"I'm not wearing that!"

"If I have to wear a dress, you have to wear a dress!!"

"Says who?" She glared, her nose crinkling tightly.

"Zephyr Marie Haddock don't you give me that look! Put your dress on now."

"Zephyr Marie! Put your dress on! Do this! Do that!"

Nuffink banged his head on the table. "Make it stoooop." He groaned.

"No way." Hiccup sat in the chair across from him. "I'm stayin' out of this one."

"Why do they have to wear dresses anyway? It's kind of a stupid rule." He shoved his hands through his hair a few times, trying to fluff it up.

"Because that's the way things are." Came a voice from the stairs.

"Maisie, you look beautiful hun." Hiccup smiled.

Maisie smiled and walked over to the table, spinning in front of her brother and dad. "Can someone tie this?" She held out the ribbons.

Nuffink reached out and tied them, making sure to create a big bow. Maisie would have nothing less. Unlike the rest of the girls in her family, she enjoyed getting dressed up. She was wearing hee favorite dress tonight. A simple yellow one that stopped at her knees.

"PUT IT ON!!"

"MAKE ME!!"

Everyone in the kitchen cringed.

"Uh-oh." Maisie mumbled, trying not to laugh as Nuffink slammed his head down on the table again.

There was a huge ruckus from upstairs and one loud scream, then total silence.

"I had two daughters once." Hiccup shrugged.

"Well she asked for-Hi Mom! You look great!"

Astrid wore an elegant red dress that went down to her shins along with black heeled boots. Her long, blonde hair was down, springing big, round curls that she rarely allowed to be seen. The master's touch: A small brown medallion on a beautiful chain hung around her neck.

"Thank you, son." She smiled. "Hiccup, will you tie this? I can't reach it."

When he didn't answer, everyone stared at him. His eyes seemed to be glossed over and a dorky smile had taken over his features.

"Earth to Hiccup."

"Wha? Oh, yes!" He shook his head, blushing slightly as he walked over and began to tie her ribbons. When he was finished he turned Astrid around and pecked her on the lips.

"You look amazing."

"AH NO. NO MORE MUSHY STUFF." Maisie demanded.

"Alright, we'd better be going anyways." Hiccup chuckled.

"Is everyone ready?"

Maisie and Nuffink both nodded.

"Zephyr, let's go!" Astrid called.

No answer.

"If I come up there you're not gonna like it." Her dad warned. 

"I'm coming!" Zephyr appeared at the foot of the stairs. Her arms were crossed and her cheeks were bright pink.

"Someone's grumpy."

"One more word Nuffink and I will end you." She growled.

"Awe, c'mon you look really pretty."

"No I don't! I have red hair and SOMEONE forced me to wear a green DRESS!! I LOOK LIKE A SNOGGLETOG TREE!"

"Oh quit your whining. I had to go through the same thing. I didnt like dresses until after I had Nuffink. You'll get over it." Astrid said. "Now let's go. The Fall Festival is about dancing and eating dessert. Fun!"

**********Zephyr+Conrad*********

"Zephyr where are we going?"

"Away from my mother."

Zephyr couldn't stand this horrid green dress. Not for another second. As soon as she'd found Conrad she grabbed him and pulled him away from the party.

They were behind the Great Hall, back into the gathering of trees where no one could see them.

She tossed Conrad her bag and he set it down gently.

"What are you?-"

Zephyr pulled the sleeves of the dress down to her sides, making Conrad jump and face away.

"Undressing! You are taking the dress off."

"Does that suprise you?" She giggled.

"Slightly." He heard her struggling and getting frustrated.

"Ugh! My mom tied these so friggin tight! Can you help me?"

Conrad nodded and turned around. Zephyr had the dress halfway off, exposing her shoulders and upper back to the crisp fall air, but she couldn't pull it down any farther with the ribbons tied so tight.

He couldnt help but stare at her freckled shoulders as he worked at the knots.

"I know you don't like dresses, but you do look beautiful." He said tentatively.

She sighed and dropped her head down a little. "Everyone says that. But I don't feel like me in it."

"I understand." He chuckled. With one last pull the knot came loose and the dress fell to Zephyr's ankles.

She turned around and pulled a red skirt out of her bag. She could hear Conrad's breathing hitch as she put it on. Even with most things covered with leggings and breast bindings, it was damn hard for him not to stare.

"What?" She giggled.

"Oh don't even." He snatched her round the hip and pulled her so  close their foreheads touched.

"You're gorgeous." He breathed.

"Only sometimes." A blush creeped up her neck and flushed into her cheeks.

His hands cupped her cheeks and he pressed his lips to hers, and he enjoyed the tiny sound of suprise she made in the back of her throat.

She pulled away and rested her hand on his chest. "I'm gonna put my shirt on now."

"Good idea." Conrad laughed.

********
*The rest of the fall festival will be uploaded tomorrow!*