Twenty One: Angels and Nativities

Hanna was more excited than Astrid had ever seen her as they arrived at the school for the Nativity play the next week. It had been a later start for school for the lower two classes who were taking part so Astrid had made sure her charge was changed and ready for her starring role, though trying to keep Hanna from getting her pristine white angel outfit grubby was proving a challenge. She had already had to soak out chocolate, jam and gravy-even though they hadn't had any gravy over the previous week! Hiccup was coming directly from work-and the twins and Fishlegs were also going to attend, though Astrid had carefully handed the twins' tickets to Fishlegs for safe keeping. Ruffnut had scowled at her friend for about half a second before bursting out laughing and complimenting the Nanny on her prudence.

Tuffnut had stayed with the Haddocks for two days, sleeping on the couch and acting as a surrogate brother for Hanna until Ruff located him and made him pay back his Thorston challenge forfeit: wearing Ruffnut's clothes for one day. Shocked, Astrid had learned that when they were kids, the twins had a standard forfeit of 'swapping clothes' until they had finally realised that their 'penalty' still had the winner doing the forfeit anyway. And Ruff had chosen her outfit carefully for her brother: fishnet stockings, a fuchsia 'boob tube' and black leather miniskirt, with studded leather choker and skyscraper patent leather heels. And despite looking like a very cheap and profoundly weird hooker, Tuff had managed to wander around the whole of Berk unselfconsciously the whole day in the outfit, sending his sister a series of taunting selfies which she widely shared with everyone she knew. So the gang had been treated to images of Tuffnut posing with unsuspecting police officers and in one case, an ambulance technician, at every major Berkian landmark that Hiccup had wearily proclaimed he would never be able to unsee.

"You okay, honey?" Astrid asked Hanna as they entered the classroom where the children were getting ready for the performance. The place was packed with preening mothers, anxious teachers and helpers and a variety of shepherds, angels, kings and other characters. The little girl wordlessly nodded.

"I can still remember my words," she said quietly. "Should I say them to you now?" Smiling at her eagerness, Astrid nodded, gently brushing Hanna's fine hair and fixing her silver tinsel halo on.

"You're going to be awesome," she murmured.

"Then a huge number of angels appeared and began singing Glory to God, Peace of Earth and Goodwill to all men," Hanna said dutifully, her eyes unfocussed and nose crinkled as she concentrated. "Astrid-why did the angels sing that?" The Nanny frowned.

"I think it's because they were very happy that Jesus had been born," she explained, tucking a wisp of hair behind Hanna's ear.

"So why didn't they just sing Happy Birthday?" the little girl asked, frowning. Astrid sat back on her heels and smiled.

"Because Happy Birthday hadn't been invented then," she said kindly. "All done?" Hanna nodded. "Now remember to speak up when you have your line, help the teachers when they ask you and smile because your Daddy and I will be watching and we're going to be very proud of you."

Hanna went silent for a long moment.

"Do you think...do you think Mommy would be proud of me?" she asked in a soft voice, her eyes shining and as Astrid looked around, she saw all the other proud mothers, hugging their offspring. So she hugged the little girl fiercely, closing her eyes for a second as she allowed her natural instincts to take over.

"I know she would," she managed in a slightly choked voice, annoyed at herself for allowing the child's sadness get to her. "Hanna, your Mommy is watching you from where she is with Lord Odin and she's smiling. I can feel it. I'm just here to make sure you get the hugs she's sending down. And I know she will be so happy and proud of you because you are the best Angel here!" Hanna hugged her back and looked up, slightly happier. "And now I've bent your halo. Let's just get that sorted and then I'll go and sit down by your Dad and wait for your star turn."

The seats were packed as she entered the School Hall, the hubbub of excited parents louder than she would have expected. She saw Hiccup and the solid shape of Fishlegs and managed to slide into the seat between them, smiling at Hiccup's relieved expression.

"How is she?" he asked softly, his hair as casually tousled as ever and eyes sparkling. She sighed.

"A little anxious and missing her Mom-but she knows that Heather will be watching," she reassured him, resting a hand gently on his arm at the expected stricken look in his eyes. Then he gave a brave smile.

"I know," he sighed. "And I wanted to say...thanks. You've been a rock through all of this." Dipping her head modestly, she gave a slight smile.

"I should say it's just my job but in fact, it's my pleasure," she mumbled. "Hiccup-I know it's tough for you both-but you have to know I am here with you. And if you are ever lonely or sad or frustrated or just need an ear, I'm here and willing." The pain and hope in his emerald eyes was heartbreaking and his hand gently touched hers, the hesitant smile warming his tired features.

"Thanks, Astrid," he murmured. "I know it sounds ridiculous and pathetic-but that means more than I can ever express." She squeezed his hand and smiled back as the piano started.

Slightly raggedly, the children started singing 'Once in Royal David's City' and the parents joined in as requested, peering at the words in their programmes. Fishlegs boomed away, his singing voice assured and almost drowning out Ruffnut-who was sitting on his other side and who was dreadfully off-key. When they had finished, the curtain opened and a slightly older child stood dressed as a star. He explained about the Christmas story and then stood back as 'Joseph' and 'Mary' walked up to a door marked 'INN' beside two children who were dressed as the donkey. There was a certain amount of scuffling and the front of the donkey tripped the back up, causing 'Mary' to have to help the little boy up and dust him down. Joseph knocked and a worried looking little boy opened the door, dressed as an inn-keeper. He blinked at the audience and his eyes widened.

"Whoa." he said.

"Have you got any rooms because Mary is going to have a baby?" Joseph asked hurriedly. The 'Inn Keeper' looked completely petrified.

"Yes," he said. Joseph glared.

"You're supposed to say no," he hissed.

"Yes," the terrified 'Inn Keeper' gabbled. "Lots of room." Mary folded her arms and Astrid realised it was Hanna's friend Meri, her long red curls sticking out from under her blue headscarf. She was padded up impressively to look pregnant.

"No you don't," she said tartly. "The Inn is full. We'll go and sleep in your stable." And then she grabbed Joseph's arm and hauled him off the stage with the 'donkey' trailing along behind them, back and front parts walking side by side, as the Inn Keeper burst into tears and had to be kindly helped off the stage by the teacher. Joseph and Mary returned and walked into a 'stable' that was a small set on the other side of the stage, lit by a spotlight with a cradle filled with straw and several children dressed as animals sitting around, as well as plush animals arranged around. Hiccup's eyes widened as he saw three teddies, a whale and a stuffed dragon next to the cows and sheep.

"I'm having a baby!" Mary announced at struggled to wrestle a toy doll out of her robes, smiling proudly. "It's Baby Jesus."

"Whoah!" a small blonde boy dressed as a sheep said, grinning happily.

"Shhh!" Mary said crossly. "You'll wake the baby." Then she firmly put him in the cradle face first as a spotlight lit the Star/Narrator who appeared on a platform above the stable.

"Baby Jesus had to be put in a Manger because there was no crib for a bed," he announced. "And a star appeared above the stable to show that Baby Jesus was there." The piano struck up and everyone sung 'Away In A Manger' while Astrid nudged Hiccup, knowing that Hanna's part was next. She also fished her phone out to be ready.

As soon as the last strains of the piano died away, the spotlight on the stable faded, though the star remained illuminated and the other side of the stage was lit to show a group of shepherds, sitting around a 'fire' which was made of papier mache. All were small boys who were holding plush sheep toys and had tea towels on their heads. Recognising a couple of boys from the party, Astrid saw the angels walk forward into the light and smiled as she saw Hanna looking very serious. Stealing a glance at Hiccup, who was grinning happily, she began to film the scene.

The first angel-Hanna's friend Sorrel-took a deep breath.

"And an angel appeared to shepherds who were watching their flocks by night. The angels said that the Son of God had been born in Bethlehem."

"The baby will be wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. You should follow the star to where he is sleeping," the second angel-Marit-added.

"Then a huge number of angels appeared and began singing Glory to God, Peace of Earth and Goodwill to all men," Hanna said clearly, her green eyes shining as she looked out to the audience and found her father and Astrid. She grinned and gave a little wave. Hiccup's smile was blinding and Astrid felt herself chuckling at the innocent gesture.

"Then the shepherds went down from the fields to the stable to pay homage to the Baby Jesus, lying in a manger," Sorrel announced as the piano struck up and everyone sang 'While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night'. As they did, the shepherds and the angels walked around the stage and arrived at the stable, kneeling down to look at the 'Baby Jesus'. But one of them was very reluctant to hand over his plush sheep.

"It's mine," he protested. Immediately, Hanna marched up to him.

"Come on, Ulric!" she told him bossily. "You can have your Lambie back after the play but you know you're supposed to give him to Baby Jesus!"

"But he's already got four!" Ulric protested. He was a skinny kid with tousled blond hair, missing a front tooth and with a scrape on his cheek. "Why can't I keep mine?"

"Because it's Baby Jesus," Hanna insisted. "Look, I'll help you come back and get him as soon as the play is over." Ulric sulked.

"He's not real," he pouted, pointing at the doll which was now sitting head down with the legs sticking up over the sides of the 'manger'.

"Please?" Hanna asked and the boy looked at her for a moment then sagged.

"Oh...kay..." he said reluctantly and very carefully rested his plush sheep by the cradle. "Take care of my Lambie," he whispered loudly and then knelt by the crib as Hanna walked back to her place and pressed her hands together in a praying gesture. Hiccup was smiling at his daughter's actions and Fishlegs was chuckling as well.

"She's definitely Heather's daughter," he murmured as Astrid glanced over. The husky man smiled. "She was a very decisive woman, extremely determined and single-minded. She loved her daughter dearly but she wanted things to be the way they were supposed to be. Hanna definitely got that from her."

The Star/Narrator read out the next part as they all had to sing 'We Three Kings'. Astrid noted one of the sheep had gone to sleep, sucking his thumb and the 'donkey' was picking his nose but Hanna was singing beautifully, her face set in concentration.

"She gets that from Heather," Hiccup murmured between verses. "I can't carry a tune in a bucket. Honest. I sound like cats being minced." Astrid chuckled.

"You're not that bad," she murmured.

"That's because I'm miming," he replied with a small smirk and turned back to his programme so he could mouth the correct words.

The Three Kings appeared as soon as the music died away and Hanna recognised Wartnut and Thorstein as they walked up to the stable. Thor stepped forward first, holding a box wrapped in shiny gold wrapping paper.

"We are Magi-Wise Men-who have travelled from afar to brings gifts to the Baby King," he announced. "I've got some Gold for you." He carefully laid his box by the plush sheep and then backed away. Wartnut stepped up, his paper crown askew.

"I've brung some Frankenstein," he announced and put a green-wrapped urn down. The third boy-a skinny kid with bright red hair and a zillion freckles-walked up with a purple-wrapped bottle.

"And I have some Myrrh..." he whispered, put his present down and ran off the stage. Hanna huffed and walked off after him. There was the sounds of a conversation and then the boy trudged back on, led by a triumphant Hanna. Reluctantly, the boy stood by Wartnut as Hanna walked back to her place and smiled. The Star/Narrator concluded the play and the children and parents sang 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing' before the curtain came down. Every parent was on his or her feet, clapping wildly and then the curtain came up as the children all took a bow before they streamed down the stairs to see their parents before they all went for orange juice and mince pies.

Hiccup scooped his daughter up in his arms and swung her around as she shrieked and giggled.

"You were awesome!" Hiccup said in delight, hugging her. "Best angel EVER!" She nuzzled into his neck.

"Yeah-you were awesome, Terror," Ruff said. "Heather would have been so proud of you!" Hanna hugged her father fiercely.

"You came," she said happily. "Half the boys said you wouldn't come because you would be out finding a new girlfriend." Hiccup froze and stared at her.

"They what?"he asked, his tone confused.

"Well, I don't have a Mommy now so they said any Daddy without a Mommy has to go out and find a new Mommy to marry," Hanna explained as Astrid moved closer. "They said you might be too busy with that to watch me. And they also said when you get a new Mommy, you would have more children and you might not want me any more..." Her voice was starting to get tearful again and Hiccup hugged her seriously, then kissed her on the forehead.

"Hanna, I want you to listen to this because the other children are wrong," he said firmly. "I don't have to find someone else. You are all I need. And I will never not want my little Princess."

"But in all the Fairy Tales, when the Princess's Mommy dies and her Daddy marries again, her Step-Mom is always mean and wants to get rid of her!" Hanna protested.

"She's got you there," Astrid murmured.

"But I don't want a new Mommy," Hiccup told her simply. "Your Mommy was perfect and I still miss her and I don't need another person..." But he glanced over to Astrid as he spoke and there was almost regret in his green eyes, a silent apology to the beautiful blonde Nanny.

"You don't?" Hanna asked, relieved. "I thought you may get lonely. You look sad when I see you at night. But not since Astrid arrived."

"There you are," Hiccup told her. "I'm not lonely and I don't need a new Mommy."

"But if you ever did-do you promise you will still want me?" Hanna asked persistently and Hiccup smiled, rubbing noses with his anxious daughter.

"I promise...even if I have a dozen more children!" he reassured her and she sighed, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly.

"I love you, Dad," she sighed in relief.

"Hanna-the boys who said this-are they coming to your party?" Astrid asked her thoughtfully. Looking up, the little girl nodded.

"Yes," she admitted.

"And do you still want them to come after this?" the Nanny checked. Hanna considered.

"If I tell them they can't come, they'll be sad and feel upset," she realised. "And though they were mean and made me feel bad, I'm not as bad as they are. So they can still come." Astrid leaned forward and gave the girl a little hug.

"You're a better person than I am," she admitted. "Now let's get you a drink and a mince pie and then we can go out for a celebratory meal at Viking Burger." Hanna nodded.

"And it's my party tomorrow afternoon," she said.

"Thor help us all," Hiccup murmured wearily.

"No," Tuff grinned. "Just us. It's gonna be awesome!"