He sat patiently in the chair by the bed, idiot smile splayed over his sharp features. The screams inside were the only thing that could possibly deter him now. Well, that and-

"Daddy."

His smile grew and he looked to his feet. Beautiful blue eyes gazed up into his own, green ones. Reaching out, he lifted Nessa onto his lap and nudged his nose to her head. "It's ok, sweet girl." He whispered with a kiss to her auburn hair. "You don't have to worry about moomy, Nessa. She's going to be just fine. And before you know it, you're going to be a big sister to a little brother or a little sister." He told her proudly.

The cries of Astrid stopped then, and were instead replaced by smaller, higher pitched screams. The tears came freely down dis face, as he stood and looked toward the door. But he knelt in front of his young daughter and stroked her cheek softly. "Are you ready to meet your baby brother or sister, Ness?" He asked softly.

She gave a half-hearted smiled; one that didn't quite reach her eyes. Hiccup noticed this immediately and frowned.

"What's wrong, darling?" She didn't speak and he pulled her close. "Nessa…sweetpea, talk to daddy, love." He begged her gently. "What's going on, love?"

She sighed and looked to her feet. "What…what happens if it is a boy?" She whispered.

He raised a confused eyebrow and brushed her auburn locks away from her eyes. "What do you mean, sweetpea?"

"Well…I heard some of the villagers talking, and they said that I'm not fit to lead. They said something about hoping you'd change your mind? If this baby is a boy? What does that mean, daddy?" She asked innocently. That was a problem, because her question was anything but that of an innocent one.

He inhaled sharply and held fast to her arms. "Now, listen to me, Nessa; don't pay any mind to them. They are trying…gods…you're to young for this." He sat back and ran a hand over his mouth as the heartbreak consumed his heart. Now, there were two reasons why he would never forget this day. it was the day his second child was born, but also the day his sweet daughter, who was but three and a half, had to be exposed to the true cruelty of the world. the day her innocence would begin to crumble.

"They are trying to strip you of your birthright, Nessa. They-they're hoping that if the baby is a boy I will make him my heir, instead." Gods this wasn't fair.

"Why?"

"Because…because you're a girl." Gods this was painful.

"Is that a bad thing?"

" Of course not, sweetie. You're mine and mommy's little girl. But…some people…they don't think women should be chiefs." Odin make this stop. This was supposed to be a happy day. But his own people had to expose his daughter to a hurtful truth, long before she should have been.

"Why not?"

He had to think for a moment. Really, he didn't know why not. All the women of his village were highly accomplished. They even had several sheildmaidens. If they could fight, why couldn't they lead? It didn't make sense. "Nessa, from the moment your mother told me we were going to have a baby, you, I knew I loved you. I loved you, and you weren't more than a form inside your mother. But when you were placed in my arms for the very first time, I felt more than just love. I felt terrified, amazed, and an overwhelming sense of pride. I had a daughter. My own daughter. I looked down at your pink face, and I could just see…you. I saw you…becoming a leader. I saw you doing great things. And I just…I-I knew. I knew that you were meant to be my heir, whether everyone else saw it or not; I didn't care." He cupped her cheeks and smiled ever so tenderly. "You're still young, my dear, yet I already have to tell you the one thing that will try and bring you down more than anything else. But I want you to promise me something; promise me you won't give up. It's going to be hard, and there will be times where you won't want to try anymore, but don't let this truth hold you back from who you are to become." He was almost finished, but now came the hard part: telling her the truth. But how do you tell such a brutal truth to a not even four year old?

"There are going to be those who will look at you differently…because you're a girl. Nessa, some people don't believe that being chief is the place of a woman. I know differently. You are meant to be chief. A chief isn't made, sweetie, a chief is born. And it's something you can recognize in the snap of your fingers. I saw the fire in your eyes. I want you to remember me saying that, whenever you're told that you're out of place. You are not out of place. Don't let anyone talk to like that. and if they say something about you being a girl, you tell them what I told you. Do you understand, dear?" His heart eased when she nodded, and he pulled her impossibly close. "Don't listen to them. Don't you ever listen to them, my daughter." He whispered in her ear, as if it was a sacred secret that they, and they alone could know.

"Now," he said as he pulled away, "what do you say we go in there and see your baby brother or sister?" He suggested. Picking her up, he kissed her cheek and made way for the room. and as father and daughter stepped into the room, they were taken by the loud screaming that filled their ears. And Hiccup took immediate notice to the squiggling creature in his wife's arms. Unlike Nessa, this baby was not afraid to show he/she had lungs.

Astrid looked up, same smile still plastered on her face from being entranced with her newborn child. "It's a boy." She said tiredly.

His footsteps were slow, and he set Nessa on the bedside before going up right next to Astrid to look at his son. His first son. Looking to Astrid for permission, though he knew he didn't need it, he reached to take the healthy noy into his strong arms. A new smile etched his face, and he brought the boy up in his arms to place a loving kiss to the tufts of blonde hair. "He's beautiful, milady." He whispered, cradling his little boy close.

Still smiling, he looked over to Nessa for her thoughts. But the smile faded, as he saw the despondent look upon her face. "This doesn't change anything, dear." He told her as he bent next to her. An idea came to his head then, bringing the smile back to his face. "Do you want to hold him, sweetheart?" He offered, holding the boy toward her slightly.

Her face lit up brightly, blue eyes sparkling as beautifully as her mother's. Hiccup's heart jerked at seeing the beauty in them. He had always that, while she had inherited every other feature from him, she had her mother's sweet and beautiful eyes. Those eyes could make him smile even if it was a bad day. Never before. had he been able to say no to those eyes. They were one of his only weaknesses. Astrid teased him about it constantly; his girls had him wrapped around their fingers, they knew. And they certainly didn't mind taking advantage of it. Not that he really minded, though. They were his whole world, after all.

Helping her get into the correct position, he shifted the baby into her small arms. The look on her face was one to be remembered. She looked so enthralled. Her eyes were wide, but held a loving embrace. He could see, in that instant, she was in love with her little brother. Not in love in love, but in love. the same look he had when she'd been born. A look of promise. Promise to always protect and watch after and care for. There was no doubt about it, she would make an amazing big sister.

After making sure she was secure, he shifted back to the head of the bed and sat beside Astrid, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. A hard look came down on his face, one which Astrid had always found quite goofy. "And just what is that look for, Mr, Haddock? What could you possibly be thinking about?" She asked with a kiss to the corner of his mouth.

He turned just in time to capture her lips in his. It was passionate, but sweet. Weakening, but intese. He buried his hand in her damp hair and kissed her as only a husband does. When at last he pulled away, a small string of spit stayed connected to their lips, and he smiled. "I love you, so much, Astrid Haddock. You married me, with all my raw vikingness. You've given me two beautiful children. Could you possibly get anymore amazing. Cause if so, I'm pretty sure I'm going to die from happiness."

She chuckeled and ran a finger through his messy bangs. "You're such a sap." She laughed.

"You married this sap and had two children with him." He reminded her.

She laughed out loud and nodded. "True. What are you thinking, sap?" She asked, when seeing the thoughtful look still on his lips.

"I'm trying to think of a name for our son. We are not going to be like my parents and give him a name that will scare off trolls. A name like Hiccup…geesh." He winded.

She leaned close to kiss him softly. "Hm but you have damn well lived up to the name." She whispered.

He breathed a laugh and kissed her brow. "Thank you, milady. But seriously, I won't put my own son through that; so I am trying to think of a name that won't have him blushing for the first fifteen years of his life."

She nodded an agreemet. "I…have an idea." She said slowly.

He looked with a raised eyebrow. Leaning in for her to whisper in his ear, he listened carefully and went into shock at the name ghosted into his ear. "R-really?" He stuttered. Tears falling down his cheeks, he pulled her into a loving embrace and kissed her neck. "Thank you, Astrid. Thank you. Gods, I love you so damn much." He murmured against her skin.

"Well that's a relief, cause we are married and we have two children; kind of be a problem if you didn't love me."

He laughed and brushed his tears from his eyes. Then he turned to Nessa.

The girl looked up with a big smile plastered on her face. "What's his name, daddy?" She asked excitedly.

He looked to Astrid as he said the name. "His name is Tait, Nessa. Tait Stoick Haddock."

"Wasn't that my grandpa's name?" She asked with curious eyes.

He nodded. "Yeah, baby girl. It was. And mommy thought it would be nice to give your brother his name, as a middle name. he may be gone from life, dear, but I promise you he's with us. I can see a little bit of him in you and Tait. I see him in the village, your mother, and even myself. He would have loved you, sweetie. You, and your brother. I know he would have." He said surely.

She carefully shifted closer to her parents so that she sat between them. "Daddy?" She said suddenly.

"Yes, dear?" he acknknowledged, stroking her simple, delicate braid. Her hair had always been so soft, which had made him always love her beautiful hair. He loved it all the more when she would let it down. It framed her face, just as Astrid's framed her's. So beautiful and perfect.

"When do I get to teach him to ride?"

Astrid snorted as she hit her husband's chest, making him scrunch his nose. "So your daughter." She whispered.

He huffed. "Safe to say I'm getting my payback." He muttered. But then he smiled and kissed her head.

The family was completely wrapped up in the new Haddock. And they spent the next few hours adorning him in the common Haddock love. A new light had been cast upon them, and they couldn't have been more happy.

:::

Hey guys! Thanks for hanging in there. So just a little note, I may not be updating OLT until next week, or maybe even the week after. I got a lot going on. So just bare with me a little bit. Thanks!

Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Let me know what you think. Peace out People!