Chapter 4

His Dad was the first one to move. Quickly moving to his Mom's side to see if she was ok. Which thankfully she was already starting to rouse seconds after hitting the ground.

"Well lad if that wasn't a 'iccup entrance I don' know what is!" His Godfather, Gobber, laughed as walked towards the stunned couple. "Missed yu' boyo." Pulling him into a bone crushing hug.

Pulling away from him, "let's get a good look at yu'. Still a bit of a fishbone but looks like yu' got some muscles finally. Oh an yu' got some new hard ware down there, I like it. 'As that 'iccup flair to it."

"Thanks Gobber…" not sure if he should continue the conversation or address his father who was currently glaring daggers at him next to his pale mother on the floor.

"HICCUP!" Well that answers that question.

A feeling of déjà vu flooded over him of their last fight, the night he left. Screaming, slamming doors, shattered relationships.

"YOU'RE MARRIED?! As in legally bound to that woman?!" His father's eyebrows furrowed into his signature glare which was pointed straight at him.

…That woman? No.

"Her name is ASTRID, not THAT woman, Dad!" Rage for his father that he had never felt before quickly lit fire. He had never been so ready to verbally spar with his father.

"Of all the irresponsible, stupid things..." his ranting was cut short.

"STOIC HADDOCK, you be quiet right this minute!" His Mother's wonderful voice rang out fully extinguishing both their burning rages. She walked up to his Father finger extended ready to jab him back into place if he takes even a step.

"You PROMISED you would be good! NO fighting you said! NO talking down to him! And most importantly, NO YELLING!" Glaring hard at him until he lowered his gaze to the floor in defeat. Turning away from his now silent and very deflated father she walked hesitantly towards him.

She looked different, her hair had gotten grey strands running through it and there were a few more lines around her eyes and forehead. Both of which he was sure were his fault.

She approached him as if she was walking up to a wild animal, afraid to spook them away, she carefully lifted her hand to his face gently touching his cheek and slowly sliding her finger tips until she was cupping the side of his face. He pressed his face farther in her hand accepting her touch.

"Oh Hiccup. You're all grown up." Her voice trembled "I missed you so much, son."

Oh Mom. I'm sorry.

Without a second thought he threw himself in her arms, wrapping his arms snugly around her and burrowing his face into her neck.

Gods it felt good. He couldn't count how many times over the last 4 years he had wished he could have a hug from his Mom. Hundreds of times probably.

After what seemed like not enough time they separated, "hey Mom, I missed you too…a lot." One finally smile between them and he turned toward Astrid extending out his hand to her. She silently took it and stepped up beside him.

"Mom, I want to introduce you to my wife, Astrid Haddock," he beamed proudly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Haddock. I'm really excited to be here and get to know all of you." Astrid genuinely said holding out her hand.

"Nice to meet you as well my dear and the first thing you should know about me is that I don't shake hands, I hug." Pulling Astrid into a gentle hug.

The two pulled apart and his Mother stepped away looking back in his direction, "and who is this handsome fellow?" Looking over in Toothless's direction.

The squirrel vomit!

"Oh God, sorry Mom! I completely forgot about the mess, see Toothless loves to hunt and well I usually stop him before he actually eats any small animals...Obviously that didn't happen this time." He frantically said. "Do you have some paper towels, I'll take care of it?"

"No, son its fine, I've got it," dismissing him. She then made a gesture toward Toothless, "do you mind if I?..."

Realizing what she was asking, "oh of course he's a big softy, unless you're a small furry creature of course he he."

She tentatively reached out and ran her fingers through his black fur. "He's beautiful, Hiccup. What breed is he? I would swear he's a…"

"Wolf, yeah. There might be a little shepherd mixed in there, we're not 100% sure. Though on paper he's listed as a really fuzzy German shepherd. Most places don't take to kindly to wolf hybrids living there."

His Mom vigorously scratching Toothless now, who happened to be lying on his back tongue hanging out, "how did you manage that one son?"

Before he could say anything Astrid interjected, "he sweet talked a veterinarian who was in her 80's."

"Ok, ok, I'm not sure "sweet talked" is the best way to describe it, more like friendly conversation." Already feeling the blush already starting to rise up his cheeks.

"Hiccup, she slipped you her number." His wife said cocking up her eyebrow and sprouting a victorious smile on her face, as to say 'I'm right and you know it'.

"Alright, alright we don't need to talk about this in front of my Mother." Taking a look around again at the other faces still staring at them in shock and now amusement, "and everyone else that I'm just remembering is still here…"

Giving a little chuckle his mother stood up, "Son, why don't you say hello to your Father and your friends while I clean this mess up." Walking towards the kitchen she stopped by his side to whisper in his ear.

"I like her," and kept going.

God, I missed you Mom.

Finally locking eyes with his Dad they both turned away and began to shuffle awkwardly, neither sure which should make the first move. More than likely still scared after his wife's early tirade, Stoic decided to be the first to move and slowly approached him.

"It's umm good to see you Son. How was the drive?"

"Oh fine, nothing to eventful. How are things, you know, around here?"

"Same as before, nothing to concern yourself with."

This is painful. Make it stop.

Before we could make any more awkward conversation Astrid stepped beside him and extended her hand. She must have realized his father wasn't much of a hugger unlike his Mother.

With her hand still extended, "hi I'm Astrid, your daughter-in-law." Right to the point and fearless. That's my girl.

Cautiously gripping her hand, "hello, Astrid. I apologize for how I acted earlier, I was…taken by surprise."

"It's fine I understand, really. We're family now I'm not going to let a little childish outburst ruin our relationship." She finished grinning at my wide eyed Father.

Hiccup stood there staring just as wide eyed as his father at his wife.

Childish outburst…has she always been this sexy?

A bellowing laugh and a hard slap to his father's back broke Hiccup of his shocked trance, "my goodness, I like her Stoic! She's got spunk. Good for yu' 'iccup." He directed his still stunned father by his shoulders away from the couple and towards his office. "I think this evenin' calls for a drink old friend. Let's go."

As he watched them walk away Astrid interlocked her hand with his and raised to her toes to kiss his cheek. Only once her lips left his skin did he realize her real motives were to pass a message to him, "you should introduce me to your friends so they stop staring." She delicately whispered.

With a nod of his head, Hiccup walked over with Astrid in tow to his lifelong friends.

"Hey gang, uh sorry I left you hanging here for so long but you know…parents." Scratching nervously at the back of his neck at how awkward this felt.

"No problemo, H. Snotman and I raided the fridge of beer so we've just been enjoying the show with our frosty beverages." Tuffnut said breaking the ice around the group.

"Of course you two did, anyways, I suppose you all know who Astrid is by now." She gave a smile and a wave, "so I'll just introduce you guys to her; so staring on the left we have: Tuffnut, Snotlout my cousin, Fishlegs, Ruffnut twin of Tuff and Heather. These are my friends that I grew up with."

"Nice to meet all of you, I know it will probably take a while but I'm hoping someday you can call me a friend too, not just Hiccup's wife." She confidently said.

A quiet mumbled choirs of "hellos" was the only response that she got.

Not pleased with his friends enthusiasm but knowing there was nothing he could do about it Hiccup decided to move on.

"So what has everyone been up to? School, jobs that sort of thing?" Desperately trying to lighten the mood up a bit.

Fishlegs was the first to say anything, "well I just finished school over at Berk U and got a teaching degree in mathematics and statistics and come this Fall I will be teaching over at the high school." He beamed, obviously proud to put to use his life long love of statistics.

"Wow that's get Fish! Good for you. What about anyone else?" Hoping that Fishlegs courage would rub off on the others.

"Oh, oh me next, me next," Tuffnut raised his hand.

Shaking his head at his friend's antics, "alright Tuff, your turn."

"Snotlout and I work for his Dad's construction company." Eager to tell what he's been up to.

Semi surprised at Tuffnut and his cousins chosen profession, "so instead of destroying things, now you both fix and create things…well I didn't see that one coming."

This earned a small laugh out of the group, finally starting to relax a bit.

"Yeah Cuz, I guess all those years of being forced to fix things we destroyed payed off. Tuff and I are the best on my Dad's crew, not that I'm bragging or anything…but you know…" buffing his nails on his chest.

"Good for you Snotlout. Actually I'm probably going to need to talk to Uncle Spitelout next week or so when I start looking for a new location for my company. Maybe I can get the two of you to help me inspect buildings?" Trying to extend an olive branch and also get his work done.

Interest peaked Snotlout looked over at Tuffnut and then turned back to Hiccup, "sounds like a plan I'll talk to Dad."

Silence filled the space again and Hiccup turned to the last two female members of the group.

This is going to be a lot harder than the guys.

Ruffnut and Heather had always been very close, best friends or as they called it battle sisters. So given their closeness and the fact that he had abruptly broken things off with Heather 4 years prior, he assumed he would be getting a cold shoulder from Ruff. Girl could hold a grudge.

Heather, was a completely different story he wasn't sure what to expect from her…anger, hatred, friendliness. He had no clue. It was her who had broken his heart by choosing to stay behind….but it was him who had left the door open by lying and then telling her "I love you" as he jumped out her window.

Why did I do that again? Oh, that's right I'm an idiot.

It had taken him a while to get over her only finally happening when he met Astrid and fell head over heals for her.

If he moved on she should have as well…right? It has been 4 years after all.

Right?

"Why don't you tell Hiccup what you've been up to Darlin'." Fishlegs added a small nudge to her side to emphasize his point.

Darlin'...what?

Grumbling under her breath something about traitors she finally spoke up, "I work at the towns government building. Pretty much work every position there since there's only like 10 in the whole building." She crossed her arms over her chest clearly done talking to him when another nudge from Fishlegs got her talking again.

"Oh and Fishlegs and I are engaged and we're getting married at the end of summer or whatever." Arms still crossed a look of complete disdain was shot at her future husband as he wrapped an arm around her.

"Wow congrats! This-this is amazing! When did you two, ya know, get together?" Hiccup was genuinely happy for his friends because he knew how big of a crush Fishlegs had on Ruff but never thought the larger boy would ever act upon it.

"A couple of months after you left actually, and we got engaged last year." Fishlegs finished grinning.

"Wow good for you guys. Marriage is great," he emphasized by putting an arm around his wife's waist and smiling down at her.

Looking back up he noticed the uncomfortable glances and silence had come back. Great.

Knowing it wasn't going to get any better he decided to just jump head first into the proverbial deep end of awkward conversations. Turning to look at his Ex, "so Heather what have you been up to?"

She looked at him shocked for a moment before her reserved mask slid back into place, "oh um I got my real estate license and I'm now a realtor at Berk First Realty." She pleasantly said but in no way was it friendly.

A realization washed over him like burning hot fire. Berk only has 1 real estate company so that means….

"So I guess I'm going to needing your expertise searching for a property as well, he he. Uh wow this will be fun, it's going to be like o-old times on my job…" finishing lamely. He couldn't even try to make that sound convincing.

Glaring at the floor Heather said, "great, can't wait." Obviously done with the conversation.

He was hoping someone would ask about what he had been doing the last 4 years but it seemed that no one would and he didn't want to just throw the information out there unless they truly wanted to know. He was proud of his accomplishments and wanted to them to understand that and it not come off as bragging about his time away.

Thankfully right then they were saved by his Mom joining the group, completely unaware of the awkwardness.

"It's so good to see all of you back together! I missed this, only to get to see most of you in passing. Well other than my lunch dates with Heather of course."

Snapping his head up faster than he thought was possible he stared wide eyed at his Mother.

Lunch dates with HEATHER?! Mom noooooooo.

Looking over at Heather she seemed to look just as mortified with a blush spreading across her face as the knowledge of their secret rendezvous being revealed.

Still completely oblivious to the inner chaos that she was causing her son Valka continued, "I see you boys have been drinking, hmm? Well how about this it's late and I'm not sending you off even slightly intoxicated. So how about you all stay here tonight!"

Oh Valka… you were fun to write. This is the version of his Mom I wished would have been around, standing up to Stoic and all.

Also I hope Gobber's accent came off well. His speech is a little hard to write out.

Sorry if there's not much action in this chapter I had a lot of back info about his friends to get out there. No way of getting around it then lots of conversation.

So next chapter will start the flashback of Hiccups time away, should be fun!

Also again, thank you so much for all the reviews! I read all of them and I'm really enjoying reading your thoughts on what's happening/going to happen in the story.