"So what is this about?"

Fishlegs looked up at Hiccup from his conversation with Dr. Gothi. Sera was right next to her father, looking just as confused.

"Well, I wanted to test Sera's little theory that Astrid is her birth mother. In order to do that, I need to test DNA from all three of you to be sure."

"Good idea."

"I'll see you later, Fishlegs," Astrid's voice said from behind them. Hiccup turned to see her and his heart pounded.

Stop it, Hiccup! You are engaged!

"Thank you for doing this, Astrid," Fishlegs told the blonde.

"You're welcome. I need to go help Signy with baby shopping. She doesn't like driving and designated me as her ride."

"Tell her to take it easy."

"How about you do that and deal with her stubbornness?"

"Fair. Bye, Astrid!"

Astrid exited the hospital, Hiccup finding himself unable to stop watching her. He was only snapped out of it when Sera tugged on his sleeve.

"Fishlegs needs our DNA, Daddy," she said.

"Oh! Yeah, right! Right!"

"You were staring at Astrid."

"No, I wasn't!"

"Yes, you were!" Sera's eyes were sparkling. "You love her!"

"No, Sera!" Hiccup knelt so that they were at eye-level. "Astrid is a very pretty woman, but I am with Cami right now. I can't be in love with her."

Sera made a face that said she didn't believe him just before Fishlegs called them over.

Sera stood in front of the Berk Public Library, the note and key from the night before in her hand. She tried the key in the lock, turning it effortlessly and entering the long-closed building. The ten-year-old walked through the strangely-clean rooms. There wasn't a speck of dust on the shelves—odd, considering it hadn't been occupied in a decade. It was eerie to her.

"You actually came."

Sera jumped, whirling around to see…

Hilda Bludvist?!

"Mrs. Bludvist! What are you doing here?!"

"I see you received my note."

"Your note?"

"Yes. I needed to talk to you somewhere where my husband won't find us."

"So there is a curse?"

"Yes. I cast it, at the request of Drago."

"Why do you want to help me break the curse?"

"Because, Sera, it's not fair that your family was torn apart. I'm sorry that it had to happen." Hilda pulled out a chair from an old study table and motioned for Sera to sit. Sera did.

"So, why did you do it?"

"I have a history with Drago. I can't go into it right now but know that I want him gone as much as anybody else." The black-haired woman sighed. "Unfortunately, I don't have as much freedom as you. Anything I do is closely watched by him. You have to help me break the curse."

"How?"

"I don't know. Despite the fact that I created the curse, I have no idea how to break it. We could start by giving people back their memories."

"Like Aunt Signy?"

"Yes, like Signy. You've already done a good job of reuniting her with her lover."

"So I'm on the right track."

"Your parents are going to be a hard sell, Sera. You have to do your best to help them."

"Okay."

"Will you work with me?"

"Yes." Sera extended a hand. "Welcome to Operation Scorpion."

"Thank you." Hilda shook Sera's hand. "I'll send a note to your book when it's time to meet again."

"Okay."

The phone rang loudly, startling Hiccup from his thoughts. He almost fell out of his chair before he steadied himself and picked it up. Toothless gave him a look of annoyance before falling back asleep. Hiccup rolled his eyes.

"Hello?" he asked.

"Hey, Hiccup, it's Fishlegs. We just got the results of the DNA test back from the lab."

"That quickly?"

"Yeah. Gothi's the best doctor around. Anyway, it appears… Sera was right."

"W-wait, what do you mean, 'Sera was right'?"

"The results—Sera is a match with both you and Astrid. Astrid is your daughter's birth mother."

"Holy crap." Hiccup leaned back.

"I know it's odd, but what really baffles me is the fact that you and Astrid don't recognize each other." Hiccup looked over his shoulder and noticed Sera's book on the table. She'd left it there earlier when she'd gone into town.

"I'll… I'll call you back, Fishlegs. I need to look into something."

"Not a problem. I need to tell Astrid, anyway."

"Okay. Bye."

Hiccup hung up and picked up Sera's book, quickly flipping to the picture of the wedding.

There might be some merit to the curse theory. God… if it's true, then I'm cheating on Astrid with Cami.

That was a terrifying thought to him.

"Oh my God."

"What's wrong?" Eret asked Astrid. He'd come over at the end of his shift (uninvited) and offered to help prep for the baby. Currently, he was putting together a crib.

"That was… that was Dr. Ingerman."

"With the results of the DNA test?" Signy inquired from where she was folding baby clothes.

"Yeah. It turns out… I'm Sera's birth mother."

"Oh, God." Eret raised an eyebrow but went back to the task at hand. Astrid put down her screwdriver.

"It's so weird to finally hear it out loud and have it confirmed."

"Well, that means you have a really good reason to stay—to be near your daughter."

"True. I'm going to try and make up for lost time." Eret set down his screwdriver.

"Astrid, would you mind helping me turn the crib over? It's finished." They turned it so it was right-side up.

"Aw! It's perfect!" Signy clapped her hands.

"You're welcome, Signy."

"You really didn't have to help."

"Well, it's my job." Eret tipped an imaginary hat to her. "And, if you're interested, it's also my job to take you to a movie."

"Oh… I can't. I have papers to grade."

"How about a movie here, then?"

"I can clear out for the night," Astrid offered.

"You guys are too nice to me!"

"You deserve it."

Short chapter today. The cracks in the curse are beginning to widen due to Sera's efforts, Hiccup and Astrid realize they have a past that they don't remember, and Hilda begins to unveil herself to Sera.

Next time: Drago sends thugs after Astrid.

So long and thanks for all the fish!