Chapter 12

Astrid trudged up to her home, her twins trailing silently behind her. The mother of two carried herself well on the outside, after all she was Astrid. When the trio finally reached the Hofferson house Astrid was ready to fall over right then and there, but she didn't do that, Vikings didn't do that.

She lifted up a hand and knocked loudly on the door. A teenaged girl with blond hair hanging in front sky blue eyes opened the door. Astrid gasped at the girl in front of her, this wasn't… This couldn't be…

"Bodil?"

The blond, Bodil, blinked in confusion, "who are you? How do you know my name?"

"Bodil who's at the door?" A man with blond hair entered the door frame and Astrid craned to look up at his face.

The mans face squinted in the dark, but once they adjusted he let out a surprise gasp.

"Astrid… Is that you?"

Not able to hold herself in any longer Astrid launched at her father and threw her arms around him, "yes papa. It's me."

Meanwhile Hiccup was walking on the outskirts of the village, still wrapped in his Night Furies wing. Tarina placed her head next to his and nudged him lightly, he smiled and petted her head.

"Hi girl."

Tarina crooned softly and Hiccup raised an eyebrow, "what do you mean you don't want to leave?"

Her brother craned his neck over Hiccups other shoulder and crooned as well.

"Do you really like it here?"

The Zippleback nodded before pulling away and walking a few feet away. Hiccup looked at his dragon and Toothless unwrapped his wing and snorted sadly.

"I know you miss Berk bud. I do too." The Night Fury once again snorted, "well what if we can't stay here? What if they kick us off the island again?"

Toothless made a deep rumble in his chest before stalking away, "Toothless you come back here!"

Suddenly a deep voice rang out from behind him, "Hiccup. We've decided."

Back at the Hofferson house Aldiraz had his arms wrapped around his eldest daughter and was hugging her like there was no tomorrow, "Astrid you're home, what happened to you?"

"I left papa, but for a good reason."

"More like-" Anna started, popping her head out from behind Astrid.

"Two good reasons." Finished her twin.

Aldiraz released his daughter and stared at the two children in confusion, he motioned the three of them inside and led them to the den, where Zania Hofferson sat on a chair by the fire, wistfully staring at the flickering flames.

"Zania… Guess who came home."

The dark haired woman looked up from the fire and quickly stood up when she saw the woman behind her husband.

"Is that?"

"Yes mama, it's me."

Zania literally flew from her spot by the fire to her daughter, whom she flung her arms around.

"I thought you were dead, I thought someone had kidnapped you or something! Don't ever do that to me again do you hear me?"

Anna looked at her brother and whispered "déjà vu."

He nodded his head in agreement.

"I had a reason for leaving mama." Astrid said.

"Two reasons." Aldiraz said holding up two fingers.

Zania raised an eyebrow at her husband, "you better tell me what these two reasons are right now!"

"Well I'm the first reason, cause I'm the oldest!" Anna stated proudly but was quickly shoved to the side by her brother.

"Yeah by six minutes!"

"I'm still way older than you!"

Lucas pushed his sister once more, "yeah right!"

They began pushing each other back and forth until Astrid separated them, "stop it! You're both the same age!"

"See?" Lucas said sticking out his tongue.

"Anyone want to explain what's going on?" Bodil asked, obviously annoyed.

Zania, whose eye was now twitching, nodded in agreement with her youngest daughter.

Once everyone was seated Astrid told her story, again, and when she was done it took all five other occupants of the room to keep Aldiraz from leaping up and murdering the poor Haddock boy.

"I'm gonna' kill 'im!"

"Please don't kill our dad!" The twins begged as they pulled on his furry coat.

"Let go of me!"

"Papa I'm not going to let you go out there and murder my husband!" Astrid yelled as she helped her family put him onto his chair.

Once Aldiraz was calm he buried his head into his hands, deep in thought. While he was distracted Bodil jumped in.

"So you're the big sister I've heard about since I was a baby huh?"

Astrid chuckled, "yes. I left when you were just a baby."

"Well… I've always wanted a sister, I need someone to talk to."

"What about mama?"

Bodil leaned forward, "mama makes boring company, besides she doesn't fight and I heard you like to fight."

"Mom loves to fight." Anna said excitedly, "she's been teaching me everything she knows."

Bodil smiled before turning to Lucas, "what about you?"

Lucas threw up his hands, "I'm dads clone. I can't lift up a weapon."

"I'll teach you how! We'll shape you into a warrior yet." Bodil said lifting up the boys scrawny arms one by one.

"Wow… Thanks!"

Finally Aldiraz looked up and spoke, "what's going to happen Astrid? You bore a child before you got married, there's no way Stoic will be able to look around the law."

Astrid nodded, "I know papa, but Stoic told me I could come and talk to you first."

"Well maybe-" Zania's sentence was left unfinished when the door to the Hofferson house flew open and Stoic stood in the doorway, his son standing timidly behind him.

"Stoic!" Astrid said alarmed, but Stoic was smiling.

"We've decided."