Disclaimer: I wrote it before and I'm going to write it again… I don't httyd

Author's Note: Hey everyone! Bye everyone!

Setting: 5 years before the movie.

"Why Now"

-Haddock House-

It was a normal day in the household, just like always. Father and son ate breakfast across each other in silence. Before there was awkwardness, now though they have grown used to it. Father would ask son how his day at the forge was, son would reply the usual grunt or 'it was ok.' then son would ask how the meeting was and father would reply the same way son would, the usual grunt or 'it was ok'. Like stated earlier, the two of them were already used to that. This night, something was not right though, because Stoick was going to do something he never dreamed he'd do ever since he learned from the gothi that his son, who he clearly loved against popular belief, was going to be a screw up. Well, according to him at least.

"Hiccup" Stoick called his name in a very serious way.

Hiccup, who was busy trying to ignore his dad, looked up with eyes wide in surprise. What did he do now? He mentally listed things he had done in the past few weeks that would increase the disappointment his dad had for him. Nothing came to mind since most he had done for the past few weeks were working in the forge and training with Astrid in the forest. It was then something clicked in his head. What if Stoick found out about his secret training? What if he was going to banish Astrid for trying to help the village screw up?

These thoughts were running through his mind but didn't outwardly show it. He gulped. "Yes?" Hiccup worriedly asked, hoping that Stoick would be forgiving just this once and not punish him or Astrid, mostly Astrid.

Stoick took a deep breath that made Hiccup pale in worry. "Gobber and I talked yesterday, after you left the forge, and we both realized that we rarely spend time together as father and son. After much discussing, we've decided that you would have a day off from working on the forge to be spent time with me." Stoick said with a smile on his face that Hiccup could've sworn he had never seen before.

Hiccup, on the other hand, had his mouth wide open while bits of food fell from his mouth, fortunately back to his plate. "Are you serious?" he laughed thinking it was a joke. There was no way his dad, the chief of Berk, would waste some of his precious time to spend with his son.

Stoick disappointed him by laughing out loud. "Of course! In fact you and I are going on a hunting trip! You always ask whether I should bring you or not and I always tell you it wasn't the right time. Now, now I think it is! So what do you say, son?" Stoick beamed at him.

Hiccup's eyes lit up in excitement as his mouth turned into a full blown grin. He couldn't believe it. After years of begging, his father finally wanted him to join him. He always wanted to go on those trips. To be able to experience a life of being a REAL viking. "Are you kidding?!" Hiccup guffawed, practically jumping on his seat. "I love to!". He couldn't wait to tell Astrid.

"Great!" Stoick grinned. "We'll leave right after breakfast!" Right after that declaration, Stoick devoured his breakfast like it was the last one he would ever have.

"W-Wait!" Hiccup exclaimed, thinking he probably misheard Stoick because of his excitement. "You mean now now? Like at this moment? As in after breakfast?"

Stoick rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "Yes now! Now hurry up and get ready. We need to while the sun is just rising. The sooner we leave, the better the hunt." Stoick left the table and started preparing for the trip, leaving a dumbfounded Hiccup on the table.

A little while later Hiccup sighed and stood up. So much for telling Astrid he thought glumly and slowly trekked to his room to get ready for their trip for Thor knew how long. That thought made Hiccup stop in the middle of the stairs. That means I wouldn't get to see Astrid in a few days. Or weeks, Hiccup added glumly. Hiccup started to feel that this trip was probably not worth it after all if it meant that he couldn't see the girl of his dreams. Then again… I might not get another chance to bond with dad again and maybe Astrid would understand. Also, she would probably punch me if I let this opportunity go and call me an idiot for rejecting my dad's offer.

After an hour of preparing, which was understandable since Hiccup had zero knowledge when it came to hunting, favoring in creating contraptions instead, Hiccup was finally ready for the hunt, as much as he possibly could. He was wearing a forest green vest over a dark green long sleeve tunic with green spaulders to help him camouflage in the forest. He still wore his usual leggings since it already blended well. Sadly, for him, he couldn't wear a helmet since it would only give away his position and his hair was enough as a cover since it looked like dense bush from afar. He also had a satchel which contained some herbs and water for usage.

Stoick was a different story. All over his body was a leafy coat that covered it from neck to feet since he was far too big to be hidden by the bushes and he obviously couldn't climb trees to hide atop them. He also carried most of the stuff they need like sleeping rags, sheets and food for the start of their hunt. If they ran out of food, they could just cook the meat of their kills, much to Hiccup's disgust.

"Ready?" Stoick asked his son as he opened the door.

Hiccup shrugged as he adjusted the satchel on his back. "As ready as I can be."

Stoick nodded as he locked the door behind him. "Good. It's best we be off then!"

Stoick and Hiccup passed through the village, and Stoick greeted some people, who ignored Hiccup entirely. Hiccup was used to this though, it also didn't hurt that he was too excited to care at the moment. It didn't take them long before they arrived to the entrance of the forest. As they made their first step in the forest together, Hiccup got excited again.

This is it! Just me and dad and the great unknown!

"Oh, I almost forgot." Stoick said offhandedly, completely catching Hiccup off guard. "A friend of mine would be joining us"

Hiccup sighed, of course his dad would forget to mention something that important. So much for only the two of us.

"So, who is it?" Hiccup asked when Stoick didn't continue like he always did.

Stoick just grinned at Hiccup. "You'll know when we'll get to the meeting place."

Hiccup narrowed his eyes. His father was being mysterious and that was saying something since Stoick was not one to beat around the bushes. What is he hiding from me?

Hiccup's thoughts were interrupted when Stoick stopped and stood in front of a clearing but Hiccup was lagging behind a little bit..

"We're here son and looks like they made it here first."

"They? What do you mean they?"

As Hiccup went out to the clearing he saw something, or rather someone, he thought he would never see in days.

Hiccup blinked in surprise. "Astrid?"

Astrid whipped her head back, eyes wide in surprise as well. "Hiccup?" She had her back turned to him since she was busy asking Grudge who they would be hunting with but refused to answer her.

"What're you doing here?!" they exclaimed in unison, smiles on their faces after the initial shock.

"Surprise!" Stoick clapped Hiccup's back and made him fly for about a feet which Stoick haven't noticed. "They're the ones I told you we were going with."

Hiccup scratched the back of his neck and went near Astrid.

"So… Your dad asked you out of the blue?"

Astrid's eyes widened. "You too? I mean I was cleaning the house and all when my father called me and told me that we were going on a hunting trip. I was excited at first but then I remembered that trips like these usually take more than a day which also means that I couldn't se-train with you again." Astrid looked away and blushed by her almost slip up. Good thing Hiccup didn't catch on, or was it a bad thing. Astrid shook her head in surprise at her own thoughts. Where did that come from?

Hiccup sighed. "I know what you mean. We were having breakfast when dad suddenly asked me the same thing. Imagine my surprise when he said that we were going to leave immediately."

"So what do you think?" Astrid whispered to Hiccup so that the adults wouldn't hear her, who were obviously trying to hide their smirks as their children whispered to each other. "Are they planning something or what?"

"I think you're right." Hiccup whispered back and forced back a blush that was threatening to show since Astrid smiled unconsciously at his compliment. "So what're we gonna do?"

Astrid thought for a moment, her face scrunched up which Hiccup found cute. "I think we just should do what they want us to do. I mean this is our chance to show them what we're capable of! I mean, think about it. If we get their approval now maybe they'll let us have dragon training earlier than the others!" she whispered with excitement in her eyes.

"You're right!" Hiccup would've never thought of that. This was his chance to show his dad that he was not a disappointment. To show him that he was better than his cousin. "With our combined intellects and strengths we can both get the acknowledgment of our dads!"

"I know! This is the best idea I ever had!"

Hiccup scoffed. "Excuse me? Your best idea? What happened to teamwork?" He said while he crossed his arms, smirking at her.

Astrid just snorted and waved him off. "Oh don't be so negative. Of course I was just joking." she playfully punched his arm and he didn't even flinch. Astrid approved. "Good! You're getting sturdier every day. That means I need to punch you harder."

Hiccup rolled his eyes but smiled nonetheless. "Thanks, what would I do without you?"

Astrid laughed as she punched him on the arm again, this time harder.

While the kids were talking to each other, Stoick and Grudge couldn't help but laugh at them.

"Ten years old and they act like an old married couple." Stoick nudged his friend.

"I hayt ti admit it but yer rayt." Grudge sighed "At least I kno' me daughter would be in good hands when de time comes."

Stoick laughed as he clapped his hand on his friends back. "Well, let's get going then while the sun is still high up."

"Hey Hiccup, Astrid!"

"Yeah?" they both asked.

"Time to go!"

"Ok!" Astrid called back. While the adults were walking away Astrid grabbed Hiccup's sleeve and kissed his cheek. "That was for being so smart and letting me have my way." She laughed when she noticed Hiccup's goofy smile and grabbed his arm when he didn't move from his spot. Since she was in front of Hiccup, and he was still obviously distracted by the kiss, he couldn't see the smile and blush on her face.

This was going to be a interesting hunt, that's for sure.

Author's Notes: Hey guys! Enjoy and don't forget to review!

Additional AN: That's another one updated! On to the next chapter!