Who's ready for some more Henry? Apart from you guys, I mean. Hicret, of course!
-HTTYD-
They both sipped at their tea, increasingly antsy as their pre-arranged visit to go and see their son got closer.
"I don't think Astrid is going to bar you from Henry's life forever, you know. Have you tried reaching out?"
Hiccup asked, but their mother shook her head and sighed.
"Not yet, no. I knew when I told you that she'd be very upset with me, but it was more important you met your son. I do hope Astrid will forgive me, but I made my choice and I have to live with it."
Hiccup sighed in turn, placing his cup down and heading over to hug her.
"We'll tell you all about him."
She smiled, hugging him tighter.
"Thank you."
Valka had brought over gifts for them to take to Henry, one of which was a handmade blanket perfectly sized for a toddler. It hadn't been that long since she saw him herself, so she must have started right away. Hiccup wondered how their... how Eret Sr had responded, though from what he understood, Valka had stopped walking on eggshells around her husband when it came to their children. He and Eret reassured her that if she needed to get away, she was welcome to come to them.
"So... how was seeing Astrid again for the two of you?"
The twins shared a look, because right now they still weren't really sure how they felt about it. So many emotions all at once, and it had only been a few days.
"Weird. And uncomfortable. She wasn't happy to see us."
"Yeah. She looked ready to bolt, but we were in her place so nowhere to go I guess."
Even though they were upset with her for running away to begin with, and for keeping their son from them for so long - though Hiccup reluctantly understood her reasonings - it still hurt to see their little sister scared of them.
"Hopefully things get easier for you all."
Hiccup nodded.
"Yeah. I'm hoping she'll let us see him more than once a week, though I guess since we both work it's gonna be tricky. Baby steps, really."
"Yeah. Right now I'm focusing on being happy she's letting us see him at all."
Eret added, though Hiccup knew his twin was struggling with it all, and they both just wanted to go hold the sweet little boy and learn all about him, try to make up for all the time with him they'd missed.
"Why was Astrid so convinced you would want nothing to do with him?"
Valka asked, and the brothers shared a look, debating how to answer their mother for a minute. Eret nodded, so Hiccup chose his words carefully. She knew, but they weren't going to go in to graphic details.
"When we first started... you know, we all agreed it was just a physical thing. Nothing like a relationship. That it wouldn't go into starting a family. So as far as Astrid knew, we didn't want any kids happening. And then we didn't exactly respond well when she told us she was pregnant."
"She never gave us the time to though."
Hiccup laid his hand on Eret's arm, trying to soothe his brother.
"I know. I know. But I can see why she thought we weren't interested, and you know what Astrid's like. Too independent for her own good sometimes."
"Yeah. It's just hard, we've missed so much of his life."
Truthfully, Hiccup hadn't really known how much he wanted children before he met Henry. There was obviously the compulsion to find him and Astrid, to know they were alright, and an ache for missing her and wanting to know about Henry, but he'd still been thunderstruck by how intensely he loved that little boy on sight.
"There's so much more to come though, and you can be there for all of that."
There was a wistful longing in their mothers voice, and Hiccup really hoped that her relationship with Astrid was going to be able to be salvaged too. The fact Valka was willing to deal with what her kids had done and love and care for them anyway - and put her own happiness and relationship with Astrid and Henry on the line for her sons - said that she was definitely going to be a good influence on Henry if she got the chance.
"So will you. Astrid will come around eventually."
"I hope so. But even if she doesn't, it was completely worth it for you boys."
Hiccup felt his throat grow thick. He knew they didn't really deserve her unending support; no parent could be expected to deal so well with finding out their three children were all regularly having illegal, incestuous sex, let alone that one was pregnant by one of the other two. And yet she stood by them, and chose them getting to meet their son over being able to see her grandson herself.
"Thanks mom."
Was all he managed to choke out.
"Always."
She smiled, and when Hiccup looked over he could see Eret's eyes were a little wet too.
When their mother left that evening, he and Eret sat in silence for a bit, looking at the little things Valka had made for Henry and definitely both thinking about their son. It still felt surreal that near two years of searching was over, and that now they had a whole new challenge ahead of them - bonding with their son and not scaring Astrid away again.
As they made their way to Astrid's flat that morning, Eret was definitely nervous. He knew he needed to keep himself in check - they were all passionate people, and emotions often ran high, but that was no excuse for him to be rude or harsh to Astrid when she was making what was clearly a big concession after everything that had happened.
Hiccup was holding the box of things from their mother, so Eret was the one to knock on the door. It was opened a few seconds later by Heather, who only looked at them briefly before her gaze dropped.
"Whosit?"
Henry had just barreled into her legs, peering up at the newcomers.
"Come on Henry, no escape attempts today" Heather bent down and scooped the toddler up "guess you two should come in."
Wriggling to get free, Henry pouted all the way until Heather put him in Astrid's arms, at which point he began babbling at her and gesturing to Hiccup and Eret. Astrid seemed to understand him, at least.
"Yes, they were here before. They've come to see you, remember?" Astrid looked over at the twins, trying to contain a squirming Henry "he's extra energetic today. Good luck with that."
That much was evident in the room around them, Eret noticed, as there were toys strewn everywhere and some half eaten banana mush on the table. He suspected it had originally been in a bowl, but maybe Henry was a messy eater.
"Go say hi."
Astrid placed him down and Henry whined up at her, apparently put out that she'd put him down just as he'd asked.
"He does that a lot. Wants to get down and then realises it's harder to hug Astrid from the ground."
Heather laughed as she spoke, watching Henry with fond, affectionate eyes. Finally seeming to remember there were other people there, Henry charged over to them. He overshot it a bit and effectively face planted Eret's leg, but it didn't seem to slow him a jot as he looked up at them.
"Hi!"
"Hey there. Is it ok if we pick him up?"
Astrid nodded, looking absolutely exhausted as she dragged a hand over her face.
"Sure, but be careful. He's wriggly."
Hiccup dropped down to squat near Henry, and Eret loved the happy smiles on both their faces.
"Hey Henry. Can I pick you up?"
"Up!"
Henry held his chunky arms out to Hiccup, who (slightly awkwardly, they were still learning) managed to straighten up with Henry in his arms. Eret watched on a little anxiously, ready to grab and catch if Henry started to wriggle free.
"Heather's already agreed to stay and keep an eye on you three, I'm going for a nap. Wake me if I'm not up in an hour? Or if Henry needs me?"
Astrid asked Heather, who nodded.
"Sure."
Astrid threw a look over at Henry, who was currently engaged in tugging the string on Hiccup's hoody, and seemed satisfied he was alright before she turned and left. It definitely felt like she was avoiding them very effectively.
"She's been up most of the night, Henry wouldn't settle. I stayed here last night and he woke me at just gone five. He's probably gonna crash for a nap in a couple of hours himself, but right now he appears more closely related to the tasmanian devil than anybody here."
"Down!"
Henry finally decided, and as soon as Hiccup placed him on the ground he barrelled over to some toys and picked two to start bashing them together. Shaking her head, Heather headed over to him.
"Come on, you like this one. You'll be sad if you break it. You two gonna come play with him or what? Oh. What's in the box?"
Hiccup had put it down to pick Henry up, and Heather apparently had just spotted it.
"Oh. Uh. Mom gave us some stuff she wanted to give to Henry."
Heather turned toward Astrid's door, then waved a hand.
"Wait til she's had a lie down, cus you should ask Astrid before you give him anything. Put that on the side in the kitchen. Henry can't reach... yet."
Hiccup complied, and Eret headed over to where Henry was on the floor pouting.
"Hey little man. What are you playing?"
As soon as he'd knelt down and was in reach, Henry hopped up to start prodding at Eret's tattoo again, giggling away. Gods, Eret was so very smitten with the boy. He felt a little guilty for Astrid, though if she'd cancelled because she was too tired to deal with them, they probably would have felt pretty upset then too. Especially since it was their first... arranged visit? It felt a bit like a split custody deal, he supposed. Minus any court orders, since Astrid had (reluctantly) offered, and the twins had no legal recourse regardless without outing the whole incest thing.
Even with the two of them and Heather's practice at wrangling Henry, Eret was still stunned at just how much get up and go Henry had, energy seeming endless as he tore around the flat. Heather didn't quite manage to catch him before he ran straight into Astrid's bedroom door, jumping up to try and reach the handle.
"No Henry, mama's sleeping."
That didn't deter the boy at all, and he seemed to have been successful in waking Astrid as the door opened just as Heather reached to pull Henry away. Eret was glad their attention was all on Henry, as it meant it was less likely either Heather or Astrid were going to notice the way his breath caught in his chest at the sight of her. Hair down, features soft with sleep and a look of love on her face as she gazed down at Henry. It reminded him so much of all the times they'd woken to see her that way, all sleepy and cosy as she burrowed into the blankets between them like she belonged there...
Ignoring the dull ache in his chest at the memories, Eret shook off those thoughts and looked at Hiccup. From the expression on his twin's face, Eret suspected Hiccup's mind had wandered to pretty much the exact same place.
"Hey baby boy, what's wrong?"
"Mama!"
Was all the answer Henry gave, and Astrid rolled her eyes over Henry's shoulder as she picked him up, which made Heather chuckle.
"Can't even nap without you huh? Ok, I'm up, I'm up. Wow, it looks like a tornado hit in here."
"Our very own little Hurricane Henry. You wanna try and feed him and see if it settles him down a bit, and I'll make you coffee since you apparently won't be getting any sleep?"
Astrid nodded, turning her sleepy gaze toward them.
"You might as well sit down properly."
Yawning, she turned and carried Henry back into her room, and Eret caught "are you hungry baby boy?" before the door closed behind them. Since they were left waiting, they got up from the floor and had to brush toys and a discarded t-shirt aside to find enough space to sit on the sofa. He debated whether they should tidy up or something, but they had no idea where anything was supposed to go. So they shared a silent look, and sat awkwardly while they waited.
Heather stuck her head out of the kitchen and asked if they wanted drinks, but Eret's stomach was too full of butterflies and Hiccup declined right after him. So she put a coffee down on the table and held a mug with some form of teabag in herself - Eret only knew because he could see the little string for pulling it out when it was done g
Astrid reappeared a few minutes later, holding a much calmer looking Henry.
"Better?"
"For him, sure. He did bite me on the- never mind."
She seemed to remember they were there and stopped, but Eret still winced at the implication.
"Want his teething ring?"
Heather asked, but Astrid shook her head.
"Bit late now, but nah. He does it cus he thinks it's funny. Don't you, little monkey?"
Henry giggled, but didn't answer or try to break free. After a minute deliberating, Astrid grabbed a nearby blanket and wrapped it around Henry before she gently plopped him down on Eret's lap. Eret suspected it was
"You sit there so mama can have her caffeine while it's hot for a change."
Calm and cuddly, Henry yawned and it was the cutest thing Eret had ever seen. Until he turned and curled into Eret's chest, and seemed ready to fall asleep there and then. Which was even cuter! Hiccup looked over at the two of them, love all over his face.
"Astrid, come here a minute?"
"Can I bring my coffee?"
"Yes."
Letting out a small sigh, Astrid got up and headed over to Heather, the two disappearing into the kitchen. Hiccup watched them go, then looked back at Henry.
"He's adorable."
"He really is."
They couldn't hear what the two women in the kitchen were saying, but when Astrid came out to look at Henry, she turned back to Heather and they caught her answer. And the thing in her hand - it was out of the box of things from their mother.
"Nah, he's nearly asleep. I'll show him later."
As Henry drifted off on his lap, Eret couldn't help but smile. They were bonding with their son, and Astrid seemed to have accepted the gifts for him from Valka already.
Like Hiccup said before, Eret thought to himself. Baby steps.
-HTTYD-
n'aww, who could resist a lil sleepy Henry on their lap?