Tallon woke up to Aiden crying at 9am-so did the rest of the guys sleeping down there. Sitting up and stretching, the first thing Tallon did was rub his eyes and shake his head. He saw Evan calming Aiden down and the others waking up slowly-then Darius, Skylar, and Trent walking in to Hector's room. Tallon glanced to Hector's cot and found it empty with the blanket folded and pillow resting on it in a neat pile. "Hector?" Tallon asked. No answer as Tallon now got up and looked around the room to find Hector nowhere in it. "Ev, you see where Hector went?"

"No-sorry man. I got up about twenty minutes ago and he wasn't on the cot. Maybe upstairs?" Evan offered. Tallon slipped on a shirt and headed up the stairs-slowly the other guys began to do the same. They found the girls in the living room, as well Val and Spencer sitting on the couch with coffee.

"Morning boys, Hector still sleeping?" Val greeted them.

"Actually he's not even downstairs. His cot was already made up when we got up about five minutes ago. He isn't up here?" Tallon stated.

"Well his car is still out front so he didn't leave," Darius said after checking the main window and seeing Hector's car still parked outside the front of the house but it was shoveled off and so was the walkway, driveway, and other cars sitting in it. Tallon moved to the door and opened it to look around more, the sky was clear of clouds and the warm sun was already melting the snow.

"HECTOR!" Tallon called out. Silence for a minute...

"What's up, Tal?" Hector replied coming from around the side of the house with the snow shovel wearing a pair of jeans, his boots, and what looked like was a heavy coat with a hood.

"There you are dude, woke up and found ya gone." Tallon said as Hector put the shovel against the siding of the house, kicked off his boots then walked in smiling. He took off his coat and hung it on the hook leaving him in just a long sleeve shirt with his pants and boots still.

"Took ya this long to notice I was gone? Jeeze-if I ever get captured I'll know who won't notice right away," Hector chuckled.

"Not funny. How long you been out there?" Evan asked.

"What time is now?" Hector inquired.

"0900," Tallon stated.

"I've been outside shoveling since 3am when the snow stopped-didn't want it to freeze over," Hector responded gently.

"You've been outside since three in the morning?" Astrid asked as he nodded.

"Yep. Shoveled the garage path, driveway, front path, and just finished the back porch. And I got the cars cleared off, salt down too." Hector said.

"Oh, thank you, son. The crew would have been by though," Spencer said.

"Couldn't sleep so I just did it myself. Oh by the way, Evan-Mia called at 6am looking for you," Hector told him.

"S-she did? She's okay right?" Evan asked quickly.

"Yeah. I didn't tell her that you walked five miles here-just that you called me for a ride and crashed here for the night. I told her you were sleeping and to come by around ten," Hector smiled.

"I owe you," Evan said lightly with a sigh of relief.

"Eh, don't mention it," Hector said moving into the kitchen to make himself some coffee and then five minutes later he returned and sat down on the couch to relax. "You guys can drive now-the plows started around 4am so the roads are cleared but I'd still take it slow," Hector mentioned afterwards.

"Oh, thanks." Mandy smile lightly.

"Well brother, thank you for letting us spend the night. See you tomorrow?" came Simon Jorgenson's voice as he shook Spencer's hand.

"Yes you will," Spencer said as Skylar, May-Hector's aunt, and Simon-his uncle headed outside to their car which was parked behind Val's and then had driven off not more than ten minutes later.

"We should go, Jessie-my parents are asking when I'm coming home." Astrid stated to her boyfriend.

"Got it babe. Let's go Carmen and Freddie, you guys are on the way." Jessie stated.

"Yeah we should go too Mandy, Danielle, Trent, and Reina," Drew said afterwards.

"Drive safe guys," Heather told them as both Jessie and Drew nodded then left with their respected groups. Finally it was just the Haddocks, Tallon, and Evan-who was holding Aiden.

"Bout damn time," Hector mumbled.

"You really didn't want them here, did you?" Tallon asked him.

"Fuck no. Why do you think I made sure their cars or trucks were brushed off so early?" Hector stated with his eyes closed.

"Sorry bro-Mom and Dad thought they were your friends," Darius said.

"My friends are right here," Hector motioned to Tallon and Evan, "Not those assholes-they are YOUR friends," he stated firmly.

"Come on, Hector-they were trying," Heather tried now.

"I don't care. I don't need them-people who suck up just because they see that I'm really not as useless and weak as they thought. I got real friends who accepted me without even knowing me. You keep your shitty, backstabbing, heartless friends to yourselves and we won't have a problem. I put up with it because they were here without me knowing about it and it was my first night back in almost a year, and because of the storm. Doesn't matter how much I dislike some people for how they treat me-I'm not going to purposely endanger them over it," Hector said then got up and walked away heading back downstairs to his room.

"Such a good morning," Val sighed.

"I'm sure he's alright, Mrs. Haddock. I think the events from last night are probably a factor too. A lot of things happened yesterday with getting back after a long flight from Iraq, having to jump right into freeing you guys at the school, to Fort Striker for briefing, the drive back here, seeing those guys, and then of course with his cat," Evan said lightly now.

"Yes-a lot has happened in just a short time and probably not what he was expecting for returning home," Spencer agreed nodding.

"I'll go talk to him," Tallon offered as he went to follow Hector downstairs and talk to him.

"Does he hate us?" Heather asked looking at Evan now.

"Not at all," Evan replied.

"It feels like he does-he took off without a word to anyone and ever since...being home he just seems like he doesn't want to be here," Darius sighed some.

"It's just because of everything that happened. He'll come around-he is happy to be home. But like Tallon and I said-a lot has happened in just a few short hours since arriving back to Berk. He's tired, upset, and needs to readjust to not being in war anymore. He was excited to be home until he saw your friends here-he told us in Basic that one of the girls in the room...hurt him and he doesn't like being around her because she humiliated him," Evan explained. Darius and Heather sighed together now-so Hector told his army buds about what Astrid did, what they all did to Hector. "Just give him a little time is all," They nodded as Val and Spencer went to start breakfast while Darius, Heather, and Evan who was still holding Aiden sat around the living room.

(Hector's Room)

Tallon moved down the stairs and saw Hector sitting on his bed playing a random set of light notes on his acoustic-Tallon decided to knock on the wall and Hector glanced up at him, "Hey,"

"Hey," Hector replied to him softly.

"You alright?" Tallon asked moving inside the room now and sitting in the computer desk chair near the bed.

"Yeah, wasn't the welcome home I was expecting. Well half and half I guess," Hector shrugged.

"Expected the get together but not all the extras who came?" Tallon questioned him.

"I got the shocked looks, surprised faces, and hugs I expected and even the welcome home dinner-but no. I didn't expect to have to get them out of the cafeteria, or those jerks being here, or...having to put Luna down, no-not what I was expecting at all," Hector sighed heavily.

"I know-it was a lot to take in for first day back but it'll be okay. Those guys are gone now and I think you made it pretty clear to your brother and sister that you don't like them so they won't be around again and if they do come around and give you any shit, the guys and I got your back," Tallon offered a smile.

"I ain't worried about them-not the guys at least...I told myself so many times that I was over it, that it didn't matter anymore and yet...it still matters to me," Hector closed his eyes. Tallon didn't understand at first then it made sense to him. Hector was talking about Astrid and the fact it still hurt him what she and the others did to him almost two years ago now. Astrid was the girl who played him-hurt him in a sick game that his own brother and sister were in on and they played along and watched him get hurt. "I guess somethings about me will never change-like that fact I'm hopelessly but madly in love with that girl even after what happened,"

"In love with? I thought you said it was just a crush?" Tallon asked.

"I might'a held back just how much I really like this girl. Come on-you saw her, Tallon. She's a fuckin Goddess. Her name Astrid, means divine beauty. I would've given anything for her to just talk to me like a normal human being back then-why did it take...me joining the military for that to happen. She was friggen drooling along with the other girls when she saw me with my shirt off. She was ogling me while her boyfriend sat not even a foot away from her. I had...muscles two years ago-I just never showed them. I was a loser to them and now suddenly that...I'm in the military using guns, and shit-that they saw me on a mission, now...now she shows an interest?" Hector sighed putting the guitar down.

"Well, Hec, I mean-you're hot to them now. Because they can see it-that doesn't mean anything has changed. You said you don't like to flaunt it-you weren't a badass to them before but now you are. To all those girls-Astrid included, you're a badass. The job you have and the work you do now is cooler to them. They are attracted to strong men who they know would do anything for them-guys with money and status. You're a soldier-nothing beats that because you do something amazing every day-you fight for everyone's safety." Tallon told him.

"But why do I still lover her, Tallon. Why after what she did to me? I keep saying I'm over it-that I don't care anymore, the my feelings faded and it couldn't be farther from the truth," Hector looked down now.

"Because she made you believe that she liked you too, Hector. She made you believe that you-a loser known to the school at the time-managed to get the one of the most popular girls in school," Tallon told him with a hand on his shoulder now as Hector glanced over. "She played you but you still care about her and seeing her the last twenty-four hours with all that happened, her talking to you and treating you like a real person makes you want to be with her again. It's like a like a battle of heart and brain. Your brain knows that she hurt you but your heart still yearns for her and hearing her talk to you-it feels like there is a chance she could see the real you and want to be with you,"

"Cold fuckin' day in Hell if that happens-and Jessie would whoop my ass if I managed to take Astrid away from him," Hector forced a laugh now.

"He'd have to go through Thax, Ev, Vik, and Ry first bro. He ain't gonna touch you although I'm sure you can handle him. You've always had the brain and brawn to deal with them. You shied away from it because you were scared to fail-to show them who you really were. Stop hiding my friend, be who you really are. Show them the real Hector Haddock-and if a day comes when you can't stand on your own, we got your back." Tallon smiled.

"Thanks, Tallon. I'm glad you're here right now," Hector told him-the two connected wrists and got up heading upstairs now to see that Mia had just pulled up in the driveway and Evan looked nervous as hell while holding Aiden in his arms. Hector's parents and siblings were in the kitchen. "Hey, calm down man. Let me take, Aiden and you two can talk," Hector offered him. Evan nodded and handed him Aiden as Hector took him in the other room with Tallon-then walked back out as he'd left Aiden with Tallon when there was a knock on the door and Hector opened it. "Morning, Mia."

"Hi, Hector...is...Evan here?" she asked sadly, Hector opened the door fully now and revealed Evan there.

"Come inside," Hector told her as Mia walked in after wiping her feet on the mat and approaching Evan-she instantly wrapped her arms around him crying hard.

"I'm...so...sorry, Evan. I just...got so upset and frustrated with everything-I didn't...mean to leave you and Aiden out in the cold. I'm so sorry...please...please forgive me," she cried as Hector shut the door now.

"I'll just give you two some time to talk," Hector said moving himself into the kitchen with his family and Tallon-who handed Aiden back to him. Hector sat down at the table with Aiden on his knee-bouncing him a bit to keep him content. Val brought over a plate of food for him: eggs, bacon, toast, and sausage. She also brought over a glass of orange juice for him.

"Hector...we're sorry about before," Darius began.

"Stop," Hector stated, "I don't care. Just don't bring it up-I want to enjoy my two weeks home, not spend it fighting so let's just forget about it and move on," he added. Darius nodded to him as Hector smiled now and began to eat. He gave Aiden a few small egg bites and piece of the crust on his toast. Breakfast lasted all of an hour or so and by that time Evan and Mia walked into the kitchen holding hands-both of them smiling.

"There's my big boy," Mia said as Aiden began reaching for her and Hector stood up to hand him over.

"I gave him some eggs and toast-hope it's okay?" Hector said as Mia cradled hers and Evan's son in her arms.

"Yeah-that's fine. He was getting hungry anyway," Evan said smiling.

"You two...good?" Tallon asked curiously.

"We are now. I understand why Evan does what he does-I just wish Aiden and I could see him more when he's deployed," Mia sighed some.

"Don't you two use Skype or Face-time?" Hector asked.

"My camera is broken on my phone and she doesn't have a camera phone or laptop-neither do I," Evan shrugged.

"Hm, wait here a sec," Hector said as he headed downstairs and then returned three minutes later with a covered disc and camera with a wire. "Here, use this. It's the webcam from my desktop downstairs-I use my phone or my laptop when deployed or at the base. Just gotta plug it into the computer and install this software for it. And Evan-you can use my laptop to talk to her if you want. See, problem fixed," Hector smiled now.

"Thank you, Hector-that's very nice of you." Mia smiled lightly.

"It's what I do-besides, I like seeing the little guy," Hector said to her as Aiden giggled at him.

"Well thank you again for going to pick him and Aiden up last night-I was so upset that I didn't even realized how cold it was until the storm started. Evan is lucky to have have such good friends," Mia said lightly placing the camera in the diaper bag.

"Anytime," Hector nodded, "Go on home with your family soldier-see you guys tomorrow?" he asked. It was his eighteenth birthday and the guys were all planning to get together to hang out. They had no idea what they were going to do yet but they were hanging out for sure to celebrate their friend turning eighteen. Evan grabbed the diaper back as Mia carried Aiden out to the car and then they were gone five minutes later. Now it was just the Haddock family and Tallon there. After breakfast was cleaned up from it was about 11am-safe to say they'd be having a late lunch and now they just sat around the living room relaxing.

"So how was the flight coming into Berk, Hector-you guys didn't get stuck in the storm, did you?" Darius asked him.

"It was a really long flight and now we didn't get stuck in the storm but we had to stop in Norway to avoid flying into it directly-that put us back a day or we would have been here on the 9th around 11am." Tallon said.

"What time did you leave Iraq?" Val asked.

"We left Iraq at 1am on the 9th, flew four hours and thirty minutes to Germany, had a two hour layover there. From Germany to Berk is a three hour and forty minute flight but forty minutes in and the storm was reported so we rerouted to Norway for about twelve hours-spent the night there then when Berk was clear we boarded again and reached Fort Striker at 8:40am on the 10th." Hector explained.

"When do you go back?" Heather asked.

"In twelve days we gotta be at Berk Airport to catch a 9am plane out back to Iraq," Tallon informed softly.

"Are we...allowed to come say goodbye?" Darius asked.

"If you really want too then I suppose you can but Tal and I are riding with Cody to the airport-he's grabbin' us at 7am." Hector stated now.

"We'll be there to see you off son, and...you'll keep in contact right?" Spencer asked lightly.

"I can only agree to try-you saw how crappy the reception is with Skype but you have my address there so if you wanna write letters then it might be easier. I'll do what I can about calls and Skyping, no promises though and you let me call you. I don't always have my phone on me-especially on missions." Hector stated firmly.

"Of course, just let us know when you're calling so we can be ready and all get a chance to say hi to you." Val smiled.

"I'll do my best but remember that Iraq is three hours ahead of Berk so times you might be available-I'm likely sleeping or on a mission, I'll give you my new number so you can text me..." he said now.

"Hector um...why did you just...take off and leave us no way to contact you? Why did you just...leave?" Heather asked gently-thought it came off very nervously.

Hector sighed heavily closing his eyes, "Because you wouldn't approve of my choice to do it. Look how you reacted when you saw me on the news? If I told you what I was doing-you'd be on my ass all the time so I just left and didn't tell anyone. I planned on telling you on the first leave but I didn't know when that would be and you found out anyway. I actually called twice-it probably came up a private number though but I always hung up before talking," Hector explained.

"That was you?" Heather asked as Hector nodded.

"I wanted to tell you all I just didn't know how you'd react so I didn't say anything. Sorry if I worried you," Hector looked down.

"If you worried us? When Darius told us you were gone-I used all my pull as mayor to try and find you. I checked other islands, asked everyone I knew if they'd seen you. We tried the school, board of education, and so much more son. Your note is still on the fridge-we looked at it every morning, we were really upset and worried with you gone...it wasn't the same without you," Spencer admitted as Hector looked up a little surprised. They were actually worried about him? They had searched for him on other islands too? He...wasn't expecting to be told something like that.

"Told ya so," Tallon lightly punched Hector's arm.

"I promise I won't keep you out of the loop anymore," Hector smiled to them.

"Just...one other question," Heather began now as Hector motioned for her to continue.

"Why did you do it?" Darius finished now.

"Unfortunately I cannot give you those reasons-sorry. All you need to know is that it's something I gotta do, for me. You'll understand one day," Hector told them softly. He wouldn't tell them his reasons-he wanted them to figure it out for themselves.

"Well if it's something you have to do son, then you have our full support on it. Just stay safe and know we love you." Spencer smiled.

"Thanks guys," Hector nodded smiling-knowing what he did now and that he had their support, he could actually enjoy his remaining twelve days of leave and he really couldn't wait for tomorrow: his eighteenth birthday that he got to spend with family and friends. It was going to be a great day for him but for now-he just wanted to relax at home for the day.