Chapter 12: Haddock Family Time
Berk
July 11
With Hiccup in her arms, Valka stepped out the door with Stoick close behind and looked all around. The sun was shining against the large, blue, cloudless sky.
"Oh, isn't it beautiful day, Hiccup?" she said in wonder.
"Oooh," Hiccup cooed as he too looked at the sight in front of them.
"It's the perfect day for Haddock family time," Valka continued.
Stoick looked uncertain. "I don't know, Valka. This is a busy time for me right now. I really should be helping with the villagers with the crops and fishing…"
"I'm sure they'll be fine without you for one day, Stoick," Valka said reassuringly. "Besides, I specifically remember from the time Hiccup came into our lives, you promised to take one day off from your chiefing to spend family time with us."
"And I've spent one day every week spending time with my wife and son ever since," Stoick pointed out. "Except the very first week where I've spent seven whole days in bed with my wife and son."
"Exactly."
"But I really think that…"
"Stoick, you promised," Valka said in her firmest voice. She looked down at Hiccup. "Hiccup, didn't your kind and wonderful father promise to spend family time with us once a week?"
She slid a hand under Hiccup's chin and moved his mouth up and down as she spoke in a high-pitched voice at the corner of her mouth.
"'Yes, Daddy, you promised Mommy and me to spend family time with us once a week'."
As soon as she was done, Hiccup looked up at her, surprised and confused.
Stoick couldn't help but smile. "All right, Hiccup, you win. Just let me go get my helmet."
"But Stoick, you look so handsome without your helmet," Valka insisted. "Doesn't he, Hiccup?"
Again she placed her fingers under his chin and moved his mouth as she said, "'Yes, you do look handsome without your helmet, Daddy'."
Stoick laughed again. "All right, all right, Hiccup. I won't put on my helmet. But at least let me bring my satchel." He tugged on the strap of the satchel hanging on his shoulder.
"What's in the satchel, Daddy?" Valka asked shrilly as she continued her ventriloquy on Hiccup.
"Just a few supplies that we might need for later, son," Stoick smiled knowingly. "Now what would you and your mother like to do today?"
Valka also smiled knowingly. "We had some thoughts."
…
An hour later, Stoick, Valka and Hiccup were standing together on a rocky beach on the far side of the village. The satchel Stoick had been carrying was resting at his feet. Carrying Hiccup to the edge of the water, Valka inhaled the salty scent of the seawater as the wind blew her three long ponytails behind her back.
"Nothing like being in the middle of nature, far away from civilization, eh, Hiccup?" she murmured.
Suddenly, Hiccup started waving his arms and giggling excitedly.
"What is it, sweetheart?" Valka asked.
And then she saw it – a school of fish with long wing-like fins emerging from the water and gliding over it.
"Oh, look, Stoick, flying fish!" Valka said excitedly.
"Yes, I can see they're flying fish," Stoick said as if his wife had just said the most obvious thing ever.
"Look at them, Hiccup, doesn't it look like they're flying?" Valka asked, holding up Hiccup to see the gliding school of fish.
"They're just gliding, Valka, not flying," Stoick said.
But Valka wasn't listening. She stared in wonder as the flying fish glided over the ocean water and wondered what it would be like to fly over the water like that. Looking away from the flying fish, she spotted a pointed rock formation hanging over the water. Getting an idea and unable to resist her urge, she turned to Stoick, she handed Hiccup over to him.
"Watch Hiccup for just a moment please. I'll be right back," she said.
"Back from where?" Stoick asked, raising his eye brows suspiciously as he took Hiccup in his arms.
But Valka didn't answer. She just ran ran to the cliff-like rock, paused, held out her arms and dived.
"Valka!" she heard Stoick call just before she plunged into the cool water.
Using swift breast strokes, Valka made her way towards the flying fish that were gliding underwater. She lifted her head as she watched the flying fish head towards the surface and out of the water. Making her way to the surface and wiping some wet hair out of her face, she smiled as the flying fish glided over her head. The rays of sunlight made their silver scales sparkle. Every one of those fish glided as far as they could before splashing back into the water.
"Valka Haddock, you get yourself out of the water before you catch your death of cold!" Stoick called.
Valka turned to the sound of her husband's annoyed voice and found him standing on the rocks with Hiccup in one hand and his other pressing against his hip, a look of disapproval on his face.
"I don't even feel the cold, I just feel free," Valka said as she laid back against the water, her arms and legs stretched out.
"Well come and feel free on the land," Stoick insisted.
Valka glared at her husband and then she had another idea. Pretending to look like she had given in, she sighed.
"All right, I'm coming," she said as she paddled her way to the rocks. "But at least let me cool Hiccup off." She held out her arms. "Hand him over please."
Stoick looked from her to Hiccup. He turned back to her suspiciously but he nodded and held him out to her. Sliding her hands under Hiccup's armpits she carefully dipped him chest-deep in the water. Hiccup let out a short cry as he felt himself get dipped.
"It's all right, Hiccup, it's just the ocean," Valka said reassuringly. "As long as you are careful and treat it with respect, it won't hurt you."
"All right, Valka, you've cooled him off now would you kindly come out of there?" Stoick asked, his patience obviously running thin.
"All right, Stoick, give me your hand," Valka said, holding out a hand while keeping her other arm tightly around Hiccup.
But as soon as Stoick placed his hand into hers, Valka shook his arm back and forth.
"Valka, what are you doing?" Stoick cried, his eyes widening.
And with that, Valka pulled his arm right towards her.
"WOAH!"
Stoick fell into the water with a big splash which carried Valka and Hiccup backwards across the water. Valka laughed loudly and even Hiccup found himself laughing.
Stoick burst through the surface, sputtering. Then he glared at Valka as small droplets of water streamed down his lion's mane of a beard.
"You did that on purpose!" he said accusingly.
"Of course I did," Valka smiled, holding Hiccup in one arm and using her free arm to tread.
Stoick glowered for another moment and then a smile creeped onto his face. "But I admit I do feel cooled off now."
"Then I should make sure you stay cooled off," Valka said, lifting her free arm and splashing water against her husband.
Stoick laughed. "Oh, yeah, how about this?!"
He used both hands to scoop up a large amount of water and tossed it against Valka and Hiccup. Soon the husband and wife were splashing at each other and laughing loudly. And although Hiccup didn't join in the splashing, he did join in the laughing.
Suddenly, a flying fish glided over them.
Then another.
Then another.
"Oh, look, the flying fish are back," Valka said. She lifted Hiccup up towards them. "Look at them go, Hiccup."
"Ooh," Hiccup cooed as he lifted his hands as if to try at touch the flying fish over him.
Droplets of water dripped down from the flying fish's long fins that shone like rainbows under the sunlight.
Even Stoick looked up at the fish to watch them glide by and smiled.
"It really is a beautiful sight," he said.
…
After rinsing off the saltwater from their skin and clothes in the island springs, the Haddocks were now walking through the woods (well, at least Stoick and Valka were the ones walking while Hiccup just rested in his mother's arms). Stoick's satchel was once again hanging by his shoulder. Rays of sunlight streamed through the treetops as they walked.
Looking to her right side, Valka saw a space between two trees and saw that the path was leading towards some clearing.
"Let's see what it is, Hiccup," she said to her son. "Stoick, come and look at this!"
"Now what Valka?" Stoick asked as she headed down the path and between the trees.
Valka stepped between the trees and hers and Hiccup's eyes widened at the sight in front of them. Right in front of them was a small meadow heavy with colorful, sweet-smelling wildflowers. Plenty of space to run with the blue sky hovering over them.
"Just look at all the flowers Hiccup and the sky," Valka breathed. "Isn't it the most beautiful sight you've ever seen?"
As Stoick stepped behind her, he laughed.
"What's so funny, Stoick?" Valka asked.
"You and I have seen this meadow many times before Val and you're acting like you're seeing it for the first time."
"I'm only acting this way for Hiccup. After all, it's his first time seeing it, right Hiccup?"
Hiccup babbled in response.
"Come on, boys, let's run," Valka said, bolting through the flowers with Hiccup in her arms.
"Where do you think you're going?" Stoick laughed as he ran after his wife.
As Valka made her way through the flowers, colorful butterflies scattered in different directions around them. The sight of the butterflies made Valka laugh loudly and even Hiccup and Stoick found themselves laughing. Valka made her way to the center of the meadow and twirled around, holding Hiccup close to her chest. When she finished twirling, she sat down and laid down against her back, still laughing and hugging her laughing baby son.
Sighing deeply, Valka turned her head at the pretty flowers around her and Hiccup. Sitting up again, she reached out to pick a bright blue flower when Stoick roughly grabbed her wrist.
"Valka!" he warned.
"What's wrong, Stoick?" she said surprised by her husband's rough grip. "I just wanted to pick a flower."
"You almost picked one with a bee on it," Stoick said, pointing to the flower Valka was reaching for.
Sure enough a bumblebee was crawling on the center of the blue flower.
"Oh, I didn't realize," Valka said.
"But I did," Stoick said. "If I hadn't stopped you, it could've stung you. Bees can be very dangerous."
"You're right they can," Valka said, looking down at Hiccup But they can also be very useful.
"How?" Stoick asked.
"By bringing life to the flowers," Valka explained. "Without the bees, there would be no life." She looked at Hiccup in the eyes. "You remember that, Hiccup. Remember that there is good in all creatures."
"Well, I wouldn't say all creatures," Stoick muttered to himself.
"What was that, Stoick?" Valka asked glaring at her husband suspiciously.
"I was just saying that I should pick you a flower without a bee on it," Stoick said.
And indeed, he did pick a flower - also bright blue without a bee and handed it to his wife. Valka took the flower gratefully and brought it to her nose to sniff it. Then she held it out to Hiccup and he made an excited noise as the sweet scent filled his nostrils. Her smile growing wider, Valka tucked the flower behind Hiccup's ear. Then laying him down on a soft patch of grass, she reached out and picked a few more flowers.
"What are you going to do with all those flowers, Val?" Stoick asked.
"I'm going to make a flower crown," Valka answered.
"For yourself?"
"No, for someone else."
"Who?"
"You'll see."
So Valka kept herself hard at work on her flower crown while Hiccup rested and Stoick stood, keeping watch. As soon as she was done, Valka carefully placed the flower crown on Hiccup's head. Hiccup giggled at the ticklish feeling of the vines and flowers being placed around his head. This got Valka giggling too.
"Stoick, look over here," Valka said. "Doesn't your son look cute?"
Stoick looked over at them. His eyes widened at the sight of Hiccup with his flower crown before narrowing in disapproval.
"Valka, take that ridiculous thing off Hiccup's head," he ordered.
"Ridiculous?" Valka asked, also narrowing her eyes in disapproval over her husband's remark.
"Yes, ridiculous," Stoick said. "How's he supposed to grow up to be the strongest of them all if he doesn't look like the strongest of them all?" He looked down at Hiccup pondering. "Personally, a nice horned helmet would look more suitable on his head. It'll make him look more manly. And he's gotta act just as manly as I do."
"You don't always act as manly," Valka pointed out.
"How so?" Stoick asked.
"Don't you spend your spare time carving wooden ducklings?" Valka asked. "And don't you enjoy singing and dancing as well?"
Stoick blushed. "Well, those things I do like. But other than that, I always do manly hobbies such as hunting, fishing, archery and sailing. And someday when Hiccup is old enough, he must learn to do all of that as well."
"As much as I'd like to see him do those things, I'd like to see him learn his own hobbies as well, starting with singing and dancing," Valka said. Lifting Hiccup by the armpits, she stood up. "I think it's high time we taught him to sing and dance starting right here."
"Here?" Stoick asked.
"Yes, this would make a good dance floor," Valka said looking around at the flowers. "Nothing like dancing amongst the flowers." She hummed the first few notes of hers and Stoick's song and held out her hand. "Come and dance with us, Stoick."
Smiling and whistling, Stoick took Valka's hand and twirled her as she cradled Hiccup in one arm. So the couple danced side by side as the butterflies fluttered their wings around them and bumblebees scattered from flower to flower bringing them life. Hiccup giggled at the movement of his parents dancing and their soft singing voices. When the song was over, Stoick lifted Valka into the air and as she was hovering in the air, Valka lifted Hiccup in the air so that he could be higher than her. Hiccup waved his arms and giggled as he looked down at his parents and the meadow. After a moment, Stoick carefully set the both of them down so as not to drop them.
When the dance was finished, Hiccup's eyelids were feeling heavy and he yawned.
"Looks like someone's feeling a little sleepy," Stoick said, failing to stifle a yawn.
"Looks like Hiccup's not the only one who's sleepy," Valka said, trying to keep herself from yawning but failed.
"Maybe we should be heading back to the house," Stoick suggested.
"But it's lovely out here," Valka said. "We could have our naps right here."
"Our naps?" Stoick echoed.
"Yes, we're all gonna take a nap and we're all gonna take a nap right here," Valka said.
Stoick smiled and nodded, giving in. Valka carried Hiccup to a shady spot at the edge of the meadow, laid him on the soft grass and kissed his cheek. Stoick removed his fur cloak, placed it on top of the sleepy baby and also kissed him on the cheek.
"Doesn't he look like a chief already, Val?"
Valka nodded. He really did look a little like a chief. She also thought the sight of her tiny baby lying underneath her husband's very large cloak looked funny and cute and she stifled a giggle. Lying down next to him, she placed a protective arm around her son. Then Stoick laid down on the opposite side and also placed a protective arm around his wife and son. Before long, all three Haddocks were sound asleep as the butterflies and bumblebees flew over the flowers.
…
By the time the Haddocks had finished their naps, the sky was already a mixture of orange and pink. Golden rays of the setting sun shone through the trees surrounding the meadow. Valka sat cross-legged around the flowers as she breast-fed Hiccup his dinner while Stoick stood over them.
"Did you enjoy your dinner, Hiccup?" Valka asked her son as soon as he was finished.
Hiccup cooed a reply.
"Glad to hear that," Valka smiled.
"We should be heading home now, Val, if we're gonna have dinner ourselves," Stoick suggested.
Valka pretended to pout. "We couldn't possibly go home now. Not when there's a beautiful sunset to watch."
Stoick smiled and shook his head good-naturedly as he slid his satchel off his shoulder and opened it.
"I figured you'd want to be outside all day long, so I brought these along just in case."
And what Stoick meant by "these" were some apples and fresh rolls.
"So these must be the supplies that you've mentioned earlier," Valka said as Stoick handed her an apple and a roll.
"Mmm-hmmm," Stoick said, sitting down beside her with his own roll and apple.
After the couple finished their rolls and apples, Hiccup waved his arms and laughed.
"What's so amusing, son?" Stoick asked.
"I think he's trying to tell us about those birds up in the sky," Valka said.
Sure enough, there was a flock of birds flying over the meadow.
"Looks like a few birds are already starting their winter migration," Stoick said as he watched the birds disappear beyond the treetops.
"Yes," Valka said, smiling. Then she sighed wistfully as she stared at Hiccup. "Humans should have a winter migration as well, Hiccup. If birds can go wherever they wish to go, then people should do the same as well. How lovely it would be if you can just spread your wings, lift yourself off the ground and get away from everyday life."
Even Hiccup was looking up admirably at the sky and the flying birds.
"Now, Valka, don't tell me you're thinking about leaving again," Stoick said.
Valka snapped back to reality and looked at her husband. "No. Of course not."
She had completely forgotten about that time she blurted to Hiccup that sometimes she wanted to escape Berk and Stoick had overheard her.
"Good," Stoick said wrapping an arm around her shoulder and drawing her close as if to prevent her from escaping. "I hope you never leave. I don't know what I'd do if you did."
"Sorry, Stoick," Valka said. "It was just wishful thinking."
"I know, Val, I know," Stoick said, releasing her. "You want to see the world."
"And so does Hiccup," Valka said. "Right, son?"
She slid her fingers under Hiccup's chin and moved his mouth as she said shrilly, "Right."
Stoick laughed. "And someday, Hiccup, we will. Just you, me and your mother. We'll visit every single forest, mountain and village in the world." Then he gathered his satchel and stood up. "And right now, the only place we're all going to is home."
"Not until we've watched every last star appear in the sky," Valka said firmly. "The first one of the evening has just appeared."
She pointed to said star that was twinkling brightly against the light purple sky.
Stoick sighed and sat back down again. "Fine. But after that, it's straight home."
"Deal," Valka said.
The Haddocks sat in the middle of the meadow for a long time. The sky grew darker and darker. More and more stars appeared.
Hiccup's cooing drew Valka's attention to him. Even in the darkness, Valka could see her tiny baby grinning ear to ear. His eyes were so wide, she could see the stars reflected against them.
"Yes, Hiccup, the stars are beautiful," she said.
"Aye," Stoick said.
All around them, small golden lights began to flash.
"Look, Hiccup, fireflies," Valka said. She held up Hiccup urpright so that he was sitting on her lap. "Look at them light up."
Hiccup laughed as he watched the tiny golden lights that kept disappearing and reappearing around him and his parents.
Suddenly, a new kind of light shone down on the Haddocks from the sky. As all three of them looked up, their eyes widened as a wave of pink and purple lights shimmered across the sky.
"Oh, it's the Northern Lights!" Valka exclaimed.
Hiccup giggled and waved his arms. Smiling, Stoick picked up the baby from Valka's arms and lifted him high.
"Go on, Hiccup, catch them!" he said cheerfully and laughing loudly.
As if following his father's instructions, Hiccup laughed harder and waved his arms as though trying to touch the pretty, colorful lights. Also laughing harder, Valka also reached up towards the lights.
The three Haddocks laughed a little while longer before calming down and just watching the Northern Lights in silence. By then, Stoick lowered and cradled Hiccup in one arm and wrapped the other around Valka.
"Good thing, these lights and the fireflies are out tonight," Stoick said. "They'll guide us back to the village. We should be getting back to our warm, safe house now."
"I guess you're right, Stoick," Valka said wistfully. "But we'll be back next time."
Stoick handed Hiccup back to Valka and the family made their way out of the meadow and walked through the woods towards the direction of their village. Above them, the northern lights still shimmered and the fireflies around them still glowed.
"It's still a bit dark out here," Stoick muttered.
Then he had an idea. He looked around at the fireflies and spotted three of them closeby. He reached out and caught them perfectly.
"Careful, Stoick, don't crush them," Valka warned, holding out a hand in alarm.
"I haven't crushed them," Stoick assured. He opened his hands revealing the three insects still in one piece and their golden lights shone against his palms. Valka smiled in relief.
Then Stoick held out his hands in front of him to light their way home. With Hiccup still in her arms, Valka followed.
It wasn't long before they were back at the borders of their beloved village. By the time they saw the houses in front of them, Stoick held out his hands and the three glowing fireflies flapped off into the night.
"Bye," Valka called, taking hold of Hiccup's hand and waving it in the air.
"Ooh," Hiccup murmured.
"Such an exciting day," Valka said as they headed for their house. "Just think, we saw so many creatures that fly. Butterflies, bees, flying fish, fireflies and birds."
"The flying fish don't count, Valka," Stoick pointed out. "But yes, we did see lots of flying creatures."
"Well, the flying fish count to me," Valka insisted. She looked down at Hiccup. "Wouldn't be wonderful if people could fly too, Hiccup."
Hiccup babbled sleepily as his eyelids began drooping a little.
"Don't fill our son's head with ideas, Valka," Stoick insisted but he was smiling as he said it.
"I have a feeling people will fly someday, Hiccup," Valka said to her son, ignoring Stoick. "If you dream tonight, dream about nothing but flying."