How to Become Parents

"Hiccup, I don't know what I'm doing," I got out between groans. I was in our bedroom now, but I refused to lie down. I was pacing back and forth, grabbing onto Hiccup's arm whenever another contraction started.

"I don't either, babe, but I do wish you would come lie down," he said, trying to lead me to our bed.

"I don't want to yet, if I do then I really am having a baby," I said nervously. I tried to hide the tears forming in my eyes, but Hiccup saw them.

"Hey, Astrid, look at me," he said, grabbing my shoulders firmly to hold me still.

"What?" I asked, my breathing becoming heavier.

"We are having this baby. Pacing the room isn't going to keep it from happening. Astrid, we have wanted this for years now. And yes, neither of us know what the heck we are doing, but we can learn together. We won't be perfect, we will make mistakes, but our kid will know we love them more than anything in the world. I'm scared, same as you, but we can do this. Hiccup and Astrid forever, remember?" He smiled and kissed my cheek.

I took several deep breaths and looked up at him. "Forever," I whispered.

I kissed him and let him lead me to our bed. Then we heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Valka burst into the room with Gobber following close behind her.

"Uh, I understand you being here, mom, but Gobber?" Hiccup asked confusedly.

"Oh you'd be surprised how many babies I've helped birth, laddie," Gobber said.

"He helped deliver you, Hiccup," Valka said. Gobber nodded and went to get some lanterns from the forge.

While Hiccup processed that information, Valka helped me to the edge of the bed. She had me sit with my legs apart and my knees bent. She and Hiccup helped me out of my leggings and placed a blanket over my lap so I could still have some privacy. They piled the pillows up and had Hiccup sit behind me to support me. By now the contractions were much worse than before. It was all I could do not to yell or punch something.

"Mom, what do we do now?" Hiccup asked.

"Now, we help her breathe through the contractions and we wait," Valka said calmly.

It had been several hours and I still hadn't been able to start pushing. Valka said I wasn't ready yet, but I was praying that I would be soon. I was sweaty and out of breath. Hiccup was trying to help but "breathe, Astrid, breathe. You're doing great!" was getting old real fast. I didn't listen to him whenever he said that. What I did do is squeeze his hand and curse at him every time a new wave of pain came over me.

"Why the hell did I let you put this demon inside me? You are never touching me again! Oh my gods I hate you!" I screamed. I'd have to tell him I didn't mean it later, but at the time… I am still not sure if I meant it or not at the time.

I had been laboring all night, eventually yelling with each contraction. Gobber had set up some lanterns so that Valka could see. She checked to see if I was ready to push every thirty minutes or so. Soon the sun had come up with still no sign of a baby. It was well into the morning when Valka smiled and exclaimed, "Okay, Astrid, you are ready to push!"

I was already exhausted. I looked back at Hiccup, squeezing his hand weakly.

"Babe, I don't think I can do this," I groaned. Another contraction started and I cried out in pain, squeezing my husband's hand so hard I was surprised I hadn't broken it yet.

"Astrid, don't say that. You are so close! Just a little longer and we will be holding our baby!" Hiccup encouraged.

I groaned and prepared for the next contraction. As soon as it started Valka was telling me to push as hard as I could. After about an hour of pushing Valka said, "Okay, I see the head, stop pushing! Just let your body do its job for now."

I leaned back on Hiccup. Even though I didn't have to push for a few minutes, the pain was still unbearable. From the look on Hiccup's face, I could tell he never wanted to put me through this again.

"Astrid the head is out, start pushing again!" Valka said excitedly. Gobber hobbled over, a blanket ready for the baby.

I screamed as I pushed as hard as I could.

"One more, lass," Gobber said.

I screamed again as I pushed one last time. Then it was all done. The cries of a baby filled the room.

"Oh, Hiccup, Astrid, you have a daughter!" Valka said, tears in her eyes as she and Gobber cut the cord and handed her to me.

She was tiny. Her face was all scrunched up and red and she hadn't been cleaned yet, but she was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Hiccup leaned over me, a look of awe in his face as he saw our daughter for the first time.

"Hi, baby," I giggled quietly, tears forming. "I'm your mommy and I love you so much," I whispered, kissing the screaming baby's nose.

"And I'm your daddy," Hiccup said quietly. He let her wrap her tiny fist around his finger. Valka and Gobber then took the baby to be cleaned, leaving Hiccup and I alone.

"We have a daughter…" Hiccup said in disbelief.

"We do," I said, beaming up at him. He smiled at me and kissed me softly.

"I love you. You are so amazing," he told me, pulling me close to him.

"I love you too," I said as I kissed him again. We looked into each other's eyes. I knew what he was thinking because I was thinking the same thing. We wished that Toothless and Stormfly had been here. The dragons would have been so excited. Though they couldn't be here now, Hiccup and I were hopeful that our kids would one day get to meet our best friends.

Valka and Gobber came back in and handed the baby to Hiccup.

"Have you decided on a name for the wee lass?" Gobber asked.

Hiccup and I smiled and looked at each other.

"We have actually," Hiccup said.

"And?" Valka asked.

At the same time, Hiccup and I said, "Zephyr Camicazi Haddock."