Author's Note:

Hello everyone and welcome. I feel kind of guilty for starting yet another AU but the ever-fickle plot bunnies popped this into my head over the last couple of days.

At the moment this is going to be a set of one-shots that'll likely bounce all over the place so updates may be random. As is a given with my writing, it'll feature lots of Snotlout and will have a lot of Snotlout/Valka family moments which I don't have much of. Please also give a couple of my other stories 'Aurora-Magicka' and 'Back to Back' a look as well, they're both from two other AUs of mine which also feature Snotlout heavily. I hope you all enjoy the chapter.

I do not own any aspect of How to Train Your Dragon.

Beginning

Valka was stood rather awkwardly on Cloudjumper's back, not yet used to riding him.

Ever since he'd brought her to the Sanctuary, the Stormcutter had stayed by her side, she wasn't entirely sure why but it seemed he'd made himself her dragon. While the other dragons had warmed to her slowly, he'd been a friend from the beginning, well, him and the Bewilderbeast. The Sanctuary's Alpha seemed to understand her lack of hatred for dragons, he'd welcomed her into his domain with ease and was perfectly content with her living amongst his pack.

Between these two, the other dragons had become accepting of her and, in time, Cloudjumper began offering his services as a mount.

It had been a fairly interesting time as Valka got used to riding the Stormcutter, more than once she fell but she learned how to maintain her balance pretty rapidly. She may still find it awkward but she could tell that it was becoming natural for her, before long she wouldn't even have to think about it.

Her eyes scanned the ocean below as Cloudjumper flew low. A hatchling (a Monstrous Nightmare with a reckless streak) had somehow left the Sanctuary and disappeared, Valka had realised this when she'd counted the hatchlings and came up with the wrong number. Several dragons were now out searching for the little runaway and Valka was scouring the sea around the Sanctuary with Cloudjumper.

She shook her head, "Where is he?" She looked down at her dragon, "That little Nightmare certainly lives up to his name, it's a nightmare trying to keep track of him."

Cloudjumper rumbled in agreement, this wasn't the first time this particular Nightmare had disappeared on an adventure, he was very headstrong and held the fearlessness of a child…not a good combination at times.

Valka spotted one of the Sanctuary Hobblegrunts heading her way and she frowned, "What is it now?"

The dragon roared at her as he approached before turning and heading back the way he'd come, Cloudjumper immediately followed and Valka's frown deepened as she wondered what he'd found.

The Hobblegrunt brought them to a set of large rocks around the other side of the Sanctuary, amongst them was a wooden, Viking rowboat.

Around it were several of the Sanctuary dragons. One was the mother of the runaway hatchling, said hatchling was with her, lifting a worry off Valka's mind. The hatchling was growling and chirping away at his mother who'd continually rumble as if shushing him, the other searchers were also gathered but they kept a little distance from the boat.

Cloudjumper landed and the dragons respectfully moved aside for him, Valka dismounted the Stormcutter and carefully made her way over to the boat, wondering what about it had the dragons so curious.

It contained two people.

One, Valka recognised immediately, she'd known the woman for a very long time when she'd been on Berk and had eventually become her sister-in-law.

Helga.

Renowned warrior and wife of Spitelout Jorgenson (Valka's brother), Helga had been a formidable, yet loving, person. Before her…unexpected departure from Berk, Valka had been particularly close to her sister-in-law and she'd spent many an afternoon in her company, especially when the woman became pregnant with her first child. Valka could scarcely believe that she was this far away from Berk.

As well as dead.

There was no doubt about it, Helga was too motionless to be alive and a desperate check only confirmed it. What she was to do now, Valka had no idea, nothing prepared you for finding the body of one of your close friends in a boat leagues from where they were supposed to be. She could barely process that the whole thing was truly happening.

A wail from the second occupant of the boat pulled Valka's attention.

They were wrapped in several blankets, clutched in Helga's arms. Carefully, Valka pulled the bundle out and closely studied the little form inside.

Even as a baby, the boy's dark hair, blue eyes, and robust build declared him as a Jorgenson, even if he hadn't been in his mother's arms, Valka could have easily placed him as Spitelout and Helga's son. Though babyish, his features were remarkably similar to his father's and the intense volume of his wail clinched the similarities, only Jorgensons could get that loud.

Valka quietly tried to comfort him, mothering instincts still strong from caring for her own son, and slowly, the boy settled in her arms. Even as she tended to him, she examined the boat trying to work out what had happened.

There were no signs of injury on Helga and the boat was undamaged so it wasn't a battle that had killed her. There was no sign of any food or water and closer inspection revealed that she was almost emaciated, the baby was fine so she likely used up everything she had to keep him healthy. There was also no means of powering the boat, no oars, no sail, nothing except her own hands, maybe she'd been set adrift but why? Berk certainly wouldn't have done it, she could've been in a shipwreck but there was no reason for her to be sailing, especially not with such a young child.

The boy began to whimper again and Valka recognised his desire for food, he may look healthy but it could've been a very long time since he last had anything. She could puzzle things over after he'd been fed.

Valka had given Helga a very simple ceremony.

She'd pushed out the boat holding her friend's body and improvised fire arrows with Cloudjumper's flames. She'd recited the words in honour of her fallen friend and watched for a while as the boat quickly burned and sank. In her arms was her little nephew, completely oblivious to the death of his mother as he contentedly slept through the entire thing.

Eventually, Valka turned away and mounted Cloudjumper and soon, he and the other dragons were returning to the Sanctuary.

As they flew, she continued to ponder over what to do next, the little boy needed a mother to look after him and she considered taking him back to Berk in secret. There were loads of families there who would happily take him in, he had family there from both sides that could look after him.

She then frowned, but there were also those who wouldn't do so, the Jorgensons weren't exactly the most kind and considerate people. She knew that those out with her and her brother's branch could be very harsh on their sons and continually fought for the best positions in the clan, if her brother wasn't alive (which was a distinct possibility) then his son would likely be treated as lesser by his various relatives, who would take the chance to claim better positions for their own children. Helga's family weren't a much better prospect, they'd never really approved of her marriage to Spitelout and they would not take kindly to having his son placed in his care. That was far from a good option.

Of course, this was all fruitless to worry about if Spitelout was still alive, the boy would grow up with his father as he should do so the other family members would be unimportant.

She shook her head, if he was still alive then Helga would never have ended up the way she had. Spitelout loved her dearly and he would've kept her safe no matter what, whatever caused her to be set adrift in that boat more than likely killed him, he was no longer around to care for his son.

As they landed, Valka looked down at the sleeping boy and smiled, she could always take care of him.

She pushed that thought away as soon as it came, she couldn't just do something like that, he was a boy, not a stray kitten! If he stayed he would just have her and the dragons, no friends, no peers, no elders to learn from, that was no way for a child to grow up. She couldn't just take in another child when she'd chosen to not return to her own son because of her love for dragons, it was just wrong!

She sighed, she would take him back to Berk first thing in the morning, maybe she could come up with a way to get him to a decent family without being discovered.

She and Cloudjumper left early the next day.

The night had been predictably disturbed by the usual needs of a baby, Valka had been surprised at how quickly she'd fallen back into mothering though Cloudjumper had not been impressed with the tiny human waking him up. After a quick breakfast, they took to the sky and headed for Berk with Valka trying to come up with the best way to get the little boy to a good family.

They'd been flying for some time when she spotted an Outcast ship at an island below her, usually she'd avoid such ships but its appearance so far from home waters was suspicious, especially when you considered how she'd found Helga the day before.

She guided Cloudjumper quietly down to the island, taking care to land unseen. Once landed, she left the carefully bundled baby in the Stormcutter's protection and stole off towards where she'd seen the ship.

Treading lightly, she soon reached the Outcast's beach camp and listened in from hiding.

"I'm telling ye, this is a waste of time."

An Outcast agreed with his comrade, "I know, we're searching the whole bleedin' ocean for a single woman and 'er brat. What's the point?"

Another man, likely their leader, answered harshly, "Because Alvin's ordered us to! He wants the boy for his revenge schemes against Berk, so we'll search until he says otherwise."

"But why?" The first one asked, "What good is a baby?"

The leader snorted, "This is why ye'll never be in charge. He intends to rear that baby as his own son, the boy's a Jorgenson with warrior parents, Alvin knows he'll be a formidable force with the right upbringing. He's going to make that kid the perfect counter to Stoick's brat, Alvin's playing the long game." He glowered, "So we need to find that boy and fast, it took a lot of effort to get a hold of him and his mother in the first place, even with some of their own family betraying them."

Valka barely contained a gasp and hurried away having heard everything she needed to.

She didn't know the full story but she could make several educated guesses on what had happened as well as change her plans.

She couldn't take the boy back to Berk, not with people there who would hand him to the Outcasts. She doubted they considered Alvin's plans when they made the deal, they probably only saw a way to remove their rivals from the picture. Even so, the fact that they went that far was terrifying. Family relationships within the Jorgenson clan had always been difficult but the confirmation that some were using such sinister methods to remove their rivals was terrible, further convincing her that her brother was also dead. Spitelout was the head of the clan and he kept the members in check, the only way anyone would dare do something like this was if he wasn't in the picture.

She reached Cloudjumper and instantly checked on her nephew, finding him obliviously asleep. Gently, she took him into her arms and looked down at him. Taking him to Berk was no longer an option, it was clear that he wouldn't be safe there anymore. That being said, she didn't like the idea of taking him to any of the other tribes, the more reasonable ones were allied with Berk so the boy's family connections would come to light sooner or later, that and she couldn't guarantee he'd end up with a good family or even be taken in. This greatly reduced her options and she was beginning to see only one that would assure that he would be both cared for and safe from Alvin and his treacherous family.

Taking him in herself.

In the Sanctuary, he'd be out of Alvin's reach and far from those who'd betrayed him, it hurt her inside when she considered how she'd left Hiccup behind but she knew he would be safe. Those responsible for this would not dare cross Stoick the Vast and she knew that they had no designs on taking over the tribe, none of the other clans would ever stand for that. This boy however, would not be safe there, at least with her he'd be with family who truly cared for him.

She smiled and stroked his cheek, "Well, it looks like you're staying with me after all."

She frowned, she needed his name, he would certainly have one already but what would his parents have chosen? She smiled again as one came to mind.

Jorgenson tradition required a first-born son to be given the name of one of his ancestors, usually a warrior. There'd been one in particular whom Spitelout had greatly admired and looked up to and had moved on to Valhalla not that long ago, he'd been widely respected by all and had been an example of a true Berkian warrior.

Valka gently kissed the little boy's forehead.

"Let's go home Snotlout."

PS-So another AU starts. Please let me know what you thought and if you have any chapter suggestions.