Hiccup was astonished to realise that he was sort of happy. Sure he had no parents, was living with his girlfriend's family and no other relatives but he did have the most amazing girlfriend, a loyal and brilliant dog and a great group of friends. He had got detention for spying on Lilah and Savannah-who were suspended for two weeks for their actions-which he had accepted philosophically because he was really the expert at detention but he had refused to let the others take the blame for his plan, shouldering the full responsibility himself. But Olaf, Anna, Roland and Gustav had all filed into detention with him and grinned at Mr Johann, explaining they had known what they were doing and would keep him company. And he had really felt accepted in that moment.

Astrid had been annoyed that he had hatched the plan behind her back and carried the whole thing out without her knowing-though Ruff and Cami were clearly in on the plot. Even Hiccup explaining that he hadn't wanted her angry and distracted by Lilah's plotting hadn't soothed her and he had to apologise profusely for keeping a secret from her. She had forgiven him graciously though a pang of guilt had stabbed her unexpectedly hard for her hypocrisy: she was giving him a hard time while she still had one secret that she was keeping form him and had for months.

She had felt worse when he had sat next to her at lunch the following day, still eyed calculatingly by the other girls, and had looked very shifty and nervous. She had eyed him suspiciously, her eyes sweeping over his anxious shape.

"Um, Astrid...I have something to say to you?" he began hesitantly. She glared at him, her eyes hardening.

"What is it?" she asked fiercely. "Is it another secret?" He winced and nodded.

"Um, yeah...but to be fair, I have had to keep my secrets for years and not let anyone know," he said quietly. "I tell you everything that is important, Milady but you have to understand...I don't trust easily because pretty much everything has been taken from me. And when people demand I tell them something...I see Al, screaming in my face, looming over me...and I grit my teeth and close my eyes and curl up and cling to every ounce of stubbornness and refuse to tell them. You know I trust you, Astrid? You know I will never keep something important from you...But did you want to know every secret, every instance of abuse that I suffered? Every time I was unfairly blamed or detained? Every bad thing I did? Every instance of vandalism, of cutting class, of petty theft and insubordination? Every time I was locked up, starved, beaten, burnt? Because I can sit you down and tell you every secret I still keep...but I really think there are some things you don't need to know...and some which maybe aren't your business."

She blinked and nodded.

"I...understand," she said thoughtfully.

"I don't think you do completely...but this isn't a bad secret," he informed her. "More like...a question." He rubbed the back of his neck as he felt self-conscious, aware that other girls were eavesdropping as much as they could. He reached over and took Astrid's hands in his, his thumbs gently running over the backs of her hands. "Astrid...I'm sorry I upset you...and I wouldn't be surprised if you turned me down because I am Hiccup Haddock after all...but I just wanted to ask you...just in case...you might maybe wanna come to the Prom with me? As my date? Sort of thing?"

She stared at him, her eyes wide and mouth hanging open. Hiccup looked at her and sighed.

"It's okay," he sighed. "Sorry...I knew I..."

"Yes!" Astrid said suddenly. "Of course. Gods, I thought I would have to ask you!" His emerald eyes widened and a slow smile lifted his features.

"Um...really?" he checked. "I mean...it may be recorded for posterity that Astrid Hofferson actually went to the Prom with...um...me..." She stood and leaned over the table, beckoning him closer so she could give him a small, chaste kiss.

"Well, my reputation will just have to suffer," she said, "because I'm going with you, Hiccup." He smiled and sat back down, his hands twined with hers.

"Oh, thank Thor," he commented. "Because at least ten girls have already asked me and I keep telling them the only person I will go to the Prom with is you...so was really hoping I hadn't got that one hideously wrong." She gently punched his shoulder.

"Presumptuous," she teased him.

"I prefer...optimistic," he grinned. "And now...very happy."

oOo

Before the Prom, there was one very difficult hurdle for Hiccup to face: the trial of Dagur and Ozzie Oswaldson and Savage, Thuggory, Dogsbreath and Madguts. As the Trial had got closer, Hiccup had got more and more withdrawn and his replies when asked if he was okay got more and more sarcastic...but Astrid had realised he was feeling very defensive and had borne with him. He was sent to detention a couple of times for being very sarcastic and distracted to teachers until Astrid had spoken to Mr Johann and explained what was bothering the boy. After listening, the Acting-Principal had called Hiccup in and had been shocked and saddened that the boy had been incredibly defensive and withdrawn on entering the office, refusing to come close to the Principal and standing defiantly across the desk from the man.

Johann had been calm as he asked Hiccup when the Trial was due to start and if he would be required to give evidence. Hiccup had paused...and finally admitted he was. And that he was frightened to relive those memories...and that everyone asking him if he was okay was really bugging him.

"I'm not okay, sir," he said bluntly. "These people were my friends..but they turned against me for helping someone from being attacked. They beat me up and made my life Hel. And then they tried to kill me because they wanted to wipe out my dog."

"Your dog? That three legged black mutt?" Johann asked with a frown, recalling the animal from the Archipelago Cup match.

"Um...he had four legs until Dagur and his brother ran us down, the day after Snoggletog," he explained. "My leg was broken really badly-I needed two surgeries and nearly lost it. Toothless's leg was crushed and they had to remove it. He was almost euthanised...but Astrid persuaded her Mom to give him a chance and...there you are..."

"And the others...?"

"Oh...they ambushed me twice to try to make me withdraw charges against Dagur and his brother," Hiccup sighed. "Snotlout, Eret, Tuff and Fish rescued me the first time. The second time...no one got to me...but Eret and Cami found me afterward. I made a voice note inadvertently recording the whole attack, all the threats and taunts they said to me...and then I told the police."

Johann stared at him and nodded. "I think you can take time off school until this is over-if you feel that would help," he murmured. "If you remain, I will ask you to try to behave with the same respect we request for all out teachers..." Hiccup stared at the floor.

"I-I understand," he murmured. "I-I think I'll stay...because I can be close to Astrid and it may keep my mind off things." Johann nodded.

"Probably wise," he commented. "Back to class, Mister Haddock. You'll lose enough time during the actual trial."

"Um...thanks..." Hiccup had mumbled and then turned back to the Principal as he reached the door. "I mean it. Normally...coming here was just like being at home...and that wasn't any fun. This was...well...okay..." Johann smiled as he closed the door and shook his head.

"It always should have been," he sighed.

oOo

The Trial was very hard going for everyone involved, Hiccup most of all. The defence attorneys for Dagur, Ozzie and the others were vicious in trying to discredit the witnesses and undermine their testimony...but Hiccup had been calm throughout, though Astrid could see him struggling as his supposed betrayal of the others was used as justification. Her conscience kicked her hard again about her inadvertent betrayal of him to Alvin after the Mall fight. But she had been very firm and calm when it was her turn in the stand. She gave her testimony clearly and accurately, dismissing any challenge by the lawyers. Mala Tydon had been very stern in her defence of her witnesses and had refuted any attempts to discredit them. All of them-even Snotlout-had been ordered not to embellish their accounts and had dutifully told nothing but the naked truth: that had really helped in persuading the jury. And the Judge had been damning in her summation of the case, advising the Jury to strongly consider a guilty verdict in light of the overwhelming evidence.

The verdict had taken less than two hours: guilty of all charges. Dagur and Ozzie were both sent to prison for a long time and the others were also all imprisoned-because the attempts to intimidate and torture a witness and victim had been viewed appallingly. Hiccup had watched them escorted away, knowing they would never forgive him...but knowing that he had done the only thing he could.

And knowing he would have to go through the whole thing again...and worse...when Alvin was brought to court.

He hadn't felt much relief, only a sense of finality and the knowledge that one day, they would be freed. Afterwards, Ingrid had taken the two teens to the Meade Hall restaurant for a celebratory lunch, though Hiccup was worried because Astrid was quieter than he would have been expected after the verdicts were announced. Sitting in a neat booth, he had taken her hand and stared into her face, lifting her chin with a very gentle finger.

"Okay-tell me what's wrong, Milady," he murmured softly. She stared into his gentle emerald eyes and looked away. But he was persistent, moving closer to her and wrapping an arm around her. "Astrid...I know something really big is bothering you...and it's related to what happened during the Trial. Please...I want to help..."

She sighed and leaned against him, closing her eyes for a brief moment. "I...keep seeing you," she murmured. "I keep seeing you fall...the car...the screech...your scream...and you lying there on the snow..."

He wrapped his arms tightly round her, feeling her bury her face in his chest. He was aware of Ingrid's eyes on him but he was no longer worried: the Hoffersons knew he would protect their daughter, no matter what. "I'm alive," he assured her. "I'm safe. I'm here. And you saved both me and Toothless."

"But I keep seeing it," she whispered. "I keep hearing your scream..." He stared deeply into her eyes and kissed her gently.

"Milady...I am safe," he reassured her. "But if you are struggling...maybe you need to speak to someone more qualified than me? Someone who can help you move past that image..." His face was kind and concerned and she sniffed and shook her head.

"I'll be okay," she said stubbornly. "As long as I know you're safe...it will ease..."He leaned close.

"You will tell me if anything is bothering you, Milady?" he murmured. She nodded as the waitress arrived to take their order.

"Promise..."

oOo

But something else had been bothering her...the little nagging voice that had been pecking at her for days and weeks, ever since she scolded him for hiding his plan to entrap Lilah and Savannah. Because she was hiding a much bigger and worse secret that had damaged him terribly. And she knew in her heart of hearts that she owed him an explanation.

But she had no idea how he would react. Most of the time, she could predict, because there was a genuine streak of kindness and decency running through his skinny shape...but just sometimes, there was anger-defensive, violent and very fierce. His experiences had changed him, shortened his temper sometimes and meant he was swift on the defensive and ready to attack when he felt he was under attack because that was all he could do when he had been trapped for so long.

It could pose a problem if he took it wrongly.

And did she need to tell him at all? I mean, he didn't know and he's stopped asking about it. It no longer really matters, she mused as she doodled idly over her geography homework. Maybe she could just let it lie, let it die and never raise the issue which could harm them both...

...but she loved him. That much was genuine. And she knew that burying the secret was the coward's way. And maybe-and this was a very real possibility...Alvin would bring it up during his trial as a way of trying to split them apart and hurt Hiccup. How much more hurt would he be if he thought she had known all this time and not told him...and had to learn from Alvin, of all people?

She loved him. He loved her. He deserved to know. She wanted to know his secrets...and she owed him this one. No matter how uncomfortable it was.

So a couple of days before the Prom, after School was out and they were home, she sat Hiccup down in the Sitting Room and took his hands.

"Hiccup-I have something I need to tell you," she said.