A/N: This will be the longest and informative chapter yet.

Astrid sighed internally as she listened yet again to Snotlout brag about being next in line for chief. Next to her sat Ruffnut, who was busy fiddling with her wedding band. Tuffnut, sat beside her, and was rolling his eyes at his former best friend, now turned enemy. Fishlegs sat next to Tuffnut, and was trying to read a book he had found earlier that year in Gobber's forge.

" If he weren't next in line he would be SO dead right now. Seriously, no wonder Hiccup left. He wanted to get away from this damn arrogant bastard." She thought.

" So Astrid how about after dinner you and I…" Snotlout started, only to be cut off by an angry Fishlegs.

" Shut up Snotlout. Can't you see we could really care less about you right now? We have more important things to worry about, like I don't know, the fact we haven't had a raid in nearly a decade?" he snapped, causing everyone, Astrid included to stare.

Fishlegs had changed drastically over the years since Hiccup had left. No doubt it had been from the guilt that he had at one time been the boys best friend only to abandon him to be popular. While he still spewed fact on dragons he had toned down considerably, and had even begun to date Ruffnut, much to every ones shock, then later married her. He had also learned of his families' curse of being berserkers'. He had pretty much become a person that one would do well not to anger.

He had not been the only one to change either. Since Hiccups departure the twins had begun to treat each other a siblings instead of rivals, and Ruffnut had become a seamstress after her first child had been born. Her young son Jake was quit the handful even on a good day. She had calmed down a great deal since then. Tuffnut was still single and currently working as a leather worker. He was fairly good and made a descent living. And he loved to spoil his nephew rotten when he got the chance.

Snotlout had changed for the worst. He was now more arrogant than ever, if that was even possible. And what was worse, he had some how got the idea in is mind, that since he was next in line to be chief, it meant Astrid had to marry him. Despite how many teeth she knocked out, he still didn't relent.

But, Astrid her self had changed far more than anyone. She knew why. The day after the searches had been called off, she had decided to snoop around the forge and had found the mother load.

Diaries, and sketches of dragons, people and invents, whose name she could not even pronounce lined the walls of the rooms. One diary in particular however had caught her eye. While she had felt uncomfortable about reading it, she wanted to know why Hiccup had run off.

Reading that diary had made her see just how cruel they had truly been to him. Page after page told of his sufferings and pains. The worse of it had come from his own father. One entry in particular had even given her a clue as to what made him leave. She had torn out the entry and carried it with her to this day; try as hard as she could to decipher it. The entire page read was this:

Dear Journal, Today I will right my final entry in you. The reason is, is that me and Toothless have decided to leave Berk. We both agree that there is no reason for me to stay when I am clearly not wanted or even worth taking care of. How lonely do you have to be before your worst enemy becomes the best and first friend you ever had? Well, I have been there. So good bye and good riddance.

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the third.

What had he mean by having his worst enemy become his best friend?

Astrid turned back to look at Snotlout.

Snotlout sneered.

" That's easy, their stupid animals that are to dumb to survive." Fishlegs looked ready to rip the smirk off of his face before his expression turned from anger to fear within seconds. Astrid and Ruffnut took quick note of this.

"Legs?" Ruffnut asked softly. Fishlegs just pointed to the skyline behind them. They all turned, and they felt fear flow through them. Astrid whispered only one word.

"Dragons"

Stoick sat quietly in is house as he usually did. In his lap lay the vest he had given Hiccup years ago.

" OH, son, why did I not see how bad you were hurting? I promised yer mother I'd take care of ye and now all I managed to do is run ya off." He thought sadly. He had realized soon after the search that Hiccup did not want to be found. It both hurt him, and in a strange way made him feel proud to know his son was a risk taker. He took after his mother far more than he realized.

Suddenly his door flung open and the young Hofferson girl ran into he house panting hard.

"What is it girl?" he growled, wanting to be left alone to sulk.

" Dragons, in the town square hurry." The girl panted. Stoick shot out of his seat and grabbed his war hammer and bolted towards the town square, only to stop dead in his tracks at the sight before him.

They're in the square stood three dragons, one black as night, one with a black body and white markings that resembled a skeleton, and a small cat sized one that was a calico grey. But it wasn't the dragons that shocked him. It was the boy on the black ones back. Stoick felt his mouth go dry. He whispered the only name that came to his mind.

"Hiccup"

Hiccup sat rigid on Toothless. He was uncomfortable being back in the village after so many years of being gone. Behind him Sarah sat with her arms wrapped around his waist, Smallfry cling to her shoulders giving worried chirps, while her owner looked around in curiosity. Ash and Skullfang simply chose to glare at the now surrounding Vikings with a look that could send anyone running. Skullfang's violet eyes flickered backs and forth just as her owners, trying to Asses the amount of potential danger they may be in. After a few tense moments a voice called out.

"Hiccup?"

He turned and spotted a tall beefy blond man standing next to a blond haired woman. This man almost looked like…

" Fishlegs?" He asked. The blond man nodded. Hiccup smiled.

" What, you look like you've seen a ghost. Is there something in my teeth?" he asked jokingly. Fishlegs snorted and shook his head and smiled, then began to slowly approach him, with the woman, whom Hiccup recognized as Ruffnut. Ruffnut looked him over.

"Wow, you…grew a lot." She said. Hiccup snorted and smiled.

" Well Ruffnut that tends to happen when you have a tribe to protect, and feed." A collective gasp came from the crowd and Hiccup felt Toothless give a hearty dragon chuckle at it.

" Your old clan is easily impressed my friend. I wonder how they will react when they find out about your son?" Toothless said.

Fishlegs spoke again.

" Why are you…." He started. Hiccup sighed.

"It's a long story Legs, but one you will hear in time. But for now I only ask you to be patient." He said quietly.

The other people around looked both apprehensive and in awe of the sight before them. They were both shocked and impressed by the fact that three dragons were among them and not bothering to attack them, and they knew somehow it had to do with the young man before them.

Ruffnut and Fishlegs gave him a sad look. Hiccup sighed and smiled at the couple.

" I am glad to see you two finally got together. Means I have to collect the five silver coins from Gobber from our wager. "He said as he turned giving polite bow to the two of them. However the sight that now caught his eye made him feel freighted. Standing there in awe was his father, a war hammer in his grasp.

"Hello Dad."

Stoick just stood there for a moment before he regained his voice.

" Hiccup?"

" Yeah Dad…. Its me…" he said softly. Before he could even get a second word out of his mouth a loud voice rang out.

" What the hell is that loser doing here?"

Hiccup frowned and turned his head slightly. Snotlout stood behind him, anger clearly written on his face.

" I do believe my dear, dear cousin, that I was not talking to you. Now if you would like to stay a man a bit longer I suggest you walk away before my sisters do something drastic." He said with a smug tone. Snotlout snarled. Hiccup turned back to his father and sighed.

" I…I need your help…." He said. The other villagers looked shocked. As did Stoick.

"Why? Ye clearly don't need me help in taming that beast o yers?" His father said in awe. Hiccup grimaced.

" My people are in danger. We are at war. I can't protect them without help. You're the only man I know who has fought and killed roman soldiers. I have nowhere else to take them. Please if you will gather the elders I will awanser all the questions you wish to ask me." Toothless crooned in tune to emphasis his point. Stoick sighed and nodded.

" I have a meeting ready in two hours at the least." He said. Hiccup smiled.

" Thank you." He said. Stoick nodded and turned to leave to gather the head elder lines of the village. The crowd then burst in to a thousand questions.

Hiccup chuckled and raised both his hands to silence the crowd as Sarah and Ash had to stifle their laughter.

" Please, I will answers your questions, but I need to let my friends refresh themselves." The crowd murmured then dispersed leaving only five familiar faces. Hiccup and Toothless turned to them.

" Can I help you?"

The first person to speak was Ruffnut.

" How did you tame a dragon?" she asked in awe. Hiccup frowned as he felt Sarah release her hold on him and begin to dismount Toothless.

" I never tamed him. Taming a dragon is like taming a Viking. Impossible. I befriended him. Nothing more, nothing less." He said sternly. Tuffnut spoke up next.

" Who're they?" he said pointing to Ash a Sarah.

" Sarah is my friend and advisor. She helps me when trouble among my tribe breaks out. Her little friend here is Smallfry. He said gently. Sarah gave a curtsied and Smallfry gave a loud chirp.

" Ash is my second in command…. and my sister in law." He said as he pointed to Ash, who was smirking as she scratched Skullfang behind her ears.

" Wait you mean there was a whore desperate enough to sleep with you?" said Snotlout. Hiccup snarled.

" What did you just say?" he asked, Toothless growling beneath him. Hiccup then UN hooked his harness and got off his friends back. His prostatic creaked in protest. Snotlout sneered again.

" What to stupid to know when someone talking to you Useless…." Before he could get a second word out Hiccup had him pined and a dagger at his throat.

" If you EVER insult my wife again, your next breath will be your last. Believe me cousin, I have killed men far greater than you for less." He snarled. The others looked shock while Ash and Sarah looked furious. Hiccup removed the dagger and walked back towards a now smirking Toothless. Snotlout got up and bolted away as fast as his fat legs could carry him. The next voice that spoke was soft and very familiar.

" Your married?" Hiccup turned in mild shock to see a woman he had crushed on his whole life. He sighed.

" I WAS married. My wife died five years ago…. I only have my son now." He said softly. Everyone gave a small collective gasp at this admission. For a moment there was an awkward silence until Fishlegs decided to speak up.

" Well, you and your friends are probably hungry. Lets get some lunch and you can tell us more." He suggested. Hiccup looked to Sarah and Ash who nodded enthusiastically at the mention of food.

" Very well, but please, no eel. It makes my friends and I nervous." He said.

Astrid felt her heart break a little at Hiccups admission. He was married and had a child with a woman. A woman who was not her.

Despite her attitude towards him in their teen years, she had indeed been very much in love with him. She just was unable to show it without embarrassing herself. She saw how different he was now. No longer was he a scrawny twig of a boy. No, he was lean and fit, with a look of fine eloquence in his face. His freckles were nearly gone and now a beard, albeit a small one, now covered his face. It made him look…sexy… he had a flare to him that no one else could posses. Gone was the boy she had first fallen for. Now a powerful leader took his place. One that she could now never have.

" Great, I finally admit I love the guy and it turns out he's married to some other girl…. or, was married anyway." She thought sadly as she and the others accompanied Hiccup and his friends to Fishlegs house to eat.

"well, If I can't have him as my husband, at least I can try to have him as my friend. Maybe."

A/N: End of chapter 3. R&R please.