The Calm Before the Storm

Family

*Three Months Later*

"Four months left..." Storm groaned as she wiped her mouth, sat back down on the bed and placed her hand on her swollen stomach.

"Four months left, just four months of doing this." Eret said as he rubbed her back and helped her up to her feet. "And then no more sleep for either of us, and plenty of diaper duty."

"The joys of being a parent. Lucky for you, I know how to take care of babies." Storm said and poked her husband in the chest. "I had to take care of your nieces and nephews while your brothers were busy."

"Speaking of which...they're coming." Eret said quietly.

Storm's eyes widened in alarm. "What? After we've been banished and they did nothing to stop it, now they want to visit us?"

"I...I've been keeping in touch with my brother and told him that we got married and are expecting a baby soon. And early this morning when I was feeding the dragons, I received a letter from him that both our families will be coming to Berk to see us." Eret explained and looked down at his bare feet in shame. "Your mother and my mother insist on staying to assist you in the birth."

"Why didn't you tell me you were communicating with your family?!" Storm yelled. "How long has this been going on?"

"It started a week after you announced your pregnancy." Eret replied. Storm was about to say something else when they heard someone knocking on their front door and heard the dragons roaring loudly.

"Who in Midgard could that be?" Storm asked as she exited the bedroom and made her way down the stairs as carefully as possible. Brynhild was hiding under the kitchen table with Smokey and her wooden dragon toys Eret carved for her and looking at the door in worry.

"I'm scared!" The eight-year-old cried as she clung to the wolf in fear.

"It's alright, no one is going to hurt you." Storm assured her as she reached the door and opened it to find- "Siv?! Mother?!"

"Darling! Oh thank the gods you're alright!" Catlin cried as she flung her arms around her daughter and looked at her swollen stomach. "And pregnant with Eret's child!"

"See, what did I tell you? They were going to get married and have children!" Siv chuckled and patted her friend's arm.

Both women heard a noise from the kitchen and peeked over Storm's shoulder to see Brynhild under the table with her arms around Smokey. The wolf wagged his tail and gave a small bark to acknowledge them, but remained where he was.

"Storm, who's that?" Catlin asked her daughter.

"Oh that's Brynhild, she's Eret's adopted daughter." Storm replied, stepping aside to let both the women into the house. "Bry, go get your father would you?" Brynhild scooted out from under the table, nearly hitting her head and ran up the stairs.

"Poor thing." Siv murmured as her son came down the stairs with his daughter in tow.

"Mother?!" Eret gasped and she smiled.

"I can't believe you are going to be a father so soon!" The woman cooed and hugged her son. "Cat and I are her to make sure nothing goes wrong with the pregnancy and to assist with the birth!"

"You really didn't have to-"

"Nonsense! I helped both of my other daughter-in-laws with birthing my grandchildren, and now I wish to help Storm!"

"This is why we didn't invite you two to the wedding." Storm muttered and rubbed her swollen stomach. "You two can sleep in my old room, I've already moved into Eret's room."

"I'm hungry!" Brynhild complained and Smokey barked in agreement.

"I'll start breakfast then, can you go out to let the dragons out to eat?" Eret asked. Brynhild nodded and dashed off towards the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"It feels weird to have both our mothers here." Storm said to her husband later that evening when they were preparing for bed.

"Tell me about it." Eret agreed as he removed his boots and vest. "After not being in the same house as them for eight years, it feels a little awkward."

"And I was the one who had to deal with them pestering me with questions about you whenever I got a letter from you. At least your brothers had the sense to not ask me too much." Storm retorted as she tugged her nightgown over her head. She gave a sigh and placed her hands on her stomach.

Eret noticed the worried look on her face and walked over to her. "What's wrong, love? I know when you make that face, something's worrying you."

"I...I'm just worried about the baby, what if either of us don't make it?" Storm said quietly and looked down at her stomach. "My mother nearly died giving birth to me, hence why I never had any brothers or sisters."

"Neither of you will die, I can promise you that." Eret assured her firmly before taking her hands and looked into his wife's eyes. "You are strong enough to make it through the birth Storm, our son or daughter will be strong enough as well. I swear I will not let the gods tear you or our child away from our family."

Storm pulled her arms out of his grasp and flung her arms around her husband's neck to hug him tightly. She felt his arms wrap around her, taking care not to crush her against him. She felt him pick her up before carrying her back to their bed and laid her down on it and cradled her close to his chest.

"No one will ever take you two and Brynhild away from me, I swear. I'm not going to loose my family to death so soon."

"Stay with me when it happens, just stay with me when I am trying to bring our baby into the world." Storm begged. "I want you at my side to hold our child in your arms."

"I will be there, I swear I will."