One week since Astrid's mother, Asta passed away. One week still to go until their play wedding. Astrid hadn't gotten any better, and Hiccup wasn't doing to great either with the funeral coming up that weekend and his own memories of the past haunting him, on top of Astrid's sadness he wasn't getting any sleep at all. Calder kept Astrid out of school the entire week, staying with her at Hiccup's and her house while Hiccup was in school. Not that it was any easier there or home. At school he was always asked how things were at home with Astrid, and the answer was always the same. Terrible. Hiccup hadn't flown Toothless at all because he'd been spending his time with Astrid but Toothless understood fully.

The band also had to pick up their practices again because the prom/homecoming was right around the corner. Hiccup still wanted to tell Astrid before that night but with how things were right now he couldn't bring himself to do it. It would be to much for Astrid to handle at once. He only prayed she didn't hate him when she found out he'd been keeping it a secret. And he had yet to tell her about the fact he was Fury too but that was something that no one except his father and the staff knew. That would be another big secret to tell but again, wrong time to bring it up. Hiccup was collecting all Astrid's work for her and bringing it home so she could do it when she felt up to it. The teacher's understood fully and weren't giving her any trouble over it.

It was Friday afternoon and the last bell for the day was set to go off in 20 minutes. Hiccup had class with all his friends right now, they moved closer to him as he was partially asleep on his desk. He was exhausted, physically and mentally at this point. Perhaps all week he'd gotten a total of 10 hours of sleep, maybe 15. Snotlout tapped his shoulder a few times. He groaned a bit. "You alright?" Dagur asked. Hiccup lifted his head tiredly, the bags were very clear under his eyes.

"I'm beat guys..." He replied finally.

"You want us to come over and sit with her so you can get some sleep?" Eret asked him now.

"Maybe another time...Astrid hasn't wanted anyone over...Besides me, my dad, and her dad...She barely leaves her room. I can't blame her..." Hiccup sighed.

"Hic, you're falling asleep in class, you never do that. You need to rest." Fishlegs pointed out.

"Legs, I can't okay. Even if I wanted too, I can't sleep." Hiccup rubbed his eyes. "Astrid needs me too much and I got other things on my mind..." Hiccup stated.

"Like?" Snotlout asked him.

"Seeing Astrid deal with this...having to go through it...Just brings it back for me 10 years ago..." Hiccup closed his eyes again, the group of friends looked at one another sadly.

"Can't be easy man...you sure we can't help?" Eret added.

"Not really...Tonight's the wake and funeral...Astrid is going to need us all there...as soon as her father told her when it was, she could barely stand up. If I hadn't been beside her she would of collapsed. It's still not real to her..." Hiccup lowered his head to the desk again.

"It will be after tonight...studies show that after the funeral, the mourning starts. Then it should get easier over time..." Dagur added.

"You guys haven't been there...Every night, every single night she cries in her room and I end up staying with her after her dad leaves. She sleeps in my arms, and holds my shirt until morning. The first night she wanted to sleep with me, to forget the pain...I told her no of course because she'd regret it later on. She knew I was right and started crying again, almost like she was ashamed of herself. I've been singing to her every night, it's the only way she calms down." Hiccup stated.

"Singing?" Ruffnut asked.

"Yeah, you know. Singing." Hiccup said lifting his head to her.

"What song?" Tuffnut asked now.

"One of Fire Storm's. You Got Me...She asks for it by request. Every night when I lay down with her since that first night when I sang it to calm her down, now its every night." Hiccup said, the bell rang and he got up slowly stumbling a bit and Snotlout grabbed his arm to keep him from falling forward and knocking out.

"Alright. You can't drive and Astrid will kill one of us if we let you drive like this, Hiccup. I'll drive him home. Eret, follow me so you can take me home after." Snotlout said firmly.

"Guys, I'm okay...really? Wide awake." He said yawning.

"No chance, Hiccup." Heather said shaking her head at him.

"Fine..." Hiccup mumbled. They all walked outside. Fishlegs took Ruffnut and Tuffnut home. Dagur drove on his own. Eret followed behind Hiccup's truck to his house and pulled up in the driveway.

(Inside the house)

"Hm, sounds like Hiccup is home." Calder said looking out the window.

"Wait...that's...Snotlout and Eret behind him. Why was Snotlout driving Hiccup's truck?" Astrid asked getting up now and going to the door. She opened it seeing Snotlout and Eret helping Hiccup walk inside. "What happened!" She asked immediately.

"Stupid here wasn't in any condition to drive home. So I drove and Eret followed to bring me home." Snotlout stated as Astrid moved aside and let them in with Hiccup, they walked him to the couch and sat him down before stepping back.

"Guys...really, I was fine..." Hiccup mumbled out.

"Why wasn't he in a condition to drive? Is he sick?" Calder asked looking to the two boys now.

"He's exhausted, sir. Said at school he hasn't gotten any sleep this last week..." Eret answered. All looking to the couch, they saw Hiccup already knocked out and asleep. "Point made." Eret added pointing to Hiccup now.

"This is my fault...he's so tired because he's been up taking care of me..." Astrid sighed sitting down sadly now.

"Astrid no...don't blame yourself. Hiccup chooses to stay awake for you, to help you get through this." Eret said.

"It's not just him helping you that's keeping him up either...he's dealing with a lot he said. We just wanted to make sure he got home safely is all." Snotlout said as they headed for the door to leave.

"Thanks boys. Hiccup's lucky to have such good friends to have his back." Calder called to them. They waved and got in Eret's car then drove off. Calder shut the door and saw Astrid cover Hiccup with a blanket and kiss his cheek lightly. "I wonder what else is on his mind to cause him not to sleep..." Calder stated.

"I don't know...he hasn't said anything to me..." Astrid said softly.

"Well let him get some rest baby. The wake is at 6:30, then funeral at 7:30. I know it's late but it was the only open spot this week..." Calder sighed.

"Its okay dad..." Astrid told him.

"Not to worry, Calder. I'm here, I can make sure he's up on time. Go make sure everything is ready." Stoick said entering the home now.

"Right, thank you my friend." Calder said to him as he headed outside and drove off in his rental car. Stoick sat down on the couch.

"Can I get you anything, Stoick?" Astrid offered him slowly.

"No, thank you. How are you holding up?" Stoick asked her now.

"As good as can be expected...I'm more worried about him..." Astrid said looking to Hiccup still asleep on the couch.

"He's alright. Just a few demons of his own that are keeping him up at night." Stoick smiled softly.

"What do you mean?" Astrid asked now with a curious look on her face.

"I won't go in to detail, and don't tell him I said anything..." Stoick began as Astrid nodded to him. "This whole situation...has him pretty upset. Maybe as much as your feeling, Astrid." Stoick said to her.

"I–I don't understand how...H–he didn't know my mom that well for it to affect him this badly..." Astrid said. Then she saw Stoick shake his head and point to Valka's picture on the table near the window. Her eyes widened now as she looked to Hiccup's sleeping form, then back at Stoick. "Oh Gods...I didn't even..." Astrid began in shock. How could she of forgotten so easily. Hiccup lost his mom too and now trying to help her, he was reliving his own pain. She felt awful now. Not only was he losing sleep being there for her when she cried but his own nightmares kept him up at night.

"Don't worry, Astrid. Hiccup is a strong young man. I'm sure you've seen that yourself..." Stoick told her.

"God how could I of been so selfish...Hiccup is suffering as much as I am..." Astrid said softly now not wanting to wake Hiccup up.

"Astrid, you're not selfish. You've been going through a lot too. You losing your mother only just happened, it's okay and natural for you to be upset over it. Hiccup and I lost Valka 10 years ago, but we still mourn her. Its something that will never stop, Astrid. It will get easier over time and you'll always have your memories of her. There will be times when its harder, like the holidays and special occasions. But like I always told Hiccup, what do we do when they can't be here with us, we celebrate them. And I imagine that's what your mother would want as well." Stoick told her with a smile.

"How did...he get over his mom dying?" Astrid asked now.

"Time dear. A lot of time and patience. You'll get through it too. You have your dad, me, your friends, and of course you have Hiccup. You don't have to get over her right away, Astrid and no one expects it of you. But you can't let yourself give way to sadness all the time, its best to remember the good times. And know that she will always be around, looking out for you." Stoick said as he got up and hugged Astrid.

"Thank you for telling me all this...I know it'll take time but...hearing everything from you...I guess it makes it a little easier to bare. And I know I'm not alone..." Astrid said now.

"Aye, there will be times you feel like you can't go on. You'll hate yourself, blame yourself even though deep down you know it's not your fault. You have to keep in mind that whenever you feel like falling and you feel like nothing will help...Hiccup will be there for you, so will I and your father, your friends too. You must always remember that, Astrid. It's key to healing. They will always be there for you, even if it doesn't seem like it sometimes. Promise me you'll remember that." Stoick told her.

"I promise, Stoick." Astrid said smiling softly.

"That's a good lass. Now I need to get back to my house to handle a few things before tonight. The after party is being thrown at the main house." Stoick said with a nod, Astrid nodded to him as he left then she looked back to Hiccup.

"You big dummy..." Astrid said as she moved some of his brown hair from his face. Astrid was still deeply hurt by her mother's passing but after hearing Stoick's words, the pain was softer and she could handle it. She knew there would tough times but if Hiccup could do it at age 7, she could do it at 17 because she had all the love and support she'd ever need and she knew they'd never let her fall completely. For the next few hours, Astrid cleaned up the house. She did the dishes, swept the floors, dusted and more. Everything but vacuum so she wouldn't wake her boyfriend.

As the clock struck 6pm, Hiccup slowly started to awake and she moved beside him so he'd see her when he opened his eyes. "Mm...Astrid?" He said lightly as he looked at her, she was smiling gently.

"Did you sleep well babe?" Astrid asked him lightly. Hiccup sat up slowly and put a hand to his head. "Are you okay?" She asked him now, he looked like he was in pain.

"Y–yeah I'm fine..." Hiccup said now, "I was right, you are...smiling..." Hiccup added now.

"Why wouldn't I be?..." Astrid asked him now.

"Um...when I left for school this morning you were crying your eyes out...?" Hiccup reminded her softly.

"Look I–I know I'm going to have hard times with this but...if you can do it, so can I...I'm sorry if I've been causing your lack of sleep...I was scared when I saw Snotlout driving the truck..." Astrid said lightly. Hiccup pulled her in for a hug once he saw tears forming in her eyes.

"Astrid, you don't have to hide what you're feeling from me. I've been where you are now. It sucks, believe me it does. You can cry all you need to, I'll never judge you for it. Just promise me, you won't shut me out no matter what okay?" Hiccup told her, she nodded to him as he then lifted her face to his. "And don't ever blame yourself for my lack of sleep. It's my esteemed pleasure that you want me so close to you and to never leave your side..." Hiccup said to her with a soft smile.

"So you slept good?" Astrid asked him now.

"Yeah, those few hours were all I needed. What time is it anyway?" Hiccup asked looking around for the clock on the wall, that's when he noticed the cleaned house. He was going to do it later on. "Astrid, did you...clean the house?" Hiccup asked her.

"Yeah...when you were sleeping. I didn't vacuum. But...I did everything else." Astrid replied.

"Aw Astrid...I was going to do it tonight or tomorrow...You didn't have to clean everything." Hiccup said giving her another hug.

"I wanted too. You've been doing so much for me since we started being friends, and now dating...Besides, it took my mind off things for a while. Hiccup. I also wanted thank you for last week that first night home and you stopped me from...doing that. I–I wasn't in my right mind and...I–I'm sorry for yelling at you." Astrid said softly to him with her head down. Hiccup placed his hand on her cheek now and pulled her in for a kiss.

"Astrid. You don't have to apologize to me. I know you weren't in your right mind, that's why I stopped you. I knew you'd hate yourself the next morning for doing it. You were mad, upset, and frustrated...I don't blame you and I'm not upset over it." Hiccup smiled to her.

"I still feel bad...As soon as I realized what I almost did...I–I felt like some whore..." Astrid lowered her head.

"No! Astrid, don't you ever think of yourself like that again...You're nothing remotely close to that...You're a beautiful woman and always will be in my eyes. You know you can always count on me to bring you back to your senses and be there when you need me to be." Hiccup told her.

"You're so good to me..." Astrid sobbed a bit.

"I'm your boyfriend. I'm supposed to be but also, I want to be. Now come on, it's almost 6:30pm...we have to start getting ready." Hiccup told her as he got to his feet now. Astrid nodded as the two went to their rooms and got dressed for the wake and funeral. At 6:20 they were out the door and in the truck heading to the funeral home. They pulled in behind their friends and parked near the front. Hiccup shut off the truck and got out walking to the other side, he opened her door and helped her down. Locking the truck, they moved to the main door and Astrid had begun to shake violently, almost frozen in place refusing to move forward.

"I–I ca–can't...I can't, Hiccup..." Astrid shook her head with closed eyes.

"You can, Astrid. I promise that you can." Hiccup told her with his arm around her shoulders. Astrid turned and buried her face in to his chest as he hugged her.

"I can't! I can't! Can't, can't, can't! Take me back home!" Astrid yelled now. Calder and Stoick came out frowning at the sight, even their friends looked sad. Hiccup motioned with his head for them to get back inside and he would handle this. They nodded and walked past him and a very distraught Astrid going inside. But they still watched from the door.

"Astrid..." Hiccup began.

"No! No...no...please don't make me, Hiccup...you promised me you'd never make me want to do anything I didn't want to do." Astrid cried at him.

"Astrid...look at me babe. Come on..." He urged her softly. Astrid's blue eyes met his forest green ones now, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I know you don't want to go inside but you have too and you know that as well as I do." Hiccup said softly.

"But I...I can't...I just can't... It means...I have to say goodbye forever..." Astrid sobbed against his chest. Hiccup wrapped his arms around her body tightly.

"Yes you can, and do you want to know why you can?" Hiccup asked, she shook her head to him. "Because you got me. Remember? When the fear takes you down. When the doubt takes you under. When you sink like a stone, and you can't breathe..." Hiccup sang softly to her now. She looked up at him then laid her head against his chest as he swayed to the beat of the music. It was one of Fire Storm's number one hit songs, and it was also one of Astrid's favorites as of late. "When the tears take control. When the demons take over. Won't be in this alone...You got me." Hiccup didn't need to sing the entire song for her, the first verse was more than enough. Astrid finally sighed. Hiccup took her hand in his and stared in to her eyes. "Now take my hand babe and we'll walk in together. I promise I won't leave your side and you'll have my hand the entire time. I won't let go." Hiccup said gently to her. "And I'll never let you fall." Astrid nodded as Hiccup started walking towards the door and Snotlout opened it from the inside so they could come in.

Calder saw them now and sighed in relief as he walked over to them on Astrid's other side and took her hand in his, she cried a bit but he nodded to Hiccup as a silent thank you. Calder, Astrid, Hiccup, and Stoick all stood up aligned by the casket, it was closed for Astrid's sake because seeing her mother in that state wouldn't be at all helpful. People came by paying their respects, whispering their goodbyes. They'd all pass Calder and Astrid, shaking hands or hugging. As Hiccup promised, he never let go of Astrid's hand the entire wake. After it was over, it was time for the funeral and people were heading to their cars. Astrid slowly looked at the casket as her hand dropped from Hiccup's, he looked at her now.

"J–Just...give...me...a minute..." Astrid was trying her best not to cry again.

"Are you sure?" Hiccup asked her lightly. She nodded to him slowly, "I'll be right over here, okay?" Hiccup said to her as she walked near the casket and hesitantly raised her hand to it, running her fingers along the polished wood with a shaky hand and just staring at it.

"Where's Astrid?" Calder asked. Hiccup motioned behind him to her standing at the casket. He nodded as the funeral home people came in to start getting the casket in to the car that would carry it to the cemetery.

"We're ready to load the car, Mr. Hofferson." Said the director.

"Please, just allow my daughter a few moments alone with her mother..." Calder stated gently.

"Of course." The director said. The 4 of them stood there just watching Astrid, she wasn't saying anything, or even crying.

"Mom I..." She began taking a few breaths as she lowered her head. "I–I'm sorry all those times...that I gave you trouble...I–I never thought...we'd...be apart so soon..." Astrid choked up a bit as her voice began to crack. Hiccup closed his eyes tightly lowering his head. Stoick put his hand on Hiccup's shoulder comfortingly, he was reliving everything from his mother's funeral. "I–it's never going to...be the same without you here..." Astrid cried as she put her arm over the casket and cried on her arm. Hearing Astrid's cries, Hiccup lifted his head wanting to go over to her but then he stopped listening to Astrid start to hum softly as she pulled herself off the casket and just looked at it.

"Where do you go with nothing to cling to, your head in the clouds, the rainbows behind you. It's so hard to breathe, always searching for hope..." Astrid was singing softly. It wasn't a tune Hiccup had ever heard before, was she just winging it? "But lost are those eyes, where I used to hide away. And gone are those dreams, falling down..." Astrid took a breath as she looked up now.

"Still you only have one voice. Just once chance here to hold on to, to reach for me. Believe cause you only have...one life to live." Astrid sang out, lowering her head again as the group of friends came in quietly, Hiccup put a hand up so they wouldn't talk.

"Where do you turn when darkness surrounds you. Your heart on the floor, you've lost the horizon. So hard to feel, no reason for hope..." She paused a moment. "Well you only have one voice. Just one chance here to hold to, to reach for me. Believe cause you only have, one life to live..." Astrid looked up again, tears falling silently from her eyes. "This song is a lifeline...So keep holding on to me...Live for today's dreams, tomorrow's what will be. Look and you'll find you have one life to live...One life to live..." Astrid sighed out as Hiccup walked up behind her now and put his arms around her just as her knees gave out and she almost fell but with Hiccup there he kept her up and against him. Astrid turned in his arms and cried on his chest again.

"That was beautiful Astrid..." Hiccup whispered to her as he rubbed his hand along her back. "It's okay...ssh...ssh..." Hiccup soothed her. Calder gave the motion for the funeral home workers to load the casket, they went and wheeled it away out the back door as Hiccup just stayed still holding Astrid in his arms.

"I can't do this..." Astrid sobbed.

"Yes you can...You can, Astrid. Ssh...I'm here with you." Hiccup said with a soft smile, though it was forced because he was hurting too. "When the walls all cave in. When the nights all get colder. When you hang by a thread, of sanity..." Hiccup paused taking a breath. "Rest your head on my heart, and your pain on my shoulders...Make your way to my arms. 'Cause you got me." Hiccup sang out gently. Once more, Astrid seemed to settle down against him. He sighed in relief now, he didn't know what it was about this song that she loved but if it was working then he'd sing it a million more times for her. It was amazing how much meaning simple lyrics held.

"Its time, Hiccup..." Calder said softly approaching them. He nodded as he made sure he had Astrid supported in his arms and they exited the funeral home and to Hiccup's truck. His friends left in their cars, getting in to the funeral line. Hiccup's truck was second in behind the car carrying the casket. He flipped his hazard lights on and turned the car on. Putting it in drive they slowly pulled out of the funeral home and followed the main car down the street slowly. Hiccup reached his hand over to hers and she took it tightly. The drive to the cemetery was short, maybe 6 minutes. Hiccup parked and looked over at Astrid.

"Take your time, they won't start without us..." Hiccup told her softly.

"I just want this day to be over..." Astrid said quietly as she unbuckled and opened the truck door and stepped out. Hiccup sighed, second stage. Depression and this one was always the worst because it was when someone would start the shut out process. Hiccup got out of the truck and moved to her side.

"Don't do this, Astrid. You know what you're doing...don't do it. You promised me." Hiccup told her as he took her hand and they walked to the first row of seats and sat down. Everyone else filed in and sat down now, few people sobbing behind them. Hiccup didn't care, Astrid was his focus. The ceremony started, basic as always. A few words from the preacher, then anyone else who wanted to say something about the deceased. After 20 minutes it was time. Calder had spoken with Hiccup about it before hand, Asta had always wanted a somewhat similar Viking funeral. They weren't going to burn her body on a ship at sea obviously but as for the arrows, Calder had agreed to it and asked Hiccup, Snotlout, Eret, Fishlegs, Tuffnut, and Stoick to shoot with him. Hiccup got up with the others and moved to the open area with them.

Calder lifted his bow and lit arrow firing it off in to the open water ahead of them. The rest followed suit and stood there as each arrow landed and went out upon touching the water. Astrid covered her face crying hard again. Hiccup moved back beside her rubbing her back. "There will be a small gathering for family and friends at my house, the address is on your programs..." Stoick said to them.

"Can we...please just go home..." Astrid asked finally.

"Of course...See you guys there." Hiccup told his friends, Calder, and Stoick as he led Astrid to the truck and they both got inside. Hiccup drove back to the house and parked in the garage. Astrid got out and walked inside to her room shutting the door. Hiccup sighed heavily as he heard a knock and went to the door, it was their friends. He knew Astrid wouldn't want to see them but he wouldn't turn them away. "Come on in, Astrid's in her room..." Hiccup stated. They walked in and saw Astrid on the couch.

"I–is she going to be okay?" Heather asked first.

"In time she will be..." Hiccup said softly. For the next few hours they talked about anything that wasn't the funeral or Astrid's crying. Hiccup checked on her around 10, and saw she was asleep. He sent the other's home and he locked everything up and turned the lights off. Hiccup walked by her room to go to his when he heard a small whimper.

"Hiccup?..." Came Astrid's voice. Hiccup opened her door and looked inside, she was staying laying down but awake. "W–will you...stay with me?" Astrid asked him softly. Hiccup couldn't say no, he walked in and shut her door. Hiccup laid beside her and put his arm out for her to lay on it. She curled up against him and closed her eyes again.

"It will get easier, Astrid. I promise you it will...I love you." He said softly before tiredness took him over again and he fell asleep holding her in his arms.