His arms quaked at her sides as they supported his body above her. Astrid frowned at this and reached a hand up to his cheek. "You're trembling."

"I'll be alright," he said breathlessly.

"You don't usually-" she paused, then opened her mouth to speak again. "You haven't trembled like this since we were teenagers."

Hiccup chuckled. "Shouldn't that be a compliment on your part?"

Astrid gave him a stern look and he stopped smirking. She was genuinely worried.

"I'm alright, M'lady." He sunk down to eventually lay on top of her, his cheek resting on her chest.

"You haven't called me that in a long time." Astrid smiled and began to run her fingers through his hair.

"I'm sorry..I never realized I stopped."

"I hadn't either until you said it just now.. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Mmhmm." He nodded gently. "I'm just...not as young as I once was, honey."

"Hey." She wrapped her arms around him and kissed the top of his head. "Don't be calling yourself old. That means I'm losing my macho."

He made a noise in the back of his throat and shook his head. "You'll always be perfect to me."
******
"Why'd you stay?" Zephyr breathed.

"I don't know." Conrad shrugged, sitting upward. "I just did."

Zephyr got a weird feeling in the pit of her stomach. She blamed it on the stress of almost dying ten minutes ago. Conrad stood and held his hand out to her. She took it and allowed him to help her up. Blood began to trickle down her face as she stood.

"Eesh, you got a pretty good scrape." Conrad cringed. "You gonna be alright?"

"Pff, this? I've had way worse. I'll be fine." She brushed the dirt off her leggings and stood, placing her hands on her hips. "So..about earlier. I'm sorry I punched you."

His face flushed slightly and he shook his head. "Don't worry about it."

"Well, I'll see you around, Conrad."

Zephyr turned before he could see her blush and headed back towards the village. She definitely need to talk with Freya.
***********

The man stepped forward, intending to grab Maisie's arm and pull her with him, but Nuffink shoved him back, nearly knocking him to his feet.

"That was a warning."

Maisie knew he was getting pissed now. Nuffink's accent had mostly faded as he'd grown, but when he got overly emotional it tended to break through. And now it was completely back.

"I don't know why you're here, but if you try an' touch Maisie again you'll get much worse than tha't."

"She's my daughter." The man said. "My blood. I'll do as I please."

"Then where were you?!" Maisie shouted, images of her mother flashing through her mind. Nuffink grabbed her wrist as she stepped out from behind him, and she through his hand off. "Where were you when mom and I were barely making it?! Where were you when she got sick? Where the hell were you when I needed you?" She shoved the man, hard. "Let me make on thing very clear."

Maisie felt her hands begin to shake. Pure rage flowed in her veins at the sight of him. The mere audacity he had to show up now. "I don't need you! I have a family, a real family! You may be my biological dad, but you will never be my father!"

The man raised his hand to slap Maisie and Nuffink grabbed her arm, pulling her out of the way just in time. "I don't think so! Keep yer damn hands off her!"

Zephyr was just coming out of the forest when she saw them. Nuffink, Maisie, and some strange man. She saw Nuffink pull Maisie away from the man and she felt her anger rise. No one threatened her siblings and got away with it. She broke out into a run and headed towards them.

Maisie gasped when her dad pulled a knife out. "Nuffink let's just go!" She tugged on his arm.

"Nobody's going anywhere!" The man twirled the knife in is hand then raised it at Nuffink. "Hand her over, boy."

Maisie looked around desperately for someone who could help, but most families had gone inside for dinner. That's when she spotted Zephyr racing toward them. "Zephyr's coming!"

The man scoffed. "What, another little friend of yours?"

"Nope. Our big sister." Maisie smirked.

Zephyr didn't hesitate. As soon as she was close enough she spun on her heel and kicked him right in the kidney. He crumpled to the ground and she kicked the knife several feet away.

"What in Thor's name is going on?" She shouted. "I leave you two alone for one day. ONE DAY."

"Zeph, meet Shane." Maisie poked the man with her boot. "My biological father."

"We need to get home."

"Couldn't agree more." Nuffink glared at Shane.

"Well let's go before he gets up again!" Maisie started running for home. "Slow pokes!"
***********
Hiccup and Astrid were in the kitchen preparing dinner when their children burst into the house. Hiccup immediately noticed the dried blood on Zephyr's forehead.

"What did I say about fighting?"