Here's the Stoick and Hiccup I promised. I hope you like it.

ENJOY! XD


Stoick shrugged his shoulders at the empty room, turned the light off, and walked out the door. Once the hallway light turned off, Astrid sighed in relief. Her heart then began to pick up pace again as she thought about the empty bed. Where's Hiccup? Why isn't he here? She began to exit the closet when the hallway light came on again. With eyes wide, she quickly closed the closet door making quite a bit of noise. I hope Stoick didn't hear that.

The door opened and the light turned on revealing a very tired Hiccup. He ran his hand over his face causing him to spread grease and dirt over his face. Astrid smiled at him, knowing he had no idea his face was smeared. He took his satchel off his shoulder and threw it on his bed then proceeded to take his light jacket off and hang it over a chair.

While rubbing his eyes, he walked over to the bed. Suddenly, Stoick entered the room startling Astrid and Hiccup. "Hiccup?" Stoick asked.

Hiccup cried out alarmed as he jumped back but ended up falling over his bed and landing on the other side. Astrid stifled a giggle as Stoick flinched at the loud thump. "Dad!" Hiccup popped his head from the other side of the bed. "You startled me!"

"Obviously," Stoick motioned to Hiccup's position with his hands. "I thought you were already here."

"Nope," Hiccup stood up. "Just got home. I was at the auto shop and lost track of time." Hiccup then cocked an eyebrow. "What are you doing up? You're usually asleep at one in the morning."

"Aye. That I am," Stoick nodded. "And the only way you would know that is if you're up all the time at one. Is there something you need to tell me?" Stoick's face went serious as he sternly stared at his son.

Hiccup squirmed nervously under his father's glare. "I-I-It's not like I do it all the time," Hiccup defended. "I just lose track of time when I'm fixing and building and-"

Stoick chuckled slightly. "I know. I'm trying to lighten the mood."

"Oh," Hiccup smiled.

"I'm packing. I have a meeting tomorrow morning in Meridian," Stoick explained.

"What for?"

"I don't know," Stoick shrugged. "The congress called for an emergency meeting."

"Ah," Hiccup nodded. "Maybe it has something to do with the drug terrorizing that's going on?"

"Could be," Stoick nodded.

"I suggest you get going or you'll miss it," Hiccup forced a smile.

Stoick noticed this and frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. It's just you got back only a few days ago." Hiccup looked down at the floor as he sat down on the bed. He began to fondle the strap of his satchel.

"I know," Stoick agreed softly.

Astrid felt awkward seeing this. It wasn't her place to be spying, but then again she wasn't expecting this to happen. She knew Hiccup missed his dad. He always seemed down when he left and then so much happier when he came back. She felt bad for the two of them because they both looked very sad.

"I put a hundred dollar bill in the egg container for you in case you need it over the weekend," Stoick broke the silence.

"Ok."

"Oh, and Gobber will come by tomorrow afternoon to check on you."

"As he does every time dad. I know," Hiccup sighed.

"Look," Stoick grabbed Hiccup's chin so that he could look at his face. "I worry."

Hiccup smiled. "I know." He pushed Stoick's hand out of the way. "I can see that. I'm not an idiot."

"I never said you were," Stoick crossed his arms over his chest. Hiccup looked up and playfully stuck his tongue out at him. In response, Stoick let out a laugh. It was sincere, from the gut, and utterly fantastic to hear. Hiccup watched him in amazement and slowly his grin got even bigger as he began to chuckle along with him.

Astrid couldn't help but smile like an idiot at the scene. She hadn't seen Stoick or even heard him laugh like that since the first bonfire she attended when she moved to Berk. Seeing him and Hiccup laughing together was a pleasant sight and one she wished she could see more often.

"I haven't laughed that hard in such a long time," Stoick breathed.

"It wasn't even that funny," Hiccup grinned. "What made you laugh so hard?"

"It reminded of me of when your mother and I took you camping for the first time. You had come across a wild baby mountain lion. It was hissing at you from a cliff about 100 feet above you and you responded by sticking your tongue out at it. The cub looked at you confused and ran off. You nodded your head in triumph and went back to what you were doing."

Hiccup squinted his eyes as he looked to the side. "I don't remember that."

"You wouldn't," Stoick assured. "You were three."

"Speaking of three," Hiccup changed the subject. "If you keep reminiscing, it'll be three and you'll never make it to Meridian."

"Right," Stoick nodded as he looked at his watch.

"How are you getting there?" Hiccup inquired. "Even if you leave now, you won't make it by morning. What time is the meeting?"

"Six."

Hiccup's eye went wide. "You're definitely not going to make it. How are you getting there?"

"I have a flight leaving at 1:30."

Hiccup stared at Stoick in a frightened state. His eyes darted across the room looking for something to focus on but settled for the floor. "Oh."

Astrid knew why he reacted this way but Stoick looked at him confused. He bent down and grabbed each of Hiccup's shoulders. "What wrong?"

"Nothing," Hiccup shrugged. "Just be careful ok?"

"Look," Stoick began. "I've been thinking. I think after this term is up, I'm going to retire."

"What!" Hiccup exclaimed. Astrid's eyes went wide as well in shock. "You're still going to run against Drago for senator right?"

"No," Stoick shook his head. "Stop for good."

"Why?"

Stoick walked over to Hiccup's right and sat down next to him. "I feel like I don't know you anymore. When your mother passed, I buried myself in my job and lost sight of you. Even before that, I didn't see you much but Val took pictures, told me stories about you and I felt I knew you. Now," Stoick motioned with his hands as if he was lost. "I'm not so sure. You've grown up. You graduate in about a year. I don't know who your friends are, what your interests are, or who you want to be. I hardly see you as it is because of my job and your schedule but when you graduate, who knows what college you'll be going to or if I'll ever see you after that."

"Dad," Hiccup whispered.

"I want to know you again before you disappear for good."

Hiccup smiled at Stoick. He stood up and tackled him with the most sincere hug a person can give another. Stoick hesitated, taken a bit off guard by the action, but then wrapped his arms around his son. Astrid smiled as she tried to hold back the tears building up in her eyes.

"Dad," Hiccup's muffled voice started. "I want that too." Astrid watched as Stoick smiled and his grip got tighter. "However, you can't retire now." Hiccup pulled away to look at Stoick's confused face.

"Why?"

"Berk needs you more than I do right now. The terrorizing drug people and an entire nation in panic. They need someone like you to keep us safe. You've done an amazing job keeping Berk safe but now the entire Archipelago needs someone like you. They need you more."

Hiccup and Stoick looked at each other in silence, one trying to read the other. "Are you sure?" Stoick asked.

"Yes," Hiccup smiled. He then wrapped his arms around his father again, smiling into his neck. "You're the protector of Berk and soon the Archipelago and I'm proud to have you as my father."

Stoick smiled brighter and hugged his son back. Astrid swore she saw actual tears brimming in his eyes. "And I'm proud to have you as a son."

Hiccup pulled away and smiled. "You'd better get going or you're going to miss your flight."

"Alright," Stoick nodded as he stood up and headed out the door. Hiccup followed him but Astrid could still hear them - barely.

"You'll text me when you arrive at the airport right?" Hiccup asked.

"Aye that I will. And when I land in Meridian."

"Great. And I'll keep some sort of log if any…"

Hiccup's voice could no longer be heard. They had walked out of hearing range of Astrid. She listened as the door opened and closed and then the car leaving the driveway. Next thing she knew, Hiccup was in the room, shaking his head as he sighed. "I'm not getting a wink of sleep tonight until I know he's in Meridian safe. Well," Hiccup clapped his hands together, causing Astrid to jump slightly. "Better get ready for a long night.

He walked over to his dresser and pulled out a clean shirt and pajama pants. As he walked toward the closet, he took off his dirty shirt, making Astrid smile ever so slightly. Her eyes went wide as he opened the closet door and tossed his shirt into the laundry hamper he had in the middle of it. Luckily for her, he didn't see her. He then walked over to small bathroom on the other side of the room and closed the door.

Astrid slowly opened the closet door and began to walk toward the window as she heard the sink turn on and off and on and off. She paused at the window. She didn't want to go back to her home. Astrid thought about the pros and cons of going back but before she could make a decision, the bathroom knob began to turn. She dove behind the bed and watched Hiccup's feet as he walked out. Well, more like foot and prosthetic disguised as a foot.

Hiccup leapt onto the bed making it squeak slightly under his weight. Astrid laid on the floor for a few minutes until she made her decision. Slowly and quietly, she stood up and looked at Hiccup. He had his hand on his cleaned face but over his eyes. He had his phone his chest with his left hand lightly resting on top of it. The hand over his eyes twitched slightly and moved completely as he made eye contact with her.

"Ah!" Hiccup yelped. "Astrid! Wh-what are you doing here?"

"Can I stay here the night?" Astrid asked straight forward.

Hiccup blinked a few times but then nodded. "There's some old shirts and shorts in the bottom draw of my dresser if you want to change."

Looking down at her attire, she noticed she had fallen asleep in the clothes she had worn to school that day. She nodded as she walked over to his dresser and pulled out some clothes that would serve as her pajamas for the night.

"What's wrong? What's happened?" Hiccup inquired.

"Just a nightmare," Astrid shrugged.

"Want to talk about it?" Hiccup offered.

"Not really," Astrid lied. "I forgot what it was."

"But the feeling's still there," Hiccup nodded. "Got it. Completely understand."

Astrid changed into her makeshift pajamas and then joined Hiccup downstairs. They talked all through the night about random and serious topics before the two fell asleep on the couch. Little did either know that the cell phone that was still Astrid's pocket of her jeans had called someone sometime in the night.

And they heard every word.


Who did she call on accident? Who heard?