Hiccup and Jack had always been best friends. Ever since they became neighbors they had been like two peas in a pod. Jack and him would always do everything together and Jack's sister Merida, who was two years younger, would always try to tag along but they usually ignored her most of the time. When Merida was 14 she went in this foreign exchange program to Scotland. She was going to be there for a year. But Jack and her parents would visit her on holidays. Finally she was coming home.

"Are you excited to have your little sister home?" Hiccup asked as they were setting up her welcome home party.

"Yeah but I'm going to miss the life of an only child." Jack replied.

Jack hung the last of the banner. It was simple decoration. A blue table cloth covered a table with tons of food. Merida's favorite dessert, apple pie,was one of these items.

The banner hung over it that said "welcome home!" In big yellow letters.

Mrs Dunbroch came rushing in making readjustments to everything she was so excited to have her little girl home.

"Oh come on Jack really this is what you call a straight banner? It's completely crooked!" Mrs. Dunbroch said.

"Mom it's fine. She won't even notice. She'll be to busy noticing Hiccup." Jack punched Hiccup in the arm playfully.

"Jack, don't tease it's distasteful." She replied.

It had been a known fact that Merida had a big crush on Hiccup when they were in elementary school. It had become Jack's running gag throughout middle and high school. Hiccup didn't really think much of it. It was his best friend's little sister, he felt flattered. He actually liked Merida, she was funny like her brother, even though she used to hit him a lot, and it wasn't like she was displeasing or anything he just had always known her as Jack's kid sister and he knew she was most likely over her childhood crush by now.

The sound of a car door being shut came from outside the Dunbroch residence.

"They're here!!" Mrs. Dunbroch said.

"Calm down mom dad will bring her inside." Jack said.

"Guess who's home!!!!" Fergus yelled coming into the house.

"Oh let me see my little girl!" Elinor said rushing towards the door.

Merida came out from behind her father. "Hi mum." She said as Elinor gave her a squeeze. "Mum you're killing me." She said, her voice had now a hint of Scottish accent to it.

"Oh goodness you sound like your grandmother!" Fergus said.

"Boys go take Merida's stuff in her room." Elinor said.

Hiccup looked at the 16 year old he saw before him. She wasn't Jack's kid sister anymore. Her hair was still the same, but she seemed taller. She seemed more assure of herself and comfortable in her own skin. She was wearing a blue green flannel with jeans. Her blue eyes met his and she smiled at him.

"Hi," she mouthed with all the commotion of conversation around her.

He tried to smile but he knew it probably turned out to be a goofy grin.

"Hiccup you coming?" Jack asked from outside.

"Yeah. Sorry coming." Hiccup said turning around.

Hiccup had unloaded the last bag and walked over to Merida's room. He was surprised to find her in there.

"Is it weird seeing this after a year?" He asked.

"Yeah but that might just be because it's actually clean in here." she joked. "I almost forgot there was a carpet underneath all that mess."

Hiccup chuckled "yeah I've seen your brothers room nothing compares."

"So anything change while I was gone?" She asked.

"Not much. I grew three inches if that counts."

"I thought so. I know I'm a little on the short side but next to you I feel like I'm shrinking." She said.

"You grew up though too. You're taller and stuff."

"And stuff?" She asked raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah stuff." He replied

"Like what?"

"I don't know you're different. It's a good different. Not that you weren't good before! It's um I'm going to stop talking now." He said.

"Merida are you gonna eat or what?!" Jack yelled from the dining room.

"In a minute!" Merida shouted back.

"We better get going he's used to not having to wait for meals now." Hiccup said.

"Oh before I forget I got you something." She said. She walked over to her suitcase and unzipped the case. She threw a few pieces of clothing out and brought out a little box.

"Here I saw it and I thought you would like it." She said.

He opened the package and in there was a medium sized pocket watch. The casing was gold colored and had a dragon on it. He pressed the button and it opened to show the clock.

"Wow this is awesome. I can't believe you remembered my weird fascination with pocket watches." He replied.

"Yeah I know you probably still have your old one but I thought if yours gets broken you have one to use right away." She said.

"Actually mine broke last week." He lied.

"Great! Well not great, I just mean perfect timing." She said.

"Merida I'm starving!" Jack yelled.

"Coming! We better go." She said.

Merida talked all about her time in Scotland as everyone ate. Hiccup barely ate anything because he was so engaged with Merida's stories that he barely picked up his fork.

"I better get going my dad wants me home in time to watch the game." Hiccup said.

"Here I'll walk you home." Jack said.

"Jack! Elsa is on the phone." Elinor called.

"And you will be walking home by yourself tonight." Jack replied walking back towards the kitchen.

"I could walk you home." Merida said.

"Okay....thanks." Hiccup said.

Merida got her coat and walked out of the door with Hiccup.

The walk was not too far, Hiccup's house was about 5 houses down the street.

"So what's this stuff you were talking about earlier?" Merida asked nudging him.

"What?" Hiccup asked confused.

"You said I grew and stuff. I want to know what that stuff is." She replied.

"You are thinking way too much into this." He said.

"Maybe I am but you tend to do that too."

"Do what?"

"Over think things." She smiled.

'What does that mean?' He thought.

"See you're doing it now." Merida pointed at him.

"No I'm not." He lied.

"Yes you are." She said.

"Am not." He said.

Merida stopped walking suddenly. She crossed her arms and tilted her chin slightly up.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"I'm going to stand here until you tell me I'm right."

"My house is literally ten steps away Merida."

"I guess you'll just have to go home and leave me out in the cold. Me , the girl, who was so nice to walk you home." She said dramatically.

"I think I can live with that." Hiccup said.

"If you don't think I'll stand out here all night then you don't know me at all."

"I know you're stubborn. I think everyone knows that." He said.

She shrugged.

"Fine! You're right I over think things. Happy?!" He said throwing his arms up in the air.

"Very." She smiled.

"Ten steps Merida. Ten steps." He said.

They walked up to Hiccup's front porch. Merida still glowing over her small victory.

"Scotland has made you a much more difficult person."

"You don't mean that." She said. "You knew I was difficult to begin with."

"True." He said.

There was a few beats of silence. Why was this all of a sudden so difficult. It was just saying goodbye there wasn't much to it. It wasn't like saying it to a stranger although it felt that way, or at least part of it did. She was still the same but she also was this new person. Maybe it was because he wasn't there to witness the transition. Maybe he had made up the transition, just for an excuse to make him think of her in a different way. Maybe it wasn't her that changed, maybe it was him. Maybe he just didn't want to say goodbye just yet.

"I always wonder what's going through that head of yours." She said.

"As you said, there is a lot going on." He said.

"I think I know what it's about." She said.

"You do?"

"Well almost. I don't want to be wrong though." She said.

"Neither do I." He replied.

"Are we really going to have to say it at the same time!?" She asked frustrated.

"You could just say it first."

"So could you." She replied.

"Fine since we are too stubborn about the situation we will have to say it at the same time." Hiccup said.

"Okay." She said.

"On the count of three......one two three! I think I like you." He said quickly.

Merida was silent.

"Why didn't you say something.?!" He asked as a blush crept up on his skin and frustration and embarrassment began to fester inside of him.

"Because I didn't want to be wrong." She said quietly.

"Well thanks, I think I've been humiliated enough for one night." He fumed.

"Hiccup..."

"No I'm done I think I'm just going-"

"Would just listen to me!" She exclaimed. "I like you too alright?! I always have."

"Why didn't you say it then!?" He asked exasperated.

"I already told you I didn't want to be wrong. " She answered.

"Neither did I but I still said it."

"You aren't the one who got made fun of by Jack for years! Do you know how far fetched I thought this idea was!? If I was wrong I would have never heard the end of it!"

"What if I was wrong?! Do you know how awkward this would have been?!" He said.

"Can we just get over this! We like each other Hiccup. We shouldn't be fighting." She said.

It had felt like a hammer had hit him. What the hell was he doing?! She liked him! In fact she had all along. Now he was arguing with her.

"I'm not good at this, am I?" He asked.

"I don't know. I don't think I'm good at this either." She said playing with the end if her hair. "I'm going to try something but you have to promise not to freak out."

"Okay....." He said.

She came closer to him. She looked at him for a moment, then shut her eyes and kissed him. It was swift and quick. It made both their stomachs flip.

"Crap." He said.

"Well that wasn't the reply I was looking for." She said.

"No no that was great, but now it's confirmed I like you. Jack's not going to like this."

"Jack doesn't have to know for a little while."

"I guess that could work for a little while." He replied.

"Well I'm going to get going I guess I'll see you tomorrow if yer not-"

It was his turn to take her by surprise. He wanted to make sure this kiss lasted longer than the first. He had placed his hands in hers, hoping she wouldn't flee as quickly as before. If his stomach flipped before it was doing an acrobat routine now. He finally departed only to rest his forehead on hers.

"Sorry just had to before you left." He whispered.

"Well now I don't want to leave," She smiled,

"Wow I got Merida to change her mind for once." He joked,

"Now you're just gloating."

"Maybe." He said.

"Goodbye Hiccup." She said.

"Bye" he replied.

Authors note :PART ONE IS FINISHED UGH. I loved this prompt but there is just so much to write for it so there will be a part 2! Finals are killer but once I get to Christmas break it will be updates galore! Hoped you all liked part 1 please comment vote and request