Apologies, I'm still wavering and I was trying to get Things We Do For Love ended, which I have! This isn't near done, but Taboo is so I'll probably have leant to that until it's done and I've freed my brain up for all this Valcup storytime.
-HTTYD-
Hiccup slept fitfully that night, but there was a pulse of excitement under his skin all the same. Despite all the anxiety and awkwardness of how it came about and who with, some part of Hiccup was undeniably excited to be a father.
Valka found him in the kitchen cooking porridge, needing something thick and warming in his stomach. She wasn't a particularly fussy eater and helped herself with a quiet thanks. Hiccup stirred a little jam into his porridge, nostalgic for the way his parents had made it for he and Astrid when they were kids.
"When's your appointment?"
Checking her watch, Valka licked a stray bit of porridge from her spoons handle and Hiccup tried not to feel the dull spark in his gut.
"I think I need to leave in an hour. Are you still coming?"
Hiccup nodded, keeping his eyes on his bowl.
"I'm gonna walk Toothless first, but yeah then we can go."
Finished faster than Hiccup who had a bad habit of playing with his food, Valka stood and stretched slightly, rubbing a hand over the cotton resting across her rounding belly.
"I think I'm going to go take a bath while you do that then."
Hiccup's mouth went dry so he could only nod in response, trying not to remember sharing a bath with her and failing dismally. She left the room and Hiccup tossed out the rest of his porridge, knowing it wouldn't sit well in his fluttering belly. Toothless was eager to go for his walk, giving Hiccup his much needed breathing space to try and get his head on straight.
His stump was stubbornly achey that morning, making the walk painful and unappealing but Hiccup knew he had to keep it up. The scruffy, cheery little bundle of fur at his side was good motivation, padding along the same routes over and over and never seeming bored of Hiccup's need for routine, finding comfort in the walking routes familiarity since his life was so constantly changing in the last few months.
He made it back ten minutes before Valka had said they needed to leave, forgetting himself for a minute and dropping his jeans in the living room to massage his stump before attempting driving. Valka walked in, presumably to get him, before looking away with flushed cheeks.
"Sorry, didn't mean-"
"It's fine. Nothing you haven't seen before."
Even Hiccup was surprised he said it, quickly reattaching his leg and pulling his jeans back up. Valka didn't answer, keeping her eyes averted and Hiccup wondered if she found it harder to look at now she wasn't attracted to him. Now he was just her incomplete son and she didn't need reminding that said son got her pregnant. Suddenly he felt shaky, anxious again. Toothless snuffled around his legs, sensing his emotions.
"Shall we go?"
Hiccup nodded stiffly, debating for a minute about taking the dog with him but deciding against it. He could handle it. They walked in silence to the front door, Hiccup locking it behind him and they went to separate cars. Valka had the SatNav, so Hiccup pulled up the map on his phone and confirmed the route for himself before they set off. It seemed ridiculous to take two separate cars... until Hiccup considered being that close to Valka again.
Then it seemed perfectly rational. His palms slid a little on the wheel as they began to sweat, hastily wiped on his jeans at a set of traffic lights. They made it to the appointment five minutes early, but Valka's friend was clearly expecting her and came out personally to retrieve them from the waiting room that reeked of disinfectant.
"Valka! I must say you look fantastic for six months! And this must be the son you told me about. All grown up!"
The olive-toned woman with big brown eyes and a little too much natural affection patted his shoulder, making Hiccup want to shuffle behind a curtain or something.
"Hiccup, this is my friend Nadia. We did some work together a few years back. Nadia, this is Hiccup."
"Hiccup?"
"It's a nickname but everyone calls me that."
"Ah. Well, let's get you on the bed Valka. We'll do the scan first then I'll get your bloodwork started."
Hiccup felt a powerful urge to look away when Valka lifted her light green tunic-style shirt, exposing her soft scarred belly that jutted out over her skirt.
"You've gotten some new ones."
Nadia indicated Valka's scars, inspecting the dotted patches of darker tissue with a medical eye.
"Well its dangerous work but someone's gotta do it."
Nadia smiled, rolling up her sleeve to show a long scar winding up along her inner bicep.
"Your mother here helped me stitch that when I fell on a bear trap while we were chasing poachers."
"Oh. Uh. Cool?"
She probably thought him weird but Nadia rolled down her sleeve, washed and gloved her hands then picked up a bottle.
"Ready?"
He had seen baby scans on TV before, so the weird goo spread across her skin was no surprise. Valka hissed slightly but stayed still.
"Cold?"
"A little."
"It'll warm up. Ready?"
Valka nodded, turning eyes to the screen as the Doppler was applied to her bump, a grainy image taking shape. Hiccup wasn't sure what struck him more - the solidifying image of a baby or the sound. A resounding heartbeat, fast and strong and resonating deep inside him. A hand came up on the screen, followed by stretching legs.
"Are you sure you're six months along Val?"
Frowning slightly, Valka nodded.
"Quite certain, there's only one possible date of conception."
Hiccup was immediately concerned.
"Is something wrong?"
"Not specifically wrong. Just a little smaller than I would have expected. Have you been sick? Eating well?"
"Well you know how it is out there. I've had a couple of bugs, and I wasn't aware I was eating for two until very recently."
Nadia nodded, running the scanner further along and around.
"Nice strong heartbeat either way. Perhaps you'll catch up on size now you're settled here and eating better. And then... hm."
This Nadia woman was a weight on Hiccup's anxiety. Valka leant up slightly, trying to spot whatever was making her friend falter.
"What?"
"Hard to be certain on a scan, but see here?" she pointed to the babies legs, specifically the feet "I think they might be twisted."
"Which means?"
"Well it could just be the angle, but I wouldn't be surprised if it presents as talipes."
"Tal-what?"
"More commonly called club foot. It's a fairly common birth defect, and perfectly treatable."
Hiccup frowned at her cavalier attitude, trying to reason that she probably saw it far more often than he had and her nerves would feed an anxious expectant parent.
"Anything else I should be wary of Nad?"
"Can't be certain, but when club foot presents we often look for other defects. If you wanted to be more sure, we could run an amniocentesis test but you know that comes with a slight risk of miscarriage."
Valka shook her head immediately.
"I'd rather wait it out than risk the little one."
"Fair enough then. I can see a healthy spine, no apparent heart problems and no fluid around the brain which are the major areas we look at. Stay healthy and eat plenty, and I'll give you a growth scan check in a months time to check the progress. Did you want to know the sex?"
Valka hesitated, looking up at Hiccup for a second and his heart twisted in his chest. He could only nod a little. She turned back to Nadia and nodded too.
"Yes."
"Judging by what we can see here, you've got yourself another boy on the way."
Hiccup had a son just growing away in there. It was only three months until they were born. Suddenly that was no time at all yet a long way away, his nerves at war with his excitement.
"How many copies do you want of this Val?"
"Two will be fine."
"You got it. Here, clean yourself up while I get those and then I'll take your blood. If you can write a list of all the places you've been in the last six months, I can pass it on to my lab so they know what to look for."
"I thought you already had your blood checked?"
Valka nodded, wiping medical grade lubricant from her stomach and rolling her vest back down.
"That wasn't done with pregnancy in mind. Lots of things could affect the little one but not me. Plus it's better to be safe than sorry. And it's worth checking I'm not deficient in anything."
Nadia held out two envelopes that contained cards that held the sonograms. Valka handed one to Hiccup immediately, with a date and 'Haddock, Valka' printed in the corner and some other things he didn't totally understand written along the bottom. Valka handed her list over to Nadia, then wrestled with her sleeve for a moment before sighing.
"This won't roll up. I wasn't thinking when I dressed it seems."
"Well you can take it off... want to go wait outside lad?"
"Hiccup's fine."
Hiccup was very much not fine but he felt admitting it and leaving would make him look weirder. He tried not to look as Valka took off her top, revealing scars and skin he knew more intimately than he should. There were a couple he didn't remember from revisiting the images in his mind far too many times, pink and purple colouring showing they were fairly fresh.
Nadia eyed his reactions, obviously curious about why he wasn't perturbed by the scarred planes of her skin. Hiccup averted his own gaze, hoping to look quietly surprised instead of disgustingly transfixed by the fact her breasts were swollen too, preparing to feed a child.
"There we go. You've got excellent veins still."
"Ever the strange compliment. Thank you Nadia."
"No problem. I gotta take a couple of vials for the different tests, you'll need to sit down until the dizziness passes, especially if you're driving."
Valka nodded, placing pressure on the cotton and bending her elbow to slow the bleeding from where the needle had gone in.
"I brought a sugary snack and drink for just such an occasion."
"Ah yes, a veteran of blood tests. I forgot."
The two women shared a chuckle, then Valka had the cotton wool taped to her arm so she could put her clothes back on. Hiccup let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding, fiddling with a loose thread on the hem of his jacket while the two chatted.
"If you leave your number I'll call you personally when your results are in, and I'll book you in for another scan in four weeks time to check how he's growing."
"Thank you Nadia. This is a wonderful favour you're doing for me."
"You save lives Val, this is the least I can do."
Hiccup left the room before Valka did, hovering awkwardly outside in the waiting room fingering the sonogram in his pocket, the sound of the heartbeat still reverberating in his mind. He couldn't say what he had been thinking when Nadia said the baby might have something wrong with his feet - Hiccup wouldn't care if his son was disabled. He wouldn't let it hold him back.
But then he couldn't claim the boy as his son to anybody.
Hiccup wondered if the boy would look like him. He looked like Valka, and so the baby had two sets of similar looks. It would be remarkable if he didn't resemble them really.
"You didn't have to wait."
"I wanted to be sure you were fit to drive before I left."
"Oh. Thank you."
Hiccup nodded stiffly, leaning on the wall next to her while Valka retrieved fizzy pop and a chocolate bar from her bag to replenish herself after the blood test. He did his best not to think how sweet her mouth would taste. His mind was little help, dwelling on the changes pregnancy was wreaking on her body. It was so terribly wrong of him to be thinking that way, especially when Valka was making such an effort to be normal with him, no small feat with their abnormal situation.
"You good?"
"I feel fine, yes."
"Good. Did I give you a key?"
Valka nodded, holding it up to show she had it.
"Are you going somewhere?"
"Just to get a few things. You can get back with your key and SatNav helping right?"
"Yes."
Hiccup smiled tightly, heading for his car and sighing in relief enclosed in the familiar, lonely space. Despite the traumatic memories of the crash, Hiccup could find solace in his car. It had allowed him to take care of Astrid, helped stop his stupid prosthetic leg from limiting him getting around.
His first stop was the pharmacy - he could pick up muscle rub for his leg, painkillers and the prescription he was feigning taking. Then came the book store, where Hiccup was at a total loss with the hundreds of titles all about babies.
"Can I help you with something?"
Hiccup, as usual, just about jumped out of his skin when the shop worker surprised him, racing heart pumping fresh adrenaline through his system.
"Oh. Uh. I need a book about babies."
"Well this is the right section. Anything in particular?"
Scratching the back of his neck to try and get rid of the prickling sensation there, Hiccup shrugged.
"Uh... taking care of a newborn I guess? The more informative the better."
The very nice man helped pick out a few for Hiccup to decide between, but they all seemed to say different things so Hiccup bought three. Then he had to go back, hunting for a book on homemade baby food. Looking young and awkward, Hiccup probably came across like a paranoid big brother rather than a terrified father. The same man helped him find one on organic baby food that was a little weird but had what he needed in, and then Hiccup remembered something else.
"Do you have anything on birth defects?"
His helper - Sam, according to the name tag - seemed surprised, but led him to a different section full of books on medical conditions. Eventually he located one pertaining to children and babies, feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the information available and getting himself a book on dragons just to cheer himself up.
Hiccup wished he had Astrid with him by then, both for the help with dealing with humans and the fact she was freakishly strong. Books were heavy.
He escaped to the art supply store after dropping off the books in his car, feeling relieved to be surrounded by coloured pencils and paintbrushes. Other art lovers seemed to appreciate he was keeping to himself and left Hiccup to pick out sketching pencils for fifteen minutes in silence. It was a cathartic experience that soothed his frayed nerves.
"Hey, aren't you NightFury18?"
Hiccup blinked in surprise as he turned to see a boy about his age, maybe a bit younger.
"Uh, do I know you?"
The boy nodded, opening something up on his phone and presenting Hiccup with one of his own drawings that someone had requested from him.
"I commissioned this off you. Your drawings are amazing!"
"Oh. Thank you."
Hiccup vaguely remembered Astrid putting up a picture of the two of them on his art profile. Which explained how he was recognised at least.
"I might have to order another off you sometime."
"Go ahead. You have my email and stuff."
"Jake, leave him alone! He's clearly one of those anti-social artists. That's not an insult by the way, Jake is just too friendly."
Hiccup was too relieved and grateful to be insulted as his 'fan' was carted off. He had used up all his social energy yesterday at the adoptees group, and that morning had already worn him thin. He and his pencils were going home.
He made a short, anxiety-ridden trip through the supermarket for a few fresh fruits and vegetables, having used up a fair few cooking for Astrid. Treating himself to some sweets and drinks he could keep in his room while reading, Hiccup finally got into his car to go home. Leg aching something fierce, he was so relieved to get back he collapsed on his bed with a groan after putting everything down next to him.
Damn. He needed to put away kitchen things. Pushing himself upright with a groan, Hiccup placed the sonogram picture on his bedside table and grabbed the food before limping along to the kitchen. Valka was in there, stirring a cup of fruit tea and offering him a smile as he entered the room.
"Did you get everything you needed?"
"Think so. And accosted by a fan of my art when buying new pencils. That was weird."
"Your art is very good."
Hiccup blushed; he couldn't help it.
"Thanks. I can uh, draw you a dragon if you want. No charge. It can brighten up your room or something."
Her smile softened but stayed.
"I'd like that."
"Cool. Uh... what sort of dragon would you like?"
Valka tapped her spoon against the steeping teabag while Hiccup put things away in the fridge.
"Surprise me. Draw a dragon you think suits me."
Blowing the steam from her cup, Valka left the kitchen with that soft smile still playing over her face. Hiccup decided to focus on the drawing first; drawing relaxed him and he had months to read the books in his room.
The colours of her car inspired him somewhat, the blueish orange giving him a sunrise vibe and her long, lithe and graceful body giving way to a fluid, elegant sort of dragon. To match her height the dragon was big, had four wings to balance the size out and he went through a couple of trial and error trials before settling on small, almost feathery scales to give the impression of flexibility.
Hiccup was so absorbed that his phone ringing with Astrid checking up on him was the only reminder it was almost dinner time.
"How was the ultrasound?"
"Uh, alright I guess. She said its a boy."
Hiccup didn't talk about potential problems just yet. He wanted to know more in case Astrid had questions.
"Another one? Guess Valka was just made for boys."
"Yeah."
Hiccup told her about the art store, passively mentioned pharmacy and bookstore trips so she knew he had been out and about and collected his meds.
"Walked Toothless this morning. If my legs not too sore I'll walk him after dinner. If I have to I'll drive to the big park where he can run properly."
"Sounds good. Have you tested out your new pencils?"
"Yep. Not as good as my old ones but that might be because they are new. Still, this dragon is coming out well."
"Oooh, send me a picture when its done!"
"I will, but I better go start dinner."
"Right. I stole all your batch cooking."
"I'll do more soon, don't worry."
"Alright. Love you bro."
Hiccup smiled, warmed by Astrid's care for him.
"Love you too sis."
He hung up, finished using the fineliner on the dragon wing he was sharpening and got up. Stretching and groaning as his leg twinged, Hiccup hobbled over to the kitchen and sought a quick dinner to throw together. Pasta and sauce was quick and simple, plus he could add plenty of vegetables to ensure it was nutritious for mother and baby.
"Smells good."
"Thanks. Basically what you missed out on for lunch yesterday."
"Ah. I shouldn't have skipped out."
Hiccup chuckled shortly, scooping pasta into his bowl and covering it in sauce then letting Valka serve herself. She had a decent appetite for someone so slender, though with Astrid for a sister Hiccup was used to that. Astrid ate almost as much as Dagur, and Dagur ate everything.
"Your dragon is almost done, I'll finish it when I've walked Toothless."
"I can walk him if you like. I noticed you were limping and I know the route."
"Oh. Uh. You sure?"
Valka nodded, rubbing her belly absently.
"I need to keep active, I'm not meant for being sedentary and I feel I've recovered from the trip here."
"In which case, I graciously accept and thank you."
She smiled, the smile growing when Toothless got excited at the sight of his harness and leash. Seeing them out felt strange, but his leg was already thankful for the return to relaxing. He popped a couple of painkillers and made a date with his muscle rub before bed, then sat back down to finish the drawing.
Valka was gone for over an hour, leaving Hiccup about to go driving in search of them when she finally returned. He had his shoes on and everything.
"I was starting to worry."
"We had a good long stretch didn't we Toothless?"
The dog yipped happily, then hastened to his water bowl. Hiccup smiled at his dog, then held out the rolled up sheet of paper to Valka.
"Meet Cloudjumper."
She unrolled the paper with a hint of bemusement at the name, but her face lit up beautifully at the sight of it.
"Oh this is gorgeous! Truly, this is beautiful Hiccup."
He didn't say what rested on his tongue, opting instead to go feed Toothless.
It was inspired by her. And he found her beautiful.
-HTTYD-
It won't continue to be one day each chapter, gods wouldn't that make for a long fic? Haha
Expect more time between chapters, storyline-wise.