"Let me see my niece," Heather declared as she walked into the house.
"Nice to see you too," Iris said sarcastically. "Come on in."
"I have been waiting for five days," Heather protested. "I want to see her!"
"Dagur is the one who doesn't want anyone to come in," she mumbled. A soft whine drew her attention. "Shh sweetie. Its okay. Just your aunt. She's impatient like your father."
Heather hurried over to Iris, who was sitting in her rocking chair near Enigma, and stared at the tiny babe that was wrapped against her chest. Yarrow snuggled closer to Iris as she softly patted her back. Viking custom stated that the mother was supposed to keep her baby with her at all times until they were at least two. Things were more lenient on Berserk though where they allowed the mother to lay the baby in a cradle or place them in the temporary care of another mother if necessary. However after everything that happened, Iris was eager to keep little Yarrow close.
"She's adorable," Heather breathed. "Was hoping she'd have black hair like you and me but we could always use another red head in the family."
"Her eyes are hazel," Iris said softly. "Brown, green, and blue. A perfect blend of everyone." Yarrow grumbled at the vibration of her voice. "And she eats constantly."
"That's good," Heather teased. "She knows she has to grow up and keep everyone in line."
Iris just chuckled. Noticing Heather's pining stare, she carefully took Yarrow from the wrap and offered her to her aunt. Pure glee spread across her face as she gently took the small babe and held her close. Yarrow fussed for only a moment until she got comfortable in her aunt's grasp.
"She is perfect," Heather said. "Look at those little lips, like a pink bow! Her eyelashes, they're long enough they could blow down trees when she blinks! Gods she is just, ugh!"
"I know," Iris said. "I'm so glad she is perfectly healthy. After everything that happened, well, I was worried."
"Understandably," Heather agreed. "But now you can put those worries to rest."
"Where are my girls?" Dagur asked as he threw the door open. "Ah my sister's here too! My three favorite girls!"
"Back off," Heather warned when Dagur reached for Yarrow. "You got to hold her all the time the last five days now its my turn."
"She's my child," he argued.
"My niece!"
"I helped make her!"
"First, gross. Second, doesn't matter."
"Okay kids," Iris interrupted. "Anymore fighting and you'll wake her up and I'll have to beat you all. Dagur, did you get answers yet?"
"Hiccup and the others are coming," Dagur said as he glowered at Heather, who stuck her tongue out at him. "As is Fiske and Stjern. I haven't heard from Stoick or Travis yet. Your dad insisted I invite Alvin too so I sent that message last minute."
"Honey," Iris sighed.
"We still have bad blood! I don't want him at my daughter's naming ceremony!"
"Its a chance to clear that bad blood. Besides, if he doesn't want to he'll have to deal with my dad and the others."
He just grumbled, pouting. Iris couldn't help but smile as she looked at him. Becoming a father changed him. He was already different than before but now he was more level headed, took more time to think before diving into something. The stress and anxiety that hovered over him was gone, disappearing at Yarrow's birth. He was happier than even before all the craziness happened. Yarrow brought that out of him.
Finally Heather gave Yarrow to him. He held her close, staring at her in awe like every single time before. It didn't seem to matter how many times he held her or how much he looked at her, everytime he treated it like the first. Everytime it reminded her how much she loved both of them.
Yarrow squirmed slightly in her father's grasp. Her little arms lifted up with her small hands balled into fists. She gave a big yawn that ended in a squeak before flailing her arms about. Dagur just chuckled before placing a soft kiss on her forehead. That gave her a chance to grab his short beard.
"Help," he whimpered as she fisted her hand again.
Snickering Iris got up to rescue him from his daughter. Yarrow's eyes were open, staring at Dagur with awe. Her fingers tightened even more if possible and drew a wince from him. That made her smile and gurgle in excitement.
"Let go of daddy now sweetie," Iris cooed. She wiggled Yarrow's little fingers from his short beard. "You don't want to yank out his hair, he'll look funny." Yarrow gurgled again. "Yes even more funny than now."
"Hey!"
"I still love you," she teased. She took Yarrow from Dagur, snuggling her close. "And someone is hungry."
"My cue to leave," Heather said quickly. "Congratulations Dagur. She's beautiful. Must take after Iris."
With a laugh Heather quickly ran out the door as Dagur stalked after her. The door shut with a snap. He gave a huff but came back to stand by her while she sat down and got Yarrow situated to nurse.
"Thank you," he said softly.
"For what?" Iris asked.
"For staying with me, marrying me, and making me a dad." She blushed slightly. "I'm forever grateful to have you in my life."
"I am too," she said. "Thank you for crashing into my life. Literally. It was the best thing to ever happen to me, having you come into my life."
He smiled at her words and she smiled back. It was true. Having Dagur in her life was the best thing that happened to her. He made her feel whole, like part of her had been missing in her life before him. Now she couldn't imagine life without him. From his kiss, she knew he felt the same way too.
