=Normal POV=
Astrid stood there unable to move after feeling her water break as she and Stormfly were preparing to leave. Astrid was shocked, and scared because she was only thirty-seven weeks along, and now this had happened. What made it worse is that she knew she couldn't fly Stormfly to the hospital at the moment to get to the hospital. Astrid fumbled to get her phone, but was overcome with a bit of pain that had her gripping Stormfly to stay on her feet, and try to breathe through it as she'd read about.
'This is bad,' Astrid thought, slowly becoming moring panicked about the situation. Astrid closed her eyes tightly, she needed help, and was currently alone. And unable to get her phone because when the pain shot through her, she had dropped it on the ground, and bending down hurt a lot. Astrid panted while looking around for anyone who could at least her phone for her. Stormfly squawked with worry for her rider.
"Astrid?" came a familiar voice from the right. Astrid looked over slowly to see Camicazi standing there.
"Camicazi?" Astrid cringed a bit.
"Are you okay?" Camicazi asked.
"No, m-my water just broke, and I…dropped my phone. Ow," Astrid whimpered a bit. Camicazi picked up the mobile device and handed it to Astrid.
"I…didn't know you were pregnant," Camicazi stated.
"Thi…rty-sev…en weeks t-today," Astrid held her belly.
"C-Can I help at all? Where's…your boyfriend? I can go get him for you, or maybe take you to the hospital? My car is right over there," Camicazi offered.
"Hiccup is currently deployed to Afghanistan, and on a patrol for another six hours," Astrid tried to relax a little. Camicazi could see that she was scared though.
"O-Oh, so this is…his baby," Camicazi said, a bit shocked at the information.
"Yeah. We made love for the first time last October, and wouldn't you know it, I ended up pregnant, then he got deployed in November for a year," Astrid explained quickly.
"Look, I know we haven't been on great terms, but you need help, and I'm all you've got right now. You need to get to the hospital, and then you can worry about calling people. Let me help you, please, Astrid?" Camicazi suggested. Astrid knew that Camicazi wouldn't do anything to her, especially knowing from the past that Astrid's father was the chief of police. Astrid did need help, and this was it.
"Can you…take me to the hospital, please?" Astrid questioned. Camicazi nodded as she walked over and supported Astrid to stroll towards Camicazi's car. Reaching the location, Camicazi assisted Astrid into the front seat, then she hurried around to the driver's side. Stormfly was already hovering above the car to follow them.
{Hospital-2 pm}
Arriving at the hospital, Camicazi helped Astrid into the emergency entrance and informed a nurse that Astrid's water had broke at 1:35 pm, and everything looked okay. Astrid was a bit shocked that Camicazi knew what to tell the woman. Camicazi accompanied Astrid up to labor and delivering on the third floor; Astrid was taken to a room on the left side and helped into the bed after getting changed into a gown. Camicazi stayed outside the room while Astrid was checked, then allowed back in afterward when it was 2:15 pm.
"Is there…anything else I can do for you?" Camicazi asked.
"I-I don't know. My Mom is away for a spa weekend because it's her birthday tomorrow; Dad's gift to her. My father is on a crucial case, and he can't leave until tonight. Stoick and Gobber went on some trip, but are trying to find a way back. Hiccup is deployed, and I know my friends can't get here right now, they'd just have to sit in the waiting room. The nurse said I'm only a centimeter dilated, but pains I'm feeling are irregular, and this could last up to twelve hours, or more. And I have no idea how to contact Hiccup. On top of all that, my phone is dead," Astrid cried a little.
"Hey, it's alright. There's…no need to cry; we'll figure something out. Do you want me to stay with you for now? Just until…someone else can be here? I know a lot about pregnancy and births, I took a CNA course at college; I can…act as a birth partner for the time being?" Camicazi offered.
"Y-You don't…mind staying?" Astrid asked. Camicazi shook her head. "Then…Yes, I would appreciate you staying, so I-I'm not alone," she said. Camicazi pulled out her phone and dialed a number. "W-Who are…you calling?"
"Well, Hiccup needs to be informed, doesn't he?" Camicazi asked.
"Of course, but he's…deployed, and on a mission. You won't get him on his cell," Astrid informed.
"I'm not calling his mobile," Camicazi stated. "Yes, hi. I'm calling on behalf of Astrid Hofferson, girlfriend to Corporal Hiccup Haddock who is deployed to Camp Nox in Lashkar-Gah's Helmand Province of Afghanistan at the moment. Would you get an urgent message to him that Astrid is in early labor at Archian General Hospital after her water broke at 1335 hours, please?" there was a brief pause. "Thank you," Camicazi ended the call and slipped her phone into her pocket. "Don't you worry about a thing, okay? Hiccup will be here by tomorrow, and if we're lucky, right before you give birth," Astrid didn't know what it was about how Camicazi said, or maybe it was the fact Cami had gone out of her way to help, but Astrid was feeling more at ease now.
{Afghanistan-1845 hours}
Hiccup was on his patrol with Strike Team, relaxing as things had been slow this evening, and it wasn't over until a little after midnight. Hiccup wanted to talk to Astrid, so he could check in on her and the baby. There were only three weeks to go now, and Hiccup was scheduled to take leave in two, so he could be there for the birth, and then get some time at home with Astrid and their daughter. Hiccup couldn't wait, and he had the proposal all planned out too.
(Alpha Company to Strike Team. Alpha to Strike, do you read me? Over.)
Hiccup blinked a little hearing that in his earpiece from Major Grimborn. Regardless, he held the button. (Strike Leader to Alpha. I read four out of five. Go ahead. Over.)
(Return to Nox Base immediately. There is a team on their way to take your place. Over.)
Hiccup didn't understand, they were supposed to be on this detail for the next five or so hours, so why were they being ordered to return to the base after only seven of them? It didn't make sense. (I copy those orders, Alpha. Strike is returning to base. Over and out.) After that, Hiccup mounted Toothless, opened his tail and the four of them shot into the sky to reach the Nox base.
{Nox Base-7:13 pm}
Hiccup landed in their battalion sector, seeing Henrik, Viggo, and Ryker there. Hiccup's first thought was that this couldn't be good.
"Why the rush to get back if I can ask?" Thuggory questioned.
"Haddock. Return to Arc City as fast you're able," Henrik said firmly.
"W-Why? Has…something happened to my dad, Gobber, o-or Astrid and the baby?" Hiccup asked quickly.
"We received an urgent message from Archia Base at 1835 stating that your girl's water broke at 1335 hours and is in early labor at Archian General right now. So, off with you then. You get two weeks from the moment you land in the city. Let us know when you arrive," Viggo said.
"But's she's…only thirty-seven weeks, today as a matter of fact. Why would…her water break?" Hiccup panicked.
"You're wasting time, Haddock! Go!" Eret, Cody, and Thuggory yelled at him.
"I'm taking Toothless, he's faster than any plane," Hiccup remarked as he rushed into his barrack to take off his gear, but remain in his combat uniform while packing a few things he would need. Ten minutes later, Hiccup ran out and jumped on Toothless's back. "Top speed, pal," Hiccup commanded his friend. Toothless almost grinned as he launched into the sky with a screeching whistle from the speed. All Hiccup prayed for was that he made it in time, and everything with little Ragni was okay.
{AGH-2:20 am-7/5/2014}
Hours had passed since Astrid arrived at the hospital; twelve to be exact. It had been a long venture of the labor progressing slowly. After getting checked the first time; Astrid was one centimeter dilated with random pains. However, about four hours went by, and at 6:45 pm, she had progressed to two centimeters and her contractions were regulating at five minutes apart. The next check was three hours later at 9:50 pm, and Astrid reached four centimeters dilation. The contractions hit three minutes apart around 11:20 pm, and Astrid was told she was at five and a half centimeters. When Astrid reached six around 12:15 am, she was given permission to have an epidural to manage pain, but Astrid refused; saying that she wanted to go all natural. When 1:40 am struck, Astrid made it to seven centimeters. Now, at 2:20 am, Astrid had been checked and shown to be eight centimeters dilated, and fighting through the pain of the contractions, which were almost constant it seemed.
"So help me Odin, when Hiccup gets here, I'm socking him in the arm!" Astrid flopped her head back on the pillow after another breathing through the pain session with Camicazi's instruction. Astrid had been in labor for about thirteen hours now, since it started at 1:35 pm. It was now 2:20 am; fifteen minutes short of thirteen full hours that she'd been in labor, and yet, she still had two centimeters to go before Astrid could push hers and Hiccup's daughter out.
"You know that he'll demand I leave," Camicazi reminded.
"I'll explain that you've been with me since this started, and he'll calm down," Astrid offered a smile.
"Astrid, I-I wanted to apologize for everything back then. You were right, I was a horrible friend to you, and the others. I attacked you out of jealousy when it had been my fault for losing Hiccup. Those were my choices I made, and the consequences I had to face because of them. If…Hiccup and I were meant to me, well, we would be, but we're not. So I'm sorry, and I hope that one day you will forgive me, and maybe we can be friends again," Camicazi admitted softly. Astrid looked at her carefully, she could see the genuineness of Cami's words.
"Apology accepted, and for all you've done for me today even after the transgressions we had in the past; I forgive you. I'm not sure about the friendship bit, but I do forgive you," Astrid said.
"Thank you," Camicazi smiled, then Astrid did. Not more than five minutes later, the door opened revealing Hiccup to be standing there; panting, and looking like a nervous wreck.
"Hiccup! Thank Odin," Astrid almost cried as Camicazi stepped back when Hiccup raced over and hugged Astrid tightly. "I was so afraid you wouldn't make it in time," she whimpered a little.
"I promised I would be here for this. And you can thank Toothless because I came back on him instead of by plane. What happened, babe? Is everything okay, why did your water break early?" Hiccup asked.
"It happens sometimes I guess; that's what the nurse said. The good news is that anything thirty-seven weeks and beyond is considered full term, and our daughter will be okay when she comes out. I'm eight centimeters now, two to go," Astrid informed as Hiccup kissed her lips then her forehead. Finally, his eyes landed on Camicazi, and narrowed a bit.
"What are you doing here? I explicitly told you to stay away from us," Hiccup said.
"Hiccup, no, she's okay. I asked for her to be here, settle down, please?" Astrid put her hand on his arm. Hiccup looked at Astrid right away. "My water broke when I was in the park with Stormfly. I was by myself, had dropped my phone, and scared. Camicazi was the only one to come over and offer her assistance. Cami brought me to the hospital, she's stayed with me during all this because my mom is away, trying to get an early trip back, dad is on a case, your father and Gobber were on a trip as well. I was…alone, so I named Cami my birth partner, until you came. A-And she's the one who called the Archia Base to get a message to you that I needed you home,"
Hiccup's eyes widened a little, shocked at the information. Camicazi went out of her way to help Astrid in her time of need? Hiccup hadn't been expecting that. "Well, thank you for helping her," Hiccup said, calmer now.
"No problem. It's been a busy night here, so I've been coaching Astrid along the labor. I-I took a CNA course in college, and so far, it's come in handy," Camicazi shrugged a bit.
"Hiccup, I've forgiven her for the past. Cami apologized to me, and after all she's done today; it's proved to me that she's changed, and sorry for her actions," Astrid admitted.
"I said with time, I could forgive what happened between us. If Astrid forgives you, then I do as well. However, I'm undecided if I can see you as anything more than an ex," Hiccup stated.
"I understand," Camicazi nodded. "Well, you're here now, so I should get going," she added while heading for the door.
"Wait," Hiccup stopped her as she turned to look at him. "I've…been absent for all the things I shouldn't have been. I didn't attend birthing classes, or any of that. I basically don't know what I'm doing. You've been helping Astrid this whole time, and…I'd like for you to stay for the rest, please?"
"I don't mind as long as you and Astrid are okay with it," Camicazi replied. Astrid nodded with a smile, then Hiccup did the same. Camicazi returned to Astrid's left side as Hiccup took the right. Hiccup was okay with this because as much as he wished he knew how to help Astrid through labor, he didn't, but Cami did. It made sense for her to stay since she was already this involved. Hiccup didn't care about anything else right now; he made it home, and would see the birth of his and Astrid's daughter.
{4:10 am}
The time had come. A nurse came in at Astrid's request to check her because she felt like she had to push. Thankfully, the nurse confirmed Astrid was ten centimeters and fully effaced, which was ideal for pushing. Astrid said it was okay for Camicazi to stay for this as well, and Hiccup had no objections. Camicazi explained to Astrid that when she had a contraction, to push, and when the pain lessened a bit, to stop and breathe. This process continued for close to forty-five minutes. Hiccup let Astrid use his hand as a stress reliever, and continued to keep her spirits high about it almost being over. Finally, one final push and the baby was out. Astrid threw her head back, breathing heavily. Gods, it had hurt, but was worth it.
"It's a girl!" the nurse announced. Hiccup and Astrid smiled, she didn't care so much about anything else other than her daughter and boyfriend were here with her. Hiccup kissed Astrid deeply, the pulled back as Camicazi wiped away the sweat from Astrid's face. Camicazi took it upon herself to go snap a few photos for them. After the baby had been cleaned off, weighed, measured, and wrapped up, she was brought to Astrid. The glowing new mother adjusted her gown top to let their daughter latch on and begin feeding. At some point, Astrid delivered the placenta, but didn't pay any mind to it as her eyes, and Hiccup's were on their daughter. At last, Ragni Haddock had arrived, and their family had begun.
