Birth of a Brother and Sister
The crisp autumn wind blew gently through the village upon the lone island seemingly in the middle of nowhere as the dark blue sea surrounding it got a bit choppier from the slight breeze.
Given the general appearance of the people and their taste in both fashion plus décor it was easy to deduce the people upon this island were Vikings. It look as if at the moment they're keeping themselves busy with preparing for the upcoming winter which was soon to come.
You could see various people during various jobs to indicate this. Chopping trees for firewood, sheering sheep and making clothes, seeing how well the crops had grown so they'd harvest them and making sure the other animals could provide them with stables. Also getting as plentiful amount of fish and boars round up for meat as possible.
Therefore even though it was only September it was apparent wintertime came incredibly early to this land as everyone was by this time working extremely hard to get ready for it.
There was also something in how the people were working that gave an air of peculiarity as well as how the children were behaving. It was like everyone was going out of their way to do all these various tasks without bothering their Chief. Plus making things go as smoothly as possible and not cause any sort of stress at all.
This was odd in and of itself if one didn't know what the current circumstances of the Chief's family was. And if you're listening through the open window from their living like their five year old son Hiccup who was hiding in the bush below you might get it.
Little Hiccup who was only five looked like he'd been crying and was very upset given his how his face looked and the way he was twisting in his hands the dragon toy his mommy had made for him after his birth.
He was listening to his parents slightly arguing voice above his hiding spot, it was something he'd been listening to for several months now. And every time this came up he for some reason felt guilty and it was his fault that his mommy felt the way she did and this argument was even going on.
"Val, please you need to calm down. Please don't stress yourself out. Just do as Gothi said and put your feet up and stay relax. The whole village been doing its part to not do anything to stress me or you out. So just relax, my love," came the voice of his father Stoick the Vast the Chief of the tribe saying what he'd said a million time before.
"Stoick," his mother start yet again like she'd done in this dance a million times before. "How can I not worry or stress? What if it happens again? I know we made it pass the mark. Though what if it still goes wrong?"
"Valka you can't keep worrying about the what ifs! Gothi told us the best thing we can do is not get you overly excited, make sure you've plenty of rest and make sure you've the freshest food and best water. All of which we've done for the past nine months!
I've told you the baby you're carrying is being shelter by our love for them and Hiccup will protect them. He'll be a good big brother when they are born. To them and the third child we will have one day. I promise and you know for us Haddocks we keep our promises no matter what!"
"Brave words and sentiments, Stoick. Still what if something happens to our second child? I know Gothi says they'll be born on the 18th which is still a week and half away. Yet I can't help but feel terrified!"
"Please just try and take a nap. All I ask is you just rest. Sleep will do you good."
"Stoick you know what I dream when I sleep."
"Try making yourself dream of how wonderful a big brother Hiccup will be instead of the nightmare instead."
Sighing, "I'll try, I know this hasn't been easy on him either. But I worry about him so much as much as the new baby. Do you even know where he is?"
"No I don't at the moment. I'll go look for him if you promise to get some sleep."
"Alright, I'll go take a nap. Though when I wake up I want to see my son smiling at me first thing."
"Okay."
And that was the end of what drifted through window. Though Hiccup knew his daddy was looking for him he didn't come out of hiding just yet. He wanted to cry a little longer and figure things out. He go find his daddy later so his mommy would see him when she woke up in time.
Hiccup couldn't help now but hiccup as he cried more. He didn't know why but that guilty feeling welled up inside him even. Why did he feel it was his fault his mommy was so terrified and anxious about the baby she was carrying?
When they figured out she was expecting everyone in the village and himself had been euphoric with his parents also crying tears of happiness. On the other hand as time had passed it was like everyone little by little started walking on eggshells.
Then his father had all but ordered everyone to do everything possible to not stress out his mommy. For after the fifth month being pregnant she truly started to panic and get anxious and when she hit seven months it was like she was seeing ghosts all the time.
She spent the whole seventh month refusing to let him out of her sight. And that was about the time the other children of Berk particularly three Snotlout and the Twins really started to torment him. It wasn't like he wasn't picked on for being so small, weak and different already.
Though they'd amped it up when his mommy started to act strange and his own worries for his mommy had escalated. This had result it in hiding so he could deal with his conflicting feelings and hopefully avoid being beat up.
Though his luck had run out today. The trio had been hunting because they're bored and wanting to twist the knife in his back and had found him. He heard them before he saw them and tried to make a break for the backdoor.
He didn't make it four steps before they jumped him. Again he was already small and scrawny for five and they're a lot bigger and stronger, particularly Snotlout. So the Twins each held one of his very skinny arms while they twist his wrist Snotlout proceed to beat him up.
Once they got enough their ya-yas beating him up they licked salt into the wounds they'd just inflict with their mocks and taunts.
"Well, look how weak and pathetic you are, Hiccup and with the weakest name for a Viking, how to you expect to be Chief one day? Let alone some great brother? You so weak, small and pathetic! Just a runt and a nothing!" sneered Snotlout.
"Look at you blubbering like a baby! Only babies cry! So your silly mommy gonna have to little runty babies to look after now? Just weak and pathetic? You're such a crybaby! You can't even fight back! All you do is fall to piece like the baby you are! Not a Viking at all just a little shrimpy frail little baby!" laughed Tuffnut and Ruffnut added in a singsong tone.
"Hiccup is a baby! Hiccup is too weak and small! He'll never be a Viking at all! And all the children of the Chief Stoick the Vast will be pathetic loser one and all! And his mommy is a silly worry warty too just like her crybaby soon who can't even fight at all!" as the twins had joined hands and danced around Hiccup as they did this like it was Ring-around-the-Rosie.
Though they fell down with insulting laughter and smirks and Snotlout noticed Hiccup was crying again and then snatched his toy from him.
"Hey! Give that back! My mommy made that for me!" and he was jumping to get it back and they decided to play keep away from him. They just kept insulting him, his family and his fears. Crossing more and more lines that were especially cruel and Hiccup just wanted to die from the pain.
Then all of sudden an ax was thrown between Hiccup and his tormentors. The bullies didn't have time to register who'd thrown the ax before someone was screaming enraged at them and there was a blond tornado mixing with a lot of sounds of fist and sounds of people in pain.
The three bullies were in a matter of minutes more black and blue then they'd ever made Hiccup and were running away like dogs with tails between their legs. A girl voice screamed at them.
"Don't you dare ever do that again or you ended up worse than black and blue! I'll behead you next time! That's a promise!" growled the blond hair girl as she picked up the disregarded toy and turned to face Hiccup.
Hiccup was surprised to see his rescuer was Astrid Hofferson. She was already a legend in her own right for a five year old. Beautiful, brave and very much a warrior.
He was confused why she'd defended him, but he took his toy back and she smiled at him. "Those guys are such jerks! Treating someone like their a pile of dragon dung? To just mock a person's pain? Makes me so mad! No-one deserves that!
Anyone with half a brain can see your mom is scared about the baby even if were not sure why, but even I can see it's upsetting you to see your mommy upset. That's not a reason to make fun of you for being concerned about your mommy."
He looked at her still confused and didn't know what to say. So look at the ground he kind of mumbled, "Maybe what they say is true. That I'm weak and useless. That I'm not anything important and so is my soon to be born siblings and all that."
"Hiccup don't listen to their nonsense. They haven't got any brains. We know the Twins don't have any for sure and Snotlout doesn't have one or a heart since all either cares about is himself.
You think and care about others. You love more deeply than anyone else on this island. If you didn't you wouldn't care so much about your mommy being upset. And I know one day your big heart will really change Berk and this world.
I also know you'll be a great big brother."
Finally look at her to see her warm and tender smile he wiped his tears away and said, "You really think so?"
"Yes," she smiled brighter, "With your pure heart of gold, you'll be the best one ever. Love is all you need to be a good person and you have more love then anyone I know.
Just don't ever let anyone tell you different."
"Thank you, Astrid, both for what you said and for rescuing me."
"Welcome, Hiccup. Well I've got to go. But I can't wait to meet your new sibling. I'm sure they'll be as wonderful as you. Also they'll be the luckiest person on the island since you'll be their big brother! See you!" and she grabbed her ax and took off.
Seconds after Astrid left is when Stoick returned home after not finding Hiccup in the village and saw his beat up son standing outside the house. He didn't even need to ask who'd beat up his son, though he asked why he was smiling. So he did tell him Astrid had driven the bullies away.
Stoick smiled a strange smile at that before bringing Hiccup inside to get him cleaned up and his clothes changed so when Valka woke up he wouldn't be nearly as beat up.
A few days later after Hiccup had made a herbal tea his grandmother said would make anyone feel better that left his mother sleeping contently his father and him slipping away to go to Lover's Cove.
Lover's Cove was his parents' secret hideaway they'd found by pure chance after their first anniversary had gone terribly wrong. The village had made his father forget all about his anniversary so his mommy who'd been naturally upset run into the woods. His father had gone looking for her and found her.
But between the fact it was very dark and their bickering they'd gotten lost and by chance discovered a beautiful and almost magical heart-shaped cove. They'd named the cove Lover's Cove and they alone knew the way too it. They'd brought Hiccup there as well and it was apparent it would be a family secret.
It wasn't easy to get too on foot and the path too it was well-hidden and only two ways in. The fissure his parents had fallen through or the secret path that your eyes kept sliding away from and only their eyes seem to spot. It was almost like a divine power kept everyone but their family away from the cove.
The outside concealing the Cove made it ugly, uninviting and inconspicuous, so you never guess the beauty, magic and wonder on the other side.
On the other side the heart shape rock wall had countless fascinating colors and patterns it was purely enthralling. At the heart point was an enormous turquoise waterfall, that empty into a pool ringed by the greenest grass ever, with an assortment of the most unique and flamboyant flowers, not found anywhere else, including the one his father named for his mom, "Valka's Lily."
There was also large and strange tree where Stoick had craved his declaration of love to Valka at the base. In addition the seashore had the most perfect sand in both texture and color also the water was at all times perfect as was the view.
When father and son got there it was only natural to spend a little time playing before Stoick got to the reason he'd brought his firstborn out here. So they did splash in the waves and make a sandcastle before starting a small fire and sitting near the waterfall.
"I love it here so much, Dad. Do you think we'll bring the new baby here as well?"
"When they're old enough and strong enough, yes. We had to wait till you were strong enough to bring you here."
"It will be fun to play with a little brother or sister on the beach while you and Mommy enjoy some quiet time up here."
"Well, we do hope to give you one of each you know. As you know the plan is for us to have three children and we hope to give you both a brother and a sister."
Hiccup paused for a minute before looking at his dad, "But how can I have a sister? You said no-one in our family as far back as the family tree been recorded ever had a daughter."
"There a first time for everything. Though right now I want to talk to you about what your job is to be when your first sibling will be born in a week time," as he picked up Hiccup and put him on his knee so he could look at him better.
Hiccup started already to squirm with how his father was looking at him. He was looking at him like he was already a man and it was making him uncomfortable. What did his dad have to say to him that was so important he wanted to do it here? Alone?
"Hiccup, I know you are only a child, but soon you'll be given a very grown up responsibility and I want you to understand how serious this responsibility is. To really understand how important your position in the family will be."
"Is this about me becoming a big brother? Does that mean I'm suddenly not a little boy anymore at the age of five?"
Laughing his father chose his words carefully. "Hiccup you are only five yes and you're still a child, but you still have a big responsibility that is more important than even being chief one day."
"Oh, what do I have to do?"
"Well, as a big brother you'll many responsibilities to carry out and things you'll have to do. Both for your mom and myself. But to both your siblings. The one about to be born and the one yet to be born.
As a big brother you have a very crucial role to play in the lives of your siblings' lives. For as the eldest you must stand up courageously and do whatever it takes to be involved and protect your family and siblings.
You'll be expect to be a mentor, provider and protector to your younger siblings. It's you who has to set the example of what love, integrity, selflessness and respect is.
You'll have to help us love them twice as much when cannot do it ourselves. That they know how the difference between right and wrong, are disciplined and understand what it means to be responsible. To help them understand what truly matters in life.
You've moved to the front line of an important battle, Hiccup, not that this one involves dragons or blood, but making sure our family is strong and well. We both have to be men of tremendous courage to protect both your mother and your younger siblings.
Even if this battle we are about to fight is scary we must stand unafraid for we can't let our family slip away. Since I'm about to become a father to another child and you a big brother. So are you ready to answer this call? Are you ready to refuse anything to let our family fall?"
Hiccup for a moment did say or do anything. Then he looked up at his father and his five year old face took on a very serious expression and so did his voice as well as his words.
"Dad, I accept this responsibility and it's my privilege to embrace it. I will do all in my power and beyond to be the best big brother in all the Nine Realms and this world ever seen or ever will. That is my first Haddock Promise and I shall not fail in it. I will do it no matter what!"
And hearing how much weight had been added to Hiccup's words Stoick knew Hiccup meant what he'd said. After having some sandwiches father and son returned home.
The baby came on the day it was supposed to. September 18th but it was just starting to become twilight when Valka's water finally broke. Hiccup didn't understand of course at his age how a baby was born.
All he knew was one minute he was asleep then his mother woke up screaming like she was being murdered. He jumped out of bed racing down the steps screaming. "MOMMY ARE YOU OKAY?! MOMMY! MOMMY!"
And he couldn't get too her because right now there other women and even Gothi around here and they're trying to pull a curtain around here. No matter how hard he tried to shove his way through they kept forcing him back.
Finally Stoick had to pick up his frighten and frantic son to take him back up to his room. "Dad! What's wrong with Mommy?! Is she okay?! Mommy needs me! Let me go!" he was squirming around trying to get out of his father's grip but Stoick held his son tight as they returned to Hiccup's room.
"Hiccup, please calm down and listen," so he quiet down for a second, "Your mother is having the baby right now so all the midwives in the village are downstairs right now helping bring the child into the world."
"Why is she screaming then?"
"Giving birth is very painful, son."
"If she in pain she needs me! I'm supposed to be doing my job right now! I promised Dad!"
"Hiccup! I know you right now want to keep your promise you made at Lover's Cove, but seeing a baby born is just not right for someone your age to see. Trust me on this."
"So I'm just supposed to stay in my room? While she screaming like that?!"
"Hiccup, please trust me you don't want to see what's going on downstairs. Hearing it bad enough, seeing it would be worse. Your mother's in good hands and Frigga and the other Goddesses will not let anything happen to your mother."
Hiccup looked ready to be defiantly though the way his father was looking at him he conceded the battle. "Alright I'll stay up here like a good boy."
"Okay. I'll come get you once the baby's born and your mother's had time to recover. Giving birth takes a lot out of you. Just play with your toys okay and try to ignore the screaming."
"Okay, Dad."
Stoick went back downstairs to help his wife give birth to their second child and of course she was asking as the contractions were getting closer what was going on with Hiccup and if he was scared.
Stoick report Hiccup was more scared for her and wanted to be by her side, though he'd firmly told him to stay in his room since he was way too young to see this. Valka nodded her red face.
She was happy that Hiccup wasn't scared but worried for her, but did agree he was too young to see this. She just kept focused on her breathing at the same time praying to every Goddesses of Asgard for the safe delivery of her child.
3 hours later it was over, the baby was born and Valka had recovered enough that she was resting comfortably in her own bed with her new baby wrapped in the warmest of furs.
Now Stoick was leading Hiccup over to his mommy and to meet his new sibling.
"Mommy! Are you okay?! Is the baby okay?! I've never heard you scream like that before!" he cried as he ran over to the foot of the bed.
"I'm fine, Hiccup and so is your new little brother."
Hiccup blinked before it really hit him. "I have a brother? I really a big brother now? I'm a big brother!" he cried happily as a smile broke his face and his parents just smiled too.
"Can I see him?"
"Sure, time for you two meet anyway," as Stoick helped Hiccup onto the bed and he crawled over to his mom. He came over to her left side as she held his brother in her right arm.
Turning the fur bundle he got his first look at his new baby brother and it was like looking at himself. For the baby look almost exactly like him. Valka carefully placed Hiccup's little brother in his arms telling him to support his head.
As Hiccup was holding his brother the two of them touched hands for the first time and each smiled at one another for the first time, though it gave Hiccup a puzzled look on his face. "He feels squishy." Hiccup commented as his brother was drifting off to sleep and his parents laughed at Hiccup's comment.
Valka took the baby back, "Looks like he's getting sleepy and you should be getting some sleep too, Hiccup. After all we have to get ready for your brother presentation ceremony at the end of the week."
"Okay, Mommy," yawning, "But what is my brother's name?"
"Because he was indeed sheltered by love and you'll protect him and he will others his name shall be "Boden Barricade Haddock." Now go get some sleep Hiccup and we'll make sure Boden get some himself."
By the time dawn broke the next day all of Berk was aware that the Chief had another son and this child had been delivered safely and full term. But on the Chief's wishes they'd wait a week before his presentation ceremony Valka could recover and things had settled down.
The first morning after Boden's birth wasn't an easy one for sure. The first day of a newborn life is never easy. Boden woke up early of course wanting his first meal and for everyone else in the family it meant getting use to the new baby and finding their place.
Though even before dawn had graced the skies Hiccup already showed he was determined to honor his promise. It was Hiccup who already made a breakfast that didn't require using the fire, it was Hiccup doing all the chores that he could do, it was Hiccup who got all the baby stuff organized and was ready with anything his mommy needed for his brother.
So that gave his father time to focus on getting the Great Hall ready for Boden's presentation ceremony and sending out the invitations all the other junk that came with preparing for this type of ceremony.
Valka was amazed at how fast Hiccup was picking up skills for taking care of a baby. Since he already show just the first day how to change a diaper, helped her give Boden his first bath, doing what he could to make sure the house was extra baby proof.
About day five she was willing to ask something important. She asked him to care for his brother if he woke up during his nap time as she was so exhausted herself she didn't think she was gonna wake up from the nap she was gonna be taking herself.
Hiccup was excited and nervous as this was his first real test as a big brother, but felt ready. So his mother showed him where the milk rags were if Boden woke up and got fussy and needed something to eat. And reminded him of a few other things and then they went to take their nap.
Hiccup stayed downstairs to play with his toys while his mother and brother napped, but it wasn't even an hour before his brother woke up crying. He got up and took him from the crib and first rock him seeing if he'd be able to get him to sleep.
Though Boden didn't want to sleep, so checked first if he need to be changed and then after that wasn't the answer got the milk rags. Boden did use them for a little bit but didn't seem very hungry.
He just kept crying and Hiccup didn't understand what his brother wanted at first, fearing he was gonna fail at being a big brother. So he out of desperation asked his little brother, "Come on, Boden what do you want?"
His brother stopped crying for a few minutes to hiccup and reach to him but just couldn't reach him. Then it clicked in Hiccup's brain. "Oh, you want me," he laughed before smiling and took his brother over to where he'd been playing still in his fur bundle.
"Okay, little brother, you want to be with your big brother? Let's play!" as he ruffled the tuff of auburn hair and smiled into the same green eyes they shared which Boden was able to clap about.
When Valka finally awoke from her nap she was very surprised to see Hiccup was not only playing with his brother but already doing things she would've thought he'd only do when he was older. It made her smile.
When it was finally time for the presentation ceremony Boden was very fussy and wouldn't stop crying at all. Valka had made sure to feed him beforehand so he couldn't possibly be hungry and Stoick made sure they're the first to be in the Great Hall to get him settle but Boden wouldn't stop crying.
At least not till his big brother cradle and rocked him telling him everything was gonna be alright, that this was a party just for him, and he was gonna be right there by his side, so he didn't have to be scared at all.
For Stoick and Valka seeing it was not only assuring them how seriously Hiccup was taking his promise to be a good big brother it was showing just how wonderful and gifted at it he was.
That the brothers were already so closely bonded that surely when they did have their third child all three of them be close as close could be, perhaps even closer than that.
Five Years Later.
It was summertime on Berk warm and beautiful. The skies were a very vivid blew and the air was noticeable warmer the normal chill. The land was greener and things were just full of life and vigor.
And though it was a different season, different month and a different year it was almost a déjà vu of what happen in the September of Boden's birth. Though now it was June, but the people of Berk were once again walking on eggshells for the same exact reason.
Valka was expecting her third child, the last one she and Stoick planned to have. Once again it was more or less ordered to try and keep the stress level on the island to almost non-exist, that Valka get plenty of rest, the freshest and purest food and water to eat and drink and try and control her anxiety that hadn't faded even though Boden had been born with no problems.
Hiccup still felt even now at ten years old he was still in some way to blame for his mother's anxiety and fear about being pregnant. He knew his mother had wanted to give him two siblings, but it hadn't changed the fact she seemed terrified of something.
Though what she was terrified of no-one would speak of though he knew it had to be something about him. Given when she was pregnant last time she hadn't let him out of her sight for a month.
Though when he tried asking his dad or anyone around the village why his mom be afraid everyone lips were sealed tight. No-one would say anything about why his mom would be scared about being pregnant. Even Boden had tried asking and no-one told him either. So it reminded a mystery to the brothers what was the reason for their mother to have so much anxiety about being pregnant despite wanting to have three children?
This was only one thought that was pestering the brothers' minds though. The other one was what the whole family been hoping and wishing for since they figured out Valka was finally gonna have the third child they'd been hoping for after so long.
What all of them wanted was a baby girl. Valka and Stoick wanted a daughter and Hiccup and Boden wanted a sister, but as it was on one occasion said by Hiccup himself, there had never been a daughter ever in the Haddock bloodline. And you could trance that back all the way to the founding of Berk itself.
Though that didn't stop the whole family from praying to Odin's wife Frigga and all the other female Goddess of Asgard to grant them a little girl. Valka wanted a daughter she could dress up and do her hair and have someone to help become a woman. Stoick wanted a daughter for the special moments and bond a father has with his daughter and to give a daughter away. Both Hiccup and Boden wanted a sister for that be a special and unique bond too.
There was also something else that kind of made their father really want a daughter more than ever. Their people had many holidays all of their own and the baby was due to be born June 14th for the people of Berk Father's Day was June 16th.
So it wasn't exactly hard to figure out the perfect gift for Stoick would be the gift of a daughter. His sons had talked about over and over again how much the family wanted a little girl as they'd gotten ready for the baby's arrival.
"Are any of us gonna be able to handle it if we get a brother and not a sister, Hiccup?" asked his little brother as he was arranging some toys while Hiccup was moving the crib to where it belonged.
Hiccup looked up from what he was doing to gaze at his little brother for a moment. People were always saying they could almost be twins with how much they looked and sounded alike.
Though Boden was still determined in his own way despite loving his big brother to death to at least have some sense of individual and looking different. So he was trying to grow his hair out. So right now it was really more like a tuff then a true ponytail but he was determined to grow it out as long as it could get.
And Boden's favorite colors were teal and silver so he wore a teal tunic shirt with tan pants while Hiccup wore green with a fur vest. Hiccup knew his brother despite them how similar they were just wanted to be his own person.
"Boden, we all are just gonna have to accept whatever the baby is. Whatever the powers that be decided that baby to be we'll have to accept. We can pray all we want but in the end it's not up to us."
"I guess, but it will leave everyone heartbroken for sure. I can feel that even if I'm more you know…"
"Don't talk about that here!" warned his brother glancing around to make sure their father wasn't around, "I know that our 'gifts' are getting stronger each day, but don't talk about them unless you're sure we are alone. We don't need Dad walking in and finding out about them or our other secrets!"
Boden went scarlet and looked about to cry and Hiccup rushed over to him and hugged him, "It's alright, Boden, I'm not angry. We just have to be careful, okay?"
"Okay, but do you think if we are as Mom says "Blessed" do you think our sibling whether they be a boy or girl will be too?"
"I have no doubt they'll be gifted too and find their own special friend. I feel it's meant to be for all of us, but still don't speak of any of that with the chance of Dad walking in. We can't let him find out! He's got enough on his plate and we don't need this getting out anyway!"
Boden managed to pull himself together then asked his brother another question, "Do you think Dad gonna take us both to Lover's Cove like he took you before I was born?"
"I'm positive he'll be telling you exactly what he told me and probably tell me my job is about to double in responsibility. Since he did it a week before you're born he'll likely do it tomorrow for both of us since it will be a week before the baby's born."
"Well, cross your fingers still, big bro we still get a sister. I still don't think any of us could take it if it's a boy."
"Alright, now c'mon, Boden we need to try and get dinner on the table. Mom needs to rest and we have to get the house clean and dinner ready. So you go finish the laundry and I'll try make dinner."
"But Hiccup neither you nor I can cook any better than Mom! About all I can make is berry juice!"
"Well, that maybe true, Boden, but we still have to do something to help keep Mom's stress level down. So you go finish with the laundry and I'll try and make something for us to eat without setting the house on fire!" he replied back with sarcasm.
"Okay, I'll do my best not shrink our clothes either since we are already scrawny enough no need to make our clothes even smaller!" he laughed in his own sarcastic way.
Sure enough Stoick did take both his sons to Lover's Cove the next day and give Boden the same talk he gave Hiccup five years ago, and also did inform Hiccup his duties were to double now that he was to be responsible for two lives.
Both Hiccup and Boden told their father they understood perfectly their responsibilities and Boden was also assured being the middle child didn't mean he was made any less important. He just in a very special position and that their parents would love and treat them all the same.
Though both his sons did ask their father the question he did expect, could he live if the baby was another son and not a daughter like everyone was hoping for?
It took a very long time before Stoick could answer honestly. He'd love the baby no matter what their gender as they're his child. On the other hand he wouldn't lie and say he still really wish for a daughter, nevertheless would still be alright if he had another son. If the Haddocks were never meant to have a daughter then that was the will of the Gods and he just have to accept it like every other man in their bloodline.
This time Valka's labor started in the predawn hours unlike when she went into labor with Boden at twilight. Just as before Hiccup and now Boden were asked to stay upstairs in their rooms and not allowed to see the birth.
They played quietly with their dragon dolls in Hiccup's room and tried to block out the sound of their mom screaming from the labor and not having the handy invention yet available of an epidural.
Finally after three and half hours they heard a newborn cry and both brothers ran down the stairs so fast they nearly tripped and broke their skulls. Not stopping a beat they dashed quickly over to their mother's bed where she and their father were crying and screamed "Are you okay, Mom?! What is it?!"
Looking at their mom's face they'd never seen her look happier than she did at that moment. Gazing her beautiful blue eyes at them she smiled so brightly at them she whispered, "Come and meet your new sister."
"Sister?! We have a sister! We have a sister! Yes! Thank the gods! We have a sister!" and they were jumping up and down for joy. Then they actually stopped and got on the bed to get a look at her. Valka slowly turned the bundle of fur to give them their first glance of their sister and she was the most beautiful girl the boys had seen next to their mother.
For their newborn sister looked exactly like their mother even as a newborn except for one very odd thing. Unlike her brothers and mother or her father their sister didn't have either auburn or red hair. Her hair was blond a beautiful shade of golden blond like it was the sun itself.
It stumped them for a single moment. Then it kind fell into place if you really thought about it just for a brief moment. They'd all heard about children getting odd coloring or looks from different members of the complex family tree. Close or distance things could either skip a generation or pop up at the most random times.
Therefore obviously they'd a very distance member somewhere on their tree that was a blond, and given how half the people on Berk were blond this wasn't so hard to believe.
Either way it wasn't really important though naming the baby was. The name they gave her was Una Sjofn Haddock. For Una meant "one" and Sjofn was a goddess of love. So it meant two things. First Daughter and Gift of Love.
No-one really wanted to sleep that first night of Una's life and it took Valka a long time to put the boys to bed and she scolded her husband big time when he kept waking his new daughter up to the point she was crying and she told him to put her back to bed.
So Stoick sang his own lullaby and finally Una was asleep but the Haddock family was complete at last. Though getting ready for Una's presentation ceremony was a much bigger deal then either Hiccup's or Boden's been.
True both her big brothers proved to be very capable of taking care of her and quickly bonded with her and she clearly loved them very much. That was very apparent right off the bat like it had been with Hiccup and Boden.
Though for their parents Stoick and Valka seemed almost scared and nervous about Una's ceremony so they seemed to be a bit selective about who they'd invented to come ceremony and though the children wouldn't find out till years later they didn't exactly let it get out that their third child was daughter.
So yes only a select few they really trusted knew Stoick the Vast's third child was the long awaited daughter, but others merely knew he had three children and were under the assumption it was another boy. Though again his children wouldn't know about this till some years later and the reason why.
It was after the ceremony and things had settled down that the family had gone home that something rather sweet happened. Stoick and Valka had gotten held up for a little bit with seeing their guests off at the docks and were worried about the children.
Though when they got home trying to find the children all of them were in Hiccup's bed. He had his arms wrapped protectively around both his siblings and both Boden and Una smiled in a way that showed both love and were content.
In that moment they truly knew their family was complete and they knew Hiccup truly was gonna be the best big brother in all the Nine Realms and for all times.