Hey everyone! Obviously lots of perspectives in this story now. I hope its not too confusing 😬😬

It was getting late. Almost 10:00 and still no sign of Hiccup or Astrid. Maisie didn't mind; at least Nuffink was home. She had noticed Zephyr hadn't come home yet and she fully intended on confronting her about that.

But even worse on her mind: Matthew. She only liked one stupid boy in her age group, and of course it would be the guy who didn't understand childhood trauma. Why couldn't he understand? It wasn't like she meant to have night terrors. Did he think she was doing it for attention?

Maisie gave up on trying to sleep and threw the blankets off, then headed downstairs. It wasn't like she wouldn't wake up screaming in the next hour anyways. So what was the point?

She sat on the livingroom floor, right in front of the fireplace and hugged her knees, resting her chin on top of then. She hummed as the heat waves sent tingles up her arms. But not even the flame would take her mind off Matthew. Her eyes stung and her lip trembled, but she told herself it was the smoke.

"Maisie?"

"Hmm?" She sniffled, rubbing her nose.

"What are you doing down here? I thought you went to bed."

"I did but...I can't sleep." She sniffled again, wiping at her eyes. Nuffink sat down next to her, mirroring her position.

"Did you have another nightmare?"

Her eyes began to sting worse now, lower lip still trembling. "No."

Her brother tilted his head at her and gave her that completely unfair big brother look. He always gave her that look when he knew something was wrong. Maisie didn't appreciate it tonight, because talking about the problem was only seeming to cause tears. And Thor curse it, she was sick and tired of tears.

"You gonna tell me what's wrong or do I need to start guessing?"

She didn't say anything. Only turned her face away from him and rested her cheek on her knees.

"Are you missing your mom?" A silent moment later he added, "Okay at least shake your head. Give me something to work with here, Maisie."

She shook her head. Why did he have to be so persistent? Couldn't he see she was trying extremely hard not to cry?

"Are you missing our mom?"

Maisie shook her head again. She heard Nuffink huff and she felt a little bratty. She knew he was trying to help and loved him for it, but she really didn't want to talk about it.

"Is it a guy?"

Maisie sniffled and her voice shook as she tried to hold back. But it wasn't working. "No." Tears finally fell, and oh, how they burned.

"Oh Maze..."

She felt him wrap his arm over her and she just gave up and turned into him.

Nuffink held her close and ran his fingers through her bangs, knowing that always helped her calm down. But this was a different type of crying than he was used to. And he didn't like it.

Maisie wiped at her eyes and groaned frustratedly. "I'm so tired of crying! But I just can't stop!"

"Maisie," he said helplessly and patted her head as she laid it on his shoulder. "Who was it? What happened?"

"I've been hanging out with Matthew." She confessed. She felt him tense for a moment. Nuffink had never liked the guy.

"Okay. Are you guys fighting? Do I need to grab my axe and kick some ass?"

He flinched a little when Maisie shouted. "It-its just he's being a total jerk!" Then broke down even harder.

"How? What'd he do?"

"He said my night terrors are dramatic and that I shouldn't be so babyish." She whined, hugging her brother tighter. Nothing helped her pain more than his hugs.

She sighed and thought about how people in classes used to tease her that they were like a couple and that pissed her off more than anything. How could anyone think she loved her brother like that? EW! Matthew had been someone to think it last year.

"Maisie they are not your fault." Nuffink reminded her.

"I know." She cried, letting him rub soothing circles on her back.

"He's not worth a single tear, ducky. Okay? You are so much better than him and way out of his league. You deserve better."

"My heart feels like it got ripped in half." And it did. It hurt so bad that Matthew wouldn't support her through the dreams. Had the entire month they hung out meant nothing to him?

After a while Maisie had cried herself to sleep. Nuffink didn't dare move her. She got woke up enough in the night. So he just laid back and fell asleep too.
*******
Conrad smiled contently as he looked down at the girl sleeping on top of him. He felt very special to be holding her, but it made him sad that she didn't feel safe in her own home. He couldn't even imagine what that would be like.

He recalled that when he'd told his friends he was going out with Zephyr Haddock, they'd all told him how crazy he was to date such a harsh girl. They all told him how rough and uncaring she was. But even then he knew that they couldn't be further from the truth. That outer shell was simply Zephyr's way of protecting herself.

Conrad sighed and kissed the top of her head, holding her tighter. She looked so peaceful and comfortable. He was glad that she was sleeping. She needed it.

After a while he realized he needed to wake her up. He really didn't want to, but he didn't want Zephyr to get into trouble either.

So he gently shook her, mumuring her name as he did so. Her eyes fluttered open but she didn't move.

"Zephyr? I hate to say it but we'd better get you home."

She sighed deeply and Conrad's heart did a backflip in his chest. Why in Odin's name did she have to be so cute?!

"But I'm comfy." She pouted.

He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tighter. "I know, I'm sorry."

*******The next day********

Matthew Wollerman reared backward as a searing pain exploded throughout his face. His eyes watered and his nose felt like it was on fire.

Nuffink Haddock took great pleasure in the right of blood dripping from the boy's nose, staining the dirt at his feet.

"What the hell was that for?!" He shouted.

Nuffink's anger only grew. Did he really have the nerve to play dumb?

"If I ever have to sit up through the night holding her as she cries her heart out on my chest again, I'll deal a lot worse than that!" He growled.

Matthew rolled his eyes and held a hand up to his nose. "What? Maisie can't handle anything herself? What a child."

"Don't push it, Wollerman!!" He warned.

"Oh what's it to you anyways? It's not like she's your actual sister. Isn't one enough?" The boy smirked.

Pure Hofferson anger rose in Nuffink. His cheeks turned red and his fists shook uncontrollably. He took a step closer and his voice dropped to his toes. "I'll let you get away with that just this once. But don't think I won't lay you flat if I ever hear you say that again."

"Woah man, chill."

"Maisie is just as much my sister as Zephyr is. And nobody messes with either one of them on my watch. Unless you want some missing teeth to go with that broken nose?"