The Soldier

[Hiccup POV]

More months passed as the war continued to wage on, and have taken part in many infamous battles. Gobber was eventually called back to England by Churchill, he wanted all of his generals in the capital. Gobber wasn't too pleased about this. He along with my father broke protocol and decided to fight at the front. They were the only generals who were 'crazy' enough to do such a thing, something I admired greatly. But before left, Gobber called me to his tent to tell me something.

The night before Gobber's departure.

I walked inside of Gobber's tent, feeling a bit down after hearing the news he was heading back home. I wished Gobber would stay, he was someone I could talk too about my father, someone to tell me stories about him. But, I couldn't really protest a direct order from Winston Churchill himself.

"Gobber," I said walking inside of the tent, catching him packing a few things he had brought with him. I sighed and sat down on a nearby chair, "I'm going to miss you, but you're needed back in England to plan our victory."

"I rather, be here, Hiccup," He said sitting next to me. He took his bag and pulled out a bottle of whiskey and two metal mugs. I look up at him and gave him a small nod of the head, as he poured a cup for me as well. "Don't you remember all of the fuses your father and I made? All of the old geezers went crazy when we wanted to join the front."

"Of course, I remember." I said with a soft chuckle as I took my mug, "My father kept ranting about them. The only reason those generals stop their whining, was after Churchill told you guys it was alright."

"It took a lot of convincing that's for sure, but I'm glad Winston allowed us to come here. It's a great moral support for the men, knowing their superiors are willing to risk their lives as much as they do." Gobber said as he took his mug. He smiled and hit it against mine before we both drank our drinks. I took the bottle and poured us some more.

"It was good timing as well….. I heard rumours the men at the front, were all accusing of the higher-ups of being wimps. Too afraid to leave their comfy chairs, high wages, and pampered lives to actually care about the war or the men fighting it. When you and my father arrived at the front it reassured them."

"I hope all of our efforts made an impact," Gobber said glancing at his bags, "Handling the other generals…. Is a battle of is own."

"I'm sure you can handle them, Gobber," I said smiling at him. Gobber returns the smile and messed my hair as we shared a laugh.

"Now! Enough of me. I called you here for a special reason," he said

"You did? Whatever for?" I asked placing my empty mug down only to have Gobber refill it.

"Lieutenant Hector Haddock, you've shown great leadership skills during the war. You've demonstrated how brave you are, how selfish you can be, and how caring you are towards the men fighting along with you. Because of your outstanding work to the British Military, your key inventions and plans which allowed us to win many battles. I'm proud of promoting you to Lieutenant Colonel. " he said with a huge smile appearing on his face.

I simply stared in utter shock. Lieutenant Colonel? Did I hear him right? There's no way, Gobber promoted me so high. I wasn't even promoted to Captain or major?!

"Before you say anything, boy," Gobber said, sensing I was about to protest the promotion like I had done before. "I'm promoting you, Lieutenant Colonel because it's well overdue. You deserve this new rank, Hiccup, embracing it. Many lives and battles would have been lost without you. We've only been able to get this far in the war because of you."

"But…. Its Lieutenant Colonel….. won't the others think you're favouriting me? Because your friends with my father?" I worriedly asked. I looked into Gobber's eyes and saw he had a calm expression like he knew I was about to ask such a question.

"Then shows them this," Gobber pulled out a letter from his bag and placed it on the table in front of me. My eyes immediately noticed the royal crest. I let out a soft gasp and quickly removed the letter from the envelope with my eyes scanning the letter. "King George and Winston Churchill have both approved your promotion. They've seen the reports of your many battles, Hiccup. The king himself asked why you were still a lieutenant, and Winston agreed with him."

"I, King George VI, hereby promote Hector Haddock from the Princess of Wales's royal regiment to Lieutenant Colonel." My eyes look back at Gobber and than the letter. I kept repeating this movement as I simply couldn't believe my eyes. This was differently the king's seal, no doubt about it. It was an official with the prime minister's signature right beside the king's.

"Hiccup, you deserve this promotion, accept it." Gobber said as he places a large hand on my shoulder, "Your father would be so proud of you, and he would want you to accept it as well."

Astrid would want me to accept this too, I let out a sigh and looked up at him. This promotion is incredible, I had never heard of a soldier skip so many ranks before. Did I truly deserve this? Clearly everyone around me, heck, even the Prime Minister and the King of England thought so. I…. I….. deserve this…..

I sat up from my chair and saluted him, "I, Hector Haddock from the Princess of Wales's royal regiment, proudly accepts the promotion to Lieutenant Colonel. Thank you, General Gobber. Please send my regards and great appreciation to King George IV and Prime Minister Winston Churchill."

Gobber sat up as well, "I will gladly pass on the message, Lieutenant Colonel," he said saluting as well, "Congratulations, Hiccup."

I smiled and couldn't hold myself back. I quickly wrap my arms around him, embracing him in a tight embrace. Gobber laughs slightly as he hugs me back.

"As Lieutenant Colonel, you are allowed to leave the front to be placed in a better position?" Gobber said smiling.

I looked up and laugh since I already knew, he knows my answer. "Thank you, but I rather stay here with the men."

We both laugh and sat down to finish the bottle.

Present

I stood in front of Astrid as I finished telling her about my promotion. Our relationship was going pretty well. We weren't the typical couple, of course, we couldn't go out on dates, or express our feelings for each other in public. But what we had now was perfect, Astrid was still James to everyone except for myself and Fishlegs. We would sneak a few kisses here and there when we were certain no one was there. Right now, I could see 'James' trying to hold herself back from hugging me. The excitement in her eyes could be seen as clear as day.

"Oh! I'm so happy for you, Lieutenant Colonel! Oh my gosh! It sounds so perfect too! I'm glad I can still call you lieutenant!" Astrid said smiling big and uncomfortable holding herself back.

"Thank you, James," I said with my eyes scanning our surroundings. I noticed a few soldiers around us who were out of earshot from us, "I was only able to accept this promotion because of you…. And Gobber."

"Me?" Astrid asked smiling at me

"You and Gobber…. Help me regain some of my lost confidence," I said bitting down on my bottom lip, wishing I could hold her in my arms right now.

[Astrid POV]

I smiled tenderly at him with my eyes looking around our surroundings as well. We anxiously waited for the slightest moment we could express ourselves. A large passing truck that would hide us from a quick kiss, or a warm embrace from his arms. But today wasn't our luck, I simply had to hold myself back from taking him in my arms, "Because you deserve it, Hiccup," I said.

He smiled and gave a small nod of his head, "Thank you…."

A few hours later

I sighed as we made our way to the coast, we were walking at a fast pace. We had to get to the coast in less than two days. We were given a window to liberate the trapped soldier on Dunkirk, Hiccup had already formulated a plan on bringing the soldiers back. The generals were concerned about the lack of military ships around the area. There wasn't enough to bring all of the solider back, but Hiccup suggested to ask the locals to assist us. They would use their boats to bring back the ally forces to safety.

"Come on, men! Move your asses! We have to get to the checkpoint in less than an hour!" Hiccup shouted with the men shouting, yes sir.

"Sir," I said running up ahead to catch up to him.

"What is it?" he asked me

"Maybe we should take a break?" I said looking back at the exhausted soldiers, "The troops haven't rested since we left."

"We have to reach the checkpoint in less than an hour, " he said

"I understand, sir, but we are ahead of schedule and the men are exhausted. They might not be able to perform once we arrive at the coast." I said smiling at him, hoping he would understand where I was coming from.

Hiccup frown at me before looking back at his soldiers, he sighed in annoyance seeing how exhausted they were. "Very well….. We'll take a break! Ten minutes!" he shouted with the troop sighing in relief.

I smiled and stood in front of Hiccup, I looked around and sighed noticing the men were too busy removing their heavy bags to notice them. I discreetly held his hand, "Don't worry, Hiccup." I softly whispered feeling his hand tighten around mine, "We're going to win this war."

"And then we can be together," he whispered in return.

"I love you," I whispered releasing his hand. I smirk slightly as I held back a small laugh, seeing hiccup's surprised expression. He quickly cleared his voice and return his strick facial expression, but I could swear I notice a blush on his cheeks.

"You do?" he asked with his eyes avoiding mine.

He's so flustered, I smiled and really wanted to laugh at his adorable reaction. "I sure do," I said.

He smiled and was about to say something when we were suddenly under fire. The men taking on by surprise all scattered away, trying to find cover from the waves of bullets coming out of nowhere. "TAKE COVER AND RETURN FIRE!" Hiccup shouted as he pulled me down to the ground, taking cover behind a tree.

I quickly grab my rifle and look around for the enemy, "Where the hell are they?!" I said looking around the empty meadow.

"It's a surprise attack…. Dammit…. They probably have snipers nearby," Hiccup said looking around, seeing the troop preparing they're refiled as well once they had taken cover.

"I'm so sorry, Hiccup…. This is all my fault…." I said with gunfire quickly being exchanged from both sides.

"They were probably following us for a while. They would have made their move sooner or later," he said and gave me a reassuring smile.

"GRENADE!" we both look back trying to see who had called it out. We soon heard something strike the tree. We looked down seeing a grenade roll down and stop in front of us. Hiccup gasp pulling me into his arms, he had just managed to push us out of the way when the grenade exploded. We struck the ground with this loud ringing in our ears.

"Hiccup….." I managed to say feeling all disoriented. I groan with the ringing growing louder, I rub my head and felt something heavy on top of me.

"LIEUTENANT!" someone yelled with more gunfire being heard, "GET THE MEDIC NOW!"

Medic? I shook my head some more as my vision started to refocus. Why did someone call for a medic? I'm not injured? Who would need a med-

"Hiccup!" I said as my eyes finally focus on Hiccup as he lay on top of me. I gasp in horror as I gently, but quickly removed myself from underneath. "Hiccup!" I shouted seeing his back was impaled with shrapnel, his left arm burnt with his head striking a rock from the fall. Tears started to overflow, I went over to him and tried to wake him up. "HICCUP! PLEASE WAKE UP! PLEASE!"

"GET OVER HERE!" someone shouted with his arm motioning me to come over, "WE'VE LOCATED THOSE GERMAN BITCHES!"

"NO! IM NOT LEAVING HIM!" I shouted quickly returning my attention to Hiccup's unconscious body. Oh, no…. he's losing too much blood…. i…. I have to stop it! Quickly without thinking, I removed the bandages that held down my chest. Not caring that the entire unit can see that I was a woman, no that wasn't on my mind right now. I had to save Hiccup! I had to save him no matter what!

"IM COMING ASTRID! HOLD ON!" Fishlegs shouted before taking cover from a wave of bullets.

"Astrid?" Fishlegs heard noticing a few men looking at each other.

"Did James have….. breast?" another asked

Dammit…. The secrets out, Fishlegs groan in annoyance, "Nows not the time! Shoot them!" he yelled motioning the Germans.

"Hiccup…. Please… don't leave me…." I cried wrapping the bandages around his chest or attempting too, "Please hang on…. Please! I love you so much! Don't you dare leave me… HICCUP!"

Sorry for the long wait. Life got busier