Happily Never After

Part 11

Chapter 10: Time of the Season

Berk, December 2004

"Hiccup! Where did you put the strollers?" Astrid shouted towards the second storey of the apartment.

"They should be in the closet!" Was shouted back.

"Well they aren't! I only see one," Astrid retorted. "You had it last when you took Zephyr to the park yesterday!"

"Ah crap! It might still be in my car then," Hiccup responded as he appeared from his room. He was walking with a cane as he came down the stairs somewhat slowly.

"You know how fussy she gets when she has to walk that much," Astrid sighed.

"I know, I know babe. I can just pick her up once we exit the elevator." Hiccup stated while looking rather apologetic. The toddler in question waddled over to Astrid and poked her in the leg several times.

"Zephyr don't poke your mother like that," Hiccup admonished.

"BOO!" The toddler exclaimed while trying to pout, though it came off more as a chubby huff instead.

"Yes yes, I'm very afraid," Astrid just chuckled as she rocked the baby in her arms. "Though are you sure Hiccup? Your leg's been acting up now that the weather has gotten colder." she worried.

"I'll be fine milady. I am a very strong toothpick!" He proclaimed and struck a bodybuilding pose that had Astrid laughing.

"Dada pick!" Zephyr squealed happily while clapping her chubby hands together.

The foursome left the penthouse in a jovial mood and then set off towards their destination which seemed to be halfway across town.

By the time they reached their destination however Astrid was anything but a happy camper. Her baby was happily gurgling in the baby seat while Zephyr, in a car seat of her own, insisted on playing mother goose on her Leapfrog again and again... and again.

"ASTRID!!!" Was yelled as Alexi, slammed her front door open and happily made her way towards her sister. Which resulted in Astrid getting caught in a bearhug before she was even fully out of the car.

"Sis... need to breathe!" She uttered while patting Alexi's back. Hiccup just chuckled but soon it was his turn to be strangled as well. Once Astrid, Hiccup and the kids were inside Alexi's home they all 'wowed'.

"You like?" Alexi smirked while spreading her hands to show off her new place.

"This house is amazing sis!" Astrid remarked. "You said housewarming party, not manor warming!"

"It's hardly a manor, though I got it on a steal from the realtor. Apparently no one wanted to buy it because it was supposedly haunted," she said while making air quotations with her hands. "As a fixer-upper after working on it for around eight months I think it turned out quite well."

"Does this house have a lot of history?" Hiccup asked as they were led further into the surprisingly spacious interior. Nuffink was becoming a bit fussy so Hiccup took him out of the stroller and rocked him.

"Oh you bet!" Alexi was quite excited. "I'll tell you both in detail once we have lunch. I'm still waiting on Russel to arrive,"

"Russel?" Astrid questioned.

Alexi just gave a mischievous grin as the doorbell rang not so long after. "That must be him right now!" she said excitingly.

Alexi practically skipped back towards the front door. On the other side was a clean-shaven young man holding a bouquet of white roses. Astrid and Hiccup watched Alexi's eyes light up as she embraced the man.