Dragons: The New Chief

Chapter 55: Too Early

Hiccup rushed alongside his mother back to his house, followed by the group he had been with. He was in shock. Astrid was having the baby now. But it's too early; Gothi said the baby wasn't due until quite some time after Snoggletog, and Snoggletog was still two weeks away. There was no way the baby could survive yet...it was too early.

Tears pricked in Hiccup's eyes. If only he had gotten to Astrid before she fell...this would not have happened.

When they arrived at the house, Hiccup reached for the handle. Valka put her hand to the door and looked her son in the eyes.

"I need to ask you something very personal but very serious." She said. Hiccup stared blankly at her. "When was the last time you and Astrid...you know, before finding out she was with child."

Hiccup's eyes darted around, mimicking his thoughts spiriling through his mind, trying to remember when. Gobber and the gang looked between each other. After his conversation with Hiccup, Snotlout knew that a baby had to be carried for a certain amount of weeks before it was safe for the baby to be born.

"The day you saw us." Hiccup stated.

Valka rushed through her mind, trying to remember the day that she had tried so hard to forget. "32 weeks ago."

And that wasn't even near the safe margin that Hiccup had told the new father. Snotlout put a hand over his mouth, shaking his head. As a father, he knew the feelings that Hiccup was experiencing at the moment. If they were in swapped positions, Snotlout knew how confused he would be, how worried, how much he would long to make everything better for his spouse and their unborn child.

"Haven't you tried to stop it?" Hiccup asked furiously.

"Hiccup, we tried. We tried for so long, but the way Astrid fell...." Valka shook head, tearing trailing down the side of her face. "It forced her into labor, there is no stopping it now."

Hiccup's nose wrinkled as it began to sting with emotions. "So what now? Is our child...."

Valka shook her head. "We just have to hope and pray that the baby is strong enough."

Hiccup bowed his head, bitting his inner lip. He felt as if he couldn't breath, his chest tightened with each breath he took until, eventually, he broke down. The man threw his arms around his mother, seeking her comfort. Tears poured from his eyes like waterfalls. He wrapped his arms tight around Valka's neck, nuzzling his head into her collarbone as he lamented. Valka wrapped her arms around his middle, helping to support the man on his buckling knees.

Hiccup coughed from crying so hard. "We....we tried...so...so...so...hard..." He stuttered.

Valka stroked her son's auburn hair. "I know, Hiccup, I know." She cooed. "We just need to pray. Pray to the Gods for safe passage, for them both." Valka reached over and pushed the door open, letting her hand slide to her son's mid-back while doing so. "Come on. Come inside, rest and pray. Finn is here as well and the girls are upstairs with Astrid, she will be fine, I can promise you that. You need to relax after everything that's happened already."

Hiccup sniffed, nodding as he passed through the threshold. Finn stood and turned to the man entering to home, but Hiccup kept his gaze down as he wandered aimlessly over to his chair, plopping down in it. The man shoved his head in his hands and doubled over, silently crying once again. Finn bowed his head. He hated to see Hiccup like this, especially knowing that the cause was his niece, which made him even more frustrated and solemn.

Valka held the door open, letting Toothless pass through as well, and looked back at the group standing outside, weary.

Valka nodded her head inside. "You guys too. I'm sure Heater is eager to hand Sigurd over to you, Snotlout."