Seven.

Sven Svenson, Stoick Haddock's lawyer for over thirty years, had been surprised but pleased to be contacted by Hiccup two days later to enquire about his father's estate. He explained where he had been, the lack of support and bad information he had been given on finding his father was dead and the struggles he had suffered. And Sven had invited him to his Berk office later that day to discuss the will and the prospects of getting the old will overturned.

As it turned out, the process was relatively simple-or would be had the Berk Historical Preservation Society not fought tooth and nail to hang onto what they had been given, even at the expense of leaving the man's rightful heir penniless. So despite his qualms, the young man had been forced to meet them in court.

Astrid had found him become more and more anxious as he neared the court date and she was half-expecting him to say he wanted to stop the process-which she wouldn't have allowed him to do anyway-but he had quietly informed her that he would see it through, no matter what, because his father would expect him to fight for what was his. And of course, Stoick Haddock had hated his wishes being disobeyed-and that was precisely what had happened. So his son would fight to get his father's final wishes honoured and in the process, win back his inheritance.

He was now enrolled at Berk College for a part time engineering course and was working with Gobber-who had relocated 'Gobber's Forge' to Berk in early February. Toothless had been registered as a service dog to support him with his PTSD and the black mutt was now in fine shape, still lean but his coat was fluffy and soft and he was a loyal and devoted companion and protector. Astrid had come with him to kit him out in a cheap suit for court, a dark brown with cream shirt and green tie that suited his colouring and as she had brushed a little imaginary lint of his shoulder as she had checked him over before they left the apartment, she had felt a small surge of pride at the man who faced her. Hiccup was clean-shaven, his hair neater though still casually tousled and emerald eyes sparkling in his anxious face. His lean shape was straight and tall and he looked smart and handsome.

"You are someone I would be honoured to walk with," she whispered to him as they left the building and got into the taxi.

The Judge-an elderly and rather impatient member of the Judiciary-had initially been unimpressed that someone was trying to take money away from one of Berk's most revered institutions-until he had become aware of the particulars of the case. The fact that the plaintiff was a decorated war veteran, a man who had served with distinction and who had lost a leg in the service of his country, made him a little more sympathetic. And even more so when he read Gobber's letter from Stoick and realised that Hiccup's Father had wanted to make up and repair their relationship-except cruel fate had denied him the opportunity. The news that the Historical Preservation Society knew that there was another valid will that superseded the one they insisted was enacted only enraged him further.

"Never in my thirty years as a judge have I heard such blatant disregard for the law and for all laws of common decency!" he raged. "And as a result, you were homeless and on the streets, Lieutenant Haddock? Denied any of the money your father left you to ease your passage from being a serving soldier to a man with disabilities and psychological wounds?"

Hiccup had blushed at the accurate but blunt description and had nodded as Toothless pressed reassuringly against his knee.

"Yes, Judge," he had admitted.

"Scandalous!" the Judge had growled. "I award the entire value of the estate to the sole living beneficiary-Lieutenant Hiccup Haddock. The BHPS have already tendered receipts for the sale of the house and goods and so that plus all monies and other unsold inventories items from the will are to be returned within two weeks to the young man!" The slam of his gavel had closed the case.

Astrid had hugged him fiercely. "You won!" she squealed. "You beat them!"

"And not an explosion in sight," Hiccup murmured, glancing down. "All limbs intact as well...well, as intact as they were at the start..."

"Ahem-we can rectify that for you if you want us to, H," Tuff whispered loudly from behind him. The twins and Fishlegs had made it to the court hearing, though Heather and Snotlout were at work. Shaking his head, Hiccup smiled.

"I've got the money back," he said. "I don't need to blow up me or half of our heritage as well."

"Are you sure?" Ruff asked slightly desperately. "Not even a small part of it?"

"No," Hiccup had told them firmly.

"You're right-he is a tyrant," she had said to her twin in a disappointed voice.

"I'd wait until they actually hand the money over," Sven had murmured. "They don't look too happy..."

And when, four weeks later, not one cent had been handed over, Sven, Hiccup and Astrid had stood in front of the same, very irritated Judge again, along with Magnus Magnusson, the lawyer for the BHPS. The man was trying to re-argue the case but the Judge was having none of it.

"You know, I find you in contempt of court and award all costs and significant damages to Lieutenant Hiccup Haddock as well," he said. "And if you do not hand the money over, I will issue a compulsory sale order on Berk Great Hall to free up the funds you owe." Magnus had gasped.

"But that is a priceless Berk heritage site!" he protested.

"No," Astrid said suddenly. "What is priceless are the last wishes of a father to his son. What are priceless are those momentos-that book, that picture, that drawing, that desk ornament-that remind you of your departed parent. That bring back memories that make you smile and ease the pain and emptiness of their absence. But you destroyed those all without a second of hesitation for pure personal greed."

"We are tasked to preserve Berk's heritage!" Magnus retorted.

"And what about Hiccup's heritage?" she demanded furiously, causing the lawyer to back up a pace. "The heritage of his family, his parents, his grandparents that you sold off or binned like trash! Notwithstanding that he comes from one of Berk's oldest families anyway-from the line of Chiefs-and you stole his possessions and threw them away! That's not preserving Berk's heritage-it's cultural vandalism!"

There was an awkward pause as Magnus swung his gaze to the auburn-haired man.

"The Society may have kept any antique or valuable items for the collection," he admitted. The Judge glared at him.

"Okay-the money is in his account tomorrow and every single artefact is returned or the Great Hall is on sale on Thursday! Understand?" he roared. Magnus sighed and then produced a bank order. Very reluctantly, he handed it over to Hiccup.

"The remaining unsold items will be delivered where you specify next week," he said in a defeated voice. Hiccup stared at the cheque, reading the amount in shock.

"Um...this says three hundred and twenty three thousand one hundred and ninety-eight dollars and forty-seven cents," he said, lifting his gaze. The Judge checked his records.

"That's correct," he said. He looked wildly round at Astrid and saw her grinning. She punched him in the arm and he yelped. "Ow! Why?"

"To make sure you realise this is real," she told him.

"Um...thanks? I guess?" he managed wryly. She nudged him with a smile.

"I guess pizza is on you tonight," she smirked and gave a small smile.

"I'll even stand you a garlic bread," he offered.

"Last of the big spenders," she scoffed and kissed him on the cheek then looked up to see Sven smiling and offering them a letter. It was in Stoick Haddock's bold round hand.

"You father wanted you to have this once the will was enacted," he said and Hiccup stared at the letter. Astrid looked at him, seeing all the colour drain from his face.

"Open it," she urged him and he nodded.

"At home," he said quietly. "Once this is all done. But first..." He walked to the Judge and offered his hand. "Thank you, sir for allowing my father's wishes to be observed," he said and the Judge smiled, laying down his half-moon spectacles and shaking his hand firmly.

"I assure you, the honour is all mine," he said with a smile. "You are the only Medal of Honor winner that Berk has ever produced and if I can in some way ease your transition to civilian life, then it is the least I can do. Thank you for your service." Hiccup stood back and ripped off a flawless salute.

"The honour is all mine," he replied with a smile then turned back to Magnus. "I will expect a list of all the items-and if anything is missing compared to the list originally submitted when the award was made to you, we will be back here," he said. "I will visit and it may be I will wish to remove some of the items. But some may remain as a loan to BHPS-on the proviso that I can revoke the loan at a time of my choosing. Is that understood?" There was a reluctant nod.

"It's better than nothing," he shrugged. "I'll tell the Trustees and the Operations Manager." Hiccup nodded-and then he shook Sven's hand.

"Thank you again," he said genuinely. "What you have done..." Sven smiled.

"I was honoured to serve your father and I hope to be available to offer you legal counsel and advice-if requested-for some time to come, Lieutenant Haddock," he said. Hiccup smiled and clasped Astrid's hand.

"Just call me Mister Haddock," he said. "The war is over."

oOo

Back at the apartment, Hiccup had changed back into his old jeans and hung his suit and shirt up neatly, to hand to Astrid to hang in her room but his eyes remained on the thick envelope held in his hands as he sat on the couch, his good leg folded under him and Toothless immediately on the couch at his side. Astrid paused and then headed for her bedroom.

"I'll head in here while you...'coz I'm sure you'll want to be..." she said, gesturing to the door but he extended his hand to her, emerald eyes looking at her pleadingly.

"Stay," he said roughly. "Please..."

"Of course," she said and hung her coat up, before she settled at his side, snuggling against him. He gave a wan smile and then carefully opened the envelope. In fact, there were two thick pieces of paper within, marked with his father's bold hand in black fountain pen. Frowning, he lifted the first one, which was dated a couple of months after he left home and had been disowned.

My Dear Son,

It has been eight weeks, three days and a couple of hours since you stormed out of the house, stubbornly defying my commands and accepting my harsh decision to disown you because you went into the Army. There has not been a moment when I have not regretted the decision or the words we exchanged. It is only the fact I am too stubborn that has prevented me from coming to speak to you and try to patch it up.

I know that you will not understand why I did what I did-but you have to understand, son-it was all to protect you. When your mother was dying, she made me promise to protect you, to prevent you from joining the forces and suffering the same traumas that I did. I know you barely recall her, but she was a wonderful, kind, understanding woman who loved me even when I was broken after I returned home from war. But she saw how much I suffered and she never wanted that for you-and she could already see how similar we were. So when you said you were joining up, I had to stop you.

My methods were wrong-I see that now. But I have driven such a wedge between you that I am not sure I can possibly repair it. And if I contacted you, what can I say? I don't support your choice, not because it is not your choice to make but because seeing you in uniform would remind me of how badly I have failed dear Valka. All I can do is one day hope you will come home and give me a chance to explain...and maybe beg your forgiveness.

But I know for now that I must accept the catastrophe I have caused and wait. I love you son and I am proud for you. I wanted more than blood and death for you because you have it in you to create, not destroy...and I hope, one day, you will see that as well.

Your loving Father

Hiccup blinked and stared at the words. Of all the things he had expected, this was not it. His mind was reeling, his eyes burning with tears and guilt clutching at his stomach. His had been as harsh as his father and the words they had yelled at each other had been cruel and devastating. And his Father had been right: he was still steaming weeks later and he would have rejected any advances by his father. He sighed. If they had only spoken, the years of silence and isolation, those wasted leaves and wounds unhealed would have been avoided. He shook his head. And then he turned to the other letter, dated the day before Gobber's and he found his hand was trembling.

My Dear Son,

I cannot tell you how proud I am of your valour and the fine man and officer you have become. I should have written sooner but silence becomes a habit-though I read and keep every letter you write. The proudest moment of my life was when I received the invitation for your Medal of Honor presentation by the President. And I wish with all my heart that I could have attended and made my peace with you at such an occasion.

But the years have not been kind-just punishment for my stupidity in pushing my only son away and failing the promise I made my wife. A year ago, I suffered a severe stroke which left me paralysed down one side and confined to a chair. I have employed a nurse to help look after my needs because I have no one else. Gods, I wish Gobber was here but I can't talk to him either about this. I can't really talk to anyone any more. But I would have loved to see my son stand forward to receive that honour, to prove what I always told Val when you were born so small and early: that you would be the strongest of them all.

But my pride prevents me coming-that and the strains of the long journey to Washington on my already frail health. I know you will not understand, that you will assume that I do not care. But I could not be more proud of you, son. I have restored you to you place as my Heir-something I should've done sooner but again, I was too proud. Pride means nothing now.

I just wish I could see you again. I have asked that Sven ensures you are my heir once more but he is under orders not to allow you to be informed of my death if you are overseas, only once you have returned home. I do not want to be responsible for distracting you at a critical moment in such a dangerous place. I know I don't have long-I have suffered further mini-strokes that precede another major one...one that my physicians assure me I would not survive. Time has run out. If by some miracle I am still alive when you return from deployment, I will see you-but this letter is written in the eventuality that I will die before then.

I love you, son. I could not be more proud of you. And I hope one day to meet in Valhalla and apologise to you in person.

Farewell

Your Loving Father.

Tears dripped down Hiccup's face and landed on the letter, smudging the words. Astrid gently moved the paper before the precious letter was lost and swiped her eyes as she saw sobs shudder through him.

"I would have come, Dad," he whispered. "I would have come in a heartbeat. And if I had come, Thug would be alive, I would have my leg and..." He sighed. "And I could've told you I loved you too. I'm sorry, Dad. I wasn't the son you hoped for. I wasn't the soldier, the man you wanted. I-I'm just a failure..."

Astrid wrapped his sobbing shape in her arms, hugging him close as he clung to her, shaking with grief. Her eyes were stinging with grief and sympathy as well that their stubbornness and pride had denied the two men time together that could never to replaced. That misunderstanding and poor communication allowed the men to remain separate for too long when one needed the other.

"I knew he hadn't destroyed them," he whispered brokenly. "He read them all. I just wished he had sent one single reply-and I would have returned. One word he was ill and I would have come home. He was my Dad and I loved him."

"He always loved you, Hiccup," she whispered back. "And now you know it. It will hurt, Hiccup-but it's a start. And these letters will help you realise that." He nodded, sniffing, then looked up, palming his wet face dry.

"Thanks, Astrid," he said and then rubbed Toothless, who had rested his head lovingly on his leg. "You too, bud," he murmured. "Not sure what I would do without you." Astrid kissed his cheek.

"You'd have to order your own pizza," she told him playfully and he smiled wanly.

"At least I can afford to move out," he admitted and her face fell, her eyes betraying her utter dismay at the words. "Or not..." She got up and walked to the kitchen, her entire pose telling him that she was suddenly upset. "Astrid?"

"It's fine," she said softly. "I mean, now you have money, you can't want to keep sleeping on my sagging old couch..." He carefully got up and walked towards her.

"Your couch...maybe I would," he said quietly. "Astrid...what's wrong?" She swallowed and forced a smile onto her face.

"You deserve so much more," she told him bravely. "You'll have a home now, not staying with some messed up woman who still hasn't gotten over losing her parents..." He leaned close to her, his eyes still red from his tears and he read misery in her beautiful azure gaze. Astrid had been so strong, so sure and so supportive throughout everything.

"I can't imagine a home without you in," he told her taking her hand. He pulled her round to face her. "And with the two of us and Toothless, this place is very snug." He swallowed. "But I don't want to leave you, Astrid. With-with the money and the fact I'm now earning as well maybe...we could rent an apartment together?" He stared into her face and saw her expression shift into shock. "Or we could stay here," he added. "I mean...if you'll still allow me..."

"But...why...?" she asked, staring into his face. He gave a small, lopsided smile.

"I don't want to be alone," he murmured. "And I don't want to be without you. I've missed ten years with Astrid...and you've helped me beyond words so maybe you're sick to death of me..."

"I'll never be that," she breathed.

"...but I really want to stay with you because I feel safe with you...so if you don't want to move, please let me stay," he said gently. She looked up into his eyes and rested a hand on his cheek.

"You want to move in together?" she asked him. He nodded.

"Um...I thought I sort of said that...or maybe not..." he shrugged. "But if we find a two bed apartment, it may mean I'm not under your feet so much..."

"Toothless would be happier," she noted and he stared at her then gave a small laugh.

"Toothless? That's where you're going?" he teased her. She stroked his cheek.

"I can't imagine a home without you either," she admitted. "You protect me and I protect you."

"You fix me and I fix you," he amended with a hopeful smile and she grinned at him.

"So where would you like to live?" she asked. He made a show of thinking and then winked.

"Anywhere you are, Milady," he told her with a smirk and she stood up on tiptoes and kissed him.

"Good answer," she said.

oOo

Christmas was approaching fast and Astrid's office space remained a tinsel free zone, though her new office colleagues in the Berk City Environmental Department were nowhere near as crazy on singing Santas and flashing lights as her former workmates. But she smiled more and wished them all 'Happy Holidays' as the office shut for the Christmas period. Stopping at the shops for a few final items, she then hurried through the snowy streets, heading for home.

Abruptly, a hand grabbed her arm and jerked her aside into an alley and she backed way from a buff shape with angry eyes and raven hair in a thick ponytail. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she gasped as she recognised...

"Eret! What-what are you doing here?" she demanded. He advanced on her.

"Seeing what a frigid bitch does on a freezing night," he sneered. "You know, you owe me..."

"I owe you nothing," she spat as he shoved her back.

"I think you owe me a goodbye for everything I did for you," he growled and she backed up again, eyes darting from side to side for a way out.

"What you did for me? You undermined my confidence, facilitated my drinking and were abusive," she snapped. "I was well shot of you!"

His hand shot out before she could react, closing on her throat and choking her angry voice to silence.

"Then I guess only one of us is going to enjoy this then." he sneered and hauled her further into the gloom. She fought and struggled, her bags dropping to the ground.

"Hel...lp..." she choked and a faint barking sounded. Furiously, she kicked Eret's leg and his grip briefly slackened. "Toothless!" she grunted. "Toothless!"

The slap he dealt her greyed her vision and knocked the breath from her and almost drowned out the patter of paws and the sounds of approaching feet. Eret grabbed at her again...

...as a black shape hit him at throat height, growling furiously. Yelling in sudden shock, he went down, trying to fend off the furious dog as it savaged the man. Astrid staggered back-into a warm pair of arms that enfolded her. She struggled in desperation until someone leaned close.

"Easy, Milady-you're safe now."

The tension left her and she sagged against him, the shock and fear overwhelming her as tears started to course down her cheeks. He caught her face between his hands and stared into her brimming eyes. "I am right here, Astrid. I just need to stop Toothless-okay?" She nodded dumbly as he whistled and the dog retreated from the cowering shape, eyes staring up wildly at the man standing over him.

"I'll have that beast destroyed!" Eret spat in hatred. Hand digging in his pocket, Hiccup thumbed in 9-1-1 as he lifted the cell phone to his ear.

"Police," he said shortly. "I'm reporting an attempted rape. I have the suspect subdued in the alley between Gobber's Forge and the Pie Factory. Please come urgently." Then he glared at the cowering and savaged man. "Please try to resist," he said softly. "Because I really want an excuse to kill you." Eyes swivelling between the furious dog with the bared and bloody fangs and arched back and the tall, lean auburn-haired man with the blazing emerald eyes, Eret lay back.

"I surrender," he said in defeat as the first sirens sounded. "I'll come quietly."

oOo

A couple of hours later, they arrived back at their apartment, with Hiccup carrying the bags and ensuring the shaken Astrid was okay. Their friends were due over that evening and Astrid had insisted that they went ahead with the Christmas Eve gathering. She headed to the shower while he put the snacks in the oven and made his non-alcoholic fruit punch, while feeding Toothless and waiting his turn to shower. When Astrid emerged, she was bright red from a too-hot shower and there was a shamed light in her eyes.

"I'm going to have another bruise," she said tonelessly and he instantly wrapped his arms around her, kissing her tenderly on the lips.

"You do know your friends will think I did it," he told her mildly. "They're never going to believe Eret popped out of nowhere and attacked you..."

"Except he did," she admitted in a tight voice. "Why?" He kissed her again.

"Because he's an ass?" he suggested gently. "I suspect no one will give him the time of day and he blames you because you very sensibly wouldn't take him back." He tapped his temple. "Too much psychotherapy, Milady. I'm even starting to think like a therapist."

"You smell like a garage mechanic," she admitted and reluctantly broke away from him, shoving him towards the shower. "They'll be here in fifteen minutes!" He rolled his eyes.

"See, bud? This is what happens when you try to be kind to your girlfriend..." he grumbled as Toothless yawned and curled up on the couch. "So much for man's best friend..."

"Shower! Now!"

The door bell rang as he limped from the shower, wrapped in a towel and Astrid smirked at him but held off letting the friends in until he had vanished into the bedroom to get dressed. Heather was first in, hugging Astrid and offering presents. Fishlegs followed with Snotlout and the twins trailing behind, laden with gifts and food. They handed their coats in and gaped at the main living room: a large tree was decorated with lights and baubles in the corner, copious amounts of tinsel wrapped around the base. Lights decorated the main window and fireplace and chips and snacks were laid out on the kitchen counter. Candles flickered on the fireplace and in the window.

"What happened to Astrid Scrooge?" Heather asked and earned herself a punched shoulder.

"I was never ever mean!" she protested and Heather winced as she rubbed her bruising shoulder.

"I meant in terms of observing Christmas, not the whole money thing," she protested hastily.

"Ah. Well-I found reasons why this time of year is worth celebrating," Astrid told her as she got them all drinks. Snotlout and the twins took beers but the others all had the fruit punch as Hiccup emerged, still damp but neat in his best jeans and favourite leaf green tee-shirt with a festive robin redbreast waistcoat that flattered his lean frame.

"Hey, guys!" he greeted them and they all smiled in return. Astrid had kind of forgiven them as they had all, in their own ways, proved that they realised what she had seen in Hiccup-and respected her choices. And they all had to admit-Snotlout very reluctantly-that Astrid was far happier with the auburn-haired veteran than with anyone else. They all still volunteered intermittently for the shelters and had agreed to spend part of Christmas Day ensuring the homeless had a decent Christmas as well. But this evening, they were meeting up for drinks, snacks and presents.

"Hey, cuz!" Snotlout was the first to greet him because he had finally made his peace with Hiccup. In the summer, after Hiccup had gone through the bulk of his counselling, he had requested a talk with the stocky man and Snotlout had reluctantly agreed. It had done wonders for them both, for Snot had admitted he bullied Hiccup because he was jealous of the skinny boy's wit, intelligence and courage and because his father had encouraged that. That little fact had astonished Hiccup who had learned that Spitelout was jealous as well-of Stoick and Hiccup and had wanted the smaller boy to feel wretched and ruin their close relationship. Spitelout had not spoken to his brother since he moved the Meathead and had refused to accept any calls about Hiccup when he was injured and when he was homeless. Snotlout had only found out during the last months when he had revealed he was friends with his cousin-and had met his father's anger and jealousy full on.

"He wanted me to be the brave, handsome warrior and he was furious you turned out to be the one," he had revealed. "He realised I could never match what you achieved-and you were the scrawny runt of the family! So when Uncle Stoick died, he said he would be next of kin but then totally failed to live up to that and help you as he promised. I should have said something but...I was jealous as well. But I know that it was stupid too. To be honest, I never wanted to do anything like that-I'm not built for that."

"Nor am I," Hiccup had replied. Snot had offered him his hand.

"I think you're everything your Dad would be proud of-and I would be proud to have you as my cousin," he said.

Fishlegs had also apologised and explained that he regretted his stupidity for years but he didn't have any way to get in contact with Hiccup. Silently thinking that it didn't excuse the way they treated him when he returned, he had accepted the apology and given the man a chance, realising that the way people behaved as teenagers responding to peer pressure wasn't always the way they would when they were more mature adults. He had been given a new start so he was willing to grant the friends a chance-though he wouldn't trust them necessarily until they proved trustworthy.

He had grabbed a fruit punch and a mini pizza canapé and had sat carefully by Astrid, making sure she was okay. She still looked pale and her eyes had searched for him until he had settled by her side, an arm sliding gently round her waist. He felt the sigh shudder through her and she rested against him, her lips lifting up into a small smile of relief.

"You okay?" he whispered and she nodded.

"I am now," she smiled, her arm wrapping around his narrow waist.

"Presents!" Tuff yelled and threw himself on the rug by the fire, earning a growl from Toothless who had already occupied the place. The dog batted him in the face with a firm paw and Tuff collapsed back, whining. "I am hurt! I am very much hurt!" he whinged.

"I doubt it," Astrid murmured. "I saw what he did to Eret..."

"Eret?" Ruff said suddenly. "What about him?" Astrid stiffened and her shoulders sagged.

"He attacked me this evening, on the way back here," she admitted. "That's why we were late-we had to give statements to the police." Ruff was shaking her head.

"But why would he attack you?" she asked in confusion. "He's been seeing me for the last three months. I mentioned that you would be at the Forge this evening to meet with Hiccup and..." And then she slapped her hands over her mouth as the others stared at her. "That godless rancid stinking son of a half-troll! He was only seeing me to get to you? I'll rip off his..."

"He's not going to have a very happy new year," Hiccup murmured to Astrid, who was shaking with anger as well.

"If Ruff doesn't make him a soprano, I will," she growled. He pressed a small kiss on her temple.

"Remind me never to annoy you," he said and rose, then handed out gifts to the friends from under the tree. "Open them now-because you're spending the day with your families..."

"And with you in the Jotunheim Street Homeless Shelter for lunch," Heather added with a grin. Hiccup had lobbied the charity and made sure at least one shelter took dogs so that homeless people with pets weren't excluded from the chance of a warm bed and hot food. Jotunheim Street was that shelter so Toothless would be going along with him as well.

The twins were ecstatic to receive vouchers for a 'Wing Suit Experience' that would allow them to try the insanely dangerous sport which they had been talking about for years but had never got around to attempting. Fishlegs received an encyclopaedia of wild flowers, acknowledging his secret love of botany and he had been thrilled and tearful at the thoughtful gift. Heather received a dress and clutch purse that she had been wanting but could never justify buying though Astrid and especially Hiccup had an ulterior motive for buying the gift, knowing that Fishlegs was planning to ask her out for New Year's Eve. She had hugged Astrid without hesitation and then had hugged the shocked Hiccup as well.

Snotlout stared at his parcel.

"It's a book," he commented, knowing he wasn't much of a reader. Hiccup smiled.

"I think you'll enjoy this one," he said as the stocky man opened the paper to reveal a book titled 'How to Make A Success of Your Own Business'. Hiccup smiled. "I know you want to open that fitness business, Snot," he said understandingly. "But you've never had to nerve to tell Spitelout, have you? This will help you to set up the business and have everything in line so when you tell him, it's a fait accompli." Snotlout blinked.

"I-I don't know what to say," he said in a choked voice. "I don't deserve this when I was so horrible to you."

"No, you don't," Astrid said honestly. "But this is all about new beginnings." Then she fished out a flat box with gold ribbon and a bow and handed it to Hiccup. "Yours next." He accepted it wordlessly and carefully unpicked the tape, unfolding the paper precisely, his brows furrowed in concentration. She stared at him and huffed. "Just open it already!" she told him in exasperation and he smiled at her impatience: his engineer's brain caused him to analyse things and be careful and precise much to her chagrin. Finally he pulled out a large flat box and opened it-and gaped.

Within was his Medal of Honor-but with it were the ribbons and medals of all his other awards and honours that he had earned during his service. In the lid of the presentation box was a simple inscription: LIEUTENANT HICCUP H HADDOCK, 5TH BERK INFANTRY. He blinked at stared at her.

"I got back all your medals and asked the Army to re-issue your ribbons in recognition that they never took proper care of you when you left as an injured veteran," she told him.

"I'm twenty-six, not sixty," he grumbled. "Veteran sounds so old!" And then he smiled. "But...thank you, Astrid. This means so much to me..." She kissed him.

"It's your past, your history, babe," she told him gently. "Not all of your past is bad and some bits...you should be very proud of." He smiled against her lips and nuzzled her.

"Especially you," he sighed and then pulled away. He handed her a small box with a huge golden bow on top. "Your turn, Milady," he said shyly and gave a small smile. "Um...hope it's okay." Her eyes widened and she began to tear the paper open heedlessly to reveal a small dark blue jewellery box. The twins were nudging each other and Heather was holding her breath as Astrid opened it-to reveal a platinum ring-with a solitaire diamond on it. Her mouth dropped open in an 'O'.

"Is it...?" she whispered. He smiled.

"It's whatever you want it to be," he told her gently and then swivelled to face her. "But we have been together for almost a year-though only sort of officially for the last nine months-and you have helped me so much in dealing with-with everything. You have fixed me, made me the person I used to be before my life collapsed. And you have given me a home, hope and a future. I can never thank you enough. Last Christmas, I couldn't see any future. This one, I can't see a future without you. So I'd like to ask you...no pressure, of course...if you wanted to spend every other Christmas with me? Milady?"

She blinked, her eyes shining as she pulled the ring free and stared at it, candlelight gleaming of the diamond. Then she looked into his hopeful emerald eyes and nodded.

"Yes," she said in a small voice. "Yes please..." He gently took the ring and slid it onto the third finger of her left hand then leaned in to kiss her. "And you...you fixed me too," she mumbled as they kissed. There was a pause as their friends cheered and Toothless barked excitedly. They rested their foreheads together.

"Are you okay?' he asked, his hands gentle on her cheeks as he kissed her again. She stared at him and smiled.

"Yes, thank you," she smiled. "You've given me hope, a new life, a future...and finally, a reason to enjoy Christmas." he chuckled and hugged her as their friends raised their glasses to the couple. "You saved me, I saved you-that's how it works, my love. Best Christmas ever," she smiled as she snuggled against him. His arm tightened around her and warm, loved and secure, Hiccup nodded, his face lit with a smile.

"And many more to come with you, Milady," he said happily. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Hiccup."

The End.

A/N: Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to you all-harrypanther.