I don't own any characters from How to Train your Dragon, just a fan :)

Thank you to my reviewers, I couldn't believe it when I woke up this morning and already had two reviews :)

Sorry it's short but there should be another chapter to follow tonight or tomorrow, depending on if I get a chance to write it!

Hand on my Heart

Chapter 2:

(About an hour later)

"Where's the Hofferson girl, Gobber?" Stoick asked, rather annoyed.

"Last time I saw her she was munching on something over there." Gobber pointed to the table where Snotlout and Tuffnut were sitting.

"Was Hiccup with her?" Stoick practically whispered, since he didn't want to give the rest of the tribe the idea that he wasn't coming.

"No, haven't seen him or the dragon." Gobber shook his head.

"What am I going to do with him Gobber? How is he going to be Chief if he doesn't even like parties?" Stoick boomed incredulously.

"Stoick, you can't just expect him to be like you now the villagers think he's a hero. That boy's sensitive. He's probably just adjusting." Gobber tried to advise, considering he practically raised Hiccup, he knew him pretty well.

"Vikings are NOT sensitive, Gobber." Stoick banged his fist on the table, sending mead shooting out of his and Gobber's glasses.

"Hiccup is, Stoick. You can't put him into the typical Viking slot. The reason we're all living very different lives right now is because of how different he is. We all just need to give him some time and not bombard him constantly."

"Maybe you're right, Gobber." Stoick mumbled. He didn't like to be wrong, especially when it came to his only son.

"I'll go talk to him." Gobber said, getting up from the table, Stoick just nodded.

Hiccup stood examining the baskets he had tied to Toothless. He had wrapped blankets round them so they wouldn't grate against the dragon's sensitive scales. Toothless watched in surprise because his boy had never put that much stuff on him before, they must be going away for a while. Toothless was quite happy about that, he hated how the Vikings constantly came up to him and touched him. He was quite solitary by nature and preferred being alone or with his boy.

"I think that's everything we'll need, bud." Hiccup sighed. He looked around the home he grew up in and it felt unfamiliar for a moment. He had changed so much from his recent experiences and really didn't feel like he belonged here at all, almost like he had outgrown Berk. Toothless smiled in approval and gestured for him to jump on. "Just one more thing then we'll go." Hiccup smiled back at him, a pang of sadness stinging his eyes. He walked over to the enormous carved wooden dinner table and put three letters on it, then turned and walked to the door, opening it and gesturing for Toothless to come. Toothless trotted over to the door and slipped out past Hiccup, waiting for him outside. Hiccup took one last look and closed the door behind him.

Gobber left the great Hall and started hobbling up towards the Chief's house. He spotted Astrid standing outside talking to Fishlegs about the boy's Gronckle.

"Astrid!" Gobber yelled. She immediately ran from Fishlegs to stand in front of Gobber.

"Hi, Gobber." She said.

"Where's Hiccup?" He pressed.

"The last time I saw him he was going to sleep because his leg was hurting him." She replied.

"Stoick said he was coming to the party."

"He might still come." She said, hopefully.

"Stoick's going to lose his head if he doesn't so I'm going to get him. Was he in the house?" Astrid nodded in reply. Gobber patted her shoulder then walked past her, continuing to the house. Astrid went back to Fishlegs and their previous conversation.

As Gobber approached the house he saw Hiccup sitting on his dragon.

"Ok, bud. Let's go." Hiccup said. Gobber was too shocked to find words. He saw all the baskets tied to the dragon, he saw Hiccup wearing his thick jacket but Hiccup didn't see him. And away they went.

Running back to the hall, Gobber burst through the doors.

"Stoick!" He yelled over the crowd. Stoick shot up and heaved himself to the door. "You better come with me." Gobber said more quietly. The two giants left the hall, much to the confusion of the other Vikings.

"And you didn't stop him?" Stoick yelled, grabbing Gobber by his collar.

"He was gone before I could have gotten a word out." Gobber yelled back.

"Did he leave a note?" Stoick asked, loosening his grip and letting go of Gobber.

"I didn't check, I just came to get you." Gobber replied.

"Let's go, then." Stoick replied, running up the steps to his home, Gobber following swiftly but clumsily behind him. Once inside, he noticed three small pieces of paper lying on the table. They were addressed to Stoick, Gobber and Astrid. Stoick handed Gobber the letter addressed to him and started to read his own.

Dad

I'm sorry. I can't stay here anymore right now. I might be back once I've dealt with everything, but don't count on it. You should let Snotlout be Chief, he wants it anyway.

Dad, I'm really sorry that I wasn't the son you always wanted. At least I'll never be an embarrassment to you ever again.

I love you, Dad.

Hiccup HH III

Stoick reread the letter, fighting back tears. Vikings do NOT cry. Meanwhile, Gobber read his.

Gobber

Sorry to run out on you like this, but I'm sure you'll find another apprentice in no time. I was never that good at it anyway. Thanks for making me such a cool leg; I took the spare one with me just in case.

And thanks for being like an Uncle to me.

Take care of yourself.

Hiccup HH III

Gobber handed his letter to Stoick for him to read.

"What's wrong?" Astrid asked, panting.

"He's gone." Gobber said under his breath.

"What?" She shrieked, tears welling up in her eyes.

"He left a letter for you, we didn't read it." Stoick finally said, turning to her and giving her the letter.

Astrid looked at the letter without opening it. She didn't want to read what Hiccup had written to her because if she did, she would never be able to go back to the place where he hadn't left. Unless... Unless he tells her where he's going so she can follow? So she opened the letter. Stoick and Gobber stared at her intently.

Dear Astrid,

I love you, I always have and I always will.

But you deserve better and I know if I see you again, I won't be able to leave.

It's better this way. You will have to make sure the others learn about dragons and how to treat them.

I hope you have an amazing life, you deserve it.

Hiccup

Astrid burst into tears. She lifted her axe and looked at Stoick.

"If I ever see your son again, I'm going to chop off his head. Good luck getting a replacement for that!" She yelled at him, tossing the letter at him, turned on her heels and ran out of the house. Stoick read her letter.

"I don't really blame her." Stoick laughed, figuring that laughing was the only way he was going to get through this.

Astrid was busy changing her clothes and putting all her armoured gear on, throwing clothes and supplies into carrier baskets as she stormed around her room.

"Astrid? Are you alright?" Her mother asked.

"Fine!" She yelled.

"Astrid Hofferson!" Her mother shouted back. Astrid hesitated.

"Sorry, mom." She looked at her mother, feeling the tears reforming in her eyes. Her mother walked over to her and embraced her.

"What's wrong?" Her mother soothed, Astrid crying into her shoulder.

"He's gone! He just left! How could he just leave? I love him, mom." She sniffed.

"Is this Hiccup you're talking about?" Her mother rubbed her back. Astrid just nodded. "And what were you planning on doing about it?"

"I was going to go find him and drag him back and chop off his head in front of the entire village." Astrid cried freely.

"You don't really mean that, my girl. You should go after him, but go in the morning. Hiccup has been flying around this area much longer than you have, plus he's on a Night Fury. He'll get much farther, quicker. In the dark, you might miss him."

"You're right, mom. I'll go at dawn, Hiccup always sleeps past dawn, that might be my chance to find him." Astrid seemed to brighten up a little.

"There, you see?" Her mother smiled at her. "You'll find him." Her mother nodded. Astrid smiled back at her mother.

"Thanks, mom. I feel better now." Astrid hugged her mother then went to clear her bed of all the stuff that lay strewn on it.

"That's what mothers are for." She assured Astrid before leaving the room.

That's all for now :) Tell me what you think!