CHAPTER ONE: THE BEGINNING.

A young auburn haired boy ran through the forest, giggling as he was chased by a young blonde girl.

"Catch me if you can Astrid," he called back to the girl.

The girl humphed under her breath and doubled her efforts in catching the boy. They were close to their favourite spot- a cove deep in the forest that no one knew of. She could see the rock forming the entrance approaching and reached out for the boy. He passed through the entrance before she could grab him, ducking under the rocks and stopped infront of a beautiful pond.

"How did you get so fast Hiccup? The girl, Astrid asked as she came to a rest beside him. He was bend over with his arms on his knees, taking big gulps of air in to catch his breath. She copied him.

"I had those two weeks to practise when you went hunting with your father." He replied.

"Whatever, I'm going to go bathe. Feel free to join." She said as she moved to a boulder and dropped her drying cloth on it and started to strip her clothes away until she was left in her undergarments. Hiccup looked away with a blush and after he heard the splash of water he did the same.

He and Astrid were best of friends since they were born, always inseparable. They have been coming to the cove in secret for four years now, and have been bathing together since.

Astrid was busy scrubbing his back clean while he stood there daydreaming.

"Lift your arms please?" She asked.

"What?Why?" He asked self-consciously.

"Come on Hiccup. We are eight years old. We've been doing this for four years." She stated as she pulled his arms up and washed underneath them. "I've seen it all before and I still love you."

'And I love you too. More than you know.' He thought to himself as he allowed her to wash his upper body. Once she finished cleaning him she handed him the washcloth and soap and turned around.

"Now my turn," she said joyfully.

Hiccup blushed as he started scrubbing Astrid's back. Even as her best friend he couldn't ignore how she was growing into a beautiful young viking.

The two spent the rest of the time in a comfortable silence, Hiccup washing her back while she did her front.

A few hours later they were walking through the village to the forge. The afternoon sun glaring down on them though it still stayed cold. The two had finished their lunch quickly so that they could have a few more minutes of fun before Hiccup started his work at the forge and Astrid her daily axe training.

"Ah yer right on time 'iccup," the blacksmith, Gobber the belch said. "The afternoon rush is abou' the start." Hiccup worked at the as the apprentice, doing all the small jobs but Gobber made sure he knew how to forge a weapon. After all he did make Astrid's axe, one of the greatest weapons on Berk.

The two young vikings rolled their eyes at their mentor.

"Good to see you too Gobber," Hiccup said sarcastically.

"Hi Gobber," Astrid greeted.

The blacksmith stopped his work and turned to the blonde girl, "Ah, 'ello lass. Dinnae see you there."

Astrid stopped at the door as Hiccup continued on to his work station. She rolled her eyes again at her mentor.

"Oh come on Gobber. You know I'm always where Hiccup is," she said matter of factly.

The blacksmith started chuckling to himself, "Aye tha' be true," he said as he turned back to the sword he was working on. "Maybe yer should just marry him now then." He continued with a smirk on his face.

Hiccup started blushing as Astrid looked thoughtful at the idea. She strode up to him and have him a pack on the cheek as she said, "Maybe I should."

( Three years later)

It was another one of those days on Berk where the sun actually came out and there was not a single sign of rain in sight. Hiccup was lying down on a grassy hill overlooking the ocean just outside the village, his best friend Astrid resting against him with her head on his shoulder.

She playing around with his tunic while he stared up into the sky, lost in thought. He has a lot going on lately. His father is soon to be back from another search for the dragon nest, Gobber has been piling loads of work on him and his uncle, Spitelout Jorgensen, was in charge until his father returns. Everyone knew that the older viking despised his nephew but no one cares because it was Hiccup, the runt of the village, a disgrace to all vikings.

And then there was his cousin, Snotlout Jorgensen, who used him as a daily practice dummy and made sure everyone knew that Hiccup was utterly useless.

Only Astrid stepped up for him, protecting him from his cousin and his gang.

But he started to realise that ever since her uncle Finn died a year ago she became more focused on her training and spend less time with him. It was only rare occasions like today that they could have time to themselves.

Astrid stopped her playful movements on his chest and asked, "When do you think your father will return. My parents said they had some important matters to discuss with him." She had a small smile in her lips as she thought of what their parents could want to talk about.

Hiccup sighed next to her as he thought of her question, "I'm not sure. It's been almost two weeks so maybe in the next few days." He moved his hand from its position on her back and started sliding it up and down her arm. Her smile grew as she felt his fingers on her bare arms.

"I don't even know why he still searches for the nest. Winter is almost here and we need to protect the village not send out all our warriors and come back with half of them dead."

Astrid lifted herself up a bit, leaning on her right elbow with her other hand on his chest.

"Hiccup you know your father is doing everything he can for the village. The dragon raids are getting worse and if we can find the nest and destroy it before winter comes we won't have to struggle anymore."

He couldn't disagree with her. And he had to admit, a life without the raids would be better.

"How's the training going," he asked, changing the topic. Astrid started softly laughing and lay down against him again, snuggling deeper into his side.

"Smooth," she said smiling up at him. "The training is okay. My father is working me hard to prepare for the dragon training in a few years." Hiccup visibly groaned at the mention of the dragon training they would start soon.

They lay there in a comfortable silence, Astrid starting to doze off against Hiccup. A loud horn in the distance broke the silence between them. Both teens groaned as they realised their time alone had come to an end.

"That could be the hunting party," Astrid said. She pecked him on the cheek before standing up pulling him with her.

Together they started the walk back to the village. Arriving at the docks they could see that the entire village had gathered to welcome the hunting party back like all the other times. They moved through the crowd to get to the front. There men were getting off the single boat that was docked.

"That's odd. Where are the other boats?" Astrid asked.

Hiccup didn't answer. He was searching for his father. The big figure of Stoick the Vast was nowhere to be seen. He spotted Gobber talking to his Uncle Spitelout and when they saw him their faces dropped. Gobber made his way to young viking.

Astrid grabbed Hiccups hand as she his expression and after also not seeing the boys father see understood. Tears was starting to build up in his eyes as Gobber grew closer.

"I'm sorry 'iccup," he said. "The hunting party was raided by those Outcast." He paused before laying it out for the boy. "Stoick didn't make it."

"It... it can't be," Hiccup stuttered out.

"I'm sorry son," said his uncle, not at all really sorry for the boy.

Astrid tried pulling him to her for comfort but he ripped himself out of her grasp.

"No... no," he turned and ran through the crowd of villagers. He ran past houses, past the Great hall and into the forest.

Astrid stared as her best friend's retreating form. All she wanted to do was follow and comfort him but Gobber stopped her.

"Leave 'im be, lass," he said to her.

She knew what it felt like losing a family member, and even tough Hiccup and Stoick didn't really get along, she knew that he still loved his father. There were tears in her eyes but she blinked them away before anyone could see her crying even tough that's all she felt like doing.

She had a lot to do still today, but first she needed to talk to her parents. She started walking to her house while the other villagers crowded the docks in disbelief. She saw her father exit their house and called out to him. He looked her way and pulled her to him when she ran into his arms.

"Father, may Hiccup stay with us for a while?" She asked him when they pulled away. The Viking looked down at his daughter and gave her a soft sad smile.

"He may. He needs you now, more than ever. Take care him and just give him time." He told his daughter. She smiled gratefully and hugged him again.

"Now go finish your chores and then you can go find the lad." She nodded before entering the house, starting on her chores.

That night Hiccup was nowhere to be seen. Astrid went to the forge and checked his house but he wasn't at either place. She started walking to the forest when she saw him stumbling out from the trees.She ran to him and embraced him in a comfortable hug. He hugged her back and hid his face in the crook of her neck. She could feel his heavy breathing and caressed his back reassuringly.

"I'm sorry, Hiccup. I'm sorry." She said, tightening her arms around him. "My father said you can stay at our house today and for as long as you need." He nodded but said nothing. He kept his eyes downcast as they made their way to the Hofferson household.

When they entered, Astrid's mother came over and embraced him.

"Oh my poor boy. It's going to be alright, don'che worry." She said as she pulled him to the dining table. " You just sit here and relax. Supper will be ready soon." She gave him a small smile and for a few seconds his lips tilted up.

After a few minutes they started eating. They didn't talk a lot, only small talk among the Hoffersons about how their days went. Hiccup kept quiet, playing with his food.

After they finished eating Hiccup and Astrid moved to her bedroom to get ready for bed. They were used to sharing a bed together and Astrid's parents allowed it since they knew neither would do anything inappropriate. As they lay in her bed, Hiccup pulled into her side, Astrid couldn't help but ask, " Are you okay?"

Hiccup was quiet for few seconds before replying,"No, not really. It's just a bit hard to realise the reality of things. I thought he would live for much longer. That no one could defeat him. I... I guess I... was wrong." He buried his face in her shoulder, tears slowly forming and wetting her nightgown.

"It's okay Hiccup. I'm here for you. I'm not going to leave your side. Ever." She said as she held him closer to her.

But everything changed that night. Hiccup started to distance himself from everyone. He moved in with his uncle, reluctantly of course, and although they gave the boy his space in the beginning they started treating him the same as usual. Snotlout took every chance he had to beat on Hiccup. Spitelout made sure to embarrass him every time he made a mistake or chided him in front of the whole village after a raid.

Hiccup started to disappear more during the day as the seasons changed, until one day, after a heavy beating from Snotlout and his friends, he never returned from the forest.

Astrid saw the beating but was too late to do anything. She made sure to punch Snotlout in the face.

She saw her old friend running into the forest and started following him.Hiccup made it to the cove. Toothless wasn't there, the dragon was probably out hunting rabbits again. He was glad for that as he heard footsteps behind him and then a familiar voice calling out his name.

Astrid walked into the cove to see Hiccup standing by the pond. She called to him but he did not move. As she moved closer to him she couldn't wonder how it came to this.They drifted apart and she hadn't seen him since that night after his father died almost a year ago. Her parents kept her busy with chores and training and Hiccup was never around anymore.

She slowly approached him. He just stood still. She knew that he knew she was there because when she called out his name a second time, his head slightly twitched in her direction.

"Hiccup" she called again, only a few feet away from him.

This time he turned to face her, showing her his split bottom lip, the slowly forming bruise on his left cheek and the cut above his left eyebrow.

He kept staring down, not looking up at her as she moved closer. She shakily placed her hand above the bruise on his cheek. Tears were running down his face.

"What did they do to you," she asked only for him to look away from her.

"Let me help you Hiccup."

He shook his head and walked to a boulder, sliding down against its side and bringing his knees to his chest.

"Just leave me alone Astrid," he muttered, laying his head on his arms.

Astrid stood there in shock. He wanted her to leave when all she wanted to do was help him.

"No. No I'm not leaving. I'm going to help you. You are my friend," she said as she crouched next to him, "And I love you."

He lifted his head and looked at her surprised and confused.

"Y...you do?" He croaked, more tears running down his cheeks.

She brought him into her arms, letting him lean into her as she replied, "Yes, I do."

They laid there in each others arms until they both fell asleep.

Early the next morning Hiccup awoke due to nightmares. It was still dark, and he realised that he was laying down next to Astrid against a boulder. He could see Toothless hanging from a branch on his favourite tree on the other side of the cove. He stood up, careful not to wake the sleeping Astrid. He walked to where he hid his bag with all his essentials in and brought out a blanket.

"I guess we'll have to buy another one bud," he said to the now awakening dragon.

He walked back to where Astrid was sleeping and covered her body with the blanket. Next he tore a sheet of paper out of his sketch book and wrote down a quick letter for when Astrid woke up. He decided to write one for Gobber too and then placed them beside Astrid's body under a rock.

He stared at her peaceful, sleeping face and couldn't help but smile. She was the only reason he still wanted to stay on Berk, but he knew he couldn't keep Toothless hidden forever. It was best if he left. It would be safer for Toothless and him. He bent down and pressed his lips to her forehead before standing and walking to Toothless.

He strapped the saddle on the dragons back and tied his bag around his body, before climbing on his dragons back.

"I love you too Astrid. I hope we see each other again." He whispered to her sleeping body. He looked at her again and then back at his dragon.

"Okay, let's go bud."

Toothless jumped into the sky, taking off under the cover of the morning darkness. They circled Berk once then flew off, leaving Berk and everything else behind.

So this is the first chapter. Please review if you read.