=Astrid's POV=

I couldn't help but laugh when everyone realized I was pregnant; it was the best Christmas I'd ever had, aside from getting to spend 2012's with Hiccup and we were a couple for it. My parents, Stoick, and Uncle Finn had been completely shocked by the information. My friends were too, but it turned into joy after I explained that Hiccup and I had made love for the first time on our one-year anniversary because I'd asked if he would because I was ready. Hiccup knew I wasn't on birth control, and he admitted that the only thing to make sense was his condom breaking or had a leak. The timing of it all happening was that I ovulated the day after we had sex, and the conception took place at the start of November. I added to the fact that I was due for my period when Hiccup left for his deployment, but due to being so upset and emotional from that; I overlooked never getting it. The only reason I found out was that the doctor office ran standard tests, and the pregnancy one came back positive. I informed everyone that I was expected to give birth on July 25, 2014, and that the Marines were doing everything they could to ensure Hiccup would get to come home for it. I told everyone that I was nine weeks and five days along on Christmas.

Currently, I'm still living at Hiccup's, and we're trying to decide what to do as far as the future went. We knew that once he got home in November from his second tour of duty, we would need to figure out living arrangements. As it stood now, Hiccup wanted me to stay at his apartment because the baby could stay in the master bedroom with me for a few months; these would be the ones where Hiccup is still on deployment. However, after all that was over, we had determined the best course of action might be for us to get a two or three bedroom residence. The three rooms idea was for me, in case I didn't want to live full-time with Hiccup in his room, but I stated that I didn't mind one bit, so we settled on saying the third area could be storage, or an office perhaps. The initial shock of my pregnancy wore off before everyone left on Christmas night. I showed everyone the first sonogram, but after that, Hiccup had to go for his ten-hour guard. Today, it was February 25. In exactly five months, I would give birth to mine and Hiccup's first child.

Heather and Fishlegs were due to have their baby next month, sometime in March. There wasn't much else going in the lives of my friends. Tuffnut and Stilsta were engaged, planning their wedding, and raising their son. Tuffnut proposed to Stilsta on Valentines Day this year, which marked their two-year anniversary. Asta and Snotlout were planning their wedding for December 2014, if all went well, they would be married before Christmas of this coming year. Everyone else was doing excellent too, and I couldn't wait for next month because hopefully, Hiccup and I would be able to find out if we're having a girl or boy. Hiccup and I decided that we wanted to know, so when the time came, we'd find out together. My racing career was temporarily on hold due to being pregnant. However, I still did appearances and whatnot, I just don't race because it's not safe. I promised to return for the 2015 season in May; it gave me time to have the baby, and take care of it on maternity leave until Hiccup returned home, and then it gave the three of us time with our baby before practices and races started up again. Everything was just perfect and working out nicely in my life. Now all I needed was for Hiccup and Toothless to come home from the war, and I'd be content.

=Normal POV=

{Camp Nox}

Hiccup told himself every day that he couldn't believe he was going to be a father soon; it still shocked him to wake up every morning, and know that his beloved girlfriend, Astrid, is pregnant with his child. Each time he contacted, which was as much as he was allowed to do, Hiccup would ask how she and the baby were doing. Astrid would talk about the morning sickness not being as severe as in the beginning, and she would send pictures of her belly; the small bump was beginning to show as the months counted down to when she would give birth. Hiccup loved it all even though he was far away; it didn't change how excited he was. Hiccup and Astrid would talk about possible names, but nothing had been decided officially yet.

"Hiccup!" Cody yelled to get his attention.

"What?" Hiccup responded.

"Dude, that's the fourteenth time you've zoned off," Eret chuckled.

"Sorry, just thinking about some things," Hiccup replied to them softly.

"Such as?" Cody raised his brow.

"Well, names for the baby, uh, that I'm gonna be a father in five months. You know? It's just…Wow, I don't have the words to describe how happy it makes me, and after what happened with Camicazi; I didn't think I could feel this way again. Is it…bad that in the one year I've been with Astrid, I think that my feelings for her are deeper than what I felt for Camicazi in the four I was with her?" Hiccup asked.

"Not really. I mean, you might have been with Cami for four years, but she broke your heart, and you managed to love again. Obviously, you and Camicazi weren't meant to be. I know that can suck to hear but either way. You're with Astrid now, and if you're saying your feelings for her are deeper, then perhaps Astrid is your soulmate, or true love, whatever you want to call it," Thuggory offered.

"And hey, another thing to consider on that subject is that you and Astrid had sex once, and she ended up pregnant. How many times did you and Cami make love and nothing happened? Maybe…it was a sign that she wasn't the one for you, man," Eret nodded.

"I suppose. I love Astrid, and we're having this baby; planning to raise it together as a couple, and live with one another in our own place. I just…Guys, I wanna marry her," Hiccup admitted.

"You do?" the three males asked.

"I do. You're right. If Astrid isn't the one for me, then how is it that I began to like her so soon after the mess with Camicazi? Why is it that Astrid got pregnant the first time we ever made love? How is it that I love Astrid more than I loved Cami? Astrid has to be the one, and I don't want to be with anyone else," Hiccup informed.

"Well, if she's the one, then you better ask her, my friend," Thuggory patted his back.

"I plan to right after she gives birth to our child," Hiccup smiled.

"We're behind you 100%," Cody reminded.

"I appreciate it, guys," Hiccup told them as he took a deep breath. Yes, he was sure of his decision. Hiccup was going to as Astrid to marry him after the birth of their baby.

"Strike Team," Ryker said firmly as the four males stood up.

"There's a situation you need to handle. Come with me," Ryker commanded. Thuggory, Hiccup, Cody, and Eret got to their feet, and then followed Ryker out of the barrack. An hour later the Strike boys and their dragons were arriving at the location they had been told about to help out a pinned down team that didn't use dragons.

"Alright, there it is. What's the plan, Haddock?" Eret asked.

"Grayson. Meatsen. You two offer cover. Erickson, you're with me. We'll get these guys out and to extraction," Hiccup commanded. The other three nodded as they headed off to get the job done. Time continued to pass as the unpinning was successful, and they got the other team out, but now they were stuck in a firefight.

"Anyone have an idea of what we should do?" Thuggory inquired.

"I'll take Toothless and drive them back, you three head for the base, and I'll be right behind," Hiccup stated.

"No, we don't split the team up!" Eret protested.

"I'll be fine. I have Toothless. Ready bud?" Hiccup asked as Toothless smiled at him. Hiccup got on his back and checked over his gun. "As soon as it's clear,"

"Got it; we'll go. Be safe, Hic. Remember, you got a baby on the way, and a girl back home you want to marry," Cody reminded. Hiccup nodded as he had Toothless take to the sky and fire off a few blasts towards the enemies. Cody, Eret, and Thuggory mounted their dragons and zoomed off. Hiccup remained for about ten minutes, and when he felt it was safe to leave, he turned Toothless around as they began their return to reach the Camp Nox base. Hiccup caught up with his team, they smiled, thankful that Hiccup made it to them. The four of them regrouped on the ground, and connected hands with smiles.

"Alright, let's get the hell out of-," Hiccup started then yelled out, and clamped a hand over his arm before slumping forward a bit while cringing and panting.

"Hiccup!" Thuggory called in fear. Hiccup moved his hand away slowly, there was blood there.

"Fuck…" Hiccup grumbled.

"It's a graze. No bullet, but it cut ya pretty deeply. You'll be alright with some stitches," Eret said.

"RPG!" Cody called pointing to the incoming grenade.

"Scatter! Go, now!" Hiccup ordered. Cody, Eret, and Thuggory hit the sky with their dragons. Hiccup and Toothless go up as well, but the RPG struck the ground and exploded. "NO!" Hiccup yelled as he got knocked off Toothless, and began falling towards the ground.

"Haddock!" they yelled. Toothless narrowed his eyes and dove after his friend into the inferno below from the rocket-propelled grenade. Shots were fired as Toothless wrapped his wings around Hiccup's figure, then Toothless roared out in pain as the two hit the ground hard.

"Ericksen! Grayson. Cover fire, push them back!" Thuggory demanded at the two Marines did as they needed to. Thuggory dove down and saw that Toothless's tail; the left fin, had been shot three times, and torn slightly. Toothless opened his eyes and saw Thuggory, then revealed Hiccup to be unconscious between his legs.

"We pushed them back, Thug. What happened here?" Cody asked.

"Hiccup got grazed and is unconscious. Toothless was shot in the tail fin, and can't fly," Thuggory informed.

"I'll take Haddock. Thug, you and Cody use your dragons to carry Toothless. Hiccup needs treatment, and so will Toothless," Eret stated.

"Understood," the three agreed. Eret took Hiccup and mounted Skullcrusher. Cody and Thuggory climbed onto their dragons, Moody, who was a Hobblegrunt and belonged to Cody, then Killer, a Monstrous Nightmare named Killer, who is Thuggory's. With everything settled, the Strike Team evacuated the area, and returned to the Camp Nox.

{Nox Base}

Killer, Moody, and Skullcrusher set down in their battalion location as Henrik, Viggo, and Ryker rushed forward.

"What happened?!" Viggo demanded upon seeing Hiccup laying motionless in Eret's arms, then Toothless laying awake, and in pain on the ground.

"Is…Haddock no longer with us?" Henrik inquired.

"What? No. Corporal Haddock is unconscious, and has a graze on his right arm that needs medical treatment. As for Toothless, he was shot in the tail fin, the left, and it has torn off slightly. We're not sure how you want to handle that one," Thuggory informed.

"Haddock got grazed, then an RPG struck. Toothless saved Hiccup's life, and got hurt in the process," Cody continued.

"Very well. Treatment first, then we'll take care of the rest," Henrik ordered. From there, Hiccup and Toothless were taken to the places they needed to be for care on their injuries. The night continued through, and by 1 am, it was reported that Hiccup didn't receive anything serious, but his arm was stitched, and they would be out in two weeks. Henrik made the call that Hiccup would be on light duty while healing. The second bit of information was far more grave; Toothless's left fin couldn't be saved, and had to come off. It was likely that he would be sent back to Archian State, however, none of that could be approved without the owner's consent. Therefore, nothing could be done until Hiccup woke up, and he was still unconscious. All anyone hoped was that Hiccup would return to consciousness soon so the next step could be decided upon, then carried out.