Hello readers! :) So, I wanted to tell you, there isn't a lot of Valka and Hiccup bonding in this chapter. I wanted to establish something specifically, an important plot point that needs to be gotten out there, and then in the next chapter I'm going to do the came thing, but the chapter after THAT will be entirely founded on Hiccup and Valka bonding. :)

And a specific shout-out to Gamer Spice, who was wondering whether or not their review came in. Yes, it did! :D Just wanted to let you know! :D I know what you mean, I think fanfiction's had a glitch lately, too, because I can't see the most recent reviews on my stories. But they still show up in my email, so I see them all. :D

Okay, that's it! :D I'm finally getting used to the way my braces feel! Yay! :D Enjoy chapter 21! :D

CHAPTER 21: DECISIONS ARE MADE

DAY: APRIL 16
TIME: 10:40 AM
YEAR: 2018

BANG, BANG, BANG.

By the sounds of it, Stoick had obviously forgotten the fact that he owned a pair of house keys and was resorting to banging on the door as loudly as he could. In fact, Hiccup wouldn't have been too surprised if Stoick followed it up with "OPEN UP OR I'LL BREAK DOWN THE DOOR! THIS IS THE POLICE!"

Stoick also failed to realize that the door was indeed unlocked from when Valka had come in earlier. Ah, it was just like Hiccup's father to miss out on the important details.

"Dad, the door's unlocked!" Hiccup hollered, cupping a hand around his mouth. Valka, once seated beside Hiccup on the couch, had rose to her feet. She kept looking around, almost as if she were looking for somewhere to escape to, but Toothless was still wary of her, his protective instincts deciding to watch her, just to be safe, and Hiccup knew if his mother tried leaving, Toothless wouldn't let her without Hiccup's consent.

Stoick barreled through the doorway, still in police uniform, and he looked around wildly as if expecting to see a thief, or maybe even Drago Bludvist himself, in his livingroom. His eyes found Hiccup when he saw nothing unusual (he had yet to notice Valka), and he stepped forward, taking Hiccup by the shoulders.

"What is it?" Stoick demanded; his grip was stronger than Hiccup would have liked, but Hiccup didn't mind. His father probably thought the grip was gentle. "What's wrong, what happe-"

He didn't get to finish his sentence.

He'd raised his head, and his eyes found Valka. Stoick froze. His grip on Hiccup's shoulders went slack, and Hiccup finally managed to jerk away and duck past his father, so that he no longer stood between his parents. Toothless pranced around the couch and joined Hiccup quickly, and the two watched, waiting for the scene to unfold.

For the longest moment, neither Valka nor Stoick moved. Neither spoke. The longer the silence went on, the more awkward and uncomfortable it became.

Valka swallowed hard and broke eye contact.

"I know what you're going to say, Stoick," she said quietly, and it took Hiccup a few moments before he registered what she'd said. "How could I have done this to you? How could I have lied, how could I have stayed away for all these years…"

Hiccup looked from Valka to his father. Stoick looked as, well, stoic as he always did, and Hiccup wished for once he knew exactly what his father was thinking. He couldn't actually decide whose side of the argument he would be on - anger vs. understanding. It was hard to decide.

"But you have to understand," said Valka desperately. "I...I never wanted to leave. I never wanted to fake my death. I did it for your safety, for Hiccup's safety."

Stoick took a step forward. Valka shrunk back.

"You know I was working on the case for Drago Bludvist," said Valka. "And I knew he might try to use me to get to you, if he thought you were alive. He'd hurt you or kill you both to make me give up, or to draw me out to kill me. And I wouldn't have been able to live with myself if something happened to you because of my choice!"

Dang. Hiccup looked at Stoick, waiting for his father to say something, but Stoick still didn't speak. He took another step forward, and this time, Valka didn't move back.

"Hate me if you want," said Valka. "Do whatever you want. Frame me. Arrest me. Leave me. I needed you to know. I couldn't live lying anymore. I needed you both to know the truth. I am alive."

She sucked in a deep, shaky breath.

"SAY SOMETHING, STOICK!" she finally shrieked, desperate. "PLEASE SAY SOMETHING! ANYTHING! I DON'T CARE WHAT IT IS!"

And just like that, Valka's dam finally broke, and she buried her face in her hands, shoulders shaking, tears wetting her palms.

Now the tension was really killing Hiccup. For a brief moment he considered leaving the room and giving his mom and dad some privacy, but in the end, his curiosity would never let him do that. The suspense was eating at his mind, and he found himself glued in place, unable to move.

Stoick closed the distance between himself and Valka and, gently, took Valka's hands in his. He pulled them away from her face, and Valka sobbed dryly, shutting her eyes.

"Valka," said Stoick, and for once, his voice cracked. "...Is it really you?"

Valka opened her eyes, stared at him, and then nodded shakily.

Stoick continued to stare, unbelieving, not unlike what Hiccup had done after first seeing Valka, and then...Stoick smiled warmly.

"...You're as beautiful as the day I lost you," he whispered.

Valka gasped quietly and shut her eyes again. Stoick leaned in closer.

Their lips met.

Hiccup released a breath he didn't know he was holding and resisted the urge to applaud.

…

DAY: APRIL 16
TIME: 11:02 AM
YEAR: 2018

"How on earth did you know how to find us, Valka?" Stoick inquired; he and his wife were sitting on the couch, and Hiccup sat on the edge of the coffee table in front of them both. Valka had told Stoick the same thing she had told Hiccup; the truth behind her disappearance, and the lie behind her death.

"I requested to keep an eye on you," said Valka, "and to be relocated should you move. When you moved out of Colorado, I was relocated to another much smaller Sanctuary here in Berk."

"That...makes a lot of sense," said Hiccup.

Valka nodded. "I've been waiting to meet you both, waiting to reveal myself," she said, and this time, it was directed to Stoick. "But I just never found the right time, up until now…"

"That doesn't matter anymore, Val," said Stoick, taking her hands again. "All that matters now is that we're together again. We're a family."

Valka nodded, looking loads happier than she had when first walking into the Haddock residence. "And now," said Valka, "we can work together to bring Drago to justice."

Stoick hesitated, but nodded. "Aye," he said, "as long as you leave the danger to me."

Valka shook her head. "Not a chance," she said. "We'll do it together, like we always did."

It took a few moments, but Stoick finally conceded. "Alright," he said. "Together."

Amidst their conversation, they didn't catch Hiccup's frown, nor did he catch the longing look he directed towards the door.

…

DAY: APRIL 16
TIME: 9:08 PM
YEAR: 2018

"Hey, Hiccup! What took you so long?" said Snotlout impatiently, as Hiccup stormed into Dragon's Edge HQ, backpack slung over his shoulder. Tuffnut and Ruffnut surged forward excitedly.

"Did you finish the paper, huh?" asked Tuffnut, grinning, holding out his hands.

"No, I didn't," said Hiccup. "Look, guys, there's something I need to-"

"Aww, come on, no fair!" moaned Tuffnut, spinning on his heel and stomping on the other foot. "We've been waiting for hours! You said you'd bring it by in the afternoon, and you didn't! Ruuuuude!"

"Tuffnut, please, let me talk-" Hiccup tried.

"Well, tell me you at least looked over that song I sent you," said Snotlout dryly, raising his eyes.

This was all going terribly. "No!" Hiccup snapped. "I didn't! I didn't have time to-"

"What were you doing then, Hiccup?" asked Snotlout suspiciously. "You aren't trying to pull out of the band, are you?"

"What? What? Are you kidding me, what?" blurted Hiccup. "Just listen to me for five minutes, please!"

"Okay, you idiots, shut up," said Astrid to Snotlout, the twins, and Fishlegs, though Fishlegs hadn't said anything (yet). She got to her feet and made her way over to Hiccup. "What do you want to tell us?"

"Just...keep it down," said Hiccup. "My dad doesn't know I'm here, and…" Here goes. "Neither does my mom."

Snotlout was the first to react. "Ha!" he said. "Not to be blatant or anything, Drummer Boy, but didn't you tell all of us your mom was dead?"

"Snotlout!" said Fishlegs, crossing his arms over his chest. "Talk about inconsiderate!"

"Hey, he's right!" said Tuffnut.

"Thank you!" said Fishlegs.

"No, I was talking about Snotlout," said Tuffnut, frowning.

"Never mind!" said Fishlegs.

"That's the thing," said Hiccup. "My mom actually isn't dead."

There was a beat.

And then,

"WHAT!?" blurted Snotlout, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, Fishlegs, and Astrid at the same time.

Hiccup told them everything that had transpired since the afternoon he'd promised Tuffnut and Ruffnut he'd help them with their research essay, and his friends listened closely. When Hiccup had finished the story, he sat back and watched, waiting for their reactions.

"...Dude," said Tuffnut finally, putting up his hands, "your dad's the Chief of Police and your mom works in some crazy secret society dedicated to finding this evil serial killer. Your family is awesome, man."

"But this is serious, isn't it?" said Fishlegs. "If there's an entire secret society dedicated to finding Drago, then Drago must be a bigger threat than the public realizes."

"Look," said Hiccup, putting his hands together, "the reason I wanted to tell you this is because...well...I'm going to try to find Drago."

Snotlout fell backwards off the couch - the twins keeled over, they were laughing so hard - Fishlegs gasped in horror - even Astrid looked unnerved.

Once again, a long, unison "WHAT!?" rang throughout the group. The twins had gotten over their laughter once they realized Hiccup wasn't joking.

"You mean you're serious?" said Snotlout.

"Dead serious," said Hiccup.

"Exactly!" shrieked Fishlegs in horror. "That's what you'll be if you go after Drago! Dead! Why would you even think about doing something like that!?"

"Because Drago destroyed my family!" Hiccup yelled, finally reaching the end of his rope. "Drago is the reason my mom faked her death! Drago is the reason my dad became a policeman! Drago is the reason my dad ended up with a bullet in his chest, and it's not just my family he's affected, it's everyone's!"

The rest of the group had become silent, listening.

"Haven't you realized it!?" said Hiccup. "Parents have started walking their kids to school, have stopped letting their kids play outside alone. People have stopped trusting each other for fear Drago would make them a target should he discover them. Drago is influencing nothing but fear and disaster, and at this point, even the police fear action. No...scratch that! They fear death!"

Astrid, Fishlegs, Snotlout, and the twins exchanged glances.

"And I don't care what you guys think of me," said Hiccup, finally getting ahold of himself, "but whatever you do, don't tell anyone about this. I'm going to do my own research, on my own, and nothing you can say can stop me."

He waited for their reaction.

Finally, Astrid spoke.

"Who said anything about 'stopping' you?" she asked, frowning. Hiccup looked up at her. "We're going to help you, Hiccup," said Astrid. "Or, at least I am."

"Yeah!" said Snotlout. "We'll help you with whatever we can, Hiccup! Whether it's transportation, a pat on the back, a smack in the face...you can count on us!"

"We're in, too!" said Tuffnut, and Ruffnut stepped up beside him. "If you're going to hunt a serial killer, we want to be in on it!"

"And I'll come too," said Fishlegs, somewhat reluctantly. "Who knows, maybe you'll need me."

Hiccup couldn't help it; he smiled, bigger than he'd smiled in a long time. "Thank you," he said. "I'll start looking for evidence and let you know what I find. Are we rehearsing tomorrow?"

"You bet we are," said Snotlout, grinning. "And you'd better not be late this time, Drummer Boy."

"I won't be," said Hiccup.