Chapter 11

Hiccup lay on the makeshift cot in Gobber's office. His crying spell had ended a while ago and he was just staring blankly at the ceiling. Gobber who had hugged him and listened to the story stood awkwardly nearby. "Uhm… Hiccup… are ya gonna be alright?" Gobber asked.

"Yeah…. Yes…. I think I am," Hiccup mumbled. "I just… need time I guess."

"Ya sure lad?" Gobber asked.

Hiccup nodded before saying "You know…. I guess this outburst was a long time coming." He mumbled "I guess I was too scared to speak my mind during our travels. Just think.. If I disowned myself there I'd be walking the desert alone or probably lie dead under the sand."

"I'm sure that's not…" Gobber tried to reassure but Hiccup cut him off with the sentence "Gobber do you really think dad would have spared any supplies to the likes of me? He'd probably be happy he wouldn't have to deal with such a burden anymore."

"Hiccup you aren't a burden!" Gobber said with resolution. "Now you listen here lad! Forget what ya dad had said and done and just live the life you want!" Hiccup turned and saw his uncle clenching his fist.

"Gobber you alright?" Hiccup asked. He had never seen the blond man angry before.

"I'm alright Hiccup, you just rest. I need to get some air lad."

Hiccup nodded as he watched Gobber leave the office. When the door closed Hiccup looked up at the ceiling "Hey Astrid, do you think we could just… talk?"

Meanwhile, Gobber had left his workspace and marched up to the Command center. He made it there relatively fast, even on his prosthetic leg, and didn't bother to knock on the door. Gobber simply marched into the room and shouted "Stoick you fat idiot! Look what ya done now!" The room turned quiet as the others who were also working behind the monitors turned to stare at Gobber. Several were whispering others just stared incredulously at the man.

Stoick however wasn't really responding and just sat there at his desk with his head down and his hands in his hair. Gobber looked at the Berkians watching them before shouting "Out with all of ya! The Chief and I have a private matter to discuss!" The people in the room didn't need to be told twice. They all nearly ran for the exit as the atmosphere inside the Command center had become heavy. When the last one had left and the doors were firmly shut behind the two men Gobber let out a sigh. "You sure mucked it up big time Stoick."

"I know Gobber….. I know…" Stoick mumbled as he finally looked up. "Could you….. Could you talk to him for me?"

"I could," Gobber said and crossed his arms. "But I'm not gonna."

"Gobber…"

"Stoick you're my friend but I'm not going to fix this situation for you." Gobber told him with resolution. "You've been a right bastard to Hiccup and I love the lad like my own. The only reason I haven't said much was because he begged me not to start up something."

"Gobber…. I'm sorry," Stoick muttered as he sank back in his chair. Stoick looked much older and weary than before.

"It isn't me ya should be apologizing too!" Gobber growled. "Tell me Stoick, does Hiccup remind you so much of Valka that you had to alienate him just to not let your heart be broken again! After Valka died you just ended up shutting yourself off so much that you hurt your son!"

"Gobber I don't know what to do!" Stoick shouted. "Hiccup is… Hiccup is…"

"A smart lad!" Gobber finished for him. "One that you raised but didn't love! Honestly I wanna punch you in the face Stoick. You're the reason for this entire blunder. Just what where ya thinking all these years!"

"I….. I…. don't know," Stoick finally admitted. "Thor, Gobber. I got no clue anymore. Hiccup…. This…. It wasn't supposed to end like this!"

"Well it has, what ya gonna do about it?!" Gobber stated. "You and your indifference caused the lad to disown himself. You and your damn stubborn pride won't make it right!"

"Gobber I just wanted the boy to be safe!"

"Stoick you damned idiot!" Gobber shouted. "You ignoring him, teaching him nothing and trying to keep him down isn't going to keep him safe! Him knowing what is out there is! All you're doing is putting fuel on fire!"

"What was I supposed to do Gobber….. When Hiccup was born and I lost Valka… I knew nothing of parenting."

"It seems like you still don't Stoick," Gobber rolled his eyes. "Valka would have beaten you with that stick of hers if she was still here!"

"He just reminds me sooo much of her," The Chief said. "Same damned curiosity. I just don't want to see him get hurt."

"Well he already is hurt and it was all your fault." Gobber stated as he looked at his childhood friend.

"What do you suggest I do Gobber?"

"What do you want to do?" Gobber asked. "You have two options…. You can either let Hiccup be and live the life he has. The same life he'd had since you weren't around." Stoick flinched as if stung. "Or ya can actually talk to the boy." Gobber came closer and put his hand on the desk Stoick was using.

"I…. I… want Hiccup back," Stoick decided after remaining quiet for nearly a minute. Thoughts were going through his head at rapid speed and he just realized how much of a douchebag he had been. "I want him back…. But…."

"No buts Stoick." Gobber said as he stared down at the red-head. "Ya go talk to him after both of ya cool down. Thor knows the kind of temper and stubbornness both ya have." Stoick nodded wordlessly and then Gobber added "Oh and Stoick….." This caused the Chief to look up only to be met with a fist to the nose. Stoick fell backwards from his chair with a heavy thud. "Don't ya ever make mah Godson cry again!" Gobber shouted before walking stiffly out of the office while leaving the other man to his thoughts.

Meanwhile, back in Gobber's office-temporary-bedroom, Hiccup was still laying there after he wiped his tears away. He was quietly conversing with Astrid about various things just to keep his mind off of recent events.

"And now I need to find a new place to live….." Hiccup trailed off as the doors opened again to reveal that Gobber had returned. Hiccup immediately noted the redness of his knuckles and asked "Gobber what happened?"

"Nothing lad…." Gobber dismissed as he stealthily noted where Hiccup's gaze had gone. "I just went to deal with something. Now what is it I'm hearing bout ya moving out?"

"I think I need my own place to stay," Hiccup mumbled. "I don't want to inconvenience you."

"Nonsense Hiccup!" Gobber stated. "Ya no inconvenience lad."

"I still think I should at least live on my own." Hiccup mumbled. "That's why I asked Astrid if there was a free room available."

"Astrid huh," Gobber smirked. "So ya named her Astrid…."

"Gobber!" Hiccup shouted "Just what are you insinuating?!"

"Oooh nothing lad," Gobber laughed. "Wasn't there some old saying that went never get between an Engineer and his machine?"

"GOBBER!"

"Just teasing!" Gobber laughed as he took in Hiccup's red face. It was more of a blushing face now then tears.

"I am afraid I am not familiar with that term," Astrid spoke up.

"And Gobber will not be explaining!" Hiccup stated.

Astrid for her part was observing the situation and expressed confusion when Gobber started laughing uncontrollably while Hiccup buried his head in a cushion.

"Also lad, if ya wanna talk to the lady in private….." Here Gobber nudged Hiccup with his elbow "Ya might wanna think of getting some sort of radio. Everyone can hear ya like this."

"I… uhm…. Guess that's true." Hiccup thought for a moment before asking "Astrid what do you think?"

"I would also like to converse with you more privately," The A.I. admitted. "There are some questions that I wish to ask that could be taken wrongly in mixed company."

"Oh…. uhm…. I see," Hiccup said but he really didn't. Just what was Astrid so curious about that it required discretion?

"Sooooo how should we do that?" Hiccup then asked.

"I may have an idea on that." Astrid stated and Hiccup was sure the A.I. was sporting either a smirk, a smug look or a combination of both. 'Just what secrets and means did Astrid have to accomplish this' Hiccup thought.