Author's Note: Can you guys guess where I got the title for this one-shot from? (Hint, hint, it's from the same song that this one-shot collection is named after. =D)

Hello, everyone and welcome back to "Sticks and Stones!" =D I don't have much to say other than I hope you enjoy this one-shot, so I hope you enjoy this one-shot! X)

Summary: Stoick visits Hiccup's bedside while he's still unconscious, and he apologies to him and promises him that he'll do a better job at being a father. (HTTYD.)

You'll See

He couldn't have felt any worse than he already did. And that was a rather surprising thing to hear from Stoick the Vast.

In all his years as chief, Stoick had never felt the true feeling of pure guilt. And when he did, he never showed it. He concealed it so only he would have to deal with it. Other times, he'd squash it down into a place where he couldn't even touch it. He put on a brave face. He was Stoick the Vast. He was, well…stoic. He never showed any form of weakness, any form of vulnerability. When he did, he was alone and in private, so no one would see what the brave, bold chief was feeling on the inside.

Of course, he succeeded in doing that quite easily. Perhaps it was because he was always wrapped up in his duties as chief to even feel an emotion such as guilt. He didn't have time to feel remorse while he was busy. His only focus was tending to the people. The people's emotions are what he had to deal with. His days were so busy and work-filled, that Stoick didn't have the time to deal with his own emotions. He didn't have time to himself unless it was late at night.

He didn't have time to spend with his son.

That was possibly untrue. With a snap of his fingers, Stoick probably could've announced a sudden, unscheduled day off. He could have put some time aside for Hiccup. He could have noticed his son's attempts to try and impress him and the village. He could have let his son walk along with him on the streets, teach him a thing or two about being chief like he had when Hiccup was only six. But no, he pushed him away. He shunned him just like the rest of the Isle of Berk, and Stoick couldn't have felt more guilty.

What kind of a father was he? He should've noticed sooner that Hiccup was just trying his best to be a viking. He wanted to be like everyone else, but Stoick knew from the day Hiccup was born that he was different. He wasn't the violent type, and he wasn't the strongest, but he was strong in mind and heart. He could make anything with just his two hands. He was smart and brave, even though it seemed like he wasn't. And Hiccup had proven that when he led the other teens into battle with the Red Death.

Stoick had watched every single moment of it from the ground. The leadership that Hiccup had shown was impeccable despite the situation that he and the others were in. And he was riding a dragon. The teenagers were riding dragons! That was a feat that no viking had done before. Stoick couldn't believe his eyes. Every order and command that Hiccup sent out was immediately obeyed and followed. The skills that the teens had learned in Dragon Training were used and proved to be useful. As the battle went on, Stoick watched as Hiccup and Astrid flew over to the flaming boats, and nearly shouted when Hiccup jumped into the inferno with no hesitation. Had his son lost his mind? What was he thinking?!

Then, Stoick remembered the Night Fury that had protected Hiccup in the Kill Ring. The Night Fury that he had used to lead him and the other vikings to the nest. It was then that Stoick realized that the black dragon and Hiccup were friends. They were companions.

His son was trying to save him.

Suddenly, the Red Death swiped its tail into the boat the Hiccup and his dragon were on. Its large claws smashed into the boat, and the Night Fury went under. Hiccup followed him, and Stoick knew that the young viking wouldn't last long under. Stoick ran into the water and pulled his son out before his consciousness left him, and without waiting to hear Hiccup's response, he dived back into the murky water to get the Night Fury.

Stoick felt like he was offending every viking chief that came before him, but he paid no mind to these thoughts as he swam toward the black dragon, who looked just about ready to give up hope. It looked up with its green, penetrating eyes, straight into Stoick's, and the Chief sent him a look, a look that was not of hate or abhorrence, but one that he hoped would resolve everything between him and that dragon.

I'm sorry.

Two simple, basic words, but the Night Fury seemed to understand. Stoick broke the wooden binding around the Night Fury's neck as if he was breaking a twig, and the dragon grabbed him and burst out of the water, placing him on land and running up to a nearby rock, surveying the battlefield. He turned back to Hiccup, a look of determination and gestured toward the battle above.

"You got it, Bud," said Hiccup with a nod as he ran up to his dragon, mounting the saddle that Stoick guessed that he had crafted himself. The Chief had to admit that it was wonderfully crafted.

But before Hiccup could take off, Stoick grabbed his arm. Hiccup turned around, his green eyes still bright. For a moment, Stoick saw the same six-year-old boy who he had sworn to look after, taught about chiefting, took him on walks in the woods when he could, and tucked him into bed at the end of the day.

And now, Hiccup was fifteen. Where had the time gone?

"Hiccup…" Stoick started. There was so much he wanted to say to him. So much he wanted to ask him, but he knew he didn't have the time to give Hiccup an emotional speech and apologize. Instead, he put all of the sincerity that he could into just a few words.

"I'm sorry," said Stoick. "For…for everything."

Hiccup did a good job at hiding his emotions. Stoick could tell that what he had said really had affected the auburn-haired teen. Hiccup nodded and he replied, "Y-yeah…me too."

"You don't have to go up there," said Stoick. And really, Hiccup didn't. He could just stay on the ground with his dragon, call the other teens down and find a way to escape another way. But Stoick could see the determination—the boldness—flashing in Hiccup green eyes. Stoick had never seen his son so set on something. He didn't know that his son was so brave.

Hiccup cracked a smile, and Stoick felt somewhat reassured by it. The young viking shrugged and said, "We're vikings. It's an occupational hazard."

Stoick couldn't help but chuckle. Hiccup had flipped his own words on him. Hiccup adjusted a few straps on the saddle, ready to take off, but before he did, Stoick said, "I'm proud to call you my son."

Hiccup paused as he let those words seep in. His stillness only lasted a couple of seconds, and it was almost imperceptible. Stoick knew that he should've said those words a long time ago. And it seemed that they were the words that Hiccup desperately needed to hear.

"Thanks, Dad," said Hiccup. Then, his son flew up into the battle on a Night Fury, the most feared dragon in the archipelago whom Hiccup had managed to befriend.

…

It all happened so fast, that Stoick didn't even keep track of what happened after the battle with the Red Death. All he knew was that his son was hurt…and that was possibly all of his fault.

All of that regret and remorse, though, couldn't change what had already happened. Hiccup had lost his leg. At age fifteen. That was way too young to lose a limb. Let alone a leg. Stoick had never felt so guilty. The healers had done all that they could for Hiccup, and even though they told him that he would live, the Chief still felt that he was responsible for what had happened. Perhaps it was.

But instead of spending his days moping around, Stoick decided to try and make an effort to make things up for Hiccup. Starting with finding out how he had managed to befriend a Night Fury. Astrid Hofferson, the girl that Hiccup had competed against in Dragon Training, told him everything that Hiccup had told her. Stoick was surprised that Hiccup had actually managed to invent something that shot down a dragon that no viking had managed to kill. His son—his Hiccup—had actually managed to shoot down the unholy offspring of lightning and death itself. Stoick had never felt so proud of him, but that pride was short-lived when he remembered the condition his son was in.

Astrid continued to tell Stoick what she knew. She filled him in on how Hiccup had found Toothless in the woods and let him go. She didn't tell him exactly what Hiccup had said, as she felt that was something that Hiccup should tell Stoick himself, but she told Stoick on how she and Hiccup had found the nest, how Hiccup was willing to not tell his own father where it was to protect his newfound friend. When she got to the part about the Kill Ring, Stoick politely told her that she didn't need to go into any further detail. He had been there when Hiccup had tried to reveal the truth about dragons. He had seen Hiccup's attempt, and he wished that he hadn't been so blind, so…ignorant. And yet, he nearly got his son hurt. If the Red Death hadn't happened, what would've occured in the Kill Ring if he hadn't reached Hiccup in time?

Stoick shoved these thoughts out of his head as he entered the Haddock hut. It had felt so empty…so lifeless without seeing Hiccup walking around. The sounds of his son tinkering upstairs in his loft. Even his snoring (which Stoick knew that Hiccup did despite the young vikings insistence that he didn't) was a comfort to the Chief when he arrived home late.

But the hut didn't have any of those familiar sounds that he had grown so used to hearing. Stoick didn't know how much Hiccup's presence affected him until he was…gone.

Stoick shook his head. Not gone, just unconscious.

The Chief walked over to Hiccup's bed; it had been moved downstairs to make it easier for the healers to tend to him and for Stoick to keep an eye on him. The young viking hadn't moved a muscle. He was as still as death, and that comparison scared Stoick when he thought of it. The only indication that Hiccup was alive was his slow breaths. The steady rise and fall of his chest, and the occasional twitch of his eyes. Other than those few things, it looked as if Hiccup wasn't even alive.

The Night Fury—whom Stoick finally learned that his name was Toothless from Astrid—looked up at Stoick from the other side of Hiccup's bed. The dragon hadn't left Hiccup's side. Not even once. The only rare times that he would leave was to eat or to drink, and that was it. Stoick could tell that the Night Fury was close to his son. Toothless would occasionally nudge Hiccup's cheek lightly, only to have his head roll back to its previous, unmoving position. Toothless sighed.

Stoick pulled up a chair and sat down as well. While having a Night Fury in his house had taken some getting used to, he could tell that Toothless meant no harm. Hiccup had been right about dragons. The Night Fury hadn't caused any trouble, and Stoick didn't mind having him in his house, even though the black dragon often knocked things over. But items could always be replaced, unlike people.

Stoick looked down at Hiccup unconscious form and ran a large hand through his son's hair. Hiccup gave no response to the touch, and Stoick hung his head.

"This is all my fault…" he whispered. Toothless' ears twitched, but he kept his eyes on Hiccup. "I shouldn't have pushed you. You were already perfect the way you were, Hiccup. I was just too blind to see that…"

Hiccup breathed in. Then, he breathed out.

"I'm so, so sorry, son," said Stoick quietly. His hand went to Hiccup's, and he squeezed it gently. "I know you can't hear me now, but I promise I'll do better. I'll be a better father. I'll pay attention to you. I'll even put some time aside so I can spend some time with you. Then you can tell me all about your Night Fury friend here."

Toothless' tail swished from side to side.

"I promise, Hiccup," whispered Stoick as he gave Hiccup's hand one more squeeze. "I'll do better. You'll see."

Stoick thought he was imagining, and the sensation was ephemeral, but he knew that felt Hiccup's hand squeeze back.

Author's Note: Father and son. =)

I hope you guys enjoyed this one-shot, and I'll see you all in whatever comes next for "Sticks and Stones!" =D

Until the next chapter!

-BeyondTheMoon1203