{Normal POV}
(Saturday, October 2, 2021-5:50 pm)
[Berkbees Bar & Grill]
Aside from the scattered chatter from other diners in the building enjoying their meals; the table with Hayden and Troy's group was quiet from the announcement that the two of them were moving out next Saturday into their own apartment.
"Well, isn't this…A bit sudden?" Spencer was first to speak.
"How long do you think it takes to make the decision and find a place to live?" Hayden replied.
"Don't you have to be married first, before getting military housing?" Dustin asked.
"If we were doing military housing, yes, but we aren't," Troy stated. "Hayden and I are staying here in Berk, about ten minutes away from my parents' house. Just a regular apartment; we don't really need a whole house to ourselves,"
"True," Gabriel nodded. "Didn't the military offer apartments too?"
"Yes, but it wasn't what we wanted. The space is more fit for one person in a hotel room, everything behind one door in a large complex. And all that is on Archia Isle; we didn't want to move that far," Hayden responded.
"Ah. Well, good for you to then!" Gabriel smiled. "If ya need any help; I'm happy to offer mine,"
"Thank you, Gabriel," Troy said with a nod.
"I'll ask since no one else will. Why the sudden desire to move?" Avery inquired, apparently addressing the biggest question in the room. This wasn't just some long process and decision making; it happened rather fast with no previous knowledge.
"Don't most couples live together?" Hayden retorted.
"Yes, but you two already do? You have been for three years in six days," Rylee pointed out.
"In my parents' house, not our own place," Troy enlightened. "If we were still dating; we probably would stay longer there, but we're engaged now, and due to be married in a year,"
"So why not move into an apartment we can call ours?" Hayden shrugged, finishing his fiancee's train of words on the subject.
"I guess, but it's just sudden?" Vivian mentioned.
"There were other factors taken into consideration about the idea. Hayden and I work long days; him longer in fact. It's a bit hard for us to sleep at night with Miss. Evelina every two-three hours. It's just the nature of our job means we gotta be at our best, and that's hard to do with barely any sleep. But, like I said; it's not just for that reason. Hayden and I have been living together for three years, and we wish to start our lives in a place we can call ours, ya know? All kids leave home eventually, typically when in a stable relationship when they are engaged or have just gotten married," Troy explained.
"Oh, we're so sorry, Troy, and you Hayden…" Rosanna frowned a bit.
"Hey, it's cool. This could work out better anyway. With Troy and I living on our own; you and Cole can turn that spare room into the nursery for Evelina, that way you three don't have to cram into the one space and be super quiet going in and out of it," Hayden smiled.
"I suppose," Cole sighed. "Still, we're sorry about the no sleep thing,"
"It's all good, little brother. And hey, Hayden and I are still close by," Troy chuckled.
"So you mentioned having a place already?" Rachel jumped in, smiling with Dustin as the two accepted things as they were. Slowly, the others were as well.
"Yep," Hayden nodded.
"Details, possibly pictures?" Dustin inquired. Troy and Hayden laughed a little as Troy began to explain more about the place, and Hayden showing pictures on his phone that he'd taken.
. . .
Twenty or so minutes later, the group had their food and were enjoying the meal while talking about whatever; mostly Hayden and Troy's new apartment. Dustin and Rachel said that Hayden and Troy could take one of the living room sets out of the basement for their new place. Also Troy and Hayden would be brining their bedroom belongings and furniture. As for everything else; it hadn't yet been figured out.
"I might be able to help with dishes and cups," Vivian said to Hayden now. "Your father and I put all your grandparents' things away when we cleaned out the house after my father passed away last November,"
"Poppy Wilson and Nonnie Grace's kitchen things?" Hayden looked over at his mother. (So it's clear on the modernized names; Wilson and Grace represent Old Wrinkly, from the HTTYD books who is Valka/Valhallarama's mother, and Gothi, from HTTYD 2. I figured that since they both are Tribe elders and healers; it would make a nice pairing. Gothi/Grace could very well be Valka/Valhallarama's mother-since we know nothing about her, and it's not listed anywhere that I've looked. Who knows? Leave it the imagination, right?)
"Yes; we put all the dishes and cups into boxes. Right now, they are stored in the basement at our house. If you'd like to take them for yours and Troy's apartment; I don't mind. I'm sure they'll get more use with you than in storage," Vivian smiled. Hayden was a little unsure about the idea as Poppy had only passed away eleven months ago; a full year next month.
"And I still have cookware and utensils put away from your grandparents on my side too, son," Spencer added in.
"Grammy Brenda and Grandpa Stewart?" Hayden questioned by arching a brow. (Brenda and Stewart represent Brenda Big-Arms the Sixth and Squidface the Terrible Haddock-Stoick the Vast's parents from the HTTYD books. Also, Spitelout is Baggybum the Beerbelly and Stoick's brother. As far as I know, there are also other siblings, sisters; Brenda Big-Arms the Seventh, Glugga, Burly Sweet, and Egginbreeza Six Pints. So, yeah; there's that for a history lesson on some of the Haddock Clan.)
"Yes!" Spencer nodded to him.
"I will leave that decision to you, Love," Troy told Hayden.
"Why me?" Hayden inquired.
"Because it's your family's stuff, babe. You make the call if you want to use it. I don't mind us going out to get new things if it's going to be too hard on you," Troy kissed his cheek.
"We can talk about it later tonight; it's not a conversation for dinner…" Hayden stated. Troy nodded while they continued eating their food. Hayden would another time; he had a week before the big move anyway, so might as well take the time to consider the options and his emotions behind it all.
. . .
Later on when the meal was over, and everyone was waiting for the bill to be delivered to the table. Hayden was exhausted and wanted to get back to the Raseri's for a shower, change of clothes, then bed. Donovan didn't say Hayden had to work on Sunday, but Thor only knew lately what Hayden's schedule would be. Hayden felt his phone vibrating as he pulled it out and placed it to his ear.
"Haddock here," Hayden answered.
"Who is it?" Troy asked curiously. Hayden didn't answer right away.
"Are you kidding me, Don? Come on. You know I'm not one to complain about work, but this is ridiculous," Hayden stated with a sigh.
"Do you have to go in early again?" Troy inquired. Hayden put a finger up to have his fiancée wait a minute.
"And I understand that, sir, but you don't see this from my point of view. I get up every morning, including the weekends now at 3:30 am to shower, catch the 4 am ferry to the mainland, then the bus into the base so I can work at 5 am to 5 or 7 pm depending on if you have me working twelve or fourteen hours that day. Alright? After all said and done; I get home at either 6:20 or 8:20, exhausted. I get time to shower, eat, and finally go to sleep by 9:30 or 10 pm. And that's even if I can manage to fall asleep that early. Every. Single. Day since September 13th. That's twenty, straight days that I have worked without a day off, including drill weekend," Hayden reminded.
"As I said, I'm not usually one to complain, but if this were any other job; it's against the law to make someone work that much without at least ONE day off, Commander. And now you need me to come back?" Hayden asked after a moment of silence. Troy's eyes widened a little, Hayden had to go back to the mainland? "What sucks about this is you still haven't told me what it's all about; my hours changing like this that is," he sighed. "I'll be there as soon as I can," he added. "Well, considering it's already almost 7 pm now, plus the travel time; I'm not getting there until nearly 9 pm unless you want to send a chopper to pick me up," A pause. "Then I'll see you when I get there," Hayden ended the call.
"Let me guess; he won't tell you why you need to come back?" Troy asked.
Hayden shook his head. "Nope. Just says it's something for the platoon leaders of Alpha Company; a meeting I guess,"
"You're going to end up coming home late, aren't you?" Troy sighed.
"Likely. If I have to; I'll just stay on the base tonight in one of the CO rooms. I'll let you know," Hayden said. The check arrived as Dustin got it first and read it over, soon realizing that everything didn't get separated as they'd asked in the beginning.
"Oi vey, they didn't give us separate bills," Rachel pointed out. Hayden held his hand out as Dustin handed it to him. Hayden scanned it over, then checked around the table.
"Take the total, divide it by sixteen then have everyone add three bucks in for the tip," Hayden informed before handing it back to Dustin. After all, that was done, they set the money in the small folder. "I guess I better get going,"
"Excuse me?" said a young woman's voice as Hayden turned to see a female, early twenties with black hair and amber eyes. There was a young child, about seven standing with her and had dark brown hair with hazel eyes. "I'm sorry, but my son insisted on coming over here to ask you something,"
"Are you Hayden Haddock, the one who served with my daddy overseas?" the child inquired. Hayden tilted his head a bit.
"I served with one hundred and forty-eight people in my company, kiddo; you're gonna have to tell me who your dad is," Hayden replied.
"Private Kody Nyght," the young boy informed as Hayden's eyes widened a bit. Troy saw Hayden flinch once; Kody's death hadn't been easy for Hayden since Kody was shot twice, and Hayden had to carry his body to the chopper and lay in the back covered up until the return to Archian Outpost in Syria. Also, Hayden saw Kody get shot twice, and die almost instantly, definitely before Hayden was able to get to him. Hayden offered a small smile to the child.
"I did serve with him; we were friends," Hayden said finally.
"The man told mommy you brought him to us," the boy stated. Hayden looked at the female now, confused.
"The officer who delivered the news said that Kody's body was returning home because a Hayden Haddock risked his life to retrieve it. My son got very excited when you said your last name before when answering the phone, and pleaded me come see you. I…Hope you don't mind?" the woman explained.
"No, not at all. Nobody gets left behind on my watch," Hayden said to the boy. "He was an excellent Warrior and good man,"
"When I grow up; I wanna be just like you," the boy beamed. Hayden laughed a little. "I wanna be one of the Marine heroes who keeps their home safe,"
"Well, you better do good in school and when you join up; you have to train hard. Always remember that a Marine does the right thing, the right way, for the right reasons. As long as you do that, then as far as I'm concerned; you're already one of us," Hayden told him.
"I will!" the child said excitedly. "Can I get a picture with you?" he asked.
"Sure," Hayden nodded as he got out of the chair and knelt down, motioning for the boy to sit on his leg that was up. Hayden pulled his hat out of his pocket and set it on the child's head as the boy's smile grew wider.
"Alright, smile," the female instructed as she got her phone ready. Hayden and the child smiled as the photo was taken. The child gave Hayden his hat back, facing him now. "What do you say to Mr. Haddock?"
"Thank you for the picture,"
"You're welcome, little man," Hayden responded.
The young boy giggled a little. "My daddy used to call me that," Hayden stood up as the woman hugged Hayden, which took him by surprise.
"Thank you for bringing Kody home, and your service," the female said after pulling away.
"You're welcome, and thank you for your support," Hayden shook her hand. The woman smiled, taking her son's hand and leading him out of the restaurant. Hayden looked at Troy now. "Did you know Kody had a son?"
"Nope. I knew he had a girlfriend, but not a kid," Troy blinked.
"Well, learn something new every day," Hayden shrugged. Hayden hugged his Godfather, parents, and Rachel. Everyone else got a handshake. Troy got a kiss on the lips, then Hayden backed up. "Better get going. I'll text you later," he said.
"Be safe. I love you," Troy reminded.
"I love you too, baby," Hayden smiled, then left to catch a taxi to the transportation center. Something told him that it was going to be a very long night with this sudden, out-of-the-blue meeting.