TWENTY ONE:

Hiccup was bowed over his homework English assignment when the doorbell rang. His friends had sent their refusals to tutor Snotlout at the end of the school day and had all scooted from the school at top speed to avoid any confrontation. Actually, Hiccup could see that the twins were quite looking forward to an argument but Heather, Fishlegs and Astrid had hauled them away before they could locate the Snot.

The doorbell rang again and Hiccup rolled his eyes. His father was downstairs in his office and would be just as unwilling to be interrupted but Stoick had insisted his son concentrate on his work, since he had missed time with his concussion so it was with relief that he heard the creak of steps on the hall floor and the creak of the door.

He turned back to the paper and typed in another sentence, then erased it. The wording just wasn't right, the words eluding him... He massaged his temples, rerunning his previous thoughts and grasping the elusive thread. He smiled and began to type, fingers flying across the keyboard as he chased the train of thought. The words were flowing, the discussion suddenly clear in his mind and he could see the rest of the paper forming even as he typed.

"HICCUP!"

He growled, his train of thought derailed.

"BUSY!" he yelled, desperately trying to put down the words before his concentration was broken.

"SON! IMPORTANT!"

"GO 'WAY! BUSY!" he yelled back desperately, trying to at least type a few words as pointers to how his argument was going to develop. But he could feel the bubble burst and he shook his head, making a bullet list of the points he had come up with, in the hope he could string them back together when whatever his father was determined to discuss would be done.

"HICCUP! NOW!"

Snapping the screen of his laptop down in frustration, he shoved his chair back from his desk and scrambled up, limping slightly and almost tripping over Toothless, who had wound himself around Hiccup's chair. Smiling, the boy fondled the Shollie's soft black ears. Green eyes cracked open gently and the dog whimpered.

"Yeah, I'll be okay," he murmured. "I'm sure it's nothing..." Then he walked out of his room and made his way to the top of the stairs-to stop dead as he saw his Uncle Spitelout standing there, a smug look on his face and his arms folded. Sighing, Hiccup cautiously made his way down the stairs, his limp still obvious and his hand clamped tightly on the hand rail. Stoick looked up, mild disappointment in his eyes.

"Ah, Hiccup-yeh know Uncle Spitelout?" he said lamely.

"You mean the same one who burst into my hospital room just after I had woken from really bad concussion and made a load of unfounded and vicious allegations ALL OF WHICH WERE UNTRUE about the attack Snotlout made on me that could have killed me?" Hiccup snarked, his eyes glittering with anger. Stoick rubbed the back of his neck.

"Um...aye...well, he wanted to talk to me about Snotlout," he said.

"Has he offered an apology?" Hiccup asked sharply.

"Well...no..." Stoick mumbled. "But it was an accident."

Hiccup blinked.

"What was? The fact I grabbed at anything to stop me falling after Snotlout had deliberately shoved me down the stairs?" he asked. "And where is the apology for the attack? Because Snotlout certainly hasn't apologised for pushing me down the stairs and then lying about it. And Spitelout hasn't apologised for his behaviour in the hospital, the way he stormed in and verbally attacked an injured minor-which you were pretty slow to stop, Dad!"

Stoick's eyes flicked guiltily up. The last shot had hit home, especially when he had realised how bad his son had been feeling after the online bullying he had received as a result of the lies peddled by Snotlout and Atali. He had attended his first session with a counsellor on Monday evening but his father knew it would take a while for the damage done to be remediated.

"Aye, well Spitelout came over because Snotlout is having some issues-and he says you're behind them..." he said, his tone disappointed. Hiccup folded his arms.

"What issues?" he bit out.

"Well, the spiteful way that you're refusing to let your friends tutor my boy to help him catch up!" Spitelout piped up snidely. Hiccup stared at him.

"WHAT?" he exploded.

"He said yeh friends refused tae tutor him and that it must be yer fault!" Spitelout repeated more loudly. Hiccup stared in shock for a second and then exhaled slowly.

"Firstly, my friends make their own minds up," he said evenly. "Secondly, no one is under any compulsion to take on additional tutoring. And though my friends offer it, they are not staff so they have no compulsion to accept everyone who applies-it's a matter of what they feel they can offer. So if they choose not to offer tutoring to someone, it's because they don't feel they are the right person for that student's needs. And finally-Snotlout has been cruel, snide and plain nasty to all of them for ages-years, in fact. Why would they want to put themselves out for him? In life, you reap what you sow. Snotlout has been cruel and selfish for years, existing on his image of being the strong guy, the jock and ruthlessly denigrating, bullying and ostracising those he considers weaker or less worthy than him. Suddenly he needs those 'worthless' people and now he's surprised to find that they don't want to expend the energy or the time to try to lever some information not Snotlout's notoriously thick and dense skull. So they have turned him down. So that means he will have to do what everyone else has to do and talk to his teachers to get tutoring."

"I don't hear anything other than jealousy!" Spitelout sneered.

"Let me be clear-NO ONE is jealous of Snotlout's stupidity!" Hiccup told him shortly. "Astrid, Fishlegs and I are straight A students and guaranteed Honour Roll. The twins and Heather are likely to make the Honour Roll as well. Snotlout was borderline failing his Diploma even before he had time off because he was lazy and uninterested. If my friends don't think they can make a difference, that is their choice!"

"Well-what about you?" Spitelout snapped. "He's yeh cousin, after all!" Hiccup gaped.

"You're kidding, right?" he gaped. Then he reached the hall floor. "Dad-is your computer on?"

"Um...yes, son..." Stoick said.

"Good," Hiccup snapped. "Come along then!" He walked past and the two men trailed after him, watching curiously as the teen unlocked his father's computer and navigated to BerkBook, before clicking on the link for 'the StairCase Incident-Footage G Larson'. He spun the screen so Spitelout and Stoick could see and then he clicked play.

Hiccup closed his eyes-he didn't need to see the fall again and his counsellor said the footage may not help his personal recollections or memories return-but he flinched when he heard the words "I don't need anything off you, Useless-especially not you trying to protect me!" And then he heard Stoick's gasp as he witnessed the push, the fall and the sight of his son's head smash against the rail and then the stairs, the sight of his son lying still and unconscious-and of the girls, Hiccup's friends rushing to help both the injured-including the attacker. Stoick managed a small smile at Astrid's fiery determination to take charge and her actions in protecting his son. And then Hiccup clicked the video to pause.

"Snotlout attacked me," he repeated, seeing Spitelout's face frozen in shock. "He stated that he didn't need anything off me. He threw me from our group of friends when I was injured and lost part of my leg in a fire." Stoick blushed again in shame. "He's not treated me like a cousin or any sort of family for over a decade. He's physically attacked me twice recently. I am certainly not lifting a finger to help him catch up with work he has lost through his own actions. He can do what I had to do-put the time and effort in and catch up on his own. Or ask the teachers. But I am not spending one second alone with him or lifting a finger to help him."

"He said ye were a bitter, jealous little twig and he was right!" Spitelout spat as Stoick stared at him in astonishment.

"You know-brother-I was always surprised at how insanely stupid and gullible you were and you never cease to disappoint!" the flame-haired man growled. "You take everything that loud-mouthed son of yours says at face value. You believe his lies, even when there is concrete evidence that proves he's being dishonest. You never call him out on his lies, his transgressions, his faults. You place all your value on his sporting achievements-which were impressive, I concede-but from what you say, he won't be able to pursue that as a career. So now you need to step up as a father and support and guide him. And echoing his lies, that others are 'jealous' of him so they won't help him isn't helping him at all. Now is the time to sit him down and explain why others don't want to put themselves out for him-because he has never done anything for them to want to. Because he has acted entitled and cruel, that he has been spiteful and blustered, rather than lift one finger to do the work throughout his school career. He hasn't helped others at all throughout his school career, merely demanded admiration. And he now expects aid from those he has targeted and taunted for years, with no comprehension of their feelings or humility in his requests. It is natural they won't help-and ridiculously stupid that you imagine that they would. It reflects poorly on him as a person-and worse on you as a parent, for allowing your only child to become...this...and then storming round here to harangue my son for everything that your son has brought upon himself and which he must now learn to face on his own!"

Spitelout faced his brother, his mouth hanging open and eyes wide with shock. He glanced over at Hiccup, seeing calm determination in the auburn-haired teen's eyes. And then he swallowed.

"Ah. I'll be seeing meself out then." He turned to the door. "Sorry to interrupt your evening."

There was silence, save for his heavy steps as he walked to the door and let himself out. The door clicked as Hiccup stared up at his father. Stoick's eyes strayed back to the screen.

"I hadn't seen that before," he murmured. "I never realised just how blatant, how vicious the attack was. And for him to say that and then make the claims, the lies he did...Gods." Hiccup rose and walked to his Dad, seeing the distress and confusion in his eyes. Quietly, he took his hand and squeezed.

"i get...fragments now," he murmured. "But seeing it shocked me too. Seeing someone be so cold-blooded and vicious, to take that action with no care for the consequences...is a real kick in the guts!"

"And for him to now involve the 'cousin' thing is absolutely revolting!" Stoick growled. "I'm sorry. He came up and claimed you and your friends were mounting a campaign against Snotlout to stop him graduating and make his life miserable. That you had all refused to tutor him out of spite and were gloating that he was going to fail..."

"And in what way does that sound like my friends or me, Dad?" Hiccup asked him bluntly. "I know you've been an absent neglectful father at times-though I never doubt you love me-but why do you believe your muttonheaded brother over your son? The brother you barely speak to unless he's trying to undermine me and gloat about his own son!" Stoick looked ashamed.

"He's my brother and can be very...persistent," he mumbled.

"You mean you tolerate him because your Dad asked you to look out for him when he was dying and you always felt guilt at your estrangement even though it was the only option you had due to his toxic behaviour," Hiccup told him. Eyes widening, Stoick chuckled.

"I see that counsellor is already taking effect," he commented.

"Not really," Hiccup told him firmly. "I took Psychology in Junior Year and it's basic observation and common sense. I know you have spent a lot of your life looking out for Spitelout-but he's just as ungrateful and entitled as his son is. He always boasts and throws it back in your face while you just smile and get on..."

"Spitelout has always been insecure, my half-brother, born out of wedlock and always feeling inadequate," Stoick explained, leading them to the kitchen. Quietly, he clicked the kettle on and prepared to make his patented hot chocolate. "He was never bright and I helped him as much as I could-not that it could make much of a dent in his innate stupidity-but it was never enough. It was always a competition between us. Somehow he made it to college and we were rivals in the Football Team even then-he never forgave me for getting the Quarterback berth in Senior Year-or for not going pro. I never sought the glory, I just wanted to enjoy my sport and play with my team...and then come home and serve Berk. I'm not built for the lies and deceptions of politics so I served the community by promoting business, art, cuisine, experiences, theatre, culture, the countryside...anything to ensure our town thrives and prospers. He sought glory in the leagues and when he never made it, somehow it was my fault. And he never let up about the fact his son was buffer and stronger than you."

"And he transmitted his insecurities and jealousy to Snot," Hiccup realised, accepting his cup of chocolate with added cream, marshmallows and grated dark chocolate on top and taking a grateful sip. "This is good, Dad. Thanks." Stoick sighed.

"I know I've been a poor father," he confessed. "I know I miss your Mom something horrible but she chose her way. I will never divorce her-because I still love her. And I cannot say sometimes how hard Spitelout's taunts hit-that I wasn't man enough to hang onto her. But I think I always knew which way her heart leaned. She was spirited and passionate about what she believed-and I see that in you, son. And in my heart of hearts, I knew that I was only lent her, that she wasn't going to be mine for life. Yet I am eternally grateful that I have you-which I know is selfish since your Mom left us both and you when you were only a wee one-because you are my pride and joy. I never say it enough but you are a decent and brave young man. You are smart, you have good friends and a great girl and I know you will succeed in whatever you want to do."

Hiccup looked up at the inflection in the words and saw the honesty in his father's grey-green eyes. Stoick wasn't good at opening up on his feelings and it was clear that the encounter with Spitelout had shaken him to the core and caused him to question his own parenting. But there were oceans between Spitelout and Stoick.

"Dad-we all cope with things in our own ways," he sighed, realising that there was little currency in hanging onto his bitterness and resentment at his father's absence. The truth was that Stoick did love him and never hesitated to show it when he was there-and that he had realised, albeit belatedly, that his son would need him and he had stepped back from the job he loved to be there for Hiccup. And though he was awkward and a bit like a dragon in a china shop, Stoick was trying. "And I know that you are trying Dad." He sipped his chocolate again. "And in case you didn't realise, I'm proud of you too. I just wish you sometimes trusted me." Stoick sipped his own chocolate, his moustache ending up liberally tipped with cream and chocolate.

"I do," he assured his son. "Though sometimes I need my son to remind me what a muttonhead I am." Hiccup chuckled, glancing at the huge shape opposite.

"Hmm...let's be honest, Dad," he said. "In that department, the Jorgensens have got the Haddocks beaten, hands down!" Stoick started laughing.

"Thor, don't tell them that or they'll be unbearable!" he guffawed. Hiccup grinned as well.

"Thanks, Dad,' he said. "And I really am glad you're home now." Stoick beamed with pride.

"Anything for my son," he said.

oOo

"So how've you been, Babe?" Astrid's face looked tired over FaceTime but she was still as beautiful as ever. Hiccup sighed and her face creased with concern. "Hiccup?"

"I had a visit from Spitelout-Snot's Dad," he revealed. "He really has no insight or connection with reality. He was accusing me of making you guys deliberately not help poor Snotlout and trying to make him fail!"

"WHAT?" Her face showed her outrage. "I hope you put him right!" He smiled.

"I showed him Gustav's video," he revealed. "He hadn't seen it-and I think the sight of his son snarling those words and giving me an almighty shove down a flight of stairs really hit home at what was wrong with Snotlout. And how there was no way I would ever be able to help Snotlout-even if he did apologise." She nodded, her face serious.

"Did he get the message?" she asked and he nodded.

"I think he was shocked-especially when my Dad completely let rip into him-that Snot's failings and petty jealousy and insecurity and bullying were all his Dad's fault," Hiccup admitted. "And Dad apologised-for letting Spitelout in and for a lot more. He really misses Mom at times and I'm sorry for him. It sounds like Spitelout wasn't kind to him when Mom bailed...and that probably contributed to the rift. And it's sad because what kind of person glories in the fact that someone has been abandoned through no fault of his own? Mom was always her own person and she left us both, not just Dad. She abandoned her small child because her beliefs were more important to her than her child and family." He chewed his lip. "I hope I would never be that person. I hope I would always be the person who would offer support and kindness. And I know I wasn't...but I want to try."

She smiled, her eyes sparkling.

"You already are," she assured him. "Initially, you were an ass but you learned the lesson and when I really needed you, you were there. Hiccup...if anything has become more clear over the weeks we've been together-and Thor, that sounds weird but you know what I mean-it's that clinging onto the anger of the past just denies you the opportunities that you could have if people would accept apologies and give people a second chance." She smiled. "Mom and I gave Finn a chance-because he showed he wanted to help, to be part of our life. And he would have earlier, if we hadn't been so angry at Dad's loss. He forgave us as well. I forgave you and you forgave me for the horrible thing that Snot and those idiots did to you, even though I never asked that anyone went in against their will or that someone was trapped..."

"Milady-Snot, Thug and Eret should take responsibility for their own choices and their own mistakes," he soothed her, seeing her eyes start to darken with upset at the thought that her words could have led to his death at the hands of his vicious, spiteful former friends. She sighed.

"But they don't, do they?" she sighed. "I mean, Snot expects you to help him, even though he did nothing for you and has expressed no contrition for his crimes. He emailed me this evening, all full of 'poor Snot' and vitriol that my friends didn't help him so I owed him tuition because they had given me a chance to be one of the popular gang. No mention of the way they treated me before...or at the Valentine's Dance, by the way! And not one syllable about how sorry he was that he and Atali and Mindy tried to blame this all on me as well!"

"So I guess that was a 'no' to tutoring him," Hiccup guessed as she nodded.

"I told him to get lost," she replied smartly. "That his actions in the past in no way made me want to help him. And that he would have to succeed or fail entirely on the basis of his own skills and efforts."

"Ouch," Hiccup murmured. "He's doomed..." He took a sip of his cold chocolate as Astrid's eyes widened.

"Hey-you didn't say you had chocolate!" she protested. He gulped.

"Well, I couldn't really send one of Dad's specials down the computer..." he mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck self-consciously. She pursed her lips.

"You could have brought a take-out for me..." she whined.

"I'm not sure Dad's in the take-out business..." he said as he saw the disappointment in her eyes. "But I can try to persuade him. And maybe...when you come over, he will make you the chocolatest most marshmallowy and definitely most over-creamed hot chocolate in Berk's history!"

"That's a date," she promised and smiled. "Now, what else has been happening with my fabulous boyfriend...?"