Author's Note: I've taken this story as far as it could go, and I think this is the best place to leave it. Thank you, and I hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Reviews:

ncham9 - Thank you. Chapter 18 was one of 'those' chapters that I just couldn't force myself to work on. It sat and collected dust for weeks before I finally just finished it all in one night and posted after editing it a bit

Ollie - Thank you. It's good to hear that you enjoyed reading it

Nlresda123 - Thank you! That was a difficult chapter for me to write because of how depressing it was, but I'm glad the end result was enjoyable.

Guest - You don't have to thank me. I get just as much enjoyment out of writing as the people who have read this story appear to. If anything, I should be thanking you for taking the time to let me know that you liked it

xlight02 - Thank you, here is the next chapter in all its glory

VenomousFantum - Thank you for not giving up on this story. I know it's darker than some of the other stories out there, so I understand why it might be difficult to keep going. I hope you enjoy this last chapter

HiccupHaddockIII - Well that's good. Thank you!

UnbreakableWarrior - Thank you. I know my update schedule is extremely chaotic, so thank you for waiting patiently for updates

Astrid sighed softly as she laid the two black and white images side by side on the counter. The first had been taken during a time when she wanted nothing more to be rid of her burden, and the second was proof that she really had needed the burden after all. In one, a healthy girl that would grow and laugh, and in the other, a boy that would never feel the sunshine or see the rain that was his mother's tears.

Past and Present.

Life and Death.

It was strange, looking back on everything that had happened in the past six months. She had never thought a person could go through such drastic changes in such a short period of time. But those changes were beautiful. Change had pushed her to open her eyes to the vibrant colors and sounds of the always-on-the-move world around her, and that realization made her proud.

It hurt to know that she would never see her baby boy's smile, or hold his tiny hand in hers, but she wouldn't forget him. She would always have a place reserved in her heart for him, even as the years came and went and the memories faded away.

Astrid's head snapped up as the front door closed. She hadn't even heard it unlock. Ruffnut came into the kitchen a moment later, a plastic bag in hand and a bright smile plastered to her face. "Well look who I finally found," she said.

Astrid rolled her eyes and slipped the pictures back into the manila envelope she had kept them in. "You could have just called," she said.

"But that wouldn't have been as much fun," Ruff pointed out as if it should have been obvious to Astrid. "Whatever. I got you something." She tossed the bag at Astrid, who stumbled as she caught it.

Astrid gave the taller girl a look as she opened the bag and removed its contents: a stuffed blue dragon. She touched the crown of spines behind its eyes, feeling the soft fabric beneath her fingertips. "Rach, this is adorable. Thank you. But...how did you get into my apartment?"

Ruff shrugged and grinned. "Remember when you asked me to get your jacket for you last week?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Well I found an extra set of keys in a drawer of your desk. So I borrowed them, had a copy made, and brought back the old pair. You probably didn't even notice they were gone, did you?" Ruff laughed.

"This is why I just don't ask," Astrid sighed. She took the stuffed dragon and the envelope into her bedroom and set them on the bed before returning to the kitchen. Ruff was lying on the couch, her arm draped over her eyes, Toothless pawing boredly at her leg from his spot on the top of the couch. Astrid paused.

"Wait, did you say you were looking in my desk drawers?" Astrid asked, folding her arms over her chest as she thought.

Ruff sat up slowly. "Yeah…but, you didn't tell me not to."

"Rachel!"

Hiccup had walked by the tree at least four times before he finally willed himself to turn back and sit under it. He let his eyes fall shut as his back hit the trunk, damp from the heavy rainfall. A few of the leaves had fallen to form an orange blanket around the base of the tree since he had last been there nearly two weeks ago.

He gazed at the park around him, watching as the people hurried down the paths and the cars rushed by in a blur. The air still held a fresh scent to it, a lingering sign of the dark rain clouds that had hung over the city all week.

A muffled chirp pulled his attention away from the movements of the city. He pulled his phone from his pocket and wiped away the raindrops that had landed on its screen with the cuff of his sleeve. With a light sigh he unlocked the screen and scanned the new text. He hadn't even finished reading when a familiar voice called his name.

"Hey," Astrid sighed as she sat down next to him.

"Hi." He slid the phone back into his pocket, smiling at her. She smiled back faintly from under the wet hood of her sweatshirt.

"I was looking at them again today," she said after a long pause.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, yeah of course. I was just wondering...do you think things would be different if they were both still...here?" Astrid asked, toying with the strings of her sweatshirt.

"Probably. I mean, our apartment would be way too small for the four of us and Toothless. And I would have to quit my job at the garage to help out," Hiccup said. "But I think we would be happy, and that would make it worth it."

"I just...I'm worried that something is going to happen to her too. And then they'll both be gone." Astrid rested her head on his shoulder, offering a half-hearted smile as he smoothed a hand over her hair.

"Nothing will happen. And even if there was a chance that something did, we would take care of it. Okay?" Hiccup asked.

"I guess," she said.

"No, not I guess, Astrid. There's nothing anyone could have done. It wasn't your fault or my fault that what happened had to happen. But I know that you're smarter than to think that." He pulled her closer, and they watched as the rain began to fall in gray sheets, content with the silence.

"I love you, you know that?"

"Yeah, and I love you too, babe, as much as you confuse me sometimes."

"Hey!"

Astrid smiled and pressed her face into the side of his jacket, inhaling his familiar woodsy scent. This moment felt so right. Hiccup, the rain, the city...all of it, as close to a cliche romance as it might have sounded. She was happy, even if this was her Plan B.