Chapter 2: My Astrid

Hiccup blinked open his eyes, mildly aware that something was different. Astrid was sleeping heavily in his arms, but unlike the sleep of unconsciousness he had become accustom to, it was just the hard sleep of someone who was incredibly tired and healing. She was curled up next to him, snuggled into his arms. He knew it had been morning when he had laid down with her at her request. The shadows being cast from the window suggested to him that it was early evening.

Astrid had awakened!

He squeezed her tightly and swept her bangs away from her forehead so he could give her a gentle kiss, before slowly slipping away to let her sleep. He needed to get his mother and Gothi, to let them know. He wanted with every ounce of his soul to simply stay here with her. The thought of her waking up alone had been his primary motivation to keep his constant eye on her, and it was still a concern now. Still, he would at least be expected at the Great Hall for the evening meal. He could also announce that she had awoken, which would make the Vikings of Berk happy.

Before leaving, he refilled the flask of water and set it on the bedside table next to her. His eyes swept her up and down one last time before he begrudgingly tore himself away from her side, making his way to the Great Hall. Once inside, he quickly found his mother, sitting with Fishlegs, Ruff, and Tuff. While Valka had been back on Berk for a few years now, she still held her head down and avoided eye contact with most of the village, feeling like an outsider due to her time away. Hiccup wished she could forgive herself. He had.

Valka saw Hiccup approaching the table first. "Hiccup, we haven't seen ye all day, son. How is Astrid?" Fishlegs and the twins looked up sympathetically at their friend.

"She woke up, this morning. Shortly after you left, mom." Hiccup replied. "She seemed to still be in a lot of pain, but you know Astrid, she'd never admit it out loud." Seeing Valka's surprised expression, he quickly added, "I would have come to get you… I planned to, anyway, but we kind of, fell asleep." Hiccup rubbed some of the remaining sleep out of his eyes nearly on cue, as proof that he had just woken up himself.

"Sleep, is that what they call it these days?" Tuff joked, pulling his face into a wide and mischievous smile. Ruff punched him across the jaw and shook her head at her brother.

"Not that it's anybody's business but mine and my wife's," Hiccup began, a look of exasperated annoyance at the twins constant antics and inappropriate comments, "But people with broken ribs are typically discouraged from doing much other than actually sleep." Hiccup's fists began to clench, he was feeling particularly protective of Astrid, more than usual. He couldn't quite place his feelings. He'd always been protective of Astrid of course, as any loving husband would, but this feeling was stronger, more intense.

"Calm down, son." Valka took her son's clenched fist and began to try to relax his hand. "No one means any harm." She shot a sharp look at Ruff which made him wince. "Why don't ye sit 'ere with us and have a bite to eat. It'll do ye good to get something in yer stomach. Ye've barely eaten since…" her voice trailed off as she attempted to hand Hiccup a plate with a roasted chicken leg.

Hiccup put his hand up in refusal. "First thing is first." He set his jaw and squared his shoulders as he walked to the front of the hall. Everyone saw him preparing to speak and quieted down out of respect for their young chief.

Hiccup nodded at the villagers as acknowledgement. "Gang…. er, I mean, Berkians, I just wanted to let you know that Astrid woke up this morning, briefly." Several Vikings clapped and many let out audible sighs of relief. "She's resting now, but I'll keep everyone posted. Thank you everyone… for everything." He nodded again at everyone and waved his hand, to signal everyone could move on with their meal. As he walked back to take his plate from Valka, he was stopped by many villagers with their choruses of well-wishes. He graciously accepted as he made his way back to his mother.

Valka gave him a knowing look. "Now will ye eat? I think everyone else is sufficiently taken care of. Now its yer turn, chief." She winked at Hiccup. She had begun to refer to him as Chief whenever she felt that Hiccup was taking his chiefly duties far too seriously… in her opinion, anyway.

Hiccup didn't speak, he simply took the plate from her hand and nodded thankfully. He sat down beside her and ate quickly, wanting to get back to Astrid.

"Whoa, where's the fire?" Ruff had retorted, noticing Hiccup's rushed eating.

"It's probably because you smell, I can't stand it either!" Ruff teased back at his sister, referencing the smell of fish oil she rubbed in her hair every day. The twins continued their sibling banter, but Hiccup couldn't pull himself out of his own thoughts to pay them any attention.

His mind kept flashing back to the scene of the accident. Toothless had sensed something was wrong. Hiccup had learned to trust in his friend's instincts and had let the dragon abruptly tear him away from the task he had been working on. Toothless flew as quickly as he could, but even the Night Fury's superior speed couldn't get them there in time to help. They arrived just in time for Hiccup to see Astrid, falling straight out of the sky, only feet from the ground. The last few seconds of her fall seemed to last hours to him. His heart stopped beating as his breath caught in his throat. A rush of emotions nearly paralyzed him as he thought he was watching his wife's death unfold in front of his eyes. When Stormfly thrust her body on the ground beneath where Astrid was falling, catching her at the last second, the intense rush of relief through his body made his legs go weak and he nearly lost consciousness himself. If it hadn't been for Toothless, he would have collapsed on the ground. Instead, he clung to Toothless tightly, before they rushed over to her side to check on her. Poor Stormfly had taken a good brunt of the fall herself. Hiccup made sure to thank the Deadly Nadder and made sure that she was cared for like the hero that she was.

Watching the kids scramble as well to try to save her was a shocking blow. Poor Inge had come the closest, but he let himself get to close to the ground before deploying his flight suit, crushing his foot. Hiccup winced at the flashback. Astrid would never forgive herself. He would never forgive himself. He also made a mental note to work on dragon rescue maneuvers with the kids. They liked to keep their dragon skills sharp just in case.

Hiccup quickly finished and excused himself back home. Valka and Fishlegs nodded in understanding, the twins still deeply involved in their argument. He rushed back home and found Astrid asleep, but noted that the flask he left for her seemed a little less full. Just great, thought Hiccup, I hate that she woke up alone.

Alone wasn't entirely accurate. Toothless had settled in for the night and was sleeping peacefully on his heated rock. Hiccup walked by him and affectionately rubbed his friend's head. He knew he was probably feeling a little neglected lately, but he seemed to understand. He made another mental note to make it up to him once Astrid was feeling better.

He readied himself for bed and stealthily slipped beneath the covers, alongside an already sleeping Astrid. She was on her side, facing away from him. He wrapped his arms around her from behind. She stirred just enough to snuggle back against him. Oh great. Hiccup thought, as he could feel himself becoming aroused by her wiggling bottom, now is not the best time for this. He chastised himself for being so easily turned on by her, even as she lay hurting and sick.

Astrid must have felt his arousal, because she wearily opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him. He shrugged and hugged her tight, to let her know it was alright. She grabbed his hand and brought it to her breast. He squeezed out of instinct, causing Astrid to catch her breath. He tried to pull his hand away, not wanting to hurt her.

"Don't worry about me, Hiccup." Astrid said softly. "I want this too. Just… be careful, and it will be ok."

Hiccup brought his hand back up, gently cupping her breast again. He buried his head in gentle slope of her neck, pulling her hair off her shoulder with his chin, stubble scraping erotically against her skin. He nibbled softly and whispered in her ear, "Are you sure? I don't want to…"

"Yes, Hiccup, I'm sure." She answered before he could finish. "I promise, I'll let you know if you are hurting me, just be gentle."

It had been nearly a month since he could touch his wife so intimately. Hiccup didn't know if he could trust himself to be gentle. The yearning of his sex was intensifying. He was hard and throbbing at the prospect, and he couldn't deny it. She rubbed up against him with her bottom, the only thing separating him from her was her thin nightdress. She began to moan feeling his arousal pressed against her. She was still in a lot of pain, but at this moment, she needed him more.

Hiccup began rubbing his hands up and down her body while still hugging her tight from behind. He caressed her breasts, fingers deftly working their magic on her nipples. His hands reached down between her legs, causing her nightdress to creep smoothly up her thighs. Their breath was becoming heavier, quicker. He continued to kiss her on her neck, and the sensations he was sending through her body was making Astrid quiver with need. He reached down to her sex and rubbed between her legs, feeling her wet and ready. His sliding, expert fingers caused her to moan out his name. He didn't think he could hold back much longer. He raised himself up on his elbow and knees as she turned on to her back to face him. His lips reached down to lock with hers in a deep and passionate kiss. My Astrid. Hiccup thought, deepening his kiss. The feeling that he almost lost her kept creeping into his mind as his kiss deepened. Astrid pulled her nightdress up, and Hiccup helped her to pull it up the rest of the way, revealing her beautiful and perfectly shaped body to him. He ran his hands up and down her body, as careful as he could be of her broken ribs and bruises.

"Hiccup!" Astrid sighed, eyes closed and back arching up to his touch, "I can't wait anymore, please…"

"Don't worry, milady," Hiccup whispered huskily as he readied himself to satisfy her, positioning himself between her legs, drawing her knees up on either side of him. "I'll take care of you. Always." He entered her gently and her body writhed up in response as the feel of him filled and stretched her. He began his rhythm slow and romantic, giving her tender, romantic kisses, to avoid hurting her. Astrid gripped at his hips, digging her fingertips into his bottom as though to try to intensify his thrusts. Hiccup obliged and adjusted to her rhythm. He looked at her for assurance that she wasn't hurting but Astrid only nodded, rocking back and forth with him. He continued to kiss her neck, one arm bracing himself on the bed beside her, the other outstretched in front of him, resting on the headboard. Her arms were up behind her, also holding onto the headboard, giving him an amazing view of her body. He felt like he was about to burst when he heard her reach her own climax. Together they collapsed in ecstasy, Hiccup careful of her bruised ribs. He pulled his wife in close and together they drifted back to sleep.

My Astrid. Mine! Were Hiccup's last thoughts before falling into a deep and satisfied sleep.