Guess what I have decided? I have decided to make this story a bit longer. And by a bit, I really mean three or four chapters longer than my original "eight chapter fanfic" idea. :) This is really one of my favorite stories I have written so far for some reason (I'm not so certain why, though, if just is), and I have decided to make it longer.
So, maybe I haven't been quite realistic enough. If you have noticed, in chapter one, Hiccup was shot. And I believe I have slightly forgotten that fact throughout the fic (even though I have really been focusing on that mainly), and have decided to do more research on this aspect (arrow wounds, blood loss, etc.), even though I don't quite like researching stuff like that. So, I guess that means I won't be finishing this as fast as I wanted to, but maybe it's better that way. :) So now, I suppose I have some shout-outs to catch up on. Without further adieu:
TigerLily the Wild: Yeah, I know what you mean. While watching it in the theaters, I was hoping Valka and Hiccup would have this really sweet Mother/Son moment when Hiccup tells her how he lost his leg and everything, and then the movie would continue, but that didn't happen, so I decided to put more of it in this take. I'm glad you like it, tough. :) Makes me happy! :D
Edlover23: Nice, Hiccup. Very nice. Great first impression. "Hey Mom!" *thud*
Guest #1: Glad you like it! Thanks for the awesome review!
Lord Jaric: Ah, thank you for that. Stormfly...I suppose I kind of forgot about her. XD! Sorry, Stormfly. Stormfly: *huffs* Me: Yeah yeah yeah, sulk all you want. I'm really trying not to rush my chapters. I guess some chapters just flow like that for me, and I can't help but rush it a tad. I'm trying. Thanks for the review! :D And yeah, I suppose Astrid should have said a little bit more. There will be a lot more Valka/Astrid trusting later in chapter 8, so you know. :)
Guest #2: Yeah, you're right. Poor Hiccup...he really goes through a lot in my fics, huh? *evil laugh* Sorry about that, Hic.
Breyannia: THANKS FOR THE REVIEW! :D
Lemon Dropz: Aha, that is an EXCELLENT point! I guess we shall see! Thanks for the review, you are amazing! All my reviewers, followers, readers and everyone else is AMAZING! :D
Wanli8970: I have decided to keep going with it until I come to a good stopping place. I have some more things I want to add into it. :D
silverwolvesarecool: Thanks! I like the nickname you gave me, too. I forgot to mention it, but the first time I saw it I was like "Aawww! I love it!" And I'm glad you like yours. See you next time, Sil!
VulcanTrekkie: AHA! THAT IS BRILLIANT ADVICE, THANK YOU SO MUCH! :D :D :D I will take your advice in some future chapters, even though it might be ssssliiiiggghhhtttly difficult to figure out what to write during that time, but then again, I suppose I could think of something! :D THANKS AGAIN! :D
freyathefearless: I don't quite remember that last review. My e-mail doesn't always show me everything, so...yeah. Could you give it to me again? And I am going to post "Truth or Dare" and "Snowed In" soon, it's just a matter of getting to it. I have a lot of other ideas I just can't wait to get out there, including that Christmas fic as well. :D Good to hear from you again! Thanks for the awesome review! :D
Ninuhuju: Yeah, that was one thing I wished they did more in HTTYD2; involve Astrid more. She's really a great character. :)
EVERYONE: OKAY I HAVE A HEADCANON: Hiccup and Astrid are actually engaged in HTTYD2. When Stoick shouts "THAT'S my future daughter-in-law", he could have been being serious, and not just overly-confident that Astrid and Hiccup would be married one day. Besides, throughout the movie, there isn't anything that would have denied it. What I'm hoping for, is in the season final for the forth season of "Dreamworks Dragons", Hiccup actually proposes to Astrid. It's just an idea, don't kill me! :D Not that you would, because then you'd be stuck on the CLIFFFHHHAAANNNGEEERRR! :D But yeah, that's my theory, and I hope that's what happens. AAANNNYYYWAAAYYYS, enough of me talking! I talk like Trader Johan! Enjoy the chapter! Good night!
Stoick paced back and forth in front of the forge, looking to the sky every now and then, expecting Toothless and Stormfly to fly down at any given moment. But the longer his eyes lingered on the sky, the more worried he became.
Hiccup was never one to stay out late; he knew the dangers of being out after dark far away from Berk, not knowing the territory. He was normally back in the afternoons, at the latest, sometimes even around three or four in the evening. But now, it was the afternoon of the next day since Hiccup had gone on that flight.
He had been gone for nearly twenty four hours.
Not only Hiccup, but Astrid was missing as well. If Astrid was with Hiccup, that made Stoick feel at least a little bit better, but still, he was a father; it was his natural instinct to worry about his child, even if the child had a Night Fury with him.
The Outcasts were their allies, and the Berserkers were gone, but there were other dangers besides those two peoples. There were other dragons out there that could do damage, possibly even more so than Alvin and Dagur had ever been capable of doing. Who knew what kind of trouble they could run in to?
"Stoick!" Gobber greeted as he ran forward as fast as his peg-leg could take him. "Any sign of him and Astrid yet?"
"None," said Stoick. "None at all, Gobber." He sighed. "It's not like Hiccup to stay away like this. He wouldn't stay out so long unless something happened, would he?"
"I don't think so, Stoick," said Gobber. "But, you know that boy. Always getting himself into mischief...sorry, I'm not helping, am I?" he said quickly, noticing the glance Stoick was shooting at him. "I don't think we should worry."
"But I do worry, Gobber," said Stoick. "Everyone on Berk knows that kid attracts danger like a magnet. And Astrid isn't the best influence, either."
"Aye, but she's tough," said Gobber. "She'll sever someone who even so much as thinks about hurting Hiccup."
"You seem a lot more confident than I am, Gobber," said Stoick. "But so far, nothing you've said so far has helped at all."
"Sorry about that," said Gobber. "I suppose we should probably go look for them."
Stoick nodded. "I'll get Skullcrusher, and we'll see if we can't track them," he said.
"I'll bring Grump," said Gobber, "not that he'll do any good." From inside the forge, they heard Grump growl unhappily.
"Stop being such a grump, Grump," said Gobber. "You know it's true!"
"Come on, Gobber," said Stoick. "We really should get going, before it gets too late. Who knows what kind of danger Astrid and Hiccup could have gotten themselves into?"
Gobber went into the forge to get Grump up and ready while Stoick headed in the opposite direction to get his dragon. He also went back to his house and grabbed one of Hiccup's shirts for Skullcrusher to track by.
After that, Stoick met Gobber back at the forge. Gobber had already prepared his dragon.
"You ready?" said Gobber.
"Ready," said Stoick. They mounted their dragons, and headed off.
...
"Hiccup, you're shaking."
Hiccup looked at Astrid before looking down at his hands. They were shaking, along with the rest of his body. "Can you blame me?" he asked.
"Not really," said Astrid.
"Yeah, that's what I thought." He wrapped his arms around his knees and stared into Astrid's icy blue eyes. "You don't have to worry about me, you know."
"I can't help it," said Astrid. "Really, it's a miracle you're still alive at all, Hiccup."
Hiccup shrugged. "I s'pose you could say that," he said. "But you know me. Always nearly dying and terrifying everyone I know only to live after all in the end." He tried to put humor into his words, but it was clear by Astrid's facial expressions that he was doing the exact opposite.
"That's not the least bit funny," said Astrid. "I seriously thought for a while there that you were going to die. You just keep narrowly avoiding death."
"Yeah," said Hiccup. "Although you must admit, I do a pretty good job of avoiding it."
"You have the driest sense of humor of any person I've ever known," said Astrid. "And when it's not dry, it's sarcastic. Can you really disagree?"
"I don't even know how to answer that."
Astrid rolled her eyes. "You okay?"
"Hmm? Oh, fine," he replied. "Just...tired. It's like noon, and I'm tired. I don't get it."
"I think you would get it if you thought about it a little bit more," said Astrid. "I mean, Hiccup, you lost a lot of blood."
"Yeah," said Hiccup. "It's a pain. And no, Astrid, that wasn't a joke."
"I know it wasn't," said Astrid. She tried for a smile. "I'm not blind."
"It really is a pain, Astrid." Hiccup frowned.
"Is there something I can do?" Astrid asked.
"No," said Hiccup. "Except that you stop worrying."
"You don't honestly expect me to do that, do you?" said Astrid.
"Huh? No, not really," said Hiccup. "I just thought why not try."
"It's not going to happen," said Astrid. "You were shot, Hiccup. There...I'm never going to really get over it. I should have done something. I should..."
"Have done what?" said Hiccup. "What could you have done?"
"I don't know," said Astrid. "I just fell like this is my fault. I should have made sure you got out before I took off as fast as possible."
Hiccup shrugged. "Don't worry about it too much," he said. "Please, the more you worry, the more I do."
"Still," said Astrid, rising to her feet and pacing back and forth in front of him, "I can't help but feel like I could have prevented it."
"For one thing," said Hiccup, "you couldn't have done anything. And for another thing...could you stop pacing? You're making my headache worse."
"Headache?" Astrid frowned and approached him.
"I should have picked a different word," Hiccup groaned.
She sat down beside him and tried to meet his eyes. "Is there anything else I should know?" she said.
Hiccup shook his head feverishly; maybe, perhaps, too quickly. "No, I'm fine," he lied.
"You really expect me to believe that?" Astrid frowned. "Really, Hiccup, you've never been good at hiding anything. Especially from me. I can read you like a book, Hiccup Haddock."
"There are many kinds of books," said Hiccup. "To which are you referring?"
"Don't change the subject," said Astrid.
"When do I do that?"
"You're doing it right now."
"I am?"
"Hiccuuuuuuup."
Hiccup put his hands up helplessly. "Okay," he said. "I also feel dizzy."
Astrid nodded. "It's to be expected," she said. "What now?"
"Hmm?"
"What do we do now?" said Astrid.
"Well, I think we should wait," said Hiccup. "I think we should wait, until my...Mom-" Man, that sounded weird to say - "gets back."
"Yeah," said Astrid.
"Well, I am glad for one thing," said Hiccup.
"What's that?" said Astrid.
"You were with me," said Hiccup. He smiled. "Thanks, really. If it weren't for you, I would...I would be dead right now."
Astrid shrugged and smiled back. "Well, we can't have that, now can we?" she said. "Next time, though, let's bring bandages of our own."
Hiccup smirked. "And you thought I had dry humor."