Last time in Of Fathers and Nightmares: Hiccup caught a cold from playing in the rain (and eating half cooked fish only when he was too hungry not to eat, and not getting enough sleep; really there were many factors to him catching that cold.) Understanding that they didn't know what to do the dragons allowed Gobber and Spitelout into the cave to care for him. After kicking them out a raid was called and the Nightmare had to go. During this time the Drake let Hiccup 'escape.' After the raid the Nightmare found Toothless to bring him back as a playmate, not knowing that Hiccup was gone. Stoick's happy at least.
It was a fine morning; pleasantly warm the Nightmare thought, as she kept an eye on the hatchling flying alongside her. He flapped his wings far more than necessary resulting in tiring himself out too easily. However, he refused to let the Nightmare carry him. If he wouldn't let the Nightmare carry him she could at least fly under him in case he fell. Deciding he needed a rest when she saw him struggling to stay steady in the sky she angled down for a break. As such they had to stop three times for the hatchling to rest. It was past midmorning when they neared the Nightmare's nest, almost midday really, but the Nightmare didn't care about the delay. Her hatchling would be up by now. He was going to be so excited to have a playmate.
They came up to the clearing and the Nightmare could see her mate sunning himself. Something was different though; she couldn't see her hatchling. Normally he would be out playing or chattering to her mate but he was nowhere to be seen. She landed and watched the black hatchling mess up another landing as her mate got up to sniff at him. The Nightmare inhaled the air before greeting her mate; he was preoccupied with the new hatchling anyway. That was when the Nightmare realized what was different: the Vikings were gone! Their scent was still there, but old. She rumbled, pleased, and greeted her mate. Odd that her hatchling hadn't shown himself yet. She barked for him. Nothing. The Nightmare left the black hatchling with her mate and went into her nest, but her hatchling wasn't there. His scent was old as well; he hadn't been here for a while. And the Vikings were gone. The Vikings had taken her hatchling.
Her fire cloaked her, as hot as her anger, and she stormed out of the cave to roar at her mate. How dare he? How dare he let them take their hatchling? She was a good mother! The Nightmare snapped at her mate and it only infuriated her more when he didn't retaliate. Instead, he turned his head away and nuzzled the little black hatchling who was hiding under the Drake's wing watching the Nightmare with large green eyes. She let her flames die out.
It would be okay. She would simply go and retrieve her hatchling. She grumbled and prepared herself to take off, but her mate snapped at her. Now he looked angry. Did he really want to let the Vikings take their hatchling? The little one was theirs.
The Drake snorted and shook his head. When the Nightmare made to take off again he snapped at her wing. He wouldn't let her go; he was willing to fight to keep her from going. The Nightmare keened and looked longingly toward the Vikings' nest. She had lost another one.
There was a raspy cough near Stoick's ear that woke him up. He was still groggy and confused by the sound, even more so when he felt a weight against him. Without opening his eyes Stoick lifted his hand to his shoulder where the coughing was and felt soft hair. Hiccup. Hiccup was home. Stoick must've fallen asleep after the boy; he hadn't meant to. He had meant to put Hiccup to bed and then go help in the village. Hiccup coughed again so Stoick opened his eyes to determine whether the boy was awake. His eyes were closed, breathing rhythmic except when disturbed by coughing. Stoick sat up in his chair slowly, in part not to jostle Hiccup and in part because he was so stiff. He was getting too old to sleep in his chair.
"Hmm?" Hiccup stirred, "Dad?" He lifted his head off Stoick's shoulder and blinked at the room with bleary eyes.
Damn it. Stoick pulled Hiccup's head to his shoulder again and stroked the boy's hair, "Go back to sleep, Hiccup." Stoick said quietly and Hiccup relaxed against him. The boy might have drifted off except another bout of coughing hit him, waking him up fully. No point in staying in the chair anymore so Stoick stood up with Hiccup.
"'M tired." Hiccup slurred curling into Stoick's chest and burying his face in Stoick's neck.
"I know. You're going to bed." Stoick brought Hiccup into the bedroom and paused looking at the boy's bed. He had forgotten that he had sent Hiccup's blanket to the clearing. It was in the sack in the main room now, but it smelled like dragon. Stoick put Hiccup in his own bed for the time being and grabbed Hiccup's pillow to give the boy before tucking him in.
"Dad, can I have my thpethial blanket?" Hiccup's voice was raspy. Stoick should make more tea for him.
"It needs to be washed, Hiccup. I'll bring you some tea though." Stoick said as he brushed Hiccup's hair out of his eyes.
"Don't want tea. I want my blanket." Stubborn child. Hiccup curled up on his side and coughed some more and Stoick sighed rubbing his son's back. Hiccup was tired and not feeling well; of course he wanted his blanket.
"If you drink the tea I'll let you have your blanket. Deal?" Stoick asked. He needed Hiccup to drink the tea so the boy could go back to sleep.
Hiccup only sighed and cuddled up to his pillow.
"Hiccup. Deal?"
"I don't want tea." Hiccup pouted. Honestly, this kid. Did he not understand that the tea would help him?
"Deal?" He said with a tone of finality.
"Deal." Hiccup gave in before coughing. Stoick rubbed a final circle on the boy's back then went to the main room to make the tea.
The Nightmare curled up in her cave, around her hatchling's nest already missing him. None of his things had been left behind; only his smell. The Nightmare refused to even look outside; her mate played with the little black hatchling in the clearing. Traitor. Did he not care that their hatchling was gone? Could he move on that easily?
There was a whooshing, the sound of another dragon coming to land. The Nightmare looked out to see the same nadder from before. At least there was one positive of her hatchling being taken from her; he wasn't present for this.
The Drake greeted the nadder, but the hatchling hissed at the blue dragon. The Nightmare snorted; good to know he was friendly with everyone not just the Nightmare.
The Drake barked for the Nightmare to come out. Grumbling she did. It wouldn't do to air their problems to other dragons. Once she had greeted the nadder the other dragon chirped the Viking and hatchling sounds. The little one tipped his head.
The Nightmare growled; he was gone. The nadder cocked her head and trotted into the cave. The Nightmare let her; the dragon wasn't going to find anything. The Hatchling crooned at the Drake, confused and the Drake bent to nuzzle the little one. The Nightmare glared at him; he'd care for this hatchling, but let Vikings take theirs?
The nadder came back out and squawked at the two nightmares before taking off. The nightmares looked at each other in concern. This interest in their hatchling wasn't good. He was with Vikings now, though, and should be okay. The black hatchling barked to get their attention; he was probably hungry. They should return him to the nest before the next raid so dragons weren't sent out to find him.
Stoick was amazed at the resilience of children. Sure, he had been told about it, even seen it first hand after every illness and injury. Yet it still surprised him every time. It wasn't that Hiccup got over things; it was how quickly he got over things. Once Hiccup caught up on his sleep and got over his cough he was fine. Chattery and bouncy as ever; as if he hadn't been kidnapped by dragons for a month. The only big change in behaviour was that Hiccup now rarely let Stoick out of his sight which worked out fine because Stoick didn't want the boy out of his sight either. He would have to get over that soon; a hunting trip was coming up and Hiccup couldn't come. Stoick wanted to bring home a decent kill for the village.
Hiccup had been home for a week. Two of those days he spent in bed, the rest he had followed Stoick around the village. His sketch book was Stoick's saving grace; it kept the kid occupied and out of trouble for the most part. Tonight they sat in the Great Hall for supper; Gobber was in the forge working late so it was just Hiccup and Stoick. The boy was still protesting fish. Stoick didn't blame him though it was an inconvenience.
"It lookth like a monthter." Hiccup said, poking at the crab on his plate. "Like from Beowulf. A thea monthter."
Stoick rubbed his forehead, he had a headache and dealing with this wasn't helping, "It's crab, Hiccup. You like crab. Eat it."
Hiccup looked up at him with his head cocked, "How do you know?"
"You've had it before. Now eat it."
Hiccup took his knife and poked at the crustacean on his plate, "When? Is it alive?"
Stoick sighed, "No, it's been cooked. You like Aunt Thistleface's pot pie, right?"
Hiccup nodded.
"It's crab. You like crab."
Hiccup poked at it again. Stoick took Hiccup's plate and cracked the crab open to scrape some of the meat out before pushing the plate back to Hiccup.
"Eat it. Scrape all the meat out."
Hiccup poked at the meat and tried a little piece with his eyes shut, tense and expecting it to be gross. He relaxed as he chewed and smiled. "I like this." Hiccup took another bite. Stoick shook his head and smiled resting his hand on Hiccup's head for a moment, enjoying having his son home again.
A raid was called. It was the Drake's turn to go as the Nightmare had gone last time. They could get away with only one going once more before they both had to join. Raids were dangerous. Vikings were dangerous. The nadder's interest in the Nightmare's hatchling was dangerous, it was prompted by her. That meant that the little one might not be safe even if he was back in the Viking nest. The Nightmare was going to go to this raid without joining, just to make sure that her little one was safe.
A/N: It's back! Woot! You all need to thank CB for posting this for me because I am currently (as you're reading this not as I'm writing it) in the mountains with no wifi.
So I've gone off the deep end with Attack on Titan. I didn't even think I'd like it, it's so graphic. To be honest I skip those parts or don't look at the screen as I sit there in confusion because I don't know Japanese. Though I've learned a few words now: thank you, I see/know, etc. I have also found out about papa/mama Levi and baby Eren and my gosh they're so cute! Look them up on tumblr.
KaliAnn: I am very sorry but I cannot promise anything, spoilers you see.
Kas3y: I love the Drake too, more so than the Nightmare, so does CB. She's all scared that he's going to die. I say nothing to confirm or deny her fears because I am an awesome friend like that.
Xxsnowfallxx: Hiccup wasn't really going to ask Stoick anything. He just wanted to know his dad was there and it wasn't a dream. It was a comfort thing.
Everyone else: Thank you I'm glad you're all happy that Hiccup's home. I'm really excited for this next part; it leads into my favourite part. The one I've been waiting for since I started this story.
Thanks to Time Master for letting me know my schedule was behind. I always forget to update it from my planner. It goes into July now.
Special thanks to CB for the edit as always, and for posting this chapter.