Fifty-Four: In the spotlight

The following morning, after a superb breakfast provided by Agnes, the trio set off back home. Hiccup had barricaded his door overnight just in case and had checked the room thoroughly for tricks by the girls but they had left him alone and curled up in the bed with Toothless at his feet, he had slept like a log. Laden down with leftovers, the car was ready to go when it began to snow and Marta looked over at Astrid.

"Can you drive?" she asked softly. "I-I'm not that happy and there is the Bridge coming up..." The girl chewed her lip and sighed.

"I haven't driven that much either, Mom," she pointed out as the boy watched them.

"Um...I have," he offered. "But it depends on your insurance..." Marta glanced in the rear view mirror and then out at the thickening snow and nodded.

"Okay," she said and got out, swapping places with Astrid who moved to the back with Toothless. Quietly, Hiccup adjusted the seat, checked the controls and moved the mirrors.

"I'll need you to navigate," he offered and Marta nodded as they all fastened their seat belts and he pulled away, waving briefly at their hosts. Hiccup carefully drove out, unused to a model this size and making sure he was extra-careful, His father had made sure he was a safe driver and he had Astrid and her mother with him-so he carefully steered them down through town, following the signs for Berk and driving up the ramp onto the bridge.

The cross-wind was fierce and he fought the tug all the way across, driving slowly and carefully, his knuckles white. Marta was anxious even as a passenger but Astrid saw his calm confidence and cuddled Toothless as they headed home. For a brief period, it had felt like old times for the girl, with her mother on the passenger seat and her in the back…but to wasn't her beloved Dad who was driving but her new boyfriend and she felt as safe and reassured by his presence as she had by her own father. And when they swung up Bifrost Rise, her mother was beaming in relief that they were safely home.

But the weather was a total white-out and there was no way that Hiccup could walk home-or that Marta could safely drive him home either. So they had insisted he stay with the Hoffersons, though he had been acutely embarrassed.

"Hiccup-it would be suicide to allow you out in that storm," Marta had pointed out when he had protested that he could make it and he had sighed. For a moment, she had sounded so much like his Mom.

"I-I guess," he mumbled, knowing that Gobber would be staying with Bucket, Mulch and Sven today anyway. Why was he trying so hard to leave, to go back to a cold, empty apartment with just his memories of past Christmases to keep him company? Sure, he had Toothless and… "But you don't have any food for Toothless…" There was a pause and Marta smiled.

"Actually, we do," she explained, taking him to the larder and showing a four-pack of cans of 'Farmer Lars's Meaty Chunks for Dogs'. "Since you became Astrid's…boyfriend, I guessed Toothless would be coming round more regularly so I made sure we have something for him…if that's okay?" There was a long pause where he tried to process what had happened-and then he flung himself against Marta, hugging her, his breath hitching.

"Thank you," he mumbled gruffly. "That's one of the kindest things anyone has done for me for ages!"

"Hey!" Astrid protested, folding her arms, though she was grinning.

"Um…apart from everything you have done for me, Milady…" he managed thickly, swiping a stray tear off his face. "I mean, Toothless is a stray-no one wanted him. Well, in fact they did want him-to kill him for sport. And he's kinda scared of large dogs…but he's my friend and when someone remembers him it just…" He palmed his cheek dry. "It makes me feel wanted," he admitted self-consciously. Marta hugged him tightly.

"Tis okay," she reassured him. "The weather report suggests that the storm is going to last until tomorrow-so we may as well get comfortable. Astrid can share with me and you can sleep in her room…" Both the teens shared a horrified look and simultaneously said: "NO!"

"Please-I would rather sleep outside because Astrid will kill me anyway for being in her room…" Hiccup gasped quickly as the girl glared at her mother.

"Having a boy in my room will be just…" she began and then looked at Hiccup, who was blushing. "And I didn't mean you have some disease or anything but…"

"Eww?" he suggested with a small smile and she blushed as well.

"I didn't say that!" she protested.

"But you were thinking it!" he teased her. "I can sleep on the couch, Mrs H. I used to sleep there at Gobber's-before we got a couch-bed when he swapped. And I would be more comfortable down here with Toothless. Please." There was genuine relief in Astrid's face and her Mom sighed.

"Okay-so let's get those leftovers into the fridge and see what we can do to keep busy during the storm," she suggested.

Though school was out from December 23rd to January 2nd, the teens still had homework so they worked through that while Marta made turkey and ham pie, with Astrid loaning Hiccup pens and paper as they worked through their Civics and Society project and their Math and English assignments. They broke for lunch and Marta's pie was served with baked potatoes, cabbage and gravy, which they all enjoyed. Toothless curled at Hiccup's feet, begging hard and managed to filch some turkey off all three diners. Warmed plum pudding and ice cream was served for afters and then, after Hiccup and Astrid had done the washing up, Marta insisted they sat down and watched the comedy movie. And snuggled against Astrid, his sides aching from laughter, Hiccup had thoroughly enjoyed the experience, reminding him strongly of holidays spent with his family.

Later, after a game of Monopoly, where Hiccup had been bankrupted twice by property tycoon Astrid, Marta and Astrid settled down to watch the rom-com on the main channel-one of their favourites-while Hiccup took Toothless out to do his business. And huddled in the shelter of the back door to try to get out of the howling blizzard, the dog had broken all records and then sprinted back inside, almost knocking over Hiccup's bag. After locking the door and pulling the curtains across to keep the little house as warm as possible, he crouched down and pulled out his father's laptop, fishing out the cable and the password book. And while the mother and daughter were cooing over the movie, he sat in the kitchen, plugged in the cable and with a small prayer to Odin, he pressed the power button.

The computer came on immediately and Hiccup thumbed through the book, found the password and logged in with a sigh of relief. He was feeling a frisson of shame at poking through his father's files-but he firmly reminded himself that he was doing this to find out why they had died, to get some clue about what his father had been planning and to locate some way of stopping Viggo Grimborn.

Eyes locked on the screen, Hiccup navigated his way through his father's folders, seeing them set in alphabetic order and labelled clearly. Silently thanking Thor for his father's ordered nature and lack of subterfuge, he found the folder marked 'Raven Point Development Plans' and sat back as he opened the first file, emerald gaze flicking down the formal proposal, setting out the plans for development, infrastructure, the social housing development around Gothi's Hollow with a small Health Centre and local shopping hub as well as the parkland that would cover the whole of Raven Point beyond Hiccup's parcel which was for his son's private use. He had planned discreet holiday cottages around the river and Thor's beach with a couple of cafes and a restaurant selling easy Berk delicacies made with local seasonal produce. Water sports were planned for the bay and sensitive walks through the ancient woodland were all planned. And the deeds were planned to gift the parkland to Berk for all perpetuity, for the use of her people, though Stoick would still own the cottages to provide a modest income.

Amazed, the boy stared at the whole plan, fully completed as it hadn't been when Stoick had told his son about it when he had gifted him the Cove, that precious piece of land that was preventing Viggo from completing his plans. Sighing, he ran his hands over his face, fingers combing though his wild hair. If he had only paid more attention, maybe he could have helped or done something to stop this happening! But instead, he had been so self-absorbed and had barely paid attention to something that he should have been immensely proud of. That he could have been part of with his father in doing something so amazing for the whole of Berk…

And, Hiccup read, the plans had been submitted and acknowledged, due to be discussed three days after Stoick's death…but Hiccup knew they never had been. But the Protection Order the Mayor had put on the forest at Raven Point had been enacted and though it was not publicised…it was in force. So the Police should have been up there, forcing him to stop all activities the moment Hiccup and Hoark raised concerns…but he guessed nothing had been done. And then he stared at the window and the swirling snow beyond. He had to check…because if Viggo was still destroying the forest, then he could insist that the man's operations were closed down and his father would have achieved the first part of his plan. And somehow…though he had absolutely no idea how he could ever do this, though he knew now that he had to make this his goal in life…Hiccup would make sure he completed the second part and completed the development on his father's behalf.

oOo

He was engrossed in his reading and didn't notice when Astrid came in and peered over his shoulder, the tickling of her hair against his cheek jolting him from his thoughts. Starting, he jerked away and fell off his chair.

"Wow. And I had a shower this morning!" Astrid quipped, staring down at him sprawled on the floor. Toothless gave a laughing bark and Hiccup lay back.

"Thanks, bud-really feeling the love!" he groaned. "Um…and no offence intended. I was just…completely somewhere else…"

"Raven Point, by the looks of it," she noted, peering at the screen. "Wanna tell me about it?" Sighing, he got to his feet.

"It might help," he admitted. "I mean, this was Dad's plan for developing the area and protecting it…instead of turning it into shops, warehouses and casinos…" He got up and changed to the overall plan. "Would-would you really like to hear? And you're not just being nice?" She gave him an indulgent smile.

"Well, I am being nice but I am interested…because this means a lot to you…and it comes to the heart of what's going on…" she said thoughtfully. "Maybe you could explain to Mom and I? Because that would help you order your thoughts and ensure you understand it as well?" He looked at her, then hugged her.

"That's genius," he exclaimed with a smile. "Okay, so it's not Midterms but just as important. Well, it is to me…"

So he went back into the living room and for the next ten minutes, he presented his father's scheme, showing the plans to the avidly listening Astrid and Marta and hoping he did his father's vision justice. There was a pause when he stopped-and then Astrid whooped and Marta stared at him in shock.

"I never even guessed the Mayor was planning all of this," Marta murmured, staring at the plans displayed in the laptop. "I mean, we all knew he was the best person to run Berk-he always put the town first-but for him to plan this is…incredible."

"And more amazing that no one knows about this," Astrid said. "I mean, I would think everyone would be aware of plans to make the whole area a Park…"

"That's because though the plans were submitted, they were never discussed," Hiccup revealed.

"Why?" Astrid asked, her brows dipping. Rubbing the back of his neck, Hiccup slumped onto the couch.

"I guess the official answer would be that Dad died," he said quietly. "Even though my name is on the plans-because I own this parcel of land here, on Raven Point itself-and theoretically, I could be wanting to go ahead with it. But I guess the actual answer is that someone wants the plans lost so Viggo can go ahead and destroy the area for his own profit."

There was a pregnant pause as Marta stared at her glass of wine and sighed.

"Mr Grimborn values his privacy and makes all his employees sign extremely detailed and binding non-disclosure agreements before taking up a position in his organisation," she revealed. "He's a man who doesn't like his plans discussed or thwarted. He definitely doesn't like scrutiny…"

"So maybe we move the spotlight firmly onto him?" Astrid suggested.

"How?" Hiccup asked, slumping back. He had been wracking his brains for any idea but he was the first to admit that he was tired.

"You let people know that he is planning to destroy the area," she said. Marta shook her head and leaned forward.

"Not enough," she murmured. "You have to mobilise people against him, Astrid."

"A petition?" Hiccup frowned as Astrid turned to look at him.

"Oh my Thor! That's perfect!" she exclaimed. "We can use BerkBook and enlist our neighbours, friends, the shopkeepers…anyone to get signatures."

"We can get Fish to send a message to everyone in school and everyone on BerkBook…" Hiccup suggested.

"And publicise the fact that there is a protection order on the area…which is under threat…" Marta suggested.

"But don't mention your Dad's plan!" Astrid said suddenly as he looked up at her, his eyes dark with betrayal.

"What? Why?" he protested. She took his hand.

"Because some people would suggest you are just doing this for your own gain," she advised him. "Especially Snot and his gang…and Viggo. Save your Dad's plans in case he accuses you of doing this so you can develop the area."

"I'll check with Mr Hoark as well," he said, his eyes lighting up with hope. "He can raise another objection to the damage which contravenes the Protection Order….which is already in place. And he can ask why Dad's plans haven't been discussed as well. And find out when Viggo's planning hearing is." She chuckled.

"So hardly anything for him to do…" she laughed as he gently took her hand.

"And when the storm settles and the road is open, I'm going back up…to check if Viggo has stopped damaging the forest, as he said he would…"

"Yakdung!" Astrid coughed pointedly as her mother frowned.

"And prove that he is defying the Protection Order. And then, the Council and the Police have to act!" Hiccup said as Marta stared at the boy. She sat back and toyed with the glass in her hand and watched him peck a swift kiss on Astrid's cheek, seeing her daughter blush at the casual affection.

I hope so, she thought as he and Astrid began to excitedly discuss how they would drum up support for their petition. But there are people in this town who have a vested interest in hiding what Stoick planned…and if you try to stop them, I fear they'll try to dispose of you as you say they did your parents!