"Ugh!!! ODIN CURSE THESE FASTENINGS AND THE REST OF THE WORLD WITH THEM!!"
Hiccup's eyes were as big as saucers at the outburst. "Someone's irritable today."
"It's this stupid dress! It won't zip!" Astrid continued to try and pull the zipper up further, but she couldn't reach far enough over her shoulder. "If I could just reach—ACK!"
"Calm down," Hiccup chuckled, walking over to the red faced woman. "Turn around." Hiccup gently pulled the zipper up, then fastened the button at the top of the dress. "There. All fixed." He turned her back around and kissed Astrid's cheek. "You look beautiful."
"I hate dresses."
"I know, M'lady. I know."
******
The Great Hall looked absolutely beautiful with its extravagant decorations. All of Berk had come for the festival and everyone was having a fantastic time... except Astrid.
"I'm gonna kill whoever decided to create dresses." Astrid snarled as she walked past a group of drunk Viking men towards the gang.
Tuffnut was wearing what looked like a yak skin shirt, which was terrifying. So when he decided to comment on Astrid's dress, she wasn't pleased.
"You know Astrid, I'm thinking maybe a red dress instead of blue would look better for you! Just saying!" The twin chuckled.
Ruffnut chuckled as well. "I agree, brother! Blue is just not the fair maiden's color anymore."
Astrid turned on them, glaring shards of glass. "You'll both be doused in red, blood red to be exact, if you don't shut up!"
"Got it!" Tuffnut quickly ran away, Ruff following close behind.
"Oh Thor I can't take much more of this." Astrid plopped into a chair next to Fishlegs. "I hate festivals."
"Astrid you look fine," Fishlegs assured her. "But I'm not a huge fan of these things either, though. Although on the bright side the dances will start soon and after those we are free to go."
Just as he said this, slow music began to play. It was Astrid's favorite love song, and she knew that was no coincidence.
"I am going to kill him." She stated nonchalantly, turning to see Hiccup making his way towards her.
"Why?" Fishlegs looked at her anxiously.
"He knows this is my favorite song! I swore I wouldn't dance in this damn dress and now I'm going to have to! Ugh!"
Fishlegs couldn't help but laugh at that. Hiccup appeared and held his hand out to Astrid.
"M'lady,"
"This is so not fair Hiccup," Astrid groaned as she took his hand. "You totally cheated!"
"Did not!" He chuckled as he spun her onto the dance floor. "Plus there were no rules stated."
Of course she couldn't stay mad at her husband as his hands came to her waist and they began dancing. One would never expect if of a man with a prosthetic leg, but Hiccup is quite the dancer. It was one of Astrid's favorite things about him if she was being quite honest.
"So M'lady," he whispered as he pulled her close, "hows the dress treating you?"
   "Oh shut up!" She playfully punched his chest. "You know how I feel about them."
   "I do." Hiccup chuckled. "But I must say, you look gorgeous in blue."
    Astrid rolled her eyes at that. "You always say that."
   "But it's true!" He twirled her once again, then pulled her back into his arms, his hand grasping hers gentle as can be, and the other beneath her arm to lightly that it almost tickled.  She couldn't help but sigh in content. It was simple moments like these that Astrid loved. Especially this moment. Dancing with her handsome husband, his quiet singing voice drifting into her ears, just loud enough to be heard.
   "And Iiiiiii'm speechless. You already know that you're my weakness..."
   Before she could sing along with him Astrid's mother appeared. "Could I steal my daughter for a moment, Hiccup?"
   "Of course," He smiled, pressing a soft kiss to Astrid's forehead before departing. "I'll be with the gang."
   As soon as he was gone Astrid death glared her mother, Holly. "Mooooom! This is our favorite song! We were having a moment!"
   "I'm sorry, hun but this was completely necessary! When were you planning on telling me?"
   Astrid's eyes widened. "Tell you what?"
   "Oh, apparently you haven't figured it out yet." Holly smirked.
   "Figured what out?!"
   "Honey you're practically glowing. I wonder... have you been getting any sleep?"
Astrid felt her face grow hot. "Well not.. recently. I've been having a lot of strange dreams."
"Mmhmmm, I thought so." Her mother said knowingly. "And when was the last time you hit your monthly cycle?"
"Well I—" Astrid gasped. "I was supposed to start a week ago!" She hissed.
Holly smiled warmly at her daughter. "Well honey! You're with child!"
"I'm what?!"
"You're pregnant, Astrid!" She chuckled. "Oh I'm so happy for you! Does Hiccup know yet?"
"What? No! I didn't even know! I can't be!"
"Oh yes you can." Holly smirked. "Someone's been busy."
"Mom!"
"Sorry," she chuckled. "But you know I'm right."
Astrid arched an eyebrow at her. "I'm not sure.. what if I'm just late?"
Holly rolled her eyes and beckoned Valka over. "Valka, come here a moment will you?"
"Oh certainly." The brown haired woman made her way over to Holly and Astrid, smiling widely. "So has she told you?"
"Told her what?" Astrid's head was beginning to spin slightly.
"Apparently not."
"I've just had to tell her, the silly girl." Holly smiled. "But she doesn't seem convinced."
"Oh Astrid, please!" Valka smiled warmly, taking her hands into his. "It's obvious, dear. A mother knows. You're glowing, you obviously haven't been getting much sleep, and you're about as irritable as a warthog on Snoggletog."
"And she hasn't started her cycle." Holly added.
"Well that confirms it right there." Valka shrugged.
Astrid's heart was racing. She couldn't believe this. She simply couldn't. Her! Astrid Haddock! With child! A smile broke across her face. "I'm gonna be a mom?"
"Yes, darling." Holly nodded.
"Oh my Thor!" She threw herself into her mother's arms, then drug Valka into the hug as well.
"Oh honey I'm so happy for you. Congratulations, baby." Holly kissed her daughter's cheek.
A thought popped into her head and made Astrid cringe. "Ohhhh Thor. What am I gonna tell Hiccup?"
"You'll know exactly what to tell him when the time comes." Valka smiled reassuringly. "Speaking of my son, I think he's had a bit too much Meade. Either that or someone's insulted you."
"What?" Astrid peered around Valka's shoulder and sure enough, the young Chief's face was redder than a monstrous nightmare. "Uh-oh..."
"My guess is it's one of the visitors. He probably said something about your weight.."
"My weight?" Astrid looked downward, and it was as if it was the first time she and done so. She realized, she had a tiny little baby bump!
"Oh.." her face went hot again.
"Astrid it's nothing to be ashamed of." Valka said at once. "You're at least three months along so you're just the right size."
"Three months?! How long have you two suspected?" Astrid glared at her mother and mother in law. They both smirked.
"OKAY this discussion is so not over!" Astrid pointed at the two. "To be continued!" She then hurried over to the other side of the room where Hiccup looked about ready to kill someone.
"Say another word about my wife and you won't be able to talk for a month." He snarled, struggling against Tuffnut and Snotlout who were restraining him.
"Hiccup he's just a drunk visitor." Snotlout said, trying to calm his cousin. "It's not worth it."
"No one should get away with saying that about Astrid!" He roared, and Astrid knew the visitor must have said something pretty foul. He rarely got this angry. She stepped in front of him, blocking his view of the laughing Viking. "Okay, I think it's time to head home babe. What do you think?"
"I think that's a fantastic idea," Hiccup broke his arms free of Tuff and Snotlout, then intertwined his hand into Astrid's. She kissed his cheek and they began weaving their way through the crowded hall towards the exit.
It had been so loud in the Great Hall that Astrid didn't even realize it was storming.
   "I think it's gonna pass right through." Hiccup said immediately, seeing the look on her face.
    Astrid glared at him. "You and I both know this will sit over us and pour down all night. Let's just go home before it starts to rain worse." She felt his grip on her hand tighten, reassuring her that she wasn't alone. As the two ran along the dirt path toward their home huge cracks of thunder boomed into the night. Just as they made it to their hut Astrid felt it. The static in the air beginning to make her arm hair stand up. Her hand reached out for the door handle and BOOM.
Hiccup and Astrid were thrown backward as the bolt destroyed everything it touched. The hut burst into flame right before their eyes. Well, what was left of it burned.
"Astrid!" Hiccup shook his wife desperately. She had landed on top of him, and he hoped his body had cushioned the fall a bit. But she got the main hit of the lightning explosion. It had missed her by mere inches.
"Astrid!" Hiccup shuffled out from underneath her. "Are you alright? Is anything broken? Astrid!"
   Astrid's eyes fluttered open then closed again.
   "Astrid, come on.. you're alright.."
   "Hiccup?" She opened her eyes and
   Hiccup released a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "I'm here. You're alright."
   "Not again..." she whimpered.
   "What? What is it? What hurts?"
   "I can't see."

Now to the hard chapter! How on earth is Astrid going to reveal the big news?