"I have to admit, sweetheart," Henna smiled as she checked her reflection in the mirror hanging on a wall inside the living room of their house. "I didn't think we'd be surprising Hiccup and Astrid, what with your father's reaction to the news and all," she remarked to her daughter, who laughed.
Edgar rolled his eyes as he adjusted his cloak. "I was excited, love. You can't blame me for celebrating," he grumbled.
"It's a good thing the Chief and the Chieftess didn't hear you," Eret said as he wrapped up an ornate Roman shield his wife had found on her travels. "It would have spoiled the surprise."
"Are you almost done with the cards, El?" Zenna asked, wrapping a wooden carved reindeer Eret had made in green cloth.
Two-year-old Elias II Stoick Fiersome hummed as he finished coloring his cards. "Done!" he said, folding the two special cards his big sister and Uncle Eret had asked him to make for the newlyweds, Hiccup and Astrid.
Zenna inspected the cards and grinned. "Oh, wow, these are so cute! You're quite an artist, El," she complimented her baby brother, who giggled and clapped his hands. She placed the two cards in an envelope and pocketed it. Then Aurora and Viggo appeared together, holding hands.
"Well, it looks like we're ready. Let's greet the newlyweds and give them their gifts," she announced.
The Fiersome-Lothbrok family left the house – Zenna carrying the wooden reindeer and Eret carrying the Roman shield - and was greeted by a fresh winter breeze. It was the morning after Hiccup and Astrid's wedding. And, as it was custom, the morning gift was to be presented today and there needed to be witnesses. Being one of Hiccup and Astrid's closest friends, Eret and Zenna, as well as Zenna's family, were chosen to be witnesses.
El laughed as he flew on Serpent and Serpentine along with his parents as the group made their way to King/Queen Island, where the wedding would take place.
"I'm so glad Hiccup and Astrid have finally tied the knot. The whole village had been waiting for that to happen for nearly two years," Henna sighed, admiring how the sunlight made the fungi mushroom shimmer.
"I've been waiting for a Hiccstrid wedding for eight years and I am so glad it finally happened!" Zenna said, passing the reindeer over to her mother before picking up El and placing him in front of her on Stryka.
"Hiccstrid?" Eret raised an eyebrow at his in-laws.
"Snotlout coined the word not long after the two were betrothed," Edgar explained.
"I figured that." Aurora said with a playful eyeroll.
Moving on, the group reached King/Queen Island where Hiccup and Astrid and the others were on top of the large crystal, nearly oblivious to the pile of gifts placed at their feet, only having eyes for each other. Astrid leaned closer to Hiccup, whispering into his ear, and giggled when her husband's cheeks turned red. Then her own cheeks turned red when Hiccup looked at her and smirked, his bright green eyes darkening.
"Ugh, they're making goo-goo eyes again," Snotlout gagged as he plunked down a sword his father had reserved for the couple.
Ruffnut and Tuffnut wolf-whistled while Fishlegs sighed, nursing a cup of water. How the heck Snotlout and the Twins were able to function after getting flat-out drunk the night before during the wedding feast, he had no idea.
"They're basking in the afterglow of their wedding night," Gobber chuckled, lightly nudging Valka who stood beside him. "Hehe, with the way they're lookin' at each other, they'll be having a little Hofferson-Haddock in no time!"
Valka merely smiled, looking at her son and daughter-in-law with pride.
"And it'll be great.." Stoick smiled, wrapping his arms around his wife. Then she saw the Fiersome-Lothbroks and greeted them. "Ah, here we are. Now our witnesses are complete," she said.
The morning gift was a short ceremony, with Hiccup kissing Astrid deeply much to the delight of all the women present who squealed. After that, the gifts were opened.
"You're really giving this to us, Zen?" Hiccup asked his sister not by blood but by bond, running his hand over the Roman shield and its elaborate bronze decorations.
"A Chief needs a good shield. And if you're not gonna use it, it'll make a great conversation piece," said Zenna, taking out the envelope containing the cards.
Astrid inspected the wooden carved reindeer. "How long did it take for you to make this? The detail's incredible," she commented.
"Two weeks, give or take." Eret shrugged, grinning when he saw the envelope his wife was holding. "We've got one more gift for you two," he added.
Zenna curtsied and handed Hiccup and Astrid the envelope.
Taking out the cards, the newlyweds looked at the drawings of them in their wedding attire, lovingly made by El, before noticing the words written in the cards.
Congratulations, Uncle Hiccup! – From your future niece/nephew
Congratulations, Auntie Astrid! – From your future niece/nephew
"No… Way…" Hiccup breathed out, his gaze traveling from the card to Zenna's face. As the news sunk in, he grinned.
"Oh, my gods!" Astrid put a hand to her cheek, blue eyes shining. "Zen, you're pregnant?!" she exclaimed, the rest of the gang staring at Zenna who smiled as Eret chuckled and wrapped his arms around her.
"Yep. I've been pregnant for nearly three weeks," said Zenna, resting one hand on her still flat stomach.
Hiccup embraced her and Eret, laughing. "Ohhh, this is great! Congratulations, you two!" the young chief said before stooping down to El's eye level. "You know what that means, El?" he asked the little boy.
"No?" El tilted his head, confused.
"You're going to be an uncle," Astrid informed him, grinning.
"The youngest uncle in the world I reckon," Valka remarked, going over to Edgar and Henna, clasping their hands. "You two must be so excited to become grandparents," she said.
"Oh, most definitely," Henna replied, playfully nudging her husband. "Zenna and Eret told us about a week ago. Frankly, I'm surprised Edgar managed to keep it a secret for so long."
"He would have shouted the news in the plaza," Gobber joked.
"And I would have, too, if my daughter hadn't insisted on keeping the news under wraps until after Hiccup and Astrid's wedding," Edgar said, smiling sheepishly.
The rest of the former dragon riders congratulated Zenna and Eret, offering to babysit their child when it was born.
"Jorgensons are the best babysitters!" Snotlout flexed his muscles. "And, with the right price, I'll even teach your kid how to be a true Viking," he offered.
"Nuh-uh! Tuff and I are the best choices for babysitting. We're gonna teach their child everything we know," Ruffnut butted in.
"Loki'ing, knot-tying, spear-throwing, trickery… Oh, yes, we will teach the little Fiersome-Lothbrok everything," Tuffnut purred, rubbing his hands gleefully.
Eret looked at Fishlegs. "Out of you lot, you're my number two choice for a babysitter," he told the chubby walking Book of Dragons.
"Thank you," Fishlegs replied, smiling wistfully at the thought of taking care of another baby. Oh, how he missed Meatlug and baby Fishmeat.
Zenna turned to Hiccup and Astrid. "I know kids aren't exactly in your plans right now, but Eret and I want you two to be a big part of our kid's life. So, you guys ready to become an aunt and an uncle?" she asked.
"We would love nothing more," Astrid said, hugging her, a huge smile on her face.
Hiccup hugged his surrogate sister again, before gently patting her stomach. "Hey, buddy. It's your Uncle Hiccup speaking. Your Auntie Astrid and I are excited to meet you. See you soon!" he greeted the unborn babe.
For everybody present in the Great Hall at that moment, today had been a day of hope – both with Hiccup and Astrid's wedding and the news of Zenna's pregnancy. A new chapter in Berk's history had begun and a new generation of Berkians was ready to begin.