Author's Note: Hello, everyone and welcome back to "Sticks and Stones!" =D And happy March! Spring is right around the corner...Did February fly by for anyone else?

Anyway, I don't really have anything else to say (*whacks head* c'mon Moon, you gotta start comin' up with stuff to add to your author's notes...), so I hope you guys enjoy "Motherly Comfort!" (which is a sequel to "Fatherly Comfort =)).

Summary: For twenty years, Valka hadn't been there for her son. So when he wakes up from a nightmare, she decides that it's time to stand by her son's side. (Post HTTYD 2.)

Motherly Comfort

For twenty years, she hadn't been there for her son. Her son, who she had last seen when he was only a baby, was now a grown, mature twenty-year old man. Valka often found herself wondering how. How had Hiccup grown up so fast? How had he gone from the sweet, darling child that she once knew twenty years ago, to a smart, brave man? The time seemed to have gone by fast. Too fast.

Valka wished she had stayed, and she frequently asked herself why she decided to stay away for so long. She could've gone back to Berk at any time, but with Drago's constant attacks on the Dragon's Nest and all of the hurt, defenseless dragons inside, Valka knew that it was better if she stayed where she was.

But was it really the best decision? She had missed so much since she had left Berk. Thanks to her son, Hiccup, they were now friends with the dragons. Her dream had finally become reality. There was no more war, no more fighting. Instead of fighting against each other, dragons and vikings fought together. They weren't enemies anymore, and Valka couldn't have been happier.

And what surprised her the most was that Hiccup was only fifteen when he bonded vikings and dragons. Fifteen! The young chief had told her everything that had happened since she was gone, and that included the story on how he met Toothless and proved to everyone that dragons weren't a threat if they were treated correctly. When it came to how Hiccup defeated the Red Death, Valka felt beyond guilty when Hiccup told her when he lost his leg. He lost his leg at age fifteen, and most vikings didn't lose a limb until they were much older. Hiccup was just…just a boy. Practically a child. He shouldn't have had to lose his leg in such an intense battle.

Hiccup reassured Valka that he was fine, and he had become used to having a prosthetic, but she still couldn't help but feel guilty. She should have been there for her son when he lost his leg. She should have been right there at his bedside, giving her all the comfort that she could. She should have been there. She should have been there for him, but she wasn't. Valka was completely unaware of what was happening on Berk, and it wasn't until she encountered her son on one of her patrols with Cloudjumper that she learned that her home and its people had changed.

Valka had never been there for her son. But now, she was making an effort to. Starting with bringing comfort to Hiccup in time when he needed it.

Stoick's death had affected everyone, but no one was more affected than Hiccup. He spent days after the battle in his room, surrounding himself with the busy work and duties of a chief to keep his mind distracted from the grief that he felt whenever he thought of his dad. Valka had learned that Stoick and Hiccup's relationship was rather rocky, but they eventually came though, and were closer than two peas in a pod…for only five years. Even Valka knew that wasn't enough time; Stoick should have lived long enough to watch his son grow up into the man he was. But then Drago came and took his life. Valka had never felt so broken when she watched her husband whom she had just reunited with get shot by the bright purple plasma blast. And she couldn't have felt any more crushed as she watched her son sob for his father.

While that had been a few months ago, Stoick's absence was still tangible. The people of Berk still weren't used to not seeing the large chief walking through the streets, offering help to those who looked like they needed it. A ceremony was held at the Great Hall in Stoick's honor. Hiccup was the only one who didn't attend; it was much too painful for him.

With Stoick gone and repairs underway on Berk, Valka often found herself helping Hiccup with whatever he needed now that he was chief. Valka had been Stoick's wife for years, so she was able to grasp and pick up a few things about chiefting. She gave Hiccup advice when he needed it, she stood by his side along with Astrid during the chief meetings at the Great Hall, and she even helped Hiccup with the piles and piles of paperwork that came with being a chief. Valka was making a huge effort to help her son in everything he did, and even though he had told her multiple times that she didn't need to help him all the time, Valka did, knowing that Hiccup appreciated her help though he never showed it often.

It was the middle of the night on Berk, and Valka was sitting in her room (which was formerly Stoick's room), reading a book. She still wasn't used to sleeping in a bed, as she always would sleep against Cloudjumper's scales back in the Nest. Valka would spend her nights patrolling the area with Cloudjumper or tending to injured dragons; she rarely slept for long back at the Nest. And that habit definitely took its toll on her whenever she found herself wide awake after turning in for the night.

Valka kept herself busy by reading a book or simply just making herself a warm cup of tea and sipping it until she felt drowsy. And when neither of those worked, she did both, so Valka found the most uninteresting book that she could on the shelf, brewed herself a heated cup of green tea, and settled on her bed and read. She didn't feel sleepy at all, unfortunately, so Valka decided to read the entire book, hoping that she would feel tired afterward.

The house was silent and the only sounds that rang throughout it was the light, comforting crackle of the candle sitting on the side table, and the grumbling snores from Toothless upstairs. The night was still and quiet, and Valka found the atmosphere peaceful and calming. She had never had a moment of pure peace back at the Nest, and she had missed that feeling of calmness. Valka took another sip of her tea and turned the page of her book when she heard a strained cry come from upstairs.

Valka sat still for a moment, wondering if it was just her imagination when the cry came once again, this time louder and more desperate. Valka quickly set her tea aside and closed her book, caring not that she didn't mark the page she was on, and walked out of her room and up the stairs to Hiccup's loft. The moon was shining brightly through his window, and Toothless was stirring on his stone slab. The Night Fury eventually opened his acid green eyes and glanced over to Hiccup's bed, where the young chief was jerking in his sleep. Valka was at his side in an instant, and her hand hovered over her son, debating whether her touch would comfort him or not.

Of course it would! She was his mother. And right now, that was what Hiccup needed. He tossed and turned, whimpering softly, and Valka felt her heart tear in two. Hiccup kept on muttering things under his breath, and Valka picked up Stoick, Toothless, and Drago. Hiccup's mother felt herself falter; he was having a nightmare about the day Drago…

Hiccup's features tightened with hurt, and Valka shook his shoulder lightly.

"Hiccup? Hiccup, wake up, please," she said softly. Hiccup did not wake. Instead, he rolled over, curled into himself, and whined.

"Hiccup, please," Valka begged, shaking her son's shoulder firmly. "Wake up, I'm right here, I'm right here…"

Hiccup's green eyes snapped open, and he shot upward into a sitting position. Valka had to step back to avoid getting hit. Hiccup looked around wildly, his green eyes glittering with so much hurt and so much pain…His breathing was erratic and fresh tears sparkled in his eyes. He looked so lost…and he didn't even notice her or Toothless standing by his side.

Valka reached out and touched her son's shoulder, and that pulled Hiccup out of his panicked state. Green eyes met green, and Valka gently touched her son's cheek. Hiccup's breathing became even, and he leaned into his mother's touch.

"M-Mom?" he said quietly, as if he couldn't believe that his mother was there. Valka caressed his cheek.

"Yes, Hiccup. I'm here," replied Valka softly. She sat down by her son's side, and Hiccup's green eyes avoided her concerned gaze. The young chief shifted uncomfortably in his bed, and Valka wondered if this wasn't the first time Hiccup had had a nightmare.

"Do you…Do you want to talk about it?" asked Valka. Hiccup chewed his lower lip and he let out a small sigh.

"I…It was the battle," he started slowly. "I tried to tell Drago to stop, but he wouldn't….He told Toothless to sh-shoot Dad and….and…"

Hiccup swallowed down a sob. "But no one came to help. E-Everyone kept on b-blaming me for his death…" Hiccup looked up at his mother guiltily. "Even you."

Valka was quiet for some time, and Hiccup rubbed his arms. "Y-Yeah…I-It's stupid…It's just a silly nightmare. I shouldn't be whining about—"

"Hiccup," Valka cut him off. The young chief looked up at her. "It isn't stupid or silly. And you're not whining at all. You're just telling me what happened and how you feel…It's okay to talk about these things. Especially after what happened with your father…"

"B-But that's the thing," said Hiccup. "I-I'm not supposed to feel affected by that still. It's been six months, Mom. I shouldn't be hurting…"

"It's okay, Hiccup," said Valka. "I miss your father too, and it still hurts. It's hard to let go, and these things take time, no matter how long or short."

Hiccup nodded, although he still didn't feel entirely convinced. Toothless nudged him from his side, and Hiccup smiled a little, giving his dragon a light pat on the head.

"Sorry I woke you, Bud," he said. Toothless crooned; the Night Fury didn't mind.

Valka thought for a few moments, knowing that Hiccup probably didn't feel like going back to sleep, so she said, "Why don't you come and sit with me downstairs for a while? To take your mind off things."

Hiccup hesitated for a moment, but he nodded after a short while. He slipped out of bed and followed Valka downstairs, and Toothless followed not too far behind them. Once they reached the living room, Valka told Hiccup to sit down while she made him a cup of tea. After making tea so many times back at the Nest, Valka's hands worked quickly as she brewed Hiccup a cup. She walked back over to the couch and handed the newly made tea to Hiccup, and he took it out of her hands gratefully and sipped some of it.

Valka sat down next to him, and she weaved her hand through Hiccup's hair. The young chief turned to her.

"If you ever wake up from a nightmare again, come and tell me," she said. "I don't mind if you wake me up. I hardly ever sleep anyway."

Hiccup smiled lightly. "I'll do that next time."

Valka smiled as well. She knew that Hiccup wasn't completely used to having a mother just yet, she would do everything that she could to make up for lost time. She would do everything to make up for those lost twenty years.

And while comforting Hiccup from a nightmare was something that seemed rather small, Valka knew that it was a start.