As most of the tribe aided Dervla in getting her new house guests settled, Hiccup took the chance to speak to Gyda.

"Please draw that device you spoke of," he whispered. "We'll discuss it later."

Gyda stared at him then nodded her head. She glanced at Shadowfire. To Hiccup's surprise, the bigger dragon moved around so that he shielded Toothless from Stoick's line of sight. Hiccup blinked then stared at Gyda, eyebrow lifted. She smiled then cut her eyes towards Toothless. Hiccup tipped his head and walked around Shadowfire. He climbed into Toothless saddle. His dragon brother began to run back towards the upper level of the village.

Hiccup glanced back over his left shoulder to see Shadowfire, Hookfang, Wingblaze, Barf and Belch, and Sugar and Spice standing in a way that blocked the tribe's view of the path up. He also noted Stormfly stood in a way to watch him, Toothless, and Sharpshot leave, but not draw attention to the fact she could see. Astrid was not in Stormfly's saddle and Hiccup remembered she had been aiding Gothi get the injured Nadder settled in Dervla's home.

Hiccup had a feeling she would not be pleased that he had slipped away or that the others appeared to be aiding him, but Hiccup knew he had to. Whenever anxiety struck, Hiccup would climb into Toothless' saddle and just fly. Sometimes Toothless would perform tricks, usually when they reached the maze of sea stacks that had become their place of refuge. Dragons from the nest did use the sea stacks while on their patrols but Hiccup noted that whenever he and his brothers were out there, the dragons steered around them. Upon asking Toothless, Hiccup had learned that the bonded dragons had explain Hiccup's need to be away when things overwhelmed and the rest of the nest quickly agreed to keep an eye on the area but not bother Hiccup if he was there. At least if the reason was something less than a life or death matter.

Now, as they reached the sea stacks, Toothless began a series of twirls and barrel rolls. Hiccup was able to let his mind clear as he instinctively shifted the tailfin to accommodate the movements. Toothless always did this whenever Hiccup needed to get away. They would fly for what seemed like hours, doing different aerial tricks. Sharpshot would hold the front of Hiccup's harness so that Hiccup did not have to worry the wind would rip the smaller dragon off. His brothers knew him well and this time away from the tribe and the responsibility placed upon his shoulders always let Hiccup recover and breathe again.

Soon, even the energetic Night Fury tired and landed upon the sea stack. Hiccup dismounted and sat down. Toothless curled around him and Sharpshot laid down in his lap. For several heartbeats, only the sounds of the waves below and the sea birds all around the sea stacks could be heard. Hiccup closed his eyes.

A soft squawk that sounded both sorry and questioning, had him opening them again. Stormfly, with Astrid upon her back, hovered just off the sea stack. Hiccup patted the ground beside him. Being away from the tribe was one thing and something he found he had to do at times. Being away from Astrid for too long was another thing and everything within him protested the thought of doing so. Besides, she did want to talk to him over his keeping her back at the Changewing nest. Now seemed the better time for that conversation. At least out here, the whole of the nest would not hear her tell him off and then fly away. Hiccup was certain that would be how this went. Astrid did not take well to being told to stand back when something happened.

Stormfly landed and lowered so Astrid could slip out of the saddle. Hiccup noted that Sneaky hopped off Stormfly's back as well. Sharpshot moved out of Hiccup's lap, walking to stand next to his intended. Stormfly remained where she was. Toothless shifted his tail back in an invitation for Astrid to come closer. Hiccup's brow furrowed when she did not. His heart began to freeze in fear. The thing within him seemed to rail against the thoughts of Astrid yelling at him and then leaving that swirled in his mind.

Astrid sat down near to Hiccup's left knee and kept her gaze upon her hands laying in her lap. Hiccup frowned.

"I'm sorry," Hiccup began, thinking that he should at least start with that.

Maybe apologizing for what he did at the Changewing nest would cause her to think better of him. They were betrothed. The contract was signed and the bride price was paid. Breaking the contract now would dishonor both families. When they were ready, they would be married before the gods and then entire nest. This did not mean Astrid would be happy about it.

The thing within him roared at him in protest for his thoughts but his mind could not see how Astrid could stand his actions. He had kept her from doing something she wanted just because he feared the young Nadder would offend the Changewings. That the action she wanted to preform was to probably stand at his side and guard him against the unknown dragons did not lessen Hiccup's fear that he had finally annoyed her to a point she could not take. That she kept saying she was not going away also did not lessen his fear. The fear lived within him, rising whenever he felt overwhelmed and not much could lessen it or cause it to quell.

"Why?" she asked, her gaze jerking up to focus upon him. "I should be apologizing to you, Hiccup. I never.. I never noticed that you were not a morning or mid-day meals. I should have. Even with our stupid thoughts back then, you deserved to eat. I failed you again."

Her sorrow evaporated his fear. Hiccup knew that any fear he held or would ever hold over his past and his tribe returning to their old belief of him always ran when faced with an upset Astrid. He set forward, reaching for her. She stiffened when his arms encircled her, but she fell into his embrace a heartbeat later. Hiccup gently tugged. Astrid scooted closer and end up in their favorite position. She sat between his legs. Her back rested against his chest. His arms encircled her waist. Her head laid back upon his shoulder. His chin sat upon her shoulder.

"You didn't fail me," he whispered. "I didn't tell anyone."

"I should have seen it. I should have noticed you only came into the Great Hall in the evenings or whenever we had to have all the tribe in there. I should have made sure you ate."

Hiccup tightened his hold. She did not fight the action. The thing within him purred louder when she began rubbing her thumbs over his hands.

"No one noticed, Astrid, not even Gobber," Hiccup whispered, his eyes closing. "If anyone should have it would have been him and Dad."

"But-"

"Shh. I don't hold that against you, Astrid."

"Hiccup-"

"You didn't fail me, Astrid, not over this. And you've already apologized."

Astrid sat up. Hiccup released her. She shifted to face him, her hands framing his face.

"Never again," she whispered firmly. "No one is keeping you from eating with us. No one is ever going to blame you for anything, ever again, Hiccup. I will not allow that. I vow this, Hiccup. No one is going to hurt you like we all did before Toothless. Never again."

Hiccup's hands reached for her again. One rested upon her back. The other lifted to bury into the loose hair right at her scalp. He pulled her close. His lips slanted over hers. His heart soared and the thing within him purred as she returned the kiss. The purr grew louder as she tugged him close. He moaned when she buried a hand into his hair and her other hand kneaded his back. They kept the kiss soft, a mutual agreement to not push too far. Neither wanted their parents to feel their dragon chaperones failed and insist upon human ones that would stop moments like this.

After what Hiccup was certain was an entire minute and an entire hour in one, his lungs' demands for air made him pull back. He sighed and hummed as Astrid leaned her forehead against his.

"I love you," she whispered.

Hiccup blinked. "You're not mad at me?"

Astrid lifted her head to stare at him. "Mad? Why- Oh, the young Nadder." Astrid sighed, placing her forehead against his once more. "You trusted me to keep him from dishonoring you."

"You keep telling me you always have my back," Hiccup whispered, "but I know you didn't want to be a babysitter."

"I said I would support you, Hiccup. That may mean I have to support your choices even if I don't like them. It wasn't even being a babysitter that I disliked. It was not being able to stand beside you and keep you safe. We didn't know how that Scualdron would react or how those Changewings would have handled us being there." Astrid lifted her head and framed his face again. "I love you, Hiccup, and no one, human or dragon, is allowed to hurt you ever again."

Hiccup captured her lips again. She pressed into him. The purr in his ears drowned out the waves and the sea birds. Fear rose again, whispering new words of being inadequate and unworthy for Astrid. The thing within him snarled at fear but the words did not fade entirely until Astrid began to moan as his lips left hers and trailed kisses along both sides of her jawline before claiming her lips once more. Hiccup felt the thing within him wrestle fear into submission as Astrid held him as if she would never let him go.

Kirka: Hehe, it is awesome to watch him learn to lead.