Occupational Hazard

Hiccup ducked as Astrid swung her arm at him for the fifth time that day, screeching about yet another trivial thing that had drove her over the edge. Hiccup was only able to dodge her blows now because she was pregnant and tired quickly. Even now, her face was red with rage and her shoulders were heaving in stress.

Hiccup was amused and a little worried, though he would never tell her that, Astrid just saw it as weakness. Catching her right fist as she swung it toward his shoulder, prepared after two years of marriage for her signature punch, she struggled in his grip, eyes wide in frustration. Swinging her left palm to his head, she managed a slap to disorient him and removed herself from his grip. Toothless watched, wide eyed, ears back nervously, high on his haunches behind Hiccup.

Rubbing the back of his head with a familiar wince, Hiccup sighed, "Astrid, calm down."

"I will not calm down!" Astrid was still breathing heavily with rage and she let out a frustrated scream, whirling around and stomping back up the hill to the house.

Hiccup trotted to keep up with her and snagged her arm, "Listen Astrid! I'm sorry, I shouldn't have forgotten."

Astrid looked at the contact between them, deciding weather or not he was worth listening to as she retaliated, "You should have."

"Will you let me make it up to you?"

Hiccup's voice was soft and pleading and eventually Astrid caved, her breathing leveling out as she faced him completely. Her hands on her stomach protectively, Astrid's voice still carried an edge, but was more on the border of reason, "Hiccup, I need to be able to depend on you."

Hiccup scratched his head awkwardly and said, "I know you do, that's why I'm sorry. Give me another chance?"

Astrid looked him up and down before agreeing to his terms, "One more slip up, and this," Astrid gestured to herself, "is off limits for a long time."

Giving her a nervous grin Hiccup agreed, "Deal."

Before she turned to leave again, Astrid punched him one last time in the arm and Hiccup let out a startled yell, "What was that for?"

"I'm still mad at you! Next time, don't forget the herbs!" Leaving Hiccup alone with his dragon, Astrid let a smile creep into her features as she reached the house; she knew he'd forgotten what he was going to trade for the second he jumped onto Toothless's back.

Hiccup blew out air between his cheeks and rubbed his arm, probably already bruising, but what did he care? He was a viking; vikings dig pain. Toothless waddled up next to him, eyes wide in confusion as he looked between Astrid and Hiccup. Rumbling briefly in dragonese Toothless commented, "I didn't think that girl could get any crazier; Pregnant Astrid is scary."

Hiccup couldn't hold in a giggle as he admonished, "I've dealt with worse...maybe; it's an occupational hazard."