It was Tuesday so he went to the workshop in town-'The Forge'-walking in the back and shouting a greeting to the owner, offering half-hearted apologies for his lateness. Swiftly, he stowed his bag and coat and pulled grimy overalls on over his jeans and top before walking into the main work area, almost being deafened by loud music and off-key singing. A single large man was bellowing horribly off-key, singing an old drinking song with words that the teen knew but probably shouldn't.

"Gobber! There are dogs howling for three blocks in all directions! For the love of Thor!" Hiccup shouted and his boss looked up, flipped up his welding visor and cracked a wide grin, showing his metal tooth. He had a peg leg and a metal hook for a left hand and though he was bald, he had a thick blond unibrow and a long blond braided moustache. His blue eyes twinkled at the skinny teen: he had been Stoick Haddock's best friend since elementary school and had always felt like an uncle to the boy. It was no surprise who Hiccup had turned to when he lost his Dad.

"Laddie! I thought ye wouldn't grace me with yer presence today!" he said amiably.

"You know I like to make an entrance!" Hiccup grinned, leaning forward. "Hmm...the Chevy playing up again?"

"Fuel injector is starving the engine," Gobber grumbled. "Have a look, laddie. You've got a way with these..." Hiccup grinned, rolled his sleeves up and cheerfully bent to his task. He lost track of time as he stripped the engine back and fixed the fuel injection system. Finally, he stood up, his green eyes looking triumphant.

"Try that!" he suggested and the older man lumbered to the ignition and turned the engine over. It roared into life, the purr even and deep. Hiccup tweaked the system once more, then nodded and Gobber switched it off.

"Good work, laddie," he complimented him. "Yer got time for a drink?" Hiccup stared at him, then snatched a look at the time. He gulped and shook his head.

"I'm late," he sighed. "Alvin..." He paused and Gobber stared at him.

"Yer Mom doesnae suspect?" he asked gently.

"Um...he sometimes hits her, Gobber," Hiccup explained ashamedly. "So I have to protect her. And I can't do that if she is worried what may be happening to me. So whatever he does...doesn't matter. As long as he doesn't hurt her, I can put up with it. He's already promised to throw me out on the day of graduation so I have to make sure I stay as long as possible...and have a plan so I can get her away from him..."

"Laddie...ye need ter look out for yourself as well!" Gobber said worriedly. "Yer dinnae think I canna see the changes ye've gone through since yer Dad went? Yer've closed down, lost yer spark...the boy I knew has gone as well..." Hiccup's green eyes flicked up.

"He's got me completely trapped," he said in a low voice. "He has my mother dependent on him...and I think she loves him. But he's cold and hostile to me...and in school, he makes sure I'm always on his radar, that every teacher watches me like a hawk. So I gave up, Gobber. There was no way I could win, no way I would ever achieve anything with him on my case. So I do the minimum and rebel against him because it's all I can do!"

"Laddie...I love you like you were my own son and I hate to see you like this..." Gobber said softly. The boy gave a mirthless smile.

"Nothing to be done," Hiccup said defeatedly. "No one would believe me anyway. So I just have to carry on." Then he paused. "Um...Gobber...can I leave my bank card and book with you? I-I don't want him to know what I have..."

"Of course, laddie," the older man said. "And any time ye need a place ter stay...yer know where I am." Green eyes brightened with gratitude.

"Thanks, Gobber," he said and hastily left, stowing his overalls and bank book in his locker. But as he trudged across town, all he could think of was that it was only nine months until he left home-and was finally free.

oOo

Astrid got in after the trials already planning her homework assignments. Her mother smiled at her proudly, waving as Astrid set her bag down and walked into the kitchen.

"How is my precious daughter doing?" she asked. Astrid smiled.

"Oh, just winning the trials and being Cheer Captain again!" she said casually. "Same as usual!"

"As long as you remember what your father said," her mother reminded her, pouring her a glass of juice. "A Hofferson is always a winner. He expects you to succeed in all you do...and get a straight A average again this year! This is your last year in School...and then the competition gets so much tougher as you head out if Berk into the wide world. And we both want our only daughter properly prepared!"

"I know, Mom," she sighed. "I just worry when you make me do things for the sake of College application. Some if the subjects are not my best, Mom. Take Art..."

"Giving you a more rounded portfolio," her mother confirmed.

"But, Mom-I suck at Art!" she protested. "Making me do Senior Art threatens my average grade! The best thing I could do is drop Art and protect my grades!"

"A Hofferson never quits," her father said, arriving and kissing his wife tenderly. He kissed Astrid's cheek and stared sternly into her azure eyes. "I am certain you will pass the class well."

"Dad-I'm competent at best," she sighed. "I'll pass...but not well." She gave her a hard look.

"I expect you to pass well, Astrid," he told her flatly. "You are my only daughter and you WILL succeed." Feeling her stomach dance with anxiety at the weight of expectation, she nodded.

"I will do my best,Dad," she said proudly and then headed upstairs for her shower and homework.

"Dinner in an hour!" her mother called as she reached her room. Then she flung herself into the bed. How could she possibly get an A in Art? Her last grade had been a C! She sighed. Despite what her father said, she would quit Art before she ever ruined her average with it.

oOo

Hiccup was in his room as well, cheek stinging from a brutal slap from Alvin and stomach growling with hunger. His mother had been so disappointed that he had been late for detention and earned extra punishment and that he had been late home without explanation. If she suspected he had been at Gobber's, she gave no sign. But Alvin had lectured him about responsibility and punctuality and he had risen to the bait again. The argument only ever had one end.

He listened carefully until he was sure Alvin was safely in front of the television before scrambling down into the yard and sneaking the bowl of food out for the waiting Toothless. The dog was astonishingly excited to see Hiccup and he just crouched by the hound, his hand on the thin back, feeling the vibrations of each desperate mouthful of food. He knew how the animal felt and his stomach rumbled again.

"Yeah, I know I should do something but I gotta look out for you buddy," he murmured. Toothless gave him a solemn lick and he rubbed the harsh coat affectionately. "Thanks, bud" he added. "At least someone is happy to see me..." The dog turned back to the bowl. "Or just the food I bring," he sighed, rising to his feet. Instantly, Toothless was alert and the boy heard steps as well. Panicking, he grabbed the almost empty bowl and the scruff of the dog's neck and dragged him into the bushes behind the back gates.

A moment later, Alvin emerged with his huge dog at his heel. He gestured and the brute started sniffing around, following the scent trail towards the concealed boy. He glanced at Toothless in agony, knowing what Alvin would do to the stray.

"Go!" he hissed and the intelligent green eyes stared at him for a moment...before turning and loping into the woods. Hiccup stared after him... then turned into a snarling face, saliva dripping from huge yellow fangs. He straightened up and backed away...until a hand painfully gripped his shoulder.

"What're you doing out 'ere?' Alvin demanded, his dark eyes cold. Hiccup gave a grin.

"Getting some air," he replied though the grip dug ferociously into his shoulder.

"I told yer ter go ter yer room!" the older man snarled.

"Hey-I did exactly what you asked!" he protested. "I went to the room...and then came out here for some air..."

"Yer knows what I meant!" Alvin threatened him.

"I know what you said," Hiccup replied smartly, "but how could I possibly guess what you meant?" Without any hesitation, Alvin slapped him hard, the mark of each finger discernible against his pale cheek.

"I've bin wantin' ter do that all day!" Alvin growled. Head spinning from the impact, Hiccup didn't even struggle as he was dragged back into the yard.

"Glad to help!" he forced himself to say. Alvin more or less threw him across the yard: his foot skidded on some mud and he slammed to the ground.

"Now, there's no one ter see and no one ter interfere so let's sort this out, man ter man," Alvin said in a soft, menacing tone. "Yer want a shot at me, 'Iccup?" The boy scrambled to his feet and backed away. He could backchat and sass all he wanted but the cold hard fact was that Alvin could beat him to a pulp without even trying. And he seemed itching for the opportunity.

"No," he murmured, feeling the shed at his back. He was trapped and could feel his heart pounding as Alvin closed.

"I didn't catch that, boy!" he growled.

"I said NO," Hiccup snapped back. "Gods damn it-do you want a letter as well?"

The fist that met his middle was like an iron bar and he groaned as the air was crushed from him. He doubled up before a hand grabbed his hair and painfully dragged him upright. Another crunching blow this time had him collapsing to the floor where a hard kick smashed into his middle again. Bowed forward, he literally didn't have the breath to resist as Alvin pulled him up and slapped him again, before another punch crushed the remaining air from his body. A final kick to the stomach had him curled up on himself, struggling for air and feeling his vision fade.

Alvin stood over him for a long moment before grabbing his hair and dragging him to his feet. The pain cleared his head a bit and he stumbled but stayed on his feet. Alvin's grasp closed brutally around his arm and he hauled the boy unceremoniously into the kitchen.

"Oh, Hiccup!" The disappointment in his mother's voice was painful to hear, especially once Alvin carefully added:

"Found 'im out back. Little bastard decided to disobey me!" The flash of sorrow in his mother's forest green gaze was enough to make him want to apologise...but not to Alvin. Never to Alvin. Hurting all over from the beating, cold, hungry and still light-headed, Hiccup didn't even have the strength to protest at her final words:

"Why can't you get on with your father?"