AN: Hey guys!

So pumped that you like the story and all the things that I've added to it. The reviews rocked! Sorry for such a slow update, but its because I've been super busy with work lately. A couple of you have asked me and some of you have made a few guesses as to what Astrid's gift for Hiccup is. I guess I made things a bit obvious in the last chapter, but oh well. You'll just have to read this really long chapter to find out.

SIDENOTE: I'm going to be making a Legend Of The Boneknapper Dragon: Astrid Style after I finish this one, and yeah, I think I'll dabble a little into the series if you guys really want me too.

I've also been thinking about posting a new story; an AU were Hiccup turns into a Were-Dragon and Astrid is some kick-ass hunter… but I don't know. Sound cool? Let me know!

ALSO: I recently fell in love with Macklemore, and I absolutely love CAN'T HOLD US by Macklemore + Ryan Lewis! I highly recommend the "Live on KEXP" version.

AND: I don't know which to see. "Despicable Me 2" or "Monsters University"… please let me know which one is a MUST SEE MOVIE! Thanks!

PLUS: IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE TEASER FOR HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 THEN YOU NEED TO GO SEE IT! I PRACTICALLY PEED MY PANTS!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything and everything belongs to the rightful owners.

GOTN: Astrid Style

Chapter 3: Exploding Snoggletog Traditions

It took me all the next day and the morning after, but I had finally finished my gift for Hiccup. With minor cuts and pin pricks might I add. I set my finished gift on my bed and sighed in relief. I really had done a pretty great job on my gift, especially for someone like me. Sewing and I just don't mix. I collapsed into my wooden mattress feeling satisfied yet exhausted, and it wasn't even midday.

"But at least it's finished," I huffed. "And he'll love it…I hope. He better," I said with authority. Of course, I shouldn't be too hard on Hiccup. Toothless had disappeared two days ago and Hiccup was still pretty upset about it, though he would never say he was. Well perhaps to me, but I didn't see him yesterday because I was busy making his Snoggletog present and he was busy with his father anyways. Something about future chief training. But I could assume he was upset; him and Toothless are practically brothers.

There was a sudden thump outside my window and I sat up so fast in my bed that I was sure I pulled three muscles. But that thump… "Stormfly?" I asked my empty room, staring at my open window. I jumped up and stumbled over to the window, sticking my head out for a better look around. 'She's back? Oh Freya!'

Smack! The snowball hit me square on the chest and I jumped back in surprise. Loki, did that sting! Snorts and hoots of laughter followed, telling me that I knew my attackers. I glared down at my group of friends and ducked as Ruffnut flung another. It sailed over my head and smashed to pieces when it hit my wall. I shouted out my window, "Hey!" which only received multiple whoops.

"Hey Astrid!" they all called simultaneously. I rolled my eyes. Snotlout cupped his hands together around his mouth and shouted up to me; "Hey, Astrid? Get down here! We're having a snow fight and we'll probably try to get a few of the kids to join in. Come on!" he begged. I shook my head, but smiled.

They began to whine until Tuffnut added in, "Think of it as a new tradition!"

I knew I had no choice. Ruffnut would probably and literally drag my ass out of the house whether I wanted to go or not, but I faked contemplating the decision. I put a finger on my chin and glanced up, making it look like I was trying to decide to go or not, though I knew I was. Ruffnut pushed Tuffnut aside and called up, "We'll pick up your yak-boy along the way!" I glanced down and smirked. Everyone except Snotlout laughed; he just looked upset. Oh well.

"Well," I said in mock annoyance. "I guess I should find the time to entertain you idiots, so long as we play in teams." They all shouted in agreement. I jumped back and away from the window, dashing down the stairs in a rush. I stepped outside and would have been pelted by another snowball if I hadn't slipped on the ice and fallen flat on my ass.

"Damn Loki!" Ruffnut cursed as I rolled away and ducked for cover. Seconds later, Ruffnut was shrieking as Snotlout and Tuffnut hoisted her through the air and deposited her in a high mountain of snow. The boys slapped hands and started running, knowing it wouldn't be long until Ruff was back on her feet and looking for revenge.

But, surprisingly, they didn't get far, because out of no where Fishlegs had both boys face first in a pile of snow. "Ha! White Wash!" shouted Ruffnut, picking her cold, wet self out of the snow only to slip and end up back in the pile. I laughed and bent over to form my snowball as Fishlegs hurried over to Ruffnut. Snotlout and Tuffnut resurfaced with red faces covered in fluffy snow. They laughed at each other and started wrestling playfully.

I glanced over at Ruffnut and Fishlegs and did a double take. They were staring at each other, smiling and blushing. 'Gods. Did Hiccup and I stare at each other like that?' I smirked as I tossed the snowball in my hand into the air and watched it sail with the wind, landing squarely on Fishlegs' head. Ruff squealed as the snow broke apart, then wheeled around to find me doubled over, laughing. "WAR!" she screamed and slid toward me. I was up and running along with Lout and Tuff before she could unleash Hel.

We ran through Berk, shouting and fighting. When we got to the square, we spotted an unsuspecting group of kids moping about. We approached the group slowly and undetected. I raised my hand and gave the signal to pounce. We all shouted as one, startling the kids before we started throwing snow and chasing the now squealing children around the square.

I teamed up with Snotlout, and the two of us were able to corner a few of the kids and throw them into the snow. They squealed until we let the fly and then they would resurface, anxious to get thrown again. Tuffnut and Ruffnut used one of the barns' roof as a type of dock where he would jump off and into a mountainous embankment of snow. The older kids followed the after the twins, while Fishlegs gathered the smaller kids and sat in the corner building snow Vikings.

I peeled off from the group and jogged up the path to Hiccup's. I bent over and made a snowball, crumpling it into a perfect sphere. I marched up to his front door and knocked. I was lucky that I wasn't Stoick who opened the door, because without even looking, I let the snowball fly. Hiccup stumbled backwards in surprise as the snowball smacked him square in the chest, but his lips curled upwards into a smile. "Astrid. What are you doing?" he asked me, still smiling as he brushed off his furs.

I shrugged my shoulders and smiled. "We're having a snow fight down in the square and I was wondering if you wanted to join."

He looked up at me and grinned. "Do I have much of a choice?" I snorted.

"Not really."

He nodded. "Well, then…"

I squealed as Hiccup tackled me and sent me backwards into the snow. I looked up in humorous shock. "You'll pay for that, Haddock!" I screamed, picking myself up and readying to throw him into the snow, but he was already running his skinny ass down the hillside.

I raced him down the hill and all the way to the square. Hiccup slowed up ahead of me as he tried to keep his balance on the ice. I slid down the rest of the way and slammed directly into his open arms. We were a mess of limbs and giggles, my mock anger from before now forgotten. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me closer. I smiled up at him and closed my eyes, already expecting what was coming next. He kissed me chastely, still smiling as his lips touched mine.

"NOW!" We broke apart just as Snotlout threw the first snowball. It hit Hiccup in the shoulder and broke into pieces. Hiccup grabbed his shoulder to ease the stinging while Snotlout smiled victoriously. A mass of screams and shouts suddenly came from behind the barns and houses as the children jumped out from their hiding spots and began their attack. I nudged Hiccup and together we started our retaliation.

The entire rest of the day was dedicated to throwing snow and harmonious laughter. The air was light and playful. Thoughts of our dragons were gone. Everyone had forgotten why the adults were still upset; why we should have been upset. And it worked… in the beginning.

But by nightfall, the air of happiness was lost and things sank in again. The older children left when their parents called to them and we helped the younger ones get home safely; each of their smiles lighter, but still saddened with underlining pain.

I watched as the little one, that I helped home, walked up to his waiting parents until he suddenly whirled around and ran for me. My breath left my body in a rush of surprise as he wrapped his little, raised arms around my hips and hugged me tightly. "Tanks Asstridd," he whispered, like him thanking me was some huge secret that he only entrusted to me. I smiled and knelt so he could hug me more properly.

"You're very welcome," I said into his light brown hair. He let go of my neck and ran for his parents. I stood up and waved to them all before they shut the door. I sighed, feeling so exhausted, when only hours before this I was feeling even less exhausted. I was so wiped out.

Suddenly arms were thrown around me and I stumbled to keep the person who had just assaulted my haggard body and I both upright. "Hey!" I yelped playfully, knowing exactly who was attached to those arms. Hiccup chuckled into my hair and turned me around properly. I wrapped my arms around his hips and leaned against his chest fully, letting him be the one to keep us both upright. "Ugh! Hiccup, I'm so tired!"

He laughed and wrapped his arms around my shoulders tightly. We stood like that for a few minutes, just enjoying each other's company because we hadn't seen each other at all yesterday, and there wasn't much alone time for the two of us today either. But instead of doing something couple-like or romantic, we just held each other. Sometimes its just best, that instead of a boyfriend or a girlfriend, you become each others best friends. Especially with our dragons gone, because we were exactly what the other needed.

Eventually, after what felt like minutes but by the ache in my feet must have been more like a half hour, Hiccup unwrapped his arms from my shoulders and instead took up my hand in his. We walked back to my house and rambled on about nothing just because we could; friendship blending in with romantic couple. As we walked and talked about the days events I cuddle closer and closer into his side, partly because of the biting wind and partly because I wanted to be close to him, until he eventually wrapped an arm around my shoulder and let me snuggle into his fur vest.

By now our faces were closer and our couple side started taking over as he gave my hair little, pointless kisses and I giggled like an actual "girly-girl" at every snarky or sarcastic thing he said. I would have loved for my night to end with another outstanding kiss, because we were getting really good at that kind of thing, but when we rounded the corner to my house we spotted my father outside. Waiting for us.

"Oh! 'Bout time you two showed up!" he called to us, his voice louder than it needed to be; especially in the dead of night, when everyone else was already in bed asleep. I winced as did Hiccup. He lifted his arm from around my shoulder and brought it back down to his side. "I was beginin to think tha' yud nevar show up with my daughter, Haddock!" my father called again, even though we were closer than before. Of course I knew he wasn't really calling to us. He was really just trying to embarrass the Hel out of Hiccup and I by waking up the entire village. I knew that it was working when the lights in the houses next door to ours started lighting up the night. 'Oh Magni. Freya and Odin, please give my father a sore throat tomorrow. Please? For me?' I dropped my head and waited for my father to begin his campaign to the whole village about how I was late and out with Hiccup. But he was cut off.

"I'm sorry, sir." I looked up at Hiccup in surprise. He was watching my father, looking completely serious and all so… responsible. His voice was even and his jaw was set, all seriousness about him. "It's my fault that we are late. I kept her out to long. It won't happen again, sir." My jaw literally dropped as I looked from my father, who looked equally stirred, to Hiccup who still looked calm and collected. 'What in Loki's nightmares is this!'

My father snapped from his stupor and coughed. I guess he was expecting to ream us out on us being late, and Hiccup taking full responsibility must have taken him down a few pegs. "Uh-hm, yes! Uh, yes, right. Just- not again… Being late-uh, that is," he stumbled as he ran a meaty hand through his long, dark hair. He shook his head and seemed to regain some of his usual composure. "Well, say your 'goodnights' and then be on your way," he told Hiccup while crossing his arms and planting his feet on the front step. I groaned inwardly. Now my father was going to tease me for being all couple-like with Hiccup. Ugh.

Hiccup turned to me and wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug. It took me a second to snap out of my still surprised state, but I leaned into his embrace and folded my arms neatly underneath his. "Where in Thor did that all come from?" I whispered into his chest, loud enough so that only he could hear me.

He chuckled lightly before whispering into my hair, "Chief training. My dad has me talking all formal almost all the time now. It's how I am to address the chiefs of the other tribes. I guess it works on your dad as well." We pulled back giggling, even more so when we noticed my father looking on, frowning.

I turned around so my back was to him and I smiled up at Hiccup's light green eyes. He smiled back and leaned down to kiss my lightly on the cheek. As he pulled away he whispered to me, "When you wake up tomorrow, meet me at the square," and then he quickly brushed my mouth with his. I blushed furiously, partly because of Hiccup and partly because the fact that my father had just seen us kiss was so embarrassing. I nodded anyways, biting my lip to hide my smile. He gave me his signature goofy grin before my father coughed, telling us that our time was up. I turned around and walked up to the door as my father moved aside so that I could get through. He then proceeded to step in front of the door as if to guard it in case Hiccup tried to make a mad dash for me inside. I mentally smacked my forehead and peered around my father to see my yak-boy.

"Right. Well then, goodnight sir," Hiccup told my father as he backed away and off of our stoop.

"Goodnight Haddock." My father turned back around and I caught Hiccup's eyes with mine. He gave me a ridiculous smile and I had to cup a hand over my mouth to keep me from laughing. He smiled and mouthed the words, "Goodnight" to which I mouthed back at him. We watched each other until my father closed the door, breaking our contact with each other. As soon as the door was shut my father went off on a whole taunting fit on Hiccup and me, but I was still too giddy to care. He made me happy, and that's all that mattered.

"So why are we doing this?"

As soon as I woke up the next day I sprang from my bed and rushed to get dressed. In seventeen seconds flat, I was out the door before my parents were even awake. Seeing Hiccup doesn't usually make me this excited, but the fact that we could spend the entire day together was what made me anxious. And, it was Snoggletog Eve!

When I arrived at the square Hiccup was already waiting for me by the forge. My head buzzed with hundreds of ideas as to what Hiccup had planned for our Snoggletog endeavors, but I really hadn't expected a boat ride.

"My dad wants me to find my helmet," Hiccup told me as he rummaged around in the mess he calls his office, looking for some oars. "I was wearing it the day the dragons disappeared and one of them knocked it off my head." He yanked on one of the ends of the oar and it pulled away quickly, nearly striking me in the head as Hiccup stumbled to regain his balance. He looked at me apologetically but I brushed it off. "You don't have to come if you don't want to."

I shrugged my shoulders. "It's no big deal. Besides, you'll probably get bored out there and you'll need the company. And if I stay here then I'll be bored. Then I'll have to spend my Snoggletog Eve with the twins. Or Snotlout!" I snorted. I glanced over at Hiccup and laughed when I saw him frowning.

"Oh, take it easy Hiccup," I told him, shifting some of the things around on his desk so I could sit. "Like I would actually spend any bit of my time with Snotlout." I jumped up to sit but just as I did, I sat down on something hard. I yelped and slid back off. "What in Odin?" I inspected what it was that I had sat on, not noticing it because it had been hidden under a pile of papers, and noticed that it looked sort of like a wooden handle. "What's this?" I asked Hiccup, reaching for the handle.

"NO!" I was suddenly knocked to the side as Hiccup tackled me to the ground. I stared up at him in bewilderment. He quickly picked himself up off of me and started moving his papers back around. "It's- uh, just that… a thing- that you can't see! But, um- it's just nothing… and it's private… um…"

"Is it for me?" I asked, getting excited to think that he may have something to give me for Snoggletog. He looked down at me in shock before he could recover.

"What! No, no, no, no! It's- no! It's just something… private. So don't even- Astrid!" I sprang to my feet and started administering my punishment… of tickles. Turns out Hiccup is really ticklish, something that comes in handy at times like theses.

"Astrid!" he squealed. He tried twisting away from me, but I had him cornered.

"Well, come on Hiccup. Tell me and I'll stop." I hesitated for a quick second only to continue when he shook his head. "Tell me!" I shouted, laughing playfully as I tickled him.

"NO! Astr-Hey! Whoa!" I gasped as Hiccup lost his footing and slipped backwards, kicking my legs out from underneath me. We fell in a mess of flying papers and tangled limbs. His body cushioned my fall and I landed squarely on his chest. I glanced up at him in surprise and he looked back at me with wide eyes… until he crossed them and stuck out his tongue. We both burst into laughter. "You are such a dork!" I squealed, shifting so that I straddled his stomach. He smiled up at me.

"You know the last time you fell on me was in dragon training. But back then you wanted to kill me." I glared at him mischievously.

"Who says I still don't?" His eyes widened until he gave another signature goofy grin. Without warning, he pushed me backwards and lifted himself so that his face was inches from mine.

"Than take it away Hofferson." He smirked and I grinned.

"Have it your way Haddock," I told him before I grabbed the laces in his shirt and pulled him closer. He grinned and I smirked back at him before our lips smashed together for a long, hard kiss.

"Hiccup! Yar fath- oh!" We pulled away just as Gobber walked into Hiccup's office.

"Gobber!" Hiccup shouted at his mentor as the blacksmith snickered. I quickly picked myself up off of Hiccup and started brushing myself off. I wiped my sweaty palms on my leggings, and I swear my cheeks could not have been anymore red than what they were at that moment. 'Oh Freya! He saw us!' Not like there was much to actually see, but he's Gobber and who knows what kind of stories he'll come up with.

"Oh, don' worry! Hehe- I'll leave you two, uh… to it."

This time, both Hiccup and I screamed, "Gobber!"

But instead of leaving us, the mustached man stuck around in the office. "Oh, I can remembar the first time I brought a woman in 'ere-"

"Oh Gods, no!" I shouted.

"Gobber, no, please!" Hiccup begged. We wheeled around, Snoggletog gift forgotten, and worked on getting the other oar cleared. I used my hands to cover my ears as Hiccup freed the other oar, all while Gobber was saying something and pointing at random spots around the room. Hiccup started to get greener and greener, almost matching his tunic, until we both grabbed the oars and scrambled out the door; leaving Gobber to snicker at our retreating figures.

"Oh Gods, that was awful!" I shouted. Hiccup could only nod, looking very pale.

"I never in my life, ever want to hear that story ever again," he told me, shuddering. I smiled sympathetically at him and gave him the oar I was holding.

"I'll meet you down at the docks. I just have to go tell someone that we're leaving." Hiccup nodded and I leaned over to kiss his cheek. "Take it easy, Haddock. No need in getting sea sick on land," I joked, to which he smiled lightly.

I jogged down one of the paths that would lead further into Berk while Hiccup headed for the docks. 'So far, this Snoggletog Eve could have gone off better than how it has, but now Hiccup and I can spend the rest-'

"Astrid!" I glanced over to see the rest of the gang, minus Fishlegs, moping about one of the barns. Ruffnut pushed off the wall and jogged up to meet me, while Snotlout and Tuffnut took their sweet time. "What are you doing?" she asked me.

"Going on a boat ride with Hiccup," I told 's eyes widened, but he remained silent and turned his shoulder away from the rest of us. I watched him for another second, wondering what could have gotten into him, but someone screamed.

"Meatlug! AHHHH!"

I wheeled around and we all shouted, ducking just in time to miss the claws of the Gronckle by inches. 'A dragon?!' I gave myself whiplash as I tried to get a better look at the dragon, only to come up short as I saw a very familiar pair of eyes staring back at me in panic.

"Hiccup!" I called out as I saw him get carried off by Meatlug. "Where are you going?"

"I have no idea!" And just like that, he was gone.

"What in Loki!" shouted Ruff as she picked herself off the ground. Snotlout stuck out a hand which Tuffnut took, him being the only one who didn't react in time and ended up face first in the snow. Suddenly a voice called out above us.

"Meatlug! What about presents! Wait!" We all looked about and spotted Fishlegs standing by his barn with his arms wide open. Instantly I was up and running, heading for the incline to take me up to Fishlegs' barn. I could here the shuffle of the gang behind me as they followed my pursuit. When we reached the barn Fishlegs was inside, moping about the spot that his dragon had laid in not moments before. "I can't believe him," he said somberly.

I glared at him as the rest of the gang filled into the barn. "You can't believe him!" I screamed. I took my arm and backhanded Fishlegs' shoulder. "You kidnapped your dragon!" 'And Hiccup!'

Fishlegs winced. "Well that makes it sound so mean," he told me in a small voice as he rubbed his shoulder.

"Hey guys…"

I ignored Tuffnut and continued my rant to Fishlegs. "He flew away the second he was unleashed!" I wasn't really mad about Fishlegs keeping his dragon in captivity. I was more angry with the fact that his dragon just ruined my Snoggletog Eve with Hiccup!

Fishlegs shook his head. "I'm seventy-two percent sure that he wanted to stay-"

"Guys!" We both looked up and at Tuffnut who was leaning over a pile of hay. Ruffnut was also looking at something in the hay. 'What in Odin?' I peered around the twins and gasped. A giant pile of what looked to be blue colored rocks was lying in the hay, having been covered before. My heart sped up as I realized what they were.

"Whoa! Meatlug barfed up a pile of rocks." I almost smacked my forehead at Fishlegs' stupidity. Luckily, Ruffnut beat me to it.

"You're such an idiot… those aren't rocks. Your dragon laid eggs!" she explained to him. I gently bent over one of the blue eggs and picked it up. The texture sure felt like a rock, but as I held it I could feel the weight shift around inside. 'Definitely not a rock.'

"Hey wait," I said, an idea suddenly jumping into my mind. "I bet that's why the dragons left. To lay their eggs!"

"But, boy dragons don't lay eggs…" This time I did smack my forehead, and I could hear Snotlout snort next to me.

"Uh-yeah. Your 'boy dragon' is a girl dragon." Fishlegs froze.

"Oh! Okay! That actually explains a few things…"

'Dragon eggs… people sad… Snoggletog traditions…'

"Hey!" I shouted, suddenly jumping into the air as my head tried to race ahead of my actions. I had the perfect idea. "Everyone's missing their dragons, right?" I questioned as I looked around the room for some yarn. Better yet, I found a red ribbon in one of the boxes on the shelves.

"Uh, here it comes." I glared over at Snotlout and he shrugged me off. Didn't matter anyways. I raced over to it and started winding it around the outer shell of the egg.

"I've got an idea. It'll be another new Snoggletog tradition!" I told them as I held up the egg, now wrapped up in a neat little bow. I smiled brightly as they shrugged their shoulders, their sign of 'Yeah. Sure. Whatever.' My last Snoggletog tradition attempt wasn't so good, but I just knew that this one was going to go out with a bang!

After all the eggs were wrapped in bows, we spread ourselves out through all of Berk just as the Vikings went up to the Great Hall for some Snoggletog Eve celebrations. While the Vikings were away, we snuck into each house and left one egg for each family. I couldn't believe my luck! I could just imagine; unsuspecting kids running down the stairs and finding a baby Gronckle waiting for them. I ran into the last home in Berk and left the last egg in a sack that was already overflowing with toys. I snuck back outside and met up with my fellow comrades.

"Wasn't this a great idea!" I squealed. Fishlegs nodded enthusiastically.

"Uh huh! Everyone is going to be so surprised!" I smiled. I finally did something right…

BANG!

I flinched as something exploded from behind me. I turned to see the house behind us smash to pieces, just as a piece of debris splintered off and flew straight for us. I smashed off of Fishlegs and shot into the air. Fishlegs fell to the ground in a heap.

"SURPRISE!" Snotlout screamed. I glared at him while the twins high-fived. Just then the debris that had splintered off of the house, came crashing down and landed on Fishlegs. But I suddenly realized that it wasn't debris at all; but a tiny, baby Gronckle. It looked up at us and yawned so adorably.

"Aw…" The gang cooed, but I froze. 'Baby Gronckle… explosion… the eggs…'

"The eggs explode?" I said to the group but more to myself. 'Oh Gods. Say it ain't so!' But it seems like the Gods were out to get me that Snoggletog because moments later another explosion sounded. Followed by another. Both inside someone else's home. "THE EGGS EXPLODE!"

Suddenly a mass of running, burning Vikings entered the square as more and more homes began to erupt. "Sorry!" I screamed to one man as he ran from his burning home. Another man ran by screaming and I apologized again. And again. And again. And again.

It was total chaos. We had deposited a single egg in each home; a single egg erupted in each home; a single egg destroyed each home. I winced with each explosion. It wasn't bad enough that the eggs were destroying the homes, but now they were slamming into barns and scaring the animals. 'Oh Loki, why?' Three baby Gronckles, freshly hatched and still ablaze, soared into our Snoggletog Tree and set it alight.

The twins awed at the damage being done, while Snotlout chuckled. "This is your best idea yet!" he shouted to me above the noise of Berk being demolished. I whimpered to myself. 'This was awful!'

It seemed like an eternity before the explosions stopped. Stoick ran around trying to calm and rally everyone together, but when he realized that we weren't under any sort of attack, he turned to us. Pissed.

"What in Thor's name is goin on!" he demanded. The gang all turned their heads to me, and suddenly all of Berk was watching me. Mad as Hel. I cupped a hand over my mouth and shook my head. It couldn't get any worse, could it.

"The eggs explode…" I told him quietly. I flinched as a stray baby Gronckle finally hatched in one last home. I looked up and smiled weakly. "It was supposed to be a new Snoggletog tradition."

I winced as the gathered crowd of Vikings began shouting God awful things at me. I caught a glimpse of my parents, their heads bent low and their hands across their foreheads. Yeah, I really messed up this time. Stoick raised his hand to silence the crowd, and after a few more ungrateful shouts the Vikings silenced themselves. Instead of yelling at me like I thought he would, he did something much worse. Instead, he pulled out his hammer and handed it to me.

"If by 'new Snoggletog tradition' you mean rebuilding Berk, then consider it a job well done." I slumped, partially because of the hammer and partially because of my own failure. Stoick then turned to the rest of the gang and handed each of them a hammer.

"What- wait a minute!" cried Snotlout. "It was here idea!"

"And you played a part in this. So you'll help clean up." He turned to the rest of the crowd and shouted, "We'll all help clean up," which earned a chorus of protest and more insults directed at me. I sighed heavily and turned away from my adoring new fans. Fishlegs had gathered the rest of the baby Gronckles and corralled them into a corner where they had started snacking on barrels of food. At least they seemed happy.

I set to work on the roof of a house that only needed a patch job. With a few jostles of my ladder by Vikings who "accidentally" ran into it, I finished the first house and set to work on another. As I climbed the ladder of the next home, I found my father working on the other side. He paused for a moment before sighing.

"Astrid. What were you thinkin?" I groaned heavily and started patching up a hole on the other side of him.

"Dad, I just wanted everyone to be happy," I told him, my words coming out more like whines. My eyes stung, partly because of the lingering smoke and partly because of unshed tears from today's events.

"You mean, you wanted to be happy." I looked up at him and cocked my head to the side. I didn't quite follow his reasoning. How could I be happy if all I did was fail? He glanced at me before nailing another board into place. "You miss yar dragon. If you could do somethin to occupy yar time, then you wouldn't miss 'er so much."

After a moment I nodded. What he said was true. Painfully true. I had been using this idea as a way of forgetting Stormfly, and each time I failed it only hurt worse and worse. At least before I had Hiccup for comfort, but now he's gone too. I sniffed and rubbed my eyes, not caring if my father saw me or not.

"But it's the thought that counts." I glanced up at him with watery eyes and smiled half-heartedly. He smiled at me before he descended his ladder and left to fix up another home. It kind of felt like the old days just then. Everyone bustling about, making repairs on their homes because of a dragon attack. Back then, things were simple; now, they're just a mess. I glanced up into the sky and prayed to the Gods for a miracle. What I got, was pretty close to one.

I heard it before I could see it. This constant thunder, like a million wings beating at the same time, and it was gradually growing louder. I stared up into the night sky and off in the distance I could barely see a silhouette. Or a hundred silhouettes.

"The village is destroyed. The dragons have gone and left us. Lets face it! This holiday is a complete- what are these people looking at?" Stoick pushed his way through the crowd beneath me as we all stared up into the cold, winter sky and watched as a mysterious and severely deformed cloud made its way toward Berk. It looked like a flying ship, for Magni's sake! But as the cloud got closer, our hopes began to rise as we realized what the cloud actually was. "It's Hiccup!"

Scores of Vikings cheered as Hiccup came into view ridding a Monstrous Nightmare, a whole cavalry of dragons flying behind him. Latched in each of their claws was a line of rope that was connected to a ship that they were carrying.

"And our dragons!" I shouted in joy, subconsciously searching for a pretty blue head. Hiccup steered the dragons closer to the ground and just as the boat hit the cliffside, it slid to a stop. They let go of the ropes and lighted down into the snow. We all waited, wondering what it was that was inside the boat, until a tiny head popped out. A baby Nadder. Suddenly the ground was flooded with baby dragons, of all sorts. The cheering started up again as Hiccup slid down off of the Nightmare, Snotlout's dragon Hookfang, accompanied by the rest of the dragons.

I scrambled down the ladder and ran with the rest of the Vikings as they searched for their dragons. Snotlout embraced Hookfang and cheered, while Fishlegs ran for Meatlug and her babies. The twins ran up to their dragon, Barf and Belch, and slapped hands.

My heart was beating a mile a minute. Where was Stormfly? After another minute of searching, a familiar squawk caught my attention. I wheeled around and saw her standing off to the side and looking at me. "Stormfly!" I rushed towards her and she charged me. I wrapped my arms tightly around her head. "You're back!" I cried, nearly on the verge of tears. Something bumped my foot and I looked down to find three little Nadder heads looking up at me. "And there are babies!" I wished I had more hands because everyone wanted to be pet, and if I wasn't petting them then they were busy licking me.

"EVERYONE!" We all turned just as Stoick set his son down from a bone crushing hug. "To the Great Hall! We finally have something to celebrate!" Vikings galore cheered for Hiccup and started rushing for the Hall. I turned and began to usher my dragon, or dragons, along with the others until I caught sight of Hiccup. He glanced at me before he spread open his arms.

"Gods Hiccup!" I shouted and ran to him. I practically jumped into his arms and wrapped mine tightly around his figure. He wheezed a little but chuckled when I eased up.

"Wow," he said once he had enough air in his lungs. "If this is how you greet me after I've left, then I should leave more often." I pulled back instantly and punched his shoulder. He hissed and rubbed the newly bruised spot.

"Cut it out! I didn't even know if you'd be back," I told him, my lip pouting slightly. He smiled and I rolled my eyes. "Where did you go? And how did you get the dragons back here?" I asked.

Hiccup knelt down just as Stormfly waddled over with her babies and picked up the one closest to him. "It was incredible, Astrid. The dragons have this island that they migrate to so that they can have their babies safely. And get this, dragon eggs explode when they hatch!" I rolled my eyes.

"You're a little late with that one, Hiccup." He looked at quizzically before he noticed the rest of the village.

"What in Thor-"

"Where's Toothless?" I asked, wanting to get out of the spotlight for a few minutes. As soon as the question left my mouth, I knew something was wrong. Hiccup had come back riding Hookfang, not Toothless, and I hadn't seen the black lump anywhere.

Hiccup frowned and set the Nadder he was holding back on the ground. "I don't know," he told me looking depressed. "He wasn't on the island with the other dragons." I bit my lip.

"Well maybe he was just… um- on a different island?" I offered. I mentally smacked myself for being so idiotic and so illogical. Of course Toothless wasn't on another island. 'Way to be, Hofferson.' But Hiccup appreciated it regardless.

"Yeah, maybe." He looked up at me and gave a half smile before he offered his hand. I took it and the two of us, six if you include Stormfly and her babies, made our way to the Great Hall. Once we were inside we found the rest of our tribe celebrating like never before. People were dancing, drinking, laughing, singing, and Gods know what else they were doing. I caught sight of my father and mother, who were laughing along with a few other Vikings, until my mother spotted me and started to wave me over. I let go of Hiccup's hand and walked over, followed closely by my dragon and her babies.

"Astrid!" My mother squealed, clearly intoxicated. I rolled my eyes as the rest of the Viking crowd greeted me, before my mother handed me a sloshing beverage. I looked down and realized what it was.

"Is this my Yak-nog?" I asked, somewhat surprised. My father stumbled forward before using his wife to keep himself balanced. I tried to ignore my father's open gestures as he started to fondle her, directly in front of me, before he stammered; "Astrid! Yar dragon got knocked up, but thass all right, causse we'll take care o' er, and all er bastard kiddies!" The Vikings hollered and I turned away, half smiling and partly disgusted by my parents lewd behavior. 'Eck!'

I walked around the Hall for a bit, looking for Hiccup, while Stormfly herded her children into a quieter corner. I watched as Vikings bonded with their dragons and a few new ones, while the children occupied themselves with the babies. I smiled. Everyone was happy; everyone was back with their dragons… everyone except one.

I finally found him standing by one of the poles by closest to the door. He was watching a few youngsters play with a baby Zippleback and he looked joyful, but I could tell that he was only acting.

"Hiccup." He turned when he heard me, and he tried to shake the look of underlining sadness from his eyes, but I knew him too well. "I know this must be really hard for you seeing everyone with their dragons." His faced dropped and his head drooped to stare at his boot and prosthetic. I reached forward and grabbed his hand, bending over so that I could meet his lowered eyes. "But you really did a wonderful thing." He smiled and I raised my hand to his chin, raising it so he had to look at me fully. "Thank-you."

I leaned forward and collided my lips with his. Hiccup sighed and I could feel him relax into the kiss. I pulled back and wrapped my arms around his neck to bring him into a tight hug. Though the kiss was brief, it said a lot. If Hiccup needed a girlfriend, I could be that; but if he needed a best friend, I could be that as well.

"Astrid, where did Toothless go?" I sighed.

"I don't know…" My voice faded as I heard the Great Hall door creak. I looked up just as the door was opened and my breath caught in my throat when a oh-so-menacing black dragon wandered in. Toothless glanced around the Hall, looking for his rider, until he spotted us. I smiled like Loki as a wicked idea popped into my head.

I pulled back from Hiccup and held his shoulders at arm length. "Wow. Man, wouldn't want to be you right now," I said as seriously as I could muster. Hiccup frowned slightly and I brushed my bangs aside to hide my smile. "I mean, you brought back everyone's dragon except yours." Hiccup frowned fully and actually gave a low growl.

"Yeah, you know, this is not… helping," he told me sarcastically. I bit my lip but I couldn't contain myself any longer. "At all- Egh!" I shoved Hiccup's chest and spun him around, so that when he regained his balance, he was staring down the snout of the black beast. Hiccup's eyes brightened.

"Toothless!" The two ran at each other like their lives depended on it. "Hey bud!" The pulled up short when they stood face to face before Hiccup gave in and wrapped his arms tightly around his dragons neck. By now everyone in the Great Hall was watching the duo, a few even cheered. Suddenly, Hiccup pulled away and started scolding Toothless.

"Bad dragon! Very bad dragon," he told Toothless frowning, but his frown turned into a smile. He pointed his finger and started waving it in front of Toothless, who followed it without any concern that he was in trouble. "You scared me to death! Don't ever stay away that long again and- what is in your mouth?" We all watched as Toothless lifted himself up onto two legs, so that he was leaning over Hiccup, and then opened his mouth to engulf Hiccup's head in a slimy, dragon-saliva filled greeting.

I wretched as Snotlout, who had come to stand next to me holding a baby Nightmare, looked on in mild-disgusted humor "Have fun kissing that later," he snickered, before I elbowed him in the stomach. We all knew the brunt of a dragon's affections, but it seems that Toothless was taking it to a whole new level. The rest of the Vikings laughed and gagged, the only one not gagging being Tuffnut.

When Toothless finally pulled away, letting his tongue slide off of Hiccup's soggy head last, we finally found out what was in his mouth. Hiccup shook his head and wiped his eyes of as much slime as he possibly could. "Yeah, you shh- you found my helmet," he commented, his sarcasm dripping like the slime on his helmet. Then his eyes widened. "Hey! You found my helmet!" Toothless nudged his rider affectionately. "That's where you've been?" Toothless nodded and Hiccup smiled. "Buddy? Thank-you. You are amazing," and then he hugged him.

The Vikings started to holler, and I raised my voice to be heard above theirs. "Happy Snoggletog!" All the Vikings cheered.

Well, that's that… for now! Stay tuned to find out what Astrid's gift was, and what ACTUALLY happened that Snoggletog Eve!