Six.

It was a very unpleasant seasonal surprise when Mildew opened his door the next morning to the pair of cops-Officers Hoark and Ack-who promptly arrested him for assault. Hiccup had pressed charges against the old man, supported by Snotlout, Tuffnut and Fishlegs, who had been witnesses to the attack. And though it hadn't been a serious assault, Hiccup had needed stitches and Astrid had been insistent that the vicious old man shouldn't get away with hurting him. And Mildew's day got worse when the building management company contacted him because he had let in someone who had known they wouldn't be admitted by the person they had come to see. The building CCTV confirmed that Mildew had let Eret in-Eret who had gone on to hit Astrid. The fact he seemed to keep a sheep in his apartment when an unexpected inspection was held all added up to his tenancy being revoked and Mildew being evicted in the New Year.

oOo

Hiccup had arrived back in Astrid's apartment as dusk fell and the temperature fell ferociously low. Quietly, he had stared out of the window, still in his jacket and hoodie, as the light faded before he turned to the watchful blonde.

"Thank you," he said quietly. "Thank you. I-I really don't deserve this kindness and generosity but..." She had walked forward, the picture in her hand and she had smiled at him, taking his cold hand.

"The man who can produce this amazing portrait doesn't deserve to freeze to death," she told him quietly. "You're an amazing man, Hiccup. I missed you. It was my fault. And I have to apologise as well..." His hands had tightened around hers and she had stared up into his eyes.

"You know, you're doing a great job so far," he told her quietly.

"And I need to do a better one," she told him gently, helping him off with his outdoor clothes. "Now you have an address, we can get you the help you need..."

"You think I need help?" he asked dryly. She smiled.

"You certainly quality for some benefits, maybe support for some courses to train you after you left the Army and...and support with your prosthetic," she added. "I guess it hasn't been checked since it was fitted?" He looked away and sighed.

"It rubs badly," he admitted and she sighed.

"It shouldn't," she reminded him. "So we're getting that fixed. And we can enrol you in whatever training you need so you can get a job."

"So you're putting me out to work..." he commented as they sat on the couch and Toothless struggled up into his lap. "Hmm...I could always busk..."

"I heard you singing in the shower-and no, that wouldn't even keep me in coffee..." she smirked, He chuckled.

"You have quite a habit there," he noted. She elbowed him gently.

"Better than booze," she admitted. "Hiccup-I am so sorry. I should have kept my head and not allowed myself to get wasted..." He shrugged.

"I can hardly talk," he reminded her.

"But you stopped..."

"I had good reason," he said quietly as her hand landed softly on his arm.

"Help me," she asked his gently. "Help me move forward and deal with things more healthily. Be my friend...please?" He leaned towards her and kissed her cheek.

"I am your friend," he told her honestly. "You help me and I help you."

"And we both help Toothless," she smiled as the dog gave a small yip and was promptly patted by both of them. His tail wagged wildly. Hiccup laughed.

"Stupid mutt," he said affectionately as the snow started outside. "I am so lucky to be here with my two favourite people in the world."

oOo

Astrid and Hiccup had invited the friends round on New Year's Eve-with very strict rules: wine only, no comments about Hiccup and they all acted like adults.

"That rules out the twins," Hiccup noted as Astrid hung up on Heather.

"Probably," she admitted, "but they're coming anyway."

"Oh Thor-maybe I should hide in the shower until they leave," he suggested but she smirked and swatted his shoulder. "Ow! I think I'm developing a permanent bruise there," he added.

"It's not violence, it's communication," she reminded him as he pointedly rubbed his shoulder. "Are you ready?" He nodded.

"I have to remember they are just people," he sighed. "Not monsters who tormented me for years. Not family who wouldn't even piss on me if I was on fire. Not strangers who made a judgement that a homeless person had to be deceiving their friend and decided to kidnap and abandon him." He didn't mention the original plan-because he wanted Astrid to give them a chance since she had given him a chance. And he knew that if she knew they had planned to leave him alone out in the woods to die, she would end their friendship. "Just stupid, prejudiced people."

They had decorated the tree with more lights and baubles and put more lights around the small fireplace. The dining table had been pushed back against the wall and Astrid-with Hiccup's help-had cooked burgers and hot dogs along with spicy fries and corn salad. There was a black forest trifle for dessert that Hiccup had made because it had been his father's favourite. And there were chips and dips on the side table.

The friends had arrived on time and Astrid had let them in, welcoming them with a smile and a hug and taking their coats. They had wandered in to find Hiccup in the kitchen, making fruit punch.

"It's non alcoholic for the designated driver," he explained when Snot had scowled at him. "I don't drink." There were gasps and he had smiled. "There are a number of homeless people who have drinking problems, guys, but I'm not one of them. Not now. I just lost a leg, found my family gone and well, didn't cope very well."

"We looked you up," Heather said awkwardly, accepting a glass of the punch, which was very tasty. "Um...did you really do all of that?" Hiccup arched an eyebrow.

"All of what?" he asked warily.

"Saving two patrols, rescuing wounded men, killing over fifty enemies, destroying their base? Securing the town? All by yourself?" Fishlegs asked him eagerly. Rubbing the back of his neck, Hiccup shrugged.

"I may have done...some of that," he admitted. Fishlegs was almost bouncing with excitement.

"And looking at your record, it looks like you've been awarded the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Distinguished Service Medal, a Silver Star, two Purple Hearts, the Afghanistan and Iraq Campaign Medals and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal," Fishlegs said as Astrid and the others stared at him. Astrid looked at the self-conscious auburn haired man and marched towards him.

"WHAT? When did you do all of that?" she demanded. "And why didn't you tell me?" He shrugged.

"Because it's in the past," he told her quietly. "I did a lot of dangerous missions in Iraq and Afghanistan with Thug. We were daredevils and fearless. We took on every crazy mission they thought of and we completed every one because he had my back and I had his. I killed a lot of enemies and saw many friends die...but we kicked butt and did some good, I hope." He paused. "How do you think I made Lieutenant in under five years?" He smiled at her shocked face and then he sighed. "Astrid-there are memories there I don't want to revisit, things that haunt me when I sleep. And the end, where Thug died...Gods, I don't want to remember that. That was when it ended and this all started..." She rested her drink on the counter and caught his hand, feeling the tremble.

"Every ending is a new beginning," she reminded him. "This is one of those times, Hiccup. Let us help you." Heather and Fishlegs nodded and even Snotlout gave a reluctant acknowledgement.

"Ha! He likes me now!" Tuff called from the floor, where Toothless was licking his face. To Astrid, it seemed the male twin had smeared meat pate all over his face.

"Stupid mutt," Hiccup murmured and she smiled at his tone. "Serve you right if he eats your face off." Tuff sat up abruptly.

"He can do that?" he asked hopefully. "Awesome. See Butt-Elf? I can be more hideous than you!"

"You're not hideous, Tuff," Astrid told him in exasperation. "Neither of you are. Terrifying sometimes but not hideous!"

"Awww..." Both twins looked like they'd been grounded.

"I could ask him to savage you a bit, if you want," Hiccup offered sarcastically. "Of course, he would prefer it if Snot volunteered."

"Ha ha," his cousin scowled. "I mean-how do you do it? You leave Berk, lose contact with us, leave home, get disowned, join the army, get hot, win a bag full of awards, end up homeless, get a really cool dog and still end up living with Astrid which I have been trying to do for years!" Hiccup stared at him.

"Wow. You've uncovered my super-secret master plan," he said sarcastically. "Glad I managed to get beaten up and almost knifed in the correct alley just as Astrid was walking past..." Snotlout stared at him in shock.

"Really?"

"No!" Hiccup retorted.

"And Snotlout-just for the record-if you were the last man on the whole of Midgard, you would stand precisely NO chance of EVER living with me," Astrid added sharply.

"Aww, babe-you know you're really fighting your raging..." Snotlout began and caught her scowl. "What?"

"Do you know what happened to the last person who hit on me and wouldn't take no for an answer?" she asked him sweetly. He raised a finger and frowned in concentration. After an awkward moment, he shook his head.

"Nope. Got nothing," he admitted. Astrid slid her arm through Hiccup's and the one-legged man blushed fiercely.

"Hiccup-my hero-threatened to break his wrist, punched him and threw him out!" she said smugly. "Want him to do the same for you?"

"Hey, babe-I was just..." he protested but Astrid jerked her head in Hiccup's direction and Snotlout huffed theatrically. "FINE! But you are missing a..." He caught her scowl. "Your loss, babe."

"I can survive that one," she told him firmly. "Now-who wants burgers?"

"I mean, I cannot believe my scrawny runt of a cousin grew up and learned how to fight and shoot and..." Snotlout continued, grabbing a handful of chips and scowling. Ruff leaned on the counter and leered unsettlingly at him.

"Really? How much fighting?" she asked in what she thought was a seductive manner. The effect was weird and very menacing.

"Lots of unarmed combat, expert marksman...um...yeah..." Hiccup said, backing up a pace. "Help." Astrid snapped her fingers in front of Ruff's face and sighed.

"Ruff-stop frightening him," she scolded her. "And I saw him first." Hiccup's head snapped round to inspect her, eyes widening at her smug smile. She lifted her eyes to meet his shocked gaze. "It's okay," she mouthed. "I'm not about to jump you..." He managed a wan smile.

"Thanks," he managed shakily. "Now...you mentioned burgers?"

Once everyone had food and drink and they all had seats-Astrid had insisted she and Hiccup and Toothless had the couch-they settled down to eat and chat. Hiccup listened quietly as Toothless expertly begged two hot dogs and a burger from the twins while remaining curled up by his master. Snotlout revealed-to no one's surprise-that he was working at Berk Lumber with his father and learning the ropes while the twins actually ran an interior design business. Fishlegs was a Maths teacher in the local College though he was applying to work at the High School and Hiccup quietly asked him what courses the College ran-because he wanted to finish his education and wondered what options he had.

"Of course, my ideal job would be working with Gobber," he sighed. "I mean, I spent so many hours with him when I was younger and..."

"Gobber Belcher?" Heather asked suddenly. "The two limbed lunatic with the braided moustache who sings that song about being 'a Viking Through and Through'? Very badly?" Hiccup sat up suddenly and stared at her, eyes focussed.

"You know him?" he asked urgently. She nodded.

"Of course," she said. "Best mechanic in Berserk! He moved there...maybe five or six years ago? My brother uses him all the time for his bike and truck-swears he can smell what's wrong with a vehicle!"

"Don't tell me he still tastes the oil to diagnose the problem?" Hiccup asked and Heather burst out laughing.

"You know-I thought he was joking but he really does that?" she giggled. Hiccup rolled his eyes.

"Yup-though I really cannot understand how he does it," he admitted. "So he's in Berserk? I really need to speak to him..." Heather gave a smile.

"I'll get his number from my brother-and his address," she promised. "He was your mentor?"

"My godfather," Hiccup revealed. "He vanished and I couldn't find him after I came home and found out Dad was dead. He was the one person I wanted to talk to..."

"I'll text Dagur now," Heather said and got up to find her phone while Astrid squeezed his hand.

"We'll go together," she promised. "You can see him and I'm sure he can fill you in over what happened..." He smiled then, though his eyes were shadowed.

"Thank you," he said quietly. "I need to talk to him." And then he looked at the others. "And now, for what you owe me..." There was silence. "You did a terrible thing to me and even though you have apologised, I think you need to do something to make up." He looked at Astrid who had smiled: she fully supported his idea and thought it was a great way to teach the friends a lesson. "You took me from safety for twenty hours and left me penniless and without shelter in the freezing winter. So in payment, you will each work twenty days during the next year volunteering in the shelters for the homeless."

There was silence.

"Or I can report you all for kidnapping," he added.

"What?" Tuff protested.

"Man...we were getting on so well..." Ruff groaned.

"I might catch something," Snotlout whined.

"I understand," Fishlegs sighed. "It's only fair..." And Heather nodded as well.

"And probably very necessary...especially for some of us..." she finished, glaring at Snotlout.

"Fine!" he huffed. "You're always getting at me, Heather. Is it because you are struggling with your attraction to the Snotman? Wanna get close to this beautiful face?"

"Ugh, I can see why you hit him so often," Heather grumbled.

"You have my sympathies," Astrid smirked. "Now let's settle back and enjoy the evening-with new friends..."

"Some old, some new," Hiccup murmured as Toothless wagged his tail. "And some definitely crazy. Tuff! If you feed him any more hot dogs, he may throw up and you are gonna have to clean that up."

"Tyrant," the male twin grumbled.

oOo

It was in the New Year that Hiccup and Astrid took the train to Berserk, a four hour journey that had Astrid sleeping-and drooling-on Hiccup's shoulder while Toothless sat obediently by Hiccup's leg, alert and on duty as he could tell that his master was very anxious. Astrid had phoned ahead and asked if she could book a vehicle in with Gobber and the man had agreed so she booked the appointment and set out for the meeting.

They pulled up in a taxi to 'Gobber's Forge' and as Astrid paid the fare, Hiccup emerged, clad in the coat Astrid had bought him as a New Year's gift in the sales over his other new clothes, with Toothless at his side. Quietly, he limped to the front of the garage and peered in, his sharp eyes seeing familiar tools and the layout he remembered from years working with the man. Frowning, he walked in and saw a hammer on the floor and slowly, he bent down and picked it up, smiling as he recognised the tool.

"Hallo, Sadie," he murmured.

"Hey-what're yer doin' with meh hammer?" a voice boomed, his broad Scottish Brogue mangling the words in a way that was achingly familiar. Quietly, Hiccup turned to the man, who was standing behind him and deliberately hung the hammer in its usual place on the old and oil-stained rack.

"Putting Sadie back where she belongs," he said as the man stared in shock. Gobber was missing his left hand and right foot from active service in the army alongside Hiccup's father and was a little taller than the auburn-haired man, his powerful shape tending to fat round the middle. Twinkling blue eyes topped a broad face with a long braided blond moustache and large chin.

"It can't be..." he murmured, staring at the tall, skinny shape standing there. "Hiccup?"

"Hey Gobber," he said as the man lurched forward, wrapping a huge hug around Hiccup. Trying to return the hug, Hiccup ended up tapping Gobber's arm increasingly frantically. "AIR!" he gasped as the big man finally released him. "Gobber...still need air..." The man scratched his bald head with his false hand.

"Eh-sorry, lad," he murmured. "I...I..." His voice cracked. "I'm sorry...."

Hiccup stared at him.

"Um...for what, Gobber?" he asked in surprise. "Pretty sure my Dad made his own decisions, no matter how stupid they were. And he-and I-have to live with those consequences..." Gobber shook his head.

"I tried tae make him see sense," he admitted, his face filled with shame. "Your father was the most rock-headed son of a Viking I ever knew. Once he made his mind up, there was no shifting it. Even when even he could see how stupid he was being..."

"But...why?" Hiccup asked helplessly as Astrid entered the garage. "Why kick me out of my home, the family, everything for doing what he did?" Gobber sighed.

"Because he was ne'er the same after the Army," he revealed. "He-we-saw terrible things. He saw meh injuries and he ne'er wanted you tae see or suffer the same as we did. He knew you were destined fer more. You were very smart, inventive, artistic. You took so much after yuir mother that he wanted tae protect you." He paused and gave a wry smile. "Of course, bein' Stoick Haddock, he never explained himself tae anyone. It was always his way or the highway."

"Snotlout said he threw all my letters away unopened-and he seemed to think I was dead," Hiccup asked the mechanic and the man shrugged.

"I'm nae too sure," he confessed. "A year or so after yer left, I went. We had argued so much about yer that I couldnae stay. And I wouldn't go back tae Berk because there were too many memories so I headed for a new start in Berserk." Hiccup sagged.

"I'm sorry," he sighed as Astrid slipped her hand into his. "I know you were friends from the start of Elementary School. I hate that you argued over me..." Gobber sighed.

"Look-it happened," he admitted. "But he wrote tae me when yer picture was on the front cover of the Barbaric News and told me he were very proud of yer. He said he had charged his will and that you were his son once more. He planned to write tae yer and reconcile..."

"So what happened?" Hiccup asked quietly, guessing the answer.

"He had his stroke the day he posted the letter to me," Gobber sighed. "Somehow, his old will was enacted and all his possessions were handed over to the charity. And nothing could be done without the rightful beneficiary there to claim it. The real will is lodged with the court in Meathead and if you challenge, they will have to hand over your money."

Astrid gave a shocked laugh. "That's...amazing..." she gasped, her hand tightening on Hiccup's. "I mean-there is some hope that you may have something after all..." But he remained staring at the floor and his shoulders hunched.

"Not the most important thing," he murmured. "Time with my Dad." And she swallowed, blinking hard.

"I'm sorry," she whispered and he looked up, immediately wrapping a hug around her.

"No, I should be sorry," he said gently. "It was thoughtless..." She shook her head, palming her cheeks dry.

"I know what you mean," she sighed. "I would have given an arm to spend a little more time with my parents..."

"And all the things that were irreplaceable in the house..." he murmured, hugging her tightly. There was a pause and Gobber cleared his throat.

"Actually, laddie-when yer made yer choice and left, yer Dad gave me most of your things to keep," he said and pointed to a large dusty trunk at the back of the garage. "It's something." Head snapping round, Hiccup limped to the back and tentatively lifted the lid-to stare down at some clothes, all his books, his paints, his computer, discs, pictures, photos, albums and the plush dragon toy that his mother had sewn for him when he was a baby-shortly before she died of cancer. Mouth open, he lifted it and stared in shock.

"G-Gobber..." he mouthed. "I...I..." Emerald eyes swung up to the two-limbed mechanic and the older man immediately hugged him, feeling the lanky arms wrap around his solid form.

"Yer welcome, laddie," he said gruffly. "Now, do yer want tae tek it with yer?" Hiccup sighed.

"I'm staying with Astrid in Berk," he explained. "Um...not a lot of room in her apartment..." Gobber stared at him and then at the young woman.

"Tell meh what happened," he said, indicating to a paint-splattered bench and clicking his kettle on. Warily, Hiccup limped over to the bench with Astrid at his side and Gobber arched his thick blond unibrow. "And start with what happened tae yer leg."

Over some very unpalatable coffee, Hiccup explained his tale to his godfather and how he had finally ended up with Astrid a couple of days before Christmas. How he had given everything and been rewarded with nothing...until an old friend had offered him hope and generosity in a cold and lonely world.

"Aye, that was a blessing," Gobber commented. "Hmm...well, yer back and these Berserkers ain't a patch on Berkians so it would be easier if I just moved back tae Berk...and took on meh favourite godson as meh partner!"

"What, you got another godson?" Hiccup asked sarcastically. Gobber laughed.

"Nah...yer more than enough with yer sass, laddie," he smiled and Hiccup gave a small smile.

"Thanks, Gobber," he said in a thick voice. "That means...so much..." Gobber clapped him across the back and almost knocked him off the bench.

"Aye-old Gobber can help yer with yer leg as well-since I've bin living with-or more precisely without-a leg for nigh on twenty years..." he grinned brashly. "And I can give yer some tips with the ladies..." Hiccup's eyes widened.

"Thor, no!" he exploded. "Um...the rest of it, yes please...but relationship tips from a meatheaded lunatic with two limbs and no ladies...I think not..."

"Yer loss," Gobber grinned and sipped his coffee. "Ahhh...smooth as a baby's backside..." Astrid gave him a jaundiced look: to her, the coffee tasted like engine oil.

"In a parallel universe, maybe," she commented and Gobber winked.

"Aye, yer the lass fer him," he said sagely. "Enough sass between the pair of you ter drive a man tae drink!" Both Hiccup and Astrid shared an embarrassed look and then gave false laughs.

"Very funny," Hiccup said entirely unconvincingly. "What a joker you are, Gobber..." And the older man gave a sad smile.

"Yer too?" he sighed. "Yer father struggled as well after he left the Army. He drunk a lot fer a while-yer probably didnae remember...yer were very small. And yer Mom's death didnae help...but he got his head in order because he had yer..."

"I sorted it as well," Hiccup sighed softly. "And now I have Astrid to keep an eye on me." Gobber smiled.

"So...yer know any good apartments in Berk?" he asked.

oOo

True to her word, Astrid had been very thorough in investigating what Hiccup was due as a medically discharged veteran and had discovered that he was eligible for some social benefits and fees to support retraining in thanks for his service. The man she spoke to in the defence department had been horrified that a decorated veteran had ended up penniless and on the streets because no one had signposted him to what he was due.

It hadn't stopped Hiccup feeling immensely self-conscious and ashamed that he required support because his father had always taught him to be fiercely independent-but, as Astrid pointed out, sometimes everyone needed a helping hand and Hiccup had given more than most for his country. So they signed the forms, attended the interview and he suddenly found himself receiving a small amount of benefits every week. He was able to register his empty bank account and social security number at Astrid's address and suddenly, he was a real person once more.

He had been grateful to be referred to the Prosthetics Service and they had assessed and tended his stump, identifying the problems with his current prosthetic that were causing it to rub-both the cup needed revision and he needed a new prosthetic, because years of living in the cold and the damp had done serious damage to the mechanics. So he was remeasured for a false limb and prioritised because he was a veteran and suddenly, his stump was healing and he was being fitted with his new leg that allowed him to walk much more normally and finally pain free.

He had been far more resistant to Astrid's other suggestion-that he seek counselling for his nightmares that she suspected were due to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, curling in on himself and looking away.

"I can't," he whispered, shaking his head. "I-I'm sorry, Astrid. I-I just can't."

Frustrated, she had almost growled at him but then she had recalled just how many horrible experiences he had to deal with and she had sat by his side, holding his hand and gently stroking his thumb across his knuckles.

"Hiccup," she sighed, "I can guess why you don't want to do this-the same reason why I have avoided counselling after losing my parents. I don't want to relive that. I don't want to face up to the fact that my parents died, that I handled it badly, what I regret and wish I had done...but I will if you will."

"I'll pass," he said quietly.

"You can't," she told him gently, her thumb rubbing soothing circles on the back of his hand. "Hiccup-your nightmares are crippling! Even when you've got parts of your life more sorted, they're every night! And you-you don't deserve them. You saw some terrible things and experienced worse...but you deserve a chance to work through them and heal. You've given up so much-you need to be able to move on with your life." He was breathing hard and raggedly, his head down and eyes screwed shut.

"I can't," he breathed. "Please don't make me go through that again..." She wrapped her other hand around his and half-turned to face him.

"Hiccup-I will come with you, if you want," she offered softly. "I will be there. Toothless will be there. You are safe. You will be safe. You aren't alone." He swiped at his face and took a shuddering breath.

"Really?" he murmured. "Oh Gods, how pathetic am I?" She pulled him close and hugged him.

"As pathetic as me because I've not been facing this for six years," she told him. "I've been avoiding it. But I'll make a deal..." He hugged her back.

"I know," he sighed. "And I am grateful. Just reluctant..." She shook her head.

"Look-you have three main areas of problems," she told him.

"Only three? I thought the leg, the leg and the leg would be three on their own," he commented sarcastically and she gave a small chuckle at his sarcasm.

"The issues with the loss of your leg, your friend and your identity as a soldier is one, the unresolved issues with your father is another and, of course, what happened to you on the streets," she reminded him.

"Thank you for summing that up," he said tonelessly.

"I'm sorry," she sighed. "And you do need counselling-but we also need to make steps to move past that. So with the leg, we have your new prosthetic being sorted-but I'm sorry, Hiccup-you do need counselling after watching your friend die so horribly." Head still down, he nodded.

"I know," he admitted heavily. "I-I just have to man up and face it."

"We are working on dealing with your time as a homeless person," she added. "And I loved the way you set the others to help in the shelters-though I note no one has volunteered for Vanaheim..."

"Don't blame them," Hiccup muttered.

"Interestingly, the twins are spending most weekends there and have signed up beyond their twenty days," Astrid told him. "I think they may have learned something...though Snotlout is moaning like mad still."

"Snot will only stop moaning when he's actually deceased," Hiccup told her with a small smile, lifting his red-rimmed eyes.

"Heather is thinking she will carry on volunteering after she's done her days as well-and Fish is teaching some simple maths and money management to the men in his shelter," she added. "The horrible thing they did to you has brought a lot of good to others. And that is all down to you." He gave a thoughtful nod.

"Sometimes, the way to cancel out a bad thing is a greater good one," he admitted.

"And your Dad...well, you still need to see what he wrote in that will to come to some sort of peace," she concluded. Hiccup nodded, a pained smile on his face.

"I might even be able to pay you back," he said with a small smile. She snuggled against him.

"Hiccup-I still owe you far more than that," she pointed out.

"We'll see," he said.