Hey everyone thank you for not giving up on my story! Like i said in my other story i am having trouble on how to continue(but thankfully my writers block is not so bad, i can come with ideas just have to watch if it makes sense)
also to warn you i will be starting university on october 7th (second year) so i will not have enough time to always write...so please be patient i know a few people on here have said the same thing because they are busy...anyway here is chapter 17 enjoy!
Stoick sighed rushing a hand through his unruly hair. He really needed a brush. He looked up at the moon through the hospital window. The stars scattered around sparkling just as powerful as the moonlight, another clear night for a beautiful view.
But not everything was beautiful today.
The red-headed father turned towards his children sound asleep with specks of dry tears still on their faces. To make one child cry but the other as well, Stoick couldn't shake the anguish from his heart. He was startled when he heard the whimpered of his daughter trying to hide away under the covers, but he could see her shoulders shaking. Placing his exhausted fragile son on the bed, he made his way towards the other bed bending down so one of his knees were touching the floor.
"Hicca" he said
She gasped trying to hide even more so her dad could not hear the sniffles, or how she would wipe her eyes pretending everything was fine. Stoick made too many mistakes, one of them was ignoring what his children provided. His love and attention. He made a promise with his heart and soul and to his wife he will never abandoned his children again.
"Hicca please look at me"
Stoick saw her blue glisten eyes widening, it must be because he said please. Another reason for a heartache. He stayed in his position watching his daughter slowly remove the covers. He noticed Hicca put her hands near her face like it was for protection. Stoick took a deep breath before gently grabbing on to her small, soft hand. Like his son her hands engulfed by the massive ones of his own.
Running small circles to comfort her, Hicca relaxed against her pillow. "Dad"?" she said. He smiled but his eyes said something else. "Why are you crying Hicca?". Her breath hitched, her eyes wandering away from her father's emeralds.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to" she whispered, he was losing her.
Stoick shook his head now removing his hand to feel her chestnut locks. He saw Hicca flinch slightly, her shoulders tense before once again settling against the pillow. Was he really that much of a bad father to make his kids be so afraid of him?
"Don't apologize daughter, you did nothing wrong. I am the one who should say sorry about everything, if only I was the father you and Hiccup needed. I know you must have heard the conversation between us but I still want to tell you this".
Stoick brung his reddish beard so close, she could smell the odor and sweat from not showering. But it didn't matter to her if he had to go a week without one. All Hicca wanted was her father to stay. Stoick opened his mouth speak, however turned speechless seeing Hicca grip his tresses.
"I know I should have been sleeping, but I couldn't help it. Like Hiccup I wanted to hear those words for so long. A part of me believed that if this crash never happened then you would have just continue with life thinking we are invisible".
The tears reappeared again. He could not recall crying this much when Valka died. He heard her gasped as he pulled Hicca into his lap. His strong arms folded around the girl's frame as she leaned her head on his shoulder. The hand never letting go of the beard.
"Oh my daughter. How wrong I have been to both of you. I guess the saying 'you never know what you have till its gone' made a repeat like some curse. Your mother is gone and because of my ignorance I nearly lost you two. I don't expect you and Hiccup to forgive me, but can I have one more chance to make things right. I should have been there". She looked at her father's aging face, the crestfallen and despair displayed like a picture.
She loved her father very much, even when he shouted at her, or became angry at her. But she couldn't bear another promise being broken, if their dad return to his original life. Hicca turned to see her brother peacefully resting, his chest rising with rhythm and his breathing letting out a quiet snore due to a blocked nose.
Stoick was surprised when his daughter showed confidence and determination after she turned towards him. "Dad I love you, I really do. But it's also painful, I-we can't handle another disappointment, the feeling of never being good enough for you. I want to start over only if you promise me to do the same. If you treat us like before then".
Her confidence shattered. Stoick saw her shoulder's shaking, her eyebrows screwed up struggling to say the next words. He tightened his hold. The hand fingering the brown hair soothing his near-bawling daughter. "You can tell me Hicca. I deserve every foul word thrown at me".
"I-I'll have to leave dad. My heart can only take so much sorrow. Like what Hiccup said you are not the only one to suffer when mum died. We miss her too. You failed to realise that even though mum is gone we are still here".
Those words made Stoick run cold. It was true. Despite the fact he treated his kids like they were a burden they were always there. Everytime he came home from work, there was always a light on in the kitchen, the livingroom or their bedroom indicating that the twins were still alive.
A choking sound brung him out of his thoughts. She hid her face in her father's shoulder clutching on to his body tightly. "We never left you dad, we have always been here, all you needed to do was look".
The choke switched to wails that echoed around the room. Stoick rocked his daughter as her tears ran down the jacket. "Please don't leave dad. We want our father back".
The water leaked at his daughter's pleading. The red beard feeling the dampness from the tears. Stoick cried again that night hugging his now sniveling girl.. "I love you Hicca so, so much" He kissed her forehead refusing to let go. She stay in his lap snuggling for his warmth. Instead of sitting on the bed he sat on a chair near the window. The lightweight of a daughter pressed against his side, the blanket secured around her to keep extra warm.
A few hours later, the heavy-lifted eyes of the father awoke from his nap. He yawned rubbing the tiredness away. He then noticed the slight horizon over the still darken sky.
What time is it? he thought. Towards the end of the room near the door, a square clock hanged above saying 6:20 am.
Careful not to wake Hicca, he got out of the chair with difficulty due to numbness and set his girl back on the bed. Stoick sighed with relief when she didn't wake up. Pulling the covers up to her neck before kissing her forehead. He checked on Hiccup placing a kiss as well.
Stoick grabbed his bag walking out the room. He then stopped when he saw a nurse. "Excuse me Mrs, do you have a pen and paper?". The young woman possibly mid thirties looked confused then smiled going towards a desk ripping a page out of a notebook. "Here you are sir".
Stoick nodded "thank you" He wrote a little note telling them he'll be back later in the evening and that Gobber will be seeing them when the sun rises. He left the note on the table in between the two beds.
He could feel his body drained of energy as he got inside his car strolling slowly across the road to home. As he opened the door he was pelted by a little night kitten meowing. "Yes, yes devil I'm here" (he still calls him devil because he thinks it suits him better. Just don't tell the twins that). Shutting the door he discovered a light on in the livingroom. He feared it was a burglar but then heard the loud snores of a man he knew.
The blonde childhood friend Gobber were spread out on the sofa. His legs probed over the side with an arm hanging off. Stoick saw the kitten which looked like tiptoed towards the man. Stoick held the snicker when the devil-cat jumped on Gobber's belly and started playing with his very thick, long moustache. He grumbled finding the source swatting the cat away. Toothless was not happy. He hissed and scratched his cheek.
Gobber gasped opening his eyes feeling the sting from the cat "Ow! Why you little-" he heard a snigger and saw Stoick with his arms folded an eyebrow raised. "I see you made yourself comfortable?"
He chuckled back. The sting forgotten. "Well you did give me a spare key remember? Plus someone had to feed this demon". Pointed at Toothless who was licking his paw acting all innocent.
"I did tell the kids he was part Satan but Hiccup came up with the name Toothless". Gobber stared skeptically when the kitten yawned showing his baby teeth. "Sure looks like he has teeth. Cute name though for such a fuzzball". The man stretched his limbs, well most of his limbs. His right leg amputated below the knee and his left arm had no hand. Gobber was involved in a car crash by a drunken driver when Valka was pregnant with the twins. The accident was so severe Gobber spent seven months in hospital learning how to walk through therapy and counselling. The man in his fourties was caught and sentenced to eight years for alcohol and drugs in his system.
He is a fortunate man to have Stoick, his wife and the twins to help him get through the tough times. And now its his turn to help them through difficulties.
"Tea or Coffee?" Stoick said putting on the kettle.
"Coffee please, double the dose with two sugars. I need my energy". Gobber's cheerfulness is contagious, you have no choice but to grin or smile. He took a seat on his right staring at Stoick's back. "How did it go with the children?". Stoick almost dropped the glass which held the sugar. The two men were similar when it came to words. One of them is they are blunt to the point.
Stoick poured water in the coffees with sugar and stirred. The father sat opposite Gobber taking a sip. He sighed for a third time this morning. "Honestly it didn't go as bad as I anticipated. But of course there a lot of trauma that I need to fix". The blonde nodded letting the weary man continue. He was a little shock to see the strong stern man with hands combed in his hair hiding his face.
"Gobber how could I have let this get so far? Hiccup and Hicca had always needed me and I brush them aside due to their resemblance to Valka. I never showed nor told them how important they are to me and how much I do love them and a fews weeks ago they could have died!".
Stoick moved his hands to show a distraught face. Gobber saw a man who had nearly lost his whole family. He smiled grasping Stoick's hand. "Maybe this is a sign".
The father raised his eyebrows not understanding. "How do you mean?"
"You have suffered Stoick. Your wife gone to heaven leaving you behind with small children. Having their mothers facial features leaving you to become cold and neglect them". If Gobber was making him feel better he is dead wrong.
"I hope you have a good reason for being so obvious". He said icily. His voice would have frightened any other person expect Gobber who wasn't affected at all.
"This crash could be the sign that saved your relationship with the kids because you now understand the severity of the situation. I know you Stoick and you can be a very hard man to please". Stoick heaved ready for comeback. "However I have known you for a very long time and you are a loving father who will definitely reach out to Hiccup and Hicca, you have changed Stoick. What's that saying, oh yeah! 'You never know what you have until you lose it, and once you lose it, you can never get it back".
Stoick frowned realising he said something similar to Hicca. He closed his eyes leaning back on the chair, his shoulders slouching from the weight that is pressing down on his body. "Your right Gobber, I will remember that from now on".
Gobber smiled "I'm happy to be of service". Then a scrapping sound from the bottom of the table was heard. He saw Toothless climbing up the side of the table.
"Hey don't create marks on my table" shouted Stoick. Gobber chuckled when he saw Toothless wasn't even fazed by the outburst. Fearless little furball isn't he? Gobber thought when he made his way towards Stoick sitting down waving his tail.
Stoick looked into the kitten's emerald slit eyes. "Yes can I help you?". Gobber laughed hearing the enormous man having a conversation with such a tiny animal.
"What I told you this cat is a devil. He can understand everything I say" then Toothless tilted his head making Gobber choke. "Oh yeah Satan does exist. Well then its a good thing I'm moving here, so I can keep him at bay". Stoick registered what the blonde said, his eyes widening. "Huh? Your staying? But what about the branch don't they need you back?"
Gobber shrugged "Probably, I'm taking a leave at the moment due to what happened, but I was thinking maybe you could help me moved back in the same branch as you? Because I can't exactly leave now, you need my support Stoick and I can't do that if I am in another country". Stoick felt the kitten's paw playing with his beard but he paid no attention. He could feel Gobber's gratitude lifting amount of weight of his shoulders.
"Thank you Gobber you don't know how much this means to me. And the twins would be very excited to hear the news. And on that note I think you should stay here". He didn't expect that. Stoick will have his hands full with the twins and besides was there any room for him?
"We have an extra room, needs a bit of sorting out but I can do that while you see the kids soon". Gobber saw the time and was shocked to see nearly three hours have gone. Wow time flies!
He got out of his seat giving Stoick a slightly annoyed expression. "You do realise I have sorted out all my boxes and now I have to re-pack them again just because you want me to move in here. You better give me an extra arm to get it finished faster".
Stoick smirked. It must have taken Gobber a few hours to complete the task with only one hand. He then laughed. "Don't worry I'll handle your belongings you just go and see my son and daughter". Chucking his friend the keys Gobber left the hand stating he'll change tomorrow.
Stoick cringed. The blonde wasn't the best when he came to hygiene. He felt a tug and saw Toothless's claw stuck inside his facial hair. Picking up the devil so they were eye to eye. "Can't believe I'm saying this but do you want to visit the kids with me later?". The cat's ears shot up his eyes widened, the tail going mad.
"I'm taking that as a yes". Putting the feline on the floor Stoick groaned "Why do I keep on talking to you like a human I don't know". Toothless meowed following his gigantic master up the stairs towards a bedroom. Maybe Gobber was right. Maybe Stoick has changed and it was for the better.
This chapter is my longest yay! I don't think all my chapters are going to be this long but will see...hope you like!