Chapter 48: Hugs

So, last chapter was a pretty serious chapter, but I won't apologize for it. Every couple has their bad days, I'm sure, even true love couples.

I wouldn't know…I've yet to find my true love.

To lighten the mood from the serious chapter, I've decided to write a fluffy chapter.

Read and Review! Thank you!

(Eret's POV)

It's been about four months since Becky's and my big fight.

Becky has been experiencing the same symptoms she experienced with her first pregnancy when she was away from me all those years ago.

It started with Becky missing her flowering.

When it didn't come for two months, she and I went to Gothi, who, translated by Fishlegs, gave us this advice:

"You could be expecting. She says to come back in two months."

Becky and I leave, a bit nervous.

"Are you doing okay?"

"I don't know. What if we are expecting, Eret?"

"If you are, we will get through this. I will be with you every step of the way, no matter what."

"Thank you."

The two months pass by quickly, and Becky notices her stomach has extended.

"Eret, I'm probably pregnant. All the symptoms are there."

My mind flashes back to the night before, when Becky had been throwing up.

Not fun for either of us.

We head to Gothi's, Fishlegs trailing behind us.

Becky pauses before entering Gothi's hut.

"My love, are you all right?" I ask, turning around.

"I'm feeling movement. Eret, our baby is moving."

"Really? Can...can I?" Becky nods. I kneel in front of my wife, gently placing my hands on her belly.

"Oh, my gods. There is definitely a little baby in there. No doubt about it."

"Shall we get Gothi to confirm it?" Fishlegs asks.

"We shall." Becky and I say. I stand up and place a protective arm around my wife. Fishlegs holds the door open for us.

A few minutes pass as Gothi examines Becky. Fishlegs standing by Becky's side, me standing on her other side.

Fishlegs soon moves to translate what Gothi has scrawled in the floor.

"Looks like your guys' suspicions were correct. You're expecting a baby. Congratulations."

"We...we are?" I ask. Gothi nods, smiling. She then scrawls something.

"She says you're free to go and to come back in a month."

"Thank you, Gothi. Thank you, Fishlegs." Becky says as I help her up.

"Yes, thank you both." I say, an arm around Becky.

We leave Gothi's hut.

"I can't believe it. We're expecting a baby."

"We're going to have a baby, Eret." Becky then suddenly looks downcast.

"My love, what is it?"

"What if...what if he comes back...takes our baby...Eret, I can't...I can't lose another baby. I can't."

I move to lift up Becky's chin gently, so she's looking me in the eyes.

"Shhhh. Hey, hey, hey. I will do whatever it takes to protect you and our baby. No matter what it takes. We'll let the chief know of your concerns. I know you're scared, Becky. I'm scared, too. But we will get through this. Okay?"

"Okay." I gently hug Becky, stroking her hair.

"We'll be okay. We'll be okay."

Becky and I soon reach the Haddock house.

I knock on the door, my other arm around my wife.

Hiccup opens up the door.

"Hey, guys. What can I do for you?"

"Chief, could we have a word?" Becky asks.

"Of course. Come on in." Hiccup holds the door open, noticing Becky's hand on her belly.

"So, what can I do for you?"

"Well, we have some news first. Good news."

"What's up?"

"I'm pregnant."

"Congratulations, you guys. I'm happy for you."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. So why are you here? What does your baby have to do with me?"

"Becky's concerned that...that he will come back...and take our baby away from us. Becky's already lost two babies, she can't lose another."

"All we're asking, Chief, is that we be on our guard. Any sign of him coming back...anything that could signal his return..."

"Let's say, worst case scenario, he does come back, and wants you...what then?"

"Becky and I will stay in the Great Hall with our families. Make sure we've got provisions and what we need in case…in case she goes into labor early."

"I understand."

We leave the chief's, with one arm around my wife.

"You doing alright, my love?"

"I don't know."

I stop walking and go in front of her.

"Like I said before, my love, I will do whatever it takes to protect you and our baby. I promise. Come here."

Becky walks into my arms and I gently hug her. She begins to sob into my chest.

"I'm just really scared he'll come back."

I blink back tears.

"I know. I know. You wanna know something?"

"What?"

"I'm scared, too."

"You are?"

"I'm terrified, love. I may act tough and look tough, but, truth be told, I'm just as scared as you are. Scared that we'll lose this baby. Scared that he will come back. Scared of losing you, in any way, shape, or form."

My dear wife begins to sob harder.

"I'm sorry…"

"For what, darling? What are you sorry for?"

"For being weak."

I gently move Becky's chin up to meet my eyes.

"Honey, you're not weak. You're the strongest person I've ever known."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Honey, you got tortured by a madman and lived to tell the tale. If that's not strong, I don't know what is."

I gently hug my wife again, knowing that, for better or worse, we'll get through this together.

Her sobs soon quiet and we walk home as she leans on me, exhausted from carrying another human being.

We can only hope this baby will survive.

Three months pass, and, on Hiccup's insistence, we're all forced to leave Berk after Grimmel, someone from Wolfsbane I once knew, burns nearly all of Berk, including Becky's and my house, to the ground.

We soon reach an island for a break, and, soon after, we call it New Berk.

Nine months have passed since that day, since our big move to New Berk.

The dragons are gone, left for the Hidden World, with Toothless and the Light Fury as their king and queen.

Grimmel is gone.

We haven't heard from Drago since his defeat.

Seven months ago, Becky gave birth, full term, to a healthy baby girl, our daughter, we named Ruby Amora, after our late mothers.

I couldn't be happier.

Both my wife and daughter are happy and healthy, and, although we lost our old home in the fire, we can make new memories.

Becky even redid the portrait of me and my mother on Becky's and my wedding day.

And Ruby, our little love, just took her first steps.

And we couldn't be prouder.

We couldn't be happier.

And our world couldn't be any better.

But things have changed between Becky and me.

For better, and for worse.

But we're working through them. For ourselves, for each other, and for our daughter.