The side of the bed was cold and empty. As he rolled over he felt as if it was all a dream, his wife, his son, his home. Groggy eyes that were glued shut slowly opened, and through his blurred vision he noticed the bare space next to him. The space that was once filled with the warm presence of his long lost wife was once again empty.

He shot from where he lay, looking around his room. Was it a dream? It can't of been, it felt so real. His thoughts were put at ease at the sigh of her clothes, the ones she wore yesterday before she fell asleep in one of his old tunics. He hadn't realised it yet but the breath he held he finally let go.

But it got him thinking, if astrid wasn't laying in his arms, then where was she.

Turning to the side he found his boot and leg, he left just his pants on with no tunic, he didn't think he would be too long at what looked to be 4 in the morning. However he did grab a fur blanket, just in case.

Taking a step out of his warm cosy bedroom, and a wave of cold air hit his hot burning flesh. Out on the corridor he could see his sons bedroom door, shut firmly, so the cold wind must have been coming from the wide window ledge at the front of the house.

He did love his old house, the memories of him and his farther were strong, but they were every where he turned. That's why a week to his wedding he gave his mom the keys and as a wedding gift he gave astrid a house, this house. It was a five minute walk from the rest of the village, the house was bigger, their land was wider. And with a five minute walk from them and anyone that needs 'the chief' it gave them, privacy.

Which was handy, for them when they were less clothed and for stoick, it gave them as a family more time together. Well him and hiccup anyway, when ever they were on Berk over the last 2 years, hiccup needed farther and son time with stoick, stoick was the only link he had to astrid, he needed time with stoick.

He took slow steady steps towards the window ledge, the floor boards creaking as his weight pressed down. Making his way to the window he could see her silhouette slouching on the large window sill. She barely moved, only the small movements of her chest breathing. She didn't even turn around at him approaching, maybe it was because she didn't hear him, or maybe she just wanted silence and peace. Either or, she didn't move a muscle, it was only when he unraveled the fur blanket and placed it around her shoulders, she physically jumped out of her silent phase.

" Oh," her body relaxed, as if she was frightened to death, but then relieved to find out it was only him.

" What you doing up at this time? " he asked, standing his post right next to her.

" I couldn't sleep, need some air, and space to think." She wrapped the fur around her shoulders more as another gust of wind came through the open window.

" How long have you been awake?"

" About an hour, I don't know maybe more, sleep is new to me I haven't really slept much so now it's getting a bit to get use to." She didn't flinch when his hand played with her hair, that was progress a little, at least he knew she wanted him there, especially when she leaned further into his touch.

" You should have waked me" his hand dug in deeper, and as a relaxing sigh left her lips, she leaned toward him, resting one side on his bare chest, feeling his heat radiate through her.

" You looked peaceful, happy. And I - I was just lost in my thoughts, I woke up a felt like I was dreaming, had to check on stoick, just to see He was there. I can't go back to sleep now, it's - it's like now the adrenaline has calmed down and I'm finally realising that this is real, I'm here and I can finally drop my guard, and my mind is just flooding with memories, awful, vile, cruel memories, that. Just. Won't. Go. Away." Digging her face into his chest, she hoped that his presence will somehow, drown out those pictures that were plastered in her mind.

" Hey, Hey, hey, shush. It's okay-" he could hear in her voice, the trembling of her throat, threatening to just break down, he had only ever heard that voice before, when her mom died.

" look at me astrid, look at me" he moved back and bent down so he could look up to her, her eyes hard to look into as they were sheilded by a layer of water.

" Just look at me, let me in. I know everything Astrid and you know that none of it is your fault, it's okay to feel like this astrid, it's okay." She aloud herself to fall into him, let her face fall into the crook of his neck and his arms wrap protectively around her rubbing her back, with his soft fingers stroking up and down.

" it hurts hiccup" her weight dropped into his, but he supported her, she was lighter than he remembered, guess that made it easier now.

" I can't get his face out my head, I see it everywhere, I don't feel safe. Just get rid of it, get rid of it" How could he help her, how could he make it go away, if he didn't know who 'he' was or what he had done to his wife.

" It's okay, I got you. You should try and get some sleep" his suggestion was quickly denied, as he whole body began to shake.

" No, no, can't sleep, he's there when I close my eyes, always there"

" shush, hey - I'll be here, so if you see him in your sleep, I'll be here when you wake up. Okay?" He hushed her with slow moving of his hand.

" I'm not tired" though her eyelids disagreed.

" Okay, I'll stay awake with you" he slowed his hand even more, sending shivers put her spine.

In her groggy state, with his hand bringing her closer to sleep, she tried to shake her firm head.

" No - no you have Chiefing to do, I can't ask that," her body relaxed even more as the first tears fell and her mind followed his finger.

" I don't care, I'm staying awake with you, moments like this are precious to me. You have no idea how much I craved to hold you in my arms again, I'm not missing out on that for sleep" his hands moved down and glided over her rear and upper thighs, it was only slightly, but her body tensed up.

With a little push, he placed her legs around his waist, and she let him of course, once her body had relaxed again. With the strength he had, he forced himself up into his two legs and proceeded to climb on the wide window ledge with her firmly wrapped up in his embrace and the two covered up with the fur blanket that still hung off Astrids shoulders.

It wasn't that cold anymore, sure the winter months were here and the icy winds blew through their house, but they had each other, their body heat was all they needed.

" This has to be my most favourite spot of the house" hiccup said as a few tears dropped down his wife's cheeks.

" Yeah mine too" she sobbed quietly, but her mind was quieting down from the world wind of memories that flooded her head before.

" Do you remember all the fun we had here" reminiscing on the time him and her, in the early stages of their marriage, spent hours on this tiny ledge, just them and their hot naked bodies.

However he did gain a small giggle from her, it was a small victory but a victory none the less. " yeah, I'm suprised no one caught us."

" Wouldn't surprise me if someone did, but never said anything, how many times had someone catch us before everyone just got used to it" as their conversation continued, their hands were wandering the others body while both eyes were set on the view they had from the front of their house.

" Err I don't know, about seven maybe eight, at least one of those. I do feel sorry for gobber though he was at the most four of them, we always ended up in the back room of his forge. I'm surprise he kept his mouth shut with us." Her tears had come to a stop as she giggle into her husbands neck and chest.

" Oh he didn't say anything in front of you, but dragged me aside and gave me a piece of his mind. I'm Chief and never before have I felt so belittled."

" We did do it in his work shop more than we should have," she stated, but that grin was still plastered on her face.

" Well it was my work shop too, so by rights, I had a right to bed my new wife in there." She playfully hit his chest, he knew he deserved that, but with the grin on her face, it was so worth it.

They lay there for hours, talking mainly about the first year of their marriage, that's when this war started, all them years ago on their honeymoon when the two came across a massacre which only lead them to where they were today.

But as the hours past and the darkness began to go lighter, there conversation suddenly drifted away, and it was silent. Hiccup kept his eyes on the horizon but his ears tuned in on his wife's slow and steady breathing. Slowly he looked down, to see her curled up on his chest, fast asleep.

" Not tired my ass" his smirk only grew as she looked so peaceful. So wrapping her up with his arms and slowly lifting her into bridal style, he slid off the ledge and onto the floor, making his way as quietly as possible to their bedroom, prays his prosthetic wouldn't click and his weight wouldn't creek on the floor boards.

Successfully getting her into the bed, he kept the fur hanging over her body, but he couldn't bring himself to go back to bed, the sun was rising and he knew it would be a matter of time before someone came knocking. He took it upon himself to get dressed in his normal attire and head down stairs, the least he could do was make breakfast for the two most important people in his life.

As the porridge pot cooked on the house stove, hiccup walked around his kitchen and found himself staring out the window to the village that began to awake. How so much had changed over the last few years. Hiccup couldnt believe that he had been chief for over five years, five years of running a village, protecting the archipelago, marrying the girl of his dreams and raising the most important person in his world.

If only his dad could see him now, dad would have loved stoick, adored him. He would have liked to think he would have been proud to how he has been running the village. His way. The only way he knew how to run things.

Like astrid said, he does this his way, the Hiccup way. Cause he now knew he wasn't his dad. He was his own person.

But suddenly he felt self doubt consume him, he was chief, a husband, a farther and he had let everyone down. He let his village down when drago attacked, murdering and capturing half of his people. He let his wife down when he left her to those creeps, left her in their grasps. And he let his son down, when it took him so long to return his mother too him.

He felt ashamed.

" You have your thinking face on, you let your thoughts consume you too much and you'll slowly go mad." He turned around to see his wife, still in his old tunic, hair roughly put in a side braid and her feet covered with her need his fur boots. It made him laugh when he see her where them, her legs always looked tiny in those boots.

" Believe me, take it from a girl who spent hours in a dark room left to her own thoughts" at that comment his once large goofy smile turned into a frown, his eyes floating to the floor in shame.

" Sorry, should I have not brought it up?" She questioned taking steps towards him, a sad smile appeared on his face.

" No!" His answer was sorta blurted out, like rushed, " no, it's good you want to talk about it, it's healthy" he came over bringing his hands to her upper arms, stroking the tenderly with his thumbs.

" What, like this morning" her tone sounded disappointed in herself.

" It's okay to feel like this astrid, it's completely normal" he drew her into his arms, holding her for a second. He would never be tired from this, holding her in his arms, that way he knew she was safe, within his grasp.

" How come your awake anyway?" He thought changing the conversation might lighten up the mood.

" I keep seeing faces when I'm asleep, keeps me up" walking out of his arms she took herself over to the stove, keeping a watchful eye on the cooking porridge. Where as hiccup stayed put feel a bit guilty for leaving her after she told him she was having trouble sleeping.

" I'm sorry, I should have stayed up stairs with you" but just like typical Astrid, she shrugged it off. " it's fine, I'm used to it, sorta. Is this for you, me and stoick?" She asked avoiding the conversation completely.

" Err Yeah, just thought I'd get a quick start on it before I have to go" she stopped stirring the pot and turned back to him.

" Oh," her face fell " Right you have to go back to work" she got up, walking right past him and started rummaging through the cupboards for three wooded bowls and spoons.

She knew exactly where everything was, nothing had changed, which was nice. The memory of her house was Not faulted.

Standing up after gathering up the bowls and spoons, she felt him wrapping his arms around her, pressing her back into his chest and placing chase kisses on her jaw and neck. She didn't flinch though, not once, cause for a change she felt safe in her own home.

" I know it's not ideal, but a lot of people have come home, and need help getting back into reality. But I'll make it up to you, both of you. Maybe a date, a meal out, I'll try and get away for a couple of hours." He kept placing kissing all over the side of her neck, making her skin feel as if it was catching fire everytime his lips touched her.

" You could make it up to me now" his lips never stopped, causing her to place the stuff in there arms down on the nearest ledge.

" And how could I do that milady." His mouth moved up her neck and stayed around her jaw line, making her whole body shudder.

" Kiss me, kiss me now" she turned in his arms letting them stay rested on her lower back, bringing her hands up around his neck and letting her fingers interlock with the hairs on his head.

" Kiss me " he didn't hesitate another second, capturing his wife's lips in his, pulling her body deeper into his embrace as his mouth wandered familiar territory. It wasn't long before he hoisted her up around his waist, while she was still caught up with trying to win dominance.

His hands caressed her face as he took in her beauty, how much he missed this, holding her within his arms again felt like a dream. He honestly didn't know how he survived with out this woman, she was his anchor to this earth, the one that kept him going.

And with that he took two large strides to the kitchen counter, gently placing her down on top, but her legs still didnt leave his waist, squeezing her legs together so he couldn't escape her grasp. While her hands stayed glued to his head, pulling down to only deepen the kiss more. He started to wander, down the sides of her neck, to her sharp, lean shoulders and passing her beasts to her thin waist.

Tugging on his old tunic she wore, gain a moan for her lips, he felt more confident and moved his hands further down. It was only when he started to pull the tunic up did she pull away from their heated embrace.

" wait," her hands immediately fell to his, holding onto his wrists, making sure he didnt move another muscle. It was only when he fully let got of her tunic that she released her grip.

" Im sorry, i just-" he took a sigh, not knowing how to end that sentence, hanging his head low.

" Its okay, i still need time" bringing her forehead to his and resting them together.

" I know i know, i just got back into old habbits, old familiarities. Im sorry" he wrapped his arms around her shoulders pulling her into him.

" Its not your fault that were not back to husband and wife activities. I think that blame falls to me." Digging her head into his neck, and returned to favour from before by placing some small kisses of her own there.

" Its not your fault, not of it is" he pulled her head back again, so he could rest his forehead on hers. " let's just make a promise not to even attempt to do- anything for a few weeks, your obviously no where near ready," she took a large sigh when he said that.

" I wanna be"

" yeah but your not, and that's okay" he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and bent down to capture her lips again, however.

" Dada! Dada!" The voice of stoick Haddock the ll filled the stair hallway, capturing the attention of the two adults who were still in the kitchen below.

Eyeing the stair case hiccup said," well I guess the little dragon is up"

" daddy!" He yelled once more, causing hiccup to pull apart from his wife's embrace. " I'll get him, you wait here" he commanded, but it was more like he was doing her a favour. She had no energy anyway to argue otherwise.

She heard his feet creek and they go up the stairs, finally coming to a stop, realising that he had reached the top. This is where she listened carefully as her two boys talked.

" Hey buddy, you finally woken up?" She heard another creak in the floor boards above her.

" Where mama? Mama?" Her heart aches as his little voice spoke her name.

" You want you mama? Okay come on, let's go see mommy" the floor boards started to creek again, as heavy feet came down the stairs, she couldn't help herself but to wait at the bottom of them, waiting for the two to emerge.

" Mama?"

" Yeah let's go see mama" there voices became louder as the two finally came into sight coming down the narrow stair case with hiccup hold their little boy, hair full of auburn bed head which was definitely a trait he got from his farther. He had his bed clothes on and hugged a small blanket close for warmth.

His little sleepy face brightened up at the sight of his mother standing there with open arms.

" Mommy!" He almost jumped out of hiccups arms to get to her, having his arms and tiny legs wrap around her. That fearlessness, was a trait he got from her.

" Hi baby, told you I'd be here in the morning, mommy's not going anywhere. Ever." She kissed the side of his head as he snuggled in closer, listening to his mother's soft words.

" Come on you two, breakfast. I wanna see both eat something before I leave" he walked over to the pot of porridge and started dishing it out. But at the sound of his farther leaving stoick head shot out of his mother's neck.

" Where goin?"

" Oh buddy, daddy got to go to work. I promise though to sneak away to see you both" he said walking up to his wife and child after dishing out the breakfast.

" Pwomise?" A little lip began to quiver.

" Promise!" Firmly answering, placing a quick kiss on his soft cheek. " now come on breakfast."

xx

The day dragged more than she would have liked it too. Hiccup left and Astrid was finally left with the realisation that she was actually looking after a two year old and had know idea how to. She couldn't ask hiccup, he was gone, she was alone.

So step by step, she started the day, by getting him dressed, to be honest she found it quite easy. He was independent enough, stepping into the Cotten pants he had and his very own tunic. She helped him when it came to his little boots, but once in the boy was excited to get out, only one last thing she put on him, a fur body warmer, that had no sleeves, winter was coming and that cool air was like ice.

She had to say looking at him like this he was a spitting image of hiccup, no doubt. She followed his lead, let him take her to his favourite places, which was mainly the sand front, where he collected shells to make his 'mommy a necklace.'

Finding it quite cute, Astrid was at least thankful that his little activities distracted her from her own inner demons. But yet that still didn't stop the nervous twitches and constantly looking over her shoulder. ' no where was safe'

One of stoick places was in fact gobbers work shop, probably hiccups doing trying to make their son a black smith before he became a dragon rider.

" Gob gob!" The boy ran in, shell chain in his hands, and his mother trailed behind, ready to just collapse there and then.

" There's me wee little 'Haddock" scooping him up.

" I see yer been busy, shell collector yer are. Remember what yer farther said, each shell is a wee little fishy, we protect the fishes" bopping him on his nose, gaining a giggle.

Holding up the chain and shaking it in front of him, " a fishy"

" eyy a wee fishy" he placed the boy back on the ground and let him wander around. He then proceeded to turn all his attention on the blonde leaning against hiccups old work bench.

" Yer alright lass?" She cocked her head up.

" Oh yeah, just taking care of a two year old is a lot harder than I thought" a smirk appeared on his face at the thought.

" Eyy, imagine what hiccup went through" he picked up a near hammer and started back on his work, yet he was still in ear shot.

" I can't even begin to think how hard that was" she did feel a ping of guilt, she knows she had no choice, but she left him with a new born to raise on his own, and he had done a marvellous job.

" Eyy, but the wee lad proved us all wrong, stubborn just like his farther." While the two adults talked, the the corner of her eye Astrid noticed something.

" Stoick?" But it was too late what ever stoick was doing he had managed to pull it out behind gobbers desk to show the two.

" Err laddie, that's not to play with" gobber stopped what he was doing trying to grab the boy before he shows everyone what he had found in gobbers shop.

But it was too late for that, cause astrid saw it, and all of a sudden it was becoming hard to breath as she felt the walls cave in.

" Why? Why do - you" she pointed to the object the gobber now had in his hands," Why?"

They were chains, them chains, the ones that had her tied to a wall for the past two years. They were the chains she was hung in, starved in, beaten in, raped in.

Her eyes had now become blurry as she was taking small steps backwards. ' I will not go back, I will not go back'

" Astrid it's not that, we are just tryin to find out where the metal comes from, maybe stop there supplier from supplying our enemy" she still took steps back.

" Astrid?"

" I won't go back, I can't go back" with realising what she was meaning he tried to retake his attempt on calming her down.

" No no Astrid, we are not,"

" I can't go back" this time when she took another step backwards she banged into someone behind who immediately wrapped their arms around her. That's then she snapped, she didn't know who it was, nor did she care she just had to get out. So she turned and punched whatever was behind her.

" Ow" the lanky man fell to the ground, holding his jaw and gaping at her. That lanky man was her husband.

Horror filled her insides, " Hiccup I'm - I'm so sorry" she looked back for just a second and it was enough to see horror in her sons eyes. She went back to hiccup who was now stood up but his hand was still around his jaw and a bit of blood cane from the corner of his mouth.

" Astrid?" Something was wrong, he could see it in her eyes as they streamed with blurry tears.

" I'm sorry, but can't do back, I-I can't go back in chains" she ran, it was the first thing she could think of, running. Anywhere, she didn't care, she just had to run.

" Astrid wait!" He husband yelled behind her, but her legs kept on going, and they weren't for stopping.

xx

" Astrid wait!" He has to chase after, find out what was wrong, it hadn't even been a full day, what could have gone wrong, but before he had the chance stoick stopped him.

" Dada?" He looked to where his son was, standing in the middle of gobbers workshop, guilt and horror filled his eyes as well as tears. His little shell chain was still in his hands.

Looking between the running blonde and the little boy he knew what he had to do first, " damn it " he came over to where stoick was, picking him up and giving him a bit of comfort.

" Mommy hurt daddy" his little fingers touched the still sensitive corner of hiccups mouth.

" oh no! No no no. Mommy didn't mean too. Daddy err daddy was being silly, remember when I said mommy would be sad when she got back, well daddy scared her and that was silly of him" the boy didn't look too convinced, but after a minute he agreed.

" Silly daddy"

" yeah silly daddy, okay now I'm going to find mommy and help her, you stay here with uncle gobber." He set the boy on the edge of the work table and kissed his fluffy hair.

" Oh do I not get a wee say in this" gobbers voice appeared from behind, she only caused the chief to shoot a glare his way. " gobber please?!"

" Gob gob" if anything it was stoicks words that persuaded him more.

" Fine, I guess I can take care of the laddie" coming over and picking the boy up.

" Thank you"

xx

He searched everywhere, the academy, the house, the mead hall, he even got toothless to fly him to the cover. Nothing. He was so close to just flying back to the forge and leaving Astrid to come back in her own time.

But he took toothless once again around the island, and it was only when toothless spotted his scaly blue best friend that he pulled hiccup towards gothi's mountain, on a perch that looked out to the ocean, where him and Astrid used to go to for some 'quiet time'.

Along with stormfly, a certain blonde sat on the edge of the perch confirmed it was in fact Astrid. Slowly climbing off toothless' saddle, the young chief was greeted by the bird like dragon.

" Hey girl," he scratched the side of her face as she cooed into his hand. " how's our girl" he looked over to the blonde who still hadn't noticed that he was here.

Again the dragon cooed, " yeah I know, let's see if I can cheer her up" he started to walk away and behind heard the two reptiles pounce about.

" Now you two be good" he gave one final warning before he walked off towards Astrid.

She hadn't yet give notice that she knew of hiccups presence, still sat on the grassy ground hugging her knees into her chest. Though the snap of a twig from hiccup weight shifting, snapped her out of her quiet state.

Her panicked state quietened down when she saw hiccup, knowing she was in no immediate danger, but the bruise forming in the corner of his mouth made her realise what she had done.

" Hiccup I'm so so sorry" she didn't get up, she didn't have too, Hiccup was already half way at getting down and plonking himself next to her.

" You wanna tell me what happened?" He copied her, by crossing his legs and drawing his knees close to his chest, arms wrapped around them.

" I don't know, I flipped. I didn't know it was you behind me, I swear" she drew her hand up towards the corner of his mouth, running a thumb over a fresh cut only to make him wince a little.

" I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it" Her voice failing her as her eyes filled up.

" I know," he pulled her into his arms once again, feeling weight shift against his. " what happened Astrid?" Pulling back, still sat on his lap and his arms wrapped around her.

" I saw them chains," he immediately knew what she meant, the chain he told gobber to keep out of sight.

" Astrid look,"

" no hiccup you don't understand, what they did to me while I was in those chains, will never go away. Do you understand, I was tied in them chains while they decided what they were going to do to me, do you understand." She sobbed quietly as she tried to make him see, but she didn't need to press any further, he got the message.

" Oh Ast"

" I don't wanna talk about it" she shrugged it off, keeping her distance in a way, but still sat firmly on his lap.

" I see," stroking her upper arms, " they will be gone by the morning I promise" he got a small sad smile in return but a smile non the less.

He pulled a confident move, by leaning up to place a single passionate kiss on her lips. She accepted of course, kissing him back while one of her hands ran through his hair.

Though he did pull back first as the pain from the side of his mouth became uncomfortable, she raised her other hand running a thumb over it.

" Did you see the way he looked at me?" Hiccup narrowed his eyes before she continued. " Stoick. He looked so scared of me" he grabbed her hand in his, immediately stroking it with his thumb. Her eyes seemed lost and yet again hard to read.

" It's okay, I made him understand. He knows it wasn't your fault, it's okay" she pulled back and through her narrowed eyes she looked at him.

" How?"

" Told him it wasn't your fault, you didn't mean to, I scared you, it was my fault" she fell back into him, resting her forehead on hers with a large sigh.

" Oh Hiccup,"

" It's true, it was my fault astrid, I should have known you weren't ready to go back to normal, I should have spent the day with you," she started to interrupt him.

" No Hiccup I'm -"

" - can you honestly say that you were fine today?" She didn't answer straight away, didn't know what her answer would be, she only looked down, and with every strength she had, slowly shook her head.

" I should have stayed with you, helped you instead of running off after the village and not let you deal with this on your own."

Her body collapsed into his, her face buried deep in his neck as loose arms wrapped around the other.

" I'm okay, it's okay" she mumbled words into his neck, her hot breath sending shivers down his spine.

" It's not okay Astrid, none of this is." He rocked her slowly, " It's why I wanted to talk to you in the first place. I was talking to lout and ruff before, they are doing counciling, with Phlegma. They did a session this morning, they said it helped. I was just thinking, maybe we go counciling," she stopped him right there.

" You think I need counciling?"

He saw the hurt forming behind her eyes and tried his best to explain it more, " no! I think we need counciling, as a married couple. I need it. I don't know how to handle this situation, I need help understanding what you've been through" he face still looked hurt, but behind all that her eyes were understanding.

" Please I need this" she didn't give her answer straight away, sitting back and looking down at her village, and the thought of stoick came to mind. He need his mother, whatever it takes.

" Okay, I'll do it" with the sad smile on her face he could tell she wasn't sure about it, but it was necessary, for the both of them.

" thank you" He placed a kiss on her forehead, gaining another genuine smile.

" I'll book an appointment tomorrow morning, right now we have a party to go to"

" what party?" Lacing her fingers in his. " stoicks party, I did promise him" when he gave her a goofy smile, she couldn't hold back her own, pulling herself up from the ground along with hiccup.

" you spoil him, you know" he jumped up next to her wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into a hug,

" how can I not, I spoil the people I love" he pulled out of there embrace and looking deep into her blue crystal eyes.

" So what does that mean for me?" She had that tease in her voice, the same voice she had when they were first married.

" It means, milady, that i take pleasure in spoiling you" he kissed her nose so sweetly, which only made her lean forward so her lips pressed against his

" i bet you do" her whisper was so tempting as he played witb her lips, touching them carefully not wanting this game to end.

As he lured her in with his games, she played with him, tugging on his auburn hair, but all good things must come to an end as a certain scaly friend popped his head inbetween the two and separated them immediately.

" can always count on you to ruin the moment you usless reptile" hiccup scruffed the top if his best friends head as he cooed. The dragon wanted something.

" Alright, fine we will go home" he looked over to his lady before climbing on his friends saddle.

" Are you riding with me or with stormfly?" The question was seductive without it even trying to be. But that smirk definitely made it seductive.

So without answering, step by step, stride by stride she walked over to him and climbed on the saddle with him, slowly so she could enjoy him watching her every move.

But instead of climbing behind him, she climbed infront of him, facing him, purposely running her hands up His thighs, which always, always, made him shiver.

" I want to make this work, our marriage. I want to, not just for us, but for stoick as well, I really want to make this work hiccup." She edged closer to him her hands now running up towards his waist pulling them towards her, so they were seconds apart from touching.

" I missed you" one hand moved up and caressed his neck and jawline as he leaned in. " I missed you so much"

she pulled his forehead down one more time so she was so close that she could hear him breathing. " and I swear if you tell anyone-" he threat didn't sound so threatening when she said it was a half laugh.

" I won't tell a soul" he was done with games as he leaned downwards and captured her lips, there was no words describing how much he missed her.

The dragon beneath them though was getting inpatient, very quickly. So he shook his whole body so the two would pay attention, wriggling till the two broke apart.

" Okay okay! Buddy, we really need to talk about your inpatient issues. It's really starting to fuck me up" he giggle leaning around his wife and stroking his best friend on the top of his head.

" Oh don't blame him, the amount of times we nearly stripped off naked on his back, he has the right to be a bit restless" she sniggered as her husbands cheeks went bright red.

" Alright, so is that a yes to riding with me ?" He asked not wanting her to bring up anymore embarrassing moments.

" It's a yes, if I get to sit at front" Her devilishly smile never failed to have him crumbling to his knees.

" You know I always hated you taking the lead, you used to rub your arse against me, it was my greatest weakness" he smirked as she was already turning around, planting herself right in between his legs.

" It's what wives are good at" she smiled as his arms wrapped around her and grabbed the saddle. She secretly loved and hated the fact he was taller than her, towering over her. That's why it was a secret.

" Your not just good for that " he said it so seriously as he leaned into her neck. She knew how he felt about the old ways on how men should treat women, he was raised by his farther, to respect women as their equal, not as their possession. " it's why I missed you so much, I needed you, you give me council, you help me focus, you basically run this village as you have me wrapped around your finger, but I love you for it."

He kisses the side of her neck, " it's why I think this counciling will be good for us"

she shook her head in agreement, " right shall we"

" we shall, bud, the great hall"

xx

The music could be heard throughout the village, the joys of laughter filled with the sounds of bagpipes and drums lifted the young vikings spirts without them even knowing. As the great nightfury landed softly on the freezing grass, the blue bird like dragon landed behind him, watching as their riders climbed off.

No words were said, they didn't really need to, not really. Their eyes spoke for them as the young chief turned around and took his wife by her waist, helping her down.

" Chief, I'll have you know I'm a married woman" she teased purposely rubbing her leg against his.

" I won't tell if you don't" he played along with her tune, hands firmly wrapped around her back.

She smirked and slowly leaned up to is ear, her whispers set shivers straight down his back and between his legs. " it will be our little secret"

The two giggles like children keeping secrets as they both pressed their noses together before separating, " Come on, our little boy is missing his parents at his own birthday party"

He took her hand and guided her in, as the large doors opened, the cheers roared as the fire burned around the edge of hall, lighting up the hall with a warm orange light. His people danced around and around the floor as the other vikings and their allies sat on round and long tables drinking mead, laughing and joking, getting more drunk by the second, shovelling what ever food they can find into their mouths.

It was Viking tradition of course, the parties to be so rowdy, you couldn't leave one without there being a drunken fight. Though the sight made astrid eyes light up as well as staring and familiar and unfamiliar faces, the ones she knew, the faces she loved all sat on the large long table at front, the chiefs table.

And with their friends, hiccups mother, and the two right hand men of the chief sat stoick as he was deep in conversation with gobber, his grandmother, Eret and heather along with Dagur, Mala and hroar. He was giggling, laughing and the sight of her son smiling made her stop dead in her tracks.

An arm wrapped around her shoulder, " He's not scared of you, never was. He's two, and he doesn't understand, but he will because he loves you so much" his hand rubbed her shoulder.

" Come on" with his arm still wrapped around her the two made their way to the chiefs table, but not long before they reached the larger table were the two greeted by the joyful voice of their son.

" Mama, Dada " the boy wiggled out of his grandmothers arms, scurried under the table and ran through the crowd towards his parents.

But it wasn't astrid that greeted him by picking him up in their arms. It was hiccup, of course, stoick was definitely daddy's little boy. Who could blame him, Hiccup did raise him.

" Hiya buddy" he kissed his tiny nose while the boy giggle. She watched her boys stoick was just like hiccup, his hair, his nose, his smile, he was like a tiny hiccup especially with his mannerism and clothing. The only thing was his eyes, his bright crystal blue eyes. And maybe his desire to jump of anything more than 4 feet, he was a little climber indeed.

" Mama Okay?" The boy turned to his mother.

" Yeah mummy's Okay now" Hiccup brought the boy to her, he was already itching to climb out his farthers arms and jumped straight into hers.

" Hi sweetie, I'm okay now, I'm so sorry for scaring you" Stoick raised a hand, placing on her cheek and stroked it.

" It okay mommy, daddy silly" her eyes wandered up to hiccup who only smiled.

" Daddy's not silly, it's just that mommy's not doing so well. But I'll get better, I promise" she kissed his precious hand before hoisting him up into her arms more.

" Why don't you two enjoy the feast, I'm just going to circulate around the hall, see if our guests are enjoying themselves." He rubbed his sons head.

" Bye bye daddy" the two walked off to the table with the rest of their families and friends, Astrid sitting firmly between valka and gobber.

Walking around his people and allies the Chief came across a familiar face, " hello friend" Eret came up to him.

" Eret" Eret patted him on the back, he always did hate that.

" That doesn't look pretty" he pointed to the bruise forming on the corner of his mouth.

" I'm fine" brushing it off and walking along side his right hand man. " so what can I do for you Eret" Hiccup asked getting to the point, he knew his friend wanted something.

" well I wanted to ask you something, as a friend, as someone who cares about you and your family" he paused, the two men stopping in their tracks, Hiccup giving him a nod to speak freely.

" It's only from observation, but do you think it's wise leaving Astrid alone with stoick," he was going to explain further but was interrupted.

" What do you mean?"

" I only meant that, do you think she is safe with stoick, or is he safe with her?" The words hit hiccup hard as his eyes flicked between his friend and his family sat on the long table.

" My wife has been through a traumatic few years, but she would never hurt stoick" he spoke firmly standing his ground.

" You never thought she would hurt you but," pointing at his bruised mouth.

" That was different I scared her, she saw something I didn't want her too and I only scared her even more. That was my fault not hers." His eyes suddenly went back to astrid as stoick, him sat on her knee, bouncing up and down.

" what if stoick scared her what then ?" He stoke freely like hiccup asked, but he was now regretting his decision.

" Stoick won't scared, she's scared of men not children. What would you say if the same thing happened to heather and people were saying she wasn't safe?" He turned it back on him, lowering his voice down as he spoke.

Eret didn't answer.

" What would you say if you heard her screaming at night through night terrors and people were saying she was a liability? What would you say?"

Taking a beep breath he answered, " I'd tell them - that they don't know what the fuck their talking about"

" thank you" the two men understood each other now " I know she's flipping out, but I'm going to help her, she's going to a councillor, Phlegma, both me and her, she's going to be okay"

" alright Chief, alright" his friend went off wandering back to the table where his wife and son was, but he didn't move straight away, he just stared at them, wondering. Maybe Eret was half right, she wasn't safe at this moment in time, but she's getting help, he was going to help her, he made a vow. And as for their little boy, she need him more than she need her husband. Stoick was going to save her, cause stoick was her reason to fight.