First of all guest reviewer, if you had read the bold in the beginning you would know that Eret is Astrid's brother in this. Also, Hiccup is OBVIOUSLY OOC here. And he does have a good reason for leaving. You'll find out eventually.

Again, Punk Hiccup is life.

Chapter Two

"Are you going to go?"

Ruffnut was sitting in Astrid's room, Opal sitting in her lap. Ruffnut is also Opal's goddaughter, and she's been around almost as much as Stoick. Astrid looked from her friend to her daughter. Those green eyes just like Hiccup's. It's the eyes that always drove her insane. It's the main thing that Opal has that's him.

What Ruffnut said finally clicked in Astrid's head, and she glared at her "Do you think I'm crazy? I'm not going to meet with him. I can't do that." her eyes went to Opal again as she let out a sigh "Should I..-"

"No."

"You don't even know what I was going to say."

"You were going to ask if you should let him meet Opal. And no. No you shouldn't. He left. He doesn't deserve to see her."

Astrid crossed her arms, sitting on the bed next to her friend and daughter. She knows Ruffnut is right. Hiccup hasn't been in Opal's life, and he doesn't need to be now. If he couldn't stick around long enough through whatever he left for, what makes her think he'll stick around now?

"Have we ever asked Lout why Hiccup left? It's been two years, and I don't think I've ever thought of that."

Ruffnut frowned, thinking it over. Two years. Two years. They never once asked Lout what happened to his cousin? Obviously he would know. Just like Stoick. But they both already know that neither will spill it. Hiccup is back, and Astrid is going to get answers.

Whether she wants to see him or not.

"I need to talk to him." Ruffnut looked up at her friend, concern etched onto her face "I know I shouldn't. But I need answers. Will you watch Opal? My mom was going to but.."

"Yeah, of course I will."

"I need to figure out what time and – shit." Ruffnut raised an eyebrow "I have work tonight. I can't meet with him."

Her heart fell. She hadn't realized she was so excited to talk to him one-on-one. It's for the best. She has work at the same time he was wanting to meet her. It's a sign saying she should just avoid him. If she didn't have Opal, she would have completely skipped work just to talk to him. She still could. Stoick has to know his son is back so he'd understand. But she can't do that.

"I'll do it."

"What?"

Astrid was honest to God shocked. Ruffnut and Hiccup had gotten along before he left. But as soon as it was clear that he wasn't coming back, Ruffnut started to hate him. She hated him for leaving her best friend. Hated him for hurting her friend. Mostly, she hated him for not making any effort to even talk to Astrid and find out he has a daughter. Opal deserves her dad.

"I said I'll do it. He knows full well I'll beat him if he doesn't give me answers. And since you're working..."

Astrid sighed. She got lucky to have herself such a good friend and such a perfect daughter. She gave her friend a smile "Thank you so much, Ruff. You're the best."

"Is your mom going to watch Opal still?"

"Oh. I almost forgot."

Ruffnut had laid Opal down next to her, letting the two year old sprawl out on the bed and fall asleep. Astrid frowned. She could take Opal to work with her, of course. But she doesn't want to take her with her tonight. She's almost a little mad at Stoick for not telling her. And his punishment is not seeing Opal.

Because that will show him.

"I guess… You should take her with you."

"Are you sure? I thought you didn't want him to know he has a daughter?"

Astrid shrugged, staring at her daughter "Tell him she's yours. Make something up. He doesn't need to know. But I can't take her, and mom told me this morning that she couldn't watch her while I was at work. You're my only hope."

"Thank you, Princess Leia." Astrid rolled her eyes, fighting against a smile "Now, how do I get to said Cove? I have no idea where or what that is."

00000

Ruff vowed that she was going to punch him in the jaw as soon as he showed up.

He's not allowed to just leave and come back, acting like nothing happened. He hurt her best friend. He's not there for his daughter. He's not allowed to leave this cove without a bruise.

Opal hadn't been happy at all when Astrid had to leave for work. She was even more unhappy when Ruffnut took the car seat and put her in it. She hadn't stopped whimpering since she got put in a stroller. Ruffnut was nervous for this. It was a horrible idea to bring Opal. What if he catches on? What if he knows Opal isn't hers?

"It's okay, Opal. We'll be in and out." she snorted when Opal whined again "Don't tell your mom if I end up punching him. It's very likely."

She heard the sound of someone walking and she turned. She promised to get her best friend answers, and she was going to get him. She was prepared to tie Hiccup to a tree or beat the answers out of him. Either works for her.

"Ruffnut… What are you doing here?"

"Astrid has work. She sent me in her place." Hiccup opened his mouth to say something but she cut him off "We both know she would have been here if she could have been. So you better tell me everything, Haddock."

Hiccup's eye narrowed at her "I don't have to tell you anything." Opal whined again and Hiccup looked over like he was just noticing her for the first time. Which he probably was. He was never the observant one "Whose baby is that?"

"As – Mine. She's mine." Astrid would have murdered her if she had slipped up "Opal Thorston."

"She… She looks like Astrid."

Ruffnut froze. She hadn't thought about that at all. Opal does look a lot like Astrid. How could she explain that? Ruffnut doesn't panic at all. She can get through this entire thing with Hiccup without panicking. She'll save all he panic for Astrid "Yeah, uh… She's got Hofferson blood, after all. She's… Eret's."

Hiccup's eyes widened only for a second before he went back to glaring, tearing his eyes away from Opal "Anyways, I don't have to tell you anything. I asked Astrid to meet me here so I could tell her."

Ruffnut shrugged "You act like she wasn't going to come and tell me, anyways. So spill it right now, Haddock."

Hiccup had never looked so… Mean before. Ruffnut was almost glad that she was here instead of Astrid. That look would have killed her. Hiccup wasn't suppose to have a mean bone in his body. Ruffnut frowned. It took everything in her not to strangle the guy.

"Tell Astrid to call me when she's ready to know."

Ruffnut didn't stop herself. She stepped forward, gripping the collar of his shirt and tugging him down "Listen here, Hiccup. She's ready. She's been ready for two years. You don't get a choice anymore who you tell. So either you tell me now, or I'll beat you until you do."

He reached up, grabbing her wrist and yanking it away from him. Ruffnut was shocked. Since when does he have strength? He was suppose to be the weak Hiccup Haddock that they grew up. The boy who could barely win in an arm wrestle against Astrid. Him being able to pull her arm away was not okay.

"Astrid can tell you if she wants. But right now, she's the one I want to talk to. Not you."

"Hiccup, I swear to -" Opal started crying and Ruffnut yanked her arm from his grasp, bending over to pick her up "If I wasn't currently holding a baby, I would punch you so hard."

Hiccup only smiled. Thankful for the time being that his old friend was a mother. Ruffnut didn't take too kindly to the smile and shot her foot out, kicking him in the shin. Or tried to. Her foot connected with something hard and metal. It was most definitely not his shini.

"What the heck, Haddock?"

Opal whimpered, looking down at her Godmother's foot and reaching up to touch Ruff's face "Wuff okay?"

Ruffnut couldn't stop the smile "I'm okay, Opal." she turned her glare back to Hiccup, frowning "Now, what was that? That wasn't your leg."

Hiccup tensed up. His eyes went from Ruff down to the ground. She could tell he was hiding something now. There wouldn't be any secrets after Ruff was done with him. She watched him tug up his pant leg, gesturing to his leg "Car accident."

She stayed focused on his leg. Ruff knows she's not the smartest one out there, but Hiccup definitely had both feet before he left. He thinks he can just come back with piercings and tattoos and a cool metal leg? He's almost… Cool. He's going to have everyone on his side, and then no one will even care about why he left anymore.

Astrid will. She'll always care, and she'll go insane if he doesn't talk to her.

"You need to tell me. Or talk to Astrid as soon as you can. You may think you're all chill and rude now, but I know that you're still the same old Hiccup Haddock. You can pretend all you want that you can't stand her, but we both know you won't be able to last a week at seeing her everyday and not being around her." she took a step forward, watching his face for any reaction "Talk to her. Tonight. And tell her everything."

Hiccup rolled his eyes, annoyed. He took a few steps away from her, crossing his arms "I plan on telling her what she needs to know. Not everything."

"She needs to know everything."

"Ruff-"

"No. You left her. For two years with no explanation. You don't get a say anymore."

Ruffnut set Opal back in her stroller. If she stayed any longer she would punch him. It's pretty tempting. She took one last glance over at him, her eyes falling to his foot before she started walking away. Astrid is going to be unhappy. Unhappier than she's been in awhile.

They had sat around all day talking over what reasons he could have left for. Why he's suddenly just back. Nothing they came up with seemed like Hiccup. Leaving in general didn't sound like Hiccup. Ruff really hated to be the one to tell her that she couldn't get answers from him.

"How… How upset was she when I left?"

The question caught her off guard. He sounded almost sad. But that can't be. He left Astrid. He doesn't have the right to sound upset over it. Ruff looked over her shoulder "What kind of question is that? She was a mess, Hiccup."

"Can you tell her -"

"Tell her yourself."

Ruff wasn't about to be a messenger. If he wanted to talk to Astrid, he could. In a way, she guesses, she was being Astrid's messenger by coming here in place for her. But that's different. Astrid is her best friend. Hiccup isn't. Hiccup is the one wanting to talk to Astrid and still hide things. Astrid just wanted answers.

She walked away quickly before he could say anything else. Something was bothering her. The way he had tensed up at her question about his leg… Sure, anyone would. But there was just something about how he hesitate before he answers.

Ruff is almost positive he didn't lose his foot in a car accident.