Vibing with some serious disaster gay energy today, where else would I direct it but here?
-HTTYD-
Eret waited, feeling like his heart was about to jump up out of his throat. Astrid looked up at him, then burst in to laughter.
"Sorry, I'm not laughing at you" she managed to say once she got herself under control "but you looked so worried... is that supposed to be news to me?"
Eret blinked a couple of times.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, for one, he is pretty cute. And I've seen you sneaking looks... is this why you're weird around him?"
Shrugging, Eret sighed as Astrid kept looking at him.
"Maybe? I'm not trying to be. I guess it's just tough to be around him when he reminds me of a lot of stuff, like how I almost lost you trying to get to grips with this. And I guess since this is still new, I'm having trouble figuring out how to be comfortable around him."
"Ok. I'm gonna go change, go sit down and when I'm back in my comfies, we can talk."
Eret nodded, turning and heading to perch on the sofa while Astrid went to put her lounging around clothes back on. She joined him a couple of minutes later, leaning over to kiss him before she sat down.
"Alright then. Let's figure this out. How can we make it easier for you to be around Hiccup? I'm over what you did with us, I understand it must have been so hard, and I was upset you felt you couldn't come to me about it back then, but I'm happy to put it in the past now it's sorted."
"Really?"
Astrid had, at times, held some legendary grudges. Eret wasn't sure he could believe she was letting him off that easy.
"Really. Sure, I could stay mad at you, and if you pull a stunt like that again we're done. But I don't think you will, and I don't want to carry around bitterness and resentment. We haven't really had any issues since then, and considering I'm pregnant by another guy, I honestly think that's saying something. So why stay hung up about it? I gave you that flag so you knew I was good with it. Now, back to Hiccup. How can we make this easier for you?"
He thought about it, unsure how to answer since he wasn't all that sure himself.
"I don't know. I feel better having told you though, and it is getting easier. Maybe this is what I needed."
"Alright, if you think so, then we can see next time you're around him. But if not, talk to me, alright? We'll figure it out, but you do need to be able to hang around him since we're all having a baby together."
"I know. And I will. That's why I told you, because we're usually pretty good at talking stuff out and even though you apparently knew, I felt like I needed to say something."
Astrid smiled, squeezing his hand.
"And I hear you, and I appreciate it. Continue your private ogling, cus he is nice to look at."
"Should I be worried?"
Eret said, but he was smiling too; it had been a bit of a running joke before, when Astrid had first told him about the night with Hiccup and how he'd had such a 'glow up' from his baby-faced teenage years.
"Well, I guess I should tell you... this baby is his."
Astrid started giggling as soon as she said it, and Eret felt infinitely lighter already. He pulled her up on to his lap and kissed her, feeling Astrid smile against his mouth as he did so.
"Damn, I'm so lucky to have you."
Astrid smirked, and reached up to tap the tip of his nose with her finger.
"And don't you ever forget it."
After a minute, Astrid grabbed his hand and placed it on her stomach, just in time for him to feel a solid kick from the baby. They shared a laugh, smiling as their daughter decided that they should be paying attention to her instead.
"Someone's woken up from nap time."
"Aww, she's just reminding us not to forget her."
Astrid laughed, nodding as she rubbed her belly.
"How could I forget? I'm reminded of her every time I see the word decaf. Not to mention every time I realise something doesn't fit. Think I'm gonna have to go bra shopping soon."
"I volunteer to help. Entirely selflessly, of course."
Eret said, and Astrid rolled her eyes and kissed him.
"Oh sure. Entirely selflessly. Let's see how you feel when it's time for maternity bras and breast pumping."
"I will soldier on somehow. Besides, I'm from an indigenous population who values women and the power of loving and nurturing children. Everything you do to take care of our daughter, including taking care of yourself as your body changes through pregnancy, is going to be amazing to me. Though I will admit, the morning sickness stage wasn't pretty."
Astrid beamed at him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders to hug Eret close.
"And that's why I'm lucky to have you. Just like the baby is."
Just to make her laugh, Eret reached up and tapped her on the tip of her cute button nose.
"And don't you ever forget it."
As she snuggled in to his chest, his hand resting on her bump, Eret counted his blessings all over again. He hadn't been worried about her reaction, exactly, but her immediate response being to reassure him and then ask how they could make things easier on him was just... incredible all the same. She'd been nothing but supportive and loving, and gave him no doubts at all about how happy she was to have him be the father of her child. One of them, anyway. His dad had always said "it takes a village to raise a child", so he figured three parents was definitely better than two.
Astrid kept a subtle eye on her boyfriend as he and Hiccup talked about dinner plans, and he did seem to be more at ease since she and Eret had talked out his finding Hiccup 'hot'. The more they got along, the better, so it was an excellent sight to her. It didn't hurt that they were talking about making food either.
"Hey, pregnant lady over here is hungry!"
"We know, we know. Come along Eret, before she starts gnawing on the furniture."
"Don't tempt me."
Astrid threatened, and the two men disappeared in to the kitchen laughing. She got comfy, stealing the cushion Eret was using and shoving it behind her back before sighing in relief as she finally found a comfortable position. With the baby growing and growing away, Astrid was starting to get more of the not-so-fun stuff associated with pregnancy. She could live with losing her abs and gaining a few stretchmarks, but the backache and sore boobs were definitely things she would be thrilled to see the end of.
There was some documentary on TV that Hiccup had been watching, and Astrid didn't mind it as background noise while she relaxed, hands resting on her bump with her eyes closed as she awaited the appearance of food. Hiccup re-appeared first, bearing gifts in the form of coffee and a cupcake.
"I have been reliably informed there's no such thing as spoiling your appetite, and I like my furniture as is, so hopefully this offering will keep you from having my sofa for dinner."
"No promises, but it's a good start."
He chuckled as he walked back to the kitchen, and Astrid happily devoured the cupcake. Between the food cultures and cooking skills of both her baby's fathers, she was confident that little Helena would probably also grow up a bit of a foodie too, much like Astrid herself. Though she'd probably leave cooking lessons to the rest of the family, otherwise the only thing she'd be teaching their daughter was how to set fires and hate smoke alarms. That and how to call for take-out.
Heck, maybe she'd sit in on the cooking lessons and learn something... though Astrid was sure she'd be kept a safe distance from anything flammable.
Astrid sipped at her coffee and scrolled on her phone for a little bit, and was about to go and investigate progress when Eret popped his head out and said they were just plating up. Astrid pushed herself upright and headed through to sit down with them around Hiccup's little kitchen island, which also served as a dining table. Chicken or beef and vegetables was pretty much a staple part of her diet anyway, though today they'd opted for fish - they'd checked which fish were safe to consume during pregnancy, so that she and Eret didn't have to exclude it from their diets entirely, as it was an important food to he and his family.
"Soooo good! Mmm."
Astrid mumbled to herself as she did her best to refrain from just pouring the plate directly in to her mouth. She caught both Eret and Hiccup poorly concealing amusement as they ate, and she was almost disappointed when she finished eating, but was pleasantly full and satisfied when she splayed back out on the sofa.
"I am not moving for at least an hour, this sofa is comfy and so am I."
"Did I ask you to go and then forget that I said it?"
Hiccup asked, looking faintly bemused.
"No, I'm just making my intention to become one with the sofa clear."
Eret chuckled as he lifted her legs and sat under them. That was fine by her, and Hiccup sat himself down so the three could watch some TV for a bit. It was a nice, uneventful evening, and Astrid regretfully got up from her cosy spot to dash to the bathroom before she and Eret bid Hiccup goodnight and headed out. Once they were safely in the car, she turned to Eret.
"So, how was that?"
"Yeah, better. Easier. Thanks for checking in on it, but yeah I think talking it out with you before has done the trick."
"Glad to hear it, but if you need to you know you can talk to me right?"
Eret nodded, smiling at her.
"Yeah, I know. Home?"
"Home."
She agreed, and Eret started up the car. The drive home was spent mostly in comfortable silence, Astrid feeling content and sleepy after a nice evening and an excellent dinner.
"Eeeeeret."
"Yes?"
"Will you take my shoes off for me? I'm tired."
Astrid asked, and Eret rolled his eyes but indulged her as she sat down on the nearest chair, yawning.
"Need help getting to bed?"
"No. Just gonna go brush my teeth and then await your cuddling services."
Eret kissed her, the two sharing a smile as they parted.
"I'm gonna go make our lunches for tomorrow, then I'll get ready for bed."
"I love you."
"I love you too. Go on, shift that cute butt before you fall asleep where you're sitting."
Astrid did so, brushing her teeth before she stripped off and crawled in to bed, sighing happily as the mattress welcomed her. She squirmed a bit to get in to a comfortable position, then waited for Eret to join her. He wasn't gone too long, and she all but purred in delight when he got in to bed with her and spooned against her back.
"Today was good."
Eret murmured, and Astrid smiled as he squeezed her gently.
"Yeah, it was."
She fell asleep still smiling, genuinely thrilled by how their evening had gone. Plus, Astrid did find it funny that she and Eret apparently had the same taste in men - they both thought Hiccup was cute. And, now she thought about it, Eret thought of himself as pretty hot too, and Astrid definitely agreed there.
They were both up and out the door pretty early the next day, and all Astrid could think about when she got home was a long shower followed by an even longer lie down eating ice cream. Eret didn't get back until a couple of hours later, and found Astrid lamenting the now-empty tub on the table from her prone position on the sofa.
"You alright?"
"No. I finished the last of the ice cream!"
Eret snorted, shaking his head as he walked past her to get changed. Astrid pouted, glaring at his back.
"You were the one who said we only needed to buy one tub."
"That is besides the point. I didn't really want ice cream at the time."
When he returned in his comfies, Eret was still visibly amused as he sat down.
"I'd offer to go get you some, but I know for a fact by the time I got back, you would have changed your mind and be wanting something else instead."
Astrid continued to pout for a few minutes more, but eventually conceded that Eret was right.
"It's Hiccup's fault! He's always baking stuff and so I'm spoiled for choice. How is a girl to choose?"
"Speaking of baking, how is the bun in your oven?"
"I think she's asleep right now. No doubt saving up lots of energy to keep me awake tonight after she treated me to a good nights sleep last night. Must be getting in some practice for when she's here and can keep us awake by screaming."
Eret laughed, patting her leg before he started to stand up.
"Can I offer you a bucket of our finest decaf?"
"Always. And cake. Or cookies. Or both. Both is good."
She caught the smug smile Eret had as Astrid sort of proved him right that she'd want something else, though she still entirely blamed Hiccup.
"I will forage around the kitchen and see what we have."
"Living up to the name Hunter?"
Astrid joked, hearing Eret laugh in response before he vanished. Though she knew she was a little moody at times, Eret was always wonderful to her, and she sat smiling about how sweet he was as she waited. He reappeared looking very attractive with her mug and a plate of treats, popping back to get his own mug before he joined her on the sofa again.
"So, did we make plans about when we're seeing Hiccup next?"
"Aren't you keen?" Astrid teased, winking to let Eret know she was kidding "and no, he said he has a deadline at work to meet, so he might be pretty busy for a little while, but will text me when he knows he's available."
Eret suddenly seemed very interested in his drink, though Astrid caught the faint flush on his cheeks and wondered just how keen Eret was to see Hiccup again, especially now Astrid had basically given him free reign to look as much as he wanted at the other man. A brief thought crossed her mind about Eret doing more than just looking, but Astrid pushed it aside. Eventually. After enjoying the images in her head for a minute or two, but nobody else had to know that.
-HTTYD-
Astrid: "the images in my head are between me and my conscience. And maybe my vibrator."
Eret: *quiet bisexual screams*
Hiccup: "I have cupcakes!"