Chapter 5

(Eret's POV)

Becky and I sit in near what will be the forge as I put the finishing touches on our baby's cradle. I'd been working on it for a few days now, and it's finally almost finished.

"So, what do you think, love?"

"It's beautiful, Eret. Thank you for making it."

"You're welcome."

Suddenly, I hear a familiar roar. Skullcrusher.

I rush out to the clearing and see Skullcrusher, Grump and Cloudjumper flying towards New Berk. Becky struggles to keep up by walking. Thankfully.

"My love, it looks like the others need my help. I'll be back as soon as I can. I promise." I kiss my wife's head as Gobber, Valka and my mother-in-law run over to us.

"Be safe. All three of you." Becky says.

"We will be, dear. I won't let any harm come to Eret. Or anyone else." Valka tells her.

We soon fly off after putting our armor on.

~.~

"Sorry we're late for the party!" Gobber remarks.

"You're right on time!" One of the conquerors replies, drawing his blades as his fellow conquerors do the same.

I draw my sword as Gobber and Valka do the same.

It's a hard battle, but, in the end, the three of us are victorious..

Someone steers the ship in another direction, and my guess is on Astrid.

The three bad guys Valka, Gobber and I were fighting all get caged.

I'm suddenly knocked onto my front by another bad guy. Someone jumps over me and takes the bad guy down.

Snotlout.

He helps me up.

"It wouldn't be fair if your baby was born without a father and I could've done something about it." He tells me.

I smirk at him, grateful for him saving me.

Soon, we're all victorious and the dragons head back to Berk. We all head back to Berk with them, and see our chief has landed safely with the Light Fury's help.

Becky walks – okay, waddles…she's so cute – up to me.

"I'm so glad you're safe."

"Why wouldn't I be?" Becky smirks at me as I wrap my arms around her in a gentle hug.

Hiccup hobbles up to Toothless and Toothless and the Light Fury are reunited once again.

"Eret, you did really well today."

"Thanks, Gobber. You're not too bad yourself."

"I had a little help from the Hobgobblers."

Becky, Gobber and I all laugh at this.

We can see Valka talking to Snotlout and can just hear their conversation.

"You know, Eret may be blessed with brawn, but, just between us, you have the brains." Valka tells Snotlout.

I have to hold Becky back at this statement. I've got brains, no doubt about it. I may not be the smartest in the group, but I've got some smarts.

"It's alright, love. Don't even worry about it."

"Are you sure?"

"I am."

Hiccup hobbles back over to Toothless, who is looking towards the Hidden World.

"You're right, bud. It's time. I was so busy fighting for a world that I wanted, I didn't think about what you needed." Hiccup tells Toothless, glancing over at the Light Fury.

"You've looked after us for long enough. Time to look after yourselves."

We all sadly realize what he means.

"All right, Grumpy. Off you go." Gobber tells Grump as he takes off Grump's saddle.

"So long, you big ugly beast. I'll miss you." I tell Skullcrusher as I take off his saddle before moving to take Amethyst's saddle off of her for Becky.

"Goodbye, Amethyst. Take care of yourself."

The other Berkians remove the saddles from their dragons as Becky and I emotionally look on.

Soon, we face our chief.

"Go on, bud. Lead them to the Hidden World. You'll be safe there. Safer than you could ever be with me. It's okay. I love you, too. And I want you to be free. Our world doesn't deserve you. Yet." Toothless hugs Hiccup.

"Go, Toothless. Go."

Toothless roars and the other dragons follow suit and they head off to the Hidden World.

Both Becky and Gobber start to cry and I do my best to comfort the both of them, even though I'm equally as tearful.

Toothless soon follows the other dragons as we all head to the cliff to watch them off.

~.~

Two months have passed and it's now August, nearing Becky's due date. Becky suddenly puts a hand on her belly at dinner in the new Great Hall.

"You all right, love?"

"I think I just felt another contraction."

A panicked look crosses my face.

"Now?"

"Will you relax, Eret? I'm fine. They're not too bad yet."

"Phew. Good."

"That being said, when they do get bad, I'm going to need you."

"I won't leave your side for even a second, love."

"Thank you. Can you let Ruff and Tuff know?"

"On it." I lean over to my brother-in-law, who's busy talking with Snotlout.

"Tuffnut."

"What's up, my bro-in-law?"

"Becky's going into labor. We've got to get her out of here and get her home."

"On it. I'll tell Ruffnut. We'll follow you there."

"Thanks."

Soon, Becky and I get home, Ruff and Tuff following us.

Becky turns to them as soon as we're in the door.

"Guys, I'm fine. For now. The contractions aren't bad yet."

"But they will be, sis. And it will be my pleasure to ride them out with you."

"Thanks, Ruff. It means a lot."

A few hours pass as Valka, Lily Thorston and Gothi have since come to assist with the birth.

The contractions start to make Becky get sick.

"Oh gods...something's wrong. I know it."

"Shhhh. Nothing is wrong, sweetheart. This is natural." Lily Thorston says, brushing her daughter's hair back as she empties the contents of her stomach.

Soon, Becky is back in my arms, with me gently rocking her as the contractions continue on.

I start to sing to her to help keep her calm.

I love you truly, truly dear,

Life with its sorrows, life with its tears

Fades into dreams when I feel you are near,

For I love you truly, truly dear! Ah, love 'tis something, to feel your kind hand,

Ah yes, 'tis something, by your side to stand,

Gone is the sorrow, gone doubt and fear,

For you love me truly, truly dear!

"I'm here, my love. I promise you. I'm right here."

Hours pass as contractions become more frequent and intense.

"Mmmmmm oh gods. It hurts." She says as she goes to her hands and knees, facing me.

"I know. I know." I move to stroke Becky's hair back but she glares at me.

"Don't touch me."

"Do you want me to leave?"

"Absolutely not. You did this to me. If I have to suffer through this, then so do you."

"Okay." I glance at my mother-in-law.

"That's normal, Eret. You should've been there when I was in labor with the twins. I was cursing up a storm, blaming Frank for doing this to me. It's just transition. Once she's out of it, the worst part of labor is over."

"I hate seeing her like this." I glance back at my wife, who's leaning against Ruffnut as she rides out yet another contraction.

"I know. We all do. After everything she went through with you-know-who, she still has this to go through. But if she can survive giving birth to a madman's baby and all the trouble that madman put her through, she can survive this. But it will all be worth it in the end. Oh, look at her." Valka says.

I glance at my wife, who's somehow fallen asleep in her sister's arms.

"I can't believe she's fallen asleep."

"Oh, I can, Eret. Poor thing is exhausted. Transition should be almost over. We should let her sleep. She'll need as much strength as she can get for delivery." Lily says.

"D-delivery?" I ask, suddenly nervous.

"Oh, don't chicken out now, Eret. Becky will need you more than ever." Valka says.

"How painful will it be for her?"

"It's the most painful part of labor and delivery, besides transition. But she's a fighter. Surely you of all people know that." Lily says.

"O-Of course I do. I just...I don't want her to be in pain."

"If you did, Eret, you'd be as bad as Drago. So you're safe from turning into him." Valka remarks.

"Shhh. You're okay, sis. You're okay. I've got you. I've got you." Ruffnut says as Becky begins to whimper in her sleep.

Becky soon wakes back up.

"Eret?"

"I'm here, my love. I'm right here."

"I'm sorry for what I said to you. I didn't mean it."

"Shhh. It's not your fault. That was just the pain talking."

"I'm scared."

"I know. I know you're scared, love. I'm right here and I am not leaving you."

Another contraction comes, and Becky's breathing spirals into a panic attack.

"Oh, gods. Hang on, sis! Tuffnut! She needs you!"

Tuffnut, who is best at getting Becky's breathing back to normal, comes into the house, going to his adoptive sister.

"Sis. Hey. Look at me. Look at me, sweetheart. I'm here. We're all here for you. You have to slow your breathing down. Breathe. Think of the end result of all of this. Your baby. Your beautiful, beautiful baby. You've got this."

Becky's breathing begins to slow down, before another contraction steals her breath.

"Don't hold your breath, sweetheart. It'll make the pain worse. Grip my hand as hard as you can. Share your pain with me."

Becky grips Tuffnut's hand as she leans on me. I wish there was more I could do.

"Eret...please take my pain away, please."

"Oh, my darling. I wish I could. I truly wish I could."

Soon, the contraction ends and my wife leans into me, exhausted.

"You try to rest. We've got you."

Soon, the time comes for the baby to be born.

"All right, sweetheart. Are you ready?" Lily asks.

Becky nods.

After about half an hour of pushing, the baby arrives, practically screaming, as Becky collapses, exhausted, against me.

"You did it. You really did it."

"It's a girl! It's a beautiful baby girl."

"Is she...is she okay?" Becky asks as the placenta is delivered.

"She looks to be just fine. You rest now. The work is done."

"No wonder they call it labor."

Valka smirks at the young mother before turning back to check on the baby.

"She weighs about seven pounds, three ounces. She's a good size, and it's a miracle you didn't tear, Becky."

A few minutes pass before the baby girl is placed in her mother's arms after Becky is situated on our couch, me not leaving her side.

Valka turns to look outside our door.

"Oh, there's quite the audience outside. Shall I let them in?"

"Not too many, Valka. She needs to sleep soon."

"I understand, Eret. I'll just let a few in." Valka opens the door and walks out, closing it behind her.

"Both the baby and mother are doing fine. However, there will be few visitors, as the mother is exhausted. Hiccup, you, Astrid, Snotlout, Fishlegs, Amalie, Eret Sr., Frank Thorston and Gobber can come see the baby. But that will be all the visitors the Nordisks will have for now." She comes back inside.

"Goodness. You'd think that it was the chief's baby arriving. But your baby is no less special, of course." Valka says before letting the group inside.

The group cautiously approaches the family.

"Oh, isn't she just a beauty?" Gobber says, tears welling in his eyes.

"Awww, she's so cute!" Fishlegs remarks.

The rest of the group makes similar remarks.

"All right, all. It's time we give this new family their privacy." Valka, the Thorstons, my father and sister and our friends leave.

"You did beautifully, love. I am so unbelievably proud of you."

"Thank you."

"How are you?"

"Exhausted. Sore."

"I'll bet."

I kiss the top of my wife's head.

Becky looks at me a few minutes later, as I've suddenly gone quiet.

"Whatcha thinking about?"

"There's something I have to tell you, and I...don't know how you'll react."

"You can tell me anything, Eret, you know that."

"Okay...you know how Gobber's been eyeing me? Complimenting me?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"I think...I think he likes me."

"Do you return his feelings?"

"Would you be mad if I did?"

"Eret, of course not. I love you, no matter who you love."

"Really? You're okay with me being bisexual?"

"Really. How long have you known?"

"Always. But I never told anyone, so that's why I was with Jasmine. Why I've been with you."

Becky raises an eyebrow at me.

"Th-that's not to say I don't love you! I - I do. I was just...I was just a-afraid of how you'd react, with your hormones and all."

"Eret, I may have a new baby, but I'm not heartless. It's okay."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. You know, we still have to think of a name for her."

"Can I...do you think that maybe I could..."

"What? Hold her? Eret, you are her father, after all. Of course you can hold her." Becky places our daughter into my arms.

"She's so tiny. I didn't expect her to be so tiny. Not as tiny as you were, but still tiny."

"She didn't feel very tiny to me."

"I hated that you went through that. Never again will I put you through that."

"Hey, let me have some say on the matter. What if when she's grown up she gets lonely?"

"You'd go through that again just to make sure our daughter wouldn't be lonely?"

"I'd do anything for her. Wouldn't you?"

It's then I realize I've barely looked at my daughter's face. Tears well in my eyes.

"She's beautiful. Absolutely beautiful." I whisper. Becky can tell it's love at first sight.

"Isn't she?"

"We made her."

"We sure did. Now about her name..."

"Hmmm. We can't keep just calling her 'our daughter', now can we? No...you do need a name, my little love. Any ideas, my sweetie?"

"I'm thinking...Ruby...for her first name. If you don't mind."

"After my mum?"

Becky nods.

"My mum is smiling down from Valhalla as we speak. How about...Amora, after your real mum?"

"It would be a good way to honor her memory. I like it. Ruby Amora Nordisk."

"Ruby. Our Ruby."

(I'd go for them calling Ruby their "precious little gemstone", but that's already taken by GuardianDragon98!)

Becky soon falls asleep, with our daughter in my arms. I stay up, rocking her.

There's soon a knock on our door. I try to be quiet as I open it.

"Hey, Ruffnut. What do you need?"

"Just came to check in on my sister."

"She's asleep."

"Oh. Well, that's good. Poor thing."

"Yeah."

"Uh, Eret? Do you think I could talk to you for a minute?"

"Sure. What's on your mind?" I step outside as my sister-in-law closes the door.

"About me going after you last year...I'm sorry. My sister is your true love. I shouldn't have gotten in the way of that. She needs you."

"Thank you, Ruffnut. It means a lot. You know it wasn't love at first sight for her and me?"

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Wow. Congratulations, by the way. She's beautiful."

"Thank you. Our Becky is quite the warrior, isn't she?"

"She sure is. I'll let you get back to her."

"Thank you. And, Ruff?"

"Yeah?"

"You'll find love as great as Becky's and mine someday. I guarantee it."

"That's impossible, Eret."

"How so?"

"No love is as great as yours and my sister's. Don't tell Hiccup and Astrid I said that."

"I won't."

Ruffnut leaves without another word and I head back inside.

Now, dear reader, you may think our story has ended because our daughter was born. But that's only the beginning.

Plus, Hiccup and Astrid's wedding - finally - is coming up!