"I don't know how many times I have to tell you, Astrid" Hiccup sighed as he ran a hand through his unruly mane of hair "It's not safe to fly in those parts alone? Do ou even know how many active trapping ships there are around there? You put yourself at risk, you put Stormfly at risk. Something could've happened to you, do you understand?"

"But nothing did happen" She snapped back "I'm fine"

"How could I have possibly known that?" He tried to keep calm and exhaled angrily "I would've come with you. I would've been there too if you had just an ounce of patience"

"I have patience" She shouted "I have a lot more than you think I do but it's not my fault you keep running it out faster than the Twins run out of sensible ideas. I wait and I wait for you, Hiccup but you're never there when I need you to be! I'm sure as Hell not going to settle for you leading me on and making me feel less than you because you're...what? The original dragon whisperer?"

"Don't make this something it's not!" He replied "This isn't about who's better or worse! This is about you and your safety. I can't always protect you!"

She was taken aback "You think I need protecting?"

"Of course not" She folded her arms "But you don't understand that your rash decisions have consequences that affect everyone and not just you. It's selfish and what's more, it's stupid. Sometimes I feel like I don't even know you!"

She laughed humourlessly "How can you say that?" Tears pricked her eyes "I let you in. I let you show me this beautiful new world of dragons and exploration and you know what, I'd let you show me anything and follow you anywhere. You know why? Because you're my best friend and I trust you with my life and more. You changed me and made me a better person. This is you reflecting onto me"

"No" He raised his voice "The difference between you and me is that I have a brain and not an axe!"

That was it.

"People talk about how you've revolutionized the way we live but you know what I think?" There was no holding her back now "You're the same insecure, attention-seeking little boy you were and you're just living off of everyone else's approvals because you accidently shot down a Nightfury with an idiotic contraption you slung together when you were bored!"

He swallowed, her words internally stinging him "I love you, okay? That's why this is such a big deal to me, Astrid! Because I love you!"

"I love you too" She whispered, wiping a tear away "But I'm done"

She turned on her heel and pushed open the door, ignoring the other riders who were listening intently. She was leaving.

A day went past. Then a week. Then two. Before she knew it, she'd been on Berk for a month miserable and alone. Snotlout had visited once to see his family though she suspected Hiccup had sent him to check on her. Her parents were concerned, as was everyone including Stoick. Apart from Snotlout's brief visit, no other contact with the Edge had been made so she was surprised when she received a letter via Terror Mail in spidery, almost illegible handwriting.

Astrid,

It read.

I, Tuffnut Thorston, have never written a proper letter in my life but believe me when I say this was absolutely necessary.

Things aren't the same here on Dragon's Edge. Everything's quiet. Ruff and I are being to slowly die of boredom. We rarely see Hiccup. He mopes around in his hut and only speaks occasionally in this depressing whisper. Snotlout tries to make conversation but is shut down everytime. Fishlegs is a lot less thorough when giving him updates. I'm no expert but I think you broke his heart. And I know he broke yours too. Fish is calling it an ambiguous loss. Either way, please come home.

- Tuff.

She wanted to reply but it hurt to even think of what to write back. Instead, she just left it alone and wallowed more in self-pity.

"Astrid?" Mrs Hofferson called softly.

"Hm?" Astrid replied, being torn from her thoughts. It had been about four days since the letter arrived.

"Hiccup's back" She said.

"Oh" Astrid couldn't bring herself to say anything else.

"Do you want to say hello?" She asked "Maybe bring him over something to eat? It must've been a long flight"

"No thanks, Mom"

"What's going on between you two? I spoke to Stoick and it sounds like Hiccup is just as depressed as you are"

"Not a lot" She smiled sadly "We both said some things we didn't mean and because of them, I came back to Berk"

"Please just talk to him, dear" She sighed "It'll make everything better I promise"

In head, Astrid kept on rehearsing what she was going to say but all of it complete disappeared as soon as she saw him. His green eyes were bloodshot and he sported big black bags underneath. His russet coloured hair was horrendously unruly and he unconsciously tugged at the braids Astrid had tied in long ago. Suddenly, nothing mattered anymore.

She flew towards him, wrapping her shaking arms around his shoulders tightly. He squeezed her back.

"I'm sorry" She breathed into his neck.

"I've missed you so much" He replied, kissing her cheek "Never leave me again"

"Never" She agreed, loving him with every inch of her body again.

I might as well have smacked my own heart with a hammer. This hurt me.