=Normal POV=
(Porsdagr, Harpa; Morning)
(Berk; Haddock Hut)

"Hiccup?" Brenna said softly, trying to pull her husband from his deep thoughts, knowing that he was staring off into nothing and not answering or seeming interested in anything.

Hiccup had been distant and quiet since learning Brenna was pregnant, and though Hiccup said he was reassured things would be okay; he didn't feel they would be. It was a strong feeling that something bad was going to happen soon, and Hiccup didn't know what, so it bothered him greatly. Hiccup and Brenna also hadn't told anyone she was carrying his child; Hiccup kept saying to wait, and Brenna didn't want to go against him. There hadn't been a desire for her to conceive, not even demand or rush on it. Hiccup had a year from the day he was named Chief to produce an Heir to the Tribe. And yet, Brenna got pregnant on their wedding night, the only time they'd been intimate with one another because it was tradition to consummate their marriage.

It would have come out if the two of them hadn't because the tradition for the morning after was that Gothi had to check that Brenna's maidenhead had been broken, which could only be achieved by Hiccup and Brenna having sex. It was one more thing that made the marriage official; and if they hadn't done it, things could have been called into question and caused trouble. At that point, the rule of consummating publically would happen where Hiccup and Brenna would need to have sex in front of witnesses to legalize the marriage. That's why Hiccup didn't put things off the night they got married; he knew what would be required if not.

"Hiccup!" Brenna tried again, this time, tapping Hiccup's shoulder a bit. Finally, he snapped out of it and looked her way.

"Hm?" Hiccup stated. "What is it? Are you alright?" he asked.

"That's…What I was going to ask you, Hiccup," Brenna began gently, perhaps a bit nervous too. "Are you okay?"

"Of course. Why do you ask?" Hiccup inquired, arching a brow and able to sense the emotions she was displaying.

"You've…Been quiet since we learned I'm pregnant," Brenna informed, looking away a bit. "It's been four days, and we still haven't told anyone. It seems like-," she stopped.

"Like what, Brenna?" Hiccup urged her to go on.

Brenna sighed. "I'm…Sorry. I'm just rambling. It's the mood swings, ignore me,"

Hiccup stared at her now; he'd been distancing himself and making her feel that way, which was wrong of him considering he decided he wanted to make things work with her despite the arranged marriage that got them into this. Gods, he was such an idiot.

Say something, stupid! She's crying out for your attention! Hiccup's mind screamed at him. Brenna smiled brightly and went to get back to cleaning things. Say anything at all, but she's trying to talk to you, and you're sitting there like an idiot making her think you don't give a care in the world to how she feels just because you two were forced to get married! Hiccup knew he was messing this up; they needed to sit down and talk about things. It wasn't just about him anymore; he had a wife and unborn child to think about. Soon enough; he'd have the entire Tribe to think about. At that moment, Hiccup felt a mental kick in the rear to get moving.

"No, wait…Stop, Brenna," Hiccup said instantly, his hand reaching to stop her actions. Brenna looked at him, surprised and curious as to what he was doing. Hiccup took the stack of things she was preparing to carry and set them aside. Hiccup pulled her closer and had her sit down it the chair that was next to him. "Sit, please?" Hiccup said lightly. Brenna did so, wondering what was going on. Unknown to them, Stoick was outside the door, preparing to get Hiccup for another day of training. As he went to knock, though; he heard Hiccup and Brenna talking. "You…Are not the one who needs to apologize for how they are acting, I do. I'm sorry I've been…Well, the way that I have been lately," Hiccup stated softly.

"Hiccup, it's…Okay. I know you're busy with the all-day Chief training, and when you get free moments, you're usually in the forge to help Gobber with his orders," Brenna smiled at him.

"And I appreciate that you know what has most of my day right now, but that is…No excuse for me to neglect my duties to you as your husband," Hiccup said as Brenna's eyes widened a little. "Forced, arranged marriage or not; we're still married. I took those vows three weeks ago, and our rings are proof of the promises we made to one another, and I need to uphold mine," he looked at her. "So please, tell me what's on your mind?"

"You…Have to go with your dad soon, Hiccup. We can just…Put it off until tonight," Brenna assured. Hiccup shook his head.

"No," Hiccup said firmly. "It's only training, and things I already know how to do, Brenna. I know how to run the Tribe, and my dad knows I can. I spent two long years learning how to hunt, manage food and supplies, so on and so forth. I had minor help from Johann and Krogan with the fighting bits, and other small pieces of help from friends outside of the Archipelago learning everything else. Chiefing is not hard; I could do it now if necessary. Not saying I want to, just that I can," Hiccup explained. "The only reason training is still happening is because he's trying to spend time with me. It's to make up for the lost time that he spent being my Chief instead of my father.

"No, Brenna. You have things on your mind that you want to get out and talk to me about. My dad will be fine; he's the Chief, not me. Right now; I'm just Heir to the Tribe and your husband. So, please…Tell me whatever it is that's bothering you so that we can talk about it, and I can fix whatever is. Or we can fix it together as a married couple should," Hiccup said, his hand still on hers.

Stoick struggled a moment, deciding if he should knock or not. It seemed like Brenna and Hiccup needed to talk about some stuff, and he shouldn't interrupt or eavesdrop on them. After all, he was the same way with Valka; if she needed to get something off her chest, he would stop everything else he was doing to tend to her. Hiccup was turning out to be a good husband, recognizing that his wife was among his top priorities and wanting to figure out what was wrong to make it better so his wife would be happy. No, Stoick would not step in on that if Hiccup was accepting his marriage and taking the necessary steps to ensure it survived and would be good for him and Brenna. Stoick turned and walked away from the house.

"Please, tell me, Brenna. I'm asking because I genuinely want to know what has my wife upset," Hiccup invited once he knew his father was gone and out of hearing range.

"Well," Brenna looked at him. "On the baby thing, as I said before; we still haven't anyone. I know you said to give you a couple of days to sit with it but…" she paused, taking a deep breath. "It feels like you aren't saying anything because you don't want to. It feels like you don't want this baby. More on the same feeling, for us; it seems like you don't even want to be married to me," she confessed.

Hiccup stared at Brenna now; feeling such a force in his chest that he couldn't explain. This was a real kick in the butt for him; knowing his wife felt this way and it was his fault. No matter all the things he had done, all his achievements; they meant nothing if he failed as a husband and father. What kind of Chief would he make if he didn't get his head together? He'd end up like his father who lost his mom to a dragon, and parentless because his father was too busy Chiefing to pay any attention to him. That was not a life he wanted for his children or his wife. Hiccup would be there for his wife and his child, or any more that he and Brenna may have.

Holding Brenna's hands in his, more securely now; Hiccup looked into her eyes. "I-I know this isn't the best arrangement, b-but it still happened. I feel like you're trying to get away from me. I know you're busy with the forge, and Chief training…But then there are times we're in the Great Hall…And you don't say a word to me unless you have to," Brenna saw that Hiccup wasn't replying, but listening. Brenna wondered if she should continue or not.

"Go on; it's alright. Lay it on me. I can take it," Hiccup urged. "I want to hear everything that is bothering you," he said.

Brenna looked down a bit. "It…Just doesn't feel like we're married, Hiccup. I know we are, but you're always…Well, it's like we're in the same place, but you're not there because you don't want to be," Brenna said softly.

"I guess I've been pretty distracted lately," Hiccup admitted.

"It's more than that, Hiccup," Brenna sighed. "I guess I don't feel…Any emotion at all behind your actions. You know? If that makes any sense. Yeah, you act when there are others around, but here at the house…I think this is the most interaction we've had since learning we were arranged to be married. I don't…Count the wedding night because that was required. But here, talking now, where you asked me to tell what was wrong; it's the only time I've seen you interested in anything regarding us,"

Yeah, Hiccup felt like a jerk now. "We had a few good moments, but all of that was in public. It's like being here is…All forced, and I hate the way it feels. You don't share the bed with me, we don't kiss, hug, make love, anything at all. And to be honest…I enjoyed how it felt on our wedding night," Brenna blushed a little, then cleared her throat, staying serious. "You sometimes don't even sleep upstairs; I find you in your office, or on the couch…And then there are times you are nowhere to be found. Like during raids…" she trailed off as Hiccup tensed.

Does she suspect I'm Drage? Hiccup thought instantly. "All that aside, though; I guess I just felt more from you. I know things aren't the best, and I can understand if you dislike or even hate me…But despite our situation…I still try to be the best wife I can to you…I'm trying to make things work so that we can be happy in this…" she teared up a little.

"No, stop…Stop, Brenna," Hiccup cut in now. "Please…Don't cry," he asked, using his thumb to wipe away a tear that slipped from her eye. Hiccup sighed, taking a deep breath as he found his words and hoped it would set her at some ease that things were going to be different. "Listen to me," he started. "I'm not going to lie to you; things are…Way outside what I would have hoped for. I had…A lot of plans for my life, assuming my father forgot about me being on banishment. I was ready to jump ship with Johann, and honestly…Never come back. Make everyone think I was dead,"

Brenna's eyes widened a bit. "But I didn't. I know I'm the only Heir to Berk. Well, that's untrue. Technically…There is Snotlout, and knowing that fully; I knew I couldn't abandon Berk or the Tribe to be under that muttonhead's leadership. Odin knows the island would end up in the ocean…" Hiccup shivered at the thought of Snotlout being Chief, and Brenna laughed a little, which made Hiccup smile knowing he made her happy with his remark. "So I knew I had to stay; this is my birthright, and also, I don't think my dad could handle thinking I'm dead. He already lost my mom, so I can't do that to him. That left the only option of staying and dealing with whatever happened. And that's what I'm doing still," Hiccup continued, looking in her purple eyes.

"Now, is our situation ideal? No. I'm in the middle of training, helping Gobber man the forge, trying to be a good husband, and now we have a baby on the way. I'm stressed out, so much that I can't sleep. I'm always leaving the house, taking long walks, trying to clear my head to be able to rest, and I can't. I'm only one guy; I can't be everywhere I'm needed to be," Hiccup sighed as Brenna looked down a little. However, Hiccup lifted her chin, so their eyes would meet. "But I promise that I will do my best regardless, and we will tackle the challenges we face together,"

"Y-You mean that?" Brenna asked.

"Every word, Milady," Hiccup nodded, locking his fingers with hers. "I am truly sorry for acting like I don't want this, being married to you and having a baby. I've just been distracted trying to process how…Fast everything is happening I guess. You know? It's been about almost two months since my banishment ended, learning I was getting married, the training, all this stuff with Drage, forge work, the wedding, and now this with the baby. I mean…I wasn't even aiming to get you pregnant; I knew I had a ton of time before it was required to give an Heir. Throwing a baby on top of everything else…Just added to the stress I already have. I don't…Handle stress well, so I back off to make sure I don't snap on anyone. And you've seen that I can,"

"Yes, I have. I'm sorry, Hiccup. I suppose things did happen a bit quickly, and the arranged marriage thing was unfair to you. I was given at least a couple of years to settle with things," Brenna nodded, understanding now.

"Well, since when is life fair?" Hiccup smiled some. "Come on; I got banished for no reason," he added.

"True," Brenna replied. "I'm sorry, Hiccup…I shouldn't have added to all this by being emotional,"

"It's not your fault; you had the right to be. I've been a pretty bad husband lately, and that's…Not fair to you. But hey…From now on; things will be different. I promise that to you, and if there is ever something wrong, Brenna; you can come to me. Please, don't be afraid to. Just pull me aside, mention we need to talk, or you want to talk about something; I will make time for you. I am your husband, and we're stuck together until one of us dies, so I think things will go better if we act like…This wasn't forced, and we wanted to get married," Hiccup suggested.

"That's…What I was hoping for, but I was afraid to upset you, or make you feel more forced," Brenna admitted.

"No. No, don't ever think that. It's not ideal, no, as I said, but we'll be fine. At least we get along, so there's no reason this can't work between us. I'm sorry I've been so distant, Brenna. Truly, I mean that. I guess…Ever since that first kiss and all the fast-paced things happening; my mind has been anywhere but here on Berk. But…I don't hate you, alright? I do not hate you at all. I like you a lot; you have an amazing personality, set of qualities, and morals that I admire and respect. I meant what I said to Astrid that day; that if I had to pick anyone to be married to, it would be you,"

Brenna blushed more, smiling. "So, I guess I got what I wanted either way," Hiccup stated, smiling as well. "I promise that I will be a better husband, and no matter what; we'll make it through whatever comes our way," he assured. "Alright? And hey…Let's tell everyone about the baby in three days at the Summer Celebration. I'll make it a public announcement myself," he offered.

"Really? You'll do that?" Brenna's eyes lit up.

"I will, just for you. I am happy to be married to you, and us having this baby. I can't wait, Brenna. I seriously can't wait. It's going to be perfect," Hiccup leaned closer. Brenna instantly hugged him tightly, and he returned it. Afterward; they looked into each other's eyes and ended up going in for a kiss. "Everything is going to be perfect," Hiccup promised when they pulled apart but kept their hands together.