(A/N) Hey guys! I'm mostly doing this to keep track of the timeline myself, but figured you guys might want to know as well.
In the beginning of the story, I never said the exact month but it was storming and stuff, around spring in Northern places such as Berk, a few days after Hiccup's sixteenth birthday which according to Cressida Cowell is on February 29th. He hears the news about Astrid's pregnancy five months after she got pregnant. The twins were born shortly after Hiccup was in the hospital for five weeks, being pretty premature. Now they're seven months old, meaning right now it's around October. In the previous chapter Astrid states they're only three weeks into the REAL school work, meaning they're only about a month and a couple weeks into Junior year considering in the first month of school it's mostly just preparations. The twins are seven months, eight months in a week or so. Hope this helps!
School was tough to say the least. Hiccup had offered for Dagur and Heather to stay over upon request of T, he had to make up hours in his job with Gobber after school, needed to get back on track because he'd already managed a few sixties do to stress, and people were started to notice the feeding tube.
Usually, despite the few girls who considered him eyes candy do to his slight muscle and such, Hiccup was teased for his thin structure and lack of weight. Now, with gossip having gotten out somehow and every girl knowing they wouldn't have a chance with the Haddock since he was already a father, they saw no shame in making fun of him. This meant the feeding tube jokes pretty much never ended. The word toothpick was around every corner, and sounds of disgust at the thought of a long tube being up your nose (which Hiccup really did find uncomfortable when someone would have to help him change or clean it) came at least every five minutes. Only around 3 out of 10 students seemed to pity him a little, and even less were more curious than prideful.
One of the more curious kids was Fishlegs and his sort-of-friends-because-he-helped-them-with-homework the Thorsten Twins. "Hey Hiccup. How long did the hospital say you had to keep that in? If I remember correctly, you've had it for months now." Fishlegs asked Hiccup as they walked down the halls, gesturing to the yellow colored feeding tube taped to the boy's face.
Hiccup sighed, reaching out to tell Fishlegs he needed the history book he'd let him borrow. Fishlegs handed the Haddock the book, smiling slightly in an attempt to lighten Hiccup's mood. "They really don't know Fishlegs. I've only been back to the doctors office three times and to the hospital for blood work five times since the incident, and they're not seeing much progress. At this rate they say I'll need to have a G-button implanted in the future." Hiccup shivered slightly, not really liking the idea of a feeding tube in his stomach. He had no idea if it would be more uncomfortable than the one in his nose or not.
"Well, what if you just tried eating more. You know, more fatty foods perhaps? Or protein shakes?" Fishlegs tried to help his more-or-less distant friend, though didn't really know how. Hiccup sighed, shrugging his shoulders. "It's not that easy Fish. All my life I've had a hard time gaining weight. If I eat enough I can sustain it, but never really gain extra. Now after losing so much in the hospital and do to stress with the twins, I just can't seem to gain it back. Even if I eat the recommended amount of food a day, blood tests and physical signs are still saying i'm malnourished and I just can't figure out why. I was able to manage when I was little, but it seems my body never seems to want to grow with me."
Fishlegs rubbed his chin as they rounded the corner in the Hallways, both having the same first period and about five more minutes to get there. "Actually I have read about these kinds of things." He started, his scientific side getting the best of him. "Some children are born with overly high metabolisms, and a digestive track that never formed right." Hiccup's eyes widened, and he looked at Fishlegs curiously. "That's exactly what my doctor said." Fishlegs nodded with a shy smile.
"Yeah. Sometimes different organs that help get nourishment to the body aren't formed right. The digestive system isn't just made for getting food through, but for processing nourishment and getting it to the circulatory system and into the blood. Your blood tests are obviously showing malnourishment because something's not working right. You said your doctors said that something wasn't developed correctly, so that would explain why it's been this way since you were little. Nothing was taken too seriously until you started dropping to the..." "Eighties? Though that's without the prosthetic on which weighs a good four pounds." Hiccup offered.
Fishlegs nodded, a little surprised that a boy standing at nearly six feat tall (he's six foot one in HTTYD 2 and sixteen in this so I guess it fits) with a reasonable box like build and obvious abdominal muscles could weigh so little. "Yeah. Now that you have reached such a lower weight and been showing lack of nutrition in your blood, it makes sense the doctors would be more cautious. After all, even if you were in the hundreds, your body's just not processing the nourishment it should be. In all honesty, your lucky you didn't have the tube a long time ago." Hiccup nodded in complete understanding. The last time he had a blood test or actual checkup for that matter before the Tornado in the Hofferson home had been years ago. There's no telling how long he'd actually been lacking vital nutrition.
Just as Hiccup was deep in thought, processing Fishlegs' words, the first bell suddenly range. "Shoot! Fishlegs common!" Hiccup took off in a sprint towards his first period Computer science class, leaving a whining Fishlegs to catch up despite his backpack loaded with books and supplies. "Wait up Haddock!"
Just as the teacher started taking attendance, Hiccup sprang through the door and plopped down in a seat near the back. "Present!" He managed to call out just as his last name was called. Fishlegs managed the same thing, causing the seemingly stressed male teacher known as Mr. Mildew to scowl. "You two need to focus more on your timing. Next time I'm marking you absent for being here after the bell." Fishlegs made a slightly frightened whining sound in the back of his throat, but Hiccup nodded silently, a playful smile gracing his lips as he pulled out his textbook and turned to the current lesson.
Whispers. That's all he heard as he entered second period. The class was Algebra two which was taken the year after geometry which Hiccup had taken in his sophomore year. He wasn't extremely fond of his teacher who seemed to like to express his hatred of dogs caused by some weird trauma he'd had. Hiccup always got defensive, knowing how loving and grateful Cloudjumper could be. The old dog slept most of the time now days, but when he was awake and in the living room, he was as playful as a puppy.
Unlike in his third period with Astrid, fourth period with the twins who were Fishlegs' friends and therefor his sort-of-friends, fifth and sixth periods with Dagur and Heather, seventh period with Fishlegs, or eighth period with the art teacher who adored him to stand up for him, Hiccup didn't really have anyone to help him out in Algebra two. This meant that the comments about the feeding tube, weight, and gossip about his kids came even more often from every corner. Add in an overly stern Mr. Grimmle and this was not a fun class to have. Just a month and a half into the school year and Hiccup had developed a hatred to Algebra.
Thankfully enough the class was doing simple textbook assignments which Hiccup whizzed through easily. He took the extra time he had to work on the chemistry presentation he had due this Thursday. By the time Hiccup labeled his pieces of the project and glued most of them to a piece of cardboard attached to the notes he'd made the night before, the bell for third period rang. Sure he'd dealt with gossip this hole class period, but getting to have his next class with Astrid Hofferson was definitely worth it.
At least Hiccup thought getting to see Astrid in the next class would be worth it. What he saw in the quiet corner stunned him though, and was definitely not something he needed with his stress. "Astrid come on what's the matter?! You shrugged me off when I met you and it's obvious you've been crying. I can't take you just giving me hints like this. I've got to much going on."
In all honesty Hiccup hadn't meant to snap so loudly when Astrid shrugged away from his grasp and refused to let him know why she'd been previously crying before he arrived, but he just had so much stress on his shoulders. A guy could only take so much. He wasn't super human.
"Why are you yelling at me?! I'm sorry I don't want to say something that will only cause more gossip." Hiccup was a bit taken back by the cracked tone in Astrid's voice, and he used all his willpower not to snap again. With a deep, unintentionally intimidating voice, he spoke again with a hand on her shoulder. "So that's what this is about? Astrid tell me who it is and I'll make sure it stops." Astrid only shook her head, pulling away.
"It's everyone Hiccup. I can't take how much everyone talks about us anymore. I went from star of the basketball and football teams to..to..to a teenage mother and slut." Astrid's voice was no longer broken, but angry and filled with rage. Hiccup was once again taken back, and leaned against the wall while pinching the bridge of his nose.
"You know what Astrid? I don't know how you feel. Most of my life I was always the outcast and didn't care what people think. I've heard the whispering too alright? You can't let it get to you. You have far more important things to worry about." Astrid punched the wall with the side of her hand, biting her lip. "Like what?!" She snapped once again.
Hiccup's eyes darkened and he grit his teeth. "Like your grades? Like your sports? And, oh I don't know, like your kids? Look, I get it, things are harder with Armina and Halden Astrid, but you can't let all these things that these stupid high school kids are saying get to you." Astrid was just starting to calm down, a look of guilt flashing in her eyes. That's before someone just had to come and ruin it.
"Who are you calling stupid toothpick?" A senior girl with flashy colored hair and striped high hills said, her makeup bag clutched in her hand. "Anyone who says my girlfriend is a bad mother or slut." Hiccup growled with darkness in his eyes. Astrid balled her fist, stepping up and standing at his right hand side.
"You're really not one to be talking Hiccup. I guess you didn't have your daddy around so had to become one yourself. Right girls?" Two other girls giggled and Astrid nearly clobbered all three of them. Luckily Hiccup grabbed her waist and held her back. He made a confused look, eyes full of disgust.
"How in the name of Thor does that 'comeback' make any sense? Now you see why I use the word stupid." The sassy senior girl snapped, and Hiccup felt a fist collide with his abdomen. He only doubled over for a second, before straitening up with a look of steal and twice as threatening. Even Astrid was frozen by the sudden change of mood.
"Try me again." Hiccup snapped, unaware that he was capable of such an angry tone. He was usually more reasonable than this, but like mentioned before, stress can do this to you. The two other girls backed away, but the center one didn't know when enough was enough.
"You threatening me Haddock?" The girl stalked closer to Hiccup, face close to his. Astrid was about to make a move, but the boy quickly made a motion with his hand telling her to back down. "Say the wrong thing and I am." The deep tone sent a shiver down the girl's spine, but she didn't stop. "I meant what I said before. I just hope your kids don't grow up to be as awful and gross as you."
Oh...that was enough for both young parents. Astrid quickly tried to go for the girl's throat, but Hiccup grabbed her by the waist again and pushed her back. He stood between both girls, but had the seniors wrist in such a tight, painful grip that her circulation began cutting off. The girl yelped in pain, looking at Hiccup with fear filled eyes.
"I'm a reasonable person. Now leave us alone before I no longer try to stop a fight from happening." Hiccup practically growled while gesturing to Astrid who had her fists balled tightly. You could tell the senior wanted to make a comeback, but was too scared to. She yanked out of Hiccup's grip, running away like a coward with her two friends nodding almost apologetically to the two young parent's. It was as if even they believed their popular friend had gone too far this time.
Hiccup turned to Astrid who still looked angry. It seemed the fight wasn't even close to over despite the offending girl already gone. "See what I mean? Can't go anywhere without this." Astrid hissed with tears in her eyes, and Hiccup only now realized just how frustrated and infuriated she was. He held both of her hands, ignoring the ringing bell indicating they were tardy.
"Astrid listen to me-" "No Hiccup! Listen to me! You have no idea what this feels like! I had the perfect reputation, perfect plans for my future, and all the right grades before the twins came along! I lost it all because of that night!" Astrid shouted, too far in to get out.
Hiccup gritted his teeth. Seriously? He had no idea how she felt?
"You have no idea how I feel Astrid! Have you ever stopped to ask me how I felt after all my plans for college, good grades, extra curricular, and so much more were destroyed?! You have no idea how much I hate to be unprepared. What did you do though? Huh?! The day you told me you were pregnant you got mad at me for not being able to come over right away without even taking my reasoning into consideration! You never took the time to be grateful for the fact that most guys would've left! I stayed."
Hiccup took a breath, but couldn't calm his emotions until he finished his thoughts that had been held in for too long. "I stayed and I helped you with the little money and time I had. I stayed despite never having a good father figure of my own. I stayed by your side through it all even though, in all honesty, you were the one who insisted we could try a few extra things that night before we lost control. I'm sorry, but I can't be perfect Astrid Hofferson! I love you, but I don't know how much more of this I can take." Anger was replaced with sadness as Hiccup neared the end of the conversation, before he stormed off to the office, knowing he'd already be asked since the papers stating who was present had already been marked and sent in.
Astrid stood frozen in the hallway, angry tears springing to her eyes but refusing to fall. She punched the desk of the quiet corner, before grabbing her bag and heading to the office as well. How had this happened?
(A/N) Please don't kill me! I know, I know, but I had to add this! I need a crises for the four plots in this story and this was one of them! One for Hiccstrid, one for Dagur and Heather, one for T (toothless if none of you got that) and his dad, and one for the reasoning behind Snotlout's changes in life. I know you probably hate me right now, but it gets better! I love angst okay?