Hey guys, welcome to my first HTTYD story :) I have so many awesome ideas for this story; I'm so excited! I've written a few one-shots recently too, so feel free to check those out as well. I guarantee cuteness in this story, so ye have been warned ;)

Enjoy!

Confessions of a Lovesick Viking

Hiccup sat at the desk in his room staring at a blank paper, his right hand holding up his face as he tried to think. He wasn't thinking of what to draw or writing down flying or battle tactics, oh no; he was trying to think of something bigger than that.

She already owned axes galore, so that was out. He'd already made her nice headbands or arm bands in the past few years—he didn't want to repeat himself because he couldn't come up with something new. Even taking her on a long flight with just the two of them seemed old and boring—they did that last year.

Whatever he came up with in the end, he was sure she'd be happy and wouldn't complain. But that didn't mean that he'd be satisfied.

Astrid was turning twenty-one next Thursday. Your twenty-first year on Berk meant you'd reached full adulthood and could join the village in tribal meetings but could actually give input from now on; you could be elected into certain offices in the chief council starting at that age; you were allowed to officially get married and have kids. There were tons of benefits to turning twenty-one.

Hiccup had turned twenty-one a few months ago. Being the son of the chief, and the only son at that, Stoick had organized a huge party in his honor. He had been told that the party was typical for heirs of the tribe, but there hadn't been one in so long that he figured Stoick was buttering up the occasion.

But Hiccup didn't want his friends to turn twenty-one and have a mediocre celebration. Just because he was the chief's son didn't mean every other adult should get a pat on the back and be forgotten. He planned to do something special for all of his friends, but the most important person in the group to him, and whose birthday fell first, was Astrid.

A small smile tugged at his lips at the thought of her. Ever since that first day he saw her while at breakfast with his parents, he just knew they would be great friends one day. Little did he know the amount of struggle he'd have to go through to make that friendship reality. Or even better, little did he know as a three-year-old that she would wind up being more to him that just a friend.

But you don't think of those things when you're three.

Their relationship had grown fully over the past six years since he and Toothless ended the war with dragons. The first year or two was full of strengthening their friendship with wisps of awkwardness here and there; they kept their personal feelings mostly to themselves, but it was unmistakable to anyone watching.

But three years ago at Snoggletog Hiccup finally took a leap of manhood and asked her on a date—a real date with just the two of them, no dragons, no villagers, no Ruff and Tuff to blow something up or Snotlout to blow something out of proportion. He'd planned for weeks in advance a great day together, finishing it off at the Snoggletog party. They've been practically inseparable since.

Hiccup blinked out of his thoughts, still staring at the blank page. Sighing he dropped his feather pen into the ink well and flopped his journal closed. Clearly he wasn't getting anything done. He blinked heavily, trying to stay awake but finally rested his head on his arms on top of the desk.

When was the last time he was this tired? What was it, early evening?

He'd trained twenty eight-year-olds with Terrible Terrors from nine til noon that morning with Fishleg's help. Then he had to help Stoick take care of an accidental fire in the village center due to Ruffnut and Tuffnut's little brother Olaf's antics. The little boy was only five and he threw terror into the hearts of all who saw him—the Twins were supposedly worse, but he had his doubts.

Gobber needed his help in the forge most of the afternoon, then after dinner he took an hour flight on Toothless. Then some poor thirteen year old fell into the sea from the cliffs, so there was a mad dash through the ocean to find him. Hiccup found him, but had to dive in and drag him to the surface where Stoick pulled him out and took him to Gothi. The kid was fine, just unconscious from the fall.

And then there was ground work, helping Stoick and Spitelout rebuild the foundation of the building that had burned down earlier that day. He was supposed to help for longer than he did, but Stoick finally noticed his son's apparent exhaustion and made him go home.

Actually thinking it through now, it made sense—he'd been going this much every day for the past few weeks. No wonder he was exhausted. Hopefully his body would get used to being so busy soon.

Arms suddenly moved over his sides and hugged his middle, making him stiffen and sharply inhale. But he exhaled with a smile when the lovely smell of her newly washed hair greeted him.

"Hey you," Astrid whispered in his left ear, making him bite his lip.

He breathed a short laugh and sat up, looking up at her. "Hey, what's up?"

She shrugged, unwrapping her arms from his torso, but didn't move away. "Nothing really, I've just been looking for my boyfriend for countless hours."

He looked away sheepishly. "Sorry, I've been going nonstop all day."

"That's what I heard." She crossed her arms, "You're wearing yourself out and you know it."

"I don't deny it."

"Then maybe you should, I don't know, take a break?"

"Astrid, I'm trying to get used to being busy all the time for a reason." Hiccup reasoned, running a hand through his dark unruly hair. "If I'm going to be chief one day, I have to be able to keep moving all day, every day."

"I know," She looked across the room. "I just hate seeing you look so tired all the time."

He leaned his head on the back of the chair and gazed up at her upside down. "It's all for the greater good. I'll make you a great chief one day." He winked.

"You think so, huh?" Astrid raised an eyebrow, but he could see the corners of her mouth turning upward and the glint of a smile in her eyes.

"Oh I know so."

She smirked, unfolded her arms and wrapped them around his shoulders, clasped her hands under his neck. His heart pumped faster at her touch, but his smile didn't waver. "And how is it that you know so much?" She asked, her face looming over his.

"Because I'm dating the most beautiful girl in the world. Need I say more?"

Astrid smirked and leaned a little closer, her lips ghosting over his, but she whispered, "Prove it."

He smiled and closed the space between them, sighing at her lips on his. Her hands ended up on the sides of his face and he reached up to stroke her cheek. He could stay like this forever, he'd be perfectly content-

"Am I interrupting something?"

Astrid jerked up at Stoick's voice, standing up straight and looking at him standing on the stairs with wide eyes. Hiccup merely sighed and sank lower in his chair, clearly miffed. "Nope. Nothing at all."

"I thought not." Stoick's smirk was unmistakable as his son turned to face him. "There was a rockslide on the mountain near Mulch and Bucket's farm today. I want you to go check it out in the morning, make sure no animals got hurt or killed. Or people."

"I suppose it would be good to check for people too," Hiccup agreed. Astrid flicked him in the side of the head, making him and Stoick share a laugh.

"I'm going to throw some fish on the fire. You want some Astrid?" Stoick asked, turning back to the stairs.

"No that's alright, I'll be heading home; thank you though." Astrid smiled.

Stoick nodded and headed back downstairs, but not before calling, "Don't mind me, continue what you were doing."

"Keep rubbing it in!" Hiccup called, but couldn't hide the grin. This wasn't the first time someone had walked in on one of their kissing sessions. Astrid always seemed flustered by it, but the more it happened, the less Hiccup seemed to be fazed.

Hiccup stood up as she sighed, "Well, guess I better head home. Save some time for me tomorrow okay?" She smiled.

He reached up and moved her bangs out of her left eye, let his fingertips stroke her temple for a moment. "You got it," he whispered before kissing her forehead.

She breathed a laugh but turned toward the stairs. He followed after her, stopping at the doorway. "Want me to walk you home?"

Astrid gave him a 'seriously' look. "Hiccup, I'm perfectly capable of walking myself home."

"Granted, but that doesn't mean you have to." He argued, leaning against the door, effectively blocking her in. Stoick glanced up from the fire with a smile, listening to their banter.

"Don't make me move you," She threatened.

"There's only one way you're getting out this door," He fired back, shrugging his eyebrows at her.

Astrid rolled her eyes, "Oh I think you've gotten enough attention for the day."

Hiccup pouted and gave her the kicked puppy look. She avoided eye contact and tried to pull him from the door—he always killed her with that look. He dug his heel and prosthetic into the floor and pushed back against the door; he matched her in strength now, so it was an equal fight.

"Hiccup really, I have to go home," She huffed, crossing her arms. "And stop looking at me like that."

He only deepened the sad face, earning him a punch in the arm.

"Oww, okay fine, you win," Hiccup chuckled and opened the door for her.

Astrid walked onto the porch and smirked, "I always do. Goodnight Hiccup."

"Goodnight Astrid," He leaned against the doorframe with a smile as she walked into the pale evening light towards the village. He watched her walk away for another minute before going back inside.

Toothless was sitting next to Stoick by the fire when he closed the door. "Hey bud," Hiccup scratched his best friend behind the ear. "Where've you been?"

Toothless snorted and tossed his head in the general direction of the forest. Probably went hunting, Hiccup guessed. He sat down across from his dad and poked at the fire with a metal rod. The two Haddocks were silent for a few minutes before Stoick flipped the sizzling fish and looked at his son. He raised an eyebrow at the goofy smile on Hiccup's face.

"Alright, what are you thinking? Out with it."

Hiccup breathed a smile, but kept poking the fire. He was silent for a few moments before he stopped moving his arm and looked up at his dad. "I love her, dad."

Stoick smiled and checked the fish. "I know you do. You've loved her for longer than you think."

"I don't mean the little kid puppy love, dad," Hiccup replied, eyes back on the fire. "I would do anything for her. If she asked me to jump off a cliff to prove that I loved her, I'd do it."

Toothless growled his disagreement and Hiccup patted his head. "Of course, you'd disagree."

"Yes, I know," Stoick reiterated, putting three fish on one plate, one on the other. Hiccup always did eat light. "Your mother is the one who first said you two would get married one day."

Hiccup stopped in mid-swig of his drink. He swallowed and furrowed his brow, "Really?"

"What, you don't remember that first time you ogled Astrid in the Great Hall?"

"Of course I do," Hiccup looked away in embarrassment.

"Love at first sight."

"I thought she was pretty, but we were three, dad. It wasn't love then. Sure it may have led up to that one day, but it wasn't love."

Stoick rolled his eyes and took a drink of his mead. "The jury's still out."

"Psh…" Hiccup blew his bangs out of his eyes in response.

"So…" Stoick inspected a fish bone for a moment as Hiccup chewed, waiting for him to continue.

"So what?"

"So you should propose to her."

"Huh," Hiccup scoffed, suddenly finding his half-eaten fish more interesting. "Yeah probably…"

"Now don't get all awkward, you said you love her right?"

"Yes?"

"That wasn't a question."

"Yes, I do. Very much so, last I checked."

"Okay then," Stoick held out his hands. "So next step in the process is the proposal."

Hiccup frowned, "I guess you're right, but how does one propose? I've never really thought about it-"

"Well it goes just like this," Stoick leaned forward, gaining his son's full attention. "You walk up to her, you declare your love, ask for her hand, she will promise you many sons and you get married a few months later. Simple."

Hiccup blinked, his mouth slightly ajar. "Erm… don't you think that's kinda… blunt? Traditional? Boring?"

"That's how I proposed to your mother."

"And my comment stands."

Stoick sighed, "Only you would want to think up a whole operation. All you need for a proposal is a man and woman bound to each other by a mutual understanding to survive. Or what you might call love. Not sure which is more important-"

Hiccup rolled his eyes, "Mutual understanding. Ha!"

"Don't laugh at the old ways of marriage. It was completely necessary in some situations. But aside from that, just propose to her. You need a wife in order to take over as chief anyway and what better woman to choose?"

Hiccup looked surprised for a second. "What?" Stoick asked.

His son shook his head, "I didn't expect you to think so highly of her." At Stoick's furrowed brow, he quickly added, "Not that I thought you didn't think highly of her, I just figured you approved of us together but I… didn't really think about it."

Stoick shook his head with a smile, "Just keep digging."

"Well ya know…"

Stoick chuckled as Hiccup quietly finished his fish. He suddenly looked up with that look of an idea forming in his mind. "I wonder…" he murmured.

"Oh boy," Stoick said to Toothless. "What's he thinking now?"

"I've been trying to think of a gift for Astrid for the past few days. Her birthday is next week. I wonder-"

"Propose to her on her birthday, it'll make it more special."

Hiccup nodded, "Okay, didn't take long to convince you. But that's not special enough-"

"Hiccup, just propose to the woman! She won't care how you do it, she'll just be happy you did."

"I know, but I like planning special events."

"We could throw a celebratory party for her twenty-first year like we did for you, and then you can propose to her at the end?"

"Nah, that's too original."

"Too original? Hiccup, original is my way of proposing."

"So my comment on that being traditional and boring still stands then."

Stoick avoided that and continued, "It doesn't matter how you propose, no matter what she'll be all squeals and giggles—all women are after being proposed to."

"Uh dad, in case you hadn't noticed, Astrid isn't really into the squeals, giggles and flouncy girl attitude." Hiccup waved his arms around and spoke in a high pitch voice with each word.

Stoick pursed his lips to hide his laugh. "Can you do that again?"

"No." Hiccup ignored his father's hearty laugh, face reddening a bit. Why did he always do stupid, embarrassing things? But he too cracked a smile, rubbing Toothless' nose when he set it on the edge of the fire pit.

"Anyway," Stoick sighed, calming back down. "Do what you want I suppose, but you have a week to prepare. Don't go overboard and don't forget about your responsibilities."

Hiccup nodded distractedly as his father got up from his chair to scrape the fish bones off his plate. His mind was going in a hundred different directions, but one question was at the forefront of his mind:

How does one propose to the woman he loves?

First chapter done! I've got chapter 2 started; I'll try to get it up for you guys soon, but tomorrow's Monday, that means school (meh) and my brother is coming to visit me at school! Whoo-hoo! So I'll try to get more up to you guys soon, but I won't make any promises on a certain day. That's just silly because I can't guarantee anything haha

Feel free to drop me a review! Thanks guys! :)

~EmK