AN: i'm not entirely sure about this one, feels like there should be more but it'd triple the length... i just don't like spreading one day over three chapters... or maybe it's just that i hate posting short ones. ^^' anyway, thanks for all the favs and alerts everybody!

Standard Disclaimers apply.

It was almost surreal that a person walking the streets was getting more attention then the dragons - someone other than Hiccup at least. Young and old stopped and stared at the almost foreign beauty that he was leading around, amazed that all he would do was wait whenever she stopped because of a dragon. More of the younger citizens were stepping up to them than their elders were, eager to learn about this new healer who was some part of the chief's family. Freyja smiled and laughed as they introduced themselves, started bragging about how close they were to Hiccup. Tuffnut and Ruffnut shoved away a guy with worse lines than Snotlout, Ruff bluntly asking, "Just how are you related to Hiccup?"

Freyja smiled her thanks, answering just as curtly, "His mother, Lífdís, and I were sisters." She turned to her nephew, "You didn't tell them about me?"

Hiccup turned his head away from her, reaching out for Toothless, "I kinda forgot…"

Moving closer even before the Night Fury nudged her, Freyja put her hand on his shoulder. "I'm not surprised; you were only six, Hiccup. It's understandable that you'd forget after a while," she smiled as he turned back, "but you remember now."

"But you don't look like you're from Berk," one of the little kids cut in.

Freyja turned toward the voice, "Oh I'm from Berk but my parents weren't." She led the group out of the lane, sitting in the grass. "They were sail weavers, traveling from the west with my brother and sister when they were taken captive. Hiccup's grandfather, Gruff the Strict, was still the chief then and offered them a deal. My siblings had to become Vikings and their daughter had to marry his son."

"Great, it runs in the family." Hiccup grumbled, crossing his arms. Toothless huffed.

Half the group chuckled at them as Freyja smiled, "My brother was barely old enough for training, and my sister was about your age," she pointed at the four-year-old sitting on his brother's shoulders, "so they agreed. I was born about a year later." Freyja waved her hand dismissively, "But enough about me. Tell me what really happened with the dragons."

[============]

The meeting was important. The scouting ships had returned two days earlier, reporting what they'd seen. With thirty-some dragons on the island - the Terrors wouldn't sit still long enough for a proper count - the villagers were not the only ones having trouble accepting them. Not only the neighboring tribes, but also every ship in the archipelago was avoiding their waters. It kept any invaders away, but it also kept the traders out. Something had to be done about it and everyone knew it. When silence fell around the table, the Elder laughed at the grin on Gobber's face. Chuckles and sighs followed as everyone turned to find their leader staring at the table, absently rubbing his fingers.

Phlemga shook her head, "What are you doing here? You should just go to her."

"And look like his son's dragon." Spitelout chided as Stoic jumped, hands flying apart as he squared his shoulders.

"Oh it ain't nerves that's keepin' him here," Gobber stated with a smirk, getting a hard glare from Stoic. "It's fear." The whole table burst into laughter as Stoic curled his fists, what you could see of his face starting to match his hair.

BAM! Everyone jumped to their feet as the doors slammed open. "Stoic Haddock how could you!" Freyja bellowed as she stomped inside. More faces than Stoic's went white as she crossed the room, arms flailing as she sputtered. "I… I told you…err… you nev…" she stopped in front of him, surprising a few others that he slowly leaned back. "And it's all YOUR FAULT!" she growled as she grabbed his beard, yanking him down and punching him in the eye. Before anyone could blink, Freya turned and stomped right back out as Hiccup and Toothless ran up to him, shocked at what they saw.

"Dad, Dad I'm so sorry, I didn't think she'd react like this, I-" Hiccup stuttered, swinging his hands between them.

"Don't son," Stoic sighed as he stood straight, turning to him. "Freyja's right. It is my fault." He held up his hand before Hiccup could start, "You may have forgiven me Hiccup, but it doesn't change the fact I'm the reason you lost your leg."

Gobber laughed as he put his hand on Hiccup's shoulder. "Freyja's the only one with enough guts to do that, and not get smacked back that is. Don't you worry about her Hiccup, she'll come around."

Stoic nodded as Hiccup looked to him before walking away. Toothless crooned before following his master. Turning around, Stoic was slightly surprised at the motherly smile the Elder gave as the others started leaving. Gobber hobbled up to his left, humming, "Girl's got a mean right hook. Good thing she didn't go for the nose."

Stoic snapped out of it, flinching as he barely touched his eye, "I deserve a lot more than this."

Gobber waved his arm, "The lad forgave you, Freyja's just gonna have to accept it."

"It's not just his leg Gobber, and you know it. One good year doesn't make up for nine bad ones." The chief sighed as he rubbed his forehead.

"I'm not the one ya need to be tellin' this to," Gobber smirked as he started walking away.

[============]

He found her exactly where he thought she'd be, pacing back and forth, arms wildly swinging as she muttered to herself. He chuckled as he stepped out of the bushes, "You really haven't changed at all."

Spinning at the voice, all the venom disappeared, her eyes widening in shock as she stared. "By Baldr's glow… Mothdust, is that really you?"

The svelte man stopped in front of her, mud-brown eyes smiling beneath pitch-black hair. "I guess all that dirt was good after all," he chuckled with her as she hugged him tight.

"You would wait until after I left," Freyja playfully punched him in the shoulder.

"I couldn't let you take the credit," Mothdust shot back and they laughed.

[============]

After checking the house and finding out from Astrid that Hiccup took off on his dragon, Stoic headed to the first place he should have looked, both surprised and not so at the man's voice he overheard, "Don't take your anger out on Stoic, Freyja. He's not the only one who treated Hiccup like that, Hel even I did."

He stopped just inside the tree line when she took a deep breath. "Yeah, but he's the one that should have stopped it, could have changed things. As Chief, he could have stopped everyone from ignoring and tormenting Hiccup. If he'd actually been his father, Hiccup wouldn't have been so clumsy, so reckless. But no, Stoic did what he always does when he's confused or embarrassed, he falls back on being the chief and starts barking orders." Freyja sighed as she turned to the village, "Loki's Tongue, I should have taken him with me."

"Freyja," both men started as Stoic stepped out of the woods.

Mothdust smirked at Stoic's darkening eye as the chief turned to him. "I'd like a moment alone with her."

"If you're sure it's safe Stoic," Mothdust got a nod from each before disappearing into the forest.

Freyja turned away, shaking her head as she ran a hand through her hair. "Gods, it's as much my fault as it is yours."

Stoic stepped closer, reaching for her. "Freyja-"

"How much time did you spend alone with him Stoic?" she cut him off. "I always let him tag along with me no matter what I did. I should have made you spend time together, I should have-"

He suddenly spun her around. "Freyja stop! It's in Urðr's hands now. We both have our regrets but look at the man Hiccup has become because of them. I wouldn't trade him for anything."

Freyja's gaze slid to the ground as she smiled proudly, "I always knew he was destined for greatness, but I never expected dragon taming." She suddenly huffed, stepping out of Stoic's grip, "Listen to me, talking like I gave birth to him."

Stoic stepped close again, placing a meaty hand on her left shoulder. "It's the only thing you didn't do Freyja. Lífdís and I are grateful for everything you've done for us." He raised that hand, stroking her hair, "I couldn't have done it without you."

Slightly confused by the sudden softness in his voice, Freyja looked up at him and gasped. "Oh my- I'm so sorry Stoic, I didn't think it-" she reached for his cheek. He couldn't hide the twitch as she touched the swollen skin, "I should tend to that before it gets worse. My chest is at home, right? I'll make a proper poultice when we get back."

"Freyja it's fine, I deserve this." Stoic stated as she grabbed his arm.

"Hogwash," she stepped around him, started shoving him back to the forest path. "It's not fine; let me take care of it before the rumors get even crazier."

He chuckled softly through his nose as he gave in, walking down the path with both her hands still on his back. Stoic tried to stay calm with all the thoughts running through his head: her hands, her punch, her words… and Mothdust. A strange sensation shot through his chest just as Freyja screamed.

Spinning around, he almost laughed. Freyja was frozen, arms straight out in front of her - with two Terrors across them. She squeaked as a blue Terror landed on her shoulders, making her jump. It started cooing, rubbing its face against hers as the red and green ones on her arms started growling. Freyja's eyes were darting between them until they landed on the chief's massive grin, "Don't just stand there, do something!"

"I'm not the dragon expert-" he stopped as the green Terror took a deep breath. Snatching its neck, Stoic pulled it right into his face, glaring coldly into frightened yellow eyes. "Not around her," he growled out, the Terror in his hand and the two that were still on Freyja shook in fear. Letting it go, Stoic wasn't surprised as it flew away with the red one, though the blue one sticking around, trying to hide behind her head did.

Freyja clutched her heart, "Oh Thor, that…" she panted, ignoring the still cooing Terror rubbing her neck.

Stoic stepped closer as she hung her head. "What's wrong Freyja? I heard that the dragons weren't bothering you much."

Standing straight, she took a deep breath, "Kinda hard to be scared of the big ones when you can see them coming, but these guys," Freyja turned to the Terror peeking over her right shoulder. "Well, Hiccup did say they usually come out of nowhere."

"Aye," Stoic started towards the house, "seeing Hiccup follow you like they follow him, I'm not surprised this happened."

"So I should expect it to happen again?" Freyja rushed closer, grabbing at his arm.

"Expect what to happen?" Hiccup's voice made both of them jump as he suddenly landed beside Stoic, Toothless walking a few steps around them.

"I just got-" Freyja stopped at the look on Stoic's face, "Oh don't you dare…"

His grin got even bigger, "You screeched like a cat."

"That almost got blasted," Freyja hopped on it, "You didn't find it so funny then."

"Whoa whoa whoa, almost got blasted," Hiccup cut in as Toothless narrowed his eyes on the blue Terror. "What happened Freyja?"

"I got ambushed by some Terrors," she jumped slightly as a thin tail wrapped around her arm. "I think they were gonna fight over me, but your father scared the other two off."

Hiccup nodded as he stepped closer, holding his hand out and waiting, "Well if this little guy isn't scared of Dad it shouldn't be a problem now." The blue head nipped at his fingers, "Congratulations Freyja, you've got yourself a dragon."

Stoic groaned. "Great another beast in the house."

They looked at each other and laughed. "I'm surprised there isn't more around," Freyja smiled at Stoic, "you'd think the great chief would have a great dragon."

Hiccup bit back a laugh as Stoic glared at Freyja. Jumping as the glare moved targets, he turned to the Terror, trying to coax it into Freyja's reach. "Aside from the fact none of them are big enough for Dad, they still remember him from their fights. The dragons don't want to get too close to the legendary slayer. Toothless is the only one that isn't wary of him." Hiccup smiled as he got the little one to climb down her arm, "well, and this guy."

Freyja nodded as she turned to the dragon that was now in her arms, "So this is a boy?"

Hiccup nodded as he rubbed its head, "When the spines are taller than their horns it's a boy." He chuckled softly to himself. "Fishlegs found that out the hard way."

Freyja gasped, "You don't mean…"

Hiccup smiled and nodded as Toothless came up besides him. "Yeah, he thought they were fighting and tried to pull them apart." She laughed as they started walking back to the house. "For weeks Fishlegs would run away screaming whenever he saw one. It took months before he stopped blushing at the sight of one."

Stoic just stood there watching as they walked away. He knew the smile spread across his face was because she was back, that she'd slipped right back in place even with the dragons around. Hearing the Night Fury laughing with her at something Hiccup said felt like a hand to his throat. Freyja'd been gone for ten years and here she was talking and laughing with Hiccup. He'd left him for maybe a month or two each of those years and he hadn't known about Fishlegs and the Terrors. He's the boy's father, why is it so much harder for him?

Stoic jumped as Freyja turned back, smiling, "Are you coming? I still have to tend to your eye."

"I told you its fine." He said as he started walking.

Freyja turned around, shaking her head. "Why are you so stubborn about this?"

"Yeah Dad, What's the problem? You've been hurt worse than this." Hiccup added. Even Toothless shook his head at Stoic.

Freyja sighed as she went back, taking his hand, "Come on you big baby. It's not going to kill you to sit still for a couple hours."

Stoic chuckled as he let her lead him home, "No, but it would Hiccup."

"Hey!" Hiccup called out as the adults and dragons all laughed at him.

Not a one noticed the three watching at the bottom of the hill. The Elder smiled as she held her staff close, turning to her right as both men chuckled. "The Goddess will fix things."

Mothdust asked, "You sure about that? Maybe all those blessings cancel each other out."

"With everything they've been through I wouldn't be surprised," Gobber chuckled.

"But remember," the Elder laughed as she started walking away, "The Beauty of the Vanir could handle Thor and Odin herself."

The smith nodded, clapping the healer on the back. "If anyone can fix this mess its Freyja."

Mothdust smirked, "If she doesn't kill Stoic first."

They all laughed heartily as they started towards the Mead Hall.

And again, this is Movie-verse only, so please no comments about Hiccup's mother.

I'm pretty sure I don't need to explain who Thor, Loki and Odin are, but I'll explain the other gods.

Freyja - is a goddess of love and fertility, sex, sensuality and pleasure, crops and birth, gold, seiðr (sorcery), war, and death. She is the most beautiful and desirable of white-armed women and one of the foremost goddesses of the Vanir. I'm sorry I forgot her last time. ^-^;

Baldr - The god of light, joy, purity, beauty, innocence, and reconciliation.

Urðr - the Norn that governed the past.

The Vanir are another family/pantheon of gods. Freyja, her father Njörðr-a sea god, and brother Freyr-a god of fertility and harvests joined the Aesir as concessions after the Aesir-Vanir War.

Please review...