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Chapter Eleven: Unexpected Complications

Seventeen.

That was the first thing that had popped into Finn's head when he woke up on his birthday. And it was still on his mind when he ate a good breakfast of bacon and eggs and walked to his job with his head held high.

It didn't take him long to notice a shift in the attention he received. He got many "happy birthday"s as he strolled through town on the way to work, but the way others looked at him as if he was suddenly more important, it all made him a tiny bit uncomfortable. He decided to talk to Gobber about this on his lunch break once Vidar had gone off to find his twin.

"Not goin' to meet your admirers?" Gobber asked when he noticed Finn standing there, his lunch bag in his hands and his brow furrowed slightly.

"Uhh... I will." said Finn with a little shrug. "I just wanted to ask you something."

"All right." Gobber put down the sword he was attempting to repair and seated himself on a stool.

"Did my dad have any reservations about becoming chief when he turned 17?" Finn asked, drawing up another stool to sit down.

Gobber looked thoughtful for a moment. "He didn't think too much about it, to be honest. Too busy snogging your mother in this very back room and thinking I didn't know what he was doing."

"Yeah, if we could maybe not talk about my parents making out, that'd be great." Finn said with a grimace.

"Oh I could tell you a few stories about your parents that would make your hair stand on end. Not that it needs it." Gobber nudged Finn's shoulder with the boulder in place of his left hand. "But to answer your question, he wasn't too fussed about it at your age. And you shouldn't be either. Barring any serious accidents, you've got a little ways to go before you take over. I don't think Hiccup's going to hand you your birthright tonight at your party. In fact, I know he's not."

"Yeah but you just brought up my next point. If my dad dropped dead tomorrow, the entire village would go to me. I know I'm not ready for it." Finn scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "And I don't think the village trusts me after the whole gang debacle."

"You'd be surprised. I think your efforts to redeem yourself have done more than you think." Gobber gave Finn an understanding sort of smile. "But I get what you're trying to ask. And no, you're not ready for it. But neither was Hiccup. And neither was Stoick."

"Pop- Stoick wasn't ready to be chief?" Finn's memories of his grandfather were a bit fuzzy but the man certainly exuded confidence in his job. "That sounds a bit... out of character."

"And you were born decades after he started. 'Course he was confident by then. And your dad is now. So will you once you get the hang of things." Gobber said, pointing his boulder attachment at Finn. "You've got time, Finn. Don't stress yourself out before you started. It's your birthday!"

"Yeah. I know." Finn smiled. "It's still a lot of pressure and now it's pretty real." he sighed. "I miss Benen."

"He'd be proud of you." Gobber assured him.

"You think?"

"I don't think. I know." Gobber tapped his helmet with his boulder. "Now get outta here before your lunch break ends. I'm pretty sure your friends are missing you."

"Ahh I can't stick around and hang out with my favorite old timer?" Finn chortled as he stood up.

"Well you could." Gobber shrugged. "I just thought you'd want to spend more time with people your age."

"Aww but I wanted to hear your tales about hunting dinosaurs in your youth."

"I'm still your elder and I can still smack you if you get out of line!" Gobber shouted but his lips twitched in an almost smile.

Finn laughed. "All right, don't get your skivvies in a twist. See you in a bit. And thanks. For... listening. I guess."

Gobber waved as Finn left the hot forge to join the other teenagers outside. Zap, who had been snoozing outside of the forge for the last few hours, hopped to her feet and ran forward to lick his face.

"Aww, Zappy!" Finn put his hands up to shield himself from the slobber. "I missed you too, princess."

"Roorooorooo!" Zap half growled in the back of her throat.

"Yes, I know, being away from you for as much as five seconds is too- aww baby, what did they do to you?" Finn cooed, now noticing a bright pink party hat atop his precious dragon's head.

"I made her festive!" Cliff chirped before rushing forward and tackling Finn to the ground. "And now you're getting your birthday punches!"

"Lemme go!" Finn yelped, trying to get out from underneath the skinnier boy.

Cliff punched his shoulder. "That's one!"

"Erick, help!"

Erick stood above the boys, his arms crossed and an amused smirk on his face. "Nah, I'd rather see how this plays out."

"Sadist." Finn growled as Cliff punched him for the fourth time.

"It's tradition, Finneroni!" Cliff punched him a fifth time. "All birthday boys get punches!"

"Aww, does this mean you're not going to punch my twin?"

"Nah, Erick's going to kiss her!"

Erick opened his mouth to retaliate but was swiftly interrupted by Finn shaking Cliff off after his tenth punch and running away as fast as he could. Cliff wasted no time in pursuing him.

"I only got seven more to go!" Cliff shouted as Finn bolted toward the trees. "Come back and let me honor this tradition!"

"Nope!" Finn called over his shoulder.

Zap, who seemed to enjoy the spectacle before her, began chasing the boys. Apparently her rider being knocked to the ground and punched didn't warrant her protection. Or perhaps she knew Cliff too well to think he was going to cause any serious damage.

So absorbed in running away from Cliff as Finn was, he didn't notice Inga until he ran headlong into her, nearly knocking her over. Cliff skidded to a halt, watching as the two teenagers regained their footing.

"I think I'll leave you two alone. I still owe you seven punches." he said gleefully before walking away, a happy bounce in his step.

"Clumsy oaf." Inga said almost affectionately as she picked up the small tin she was carrying. "Watch where you're going next time, Haddock."

"Yeah because it's easy to watch where you're going and run away from an assailant at the same time." Finn said sarcastically. "Maybe you should watch where you're going."

"Or maybe you should accept your punishment for aging a year." Inga snipped with a grin. "Actually, I was looking for you. I made you these." she shoved the tin into Finn's hands.

"Uh oh. What did you do?" Finn handled the tin as if it was a bomb about to go off.

"Don't be stupid, they're just cookies."

"Poisoning me on my own birthday? Really? You hate me that much?" Finn smirked at the look of sheer annoyance on Inga's face.

"I will smack you." she said through gritted teeth.

Finn held up his hands in mock surrender. "Oh no! That's the worst possible thing that could ever happen to me!" he held his hands in front of his face. "Please don't slap me, Inga, I'm begging you!"

To her credit, Inga didn't slap him. Instead, she punched him in the gut. Finn laughed, though he had to admit that the place she'd punched did smart a bit. She was a lot stronger than she looked.

"You've maimed me." he whined dramatically. "How could you?"

"Stop your bellyaching and just try a cookie." Inga crossed her arms in a way that reminded Finn of his mother.

"A future chief has to be able to recognize assassination attempts, you know. You're being way too obvious." Finn laughed at the scowl that crossed her face. "Which is why I doubt this is an assassination attempt. I give you more credit."

"Oh I'm so flattered." Inga said sarcastically.

Finn opened the tin with the air of someone trying to avoid a sleeping dragon in the dark. Inga cleared her throat impatiently. He extracted a cookie and took a small nibble. To his great surprise, it was pretty good.

"Is this... chocolate and peanuts?" he asked as he chewed.

"Yep."

"How did you know I liked peanuts?" Finn asked, taking a much bigger bite. "I never talk about it."

"I heard you complaining to Cliff that you barely ever get them 'cause Anna hates them." Inga said with a little shrug.

"It's so stupid!" Finn complained. "Make some cookies with nuts, some without!"

"Well these cookies are all yours." Inga smiled proudly. "And now you have a good reason not to share them."

"You're the best, Inga. Even if I don't act like it." Finn winked at her and could have sworn that, for a split second, her knees had gone a bit weak. Her brow furrowed as if she was annoyed at herself for being obvious. "See you tonight?"

"If I have to." Inga mock sighed before turning on her heel and walking back into the woods, joining Mystie, who had been sniffing at a tree root a few feet away.

Finn watched her go with a mischievous grin. He wasn't stupid. He knew she was losing a fight with herself whenever she was around him and he enjoyed watching the struggle. More than once, he'd caught her ogling him during training and even once in the woods. She wasn't the only girl who looked at him that way but she was the only one who clearly was fighting these intrusive feelings.

That was what Finn liked about Inga, when it came right down to it. He liked that she didn't only look at him as the heir of Berk. She obviously judged him on his own merits, which was why she was so angry at herself for having such a big crush. Finn had to admit that, of all the girls on Berk, she was the only one who could keep up with him and put him in his place. Sometimes she could be downright childish but then other times, she would exhibit a maturity he wouldn't have expected. It was these moments that made him feel a bit guilty for how he felt.

It wasn't only Inga fighting her feelings. Finn knew he didn't have it nearly as bad but he couldn't help looking out of the forge window whenever she passed by. He loved bantering with her. He loved making her stomp her feet in frustration. It was the best kind of flirting. But the fact remained that she was only thirteen years old and he was a big, beefy seventeen year old himself. Hardly age appropriate. Perhaps when she was fourteen, it might be a bit different. Thirteen seemed extremely young for a relationship.

Finn suddenly shook his head. What was he thinking? Inga Jorgenson was completely out of his league anyway. She deserved better than a dumb guy who had once attempted to destroy as much of Berk's treasures as possible. She deserved someone who would have the time to take care of her should she suffer from any more seizures.

Still, he had to admit that she knew him pretty well. Had she improved her recipe for him? Did she sit on the information about his love for peanuts in his cookies until his special day? It was maddening how difficult girls were to understand.

Everyone always made fun of them and their friendship. He could hear the older folk whisper that it was just a matter of time, rather like they had when Adrianna and Erick were young and playing together. He hadn't taken these whispers seriously. But now? Well, now he couldn't help but wonder if they knew something he didn't.

The banners were hung, ridiculous party hats were distributed by Cliff, and a mound of presents sat at the far table in the Great Hall. The birthday party of the twin children of the chief was all ready to go. It didn't take long for the Hall to fill up. Finn could be seen with a group of admirers within the first few seconds of his arrival. Adrianna had sidled in and stuck to the walls, chatting with Erick and Taryn in the corner.

Hiccup looked around in satisfaction. Truth be told, he loved birthdays. His own was so rare, it was quite special when he got to celebrate it on the actual day but the twins' birthday was different. He had never really considered the term until he had witnessed the birth of his children. Since then, he could fully appreciate what this day really meant. It was a joyful day for certain. He could never forget Finn's scrunched up little face or Adrianna sucking on her fist just after she had started breathing. He remembered Finn plunging his head into the cake on his first birthday, emerging with a huge smile and his face coated in blue frosting. Tiny Adrianna on her third birthday absolutely delighted by the butterflies he had painted on her wall. The twins getting their dragons on their tenth birthday. All of them stuck out in Hiccup's memory for one reason or another and they gave him a reason to smile. Through the ups and downs, the twins were truly some of the best gifts he'd ever received.

And now they were seventeen.

The thought was truly horrifying. They had been so little not long ago. Looking at Finn laughing with his friends, Hiccup couldn't believe he had been able to fit his son in one hand. That his curvy daughter had once been a laughing toddler who listened to her bedtime stories with rapt attention. Had the gods sped up time? He wasn't ready for them to be adults yet.

And yet he was confident. Finn had grown into a mature young man and Adrianna into a compassionate young woman. They were fine, Hiccup thought.

"Sometimes, I think your head would come off if it weren't attached."

Hiccup started slightly but relaxed when he spotted his grinning wife, her arm snaking around his waist.

"You're probably right." said Hiccup. "I'd leave it in the clouds and Toothless would have to go looking for it."

"He'd find it."

The couple laughed. Hiccup put his arm around Astrid's shoulders.

"I just..." Astrid paused a moment to collect her thoughts. "I just can't believe they both somehow fit inside me at one point."

"It really is a miracle." Hiccup nodded. "But look how far they've gotten."

"I'm not sure I'd want the baby days back." Astrid nudged Hiccup's side. "Finn puked all over you once, do you remember?"

"Never did get the smell out of my flight suit." Hiccup shook his head. "Good thing I made this one then." he gestured to the outfit he was wearing.

"Just slobber marks now." Astrid patted a spot on the chest.

"Well that wasn't the twins." Hiccup narrowed his eyes at Toothless, who was now wearing a party hat as well. "That was a giant lizard who doesn't listen."

"Can't really blame him. He just loves you." Astrid reached up and kissed Hiccup's cheek. "And I think we should give the twins our gifts now."

"It's a little early."

"Yeah but I don't want to wait that long!" Astrid practically skipped over to the table with presents and whistled loudly so everyone would turn to look at her. "We'll let you get back to your fun in a second. We just wanted to give the twins our sort of coming-of-age gifts."

Finn sprinted over, his conversation with friends forgotten. Adrianna approached a bit more cautiously, like she thought the gifts might explode.

"Since you're of age, we thought it was about time you got something really useful for some of your adult responsibilities. Helped me a lot, anyway." Hiccup clapped Finn on the back. "Well, open it!"

"All right, hold your dragons, dad!" Finn ripped open the paper and pulled out a folded leather... thing. "Woah..."

When he had straightened it out, Finn was holding a flight suit in black with dark green accents. The suit had some thicker parts, which seemed to conceal armor.

"The legs have a material that doesn't conduct all of Zap's... zaps." Hiccup gestured to the pants. "So you won't get shocked again."

"Dad, this is... wow." Finn's blue eyes were wide with wonder as he turned the suit around in his hands.

"Oh and," Hiccup grabbed a smaller object off the table, "don't forget this."

He handed Finn a mask, rather like his own. Finn beamed at him.

"Can I try this on now?"

"Go for it!" Hiccup clapped Finn on the back and Finn bolted toward a broom closet so he could change in private. "And Addie, open yours."

Adrianna, who had been silently watching her brother with his new suit, now turned to her own gift. She opened the slightly smaller package to reveal yet another leather object.

"Is it..." she raised it up so everyone could see. "Oh... wow."

Hiccup was really pleased about this particular gift. He had put it together in much less time than he had Finn's and it came out splendidly. The flight suit was also black, but with royal purple highlights as well. He had measured Thalia Smedley for this suit, since she and Adrianna were roughly the same size, but made it adjustable just in case something was a bit snug or roomy. If his daughter was going to take after him and leap off her dragon in midair, at least she could fall with style.

"What do you think?" Astrid asked as the audience murmured their approval of the flight suit.

"It's... I... thank you."

Adrianna didn't look as happy as her brother had, something Hiccup had not overlooked. But a split second later, she smiled and hugged him.

"You're welcome, Addie." Hiccup said, enthusiastically hugging her back. "Do you want to try it on?"

"In a bit." Adrianna nodded. "I just... it's really beautiful, dad."

"Well you're beautiful." Hiccup kissed her forehead. "So I couldn't let it look ridiculous like mine."

"I like the buckles." Adrianna looked at them somewhat affectionately before placing the suit on the table. "Thanks again, daddy. Really."

Hiccup was about to respond when Finn emerged from the closet, wearing his suit for the first time. Astrid had been right about the green, he thought, because it really did compliment Finn's thick red hair. At seventeen, standing tall and decked out in leather, Hiccup couldn't help but be reminded of himself a little bit. Even the smirk on Finn's face was quite a bit like his own smirks at that age.

"You look amazing!" Astrid rushed forward to hug her son.

"Ahh, come on, mom!" Finn hugged her back but laughed. "Don't cry!"

"I'm not crying!" Astrid smacked Finn's chest. "I'm just proud that my baby boy is a grown man and that he's so handsome now! I was afraid you'd get the worst of us both."

"Oy!" Hiccup chortled, sauntering over. "We have amazingly good looks, you and I!"

"We got lucky." Astrid pinched Finn's cheek, prompting him to roll his eyes. "Both our kids are real lookers."

"Yeah they definitely-" Hiccup turned to his daughter but she was gone. "Addie?"

"She said she was going to the outhouse." said Taryn.

"All right." Hiccup turned back to his son.

As everyone gushed over how good Finn looked in his new suit, no one had noticed Adrianna slipping out through the back. No one except a certain blond who certainly wasn't interested in watching Finn show off.

Erick felt a bit uneasy. It had been fifteen minutes and Adrianna still hadn't come back. So preoccupied was the crowd and even Hiccup and Astrid with Finn and his suit and all sorts of birthday wishes that no one else seemed to have noticed this fact. Gripped with a sudden concern, Erick excused himself and headed to the back of the Hall, ignoring the calls of other teens as he went.

The first thing Erick noticed was that the outhouse door was ajar. For a split second, he was afraid he would catch sight of something he shouldn't but before he could react, he realized that the tiny outhouse was empty.

So where was his best friend?

Something told Erick to wander to the right and into the forest behind the Hall. The sun shone through the branches of the trees, making a crisscross pattern against the ground. Erick kept his gaze low so that he wouldn't snag his prosthetic on a vine or tree root. As he walked through the woods, trying not to make too much noise, he finally heard whispers coming from a clearing just ahead of him.

"It's okay... it's okay... it's okay."

Erick crept toward the noise and took a moment to simply look at her. She was sitting on a log, her shoulders hunched and her hands in her hair. She continued to whisper her attempted assurances as Erick walked forward.

"Annie?"

Adrianna looked up at him with wide eyes. He'd half expected her to be crying, what with the ever increasing panic in her whispers. For a moment, she stared at him as if she was trying to figure out if he was actually standing there or not.

"What are you doing here?" she asked in an attempt to be nonchalant.

"I just... noticed you left." Erick replied with a warm smile.

Rather than respond, Adrianna averted his gaze and fixed it on the trees to her left. Erick's stomach began to knot uncomfortably. He had never seen her like this before... this unresponsive. Recently all of their conversations had been emotionally charged. But this reminded him of how he had acted the first few days after his father had died. And that made her behavior even more troubling.

"Unless I'm crazy," Erick took a tentative step forward, "the birthday girl is supposed to be the star of the party."

"No, that's Finn." Adrianna mumbled. "He's always the life of the party. And I'm... not."

"Aw, come on. That's not true. Everyone knows your brother can be... difficult." he let out a weak chuckle but she remained unresponsive.

"You shouldn't be seen with me." Adrianna said after a few tense seconds.

"What? Why?" Erick asked, genuinely surprised. She didn't respond. "Annie, come on. Something's wrong. Something you're not telling anyone."

"I'm fine." Adrianna said a bit too quickly.

Erick smiled a little bit. "I know you better than to believe that."

"Fine. I screwed up." she took a very shaky breath. "And you were right. About everything."

"What did you do?"

"I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"I just can't!"

Erick turned away in frustration and paced back and forth, focusing on the ground. His eye caught the bright reflection of the sun bouncing off the metal on his prosthetic. His brow furrowed in determination and he turned to her again.

"Look, Annie, for what it's worth, I owe you." he said softly.

Adrianna finally looked at him. "What?"

"I pushed you away and I was a complete jerk and I hurt you. And you forgave me for all that even though I gave you so many reasons not to. So yeah. I owe you this. Anything. It doesn't matter what you did, Annie. I'll forgive you because that's what you deserve." Erick paused for a moment before adding, "And because you're my best friend. And that's what best friends are supposed to do."

Adrianna remained silent but Erick knew the look she was giving him quite well. He was breaking down her defenses. But it didn't look like she was going to offer any information willingly.

"Is it Brandyn?" he paused when she flinched slightly at the name. But he knew he had to keep going, otherwise she would probably sit in silence until one of them decided to leave. "Is he coming back? Ah... that's a terrible question to ask, I'm sorry. But... I mean, gods, how do I say this? You were with him for a couple of years and a good friend also. I know it hurts right now and if I made it worse, I'm sorry-"

"It's not you." she interrupted in a timid voice. "It had nothing to do with you."

"Then what is it?" Erick asked, his concern for her mounting. "Is it because he's not here for today? I know he was here the last couple of-"

"Stop!" Adrianna suddenly exclaimed, causing her friend to jump in surprise. "Just stop talking."

Erick shut his mouth with a snap. Something in the pit of his stomach continued to tighten as he watched her turn away a bit more and take several deep breaths. He waited patiently for her to get up the courage to say what it was she clearly needed to say.

"I'm p..." her breath escaped her and she took a shaky gulp of air.

Erick's mind began to race. What could be so horrible that she couldn't even get the words out? He watched her take several more deep breaths before she suddenly let out a tiny sob as the words finally came out.

"I'm pregnant."

Never in Erick's life had he heard such an anguished little wail come from another human being. She sounded like a baby dragon who had fallen out of its nest. It was a terrified cry for help, a tortured voice nearly drowned out by the sounds of the forest around them.

"I'm sorry." she whispered, now wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "It wasn't supposed to happen this way and I'm so sorry."

"Annie, hey." Erick waited for her to look at him. "Okay, ah... look, this is just going to have to be weird but there's no watering it down. Did you and Brandyn have sex?" Adrianna jerked at his blunt words. "I'm sorry," he sighed. "But I have to understand what exactly happened. Did you... want it?"

She down at her hands in her lap. Erick felt a wave of unease, a distinct feeling that he knew the answer to this question. The thought made him sick but he needed to know for sure. Very slowly, he got on his knees in front of her and held her fidgeting hands. He could feel them shaking. Giving them a reassuring squeeze, he waited for her to meet his eye before he spoke again.

"Annie, did he rape you?" the words felt disgusting, the very last thing he ever wanted to ask someone he loved so much.

Adrianna closed her eyes. Two tears streaked down her face before she nodded.

Erick felt his insides freeze, his heart pounding in his chest, his head swirling with more thoughts than he could process. But as he watched more tears slide down her cheeks, her whole body shaking with terror, he found himself unable to be angry at her. On the contrary, he felt overwhelmed with sorrow for her and, almost as if it was instinctual, watched himself slip his hands from hers so that he could wrap her in his arms. She buried her face in his shoulder as she allowed him to hold her, gently stroking her hair and allowing her to soak his tunic with her tears.

"It's okay." he whispered in her ear. "You're going to be okay."

When they finally broke apart, she wiped her eyes with her arms. Bloodshot as they were, they were still a brilliant shade of green.

"How far along are you?" he asked when he sensed that she was ready to talk again.

"I... I don't exactly know." she replied shakily.

"Okay. What did Mara say?"

"Nothing. I haven't seen her."

Erick's mouth dropped open in shock. "Annie!"

"What? She'd tell my parents the second she-" her eyes suddenly widened. "Oh gods, you can't tell them."

His eyebrows lowered in concern. "Annie-"

"No! Swear to me, right now! They'll all find out at some point anyway but don't tell anyone! Please, Erick!" she desperately pleaded.

"All right! Shh... I won't. But... what about your parents?"

She averted his gaze to stare at his lap. "I..."

"They have to know, Annie. You can't hide it forever." Erick said softly.

She continued to shake her head. "I... I have some baggy clothes."

"That b-" he dropped his voice. "That baby is going to make him or herself known whether you want them to or not. You literally cannot hide this for nine months. And then when you give birth what are you going to do? Hide a baby in your room from your parents, brother and dragons? Hide a crawling infant? A running toddl-"

"Okay, okay!" Adrianna held up her hands to stop him.

"So you see my point."

"I have caused them enough heartache. Trista, Brandyn, everything, they don't deserve to deal with another crisis like this! They should banish me this time!"

"You really think they would?" Erick asked, helping her wipe tears from her face.

"They should."

He sighed. "Do you want them to?" She didn't respond except to take a large, shuddering breath. "You need some time. I get it. But if you want... I could be there with you. When you tell them."

"I... I don't know what to do. Everything's so confusing... I didn't want this." she sniffed again.

Erick felt a sudden wave of anger at Brandyn. How dare he hurt her! What kind of monster would do something like that? He clenched his jaw and promised himself that if he ever saw that horrible, perverted... thing again, he'd skin him alive with his knife.

"I'm sorry." he heard himself say as he snapped back to reality. "It isn't supposed to be this way." she looked at him in confusion and he felt heat rise to his face. "I-I mean, I don't... haven't... ugh." his friend cracked a smile at the blush he knew must be shining through his face. "I mean it's not supposed to be a terrible thing."

She nodded. "I know what you meant." she straightened herself up a bit. "Thanks. You... I feel better. A little bit."

"Think you can go back to the party?" Erick took her hands and helped her up.

"Will you..." Adrianna gulped and stared down at their clasped hands. "Will you stay with me until it's over?"

"Of course." Erick leaned down and kissed her forehead. "But we should get back before people start to worry."

Adrianna nodded and they turned to walk back to the Great Hall. She held his hand tightly and he knew that she was feeling thankful for the warmth it provided and the assurance it gave her that she had someone who knew her darkest secret but still deeply cared about her. When they got to the back door, she suddenly threw her arms around him and held him close.

"Thank you." she whispered.

Erick felt his insides ignite with a passion that made him feel more conflicted than ever. He dearly wanted to kiss her. The feelings he'd forced down came back up so fast, it felt like they had clobbered him upside the head. And though he reminded his heart that the woman he loved had been victimized in one of the most horrible crimes imaginable, was pregnant as a result, he simply couldn't bring himself to care about that. Not one bit. As far as he was concerned, he had always loved her. And he would always love her. And now, as he held her as tightly as he could without hurting her, he had never been so sure of anything.

The party had been exceptionally awkward from that point on. Erick didn't let Adrianna out of his sight the whole time, which she had seemed to appreciate. Fortunately, no one thought much of her politely refusing alcohol, which was a bit of a relief. The last thing Erick wanted for her was to have to come up with hasty excuses and look even more suspicious. But he hadn't been given a chance to consider what he had learned.

At last, the party had lulled a bit and Adrianna could finally come up with an excuse to leave. She and Erick said goodbye to everyone and walked into the mostly empty village square. As they walked, their hands clasped as they had so many times before. It was almost instinct now.

They seemed to arrive at the Haddock house far too soon. Erick's thoughts were coming to him at a thousand miles an hour and his emotions were even more conflicting, not to mention confusing. Adrianna stopped in front of her house, staring at her parents' bedroom window.

"You have to tell them." Erick said in a low voice. "They're not going to throw you out. I know they won't."

The girl took a deep breath and shook her head. "I will." she said through the exhale. "Just not now. It's... it's Finn's birthday. Can't take the focus off him."

"It's your birthday too." Erick took her hands and gently turned her so she was facing him. "You'll be okay, Annie. I promise."

Adrianna's mouth turned upward slightly in a tiny smile but she shook her head. "You don't know that."

"Actually I do. No matter what happens, you always get through it. You are the strongest person I know." Erick took a chance and reached up to tuck her flyaway bangs behind her ear. She didn't recoil.

"Not strong enough to stop him." Adrianna averted her eyes and instead focused on her hands, one of which was still clasped tightly in his.

"That wasn't your fault. And if anyone doesn't believe you, they're not worth your time." Erick gestured to the village. "They forgave me for what I did. And they forgave Finn. This wasn't even something you did wrong. What makes you think they won't still love you?"

Adrianna suddenly wrenched her hand from his. "Because what happened brings shame to my family's name. What happened is irreversible. You could repair what you damaged." her hands made her way to her stomach as she spoke. "I can't fix this."

"No but you can make it right." Erick's hands longed for hers but he restrained from reaching out once more. "For your baby, at the very least."

"I... I don't want to talk about this anymore." Adrianna took a deep, slightly shaking breath. She looked like she was going to cry again. "Thank you for walking me home."

"I'm happy to do it." Erick desperately wanted to hug her again but he held back. "Just... don't shut me out. I want to help."

"I should go." Adrianna mumbled. "Thanks again." she added before immediately turning and walking quickly to the house.

Erick watched her enter her home before turning around and setting off for his own. Cliff was still at the party so he knew he would be alone for a while. He walked with his eyes focused on the ground and his hands in his pockets, his shoulders hunched over. His brain couldn't seem to focus on a single thought for more than a few seconds. And now that the party was nearly over, that Adrianna was home safe, he had time to think. Time to process what he had learned.

Adrianna was pregnant. The thought flitted through his mind once more and his heart sank farther in his chest. The one girl he never would have expected to end up in this situation was now facing it and he had no idea what to do. He wasn't the baby's father; Brandyn was long gone. He was nothing... nothing except someone on the outside looking in. Someone who, like many men before him, had fallen in love with the wrong woman.

But he wasn't ready to let her go. Should he though? She had been irreversibly damaged.

No, he couldn't leave her. She certainly hadn't left him when he lost his foot.

"Is that the best reason to still be her friend?" A voice inside his head questioned.

Was it? No. She was his best friend.

"Was your best friend." The condescending voice corrected. Erick's head lowered at the thought. "She turned her back on you for that lying rat eating mange bucket. She was completely willing to throw away your friendship just to appease him."

That was ridiculous and Erick knew it the moment the thought popped into his head. If Brandyn had raped her, of course she was terrified to make him angry. He couldn't blame her for that. He wasn't sure he would have done anything different if the roles were reversed.

"Even so, you should leave her alone. You said she was the strongest person you know."

"Not strong enough to stop him." The image of Adrianna turning away from him as she spoke flashed in his mind. Her dazzling green eyes didn't sparkle like they used to but instead were hopeless and insecure. She seemed frightened.

She had been there for him when he lost his foot. She had willingly let him cry on her, bleed on her, even after he'd treated her horribly up until them. How could he have gotten through that day without her? No. He had to be there for her now. Especially if she was going to have that baby.

The baby… Erick wobbled on his front step, allowing the realization to sink in. Annie was going to have a baby. He pushed the door open and walked in side. There was no question about it. He thought as he slumped against the door. An image popped into his head: Annie looking down at her distended stomach with one had gracefully rubbing it. Then ever so slowly, she looked up and caught his gaze. Her eyes were so glossy and red, the color drained from her cheeks except for the evident tear stains. The sight of her tore at his heart.

He turned to his room and sauntered over. With each step he saw her being mistreated by the village. Ignored, mocked, spit upon. He saw her alone with an infant in the back corner of the Great Hall, watching everyone else dance and sing in a celebration, yet she was outcast from society.

"But doesn't she deserve it?" The voice whispered in his ear as Erick opened the door to his room. His head shot up at the question.

For the first time in his life, his head and his heart reached a different conclusion. Adrianna had walked right into it. He'd known what Brandyn was and he'd certainly tried to tell her. She hadn't listened. Was this her punishment for refusing to see how dangerous he was? Erick's logical side agreed with this notion. She'd been stupid and maybe this would teach her a painful but valuable lesson. Yet his heart grieved for her. All the childhood memories of playing with her, picking flowers, sitting by the seaside cliff, her radiant smile and sparkling green eyes full of life and laughter could not be disregarded for one mistake. He suddenly hated himself as he realized he was weighing his dearest friend's good and bad actions on a mental scale that would determine the penalties he would issue to her.

A sudden spurt of rage shot through him, causing him to turn and slam his bedroom door. He glared at the wood with disdain as if it had offended him in some way. His mind raced with all the consequences that this, the baby, would impose on her. However, what troubled him the most, was not knowing what to do for, with, or about her.

"Why?!" He felt the strain in the back of his throat as he yelled simultaneously slamming his fists on the door. Try as he might, he could not stop cool tears from spilling down his front.

For some reason, a memory surfaced, one he hadn't thought about in a very long time. He leaned against the door, allowing it to fill his mind. He had been bored and achy at Mara's and Annie had come to see him...

"Here," Annie picked up a bowl and spoon on the nightstand. Almost meticulously, she scooped the spoon in the soup and brought it to his lips. "I'm sorry if it doesn't taste so good. I'm not exactly Finn but I figured you needed something to eat." She explained tentatively as he swallowed.

Erick breathed a laugh. "I lost my foot, not my hands."

"Ohh humor me." Annie winked at him. "I've got to practice. Ava's going to be old enough to spoon feed pretty soon and I want to perfect the technique."

"If you insist." he obediently opened his mouth and let her place the spoonful of soup inside. "It's uh… not bad… What is it?"

"I don't really know… it's got carrots, onions, cabbage, chicken… yak broth and some seasonings…" Annie elucidated.

"But what do you call it? You always made a name for everything."

"Uh…" She stared at the bowl of soup, "I don't know. How about... friendship soup?"

"Hm... I like it." Erick smiled. "Kind of got a sweet and sour mix. Like our friendship these past couple years."

Annie looked calm and relieved as she sat at his bedside, and fed him with a genuine smile. Yet, Erick noticed, the depth in her green eyes and sagging skin below them showed worry and exhaustion. She had lost sleep… because of him?

She guided the spoon into his mouth. Somehow, a little of the broth spilled down his chin. "Oh, I'm sorry."

She placed the utensil in the bowl and picked up a napkin. Delicately, she wiped his chin. Their eyes caught, green interacting with teal. They stared at each other until Annie cleared her throat and leaned back, recoiling and diverting her gaze away from him.

"Why-" The question died in his throat when her attention swiftly returned and focused on him. Suddenly he felt like such and idiot for his quandary but his curiosity got the better of him. "Why are you doing this?"

She stared at him, completely silent.

"I've hurt you." he continued. "I betrayed you. I hardly ever spoke to you even when we were living in the same house. Why were you there when all that happened? Why are you taking care of me now?"

"Because I never stopped caring." Annie replied with a small frown. "I really tried. I tried to pretend you never meant anything to me and that I would be fine if I just forgot about you. But I couldn't. I guess it's kind of an instinct when you've cared about someone for so long."

"Well that's not going to happen again." Erick said, putting his hand on top of hers. "This time around, I'm not letting something stupid like that get in the way."

Annie smiled and held up her spoon. "My first act as your reinstated best friend is to make sure you eat all this soup."

"And my first act is to take this bowl and eat it myself so that your hands are free." Erick carefully took the bowl from her hands, rather surprised that she didn't protest. "I see you're letting me win already."

"You just wait until the next time we're at the library. You will never win at being quiet." Adrianna grinned and Erick stuck his tongue out at her.

He had missed this. The banter. The pretty green eyes. The presence of the best friend he'd ever had. This time, he was never going back.

Erick felt disgusted with himself when he came back to reality. The answer to his question of whether to stay with her had been with him this whole time. He was foolish to think he could ever live with himself if he ever betrayed her like that again. He felt horrible for ever considering it.

He wiped his face and sniffed. He couldn't understand. Annie, who had done nothing but bend over backwards for others without thinking about herself... she never deserved this. She shouldn't have to deal with it. Brandyn shouldn't have taken advantage of her like that. The thought made his eyes sting with tears again.

"Annie, you're so stupid." he whimpered. "You care about people too much. Why didn't you ever ask for help. We... we all would have helped you."

He was quiet as his hand rested against the door. The physical pain stinging his raw, red hands meant nothing to him. However, his soul ached.

"And look what's happened now." he continued, trying the stem the flow of tears now dripping down onto his tunic. "You got yourself hurt."

With a thud, his head rested against the wooden door. Time slowed as he poured out his heart. Thoughts would come and go as fast as the wind. Everything was a blur. Yet in every instance, he kept thinking about Annie and it only made him more emotional.

"I'm sorry, Annie." he whispered after a long stretch of silence. "I'm so sorry."