It's You And Me, Always

We Meet Once Again

Hiccup, Astrid, and their kids were on their way to meet Arthur. They weren't planning on bringing the kids but Hiccup decided to bring them just in case Arthur really had changed. He wanted his Uncle to meet his kids.....if he changed. If not he didn't want to risk putting their lives at risk the way his and Dustin's were 5 years ago. 

"Daddy and I are going to talk with someone in that room over there okay? Stay here with Grandpa and look after Finn" Astrid told Zephyr, before they went to meet Arthur

"Okay, mommy" Zephyr replied

"If you guys need anything, or if something happens, there are security guards waiting outside the door" Stoick said, and they both nodded. 

They made their way to the room where Arthur was seated, waiting for them. Before they went in, the two exchanged a glance, and opened the door. 

"Hiccup!" Arthur said, standing up as soon as they walked in, not really sure what to do

"Hello" Hiccup awkwardly said, they briefly shook hands with Arthur, and they all sat down

"So....." Astrid said, while tapping her fingers on the table

"Look, I'm sorry" Arthur starts, "I'm sorry for everything I did and-"

"Sorry? Is that all you can say after almost KILLING your nephews??" Hiccup asks, a little harshly 

"You don't understand, Hiccup!" He banged his fists on the table, "I was blinded! Blinded by the thought having that power your Father holds! I let that anger I had in losing the election take control of me. Put yourself in my shoes for one second, Hiccup. Imagine having your sibling run off with your competitor. Imagine seeing your competitor have everything you wanted. Power. Family. I was jealous! So jealous that I let that feeling take over me, and I guess the death of my sister fueled me to really come after you and your Father" Arthur said, "I truly am sorry, and I'm hoping you can see that I've changed.....please give me another chance" He said, tears slowly falling from his face. There was silence for a while

"How can I forgive you? How can I forgive you when you harmed those I love the most? You took Dustin away from us, you shot me, you threatened to go after my wife! How am I supposed to forgive someone who did all that?" Hiccup said, looking into his Uncle's eyes, which were avoiding his gaze

"It's what your Mother would have done..." Astrid whispered softly into Hiccup's ear, and he looked at her

"You're right" He sighed, "I'll forgive you....just because it's what Mom would've done. She always forgave us no matter what we did, and I guess I should do the same" Hiccup said, getting up to shake Arthur's hands. Arthur, who looked like he couldn't believe what just happened, stood up as well and they both shook hands. Hiccup pulled Arthur into a hug

"Thank you! Thank you, Hiccup" Arthur sobbed, as they embraced

"So, do you want to meet your grandniece and nephew?" Astrid asked, after they hugged as well

"You guys have kids?" He asked

"Yeah, Zephyr, who's three and Finn, who's just a week old" Hiccup smiled, "Wanna meet them or not? Because I'm sure they'd be really excited to meet you"

"I'd love to!" Arthur said, and his smile was so big

So with that, the two took Arthur to meet the kids. They decided to go to the park for a little lunch, so they picked some food on the way. Stoick drove Arthur in his car to keep an eye on him since he didn't fully trust him yet. Hiccup and Astrid had arrived first, so they lay their mats down by the playground and waited

"He really did change" Astrid said, while taking Finn out of his stroller

"Yeah, I guess there's good in everyone" Hiccup replied

"Daddy! Look, it's a butterfly!" Zephyr exclaimed, pointing at a white butterfly

"Woah, it's so pretty. Did you know that in some cultures, a white butterfly symbolizes the souls of a departed loved one?" Hiccup said, crouching down next to Zephyr 

"Really?" She said, fascinated, "Do you think this butterfly is Grandma visiting us?" She asked 

"Maybe it is..." Hiccup said, and they watched as the butterfly flew away 

"Bye Grandma!" Zephyr waved, and so did Hiccup

"Honey! They're here" Astrid called out to the two, and they both raced back to where Astrid was, "Zeph, Sweetie, this is your Uncle Arthur" She said

"Hi!" Zephyr waved at him energetically 

"H-Hi! I'm Arthur" He said, waving shyly

"And this is little Finn" Hiccup said, nodding to Finn, who was resting peacefully in his mother's arms 

"He's a handsome little man" Arthur said looking at his little face

"Would you like to hold him?" Astrid asks

"I can?" Arthur asks, a little shocked 

"Yeah, you've proved that you aren't the same person you were 4 years ago, and we trust you" She said, carefully placing Finn in Arthur's arms, showing him how to hold Finn. Hiccup and Astrid watched the two share a sweet moment, before Zephyr came back and asked Arthur to come with her in the playground. After handing Finn back to Astrid, Zephyr took Arthur by the hand and pulled him to the playground. Hiccup and Astrid sat on the mat while Stoick prepared the food 

"I wish Mom were here. She'd love to see Uncle Arthur and us getting along" Hiccup said, watching Arthur and Zephyr go down the slide

"Aw, Hiccup. She's always with you, watching over you from Valhalla" Astrid said, sitting in front of him, leaning on his chest

"Yeah, it's just that butterfly thing with Zephyr reminded me that she's really gone ya know?" He shrugged

"Yeah, I know. It was like that when my Uncle Finn passed. It took a couple of years for me to really process it, but I did. I've finally processed it, and I'm okay with it now" Astrid said, and Hiccup wrapped his arms around her, and laid his head on her shoulder They sat like that for a while before Finn started fussing because he didn't like laying on the mat and would rather be held by one of his parents, "Oh, I got you, little man" Astrid giggled, as she picked him up, laid him on her chest, and leaned back on Hiccup

"I like this" Hiccup said, wrapping his arms around Astrid and Finn, "Zephyr seems to really like Arthur" He said, nodding towards the playground. Astrid turned her gaze to them and saw Arthur pushing Zephyr on the swings

"I'm proud of you for forgiving him. I know it mustn't be easy to forgive someone who did all that" She said

"It wasn't, but like you said, it's something Mom would've done" He smiled

"Food's ready!" Stoick said, calling Arthur and Zephyr back

Zephyr ran back to her parents and excitedly told her about what happened on the playground. How Uncle Arthur went down the slide with her, and how he pushed her soooo high up on the swings. Hiccup and Astrid listened and watched as their daughter told them everything in such an animated way 

"You sound like you had so much fun!" Hiccup said, slowly getting up 

"I did! I wanna play with Uncle Arthur more, Daddy!" She said

"And I wanna play with you more, bug!" Arthur said smiling, as he handed Zephyr a plate

Hiccup and Stoick both exchanged a look which plainly said that they know Arthur really is a good guy. 

Valka always told Hiccup to forgive people no matter what they did, and she also told him that no matter how mean a bully may be to him, there always a good person behind that mean figure. Hiccup didn't remember these things until he was laying awake in bed unable to sleep, "You're always right, Mom" He whispered, then closed his eyes

(A/N: HI. So sorry this took a while to post. Life's been a tad bit wack these past few weeks haha. Anyway, I'm sorry it's quite short, had to write it in a rush. I don't really like how it ended but meh I guess it's alright. Don't forget to vote! Oh, and I'd love to read some comments on what you guys think about the chapter :)
-Padfoot)