A/N: Holy bajeez! Wow, I am so grateful for the crazy response I got on the first chapter, and this is by far my most popular story. I would just like to thank you all so much. I've been feelin a bit down recently, and seeing you guys enjoy my story so much really warms my heart.

Anyway, enough of the sappy shit, on with the story!

Chapter 2: Mom's Anniversary

Hiccup P.O.V

I'd never really taken the time to appreciate how beautiful the outside world was.

I was currently walking home for school after my... interesting encounter with Snotlout and Astrid almost went pear-shaped. It was lucky that savage warrior Astrid Hofferson had been there to interrupt before anything had turned violent. Although, she wouldn't of been hesitant to punch anyone, me or Snotlout.

As I walked down the seemingly never-ending road, I kept moving my head from left to right, admiring the gorgeous scenery before me. As I walked past a row of trees, I saw a mother bird, and by the looks of it she was bringing some worms back for her babies to eat. I watched, almost in admiration, as the babies started chirping and jumping around her feet.

The mother bird let out a happy chirp of her own, and bent down to feed the babies. The small birds opened their mouths and started to hungrily fight for the food, and I smiled as I watched the little babies battle for their meal.

I was an only child, and had always wanted a brother or sister. It got lonely sometimes, or felt like it at least, especially when my Dad was in one of those ignorant moods where he couldn't be bothered to pay attention to me. And it was in those moments where I just had wanted someone to talk to, or just someone to be with. Because Dad wasn't very good at that.

Even just having a sibling for a second would make me feel a million times better; would make me feel like I had someone there for me, even if it didn't last. It was one of the reasons I used to love hanging out with Snotlout, because he was the closest family member I had. And I wish he still was.

I turned away from the happy, chirpy birds and hung my head. Good job filling myself with sad thoughts. I carried on with my journey home, suddenly taking interest in my feet and the ground beneath it. The sound of my shoes tapping against the concrete seemingly echoed throughout the eerily quiet street.

I took a look up and saw someone, a woman, across the street. She was fairly far away so I couldn't see her perfectly, but I could see her well enough. She wore a long, pale overcoat and heavy winter boots, almost as if she was some kind of Antarctic explorer. She had an old but kind looking face, with only the slightest trace of wrinkles around her eyes and cheeks. She had brown hair tied into two braids that gently fell down her back. And finally, she had bright green eyes, almost like mine. It was funny because in all honesty she looked like...

My Mother

My eyes became wide as I realised how much my mother and this woman looked alike, and I was about walk over but before I could she turned and vanished before I could even blink. I stopped myself and stared at the spot where she had just been standing, still trying to comprehend what I had just seen.

I shook it off as my imagination playing me and continued on my walk home. But, as I did, I still thought about how confusing and... terrifying it was how similar they seemed. It scared me. Too much.

I finally arrived at my house. For some reason, I'd decided to walk on the other side of the street so I had to cross the road to get over to my house. Even though there was absolutely no reason to because the road was completely clear, I looked both ways before crossing the street. Safety first.

I walked up the pathway to my front door, and reached deep into my pocket for the door keys. I took them out but before I could stick them in the keyhole, the door suddenly swung open. Surprised, I yelped and jumped backwards, stumbling as I landed and barely managing to keep my balance.

My father stood by the door with an apologetic but amused look on his face. "Sorry son, didn't mean ta' scare ya'." I smiled back at my dad and held up my hand. "No dad, don't worry, just wasn't expecting you to be here is all."

We stood there uncomfortably for a few seconds, before I asked my dad a question. "Hey, why are you off early today?" My dad stopped smiling. His face became loose and his eyes suddenly filled with deep repressed sadness. "Well, son. Today is the anniversary of the day you're mother died."

Oh.

I softly closed my lips and just looked at anything that wasn't my fathers face. God, why did I ask that. I dared a glance at my father, and saw him with his hand against the door frame staring down. Suddenly, a single tear rolled down his cheek and dripped onto the floor.

Oh man. "Dad..." He wiped an arm across his face and sniffled, before straightening himself up. He looked at me with a fake smile plastered on his face. "Well, I should probabaly get back to my paperwork."

Before I could get the chance to protest, he swiftly turned and headed back inside. I stood there a few seconds longer before reluctantly walking in through the door.

Toothless was waiting there for me by the stairs, but noticed my sudden forlorn expression and curiously tilted his head as if to say "Whats wrong?" I smiled down at the shaggy dog and gave him a casual yet reassuring ruffle of his fur. "Don't worry buddy, I'm alright". Toothless wasn't buying it, so he snuggled up against my leg and refused to let me move.

Giving a small chuckle, I ruffled his fur once again and sat down against the stairs; Toothless coming and curling up in my lap. I stroked him softly as I gently laid my head back against the wooden stairs, and my gaze slowly moved up.

My eyes were now fixated on the ceiling. I continued to stare and a tear fell unnoticeably down my face. I closed my eyes and gently whispered, "Its your anniversary mom, and god do we miss you".

And, hell, we really do.

I must have taken a nap against the stairs because the next thing I knew Dad was gently shaking me awake. I groaned and open my eyes, shifting my body as my back had begun to ache. "Hiccup, I'm goin' to bed son". I looked at him oddly, then took a glance at the clock. "But, it's like 6 o'clock". He let out a sigh and patted me on the shoulder.

"Yeah, I know". And once again, before I could say anything, he hurried upstairs. I took a deep sigh and gently raised myself up off the stairs, clicking my back in the process. I headed back down the stairs and decided to fetch myself a drink but, as I passed through the living room, I glanced at the last ever picture mom and dad took together. I stopped and studied it hard.

I couldn't help but notice how... happy they looked. Dad was standing with one arm out holding the camera, and the other wrapped around my mother, as she had her head gently laying on his shoulder. Looking at it made me smile, and then I remembered.

I've never taken flowers to her grave.

I looked at the clock. It was only ten past six, and I was sure that the flower shop would still be open at this time. I grabbed my wallet and my keys out of the key bowl, slipped on my coat and shoes and bid goodbye to Toothless before walking out the door.

The walk was short to the flower shop, only a couple of minutes down the street and it was getting dark so I decided to hurry.

The owner of the flower shop was a nice man, Mr Evans. I didn't know him to well but everyone seemed to have a positive opinion about him, so I liked to assume that he was a friendly chap. I finally arrived at the shop, and gave Mr Evans a smile as I walked through the door.

"Ah, Hiccup! Nice to see you lad, how are you?" I scraped my shoes off on the mat as I replied, "Not too bad Mr Evans, how about you?" I looked up and he frowned in a joking manner. "Please Hiccup, call me Mike."

I finished scraping my shoes off and proceeded to browse the selection of flowers, while Mike began to clean a vase. "I don't see you in here often my boy, if you don't mind me asking, who are the flowers for?"

I froze while browsing, surprised by the unexpected question. I swallowed and turned to face him, my gaze becoming loose and distant. "They're uh.. they're for my mothers grave." Mike stopped what he was doing and looked at me sadly. "Oh, I see. I am.. terribly sorry Hiccup I didn't realize." I continued browsing the flowers, finally settling on a bunch I liked. "It's okay Mike, don't worry about it."

I picked up the flowers and took them over to the counter, paid, and then left without a word. However, before I could leave, Mike halted me with a "Wait Hiccup!" in my direction. I stopped and looked at him, starting to grow impatient. "Hiccup, lad, are you sure you're ok?" I didn't respond and simply nodded before turning and leaving a still concerned Mr Evans to attend to his shop.

After another quick walk down the road, I arrived at the graveyard. The big looming gates never failed to create a depressing and gloomy atmosphere and, as if it couldn't get any more cliché, it started to rain.

I slowly walked in through the huge steel gates, and proceeded down the crumbly stone path. I looked form left to right, not quite remembering where mom's grave was located. I walked down the path for a few minutes more, when finally I saw it.

I stopped for a moment, studying the grave with an unknown sense of curiosity. It's not that I hadn't seen a grave before, its just that something felt different about this one, maybe because of the fact that it was my own mothers.

I shook my head, telling myself to stop delaying. I slowly approached the grave and read the words inscribed:

Valka Marie Haddock

Born July 20th 1976

Died November 14th 2015

Loving Wife and Mother.

I felt a sudden twinge of sadness spring onto me, and I shed a single tear as I knelt down to place the flowers by her grave. I laid them sideways across the now sodden dirt, and place a hand on top of the cold stone.

"Hey mom", I began, as the rain started to grow heavy. "I know its been a long time since I came to see you, don't know if I ever have actually, but its your anniversary today so I thought I would come and pay a visit." I moved my hand from the stone and started rubbing over the engraved words. "I really do miss you. I know I never knew you too well, but I'm sure that you would of been a fantastic mother to me and it would be a privilege if you were here with me now.

I looked up at the sky, thinking back on the very faint memory of when it happened. "All it took was one stupid guy in a car for you to be taken away from me. And I'll never get you back. But I promise you, like I've promised dad, that I will make the best of my life, and that life would only be bettered if you were here to guide me through it.

I looked back down and, caringly, kissed the top of the grave stone and then stood up. "I love you mom, and I always will. I then turned on my heels and made my way to leave.

But, it is as I left, and briskly walked down the street to head home, that I failed to notice a blonde haired and blue eyed girl just outside the cemetery.

Astrid.

A/N: WOOOOO BOY! I am SO sorry that it took me so long to update. With ya know, Christmas and other shit getting in the way it took me a while. Just FYI, I originally planned on having Hiccup's mom being not really dead, but decided to have her be dead because I just felt like that's the way I would prefer it. So sorry lol.

ANYWAY! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I'll try to get the next one out quicker.

P.S: I'm thinking of writing an Steven Universe fic (LOVE that show), so make sure to turn on my author notifications so you can see when it's published.

But, until next time, see ya!