Hi everyone! Welcome to my new story! I know I promised a few people a Heidi-esque fic, but I woke up this morning with a new idea searing my brain (which is how Fractured Family got its start) and I just had to wrote it out for you! I don't know how long this is going to be right now, all I know is expect flashbacks and appearances from some HTTYD2 characters! (I will still be writing Puzzle Pieces, but as of right now, it's slow going.)

In this storyline, Astrid leaves with Hiccup before the kill ring scene in the first movie and this is sort of the aftermath.

I hope you enjoy it!

"Be careful, Alana." Astrid warned the little girl lightly.

"Yes, Mama." Alana replied sweetly before returning to trying to climb onto Toothless' saddle. Toothless grumbled at Astrid and snuffled at the little girl in a way that meant that he was going to make sure the curious child on his back remained safe.

"Thank you, Toothless." Astrid replied before turning back to her folding.

She couldn't believe they were really doing this. It had been, how long? Seven years? Anything could have happened in seven years. Freya knows how much had happened outside of Berk in that time...

Astrid put the final piece of clothing in the bag and sighed. It certainly wasn't the first time they had packed everything and moved, but for some reason, it was different.

"Allie, do you want to pack your blanket tonight or in the morning?"

"The morning, Mama." Alana replied, slipping from Toothless' back and walking over to Astrid, grabbing her blanket on the way. Alana carried her blanket around everywhere. It was a gift from one of the women in the village where she was born and it was rare to see her without it, but she was four and thugs changed quickly with four year olds. "Where are we going 'gain?" the little girl questioned.

Astrid pulled her daughter into her lap and wrapped her arms around her. "Daddy thinks it's time for us to go home. Just for a visit."

"Before you said we don't got a home." Alana pointed out, resting against her mother. It was getting close to her bedtime.

"We don't, not really. Not anymore, at least. But Daddy and I used to live somewhere called Berk. We left because they were mean to dragons and didn't want to try a different way. I used to be mean to dragons too, but that was before I met Toothless and got to know Daddy better."

"Why do you want to go back if they're mean?"

"It's been a long time since we left and Daddy wants to try again."

"How long will we be there?" Alana questioned, clearly confused. Why would they go somewhere that hated dragons so much?

Little Allie was used to moving around and traveling with her parents. She had been doing it since she was a baby. They'd leave one island, find a new one, stay at some sort of inn, help the village make peace with their dragons, and then move on again. It was a never-ending cycle, but the little girl didn't mind. Every new island was a new adventure with new dragons to see and new friends to make.

Astrid liked it too. It was hard to be bored when they didn't stay put very long. The longest they had ever stayed in once place was ten months and that was the last few months of Astrid's pregnancy up until Alana was about six months old. They kept in touch with their friends as best as they could manage after they left, but with no permanent residence and wining tiring out a poor little Terror, it was next to impossible to receive a reply.

They had been so many places. They had met kings and emperors, picked up other languages, and tamed and trained dozens of exotic dragons. It was thrilling. It was everything Astrid never knew she wanted with the two people she never thought she needed.

"Just for a little while." Astrid promised. She didn't think Berk would be too happy to see them again. Surely seven years could have changed a lot, but Berk's Vikings were a particularly stubborn breed and it was unlikely that their hatred of dragons had disappeared.

The four year old's bright green eyes were serious. "I don't want to go if they don't like dragons, Mama."

"We won't stay long if they don't." Astrid kissed Alana's forehead. It would be nice to see her parents and tell them she was alive and happy, not kidnapped or dead or eaten by a dragon, but they weren't really going there to reunite, they were going to solve the dragon problem.

Alana rubbed her eyes. "When's Daddy coming home?"

Astrid smiled. Allie was Hiccup's pride and joy. She could do no wrong in his eyes. He had fallen in love the moment he saw her and she had wrapped him (and Astrid) around her finger at the same time. "Soon, baby. Why don't you put your pajamas on and I'll braid your hair?"

"Okay!" the girl scrambled to put on her nightclothes and returned to her mother with them on backwards.

"Almost." Astrid said before helping her fix it. "There we are."

Alana sat in front of her mother, allowing her hair to be combed out and braided for the night. Allie had her blanket bunched up in her lap, stroking the soft fabric with her fingers.

Just as Astrid finished with her braiding, Hiccup came in the door.

"Daddy!" Alana cried happily, pushing herself to her feet and holding her arms up, a piece of her blanket clutched in her fist.

"Alana," he laughed, picking her up above his head before hugging her close. "There's my girl."

Alana giggled joyfully and wrapped her arms around his neck. She didn't feel so tired anymore.

Astrid rolled her eyes as she stood. "Way to go, Hiccup. She was falling asleep."

"Whoops," Hiccup replied before nudging his daughter's cheek with his nose. He turned his attention back to Astrid. "How's my other favorite girl?"

She shrugged. "Alright, I guess. I packed everyone's clothes and stuff."

"Mine too?" He always told her not to, but she did anyway.

"You're included in everyone."

Alana had dropped her head to his shoulder, so he lowered his voice. "Astrid, you know I could do it."

"I do know. And you never fold anything. You just throw it. So I did it." When did she become a housewife?

"Thanks,"

"How did it go?" Astrid questioned. Though the entire village knew they were leaving, Hiccup had gone specifically to say goodbye to the blacksmith of the village. They had grown rather close. Hiccup taught him to make saddle parts in exchange for learning some new techniques and they had become friends. They always tried not to get too attached to anyone, but it always managed to happen.

"Mm, fine. He said he's sorry to see me go, but he think this is a very important cause and he thanked me again and wished us luck."

Astrid smiled gently. Hiccup looked really depressed. It was hard to leave friends behind. "A new adventure in the morning." she said. That's what he used to say to her when they first started on this crazy adventure to keep her spirits up.

He nodded and smiled a little before looking down at Alana, who was struggling to keep her eyes open. "Ready for bed?"

She nodded sleepily and Hiccup put her down in the middle of the bed. Toothless came over and curled at the very end on the floor.

A few moments later, Astrid blew out the last candle in the room and slipped into bed. Alana, who was barely awake, shifted to snuggle against her.

"Good night, Allie. I love you." Astrid said softly, stroking her daughter's hair.

"I love you, Mama... Love you, Daddy." Allie murmured.

"Good night." Hiccup said. "I love you too, sweetheart... And I also love you." he said to Astrid before leaning over and kissing them both.

"I love you too." Astrid smiled at him in the darkness.

Soon, Astrid, Alana, and even Toothless were fast asleep.

Sleep wasn't coming quite so easily to Hiccup.

They were going back to Berk. The home of his father who never liked him. A whole island who despised him and teased him. The family of a girl who had run off with him without a word seven years before. He would be retuning with a dragon as his best friend, Astrid at his side, and Alana in his arms. They'd hate him even more. It sounded like such a stupid idea to return. But something in him said it was time.

Hiccup's final thought before he closed his eyes was a familiar one. A new adventure in the morning.

A/N: So that's chapter 1! I hope you liked it! Please let me know what you think so far! I love feedback! :)

Thanks for reading!