A/N so here it is! The promised story! Finally! I'm sorry it took sooo long! If you're reading this one before Count Down you can do, it's not really really important, but this one is set after Count Down happens so go find that one and give it a read first if you want! Enjoy! X

DISCLAIMER: I don't own HTTYD

Astrid frowned, but didn't mention anything to Hiccup. Even if she'd wanted to, she couldn't because he was away being a chief instead of being home with her.

She rolled her eyes, took a deep breath, before heading out of their home to find Valka or Gothi. Valka would be better, she trusted Valka. But it would have to wait a little while, there were other things that needed to be done.

Ruff had requested her to help with something about getting Tuff out of the house, Snotlout's parents needed help with building a new fence, and there was a new family in the village that would need welcoming and helping out.

Stormfly followed her down the path towards the village, staying close like Hiccup had told her to do when he'd left very late last night.

"You look after her, Stormfly. Tell her I really am sorry." Hiccup had said before he'd left with Toothless.

Not that Stormfly needed telling. She'd guard Astrid with her life.

"Morning, Astrid." people greeted, smiling. Gobber winked at her, to which she narrowed her eyes playfully before climbing up the steps to Ruff and Tuff's home. Their father had had enough of their destruction and made them move out. Surprisingly, their own house was still standing.

Ruffnut answered the door after the second knock, greeting her friend loudly.
"Astrid! Get your butt in here!" Ruffnut practically pulled her through the door and slammed it behind her. "I'm worried about Tuff."

"Why?" Astrid raised an eyebrow. "Is he acting like his normal self?"

"No. that's why I'm worried." Ruff led her through to Tuff's bedroom, opening the door to show the other twin lying face down on his bed and looking out of the window, every so often letting out a pained whine. Astrid blinked in surprise. This was weird for Tuffnut.

"It gets worse. Watch," Ruffnut walked into the room. "Hey Tuff, want to come Loki people?"

"No, I'm gonna just.. lie here..." Tuff replied. Ruff's face seemed to get angry and she went to hit her brother before thinking better and leaving him alone.

"How long has he been like this?"

"Three… four days? Since the new family moved in." Ruff shrugged. "What do you think is wrong?"

"I don't know." Astrid shrugged. "I'll let you know if I find an answer, but right now I have to go welcome in the new family and help Spitelout build a new fence with Snotlout." Ruff cackled at her friend.

"Good luck." Ruff waved as she left the house and headed towards the new family. They lived a little way out of the village, there were eight in the family, each one of them with a dragon. There were some of the dragons they had that they had never heard of, and some they didn't know could be trained.

The family had come from the Ebony Isle, near to Berk. No one quite knew why they'd moved, but Stoick had welcomed them with open arms. Hiccup had been confused, but after a short conversation with Eric, the head of the new family, he'd smiled brightly and shook the man's hand.

Astrid hadn't met them properly yet, she'd stayed back with Stormfly while Hiccup and Stoick spoke with them. Valka had gone to see them a few days ago, so now it was Astrid's turn.

She stopped half way up the path, taking gulping breaths of the fresh air to try and rid the wave of nausea that had washed over her suddenly. Oh Gods, please don't let her get ill while Hiccup was away.

After a few moments, she took one last breath before continuing up the path toward the house, leaning on Stormfly.

The house was large, but it would need to be with six children. Astrid put on a smile and knocked on the door. There were some loud noises behind it before it swung open, showing a young boy standing there with a very young, Albino Skrill standing behind him.

"Hi," Astrid smiled. "I'm Astrid. Can I come in? I was hoping to see your mum or dad?"

"Oh, OK." the boy pulled the door open a little more and grinned, showing a missing front tooth. "Mummy's getting a pouch for my tooth! It just came out!" he grinned proudly.

"Oh wow! Stormfly, stay." Astrid told her dragon, who curled up and watched the door as Astrid stepped through.

"Hagen! Come here you little horror!" a woman laughed kindly, coming through from the back room. "Here's the pouch for your tooth. Put it under your pillow tonight and make sure Briar goes to sleep tonight too, OK?"

"Yes, mummy!" Hagen ran off, probably to find his siblings, and the woman looked to Astrid.

"I'm Ase, you must be Astrid."

"I am. Here to welcome you to the village." Astrid smiled. "Do you need any help with anything?"

"Actually, would you mind? Ivar and Embla have gone off hunting with their father, and Ashla and I can't quite manage by our selves." Ase said.

"Not a problem, anything that keeps me away from Snotlout. I just can't handle him today." Astrid followed Ase through a long narrow corridor towards the end of the house. There was a young girl waiting, watching three younger siblings run around while the dragons watched on from outside. She had dark ginger hair that seemed to run through out the family, pale skin and warm brown eyes. She was sitting on a large chest as she watched over her siblings, her boots had been discarded to the side.

"Hey mama," she smiled when the two of them walked in. "Who's this?" she spoke softly and gently, it automatically made Astrid feel less stressed.

"This is Astrid, Hiccup's wife." Ase smiled. The girl nodded as she pulled on her boots. "This is Ashla."
"Has Hiccup been here often?" Astrid asked.

"Only to look at Dreamer and Braygoh." Ashla answered. "Don't worry." Astrid frowned again, but waited to be put to work.

"Now, Ashla and I can lift the trunk, but it's holding open the doors that is the problem." Ase explained. "Could you hold the doors open. We'll direct you to where we're going."

"Of course." Astrid nodded. "Anything to help."

By the time she fell into the empty bed that evening, every single muscle hurt in her body. She'd tried to eat at the Meade hall, but the smell alone had driven her away. She settled for bread and cheese at home, sitting near the fire and wishing Hiccup was there with her.

Why did he have to go anyway? Couldn't Stoick have gone with Valka instead? Why did he have to drag Hiccup away from her when all she wanted to do is curl up in his arms and sleep.

The bed was too uncomfortable and lonely with out Hiccup there with her, so she crawled out and curled up on the sheep skin that was lying in front of the fire. She watched the embers die slowly, thinking about the day. Her hands were covered in cuts from the wood she used to help Snotlout and Spitelout. It didn't seem like they needed help, it was almost as if they didn't need her help but wanted her there just to annoy her.

She still didn't understand what was wrong with Tuffnut. Maybe it had something to do with the new family, or maybe he just ate something weird. Maybe the responsibility of having his own house was getting to him. She didn't know, and she didn't really care. Was that bad? Probably, but it was getting very hard to actually care.

Astrid huffed as another wave of nausea hit her, but thankfully it never went past just feeling ill. She curled herself up, pulling the skin around her shoulders and willing sleep to come to her.