Hi everyone. Only one more chapter to go after this. Thank you Guest Straya for reviewing and I'll give Boo Cat a tummy rub for you.

I just saw the HTTYD Christmas special Homecoming and realised there is now a bit of a problem with keeping my story close to canon (I try to do this if possible). If all goes well I should be able to fix it with a re-write of the last chapter.

Maybe I shouldn't take it so seriously, but wish me luck.

Chapter 18

Astrid's eyes flickered open early the next morning. By her side was a dozing young Viking, and at the foot of her bed lay a snoring Night Fury. The only light available to her was the soft red glow of the dying embers in the nearby fire pit. Holding up her hand, Astrid wiggled her fingers in front of her face and smiled at what a wonderful thing it was to possess such appendages once more.

'Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got till it's gone?' she thought to herself.

Just as Hiccup had done the night before, Astrid went to the fire, dug out some of the cold ash, exposed the warmer embers, and placed a few pieces of wood on the top. She worked the fire till a few happily dancing flames appeared, and then she returned to the bed.

Being careful not to disturb him, Astrid carefully pulled back Hiccup's blanket. Wrapped around his exposed chest was a blood stained bandage, the sight of which made a tear to form in the corner of the young girl's eye.

"Oh... good morning" Hiccup yawned "You're looking well today."

"You're not" Astrid admitted guiltily.

"What this?" Hiccup looked down at his chest "Tis but a scratch."

"I'm sorry."

"No need to be... we both know you didn't do it on purpose" Hiccup took her hand reassuringly.

"But I..."

"You were under a lot of stress, and in time you did learn to control it; Astrid... I'm proud of you."

Astrid simultaneously smiled and cried as she threw her arms around Hiccup's neck and almost squeezed the life out of him.

"Do you want me to make breakfast?" Hiccup asked when she eventually let him go.

Astrid thought about it for a few seconds before deciding against the idea.

"No, I think it's time for me to rejoin Berk society."

The couple took their time cleaning up and getting ready for the day, so when the sun finally rose at about 9:15 in the morning, they were finally ready to make their way to the Great Hall.

"You coming too Bud?" Hiccup asked but the dragon just grunted his disapproval and went back to sleep.

"I swear that dragon is getting lazier and lazier."

"Oh leave him alone Hiccup; he deserves a rest after last night" Astrid patted the dragon.

"And what do I deserve?" Hiccup asked.

"Breakfast... and this" Astrid declared as she kissed his cheek.

"That'll do for a start" Hiccup smiled as he opened the door.

As they stepped out onto the front step, there seemed to be something odd going on over at the western side of the village. The couple took a slight detour on their way to the Great Hall to see what all the commotion was about, and found several Vikings gathered around one of the twins traps.

"There was a human here, and also a dragon; but judging by these paw prints, I'd say it was a wolf" Tuffnut Thorston said as he examined the ground with his curved glass.

"And a really big one too" Hiccup added as Astrid dug his ribs with her elbow.

"In fact, I'd say it was probably the most stunningly beautiful wolf ever seen in these parts" Hiccup went on.

"You can tell all that from some prints in the snow? That's amazing!" Bucket declared.

"Oh don't be so gullible Bucket" Mulch insisted "I'm sure the lad is just having us on."

"I'd say the beast was hungry and couldn't find enough food in the forest" Gobber deduced "I'd also say it was Toothless who saw it off before the critter could make a meal of Buckets chickens."

"What a good dragon; I must thank him later" Bucket nodded "...or am I being gullible again?"

"No Bucket, you were right" Mulch reassured him.

With everyone satisfied by their own deductions, attention soon turned to Astrid as she hung on tightly to Hiccups arm.

"Well then lass, it is good to see you up and about; you feeling better?" Gobber asked.

"Much better thank you" she smiled "I had a rough night, but now all I need is a little something in my stomach."

"Sounds like a good idea m'lassie" Mulch agreed.

"Yeah... and for some reason I really feel like some roast chicken."

'

'

Good heavens! Do you people have any idea how hard it is for a cat to get hold of a plate of cookies? I was quite upset to find that I may not get my gifts if I don't uphold certain customs on Christmas Eve. The glass of milk was no problem but I must admit, I'm having trouble leaving it for Mister White Beardy Man, I want it myself.

This better be worth it, Boo Cat.