A/N: So this is the last author's note I'll be doing for this story. Sad that it ended this way. Oh well

…

"Do you know how long you'll stay here for?"

Astrid was standing on the doorstep of her parent's house, and Hiccup was facing her, one hand grasping the handle of a suitcase of her clothes and looking quite unsure of himself.

She shrugged, feeling the same way he looked. "It'll be a while…" she trailed off and her face contorted to hold back more tears.

Hiccup dropped the suitcase and embraced her tightly. "I wish I knew how to help you."

Her frame shook against him and she let out a sob. "You can help by finding and killing him. You're good at that."

Not good enough, or my parents wouldn't be dead. He thought, but said nothing, simply nodding against her shoulder.

It was all he could do for her in that moment.

"Call me when you can."

She shook her head, then spoke words that would have broken his heart if there was anything of it left to break. "Please don't go."

Then she started sobbing in earnest and all he could do was continue to hug her.

There were a number of times in his life where Henry Haddock loathed himself for being helpless.

This was one of those times.

…

Bekker hated hospitals.

To her, they were only good for two things; spending time bored out of her mind and awful food, neither of which would be that bad, if not for a third problem: how long hospital stays (at least in her experience) seemed to last for.

So it was a special relief to see Hiccup draped awkwardly in a cheap plastic chair by her bedside.

"Hiccup."

"Hmm. Morning."

"How do you-"

"Light sleeping is an acquired skill. If you don't know how, you're lucky to have not encountered Nora Clementine."

"-do. I wasn't asking about your acquired skill. I've met Nora by the way."

"My condolences. How's the leg?"

"Feels good, considering. Guess they got the bullet out, didn't they?"

"Yeah, they did. I checked. Explains the cast at any rate. Now then. Tell me, when was the last time you saw your parents? Do they know about what happened? They should."

"I'll call them later."

Hiccup shook his head. "Not good enough. I want you to go visit them. Take some time off. Rest and Recuperate and all that. Then, if you want to come back, you can come back."

Bekker's eyes narrowed at him. "Are you kicking me out?"

"Temporarily, yes."

She crossed her arms. "Thought you wanted me to work with you."

"That was exaggerated for Fishlegs's benefit. But even if it hadn't been, I would want you gone for a bit. I want you alive and kicking more than I care if you're working with me or for the Jæger Corps. Understand?"

"I'll give it some thought. Who died?"

"Astrid's sister Ingrid died," said Hiccup, before closing his eyes, exhaling, then shaking his head. Then his eyes snapped open and he looked down when Bekker reached over and laid a comforting hand on his knee.

"Tell Astrid I'm free if she wants someone to talk to," she said earnestly.

Hiccup smiled a little. "Will do. Thanks Sofie."

"Anytime."

Merry Christmas, you filthy animals!

"You should change that ringtone."

"Never. Hello? Oh, hello Johann! What an unpleasant surprise! Actually, hold that thought," Hiccup held the phone away from his ear.

"Kai had one job. Now please go find a nurse and get discharged."

Bekker nodded before levering herself, and on unsteady feet, left the room.

"So, Johann; what brought you back to Berk so soon?"

"So soon? You didn't think you could get rid of me that easily, did you?"

"I actually did. Wishful thinking it turns out. So what happens now?"

"Since you pulled off what few have tried and none succeeded, not even temporarily, I feel inclined to offer you an ultimatum for your benefit."

"And that is?"

"Leave Berk and figure out how you'll deal with the big bad Johann. I'll give you a day's headstart as I'm feeling generous. A day to get beyond Aalborg is plenty I feel. Do that and I will not pursue you for a week. In addition, I will not bother the young Hofferson as she grieves. I am not that sort of a man. However your remaining colleagues are fair game. Clock's ticking Henry Haddock. Use your time wisely."

"May the best hunter win, then."

"My dear fishman, if you don't get out of my region of control, it won't be a hunt. It will be a slaughter. Run away unless you are feeling suicidal."

"We shall see. Best of luck Johann. I have a feeling you'll need it."

…

When Preben Bekker heard someone knock three times on the door, he was on his feet immediately after sharing a look with his wife, darting from the living room couch, matched in speed by his lifelong partner.

For both knew of only one person who would show up unannounced and knock on their door three times in a row.

That being their daughter.

"Sofie!" His wife crowed upon opening the door, not at all daunted to find her accompanied by a stranger with auburn hair and green eyes. "It's so good to see you again! I've missed you!"

Bekker returned the hug she ended up in, patting her mother's back a tad uncertain. "I've missed you too."

"Don't sound so disappointed, Bekker. Your mother clearly loves you. Lucky you."

Preben heard the stranger's comment and frowned. There was clearly a story there. "What's your name, son?"

"Henry."

"Just Henry? What's your surname?"

"I'd rather not say. It's a long story for why I want to keep it under wraps."

"Well Henry, for getting my daughter to visit, you can stay here."

"Vivi!"

"Don't 'Vivi' me. I've already decided, husband," she said, sticking her tongue out at him, playfully.

"This is exactly why I don't visit often. She's usually like this," said Bekker.

"Could be worse. Anyway, sir, I insist I pay you while staying here. Hope that would make things more… agreeable, with me here."

"Nonsense. I was likely going to let you stay. I just wanted to find out something about my daughter's guest first," Preben shot a pointed look at Vivi on the final word, but she simply shrugged.

"Oops. Too late now. Just get your shotgun and we'll be fine."

"If I was dangerous, this would be the point I would cause harm. The really dangerous aren't going to be swayed by the simple knowledge that their target has a gun. So keep your gun on your person as much as possible. Just some advice, from me to you."

Preben gave him a long, inquisitive, look. "What did you say you did again, son?"

"Well I was a Jaeger like Bekker here. We work together."

"Only work together? Nothing else?"

"No, we're not dating. I'm engaged to someone else."

"Who?"

"Astrid Hofferson, dad. You won't know her. She lives in Berk."

"Oh so you're from Berk? Tell me, why do you folk boast about being descended from vikings when just about every Dane is descended from vikings as well? And what started that rivalry between Berk and Skagen? Do you know?"

"Pride and Fishing. Skagen became the biggest fishing town in Denmark and Berk wants their previously held title back. As for the viking thing, they are proud of their history I think."

"That's enough for now, husband. Question him more over dinner. It's getting late."

…

Bang!

Hiccup woke with a start, alarmed, looking over at the disturbance to see Preben Bekker standing in the doorway with shotgun in hand and pointed at him.

"You're Henry Horrendous Haddock III, are you not?"

"I am. What's going on?"

"That's what I'd like to know, murderer."

Dipping a hand into his pocket, the man tossed his phone onto the bed. "Look at that and explain. Pin is 3434."

So Hiccup gingerly picked up the device. "I have a friend who would have a fit over the security of your phone. The lack thereof, rather," Hiccup commented lightly, hoping to alleviate the tension in the room.

"Fascinating. Read the phone," the man snapped.

It was safe to say his attempt failed.

On the screen, Hiccup found himself looking at his face plastered on the homepage of Berk News Network'S website, before it transitioned to some other news story with a different picture.

But Hiccup had caught the title displayed underneath in time to understand the crux of the issue.

"Haddock: Honourable Soldier or Serial Killer?"

"I'm no more a murderer than any other Jæger in the country, sir."

"Dad, what the fuck are you doing right now?"

Both men looked to the doorway, with Hiccup only spotting Bekker when Preben turned around to face her.

"Just dealing with him. He's a murderer."

"If he is then so am I. I've killed people in the same way he will have done."

Preben looked between them, before he sighed and lowered his gun. "Both of you: get dressed and meet me in the living room. I want to know everything or you will both need to leave; regardless of what my wife says in the matter."

"'It will be a slaughter'. Johann wasn't kidding when he said that," Hiccup murmured, when only he and Bekker remained in the room.

"When did he say that?"

"During that phone call at the hospital. I thought he meant a large raid by DDIS personnel, but apparently not."

"Don't jinx it now. I'm going to get dressed."

"Yeah, please do. You're showing far too much leg right now."

…

"And now onto the news that is unfolding as we speak as it turns out that Henry Haddock, the last of his family, has been implicated in the past murder of two soldiers, according to a government source. The two soldiers in question, Anthony Rasmussen and Jennifer Møller were reportedly killed over half a decade ago. More details to come. But first, the weather. Bucket, over to you…"

Many miles away, Astrid was riveted in place by the TV at her parent's place.

"Hiccup, what did you do…?"

Elsewhere, one Snotlout Jorgenson was similarly engaged by what he was seeing, having previously spat out his morning coffee when he flicked over to the morning news.

"I must be fucking dreaming…"

He pinched himself on the arm to make sure.

"Nope. Not dreaming. What the fuck…"

In another part of Berk, Cami stood speechless before a large wall-mounted TV in the front lobby of the DSIS building.

When she overcame her stupor, she turned to some of those nearby. "Does anyone know where Caspersen is?"

Those within earshot shook their heads. "Bentzen? Høj? Anne? Anyone? Surely Bertha is around."

"The boss is in her office already."

"Thanks, whoever said that!" Cami called, already sprinting for the stairs nearby.

Finally, over in Skagen, a man named William received a call.

"Hello?"

"This is regional director Johann. Am I speaking with William Duus?"

"Yes. I'm him. How can I help you sir?"

"Get to work. You have a big day ahead of you; you and your team."

"Yes sir. We can be ready in thirty."

"Good. Bring your best."

Johann hung up.