"HAPPY SNOGGLETOG!"

Hiccup and Astrid shared a brief kiss as the couple shared in the joyous celebrations going on around them as the town cheered, clapped, and began the merry festivities in earnest. Streamers went flying and sparklers and fireworks flashed as music began to play.

"Happy snoggletog Hiccup," Astrid said as they parted and she hugged him tightly.

"Happy snoggletog Astrid," Hiccup stated as he and Astrid broke apart—though their hands remained warmly clasped together—and began to move about the booming town square.

Things had been going rather well as far as Hiccup could figure it. He and Astrid had been together for a little over two months so far and despite a few awkward or tense situations with Snoutlout everything had gone smoothly. The twins had adopted the bulldogs they had dotted on at the shelter, just as Fishlegs had claimed his massive retriever.

His mother had been especially ecstatic about Astrid adopting the snake—Astrid had oddly enough named her Stormfly—after it had become apparent that the scarred reptile would still have issues moving about even after her wounds had healed into faded scar tissue.

The gang still helped out at the shelter on whatever weekdays they could find time—Hiccup's presence wasn't even necessary for the twins to randomly show up some days—and on the weekends in the mornings. The animals loved all the extra attention and Valka had been pleased with the brighter attitude her son had started to sport after spending more time with others his age.

School had already been declining due to the winter holidays and with that abundance of free time social partying had picked up in earnest. Things had gotten a little hectic with Snoutout then, due to his status as the king of Berk High and the chief thrower of all parties in the area. In the end, things had smoothed out and Hiccup had been able to merge into the social scene of high school partying without any real fights—though there was a lot of staring—breaking out.

Partying had been an eye-opening experience for the geeky brunette.

Sure Fishlegs had gone to a few house parties and other events after he had made it onto the football team and proved that his colossal size was almost as useful as his colossal brain, but Hiccup had only had second hand accounts—often third hand due to Fishleg's timid nature even while at such an openly wild scene—of the mayhem that ensued.

Now he was going from an outside observer to the boyfriend of Astrid Hofferson. The change was so sudden he had literally stunned a few people off their feet after he had shown up at the Jorgenson's with Astrid under his arm.

Snoutlout had of course tried to hit on Astrid. Failing there harder than he had ever expected, the brutish—if only slightly waking up now to the idea that Astrid had actually dumped him—football captain had then decided to make Hiccup go shot for shot with him. This initiation had the duel outcomes of both somewhat resolving things between Astrid and Snout while also leaving Hiccup sick for days. This had caused no end of teasing and delight for the twins.

Hiccup drank a lot more carefully now.

Sort of.

"Astrid!" Ruffnut cried as she and Tuffnut came up to the couple.

"Hiccup!" Tuffnut added.

"You guys are coming to Fishleg's house after this right?!" Ruffnut demanded as she and Tuff giggled excitedly.

"Yeah, we're just taking in the lights and stuff," Astrid told her as Hiccup idly wondered how much of his best friend's home would be left standing tomorrow. Fish's parents had decided to spend the holiday at a party across town and thus had left their book-smart son in-charge of the house for the night.

Naturally Snoutlout had wanted to throw a party.

And naturally it would probably incur large amounts of property damage and a hefty amount of paperwork for the local police by the time it was shut down.

"Cool, see you there!" Ruff stated as she and her brother turned away and headed off in search of more debauchery.

"Yeah, see you!" Tuff said over his shoulder as he waved excitedly.

"Those two are way to amped up for this," Hiccup stated simply as he watched them go.

Astrid snorted as she pulled him towards a light display that was more colorful than it was innovative.

"Yeah, well they live for wild adventures and a Jorgenson party at an Ingerman house has never been seen before...so it'll be one for the history books." She agreed as they strolled slowly down the road.

"I just hope it's not going to be the final chapter. If Fish's place gets trashed his parents will probably go into diabetic shock again..." Hiccup commented.

"It won't be that bad," she said with an eye roll before a loud warcry could be heard moments before the two were dive-tackled by a tall, lithe, female.

"You finally got together! Ah!" The tall blonde female cried happily as she hugged the pair with equal enthusiasm before letting them loose.

"Le?!" Astrid cried as she stared at her older sister in surprise.

"In the flesh," Leifa' Hofferson admitted cheerfully as she eyed the couple with a happy and knowing stare. The Danish captain was positively beaming at the two as she stood before them in her ruffled clothes and battered boots. She looked very much like an older, more rugged Astrid, if only more animated.

"W-when did you-" Astrid began,

"I spent snoggletog-eve with Aert and then came back as quick as I could to see you guys," the older Hofferson explained as she eyed the two of them again, "and you better believe I hurried when I heard about your new boyfriend," she stressed the last word heavily while smirking.

Astrid colored a bright red while Hiccup no-doubt sported a similar expression as they both sputtered in embarrassment.

"Y-you expected this?" Astrid demanded while cursing herself for stuttering.

"Well yeah!" Leifa' stated as if talking to a child many years younger than Astrid. "Hiccup's had a crush on you since you guys were like two, it's been so obvious for so many years I just figured you were being a popular bitch...but oh you proved me wrong! I'm so happy to have been wrong!" She was almost sing-song in her giddiness.

The blushing was even worse now as the two stared at each other, then the ground, then Leifa', then the ground, then each other, and then finally the ground again as they awkwardly held hands before her.

"Well I'm glad I got to bother you two and say a few things I've kept to myself for a few years, but I have other people to see and embarrass," Le said with a wink before starting to turn away after giving them both individual hugs this time. "Oh and Hiccup?"

"Y-yes?" He said, surprised at being addressed.

"I'm really happy As here has seen the light," Leifa' said as she winked again, "but if you hurt her...I will hurt you in ways you can't even comprehend because most of them are banned in the western world." She said in a sweet tone of voice that shouldn't have been possible given her current topic of discussion, if it could be called that.

"U-uh...yes ma'am...?" Hiccup squeaked in fear.

Leifa' nodded, "good. I'll see you kids around, bye now!" She said before taking off down the road in search of new targets of conversation.

"Well...that was something..." Astrid said slowly as they immediately began to walk hurriedly in the oppisite direction.

"Yeah..." Hiccup agreed as he briefly played with Astrid's hair after they had stopped to admire a tree covered in tinsel and other festive decorations.

"She's way too animated to be a Hofferson...then again she reminds me of my dad a lot of te time..." Astrid said before glancing up.

"Yeah well...what are you staring at?" Hiccup said as he glanced up at the thing that had captured Astrid's attention. It was a mistletoe hanging innocently above their furry-capped heads.

Oh.

"I do believe you owe me a kiss Mr. Haddock," Astrid teased.

"As milady commands," Hiccup shrugged good-naturedly before leaning in to kiss his girlfriend.

Whack!

"Seriously!?" Hiccup complained with exasperation heavy in his tone as Astrid smirked and yanked him towards her waiting mouth.

"Gotta keep in practice or you'll get soft," she beamed before their lips met.

That same electric explosion that was always familiar, yet never completely familiar, exploded between the two as green irises and blue irises closed in bliss. They held the kiss for several long seconds as it deepened and wove between and around them as only an affectionate kiss between a couple could.

At last they broke for air and Astrid leaned on Hiccup's chest contentedly as their faces remained only inches from the other.

"I love you," Hiccup and Astrid murmured briefly to each other at the same exact time. They both froze in shock as they realized what they had said had been said out loud. Then they blushed heavily as they stared at the other.

"I-I-I..."

Astrid saved the two of them from a truly awkward moment by leaning forward to kiss Hiccup.

He beat her to the punch and swept Astrid off her feet in a swooping lurch that left Astrid dangling backwards with one foot up in the air. Several bypassers and onlookers clapped or cheered as they watched the spectacle of young love displayed before them.

Breaking for air for the second time in less than a minute, Hiccup looked down into Astrid's eyes and felt his knees go weak at the blonde beauty in his arms. Astrid had a similar reaction as he stomach flopped nervously as she gazed up at the brunette holding her confidently in his arms.

"I love you," she said, no longer nervous at such a brazen declaration. It was unthinkable, it was simply too soon in their relationship—and how she loved that she was in a relationship with Hiccup—to be making such a statement.

But it was also too simple, it made too much sense to even think it didn't make sense. Their entire relationship was like putting together a puzzle on the first go.

Every move they made was perfect. Every action felt right. They fit together better than Astrid and Snoutlout ever had. They fit together better than anyone she had ever heard of fitting together ever had.

"And I love you," Hiccup repeated bravely and both he and Astrid blushed lightly at his agreeing declaration.

They kissed again and it was a longer, more drawn out and emotional kiss. Then Hiccup pulled her back to her feet and now snuggled up to one another they continued their walk down main street.