Hi guys and gals, Supersandman here with another chapter. Now before we begin, let me add something, I have explained in my last chapter of brother nightfury that i will get round to it and eventually dishonor and disloyalty, I know you have been patient, but please don't pester me by saying update soon, when i get to it i'll get to it. Now with that said here in this chapter we're heading back to berk.

Reason? Because I thought it be a welcoming change to find out how some of the other non riders are coping without hiccup and the gang. This takes place several days after the last chapter.

Why? You'll see.

Anyway on with the show.

Chapter 22- Headaches, water and surprises

Normal POV

Several Days Later on Berk

Stoick could honestly say he has not had a headache like this...ever!

Groaning in his hut with not one, not two but three blocks of ice on his head as he sat in his chair, hoping the tankard of mead would take effect soon.

He had to wonder how he could be so wrong as to misjudge someone so badly.

"Urgh" he let out a groan as he talked to himself, in his empty house "how could he be more trouble than Hiccup"

Knock, Knock

Stoick looks towards the door as his second in command and also brother-in-law, Spitelout, slowly opens the door as he walks in with and enthusiastic, yet irritating, look on his face.

"Hi Stoick!" he shouts happily causing Stoicks headache to get worse as he carries on "'ows my boyo taking his role as heir te Berk? Like a duck to water I would guess" he finished with a proud look on his face.

Stoick knew why.

He always knew that the Jorgenson's wanted one of their own to be chief one day, and seeing as he is the husband to Stoick's late wife's sister, and the fact that his own sisters were married to chief's in other tribes, that left the Chief no option as to appoint Snotlout as heir if anything would happen to his only child.

But was it the better option? He had to think to himself. As Spitelout waited for him to reply on his sons progress.

"more like a yak to an ocean" Stoick retorted back earning a confused look from the head Jorgenson clansman before shrugging it off.

"Ah come on Stoick, ye can't be serious, the boys a born leader, lust like me" he said point to himself with a smug look on his face causing Stoick to groan again wondering what it would be like to smash a rock with his head again.

"An' give Snotlout credit, he's only being at it for a little while" Spitelout added causing the chief to finally lose his patience before slamming one of the blocks of ice down onto the table, smashing the block as well as nearly the table too as he stood up.

"He's been at it for over a month! Even by a short standard he should have learnt something by now about diplomacy!" Stoick shouts as he starts to walk back and forth around the room as he recollects the events that happened so far.

"First thing was an argument between Bucket and Mulch about how many barrels of mead the should have each during the freeze since they had five barrels all together, a simple argument te resolve, each have two and share the fifth one. But no! Snotlout gives them both bludgeons and tells them te make it a contest. Whoever can smash the most objects wins the barrels before he walks off, ye knew we Viking can't resist a challenge! But guess what only objects were?!"

"Err the barrels?"

"The barrels! When those two finally had no more to break, they realized they both lost as there was no more mead left"

Spitelout could only shrug at this "well technically it resolved the issue..."

"yeah badly!" Stoick retorted as he carries on pacing back and forth as he tries to remember other Snotlout related incidents.

"The next little problem was silent Sven's sheep got loose somehow, Snotlout was first at the scene, and firmly put the blame straight on Sven saying he was doing it fer attention, lucky I got there and told Snotlout te go deal with the sheep while I wrestled to get the pitchfork out of Sven's hands..." Stoick stops to take a quick gulp of his mead before carrying on.

"..but it doesn't stop there! He gets his friends to round them up as he walks around the village bossing people about completely oblivious te the rampaging sheep around him!" he pauses himself again to compose himself as he rubs his spare hand over his forehead "tha earned more people to calm down" he sighed before looking at Spitelout to hear the excuse for this one.

"Well, ye can't expect him te get it right the first time, I mean look at Hiccup..."

Stoick stopped him there "...Hiccup, did resolve it the first time, he even knew where Sven's black sheep was!" Stoick shouted, cutting his second in command off before pausing to recall what he said.

'Wait, Hiccup did manage to do that, even without being told to' the chief thinks to himself wondering why that memory was suddenly lost until now.

But his thoughts were interrupted by the annoying and impatient Jorgenson who was standing by the door the whole time.

"Well Hiccup isn' here Stoick, Snotlout is" Spitelout informed Stoick as he glared at the chief.

Stoick had enough for one day to last him a lifetime.

Sighing in defeat, he knew Spitelout was right, with Hiccup technically banished, that left only Snotlout next in line.

"Fine Spitelout" he sighed as he sat back in his chair "I'll keep trying to get it into yer boys head..."

Spitelout smiled triumphantly as he turned around to open the door, but before he could leave, Stoick speaks up again.

"...I will add however, whatever damage he causes around the village, you will pay for" Stoick informed him sternly pointing his oversized finger at the Jorgenson as he carried on "just like I used to with Hiccup"

This wiped the smile off Spitelout's face as he gulped and nodded before leaving through the door entirely, leaving Stoick to his thoughts.

That one thing that he remembered Hiccup doing something right made Stoick wonder how many other things his former son did for the village.

He sat in his chair for a while thinking of things but couldn't think of many.

In fact he couldn't think of many things about Hiccup apart from his disasters .

"was I that bad a father that I only saw to wrongs more than the rights?" Stoick whispered to himself as he looked into his half-full tankard before gulping the remaining amber liquid down as he got up and headed out through the door towards the forge.

He needed to find out more.

Meanwhile At the Forge

Gustav didn't know what to make of the design in the sketchbook Hiccup left for Gobber as he pondered through each page over and over again, bored out of his skull since there was nothing much to do.

For the last few months, there had been no dragon raids, in fact, apart from a few Terrors flying overhead, there had been no dragons whatsoever.

His mind came to one conclusion when it was one month raid free.

Hiccup did it.

He stopped a three hundred year old war.

He wondered if he was alive after that though.

At first he wasn't sure, but from the way Gobber smiled before he left, something told him he was.

But the reason Gustav was bored was because, without the raids, weapons and armour weren't getting damaged, resulting in less work around the forge, and thus the reason why the young Viking was looking through the book on Hiccups designs.

He had to admit he was confused at first at what each device and building did, but as time went on, and thanks to Hiccup teaching him how to calculate things, he began seeing what use they would play in helping the village out for the better.

He was studying the trajectory of a waterwheels connecting rod when he heard the creaking of the floorboards near the door.

Turning around to wonder if was a customer only to find himself looking at the large mass of the chief coming inside.

Jumping immediately, he closes the book before standing up straight giving his chief a salute "g-greetings chief sir!" he stuttered not knowing how to respect a chief properly.

Stoick merely smiled as he waved to the young Larson lad "there's no need fer formalities lad, but I appreciate the gesture" Stoick replied calmly as he looked around the forge with interest.

It was clean, cleaner than it usually was.

Not a single tool out of place.

Parchments stacked neatly in the corner.

Even the books were aligned on a shelf.

'When did Gobber get a shelf?' Stoick thought to himself as he rubbed his large finger over one of the desk to check if there was any dust.

Not even a speck.

"I have te say lad yew kept the forge cleaner than Gobber did, only time I ever saw it this clean was when H..." he paused himself, remembering another thing Hiccup always used to do a lot.

He used to keep not only the forge but the house tidy too, despite the mess his inventions made and the amount of paper used to design them, he always tidied up after himself.

Stoick frowned for a second until something caught his eye.

The book Gustav was reading before he walked in, even though it was closed, he recognized the binding from anywhere.

It was one of Hiccups sketchbooks he was constantly drawing in, that's one thing Stoick could say he remembers well about him without being reminded.

No matter where Hiccup went, you could guarantee he would have his sketchbook in his arms.

But then that begged the question nibbling at the back of his head.

What did he draw?

He looked at the young Larson before speaking "lad, could I see that book yew were reading?"

Gustav raised an eyebrow with confusion but complied with the request as he moved awayf from the desk to allow Stoick's large frame to get to the book.

Upon reaching the desk, the large chief slowly dragged his palm over the cover as he opened to the first page, from the first page he furrowed his brow with confusion.

'This isn't like his other books' he thought to himself as he flipped through seeing nothing but designs for contraptions that could benefit peoples lives, or at least make it easier for them.

He went from confused to astonished as he turned each page, seeing all the numbers and words explaining their use, so much was he mesmerized by this that he nearly jumped out of his skin as Gustav started to speak.

"Your son has a lot of great ideas sir..."

Stoick stopped him by slamming the book shut and walked away, stunning the boy in his tracks.

"he still betrayed the village an me fer those beasts!" he said the last word with venom, not only had they taken his wife away from him but now even his son, the emotional wound was still healing even after fifteen years.

He closed his eyes and sighed as he spoke again "he's not a hooligan! He's not a Viking! He's not even my s..."

splash!

He was cut off as his face was soaked with water.

Glaring at where the water came from, only to see Gustav holding an empty bucket in his hands, water was dripping from the container still.

"Gustav! What in Thor's name do yew thing yer playing at?!" Stoick shouted with his booming voice, startling passers-by.

And scaring a few rogue sheep that still needed capturing.

Gustav was quaking with fear as the chief looked at him in fury.

But he never moved.

"I-I was t-told t-to by G-gobber" he stutter nervously.

"What?" Stoick asked loudly, still angry at been given a soaking by a boy but now most of his anger was replaced by confusion.

Gustav however took a deep breath as he walked to Gobber's personal desk before coming back with a piece of paper in his hand as he nervously gave it to the chief who quickly took it before opening it up to read what was in it.

Dear Stoick

If you're reading this than you've tried to say that sentence again.

If not then you're just a nosey git.

If you did the ha ha ha.

I bet you look like a wet sturgeon.

In any case, I told Gustav to throw a bucket of water at you if you tried to say that again, along with a few other people who will do the same.

Just a heads up don't say it in front of Gothi, she'll whack you so hard she'll turn you into a girl she told me.

So watch your mouth, chief or not.

If you're at the forge I take it you're trying to find an answer to something, maybe to do with your lad.

I know you too well Stoick, after all we've been friends for a very long time.

And because we're friends I'll give you a little hand.

Ask the Hoffersons

Good luck with training Snotlout,

you'll need it.

Gobber.

Stoick put the letter down as he sighed, he should have known some people would be on Hiccup's side.

He remembered looking around the arena as they watch Hiccup's trial happen.

Most of the village cheered.

But some didn't, they took pity on him.

We're these the people to find the answers he was looking for.

He knew his next destination.

The Hofferson's.

But first he had to head towards the docks as Gobbers boat will be arriving back soon.

But as he was about to walked out he felt a tug on his vest. He looked down only to see it was Gustav holding a book.

"S-sir" he stuttered as he held out the book to the chief "take this and have a look at it" he said as he looked up towards the large man.

Stoick wondered why, but saw it was another of Hiccups books. He smiled as he took the book from young Larson's hands before nodding goodbye and headed out of the door.

Leaving Gustav to ponder over the designs again, realizing him and Gobber will need some help with these.

At The Hofferson's

"Are you sure about that Gothi?" a worried looking Helga Hofferson asked the greying elder, who nodded with a reply.

"I'm very certain Helga" Gothi replied back as she set about gathering all her equipment back into her bag before looking at the blond haired woman, knowing what was going through her head. Smiling, Gothi approaches Her and pats her on her knee, gently soothing her.

"Everything will be alright, Alfsted will support you all the way"

This made Helga look at the elder with surprise "h-how did you..."

Gothi cut her off with a chuckle before heading towards the door leading to the outside "never underestimate an elder like me my dear" and with that, departed from the Hofferson manor just as a groaning Alfsted was entering through the same good, greeting the elder as they passed.

Helga looked at her husband with concern and worry as she approached him, giving him a hand into his armchair.

Usually Alfsted would act stubborn and refuse to be helped into his chair but since he was exhausted and slightly aching as well as Helga would kick his sorry butt if he tried to act stubborn with her, he accepted the help.

Once she knew her husband was sitting comfortably, she went to one of the open mead barrels, pouring a tankard full before handing it to him before sitting down on the couch next to him.

"So how was your day dear?" she asked casually as he downed the whole drink in one go, at this point she knew he only drank like that if was bad "that bad dear?"

He sigh before rubbing his temple "lets, put it this way, if I hear that spoilt pain in Thors thundery ass one more time today, I will drag him out to sea and throw him and his father to a Scauldren!" he replied, shouting the last word as he banged his head with his fist.

"Poor Scauldren" Helga said jokingly which brought a smirk on both the Hofferson's faces as Alfsted carried on.

"It took us ages to round up the sheep, it would have been quicker if Snotlout and his lot helped! Only they made the situation worse!" he sighed again having to relive through that again.

Helga felt the tension her husband was feeling so decided to do the one thing she knew would help him relax, well there was the other thing but now was not the right time.

She stood up, walked behind the armchair before firmly placing both hands upon each of his shoulders before moving them around, massaging his aching muscles, which seemed to do the job as he smiled and felt the relief wash over him.

"Well at least I had a giggle before I came in, saw Stoick look like a drowned yak, guessing he tried to say those words again" he finished off, this time hearing his wife moan with frustration.

"That idiot" she seethed not liking how the chief could say those words about his own flesh and blood.

Alfsted smiled as he gently patted her hand to let her know he felt the same "I know dear, but he's still our chief"

She sighed, knowing he was right "well he better be till Hiccup comes back, I can't imagine Snotlout as chief"

At this they both shudder at the thought before they both started laughing at each others reaction.

Suddenly Helga yelps as Alfsted gently pulls his wife over the chair, resulting in her sitting in his lap before they started sharing a kiss together.

Knock! Knock!

Both groaned with frustration at being interrupted from their passion.

Helga slowly got up from her husbands lap, making her way to the door.

"Who's there?" she shouted as she waited for the reply on the other side.

"Take a wild guess" came a familiar voice.

Both Helga and Alfsted looked at each other before opening the door only to be greeted by a friendly sight.

"Gobber!" both Hofferson's shouted as Helga gave the two limbed blacksmith a hug before gesturing him inside the house as she closed the door.

Alfsted got up from his chair, ignoring the pain from his muscles as he walks over to greet Gobber.

"Gobber you son of a moose, when did you get back?" Alfsted said cheerfully.

"Jus' bout now, after greeting Stoick an everyone at the docks, I headed up straight ere, I guess yew want ta know about yer wee lass Astrid" Gobber replied as both parents nodded.

"Well..." he hobbled over to the table, before sitting down as he looked at the two Hofferson's "let me start from the beginning..."

Several hours later

"..an tha's when Hiccup challenged her te a duel" Gobber finished off after telling the two about everything that happened on Bog isle all the way up to Astrid getting her new axe from Hiccup.

"Wow..." was all Helga said as she smiled while holding her husbands hand as he smiled too.

"Hiccup never ceases to surprise us" Alfsted added feeling proud to have him a future son-in-law knowing his daughter is with someone who truly respects her.

"Aye bu tha's not all" Gobber interjected as he pulled out something from his rucksack which was covered in a large cloth as he handed it to Alfsted.

Both Alfsted and Helga looked at the cloth then to Gobber before looking at each other as they slowly pulled the cloth off only for their mouths to open in shock.

In his hand, Alfsted was holding Astrid axe, the axe Hiccup made her two years ago, but why was it here and not with his daughter.

But his silent question was answered by Gobber who noticed their expression on their faces "there is no need te panic, Astrid told me te give this to yew, since Hiccup made her a new axe, she thought it right to give this one te yew to look after. Oh an' by the was Alfsted..."

With his real hand, pulled out several gold coins before handing it to Alfsted, who looked on in confusion "ye won the bet, here's yer winnin's"

Alfsted and Helga still looked confused until it dawned on them what bet he was on about, and to say the least Alfsted's eyes widened at what he meant "y-you mean..."

"Astrid grabbed the lad an, te put a finer point to it, had her way with him" he replied followed by a wink as he picked up his rucksack and said his farewells to the Hofferson's before heading out of the door towards home.

Leaving two very stunned Vikings sitting at the table, they never knew Astrid would do something like that.

Granted they knew she was a hormone crazed teenager like any other, but the way their daughter always talked about being a shield-maiden throughout her life and abiding to the Viking ways, they were very surprised to say the least.

They were silent for several minutes before Helga broke it.

"Well, looks like Hiccup will be our son-in-law for definite" she simply said with a chuckle at the end, she knows the boy long enough to know that he is a good lad and will make her daughter happy.

But her thoughts were brought back to reality as she hears sniffling, turning around to where it came from only to find her Husband with tears in his eyes as he tried to hold himself together.

Concerned, she holds onto his hand tightly, letting him know she's here if he wants to talk about something.

After several minutes he calms himself down before explaining himself "I'm sorry dear it's just that I just realized our baby's grown up, and I'm going to miss being there as someone to look up to" he said hoarsely as he looks into his wife's eyes before looking to her hands "I'm going to miss it"

Helga now understood why her was like this. Most of the time he is a tough Viking never to be messed with, but on three occasions did he ever cry.

This time here.

The other was their wedding day.

And the last was when he held Astrid for the first time ever.

She smiled at her husband before pulling him closer to her, embracing him as she started to drop a big bombshell for him.

"Well my dear, I'll admit I'll missed raising our little warrior up but I will say that our parenting days are far from over" she gently grabbed his large hand before placing it over her stomach.

He looked down where his hand was, then looked at his wife's face and back to his hand again before catching on what she was saying to which she nodded.

Alfsted removed his hand, stood up and walked to the other side of the room with his back towards his stunned wife, she was at this point scared he was going to get mad at her.

Little did she know he was smiling widely as he turned and rushed to his wife again laughing while embracing her in a hug.

"y-you're not mad?" she said a little taken back by his sudden change of mood.

"Mad? Why would I be mad, I'm-I'm gonna be a daddy again" he shouts as he laughs and cheers so loudly that nearby Vikings outside could hear him.

Worried that something happened, they bashed the door down only to see both Hofferson's jumping for joy.

"What in Thors name is all this racket?!" came the booming voice of the chief, to which point everone gave him a wide berth as he entered the Hofferson residence, follow by Gobber wanting to know too.

Alfsted looked embarrassed that he caused a lot of noise, but couldn't keep the smile off his face.

"Sorry, sorry everyone, got a little carried away, it's just...well... let me ask you this" he said as he stood away from his wife as he gestured to her with his hands "how many people you see in front of you?"

Bucket, who just arrived to see what the commotion was about, started to count on his fingers before saying his answer.

"one?"

Alfsted simply shook his head before moving back to Helga, embracing her in a hug once again "no Bucket, I see two people"

This caused whispers going around the group, wondering what he meant.

Gobber however caught on straight away as he leaned towards Stoick "yew know what this mean don' ya?"

Stoick merely shrugged, causing the two limbed blacksmith to roll his eyes.

"Either Helga's pregnant

or Alfsteds pissed"

Now how many of you got the plot at the end? Guess right and I'll give your dragon a fish cookie.