They drove for about fifteen minutes up the winding mountain road out of Berserk, ears straining for sounds of pursuit by the authorities before they slowed, seeing the green and white truck parked up ahead. The headlamps illuminating a huge pine that was partially axed through and the stocky shape standing next to it, his cap pushed back and axe slung arrogantly over his shoulder. The garbage truck sailed by and parked up beyond Barf'n'Belch, the hiss of the brakes loud in the nighttime forest. The twins were standing shouting unhelpful advice to Snotlout. Hiccup leapt down.

"Ready?" he asked. The twins offered him their hands.

"Don't leave us hanging, Harry," Tuff warned and he completed the twin high-fives. "Fish told us what you did."

"And though it isn't blowing up his trucks...which would have been awesomer...at least it means come New Year...we and the other truckers will have a future," Ruff admitted, then threw a tight hug around him. Tuff joined in.

"Thorston sandwich!" he shouted and Hiccup remained still, his eyes staring helplessly up at Astrid...but she wasn't mad. In fact, she was almost falling off her seat in the truck, helpless with laughter at his astonished face.

"You're alright, Harry," Ruff added. "And if you ever get tired of Astrid...I'm free and very willing..." She rolled his eyes at her attempt to be alluring...which just came out as unsettlingly creepy and weird.

"Thanks...but I'm good," he managed, finally struggling free. "Are the Four Sisters ready to blow?" Tuff winked and gestured to the identical four spruces all wired up with explosives.

"They'll blow sky high on your command!" he assured the lanky man, then headed back to the truck as Hiccup walked slowly towards Snotlout. This was the part he wasn't looking forward to-because Snotlout knew him better than anyone else...and was the most likely to uncover his subterfuge. But he limped up to his cousin, watching the cocky man leer at him, his nose swollen and bruising still forming underlies eyes from Astrid's punch.

"I see the jailbird is out," he sneered. "You know, I told Astrid she didn't need to waste her time on you..."

"Glad she didn't listen," Hiccup said, his emerald gaze pointedly lingering on the man's broken nose. "You ready?" Snotlout preened, flexing his muscles.

"I'm the Champion of Berk for the last six years!" he boasted. "Jorgensen Lumber's one and only Snotlout 'Champ' Jorgensen!" Hiccup nodded.

"Knock 'em out, Champ!" he said sarcastically and Snotlout expertly slammed the axe into the trunk, swiftly completing the cut.

"TIM-BERRRRRR!" he roared as the huge tree slammed down across the narrow road, blocking the way. Hiccup smiled and turned...and in that moment, Snotlout looked up, seeing the faint, small scar on the right side of his chin, just below the lip. His jaw hung slack for a moment, then his face curled in a nasty smile. "Hiccup?"

The lean, auburn-haired man stiffened and he sighed softly.

"So it is you," Snotlout sneered, coming closer, his face vaguely triumphant. "I knew there was something off about you...'Harry'..." He walked around the taller man and leered into his face. "Scared to give us your real name? Afraid we would see through you for the useless loser you really are?"

"Have you heard yourself?" Hiccup sighed. "I have a home, a job, two degrees, a classic bike..."

"You can say what you want..." Snotlout sneered. "But I see a skinny loser in a wrecked jacket with a bruised face, the cops on his tail and hiking with two other losers..."

"While I see a brainless clod who has moved precisely a hundred yards to his Daddy's company because he has no brain, skill or talent to earn anything for himself! How did Football go at College, Snot? Or did I hear you were thrown out for partying and losing your fitness...and just not being good enough?"

"Does Astrid know?" Snotlout menaced, leaning close, his face visibly red with anger. "Does she know her hero 'Harry' is nothing more than Useless Hiccup the loser, pretending to be someone cool and preventing Astrid from coming to be with me-as she was always meant to be!"

"And what she wants?" Hiccup asked. "She certainly doesn't want that from you-you insensitive, sex-obsessed moron!"

"Let's see what she says when she finds out you're a fraud, Hiccup. See if she wants anything to do with you then...?" Snotlout threatened but Hiccup snapped round to face him.

"You know, I've wanted to do this for years," he said sharply, pulled his fist back and punched Snotlout as hard as he could in the face.

There was a shocked silence as everyone stared at them. Snotlout's eyes rolled back into his head and he went down like a felled tree. Tuffnut gave a whoop.

"Thor's mighty hammer!" he shouted in admiration.

"And Snotlout's paper jaw," Ruff added wisely. Hiccup sighed and beckoned them over.

"Little help here?" he asked. "We oughtta get him on the truck and then we cam finally blow those trees and go home to Berk!"

oOo

Despite the fact it was incredibly late and cold and they had dumped the garbage truck outside the town hall-that the twins had promised not to blow up-Hiccup had helped Astrid drag her luggage all the way to her parents' home. The walk had been largely silent but companionable: Hiccup was really exhausted and Astrid seemed distracted. Of course, Hiccup knew where her family lived-he had crushed on Astrid since he was about ten, though she had never acknowledged he existed until the previous day-so he was careful not to let on he knew where they were going. 

The neat house still had the lights on outside and a holly wreath on the blue-painted front door. Hiccup groaned and puffed as he manhandled the ridiculously heavy cases onto the front step...and then paused to stare at Astrid.

"You'll be okay?" he murmured. She paused, the stared up into his kind face, a hand rising to stroke his bruised cheek.

"I'm so sorry, Harry," she said softly. "I really am. I should have taken more care. I could have killed you..." She paused. "But I don't regret the last two days...because I got to meet you..." He shuffled a little closer, his hands gently dropping to her waist. 

"You know, this should have been a nightmare...but you turned it into a dream," he murmured then broke into a brand grin. "Gods, that was corny!" She rested her head against his chest, laughing. 

"You are such a great guy, Harry," she murmured, staring up into his eyes. "Kind, caring, patient, inventive, determined...and maybe a bit sarcastic..."

"Only a bit?" he smirked and she smiled again.

"How come we never met before?" she asked him, her azure eyes wide.

We did. You just never gave me the time of day.

"I guess fate was just making us wait," he sighed. "Would you have gone for a guy like me before? Or would you have chosen the jock? I mean you are insanely beautiful, smart, sassy and fierce...I would never stand a chance with a Valkyrie like you normally. I suspect my only chance would be to kidnap you in a cross-country disaster trip..." 

Her hands landed gently on his cold cheeks and pulled him into a passionate kiss that lasted far longer than Hiccup could ever have dreamed. His lips were on fire and his chest was exploding with utter delight and joy.

"Best. Trip. Ever..." she smiled and sighed, reluctantly turning to the door. "I ought to go in...do you want to...?" He shook his head.

"I oughtta see my own parents...before they think I've died on the road or forgotten to come," he admitted. "But you have made my year. Astrid Hofferson."

"Thank you for bringing me home," she smiled then turned back as he reluctantly stepped back. "Will I see you again?" He smiled.

"I know where you live, Milady...so anything is possible," he told her, turning back to the road and heading into the cold for the last leg of his journey.

oOo

Snoggletog lights were twinkling on the guttering but otherwise the large wood-clad house was in darkness as he finally reached his childhood home. He paused at the entrance of the drive, staring at the holly wreath on the door before slowly limping up the drive to stand on the front step. This certainly wasn't how he had planned on returning home. Self-consciously, he ran his hand through his auburn hair: he was dishevelled and had a bruised face and a split lip, his biker's jacket was ripped, his jeans smeared with mud from when he was taken down at Berserk Haulage and he was officially a fugitive from justice.

He leaned forward and pulled the bell. 

He stared at the door of a long time until he heard steps close, heard the bolts slide back and the door open. He stared up into the familiar face, framed by flaming red hair and enormous braided red beard, of his father. The enormous man was wrapped in a chocolate brown fluffy dressing gown with brown plaid pyjama pants visible and huge sheepskin slippers on his feet.

Stoick Haddock's eyes widened as he stared at the dishevelled, lean young man with wild dark auburn hair and his wife's eyes. He swallowed. 

"H-Hiccup?" he mouthed. The young man shrugged.

"Hey, Dad," he sighed. "Sorry I'm a bit late..."

Stoick stared at him, utterly frozen. Hiccup's emerald eyes flashed with defensive anger.

"Hello?" he said, waving his hand in front of his father's face. "Gods, this is all I need. I have finally come home-metaphorically and physically and I have to say, I have endured the journey from Hel! My classic motorbike was wiped out by a careless driver, my motel room was given away and the replacement was next door to the loudest sexual athlete in the history of Midgard: I have been caught in a car fire, thrown off a train, hitch-hiked really unsuccessfully, got chased from a diner by men with guns, ended up in the middle of a trucker's vendetta, thrown in jail in Berserk, been broke out of jail in Berserk, blown up a bridge and a shed load of cop cars and punched out Snotlout! So if you have anything to say, I suggest you keep it to yourself!"

His eyes were glittering with irritation as Stoick stirred.

"Val! You need to come now!" Stoick shouted in a hoarse voice, never taking his eyes from his prodigal son. There was the sound of running feet and his mother, wearing green and white striped pyjamas, pushed past the Mayor. Her face contorted in shock and sudden delight and she flung herself on her son, wrapping a ferocious embrace around him. Finally, he relaxed, hugging her back and closing his eyes as he buried his face in her shoulder. Suddenly, an enormous par of arms enfolded them both as Stoick joined in the hug.

"You're home," Valka said, her voice hitching with emotion. "My baby is finally home. We were so worried...we thought you weren't coming back. We-we tried to phone you but it just went to voicemail..." Hiccup sighed.

"Lost reception over the hills...and my battery finally died," he admitted. "Sorry..." Valka kissed him on the forehead.

"It doesn't matter," she said gently. "You're home for Snoggletog...and you've grown...Gods, you're a handsome young man now..."

"Way to make me realise what you used to think of me, Mom," he said sarcastically. Stoick gave a sudden chuckle.

"There's my boy," he said, drawing the whole family into the green oak hallway. He closed the door against the night chill and led them into the living room where the fire was still burning low. Valka went to make a hot chocolate for her freezing son as Stoick sat opposite him, taking up almost an entire two-seater couch. Hiccup dropped his rucksack and holdall onto the rug and sat cautiously.

"So...how are you, son?" Stoick asked softly. Hiccup sighed.

"Fine," he began. "I..."

"And work...?"

"Well, it's going pretty well and..."

"Anyone in your life?"

Hiccup's eyes flicked up.

"Should I bother to answer or will you interrupt me with that one as well?" he asked sharply. Stoick's eyes narrowed and he seemed on the verge of responding...but he held himself back and then he sighed.

"You grew up," he said finally, his voice sad. "You left home and grew up...and I missed it."

"You missed much of my childhood and growing up anyway," Hiccup told him shortly. "You were always too busy with running this town and then disapproving of what you saw of me. I was never the son you wanted, never the buff, strong football-star offspring you craved. You would have been better with Snotlout!"

Stoick looked genuinely shocked.

"I-I...I am so sorry you believe that," he said in a hurt voice. "Because I know Snotlout was never going to be a quarter of the man, of the success you are..." He paused and drew himself up. "I am so sorry, son. I-I know I've not been the best father. And I know I never supported you as well as I should. I guess that was why you left...because I never backed you doing what you wanted. I know I put a lot of pressure on you to follow in my footsteps..I see that now...but you have to be your own man..."

Hiccup's emerald eyes flicked up and inspected the huge shape. His bruised face flicked into a small smile.

"I never wanted to tell people what to do...I prefer to create, to build...to make the world a better place..."

"Just as I do...but you do it in your own way," Stoick realised. He swallowed. "I have been a fool." Hiccup gave his lopsided smile,

"Probably we both have," he admitted. "I'm too stubborn to ask for help...and you're too stubborn to realise when you should be giving it anyway!" 

"I'm not getting any younger, Hiccup," Stoick said, the bags under his eyes more pronounced. The young man noted much more grey in the beard than he had remembered and nodded, a thrill of anxiety running down his spine: it was the reason why he had returned this year. "I have missed a quarter of your life with you going. And you are my only son, my only child. I don't care why you left any more...I just want you in my life again. I am looking towards stepping back and spending more time at home...and I would love to see more of you. I don't want you to follow me if you don't want...I just want to be part of your life once more. And I will support your choices, whatever they may be. Just...forgive me, son? Let me be your father once more?"

There was a pause and then Hiccup slowly rose to his feet, limping over to the huge shape...and threw a huge hug around his Dad. 

"I've missed you too, Dad," he admitted, burying his face in his father's shoulder. "I forgive you..." Valka watched from the door, two cups of hot chocolate in her hands and tears in her eyes.

"Welcome home, son," Stoick said.