Anything Is Possible

Rated: M
Pairing: Hiccup & OC-Runa
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the HTTYD or Frozen characters. Everything belongs to its original creator. However, I do own all my characters.

Chapter 47.

=Normal POV=
[February 28; Morning]
[Hunter Isle; Grimborn Home]

Hiccup didn't know why Gobber was there, except maybe for his birthday, but he was glad and the emotional reunion of it only having been two months since their last encounter showed to everyone in the house. Hiccup, nor Gobber, had said a word since the embrace started, and it held a good twenty minutes before Hiccup finally pulled off and tried to wipe his eyes with his palms, but it was useless to hide that he ended up crying because he was sniffling.

"It's okay, lad. Calm down…I'm here now," Gobber told him softly.

"W-Why did you come? I-I was waiting for Sharpshot to return from my last message, so I could ask if you wouldn't mind visiting for a few days," Hiccup managed.

"I said why I was here, son. It's your birthday, and I wouldn't miss that for anything. I only missed your nineteenth because I didn't know where you were," Gobber explained. "Why were you going to ask me to come? Your birthday?"

Hiccup shook his head. "I…I needed you…" Hiccup admitted, but only Gobber heard it as the others were focused on their breakfast, knowing it would be wrong to eavesdrop and quite possibly lose Hiccup's trust if they did.

"Well, I'm here, son…I'm here now, at least for a few days. Your father knows I'm looking for you, but will be back by next week for the sake of gathering material from the trader," Gobber hinted as Hiccup understood. "Why did you need me, aside from being your favorite?" He tried to joke.

Hiccup lowered his head. "I-I just…Needed you before I lose it and end up breaking down…" Hiccup confessed. "I can't sleep peacefully, I barely have an appetite, no desire to work the forge, train dragons…Or even fly Toothless…I'm just…Fa-Falling apart," He started to get worked up.

"Ssh, relax. Ssh, lad. I'm here, and we'll get through it together, okay?" Gobber told him. "Now…Viggo and Ryker mentioned when I arrived you weren't feeling well, and I sort of heard you yell it. Is that true, or are you just trying to be left alone to figure things out?" Hiccup gave him a look. "I guessed as much. Before anything else, Hiccup…I want you to eat something. The others said you haven't eaten much the last few days due to being tired or not hungry. It's probably stress from whatever you're trying to cope with that's affecting all other functions." Gobber informed. "So come on, let's go get something in your stomach before you get any skinnier and end up as thin as the beams of this house…You'll waste away to thin air if you don't put some meat on the bones, boy,"

Hiccup only managed to nod; he knew Gobber wouldn't let him get away with not eating. Worse that Viggo and Ryker said something to Gobber about Hiccup's eating over the last week. Gobber brought Hiccup over to the table where Truda happily set down a plate of food for Hiccup, and then a space was made for Gobber to join, receiving a plate as well. "Thank you," Hiccup got out softly before beginning to eat slowly. It was easy to see how miserable he still was, but Gobber reassured with a smile that it would change with a bit more time. Knowing that, the others continued to eat and act normal because as much as they wanted to help, Gobber was the only one who would be able to get through, and hopefully after that; Hiccup would let them in.

. . .

[Midmorning]
[Hunter Isle; Forest]

When breakfast ended, Hiccup was going to help clean up, but Viggo reassured that it was fine and also his birthday, so to go enjoy his time with Gobber. Hiccup was thankful and agreed. After grabbing a few things for the day; Gobber and Hiccup grabbed their dragons and headed into the forest. Hiccup led Gobber to a beautiful place hidden past a cave on the island he located in his adventuring. Honestly, it reminded Hiccup a lot of the cove which was on Berk and despite the memory of Berk, Hiccup could never hate the cove because it's what brought him and Toothless together as friends and began everything for them. The cave led inside what was a dormant and inactive volcano, the opening of the volcano was at the top still, broken open a bit more to allow more light. But the amazing part was the cove-like feel; it had vines, grass, rocks, everything for a perfect hideout and Hiccup had sort of dubbed it as his little dragon nest. This spot was where Cinder kept the dragons when they first came to Hunter Isle in November.

"Well, isn't this a nice place," Gobber noted once they got inside and he looked around at everything.

"Everything you could want in a secret cave hidden within a dormant volcano," Hiccup replied. "Cinder found it, and it's been my little hideaway since. It…Reminds me of the cove on Berk, the one below Raven Point," He explained.

"I know the one, lad," Gobber nodded as Hiccup led him down the area to the field. "I'm glad you found a little spot for yourself,"

"I come here a lot," Hiccup said softly. "Just to think, sometimes draw," He added.

"Does it help?" Gobber wondered as they sat down.

Hiccup was quiet a few moments, not really looking at him, but up at the sky. "It used to…"

"Talk to me, lad," Gobber advised softly. "You said you needed me, and here I am, son. Please, tell me what's wrong? I don't want to go back to Berk and then get a message from Viggo or Ryker that you've hurt yourself, or worse. I can't lose you, Hiccup. Please?"

Hiccup started to shake before he looked down, tears slipping from his eyes. "It's…Everything. Gods, It's everything, Gobber…" Hiccup's voice cracked before he looked at the man he considered to be his father.

"Hey, hey…Easy. What is everything?" Gobber asked. "Take a few breaths, have a drink…And tell me everything," He told Hiccup, handing him a mug of ale.

Hiccup took a few deep breaths as instructed, then a couple sips from the mug in hand while wiping the wet marks from his cheeks and remaining unfallen tears from his eyes. Hiccup began to tell Gobber everything he'd been feeling; the nightmares, the flashbacks, memories from what he endured. Hiccup told Gobber about the stress he was under, how it affected his ability to sleep on top of the nightmares keeping him from sleeping. Hiccup was unable to eat, focus, anything at all and it made him feel sick all the time. Hiccup mentioned all the work he was doing as a dragon trainer, and even that he just felt so miserable and overwhelmed.

Gobber understood that Hiccup was dealing with a lot and most of it could be addressed through simple means, and then there were others that would require more work. Gobber, unfortunately, with the state of having to return to Berk to keep suspicion off him that these trips were to see Hiccup, not search for him, would need to bring in other people Hiccup was close to, and those two were Viggo and Ryker to help Hiccup get past things. Gobber didn't like having to leave Hiccup when the boy he raised was so cracked and breaking. Gobber missed the smile his unofficially adopted son always had on his face. When Hiccup finished the explanation, Gobber pulled him in for a hug because Hiccup was a mess of tears, and sniffling as he went through certain subjects of what was wrong.

"And I just…Feel like I can't deal with anything anymore. I'm not even…Trying to be miserable, but it just won't stop and I have no control over it. Gods, I have more control over my powers now than I do over my emotions, like it just switched from no control over my powers to all control over emotions," Hiccup sobbed.

Gobber continued to embrace him. "Ssh…It will be alright, laddie. It will, but no one said recovery is easy, and becoming overwhelmed by things can be part of it," Gobber comforted. After a few moments, Gobber knew he'd have to tell Hiccup something that he wouldn't want to hear, but was necessary. "Okay, calm down…" Gobber said as he pulled back and Hiccup palmed away his tears, attempting to dry his face. "Listen to old Gobber now," He began. "A lot of things can be fixed with a few adjustments, but others, and I know you're not going to want to hear this; you need to take the step forward and talk about them,"

"What do you mean?" Hiccup asked.

"Hiccup, the overworking can be handled by setting yourself limits on how much you're training the hunters. Just set spread out times for the classes, so you can get a break and go flying, or eat something. It will help, but you can run yourself ragged like this. I told ya that all the time in the forge." Gobber informed.

"Okay, I guess I can do that…" Hiccup nodded, sniffling again.

"For the rest, son; it's part of recovering from what you went through as a prisoner. Memories returning, feeling all the pain that came with it…But the reason you aren't recovering is that you're still holding it in. You won't tell anyone," Gobber replied.

"I told you," Hiccup protested.

"But I'm not always around to help you, laddie," Gobber reminded with a hand on his shoulder. "In a few days, I'll have to go back to Berk and where does that leave you in recovering? Nowhere because you seem to only talk to me and that's when I'm able to be here. The rest of it, you're holding in and it's piling up to the point of you breaking down. This time, you got your talking fix because I came for your birthday. What about next time, lad?" Hiccup looked down. "Exactly, and I don't want to get informed that you lost it in a breakdown and that I've lost you…" Gobber added. "I know you don't want to, but son…You need to start opening up about all this to other people. I don't care who…But you need someone to talk to here,"

"But who…? I'm not close to anyone here like I am with you…" Hiccup sighed.

"What about Ulrik?" Gobber suggested.

"He's a good guy, and I love working with him; we have a decent time in the forge, but I don't know if I could just…Unload on him as I do with you. I've only known him for a few months…Since November when I arrived here." Hiccup responded.

"Fair enough…Are ya close with any of the Grimborn kids?" Gobber tried.

"No. No, absolutely not…I'm not telling either of the girls or Agnar about the things I went through as a captor. And Brynjar, we don't really talk a lot. Not enough for me to have him be a therapeutic part of recovering," Hiccup stated firmly. "Maybe with more time; I could, but not right now…"

"Well, unfortunately, son…Time isn't on your side with this, and taking too much time is also affecting your basic daily functions of eating and sleeping…You've tried staying busy, doing the things you love to do, but as you can see; pushing it back only works for a little while. The only way to start healing, Hiccup, is to face it and work through it. This is your life, son…You're in control, so don't let what others did hold you down. Let the people who care and love you in, so you can face it together," Gobber explained as Hiccup sighed. "Nobody except I know what you've been through, and I can't always be here to face it with you. So you need to let others in so they can be here for you too. And maybe not everyone, but you need to let someone in for you to talk to when I'm not here. Consider everyone you've met since being among the hunters…Who can you talk to?"

Hiccup had thought about it before, and he wasn't sure at the time, but now with Gobber telling him he needed to talk to someone about things; Hiccup knew his only choices. "Viggo and Ryker…They're the ones I told about my powers, what Berk did, that I was captured…" Hiccup stated. "And they already knew from saving me that I was tortured and they'd seen that before, also said that they wanted to help as they've done to others in my position before…" He added.

"Do you comfortable enough to talk to them about all this captive stuff?" Gobber asked.

"Might take a bit to get through it all, but I could get used to talking to them eventually…" Hiccup mumbled.

"Recovery takes time, lad. The more you work at things, the easier it will become. After a couple of times with the brothers, I'm sure it will just come naturally. But it's not enough just to talk, Hiccup…" Gobber informed softly as Hiccup looked at him. "You have to tell them what happened, you have to show them your emotions, and you have to take the advice and help they offer, son. It doesn't have to be all one day, take the capture in sections and make sure you let the brothers know what things affect you as nightmares, keep in order, work at it until it doesn't hurt as much, and then move onto the next part. Some will be harder, but you will start to feel better…" Gobber promised. "Okay?"

"Okay…" Hiccup nodded.

"Good. Now, why don't you take a little break to collect yourself? We'll meet the Grimborn's for lunch, and then after, perhaps we can pull Viggo and Ryker aside to discuss starting your recovery with me here, and then them continuing it once I leave," Gobber offered. Hiccup nodded again as he just tried to relax. Viggo and Ryker offered a while ago when they'd first come across one another last June, Hiccup had declined the offer then, but that was because he didn't trust them yet. Hiccup trusted the hunters, and they were all friends. Hiccup did want to get better; Gobber was right. This time was lucky that Gobber came when Hiccup absolutely needed him, but the next time might not go that way. Hiccup needed to get through this to move on with his life.

. . .

[Dusk]
[Hunter Isle; Great Hall]

The picnic lunch went well; Hiccup seemed to look a little better to the Grimborn's. When lunch ended, Gobber as Viggo and Ryker if he could talk to them with Hiccup in private. The situation was discussed in the loft space of the house and Gobber explained that Hiccup was decided he was ready to face what happened, and start working through it. Viggo and Ryker seemed pleased and immediately offered their help in any way. Gobber went on to tell them that because he will not always available for Hiccup to talk to; Hiccup chose to work with the brothers in talking about what happened and recovering. Viggo and Ryker were more than happy to help, and move at Hiccup's pace with things. Hiccup felt a little better after the meeting, and spent the remainder of the day with Gobber, as it was decided to start after his birthday was over on March 1st. The day was much better with all that settled, and Hiccup was ready to start putting all of that bad last year stuff behind him.

Also, a new work schedule was put into place to assist in Hiccup not being overworked every single day. Viggo and Ryker immediately told Hiccup that he should have said something about feeling so rundown with all his new jobs. Now, it was about 6:00 pm and Viggo stated dinner would be in the Great Hall, something about preparing for the new hunting season with the modifications that they wouldn't be hunting dragons this time. Getting to the door with Gobber, it appeared they were last to arrive. Gobber opened it up and let Hiccup in first where everyone was already waiting with a big banner saying Happy Birthday Hiccup on it. There were treats, food, and nothing but smiling faces as he entered.

"Happy birthday, Hiccup!" The hunters called.

Hiccup's eyes widened as Gobber put a hand on Hiccup's shoulder and shook him a bit with a smile as Hiccup's mouth was hanging open in shock. "Y-You did all this after remembering my birthday when Gobber said it this morning?" Hiccup asked as Gobber had to give him a push forward to keep walking.

Runa giggled, rushing up with Vera to take Hiccup's hands and lead him to the table. "To be honest, we already knew it was your birthday without Gobber's surprise visit this morning. We knew you've been down and upset lately, and I remembered what you said about never getting to enjoy parties on Berk…So I suggested throwing you a surprise party to cheer you up,"

"And we're the ones who invited Gobber," Vera chuckled. "But he was apparently coming anyway for your birthday,"

"B-But how? I sent a letter three days ago with Sharpshot…" Hiccup questioned.

"We had Ember follow Sharpshot's path to Berk, so you would ask about a second letter to Gobber," Viggo informed with a smile.

"We wanted you to join us for breakfast this morning because it's your birthday, we made all your favorites. The picnic for lunch was for your birthday too. And the lie we gave you about celebrating a new hunting season was just to get you here for the party we planned last week, for you," Ryker stated.

"Why did you do all this for me? I'm just a random dragon lover on your island," Hiccup wondered.

"Hiccup, you're so much more than that. Yes, you're a guest here," Hertha started.

"But you showed us the problem with why we had raids," Vera reminded.

"Helped us see the truth about dragons and bond with them," Brynjar added.

"Changed our lives for the better," Agnar grinned.

"You're also our lead dragon trainer," Truda added.

"Assistant blacksmith," Ulrik called with a laugh from himself and many others.

"Head creator with inventions!" Hauk yelled in addition to the list.

"You are a very trusted and dear friend to all of us, Hiccup," Viggo said, his hands on Hiccup's shoulders. "You deserve a celebration, in your honor, and it just happened to be perfect timing for your birthday. So this, my boy, is for you,"

"A thank you birthday party for all you've done for us," Ryker smiled. "So thank you and happy birthday, Hiccup," He added as the others nodded; this happened around the room.

"I told you that you weren't alone anymore, kiddo. I hope this helps you see and remember it for the rest of your life too," Gobber said.

"I'll never forget," Hiccup replied, trying not to cry.

"Now, party on!" Runa yelled.

"No…You had your party a couple of weeks ago, Runa. This one is for Hiccup, so only fair that he starts it," Viggo sighed.

Suddenly, all eyes were on Hiccup. The newly turned twenty-year-old managed to compose himself and smile as Gobber handed him a mug of ale. Hiccup laughed a little. "Well, what are we all standing around for? Let's have some fun, hunters!" Hiccup held his mug up as everyone cheered and held up their mugs as well. There was laughter, and everything began as Hiccup felt immensely better for the first time all week. Hiccup didn't care about anything else right now; he just wanted to enjoy this night with Gobber, and the hunters.