Hello fellow dragons fans! I have another early update for you because we're getting a new computer and the WiFi might be down for I don't know how long, so, have this chapter early just in case! Please enjoy!

Cardfighter By Maple: Glad you're excited!

Rawr Olivia Grace: I'll get there soon, I promise!

Moonlightgreen50: There's a lot more to Nova's story! I hope you'll stick around to find out!

Todastra: Nova is really fun to write! I'm glad you like her.

One Bright Light: If there's one thing I can promise is that Nova will warm up to dragons. Eventually. Maybe. :)

G: I promised a sequel and a sequel you have. Jakob and Colby's parents are insignificant to the plot and therefore are just nameless OCs. Actually, I may have named Colby's mom, but I can't remember...

Morginamomo: You inspired part of this chapter, I'll be honest. Thank you! And I'm glad you like it.

Awesomepep101: You think you know where I'm going with this? Hm... I don't know who I ship with Ruff, actually. I'm feeling more Rufflout actually... but we'll see. I'm so excited that you love it!

Little Dragon: The farther we get into the story, the more I'll explain about Nova being important. Just remember that this story focuses on Irena more. Let's call it a sort of coming of age story.

Smaug101: Glad you're interested! Also, thank you for the kind words.

Irena practically skipped home. She had a wonderful morning. Colby still wasn't feeling well, so it had just been her and Jakob again. They had just talked, but it was really nice just to be together.

He held her hand the whole time, too. It made her hand really warm, but not in a particularly unwelcome way.

The only reason they weren't still together was because he was an apprentice to the carpenter (Ben had been an apprentice when he was a teenager, but he had moved up now) and had to go help.

Irena didn't mind, she was more than happy to go home and play with Hic so her mother could get some stuff done if she needed to.

Irena waved cheerfully at Ingrid, Colby's older sister, who was hanging what looked like blankets on the laundry line behind her house.

She waved back equally as cheerful. She was always in a good mood, but she looked even happier than usual. She was five months pregnant with her second child and was simply glowing.

Ben was chasing their wobbly two year old little girl around the yard. He scooped up the toddler before stopping to wave at Irena as well.

Irena waved again before continuing on her way.

She was surprised to see Nova outside sitting against a tree, facing away from her, cradling Evelina close to her. Irena quietly approached them.

It was hard to make out over the birds and dragons chirping and the laughter of children carrying with the breeze, but Nova was making talking quietly to the tiny girl sitting in her lap.

Evelina was watching Nova the same way Hic looked at Astrid. It was almost in a reverent sort of way. Very small children tended to look at their mothers like that, like they were the only thing that mattered in the whole world.

Irena knew Evelina was Nova's baby. When she had been introduced to them the previous evening, Irena's parents told them so. Gabe was stopped from asking about it when Astrid shot him a look that kept the words in his mouth.

Irena knew where babies came from. Her mother had told her and Vikings tended not to sugar coat anything. She didn't know everything, of course. The more, er, detailed stuff would be saved until her wedding day.

The only thing Irena wondered was why. Why when she was only barely sixteen would Nova want to take the chance of having a baby?

Maybe she didn't want to. Maybe she didn't have a choice.

Irena knew all about that too. Her real mother, Cassia, was fifteen when she was born. And she didn't have a choice in that. The experience had traumatized her so much that she never had any more children or remarried.

At least Nova loved Evelina. Irena knew she did.

"We're gonna be okay, Evie. Someday, we're gonna be okay." Nova promised Evelina, running her fingers through the child's soft, dark curls gently. Nova sounded... different. Calmer, gentler. Not so aggressive. Was this what she always sounded like or did she only talk to Evie this way?

Evie reached her arms up and Nova stood the baby on her legs and kissed her cheek, making the baby smile.

Irena smiled too.

Evelina saw her and waved in her general direction.

"What is it, Flitter? Is it another squirrel?"

Irena panicked and tried to move out of the view of Nova, but it was too late. Nova had already turned around.

The soft smile immediately slipped from Nova's face and it was replaced with a scowl. "What are you doing here?" she asked. The sweetness of her voice was gone. Evelina ducked her head into Nova's shoulder.

"I'm-I'm sorry! I was just coming home and I-"

Nova stood up. She was wearing one of Irena's dresses because she didn't have any other clothes. She hated it. "Save it." she snipped before walking farther away from the house and settling back down by a different tree.

Irena sighed and walked towards the front door of her house. She glanced over at Nova and Evelina. Evelina peered at Irena from over her mother's shoulder. She hesitated but pushed the door open, feeling strangely guilty.

"ReRe!" Hic said excitedly as she stepped into the house. He crawled clumsily towards her.

She smiled immediatley and crouched down to pick him up. "Hey, little guy." He could always cheer her up.

Nova had gone to her room early that night. Early enough where the family was still wake.

Hiccup had made it home at a decent hour that night and the kids were very excited about it.

Nova wasn't sleeping. She wasn't tired yet. She was just curled up with Evelina on the bed. Evie hadn't taken her first steps yet and she was a very quiet child. She couldn't help worrying that something was wrong with her little girl. Honestly, she wouldn't be all that surprised if something was wrong with her. She had no idea how to raise a baby. She had Evie when she was fifteen and no one was there to help her.

She was a little jealous of Irena and her siblings. They had both of their parents. For now. Who knows when those scaly so-called-pets of theirs would turn on them?

At least their dragons were shut up in stables. Everyone else's were free, though. And they lurked everywhere on the island. It was a massive fire waiting to happen. Death and destruction would follow.

Evie was warm against her shoulder. Her little pale blue eye looked right into her mother's brown ones.

Nova smiled a little and turned more onto her side. She touched noses with Evelina, who giggled happily.

"Can you say 'Mama', Flit? Mama?" the brunette asked quietly.

Evelina looked thoughtful and opened her mouth. She looked surprised when nothing came out.

"I know your voice works, baby. I've heard you cry." Nova poked the girl's tummy. "Say Mama?"

Evie just cooed in response, looking frustrated. Well, as frustrated as a nine month old could get.

"That's alright, Flitter. You'll get it." Nova kissed the top of her daughter's head gently and was about to continue when she was interrupted.

"Mom, have you seen Kaida?" Irena called from her room. The kids were still playing with their father.

"Kaida?" Astrid asked. "She's on your bed, isn't she?"

The little toy had a name? Seriously, how old was this girl?

"She's not!" Irena sounded almost panicked.

Nova heard Astrid go into Irena's room to look for the toy.

After a few moments, Irena sounded extremely upset. "She's not here."

"She has to be, little one... We'll find her soon, okay?"

"Okay,"

Nova smirked a bit and glanced at the small closet in the room she was in. She had taken the apparently precious little purple stuffed dragon toy and hid it that morning. That girl had to get more independent.

Also, now it was kind of revenge for the brat eavesdropping on her earlier. And sort of practice for anything she might take later.

Evelina made a little whining sound and clumsily rubbed her eyes with her tiny fists.

"Oh, what a sleepy baby," Nova cooed. "I know they're being loud."

Evie's whimpers turned more into cries.

"No, Flit. Don't cry. It's okay. Mommy's here." Nova started to rub tiny circles on Evie's tummy with her thumb. She also started to sing quietly. She hated her voice and she hated that she could only remember two lullabies from when her mother used to sing to her, but sometimes it was the only thing that calmed Evie down.

The little girl soon became drowsy and her thumb made its way to her mouth. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep.

"Good night, Evelina." Nova whispered. "I love you."

That little baby was the only person in the whole world Nova was certain she loved.

Astrid was pacing the length of the room, holding a very fussy Hiccup the fourth.

It had been a while since the kids were tucked in, but she and Hiccup had stayed up talking. That wasn't unusual. What was unusual was Hic waking up fussing like he had. He usually just woke up with a whine or babbling now that he was older. He hadn't cried like this in months. Nothing either she or Hiccup had done had soothed him any, so she resorted to pacing with him, hoping the repetitive motion would eventually calm him down.

"What on earth is the matter, Hic?" Astrid asked the baby exasperatedly, rubbing his back.

She was just answered with another deafening screech and the little boy pressed his face into his mother's shoulder.

He didn't have a fever, he was dry, he wasn't hungry. It was just like the other morning, except even Hiccup couldn't calm him down.

She hoped he wouldn't wake the other kids.

"Is he sick?" the adult Hiccup asked from the bed.

"Not that I can tell." Astrid replied over the screams.

Poor Toothless had his ears pressed against his head and his head tucked into his paws. As bad as it felt, Hiccup snuck Toothless in through the bedroom window despite Nova's fears. As long as she didn't know he was in there, right?

"What is going on lately? Linny isn't eating right, he keeps screaming, Gabe's being good for once-"

"Irena lost Kaida, and she never looses anything, and Lily had a tantrum today." Astrid finished. Lily was a good kid and rarely threw any kind of fit, even when she was a baby. Linnea was the same way.

"Has the world turned upside-down or something?" Hiccup questioned.

"Who knows?" Astrid replied moving the only-slightly-quieter baby to her shoulder. "Sh, buddy, it's okay."

"I wonder why we've never heard Nova's baby cry."

"She probably ripped out her voice box or something." muttered Astrid.

"Astrid!" Hiccup exclaimed, eyes wide. That wasn't funny. Not at all, but he laughed a bit despite himself and then started coughing.

"Sorry! It's just that it always looks like she wants to kill something. She just scowls all the time!"

"Her parents were killed by dragons. And she saw it happen. That could mess anyone up."

"I know, but-" Astrid sighed. "I feel like she's hiding something."

"Like what?"

"I don't know, something. Something not good."

"Here, let me try again." Hiccup held his arms out for his son. Astrid handed him off and Hiccup immediately held him close. It didn't help a bit.

Astrid collapsed in bed next to her husband and ran her hand through her hair. This was going to be a long night.

A/N: So that was chapter three! What do you all think of Nova now? And what do you think is wrong with the Haddock kids?

I'm so glad you guys are liking it so far! I have big plans! :)

Next chapter will be more of a Hiccstrid - as- parents oriented chapter and we will finally get Hiccup's reaction to his daughter's first date!

I appreciate each and every one of you reading this! I can't thank you enough!

See you next week!

~Pink