Hiccup had always been a light sleeper. His father theorized it was a survival method, being awake and alert at the slightest sound of trouble.
Astrid, on the other hand, was a heavy sleeper. She worked her body to the utmost exhaustion day after day, and slept hard to wake up early.
So when Astrid started whimpering in her sleep, Hiccup was startled awake. "Astrid?"
"N-no…no…I don't…I won't…" She muttered, twitching and shaking.
"Astrid?" He tried again, shaking her so gently. "You're having a nightmare."
"Please…please…please don't…"
He pet her hair, trying his best to soothe her. If she wouldn't wake up, he'd simply shoo the nightmare away.
"Please…don't go. Don't go, Hiccup."
"I'm right here," he spoke in her ear.
Her face contorted into a grimace. "Then why won't you let me out?"
His breath caught in his throat. "Ast—"
"Why haven't you come for me?"
That was simply too much for his heart to handle, and he began patting her face. "Astrid, Astrid please wake up. I'm right here."
She swatted his hand away, weakly. "What did I do?" She cried a few tears. "Why don't you want me? Why won't you save me?"
"Astrid," He said, firmer, louder, "You're having a nightmare! Please wake up!"
She jolted, her hand clamping down on his wrist. Her eyes went wide as she looked around, confused, lost, startled.
"Hey," he whispered. "It's alright. You're home."
Astrid slowly looked at him. "H-Hih–" She attempted to say his name, but choked on a sob.
Hiccup brushed the tears from her cheeks, just as they fell. "I'm sorry, Astrid. I looked for you, I really did. I spent weeks out there, but then Ryker told us…you were dead. And I believed him…" He knocked his head against hers. "I'm sorry. I should have kept looking. I should have found you. I should have—"
"Hiccup," her voice was stronger this time. Almost as strong as it used to be. "I know. You wouldn't let anything stop you from finding any of us if you knew there was a chance."
"Especially you," he argued. "I was looking for you. I just…didn't find you. And I hate that."
She cupped his face. "How I got home isn't important," she decided. "Just that I'm here. You took care of me. You cleaned my wounds. You loved me."
"I do," he confirmed.
Astrid's eyes widened at that, a blush blooming on her face. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." He felt her face with his hand. Her skin was slightly damp with sweat, either from the nightmare or her fever, he couldn't tell. But she wasn't as hot as she had been earlier.
"I…I always thought…maybe you liked me. But…" she softly bit her lip. "Could you say it?"
He leaned in, staring deeply into her eyes, holding her gaze like it was his prized possession. "I love you. I love you with all my heart, and I was dead without you."
Her eyes watered. "I love you too. When I'm with you, I'm home." She sniffed and wiped her eyes. "But I'm tired of crying."
"Then let me make sure you don't have to." He tilted his head, brushing her lips with his.
Astrid scrambled to grab any part of him to pull on, to bring him closer. She yanked on his shirt and tugged on his hair. She sloppily caught his lips, nipping as she tried to consume him. She was desperate, waiting and aching for this kiss for months, well, years, but she had only really realized what she wanted during her captivity.
Hiccup miserably tried to keep up with her intense kissing, but fear of hurting her held him back.
"Hiccup…" she breathed as she pulled back slightly. "Why aren't you—"
"You're still so hurt," he whispered, pecking her lips. "But that's the only thing keeping me from ravishing you."
"You promise?"
"I swear." He kissed her again, gently sliding his tongue against her bottom lip.
Eagerly, she mimicked him, swirling her tongue around until she found his. Then they moved in tandem, tasting each other, feeling the heat, basking in sensations. It was just passionate enough for Hiccup to enjoy without fearing for Astrid's wounds.
What started as frantic, desperate kisses slowly became more and more lazy as Astrid started to lose the fight with sleep. It was just far too comfortable to be laying in a real bed, with the warmth of human touch beside her.
Begrudgingly, she pulled away. "Babe?"
"Hmm?"
"I love you."
He kissed her face. "I love you too."
"And I believe you," she added. "I know you would have saved me. It might…just take my nightmares a little bit to get it."
"Well," he pecked her lips again. "I'll be right here. If your nightmares come back, I'll make them go away."
"You're the best." She tugged on him again, pulling him into a kiss.
Hiccup was perfectly fine with it, kissing her over and over until she stopped responding. He had kissed her to sleep.
—
Hiccup awoke to soft talking. A deep voice, and then a slight scratching sound.
He inhaled hard as he blinked to wakefulness.
He wasn't alone with Astrid in his loft anymore. She was still asleep, pressed against his side. But Axel and Phlegma Hofferson, Astrid's parents, were standing at his bedside.
"Uh…" he gaped, embarrassed.
"It's okay, lad," Axel assured. "We just got here a few minutes ago. You were so peaceful, and considering all the bandages, you must be exhausted. Gothi said you did a good job."
"Gothi…?" He turned to look at the opposite side of the bed, where Astrid laid. Gothi was by her side, studying the wounds on her backside. "Oh." Carefully, he scooted over, easing Astrid onto her stomach, revealing the bandages he had made up the day before. He pulled the back of her tunic up as well.
The girl didn't even stir.
"She's tough," Hiccup commented. "Barely screamed or cried during all the stitches and cauterizing."
"Always been one tough biscuit," Axel choked. "Never cried over a scraped knee or a splinter as a youngin'."
"Dear," Phlegma rested a hand on his shoulder. "We'll sit with Astrid. Why don't ye go and stretch your leg? Wash up a bit?"
"I appreciate the thought, but she's…if I'm not here when she wakes up, I don't think it'll be pretty."
Axel huffed. "That bad, eh?"
"Yeah…" Hiccup petted Astrid's hair once again. "But she might be okay once she wakes up."
Gothi unraveled the bandages on Astrid's back and surveyed the wound.
"Oh, my baby…" Phlegma whimpered.
"Fishlegs didn't say how you found her, just that she was here and alive."
Hiccup rubbed his neck in shame. "I…didn't find her." He then went on to explain how Viggo had arrived and brought Astrid with him as a bartering chip.
"And that man is still here?" Axel asked, emotion unreadable.
"I think so. But I've been here with Astrid all night. He may have left while he had the chance."
"...H-Hiccup?" Astrid groaned.
"Morning," he rubbed her arm.
"...what are you…doing?"
"Gothi's here. She's checking my work. Your parents are here too. Just stay still."
"Mommy?" Astrid whispered.
Phlegma became unraveled at that and started bawling.
Hiccup started to get up from his spot, allowing her to take it, but Astrid grabbed him instantly. Her eyes just stared into Hiccup, still wide and full of fear.
"Don't worry," he promised. "Your mom is here now, and you're going to be fine."
"But—"
"Yes, honey, I know." He leaned down and kissed her. "Does that make it easier to let me go?"
Her hand loosened as she pressed her lips together.
"I'll be back soon. No worries," he combed her hair back. When he stood and faced her parents, they were both staring at him with excited grins.
"Yes yes," he chuckled. "Not ideal circumstances but…"
Axel gave him a tight squeeze to the arms. "We knew you loved her. Just been waitin' for you to get courage!"
"It…it wasn't courage in this case. It was relief. I realized I had almost lost her, and how much time I wasted twiddling my thumbs. She needed me, and I've always needed her. That's not going to change now."
"Good lad," Axel smiled sadly. "She'll need that love to get through this." Another squeeze. "Now, go do what you need to do. We'll be here."
"Thank you," he gave one last look at Astrid, and then to Gothi. "Her leg is broken. It was the only wound I wasn't sure how to fix. I can help when I get back."
The woman just waved him off, seemingly having everything under control. That filled him with hope, and he went downstairs.
The smell of blood was putrid down here, as the table from yesterday still sat, still wet. He grabbed the edge and yanked it out with him onto the bridge. Perhaps later, he and Toothless could dump it in the ocean or something, but for now, at least it was out of his hut.
Toothless looked at him sleepily, then growled at the table.
"Hey bud, did you sleep out here all night?"
Toothless rubbed his nose.
"Oh, because of the smell? I'm sorry. I didn't realize."
Toothless rolled his eyes, but looked into his hut.
"She's doing better. Gothi's going to make sure she's alright."
Toothless gave him a gummy smile, relieved to hear all that.
"Hey, mind giving me a lift to the clubhouse? We can take the long way."
Giddy, Toothless warbled an affirmative and shook his wings.
—
The duo did a few laps around the Edge, just enough to give Toothless some time to stretch his wings, before they landed outside the clubhouse.
That's where everyone else was. Fishlegs, Snotlout, the Twins, Viggo…Heather, Dagur, and his father, and Gobber.
"Wow," he said breathlessly, "the gang's all here."
Heather was by his side instantly. "How is she?"
If another person asked this question, he was going to burst. "She's stable. Weak, frail, scared…but she's alive and she's home."
Heather sighed in relief. "Thank the gods. When I received Fishlegs' Terror-Mail, I couldn't believe it. I thought there was just no way she was still alive. I told Dagur and we came out here immediately, hoping to help."
"Oh brother!" Dagur waxed poetic, like usual. He wrapped his arm around his shoulder. "How hard it must be, to have your lover back in your arms, but so in pain! So fragile! Oh it must beat upon your heart like a dozen arrows!"
Hiccup chuckled awkwardly. "I mean…I'm not happy to see Astrid in pain, but I'm just happy to have her home."
Snotlout and the Twins smirked.
"What?"
"You didn't deny the 'lover' part."
Hiccup blushed and then swallowed thickly. He looked over at Fishlegs who was avoiding eye contact and whistling. Then he looked at his dad, who had a gentle smile on his face.
"There's nothing…official," He began.
"Did you kiss her?!" Ruffnut shouted, shaking her brother wildly. "Please tell me you finally kissed her!"
"I bet more than that happened, since you were with her all night," Snotlout smirked.
"Yes, we kissed…a few times."
A squeal.
"But that's it! She's so injured—I was even afraid to hold her. Why are you people so invested in this!?"
"Because son," Stoick clapped a hand to his shoulder. "We're all invested in your life, in your story. For such a tragedy to happen, we all want to look at the positives."
"And we don't have to deal with Asshole Hiccup anymore," Snotlout snapped.
Hiccup was about to retort to that when Astrid's scream echoed across the bridge. He bolted, running for his hut, with Heather hot on his heels.
He threw the door open and ran in. "Astrid!"
She let out another scream as he climbed the steps.
They were realigning her leg. Axel had her ankle, as Gothi rested her hands on the break. Phlegma knelt on the bed, holding her hand.
Hiccup jumped into action, climbing on the bed as well. He threw off his leg, and crawled to sit behind Astrid, pulling her to brace against his chest. He even wrapped his good leg around her waist for good measure.
Heather took the last available spot, holding her other hand.
"Alright," said Axel, "we go again. Three…two…"
Astrid panted heavily, and Hiccup could hear her pleading under her breath.
"One!" And the man pulled. Her leg shifted unnaturally, the bone moving under her skin.
Astrid screamed bloody murder, her voice shrill, raw, and primal.
Hiccup just held her tight, one arm around her waist, the other across her chest to hold her shoulder. He pressed comforting kisses to her hair, neck, temple, anywhere he could reach.
Eventually, the screaming stopped. Gothi was splinting the leg, and wrapping it up. Hiccup released his death grip on her, but did not slide out from behind her.
Her head fell back on his shoulder. "Thanks babe."
"Your welcome," he smooched her head again. "I'm sorry I wasn't here at the beginning. Gothi made it sound like she had it under control."
"She did," Axel said. "But then she realized something was wrong. Astrid confessed the break happened early in her capture, so it had started to heal."
"That first scream you heard was us rebreaking her leg."
Hiccup lightly bumped his forehead against the back of Astrid's head, hiding his horrified face.
"You wouldn't have wanted to be in here for that," said Phlegma.
Astrid rested a hand over Hiccup's. "You have already done so much for me. I wouldn't have wanted you to see that either."
It didn't assuage the guilt. But he supposed they were right. What good would he be to Astrid if he was haunted by all the pain he had inflicted on her?
"But—" Axel said with a smile. "It's all good now! Look!" He gestured to the leg while Gothi finished wrapping it up. "That leg looks nice and straight to me!"
Hiccup glanced down. It certainly wasn't bent like it had been, but the thick bandages covered the rest of the wound.
"...feels better," Astrid mumbled, exhausted from the procedure. "Not great, but better."
"We're always aiming for better," Hiccup assured.
He wormed his way out from behind her, but stayed close so she could rest against him.
Gothi gave instructions on how the rest of her treatment was to go, at least until she was able to fly again. Then she wanted her to come back to Berk for observation.
Hiccup stayed by her side as the company switched out. Dagur came up to say hi, as well as Stoick and Gobber. Her parents stayed for a long while, and stayed in Astrid's hut for two days to help fetch whatever was needed.
Hiccup continued to stay by Astrid's side. Everyone witnessed her desperation for him at one point or another, and elected to help make things easier for him. No one questioned Hiccup falling asleep beside her.
A week later, Hiccup asked her politely if he could go take Toothless for a long flight, seeing the Nightfury becoming increasingly anxious.
It was a pleasant surprise when she let him go, not afraid, not scared, but full of trust. He still kissed her lips as a promise he'd return.
"You know, Hiccup, I've been thinking about it…" said Fishlegs, sitting bedside. "The hot springs here on the island have a high mineral content. I bet a bath would help Astrid heal."
Astrid sighed at the mere thought. "A bath…"
"I think that's a good idea," said Hiccup. "But we'll have to redo your bandages after."
"It wouldn't hurt to do so anyways, so you can look at my wounds and see how they're doing, right?" Astrid smiled at him, a pleading look on her face.
In just a week, she had come so far. There was life in her eyes, and she was making jokes. She was eating full meals now, though small portions. That exhaustion that clung to her had faded, though Hiccup still found her taking naps through the day, just nodding off while talking to someone. That wasn't all that surprising, the nightmares were still plaguing her. A few times, she had confided in Hiccup that the nightmares were so real, she thought she was back in the prison.
In response, he would kiss her deeply and ask, "does that feel like a dream?"
She wasn't in any condition to ride, let alone walk with crutches. But a trip to the hot springs? That he could manage.
Before leaving, Hiccup undid her bandages and left a clean set ready to be replaced upon return. Then he made sure the tunic covered her rear, wrapped a blanket around her for good measure, then pulled her up into his arms.
They left right before sunset. Plenty of time to admire the orange light on the trees as night came. Toothless followed along dutifully, ready to catch them if Hiccup slipped at all.
At the springs, Hiccup gently set Astrid in the soft grass nearby, and helped her out of the tunic. Then he stripped down to his skivvies and brought them into the water.
His prosthetic got wet in the process, but that was preferred to potentially slipping and falling and hurting both of them.
He settled in the water, threw his leg over his shoulder, and brought Astrid close to sit in his lap, not a single wound having to touch rock. He sighed as the hot water began to work away the tension in his shoulders.
And there was a lot of tension.
"Oh, this is nice," Astrid sighed, leaning against him.
Hiccup smiled, glancing down at her. The water had a blue, milky quality that obscured everything below the surface, everything below her collarbone. He didn't need to see, however. His hands stroked that smooth skin, tracing patterns in between the scars and sutures.
She was still beautiful, still everything he wanted, everything he desired, and selfishly, he loved being able to hold her and carry her everywhere. He loved caring for her, delicately touching her, applying oils and ointments to her skin. Anything he could do to feel her touch.
Despite being glued to her side, they actually hadn't had a lot of time alone. Someone was always with them, hovering nearby and waiting to be helpful. Hiccup couldn't blame them, as they all just missed Astrid and wanted to be helpful. Even at night, Hiccup had awoken to hearing someone scratching charcoal on paper, or turning a page. Each time, he'd blearily meet their eyes with question.
It was usually Fishlegs, but once had been Snotlout, mending some clothes, and the twins both, usually sketching out an idea for a prank.
Each time, he was given a smile and waved to go back to sleep.
So having her all to himself right now was really nice.
"Thank you," she whispered, cheek resting on his collarbone.
"Oh, it was no problem," he grinned. Honestly, the second Fishlegs had mentioned the hot springs, Hiccup was trying to figure out logistics.
"I meant, for everything. And not just this week, either." She turned so she was facing him, sitting in his lap, chest to chest. She held his face with both battered hands. "For everything since the beginning. Since you kidnapped me on Toothless."
"Was it really kidnapping though?"
She smirked at him.
"Okay, well, maybe…" He pet her hair back, the water from his hand taming the haphazard locks into place. "Viggo told me you told him all about our adventures."
"Mad?"
"No, not at all."
She softly smiled. "Because that's what I'm trying to say, Hiccup. Those adventures, those good times, those moments that we spent…I was able to recount them, live in them, tell them like they were new. They kept me hoping. They pulled me out of the dark. They kept me sane. I think they are the only reason I'm doing so well now."
"Astrid…"
"This has been a bump in the road," she said firmly.
"More like a mountain, but go on."
"But I only want to have more adventures, more moments with you. If you'll have me?"
"Astrid, I've always wanted you," he confessed. "I've always loved you. When boys still thought girls had cooties, I loved you."
She giggled.
"Your wounds won't change that. You still loved me despite my leg."
"Oh, that's different," she rolled her eyes. "I hated that leg. It had to go before I could feel anything for you."
The laugh that he barked was loud and contagious, echoing off the trees and rocks and sky. Astrid laughed along with him, though not as hard.
"Hey!" Tuffnut shouted, approaching the springs. He was also only in his skivvies. "You two are having too much fun out here! I will not stand for it!"
Hiccup rolled his eyes, but also glanced to make sure all of Astrid was under water. "So much for having quality alone time."
Tuffnut leapt in the water, splashing both of them. Then he reclined on the rock opposite them. Thankfully, the springs were plenty wide. "Ahhhh this is the life."
"Tuff, couldn't you have…I don't know, waited?"
"What? Oh no. I'm just early. Everyone else is coming too."
Hiccup frowned. "What do you mean, 'everyone else'?"
"Tuff!" Ruffnut yelled. "Did you bring my soap?!"
"You know I never touch the stuff!"
"Ew," said Astrid.
From around the corner, Ruff, Snotlout, Fishlegs, Dagur, Heather, and even Viggo appeared.
"Sorry to rain on your parade," said Heather. "But Fishlegs said hot springs and we all decided we could use some bonding time."
"And him?" Hiccup pointed at Viggo, who was hanging at the back of the group.
"He's been really well behaved," said Fishlegs. "He…well, he's been tending to Stormfly."
Astrid looked at him, slack-jawed. "Really?"
"I have extensive dragon knowledge, I thought it was best to put it to use. I've been trying to work for my stay, cleaning the stables. They said I was invited to join this little excursion, and I must admit, I am not immune to the call of hot springs."
"Then it's decided! Hot tub party!" Dagur yelled, jumping in just as Tuffnut had. He surfaced a moment later. "Wow, that's not very deep, maybe don't jump?"
The others climbed in the water, being much more careful.
It wasn't the first time the gang had gone to the springs together. After Fishlegs had deemed them safe for bathing, they often met up. Usually it was divided between boys and girls, but occasionally they'd all go together.
It was a little like the hot springs at Berk, but they didn't have to share these with gross old people.
"I brought soap," said Heather, coming closer. "I figured you haven't been able to wash your hair in a while, Astrid."
"What's left of it," said Tuff, who immediately received a purple-nurple from Snotlout. "OW that's my favorite nipple!"
Viggo let out a snort.
"Thank you Heather," Astrid took the soap and ignored Tuff's comment. She started lathering up her hands, and instead of cleaning her hair, she reached out and plopped the foam on Hiccup's head.
"Hey!"
"You wash my hair, I'll wash yours," she offered.
Hiccup turned bright red, but agreed. He dunked his head underwater to wet it, and then allowed her to start scrubbing.
Those from Berk watched with rapt attention, wide smiles on their faces.
"What?" Asked Dagur. "What am I missing? You've never seen someone wash their hair before?"
"In our culture, a woman will wash a man's hair in public as a display of intention of marriage," explained Fishlegs. "It shows vulnerability, but also shows a domestic quality."
"It's super rare," said Snotlout. "Since usually the guy makes his intentions known by talking to the parents, but it happens. It's actually pretty scandalous. It's like shouting into the crowd 'I want to bone this man!'"
"It's not scandalous!" Hiccup protested, head more foam than hair.
"Au contraire mon frère!" Tuffnut shouted. "Do you not remember when Ingrid washed Felder's hair in the square? Pretty scandalous!"
Hiccup scoffed. "It was only scandalous because they didn't know they were cousins!"
Snotlout and the twins let out a high pitched "euuuggghhhh."
"It could also be scandalous if the couple haven't been obvious with previous intentions," said Fishlegs. "Like if no one realized they had feelings. It's not proper to spring it on the parents like that." Then he smiled. "But we've all seen this coming for a long time."
Hiccup hid his blushing face under water, scrubbing the soap away. He came up and combed his hair back. "Oh like you're all mind readers!"
"No," said Tuff, casually, "it's that Astrid couldn't keep her lips off you after you lost your leg."
It was Astrid's turn to turn red. "It was a sign of relief. I was happy he didn't die."
"Astrid," Heather chuckled. "You're sitting on his lap, you don't have to defend anything."
Astrid sank lower in the water, blowing bubbles out.
Hiccup smirked at her as he lathered up his hands and started washing her hair.
Heather was the closest at the moment, and noticed something. "Hiccup, I didn't know you had a lighting scar!" She pointed at his shoulder.
"What? Oh!" He glanced at it. "I…kinda forget about it sometimes."
"If I remember," said Viggo, "you were trying to prove to the other tribesmen that the frequent lightning strikes in town were because of metal perches everyone built, and not because Thor was mad at Toothless."
"Uh, yep." He pursed his lips. "I told them that once I attached the metal spear to the top of the ship mast, the lightning would strike it, but I guess Thor wasn't in on the plan and I got zapped instead."
The collective group looked at Viggo with suspicion.
"Oh come now, don't be so obtuse. Astrid told me while we were imprisoned. She reminisced about all sorts of things. Like she told me that Snotlout only won the first Thawfest games to include Dragons because Hiccup purposefully threw the race."
Snotlout scoffed, a high pitched squeak. "You bitch!"
"Ohhh," said the Twins.
"That makes way more sense."
"And smooch number three, if memory serves," said Tuffnut. "And I'm only counting public smooches."
Astrid dunked her head as Hiccup stated plainly. "Those were the only smooches back then."
"You can say that, because no one can prove otherwise," Snotlout stuck his tongue out.
Now thoroughly clean, Hiccup passed the soap back to Heather, and Astrid rested her head against him.
"Ohh, so when was smooch number two?" Asked Dagur, becoming invested in this.
"Snoggletog," the gang said at once.
"Gesundheit?" Viggo said, utterly confused. "What's a Snoggletog?"
The Berkians gasped in horror.
"No wonder the Hunters are such hard hearted assholes! They don't celebrate Snoggletog!" Fishlegs cried.
"It sounds vaguely sexual," Viggo grimaced.
"Hiccup, he has to come back to Berk with us!" Tuffnut demanded. "Once he sees the spirit of Snoggletog, his transformation into a good guy will be complete!"
"I am right here, you know."
Hiccup sighed. "We haven't talked about it yet. Viggo, have you decided what you want to do? Where you want to go?"
He shrugged. "I'd just as well stay here if you're all going back to Berk. Keep the Outpost going. If not, well we can discuss it later. I'm still weak, honestly. And with only one arm and a boat that is about to fall to pieces, I'm not getting very far."
"Then we can discuss it later. In the meantime, we can see about making you a more permanent sleeping area here."
"That would be very kind, thank you, my dear Hiccup."
Evening turned into night, and Toothless illuminated the lanterns and torches around the springs, making for a magical scene. Friends laughed and chatted.
Hiccup watched in amusement as two of his previous enemies spoke candidly about sword techniques.
The Twins were taking turns dunking each other, while Snotlout and Fishlegs talked to Heather, one of them successfully holding her attention.
Hiccup spoke softly. "How's your back?"
"Fine. Best it's felt in weeks."
"And your leg?"
"Like it's not even broken."
"Tired?"
"A little, but I'm having fun out here, with you, with them. It's nice. I kind of feel normal."
"Hmm good." While the others were distracted, he asked, "earlier, with the hair washing…?"
"Yes," she said definitively. "That was my public declaration. It's what I was trying to say before Tuff interrupted." She turned to face him and said, "I love you. I want to be your wife one day, if you will have me."
"I would. I would have you." He beamed at her before pressing a kiss to her lips.
"Hey!" Said Tuffnut. "No kissing in the hot springs! That's gross!"
Hiccup just rolled his eyes, but Astrid, feeling the pettiness growing in her body, decided to mess with Tuff. She grabbed Hiccup's face, and very obviously stuck her tongue in his mouth.
"EWW! They're swapping spit! This is a house of cleanliness, Hofferson!"
Hiccup and Astrid just giggled, resting their foreheads together.
Hard times would come for sure. Astrid had a long road ahead, and plenty of bad days on that road. But as long as Hiccup and the rest of her friends were with her, she could get through it.