~ When you see the asterix (like this one *) start the music ~

Hiccup could only stare. Was this Merida or had she been replaced with some goddess? That dress, that hair, that everything - it was so stunning he couldn't even speak. He felt so insignificant standing there in only a suit and bowtie, he wasn't good enough to deserve someone this gorgeous, surely?

"What are you staring at?" Merida laughed. Hiccup could only shake his head until he found his voice.

"You, you look - amazing..."

Merida blushed slightly and smiled.

"Told you," Rapunzel whispered to her as Jack still didn't speak. "Close your mouth Jack, we don't want flies getting in there."

Jack blushed a pale pink and closed his mouth quickly, helping Rapunzel into the taxi. Hiccup offered Merida a hand:

"After you mi'lady."

"Why thank you my good sir," Merida grinned, playing along. They climbed into the taxi and they drove to the venue of the dance. All through the relatively short journey Hiccup and Jack couldn't take their eyes off of Rapunzel and Merida. They just looked so - different, in a good way. They looked gorgeous.

They arrived and they could already hear music being played from where they were outside. Hiccup paid the taxi driver after he refused to let Merida pay; they presented their tickets and walked inside.

A blast of Olly Murs hit them as they walked in:

Everybody cries -

But not today. Not today. Cos I won't let ya.

Everybody dies -

But not today. Not me. Cos I've never been better.

Ooh - I've never been better... 

The song was drawing to a close though, however a new one came up almost instantly. Avril Lavigne boomed out of the speakers as Rapunzel and Merida screamed.

"I LOVE THIS ONE!" 

They all ran to the dance floor, smiling as wide as the Grand Canyon. They yelled the lyrics, stomping their feet to the drum beats that flowed through them and coursed through their veins:

Singing Radiohead at the top of our lungs,

With the boombox blaring as we're falling in love,

Got a bottle of whatever but it's getting us drunk,

Singing 'Here's To Never Growing Up'...

They collapsed after an hour of hardcore dancing, Rapunzel and Jack started kissing on a sofa a little further away. Merida took out her phone and snapped a photo while Hiccup tried hard not to laugh. She stowed it away in her bag and grinned at him. Hiccup could only smile weakly back. How could one girl get so beautiful in the space of one evening? Not that she wasn't pretty already, but how was it possible to get any better?

"Why are you staring at me?" Merida asked, smiling.

"Because," Hiccup started, then gathered his confidence and said what he had to say. "Because you're beautiful."

Merida blushed beet red and waved him off like he was being silly.

"Stop lying. I know I'm not -"

"No," Hiccup said, taking her hand and enclosing it with both of his own. "You are."

They sat there in silence for a few moments, then a new song came up, one by P!nk that they both knew.

"Come on!" Merida laughed, pulling Hiccup onto the dance floor. The lyrics began (the uncensored ones that is) and she sang along.

Pretty pretty please, don't you ever ever feel,

Like you're less than

Fucking Perfect

Pretty pretty please, if you ever feel,

Like you're nothing -

You're fucking perfect.

To me.

He twirled her round and round, her dress floating above her ankles and allowing him to glimpse her dark heels. * The song ended and a slightly slower song began to play, an older one that they recognised from old CD and record collections. 

"I've always loved this one," Merida smiled as the guitars strummed up the melody that she remembered.

Today is gonna be the day that they're gonna throw it back to you -

By now, you should have somehow realised what you gotta do -

I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do -

About you now.

Back beat, the word is on the street that the fire in your heart is out.

I'm sure, you've heard it all before and you never really had a doubt.

I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do -

About you now.

And all the roads we have to walk are winding,

And all the lights that light the way are blinding,

There are many things that I

Would like to say to you

But I don't know how...

"I remember this," Hiccup said quietly as they swayed gently with the beat. He felt like leaning downwards, kissing those beautiful tender lips. He imagined what she'd taste like, the feel of his lips pressing upon hers. And the feeling of her kissing him back. Now wouldn't that be something...

Merida took hold of his hand suddenly, and placed the other on his shoulder. Hiccup realised what she was doing and he took hold of her waist. They began waltzing through the night, on the dance floor, off of the dance floor, never once taking their eyes off of the other's. Their gaze was like electricity, it sent tingles down their spine as he span her again, and out, and back into his arms.

Because maybe -

You're gonna be the one that saves me.

And after all,

You're my wonderwall.

Hiccup pulled Merida's hand and they left the dance floor. They could still hear the music, but it gre slightly fainter as they walked away.

"Where are we going?"

"I don't know. Just somewhere."

They found a small secluded balcony that overlooked a lake. The moon was shining brightly above them, its reflection glistening upon the water. No one else seemed to have discovered this place yet either - the pair of them were completely alone.

"Merida -" Hiccup started, and found he couldn't continue. The words were there, they just didn't want to make the journey out of his mouth. Merida placed a finger to his lips and whispered almost inaudibly:

"Don't speak Hiccup. Don't think. Just do."

Hiccup took a breath. He looked away. He turned back after a second and wrapped his arms around Merida. His fingers traced her neck, her face, her hair. Her eyes were closing - it was now or never...

He leaned in and kissed her softly on the cheek. Merida smiled and said -

"Is that all you've got?"

Hiccup laughed and swooped her back into his arms.

"C'mere you."

He pressed his lips against hers and it was like nothing he'd ever thought of. It was sensational, magical, incredible. She responded by kissing him back and it felt like the world had just pressed reboot. She was so beautiful... and she was his.

"Hiccup?"

"Yes?"

"Did I ever tell you how dashing you looked in that suit?"

"Shut up!"

"No, Hic," Merida kissed him softly again, "you are."

"Merida?"

"Yes?"

"... I may just be in love with you."

"Well that's good."

"... It is?"

"Yes. Because I love you too."

A/N Yay- got this finished! I had so much fun writing this!! Feels coming out again O-O, if anyone's interested the songs used here are:

Never Been Better - Olly Murs

Here's To Never Growing Up - Avril Lavigne

Fucking Perfect - P!nk

Wonderwall - Oasis

Hope you enjoyed this short!