A/N - Alright, update time. Remember kids, we talk about this, I've got a job now so the time that I can devote to writing/editing has been squeezed. I haven't had the time or energy to do much of anything this week, and I've got other projects besides these stories. I'm trying to get published and it's a really soul-sucking trek.

This chapter is a little short than I would have liked, but it ends at a really nice place.

X

Chapter 27: Nightmares and Hugs

Hiccup carried his suitcase down the stairs and lugged it to the front door. God, was he glad to be going.

"Is that it?" Astrid said, bringing her own suitcase beside his.

"I think so." Hiccup shrugged, looking at the two single suitcases. "I didn't bring that much."

"Me neither."

"Well, make sure you take all of it back," Stoick said from the kitchen. "I don't want to get a call tomorrow because one of your left a toothbrush."

Hiccup and Astrid shared a quick, humored glance. Stoick chugged the last of his coffee and set the cup in the sink.

"Well, I guess that's that," Stoick sighed, motioned to the door. "If we want to eat before your flight we need to get going."

Stoick led the way out to the truck and heaved the luggage into the back.

"Do you want to ride shotgun?" Hiccup asked Astrid, motioned to the front seat.

"No, no, sit with your dad. Me and Toothless will take the back." Astrid opened the backdoor and Toothless hopped inside. He trotted to the middle and curled up. Astrid climbed in after him. She looked back at Hiccup, who looked almost disappointed.

Hiccup climbed into the passenger side as his father climbed into the driver's. their doors slammed and they were off.

By eating, Stoick meant the Ingerman's pizza joint. It was small, crowded, and smelled like burned tomato sauce. Fishlegs brought out the pie, smiled quick, and vanished back into the kitchen. The conversation around the table meandered from this to that, small things, but Astrid was glad to get back into Stoick's truck.

She was sad to see Berk go, Christmas decorations still up, despite the January date. Astrid settled back into the seat as Toothless scooted against her leg. She wasn't looking forward to putting him back into his crate. She'd let Hiccup do that. Toothless curled, nosed her knee, and blinked at her. She and the cat had gotten plenty of bonding time, both being strangers in the Haddock house, however it hadn't made him enjoy the confines of travel any less.

They traveled in silence until the interstate. Stoick cleared his throat, Hiccup's arm twitched, and Toothless scooted closer to Astrid, as if he, too, could feel the thickening in the air. Astrid reached down and rubbed a finger between his ears. He looked up at her with half closed green eyes. Was he looking forward to their apartment as much as she was?

The Haddock house was nice, comfortable, and welcoming, but at the same time, it wasn't any of those. It was in the way Stoick looked at her, the way the townspeople were too nice, too accommodating, too interested in her and Hiccup. She understood what Hiccup meant when he'd called Berk nosy and small. It was. She was looking forward to the city where strangers were everywhere and very willing to ignore her when they passed.

Astrid rubbed Toothless's head while Hiccup stared out his window. Stoick hadn't spoken, although he had glanced to his son several times.

He cleared his throat again, this time following it with words. "Son, it's been good having you home."

"Thanks." Hiccup's voice was quiet, his stare stuck on the passing scenery.

"I, uh, I'm glad that you've made your own decision."

"Okay."

"School is a good choice. I enjoyed it. Make sure to keep your grades up, but have fun too. Watch out for those wild parties. Astrid, keep an eye on him."

"I will."

Astrid saw the gentle flinch in Hiccup's shoulder as if he'd begun to turn toward her and then changed his mind.

"So, uh, computers, huh?" Stoick asked.

Astrid looked between them, wishing she could curl up into the dark corners of the backseat and vanish.

"Yeah," Hiccup nodded.

"What do you plan on doing with it? After school?"

"I don't know."

"Do you, uh, have a idea of where you'd live afterward?"

"Not really."

"I know there's not much work in Berk as far as computers are concerned," Stoick said, thumbing the wheel. "That's more a big city job, I guess."

"I guess."

Astrid bit her lip. She knew what Stoick was thinking. He missed Hiccup, even if he wasn't saying it directly. Did Hiccup understand that? Stoick didn't want his only son halfway across the country, or farther, for the rest of his life.

Stoick was quiet for another moment, and then his eyes flashed into the rearview mirror. "Astrid, what about you?"

"I don't know, either," Astrid shrugged. "English is a fluid degree. It's kind of like the general degree."

Stoick nodded, but said something. Astrid inhaled at the glare that flashed in his eyes before he looked away, back to the road. They drove another mile before Stoick turn on the radio, drowning the rest of the ride. When the airport came into view at long last, Astrid knew she was not the only one grateful. They parked, the engine went quiet, and three doors opened. Stoick reached into the back and a suitcase in each hand.

Hiccup cooed an unhappy Toothless into the pet carrier. "Oh, come on Bud, I know it's not great. But it's the only way you can fly. You don't want to stay here, do you?"

Meow.

"I'm sorry, Bud," Hiccup whispered. The door closed.

Meow.

"I can get one of those, Stoick," Astrid said, holding her hand out.

Stoick set hers down. Astrid yanked it off the ground. They marched into the airport, Hiccup trying to calm a very agitated Toothless.

"Hey, I'm going to go to the bathroom before we go." Hiccup set Toothless's carrier down carefully and trotted off to the bathroom. His back vanished around the tile-covered corner.

Stoick spoke up, his voice urgent, "Astrid, how do you feel about my son?"

"What? I-I, uh, um," Astrid stuttered, but Stoick didn't give her a chance to speak.

"Hiccup is a good boy, honest, a bit boar headed, but he's a good boy." Stoick loomed over her, a mountain of intimidation.

"I know," Astrid said.

"Do you?" Stoick shook his head. "I don't know what game you're playing at, but you leave my boy out of it."

"Excuse me?" Her hand squeezed on her suitcase.

"You heard me. I won't let a hussy like you take advantage of my son." Stoick pointed a thick finger at her, his mouth open, inhale ready to be returned with sharp words, but then his eyes shifted over her shoulder and he resumed his previous stance. Astrid was about to speak up when Hiccup rejoined them, wiping his still wet hands on his jeans.

"What?" Hiccup asked, looking between the two of them.

"Nothing," Astrid shrugged. "I-I'll go on through security. I'll see you on the other side."

Hiccup nodded, and she left, not bothering to look behind her. Astrid didn't see Hiccup again until he plopped down next to her on the plane.

"How did Toothless take it?"

Hiccup groaned. "He did not like it. He was sitting there on that cart with the other pets, looking at me, with these wide eyes, like I was abandoning him. It was so…sad."

Astrid smiled. "I'm glad we're headed back."

"Me too, god, the holiday was so long." Hiccup rubbed his face. "Why does my dad feel the need to remind me of every failure?"

"He just wants to make sure you're happy," Astrid said. "And well taken care of. You know, every parent wants their children to grow up to be successful and happy."

Hiccup sighed.

He brought his hand up to his forehead and closed his eyes. Astrid leaned in and pecked him on the cheek. His hand didn't move, but a small smile eased onto his lips.

X

Astrid trailed behind Hiccup as they trudged their luggage and themselves off the plane, into the cab, and up to the apartment. He reached the door first and pulled out his keys. She yawned and followed him into the dark living room.

"You alright?"

"Hm? Oh, I'm just tired."

"Yeah, you didn't sleep very well on the plane." Hiccup shrugged, pulling off his shoes.

Astrid shrugged.

"You kept tossing and turning and you kind of whimpered a couple times."

Astrid crossed her arms. "Must have been the altitude."

"Right."

Astrid kicked off her shoes and stalked into the bedroom. She collapsed onto the bed and exhaled into the covers. Her own bed. She'd missed the smell. This side of the bed smelled like Hiccup.

"Hey," Hiccup said quietly as he sat down beside her.

Astrid spoke, but the covers mumbled her words.

"What?"

"I don't think your dad likes me,"

"He doesn't like me either."

She sighed.

"It's just kind of how it is, you know?" Hiccup ran a hand down her back, along the soft skin under the hem.

Astrid sat up, his hand sliding as she moved. "I love you. I do, really."

"I believe you," Hiccup said. "Is something wrong?"

She opened her mouth, but closed it.

"Astrid?"

"It's nothing,"

"Astrid, you can tell me." Hiccup's hand moved up her stomach. He looked up at her, waiting for her objection, slowly inching his fingers higher.

She shook her head at him, smiling. She pushed his hand up to her breast, crashing her mouth into his. He pulled her shirt over her head and yanked the bra from her shoulders, roughly pulling the hook apart. His hands grasped at her, his mouth left hot kisses down her neck. She laughed when he nipped at her ear.

"Astrid," Hiccup breathed, his hands sliding down her sides.

"Hm?"

"I'm thirsty." He spoke to her stomach. He kissed her hipbone as he pulled on her pants.

"Hiccup, you don't have to,"

"I want to,"

She didn't object. He pulled her knees apart, kissed the inside of her thigh, down to her center. He stuck his tongue inside and she twitched, arching her back, gasping.

"Hiccup," Astrid gasped. "Hiccup, stop."

"What? Am I doing it wrong?"

"No,"

Hiccup shrugged, "What?"

"I want you." She tugged on his hair. "All of you."

Hiccup kissed her thigh, unbuttoned his jeans, and climbed onto the bed. He poised himself over her, but hesitated.

"What?" Astrid asked.

"You look sad. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just come on."

"No, Astrid, what's bothering you?"

"It's nothing,"

"Is it something I did?"

"No, you're perfect,"

"Then talk to me."

Astrid sucked in her breath. "Okay. Hiccup, we need to talk about something."

Hiccup retreated from the bed, standing up. "Okay."

Astrid swallowed. She hugged herself as she spoke, "Hiccup,"

"What's wrong?" He reached out to her, but she flinched away.

"I'm a prostitute."

"What?"

"I-I sleep with men for money, and…a girl, once."

"What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"No, Hiccup, listen,"

"I'm not listening to anything you have to say! Get away from me, whore! You're disgusting!"

"Where are you going?"

"I'm leaving."

"No, no, please, Hiccup, don't leave-"

"I'm not staying here with you. Don't touch me, whore!"

Smack. Astrid fell back to the floor. Hiccup stood by the door, glaring down on her, hate fixated. His leather bag was over his shoulder and his coat was buttoned. She reached out to him, but the room grew inexplicably long. She tried to call out to him, to make him stay, to beg him to stay, to cling to him.

"You're disgusting, you whore."

She tried to cover herself, but anything she touched shrunk impossibly, the blanket, her clothes, even her arms felt too small.

"Astrid? Astrid!"

Astrid jumped. Everything was dark, someone was holding onto her arms, and her face was wet.

"Astrid? Wake up." Hiccup's voice was hoarse.

"Hiccup? What happened?"

His grip on her arms loosened. "You were crying in your sleep."

"Oh,"

"Are you okay?" Hiccup scooted closer.

"Yeah, yeah, it must have been the airplane food. What time is it?"

"You didn't eat on the plane. Astrid, talk to me. What's bothering you?" Hiccup's hand grazed her arm.

"No, I'm okay, it was just a silly bad dream."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." Astrid leaned into his touch. "I-I'll tell you about it later."

"Okay." Hiccup's lips brushed her cheek. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, I love you."

"I love you, too."

Astrid lied back into the bed and Hiccup followed, and he soon began to lightly snore. Astrid kept her eyes on the dark wall, unable to return to sleep, and unsure if she wanted to.

X

Stoick was sitting on the couch, shoebox beside him, photographs scattered across the coffee table, Hiccup's youthful faces smiling at him from every inch of it. He'd always been the oddball, but he's always been happy.

"Stoick?" Gobber asked.

"Gobber?" Stoick started.

"The door was open, and I knocked, and rang the bell."

"Oh, I didn't hear you." Stoick turned back to the photos.

"Ah, having trouble letting the bird fly away from the nest?" Gobber hung his coat on the hook.

"No," Stoick said. "He's a grown man. I know that. I just don't want him making the same mistakes I've made."

"You don't want him turning out like you?" Gobber chuckled.

"Not if I can help it." Stoick rubbed his face. "Gobber, what am I supposed to do about him? Just let him run off with that woman?"

"Do you think that would stop him?"

"No."

"Of course not, you didn't listen to your father so why should your son listen to you?" Gobber shrugged. "It's the inevitable cycle of life, Stoick. You give a man a pretty face and he's jelly."

Stoick sighed. "I can't just stand back and watch him make my mistakes."

"You don't have a choice, Stoick, unless you want to lock him up in the basement. He's a boy, and boys chase girls like fat kids chase food. They know it's bad for them, but they just can't keep their teeth out. And then the next thing you know, heart disease."

"What?" Stoick glanced over his shoulder.

"I don't know," Gobber shrugged. "I haven't eaten this morning."

Stoick groaned and began to pick the photographs up and place them gingerly back into the box. He uncovered a larger one, a family picture, one of the few that he had. It was the three of them when Hiccup was still in diapers. He was smiling from his mother's arm.

They had the same smile.

Stoick groaned and let the picture fall back down into the box.

X