Quality Time

...

I'm so excited I get to post on Leap Day (at least it's still Leap Day in my time zone)! This is just some fluff that I wrote to try to get in a better mood since life is being crap to me right now. Girls, never form an emotional connection with a guy friend unless you're 100% certain you're gonna start dating within a month. It hurts like nothing else when you have to watch him fall for someone else (and decide to move away on top of that). So yeah...don't do it.

...

"Want some company, babe?"

Hiccup pushed his dripping hair out of his eyes and turned to see Astrid standing in the doorway of the washroom, clothed in her favorite robe. "Your company is always welcome in the bath," he smirked.

The blonde shook her head as she closed the door behind her and began undoing her braid. Although they'd been married for four years, her husband still managed to find ways to flirt with her.

"The kids are asleep, I'm assuming?" asked Hiccup.

Astrid shed her robe and climbed over the side of the tub. "Well, Stoick and Finn are. This one's being a little rebel right now." Sitting down, she placed a hand on her small baby bump.

"Well, look who her mother is." Although they had no way of telling the gender of the unborn child, Hiccup assumed - or rather hoped - that it was a girl.

"Hey, I'm not the one who insisted on making peace with the dragons."

"That was years ago. I've changed."

"Yeah, right," mumbled Astrid. She grabbed the bar of soap that was floating in the sudsy water. After lathering her hands, she moved closer to her husband. "Turn around. I'll wash your back for you if you wash mine."

Hiccup grinned and shifted so that he was facing away from her. "We haven't had a bath together in forever."

"I know. We need to try to do this more often."

"It's hard with the kids, though."

"Yeah." Sighing, the blonde placed her hands onto his back.

The couple grew silent. For a few short minutes, all that could be heard were gentle splashes, accompanied by soft moans as the two found each other's lips and locked them together.

"I love you, milady." Grinning, Hiccup gently caressed his wife's cheek before pecking her freckled nose.

"Love you more, babe." Astrid's gaze met his, her eyes brimming with affection.

He shook his head and, grabbing the bar of soap, motioned for her to turn around. "I don't know about that." Kissing her neck, he gathered her golden locks and draped them over her shoulder. "You need to start wearing your hair down."

"You always say that."

"Because it's beautiful."

"It's not very practical for riding dragons. Or being a mother to two toddlers."

"I guess you're right." Hiccup began to rub suds onto her back.

"Mmm." After her husband was finished his task, Astrid let out a contented sigh and leaned against his chest. A smile spread across her face as he wrapped his arms around her, one hand resting on her growing stomach and the other intertwining their fingers together.

"You're right. We really need to do this more often," he said after a long spell of silence.

She leaned back and looked up at him. "No kidding."

"Wow, someone's being sassy today."

Astrid responded with a playful eye roll.

"Is the baby moving?" Hiccup asked, feeling a fluttering movement beneath his palm.

The blonde nodded. "Yup. I told you, she won't go to sleep."

"Oh, so you agree with me that we're having a girl?"

"I have a feeling she's a girl, but we won't know for sure until she's born."

Silence fell over the room.

"I think we should get out before we fall asleep in here," Astrid suggested eventually. Her words were followed by a yawn.

"I'll get out," corrected Hiccup. "You stay in the tub while I warm a towel by the fire for you. I know you always shiver when you come out of the bath."

She smiled. "Aww. Thanks, babe."

"You're most welcome, milady." He reached over the side of the tub to grab his metal leg. After fastening it, he climbed out of the water and secured a towel around his waist. Grabbing a second towel, he made his way into the living room and placed it by the fire.

Astrid continued to wash herself. By the time she was finished, Hiccup was walking through the door with her towel in his hand. Holding it open for her, he said, "Here you go."

Sighing, she rose to her feet and stepped out of the tub. Immediately, she found herself cocooned in both the warm towel and her husband's arms.

"Shall we go to bed?" he asked, carefully tossing her over his shoulder.

"Sounds like a plan."