A/N: So this is my update for Nov. 28 in case there's some confusion. I had to insert it in the middle of the story to maintain continuity. I hope that's okay with everyone. This chapter takes place between "Reports" and "The Real Heather". 

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AUTHOR POV

Hiccup got up from his furs on the floor with massive bags under his green eyes. He didn't get any sleep last night thanks to Astrid and Heather. His mind was flooded with conflict the entire night, not knowing who to believe. Hiccup was glad that his father was a deep sleeper, or he would've woken up from the racket and then Hiccup really wouldn't get any sleep.

He put on his brown fur vest and headed to the Dragon Academy for the day's training. Upon arrival, he saw the gang doing their usual routine in the arena. Snotlout feeding Hookfang, the twins recklessly playing with swords, Fishlegs reading maps, and Astrid grooming Stormfly.

With an ignorant smile on his face, Hiccup walked up to Astrid. "Hi, Astr--". Then the memory hit him. Don't talk to me until you get some sense in that muddled head of yours. He sighed heavily and his smile vanished away.

A small part of him wanted to talk to Astrid, but Hiccup was overcome with fear and he simply walked past her towards Fishlegs. Astrid sneaked a glance at Hiccup as he went past her. Not even if she received a million pieces of silver would she smile at that moment, and her frown sank even deeper when Heather arrived.

"Okay, everyone's here. Now we can start," Hiccup announced. The gang huddled together in front of the Academy board. 

"Alright, today, we're going to try out a new formation," Hiccup stated, leading to a resounding groan from half of the gang. "I know this sounds boring, but with Heather now on the team, we need to adjust our flying formation to be more effective."

"Does this mean I can ride Toothless now?" Tuffnut asked.

"No, Tuff, you still have to ride with your sister," Hiccup sighed. 

"Can I ride with Heather on her Nadder?" Snotlout asked.

"No, no one is switching dragons!" Hiccup groaned.

Fishlegs raised his hand, "What is the new formation, Hiccup?" Hiccup drew on the board to present his plan.

"Snotlout, you'll fly out a little more to the side so Hookfang's wing flaps won't slow down the other riders. I stay at front since I have the map. Heather and Astr-- er, the two Deadly Nadders will fly at the rear since they are the most versatile." 

"Okay, sounds good," Heather said. Astrid kept silent the entire time and just watched from behind the gang.

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Although Astrid, Heather, and Hiccup avoided talking to each other during the exercise, the new formation was successfully executed thanks to their skills. After the training, the gang went to Mead Hall to eat lunch. The rain started to pour outside, making the indoors much more cozy. They shared a table even though there were only a few other villagers at the hall. 

Hiccup sat across from Heather, and the twins sat between Hiccup and Astrid on the same bench. The gang ate silently, waiting for anyone to to start talking. The sound of the rain battering the roof of the hall seemed to grow louder as Ruffnut shifted her eyes around the table, wondering what was going on.

To the right of her, she saw Hiccup sipping stew and to the left was Astrid, quietly tearing her chicken apart. She knew Hiccup and Astrid weren't the best conversation starters, but today was different. 

Tuffnut broke the silence, "So, Heather, what's it like living with Hiccup? He hasn't done anything indecent, has he?" 

Hiccup almost choked on his drink upon hearing it, and Ruffnut saw Astrid clenching her jaw and glaring through her peripherals. "Um, it's definitely been interesting to say the least," Heather simply answered.

Another period of silence filled the room, Even Snotlout's bombastic nature seemed to have deflated under the circumstances.

"Hey Hiccup, I found something really interesting in the Book of Dragons. Want to see it later?" Fishlegs asked.

"Yeah, sure, Fishlegs," Hiccup mumbled. Ruffnut knew there was definitely something going on with Astrid, Heather, and Hiccup. She waited until she saw the the three of them weren't looking to signal the rest of the gang to get up. It only took a subtle kick under the table to receive a nod from her brother. Snotlout, who took several times to get the hint, finally nodded at Ruffnut's cue.

"Oh, hey look at that, someone left a lamb shank on that table," Tuffnut pointed at a table with absolutely nothing on top of it. "Let's get it," Snotlout excitedly said as they both got up. 

"Idiots," Ruffnut mumbled under her breath. She had no choice but to use the poor excuse to get up and follow them. Fishlegs also got up with no good excuse. Hiccup, Heather, and Astrid saw right through the gang's ploy, but were too distracted to care and simply ignored the gang as they left the table. 

Ruffnut and the other teens sneaked behind a far column to ensure their voices wouldn't be heard. Usually, they just messed around all the time, knowing that Hiccup and Astrid would scold them and fix the situation. However, even though they'd never admit it, the gang is a tightly knit group who look out for each other.

"What's going on?" Fishlegs asked. "Did something happen between them?"

"I think they had a big fight. It must've been something serious. I've never seen Hiccup and Astrid act that way, not even during the years when they weren't that close," Ruffnut whispered.

"I bet it's because Hiccup keeps giving Heather private lessons and Astrid is jealous," Snotlout suggested.

Wrong. 

"Wait, Hiccup likes Heather?" Fishlegs asked.

Late.

"No, I think it's because Heather and Hiccup secretly got married, and Astrid just found out," Tuffnut said.

Definitely way off.

Ruffnut stared at her brother and groaned at his idea. "What? It could be true," Tuffnut shrugged his shoulders.

"Look, until we know more, we have to watch what we say," Ruffnut looked at her friends with doubt as they lazily nodded. "Or better yet, just don't say anything to them until I talk to Astrid. I don't want it to get worse. Okay?"

"Got it," Snotlout confirmed. 

The gang didn't bother going back to the table and left Mead Hall instead. After she finished her plate, Heather stood up. 

"I'm gonna go hang out with the gang. I'll see you tonight, Hiccup," Heather said.

"O-okay," Hiccup muttered, glancing at Heather and then looking back down on his bowl. Heather walked off, leaving Hiccup and Astrid sitting two spaces away from each other, both looking down at their food.

Neither of them dared to turn their head to look at each other, but they also found no urge to leave. "Come on, Hiccup, talk to her," he thought to himself. 

"Don't say anything, don't say anything," Astrid thought to herself. She was no longer angry at him, but she didn't know how to behave since she knew they can't act normal until they resolve their disagreement; and she knew neither of them would back down.

The two best friends sat silently as if they were strangers. It was a pain that they had never experienced before. Even during the years when they drifted apart as friends, at least they still talked to each other sometimes. 

Finally, Hiccup got the courage to turn his head and say something, but before he could, Astrid got up and walked away without saying anything. Hiccup looked on as he missed another chance to mend things with his best friend.

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A couple hours later, Astrid was in the forest hurling her heavy axe at the trees. The trunks were taking an especially brutal beating today, their bodies being carved deeper and deeper with each throw. 

"Hyah!" Astrid swung her axe through the air. She cursed under her breath as she panted. As she retrieved her axe, she heard a twig snap in the distance and hurled her axe in the same direction. 

The Thorston twins stood frozen in their boots, looking above at the weapon that narrowly missed their heads. "Ugh, you guys! Don't sneak up on me like that!" Astrid panted.

"Whew! That was close!" Tuffnut said. "Good thing you have perfect aim."

"Actually, my arm was tired, so I was off a little," Astrid explained. Tuffnut's heart skipped a beat as he realized he could've been chopped in half had Astrid not been fatigued.

"What's up?" Astrid pulled her axe out of the tree and stood beside the twins. "Astrid, is everything alright between you and Hiccup?" Ruffnut asked. Astrid looked far into the forest and collected her thoughts.

"Is it because Heather's prettier and Hiccup likes her more?" Tuffnut interjected.

Astrid tilted her head and glared at him with her kohl lined eyes. Ruffnut smacked her brother's head for Astrid. 

"This isn't about who likes who. It's about protecting my home," Astrid said

"What are you talking about? What happened?" Ruffnut asked. 

"I was on my midnight patrol, and I saw Heather meeting with the Outcasts."

"Wait, Outcasts were on the beach?" Tuffnut asked.

"Yeah, good thing they left right afterwards," Astrid replied. "Anyway, I ran back to tell Hiccup but he didn't believe me. Instead he defended her and I lost the argument. Then I got mad and told Hiccup not to talk to me."

"Oh no," Ruffnut sighed as she rubbed Astrid's shoulder. "Can't we tell Hiccup now? He'll have to believe all three of us."

"The problem is, I don't have any proof and Heather's too good at talking her way out. We'd never convince Hiccup at this point," Astrid explained.

"But this can't go on. Astrid, you have to talk to him," Ruffnut remarked.

"Do you want us to go beat some sense into Hiccup?" Tuffnut asked. 

"Yeah, say yes," Ruffnut punched her palm.

"No, you guys. I don't want that," Astrid shook her head. The twins' violent energy instantly dropped to zero. "I'm not mad at him anymore. I just have to convince him by catching Heather."

"Well, you have us by your side, Astrid," Ruffnut said. 

"That's right, young lady. We can't let you go through this alone," Tuffnut added. The twins' encouragements drew the first smile of the day from Astrid.

"Thanks, you guys."

"What are you going to do now?" Tuffnut asked.

"I'll think of a plan, but I'm gonna need your help and we have to wait for the right moment," Astrid stated.

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A/N: Sorry again for cramming this chapter in the middle of the story, but I felt that this would be a good addition and it was the only place where I could put it. Next update will pick up where we left off on "Heathcup".

[Next Chapter: Astrid confronts the real Heather]