"Hiccup?"

Astrid peered into the forge, hoping that maybe this was where her fiance had hidden himself away to. She had been searching for him since that morning, and now it was dark and she still couldn't find him.

She decided that he had been leading her in circles, given that this was the third time she was checking the forge and now she finally sees him leaning over an anvil and pounding down on a sword. On any other day she would have watched for a moment to admire his skills, but today was not any other day.

"Hiccup!"

The noise in the forge deafens her shouts.

She walks forward, trying to get his attention.

"Hiccup...Hiccup...Hiccup!"

He jumps in surprise as he turns around to find Astrid merely an arm length away. He stops hammering.

"Astrid? When did you come in?"

"I've called your name like 4 times already, but that doesn't matter. Where on earth have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you!"

Hiccup shrugs and turns back to keep working on the sword.

"Hiccup, what's wrong?"

Before the war Hiccup would have had a almost impossible story to tell about where he had been that day. He usually would have given her a kiss, or at least a smile or something to show he was actually happy to see her. Now...

He had grown so cold since becoming chief, since...lots of the others didn't seem to notice it much really, but she did.

It hadn't happened all at once. The first few months he seemed to be fine. Leading with a smile on his face. Leading with enthusiasm and excitement for the future. Then, the village was fixed. The damage caused by Drago's army was repaired. Well, at least the visible damage. And it all went downhill from there.

He was no longer interested in exploring, or even riding Toothless. He had become irritable, snapping back at the smallest of requests. He rarely slept, or ate any food. And now he had taken up the challenge of making it impossible to find him. Well, almost impossible.

And now he wouldn't even talk to her.

"Hiccup, please stop ignoring me."

He continued to ignore her.

"Hiccup, what is going on?"

No response.

"Hiccup!"

"What Astrid?", he spat, "Why can't you just leave me alone!"

Astrid was too stunned to respond. She half thought about turning around, going home, and leaving him to wallow in his self pity. But her gut told her that would be a mistake she would live to regret.

"Hiccup, you are not okay."

He shrugs his shoulders.

"Hiccup, I'm putting my foot down. You need to come home, and eat something, and get some rest. Or you can tell me what is going on. Those are your options."

Hiccup pretends to not hear her, and goes to start hammering the sword again. Astrid snatches the mallet out of his hand.

"Hey!"

"Hiccup, for the love of Thor would you please just let me help you!"

"I don't want your help!"

"That's not an answer."

"Well, I don't! I don't want your help, I am perfectly capable of looking after myself-"

"Clearly."

"-and you don't have any obligation to."

Astrid blinks.

"What?"

Hiccup gulps.

"What?"

"Hiccup, what did you mean by that?"

"By what?"

Astrid sighs, pressing her thumb to the middle of her forehead. This man was going to be the death of her.

"What did you mean when you said I don't have an obligation to help you?"

"Well, you don't. You don't need to help me-"

"But I want to Hiccup."

Hiccup sighs.

"You're too good for me Astrid."

"No I'm not. What has gotten into you?"

"Astrid, please..."

"No Hiccup, I want to get to the bottom of this. What is going on?"

"I don't know Astrid!"

"Yes, you do."

"No, I-"

"Hiccup!"

Hiccup breathes short, jagged breaths.

"Why do you want to help me?"

"Hiccup, wha-"

"Why on earth do you want to help a pathetic, screw up like me?"

"Where did you-"

"Astrid, I don't deserve your help. I don't need your pity."

"Hiccup, I don't pity you..."

"Yes, you do. Why else would you want to help me?"

"Because I-"

"Why would someone as amazing as you want-"

"Hiccup, just stop, I-"

"-a screw up like me-"

"Hiccup!"

"What?"

"Would you let me answer?"

He shrugs.

"I can't see a good answer. But go on."

"Hiccup, I want to help you because I love you."

Hiccup turns away from Astrid.

"But...why?"

"Do you want a list?"

No answer.

Well, if he didn't want one, too bad.

"Hiccup, I love you because you are brave. And reckless. And sometimes completely stupid. But mainly brave. I love the way your mind works. You think of things that no one else could ever even dream about, and you bring it into reality. I love how creative you are, and I love how incredibly smart you are. I love your heart; you are caring and kind. You will always put someone else's needs before your own. Which does sometimes add to the stupidity. You will go above and beyond to help someone. I love your attention to detail, and the way you listen to others and take on their ideas, and-"

Hiccups shoulders shake. Astrid moves in closer, and places a hand on his shoulder.

"Hiccup, I don't know what is going on, but we will get through it. Together."

Hiccup falls to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. Astrid kneels down and pulls him into her arms.

She hadn't realised it had gotten so bad.

It was a few hours later when Astrid finally spoke again.

"Hiccup? Let me take you home."

As Astrid helps Hiccup to his feet, she catches his eye.

"It's going to be okay Hiccup. I promise."

As she walks Hiccup back to his home, she wonders how long Hiccup has been feeling this way. Or how long it will last for. She wonders how she had missed it. How did she not see it sooner? Maybe if she had, he wouldn't have gotten this bad. Maybe there was more she could have done. Maybe...

She looks at Hiccup. She breathes.

It doesn't matter. What's happened can't be changed.

She's just glad that now they can move forward. Begin the climb up the mountain that was before them.

Hiccup looks back at her. She smiles. She grabs his hand, interlocking their fingers together. A tear rolls down his cheek. She brushes it away.

Many words had been spoken that night. But in that moment, under the stars, they understood each other perfectly.

There would always be a Hiccup and Astrid.

Authors note: I'm back! It's been a while, but I have returned. Thank you so much to everyone that reads my stories. I never thought that anyone particularly cared about them, but seeing that people read them has reinspired me to get back into writing! So thank you! Let me know if there is a particular story that you want to read, and I might have a go at writing it. God bless! xx