This is my first HTTYD fanfiction. My knowledge primarily comes from the movies and the HTTYD wiki. I have not read the books but I plan to try soon.

I'm just saying this because I really don't want flames. ^^; Either way, all my knowledge is from the movies and wiki and maybe some other miscellaneous source. This story is gonna be really about Valka and her past, as well as Stoick and her's relationship, and then her relationship with Astrid and Hiccup and them. Please give constructive criticism. =p

HTTYD2-Dreamworks

Story: Mine. I don't want it used in any way, shape, or form.

EDIT: Fixed the issues with Astrid's dragon and edited Christmas to Snoggletog.

On a colder night than usual the vikings of Berk all rested in their homes.

In the Chief's Dwelling was both Valka and Astrid. The hearth of the fire glowed warmly in the house, keeping them both warm enough to shed their fur jackets. They sat more or less across from each other at the pit fire. Astrid was sitting in a chair made of animal skin stretched across a frame and laden with bear fur. Valka was sitting on the floor, leaning against Cloudjumper's back leg, his tail wrapped around her almost like a blanket of which she rested her arms on, holding a crude mug filled with grog.

They managed to rid the village of most the ice caused by the Alpha dragon in the last few weeks. Some still remained, but it was no longer bothersome. They figured it might melt some in the summer months, or at least be more easily terminated. Valka had spent her time mostly with Hiccup, learning of his goofy nature and wandering mind. It fascinated her how much he was like her without ever meeting her, but at the same time he was far more like his father than he'd previously conceived himself to be. She shook her head at the pang in her heart when she thought of her husband and turned her attention, discreetly, to Astrid. She didn't know much on the girl. She was bold and pretty, and was very much a leader from what she'd witnessed of her directing the ice-removal crews. Otherwise she was a mystery. A mystery that was supposedly marrying her Hiccup.

Valka sipped from the grog and lightly rubbed a spot just around the tip of Cloudjumper's tail. He twirled his neck at her and chirped. She smiled at petted his muzzle. Cloudjumper adjusted himself so he was curled around Valka as a whole, his head resting in front of her, as if to say, "don't stop now". Valka complied and continued petting her companion and looked to Astrid, who was staring at the fire.

"So, where's Hiccup?" She asked in her soft voice. Astrid jumped, seemingly from a trance, and looked at her.

"Oh, um, he's out flying on Toothless. Trying out some crazy new invention-something to do with being able to flap his wings like a dragon."

Valka nodded and chuckled. "Seems he does a lot of crazy things..."

Astrid smiled a bit, looking back to the fire. "Mhm."

Valka cocked her head at the girl's dazed sort of smile. She could recall her mother accusing her of having the same look when courting with Stoick. "I haven't had the chance to ask ye; how did you and Hiccup meet?"

Astrid blinked, looking surprised again, and then stretched her arms and back, an orchestra of cracking noises emerging. "Oh, um, well, we've kinda always known each other, I guess. I mean, he's the chief's son."

Valka nodded.

"But, um, I guess we really met-met when he started dragon training with me."

"You mean where you learned to fight dragons?" Apprehension creeped into Valka's words unintentionally that made the young girl hang her head slightly.

"Yes, ma'am." Astrid nodded. "He joined training after he got Toothless. He never hurt one of the dragons; he used all those little secrets-like you do." She shook her head and laughed a bit. "I hated him. Everyone else loved him, but I hated him."

"What changed the hate to love?" Valka asked curiously.

"I guess the first dragon ride. I followed him to where he was keeping Toothless in the woods and ended up riding with him. I mean it was terrifying, crazy, and traumatic...but in a romantic way. We kinda started dating after that. I helped him a lot when he first lost his leg, too. He had a hard time getting used to it."

Valka nodded, scratching Cloudjumper's cheek and getting an odd sort of purr. "I'd suspect so." She couldn't imagine not having her two feet. The thought nearly sent a chill up her spine. "But he seems to manage well."

"Mhm. He told me sometimes he forgets it's fake now."

Valka sipped her grog. Cloudjumper looked at the mug curiously. She smirked. "You wish to try some?"

He sniffed at the mug and looked at her expectantly.

"Hold out your tongue." She directed. He did so, making it slightly cupped. She poured grog in, and he swallowed it. Cloudjumper's face seemed to almost pucker, one eye dilating, and then shivered to the tip of his tail. and spat into the fire, making a sizzling noise. Valka laughed.

"Oh you big bahby, it's only grog." She teased. He gave her a bit of an indignant look and flopped his head on the ground, facing away from her.

"No need to be so upset. How many times have you made me try something new and I didn't like it? And then you made fun of me. Why, you laughed at me for a full ten minutes when I spat out that nasty red root you were so excited about." Cloudjumper snorted. "And lets not forget those purple berries. I couldn't un-pucker my lips for the life of me, you little troll."

Cloudjumper turned his head to Valka, a dragon smile on his face. She patted her lap, and he rested his head there so that his elaborate headdress didn't bother her, allowing her to pet his muzzle. Valka looked up to see Astrid staring in fascination.

"What? Don't you talk to your dragon?"

"Well, yeah." Astrid nodded. "But mine can't smirk."

Valka laughed, patting the long curves of Cloudjumper's face. "Cloudjumper's a rather expressive little rascal when he wants to be. Your Nadder is just as expressive, really, but her muzzle doesn't allow her to show it. To stout."

Astrid nodded a bit, watching the elder woman and dragon. Valka finished her grog and set the cup on a nearby chair, cuddling up to her dragon, resting her head on the curved headdress that went out from his face and continuing to pet his muzzle. "So you met Hiccup during dragon training, fell in love after taking a ride with him, and then helped him with his leg?"

"And his map." She nodded. "When he was first starting with it, I would ride with him on Stormfly."

"What stopped that?" She questioned.

"Well, someone had to be the responsible one in the relationship." She said, a bit jokingly. "I mean, he helped Stoick plenty, but he wasn't always around to help because of the map or an invention or something, so I'd fill in."

Valka nodded. "Ah, I see...we're you and Stoick...close?"

"Define "close"?"

"As in, did you ever...call him Dad or anything?"

"Oh, heh, no. I mean, we were pretty close-he started calling me his daughter-in-law before Hiccup even proposed, but, um...yeah, we were close. Never called him Dad, but we were close. Good friends."

Valka nodded, her heart aching slightly. She rubbed her chest a bit. Cloudjumper noticed this and bumped her chest with his flattened nose. She smiled her thanks and scratched just under his chin, making him chirp and purr. "I see. Well...I'm glad you and Stoick got along."

Astrid nodded. "Yeah. Can I ask you something?"

Valka nodded. "Oh yes, lass."

"Was this a sort of "are-you-good-enough-for-my-son" interrogation? Or are you just curious?"

"Both." Valka smiled overly-sweetly. Astrid laughed, both quietly and nervously.

"Well, have I passed?"

"Considering Stoick seems to have approved," Valka stroked Cloudjumper's headdress, "you have for the moment." A smile teased at the corner of her lips as Astrid looked at her like she hoped she was joking.

"How're you two ladies doin'?" Came Hiccup's voice from the doorway. The women looked over at the snow dusted young man with an equally snow dusted young dragon beside him in the doorway. He stepped in, Toothless following him, and removed his mask he wore while flying. Toothless went to Cloudjumper and chirped. Cloudjumper chirped back, and soon found himself having to share his heat with the cold reptile. Valka shivered and scooted away as Toothless got in the middle of Cloudjumper's curled form.

"Chilly little dragon, aren't you?" She smiled a bit. Toothless licked her face. She shook her head and wiped the slobber off best she could and smiled at Hiccup, who came over to hug her after greeting Astrid. He leaned down over Cloudjumper's face and hugged her.

"Hi, Mom." He smiled. She smiled back and ruffled his hair.

"You're chilly as an Alpha's breath, Hiccup. Sit down by the fire before you catch a cold." She said in a light command. He unquestioningly did so. Toothless jumped from his spot next to Valka in the warm embrace of Cloudjumper and snuggled next to Hiccup in front of the fire. Cloudjumper happily curled around Valka again.

"How did it go?" Astrid asked her fiancee, sitting beside him.

"Smashed into a couple snow embankments and nearly went headfirst into the frozen ocean," Hiccup admitted, "but other than that, fine."

Valka furrowed her brow in concern, an expression which Hiccup caught.

"I'm only joking." He reassured her.

"You know, Hiccup. Your father was a horrible liar, too." She said. He blushed a bit and scratched his light beard, avoiding her eyes. She had to smile at that. Just like his father.

"Heh, yeah, never could keep a Snoggletog present from me-anyway..." He muttered, rubbing his hands in front of the fire. "What were you all talking about?"

"Your mom was interrogating me." Astrid said lightly.

"Mooooom." Hiccup groaned, flopping back against Toothless.

"Well excuse me for wanting to know what kind of woman my son will be marrying." Valka said lightheartedly.

Hiccup rolled his eyes a bit and put his arm around Astrid when she laid next to him. "Anyway..."

No one spoke. They didn't have any particularly spectacular things to say, neither did they have anything for idle chitchat. Hiccup gave no details on his adventures, seeming tired and cold. They resigned to laying in their spots with their dragons and listening to the crackling of the fire and the occasional chirping of a dragon that chose to remain outside. Hiccup eventually announced that he was retiring to his bed in the loft and kissed Astrid goodnight on the lips, and his mother on the cheek. Soon after Astrid herself retired. Valka remained, staring at the fire with Cloudjumper and Toothless both up against her, their melodic breathing easing her heart to a slow, rhythmic thumping. Her eyes gradually closed and her breath synchronized with the slow and mighty beasts.