The Return of the Dragons

Chapter 6 The Fruits of Love - Hiccup POV

The sun glows bright yellow on the backdrop of an orange and pink sky as I leave the great hall after a full day of chiefing. I am very tired and hungry. I wish I had remembered to eat something, but then again I had gone first thing running after Nuffink. My stomach growls reminding me that I haven't eaten all day.

But despite my hunger and fatigue I enjoy the sunset as it paints the sky and the clouds that gently float along it. I can't help but think of how I miss being up there in those clouds with my best bud. Toothless and I would always be somewhere up there in the sky. I remember our first flight ever; how the wind whipped in my face, How I could smell the spray of the ocean, feel the thrill of flying high on the back of a dragon, feel what it was like to really have the trust of a dragon. "Thanks for the adventures bud. I don't know where I'd be without you." I smile as I think of how happy he was with the light fury as the alpha in the hidden world. "I hope your having great adventures out there bud." I say with a tear forming in the corner of my eye.

As I walk through New Berk I observe all the Berkians going about their evening business. Fathers chopping wood outside the doors of their homes, mother sweeping out their houses and fixing the supper and children playing around the outsides of their houses. The little tots giggle and hide as I pass by. I can see their little blushing faces peeking from behind barrels and bushes as they play.

I see Tuffnut and Snotlout teaching Nuffink some sword fighting tricks. I smile at his tentativeness as he stands up straight with his sword in both hands and looks up at his uncles hungry for information as they explain details of fencing. I stop as I watch Snotlout and Tuff squabbling over form and technique.

"Hiccup! We need your help." declares Tuff as I stop

"Yeah boy do we!" Snotlout puts in. "Because SOMEbody is confused about how to hold a sword and your poor child is getting false information."

"Hey, I wasn't the one who told him how to hold it backwards!" says Tuffnut.

"It's okay guys, I've got it from here." I say putting a hand on my son's shoulder.

Tuffnut and Snotlout walk off still squabbling while I set too teaching my son about sword fighting. I stand behind him and hold his arms pointing them out as they should be. "hold your arms out like this." I say positioning his arms. " And spread your feet apart a little more." He quickly obeys. Getting down on his level I say, " Now look you opponent straight in the eye. Don't let him think you are backing down.

"Because I'm not!" He declares. I smile at his determination. But then his smile disappears. "But what if I get hurt?"

I take him by both shoulders as I kneel in front of him. "That's all part of fighting for those you love. you know how I got this?" I ask gesturing to my metal leg." He shakes his head. "I got it trying to save Toothless and Berk."

"Did it hurt?" he asks.

"Yes, son it did. But you know what would have hurt more?" I ask. "If I had lost someone I love." and I run my fingers through his blonde locks., "Bravery comes with love, son."

He gives me a big hug and taking his sword he declares, "I'm gonna go practice."

"Alright, well supper will be soon. Be sure to be home shortly." I instruct him.

"I will." he shouts from the distance he has already traveled.

I watch as he disappears to the other side of New Berk and off into the trees. Then I continue on my way home. But before long I hear a familiar voice calling my name. "Hiccup!" It's my mother.

"Mom! What is it?" I ask. She hands me a rolled up piece of paper. It's from Mala.

"What does it say?" She asks as I read it.

"It's from Mala." I say. "All the chiefs are meeting at Berserker island and she's asking for my presence."

"Did she say if there was any trouble?"

"No." I reply, "But it sounded urgent." I roll up the paper

"Well you had better get home." my mom says putting a hand on my shoulder warmly. " I think someone's waiting for you.

I walk the rest of the way home and sure enough, there I see Zephyr, comfortably seated on a large rock looking out over the ocean with her nose in her journal scribbling away at her hobby. Her thick red hair floats in the breeze as her head is ever down, intently staring at what she is busy with. I love her so much and I can't believe my little girl is almost thirteen.

I go and find a seat next to her on the rock. " What's my little dragon rider up to?' I ask. She shows me her current dragon sketch. She is on one of her night fury pages. Among her various sketches and small paragraphs about Toothless is an unfinished sketch of him in the sky with his glorious ebony wings spread across the sky and as I look closely, I see he has a rider on his back.

"That's you on Toothless." she proudly affirms.

I can feel a tear forming in my eye. My little Zephyr truly does share the same love for the dragons that I have had since that moment when Toothless put his face to my outstretched hand. I can say nothing and all I can do is wrap my little girl up in a hug. My heart flutters as she leans her head against my chest.

But now, her knee bumps against my paper and she looks down at it. "What's that?" she asks putting her journal and pencil back in her satchel.

"It's just a letter." I say, but my Zephyr is too smart for that.

"Do you have to go somewhere?" she questions.

"Yes Zephyr." I reply. I can feel and hear her breath increase as I know her anxiety is rising.

"I don't like when you go away." she whimpers.

"It's just for a meeting with the other chiefs Zeph." I say trying to comfort her. "I'll be back in few days."

"But what if you get hurt?" she asks as tears begin to trickle down her rosy cheeks.

A chill rolls down my spine as it feels like I have been stabbed to the heart. "Oh Zeph! Honey, its okay. Nothing's going to hurt me. I'll be okay." I pull her close to my heart as my poor baby girl begins to sob. I kiss her through her russet locks.

"I love you Daddy!" she manages between sobs.

Tears are now running freely down my cheeks and mingling in the hair that lines my chin. "I love you too my baby girl!" I whisper.

-----

I bend down and give my son a kiss on the cheek as I tuck him in the covers of his bed snuggled up with his little Stormfly. He doesn't seem to mind the fact that I kissed him but as I am leaving, I see out of the corner of my eye a little sleeve pop out from under the covers and wipe off his cheek. I smile to myself and head down the hallway to Astrid's and my room. On the way, I stop and look in on Zephyr and am satisfied to see her peacefully drifting off to sleep clutching her little Toothless. My heart aches as I spot the little tear stains on her face. Apparently she had not fallen asleep without crying a few tears. After gently wiping the tears from her cheeks I give her a long kiss. Then blowing out the light next to her bed I leave the room.

I come to my own room and Astrid is already in bed waiting for me. It is not long before I am undressed and getting in bed beside her. I take my beautiful bride into my arms and kiss her lips running my fingers through her long golden hair. I look into her gorgeous blue eyes as they sparkle at me. She smiles as me and then leans her head on my chest. I pull her to my heart where I sit propped against the pillow. "I love you my sweet Astrid." I say rubbing my hand up and down her back. But to my surprise I feel her quivering. "Astrid, my love," I say surprised. "Is something wrong."

She looks back up at me, and now her sparkling eyes are glimmering with tears. "Nothing's wrong Hiccup." she says. "Nothing." and she begins to sob.

"Then why are you crying?" I ask.

"Oh Hiccup!" She cries. "It's happened!" my eyes grow wide and I can't say a word try as I might as I anticipate what I can hardly believe she might be about to say. "I went to see Gothi today and... Oh Hiccup I'm pregnant!

Tears are rolling unstoppably down my own cheeks as I come to a realization of what is happening. After all these years of trying, we are finally having another baby! Joy fills my heart as I pull Astrid to my chest and we sob into each other.