In that moment Hiccup saw a bright light and assumed he was on his way to Valhalla. Instead the room came into better focus now that there was light in the room. The first thing he saw was the two eyes of the dogs still glued to him, and then he noticed the wall. It was lined with photos of men in uniforms, surrounded by awards and certificates, and newspaper clippings. There also hung a glass case with seven old fashioned looking guns.

"My dad has an admiration for guns."

"Stad!" came a booming voice.

The dogs stopped moving and Hiccup turned his head to see a large man with red bushy curls standing in the doorway.

"Thig!" He commanded. This time the dogs went and stood by him, bodies clearly still facing Hiccup.

Mr. DunBroch seemed to take a closer look at him. Hiccup couldn't tell what he was thinking as he shut the door and made his way to the table and desk while he still sat stunned on the floor. The dogs followed close behind, one on each side, their eyes never leaving him.

"Pick up the statue and come sit down." He commanded.

Hiccup awkwardly looked near his feet and saw a wooden bear statue laying on its side. He sat it back up and made his way to one of the chairs positioned in front of the desk.

Hiccup couldn't tell if Mr. DunBroch was going to talk first or if he was extending that pleasure to him. So they sat in there in silence until Mr. DunBroch broke the ice.

"Did you think I wouldn't notice that there was someone in my house."

Hiccup's blood ran cold. Mr. DunBroch reminded him of his dad. And that sent of chill down his very spine.

"No sir. And I didn't mean to enter your home without your permission."

"Then who let you in. Maudie didn't inform me of any guest."

"The boys did sir."

"A bunch kindergarteners opened the front door." He said raising an eyebrow. "You want me to believe that?"

"Yes sir as farfetched as it sounds. But I had no intention of staying. I planned on leaving but I ended up in the cupboard under your stairs. Which I know sounds ridiculous…"

"I found this laying on the rain boots." Mr. DunBroch said holding on folder that Rapunzel had given him for Merida.

"I only came to drop that off."

"That's the only reason you came?" He said raising an eyebrow.

Hiccup paused. What was the point in lying. He was tired of the lies.

"Well no sir." Hiccup answered honestly. "I heard Merida had a cold and wanted to make sure she was okay and maybe…possibly talk to her…sir."

"Listen, Hiccup is it, I understand how it is to be young and in 'love', but you seem to be going about it the wrong way. Now Merida's-"

"I realize that sir. There's no reason for you to have a good impression of me considering…and I haven't been making the smartest decisions when it comes to Merida. She's really an amazing person, and I'm lucky she agreed to date me in the first place.

"and I know I'm not exactly the type of person you would have pictured your daughter with, but no one would treat her with more respect and care then I do."

"What is it that you find so amazing about her? Why her?"

"Everything. As you could probably guess sir Merida and I don't have too much it common. She's everything I wish I was. She's strong, caring, determined, energetic, and brave. She makes me strive for things I thought were impossible and I can't remember what it was like before her." Hiccup paused and thought for a moment. "Actually, I can. Life was routine, boring, and honestly I just thought of ways to work up the courage to talk her but the would always end up without ever following through. And this probably isn't something you want to hear, but I really like your daughter and would like to be with her as long as she lets me. But between you and me I don't think she wants to speak to me."

Mr. DunBroch didn't say anything. With one eyebrow raised he rubbed the stubble on his chin, slightly rocking back in seat while the dogs laid down comfortably and it feet. He pulled on his desk drawer, reached inside and pulled out a manila folder.

"I'm gonna be honest with ya lad. On paper you don't sound bad." He started flipping through the papers in the folder. "No criminal history, no prior school trouble, you've worked since you were nine years old, and you volunteer at the animal shelter. Which is all very commendable."

"Thank you sir. Um how'd you know about the animal shelter, not even my parents know about that."

Mr. DunBroch raised an eyebrow as if to say 'really'.

"Never mind." Hiccup mumbled.

"However that's all on paper. Anything sounds good on paper." Mr. DunBroch said with stern eyes. "Any thief, stalker, or murder can sound innocent on paper until you get the facts and evidence, and I'm pretty good at reading people."

Hiccup didn't say anything. How could he? Mr. DunBroch's eyes were scary serious. He was probably in bad cop mode.

"Hiccup you do know what I do for a living, what my family does for a living."

"Yes sir…well no sir."

"No?"

"I think I have the basics covered."

"Which is?"

"You're the police commissioner, your family owns a ranch, which I believe Mrs. DunBroch runs…oh, and you moved here from Scotland."

"Anything else?"

"No sir."

"And how exactly did you meet Merida."

"We go to school together, but I only recently got the courage to talk to her. I ran into her at the park, well my dog did, and I ended up driving her home."

"How long have you been dating?"

"A couple of months."

"How longs a couple?"

"4 months sir. Actually, it would be five months in 2 weeks…sir"

"Interesting."

Hiccup's heart was beating out of his chest. He'd never been interrogated before, and could definitely see why Mr. DunBroch was the police commissioner. Just talking to the man made him feel guilty.

"I think you should leave now lad."

"Leave? Would it be possible to see Merida before I go?"

"I don't think that would be for the best."

"Can I ask why? Is there something that you don't like about me? I know I'm not what you're used to. Merida always says she likes me because I'm different."

"Boy let me level with you." Fergus said with his arms folded across his chest. "I like you."

Hiccup could feel his whole body sigh in relief…for a moment.

"But that's not enough. I think you're a good kid at heart, but my wife and daughter's feelings take precedence above all else. My wife's got a strong opinion of you, which is no doubt putting a strain on her relationship with Merida, and you've left Merida in tears more than once. So I would welcome you with open arms but considering how things have played out I can't do that no matter how strongly you feel for Merida. Think to yourself lad, can you honestly say that you would want to date Merida as the situation is as it is now?"

Hiccup didn't say anything, there were no words he could say that could help his case. Her mother obviously hated him, her dad was telling him to give up, and he'd actually punched a kid. Regardless of his feelings could things could continue like this.

While Hiccup remained silent Mr. DunBroch spoke up.

"I think you should leave."

He'd made it all this way only to be shot down. Now not only did the mother want nothing to do with him, he'd made it so the father probably thought he was an ass.

'This is probably what Merida wanted to avoid. Me being casted aside by her parents, not that that matters anymore. What does matter is Merida and what she thinks, and yeah maybe she does what nothing else to do with me but I still need to talk to her."

As Hiccup got up to leave. He turned to face Mr. DunBroch, his shoulders square looking him in he eyes as he stood tall.

"I'd like to apologize again for entering your home without your permission. I think it's important you know that I have only the best intentions when I'm with your daughter. Please pass on the papers and tell her I hope she feels well soon."

"Let me ask you one more question before you be on your way laddie."

"Of course sir."

"During the festival what provoked you to hit young Macintosh?"

"Why ask that?"

"I've met the lad. He must have said something to get under your skin. What he say? Maybe it was about you? Maybe it was about your family? Your friends? Merida?"

"Sorry sir I can't tell you."

Hiccup didn't wait for a response he turned and left the room with the little dignity he had left.

(0.0)

When Elinor returned home with a tired Merida she found the boys already in pajamas and dinner on the stove.

"Going to sleep." Merida said side stepping her mother to go to her room.

Elinor walked to see her husband in the kitchen making her a plate.

"Fergus? Did something happen? Where's Maudie? Did the boys do something? Why didn't you call me? Why-"

"Come now love." Fergus said pointing to a chair. "Maudie had a date."

"Did she?"

"Yes so the house, the boys, and dinner were left up to me."

"I see and what did you decide to make."

"Hotch Potch."

"Really." Elinor said excited. "We haven't had hotch potch stew in such a long time. What's the occasion?"

"No occasion." Fergus said pouring her a glass of wine. "I do want to speak to you about Merida."

"The doctor said she's perfectly fine. She just needs to take the medicine and stay home and rest."

"I meant Merida and Hiccup."

"I see so this dinner is a bribe."

"Not a bribe. Just my husbandly duties."

"Fergus-"

"Now love. I've met the lad, and he seems to be very decent."

"You met him? When?"

"…He stopped by for a visit."

"You hesitated."

"The boys opened the door." He sighed.

"I deal with the young ones later. But to think he would stop by again.

"Again?"

"He stopped by yesterday."

"Does Merida know?"

"Of course not. And she need not know or her fever will only worsen. The young man doesn't know when to quit."

"Maybe that is not such a bad thing."

"Surely you joke. Since that Henry has showed up Merida's been off the wall with her emotions."

"You say that as if we've been able to keep her in check up until this point."

"You know what I mean." Elinor said rolling her eyes. "What did you discuss with him."

"Well the lad basically professed his love for her. It was quite moving."

"Fergus tell me you didn't buy that."

"It's not a matter of buying or selling dear. I'm not an easy person to fool, and I believed his words."

Elinor didn't say anything but started eating her Hotch Potch.

"Maybe it wouldn't hurt for you to have a real conversation with the lad and with Merida, after all it's not like you to make snap decisions about people without giving it some serious thought." He said smiling at her. "Perhaps you jumped the gun since it involved your only an only daughter."

Elinor sighed.

"Just whose side are you on?" Elinor said drinking her wine.

"I will always stand beside my wife." Fergus said smiling.

(0.0)

Five days. That's how long it took Merida's fever to go down. Five days since she'd seen the outside world. Five days without any contact with Hiccup. Five days to lay in her bedroom with just her thoughts.

Obviously Rapunzel had been keeping her updated. Apparently Hiccup had joined the football team. When she first heard the news she shot up with worry. Hiccup and football weren't exactly comforting words. She'd basically heard all of his war stories from when he was young and played peewee.

But she wasn't even sure if she was allowed to be worried. Were they even dating anymore. Since her mother took her phone, and Rapunzel hadn't given her any messages from him, she didn't know exactly where she stood with Hiccup. He hadn't even come to check on her.

But she cared. She cared a lot. No matter how much she tried to push her feelings down and ignore the situation, she couldn't. Even if she thought she had wronged Hiccup she couldn't give up without at least explaining her feelings to him.

That why today was a new day. Today she was full of energy since being laid up for almost a week. Today she'd go to school, head straight for Hiccup and talk to him about everything. Openly and honestly, and if he didn't want her she would accept that.

As she walked down the hallways, her eyes scanned up and down for Hiccup without trying to look like a madman on the hunt.

And then she saw him. She was mentally prepared for this moment.

What she wasn't prepared for was him to be surrounded by football players joking and laughing.

Normally she head over and jumped in the conversation without a care in the world, but she wasn't her normal rush forward self. She was nervous, anxious, and filled with doubt. If she wasn't admitting it to herself she'd probably punch anyone who'd tell her that.

But she didn't need to walk over. Once Hiccup made eye contact with her he excused himself and headed her way.

Merida couldn't process anything in that moment. It was like Hiccup was walking in slow motion, his hair bouncing with every step, and his eyes piercing her entire body freezing her right where she stood.

"Hey Merida."

"Hiccup." Merida said a little dazed.

"Are you feeling better?"

"So you care now?"

Crap that wasn't what she wanted to say.

"Sorry I tried calling you."

"I know…I mean I figured. My mother took my phone so I could focus on getting better."

"Yeah Rapunzel told me. I really wanted to talk to you about your text."

"My text?"

"…The one you sent about breaking up."

Merida eyes went big, she completely forgot about sending that.

"Listen Hiccup we really need to talk about that. I just need…"

"I think you're right?"

The air stilled. Movement around her slowed down. The hairs on her head stood. And yet the words in her head didn't make any sense.

Breathe. She told herself. Breathe.

"What did you say?"

"Merida I've had time to think about the things you said..."

"Ignore what I said!" Merida shouted causing those around to quiet their conversation and look at what was happening.

"Merida…"

"No Hiccup, listen. I know I messed up I can't say that enough but I don't want to break up."

"Merida I think it's better if we take a break."

"What the hell's a break. A break to stop dating. That way we can see other people. So we can do our own things. Is that it?" Merida said in one breath. "That's a fucking break up. That's the definition. It literally has the word break in the phrase."

Hiccup grabbed Merida's arm and pulled her into a nearby classroom away from gossiping ears.

"What the hell Hiccup?"

"Merida you lied to me. You kept secrets from me. Let's not forget that. I'm hopelessly into you and you practically made me feel like second hand garbage."

"That wasn't my intention…"

"And I get that, but that doesn't mean it didn't hurt. It's like you didn't understand what it meant for me to be with you. Honestly it was a dream. To be by the side of the person who I've admired for such a long time. To be able to laugh and joke, and say that you were actually my girlfriend, and yet in your head you were handling things differently as if you were playing around with me."

"But I wasn't. I would never."

"I didn't know what to believe at the festival. There was so much that you'd you kept for me. And you know what in the back of my head I already knew that, but I'd always pushed those thoughts down cause I believed in you. You just didn't believe in me?"

"I did believe in you. I dobelieve in you Hiccup."

"Just not when it matters. Just not when it's important or when it has to do with your family."

"Hiccup…"

"But you know what that doesn't even matter, cause I still want to be with you. I want you to want me and admit it. I want your parents to know I'm your boyfriend. I want to be able to walk you to your front door and actual come in." Hiccup said grabbing Merida's hand. "I just cant do that right now. Not like this."

"Then when?"

"I don't know. I just know we need to take a break."

Merida paused as she couldn't find the right words to say.

"…please don't hate me. I never wanted this to be the outcome."

"I could never hate you Merida, and it's not like this is the end. We're just taking some time apart to figure things out, and get things sorted."

Merida didn't say anything and Hiccup couldn't think of anything to add. He slowly let go of Merida's hand.

"I'll see you later Merida." Hiccup said walking out of the room.

As the door shut Merida could feel the tears stream down her face. Her legs gave out and she dropped to her knees.

"I'm sorry." She said in the empty room.

Hello beautiful and enchanting people reading from their tech devices from around the world. Its been awhile a long while and oh how i've missed thee . I'm sorry for the typos first of all, sometimes i type and i don't reread, I should, but..ugghhhh. Anyway this chapter was suppose to go a different way, but i've come to realize that sometimes in life and in love the paths we take aren't always perfect or easy, but we make decisions and have to except the outcomes. Thus this ending...the ending of this chapter that is. Any comments whether good or bad is appreciated. Thanks again. xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo