=Astrid's POV=

Hiccup and I have been on Berserker Island for a week now, and Hiccup still feels like he isn't ready to return to Berk because he knows he'll have to face his father at some point or another. I couldn't say I blamed my boyfriend; Stoick hurt him a lot by saying and doing what he did to Hiccup five days ago. Heather and Dagur have been great to us, and more than welcoming to us staying so Hiccup could think about things. I couldn't believe what Stoick did even though I heard the entire story from Stoick himself when he told Gobber about it. I fully expected the argument to happen, Hiccup and I both did because we purposely put ourselves in awkward finds by the villagers to carry out our plan. I did not anticipate that Stoick would become so angry that he grabbed Hiccup by the arms and slapped him with enough force that Hiccup hit the ground. I had seen Hiccup's arms and face; because he was so skinny, he bruised easily. I told Heather and Dagur what had happened one of the times that Hiccup decided to go flying; even they were shocked to learn about what transpired.

I did what I thought was best by the end of the first day I had located Hiccup; I sent a Terror Mail to the dragon riders. I instructed them to inform Stoick that Hiccup was on Berserker Island, but not to come seek him out because Hiccup wanted to be alone to think and I would be staying to make sure he didn't do anything in his slight depression. I wasn't going to sugar coat it to the Chief. Hiccup was upset about what happened, and I felt he had the right to be. Also, I let Stoick know that he had a lot of making up to do because Hiccup admitted that he wasn't sure he could just forgive what his father did this time, that it was worse than two years ago and hurt a great deal more. I felt Stoick should know how bad this was. Hiccup had told me I could go back to Berk, and I might have to because there were people waiting to start dragon training which was my job even though Hiccup was head of the Dragon Training Academy.

"Astrid, seriously; I'll be okay. You go back, I'll be along soon. I'm just…not ready yet," Hiccup stated while sitting one of the Berserker Island sea stacks.

"Are you sure?" I asked him.

"Yeah, I am," Hiccup replied. I sighed knowing I couldn't argue with him. I turned his head to mine as I kissed him deeply.

"I love you, Hiccup," I tell him.

"I love you too," Hiccup smiled a bit. I stood up and gave a whistle as Stormfly flew over, and I jumped on her back.

"Don't be gone too long, Dragon Boy," I winked at him.

"I won't, Milady," Hiccup nodded as I took off Northwest towards Berk, watching Hiccup's figure get farther away from my sight.

{Berk}

Stormfly landed in the village square as Fishlegs, Adelaide, Ruffnut, Snotlout, and Tuffnut flew over and landed close to me. Stoick came next on Thornado, apparently looked around for Hiccup. "He's not with me, Stoick," I stated with a sigh.

"Where…is he then?" Stoick inquired softly.

"Still on Berserker Island with Heather and Dagur. I know it's not what you want to hear, Chief, but you really hurt him this time, and he's not ready to come back yet," I informed.

"Will he forgive me?" Stoick looked down.

"I don't have the answer to that, I'm sorry. Hiccup and I have spent the last five days talking about what happened, how he feels regarding it all and all I can tell you is that its gonna take some time," I enlightened. "You have a lot of making up to do, as I said in my letter. However, even when Hiccup comes back, you're going to have give him his space because he isn't ready to see you,"

"I see," Stoick closed his eyes. "I take it he's staying there a while longer?"

"Hiccup said he would be back soon, that's all he told me. I know one thing for sure; when Hiccup makes a promise, he keeps it," I remarked.

"Thank you for finding him, Astrid, and making sure he's okay," Stoick bowed his head to me.

"There's nothing I wouldn't for Hiccup, Stoick. I love him with my everything, and he's going to be my husband one day, so I'll uphold the vows we'll take even before we say them," I said.

"Wouldn't Hiccup have to beat you in a fight to marry you?" Snotlout asked.

"He would," My dad said as he walked up and tightly.

"Hiccup will never be able to beat you, Astrid. Some of the Archipelago's most eligible men have stepped forward to ask for your hand and can't win," Tuffnut remarked.

"You shouldn't have so little faith in Hiccup," Gobber interjected. "Lad knows more than you think," he added.

"Hiccup has said he can't do it," Fishlegs pointed out.

"Trust me, Hiccup can beat me in fight. All he needs to remember is that he's braver than he believes, stronger than he seems, and smarter than he thinks," I smiled a little and walked off slowly. "You'll see," I giggled some.

"What is all that about?" Snotlout asked.

"No idea. Guess we'll find out eventually," Ruffnut shrugged. Soon after that, the group dispersed and went about whatever it was they were doing before I arrived.

=Normal POV=

{Three Days Later}

Eight days total that Hiccup had been gone and staying on Berserker Island to clear his head from everything that happened. However, all the alone time in the world couldn't erase what had happened. When Hiccup woke up this morning, he decided that he couldn't avoid his father forever. Did it mean Hiccup would forgive him? No, Hiccup was still thinking about things and assured himself that his father had to prove he was sorry before Hiccup did any forgiving. Normally, Hiccup was not a grudge holding type of guy, but this was not your typical situation. Hiccup felt like Stoick took back everything he had said after Red Death was defeated, that Hiccup was back to square one with his father basically hating him. Of course, Hiccup knew that his dad loved him, even if there were times it didn't show.

After packing up from Berserker Island, Hiccup thanked Heather and Dagur once again for the hospitality before taking to the sky with Toothless. Hiccup hoped for a slow flight home because it would give him more time to think of what to say when his father inevitably tried to approach him for the wave of apologies. Hiccup hoped he could figure out what to say, but he knew for sure he was not ready to forgive him. Reaching Berk's borders later on in the day, Hiccup took a deep breath and flew over the village, then had Toothless land slowly. Hiccup watched everyone get excited and start to swarm around, he was already dreading this. As expected, Stoick was the one to push through everyone.

"Son…" Stoick whispered. Hiccup glanced at him a moment, and then away. Hiccup had the whole flight to think about what he'd say, and he went through so many things he could tell his father, but now that he was standing before his dad; all his idea left him. Hiccup felt the pain return to him; his father's hard grip on his arms, shaking him to reveal a truth he already spoke, and then the hard smack from his dad's hand to his face. The bruise was still there, Hiccup saw it when Toothless, and he stopped for a lunch break while he stared into the water of the lake. The marks on Hiccup's arms had almost completely faded. As Stoick was about to say something, the squawk of a familiar Deadly Nadder came to Hiccup's ears.

"HICCUP!" Astrid screeched with joy as Stormfly landed, and then Astrid got off and rushed over to him. Astrid charged into his arms, knocking them both over with her laying on top of him.

"Ow!" Hiccup hit the ground hard, groaning out after hitting the ground so hard.

"Oops, I'm so sorry, babe," Astrid said quickly.

"No, it's cool. But could you…maybe get your leg off of my lower half," Hiccup winced a bit as Astrid gasped suddenly and moved her knee off his nether regions.

"Oh Gods, are you okay? I'm sorry, I was…just excited to see you again," Astrid apologized.

"No worries, I'm alright. I'm…happy to see you too, Milady. I've missed you," Hiccup smiled at her. "I'm sorry for taki-," he began, but Astrid smiled and put a finger to his lips as he was quiet.

"No need to apologize; I understand," Astrid told him. Of course, she was still laying on top of Hiccup's figure. Hiccup brought his head up and kissed her deeply. Hiccup sat up as Astrid moved with him and now it looked like she was straddling his hips while his one of his arms was around her waist and his other hand was holding himself up. Astrid was using her knees to hold herself up with her hands on his shoulders.

"Stoick," Colby elbowed him, a way to tell him to stop Hiccup and Astrid's kiss. However, Stoick was hesitant because he knew that Hiccup was furious with him and stepping in the way would be the worst thing he could do. Thankfully, Hiccup and Astrid broke the kiss and smiled at one another as their foreheads touched.

"Meet me in the cove later?" Hiccup whispered.

"You bet," Astrid replied as she got off of him, then offered her hand to help him up. As Hiccup got to his feet, his eyes fell on his father. "You okay?" she asked holding his hand.

"I'm far from it, but it needs to happen; might as well be now," Hiccup sighed.

"Hiccup…" Stoick stepped forward twice in small steps.

"Stop," Hiccup told his father, and Stoick ceased for a moment.

"Son, please, I just want to-," Stoick started.

"You're wasting your breath because I don't want to hear whatever you have to say regarding apologies for what happened eight days ago," Hiccup told him.

"Hiccup, I'm sorry. I truly am. Please believe me," Stoick tried.

"I can't, Dad. You can tell me every day for the rest of your life that you are sorry, but does it change what happened?" Hiccup asked, and Stoick didn't reply. "It doesn't matter what you say if you can't prove it. And saying you're sorry to me doesn't change what was said or done. Why are you sorry? What reason do you have to apologize? For the fact, you understand now that I was telling the truth? For knowing how I really felt back then when you disowned me and that if it weren't for Astrid, you wouldn't have a son today? Or was it the fact you grabbed hold and smacked me in your fit of rage because you refused to listen to me?"

"You're right. I have no excuse for what I did. I heard and believed the others over you, and I'm sorry for that," Stoick said softly.

"Again, what does telling me you are sorry change about eight days ago? It still happened, and no matter what you say or do, you can't take it back," Hiccup informed.

"Hiccup, I know I was wrong to do and say what I did. I was just upset about the situation, and I let my anger get the better of me. You know I love you, son," Stoick trying to step forward again with his hand out, but Hiccup flinched back closing his eyes tightly, and Stoick stopped seeing that Hiccup was afraid to get hit again.

"Hiccup, it's okay. Your dad is not going to hurt you again," Astrid soothed gently, motioning for Stoick to back up a few steps and put his hand down. Stoick did so as Astrid made Hiccup look at her, "You're safe, I promise," she said now before leaning up and pecking his lips once. After pulling back, she moved some of his auburn hair out of his eyes and then nodded to him to keep going because he was doing great.

"The fact of the matter, Dad, is that I told you the truth and you didn't believe, trust or listen to me, and once again, I got hurt because of it. I know you love me, even though you have a funny, painful way of showing it sometimes. I came back because this is my home, where my friends, Tribe, and girlfriend are. I'm still not ready to be around you," Hiccup said firmly now.

"Can you ever forgive me?" Stoick asked.

"I can, but not right now because I don't believe or trust a word you say. You said it all once before the fight with Red Death, and eight days ago, all you showed me is that it was a lie. If you want me to forgive you, you're going to have to prove to me you mean what you've said. Until said time, I'm going to stay in the cove because I won't live with you. I won't stay with you until you've proven you're sorry and that I'm not going to get hurt again," Hiccup told his father.

"Lad, you don't need to stay in the cove all by yourself. If you don't want to live with your old man for the time bein', then stay with ole me. I got plenty of room for you and yer dragon too," Gobber offered. "I won't take no for an answer. Yer like a son to me, 'Iccup," he added.

"Thanks, Gobber. I appreciate that, and I'll come by after I pack some of my stuff up," Hiccup gave him a small smile. "Okay, since the plan has changed a bit; I'll be staying with Gobber, but you're still gonna have to give me some space,"

"Alright, I can do that," Stoick nodded.

"Good. Now that has been established, I'm gonna go grab some clothes from the house," Hiccup told him as he kissed Astrid's cheek, then let go of her hand to walk to his dad's house. Once Hiccup was inside, Stoick sighed heavily.

"He'll come around, my friend. I offered up my place so he'll still be close instead of out in the woods where all the loneliness can get to him. You saw how he got when your hand was up, that means the pain is still fresh, and he still feels down and depressed about what happened. I didn't want him alone out there. As he said, Stoick, yer gonna have to give him some space while also trying to prove you're sorry to him. The lad still needs time, so give him that and then slowly start trying to make it up to him," Gobber patted Stoick's shoulder a few times.

"I'll do that. Thank you, Gobber," Stoick said to him.

"Anytime. The rest of ya, get back to work. Nothing to see here," Gobber ordered the rest as they began to disperse. Twenty minutes later, Hiccup exited his father's home with a bag over his shoulder, and it pained Stoick to see his son essentially moving out, but knew that this was for the better. Hiccup walked with Astrid, Toothless, and Stormfly to the forge as Stoick watched sadly; he knew he messed up big time, and the only way things would get better between them is if he backed off for a bit because Hiccup still needed time.