Hiccup woke slowly. His bed felt weird and his blanket must've fallen off. That was odd too because Hiccup could hear birds singing outside which meant his dad would be awake and Stoick always picked Hiccup's blanket up if it fell. Come to think of it the room was draftier than usual. And there was an odd smell of fish and must.

"Dad?" Hiccup sat up and rubbed his eyes. The room was dark but felt much too large, the ceiling was too high for one thing, and the walls weren't where they were supposed to be. Hiccup was not at home. He was in a dark cave sitting in a 'bed' made of moss and leaves in a shallow hole. One of the dragons was behind him and the other lay in front of the entrance. No way out. It was like some awful dream. A nightmare. Stolen by dragons. Who hadn't eaten him. Licked yes, but they hadn't eaten him. Not even a nibble.

The dragon behind him sighed in its sleep and Hiccup considered the large creature. They had fed him and put him to bed. They were nice. Hesitantly, Hiccup reached out to touch the red scales and found them smooth and warm. Petting the dragon Hiccup wondered if the one that had taken his mother had been nice too. Maybe she was alive. But, based on what Gobber said she'd have come back to Hiccup and Stoick if that were the case, so maybe not.

If these dragons were nice why take him away from Berk and Gobber and his dad? It was a good question that Hiccup simply couldn't answer. His knowledge of dragons was limited to how dangerous they were. Eventually that knowledge would expand, but only on to how to kill them. What would two dragons possibly want with a little boy?

The Nightmare stretched her long body and gave a contented sigh. She could smell her mate by the cave mouth and her little hatchling next to her. All was right with the world again. She lifted her head and nuzzled her little one before chucking to her mate. The dragon shook himself and stretched before rumbling an answer. He sniffed at the hatchling who scooted back against the Nightmare and pressed into her side. Her mate chuckled and butted noses with her. He gave another shake of his head and sniffed the air outside the cave then gave a low growl. They were still here. She picked her hatchling up and stood next to her mate. Placing the hatchling down under her belly the Nightmare sniffed the air. There were at least three different Vikings; her hatchling's sire included. The little one was kept where he was by her wing, but he probably wouldn't go anywhere with her mate right there. The other dragon barked at her and she nodded; they needed to eat. She could take the hatchling to the river while her mate went to get them breakfast. He gave a snort and took off.

"Ith he coming back?" The little one sounded a bit scared and a bit hopeful. Opening her wing just enough to see him the Nightmare checked him over. Her hatchling looked up at her with red rimmed eyes and his face smelt salty, but it was left over from last night. She nuzzled him and he flinched. He'd get over that. She gave him a quick, reassuring lick before picking him up and cautiously leaving the cave. As soon as she had the room to spread her wings she took off. The hatchling squeaked and curled tighter. It was a short flight but she was forced to land in the river. The Nightmare decided she was walking tomorrow, Vikings be damned. Holding her hatchling above the water she splashed out and set him on the riverbank then shook herself off. Out of the corner off her eye she caught sight of her hatchling making a run for it. Quick as lightening she snatched him up and got him between her wings where he couldn't get away. She closed him in and finished grooming herself. Once done she snuffled at the little one. He was still clean from his bath the day before; smelling more like her than a Viking she noticed smugly. His face needed washing though so she set about it.

"Eww, thtop. Thtop!" Hiccup pushed at the Nightmare's snout and leaned as far back into her wing as he could. "Why do you keep doing that? It's dithguthting." He said wiping the spit off his face. "Yuck." His hair was dripping in his face as he glared at her, "I thmell like fithh breath."

The Nightmare snorted. That was an improvement she thought pushing the hatchling along with her snout. The Nightmare moved them closer to the river for a drink. She didn't give the hatchling another opportunity to bolt. She had to coax him to drink, but they might not come back till tomorrow morning. Strange little thing the Nightmare thought rolling her eyes and shaking her head; he also scrubbed the water on his face and hair. Her mate should be back about now. The hatchling was checking the gap under her wings, she sighed and chirped for her hatchling to follow her so he'd learn. Then she picked him up again.

"Ow!"

In a panic she dropped him and he sat on the ground bent over clutching the back of his neck. With a concerned croon the dragon pushed his hands away. She could smell the blood before she saw it and her breathing picked up, blowing out her nostrils and ruffling his hair. Three scratches were at the nape of his neck with beads of blood forming. Blood smeared on his neck as the hatchling felt it again and checked his fingers. He looked up at her with accusing eyes,

"That hurt."

Hurt. She had hurt her hatchling. She had caused those scratches that bled. His skin was so much softer than dragon scales. The Nightmare should know that from years of fighting Vikings. She knew she had to be gentler with him than regular hatchlings.

"It'th not that bad." The hatchling said. Softly, he reached out and pet her nose, "It'th jutht a thcratth. The bleeding thtopped, thee?" He showed her the back of his neck again. It had indeed stopped. The Nightmare could still smell the blood though. She nuzzled him and cleaned the cuts.

"Hey! Do you alwayth have to lick me?" He sounded okay. The Nightmare was careful to only take hold of his covering this time and lifted him off the ground to go back to the nest.

"Do you really have to carry me?"

She chuffed and bent her head so he was held under her as she pushed through some thick evergreens. Her gate was choppy through the trees.

"I can walk." He pointed out once they were through. She ignored him. When they neared the clearing the Nightmare slowed and smelt the air. They were still there. With a low growl she placed her hatchling on the ground beneath her and waited for her mate to return.

"What'th wrong?" Her hatchling asked picking up on her mood. The Vikings were practically invading her nest. They wanted to take her hatchling away and she would not lose another one. She was a good mother. She deserved hatchlings.

They had set up a watch but Stoick couldn't sleep. He sat on the cliff and kept an eye on the clearing below. He couldn't see down there in the dark but he was certain he'd be able to see movement if the beasts tried to leave. No one tried to talk to him throughout the night until Spitelout took his turn at watch before dawn.

"He's alright, Stoick."

Stoick didn't acknowledge his brother as he stubbornly watched the clearing.

"You aren't doing yourself or him any good by not getting any rest."

"How many people do you think it would take to overpower the devils in their cave without them escaping?" Stoick asked.

"See? This idea proves that ya need sleep. Do ya really think we could get away with that and not get the lad killed?"

Stoick sighed. Spitelout was right. Hiccup would get hurt or worse if they cornered the beasts in their cave.

"I can't just sit around, Spite. I have a village to run and who knows what the beasts are doing with him."

Spitelout reached over to place his hand on Stoick's shoulder, "He's fine. They're taking care of him. They brought him fish last night, remember."

"He's scared, Spitelout, can you blame him? How long before they realize he's not a dragon, before they tire of him or he upsets them? He's only eight, he can't protect himself." Stoick held the leather tong around his neck in one fist. Three small teeth hung on it; two bottom incisors and one top. The fact that there were only three served as a reminder to Stoick of how young his son was.

"Stoick get some rest. Worrying yourself sick is not going to help the lad."

With a resigned sigh Stoick gave up his sentinel post to lean back against a tree and let himself doze off. He trusted Spitelout to watch carefully. His dreams, however, were not to be trusted and while he didn't remember them when he woke an overall feeling of dread accompanied them.

Sometime later all four men sat near the edge of the drop off; still hidden back in the trees. The dragons had left, one had gone towards the sea and the other had taken Hiccup over the trees. They would come back. They had split up and so would most likely come back Stoick kept telling himself.

"They'd smell us," Spitelout was saying, "And that would scare them away at the least."

"What do you propose we do?" Ack said.

"Wait. They'll let their guard down eventually. Two people can stay out here on watch."

Ack rolled his eyes, "Do you really-"

"Shh!" Stoick said. The big dragon had just landed in the clearing and sniffed the air. Shortly after the other dragon came out of the trees with Hiccup. She had him by the back of his shirt and the boy was curled into a ball. The dragon put Hiccup down between its wings and bumped noses with the big one. Then, just like the night before, it brought up several fish. Stoick couldn't see Hiccup, which was aggravating, but he raised his eyebrows when the beasts singled out a fish, toasted it, and nudged it to where Hiccup was. It was just as strange as last night.

"See? We have time." Spitelout whispered, "You should go back to the village, Stoick. Send two people in a couple of days to relieve us."

Stoick stared at his brother. Go home? Without Hiccup? Just up and leave his son here with those monsters? Then again there was a tower that needed rebuilding and the catapults needed to be restocked. The herds still needed to be situated, planting needed to start, there was a lot to do and Stoick couldn't simply abandon the village because he would rather stay out here when he could set up a watch to do so.

"Send word if anything changes." Stoick said. They all nodded. "I mean it. Any change and you send word." Reluctantly, Stoick got up to go, taking one last look down at the two dragons who were with his son.

The house was quiet when Stoick got home. Someone had made repairs to the outside walls but the inside was still in rough shape. At least it wasn't open to the elements. The swing was just charred rope ends hanging down; the seat gone. Hiccup's boots were near the front door untouched by the fire. He hadn't put them on that night and Stoick hadn't thought about it in the heat* of the moment.

Stoick opened a chest and took out a large sack to shove the boots in. And a change of clothes, Hiccup's blanket, his baby blanket that Valka had made him, some food: jerky, apples, and the like. Stoick would send it with the replacements. It could be left for the boy near the clearing so Hiccup knew they would get him home. Stoick looked at what was left of the swing. Hiccup loved it for some reason. It was easy and quick to build; Stoick could do that as a surprise for when Hiccup came home. All that decided Stoick went out to tend to the village. The house was too empty and quiet for him to stay in it a moment longer.

In the cave the Nightmare sighed with contentment. Her little one slept in his nest with her curled around him. She was a mother again and her home was no longer empty.

A/N: *Pun intended.

I am an awful person. Poor Stoick.

I've updated the schedule, thanks to WinterDawnShadow who let me know that it was behind; I thought I had a couple more weeks. Sadly, I still don't know when Imprint will be back, I'm working on it. The schedule shouldn't be affected, I should have everything done on time and weekly postings will continue as usual; Wednesdays around 8 pm my time (mountain time zone, Canada)

Thank you for all the wonderful reviews. I'm happy to see so much feedback after the break.

WinterDawnShadow: that's not really the plan here, but I'm working on another story that kind of covers that sort of idea. It is an interesting one and I don't think Hiccup would settle even with his mother, he's only eight in this story and after so long he's simply going to want his dad. Hiccup doesn't know Valka so she wouldn't be a comfort for long, he'd still want to go home but he'd bring some curious ideas with him.

KaliAnn: I agree the Nightmare needs a name, it gets confusing especially now with two of them. Drives CB nuts in the edits. However, that is something that comes up later in the story so she remains nameless until then.

As always, special thanks to CB for the edits.