Hiccup
Hiccup's heart thudded in his chest as he leapt of Toothless' back and ran into his house.
"Astrid?!" he shouted, his voice tight with panic.
"In here!" her voice sounded strained as she shouted from their bedroom.
"I'm coming Astrid!" Hiccup's feet slipped from underneath him as he scrambled up the burst into the bedroom and froze. Astrid was dressed in only a thin white shift and it clung to her sweat-covered body in places. Firelight shone in from the window, highlighting her silhouette through the fabric. Her hair was tied back in a messy braid, her bangs sticking to her forehead. She had her palms resting on the table and she was rocking her hips back and forth. Her eyes were scrunched closed as she hissed through her teeth. For a moment, Hiccup's panic was replaced by sheer awe and adoration. Astrid had never looked quite so strong or beautiful as she did in this moment.
Astrid looked up in response to Hiccup's sudden entrance.
"Babe," she pleaded, holding out a hand to him. Hiccup walked toward her, ripping off his helmet and gloves, letting them fall to the floor.
"I'm here milady," he whispered, taking her hand in his and placing a kiss on her head.
Just then, another contraction hit and Astrid winced in pain. One hand clutched her stomach while the other gribbed Hiccup's tight enough he felt it would break.
"Astrid, what can I do?" he asked.
Astrid's voice was shaky as she tried to breathe through the pain. "I'm not sure. Gods, I thought I was tough, but this hurts like Hel."
"I know, I know."
They stood in silence for a few moments as Astrid rocked her hips and breathed through the pain, when a quiet knock pulled their attention to the bedroom door. Valka opened it and walked in quietly, a soft smile on her face.
"I see the babe has decided not to wait a moment longer," she said with a soft chuckle.
"Mom-" Hiccup whispered, his eyes asking for guidance.
"It's alright," she said, "Go get a basin of water and some soft cloths. Astrid needs to move around." Hiccup nodded, releasing Astrid's hand and moved to walk away.
"And Hiccup-" he turned at his mom's voice, "take off the armor. You smell like death." Hiccup looked down at his bloodstained armor and nodded before quietly stepping from the room.
Kenna
Kenna walked into the Haddock household after quietly knocking on the doorframe with no response. The hearth glowed softly, the fires having gone out not long ago. Hiccup's armor was scattered around the room, and Kenna was sure that he had removed it in a hurry.
"Hello?" she called into the darkened home, unlatching her armor as she moved further into the main room.
A groan of pain echoed from upstairs and Kenna smiled at the hurried thunk and click of uneven footsteps from above. Hiccup's head appeared at the top of the stairs.
"We're up here," he said, "you can drop the armor anywhere."
Kenna smirked and shook her head at the panicked father before removing her armor, carefully folding it and placing it on a table, and walking up the stairs. In the bedroom at the top of the stairs, Kenna found Astrid pacing between forced breaths. Hiccup held her hand and watched her intently, the concern and love he felt for his wife evident on his face. Astrid stopped and gripped her belly tightly, letting out a high moan as another contraction wracked her body.
"Astrid, are you okay?" Hiccup asked anxiously. "What can I do? Do you need something?"
Astrid let out the breath that she had been holding and glared at Hiccup, who closed his mouth immediately.
"Hello dear," Valka said as she approached Kenna. "I think Hiccup is more nervous than Astrid," she whispered to the younger woman.
Kenna smiled. "Looks like it," she whispered back. "I should probably step in." She approached the couple and smiled softly at them. "How are things going?"
"Alright," Astrid replied through focused breaths. "The contractions started earlier tonight, and my waters broke right before the mountain was sealed."
"You've been in labor that long?" Hiccup asked. "You should have told me, I would have helped!"
"How?" Astrid retorted. "By telling Drago to stop the attacks? The contractions were small and irregular, I thought they were just practice ones." She stopped and took another deep breath, hissing through her teeth as she exhaled.
"Good," said Kenna calmly. "Hiccup, could you please boil a basin of water? I'd like to check on Astrid."
Hiccup paused, but nodded at Kenna and Astrid's insistent faces and hurried out of the room.
"Alright Astrid, how are you doing, honestly?" Kenna asked as she stepped into Hiccup's place. She gripped Astrid's arms and helped her keep walking throughout the room.
"It hurts. I can feel the pains throughout my stomach and my back and it's really hard to breathe through them."
"That's normal I promise it will all be worth it," said Kenna. "How often are they coming and how long do they last?"
"Maybe seven or eight in an hour, and they're lasting about a minute."
"Great! That means things are right on track. You baby is getting in the perfect position for delivery." Astrid nodded and took another breath as another contraction approached. "Good, Astrid. Just breathe through it. Nice and slow. Perfect. We're going to keep moving so that baby can get a little bit lower."
They continued the slow path around the bedroom, Kenna counting the time between Astrid's pains. They had passed few a few more when the door quietly opened, and Hiccup entered carrying a basic filled with scalding hot water. His hands were wrapped in cloths to protect his skin from the heat. Kenna nodded in thanks, then turned to Valka, quietly asking her to step into Kenna's place. The older woman obliged, walking Astrid around the room as Kenna went over to Hiccup.
"How is she?" he asked quietly.
"Wonderful. Everything is moving exactly the way it should. It's hard to tell, but I think you'll be a father before the evening."
He smiled and let out a small breath, his face lighting up with joy. He watched Astrid for a few moments before he turned back to Kenna. "Drago?" he asked, keeping his voice low.
Kenna's face solemned for a moment. "It's over," she said. "I left Eret and the riders to take care of everything."
"Good," he said, and walked over to Astrid, taking her hand from his mother. She smiled at him before her face scrunched up in another contraction. Kenna watched as Hiccup rubbed Astrid's back, whispering encouraging words in her ear as she breathed through the pain. Husbands like Hiccup were few and far between. At the first signs of labor, most men would flee, happy to pass off responsibility to the women, while they drank to their new child with their friends. But Hiccup was different. Kenna knew that she wouldn't have been able to get rid of Hiccup even if she wanted to. Besides, Astrid clearly wanted him there, and the strength the pair had together was immense. Kenna allowed herself to think about Eret in the same situation. Would he leave or would he insist on staying?
Astrid moaned loudly, a keening wail that Kenna knew meant her time was close. Kenna rushed forward while Hiccup urgently encouraged her to keep breathing. Astrid's body was covered in sweat. Her golden hair was damp and the shift she was wearing clung to her body.
"Astrid, would it be alright if I checked how things are going?" Kenna asked.
Astrid nodded, her breaths coming in short pants.
Kenna reached underneath Astrid's shift and between her thighs. As she checked Astrid's progress, Kenna smiled wide and looked up at the young couple.
"Are you ready to have a baby?"
Hiccup's eyes widened in shock and possibly fear and Astrid let out a breathy laugh. Kenna directed Valka and Hiccup to each take hold of one of Astrid's arms, effectively holding her up. Kenna gathered the supplies; basin of hot water, basin of cool water, and soft cloths, and knelt in front of Astrid. She soaked a small cloth is the cool water and passed it up to Valka, how wordlessly took it and placed it on Astrid's forehead. Astrid closed her eyes in momentary relief and let her head rest on Hiccup's shoulder.
"Astrid, with the next pain, I like you to push. Try to ease into it," Kenna said. Astrid nodded, took a few heavy breaths then furrowed her brow as she started to push.
"Great job, Astrid!" Kenna encouraged. "Keep going! A little more… Good!" Astrid panted as she rested her head on Hiccup's shoulder again. Valka wiped her brow with the cool cloth. Kenna could make out Hiccup uttering soft words of praise and adoration in hushed whispered in Astrid's ear. Kenna felt Astrid's abdomen tighten as another contraction approached.
"Alright Astrid, give it everything you've got!" Astrid bared down, her chin touching her chest as she grit her teeth and pushed hard. Kenna tuned out the words of praise and encouragement from Hiccup and Valka and focused all of her attention on the task at hand. Skin and muscle stretched and tensed to make way for new life. Astrid gave a low, animalistic cry as she pushed through the contraction with all her might. When Astrid stopped to breathe, Kenna encouraged her to keep going.
"Go right back into it, Astrid! Don't stop! Your baby's almost here!"
Astrid continued to push, her knuckles white where she clung to Valka and Hiccup as she gasped and panted. Hiccup murmured into her ear, his forehead pressed against hers. Kenna felt the muscles stretch and give way as small head, covered in brown hair made its way into the world. She kept one hand on the baby and grabbed a soft cloth with the other.
"Astrid, your baby's head is born! With the next contraction, give us another push and your baby will be here!"
Astrid nodded and scrunched her eyes as she pushed with all her might. Small shoulders made their way out, and with a rush, Kenna eased the child into the world. She quickly wiped the child's face of fluid and blood, encouraging it to cry. With a small gasp, the baby let out a small mew, which quickly grew into a full-blown cry. Kenna felt the tension dissipate as a relieved sigh seemed to sweep throughout the room. She felt the way Astrid relaxed her weight into Hiccup and Valka. As Kenna tied the umbilical cord with a piece of twine and cut it with a sharp, clean blade, she overheard words of love and praise above her as the baby's cries faded into quiet whimpers.
"Well done, love. You did such a wonderful job."
"Oh my gods. You did it, they're here."
Kenna wrapped the small figure in a clean blanket and looked up. Three sets of eyes met hers. She nodded to Valka, who pulled a sturdy chair behind Astrid. Hiccup and Valka eased the exhausted woman into the chair, who looked at Kenna expectantly. Kenna smiled and stood, the small bundle clutched in her arms. She smiled at the new mother and father.
"Would you like to meet your daughter?"
Astrid reached out with both arms, hands trembling slightly. Kenna carefully placed the tiny bundle in her arms. Astrid held the baby close to her chest, and pulled the blanket down so she and Hiccup could examine their baby girl.
"She's perfect," Hiccup whispered reverently. "As...you did it. She's so perfect."
Kenna allowed the parents and grandmother to coo and cuddle the newest Haddock as she finished her work. Once the afterbirth had been passed, Kenna checked Astrid for any signs of tearing, and cleaned her with warm water. As she cleaned up, the small family moved Astrid to the bed, so she could lay back and relax.
"She really is the sweetest baby I've ever seen," Kenna said as she cleaned her hands with a damp cloth. "She looks like you," she raised her chin to Hiccup.
"Me?" he asked, a little shocked, as he looked down at his daughter. "Gods help her, then."
Astrid chuckled and stroked the baby's auburn hair as the little one nursed at her breast.
"Thank you Kenna," she said quietly. "I couldn't have done this without you."
"Of course you could have. There is nothing stronger than a woman in labor. All I did was catch."
"Still. I can't thank you enough for everything you've done."
Kenna nodded with a smile and closed the door to give the little family time and privacy to get to know their daughter. She walked down the stairs and out the doors and into the morning light. In the sunlight, she took in the damage to the village. Houses and buildings were destroyed, either by boulders or burned to the ground. The houses further away from the main village still stood, though many had broken windows or were missing shingles. The slight western breeze blew through the village of New Berk, swirling the ashes of destruction away into the air.