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Chapter Text

"Hey girl," Astrid greets Stormfly after she exits her home, a smile on her face as she rubs her snout. The Nadder trills, closing her eyes and pushing her head more into her hands. Her smile widens, hands sliding down to her jaw. "Did you sleep well?"

She answers with an affirmative squawk, pulling back to look at her rider. Her blue eyes sparkle in the morning light. Her hair was styled into an intricate braid as usual and Stormfly was sure to preen it later on in the day so it stays clean. The scent of her and her mate was present, but there was something else too. Something different, but also familiar.

Leaning forward, Stormfly sniffs her rider, trying to discern what that 'something' was. Tilting her head to the side, she walks around her companion. Astrid follows her dragon's movements, her eyebrows furrowed together. "What is it Stormfly?"

What was it? Just what was this smell? There was her rider's and her mate's scents, but another scent, a fainter one that was both her rider's and her mate's scents combined but how was that-

The Nadder freezes, her eyes widening.

Hatchling.

"Stormfly? What is it?" The blonde warrior asks.

The Nadder begins squawking loudly and flapping her wings as she circles around Astrid once more, as if she was announcing to Berk the wonderful news.

Hatchling! Hatchling!

Her rider was having a hatchling! For as thrilled as she was, her enthusiastic calls were met with a worried look from Astrid. She tries to reach for her dragon, but Stormfly was too ecstatic to stay still. "Stormfly, what is going on? Come on, you're scaring me."

Her concerned tone causes the dragon to pause, allowing Astrid to move her palms across the scales on her face. Stormfly wonders, does her rider not know of her hatchling? Well, humans don't have sharp senses like they do. In an effort to communicate the news, Stormfly nudges against Astrid's stomach. Unfortunately, she still doesn't understand.

"I don't understand Stormfly, is it something bad?"

Far from it, but she picks up the stress in her rider's tone and that can't be good for the hatchling. Stormfly croons softly against Astrid's cheek, hoping to soothe her.

"Is something wrong?"

Lifting her head, Stormfly spots her rider's mate and his Night Fury approaching them. At the presence of her friend, she couldn't help but squawk excitedly again.

Hatchling!

The black dragon perks his head up, green eyes switching between his rider and the blonde warrior.

Astrid sighs, turning to face Hiccup. "I honestly have no idea. One minute she's staring at me, the next she's like this. I can't tell what's going on. She was fine yesterday. I hope she's not sick."

"Sick?" Hiccup repeats, concerned. Coming over to the Nadder, he examines her body, lips pressed into a thin line. "I don't see any physical signs. Let's keep a close eye on her behavior and see how she is for the rest of the day. It could be nothing."

Stormfly squawks, offended. This is something! And her rider and her rider's mate can't figure it out!

Chapter Text

Having a human hatchling seems a lot more complicated than Toothless thought. Dragons lay eggs. Humans have their hatchlings inside their bodies.

Humans are fragile, Toothless has come to learn. They don't have hard scales for armor or sharp claws to slash or wings to fly or fiery breath to burn. They break and bleed and howl and cry. He knows this very well, seeing his rider hurt and in pain makes Toothless want to howl and cry. And make the enemy break and bleed. The blonde warrior is tough, but carrying a hatchling inside her can't be easy.

Toothless sees it firsthand when the blonde warrior can barely eat. And the times she can eat, she throws up after. As days go by, she looks more and more exhausted. She continues on with her duties, but his rider notices the change, of course he does. His rider is most attentive to his mate, pulling her aside when he can to check in with her, trying to see what he can do for her. But she always brushes him off, refusing to show her vulnerability, to have him worried about her.

The fact that she hasn't been eating much can't be good for her or for her hatchling. So, Toothless decided to go and fetch her a good meal that not even a dragon can resist. Diving into the ocean, the Night Fury gulps down as many fish as he could, storing them in his stomach. Once he is full, he gets out of the water and shakes off the droplets before heading home.

Upon entering, he sees the couple sitting at the table, discussing something. Hiccup lifts his head, smiling.

"Hey there bud, where have you been?"

Toothless bounds over to Astrid. She gives him a smile too, reaching down to scratch his ears but stops when he opens his mouth, hacking.

"Wait-"

"Toothless don't!"

The fish pour from his mouth and cover the floor by Astrid's feet. Closing his mouth, Toothless licks his lips and looks up at her expectantly. Surely this will give her and the hatchling energy.

Except, she shoots straight up like how he would fly up into the clouds, the chair knocked backwards onto the floor. With a hand covering her mouth, she races up the stairs. Hiccup follows after her, calling her name. Toothless just blinks, confused. His eyes switch between the pile of fish and the stairs. Waiting a couple of moments, the black dragon walks up the stairs and enters the bedroom.

The smell of vomit hits his nostrils. He sees his rider and his mate on the floor together. She's pressed into his side, resting her head against his chest. She's breathing hard. Hiccup holds her close, combing through her hair with his fingers. His eyes are filled with worry while hers is full of exhaustion.

His ears lay flat against his head. He didn't think this would happen. He was only trying to help her and her hatchling, to try and care for them. But he only made it worse. He warbles in apology, his head bowed. He was about to turn around and head back downstairs to leave them alone, but a voice stops him.

"It's okay Toothless, come here." Astrid has her arm outstretched, beckoning him over. Hiccup gestures him over with his head.

Perking up, Toothless approaches the warrior and lays his head down on her lap. He croons as she rubs his head.

"You know, I don't remember scheduling a fish delivery today," Hiccup jokes. Astrid chuckles, but it was weak. Hiccup presses his lips into a thin line. "I'm worried about you Astrid," his voice comes out quieter. "You can't keep anything down and you're so nauseous. Something's wrong."

Toothless wonders how long she must carry her hatchling. If she's like this now, what else will she experience?

Astrid releases a sigh. "I know," she says, not fighting him anymore. "I don't...I don't know what is going on."

The black dragon nudges her stomach. Would he be able to feel the hatchling? When will he see them?

"And what is it with dragons and my stomach all of a sudden?"

"What do you mean?" Hiccup questions.

"Well Stormfly keeps bumping my stomach and now Toothless is doing it. What is that about?"

Toothless just looks at her, warbling. No wonder the blue Nadder is frustrated. They still didn't know about their hatchling. He looks over at his rider who was deep in thought, hand placed on his chin. Suddenly he gasps, his mouth parted. Astrid tilts her head. Before she can ask him anything, Hiccup speaks first, his voice rushed.

"Are you late?"

"Late?" her eyes narrow. "What does that have to-"

"Astrid," he cuts her off. "You're experiencing morning sickness and feeling tired and dizzy. Just smell alone makes you want to throw up. And the fact that dragons are attached to your stomach-"

As Hiccup lays out the pieces, Astrid puts them together to finish the puzzle. Toothless watches as Astrid's eyes widen, her mouth also hanging open. "Oh...oh my Thor I am late," she says in a hushed voice.

They look each other and say simultaneously,"Gothi."

Jumping to their feet, they race out of their home. Toothless runs after them, calling for the Nadder who appears next to him. The dragons watch as the couple head inside the elderly woman's home. They wait for some time, Toothless laying on the ground as the Nadder paced. Finally, the couple comes out, their hands joined together. They wear beaming smiles on their faces. Toothless even sees his rider's eyes shine.

"We're having a baby!" Hiccup exclaims to the dragons who already knew. He hugs Astrid tightly and she returns the embrace just as strong. "I-I can't believe it, a baby!"

Astrid laughs, nuzzling against his chest. "Our baby," she corrects.

Pulling back, Hiccup wipes the tears from his eyes. He then turns to the dragons. "And you guys knew all along! Of course you guys knew, you're dragons!" He gestures to them with outstretched hands, absolutely delighted.

Toothless and Stormfly exchange a look. Astrid grins, scratching under her Nadder's chin. "Stormfly knew first, that's my girl," she praises and Stormfly chirps happily.

"No wonder Toothless got all that fish, he was providing for you!" Hiccup's radiating with excitement, holding his dragon's face in his hands. "This is amazing! Their natural instincts to protect and care coming through, I gotta tell Fishlegs about this!"

Finally, they knew.

Chapter Text

Meatlug studies the rock in front of her. This one was too sharp around the edges. Rubbing her face against the next rock, she finds it to be too rough. The other rock was too small, but it makes for a quick snack, crunching it easily. The Gronkle huffs, moving onto another pile of rocks. None of these rocks are perfect.

"What are you doing Meatlug?" Her rider comes over to her, rubbing the top of her head. She closes her eyes in appreciation before focusing her attention back on the rocks. His gaze follows her as she checks over the rocks. "Are you looking for something specific?" He inquires, interested.

Pushing away the rocks that she doesn't need, Meatlug finds one that looks promising. It was a good size. The edges were round. Licking the surface, her eyes brighten and her body wiggles in excitement. This was it!

"You're looking for smooth rocks?"

Meatlug rumbles in agreement, picking up the rock and placing it where she wants. She goes to search for more and Fishlegs lends a hand. "I'm not sure why you need smooth rocks, but I'm here to help!"

With the help of her rider, Meatlug gathers the rocks she needs and directs him on where to place them. She's grateful for him, always being there for her. To show her gratitude, Meatlug bumps into his side, releasing a deep purr. He smiles in response.

"You're welcome girl. Though, I'm still not sure what this is," he says, gesturing to the rocks.

It's not done yet. For the final step, the Gronkle spews molten lava to melt the rocks so they can cool together. The result was a circle of rocks melted together. Not too big where there was too much space but not too small where it would feel too tight. Meatlug looks up at her rider with shining eyes, attempting a smile the best she can with her mouth.

Fishleg processes what he sees in front of him before gasping. "Oh my Thor, Meatlug did you make a nest?"

She nods. Fishlegs laughs, hugging her. "You're the sweetest girl! You did this for Astrid, didn't you?"

Of course she did. She was having a hatchling, it's only right that she has a nest! Except, humans don't make nests which she doesn't get. But that's alright, she made a nice nest. Now the blonde warrior can rest easy with her hatchling.

"Well, let's go show them!"

They were both buzzing with excitement when they approached the couple. Meatlug spots how the blonde warrior's stomach protrudes slightly, evidence of her growing hatchling. It must not be easy, which is all the more reason why Meatlug wants her to rest.

"Hiccup, Astrid, there's something Meatlug wants to show you," Fishlegs tries to keep his voice calm, but his large grin reveals his enthusiasm.

"Meatlug?" Hiccup questions, arching an eyebrow.

"What is it?" Astrid also asks.

Fishlegs smiles, holding up one finger. "It's a surprise!"

Hiccup and Astrid exchange a look before deciding to follow their friend. Stormfly and Toothless come as well, staying close to the blonde warrior. When they come upon the nest, Meatlug takes note of their reactions. The warrior wears a surprised look whereas a flash of understanding passes through her mate's eyes.

"This is a nest, isn't it?" Hiccup says, turning to look at her rider.

Fishlegs beams, clasping his hands together. "You should've seen Meatlug! She was so focused on finding the right rocks and placing them."

The green eyed dragon rider shares his friend's enthusiasm, glancing down at the Gronkle. "You did a great job Meatlug. This is an amazing nest!" Stretching his arms wide to gesture towards the nest, his praise makes Meatlug perk up. Stormfly and Toothless also express their gratitude by nuzzling against her.

She walks over to the blonde warrior, bumping against her legs. Astrid's eyes soften, scratching her jaw. "Thank you Meatlug, this is sweet of you." The Gronkle gently nudges her towards the nest, but she sighs. "I want to stay, but those construction plans-"

"-Can wait," Hiccup interjects. "You need to rest, Milday. And it would be rude not to use the nest Meatlug built for us."

Meatlug peers into the warrior's blue eyes, blue as the sky above them. She nudges her again, crooning. Releasing an airy chuckle, Astrid nods. "You're right."

She watches the couple and their dragons enter the nest. Toothless lays down and his rider sits back against him. Parting his legs, Hiccup reaches for Astrid and has her sit in front of him. His arms wrap around her stomach, keeping her close to him. Stormfly rests in front of her rider. Astrid sighs, closing her eyes. Hiccup rests his cheek on top of her head, his hand stroking her stomach.

Seeing them like this makes Meatlug warm. Not the warmth of fire in her belly, but a softer kind. The kind of warmth that only arises from caring for a hatchling. Hiccup and Astrid were in the nest, in their own world. She's lingered longer than she should; this was their time.

Meatlug butts her head against her rider's legs who couldn't keep the smile off his face as he watches his friends. He snaps out of it, rubbing the back of his neck.

"You're right Meatlug, let's go."

Chapter Text

Hookfang roars, standing to his full height and his wings stretched wide. The hunters freeze in the face of the Monstrous Nightmare. The scent of fear thickens in the air. Good.

Because how dare they, how dare they attempt to attack the hatchling?

Glancing behind him, Hookfang sees the blonde warrior hold her round stomach with one hand, the other gripping her axe tightly. Her eyes were ablaze, hot like his flames. Of course she wouldn't back down in a fight; she would protect her hatchling. But he was here, and he can easily take care of these hunters.

Looking back at the hunters, rage bubbles beneath his scales. He burns hotter and hotter until he releases a stream of fire at them. The hunters scatter, but not running away. No, they still attempt to fight and Hookfang snarls, low and dangerous. Batting them away with his tail or snapping his powerful jaws, he keeps an eye on the blonde warrior. He uses his wing as a shield, keeping her away from the hunters. She wasn't pleased, scowling. "Hookfang, I can take care of myself just fine!"

If it were any other time, he would agree. But it's not just her. She's carrying her hatchling. She wasn't as agile as before and her stomach is a target. So despite her frustration, he refuses to move his wing. The warrior groans, still trying to find a way around his wing. He looks at her and huffs. Couldn't she see that he was protecting them?

Because his eyes were on her, he misses a hunter sneaking up on him. But then an axe goes flying by his vision and he hears a cry of pain. Whipping his head around, he spots the hunter on the ground, clutching his side.

"Ha!" Astrid grins proudly. Hookfang snorts. Scooping the axe into his mouth, he keeps his head up high, away from her. "Hey! Give that back!" Astrid demands, but he doesn't listen.

He gives it back to her when the hunters are unconscious on the ground, battered and bruised. Astrid huffs, shooting him a look. "I cannot believe you took my axe," she grumbles under her breath.

The Monstrous Nightmares rolls his eyes, but then they land on her round stomach. The hatchling has grown bigger. Surely they must be ready to come out. Astrid follows his line of sight and lays a hand on her belly. Her features soften, reaching out to stroke his snout. "But thank you for protecting us." Hookfang releases a low rumble. Her eyes flicker to the grey clouds above and she frowns. "Looks like it's going to rain. We should find shelter."

Hookfang stays close to the warrior, eyes scanning the area. Astrid picks up some wood along the way. They find a cave just as the rain starts. The red dragon lights the pile of wood that the warrior sits down. The wood crackles and pops, shadows dancing across the cave walls. He curls up on the ground, allowing for the warrior to sit in front of him.

The wind howls, the cold air traveling inside the cave. In response, Hookfang warms up his body. His warmth entices Astrid, causing her to lean back against him and sigh. She seems to like it, all the more reason for him to curl tighter around her. He closes his eyes, picking up on the hatchling's heartbeat. Small, but steady thumps-thumps.

The sound of the blonde warrior chuckling makes him open his eyes. She's smiling, stroking her stomach. "You're active today, aren't you?" She speaks to her hatchling fondly, the light from the fire reflected in her eyes.

The Monstrous Nightmare tilts his head. Her smile widens at his curiosity. "Want to feel?" She asks, gesturing to her stomach.

He wasn't sure what she was asking about, but Hookfang was intrigued. She pats the side of her belly in invitation. "Feel here," she instructs. Gently, Hookfang presses his snout against the spot. A moment passes before he feels it.

His eyes widen, head moving back. Hookfang blinks, staring at her stomach. It was a small movement, just barely pushing back into his snout, but he felt it. The hatchling, he felt the hatchling.

Astrid laughs at his reaction. "Surprised? It's probably strange to you, feeling a baby."

Hookfang continues to stare at her belly. He felt them. They were right there, and yet he couldn't see them. How long do they plan on staying inside? It can't all be great in there, can it? He thinks about how dragon hatchlings shake and scratch against the egg walls, signaling that they would hatch soon. It's been many months, more than the time it takes for a dragon hatchling to hatch. Clearly, human hatchlings are not all that eager to come out (no, he is not annoyed). Hookfang puffs out a breath, nestling his head against her stomach and closing his eyes. He feels the warrior run her hands through his horns and scales, earning her a deep purr.

The rain stops sometime later. Before they could go out and reunite with the others, Hookfang hears the familiar beat of wings coming towards the entrance of the cave. The Night Fury lands first, followed by the blue Nadder. His rider was on the black dragon, perking up at the sight of him. "Hookfang!" Snotlout shouts happily.

On the other hand, the warrior's mate nearly trips over his own two feet as he rushes towards her. She steadies him with her hands while his arms wrap around her as best he could with her stomach in the way. His eyes frantically look her over, his hands resting on her belly. "Astrid, are you okay? Are you hurt? Is the baby okay?" He starts firing question after question, worry bleeding through his tone. Toothless and Stormfly come over to examine her themselves as well.

She cups his cheeks, halting his questions. She shows him a smile, resting her forehead against his. "We're fine Hiccup, really." She reassures. Her mate sags in relief, exhaling loudly. She glances over at the red dragon, lips twitching. "Hookfang was protective. I almost felt bad for the hunters who faced him."

Said dragon looks away as if to deny her words. But his rider faces his friends and puffs his chest out proudly, hands on his hips. "As if anyone can beat Hookfang!" Then he turns to face him, scratching under his jaw and Hookfang couldn't help but rumble. "I'm proud of you buddy," Snotlout says, beaming.

For all the attitude Hookfang gives, he cannot deny his protective instincts.

Chapter Text

Curling around Astrid's stomach has become part of Hiccup's morning routine. Even in the early months of her pregnancy when her stomach was flat, Hiccup insisted on cuddling against her stomach. Because early in the morning, it was just him, Astrid, and their unborn baby in bed together. They were in their own bubble, away from the demanding duties of being Chief and Chieftess for a short while.

When Hiccup wakes up, he's greeted with a sight that never fails to make a sleepy smile stretch across his lips. Astrid sleeps next to him, golden strands fanned over her pillow and her body rising and falling rhythmically. After he's done admiring his wife, he slowly shifts downwards, careful in his movements so as to not wake the blonde warrior. It was difficult for her to fall asleep during her pregnancy; he didn't want to disturb her from her slumber that she more than needs.

Once he is at eye level with her stomach, he presses his forehead against it and his arm slides around her waist. His other palm flattens over the curvature of her belly, his smile widening when a strong kick pushes back into his hand. "Morning to you too," Hiccup whispers, his hand traveling across Astrid's stomach. Their child is an active one, as evident by the multiple kicks he feels.

"You're strong, just like your mom," he chuckles, chest swelling with pride. His eyes flicker up to glance at the warrior. Still asleep. "But try not to be too active, okay? Your mom needs sleep. I promise we can play all you want once you're born."

He speaks of all the things they can do in a hushed voice. From drawing together to exploring new places to testing out new inventions, there was so much they can do. With each activity that sprouts in his mind, his excitement grows. Most of all, he couldn't wait to introduce his child to the dragons. It's something he mentions all the time to them. Hiccup wants his child to know that dragons are part of their family. And of course, he wants his child to experience riding a dragon. To have them feel the wind caress their cheeks and tousle their hair, to have them stretch their arms up high to touch the clouds, to have them see the sky stretch on and on, a world waiting to be unveiled. Most of all, he wants them to feel that sense of wonderment as they soar through the skies.

He's getting ahead of himself, he knows that. His baby hasn't been born yet and already he's thinking about their first flight. He's...he's just so excited.

"Our dragons can't wait to meet you," Hiccup murmurs, his eyes soft. "They're actually impatient. Toothless and Stormfly are wondering why you're not here yet." A chuckle leaves his lips.

Just the other day, Toothless was huffing and grumbling to himself, staring Astrid's stomach all day as if he could will his child to come out. And when that didn't work, he flopped his head on the bed at night, nudging her stomach in a silent plea. When his dragon looked at him with his questioning green eyes, Hiccup could only laugh and told him they just needed to wait. That earned him a displeased snort. Stormfly wasn't very patient either. She would always press her snout against her rider's belly, chirping at the baby's movements and thinking that they would finally come, only to be disappointed when that was not the case. Then, she would circle around her rider a couple of times before feeling her stomach again, as if five minutes later something would have changed.

"You don't have to be afraid of the dragons okay? They look scary, but I promise they won't hurt you," his voice drops, "They would never, ever hurt you." Hiccup takes a moment to breathe, closing his eyes briefly. "They have a lot of love to give. I hope you love them as much as I do."

Hiccup lays in silence, nuzzling closer to Astrid's stomach. Soon, Astrid will wake up and then they will get up to start the day. But for now, he thinks about how the dragons have cared for Astrid during her pregnancy. He can't wait to see how they'll care for their baby once they're born.

Chapter Text

With an aggravated huff, Astrid sets the knitting needles down on the table and leans back in her chair. Closing her eyes and sighing deeply, she rubs the deep valleys engraved in forehead that were carved by the tension flowing through her body. When she opens her eyes, they land on the table. The tangled, brightly green colored wool stares back at her mockingly, plainly showing her inability to make a simple pair of socks for her baby.

Socks. Just a pair of socks, and she couldn't even do it. Even after her mother showed her how to knit, she ended up with this mess.

She can wield an axe with deadly precision, do back flips on Stormfly's back, command others in battle, but she can't knit. Astrid Haddock can't knit.

It is both humiliating and hurtful. With her wounded pride she stands up, sharply turning away from the table. Resting a hand over her round stomach, she slowly makes her way up the stairs and retreats to the safety her bedroom where she wouldn't be judged. She walks over to the crib that was on the opposite side of the bed. She remembers the wide grin Hiccup wore when he presented the crib to her, built by his own hands. Her fingers run along the wood railing, feeling the indentations. She feels the familiar shapes of a Deadly Nadder and Night Fury under her skin and she smiles. Her gaze shifts to the two dragon plushes inside the crib. Hiccup got all the details, right down to the red tail fin for Toothless and the spiked crown for Stormfly. Picking up the Blue Nadder plush, her thumb brushes across the soft fabric. She passes over the precise and neat stitches, all done by his steady fingers. Their child will love them, there's no doubt about that.

Her frustration melts away as she touches the things Hiccup crafted. But then she frowns, setting the plush back down. Her feet aches and she goes to sit down on the bed. Gazing down at her hands, she takes note of the callouses and small scars. She's proud of her hands, proud of the work she's done with them. But then she thinks back to the jumbled mess of wool downstairs and her hands clench. With all the things Hiccup made, he could easily make a pair of socks.

Speaking of her husband, her ears pick up on the door creaking downstairs. The distinct thumps of his metal prosthetic echoes in the air as Hiccup walks up the stairs and enters their room, greeting her with a smile. Toothless must be outside with Stormfly. Without saying anything, he kneels down in front of her. His warm hands begin massaging her sore feet and she groans in appreciation.

"How was the meeting?" She inquires.

"Good, we finalized the treaties."

Astrid sighs. "I should have been there."

Though she is pregnant, she was adamant on carrying out her duties as Chieftess. She refuses to stay in the house all the day. Anything laborious that would put stress on the baby was obviously off the table, but she did her best to attend meetings and oversee training. Hiccup supported her, always keeping a hand on her lower back to keep her close and checking in with her frequently. But some days were harder than others, and admittedly she needed to sit this meeting out. She was due soon.

Hiccup shakes his head, gazing up at her. "Astrid, you need to rest. It's okay that you didn't go, no one thinks any less of you."

His assurance along with his pleasant hands soothes the guilt she harbors. But then something else festers in her mind, the seed planted a while ago. It grows from the dark corners of her mind, spreading out with its prickly vines.

Her silence prompts the young Chief to pause his ministrations. "What's on your mind?" He asks with those kind, understanding green eyes of his. He waits for her to respond, giving her his full attention.

The warrior struggles to find the right words. No, that wasn't it. She knows the words, she just...didn't think she could voice them. Because if she did, it would make it more real. At the same time, she knows she can't pretend that nothing was wrong. Hiccup knows her, knows that something isn't right. And he doesn't push, just shows her an encouraging smile and places a hand on her knee. And then...it just bursts from her lips.

"Do you think I'll be a good mom?" It comes out hushed, like she didn't want the rest of the world to hear.

"Of course you will Astrid!" His answer was immediate, his eyes wide as if it was absurd she even had to ask in the first place. "You are going to be an amazing mom."

Then why doesn't she feel like it?

Her lack of response causes Hiccup to frown. "You don't believe me." He states it as a fact.

Astrid releases a heavy exhale. "It's just...I don't know how to knit socks!" She throws her hands up in the air. It sounds stupid, but the words come rushing out like a raging waterfall. "Socks Hiccup, I can't knit them! And I'm lucky if I can even cook something edible! I nearly gave you food poisoning that one time, or multiple times! Gods, what am I-" her throat closes up and the tears burn in her eyes and damn her pregnancy hormones-"I just want to be a good mom," she chokes out, slumping her shoulders and bowing her head, feeling the heaviness in her bones.

"Hey, hey," Hiccup says softly, sitting down on the bed next to her and cupping her cheeks. "Not knowing how to knit or not being a cook doesn't mean you won't be a good mom." His thumbs brush away her tears. Then, he rests his forehead against hers. "You wanna know why I know you'll be a good mom? Because I know you're going to make them feel safe in your arms when you hold them. I know you're going to protect them from anything and everything. I know you're going to give them beautiful braids. I know you're going to go all out for Snoggletog for our child because you want them to have all the fun in the world. I know you're going to make sure that they know how to defend themselves. They'll probably inherit your deadly punch."

She couldn't help but chortle. Hiccup smiles, his hands moving down to rest over her belly. "You're going to be a good mom," he says again, voice steady and keeping her anchored from the turbulent waves she's in.

Her bottom lip wobbles and more tears roll down her cheeks. She wraps her arms around his shoulders and buries her face in his neck. She feels him kiss the side of her head. "I'm here for you, Milady."

"Thank you," she manages to say.

He holds her, his hand stroking her hair and sliding down to rub circles onto her back. Her heart feels lighter. Her fingers toy with the auburn strands at the back of his head before pulling back, focusing on twisting them into a braid. Her eyes roam over the short, prickly hairs decorating the lower half of his face. He hasn't shaved in a while, and she doesn't mind. His stubble tickles her skin as she kisses him.

"I like it," she murmurs. "You should grow it out."

"I uh, really?" He stammers, a flush crawling up his cheeks. Dork, she thinks to herself. It pleases her to know that even after all these years, she can still make him flustered at times.

She connects their lips once more, smiling into the kiss.

Chapter Text

The blonde warrior and her mate walk side by side, his hand on her lower back to support her. The Night Fury is by his rider and she is next to hers. Her tall stature acts as a barrier for her rider, blocking any potential hazards. Her wings act as extra shields if needed, covering her rider's body or using them to push away another human or sharp object. The blonde warrior would always tell her to relax with a palm resting on her snout, but protecting her rider and the hatchling was top priority. So many things can happen, she has to be on alert.

Suddenly, the blonde warrior freezes. Stormfly squawks, tilting her head to the side. Her eyes catch a trickle of water down her leg.

"My water broke," Astrid whispers, looking at the auburn haired man.

Hiccup gasps, his wide eyes switching between her stomach and her face, mouth parted. "You mean-"

"The baby's coming," she finishes for him.

Stormfly and Toothless both perk up at the news. Stormfly starts cawing and flapping her wings while Toothless jumps around, mouth open in a gummy smile. The hatchling was coming! They were finally going to meet the hatchling!

In contrast to their enthusiasm, Hiccup gives out orders and the villagers bustle around to get what their young Chief needed. A group of women heads towards their home as the couple follows, Hiccup murmuring reassurances to the warrior with his arm wrapped around her waist and his other hand on her rounded stomach. Their celebration comes to an abrupt close, the two dragons sharing a concerned look. Just what was going on? Why did everyone look so tense? The hatchling was coming, wasn't that happy news?

Once they arrive home, the group of women was about to take her rider inside but she stops them, beckoning the Nadder closer. Stormfly moves over to the warrior, crooning as her rider strokes her scales. "It's going to be okay Stormfly, so don't worry," she says, but her smile is strained. Her assurance does little to quell the anxiousness that rises inside Stormfly. She doesn't like this. This isn't right, she should be by her rider. Even though she can't really fit through the door, she steps forward with her body lowered as much as possible. Her rider's mate stands in the way, holding up his hands. Huffing, she narrows her eyes at him.

"I'm sorry Stormfly, you can't come. You too, Toothless," he gestures towards the black dragon. He sighs, running a hand through his hair and glancing over his shoulders. "Astrid is going to give birth." He pauses, swallowing. "She's...she's going to be in a lot of pain, and I know it's going to be tough to stay out here but you need to. Gothi and the other midwives will look after her."

Stormfly doesn't like, doesn't like it one bit, but what can she do? Reluctantly, she backs away. Toothless presses against her side as a sign of comfort, warbling. The elderly woman with the staff arrives and heads inside with her rider's mate following behind, closing the door. Toothless settles down on the ground, his ears flat against his head. The Nadder paces in a circle, ignoring the calls from her companion. She thought the hatchling was coming, but there seems to be more waiting involved. And she can't get the image of her rider's strained smile out of her head.

Wasn't the arrival of the hatchling supposed to be joyful?

Sometime later, a scream pierces the air and both dragons whirl their heads towards the house. That was her rider, her rider was screaming. Stormfly squawks, her voice sharp and jagged. Toothless races towards the door and claws at the wood. The overwhelming instinct to protect overrides everything else. She never, ever heard her rider scream like this. The warrior would usually bear through the pain, but this was not like the times she was injured. Her rider screeches over and over, her voice cracking and splintering. It was all she could hear. She's not even there next to her, she can't even provide her rider comfort. The Nadder was about to burst through the door regardless of what her rider's mate told her. But just as she was about to, he opens the door. The distress coloring his features makes the whole situation even worse.

"I know, I know," he attempts to soothe the dragons, his hands cupping their faces. "It hurts to hear, I know-" he winces at another scream. "But I can't have you breaking in. I need you to stay out here."

How can he say that? How can he say that when her rider is in so much pain? How much must she endure? Is this what she has to go through for the hatchling to come?

"Please," Hiccup whispers. "I know you want to be with her, but right now you have to stay calm for her. That's what you can do."

"Hiccup!"

Her rider's desperate call to her mate pulls him away from them and he heads back inside their home in a haste, nearly tripping. Stormfly has to fight her instinct to barge in there with each scream. The scent of blood doesn't help either. Suddenly feeling weak, she sinks to the ground. The black dragon lays down and nuzzles against her. Her rider is in so much pain that the Nadder can hear her sobbing now.

A dark thought takes root in her mind. What if...what if her rider-

Her stomach lurches as if she ate rotten fish. No, she doesn't want to think about that. But the thought is still there, lurking in the shadows. It whispers to her, growing louder and louder until it clashes with the shrieks from her rider.

Their friends come to visit them. Meatlug nudges her, but Stormfly doesn't budge, doesn't even look her way. Hookfang stares at the house, gaze unwavering. Their respective riders attempt to feed them, but neither she nor the black dragon has an appetite. They leave them be as both Stormfly and Toothless refuse to move from their spots. They stay nestled together, waiting.

And then, there was a cry. A shrill cry that rings out in the air, a sound she doesn't recognize. Stormfly and Toothless turns their heads to look at each other. A moment later, their eyes widen.

The hatchling was here. Finally, they were here.

But, there were no more screams. The Nadder thought the screams were scary, but the silence was terrifying. At least with the screams, Stormfly knew her rider was still there. It wasn't a pleasant sound to hear, but at least it was something that told her that her rider was still alive. But the silence tells her something she doesn't want to believe in.

She stands on shaking legs. The Night Fury presses into her side to support her. It feels like she's been tossed around in the rough seas, the currents threatening to drag her under and keep her captive in the abyss.

Why wasn't anyone coming out? What was happening? What happened to her rider-

The front door opens. The auburn haired stands in the doorway, carrying something. He wears a beaming smile, his eyes glistening. Walking towards them, he presents the bundle in his arms.

"Meet Zephyr Haddock," Hiccup says quietly, but his joy spoke volumes.

Peering into the bundle of blankets, Stormfly forgets about everything else. The dark clouds have parted, revealing the shining sun. The hatchling was so, so small. All hatchlings were small, but human hatchlings especially so. The hatchling stays still, her eyes closed. After all these months, and here they are. She couldn't take her eyes off the bundle and neither could the Night Fury. She was so entranced, her protective instincts demanding that she curls around the bundle and shield her with her wings.

The hatchling squirms, a small whine falling from her lips. The dragon rider cradles her close, shushing her gently. He looks at his hatchling as if she was the most precious thing in the entire world.

"Astrid is okay," Hiccup speaks, gaze flickering to the Nadder. "She's weak, but okay. She needs to rest, but if she feels better in the next day or two, she'll see you."

Stormfly visibly relaxes, leaning forward to nuzzle against his cheek in gratitude. As much as she wanted to see the blonde warrior now, she's content to know that her rider is okay and she knows the auburn haired man will take good care of her, he always does.

He chuckles in response. "I'll come back down for food for each of you, I know you haven't eaten."

Now that he mentions it, her stomach is very much empty. She settles back down, her companion following her example. She watches as her rider's mate goes back inside, his hatchling cuddled into his chest.

For as scary as the day was, the arrival of the hatchling turned it into a wondrous one.

Chapter Text

Toothless watches the blonde warrior nurse her hatchling with intense focus. With his head resting on his rider's knee who absentmindedly scratches his ears, the dragon's wide, green eyes never strays from the cherub. His rider is the same, his gaze full of devotion and warmth. A sigh leaves the warrior's lips, leaning her head against her mate. In response, his rider presses a small kiss to her hairline. This tender, quiet moment was a far cry from the loud and wailing shrieks coming from the hatchling just a few minutes ago.

The Night Fury has come to learn that the hatchling cries. A lot. The dark crescents painting under his rider's and his rider's mates eyes tells of the sleepless nights they have had, waking multiple times to soothe their hatchling. Toothless wakes alongside them, the little one's cries keeping him on high alert. There's never any sign of danger, the hatchling usually needing to be changed or fed or simply comforted, but he wishes to be by the hatchling's side. It does frustrate him though, how little he can do for her.

Zephyr's hungry suckles slows, signaling that sleep was close. Prying her off her chest, Astrid passes her off to Hiccup gently. Fixing her nightgown, she promptly lays down on the bed and shuts her eyes. Hiccup rocks his daughter back and forth slowly, a smile curling on his lips. She's so small in his arms, curled up against his chest. In her father's arms and with her belly full, she sleeps soundly. He stands up, careful to take slow steps towards the crib. Before he places her down, he kisses her forehead, lips lingering.

Following his rider, Toothless sits on his haunches, peering into the crib. He hears him chuckle, feeling his hand rub his head. "You know, she's not going anywhere bud. There's nothing for you to worry about."

He knows that. His observing has less to do with worry and more with the fact that he's just so entranced by the hatchling. For so many months he waited, left wondering how the hatchling would look like. So small and helpless, a mixture of his rider and his rider's mate, with her chubby cheeks and pudgy legs, a tuft of auburn hair on her head and soft blue eyes like the sky, she's precious. Toothless needs to keep an eye on her, keep her safe.

"But, I know I can count you to protect her."

Toothless gives his rider and look and snorts, as if to say "well yeah, that's obvious." Quickly, his eyes dart to the hatchling, relieved to find her still asleep. The dragon rider stifles a laugh at his reaction, but it quickly turns into a yawn.

Hiccup trudges back to the bed, taking off his prosthetic before sliding behind Astrid. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he pulls her body close to his, his chest flush against her back. She doesn't react, lost in deep slumber. He joins her soon, exhaustion weighing heavy on both their bodies. So tired, that neither of them bothered to pick up the blanket that was half on the floor. Walking over, Toothless grabs the edge of the blanket with his teeth and tugs it over their bodies, ensuring that they wouldn't be cold. Using his snout, he presses the blanket closer to their bodies the best he can.

Once he was satisfied, Toothless resumes his post by the crib, watching the rise and fall of her chest. The stone slab forgotten, the spot next to the crib becomes his new resting spot where he now curls up, close as he can be to the hatchling.

Chapter Text

Meatlug walks alongside her rider, gazing up at him with her bright eyes. He holds a big basket in his arms, filled to brim with various ingredients. She herself had taken the time to collect rocks that were packed with minerals, stored away in the saddlebag. Her sensitive sense of smell and precise taste buds (contrary to what many others might believe, she doesn't just blindly consume rocks, she can tell the exact composition of them) helped with gathering these specific rocks. The toll taken on her body during birth and now taking care of her hatchling, the blonde warrior needs these minerals. And her kindhearted rider proposed to cook for the hatchling's family.

Fishlegs meets her gaze and smiles. "I know excited you are Meatlug. If Zephyr's awake for a bit, then you can spend some time together."

Just thinking about seeing the little one makes her body wiggle. The first time Meatlug saw the hatchling, she was in the blonde warrior's arms, staring back at her with wide, round eyes. Meatlug hoped she wasn't too scary. She knows her skin is rough and bumpy and she has a big jaw and her teeth protrude, but she wanted nothing more than to take care of the little one however she can. Thankfully, the hatchling didn't show any signs of distress. She looked curious, though quickly she was overtaken by hunger and started to cry.

Speaking of which, her ears pick up on the familiar sound of those cries. They were nearing the hatchling's home and the cries grow louder. Her rider wears a frown. "They must be having a tough time." Meatlug rumbles in agreement. His expression morphs to one of determination. "Let's help the best we can, girl."

Once they were at the front door, the Gronkle bumps her head against the wood a couple of times to announce their presence. Moments later, the door opens to reveal the blonde warrior. Her braid, normally neat and tidy, had strands poking out in every direction. Dark crescents were painted under her eyes. Her heart aches for the warrior and aches even more when she hears the hatchling let out a wail, making both dragon riders wince.

"Hey Astrid...," Fishlegs greets with a concerned look.

"Hey Fishlegs. Is there something you need?" Astrid asks tiredly.

He shakes his head. "Actually, I wanted to cook for you and Hiccup. I know you guys are busy taking care of Zephyr and I wanted to make sure you guys had food to eat."

The warrior blinks at him. "That's...helpful, thank you Fishlegs," she expresses her gratitude, opening the door wider to let the pair inside.

"Of course. Meatlug also got some rocks for you. She made sure to pick ones with the most minerals in them," He explains, setting the basket down on the counter.

Astrid manages a small smile. "Thank you, Meatlug."

In response, the Gronkle rubs against her legs. The smile disappears from the warrior's face as she gazes at the stairs. Meatlug follows her lines of sight, hearing the sniffles from the hatchling.

"Is everything alright?" Fishlegs couldn't help but ask.

Astrid releases a heavy sigh, sweeping the strands of hair away from her face. "I don't know. Zephyr's been crying for a while. We fed her, changed her, rocked her, and she's still fussy. Normally Hiccup can calm her down but I don't know what it is about today that it's not working." Frustrated, the blonde warrior rubs her forehead, deep grooves engraved into her skin. "Zephyr's crying and I can't seem to do anything," she spits out, lowering her head.

"Hey, it's not your fault," Fishlegs reassures, coming over to rest a hand on her shoulder. "I'm not a parent so I can't speak from experience, but everyone has their bad days. Seems like today's Zephyr's day. And I know you and Hiccup are doing your best to care for her."

"I know it's just...I want to do something."

"Go be with Hiccup and Zephyr," he suggests. "I'll take care of things here."

The blonde warrior nods. Meatlug watches, longing to be go with her, but she understands that it wasn't her place to intrude. But to her surprise, Astrid beckons her over. "You can come Meatlug. Maybe another dragon perspective can help, Thor only knows Toothless has been trying to help with Zephyr too."

Perking up, Meatlug hurries over to the blonde warrior. The warrior doesn't usually ask for help, preferring to do things on her own. The fact that she is trusting her, allowing her to help with her hatchling, is something Meatlug doesn't take lightly. She walks up the stairs with the warrior, entering the room to find the auburn haired man on the bed, rocking the crying hatchling in his arms. The Night Fury whines next to him, ears flat against his head. The dragon rider raises his head to look at his mate, eyes glancing towards the Gronkle.

"Fishlegs is cooking for us," she answers his unspoken question.

"We'll be eating, at least," his lips twitch a little before gazing down at his hatchling. "Come one Zeffie, you need to sleep," he says gently, kissing her forehead. The little one sniffles, eyes glassy and cheeks wet.

"Let me take her for a bit," the warrior mumbles, adjusting her arms to make sure her hatchling is cradled against her chest. The mattress creaks as she sits down next to him. The little one squirms, more tears falling from her eyes. "What do we do, Hiccup?" she says in a whisper.

Meatlug feels compelled to come closer. Her friend looks at her with helplessness in his green eyes. The warrior never looked so fragile in her eyes until now, as if a simple breeze would knock her out. The warrior's mate looks hurt, as if he failed his hatchling.

Suddenly, Meatlug begins to emit a low, deep rumble. She didn't even think about it. It was just instinct, like she was meant to do this. Her deep rumbles fill the air, soothing the hatchling. With wide eyes, the blonde warrior and her mate watch as their little one yawns and close her eyes.

"Oh my Thor," Hiccup says in a hushed voice.

"She's falling asleep," Astrid adds, mouth parted.

Gently, the auburn haired man wipes the tears away. Their hatchling stays asleep. Slowly, the warrior rises to her feet and approaches the crib, setting the little one down. Backing away, she and the rest of them go back downstairs. Fishlegs looks up from the pot of stew he was cooking. "Looks like Zephyr calmed down."

"Thanks to Meatlug." The warrior gives the Gronkle a well deserved scratch under her chin and she purrs in response.

"Toothless did something similar before, but I think because Meatlug is a Gronkle, they have a lower register." Hiccup explains, taking a seat at the table. Next to him, Toothless flops his head down on the ground. "It's not your fault bud, it's okay," he reassures. Walking over to the Night Fury, Meatlug nuzzles against him in her own way to comfort him. Toothless croons in response, licking the side of her face in gratitude.

Fishlegs chuckles. "When I have a hard time falling asleep, Meatlug would rumble, kind of like her own lullaby. It's great that it helped Zephyr."

And Meatlug was glad that she helped the hatchling.

Chapter Text

The hatchling just...stares at him.

Held in the blonde warrior's arms, her round, blue eyes never leave his large stature. Hookfang has been on the receiving end of malicious hunters and dragons much bigger than him, but somehow, this little one manages to make the Monstrous Nightmare feel...nervous? He's never wavered, always standing tall and if needed, blazing hot. But he's not facing an enemy here, just a curious hatchling. He stays still, rigid even, as if he's waiting for some sort of judgement to pass.

Unlike him, his rider boasts loudly to the little one. "This is Hookfang, the most awesome dragon around!" Snotlout exclaims while patting his neck, confident as ever. "And I'm his amazing rider, your great Uncle Snotlout!" Normally, the fire in his belly would warm at his rider's praise for him (which he has no shortage of), but Hookfang feels too tense to embrace the compliment.

The hatchling simple blinks at his rider, nothing more. Hookfang still can't figure her out. In response to the hatchling's reaction, a frown paints his rider's face, his hands coming to rest on his hips. "She's not excited."

"She's just a baby, Snotlout," Astrid sighs. "You and Hookfang are new to her, so she's just processing everything."

"Also, try not to be so loud," Hiccup adds. "It's a lot to handle at once."

"Uh right. Sorry," Snotlout apologizes, rubbing the back of his neck. Hookfang catches a glimpse of uncertainty in his rider's eyes. Like him, his rider is also out of his element. It's not like he can charge in headfirst like this was some battle. A hatchling requires gentleness, and both and his rider are too rough and in specifically in his case, jagged and fiery.

Hookfang notices how his rider gazes at the hatchling. Then, he holds his hands out. "Can I hold her?" He asks, voice lower than before.

The blonde warrior and her mate exchange a look before the auburn haired man addresses the hatchling in an affectionate tone. "What do you think Zeffie, would it be okay for Uncle Snotlout to hold you?"

The little one looks over at him and starts babbling. The blonde warrior chuckles and the hatchling looks at her now, smiling. "Alright, I'll show you how to hold her," she says, eyes flickering to his rider.

Snotlout perks up, coming closer. Hookfang watches as the blonde warrior instructs his rider, carefully passing her hatchling into his arms. Once she was settled in his arms and face to face with him, Snotlout grins. "Hey there."

The hatchling cries.

She releases a sharp, piercing cry that makes both dragon and rider wince simultaneously. She twists her body around, making grabby motions. Immediately, Hiccup takes Zephyr in his arms, shushing her gently. Astrid rubs her back in comforting circles.

"What did I do wrong? I held her the way you told me," Snotlout says, helpless and lost.

(Something claws deep inside Hookfang's chest).

"She's probably not comfortable with you yet, Snotlout," Astrid explains. "Really, it's not your fault. She just needs time." She glances at him, sympathetic.

"Oh," is the only response his rider has, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

"We can try again another day," Hiccup offers.

"Yeah, okay-hey Hookfang, where are you going?"

The Monstrous Nightmare already turned around and started walking away, the cries still ringing in his ears. He picks up on rapid footsteps behind him, but keeps his eyes ahead. His rider catches up, resting a hand over his scales as he walks alongside him. Surprisingly, he says nothing. The silence cements what Hookfang knew deep down.

He and his rider weren't meant for handling a hatchling.

"Hookfang come on, let me down! I said I was sorry!"

Ignoring his rider, Hookfang continues walking. Honestly, he can't remember exactly what they were arguing about, but he figures his rider can handle being dangled upside down for a little longer. His pantleg secure in his jaw, his rider sways from side to side with each step he takes. From the corner of his eyes, Hookfang catches some people shaking their heads in amusement.

"Fine, then you're not getting your favorite fish." Snotlout huffs, crossing his arms over his chest.

Narrowing his eyes, Hookfang turns his head multiple times, causing his rider to swing in wider arcs. "Oh gods-Hookfang!" He screeches.

Figuring that he had enough, the Monstrous Nightmare keeps his head still and stops walking, allowing his rider to eventually stop swaying. He hears his rider's ragged breaths and was about to let him down when Hookfang hears something else.

Laughter.

Craning his neck, Hookfang spots the blonde warrior and her mate a couple feet away. In the auburn haired man arms, the hatchling was laughing. She was looking at them and laughing. Her lips stretched wide into a toothless grin, her cheeks rosy, happy peals of laughter ringing out in the air, Hookfang was stunned. So much so, that he opens his jaw without thinking, sending his rider into the ground with a thud.

"Finally," Snotlout grumbles, rubbing his back. His rider notices that he was looking at something and follows his line of sight, eyes widening. "Hey that's Zephyr, she's...she's laughing!" He sputters.

That wasn't all. The hatchling reaches her arms out towards him, fingers clenching and unclenching. The blonde warrior and her mate approach them. As they come closer, the hatchling wriggles in her father's arms and she whines, stretching her arms as far as they could.

"Looks like someone wants Uncle Snotlout," Astrid says with a smile.

Snotlout opens his mouth to say something, but then closes it. "You sure?" He questions, hesitant.

"Zephyr seems pretty insistent," Hiccup reassures.

For that last push, Hookfang nudges his rider forward with his snout. Just like last time, Snotlout holds Zephyr in his arms, cradling her close to his chest. "Hey Zephyr," Snotlout says gently. The hatchling babbles, still wearing a smile on her face. Looking over his shoulder, his rider gestures with a jerk of his chin to lower his head.

His first instinct was to turn back like before. He shouldn't be here, he doesn't belong here. The hatchling seems to like his rider now, but that didn't mean she would feel the same way about him. But his rider keeps his eyes on him, unwilling to let him go.

Trust me.

Hookfang lowers his head so he was at eye level with the hatchling. "This is Hookfang," his rider introduces him, a lot closer this time. "He looks big and scary, but between you and me, he's a real softy," he says, winking. Hookfang puffs out hot air that rustles his hair, eliciting a giggle from the hatchling. "He likes it when you rub his snout, like this."

To demonstrate, his rider does exactly what he says and Hookfang couldn't help but close his eyes at the sensation. Then suddenly, he feels tiny fingers gliding across his scales and his eyes snap wide open. The hatchling is staring at him again, eyes full of awe and wonder.

"Yeah just like that, you're doing great!" Snotlout beams, watching as the hatchling tries to mimic his actions.

Her hand was so, so small and yet so sure and confident, melting away the tension that Hookfang couldn't help but let out a deep purr.