Ragnar is working in the garden, trying to fix it up after the mess it has become after all the summer barbeques. Hvitserk and Ubbe had helped him out for a bit, but they had gone out to get groceries, leaving him, for the first time in a very long time, alone at the house.

It is a hot day, so he had taken his shirt off, and he is singing along to the radio, fully unaware of the fact that Margrethe has just walked into the garden, and she is watching him.

But then he turns around, and he notices her. She has been staying over so many times, that he is used to her being around, but never without either Hvitserk or Ubbe being with her.

"They're out," he says, expecting her to go into the house to wait for them. But instead, she flashes a smile, before coming up to him.

"I know."

"You can go and wait for them. I'm sure they'll be back soon," Ragnar suggests, hoping the teenager will leave him alone, so he can get back to work. But she takes yet another step towards him, now coming into his personal space, making him feel a little uncomfortable. But he doesn't want to make things awkward between them, so he simply looks out at the garden, forcing a smile onto his face. "I really should…"

"I like you, Ragnar," Margrethe states, not giving him a chance to finish his sentence, and something inside of him is telling him that this isn't just a friendly 'I like you'. This is something more, something that he should be shutting down quickly.

"Thank you, Margrethe. My sons will get back soon, so I really think…"

Before Ragnar can say another word, Margrethe has put a hand on his bare chest. He quickly moves away from her, but by the look on her face, he can tell that she isn't going to accept his rejection.

"Don't," he warns her, and he takes another step away from her. "Just don't!"

"I can see the way you look at me," the teenager says, and she tries to kiss him, but he manages to avoid her just in time. "I know we'll have to keep it from your family, but…"

"I don't want this, Margrethe. Just stop!"

The teenager tries to put a hand on his chest again, but when they hear Hvitserk and Ubbe coming into the garden, she quickly steps away from him. Ragnar watches her, and in a split second, he sees her change from a determined, strong-willed young woman, into a fragile, hurt little girl who is on the verge of tears.

"What is going on?" Ubbe asks, when he sees how upset his girlfriend is.

"He tried to…," Margrethe begins, but then she bursts into tears, and she lets herself fall into Hvitserk's arms.

"What did you do?" Ubbe asks. "What did you say to her?"

"He tried to hit on me," Margrethe sobs. "I told him no, but…"

"Dad?" Hvitserk asks, and Ragnar simply stands there, unable to wrap his head around what is happening. "Did you hurt her?"

"He wouldn't take no for an answer," Margrethe whispers. Ubbe stares at her for a moment, but then he shakes his head.

"You're lying."

"What?"

"You're lying," Ubbe repeats. "He would never do that."

"But he…"

"Is that true?" Hvitserk asks, his arms still around his girlfriend. The girl opens her mouth to say something, but Hvitserk has already let go of her, and he steps up to Ragnar. "What happened?"

"Nothing happened," Ragnar says. "I promise."

He can see the doubt in his son's eyes, but he isn't going to try and convince him, to tell him that Margrethe is a liar. Because this is his son's first girlfriend, and he knows that if he wants to believe her, he will believe her, no matter what the truth is.

"I don't know what kind of game you're playing, but… just go," Ubbe says. "We're done."

"Hvitserk?"

"Ubbe is right," Hvitserk mumbles, staring down at his feet. Margrethe looks like she is about to put up a fight, but then she just storms off.

Hvitserk looks like he is close to tears, and Ragnar wants to try and comfort him, tell him that it is going to be okay, that there will be other girls. But when Ubbe wraps his arms around him, Ragnar knows that he isn't needed here.


"Wow," Athelstan says, after Ragnar has explained to him and Lagertha what has happened. "Do you think she…"

"What?"

"If you had given into her, do you think she would have kept playing them?"

"Yes." Ragnar sighs. "I don't think she's the sweet girl she made herself out to be."

"Poor Hvitserk. This was his first girlfriend," Lagertha says, and they all look out into the garden, where the two boys are sitting in the grass. Ubbe hasn't left Hvitserk's side since it had happened, and although Hvitserk was supposed to go back home to Aslaug tonight, he had decided to stay at the Lothbrok home tonight, to stay with Ubbe.

"At least they have each other," Athelstan says, but then he sees the worried look on Ragnar's face. "What?"

"You didn't see her, she's…"

"Do you think she'll try to get back with them?" Lagertha asks, a worried look on her face.

"I don't know. But I don't think this is over yet."


Ragnar has been at the community centre all day, and he was supposed to work on the new shed. But instead, he has been hanging out with Athelstan and helping him with his work. Or rather, distracting him, and keeping him from doing his work.

They are about to go home, when Ragnar notices Bjorn sitting in the hallway, checking his phone. So he goes over to him, and sits down with him.

"What are you doing here? Is something wrong?"

"No, I'm just waiting for Sigurd and Halfdan."

"Sigurd and… but…"

"The meeting?" Bjorn explains, and that's when Ragnar realises what day it is.

"Halfdan goes to those meetings? Isn't he too old?"

"He is. But Sigurd can do with the support, so they allowed Halfdan to join him."

"The support?"

"Yeah," Bjorn says. "Someone to talk to about that kind of stuff."

"He can talk to me," Ragnar says, and his son can't help but smile. "I'm glad he has a friend, but…"

"Sigurd knows he can talk to you, dad. But there are things you don't understand. Things you haven't been through, that Halfdan has been through."

"Like what?"

"You know what."

"Being gay?" Ragnar asks, and Bjorn sighs. "I'm not gay, but I know what…"

"Not that."

"Then what?"

"What Ivar did to him. He made him feel like it wasn't okay to be who he is," Bjorn explains. "He knows what Ivar is like, but that did something to him."

"And Halfdan can relate because his brother…"

"Exactly."

"But he can talk to me, I know what it's like…"

"You don't know, dad," Bjorn interrupts him. "Rollo never rejected you because you are… whatever. He is treating you like this because he hates Athelstan, and because he is in love with mum. He is jealous, and he can't stand that she's still with you, even when you're 'cheating' with Athelstan. He is just…"

"When did you get so smart, huh?" Ragnar laughs, as he puts an arm around his son's shoulder. "I suppose you are right."

"I am."

"But you will keep an eye out for your brother, will you? If Halfdan ever…"

"What, you think he will try it on with Sigurd?"

"You never know."

"I do know," Bjorn laughs. "Don't worry. That is never going to happen."


"Torvi, is that you?" Ragnar asks, when a young woman steps up to him and Athelstan at Bjorn and Halfdan's gig. "You look great! How have you been?"

"Ragnar Lothbrok." Torvi flashes a big smile, before giving him a big hug. "My goodness, you look…"

"Whoa!" Ragnar laughs, stopping her. "I'm already taken."

"I'm not interested, old man," Torvi laughs, before playfully punching him in the arm. "It's so good to see you again!"

"You too. Torvi, meet Athelstan, he is my…"

"Friend," Athelstan suggests, and the young woman flashes a knowing smile.

"Nice to meet you, 'friend' of Ragnar. I'm Torvi, I used to go out with Bjorn, years ago."

"How did you end up here?" Ragnar asks.

"I ran into Bjorn, the other day, and he told me about the band. He invited me to the gig, and here I am."

"Ah…"

"Nothing else happened! We've been there, done that. No, thank you."

"No?" Athelstan laughs, and the young woman's eyes widen.

"Definitely not. Don't get me wrong, Bjorn is great, but… no."

"That's a shame. We miss you," Ragnar says, "You should…"

"Torvi?" Ubbe asks, a big smile on his face.

"My goodness, Ubbe?" Torvi asks, and she steps up to the young man to give him a big hug. "You're all grown up! And you look just like your father!"

"Thanks?" Ubbe laughs, as she lets go of him.

"Much more handsome though," she adds, before winking at Ragnar. Ragnar shakes his head, smiling, before leading Athelstan over to the stage, where the band is about to go on.

"She's great."

"Torvi is the best. She reminds me of Lagertha," Ragnar says, before looking over his shoulder, only to find Ubbe and Torvi laughing and chatting away.

"Do you think she and Ubbe…"

"His brother's ex-girlfriend?"

"Why not?"

"At least he wouldn't be sharing a girlfriend with a brother this time. I suppose it's some improvement." Ragnar shrugs, and Athelstan can't help but laugh. "I really should have taught them better than this."

"Nah, I think they're alright," Athelstan says, and Ragnar wraps his arms around his waist, resting his head on his shoulder.

"I worry for them. I don't want them to fall out with each other, like me and Rollo."

"They won't."

"How do you know?"

"Because they've got you looking out for them," the younger man says, looking down at Ragnar's arms around his waist. "You won't let that happen."

"Athelstan?"

"Mhm?"

"I love you."

"I…"

"Oh, get a room, you two. You're disgusting."

"Hello, Ivar." Athelstan sighs, and he wriggles out of Ragnar's grip, only to find the teenager standing next to them, an irritated look on his face.

"I hate it when people…"

"Ivar?" Ragnar asks, cutting him off.

"Yes?"

"Shut up."


"Give me your phone!"

"No!"

"Hvitserk, give me that damn phone!"

"No!" the teenager spits out, as he gets up from the table. "Fuck you!"

Hvitserk is about to storm out of the room, but Ragnar jumps up, and grabs his arm.

"What did you say to me?"

"Nothing, I…"

"Phone. Now!"

"But I…"

"Now!" Ragnar repeats, and his son hesitates for a moment, but then he hands his phone over to his father, before sitting back down at the table.

"You've been staring at your phone all day. We hardly ever see you, and now…," Lagertha begins, but when Hvitserk rolls his eyes at her, she stops. "What is going on with you? This isn't like you."

"Whatever."

"He's been texting Margrethe," Ubbe explains.

"What? How do you…"

"How do I know?" Ubbe asks, Hvitserk's face turning a dark shade of red. "Because I know you, Hvitserk. What has she been saying? Has she been promising you that she'll change? That it didn't mean anything?"

"She…"

"She lied, Hvitserk. Not just now, but about dad. That was bullshit. I am telling you, she…"

"You're just jealous," Hvitserk interrupts him. "Because she still wants to be with me, and not with you."

"For fuck sake," Ubbe spits out. "She's crazy. She is not…"

"Shut up!"

Hvitserk gets up again, and this time Ubbe wants to stop him from leaving the room, but Ragnar shakes his head.

"Leave him."

"But…"

"He isn't going to listen to you, Ubbe," Athelstan says. "He's still in love with her, so he can't see what she's really like."

"She will end up hurting him."

"Then I guess we'll just have to be here for him when that happens," Ragnar says. His son is about to object, but then he just stares down at the table. "What?"

"This is all my fault."

"No, it isn't. And you know it isn't, because you're the smart one."

"I thought Bjorn was the smart one," Sigurd says, and his father shoots him an angry glare. "Sorry…"

"You can't go around blaming yourself, or feeling sorry for yourself, do you hear me? Because when all this goes pear-shaped, your brother needs you."