I haven't felt confident about my writing lately. I have so much stuff written, the next chapter for Harrison's Choice but I'm struggling so bad. So, this is mostly for me to help get out of my funk. But I do hope everyone enjoys it.

A Change of Heart

Summary: Two years ago, Hiccup left without a word of it to Astrid. When he returns to Berk, not only does he have an angry Astrid to deal with, but also a surprise that she never told him about.

I have a special place in my heart for Punk!Hiccup. I love him. I love him AND all his tattoos and piercings. Beautiful piece of man.

Eret is a Hofferson. Eret Hofferson. It has a nice ring to it.

Chapter One

Astrid was walking through the store with her daughter, Opal, in the cart.

Opal Hofferson. She had just turned two years old, and Astrid had to admit she thought she was doing pretty great as a single teenage parent. Opal had manners, and although she reminded Astrid a lot about her father, she still loves her to death. How could she not? Opal is the best thing that has happened to her.

Astrid was a sophomore in high school when Opal was born. Of course, Opal wasn't planned. What sixteen year old would want a child at that age? She's eighteen now. She's a senior in high school, and she's able to fully support her own daughter. She's insanely proud of herself.

Opal squealed loudly, clapping her hands at someone behind Astrid. She tilted her head, smiling at her daughter "What are you getting all excited about?"

"Gampa! Gampa!"

Astrid smiled brightly. Gampa. It had been one of Opal's first words since she was always around her grandfather. Stoick Haddock.

Right. Opal's father, Hiccup Haddock, just up and left everyone their sophomore year. Astrid never got the chance to even tell him that she was pregnant with his child, and she still wants to. Stoick never told her where his son ran off to, claiming he has no idea, but Astrid is positive that he knows and just isn't telling her.

Hiccup may not be in their life anymore, but Stoick wanted to be – and stay – a big part of Opal's life. The little girl means the world to him. Astrid had learned quickly that she could always – always – rely on Stoick when something came up and she needed someone to watch Opal. Sure, her mom was more than willing, but her mom works as a nurse, so, most the time her mother is never home.

Stoick said at work or not, he'd happily watch Opal.

A plus side to Astrid's job is that she works with Stoick – him being her manager, and he's always asking her if she's going to bring Opal in with her. Astrid has never seen a problem with it. Opal loves her grandfather.

"Astrid! How are you and Opal doing?"

"Hey Stoick. We're good. Hanging in." Astrid lifted Opal out of the cart, passing her over to her grandfather "How's work going today?"

"Oh, the usual. Ruffnut not listening, Heather and her getting in to it. You don't work today, right?"

"Sounds like a great shift you've got. No sir. Not today. Tomorrow, I think. Mom is going to take Opal for the day. I'll barely get to see her tomorrow."

Stoick smiled when Opal, hearing her name, smiled over at her mom and clapping her hands together. His smile fell instantly before looking back at Astrid "I've been meaning to talk to you -"

"Oh!" Astird's eyes widened in surprise when she looked at her watch, reaching for her daughter "I'm so sorry, Stoick. Can we talk tomorrow? I just realized what time it was and I have to meet up with mom."

Stoick nodded, watching Astrid rush off with his granddaughter towards the registers.

Astrid can't help but wonder anytime she sees Stoick. Has he talked to Hiccup? And if he has, has he told him about Opal? She sure hopes he has. A part of her almost wishes Hiccup would come back just to meet her. Astrid frowned at the thought.

No. Hiccup should not come back. Not after up and leaving her for no reason. Leaving her one last text that had completely broken her heart. If he comes back, she'll kill him. She won't even let him see Opal.

Opal let out a cry as Astrid put her in her car seat. It was going to be a long day.

00000

"Did you hear that there's a new kid?"

Astrid shrugged, pulling a book out of her locker and raising an eyebrow "Who cares? We get new kids every year."

"Yes." Ruffnut nodded, glancing around the hall for said new kid "But, I heard he's attractive. Cami said so. It's common for new kids, but not new attractive kids. Maybe you can get back out there with the new kid."

Astrid rolled her eyes. She wasn't ashamed to admit it at all that she hadn't dated anyone since Hiccup left. He may have hurt her, but he still has a special place in her heart. He always will.. She would feel like she was betraying him if she dated anyone.

Her life revolves around Opal, and that's good enough for her. Opal is her life.

"I don't… I don't want to date anyone, Ruff. I'm fine alone."

Ruff scoffed, walking beside her friend as they started down the halls "Doesn't Opal need a father figure?" Astrid opened her mouth, but her friend cut her off "Besides Eret. Sure, Eret loves her to death, that's his niece. So it's weird that he'd be the father figure in her life."

"It's not weird." Astrid mumbled "I think it's cute. Why can't he be the only male figure in her life?"

"Because he's your brother and we don't want her calling him daddy, now do we?"

Astrid turned in to her classroom, Ruff following right behind her. She fell in to her chair, letting out a dramatic sigh "I guess that would be weird.. But I still don't want to date anyone. She has a father, he's just..."

"Right there."

"Ruff -"

"No. Astrid." Ruff grabbed her friends shoulder, pointing with her free hand towards the doors of the classroom "He's right there."

Astrid followed her friends finger towards the door. Her eyes widened, her face paled. Hiccup. Hiccup is here. Hiccup is back. Astrid pushed herself out of her chair despite her friends attempts to keep her in her seat. She wasn't even thinking as she made her way over to him.

He didn't look like himself. How dare he disappear for two years and then come back looking like… That. He can't look.. Better. He was suppose to get unattractive while he was off doing whatever. Not get more attractive with his lip ring and.. Is that a tattoo on his arm?

"Hiccup."

He hadn't noticed her walking towards him until she was standing directly in front of him. His eyes widened in shock before he shook his head, looking over her head and towards the back of the room "Astrid."

How dare he. How dare he leave her like he did and then have the audacity to not even look at her like she was the one who hurt him. How dare he come back looking more attractive than before. How dare he.

Without thinking, she raised her hand and slapped him. All the pint up anger she was feeling. The hurt. Everything she had felt the past two years came out in one slap.

He blinked slowly before looking down at her, a frown on his face. The people around them had stopped what they were doing to watch what was going on. Most of them remember back when Hiccup and Astrid were a couple. The it couple. They had seen how broken Astrid had been when he disappeared. They had seen her go through that pregnancy alone. And now Hiccup is back and Astrid is angry as ever.

Ruffnut rushed over, grabbing her friend by the arm and pulling her out of the classroom "What the hell do you think you're doing, Hofferson?" she hissed, shoving her into the bathroom.

Astrid was glaring at the ground, her hands shaking. He didn't look the least bit guilty about what he did to her. Never had she thought she would ever hit Hiccup to purposely hurt him. But that's not her Hiccup. Her Hiccup would have told her he was leaving. He would have given her a reason. He would have apologized the minute he saw her.

"I don't.. I don't know. I saw him and just got so mad. He deserved it!"

"Of course he does! But you can't go beating people up at school!"

Astrid rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning against the sink "Since when are you against violence?"

"I'm all for violence. You know this. But it's senior year and even I'm trying to behave myself."

Astrid glared at the floor, her fingernails digging into her palms as she made tight fist without thinking. What if.. What if he really isn't her Hiccup anymore? What happened to make him change so drastically? Did he just forget about the four years they spent together? Was it that easy to forget?

"Astrid.. -"

"I need to go home." she sniffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hands. She hadn't even realized she was crying. What's wrong with her? It's like one look at Hiccup and all those old feelings came rushing back full force "I need to see Opal. I just can't be here right now."

Ruffnut shook her head "Who do you think you are? You're Astrid Hofferson. You don't run from anything. Why would you run now?"

"I just… It's… It's Hiccup, Ruff. He meant the world to me once. He's Opal's father. I just wasn't prepared to see him today. I can't deal with it all of a sudden."

Ruff nodded in sympathy. She remembered how Astrid was when he left. She had never seen her friend so hurt before. One day her room had pictures of her and Hiccup hanging on her wall and on her dresser, the next everything was shoved in a box and hidden away. Astrid tried everything she could to keep from thinking about him… And then she found out she was pregnant. She would be seeing Hiccup everywhere after that.

"Let's get you home, then. I'm sure Opal will be beyond happy that her mom is home early."

Astrid nodded, taking a deep breath and pulling open the door. She still had a few seconds to get in the classroom, get her stuff, and get out before the teacher showed up. She also hoped Hiccup wasn't still in there… But she was sure he had that class and that's why he was there in the first place.

This was the last thing she had been prepared for. Hiccup coming back to Berk had been the last thing she was expecting anytime soon. What if that's what Stoick needed to talk to her about? He had to have known Hiccup would be coming back. He had to. She made a mental note to yell at him when she sees him when she goes to work later.

She walked in to the classroom, eyes instantly going to her. It was something she was use to, all that attention. On a normal day she wouldn't have minded it, but she knew they were staring at her because Hiccup is back. It took every once of strength she had not to look around for him. She could practically feel his eyes on her, and she didn't want to see him. She may slap him again if she looks at that stupid face of his.

Not able to stop herself, she gathered her stuff quickly and looked at him over her shoulder. His eyes were on her, just like she thought. It made her feel sick, the way he was looking at her. Like she still means something to him. What gives him the right to look at her that way? He met her eyes before the look he was giving her changed to something more of hatred. Why would he hate her? It's not like she just up and left him with no explanation.

She left as quick as she could, not able to keep looking at him. Ruffnut was waiting for her outside the door and sighed when she finally stepped out "It's about time. I was beginning to think that Mildew stopped you."

Astrid snorted at the designated name for their teacher. He was the worst "No. Not Mildew. Hiccup was… He was watching me."

"Everyone watches you, Hofferson."

"It wasn't like everyone else. It was like… Like he use to."

"Astrid..."

Astrid shook her head, clearing her throat before walking towards the school exit, her friend right behind her "I just need to see Opal. I want to stop at my locker first. I don't plan on doing any homework."

"I never do homework."

Astrid would have laughed if she didn't have so much on her mind. There was something about the way that Hiccup was looking at her that just drove her up a wall and struck a chord within her. He wasn't allowed to look at her like that anymore. He can't just come waltzing back in to Berk and Berk High and he life and act like nothing happened. How could he possibly act like he hadn't just left her?

Astrid fumbled with the lock on her locker, sighing in frustration when her mind wouldn't focus long enough to properly put in the number. This day is horrible. Everything about it is horrible. A part of her wishes he hadn't of come back. But the other part of her is beyond glad that he did because she honestly missed that face.. Even if it isn't the same face she remembered. She dropped her book by accident, throwing her head back. She's never going to get this dumb locker open.

Ruffnut sighed from behind her, getting ready to bend down to pick the book up but Astrid shot her a glare telling her not to. Astrid wasn't some damsel. She didn't need sympathy. She didn't need anyone except Opal.

A piece of paper fluttered out of the book when Astrid lifted it and she tilted her head. She didn't normally stick papers in her books. She hated messes. She dropped the book again, picking up the paper and reading it over.

Meet me at our place tonight. - H

Her heart stopped and she frowned. This… This isn't okay. How dare he.

"Astrid? What is it?"

Astrid stood, turning the note towards Ruff "He wants to meet me at The Cove tonight."