It Takes A Man

Author: Nightstar Fury from Nightstar Productions.

Rated: M for Mature.

Disclaimer: I do not own the HTTYD movies, series, or shorts. And any of the songs I use I don't own either so don't get huffy with me. Anyway...Enjoy! :)

*(A/N: Okay so, I decided for this story the HTTYD characters will be using modern names, the parents too but for now I'll just state the main characters. I'll state who is who below this authors note.)*

Modern Character Names:

Hunter Haddock [Hiccup] - Parents; Steven & Victoria Haddock [Stoick & Valka]
Allison Hofferson [Astrid] - Parents; Mark & Naomi Hofferson
Francis Ingerman [Fishlegs]
Scott Jorgenson [Snotlout] - Parents; Shawn & Robin Jorgenson
Heather Jorgenson [Heather] - Parents; Shawn & Robin Jorgenson
Rosaline Thorston [Ruffnut]
Trevor Thorston [Tuffnut]
Cassie Holgersen [Camicazi]
Devon Landvik [Dagur]

Chapter 1; How It Began.

Life was never meant to be easy or fair, and it certainly didn't come with a handbook. When something happened in life, you couldn't just go back and change it. You have to live with whatever happened, and the choices you made whether you liked them or not. This was the case for Allison Hofferson, a young girl who made bad choices in her life over a guy who she thought she was in love with and he turned out to be nothing more than an abusive player. Allison gave everything up to be with him, and everything she went through led her to where she was now. Sitting on the couch in her one bedroom apartment while her 3 month old son slept in his crib in just the other room. Allison sighed softly staring out the window as the rain poured down, and she couldn't help but think back to how it all began.

~Flashback~

She was 16 years old, a sophomore in high school. Allison Hofferson was an A/B student, had parents and the best friends around. She had a part time job as a waitress for a diner just 10 minutes from her house called the Dragons Nest. It was a hot spot in the little town of Berk. She'd lived in this place all her life, she knew every inch of the island which was located in the Barbaric Archipelago, just West of Scotland and East of Norway. Berk was rather the main island and around were a bunch of smaller ones. Allison loved this island, and her life. It was perfect. Was. Everything changed for her suddenly because of one single choice the night of the big football game when she met a man named Devon Landvik, the quarterback for the Berserk High football team.

"Allie! Yo, you there girl?" Came the voice of Allison's close girlfriend Heather. Allison snapped out of her daze from seeing this very handsome, built quarterback step off the Berserk bus with his friends laughing it up.

"Hm, yeah. Sorry, Heather. What did you say?" Allison asked smiling now. She couldn't believe she had eyes for the quarterback of the visitor team. Hunter and Scott wouldn't be pleased to hear of such eye goggling over essentially the enemy team. Allison didn't have a lot of friends, but the ones she had she loved like they were a second family to her as in extended cousins. There was Hunter Haddock, Francis Ingerman, Scott Jorgenson and his sister Heather Jorgenson who were also Hunter's cousins. Then there was Cassie Holgersen, finally Rosaline and Trevor Thorston who happened to be twins. Hunter and Scott were on the Berk High School football team. Scott was a linebacker and Hunter a quarterback. Cassie was a cheerleader.

Allison loved her friends, all of them. Her parents were amazing too, but incredibly strict and strived for excellence and perfection almost. The one time Allison brought home a C on her report card in 8th grade, she was grounded for two week doing nothing but chores and make up/extra credit work to bring the grade to a solid B+. It had sucked to be away from her friends other than school. "I asked if you are going to the Halloween dance this Friday." Heather said again.

"Yeah, I am." Allison replied softly as her blue eyes trailed back to the Berserk quarterback who was leaning against the side of the bus, their eyes met in a quick moment as he threw her a calm smile then a wink. Allison felt her cheeks heat up with embarrassment at the notion.

"Oooh, I think someone has the hots for you Allie." Rosaline teased me, I look down bashfully but still glance towards the quarterback who was nodding to his friends but kept his eyes on her. "Oh my God, get down there and talk to him before the game starts girl."

"Are you kidding me? Hunter and Scott would lose it if they saw me talking to him...He's from the other team. No way." Allison said quickly.

"Oh come off it. The others aren't even out yet, go talk to him. He's so hot, Allie! If you don't go talk to him, I will!" Rosaline giggled shoving Allison a bit, she bit her lower lip nervously but smiles as she got up and made her way down from the stands and towards the fence where the male who had been staring at her walked away from his friends and met her there.

"Hey." He greeted.

"Hello..." Allison said softy trying to hide her blush.

"What's a pretty thing like you doing here? You a fan of football?" He asked.

"Two of my friends are on the home team...Quarterback and linebacker." Allison replied to him. The whistle blew from his coach.

"I'm Devon Landvik..." The male introduced.

"Allison Hofferson. Better go before you get in trouble." Allison said gently.

"I'll gladly get in trouble if it means I can get to know you more, Allison." Devon smiled. Astrid blushed deeply.

"Maybe we can see each other after. I'm staying for the whole game..." Allison said to him.

"I'd like that but just in case I don't get to see you after the game, I'd love to be able to talk and hear your angelic voice again." Devon said handing her a folder piece of paper then winked at her before walking away with his team. Allison's cheeked burned a bright red as she stepped back holding the paper to see his number on it. Her heart soared as she tucked it away and returned to her seat to watch the game, the smile never leaving her face.

~End Flashback~

Allison scoffed as she closed her eyes. That had been how they met, the night at that game where just a few simple words exchanged landed her his cell phone number. From there they began to text all the time, talking late nights on the phone and never caring how tired they were the next day. They talked for months before finally going on a date together, Allison took the bus to Berserk Isle where Devon lived. They went out to a movie and dinner, it had been an amazing night. She fell in love with him, he was perfect to her. Or so it had seemed at the time. Allison looked out the window again, remembering how thing went from that first date. Allison was nearly 17 years old, Devon apparently already was and when they got into a relationship they kept it a secret from everyone. Allison never told her friends about her dating a guy from Berserk Isle, she just acted normal around her friends so they wouldn't ask questions.

After 4 months of dating though her grades began to slip, and she started distancing herself from them all saying she had other things to do or that work was getting busier. Her friends knew sometime was up but they didn't fight with her about it. Allison closed her eyes now again thinking back to where things began to change.

~Flashback~

Allison and Devon had been dating 5 months, in that time their conversations never stopped. They saw each other at least twice a week, and talked or texted constantly. Allison's grades had begun to go from A's and B's to C's and D's which didn't make her parents very happy, she tried to play it off that her teachers just didn't like her and they seemed to buy it. Allison still worked at the Dragons Nest part time, Devon had his license and came to visit her as much as possible. Tonight she'd been on break when he came in and they shared a burger and soda together.

"I wish we didn't live and hour and 10 minutes from one another..." Devon sighed.

"I know babe. But until I'm 18 I can't move, same with you..." Allison mumbled looking down.

"But at least I have the car now, we can see each other more." Devon replied.

"True...I get my license in 3 months." Allison smiled lightly now.

"Your parents get mad for your grades?" Devon asked intertwining his hands with hers.

"No...My report card is still in my backpack...I'll get grounded again and won't be able to talk to you babe." Allison closed her eyes sadly.

"I'll find a way to see and talk to you baby." Devon smiled to lift her spirits. "Your friends start asking about us yet?"

Allison shook her head, "No. They asked once after we met, but I told them that it didn't work out because of distance and what not. They bought it." Allison said.

"Good, I don't think they'd be happy to find out your dating someone from another school." Devon chuckled then sighed contently, "I love you, Allie."

"I love you too." Allison replied.

~End Flashback~

She heard light crying coming from the bedroom now, she got up moving to the small kitchen and prepared a 4oz bottle for her son. She entered the room and saw him fidgeting around whimpering, Allison smiled softly as she put the bottle on the changing table and picked him up, "Hey there big boy. You hungry?" Allison said sweetly as she laid him on the changing table and changed his diaper, then re-snapped his clothes on before getting a bib and giving him the bottle. She sat down in the rocking chair and moved it slow with her eyes closed.

Things hadn't stopped after that day, they got more serious and worse for Allison. After that day, the next thing to happen as Allison's birthday where she turned 17 and she did a small celebration with her friends. Then a private one later with Devon. Allison now grumbled a bit remembering that day, she had given Devon her virginity fully and after that everything changed. The laws in the Barbaric Archipelago were that a student could drop out at 17 provided they would get their GED within a year of dropping out. When Allison got grounded from her computer, phone, and seeing Devon she began to skip school and he did too so they could see phone another more. Allison's grades got bad enough she would need summer school and to stay back a year. When this happen she made her decision to drop out of high school, and she told no one about her decision.

~Flashback~

Allison stood on what would be her last day of high school in the guidance counselor's office waiting to be seen. She was a little nervous but she was going through with it. When she was called she explained to her counselor she was dropping out because she refused to lose her summer over algebra, and stay back a year. The counselor hadn't been happy to hear it but he also couldn't stop Allison from doing it. He went outside the room to get the forms and Allison was done 20 minutes later, she exited the room into the hallway looking around. She saw her friends in the lunchroom laughing it up, she almost felt bad for leaving them without a word. Her eyes briefly met with Hunter's, he looked at her with a smile then saw the saddened expression on her face.

Allison saw him get up to come over to her and she bolted outside with her backpack on her shoulder, got in Devon's car since he'd been waiting there for her and they were gone before Hunter could stop to talk to her. "All set babe?" Devon asked her.

"Yeah, officially dropped out. I've already found a GED program, it starts enrolling in 3 weeks..." Allison told him as she saw back with her eyes closed.

"Are you okay? You ran out pretty quickly." Devon mentioned.

"I just wanted to get away before my friends could stop me...I don't need that goodbye." Allison sighed.

"I understand, your parents cool with you droppin?" He questioned.

"I didn't tell them either but they can't stop. The laws on Berk are a minor who is 17, working, and agrees to get their GED is considered an adult. I have a job, I'm 17, and I'll have my GED in 2 months..." Allison stated.

"True, so I was curious babe...Do you...want to come live with me?" Devon glanced over gently.

"Li–Live with you?" Allison blinked in surprise.

"Yeah, I only live with my dad and he's never around...And you said you hated living with your parents because they are so strict. You're considered an adult now, move in with me. I want a life with you babe." Devon smiled. Allison couldn't believe it, he was being serious right now too. He really wanted her to move in with him, and right away. They had been dating a few months now, almost 6 in fact. They loved one another, they were happy together, and this was a chance to end the distance between them. So why not? He was right, she was considered an adult now and the GED program she selected was available on any island in the Archipelago which meant she could take it while living with him.

Finally she smiled wide and kissed him deeply when they were at a red light. "Alright. Okay, I'll do it. I'll live with you!" Allison said happily.

After she agreed to move in with Devon, so much changed for her and rapid fire too. Her parents caught wind of her dropping out, they were furious and essentially kicked her out which didn't matter because since she was planning to stay with Devon. Allison snuck into the house when her parents were at work to get her things then she left with Devon to Berserk Isle.

At first everything was great for them. They shared Devon's bed and room in the basement of his dad's house, Allison finished her GED program in 3 months, and she got a job as a fast food worker. Everything had been amazing and Allison felt like she made the best decision of her life dropping out of school, and now to live with her boyfriend who to her was the greatest thing in the world. He was sweet, kind, loving, understanding, and caring towards her.

It had been 9 months that she'd been with him when she noticed he was changing for the worst. First it was simple things like the dishes and laundry not being done. It was cause fighting between them, but he'd come around later and apologize. Then it got worse when he started wanting sex all the time, even if Allison was too tired she just agreed so they wouldn't fight. Then things got unbearable for her, they were always fighting and in a heated moment Devon put his hands on her arms to push her out of his way from leaving and her back hit the wall hard. Devon came back later just fine and said he was sorry but Allison was afraid already. She hid it well but she was terrified he had actually put his hands on her.

The worst part was, Allison had no where to go and no friends to call. When her parents kicked her out, they disconnected her cell phone and took it from her. And when she moved she shut down her social media pages so they couldn't find her. Allison had nobody, and no where to run. She was trapped with Devon in his house and apparently at the mercy of his mood. He was nothing like she remembered him to be when they'd met that day of the game, she didn't even know who this guy was anymore. She wanted to get away from him, she didn't want this anymore. Allison thankfully though had found a way to get away from him, one of her work friends let her borrow their phone so she could call home and beg her parents to let her come home.

It took a lot of begging, but they finally agreed as long as she promised to show her GED and get a job immediately upon returning. Allison agreed right away, she never told them about Devon and they obviously assumed she was just staying with friends. She told them she would be home by the end of the week, then her friend said the next time Devon had work she would be by to get Allison and her things and then take her back to Berk. Allison was grateful to say the least. That Thursday, Devon left for work and Allison used a trac-phone to call her friend to get her. Allison spend only an hour packing her clothes and essentials. She left a note for Devon saying she was leaving him because she couldn't take the abuse anymore, that he wasn't the guy she thought she loved.

Allison left that day with her friend and returned to Berk at her parents house, as agreed Allison showed them she got her GED and they allowed her inside to start unpacking. After a month, Allison had her old job back waitressing for Dragons Nest and she was about to get to her friends to see them again but then she missed her period and started getting sick in the morning. She had only one thought and it was confirmed a week later with a home pregnancy test. Allison was pregnant with Devon's baby. After recovering from shock she called her doctor to make an appointment, and went to the office. They did a blood test to confirm it, and gave her an expected due date of November 26th.

The sonogram showed she was 8 weeks and 4 days along, meaning she was already two months. She knew she had to tell Devon though she didn't want too, so she texted him. He was pissed that she left him, and said the baby obviously wasn't his. That started a fight over the phone and finally Allison had said screw it to him, she hung up and broke the phone so he couldn't call back. She had some money put away, she'd get a new phone and refuse to give him the number. Things didn't last though, her parents found her prenatal vitamins and gave her exactly 1 month to get out.

~End Flashback~

Sure enough, Allison pulled whatever money she could together and found herself the place she was in now. It was a shitty one bedroom basement apartment. There was a small bathroom, open living and kitchen area, then of course the bedroom which she shared with her son. It wasn't much but it was all she could afford being it was only 250 a month, and she needed money for her phone, food, and bills. Her parents refused to speak to her now, and Allison went through labor and delivery by herself. She stayed in the hospital a total of two daysafter 14 hours of labor and about 6 minutes of pushing she gave birth to her son, Jay Michael Hofferson at 10:44pm on November 1st.

He was the best little boy a mother could ask for too. He wasn't colic, or a picky eater. Allison managed to get him on a schedule pretty quickly. She was given three months off with maternity leave and for her that ended in about 2 weeks so she had to get on finding a babysitter for Jay. She didn't have a lot of money to pay a sitter with, or family to watch him. Her parents refused to see the child or even acknowledge it was their grandchild for that matter. Allison swallowed her pride at some point and told Devon from a payphone that the baby was born even though she knew he didn't care, she felt better telling him none the less.

Allison sighed heavily seeing Jay asleep in her arms again, she gave a soft smile kissing his forehead. "Don't worry little guy, one day things will turn around for us..." Allison whispered before laying him back down to sleep in his crib, she flipped on the baby monitor and exited the room slowly. She looked around her apartment, it wasn't glamorous but it was enough for her and Jay to live in. Her friends from her job in Berserk helped her out a lot but of course they couldn't give up their lives to live in Berk so she was utterly alone in that department, she also couldn't call her old friends because she was ashamed to tell them she dropped out, and got pregnant yet she was only 18. Allison didn't have the heart to tell them what happened, she sighed heavily and got to work cleaning things up and still thinking on the whole sitter idea.

It bothered her to know how perfect her life was until she met Devon, then she let it all go for him. Now she had nothing but a crappy one bedroom that was falling apart, a job where she made about 100 a week if that, and her son whom regardless of who his real father was she loved with her everything and she would protect him. No matter what she went through, or continued to suffer, Jay was the one she fought for. Allison would make sure he had a good life with an understanding mother who was there for him. That was her vow to him. Allison knew that things would be good again one day, but until then things would just have to suffice for now.