Fly On Your Own

Chapter 3

Hiccup's P.O.V

6 Months Earlier

I drummed my fingers as the council argued for the millionth time. They'd called a meeting to discuss protection from outside threats, after the whole Drago incident. Berk was still constantly in repair, though most of it was starting to get back to normal. A few of us had come up with the idea of maybe going out and rescuing trapped dragons, per my mother's suggestion, and bringing them back to Berk. Some villagers complained about the space, but I didn't think we'd get too overwhelmed.

I had bigger things on my mind, though. Reign had been having contractions all day, and despite my mother's attempts at assuring me they weren't anything to worry about, I couldn't help but imagine the worst.

"Chief Hiccup."

I snapped my head up to Spitelout, just now noticing it had gone silent, and everyone was staring at me.

"Uh..." I looked around at them and blinked, slightly embarrassed. "I-I'm sorry."

"Hiccup, we understand you're a little distracted, but--"

Before Gobber could finish his sentence, the doors opened, revealing Eret peering through. I couldn't quite read the expression on his face, but he had been with Reign all day, which couldn't be good.

"Eret?"

He nodded at me, and I felt my stomach jump before I rushed after him to Gothi's hut. Before I even got up there, I heard Reign's shouting and screaming, which made me move faster. I didn't hesitate rushing to her side and kneeling down beside her to grip her hand. She glanced at me briefly, sweat rolling down her pale forehead as her labored breaths filled the momentary silence.

"Hi, hey, I'm so sorry I left you. I-I should have just," I stuttered. "I mean--"

"Hiccup!" I looked down at her. "Deep breaths, love. Deep breaths."

"Sorry, sorry." I did as she said, and slowly, the joys of having a child started to dawn on me. Finally, I was able to smile. "This is it."

"Yeah, I know." She looked over to Eret. "Go get the others, but don't let them come in yet. There's enough going on as it is." He nodded and dashed off again as Reign let out another scream, her hand gripping mine so tight I thought it would pop. My heart broke for a second, watching her face contort, and I attempted to reassure her. "Hey, hey, I've got you." My mother and Gothi came over to check on her.

"Reign." She lifted her head slightly. "You're ready."

"That's a matter of perspective," she joked. "But I know what you're saying." She looked up at me and smiled as my mother ushered Astrid out of the room. "It's time."

"You can do this. I believe in you," I encouraged. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

"And after this, we'll finally get to hold that little baby, and take care of them, and love them." She nodded and gripped my hand a little tighter.

"Here we go." She leaned her head back and awaited instruction. Gothi, of course, could only write, and I'm sure Reign wasn't going to take the time to read in this situation, so my mom served as her voice. "Reign, I'm going to count down, and when I get to one, I need you to push for ten seconds." She gasped loudly and locked my hand in a death-grip, but managed to nod. "All right. Three... two... one."

Reign's head suddenly shot up and her face contorted as she pushed, holding her breath to the point where her pale skin turned a little red. My mother counted to ten, and once she reached the end, Reign's head fell back, her eyes closing slightly. Panic caused my heart to jump, and I reached over to prop her head up slightly, waking her back up. She and my mother repeated the process over and over again, until finally, something happened.