I ran away for good... I think...

Chapter 17

Stoick's Pov

Gobber and I had just walked into Gothi's house where Hiccup was when I heard, "Daddy my tummy hurts." 'Daddy. Who is calling Hiccup Daddy?' I thought. "I know Honey. I know." I heard Hiccup say. That was when I looked over to see Hiccup sitting on the edge of the bed beside a little girl. "What is going on here?" I yell so I could get their attention and some answers. 

"Ah, Dad what are you doing here?" Hiccup asked me in shock. "Well, son. I would like to know what is going on here. And why did that little girl just call you Daddy?" I asked. Then I looked up and away from my son when I saw someone else besides the young girl's bed. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It was like I was seeing a ghost. 

"V-Val is that you?" I asked as I took a step towards her. "Hello Stoick, I know what you're going to say, Stoick. How could I have done this? Stayed away all these years. And why didn't I come back to you? To our son. Well, what sign did I have that you could change, Stoick? That anyone on Berk could? I pleaded so many times to stop the fighting, to find another answer, but did any of you listen?" Val started to say. 

I just stayed quiet as I moved slowly towards my wife. "I know I left you to raise Hiccup alone until he ran away. But I thought he'd be better off without me. And I was wrong, I see that now, but..." Val nervously backs up against the wall and she looked like she was on the verge of tears. "Oh, stop being so stoic, Stoick. Go on... SHOUT, SCREAM, SAY SOMETHING!" She yells by then I was already close to her. I reached out and touched her check which had tears on them. "You're as beautiful as the day I lost you," I told her then kissed her.

Once I pulled away from my wife, I turned to face my son. Who was stroking the young girl's hair? "Son you have some explaining to do and a lot of it," I said to him. "I will explain later Dad. But first I need to worry about Thalia here." He said before turned to Gothi our Village Healer. "Gothi is there anything you can do or give her to help her? Please." Hiccup begged our Healer.

"She says that she can't give her anything for it, as there is no cure that she knows off," Gobber spoke as Gothi drew in the sand. I watch as Hiccup buries his head into his hands. "Don't worry Hiccup. We will find something. She will be okay." Val said placing her hand on his shoulder. "Hiccup maybe we should contact Mala. Hasn't the Defenders of the Wing seen something like this before?" the girl Heather said. 

"Who is this Mala?" Astrid asked Heather. "Mala is the Queen of Island called the Defenders of the Wing," Val said from beside me. "Your right. A year ago, their children were getting sick like this." Hiccup said turning to look at us. "Heather take Dagur and fly to the Defenders of the Wing Island. Explain to Mala what is going on and see if they know anything to help." 

"Hiccup that is a 2-day flight. But from it could be a 3-day flight." Heather said. "Then we will give you food to take with you two," I said. "Thanks, Dad. We better get you two ready to set off then." Hiccup said. He stood up from the bed and said, 

"Mum, could you stay with her please?"

"That's fine. I can do that." Val said. "After seeing Dagur and Heather off I will be going on a flight with Toothless, since he has been grounded for a couple of days he will be dying for a fly." Hiccup explained. "Just be careful and don't stray too far," Val said to Hiccup. "I won't I promise Mum. Would you like to come with me, M'Lady?"

"I would love to Hiccup," Astrid answered. "Daddy. Don't go." The girl cried out. Hiccup walked to the bed and sat down again beside the young girl. "Shh. I have to baby girl. But I will be back. In the meantime, Grandma will be here with you, alright." Hiccup said. 

The wee girl whose name I still don't know nodded her head. "Now you try and go back to sleep. And when I get back there will be some people for you to meet." Hiccup told the girl. Hiccup then kissed the girl on the forehead before he stood up and walked towards the door with Astrid and Heather following behind. "Mum, Dad. I will be back soon." 

"It will be alright son. She will be fine." Val said. Hiccup nodded then left the house with the other two following.

"Well, then I better get going too. I have work to do in the forge. It is nice to see you again Valka" Gobber said as he hobbled towards the door. "You too Gobber," Val said. After Gobber left it was just Gothi, Val and I left in the room with the child. It was incredibly quiet as Val and I watched as Gothi puts a cold cloth on the child's head. 

"Thank you Gothi for your help," Val said to Gothi. Gothi nodded towards us before she went into the other room to give us the room for a bit. I watched as my wife walks to the bed and sat down on the edge beside the girl. "There are so many questions that I would like to ask you..." I started to say but didn't know how to finish the sentence. 

"Then ask away Stoick." She said. "Where have you been all these years?" I decided to ask. "After Cloudjumper took me from Berk I lived on an island that was full of dragons for 18 years until Hiccup came across me.

 I would rescue dragons from the dragon trappers and hunters and then I would nurse them back to health. And the dragons that could not be released back into the wild because of their condition then they lived with me at the Sanctuary." She explained. "How did you and Hiccup find each other?"

"Well one day 3 years ago Hiccup was out flying on Toothless, mapping knew Islands when they got caught in a trap that was left behind from some Dragon hunters. And Cloudjumper heard that a dragon needed help. When I set them free and he took his helmet off I saw the scar that he had on his lip and knew it was Hiccup. We got talking then he invited me to come and live in Dragon's Edge with him and other riders. 

So, I did. And that is where I have been for the last 3 years." She said. "And what of the girl here. Where does she come into this?" I asked her. "I will let Hiccup tell you that story when he gets back. It is not my story to tell." She states. "Grandma. I want Daddy." The girl cried out. 

"Shh. I know Thali he will be back soon. Try to go back to sleep." Val said to the child. "Is that her name Thali?" I asked my wife. "Yes, it is short for Thalia." She answered. "That is a beautiful name, means to Blossom," I said. Val just nodded. 

"One more question. Who is her mother?" I asked. "Again, that is for Hiccup to explain not me." Was all she said then she went quiet. After that, we both just sat there both silent as we both watched Thalia sleep and waited till Hiccup and Astrid come back.