(A/N) Guess who's finally back! First half by Pandamaster97720, second half by yours truly. I hope you guys and gals enjoy this combined work!
It was only a few months since Toothless died when Luna gave birth to her puppies. The Haddock's couldn't give her puppies up for adoption so they decided to adopt themselves to honor the life of Toothless, and even though it would be hard at first, they wanted to do this. Both Hiccup and Astrid knew that they wanted to train the puppies to be service dogs for their children once they got older and they would enlist the help of Mala to help train them as service dogs. Lately Luna had been hanging around Hiccup more, sensing that the death of Toothless had greatly affected him because he had known him longer than she did despite them being mates. She had taken to giving comfort to him when he would start to feel sad while thinking about his best friend.
When the time came Eclipse, Midnight, and Ruthless would be trained to help Hiccup and Helka along with her twin Asmund. During this time of grief they took it upon themselves to look back and appreciate all the times they shared with Toothless, moving forward with life without him no matter how hard it hurts. They knew that Toothless would want them to live their lives to the fullest, as he had helped Hiccup do many times in his hard childhood.
Within the coming weeks Hiccup and Astrid were getting their dogs register and taking them to get their puppy shots and their checkups as well.
It would take months until the puppies would be certified as serves dogs, but that was fine with the Haddock's because they knew that the puppies need the right and proper training to help them even though Eclipse, Midnight, and Ruthless were already close to and protective of them. Even though Luna wouldn't be trained as a serves dog, she was very attached to Hiccup and Astrid not to mention their kids especially Helka and Asmund due to the fact they had spent the most time with Toothless before he had passed away, regardless of her characteristics as a more wild, unattached dog.
By the time the puppies were around 6 months old they began basic training with Mala. Hiccup and Astrid already had the details and paperwork ready to register them to be service animals when they were ready. Helka had become immensely attached to Midnight, the pure black puppy of the breed with green eyes like her father. Asmund took to Eclipse, the black one with white paws and green eyes. Ruthless was still attached to Hiccup, tugging at the man's ears with his just-now-showing teeth when he was trying to sleep, or kneading his back like a cat would when Hiccup was sleeping on his stomach. Unlike the other two, Ruthless was black with white ears and a white spot on his forehead, his eyes blue. He had started out completely black, but grew the white spots when he got more fur on his tiny body.
"Sit!" Helka, now 7 years old and doing well in her schooling, shouted with glee while holding a treat above her puppy's head. Midnight, being the intelligent girl she was, did exactly as asked despite only being 7 months old and about as long as Helka's little arm.
Asmund was making progress with Eclipse as well. The puppy had been taught to stay quiet when he was having his normal headaches, and would sit next to him on the couch, or in his lap at the table, without ever begging for attention or food. Eclipse was the rather laid back one of the litter.
Ruthless stayed with Hiccup nearly every night so long as he didn't fall asleep next to his mama. Every one of the dogs had began sleeping on their own with their preferred child, except for Ruthless who still slept with his mother one to two nights a week. He had learned not to bark if Hiccup was having a migraine, and had also learned to sniff out Hiccup's prosthetic leg based on his scent just like Toothless had when his owner would lose it in the mornings.
"They're doing really well." Mala said as she watched the veterinarian at the shelter give the puppies their flee treatments. With how big the back yard was in the Haddock household, and with how tall the grass could get in the spring, Luna tended to bring them in often.
"They really are. Helka and Asmund absolutely adore them." Astrid was holding her 3 almost 4 year old boy in her arms who was constantly squealing and trying to reach out for the dogs held in their kennels. Stoick the second was growing to look like his father and grandfather, red hair, green-ish eyes, and chubby limbs his grandfather once had.
Mala smiled brightly and offered her arms to the boy who eagerly had her hold him. Why as Helka and Asmund grew out of being carried around rather quickly, wanting to have each other's attention more than the attention of their parents, Stoick II was always eager to be lifted into the air instead of walking on his own two feat.
"You're a spoiled little one aren't you? Have you been using that charm of yours to get your way from everyone in the city little man?" Stoick II laughed and clapped his hands. He had grown quite fond of Mala over the past few months.
"Yep! My pre-school teacher loves me! I'm doing really well with my ABCs that Daddy has been teaching me!" The boy's voice dropped to something just above a whisper, leaning in towards Mala's ear and cupping a hand over the side of his mouth.
"Mommy and my Teachers both say I'm getting really handsome." Mala chuckled at that, shaking her hand playfully before passing the boy back off to his mother. Astrid went to watch the kids play with the other animals while Hiccup talked to Mala.
"He's really sure of himself. Reminds me of another little boy I used to work with." Hiccup laughed quietly at that, running a hand through his hair. Ruthless ran up to him, pawing at his left knee so his boy would pick him up. Hiccup did as asked, picking the little thing up and coddling him against his chest.
"Yeah. Long time huh?"
Mala chuckled this time, winking and reaching out a hand for him to shake.
"Seems like yesterday your mother was bringing you in. Now you've come to me to talk about your own children."
Hiccup nodded his head, enjoying the calming breeze that came into the outdoor shelter before he heard an angry shout and realized the twins were wrestling again because on had touched the other's dog. The puppies both sat on top of them, clinging to their hair like kittens while the two rolled over each other.
"Eh, I should probably go take care of that since m'lady has Stoick." Hiccup winked at Mala, sticking his tongue out slightly after handing her Ruthless so he didn't injury the puppy while separating his children. Hiccup then went to grab Helka who was on top, lifting her onto his shoulders. She squirmed for a few seconds until he scolded her loudly, making the once furious little girl duck her head in embarrassment and hold onto her daddy's neck while he carried her.
Hiccup gave Asmund a sharp look, telling them both this was no way to act in public. The little boy tried to protest by shouting in a cracked, embarrassed voice, but Astrid quickly told him he would have to do every one of his chores (picking up toys from the night before with his sister and cleaning their bedroom while Helka helped her mother do the dishes) before he would be allowed to watch TV for talking back to his parents. Helka, of course, tried to tease him but Hiccup gave her calve muscles he was keeping hold of while she was on his shoulders a tighter squeeze in warning to bite her tongue.
Once that little argument was taken care of, Hiccup and Astrid decided to take their children, and the puppies, for a picnic they had planned previously in the day.
About 4 months later the puppies were old enough to start official training, Luna always staying nearby during the program to keep an eye on her children. The puppies seemed to have a natural instinct to protect, but didn't get aggressive while protecting, just like their father had. Ruthless was a little bit harder to work with do to his hyperactive attitude, but all would work out within the next year or two Hiccup was sure.