Heyyy you guys. I know its been some time...don't go furiously tapping your screen at me I have an excuse...Reality. Yeah, they expect me to function outside my laptop, phone, tv, and leave the comfort of my room. But that aside I'm still not the owner of anything, and you know what...I'm done (I got excited writing)...please enjoy the story.

"Knock. Knock." Merida heard a very timid voice say.

She rolled over in her bed her find weighing heavily on the yesterday's Celebration Festival.

Today her parents were out trying to enjoy what was left of it with her brothers, while she sat in her room with a new a different attitude.

He hadn't called.

He hadn't texted.

He hadn't responded in any way, shape, or form. He hadn't kept his promise and Merida was left feeling…thrown away. She wasn't use to having the cold shoulder thrown her way.

"Come in Rapunzel" She said not even looking up.

"Hey Merida. Maudie let me in, she seemed to be in higher spirits than usual. What's that about." She said with a soft smile to which Merida gave no response. "How's everything going?"

"Fine."

"Fine?"

"Dandy."

"Dandy? Well in that case how was Hiccup? What did he say?"

Merida just shrugged her shoulder.

"Come on don't make me bed for details."

"I don't know Rapunzel."

"What do you mean you don't know, he must have said something. Was is he mad, well of course he would have been mad, but was he..."

"I said I don't know."

"Okay that's twice now. Merida what did he say to you?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing? Merida…."

"Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. He didn't say anything because he didn't talk to me. He didn't call Punz, okay? He has no desire to speak to me."

"It's only been a day Merida don't be so dramatic. I'm sure he's cooling his head and once he's done he'll come and talk things out with you and tell you everything that happened. Hiccups a very rational person."

"And if he doesn't. What if he realizes that I'm more trouble than I'm worth?"

"Merida…"

"Stop. You know what? I don't even want to talk about it anymore. I've been clinging to the phone all night and all morning like some puppy at the door waiting for his owner to come home and I'm sick of it. If Hiccup won't call me and at least let me tell him how I felt, then what's the point."

"There's always a point when you're talking about feelings. Sometimes all you can do is wait and see Merida. You lied to him and whatever Colin said only made that wound deeper. So if you like him you might have to be patient because the bottom line is you hurt him."

Rapunzel's words hit her like a cold wind. She hadn't considered his feelings at all. She'd been awful.

Merida didn't say anything and Rapunzel saw her processing her words.

"Merida you have nothing to worry about, he's going to call because you're amazing."

"Thanks Rapunzel." Merida said gingerly.

"When you're in a relationship sometimes you want to be selfish, and that's okay. But you also have to be understanding and look at things from their perspective. Merida I get where you're coming from, but I also can understand why Hiccup would be mad. If it were you…"

"I know, if it were me I wouldn't be taking any of this. I'd kick me to the curb."

(0.0)

Hiccup tiredly walked through the front doors of his house, happy to be embraced by the sound of peace.

"I'm home."

It didn't take long for him to receive a hardy welcome from best friend.

Toothless jumped on and knocked him to the floor followed by a bombardment of kisses.

"Nice to see you missed me bud." Hiccup said scratching Toothless behind to the ear.

*bark bark

Hiccup could tell Toothless was very excited and eager to show him something as he moved all around wagging his tail.

"Maybe later bud. I need a shower. I was at football practice all day."

Toothless stopped in his motions and sat down with a 'don't lie to me' head tilt.

"I'm not lying. Seriously I was. I was at the football field and everything."

*bark

"Don't give me that."

*bark

"It's very well possible."

*bark

"I didn't break anything.

*bark

"….No I didn't play, and that's hardly the point."

*bark bark

"I don't want to have this conversation anymore. Now what's so important?"

Toothless lead Hiccup into the kitchen where he was shocked to see his dad attempting to cook.

"Hey dad."

"And where were you all day?"

"Football practice."

"Don't lie Hiccup."

"I'm not….oh forget it." Hiccup said saving it for later. "So what did you do today? Where's the vacuum at?"

"Vacuum?"

"Jack said you took Toothless to pick up a vacuum."

"I said I was taking Toothless to pick up Valka."

The name struck chords in his head as he became overwhelmed with a rush of happiness.

"Mom's home."

"She's in the living room."

Hiccup's house wasn't that big, so it only took a few steps from the kitchen to the living room before he reached where his mother was. Her back facing him as she stood in front of their fireplace and her presence radiating. It been so long since he'd seen her, actually seen her. Of course there was video chat and phone call but there was nothing like having the real thing in front of you.

"Mom." He said excitedly.

She quickly turned around eager to see him just as well. He was all prepared to see her smiling face, and green eyes like his own but what he got was a roughly sculpted mask with horns sticking out from all sides.

"Ahhhhh." He screamed trying to keep his balance, maneuvering as to not fall on Toothless.

"Henry." She said muffled through the mask.

"Mom?"

Valka ran up to him pulling him in tight. He was happy….just a little confused.

"Mom could you…ya know…take that off."

She looked around confused before realizing she was still wearing it. She carefully slid it off placing it on the couch. Hiccup was finally able to get a clear look at her face.

Her light brown hair and shining smile. He'd missed her, everything about her. He especially missed the way she smelled like rosemary.

He reaffirmed her being there by giving her another hug.

"Hello babe." She said squeezing him.

"I didn't know you were coming back so soon."

"I missed my family so I hurried things along."

"Glad to have you back."

"It's so good to be back."

"And what's with the mask, don't get me wrong its interesting. And a bit scary."

"Amazing story…"

"That we will discuss later." Said Hiccup father's. "I made dinner."

Hiccup leaned over to whisper to his mom.

"Did I mention how much I missed you and your cooking."

It had been a couple of months and sometimes those months could feel like years, since the three…four members of the Haddock tribe had gathered around for a meal at the same table. They all made their way to the kitchen asValka prepared everyone's portion of soup.

What was in it?

Neither Hiccup nor Valka dared ask. Hiccup got Toothless' food together, seafood flavored kibble, some dog he was.

"So the mask."

"Yes. You see while studying the dragons in the jungles of Indonesia we discovered it while exploring one of its old nesting areas. I asked the locals but they couldn't make any sense of it. So I researched it, and the markings and designs are very similar to that of Vikings.

"Vikings? You mean like our ancestors."

"Exactly. Imagine dragons and Vikings."

"But I thought Vikings were located closer to Europe."

"Oh they are, which makes it all the more interesting. Vikings are known for traveling many vast distances, but why go all the way to Indonesia, and the connection with the komodo dragon."

"So I take it you've discovered a side project." Said Hiccup father's.

Valka just smiled at her husband, knowing he already knew the answer. She was a lover of animals and a true history advocate. If there was something knew that involved the two she was all over it.

"So how were the dragons?" asked Hiccup.

"Doing exceedingly well all things considered. Turned out there were people catching them, selling them to the highest bidder even killing them and selling them for parts."

"Poachers."

"Mmm. When we arrived we just assumed that they were being killed off from loss of habitat, which is bad in itself, but to know that people were killing them for gain and profit." Valka stopped in her words. "Such innocent creatures."

"Enough." Said Hiccup's father. He could see the light in Valka's eyes going out. "Let's discuss something else. Hiccup ready to tell me where you were today?"

"The football field."

"Son you don't have to lie."

*bark* Came Toothless breaking his long silence.

"I'm not lying. Jack joined the football team and the football captain wanted me to look over some of their plays and give them some advice."

"Really? You?"

"You don't have to sound so surprised." Hiccup said quietly before sipping on his soup.

"Did you have fun?" asked Valka.

"I did, surprisingly."

"Jocks? That's new, I'm glad you're making more friends, nothing against Jack of course. I didn't think you were interested in sports."

"I wasn't. I'm not. The captain's a friend of Merida's." He said suddenly.

"Merida? The girlfriend I've heard so much about. Since I'm home I'm looking forward to meeting her."

"I don't know mom we're kind of…"

"What's wrong?"

"Well its sort of complicated."

"Did something happen?"

"I guess you could call it a 'something'. You could say were in the a middle of a fight."

"What caused the fight?"

"I just realized how different we are from one another that's all."

"What's so different about you?"

"A lot. I mean I knew she was different, but…"

"Well Hiccup." Came his father. "Nothing you can do about a girls wavering heart. You tried your best it might be best if you move on. She's obviously not right for you."

"Stoick."

"What? Her friends are taking him to football practice. Football practice Valka, you remember the peewee incident."

"Of course I do."

"Then you understand better than I do that he's not made for certain things. This girl is playing with his head. Gobber was saying how she went to the shop and they were fooling around."

"W..w..we were not fooling around." Hiccup said bright red. "And why did Gobber tell you that."

"Really Stoick I'm sure Gobber said it to be teasing. It was just some harmless kissing. He is a young man. We weren't all the innocent his age."

"Mom!"

"He's never slacked off at the job before. Work is work. And don't think I haven't noticed your grades slipping, and now football." Stoick scuffed. "She's filling his head with a bunch of nonsense, making him think he can do things he just can't."

"Dad I am cable of things." Hiccup said in his defense. "I'm not all of a sudden different because I started dating her."

"Is that why you got into a fight with one of the police officer sons?"

The room went silent, not even Toothless was making a sound. However in all the hustle and bustle of the noise going around he had made his way by Hiccup's feet. Ready to protect and comfort if need be.

"Henry! You were in a fight." Valka said astonished.

"How…How…did you know about that."

"I didn't know it was something you planned on keeping a secret. Fighting and football you weren't made to do such things."

"And why not?"

"Because you can't."

"Stoick. Enough." Valka said staring him in the eye. "This is not how I planned on spending my first night back."

"Sorry mom. I think I'll finish this in my room." Hiccup said standing up.

"Henry please."

"Let the boy go. Maybe while he's in that room he'll be able to think about what's important."

(0.0)

It must have been two or three hours after their family dinner, and Hiccup once again found himself laying in his bed looking up at the ceiling fan while Toothless sat at his feet.

He had also left the family dinner early along with Hiccup.

Hiccup let out a loud and long sigh before he heard a knock on his door. He was fairly positive it wasn't his dad.

"Come in."

"Hey babe. I came to check on you."

"Mom I'm fine."

"I can tell." Valka said finding a seat on his bed, ushering Toothless to scoot over. "You want to talk about it."

"About what?"

"We could discuss the football practice or the fight with the policeman's son. Maybe we could even talk about Merida and your fight. Whichever topic you choose I wouldn't mind or maybe you just want someone to listen as you ramble on about anything, it's up to you."

"Then could I ask you a question?"

"Of course. Anything."

"You and dad, you're complete opposites and yet…"

"And yet we're married." Valka smiled.

"Exactly. You're different in almost every way but it works…most of the time."

"I'll admit from someone else's perspective your father and I probably don't seem to be very compatible, but truth be told when we were younger we couldn't keep our hands to ourselves."

"Mom!" Hiccup groaned as Valka smiled.

"Our differences were challenging and they did cause problems, but we realized that it was our differences that brought us closer together. They were the reasons why we came to be in love with each other. It was like finding a missing half. When I'm with your father I'm happier than I've ever been."

"What about dad? Did you know whether or not he felt the same way as you felt about him."

"I was confident in my feelings for your father, and when we started dating I had to take a leap of faith that he felt as strongly for me as I did for him."

Valka gave her son a soft smile as he began to process her words.

"Has dad ever lied to you?" Hiccup suddenly blurted out.

"Lied? Yes. I don't think I know one couple whose been together as long as we have without telling lies."

"Really? And you were okay with that?"

"Of course I wasn't okay. At the times I was furious."

"How did you handle it?"

"Well we discussed it." Valka said sweetly. "Henry I trust your father and his character. I know he would never lie to me without a reason. Don't misunderstand I'm not condoning lying, but if you're not at least willing to listen to their explanation then maybe you yourself don't hold enough feelings for them. And if you can't forgive the lie or the reason for the lie then that person isn't worth being with." Valka said while rubbing Toothless behind the ears.

"Trust is something a relationship needs to grow and prosper. If you can ask yourself 'am I able to trust them?' and answer accordingly then isn't it worth it in the end."

"What was the lie he told?"

"That's for me and your father to know." She said getting up.

"Must have been a big one." Hiccup said aloud but more to himself them to his mother.

Valka stopped at the doorway turning back to face her son.

"No." She said with a faraway look. "I was the one who lied."

Hiccup just starred at her with a look of confusion. In his eyes his mom was the pillar of the family he couldn't imagine her being the problem to cause a rift in his parents' relationship. He wanted to ask her what kind of lie she was capable of telling and the reason behind it all, but he knew his time for questions was over.

"Good Night Henry." Valka spoke before closing his door.

Hiccup sat in his room with Toothless staring into space, while Toothless began to curl up for bed.

If his dad, of all people, was understanding enough to forgive his mom. Then why couldn't he be willing to put his insecurities aside and listen to Merida.

Compared to his parents, their circumstances were bound to be different, but regardless of what Merida would end up saying he owed it to his feelings to at least hear what she had to say. He trusted her and believed in her. He knew she wasn't the type of person to use someone.

Hiccup grabbed his phone that was left on his nightstand.

He'd missed so many calls, she had even left some voicemails. He clicked on his messages to see the text.

'Hiccup you'd say you call. Please don't be upset and talk to me.'

'Have you cleared your head yet?'

'It was never my intention to hurt you, I thought I was doing the right thing.'

'Please Hiccup.'

He went down the list. If his goal was to make her feel horrible Hiccup consider it a job well done, but that wasn't what he wanted. He was usually calm and composed but he was realizing that when it came to Merida he did things out of character.

Maybe his dad was right in that regard.

He was about to stop when he came to the last message he received.

'I know you're mad and you have every right to be. I didn't consider how you would feel when I didn't tell you about my family situation. I'm really sorry Hiccup and I understand if you want to break up. Thanks for going out with me I enjoyed being with you.'

Wait. Break Up.

Did that really say break up. That's not what he wanted. Sure he might have been angry and upset at the time, but he didn't want his relationship with Merida to end.

He dialed and waited for Merida to pick up. No answer. He called and again. And again.

'She's not answering. Most likely she's giving up on me, on us.' He thought.

*bark bark* Hiccup heard Toothless say.

"You're right."

He grabbed his keys and headed for the front door.

"Henry?"

"Mom."

"It's getting late, you're heading out now?"

"I know but this is really important. Please."

"…hurry back home and be safe." Valka said with a smile, she had a pretty good hunch as to where her son was heading.

(0.0)

Hiccup pulled up in front of Merida's house and took a deep breath before stepping out of his truck.

The walk to the front door was a lot easier the first time.

Ringing the doorbell of the police commissioner house to speak to his daughter. Oh, the stories they would tell.

He pushed the button without hesitation and took a step back. Holding his breath, he waited for the door open.

"Hiccup dear, to what do we owe the pleasure?" Came a familiar face.

"Nice to see you again Maudie. I know it's late but may I speak with Merida?"

"Would you like to come in?"

"No thank you. It shouldn't take long."

"I'll let her know she has a visitor."

Maudie began to step aside but her movements suddenly stop.

"That will not be necessary." Said someone from behind the door. Hiccup couldn't see who it was until Maudie opened it wide enough. "Maudie if you would be so kind as to get the boys ready for bed."

"Certainly Madam." Maudie gave a quick nod and a wishful look to the confused boy in the doorway before heading back inside.

"It would seem we have not been properly introduced. I'm Elinor DunBroch, Merida's mother." Said the woman.

She was in a casual navy blue dress while a shawl draped her arms. She had long brown hair that was being pulled back and neatly placed over her left shoulder. Hiccup had noticed some slight graying but the woman before him couldn't have been bothered by it. She was the opposite from most women of her age. She wore it with grace and elegance as she stood proud and tall never wavering in her gestures.

It was as if he was standing before royalty.

"And I am only to assume that you must be Henry Haddock."

"Yes….Yes ma'am I'm Henry. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Henry are you aware that it's fading late into the hours of evening."

"Yes ma'am."

"I assume you're here to see Merida but I'm afraid we've just finished dinner so Merida's taking her shower right now. I'd be happy to relay your message for you."

"Thank you, but I that won't be necessary."

"I see. In that case if you wouldn't mind I'd like to have a chat with you."

"With me? About what?"

"I'm sure by now you are aware of the fact that your tussel with Colin Macintosh at the Celebration Festival has become an interesting topic within the community."

"I did not."

"I'm not one for gossip Henry." Elinor said never breaking eye contact. "Although seeing as I witnessed it firsthand it's not something I can ignore."

"Mrs. DunBroch I apologize for…"

"I don't think apologies or excuses are necessary Henry. And when I see such things from someone who is supposedly 'dating' my daughter I get mixed feelings. I don't think Merida should be around someone like that, nor should she be promoting this kind of behavior."

"I…"

Elinor held up her hand and Hiccup was silenced.

"I'm not going to ask what the fight was about or who instigated who since that is not the matter at hand. Moreover I certainly don't want to think about what would have happen if anyone else, like Merida, were to get involve. Or if any of the other boys, who I'm sure you noticed, were to have joined in. Luckily there were officers present to stop it before it escalated further."

"I would never…"

"I'm not saying you would or wouldn't do anything. But as an avid member of the community, a long time friend of the family whose son you hit, and Merida's mother you can understand my concern."

"Yes ma'am."

"Now it's getting late Henry and I don't approve of children staying out into the wee hours of the night. I'll be sure to tell Merida you stopped by, so for now you should go home and rest."

Elinor looked expectantly at Hiccup waiting for an answer.

"Yes ma'am."

"Good night Henry."

"Good night."

Hiccup slowly turned around and started walking towards his truck. Slowly playing what just happened in his head. Repeated the words of the conversation.

He hadn't said much, and couldn't say anything. Mrs. DunBroch controlled the conversation and just her sheer presence made it hard to get words to come out.

Even if he had managed to string some words together it was very apparent that she had a clear path set for Merida and he was nowhere near it.

Well Lady Elinor, 2 snaps and a hair flip, cause she wasn't having none of that. I hope you guys liked and even if you didn't like comment, share, express, release those inhibitions and feel the rain.(but not for long you might get sick, be careful lol). And thanks for setting your reality aside to indulge in my imagination. xoxoxoxoxo