(Author's Notes: I really hope you like this new chapter. I'm trying to make them longer, and thank you for the great reviews! I hope I get more and I am open to requests, however I will never EVER write any M rated stuff.)
A few days later, the day dawned bright and sunny, unlike Astrid's condition. She hovered on the border of sleep and wakefulness, occasionally becoming unconscious or crying out from what seemed like horrible nightmares. Her fever was slowly lowering, however, even though when she woke, it was often to plead for water through dry lips until she slipped back into sleep.
As Heather, Fishlegs, and the twins gathered to patrol the island as usual, Hiccup noticed that one of his riders was missing. "Where's Snotlout?" He asked. The others shook their heads. "Uh, sleeping in?" ruff suggested. Hiccup frowned. Snotlout was certainly not his most loyal rider, but he'd almost never missed a patrol, except that time he got food poisoning. He was stupid enough to either eat Ruff's cooking or drink some Yaknog- Hiccup had forgotten. Wait a minute...Could he be… oh no oh no ohhh no!
Hiccup practically flew down the path to Snotlout's hut, with its red paint and S design. He threw open the door, crossed the threshold, and saw the arrogant young Viking laying in his bed. Snotlout opened his eyes and in a raspy voice, said "Goody. I get to miss patrol!" but ended with a cough. Hiccup buried his face in his hands. Things just definitely got worse.
Heather appeared in the doorway with Fishlegs not far behind. She saw Hiccup's expression and froze. Snotlout coughed again and said, "Huh. Astrid and me sick at the same time. Must be fate…" "I thought you said..Um..you said I could…" "Oh yeah. Heather is totally in love with me. Sorry, Heather. Well then..Wait..Why am I sick? Why, Thor, why must you bring illness upon the great warrior instead of this shrimp?!"
"Is the fever making him delirious?" Heather asked. "I don't think so. I mean, Snotlout seems to believe that every pretty girl he sees is in love with him, but he sounds a bit like Tuffnut right now." "Hiccup, did you just call me pretty?" Hiccup almost jumped. Embarrassment was obvious in his expression. "N-no, I mean, you're not, um, ugly, but, uh…" He put his hand on the back of his head as he had a habit of doing in awkward situations. Heather smiled. "No, you and Astrid are meant for each other. I won't get in the way." With that, she left to join Fishlegs outside. "Th-thanks, uh…" Hiccup was left staring at the empty doorway.
A few hours later, Hiccup was back at Astrid's hut, sitting and drawing in his sketchbook while she slept. Suddenly, she opened her eyes and said very quietly, "Hiccup?" He jumped up, scattering papers all over the bed and floor. Astrid leaned forward and picked one up; It was the picture he'd been working on before she awoke. "Wow", she breathed.
It was a sketch of her, her head on the pillow, eyes closed with long lashes brushing her cheeks. Her neck was slim and almost swan like, while her lips were curved into a faint smile and you could just tell that her hair was soft and silky, falling ever so gently over her shoulders and on the pillow.
She couldn't possibly look this beautiful. "Is this how you see me?" She asked in awe. "Y-yes...Um..I drew it while you were asleep", Hiccup stammered. "It's beautiful", she said. Hiccup smiled and replied, "So are you."