"Go to your bedroom, baby," Astrid said firmly. Emma looked up, her big blue eyes seeing the determination in her mother's face and she nodded dumbly, waving to the stranger and trotting away.

"She's perfect," Dagur said, his pale green eyes trailing after the small shape as the door closed.

"What are you doing here, Dagur?" Astrid demanded, her fists clenched and eyes glittering with anger. "You have no right to be here." His carrot brows dipped, his face hardening.

"She is my daughter!" he told her sharply. She marched up to him, her entire shape rigid with anger.

"No, she's not!" she snapped. "You dumped me after the Prom and you'd gotten what you wanted. You told me she wasn't yours when I told you I was pregnant. You called me a slut and a liar so all my friends dumped me like trash when I sent you the sonogram when I was twelve weeks. You had your parents take out a frickin' restraining order against me when I sent you pictures from her twenty week scan and what was it you said?" Her voice had risen and was hard and bitter. "Ah yes-I have a glittering career as a Football player and the last thing I need is some dopey high school whore claiming I fathered her bastard brat. It's not mine and never was. I never want to hear from you again!"

He gave a broad smile, his buff shape topping hers by almost a head.

"Baby, you know I never meant it," he said smoothly.

"Yes, you frickin' did!" she shouted. "You ruined my life!"

"Ooh, you shouldn't say that about the kid-she'll get a complex and need a psychologist! Hardly the behaviour of a fit mother," he sneered. She frowned at him, a frisson of anxiety beginning to stir in her stomach.

"What?" she gasped. "Emma is the best thing in my life. But you ruined my life, Dagur, by lying about me, turning all my friends against me and refusing to be part of my daughter's life. You've been absent for four years!" He walked close to her, towering over her and raised a hand to stroke her face but she flinched back and glared.

"Honey, you really need to learn to count," he scoffed. "She's only three..."

"She existed from right after that night!" she bit back, her face flushed with anger. "She existed when I told you about the test and the scans and all the appointments you missed not to mention the birth and all the years since! That is over four years, Dagur. You can't just swan back in and decide you want to be Daddy! I've managed fine without you and I'll carry on managing!"

"Just managing?" he asked, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a huge wad of money. He peeled off a dozen-all hundred dollar bills-and shoved them into her hand. "There you are, babe-a little down payment on my missing support payments. Buy yourself a new apartment!" She shoved the money back into his hand.

"I don't want your money!" she shouted. "And I don't want you near my daughter!"

"She's my daughter too," he said, his tone growing more menacing. "I'm not being unreasonable, Astrid. I just want to share!" She backed up a pace, hearing the threat.

"I don't want you anywhere near my child," she told him evenly. He shoved the money back in his pants and drew himself up.

"Oh, I will be near her," he told her in a soft, very threatening tone. "I was trying to be nice, trying to share-but if you won't share, I'll take her for myself!"

"You wouldn't dare!" she spat. He gave a cold smile.

"I'm rich," he told her. "I can buy what I want-including my brat. I'll get her a nanny, put her in a good school, let her mix with the right people-while you're in a scummy one bed apartment and work in a Diner..."

"How the Hel do you know that?" she gasped. He smiled cruelly.

"I know people," he reminded her. "No one messes with Dagur..."

"And no one messes with Astrid Hofferson!" she replied, trying not to let him see the tremble in her hands.

"I can get you declared an unfit mother-just like that!" he threatened, snapping his fingers under her nose. She flinched.

"And you?" she retorted. "Football career didn't do so well, did it? So what are you doing now, Dagur?" He lunged forward, a hand tightening round her neck with enough pressure to choke her to silence.

"I fix things," he breathed fiercely. "And I will fix this, Astrid. You either co-operate or you lose her." He paused and squeezed a little tighter. "Maybe I won't even bother with the courts. Maybe I'll just arrange for an accident to happen and then collect my daughter when her Mommy is off the scene." She stared at him in horror.

"You..." she choked, clawing at his hands. He leaned forward and pressed a sloppy kiss on her mouth and she tried to pull away, closing her eyes in disgust. Then he shoved her back, coughing, wiping her mouth and feeling her bruised throat.

"You really should consider my offer, babe," he told her. "Mmmm-we could be good together again."

"We were never good together," she said hoarsely, backing away.

"But I always get what I want," he reminded her cruelly.

Yes, you said that on Prom Night-no matter how much I said no, she thought bitterly. But she lifted her head and glared at him. "GET OUT!" she shouted, grabbing her phone and stabbing in 9-1-1. He stared at her and flipped her a sarcastic salute.

"If you want it this way, Astrid-then that's how it'll be!" he told her.

"GET OUT!" she screamed.

"Hello?" Astrid lifted the phone to her ear, heart fluttering at the calm voice of the operator.

"Police-and hurry," she said breathlessly as he gave her one final, deeply menacing glare before he stalked out of the front door. She slammed it and bolted it behind him. "Yes-23 Nadder Row. I've had a break-in. I'm home alone with my three year old daughter! Please hurry."

But as she leaned, trembling, against the front door, his words echoed in her ears. Tears were prickling at the corners of her eyes and she felt physically sick. Her knees almost felt as if they were going to give way as she leaned harder against the door, hyperventilating. Because she knew Dagur was utterly ruthless and amoral and he would do everything to ensure he got what he wanted.

And now he wanted Emma.

oOo

The police were sympathetic, though they seemed to indicate that they considered it more of a domestic dispute than a serious crime-no matter how desperately she explained he wasn't a friend let alone her partner. They did take a statement and pictures of the bruises around her neck-and they did note that he had forced the back door in but there wasn't much they could do. Nothing was taken, he was the girl's father and resources were stretched. They would look for him but as Astrid couldn't give an address or contact details, then they could just advise her to take some additional precautions and suggest taking out a restraining order.

As if I have the money for that, she thought, tears blurring her vision as they finally left. She no longer felt safe in her own apartment, the little place she had made her home and she knew Dagur could come back at will. The police had noted down what Dagur had said but told her that without any witnesses, there was nothing they could do about it. She wrapped her arms around her body and stared at the door. She was scared. Fearless Astrid Hofferson was scared. She had to move.

And then it hit her: she had nowhere to go. Her parents were away and she didn't have a key to their home-and there was no way she could afford to just go to a motel to get away. Dagur had already been to Emma's nursery and knew where she worked. She was utterly trapped.

And then she glanced at her phone. She had very few friends as well-another present from Dagur-but there was one person she could maybe call on. Trembling, she walked to the phone, scrolled up her contacts and hesitated, then called the number.

He picked up immediately.

"Hi, Astrid," he said. There was a pause and she found tears were rolling down her cheeks. She took a shuddering breath.

"H-Hiccup?" she said, hating how tremulous her voice sounded. This wasn't her. Damn Dagur! She hated being so weak-but she was completely trapped. "P-please...I-I n-need your h-help..."

oOo

She had packed frantically, sitting Emma on the sofa and explaining the red-haired man who had come into the apartment wasn't a nice man and that they needed to move for a while. Emma had nodded solemnly, hugging her big pink teddy and scrambling to take her hand.

"Don't cry, Mommy," she had said which had made Astrid feel worse. She had to be strong for her daughter, had to make Emma feel safe and protected and loved but here she was, weak and trapped and helpless. And relying on others to help her out. She hugged the little girl and blinked hard. "I'll look after you."

"Thank you," she said to her daughter and then stood up, putting her in her coat and taking her out to the car. Strapping her in, she loaded in their bags, locked up the house carefully and then drove off, her heart pounding in her throat. She found herself anxiously searching the rear view mirror, jumping at every car and wondering if the occupants were watching her for Dagur. She flicked her azure gaze to look at her daughter as they turned across the highway and headed back towards Strike Street. The car turned away and she quietly drove on until she arrived outside the familiar apartment. She switched off the engine and took a deep breath, then unfastened her seat belt and opened the door.

Gods, she was shaking like a leaf. And why? This was Hiccup, for Thor's sake! And he was her friend: the kindest, goofiest, least threatening man she had ever known. What was she afraid of?

Hiccup had already opened the front door when she emerged from her car, Emma's bag slung over her shoulder, the suitcase dragging behind and her hand clamped fiercely round her daughter's. The little girl stared up at the tall, lean man in dark jeans, a loose training top and sneakers and Hiccup slowly lowered himself to a crouch as they scrambled up the steps. He managed a smile, his emerald eyes warm.

"Hi," he said gently. "You must be Emma?" The girl glanced up at her mother and Astrid gave a smile and nodded. "My name is Hiccup. Your Mom asked if you could stay in my home. You are very welcome-and so is your teddy..." His green eyes flicked to the huge pink teddy, the corners crinkling as he tried not to grin too much. "What's his name?"

"Pascal," Emma said, her blue eyes very round. Hiccup tilted his head slightly.

"Hmm-and I guess your favourite Disney Princess is Rapunzel?" he murmured. Emma rewarded him with a huge beam.

"Yeah, I love Punzel!" she announced, reaching out to take his hand. "Her hair is just like mine and one day I'm gonna marry a Prince and end up a Princess too!" He did grin then and nodded.

"I don't doubt it for a second," he told her seriously. "You sound every bit as determined as your Mom!" She grinned at that.

"C'mon inside. Silly man, you'll get cold!" Her voice was almost exactly Astrid's tone when she was ordering him around and he really had to bite his lip not to start laughing. Then the little girl dragged him in with all the determination of her mother and he glanced quickly up to Astrid, her eyes amused at her daughter's innocent and immediate acceptance of the stranger. He briefly mouthed Are you okay? She nodded and followed him as he staggered to his feet and allowed himself to be led in by the determined little girl. Astrid dumped her bags and closed and locked the door then turned to see her daughter explaining to Hiccup about Pascal and how he liked choco-wheats for breakfast. The man gave a helpless look as Astrid came to his rescue.

"C'mon, baby-lets get you out of your coat and boots and then I think we need to get you ready for bed..." she said, looking askance of Hiccup. He smiled and waited for her to finish, then grabbed her suitcase and limped carefully to the back of the property.  Astrid gasped.

"Hiccup-it's okay-we'll sleep on the couch!" she said urgently, a horrible feeling of guilt curling in her chest. But he just smiled.

"What sort of host would I be if I didn't offer you the spare room?" he asked her wryly, opening the door to a room that was bigger than Astrid's own bedroom. A double bed with a dark hardwood frame stood proudly, laden with a thick satin-covered quilt and a pile of pillows, all the bedclothes and curtains a pale green. A thick pale brown rug was spread on the floor and a large wardrobe and chest of drawers in the same dark wood failed to make the large space feel any smaller. She stared, open mouthed. "Um, you may have to share with Emma-if that's okay..."

Astrid nodded then stared, her mouth working soundlessly. Slowly tears spilled from her eyes and she began to shake with sobs, pressing trembling hands to her face. Hiccup stared at her-then stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to his chest. She buried her face and wrapped her arms around him, crying quietly.

"Shh, shh-it will all be okay," he murmured. "I promise it will be okay. You're safe here now. And I won't let anyone hurt you or Emma." He nuzzled her hair gently.

"Don't deserve you," she sobbed. He gave a small smile.

"That's my line," he reminded her gently, stroking her back gently. "I hope it's okay-I never use it. Um. Nope. No friends but I live in hope. Sorry about the decor. I kinda like green...but I guess you may want to pink it up a bit?" She nodded, sniffing and swiping away at her eyes.

"You have no idea," she sighed, seeing her daughter exploring the room. "Hmm-I guess she may build a den under the bed as well..."

"Damn, wish I'd thought of that," he smiled. "Sounds cool. Though I guess Toothless may move in there with her."

"Toothless?" Her eyes were suspicious.

"My cat," he explained. She frowned-she had never seen the creature. "New acquisition since you started me on this dating thing. Found him starving in a cardboard box on the way home. I checked and no one came forward to claim him-so he kinda stayed. He's a bit shy and scared of strangers...but I guess he'll get used to you-or abandon me like everyone else..."

"Except me, mutton-head!" she told him, her voice steadier. "I will never abandon you! Promise!" He grinned.

"I'll hold you to that..." he teased her, feeling her tense form finally relax.

"Hiccup?" He stared into her eyes, his arms still wrapped comfortingly around her. "Thank you." He took a slow breath and his eyes warmed with affection.

"You're welcome, Milady," he said.