=Normal POV=
(Odinsdgr, Harpa; Dusk)
(Berk; The Great Hall)

Shortly after Hiccup and Brenna talked things about the loss of their baby, and Hiccup promised that once things were more settled they could try for another; he sent everyone out of his house feeling that they'd been there long enough, and had stayed when it wasn't needed. Gobber had to force Stoick to leave, and Hiccup's twelve friends, of course, got to stay. The Chieftains and Heirs were still on the island, though Hiccup had no idea why anymore and he didn't make it his business to know. As Stoick seemed lost still from the news that his wife was still alive and out in the world somewhere because Hiccup must have run into her somewhere, Hiccup took it upon himself to move into Acting Chief position and take care of the Tribe. Hiccup announced it during the Summer Celebration; stating his father wasn't feeling well, and he was taking over temporarily. No one seemed to mind it, and people were curious if Hiccup could handle it.

Here everyone was three days later, and Hiccup was doing phenomenally. Brenna was done bleeding and cramping, safe to assume the miscarriage was over now. Brenna was back to handling wifely duties at hers and Hiccup's house, but she had help from Hiccup's friends too, mainly the girls. The males would travel alongside Hiccup and assist him if he needed it, but as Hiccup claimed to his father; he didn't need more training to become Chief, he had it down. Hiccup went with the hunting and fishing groups; he handled some mild farming, rounding things up, taking counts and inventory. Hiccup dealt with scuffles, arguments, and basic household problems. Hiccup managed to make time to enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner with his wife, and still work in the forge to help out Gobber.

Spitelout and Gobber were reporting back to Stoick on everything Hiccup did, but Stoick didn't leave his house much. Hiccup wasn't sure the reason, but perhaps it was time for them to talk. Hiccup knew what he said was a bit harsh, but he felt his father needed the wake-up call. Hiccup glanced to his father's home, which was finally done being constructed. Stoick's house was small but worked for him. Not far from Hiccup's house now, was an Inn. Hiccup got the idea from things he'd seen during his travels; have a designated place for guests to stay in. This was a large and long two-story building.

There were forty rooms available in total. The entrance to the Inn was in the middle of the building on ground level, but on the first floor, there were twenty rooms; ten to the left and the right of the entry doors. The same layout was on the second level, both sides separated by a staircase from the first floor. There were five rooms on each side of the hallway, and Hiccup added in restrooms to every room along with a bed, and closet. Currently, the Chieftains and Heirs were staying in the Inn. And Hiccup's friends moved in there as well because they felt they shouldn't impede on Hiccup and his wife's home if they were going to be on Berk for a bit.

"Hiccup?" Brenna got Hiccup's attention finally; he blinked a few times and looked at his wife as they'd sat down in the Great Hall for dinner.

"Yes, Milady?" Hiccup replied smiling.

"While I think you're doing a great job as Acting Chief…Maybe it's time to talk to your dad about what happened three days ago?" Brenna suggested.

"I planned on it, just wanted to give him some time to sit with everything I said. It wasn't like me to say such things, but often I've found that the truth hurts and sometimes; it's needed," Hiccup stated. "I'll go talk to him. Are you alright here?"

"I am," Brenna nodded.

"Alright, I'll be right back. Hopefully with dad and he'll be ready to take over again," Hiccup smiled, kissing her temple; then getting up. "Spitelout!"

"Yes, Chief?" Spitelout stood when addressed by Hiccup.

"You're in charge until I get back," Hiccup informed.

"Aye, sir," Spitelout nodded. Hiccup only chose him because he knew Spitelout was not only his uncle but his father's second in command when Stoick left the island for a meeting or other task. Hiccup went to turn and found his father to be walking into the Great Hall.

"Well, that makes things easier," Hiccup remarked with his arms crossed over his chest. "Decide to come out finally?" Stoick nodded. "Good, because I have a few things to say to you," the man was quiet now. "First off…The Chief isn't supposed to shirk his responsibilities for anything," Hiccup stated firmly. "You've been holed up in your for three days, Dad,"

"You're the Chief right now…" Stoick replied. "And I needed time to-," he began.

"No," Hiccup cut him off. "You are the Chief of this Tribe. You cannot just disappear for three days when they need you. And the worst part is that your only because you are hiding out in your house because I yelled at you. What's the matter, Dad? You can dish out the scoldings, but you can't take them? You've scolded me publically for years, and I took every one of them when I did something wrong, or you did it because you thought I did something. Now, I yell at you when you're in the wrong, and you run away like a coward?" Hiccup inquired.

"No…I just needed time to think about what you said, Hiccup…" Stoick defended.

"You didn't hear a word of what else I told you that day, Dad. Who are you trying to fool? We both know the only thing you heard and needed to think about was the fact I told you that my mother is still alive," Stoick tensed when Hiccup said that. "Go on…Admit it, and don't you dare lie to me…" he added.

"I heard everything," Stoick replied.

"But you only cared about the fact mom is alive, stonewalled that I was able to prove I was not lying about meeting her. You realized as soon as you saw the picture that I've seen her or I would not have been able to do that drawing since I lost her as a baby," Hiccup informed. Stoick nodded to him, lowering his head a bit. "You think I can't figure out what you want to do? You have a one-track mind, Dad. Once you want something, nothing stops you. And who can, you're the Chief after all. I know you want to leave and find her, don't you?" Stoick nodded again. Hiccup leaned closer. "And yet…You have a responsibility to this Tribe; you can't just pass the job to someone else to do what you want to do,"

"I'm Acting Chief, yes. I put myself in this position because I had to, not because I wanted to. I did this because you seem to be incapable of pulling yourself together and doing your job. Is this not what cause the argument in the first place? Not doing the job you have, or rather you believed I wasn't doing mine?" Hiccup stared at him. "All I asked was for a couple of days to take care of my wife after what happened, and you decided to say that didn't matter when you would have done the very same. The fact I know you did in the past because mom had trouble conceiving and holding a pregnancy to the end. Proven by the fact I was born two months early and was expected not to survive. And here…Here I am," Hiccup continued.

"I told you…My life has been nothing but survival. That's why I wasn't worried about being banished; I knew I'd be fine. I wanted you to do it so I could prove that you were wrong about me as everyone else was. Now…Mom didn't come back because you wouldn't change. It turns out; I'm more like mom than you. She believed peace with dragons was possible too, and no one listened to her. After I was born; you were always busy Chiefing. The bottom line is that you didn't listen to her as much as you didn't listen to me. Your narrow mind made her decide not to come back. It is YOUR fault, Dad, not the dragons. You don't listen to anything or anyone if they aren't following your manner of thinking," Hiccup stated.

"All of that aside…You can't just stop doing your job because you were scolded for being in the wrong by your teenage son," Stoick sighed now. "And lastly…I wanted to apologize for being that harsh, but I wanted you to get a reality check. I wanted you to know the truth, and more often than not; the truth hurts. You needed a wake-up call to see where you messed up a couple of days ago,"

"I'm…Sorry too, Hiccup. You were right about everything," Stoick said, ashamed.

"I know I was…I don't scold people unless I'm sure that I am. I don't start fights I can't finish. Now…Are you ready to be Chief again? Not that I mind doing all this; it's not hard for me, but I do have other things to do and complete before you decide to make me Chief…" Hiccup asked.

"You…Don't want to stay Chief?" Stoick inquired.

"Were you intending on making it official so that you could go find mom?" Hiccup questioned. Stoick was quiet. "Yeah, that's what I figured," Hiccup rolled his eyes and sighed. "Look…I know you want to find her. But I have other things to handle before you decide to make me Chief. Unfortunately, becoming the leader of the Tribe cuts into a lot of the time I need to finish other tasks. So, I need you not to make me Chief yet…"

Stoick looked down. "Do you know where your mother is, Hiccup?"

"I do," Hiccup nodded. "We keep in contact; I saw her three months ago. I'm not telling you where she is," Stoick sighed again. "But if you push back me becoming Chief for a while…I'll go convince her to come back to see you,"

"Why can't you just tell him where his wife is?" Dagur asked.

"Why can't you mind your own business?" Hiccup remarked. "I can't tell you where she is because you'll never access it without a dragon, Dad. I can take the Nightmare I trained, and go…I'll be back in a day or two," he offered.

"Can you…Get her to come to Berk?" Brenna inquired.

"Might take a bit of asking and convincing, but yes, I can," Hiccup looked at Stoick.

"Would she…Agree to come home?" Stoick questioned.

"I don't know. We don't usually discuss it as I was banished and probably as mad at you as she was, or is…Not sure," Hiccup shrugged. "Look, let me take the Nightmare. I'll leave tonight and talk to her,"

"You're going to ride a dragon?" Snotlout asked.

"That's not something we do!" Madguts yelled.

"Shut up!" Stoick took a deep breath. "If it takes riding a dragon to see her again…" he paused. "Do it,"

"Done. I'll leave after dinner," Hiccup nodded.

. . .

(Night)
(Berk; Village Square)

Everyone had gathered around for this; Hiccup leaving Berk with a dragon. "You sure you don't need us, Hic?" Sigvard inquired.

"I got it, don't worry," Hiccup assured as he looked at Brenna now.

"Can't I come?" Brenna asked.

"It's best if you stay here, Milady. I promise I'll be back soon," Hiccup smiled as Brenna nodded, going into hug her husband. "Maybe when I return, you and I can take a little vacation…Just the two of us?" he whispered into her ear, causing her to blush, but she nodded as they pulled from the hug. Hiccup gave her a quick kiss as he looked at his father.

"Be careful, please, son?" Stoick asked.

"Always," Hiccup nodded as he whistled. "Hookfang!" he called. Within moments, a Monstrous Nightmare flew overhead and descended next to Hiccup. "Hey, boy," he stroked the dragon's snout.

"Hello, Dragon Master," Hookfang replied.

"Hiccup is fine, my friend," Hiccup chuckled as he secured his bag over his shoulder; then his shield and sword. Hookfang turned as Hiccup got on his back, holding one of the spines protruding from his neck. "Be back in two to four days!" he stated as he patted Hookfang's neck. "Let's go," he said. The dragon took to the air. Of course, once out of sight, Hiccup rebounded and returned around the back of the island; he landed in the cove where Toothless was waiting for him. After a quick switch of dragons, Hiccup and Toothless were off in the direction of Northeast with Hookfang following.