Heyyyyy! Enjoy chapter 10! I was about to post this last night, but my Internet stopped working! It's working again now, so we'll all good! :D. Don't forget to review/favorite/follow! It means a lot. You guys rock! :D

Chapter 10:

With each passing hour, Hiccup grew more and more uneasy about Astrid's disappearance. He was extremely worried about her, and prayed to every God he knew that she would be okay. It had been a little over a week since she was last seen. No one has seen her since that day in the Great Hall. Hiccup tried to convince himself that she was okay, but he couldn't stop thinking about her. He missed her smiles, her laughs, the times when they watched the sunrise together. He missed everything about her, and it's only been a week. He had nightmares that she wasn't okay, and sweet dreams of her coming back. She had welcoming and loving arms, a huge smile on her face, and she glowed from head to toe. She looked like an angel from Heaven above. "I'm here Hiccup. I'll never leave you again." She would tell him. She would lovingly embrace him, and he would melt into her arms. The two looked at each other with nothing but the purest form of affection in their eyes. Astrid would lean in to kiss him, and Hiccup would anticipate it. He wanted it, yearned for it, and just as he puckered his lips and prepared to receive it, his eyes would flutter open and he would be stuck in bitter, harsh reality. Astrid was gone, and there wasn't really anything he could do. But he wanted her back, and he wanted to finish that dream, and finally get that kiss. But Hiccup didn't like her in that way. He was sure that he didn't. Or did he?

Often times, he confided in Erika, but she offered no advice other than to forget about it. Since Hiccup started having these dreams, Erika seemed less radiant to him. Just as all new things do, she started to loose her shine and rust a little. But he convinced himself that all she needed was a little more polishing. Yet something in the back of his mind told him that polishing wouldn't do. He chose Erika as his life partner and he loved her. Or did he? Hiccup actually wasn't so sure anymore. Who was Erika? And should he even love her? A mysterious girl appears after he was sure he saw a Borg ship. She is from a small town that no one was heard of. She is extremely eager to get married, and hostile toward her dragon. Erika's glow was no longer blinding Hiccup, and he started to see her the way others did. Was this girl someone Hiccup should love? And did he really love her? Hiccup didn't really know the answer anymore.

It was a fairly cold day, as most every other day was. Hiccup was preparing for a lesson at the academy, but he really wasn't feeling it today. Lessons just weren't the same without Astrid there. As all the other kids filed in to take their lessons, Hiccup made the announcement they've been waiting forever for.
"All classes are canceled today." He said regretfully.
"Are you serious?" Tuffnut said excitedly.
"Yes. I just... I feel a little under the weather."
"I can take over for you, Hiccup! I don't mind!" Fishlegs exclaimed. He was waiting for this moment for a long time now. He's always wanted to teach a class, and show his knowledge of dragons for a change. But he was too shy to ask Hiccup if he could. Now was his chance, and he wanted to take it!
"No, Fishlegs, it's alright. I have something else in mind for us today." Fishlegs was pretty disappointed, but he understood. Hiccup's word was law, and Fishlegs wasn't going to challenge that.
"Aww, so we have to work?" Snotlout asked.
"Yes. I know you're not going to like what I have to say, but, Astrid has been missing for over a week and..."
"Hiccup," Erika said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "We've looked everywhere again and again, but she's yet to turn up. We're all tired, and frankly sick of looking. I.. I think you should just let her go. If she ran away, she'll realize her mistake and come back. If she was kidnapped, she's strong enough to fight her way out. You taught her well."
"But you don't get it, do you? None of you get it! Why did she run away, huh? Why?" Hiccup suddenly burst out angrily. They had drawn the conclusion that she had most likely run away, but no one knew why. She seemed fine before that day. Why would she up and leave?
"Hiccup," Erika began, but he cut her off.
"She loved me. I know she did. I... I never noticed it before. But looking back, I see it now. I didn't listen. I never listened. When I gloated about my engagement, it must have upset her and she ran away. If I had known, I wouldn't have been so public about it. I dove her away. I made my best friend leave. I need to find her, to apologize. I've never felt so guilty in my life. I... I just want my friend back, to tell her...I'm sorry." It had dawned on him recently that Astrid must have been in love with him, and she ran away because he was getting married to another woman. He couldn't believe what he had done. It was all his fault, and he realized it too late. But maybe Erika was right. Maybe he did just need to forget about her. Or maybe he needed to replace a certain someone instead?
"Let's go." Erika suggested. She could sense the awkwardness in the room, and wanted to break it. Hiccup had never been so heartfelt at the academy, and it came as a shock to everyone. Even Snotlout, who always picked on Hiccup, was dead silent.
"I want you all to search for her. And... possibly rescue her if you find her." Hiccup said this as Erika took his arm and dragged him away. The academy kids obeyed and took off on their dragons. Hiccup and Erika were left alone in the academy, along with Toothless and Tuna, who were searching for scraps of fish instead.
"We'll look again, but I'm pretty sure you won't find her." Erika said.
"She's got to be out there somewhere? I mean, she couldn't have just fallen off the face of the Earth, right?"
"It's possible. The world is flat after all." Hiccup knew she was wrong. The world was most definitely round, but he didn't feel like arguing.
"I just know she's somewhere. We haven't checked Borg yet. I have a feeling she might be there."
"Oh, no, no, no, that's not possible. If she ran away, why would she go straight to the enemy's island?"
"Because it's the last place we'd look. C'mon, let's go."
"Really? It's too risky! Do you want to loose your other leg?"
"If that means getting Astrid back, yes."
"Okay, be honest with me here. Do you like her in that way?" Hiccup knew this question was coming, and he had an answer. Erika already knew the answer, but just had to ask.
"I... I... I..."
"Do you love me too? And still want to marry me?"
"I do! I just... there's something about Astrid that I didn't realize until she left. I can't quite put my finger on it.."
"C'mon, let's just go. I'd stay away from Borg if I were you. Don't want to cause any trouble." Erika sounded a little angry when she said that. She couldn't believe that Astrid was putting a hole in her perfect plan for power. Suddenly, the knife she had snagged from Hiccup's shop was feeling warm in her pocket.
"But..." Erika grabbed Hiccup by the waist and pulled him in to a passionate kiss. She felt as if she was losing him, and he needed the kiss of life. In order for her plan not to be foiled, she would just have to turn on the charm a little bit more. That was something that Erika could do effortlessly. She continued to kiss him, moving her hands through his silky, brown hair. She pushed him back a little and pinned him against a wall, finally breaking the bond.
"Let's go." She said as she boarded Tuna. Hiccup was left shocked and amazed. He finally got his kiss. A wave of new emotions he's never felt before surged through his body. He felt just as nervous and flustered as he did when he first met Erika. He looked at her, waiting and ready, and he saw a glow around her again. Whatever questions he had were answered. His conflicts were finally solved. He boarded Toothless and the pairs flew up together. They rode toward the sun, hand in hand, sharing a quick peck on the lips as the rode into the blinding glow of daylight.

Thanks for reading! Chapter 11 will be coming soon! The story is almost over! Thanks for all the continued support. You guys are all amazing! XOXO. 3