A/N: This chapter is not as long as the others, but it is also emotional like the previous one, and I'm really happy with how successful this story is doing. Thank you to all the readers and reviews you are leaving. Enjoy!

Hiccup's POV

"How dare she!?" I said as I walked outside of the house I built. I knew Toothless would keep her from following me and now I just needed time to cool off. She comes all this way trying to bring me back to Berk, and say that she's sorry?! It's going to take more than sorry to convince me to come back. I looked around for a place to clear my thoughts. The reason I chose this place was because it was secluded and that it was only accessible by dragons. I had come here one year ago and I made my house from the trees I cut down in this place. During the day, it was pure beauty. I could see dragons flying about in the day and I got study them, fly with Toothless and all my problems were far away from here.

I wanted minimal human contact, so I only went once every two weeks to that village on the other side for supplies. Life had been going great...until she found me. Does she think I just forgot my past? The past is what shapes a person...and it is always a mistake to never look back in the past to learn from your mistakes. And my past was full torment, ridicule, shame, disappointment...and so much more. That is what keeps me from leaving this place...my past. I guess I never knew your past catches up with you...no matter for long you run from it. And now, it's caught up...but did it have to send her?

I mean send Fishlegs, the Twins, or even Snotlout...but her? I guess trouble always follows me about. I hiked to my special place. It was a small version of the cove back on Berk, except this one had a pathway down to it. It had a big pond in the middle with a stream continuously pouring water into it. There was a small cliff above it where you could jump in and yes it was safe because the pond was also deep. Just before the pond, there was a huge slab of flat rock. That was where I usually sit when I want to think...and I had a lot to think about right now.

Was she telling the truth...about her being sorry? Or was it all just an act to get me back. But I have to admit, I never saw her cry, and I know crying for her is not a thing...so for her to cry when I went berserk on her...that must mean she is sorry...or she was scared out of her wits. But that doesn't excuse what she's done or failed to do when I was on Berk. But something didn't seem right. My mind just kept nagging at me.

"You went too hard on her...she came to take you back" my conscious said.

"Yeah, just to trial and kill you if you do return...besides you wouldn't even be in this position if it wasn't for her" my anger said. I was really having a debate on if I should forgive her or not...actually not that...if I could trust her at all.

His feelings for the girl were coming back and he started to feel guilt for putting her through all his anger. "I can't let me feelings get the better of me...I can't let her off that easy" I said to no one in particular. But as I was thinking about her...I began to look at how much she changed. She had grown up a lot. Her body was still the same shape five years before but her curves were more defined, she had more womanly traits, her hair had grown longer and she still kept it in that braid. She still wore that headband of hers...she hasn't changed much. Other than that, she was still the same...same brash, fiery, spirited...beautiful Astrid.

I chuckled to myself when I said beautiful. "Some things never change" I told myself.

"Crack" I heard a noise behind me and I knew instantly who it was. "You're never going to leave me alone are you?" I asked not bothering to turn around to see her, but looked up into the night sky instead.

"Hiccup...I" I cut her off .

"No Astrid...I should say sorry for going berserk on you. I should have had control over my emotions get the better of me" I said looking around to see her, with her arms folded in front of the other, and I saw her tear stained face which made my guilt pit dig itself deeper.

"No Hiccup...you had and have every right to be angry...with Berk...with your father...with me. I know I can't get those years back...years that could've...no, would've changed the people of Berk for the better...but I will try to make it up to you" she said as she started walking closer to me.

"I know why you saved Toothless, I felt that same feeling when I connected with a mother dragon before flying here. I now know what you were trying to get at...and it hurts me now that...I ran to tell Stoick...I was so foolish, I shouldn't have. Now I think about what would have happened if I didn't run...the life you could have led us to. But also..." that's when I saw the tears coming down her eyes.

"Ripper told me how you felt in Berk when he was about to be trialed...and I couldn't believe that we did that to you...that I did that to you. I should have said something, I should have stood up for you...not make you feel less loved...but...I-I...was too scared on how they would start treating me..." she said. I was shocked to hear that, but part of me expected it and she continued on.

"You think they did the worst things...but in truth I did...I wasn't there for you...I was too afraid to stand up for you because I was worried on how they would start...t-treating me...and as a result this is where you've turned up...and it probably was the best you left Berk...because it allowed you to find yourself...unlike the rest of us...who are still suffering because of the raids...still caught in the loophole, while you...you escaped a long time ago..." I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I never heard Astrid talk like this, and with tears coming down her face at an alarming rate...she couldn't be faking this whole thing...she truly was sorry.

"I could have done something to help you all those years ago...and prevented so much death..." she said and that was the hitting point. She fell down on both knees and began crying, not like in the house, but this crying...she blamed herself for everything that had happened. She feels that she could have done something and as a result she is paying for not going through that thought. She realizes her mistake and has admitted it...I guess it is time for me to forgive her.

I got up and walked to her. She didn't look up as she had her face buried in her hands...but she needed someone...someone who understands her. I knelt down on one knee and wrapped my arms around her. She immediately cramped into my chest area and cried more. This Astrid was definitely not the one I knew five years ago...this Astrid was the one I was waiting for.

I had one arm wrapped around her and I put one hand on the back of her head and held her tightly to my chest and I could feel her tears staining my shirt and I felt her quick breathing. "I'm sorry Hiccup...I'm sorry" she said while clasping my shirt with both her hands, and I just held her tighter, bringing her in closer. I did that because the way she was acting...it was how I was on the inside all those years ago...sad that I couldn't be what the village wanted me to be...sad that I would never be what my father wanted me to be. Just like when I didn't kill Toothless, I saw myself...weak, helpless and scared I was...she was the exact same way now. She realized the mistake she made...and now wanted to be forgiven...something I never got the chance when Berk didn't accept me...but by choosing the action they did, I would be just like them.

"I forgive you" I said as I kissed her hair and rubbed her back. She was starting to calm down, I could tell as she started taking deeper breaths and her crying had stopped. I cupped her chin and looked her in the eyes, they were red and tired from all the crying, but she managed a small smile.

"Thank you...thank you" she said as she hugged me and I hugged her back.

"You won't mention this to anyone will you?" she asked, still sniffling a bit. Good ole' Astrid...was back to her normal self.

"What happens in the Cove...stays in the Cove" I said as he looked into her eyes and wiped away a tear.

She smiled, thankful that I understood. That's what I do, I understand people. "You must be tired from the trip...and all that's just happened right?" I asked as I helped her up.

"Yes...I could really use some shut-eye" she said as she rubbed a few dry spots away.

"Come on" I said as I held her hand and led her back to the mansion. The walk was quiet as she began to feel sleepy with every step, but we were in the mansion in no time and I led her to the room I sleep in. By then she was nearly asleep so I laid her on the bed and removed her boots. I slipped her under the covers and by then she was fast asleep. I had to admit I was also incredibly tired. Toothless walked up to me and stared at Astrid who was now sleeping soundly.

"I see everything went smoothly" he said.

"She finally understands Toothless...and I'm glad she does" I said as I walked away and sat on a chair and began removing the glove that I still had on.

"So I take it you're going to mate her soon?" he asked and I stared at him. "What, it's obvious that you have feelings for her still and she has for you...just like Heather and Ripper had" he said and I still couldn't believe he said that.

"First off, we just made up, we're not going to...mate...as you put it, and besides she doesn't like me in that way" I said setting some furs on the ground for me to sleep on.

"I don't know why you humans are so blind to emotions" he said as he curled up and around me and put his wing over me as a cover.

"And I don't know why it's your business to say if we're mates or not" I said and soon followed Astrid to the subconscious.