Errors... Accident... Migraines... Writers block.

Basically I'm super behind and playing catch up. Sorry for the delay!

-HTTYD-

"Oh, you're so big! Look at you!"

Hiccup watched mother and son reunite, hearing Magni's joyful squeals as Valka swept him up into a cuddle.

"Mama!"

It had been three months since Valka left. Three months where Hiccup was the one trying to calm his sons tears as he cried for his mother, three months Hiccup slept alone and ached for her next to him. Three months since Astrid last spoke to him.

But watching Valka cradle their son, Hiccup knew he'd let her leave and come back again, because he couldn't keep her away when such pure, unadulterated joy radiated from his... their son. Nadia had been kind enough to collect Valka from the airport; Hiccup hadn't wanted to try and keep Magni calm in the airport, or in the car driving back with Valka.

He'd also extracted a sworn promise from Nadia not to bring up the problems with Astrid. He didnt want Valka prying into it. It would be hard enough to stay as detached as he needed to.

"Mama look!"

Magni grinned at her, proudly displaying the two teeth he had cut since she was last there. Valka smiled right back, clutching him to her like she couldn't bear to let him go and stroked his messy hair.

"Very good little one. Oh, I've missed you."

Hiccup didn't know what to say to her. He couldn't speak angrily because that would upset their son. He couldn't speak happily because... seeing her again was such an emotional turmoil for him. The only thing stopping Hiccup from just asking her to stay away was the babe beaming up at her like she was the most incredible sight.

"Mama mama mama!"

Leo repeated it like he was cheering for her, clutching his little arms around her neck as Hiccup pointed them to the living room, so she could sit down and still cuddle Magni.

"Are you ok?"

Nadia asked quietly, seeing Hiccup hadn't moved yet.

"No. But he's so happy to see her... I have to be."

Hiccup pushed himself into the room, Toothless hopping up into his lap and padding at his legs before bumping his chin with a wet nose. He knew Hiccup wasn't ok, that was his job.

"Leo? Are you ok?"

Both Hiccup and Nadia turned to see Magni staring blankly, having gone rather glass-eyed and still. Valka, having no experience of it, was naturally concerned.

"Just hold him steady. He'll be fine in a minute."

Nadia said calmly, rather more at ease in Hiccup's home than she had been last Valka saw her.

"What's wrong with him?"

"Absence seizures. He's had tests, and it's very unlikely he's epileptic."

"Then why..."

Hiccup felt the tug of guilt, fingers stilling in Toothless' fur. Nadia could insist they weren't dangerous for hours, but that didn't stop Hiccup hating them.

"Genetic predisposition. He should grow out of them."

There was no test to show it was because of his parentage, the connection apparently having only been studied in inbred mice according to Nadia. But Hiccup assumed that it was. Valka looked down at the boy again, who was starting to come around and looked up at her happily, wide green eyes fixed on his mother.

"Mama!"

He never seemed to notice they had happened, and while Hiccup worried every time they occurred, it didn't seem to be doing him any actual harm. Valka, still looking surprised, continued to pet the boys hair gently and leant down to kiss a soft brow.

"See? He's fine. He has to wear a helmet when he's walking or crawling as the seizures can make him fall over, but otherwise he's ok."

Hiccup could see that "and where was I?" look in Valka's eyes, the guilt. He always wanted it, until it was there. Then he ached to take it away.

"Anything else I... missed?"

Nadia glanced at Hiccup, but he shook his head. They weren't going to talk about Astrid. Instead, she turned back to Valka and spoke about something else.

"His eyesight hasn't improved, and I'm concerned for slight developmental delays as he's not walking unaided yet, which that brace shouldn't prevent. But he's talking, and teething and growing. So it's a waiting game really."

"So you still keep an eye on him?"

For a second, Valka looked unhappy about that development. Or maybe Hiccup was imagining it.

"I have a duty of care. And he's a sweet little guy."

Somehow knowing they were discussing him, Magni preened and smiled, clapped his little hands together.

"I'll let you three catch up. Call me if you need me."

"Thanks Nadia."

She let herself out, and Hiccup was painfully aware of the other adult in the room. Valka wouldn't meet his eye, keeping her gaze firmly set on their son who reached up to touch her face like he couldn't quite believe she was there.

"Dada!"

"Yes son?"

"Thirty."

He still struggled with 's' sounds most of the time, but Hiccup was generally fluent in Magni-speak.

"Water or bottle?"

"Milk!"

That didn't really surprise him; Valka had breastfed him for over a year, and so the boy would associate mother with milk even though she was no longer capable of producing her own.

"Alright. You want to stay with Valka?"

"Mama!"

"Thought as much."

Hiccup got up, heaved himself to the kitchen to make up a bottle for Leo - he was supposed to be off them completely come next month, but Nadia said that was often a weight gain concern and since he was so slow to gain any, he didn't have to come off completely at eighteen months exactly.

Testing the temperature against his forearm, he was satisfied the formula wasn't too hot and so Hiccup carried it back through to the living room. He couldn't deny it hurt when the boy wouldn't leave Valka's lap, insistent on her feeding him the way Hiccup had done alone for three months straight now. Valka noticed, and whether from guilt or kindness - he wasn't sure - she transferred him.

"Let daddy feed you Magni, mama needs the bathroom."

He pouted, but let Hiccup pick him up and settled in his lap for a bottle. Valka left the room, and it sounded strange to hear her go upstairs for the bathroom, though he supposed it showed her respecting the notion that they were no longer... whatever they were. It was strange to hear anyone go upstairs full stop really; there was a stairgate to stop Magni crawling up them, which equally prevented Toothless from going up too.

Hiccup had redone the spare rooms bedding though, so Valka could sleep somewhere not full of dust. Then he had sat in his parents room, staring at the memories scattered around covered in dust, eyes burning with shame. What would they think of him now? Falling for Valka, getting her pregnant, driving Astrid away with his deviancy.

Only the cries of his son took Hiccup ought of there, needed by the boy reliant on him for survival. Hiccup was equally reliant on him for motivation to keep going, to stop him simply letting the abyss of depression and anxiety consume him.

"Mama!"

Realising he had gotten lost in his own head, Hiccup lowered the bottle Magni was done with and looked up at Valka. He couldn't do it for long, mind recoiling even as it noticed how she was still so beautiful.

"You can take him. He's done drinking."

Valka reached and picked up their son, cuddling him close and smiling softly at the little boy.

"Does he still bottle feed often?"

"Once a day, sometimes twice. More if its a bad day... sometimes it's all that stops him crying, being cuddled and fed. Think it reminds him of you that way."

He hovered anxiously but mostly left the two to their own devices, only interacting directly when it came to dinner time and he needed to get their son into his high chair to eat. Magni only protested slightly, soothing when he saw Valka following them to the kitchen for feeding time. Hiccup had begun to suspect his son struggled with fine motor skills, as the rare times he actually picked up the plastic spoon, he dropped it. At first he put it down clumsiness, but it wasn't improving.

"When do you go back?"

Hiccup could make food for other people in his sleep, such a force of habit it was to take care of someone. Magni and his mushy food settled, Hiccup pushed pasta in Valka's general direction and sat down opposite, keeping an eye to check on if his son was going to have an absence seizure.

"That depends on how long you mind me being here."

"That's irrelevant. Magni is happier with you here, and he's my priority. So... when do you go back?"

"There's something in Egypt next month I agreed to be in, but I can certainly leave sooner if you wish."

Hiccup shook his head. He wanted her to go, but their son needed her to stay.

"That's fine."

It was anything but, and she knew it. But she also likely knew why he was lying, and wisely let the matter drop. Now less fearful Valka would disappear if he took his eyes off her, Magni was less stroppy about being moved away from her so Hiccup could bathe him. He wriggled little toes free of the brace, flopped onto his belly and refused to let Hiccup undress him.

"You, mister, are a pain in the butt. You like bath time!"

"No!"

"Come on you little monster."

Hiccup wasn't that surprised his son was acting up with Valka back. It must be confusing for him.

"Problem boys?"

Clearly, the sounds of struggle had reached mother ears.

"Mama!"

Rolling his eyes, Hiccup managed to get his sons jumper off. That still left a t-shirt, jeans and nappy to get him out of.

"What's the matter little one?"

"No!"

Effortlessly natural with him after the time apart still, Valka knelt down on the ground and reached for the little outstretched hands.

"Would you like bath time with me?"

"Yuh!"

Leo positively lit up at the prospect, and Hiccup felt a shudder at the prospect of Valka stripping down in his home.

"Alright. Get him undressed, I'll run the bath a little deeper."

The babe had outgrown his baby bath, though only just, and so Hiccup had to bathe him either in the kitchen sink - a quick way to turn the room into a miniature water park - or the adult bath now. Once he got his way, the little monster was most agreeable and Valka got him down to his nappy until the bath was ready. Hiccup dipped his hand in, satisfied it was the right temperature and took Magni back.

"No!"

Hiccup turned away; it would hardly be a new sight, but he was trying to be detached. Business. This was just about her seeing their son.

"Mama has to get undressed for bath time."

Pouting, Magni crossed his arms like he'd seen grown ups do and waited, in a better mood still somewhat owing to his freedom from his bootie brace as he wriggled freed toes. He heard fabric hit the ground, closed his eyes in case some wild urge turned him back toward her. Hiccup didn't open his eyes again until he heard her get into the water.

"Nappy is dry... hopefully you don't poop in the bath. Ok, in we go little terror."

Valka enveloped their son in her hold, hiding much of her chest from Hiccup's view which made not looking at her easier. He noticed a fresh scar over her shoulder, reaching to touch the pink lines before he caught himself.

"What happened there?"

She twisted her head slightly, smiled to herself.

"Baby aardvarks we saved from poachers. Odin only knows what they want them for, its bad enough their habitats are at such risk."

Well... Hiccup supposed having a runaway vigilante animal saver for a mother/ex-lover was never boring. She always had a story to tell.

"Let's get tonight's dinner out of your hair son. Maybe you should wear a hairnet."

"No!"

Content to sit in his mothers lap and play with his floating dragon toys, mini Magni amused himself while his parents awkwardly existed around each other, only complaining when he had to be moved to rinse shampoo from his hair. Once he was clean, he knew it was almost over and started fussing about leaving the bath. Hiccup tested the water, knew it would get cold and that the undersized toddler couldn't stay in there.

"Come on. If you're good maybe mama will sing you to sleep."

Finally agreeable, Magni got out of the bath, though he continued to clutch his toy dragon while Hiccup got him dry, nappied and laid on a towel on the ground to rub him with baby bed oil. It helped him settle... sometimes.

"There we go. Now you smell like a lavender meadow. Pyjama time!"

"No!"

Trying not to grow frustrated, Hiccup managed to wrangle his resistant son into his pyjamas. Then it was moisturiser massaged into little feet, and while Magni was distracted by Valka Hiccup got his brace back on.

"There we go. Wasn't so bad was it?"

The little face scrunched up on irritation, disgruntled about his brace and trying to kick out. Hiccup restrained him gently so he didn't hurt himself, then picked him up and looked up at Valka.

"Isn't the bath cold?"

"Yes, but that's not unusual for me. I was waiting because I don't have my nightclothes with me. I didn't come in here intending to bathe."

"O-oh. Right. Come on little guy, mama will be along soon."

Valka was respecting his choice. He couldn't really complain about that, and yet he felt a hint of disappointment all the same. Shaking it off, Hiccup headed out to sit on his bed, doing his best not to look as Valka walked past wrapped in a towel. She returned - dressed - a few minutes later, apologizing that she'd forgotten to clean her clothes out of there.

"Mama sleep!"

"Calm down Magni, she'll be back in a minute."

Sure enough, Valka re-entered his bedroom, perched on the end of his bed with one knee to reach for their son. He reached back eagerly, sleepy and grumpy but happy to see his mother. Hiccup watched them, listened as Valka sang to him and Magni slowly drifted off, bright green eyes fluttering closed.

"There we go little one. Mommy loves you."

Slowly, carefully, Valka transferred boy to his cot, tucked him in with only a few huffs before he settled. She hovered, peering into the cot for several more minutes before realising she had perhaps overstayed her welcome.

"I'm sorry. Goodnight Hiccup."

"Wait."

I'm going to regret this, Hiccup thought even as he said it.

"What?"

"You can stay. Platonically. If he wakes up he's going to want you anyway."

Valka wavered, then nodded.

"Thank you. I'm just going to get some water."

"Can you let Toothless out while you're out there please?"

"Of course."

He went to brush his teeth, heard Valka calling softly to Toothless to go out for the last time that night. Hiccup was glad for a moment's privacy, changing for bed and climbing under his sheets. Leg off and rested against his bedside table, Hiccup glanced down at the green eyes staring back up from his prosthesis. It was a good leg; Hiccup didn't know if he would have managed to keep up with Leo on his old, ill-fitting one. He certainly couldn't have knelt on the ground and got up as easily.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Mhmm."

He laid down, faced away from Valka. His skin prickled with the knowledge she was there, felt the mattress sink and shift as she joined him in the bed. He couldn't see her, but he could smell her. Something soft and powdery. And wildflowers. Always wildflowers. It would stick to his sheets, his clothes, even his skin without them touching.

Honestly, Hiccup hadn't expected to fall asleep. He did, and while he shouldn't have been surprised he was irate with himself when he woke curled around Valka, seeking her out in his slumber. She was sliding free of his embrace, and Hiccup realised they had woken due to the cries of their son. He pulled himself away, pretended not to notice how they had woken now Valka was up from the bed.

"Hello little one. What's wrong?"

"Dada?"

Magni was so used to waking to Hiccup, he called for him rather than Valka. Hiccup couldn't deny that was soothing for his ego after the boy wanting Valka more all afternoon.

"Bring him here?"

Valka lifted him over to Hiccup, who checked he was still dry and then just looked at his son.

"What's up little man?"

"Sleepy."

"You wanna bunk in with us tonight?"

Sucking his thumb, little Magni nodded and burrowed in to Hiccup's hold. Again, Hiccup wasn't surprised the boy was unsettled by everything going on.

"Ok then. Valka, can you get the pad from his bed?"

She leant down to get it, held it up in mild confusion.

"It's absorbent. If he leaks out of his nappy, it protects the bed."

"Ah."

Positioning Magni securely on the bed, Hiccup turned to put his leg on, deciding he may as well pee while he was awake. When he came back, Valka had turned to face Leo, who was looking up at her with thumb still in his mouth.

"He fidgets in his sleep, fair warning."

She smiled softly, stroked a hand over his pudgy little belly.

"I don't mind."

Hiccup settled back in the bed again, unable to help facing her since he could only sleep that direction for fear of rolling onto Leo. It meant they couldn't avoid looking at each other. Valka watched him watch her, their son dropping off quickly between them.

"I missed you Hiccup."

Then you shouldn't have left, he didn't say. He didn't say anything, but he didn't resist when tentative fingers found his, linked them together over Leo's stomach. The boy seemed happy to sleep that way, and Hiccup followed his sons example. He woke stiff from lack of movement, two sets of soft breathing greeting him as both bedmates slumbered on.

"Morning."

His movement to obtain his leg woke Valka, it seemed.

"Indeed. I'll be back in a minute."

Making speedy use of the bathroom, Hiccup limped back to the bedroom, seeing their boy was awake too.

"Dada!"

"Hey little guy. Lets get you up and changed and then how about breakfast and outside time?"

"Yuhhhh."

Hiccup tried not to panic as Magni had an absence fit while he was getting his teeth brushed, holding him a little more forward to ensure he couldn't choke on the small amount of foam in his mouth.

"Out!"

Clearly he had come around by then, as the boy complied and spat the water Hiccup gave him back out to rinse his mouth. Clean and dressed for the day, Hiccup put an over-sized bib on him in the hopes not all breakfast would be worn. Everyone got porridge that morning, with bananas in baby porridge and blueberry in adult.

Watching his son struggle to hold the spoon, Hiccup sighed and lowered his own.

"Come here son, let me help."

He wrapped his fingers around the smaller ones, guiding scoops of milky oats and banana to the hungry mouth until the turning away head told that Magni was done with breakfast.

"Alright then. If you want milk it can wait until after outside time, ok?"

"Kay."

Glad to have no arguments on that front, Hiccup started on his now-cold porridge with even less enthusiasm than he usually had for food.

"Are you coming for the morning walk?"

"If you'll have me."

Hiccup tried to ignore the double meaning; Valka was respecting him terminating their relationship while he was having to remind himself of the bloody reason he'd done it. He cursed the primal attraction, which transcended almost everything. Including common sense. Especially common sense.

After a clean up, walking shoes and obtaining Toothless' harness, they were more or less ready.

"Off we go then. Would you hold the leash? I've gotten used to walking with the pushchair."

"Of course."

He felt strange walking with Valka, but their son was happy and both Hiccup and Toothless needed to walk. So really, she was helping him avoid the faint chafing on his wrist from wearing the leash there. Not strange at all.

But Hiccup still felt so... strange.

-HTTYD-

Onward we go! I actually finished this last night, thought I posted it and went to bed.