Unexpected

Daddy Lessons

Chapter Seven: Daddy Lessons

At 16 weeks, Astrid's pregnancy was progressing nicely. Her outbursts were beginning to become few and far between. She was a lot less tired and more affectionate. Hiccup was glad for this; he was hoping his wife would actually want to touch him again and, in fact, he hadn't been expecting her to get this affectionate at all. It was almost like the first week after their wedding all over again.

The one drawback was that Astrid's belly had swollen to the point where she could no longer even pretend she wasn't pregnant. The day her armored skirt didn't fit anymore, she burst into tears and locked herself in her room with her husband on the outside.

"Come on, Astrid." Hiccup called, banging on the door. "It's perfectly natural. There's nothing to be ashamed of!"

"I'm the size of a yak!" Astrid wailed, slightly muffled by the door.

"No you're not. You're beautiful." he said gently, hoping she could hear him.

"I'm going to weigh more than Meatlug before this is over." she added, acting as though she hadn't heard a word he'd said.

He took a deep breath. He knew he had to be patient with her but he was beginning to get very frustrated. When he looked at his wife, he saw the miracle of life and it made her even more beautiful in his eyes. Somehow, she didn't seem to feel the same way. He supposed that was what made them different but he dearly wished he could make her see herself the way he saw her.

He slumped up against the door. "All right, stay in there. In fact... stay in there until you feel better, okay?"

He pounded down the stairs and spotted the armored skirt. He grabbed it and inspected it. Now where would she have gotten something like this?

Two hours later, Astrid was still locked away in their bedroom and Hiccup had decided to visit Gobber. He could probably help Astrid feel better.

"Well I can't take care of him." Gobber was saying as Hiccup came near to the shop. "He'll get himself killed here in the workshop. Too many sharp objects."

"Please, Gobber, we haven't had a night of peace in weeks." came a woman's desperate sounding voice.

"You said you'd look after him!" said a man Hiccup only vaguely recognized.

Hiccup finally came close enough to see a couple standing in front of Gobber's workshop. They were firmly gripping a small boy's arms and the boy squirmed uncomfortably.

"Well I've gotten far too busy. Say... how about Hiccup? He's going to be a father; I'm sure he'd love the practice."

Hiccup stopped dead in his tracks. "What?"

"Oh please, Hiccup? Would you mind watching Edgar for a few hours?" asked the woman, looking like she was on the verge of tears.

Hiccup looked down at the tiny little boy struggling against her grip. He looked to be no older than four years old. Surely Hiccup could handle a small child for a few hours. He smiled.

"I'd be happy to." He consented.

For a moment, he feared the woman really would burst into tears. "Oh bless you!" she exclaimed, pushing the little boy toward him.

Hiccup had to grab the boy's upper arm so Edgar wouldn't run away.

"Now you be a good boy, Edgar. Don't you give Mr. Hiccup any trouble, do you understand?" the woman asked, sternly staring at the boy.

Edgar said nothing, shutting his eyes tight so he wouldn't have to look at his mother.

"Answer your mother!" his father prodded.