I am more sorry than words can describe! I'm so so sorry this chapter is so late! Literally every single chapter I post is now: sorry this is late I'll try and be quicker next time. I'll hopefully get the next chapter up by the end of August. I just haven't had time. I thought summer would bring lots of time but I've just ended up so busy. Anyways…

Chapter 6- Lightning

Hiccup's POV:

Blearily, I opened my eyes. It usually took at least ten minutes for me to bribe myself to wake up, then another five to yank myself from the soft cosy covers of my bed. But today was an exception. Today was a day I was actually looking forward to. I hastily threw back the covers, wincing when the cold air bit at my skin, attached my prosthetic, shoved on my clothes and skipped down the stairs.

I smiled as the sight of my little red head came into view- munching on toast- at the table; her chin only just reaching over the top of the wood. I slid up behind Astrid and pecked her behind the ear.

"Hmm… Morning lazy bones." She murmured as she poured us both a cup of tea.

"Aw come on! I bet you've only been up for a while. See!" I pointed at the sun clock that sat on the windowsill. "It's only 7:30! And we're not leaving till eight!"

"I said the latest we're leaving is late. I like walking in the morning. The forest is softer therefore we have to leave earlier."

"Softer? How can a forest be softer?"

"The light's softer and it makes everything look kinder."

"Trees are not kind! They hit people in the face!" I exclaimed, the memory of a tree pelting full force at my face and almost blinding my eyes when I was about 15 springing to mind.

Astrid turns round, re-doing the buttons on my shirt (I totally didn't button them up wrong), and says, "Only if you hit it first."

Pecking me on the nose she places the tea and some more toast on the table. Lucy hastily goes to grab another slice but Astrid flaps her hands away. "You've already had four pieces! You don't want to fill yourself up and not be able to eat anything later." She winks and Lucy giggles excitedly. I smile and lean against the kitchen counter, watching the scene unfold before my eyes.

"Just one more mummy? Please!"

"Only if you go and get dressed, without mummy or daddy's help."

"Otay." Hurriedly, he slides off the chair and pads up the stairs.

I look across at Astrid and we share a knowing smile. I go to give her another kiss but she pushes me roughly away. "Don't you litter me with that disgusting morning breath! Have your breakfast and brush your teeth. Maybe then I'll consider it."

She smiles slyly and saunters toward the staircase, leaving me to scratch the back of my neck retort," It's not that bad!" Some things never change.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

Astrid's POV:

I squeezed my little warriors hand as we wandered through the dense forest. The early morning mist giving the wood a soft glow.

Lucy giggled and skipped along beside me holding both Hiccup and my hands. My other hand rested gently on the slowly growing round bump of my stomach.

"…And then baby bear looked across at his bed and said…"

"There's someone in MY BED!" Lucy finished Hiccup's sentence with a giggle and a hiccup.

Gods she was adorable.

"Indeed he did! And just at that moment Goldilocks stated to stir." Lucy squealed in excitement as Hiccup lowered his voice. "And she opened one eye. Then she opened the other eye." Hiccup's voice grew to a whisper. "And then she saw the three bears…" Lucy gasped, her eyes locked to Hiccup's face. "And she had such a fright! She jumped up in shock and…" He trailed off biting his lip.

"And?" Lucy prompted.

"I can't remember the ending- you'll have to make one up!"

"Awwww! But I can't tell stowys!"

"Of course you can! You've got the largest imagination in the entire village! So big it doesn't all fit in your head. The head houses filled up so your imagination had to travel to the stomach houses!" He pocked Lucy gently in her tummy. Lucy laughed and squealed out loud as they started a tickle fight; sending the birds soaring into the sky with fear. I let Lucy go and leaned against a tree watching the scene unfold before my eyes.

Hiccup did very well considering but in the end he ended up trapped underneath my baby girl; shrieking in protest.

"Gods you too are mad!" I exclaimed. "At this rate we won't reach the meadow till sundown!"

They both looked at me sheepishly. I shook my head and grabbed their hands, dragging them along. "One day you two are going to end up at Lily's with a broken something and you certainly won't get any sympathy from me!"

"Since when did you become responsible?" Hiccup asked mildly.

I narrowed my eyes to slits and he gulped. I smirked, "Since I gave birth to a crazy Read-head!" I joked, picking up Lucy and twirling her around as best I could while pregnant. She giggled- again- and I placed her softly on the lush damp grass beneath our feet.

I looked up and through the trees spotted the burst of colour that could only be the meadow. Hiccup took my hand and we walked, Lucy running ahead of us, into the sea of radiance.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

I yawned and lay back against Hiccup's legs as we watched Lucy chase Toothless and Stormfly through the poppies; my stomach stuffed with chicken sandwiches and pie. His fingers caressed my hair and I stared up at the fluffy clouds. My world felt perfect. Calm, sweet, loving and perfect.

"How about we go to the cliffs edge to watch the sunset- I bet Lu will enjoy that." I heard Hiccup murmur in my ear.

"Okay…" I mumbled sleepily.

"Or we could stay here for a while longer," He kisses me slowly on my lips. I relish the taste and sensation of his soft lips moving in perfect harmony against my own,

I smile into the kiss and whisper, "That sounds good too."

I snuggle down into him and deepen the kiss, my tongue edging past his teeth. A roar of warmth soars through me, sending butterflies swarming round in my stomach. We break apart, our lips popping at the sound. His eyes are filled with a love so strong I feel like swooning but instead I straddle his legs around his hips and peck his nose. Hiccup's eyes drift affectionately toward my little bump; his fingers trace the perfect circle then he leans down and kisses the bump tenderly.

"Let's go and watch the sun set." I whisper.

He smiles, "Lu! You want to go watch the sun set near the cliff!?"

"Ooo! Yay!"

Once the picnic left overs had been gobbled by the dragons, Lucy and Hiccup and everything was all cleared away we set off toward the cliff, my hand tight in Lucy's. I did not want her to fall off that sharp edge and go plummeting to the spiky rock range bellow.

Lucy gasped as we exited the cover of the trees, her wide green eyes taking in the beauty of the sunset. A range of pinks, oranges and reds were splattered across the sky. The sun reflected off the water sending a thousand suns shining into our vision. Hiccup put his arm around me and kissed me softly.

Then history repeated itself.

The ground shook suddenly and I gasped in shock. Lucy cried out as her foot slipped. "No!" I cried out and grabbed Lucy pulling her from the edge of the cliff. But the effort threw me completely off balance and the ground beneath my feet crumbled as another wave of energy crashed through the earth. The sun disappeared below the horizon sending a fog of darkness across the world.

And my breath caught in my throat as I fell toward the crashing sea below me.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

Hiccup's POV:

"ASTRID!" I screamed as her golden hair wiped in the wind; her armoured skirt clinking in the suddenly howling wind as she plummeted toward certain death.

Shoving Lucy away from the cliff I leaped onto Toothless and soared after my precious angel. My heart pounded so hard it hurt. Stretching down I caught the tips of her fingers moments before she was blown to pieces. I clenched my teeth as I yanked her onto Toothless' saddle, the sea spray soaking my clothes. Clutching her form we shot back onto the cliff; into safety. Lucy was clutching at Stormfly's legs- her eyes wide. The Deadly Nadder's tail was wrapped securely round my baby.

We landed with a thump and I slide off immediately. Laying Astrid gently onto the floor. Her eyes were closed and she was deathly pale but here chest rose and fell strongly. I sighed but my relief was short lived when another tremor shook the Island.

"Come on Lucy," I said detaching her from the Nadder's clutches and holding her safely in my arms.

"Daddy I'm scared. Why is mummy asleep?"

"Don't you worry, mummy will be awake soon I'm sure," But as I lifted her tender form into the saddle my eyes drifted across the bump. She'd survived things like this before- but would the baby? I thought about earlier when I'd kissed her stomach and felt that tiny fluttering that had filled my chest with warmth. I placed my hand over the bump, closing my eyes and begging for the movement. Nothing.

I exhaled shakily and we set a course for the great hall.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

Astrid's POV:

I opened my eyes blearily to the warm light and cackle of noise that could only mean the great hall. I looked upward to see Hiccup's haunted emerald eyes. I moaned, "What happened?"

"You fell off a cliff, I only just caught you." He explained matter of fact, his voice faint like he barely believed that had actually happened.

I gasped the memories flooding back, "Lucy!"

"She's okay, just worried about you and confused. Lily said the baby's fine though- I was scared at first that it had gotten hurt by the fall and scare but heshe's okay."

"Heshe?"

"Temporary name," He explained.

"Oh of course," I smirk.

"There were another few Earthquakes but there so weird. Too strong. Too unlike an Earthquake."

I raised my eyebrows," Er… That makes total sense."

He sighed, "I know… it's just my instincts tell me this is something bigger. Berk never gets Earthquakes- at least not this frequent and they're too strong for any type of dragon."

"It's like that ol' story!" Gobber starts, appearing into my view to my left.

"What story?"

"You know that one about Berk being a massive dragon and destroying everything. I'm sure huge and frequent Earthquakes were how it started." He said thoughtfully. "Aw well! That's just an old myth. I'm going to find some wine! Apparently there are great stocks in the kitchens." He whispered the last part sneakily and tiptoed off into the kitchens.

"Classic Gobber!" I said, shaking my head. I looked over at Hiccup- his eyes were dazed in that way I knew he was in deep thought.

"What is it? Hiccup!"

"Ugh what?"

"What're you thinking about?"

"Just that story Gobber was talking about."

"Oh relax Hiccup! It's an old legend- it doesn't exist. I'm sure this is just a few counter acting Earthquakes. We'll have forgotten all about it by the end of summer." I explained confidently but Hiccup didn't seem too convinced.

"I don't think we'll be forgetting the whole village being shaken apart again any time soon."

I pushed myself up and kissed him softly, "We'll be okay."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Lucy's POV:

I sighed and leaned my head in my hands. This was so boring! No one was telling me ANYTHING! I looked across at Olaf but he was busy with his family.

"What's on your mind pet?" Granny asked me.

"Stuff." I mumbled swinging my feet back and forth.

"What kind of stuff?"

"Mummy and daddy and the baby."

"Hmm… you worried about them?" She asked me kindly, her kind green eyes studying me; matching my eyes.

I nod, "Why is mummy sleeping and why is the ground shaking so much?"

"I don't know pet- I honestly don't know."

"Mom," I look up to see daddy. "She's awake and the baby's okay."

Granny's shoulders relax instantly.

"Daddy!" I squeal, running up so he can pick me up in his strong arms. "Is mummy okay?"

"Yeah mummy's fine just resting."

"Hurray!" I yell.

Daddy smiles and places me down, "I'll be back in a minute- I just want to speak with the village."

"Okay."

Daddy step-click's his way to the platform and starts one of his boring speeches about clearing up the village. I sigh and crawl into Granny's warm and safe arms. She kisses me on the forehead and rocks me back and forth.

"You'll be okay sweetie. Your daddy will sort all of this out. My son's done it before- he can do it again." I barely hear the last words before the fluffy light of dreams consumes my conscience.

Sorry this was a short chapter guys:/ I'll try and get the next one up soon. How was this chapter? Good? Bad? Don't forget to review!:)