After Stoick's death

Astrid put her arms around him. His body was shaking, "Astrid….he… can't be." She hadn't heard his voice so broken before. Toothless came over and Hiccup shooed him away, "Go! Get out of here! Go on!" She tried holding him back as he pushed Toothless away but she didn't seem to have the was like a bad dream. Her chief was dead and the man she loved was struggling. She was lost in her thoughts when she heard, "Toothless!" Hiccup cried out and his mother held him back. They watched everyone leave as they cried and Hiccup hung on to her as his mom stroked his hair. Once Drago's men were gone Gobber got the other dragon rider's to start gathering things needed for a funeral. No jokes were made, no sass or comments. They all just did as they were told. Eret worked hard beside the others, dragging a small boat down the coast. Hiccup brushed her arm as he moved to help build the pire in the boat. She turned to Valka who was sitting holding Stoick's hand.

"I'm sorry for your loss Chieftess Valka."

"Just Valka. That title hasn't belonged to me in a long time."

"I'm Astrid Hofferson."

"I remember you. You seem close to Hiccup"

"Oh yeah. Umm well I'm his second for the Rider's and well…. We are betrothed."

"Then you will take your place on his left when we release the arrows."

"But that's your spot."

"I left my family for many years and you are the new Chief's betrothed. You take precedence over his mother."

Astrid started to protest again but was interrupted. "Don't fight her Astrid. Hiccup's stubbornness wasn't just from Stoick." Gobber said coming over. "It's time." Gobber, Eret, Snotlout and Fishlegs lifted Stoick's body into the boat, while Hiccup carried Stoick's sword and helmet. He placed them on his father's chest before climbing out of the boat. They pushed the boat in and moved up into the cliff where the bows and arrows had been placed. They lined the cliff with Hiccup closer to the edge, Gobber to his right, Astrid and Valka to his left. Then Gobber started his speech.

The night after Drago was gone, Astrid gave Hiccup a choice of his house or hers. To her surprise he chose to go home. Valka had chosen to stay in the stables. Once she was sure Hiccup was eating, she sent a terror mail to her parents so they wouldn't worry. Once he was done she cleaned up and dragged him up to bed. She took his armor off setting it on the chair and then sat him down, taking his leg off as well. Noticing how red it seemed, she grabbed a towel to dip it cold water, wrapping it around his stump. He sighed. She laid him down and placed the furs around him. "Goodnight Hiccup." She leaned over and kissed his forehead, "I love you."

She got to the top if the stairs when she heard him whisper, "Please don't go."

"Hiccup you know…."

"Please Astrid. I really don't care what they say. I need you to stay." His voice broke again at the end. Sighing because she knew she couldn't fight him, not that she wanted to, she went back to the bed stripping off her shoulder pads, hood and spiked skirt. She pulled him back into a sitting position before getting in his lap. It was almost like her body was acting on its own. The intense need she felt to be close to him. She had almost lost him twice and if she couldn't help him through this grief, she would lose him. Before he could speak she grabbed his face and kissed him. Her lips demanding a response. His hands pulled her body in to his, his lips equally demanding. His hands moved slowly up her body, causing shivers, until they found her breasts. She gasped as he squeezed and massaged them, so she ground her core into his. Releasing a groan in her ear he kissed down her neck. Her breath caught as he found the sensitive spot on her neck. Her hands moved from his shoulders to his hair keeping him there as she ground into him. Dragging his lips back to hers, before kissing to his ear, she played with it, knowing how sensitive it was. Just like she wanted her actions caused his hips to buck into hers. By the fast breaths she knew he was almost done. Doubling her efforts, he clung to her as he came into his pants. Getting off of him she fetched him a rag and pants. Placing them on the bed next to him, she gave him privacy by going downstairs to finish clearing up dinner and smothering the fire. Before going up to Hiccup's room, she grabbed a cup of water.

"Thirsty?" she asked as she topped the stairs.

"Not really."

She placed the cup on his table before laying down on the bed. Her head on his chest, were she could hear his heart slowly going back to normal. Her left hand was also on his chest and her left leg wrapped around his stump. When she had first laid down like this with him, it'd been after swimming. He'd taken his leg off the wash out the sand that had gotten in and had laid out to dry in the sun. At first he'd stiffed, as if wondering if actually touching it would offend her. She had promptly punched his shoulder before telling him off.

"I love you." Hiccup whispered.

"I love you too."

"Astrid…"

"Yes?"

"I would never ask you not to be you but….."

"I'll be careful."

"Bu"

"Hiccup you need to be too." She lifted her head to look at him, "You have a village to run and…." Astrid didn't let emotion get to her often but it seemed like it took over this time. "You almost died twice today." Tears fell down her cheeks. "I don't want to lose you anymore than you want to lose me."

He pulled her back into his arms. "I'm sorry." She hit his chest, "Ow! Why did you do that?"

"I don't want you to be sorry. About any off it." She looked at him, "I want you to be safe."

"I promise I'll try."