Chapter 20: Pain (Part 3)

Takes place after HTTYD2, before Small Bump, before the pregnancy. Another short one. Sorry.

(Eret's POV)

I wake up to the sound of short breaths coming from my wife.

"Honey? Are you in pain?" I ask, putting a hand to her shoulder. She nods breathlessly.

"The pain lasts only for a second, but it still hurts like Helheim and it scares me half to death."

"No matter the length of your pain, my love, your pain is still valid."

My Becky is curled up into a ball in bed, lying on her left side as if to eradicate the pain when it hits for that second.

I get up from the left side of the bed and move over to her side of the bed, crouching in front of her.

"Is there anything that can be done, love?"

She shakes her head.

"Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Hold me on this side?" I nod and gently move her over to my side of the bed, and then get under the covers and hold her close to me.

"We'll get through this, my love. I promise you."

"I'm just scared, you know? Of the day my pain won't last for only a second…that my fear will come true."

(If you want to know what my fear is, my only hint to you is Madeline [that red-headed little girl]. I can't say more for fear of my fear occurring. If you know what it is, PLEASE do not say it unless you want me to have a freaking panic attack. Do you want that to occur? Hopefully not)

"I know, baby. I know. How long have you had this fear, if you don't mind my asking?"

"Since I was about 14 or 15."

(Becky's 21 in this fic, and Eret is 26)

"That long?" Becky nods.

"I know you're terrified of your fear, my darling. Unfortunately, nothing can be done to prevent it."

"That's part of what terrifies me about it."

"I know. I know."

"Can we stop talking about it?"

"Of course, darling."

"Thanks."

We lay in silence for the next hour until Becky falls back asleep, and I soon do the same.