Stupid fucking Eret. Where the fuck had his knew firm opinion come from like that, they had just been having a casual conversation and he had completely snapped at her, bringing back all her stupid self destructive thoughts. She was second best to Astrid and she was just a piece of meat that her two suitors were fighting over, not because they actually liked her but because she was the best thing left on Berk.

Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, the tears had quickly spilled from her eyes as soon as she turned her back on Eret. She didn't like crying in front of others, it was a sign of weakness as a viking woman and there was no way she was going to break down in front of anyone let alone Eret.

Rubbing her sore eyes Ruffnut continued at a brisk pace back down towards the beach, she didn't know how long she'd been going now but she knew she was traveling ten times faster then they had been going before. She was on a warpath back towards the beach and as soon as she got there she was going to… going to.

Now that she thought about it she didn't actually know what she was going to do. Eret had picked at her biggest hidden insecurity and she had come to the stark realisation that she did have to pick. Ruffnut felt her fists curl in on themselves as she continued, she could just see the beach through the trees as she got closer. This was it, she was going to have to choose and fuck Eret the ex dragon trapper who had denied her any affection and had insulted her gravely.

"Who cares what the muttonhead thinks" she grumbled to herself as she got closer and closer to the beach, this is just the way things had come to be and she was only making things worse by putting off settling for so long.

As she pushed her way out of the forest the sun glared down on her briefly blinding her cause of its brightness. Shielding her eyes from the sun with her hands Ruffnut looked to her left and saw the dragons lying down in the warm sand, resting from the flight over, she smiled upon seeing BarfBelch, seeing her dragon always did make her feel better about anything.

She drifted her gaze towards her brother who of course was as red as a tomato from sitting in the sun all day, she snickered at this as she got closer and then to her surprise saw her target laying down from exhaustion on his back in front of Tuffnut.

A knot formed in her stomach as she sucked in a deep breath, this was what had to be done. Ruffnut began walking over towards the duo and the slumbering dragons, "Hey" she called out, causing all the dragons to glance up from their sunbathing and the two vikings to look towards her.

"Uh, I knew something was reeking up this beach" sneered Tuffnut holding his nose as Ruffnut approached.

Ruffnut gave him a glare but then smirked as she stopped beside him before slapping his burnt arm as hard as she could.

Tuffnut let out a shriek and went to clasp his arm which only caused even more pain for the poor nut. He let out another shriek and ran towards some shade "I AM HURT" he shouted, "I AM VERY MUCH HURT"

Snickering Ruffnut turned and stroked Barf's head, Barf let out a coo of affection in return. She felt happy again patting Barf, and peaceful, but this was short lived as soon as she was reminded of what she was about to do.

"Hey babe, I knew you'd get sick of that Eret guy"

Ruffnut looked at Barf and silently prayed, *gods help me* plastering on a smile Ruffnut turned to face Snotlout.

He was now sitting up on the sand, a coating of the small grains on his back, he was looking at her with that same cocky smile he always had on when he was around her. Trying not to chicken out from annoyance Ruffnut continued.

"Thought you were going to find Drago?" she questioned placing a hand on her hip.

Snotlout had a panicked look on his face as he tried to come up with something to impress her. "Yeah well I did go looking for him and then remembered that I couldn't leave you alone to fend for yourself babe" he managed to say as he clumsily got to his feet, "So I went looking for you but ended up here on the beach, I've only been here like two minutes, I was actually just about to go looking for you but you found your way back to me babe"

Ruffnut stopped her whole body from shuddering at his words as he looked at her while biting his lip a grin on his face. She knew the more likely story, Snotlout got scared on his own and ran back to the beach as quick as he could.

*Well* she thought to herself looking down at the shorter viking, *here goes nothing*

"Anyway Snotfac- Snotlout" She said crossing her arms and giving him a small smile, "do you want to have dinner together at the hall tonight"

Snotlout seemed to freeze, he was used to her rejecting his advances let alone her asking him on a date that this had come at a total surprise and he was lost for words.

"Wha-" he started but was quickly interrupted.

"Take it or leave it ok" Snapped Ruffnut, he patience was very lacking today, even more so with this viking she was forcing herself to give a chance.

Snotlouts eyes widened in panic, there was no way he was letting this chance slip away. "Of course babe, I was just about to ask you the same thing, another date night with you is a dream I wouldn't miss it for all the ale in Berk baby" he let out in a rush.

"Um yeah, I'll meet you at the hall tonight" said Ruffnut giving him a last smile before turning back to Bard. Ruffnut was actually kinda taken back by his childlike enthusiasm, it was actually kinda nice, he seemed genuinely excited about it. It was only a second later that she was reminded of his true nature.

"Ha take that Fishbreath another point for Snotlout"

Ruffnut felt her face twist in anger and her fists clenched. He wasn't excited because of her, he was excited because he was winning against Fishlegs in their stupid dick swinging match, that's all she was to these guys a tool that could use to release their hormonal needs. Turning she was about to give Snotlout a piece of her mind when the sound of someone coming towards them made her turn.

It was Eret. Ruffnut felt her heart sink again, was he here for round two, but by the look on his face he seemed worried and even a little upset. She saw his eyes shift to her swollen red ones and saw the concern deepen in his features. Shit, she thought she had gotten away with crying Tuffnut and Snotlout hadn't noticed so why did Eret.

'Ruffn-" Eret was instantly interrupted by an extremely cocky Snotlout.

"Oh hey Eret, come crawling back to the real dragon riders I see" Snotlout said with a grin standing beside Ruffnut and letting out a laugh. "What you get scared out there all alone or something?"

Erets concerned gaze shifted to one of annoyance as he turned towards the smug Snotlout. "And what do you have to be so cocky about?" He questioned, glancing towards towards Snotlouts back which was covered in sand Eret let out a little laugh and continued "Thought you went off to be the hero of the day, but instead it looks like you've been sun baking like a pig" he spat more aggressively then he meant to.

Both Snotlout and Ruffnut were surprised by his aggressive response, Snotlout tried to fire back with a response, "Oh yeah, well what are you doing back here then and you abandoned my princess to fend for herself" he crossed his arms smugly.

Eret let out a scoff of laughter and rolled his eyes looking towards Ruffnut, expecting her to go off at Snotlout but instead she wasn't even looking at him, she was looking at the ground her fists clenching the fabric of her skit.

Eret narrowed his eyes in confusion and opened his mouth to speak when the sound of leaves crunching and twigs snapping caught the three young adults attention.

Hiccup, Astrid and an extremely sweaty and exhausted Fishlegs emerged from the forest.

"Well I take it we've all come back empty handed then" Hiccup made his way towards the three with Astrid and Fishlegs in tow. Toothless rose as soon as he saw his friend emerge from the dense thicket and came towards him for a scratch which Hiccup obliged.

Glancing towards Ruffnut who still wasn't looking at him Eret let out a quiet sigh before turning back to the young chief. "Afraid not chief" he said with a frown, "no sign of him at all"

"You and us both" said Astrid who was tending to Stormfly, a frown on her face as well as her eyes drifted towards Ruffnut.

"Well if I couldn't find him I doubt he's even here then" said Snotlout with a laugh causing Hiccup and Astrid to let out a sigh. "I mean no point staying around should probably head back to get ready for our hot date right babe?" He finished grinning towards Ruffnut.

"WHAT" Eret, Astrid and Fishlegs all shouted in union looking at both Snotlout and Ruffnut in shock.

"Not fair Snotlout you've already been on a date with her" Fishlegs whined with a sad pout.

"Well what can I say the heart wants what the heart wants Fishy and Ruffy here longs for the lout" boasted Snotlout looking triumphantly at the larger man.

Astrid looked over at Eret who was looking just as shocked as she was before looking back at Ruffnut, this had to be one of her and Tuffnuts pranks again right. "Pretty sure your going to end up on your arse in yak manure again" she said placing a hand on her hip.

For the first time in this conversation Ruffnut spoke up, "Nope" she said looking towards Astrid, "This ones for real" there was no humour in her voice as all as she spoke.

Astrid gawked in shock, "you can't be serious"

"Hey!" Whined Snotlout.

Ruffnut gave Astrid a smile, "Yes I am actually, and in fact Tuffnut doesn't even know about it, so can't really be a prank"

"Thankyou Ruffnut" interrupted Hiccup before anyone could say anything else, "We need to get back on track gang, and speaking of Tuffnut were is he?"

Almost as if on cue a shout sounded out from the tree line "OH MY GODS" Everyone even Eret snapped out of his trance of shock at the discovery of this date and looked towards the forest. There was Tuffnut emerging from the forest where he had gone to escape the sun and in his hands was a large human skull.

"Look, look what I found!" He yelled running towards the group holding the skull above him head.

"oh gods he looks like a giant tomato" Astrid said with a cringe looking at the heavily burnt viking as he ran towards them.

Hiccup looked at Astrid with wide eyes, "Really that's the first thing you noticed not the human skull or anything"

Tuffnut came to a panting stop as he joined the group before looking up at them and holding out the skull. It was aged by the sun and stained from the land, pure bone not a pick of flesh upon it. Tuffnut poked his fingers into the skull and out its eyes, "look worm eyes" he cackled.

"Tuffnut" started Hiccup who looked at the scene before him with disgust. "Where did you find this?"

"more importantly is there the whole skeleton?" Ruffnut quipped in, trying to forget about everything that had just happened moments ago.

Tuffnut nodded his head ignoring Hiccups question entirely, "Oh yeah! Whole skeleton, well except one arm but its pretty cool"

"Nice" Ruffnut said with a laugh eager to check out this find of her brothers.

"Tuffnut" Said Hiccup seriously, placing a hand gently on his shoulder, "Where is the skeleton"

"Oh yeah funny thing, I was trying to hide from this hellish rays of the sun in the forest for like five seconds you know and then bam fell over a root landed face to face with my buddy here"

Hiccup looked at Tuffnut with wide eyes, "show me, Astrid come with me and Tuffnut the rest of you stay here we'll only be a few minutes"

"No way am I missing out on this, I'm coming with" said Ruffnut with a smirk.

Knowing it would only waste time to argue with her Hiccup nodded his head, "Fine the rest of you get ready to fly out" he said gesturing for Tuffnut to lead the way before following after him with Astrid in tow.

Ruffnut was about to follow when Eret grabbed her arm, "Ruffnut I-"

Shaking him off Ruffnut glared up at him, "Leave me alone" she said, quietly as that neither Snotlout or Fishlegs would hear but firm enough to send her point across.

Eret was taken aback and took a step aback as she gave him one last glare before walking off after the others.

Oh gods what had he done. He knew what was happening as he felt guilt, sadness and jealousy mixed with anger wash over him. He was in love with her, he had denied her and ignored her, insulted her and provoked her… but he was in love with her and all he had done was push her away and into the arms of another. What was he going to do, admit to her he'd been hiding his true feelings and make her hate him for lying and causing her pain? He couldn't expect forgiveness and love from her could he? No, it would be too unfair on her.

Instead he'd just have to drink away the pain.