Normal POV
Astrid looked on in utter surprise. She just came back less than ten minutes ago and now a friend...or more of an acquaintance...was telling her that she might be pregnant. "Heather, why are you telling me this?" Astrid asked. On their first visit, the village weren't at all ecstatic because of the trouble they caused when they were here and when they heard what they did to Hiccup.
"Well...first off, you're a girl...and I feel like this is something that I should tell a girl or woman to...and this is all of a sudden right now, I mean I had my assumptions, but weren't sure of them, and I need someone to confide in" she explained.
"But why me...I mean from all the stuff you've probably heard about me? What we did to Hiccup? How I ruined his life? Even I don't trust myself with a secret anymore. He asked me to keep Toothless a secret when I discovered them...but you know what I did? I ran right back to the village to rat him out. I was so caught up in jealousy of him being better than me in dragon training, that I didn't see the bigger picture. I didn't listen to him...something I deeply regret" Astrid said, sitting down beside Heather.
"Well by the looks of it, you two seemed to have made up" Heather said, trying to stay on the positive.
"Yeah...after he almost killed me...it's only thanks to his dragon I'm still alive. I've never seen him so angry" she said looking watching the moon's light glimmer on the surface of the sea.
"I don't think you understand the full effect you have on Hiccup, Astrid" Heather said. Astrid turned her gaze from the sea to Heather.
"Most men just gawk at me when I walked by in other villages on trade missions...even Snotlout just focused on me for my looks and nothing else...what makes Hiccup any different?" Astrid asked.
"Well did you ever know him as the kind to hit on girls? To make witty comments as some pretty girl walked by?" Heather asked. Astrid looked away to think about it but them immediate answer that came to her was no.
"You see...I was in the same position as you" Heather said and Astrid turned to listen. "Since I'm the chief's daughter I had to go with him to other villages and see what it was about chief, and in most of those villages there were young men who just finished puberty and were always hitting on me. I had my dad then to ward them off but I knew it wouldn't be like that forever, and I thought no boy would ever like me just for me...but then Ripper came along with Hiccup" Heather said Ripper's name in a dreamy tone, to which Astrid smirked.
"I think he was the first guy to ever see me for me...and at first I was skeptical, but then I began to see that he really wanted to be friends...he took an interest in the things I do, we played in the forest together with Hiccup, Toothless and Bladewing, and we bonded really fast. We almost never married though. Traditions state that the husband has to pay the bride's family after the night of their consummation...the dowry...and Ripper worked as hard as Hel to save up for that since he had no family here. He made these rings with the Hiccup's help and he made the sword that's implanted in the wooden beam in our house...I told him my dad wouldn't need the dowry as he accepted him as a son and wasn't worried about the payment since his main concern was my happiness, and seeing how Ripper made me feel was enough for him...but Ripper said he wanted to stay true to traditions, to show that he wasn't taking me for granted" Heather explained.
"When he first came, it was obvious that Hiccup was trying to get over someone, but he was never able to...and me and Ripper getting married only reminded him, or his imagination of what could have been. Ripper told me he had deep feelings for a girl back on Berk and he was trying to forget her, but it never worked and he's been living with those feelings ever since. We told him that it was nothing to worry about but...I guess it's hard to get rid of that feeling when he sees a girl like you" she explained with a sad smile.
Astrid stayed quiet for a few seconds. She never really saw Hiccup as an attractive man, maybe because of his lack in physical capabilities and his un-Viking like nature, but she never considered the effect she had on him and the emotional stress that he must have gone through. But seeing him after five years, seeing how much he has changed, physically anyway. But he had always maintained his kind attitude except this time...it was engulfed in grief, pain, sadness and anger. And she knew that she and Berk were the cause of that pain. However she didn't want to dwell on that problem right now.
"So...pregnant huh?" Astrid said, changing the topic. "Are you sure?" she asked.
"I think I have the symptoms of it, I mean I have been getting some morning sickness" Heather said.
"But wouldn't Ripper have noticed that?" she asked.
"Well, I wake up before him so he doesn't see me throw up a bit, and I thought I ate something bad, but the assumption of being pregnant has crossed my mind" Heather said.
"So how are you going to know for sure?" Astrid asked.
"Well, I can go to my village elder, who's also the healer and ask her. Can you come with me?" Heather asked getting up slowly and Astrid followed suit.
"Why do you need me to come? Besides, wouldn't your elder not like me since I'm from Berk?" Astrid said, recalling how the village didn't respond nicely to when they first came.
"Astrid...I hope we become close friends, I really do, and I see this as a start to that...besides, I know you like Hiccup. I can help you get close to him" Heather said with a smirk and folding her arms across her chest.
"What?! Heather...I don't like him...I never have and never will" Astrid said resting one hand on her hip.
"They all say that Astrid...and I can already tell you're not the feelings sort of girl...but it doesn't hurt to show them once in a while...especially to someone like Hiccup. He wouldn't think any less of you...well, than he already has" Heather replied and started on the path that led to the village, closely followed by Astrid. She winced at this comment, not liking the memory of her betraying Hiccup.
The walk to the elder's house was uneventful. Heather presumed that Hiccup and Ripper were with her parents catching up and since this was late in the night, most of the village would be inside their homes. The elder's house was on the outskirt's of the village, and there was a light inside the house, indicating someone was home. She came up to the door and knocked three times. She waited for less than half a minute before finally someone came to open the door.
"Ah...Heather! So nice to see you!" the elder said giving her a quick hug.
"Good evening Ryda" Heather replied and noticed the scowl on the elder's face directed to someone behind her. Heather turned around to see Astrid meekly wave a hand to say hello. "She's with me Ryda, she's a new friend of mine" Heather said, gesturing for Astrid to come closer.
"Heard a lot about her, hope you've changed" Ryda said beckoning the two young women inside.
"I'm working on that at the moment" Astrid replied as she looked around the elder's home.
"So what can I do you for today Ms. Heather?" Ryda asked as the three of them sat down.
"Well..." Heather started and then looked at Astrid and she nodded for her to continue "...I think I'm pregnant" she answered.
The two women saw Ryda's face light up with excitement, except she kept a neutral look. "I must be losing my hearing, do you think you're pregnant?" she asked as she got up and began to look at her shelves for something.
"Uh yes, because over the past three to five days I've been experiencing morning sickness, throwing up a few times...so from what I've heard those the signs of pregnancy" Heather explained.
"Have you been developing any abdominal pains as well?" Ryda asked as she grabbed a bottle and poured something into two glasses.
"In fact yes, I have" Heather replied. Ryda came over to the two girls and gave them the glass.
"Now both of you drink up" she said and Heather drank hers without trouble while Astrid immediately spat hers out.
"What in the name of Loki is that!?" she yelled as she wiped her mouth.
"What do you mean? Nothing's wrong with it" Heather said, finding Astrid's facial expression priceless.
"Well then, I don't know who burned your tongue but right now you should be glad they did. What was that stuff?" Astrid said, looking at Ryda.
"Oh that, just a special mixture I made out of some herbs, leaves, algae and probably week old fish" Ryda said with a smirk and soon Heather had the same expression Astrid a few seconds ago.
"I found out that women who are not pregnant won't be able to drink this, but women who are pregnant will...so I believe congratulations are in order" Ryda said hugging Heather who returned it.
"Why did you give me a drink when I'm not the one in question of being pregnant!?" Astrid said standing up.
"Well...to prove a point and because I knew it was going to be funny to watch" Ryda said with a small laugh. Astrid merely rolled her eyes and convinced herself she deserved it. "So does anyone else know of this wonderful news?" she asked Heather.
"Uh no...right now it's just you, me and Astrid" she replied with a huge smile. This was wonderful news...becoming a mother and Ripper becoming a father, and after one year as well...she knew Ripper would be ecstatic.
"Wait that reminds me...when was the last time you two did it?" Ryda asked, rubbing her chin.
Heather blushed a deep red, that Astrid tried to stifle a laugh but failed at it. "Isn't that private information?" Heather asked in low voice.
"Yes it is...sorry dear, couldn't help myself making this situation awkward for you. Remember, tell your family of the good news" Ryda said as she bid the girls goodbye from her door. Heather and Astrid both waved goodbye and began their way to Treeroot's house.
"So...when did you two start adding to the populous?" Astrid asked with a sly grin.
"Really, you too...what don't people get about privacy?" she asked. She looked at Astrid and saw her shrug her shoulders.
"Well, isn't this what girl-friends tell each other, about their private life...I'm new at this tell your feeling thing" Astrid said.
"Clearly" Heather responded to which Astrid gave a short humph. "Well if you must know the last time we did it was about two weeks ago, so the baby's two weeks old" Heather said.
"How did it feel?" Astrid asked all of a sudden.
"Well, finding out I'm pregnant would be a big surprise to any..." Heather started but was cut off.
"Not that...I mean...the other thing" she said, slightly blushing as to why she would ask that.
"Ok...you are moving way past the privacy boundary, you know that?" Heather said, blushing a deep red as well.
"But isn't this what girls talk about, married young girls...look I don't even know why I asked the question" Astrid said dismissing it with a wave of her hand.
"Well...I guess I haven't really told anyone, but...let's just say it's the most amazing feeling you'll ever experience. Like I said, me and Ripper love each other, and when you move to that level, it's like the whole world opens up, to have someone who loves you for you, with your pros and faults...someone who you know will always stand by your side no matter how many hardships you'll face in the future. Sure we have our fights, but that's a challenge every young couple goes through, but that doesn't stop us...and I'm sure you'll find someone Astrid" Heather said at the end, since she knew Astrid wanted an idea of what true love is.
"Like I'll ever experience that" she said looking the other way.
"You know, your perfect match could be on the other side of this door" Heather said as they reached her father's house. But as she reached for the for the door handle, the door opened and Hiccup was at the entrance, however he had his face turned to the table where the rest of the family were sitting when he opened the door. Heather looked back at Astrid and let a giggle escape her. "Guess I was right" she said as she walked past Hiccup, who looked in confusion to see Astrid's blushed face.
"What were you two talking about?" he asked.
"Oh...you know girl talk...and that stuff" Astrid said as she walked in. "Were you going somewhere?" she asked him.
"Yeah, I was going to go back to the forge since that's where I lived here" he answered.
"You might want to stay for the news" she said with a knowing smile. Hiccup looked unsurely at her, "What news?" he asked. "Wait for it" was the only reply he got from her, but then he saw Heather talking to her parents and Ripper.
"Where were you two? Your parents and I were getting worried" Ripper said as he released his wife from the hug.
"Astrid and I were talking about...stuff, and I wasn't feeling too well so I went to Ryda to check it out" Heather said.
"Are you ok? It's nothing serious is it? I mean I'd feel so helpless if I couldn't protect you even from a small fever" he said.
"You'd protect me, against what?" she asked, prolonging the inevitable news. "Well...let me see, I'd fight the Outcasts, the Berserkers, wild dragons, the Roman Empire...I'd fight anything to protect you, and I'd feel mighty sorry for the people who would try or did hurt you" he said taking her hand in his. Heather was expecting to hear that from her husband, guess it was time to tell he would be protecting two people now.
"Well...I hope you have room for another person in your protection" she said and laughed a bit seeing his confused stare. "What do you mean?" he asked. She slowly placed his hand on her stomach and held it there with both her hands. She could see he glanced to and from her eyes to her stomach, in utter disbelief. But after about a minute of speechlessness, he was able to find the words.
"You're...you're...you're..." he stuttered, and she guessed she'd have to finish his sentence for him.
"I'm pregnant!" she said, and soon after she said that, Ripper enveloped her into a huge hug and gave her one of the longest kisses she'd ever have from him.
"That's wonderful news!" Treeroot bellowed as he watched the whole scene unfold before him.
"I guess those tries finally worked huh?" Ripper said as he and Heather broke apart from the kiss. "Yes it did" she said as she had her arms around his neck and his around her waist, both staring lovingly into each other's eyes.
"Oh, my daughter's going to be a mother!" Jessel said as she came and gave both her daughter and son-in-law a hug.
"Well my boy, I hope you've prepared well because raising a child is one of the most difficult tasks in life" Treeroot said as he laid a hand on his son's shoulder.
"I'll take good care of them sir. Don't you worry" Ripper said, looking at his wife, who was now talking with her mother and Astrid.
"Well, looks like you two have been busy when I was gone" Hiccup said giving a pat on Ripper's back. He merely laughed at his friend's suggestion.
"Yeah, well...we eventually got it didn't we. I got to tell ya', learning of news such as this...becoming a father, you're filled with both pride and fear" he said. Hiccup looked at him, wondering why he said fear.
"I never had a real family Hiccup...I was raised by Berk, by all the people from Berk...I didn't have a mother or a father, and that's why I don't know if can handle being a father when I never really had one" he explained. Hiccup understood him all too well.
"At least you have a reason...me, losing my mother at a young age and a being under the care of a father who didn't even understand his own son...that's how I was brought up, no love, no kindness, no understanding, no family...even when I had one. You're a great man Ripper, and take my word for it...you'll make a wonderful dad" Hiccup said resting his hand on Ripper's shoulder. Ripper returned the gesture with a smile and left to attend to his wife.
Hiccup in the meantime saw it was time to leave since it was getting late.
"Did you have fun gathering with the others?" Toothless asked as he saw his rider.
"Yeah, it was really nice to see my family again...turns out Heather is pregnant" he said.
"Bladewing told me about it, he knew about the baby from a week ago...and before you ask, dragons have a sense where we can detect an aura around all living beings, so he noticed the change in Heather's aura, something seemed different about her...and guessed it was a baby since it was recent from when they mated" Toothless explained.
"Hiccup!" they heard someone call behind them, and looked to see Astrid running towards them. "Is it ok if I bunk with you tonight?" she asked once she caught up.
Hiccup looked at Toothless who merely shrugged and continued on his way to the forge. "There's no room in the village inn?" he asked. He might have gotten used to Astrid being around, but not always around.
"Treeroot told me the inn was closed and they didn't have any spare rooms either, so maybe...I could come with you?" she asked.
"Uh...sure, what harm could it do?" Hiccup said and the two engaged in small conversation as they made their way out of the village, and didn't notice the two dragons having a chat.
"So, how long do you think it'll take before they admit their feelings" Bladewing asked.
"If they weren't so caught up in their past they'd have mated by now" Toothless replied.
"That is true, but we all know what that girl did to Hiccup, it will take time for him to heal properly" the larger dragon said.
"It's been 5 years since the incident, and I can tell he gets lonely, he longs for a mate, and even though that girl was the route of his hatred, she is also the source of his love. I just hope he can see that before it is too late" Toothless answered as he and Bladewing watched the two walk together.