=Astrid's POV=

{November 16, 2013}

Today was the day; Hiccup leaving for his second tour of duty, which would take place at Camp Nox in Lashkar-Gah of the Helmand Province in Afghanistan. I was sitting in Hiccup's apartment, staring out the sliding glass door at the darkened sky. Unfortunately, because the Marines were leaving from the military base; Fort Archia, civilians were not present for goodbye. I knew Hiccup had been there since about 3 am, and they were leaving at 5 am, which now, was only twenty minutes away. I'd been spending the night at Hiccup's ever since our one-year anniversary; I enjoyed it, and things felt right. Our evening had been…Well, I don't have a word to describe it. Hiccup and I got to make love, I gave him my virginity because I knew I wouldn't be with anyone else. For Odin's sake, I had been crushing on the guy since Senior Year in August 2009, and liked him all through the time he was with Camicazi, and even when the two of them had broken up February 2012. And even after that, I continued to fall harder for him until we finally got together in October 2012. Here we were in November 2013, and I just knew that Hiccup and I were going to last. Nothing else made sense to me since I held onto my feelings for Hiccup all that time even before the breakup when I thought I 'd never get a chance. There had to be something special there for us, and I didn't care what as long as I didn't lose Hiccup.

The fear ran high; knowing Hiccup was deploying a second time, and for a year to the same place as before. I know that Hiccup was scared. Not because of war, but because what happened the last time he deployed. Hiccup came home after eighteen long months, ready to ask for Camicazi's hand in marriage, and he found her cheating on him. I couldn't blame him for being scared, and I promised him that he didn't have to worry about that with me. I have been awake since Hiccup left at 3 am, I couldn't sleep knowing he had left. However, I might be living at his place while he's gone; Hiccup asked if I'd be willing to keep an eye on the area while he was away. I told him that I'd just temporarily move in. Hiccup said that was fine with him because it made no sense for him to go away for twelve months and the apartment is empty. So I was living here now, and Hiccup said he'd continue to pay the rent and bills, all I had to do was buy the food. My boyfriend was a Godsend, and I loved him with my everything. Things were great for everyone else too.

Heather was now five months pregnant. Tuffnut and Stilsta were due any day to have their child. I suspected sometime in this week. Thuggory proposed to Brittany at the start of November, an early Thanksgiving Day gift since he would be away for Christmas, which is when he originally planned to ask for her hand. Kirsten and Cody got hitched at City Hall in October of this year, and promised to hold a reception party when the tour was over to celebrate the marriage. Throk and Ruffnut agree to wait until after the New Year to try for a baby. Snotlout was asking Asta to marry him in December, over Christmas. Eret and Dahlia got to celebrate one year of marriage, also, their daughter was now three months old. Yeah, everything was great, and all I wanted was for this year to be over, so Hiccup could be back home. It sucked that we would miss our two-year anniversary because he'd be gone for that, but he promised we'd celebrate it in November 2014 when he was back. I couldn't wait! Hiccup and I have made love one more time, last night before we went to sleep because he had to be up at 2 am to be at Fort Archia at 3 am. I think we went to bed at 8:30 pm after having sex for an hour, and dinner before that.

My phone vibrated on the arm of the couch as I glanced down to see Hiccup calling me on Skype. I smiled a bit, then pressed accept. "Morning again, babe," I greeted when his face appeared.

~Morning, gorgeous. I wasn't sure if you'd gone back to sleep or not.~ Hiccup replied with a smile.

"No, I couldn't sleep after you left," I admitted.

~I'm sorry, Milady. Well, I just wanted to call and see your face one more time before we fly out. I wanted to tell you that I love you, Astrid, and I can't wait to be home so I can sleep with you in my arms again. You're the best thing to ever enter my life, and I don't know what I'd do if I lost you.~ Hiccup said gently.

"Hiccup, you don't have to worry about losing me. I swear on my life that when you come home, I will be here waiting for you. I love you, Hiccup, with all of my heart, which you carry with you. As long as you have my heart, you will always have my love as I will have yours here with me," I assured sweetly. I saw Hiccup smile at me.

~Thank you; I needed to hear that before getting on the plane. Well, I gotta go for now, but I promise to call as soon as I'm able. I love you, baby girl.~ Hiccup blew me a kiss, I lifted my hand to catch it, and then send one back.

"I love you too, Hiccup. Stay safe," I replied. I saw Hiccup nod to me before the call ended. I sighed and put the phone down. This was it; he was on his way to Afghanistan for what I was sure would be a long, twelve months. The only bright side is that I would get to see him when he came home for two weeks on his leave. I couldn't wait.

{December 3, 2013-Family Healthcare Center}

Hiccup hadn't even been gone a full month, and I already wanted him back home. Hiccup talked to me during his layovers on the day he left, and once he arrived in Afghanistan; he took a few seconds to message me on Skype to let me know that he'd landed at Camp Nox, and was about to get settled in with the others. Thanksgiving had come and gone; I spent it with my uncle, mom, and dad at my parent's house in Berkville. I also went over to visit Stoick and Gobber, and we got a surprise call from Hiccup too. I think that was the highlight of Thanksgiving for the three of us. Oh, Tuffnut and Stilsta had their baby; it's a boy named Mikkel Thorston, and he was born November 20th, 2013. Everything else had been about standard; I was still in my offseason of racing, but next month we started practices again. Currently, it was December, and I was on my way to my Gynocologist's office for my yearly Pap Smear. I hated it, but thankfully, it was only once a year, so I could deal with it.

I reached the office, and placed Stormfly in the stables with some chicken and water. I made my way inside the building and went to the second floor, then I stood before the check-in window. The woman behind the sliding glass opening smiled as she pushed it aside.

"Hi. Astrid Hofferson for Dr. Helga Falk at 1:40 pm?" I stated. The woman clicked a few things, and nodded.

"All your information is the same?" the receptionist inquired.

"Yes," I nodded.

"Alright, you're all checked in. Have a seat, and the nurse will be out to get you," the female informed. I grabbed a chair against the wall, then took out my phone to reply to the message Hiccup sent me while I was flying.

[Have an hour of free time, and thought I'd check on my girl. How are you today?]

[I'm good. At the doctor's right now.]

[Why are you there? Are you okay?]

[I'm great, babe. It's just my annual.]

{Oh, good. Let me know how you make out. How are you feeling? You mentioned feeling sick a few days ago?]

That's right, I had been. I didn't know where it came from, but I felt nauseated and tired. I decided to stay in bed all day to rest and see how I felt, but honestly, I still felt a bit queasy. [Feeling a bit better. Might go to my regular doctor if still feeling icky at the end of the week.]

[Keep me posted. I gotta go for now. The squad and I are doing a patrol for twelve hours. I love you!]

[Love you too! Be safe!] After that, I put my phone away. Hiccup having a patrol for that long meant that I likely wouldn't hear from him again until tomorrow morning or early afternoon because he'd be getting back around 2 am, or later if something came up, then he would sleep upon arriving back to the base. The door opened as I saw a woman walk out.

"Astrid?" the female asked. I stood up while getting my purse. I smiled walking over to her, and then we went into the back. "Alright, Astrid. Let's get you on the scale," I removed my shoes and stepped on. "Okay, 128. That looks good. You've hardly changed at all in the last year. Okay, now, I'm going to have you step into the restroom to give us a urine sample, and then we'll get you changed into a gown for the exam," I nodded to her, knowing the process. I took the cup from her as I went into the bathroom, did my business, then left. The nurse led me to a room down the hall on the left; #5. The woman got me a gown and sheet to cover up with, then stepped out. I changed out of the clothes, into the dress, then prepared to get on the table, but I felt sick again.

I felt the vomit rise from my stomach, and I put a hand to my mouth, trying to keep it down. However, that didn't happen. I moved to the garbage can by the small desk, and knelt down to throw up. I only did it once, but it sucked either way. I stood up and got a paper towel to wipe my mouth as there was a knock on the door. "C-Come in," I said. The doctor came in with a soft smile.

"Are you alright, sweetheart?" Helga asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, I just haven't been feeling well the last few days," I admitted while moving to the table and getting on it. Helga approached me and sat down on her stool.

"I'm sorry to hear that. Have you been to your physician yet?" Helga asked.

"No, but I plan to if this doesn't stop," I told her.

"Okay, well, just a few quick questions. You're twenty-one, yes?" Helga inquired as I nodded. "You don't smoke or drink?" I shook my head to her. "You're not on any birth control?" I shook my head again. Although, perhaps it might be a good idea to get on it since I was sexually active now.

"No, but I did want to talk about possibly starting it," I told her.

"We can discuss that afterward, my dear. Now-," she began as the nurse poked her head in, and motioned for Helga to come to the door. I didn't hear what was said, but I know that Helga returned after closing the door. "My apologies, Astrid. That was my nurse with your test results, and I wanted to ask if you knew you were pregnant?"

"What?" I asked. "No, I can't be. I-I got my period last month," I insisted. But had I? I was due for it around the time Hiccup left for deployment. Did I get it? I knew I got it in October because it happened before mine and Hiccup's one-year.

"According to this, Astrid, you are. When was the last period you had, the first day of?" Helga asked.

"Um…It was…October 18th," I replied.

"And your period has always been on time?" Helga questioned as I nodded to her, trying to relax a little. Though, I just got told I was pregnant, so calming down wasn't so easy to do. Helga pulled out a wheel and shifted a few things. "Okay, that means you would have ovulated on October 27th, and conceived by November 1st. This marks your estimated due date at July 25, 2014," Helga informed softly.

I sat there in shock and disbelief. Gods, when she gave me all those dates it made sense. Hiccup and I had sex on the 26th of October, that means the condom failed and I got ovulated the next day. What was I going to do? I was…pregnant with Hiccup's and mine's child. I felt sick, nervous, but I took a deep breath, trying to collect my thoughts.

"H-How…far along am I?" I forced out.

"Right now, you're six weeks and four days along. I can…see that this has taken you by surprise, but I'd like for you to know that everything is okay, Astrid," Helga assured with a hand on my knee. I nodded shakily as she got me a cup of water.

"Wh-What should I do from here?" I asked.

"The best course of action would be for you to start taking prenatal vitamins, and we should schedule you a sonogram to check the heartbeat, and get some measurements. Is that alright with you? Why don't I end the appointment here, and write you a prescription to fill. We can make the ultrasound date for the next available, and in the meantime, you can head home to sit with this; I'm sure you have some people to tell, and speak with the baby's father," Helga informed. My eyes widened instantly. Fuck! Hiccup is the baby's father, and he's deployed until November of NEXT year! Shit, I had to call him! That's all I was worried about right now; calling Hiccup and telling him that I'm pregnant.