Astrid was jerked from sleep by the scream, adrenaline surging through her body as another scream sounded. All sorts of horrible thoughts raced through her sleep-fuddled brain but as she focussed and a third howl sounded, she realised there were only three people in the apartment-and though Emma was awake, her eyes huge and scared, she wasn't screaming. The cries came from the other room.

It could be a home invasion...Gods! What if Dagur has found us?

But she got up anyway and turned to her daughter, tucking the pink bear close.

"Stay here, baby," she said in a low voice. "Pascal will protect you if you snuggle down. Mommy's just going to see what's upsetting Hiccup..." The child's lip trembled.

"Are you going to make it alright, Mommy?" she asked in a little, scared voice. Astrid swiftly kissed the top of her head.

"I will if it's at all possible, baby," she promised and slipped out of the door.

The apartment wasn't completely dark, shards of icy moonlight lighting the dark wood floors as her bare feet soundlessly padded across to Hiccup's room. Another scream sounded, whimpers and pitiful mutters audible from the room. Astrid hesitated for a second, pressing her hands on the door before opening the door and sliding in.

Hiccup was sitting upright in the bed, moonlight streaming in through the window and outlining his rigid shape. His eyes were wide and dark with fear and utter misery, hands held out in front of his body to ward off whatever was attacking him. And there were tears on his face. As she walked forward, he pressed his hands to his face and sobs began to shudder through his lean shape.

It took Astrid about a second before she surged forward, reaching his side and then gently touching his shoulder. "Hiccup?" she murmured gently.

His jagged, helpless breaths shuddered through him and his head snapped up. He blinked, his eyes starting to focus, tears still trickling down his face.

"A-astrid...?" The word was hoarse, confused and he took another shuddering breath. "N-no...she's h-home with her daughter..." He blinked muzzily, looking defeated. So she pulled him into a hug, arms wrapping tightly around him. He gave a short scream and struggled, trying to scrabble back but she held him, a hand gently stroking his head.

"Shh, shh-it's okay, Hiccup," she soothed him softly. He tried to shake his head and curled his head away but as she continued to hold him, a sob shuddered through him and he flung himself against her, arms wrapping around her and face burying in her shoulder. Huge sobs shook him and she felt her heart break a little more as she tenderly held him, slowly feeling the shudders settle and his breathing calm.

"Mommy? Is Hiccup okay?"

Astrid sighed and nodded, not looking at her daughter.

"Of course, baby. Just a bad dream. remember when you get bad dreams, Mommy gives you a hug?" There was a pause.

"Yes, Mommy."

"Go back to bed, baby. I'll be through soon enough."

"Okay, Mommy." And there was the patter of little feet receding. She sighed.

"Sorry," she murmured.

"S'okay. My fault." Slowly, Hiccup raised his head and he looked at her with embarrassed swollen eyes, the green almost black in the moonlight. "Just a bad dream, huh?" She stared into his face, realising he was still clinging to her. He sniffed and slowly, reluctantly pulled away, but her hand gently trailed over his cheek and he briefly closed his eyes and pressed into the gentle touch.

"Sounded more than a bad dream," she noted as he finally pulled back, taking a shuddering breath and swiping his face dry. Tendrils of sweat-soaked auburn hair stuck to his skin and his shoulders were still heaving.

"Yeah..." he murmured. "Nightmare..." She perched on the edge of the bed, inspecting him closely. She could see the pulse still bounding in his neck and she inclined her head thoughtfully.

"Can I help?" she asked softly and he shook his head.

"No, this is just something I have to deal with," he sighed. She peered at him, his tall shape hunched and one leg curled under his body.

"Do you get these often?" she asked him gently and he managed a small shrug.

"Pretty much every night," he mumbled self-consciously. "Usually, I just lie awake until the morning because I can't sleep again after I see it..." She started and realised he was reliving the accident.

"Haven't you seen anyone?" she asked gently and he stiffened.

"Um...thought we'd established I can't get into a car or taxi to get to the hospital," he mumbled ashamedly. "So no therapy. Nope. I'm sure it will settle...in maybe a year to two..." She frowned at the defeat in his voice and paused.

"I'll take you," she said gently. "Set up the appointments and I'll come with you. You need help, Hiccup. And I want to help." He managed a small, shocked smile.

"R-really?" he mumbled and she smiled at the sudden uncertainty in his voice. Hiccup had been so assured, so calm and so astonishingly in control when he had taken her to see the lawyer, when he had supported her and held her hand as she had told her story-especially when she went through the story of Prom Night. Her phone had been downloaded and all the texts in and out had been printed out. Then Hiccup had quietly and calmly discussed how they would apply for the restraining order and simultaneously make the application for sole custody of Emma. Hoark had nodded, checked exactly what Astrid had wanted and assured her that all would be in hand with the restraining order in place by the following day.

But here, in the darkness and quiet of his room, he was still broken. She made her decision and paused, squeezing his hand for a second. "Wait here," she told him and left. He sighed.

"Going nowhere," he mumbled, still shaking.

Astrid silently went to her room and found Emma curled up, hugging Pascal and already asleep. Quietly, she tucked in her daughter and grabbed one of the blankets from the bed, then pulled the door to.

"G'night, Mommy," Emma murmured and Astrid smiled as she walked over to the other bedroom, seeing the bowed shape still sitting up in the bed, his breathing heavy and weary. Astrid wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and walked in, her eyes fixed on the bowed shape. Deliberately, she walked round to the other side of the bed and scrambled up. Hiccup's eyes widened in shock and...fear?

"Wh-what are you doing?" he asked in a very anxious voice. She curled her legs under herself, sitting on top of the quilt.

"Come here, Hiccup," she commanded him and he warily scooted a little closer. Gently, she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him down so he was lying alongside her. His eyes were wide and confused, his body rigid with embarrassment.

"Um...what are you doing, Astrid?" he asked warily. She arranged the blanket over her and adjusted her grip around him, pulling him against her. Warily, he turned onto his side to face her.

"I guess you may manage to get some sleep if you had someone with you," she said quietly. "I don't think you should be alone."

"Don't have much of a say in that," he sighed.

"I'm volunteering," she told him and he tentatively draped an arm across her body, feeling her fidget as he curled his head against her shoulder. "Nothing is going to harm you while I'm here, Hiccup," she said firmly. He sighed and settled against her. Admittedly, this was a dream but he was torn between the absolute delight at feeling her strong arms around him and utter embarrassment at her witnessing his complete uselessness as he woke screaming from another nightmare. But here, in Astrid's arms, the aftermath of the nightmare-the truck sliding to him, the whispered words of the doctor as he sat, trapped and dying, the horrific wakening, Ana's brutal dismissal-faded in favour of her sweet presence. She moved her head slightly and she could hear her breathing slow as she drifted into sleep. And for once, he wasn't shivering and alone, whimpering with the horrid visions swirling in his head: in Astrid's embrace, he was warm and felt safe.

And for the first time, he felt himself relax and safe in her arms, he fell asleep.

oOo

Wakening was perhaps the most magical and embarrassing experience Hiccup had ever had. During the night, his arms had wound around Astrid and their bodies were pressed close, heads resting tenderly against each other. Astrid's skin was flawless, the fainted of freckles on her cheeks and eyelashes a couple of shoes of gold darker than her sun bright hair. Her nose wrinkled slightly as she frowned and began to wake and her hand gently slid up to slide through his wild auburn hair. Her head moved slightly and she gave a little smile as her eyes fluttered open, the momentarily azure depths peaceful as she assessed her surroundings.

And then she blushed as she realised she was tangled around Hiccup, their bodies intimately close with only thin nightclothes separating them. Her cheeks warmed with a fierce blush and he felt her stiffen, starting to pull away. Mourning the loss, he relaxed his arms and allowed her to pull free. He felt awkward as well because she had come here to help him and a small part of him felt he had taken advantage of her. But she stretched and sat up, smiling into his wide emerald eyes, a relaxed expression washing the anxiety and fear from his features.

"Morning, Milady," he murmured softly. "And um...sorry..." She gave a small laugh and leaned forward, pressing a very brief kiss on the top of his head.

"No more nightmares?" she asked and he managed a grateful smile.

"Actually, no," he sighed. "That was the first time I've had a proper night's sleep after a nightmare since...the accident." She briefly rested a hand on his cheek.

"Then my work is done," she said cheerfully, grabbing her blanket and sliding back to the floor. "I need a shower and so does Emma. I'll let you get up in your own time..." Hiccup sat up and stretched, his neck cracking audibly. He smiled.

"Thanks, Astrid," he said gently. "I mean it." She winked from the doorway.

"You make those appointments," she said gently. "I mean it. You've helped me more than I can say. Now I need to help fix you too." He smiled as she left but then the smile dropped from his face, a sigh shuddering though him. His hand drifted to his left leg.

"Oh, Astrid," he sighed. "I'm afraid I'm beyond fixing."