A/N - I apologize for this chapter being so late. It's been a rough while. I've had some writer's block and I've been trying hard to get a novel published. It's so ridiculously stressful. Then, I was sick and my brain still isn't functioning properly. So I apologize if this chapter seems less well written than it should be. I'm not on the top of my game right now. But, I really want to get this story finished because I've got several other stories ideas I want to do before I lose my inspiration for them. But, that doesn't mean I want to rush this one. I'll still give it the attention it needs.

So thanks for being patient, and enjoy the chapter! I warn you in advance, it kind of ends on a cliffhanger…

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Chapter 8

Astrid sighed as she rolled onto her side, facing the stairs, releasing some of the warmth from underneath the blanket. She could hear Valka humming downstairs. She was cooking, from the smells waffling up, and for a change it didn't smell that bad. Astrid stretched her stiffened limbs.

What time was it? Astrid sat up, fearing she'd greatly over slept, and her fears were strengthened by the bright sunlight streaming through the windows. Why hadn't anyone woken her up sooner? She threw the blanket off and got to her feet. Quickly, she adjusted her clothes and hair. She peered out of the window at the bustling village. Tiny little Vikings figures were moving about.

She rushed down the stairs to where her mother-in-law was stirring a bubbling pot over the fire.

"Good morning," Valka smiled.

"Morning," Astrid nodded in return.

"Sleep well? You must have, it's nearly noon."

"What?" Astrid gasped. She'd expected midmorning, at the latest, but how had she slept until midday? "Why didn't anyone wake me up?"

Valka laughed. "Hiccup tried, several times, but you were sound asleep. So instead of breakfast, we'll skip right into lunch."

Astrid didn't remember any of that. She sank down into a chair at the table. While Valka cooked, she let her eyes wander up the shelves to the little box of herbs. There was a layer of dust gathering on its top. Of course, she supposed that was a good thing. She hadn't had need to drink moon tea in weeks. She didn't have need to. However, it would be a lie if she said she hadn't wanted to.

The idea of motherhood was terrifying as much as it was pleasant. She'd held Elka's new baby when he was just a week old. He was so tiny, so raw looking, so squishy, so…helpless. He was nervous in anyone's arms but his mother's. He would cradle against her breast and wrap a tiny hand in her shirt. It was…a beautiful thing. But then there was Elka's sister who wasn't so lucky. She died in premature childbirth, and her newborn hadn't survived the night.

Astrid felt a chill run down her arms. Valka had told her little of when Hiccup was born. He had been an early child and she hadn't believed him capable of making it. Many of the village had believed it, too. What if Astrid's child was also too small to survive? What if having the child killed her? What then?

This chain of thinking had plagued her for as long as she and Hiccup had been trying for a child. True, she wanted a child, but she also wanted everything to stay exactly as it was.

"Are you alright, dear?" Valka was asking.

Astrid snapped out of her daze. Valka was paused at the pot, looking at her with a raised brow, her light eyes watching her carefully.

"Yes," Astrid nodded. "I must have just slept too long. I'm out of sorts."

"Ah, I see," Valka hummed. She sighed before she spoke again, lower, her words deliberately chosen, "Eret came by earlier. But you were sleeping and I decided it wasn't worth waking you up."

"Thank you," Astrid nodded. She twiddled her fingers under the table. She could feel Valka's stare.

Astrid had been trying to stay away from private encounters with Eret. There was something in the way that Valka looked at her that made her think she knew. If she knew, she wasn't doing anything about it, which made Astrid more nervous. Why wasn't she telling her son all about his wife's suspicious behavior? Maybe she didn't know. Maybe Astrid was being paranoid. Yes, that was it.

Her paranoia was due partly because of Valka, and also because of a baby. If she was blessed with a child, then she wanted no doubt who the father was. Even the bare idea that someone could be unsure of such a thing was infuriating and beyond distasteful. Even if there was a slight chance that Hiccup wasn't the father, she would lie, because to her any child of hers would be one of Hiccup's.

Of course, these fears were unfounded. She'd purposefully avoided Eret to make sure there was no question. Eret had noticed, however, and had been trying harder. It was all exasperating and overwhelming.

"Are you alright, dear?" Valka asked again, this time sitting down across the table from her. "Is there something you'd like to talk about?"

Astrid inhaled, knowing there was no decent way to voice her concerns, "I don't know."

"You know that you can talk to me, about anything," Valka said, leaning onto the table. "Woman to woman,"

"Thank you," Astrid nodded. "It's just…this whole baby thing. How do I know if I'm ready to take care of a child?"

Valka smiled, "No one is ready to have their first child. I wasn't, either. It's a life changing event and it's true that your life will never be the same. A child is a part of you, grown inside your own body, sharing your breath, your blood, the food that you eat, sustaining only on your life force. And then you watch them learn and grow and it's beyond incredible." A sadness drifted over her face. "I only wish that I had been there to watch my own son grow. I am proud of how he turned out, the man he's become, but I do feel as though I missed something great."

Astrid smiled as she reached forward to place her hands into her mother-in-law's. During Valka's first days back on Berk, she and Astrid spent a great deal of time talking. Astrid recounted everything she could remember of Hiccup, his 'Hiccup-the-screw-up' days, how he changed everything, his mistakes, his successes, and everything in between. It had been a bonding moment for both women.

"I know that the prospects of motherhood are intimidating," Valka smiled as she squeezed Astrid's hands. "But it is all worth it. And, I'll be here to help you."

X

Johann arrived on schedule and was met by an excited crowd of Vikings. The docks were filled and Johan had to shoo them back so that he could lower the gangplank.

"Welcome, welcome," Trader Johann waved to them all as they began to look through his treasures. "Ah, Master Hiccup, what an honor it is to meet you once more,"

"Hello, Johann," Hiccup nodded toward the man. He hadn't been among the first Vikings to greet him, however he was not immune to the feverish excitement brought about by new things. "Got anything new?"

"Oh, I always do, however for you I have something special." Trader Johann walked toward a simple wooden chest and pulled out a bundle of letters. "These are all from the Branded Brutes, I believe."

"Ah," Hiccup nodded as he took the rather thick bundle. "Thank you,"

"There is another," Johann whispered, who withdrew another letter, "from a young lady who paid me extra to keep it secret,"

"Oh," Hiccup swallowed as he took it, wary of what might lie inside, and added it to the bundle. "Thank you,"

"I'll be here for a few days if there is a bundle of responses you'd like to send," Johann nodded. The conversation ended as he rushed to stop Snotlout from destroying a carton of exotic drinking mugs.

Hiccup took the break that Johann provided and headed home with the letters under his arm. Toothless sniffed them, his eyes prodded them curiously, and Hiccup wondered if he remembered the smells of the writers. Dragons were odd like that. He and Toothless were about to the front door when it opened and his mother exited.

"Afternoon," Hiccup called to her.

"Oh, yes, the same to you, Son," Valka smiled. "What are you doing home so early?"

"Johann is distracting the village."

"Ah, taking a break? The stew is done if you'd like some."

"Right," Hiccup nodded. "Did Astrid finally wake up?"

"She did, a little while ago, but she's gone to the arena. Eret dropped by and convinced her to run the gauntlet. He said something about being able to out-fly her."

Hiccup laughed. Astrid wouldn't have been able to turn down a challenge like that. He waved goodbye to his mother and walked inside to stew-warmed house. It smelled good, for a change. He plopped the letters down on the table and sat down to get started on them. It was nice to relax, even for a moment, and he pulled the first letter out of the bundle as Toothless curled by the stairs.

The letters were all similar. They came from individuals thanking him for his help, and his mother's, and how the dragons were changing their lives. They asked for advice, for this and that, dragon related things, like how to prevent dragons from snorting fire in their sleep and catching things on fire.

Hiccup went upstairs and returned with paper to write back. He answered their questions one by one and addressed his letters by name. Not all of them asked, some were well-wishes, and that was fine. He folded them as he read them and tucked them into a separate pile. At last, all the letters were read, except for the one from a young lady.

He swallowed as he reached for it. He looked to the door as if Astrid might come through it at any moment. He opened the letter carefully, as if his mistake might be shouted through the paper, and greeted the feminine script with dismay.

Hiccup,

I am sorry for the way things happened. I truly am. It is not my intention for you to feel compelled to write back to me, but I wanted to tell you my thoughts. I miss you. I haven't felt like this in such a long time, not since my husband passed, and to feel love again, to feel wanted and cared for, is worth every risk. I know it is not my place to ask but I must, would it be possible for you to come back? Just to visit, nothing more, or perhaps we can meet in the middle? I can fly now, because of you.

With love, Ata

Hiccup groaned as he ran a hand through his hair. What a problem…but should he tell his mother about it? He messed up, he knows, and it has already stressed him out enough. In a surge of determination he threw Ata's letter into the hearth fire. It crumpled, turned black, and vanished into the hot flames.

"What am I going to do, Bud?" Hiccup sighed.

Toothless was preoccupied with something very interesting. He was low to the ground, clawing at something underneath the bottom most stair, his eyes wide and his nose sniffing feverishly.

"What is it?" Hiccup asked.

Toothless continued to sniff and claw at it. Hiccup could see something, a slight discoloring, and out of curiosity he stood up and went over to it. Toothless backed out of the way as Hiccup bent down to look. He reached for the mysterious thing that Toothless had managed to wedge between the wood of the stairs and the floor.

It was a tuff of fur. Just fur. Toothless sniffed it and shook his head in dislike. Hiccup was about to discard it into the fire when it struck him. This small tuff was similar to the tuff he pulled off of Astrid. It was orange, too dark to be from Astrid's clothes, or anything they owned.

It wasn't a big deal. Fur was a common material on Berk. He stood back up and tossed it into the fire after the letter. He had too much to worry about to think about silly things like oddly colored fur.

X

How dare Eret say that he's a better dragon rider than her! She'd got five years on him. The insinuation had infuriated her and she had let herself fall to his bait. She'd realized this not long after she'd accepted his challenge. She'd won the first round of the gauntlet, and the second, and Eret was about to call for the best three out of five when she stopped him. She directed Stormfly back to the arena and Eret followed.

"Are you done already?" Eret taunted.

"Come on, Eret, you're not going to beat me. I could do this course blindfolded." Astrid crossed her arms. Stormfly chirped in agreement as Astrid slid from the saddle.

"I wouldn't mind taking you up on that," Eret smirked. "What about tomorrow, after lunch?"

Astrid sighed, she knew that no matter how many times she'd tell him, he would persist. "Eret, we need to stop this."

"Stop what?" Eret jumped from the saddle and threw his arms out, gesturing to the arena, "We aren't doing anything we shouldn't."

She rolled her eyes. "You know what,"

"Why don't you tell me," Eret stepped closer.

Astrid regretted getting down from the saddle. At least up there she was out of his reach. She shied away from his touch as he reached out, but he only came closer. She backed into the stone wall of the arena and Eret's hand moved up her waist. He leaned in to kiss her. That fire started in her stomach at his touch. Damn him.

She clutched the front of his shirt, the fur squeezing between her fingers, and pulled him closer. His body pressed against hers and pushed her into the stone. The fire burned through her stomach and traveled south, alighting a need that she knew Eret could fulfill. She should have pushed him away, turned her head from his lips, and declined. She didn't. She wanted to. She wanted that fire to burn her up, explode, and leave her breathless.

She broke apart from his mouth just long enough to say, "This is the last time,"

Eret hummed against her neck. His hands began to wander, rough and aggressive.

"I mean it," Astrid said, her body involuntarily moving with his touch.

"Do you?" Eret's breath was warm.

"Yes," Astrid said. She pushed him away, but he held his hands on her. "Hiccup and I are trying for a baby."

There was the briefest shift of emotion in his face, his cocked smile faltered, his eyes squinted, and his lips breathed in air for words that were never said.

"I don't want any discrepancy as to who the father of my child is," Astrid seethed the words through tight lips.

Eret was silent for just a moment, then his self-assured grin reappeared. His lips found her cheek as he spoke softly, "I'll be careful,"

"Eret, no," she argued as he suckled the tender skin below her ear. It sent shivers across her scalp.

"I'll pull out, I promise,"

"I said no," her voice was barely a gasp as one of his hands slid up her thigh.

"I don't have to put it inside to have a little fun," his breath was hot.

"Eret," Astrid wanted to push him away, but her hands wouldn't follow the command. The fire was burning hot between her legs, and in a heat induced dream she wanted him to just take her there, against the stone of the arena, and get it over with.

Voices broke the fragile moment. They were young voices, a few of them, talking excitedly. Eret broke his connection with her skin and pulled his hands away. In fear of being caught, she pushed him and in a sudden whirl, she gripped the front of his shirt.

"Meet me in the stables, twenty minutes," Astrid whispered. She let go and was on the saddle before he could respond.

X

Hiccup arrived back at Johann's ship, that was slightly less crowded than before, with a bundle of replies. It hadn't taken him as long as he thought and was glad to hand them off. He returned to the village where Vikings were admiring and showing off their newest toys and tools. Nothing was on fire, nothing was falling down, no one was fighting, the dragons were content, and everything was fine. It was a chief's dream.

Snotlout had managed to convince Johann to sell him a two-ended blade. It was no longer than the average sword, but it was new, and different, and that made it special. Snotlout was showing it off to the twins, who Hiccup suspected were waiting for him to hurt himself, when Eret joined their group. He, too, was keeping a safe distance from Snotlout.

Hiccup was about to turn away when the smallest of details caught his eye. His eyes lingered on the fur that lined Eret's shirt, darker than any fur Astrid had, with a twinge of orange, and the foreign fur on Astrid's hood, the tuff under the stuff, both flashed in his memory. Could they have come from Eret?

Eret is been spending an awful of time with Astrid.

His fists tightened, his teeth clenched, as a wild spiral of seedy implications stirred a boiling pot of jealousy. Eret had been spending time with Astrid, more than her husband, and it suddenly infuriated him. Hiccup looked away, at the rest of the village, and took a deep breath. He didn't need to be angry at a mere suggestion. It didn't mean anything. So what if fur from Eret's shirt had been left in his house? Surely, he'd visited Astrid. They were friends.

But what about the fur on her hood? Maybe she'd hugged him. It had come off and stuck to her. But why on her hood? Hiccup shook the thought. It was nothing, surely.

But…what if it wasn't? What if it was staring him straight in the face and he refused to see it?

Hiccup made a lap around the village to clear his troubled thoughts. He stopped by groups of happy Vikings, they showed him their buys, children happily spoke to him, but his mood hadn't changed as he retuned to the village square. Snotlout was holding his arm and the blade lay discarded on the ground. He was swearing profusely, but didn't look gravely injured. The twins were laughing. Eret, however, was missing.

Hiccup inhaled, but his jealousy was not contained. He walked toward where Eret had last been standing. He caught a glimpse of his orange fur in the air. He recognized Skullcrusher immediately, and he watched the low flight's path west, heading, it seemed, to the stables.

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