#and so i was like 'oh! i forgot i have epilepsy!' and my nurse gave me the most DONE expression ive ever seen

[xviruserrorx]

I will say one of the funniest parts of this last hospital stay was accidentally frazzling my nurses and doctors on accident

[digitalworldbound]

If you are still doing requests can you do a Yamachi where Yamato says “They didn’t just find out. They already knew!” While Taichi is trying calm Yamato down.

Number 61: “They didn’t just find out. They already knew!”

Characters: Taichi x Yamato. I went a different route with this one. I’m not very good at writing angst, but I tried to put a little in here. Anyway, I hope you like this!

This story mentions epilepsy and has slight language towards the end! I did some research, but if something is incorrect about the portrayal, I sincerely apologize.

Send ya girl a prompt!

Yamato’s hoodie did little to protect him from the draft of the air conditioner. One look at his wristwatch told him that he had been seated in the waiting room for three hours, but the tension in his gut had yet to dissipate.

The nurses had yet allowed him back to see his brother.

Yamato’s hands were still quivering, but he shut his eyes and leaned back into the chair. Since Takeru had entered middle school, it was harder for the pair to find time for one another. The brother’s exchanged texts in between basketball practice and band rehearsals, finally deciding on eating dinner at their dad’s house. He remembered trying to teach Takeru one of his newest recipes, but Yamato had to turn around for a few seconds to grab some ingredients. A few seconds, apparently, was as long a Takeru needed to convulse on the kitchen floor.

Yamato called the ambulance first, tears thickening his throat. He held Takeru, unresponsive, in his lap. Their limbs tangled in awkward angles, but Yamato didn’t have time to think about comfort. Taichi picked up on the first ring. Looking back, Yamato realized his must have been screaming. His throat still stung.

Someone cleared their throat. Without peeking through his lashes, Yamato knew that Taichi had brought him dinner. After the call, Taichi appeared at Yamato’s doorstep, sweaty and breathless. He put his arm around the blond’s shoulder as they loaded Takeru into the ambulance and offered to grab them both a bite to eat while they waited on his parents to get off work.

The scent of Yamato’s favorite takeout made his stomach grumble. His stomach had already twisted itself into anxious knots, and the cheeseburger smell almost made him nauseous. Wordlessly, Taichi tossed a greasy bag onto the table beside him. “I got you your favorite,” he whispered, “Has the doctor said anything yet?”

Sitting up, Yamato nearly chuckled. “Why are you whispering? And, no, I haven’t heard anything yet. It shouldn’t be too much longer, though.”

As if on cue, a nurse called out his name. “Hello, sir, are you the primary guardian of Takaishi Takeru?” the young man asked. His stiff shoulders and clipped tone put Yamato on edge, but he tried not to let his panic show. “Um, no, but I am his older brother. Our parents are trying to get here as soon as possible, but they are both stuck at work.”

The nurse only blinked once before glancing back down at his clipboard. “Well, as of right now, Takaishi-san has been stablized. He woke up about thirty minutes ago asking for you, but we need to monitor him for a bit longer.”  The tension temporarily melted from the blond’s shoulders. ‘Takeru-kun is fine, he’s going to be okay.’

“However,” the nurse continued, “We need to up his dosage of Carbamazepine. Has he been taking his medicine regularly?”

His heart stuttered. “Medicine? What do you mean? He doesn’t take medicine.” In the blink of an eye, Taichi was by his side.

“Our records indicated that Takaishi-san takes two 350mg of Carbamazepine daily to decrease his seizures.”

Yamato was thankful for the arm that Taichi wrapped around his waist. “Seizures?” His voice was hushed. The nurse looked at him, confusion etched into his features. Yamato’s bewildered gaze prompted the nurse to elaborate.  “Takaishi-san had a seizure that was caused by his epilepsy.” 

“What are you talking about? My brother doesn’t have epilepsy. He fell in the kitchen! He probably has a concussion or something.” The blond’s voice had become shrill, the sheer volume making the nurse flinch. Panic had begun to set in, Yamato’s breathing becoming shallow. 

“Thank you so much for your help. We will let you know when his parents show up.” Taichi smiled warmly, finishing his statement with a slight bow. The brunette tugged Yamato back towards their seats, food becoming cold.

Throat dry and hands trembling, the blond’s clammy fingers struggled to dial his father’s number.  “Here, let me help.” Taichi’s warm grip slipped the cellphone from his grasp, then pressed the speaker against Yamato’s ear. A tip-lipped smile expressed his gratitude as the blond took the phone from his friend’s grip. 

The ringing was rattling in his mind. ‘Epilepsy? Since when has Takeru-kun had seizures?’ His father picked up on the fifth ring. “Dad?” his own voice sounded far away. Silence stretched on. “Hey, I’m on the train now. How is he?” His father’s gruff voice sounded strained. 

Yamato glanced Taichi’s way, his blue eyes pleading. “It’s best just to go ahead and tell him, Yama.”

Taking a deep breath, Yamato tried to regain his composure. “Takeru-kun apparently forgot to take medicine, but, like,” he paused to catch his breath, “Dad, did you know that he has epilepsy? When he fell in the kitchen, Takeru-kun was having a seizure. Dad, I’m scared.”

The blond braced himself for the onslaught of inquiries his father was sure to have. Yamato had his own list of unanswered questions. “Oh,” his father breathed out, “He’ll be fine. This isn’t the first time this has happened. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes, so stay put. Love you.”

“Wh-” Yamato’s response was cut off by the dial tone. Dumbly, he dangled the cellphone between his fingers. As the gears were turning in his mind, Taichi gently rubbed his back. “Hey, Yama, is everything okay? What did your dad say?”

Yamato, trembling, turned towards the brunette. “I’m so fucking pissed!” he seethed, punching the bag of food beside him. The nurse from earlier briefing glanced up from his desk and gave the pair a look of warning.  “Dude, chill out before they ask us to leave. You want to see your brother, right?”

“I’m not so sure anymore.” Yamato slumped back into his chair. His blue eyes trailed on his ragged fingernails, chewed up from the hours spent in the waiting room. Taichi returned his focus to his fries, eating each one methodically. The brunette wanted to give Yamato the space he needed without him realizing that Taichi was waiting for a response. For now, Taichi  decided that it was best munch quietly.

Like clockwork, after a few minutes of silence, Yamato was ready to open up. “I take that back; I do want to see him. But I’m still pissed. They didn’t just find out! They already knew! To make it worse, Takeru-kun already knew, and none of them thought to tell me. Why did they wait until Takeru-kun nearly died while in my care to mention it? Like, ‘oh, by the way, the reason your brother spontaneous collapsed on your kitchen floor while holding a knife is because he actually has a teeny-tiny life-threatening condition that we kind of forgot to tell you about! Hope all is well, xoxo!’. ” Yamato’s voice rose in a horrible imitation of what Taichi could only assume was his parents.

Fries forgotten, Taichi hummed in agreement. “I wish I knew what to say. To be honest, I don’t think there’s anything to say.” Noticing the nurse approaching them, he gave the blond a playful shove up. “Just be there when he wakes up.”

[iwriteficsnottragediesladies]

Search and Seizure pt 6

A/N: By popular demand, here’s part 6! Thank you to everyone who helps me to continue. Sometimes I just get too insecure to keep going, but you guys are great! There is a scavenger hunt item in here, so lemme know when you find it!

Pre-read Epilepsy Disclaimer

The doctor had returned with your results. Apparently you had a pretty bad virus and it threw your electrolytes off balance along with you entire immune system. Your blood work was all over the map and you were also incredibly dehydrated. Combine that with not being able to take your meds and the reason for your lengthy seizure became crystal clear.

You were resting while Brendon sat beside you when Emma entered the room.

“Hey,” she waved quietly.

“Hi!” you replied warmly, along with Brendon. Damn. You are a sucker for a woman in uniform.

“I just finished my shift so I wanted to check on my favorite patient real quick,” she smiled. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay,” you said, “Just really tired.”

“I bet,” she nodded.

“Thank you so much, Emma,” Brendon said sincerely.

“Of course!” She replied easily, “It’s just my job.”

“And you’re really fucking good at it,” Brendon thanked her.

“Thanks,” Emma blushed. She is such a fangirl. Her heart always flutters when Brendon talks to her. She diverted the conversation away from herself, “I assume you guys are trapped here for the night, huh?”

“Yeah, probably until tomorrow even,” you sigh.

“The fans will understand,” Brendon said.

“What?” you looked to him, “You’re still doing the show.”

“I’m not leaving you to do a show,” He laughed. You become a bit irritated.

“Oh my god Brendon,” you complained, “I’m in the safest place possible. I think I can go a couple hours without you!”

“Can you?” Brendon shot back.

“You are letting thousands of people down!” You said, your voices rising.

Emma was suddenly uncomfortable, wishing she could fade into the background.

“The only person I care about is you!” He replied.

“Stop being so dramatic!” you rolled your eyes.

“What?” He questioned, “I’m just supposed to leave you here all alone?!”

“Um,” Emma quietly stepped forward. You both looked at her. “I’m sorry, um... I just, I have tomorrow off, so...” She cut herself off, maybe thinking she was being too presumptuous. “I mean, I’m not you Brendon!” she quickly corrected herself, embarrassment painting her cheeks, “but I can always...”

“SEE?!” You interrupt, “I can stay with Emma! We’ll be fine!”

Brendon narrows his eyes. He knows you’re not about to back down.

“We can call Zack if we need anything and keep you updated with lots of selfies,” You further convinced him, “It will be like you’re still here! Oh, we could even facetime! This is perfect.”

Emma’s smirk was unmistakable. Brendon looked at her and back to you. He sighs.

“Emma, can I talk to you outside, please?” Brendon says. Emma agrees and follows him out.

Oh shit, what if he’s going to scold her for offering something he wouldn’t do? Does he feel like Emma overstepped a boundary? Emma’s heart pounded. You watched their interaction through a crack in the blinds.

“Alright, you’re SURE about this?” Brendon confirms.

“Yes,” Emma replies seriously, “If she remains stable for the rest of the day, there is absolutely no reason that you couldn’t step out for a few hours. The main reason she is still in the hospital is just to finish the medication she’s on.”

“And you...” Brendon pauses, an emotional and somber voice poking through, “You got her?”

“Brendon, I know that your entire world is sitting in that bed in there,” Emma replied confidently, “And I got her.”

All you could make out from the bed was them nodding. It didn’t look like Emma was crying or anything, so that was a good sign, right? They break from their conversation and reenter the room.

“As long as you’re feeling okay,” Brendon prefaced, “I’ll go and Emma can stay with you.”

Tonight you are victorious and you smile triumphantly.

Brendon lets you bask in the glory of it, feeling only slightly annoyed.

“I feel like a little kid having a sleepover or something,” You laugh.

“Hospital slumber party?” Emma offered with a questioning look.

“It’s not necessarily ideal,” you joke, “But it’s close enough.”

“Here, can you take my number?” You hand over your phone. You know it’s buried somewhere in Zack’s phone, but this was easier.

“Yeah, I’d rather not have to call 911 to reach you,” Brendon laughed.

“Yes, this is definitely a more direct line,” she giggled.

“Perfect,” Brendon said as you sent her contact to him.

“Alright, you get some rest,” Emma tells you and then addresses you and Brendon, “And I’ll be back over later tonight, okay?”

“Awesome,” Brendon replied, “Text me.”

You reached out for a hug as Emma said goodbye, as did Brendon. Her heart nearly imploded. Brendon Urie just hugged her. And he has her number. And he told her to ‘Text him’. Fangirl status achieved: Level Up. You both watched as she walked out, completely red and stiff with shock.

“Bren,” you chuckle, “I think you broke her.”

“She better get used to it,” Brendon replied with a smile

You slept through most of the day and it felt wonderful. The boys came to visit and brought the essentials for you and Brendon, plus a few snacks. Brendon updated them on the plan for the night, being sure to include his disapproval.

“Hey,” Zack reassured him, “If I could choose anyone, It’d be Emma.”

They had to go to sound check before the show and Brendon texted Emma when she should head over. Once she arrived, Brendon was like a parent leaving their child with a babysitter for the first time. He went over detail after detail, things both you and Emma already knew.

He asked if you were feeling okay and you were sure that he should go. You let him get all the anxiety out of his system, then stop him.

“Baby,” You take his hand to slow him down. You wait for his eye contact to steady on you. “I’m okay,” you nodded, “I know I scared the shit out of you last night. You have every right to be worried. But I am fine now. I want you to go and put on an amazing show. Emma and I will contact you with updates all the time, so you can see what an amazing slumber party we’re having.” You smile and he looks at you and nibbles on his cheek. “You are an incredible husband, Brendon. This is the right thing to do. I wouldn’t let you go if this wasn’t exactly what I wanted, okay?”

“Okay,” He replied. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Bren,” You said gently. Your demeanor shifted to something more devious and you began to whisper so no one else could hear. “And don’t forget what I told you the last time you didn’t want to perform... A whole month without your favorite thing.” You looked at him and raised your eyebrows.

“Goddamn, Y/n,” He replied with a strained sigh.

“Now go get out there and kick some ass!” you encouraged him.

He gave you one last kiss and Zack nearly had to drag him out of the room.

Once they all had left, Emma plopped down in the seat next to your bed.

“Alright,” Emma started, “I’m down for tv, movies, card games, talking, food, naps... Whatever you want.”

“Ugh yes,” You said gratefully, “All of the above.”

“Oh, I almost forgot,” She said as she dug through her bag, “I got you a card!”

“Aw thanks!” You said, taking it and starting to rip the envelope.

You pull out the card. It is perhaps the greatest thing ever to grace your eyes.

“HOLY SHIT,” You exclaimed, “OH MY GOD I’M DYING...” You start laughing hysterically, so hard it hurts. Emma finds it hilarious and can’t stop laughing either. You can’t even speak in complete sentences. “THIS IS TOO GOOD, I CAN’T... HOW DID YOU EVEN... ”

You laugh until you cry. You try to gather yourself, but each time you both just devolve back into giggles. Finally you get it together.

“Oh my god, I love this so much, Emma!” looking down at it again and back up to her, “This is just fantastic. Thank you so much!” You give her a big hug.

“I thought you might like it!” She smiled.

“Let’s send a picture to Brendon!” You suggest. You both pose for a selfie and hold up the card. “Oh my god, I have to send this Patrick too,” You giggled.

“I hope Brendon likes the dark humor as much as you do,” She chuckles, “I don’t want to get on his bad side.”

“Nah, you’re awesome!” you reassure her. “He loves you!”

Emma’s face flooded with suppressed excitement. You giggle to yourself.

“Really?” She whispers, even though she knows you’re being serious. You smile, entertained by her enthusiasm.

“Yeah really,” you reply, “You also saved my life, so I think that’s some automatic brownie points too.”

You glanced down at your phone.

“Oh! They replied,” you announced, “Patrick said:”

Wtf that’s amazing?! I’m disappointed in myself for not coming up with that.

“And Brendon said:”

YES. I’m simultaneously horrified and incredibly entertained.

“Ugh god!” Emma sighed happily, “How did you ever get used to him?! Weren’t you kind of starstruck?”

“The more time you spend with him, the more you realize he’s a human,” You explain, “You take this sort of... idolization you have, and you make it personal. Seeing him as a person, not as a thing, or a concept.” You then get giggly and add, “I mean, he’s still pretty much a god among men but... He genuinely cares. That’s what makes me comfortable. That’s why I love him.”

Emma is just soaking in the adorableness.

“Does he have a brother?” Emma asked, joking. You laugh. “Damn, this is some real deal slumber party talk,” Emma notes, “Boys, crushes, gossip... It’s taking me back.”

“Yeah, but it smells like hospital instead of nail polish,” you giggle.

Once you both get talking, it goes on and on. Maybe the life or death situations have bonded you, or maybe you’re just alike. You just click together, like you’ve been friends all along. 

You send Brendon incessant snap chats, as promised. He replies with funny faces and guest appearances from the boys.

You start to get your appetite back and eat a little. You feel a bit more energized now that the sedatives had worn off. Nurses popped in and out occasionally. Once it got later in the night, you were completely ready to knock out. Emma stayed up, making sure you were sleeping okay. She then allowed herself to drift off.

Brendon returned to the hospital as soon as the show was over. It was late, almost midnight. Your room was dark and quiet. You were fast asleep and he saw Emma passed out on the couch. He quietly made his way to your bed and slipped in next to you. You stir a bit but immediately recognize Brendon’s embrace and scent.

“Hi baby,” You murmur into his chest while adjusting your body against his.

“Hi,” he sang back, “Goodnight.”

“Night,” you whisper back, a light smile danced on your lips as you fell back to sleep in his arms.

A/N: Important question: I kinddddd of want Emma to get poly-y with Brendon and the reader. I know it kind of strays from the story line... But hey, epileptics have sex lives too! Is that too weird? Would it ruin the story? Lemme know in a comment or message. Anyway-- try to find the scavenger hunt items in here! Like/Reblog if you’re feelin’ it!

[p-artsypants]

320 State Street- 7 (July 4)

AO3 | FF.net (I forgot to post 6 on here, but it’s on the two sites)

Sorry for posting late. Finals. And there’s a lot of drama in my personal life. 

—

“Do you even know what you’re doing?”

Astrid read the numbers on the screen, the total price of the purchase, but it never left her lips. She knew the number, but the words just weren’t there. “It’s um…uh…” She blinked a couple times, drawing a blank.

“Look, I want to talk to someone who’s not retarded. Where’s that other kid?”

It felt like the whole world slowed down. Her cheeks glowed with a quiet rage. “Excuse me?”

“Are you disabled? Is that why you can’t pay attention? Let me talk to your manager!”

Alvin entered the store, and the customer began conspiring with him. She could hear the phrases “worst employee,” “unbelievably stupid,” and “belongs in an institution.”

It was then that she realized that who she was looking at. The customer that was slowly ruining her life, the woman with the bleached bangs and black undercut. There was some reason this woman was trying to ruin her life.

“Hofferson, you’re fired.” Alvin’s voice was like a gun shot.

Hiccup stood in the background, shaking his head. “You’re such a disappointment. You couldn’t even do this simple job. What are you going to do as a nurse?”

Gobber came out from the back room. “No point in going to see your father, you’ve dishonored him. He doesn’t deserve you as a daughter. You’re just like your mother.”

The floorboards started to shift and open up beneath her.

The last thing she saw before falling was Hiccup’s disappointed scowl.

Astrid jolted out of bed with a yelp. Her dream had been all to vivid and real. She laid back on the pillow with a sigh and tried to relax.

Today was her day off, and she sorely needed it. The stress of work and daily life was really getting to her. But today, it was relaxing and kicking back with friends and family.

The thought alone brought a smile to her face.

She turned and looked at the clock.

11 am.

It would take a little to get her dad situated, if he even felt up to the party, so she supposed she’d leave early.

Hopefully, everyone would understand.

—

It was a wonderfully perfect day. A perfect, slightly breezy 72. No clouds in the sky to hide fireworks at night. The deck was filling up. It was a strange crowd, a couple of police officers, a couple of wealthy business owners, and a healthy dose of blue collar workers, all gathered around a grill drinking beer and laughing without abandon. Not an overwhelming number, just a group of unlikely friends.

“So the reason I threw up in front of Jimmy Johns was…well, I do drink a lot. Not while I drive, and I’m over 21!” Tuff sat on a cooler and loudly told an anecdote. Everyone was listening, whether they wanted to or not. “What was different about this time—and there was something different—cause I threw up on myself this weekend, but this time…this time I was walking and right when I started to feel like I had to vomit, you know you do that thing like, HRGH HRGH HRGH, like it’s in the back of your throat? Right when that happened, I turned and made eye contact with a lady sitting outside a Starbucks. And then proceeded to keep eye contact with her as I vomited.

“So there she was, drinking her mocha-frappalatte, or whatever they have there. And suddenly she sees the guy across the street just look at her and he just AGGHHHHHHH!!” He fake vomited on the deck, the assembled crowd laughing or ‘ewing’ respectfully. “Can you just imagine what she was thinking? Like, ‘oh my god Becky, I was so ugly today, I made a man vomit.”

While everyone laughed and pushed Tuff around, the doorbell rang.

Hiccup was the only one who heard it and hurried to the door.

Whatever he was expecting, this wasn’t it. Sure, Astrid was there, and her father was in a wheelchair. But he wasn’t prepared for Mr. Hofferson to be a shrunken man, sitting blankly in his chair. His neatly trimmed blonde hair and beard had white streaks in it. His eyelids drooped slightly and hid his striking blue eyes.

“Dad, this is my good friend Hiccup. I work with him. He’s also taking care of Stormfly until I can get a bigger house.”

“Hello sir,” Hiccup smiled, “It’s nice to meet you.”

The man’s eyes slid over to make eye contact with him, and his mouth moved, but nothing but a soft mutter came out. He did hold out a jittery hand, though.

“He doesn’t talk,” Astrid whispered. “Not anymore. But I’m sure he’s pleased to meet you.”

Hiccup smiled nonetheless and shook his limp hand. Then helped them into his home.

“I’m glad you could both make it.” He grinned.

“Yeah, dad was having a pretty good day, according to the nurses.”

A squawk came from the rafters before Stormfly landed on Axel’s shoulder. “Hello, Handsome.”

Astrid smiled, “honestly, as long as he can get out of hospice and be around people for a while, he’ll be happy as a clam.”

“I didn’t realize clams were happy.”    

On the deck, everyone stopped to look at them when they entered. “Uh, hi!” Astrid greeted, nervously. “I’m Astrid, and this is my dad.”

Almost immediately, there was a delighted call, “Axel! Why you son of a gun! You made it!” Followed by several others, “Axel! Why you dirty old bastard!”

“Why, would you look at that!”

“If it ain’t ole Hoffmaster!”

Again, Mr. Hofferson said nothing, but something behind his eyes lit up and Gobber came over and clapped his shoulder. “What, has it been over five years now?”

“Wait, you guys know each other?”

Stoick laughed from over by the grill. “Anyone who doesn’t know Axel Hofferson must live under a rock! Best electrician in the tri-city area!”

“Wait…” She narrowed her eyes, “Then did you know who I was when you hired me?”

Gobber chuckled. “Of course lass, I recognized you from the photos your dad carried around with him…though I couldn’t remember your name…”

It wasn’t long until Axel was absorbed into the crowd and everyone began filling him on all sorts of gossip and what changed in their little world.

It was like he wasn’t even sick.

“Hey Astrid, this might be kind of rude…” Hiccup began, coming up to her side. “But uh…”

“Parkinson’s,” She answered shortly. “Usually you get it when you’re old, but my dad got it early. Some doctors think it’s genetic, others think it’s from insulation in walls and ceilings.”

“Is that the one where you have seizures?”

“Sort of…it’s not like epilepsy, but you lose control of your muscles. My dad sometimes has tremors.”

“Oh…so, was your dad always have this?”

She sighed, “As long as I remember, he had to have my mom button his shirts for him. He was fine for a really long time, but had to retire when I was in eighth grade and then had to go into assisted living a year after I went away to school.”

“That’s why you came back.”

“And why I went into nursing.” She crossed her arms and spoke softly. “My mom and I never got along, but my dad always treated me like a princess. So I want to do my best to take care of him.”

Hiccup looked to her, and then to her father, who was surrounded by his friends and had just a hint of smile on his face. “I think you’re doing fine.”

“Well soil my britches!” A familiar friendly voice called over from the door. “When Hiccup said he was working with Astrid Hofferson, I thought he was just trying to impress me.” A bulky young man, tattoos on his arms and dark hair in a ponytail, approached the group with a smile.

“Eret!” She greeted, “It’s been a long time.”

“What happened to you? I distinctly remembered you telling me you were going to kick the dust of this crummy town behind you. New York, baby! That’s where it’s at!”

“Well, life sometimes throws you curve balls. What about you? I thought you were going to the NFL. You were at U of M, right?”

“Like you said, curveballs.” He pulled the collar of his shirt down and showed a long scar on his chest. “Open heart surgery. One minute, I’m heading to the end zone and no one can touch me, the next I’m waking up in a hospital a week later. Apparently I had a heart aneurysm right in the middle of the game. I’m not allowed to play anymore.”

Astrid grimaced. “That sounds awful.”

“Not entirely. I had to change my career path though. I’m going into Wildlife and Fisheries.”

“Speaking of wildlife, where’s Toothless?”

Hiccup chuckled, “look up.”

A long black tail trailed over the edge of the roof, flicking pleasantly.

“Oh. Of course. Why does that not surprise me?”

Fishlegs and another girl approached the group. “What’s going on over here?”

“Just a class reunion,” Eret answered.

“Oh, Astrid, this is Heather, my cousin…sort of.”

“Sort of?”

The dark haired girl gave a short eye roll. “I’m married to his cousin.”

“Oh, I get it.” She chuckled, “I’m Astrid, we work together.”

Heather smiled, like she knew a great secret. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“So…” Fishlegs rubbed his hands together. “What are you guys doing the 16th?”

“What day is that?”

“It’s a Sunday.”

“Probably sleeping.” Astrid answered, to which everyone agreed.

“Well, I finally finished my campaign, and I’m just itching to try it out.”

“Sure.” Said Hiccup.

“I’m in.”

“Sounds fun.”

Astrid, on the other hand, was confused. “Campaign?”

“Dungeons and Dragons.” Heather clarified.

“Well,” Hiccup added, “we call it Dungeons and Dragons, but it’s like a watered down version.”

“It’s really fun.”

Astrid scoffed. “I thought only nerdy kids who live in their parents basement play that.”

Fishlegs looked embarrassed, “I do live in my parent’s basement.”

Stoick called over the crowd. “First round of hot dogs and hamburgers are ready!”

—

After dinner, the assembled group sat in camping chairs, enjoying the sunshine and the company. Toothless had finally humbled himself to come down from the roof and laid at Hiccup’s feet.

“Hiccup, every time I see that cat, I’m amazed.” A man said. “Even knowing the full story, I just think it’s so weird you have a pet panther. Weird in a good way, though. Don’t get me wrong.”

“Aye, you’re telling me.” Expounded Stoick. “The full first year we had him in the house, I carried a baseball bat with me everywhere. Never had to use it, or even felt like I would, but I confess I was a little terrified by him.”

“So was the mailman.” Hiccup added. “In Tanzania, he’d always fetch stuff for us, so it was natural that he’d see the UPS driver come by and go and greet him.” He chuckled. “We lost over a dozen packages like that.”

“What did you end up doing? Does he still do that?” Asked Astrid.

“No, a woman took over the route, and she loves Toothless.”

The conversation changed to politics, then to cars, then to a comfortable silence.

“Well,” began Gobber. “My burger finally finished digesting. I think it’s about that time.”

“Yeah?” Answered Stoick, standing up. “I think you’re right.”

“What’s happening?” Astrid whispered.

Hiccup smirked, “Do you drink?”

“I…yeah?”

“We’ve got some beer from Founders, apple ale, and cherry cider.”

“Uh, I’ll take the cherry…what’s going on?”

“We’re going to do the drinking song.” He said cryptically as he also stood.

Stoick returned to the deck with a fiddle in hand. Eret was getting out a guitar.

“You going to join us this year, boy-o?”

“I’ve been practicing, but I’m just going to play softly until I figure it out.”

Hiccup returned with two cherry ciders in one hand and a weird instrument in the other. It was small and had flat metal bars coming off of it.

“What’s that?”

“It’s a Mbira, a hand piano.”

“Oh.” That didn’t really answer her question.

It looked like everyone else gathered was grabbing something to drink.

Stoick played a few notes on the fiddle. “Hiccup, you’re doing the last verse this year. Okay?”

“Alright.” He leaned in closer to Astrid, “let it be know that this song is super racist. You have to be drunk to enjoy it.”

She smiled uneasily. “Okay…”

Stoick struck the first note and immediately the deck thundered with clapping and stomping.

“One and two and three and four,

and one and two and three and four.

And one and two and three and four,

and one and two and three and four.”

Everyone sang together at first, swinging there arms and slapping their legs. Then Stoick sang with a rich baritone.

“Love makes one blind until the fiddle breaks.

Old notes are played by a new hand,

It's a tough blow for any fiddler,

He’s trying his best, but is both scrawny and bland.

On the hunt for a beard and a mustache,

Should have brought a map for this quest.

Zero discoveries are made,

He’s trying his best, but he’s as bare as his chest.

He tries to propose, he’s finally brave,

His tongue is wet, but his money is dry.

He immediately gets the feeling,

That this something he shouldn’t try.”

Hiccup and Gobber joined in.

“She started to flirt with more handsome men.

So I traded away that cow

and got the fiddle back again.”

Then everyone, including the women, joined.  

“So now there will be no shortage of women and money.

because he traded away that cow,

and got the fiddle back again.”

Astrid found her self starting to clap along. The song was terrible, but very catchy.

“One and two and three and four,

and one and two and three and four.

And one and two and three and four,

and one and two and three and four.”

Gobber had the next verse.

“A bachelor like him has to keep his head,

he wants to win her over by singing her a song,

But nothing is going to happen,

is being poor so wrong?

So she slips away to the bathroom with a braver man.

One who walks around with his gold in plain sight.

Our fiddler was not interesting enough for her,

So he farts in her direction just out of spite.”

Hiccup and Stoick joined again.

“Because life is like a violin

with the need of a violinist

So I traded away that cow and got the fiddle back again.”

Astrid joined in on the chorus this time.

“So now there will be no shortage

of women and money.

because he traded away that cow,

and got the fiddle back again.”

Hiccup’s turn had come.

“Now he's both rich and handsome,

but even that doesn't seem to aid.

The fiddle has gotten a different sound,

a hardened heart is the price he paid.

This girl is different, of this he’s sure,

So he introduces her to his friend.

They go to speak for a moment,

Five minutes quickly turned to ten.

He sought them out with question,

But what met him behind the door,

made him want to cry out his eyes.

They were laying together on the floor.”

The group sang together.

“I saw her together with my best friend.

So I traded away that cow,

and got the fiddle back again.”

Everyone was singing loudly together.

“So now there will be no shortage

of women and money.

because he traded away that cow,

and got the fiddle back again.

One and two and three and four,

and one and two and three and four.

And one and two and three and four,

and one and two and three and four.

So now there will be no shortage

of women and money.

because he traded away that cow,

and got the fiddle back again.”

Astrid laughed after it was over. Really, it was a terrible song but the sheer volume of drunken rhapsody filled her with joy. “Do you guys do this every year?”

“Every year!” Hiccup laughed back.

Astrid looked over to her father who was clapping. Her heart clenched at the sight of him moving fluidly. Even if it was a little. She vowed to bring him to more events if possible.

—

Sunset came, and Axel and the adults stayed behind as the kids and Toothless walked down the road to the lake. There, they boarded Eret’s boat and jetted out on the lake. Not without lighting a post on the dock first.

There’s something about the lake that just soothed the soul. When you’re speeding through the waves, you can’t hear anything but the deafening wind thundering against your ears. The air around you feels like water parting around you. Each wave the boat cut through, sends a jolt through your body and a pounding in your head.

Then finally, they stopped about a half mile out from the beach. The light house was just a sliver in the distance.

“Are we going to be able to see the fireworks from this far away?”

“Yeah, totally. They’re huge.”

Toothless hopped up on the back of the boat and stretched out lazily.

“Watching the fireworks has become way more enjoyable since I joined you guys out here.” Heather commented from the front. “Scott and I used to go down to Silver Beach and watch there. I mean, it was incredible. But we would get home at like, 3am because they closed traffic down town and you had to detour around the whole city.”

“Your husband’s name is Scott?”

“Yeah, Scott Jorgenson.”

“Oh, my boyfriend’s name is Scott too. Scott Loud.”

“Oh too funny!”

Everyone fell into a peaceful silence as they watched the sunset on the lake. Everything blossoming into purples and reds.

“My dad and I would go down to the pier on the north side. There’s little cement wave breakers cut into the pier that you can climb into. We’d sit in the one directly across from the symphony pavilion. Right in the middle of the 1812 Overture, they’d start shooting off the fireworks. Then after, they play the Star Wars theme. We’d eat cherries and spit the pits at ducks. And we’d wave to all the boats going out to the lake.” Then she ‘hmph’ed. “It did take forever to get out though, since everyone and their mother tried to leave that way.”

“If it makes you guys feel any better,” Hiccup began, laying down next to Toothless. “I didn’t see my first firework until I was 5. I was on the back deck of my house and I thought the lighthouse had blown up. It was very scary.”

“Aw, I love baby Hiccup stories.” Heather smiled.

“So…where’s your husband, Heather?” Astrid asked, politely.

Hiccup answered. “He and I don’t get along, but Heather and I have been friends for a while.”

“He had to work,” Heather added. “But even if he didn’t, I doubt he would have come.”

“Well, his loss.” Fishlegs commented.

The sun had disappeared over the horizon. But it’s light remained.

“In truth, it’s been a while since I got to see the fireworks. I always worked downtown, and Fourth of July is one of the busiest times down there. So, I’m kind of excited.”

“Come sit up here with me!” Hiccup beckoned.

Astrid laid down on the back, separated from him by Toothless.

“Thanks for inviting us, Hiccup. Today was…really great.”

“Yeah? Thanks for coming.”

“It’s been a while since I saw my dad so active. It was nice. I had a lot of fun.”

“Well, you’re welcome here anytime.”

“Thanks.”

And with that, the first firework launched.