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Stoick had been furious to find that not just Hiccup had left but Fishlegs, Snotlout, and the twins were gone, too. Valka had sent her home apologetically as she tried to calm her husband down, and Astrid was left to process everything herself.

She couldn't believe that after everything she'd told him about Drago he'd still gone. And she was only assuming that's where they'd gone because where else would they have gone at a time like this? She had to do something, but she didn't know what.

She stopped in front of her house, and paused. She tried to go inside...wanted to more than anything, but how could she stay there knowing what was going to happen...because of her and do nothing?

She couldn't do that to them, and she couldn't do that to herself. As much as she wanted to stay on Berk, with her parents, with the dragons, with...with Hiccup, she couldn't. Hiccup was here anymore and he and the rest of the dragon riders were in trouble. She couldn't make them suffer, and she wouldn't let them.

And so she turned to Stormfly, and closed her eyes before climbing on her back and saying," We're going to find Drago..."

Stormfly made a fearful indignant squawk but Astrid pleaded with her," Please, girl, I have to go and save the others, and you're the only one who can take me there. You know the way."

Stormfly refused to budge and she felt everything falling apart and a few stray tears trailed down her face," Please..."

A moment passed and Astrid was about to get off when Stormfly took off and flew towards her old village.

They flew for a good few hours until they finally reached the familiar cliff and landed. Astrid got off and turned to Stormfly and whispered," Thank you, girl..."

Stormfly nudged her sadly and nuzzled her nose into her hair, and Astrid patted her thankful and said," Now go, Stormfly, you have to get out of here before they find you!"

Stormfly hesitated and gave a questioning squawk and Astrid shook her head and motioned for her to go. After much prodding and pleading Stormfly took off and Astrid was left alone to make her way to her old home in the rain.

Despite the cold rain pouring down, she didn't feel it. She was trembling, but not from the cold. The closer the house became, the more the looming fear she felt began to hit her. She forced her legs to continue, and it took all she had to keep going. It wasn't until she came face to face with the door that she paused and she had to take a moment to gather up enough courage to knock and not cower and run in fear like she'd been raised to do.

She'd finally gotten herself out of that habit, and a few minutes in front of this house, and all the courage, bravery, and strength she'd received during her time on Berk disappeared. She let out a shaky breath and knocked.

She stood trembling before, much to her relief, she came face to face to Hallberta who cried out and brought her in for a tight hug. She broke down into tears and buried her face into Hallberta's shoulder and let her smooth her hair, gently scold her, and hug her. She'd missed Hallberta more than she'd realized but at the moment she only made her yearn for her Mom on Berk who was probably worried sick and frantic when she finally realized Astrid wasn't home and probably wouldn't be coming home anytime soon.

"You're soaked to the bone, lass," Hallberta's concerned voice cried out.

"I flew here," she said without thinking but Hallberta didn't seem to notice.

She looked inside anxiously and lowered her voice," He's furious, and I'm sure you know why..."

Astrid nodded and Hallberta continued," Then why are you here, lass?"

"I need to talk to him," was all she said and then she peered inside the familiar house," He knows I'm coming..."

Hallberta only frowned worriedly and placed a hand on her cheek before ushering her inside without another word. She hurried her upstairs where her old room greeted her, and she was overwhelmed by the nauseating feeling that came from the sheer terror of being back.

Hallberta quickly undid her now unruly braid and dried her hair. She washed her face with a rag soaked in warm water and chamomile to soothe her skin from the rain and tears. The smell of it also calmed her down a bit, which she was grateful for. Hallberta wordlessly brushed her hair until it shined smooth, and let it finish drying. She then handed her a surprisingly warm looking long sleeved dark wine colored dress. It had long flowy sleeves, it reached the floor, and surprisingly didn't require a corset over it. It instead had some bicep arm string designed on the arms, and a belt made of the same string tied loosely around her waist.

She looked at Hallberta questioningly who only sighed and broke her silence," You've had a long day, and it'll only get worse when you go downstairs...you might as well not be confined by the uncomfortable and impractical clothes you were forced into all these years."

She felt a rush of warmth and gratitude towards her and said," Thank you..."

She nodded understandingly and smiled as she picked up the discarded clothing and appraised it," And judging from this you probably cast them aside the moment you could, huh?"

She nodded sheepishly before turning serious and asking," Where is he?"

She frowned and sighed tiredly," He received some unexpected...unwanted visitors, and well..."

Astrid shut her eyes and winced," He hasn't-"

Hallberta shook her head," Nothing drastic... yet, but I think he was waiting for you."

She looked at the closed door and tried to calm herself down and let the fear subside, but was unsuccessful. She couldn't push the fear aside, but knew that she had to suck it up and take it head on. And she knew that whatever happened to her...Hiccup and the rest of Berk wouldn't have to suffer the worst of it. It was then that she squared her shoulders and, with more confidence than she probably felt, said," Then take me to him, please."

Hallberta looked at her surprised but nodded nonetheless, and lead her downstairs where unsurprisingly Drago was sitting in his huge dragon skin throne like chair. He was unsurprisingly calm, as unsettling as that was, but she didn't really register that as she was staring at the all too familiar group of Fishlegs, Snotlout, Ruffnut and Tuffnut, and of course Hiccup!

She sprang forward only to be held back by two men who made sure she was locked into place," Hiccup!"

She struggled for a bit before turning to Drago and she cried," Please let them go! They didn't know!"

Drago chuckled quietly in such a way that she'd almost forgotten how much fear it could instill in her," Oh, I don't think that's entirely true, my dear, the boy made it quite clear that he knew what he was getting into to."

She looked sharply at Hiccup who merely stared back at her clearly unapologetic, and she turned back to Drago and shook her head incredulously," What do you want?"

He didn't appear to care or even acknowledge her question, much like he'd done for her entire life, and instead looked to the nearest servant and ordered," Have dinner served now. I'm hungry."

It just so happened to be Hallberta who was the nearest and she seemed hesitant to leave Astrid but eventually settled for a quick hug and left to let the rest of the servants know.

He got up calmly and moved to take a seat at the dining table. She unthinkingly, in a flash of anger, marched up to him and reached out to stop him before he caught her arm and painfully turned her to face him. He growled menacingly and said," Watch yourself, girl."

She blinked and, deciding it would be best to play to her old demeanor, nodded meekly and did her best to look apologetic and regretful. It pacified him and she had no choice but to follow him to the table where the other men stood guard around the other teens.

She took her old spot at the table, and the servants immediately placed the food before them. Drago eyed her narrowly and said dismissively," Don't expect them to wait on you forever, girl, after today you will be helping them like before."

She frowned and looked at him sharply," What makes you think I'm staying here?"

He waved her off and took a bite of the chicken and a sip of mead and retorted calmly," Are you telling me you didn't come here to bargain for these pathetic idiots' lives?"

She stayed quiet and refused to answer which only made him chuckle," You know how this is going to go, and we're going to leave it at that."

"Will you really?" she asked suspiciously.

He nodded as though it were obvious," Of course, you are my daughter after all..."

She grimaced and tried to suppress the pang she felt in her chest. She wasn't his daughter. She didn't belong here. She belonged on Berk, with her parents, with Stormfly, and with the rest of the riders safe from Drago's clutches.

He seemed to notice and his eyes narrowed and his voice became softer yet harsher," Are you not?"

She looked down and refused to retort or agree. She refused to back down.

Drago moved to speak but Hiccup spoke up and shouted," She's not!"

"Excuse me?" Drago asked dangerously.

Astrid's head snapped up at Hiccup and looked at him pleadingly willing him to keep quiet," Hiccup!"

Snotlout chose that moment to pipe it," Yeah! She's not! Right, Babe?"

She looked at him sharply and he cowered slightly, but Hiccup continued, as the rest of the teens piped in as well" She's not your daughter, and she won't be staying with you."

Drago was dangerously close to getting up and making them shut up, and so she said the only thing she knew would calm him down," Don't listen to them, Father! They don't know what they're saying..."

He turned to her sharply and with interest," Then you've come to your senses?"

She nodded meekly, she hoped, and said the words that shockingly came to her easily after not having to say them for so long," I learned my lesson...you were right, about everything. You...you were right."

She refused to look at the group, and she especially refused to look at Hiccup, as Drago looked smug at her answer and lifted his cup of mead in a toast," Well it was about time! I tried to tell you."

"But I didn't listen," she said as sheepishly as she could manage," I didn't realize it until I came to Berk...it was awful."

"And I'm assuming you met your parents," he said knowingly.

She nodded carefully," I did."

"And I hope you realized that they truly don't care about you, and that I've done everything I could for you," he said,"They couldn't have given you what I did, could they?"

Astrid forced herself not to retort, and merely shook her head," No."

He sat back obviously pleased and then turned to the group almost indifferently," I'm assuming you want me to let them go..."

She nodded carefully and placed an innocent pleading face on," Please."

He nodded shortly and motioned to the nearest guard," Let them go."

The guard hesitated and then asked," What about their dragons?"

Drago waved him off amused," Let them go."

"But-" the guy started before Drago smirked," They won't have them for long..."

The guy nodded in understanding and smirked, too," Okay."

Hiccup frowned and he looked ready to fight back or maybe retort when she gave him a look that said not to. He hesitated clearly torn between listening to her or not. He ultimately calmed down and stayed quiet. He motioned for the rest of them to do the same. They actually listened and Astrid internally sighed in relief.

Drago turned back to Astrid," Aren't you going to finish your food?" He asked accusingly," Or would you prefer not eating anything at all?"

She took a half-hearted bite knowing that he wasn't joking and shook her head," Of course, Father."

He nodded and then got up and said almost as an afterthought," If they're not gone by morning, Berk will have early Hel to pay..."

She bit her lip and nodded as meekly as possible and avoided eye contact by taking a sip of her mead," Yes, Father."

He nodded shortly and said," Goodnight."

"Night," she said and as soon as she was sure he had gone far enough away she turned to the teens," What were you, muttonheads, thinking?!"

Hiccup flinched as Astrid went from "meek" to fierce shield-maiden instantly. It made him guess that everything she'd said to Drago had been an act. If it was, she definitely knew how to play it up. He'd almost believed her. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair," Astrid-"

She glared at him," Don't you even try to talk your way out of this!"

"But Astrid," he said pleadingly," You-"

"I can take care of myself," she said and narrowed her eyes," I know what I'm doing. You guys, don't."

He gave her an indignant look and cried," Come on, Astrid! Don't be like that! Of course we know what we're doing! We-"

"You're the one's that got captured," she said obviously not having any of it," I'm not."

He shut up and Snotlout, being ever so helpful, cried out," But we're being let go!"

"Yeah!" Ruffnut said nodding," He's letting us go!"

"Dragons and all," Tuffnut concurred obviously very proud of the fact but Hiccup and Fishlegs winced knowing just what Astrid was going to say.

She didn't disappoint," Because of me."

The group visibly deflated knowing she was right and they at least had the decency to look abashed.

She went on and said," He was never going to hurt me...I don't know why he won't, but I at least know that as long as I do as he says I'll be fine. "

"But he-" Hiccup started wanting to get through to her, and not willing to let her go to that monster.

"I can handle him," she said firmly," I've lasted this long..."

This time Ruffnut surprised him by saying fiercely," But you shouldn't have to."

He saw Astrid's face soften slightly at the twin's words but she shook her head," No, but that's how things are, and how they will be."

Ruffnut didn't look any happier, but Astrid tried to smile and said," I'll be fine."

Ruffnut nodded sadly and then rushed to give her a hug which Astrid returned after a second or two. Hiccup didn't know when they had become such good friends, but he was grateful she had someone who cared so much about her on Berk.

She turned to the rest of the group," You guys should get out of here...he wasn't kidding about wanting you to be gone by morning."

They nodded halfheartedly and reluctantly but Hiccup hung back and was the last to plead with her," Please, Astrid, don't do this."

She sighed," Hiccup, don't."

He looked at her with heartbreaking sadness in his deep green eyes until he too sighed and ran a hand through his hair," Fine."

She nodded relieved when all at once she felt Hiccup's arm grab her waist and pull her to him in a tight embrace where he buried his face in her hair and hugged her tight. Her heart was racing and she felt her cheeks heat up," Hiccup?!"

He shook his head and murmured into her hair," Just let me."

She nodded and hugged him back and breathed in his scent which smelled of fresh air, the forest, and the sea. He smelled of home. Of comfort, and the very realization made tears spring into her eyes and she held onto him tighter.

He pulled back a bit, just enough to cup her face in his hands and he looked into her eyes fiercely and said," I don't want you to do this, but I can't force you not to do it, either."

She was silent and watched the worry and grief and sadness pool around in his eyes as he finished," Just promise me you'll be safe, and that'll you come back."

She opened her mouth to protest when suddenly she felt his lips come crashing down on hers and the words died on her lips as she melted into the kiss. It was filled with sadness, pain, desperation, but underneath all of that it was still filled with love. A feeling she'd tried to place for months now, and had failed to do. Until now.

It was so obvious and it fell so right, and yet...it couldn't be. Not now, not here, not while Drago was still doing what he was doing, and definitely not before she did something to stop him. She wouldn't be able to enjoy anything while Drago was about, and she wasn't going to.

She would, however, indulge in this one selfish stolen moment and cherish it. It would give her something to hold while she remained stuck in the same place she'd remained her entire life. It would, at the very least, be her very last taste of freedom. The moment he left, everything would go back to how they were months ago. That was just something they would both have to accept.

They pulled back, out of breath, and she looked up at him tear pooling in her eyes," Hiccup..."

"Goodbye, Milady," he murmured into her hair and, after pressing a lingering kiss to the crown of her head, he joined the other dragon riders as they flew back to Berk. He didn't look back until he had already mounted Toothless and chanced one last look at her, and he was off. Leaving her wondering as to what was going to happen now?

He couldn't believe he'd been so stupid and careless and thoughtless. He'd thrown caution to the wind and had completely ignored the possible consequences. If he hadn't left, none of this would've happened. Drago wouldn't have captured them, the dragons wouldn't have either, and most of all Astrid wouldn't have had to bargain for their release. Now she was back under the care, if you could call it that, of the most crazed, barbaric, cruel, bloodthirsty man in the Barbaric Archipelago, and it was all his fault.

He tried to compose himself the rest of the way home where he was sure he would come face to face with his not so forgiving dad and would most likely end up facing another lecture from him as well. The only thing was that he wouldn't have Astrid there to talk to after. He hadn't realized how much he'd come to rely and depend upon her to lend an ear or just be there for him.

She had always been there for him, but when it counted he hadn't been there for her. Now she was gone and he had to figure out a way to bring her back," No matter what," he muttered to himself.

After a few hours of flying Berk finally came into view and they all looked at each other worriedly. He sighed and said," Well, gang, I guess we have to face them eventually..."

"My dad's gonna kill me," Snotlout winced.

"You'll be fine," Tuffnut assured him," could be worse..."

"Yeah," Ruffnut agreed," You could be stuck with Stoick."

"Gee, thanks, you guys," Hiccup said dryly," You're both so...encouraging..."

"That's what we're here for," Tuffnut said actually looking serious.

"Anyways," Fishlegs said giving the twins a look," What are we going to do about Astrid?"

"I don't know..." he said hopelessly.

"We can't just leave her there!" Fishlegs exclaimed.

"I know!" he said tiredly," I don't want her there anymore than you do, but-"

"But you have to get her back!" Ruffnut exclaimed surprising everyone.

They all shared similar looks but she continued," She doesn't deserve to be there, and I refuse to let her."

Hiccup gave her a grateful smile," It's nice to know that we agree on that at least."

"Besides," she said more towards her typical behavior," I refuse to be stuck with just you guys ever again."

"Aw, you know you care, babe," Snotlout said smirking.

She rolled her eyes and gagged and was about to retort before they were met by the very ominous figure of Stoick the Vast.

"And this is it, guys," Hiccup said," We're dead..."

I hope you liked it! I finally had time to start writing again and so long, I hope I didn't do too bad;)