Stoick was beside himself with worry. He had been angry when Hiccup didn't show up for supper, even more so when the boy didn't come home by dark. However it was now an hour after dark and there was no sign of Hiccup. Stoick had searched the entire village, roping others in to help, and no one had seen him all evening. Stoick had checked with the other parents, but their children hadn't mentioned anything about Hiccup that evening. He did play by himself a lot, it was possible that the other children didn't know anything and there was no point in waking them up.

Stoick had sent some people down to check the docks while he looked in the house again in case Hiccup had come home.

"Any luck?" Gobber asked from the open doorway.

"No. I don't get it, Gobber. We've looked everywhere. He wouldn't run away." Stoick sat in his chair and put his head in his hands, thinking. "Except," He lifted his head, "The pirates."

Gobber stepped inside, "Stoick, they've been good, there's no reason to think they'd take the boy."

"It's the only place we haven't checked. I want to talk to Rob'n."

"Alright." Gobber said humouring his friend, "I'll send someone ta fetch him. That's too much walking for me. Where do ya want ta meet him?"

"The Hall." Stoick said rising to head there now. "Have some people search the pirates' camp."

"Aye. Sure thing, Stoick." Gobber said as he left. "Let's just make enemies of them now before the snow sets in." He muttered.

Stoick ignored him and went up to the Great Hall. If that pirate had taken his son the crook was going to regret it. All the charm in the world wouldn't help him.

Stoick sat in his chair glowering at the door until the pirate came in with Spitelout and Gobber. He looked about as angry as Stoick. Before Rob'n could say a word Stoick cut him off.

"Where is he?"

Rob'n met Stoick's eyes, glare for glare. "Like I told the others, I don' know what or who you're talking about. I can tell you that my men aren't too pleased at having our camp torn apart." The pirate's cheery demeanor was gone.

"My son is missing and we've already searched the village."

The anger left Rob'n, "Oh. Then by all means, search. I'll tell my men to cooperate."

"You'll let us on yer ship?" Stoick asked slightly surprised. Though the pirate seemed sympathetic and willing to help; it could easily be a rouse.

"Fill your boots. Though, he couldn't have gotten there by himself," Rob'n said as he took in Stoick's steady glare, "But you already thought of that. I promise full cooperation, Stoick. I am not a kidnapper nor would I be foolish enough to stick around if I was. Besides, he's a cute kid and all; I just don't do the whole nose-whipping bedtime thing."

Stoick stared at him; the pirate seemed sincere. He nodded at Spitelout to go ahead with the search.

"One more thing," Rob'n added, "I saw him this afternoon, heading to the woods with some other youngsters. Before I met with you actually."

"You what?" Stoick stood. "Gobber get some people to start searchin' the woods. I'm heading out now." Stoick left, they could sort themselves out and Gobber could handle the preparations. If Hiccup was lost in the woods at night Stoick couldn't even bare to handle the possibilities. He could fall and hurt himself; he could fall down one of the many steep hills into water. There were wolves out there; it was getting cold at night with winter coming.

Stoick was going to throttle the kid when he found him. How many times, how many times had Stoick told him to stay out of the woods? As far as Stoick knew none of the children were allowed in the woods, but if they had gone in together why were the others all home in bed and Hiccup still missing? He probably flitted off on his own after a little while to explore, Stoick thought grumbling to himself as he stomped through the woods.

Dawn had broken over an hour ago and there was still no sign of Hiccup. Not in the pirates' camp, their ship, nor in the village, the woods. If Stoick wasn't the chief he would have given over to panicking as he wandered through the trees looking for any sign that a six-year-old had passed that way. He was both furious and frantic. Stoick didn't know what he was going to do when he found Hiccup, and he was going to find him. One thing was certain; Hiccup was grounded for the foreseeable future.

Stoick could hear others around, the snapping of branches, crunching of leaves, and Hiccup's name being called. Where was the boy? If he was able to Hiccup would have responded. What if he couldn't respond? What if he was lying somewhere unconscious? Stoick refused to consider anything worse. He couldn't consider anything worse.

"Stoick." Edith called. "Stoick!"

Oh what now? Stoick had become annoyed with people several hours ago; they couldn't even search for a little boy without their hands being held. Frustrated Stoick turned toward her voice as Edith came through the trees.

"I've got him, Stoick." She said when she saw her Chief. Sure enough there was Hiccup in her arms, covered in mud and leaves. There were tear tracks through the mud on his cheeks and his eyes were red. Hiccup was clutching her tunic tightly with a muddy hand, sniffling. The wooden yak was in the crook of his elbow and the thumb of his free hand was in his mouth. "He's cold and hungry, but otherwise fine." Edith set Hiccup on the ground and he ran to his father. Stoick had his son in his arms and crushed to his chest as fast as he could. Relief was all he felt. Stoick said nothing, neither scolding nor comforting for several breaths. Stoick kissed the side of Hiccup's head.

"Don't you ever do that again," Stoick said finally. Hiccup nodded and tightened his arms around Stoick's neck. The boy was shivering. "You're filthy. Did you fall in a stream?"

Hiccup shook his head.

"Are you hurt anywhere?" Stoick felt the boy's back and sides. Hiccup shook his head, sniffling. "Alright, let's get you home. You hungry?"

Hiccup nodded.

"Okay." Stoick kissed the boy again, holding him close. He tasted like mud and smelled like the flats. The stupid wooden yak was being pressed into Stoick's collar bone. "Edith, call off the search. I'm taking Hiccup home."

Sometime on the walk home the sniffling stopped and Hiccup fell asleep. Stoick expected that, the boy probably hadn't slept all night. Once home Stoick put the boy down, stripped off his dirty and ripped clothes, and put a clean tunic on him. Other than mumbling a little Hiccup didn't stir. Stoick cleaned the mud off his face and tucked him in. He'd give the boy a bath later. Hiccup curled up on his side and put his thumb in his mouth.

Shaking his head Stoick pulled the thumb out of the boy's mouth and washed his hands. If Hiccup was going to suck his thumb it should at least be clean. Sure enough Hiccup put his thumb back in his mouth when Stoick let go of his hand. Stoick let it be. Hiccup only sucked his thumb when he was distressed and being lost in the woods all night seemed like a good reason to need comfort.

Stoick sat on the edge of the bed and brushed the mud and tangles out of Hiccup's hair with his fingers. The boy was in so much trouble when he woke up.

Hiccup was still picking leaves out of his hair that afternoon. He sat outside on the front step doodling in the dirt with a stick. His relatives were over talking to his dad and Hiccup had been told to wait outside. Hiccup knew that this was so they could yell at each other. It happened every now and then, especially when Hiccup had been particularly bad or in the way. He had been told to stay on the step.

"Where were you?" Astrid demanded making Hiccup mess up his drawing. He hadn't heard her approach.

"What?" Hiccup noticed the others gathering around.

"Why didn't you go home? All the adults where freaked out this morning looking for you." Astrid said. She sounded angry, like she wanted to hit him, but her eyes didn't have the same scary look they usually did when Astrid sounded like this. If Hiccup didn't know any better he'd say she was guilty, but Astrid Hofferson was never guilty.

"I tried. I was lost. Why did you leave me out there?" Hiccup asked his cousin and the twins.

"You guys said he went home!" Astrid turned on them. Snotlout looked scared. The twins didn't, they merely shrugged.

"We thought you would go home. How were we supposed to know you'd go and get yourself lost?" Ruffnut said sounding bored.

"How much trouble are we in?" Snotlout asked nervously.

Hiccup shrugged, "I'm mad at you, but the grownups aren't. Daddy thinks I went off by myself. You're not in trouble."

The others stared at him, "You took all the blame?" Astrid asked her eyes wide in shock.

Hiccup nodded.

"You obviously can't, Stoick!" A woman yelled from inside the house, "See some sense!"

"Is that- is that Aunt Edna?" Snotlout asked. Hiccup hugged his knees and nodded. "What's she doing here?"

It was a fair question. Aunt Edna was a spinster who lived on the edge of the village. She was always cross and disliked everyone.

"She's talking to Daddy. So are your mom and dad. They want to take me away from my daddy." Hiccup whispered. The other kids shared wide eyed looks; they couldn't imagine being taken from their parents.

"Why?" Fishlegs asked in horror.

"It doesn't matter," Snotlout said, "My mama is always telling my dad that Hiccup should live with someone else until he's older. Uncle Stoick never listens to her."

"Aunt Edna's insisting" Hiccup said, "I don't think she'll go away until Daddy says yes. I don't want to live with her."

Snotlout shuddered at the thought.

"Hey now, you lot, whatcha doin out here?" Gobber asked coming up the stairs with Orange Eye. There was a crash from inside the house.

"Damn it, Stoick! You can't do both, why can't you see that?" Aunt Edna yelled. Stoick responded in kind only his voice didn't carry as well and the group outside couldn't hear what he said.

"Maybe you should come back later, Orange Eye." Gobber said. The pirate nodded and turned to leave. When he was gone Gobber knelt down to talk to Hiccup. "How long has Sunshine been here?"

Hiccup picked at his pants, "A while. She's going to take me away."

Gobber snorted, "Over Stoick's dead body. Mine too. Don't you worry, lad."

"Gobber?" Astrid stepped forward, "Would it help if what happened wasn't Hiccup's fault?"

Gobber eyed Hiccup, "It might. Hiccup here said he went exploring on his own."

"He didn't!" Fishlegs blurted, "We all did. To find a rompo. Hiccup was our bait."

"Huh," Gobber kept his eyes on Hiccup, scratching his chin. "Then how did he get lost all by himself?"

"Uh, we," Snotlout gestured at the twins, "We thought it would be funny to play a joke. We didn't think he'd get lost."

"Well that's something, eh Hiccup?"

Hiccup shrugged.

"Why'd ya lie lad?"

Hiccup sniffed, "Daddy said I should be responsible for myself and others. I shouldn't blame other people." He was trying not to cry as he heard the commotion in his house; the threat of being taken away from his dad hanging over him.

"Not always," Gobber said, "I'll go get rid of Miss Sunshine. Don't you worry, lad, no one's taking you from yer dad." He patted Hiccup on the knee and went into the house.

"Has this happened before?" Astrid asked.

"I told you," Snotlout said. "My mama's always saying Hiccup should live somewhere else; that Uncle Stoick can't be a single father and a chief. This happens every now and then."

"Aunt Edna doesn't get involved very often." Hiccup put in.

"Fine!" Aunt Edna cried from the house, near the door. "Don't come crying to me when you lose him for good!"

"Quick!" Snotlout hissed running round the side of the house; the other kids following. They had seen Aunt Edna enough to want to avoid her. Astrid paused though, looking at Hiccup.

"Go!" Hiccup said and she scurried after the others just before the door opened. They all peeked around the side as Hiccup scrambled to his feet and Aunt Edna came out. She looked him over with narrowed, cold blue eyes. Hiccup fidgeted under her gaze.

"You're obviously not doing a good job anyway. He's filthy and much too small. Lying to boot. I tell you, Stoick, he'd be better off in a home where he can get the attention he needs."

"I've given my answer, Edna." Stoick growled from the doorway. With a huff Edna stormed off. Stoick turned his attention to Hiccup, "What have I told you about lying?"

"I didn't mean to lie." Hiccup said quickly. "You said to take responsibility. I didn't want the others to get in trouble. You said a chief protects his own."

Stoick sighed and knelt to talk to Hiccup face to face, "That's good, son, but you also need to let people face the consequences for their actions. Leaving you alone in the woods that close to dark was stupid, reckless, and dangerous. Your 'friends' need to get in trouble for that so they don't do it again."

"How do you know when they should get in trouble?" Hiccup asked.

"I just do, son. Now, go inside. You're still grounded." He steered Hiccup into the house and turned his attention to the other kids. They weren't as good at hiding as they thought.

Inside Gobber was sitting at the table with Aunt Thistleface and Uncle Spitelout was leaning against the back wall. There were several shields that had been knocked to the floor. Hiccup stood quietly looking at them.

"Come 'ere, lad." Gobber said holding out his bad arm for Hiccup. The boy obeyed, carefully not looking at his aunt or uncle. Gobber lifted Hiccup onto his lap.

"Ya stink. Smell like a pond. Don't you ever bathe?" Gobber gave Hiccup a little shake to loosen him up.

"Yeah," Hiccup mumbled. "I'm having a bath tonight 'cause I'm muddy."

"I'll say." Gobber ruffled Hiccup's hair, dislodging mud.

"You going to tell me how you got muddy, now? And how you ripped your shirt?" Stoick asked taking a seat. "Sit down and stop yer hoverin, Spite."

Spitelout rolled his eyes and sat down. While Thistleface sat Snotlout on her lap since all the chairs were taken. Hiccup picked at the thong that held Gobber's attachment to his arm.

"I had to look dead. To trick a rompo, they only eat dead things."

"A rompo." Stoick said his eyes on Gobber.

"Don't look at me, Stoick." Gobber said, "I've never heard of a-"

"Rompo" Hiccup said. He wouldn't look up from Gobber's arm. "We wanted to see one and maybe catch it. The pirate told us about them. He doesn't know if they live here so we wanted to find out. They aren't dangerous."

"The pirate." Stoick said eyes narrowing.

"Yeah, we called him over," Hiccup said sensing that Orange Eye would get in trouble for some reason. "Because we were bored. The big kids didn't want to play with us and the grownups wanted us out of the way. He's nice."

"Well, you aren't playing without adult supervision for a while." Stoick said. "So why are you muddy?"

"I told you, Daddy. I had to look dead to trick the rompo."

Thistleface got up, giving Snotlout the chair. "I may as well make supper for us all since I'm here." She started going through Stoick's pantry.

"Don't reorganize it, please." Stoick said to her. "Hiccup, why are you the only one covered in mud?"

"Because I kept stepping on leaves and sticks. It annoyed Astrid."

"It was annoying. Honestly Hiccup, we were trying to track a rompo not scare it away." Snotlout said.

"At least I know how to keep my mouth shut. You guys wouldn't shut up,"

"Hiccup." Stoick warned. Hiccup wasn't allowed to say 'shut up'. It didn't matter what kind of language Hiccup heard he still wasn't allowed to say certain things.

"I didn't tell him to, I said he didn't." Hiccup defended. He could tell by the look on Stoick's face it wasn't going to work.

"I don't want you saying that, period."

"Fine." Hiccup said crossing his arms. Snotlout stuck his tongue out and Hiccup glared at him. It didn't matter, Snotlout had the upper hand.

"Excuse me, young man?" Stoick said using his scary voice; the one that meant Hiccup would get punished with anything from a time out to a spanking if he didn't smarten up. Hiccup met his father's stare. The rules about what he could and could not say were stupid. Stoick stood firm and Hiccup dropped his eyes and his arms.

"Sorry." He mumbled, "I meant, yes sir."

Snotlout's grin grew wider at seeing Hiccup in trouble. Hiccup crossed his arms again and leaned back into Gobber, glowering at his cousin.

Spitelout snorted, "He might not have the size, but he certainly has the spirit of a Viking. And you," He said to his son, "Are in far too much trouble to gloat, Snotlout. You could have gotten your cousin killed."

Snotlout studied the table and looked suitably ashamed.

"Aye, that he has in spades," Gobber ignored the last comment and tickled Hiccup. Though he tried not to, the boy laughed. Gobber didn't stop, waiting for Hiccup to cry mercy. Instead the boy wriggled off his lap, ducked under the table, and climbed onto his father's knee; the only place he would be safe from Gobber. Stoick shifted Hiccup to a more comfortable position,

"A bit of the size wouldn't hurt," Stoick said. "To go along with all that spirit."

Hiccup looked at his dad. He knew he was too small; there was nothing he could do about that.

Gobber waved his hand, "Ah, that'll come, Stoick. He's young yet."

"I know," Stoick said. "Next few years he'll probably shoot right up."

"Here, Hiccup." Aunt Thistleface said putting a plate of fried fish in front of him. Cod by the smell.

"He gets served first?" Spitelout asked reaching for a piece of fish off Hiccup's plate. Only to have his hand slapped by his wife.

"Yes. Poor boy's probably starving after last night. Knowing Stoick all Hiccup's eaten today is jerky or oatmeal. I'd say stew, but there are no burning pots in here."

Hiccup was hungry; though there was no way he'd be able to eat all the food on his plate. Aunt Thistleface was always trying to feed him more than he could eat.

"I feed him better than that, Thistleface." Stoick said taking a piece of Hiccup's fish, "And you know it." He picked a bone out of another piece, "Careful of the bones Hiccup."

"Stoick." Thistleface reprimanded, "Leave his food alone or I'll serve you last." She gave Gobber and Spitelout their plates as the two men smiled at Stoick getting in trouble.

"He can't eat all this. I'm helping him out." Stoick took another piece, sorting through and removing bones as he did so.

"He needs to eat in order to grow." Thistleface said throwing another fish in the pan with some butter.

Eat to grow? Maybe there was something to what Ruff said yesterday, Hiccup thought; maybe he was small because he didn't eat enough. Well, he could fix that easy. Then he'd grow bigger, just like his dad wanted him to.

"Mama, can I go out fishing with Hoark tomorrow? He said yesterday I can if you say yes." Snotlout asked when she gave him his supper.

"Absolutely not. After that stunt you pulled yesterday you are grounded."

It was Hiccup's turn to gloat and he took it. Sticking out his tongue until his father shook his knee in a silent command to behave himself and act as a future chief should. Being the heir sucked.

Special thanks to CB for the edit