-Chapter 10-

Eret Sons of Eret's

They had all gathered in the great hall for breakfast once more, only this time Hiccup and Heather joined them.

Much to Brenna's dismay, Heather had been spending a lot of time outside of the house anyway. Specifically with Eret.

"Eret son of Eret, Grandson of Eret" Eret declared hands stamping it into the sky for dramatic effect. "It's destined to be."

"Whatever you say Eret, but I come from a very long line of strong, powerful women." Heather rolled her eyes at his dramatics.

He had come around to the idea of being a father rather quickly, though the terms of their relationship were very unspecific.

"There's no chance for it to be a girl, trust me. There hasn't been a single female born to my clan in history." Eret defended once more and everyone just decided it was best to let him have that one, besides Fishlegs of course.

"On another note, I have some big news." Heather interrupted mostly address Hiccup and Astrid now that the others had gone on to argue genetics. "I've decided to move to Berk permanently." Heather smiles, her back leaned against the bench back to allow room for her belly between her and the table.

"Oh Heather that's great!" Astrid exclaimed taking her hands and sharing in her excitement.

"That's great news Heather. We'll have to start working on a hut for you and Windshear, once the ground softens." Hiccup smiled, knowing how hard it had been for the duo to part in the past.

"Does Eret know?" Astrid was able to ask since said Viking was thoroughly distracted.

"He actually suggested it." Heather admitted. "It would make it easier for each of us to see the baby, and I'd have help round the clock."

"So you're...?" Astrid wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, something that made Hiccup raise a brow at her in return.

"Gods no. We decided to just be friends but I couldn't keep him away from the baby. Besides it'll be nice not to be a full time mom." Heather just seemed so relaxed about the mom thing, but maybe it really was just because her time as a parent would be split between her and Eret.

Looking back at Hiccup, she just couldn't imagine doing any of it without him.

"Any change on the romance front." Heather teased, arm locked with Astrid's as they took one of their regular walks through Berk.

"Not in the way you're suggesting." Astrid nudged her and Heather gave her a gentle smile. "I did talk to him though. And while we've both decided that we are absolutely going to wait, I am going to start taking wild carrot for birth control." Astrid announced, that same anxious giddy feeling erupting deep in her belly.

"Wild carrot? I haven't heard of it." Heather seemed a bit distracted but Astrid was too consumed in her own feelings to notice.

"Valka suggested it. It..." Astrid noticed their pace had slowed to a stop. "Heather?"

It was then Astrid noticed the vice like, quivering grip on her arm. She placed a hand over Heather's.

"I-I'm fine." Heather assured, but her face was paper than usual and her cheeks and lips had lost their rosy tint. "Only tired."

"Should we go back?" Astrid inquired suddenly very worried for her dear friend and at a loss.

"Yes. Yes... I-I think so." Heathers other hand clutched the material that rested over her belly.

Before they could walk another step, Heather was collapsing and Astrid's cry of distress could be heard across the village.

"I'm so sorry Heather. I was so wrapped up- if only I had been paying more attention." Astrid cried, grasping onto Heather's cold hands.

"It came on suddenly Astrid." Heather assured her weakly. "I'm really fine now."

Astrid begged to differ. She looked like death. Cheeks sullen, expression weak, she could barely lift her head in any given direction. Thank god Eret had not been very far when Heather had fallen and helped Astrid get her back home while Astrid ran to alert Gothi.

Currently, the old mute was perched on a stool holding some kind of herb tied to a string over Heather's belly, rotating it in a pattern Astrid couldn't place and humming in the back of her throat.

Eret was right there as well, sitting up on the bed closer to Heather's face and watching in worry as Gothi worked. He looked almost as bad as Heather, nearly the same fearful expression as when he had first saw Heather pregnant. Only now he feared for Heather and the baby's well being.

Astrid new instantly that she preferred the shocked fear to this one.

"Astrid dear." Brenna announced herself, bringing a kettle and mug to the bedside. She placed a soothing touch to Astrid's shoulder. "Hiccup is outside. Should I have him come up." Brenna looked between the two young women for an answer.

"If he sees me like this it'll only drive him mad with worry." Heather spoke logically.

Drying her tears Astrid nodded in agreement. She may have been close to Heather, but they had practically been siblings all those years ago.

"I-I'll go meet him." Astrid declared and reluctantly dropped Heather's hand and left her bedside, trusting Brenna and Eret's watchful eyes.

Downstairs, Hiccup was already beginning to pace the sound of his foot then prosthetic hitting the floor a steady rhythm. It stopped entirely once Astrid reached the main floor.

"Astrid." He raced to meet her, hands catching hers immediately.

It had been exactly what she needed, grounding.

"How is she? The baby?" His forest green eyes flitted over her features, searching for a sign, answers.

She shrugged unable to find words for a moment, her throat was sore and a sob was building there, blocking her speech. She cleared her throat, but her voice still came out weak and horse.

"Oh Hiccup..." was all she was able to say in that given moment and squeezed his hands tighter.

Hiccup squeezed hers back. She looked so broken, her eyes downcast. And he knew that look, it was shame, but for what?

"It is not your fault." He declared stooping down in hopes of catching her gaze.

It worked, her watery blue eyes met his and a tear spilled down her otherwise stony facade. Unfortunately, he could do nothing more to ease her worry than to wrap her up in a tight embrace and hope that she could feel how proud of her he was. Maybe with her head pressed there against his chest she could hear how his heart thundered and ached for her.

They were the same. They carried others burdens as their own. The weight of mountains on their shoulders.