Chapter 52: The Birth of Hanna
(Eret's POV)
One year has passed after Ruffnut and Fishlegs lost their first daughter through stillbirth, and Ruffnut is in labor once again, this time full term.
We can only hope the baby makes it.
Tuffnut and I are pacing outside Gothi's hut while Fishlegs, Becky and Lily Thorston are inside, helping Ruffnut get through labor and delivery.
Ruby, my two-year-old, almost three-year-old, is with Amalie and my Dad.
It was last night that Tuffnut knocked on our door at home, telling us that Ruffnut had gone into labor, just two days before her due date.
The Thorstons and Nordisks had all been keeping a watchful eye on Ruffnut, hoping she didn't go into labor early and lose another baby.
Now, with her in the throes of labor, all Tuff and I can do is pace.
I think over past the last year.
Becky stopped drinking that night Hiccup found her, and she hasn't had any alcohol since.
And she and I…we became pregnant again…but then had another miscarriage. But that's a story for another day.
With Ruby around, it was even harder on my wife. Ruby was still too young at the time to understand the concept of loss and death and grief, and she couldn't understand why her mum and dad were so upset. We may tell her of her three fallen siblings one day, when she's older.
Soon, Ruffnut's cries of agony mix with a new sound, a sound none of us have ever heard before - the sound of Ruffnut's baby wailing.
Tuffnut and I look at each other in relief, glad that Ruffnut's labor and delivery has ended.
Ruffnut may be a pain sometimes, but she's still family. And you don't abandon family, especially when they need you most.
The door to Gothi's hut opens and my wife steps out. She has the biggest smile on her face, a smile I haven't seen in quite some time.
"Guys, come and meet our niece."
The three of us walk gingerly into Gothi's hut, and we see Ruffnut holding her newborn daughter.
"Oh, Ruff. She's beautiful." I say.
"Thank you."
"Have you thought of a name for her?" Tuffnut asks.
Ruffnut and Fishlegs look at each other for a moment.
"Hanna. Hanna Ingerman."
"A beautiful name for a beautiful little girl." Lily says, smiling at her daughter and new granddaughter.
(Becky's POV)
"Becky, do you think I could talk to you for a minute? Alone?"
"Of course, Ruffnut."
Mom ushers everyone else out, so Ruff and I are alone with Hanna.
I kneel before my sister.
"What's on your mind, sis?" I ask.
"How are you doing? Really? I know the birth wasn't easy on you, considering you just lost another baby."
I look at my sister in shock. How had she found out about the miscarriage?
"How – how did you know?"
"You can't keep anything from me. You know that. In all seriousness, sis, I knew about the baby from the moment you started showing."
I'm brought back to when I was pregnant with Drago's son, and he had said the exact same thing about my son…that he knew the moment I started showing.
I shake my head out of my memories.
"It was harder on me because I hate seeing you in any pain, especially…especially after you lost Hanna's older sister."
"But?"
"But, yeah, it was pretty hard on me after losing another baby. I just feel like I haven't had time to grieve, you know? I've been so focused on making sure your pregnancy went perfectly, I didn't stop to think about myself and my own pregnancy and how that loss effected me."
"Sis, I never should've put that much pressure on you, especially since you had just lost another baby."
"I've lost three babies, and all of those times…"
"Don't say it."
"All of those times, it was my fault."
"I told you not to say it."
"Excuse me. I have to go. Congratulations, Ruffnut. I mean it."
"Thank you."
I walk out the door, hand over my mouth, tears rolling down my cheeks. Eret immediately notices that something's wrong.
"My love? What is it? What's wrong? Are Ruffnut and Hanna okay?"
"They're both fine, Eret. But I'm not. Can we please just go home?"
"Of course, darling."
(Eret's POV)
With a concerned look from Tuffnut, I put an arm around my wife and lead her home.
As soon as we're on the couch, my poor wife breaks down, overwhelmed by the loss of our fourth child, and it's taking all my strength not to break down with her.
"Honey…"
"What?"
"What can I do to help you?" I ask through my tears.
My wife looks at me, tears rolling down her cheeks.
That pregnancy, that loss was in the past, when Ruffnut was in her second trimester.
We haven't even told Ruffnut about the miscarriage. Becky hated keeping this from her sister, but she didn't want to risk Ruffnut losing her second baby.
So we only told Tuffnut, my sister and my father about the miscarriage.
"Ruffnut knows about the miscarriage, Eret. She knew about the baby the moment I started showing…which is what Drago said to me when I was pregnant with Reuben."
"Oh, love. I'm so sorry. Did…did it bring back any memories?"
"Of course it did."
"I'm so sorry, my love."
My wife covers her mouth with her hands and screams, tears streaming down her face.
I'm rendered speechless. I don't know what to say to or do for my poor wife.
Her screams diminish into heart-wrenching sobs, and, with her permission, I hold her close.
I feel so helpless. M-my wife is in so much pain, and I can't do a thing to lessen that pain.
"Oh, darling. Oh, my sweet, sweet love. I'm here. I'm here."
When her sobs eventually do quiet down, I kiss the top of her head, tears of my own running down my cheeks.
"I'm so selfish, Eret. I've only been thinking about how I've been feeling about our miscarriage. I've never…I've never thought about how you've been feeling, and I should have. I'm so sorry."
"Oh, sweetheart. You're acknowledging that it's our miscarriage, and that's a great start."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
We soon get Ruby from my Dad and sister and head to bed, knowing that, as a family, we'll get through this. No matter what.
