Really like the badass Hiccup, great job!

I don't think Astrid can keep all of her secrets now that this has happened...But I think her fears of losing Ally stem from either her dad's or brother's previous activities with Astrid they so gleefully took for granted...with Astrid.

Ruff's right, not all men are like those Astrid's run from...But Astrid has to be willing to open that door for Henry...Good thing Henry's as resilient as he was in this fight or things could have been worse when the police arrived...

An aside about Ruff's comment of 'Who shoves dirty clothes in a clean drawer?'...Well, they are 'your' boys...

Hope more charges can be lodged against Astrid's dad and brother than B&E, though. But that would mean she'd have to spill secrets she's been assured by her former slave masters that would ruin her further and have Ally taken away from her.

I have to believe Henry would do all he can to be sure this won't come to any of that...

If Astrid would only trust him...against everything that's been beaten into her about...Men.

CB73

An offer of safe haven given, tentatively accepted for lives to be rested.

But, from how this chapter ended...that is about to be brutally interrupted.

'Someone' needs to be permanently dealt with...soon.

CB73

Astrid and Ally escaped a horrid 'family' and have fears of being dragged back to them...

Or having to go through this with someone else.

Ruff's observations about Hiccup...will hopefully be disproved in time, but I'm sure much will have to take place before this happens.

For now, the two ladies have a safe harbor to rest and relax.

A future beckons, one of many, but which will be taken?

CB73

Some lives lived not as hoped for in the days unfolding.

Something happened so Astrid was alone with a child as her life took a very bad turn when she was trying to provide for her family.

Hopefully her luck will be better in meeting Henry when she took a chance to leave that life behind.

Trust is an issue she has so little faith in, but she may learn she can trust Henry, if she gives him a chance.

CB73

Powerful stuff. Really well written. Looking forward to seeing where this goes.