I did a lot of research for a lot of what's coming in this story and I have to say - new fathers can be jerks, baby name websites are confusing and animals are cute.
Chapter contains surgical and blood talk and all that sorta stuff. I don't think its graphic but if you're squeamish consider yourself forewarned I guess?
As an aside... I was watching Riders Of Berk earlier and realised the amount of times the riders have tried to dig through rocks with hand or fire is embarrassing. They have a Gronckle. Which eats rocks. Eats lots and lots of rocks. TRY THAT DAMNIT.
-HTTYD-
Hiccup paced anxiously, distantly noting his new leg was far better suited for such a thing as it didn't hurt anymore to do so. Hospital tiles squeaked beneath his shoes, heart pounding in his chest outside Valka's hospital room. He wasn't allowed in yet, even though she had said she wanted him there
"Hiccup!"
Astrid, Heather and Dagur found him there, his little sister practically breaking his ribs in a hug he desperately needed.
"Thanks for coming Astrid."
"Like I would be anywhere else. Didn't miss it did I?"
"No. Well, I don't think so. This isn't a delivery suite so its unlikely she is giving birth in there but nobody will tell me anything and I'm not allowed in and mmph-"
Astrid hushed his anxious babbling with a hand on his mouth, silencing him from working himself up even more.
"Breathe."
Hiccup nodded, sucking in a few deep breaths.
"What happened?"
"I was making tea and then suddenly she was in pain and bleeding and we just sorta rushed here. She called her friend on the way and I called you when we got here."
Speaking of, Hiccup recognised Nadia as she strolled along a stark, sterile hallway toward them.
"Hiccup right?"
He nodded.
"This is Nadia, Valka's... doctor friend? This is my sister Astrid" he indicated the three with him in turn "her girlfriend Heather and her brother Dagur. Can you go in and get them to tell me what's happening they won't let me in?"
"I'll do my best. This is her room yeah?"
He nodded and Nadia opened the door, the sounds of arguing with the nurses escaping before the door closed behind her. That was probably the longest conversation he had ever had with Nadia, and his anxiety knew it but right now Valka and their son were more pressing, both in importance and anxiety-inducement.
Hiccup wasn't sure that was a real word.
He didn't care.
"Someone needs to go back and take care of Toothless."
"I'll go. The girls are gonna be more use keeping your head on straight than me and if you're here ages I can take him back to my place without worrying he'll eat a cat."
"Thanks Dagur."
Dagur smiled, took Astrid's key to Hofferson central and promised not to feed the dog too much. Hiccup hoped there wasn't some plethora of evidence Valka hadn't slept in her own bed for weeks now, though as they hadn't been intimate beyond kissing it wasn't like their clothes were in messy piles around furniture and the like. Her blood was in his bed, but Hiccup could explain that the same as he had to Astrid when Valka was in his room before.
Not that he expected Dagur to go in his room, not unless Toothless was in there. That was possible since he had taken to following pregnant Valka around lots, feeding on their nervous excitement for the impending birth.
Astrid and Heather did their best to keep him calm, but Hiccup only wound himself tighter until a nurse came out, clearly looking for him.
"I don't really need to ask which of you is her son do I? She's asking for you."
"I can come in?"
Finally permitted, Hiccup promised to return with information for Astrid and Heather as he headed in. Valka was pale, hooked up to an IV and there was equipment Hiccup suspected was for monitoring the baby all over the place. Nurses and doctors bustled about between Valka and someone behind thick curtains to the other end of the room; it wasn't a heavily populated ward it seemed, though a fairly private one.
"Are you ok?"
Valka nodded, managing to smile and curl her hand around his shaking one. Mindful of how they apoeared, Hiccup knew there was only a certain amount of leeway in acceptable actions between a mother and son.
"I'm fine."
Nadia tsked, glaring at the doctor umming about her presence as she went through the information available.
"She's in early labour, they are giving her drugs to try and stop it since her waters haven't broken yet."
Valka waved an absentminded, lazy hand.
"I've been in this before."
"Yes, but not with me and I'm not as easily fobbed off."
Hiccup could tell there was more. He was missing something.
"What aren't you telling me?"
Nadia looked at Valka, who shook her head and tightened her fingers on Hiccup's.
"He already knows something is up" Nadia looked up to Hiccup "they can't be sure without opening her up but there's concerns for adhesions from the scar tissue of her previous cesarean."
"Ok... I don't know what that means but I'm guessing it's not good?"
Nadia shook her head.
"No, it's not. Depending on the severity, a natural birth could cause catastrophic blood loss. Everyone's deciding whether to just take her for delivery now or wait it out."
Hiccup felt his heart stutter in his chest. Valka could die having his baby because of complications from his own delivery. His legs shook as anxiety pulsed it's way through him in place of blood, leaving him shaky.
"For heavens sake Nadia, don't scare him so."
Valka sat up properly, squeezing his hand tighter until Hiccup's eyes turned to her.
"It's going to be ok. I... I promise."
He knew her hesitation wasn't a lack of conviction, but a memory of him telling her not to promise him things. Hiccup squeezed her hand in return, doing his best to get a handle on his anxiety before it went right through the roof again as Valka winced and gripped her stomach, letting out a pained whimper. Nadia was on her feet grabbing a passing doctor in seconds.
"That's it. Get her prepped would you? This is clearly not working!"
"The foetal heartbeat is rising, I agree. Nurse?"
Hiccup was hustled to the side so they could work, but Valka's eyes never left his through the gaps between hospital staff.
"Can my son come too?"
The nurse closest to him turned and looked at Hiccup, who nodded.
"Are you sure? She'll be going through a surgical procedure and you look a bit pale already."
"I watched my leg get removed to get me out of a mangled car.I want to see him born."
Hiccup's voice was stronger than he expected it to be, conviction holding clear.
"Alright. But in the observation bay, you can't be in the theatre itself."
He nodded, not thrilled but also knowing to take the allowances where he could get them. Nadia pointed him to the door, giving Hiccup a nudge and his skin prickled uncomfortably under her touch despite two layers of clothes.
"Go tell your sister then because we'll be moving in like one minute."
"Oh. Yeah."
Hiccup hurried out, gave Astrid a quick explanation that Valka was getting a C-section. He didn't go into massive detail, not certain he could filter what came out of his mouth sufficiently well if he did.
"We'll be waiting... I know there's limits on where you can use your phone but let us know if it's like, Maternity or Intensive Care or some other ward you guys end up on?"
"Yeah. Go get a drink or something in the cafe, I'll let you know."
Hiccup felt a bit better just knowing Astrid would be nearby, but right now he needed to go see his son being born. Nadia rather effectively grabbed him and pulled him along, waving to Heather and Astrid as they walked off. Hiccup had to shake her off, fearing she would shake his leg off.
"I know I'm slow but yanking me off my leg won't help."
Nadia chuckled to herself, apparently far more relaxed now she knew they weren't leaving Valka in pain for a 'wait and see' scenario. He may have a skewed view of moods, since Hiccup existed in some kind of semi-anxious state at almost all times.
"Is this dangerous for them?"
"Well it carries a risk but compared to the concerns for natural birth and potential foetal distress, it's the best chance. It's how you were born after all."
Only to return eighteen years later to put his own DNA within the womb he grew in. Hiccup felt terrified and excited and exhilarated all at once, only realising they were there when he could see Valka again - through a window. Medical people bustled around with equipment and tools and applying something to Valka's stomach that Nadia said was to make it sterile.
"Who's the guy hovering in the corner?"
"Probably the one who's going to sterilise her."
"I thought they just did?"
Nadia looked at him strangely, then had a visible lightbulb moment.
"Oh right, you weren't there. Val asked them to sterilise her while they've got her opened up, so there's no risk of her falling pregnant again, because she's worried about the potential complications."
Hiccup placed a hand on the glass, watching Valka go a little hazy from afar like she did right before a nap.
"Is she awake for this?"
"Yep. Safer. They'll have given her an epidural, which numbs you from the waist down completely, so she's probably feeling a bit out of it now that bad boy has kicked in. You're not gonna faint are you?"
He shook his head, knowing it would be unpleasant to watch them cut into her but it was the only way to witness their boy being born, and Valka couldn't see through the screen they put up to protect her from such a sight. So he had to see their sons first breaths for her. Remembering the faint scar he'd seen low on her belly, Hiccup couldn't help cringing slightly at the somewhat bigger incision than he was expecting.
Nadia was watching the doctors faces, though how she could see anything was a mystery through their surgical masks.
"I think they found what they were worried about, meaning this was the best decision to be made. As was Val not putting future strain on the new scars."
It seemed to take forever and yet no time at all, before someone was literally reaching inside Valka's body and pulling out a tiny wrinkled creature that almost floored Hiccup on sight. Even from their vantage point, it was clear Nadia had been right about his little twisted feet, but Hiccup didn't care. He had never seen anything so beautiful.
The doctor held it them, as though she was showing the baby was out and gave his little chest a rub, then someone was poking at his mouth before a vital, lively cry could be heard through the glass.
"He's ok?"
"Yep. Had something in his airways but that happens and they've cleared it. They'll cut the cord, weigh him, clean him up and maybe wrap him since he's little before generally handing the baby over to the mother. Of course, she needs more work so they might put him in an incubator."
"Is that bad?"
Nadia shook her head, amazingly calm from the split-second glance Hiccup gave her between staring avidly at the baby.
"Nah. Keeps him warm is all but human contact is super important for babies so you'll probably be able to hold your kid soon."
That got his attention. Hiccup turned to Nadia for a heartbeat longer than before, but she shrugged.
"I... what?"
"I know. He's underweight and has talipes, Valka was more concerned than any second time mother I've seen and wouldn't talk about the father. You met as adults... I did the math. Plus, the look on your face is kinda unmistakable to someone who's job is dealing with expectant parents."
Hiccup felt very very unsettled now, turning back to where the baby was being separated from Valka fully and carried over to scales and blankets and who knew what else.
"I don't know what to say."
Nadia acted like she hadn't dropped a shattering bombshell, still watching the scene in the theatre with a keen eye.
"I'll do his tests, make sure there's nothing lurking in his chromosomes."
He was finding it hard to form words, torn between a hundred different emotions in that moment as the corner-lurker came over to do whatever 'sterilising' was - Hiccup thought it had something to do with fallopian tubes but he wasn't certain.
"Go on. Go meet your son. Take a couple of photos on your phone in case he has to stay in the preemie section for a while."
Hiccup didn't want to leave Valka but Nadia was insistent, and the pull toward the ward a nurse pointed him to was too strong. There were incubators and tubes and tiny little babies being cared for all around him, but Hiccup had eyes for only one. "Baby boy Haddock" was a pretty big hint.
He was tiny - the chart next to his incubator said "4 pounds 7 ounces" which made him barely the weight of two bags of sugar. That boggled his mind. Still, his skin was a ruddy shade of red and his chest was moving up and down. Tiny hands clutched what Hiccup realised was an octopus with spiral-springy legs, and his own little legs ended in miniature feet that turned in almost completely. There was a special little bandage on his belly covering the umbilical cord stump Hiccup knew would be there from reading baby books fervently as Valka slept next to him.
"You like his octopus?"
A nurse scared the living daylights out of him, and Hiccup nodded.
"What's it for?"
"It's supposed to mimic the umbilical cord, and it stops the preemies tugging on their tubes and wires as often. Of course this little guy" the nurse cooed and leant in to the plastic capsule "doesn't need any. You the father?"
Hiccup almost said yes, but he didn't want there to be huge potential awkwardness.
"Brother. Can I take his picture?"
"You'll need to put your phone on airplane mode but sure. If you like, you can hold him and I'll take the picture?"
Petrified but desperate, Hiccup agreed and handed his signal-blocked phone over, then had the delicate little baby placed in his arms. His eyes were still shut, but there was a surprising amount of autumn-red hair beginning to dry and stand up from his head.
He fell in love in that instant, never having felt a surge of emotion like it and that included falling into bed with Valka.
"Hey little guy."
The nurse took their picture as Hiccup touched his finger to a tiny palm, small hand curling around him and grasping tightly. He felt warm enough, but Hiccup knew if they had him in a warming environment it was for good reason.
"You stay in there and get nice and warm, I promise you'll be spoilt rotten with cuddles."
He got a better close up of the baby clutching his octopus again, chuckling as tiny fingers tugged springy tentacles.
"When is he gonna be with Valka?"
"So long as nothing happens, as soon as she's set up to recover. You can stay with him until he goes up if you like."
Hiccup sat down, perched next to his son and utterly hypnotized by every tiny movement. He popped outside the ward to text Astrid that the baby was born but that everything was a bit up in the air at the moment with regards to where and he would update when he could.
Then he went right back to staring, not moving until the nurse scared him out of his skin again, saying Valka was out of surgery and recovering and wanted to see 'her boys'. Hiccup followed the incubator wheelie thing all the way to Valka, who visibly lit up at the sight of them. She was a bit groggy and couldn't move much, there was visible padding from bandages and swelling around her belly under the covers, and Hiccup realised with a terrifying thrill that she was bare around the top half of her body. It made sense, but still...
"How are you feeling?"
Hiccup sat next to her while the baby was checked in his tiny nappy, then wrapped in a thin blanket to warm him between incubator and mother. Nadia was the other side of the bed, reading a magazine and flicking her eyes up toward everyone else without intruding on the moment. Hiccup was scared of her.
"Fantastic, if tired right now. The epidural is still in effect for the moment. How's the little one?".
"Beautiful."
It was the only word he could think of, and Valka seemed to agree as she was finally handed her newborn son. He laid against her chest and splayed a little hand there, innately recognising his mother it seemed and yawning adorably. Hiccup watched every second, enraptured by it all.
"You've probably noticed he's got talipes, or club foot. We'll make sure you have an appointment with the baby physiotherapist to start his treatment before you leave, though of course since you had a caeserean you'll be in for a few days."
Valka nodded in response to the doctor, but her attention was laser-focused upon the wriggling babe on her chest. He began to whimper and fuss and wiggle, nurse and Nadia both suggesting the baby wanted feeding. Hiccup was relieved to discover he could tamp down his twisted lusts for his mother in that moment, knowing witnessing his sons first nursing was not a sexual act. It was incredible all the same; especially for Valka as she realised she was able to keep this one rather than give them up as she had with Hiccup.
"You picked a name yet Val?"
"Not yet, but I'm sure he's going to give me lots of ideas."
When the medical staff had stopped swarming around and there were big divider curtain things around Valka's bed, Nadia cleared her throat and excused herself.
"I think I'll go and find your sister, give you two a minute."
With that, the two were alone. Valka turned her head, kissed Hiccup softly and he couldn't help but respond despite it being such a risky, inappropriate setting. Then they returned to watching their son nurse, suckling away hungrily with his little face scrunched in determination.
"He's so beautiful."
"He really is. Thank you Hiccup."
"I think that's my line. I... I can't imagine what you just went through."
Despite everything her body had been put through, Valka hadn't stopped smiling since she first got her hands on her baby son.
"Tis but a distant memory. None of it matters now he's here."
Hiccup smiled, so incredibly proud of Valka. Awestruck, really.
"So... have you thought of names?"
"Yes, but obviously I wanted to see how you felt about them and Nadia was here."
Hiccup wondered if he should say Nadia knew, but he couldn't bring himself to risk upsetting the woman glowing with pure joy.
"Ok?"
"I wanted to call him Magni, for strength, but I appreciate that that is very old-fashioned and decided perhaps that that could be a middle name."
Hiccup nodded in agreement; it sounded perfect to him.
"First name?"
"Leo. I considered it when I first heard he may have talipes, as I remembered me and my fellow volunteers taking care of a lion cub with a similar problem. Then I saw all this hair sticking out like a little mane... what do you think?"
Hiccup's throat was thick with emotion, clogging up his words for a minute.
"That was mine and Astrid's grandfather's name. I think it's perfect."
"Are you sure? You don't look happy."
"I've never been happier. Just... overwhelmed?"
Valka nodded, smile returning as Leo finished feeding. Hiccup watched as she lifted him and winded him gently, paying attention to exactly how it was done on his tiny body and reaching for a tissue when the baby spit up a little milk on Valka's skin.
"Would you like to hold him?"
He didn't need asking twice, putting the swaddlecloth back around him to ensure he stayed warm. After a little fussing to get comfy, Leo opened his eyes. Babies started with blue eyes, Hiccup knew but it was almost impossible for Leo to have anything but green when they developed colour given he and Valka had identical green eyes.
"He looks like you."
"Well that means he also looks like you. We look alike."
Valka chuckled, reaching beneath the covers to pull a hospital-issue gown up over herself. When Hiccup looked at her in confusion, Valka indicated Leo.
"I have a feeling Astrid is anxious to meet him."
"Oh. Right. Is that ok?"
"Of course. Although, I'm not sure about Dagur..."
"He's taking care of Toothless. Just Astrid and Heather here."
Nadia peered through the curtains before she actually let Astrid through, as though checking there was nothing incriminating going on first and Hiccup was equal parts uncomfortable and grateful for the gesture. Astrid slipped in, making a beeline for where Hiccup was holding a swaddled bundle.
"Oh, he's tiny! But gorgeous, my gods you'll be stealing hearts before we know it won't you?"
Astrid seemed to be as enamoured as any sister should be, cooing at the sleepy face peering up at her. Leo yawned and his big eyes fluttered closed, clearly having had enough of being awake just then. A nurse slipped between the curtains, looking surprised at the suddenly larger amount of people.
"Popular are we Miss Haddock?"
"Not me, the little one."
"Well he is a cutie. How feeling?"
"Still very much numb."
"Ah, lucky you then. Your stats are all fine but obviously any heavy bleeding or pain, let someone know."
Hiccup had started to pick out features as he stared at Leo - he had Valka's smaller, thinner nose, but slightly fuller lips than either of them though he could grow into those. The reddish hair and likely-green eyes were obviously from both parents. Hiccup suspected Leo had his sharper jaw rather than Valka's slightly more heart-shaped face too.
Each time he looked at the boy, his heart pounded a message to him clear and true.
I'm your father.
-HTTYD-
Baby Haddock!