Hiccup was headed out of the Great Hall to get home for the night when he spotted Ruffnut sitting on the steps with her daughter, Freya. She sounded as though she were crying and Freya was extremely fussy.
"Ruffnut?"
She jumped, startled. "Oh! Uh, hi Hiccup."
"Hey," he sat down next to her. "What are you doing here?" He struggled to hear her reply over the baby's crying.
"Snotlout and I.. we got in a fight." Ruffnut sniffled, "We haven't been seeing eye to eye lately. And when he went to far and said the one thing he promised he never would, I grabbed Freya and I came here. And now," she struggled to hold back tears. "And now I can't get her to stop crying no matter what I do!"
"What did Snotlout say? That's if you don't mind me asking of course."
"Well first he went on about how he never should have married me." The tears escaped, rolling down Ruffnut's pink cheeks. "And then he said he wished Freya had never been born!" She cried.
Freya suddenly began to cry harder and Ruffnut held her up in the air, looking into the baby girl's round blue eyes. "Why are you crying? You're not hungry, your diaper is clean! Why?!"
Hiccup felt terrible for Ruffnut. He didn't know what he'd do if Astrid had said that about their child— well, he assumed anyway. He wasn't quite sure how to help at first, but he just followed his gut.
"Here, let me see her." He took Freya from Ruff and cradled the little girl in his arms, rocking back and forth gently. After a few moments the crying stopped and she was fast asleep in Hiccup's arms.
"Snotlout didn't mean what he said, Ruff. He's just a mutton head who doesn't know how to deal with his feelings. I know that's no excuse but... I hope you guys work it out. After all," he smiled down at Freya, "you guys have a beautiful daughter to raise together."
"Thank you, Hiccup."
"Of course." He gingerly passed Freya back to Ruff. "She was crying because she could sense how stressed and angry you were. It made her upset too. Just like a—"
   "A dragon."  Ruffnut smiled. Hiccup watched  as she wrapped a blanket around Freya.
"Well, I guess I'd better get home and set things right. See you later, Hiccup."
"Bye."
Hiccup heaved himself up from the steps and walked to short path to his and Astrid's house, which was built right next to the Great Hall.
As soon as he stepped inside he was bombarded with the smell of burned food. Astrid had attempted cooking again. Chuckling and shaking his head, Hiccup went into the kitchen. A single lantern was lit, lighting up the room just enough to be able to see what one was doing. On the table sat a wooden plate with a fillet of fish— at least, that's what he assumed it was— and a small note next to it. Hiccup picked up the note and laughed aloud.
"I DID NOT BURN IT! It's just.. slightly scorched!"
After heating up some of last night's leftovers and eating that, then tossing the 'slightly scorched' fish, he quietly walked up the stairs and into his and Astrid's bedroom. He freed himself from his armor, put on a pair of night shorts, then bent over and kissed Astrid's cheek as she slept.
"Mmm, Hiccup?" She lifted her head groggily. "What time is it?"
"About 10:00." He sat on the edge of the bed, gazing at her beautiful form lit up by moonlight shining through the window.
"Paperwork keep you?"
"Mmhmm."
"I'm sorry."
Hiccup kissed the side of her head again. "It's alright. I have the next three days off though, so I can catch up on my sleep if I need."
"That's great.." She couldn't even keep her eyes open.
   "Slide over," As he got under the covers and wrapped his arms around his wife, she shivered at his warmth radiating through her. Hiccup couldn't help but chuckle as she curled her body into his, searching for more heat.
   "Do we need to add another blanket for when I'm gone?"
   "Mmhmm.." she hummed groggily.
   "You know I love you, right?"
   "Mmhmm.." she burrowed her head into his chest she seconds later she was out like a light.
  
********
   Astrid was lying in bed the next morning, enjoying the feeling of the early morning light against her skin, when she got a weird feeling in her stomach m. She sat up gently so that she wouldn't wake Hiccup, then the feeling came again, much stronger this time. Suddenly she ran to the bathroom as fast as she could.
   Hiccup was stirred awake at this, and he sat up and rubbed his eyes.
   "Are you alright in there?" He called.
   No reply.
   "Oh no," he hopped up and made his way over to the bathroom, pausing when retching sounds escaped the room.
  "Are you... throwing up in there?"
   More retching noises came from the bathroom, so he opened the door and stepped inside.
   "Someone's having a pleasant start to their morning," Hiccup smirked as he knelt down and pulled her hair back.
   A few moments passed and Astrid still hadn't stopped puking long enough to lift her head.
   "Do I need to take you to Gothi?"
   She shook her head was finally able to sit up. "I'm fine. It's probably just a stomach bug."
   "Mmhmmm. I've heard that one before."
   "And what did it turn out to be?" She smirked.
   "The Scourge of Odin is NOT a stomach bug, woman!" He exclaimed.
   "Is too!" She laughed, then she saw herself in the mirror and cringed at the sight of spit all over her mouth.
   "Come here," Hiccup grabbed a nearby hand towel and gently grabbed her face, wiping off the spit and puke. "There, all clean."  
   She kissed his cheek, then stood up and began to brush her hair.
   "Seriously though Astrid," Hiccup stood as well, "Are you alright?"
   "I'm fine Hiccup," she said, turning around and wrapping her arms around his middle. "I feel fine. I promise, I'm alright."
   Is she though?