A/N: Surprise?
Chapter Four
Five Years Old
Hiccup had never been concerned about Novella before, but when she started acting weirds towards her mother, he had decided it was officially time to figure out what was wrong with her.
She had been clingy towards Astrid. Novella wasn't like that with anyone except him. So, of course, he found this weird. When Astrid would be laying on the couch, Novella would climb up next to her and rest her head on her moms stomach.
Astrid had told him she didn't find it weird. She loved it, in fact. She loved that Novella was paying attention to her and not Hiccup.
The day Astrid decided it was weird was when Novella came into the kitchen, wrapping her arms around her moms legs. This was nothing new, but when she pulled away and reached towards Astrid's stomach, mumbling something about a baby, did Astrid start finding her daughter's actions weird.
Astrid and Hiccup were laying in bed that same night. Astrid turned to look at him, tilting her head "Why would Novella be talking about a baby?"
Hiccup shrugged, making himself more comfortable in bed and reaching a hand over to rest it on Astrid's leg "I don't know. She's only five, it's not like she knows where babies come from yet. You aren't pregnant... Are you?"
Astrid let out a laugh, shaking her head and turned to face him again "I don't think so? I mean.. Novella is basically our miracle child. The doctor even said we only have a sixty percent chance of becoming pregnant again due to the.. The recurrent miscarriages. Plus, I haven't had any symptoms."
Hiccup smiled, shrugging, and moving his hand up to her waist "Hey, we eventually got Novella. I'm sure we'll be lucky enough for a second kid."
After that day, Novella started clinging to her mom more often. She wanted to go everywhere with her and was constantly rubbing at her stomach. Astrid would never admit it, but it always made her a bit uncomfortable. Astrid knows she isn't pregnant, which is why Novella being so... Lovey towards her stomach and talking about a baby made her nervous.
Astrid had even talked to Ruff about it, asking her if Rain ever acted that way. Ruff had said she did, but only when she was four, and it was separation anxiety. The only difference was that Rain never talked about a baby. Ruff had even gone as far to joke around that Astrid may be pregnant again, and that's why Novella was being so clingy.
"I'm not pregnant." Astrid had told her, making sure Novella wasn't around "Hiccup and I haven't even... Had sex in months. We've both just been so busy lately."
Astrid could practically hear Ruff roll her eyes "Maybe you're months pregnant."
"I can't be. I've had no symptoms. I'm not even showing! I don't think you understand. We haven't done anything in months. And I mean like.. Six months."
Ruff ended up laughing at her and then going on to make fun of their relationship. The couple use to be all over each other, but since Novella, they've barely done anything without interruptions from their daughter.
"There's seriously no way I could be six months pregnant and not know."
Novella walked into the room a few seconds later, her face brightening when she saw her mom sitting at the table. Astrid said a goodbye to Ruff, setting her phone down and turning to face her daughter "What are you up to, Ella?"
"Is daddy home?"
Astrid shook her head, standing from the table and walking towards the cabinet to get herself and Novella down a snack "He's at work. He'll be home soon. Why?" Novella let out a squeal that made Astrid jump. She turned around, staring at her daughter "Why would you do that?!"
"I get to spend the day with you!" Novella said, rushing over to her mom and throwing her arms around Astrid's legs.
"You get to spend everyday with me. Why are you so excited about today?"
Novella looked up at her mom, her smile growing as she stared at her moms face "Because, I get to spend today with you and my brother!"
Astrid stared down at her daughter with wide eyes. Brother? Astrid could either wait until later to ask Novella why she's so convinced, or wait until later. If she waits, she'll be less clingy and probably won't be able to get an answer. She gently pushed Novella away from her legs and kneeled down "Ella, I have a question." Novella nodded, her smile only growing "Why do you think I'm pregnant?"
Novella reached out, her eyes glued to Astrid's stomach "Because mommy, you're having a baby."
Astrid watched as Novella put her hand on her stomach "Ella, I'm not having a baby. Why would you think that?"
"Because you are, mommy! I can tell. And it's going to be a boy, and I'll have a little brother!"
The front door opened and Astrid let out a sigh of relief as she stood up straight. It's not that she hates being around Novella, but she was starting to freak out over her thinking that she's pregnant. Hiccup came walking in after a few seconds and looked at his wife and daughter "Afternoon, Milady. Daughter."
"I'm glad you're home. I have to go do something with Ruff." Astrid said, taking her hand off her daughters shoulder and walking past Hiccup "I'll be home later!"
Hiccup opened his mouth to say something, but the sound of the door shutting made him shut his mouth. He looked down at Novella, who now had a sad look on her face "What's up, Ella?"
"Does mommy not want to spend time with me?"
Hiccup sighed, sitting in one of the kitchen chairs, motioning Novella over. He lifted her into his lap and gave her a smile "Of course she wants to spend time with you. It's just that... You're freaking her out." Novella's frown deepened and she stared down at her feet "Your mom isn't having a baby, Ella. There's a very small possibility that you won't have a sibling."
"No brother?"
Hiccup shook his head, giving her a small smile "But just think, Ella. If you're an only child, you'll get everything you want. You'll be forever the favorite child, and you won't have to fight for attention."
Novella seemed to brighten up, her smile returning to her face "I do like being the only child."
It felt like hours that Astrid had been gone. Hiccup and Novella had decided that they would have a father daughter night since she wasn't home, and sat in the living room watching movies. Kid movies, of course. Hiccup would never let his five year old daughter to watch anything too violent.
The front door opened and Hiccup looked over his shoulder at his wife. He took in her face. She almost looked sad, shocked, upset. A mixture of all of the above. Hiccup looked at Novella, who was now sleeping, her head in his lap. He gently moved her head so he was able to get up and go to Astrid.
"Evening, Milday."
Astrid looked up at him, meeting his eyes. She reached out for his hand "I need to talk to you." Hiccup nodded, taking her hand and letting her lead him to the kitchen.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Hiccup was honestly concerned. Astrid wasn't acting like herself. She seemed... Out of it, almost.
"Pregnant. I'm pregnant! How? How did Novella know? How did I not know?"
Hiccup's eyes widened. Just hours ago he was telling his daughter that she wasn't going to have a sibling, and now he finds out he lied to her? He lied to his daughter, and he feels bad about it "You're pregnant?"
Astrid nodded. She walked over to the table and sat down, resting her face in her hand "Yep. Child number two is on the way."
Hiccup sat down next to her. His confusion was starting to take over. He looked over at her, his eyebrows furrowed "How are you pregnant? We haven't-"
"Had sex in six months. I know." she shook her head with a laugh "I haven't had symptoms, I'm not even really showing. I've gained some weight, but not enough to make me think I'm pregnant." she finally looked over at his face. His eyes were wide and it looked like he was seconds away from crying "Oh, wipe that look off your face. I didn't cheat on you. It's yours. I went to Ruff's and we went to the drug store. I got a test and it said positive, so I called my midwife and talked to her. She said it happens to some women. She was able to get me into an appointment today. Six months pregnant, Hiccup."
It took Hiccup a few minutes to take in the information. Astrid is six months pregnant. Novella was right the whole time "Is it a boy?" Astrid nodded. So, Novella was right about two things "How did Novella know?"
Astrid shrugged. She sat up straight, her eyes widening. The panic was slowly starting to set in. Six months pregnant, meaning they only have three months to prepare for their new baby. They only have three months to set up the new nursery, three months to make sure Novella is actually okay with it, and three months to let people know. Is Ruff going to be the godmother of this one, too? They have so much to decide in three months.
A/N: It completely slipped my mind to put this Authors Note before I posted the chapter *oops*, so. To help some confusion; I did some research on this before I posted it, and, it turns out that some children are able to tell when their mom is pregnant before she knows. How? I have no idea, but I liked the idea. Thus, Novella being able to tell happened. Also, some parents have said that their child was able to tell what the gender was. So, I wanted Novella to be able to do this. You know, freak her parents out a bit. That's always fun.
As for the being pregnant and not know, I looked that up as well. There are plenty mothers out there who went months of being pregnant and had no idea. There's also a show (which I thought was completely fake) called I Didn't Know I was Pregnant.
So, I just put the two ideas together, and, VOILA. This chapter was put together. A new Haddock baby!
