Chapter Text

Chapter Five: The First Snow

The walk home was quieter than Hiccup expected.

Not awkward.

Just peaceful.

The celebration at the North Pole had faded behind them, the music and laughter swallowed by the snowy forest. Moonlight filtered through the branches overhead, turning the path silver beneath their feet.

Jackie walked beside him with Lumi bundled securely against his chest.

The little girl had finally succumbed to sleep, her cheek resting against her mother's shoulder, one tiny hand curled into the fabric of Jackie's wrap.

Toothless padded along behind them.

Every few minutes, the Night Fury glanced toward the sleeping baby as though checking to make sure she was still there.

Hiccup smiled.

"He really likes her."

Jackie looked over his shoulder.

"He does."

"I don't think I've ever seen him take to someone that quickly."

Jackie smiled down at Lumi.

"She's very easy to love."

The words were simple.

Certain.

Hiccup looked at him.

"Yeah."

Jackie glanced over.

Hiccup smiled.

"She is."

A faint blush touched Jackie's cheeks.

He looked away.

For a few moments, they continued in silence.

Then Jackie spoke.

"Thank you."

Hiccup blinked.

"For what?"

"For tonight."

Hiccup smiled.

"I should be thanking you."

"Why?"

"Because you let me dance with you."

Jackie laughed softly.

"You asked very nicely."

"I was terrified."

"You didn't look terrified."

"I was."

Jackie glanced at him with an amused smile.

"You hid it well."

"I've had practice."

Something about the words made Jackie's smile fade slightly.

Hiccup noticed.

But before he could ask, Jackie looked ahead again.

The trees began to thin.

A small cabin appeared in the distance.

Warm golden light glowed through the windows.

Hiccup slowed.

"That's your home?"

Jackie nodded.

"Mhm."

The cabin was small, tucked beneath the trees and surrounded by snow-covered bushes. Little snowbell flowers dotted the path, glowing faintly beneath the moonlight.

It was beautiful.

Not grand.

Not imposing.

Just warm.

Safe.

Hiccup found himself smiling.

"It looks like you."

Jackie blinked.

"What does that mean?"

"Cozy."

Jackie laughed.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"It was."

They stopped at the edge of the clearing.

Jackie shifted Lumi slightly, careful not to wake her.

Hiccup looked at the sleeping child.

"She really is out."

"She'll probably sleep through me putting her to bed."

"Probably?"

Jackie smiled knowingly.

"She's my daughter. She has a talent for making me regret saying things like that."

Hiccup laughed.

"I can relate."

"You have children?"

"...once," he admitted. "A long time ago."

Jackie nodded.

Hiccup needn't continue. Jackie could sympathize for how hard it was to outlive someone, but he was...

perhaps the word is lucky.

Most of the group of his first believers were still alive.

Hiccup looked at Toothless. "This one, on the other hand..."

The dragon sheepishly looked away and huffed.

"He's very expressive," Jackie giggled.

"He is."

"Does he always pretend he can't hear you?"

"Only when he's guilty."

Toothless gave an offended chirp.

Jackie laughed.

The sound lingered in the quiet forest.

Hiccup found himself wishing he could bottle it.

Jackie looked at him.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Jackie smiled.

"I had fun tonight."

"Me too."

"I wasn't expecting to."

"Neither was I."

Jackie glanced toward the cabin.

Then back at him.

There was hesitation in his expression.

Not fear.

Just uncertainty.

The kind that came from wanting something and not knowing whether it was safe to want it.

"I'd like to see you again."

Hiccup's heart jumped.

"I'd like that."

"Tomorrow?"

Hiccup smiled.

"Tomorrow."

Jackie's shoulders relaxed.

"Good."

A gust of wind swept through the clearing.

Snowflakes spiraled around them.

One landed on Jackie's nose and he joyfully laughed again.

Hiccup smiled.

Jackie noticed. "What?"

"Nothing."

"You're smiling."

"I like seeing you happy."

Jackie went still.

The words seemed to catch somewhere inside him.

His eyes lowered.

Then, very quietly, he said, "I haven't heard that in a while."

Hiccup's smile faded. "Jackie..."

"It's okay-- I'm okay."

The answer came too quickly.

Hiccup didn't believe it.

But he didn't challenge him.

Instead, he stepped a little closer. "Goodnight, Jackie."

Jackie looked up. "Goodnight, Hiccup."

For one heartbeat, it seemed as though Jackie might say something else.

Instead, he leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss against Hiccup's cheek.

Hiccup froze.

Jackie pulled back, his cheeks bright red. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Then he turned toward the cabin before Hiccup could form a coherent thought.

"Goodnight!"

Hiccup touched his cheek. "Goodnight..."

Jackie disappeared through the front door.

The warm light vanished behind him.

Hiccup remained standing in the snow, smiling the door like an idiot.

He slowly, slowly backed away...

before tripping and falling over Toothless's tail.

He fell into one of the shrubs, knocking snow from Jackie's roof straight onto his head.

Grimacing when snow made its way into his suit, he jumped out and attempted to play it off.

Hiccup looked up at the dragon. "...Don't."

Toothless chirped.

"I know."

The dragon chirped again.

"Yes, I know I do."

The Night Fury gave a pleased rumble.

Hiccup smiled. "Tomorrow."

Toothless nudged him again.

"Yeah."

Hiccup looked toward the little cabin one last time.

"Tomorrow."

Inside the cabin, Jackie missed the whole ordeal.

He leaned against the closed door, his heart racing, when Lumi stirred against his shoulder.

"Mama..."

Jackie's expression immediately softened.

"I'm here, sweetheart."

He carried her toward the small bedroom.

As he passed the wooden shelf beside the fireplace, his gaze caught on something tucked behind a collection of snowbell flowers.

An old photograph next to a newer one.

The old: a kindhearted boy with messy brown hair and a wide smile.

The new: an older man, at least in his mid fifties, who wore the same smile.

Jamie.

Jamie had his arm wrapped around an empty space. Jackie tried to tell him that he wouldn't show up in photos, but Jamie insisted.

Jackie's smile disappeared.

His fingers tightened around Lumi.

For just a moment, something cold passed through his eyes.

Then he looked down at his daughter.

Lumi slept peacefully.

Jackie carefully brushed one brown curl away from her forehead.

"You'll never have to know what he did." His voice was barely a whisper.

He kissed her temple.

"But you'll always know that I love you."

He carried her into the bedroom.

Behind him, the photograph remained on the shelf.

And outside, Hiccup disappeared into the snow, completely unaware that the beautiful winter sprite he'd fallen for was carrying a secret that had survived for years.

A secret named Jamie Bennett.