Stoick stood there feeling guilty and awful about what just happened between him and his son, Hiccup. Stoick only wanted the truth, and he went too far to get something he already had. Stoick could not erase the look of fear and hurt in his son's green eyes before he'd jumped on his Night Fury's back and were gone in the blink of an eye. Stoick knew how fast Toothless could fly, and the fact Toothless could blend in with the night sky didn't help matters any on locating him. Stoick knew that even if he wanted to go after Hiccup; he would never catch up, Hiccup was leagues ahead of him, and it had only been about five minutes. Stoick never knew how Hiccup felt two years ago after he had disowned Hiccup for all the things regarding dragons, and now he did. Hiccup felt so depressed that he had contemplated killing himself because he lost everything; his father, his Tribe, and his best friend. In truth, Stoick felt guilty that day after he threw his son to the ground; telling him that he wasn't a Viking and not his son. When Stoick left the Great Hall, he stumbled once realizing what he said but refused to turn around and take it back.

Stoick never apologized until Hiccup showed up with the other teens on their dragons to stop Red Death. Stoick saw how far Hiccup was willing to go to save the Tribe, and Stoick himself even after being disowned. Stoick had refused to listen to Hiccup when he tried to warn that Red Death was not a dragon they could defeat, and he put everyone's lives at risk taking them to that nest. Stoick told Hiccup he was sorry for everything, and that he was proud to call Hiccup his son, then Hiccup risked his life to fight and lost his leg in the aftermath of the battle. Stoick remembered all that because Hiccup was unconscious for nearly two weeks. After waking up, Stoick had allowed dragons on Berk; for people to ride and train them, a life with dragons rather than against them. Hiccup was the pride and hero of Berk; he ended the dragon war all because he was different and decided to spare a dragon rather than kill one. Stoick didn't know what to do now; he hurt Hiccup and wasn't sure if anything would make up for what he'd done tonight in his anger.

"Stoick?" came Gobber's voice. Stoick looked over and saw Gobber standing there. "I take it the talk didn't go well?"

Stoick sighed heavily closing his eyes. "Hiccup was telling the truth, he and Astrid never had sex," he informed.

"Ah, good then. So it was just everyone taking things the wrong way, us included. Did he take off to clear his head from the awkward conversation? I heard a bit of yellin'," Gobber asked.

"No, he took off because I hurt him," Stoick turned away from the outside and walked into his house. Gobber followed after him and then shut the door.

"Alright, talk to ole Gobber now. What happened?" Gobber inquired. Stoick sat down in front of the fire with a hand over his eyes, mad and disappointed in himself for what occurred. Stoick took a deep breath and began to tell Gobber everything that was said and done from the moment Hiccup walked in the door smiling to the minute he left with tears forming in his eyes. Stoick even told Gobber about grabbing Hiccup and smacking him hard enough for Hiccup to hit the floor.

"Oh, Stoick," Gobber said, realizing now how badly this conversation went.

"I-I didn't mean to, Gobber. I really didn't. I was just so convinced he was doing something he shouldn't be, and I let my anger get the better of me. I've never seen him look so scared or hurt, and he asked that I let him go because I was hurting him, and I didn't. That's not even the worst part," Stoick looked down.

"What else happened?" Gobber inquired.

"Hiccup yelled at me that every time I don't listen to him, he gets hurt. Hiccup reminded me that I didn't listen when he had Hookfang calm, and he almost got killed if it weren't for Toothless coming to save him. Hiccup told me that I didn't listen about Red Death, and he ended up losing his leg. And then he said something that I'll never unhear or forget," Stoick explained.

"What was it, Stoick?" Gobber wondered.

"After everything that happened in the ring, when I told Hiccup he wasn't a Viking and not my son; he admitted to me that he thought about killing himself because he'd lost everything," Stoick closed his eyes no longer looking at his friend.

"But he didn't commit suicide or try to, Stoick, and you've made up for all that. Just apologize to him, admit you were wrong, and everythin' will be okay. All that was two years ago and that time in our lives was surprising and confusing, you were angry and said things ya didn't mean," Gobber tried to remind his friend. However, Gobber knew Stoick was hard-headed too.

"No, Gobber, this was worse. I told Hiccup before hitting him that I don't trust him anymore when he was saying he wasn't having sex with Astrid. After I told Hiccup I was sorry, and we could talk about things, I reached for him, and he pulled away telling me not to touch him. Hiccup said he couldn't believe me anymore and thanks for making him feel that low again," Stoick buried his face in his hands. "I'm a horrible father,"

"Stoick, don't do that to yourself. You just have some anger issues to work on. Now, about this feeling low thing, what did he mean?" Gobber asked.

"It was a reference to when he felt depressed, that he thought about killing himself. And now I don't know where he is or if he's okay," Stoick said quietly.

"Alright, let's not panic. Grab Thornado, and we'll go looking for him; he probably went to the cove, you know it's his favorite spot," Gobber pointed out. "I'm sure he's okay, Stoick. Hiccup has Toothless with him, and you know that dragon won't let anything happen to Hiccup," he added offering his hand to help Stoick up. The Chief took his friend's hand, then got pulled to his feet as they made their way to the door. Stoick pushed it open and saw Astrid standing there, looking horrorstruck and could only assume she had been there long enough to hear what happened between Hiccup and him.

"Where is Hiccup, Stoick?" Astrid asked.

"I-I don't know," Stoick replied.

Astrid closed her eyes and took a deep breath before looking at Stoick again, this time with her eyes narrowed. "HOW COULD YOU HURT HIM LIKE THAT!?" she yelled angrily. "You grabbed and slapped him because you thought he was lying to you about us having sex?! No, we aren't and haven't! Hiccup and I know the rules, Chief. We are aware we have to wait until we're married, Hiccup knows it better than anyone because he's your Heir!" she scolded.

"Astrid, Stoick knows he messed up. We're gonna go look for Hiccup right now to straighten things out," Gobber interjected.

"No, you're going to let me take Stormfly and go find him. Deadly Nadder's have the second fastest speed next to Night Furies, plus the fact that Stormfly is a Tracker Class dragon," Astrid remarked.

"This is not the time to be having this out, Astrid. I know what I did, and I'll fix things with my son," Stoick told her.

"Do you know that Hiccup probably would have killed himself if I hadn't gone to talk to him after you sailed away with an armada of ships and Toothless? I knew Hiccup felt that way at one point, he told me that he thanked me for talking some sense into him. I'm the one who stood in his corner when everyone abandoned him instead of listening. Hiccup isn't going to want to see you, Stoick, he will get right back on Toothless and be gone. Thornado can't catch up with him, so let me go find and talk to Hiccup. In the meantime, you can figure how to make it up to him when we get back," Astrid wagged her finger at Stoick, then gave a whistle as Stormfly flew over and landed beside Astrid. Not long after that, the other riders set down on their dragons near her.

"What's the plan, Astrid?" Adelaide Jorgenson asked from the back of Silverwind, her female Razorwhip.

"Wait, how did all of them know Hiccup was missing?" Gobber questioned.

"We all heard the fight," Fishlegs put a finger up. "Well, most of it," he added in meekly.

"It doesn't matter. Hiccup is upset, and he flew off. So fan out and look for Hiccup. If you find him, send up the signal and do not approach," Astrid ordered.

"Got it!" the group nodded and took to the sky; Stoick didn't bother stopping them because he knew Astrid was right. Hiccup wouldn't want to see him right now, but all Stoick cared about was knowing if Hiccup was okay.

{The Next Day}

After searching all night, Hiccup was nowhere on Berk. The riders just returned to get some sleep, but not before they were stopped by Stoick. "Did you find him?" he asked quickly.

"Hiccup isn't on Berk. We checked everywhere we could, Uncle Stoick," Snotlout informed.

"Where's Astrid?" Alva Hofferson asked quickly.

"Still out looking for him; she said she had an idea where he might have gone, but wouldn't tell us," Ruffnut replied. Stoick closed his eyes and turned away from them.

"Stoick, I'm sure Astrid will find him and bring him home," Gobber tried to ease his friend's worried mind.

"Hiccup wouldn't be out there this upset if I had just listened to him for once," Stoick walked away.

{Berserker Island}

Astrid knew that Hiccup would want to get away, and far too. Astrid also knew that Hiccup liked to fly South, much like herself; her only guess was that Hiccup went to allies for a place to stay to relax. Astrid knew the islands she could check; Hysteria, Bog-Burglar, Lava-Lout were to the South-Southwest direction. Toward the Southeast were Meathead, Outcast, and Berserker Islands. When 5 am came around, Astrid sent the other riders to get some sleep, but she stayed out to keep looking. Astrid had checked everything South to Southwest, now she was on her way to Berserker Island. Astrid reached the guard standing at the end of the entry bridge.

"Name and business?" the man asked.

"Uh, Astrid Hofferson, and I need to see Heather or Dagur right away please?" Astrid replied.

"Astrid!" Heather squealed as she spotted her from above and landed Winshear quickly. The two girls smiled and hugged tightly. "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Looking for Hiccup," Astrid admitted.

"He showed up around midnight asking if we'd let him stay for a bit because of a fight with Stoick," Heather sighed softly. "Dagur's checking on him right now, he didn't look so good when he arrived."

"Will you let me see him? I've been…searching all night for him," Astrid inquired.

"Of course, right this way. We told Hiccup he could stay with us," Heather stated as she led Astrid and Stormfly in. After a twenty-minute walk, Heather opened the door to the place she and Dagur lived, and let Astrid in, then herself. Dagur was poking at the fire and saw them.

"Hey, sis, you're back and with a guest too," Dagur chuckled a bit.

"How's he doing?" Heather asked referring to Hiccup.

"Miserable; I tried to talk to him, but he doesn't want to say what happened," Dagur shrugged.

"Stoick hurt him badly," Astrid sighed. "Where is he?" Dagur pointed to the door leading out back. Astrid gave a small smile as she moved towards it, and then after getting outside, she saw Toothless laying in the grass with Hiccup against him. Astrid walked over, and Toothless spotted her; he relaxed. "Hiccup?"

"Is anyone with you?" Hiccup asked quietly.

"No, babe. I came with Stormfly. The other riders are on Berk, probably sleeping. We've been out all night looking for you," Astrid replied gently. "I heard what happened. Stoick told Gobber, and I was listening from the door because I had come to bring back the shirt you lent me the day mine got wet,"

"So you know why I came so far out to a place he wouldn't think to find me," Hiccup responded.

"Stoick never came looking for you, Hiccup. I told him not to bother because you wouldn't want to see him right now; I elected to find you with Stormfly, and the other riders, but they were tired, so I have been checking the islands South of Berk looking for you since five this morning," Astrid informed.

"Sorry, you didn't get any sleep over me," Hiccup sighed.

"Hiccup, I'm not worried about sleep; I'm worried about you," Astrid said as she sat beside him, seeing the mark on his face where Stoick hit him and it made her blood boil.

"I'm fine. I'm not…gonna hurt or try to kill myself, Astrid, I just needed fly and get far away to think," Hiccup closed his eyes as Astrid put her hand on his.

"Hey, it's okay. I understand, Hiccup. I know how much this hurts you," Astrid soothed knowing her boyfriend was upset. "We knew that our plan would get their attention and cause a little trouble, but I didn't think Stoick would go this far,"

"I didn't either. Even growing up, he never grabbed me the way that he did last night or struck me. Astrid, I was actually afraid of him. For the first time in my life, I was scared of my own father," Hiccup admitted as he looked at her now.

"I know. I heard Stoick tell Gobber he saw the fear and hurt in your eyes when it happened," Astrid put her head on his shoulder comfortingly. "Are you going to come back?"

"I will at some point, maybe tomorrow or the day after. I can't be around him right now, I don't even want to be on Berk." Hiccup said looking down.

"Will you forgive him?" Astrid pushed.

Hiccup was silent for a moment. "Eventually, probably won't be for a while though. I can't just let it go and forgive what he did this time, Astrid. For the last two years, I thought I had his acceptance and his trust. I believed he was genuinely proud of me and we had a real…father-son relationship. But after last night, I feel like it was all a lie. I didn't know I could ever feel this hurt again, and to be honest, I think it hurts more than the first time," Hiccup stated while looking down.

"Well, then we won't go back right away. I'm sure Heather and Dagur won't mind if we stay a few days so you can get your head together and figure out what you want to do next," Astrid told him.

"Absolutely," Heather said from behind as they both looked at her and Dagur standing there.

"Take as much time as you need, brother," Dagur nodded in agreement.

"Thank you," Hiccup replied before closing his eyes again and sighing. For the time being, Hiccup would stay on Berserker Island for now and take some time to get his head in order before returning to Berk. However, when he did go back, he didn't know if he'd be staying with his father again. If anything, Hiccup would live in the cove with Toothless while he decided if he could forgive his dad anytime soon. Stoick would have a lot of making up and proving to do for Hiccup to believe him this time around. Yes, this was his decision.