Their Happy Anniversary

Yes...so much has changed – changes, Hiccup hadn't even asked about in the first place. Like...getting married, having a wife all day around you and having to share a bed.

Sure...things came naturally. Like...having her around him all day, sharing a bed, helping her to cook. Being married. And he loved it.

Yes – there were challenging moments as well... Hard conversations, dark pasts to recover, difficult choices to make. But together they managed these well. Because...after everything...it had made them stronger, despite all of Ljóda's believes. And that not only individually, but also both them as a couple.

And now – being married with that wonderful woman for two years, once the sun was rising, he wouldn't want to change a thing about it.

No...nothing...not the way they got to know each other, not the Maiden's Dance and not their Wedding. Not even all the difficulties they had after that.

Well...maybe Ljóda's death...that he would have loved to change. Because it would have been easier for Astrid. And maybe even for Hakon, his father-in-law.

And yet he wouldn't deny, that they had that archived that Happy Ending, that they had always wanted – not in a way they have searched for, but for them absolutely perfect.

Yes...perfect...just like having your wife next to you in the morning, cuddling her until the daily life would catch up with them.

Hiccup yawned, reaching out for her on their bed, wanting to pull her closer once more, kiss and hold her, until they had to get up.

But her warm body was nowhere to be found.

Startled he pushed himself up on his elbows, blinking, until the sleep completely vanished from his eyes, searching for her.

But she wasn't there next to him, which was strange – especially once he noticed, that the sun still hadn't risen on the horizon and it was still so dark outside. He would have loved to spend a few more hours in bed, maybe having some fun..., but...now? Sure...he knew, that she had problems with some nightmare, but normally he would notice. Comfort her. But that she got out of bed unnoticed was new...

"...Astrid...?" he called through silence and darkness, his heart already starting to beat faster with panic.

"Downstairs!", she yet soon enough answered and he sighed in relief, before he reached for the pair of shorts and his prostheses, which laid on the floor beside him, preparing himself, before he got up and walked towards the stairs.

He immediately was greeted by the light of the fireplace, that shone up from the lower floor towards him.

"You got yourself comfortable down here without me?" He asked, jokingly, walking downstairs to be greeted by the most lovely sign imaginable:

Astrid sat with her legs crossed in front of the fireplace, wearing her nightgown and her blonde hair down, while Toothless had laid his head on her lap, cooing softly, while she petted his head.

If one would have told him exact two years ago, that the fierce Valkyrie of the Hunter Tribe would have let her guard completely down in front of a dragon, then he probably would have called this very person completely mad. Because back then, he would have never thought, that she would found joy in cuddling with these winged reptiles.

Well...back then, he even wouldn't have thought, that they would eventually fall in love. But they did and the time since then had been amazing...

"Wow...", Hiccup mumbled, grinning widely and leaned against the wall next to the lowest step, wanting to take in this scene as long as he could. "...I just think, that I have fallen in love with you once more..."

"Haha...", she answered, rolling her eyes and shook her head about his idiotic behavior – which she loved just as much.

"So...want to tell me, what is holding you awake, M'lady? I was missing you and your warm, naked body next to me..."

She merely shrugged, but kept on smiling and stroking the black reptile.

Hiccup's eyebrows rose at that, but chose to not dwell on any answer, for he knew, that she sooner or later would give him one. Instead he walked over to them, sat down behind her. He kissed her cheek, just wanting to have a few peaceful seconds with her, while he reached around her, wanting to pull her closer and against him.

But whatever it was – it made Toothless growl immediately and the Night Fury pushed the hands of his rider away with his head, before he laid down on her lap once more.

To say, that Hiccup was irritated about his dragon's behavior was a mild understatement.

"Hey, you useless reptile! That's my wife and cuddly pillow! What has gotten into you?!"

Once again Hiccup reached out, laying his hands on her stomach and once again the dragon answered with a dangerous growl and even bit (though being softly with that) the young man's fingers.

Astrid merely laughed softly about that, before she turned a little around to look her beloved husband in the eyes.

„...He his just protecting his own, don't you think so, too?"

„...But not like that! And why would he want to protect you from me?"

Still eyeing his winged friend carefully, he reached around Astrid's shoulders, now pulling her like that against him, before he cuddled his face against her neck, making her giggle lightly.

"...maybe...because I am pregnant?"

Hiccup's heart stopped for a moment. Or two.

"...Happy Anniversary?" Astrid whispered, her eyes gleaming with joy, before she was able to free herself from Toothless' heat to turn around towards the young man in front of her.

"...Hap-happy...Pregnant?!"

"Yes...Very much pregnant and Gothi approved."

"Like...there is a baby inside of you!"

"That's how it works, you know?"

"A-and I put it there?!"

"Babe...you are ridiculous now..." She said, reaching for his cheeks, to hold the poor, shaking Hiccup still. "..., but yeah...I am pregnant with a baby inside of me and you are the one, who put it there. And Toothless must be sensing it, guessing by his behavior..."

Hiccup reached up, grasping her wrists, still breathless.

"You will be a mother!"

She nodded, though her smile vanished for the shortest moment, both of them shortly remembering their past conversations about this specific topic. And their many many attempts to get her pregnant.

Not only because their tribes were after two years demanding an heir.

But because they both had chosen to take this step and to become parents.

"A-and I will be...a father!"

Her wide smile returned, together with a few glistering tears of happiness.

"Yes...", she said, nodding. „...yes...you will be a father. A great father!"

"I...I can't believe it! I mean – I am believing it! And- I need to prepare! I need to build a cot! And a baby needs cloths! And diapers! And we need to childproof the house! All of Berk! Berk – I – I immediately need to declare that we are awaiting a baby! And your father needs to know, too! And all of Hranafall! And Mala and Dagur!" Hiccup was babbling like mad, getting faster and faster with every word, before he stopped once more, looking Astrid directly in the eyes, sobbing once.

Yes..., this truly was a happy ending – definitely not one, like they ever imagined it to be, but one they have wanted for themselves for some time now.

"Happy Anniversary, indeed..." he mumbled, joyful tears glistering in his eyes as well, before he leaned his forehead against hers, pulling her into the tightest hug imaginable. Toothless, still being very tired, but still on his own very happy for his two humans, waddled behind them, rolling around them, like a secure cocoon, cooing happily for them.

"Yeah...indeed...My love..."