Chapter 21: Give Me Patience.

Gobber's POV

The room is silent. No one says anything. I look at Hiccup and her… well I mean him. Well... I honestly don't know what to call the teen that I have watched grow up from the start. Anyway his face says it all of how she's feeling.

Stoick was shaking in emotional turmoil. He doesn't know how to register all of this and I'm worried for him. I'm worried for both of them.

" It's not possible." He says a bit beyond a whisper.

" It is dad." Hiccup says. " I'm a boy. On the inside."

" No you're not." He denies. " You're my daughter. You have always been my daughter. Nothing says otherwise."

" I never liked swimming because of how naked I feel. I dress in baggy clothes because I was never comfortable with my body." Hiccup argues.

When she or he mentioned those points, I suddenly realize how their strange behavior was finally starting to make sense. The hostility. How she never wanted anything to do with being a female. The fact that she would find ways out of the swimming unit during gym. I thought she was having issues like any other teen and was a tomboy.

" This is just a phase you're going through." Stoick says. " Nothing more."

" I cut my own hair because I was sick and tired of looking like somebody else. I've always felt like this my entire life. I'm not who you think I am." Hiccup says.

" As much I wish you didn't cut your hair, it grows back. It's doesn't prove anything."

" I've been taking hormone blockers dad. I've been taking them for a few months before mom died. I only got back on them for a few weeks before the attack happened, because I didn't want to go through female puberty anymore. " Hiccup confesses.

" You have not been on hormone blockers. I would know about the prescription if you were because a parent needs to sign off on them." He argues.

" Well. I lied to you about the birth control. I was never on them."

" What?!" He yells. " Of all the things you have done, you lied about your drug use! How did you even get a prescription?! Did you forge my signature!?"

" No I didn't. Mom signed for them two years ago. It's on the form." She says.

" No. She didn't. You must have forged her signature. I can't believe you would do something this reckless! Henrietta!"

" Stoick take it down a bit." I warn him. I don't want him to say anything he will regret in the future.

Nevertheless, he keeps yelling. " I don't even know even who you are anymore!"

" You refused to know me!" Hiccup yells back. " I can't have a conversation with you anymore without you not hearing me."

" You don't think I hear you!?" He yells. " I cared about you ever since you were born. You almost dying scared me! Yet you claim that I don't hear you!"

" Yes!"

" I have always been trying to do what is best for you. This nonsense has gone on far enough. I am taking action." He says.

Hiccup turns pale in reaction.

" What are you going to do?" he asks

" When I get home, I am going to find those pills you've been popping behind my back and flushing them down the toilet and I am canceling the prescription." He says.

" No! Please! Don't do this to me!" he yells.

" I know you will hate me now, but you will thank me later." He says before storming out of the room.

" No!" Hiccup screams and starts bawling. " Why is everyone doing this to me!?"

When I see the look on her face, I see devastation and torment. This is not the person I want to see. I want Hiccup to be happy. Everybody deserves to be happy. Even if people don't understand what a person needs in order to be happy.

I rush out of the room and go after my friend.

" Stoick!" I shout. He stops in the middle of the hallway and I finally catch up to him. However, when I look in his face. I see a rarity from him. I see tears from his cold eyes.

" Stoick…" I start but he cuts me off.

" I don't understand. Have I done something wrong with raising her?" He asks above a whisper.

" Not every parent is perfect." I tell him. " You've tried to raise your child as best as you could."

" But it wasn't enough. Gods know how difficult it is to do what's best for my daughter." He says.

I sigh. I can understand what he's going through.

" Stoick. You know the story of me and my parents before I entered the army?" I ask him.

" Yes. They kicked you out for being gay. It's not the same thing though." He says.

" This is exactly the same thing. Being gay is who I am. No one foresaw me being gay with me traditional upbringing and I still came out gay. My parents just never could see anything past that and I wished they had. Even though I didn't get their acceptance, I'm happy that I am able to live a life where I can be who I am. Believe me, it's better than playing pretend for everyone else. And I can't imagine how long Henrietta has been trying to hide this. At least this is now out in the open."

" Your sexuality is one thing Gobber. My daughter's gender identity is another matter." He argues.

" It's still the same thing. I know this is hard for you to handle. Things haven't easy for the both of you since Valka died. But at this point, you have two choices. You can either deny this and end up causing more damage for both of you in the future. Just like my parents. The other option is to try."

" Try?" He says.

" Try to understand your kid. Try to mend your relationship. Try to make an effort. You don't need to fully accept this, but for the very least you should give it time before you do anything else. Especially now.

Stoick says nothing as he gets up from his chair and walks down the hallway. This time, I don't stop him. If he's made a decision, then I can't make him change it. No matter what decision he has made.

Hiccup's POV.

I should have know that my father was going to react like this. He's stubborn. He doesn't want to listen. Even If I tell him like a million times, he still won't have any of it.

" Come on lad. You need to eat." Gobber urges me. " You need something on toothpick of your body and your father wouldn't want you to starve."

" What he wants is not my concern. What's the point in pleasing him? He's never going to understand." I scoff as I push away my food tray. I then hear something familiar coming towards my room door.

" No way." I say in response. "It can be."

Even Gobber is taking notice to the noise and he smiles mischievously.

" I think it might be." He says.

The noise becomes more evident as it gets closer and is accompanied by a low bark that only one thing can make that kind of a bark.

My room door opens and Toothless races towards me in excitement and is running laps around and under my hospital bed.

" Toothless!" I scream in shock and happiness. Tears even come to my eyes. I don't care though. I never thought I would be this happy to be with my favorite dog again after what has happened.

Toothless finally stops running after a bit and comes towards my hand that I am hanging over the edge on my bed. Normally he would jump on my bed, but he's a smart dog. He can tell I'm hurt and knows exactly what to do. I reach out and pet him behind the ears.

I look up and see my dad by the door holding the Toothless' leash. Even though I'm glad that he brought my dog, I'm still upset with him.

He comes up with a solemn look on his face. I have never seen him with that kind of face before.

" Look." He starts. " I don't understand this." He gestures to me. " But…." He sighs. " I realized that this is going to take some time to figure this out and eventually accept your decisions on these things. I will let you do what you feel is right for you as long as we're not breaking any laws here. I will also try to be patient and try to understand your choices. I just only ask that you will try to be patient to me."

I can't believe he said that to me. He never says anything like that to me. I didn't know he would be capable of saying that, but I can tell it took him a lot of effort.

" Of course dad." I respond. " It's difficult. It isn't easy. Nothing's easy. Guess easy doesn't run in our family."

I see him actually smile at me as he says, " It never has." It's the first time I have seen him smile at me like that in a long time

I smile at him for the first time in a long time.

Another big chapter and character development. I thought that it was time for the reveal to Stoick and Gobber. I decided to do the whole thing on Gobber being gay in order to help his friend try to understand the child he raised.

I haven't forgotten Astrid. She will be brought in most likely the next chapter or the chapter after that. I just have to get through some of the arcs in the story to continue along the lines of what I want to accomplish. Let me tell you there will be some surprises.

Have a good weekend. Meanwhile. I will be working a long ass shift.

Please Review and See you later.