"Hiccup."

He looked up at the sound of his name and smiled. She always did that to him; called out his name in such a way that would grasp his heart. Make him swoon. The smile she would give him was enough to make him fall in love with her all over again.

"Morning, milady." He whispered. But it wasn't quiet enough. At the sound, a bundle that was resting in his arms began to squirm. A tiny, gurgled cry came from the bundle. His daughter. His newborn daughter. She'd just been born two days prior, right before he and his wife boarded their ship.

They were headed back to Berk, since he had t last completed his training. It made Astrid nervous. None of Hiccup's friends, his ex-girlfriend, or his father knew that he had married and had a daughter in the three years since he'd left. She feared for herself, and her daughter what they would all say. But when she relieved this knowledge to Hiccup, he merely laughed and said that they would love her and their daughter. And if they didn't then they were all crazy. His girls were his world, and he refused to think anyone could be bitter towards them. Especially his daughter. She's to adorable to dislike, he would say.

She was a small baby, as she was born three months early. The healer was convinced she wasn't gong to make it, but Hiccup was confident that his little girl would pull through just as he had. They were Haddocks, after all. Stubbornness ran in the family. But as soon as she was first placed in his arms, Hiccup fell head over heels for his daughter. He knew, in that moment, she would be a strong girl. She would grow up loved. She would survive through all the odds of being born early. He knew she would.

Astrid Haddock, his wife of three years, beamed as she watched her husband calm their baby girl. She knew, when they'd found out they were going to have a baby, that it didn't matter to Hiccup if their baby was a boy or a girl; but when their daughter was born, she saw how much he had wanted a girl. In the two days since the birth Hiccup hadn't let her be. He was always either holding her, or right next to her. He loved his daughter so much already, she knew.

The babies wails didn't become to loud, but Hiccup still looked worried. He set her up on his chest and rubbed her small back gently. "Shh. Shh sweetheart. It's ok, my darling. It's just mama. Daddy's here. Daddy's got you." He whispered and stroked her soft tufts of dark red hair. She calmed down, her cries transferring into small hiccups. "That's my girl." He said with a smiled and kissed the top of her head.

Both parents were overtaken by the sweetness, when their daughter curled her tiny hand around Hiccup's shirt and nestled her small face into his chest. She made a little yawning sound and finally fell asleep on her father's chest.

Astrid finally came into the room, a smile nearly splitting her face. As Hiccup laid their frail daughter into the crib he had built himself, she placed her hand on his shoulder, and watched him with utter love. He was beyond careful, and protective of their daughter, and she loved it. Her heart gave a tug, when he leaned over the deep cradle and kissed the top of the babies head.

He finally pulled back, and sat back down in the rocking chair. He took Astrid's hand in his own then and pulled her onto his lap. His arms wrapped loosely around her waist, which had lost a considerable amount of weight since birth but it would take a while for her to fully return to her original figure. However, he loved her none the less. No matter her figure, he still found her to be the most beautiful woman in the world.

As he held her securely on his lap, he rested his cheek on top of her head and they both stared down at their little girl. "I can't believe that WE made her, Astrid. We did. She came from us." He whispered against her blonde hair.

She cuddled into him and nodded into his neck. "She's amazing. And to think, we're going to have the rest of our lives caring for her." She said as in bewilderment. Because to both of them it was still a mind-blowing reality. They were parents now. They had the responsibility of another life placed into their hands. Their daughter was given to them by the gods, to love, nurture, and protect.

Viveka Carin Lajla Haddock was what they had chosen to name her. Before her birth, they had wanted Cornelia Ellinor Haddock as their daughter's name, where they had chosen Ivar Jonas Haddock if they had a boy. But, when Viveka was born, she wasn't supposed to make it due to labor coming to early. A miracle, the parents had been told by the healer. A miracle that she had survived. So, they named her Viveka, which means life. As for her two middle names, well since she was so small, they thought of Carin, meaning little darling. And Lajla means dark-haired.

They spent the next few minutes just watching little Viveka. But then, the small baby began to wail, louder than before. It was a shrill cry, one that could make a person deaf. A loud knock sounded on the door, just as they were about to comfort her. "Keep that baby quiet until we're to port!" The captains voice called through the wooden door.

Hiccup grunted, not liking the captain's tone that was aimed at his bride. Scowling towards the closed door, he stood and looked at his baby over his wife's shoulder. His brows furrowed with sympathy as he reached a hand out to trace a single finger across her soft, rosy cheek. "Hey, Vivi, calm down, darling." He tried to soothe her.

Astrid chuckled slightly. "She's hungry, babe." Was all she said before carefully taking Viveka into her arms. Sitting in the rocking chair, she slid her top down and helped Viveka in latching on. She watched with a content smile as her daughter fed. It was like one thing after another. She had been able to feel the child Hiccup had planted inside her, for nine months. She had been able to experience bringing their child into the world, as painful as it had been. And now, she was able to feed their child. Provide care for her in a whole new way. It was an amazing feeling. One she would never be able to describe.

Hiccup also watched with a smile. If you asked him on a normal basis if he loved catching a peek of his wife's body out of bed, he would have said, hell yeah. The erotic images that came to mind at just a sneaked glance of her calf, let alone her wonderful breasts, were countless. But this was different. Watching her feed their baby wasn't erotic in the least. It was more...dumbfounding. She was given the wonderful task of being able to feed their daughter until she could eat harder food. And seeing that smile on her face as she watched Viveka, it made his heart leap into his throat, and the tears catch in his eyes.

"You're staring." Her voice interrupted his thoughts.

He snapped his eyes away from where they were glued to his daughter, up to meet his wife's gaze. He smiled crookedly and scratched the back of his neck. "Heheh. I promise, I was not being a pervert." He told her.

She raised an eyebrow.

"Really!" He laughed. "I swear. I was watching Viv."

She rolled her eyes. "Oh please, Hiccup. You may come across as nervous and bashful to begin with-"

"Hey!"

"but you are such a dirty-minded man. Trust me. After three years of marriage, I outta know." She pointed out to him with a wagging finger.

He couldn't help but grin slightly as he rested his hands on either arm of the rocking chair, trapping her, and leaned down close to her. "Only with you, baby." He trailed his lips lightly over the shell of her ear, and kissed just behind her earlobe, where he knew her sweet spot to be. "What you do to me." He whispered, ghosting his hand over her neck. And then, surprising her, he pulled away and smiled innocently. "But, my fair lady, you thought wrong. I like watching you feed Viveka, not because I want to see your breasts, though that's not a bad addition; I like to watch because it really brings all of...this to life. Astrid, you and Viveka both are my world now. Spending time with both of you, experiencing everything, it's like a dream. A damn good one. I'm not being a pervert, I'm being a husband that admires his wife's sweet heart, and a father that adores his daughter."

She sat speechless for a moment. But then she smiled, and it was like the whole world disappeared. The only ones in it were Hiccup, Astrid, and Viveka. "You have a silver tongue, Haddock." She snickered.

He rolled his eyes playfully. "M'dear, need I remind you that you are a Haddock as well? That sentence doesn't bode to well in your favor." He told her smartly. "Anyway," he picked up. "is it such a bad thing, that I want to watch my wife feed our daughter?"

She just chuckled lightly. "I suppose not." She sat a few more minutes, nursing Viveka, until the tiny girl unlatched and gurgled a bit. "She's done. You want to take her and dress her before we dock?" She asked, holding Viveka out to him.

He gladly took the baby, holding her up on his chest, against his slightly scruffy neck. "Sure thing dearest. You go ahead and get ready, I'll take care of the little munchkin. And you," he held Viveka up, securing a hand on her back. "there is a dress made for you, specially today. What do you say we go put it on, while mama dresses?" He said as though she would reply. Kissing his wife's lips chastely, he settled their daughter back into the crook of his arm, and closed the door behind him as he left.

He went back to the main bedroom and rested his daughter on the bed. Then he brought out a soft, baby purple dress, with a matching head band and wool socks to go along with it. He carefully lifted her up and slid the dress over her tiny body. The he put on the head band, which had a fake purple flower on the top. Finally, he slid the socks onto her small, curled feet.

Tears made their way to his eyes for the hundredth tie since Viveka's birth. "You're so beautiful, Vivi." He said softly as he took her back into his arms and kissed her soft head of dark red hair.

Viveka crooned softly, her green eyes coming ablaze. She obviously loved the attention her father was giving her, soaking it up and taking high advantage of it. She knew he was wrapped around her pinky.

Just then, Astrid peeked her head in

in. She swooned at the sight of her husband and daughter. "She looks perfect." She said softly as she entered the room. She now wore a dress as well. It was a silvery-blue color, and well hid the slight bump she still had from pregnancy. It wasn't at all risqué, but the neckline cut below her collarbone, giving Hiccup a somewhat view of the cleavage of her breast line.

His eyes scanned over her and he smiled in approval. "So do you, my dear. I have the most gorgeous girls in the whole universe!" He said proudly as he shifted Viveka into the crook of one arm and wrapped the other around Astrid's waist, beneath the hide belt that was wrapped around to accentuate her waist further.

She smiled widely and laced her arms around his neck. "You are such a flatterer, Mr. Haddock." She said close to his lips.

He snickered, shaking his head and caressing her back. "You like it, Mrs. Haddock." He said confidently, knowing it was true. One thing he had used to sweep his wife off her feet when they met, four years ago, was his mastering of words. It seemed he knew just what to say, and when to say it.

With a chuckled shared between them, he leaned in the last inch and kissed her with all his heart. He pulled as close as possible, being careful so as not to squish the baby still resting in his one arm.

Unfortunately, the men above chose that moment to interrupt. "Land ahead!" They shouted. Berk. Hiccup's home. The place Astrid was new to. As they split apart, her forehead creased with worry.

Hiccup smiled though. Cupping her cheek, he brushed his thumb over her high cheek bone. "They are going to love you, Astrid. You and Viveka, both. And even if everyone else doesn't, which seems impossible, my father will. I know he's going to adore you. And I promise, he'll be captivated by Viv. He's not like the men of Chief Island, sweetheart." He gave her the most assuring smile as he leaned his head against hers.

She took a deep, shaky breath and then tried to smile. "Well…I guess it's time then." She said with tried courage, but it came out as nothing but nervous.

Assuring her lovingly, he took her hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. "It's time."

:::

Whew! Long one, unlike the prologue. So, as a side note, Viveka is Swedish, meaning life. Carin is Swedish, meaning little darling; and Lajla is Swedish, meaning dark-haired. Hope y'all enjoyed the chapter. Peace out people!