A/N: Sorry this one is a bit late!
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Coming Together
Stoick had known where on the island they were, remembering a time when he had ventured in the area with his own father. They had taken shelter in a little cave when it had started pouring rain, and they had spent the night sitting around a pathetic campfire, telling stories and enjoying each other's company.
This time around, however, Stoick didn't think his trip to the cave was going to be filled with pleasant memories.
Hiccup had been unresponsive the whole way, Stoick almost having to drag him along and even considering the idea of just picking him up and hauling his son with them as they ran away, though he didn't.
Once they had made it to the cave, Stoick had let go of his son's arm, made sure that he was able to stand on his own, then immediately turned to his wife with a stern expression.
"I need to know whether or not I can trust you with my son." Stoick said in an even tone, obviously trying to hold back his anger. Valka snapped her head to look at her husband in utter surprise.
"Our son." Valka corrected. "And of course you can. I wouldn't hurt Hiccup."
"Hiccup has been my son for the past twenty years." Stoick responded. "I know I told you that I forgave you, and I meant it. I don't want to waste the time I have left with you, arguing about the past and the choices you made. Choices, that have hurt my son. But back there, you chose the dragons, again. That's never going to change, is it?"
"I didn't mean it like that." Valka tried to defend. "Sharpshot's life was in danger, Hiccup was merely being held down by a young girl without any weapons. He got away. Hiccup is capable."
"None of that should matter." Stoick said, like it was obvious. "Family comes first."
"Dragons are a part of the family, Stoick. What if it had been Toothless?" Valka questioned. She had only intended to help Hiccup's dragon.
"Toothless would have wanted me to put Hiccup first." Stoick said simply. "You told me you didn't know how to be a mother, and I'm telling you now, a mother puts her children first."
Valka let out a slow breath of air. Toothless would have put Hiccup first, Stoick was right. She didn't want to argue against protecting Hiccup, she had wanted him to be safe too.
"I'm sorry." Valka met her husband's eyes, then looked to Hiccup who was watching them with scrutiny. He had never seen his parents fight before, it was an all new concept to him. "I thought you would have wanted me to save your dragon."
Hiccup narrowed his eyes at his mom, he couldn't help it as tears pricked at his eyes again. Was it his fault that Sharpshot was gone then? Of course he wanted Sharpshot to be saved, but he also wanted his mom to... be like a mom and care about him. Hiccup turned away abruptly and pressed a hand to his mouth, trying to suppress all of his emotions.
"Hiccup, I-" Valka wanted to amend what she had said, seeing the affect her words had had on her son, but Stoick shushed her before she could say anymore.
A heavy hand landed on Hiccup's shoulder and he curled in on himself even more, not wanting to let his grief be seen.
"It's okay to be sad, Hiccup. You can mourn Sharpshot, it's okay." Stoick tried to comfort, wanting Hiccup to be able to mourn properly and not make the same mistakes that he had made in the past. Stoick had let his grief over the loss of his wife consume him, and that had harmed Hiccup. Valka watched as her husband comforted their son, Stoick seemed to know what to say and how to be supportive. She reprimanded herself, knowing that she had messed up again, had let down her family.
Her husband was right, she had only been a mother for the few months after Hiccup was born, and now she was trying to be a mother again. Hiccup had been Stoick's son during that time, not hers, because she had intentionally stayed away. She was still messing up, even as she wanted to become a good mother to Hiccup.
Valka suddenly looked up in alarm, pulled from her thoughts as she heard Hiccup make a sound in pain and heard scuffling. Stoick was supporting Hiccup as he clung to him to stay upright.
"What is it? Did he get hurt?" Valka finally approached Stoick and Hiccup, not having wanted to interfere as her husband comforted their son before. Now she worried that Hiccup had been injured in some way during his encounter with the girl and they hadn't noticed.
Hiccup didn't say anything, his eyes were firmly shut and his teeth clenched as his breathing became raspy. He looked to be in a lot of pain as he clung to Stoick.
"It's his leg." Stoick answered softly, holding Hiccup upright and taking his weight. Stoick was very familiar with the aches and pains his son suffered due to the amputation to his leg that he still felt responsible for. Hiccup preferred to try and keep it to himself, but it wasn't an easy thing to hide.
Once the pain had seemed to ease up and Hiccup wasn't so tense, Stoick helped his son to sit down on the floor of the cave.
"I should change the wrappings on your leg." Valka had applied medicine and a bandage to Hiccup's stump after she had taken care of his arm. The stump had been raw and overused. "And the wrappings on your arm."
Hiccup nearly groaned, not wanting to have to deal with any of this right now. His left leg was carefully stretched out in front of him and he leaned over so he could put a hand just below his knee. His leg still ached, though he was glad that the worst of the pain had come and gone.
"Can I have this?" Valka had kneeled down next to Hiccup and indicated his satchel. He was the only one with supplies, other than the dagger that his mom had confiscated from him and still had. With a resigned sigh, Hiccup lifted his arm so she could move the strap over his head and take the bag. Hiccup still hadn't said anything since they had reached the cave, and it was concerning Stoick.
As Valka removed Hiccup's prosthetic with the utmost care, then proceeded to unwrap the bandages from around the stump, Stoick could see how uncomfortable his son looked. Hiccup hated this, he felt exposed and vulnerable. After Valka finished with his amputated leg, she would move on to expose the skin of his arm again, and Stoick knew Hiccup would hate that too. So he decided that now was as good a time as any, to properly answer Hiccup's question from before.
"Hiccup?" Stoick started, hoping his son would open his eyes and look back at him, but he didn't. "I've been thinking a lot, about your question. Why I told you to change, but didn't try to prevent your mother from being who she is." Hiccup opened his eyes, but his gaze was still aimed down. "A lot of it has to do with my inability to handle my grief, from losing my wife." Valka froze for a moment before continuing in her task. She knew it was her fault, she had heard Stoick say these things before. She would have to own up to her mistakes too, just like Stoick was doing now. "Once I saw that you had clearly taken after your mother more than me, I was afraid I'd lose you in the same way I lost her, and I knew I couldn't handle that. You were the only family I had left. So I tried to change you, to toughen you up. I thought I could raise you the way my father raised me, and that you would be responsive to it. I told myself I was doing my duty as the chief— to prepare you to be a strong chief someday. But my actions were actually very selfish, I wanted you to change because I thought that you were too soft and gentle and that that would get you killed. I didn't want to lose you... but my actions only hurt you and pushed you away. I was harming you, even as I wanted to keep you from harm."
Hiccup still didn't look back at his dad, feeling a new wave of tears coming that he didn't want to let loose. This explanation at least made more sense this time, even if it still hurt.
"The more you reminded me of your mother, the worse my grief became. It was hard to be around you because I wasn't able to handle my feelings properly. Nothing I did ever got you to change, and that frustrated me. I took my anger out on you and I influenced our people to treat you the same way that I did. And I did nothing about it." Stoick continued when Hiccup still said nothing. "I'm sorry that my past mistakes harmed you. I'm sorry that I couldn't handle my feelings properly and that it ended up hurting you. I'm... sorry."
"All I wanted back then... was to be the son you wanted." Hiccup said quietly, finally speaking. "I hated myself for not being able to be that son, no matter how hard I tried. I only ever failed."
Valka had finished with Hiccup's leg, having applied more medicine before wrapping it back up. She had been about to push up Hiccup's sleeve and check on his arm when Hiccup had admitted to his past feelings. She hesitated, not wanting to trigger Hiccup in any way.
"I'm sorry I made you feel that way." Stoick looked thoroughly ashamed. "I didn't want you to hate who you were. I didn't want a different son, I always loved you. I just thought I could change you because I worried that you didn't have what it took to survive the way you were. I told myself that in order for you to become chief someday, that you had to be more like me and my father."
Hiccup blinked away tears at the harsh truth. His father really hadn't thought much of his abilities back then. His mom was still holding onto his arm and he wished she would just get it over with already. With a sudden wave of anger, he pulled his arm from her grip and shoved his sleeve up his arm himself. Valka was startled for a moment, but then went back to tending to her son's wounds.
"It didn't feel like you loved me." Hiccup said. As his arm was exposed, the bandages pulled away, he saw the new injury to his arm. His mom had done a good job with the stitches, but it would still leave quite the scar. Another one to add to the collection he already had— all within the view of everyone present.
Stoick still found it hard to look at, still found it hard to process. He felt responsible for Hiccup's amputated leg and for his scars. Nothing he had done had protected his son, despite his intentions.
"Everything I did was because I loved you, but somehow, along the way, I lost sight of how to express that. I changed into someone I didn't want to be— a frustrated and bitter man, who only cared about ending a war, not even remembering that it was for my loved ones that I wanted the war to end. I let my anger show more than my love." Stoick tore his gaze away from Hiccup's arm as Valka cleaned it and applied more medicine. "I was even able to disown you— I was so lost in my own world."
Hiccup quickly glanced up at his dad. They had thought that they had moved past that, and yet here was his dad, bringing it up again. Hiccup had thought he had moved past a lot of things, but was realizing just how much those things still bothered him today. He had buried them, hadn't wanted to open up old wounds, had been willing to pretend he was okay so that he could still be accepted. Hiccup's gaze fell back on his arm.
"I hadn't even realized I was still doing it." Stoick went on. "When Val told me I was letting my concern for you show as anger, it was like a slap to the face. I'm sorry for that too. I'm trying to be better at that. I don't want you to feel like you have to defend every one of your actions to me. I want you to trust me, to trust in my love."
Startled by his father's phrasing, Hiccup met Stoick's eyes. He had heard similar words before, when Hiccup had started to doubt Astrid's love, after they had become an official couple. He had struggled with accepting her true feelings when she had disregarded some of his orders as leader of the Dragon Riders and things hadn't gone well, he had let the past get into his head and make him doubt. He had given her the chance to earn that trust. Hiccup didn't doubt Astrid anymore, she had become more supportive and they communicated with each other better.
Thinking back, Hiccup realized that his dad had been trying. Ever since his mom had gotten after them both for arguing. She had told Stoick to stop reacting in anger when he was concerned, and had told Hiccup to stop being so defensive when it came to his father's concern for his well-being. Maybe he could come to trust in his father's love too, for real this time.
"There you go." Valka broke the silence as she finished wrapping up Hiccup's arm. "How do you feel now?"
"Better." Hiccup answered honestly as he pulled his sleeve back down and strapped his arm bracer back on. "Thanks. How's your wrist?"
"Oh, my wrist will be fine." Valka fingered the wrappings she still had on her wrist from when she had fallen while sparring with her son. It had swelled a bit the first night, but wasn't so bad anymore. "It's just a mild injury, it should be completely healed in a couple weeks."
Valka gave Hiccup a small, reassuring smile before packing things back into Hiccup's satchel. She found it sweet that Hiccup had remembered that she had hurt her wrist, and that he was concerned for her while dealing with his own pains.
Her smile faded quickly though as she remembered the previous conversation. Hiccup may not have replied to the last thing Stoick had said, but he wasn't nearly as upset as he had been the other day. She figured it was her turn to say something.
"I'm sorry I chose dragons over you again, that wasn't my intention." Valka finally gained the courage to say. She wouldn't give excuses this time. Hiccup looked at her with sad eyes that broke her heart. "I honestly thought Sharpshot was in more danger than you. It seemed a more reasonable request, to ask for the injured dragon first, then try to get you freed. I was thinking about strategy, but I should have been thinking about you."
"I did want Sharpshot to be saved..." Hiccup's voice become quiet and he could have cursed as his eyes felt wet again at the mention of his dragon companion. Hiccup really wanted to see Toothless in that moment. Toothless would help him feel better, would assure him that there was nothing he could have done, would share in his grief for a lost friend. He longed to sense Toothless' presence, but the dragon was too far away.
The familiar weight of Stoick's hand landed on his shoulder again, but Hiccup welcomed it this time. His father knew about grieving, he understood.
"I want you to know, that when Cloudjumper finally set me down at the Alpha's nest, my first and only thought was how I was going to get back to the both of you." Valka sat on one side of Hiccup, while Stoick was on the other. Both looked to Valka in surprise. "Of course the both of you were on my mind, I love you, you are my family. I was worried about you Hiccup, you were just a baby. I'd spent the past few months worried about whether or not you would make it."
After the initial surprise, all Hiccup felt was confusion and hurt. Despite all that, his mother had still chosen to stay away in the end.
"It took a while for me to completely trust Cloudjumper. I couldn't go anywhere, I had no boat and I didn't even know where I was. But after a few weeks, I bonded with my dragon. I discovered that the other dragons in the sanctuary were also gentle creatures. None of them harmed me, they welcomed me there." Valka suddenly looked ashamed. "I had a means to leave once I had bonded with Cloudjumper, but I put it off. I still thought of you and your father often, but I figured you both must be doing well. I convinced myself that you were both safe and happy on Berk. The longer I put off returning, the more I convinced myself that maybe I shouldn't. With what I knew then, I couldn't possibly return to Berk and kill dragons. I wouldn't have been able to bring myself to do it. I told myself that if I returned, I would bring shame to the chief— my husband— because I would be looked down on for not being willing to fight the dragons. I wasn't sure if I could live like that. I made the selfish choice to stay away while trying to convince myself that I was doing what was best for my family."
Valka paused, thinking that either her son or husband would react to her confessions, to the flaws in her character that she was exposing to them. Hiccup wasn't looking at her, instead, examining the ground with interest, an unreadable expression on his face. Stoick seemed accepting, having already deduced as much about her past decisions. When no one said anything, she continued.
"I've spent the past twenty years with a lingering feeling of guilt. I couldn't ever completely convince myself that I had made the right decision. The longer I stayed away, the harder it would have been to return. I was afraid to return, I was a coward. I knew something had to be wrong, something was happening to make those dragons attack Berk and other nearby tribes, but I never went to investigate. Maybe if I had, you could have been spared your leg."
Hiccup glanced down at his amputated leg. His mom had not reattached his prosthetic, probably thinking that it would be good for his stump to be free of it for a while. But it made Hiccup nervous not to have it on, worried that if something happened he wouldn't be able to put it back on in time. He liked to feel prepared and not wearing his prosthetic made him feel vulnerable. Hiccup briefly wondered how things would have worked out if his mom had returned to Berk, or had solved the problem with the Queen dragon.
"Eventually I just accepted it. I was never going to see my son or my husband again, I would live the rest of my life amongst the dragons because I had decided that I wasn't any good for either of you, because I was too afraid to do something that would have been hard." Valka looked like she was ready to cry. "I wish I had returned. Even if it would have been hard, I could have been the one to be looked down on for being different. I could have been the one to try and change things with the dragons. Then you wouldn't have had to suffer like you did, you could have had a happy childhood."
"You don't know that." Hiccup answered, not necessarily in her defense, he just wasn't sure if she would have done the right thing, even if she had returned. "We don't know how things would have worked out."
"I could have tried." Valka said, ashamed. Hiccup didn't answer this time, not really up to trying to comfort his mother. He still didn't agree with her actions. How could he? Despite the issues he had with his dad, Hiccup was at least comfortable enough around him to call him out on things if he saw fit. Hiccup's mom, however, was still barely more than a stranger. It didn't feel right to get after someone who hadn't even been a part of his life. On top of that, last time he had confronted his mother, his dad had yelled at him, had defended her over him. So, Hiccup remained silent, refusing to voice his thoughts.
"...you want to say something." Valka surmised, seeing the expression on Hiccup's face. Hiccup merely shook his head in denial. "Whatever it is, I'm sure it's merited. I won't get angry."
Hiccup still didn't say anything, just looked at the ground in front of him. He didn't want to offend his dad's wife and get in trouble for it again.
"I won't get angry either, Hiccup. I promise." Stoick seemed to understand what was wrong. "I told you, I'm trying to change that about myself."
With something akin to exasperation, Hiccup met his father's eyes, trying to gauge the sincerity. He had already told himself, he wanted to try and trust in his dad, like he had with Astrid. Then, maybe even his mom. He had to make himself vulnerable, in order to give them a chance to earn his trust, and that was what scared him the most. Opening up, letting people in, and then being hurt or betrayed— it had happened before. With a deep breath, Hiccup decided to say what was on his mind.
"I don't think I could have done that." Hiccup glanced at his mom who gave him a questioning look. With a slight blush, Hiccup continued. "I love Astrid, and the thought of being separated from her for so long... I couldn't do it. More than that, to leave a baby behind? I couldn't do that either." Hiccup couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed talking about Astrid like that in front of his parents, to talk about a possible, future baby, but it was part of the point he was trying to get across. "So, part of me can't help but wonder... how much you really did love us."
Valka met her husband's eyes, seeing the same doubts reflected back at her. Stoick wondered too, even if he was never going to voice those concerns. He understood Hiccup's feelings, he had been abandoned too. It was Valka's turn to be questioned, without really having an answer. She tried to organize her thoughts, to articulate everything, but Hiccup wasn't done yet.
"I understand finding a dragon who means the world to you, whose soul reflects your own. I found that in Toothless. But... I didn't have anyone else at the time. I was alone, and Toothless showed me a love and friendship I hadn't known." Hiccup closed his eyes as he took another breath. His dad wasn't going to like what he was about to admit to. "I almost ran away with Toothless."
Though no anger was expressed, Stoick did flinch as the pure shock hit him. He had not known, that on top of everything else he hadn't known, that Hiccup had almost run away from home with his dragon. What would he have done if his son had just disappeared forever? He would have lost his wife and son, his family, to the dragons that apparently understood them more than he ever did. There was no anger to be expressed, only sorrow and an increased sense of self-loathing.
"It was after I had won the supposed honor of killing a dragon in front of the tribe." Hiccup continued with his story. "I knew I couldn't do it, so I gathered some supplies and prepared to leave. I don't know where I would have gone... but I know I wasn't completely committed to the idea. I was just... lost. I had no idea what to do. That was when Astrid showed up and discovered Toothless. We took her for a flight."
Valka would have smiled, remembering what she had been told about Hiccup whisking Astrid away for a romantic flight, and thus starting a strong friendship that had grown into a love for one another. However, she could not bring herself to be amused, not when Hiccup still doubted her love.
"While out flying, we discovered the Queen's nest and the control she had over the dragons. That was when I knew, I wasn't going to leave. I was going to go into that arena... and risk everything." Hiccup took another deep breath and his parents waited in silence. "I may not be able to say that I loved my people back then, but I felt obligated to do what I could for them, even though I knew they weren't likely to listen, even though it would be hard. I had to try. So I don't understand. Even if you didn't have a strong love for me... did you not at least feel an obligation to return?"
There were so many emotions swirling inside, and all Valka could do for a moment was shake her head and try to fight the tears that were about to spill. Her son was a hero, he was a good person. He really wasn't like her at all.
"Hiccup, I'm so sorry..." Valka couldn't stop the tears from falling. "I did love you, I still do. I never stopped loving my baby boy. But I don't know what else I can say, other than that I was weak, I was afraid, I was lost. And when things got hard, I chose the coward's way out. I put off making a decision until it felt too late, I tried to persuade myself that the easy way out was what was best. I made mistakes that I will regret for the rest of my life. I chose wrong." She wiped at her eyes, but it did no good. Hiccup couldn't help the pang of sadness at seeing his mom so distressed, but he wanted to hear what she had to say. "Hiccup, you're a hero. You're a better person than I'll ever be. You were fifteen and did something brave, selfless, and noble. I'm so proud of who you turned out to be, of the things you've done. I wish I had been as good of a person as you are, back then. Then maybe I would have made the right decision, even if it was hard. I'm sorry I wasn't good enough to do the right thing."
Hiccup swallowed as he closed his eyes. The truth was hard and painful to accept, but he appreciated his mom's brutal honesty. She was flawed, but so was he. He didn't often feel like a hero. There had been a time when he had felt like he wasn't good enough. Hiccup looked to his dad and tilted his head in concern. His dad looked about ready to fall apart.
"Are you okay?" Hiccup asked. When Stoick didn't seem to realize that he was talking to him, Hiccup spoke again. "Dad, are you okay?"
Startled, Stoick raised his head and met his son's eyes. His son, who had come to hate himself, had tried to cope with his pain by harming himself, and had almost run away. Stoick could hardly bare the sorrow all of that caused him.
"I spoke, now it's your turn." Hiccup insisted, and Stoick couldn't argue with that.
"I lost my wife, because I couldn't create a place she felt safe returning to. I almost lost my son, because I didn't maintain a home where he felt loved or welcomed. You both would have left me, because the dragons offered you more than I did. I'm a terrible husband and father." Stoick barely managed to get all his words out, strained by the overwhelming emotions he was feeling.
"Dad..." Hiccup had never seen his father so distressed. "I always loved you and looked up to you... that's why it was all so painful. When you came back from looking for the nest, you were so proud of me for something that wasn't even real. That deceit ate at me, I couldn't handle it. I'm sorry I almost ran away. I didn't think I would be hurting you... because I didn't think you would want the failure of a son I thought I was, to be around to shame you."
"It was my fault, for making you think that. And... back then, I might have been ashamed." Stoick admitted. "I didn't have my priorities straight. I made so many mistakes, and I failed you."
The honesty behind his father's words stung. The reality was painful. His mother had been too caught up in herself and her own problems to consider him. His father had put other things above him and had looked down on him. There were no excuses, there were no explanations. It was the simple, hard truth, and it hurt.
However, both Hiccup's mom and dad were feeling things that he had felt in the past. A feeling of incompetence— like no matter what he did, he would never be enough. The desire to run away from his problems, to spare his dad the shame. The longing to get swept away in the comfort of someone who was understanding, even if that someone was a dragon. A feeling of self-loathing for his past actions, for who he was as a person. Sorrow for a family that never was...
Hiccup couldn't bear it. The thought that he was part of what was causing these feelings in someone else. He didn't ever want to be responsible for someone else feeling the way he used to feel. His parents were hurting and every moment he prolonged the act of working to forgive them— as hard as it would be— and trying to salvage the family that they were, the longer they would be in pain.
A lot of Hiccup's grievances had been addressed. The past had been dredged up and the revelations had been hard and painful. All he could really do was to keep digging up the things he had buried— to confront those things rather than to hide them. Things had to change or he would be forever unhappy, and so would his parents.
"I don't want this." Hiccup realized out loud, gaining the attention of both of his parents. "I don't want us all to be unhappy. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause either of you pain."
"You don't have anything to apologize for." Valka assured, Stoick nodded his agreement.
"We made mistakes, Hiccup, and we had to own up to them." Stoick said in a gruff voice, trying to reign in his emotions. Hiccup looked down, thinking. He appreciated the apologies and the admissions of wrong, they were at least taking responsibility for their past actions and expressing a desire to change. He couldn't ignore that.
"I kind of went through all of this before... with Astrid." Hiccup said quietly, not particularly eager to confide in his parents but feeling the need. "She didn't used to treat me all that well either. She never really bullied me, she was just blunt and forward. Things changed after she discovered Toothless and she has told me that she did always like me, but thought that I didn't take the danger to Berk as seriously as her, and so looked down on me. I had thought we had moved past all of that, but after we became a couple... I realized that there were still times when she would disregard my authority over the Dragon Riders or go behind my back with the others. And... I started to doubt our relationship."
Stoick was surprised to hear what his son was saying. He had never seen Hiccup and Astrid fight or act like anything was wrong. Hiccup had never told him what he had been struggling with. Stoick wished that Hiccup had felt like he could go to him back then, when things seemed to be good between them, if he was going through a hard time. However, it seemed like Hiccup had never trusted him enough for that.
"Eventually we talked about it and she apologized. She had apologized for how she used to treat me before, and I had forgiven her for it... it just seemed like maybe she still looked down on me or had only come to like me because of the dragons. Astrid assured me that wasn't true and said she would work hard to become someone I could trust." Hiccup didn't want to go into a lot of details. It had been an emotional, long talk. Hiccup didn't want Astrid to feel like she was obligated to obey him without question. He relied on her opinion and feedback, but he didn't want her to completely disregard him and go behind his back either. He wanted to feel like she had his back, that she supported him, and would communicate with him if something was wrong or she disagreed with something. Hiccup wanted to trust her and trust in her love. It had taken time, they'd had to work on their communication, but now their relationship was stronger for it and he did trust her completely. Now, they really were ready to marry.
"We want the same thing... for you to come to trust us, to trust in our love." Stoick responded, remembering having previously said those words.
"Mine and Astrid's relationship is stronger than ever now, because I trust her and we communicate better." Hiccup finally glanced up at his parents. "I think... we could get there too, someday."
A smile immediately spread across Valka's face, her eyes lighting up at her son's words. Stoick couldn't help the overwhelming feelings of hope and relief. He had a chance to show his son just how much he meant to him.
"That's all we wanted." Valka moved closer to Hiccup and embraced him, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "Thank you, Hiccup. I don't deserve a son as loving and kind as you."
Hiccup accepted the hug and gave his mom a small smile. After she let him go, Stoick immediately wrapped Hiccup in his arms and pressed a kiss to the top of his head. It had been a long time since he had last hugged his son.
This time, as eyes became watery and tears ran down cheeks, it was out of love and happiness, not out of pain and regret.
—
A/N: I hope you liked this emotional scene! It's about time these three made amends, right?
PizzaParker00: I know, poor little guy.
Silver Sentinel: I don't think Valka is always going to put the dragons first, she wanted Hiccup safe too, but wasn't thinking like a mom in the situation. I think everything they are all feeling is out in the open now.
Ysabelle Anne R. Inoncillo: I hope you liked this chapter too! Sorry it is a day late. I'm glad you like the chapter with Hiccup and Astrid so much, where Hiccup confides his deepest and darkest feelings to her. And thank you! I wish the movies and shows could have gotten into all Hiccup's past emotions too, but I enjoyed exploring them in this fan fiction.
JustANormalHTTYDFan: They are in quite the situation, aren't they? Toothless would be a big help to them, if he were there.
Yubel578: That would be great for Hiccup and his parents, if he could reach Toothless. Even if Hiccup could, they would still have to survive on their own until help came.
CHSHicstrid: I always get a kick out of reading your reviews, there is always such passion behind your words. Haha, sorry if the storyline is keeping you on your toes. I don't want it to be predictable. I hope you liked this chapter, I think you'll like how they finally came together and Hiccup is giving them a chance now.
Romantica543: The family that has been living on Healer's Island aren't cowards, but they don't seem to be right in the head either. I hope Valka's point of view is more clear in this chapter. She has made mistakes and is flawed, and she knows that and is ready to own up to it. She wouldn't have taken Sharpshot and abandoned Hiccup. Stoick was reasonably upset, he's been an only parent to Hiccup all these years, so he wasn't going to let Valka get away with that.
omega13a: Hopefully Sharpshot will be okay!
Trainman-Captain Writer: I didn't realize how much everyone loved Sharpshot! Poor dragon. He is such a sweet and friendly, little guy.
KinglyRoom59363: Yes, respect for Sharpshot. He protected Hiccup. There will be more action and some violence to come, so I hope you're ready for it! I do remember promising an emotional rollercoaster.
marigoldie1: Haha, thanks! I'm glad you like it!
Anonymous Guest: Sharpshot! Such a loyal dragon. Hiccup was upset, but he learned his lesson from the last time he went off on Valka, and so is reluctant to do so again.
KN Hudson: Yeah, that would be terrifying for two parents, to find a body and know something is up, and not know where their son is. Then when Hiccup tells them that they had a chance to kill him before and that they are now hunting him, I'm sure that only served to escalate that fear. They do love Hiccup and they are showing him just how much in their concern for him. Hiccup sees that. It is a creepy thought, to have been oblivious to the violence and death taking place around you, to then realize that you are the next victim.
