Title: Here

Requested by: Anon- I would love to submit a prompt if you're taking them. I had an idea wherein Hiccup gets forlorn about the fact that his children will never know Stoick (and Stoick would never know his grandchildren), and he ends up discussing it with Valka, either because she overhears him talking about it or he confronts her about it. I realize this is kind of a heavy subject, but it was just something I was thinking about. Thanks, haha!

Summary: "He'll never meet them." Hiccup said bluntly. He felt so tired. He didn't have the strength to cry. He only felt... empty. "Dad would talk about Astrid and I having kids. He joked about it constantly, but, deep down I knew he'd give anything to have a grandbaby to bounce on his knee. And here he has two, and he'll never meet either of them."

Genre: Hurt/Comfort, Family

Rating: K+

Time-line: Post HTTYD 3

A/N: Hey guys! This little ficlet is from the-dragon-central blog over on tumblr, so go check it out. It's a blog with 10 HTTYD writers, and you can drop any request and we'll try and get them done. :) I'm gonna say the same for me: if you have any requests you'd like me to write, go drop it off in my tumblr inbox. It's so much easier for me to see them there than it is here on , where they're sprawled out on all my stories/chapters. By anyhow, I hope you enjoy! (And oh my gosh, it's been over a year since I updated this collection? Goodness, it's insane how fast time flies. :O)

Hiccup was undeniably tired. His head ached, his chest hurt, and his hand was still bandaged from a few days prior when Astrid had squeezed it too tight. He'd felt something crack, though he'd never tell her that. He'd merely said it was a small sprain and he'd be right as rain in a few days (which he fully intended to be, healed or not).

Poor Astrid. She'd felt awful. "I'm so sorry, Hiccup, gods..."

He'd been quick to reassure her. Who was he to complain about a little pain in his hand, when she had just suffered through childbirth? He'd kissed her forehead for the utmost time that day, and smoothed her hair out of her face (with his good hand). "Ast, it helped you bring this little bundle into the world. Don't apologize."

The little bundle, of course, meant their newborn son.

Who had, for the past five days, wailed his head off every half hour or so during the night. Astrid was burnt out past exhaustion, and with her body still healing, Hiccup had tried his best to give her a little extra rest.

Valka had offered to take over his duties as chief until she deemed Hiccup ready to return. He'd protested meekly, saying he was more than capable of deciding when he was healthy enough to resume his duties. She'd only given him the stink eye and looked past him at Astrid for support.

His wife had agreed. "She's right, Hiccup."

Of course they'd gang up on him. But, though he hated to admit it, the free time was very nice, and deeply appreciated. He spent a lot of time with Zephyr, who had adjusted amazingly well to the new addition to the family. She liked to hold little Nuffink, and would try to braid his short fluffy hair. She loved helping Hiccup with the meals. It was her special chore to set the table and sweep the floor, which she pounced upon eagerly. She said it was just like when she played house in the forest, only better because this was real.

After supper one evening, Hiccup helped Astrid come outside onto the porch. She'd been bugging him for the past two days to let her at least poke her head out the door for some fresh air. But with the constant rain, he hadn't wanted her to get sick. Was he being a little overbearing? Probably. But... he'd never be able to describe how terrifying it is to watch his wife go through... all of that. And have absolutely no control over what's happening or what could happen. If something went wrong, he was helpless to prevent it.

So, if he could keep her from falling ill, by Thor's thunder he would. And Astrid would just smile and tilt her head, consenting all too easily. He knew she was letting him coddle her, not necessarily because she liked it- but because she knew him. She knew he needed that little something.

He helped her sit down on one of their dining chairs he'd pulled from the house. He plopped down on the bottom step beside her, before pulling off his cloak and draping it over her shoulders. In her arms slept little Nuffink. Looking at his pudgy pink face, Hiccup would never accuse him of being a little screaming nightmare at any given time of the day. But, of course, he knew better. As if his body was trying to remind him, he stifled a yawn.

"You should go rest while he's sleeping." Astrid said quietly, looking over at him with worried eyes. "Zephyr and I can handle him for an hour or two."

Hiccup leaned back against the steps and closed his eyes. "I'll be fine. I'd like to spend some time with my two girls." He peeped one eye open and smiled. "But do pardon my yawning, milady."

Zephyr rushed by, her hand clutching a stick with a scrap of fabric tied to the end; a makeshift flag she'd designed out of 'Momma's ol' rags'. In the other arm she clutched her stuffed Nightfury.

Hiccup's smile faded, and he closed his eyes again. As it often did in such quiet and peaceful moments as these, his mind wandered. Wandered to a past that was better off forgotten, but he just couldn't seem to forget.

"I wonder what Dad would say, if he were here." He suddenly said, surprising even himself. It was something he'd thought too many times to count, but not once had he voiced it. There'd only been one occasion when Stoick had been mentioned, and it was after Zephyr's birth. Astrid had smiled through her tears and replied strongly, "You're Dad would be so proud, Hiccup. Proud of you. Proud of us."

Maybe his Mom had thought he hadn't noticed, but Hiccup had. He'd noticed how she'd fallen short, her breath had faltered, and how she had quickly slipped out of the room. He hadn't mentioned it since.

"I've already told you." Astrid's voice interrupted his musings. "He'd be proud." Her own voice carried said virtue, he tone warm. He looked up at her, and saw how she gazed at Zephyr, then at Nuffink. She wore a smile so soft, yet so strong; anyone could tell it spoke of a fiery love. Then she looked at him with the same look.

The evening wore on, and Hiccup must've fallen asleep, for when he opened his eyes for the second time, it was dark, and Astrid and Zephyr were gone. His cloak was sprawled over his chest and legs.

He sat up and blinked. A figure was drawing closer until they were near enough for him to see. It was his mother.

She didn't say anything, only came up to sit beside him. From within their hut, Hiccup could hear the faint sound of Astrid singing a lullaby.

"And what brings you out here, sleeping on the steps of your home rather than in your home?" Valka asked, her voice carrying laughter. She looked to him with a playful smile.

He smiled softly. "I suppose I was more tired than I thought." He sobered. "I... I was thinking of Dad."

Her playfulness wilted away, leaving only a weathered face and sad eyes. "Ah, yes. I was wondering..." she trailed off. "I was wondering when you'd bring him up. I've noticed how you look at Zephyr, and now Nuffink."

"He'll never meet them." Hiccup said bluntly. He felt so tired. He didn't have the strength to cry. He only felt... empty. "Dad would talk about Astrid and I having kids. He joked about it constantly, but, deep down I knew he'd give anything to have a grandbaby to bounce on his knee. And here he has two, and he'll never meet either of them."

He felt an arm wrap around his shoulder and draw him close, but he couldn't bring himself to melt into the embrace. He was a man, he was strong. Or he should be.

"How is life so... so unfair?"

"It's the way of the gods." Valka reassured softly. "Stoick is looking down from Valhalla, watching you raise your children. And I know- no, I can feel- how proud he is of you. He's probably busting his buttons. Imagine him telling Odin about every little progress Zephyr makes. 'Today me grandaughter broke her first tooth!' 'T'day me grandbaby took a step! Was Hiccup 'elping 'er? Bah, who cares! She lifted her own foot.',"

Hiccup chuckled and fiddled with his cloak. Even though Valka's attempt at Stoick's voice was far from the truth- he could still hear him say every word.

She kissed his forehead. "Go rest, Hiccup, and don't fret about it anymore." She stood and straightened her skirt. "Tomorrow will dawn a new day, new beginnings. Think of the future and not the past." She began heading towards the village. "You have two little bundles of proof to tell ye it's going to be a bright one." She said, more to herself than to Hiccup.

He watched her grow further away, until the night entirely swallowed her up. The door to the hut opened, and Astrid whispered his name.

"Zephyr wants you to tuck her in bed." She said.

Hiccup took one last look at the starry sky above, before telling her he'd be right in. He got to his feet and picked up his cloak, dusting off the few strands of grass it'd collected. He paused, then sighed before looking up again.

"Dad, you have a new grandson." He smiled, "A healthy boy. Nuffink. Named after Mom's uncle..." He swallowed thickly, and tried to find something to say. Finally, he whispered. "You'd love him."

The stars twinkled back, a silent answer.