Full Summary: It's been a year since Lyken has been born, and its been a busy and long one at that. With the Freeze coming upon Berk once again, Hiccup and Astrid are busy as ever. So, a babysitter is to be found... [Hiccstrid] [Ye Be Warned: Contains lots of feels, lots of fluff.]
"Astrid, admit it! We need help!" Hiccup begged. He and his stubborn wife were currently walking through Berk, cheifing, leading, and managing the island as ever. This year, they were more swamped then ever before. With their infant son, one of the harshest of Freezes that Berk has ever seen, and their adjustment to leading the ever growing clan, their strees and anxiety levels hit an all time high. Hiccup, even though he is a stubborn Viking as ever, finally saw that they were in desperate need of a helping hand. It was mostly Lyken they needed help with. Who knew a baby was in sucha constant need to be fed, burped, played with, entertained, and pooped?
Hiccup was reluctantly accepting that they couldn't do this on their own, but Astrid thought otherwise. She was still the independent Viking as ever. Hiccup thought that persona suited her well, but he didn't need this right now.
"No, Hiccup! I can do this; we can do this. I don't need help." Astrid snarled. She was tiring of Hiccup's attempts to persuade her. Why couldn't the damn man realize that she could handle it? It made no sense to her!
"Astrid! I, we, cannot handle another meeting disrupted by his needs! We're already behind as it is. I don't want to admit it either, but we need help. Mom has been offering to take him off our hands, and so has yours-" Astrid interrupted his speech by turning around and glaring him down. She would've punched his shoulder like she always does, but she currently was occupied by holding her son. She was rocking him back and forth, trying to make him fall asleep. Her valiant attempts were fails though.
"Enough Hiccup! I told you before; I'll tell you again. The answer is no!" She whispered-shouted. Hiccup groaned and buried his heand in his hands, trying to keep his temper in check.
"How about this, we have my mom take him off our hands for one whole day. If it doesn't help, but it will, I won't pester you anymore about it and the matter is closed. Is that a deal?" Astrid stopped and thought about this. It was tempting, because there was a pretty good chance she'll win and be right. She never gets tired of being right, especially with Hiccup.
"Fine, I'll do it. But if I win, you'll have to do the night shifts for the next week. If you win, I'll do something for you. Deal?" Hiccup smirked widely.
"Deal. It happens tomorrow. I'll go and tell her. Prepare to lose Astrid!" He yelled happily, running off to tell his mother of their bet. Astrid rolled her eyes at her husband's immaturity and false hope. Everyone in Berk knew full well that she always wins a bet. Looks like Hiccup has to find out the hard way.
"Are you sure you have everything Valka?" Astrid asked never push for what seemed like the hundredth time. It had barely been past sunrise and Astrid's already pacing with anxiety and worry. She, of course, blames her husband.
"Yes, dear. Don't worry, it isn't my fist time caring for a babe. We'll be fine." Valka reassured. Astrid sighed in resignation. Valka gave a knowing smile her way. She knew what it felt like to give your precious son away to another for care. She had done multiple times for her husband's sake.
"See, Astrid! Mom knows what she's doing. We have to get to the meeting soon or we'll be late. Again." Astrid rolled her eyes at her husband's insistence and urgency. He will pay later.
The couple, one dragging the other out the door, finally left the grandmother and babe in peace. Valka looked at her sleeping grandpas in her arms. She rocked him back and forth gently and soothingly, admiring his purity and peacefulness.
Though she rather not like to admit it, but she prayed to Odin that Hiccup would actually be right on this. She won't know how'll she live on without seeing her beautiful grandson every day.
It was high past noon, and Lyken laid contentedly in his grandmother's arms. While rocking him asleep after changing his lion cloth, Valka had fallen asleep herself,securely clutching unto Lyken.
Lyken, being the curious babe he is, decided he didn't like to be in her arms anymore. He somehow managed to free himself from Valka's grasp and oh-so gracefully roll to the wooden floor. He turned and pulled gunsel to his hand a and knees and crawled. To where exactly? No one, not even Thor, knew really.
While crawling around harmlessly, enjoying his newfound freedom, a bright glow had caught his eyes. He turned his large head to face his new fascination. He began to crawl towards it. Closer and closer he went. The closer to the brightness, the hotter it felt.
Because Lyken was crawling towards an open fire in the living room pit. And he was having the time of his life.
Soon, the babe was within touching distance of the fire. Lyken felt hot, very hot, but he didn't know why he was. All he knew was that he wanted to touch the strange, moving things in front of him. Lyken sat down on his bum and slowly moved his chubby arm towards the fire. He was mere inches away from the flame a when a black mob had nipped his shirt, pulling him in the air, and wobbled away.
Toothless soon laid down, close to his rider's mother, and plopped the innocent babe in a cocoon. Unknowingly by both, Tootless had saved his ruder's infant's life. Quite heroically actually.
The sun was close to setting and Astrid dragged her husband to their home. She was quite excited to prove her husband wrong and win their little bet. The night shifts were taking quite a toll on her.
"Come on Hiccup!" She whinned. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Astid Haddock whinned. Hiccup looked at her wide-eyed.
"You reallly want to win this bet, don't ya?" He chuckled lightly. Astrid cuffed his head and soon, they reached their doorstep. Astrid quietly opened the large wooden door and slipped in with the Chief close behind. They sauntered over to the living room. They heard the crackling of the fire and the muffled giggles of a babe.
They turned the corner to a shocking, yet cute surprise.
Valka was sowing up Lyken's ripped shirt where they had last seen her this morning. Lyken, on the other hand, was being tossed lightly up in the air by Hiccup's black Night Fury. Astrid was in shock and Hiccup was smirking rather brightly.
"Hey mom. Hey Toothless. What's going on over here?" Hiccup asked with a nervous curiosity. Valka chuckled light-heartedly, and Toothless gave him his gummy smile.
"Well. It seems as though I had taken to a nap, and when I woke up, I saw yer dragon playing with meh grandson. I couldn't separate the two and Toothless wouldn't hurt him. So, there's tha'." Valka explained with a light smile. Hiccup cockily smirked at his wife when she fumed.
"And you were saying M'Lady?" Astrid whacked his arm and that was the end of it. Well. That is until the bickering continued on exactly who "won" the bet.
All was well at Berk. Though not a soul knew of what almost happened to the future chief of Berk, but still. It was peaceful besides the bickering of the Chief and his stubborn wife.
I am so sorry for the long update! I just started high school in early August and I'm still working on it. So, in future reference, it'll be awhile until the next one. I really hoped you enjoyed it. I love Toothless so much so how could I not include him?
Yeah, but anyway, remember to review, follow and favorite. This series is sadly coming to a close though. About two or three left. Maybe more depending on what I feel like. :)