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“Mom!”
“MOMMA!”
Muffled screams reverberated through the walls of the Home.
Hiccup instantly looked up from his dinner plate, food still being rolled around in his mouth, and locked wide startled eyes with Astrid’s. The pair paused, communicating with nothing but facial expressions.
The departing sun was setting on a particularly mundane day, requiring the use of dimly lit candles and plenty of lanterns.
And it showered the land with an overcast of oranges and pinks, before deciding to settle with a stunning purple, marking the end of another seemingly simple day. Or so they had thought.
Astrid gave her husband another look in the shadows, one that implied she was waiting for another call, something to tip the scale that something was amiss.
“What’s wrong with Zephyr?” Nuffink said harmlessly, nonchalantly poking at his cut of soggy mutton. Astrid had cooked again…
“MOM!” They both heard once more, distressed and alarmed.
Immediately, Hiccup watched his wife spring up from her chair at the dinner table, axe in hand, and scale the wooden stairs to their daughter’s bedroom.
Of course, Hiccup followed without a second thought despite his daughter calling out for her mother. ‘Maybe she meant the both of us?’
Reaching the top floor of the home, the protective warrior in Astrid nearly kicked down the door, but what she found inside almost surprised her.
From the way her daughter had screamed, She had expected to find armed intruders, an injured Zephyr, copious amounts of blood… heck, even dragons had crossed her mind.
But it was just Zephyr. And she seemed…fine?
“Zephyr? What in Thor’s name is going on?”
A worried expression plastered on Astrid’s face, she tossed her axe to Hiccup, who had to reach out unexpectedly to catch it, grabbed her daughter's chin, and began to inspect her for any injury or harm. She brushed away copper strands of hair from her daughter’s frightened blue eyes, and in a motherly fashion fixed the crooked kransen adorned around Zephyr’s head.
“Was it a bug again?” Nuffink teased, poking his head past Hiccup’s fur cape, a smug grin tugging at his lips.
“Nuff, don’t.” Hiccup warned, as he leaned the axe against the timbered wall and approached Zephyr gently.
Zephyr met eyes with her mother intensely, and began to speak, soft and shaky.
“Mom, I’m dying.”
Everyone in the room stiffened, albeit a little confused.
“What?” Astrid and Hiccup replied in unison, exchanging baffled expressions.
“Zeph, what are you trying to say?” Hiccup asked, fatherly concern wrapping him up in paralyzing apprehension.
Astrid placed her wool-wrapped hands on Zephyr’s shoulders to calm her down, and mentally searched her daughter again for any signs she may have missed. ‘Dying?’ She thought reluctantly. ‘Surely that wasn’t the case?’ She didn’t seem sick. She took good care of her daughter, there’s no way she could be dying!’ Right?’
“You’re going to have to elaborate.” Astrid articulated, brows furrowed in regard as Hiccup put a tense hand on her back.
Nuffink could be heard approaching the rest of the family, and put an arm around his sister.
“We’ll miss you Zephyr.” He said almost satirically, wiping a fake tear from his eye.
“Nuffink! that's not helping.” Hiccup rebuked, flabbergasted at his son’s sarcasm, only garnering a sheepish shrug from the boy.
Zephyr lifted her frown from Nuffink to a softer gaze toward her mother. “I—I’m…”
She glanced briefly towards her father and brother, and then back to Astrid.
And then in a panicky, whispery tone, she shifted uncomfortably on one foot. “I’m bleeding…”
Suddenly it clicked for Astrid. A tsunami of relief washed away every ounce of anxiety. It all made sense now, her little girl wasn’t dying, and apparently her little girl wasn’t so little anymore.
“Okay boys, out!” Astrid directed, gesturing to the door.
“What?!” Nuffink reacted, as Astrid led him hastily to Hiccup.
“Take him downstairs please, Zeph and I need some alone time.” She winked, a knowing hint of a smile forming on her pretty lips.
Hiccup nodded understandingly, picking up what Astrid was putting down, figuratively and literally as he hauled Nuffink out the door. “Let’s go bug Gobber.” Hiccup resolved as the blonde boy began to wrap himself around Hiccup’s good leg laughing.
Astrid rolled her eyes as Hiccup mouthed a “sorry,” and shuffled out the door, struggling to close it with the ‘parasite’ still attached to his right leg. She wouldn’t be surprised if she heard them both tumbling down the stairs in the next few seconds.
Astrid shook her head, and returned her attention towards her sweet daughter, who was visibly distressed. Smiling softly, she began what would definitely be an interesting night.
“Hey Zephyr, go get your Jammies on, and we’ll talk okay?”
The mood had changed after the boys had left, and Astrid could feel it in the air. She knew Zephyr felt more vulnerable now that it was just she and her. But she didn’t want her daughter to feel that way, Astrid was her mother, and she wanted her daughter to be comfortable with herself in every aspect of a situation. Something she wished she could’ve had in her younger years.
Zephyr nodded to her mother’s request, and began to do so, but not before Astrid assuredly engulfed her into a loving hug, one that caused Zephyr to finally let out some held back tears.
“Mom, I’m so scared… I—I don’t know what’s happening to me!!”
Astrid rocked her daughter, fully aware of every emotion she was experiencing. Having gone through it herself, she thought of what words would have comforted her when she was in Zephyr’s position.
“Shh, C’mere,”
“You’re not dying…” Astrid lifted her delicate chin so their eyes would meet, a loving, maternal stare that calmed even the toughest of winds.
“Are you sure?” Zephyr replied, hesitant of what her mother was assuring.
“Yes! Not in the slightest!” She squeezed her again, and rocked her gently. “You’re safe. Trust me.”
Astrid almost wanted to laugh, it was something she herself definitely looked back on with a giggle. But she knew now wasn’t the time for her daughter, as it was still a very new and frightening thing for her. It would take time to fully accept, and embrace this part of her, and to Zephyr it surely wasn’t a laughing matter presently.
They stayed like that for a moment, Zephyr relishing in her mother’s warmth, and the comfort it permitted her. She fiddled mindlessly with the metallic skulls of Astrid’s skirt before her mother spoke again.
“Okay, go get those pjs on!” Astrid laughed as she pretend-smacked her daughter’s behind, her way of signaling to get on with something.
“Okay! Okay.” Zephyr replied with a smirk, eyes still puffy from crying.
Astrid stepped outside her door for her privacy, and tried to piece together what she would say. She knew this day would come eventually, but she never expected it seemingly so soon. Wasn’t it just yesterday she was exhausted from sleepless nights— a crying baby yearning for her mother. She could’ve sworn Zephyr had just lost her first tooth, but upon counting the moons, she realized that it had been years, and she had lost more than just one tooth by now.
Time was going too fast.
Leaning against the wood making the hallway, she remembered fondly of her full life, present and past, and cherished what she had. She loved her daughter immensely, and wanted to do right as her mother.
How could she make her daughter feel comfortable? How could she guarantee her daughter the feeling of belonging, and make it less of a struggle to grow up?
Astrid knew from her own experiences that it was tough being a teenager, especially a female one at that. She also understood how much growing up was a self-centered journey, and she didn’t know where to draw the line.
“Parenting isn’t so black and white anymore, is it?” She thought to herself.
Pulled out of her thoughts, she took a moment to appreciate the happy sounds of her family enjoying the nighttime outdoors. It filled her heart with joy as she could make out the muffled crunches of snow, and Nuffink laughing as Hiccup and Gobber chased each other around with clumps of snow.
Life without the dragons was definitely simpler, but she wouldn’t trade these people in her life for anything. And right now, Zephyr needed her, and she would be there.
Astrid rasped at the timbered door, pushing it open when she heard her daughter give her permission to enter. Taking a slow breath, she wondered if she should include Hiccup in this next conversation, but decided against it, knowing this was something between mother and daughter.
“Let’s take a seat.” Astrid offered, sitting down on Zephyr’s bed, and patting the adjacent space next to her.
A few soft candles lit up the room, and set the tone for a relaxed discussion.
Astrid took a simple wooden brush to her daughter’s long red hair, admiring its fiery color. And let her cuddle up on the blankets.
“So what’s this all about?” Zephyr questioned. She wasn’t dumb, and could definitely read the room.
“Well, remember when you had asked where babies had come from a while back?” Astrid began, gulping her own uncertainties down. She continued to run the brush through her red locks, hoping she could start a fresh braid once the knots were out. But she had to pause momentarily so she could look at her daughter.
With a raised brow, Zephyr responded slowly, “Yeah?” She blushed slightly, recalling the conversation as not a pleasant one. She hid her face in her palms.
“Oh no, please don’t tell me this has something to do with it!” Zephyr cringed, as Astrid winced.
“Well, yes, as a matter of fact, it does.”
Zephyr sighed defeatedly, “Okay then, lay it on me!” She challenged bravely, seemingly bracing herself for whatever Astrid was about to say. “I can take it.”
Astrid took a moment to laugh, not expecting her to be so open. She really was a lot like Hiccup in that aspect; ready to hear the truth.
“Well, okay then, you’re bleeding because your body was expecting a baby.” She began to explain. “And it’s called a period. Or Menstruation.”
Zephyr just looked confused, and honestly a little disturbed, so she continued.
“Every moon cycle, your body will bleed, unless you are pregnant.” Astrid tried to explain simply.
“Oh, um… why?” Zephyr asked innocently, shrugging her shoulders, and wringing her hands nervously.
“Because…” Astrid began to stumble over her words, trying her best to come up with straightforward answers without being too detailed. But a lot of that flew out the window with her next few words.
“Because when you are pregnant there’s no need for your body to bleed. And do you remember how babies are made? You become pregnant by having se—”
“Okay… OKAY! Mom, I know, no need to tell me again. I just didn’t know bleeding was part of the process.” Zephyr gagged, not wanting to relive the moment she found out what ‘it’ was. At least it was just her mother explaining this time…
“Well, all in all, it’s perfectly normal, and nothing to be ashamed about.” Astrid consolidated, hoping her daughter would understand what she was attempting to convey.
“Every woman gets one.”
“Every woman?” Zephyr questioned with an intriguing look in her eye.
Astrid beamed, and patted her daughter's leg. “Yes Zephyr, you are entering womanhood.”
“Cool.” She responded candidly, a yawn taking over her speech.
Astrid could only smile.
Her daughter was so accepting. That is, once something was explained to her. She thought about the dragon situation, and the pageant they threw, and how she had come to accept the seemingly scary creatures. All she needed was reassurance, knowledge and love.
Astrid had felt that this wouldn’t be much different, if she was always able to give her those things. And she would, unconditionally.
She knew this wouldn’t be the last conversation on the topic, nor would it be an easy road from now on, but these were the first steps taken to ensure a trusting, and healthy relationship between the two of them.
“I’m always here for you Zephyr, okay?” She gave her daughter another hug.
“I know mom.”
Astrid smiled again.
Realizing how dark it was outside, Astrid assumed it was getting late, and the boys were probably catching their death of cold out there wanting to come in…
“Alright my little lady, it’s about time you get some rest.”
After kissing her goodnight, and debating over whether she could stay up, with an executive overruling, Astrid explained how to keep herself clean during the week, and let her daughter know that she was always open to her questions.
“I love you Zephyr.”
“Love you too Momma.”
Astrid pulled the door shut quietly, and tiptoed swiftly down the stairs. The fire in the main room was dying out from a lack of attention, and the food and dishes were still left out on the table from dinner. With a contented sigh, she went to the front door of the home, and threw it open.
“Finn! Time for bed!”
When she received no response, she stepped outside and looked around, but figured they were either hiding, or just plainly ignoring her.
With a scoff, she stepped back into the warmth of the house and began to put away the remnants of dinner, when she heard quiet footsteps upstairs.
Smiling, she silently climbed the log stairs to the loft, and watched blissfully as she caught sight of Hiccup gently tucking their sleeping son into bed. He had closed a book, and blew out a flickering candle, a soft expression adorning his features. Her heart then fluttered when an unknowing Hiccup kissed Nuffink dotingly on the forehead and said he loved him, unaware he was being watched.
It wasn’t until he rose to his feet that the two made eye contact. He snorted silently as he walked towards her, not forgetting to crack the door so it wouldn’t be completely dark in the boy’s room.
“How long were you standing there?” He asked, feigning embarrassment. In reality, he wasn’t too self-conscious.
“Oh, Just to see the best parts.” She grinned, allowing him to wrap his arms around her waist.
“How’s Zephyr?” He asked wholeheartedly, glancing towards her closed door.
“Ah, She’s going to be okay,” Astrid reassured, resting her cheek on his leather-padded shoulder.
“We girls have each other.”