Through The Ups & Downs

Couple; Harrison X Briana

Rating; Mature

Disclaimer: I do not own HTTYD or any songs I might use! In addition, from this point in the story and in future chapters, I do not own the character Ella (Eira) Solveig. She belongs to a good friend, ShadowSpirit020.

44) Time Is Flying By

{Harrison's POV}

[Friday-June 16, 2017-Undisclosed Location]

For the life of me, I could not begin to tell you how hard it was to process that my fiancé, Briana was twenty-one weeks pregnant with our twins. It was so unbelievable how much time had come and gone leading up to this afternoon. Today was the baby shower/gender reveal! Me, of course, I wasn't home. Another mission to take care of, but I promised Briana that I would be home in time for the big reveal of what we were having. It was hard to wrap my head around the fact that Briana was at the end of her fifth month in this pregnancy. In six days, she would start her sixth. God, I could not wait to be a father! Sure, it wasn't planned that Briana got pregnant, but it just worked out that way. However, it did throw a wrench into the wedding plans because now we had to plan for Briana's dress to fit for when she'd basically be in her ninth month. Boy, that wasn't easy to handle and to be truthful, I still don't think it had been worked out yet.

I wouldn't know because currently, I'm a mission to track someone down and discover what mass destruction weapon they are building. So far, all I've gathered is that is something called Red Death. I didn't know what it was, but this whole thing is why I haven't been able to tell my family, friends, or even my fiancé what is going on. I know that they all wanted to know, they have been curious since Nate's cancer when they found out why I didn't answer them for two months. And again, it got worse when I was called away from Nate's remission party and was gone for four months. This stuff is major and if it ever got out, panic would likely ensue. I guess it was my job to not only make everyone think everything was okay, but also find out all I could so we could plan a counter attack to stop whatever this Red Death weapon is. I've been here for three weeks. I was supposed to be home by now, but tracking my target is damn near impossible and then trying to get close enough to do recon is a chore for sure.

So, a little update on how things have been since my twenty-first birthday. I ended up sick for three days, nothing bad though. Of course, I rushed to Berkys when I was better and told Calvin and the crew the good news about Briana being pregnant with twins! Calvin and my work friend were happy for me and I did return to work that following Monday on Calvin's newly renovated schedule. Apparently, I'm no longer allowed to work more than ten hours and only five days a week now. Also, no more doubles. I evidently gave Calvin and the crew a heart attack when I passed out that day, so there would be no more taking the chance that I was over tired, stressed out, or over worked. I suppose I didn't mind the lessened hours, after all, I'd need time with my family. Only three months to go really, and about that long until I got married too! I could not wait.

The next biggest thing is that right before I left for my mission, Briana had a sonogram and I loved being able to hear the twin's heartbeats. Also, we were able to find out the gender, but Briana wanted to wait to reveal it with everyone so the technician put the genders of both babies in an envelope and we gave it to a bakery to make two small cakes. The gender would be displayed as the cake portion under the frosting. It would either be light purple or dark green. Purple because that was Briana's favorite color and green because it was mine, our own little twist on the reveal and totally my idea. I wanted to be home, I was sick of these missions because they were ONLY me. This was stupid and dangerous! I get they wanted answers but sending just one soldier and a Night Fury to get them? What if I got caught and captured? I suppose they did it because Toothless was fast and I was very good at sneaking around undetected.

In the beginning, I had teams with me, but things changed when they were killed and I had to watch it helplessly at that. Those times, I was captured and I watched each of them die. Toothless and I broke out and got away but the others were gone. I guess that is why I didn't fight my commanding officers when they suggested I go alone from now on. Briana knew a little of the work I was doing, but not the full extent. Bri didn't know that Toothless and me were running the missions alone and she didn't know that I was infiltrating enemy bases to do recon on this Red Death weapon. All I gathered on this trip was that it could destroy in mass quantities and only one person knew how to control it's power. The same guy who could make dragons do as he says; Dominic Bludvist. I've seen this guy once or twice on my missions; he's a complete psycho and I didn't know much about him. That was also part of my work, learn more about Dominic.

I think what I hated most about these operations were that I couldn't tell anyone. Glenn and Aaron knew what my objective was, but not even they knew everything I was doing when I got these mini deployments. I reported to Colonel Dawson who informed anyone else about what was going on. I saw so much during these times alone; dragons and humans being tortured, forced to work, and killed. Gods, I hated it so much and there wasn't anything I could do because my job was to gather information, not engage. I was already in danger doing this shit alone, my best option of survival was to not draw attention to myself or risk losing the location and not being able to sneak in the way that I do. I checked my watch now, it was a little after 4 am and was told that once I checked this out, I could report in, then make my trip home. It should only take me fourteen or so hours, even with breaks. Well, it's been quiet for the last three hours, safe to say I wasn't getting anything this round, may as well call it a night, rather morning.

I lifted my radio and pressed the button on the side. "Alpha Fury calling Command One. I repeat, Alpha Fury calling Command One. Over,"

"Command One to Alpha Fury. We read you three out of five, go ahead. Over," came the voice of the radio operator manning the station that I called to make reports.

"Location secured. Target in place. Nothing new to report. Permission to return home? Over," I said.

"Copy that. Operations leader says you are cleared to go home, Alpha Fury. Check in when you arrive. Over," the man stated.

"Orders confirmed. Until next time. Alpha Fury over and out," I replied before tucking the radio into it's pocket on my vest and then slipping on my mask before getting off the roof I was hiding on and jumping down to get to Toothless. I reached him and smiled. "Ready to go home bud?" I asked. Toothless crooned as I jumped on his back and pat his neck a few times. Toothless warbled as he lifted into the sky as we turned towards the direction for home. It was at that moment when I heard shouting and looked back. Fuck! We got spotted. "Go, Toothless!" I urged him. Toothless shot off at top speed and got us out of range, but not before I got a deep graze on right arm. "Ah! Shit," I cussed clamping a hand over it. Toothless warbled in worry for me. "I-I'm okay, bud. Just get us far away from here," I told him. Toothless gave a nod as we continued through the early morning sky back to Arc Isle.

{Normal POV}

[Briana & Harrison's Residence; 5:30 pm]

"Bri, calm down. Harrison said he wouldn't miss this and you know he doesn't make a promise he can't keep," Skye reminded a worried Briana who was pacing impatiently because as many times as they'd tried to call Harrison, he wasn't picking up and it was going straight to voicemail too. Briana didn't like that because she knew Harrison was running dangerous missions and could be hurt, the worst part was that she had no idea until he checked in with her. Thus far, it had been three days and nothing from him at all to let them know he was okay.

As if on queue, Toothless roar was heard and Nightstar responded to it. Everyone's heads shot up and saw Harrison flying in on Toothless, who landed shortly after they spotted him. "Harrison, you made it," Briana squealed as she waddled her way over to her fiancé as he was getting off Toothless's back. Briana wrapped her arms around his figure as Harrison hissed in pain, Briana pulled back then felt something wet on her hand. Glancing at it, she saw blood. "Oh my god! You're bleeding, why are you bleeding?!" she demanded quickly.

"Hey, relax. Stress isn't good for you or the twins, the doctor warned you about that," Harrison sighed as he put his hand back over the wound, old blood still showing on his forearm and other hand. "I'm fine, babe, it's just scratch," he smiled and kissed her forehead. Of course, as soon as he tried to walk away, Glenn and Aaron stopped him. Aaron took off the vest, then moved Harrison's arm as Glenn unzipped the black and gray ACU and moved it off Harrison's right arm to get a better luck.

"Scratch my ass, that's a deep graze, Haddock," Glenn remarked. "Start talking,"

Harrison jerked away from both of them as he fixed his uniform. "You know I can't. It is above your heads, it happened as I was leaving and that is all I can tell you. You want more answers, take it up with Colonel Dawson," Harrison grabbed his radio off the back of his belt. "Alpha Fury to Command One. Over,"

"Command One to Alpha Fury. We read four out of five. Location update. Over." replied a male voice.

"Home Isle. Over." Harrison informed.

"Nice work, Alpha Fury. You never disappoint and we're one step closer to getting this-," started another voice.

"Gonna have to stop you there, C1. First off, not even close to where we need to be. Secondly, I'm with civilians and unauthorized personnel. Continuing this conversation any further without a secure line jeopardizes the mission and is in violation of regulations. Over," Harrison cut the man off.

"Well done, soldier. We'll keep you posted on when to come back. Over," the man stated firmly.

"Orders confirmed and understood. Alpha Fury over and out," Harrison said before turning the radio off and putting it in his vest, then gathering his stuff up and going inside the duplex. No one could really say anything, they knew Harrison couldn't talk about it and stood firm to those orders; it showed in how the radio conversation went. Harrison returned outside half an hour later, no longer in uniform and wearing a t-shirt. It was easy to see that Harrison had taken care of whatever injury was on his arm before he had it wrapped up and no blood coming through anymore.

"You're an SOS, aren't you?" Dexter asked.

"Excuse me, a what? Doesn't SOS stand for, like, save our ship or something?" Regina wondered.

"SOS for army stands for Special Ops or Operations Soldier. We know you can't tell us, but if we guess, then you didn't. Just nod. You're an SOS, aren't you?" Trevor stated. Everyone watched, but Harrison didn't make any more to confirm what his friends were asking.

"Look. I know it sucks not knowing what is going on and if I was allowed, I would tell you, but I can't. I'll get into serious trouble," Harrison started as his eyes shifted up and down and then he used his arms to reference around and to himself. "As soon as I can tell you, I will. Until then, please leave it alone," he added as his friends understood that Harrison was being watched closely so he couldn't actually make any notions about what they asked. However, they saw his eyes go up and down, that was Harrison's way of nodding to them without making it obvious.

"Sorry, man. We just worry about you. Anyway, I think it's time we found out the genders of the newest Haddock family members," Syrus smiled as Harrison breathed a sigh of relief and went over to hold Briana closely.

"Ready to find out what we're having?" Harrison asked her as she smiled and nodded to him. Briana saw the message loud and clear too. As much as it sucked, Harrison wasn't allowed to bend these rules or he was in big trouble. Operations like this were major security and Harrison already mentioned that further talk over the radio alone could jeopardize things. For now, it was best not to give Harrison a hard time because one; he couldn't talk about it and two; it seemed like he was stressed out enough as it was.

Briana had already opened all her baby shower gifts, there was also a small bridal shower for just the girls earlier in the day, now it was time for the gender reveal portion. Harrison and Briana reached the table where the two cakes were resting on the table. White frosting, with purple, yellow, green and blue decorations and a big question mark on top of each. There was also, one labeled for Baby A and Baby B. Harrison handed her the knife as everyone gathered around to see the big moments. The first cake was cut into, a small piece placed on a plate and moved out of the way. The second cake was next, Briana and Harrison repeating the same process.

"WELL!?" the family and friends yelled impatiently. Harrison and Briana smiled wide as they each picked up a cake and turned it around revealing the colors to the group. For the cake labeled A; it was green! The second one marked for Baby B was green too!

"We're having boys!" Briana and Harrison announced together. After that it was cheering and congratulations all over again, hugs and handshakes too as the cake was served and everyone enjoyed the remainder of the party. The next big event was Harrison and Briana's wedding, neither of them could wait! Before Harrison went away on his mission work, some more wedding planning had been done, so everything was in the works. All they needed now was for the big day to come. In just three months, he'd be married to the love of his life and a father of two boys-the time was flying right by indeed.