Next, next, next! I hope you're really enjoying this and I really appreciate all the reviews I have from this. Just don't forget to R+R for me! Thanks.

Tuffnut was thinking hard as he and the red-haired boy descended towards the docks. Hiccup could see just how hard the twin was thinking by the glassy look in his eyes and the way his brow was so deeply furrowed.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked softly, looking curiously at the other teen.

"I dunno..." Tuff took a moment to gather his thoughts. "She doesn't do this. Not this often, anyway. I don't know what's gotten into her."

Hiccup felt his heart flutter a little with pity. "Maybe it's just because... she's growing up, Tuff. That happens sometimes, you know. People grow up. They change. You will too, some day."

"But, Hiccup... how much will she change? Because, if I'm honest... I don't think I want to lose her." Tuffnut looked down at the floor, determined not to meet Hiccup's eyes.

"That's normal, Tuff. You two have been together since you were born. But, I think the only thing you can do is just be yourself. You and her are growing up and maturing. She's just... doing it faster than you are. Just make sure you guys can still enjoy the things you usually enjoy and you'll still be... together." Hiccup awkwardly patted the brother's shoulder. He felt as though he had to do something to placate him before the inevitable happened and he was left behind as his sister matured. However, Tuffnut gave a chirpy laugh.

"Where do you learn all this stuff? It's almost impressive!" He gave Hiccup a soft punch to the arm, obviously feeling much better. "Don't tell her I said anything like that. I might have to drown you off the docks. Just saying..."

"Uh, yeah, okay..." Trying to ignore the threat, Hiccup looked up to see where they were. "Talking of the docks, look where we are!"

"Oh yeah. There she is, over there. I knew she would be" Tuff smirked, looking out across the docks. They could see Ruffnut perched on the end of a platform, dangling her feet near the water. Her body was silhouetted against the sun, glinting off the water like a million shining scales. Hiccup looked at the slouch in her shoulders and felt a pang of regret.

"So... what now?" The brother asked his companion. Hiccup stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"You said you didn't wanna lose her, right?"

"I thought I told you not to say that?" Tuffnut warned, scowling.

"No, no, listen." Hiccups hands flew up. "if you don't wanna lose her, then you need to go and talk to her. You need to let her know that you're there for her, even when she's upset."

"You mean, when she's no fun?"

"Yeah, when she's no fun. Because if you're there then, she'll be there when she is fun, if that makes sense. Which I imagine it doesn't."

"Nope," Tuff shrugged, "But if you say so, I will."

Slowly, he approached his sister, treading as quietly as possible down the decking of the pontoon, although, for Tuffnut, 'quietly' was about as loud as you could walk without stamping. However, Ruffnut was resolutely pretending to ignore him, facing away from him and scowling, her cheek resting on her clenched fist so that she looked even meaner. Tuffnut stopped behind his sister and looked down at her, but when she continued to ignore him, he felt the need to announce his presence. The brother lifted his hand to his lips and cleared his throat loudly.

"Go away." Ruffnut drawled.

"No," her brother replied, "I won't."

She huffed loudly. "What do you want?" There was a certain venom in her wavering tone.

He kicked her lightly in the rear. "Move your fat butt and I'll tell you."

She shuffled aside slightly to make room for him, still determined not to look at her brother. Tuffnut cast a glance over his shoulder and caught Hiccup's eye. The chief's son gave him a thumbs-up and smiled in encouragement. Turning back, Tuff flopped down beside her and folded his arms across his chest, staring into the dark water that writhed beneath his feet. For a while, the twins sat beside one another, not talking. Finally, the sister turned to her brother, her nose wrinkled slightly.

"So, why are you here?" Her voice was flat and scathing.

"To check on you. Why else?"

"Because Hiccup told you to. You think I'm stupid? I can see him back there." She glared at him, colour flushing her cheeks. "What do you care how I feel? You've never cared! Why should you start now?"

That stung. Tuffnut screwed up his face and turned away, containing the urge to smack her into the ocean. Instead, he turned back to face her, teeth gritted, and scowled, "Because you're being weird, and I don't like it. Next thing I know, you could not liking breaking stuff or blowing things up, or you could end up all mushy like Astrid."

"I could blow you up. That would be fun," she replied drily, a pathetic come-back, which Tuffnut was quick to pick up on as he pulled a face and scoffed. His sister snorted, and both twins began to laugh with one another again. The brother moved his hand over the top of Ruffnut's, creating a link between them once again. But, as soon as the bond was created, it was destroyed as he cuffed her around the shoulder. She retaliated with a sharp smack tot he shoulder, and in a second the siblings had launched themselves into a full-blown play-fight.

Hiccup watched as the twins displayed their usual boisterously vicious streak and found himself smiling slightly. Somehow, the weight of responsibility seemed to slip off his shoulders, even for a second, as he watched her mood improve.

Finally, Tuffnut backed away from his grinning twin, wary of a rebounded attack, but none came as his sister straightened up and put her hands on her hips.

"Okay..." He started, raising an eyebrow. "Will you come with me and show Hiccup the mound?"

The question seemed to visibly age his sister, her smile falling and her eyes falling away from his. "I guess so... yeah." She muttered, meeting his gaze again.

"It's okay, Ruffnut." Hiccup's voice behind him made Tuffnut start and spin around. The chief's son approached her slowly and reached up to place a hand on her shoulder. "I think we can fix this, but you have to help us. Will you?"

She took a second, and then smiled. "Sure."

Geez, this chapter doesn't seem right at all. Anyway, I'm having a little trouble with this story, but to keep my interest up I've started a new one. Hopefully,I won't take too long to get this one finished. Anyone got any requests for one-shots? I feel like I need to write about something other than the twins, seeing as that's all I ever write about (however,I could justify this by bringing up the fact that others only ever seem to write about Hiccup and Astrid or Ruffnut in a relationship with one of the other guys, which personally I don't like to read because it seems awkward. Long brackets!)