A/N: This chapter will be formatted differently than the others. It was the best idea I had for making a time skip without totally leaving you in the dark. The age at the top of each section is how old Hiccup is at that point in time. I hope you enjoy! Also, huge shoutout to those of you who followed, favorited, and reviewed! It gives me an extra bit of motivation to keep writing, so thanks!

Disclaimer: I don't own HTTYD, but I can dream, right?

11 MONTHS

VALKA'S POV

When Hiccup first began crawling, it was almost impossible to make him pause for even a second. All he wanted to do was explore, which in a normal setting would've been fine. Except, this wasn't a normal setting. We lived in a mountain, with cliffs and dark tunnels and rough terrain. I had to keep a close eye on him every minute of the day, afraid that if I looked away for merely an instant he'd crawl right over the cliff edge.

Now, he'd finally started walking, which just made things even more difficult. The urge to wander was still strong within him, but now he could move even faster. I often found myself chasing after him down one of the tunnels. It was like his sole mission in life was to make me worry. Thank the gods for Toothless. He was at Hiccup's side every step of the way, encouraging him to walk while at the same time corralling him away from anything dangerous.

It wasn't until a month after he learned to walk that I noticed his tendency to crawl—not on his hands and knees like before, but on his hands and feet. It reminded me greatly of the way a dragon walks. Toothless was unaware that once human babies start walking on two legs, they don't stop. The little Night Fury kept nudging Hiccup along, motivating him to move around, and reacting with just as much excitement when he crawled on all fours as when he walked upright on two legs.

I decided to step in, and lifted Hiccup to his feet whenever he tried to crawl, encouraging him to walk normally. Sometimes he'd fuss or throw a bit of a tantrum, but I didn't give up. He would thank me one day.

18 MONTHS

VALKA'S POV

I can't believe it. He bit me. He actually bit me.

I winced as I ran my hand under the steady stream of ice water, washing away the blood that had welled up. My gaze slid over to Toothless, who was still wrapped around Hiccup. My son was fast asleep, the commotion somehow not waking him. Toothless was eyeing me warily, waiting for my next move.

Things had seemed perfectly normal. Our routine had been the same for months: wake up, eat breakfast, then playtime. I'd just woken up a few minutes ago, and went to rouse Hiccup so I could feed him. This time, though, as soon as I'd reached out my hand, Toothless had growled defensively and snapped at me. Not the playful nips I was used to, but a full on bite. He was twice the size he'd been a year ago, his jaws much more powerful, and it hurt.

I grabbed a clean piece of cloth from the table and wrapped my hand, hoping it didn't get infected, then faced the Night Fury with crossed arms. "You wanna tell me what that was about?" I questioned. He ducked his head at my reprimanding tone, curling even tighter around Hiccup. I sighed, walking over to him slowly so he didn't lash out again. "Toothless, I don't get it. He's my son, I would never hurt him. You know that." His expression was appropriately guilty, at least. "We're a family, right?" I continued, holding out my uninjured hand. His eyes flickered up as he flashed me his signature puppy dog look, and he leaned forward to lick my palm. I figured that was his way of apologizing.

This scenario is what I'd been dreading from the start. Toothless was growing, and while I was happy he was still fiercely protective of Hiccup, I didn't want him to think of me as the enemy. It was clear that he had some pretty aggressive instincts, but I was determined to help shape him into the best version of himself.

Cloudjumper was a good role model to have around, since he was a gentle giant. There were times I'd see him get onto Toothless when the smaller dragon played too rough. He also forced Toothless to socialize with the other dragons when I was in the lake giving Hiccup a bath. It wasn't an easy process, but Toothless was definitely getting used to the social lifestyle. He didn't chase away any dragons when they approached to play, like his mother so often had. He didn't have to be a heartless killer just because he was a Night Fury.

I squared my shoulders, once again reaching forwards to pick up my son. This time, Toothless let me grab him without complaint.

2 YEARS OLD

VALKA'S POV

I was on the cliff overlooking the nest, enjoying some quality time with my son. Cloudjumper had angled his wing to act as a slide, and Hiccup was having the time of his life with it. I'd set him up at the top and he'd squeal with delight on the way down, which I suppose for a two year old looked like a much larger drop. As soon as his feet touched the ground he'd whirl around and shout "Again, again!" and reach for me. I was more than happy to oblige, as was Cloudjumper. As long as dragons were involved, it was almost too easy to keep Hiccup entertained. It was moments like these that reaffirmed my decision to stay here in the nest. Hiccup was happy and carefree, and had an army of dragons that would protect him as part of the flock.

While the other dragons had mostly ignored us the first few months, their curiosity only grew as time passed, and eventually they gained the courage to approach us. And when the first one came and received only pets and scratches, the rest were quick to follow. Like Toothless and Cloud, they understood that Hiccup was fragile and needed a gentle touch, so I was more than happy with letting them near my dragon obsessed son. He'd wave at every single dragon he passed, and they'd warble out a greeting in return. Toothless had been an overprotective mother hen at first, growling at any dragon that got within sniffing distance of Hiccup, but after a while, even he learned to enjoy their presence.

Toothless was resting on a ledge just above us, his eyes constantly catching on random butterflies that fluttered around him. He loved to pounce and chase anything that moved, and sometimes his attention span could be short, at best, when I was talking to him. Of course, when it was Hiccup speaking his repetitive two or three word phrases, he was an alert listener. Sometimes it seemed like he and Hiccup were having full on conversations without even speaking. They'd be sitting together, barely moving, not talking, and Hiccup would suddenly burst into laughter as if Toothless had made the funniest joke in the world. It was strange, but I didn't let it bother me. As long as Hiccup's happy, I'm happy.

After letting Hiccup slide down his wing for the hundredth time, Cloudjumper suddenly straightened up, his chest rumbling with unease. I followed his gaze to one of the nest entrances, where a small group of dragons was flying in frantically. I was immediately on edge, and I lifted Hiccup so Toothless could pull him up onto his ledge and wrap around him protectively.

Before I could jump on Cloud to go investigate, one of the dragons broke off from the group and flew haphazardly towards us. It was a Raincutter, one I was very familiar with, as she liked greeting Hiccup in the mornings. I immediately noticed something was wrong. She was leaning far too much and had to constantly overcorrect to remain airborne. When she landed in a heap on our rocky platform, I raced over to check on her. I flinched in shock and horror when I finally saw the problem. Her left wing was wrapped up in razor netting. It had sliced up a good portion of her wing, which was why she was having trouble flying.

She immediately turned to me, whimpering and nudging my chest desperately. I caressed her head soothingly. "I'll help, darling. But you have to stay still, okay?" I instructed. She laid her head down with a tired sigh, letting me work. It was pretty tangled, and took longer than I would've liked, but I eventually managed to dislodge her wing, narrowly avoiding cutting myself in the process.

"Ma-ma," Hiccup's soft voice carried over, and I glanced over at him. He was sitting between his dragon's front paws, with Toothless' head resting on top of Hiccup's lightly. "D'agon boo-boo?" He asked, pointing at the Raincutter with deep concern in his babyish expression.

I sighed, placing the netting to the side and throwing my fur coat over it temporarily so no one else would be a victim to it. "Yeah, honey, she's a little hurt. But don't worry, dragons are good healers. She'll be better in no time." I promised. I'd seen worse injuries, mostly caused by other dragons, and they'd always healed up nicely. Her wing would likely scar, but I did believe she'd be able to fly properly in a couple weeks. Until then, I'd help her.

This was no accident. This netting was a man-made weapon, and no dragon is stupid enough to fly right into it. Which meant it was probably launched at her like an arrow, whether from a ship or land. I knew there were dragon hunters and trappers in the Archipelago; I'd just never had the means to do anything about it.

Now, though...I had an army of dragons at my back, and my son was old enough to stay here on his own with Toothless watching over him. Maybe I should do something. I didn't want any more dragons flying through the entrance with wounds, begging for my help. I wanted them all to be safe. I was the only human (well, the only adult human) that cared enough about dragons to save them from hunters and trappers.

I leaned down to pet the Raincutter's neck, and she purred quietly. "Maybe that's why I was brought here," I murmured, mostly to myself. "Maybe I'm supposed to save you all."

3 YEARS OLD

VALKA'S POV

Recently, Hiccup had taken to riding on Toothless' back to get around. The Night Fury was big enough to carry a ten year old now, let alone a tiny three year old. I made Hiccup walk on his own (on two legs) when I could, but on days I was out on rescue missions, I knew he was right back on Toothless. It was pretty much expected. For those two, close was never close enough. Toothless definitely preferred Hiccup to ride on his back, as if it was a constant reassurance that my son was there, alive and well.

Now that Hiccup had a second, much more effective pair of eyes, he spent more and more time exploring the tunnels in the mountain. I was sure he had all the routes memorized in his head by now, even at three. He showed me one room they had found not too far from the main cavern. It was about the same size as a bedroom on Berk would be, and the roof was ice, so during the day it was light inside. Moss and thin vines with flowers covered the walls, and I realized it would make a great bedroom for Hiccup. I asked him if he'd rather sleep in there and have his own space, which he didn't quite understand, but Toothless had nodded vigorously in response. Having a dragon was akin to having a moody teenager, so it didn't surprise me that he wanted to have an area that was just for him and Hiccup.

Once they started sleeping in there, Hiccup nestled in between Toothless' paws as always, I would check twice during the night to make sure everything was okay. I would be able to hear them easily if they shouted or roared, but I'd gotten used to having Hiccup right beside me at night. After a couple months, I was satisfied that Hiccup would be safe with his dragon in their little room, and I stopped checking in.

Now I just needed to find myself a room.

4 YEARS OLD

VALKA'S POV

"Why did Toothless' mama leave?" Hiccup asked me one day out of the blue. We were both sitting at the desk in the cavern; I was drawing up plans for my next rescue mission—I'd overheard one of the merchants at the Northern Markets talking about a trapping operation a little ways to the south—and Hiccup was doodling in a journal I'd gotten him not too long ago. I could tell he'd be a skilled artist when he was older. His drawings just had that special touch. Toothless was asleep in the corner, his ear twitching every now and then. Perhaps he was dreaming.

I paused at the question, my eyebrows furrowing. "What?" I asked bluntly, turning my head to look at him. He was tapping his pencil against the desk absentmindedly.

"Why did Toothless' mama and brother leave? Was it because they didn't love him anymore?" he pressed, his big, emerald green eyes staring up at me expectantly.

I set down my pencil, facing him completely, and lifted his head up gently by the chin. "How do you know about that?" I wondered. He'd only been seven months old when they left. There was no way he had any recollection of them at all.

He squirmed a bit, so I let go of him. "Toothless told me. He says he's not sad about it, but I think he is," he answered, sending a brief glance to his sleeping dragon.

I sat there in silence, trying to process what he'd just said. Toothless...told him. As in, Toothless spoke, and Hiccup could understand. It was crazy, and unbelievable, but there was no other way Hiccup could've known about Jade and Shadow. But...how could dragons talk?! They were animals! The only sounds they made were growls and croons!

"Hiccup," I tap his shoulder, regaining his attention. "What do you mean by that? How did Toothless tell you? Dragons can't talk, honey." I insisted.

He looked at me like I'd grown another head, which was amusing, but my mind was too preoccupied to laugh. "Of course they can talk!" He argued, huffing dramatically. "You're silly, Mama." He shook his head in childish exasperation.

I held back a sigh, reminding myself that I was dealing with a four year old. "They don't even have lips. How would they talk?" I reasoned.

He puckered his lips an exaggerated amount, then burst out laughing at his own antics. "They don't talk with their lips, Mama!" He giggled, the mere thought sending him into a fit. Should I be offended that I was being teased by a little kid? "They talk up here," he added, pointing to his temple.

"Like...in your mind?" I asked, trying to keep up. "You hear them in your mind?"

He nodded, the action sending his entire body rocking back and forth. "Uh huh," he agreed. "Toothless says it's called thought-speak. Funny name, huh?" he grinned, picking his pencil up to continue doodling.

Was my entire life going to be like this? Learning jaw-dropping facts about dragons that shouldn't be true in any universe but are true anyway? Were the gods trying to give me a heart attack? If so, I have a bone to pick with them.

I believed Hiccup. How could I not, given the proof? My only question now was, why him? How come he could hear the dragons speak, and I couldn't? Do the dragons choose who hears them? Or maybe it was an age thing? Hiccup had been here since he was six months old, and babies were extremely adaptable. Thought-speak could be like any other language—learned over time. That would explain why I couldn't hear it. Adults struggle to learn a new language much more than babies do.

"So?" Hiccup inquired, breaking me out of my thoughts.

"So what?" I asked dumbly.

"Did his mama leave because she didn't love him?" he reiterated, pouting slightly.

I reach up to rub my thumb along his cheek. "I think she did love him, in her own way...But she had to go." I answered.

"Why?" he wondered softly.

"I don't know, darling." I replied truthfully. "But I do know that Toothless has the best brother in the world, and that he loves him with all his heart." I declared, ruffling his hair.

Hiccup leaned away, giggling. "Me?" he checked.

"You," I confirmed, smiling back at him.

4 YEARS OLD

VALKA'S POV

"Are you absolutely positive you can do this?" I ask Toothless, who rolls his eyes and nods firmly. His head came up to the top of my shoulders now, but that didn't mean I completely trusted his ability to carry my four year old.

He and Hiccup were flying together for the first time today. Hiccup had been begging me for months, and I'd finally (reluctantly) agreed. Toothless was growing like a weed, and had drastically improved his flying skills over the past few years. He could easily beat any dragon in the nest in a race, and he maneuvered through the air in expert fashion.

Toothless was wearing a saddle that I'd made Hiccup for his birthday. It hadn't been easy. I had to fly to a different island for the leather, and designing it had been a huge pain. Crafting saddles for dragons was not my forte. But it had been worth it to see the expression on Hiccup's face. Toothless wore the thing practically every minute of the day. Apparently it made him feel more connected to his favorite boy.

I'd made sure I put plenty of handholds on the saddle. If Hiccup was gonna ride a Night Fury, he was gonna be prepared. I just know that as soon as Hiccup tells Toothless he's comfortable, that dragon will not hold back. He takes great pride in his abilities and never misses a chance to show off.

"Okay, okay...just go before I change my mind," I say, waving him off and taking a few steps back. Hiccup was already on his back with feet in the stirrups. He looked tiny in comparison to his dragon, and I had to remind myself that if he fell, Toothless would undoubtedly catch him.

They exchanged excited glances, and Hiccup leaned forward so he was flat against the saddle. Once Toothless was sure he was in the right position, he got a running start and jumped over the cliff, disappearing over the edge. I ran over, briefly wondering if something had gone wrong. As soon I looked down, though, a flash of black shot up in front of me. I stumbled backwards from the force of the wind, watching them fly up towards the ceiling in shock. Okay, I hadn't been expecting that!

Toothless was flying full speed, weaving through groups of dragons that crossed his path. He made a wide arc around the nest, then dove into a light spin, flaring out his wings right before they hit the water. Hiccup, from what I could see at this distance, was hanging on effortlessly. A four year old should not be able to handle that kind of flying!

I spared a glance at Cloudjumper to see his reaction. He was watching with rapt attention, but he didn't look concerned like me. It made me feel a little better. I trusted Cloud's judgement.

As Toothless flew back our direction, I could hear Hiccup shouting with excitement. As they passed by, I cupped my hands around my mouth and yelled as loud as I could, hoping they could hear me. "You better not have been practicing behind my back!"

Cloudjumper huffed with laughter.

5 YEARS OLD

VALKA'S POV

I knew the topic would come up eventually, I just didn't know it would be so soon.

Hiccup and I were on an evening flight, my favorite part of the day. The sky meant freedom for both of us, and I always enjoyed any time I spent with my son. It was a cloudless day, and the earth was just beginning to be bathed in that lovely orange glow. There wasn't any land in sight, but we weren't lost. We knew exactly where home was.

Hiccup's voice broke the peaceful silence, not that I minded. He was flying at my flank, just out of reach of Cloudjumper's wings, so I could hear him clearly. "Mama, where did we come from?" He asked, making me tense up. "Toothless says we just showed up in the nest one day. Where were we before that?" He wondered curiously.

I winced slightly, turning to face him. He was so young...how could he possibly understand? Still, I couldn't lie to him. He deserved the truth. "We, uh...we lived on an island called Berk...a human island." I admitted.

He blinked in surprise, and shared a glance with his dragon. Toothless was just as curious. I guess Cloud hadn't told him. "But humans hurt dragons." Hiccup pointed out, looking more and more confused by the second. He subconsciously scratched in between Toothless' ears, something he did when he was nervous.

"Yeah, I know, buddy...that's why I left." I responded, warping the story just a bit. The last thing I wanted to tell him was that Cloudjumper kidnapped us. I don't blame my dragon for anything, and I don't want Hiccup to hold any resentment towards him, either. The Dragon War wasn't why I left Berk, but it was the reason I stayed here.

Hiccup hummed thoughtfully, his young mind churning over the new information. "Does Berk have other kids like me?" he asked.

I chuckled. There's no one like him...but I knew that's not what he meant. He'd never seen any humans, save for me. For all he knew, he was the only kid in the world. "There are lots of kids on Berk." I told him with an amused smile. "You wanna hear something really cool, though?" He nodded quickly, inching forwards with interest. "Your dad is the Chief. That's like the human word for Alpha," I told him.

His face lit up instantly. "Really? Wow! That's awesome! I wish I was an Alpha." He pouted at the last part. Toothless warbled something that immediately made Hiccup cheerful again. "Yeah, you're right, bud! Alphas never get to have any fun. I'd rather go flying with you." He leaned down and wrapped his arms around Toothless in a tight hug, and the Night Fury let out a contented purr.

I shook my head at his train of thought, but didn't press the matter. I'd tell Hiccup the rest eventually. I'll tell him about Stoick, the War, the people, the customs. But for now, I would just let him enjoy being a five year old flying on the back of a Night Fury.