In Between and After The Hidden World

A Baby Makes Three

Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth.

"She's going to be fine, Hiccup."

"What if she's not?! What if she dies?! What if the baby dies?! What if they both die?!"

"You need to calm down, son."

"Calm down? Calm down?! You want me to calm down when this could kill my wife or baby?!"

Valka chuckled softly and tugged Hiccup's hand to make him sit on the chair next to hers. "Astrid is strong, love. If anyone can make it through two days of childbirth, it's her." She ran her fingers through his hair, which managed to sooth him. "Your father was the same way, when you were born. Oh, his father had to clobber him just to get him to stand still. It's natural for you to worry, Hiccup. You wouldn't be human if you were taking this lightly."

He smiled. "Thanks, mom." His fear didn't die down completely, though it was soothed. After all, child birth was very hard on women, and it could kill them. He couldn't bare it if Astrid died in there. He couldn't imagine a world without her in it. He didn't want to imagine a world without her in it.

Second of all, there was the fact that this was his first child. His worst fear was making a mistake that would damage his child. That was the last thing he wanted. He wanted this child to always know he loved them, even when they got into trouble. It made him so excited, but so nervous as well.

His thoughts were interrupted though, by an entirely new sound. Crying. A baby cry. HIS baby crying. His breath caught as he listened to the quiet cries coming from behind the door. Trudging slowly to the door, he prepared to open it, but was left standing as the midwife beat him to it.

Gerda, the midwife, smiled softly as she shuffled around him. "Congratulations, chief. Your wife and baby are waiting for you." And with that said, she walked out of the house.

Hiccup gulped and looked to his mother, you smiled encouragingly. "Go on, son. Go see your wife and newborn." She chided.

Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open wide and slipped in, closing it behind him. But he was once again robbed of oxygen, when he looked to his exhausted wife, who held a tiny, pink form in her arms. Their baby. He licked his lips and tried to regain right to breathe.

Astrid looked up to him and smiled brightly. Despite her disheveled state, she was absolutely stunning. Her damp hair clung to her neck and forehead, but her eyes were full of life. "It's a girl." She whispered. "Come meet your daughter."

He choked when he heard the gender of his and Astrid's baby. A little girl. Gods...he had a daughter. A little daughter. Willing his feet to move, he came up beside Astrid and stared down at the little girl that laid still in her arms. Taking a shaky breath, he reached out and gently took her into his own arms, lifting her up to rest in the crook of his elbow. She was so small and soft.

Little tufts of auburn hair splayed over her small head; and when she started to open her eyes, he noted they were the same blue as Astrid's. He also noted that she had his lips and face and eye shape, and Astrid's nose and ears. A perfect mix of them, their little miracle.

"She's perfect." He said first. Holding her up, he pressed a light kiss to her soft forehead. Then he just stared.

"You ok there, chief?" Astrid chuckled.

He let out a beat of air. "I don't know. I think I'm in love." He said. And it was true. While it had taken time to actually fall in love with Astrid, he fell head over heels in love with his daughter in less than a millisecond.

Astrid laid back, letting her exhaustion take hold, and shifted to be more comfortable. "I would have thought you'd want a boy. But, then again, you're Hiccup Haddock. Since when do you want the same things as everyone else?" She said knowingly.

He chuckled and nodded. "Very true. Our daughter is perfect the way she is, milady. Boy, or girl, it doesn't matter. We made her, Astrid. She's ours. I wouldn't wish for her any other way." Bringing her up in his arms, he pressed a soft kiss to her small forehead. Not looking away from her beautiful face, he took off his bear hide cloak and wrapped her small body in the warm fur, as was tradition.

When the firstborn child of the chief was born, it was customary for the chief to wrap them in his chieftain cloak, made of bear hide. This showed that he acknowledged the child as his firstborn, and that they were to be his heir. And while it was more typical to pass the chiefdom on to the firstborn son, Hiccup didn't wish to have that discrimination brought on his daughter. And just looking at her, he knew; she was meant to be the next in line.

"We need to name her." He said to his wife once their daughter was wrapped.

She nodded. "Ingrid?" She suggested. They both loved the name, and had debated it if they had a girl.

But he shook his head. "She doesn't look like an Ingrid."

"Sigrid?"

He gaped at her. "Ok, that name may mean beautiful girl, but it just sounds awful. Please tell me you didn't think about that name for our baby." He begged her with desperate, green eyes.

She laughed out loud and shook her head. "Of course I didn't. While I love the meaning of the name, my appreciation for the name is not quite as enthusiastic. I would never bring that name down on any daughters of ours." She assured him gently.

He breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank Thor. So, a name." He looked back down at the baby girl, who had by then nestled herself in the crevice between his elbow and chest, and now fisted his shirt in her small fist. That's when her name spoke for itself.

Here was this tiny, beautiful, perfect little girl; resting easily in his warmth. It was a blessing to even have her here, as they weren't sure if they would ever have a child or not. But the baby girl he was holding had proved them wrong. She came to them, despite all odds. She was a miracle.

"Nessa." He spoke, the name falling perfectly off his lips. "Nessa Kari Haddock. Our little miracle baby."

Astrid was moved by the name. There was no doubt in her mind that it was perfect. She was their miracle baby. Nessa was just the name to bring out her meaning in their life. No other name could be as perfectly suited for her.

The new parents smiled at each other as Nessa crooned softly. Yes. Everything was as it should be, with their new miracle baby, and their new family.

:::

Comment and like! Hope you enjoyed. Peace out!