So, this chapter's got some Hiccstrid in it. I like Hiccstrid. I really don't ship Hiccup or Astrid with anyone else but each other (apologies to Mericup shippers). ANNNNYYYYWWWAAAYYYS, enjoy chapter 14! I have no idea how long this story's gonna be...probably won't be more than twenty chapters, but I don't know. Strange to think that this was just a one-shot at one point. I don't get it. *shrugs*

As soon as Astrid finished her tales, she caught Valka trying to stifle a yawn.

"It's late," Astrid said. "You can go on to bed, and I'll take care of Hiccup."

"Are you sure you want to, Astrid?" Valka asked. "Because I don't mind it, really, honestly, I don't mind watching him…"

"No, you need to rest," Astrid said. "Go on. You know I'll take good care of him, don't you?"

Valka looked at the girl, before she nodded. Yes, she was feeling exhausted, and she knew Astrid was right, but part of her was still unenthusiastic about leaving her sick boy without his mother.

"One thing," Valka said, both sternly and gently at the same time. "One little thing, and you come get me, alright? If he has a nightmare, if he gets worse…"

"Valka, I'm alright," Astrid said. "I can take care of him just as well as you can. Don't worry. He'll be fine. And I'll come and get you if something drastic happens."

In the end, Valka nodded, laying Hiccup down on his bed before thanking Astrid and bidding the girl goodnight, leaving downstairs to finally get some sleep. Astrid waited until the woman was gone before she sat down on the empty space beside Hiccup, stretching her legs out in front of her, leaning her back against the headboard. She put her hand on Hiccup's head subconsciously, not fully thinking about what she was doing, or even why she was doing it.

"Good night, Hiccup," she said, whispering so that she wouldn't wake him up. She felt a bit of heat on his forehead, but she figured it was his body rising back to its normal level. She let her hand linger, and then closed her eyes for just a moment.

…

Astrid wasn't sure how long she had been asleep, because when she woke up, it was still dark, and just as she had left it. The only thing different was Hiccup. Astrid's hand was still on his forehead, and now, she felt that he was burning. He had another fever, and she hadn't even noticed it.

She hated herself, as she stood up, found a rag, wet it down, and put it against his forehead, for not seeing it sooner. She shouldn't have fallen asleep at all. If she had stayed awake, then chances were she would have noticed Hiccup's change of temperature much, much sooner; sooner enough to the point where she could have stopped the fever before it got worse.

However, she had been sleeping while Hiccup had been suffering, and she knew that she would never fully forgive herself for it.

She sat on the bed again, pressing the cloth to Hiccup's forehead in an attempt to break his fever and cool him down. It didn't seem to be helping much at first, but then eventually, his head felt just a little bit cooler, and Astrid's panic began to fade if just slightly.

It took another few minutes for Hiccup to wake up. When he did, the first thing he saw was Astrid sitting beside him, staring out into space, her fingers fooling with the loose strands of her bedraggled braid. Her other hand was pushing a cloth firmly against his forehead. The wet rag brought a cooling, soothing feeling onto Hiccup, and he almost fell asleep again, but didn't.

"Astrid," he said, not bothering to pose it as a question. He already knew it was her. She looked in his direction, her blue eyes meeting his green, tired ones.

"Hiccup," she said. "How are you feeling?"

"Hot," Hiccup murmured. "Tired." Astrid pressed the rag against his forehead, and Hiccup sighed in contentment. "Cloth feels amazing…" he said, almost dreamily.

"Does it?" Astrid asked, although Hiccup could tell by her tone of voice that it was a trick question. "My parents always put one on my head when I have a fever. Helps, don't you think?"

Hiccup nodded. "What are you still doing here…?" he asked after just a moment. "It's dark…"

"Your mother went to get some rest, so I told her I was going to stay with you," Astrid said.

"That was…nice of you," Hiccup said breathlessly, "but you really don't have to stay."

Astrid huffed and rolled her eyes, blowing her bangs out of her face. "After all this time, Hiccup," she said, "you seriously think you could get rid of me when you're sick?"

"Probably not," Hiccup said.

"Then don't try it," Astrid advised.

"Hmmm…ain't gonna…not yet," he said, rolling over on his side, his back towards the wall. "Tired…I'm too tired to care…"

"Hello, Mr. Too-Tired-To-Care," Astrid joked. "I'm Astrid."

"No you're not…" Hiccup mumbled. "You're annoying."

"Well, you're rude," Astrid said.

"No…I'm Hiccup," Hiccup said.

"Whatever, Dragon Boy," Astrid said. "Like it or not, you're stuck with me."

"Miss Annoying…" Hiccup said.

Astrid stared at him for just a moment. "Shut up," she said, shoving him only slightly.

"Now who's rude," Hiccup said.

"No, seriously," Astrid said. "You're going to wake your mother."

"Okay," Hiccup said. "As long as it stands that you are the rude one."

"Either way," Astrid said, "you're stuck with me, because, rude or not rude, I'm not leaving."

"So you won't leave?" Hiccup asked. "No matter what I do?"

"Nope," Astrid said, shaking her head.

"Are you sure?" Hiccup said, almost suspiciously.

"I'd like to see you try to get rid of me," Astrid said determinedly.

"Alright then," Hiccup said. He sat up half-way and then leaned over, resting his head against Astrid's thigh.

"Uh…what are you doing?" Astrid asked him, confusion lacing her voice.

"You're my pillow…" he murmured.

Astrid huffed, crossing her arms, although she made no other move. "Fine," she said. "But only because you're sick and overly clingy."

"I'm not clingy…" Hiccup said.

"Then get off me," Astrid said.

"Noooooooo," Hiccup moaned. "Staaaaaaaay. Bad pillow…"

Astrid chuckled. "See?" she said. "Clingy."

"Shhhh," Hiccup said, putting his finger against her lips to silence her. "Pillows don't talk…"

"Neither do people who are 'Too-Tired-To-Care'," Astrid shot back.

"Yeah we do…" Hiccup said, although his voice was barely audible now, his eyes closing on their own. "We always do…"

Astrid smiled, leaning down to kiss his forehead. "Good night, Dragon Boy," she whispered.

"'Night, milady," Hiccup said back, just before falling asleep once again. Astrid felt his forehead, and once she found it cooler than it had been before, she felt relieved beyond measure.

She suddenly felt her eyelids drooping, and no amount of shaking her head would keep them open. So, eventually, she fell asleep, just as soundly as Hiccup had.