  We introduce a Hybrid Variable Flavor Number Scheme for heavy flavors,
denoted H-VFNS, which incorporates the advantages of both the traditional
Variable Flavor Number Scheme (VFNS) as well as the Fixed Flavor Number Scheme
(FFNS). By including an explicit $N_F$-dependence in both the Parton
Distribution Functions (PDFs) and the strong coupling constant $\alpha_S$, we
generate coexisting sets of PDFs and $\alpha_S$ for $N_F=\{3,4,5,6\}$ at any
scale $\mu$, that are related analytically by the $\overline{\text{MS}}$
matching conditions. The H-VFNS resums the heavy quark contributions and
provides the freedom to choose the optimal $N_F$ for each particular data set.
Thus, we can fit selected HERA data in a FFNS framework, while retaining the
benefits of the VFNS to analyze LHC data at high scales. We illustrate how such
a fit can be implemented for the case of both HERA and LHC data.
