Stefan knew something was wrong the moment he walked in the door. He dreaded the worst naturally and was relieved to see his son awake and full of life in spite of the teen boy's foul mood. What took him more by surprise was Val's rigid posture and mouth turned into a grim line. She looked furious.

The older man cleared his throat. "Is everything alright?" he carefully asked his wife, all too well acquainted with her wrath from past experiences.

"Am I alright?" Val snorted. "Why don't you ask your son that question?" she snapped. "Did you know about this?"

Stefan shifted on his feet, a guilty look striking his features. "I was going to tell you about the bike but we both know how paranoid you get and-"

"What bike?" Val interrupted, puzzled and annoyed. "I'm talking about the smoking! He is underage and sick. How did he even manage to get access to.." she trailed off, eyes widening. "No.. Did you-"

"Of course not," Stefan cut her off immediately. "I know nothing of this."

Hiccup rolled his eyes. "Mom can you please calm down."

Val let out a humorless laugh. "How can you expect me to be calm about this, Hiccup? Have you ever tried putting yourself in my shoes? Ever wondered what it's like for me?" her voice grew teary.

Her son sighed. "I just wanted to be free to do whatever I want in the short amount of time I have left," he said. "Why is that such a crime?"

Val averted her gaze, sniffing. "The smoking has to stop now," she said in a firm tone.

Stefan nodded in agreement. "Your mother is right, son. This isn't the right approach and you know it."

Hiccup swallowed, standing up. "Do you guys have any idea the pain I'm in every day?" he seethed. "No matter how much I try to mask it, it's there. Reminding me I'm not normal and that I never will be."

"Hiccup..." Stefan sighed.

"So what if I smoked a little? It doesn't matter when we all know I'm going to die soon anyway. Why can't I do what I want for once?"

Val exhaled. "Son.."

"No. Just.. don't. I'm tired of following directions and being trapped inside a cage. You have to let me go."

"You know I can't do that," Val retorted. Hiccup didn't say anything, sinking down on his seat again in hopelessness.

Stefan stepped closer to regard his wife. "How did you find out?" he whispered.

"His girlfriend," Val stated loud enough for Hiccup to hear. "Our son has been keeping secrets from us."

"Girlfriend?" Stefan repeated dumbfounded. "Is that true, Hiccup?"

Hiccup didn't respond, fidgeting with his hands. He wanted nothing more than to be far away from here. Somewhere where no one could find him, not even death. With Toothless and Astrid by his side as his companions.

"Did she know?" Val blurted out suddenly. "Did she know that you are sick and still let you carry on?"

"No. Astrid knows nothing," he retorted in a defensive voice, not wanting his mother to vilify his girlfriend for no reason.

"She deserves to know the truth, son," his father cut in. "It's not fair on her," he tried to reason.

Hiccup curled his fists together under the table and shook his head. "Astrid is the only thing that is all mine and I want it to stay that way." She was his only escape from this miserable reality, aside from Toothless.

"It doesn't work like that Hiccup and you know it," his mother chimed in.

The lanky boy simply raised up from the chair and walked out of the room.

-,-

Astrid was busy going over her notes when she suddenly received a message from her weirdo boyfriend. It was still strange to refer to him as such but it also made her feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. She bit back a smile as she opened to read. Much to her surprise, she suddenly heard someone tapping on her window and ventured over to see familiar green emeralds greet her through the dim glass. Fortunately her room was on the ground floor so Hiccup didn't have to put much effort into climbing inside.

After he clumsily made it through, the first thing Astrid noticed was his red-rimmed eyes and dishevelled state. "Hiccup-" The rest of words died in her mouth as his lips suddenly covered hers. Her mind reduced into a pile of mush and all she could do was kiss him back with as much passion as she could muster. As they made it over to her bed, Astrid quickly shoved her books and notes aside, pushing them down on the floor carelessly, to make room for her unexpected late night guest.

When they finally broke apart, Hiccup appeared to be gasping for air, his face having turned crimson. Astrid frowned. "Are you okay?"

The frail boy nodded, closing his eyes to catch his breath. "Just give me a moment."

Astrid pulled off his beanie in the meanwhile and ran her fingers through the short buzz soothingly. Hiccup's breathing slowed down along with her motions and he grew more relaxed.

"I hope I wasn't interrupting you." His voice was still raspy, almost like a whisper.

Astrid laughed, shaking her head. "I was just preparing for my exam next week. You know, the usual."

"Of course you were," he muttered dryly. "I would be more surprised if you were doing something fun for once."

Astrid rolled her eyes and kissed the tip of his nose. "Um, I have been meaning to ask you.." she began, pulling back to look him in the eye.

"Do I believe in ghosts?" he joked teasingly.

She chuckled, swatting him on the shoulder lightly. "It's about you, actually." Hiccup raised an eyebrow. " And.. me, I suppose." She paused for a moment. "I just want to know where this is going. I have never been with anyone before and I don't kn-"

Hiccup silenced her with his finger. "Stop worrying over the future. I'm with you right now," he whispered, kissing her on the lips. "Right here. In this very moment." Astrid's eyes fluttered close as she felt his lips ghost over her jaw. "That's all that matters."

They made out for a while, like two regular hormone-ridden teenagers, until Hiccup's phone buzzed and broke the spell.

Hiccup apprehensively answered the phone call from his mother. He could hear her crying on the other end and immediately felt guilt surge up within him. "Where are you?" she asked in a muffled tone, clearing her throat.

He sighed, biting the inside of his cheek.

"Are you somewhere safe at least?" she continued upon receiving no response. "Please, talk to me son."

"Yes," he said at last, staring into the ocean blue pools in front of him. "I'm safe." Val didn't push the matter further, knowing it was only going to fuel her son's newfound rebellious streak. She settled with his vague response.

Setting the phone aside, Hiccup turned to the blonde at his side again and kissed her forehead.

It wasn't long after that they both slumbered off, cuddled into each other.

Despite his joint pains and mild fever, Hiccup felt relaxed and at ease next to the sleeping beauty. At one point during the night he woke up and found himself wrapped in Astrid's arms.

If he were to die in this instance, embraced by warmth and softness, he realized he didn't mind it too much.