Training Dragons Isn't the Only Thing I Think About

...

The only downside to having Hiccup Haddock as a husband was his overwhelming obsession with dragons. If he wasn't flying Toothless, he was updating dragon stats. If he wasn't updating dragon stars, he was geeking out with Fishlegs. If he wasn't geeking out with Fishlegs, he was studying newfound dragon documents. And if he wasn't studying newfound dragon documents, he was stationed in the forge, handcrafting clever weapons made from Gronckle iron, Monstrous Nightmare gel, and, most recently, Night Fury plasma.

"You know, babe, you're gonna have to cut back on all the dragon stuff when the baby comes."

Hiccup jumped at the sound of his wife's voice. "Yeah, yeah," he said. Chuckling, he rubbed the back of his neck as he turned in his seat. "It'll only be temporary, though. Once she can walk and talk, I'll start teaching her everything there is to know about these guys." He gave Toothless a pat on the head.

"She?" Astrid raised an eyebrow.

"I'm just being hopeful."

The blonde groaned as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Of course, I'll be happy with a boy, too," Hiccup quickly added.

"Well, we'll soon find out what Freja gave us." Astrid placed a hand on her enlarged belly as the unborn child kicked. Although the baby had been fidgeting since the third moon of her pregnancy, the feeling of a little life moving inside of her was still a strange sensation. In the early moons, the child's movements had felt like gentle butterflies in her stomach. But now, it felt as if the baby was attempting to battle an enemy tribe from inside her womb.

"Mmm-hmm." Nodding, the Chief shifted his attention to the papers on his desk.

Astrid shook her head and reached for the string that bound her braid. She could already foresee how the night would play out. She'd have a bath, get into bed, and fall asleep long before Hiccup even extinguished the candle at his desk. And overall, she didn't have a problem with that. He was a night owl, and she was a morning bird. He geeked out about dragons at every chance he got, and she wasn't as inclined to geek out. It'd always been that way. But she did wish that he'd take advantage of the little time they had left before the baby arrived to do something other than look through dragon notes.

"Babe," she started.

"Yeah?"

"I'm gonna take a bath now."

"Mmm-hmm."

The blonde shuffled down the stairs and into the washroom. After calling Stormfly in to heat her bath water, she grabbed a towel, undressed, and sank into the tub. While she scrubbed, she silently hoped that her husband would come join her. During their honeymoon, soaking in the tub together had been a common occurrence - just soaking and talking. But then life had got in the way. Hiccup had begun reconstructing Berk after the battle with Drago, and Astrid, in addition to helping him, had started teaching training classes at Berk's Dragon Academy. And then, of course, they'd been surprised with Astrid's pregnancy, and a portion of their time had suddenly begun to revolve around preparing for the baby's arrival.

Sighing, Astrid quickly finished washing, then climbed out of the tub, wrapped her towel around her body, and returned to the bedroom. Hiccup was still in the same position in which she'd left him. Toothless, who evidentially didn't share his rider's enthusiasm about whichever dragon he was studying, had curled into a ball at his side, his tail impatiently flicking Hiccup's leg.

"You know, babe," Astrid began. She lifted her hairbrush and drew it through her damp locks.

"Yes, milady?" Hiccup didn't look up from his notes.

"I'm done my bath."

"Mmm-hmm."

"And I'm about to get into bed."

"Mmm-hmm."

"Hiccup!" She shouted her husband's name as she tossed a nightgown over her head.

"For Thor's sake, Astrid! Don't scare me like that!" Hiccup turned in his chair.

Astrid settled in beneath the covers. "Do you think you could wrap up the dragon stuff a little early tonight?"

The Chief frowned. "Is everything okay?"

"It's fine." Astrid let out a sigh. "I just...well...I just don't wanna fall asleep in a cold bed." She patted the space beside her.

Silently standing up, Hiccup stretched before extinguishing the candle on his desk and sending Toothless to his bed. After making sure that the Night Fury was settled in, he changed into nightclothes, unfastened his metal leg, and snuggled up to Astrid. "Alright, milady. What can I do for you tonight?"

The blonde wound her arms around Hiccup's waist and tucked her head beneath his chin. A smile spread across her lips as he caught her in a tight embrace and sprinkled tiny kisses onto her cheeks. "Oh, nothing much. I just wanted to spend some quality time with you. And since moonlit flights aren't an option right now..." Much to Astrid's dismay, her pregnancy had inspired air sickness, and she could no longer tolerate flying for more than a few minutes at a time.

"Soon," promised Hiccup. "I'll get my mom to babysit, and we'll have a romantic evening together, complete with a long flight, a picnic, and -"

"And sex?" Astrid turned a hopeful gaze towards her husband's face.

"Well, I was gonna say camping, but sex sounds better."

"Sex while camping." With a playful gleam in her eyes, Astrid took Hiccup's hand and laced her fingers with his.

The Chief laughed. "I like the way you think."

"I try my hardest."

Tightening their grips on each other's hands, the couple fell silent. For a short spell, they simply lay together, their fingers intertwined and their legs tangled together, basking in one another's presence.

"Are you sure you're feeling alright?" Hiccup asked eventually, pulling his fingers loose from Astrid's and running them through her bangs.

"I'm fine, babe. Just tired." The blonde yawned as she cuddled deeper into Hiccup's chest.

"Would you tell me if you weren't feeling alright?"

"I'm fine," repeated Astrid. "You don't have to worry about me."

"Hey, I'm your husband. It's part of my job."

A sleepy sigh escaped Astrid's lips. "Hiccup," she began. "When the baby comes, you'll...you'll stay with me, right?"

"Stay with you?" Hiccup raised an eyebrow. "Of course I'll stay with you. Do you really think I'd go searching for another wife after everything we've been through together?"

"No, I don't mean that." Astrid shook her head. "I mean, will you stay with me while I'm in labor? Maybe hold my hand, or..."

"You're scared, aren't you?"

"No, of course not. It's just..." She trailed off. "Alright, I admit it. I am a little scared that something will happen. My mom passed away giving birth to me, my aunt's baby was stillborn..."

"I know. But you're not them. You're Astrid. You're the strongest, bravest woman on Berk. And our baby is equally strong and brave. I know it already." Hiccup tugged the furs to Astrid's chin before caressing her cheek and pressing a sloppy kiss upon her frown.

"How?"

"Because she's yours."

Astrid shot a glare at her husband.

"Alright, alright. She or he is yours."

"Much better." Astrid's words were accompanied by a yawn.

"Sleepy, much?" Hiccup asked.

Astrid nodded against his chest. "It's the baby's fault."

Letting out a soft chuckle, the Chief nuzzled his nose against Astrid's cheek before planting a kiss there.

"You missed, babe."

"What do you mean?"

"My lips are here." Propping herself up with one arm, Astrid placed her free hand beneath Hiccup's chin and guided his lips to hers. Before they could think twice, their tongues were tangled together, and quiet, yet desperate moans were escaping their mouths.

"My gods," Hiccup eventually gasped, breaking the kiss and resting his forehead against Astrid's.

"Mmm." Astrid locked eyes with her husband before curling into his side. "Do you mind staying with me until I fall asleep?" she asked.

"Until you fall asleep?" Raising an eyebrow, Hiccup rubbed Astrid's arm. "I was planning on staying with you until morning, but if you don't want me to..."

"No, I do. I want you here. It's just...I thought you'd wanna finish geeking out about dragons."

The Chief blew out the bedside candle, leaving the room black. "Well, you know, Astrid, training dragons isn't the only thing I think about."

"Yeah, and you're also the son of Thor." With a smile playing on her lips, Astrid rolled onto her side. To her delight, Hiccup followed her example and spooned her from behind, his arms comfortably resting between her swollen breasts and her even-more-swollen belly. Her smile grew bigger at the feeling of his lips on her shoulder, and still wider at the sensation of his nose against her hair.

Two years. That was the length of time they'd been together. Eight moons of courting, plus six moons of the betrothal, plus ten moons of marriage. Two years of Hiccup, the most well-loved, dragon-obsessed Viking on Berk, and the one with the biggest heart - a heart that enabled him to be a kind leader, a loyal son, a master of dragons, a trustworthy friend, and a loving husband.

"Are you comfortable?" Hiccup asked, feeling his wife shift against him.

"Mmm-hmm." Astrid nodded against him and closed her eyes, her thoughts still occupied with the auburn-haired Chief who was snuggled beside her.

And as she drifted off to sleep, he appeared in her dreams. He and her unborn child - a child who grew up to love dragons almost as much as his father.