Chapter 6

Two weeks had passed since the new neighbours had moved in and the Haddocks and Derangeds actually got along swimmingly. On the second day after meeting Dagur at the supermarket Hiccup, Astrid and the kids visited with casserole and wine as a welcome to the neighbourhood gesture. It was where they met Mala, Dagur's girlfriend who was also his Highschool sweetheart.

Dagur and Mala obviously weren't married even though they had a child together and neither Hiccup nor Astrid were going to pry as to why. Everyone had their reasons. It also seemed that was why Mrs. Ortiz was in a snit on moving day. The woman was nosy and old-fashioned and didn't believe unmarried couples should be living together or having kids. Astrid had immediately taken a liking to Mala as she grumbled about the neighbour.

The Haddocks also learned that Mala had a military background and had done two tours abroad before she got out and they moved. She had applied for the position of Deputy Sheriff and gotten it. Mala however had been slightly confused when the elderly deputy that was retiring clapped her on the shoulders and wished her enormous amounts of luck and that she would need it. Hiccup had let out a nervous chuckle at that, glanced at his wife, and then proceeded to spill the beans that Astrid was the bane of the police department.

Maddie, or Madeline though she didn't like to be called by her full name Hiccup and Astrid found out, was a typical teenager. She was at times snarky and glued to her phone but she had taken a liking to Zephyr and Nuffink even if she was at least five years older than. She entertained the kids in between texting and even got into a full blown debate with Zephyr about Flappy bird. A game which both sets of parents apparently sucked at.

The dinner had become more boisterous as wine was opened and poured copiously. Mala and Astrid had devolved into talking about various weapons while Hiccup and Dagur swapped pie recipes and gossip. And so two weeks passed in the blink of an eye as the new neighbours settled in.

Hiccup was mowing the yard one Saturday morning while Zephyr was drawing in colorful chalk on the sidewalk when Dagur approached. He looked rather pleasant but anyone who observed could see the slight tick in his face. "Brother!" Dagur says as he extends his arms in what is supposed to be a hug. Hiccup stops the mower but he doesn't go to hug Dagur who is leaning dramatically over the fence. When Hiccup raised a brow and asked what was wrong all Dagur muttered was that he needed to borrow a rake.

"A rake?" Hiccup questioned.

"Yeah........ Unless you have a chainsaw stashed somewhere," was answered back by the red-head.

"I don't know if I should give you either. You look like you're going to commit murder," Hiccup retorted as Dagur pouted.

"Oh come on Hiccup! Please! I just need to scare the living hell out of this Andrew guy."

"Huh?!" Now Hiccup was confused and it showed. Dagur beckoned him closer and the two men began to gossip. The person who said men don't gossip was clearly in denial as some of this gossip was way juicer than what women spoke about.

"So you know how Maddie started Berk High as a freshman two weeks ago," Dagur began and Hiccup nodded along, curious to see where this was going. "I initially thought she would have trouble making friends but then she comes home all giddy on the third day. I admit I was curious but Mala told me to just let her be. Apparently she knew something."

Hiccup nodded as he leaned on the mower while listening to Dagur. "So everything is all fine until last weekend," here Hiccup frowned as he was sure the whole neighbourhood had heard Dagur curse. Hiccup had been curious as to what happened, though he would deny it till this day. "So I come into Maddie's room with some freshly baked brownies and what do I see. My daughter. In her bra. Posing in front of a mirror with clothes. And snapping PICTURES!" Dagur's pitch got higher by at least an octave. "Pictures she sent to this ANDREW guy!"

Hiccup's eyes widened as Dagur continued "And what's more. 'Andrew is coming to visit in an hour! Mala and Maddie don't seem to think it's a big deal but she's my little girl and I don't want her sending those pictures to her boyfriend!"

It was Zephyr however who snorted, drawing the attention of her father and Mr. Dagur. "Andrew isn't Maddie's boyfriend," the young girl rolled her eyes. "He's her GBF and she's his SBF."

"I'm sorry..... What?" Dagur near sputtered.

"OMG how old can you guys be," Zephyr groaned. "GBF, Gay Best Friend, SBF, Straight Best Friend. This is soooooo embarrassing having to explain!" Zephyr huffed before she left her chalk drawings and went inside, probably to complain to Astrid that Hiccup was becoming an old man and no longer hip with the times.

Zephyr then opened the front door again as if she forgot something and shouted "And Andrew was helping her choose clothing to impress a guy!" before slamming it.

"Well..... My daughter is a bit of a tomboy...." Dagur nodded and then something clicked "IMPRESS WHAT GUY!"

Dagur hightailed it back to his house, probably to get more info when Hiccup remembered something. "We're still on for tonight?!" He shouted as Dagur gave him a thumbs-up.

The tonight Hiccup was referring to was their planned night out with the kids. They were going to try the new bowling alley that had just opened up. Soda, beer, pizza, and bowling sounded like a fun night with the kids. Astrid and Mala had suggested it last week as they cornered their partners.

The hours passed quickly and in no time Hiccup and Astrid were piling the kids into the SUV and heading down to the new bowling alley. Hiccup spotted Dagur's car easily. It was a bright orange sedan with the licence plate 'BAD-A33". Hard to miss in the suburbs much to Maddie's exasperation and possible humiliation.

"This looks like fun!" Astrid said. "I can't believe I never bowled before."

Hiccup nodded in agreement. Marriage had taught him one thing; smile and nod even if your wife is deadly with projectiles. Especially if your wife is deadly with projectiles he amended.

They rented shoes and spotted Dagur, Mala and Maddie already sitting in the two rented lanes. "Hiya neighbours!" Dagur and mala waved at them while Maddie gave a short nod before looking back at her phone.

"We haven't ordered yet," Mala said as she handed Astrid a menu. Nuffink was crouching on a stool and watching the other bowlers while Zephyr was eyeing the lanes. Hiccup joined Dagur who was apparently weighing bowling balls.

"You seem awfully relaxed," Hiccup commented as he heard the women order several sets of garlic fries and a large pepperoni pizza with soda.

Dagur whispered "Mala is a crackshot with a gun but she can't aim a bowling ball. What about your missus?"

"Never played," Hiccup whispered back, though he wondered why he was even whispering.

The group decided to divide into two with Astrid, Mala and Zephyr on one team and Dagur, Hiccup and Maddie on the other. Nuffink was more interested in inhaling the food than the game so they let the little tike be.

Mala bowled as Dagur predicted...... badly. Hiccup never knew someone who could get that many gutterballs in a game. Astrid, though her first time, easily caught on and was amazing, even if her first two balls impacted the ceiling. Zephyr was also enjoying herself and adding to the score. Dagur and Hiccup were quite good but Maddie seemed to have inherited her mother's nack for bowling. The scores were fairly tied in the end and Hiccup was up. He was looking at the pins while holding the ball so he hadn't noticed his wife's evil smirk nor had he noticed her whispering to their daughter.

"Gee... I can't wait to get a boyfriend mom," Zephyr said rather loudly in the group, not loud enough to draw attention but Hiccup still heard it just as he was about to release his bowling ball. His grip tightened and he actually slipped on the floor, sending the bowling ball hurling backwards. Dagur squacked as he had to duck.

"You guys are evil!" Hiccup grumbled as the ladies laughed. Hiccup's fumble had put them in the lead. The night was fun and interesting to say the least. Afterwards Hiccup heard his daughter ask Astrid "Mommy will you go all crazy when I do get a boyfriend?"

"Oh honey, it's not me you should be worried about," Astrid laughed as she said this. "It's your father. Afterall he did make my axe,"