A/N 2 in one night cause i feel bad. Also, i've just started watching Defenders/Riders of Berk and i love it. to be honest, i love anything with Toothless, he is my one true love :)

DISCLAIMER: I don't own HTTYD

Astrid nodded along with Ruffnut.

"You're right." Astrid finally agreed. "It has to be emotional."

"All this started when that family moved in, not that I mind, they're nice people." Ruff huffed. "But did they really have to make my brother into a complete idiot? He was only a half one before!"

Astrid tried not to laugh at her friend, taking a deep breath to fight the nausea.

"You OK?" Ruff asked.

"Yeah, fine." Astrid smiled. She hadn't told Ruffnut that she was pregnant. She hadn't ever told her except the first time. After that, she didn't bother telling Ruff in case it upset her. Instead, when Ruff had first asked her if she was OK, she'd grinned and said that it was all Hiccup's fault.

"Damn, Haddock's been hiding out on all of us. I knew there was a reason he was so small." Ruffnut shook her head as Astrid smirked.

"Not all of him is small."

"I didn't want to hear that." Both girls screamed at the voice before realising it was Tuffnut.

"Oh gods, you're still alive!" Ruffnut threw her arms around her brother, but he just stood there.
"Only on the outside."

"What's wrong, Tuffnut?" Astrid asked. "Ruff's really worried."

"Nothing is wrong, it is my destiny to live an unhappy and soul-less existence." Tuffnut sighed heavily. Astrid rolled her eyes at his dramatics before turning to Ruffnut.

"I have to go help Ashla get Braygoh down to Gobber."

"Ashla?" Tuffnut perked up almost instantly. Ruffnut looked at Astrid with wide eyes.

"NO! THIS CANNOT HAPPEN!" Ruffnut almost screamed.

"It's just a crush," Astrid frowned at her friend.

"It starts as a crush, then the next thing you know they're married with loads of annoying babies running around." Ruffnut huffed. Tuffnut hadn't said anything about it yet, he still had a far off dreamy look in his eyes.

"Is that so bad?" Astrid asked. "It means that you'll have nieces and nephews that you can teach to be naughty and prank people, and then hand them back to their parents."

"This can't happen, Astrid!" Ruffnut told her firmly. "It just can't!"

"OK, fine." Astrid rolled her eyes and headed towards the door. "But I really do have to go. I'll see you both later."

"OK," Ruff said. "Tell Hiccup to lay off for a bit, OK?" Astrid blushed and headed towards Ashla's home.

Her reason for visiting had nothing to do with Braygoh or Ashla, she was going to see Ase. It had become a weekly thing, Astrid would meet up with her and they would talk about things like how she was doing, if she was feeling sick, how Hiccup was coping (Which seemed pretty well to Astrid which worried her).

As Astrid neared the house, she was surprised to find Toothless greeting her instead of Ase or Ashla.

"Hi, Toothless. What are you doing here?" Astrid asked, rubbing the top of his head in greeting. Toothless responded with a series of soft growls and noises to explain, but Astrid only understood a little bit.

"Hiccup is here? Why?"

"He's annoying Braygoh." Ashla explained, walking towards her. "Seriously, my dragon is getting a little annoyed and I don't want to burn our new chief."

"I'll tell him to back off a little."
"It would be appreciated. Mama is expecting you." Ashla smiled gently and led her into the house. Ase was sitting at the table, looking through several old books that looked to be as old as The Book Of Dragons.

"Astrid, what are you doing here?" Hiccup asked, kissing her cheek as he walked in from the back yard.

"I came to save which ever dragon you're annoying." Astrid laughed. "Don't you think you're going a bit over the top with these two new dragons?"
"Not just those, but they have Changewings and dragons I never thought you could train. Changewings, Skrill, Timberjack-"

"You don't train a dragon," a deep voice said. A tall man came into view, with dark brown hair and a soft smile. "They train you."

"What do you mean?" Hiccup asked.

"You adapted for Toothless," he shrugged, leaning on the back of Ase's chair. Astrid guessed that this was Eric, who she hadn't actually met yet. "He trained you into understanding him. As a reward, he gave you his love. Dragons pick you, not the other way around."
"I almost killed him though."

"But you didn't. And then you helped him fly again." Eric explained before leaning over to kiss Ase. "Are you alright, my love?"

"I'm fine. Is Delano doing better?"

"He is getting better, yes. Thanks to Ashla." Eric smiled. "I will leave you in peace." Eric headed back out towards the garden, and Hiccup rushed to follow.

"I'm sorry about Hiccup." Astrid sat opposite Ase, who smiled brightly.

"Don't be. It is amazing to see someone as enthusiastic about dragons as we are." Ase reached over and took her hand. "How are you both doing?"
"I think Hiccup is hiding how he really feels." Astrid frowned slightly. "I can understand why he might do that, but this time has already been so different."

"Sometimes it's hard for the father to understand that it is different." Ase explained softly. Astrid was a loving young woman who had had too many hardships in her life. All of the pressure from a young age put on her shoulders by her mother and father, the abusive tone of her mother before the wedding, everything that had happened before…

"I know." Astrid sighed. "I'm going to start showing soon aren't I?"

"Yes, at about twelve weeks. From what I can work out, you're about ten weeks along." Ase watched Astrid look down. "Look at it this way, the most dangerous time is almost over."

Was it really almost over, or was the worst just beginning?