A month later,
My stomach is growing. It sticks out more than just a bump. It's visible through my shirt now and Hiccup's tunics and leggings are getting too tight to wear. I can just squeeze into them.
I stand up from my chair, Hiccup and Astrid are on a picnic by themselves. Rye is working, and dad said he would be home soon. So I'm by myself, trying to make some clothing for the baby. Nothing gender specific, just some basic tan tunic style shirts, err, dresses for it to sleep in. I try to sew the sleeve up, but I miss a spot and have to go back.
Grr I hate sewing, and being pregnant isn't exactly fun. I throw up, I get upset easy, I'm a bit big in the belly, not huge yet, just round. My clothes don't fit, Hiccup's clothes don't fit, I'm sensitive to smells, specifically seawater... I throw the baby clothes on the floor and sit back in the chair. I put my hands on my belly and look around at the house.
It's too messy! The others see to think it's fine, but the floor needs swept, the weapons need to be put in their barrel, the table needs wiped down.
Another thing I'm hating about pregnancy, nothing is ever clean enough. And the cravings are so odd! Just a few nights ago I had Hiccup and Rye go make me toast with yak milk poured on top and over-cooked fish on top of that. They about threw up, but the cravings made it sound and taste good to me. Ugh! I know I'm going to love this baby, and it's going to be loved by many people, but I sometimes wish I wasn't going to have a baby, yet. I'm not even married!
My ranting thoughts are interrupted by the door opening and closing. Dad walks in and hangs his helmet on a peg on the wall. "Hi dad..." I say as I look at the unevenly hung helmet he just put up. Dad follows my gaze to the helmet then sits down in front of me. I turn my head to look at him, he leans forward a bit, "So how are you Belle?" He asks me, I give a small smile, "Just fine." I say in a very fake, but hopefully believable tone. Dad laughs,
"Out with it, Hiccup's, your, mother was never happy when she was expecting your brother." He says, I lean my head back and stare upward in annoyment, but if dad is willing to listen. "I'm sore and cranky, I want weird foods, my clothes are too tight, this house is too messy for me, and I'm tired of morning sickness, every day." I say in a rushed and angry way. I let out a long breath after that.
Dad reaches out and puts a hand on my shoulder, "I can tell you feel better. Clean the house if you want, nap if you're cranky, get a dragon to heat up some water to soak in if you're sore, I can't help with the sickness and only a bit with the cravings, but I've got the perfect thing to fix all problems of too small clothes." He says. I look into his eyes, "How do you know all this?" I ask him. He laughs again, "I've been chief for quite some years, and a father as well. I've learned how to solve many problems, now let me go get you the solution to your clothing problem." He answers me.
He gets up and walks back into the small place he sleeps. It's kind of a bedroom, but not exactly. He comes back out a minute later. A pile of clothes in his arms. He drops them on a small table between us and sits back down in his chair.
"These were your, mother's, clothing when she was expecting Hiccup. They look like normal clothes, but they are bigger, there is around thirty different pieces in this pile. And different sizes depending on how big you are. You can keep them until the next Haddock family member becomes pregnant." Dad explains. I smirk at his 'next Haddock' comment, but pick up a tunic and some leggings that look like they will fit.
"Oh this is wonderful! Thank you dad!" I say as I stand and hug him. "I just have one last clothing piece that is a bit too small…" I nod at my chest and dad gives me a knowing smile. "Hiccup, might be able to help you." He replies. "Yeah.." I mumble.
Dad stands up, he is always off and about… "Isabella, tomorrow under tradition, some of the young children of the village are going to be visiting with you. You can just have the follow you out to somewhere safe and grassy. The father of the baby can go with you, Hiccup and Astrid can drop in if you need help. Rest up, it's a tiring thing." He say to me then grabs his helmet and walks out the door. For once I wish he would stay longer. But, he is chief and the chief is always busy.
I pick some clothing out and lay it on top of my pile of clothing. I pick it up and carry it to my room. I sit them in a cabinet and take the pieces I want to wear off the top. I change clothes, these fit nicely! My chest has grown during my two months of pregnancy. I guess I should get a bigger chest plate today so I'm all comfortable tomorrow.
I walk back downstairs and grab a fur vest, it's starting to get a bit colder. Not a lot, but a thin vest is needed.
A cold wind greets me as I walk out to the blacksmith shop. To my delight I find Hiccup and Gobber chattering away about some new invention. "Hiccup, uh, this is an awkward request, but because you two are the only people capable of working with metal correctly, could one of you, or both of you, work on making me a chest plate? This one's too small now that I'm pregnant. Something that won't make me look huge in the chest, but with something soft and removable so I don't have to get another one in a few months." I place my request.
The two men are staring up and down at me now. Hiccup opens his mouth, "Alright, I think I can make that happen. I'll have it done by tonight. I really don't want you suffering from another chest plate." He accepts of my needs.
As Hiccup turns to start finding the correct metal for a chest plate. Gobber leans against the old wooden counter to talk to me. "Another little baby in the family. I hope between all of your good looks the baby doesn't end up looking like Magnus." Gobber says with his deep accent.
"Her name is Hildegard!" Hiccup and I say in unison. Gobber shrugs, "She still looks like a Magnus." He says to us as he remembers the day he named the girl Magnus.
"Belle! I just realized what you are wearing! Good to see Stoick has put those clothes to use again." Gobber says with a bit of delight as he looks at my apparel. "What clothes?" Hiccup says as he turns his neck to look at me. "The ones our mother wore when she was expecting you. There is a bunch of them, some big some smaller so I always have something that fits." I explain,
Gobber looks at Hiccup, "Exactly what she said." He says. Hiccup forms a small 'Oh' on his lips. No matter what happens he misses his mother. I wish I could have met her.. But even if I was born in this family I wouldn't know or remember her. She died when Hiccup was about two or three. Meaning I would've been an infant or toddler.
Gobber starts the conversation back up. "So lassy, what are you going to name this child?" He asks me. I give it one last thought before replying, "If it's a boy, Ashin Finnick Haddockson, and while the others think Kylin Alma Haddockson is an amazing name for a little girl, I thought of a new name that I can't get rid of."
Hiccup stops working and listens to what his sister is saying. Another name for a baby girl? What is this amazing name she has thought of?
Gobber nods as he hears the names. "What's this other name you've thought of?" He asks me. I swallow before saying it, "Azalea Kylin Haddockson."
Gobber smiles as he hears the name. "Azalea! My favorite flower! Very interesting, maybe you should rethink your original name plan and go with Azalea." He says as he thinks of his beloved flowers.
Hiccup is still standing silently and listening. Azalea is a pretty name, maybe Belle should use that. As long as Rye is okay with it, but will dad like it?
Hiccup completely quits focusing on his work and goes to stand in front of his sister. "I think Azalea is a perfect name. If it's a girl. But I don't care what the baby is, boy, girl, dragon, I'm just proud that my little sister is a mother, and I'm going to be an uncle."
Hiccup says gently to me. "Oh Hiccup." I say as I fall into his open arms. Happy tears well in my eyes. I can even see
Gobber rubs the corner of his eye as he sees the beloved siblings, children of the chief, best friends, hugging each other. They are always so pleasant to be around. And now another little person to take care of and love. Gobber admits to himself, even the most tender of vikings have strengths in them.
Sorry it's short, I'm working on something less fluffy. As you might be able to tell, I'm trying to make each chapter or two one month or the highlight of that month so that things are interesting and nine months passes quicker. I'm storming up what comes next, so it might be a bit before another chapter is published. But don't fret yourself with worrying over when the next chapter is published. It'll be up soon enough, at most it will be a week from now, but I'm doubting that.