Ah, yes, my OT3. And canon-verse, no less!

Content includes fertility issues.

Eventually a lovely bunch of threesome fun!

-HTTYD-

After three years, Hiccup was starting to feel like maybe they had to accept this wasn't going to happen for them. Astrid was curled up near the fire, arms around her stomach as she lamented the cramps that preceded bleeding - the monthly reminder she still was not pregnant.

They had been doing everything Gothi told them to. Eating more meat. Astrid taking all the herbs and drinks she was given. Repeatedly trying on the right days of the month, doing all the positions (and wasn't that a fun conversation to have with Gothi via Gobber!) they were assured had a better chance of conception. For a while, it was kinda fun being left to be intimate with his wife all the time as Berk longed for the chief to have an heir.

But now it was becoming almost a chore, more focused on following the right rules on the right day than simply having fun with each other. Hiccup didn't blame Astrid for being a little tense some nights now, with the whole "keep your legs like this for a half hour after" and the horrid tea she drank dutifully for her entire fertile week. Sex had lost its spontaneous spark, even if Hiccup found Astrid as attractive and desirable as ever.

Shuffling over to his wife, Hiccup hesitantly reached for her, seeing if Astrid was in the mood for physical contact and feeling relieved when she moved into his embrace, humming softly when he massaged her bloated belly, both silently wishing that it was swollen for another reason.

"What are we gonna do? You're the chief. You need a child."

"Hey" Hiccup kissed her temple, trying to slow Astrid's worries "it's ok. We'll figure it out. Together."

Truthfully, Hiccup had no idea how they would, but they would. The general consensus as he talked with healers and a couple of other guys who had struggled to father children themselves was that Hiccup had possibly sustained some internal damage during the Red Death explosion, or perhaps even being encased in ice by Drago's Bewilderbeast. Other vikings who had suffered some incredibly traumatic injuries suffered trouble with fertility too, so he and Astrid agreed it was probably Hiccup who couldn't do the job.

"I mean, there are options if that's the case."

Not especially pleasant ones to contemplate, but Hiccup and Astrid were talking practicality now, both uncomfortable but needing to ensure they had these talks rather than let the worries and stress fester, fostering resentment.

"I know. But it's... weird. How could I just... and how would you feel, raising another mans child?"

Squeezing her hand, Hiccup smiled reassuringly. He'd already taken the time to reach acceptance, if not yet true peace, about the fact he was unlikely to ever have a child sprung from his own loins.

"That isn't an issue for me. I'd be there when you were pregnant, when they were born. I'd be their dad. Gobber isn't my blood, but he's like a father to me. But if you're not sure about this, we'll figure out another way."

Wrinkling her nose rather cutely, Astrid shook her head.

"No. I mean, I'm not really happy about it, but it would only be a functional thing, right? Thor knows I've gotten enough practice doing all the things that are meant to make it happen. If we went down that road though? Who the Hel are we gonna ask?"

"Just like that? We're talking donor baby?"

Astrid nodded.

"I want us to be parents. A couple nights discomfort is a small price to pay for us to be a family, and for the future of the village. Unless you aren't ok with this?"

"I'm not... I'm not not ok with this. It's weird, yanno? I always sorta pictured a kid who looked like us, maybe with dads red hair or moms big green eyes, or all blonde and blue like you with my freckles. But like I said, I'd still be their father. And that's what matters to me."

They talked about it late into the night, and Hiccup was exhausted when he rose early next morning to tend to Dragon School, a meeting about sheep and then saddle building. But the newly settled ease between he and Astrid was clear - plan A for parenthood hadn't worked. Now they were considering plan B.

"Everything ok chief?"

Part way through saddle building, Hiccup looked up to see Eret dropping off a bag of shed scales, which someone would undoubtedly find a use for somewhere.

"Fine. How's life on Berk treating you?"

It had been a rocky start, but over four years down the line, Eret was definitely a Berkian. His tales of sailing and the Sami island he'd grown up on could usually be heard in Meade Hall after a few drinks, and Eret flirted with just about everyone of age on the island, all taken in good humour. He was Hiccup's unofficial bodyguard - by which he meant that if Astrid wasn't there when some big brute from another tribe came over to argue, Eret was, to ensure he remained unharmed - and basically his second in command, save for Astrid, though she was General of the Berk Guard, so she had other calls on her time than doing what Hiccup told her to.

Not that Astrid really did as she was told...

"Oh, you know, awesome. Need any help?"

HIccup almost actually said something along the lines of "only with getting my wife pregnant", but managed to restrain himself. Directing Eret to help fix up some straps to hold the saddle on, he contemplated the former trapper.

Eret got along with Astrid. They were good friends. And he was easily one of Hiccup's best friends. Intelligent. Loyal. And despite the tricky start where Eret had followed tribal tradition and family footsteps into trapping, he clearly had a good heart. He was strong and brave and not afraid of a challenge.

Well, Hiccup could think of worse candidates. And Eret was unattached. Unsure if he was just so set on what he and Astrid had talked about that he was projecting onto Eret - not that Eret was privvy to the thoughts in Hiccup's head just then - Hiccup pushed the thoughts aside, resolved to bring them up with Astrid later if she felt like discussing the matter. Which she might not. And she might not. She might not think Eret a good choice either.

"You sure you're alright chief?"

"I'm fine. Just didn't sleep much last night" Eret waggled his eyebrows suggestively "no, not like that."

"Shame. Best reason to be tired the next day!"

"As chief, I will pretend I didn't hear that because you are not courting anybody to my knowledge."

Feigned-innocence smile pasted across his face, Eret began laughing as he helped stitch some things in to place. His stitching was a little slower than Hiccup's, but no less neat for it. He'd obviously been making his own clothes for a long time.

"Seriously though buddy, you would tell me if something was up right?"

"Mhmm."

"Is it the baby thing?"

Hiccup blanched for a second; it was easy to forget when it was just he and Astrid, that everyone knew about the Chief and his wifes troubles in the baby making department. How could they not? Years of marriage and no sign of a child. And Eret's words were a stark reminder that there were expectations of him.

"Yeah. Guess so."

A broad hand squeezed his shoulder, Eret's face understanding, gentle.

"If there's anything I can do..."

"Don't worry about it. We'll work something out eventually."

After a brief dinner in the Hall that evening, Hiccup was so relieved to do the simple task of hopping on his dragon to take a nice, long flight. There really was nothing like flying, the wind through his hair and the sound of wings beating beneath him, Toothless' happy roars as they dipped and dove and tumbled through clouds, watching the sky darken up close and personal.

"So bud, what do you think I should do?"

"Roow?"

"Helpful."

Toothless laughed, tipping them into a steep, spinning spiral that threatened the edges of Hiccup's consciousness with coloured lights, barely remembering to catch his breath when the dragon finally levelled out. Mirthful sounds escaped Hiccup when he had air in his lungs again, feeling lighter than he had in days as they soared. They landed outside Haddock central with the chief in high spirits, seeing Stormfly already nestled in her little shed and knowing that probably meant Astrid was home. Sure enough, she was curled up in a seat, flicking idly through a book on axes with a fur throw wrapped around her. Her hair was loose, soft around her shoulders and a little moisture shimmered in the firelight suggesting she'd taken a bath - something she did quite often as hot water soothed her cramps somewhat.

And she smiled when he walked in the door.

No matter how bad a day Hiccup had had, that smile always made him feel better.

"Evening milady."

"Hey babe."

Hanging up his chiefs cloak, Hiccup shimmied under the throw when Astrid held up a corner to let him in, greedily sharing in her warmth.

"I wanted to talk to-"

"Hey, I was thinking-"

"You go first."

"No, you."

They kept talking over each other, gesturing and stammering until finally they dissolved into giggles. Eventually composing himself enough to speak, Hiccup nodded at her. Her cheeks still flushed with amusement, skin glowing in firelight, he marvelled as he often did that she was so very beautiful.

"Ok. You first milady."

"Alright. I was thinking about what we talked about last night, and... if it's weird, tell me, ok?" Hiccup nodded "I was sorta thinking maybe we could ask Eret."

Hiccup was stunned for a minute at the fact they had had such a similar thought. Astrid mistook his silence for a negative.

"If it's too weird, that's ok. I just thought... most other guys our age are married, and asking someone to do this is one thing, but asking them to do it when they have a wife and baby at home is another thing entirely."

Finding his voice at last, Hiccup nodded in assent.

"I actually had a similar thought. Besides which, it would yanno, really make him part of the tribe. And he's the sort of guy I wouldn't mind being involved in our kids life. He'd be like their favourite uncle anyway, he's always here."

"Right? He's over here so much Ruff actually asked if I was secretly 'hitting that'."

Hiccup snorted. That sounded like Ruff alright.

"So... do we need to talk more about this?"

"I think we've kind of... covered everything. Unless you have something to say?"

Shaking his head, Hiccup ran fingers through the damp blonde strands slowly wisping away from her face as they dried.

"I'm ready for us to be a family. Although before we get ahead of ourselves..."

Astrid finished for him.

"... we should probably talk to Eret?"

-HTTYD-

Yeah I know, I've done sperm donor canon-verse before, but that was Atali! This is Hicretstrid.