Hiccup's eyes snapped open as a hand shook him and he raised his head...to meet Martin Hofferson's cold blue gaze. Blearily, he blinked and tried to work out where he was, why his neck was stiff...and why he had something warm and soft in his arms...

...and then he pulled away in utter shock, eyes wide in horror as he realised he was holding Astrid and her overprotective father-who didn't want him there anyway-was leaning over him with an unfriendly look on his face. He swallowed in anxiety and pulled away...but Astrid was wrapped around him, a little smile on her face.

"What the hell are you doing?" Martin snarled at him and he went stiff, images of Alvin flashing across his memory.

"Um...it's not what it looks," he said urgently, hyperventilating. "We-we were just watching a movie and we kinda fell asleep..." Martin glared at her but Ingrid rested a hand on his arm.

"How dare you..." Martin spat through his teeth, fists tightening but his wife gripped his arm harder.

"Were you never young?" she asked him. He scowled at the boy, his eyes raking the skinny shape that was literally trying to crawl back through the couch. Then he leaned forward, sliding his arms under the sleeping Astrid and lifting her away from the boy. Hiccup cringed further back, shying from the man and breathing hard. Without a backwards look, Martin carried his daughter tenderly out and Hiccup heard him clamber up the stairs.

"I-I didn't do anything!" Hiccup gabbled, his eyes turning pleadingly on Ingrid and the woman rolled her eyes. "Really..." She stared at him and sighed.

"You know, I think I believe you," she said, "because you're not really friends, are you?"

"I don't know what we are," he sighed. "I think we may be almost friends here...but I am nothing at school. I'm not popular or cool, Mrs H. She wanted to watch a movie because she missed out on her girlie night...and then it was too scary so she just clung to me and fell asleep...and then, um, I did as well..." His head dropped. "I didn't touch her or anything creepy. I mean...I literally depend on her kindness for a roof over my head...why would I risk that...when she could break my wrist anyway if I put a finger out of place...?" He stretched and his neck cracked. He winced and slowly clambered to his feet.

"I am certain of that," Ingrid said with amusement, hearing the uncertainty in the boy's voice. He looked afraid and defeated...and Astrid's mother felt her heart sink.

"Am...am I being sent away?" he asked quietly. Ingrid stared into the desperate eyes and gently caught his skinny shoulder.

"Your mother sent you away, didn't she?"

He nodded, his face pale and eyes dark with pain.

"I won't send you away, Hiccup," she said slowly. "I think you deserve a chance...but be careful how you behave around my husband. He's very protective around Astrid..." He nodded urgently.

"Um...totally understand," he said quietly. "I mean, she's clever and smart and kind and beautiful and athletic and good at pretty much everything...you must be so proud of her. And I am definitely the class screw-up. I mean, it must be a Federal offence for me to even be seen with her..." Her lips quirked at his desert-dry humour. "And I have NO intentions towards her whatsoever. At all. Not even slightly. I-I just...just like having someone who will actually talk to me...some of the time..." He flinched as he heard Martin approach and walk through the door.

"Hiccup...I think you know what I have to say..." he said grimly as the boy backed away urgently, his eyes wide and fearful, his shoulders hunching in fear and arms raising to half-protect his face. Ingrid grabbed her husband's arm as she saw his sudden panic...and felt Martin tense in shock.

"Martin...he's not a threat to Astrid!" she said urgently, watching the man stare in shock at the cringing boy. Martin's quick blue gaze swept over the bruises on the boy's face and the swollen left hand, the bruise in the shape of a heel visible on the back of his hand... He stared for a moment longer...then consciously relaxed.

"I am not going to hurt you, boy," he said sternly. Hiccup lifted his panicked gaze and shook his head.

"Um...sorry if I'm not really believing you. Sorry..." he murmured, backing up another pace. Martin stared at Ingrid.

"He didn't harm her," she insisted. "They were just watching TV..." He stared at the tall, skinny shape and sighed.

"But he..." he protested and Hiccup's shoulders slumped. He stared at the floor.

"I understand," he sighed and smothered a cough, trying to lift his chin. "I'm sorry...I didn't harm her...she just wanted someone to watch the film with her...I never meant to fall asleep..." He shook his head slightly and Martin felt Ingrid grip on his arm tighten. He looked at her and read the determination in her face.

"He can stay...but he is not to distract Astrid," he said coldly. Hiccup stared at him.

"S-sorry..." he murmured. "No distracting. Um...got it. Can-can I go to bed...please?" Ingrid smiled and nodded as the boy skirted the far side of the couch and sprinted up the stairs. Martin stared at his wife in shock.

"Did that just happen?" he asked. She nodded sadly, her hands sliding to his chest.

"His mother rejected him...and his step-father is abusive," she explained with a sigh. "I promised we would give him a chance, Martin. I think we are the only people who will. No one else is going to..."

"As long as he doesn't cause Astrid any trouble or affect her grades...then he can stay," he said reluctantly. "I'm trusting you on this, Ingrid." She nodded. "Are they...?"

She smiled. "I don't think so," she assured him. "Astrid doesn't have a boyfriend. And Hiccup is very dependent on her. I don't think she's in any danger from him." He looked at her with a small smile, though his eyes were pensive.

"You know more about him, don't you?" he said thoughtfully.

"I have spoken to him and to his mother," she admitted. "I knew her-and his father-back when Astrid was in elementary school. She was a completely different person then..." She sighed. "That young man promised to watch out for our daughter, Martin. I believe he will do what he promises. And I promised him a chance. So we owe him that...because I think we may be his only hope..."