In Order To Survive

Rated; M for Mature
Pairing; Hiccup X Vera[OC]
Disclaimer; I do not own How To Train Your Dragon, movies or books. Everything belongs to Dreamworks or Cressida Cowell

Another One

=Hiccup's POV=
[Monday, 4/3/2017-6 pm]
[Dragor, Denmark-Anderson Residence]

It will have been 4 years in December since the day the Anderson Family asked if they could adopt me, and it's been about 7 years since I arrived in Denmark. Come February 2018, not only will I be 22 years old, but it will mark 8 years that I've been gone from Berk. And to this day, I've never wondered how things are back there. Why should I? It's not like anyone cared I was gone; I finally did what everyone wanted, I left. I'm sure Dad named Snotlout the Heir in my absence, and maybe my cousin is Chief already. Who knows? It wasn't my concern anymore. A lot of things have changed in the past 4 years. My adoption was finalized before I shipped off to Basic Training in June 2014. I'm now Hiccup Anderson to friends and my family, but for the legality of joining the army; I kept Haddock as my legal last name as that's what is on my Green Card, Drivers License, and Dragon License. I do have a little adoption certificate that is framed showing my adopted last name, the date it happened, my parents, and siblings. Then under the paper; there's a photo of me with Henrik, Mari, Britta, Hagen, Lilly, and Lukas outside the office where everything was officiated.

I started my process to join the Danish Army the first week of March 2014. Henrik helped me do everything, and we'd spend a good amount of time training to make sure I could do all the exercises in the required time. By the second week in May; I was officially a member of the Danish Military-Army Branch. I shipped for Basic the first week of June 2014 and was gone for about two and a half months, so 10 weeks; then I was doing Infantry training for another 6 weeks. I returned to the Andersons in October 2014 as a full Private First Class soldier, and we celebrated. However, the time at home didn't last long because I was required to do a 4-month tour for international deployments; it was training, but the kind that readied us for a war-like environment. My training tour started in November 2014, and I was shocked to learn that I did get shipped to Syria for those 4 months. I was glad to be home in March 2015, though. During that mini deployment, I turned 19. Also, I left that tour of training at the rank of Corporal. Did I mention that I've made some more friends and I'm married?

Olivia and I got together as a couple in October 2014, when I was back from my Basic and Infantry training. A year and 2 months later in December 2015; I asked Liv to marry me, and she said yes. Our wedding was rushed as we married at the beginning of January 2016. Why did we marry a month after getting engaged? Things got a little crazy because I was getting deployed in February 2016 for 8 months in Iraq. It was right after I turned 20, but thankfully, Olivia and I were able to secure a place to live before I left for that tour. It was an old warehouse in Dragor that I planned and designed to be turned into a living space for Liv, Toothless, and myself. While I was deployed, the construction happened, so when I got home in October 2016; it was done and ready to move into. And we've been here ever since; I'm only ten minutes from Henrik, Mari, and my siblings. Liv and I were talking about starting a family now that we've been married a year, but unfortunately; I have another deployment breathing down my neck, we just don't know when the call is gonna come through.

Also, not only am I 21 years old because my birthday passed in February, but I'm a Sergeant as of January 2017; I command a unit of 6 including myself. I guess I did really good on the last tour which ended 7 months ago. My unit is made up of 5 other males; we're all around the same age. There is Oivind Flinvor, just turned 21 in March. Sigvard Rasmussen, 22 as of December 2016. Eirik Matheson, turning 22 in July. Davyn Lund, turning 21 in September. And finally, Jolgeir Tennfjord who will be 22 in May. Were great friends, and all joined at the same time; Sigvard is my battle buddy, paired since the beginning. Jolgeir and Eirik are paired, so are Oivind and Davyn. But we all do things as a team, which I am the leader of. Our unit is one of two on the Dreki Squad, made up of 12 soldiers. I guess I should break this down better.

I am part of the Alpha Company, led by Major Colden Kongur; this is the same person I met the day I crashed in Denmark; he was a Lieutenant Colonel back in 2010, but I guess he did something, and I have no idea what, that got him knocked down to the rank of Major. This Company breaks down into two Platoons, 72 soldiers each; Lightning run by 1st Lieutenant Brynjar Holt, and Thunder Platoon, commanded by 2nd Lieutenant Matthias Baardson. Both Platoons break down into two Squads of 36 men and women each. There is the Viking Squad, run by Major Kongur's little brother, Sergeant Ander Kongur. And I command the Dragon Squad at the rank of Sergeant. I also lead one Unit; Strike made up of Jolgeir, Oivind, Davyn, Sigvard, Eirik, and myself. There are 6 Units on each Squad, and every Unit is made up of 6 soldiers. So in total, the Alpha Company has 144 soldiers in it that break down into smaller groups.

I'm still friends with Katja, Frieda, and Eira too. Brynjar might be my commanding officer, but we're still close buds. Frieda is working at the dragon training academy as the Strike Class trainer; she did the best when it came to Strike Class dragons, but I'm still the head trainer because I'm the only person with a Night Fury. Eira works as a waitress about 15 minutes away from my place. Dane and I don't talk because I really don't like him; he got Katja pregnant when she was 17, and the two were living together once she turned 18 in June 2014. Katja is about to turn 21 in June 2017, and she has a beautiful daughter named Dagny Jakobsen who was conceived in April 2013, two months before she turned 18. Brynjar was pissed, but I calmed him down. Unfortunately, I was away training in the army for most of Katja's pregnancy. I got to see her in October 2013 when she was 6 months along.

Anyway, Dagny was born on January 15th, 2014. I was happy to meet her when I got home in March. Dagny is basically my niece as I'm Katja's best friend. I don't think Dane likes it very much, but I don't care; I'll hurt him if he ever hurts her. I've expressed my concerns before that Dane has a wicked temper, but Katja assured Brynjar and me that everything was okay. Dagny is now a thriving, active, 3 year old who calls me Unka Hic or Hiccup. Dane really hates that Dagny chooses to sit with me over him sometimes. So, here we are in April 2017. Britta just turned 15 in February; she'll be graduating her schooling come June 2018, I was wicked proud of her. Lilly and Lukas will be 12 in July. Hagen will be 9 in October. Mari and Henrik are well in their late forties now.

That's it for updates of the last 4 years. Do I ever think about the Vikings inside the Archipelago? Sometimes. I do wonder if my dad is still Chief, or if Snotlout was made Heir and took the position. I wonder if they ever think about me and ponder where I went, or if I'm even alive. It's little things that make you think. It's been 7 years, maybe they've changed? I laughed a little. Yeah, right. Wishful thinking. Those people would never change unless they had no choice, and even then; they would still be stubborn about things. Gods, if my Dad knew that I had sex before I was married; he would kill me himself. Liv and I made love when we'd been together 11 months, and that's when I knew how much I loved her, so I got a ring and proposed. Liv and I don't do very often, maybe once or twice a month, but longer if I'm training or deployed. I do have Drill Weekend on the first Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of every month unless directed otherwise.

I had Drill next Friday on the 7th, but tonight I was having dinner with my family and friends. "Hiccup! Everyone is here!" Olivia called.

"Be right out," I replied. This warehouse was a one level arrangement, big enough for Toothless to be inside, and the layout was set up to be like a studio apartment. However, there was one bedroom; the master suite complete with a bathroom. There was another bathroom on the main floor plan too. And Hiccup had an art studio/office. The backyard allowed for massive parties as it included an outdoor kitchen, pool and hot tub combination, and lots of seating space.

I paid 10858.95 DKK(Danish Kroner; this is about $1,700 in the USA) a month for this place; I owned it since I'd been doing nothing but saving all my money since the start of the Denmark Dragon Training Academy and joining the army. I made 14530.98($2,275 USA), and I'd been in the military for 4 years now. I am making 13414.80($2,100 USA) from the dragon training school every month because it was basically my business; I built it from nothing more than an open field.

"Come on, Hic!" Olivia giggled. I grabbed the rest of the dinner and headed over to the table where everyone was. As soon as I set the pan down; Dagny rushed into my arms.

"Hello, my girl," I lifted her up and kissed her cheek. "Are you being a good girl for your mother?" Dagny nodded her head. "Well, then maybe there's ice cream after dinner for you," Dagny's eyes lit up as she hugged Hiccup tightly. I placed Dagny in her chair as I greeted my mother, father, and siblings. Brynjar, Katja, and Dagny were here. So were Henrik, Mari, Britta, Hagen, and the Anderson twins, Lilly and Lukas. Frieda, Eira, and Dane weren't present, but that was okay. My Strike Unit wasn't here either. I hugged Katja before wrapping my arms around my wife and kissing her.

"Let's have dinner," Olivia smiled. I sat down beside her as we began to get our food; this was definitely the life.

. . .

[6:45 pm]

"So when are you and Olivia giving me grandbabies?" Mari asked with a broad smile.

"I, uh…Maybe soon?" I shrugged as her eyes lit up.

"Hiccup and I have been…Discussing starting a family, but haven't had much time for said discussion," Olivia informed gently.

"Things are a little crazy right now with work," I confessed.

"The life of a soldier," Henrik chuckled a bit. Things were a bit quiet now as Dagny was sitting in my lap and playing with one of her toys; a stuffed Night Fury that I sewed for her when she turned a year old. A phone ringing was heard as I checked mine, but Brynjar was the one to lift his to his ear.

"Holt here," Brynjar answered. Gods; it had to be Major Kongur. The only time we answered our phones that way was if a commanding officer was calling. "I'm with Sergeant Haddock right now," he said. "Understood," Brynjar hung up and stood to his feet. "Come on, Haddock,"

"Work to be done?" I asked while rising to my feet.

"No…That was the call," Brynjar informed. I stopped fast.

"The call? You mean the call?" I inquired. Brynjar nodded with his head down.

"Yes, the deployment call we were hoping wouldn't happen. Briefing at Kastellet Base in one hour," Brynjar enlightened.

"Aye, sir," I responded firmly before rushing into my room to get changed; then I came back out.

"Let us know as soon as you're able, son!" Mari called.

"Always, Mom," I nodded. "Bryn, you flying or driving?" I looked at him.

"I gotta change first; you go ahead," Brynjar said. I nodded once more as I looked to Toothless.

"Let's go, bud," Toothless got up as I got on his back and we hurried out the door once I kissed Olivia goodbye.

. . .

[7:15 pm]
[Copenhagen, Denmark-Kastellet Military Base]

Knowing the deployment was coming isn't what made me nervous; it was how fast they could tell us we were packing up and leaving after tonight. I landed Toothless and climbed off as I hurried to stand with Alpha Company where Major Kongur was already there and waiting for the rest to arrive. 7:30 pm hit, and I watched Brynjar arrive with five other people.

"Now that we're all here…" Colden began softly. "I'm sure you know what's happening; that deployment warning we got three months ago in January has come full circle. The tour will be one year in Afghanistan, and we leave Friday, April 24th at 0500 hours from Copenhagen International Airport in Kastrup, Denmark. You know the drill on what to pack. I wish I had better news for you all, but we'll band together and get through it,"

"Sir, yes sir!" we called. The rest of the talking was about the base we'd be at, missions, some big objectives to achieve, and all the same things as the other two deployments we've been on. I was listening, but also zoning out. A year in Afghanistan; this was going to suck, and Liv was going to be very disheartened about it since we'd wanted to start a family, but talking about it was held up by the phone call we got tonight about deployment. And now we were leaving in three weeks, so having a child was now out of the question and would need to be put off a bit longer. I just wanted to get home now, cuddle my wife a little and spend the next three weeks with them as much as I could before shipping off on another deployment.