for muscle pain won't help me. But thanks, I guess."

"I didn't know that. Fine, I'll get you a Cadbury instead, you damn heathen."

"At least I like chocolate native to the UK, you traitor."

"Semantics," Dagur said, extending a hand. "May the best man win."

"May he win indeed."

They both shook hands. "So I keep hearing how you and Astrid are together. Tell me more."

"Nope, my lips are sealed."

"Oh c'mon! Give me something!"

"Nope. How's the inventory looking?"

"Figures," Dagur sighed. "One of your lieutenants hasn't turned in his gun in three days. Take care of it or I'll have to call the MP."

"Gruffnut?" Hiccup guessed.

"Gruffnut," Dagur confirmed.

"Does Thuggory…?"

"Yes. Unfortunately," Dagur sighed wearily, a sentiment Hiccup shared as he turned away.

"Right. I swear if he is polishing his gun again, I might just kill him with it."

Five minutes later, knocking on the door of Gruffnut's office revealed the answer Hiccup sought after.

"Crisis averted, Thuggory. My subordinate here is just extra forgetful. Having said that, I suggest from now on, whenever he requires a gun, he must inform you directly, so that all parties are kept informed and nothing like this happens again. What say you?"

Thuggory shrugged. "I don't disagree."

Nodding, he turned to the man of the hour. "Gruffnut, for the love of Thor, return your gun on time. In other words: at the end of every day. Capiche?"

Gruffnut grimaced. "Yes… sir."

"Good. Because if it happens again, I will ask Thuggory here to conduct an investigation. Or simply discharge you for the sake of my sanity. Don't make it come to that, please. I'd hate to have to let you go over this."