A/N: This is the first fanfic I've written in a long time. Hoping it's ok. Haven't done much in the way of writing accents beyond a few words and yes, the narration is in British English while the speech I'm going to try and keep with American English to try and keep it as close to how the character's sound as I possibly can. I might end up slipping up though if I'm in a rush to upload without time to properly edit. Also hoping to upload a new chapter once every week, hopefully on a Sunday.

Chapter 1

Astrid Hofferson flew over Berk on her dragon Stormfly, landing in front of the forge. Toothless, the only Night Fury on the island was waiting outside, which meant Hiccup Haddock-Berk's Chief and Astrid's fiancé of five months- would be inside. She couldn't help but smile, knowing she was going to get a chance to see him for the first time that day. At least for longer than a few brief glimpses as he flew over Berk doing one job after another.

Toothless bounded over as Astrid climbed off Stormfly and took her axe from the hoister at the back of the saddle. "Afternoon Toothless," Astrid said scratching the dragon under his chin. "Hope you're not wanting to leave any time soon because I might keep Hiccup here for a while." Toothless just grinned and went off to play with Stormfly, the two of them already disappearing round the corner as Astrid walked into the forge.

Gobber was by the furnace, heating up the blade of a sword, while a fourteen-year-old boy-Gobber's new apprentice since Hiccup had become chief- was rushing around getting tools and putting stuff away. "Hey Gobber, any chance I can get this sharpened?" Astrid asked holding up her axe.

"Sure, I'll get the new lad on it straight away," Gobber said. The boy came rushing over and took the axe from Astrid, carrying it much easier than Hiccup could at his age. "The Chief's in the back room by the way," Gobber added knowing exactly who the young blonde girl was looking around for. "Working on a few things to deal with the last of that ice."

"Thanks," Astrid said heading over to the back room. She pushed aside the curtain that separated it from the main hard of the forge, to see Hiccup sitting at the desk, papers scattered over the surface. He was concentrating on what he was drawing, strands of auburn hair falling over his face as he worked. "Afternoon Chief," Astrid said letting the curtain fall as she walked into the room.

Hiccup looked up and smiled. "Afternoon Milady," he said. "And where have you been?"

"Oh you know, busy at the Academy," Astrid replied leaning against the desk. "More importantly, where have you been?"

"Here, there, everywhere. Got a lot to get done to get Berk as good as new again before the wedding."

"You know I don't care what Berk looks like when we get married don't you. Because it's not Berk I'll be spending the day looking at."

"I know. But it would be nice not to have shards of ice sticking up everywhere. And it would be great to have dad's statue completed before the wedding. Then it will feel like he's there to see it."

Astrid smiled, leaned down and kissed Hiccup gently on the lips. She knew he missed his father a lot, and the remains of the ice around the village just reminded him of the battle with Drago only two months ago, a battle that Stoick the Vast- Hiccup's father and old Chief of Berk-had died in while saving Hiccup's life. The whole village missed him and were doing their best to support their new chief while he was still grieving and finding his feet as chief. "Why don't you come over tonight?" Astrid asked. "I can cook you dinner. Or at least try to."

"That sounds great," Hiccup answered. "I'll have to tell my mom not to wait up for me." Astrid just gave Hiccup a look to say that she was more likely to see his mum long before he would get a chance to. "Or you can tell her," Hiccup added.

"You're a brave man facing her cooking Hiccup," Gobber said as he came into the back room, carrying Astrid's now sharpened axe.

"Well I've faced a Red Death, a Bewilderbeast under the control of a mad man, had multiple chiefs from other tribes attempting to kill me, been hit by lightning, trapped in ice, almost drowned and had half of my leg cut off, amongst other things, and I'm still alive. I'm tougher than I look so Astrid's cooking is nothing."

"I'm improving. I'm sure I am," Astrid said as she took her axe from Gobber.

"Of course you are, I can sallow it now."

Astrid punched Hiccup on the arm but couldn't help but smile. Hiccup got up from the chair and slid an arm round her waist, pulling her closer to him. He then kissed her deeply as her free hand found its way into his hair. "Put the girl down Hiccup, you've got work to do," Gobber said. The two youths reluctantly broke the kiss, but made no attempt to break away from each other.

"I really should get going," Hiccup said. "I'll see you tonight."

"Not if I see you first," Astrid replied. Hiccup reached behind Astrid to pick up some of the papers on the desk, gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and left the room. Astrid and Gobber followed him out, in time to see him leave the forge and jump on Toothless.

"Stoick was right about him," Gobber said getting back to work. "He is turning out to be a very good at this chief thing."

"We all knew that. Hiccup just needed that little push to realise it too," Astrid said. She sighed sadly, remembering Stoick's funeral. "I just wish that little push hadn't been Stoick's death," she added.

"Aye, but we can't turn back time now," Gobber said. "Stoick would be proud of him though, getting Berk up and running again as quickly as he has."

Astrid nodded in agreement and then took a breath. "Well I should be heading back to the Academy," she said. "Still got the afternoon classes to do."

"Tell Valka she's welcome to join me in the Great Hall for a drink tonight if she doesn't want to be in the house alone," Gobber said.

"Will do." Astrid then left the forge to see Stormfly waiting for her. She gave the dragon a scratch under the chin before putting her axe back in its hoister and climbing back on. "Ok girl off we go," Astrid said. Stormfly gave a happy cluck and lifted off into the air, taking them both back to the Dragon Academy that sat high on the cliff on the other side of the village, overlooking the sea and the village.

The rest of the members of the Dragon Academy were already there when Astrid landed, waiting for the younger children of the village to arrive for their weekly lessons on the basics of dragons, before they got to go on and learn about training and flying dragons. Fishlegs Ingerman and Valka Haddock-Hiccup's newly found mum- were already busy planning the lesson, while Fishleg's dragon, Meatlug and Valka's dragon, Cloudjumper sat behind them, watching what they were doing over their shoulders. On the other side of the circular room, Snotlout Jorgenson and the twins, Ruffnut and Tuffnut Thorston were deep in conversation. Snotlout's dragon Hookfang looked like he was asleep behind him, while the twins two headed dragon Barf and Belch were trying to wake him up, with Barf breathing out the green Hideous Zippleback gas over the Monstrous Nightmare.

Astrid decided it was best to keep well away in case of explosion, and went over to talk to Fishlegs and Valka instead. "So are we almost ready?" Astrid asked.

"Just about," Valka answered. "Have you seen that son of mine on your travels?"

"He was at the forge earlier, working on a few things. Said there was no need for you to wait up for him tonight."

"No doubt he'll be away all night," Fishlegs added, earning a punch on the arm from Astrid.

Valka just laughed and shock her head. "Well if he's going to be gone all night and sneak in before dawn just to pretend he has slept in his own bed for most of the night I think I'll spend some time in the Great Hall," she said. "Have a catch up with a few people I haven't seen in a long time."

Astrid tried to hide a blush, only just realising that Hiccup's mum was on to the fact that her son was spending whole nights at Astrid's house. And almost as fast as Stoick had when it first started to happen.

The sound of an explosion on the other side of the room caught Astrid, Fishlegs, Valka and their dragons' attention and they looked round to see the twins laughing their heads off while Snotlout stood there, his hair and clothes smoking a little, Hookfang and Barf and Belch smirking away behind him. Astrid, Fishlegs and Valka burst out laughing too. Life on Berk was back to being peaceful, and it looked like it might stay that way.