Okay okay... so I need to explain. First off this chapter was absolute trashhhhhhhhhhh... so I redid it a little bit changed the tense (seriously, I have no idea why this was so bad) but it's been remastered and is soooooo much better and a little different so please please re-read it!

Second, I know, I know I've been gone for so long especially writing fanfic, I will finish this one day, I even have an outline, but my novel just consumes all my time. For more info on that, please PM me! Next chapter will be up by the end of next week. Don't believe me? That's fine, feel free to remind me as I tend to forget (This time I won't)

I will also redo a couple other chapters, I won't change the story just fix some errors as when I started I didn't edit (BIG mistake!) Anyway thanks for all the kind reviews, I always appreciate them!

Thanks soooooo much for favs and follows! Reviews please! Enjoy!

Hiccup's P.O.V

Sleep was no longer an option as I kicked the blankets off again and onto the floor. My words -god I was such a jerk- echoed over and over like an incessant bee, buzzing around my head.

"Damn it." I sneered and pressed a pillow against my face. Toothless jumps up next to me, laying his oversized head in my chest, his long legs dangling on the edge of the bed, and while he was still, I knew he wasn't asleep. He grumbled softly and lifted his head to meet my gaze in the darkness. "What am I going to do bud?" He raised an eyebrow and snorted obnoxiously.

"Thanks for nothing, you useless dog." I snapped back, but he had made a fair point. Damn dog. I swung my legs off the edge of the bed and pulled myself up. Toothless, sensing the movement bounced up immediately and launched his body off the bed to lead the way.

"No, bud. We should stay here." He sent me a glare and huffed irritably. I fumbled with the sheet that my prosthetic tangled itself into and stared at the incredibly impatient dog. I sighed and flung myself back into bed with a heavy groan and roll over, forcing my eyes shut and focus on my heart. It's a steady rhythm that if I try hard enough, I can fade away from my problems for just a moment. But as soon as I felt my eyelids grow tired, The little jingle of my ringtone blares out into the silence.

It's Astrid.

There wasn't a voice on the other line. I could hear a distant sound of beeping, and the line was cut off before any words were exchanged. She didn't need to say anything, because I knew that sound. The sound of death. It didn't have to hit me like a ton of bricks, because in the back of my mind I knew what had happened, but my heart still plummeted to the ground.

It took a solid two minutes for me to be behind the wheel of my car, the sun's rays barely touching the foggy horizon. I had never driven so fast in my entire life.

…

The hospital welcomed me with its big glass doors, tired receptionists, and cleaning supplies that stung my nose. The receptionist called after me, as I sprinted past the desk and through the bland halls until I came to the elevators I skidded to a stop and at the metal doors. The major dumbass I was nearly pressed the button out of habit. Nope. Not today. I had begun but the familiar little ding of the elevator door stopped me. They swung open. The face scowling down at me was even more familiar.

"Johann, right?" I asked, my voice meek, though I wasn't sure why. He had that look about him, like he might bite my head off. He had a permanent glower, but as he peered at me, he smiled.

"Ah. Henry! Astrid's "friend." You are here for... Astrid I presume?" I nodded and gulped. It was like my airways were closing off, only feeding the pit in my stomach. Just her name filled me with guilt. But for some reason, he seemed to spit out her name as if it was some forbidden word. I cocked my head in confusion.

"Where is she?" He shrugged, as if I was asking some stupid yet obvious question. "Did you visit..." I trailed off, realizing that I was pressing him with questions. He looked unamused with my pestering, but offered a sympathetic shake of his head.

"Ah yes, I did. I must be going now. Many people to call and tell them the news. Such an awful day indeed!"" With that, he turned and strolled off, but something about his tone didn't match with the words he hissed out of his pursed lips.

I stood there another minute watching him leave, sending a wink at a receptionist before disappearing into the cold early morning. I blinked a couple times to break my -probably awkward- gaze and shrugged off the feeling.

I continued down the dim hallway, the smell of cleaning supplies stinging my nose. I hated hospitals. That most certainly does not help with the thick rock lodged in my throat.

It was just as bad as before, the rock in my throat, I could feel it, just like when mom died. It created a wall that made it impossible to swallow without cringing. I gulped for air, but all I got was a mouthful of bleach scents.

It's as if I was suffocating in here. My chest felt tight and my head heavy. This damn place was all too much. I stared at the heavy door labeled staircase, the handle freezing, but I let my hand linger before sharply tugging it open. Immediately, there was a powerful force that threw me to the ground, the very familiar sound of nails slipping on tile and suddenly I found myself nose to nose with a very territorial Stormfly.

I chuckled nervously, cautious about shoving her off, but as soon as she realized who it was, her low grumble dissolved into happy yelps and cries as she licked my face. I received several weird looks from passing nurses, but found it easy to ignore them.

"Yeah I missed you too girl!" She bounced off me, looking over to the stairwell impatiently. I stood and brushed off my shirt, but Stormfly was already climbing the staircase. She huffed at me to follow, and I did... but I can't help but feel insecure. Astrid was up there.

My body went into fight or flight mode, pulling itself away from the bad memories that swarmed the hospital with the death it carried it with it. Astrid was up there, alone and probably scared -just as I was- and needed someone. But me? I mean, I had only caused her pain. Ever since we met events have turned for the worst and how many times in the last few weeks had we almost died? And now, I'm sure I had ruined any chance of friendship after that fight. I screwed up, I shouldn't have shouted, but I hated seeing her do this to herself. What was I talking about?! How long had I known the girl? Like two weeks, but she was just so smart, and stubborn, and kind… and pretty. She would never want to make up- Stormfly let out a high pitched bark, startling me from the thoughts that sought to drown me.

Stormfly didn't seem to care about the fight from earlier or how she probably hated hw her human felt, she just looked relieved that I was here. So I tucked away my baggage and climbed the stairs with her. My throat stings from the fire still as I struggle to keep up with her cutting corners and skipping steps. Finally reaching the landing one floor away from the correct floor, Stormfly steadied her pace as I grabbed her collar to slow her completely. I stopped dead.

Astrid was on the stairwell. Just sitting there on the steps, only a few feet away from the door. I exhaled shakily, not realizing that I was holding my breath. I held it again as I stood there awkwardly, with no idea what the hell I'm supposed to do. Do I say something? Do I stay or leave? My hands clammed up. With a painful gulp, I stepped forward until I was nearly looming over her. I turned and nervously sat next to her. Her gaze stays dead to the world, expression studying the 80s pattern on the floor. She didn't speak. Didn't move a muscle.

I sighed and wrapped my arm over Stormfly pulling her muscular body into me. She was quiet, just staring off at the wall. I could tell that she was watching. The way her ears were high and muzzle held in the air, a guard dog doing what she did best. I rubbed her ears hoping it might relax her, but her muscles remained tense underneath the heavy coat of fur..

After several minutes, I had yet to say a word, barely breathed for that matter, all my attention had been on Stormfly's icy blue eyes. What was I supposed to say? I'm sorry for your loss? I'm sorry we fought? I'm sorry that I was a jerk? Gods, why was this so freaking hard!? I lifted my head and glanced at her, afraid of what would happen if I stared too long. I hoped she couldn't sense the tension in my jaw or the furrow of my eyebrows, I certainly didn't want to make it worse. I gulped, desperately trying to rid of that rock. She must have had that same rock in her throat, because she gulped too.

Out of habit, my knee bounced up and down, a faint tap tap of my shoes hitting the tile the only sound on the stairway. I had only just noticed my bouncing knee, it must've been moving for a while, as she gently moved for the first time. She lifted her hand placed it on my knee cap to stop its movement. My heart stops too.

She leaned into me, resting her head on my shoulder, her messy hair falling over her shoulders. I sighed softly trying not to let panic overwhelm me and rest my cheek on her head. Our breathing slowed to a hushed rhythm that I focused my hardest on. We didn't speak. We didn't move.

And that was okay.

We stayed there for hours.

...

The drive home was silent. We had taken Astrid's car home and left mine there. I'd get it another day. Astrid sat in the back seat, arms crossed, looking out the window with a stern expression. She allowed Stormfly to sit shotgun, who would howl every time a car honked from the other side of the street. I scratched the tired dog's head and clicked on the turn signal to turn onto my street. Stormfly stared out the car window watching the setting sun after what seemed like the longest day ever. She was exhausted, her ears drooped and tail failed to wag.

As soon as I pulled the car into the driveway, she jumped out the open car window, -even if I was going to open it for her- and doesn't wait for me to follow. She hurried into the house as if it was her old friend. Astrid took her time to get out of the car and pushes my hand to the side when I try to open the door for her. Sometimes, I swore she was just like that dog. Or her dog was just like her. I followed the two into the house, where Toothless greeted us with solemn expression. I bent down to kiss his nose, his tail lifting in response.

"...Hey, uh Ast?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you, um… uh- gods I don't know." I faltered, my speech breaking up as I have no idea what to say, or if I should say anything at all. I cringe at myself, always such an awkward person Hiccup! I stood and flicked on the lights, illuminating the grand hallway and library. I scratch the back of my neck and glance about the house.

"I uh... bought some more Nutella. It's on the kitchen counter." There is a long and silent pause, before she nodded a brief 'thank you.' She offered me the smallest smile, almost as painful as the brave expression constantly glued on her face.

One Week Later…

Astrid hadn't come out of her room in a week. Sure she came out to eat or take care of Stormfly, but otherwise it was like she didn't live here. The four empty nutella jars proved otherwise. I knew she needed space, so I gave whatever she needed. But this was unhealthy, even I knew that.

But there was a lot to talk about. The fire. Our fight. Her dad.

I knocked on her door several times throughout the seventh day but received no answer. Toothless waited impatiently at the door for hours, waiting for Stormfly to play with him, but as usual, Astrid always came first in Stormfly's eyes.

But enough was enough. I had to get Astrid out of that room. So I did what I did best, go all out. I busied myself for four hours on the balcony, stringing up the fairy lights that had long burned out, with new ones. I swept all the leaves and dust off the grounds and rearranged all of mom's dragon statues in her zen garden. I admired my work, wiping my hands on my pants as the lights lit up the darkening large table and its chairs sat unused for several months as the weather became colder. The small vegetable garden that Fishlegs had set up, sat barren as the harvest season ended, but it was charming up here, to say the least. I wrapped an extra strand of lights around the base of my mother's favorite stone dragon

She had gotten the statue when I was just a toddler. It wasn't large, maybe two feet in height, but the dragon was elegant the way it perched on the rock that spit water into a pool space and back up a suction as an artificial fountain. I had finally gotten the fairy lights to work and repositioned the messy pieces that had become flimsy in the wind.

"Come one Toothless." He let out a rough bark before bolting down the stairs to Astrid's room. I meet him there, out of breath and my prosthetic throbbing.

"Ast?" I knocked. "Hey, I know you're in there, so don't ignore me. Look, I know it's easy to stay wrapped up in there, but I um… I got something for you. So please-" The door swung open and for the first time in nearly a week I saw her.

I almost forgot how stunning she was. Almost.

"Alright." She answered, but it's emotionless. It like she didn't lose her dad a week ago. I gulped, suddenly my hands were clammy and I'm wasn't sure why. I didn't say anything, even though I guess I was supposed to, instead I sent her a warm smile.

"Come with me." I finally found the courage to say. She didn't take the hand I held out for her, she instead playfully slap it to the side, but she did follow me up the spiral staircase that lead to the balcony, the dogs weaving through our legs. My heart seemed to beat faster and faster with each step and with that, I was kind of glad she didn't take my hand because they were sweating like crazy. What the hell was wrong with me?

I moved to the side and nodded slightly, twisting the door knob and pushing it open just enough for her to slip through. I followed her outside and stopped when I heard her gasp.

And through her grief, she smiled.

"You did this?" I shrugged and kicked at the ground with my prosthetic a bit sheepishly.

"Kinda. Just fixed it up a little." I replied, watching her step into the center and turn, the fairy lights reflecting as tiny sparkles in her eyes.

"It's beautiful. Why haven't I been up here before?" She laughed as the dogs stuck their heads through the railings sniffing the autumn air.

"Honestly? Never occurred to me..." I traiedl off, my face softening into a frown." I thought you might need your mind off... things, just for a moment." Astrid came close and smiled, pulling me into a quick, tight hug and playful smack on the back of my head.

"You're a dork... but thanks. This, this means a lot." She stood there a second, deep in thought. "It needs some music know how to dance?"She pulled out her phone and clicked on her music app. The question surprised me, but I smiled nonetheless. As long as she wasn't not hunched over in the dark, closing herself off to the world... we still haven't talked about earlier.

"Not really. I mean, it's kind of hard with," I gestured to my metal leg, but she ignored it, taking my hands in hers.

"It's not rocket science, Mr. brainiac." She let a breathy laugh escape. As much as it killed me to think about it... maybe this is what she needed. To let go, that is. To move on from the chains that held her down to her past.

"Come on goofus." She pulled me along as a song began to play. I couldn't help but laugh as we speed up, making up our moves and disregarding my lack of coordination. The dogs barked and howled, their paws barely being avoided from our steps as they bounce around us. I know we couldn't do this forever, but for the moment I was fine with that.

A song begins to play and she sperates and then comes closer, swaing back and forth. Just like casual friends, right? Wrong! I had never been so reaked out in my entire life. And I had almost died twice in the last few weeks.

It was a good song, Dust in the Wind. I found myself humming along quite quietly. "You like Kansas?" She shrugged and laughed as she spins in my arms.

"Guilty pleasure. But then again, we can't dance to AC/DC now, can we?" I laughed in reply, but my reath is cut short as she's wrapped in my arms. Suddenly I think I want to kiss her.

I close my eyes, only for a moment, and the moment's gone

All my dreams pass before my eyes, a curiosity

Dust in the wind

All they are is dust in the wind

"Ast?" I didn't know why I said her name, but I did. She hummed the melody of the song, and I followed along, until she leaned in and wraped her hands around my neck. I held her closer, and suddenly she leanned in. I found myself doing the same, closing my eyes breifly.

"Where did you get the statue?" She asked, her voice scarcely above a whisper.

"It was my mother's. She loved dragons. Always said they were her passion. She used to say she was like them because of her fiery personality." Astrid chuckled softly and brought her gaze back to me. I stared at her, taking in those gorgeous blue eyes. I really wanted to kiss her.

But would she want the same? Gods, she probably only wanted to be friends! I couldn't possibly kiss her, she just lost her home and her dad! I would never take advantage of her like that. I most certainly wouldn't want to ruin the friendship we shared.

We almost died in an elevator together after all.

A million thoughts raced through my mind, as I over thought my every little movement, that I almost don't take to notice her coming closer. My breath caught in my throat as I met her there.

All thoughts drained from my head.

I could feel her lips barely brush against mine and I leaned in closer, but I got nothing in return. Instead, I'm jerked forward and the warmth that radiated off her left. I opened my eyes and stared blankly at her panicking face. I blush a deep red and the dogs stopped their chatter.

" Oh gods, I'm sorry! I-"

"Shut up." She replied, her eyebrows knitting together her in her deep thinking. Her eyes widened in panic but also... enthusiastically?

"Astrid, I'm so sorry!"

"I said shut up!" She paused before snatching her phone off the table. She threw open the door, but stops and pivots on her heel. "Hiccup! You genius! I know what it is!" She practically hollered. She ran up to me in her frantic state, grabbed my face and pulled me down, pressing a quick kiss to my lips.

But she was gone so fast I could barely fathom what had happened.

I hope it was okay! Things are about to take a turn! *evil laughter* Reviews wanted! Also, go check out my Supernatural stories! until next time,

-Daisy