Hello dear readers, I present you some comedy, a bit of romance and whole load of drama. I hope you will enjoy it. I know I am going to enjoy writing the next chapter XP. I don't know when I will be able to upload that one, really depends if I can get some writing done during the week. Got a busy schedule again for the upcoming 2 weeks. I try to keep it on a chapter a month schedule but if possible every 2 weeks. Keyword try...

JackFrost23: please give me time to write the chapters...

Carl Solo: My date went good, thanks. I had fun. I hope you get internet back at home soon.

The Dragon Twins: I didn't D8, I'm so sorry. Here have a chapter... I guess XP

Vivi-ntvg: Talking about Fishlegs... well just read this chapter

Chapter 27: It's not your decision to make

It was early in the morning when the door to the Hofferson barn slowly opened, making sure it was making little to no sound. All so no-one would wake up.

"What in Midgard did you want to show me here?" a female voice said in a normal tone.

"Shh!" a male voice hissed at the first.

"Oh please, it's fine. Astrid and I are friends," the first voice said as the owner walked in further holding up the lantern.

The three dragons sleeping in the barn woke up from the light and looked somewhat surprised at the two that were there. It wasn't that they were strangers, but mostly that they didn't expect those two Vikings there at that moment… or anyone else for that matter, it was much too early. Toothless grunted and closed his eyes. Stormfly, who had lifted her head, decided to go back to sleep too. Only the newest tenant of the building came up to her feet and walked over.

"I just wanted you to meet Meatlug," Fishlegs sighed as he walked over to his new scaled friend.

He looked over to Ruffnut who didn't seem too interested, actually mostly annoyed.

"You woke me up this early in the morning to meet your dragon friend you kept on talking about like nonstop. What about later on? It would have been fine to meet her in bright daylight," she hissed at him.

Fishlegs winched at her words and could understand them, however…

"I didn't tell my parents, no-one really noticed I was riding a dragon so…"

"So you chicken out and don't tell anyone and instead go behind people's back," Ruffnut huffed and dropped in the hay whilst giving him a glare, "you're an expert at that alright."

For a moment Fishlegs didn't know what to say and just gaped at her. He felt somewhat insulted at her statement.

"You were the one who decided to keep it a secret. You know I'm bad at lying, I still did it though, because you wanted me to keep it all a secret," Fishleg then growled at her, but when he saw her looking at him again he quickly jumped back already regretting his words.

"We're not talking about dragons here, are we?" she simply said.

Afraid to say a word and what would come he merely shook his head and kept his eyes on her. From the corner of his eyes he saw Meatlug looking confused yet curious as Ruffnut got to her feet and walked over to him. He wanted to back away, afraid of what she might do. Sure she might not be Astrid, but he knew all too well she was much stronger and cunning than she would let others believe her to be. What he hadn't expected though was being kissed. He blinked when she backed away and now was at a complete loss at what to do. Women were complicated, Ruffnut even more so, he never knew what to expect, but that was her charm and why he liked her. His eyes followed the girl as she petted Meatlug.

"Sorry," she then suddenly said, surprising him even more, "it's early and I got in a fight with mom last night, but I shouldn't vent that anger out on you. But seriously, never this early again. Just… I don't know… the forest or something? Bring her there. We can fly her too then. Wish I had my own dragon though."

She chuckled at the end.

"Fight about what?" Fishlegs asked as he dared to get closer to her now.

"Pretty much her saying I would never get married because no-one wants me as a wife," she replied immediately with a glare aimed at no-one in that barn.

"I want you," Fishlegs said after a moment as he grabbed her hands, "but you told me not t-"

"I know what I said Fishlegs," Ruffnut sighed and now turned to look at him, "I just want to enjoy my freedom some more. And it's not like you are jumping for a marriage, are you? Because you know that is what is going to happen the moment you come to my parents and tell them. They will jump to it because then you won't have time to back out of it."

Fishlegs chuckled causing Ruffnut to look even more annoyed then she already was.

"Ruff, if I wanted out I would already have done so months ago. We may have gotten into this by your silly… game to put it that way, but I really do love you."

This caused her to chuckle, "game, sure… it was a prank."

"You made me believe your brother got us married," Fishlegs deadpanned.

"I'm still surprised you actually believed my brother actually finished that course of being able to do that," Ruffnut started to laugh louder.

"Shh, you'll wake someone," Fishlegs urged, but his attempt was in vain.

Watching her laugh, he rolled his eyes with a smile, pulled her close and kissed her. It put a damper on her laughter luckily and he was then pushed on a nearby hay pile.

Hiccup kicked the bucket of fish over whilst yawning. He hadn't slept all that well last night. He walked over to the pile of hay Toothless got up from to eat and dropped down.

"You okay?" Toothless asked him after swallowing some of the fish.

"Hm, sort of. Just tired," Hiccup mumbled.

"Nightmares?"

Hiccup just nodded as Toothless grabbed some more fish before laying down beside the young man. His rider made himself comfortable against the dragon's flank, trying to get some more sleep.

"Oh by the way, that husky boy that flew Meatlug last night came by."

"Fishlegs?" Hiccup mumbled, "probably to pet Meatlug or study you guys."

"Not sure about that… he brought a girl with him."

Hiccup sat up straight and stared the green eyes of his friend.

"Fishlegs… brought a girl with him," he asked in disbelieve.

"Ya… friend of Astrid... with the braids."

"Ruffnut?!" Hiccup let out, "he brought Ruffnut with him? Why would he bring her with him?"

Toothless snorted with a nod, "oh you're going to enjoy the next part."

Hiccup wasn't sure if he wanted to know the next part, then again what in world would those two do? Ruffnut had probably demanded Fishlegs to show Meatlug or something like that.

"They had quite a make out session in that pile of hay over there," Toothless said as he moved his head to some hay further away.

Hiccup blinked, not believing it despite knowing that this was not something Toothless could come up with to tease him.

"At least he is willing to admit to his feelings," Toothless then said.

Well than… he did find something to tease him with after all. He rolled his eyes and got to his feet. Deciding that trying to sleep with Toothless beside him wasn't going to work. The dragon would just start teasing him the whole time.

"Where are you going?" Toothless asked confused as Hiccup walked over to the door.

"To work on a little project I thought of," Hiccup replied.

Toothless quickly ran after him, "It better not be something like make you have firepower whilst floating or something."

"Hm, actually that's not a bad idea. I'll think of something."

He heard Toothless curse at himself for giving Hiccup any ideas.

Astrid stretched her arms into the air. At long last she was done with her chores of the day. Well almost that is. It was a shame she won't have time for some practice. Luckily all she needed to do now was bring these herbs back to Gothi and then her work was done. Unfortunately for her it seemed that many seemed to have decided to show at Gothi with seriously the most ridiculous requests. Ruffnut was already helping out in making potions as Gothi was treating someone who hurt himself somehow. Astrid sighed, placed the herbs in their correct drawers and started helping people as well. Not all were rather grateful with her help but dared not saying anything for fearing a whack on the head from Gothi. The line became shorter and shorter until only two people remained. Astrid turned to the one to last person.

"How can I help you Phlegma?" she asked.

The woman signed to come closer, which confused Astrid but she stepped closer nonetheless. Phlegma then whispered her request in Astrid's ear and she then quickly understood the reason the woman wanted her closer. She had just requested for a potion that would make it hard for her to get a child. Normally a common request during summer, for no-one liked to have a child during winter. The reason Phlegma had whispered her request was because the last person in line was a man and this particular potion was something only women knew about.

Astrid nodded, "give me a few minutes."

She went to gather the required herbs and into another room where she prepared the potion, better known as moon tea. It wasn't something she made often, not even during summer. Normally it would be Gothi who would make it. To make sure she was doing everything right, she referenced one of the books about the medicine and ten minutes later poured hot water on the mixture of herbs. The aroma that entered her nose was strangely familiar. As she looked at the drink she wondered why she recognized this scent so well, it had been ages she had last made it yet it felt like she had smelt this very recently. Curious and knowing that the consequences of sipping it would be nonexistent, she drank some of it. Her eyes widened as she not only knew the scent well, but the taste too. Slamming the cup down, though remarkably without spilling any of it, she leaned with one hand on the table. This was the same stuff her mother had been giving her in the morning. Why would she…? Astrid stared at the cup of moon tea as she tried to come up with a reason why. She went far back to the point she was first given the cup of potion. Then she gasped.

"No… she…"

Grabbing the book, looking at all the effects of the potion, just to find some other reason, but found only what she already knew.

Starting to feel angry about the matter, she attempted to calm herself as she slammed the book close. She had to ask her mother to be sure about the reason. Filling a jar with the liquid and then sealing it, she then quickly handed Phlegma the potion. The woman thanked her and left. Astrid saw Gothi was tending to the last person and decided that now was the best time to leave. After saying goodbye she rushed home where she found her mother in the kitchen, already working on supper. Closing the door louder than she intended, though she was getting rather angry, her mother looked up surprised.

"Sheesh, Astrid, what happened? No need to slam with the door, whatever did it do to you?"

Rolling her eyes annoyed she glared at her mother, who's confusion only increased.

"What's the matter?"

"Why have you been giving me moon tea?" she said straight to the point.

Her mother looked slightly panicked and turned to the vegetables she was cleaning.

"Mum!"

"I have to say I was surprised you didn't start questioning me when I gave it to you the first time."

"Because I only made it once before! Now why have you been feeding me that stuff?"

"For Thor's sake Astrid, Hiccup is sleeping in your room," her mother then nearly shouted as she slammed the carrot down on the cutting board before looking over to her daughter.

"Which was your idea! Why? What exactly are you planning?"

"I am not planning anything. I just wanted you to be safe just in case something happened!"

"That's he lamest excuse ever!" Astrid shouted at her mother, kicking a nearby chair, "you know Hiccup wouldn't even go there! What's the real reason? You want me to marry Hiccup or something?!"

Her mother remained awfully quiet at that and just stared at her daughter with the typical face one makes when they feel either busted or their plans had been found out about. Astrid stepped backwards in disbelieve.

"I can't believe you…" she muttered, "you know he will leave once…"

Her mother let out a sigh, "it wouldn't be so bad. He is still the son of Stoick, the real heir of Berk. And if anyone can convince him to stay it's you."

"I'm not going to convince him to stay! I have no right to do such a thing!"

"Astrid, please. No-one really wants Snotlout, it's what's best for everyone."

"Not for him and you know that! Stop trying to get me to convince him, it's not going to happen."

To put some force to her words, she slammed her axe in the table, nearly cutting it in half. Surprisingly enough her mother made no comment about that.

"You have to, only you can do that," her mother nearly pleaded, "he lo-"

Astrid cut her mother off, "I already know he used to love me, enough already. I'm not convincing him nor am I going to drink that stuff again."

She pulled her axe out of the table, chipping it slightly, not that she cared. Then she turned towards the door, but her mother got hold of her arm and stopped her.

"Astrid, he still loves you," the woman said as Astrid pried herself free of her mother's grip.

"Don't be ridiculous," she hissed at her.

Though the thought wasn't too ridiculous really, based on what she had gone through together with Hiccup. But there was no-way that she would let her mother know that he had hugged her or kissed her when he had that fever. Or those times she had kissed him to pull him out of the dragon queen's control. Or even about that time she lay down next to him and held him close when he had that nightmare. Perhaps he still loved her, perhaps he didn't. What mattered that even if he did, he wasn't making any actual move in trying to get her at all. He was constantly talking about leaving. So even the tiniest thought of Hiccup loving her was pushed far away in the back of her mind.

Astrid wanted to march away, leaving the house, but at that point her father entered. He blinked at what he walked into, looking from his wife to his daughter to the damaged table and the knocked over chair. At first Astrid still wanted to leave, then realized she could pull her father into this fight against her mother as, just for the heck of it. She was too pissed off to reasonably think about it.

"Dad, mom's been trying to hook me up with Hiccup," she stated bluntly.

Her father immediately looked alarmed.

"Ingrid?!" he let out in shock, "why would you do such a thing?"

Astrid saw her mother glare at her at how this now turned into a small family feud. It would only get more interesting if Hiccup were to enter the house as well.

For a while there was nothing but shouting and accusing in the Hofferson house. It was Astrid and her father against her mother, who proved to be a tough opponent. At some point her mother had managed to nearly convince her father, but Astrid managed to get him back to his senses. The fight was only interrupted by knocking on the door in a rather loud matter. All three looked at it and it was Felman who went to open it. To everyone's annoyance it was Spitelout Jorgenson who was standing on the other side. He pushed Felman aside and entered the house.

"Ya sure, do come in," Felman gritted as he glared at the man, "just so you know, we're in the middle of something."

"No worries I will keep it short," Spitelout grinned as he pulled a piece of paper from his pockets.

Felman closed the door as he walked over to the man that handed him the paper. Astrid in the meantime just gave her mother a glare.

"And what makes you think I would agree with that?" she heard her father say, which made her look over to the scene between her father and Spitelout.

"It is simple, Felman. Snotlout will be the next chief and he needs someone strong beside him. Now despite her recent stupidity of siding with dragons, this could make everything right again."

Astrid immediately understood they were talking about her and marched over to her father, ripping the piece of paper out of his hands. As her eyes went over the horribly written runes, she quickly understood this was a marriage arrangement proposal. She looked over to Spitelout about to shout at him, but he didn't let her.

"Shut your mouth, this has nothing to do with you."

"Nothing to do with me? Are you stupid, this is literally about me! There is no way I would marry your son."

"You have no say in this matter," Spitelout spat at her.

She was about to shout at him again, but her father lifted his hand towards her to keep her mouth shut.

"But I do and there is no way I would ever agree with any of your suggestions, Spitelout. So it would be appreciated to cease your attempts."

Spitelout stepped forward, now standing dangerously close to Felman.

"Once Snotlout is chief, none of you will have a choice. She will marry him, even if we have to use force, am I clear."

"Leave, now," Felman only said on a dangerous tone as he now had his hand on his sword.

Spitelout huffed and left.

"Dad, you can't," Astrid said as soon as the door was closed.

"As if I would agree with anything that man suggests," he growled as he sat down on a chair crumbling the piece of paper and then tossing it on the fire.

"This is why-" her mother started.

"Don't even start, Ingrid. We all know Hiccup won't stay on Berk," Felman said loud, slamming the table.

The poor object, already having gone through the harassment of Astrid's axe, finally gave in and cracked in two.

"You don't know that for sure!" Ingrid now on a dangerous tone as she kicked half of the table aside, "when he first came here he would try to escape and leave. Compare that to now, he went out flying, not even trying to leave at that point. He easily could."

She turned to look over to her daughter, "you really think that if you asked, just you not anyone else, only you. You really think he would still leave. That boy had a crush on you for the longest time."

"I have no right to ask him such a preposterous thing!" Astrid shouted back at her mother.

"You have a duty to Berk, young lady. You are still a Hooligan and right now what everyone here needs might not be something that they want. Things here need to change, if they don't we won't survive for much longer."

Astrid stared at her mother as she recalled her dream of weeks ago. Gothi's words echoed through her mind as she shook her head. She never expected to end up having to choose between what was right for Hiccup and what was right for everyone on Berk. She hadn't even thought about the dream for a long time.

Frustrated and knowing what she had to do, she grabbed her axe and ran out the door, slamming it close behind her.