One Last Time

Prologue: It's Hard to Say Goodbye

"Mommy! Daddy!"

Hiccup quickly pulled out of his very heated kiss with Astrid. Pulling the sheets up, he went to cover both of their naked bodies. After which, he laughed as he rolled off of Astrid and turned towards their door. "Come on in, girls!" He called.

Two small girls ran in with the biggest smiles reaching their face. One was a black-haired girl with violet eyes, the other a blonde with green eyes. The black-haired girl, Ida, was the oldest, at six years old, and the blonde, Ethel, was three. In her arms, Ida carried a baby girl, Sallie. Sallie was six months old and had auburn hair and blue eyes.

Sitting up a little on the bed, not letting the sheets fall past his hips, Hiccup held his arms out and helped Ethel into the bed. Then he helped Ida, and took Sallie into his arms. "Good morning, sweethearts." He greeted them as he gave a kiss to the top of each of their heads. Wrapping an arm around Astrid, he held all four of his girls close and sighed in content.

"Are you going to take me riding today, daddy? You promised me, last night, that you would." Ida asked excitedly. She was a beautiful girl, and had even been deemed a much beautiful baby, as an infant. They had no clue where she got her black hair and rare, violet eyes; it was one mystery that they figured made her that much more unique. And they loved her for her uniqueness.

He beamed over at his oldest and poked her nose playfully. "Well if I promised, don't you think I'd take you riding? Since when has your daddy ever made a promise he can't keep?"

Astrid chuckled and stroked Ida's hair with loving fingers. "One of the many wonderful qualities about your father, Ida, is that he has never made a promise that he cannot keep. He's a smart man, not a dumb one." She told the girl.

Hiccup scoffed teasingly. "Wow, thank you for that backhanded compliment, milady. Girls, I love your mother with all my heart, but she is very good with giving compliments in backhanded ways." He saw the look on his wife's face and gulped slightly. "I-I mean...uh...thank you very much, dear?" He suggested with a crooked smile as though saying, please, just don't hurt me.

She laughed outright and shook her head. "I wasn't going to punch you, Hiccup. And even if I wanted to, I still wouldn't; not while you have the baby." She reminded him.

He sighed in relief and pressed his lips to Sallie's head. "You saved your old man's hide, Sal." He said gratefully. Then he looked back toward Ida, remembering their conversation before. "We'll go out riding, after breakfast, Ida. Speaking of, whatcha say we get up and make something for these hooligans, milady?" He said to Astrid.

She hummed. "I suppose we should. How bout you get it started, and I'll feed Sal?"

"Sure." He agreed. He was just about to get up, when he remembered the state he and Astrid were in. He blushed lightly, glaring at his wife's sly smile. "Ida, Ethel, why don't you two go get dressed while mommy and daddy get ready?" He suggested to his daughters.

The girls ran out eagerly, their messy hair swooshing around them. Then they closed the bedroom door as they ran out.

After they were gone, Astrid barked a laugh, while Hiccup glared playfully at her. "Oh shut up." He mumbled while leaning in and kissing her collarbone softly.

But she swatted his head, making him pull back and give her a confused look. "I have to feed the baby, and you need to start breakfast for our other two girls." She reminded him with a smiled. At his despondent face, she kissed him softly and ruffled his hair. "Later, lover boy."

He grinned slyly, stroking her arm with such softness. "I'll hold you to that, milady." Then he rolled out of bed, albeit reluctantly, and went to dress. After which, he left to head for the kitchen to make breakfast.