TW: panic

Unofficial soundtrack: No Other Way by Jack Johnson

When Hiccup got back from delivering Audun to the Wanderers he went straight to his hut. It was getting dark and he wasn't hungry. Hiccup mused over the treaty as he took off his prosthetic leg. The Wanderers were going to allow non-vicious species to be rehomed to the Western Isle in exchange for protection and food. The food would have to come from Berk, but that would be fine with Stoick. Hiccup massaged his stump as he got into bed. The leg was rubbing again. Hiccup settled against the pillows with Toothless' head in his lap and looked over his blueprints for dragon fly 5. It just needed a few tweaks to make it usable.

Hiccup was so absorbed in the design that he didn't hear the knock on the door. Toothless looked up and grunted. Hiccup sat up straight. "Is someone there?"

"It's me." Said Astrid. "Can I come in?"

"Of course."

Astrid's hair and clothes were clean and neat, and she was wearing make up. As she came closer Hiccup realised that the concealer was to hide the fact she'd been crying. Astrid perched awkwardly on the edge of the bed and looked at her hands. She and Hiccup both said, "I'm sorry." at the same time.

"I'll go first." Said Astrid. "I shouldn't have said those things. It wasn't your fault and I know you'd do anything to protect me."

"Astrid, don't apologise." Hiccup wanted to take her hand but didn't. "I said stuff I'm really not proud of. And you're right; I should have been there for you. I should have noticed something was wrong."

Astrid forced a laugh. "How could you have known anything was wrong? Even I didn't acknowledge it."

"I know now, Astrid." Hiccup patted the bed beside him and after a moment's hesitation, Astrid moved to sit next to him. "You've always been there for me, Astrid, and I want to always be there for you."

"I'm sorry I keep pushing you away. I know it can't be easy for you."

"Don't worry about me, Angel." The pet name was a risk, but Astrid didn't seem to object.

Astrid cleared her throat. "I think I need to start being honest with you, Hiccup. You can't help if you don't know what I'm thinking." Hiccup nodded and Astrid explained how scared she felt.

"That's natural, Astrid. And it won't last forever." Hiccup held her hand to his chest. "I'm glad I make you feel safe. You need safety right now, and one day that bubble will expand beyond me."

"Hiccup, I need you to promise me something, okay?" Hiccup looked at her intently and she continued talking. "Don't ever kill a dragon for me. Even if it means I have to live the rest of my life without you. It would destroy you."

Hiccup slipped his arm around Astrid. "I promise, Astrid. I've been treating you differently and that's not fair. You are every bit the kind, fierce warrior I fell in love with." Hiccup half expected Astrid to punch him, but she leant against his chest. He stroked her fringe. "Now you promise me something. No more taking poison alone and not telling me. If you're hurting I need to know, I need to support you."

"I promise." Said Astrid. Toothless padded across the room and rested his head in Hiccup's lap. Astrid scratched the dragon's ear and he purred. "Hiccup, can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Do you worry about how Berk will react to my pregnancy? How your dad will react?"

"Honestly, Astrid," Hiccup shifted slightly, his arm still around her waist, "I'm more worried about what your Uncle Finn's going to do to me."

Astrid laughed and placed a hand on her stomach. "I'm starting to show, aren't I?"

Hiccup lay his hand over Astrid's. "Yeah, you are. And your bump is gorgeous." They sat in silence for several moments. Hiccup said, "Does being visibly pregnant scare you?"

She hesitated. "Yeah." Astrid sighed, "I don't want to be asked about it. I don't want to explain to everyone why I'm pregnant out of wedlock."

"We don't have to tell people the truth if you don't want to. We can say the baby is mine." Hiccup thought for a moment, then nodded to Toothless who crossed the room and scooped the betrothal gift off the floor. Hiccup took Astrid's hand. "Astrid, I've been waiting moons for the right time to ask you this question. I love you, Astrid Hofferson, with everything I have. Will you marry me?"

Astrid pulled her hand away. "Hiccup..."

"It's okay." Said Hiccup. "You can say no."

"It's not that." Astrid looked away. "I don't want you to propose just because I'm pregnant."

"That's not why I'm proposing, Astrid. This is the betrothal gift my father gave to my mother. Many moon cycles ago my father gave it to me to give to you. My timing's just been, erm, a bit off." Hiccup chuckled nervously.

"It's beautiful." Astrid took the necklace and traced the ancient prayer with her fingers. She slipped the chain over her neck, then pulled Hiccup close and crushed a kiss to his lips. "That was my answer."

"You're not going to punch me?"

"Maybe later." Astrid's eyes glinted and Hiccup's heart soared. "Hiccup," she said, "I want to tell people the truth. I'm tired of feeling ashamed; of holding the secret inside me like a coal burning a hole in my pocket."

Hiccup slipped his arms around Astrid and held her tightly. "Of course, Angel." He was worried that the Berkian's would reject Astrid and her baby if they knew the truth, but that was a discussion for another day.

"Do you fancy going for a walk?" Said Astrid.

"What?" Hiccup stammered. "It's dark!"

"So?" Astrid picked Hiccup's metal leg up from the floor and handed it to him. "We can stop by the clubhouse on the way, you've had no dinner."

The night was colder than Hiccup expected and Astrid's hand in his was warm. Astrid insisted that Hiccup eat some toast, then led him out of the clubhouse. Hiccup didn't know where they were going but he followed Astrid. They walked through the Southern forest. Hiccup had only been in the forest at night time during Hunter attacks. He could hear owls hooting and the trees loomed above them. It was not ominous, though. "This is beautiful, Astrid." Whispered Hiccup as leaves trembled on the trees they brushed passed.

"I come here when I need to think. Makes me feel connected to nature." Hiccup could hear a large animal moving through the forest nearby and reached for his sword. Astrid laughed. "That's probably Bjorn Boar. The twins never lock him in his pen properly."

"Great, so we can expect to be helping Ruff and Tuff turn the Edge upside down tomorrow looking for him?"

"You'll be helping them. I'm pregnant so I can't do any heavy lifting." In the darkness, Hiccup saw Astrid grin.

They emerged out of the forest onto the clifftops. Hiccup stopped walking. The view was breathtaking. The cliffs around the Southern side of the island were white and frozen mist hung over the ocean. The sky was wide and darker than a night fury; the whole scene framed by a spatter of galaxies and stars across the heavens. It was beautiful.

"I thought you'd like it." Astrid rested her hand on Hiccup's chest and he wondered if she could feel his heart beating. Hiccup slipped his arm around Astrid. His thumb grazed her waist in tiny circles and she sighed. "I could stay here forever."

"Me too." Said Hiccup. "Fancy building our own sanctuary away from dragon hunters?"

"Sounds amazing." Astrid kissed Hiccup's cheek, then grabbed his shirt and flipped him over her head to the ground.

"Hey! I thought you said no heavy lifting!" Yelled Hiccup.

"You're not heavy." Astrid offered Hiccup her hand but he got to his feet by himself. He looped his arm around Astrid and scooped her closer to him.

They stood looking at the view, the silence broken only by Bjorn Boar getting nearer. Suddenly the animal burst through the tree line and Hiccup grabbed his sword from the sheath over his back. When he ignited the blade, however, it was not a boar in front of them at all.

"Snotlout!" Yelled Hiccup. He lowered the sword.

"Why are you two sneaking around?"

Astrid rolled her eyes. "We're not sneaking, Snotlout. We live here, we're allowed to walk around the island if we want to."

"Yak dung." Said Snotlout. He turned to Hiccup. "By the way, next time you want to stay up all night crying, can you do it more quietly? My hut is literally right next door to yours."

"Thank you for your undying support as always, Snotlout."

"What are you even doing out in the forest?" Asked Astrid.

"Following you."

"Why are you following us?" Hiccup tightened his grip on Astrid's waist.

"Because there's something funny going on here. First Ryker knows exactly where Astrid is when he attacks the Edge. Then you start attempting to kill dragons. I'm wondering where your loyalties lie, Hiccup." Snotlout jabbed his finger against Hiccup's chest.

Astrid bent Snotlout's finger backwards. "Hiccup is as loyal as they come."

"Ow! Okay, okay!"

Hiccup sighed. "He does have a point about Ryker, though. How did he know you were in my hut?"

"Lucky guess?" Said Astrid.

"Uh, guys?" Said Snotlout. They ignored him.

"Bit of a random guess, though. He-"

"Guys!" Astrid and Hiccup turned to look at Snotlout. He was pointing at a Hunter ship emerging from the fog.

"Oh, Thor!" Shouted Hiccup.

"You see, Hiccup, this is what I'm talking about."

"Snotlout! How does- oh, never mind. Dragon calls!" Stormfly and Hookfang appeared over the trees, and Toothless burst out of the forest. Hiccup climbed onto Toothless' back and addressed Astrid. "Wake the others, then stay inside."

"What, and not help defend the base?"

"It's too risky, Astrid. We can't let them know you're pregnant." Said Hiccup. Astrid hesitated, then nodded and soared into the air. Hiccup glanced at Snotlout. "Okay, I'll draw their fire, cover my wing. We need to lead them away from the Edge."

Hiccup swooped low to the ship and immediately pulled back. Snotlout plunged forward, a torrent of fire blasting forth from Hookfang. "Stop!" Yelled Hiccup. He shot a blast at Snotlout to stun him, then caught the fallen rider.

"Seriously?" Said Snotlout. "You're defending the Hunters? Man I knew you-"

"They're not Hunters, Snotlout." Sighed Hiccup. Mala was on the deck below, her hands folded behind her back. Toothless and Hookfang landed on her ship.

"Hiccup Haddock, I come to seek your council."

On the way back to the clubhouse, they bumped into the other riders. Hiccup waved to them. "No Hunters. Just Mala."

Everyone assembled around the table and Hiccup glanced at the faces before him. "Where's Astrid?"

"Oh, don't worry, Hiccup." Said Tuffnut. "We locked her in a cell for you!"

"What?! Why would- why on earth would you do that?"

Snotlout snickered. "She's a traitor and even those two muttonheads know it." Hiccup left Heather yelling at Snotlout and the twins and went to release Astrid.

She was sat in the cell with her back to the door but looked up when Hiccup undid the lock. "Astrid? You okay?"

"I'm fine, Hiccup. Ruff and Tuff decided I would follow everyone out to help fight. Which, of course, I would."

Hiccup kissed the top of her head. "False alarm, come on."

Back in the clubhouse Heather was trying to stop Tuffnut attacking Snotlout with Macie. Tuffnut was yelling, "Don't you dare call Astrid a traitor." Snotlout was cowering.

"Enough!" Shouted Hiccup. Everyone turned to look at him. "Firstly, Astrid is not a traitor. And neither am I for that matter. Secondly, we need to speak to Mala, and you all killing each other isn't going to achieve anything." Snotlout and Tuffnut begrudgingly took their seats and Hiccup addressed Mala. "How can we help, Mala?"

"I sent traders to the Western Isle. As you know, we've had no problems buying ship parts there for years. Now almost all the items for sale are repurposed Hunter boats."

Hiccup sighed, "If the Hunters find out we're allied with the Wanderers..."

"They won't find out. Audun said the Wanderers are very private." Said Fishlegs. "They don't go near the ports."

"True." Said Astrid. "But we shouldn't relocate any dragons there if Hunters are operating in the area."

"It wasn't actually the Hunter ships that concerned me." Mala was looking at Hiccup over her hands. "My traders said Terrible Terrors are being sold in the ports."

"What would they want with those scrawny little dragons?" Said Snotlout. "Terrors are only good for terror mail."

"Exactly, Snotlout." Said Tuffnut. "How else would you propose the Hunters communicate? By osmosis?"

"Bro," Said Ruffnut. "Osmosis is the movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane. Words would travel through the air by diffusion."

"Diff-What?" Said Snotlout.

"Diffusion." Said Tuffnut. "It's the passive movement of a substance from a region of its high concentration to region of its low concentration using only thermal energy. Brownian motion, if you will."

"Do you think they're building up their communication network?" Asked Fishlegs.

"Yes," Mala looked evenly at the riders. "They're making alliances."

"The People Of Hope." Said Hiccup quietly. Hiccup told Mala about their experience with the tribe.

"That is," Mala paused. "Most unfortunate."

"Why? They kill dragons." Said Astrid.

"Yeah," Tuff looked up from stroking Chicken. "I'm pretty sure they tried to kill us too. I mean, I couldn't quite tell in between all the arrow fire and shouting, but you know..."

"That may be so, but you said it was part of a religious custom?" Mala said.

"Yes," Said Heather. "But that doesn't-"

"Hiccup Haddock, when I met you, your ways were so different to my own that I planned to execute you. We must consider the People Of Hope with a new perspective."

"Mala, riding dragons is completely different to sacrificing them."

"That may be. There is little that we can do to change things now, your attack will have done nothing to raise your favour with them."

Hiccup sighed and put his head in his hands. "I should have listened to Heather when she said not to attack."

"Yeah you should have done." Said Snotlout. "You're really losing your touch, Hiccup."

"Snotlout!" Astrid rested her hand on Hiccup's shoulder. "We had to weaken Viggo's alliance with the People Of Hope. They're helping him hunt dragons."

"Snotlout's right." Said Hiccup. "I messed up. Our attack didn't even make a dent on their resources."

"Uh, speak for yourselves." Ruffnut held up a finger. "Tuff and I did a pretty good job of blowing up their well."

"True." Said Hiccup. "That should hold them off for a while. We should speak to Cordelia and Amelie, see what they'll tell us about the tribe's war tactics."

"What, now?" Said Heather.

"No, it's late and we're all tired. We'll talk about it in the morning. Mala, you're welcome to stay here tonight."

Astrid stretched. "You can have my hut, I'm sleeping with Hiccup." Snotlout snickered and Astrid rolled her eyes.

Back at Hiccup's hut, Astrid sat on the bed. Hiccup was pacing the room. "D'you think Snotlout's right, Astrid? What if I've made everything worse?"

"Hiccup, we can't change what we did. But if there's a problem, we'll all face it together." She crossed the room and kissed Hiccup's cheek. "I'll stand by your side. Now go brush your teeth so we can get some sleep."

Hiccup's mind swirled with memories of the attack on the People Of Hope as he jabbed at his gums with his toothstick. Astrid was right, he couldn't change any of it. He was still replaying the events of the day when he left the bathroom. Astrid was sat on the bed in her pyjamas rolling up a ball of yarn that Toothless had unravelled. She was staring at the floor and as Hiccup got closer he could hear that her breathing was irregular. "Feeling panicky?" He said softly. She didn't look around so he sat beside her. "Can I touch you?" Astrid nodded and Hiccup began to slowly rub her back. Gradually her breaths began to follow the rhythm of his hand. They sat in silence for several minutes.

"Hiccup," Whispered Astrid.

"I'm here." Astrid leant into Hiccup's chest and his gently folded her in his arms. He looked around for the bucket that he had been keeping by the bed for the past couple of weeks.

Astrid sighed. "I'm fine, Hiccup."

"Alright, Angel. Anything you want to talk about?"

Astrid turned the ball of wool over in her hands. "What if I'm a bad mum?"

"You won't be a bad mum, Astrid."

Astrid laughed. "What, so good mums panic every night? Good mums are so freaked out at the thought of giving birth that it makes them physically sick?"

Hiccup took hold of her hands. "Everybody is different, Astrid, and needing support doesn't make you any less of a good human." He touched her stomach. "This baby already has the most wonderful mum in the world." Astrid scoffed and Hiccup kissed her temple. "Think of everything you've already gone through for this child. It's the most loved baby in the archipelago."

Astrid smiled at Hiccup. "And baby'll always have you. We'll both have you."

"Of course." Hiccup took off his prosthetic and swung his legs up onto the bed. Astrid settled herself next to him and he reached over to blow out their candle. Astrid stopped him. "I want to do some knitting." Hiccup lay on his side and closed his eyes, but after a few minutes realised that he couldn't hear the clinking of Astrid's knitting needles. He rolled over so he could see her. Astrid was curled up with her back to Hiccup.

"Babe? Are you okay?" Asked Hiccup.

Astrid sniffed and her voice was thick. "Go to sleep, Hiccup."

"No." Hiccup reached over her and took her hand. She tried to push him away. "Astrid, I'm not going to sleep whilst you're suffering."

"Hiccup," Astrid rolled over to face him. "This is going to destroy your future."

"No. This is my future. You, the baby, you're my future." Hiccup sighed. "Truth be told I've never really wanted to be chief anyway."

"Wow. Shocker."

Hiccup smiled in spite of himself. "You know, Berk might surprise us. We'll have to let them know sooner or later."

Astrid sat up. "Don't tell anyone yet. I'm not ready to-"

"I'm not going to tell anyone anything until you say so." Hiccup wrapped his arm around Astrid and pulled her backwards so she was resting in the crook of his elbow.

"Hiccup, Babe?"

"Hmm?"

"Why is everything worse at night?"

"I don't know, Astrid. Maybe it's because you feel safer when we're alone together so your feelings come out."

Astrid sighed. "Most couples get to have fun when they're alone together. You get to comfort me whilst I panic."

"Astrid," Hiccup brushed her hair away from her eyes. "I want to support you. I don't have the answers but I love you, okay? No amount of you pushing me away will change that. Now please close your eyes, let's get some sleep."