Across the room, Toothless was giving me a concerned look. "Toothless, I'm fine." He didn't look convinced. "Well, I'm glad to see you believe me" I said rolling my eyes, though I was still picturing him and Astrid in my nightmare. He snorted at my sarcasm, whether it was supposed to be a laugh or a scoff, I don't really know, then walked over and nudged my shoulder with his snout. "Thanks, bud. Go on back to sleep, I'll be fine." He just gave me the dragon-fied version of a raised eyebrow. Honestly, he can act like such a mom sometimes. "How many times do I have to say 'I'm fine' until you believe me?" He did that scoff-laugh again, and lied down, curling around me. I halfway expected him to start asking what my troubles were, and if I wanted to talk them out. "Seriously, Toothless?" He stared at me steadily.

"You're not going to move until I talk about it, are you?" A low rumble came out of his throat, and he nodded, wrapping his tail around in front of me to make his point. "You know, for a dragon you have some Viking-like stubbornness issues." I looked at him, hoping he had changed his mind, but he just nodded to go ahead. Actually, as annoyed as I acted, I was actually pretty happy to have Toothless there, wrapped around me. Nothing better than strong, overly-protective Night Fury to make you feel safe. "Fine, you win. It was just a nightmare, ok? I had a nightmare about Alvin and the Outcasts. There, you useless reptile, are you happy?" Toothless nodded his head as if to say "Very", and nudged my cheek before going back to the stone slate across from my bed, making his fire-circle then settling back down. He looked at me, then my bed, cocking his head. "Nah, I'm gonna stay up a little longer." He yawned and settled in his fire-circle. "Goodnight, bud."

I stayed on the floor for a little longer, staring down in thought.

I should get back in my bed.

But I would really rather check on my dad.

But how un-Viking would that be?

But I need to know that he's ok…

"Calm down, Hiccup. It was just a nightmare, my dad is fine."

Maybe I could just "wander" downstairs, act casual, like I'm getting a drink or something, and just check that he's ok.

"What could possibly go wrong?" Standing up carefully and making my way to the door, nothing could be heard except for Toothless' quiet breathing, the pad of my own footstep, and the metallic clink of what now served as my left foot. I opened the door only to bump into a solid mass, which looking up proved to be my dad. "Oh, uh, hi. Dad. I was just, uh, getting a drink. Do you want something?"

"No… I was just coming to say goodnight."

"Oh, well, goodnight." I started to close the door, but my dad pushed himself into the doorway. "Dad?"

"It's just, uh, are you alright, Hiccup?" My dad shifted back and forth, looking about as awkward as I felt.

"Yeah…I'm fine, why?"

"Well, I was just downstairs, having a drink before bed, like I normally do, you know, and I heard some loud noises coming from up here. I wanted to make sure that everything was alright."

"Oh, that. I fell out of bed, is all. I'm fine."

"Oh, good." My dad took a step back, out of the doorway, but I didn't close the door. He turned to leave, and I started to close my door when he turned back around. "Hiccup…" he paused, as if he wasn't sure what he was going to say next.

"Yes?"

"You know that you can come to me, if you have a problem, right?"

I swallowed a little, not expecting anything like this, and the memory of my horrible mistake in my nightmare, but that wasn't just in my nightmare, still in my mind. "Yeah, I know."

"I understand well how hard it is sometimes to be a leader. Sometimes you have to make difficult decisions that can haunt you later. And I'm proud of you, son, for becoming such a strong leader."

Proud of you… Since we made up that time on Dragon Island, since that first time in so long that he had said he was proud of me; every time still rings in my ears after he says it. My dad, Chief of Berk, is proud of me, his son.

"Thanks…dad." Out of nowhere, a huge yawn escaped from my mouth, most likely ending this father/son moment.

"Well then, goodnight, sleep tight."

"And don't let the sock-stealing trolls bite?" I added with a smirk.

He laughed and replied, "I've been letting you be around Gobber too much. Well, I'm off to bed. For the last time, goodnight."

"Goodnight, dad." He walked away down the hall, and I slowly closed the door shut. I stood there for a little longer, playing the conversation back in my head, before finally deciding that I should get back into my bed. Pulling the covers back over me, and nightmare mostly forgotten, I looked over to where Toothless was resting peacefully, shifting in his sleep every now and then, like he was dreaming. I wonder what dragons dream about.

So, did you like it? I hope you get that the "useless reptile" was supposed to be in more of an endearing sort of way, like when you make fun of a little brother. That's what I was aiming for. One more chapter to go. R&R Until next chapter!