The Edge
Pairing; Toothless X Hiccup
Setting; Modern AU
Rating; M for Mature
Disclaimer; I do not own the HTTYD or any of the music that is used. Everything belongs to its original creator/artist!
28: Welcome To The Family
The whole room sat in silence and shock after what Harvey said to them. Harvey and Trayden were going to be parents in seven months? What?! Harvey was smiling while holding Trayden from behind; just being casual and not caring how surprised and confused his friends and family were. The sounds of the Disney movie, Moana, were playing in the background while Kyle and Melanie sat quietly and unphased by the information their parents received. Everyone's eyes had widened, and mouths dropped open from the news. As Trayden and Harvey expected; they would demand an explanation for everything, which was excellent. Honestly, this scene looked a lot like the one from the day where everyone learned Harvey and Ashley had been friends with benefits for two years. It made Harvey chuckle a bit; he never thought he'd see this look again from them. Alas, he was wrong, and that was okay by him.
"So, you want to hear about it or should I give you more time to recover?" Harvey asked with a slight laugh.
"Well, if no one else is gonna say it; I will. Congratulations, Harvey and Trayden," Roslyn stated with a smile now.
"Thank you," Trayden replied.
"How are you calm?" Seth wondered.
"Come on; you didn't see this coming?" Roslyn asked. The other shook their heads. "Ugh. Harvey and Trayden have been trying to start a family since last year. You didn't think it was just a little suspicious as to why they invited us all over tonight with the promise of fun and excitement?"
"I suppose when you put it that way, yeah, we did find it a little odd," Ford mentioned.
"We just didn't think the information would be what we were given, at least not yet. Maybe the adoption going through, or deciding surrogacy, but not that this," Ashley admitted while blinking in surprise still.
"Son, can you explain this to us?" Sullivan asked.
"Sure," Harvey nodded. "See, when we started things last December; we knew it could take a while for an adoption to take place,"
"However, after four months we had gotten nothing from the social worker we were assigned for the process. I confessed to Harvey that I had hoped it would have happened already, and then we decided that surrogacy might be more beneficial to us since we would know we were getting a baby after all was said and done," Trayden continued.
"In July, we found an office that handled just about everything, and then all we had to do was wait for a surrogate with the traits we wanted to become available. Trayden always wanted a child of his own, so we decided that he would be the donor for the insemination. We had been waiting for a woman with hair and eyes like mine that way it would seem as if the child was ours. In September, I got a call at work from the agency saying they had someone who was able and ready. In November, after all the legal aspects were taken care of, we did the procedure, and then on twenty-seventh; it was confirmed our surrogate is pregnant, and as of today, she's two months along," Harvey finished.
"That's not entirely true, Harv. We knew Maria was pregnant on Thanksgiving because she called you during dinner," Trayden reminded.
"Ah, yes. We knew on the 22nd she had conceived because it came up on a home test that detects pregnancy up to six days before a missed period," Harvey informed. "We pay all medical expenses, and she keeps us updated; that's the agreement. Maria is due for August 6th, 2019. Confirmed by the office and sonogram," he added.
"So, you two did this without telling anyone what was going on?" Victoria asked.
"Sorry, we didn't want to say anything until we knew it was going to work out since the adoption hadn't," Harvey replied. "After doing all the typical stuff, there was a waiting period to find the surrogate we wanted, and we weren't sure how long that would take. Once Maria was available, we met right away to settle legal things, and then there were fertility treatments and pinpointing her ovulation. So, November 12th, we were in that office for the procedure, and we didn't mention anything about possibilities until we knew it was successful, and then stayed quiet for the three weeks until the sonogram to check the heartbeat,"
"Wait, so you have pictures?" Rebecca said quickly.
"Yeah, it was done last week on the 18th," Trayden replied.
"SHOW. US!" the group demanded. Harvey went to get the recently started scrapbook, then placed it down for them to look at. After ten or so minutes of it going around, they smiled.
"Well, we're happy for you two. You definitely deserve to have this family," Stephanie stated.
"And you got our full support," Sullivan added in. Trayden and Harvey smiled, then shared a kiss.
"Only seven months to go," Trayden said.
"It will fly right by because we're gonna be busy getting this place ready," Harvey said as they embraced one another.
"I gotta know. Tray, what was it like in the doctor's office the day of the procedure?" Travis inquired.
"Should we tell them?" Trayden looked up at Harvey.
"If you want to," Harvey replied.
"Alright, story time then," Trayden chuckled and then proceeded to tell them without giving away a lot of details about the in-office help he received from Harvey in giving the donation.
[March 19th, 2019]
Today was going to memorable for sure. Maria was twenty weeks along, and there was a sonogram appointment. Also, Harvey and Trayden would get to find out the gender of their baby! Most of the last thirteen weeks had been Harvey and Trayden telling everyone about the big news about them becoming parents, and they were preparing their apartment for a child. In other updates; Ashley was now Mrs. Ashley Holt as she and Zack got married last month in February, and their daughter, Astrid, was seven months old. Roslyn and Eli were engaged as of the New Year; Roslyn was going to be moving into Eli's apartment, and they were planning on getting hitched by 2020. Seth and Calista found a place to live and had moved in last week, finally settled in now. Travis and Winter had hit the one-year mark, and still going strong. Daniel and Stephanie were doing great; Melanie was now five. And finally, Heather and Ford were having another baby. It was announced in February a week before Ashley and Zack's wedding.
Harvey and Trayden were twenty-seven now, having turned so in February. Currently, the soon-to-be parents were at the sonogram office, and sitting with Maria after she had checked in for her appointment at 11:45 am. After this, the three of them were going out to eat because they planned on learning the sex of the baby. After fifteen minutes, Maria was called as the three of them entered the back area with a nurse, then into a room.
"Welcome back!" Brenna greeted. "And how are we doing today?"
"Tired, and hungry," Maria responded.
"That's to be expected when you're half-way through the pregnancy. How are the parents holding up?" Brenna turned her attention to Harvey and Trayden.
"Nervous, excited, impatient," Harvey said since his husband seemed to be at a loss for words.
"All to be expected. So, shall we get started?" Brenna asked while Maria, Trayden, and Harvey nodded. The appointment was longer and more detailed. Harvey and Trayden got to hear the heartbeat again, which got Trayden teary-eyed. After all of that when the end of thirty-minutes came, Brenna faced them. "Would you like to know the gender?"
"We would, please?" Harvey answered. Brenna nodded as she began to move the scanner around.
"Let's see if the little one will let me find out," Brenna replied. After two minutes, she managed to see, and take a picture before the baby moved again. "If you've begun thinking about names; I would stick to the girl ones," she smiled.
"W-We're…having a girl?" Trayden asked.
"You are. Congratulations," Brenna informed. Trayden leaned into Harvey, a few tears slipping from his eyes. Harvey kissed him lightly, then stopped the video he had been taking of when Brenna announced it was a girl. Harvey attached the fifteen-second video to a video that he text messaged to everyone. The Edge team, friends, and family saying; It's A Girl! Harvey and Trayden were over the moon about the news. In four months, they would have their daughter in their arms.
[May 5th, 2019-Berk Hall]
In exactly three months, Harvey and Trayden would have their little girl. Everyone loved getting the message about the baby being a girl, and now were demanding to know what the chosen name would be. Harvey and Trayden had decided on but weren't revealing it until the next time everyone got together. Today, Harvey had a surprise planned for his lover; a baby shower. Behind Trayden's back, Harvey decided to close The Edge for a family function. It would open up around 5 pm after the shower ended at 3, but it was starting at 12:30. Harvey invited everyone, including Maria, and her two boys; Nathaniel, and Colby Miller. Nathaniel was born when Maria was seventeen, and Colby when Maria had been twenty-three. Maria married at eighteen, then the divorce happened just after Colby turned three months old. It was a sad story that only Harvey and Trayden knew; it wasn't any of anyone else's business.
Harvey had everyone coming to The Edge for this, and Trayden was upstairs cleaning the house because Harvey told him they would have guests coming over, but he would be downstairs helping out the business. It kept Trayden busy while he set up for the baby shower, and greeted people who were showing up on time. It was 12:15 pm when the last group of people arrived which was Maria with the two boys.
"Maria, I'm glad you could make it," Harvey greeted as she handed him her gift.
"How could I not? Besides, I'm sure Trayden will love feeling the baby move; very active today," Maria smiled. "Oh, this is Nathaniel and Colby," she introduced.
"It's nice to meet both of you," Harvey said; he knew that Nathaniel was eight and had been born in December 2011, and Colby in April 2017, so the youngest had just turned two last month. "I'll go fetch the husband," he said before heading upstairs. Walking through the entry door, Harvey saw Trayden doing the dishes. "Hey, babe,"
"Hey. I just finished everything," Trayden smiled as he was drying his hands with a towel.
"Great. Why don't you come downstairs with me for a bit? It's surprisingly busy for a Sunday afternoon," Harvey suggested. Trayden nodded as he took Harvey's hand and then followed him downstairs. Harvey opened the door as Trayden walked through.
"Happy Baby Shower!" the friends and family called to him. Trayden's eyes widened; they…through him a baby shower? Harvey smiled as he came up and hugged him from behind after closing the door.
"What do you think?" Harvey asked. "Like my surprise?"
"You did all this?" Trayden asked.
"Of course. You think I'm not going to let you partake in all the things any expectant parents does? I organized everything, and The Edge will open for normal business at 5 pm. For now, though, this is all for you," Harvey said.
Trayden kissed him with a broad smile. "You're the best husband anyone could ask for," Trayden replied.
"If I recall, I asked you to be my husband," Harvey joked as Trayden laughed and shook his head a little. Harvey drew him in close, then kissed him again, passionately this time. After that, the baby shower was in full swing with Trayden saying hi to everyone and getting a few moments of feeling the baby move. There was music, food, and drinks. Harvey and Trayden opened the gifts; all of the typical baby items they would need in three months. Bottles, baby monitor, bibs, clothes, onesies, pacifiers, wipes, diapers, a high chair, car seat, a bassinet, rocking chair, crib, changing table, playpen, and dresser. At the end when everything had been taken upstairs, and people were preparing to leave; the question had been asked.
"So have you two decided on a name?" Maria inquired.
"We have actually," Trayden nodded.
"Celina Rose Haddock," Harvey said afterward.
[July 20th, 2019-4:35 pm]
Celina Rose's nursery got finished in June; Harvey completed the job as Trayden's wedding anniversary present. The two lovers celebrated five years of marriage on the 21st of June, and it had been a month since then. Daniel and Stephanie's son, Oliver John, had turned a year old on July 11th. Astrid and Zack's daughter, Astrid, would be turning a year old in August on the 4th. Heather was now nearing the halfway mark of her pregnancy at five months, and it was announced last month that Seth and Calista were expecting a baby in seven months. Travis and Winter had been together about a year and a half; still doing great. Melanie had turned five-years-old in March, and Kyle would be turning five in October when his parents his six years of marriage, and Heather would be about eight months pregnant by then, giving birth sometime in November.
Today was a Saturday, one month since Harvey and Trayden enjoyed their five-year wedding anniversary, and tonight they were working. Maria was thirty-seven weeks and five days along; the pregnancy was going splendidly. The Edge was busy as always with a full staff minus Garth, and Kevin who were both out for personal reasons. Harvey was behind bar #1 and Trayden was on stage with Eli, Brett, and Winter. Seth, Roslyn, and Travis were sitting in the VIP spot to watch the show and see their lovers since everyone else was busy. Such was life upon growing up and settling down with a family.
"Gotta love how busy we are in the summer on the weekends!" Andrew laughed.
"Business makes your paycheck, Andy," Harvey reminded with a smile.
"But still, it's not usually like this for 4:30 in the afternoon!" Andy called back. The landline rang as Harvey answered it.
"The Edge. This is Harvey," Harvey greeted.
"Harvey. Ow; it's Maria. I-I'm in labor," Maria informed as Harvey's eyes widened.
"Are you sure, Maria? You're only…about to be thirty-eight weeks," Harvey asked quickly, panic rising. Why would she go into labor two weeks early when at the appointment just last week they said everyone was right on schedule.
"Harv, my water broke, okay? I've had two other children, I know when it's time, and this is it. I'm on my way to the hospital, my Dad is driving me while Mom watches the kids," Maria replied, breathing heavily and whimpering a bit.
"Well meet you there," Harvey said as he hung up. "Andrew, you're in charge," he said instantly.
"Why, what's up?" Andrew asked seeing the sudden change in Harvey's mood.
"Our surrogate just went into labor, and we gotta go, now," Harvey explained right away.
"Oh! Go! Go, everything will be fine here. Keep us posted," Andrew ushered him.
"Will do, my friend. Thank you," Harvey nodded as he ran over to the stage where Trayden was performing. "Cut it," Harvey told the band as they stopped and Trayden looked at him with an arched brow.
"Babe, what's wrong?" Trayden asked.
"Maria's water broke, and she's on her way to the hospital," Harvey told him. Trayden turned off the microphone and jumped down from the stage as Harvey took his hand as they headed through the entry doors, to Harvey's car, then they were gone two minutes later; both worried that something might be wrong.
[Archian Hospital; Fifteen Minutes Later]
Reaching their destination, Harvey parked, and the two rushed inside to find out where Maria was. The information desk confirmed that she was taken up to labor and delivery ten minutes ago. Harvey and Trayden grabbed the next elevator up, then got checked in the receptionist before being taken to Maria's room. Maria was already laying in the bed and hooked up to the pieces of equipment to monitor her, and the baby for the duration of labor.
"You made it," Maria smiled gently.
"We came right away. How are you feeling? Is everything okay with the baby?" Trayden asked instantly.
"Little Celina is just fine, Trayden. The doctor said that babies can come up to two weeks late or early in pregnancy; I suppose that your daughter doesn't want to wait any longer. Celina's heart rate is spot on, and I'm only in the early labor stage, which can take the longest," Maria said to ease the worried parents. Maria took the time to explain everything to them, so they would know what to expect as things continued. Harvey and Trayden learned that the whole process could take a bit, and they agreed to stay in the hospital with Maria until the birth took place. At the moment, Maria was only about half a centimeter dilated with very spread out contraction times. The reason she knew she was in labor was that her water broke.
By 8:30 pm, just four hours later, Maria reached two centimeters in this time frame with Harvey and Trayden helping out however they could. Harvey and Trayden let everyone know at 5:30 pm what was going on but told them not to bother coming because it would be too many people at once. Sullivan, Victoria, and Rebecca had come, but the rest stayed behind as it was getting later; they did demand updates as things progressed. At 9:45 pm, and a total of five hours and twenty minutes, Maria made it to four and a half centimeters. The contractions were getting closer together, and the doctor confirmed that it was a good thing. Maria let Harvey and Trayden know that it wouldn't take a long time since she'd been through this before, but in first-time mothers, it could take between twelve and fourteen hours at minimum before the birth happened.
Rolling on 1 am, and going on eight hours and thirty-five minutes into labor, Maria made it to seven and a half centimeters and was giving the epidural since the contractions were about seven minutes apart, and getting closer together still. Trayden and Maria were sleeping, but Harvey couldn't find it in himself to do the same. At 2:30 am, a total of about ten hours in labor, Maria woke up feeling like she had to push. The nurse came in to check her and confirmed that she was fully effaced, and at ten centimeters dilation. Harvey and Trayden took their places, a nurse helped Maria hold her leg, and Trayden did too while two other nurses were on standby to tend to the newborn after delivery. Maria pushed for twenty minutes, and then the baby was out, crying loudly. Harvey was taking pictures, but nothing too revealing.
Harvey hugged Maria, thanking her before she hugged Trayden who looked like he was about to cry, so Harvey hugged him tightly as they watched the nurses clean off Celina, the weigh, and measure her before she was wrapped up and the female nurse faced them.
"Which of you would like to hold your daughter first?" the woman asked.
"I believe that right goes to my husband," Harvey said as Trayden sat down in the chair and the nurse handed the bundled baby to them. Harvey got down in a crouch beside Trayden as the nurse took the phone Harvey gave her, she snapped the photo of the family, then returned it.
"Name of the child?" the nurse asked with a clipboard.
"Celina Rose Haddock," Trayden informed gently. A band was connected to the infant's ankle, then two more on Harvey and Trayden's wrists. One nurse handed Trayden a bottle and burp cloth, signaling that it was time for the baby to feed. Harvey helped get it set up, then Trayden began to feed their daughter happily, and with tears in his eyes. By 3:40 am, almost an hour later, the room was cleared out, and Maria was fast asleep. Celina was laying in the bedside rolling bassinet, sleeping with a hospital binky as Trayden and Harvey were standing over it, admiring their daughter.
"Welcome to the family, Celina," Harvey said as he put his arm around Trayden's waist, then kissed him deeply before the two of them laid down in the provided bed, and got some sleep since it was almost 4 am, and now that Celina had arrived; they were going to be very busy people.