[WARNING: Teenie tiny HTTYD 3 spoilers if you squint.]

Pieces

It was a gradual occurrence. I mean, of course she expected things to be out of the ordinary for a little while. Just like it had been when Stoick died. But this… it stretched from a week, to a month, then to a season, then a year. Then two years.

She even noticed it on their wedding day.

It was Hiccup's hands. They didn't jostle. They didn't twitch. They didn't gesture in that animated way of his. Certainly, they were as nimble as they'd been before. His work at the forge was still top notch. But… it was almost like something was missing. Like a piece of him was gone. She knew it shouldn't bother her so much- especially when some people would see it as a hindrance, and say it was a good thing the habit was gone. But it was one of those endearing traits about him that she so dearly loved.

For a while, she thought she was the only one who noticed it. But, eventually, the others would mention something like "Is something wrong with Hiccup? He seems quiet. Well, quieter." And it was true. Something about him just wasn't the same. He didn't seem as… alive.

Even the twins began to notice. Once, she brought it up to Valka, and the woman had pondered for a moment, before agreeing.

"Why, that's it. I knew something was wrong. I thought… maybe it was just seeing Hiccup without Toothless. But of course."

After it was addressed, no one really brought it up again. What was the point? There was nothing they could do to bring it back.

She wished she could. It might sound weird to say so, but she really really missed it. His quirky shoulder shakes, where they'd bounce up and down at different intervals. Or where he'd move his hands about in expressive gestures. All things that were so specifically Hiccup, he almost wasn't Hiccup without them.

She scolded herself for such a thought. Of course he was still Hiccup without some silly habit. He was just… different. And it made her sad, because she knew why he didn't do it anymore. Just like how he no longer stuttered. It was because he'd lost something, and that something had taken some of the best parts of him with it.

She gnawed on her lip, her fingers intertwined around her swollen belly. She was leaned up against a bench in the Forge, watching as her husband bustled about working on only Thor knows what. She hoped none of the people passing the outdoor overhang noticed how closely she was watching. She flushed and took that moment to look away.

And of course, at that exact moment, there was a loud bang, followed by a curse. She whipped her head about in surprise. Hiccup was sprawled out on the ground, his prosthetic caught on a forgotten bucket, half filled with rain water. His top half narrowly missed a barrel of spears.

"Hiccup!" She struggled to her feet, almost falling herself in her haste. She mumbled curses under her breath at how slow she was moving these days, until she was finally on her feet. She waddled to where Hiccup was attempting to sit up. Emphasis on "attempt"

When he caught sight of her approaching him, he was quick to intervene. "No, nononono Astrid, sit down, I'm perfectly fine I-" In his scrambling to stop her, he slipped again, catching himself on the table. She grabbed his arm and hauled him up, before squatting down and trying to wiggle the bucket off his fake foot. He'd punctured all the way through the wood.

"Astrid, please sit down." Hiccup said quietly. He fell back onto the ground, holding his left leg up. "You shouldn't be moving so much."

Astrid grunted when she got the bucket off, sending her plopping back onto her butt. Hiccup wasted no time in climbing to his feet and lifting her up. He led her back to the bench.

"Are you okay?" She said around a smile. She distinctly saw three little faces across the street peaking around a building, all stifling laughter behind their hands. She had to admit, as undignified as it might have been, it must've been pretty dang funny seeing the chief trip over his own feet (foot), and watch his pregnant wife struggle to help him.

"You're laughing!" Hiccup guffawed. But she noticed he was smiling too, behind the scruff.

She truly did then, her voice bouncing off the huts. "You have to admit, it was pretty funny." She pat her stomach and snorted a few more chuckles. "Besides, no harm done. Just a little broken pride is all."

Hiccup walked back to where he was working and bent to pick up whatever piece of metal he'd been working on. Unfortunately, it didn't appear to have survived the fall. "Well, almost." He tossed the metal aside and gave a little chuckle.

There it was again. He chuckled, but his shoulders didn't bounce with it.

Her smile faded.

It finally happened.

Almost three years later, and it finally happened.

I mean, it took a baby to get it back, but she was perfectly fine with that. She'd give birth to ten more children if it meant Hiccup's hands would never stop bouncing, that his stutter would never leave.

And that was coming from a woman who'd just gone through childbirth. The pain still fresh in her mind, she would willingly do it all again if it meant Hiccup would never, ever, stop flopping his hands and shoulders about. And not only his arms, but his legs jittered as well. And he didn't even realize he was doing.

She smiled softly. It had been so long since she'd seen him so… so Hiccupy.

She watched as Valka tried handing Hiccup their child. A healthy baby girl. But Hiccup's hands shook, they gestured towards Astrid, then at himself when Valka relentlessly extended her arms. But his protests fell on deaf ears.

"The mama needs her rest now, Hiccup. She's held her for an hour now. And before I take her away for her bath, you should really hold her." Valka urged.

"I-I can't, Mom I-I'll drop her o-or-"

Astrid watched with a tired smile. She supposed her eyes should still be on the little bundle in Valka's hands, but no. Her eyes were on Hiccup.

He was there. He was… could she say "back"? Because it almost felt that way.

Finally, Valka got the baby into Hiccup's shaking arms. He sat stiffly, not daring to move, while the baby girl in his arms slowly moved her arms.

And so, with that picture in her mind, she drifted off to sleep, dreaming of a little girl with her father's expressive hands.


I saw HTTYD 3 and it tore me apart from the inside out. The movie was really really good (I mean, it has flaws. It's probably my least favorite of the trilogy, but still, sooooo good) but I don't think that's exactly what did me in. It's just kind of... the whole idea that this is it. That's the last movie. We won't get anymore from these characters we love so much.

Any who, have this crap fic, I hope you enjoyed it! I felt inspired. :DD

Lots of love, and see ya next time! *hugs* Lemme know what you thought of the movie if you've seen it. :)