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.

Concerned

It had been weeks since Hiccup became chief and he really was an amazing chief too according to the village. Hiccup was up every morning before everyone else to take a flight with Toothless and patrol the island from above, it was the best way to do both things not to mention it was incredibly relaxing for him. This was something that never got boring for Hiccup or Toothless, being able to fly the way they did. Their friendship was unbreakable and as they'd been when they met, they were damn near inseparable and would do anything to protect the other. Most days, Hiccup would take his flight with Toothless until the sun rose then land as everyone was beginning to wake up and make their way to the hall for breakfast. As always, Astrid would greet him smiling as they'd share a hug and kiss before entering the hall themselves to eat. Hiccup would make his announcements if there were any and then the day would proceed from there.

Hiccup did a wonderful job as chief, true to his vows he was always firm and fair with decisions and solutions, he listened well too and managed to keep time to keep working in the forge as well see Astrid. Hiccup kept the food stocks high, supplies, tools, weapons, wood, and so much more. He was always on top of it and no one gave him any trouble, not that anyone would. How did you stand up to the man who made peace with dragons and rode a Night Fury? You didn't but Hiccup treated everyone equal, he even gave younger kids jobs so they didn't feel left out but they were always easy like sweeping or picking up their toys. He liked making them feel useful, and it kept them busy and not bothering their parents. Yep, everything was perfect for Berk and everyone residing there, both dragon and human. Hiccup loved it all and he made sure his people knew that, that he was happy or at least that's what he made them believe.

Unfortunately, certain people were beginning to take notice of their chief's behavior recently and they were worried. While every day, Hiccup was smiling and running the village perfectly they could see that he was becoming distant and they didn't know why. It always started after dinner, when Hiccup would head home and turn in a little earlier than everyone else saying only to wake him if he was needed. They didn't argue with him but they were a little concerned as to why their chief would turn in at eight at night, no one was in bed that early until they were young children. Normally, Hiccup would stay up until midnight with Astrid but not as of lately he hadn't. He would go to bed around 8:30 then stay in his room until he got up around 6:00am to start chiefing. Tonight was no different, he walked Astrid home then returned to his parent's house seeing them sitting on the couch together.

"Welcome home son." Stoick greeted.

"Hey, Dad. Hi Mom." Hiccup waved with a small smile.

"Would you like to sit up with us?" Valka asked gently.

"No thanks, been...a long day. Just going to turn in early. See you in the morning. Good night." Hiccup replied heading towards his room and closing the door. Valka and Stoick shared a look then sighed, they knew something was wrong and they wished they knew what it was. A few hours later, Stoick and Valka were preparing to go to bed when they heard whimpers emitting from their son's room. They moved closer to the door to listen to what he was saying and it shocked them.

"I don't...care what you do to me...You can break my soul...take my life away, beat me, hurt me, kill me even...But for the of God...don't touch him!" They heard Hiccup plead, cracking the door open they saw him thrashing around in his bed and Toothless just looking helpless trying to wake his friend. "Stop! Please stop, don't hurt him! Leave him alone!" More thrashing as Valka rushed in and put her hands on his arms.

"Son! Hiccup wake up son..." She asked him.

"I'll never...tell you! I don't care what you do to me! I'll never tell you how to ride dragons!" Hiccup yelled, now Stoick came in but before he could attempt to wake up Hiccup, his son sat up quickly with eyes opened wide, sweat beads on his forehead, he was panting hard. Toothless crooned worried for him, nudging his face.

"Hiccup?" Valka asked softly, Hiccup's eyes fell on his parents then to Toothless who he instantly hugged and sighed in relief.

"You're okay...Thank Thor you're okay bud..." Hiccup felt Toothless leaned into the hug and relax.

"Son, what's wrong...You were...yelling in your sleep." Stoick said calmly.

"Nothing...Nothing at all. Just a nightmare...I'm fine..." Hiccup replied now after breaking the hug.

"But..." Valka began.

"I'm fine, Mom. I just...want to go back to sleep. I got work to do tomorrow..." Hiccup said, Valka nodded as Stoick and her left. Toothless nudged him, warbling worried for him.

"No Toothless...I'm not...telling them. I can't..." Hiccup sighed heavily as he laid back down while rubbing Toothless's head. "I can't tell them what happened...I'm okay now, lets just go back to sleep. Good night, bud..." Hiccup told him, Toothless laid down but didn't sleep, and neither of them did. Silently for the rest of the night, they both just laid awake in their beds.

(Few Weeks Later)

Not only were Stoick and Valka concerned, but now Astrid was too. Every night it seemed, Valka and Stoick were listening to Hiccup have these nightmares but though they wanted to go in and help him through them...Hiccup ended putting a lock on his door that they couldn't just come in. Astrid too noticed her boyfriend's distance. Their dates lasted through dinner but nothing else and Astrid noticed that Hiccup was only giving her a quick kiss on the lips before taking her home and going home himself. It didn't stop there though, they knew something was wrong, something Hiccup wasn't telling them. Hiccup wasn't sleeping well or perhaps not at all, they could see the tiredness in his eyes, the bags under them. His movements were slow, he was sluggish and weaker, and he was eating less.

"We have to do something..." Valka said softly as they watched Hiccup work with Toothless helping the fishermen, Astrid and Stoick were with her of course. They wanted to help him but how could they help when they didn't know the problem. Hiccup just blamed it on being stressed and overworking himself, they didn't want to push him but they were really worried.

"Maybe it's time we sat him down and talked to him..." Astrid offered.

"That might be best." Stoick nodded, the two woman agreed as they saw Hiccup come over on Toothless with a smile and dismount him. "Hey son." Stoick greeted.

"Hey." Hiccup said, he gave Astrid a kiss on the cheek and she sighed softly. "What's wrong?" Hiccup asked seeing their faces now.

"Hiccup we're...really worried about you." Astrid reached for his hand now.

"Worried? Why, I'm fine." He replied.

"No son, you're not. You haven't been sleeping or eating a lot lately. You're up at the crack of dawn, and asleep right after dinner...Then you have those...nightmares." Valka added.

"I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who gets nightmares..." Hiccup chuckled a bit, "I appreciate the concern...But really, I'm okay. Just over working myself is all...I gotta get back to work. See you for dinner." Hiccup said as he turned to walk away, Toothless walked beside him. They watched him walk away but not more than 10 steps in they saw him just fall forward and lay motionless there.

"Hiccup!" Astrid yelled in fear as they rushed over to him, this of course got the attention of people in the village. Stoick turned Hiccup over and saw him unconscious. "Oh Gods..." Astrid cried a bit.

"Let's take him home, he needs to rest." Stoick said, "I'll take the rest of his jobs today, you two stay at home with him." Stoick ordered. Valka and Astrid nodded with worry written all over their faces. Stoick carried Hiccup back to the Haddock house and laid him in his bed before placing a cool, wet rag on his forehead then stepping back. "We'll get Gothi later and find out what's wrong." With that he left the house to assure the village that Hiccup was okay, just exhausted. Valka and Astrid stayed on either side of Hiccup's bed watching him closely. Toothless just laid on his rock warbling with worry, what could any of them do but wait until he woke up to find out what was wrong and that was if they could get Hiccup to agree to tell them what was bothering him.