Chapter 6: Darling, Don't Be Afraid
If any of you are wondering when these one-shots take place, all of them, with the exceptions of the Alternative Scene and the upcoming "We're Here" how and why Becky was banished to Berk chapter, take place after the events of How To Train Your Dragon 2, and after Eret and Becky's wedding. This one-shot, however, takes place before the one-shot Trigger.
(Eret's POV)
It's nighttime on Berk. People are in the Great Hall or in their homes, eating dinner. Becky and I are a part of the former, having just finished our food, and are now just sitting across from each other at one of the tables.
"Eret?"
"Yes, my love?"
"I'm...I'm thinking about telling our friends about what I went through when...you know..." I put a hand on my wife's hand, surprised but proud of her courage.
"My darling, I support you. If you need me to be there with you when you tell our friends about what you went through, I will be. It's up to you what you tell them."
"I will need you there, Eret. You know I will."
"Don't worry. I will be. And I am so proud of you."
"Thank you. And I'm proud of you, too."
"You're welcome. And for what?"
"For sticking with me all this time. And for changing for the better."
"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, darling. And you're part of the reason I changed."
Ruffnut and Tuffnut walk over to us.
"What are you two lovebirds up to?" Ruffnut asks, sitting down next to Becky.
"Just talking. Becky is thinking about telling our friends what she went through."
"Bold move, sis." Tuffnut says, sitting down next to me.
"What makes you say that, bro?"
"Well, you aren't exactly the most open of people. Well, you weren't when we first met you."
"True. But I've changed, Tuffnut. A lot has changed me in the past three years...some of which I wish I could change for the better..." She sighs and I give her hand a squeeze.
"Sis, it's like Dad always says: 'it's not wise to dwell on the past'." Ruffnut says.
"Since when has Dad ever said that?" Becky asks.
"He said it the night you told Mom and him and me what you went through." Tuffnut says.
"But it's completely understandable that you don't remember. You had a lot on your mind that night." I say, interrupting my brother-in-law.
"Sorry...not that I'm regretting telling you guys. I mean, you are my family...it's just...I don't like to think about it...what he put me through." Becky glances down at her stomach and puts her free hand on it as she remembers her son. I squeeze her hand again, wishing I could've been there with her when she was in labor.
"Who would want to think about that? He tortured you." Ruffnut says, putting a hand on her sister's shoulder comfortingly.
"And you're sure you want to tell the others? No one will blame you if you don't, love." I tell Becky.
"No...they need to know. They're my friends and I would hate to keep secrets from them."
"Even if it's a secret worth keeping? Becky, sweetie, it's your choice what you do. But it'll most likely bring back your nightmares. And none of us want you to go through that." Tuffnut says.
"I know it will, Tuff. But they just...they need to know. They need to know because what if I have a flashback or...or a baby is born on Berk...and that sparks another panic attack. They're nosy Vikings. Or at least Hiccup and Fishlegs are...and sometimes Snotlout...and sometimes Astrid. They'll want to know what I went through. And I don't want them hearing about it from anyone but me. You guys understand why I have to be the one to tell them, right?"
"Of course we do, hon. We just want you to know that we're here to support you." I say.
She nods.
"Thank you. I'm gonna go see when Hiccup has some free time." She gets up and heads over to the table where Hiccup, Astrid, Valka, Snotlout and Fishlegs are sitting. I worriedly glance at my brother- and sister-in-law. They share the same looks with me.
(Becky's POV)
"Hey." Hiccup glances up at me.
"Hey, Becky. What brings you over to our neck of the woods?"
"I just wanted to ask when you'd have some time to talk...there's something I need to talk to you guys about."
"I'm free now. How about we all go to the Cove, like we used to?"
"Sounds good to me. Thanks."
"Not a problem. And as your chief and your friend, you can always come to me with any problem you have."
"Thank you, Hiccup."
Without another word, my friends get up from the table, and Eret and my siblings join us and we walk to the Cove.
(Eret's POV)
We all sit down in the Cove, in a circle. I have my arm around Becky, ready to comfort her, should I need to.
"So, Becky. What's up?" Hiccup asks.
"Well, um...Hiccup, do you remember when Eret asked if I could stay on Berk and I told you that Eret and I were separated for ten months when...when our love for each other was discovered?" Becky starts shaking and I get closer to her to provide her some comfort.
"I do."
"During those ten months...d-during those ten months..."
"Shhh. It's okay. Take your time, love." I whisper to her, kissing her head.
A few minutes pass before Becky is able to speak again.
"D-during those ten months...he...he...he got me pregnant." She pauses as her breathing starts to get ragged.
"Deep breaths, darling. Deep breaths."
Ruffnut moves closer to her sister to provide her some extra comfort.
A few more minutes pass before Becky speaks again; none of us interrupt her.
"I had my son in the captain's quarters, which only brought me bad memories, of course. Labor didn't even last that long...only about a day. But I just wanted Eret there with me. I wanted to be with him on his ship. I wanted him to be there to help me through it. When I was pushing, I was filled with regret because I didn't think I was going to make it. I thought about my siblings, and I knew they had a sliver of hope I was still alive. After my son was born, I never even got to hold him because his own father killed him just seconds after he was born...and he also killed my helper...my friend, Anthony...he was the only one who was there to help me. I wouldn't have gotten through it if it weren't for him. All I wanted was Eret. D-Drago made me lose the weight during the month after the birth so Eret wouldn't know. I stopped eating because of my grief and I had hopes to be returned to Eret earlier than planned."
"The night you came back to our ship, when Teeny called you...what he called you, you flinched." I say.
"That's what Anthony and Gustavo - the one who was in charge of delivery - called me."
"Gustavo was the one who held you back when I was branded, wasn't he?"
Becky nods.
"It was like the birth never even occurred." Becky says.
"And when I knocked on the door to ask if you wanted to eat something..." I start.
"I was crying. I was crying so much because I wasn't allowed to cry on his ship...he would accuse me of being over-emotional. When I heard you talking, I scrambled into the bed. You came in, thinking I was asleep."
"Oh, my Becky."
"All I wanted was to tell you everything. But if I did, he could've found out and punished you or me. I didn't want to risk losing you."
"Oh, honey. You suffered for so long just so I would stay as safe as I could?" She nods.
"Oh, my sweetie. And when you had that night terror...it was about the murders, wasn't it?"
"Yes. I just wish they would've included the birth...at least then my night terrors would have one good part." Tears start rolling down Becky's cheeks.
"And when you got sick and had that panic attack..."
"It was the grief taking its toll on me. I couldn't tell you because -"
"Because he'd punish you - possibly even kill you - if you did." She nods.
The thought of losing my Becky...especially to Drago...it makes my blood boil. I hate that he put her through this.
"No wonder you almost had a panic attack the day Eret changed sides. You and I passed right by where you gave birth." Snotlout says.
"So...now you guys know...you guys know what I went through..."
"Oh, Becky. We are so so sorry." Hiccup says.
"My Becky, let me ask you this: have you properly grieved for your son and Anthony?"
"No. But right now, I'm so emotionally drained..."
"Say no more, my love. Let's go home." The group disperses and Becky and I take the long way home.
"You doing all right, sweetie?"
"I...I don't know. Part of me feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders...and the other part feels like he's going to come back."
"Becky, my darling, he won't come back. He won't be able to threaten us anymore."
"What if he does? What if he does come back? If he hurts you...Eret, I thought I was going to lose you when you were branded...I knew that you were strong, but I didn't know the limits of your strength. Eret, I can't. I can't lose you. It'll destroy me."
"You're not going to lose me. I will make it my mission in life to be by your side forever. And I hope you will make it your personal mission to be by my side when I need you." I brush a piece of hair back behind Becky's ear.
"What if I'm not strong enough?" She asks, tears welling in her eyes.
"You will be. I will be your strength when you can't be strong. I will always support you in whatever you do."
"Can I...can I borrow your sword for a bit?" I'm a bit concerned as to why she would want to borrow my sword, but I'm pretty sure she wouldn't harm herself with it...not in front of me, at least.
"Becky, you're not going to...?"
"No, I'm not going to cut myself. I just...I need to blow off some steam."
"Fair enough." I hand over my sword to my wife and back off, wanting to not be too close to her. Her sword skills are nothing to laugh at.
If I do say so myself, since I was the one who taught her.
Becky sees a tree wrapped in vines.
She then starts attacking said tree, screaming obscenities against Drago for ruining our lives (hers and mine).
I give her space, not wanting to be a target of her anger.
This is the worst I've seen her.
As the saying goes, "If you can't handle me at my worst, you don't deserve me at my best."
Good news is, seeing her release obscenities against Drago, attacking a dying tree, I can handle that.
If Drago does come back, I know for sure that Becky will be ready to face him.
And as long as she's by my side, I will be, too.
