Barren
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I apologize that this is depressing. I'm having a hard time because I thought my guy friend liked me this whole time but I think he found a girl he likes more...we haven't even talked in a week and I've been really upset and my crappy mood is unfortunately coming out in my writing. I hate feelings. But anyway, hope you enjoy:)
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Astrid leaned against her pillow, eyes watery and knees drawn to her chest. She should've seen this coming. No woman on Berk had been married four years without either having a baby or experiencing a failed pregnancy. That is, unless she was actively making an effort not to conceive. But Astrid hadn't made it a point to avoid producing offspring. She and Hiccup both wanted a baby, and had been trying for one since their second wedding anniversary. Not to mention, there'd been many times prior to that date that, biologically, she should've ended up pregnant.
But hearing the official diagnosis from the island's healer had made the situation worse.
"Ast?"
The blonde raised her head and, seeing her husband in the doorway, gave a slight nod of acknowledgement.
"Things didn't go so well at the healer's, did they?" Hiccup asked as he climbed onto the bed.
Astrid opened her mouth. But before she could speak, tears began to flood down her face. In an instant, she was wrapped in the young chief's tight embrace, her face buried into his shoulder.
"If it makes you feel any better, I'll always love you," he said eventually.
"Even...even if...if I can't give you an heir? Or a daughter? Hiccup, I know you want a...a baby girl more than anything."
He shook his head. "Yes, it's a little disappointing that we can't have any babies, but that's not your fault. And I'm not gonna leave you because of it. We're gonna get through this together."
"But...but you're the chief. You know that when a chief marries a barren wife, he's...he's expected to...to either marry another woman or...or...find a mistress."
"And since when did I follow the rules?" Grinning, Hiccup pressed a kiss into Astrid's hair.
"But -"
"I'll appoint a successor."
"Hiccup."
"It's gonna be okay, milady. And just think, as amazing as it would be to have kids, there's good things about it just being us. We can get on our dragons and fly wherever we want, whenever we want - just as long as I have someone to cover my chiefing duties. We can sleep in on the weekends, we don't have to constantly clean up messes, and we can walk around the house half-naked."
The blonde sighed. "I'd gladly give up eating breakfast in my underwear if it meant that I could have babies."
"Hey, that's my favorite part of the morning."
Quietness flooded the room. For the longest time, the young couple simply sat there in each other's arms. It seemed like an eternity before Hiccup's voice cut into the silence.
"Ast?"
Astrid sniffled as she raised her head to look her husband in the eye. "Yeah, babe?"
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
