An: After some time, I finally was able to get around in actually editing this thing. Honestly I don't know what happened I really do think auto correct worked against me or something. Anyway I just wanted to thank the people who reviewed, favorite and followed this story. Special thanks to SoulOfTears, BlackTea and GuestGirl for being kind when it came to constructive criticism. And SoulOf Tears I actually took your advice to split it into 7 parts and I went back to edit and change things. Thanks so much to everyone who didn't flame (even though by the lack of editing, it should have been flamed).

Anyway I hope you like it and tell me what you think.

1. Falling

Astrid was trying, she really was trying but each time she tried she ended up falling on her rear or on something hard, more or less on the ground.

For the past few days since the whole, Hiccup saving Berk from the Queen and becoming the hero of Berk, she was trying to practice her skills on riding the Deadly Nadder that she rode when she and the others were helping Hiccup in defeating the Queen.

She named the dragon Stormfly, since...well because apparently the Nadder was female so it threw off the course of her naming the dragon Storm because she thought the dragon was male...apparently she was wrong. She learned that the hard way, the very hard way.

Anyway once she found out the real gender of the Nadder, she figured she would have to think of a more...feminine name. Sadly that proved to be a challenge since she never was quite well...feminine. She couldn't get the name Storm out of her head, since the dragon seemed quite fond of flying in storms so the name stuck but she couldn't name her dragon by a male name...she couldn't break the news to Fishlegs about the Gronkle that he named Meatlug, he'll be embarrassed once he found out the real gender of the dragon.

Luckily after some time she noticed that the Nadder was light and nimble on her feet. Never missing an opportunity in flying away if danger was near and was rather quick in landing again, seemingly unafraid, reminding her of a...fly.

She had no idea how she came up with it but she did. Stormfly, stuck and the dragon liked the name...after some convincing that the name was both feminine (for the vain dragon) and strong (so Astrid didn't have a dragon with such a girly name).

After Hiccup fell from the sky, which scared the living spirits out of her and made her tear up, something she wasn't going to admit to anyone. It made her realize just how much she came to care for the boy that managed to change her perceptive on not only dragons but life as well.

Currently, said boy was unconscious and still recovering from his wounds, the loosing the leg wasn't what Astrid meant by that it was only fun if you get a scar out of it. So she decided to practice riding Stormfly since she was determined not to be left behind in dragon riding when Hiccup wakes up. If she couldn't beat him then she sure was going to challenge him.

But saying she was riding a dragon turned out to be easier than actually doing it. She didn't understand why she flew Stormfly great during the battle and now that she was back on Berk she couldn't even go to the village center without crashing Stormfly against something.

She wondered if Hiccup had the same problem when he was first training Toothless, who hasn't left his best friends side. He was a noble, loyal, and unique dragon and Astrid couldn't help but feel glad that Hiccup found a friend like Toothless.

Anyway, here she was, Astrid Hofferson flying over Ravens Point with Stormfly. Well trying to fly over the forest with Stormfly. She crashed into anything that was solid and this was staring to get on Stormfly's nerve because she figured that Astrid was trying to ruin her natural beauty. After some time Astrid figured that they were flying well and not crashing into anything and she took this as a sign that they were improving.

All good things come to an end. And sadly for Astrid the end came in a very ugly way.

Astrid didn't realize that the sky was dark and the temperature dropped, not until it was too late, very late.

Like Astrid said the dragon loved storms which is where half her name came from. Astrid just wasn't ready to accept her companions love for storms.

"No, Stormfly! No!" Astrid screamed grabbing on tightly to the rope she was holding onto that was around the dragon's neck that she used as a harness.

The rain was coming down, hard. And Astrid couldn't even see in front of her due to the sheer amount of rain falling and the darkness of the sky. Since when does it start raining out of nowhere?

Ever since Hiccup's near death, Astrid has never been so terrified, and now here she was flying through a storm she didn't notice was going to happen.

It's funny actually when you think about it. She survived an angry Night Fury, the same angry Night Fury that was flying recklessly trying to scare her, being chased by a Monstrous Nightmare, riding a dragon alone for the first time, and fighting the Queen dragon...oh and don't forget she was training in how to fight dragons for Odin's sake! Was she really going to die because she was too ignorant on checking for a storm!?

Apparently yes.

It happened to quick. Too quick for Astrid to notice that a lightning bolt flashed right in front of her and that Stormfly, startled that she was almost killed flew back fast not remembering she had a rider on her back and began to hurriedly fly around trying to find a way from the dark sky.

She did. But she found it by deciding to plummet to earth, thus making Astrid hold onto the dragon's neck for dear life, screaming as she went, by the amount of speed the dragon was using. Sure Stormfly wasn't a Night Fury but that didn't stop the dragon from being fast.

Stormfly crashed into a tree after another lightning struck near them. Seriously what was Thor's problem today? Was he angry at her, or just doing this to get some kind of laugh?

Next thing she knows she's hurdling though the air, screaming, knowing she was going to die.

Maybe she was too busy screaming or too busy trying to grab something that she didn't notice a black figure running, and trying to fly but only for a very short distance coming to her aid.

Suddenly she felt something cold and soft wrap around her before she felt herself crash to the ground.

I'm dead. That's it. I died. I'm in Valhalla, she thought.

She opened her eyes and found she was surrounded in darkness.

She would have thought she was dead...if it wasn't for the searing pain she felt all through her body.

Wasn't Valhalla supposed to be calm, and not painful? Who was she to trust the word of a bunch of dead people?

Just as she was about to close her eyes she saw the darkness fading.

It took her only a few seconds to realize that what protected her was a dragon. Not just any dragon but Hiccup's Night Fury, Toothless.

With this realization she sat up quickly but immediately regretted after she felt a very painful feeling go through her head.

Moaning she clutched it, closing her eyes trying to figure out why the hell Odin and the rest of the God's hated her.

First she has to go through dragon training, then she flies for the first time on a dragon that initially hated her, afterwards she gets the wonderful idea in trying to fight a Monstrous Nightmare in order to save the boy she may or may not have feedings for, she goes off to battle on a dragon to fight another much larger dragon, she almost loses the boy she again may or may not like, and to top it all off she almost just died by crashing to the ground because Thor decided she needed some quality time with the floor, one that would've been a very emotionally meeting.

She felt something nudge her side gently letting out a soft cooing noise.

She opened her eyes slowly turning to the side to find Toothless looking at her with his big soft green eyes filled with worry.

"It's fine Toothless. I'm fine," Astrid told him with he eyes closed and somehow softly petting his head as he nuzzled into her hand softly, almost as though he sensed her soreness and he didn't want to hurt her any further.

After some moments of just sitting there by Toothless with her eyes closed trying to stop the constant spinning within her head, Astrid decided it was time to go home. She slowly with her eyes closed stood up still clutching her throbbing head but soon regretted it.

Luckily Toothless was still watching her intently, almost like a mother watching her child walk for the first time and caught her with his head before she could crash into the ground. The floor must want a hug, badly.

Astrid breathed deeply still trying to stop the spinning that thankfully was beginning to stop.

After some time the spinning stopped and Astrid was able to open her eyes again and not have the need to vomit.

"Thank you Toothless," Astrid told the dragon meaning it wholeheartedly as she gazed down at the dragon who made a noise that closely resembled a purr, looking up at her with worried eyes but happy eyes as he saw that she could walk.

Ever so slowly Astrid began taking small steps with Toothless supporting her weight so she wouldn't fall. She had no idea where they were but Toothless apparently did know since he steered her in the way that he knew the village was at.

All the while she couldn't help but think how Toothless managed to find her. But she figured that since Toothless was able to hear Hiccup yell when he was being chased by the Monstrous Nightmare, than surely h heard her scream. She also wondered how he got to her without being able to fly, but again she just thought back to how he reached Hiccup without flying either. But her biggest question was why?

Why did, Toothless saved her?

Why did he race across the island to save her from her upending doom? Why would he save her if he didn't like her? Maybe he did like her? Like her enough to save her?

Soon enough they were at the village and Toothless began leading her to where she lived.

How Toothless found out where she lives is completely lost on her.

But there was something she needed to do, something that's been on her mind since she almost died. Something she needed to do before she could get any sort of rest.

"Toothless I need you to take me to where Hiccup is," she told the dragon that stopped at her words.

Toothless turned to look at her with a questionably look on his face...like he was trying to decide whether to take her where his rider is or take her back to her home where she can get the rest Toothless knew she needed. After all she did almost die today.

Astrid stared back trying to convince the dragon to take her where Hiccup was. Luckily no one was out probably due to the storm that by now, stopped raining but that didn't stop the wind from blowing. Everyone was inside including the dragons sheltering themselves from the cold.

Something in her eyes must've convinced Toothless to take her back where Hiccup was since he let out a noise that sounded like a groan before he abruptly turned to the side and sending her to fall from the sudden movement.

Once again she was saved by a dragon, but not by Toothless this time.

She turned to see that Stormfly was the one who caught her.

She wondered where the dragon flew off to. Stormfly must've felt guilty for leaving her or almost getting her killed from the guilt ridden look she had in her eyes making Astrid forgive the dragon as she stood up still leaning onto to her for support since the ground was slippery because of the rain. Astrid gave her dragon a gentle stroke on her neck in an act of forgiveness.

"Go back home Stormfly, you must be tired. I'll be there as soon as I get something important finished," Astrid told her.

Stormfly made a move to protest but quickly held herself back and decided to just obey and go home to the beauty sleep she was eagerly waiting for. Stormfly probably did it because she listened to her rider, or knew her rider was still mildly weak to put up a fight, or...

Toothless glaring at Stormfly from behind Astrid's back and had his lips up in a snarl... with his teeth showing.

Yep, Stormfly was finally listening to Astrid.

Toothless quickly took his place back at Astrid's side and began leading her up to where his unconscious friend was located while Stormfly made her way home. She knew Astrid was in good hands...or paws. After all Toothless did protect her from falling. He was able to catch her rider when she couldn't. And for that Stormfly was grateful for him protecting her when she couldn't. But she would do better.

The hill proved to be a challenge since Astrid managed to slip twice. Each time she muttered on how when Hiccup wakes up he needs to put a railing along the trail to his home.

The third time she slipped, she finally snapped.

She began yelling at the sky as she shook her free hand (since the other was holding onto Toothless) on how the Gods hated her, on how she would punch them when she dies. She even yelled that if they stopped making her life so difficult she'll sacrifice Hiccup as a peace offering.

Toothless wasn't upset on how the blonde girl yelled up at the sky that she was going to sacrifice his friend as some sort of offering to the sky. Or whatever she said. No he wasn't angry, he was amused. He found her to be rather interesting and funny by her reactions, and he understood why his friend liked this girl so much.

She didn't make life boring, nope, not for a second.

When they finally (finally) made it to the top and to Hiccup's front step, Astrid wasted no time in opening the door, she knew that Chief Stoick was off with Gobber making Toothless his new tail fin and were Hiccup can place his prophetic foot in.

Toothless let her enter first which she did and held open the door as Toothless casually walked in as if he owns the place, which in some way he did since he now doesn't let anyone in without his permission. Snotlout learned that the hard way.

Astrid shut the door closed taking in the warmth of the home. She found that Hiccup's home was warmer than her own home, and not because it had a larger fire place.

She looked over at Toothless who was looking at her too.

Something in his eyes told her exactly what he was going to do next.

"Toothless don't you dare,"

But alas the female was too late since Toothless instantly began shaking himself of the water on his skin. The Gods must have must have wanted a laugh because most of the water landed on her, making her all the more wet than she was before.

Toothless must've enjoyed her scrunched up face in disgust and absolute torture since he let out what appeared to be a laugh, throwing his head around in a manner that remind Astrid that he was laughing his guts out.

"Yeah Toothless go ahead laugh and mock me in my misery you useless reptile, "Astrid muttered untying her braid to wring out the water and then proceeded to wring out the extra water from her shirt and skirt (wringing her skirt proved to be a challenge from the spikes, but hey if she managed to cheat death like 3 times then she could wring out her skirt).

Toothless just began to laugh at her, making Astrid glare at him.

She was wet, cold and quite frankly she didn't enjoy having Toothless laugh at her in the mocking manner that he was doing.

But she couldn't forget her reason in why she wanted to come here.

And she found him.

There lying on his bed, still unconscious and with his mouth slightly open was Hiccup.

Astrid moved in a trance to where he was and grabbed a chair to place it next to his bed so she could sit. As she gazed down at him with sad, guilt ridden eyes she couldn't help but feel that this was somehow her fault.

If she hadn't interrupted him when he wanted to leave then he would've left with Toothless to somewhere safe and where he didn't need to fight a giant dragon to save his village. He could've had a life full of adventure and fun with his best friend and she took that away from him because she was jealous that he beat her in something she wanted to win at.

She didn't realize the she was crying until she felt something wet slide down her face. She sniffed trying to hold on more tears but that just proved to be useless because the more she tried the more fell.

Toothless saw her and walked over to her slowly as if he was trying to not scare her. He never has seen a human cry before, not even Hiccup and he found the emotion to be heartbreaking because she looked miserable, more miserable than he has ever seen anyone before.

He gently bumped the side of her head and felt her wrap her arms around his neck just before he heard strange sounds coming from her and he felt his skin become wetter. He knew he shouldn't move, she needed to release all the emotions she kept inside her until now. He saw the face she made when she gazed at his rider and saw that she blamed herself, which Toothless found stupid since he didn't know how or why she blamed herself. She didn't make him fight against the Queen, and she certainly didn't make him train him. But for whatever reason she did and Toothless realized that maybe this girl was more then what she appeared to be. She must be if his rider found her important enough to want to explain himself to her. Why he didn't let him eat her when she hurt him (which now that Toothless thought about was funny if a girl took down his rider without so much of a struggle) and why he took her flying that same day and eventually saving her from falling when they faced the Queen.

But he also realized that the girl was the only one that seemed to be able to control and help his rider. Something he was grateful for.

After another series of silent filled moments Astrid finally detached herself from Toothless.

Toothless saw her tear strained, and red face and to make her feel better he gave her his gummy smile (he didn't want to scare her. Not that she would be scared easily but he still didn't want to do such a thing).

Astrid couldn't help smile seeing Toothless. He was really adorable with his cute little special gummy smile, his very own Toothless smile.

"Now I know why Hiccup named you Toothless, "Astrid laughed wiping a hand across her nose to remove the snot she felt and some of the tears.

Toothless just laid his head in her lap, tired after what happened today. He was a dragon, but hey, even a dragon gets tired after saving his rider's friend from a horrible doom. It's a tough job keeping his favorite humans alive since for whatever reason they liking getting into trouble.

Astrid stroked his head softly knowing he was tired.

She looked back up at Hiccup to find him still asleep. She couldn't help but feel upset by this since she just wanted to see the forest green eyes she has already gotten use too. She wanted to see him smile, laugh, see him being Hiccup, invent, work with Gobber, be Hiccup again, make those hand gestures he does when he's nervous, ride Toothless, and just look at her with his eyes.

She didn't put much thought to it but now she felt that she couldn't' no didn't want to live without him, which was strange since they were only 14 but sometimes you can't just help what you fell.

Slowly she grabbed his hand that sent a jolt through her body being able to touch him even in the smallest touch. She was surprise to find that Toothless didn't growl at her, he didn't even Hiccup's own father touch his son.

"Wake up soon Hiccup," Astrid softly said looking him in the face hoping deep inside that he'll hear her and wake up.

He didn't.

She let out a sigh before she laid down her head besides the hand that she was grasping.

She looked down and saw his right foot intact but she knew if she had sat on the other side she wouldn't find a foot but a prophetic Gobber put together for him. She knew that Hiccup would most likely tweak it to fit his personal style better.

The thought made her feel better knowing Hiccup wouldn't be one of those that complained but he would one of the few that would try to get used to it and not mourn over a limb. Now he and Toothless had another thing in common: both have lost a left limb that would make them rely on some sort of prophetic and maybe on each other while Hiccup got used to his new leg.

Toothless lifted his head and looked at the girl that looking at his rider while she held his hand. Normally he would've growled at people for trying to hurt his rider further, but he saw how gently she was holding it and something told him she would never hurt him intentionally.

Astrid didn't know where her feeling stood for Hiccup. She couldn't say she loved him since she barely knew him, but she didn't really hate him. She thought of him as a friend. And who knows, maybe in the future they would become more than friends. She knew of Hiccup's crush on her and she couldn't really lie that she found him cute in his own Hiccup way. Who knows what could happen in the future.

After some moments of just sitting there she finally detached herself and silently walked to the door.

It took her only a moment to realize that Toothless was following close behind watching her like she was going to fall any second now. Trust her; it took great strength for her not to fall. It's not easy getting her balance after something like falling almost to her death but she was determined in getting her balance back without anyone's help. But she was grateful for the help Toothless gave.

"I'm fine Toothless," Astrid told the dragon who just continued watching her closely.

"Really Toothless I'm fine. I'm just going home okay," Astrid said to the dragon.

She went to open the door and step out only to discover that it was raining, not hard but still hard enough to make her not want to go home, but she knew if she didn't her father would yell at her.

Again it took her just a second to realize that the rain wasn't crashing against her skin like it was doing when she first stepped out.

Confused she looked to the side to discover Toothless standing on his hind legs with a wing outstretched over her, preventing the rain to wet her further. Astrid couldn't help but think that he looked adorable standing on his hind legs.

"Well, you ready Toothless?" Astrid asked the Night Fury since she knew it would do no good in trying to convince him to leave. He's proven to be almost as stubborn as his rider, maybe even more.

Toothless just gave her a smile and Astrid took that as her cue.

It was funny to say the least to watch Toothless walk around like a human.

She was grateful for not getting any wetter than she already is. She was grateful a lot today wasn't she? Maybe today opened up her eyes to be more grateful for the things she has now.

When they finally reached her house she quickly opened the door and stepped inside...

But she didn't close it.

"Thank you Toothless," Astrid told the dragon wholeheartedly.

Toothless was back on all four legs watching her making sure she wasn't going to walk off. She would if it wasn't raining this hard.

Normally she would've gotten angry by getting this sort of help from anyone but because it was Toothless, she made an exception. Maybe they were finally on the road on being friends.

Toothless just made a noise that Astrid thought was like a rumble in his throat.

"He's going to need your support from now on Toothless...He's going to need you to help him like he's helped you...It will be hard but I know that if you help him Toothless, he will get through this," Astrid told him wisely no longer just talking about herself. And she knew it was true because if anyone could be able to help Hiccup get through this, it's Toothless. But she'll help too. That she vowed.

The Night Fury just looked at her knowing exactly what she was talking about and he was glad his rider had someone who worried about him like this girl did. But Toothless knew his rider wouldn't just need his help but from those around him and maybe even more from her.

With one more smile Astrid shut the door happy in how this day turned out. Sure Hiccup is still unconscious, the village is still getting used to having dragons around and not killing them, and the fact she almost died today. But it all was worth it if she and Toothless made a step forward in becoming something like friends. She could only hope.

After that day, neither one ever brought it up nor did anyone know about that day. Not even Hiccup when he woke up and truth be told both Toothless and Astrid liked to keep it that way.

A memory both treasured and the beginning of a friendship both grew to care about.