Chapter 39: Ruby Comes Out

(Eret's POV)

"Mom, Dad? Can we talk?" We look up from preparing dinner and look at our eldest with worry.

"Sure, my little love." I say. We sit with Ruby on our couch.

Dustin and Eira are out with Zephyr, Nuffink and Hanna.

(Hanna is Fishlegs' and Ruffnut's daughter)

"Is something wrong, sweetheart?" Becky asks.

"No. I'm great, actually. The thing is, I met someone. And things are getting pretty serious."

"Oh, really. When do we get to meet them?" I ask.

"Maybe soon. I wanted to tell you guys before you met them. But that's not all I have to tell you."

"Alright…What else is there to tell, Ruby?" Becky asks.

"I'm…I'm gay."

"Oh, thank goodness." I say.

"What? I'm confused."

"We thought you were going to tell us you were pregnant!"

"Oh, no. Of course I'm not pregnant. But I would tell you if I was."

"We're glad you would, and we're glad you're not. Not right now, at least."

"So, when do we get to meet her?"

"Soon. She's Dagur and Mala's daughter."

"She's part Berserker and the princess of the Defender of the Wing."

"Well, she is Dagur and Mala's daughter."

"I'm glad they're our allies and not our enemies."

Soon, Dagur, Mala, and our hopefully future daughter-in-law Rachel come to New Berk.

"So you're my brother's right-hand man he was talking about in his letters! Good to meet you. I'm Dagur."

"Eret, Son of Eret, finest dragon trapper alive…I'm joking. Even if it was true at one point in my life. I don't go by that anymore. I've changed."

"I'd have a problem if you were still a dragon trapper." Dagur says.

We head to the Great Hall to catch up, to tell about how Becky and I met and how she was reunited with Hiccup after three years.

"Dagur! Mala! Long time no see!" Hiccup says, approaching us.

"Hiccup! I am loving the beard!" Dagur picks up Hiccup to hug him.

"Good to see you, too, brother."

Mala and Becky go off to chat by themselves.

(Mala's POV)

I can't believe this small woman has given birth to not one, not two, not even three, but four children, all of them full-term.

"I must tell you, Becky. You're stronger than you look."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Mala."

"It's just that…you gave birth to four children, all full-term and you're still here. What's your secret?" Becky looks back at Eret lovingly.

"The support of my husband. I wouldn't have gotten through any of those births without him."

"I know what you mean. Rachel is my only child, I'm afraid. Suffered miscarriages and stillbirths a few times since she's been born."

"I'm so sorry, Mala. I know what that's like."

"I know you do. How have you managed to stay alive after all you've gone through?"

"Honestly, I wouldn't even be here if it weren't for Eret. He not only rescued me from drowning, but he's saved my life time and time again."

"Why'd you even get banished from Old Berk?"

"It was to protect me from Astrid. She literally tried to kill me."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

"But I don't regret being banished. I wouldn't have met the love of my life if I hadn't been."

I smile softly at Becky.

"How did you and Dagur take Rachel's coming out?"

"We took it really well. We won't have any biological grandchildren, but I'm sure that those two will find a way to have some children, if they choose to have children."

"I'm really scared for Ruby. I suffered through a really bad miscarriage before she was conceived, and I don't want her to go through that."

"A true mother's instinct. Unfortunately, we can't prevent the unpreventable."

"Very true."

Meanwhile…

(Dagur's POV)

Eret has been telling me about Becky's suffering from Drago. I never met the guy, but from what Eret's told me, I'm glad I hadn't.

"I can't believe she lost her virginity to a madman."

"You and me both, Dagur. What I wouldn't give to turn back the clock and just…escape from him. My poor wife still has nightmares, even after all these years."

"That's a side effect of PTSD if I've ever seen one."

"But I'm there to help her and comfort her after her nightmares or night terrors."

"That's good, Eret. I really hate to say this, especially after everything Becky's been through, but I'm glad Mala never had to suffer under Drago's control."

"Maybe she and Becky would've become friends before now."

"Maybe Mala and I never would've met. And I wouldn't be with the love of my life. And then I wouldn't have Rachel."

"I know what you mean, Dagur."

"Hiccup told me Becky's tried to commit suicide on more than one occasion."

"Well, unfortunately, it's true."

"What happened?"

"Well, the first time was when she was new to Old Berk and she felt like Hiccup would get bored of her. The second time was on Old Berk and…and…she just couldn't take her pain or PTSD anymore. It broke my heart seeing her up on top of the Great Hall."

"So, she was planning to jump? And stop me if I'm getting too personal."

"Oh, no, it's fine. It's good to talk about it. I just hate that she's suffered through so much, and now she has to deal with the after-effects. I'd give anything to take her pain away. I really would."

I smile at Eret.

"Don't tell Hiccup and Astrid, but I've never seen a guy talk so much about his wife without an ounce of ill will. Well, besides me about Mala. You know we've suffered through three miscarriages and two stillbirths since Rachel was born?"

"I'm so sorry. And I hate to say I know what having a miscarriage is like. Not physically, of course. But emotionally."

"Just seeing our wives in so much pain and distress, makes us feel so…"

"Helpless?"

"Exactly."

Eret suddenly looks over at his wife.

"Are you okay?"

"She's about to have another anxiety attack. I can feel it."

"Go, man! Go!"

Eret rushes over to his wife, kneeling in front of her, and she is, indeed, having an anxiety attack.

"Someone get Tuffnut! Just in case." He calls out, helping his wife to her knees.

"What happened?" I ask Mala.

"We were just talking about our miscarriage experiences and I mentioned Drago and she just…started having trouble breathing."

"I should've warned you, Mala, to never say his name in front of her." Eret says. Tuffnut and Ruffnut rush over to Becky.

"Sis! Sis, we're here. We're right here."

"Baby, you've got to breathe. Come on. You can do it."

Becky leans her head on Eret's shoulder, trying to catch her breath. She squeezes Ruffnut's hand, struggling to catch her breath.

Soon, she collapses, sobbing, her breathing much more stable now.

"Shhh. You're okay, love. You're okay." Eret helps his wife up.

"I'd better get her home so she can rest. Come on, baby."

Eret takes his wife home, but he doesn't return. I'm assuming he's afraid to leave her.

Ruby takes us – me, Mala and Rachel – to her parents.

We pause outside the front door.

Rachel takes Ruby's hand, sensing her fear.

"Shhh. You're okay, love. You're okay." We hear Eret whisper to Becky.

"I hate this. I hate this so much."

"I know you do, baby. I know you do."

Ruby cautiously opens the door.

"Mama? Daddy? Is everything okay? We heard Mama collapsed."

"She's okay, my little love. Just another bad anxiety attack."

"He's gonna come back…he's gonna come back."

"He's not going to come back, my love. I promise."

"How do you know?"

"My love, he's long gone. If he's still alive, I'd be surprised."

Soon, Becky calms down and we continue chatting. But I know both Ruby and Becky have been changed by this experience.