For everyone waiting ever so patiently for mommy-daughter time, here it finally is! I hope I did the idea justice... But no worries, this won't be the last we see of Zephyr and Astrid time! And VERY soon we will have some sibling time between Nuffink and Zephyr, so enjoy and I'll be back soon!
(Also, I have a special announcement afterwards...) :)
Hiccup and Astrid: around 28 years old; Zephyr: 5 years old; Nuffink: about 6 moons old
"Alright, Zeph, it's your turn."
Hiccup swept little Zephyr up into his arms and set her on his lap. He smiled across the room to his wife, lazily lounging in the chair next to him with half-lidded eyes and a sleeping baby Nuffink on her chest. She gently rubbed his back as she happily watched the bright blue eyes of her daughter soaking in the sight of the wrapped box her father gently laid across her lap. Astrid knew what was in it, as Hiccup insisted on getting her permission for the gift before beginning almost a full year earlier, but she hadn't seen the finished product yet.
Hiccup helped balance the box as Zephyr excitedly pulled at the designated string, causing the twine tied carefully around the wooden box to fall away. She lifted the lid and her mouth dropped open, eyes widening and hands trembling with excitement when she realized what exactly her father had given her.
It was an axe, just like Mommy's.
Well, not just like Mommy's. She immediately could tell her father made this one special for Zephyr and Zephyr only. The handle was intricately carved with swirling vines and carefully painted light blue and black. The metal axehead was adorned with her father's signature red Night Fury Chief seal, and the bottom of the handle boasted the head of a Deadly Nadar.
Hiccup smiled at his wife, who craned her neck to get a better look. "Go on," he gently urged his daughter. "Lift it up so Mommy can see."
Zephyr turned nervously to look at her father, remembering the numerous times in her childhood she had been warned not to play with weapons. "Will you help me?" she squeaked.
"Of course," he replied, kissing the top of her head. He showed her how to best grip the axe before placing his hands under the handle and head to help her lift. Hiccup was well aware she didn't need his help; he had, of course, perfectly balanced the small weapon and made sure it was a proper weight for his daughter. He also refrained from sharpening it quite as well as he did his wife's just in case. But he played along, knowing it gave her some comfort.
Once the axe cleared the box, Hiccup slowly freed one hand to set the box on the floor. Zephyr admired the handle more closely, comparing it in her mind to the axe her mother always carried, the same axe Daddy said she had carried since they were teenagers.
Astrid quietly gasped at the tiny weapon in her daughter's hands. She immediately recognized the Nadar blue and Night Fury black twirling and dancing with each other up the handle, connecting the Nadar head on the bottom to the red Night Fury on the top. He had intertwined their colors and symbols in such a beautiful way, and she knew it was to reflect their daughter as a beautiful combination of the two of them. "Oh, Hiccup," she sighed, smiling at her husband with a hint of tears in her eyes.
"Now, don't be getting all emotional on me," he blushed, turning his attention to their daughter. "What do you think, little warrior?"
She beamed up at him with a bright smile. "I love it, Daddy." She dropped the weapon and turned to envelope her father in a tight hug.
"Woah, now!" Hiccup easily caught the light weapon in his hand as he wrapped his other arm around his daughter. "We don't want to cut off Daddy's one good leg," he warned, but he was chuckling through the words.
Zephyr sheepishly pulled away. "I'm sorry, Daddy."
He smiled and kissed her forehead, brushing away a few strands of hair that had escaped the girl's messy morning braids. "I'm just messing with you, sweetheart. I like the enthusiasm." She smiled now and carefully climbed down off the couch. As she picked up the small axe to admire it again, Hiccup spoke up. "Well, do you want to try it out or are you just going to keep looking at it?"
Zephyr's head snapped up, eyes wide. "Really?"
He shrugged. "Why don't you ask your mother? She's the axe expert around here."
Zephyr shyly turned her head. "Momma?"
Astrid smiled at the pleading eyes of her daughter. What, like she could say no to that? "If you throw some extra layers on, we can go outside and test it out."
Zephyr dropped the axe back into her father's hands as a smile engulfed her face, dashing out of the room in search of her furs and warm boots.
Astrid looked to her husband now. "Hiccup... That axe..."
"You like it?" he asked, setting it back into its box on the chair.
"It's beautiful. And it's perfect for her."
"I hope so." He stood up with a grunt and reached out his arms. "Alright, little guy, Daddy's turn for cuddles. Momma's got to get some more layers on, too."
Astrid chuckled. "Good luck getting more cuddles out of him. I'm amazed he's gone this long without making a fuss."
"Ah, he's just like his Momma," Hiccup said as he lifted the sleeping babe off his wife's chest. "Morning's don't suit him."
"You can say that again. Help me up," she said. Hiccup shook his head but smiled, shifting Nuffink against his chest and holding the small boy with one arm as he used the other to lift his wife to her feet. She stood on her toes to brush her lips against her husband's and then to her son's blonde hair, gripping Hiccup's shoulder with one hand and resting the other on his stomach to balance her in her sleepy state as she always did. "Be good for Daddy."
"He's great for me, I don't know why you have so much trouble with him," Hiccup joked. Astrid pinched his stomach before removing her hands and making her way upstairs. "Ow! Stop that! Why is it always the stomach lately?!"
Astrid shrugged. "Convenience," she said with a devious smile over her shoulder.
Hiccup rolled his eyes and chuckled as his wife retreated upstairs, bouncing side to side gently as he turned his attention to his son. "Alright, baby boy, what are the men going to do while the ladies go chuck some axes into some trees?"
Nuffink rubbed his head back and forth against his father's shoulder and started squirming, grabbing Hiccup's shirt in tiny fistfuls and grumbling garbled non-words.
"Nah, I don't think we can do that, they'll get too jealous," Hiccup said, patting his back.
Nuffink continued his babbling, the firelight from the pit in the middle of the sitting room catching his eyes. He pointed in that general direction before bringing both his fists up to his mouth.
"You're right, they'll be hungry when they come back in. We should make breakfast." Hiccup retreated to the kitchen and began pulling out the necessities for porridge.
Nuffink tried to stuff his fist in his mouth, but then extended his arm suddenly and cried out.
Hiccup gasped playful. "Don't you say that! Zephyr loves my porridge!"
Zephyr bounded into the kitchen, breathing heavy and searching frantically for her mother. Her eyes fell on her father instead.
Hiccup pointed at Nuffink. "He said you don't like my porridge."
Zephyr shrugged. "It's better than Momma's."
Hiccup's jaw dropped. "Is that an equivocal way of saying you don't like my porridge?"
"Daddy, I don't know what that means," she said, eyebrows pinched together.
"It means you don't like my porridge."
"Alright, children, what are we fighting about?" Astrid asked as she walked down the stairs.
"Zephyr doesn't like my porridge," Hiccup said with mock indignation.
Zephyr growled. "That's not what I said! I just said was it's better than-" She stopped herself mid-phrase and looked up at her mother with pursed lips and wide eyes.
Astrid raised her eyebrows, trying to stifle her laughter. "Better than...?"
Zephyr's eyes snapped between her mother and father. "Nothing Momma lets go try my axe!" she said quickly, grabbing the weapon and bolting out the door.
Astrid crossed her arms at her husband. He paused, looking wide-eyed at his wife before pointing to his son. "Nuffink started it." Nuffink saw his mother and cried out, laughing as he waved his arms in the air. "Oh, don't you sell me out!" Hiccup said, tickling Nuffink's stomach and earning continued cascades of laughter.
Astrid simply rolled her eyes as she walked out the door smiling and grabbed her own axe. "Boys."
"Alright, good, now just move this hand up just a little bit, and you've got a perfect hold," Astrid instructed. Zephyr obeyed, adjusting her grip on her little axe handle to match that of her mother's.
"Like this, Momma?"
"Yes, that's perfect sweetheart! Okay, step back with your foot- No, no baby girl, other foot. Yes! Just like that. Now swing it forward across your chest. Slowly! I want you to get the feel for it before we give it our all, okay?"
Zephyr nodded, planting her feet and bringing the axe across her body. She stopped it as her hands brushed against her hip. The smile that she flashed her mother could have blinded a man wearing Hiccup's old Deathsong amber goggles. "How was that, Momma, how was that?!"
"That was perfect, sweetheart! No do it again, a little faster this time."
Zephyr obeyed, pulling the axe back up to her shoulder slowly and swinging it back down with a little more force. When she stopped it right next to her hip again, she brought it back up and swung back down, over and over again, until she was swinging with all her might.
Astrid clapped her hands, overflowing with joy as she watched her daughter grow accustomed to the weapon. "Yes, Zephyr, that's great! I'm so proud of you, baby, you're doing so good!"
Zephyr laughed delightedly at her mother's enthusiasm, excited she made her mother proud. "What now, Momma?!"
"Hm..." Astrid playfully pondered, bringing her finger to her chin and placing her opposite fist on her waist. "I don't know if you're ready..."
"I'm ready! I'm ready!" Zephyr begged, jumping up and down.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Astrid narrowed her eyes, holding her stance but unable to keep from smiling. Zephyr giggled so hard Astrid thought she might burst. "Do you want to throw it?"
Zephyr's jaw dropped. "Throw it in a tree?!"
"Yeah! Do you want me to teach you how?"
Zephyr nodded fervently as Astrid picked up her own axe. "Okay, okay, listen. You're going to stand the same way, one foot in front of the other. The grip is just the same way, too. And you're going to bring it up to your shoulder again, but this time instead of swinging it all the way down, you're going to let go when it comes in front of your face. Understand?"
Zephyr nodded more modestly now, soaking in every bit of the lesson.
"Now watch me for a minute, okay?"
Zephyr nodded again, holding her axe tight in her hands as she watched her mother's every move.
The snow beneath Astrid's feet crunched softly as she took her stance, exaggerating and slowing each motion for her daughter to observe. She snapped the axe forward and it sunk deep into the bark of the tree about 20 paces ahead of her. Looking down at Zephyr, she smiled. "See? Easy enough, right?" Zephyr nodded nervously, making Astrid chuckle as she kneeled down next to her. "It's okay, I'm right here. Now, look ahead. Find your target," she said, leaning in to set her head next to her daughter's and pointing to a lower point in the tree she had just struck. Zephyr followed her gaze. "Focus on the exact point you want your axe to hit. And then when you're ready, just pull it up over your head, and throw it forward with all your might!"
Astrid stepped back as Zephyr nodded. She watched as Zephyr took a deep breath, eyes locked in concentration and finding her grip on the axe handle. Astrid's heart soared as she took a deep breath and held it, trying to keep herself from bursting with pride. She could do this, she could do this...
Zephyr's brow pinched together, lips locked and nose scrunched and she focused on the tree. She found the exact point she wanted to hit, just like Momma said. She adjusted and planted her feet, just like Momma did. And then she took a deep breath and lifted her axe.
Unfortunately, Zephyr was a little too focused on the point in the tree and it distracted her from her grip. As she tried to snap the axe forward (just like Momma did), the handle slipped from her grasp. Astrid saw the slack in her fingers in barely enough time to lunge forward and catch the weapon before it fell far enough to clip Zephyr's ankle (Astrid refused to imagine it cutting anything else... Or anything off...). Zephyr, however, only felt the leather leave her fingers over her head rather than in front of it, and screamed as she jumped out of the way.
Astrid set the axe down and turned to Zephyr, now breathing hard and fast with tears in her eyes, hands locked together and pulled into her chest. "Oh, Oh Zeph, come here baby girl. You're okay, I got you," Astrid said as she quickly pulled her into a tight embrace. "You did great, that was so good!"
"B-b-b-but-"
"You just had your grip a little loose, that's all," Astrid cooed, brushing Zephyr's hair from her eyes. "Everything else was so perfect! I bet next time-"
"NO! No, no next time, Momma!" Zephyr cried as the first tears broke loose and streaked down her rosy cheeks. "No next time..."
She sniffled as Astrid wiped the tears from her eyes. "Well why don't we give it a little break today, and we can try again tomorrow, hm?"
"No, Mommy, no..." Zephyr shook her head and buried her face into her mother's shoulder.
"Why not, baby girl?"
Her response came out muffled against Astrid's furs.
"I can't understand you when you talk into my shoulder, sweetheart," Astrid said patiently, rubbing Zephyr's back.
Zephyr lifted her face, revealing the waterfall of tears. "I'm not brave enough, Mommy," she choked. "I'll never be a brave warrior like Momma and Daddy."
"Nonsense," Astrid said, choking back tears herself now. She gently rubbed her hands over Zephyr's arms, pushing her back enough that Astrid could easily look into Zephyr's eyes. Sobs were now tearing through Zephyr's chest, disappointed in herself and afraid she had disappointed her mother as well. "What does Daddy always call you? What's his special name for you?"
"Li-li-little warri-ri-rio-or," she managed to say, calming down ever so slightly.
"Exactly, his little warrior. And you know what else? Daddy doesn't ever lie."
Zephyr sniffled. "R-really?"
"Really. Especially to his little warrior. And maybe axes just aren't the weapon you're best at." A gentle breeze blew Zephyr's hair into her eyes again, and Astrid brushed them back as she continued. "Being brave isn't all about weapons and strength, baby girl. Being smart and strategic is just as important. Like Daddy and me. I throw the axe, Daddy tells me where. It's what makes us a great team."
Zephyr sniffled again as she looked at the snow and contemplated her mother's words. "So I can be smart and still be a brave warrior, even if I don't like axes?"
"Of course, sweetheart." Astrid pulled her back into a warm embrace, kissing Zephyr's hair.
When Zephyr pulled back she took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay. But Momma?"
"Yes, sweetie?"
"Can we not tell Daddy that i didn't like the axe today? H-he already thinks I don't like his porridge and I don't wanna make him feel bad." Zephyr shrugged and held up her hands. "And, I don't know, maybe I'll like the axe better tomorrow or next week. I don't know."
Astrid laughed. "Alright, honey, sounds like a plan. How about we get some breakfast?" At Zephyr's enthusiastic nod, Astrid stood and laughed again. She pulled her axe from the tree and picked up Zephyr's. "Let's go!" she said, holding out her hand.
Zephyr hesitated, digging her toe into the ground and swinging her body side to side. "Um... Can-can I still carry my axe, Momma?"
Astrid smiled and handed the small gift to Zephyr, overjoyed she didn't completely destroy her daughter's confidence today. "Of course!" Zephyr happily took the weapon, looked up at her mother to examine her stance, and set the axe on her shoulder and the head behind her head, holding the handle tightly near the decorative Deadly Nadar at the bottom. She reached up with her free hand and wrapped her fingers around her mother's first two fingers as they made their way back to the hut.
And much to Astrid's delight, that would be far from the last time her daughter tried to throw an axe.
Ah, I love fluff. Now, special announcement! For those who haven't seen, I have started another story called "Meet the Ingermans," which centers around Ruffnut and Fishlegs' marriage. The story begins with a chapter explaining how I think "Rufflegs" came to be and then chapter 2 actually picks up directly after Ruffnut leaves the Haddock house in "Chapter 6: Brothers." It's structured a lot like Life After They Left and it set in the same timeline/universe/however you'd like to think of it but it is in chronological order.
Life After They Left and Meet the Ingermans both are actually setting the stage for a true, angsty, full length, multi-chapter fic that I have been outlining and am just about ready to start writing! This will be set much further in the future than what I am writing currently in these stories, and just about everyone on New Berk (and some guests...) as well as a few original characters of mine will all have a chance to shine throughout the story. So if that sounds like something you guys would be interested in please let me know!
See you soon! :)