Chapter 20

One last filler chapter before Hiccup arrives! Enjoy!

I was seven months pregnant now and I really wasn't allowed to leave the house now. Stoick had been keeping a close eye on me ever since the flying stunt I pulled a few months ago.

I walked into the kitchen and started washing the dishes from breakfast. I scrubbed a plate angrily as I thought in the past few months.

Stoick barely let me go anywhere and it was starting to really irritate me. I put the plates away as calmly as I could as I heard the door open and close behind me.

"Evening dear," Stoick said coming up behind me and resting his hands on my shoulders tentatively.

"Evening," I mumbled.

"What's wrong?" He asked standing straight.

"Nothing I'm just...tired of being cooped up in the house all day everyday," I told him exasperatedly.

"What do you mean? You aren't cooped up," He said.

"Oh that's right, you wouldn't know because you're the one who's keeping me in here," I growled at him.

"Aurora...I'm just trying to protect you," He said.

"Stoick I don't need protection every second of the day! I can take care of myself!" I exclaimed at him feeling the tension of the past few months unwinding.

"Really? Then how do you explain being captured by Alvin for 12 years? You must've been doing a really great job of taking care of yourself," He said sarcastically.

"You're seriously bringing that up? I can't believe you would use that against me!" I exclaimed at him, hurt that he would say that.

"Listen to me, I know what can happen to a person in your condition and I don't want that to happen!" He shouted back at me.

"Oh what? What could happen to me? If you're so adamant to bringing up my past then why don't you stop worrying yourself and let something happen to me! Probably take a huge weight off your shoulders!" I shouted back at him my brow furrowing more.

He went to respond but he stopped and his gaze turned from irritated to hurt and sad. He clenched his teeth and shifted his gaze to the ground.

"Aurora the...the reason I'm so protective of you is...well...years ago when I was young and new to chiefing, I had a wife. I loved her very much and I was even happier when I found out she was pregnant. I thought she'd be fine and able to take care of herself while she was pregnant but...one night there was a dragon raid and there was an accident just outside our house where one of the beams fell from the house and landed on top of her," He stopped for a moment and took in a shakey breath," She and the unborn child were killed instantly. I promised myself that if I ever got remarried and was going to have a child then I would make sure to protect them both with everything I have. That's all I wanted to do with you and I already failed you once by letting you lose your leg. I don't want to fail again."

Stoick backed up slowly until he was able to collaspe in his chair. I reached forward and set my hands on his wrists.

"Stoick, I-I'm sorry, I didn't know," I said quietly, feeling terrible for how I had been now," Why...why didn't you tell me before?"

"I-I don't know, it's just...hard to talk about," He said keeping his gaze locked on the floor.

"It's okay, I understand," I told him quietly.

He looked up at me with a sad look in his eyes. I fell down to my knees in front of him and laid my head down in his lap. I felt him move his hands so that they were gently holding mine.

I could feel the utter guilt setting in now and I felt tears pooling at my eyes. I tried with all my might to keep from crying because I knew I didn't deserve to have him pity me at this moment.

I scolded myself mentally when I let a choked sob escaped and I felt Stoick tense slightly. I was yelling at myself when I felt his fingers gently grasp my chin so that he could turn my head and force me to look at him.

My face was tear soaked and my eyes were red and puffy. He had a look of sadness and guilt in his eyes as he fell to the floor in front of me and took my face in his hands.

"Now look at what I've done...I made you cry..." He muttered softly, caressing my cheek.

"No...Stoick...don't pity me, I don't deserve it after the way I've been treating you," I said through my sobs.

"Aurora...there's no way that you could've known, and I should've told you a long time ago," He said quietly.

"I know but-" I couldn't finish as Stoick leaned forward and kissed me softly.

"No excuses. Now you know and we can figure this all out together," He said taking one hand and taking mine.

"It's just...I feel as if sometimes I don't deserve your love. You love me so much and I love you too but I question why you still decide to put up with me and love me," I told him after I gain composer.

"For better or for worse, and for you my dear, I would do anything," He said wiping the stray tear away with his thumb.

I closed my eyes and rested my head against his chest and beard where he stroked my hair softly.

I rested there for a few moments before I pulled back and looked up into his eyes. I leaned forward and kissed him softly, putting as much love and care as I could into the simple kiss.

After breaking the kiss I gave him several more and I kept my arms around his neck making sure that I would never have to let go of this man.

For I knew in my heart that he was the best thing that had ever happened to me and without him, I would be lost.

I started dozing off as Stoick held me tight against his chest and he stood, carrying me in his arms to the bedroom.

He laid me down gently and he followed, holding me against him as he whispered loving words to me that at some points I couldn't quite make out.

Just as I was about to fall asleep I opened my eyes slightly and kissed him one last time before sleep over took me.