Mama's Little Hiccup

"In Trouble"

...

So...I was just thinking about what would've happened if Valka had changed Berk's mind about dragons and stayed at home while Hiccup was growing up. Thus, this came about:) It'll be a series of somewhat connected scenarios about Hiccup growing up on Berk. There may be some hints of Hiccstrid romance later, but not much; the story is called Mama's Little Hiccup after all, haha.

Also, I do not own the cover image. If anyone knows what wonderful artist drew that insanely adorable picture, let me know so I can give them credit.

...

"Mama!" Three-year-old Hiccup Haddock burst into his parents' bedroom and climbed onto the large bed that rested by the window. His father - Stoick - had already gotten up, as he had a busy day of chiefing to get started on. His mother, however, was still lying beneath the covers, exhausted from the nearly disasterous dragon riding lesson she had given to a group of teens the evening before.

Valka opened her eyes as she felt a small hand grab her nose. "Hello, love," she greeted, sitting up and pulling her child onto her lap. "Did you sleep well?"

"I'm hungry, Mama. I'm really hungry!" exclaimed Hiccup. He twisted around and wrapped his arms about his mother's neck. "Mama, take me to get breakfast!"

The young woman thought about telling Hiccup to walk downstairs on his own, as Stoick had said he was too old to be carried around, but then decided against it and slipped off the mattress with her son in her arms. After all, he was the only living child she'd been able to give birth to, and she was well aware of the fact that she wouldn't be able to have any more, nor would Hiccup stay her cuddly mama's boy forever.

At the sound of his rider getting up, the large dragon that had been sleeping on the floor at the foot of the bed lifted his head and let out a soft moan.

"I see you, Cloudjumper," Valka said. "And you'll get your breakfast right after Hiccup does."

"Are we taking Cloudjumper for a flight today?" Hiccup asked eagerly. "'Cause I like riding him!"

"Yes, love. We'll go out after breakfast." She walked into the kitchen and sat down in one of the chairs that were arranged about the dining table.

"I want that." Hiccup pointed to the loaf of bread and the plateful of butter that were sitting almost directly in front of him.

"Alright. Go sit in your own seat and I'll help you get it."

"Okay." He crawled out of his mother's lap and into the chair beside him. "I'm ready!"

Smiling, Valka assisted Hiccup in cutting two slices of bread and buttering them. As he started to eat, she fetched him a glass of milk, then settled down next to him to begin her own meal.

"Mama, when can I get a dragon of my own?" Hiccup questioned.

"First of all, dear, don't speak when you have food in your mouth. And secondly, you can get a dragon when you're a big boy."

"But I am a big boy!"

"Not quite big enough, sweetheart." Valka reached over and pushed her son's auburn hair out of his eyes.

"Then when will I be big enough for a dragon? I've been waiting forever!" Hiccup held out his arms dramatically to emphasize his words.

"When you're five. That's in two years."

"Two years is a long time, Mama." He paused before asking, "What if you had to wait two years for me?"

"Oh love, Mama had to wait longer than two years for you. But it was worth it."

Hiccup finished off the rest of his bread and gulped down his milk before climbing over to his mother's lap. "Will I ever have a brother or sister?" he queried.

A sad sigh escaped Valka's lips as she wrapped her arms around the little boy and kissed his head. "I'm afraid not, dear."

"Why?"

"Because Mama's tummy can't hold babies anymore."

Hiccup was silent for a minute. Eventually, he asked, "Mama, where do babies come from?"

"Oh, Hiccup. That's a lesson for another day. Another day when you are a very big boy."

"Well, when I'm a very big boy, I think I'm gonna ask Astrid to marry me. She's got pretty eyes." Astrid Hofferson, who was being raised by her uncle called Fearless Finn, was three months his elder. The two of them often played together, as Valka typically watched Astrid while Finn was working around the village.

"Well, you don't need to decide who to marry just yet. You just worry about being Mama's baby for now."

"But I'm not a baby anymore!" The little Viking began to fidget.

"Then be Mama's little Hiccup." Valka hugged him tighter. "Now, how about you go get dressed and wash your face for the day?"

"Will we go ride Cloudjumper after I'm done?"

"Yes, sweetheart; we'll go ride Cloudjumper."

"Can I go play with Fishlegs after that?" Fishlegs Ingerman was the Haddocks' next door neighbor. He was only a year younger than Hiccup, and therefore had grown to become friends with him.

"We'll see. Now go do what I asked you." She loosened her hold on her son.

"Okay, Mama." The child jumped off of his mother's lap and made his way up to the loft that served as his bedroom.

Once the two were ready for the day, Valka put Cloudjumper's saddle on his back and led him out the door, Hiccup eagerly trailing close behind.

"Daddy's coming home!" Hiccup cried, pointing to a spot low in the sky where Stoick could be seen riding toward the house on his Thunderdrum he had named Thornado.

"So he is," Valka smiled as she looked in the direction where the little Viking was pointing.

"Good morning, son," Stoick greeted upon landing and dismounting his dragon. "Are you and Mama going out on a flight?"

Hiccup nodded. "Yeah. We're going on Cloudjumper!" He jumped up and down excitedly.

Chuckling, Stoick lifted Hiccup off the ground and tossed him playfully into the air before giving him an affectionate squeeze. "Well, you have fun. Don't wear your mother out too much, though; she's got work to do at the Academy again tonight."

"Yes, Daddy." Hiccup slipped back down to the ground and struggled to mount Cloudjumper. "Come on, Mama! Mama, I need help! I can't get up!"

"Hold on a second, love." Valka held up a finger as she leaned in to kiss her husband. "What brings you back so soon, hun?"

"Those twins." Stoick shook his head. "I swear to Thor, if the Thorstons don't get their children under control soon, the whole village will be destroyed." The Thorstons had been wed three years ago. A year after that, their twin babies Ruffnut and Tuffnut had been born, and they seemed to be struggling with teaching them even the most basic rules of behavior ever since.

"But Tuffnut is fun, Daddy!" Hiccup cut in. "Yesterday, I spit in the well with him and Fishlegs and Snotlout. We also put mud in Astrid and Ruffnut's hair." Snotlout Jorgensen was Hiccup's cousin who had been born only a week after him. Though he could be a bit of a bully at times, the rest of the children seemed to accept him as a friend and playmate.

"You did what?" Stoick cast a glare in Hiccup's direction.

"We spit in the well and put mud in the girls' hair," Hiccup repeated. This time, however, he cast his eyes downward and lowered his voice to almost a whisper.

"Get inside!" Stoick shouted. "And go to your room."

With tearful eyes, Hiccup rose to his feet and trudged into the house and up to the loft, where he sat on his bed and crossed his little arms over his chest.

"You know this means a spanking," Stoick said as he stepped into the room.

"But Daddy!" The little boy kicked his legs.

"Don't talk back to me." Stoick sat beside his son and lifted him over his knee. After administering the punishment, he asked him, "Now, why don't we spit in wells and put mud in other people's hair? Why did I have to spank you for it?"

Hiccup sniffled. "'Cause I made Astrid cry and then she hit me."

"Okay, but what about spitting in the well?"

Shrugging, Hiccup replied, "Dunno."

"Son, people have to drink that water. Would you want water someone else spit in?"

"I don't care."

"Well, you'd better start caring. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Daddy." Hiccup hung his head in shame. After a pause, he asked, "Can I still go dragon riding with Mama?"

"Of course," Stoick answered. "You can go take a ride to the Hoffersons' and tell Fearless Finn you're sorry for putting mud in Astrid's hair. Then, you can go to the Thorstons' and apologize to Ruffnut and Tuffnut's parents for doing the same thing to Ruffnut. And after that, you can come back home and sit inside for the rest of the day."

"But I wanna go play with Fishlegs!"

"No. Bad little boys don't get to play with friends. Maybe you'll think about the consequences next time Tuffnut asks you to do something like that with him and the others."

"Okay," Hiccup mumbled as he fidgeted around. It was going to be a long day.

...

"I'm sorry, Astrid," Hiccup said as he looked down at the ground. He had just spoken his apology to Fearless Finn, and was now repeating it directly to Astrid. "I didn't mean to make you cry yesterday."

"I really was mad, Hiccup. You made me have to take a whole bath!" Astrid exclaimed, pushing her blonde pigtails behind her shoulders.

"I'm sorry!" he repeated, beginning to whine.

"Hiccup," Valka interjected. "Stop."

Sighing, Hiccup stepped closer to Astrid and flung his little arms around her. "Please be my friend again."

"Fine." Astrid hugged him back, then grabbed his wrist and pulled him to the nearby staircase. "But only 'cause I wanna show you my super cool secret that I have in my room."

"What is it?" Hiccup asked.

"Just wait and see." She led him up the stairs and into her bedroom, where a blue Nadder who only reached to the height of Hiccup's shoulders was standing.

"Oh my gods!" cried Hiccup. "You got a dragon! A real dragon!"

"Be quiet," Astrid hushed. "I don't want Uncle Finn to hear you. It's a secret, remember?"

"Can I tell Mama?"

"No! She's gonna tell Uncle Finn, then Uncle Finn's gonna take her away from me. He doesn't like dragons much."

"Hiccup?" Valka's voice drifted up the stairs.

"I'm in Astrid's room!" The little boy called back.

"Well, come back down, love. We need to go."

"Five more minutes, please!"

"No. I asked you to come now."

"Okay." Hiccup waved as he walked out of the room. "Bye, Astrid! See you tomorrow!"

"Bye, Hiccup," Astrid returned. "And remember - no telling my secret."

"I won't. I promise." He then hurried to his mother and curled his little fingers around her hand. "Let's go to see Ruff and Tuff!" he exclaimed, attempting to pull her toward the door.

"We are," Valka said. After thanking Finn for letting them stop by, she led Hiccup out of the house and helped him mount Cloudjumper.

Hiccup smiled as Valka climbed in behind him and urged the dragon up into the air. "Mama, Astrid told me a secret!" he shouted.

"And what secret was that, dear?"

"I can't tell you. She said I can't tell anyone, not even you!"

"Well, it must be a special secret, then."

"It is." Hiccup fidgeted a bit.

"Stay still, love," Valka instructed. "I don't want you to fall."

"Why do you always call me 'love?'"

"Because I love you."

"Mama, can you snuggle me when we get home since I'm not allowed to play?" Every night before bed, Hiccup would cuddle up on Valka's lap while he either listened to a story or just rambled on about what was usually childish nonsense with her. He loved it, as it gave him a sense of comfort and security, and sometimes would ask to have that special time during the day, as he was doing now.

"No, not until bedtime," Valka said. "Mama has a lot to do around the house."

"Can I sleep with you and Daddy tonight?" Hiccup also enjoyed curling up between his parents in bed, for he didn't think it was fair that they got company while they slept and he didn't. The only time he didn't beg to spend the night with them was when Finn traveled overnight and Astrid stayed with the Haddocks. In that event, Astrid would huddle under the covers with him, and the two would chat until they couldn't keep their eyes open any longer.

"You were bad, Hiccup. You don't get rewarded for bad behavior."

"But you guys didn't let me sleep there last night, either!"

"That's because sometimes Daddy and Mama like to cuddle and talk by ourselves." Valka made Cloudjumper land as they arrived at the Thorstons'.

"But why?"

"Because sometimes adults like to be alone, just like you sometimes like to be by yourself with your friends."

"Oh." Hiccup slipped off the dragon and, with his mother by his side, walked to the front door of the house.

"Hiccup!" Tuffnut exclaimed as he peeked out the window. "We can't play now. We're eating lunch that looks like dragon barf."

"I'm not coming to play! I'm coming to say sorry to Ruff for putting mud in her hair yesterday! Daddy said I had to! And I also have to tell your Mama and Daddy that I'm sorry!" Hiccup called.

"Oh, like a sissy," Tuffnut laughed. "Little goody sissy Hiccup." He stuck his tongue out.

"Tuffnut, go get your parents, please," Valka interjected.

"Daddy's not home."

"Then get your mama."

"She's cleaning clothes 'cause Ruff just peed her pants."

"Get her anyway."

After Tuffnut begrudgingly complied, Ingrid Thorston came to the door with Ruffnut in her arms. "Hello, Valka. Hello, Hiccup. What brings you here?"

"I have to say sorry to you and Ruffnut for putting mud in Ruffnut's hair yesterday. I hope she'll still be my friend after this." Hiccup shuffled his feet.

"Well, I accept your apology, and I'm sure Ruff does, too," Ingrid said.

"I don't care about mud. I like it," Ruffnut interjected.

"I'm still sorry," Hiccup stated. He then turned to his mother. "Could we go home now, Mama?"

"Yes, dear; we'll go home," Valka replied. After bidding good-bye to Ingrid, she led her child over to Cloudjumper. Once both he and herself were settled on the massive dragon, the journey back to the Haddock house began.

And by the time they arrived there, little Hiccup was fast asleep.