Hey guys! So, I just want to clear one thing up, and then I have one other little thing that I changed in chapter 8. But, if you don't care to read a humble author's request and instead just want to read the chapter, I won't be offended! Skip the italicized part. You're welcome. :)

First things first.

Kindly refrain from judging me for breaking Hiccup and Astrid up and pairing them with new people. I don't like it any more than you do, but trust the story line. Please. I have gotten several nasty guest reviews about this. Just please, please trust the story. It all works out. It may not be what you want or think should happen, but it does work out. Plus, there's no one forcing you to read this story. If you don't like it, please don't waste your time leaving a review and just stop reading. Simple. Okay?

Okay. Glad we got that cleared up.

(No snarkiness intended. Just a small request.)

The other thing is I did go back and change a few things in chapter 8. All I did was take Dagur out. I had someone leave me a review reminding me of the very important detail that Dagur is only a year older than Hiccup and Astrid, and I just don't think a five-year-old would murder someone. Even five-year-old Dagur. Small animals? I don't know, maybe? But definitely not people. So, thank you for that reminder!

So the killer in chapter 8 is now a mystery man. He shall be revealed later. Hehe! *insert evil look and tapping fingers together dramatically*

ANYWAY!

Enough with boring author's note, let's move on! Without further ado, chapter 10! (The big double digits now, whoo hoo!)

Hiccup trudged back the way he had come, his shoulders heavy with a new-found dreariness like he had never known before. He couldn't believe that Astrid had appeared to have already found someone else to be with! It had only been less than 24 hours! It didn't make sense, something didn't add up.

It just didn't make any sense whatsoever.

Astrid was smart. She wouldn't replace him so fast, not after everything that they had been through, all the times he had nearly died for the village. All the times he had nearly died for her. All the good times they had had, all the bad times they had survived. All the times he helped her when she was hurt or sick, and all the times she had returned the favor.

And he always thought that they were forever.

Sheesh.

He sighed. Love was a petty thing, something that people look forward to for their entire lives, and then they thought they had fallen in love, only to find that they hadn't and they had wasted their precious time on something that just broke your heart in the end.

Then, he heard a voice behind him. "Hiccup!"

He turned around and saw Heather standing next to him, near Astrid's house. He hadn't realized he was going there, nor had he realized that he had gotten that far.

"Hey Heather," he replied gloomily. Could you really expect him to be chipper at a time like this? His world was crashing in on itself!

Heather's bright eyes widened with concern. "What's wrong? You look like you lost a puppy."

"Much worse. Astrid's dating Gustav." Admitting it out loud made it even worse.

"Oh. Wait, really?" She looked at him, and he nodded slightly. "Huh. Never would have guessed her to fall for him…I've known her for a long time. Of course, not as long or as well as you, but still..."

Hiccup sighed for what seemed to be the thousandth time."Yeah, it's the falling for him that I have a problem with."

"Hiccup. Don't worry about it. She's obviously moved on. So should you." Heather hoped to stir his heart a little, make him a little less gloomy, help him see the light and start to move on.

Hiccup looked up at her with heavy eyes. "I guess you're right."

Then an idea whizzed through his head. Revenge.

"Hey, Heather?"

"Yes Hiccup."

"So… I have a crazy idea… And I don't know why I have it, or why I'm doing this, but here it goes. Would you like to help me move on by being my girlfriend?"

Heather sucked in a breath. "I would love to. You have no idea how long I've been waiting for you to ask that question."

"Oh wait really? Heh, yeah, well, I guess it took something like this to make it happen…" He said, his voice trailing off.

"Hey, don't look to the past anymore. What's done is done, the past is the past. You can't change it, you can only learn from your mistakes and do better in the future. At least, that's what I've found." Heather took his hand. "If you want this now, look me in the eyes and tell me you're going to move on from this. I don't want to date you if you're always going to be brooding over Astrid. I want to date you when you're ready. And if that's not now, then I'll wait. But look me in the eye and be honest with me."

"I promise I will not brood over Astrid, and I will learn from my mistakes and not repeat them. Instead, I will embrace a relationship with you. And I just realized something…"

"What?" Heather's eyebrows furrowed with curiosity, and she looked at him with big green eyes, bright in the early evening sun.

"Do you know how pretty your eyes are?" His voice was barely a whisper.

"Well… I'll take your word for it." Her voice was a little shaky.

He leaned in. She closed the gap.

Unknown to them, there was a much-unwanted presence lurking nearby in the dark foliage, sharp blue eyes watching their every move. "Just you wait Hiccup. Just. You. Wait."

Astrid closed the door to her hut behind her and leaned against it, heaving a breathless sigh. So much had happened in that day, all of it so fast it literally made her head spin. First, she had been broken up with, then she had gotten together with Gustav, which was a decision she regretted. Already he had brought her flowers twice, a new ax, and four cards. He was being sweet in his own way, but come on! She had a life! She didn't have enough time every day to deal with an overbearing boyfriend on top of everything else.

A knock sounded. She groaned, rolled her eyes, and muttered, "Come on, I just got home, Gustav!" She opened the door resisting the urge to lash out as she did so. "Hi Gustav… Oh! Heather!" She nearly squealed with delight.

"Hi Astrid!" Heather smiled widely, grinning at her best friend's enthusiasm. But, she couldn't help but feel a little guilty… best friends don't steal best friends' boyfriends behind their backs. She shook the feeling off and looked into Astrid's bright, blue, excited eyes.

"Well, don't just stand there! Come in!" Astrid's voice was higher than usual, indicating she was very excited.

"Don't mind if I do." Heather entered the house and took a quick look around. Well, this was certainly Astrid's house! Axes, spears, swords, and shields lined the walls. "Well, you certainly have a distinct taste, huh?"

"Yeah…maybe a little..." Astrid's cheeks flushed slightly. Who cared if she had a… unique decorating style?

"Gustav, Astrid? You're dating Gustav?" Heather liked cutting right to the point.

"Yeah, well, I mean, he asked me, and I felt cornered. His face was so full of hope, and it sounded like he was nervous, and he was probably rehearsing that for a long time. I couldn't just say no… But do you have any idea how annoying Gustav is?"

"Yes. I dated him. For a day. That's literally as long as it lasted." Heather chuckled slightly. "I found him a bit demanding."

"I agree. But…You know, you have to admit he's sweet though. In his own way."

"Come on, Astrid. Only you would think that," Heather stated, quirking an eyebrow.

"Whatever."

"So… to change the topic… I'd rather you hear this from me than from around the village like I'm sure it already is. Um… I'm dating someone."

"Uh… why is that a bad thing? That's a very good thing! Congrats! I'm so happy for you! This is the first one since you dated Fishlegs, right? And that ended, what, two ye-"

"Hold your happiness. Yes, I'm dating someone. Yes, it's a good thing. But what might not be so good, for you anyway, is who I'm dating."

"Who are you dating?" Astrid's voice was laced with hardness and a little bit of something else dangerous-sounding that Heather couldn't put her finger on.

"I'm dating Hiccup."

"WHAT?!" Astrid's voice screeched through the house, sending several Terrible Terrors that were nearby scattering in confusion.

"Yeah. But listen to me. I know this is a rebound romance, I know it's not going to last, I know he's hurting, and I suspect he's trying to get back at you for dating Gustav."

"But.. but… that's different!" Astrid sputtered. "I'm the one that was broken up with, not him! He broke up with ME!"

"It's not different in his mind. He didn't intend for this and I know he didn't want it and I'm sure if he had been thinking clearly, he never in a million years would have done this. I know that and so do you. He's hurting. Just let this play out. But I just wanted you to hear it from me first."

"I'm so angry at you right now… but… I have one question."

"Name it."

Is… is Hiccup ok Really truly ok? Is he happy?"

"So you do still care for him, just like I knew you did. Yes, he's ok, right now anyway. I made him be ok for now. I made him put his mind somewhere else. It took him a while, but yes. But by no means is he anywhere close to over you, and I know he will come back to you with time"

Astrid nodded with tears in her eyes.

"Look, I have to go."

"So soon? Why don't you stay? I can make some tea. I know I'm mad at you, but I still want to spend time with you. You're my best friend."

"I want to spend time with you too, but I only came over to make sure you made it home. I'm supposed to be somewhere else right now. I'm so sorry."

"Ok. I guess I'll see you later then? Maybe I'll be less angry then too..."

"You know it!" Heather stepped out of the hut, closing the door behind her.

"Okay then." Astrid's shoulders slumped. "That's ok."

"Hey Aaaastriid, where are you?"

Instantly, she tensed. There was someone in her house! And the voice sounded like…

"Hey girl!"

"Help me!"

There it is! Lots happened this time, huh? Lots for you to review about! Like... who was the blue-eyed person watching Heather and Hiccup from the bushes? Who is in Astrid's house? Will Heather and Hiccup last, or will they fall apart?

Hope you enjoyed!