A/N: Chapter 14, requested by Red Anne Vane. Thanks for the prompt! And thank you for reading/reviewing.
Hiccup was enjoying the last rays of sunshine for the year outside. He sat on his porch, studying the Dragon Manual studiously. Freya's cradle had been placed outside and he rocked it as he read. Toothless napped curled up in the sun snuggled up to him.
Alvis, quite apart from his sister's peaceful napping, romped in the yard with Eggshell.
Hiccup's concentration wavered as Astrid returned from the arena with a sack slung over her shoulder.
"I'm back from feeding Stormfly and the others. Were you boys alright with the baby?"
"Aw sure, don't worry." Hiccup replied casually. Of course the last time he was left alone with one of his children, the house almost burned down. But it wasn't his fault unintentional arson followed him everywhere.
Freya wiggled awake at the sound of her mother's voice. She immediately grabbed hold of the edge of her crib and pulled herself up. She began to bounce up and down and gurgle.
"Do you want out, Freya?" Hiccup asked her sweetly.
"Da! Gah!"
"Alright, just a sec, hold on…" Hiccup cuddled her to his chest and placed her on the soft grass. He sat cross legged by her. Astrid joined him after putting the sack in the house.
"Grah! Nyah!" Freya crawled across the lawn with effort toward her brother.
Alvis stopped roughhousing when he noticed the imminent doom that was his baby sister.
When she had propelled herself nearly close enough to grab his vest he backed away. Undaunted, Freya crawled more.
"No! Stop following me!"
Alvis raced away, Freya in pursuit.
Toothless perked his ear-like scales up from his place on the porch. Seeing his master's offspring was up and about, getting farther away, and therefore in potential danger, he rushed toward Freya.
"Oh it's fine, Toothless. We got an eye on her." Hiccup said as he did.
Nevertheless, Toothless nudged the baby as if assuring himself she was alright.
Freya giggled and lifted herself onto two feet using Toothless as support like she had the cradle. But this time she steadied herself and stood without him.
Hiccup dropped the dragon manual.
"Odin, she's walking!" Astrid cheered, her hands over her mouth.
"Al, your sister's walking!" Hiccup called.
"I noticed, Daddy." Alvis answered sourly as Freya toddled over to him and hugged him.
"Now I can't ever play by myself, can I?" He asked, patting Freya on the back.
She burped in response.