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

Chapter 23

Astrid's Pov:

I did not know how long I had sat in front of the fire on the couch with Thalia leaning against me fast asleep until my Father had come home from a day of work.

"Hello Astrid, I was not expecting you home just yet." He said. "Hi Dad, um yeah Gothi need the bed that Thalia was on, so I bought her here till Hiccup gets back which is I have no idea."

"I am surprised Hiccup has been gone this long when his daughter is so sick." Dad scoffed. "Dad the reason Hiccup has not come back from the Edge yet is because he has to people missing. But Valka has sent him a letter today telling him he needs to come back now." I explained to him.

But Dad still did not look happy about it all. "Expect he leaves, and you have to look after his daughter," Dad said. "I don't mind looking after Thali Dad. Because once I marry Hiccup, Thalia will be my daughter even if she isn't my daughter by blood." I said to him.

Dad just walked away once I said what I said as he knew I was right. Once Hiccup and I do get married Thalia will be my daughter no matter what he says.

It was getting darker outside and I knew that I had to take Thalia upstairs to my room, but I could not bring myself to move at all. So, instead of sitting on the couch, I moved so,

that I was lying down with Thalia lying against the back of the couch and tucked in beside me. I did not realise that Thalia was awake until she said, "Astrid are you going to marry my Daddy?"

"What..." I stuttered. "Why do you ask that for?" I asked her. "Well when Daddy was here, he kissed you and Aunty Ingrid says that if someone kisses someone, they love then they will get marry," Thalia said.

"Well um... one day your Father and I will get married but that won't be for a while." I tried to explain to her. "But why?? Don't you love Daddy?" She asked me. "I love your Father very much. But we are not ready to get married just yet. But one day we will be." I told her.

"Does that mean you will be my Mummy?"

"Yes, I will be your Mummy. That is if you're okay with it." I said. Thali nodded her head and she then snuggled down and laid her head on my shoulder. I wrapped my arm around her.

"Astrid, can you sing to me?" She asked me. "Of course, I can. Just close your eyes and I will sing you the song that my mum used to sing to me." I said to her. I watched as Thali closed her eyes so I could sing her the song.

"The sky is dark, and the hills are white

As the storm-king speeds from the north to-night,

And this is the song the storm-king sings,

As over the world his cloak he flings:

Sleep, sleep, little one, sleep.

He rustles his wings and gruffly sings:

Sleep, little one, sleep.

The king may sing in his bitter flight,

The tree may croon to the vine to-night,

But the little snowflake at my breast

Like the song, I sing the best,

Sleep, sleep, little one, sleep.

Weary thou art, next my heart

Sleep, little one, sleep."

Once I had finished the song, I looked down to see Thalia fast asleep and I then shuffle down the couch a bit more and I then too went to sleep. As I was just about asleep, I felt someone put a blanket over us but didn't even look to see who it was as I was too tired.

Hiccup's Pov:

It is the first light of dawn and I am checking to make sure that I have everything I need to take back to Berk with including the dragons. I was just about to climb on to Toothless saddle when Eret came up to me.

"You off now Chief?" Eret asked. "Yes, I am. I need to get back to Thalia and Astrid." I said as I mounted up onto Toothless. "I understand Chief. Safe flight back to Berk and hug that daughter of yours from me." Eret told me.

"Will do. Let me know if you need anything. Come on Bud." I said then nudged Toothless side to get him to take off.

A few hours later:

After flying since the break of dawn Toothless and I have finally made it back to Berk. As we landed on Berk, I noticed my Mother coming towards Toothless and I. "Morning Mum." I said once she was closer.

"Hiccup. Did you two have a good flight back." She asked me. Which I replied with a nod. "Are Ingrid and Bjorn alright?" I asked my Mother. "They are still unconscious but before you go and see them, I think you should go and see Astrid and your daughter first. I promised Astrid as soon as you arrived that I would send you her way."

"I guess you are right. I need to see Astrid and Thalia. Where are they?" I asked. "Thalia is staying with Astrid at her house. So, you better be off Son." Mum said. I nodded then started to head towards Astrid's house with Toothless following behind me.

"Wait out here Bud," I said to Toothless in Norse as we arrived at Astrid's house. I knocked on the door and waited a few minutes till it was opened by Astrid's Mother.

"Good Morning Mrs Hofferson. Are Astrid and my daughter in?"

"Hiccup you are finally back. Yes, they both are in and still asleep. But please come in" Mrs Hofferson said opening the door wider so I could enter the house. I nodded my head in thanks as I walked through the door.

I then followed Mrs Hofferson into the lounge where I found Astrid asleep on the couch with Thalia tucked into her side, which I smiled at. I walked over to the couch and kneeled beside it.

"Astrid," I called as I shook her shoulders gently as I tried to wake her up. "Astrid," I called again. She started to stir but still did not wake up. "Astrid, come on wake up," I said trying again.

This time her eye flittered open. "Hiccup." She said in a sleepy voice. "Hey."

"Hiccup you're back," Astrid said finally awake and looking at Hiccup. "Yea I am, and I am staying now," I said. Astrid sat up gently without waking Thalia and she then quietly stood up from the couch and hugged me.

"I have missed you so much in the last few that you have been gone Hiccup," Astrid said as I hugged her back. "I have missed you too. I am sorry for being away for so long. I was just worried about Ingrid and Bjorn when they didn't come back to the Edge after scouting. Then me and the other riders spent days searching for them..." I said trailing off.

"I understand Hiccup. Come on let's go to the kitchen and let her sleep for a wee bit longer." She said as she pulled away from the hug and took my hand and led me to the kitchen so we could let Thalia sleep a bit longer.