They say to take each day as it comes, and never take the time your given for granted. They say don't blink because you can miss something that fast. Its often said that each day is a gift and not a given right and that tomorrow is promised to no soul. Hiccup woke up that day with the sun feeling like nothing could ever go wrong, he had a beautiful wife, a growing son, a family, friends, and home. Since being cast out and life was perfect for him. He never believed something could happen, something that no one would ever forget or get over. But it did and it changed him.
He was now 22 years old, still chief of Dragons Edge, and father of 3. A lot had happened and every day he woke up since that terrible day he wished it wasn't true. Every day he woke up wanting to go back and change that day from happening, to be given one chance by the Gods to change how it happened so that maybe he'd been in her place and she'd still be with him today. But such a request was not granted and now he was a single father, and his beloved wife was gone.
Though it had been 3 years she was gone, he still remembered it like it was yesterday. The eyes of fear, the screams of terror and pain. They haunted him. No one blamed him for being upset or acting cold sometimes, having to lose someone you love the way he had was not something you recovered easily from. The only people he let close were his three kids, mother, father, Toothless and his late wife's dragon, Sunflower. Hiccup wasn't cold towards his village but there were days he just wanted to be left alone, no one held it against him either.
Everything reminded Hiccup of her, even the eyes of his children where he could still see the gentleness she had. That day had happened so quickly, no one had been prepared for it to happen. Hiccup had been laying awake for hours, today was the anniversary of it happening and it was one of those hard days people knew to leave him be. His fingers held the necklace with her wedding rings on them, he still wore his band. He'd never take it off. Tears that had yet to fall rested in the corners of his eyes. The sun wasn't up yet, his children were still asleep. He finally sat up as Toothless crooned watching him, he knew how sad his friend was. "I'm just going outside Toothless...I'm alright..." Hiccup said quietly.
Toothless nodded understanding as Hiccup made his way downstairs and outside to the side of his house and climbed the ladder that led to the roof platform and stood on it watching the horizon line where the colors were just beginning to change signaling sunrise and the start of a long day of pain. Hiccup looked up at the star filled sky silently, a tear slipping down his cheek. "Cami..." He whispered out. "Why'd you have to go that day...Why'd you have to be so stubborn...You would still be here with me...and our children." Hiccup added sadly. He closed his eyes now as the memories came flooding back of that awful day when he lost her.
/Flashback-3 Years Ago/
His 19th birthday had just passed and they were all recovering from a fun night of celebrating it. Hiccup woke up to his daughter's crying, he got Cami up to feed her as he took care of feeding Viggo. He gave them all a kiss before heading out on Toothless to start his duties. While flying over he couldn't help but smile looking over his village. Everyone was safe and happy, the dragons too. As Hiccup flew over the bewilderbeast, he and Toothless both offered a bow to him with their heads and continued on their track.
Hiccup and Cami had been married almost 2 years, and 3 months after Viggo was born Cami happily announced she was pregnant again. This time, she gave him a daughter they named Thora Holgerson. And boy those kids kept them busy but Hiccup always made time for his wife and kids. He felt like nothing could go wrong and he'd never been more wrong in his life. He never knew that would be the last day his wife was in his life.
Hiccup was busy with the village when Cami dropped the kids off with his mother because she promised Sunflower they'd go flying today, that and Valka had been practically begging to take the kids for a few hours. "I just fed Thora, so she should be okay for a few hours. I should be back by the time she needs it again. But I packed bottles just in case." Cami told Valka.
"Its no trouble for me to watch my grand babies. You go on and don't worry about a thing." Valka smiled as she took both kids from Cami and got them settled inside her house. Cami smiled as she nodded and whistled for Sunflower who came in and Cami got on her back and took off. Hiccup had a bad feeling about today and had ordered everyone to stay in eye view radius of the island but Cami hadn't gotten the message and took off without telling Hiccup where she was headed, only that she was going for a fly. Hiccup landed at his mother's later around lunch to visit the kids.
He knocked on the door smiling as Valka opened it and was holding Thora in her arms, Hiccup could hear Viggo running around playing with his toys and took Thora from his mother and hugged her. "Hey mom. Having fun?" Hiccup asked her happily.
"Always son. You know I love kids. They are so well behaved." Valka chuckled letting him inside now. "Viggo, look who is here." Valka called to the son. Viggo saw his father and got up running over to him, he learned how to walk just before Cami gave birth to Thora and he could manage easy words like mama, dada, gam, pa, and tora which was his way of saying Thora's name.
"Dada!" Viggo cheered running in to his father's arms.
"Hey big guy." Hiccup hugged him and kissed his forehead. "I've missed you." Hiccup said softly before Viggo ran back to play with his toys, Hiccup stood up and looked at his mother. "Where's Cami?" Hiccup asked.
"She went flying on Sunflower. Left after dropping the kids off." Valka said.
"And she isn't back yet..." Hiccup asked with a little worry rising.
"I'm sure she's fine, Hiccup. You know she can handle herself." Alvin said coming behind him now and Thora from him.
"I ordered everyone to stay in eye sight view of the island..." Hiccup stated now looking outside, he didn't see her.
"I don't think she got the message son. I'm sure she didn't go far." Alvin smiled as Thora giggled in his arms. Hiccup looked to the sky, he didn't like this. Something wasn't right, he could feel it. 3 hours passed and Hiccup had enough, he wanted to know where his wife was, she'd never been gone this long before. Hiccup flew to his father's now on Toothless.
"I want every rider grounded, now. I don't like this storm and I need to find Cami. I'll be back as soon as I can..." Hiccup ordered.
"Aye chief!" Alvin replied saluting and rushing outside. Hiccup went to his mothers next.
"What direction did she go in when she took off?" Hiccup asked as soon as his mother answered the door.
"West. Are you going looking for her?" Valka asked. Hiccup nodded to her, "Be safe." Valka told him.
"I will. Keep my kids safe mom." Hiccup said now opening Toothless's tail once on his back and taking off heading West.
-Hours Later-
He didn't remember how long he'd been flying, maybe 4 hours. He knew he just passed Berk, and growled a bit going over it. Thankfully no one saw him because it was day time and they flew fast. "She wouldn't come this far...lets double back bud. Back to Dragons Edge..." Hiccup told Toothless who obeyed and headed back the other way towards their island. On the way Savage flew to him. "Savage? I said everyone was grounded because of the storm..." Hiccup sighed out.
"Your father sent me after you chief...You need to come back right now." Savage told him quickly panting.
"I'm looking for Cami...Is there a problem on the island?" Hiccup asked him.
"Your wife is on Dragons Edge. She returned an hour ago...And...she's not good." Savage said. That was all it took, Hiccup was gone at top speed.
-The Village-
Hiccup made it in record time, as soon as Toothless touched ground Hiccup ran to the village square where he'd noticed everyone was gathered, fear struck him as he pushed his way through everyone and saw Cami laying against Sunflower, she was covered in scratches and injuries. "Cami..." Hiccup whispered going to her side instantly.
"Y–you made it..." Cami forced a weak smile.
"Where...have you been? What happened!" Hiccup asked quickly.
"I–I went flying with Sunflower...w–we got blown off course and landed on an island past Berk...I found this little girl there...her name...is Runa...her village was destroyed by dragons...Hiccup...there is...something on that island...something controlling dragons...I only got a glimpse of her...She's massive...she ordered her dragons to attack me...I got away with Runa...I–I promised her we'd give her a new home...and she'd be safe...please...t–take care of her as one of our own..." Cami said softly coughing up a bit of blood.
"Of course we will...you know that babe...lets...get you some treatment..." Hiccup said looking for the healer. "Eira!" Hiccup called out he felt Cami lift her hand and stroke his cheek, he felt tears forming in his eyes as he saw that smile on her face, the one he fell in love with.
"Stop...I won't make it...I–I'm surprised I made it this long...I just...had to see you one last time..." Cami said gently.
"No, don't talk like that. You'll be fine...there's still...time..." Hiccup pleaded with her. Cami shook her head to him. "You can't leave me, Cami...you promised...forever remember...please...please don't go." Hiccup said pulling her in to his lap now. The village bowed their heads sadly.
"No matter where I go...I'll always be with you, Hiccup...Forever." Cami smiled touching his cheek. "You have to be strong...our kids need you..." Hiccup couldn't stop the tears from falling now.
"They need you too...I can't...do this myself, Cami..." Hiccup cried now.
"Hey...Ssh...A chief doesn't cry...I promise I'll always be around...You'll never really lose me. Take care of Viggo, Thora, and Runa...tell them I love them. Thank you for everything you've given me Hiccup...You gave me a home, love, and a family...and I will always be grateful for the time I got to have with you...Its made this life worth while...Will you...do one thing for me before I go?" Cami asked.
"Anything..." Hiccup replied.
"Let me see our kids...I want to see all of you one more time..." Cami asked. Hiccup closed his eyes tightly, why was this happening. It wasn't supposed to be this way, it was supposed to be them forever until they both died. She couldn't leave, she couldn't go. Hiccup forced himself to lift his head now.
"Mom!" Hiccup called to her.
"I'm here son...what...can I do?" Valka asked.
"Bring Viggo and Thora to me...please..." Hiccup asked in a low tone. Valka walked beside him handing him Thora first, then having Viggo stand beside him. Valka then stepped back sadly.
"Mama." Viggo said bending down to hug her.
"Hi babies...I love you so much...I have a surprise for you...You have a new sister...her name is Runa...she's your big sister...I'm sorry I won't be able to see you grow up...but I promise that I'll always be with you where ever you go...Be good...and listen to your father." Cami said, Hiccup didn't care who saw him crying. He was losing his wife, and he couldn't stop it. There were soft whimpers from a young girl about 4 sitting in Sunflower's arms. Hiccup looked and saw the little girl he assumed was Runa.
"Th–this is...all my fawlt..." Runa sobbed.
"No...No sweetie...Listen to me...I did what I did because I wanted...too. You didn't deserve to be on that awful island alone...you're safe now...and you have this whole village to take care of you...You have a little brother and sister now, and a new daddy...He won't let anything happen to you..." Cami smiled looking to Hiccup now.
"Th–that's right...You're a Holgerson now...and I will take...care of you as if you were my own...You are now...Everything is going to be okay...Don't worry..." Hiccup forced out.
"See...Its okay. I promised you...that I'd give you a new family...and I have...They won't ever hurt you...and I may not be here for you to hug but I'll always be here...In your heart...Don't you ever blame...yourself for what happened...Its not your fault...It was my choice, always remember that for me." Camicazi said stroking her cheek lightly. Runa nodded crying still as Hiccup handed Thora to his mom.
"Co–come here baby..." Hiccup said trying to smile for Runa, she thankfully walked over and stood beside him. Hiccup kissed her forehead gently now. "Mom...take them home..." Hiccup ordered calmly. Valka nodded to him as she led Runa, and Viggo back to his house leaving him there with Cami.
"Its so peaceful, Hiccup...Promise me you'll take care of them...and never...stop being who you are...Promise me...you'll never give up...and you'll never let go..." Cami told him lightly.
"I–I pro–promise..." Hiccup let the tears fall again, he leaned down and kissed her deeply holding her against him.
"I love you...Hiccup..." Cami said as tears formed in her eyes. "And I always...will..." She breathed out in to his neck closing her eyes.
"I–I love you too, Cami...forever and always...until the end of time..." Hiccup replied with a cracked tone. He held her like that.
"Hiccup...will you...sing for me?..." Cami asked gently.
"For you...I will do anything..." Hiccup told her. She smiled, he could feel it. "What one?" Hiccup asked trying to keep it together for her.
"The one your wrote for me...right after we got together..." Cami said softly.
"You got it babe..." Hiccup said as he closed his eyes taking a breath to begin.
"If I never knew you...If I never felt this love...I would have no inkling of, how precious life can be. And if I never held you...I would never have a clue...How at last I'd find in you, the missing part of me. In this world so full of fear. Full of rage and lies...I can see the truth so clear. In your eyes...So dry your eyes. And I'm so grateful to you...I'd have lived my whole life through...Lost forever, if I never knew you..." Hiccup sang softly.
"If I never knew you...I'd be safe but half as real. Never knowing I could feel...A love so strong and true! I'm so grateful to you. I'd have lived my whole life through...Lost forever, if I never knew you..." Cami sang gently taking Hiccup by surprise, he saw her smile weakly as he nodded, taking it as a sign to continue.
"I thought our love would be so beautiful. Somehow we'd make the whole world bright. I never knew that fear and hate could be so strong, all they'd leave us were these whispers in the night...But still my heart is saying we were right." They sang together as Hiccup stood up holding her in his arms bridal style. "Toothless..." Hiccup said to him. Toothless came over as Hiccup climbed on his back and opened his tail holding Cami with one arm in front of him and using his free hand to hold Toothless's saddle.
"One more fly?" Cami asked gently. Hiccup nodded as Toothless took off and lightly glided just above the village. "Oh if I never knew you..." Cami sang lightly.
"There's no moment I regret..." Hiccup replied still singing.
"If I never felt this love..." Cami smiled laying her head on his chest.
"Since the moment that we met." Hiccup looked down at her softly.
"I would have no inkling of..." Cami closed her eyes lightly feeling the wind in her face.
"If our time has gone too fast..." Hiccup was trying hard to keep it together now.
"How precious life can be!" Camicazi sang louder.
"I've lived at last..." Hiccup sang. They were just going back and forth with words that formed this song. It was them writing it together.
"I thought our love would be so beautiful...Somehow we'd make the whole world bright..." Cami and Hiccup sang together smiling.
"I thought our love would be so beautiful...We'd turn the darkness into light!" Cami raised her arm to stroke his cheek while laying her head on his chest softly.
"And still my heart is saying we are right...we are right!" They sang together in perfect harmony.
"And if I never knew you..." Hiccup sang slower.
"If I never knew you..." Cami smiled looking up at him with her blue eyes.
"I'd have lived my whole life through..." Hiccup added as Toothless landed back where they took off.
"Empty as the sky..." Cami whispered weaker. Hearing her voice, Hiccup began to let his tears fall again.
"Never knowing why...Lost forever...If I never knew...you..." Hiccup and Cami finished together. Hiccup held her close to him in a tight embrace. "Do–don't leave me, Cami...please don't leave me here..." Hiccup pleaded her.
"I told you...no matter what happens, Hiccup...I'll always be with you and our kids forever..." Cami forced a smile as she kissed his neck lightly. "Take care of them, they will need you...and please watch...over...Sunflower..." Cami asked lightly.
"Cami...please..." Hiccup cried to her. Cami lifted her hand and wiped his tears away and pulled his head down to kiss him again. Hiccup fought it back as he returned the kiss, then holding her against him refusing to let go. "Please don't go...I love you...I love you so much...I need you here...its not your time yet..." Hiccup forced out.
"Be strong love...for the kids...they need you..." Cami whispered. Hiccup cried hard, his body shaking as Cami's eyes closed, a tear slipping down her cheek. "I love...you, Hiccup...always and forever." Her body went limp in his arms. His eyes widened, he couldn't feel her breathing anymore. Hiccup pulled her from him and looked over her face, no movement, no breathing, nothing.
"Cami..." He said shaking her a little, "Cami." Hiccup said again. No response. "No...no come on...you can't do this...Cami! Wake up...please wake up!" Hiccup pleaded her. Still nothing. Her body was motionless. "No...no this isn't happening...no...Cami...damn it! Joke is over...its not funny anymore!...Wake up...please...open your eyes...come on!" Hiccup yelled. "You promised me forever! Cami...please...please don't go...you can't leave me...you promised...you said forever..." Hiccup cried now. He knew it was to late, he knew she was already gone.
Everyone felt bad for him, no one could imagine the pain he was feeling having to watch his wife die in his arms. Sunflower whined sadly nudging her rider before raising her head and letting out a roar of pain and anguish. Toothless lowered his head as well as Hiccup kissed Cami's lips a final time. Hiccup now stood up as Alvin handed him a cloth to cover her body with.
"We've prepared the ship..." Savage said to him softly. Hiccup said nothing, he only lifted Cami's body and walked silently to the beach area, he saw the ship and laid her on it. Hiccup took her rings and put them in his pocket. Valka had come out with the kids now, everyone was crying, no one more than Hiccup. "Whenever your ready son..." Alvin said now putting his hand on Hiccup's shoulder.
Hiccup held Cami's hand, "I–I'll never...l–let g–go...I pro–prom..ise..." Hiccup choked out before placing her hand down under the cloth and stepped towards the back of the ship and pushed it into the water. It moved slowly through the water and when out enough, Hiccup gave a nod to Alvin.
"May the valkyries welcome you and lead you through Odin's great battle field. May they sing your name with love and fury, so that we might hear it rise from the depths of Valhalla. And know that you've taken your rightful place at the table of kings and queens. For a great woman has fallen: A wife. A chieftess. A mother. A warrior. A friend." Alvin said sadly as Savage handed Hiccup a bow and arrow with the tip wrapped in a white cloth. Hiccup let a tear slide down his cheek as he bent down and lit the tip now taking his stance and drawing the arrow back on the string.
"I love you, Cami...Fly high..." Hiccup whispered before he let the arrow go, it landed perfectly on the ship. After him was Alvin, Savage, Valka, and a few of Hiccup's other friends from the island. The ship caught fire and began a slow burn. They all stayed until the ship sunk after burning completely. Hiccup had his eyes closed as he turned and walked to his mother taking Thora from her, then Viggo, Runa held on to his pant leg.
"Hiccup..." Valka began.
"Not...now mom...please...just...I just want to take my family home..." Hiccup said quietly. Valka stepped aside and let him continue to walk, Toothless following slowly. Hiccup made it to his house, he put Viggo and Thora down for a nap and then gave Runa the extra bedroom. Hiccup spent the rest of his day caring for his kids and mourning his wife. He made a necklace which is where he put Cami's rings, he'd wear them forever more. He didn't know how to do this, how to keep going without her. But he promised he would, and that is a promise he wouldn't break, ever.
/End Flashback/
Hiccup found tears falling from his cheeks now as he opened his eyes. The sun was up and he could hear the kids awake, he sighed. It was going to be a long day, Hiccup made his way back down the side of the house and returned inside to see his 3 beautiful children. Runa, the little girl Cami had taken in and asked him to care for as if she was their own flesh and blood. Runa had light blonde hair and green eyes, she was now 7 years old. Then there was Viggo, 4 years old with black hair and green eyes. And finally, Thora who was 3 and had dark brown hair and blue eyes. Cami's eyes.
"Daddy!" They said together running towards him, Hiccup smiled softly as he crouched down so they could run in to his arms.
"Hey kids." Hiccup said gently.
"Are we going to the beach today?" Viggo asked.
"Don't we go every year?" Hiccup chuckled. It was something he started the first year Cami was gone. He'd take Sunflower, Toothless, his mother, father, and the kids to the beach where the funeral was held. The spot was still marked with a stone colored purple, her favorite color. It was their way to be close to her again, Hiccup had explained to Viggo and Thora when she was two that their mother passed away, it wasn't easy to understand but they did know she wasn't coming back. Hiccup never told them why she died, they weren't old enough to realize what happened. Hiccup never let Runa blame herself for it, he knew Cami wouldn't want that.
Hiccup got them fed and ready to go. Sunflower always carried the kids on her back while Hiccup rode on Toothless. They stopped at Valka's, then Alvin's before reaching the beach. They'd lay the blanket out and the food for their picnic and just sit there remembering her. Sometimes they played tag or hide and seek, they would spend all day there until sunset where before they left, Hiccup would stare at the sky and give a soft smile like now. "I love you Cami...We miss you, a lot but we know you're still with us in our hearts forever more." Hiccup whispered. After that he'd turn holding his kids hands and they'd go back home together.