=Normal POV=
(Frjadgr, Harpa; Midday)
(Berk; The Great Hall)

It had been two days since Hiccup left with the Monstrous Nightmare known as Hookfang. Stoick was back to being Chief, and anxiously, maybe even nervously awaiting the return of his son with his wife who he had believed to be dead for the last eighteen years since that dreadful night when Valka Haddock was taken. Brenna had been told a little of how things went after that by Gobber; Hiccup got taken care of by Freda Jorgenson, Snotlout's mother as she was nursing Snotlout when Valka got taken. Stoick barely saw Hiccup until he was about five or six years old, but Stoick had spent almost an entire year doing searches for his wife. A lot of back and forth trips to find any clues at all, but there was nothing until about a week ago when Hiccup revealed the truth that not only was his mother alive, and had met her, but knew full well why she did not return to Berk.

And just two days ago, Hiccup apologized to his father for the harsh words, and it was agreed upon that Stoick would push back making Hiccup the next Chief of Berk if Hiccup went to talk to Valka and convince her to come to Berk and talk with Stoick. So, Hiccup left with the Nightmare he trained and promised to be back within two to four days. Thus far, it's been two and no sign of him. Brenna found that she didn't like her husband gone for days at a time, especially after the loss they suffered five days ago. And while it hurt Brenna; she had Hiccup's word they would try again, no matter what until they had their baby. Hiccup wanted Brenna to heal first, and take some time to grieve the loss as he was, Brenna didn't mind agreeing to the terms.

Also, the girls; Dahlia, Thordia, Disa, Lena, and Norna suggested that Brenna wait until her cycle returned to normal before trying again. Brenna wouldn't argue with the women who lived in a more modernized world, or that's how Hiccup explained it to her; that the world beyond the Archipelago was much more advanced with things that she and the other Vikings couldn't even imagine. Brenna wanted to know more, but of course, Hiccup was off fetching his mother until further notice.

"I'm sure he'll be back soon, sweetheart," Mildri said, bringing Brenna from her thoughts about Hiccup. Yes, the Chieftains and Heirs were still present. Everyone wanted to see Valka Haddock in the flesh, so Stoick said they could stay, on the condition they helped out around the village.

"I know, but still…I miss him," Brenna sighed.

"You're starting to fall for him, aren't you?" Heather smiled softly.

Brenna blushed a little but nodded. "I don't even remember when it started, but one day I looked at him, and I fell hard…He's…The perfect husband. Granted, things didn't start so great, but after a long talk last week…He's more than shown me that he's keeping his promise to be a better husband to me,"

"Does he feel the same for you?" Astrid inquired.

"I don't know, but he's good to me and goes out of his way to see me happy, so I can't complain or be upset if he doesn't love me back. I can't ask or make him return the feelings. We were forced into this after all and agreed to stay together and make it work," Brenna shrugged.

"That's good, Brenna," Cuyler said.

"When are you going to make him Chief, Stoick?" Gobber wondered now.

"Not sure, after the last week or so…I can see he's more than ready to do it, but he's asked that I hold off," Stoick informed.

"Just while he fetches your wife," Mogadon stated.

"No, he means in general," Brenna piped up again. "Hiccup said he had other things to do before you make him Chief, Stoick," she added, only calling Stoick by his first name because he said she could since he was her father-in-law.

"Oh, right…That whole other business thing he keeps mentioning," Stoick sighed. "I wish he'd tell me,"

"It's nothing you need to worry about, Chief Stoick. We promise," Colden spoke up from the table behind where Stoick sitting with the Chieftains, Heirs, Astrid, Snotlout, Fishlegs, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut. "It's something Hiccup started while banished, and we're helping him out. Hiccup is someone who likes to finish what he starts. If everything goes well; it will benefit everyone,"

"Why can't we know then?" Henrik asked.

"The fewer people know, the sa-," Davyn elbowed Jolgeir in the side before he finished.

"The fewer people know, the easier it is for Hiccup to do what he has to do," Sigvard corrected calmly. Brenna sighed; she wondered what it could be and every time she did; the unmistakable fact that Hiccup and Drage Riddari's eyes were the same came to mind.

. . .

(Tyrsdagr, Harpa; Afternoon)
(Berk; The Village)

Tomorrow would make seven days since Hiccup had left to get his mom; he was way over the time he said he would be gone. Brenna deeply missed her husband; she was miserable without him. Stoick was just anxious and worried for the return. Hiccup would show up alone, unsuccessful in getting Valka to return, or he will return with her. Right now, it was just a little after lunch, and everyone was hard at work, but constantly watching the skies to see if Hiccup would be flying in on Hookfang, the Nightmare he trained.

"Chief!" yelled one of the lookout tower guards. "Incoming!" the man pointed Northeast, which was the direction Hiccup left in. It was like everything in the village stopped, gathering as two dragons were seen coming in. However, it didn't appear that things were alright. Stoick recognized the Nightmare, but didn't see anyone riding it; there were two figures on the second dragon, though.

"Come on, Cloudjumper…Fight it! Please…" pleaded the figure next to Hiccup. The dragon continued jerking around, trying to shake them off.

"Mom, he can't hear you right now!" Hiccup stated.

"He can…It'll be alright," the woman said instantly. Hiccup grabbed her arm as she looked at him quickly.

"We'll never get him back this way. Sorry, Mom…" Hiccup said. "Hookfang!" the Nightmare came closer as Hiccup tossed his mother towards the Monstrous Nightmare; Hookfang caught her in his claws carefully.

"Hiccup! No!" the woman begged.

"Hookfang, take her down!" Hiccup ordered. Hookfang snorted with a nod of his head and retreated to the island. Seconds later after Hiccup knew his mother was safe on the island; the dragon he was on threw him off hard.

"HICCUP!" Brenna yelled with fear as she saw her husband falling fast. Hiccup pulled his shield off his back and fired the grappling hook at one of the torch posts and swinging. When Hiccup stopped the plummet to the ground, he pulled the grappling line to release it and adjust himself to reach the ground and roll to a stop. Hiccup shook his head, forcing himself up to his feet.

"Hic? You good man?" Eirik asked.

"Oh…Gods…I'm gonna feel that for a bit…" Hiccup groaned. "Yeah, I'm fine…Nothing I ain't used to in this line of work," he mumbled.

"What did you do!" the woman, his mother, yelled at him. "I was fine!"

"Mom! He's under the control of the Alpha!" Hiccup shouted back as the dragon was retreating farther and farther away.

"I'm going back for him!" Valka glared.

"You will do no such thing!" Hiccup argued.

"I won't abandon him!" Valka said.

"Mom, if you even attempt such a move; you will get captured again, or killed!" Hiccup warned.

"He attacked my nest! He killed the Bewilderbeast and took my dragons…A-And now Cloudjumper!" Valka was on the verge of tears. "I'm going after-,"

"YOU WILL NOT!" Hiccup raged now, surprising everyone, and making his mother back up. "Now, I know what he did…I saw the nest when I went to find you six days ago. I've been all over the Archipelago and beyond looking for you, and I found you chained up in a cell when I got captured. It took me two days of multiple escape attempts before we got away. I'm not getting my ass beat again because you decide to think you can take this guy on by yourself! I will not let you endanger or risk your life again. So you will knock it off, right now and get comfortable…Because you aren't leaving Berk,"

"B-But the dragons…" Valka looked down.

"Will be fine. They are only under the control of the other Bewilderbeast and following its orders. You are not a dragon master, Mom; you need to stop thinking you have any control or power to make those dragons listen to you. Yes, at the nest; it was a sanctuary for them…But not anymore. There is a new Alpha, and the dragons are listening to him. That is how it works; your Bewilderbeast was calm and gentle…This new one was raised to be cruel. The Alpha controls them all, Mother. The Bewilderbeast is the King of Dragons, and all it takes is a battle of strength to determine who rules. Yours, regretfully, has lost…"

"We have to get them back…" Valka tried.

"You will do nothing because you can't. You have nothing to fight with, and you will end up dead. I cannot allow that to happen, so you will stay put on Berk where you are safe. This is not a battle you can charge blindly into; it takes time, planning, and a whole lot of firepower that we don't possess," Hiccup informed.

"What about Drage Riddari?" Valka asked, looking at Hiccup sternly now. "He has a Bewilderbeast, and a Night Fury…And the weird ability to make any dragon listen to him as if he were the Alpha…"

"Perhaps Drage can do something, Mother…And I'm sure he's already aware of the situation," Hiccup stated. "So why don't we leave it to him to handle," he added. Valka sighed heavily. "I promise that things will end and peace will come to pass…Drage will see to it; that is his goal from what I understand. We'll get the dragons back, Mom…But we have to be patient,"

Valka nodded to him. "So I am just to remain here then?"

"You're out of your mind if you think I'm letting you out of my sight…" Hiccup remarked. "Now…I think you and dad have some catching up to do," Hiccup backed up, standing beside Brenna and holding her in his arms. In all this, despite the words of mom or mother; the woman Hiccup had been speaking with was wearing armor and a mask, no one knew if it was her.

"Valka?" Stoick finally said in a soft, hopeful, and surprised voice.

"Go on, Mom…" Hiccup urged. Valka turned slowly, placing her hands on the mask, and lifted it off her head. Everyone gasped in surprise.

Stoick's sword dropped; he'd pulled it out in case of trouble. Instantly, the Berk Chief removed his helmet as well. The area had fallen silent as the two lovers were looking at one another, and standing about three feet away from each other.

"I-I know what you're going to stay, Stoick…" Valka started nervously but trying to stay firm. "How could I have done this?" she continued as Stoick neared her slowly. "Stayed away all these years…And why didn't I come back to you? To our son?" she went on, her voice failing her. "Well!" she straightened up or tried to. "What sign did I have that you could change, Stoick? That anyone on Berk could? I pleaded so many times to stop the fighting, to find another answer, but did any of you listen?"

"This is why I never married," Gobber said as Hiccup blinked a bit. "This and one other reason," Hiccup arched a brow, not sure if he wanted to know what Gobber meant by that.

"I know that I left ya to raise Hiccup alone, but I thought he'd be better off without me...And I was wrong…I see that now, but…" Valka backed into a post as Stoick was right in front of her. "Oh…Stop being so stoic, Stoick!" she demanded, her nerves winning. "Go on! Shout, scream, say something!" However, Stoick cupped the side of her face as she instantly tensed and went quiet; her eyes widened a bit and the words still to say leaving her mind.

Stoick stared into her blue/green eyes intently; his own filled with joy almost. "You're as beautiful as the day I lost you…" his voice cracked a little. Valka's eyes widened more, shocked; this was not Stoick, not how he should be acting that she was gone for eighteen years by choice! Valka was stonewalled for a reaction and found that she had nothing. Stoick leaned in, capturing her lips with is in a short, sweet kiss.

"And now I think things will be just fine…" Hiccup chuckled, happy to see the sight of his parents reunited because when the kiss ended, Valka just fell into Stoick's loving embrace. Brenna smiled, leaning against Hiccup.

"You did a wonderful thing, Hiccup," Brenna said gently, finally sure of her feelings that this one act compiled with the rest since she found out she was marrying Hiccup, she was madly in love with her husband.