"Oy, lad!"

Gobber laughed faintly and moved the heavy axe before it fell down on Aiden's leg instead of into the tiny boy's arms. "Haven't I taught you any better?" He chuckled and threw it back up on another table, almost hitting a small terrible terror which he paid no mind to.

Aiden blushed and whined. "I-I wanna play!"

"Those are not for games," Gobber smiled and shook his head. He took the wooden axe down from the table and handed it to him with his hook. "You'll do better with this."

Aiden made a face as he felt the light, not so deadly, weapon in his arms. "But..."

"Ah, ah," Gobber shook his head. "I know your friends already have weapons, but those were gifted to them."

Aiden looked down at the wooden object in his arms. "Mommy never gave me anything..."

Gobber sighed and switched his amputee into his brush. When the small click went off, and the attachment was secured, he leaned back against the table, wondering why he was always left to fix the family issues of the Haddock clan.

Aiden sniffled and his eyes soon filled up with tears. He looked up at Gobber, biting his lip to not start crying. He had learned by his friends that crying meant weakness...

Gobber brushed his mustache absently as he was in his own thoughts – wondering what the next problem he had to deal with would be. He was soon broken out of his own imagination as he heard the little boy hold back a small sob. "Lad..." Gobber sighed, realizing what he was thinking about. "It has nothing to do with your father not being here," he said and carefully kneeled down to him.

"B-but mama..."

"No," Gobber shook his head. "It's...well, partly her fault, but you see," He chuckled. "I was always the one who made the weapons for the kids of Berk."

Aiden slowly looked up at him and suddenly it was easier for him to calm down. Gobber was going to tell him a story!

Gobber chuckled lightly as he noticed he had earned his attention, and then continued. "Your Grandma didn't want to make one for your father, because of how tiny he was at birth!" He smiled and slowly stood up again to take care of his untamed hair again. As he investigated the mirror before him, he heard a few footsteps and a few things fall. "She didn't doubt that the clumsiness of herself went through to him either," He laughed and soon looked over at the boy who now sat in between the pile of weapons on the table. Some of the rusty knives laid on the floor below his small feet.

"As unvikingish as it sounds," Gobber smiled and pointed his brush at the little dragon who was halfway tucked into Aiden's shirt. Aiden looked down at it and held it closer. "She didn't want him to bear a weapon. She wanted him to have the little dragon instead."

Aiden cooed in awe. He never heard that story before – only that it belonged to his father once.

"She sat up day and night, wondering what dragon to give him," Gobber hummed and started to make up a story to keep him entertained until his mother would return from her contribution at the Great Hall. They were planning to expand Berk a bit further together with brainstorming new buildings – something Gobber of course wished he was a part of since he was crucial to the construction part. Not that he minded a day off though – since the chief had thrown a pile of work at him the days before.

"Do you know what dragon that is?" Gobber smiled and changed his prosthetic again after he was satisfied with his slightly more settling look. He replaced it with his hook and closed the shop for the day.

Aiden took it out of his shirt and looked down at it. He bit his lip and soon held it up excitedly. "Mo-mommy has one! S-Stormi!"

"She does," Gobber laughed at that. "But that's not quite right."

Aiden's smile soon fell.

"It's a Nadder," Gobber hummed and immediately got his interest again. He had tried to teach him a few things here and there so he wouldn't be too frightened by the dragons living among them – as wild as they could get at times.

"Nad-Nadder," Aiden cooed and looked at the dragon. His eyes moved back up at the Viking as he continued talking.

"Aye," Gobber nodded. "I assume she saw something different in the dragons back then," He hummed. "Maybe she did indeed see their playful side and hoped he would be as playful as them one day.

Aiden gently, but clumsily, stroked the dragon's head. "Did-did he?"

Gobber hesitated. "Well...In a way," he nodded and leaned down to pick up the knives from the ground while holding his trousers up with his hook. "He was very adventurous, like you are! There's no doubt about that!" He laughed. "He would often go into the woods and hunt for trolls! Your grandpa and I searched for hours and found him with most of the towns socks in a trail!" He scratched his chin with one of the knives. "I still wonder how he got them all."

Aiden cooed in awe. Trolls existed? His grandpa said they didn't, but uncle Gobber... His smile soon brightened. "Tro-Trolls!" He squealed and held his dragon up high.

Fishlegs walked up to them with a laugh. Meatlug following short on his tail. "What did you teach him now?"

Gobber looked up and over at him with an awkward smile. He rubbed his forehead with his hook. "Probably nothing too good again."

"Astrid will murder you," Fishlegs laughed and watched the little boy squeal, struggle a bit to climb down from the table, and then sprint over to him. He hugged the little boy.

"U-Uncle Fishy!" Aiden smiled brightly and tugged at his coat. He tried to pull him towards the forest. "H-hunt!"

"You want to go hunting?" Fishlegs chuckled nervously. Meatlug sounded concerned too since neither of them were that much of a fan of the wild. "I don't know..."

Aiden wiggled off his boots and took off his socks. "Fo-for trolls!" He held them up with a smile.

Gobber walked up beside him and gently tugged them out of his hands. "You'll get sick, lad," He chuckled and set him on his knee. He helped him put them on but stopped as he was about to do the left one. "They only do the left socks," He whispered and wiggled his eyebrows.

Fishlegs crossed his arms and cleared his throat.

Aiden looked at it. "Left..." he tugged at his toes after he put it on. Left. That was a word he was getting familiar with. Gobber had lost his left hand. The famous Night Fury had lost his left tail fin. His father had lost his left leg.

Was left never for a good cause? Was it...always a bait? Like the sock inbetween his little fingers? He slowly pulled his hand away and cooed, looking up as his mother stepped forward. She started scolding the older man for letting him walk without his boots in late winter, but Aiden paid no mind. He was looking from his left to his right. Maybe if he gave them his right sock...they would become friends? And the trolls wouldn't see it as food!

That was it!

Aiden jumped off his knee and into his mother's arm. "Mommy! Mommy!" He tugged at her skirt and looked up at her.

"What is it, dear?" Astrid laughed and ran her fingers through his red locks.

"We-we need socks!" Aiden cooed and jumped up and down in her arms. "I-I wanna befriend Trolls!"

Astrid rolled her eyes playfully and shot Gobber a glare before she took his hand. "Let's go see what we have at home, and then we can go out and search."

Aiden's eyes lit up and he smiled brightly. "Bye Uncle Fishy and Un-uncle Gobbi!" He squealed, waved, and then ran ahead and to their house with Astrid jogging after him. On the way, Eret jogged up beside Astrid with a laugh.

"Are you running away from me?" He joked and followed her up the last steps to the house. Astrid merely rolled her eyes, looked over at Aiden who was about to tear the door open with his small, excited hands, and called,

"I'll wait here!" She smiled and turned to Eret. "Gobber told him about his Troll adventures," She chuckled and fixed her braid slightly.

"Ahh, I see," Eret laughed and moved some hair out of her face. "So...now we'll have to go on an adventure too, hm?"

Astrid blushed faintly. "Well...You don't have to come with – it shouldn't take long before he'll get too tired."

This time it was Eret's time to roll his eyes and cross his arms. "Didn't we agree that he needs a fatherly figure?" He hummed. "And what kind of father wouldn't join his son on an adventure like this?" He laughed and called for his dragon, Sailback, with a whistle.

It didn't take long before a purple and red Thunderclaw flew over to his side and rubbed against his hand. It was one of the many dragons that escaped Valka's Sanctuary and fled to live on Berk under the new alpha, but after he left as well, it freely roamed and would sometimes head off for a day or two. Eret was never worried though – he knew a lady would need their own time.

Astrid smiled and watched as Stormfly landed beside her. She rubbed her snout gently. "I guess you're right," she smiled over at Eret for a moment before looking back at her dragon.

Eret sighed as he realized he had hit a bad subject with her again. "I didn't mean he..."

Astrid shook her head. "I know," She smiled over at him reassuringly and looked up as Aiden ran out of the door with Valka holding it open for him. He had a pile of his socks and hers in his small arms.

"Uncle!" Aiden giggled happily and stumbled down to them clumsily. "Look!" he held up the pile of socks which had the man laugh and ruffle his hair.

"Are you ready to find some trolls?" Eret hummed.

Aiden giggled and nodded violently. "I-I wanna be friend with trolls!"

"Let's put them up here," Astrid said and took the socks out of his arms. She neatly put them into the saddle bag on Stormfly before she helped him get up and hoisted herself up behind him. Valka walked up between the two dragons.

"Be careful out there," Valka smiled and watched Astrid secure the little boy. "Some Vikings reported a high activity of wolves and boars. You don't want to get in their way."

Eret grinned and showed off his muscles. "Don't worry. I'll protect them with these bad boys!"

Astrid rolled her eyes. "As if," She laughed. "You'll probably run off screaming like a girl!"

"I will not!" Eret pouted at her before climbing up in his saddle.

"Right," Astrid challenged him and looked at Valka. "We'll be back soon," She smiled and moved closer to Aiden. "I'll see if we can spot them and chase them away from the village if they get too close."

Valka nodded and smiled. "Have fun," she hummed and waved as the trio flew off, Aiden's giggles echoing through the air.

Hiccup sighed as he rubbed Toothless' scales absently with a brush. He still couldn't wrap the thought around himself. The fact that he had a son who had grown up without him in his life and the fact that he might not even have the time to go meet him.

He slowly turned his head to Snotlout who was giving orders around to the crew and making sure everything ran smoothly. They had moved towards Berk since about a week, but they still hadn't seen Berk on the horizon. Snotlout assured him it was due to the fact that the wind wasn't properly with them, but also because the crew was exhausted.

When Snotlout's eyes fell on him, he knew he sensed what he was about to ask him. The smaller Viking walked towards him with a sigh. "We're not there yet," He shook his head.

Hiccup sighed and leaned against Toothless' scales, resting his forehead against his arm. "Maybe returning was a bad idea..."

Snotlout's eyes widened faintly, before they softened. "Hiccup..."

Hiccup shook his head and straightened up, sucking in the fact that they were doing it right now – that they had made the decision and that Berk was right around the corner.

Snotlout watched his cousin quietly rub the dirty scales of the Night Fury before he finally spoke, "I don't think there's a way for us to turn back now," He chuckled faintly. "Not without the crew slaughtering us both for changing our minds."

Hiccup shuddered at the thought. The last thing he wanted to be concerned about was the Vikings around them going crazy. No one had really gotten much rest since they were still discussing Hiccup's return and rowing the boat half of the time. It was a good thing they were Vikings though. If they had been romans, the boat would probably spend more than a month to return.

Hiccup slowly stopped brushing Toothless, who cooed in confusion. The picture of his son – who he had tried to imagine in his head the best he could from both Snotlout's and Spitelout's description of the newborn they had seen before fleeing. It kept reappearing in his head ever since they decided to head to Berk – he imagined what he was like, how he looked, how much he resembled his mother, and if he would like him.

The last one was the biggest concern of himself. In his teens, he had stopped caring too much about what other's thought of him – he knew they thought a lot of things, good and bad, before and after the Red Death. He still didn't think highly of it, unless it became a problem he had to deal with, but now? It was his own son, who probably wouldn't understand why he hadn't returned earlier.

Hiccup didn't even understand why.

And now, he had to appear in his life? For how long? He didn't even know if he had done the right thing, but he felt as if he had. At least that's what he told himself a week ago. Now, with the worry washed all over him, he couldn't think clearly anymore – of what was right and what was wrong.

"I can only imagine he'll be a lot like you," Snotlout chuckled slightly and looked out over the horizon. Hiccup slowly looked over at his cousin. "Adventerous, clumsy, scrawny," he joked.

Hiccup rolled his eyes. "Why thank you. That really settles my worries," he muttered.

Snotlout laughed. "What do you think he'll be like?" he looked over at him.

Hiccup looked into his eyes for a moment before he looked down at the brush in his hand again. "I..." he sighed. "I hope he'll be a lot like me and Astrid – maybe more like Astrid so he's not the screw up in the village."

Snotlout laughed at that. "I doubt he'll be anything like that. The village lined up all day to get a peak at the little boy and wish him the best of luck when he was first born," He smiled up at him. "The elders blessed him with wealth and fortune for his whole life – despite him being so fragile at birth. He was quite popular, to say the least."

Hiccup slowly started to brush the scales before him again, feeling himself get more nervous. Did that mean he was more like Astrid? She had been blessed well in her life – it did definitely not come from his side although that did relieve him slightly.

"Now, I didn't ask for what you hoped for," Snotlout said and leaned against the edge of the ship, his arms folded over his chest. "I asked what you thought he'd be like."

"Wow, you know the difference," Hiccup muttered slightly, which Snotlout whined playfully at. "I think he'll be a lot like Astrid. He'll be smart, strong and...incredibly beautiful," he laughed. "If he does have anything from my side, I sure hope it's not my desire for danger."

Snotlout nodded in agreement at that. "Yeah, him being scrawny would probably benefit him more."

Hiccup glared at him together with Toothless.

Snotlout raised his hands in the air. "Please don't slap me!" He whined, mainly to Toothless who just grumbled back at him and decided he wanted to go back to sleep.

Hiccup rolled his eyes and kept rubbing his scales with the brush. He soon leaned a bit more on the dragon, holding his side. His eyelids started to feel heavy again – the stress wasn't going easy on his healing body.

Snotlout's eyebrows furrowed at that. He stepped up to him and rested his hand on his back. "I think we should get you back in bed," He said and took the brush out of his hand before he could protest. "I will take care of his dirty scales," He assured him.

"It's something I should have done a long time ago."

Aiden cooed as he looked to the forest below them. The snow coated the pine trees beautifully and he wanted nothing else but to touch them and watch the fluffy snow fall. Winter was his favorite season – there was no doubt, although it was almost always winter on Berk throughout the year.

He wondered – did the trolls get cold during winter? Was that why they took everyone's socks?

Slowly, while Astrid was talking with Eret, he pulled out a sock from the bag and slowly let go of it. His big green eyes watched fascinated as it fell to the trees below. The way it flew – the way it rode the wind entertained him so much he kept pulling out the socks, one by one, and watched them fall.

It wasn't before Aiden was long done with throwing the socks out, that Eret and Astrid broke from their conversation and finally flew down to Raven's point and landed there.

Aiden giggled as he was swooped into Eret's arms and set on the ground. He ran to the nearest bush he could see and shook it violently, squealing even more as the snow flew in every direction.

Eret laughed. "He's really crazy about snow."

Astrid smiled and undid the tie on the saddle bag. "I think it's partly because its so-

"Floffy!" Aiden giggled and fell down in a pile of snow. He wiggled around happily.

Astrid closed her mouth and grinned at Eret who laughed back at her and nodded. She soon realized how light the bag was and opened it. "Eh...Where are the socks?"

Eret looked over at her confused. He peeked into the bag. "Now would you look at that..." he laughed. "I think we have a thief among us~"

Aiden lifted his head at that, realizing they were talking about him. He giggled and tried to hid his laughs in the now snow, soaked dragon before he ran into one of the bushes and hid there.

Eret crossed his arms with a grin. He gave Astrid a look and soon walked around with a loud hum. "I wonder where he could have gone..."

Beside him, in the bushes Aiden had ran into, Eret could hear silent giggles and small footsteps. Eret pretended for a little more before he finally snatched the boy out of the bushes and lifted him up high. "There he is!" He laughed and the boy whined, but couldn't stop laughing either. "Astrid, I caught the thief!"

Astrid rolled her eyes with a smile before she walked towards them. "Now what should we do with him~?" She hummed and ran her finger across the boy's chin with an evil smile.

Eret grinned. "I know exactly what!" He lifted him up on his shoulder and soon held him upside down while shaking him slightly. Aiden giggled and squirmed around until his face went red. "Where did you hide the socks, thief?!"

"N-noo!" Aiden squealed and tried to wiggle out of his grip. Eret soon lifted him back up and held him at his hip. He checked his pockets and vest while the boy kept trying to get his breath back between the laughs.

"Maybe they fell out," Astrid laughed and moved closer so she could ruffle the snow out of the boy's hair. "We weren't exactly paying too much attention to it," She smiled and looked up at Eret who had gone silent. She soon realized why.

She could feel his hot breath softly against her own lips.

Their faces almost brushed against one another and their eyes never left each other. She first broke the gaze and when she did, her eyes fell on his lips. They were a bit rough, but at the same time they seemed so soft.

Eret slowly lifted his hand and caressed her cheek. At the movement, she slowly looked back into his eyes. Was this what she wanted? To spend the rest of her life by his side?

Astrid pulled away hesitantly and looked over at Aiden. He was watching them both curiously, sucking slightly on the stuffed dragon's horn. She knew Aiden needed a father – and she knew she needed someone as well. But was Eret the one?

"W-what about...Ruffnut?" Astrid sighed and closed her eyes. "Don't you have something going on with her too?"

Astrid could feel him chuckle more than she could hear it. "She's too involved with her brother," He shook his head. "I don't see a future together with her," he whispered and slowly lifted her chin with his finger. Astrid finally opened her eyes again, a tear falling from her eye. She looked into his. "But I see a future with you," he whispered, gently stroking her chin.

Astrid bit her lip tightly as they started to quiver. She looked over at Aiden again, but Eret hushed her and moved her attention back to him.

"Please," Eret whispered. "Don't make this happen only because of him."

"I-I..." Astrid finally let go of her lip and as she did, it felt like she let go of everything – of the concern of Aiden's future and of his deceased father. She tiptoed up and pressed her lips against his, finally closing her eyes and letting the tears fall.

Eret caressed her cheek and gently wiped away the tears. He closed his eyes and kissed her back lovingly, making sure she could feel what he was offering her – what he was offering them both.

After some time, Astrid pulled away and smiled sadly up at him. He wiped away her tears and kissed her head. "We'll adapt," he whispered. "Alright?"

Astrid nodded and wiped away more tears from her eyes. "Y-yeah," She smiled and slowly took Aiden into her arms. As she did, it almost felt as if the whole presence of Hiccup – that was once so obvious in her son, had finally disappeared.

Stormfly suddenly started to squawk and flap her wings. She looked around, her eyes turning rounder and it didn't take long before she started to bounce around.

Astrid pulled away from Eret confused and looked up at her. "Girl, what's wrong?" She lifted her hand to her, but Stormfly didn't pay any attention.

Sailback's eyes soon turned into slits and the dragon stiffened up. She slowly flapped her wings.

"W-wait," Eret's eyes widened. This seemed too familiar. "Sailback-"

Before he managed to run and reach the handle of his dragon's saddle, Sailback flew up in the air and took off together with Stormfly.

"Stormfly!" Astrid called after her and tried to run in her direction, but Eret stopped her. She looked at him for a moment before she looked up at Stormfly again, watching her companion take off and out of her view. "W-what's happening?"

"I don't know," Eret shook his head. "But I have a bad feeling about this-"

WAR HORN BLOWS.

Aiden looked up scared. His little hands held onto Astrid tightly. "M-mommy?" He whimpered.

Astrid held him close and looked at Eret. "We have to go back," she said and Eret nodded in agreement. He took Aiden out of her arms and started to run back to Berk with them. When they came there, it was chaos.

Just by standing on the outskirts of the forest, they could see everything – they could see all the dragons forcing their way out of their homes and houses. The dragons who were resting inside the hangars suddenly started to push each other out with no care or worry for the Vikings around them.

"Watch out!" A voice boomed from the top of the stairs Great Hall and a big crack was heard. Eret's eyes widened. He set Aiden down by Astrid and sprinted towards the stairs as he saw some baby dragons playing around.

"ERET!" Astrid cried out in horror. The pressure from the dragons inside the Great Hall had broken down the massive doors, and they were falling straight at the stairs.

Eret stumbled over one a stone, but pushed himself back up on his feet. He ran towards the stairs and grabbed the dragons roughly by the tail before yanking and throwing them into the air beside him. Just before the doors fell down the stairs, he pushed himself out of the way as well.

Astrid stopped and covered her mouth. The doors flew down all the way to the plaza, crashing over a house. It tore straight into pieces and collapsed onto of the now, non-moving object below. It didn't take long before Vikings who had taken cover started to dig out and search for anyone who could have possibly been squeezed under.

Astrid picked Aiden up as she spotted Eret getting up with the help of the Chief's wife. She hurried over to them. "Eret!" She sighed relieved and checked him for wounds.

"I-I'm alright, lass," Eret panted slightly, running a shaky hand through his hair. He looked up at the sky together with Valka and Astrid. "The dragons."

Valka covered her mouth. "Do you think...?"

Astrid shook her head in disbelief. "There's no way," She shook her head and held Aiden closer. "He can't be back!" She said in tears, holding Aiden's face against her chest so she couldn't see the sight.

The dragons were leaving Berk.

Valka took a deep breath and rested her hand on Astrid's shoulder. "We have to prepare for the worst," she said seriously and looked into her eyes.

Astrid held Aiden tighter and looked back at the sky as they could see the dragons stop far off on the horizon. They were merely a black dot on the sky, but they knew they were anything but that. She swallowed and looked down at the boy in her arms. Then her eyes went to Valka again. "W-will you watch over him?" She whispered.

Valka looked at her hesitantly before she nodded. She let her say goodbye to him before she took the frightened lad out of her arms. "I'll find Stoick!" She said and hurried up the stairs to where she knew Stoick was last seen.

Astrid looked up at Eret and without another word headed towards the chief's house to retrieve her axe. She had to fight – she had to prepare herself for the worst. Even if it meant risking her life for the sake of the dragons. Because she knew – there would be nothing left to live for if Drago was back with a new alpha.

After they had retrieved their weapons, Astrid and Eret ran past down to the plaza where a Viking was being pulled out of the ruins of the collapsed house. He seemed to be fine, but the Vikings assured her when she asked that they had to get him up to the Great Hall for a checkup.

"Oh my...Loki!" Tuffnut fistbumped the air as he stood above the little hilltop together with his sister, overlooking the damage the doors had left behind.

"I haven't seen this much destruction in years..." Ruffnut whispered, her eyes wide. She soon looked at her twin brother and grinned.

"This is awesome!" They yelled out in happiness and jumped up and down.

Fishlegs ran past them and down to Astrid and Eret with a whine. "My Meatlug!" He whimpered. "She-she just-she left me in the middle of a belly rub!"

"All the dragons left," Astrid sighed and looked out over the horizon again – for once not being bothered to quiet the overly happy twins down. "We're fearing that Drago could have returned."

This seemed to catch the twins attention – and neither did it help when Fishlegs squealed the evil man's name out loud. Vikings started to gather around them and bomb them with questions.

"How do you know?"

"There's no way!"

"He's long dead, lass!"

"This is crazy!"

"Hiccup defeated him-

"What is the meaning of this?!" Stoick yelled out angrily. He pushed his way through the Vikings and to the center of the circle where he grabbed Astrid by her shoulders. She stumbled back a bit surprised but looked up at the chief. "Astrid, what happened to the dragons?"

Astrid looked over at Eret who soon nodded at her. She swallowed thickly and said,

"Drago has returned."

Stoick's eyes widened and his skin went as pale as the snow around them. He looked into her eyes as if searching for the truth – as if what she had just told him was a lie because he couldn't believe it one second. He had murdered that man. His son had murdered his soul.

Stoick slowly let go of the lass' shoulders. His eyes narrowed and as if nothing happened, as if it was another raid of the dragons back in the old days, the color in his face returned. And ever so silently, he ordered the Vikings to prepare for war.

WAR HORN BLOWS.

Vikings lined up heavily in front of the forge where weapons were dumped into their arms along with shields. Catapults were reloaded, and the archers of the village prepared on top of the hills surrounding Berk. Scouts were sent out to make sure there weren't anyone attacking from the island's blind spot.

WAR HORN BLOWS.

Astrid gripped her axe tighter as she stood on the front lines with Eret and Fishlegs – who both had insisted that she went up in the Great Hall to take cover until the war was over. The Chief stood by the archers, overlooking the Vikings who were preparing for the worst – but also preparing to giving their very best.

The war horn blows one final time.

Everyone watches with nervous eyes as they could see the fleet take shape on the horizon and the dragons circling it all the way. They were all reminded of that dreaded day – the day when Drago's men attacked Berk with the alpha to avenge their cruel leader who soon appeared to fight the war for them.

They were all reminded of Hiccup as well, and murmurs went by that if Drago was to return, so would Hiccup. A part of Astrid hoped that was true – so she could see her loved one again, but a part of her wished anything but that.

Stoick narrowed his eyes as he watched the fleet move closer and closer. Everything seemed to happen so fast – yet it took a while until the dragons were finally outlined on the horizon and they could feel the force of the wind they were moving towards Berk. Waves were roaring against the rocks below his feet and the wind howled-

"Chief," A familiar voice spoke beside him. As the said man looked down, he saw Gobber standing beside him, looking out on the horizon with his old apprentice's spyglass. "I think...you might want to see this," he whispered, a small smile taking place on his old lips.

Stoick's eyebrows furrowed. He grabbed the binocular out of his hand and put it up against his eye. Quickly, he pointed it towards the fleet and closed his other eye. And there he saw it – the familiar crest. A Berkian fleet. "Impossible..." he whispered.

"I highly doubt so, chief," Gobber laughed and looked over at the fleet as well. "They have returned with an old friend," he said and just then, they heard the loudest roar they had heard in years.

A Night Fury's call.

Almost instantly, the heavy intensity and concentration in the army of the Vikings were lifted and replaced by relief and confusion. Astrid's eyes widened at the sound and immediately pushed her way to the front – not paying any attention to Vikings before her. She stopped as she stood at the end of the docks, at the very front where only the catapults they had were placed.

"Toothless..." She whispered, looking up at the dragons circling the fleet. As they got closer, she saw ropes from the ships and dragons pulling the boats towards Berk.

It all made sense.

It wasn't a new Alpha that was trying to take over the Archipelago and it's inhabited dragons. The dragons had responded to his distress calls. Toothless's calls.

The Alpha had returned at last.

"Lower your weapons!" Astrid yelled out to the crowd who stood frozen in their place. It wasn't before she started yelling around that they were brought into reality. They looked at her confused, but Stoick soon backed her up.

"It's the Expedition team!" Stoick called out to the Vikings and made sure everyone had lowered their weapons and that the catapults were locked. He hurried down to the docks once he sent Gobber up to the Great Hall to inform the women and children that they were safe.

Astrid looked back over the horizon as the fleet was suddenly closer than she had expected. Her eyes were ready to tear up, but her guts were holding her back. How did they find Toothless? And how did he willingly want to return to Berk? Snotlout wasn't exactly the very convincing one.

As the ships closed in on the docks, Spitelout took control and started to order the ships to where they would set anchor and settle the ships. The dragons above them finally scattered and were broken away from their little trance.

"Meatlug!" Fishlegs cried out happily as she flew down and landed ontop of him. The two wiggled around like two happy kids, but Astrid barely paid any attention to it and neither did Stoick. While everyone was reuniting with their dragons, the two stepped forward as the leading ship was settled before them and the plank was laid down.

Spitelout was the first one to board the plank. Stoick greeted him by taking his forearm and helping him up on the docks. "Brother," He laughed faintly and embraced him.

Spitelout patted him on his back and took off his helmet. He pulled back with a chuckle. "You heard him, didn't ya?"

Stoick pulled away as well and looked over at the ship where Astrid had already thrown herself onboard. "It was hard to miss." He patted his shoulder and looked around for the Night Fury.

Toothless whined and roared with a whimper as he tried to squeeze himself out of the doors. He wiggled his paws like a wild cat and Vikings went over to help drag him out. But the dragon went completely crazy as a familiar scent filled his nostrils. He roared in excitement as he saw Astrid and finally managed to slip out. He ran towards the Viking and pounced on her.

Astrid laughed and dropped her axe as she fell down on her back. "Hey buddy!" She smiled brightly, tears falling from her eyes. She rubbed his chin and laughed even more as he started to lick him with his slobbery tongue. "Oh, I've missed you and your nasty saliva so much!" She laughed and hugged his head tightly, but the hug was short as the dragon kept bouncing around excitedly.

The Vikings who were watching laughed at the sight. It wasn't until the Night Fury peeked his head inside the room again that everyone became curious and confused. Astrid could hear a few warbles and coos inside as she slowly stood up.

Then she heard that voice.

"Thanks, buddy," It chuckled softly and a hand rested on the Night Fury's head. The Night Fury's butt slowly wiggled backwards in excitement and the figure finally limped out on the crutch and revealed himself.

"H-Hiccup..." Astrid whispered, her eyes watering even more. She covered her mouth, barely believing what she saw before her.

Stoick looked up from the talk with Spitelout as everyone went silent and even their conversation died down. He looked over at the ship, and just like everyone else, he went speechless. There was no possible way...

Hiccup limped out on the crutch while he supported himself on his loyal friend. With every step he took towards Astrid, her eyes seemed to tear up even more. He didn't stop until she finally took a step back and retreated her hands to herself.

"H-Hicc..." Astrid whispered again, watching him as if she had seen a ghost, which in this case she was sure she just did. She looked around herself, at the Vikings, and soon realized that everyone had seen him as well. That it wasn't just her imagination.

"That's my name," Hiccup chuckled faintly, feeling tears build up in his eyes. He slowly let go of Toothless, who had finally calmed down, and reached his hand out to her. "Mi'lady..."

Astrid's eyes widened even more. They slowly fell on his hand and without thinking about it, she reached out and took it. It wasn't when she threw herself into his arms or when they crashed down that she was brought back into reality.

It was by the smallest touch of their fingertips connecting that she felt his presence and that she felt his soul and body.

She could feel him. His skin, his clothes, his hair – his breathing and his heart.

He was there, in her arms at last.

She could finally feel him.

AND THEY WERE REUNITED AT LAST!

Wooh, I made a chapter :'D Although I'm still sick, BUT IT WAS WORTH IT!

I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it, and I'm sorry if I misspelled a lot heh ill have to look over this chapter again when I'm better.

I also have a question for later - I might be able to make more HTTYD books in the future, or one-shots for that book hah I haven't updated that in ages!

Anyways, I was wondering what kind of theme would be interesting to see? And don't just say hiccstrid and only romance - you should know by now I love to twist stuff and add action and all that haha!

But yeah, I've seen a lot of stories about runaway Hiccup, and I would prefer if that wasn't a suggestion either, but please come with suggestions to themes even if it is the runaway theme! I would love to hear what you readers are interested in reading fanfics about!

Love yaaa 3