Through The Ups & Downs

Couple; Harrison X Briana

Rating; Mature

Disclaimer: I do not own HTTYD or any songs I might use! In addition, from this point in the story and in future chapters, I do not own the character Ella (Eira) Solveig. She belongs to a good friend, ShadowSpirit020.

56) Because Of Them

{Normal POV}

[October 9, 2020-Briana & Harrison's Place]

It was amazing what a few short weeks could fix. Today marked several big events for Harrison and his little family. Two days ago was the official date of Harrison and Briana's three-year wedding anniversary, and it was Cayden and Colden's third birthday. However, the party for both those celebratory items was today, Friday the 9th. In addition to those, there was one other major event; Harrison finished physical therapy and his psychiatry sessions. Harrison now had a new model artificial lib, one that worked so it would feel and look to be that Harrison never lost his leg. Same skin tone, shape, and everything. Harrison loved how it looked and felt, to be honest, when he walked, there was hardly a limp. Harrison could tell there was because he was still adjusting to it, but when he walked, no one could tell the difference. Moreover, Harrison using it with shoes and socks, no one knew a things except for the fact that everyone knew he was the former soldier who saved their lives with his brave and courageous acts of selflessness. Harrison was done with his counseling appointments too, he admitted that he felt great and could control whatever came his way.

As such, Harrison was off the anti-depressants last week to see how he'd do without them and there hasn't been a single problem. Harrison moved past all the things he'd endured and seen from his time in the military, overall, he was a lot happier for doing so and grateful to all those who helped in that desperate time of need. Everyone was coming over; Spencer, Viviana, Nate and Emily with him, the two finally got together. Nate asked Emily homecoming dance in September when their Junior Year of High School began. In addition, the training with their Night Furies, Luna and Streamwing was going great, especially with Harrison helping. Other who were coming were Mia, Carter, Jasmine, Alexander, Glenn, and Aaron. Then, of course, all the friends; Addilyn, Andy, Regina, Frankie, TJ with Stephanie, Syrus with Sierra, Dexter and Skye, Hailey and Trevor. Olivia and Chelsea were coming as well with their boyfriends. Bradley Hunt was Olivia's and Kevin Rogers was Chelsea's.

Olivia and Bradley were actually married and had been for two years, they got engaged in 2018, then married six months later and didn't tell anyone because their families didn't like them together. Of course, they did not have plans for children yet, they wanted to get their families used to the marriage and have them start getting along before throwing an innocent child into the mix, seemed fair to those that knew of the situation. Either way, everyone was over, the only person not there was Harrison, who was still at work and promised he'd be home in time, yet, at the moment, he was thirty minutes late.

"Should I call Berkys?" Briana wondered nervously.

"I got out at 2 pm when Harrison was supposed to, he said he'd be right behind after he finished the inventory," Sierra mentioned softly while sitting next to Syrus. Briana grabbed the phone off the base and everyone quieted down as she dialed Berkys number and waited with it on speakerphone.

After three rings, there was an answer. "Berkys, this is Harrison. How can I help you?"

"Harrison, it's Bri. Where are you, babe?" Briana asked.

"Still at work obviously, Milady," Harrison chuckled. "Sorry, Cal is running a bit behind. I guess there was an emergency with his oldest daughter, something about a possible broken arm that occurred during her soccer game," he informed afterward.

"Do you know how much longer, Love? We're all here waiting for you," Briana asked.

"Um, are you going to get mad at me if I say another hour? We're kind of getting one of those mini rushes and I'm the only manager on right now with a crew of four because someone no called/no showed on me," Harrison stated. "Hang on. Scott, jump on sandwiches and help Amy out. Drive-thru is getting slammed,"

"Harrison, do you want me to come back and help with the rush?" Sierra asked.

"I can come back too if ya need another helping hand?" TJ offered.

"I'd really appreciate that," Harrison breathed a sigh of relief. "TJ, when you get here, jump on grill. Sierra, take over front on the second register. Raymond will run for you, you're a faster ringer than he is since he's new,"

"Got it, we're on our way, boss!" Sierra called as the two got up and hurried out the door to Sierra's car.

"Harrison, we need help!"

"Hey, everyone just needs to take a deep breath and calm down. Nothing will get done if you don't work together. Scott, you make sandwiches for DT. Amy, you handle front. Ray, stay on front, backup is coming. James, stay where you are on OT. I'll run and handle fries. I'll be home as soon as I can, babe. Sorry, but I gotta go. I love you, and the rest of you too!" after that, the call ended as everyone sighed.

"So, how do we kill an hour?" Jasmine wondered curiously.

[An Hour & Ten Minutes Later]

At 3:15 pm, Harrison's truck was heard pulling into the driveway, then right behind him along the side of the road was Sierra's car. Harrison and TJ exited the truck, Sierra shut her car door as all three of them made their way into the house.

"Well, that couldn't have possibly been worse," Harrison mumbled.

"Bad rush?" Briana asked.

"I don't even wanna talk about it," Harrison stated with Sierra and TJ nodding in agreement. "Let me get changed and we'll start this thing," he added while moving into the bedroom to change out of his work uniform. TJ had his in his drawstring bag, Sierra's was in her car since both of them had worked a shift earlier that day, then they went right to the Briana and Harrison's place to help set up the party. Harrison came out dressed in a pair of black, gray, and white cargo pants and a black shirt. "Okay, much better," he smiled as he kissed Briana deeply, then grabbed both of his boys and hugged them tightly while they giggled before being put down.

"Well, now that everyone is here. Glenn and I have something for Harrison," Aaron stated as he got up with Glenn and approached Harrison with smiled.

"Okay, you two are freaking me out. It's…not my birthday and all I did was stop going to appointments for psychiatry and therapy. That's nothing that merits a gift," Harrison remarked.

"In truth, you were supposed to get this a while back but there was a lot of paperwork involved and well, we wanted to wait until you were…all good again. We thought that today might be as good a time as any with everyone over to give it to you," Glenn informed as Aaron and he brought forth a medium sized black box.

"Harrison, this time last year you did something that saved the lives of hundreds at the risk of your own. Even before that, you risked your life as a special ops soldier for three years on dangerous missions. You joined the Arc Isle Military as an Infantryman for the Army in April 2015, and served four years with us before you were medically and honorable discharged. This gift is not from us, rather it is from headquarters, but we were tasked with giving it to you," Aaron said a little formally. The box opened yet no one was able to see what was inside.

"Harrison Haddock, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. The Arc Isle Military Forces awards you the highest honor any soldier can receive; the Medal of Valor," Glenn said as everyone gasped quickly, Harrison's eyes widened as Glenn removed the medal from the box and walked it over to Harrison, placing it around his neck gently, and then stepping back. Harrison couldn't believe this, he was awarded the military's highest honor for what he did last year with defeat Red Death and Dominic? That merited this medal?! Harrison didn't have the words.

"You've earned it for all you did for this island, lad," Aaron smiled as Glenn nodded.

"I-I don't…have the words. Thank you," Harrison managed, still in shock. Honestly, he felt like he might cry. It was an honor to receive this medal and more meaningful that Aaron and Glenn were the ones who got to award it to him. Granted, Harrison wasn't a soldier anymore, not legally at least, but this meant a lot to him. In Harrison's heart, he would always be a soldier and always protect the people he loved.

"So, fun question for you, big brother?" Nate said smiling. "If the military needed you back, even with all that happened, would you answer the call?"

"Honest answer?" Harrison arched a brow as everyone nodded. "In a friggin heartbeat," he replied with a smile. "I answered that about three weeks ago when I asked myself, I wrote a song for how I feel regarding it all,"

"Oh, can we hear it!?" Viviana asked gently with some mild excitement.

"Sure," Harrison shrugged as he went to the spare room and grabbed his guitar, and then came out with the strap around his next. "Nate, wanna help me out?" he asked as Nate got up quickly and moved beside Harrison, after that, Harrison started playing the notes.

"He's got a corner lot on Dogwood Drive, a year old tuck, and a nine to five. Comes home at night to a pretty wife with a baby due," Harrison started as Nate was tapping his feet to the beat. "He'll sleep in on Saturday, cut the grass if it don't rain. After church, he'll watch the game and have a beer or two. He'll stand up when he hears the anthem, and that won't ever change!" Nate joined in as the two prepared for the chorus.

"He's still a soldier. His blood runs red, white, and blue. He put away his gun and boots, but he still believes in the Arc Isle Dream. 'Til his last breath he'll always be…A soldier. He's still be a soldier," Nate and Harrison sang with a big smile.

"He's on his couch for the news at ten, he'll see those places that he's been and when a brother falls, there's a part of him that does too. And if they called and needed him back, oh, he'd be on the plane!" Nate sang while Harrison kept playing.

"He's still a soldier. His blood runs red, white, and blue. He put away his gun and boots, but he still believes in the Arc Isle Dream. 'Til his last breath he'll always be…A soldier!" after that it was just Harrison playing for a minute or so.

"He don't wake up anymore, when he hears thunder! Oh, but even if he lives to be a hundred," a slight pause as Harrison went to join in with his little brother. "He'll still be a soldier. He's still a soldier! He's put away, his gun and boots. But he still believes the Arc Isle Dream. 'Til his last breath he'll always be…A soldier! He's still a soldier….He's still a soldier!" the song finished after the two held the ending note. Harrison wrapped and arm around Nate's shoulders and one-arm hugged him. The groups of family and friends clapped happily, cheering at the performance.

"So, that was an amazing song for one. And two, I was curious about the some of the lyrics, if I can question them?" Addilyn wondered.

"Sure, shoot," Harrison stated with a smile after he returned from putting his guitar away and Nate sat back down next to Emily.

"Alright, its really just two. The first one is the ending part where Nate sang 'He don't wake up anymore when he hears thunder.' What's that for?" Addy asked.

"Well, after the whole Kuwait tour and Dominic's grenade, I wasn't a huge fan of thunderstorms because the sound reminded me of bombs. It used to wake me up and take me a few minutes to focus on where I was. It was part of the PTSD," Harrison shrugged.

"I had a feeling it was about that. So, the second thing is the opening lyrics about coming home to a pretty wife with a baby due. You said you wrote this a few weeks ago, so…is that like back when she was pregnant with the twins or just something random you threw in there for the sake of the song about a former soldier settling down with a family finally?" Addilyn questioned. Harrison chuckled a bit, which made everyone curious as to why he did it. Briana smiled as she walked over to Harrison now and leaned into his chest as his arms wrapped around her figure lovingly, his hands resting on her lower stomach.

"Nope, nothing to do with any of that. I come home from work to a pretty wife with a baby due," Harrison stated with a smile. It took everyone a minute to process what he said, then they zeroed in on Briana's and Harrison's hands resting on Briana's stomach.

Jasmine and Skye jumped up first and pointed excitedly. "Briana's pregnant again!"

"Bingo," Harrison said as he kissed Briana lightly. Everyone was in shock, Briana was pregnant again?! After the kiss broke, Harrison gave Briana a gentle squeeze. "Eight weeks and five days today, found out two weeks ago when she was six along as her annual appointment,"

"Yep, ran a standard office test to check as they always do and it came back positive," Briana informed, "Oh, and only one this time," she added happily. "I'm due May of next year,"

"That's wonderful! Congrats, lad," Glenn clapped his hands together, then got up and hugged Harrison, who couldn't resist hugging back tightly. Afterward, Harrison looked at Glenn gently.

"Glenn, if…not for you, I might not be here right now. You've always been like an uncle to me and I can't tell you how grateful I am that you came when I called for help. It's because of you that I'm standing in this room with my family and friends, depression and PTSD free, about to be a father again. I…owe all this to you," Harrison admitted as he tried to keep his emotions in check.

"Hey, you're like a son to me, Harrison. The son I never got to have and one I'll always be around for until the day I die. In truth, though, any one of us would have come running upon getting a phone call like that. Just know that all of us will always be here for you, no matter what," Glenn told him. Harrison nodded as he hugged Glenn again. "Alright, enough of this…mushy crap. It's party time!" he announced as everyone cheered and Glenn wiped the single tear that slipped from Harrison's eye, then the man winked at him as if to say he wouldn't tell anyone. Harrison nodded again, thankful for the gesture. The party kicked into full swing and Harrison found himself a few hours later just leaning against the wall with a drink in hand while watching everyone talk about whatever they could. Harrison watched his family and friends interact, thankful to have every one of them in his life. Harrison was grateful to Glenn, and everyone else too. Harrison didn't know how things got better than this, but he knew for sure that these people would always be in his life through all the ups and downs. Harrison's life is and always would be perfect because of them.

~Author's Note; Hey! Guess what everyone, this is the LAST chapter of Through the Ups and Downs! I know, an emotional rollercoaster for Harrison, but hey, most of my stories go that way. Anyway, I hope everyone enjoyed it and I should have another story starting soon. Just gotta decide if it's gonna be Regular or Modern verse first, I have a bunch of ideas down in a document. Let me know what you guys want. Modern or Normal HTTYD Universe, also include if you want Hicstrid, Toothcup, Elsup/Hilsa(HiccupXElsa), or Hiccup X OC! Let me know in PM, please. See you soon and thank you all again for being such amazing and loyal fans of my work! –Nightstar Fury