Astrid woke up in the dark bedroom. She cracked the window shutters open and saw morning was just dawning. Sighing, she smiled tenderly at Hiccup who was sleeping beside her, and pushed herself out of bed.

Alvis was sound asleep in the living room, holding Smaug and muttering. Eggshell was breathing fire in his sleep at the foot of his bed.

Astrid ran her fingers through Alvis' hair and kissed his forehead before going out the door.

She made her way to Toothless' stable who roared happily and licked her.

"Hiccup's still asleep, Toothless, so why don't we go to the arena together and feed everyone?"

Toothless looked stunned and made protesting growls.

Astrid rolled her eyes.

"I know, I know, Hiccup doesn't want me leaving the house without him. But if you're with me, it's fine."

Toothless whined.

"C'mon, Toothless…"

Hiccup awoke a while later and immediately noticed something was missing.

"She…left without me, didn't she?"

He opened the window. Tuffnut was passing by.

"Hey, Tuffnut! You seen Astrid?"

"Yeah, man. She's at the arena."

"Well, is anyone with her?"

"There's tons of people there, dude. Relax. 'Sides, what are the chances the kid's coming today?"

"Yeah, you're right…"

At the same time, Astrid was walking home, leaning on Toothless. Toothless gave a start when Astrid clutched her stomach and let out a cry of pain.

"Great. Just great. Now?"

The baby wasn't choosing the best time. They were not close to home and everyone was now at work or the mess hall. The street had been deserted in the time she spent at the arena.

Toothless instantly knew what was going on. He bucked her onto his back and ran to the nearest house as she held on. Luckily, it happened to be the Hoffersons'.

Meanwhile, Hiccup was casting a sword in his workshop. As he dunked it in the barrel of water, Tuffnut walked past the shop, did a double take and stuck his head in the window.

"Man, what are you doing here?"

"Why shouldn't I be here, Tuff? I got work to do."

"Oh gee, your kid being freaking born might be a good reason."

"What? Now?"

"…You didn't know?"

"No I didn't!" Hiccup cried, throwing his apron onto a chair and racing out the door, Tuffnut watching him go.

Tuffnut turned back to looking through the window.

"Oh, cool hammer..."

"And don't play with anything!"

Hiccup's mother-in- law met him at the door.

"It's still going to be some time." She told him. "But she's doing great. Nothing to worry about."

Alvis peered out from behind her leg, looking miserable. Hiccup had dropped him off at his grandparents' house before going to his workshop, so he had been there when his mother had arrived.

His grandmother smiled ruefully and pat his head.

"Except Al's a bit worried about his mother. I think it would be best if you took him somewhere."

"Aw, pal it's gonna be okay." Hiccup picked Alvis up and he clung to his father.

"I do have some stuff to get done in the workshop. I guess I could take him there."

"That would be great, thanks, hon."

Eggshell, who had been sitting at the door, followed them back to the workshop.

There, Gobber was cheerfully finishing the sword Hiccup was working on.

"Oh hi, lad. Just thought I'd finish today's work for ye. Ye got enough goin' on as it is."

"Thanks Gobber. The wait just about killed me when Al was born." Hiccup said, setting Alvis down.

"Well, what did ye do then?"

"…Passed out."

"…Okay, that's it lad." Gobber decided, pushing an apron in Hiccup's chest and tongs in his hands.

"Hiccup, yer going to work on something until that baby is here. Now get a fire goin'."

"But Gobber, I'm watching Al!"

"So let the boy help you! Ye were his age when ya started metalwork."

"Yeah and got third degree burns!"

"And that's part of life! Now, go. Do it fer yer own peace of mind, lad. Concentrating on a project will calm ye down."

Hiccup watched Eggshell lap up the water in the barrel and curl up by the kiln to nap. Alvis squatted down and pat him morosely.

"Hey pal, come help Dad for a minute."

"Are we making a sword, Daddy, because that would be cool."

Hiccup laughed.

"No, Gobber's finished it. How about we make something for the baby, Al?"

"Ah! Good idea!" Gobber grinned gleefully. "Your 'no metal toys for wee ones' rule with Alvis was stupid."

"Not a toy, Gobber, I told you that's insane."

Hiccup put a slab of metal in Alvis' hands.

"We're gonna make a protection charm for your little brother or sister. Why don't we make it a bronze dragon? We can use Eggshell for reference."

"Wow! Egg, you're gonna be a statue!"

"Uh...yeah, Al."

Alvis watched Hiccup make a cast out of wax that looked exactly like Eggshell. He was allowed to pour the smelted bronze into it with his father steadying his hands. When Gobber took it out of the kiln, he was even permitted to cool it in the water.

Hiccup placed the miniature in his hands.

"What do you think, Al?"

"It came out awesome! My baby brother will really like it."

"You think it'll be a boy?"

"I hope, cuz I don't think a girl will wanna ride dragons much."

"Your mom loves it."

"Mommy's different. Anyway, Eggshell only lets boys ride him."

"Is that so?" Hiccup chuckled.

Just then, Stoic poked his head in the door.

"...Lad. It's over. The Hoffersons sent me to find ye."

"Really? How's Astrid?"

"Perfectly healthy, Hiccup."

"Boy or girl?"

"I don't know yet…Oh! Ye made a toy for the wee one."

Hiccup grumbled about insane old men as he followed his father to the Hofferson house.

Astrid was lying in bed, holding the baby. She and Hiccup locked eyes and smiled broadly.

Hiccup sat on the bed and hugged her, looking happily down at his new child.

"How do you feel?"

"Like I could kill a dragon."

Eggshell growled.

"Figure of speech, Egg."

Alvis crawled up on the bed and wiggled between his parents. He hugged his mother protectively.

"Mommy, it sounded like you got hurt…you better now?"

Astrid hugged him back and kissed him.

"Of course, sweetheart. Mom's the toughest Viking ever, remember?"

Alvis nodded, wiping his misty eyes and beaming.

"Which is it?" Hiccup asked, stroking the baby's cheek with a finger.

"It's a girl. Isn't she great? I'm just a little sad she doesn't have my hair."

Their daughter had instead the same bright red shade as her grandfather's hair.

"A lass, eh?" Stoic said. "But ye only thought of boy's names..."

"No, Dad." Hiccup said. "I just only told you the boy names because I knew otherwise you'd get on my case about how it better be a son. Her name's Freya."

"…These kids will have horrible luck with names like those, lad."

"…Whatever, Dad."

That night, they put Freya in a cradle Hiccup had lovingly carved for her all month.

Hiccup stuck his tongue out in concentration as he bolted the dragon miniature onto the head of the cradle.

He smiled at Alvis peering into it to see his baby sister.

"Now it's like her big brother's watching over her all the time."

Alvis grinned proudly but said

"She still can't ride Eggshell."

A/N: Given the subject, I made this kind of a longer one. I feel like baby being born stories are tricky to do so I hope you liked it. Tell me what you think! And thank you for reading.