Chapter 18: The Bad Man
In this, Ruby (Eret and Becky's daughter, not Eret's mom) is 14, so that means Zephyr and Nuffink (Hiccup and Astrid's kids) are about 10 and 8, since she was about 4 when Zephyr was born and Zephyr was about 6 at the end of HTTYD3 and Nuffink was about 4. If I'm wrong, please correct me.
(Ruby's POV)
This is New Berk. It's the only home I've really known for the past 14 years. But Mom was pregnant with me on Old Berk, which I've never been to.
It's getting late, almost my bedtime. I'm 14, so I shouldn't really have a bedtime, but tell that to my parents! My mom is stricter than my dad is, and mom tells me it's because my dad fell in love with me (in a father/daughter way, not a romantic way. Obviously) the moment he laid eyes on me after I was born. The Nordisk family – aka us – is reading as usual. I'm reading some old stories of Uncle Chief Hiccup and his dragon Toothless.
I started calling Hiccup Uncle Chief Hiccup at an early age, and it stuck.
Where was I? Oh, yeah. My mom is being a bit…tearful tonight, and I don't know why.
"Mom, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, sweetie. Just a bit emotional."
"Why?"
My mom looks at my dad and nods.
Dad turns to me.
"Well, Ruby, many years ago, your mum had another baby. Your brother. But she lost him."
"Was it because of Dr- that bad man?"
Dad nods solemnly, gripping Mom's shoulder.
"It was. Today would've been your brother's 17th birthday."
"Were you there when my brother was born?"
"I wish every day that I could've been, Ruby."
"Oh. I'm sorry, Mom."
"Thank you, sweetheart."
I had been taught early on never to mention Drago's name in front of Mom, because it could spark a panic attack. Don't tell my parents, but I've actually had a panic attack before, and those are scary. Only my Uncle Tuffnut and Aunt Ruffnut know, and it was because I was in a cave (even though I wasn't supposed to be) and it was dark and I was scared.
I remember that day like it was yesterday, even though I don't like to think about it that much.
But that's a story for another time.
~.~
The next day, I walk over to my Uncle Snotlout and Uncle Tuffnut's house, where my Aunt Ruffnut still visits almost every day, despite being married to my Uncle Fishlegs.
(Yes, I now ship Tufflout…or Snotnut…I like Snotnut better. I literally just started shipping them. Jasmine and him broke up after the events HTTYD3 and after Ruby was born)
My Uncle Snotlout and Uncle Fishlegs are out, so it's just my Uncle Tuffnut and Aunt Ruffnut around, which is fine by me. Uncle Snotlout is a bit protective of me. I mean, so are Uncle Tuffnut and Aunt Ruffnut, but Uncle Snotlout isn't afraid to, say, beat somebody up if they made fun of me. No one has, thankfully, but my point still stands.
I knock on the door and my Aunt Ruffnut opens it.
"Hey, kiddo."
"Aunt Ruffnut, I'm 14 years old. I'm not a kid anymore."
"You're still a kid to us, kiddo." Uncle Tuffnut says, coming up and standing next to his sister.
"What do you need, squirt?" Aunt Ruffnut asks. I roll my eyes at the pet name…ugh…I'm 14.
"Aunt Ruffnut? Uncle Tuffnut?"
"What's up?"
"Why did you adopt my mom?"
"Ummm...shouldn't you ask your mom about it?" Aunt Ruffnut asks.
"She told me to get the full story from you guys, since she said you were there."
"It was a long time ago, kiddo. Your mom wasn't much older than you are." Uncle Tuffnut says.
"What happened?"
"Your mom...she tried to kill herself."
"Way to be blunt with our niece, Tuffnut."
"I'm just telling it like it is, Ruffnut! The kid's gonna find out sooner or later, so it might as well be from someone she trusts."
"Why?"
"You see, Ruby, your mom...she lived with her real parents on an island far from here...well, far from Old Berk, where we used to live. Her parents were killed in a dragon raid."
"That's why she tried to kill herself?"
"That's only one part of it, sweetie." Uncle Tuffnut says.
"What's the other part of it?"
"Has your mom ever told you about your fallen brother?" Aunt Ruffnut asks.
"Nuh-uh. But Dad did. He told me that...that a bad man was his father, and my dad wasn't."
"Ruby, your mom was going to be given to someone...someone almost as bad as that bad man. With the same purpose as the bad man." Uncle Tuffnut tells me.
"A sex slave?"
Ruffnut and Tuffnut gasp.
"Who told you that? Was it Snotlout? I'll bet it was Snotlout."
"It totally could've been Fishlegs."
"My darling Fishlegs would never use that kind of wording in front of a young teenager!"
"And Snotlout would?"
Aunt Ruffnut gives Uncle Tuffnut a look.
"Yeah, you're right, he would."
"Hello? Your niece is trying to get some answers as to why her mother is depressed?" I interrupt their banter.
"Depressed? Ruby, you never said anything about your mother being depressed."
"Didn't think it was important."
"Really? We tell you that your mother tried to kill herself and you thought it wasn't important to tell us that she's depressed?"
"Ruby, this is very important. You have to tell us her symptoms."
"We can't ask her that! This is Becky's kid!" Aunt Ruffnut exclaims.
"Ruffnut, we have to know whether or not Becky's going to attempt suicide...for the third time."
"She's been really sad, and she stays in her and dad's room a lot. She hasn't eaten much lately...and...and...is my mom going to die?" I ask, tearfully.
"Oh, no, of course not, Ruby. We just need to make sure she's going to be okay. Ruffnut, I'll check on our sister. You stay with Ruby."
"Hello? Who was the first person she confided in about Drago?"
"Well, who was the first person she told when she was going into labor with Ruby?"
"You were closest in proximity!"
"Well, I wasn't the one who answered the door when she needed someone to talk to!"
"Guys?"
Aunt Ruffnut and Uncle Tuffnut look up from each other and see their sister – my mom.
"Hey, sis. What are you doing here?" Uncle Tuffnut asks, nonchalantly.
Mom takes one look at me and sees the tears in my eyes.
"Sweetheart, what's wrong?"
She turns to her siblings.
"What did you two do to make my daughter upset?"
"She was asking if..."
"If what, Ruffnut?"
"If you were going...to...die. Because of your depression."
Mom kneels in front of me, with some struggle. I wonder why. Could be age. I mean, she is…36 years old. Sweet baby Thor in a thunderstorm, that's old.
(It's a joke, people. I don't think that's old, but Ruby does)
"Oh, Ruby. I am so sorry you thought that. I'll be okay. Because there's a good reason that I've been sad lately, and that I've hardly eaten anything and that I've spent a lot of time in my and Dad's room."
"There is?"
"Ruby...how would you like to be a big sister?"
"Really?"
"No freaking way." Uncle Tuffnut says.
"Gothi confirmed it today. Felt the little one kick. You're going to be a big sister, Ruby!"
"I am? At my age?"
"And what does that make me? A thousand years old?"
But Mom is beaming.
"Does Dad know?"
"He was there when we felt them kick, Ruby."
"Okay. Will it hurt?"
"It will, sweetie. But your dad...he'll be there for me. And I know that you'll be a good girl for your aunt and uncle."
"Mom, I'm 14 years old. I can watch myself."
"You'll be pretty bored though, on your own."
"How...how far along are you?"
"Five months. Just four months to go. Ruby, sweetie, why did you ask if it'll hurt?"
"Just in case I have to go through it someday."
"Sweetheart, you don't have to have kids if you don't want to."
"Phew. Good."
"Besides, you're only 14. And I'm not ready to be a Grandma yet. You've got plenty of time to decide."
"Okay. Love you, Mom."
"Love you, too, kiddo." I hug my mom.
"So, we can't call you 'kiddo', but your mom can?" Uncle Tuffnut asks.
I stick my tongue out at my uncle.
I help my mom up and we head home.
