She was getting annoyed. Beyond annoyed. Horrendously annoyed, no pun intended. She and Hiccup had been married for four months now; and within that first month, the women of the village had started sneaking glances not so subtle glances down to her stomach. 'What good is she if she doesn't give him an heir?' 'Do you think she's barren?' 'Maybe he's going to take a mistress to have an heir.'

Oh, that last one had really angered her. So much so, she had marched right over to the woman that uttered the sentence, got right up in her face, and told her off; saying that unless she had the guts to say that in front of her face, as well as Hiccup's, she had no damn right to spread such an awful rumor around the village.

But being honest with herself, she had started to silently question whether or not she was barren. She wanted to have a baby, as she knew Hiccup did too; and they had been trying for three months. But with not having a result yet, it made her slightly nervous. Which was why she was currently on her way to Gothi's.

She hadn't talked to Hiccup about going to see Gothi about her fertility, she didn't want him to worry or tell her that she was being silly for listening to the hens. So even though she wanted him with her, she didn't tell him, and just left right after he went out for his chiefly duties.

Taking a deep breath, she rapped three times on the door of Gothi's healing house. She jumped when the small woman swung the door open and stared blankly up at her. She looked away and rubbed her arm nervously. "Um…I-I need to ask you something in private." She stuttered.

Not saying a word, as she hadn't in years, Gothi turned and led Astrid inside. Locking the door behind them, she gestured the chiefess over to one of the beds, having her sit down. Writing in some sand she spread over the floor, she asked Astrid what she was in need of.

"Hiccup and I have been trying to have a baby for three months, but we haven't gotten any results." She read Gothi's reply and nodded. "We know it takes time…but…some of the women have been spreading rumors about the two of us and it's making me really uncomfortable. No! This is not because I think I'm barren. I mean…I guess I might be a little worried…but it's not the reason. I just wanna know if there's something going on that could be preventing me from getting pregnant." She told the old woman.

When Gothi told her to lay down, she did so, and pulled her shirt up. She waited impatiently as the elder examined her. It seemed to take a lifetime, and when she was finally told to sit up again, she did so quickly. "So?" She inquired.

'You're not pregnant. It might be difficult to get pregnant.' Gothi wrote in the sand.

Astrid gulped and choked on tears she refused to let spill. "B-but I'm not barren? Right?" She whispered.

'I don't know.'

That response sunk in her stomach. Unable to say anything, she just nodded and got up to leave. She went straight home and collapsed into a chair at the table. As soon as she did, she broke down and sobbed into her hand.

That was how Hiccup came home to find her. He could hear her wrenching cries from the front door, and immediately feared the worst. Racing to the kitchen, he knelt next to her and cupped her cheeks lovingly. "Hey. Hey. Hey. What's wrong, my darling? What's the matter? Astrid, talk to me." He begged her.

She rested her head on his shoulder and tried to ease her cries. "I-I went to see Gothi today." She whispered.

He encircled his arms around her and rocked her gently. "Ok. Why?"

"I heard some of the women talking, and I was worrying, because we've been try for three months, that I might be barren. G-Gothi told me…she doesn't know if I'm barren or not, but it may be hard for me to get pregnant." She sobbed.

He froze and tears rose to his own eyes. "O-oh." He didn't know what to say. In the three months since starting to try for a baby, he had eagerly waited for the day Astrid would smile broadly and tell him she was with child. He wanted a baby- no; he wanted children with Astrid. He knew, for years now, that he wanted her and her alone, to be the mother of his children. He didn't want another woman. But now, the thought that they may never have children, loomed over him like an old ghost.

That didn't mean he didn't still love her though. Gods he loved her so much. No matter if she couldn't bear any children, he loved her with all his heart. She was his wife, after all. He wouldn't have married her if he didn't love her.

She pulled away from him though and wiped her red eyes. "Hiccup…if I can't give you an heir…you know what will need to happen."

He frowned and glared hard. "Don't say that, milady. Alright, one: I don't care about the whole 'producing an heir' thing. I couldn't care less about that. Two: do I want a child? Yes. I do want a child; but not if it's not with you. Astrid, you're the only woman for me. I could never sleep with another woman just to have my desire met, and the village happy. If…if we can't have a child…then I'll appoint someone as heir. But I will not, I cannot, take a mistress. I won't do that to you." He stroked her cheek and brushed away a tear under her eye. "Hey, I love you, dearest. Even if we can never have a baby." Leaning in, he pressed his lips softly to hers.

The tear-mixed kiss quickly led to desperation; and he picked her up out of the chair to take her upstairs, to their bedroom.

Six months later…

Astrid was beaming as she sat in the rocking chair beside the fireplace. She held some yarn, and knitting sticks in her hands, trying desperately to work on her knitting skills. She'd never been one for domestic lifestyle, but it was different now.

Hiccup could be heard at the door as he came back from his routine day. "Hello!" He called out to her.

"In the living room, babe!" She called right back.

He beamed as he turned the corner of the living room and spotted her. "How was your day, love?" He mumbled after kissing her ever so softly.

She sighed. It wasn't an exasperated or irritated sigh; more a content and happy sigh. "It was good. Yours?"

He shrugged. "Usual. People bitching and whining about the most trivial things. But no matter. So, what are you knitting? Moreover, WHY are you knitting? You never knit. You have repeatedly stated how much you hate it. I fail to see how you could have a good day when you are openly and willingly choosing to do something you hate." He said knowingly. They may have only been married a year, but he'd known her for a lot longer.

"I'm knitting clothes." She told him.

"Ok, but why?" He asked again.

"They're baby clothes."

"Wow! Fish and Ruff sure didn't waste any time!" He laughed as he went to stand in front of the fire and rubbed his hands to warm them. The winter had been mean and bitter so far. He knew he needed gloves, he just didn't have the time to stop…well…anywhere.

"They're not for Fighlegs and Ruffnut." She whispered.

He paused, seeming to think on her words, before turning around to her again. His eyes brushed over her, glazing over lightly with hopeful tears. "A-are-are you saying…?"

She smiled and nodded. "I'm pregnant, Hiccup."

He stifled a sob as he looked down to her stomach and then back up at her. "Y-you're pregnant? You're really pregnant? We-we-we're…we're going to have a baby? Our own baby?" when she nodded again, he let his sob out into the air and knelt in front of her. Taking her hands in his own, he kissed her palms and buried his face in her lap. "I love you. I love, so much, Astrid. Gods, I love you." He laughed and kissed her forehead. "We're going to have a baby." Cupping her cheeks, he surged forward to kiss her passionately.

Their kiss was filled with desperate passion and love. Tears mingled with their lips, giving it a salty taste. And when they pulled away, they both laughed joyously. Then he slipped back down to look directly at her stomach.

Pulling up her shirt a little, he ran his hand over her still flat stomach. "I can't believe we made a baby. Our baby is in there." Kissing her belly, he leaned his forehead just below her naval and couldn't seem to stop smiling. "I love you already, little one." He whispered. "You are mommy and daddy's little miracle. I love you and your mommy so very, very much, baby."

Astrid watched him with a smile. She knew that the past year, though he hadn't said it, the thought of never having a child haunted him. He wanted to be a father. He wanted a whole houseful of children. The possibility of that never happening hadn't wavered his love for her, but it had saddened him.

Now though, she knew, if this was to be their only child, he would be happy. He'd be happy with just one child. Because he was right; this baby was their miracle. She wasn't sure if she was going to be able to give him children. Now, as she was at last with child, this baby was very much a miracle. And she knew, he was just made the happiest man in the world.

:::
Whew! That took a bit to right. I wanted to give this just the right twist, with a heartfelt fluffy theme. Might be a little cheesy, but it was kind of what I was going for. Plus, other than the optional adult scenes I add, I really want this to be a family/friendly fanfic. I hope you enjoyed this chapter oneshot! Look out for the second one soon. Peace out people!