Chapter Two
The questions made Astrid nervous. More nervous than she's ever felt. She hated having to talk about her previous pregnancies, and having to tell her what happened, when even she didn't know. She felt like she was going to cry again.
Ruff couldn't keep herself from laughing when they were asked if the baby was theirs, but Astrid was quick to deny that.
"Ten weeks." she mumbled to herself as they got back in the car "I'm ten weeks along and have a month to tell Hiccup."
Ruff wanted to punch her. She wanted to knock some sense into her, to make her tell Hiccup. Maybe she'd lock them in a closet together and force her to tell him. The poor boy deserved to know. Astrid didn't need to go through this without Hiccup by her side "I really think you need to tell him once you get home. Take him out for ice cream-"
"Ice cream?"
"Or a walk in the park with Toothless, or ice cream and a walk. There is no denying that Hiccup is basically a kid."
Astrid chuckled. She'd have to do something like that... Or exactly that. Hiccup does love his ice cream.
"Okay... Okay, I'll do it when I get home."
"I'll be proud."
"I'd hope so."
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Astrid bit her lip and stood in front of the mirror. She hoped he couldn't tell she was pregnant. She didn't think it was noticeable... Yet. She ran her hands down the front of her shirt, smoothing it out.
Of course, she was taking Ruff's brilliant idea. She had convinced Hiccup that they needed a 'date night' and that she was going to take him out for ice cream. His smile was so big and he looked so happy, she wanted to see him like that more often. Seeing him this happy is one of the things she loves most. Seeing that smile almost made her tell him right then. Instead, she grabbed his face and kissed him. The perfect distraction.
Hiccup walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and resting his chin on her shoulder "What are you thinking about?"
She bit her lip and stared down at his hands resting on her stomach "Would you still love me if I got... I don't know, fat?"
Hiccup smiled and stared at her reflection in the mirror, tightening his hold on her "What kind of question is that? Of course I would."
"I just wanted to make sure." she smiled at him "One day, I might just stop working out. Gain some weight."
"You'd still be beautiful, Astrid."
He's always so good to her. He never knows what she's going through, yet h. Can tell when something is bothering her. He won't pressure her into telling him and he's always there to support her, no matter what.
"Is something bothering you?"
She kept her eyes down on his hands. She wondered what it would look like when her stomach got bigger and he did this. She bit her lip. If. If she gets bigger.
"No, no, nothing's bothering me." she smiled and looked at him "You ready for some ice cream?"
He nodded, pulling away from her "Why the sudden want for a date night?"
"Because I love you. We never get to spend actual time together, so, why not?"
He nodded in agreement.
Since they graduated college, the two never went on dates anymore. They always stayed in their apartment together, either laying in bed or watching movies. Those were their ideas of dates now.
She smiled and walked out of the bathroom towards the kitchen, Hiccup right behind her. She was going to tell him today when they were eating ice cream, she has the conversation planned out. No, on their walk. No, definitely the ice cream. He loves ice cream, it would keep him happy. So, after their walk.
"Is Toothless ready?"
Hiccup looked over at Toothless, who was sitting in the living room, watching them with his tail wagging. He frowned and then looked at her "Can it just be us?"
She looked at his face. His eyes were pleading and he had a faint smile on his lips. He wants to be alone with her without having to watch Toothless.
She sighed and nodded "Yeah, okay."
She smiled at him, taking his hand in hers and grabbing their apartment keys as they walked towards the door "So, why ice cream?"
"You love it." she said with a laugh "And I kind of have something to talk to you about."
Hiccup stopped walking, panic setting in his chest. He pulled on her hand, causing her to turn around. He hated when she said something like that.
Once when they were in college, the day before they graduated, they had gotten in a fight. One of the worst fights they've ever had. He can't even remember what they fought over. Later that night she told him she had something to tell him and they broke up, but only for a day.
"You aren't breaking up with me again, right?"
She bit her lip. She could cry. The look on his face was breaking her heart. He looked so... Sad and hurt. "I'm not breaking up with you. Why would you think I was?"
He opened his mouth to explain, but then it all clicked in her head. The day before graduation she was scared because she had just found out she was pregnant for the first time. She didn't know how to tell him so instead, started a fight with him.
He was actually scared that she was going to leave him. How can he even think that?Astrid loves him, he should know better.
"No! I'm not going to break up with you. Don't think about college, think about now."
"I am thinking about now" he said with a chuckle, tightening his hold on her hand "It's just... We're engaged, Astrid. I'm pretty sure it would break me if you were to end things now."
She felt bad. She felt bad for making him think she was going to leave him, and she felt bad for keeping their baby a secret from him.
They walked into the ice cream shop. She looked at his face, the smile had come back while he was looking at the different choices. She whispered in his ear that she was going to find them a table before walking away.
She sat down at one of the tables outside, resting her chin in her hand. This was her chance. She knows she's already got him thinking about it, and she didn't want to freak him out.
She heard to look at the couple she heard. She wanted to smile, they were cute together. They reminded her of her and Hiccup. They were messing with each other, he would poke her side and she would squeal before trying to tickle him back.
The only reason she couldn't find it in her to smile is because of the third person that was with them. A little baby. She looked about three months old, and the couple looked happy. Really happy. That's what she wants with Hiccup.
"You know, they're going to think you're a creep if you keep staring like that."
She looked away from the couple and baby to look at Hiccup who was smiling and holding an ice cream out to her. She took it from him and sighed "It wasn't even creeping. The baby is cute, I wanted to look at it."
Hiccup sat across from her and looked over her shoulder at them "I guess it's cute."
"Okay... I have something to tell you." he nodded, taking a lick of his ice cream before making eye contact with her "I... Uhm.."
Why was this so hard? She managed to blurt it out the first time, and when she told Ruff. Why can't she just blurt it out now? He raised an eyebrow at her as she tore her eyes away from him and stared down at her ice cream.
"You're..." she didn't know if she could tell him yet. He needs to know but she knows she can't do it. Not yet. Not in public "You're uhm... Your parents are coming."
She smiled at him, trying to make it believable. He sighed and shook his head. He knows that's not what it was, but she looked so... Stressed and worried. He didn't want to bother her about it. Maybe if it gets worse he'll ask her "When?"
"A few days. I talked to your mom about it."
He nodded, taking a bite of his cone "Is that all you were going to tell me?"
She widened her eyes for a second before nodded "Yeah, that's all."
She finally looked up at him and laughed "You've got ice cream... Here." she said, circling her mouth with her finger.
He chuckled and licked his lips a few times, hoping he got it all. He gave her a smile "Did I get it?"
"No." she shook her head "Bring me your face."
He leaned across the table, his face now directly in front of hers. She picked her napkin up and wiped what was left off. Before he could move away she quickly pecked his lips "Got it."
He smiled that goofy smile that she loves more than anything. He leaned back into the chair, staring at her "How about that walk?"
