The morning light seeped through a crack in Hiccup's window, resting on the broken family that was cuddled together in slumber.
Hiccup stirred, opening his eyes to see his mother and dragon on either side of him. No more nightmares had tortured him, and he thanked Thor for that.
The chief stared at the ceiling, pondering the tasks that lay ahead for the day, when he heard the door downstairs open. He immediately tensed up as the footsteps ascended the stairs and made their way creakily down the hall.
Hiccup began to sit up as the door to his bedroom began to open, only to reveal that Astrid had arrived. "Hey Hiccup, you want to go on a flight?"
The brunette let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and flopped down against his pillow. "Gods, Astrid you scared me!" Astrid chuckled and looked at the pile of bodies, raising an eyebrow. Hiccup sighed, rubbing his face. "It was a long night."
Astrid sat down on the edge of the bed next to Valka, who was still peacefully sleeping. "Nightmares again?"
He nodded solemnly, looking at the wall. "I don't know what I'm going to do. It seems like every time I close my eyes, he's there with that scowl of disapproval he used to give me."
Astrid bit her lip, thinking. "Hiccup, you know he wouldn't blame you for any of this right? He was a chief with honor, and death to save another's life is more honorable than anything else."
Hiccup nodded. "That's what mom told me, but it's still really hard you know? I never got to tell him thanks for being supportive, and loving me no matter how much of a fishbone I acted like, and most of all, I never got to tell him I was sorry for being a disappointment."
The couple stared at the wall until they heard Valka stirring. "Mornin Astrid," she said, yawning. "You're here early."
The blonde early bird chuckled. "I like getting an early start on the day."
Hiccup reached over the side of the bed for his prosthetic, and started attaching it. "What's on the agenda for today M'lady?"
Astrid sighed, going through her responsibilities for the day in her head. "Well I have lessons this morning at the academy, then Stormfly needs a bath, um, and Darge will probably ask me to do the laundry or something like that later. How about you?"
The young chief groaned, shaking his head. "The real question is, what don't I have to do today? I have the peace treaty with King Fergus to start on, the mead hall needs some repairs, Gothi needs some more herbs from who knows where, I don't know where to begin."
Valka stood up and stretched. "Well I know where you should begin, breakfast."
Hiccup chuckled, causing the sleeping Night Fury to crack open an eye and yawn.
The three humans looked to him. "Well look who decided to join us," Valka cooed.
The dragon warbled in response, and got off of the bed. The widow chuckled, and began to walk out with Toothless on her heels. "I'll get breakfast started."
Astrid looked to Hiccup as soon as she was out of earshot. "Feed it to Toothless and then go to the mead hall for some real food?"
Hiccup chuckled and nodded. "You're cooking isn't any better."
The blonde punched her boyfriend, scoffing. "How dare you?!"
The Chief's hands went up in mock surrender. "You can't deny it."
Astrid shrugged, and Hiccup stood up to put on his armor.
An hour and a fair amount of tossed food later, the couple sat in the mead hall with the gang, finishing breakfast.
YOU ARE READING
Forever
Hayran KurguA few weeks after his father's death, Hiccup is trying to cope with his new duties as chief, his obligations as a dragon master, as well his need to marry, soon. As he and Astrid go through their new life, and Hiccup tries to balance his struggle be...
