YOUR POV

~~THREE MONTHS LATER~~

I've been living on Berk for three months now. Getting to know people again was hard. I had no patience with people's remarks and their nature of wanting to know my past. By the end, I was tired of hearing the same comments over and over again-

'Sorry about your father..'

'you must've been so alone...'

'why did you leave?'

'What made you come back?'

They all had good intentions, but people unknowingly made me re-live painful moments. Hiccup was the one who persuaded me to open up, to make new connections and rekindle old ones. I knew he was right so that's what I did. I endured the questions and repeated remarks on my disappearance and really started to settle back home. A few weeks after my arrival, I started feeling liked I belonged here again. It didn't take any time for me to get used to how Berk's changed since I left, being as they were all positive changes.

People are so much happier on a daily basis... no mourners crying every morning after battles, no food shortage, no houses having to be repaired everyday... It's much better than I could've ever imagined it would be.

Hiccup and I spent everyday together. We would fly on our dragons, go hunting, go swimming; talked for hours by the lake like we used to do when we were younger; explored nearby islands; celebrated life with the village during the night and so much more. After I moved into his home everyone knew we were together, and that we were very happy. Of course there were still some beautiful spinsters aching to wed the Chief, but Hiccup turned a blind eye to their flirting. The gang teased us for being... loud... especially Snotlout. They could hear us sometimes when they walked past our home at night... Hiccup just shouted at them for being complete creeps. After I got over the initial embarrassment, I only noticed how attractive Hiccup was, when he yelled at them for listening in the first place... I love how protective he is of me.

Some other imperfections occurred of course... Astrid was one of them. I remember her as always so strong, capable and brave when I was younger; She had no weaknesses... we were great friends. But, ever since the night she confessed that Hiccup had feelings for me... We haven't talked at all. We've caught eyes a few times when I'm in the village helping with recourses or when we see each other in the great hall, but otherwise she hasn't been seen much... by anyone. I'm worried about her. I want to be there for her... after all she was the obstacle that stopped me from leaving Berk forever, granting me the happiness I feel each day with Hiccup.

Libelle and Toothless were with each other constantly. Not much difference between them and Hiccup and I. They were together most nights. Hiccup made the hard decision of giving Toothless a tail that he could control on his own. We didn't know if we would ever see them again after granting them their freedom, but thankfully, all that happened was that they flew together some mornings and some nights. We still don't know where they head off to exactly, but we always know that they will return by every sunrise. I saw them heading into the forest multiple times, and return hours later. Hiccup and I still rode them, nothing changed in that matter, thank the Gods.

Today, I woke up like usual, with Hiccup sleeping by my side. I got up and changed into my clothes for the day, covering the sweet bruises from last night, when Hiccup and I got carried away after a memorable night of feasting with mead and ale...

"Where are you going?"

"I know that everything is ready for winter, but I thought I should just go see one more time to check if we have enough-"

"We do (Y/N), I checked the list yesterday, everything is in place. We're ready for winter. I'm sure we'll survive until the summer raids. Come back to bed pleaseee."

I smiled. "No. You'll have to wait. I'm heading down anyway, I need to see Iacob to see how he's doing with his new dragon."

Hiccup laid on his back, with his hands behind his head, admiring my every word.

"You're so thoughtful, patiently helping him. But selfish for not coming back to bed, to lay here by my side for a few more minutes."

"I can't. Come on Chief, You have your duties and I have mine."

"Well, I've finished all my duties on the island yesterday, the last one being when I told Ruff and Tuff they couldn't steal more boars for their stupid boar pit."

I laughed. Typical of the twins.

"Well, I haven't finished mine. I have to see how Iacob's doing with that Monstrous Nightmare. I told him I would help him yesterday." I grabbed a rope leash from behind the door.

"Ahh yes. How was he yesterday on his first day? Was he as bad as Erik?" He chuckled.

"No! Hahah not half as bad. But he still has so much to learn, we've barely scratched the surface, that's why I have to go.. I'll probably be with him all day today.."

"Okay, I'll be here- Or wait, no... shit. I forgot to tell you... I have to be with mom in a bit... she and I are going on a scout for a while to check the perimeters of the close islands before we settle in for the winter."

"Oh okay.. when will you be back?"

"Not too long. A few days maybe?" He rubbed the back of his neck "Sorry, I forgot to mention it, I've been so busy preparing everything else- I barely remembered that I had to go..."

I looked at Hiccup in worry. We had never been a full day apart since I'd arrived back. Now, unexpectedly he'll be going away for a few days...

"Will you be safe? Is it just you and Valka that are going?"

"Yes. You know I'll be careful, I have Toothless, mom has Cloud-jumper. We just have to make sure there's no danger ahead that could be a threat to our people, we've been doing it since those attacks we had these past few years. We'll start on the West islands and then work our way up North."

He got up from the bed and walked towards me. He held my cold hands in his and looked down on me.

"I'll be fine, I promise.. we're just taking a look around the islands, there's nothing to worry about. Sorry I didn't tell you sooner-"

"No no, it's not that. I just- I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too. I'll be thinking of you until I get back. I'll only be gone a few days."

"Okay. Be careful, ships did attack during the winter before..."

"I will" he replied carefully.

"... and give my best to Valka." I added.

I placed a kiss on his cheek and turned around for the door. Hiccup, grabbed my arm and pulled me back into a longer kiss on my lips. He pulled away and smiled, my heart skittishly skipped a beat.

"I wasn't gonna let you go without doing that."

"Goodbye Hicc, I'll see you soon"

I flushed with shyness and then hugged him before I went out the door. It hurts knowing that he isn't going to be there when I come home tonight...

I started walking down towards my old house, down the cobble footpath. The shapely grey clouds of winter hung like a tapestry in the sky. Suddenly, I tripped over a small stick on the path, fell on my arse and dropped my leash. I grabbed the leash and stood back up and...

"Astrid!" I blurted. She was standing in front of me with her arms tightly crossed together in embarrassment. I was the one that should've felt embarrassed, I had just fallen over a pathetic stick...

She turned red and continued to walk past me, she spoke no words whatsoever.

"Astrid! Can we- can we talk? Please?" She stopped, turned around and sighed.

"I have nothing to say, (Y/N)."

"I'm worried about you.. you're not yourself. I need to know that you're okay... please. Can we talk?"

She nodded slowly and started to walk with me, nevertheless she kept quiet.

"Tell me what's wrong. You did so much for me when I arrived. Without you, I'd be alone on a distant island somewhere right now. The least I can do is help you."

A painful silence filled our void. Astrid took a sharp breath before saying...

"(Y/N), there's nothing you can do to help me. I don't even know what's wrong with me. I want you to be happy, and I want Hiccup to be happy. I just- I thought I'd be okay... with you and- and him... but it hurts. I loved him. It pains me to see you together, but I know I can't do anything about it. I purposefully avoid you so that I don't have to see you two..."

I was speechless. It was exactly what I thought was troubling her, but it was still a shock to hear her say it out loud. She sounded sincere and she tried explaining herself in the most polite and kind voice.

"Astrid I-"

"You can't make me feel better, (Y/N). No one can. This is my issue and I'm dealing with it on my own. And I dealing with it well so don't worry about me. I'm sorry for being so distant... but trust me, I'm fine." She started walking away.

"No. Astrid, wait. Hiccup isn't here right now. Can't we hang out just you and me? Why does this have to result with us to not being friends?"

"We are friends. You are my friend, (Y/N). That's why I stay away, I don't want to bother you. I don't want to be a burden, making you feel uncomfortable."

"You're not a burden. I've been worried sick about you! I didn't know how you felt. I knew I hurt you when you saw us that morning in front of everybody. With Snotlout being-"

"I know, I know... you did hurt me a bit. Well- actually no.. Because it wasn't your fault. You shouldn't have to feel guilty about being with the one you love."

We awkwardly stood still. I didn't know what to say. I wanted to condole her, but I knew that's not what she would've wanted. I could tell she felt mortified. We both acted casual, as we could see a dark haired villager about to walk past us... it was Eret, Son of Eret. I saw Astrid blushing at the sight of him... He gave her a flirty smile and walked slowly past us both.

After he walked past, I looked at Astrid and smirked.. Those eye contact exchanges was all I needed, to know that there were unspoken feelings between the two.

"What??" She asked, but she knew her blushing expression had revealed too much.

"I know, it's been hard on you, Astrid, but why have you been avoiding on this island?.. when you clearly want to spend time with some individuals..." I asked, gesturing my head in Eret's direction.

"(Y/N) no. I- I've been with Stormfly, I haven't been alone."

"Astrid. Dragons are empathetic creatures... if you're lonely... she's lonely." Her own past words contradicted her motives. "Why don't you go after him? You're obviously attracted to him... Please don't isolate yourself like I did... it gets addictive and before you can think about making a new connection, you realise that you've been alone for nearly 6 years and have no more confidence to talk to anyone new."

She knew I was right. But I could tell she was fighting the urge to give in...

"Astrid please... don't make the same mistakes I did. Go after him. After all, he did seem interested." I smiled and placed my hand on her shoulder, begging her not to repeat my past actions.

"Okay... You- you're right. I won't let myself be alone any longer. I'm gonna try to-" she looked up and saw Eret still walking up the village in the near distance.

"Go. Before you miss your chance..."

Astrid pulled me into a tight embrace and said "Thank you." Then she jogged along after Eret. I could see her body language had changed since the beginning of our conversation, she was more relaxed and confident, just like the Astrid I remember. It made me happy to see her starting to get back to her old self.

I continued to walk down to my old home, where I saw my brother, with his monstrous nightmare by his side...

"Where have you been, (Y/N)?" He asked in an impatient tone.

"I had somethings I had to do before coming down here, Iacob"

"Well, whilst you here, this thing hasn't been the most helpful... he burned mums new chair..."

"Thing? You haven't given him a name yet?!" I raised my voice with annoyance

"No..."

"Well, first lesson of the day. Treat your dragon with respect. Give him a name..."

"I don't know about that... That instantly makes him my responsibility..."

"He is your responsibility since you picked him, Iacob"

"Ugh why did I have to choose the most flammable one?..." he looked at his dragon with slight fear in his eyes.

"I did warn you. You never listen... it's too late now, give him a name."

"Okay, okay... ummm... I think I'll call him Woody."

"Really, Woody? For a dragon?"

"What!? You're dragon is named Libelle! That name has no correlation to dragons!"

"Libelle means dragonfly..."

"Oh... well... still, his name is Woody."

"Why?"

"Cause everything he's been setting on fire since I got him is made of wood... Mums chair, the table yesterday, my dresser, my bedroom door..."

"How clever..." I said sarcastically "well, now that you have a name, we can get on with the lesson. Next step, trust..."

~~~

I taught Iacob for a couple of hours... taught him how to create a strong bond, and after a few hours, a friendship was made. It took much less time with Iacob than it did with Erik.. him and his Deadly Nadder weren't getting along for . But after the connection was made, they were inseparable.

Mum still didn't have a dragon, and I believe she never will. The past wars between her and them was embedded deep into her mind and I fear that it might never change. She felt like it wasn't respectful for her to keep a dragon as a pet because of dad... she misses him dearly. I accepted and respected her beliefs, but I still had hope that one day she might change her mind.

After teaching Iacob, I ate in the great hall with everyone. It was fun hanging out with everyone, but I missed Hiccup, who had left with his mother to search the nearby islands for potential threats over the winter. After supper, I didn't want to go back to an empty house so I went for a flight with Libelle, I could tell she also missed her other half, Toothless. Nevertheless, it was nice to fly with her once again, just me and her, up high, watching the sun set over the edge of the Earth...

After I came home that night, I lit a fire and grabbed one of Hiccups' shirts, one that smelled most like him. He smelled so nice... masculine yet sweet; perfectly balanced. I fell asleep next the the fire, with a blanket wrapped around me to keep nice and warm, and my head resting comfortably on Libelle as a pillow.

END OF CHAPTER