Hiccup looked up from his sketch when he heard a knock on the door of his house. Getting up and silently asking himself if it was his wife that he was waiting for since he came back home a few hours ago, he made his way to the door to open it.

When he opened it it revealed someone he hadn't thought he'd see.

„Gobber, what are you doing here?"

The one handed black smith scratched his head, „I need a word with ye, laddie"

Shrugging, Hiccup stepped aside to let the older man in. Gobber slowly lumbered over to where the dining table was, plopping down on one of the wooden chairs. Hiccup walked past him and got him a mug of mead, then sat down at the table as well.

„So..." he paused, placing his hands on the table and picking the rough wood with his fingers, „what did you wanna talk about?"

The blacksmith leaned back and looked at the young man in front of him. Not longer the small, short boy he used to boss around in the forge back on Berk, but a tall, grown up man who experienced more loss than someone his age should have. He sighed, struggling to find a way to start the conversation.

But he was Gobber, so he didn't talk around for long and got straight to the point anyway, „you and Astrid need to have a child."

Hiccup froze, hands now laying flat on the surface of the dining table. It took him a few seconds to compose himself and form an answer, „I'm sorry, what?"

„You've been married for almost a year, and Astrid isn't even pregnant yet," the blacksmith stated, waving his mug in the young chief's direction, almost spilling the mead inside onto the table.

„We're taking it slow, alright, there's no need to-„

„Hiccup, you two have been taking it slow for what, 7 years now? You're not getting any younger, Valka isn't getting any younger, I'm not getting any younger," Gobber said cutting Hiccup off mid sentence, putting his mug on the table he sighed.

Hiccup looked at him as if he had grown a second head, „Gobber I have enough to deal with at the moment, I can't have a child running around here too!" The chief got up and started pacing around the room, „plus I don't even know how to take care of a child," he explained franticly moving his hands.

„Hiccup!" Gobber said impatiently, „you have to grow up! You're not a teenager anymore, you've taken responsibility as chief when Stoick died. You and Astrid got married a year ago, it's time for the two of you to start taking responsibility for a child."

„But why now? I mean I'm only 22, there's still time," Hiccup argued, looking anywhere but at Gobber.

„Listen, I know you think you still have time, but the village needs an heir. The people have been patient with yours and Astrid's wedding, but I'm not too sure if they're gonna be as patient with you two having an heir."
Gobber got up and walked over to his best friend's son, placing a hand on his still bony shoulder.

Hiccup looked at the ground, „Hiccup, I know you don't think you're ready for being a parent, but I know you are..." there was a pause, „please think about it and talk to Astrid about it. The future of the village is in your hands after all and I know Astrid will want to have a child too," the blacksmith said, then he downed the rest of his mead and left, leaving Hiccup puzzled.

Later that night, Hiccup was crawling into bed next to his wife. Smiling, Astrid leaned her head on his shoulder, playing with his hair. „Whatcha thinking about?" She asked, as if she already knew that something was troubling him.

Hiccup turned to her, placing a hand on her cheek, taking a few minutes to admire her features. Her blonde hair, the beautiul blue eyes that he's been able to gaze at first thing in the morning for a year now. „Do.." he sighed, not knowing how to start the conversation.

His hand dropped down but Astrid caught it, bringing it to her lips and kissing his knuckles, „what is it, Hiccup?" She asked, so quietly he almost missed it.

Looking up into her face again, Hiccup took a deep breath, „do you think we're ready to be parents?"

His wife's grip on his hand tightened for just a short moment, her face a bit stricken for just a second, „do you think we are?"

Laying back on his back Hiccup closed his eyes and sighed „I don't know, what I do know is that Gobber came by to pay me a visit, telling me that you and I need to have an heir."

„Oh..." was all she replied as she dropped his hand. Hiccup waited a second to hear if she had anything else to say, when nothing came he opened his eyes to look back at her. Her eyes were fixed on the wall in front of them and her expression was unreadable.

He sat up then, „hey, what's wrong.. Astrid?"

„Did you ever think about having kids before Gobber told you, or do you.. I don't know, just want to have a child because the village needs an heir?" She asked him, not looking at him.

Hiccup's eyes went wide, and he quickly grabbed both of the blonde's hands, turning her to him, „woah, woah, woah... No! That's- no Astrid I-... Of course I want to have children with you! I just.. I don't think I can handle being a father you know? It's a lot of responsibility a-and I don't..." he broke off and sighed.

Astrid looked deep into his eyes, the forest green almost mesmerizing her, „you don't what, Hiccup?" She asked quietly, squeezing his hands back.

„I don't think I'll ever be ready? I guess?"

The blonde had to suppress a chuckle then, „Hiccup.. if anyone on this island is ready to be a father it's you, believe me."

Hiccup's eyes flicked up to her face, „you really think that?"

Smiling, Astrid nodded. She let go of his hand and put her hand on his cheek, Hiccup leaned into her touch, letting his eyes fall closed. „You're the smartest, most responsible and loving person I know. You are going to be an amazing father."

Opening his eyes agaim, Hiccup gazed right into ocean blue depths, „okay, but I want you to be ready as well. Do you even want to have a child?"

Astrid did laugh out lout that time, „of course, I was just waiting for you to be ready, babe."

„Oh..."

„Oh?" She asked and chuckled. Hiccup couldn't help it, her laugh was infectious and soon he was laughing as well, leaning in to press a long and passionate kiss to her lips.

„I love you," he murmured, his voice sincere and leaning his forhead against hers.

Astrid smiled, „I love you too."

——
O.o

Published; 18.07.2019