I'm back!
I'm so sorry I disappeared, but I had some medical issues with a back injury that just made it hard for me to focus on writing and I didn't have internet connection for a while as I moved apartments. But I'm back and I have so much stuff planned and just about ready to post! Yay!
This is an idea that I've had probably since I first started writing fanfictions for this wonderful fandom. It's a short little piece (well, short for me at least), but I didn't want to drag it out and ruin it. So I hope you guys like it as much as I do, and I will be back very soon with more chapters!
Hiccup and Astrid: around 29 years old; Zephyr: 6 years old; Nuffink: 2 years old
The day was unusually warm, and the entirety of New Berk was taking the opportunity to bask in the glory of the sun. Everyone was slacking on their daily duties, and not even the Chief was planning to put a stop to it. Especially not when he could stay at home and watch his children enjoy the sunshine without a care in the world.
"Come on, Nuffink!" Zephyr cried delightedly. The small boy toddled along, following his sister as she ran backwards to lead her little brother. She made fun faces as she slowly swerved, allowing him to keep up with her. He screeched in delight each time she evaded his grasp before continuing to chase her.
Zephyr ducked behind a large tree, confusing little Nuffink. He glanced around, finding Grandma Valka chuckling nearby. When she met Nuffink's gaze, she shrugged. "Where's Zephyr, little one?"
Nuffink cried out, pointing at nothing as he looked between the edge of the forest, his home, and his grandmother. Valka laughed as she noticed Zephyr peeking around the edge of the tree, Nuffink oblivious of the movement. She walked over to the little boy, kneeling next to him and wrapping one arm around him. Keeping her face next to his, she pointed to Zephyr's hiding place and said, "Nuffink, look!"
Zephyr disappeared just before Nuffink could turn his head. She waited a moment before slowly peeking her head around the tree again. She met Nuffink's eye, earning a delighted cry from him. But just as he began to take a step towards his sister, she disappeared yet again.
Nuffink looked to his Grandma Valka, who mocked his confusion. "Where'd she go?" she asked.
Nuffink raised his hands as if to say "I don't know," and looked around. "'Issy!" he said.
"Where's sissy, Nuffink?" Valka said, holding back laughter.
"'Issy bye-bye!"
"Did sissy go bye-bye?"
"Yeah," Nuffink confirmed calmly with a nod.
Valka chuckled again, tickling Nuffink's stomach with one finger before pointing back to the tree. "Nuffink!"
Zephyr peeked out again as Nuffink spun around. He gave a delighted cry as he took a step towards his sister, but then she disappeared, stopping him in his tracks. He turned back around to Valka, who simply smiled and pointed back to the tree. Zephyr peeked around faster now, only disappearing for a short moment before reappearing. Nuffink laughed each time, taking a step or two and then freezing in confusion when she retreated. When he had just about reached the tree, Zephyr jumped out and tickled him, leading him back towards Valka.
She let him catch up to her as she closed the distance back to their grandmother, crouching down so she could wrap her arms around him before falling over carefully as if he had tackled her. "Oh no! You got me, Nuff! You got me!"
He hugged his sister tight as he laughed, gripping her clothing at her shoulders. The children's delighted laughter made Valka's heart swell. She may have missed these precious years in Hiccup's life, but at least she was here now. Her heart grew heavy when she thought about how Stoik should be here too, but she tried not to dwell on that sadness.
Astrid sighed contentedly as she looked down over the sweet scene from one of the first floor balconies. Hiccup smiled as he joined her, placing a kiss on her temple.
"We did pretty well with those two," Astrid said.
"You sound surprised," Hiccup laughed.
Astrid shrugged. "We weren't exactly the most grounded kids ourselves."
Hiccup chuckled at the double meaning behind her words. He slipped his hand underneath Astrid's and spun her into his chest. "We grew up eventually."
Astrid wound a hand around Hiccup's neck and rested her head on his shoulder as his fingers found their place on her waist. He kissed her fingers as he raised their opposite hands and began swaying gently. "I guess we did," Astrid agreed. "Your father would be so proud of you."
Hiccup smiled and kissed her hair. "I hope so."
"He would. Of the Chief you've become, of course, but especially the father you are." Astrid lifted her head to meet Hiccup's eyes. "I know I am."
Hiccup smiled and closed his eyes as he rested his forehead against hers. "Thank you," he whispered.
The mention of his father always brought up a mix of memories and emotions. But seeing his mother outside with his children as well pulled up a very specific memory, one of the only ones he had of his parents together.
Hiccup wasn't exactly sure what possessed him to start, but he took a shuddering breath and quietly began singing. "I'll swim and sail on savage seas, with ne'er a fear of drowning. And gladly ride the waves of life, if you would marry me."
Astrid's eyes fluttered open for a moment, surprised by the quiet tune her husband began. Something about it was familiar, but she couldn't place what. But seeing that his eyes were still closed and a redness was blooming in his cheeks, she was too distracted to care. She simply closed her eyes and listened.
"No scorching sun, nor freezing cold, could stop me on my journey. If you would promise me your heart, and love me for eternity..."
Suddenly Astrid placed the song. She heard Valka singing it all the time to herself, just not necessarily the words Hiccup was singing. She would hum a verse, then sing one. Occasionally Hiccup would catch her and sing the verses she would typically hum, earning a blushing smile from Valka as she escaped from the room. But somehow Astrid knew what came next.
"My dearest one, my darling dear, your mighty words astound me. But I've no need for mighty deeds when I feel your arms around me."
Hiccup didn't expect to hear Astrid's voice fill the room after his, but the swell in his heart when he heard it bloomed up his throat to his lips. HIs voice grew stronger through the smile as he began again, gently gliding with his bride through the front room. "But I would bring you rings of gold, I'd even sing you poetry. And I would keep you from all harm, if you would stay beside me."
Astrid giggled as they continued to glide and softly sing to each other. "I have no use for rings of gold, I care not for your poetry. I only want your hand to hold, I only want you near me."
Their voices didn't quite blend like Valka and Stoick's did, nor was their dance as agile and bouncy. Astrid and Hiccup were much more accustomed to the dance of the battlefield. But that didn't stop them as they sang the rest in unison, twirling around each other like the carefree children they never quite gave themselves the chance to be.
"To love, to kiss, to sweetly hold, for the dancing and the dreaming. Through all life's sorrows and delights, I'll keep your laugh inside me. I'll swim and sail on savage seas, with ne'er a fear of drowning, and gladly ride the waves of life, if you would marry me."
As they slowed to a stop in the middle of the room, Hiccup's smile grew softer yet still brighter at the same time. He reached up to stroke Astrid's cheek with his thumb before leaning in for a slow, deep kiss.
As they carefully broke apart, Astrid whispered into Hiccup's lips, "I want to have another baby."
Hiccup chuckled. "What have we been doing for the last year, then?"
"Practicing," Astrid murmured through a smile, leaning in to steal another kiss.
Suddenly, Valka cleared her throat in the doorway, causing Hiccup and Astrid to jump apart like two teenagers caught in a forbidden act. Zephyr's eyes were wide as she looked between her parents. Valka chuckled, and Zephyr leaned back out of the door. "Uh, come on, Nuffink!" she said, pulling her clueless little brother along to the grass again. Zephyr had no idea what was going on, but she didn't want to know, either.
Valka casually stepped into the living space, passively picking up toys as she ignored the bright red faces of her son and daughter-in-law. "My my. You know, I'd like to spend some more time with my dear grandchildren. Mind if I keep them for the night?"
"Mom!" Hiccup said, face growing somehow redder than his late father's hair. Astrid hid her smile in Hiccup's shoulder, desperately trying to stifle her laughter.
"What? I love spending time with my grandchildren!" she innocently offered. She shrugged as she bent over to pick up Zephyr's stuffed Night Fury, muttering, "and I absolutely would not mind more little ones-"
"MOM!"
"What?!" Valka cried, straightening up.
Astrid was practically in tears holding back laughter as Hiccup sighed. She cleared her throat, though her voice was still obviously strained. "I'll pack their things!" she choked as she ran up the stairs.
Hiccup shook his head at his wife, but he was smiling. He turned to meet his mother's expectant eyes again. "What now?"
"You've got nine moons," she sternly ordered.
"Who says it's going to work tonight? We're not so young anymore, you know."
Valka laughed loudly. "Oh, I don't think we have to worry about that. You know as well as I, son, it's not the age that matters, it's the-"
"MOM!"
Valka snickered as she followed Astrid, obviously pleased with herself. Hiccup shook his head and walked out the front door. "It's not the age that matters, Hiccup. So gross, Mom." he mocked to himself. "Zephyr! Nuffink! Do you want to stay with Grammy Valka tonight?"
Zephyr looked up, a little worried. "Do we have to eat her food?"
Hiccup chuckled. "I'll pack dinner."
"Can we come home for breakfast?"
"Always," Hiccup laughed.
Zephyr picked Nuffink up off the ground, easily swayed. "Nuffink! We get to have fun with Grammy tonight!"
Hiccup glanced back inside with a devious smile, thinking to himself about the fun he was about to have with his beloved wife all night as well.