Where I Belong

Author: Nightstar Fury

Rating: M

Pairing: Hiccup/Astrid

Disclaimer: I don't own the HTTYD movies, or any of the HTTYD series such as Riders of Berk, Defenders of Berk, or Race To The Edge.

Unexpected Visit

It couldn't of been possible. The old chief didn't want to believe that his wife and only son were actually alive, that the boy laying sick before him was his young son that he lost 17 years ago, that this boy had been been with the tribe for a year. But he had the necklace that Stoick gave to Valka before they were married, and Stoick would know that necklace anywhere. What didn't make sense to Stoick however was the fact that Einarr said his mother was going to throw it away, that it no longer matter and she never wanted to see it again. That didn't sound like Valka at all, she loved the necklace and vowed to never take it off, and that she'd take it to Valhalla with her. Stoick looked over Einarr again, the auburn hair and green eyes that currently right now were closed. There was a knock on the door as Stoick held the necklace in his hand but went to answer the door, opening it he saw Astrid there.

"Sorry to bother you sir. I left my ax in the main room..." Astrid gave a soft smile.

"Oh its fine lass. I was wondering, can you keep an eye on Einarr for a while longer...There is something I forgot to do." Stoick asked.

"I don't mind at all, how's he feeling?" Astrid asked stepping inside the house now.

"A little better but he still needs his rest so try not to wake him." Stoick smiled some, Astrid nodded as Stoick then left the house leaving Astrid inside to look after Einarr while he went to figure all this necklace stuff out and he went to the one person who might be able to make some sense of it. Gobber. Reaching Gobber's in almost record time, Stoick knocked. It was only 9 at night, he knew most of the village stayed up until 10:30 or 11 except children who were supposed to be in bed no later than 9:30. The blacksmith opened his door and saw Stoick standing there as if he'd seen a ghost of some sort.

"Well isn't this a pleasant surprise..." Gobber began.

"Gobber. I think Hiccup and Valka are alive." Stoick said, Gobber immediately sighed bringing Stoick in his house and shutting the door.

"Stoick, you have to let it go. It was 17 years ago! Now I know you miss them and that it hurts they are gone but you have to face facts my old friend...Valka was taken by a large, four winged dragon and in her arms was little Hiccup. There is no way they are still alive because if they survived then they would of come back by now." Gobber said.

"No, listen to me. They have to be alive, I don't think that dragon ever hurt them. The night I found Valka in that room, the dragon was staring at her but not attacking. I only attacked because Val looked terrified and Hiccup was crying in his cradle...Valka said something to the dragon after it set the house on fire. She told it to stop, and it listened to her. It turned its attention to her and the next time I turned around the dragon was carrying her off with Hiccup in her arms." Stoick explained, the old blacksmith sighed again sitting in his chair.

"That doesn't mean anything Stoick. Val always believed peace was possible, she begged us raid after raid to stop killin them." Gobber reminded.

"What if she found peace after she was taken? What if she started rescuing dragons from Vikings like us who never listened? Gobber. Think about it...They were taken but we never found any bodies and we were right behind that dragon when it left..." Stoick said.

"Alright, Stoick...Where is all this comin from because you are startin to scare me, its not healthy for you to obsess suddenly on the idea that they are still alive when 14 years ago you had laid it to rest that they were dead. I think Einarr livin in yer house is getting to ya my friend. He's the son you never got to have, you yew know that. If Valka were alive, if she survive being taken...Don't ya think she would of come back with Hiccup as soon as she was able too?" Gobber told him.

"Einarr is Hiccup, Gobber. He has to be..." Stoick said, Gobber straight up lightly whacked Stoick upside the head with his hook.

"You have lost yer mind old man..." Gobber retorted quickly.

"No I haven't...I can prove its him. Just think about all the facts since we met Einarr...He rides a Night Fury, his birthday is the same day as Hiccup's was, he said it's been just him and his mother for years until last year when he left to find out who he really is. To find the father he's never known..." Stoick said, Gobber eyed Stoick curiously.

"That doesn't mean Einarr is 'Iccup, Stoick. You need to get some sleep and forget all about this. Those are decent points but still, we know nothing about Einarr's life. Sure he's been with his mother but we don't know how it came to be just them on their own. Not to mention, Einarr said his mother pretty much hates him and you know that Val adored her son. If you want me to believe that lad is Hiccup aside from looks then you're goin to have to use something stronger that has no explanation." Gobber sighed.

"Stronger with no explanation? Fine," Stoick opened his palm and showed Gobber the necklace that had been around Einarr's neck. "How about this then. The necklace I gave Valka when I proposed to her, it was around Einarr's neck. And he specifically said that it belonged to his mother, who told him to throw it away because they were never going back to their old life among dragon killers. He said his only clue to who his father was, was this necklace because it has his parent's initials on it." Gobber took the necklace and eyed it slowly, flipping it over to see Stoick's and Valka's initials. "You know your work, Gobber and I asked you to make that for Valka for me so I could propose to her...I know it sounds crazy but with this...Their alive, Gobber. My wife and son are alive...My son is Einarr, he's Hiccup..."

Gobber looked from the necklace back to Stoick as his eyes finally widened in realization, "Odin's ghost, Stoick...I can't believe I'm sayin this because yes, it's insane...But you're right...If Einarr had this and said it was his mother's...Then Einarr is Hiccup..."

"My son is alive, my wife is alive somewhere. Hiccup knows where her nest is! I have to go tell him that he's back home!" Stoick said as he took the necklace and prepared to leave.

"Hold up there, Stoick...You can't just go blazin in there claimin yer his father...He's not going to believe you and he's probably not going to like you took his necklace...And you said he's still sick...Let him get better first, then we can talk to him. Have him tell us his story and we'll see if it matches up with what happened...And keep this quiet too, no need to rile the village until we know for sure..." Gobber informed his friend. Stoick's face fell, he sighed nodding. Gobber was right, they still knew nothing from Einarr's past but he said he didn't know either. As much as he didn't want too, he knew he had to wait until Einarr woke up to ask him what he was trying to say earlier tonight before he went back to sleep. Stoick nodded to Gobber as he left his friend's house and returned home, once there he put the necklace on the bedside table then sent Astrid home before he laid down himself. All he could think about was that the boy in the next room was his son, he had to be.

(Four Days Later)

Hiccup was still stick, Stoick and Astrid were both worried more so now. Gothi said it was nothing serious so why was he still sick, his fever wasn't as high but he was still bed ridden and throwing up a lot, sleeping too. Stoick wanted to talk to him but Gobber still insisted on keeping quiet until Einarr felt better. Currently it was a little after lunch and Hiccup was actually awake trying to eat something but his stomach was saying no. Groaning he flopped back in irritation, he hated just laying there. He missed flying on Toothless, and his freedom to just walk around and enjoy the outside world for a while. "Hey...Stoick?" Hiccup asked, the chief looked over at him now. "Did you...take my necklace off a few nights ago?" Hiccup questioned.

"I did son, I didn't want you to choke in your sleep." Stoick replied to him.

"Oh, thank you..." Hiccup replied with a soft smile. Astrid was in the room too, Gobber making some stew and it was mostly silent between all of them. Then in the silence there was a loud roar overhead, everyone looked towards the door as Toothless lifted his head and growled lowly. "What is it Toothless?" His dragon rose to his feet and glanced towards Hiccup. The roar again and Hiccup figured it out. "It took you a year to find me...Disappointing." Hiccup said as he threw the covers off, slipped on his boots then headed for the door.

"Wait...Einarr, where are you going?" Gobber asked.

"Berk has an unexpected visitor...Don't worry, I'll deal with her. Its a...family issue anyhow..." Hiccup answered almost coldly as he walked out of the room, then the house as the crowd had already gathered. When Hiccup looked up he saw them. Stoick, Gobber, and Astrid rushed out after him, they saw him looking up at a four winged dragon that had a rider standing on it's back. Hiccup's eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms over his chest, "Well well, I'm shocked you left the nest and traveled this far to find me, even entered a Viking village on Cloud Jumper?" Hiccup chuckled almost.

"Einarr...Who...is that?" Astrid asked.

"My mother." Hiccup answered coldly. Stoick froze almost, if that was Einarr's mother then...it had to be Valka, riding the very same dragon that took her.