FORTY EIGHT: An Innocent Man

Toothless flew direct to the house on Raven Point and Cami taxied up to park them outside the underground hanger to allow everyone to disembark-many laden under bags of shopping. Hiccup limped in and smiled at the sight of his home. He turned to Astrid and the children.

"Welcome home," he said. "I hope you will be happy here. And whatever you need…I will do my best to provide. Within reason…" Astrid smiled and slid her hand into his.

"So the gold-plated car is out then. Shame." And then she looked around, seeing her children already looking relaxed and at home. "Thanks," she sighed. "I know…this is going to be weird…but I think this is what we all need."

Zephyr and Nuffink chose rooms, for there were plenty spare while Astrid unselfconsciously moved into Hiccup's master suite with him, unpacking her clothes and realising there was still ample space in his walk-in wardrobe. He had watched with amusement as she had tidied his room up, hanging clothes discarded over the back of the chair and casting around.

"This needs a woman's touch," she commented. "And pictures." He smiled.

"Everything from Eret's house is in storage pending auction," he told her. "Meaning you can go and retrieve whatever you want." Her eyes lit up and she smiled.

"Thank you," she murmured. "There were the few things I managed to save from the old house-including those photos of you and your Dad I found you looking at-as well as the baby pictures of the kids and Zephyr's art. You may have missed most of their childhood-but I can walk you through it once I have the pictures." She smiled. "And it would be nice to get a few of my clothes back as well."

"Oh Thor-I'm going to need to build an extension for your clothes," he teased her.

"You're a fine one to talk, Mister I've-Got-A-Million-Almost-Identical-Suits!" she challenged him, her hands on her hips. He started laughing.

"Whatever Milady wishes," he said ironically. "I would give them all away if it keeps you happy." She eyed him up.

"Actually, you look pretty sharp in a suit, sir," she teased him. "I may let you to keep a couple…" He sat stiffly on the chair, resting the stick against the wall and gently rubbing his injury.

"I'm doomed," he smiled and beckoned her to come over. Pretending to refuse for a second, she straddled his lap and kissed him thoroughly.

"And if you are, so am I," she reminded him. "I'm sorry I didn't wait. I'm sorry I believed you would ever give up. I should have known you would fight to the end to be with me. To be with us." He tightened his hands around her waist and looked up into her regretful face.

"I think I almost did," he admitted. "Before Gobber arrived, I was broken. I just wanted to fade away, down a leg and with no hope…but when he came back, it ignited something in me. And I knew I had to come home." Instinctively, he glanced through the huge full-length windows at the forest and the sea beyond. "Scarred and not the man you remember…but he's still in here. He just needs reminding who he is." She kissed him.

"Then I am happy to make that my life's work, my brave Hiccup," she whispered. "If you can forgive me."

"Already done, my love," he assured her.

Over the next weeks, Astrid, Fink and Zephyr settled into their new home. It was fortunately Summer Vacation so there was no school to attend and that limited the inevitable questions from school friends and peers and allowed the family a chance to get to know one another and to begin to heal. After they retrieved what possessions they wanted from the storage unit, the twins had begun to recover from their ordeals and settle into their new and freer home. Zephyr and Hiccup spent a lot of time together, walking on the cliffs and sketching. Fink and Hiccup tinkered with Fink's bike-which was already garaged up at the house-and on Toothless. Astrid settled into running the home, peppering the place with pictures of the kids and samples of Zephyr's and Hiccup's artworks and the precious picture of Hiccup, Astrid and Stoick that she had hung on to throughout the years. Realising that she couldn't just do nothing, she had also offered to help step into Heather's role as Hiccup's assistant as well as his partner in the rest of his life-and he had gladly accepted. And they settled into the crazy communal family in the house, treating the Thorston twins as crazy older siblings and Fishlegs and Snotlout as benevolent uncles. It was a happy time of walks through the woods, picnics on Thor's beach and swimming in the sheltered cove in the late summer sun.

After a few of weeks, they travelled to Eyja Nott (or Dragon's Edge) and Hiccup's house there, sailing around the island and finally, Hiccup shared the story of the Treasure with Astrid and his children. Hiccup and Zephyr went diving in the cave and the girl came back with a small ancient viking gold coin from the substantial part of the hoard that still remained which she planned to make into a necklace. Nuffink and the twins rode all over the island, enjoying the challenge of the terrain. And it was when he came back from a day scrambling over the island with the Thorston twins that Hiccup felt his proudest moment. Face flushed with exhilaration, his blond hair wild and emerald eyes sparkling, Fink erupted into the kitchen, still unzipping his leathers.

"Mom, Dad-I just had the most awesome day!" he began and then stopped, seeing Hiccup's eyes widen-and then his face split in a grin. "What?"

"You called him 'Dad'," Zephyr said from the kitchen table, shuffling prints of the pictures she had taken the previous week. "First time." Fink stared at her.

"You…what?" he mumbled. "I'm sure I…" And then he caught the joyous look on Hiccup's face. "Really?" Everyone nodded. Self-consciously, the young man rubbed the back of his neck in a gesture that was pure Hiccup. "Um…well…" And then he sighed. "I'm sorry," he mumbled. "I should have said it sooner. I…in truth, you've been more of a father to me since you came to Berk than he ever was." Hiccup rose and walked slowly forward to face his son.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. I'm sorry Eret wasn't the father you deserved. And I'm sorry you had to suffer what you did…" He offered his arms and Fink pressed against him, hugging him.

"Dad," he murmured, closing his eyes-the eyes that perfectly mirrored his father's-and exhaling. "I'm sorry you suffered so much. And thank you for coming for me." Hiccup smiled and hugged him hard.

"I'm just sorry you never met my Dad," he murmured. "He would have loved you both. Now…tell me what you and the twins got up to…"

oOo

The news following the return from Icefell had been dominated with the defeat of Drago Bludvist and the treason of various members of the government including Trade Minister, Johann Trayder, two senior Generals and the First Ministers of Berk, Meathead, Trader's Isle, Jaegerby, Visithug, Uglithug and Murderous. Of course, the people of Berk were already aware of Viggo Grimborn's treason but additional proofs provided by the intelligence gained from Icefell confirmed his treason beyond all doubt. Eret Eretson's death on Icefell, fighting for the traitor, barely registered a line in the papers.

Hiccup had remained true to his word and had paid for a funeral for Eret on Berk. The generic service had been respectful and conformed to the Viking religion that was prevalent on Berk. Astrid and the children were in attendance, along with several of the Casino staff and-surprisingly- Atali. However, the woman's face had twisted in fury and jealousy as she saw Astrid at Tallon Fury's side. Realising that she had lost both her potential meal tickets, she stormed off as soon as the service was over. Tallon, however, took the time to chat to the Casino employees, people who hadn't especially liked Eret but had relied on the business for their livelihoods. He had already approached the Island Council and the Acting First Minister on his return and had asked their opinions on the fate of the Casino, willing to be guided by their preferences and he had not been surprised that all had voted to retain it. However, he had admitted he wanted to develop it as a hotel and leisure destination as well and would settle all outstanding debts with local businesses, a move that had won universal approval. He had also suggested that the Council ensure that there was a small levy taken from Casino revenue to support those with gambling addictions and that more stringent safeguards were put in place to protect those who had a problem.

He had returned to work and had caught up with affairs in DragonsEdge Aero. Orders had soared and the Archipelago airline, Viking Air, had placed an order for forty NF-100s while several other airlines had placed big orders for the medium range model, meaning well over three billion dollars in orders had come in while he was reclaiming his inheritance.

September had come and the days were shortening. The election for First Minister had been postponed during the aftermath of Viggo's arrest and the Drago affair and the children had returned for their Senior Year at Berk High. Hiccup had bought both cars to allow them the freedom to travel to school and back on their own-neither fancy nor fast but sturdy, serviceable and safe for the harsh Berk winters. The Thorston twins had asked to formally set up a motocross course and training school and Hiccup had donated them the money they needed as well as purchasing another patch of land adjacent to the forest so they could use part of his lands well. He had moved the perimeter fence to the house to retain as his the part Fink wished to keep-and the Cove-while allowing the twins ample challenging forest terrain to induce their students. Fishlegs had set up a law practice in Berk, close to his remaining family, but he had made very clear that he was always at Hiccup's disposal and would be round the House most days anyway, though he had an apartment in town to use during the week. Snotlout, however, had remained in his job as Hiccup's protection 'because a billionaire will always have a target on his back, no matter how crazy he is!'.

On September 19th, he received a phone call from Throk that was very cryptic.

"The President will be making an announcement at six this evening. I suggest you watch: it has a direct bearing on you," he said and hung up. Hiccup frowned but ensured all his friends knew while Astrid messaged the children who promised they would be at home. And come six, everyone was back in the main living room in the house-even Fishlegs who had been staying all week in his apartment down in Berk Town and Fink who was hanging out more and more with the friends he chose and a girl who had transferred in named Lina who he was debating over whether he should ask out. Astrid and Hiccup were perched in the centre of the couch with the kids on each side. The twins were lying on the rug and Fish and Snot took the armchairs as Hiccup switched the television on.

At six exactly, the shield of the Archipelago appeared, followed by the elegant shape of Mala Wing, sitting behind the desk in the Granite Office.

"Thank you for welcoming me into your homes," she said, her green eyes locking onto the camera, which closed in to focus on her head and shoulders. "I am speaking to you today in the wake of the arrest of the terrorist and enemy of the Archipelago, Drago Bludvist." She sighed. "For many of you, Drago Bludvist is just a name, a bogeyman who is invoked to terrorise small children. But he is real and his tentacles have permeated our society for the last two decades or more, not just through some direct actions-murders, explosions, kidnappings-but also by his subversion of the very people who should be protecting you, the citizens, from such a monster. At least five First Ministers were in his pay, as well as our own Trade Minister, who was working to undermine our own economy and ensure that any prosperity was bargained away in favour of Drago Bludvist's plans. Two senior Generals were in his pay as well, advising against any action to remove him and all the while protecting him from intervention which would stop him before he could effect his takeover of our islands."

She lifted her chin and gave a small smile.

"In June, our intelligence forces and special agents gathered evidence that he was preparing to move and our brave soldiers undertook a daring attack against his stronghold on Icefell. It was touch and go but through extreme heroism from a small number of very brave individuals, the tide was turned and the base was destroyed. His soldiers were slain or captured and Drago was captured trying to flee and is in the Archipelao's maximum security detention facility, safely locked away. So now, we can turn to undoing the harm that he has caused across her lands. And that is the reason I am talking to you today.

Drago and his treacherous servants used and discarded innocent men and women in their work, their callous disregard for the lives of others a metaphor for their master's ethos. And one tale I will relate to you is an illustration of how much harm has been caused.

Just under eighteen years ago, on the island of Berk, a young man helped his friend. This may sound like an everyday occurrence-but this had one major difference. The friend-who claimed he was in desperate trouble, being leaned on by evil men for his considerable gambling debts-was a liar. He was an agent of Bludvist, recruited by his men some six months earlier and who had been eyeing the young man-a man named Hiccup Haddock-and his small air freight company. They needed the air freight company as a covert way of moving goods and personnel to and from Drago's stronghold on the remote island of Icefell. The package was a test and a trap, for Hiccup Haddock knew nothing about what he was carrying, just that his friend claimed his life was at risk. And unwillingly, he agreed, moved by decency and the kind of friendship that should have his friend moving mountains to help him in return.

Instead, his friend, a man named Eret Eretson, phoned the authorities who were waiting to arrest Hiccup when he landed from completing the delivery that he believed would spare his friend a terrible fate. Instead, he was taken to the cells and put on trial the next day, led by an ambitious prosecutor named Viggo Grimborn who was also Drago's servant. His partner in crime-the Judge, a man named Elias Jarg-colluded to change the charges from a simple airspace violation-all that could be supported by the evidence-to High Treason. Eret lied about his friend, the Judge misdirected the jury and important exonerating evidence was ignored. Hiccup Haddock was condemned for Treason and sentenced to die in the prison of Jotunheim on Freezing-To-Death. An immediate appeal was lodged by his father, the Mayor of Berk, and was summarily and illegally rejected. Grimborn refused to follow the law and paid Island Council members to remove the Mayor from office and illegally vote Grimborn-who was ineligible-as his replacement. The public were never given a vote over the next seventeen years on this effective coup.

Worse, deposed Mayor Stoick Haddock was decreed liable by Jarg and Grimborn for gambling debts that were supposedly due to his son, Hiccup but which were in reality, those of Eret. Johann Trayder, later the treacherous Trade Minister and another Drago servant, lied and Hiccup's family lost everything, awarded to Johann and then back to Eret, who had claimed the air freight company for his own. All the men who conspired to destroy the innocent man, Hiccup Haddock, were massively enriched through bribery, theft, coercion and patronage. Stoick Haddock died, penniless and Hiccup Haddock's fiancee was left alone and defenceless.

In jail, Hiccup Haddock endured conditions that would not be out of place in a medieval torture chamber. Starved, frozen, beaten, forced to fight for his life, his survival was a miracle. Especially since letters were destroyed and intercepted so there was no communication. There was no socialising, merely solitary confinement for year after year. And because his family was still demanding an appeal and asking questions, he was declared dead three months after he arrived in Jotunheim.

But the prison records show that Hiccup lived-in fact he remained in his cell until seven years ago, when it is likely he escaped. His whereabouts are unknown…but since he was an innocent man prior to being locked up, he is certainly of no danger to society. He is a man who lost eleven years of his life for a crime he did not commit. And I would want to hope that he would be willing to come forward and accept the humble apologies of the Archipelago for the suffering and wrongs he endured. Jotunheim has been closed down, the prisoners moved to more humane conditions and the Governor and officers all jailed for life for their crimes against humanity and the men in their care.

And after review of the evidence, with additional testimony, suppressed evidence, evidence from Icefell and additional evidence that Hiccup's fiancee bravely kept all these years-even though she had no one she could give it to-the Supreme Court of the Archipelago has no hesitation in overturning the conviction of Hiccup Haddock and clearing his name. His is granted an absolute pardon for the crimes he was convicted of and any he may have committed as a result of that wrong. To the world, I say loudly and without any hesitation: he is an innocent man. In acknowledgement of this, the Archipelago Government will offer compensation for the wrongs he has suffered. And though nothing can bring back his youth or compensate him for his pain, the loss of his family and his entire life, it is the right thing to do to to acknowledge the complicity of the Archipelago Officers in this.

And I tell you this tale so that nothing like this should happen ever again. That it could is a horrific failing of our safeguards and a legal system that gives primacy to local officers over pan-Archipelago laws and processes. So as of today, all Archipelago citizens may appeal any judgement with a custodial period of greater than ninety days total or a fine of greater than ten thousand dollars total to the Central Archipelago Appeal Court on Dragon Isle and all cases will be reviewed. Lesser sentences should be appealed locally in the first instance. All prisons will be inspected annually and must meet with basic human rights requirements-and preferably far exceed them. Solitary confinement is only to be used in extremis. All prisoners have the right to visiting unless lost by poor behaviour. And abuses of power will be dealt with as the most serious of crimes.

I truly hope that this is just the first of many overturned judgements and that you, our citizens, trust us to move forward and ensure your safety and justice for all. Gods be with you all."

Astrid reached for the remote control and clicked the television off. Then every eye turned to inspect Hiccup.

"Speak to me, Babe," she murmured, her hand closing in his.

"Dad?" Zephyr took his other hand.

His face was white and a tear trickled down his face, his shoulders shaking.

"It's finally over," he whispered.

"You're a free man," Astrid told him and gave him a hug, wrapping him in her arms. "And you're mine." He closed his eyes and tears slid down his face, briefly burying his head in her shoulder before he looked up again.

"Your evidence was the key," he murmured, staring into her eyes before he kissed her. She smiled and gently wiped his face with her thumbs, smiling gently.

"I never lost hope-or faith," she murmured. "I just forgot. You saved me as well." He kissed her again and sighed.

"Thor, Odin…it's over," he said as Snotlout grabbed Fink and swung him round in a crazy dance. The twins head-butted each other so hard they almost knocked themselves out and Fishlegs was doing a very crazy dance with his arms in the air. Zephyr was grinning as her brother waltzed past with Snotlout.

"PARTY TIME!" Tuff yelled from the floor as Ruff clapped her hands over his mouth.

"Do NOT offer anyone any pop tarts, muttonhead!" she hissed.

"Witch, I wasn't going to," Tuff mumbled through her hand. "Barbecue…"

"Oh Thor," Hiccup mumbled, mentally reviewing the contents of the fridge. Everyone sobered up at the prospect of another insane Thorston barbecue-especially as it was raining hard so everything would be soggy, burn and raw as well as a weird combination. Fishlegs, who was breathing hard after his wild dance, timidly raised his hand.

"What should we call you now?" he asked. "I mean, you can reclaim your name Hiccup and become who you truly are. Or do you prefer Tallon Fury now?"

"What about Ingen?" Tuff asked. "I mean, it means No One but to us, you have always been someone-our friend." Hiccup looked over at Nuffink.

"What do you think?" he asked. The boy slumped onto the couch by his father, dizzy from dancing.

"I call you Dad so it's easy for me," he reminded Hiccup with a smile. The billionaire took a shuddering breath and looked round his friends and family.

"Call me whatever you want," he said. "I've had three identities for so long now, I guess I've kinda got used to it." Fishlegs frowned.

"It seems wrong to call you No One when you clearly are someone…and someone who has every right to use his own name and to be proud of it," he mused. "May I call you Hiccup? It only seems right…" The billionaire smiled.

"My friend-whatever you want," he said genuinely. Grinning, Snotlout cracked open a can of beer from the quartet he had bought with him, anticipating good news and raised it to his cousin.

"I liked the touch that she pardoned you for anything you did as a result of your wrongful conviction," he commented. "Meaning you cannot be in any trouble for escaping…or using a false name. Or lying about your past. She's exonerated you of everything and given you a carte blanche moving forward."

"She kept her word," he murmured then he smiled and looked round his friends. "And I think…for once…the twins may be right. It is time to party!"

oOo

The nights had drawn in and the leaves had fallen from the deciduous trees with Halloween less than a week away. Hiccup and Astrid had gotten married on Dragon Isle on October 19th, the 18th anniversary of his imprisonment. All his friends and their children were in attendance and Mala Wing herself had performed the civil ceremony. Astrid had been dressed in a the floor length gown of navy silk that echoed the one she had worn at that party back at Eret's house when Hiccup confessed he had thought she looked like a goddess, her golden hair braided off her face and beauty enhanced with the lightest of touches of makeup while Hiccup was in one of his trademark black silk suits with white shirt and a green and gold tie. Zephyr had been dressed in a simple navy dress with a green sash as maid of honour and Nuffink-in a suit watching his father's-had proudly 'given away' Astrid. Snotlout had acted as best man and had handed over the rings with tears in his eyes, though he blamed it on dust. The twins had been subdued in matching army combat fatigues and Fishlegs had been in his best court suit, sniffing into his handkerchief in happiness. Thuggory, Dagur and Heather had attended, with Cami along as Heather's date. Hiccup had been relieved that Heather seemed to have found happiness after all.

But they hadn't had time for a honeymoon for the long-delayed elections for the First Minister of Berk were imminent-and though he no longer needed to depose Viggo, Hiccup had not rescinded his candidacy, feeling he owed it to his father to offer service to Berk to help her get back on her feet after the years of mismanagement and damage that Viggo and his allies had wrought. Now, on the evening of October 25th, he was in the Great Hall for the count. And though the turnout had been high, Berk wasn't a large island and the count had been relatively quick. Word had inevitably gotten round that the mysterious billionaire Tallon Fury was in fact Hiccup Haddock, the son of the late and fondly-remembered Mayor, Stoick Haddock. It explained his huge philanthropic gifts to the island of his birth and his reticence in giving his real name. The fact that the Archipelago's only billionaire came from their island made the stubborn people of Berk immensely proud and though Prosecutor Iliev Hansson and Councillor Bjorn Fungus had stood as well, when the Returning Officer had read the results, it had been a landslide victory for Hiccup Haddock.

Quietly, he had advanced to the platform, his usual mirror glasses folded and placed in his breast pocket, a charcoal grey suit impeccable and his cream open-necked shirt still pressed and perfect despite the stress of the last few hours. He glanced over to Astrid and she was smiling proudly, her eyes twinkling as he cleared his throat. Then he turned his emerald eyes on the waiting crowd, all faces hopeful and expectant and wondered how his father had felt, the first time he had been elected. But he didn't have his father to ask, merely his memories of the man and a sudden warm feeling, as if he was watching. He took a deep breath.

"Thank you," he said as calmly as he could manage, though his voice was wavering. "I am truly and immeasurably honoured and touched by the trust you have put in me. I know I have not lived back on the island for a while but I can assure you I was born in Berk General and my father was the proudest-and probably loudest-man on Berk as a result. Some of you will remember him-a man who was filled with pride at the duty he owed as Mayor and the heritage of our amazing but small island. He was full of sayings-seriously, he had one for everything!-but I think my favourites are 'no job is too small' and 'a Chief protects his own'. Many of you will not recall him but he would be beaming down this moment from Valhalla, roaring 'that's my son!' with flagon of beer in his hand."

He paused as Astrid walked to his side, her hand finding his. He smiled at her fondly. "I am not my father. I am not Viggo either. I am a man who has been a pilot, a prisoner, a smuggler, an inventor, an engineer and now a businessman. My priority is to uphold the law and improve all of your lives. I want to bring justice and prosperity to Berk and I will work with the Central Government to ensure that Berk is prioritised and gets our fair share. And that Berk is once more the great island that the stubborn, brave, determined and warm-hearted people here deserve. So thank you for the trust you have given me and I promise I will do my best for you all!"

There were long and loud cheers and the twins were whistling very shrilly. Hiccup turned and kissed his wife thoroughly.

"You don't mind, do you?" he murmured as he searched her amused azure eyes. She chuckled.

"You have me and the children and your friends to support you," she reminded him. "And I think Snot is secretly looking forward to being your head of security."

"I think Dagur has his eye on that job," Astrid commented. He chuckled.

"I'm not ruling on a fight between the two. Besides, I have an idea for Dagur that I know he's going to like and that will enable him to be close to Heather as well," Hiccup admitted.

"Still plotting and scheming?" she teased him gently, He shook his head.

"My plotting days are over," he reassured her. "I suspect I'll have much more mundane things to occupy me…"

"Well, not many people can claim their concerns include selling billions of dollars of aircraft and reviewing the sheep-wandering laws on a small island that most people in the Archipelago can't properly pick out on a map!" she told him playfully. He smiled and leaned forward to kiss her forehead.

"Yes, I'm going to be very busy," he admitted. "But are you sure you don't mind? I mean we've only just got married and now I have a multibillion dollar company and an island to run…" She gave a small, secret smile.

"You're going to be even more busy in about seven months," she told him, looking up into his eyes. He stared-and then his eyes widened. "I'm pregnant." He gaped and then his face filled with joy.

"I…you…are you…how…?" he gabbled.

"And the newly elected First Minister of Berk has lost the power of speech," she teased him. "Did you really ask that? You remember all that sex we've been having? Well, when a girl and a boy…" He hastily shushed her, blushing beet red.

"Okay, I know the how!" he said urgently. "I mean…do the kids know? And are you okay?" She smiled benignly.

"A little queasy for now. And no, I haven't told them yet," she told him. "You're my husband. This is your child. This time, you get to know first." He started and his eyes widened.

"I'm going to be a father?" he breathed. "Oh Thor…"

"You're already a father," she reminded him with a smile. He nodded stupidly.

"I mean of an actual baby…" he said , still stunned. "And this time, I am here with you. You will have the best of care. Whatever happens, we'll face it together. Um…have you seen the doctor yet?" She nodded.

"It's just one this time," she confirmed with a smile. "And all looks well so far-but I'm high risk because of what happened last time-and because I'm old for a Mom." Then she smiled. "But I have you with me and I know that you will protect me. And this time, I know nothing is going to stop you being there." He wrapped his arms around her and swung her round, then kissed her urgently.

"Then let's go and tell our kids that they're getting a younger brother or sister," he said, a huge smile on his face. And then he stared at the far wall of the Great Hall, where his father's portrait hung. He smiled, staring at the image for a long moment, a wave of contentment and warmth washing over him. "It's okay, Dad. You can rest now. We're all safe. Berk is in good hands and I'll look after my family-all of them. The nightmare is finally over."

Then Astrid tugged on his hand and the newly-elected First Minister of Berk, the billionaire Hiccup Haddock, walked towards his children and friends to share his happy news.

The End.

A/N: It's been a marathon but we're finally there. My modern HTTYD reimagining of the Count of Monte Cristo-but with more explosions and a little more action. I hope you enjoyed it. Best wishes-harrypanther.