Okay, so this is just a little filler-story I'm using to get my head into Scars And Hopes, my other HTTYD ModernAU!

But I hope you'll like this little story! :D

"Don't come home too late."

The young woman smiled and wrapped her coat a little tighter around her body. "I won't", she replied and stepped out into the darkness of the night. "Love you", he said (she could practically hear him grinning) and hung up. Stuffing her phone into her pocket, she slowly made her way through the little side street, aiming for the main street.

In front of her inner eye, she saw him preparing dinner for them for when she would get home - maybe with some candles, a couple of flowers, neatly folded napkins ... it would be such a Hiccup-thing to do. And, frankly, things turned out to be on the brighter side when he was the one cooking. Astrid had never had very much of a, say, gift for cooking.

Mostly, she burnt things up and almost set the kitchen on fire. He never said anything, though. She still wasn't sure if he just had a thing for black, burnt bits in the mashed potatoes or just accepted it as one of the things he simply would have to deal with.

She hoped for the former, though.

Eventually, Astrid emerged from the little backyard and found herself in the buzzing middle of the main street. Passengers were rushing around to go their late emergency shopping on Friday, cars overpopulated the street. Astrid sighed. Oh, brilliant, she thought, it will take hours for the bus to get through that huddle. I really should have taken the car.

Nonetheless, she made her way to the bus stop, pushing through the crowds.

Astrid pulled out her phone and clicked on the little message-symbol. It's crowded, bus will take hours. Might be late, don't wait for me. SORRY! :(, she typed and the traffic lights turned green. The phone buzzed. Need a lift? ;)

Behind her, a group of teenagers chattered about last week's basketball-game. "Hey, do you remember that guy with the peg leg? Man, he saved it!"

Astrid smiled to herself when she picked up their words. One-legged dork saves the day ...

Then, everything went way too fast.

Screeching tyres.

Flashing lights.

And then it hit her.

Hiccup sat bolt upright when he heard the phone ringing. Groaning, he reached for the receiver and picked up.

"Hello?"

"Mr Haddock?", a strange voice asked. Hiccup hesitated for a moment, surprised not to hear his wife's voice.

"Yes?", he said, slowly and drew himself out of the bed. The serious voice continued: "Your wife just had an accident. She got hit by a car."

"What? How is she?"

"She's alive but has serious injuries. Are you familiar with the Mercy Hospital?"

[Mercy Hospital. Just because I could. Any Ghost Whisperer fans?]

"Y-yes, of course!", he stammered and tried to strap on his leg with one hand while holding the phone in the other, his heart racing, blood rushing through his ears. The woman's voice was distant now. "How fast can you be here?"

"I'm on the way."

Blind panic occupied him when he got into the car and started the engine. Oh God. Oh God, no. Not her. Not Astrid. A sickening feeling started to crawl up his stomach to his chest, where it settled itself as a flat, stinging pain. What had happened? How was she now? How bad were her injuries? Would she be alright? Oh God, please let her be okay ...

It seemed like after a whole eternity when he finally arrived at the hospital. He scrambled out of the car, into the main hall.

"Astrid Haddock, my wife, she - she just arrived, hit by a car-", he panted at the lady at the information. She nodded. "Yes, she just got in. I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait, she's in the operating room, but you can wait over there."

At her words, Hiccup's head started spinning. He had to cling himself to the counter to keep standing on his feet - well, foot. "Okay", he croaked, "th-thank you."

Slowly, he made his way to the chairs standing under the Emergency sign. His head dropped in his hands. If she was in the OR ... how bad was she hurt, then?

Hours seemed to pass.

How long has she been in there?, he wondered and eventually got up, stepped outside into the cold, crisp night. He didn't know what to do. His fumbling fingers pulled out his phone.

Before he even noticed, he had dialed a number.

"Hiccup? Why are you calling so late at ni-"

"D-Dad?", Hiccup choked. Suddenly, his father sounded alarmed. "Son, what's wrong?"

"Dad, it's - it's Astrid. She had an accident."

And that was all Hiccup managed to say. Then, his voice broke down. He was shaking all over his body. He couldn't bare losing her. Not her. "Mercy" was all he could whisper, no, more croak, when Stoick asked him where he was. Then, his father ended the call.

And the young man stood in the cold, shivering, and slowly sank down on his knees because his legs just couldn't carry him anymore. He buried his head in his hands and felt the cold, golden wedding band around his finger brush against his freckled cheek.

And that was how his father found him.

He hauled him up to his feet and dragged him inside, more than leading him.

"What happened, son?"

Hiccup raised his head and faced his father's grey, worried eyes. "I ... I don't know.", he replied and broke eye contact again. "She just ... we talked on the phone just a couple of hours ago ... she was fine, she said she'd be h-home soon-"

"Um, Mr Haddock?", a voice suddenly interrupted him. His head shot up. A nurse smiled at him, worry and caution in her face. "You can see her now."

Okay, sorry, this one was rather short, I just felt like doing a cut here! ;)

Please review, that would be too kind! :D