A/N: So you really thought I would kill Hiccup those two chapters ago? Well, for those who did, I didn't! Hahaha! Now he can return to his duties, see Astrid, and make things go BOOM. It's MAKE THINGS GO BOOM time! (Quoting Percy Jackson there a bit. Lol). Well, not for a few months, anyways, the guy's still injured, but A-L-I-V-E! Sweet relief, ya'll! YES. Sorry, I don't really get tired of being random. I guess I'm really into it. :D Enjoy chapter 25! FINAL CHAPTER! :D ENJOY!

Was he dead?

That didn't seem quite right, but that's how he felt. One minute he's pretty much dead, and the next he's in his room. Maybe this was some dream? Do you dream when you're dead? Hiccup doubted it. But then how would that explain all this? He really didn't have a clue. Not only that, but Toothless was there, too, sleeping, curled up on his stone slab in the corner.

Was Toothless dead, too?

That didn't seem quite right, either. But then why was he here, unless Hiccup was alive?

This was all too confusing.

Wincing, he sat up and leaned against the headboard. His arm, chest, and right leg were done up in bandages from what he saw. Did you bandage dead people's injuries? Really, he doubted that even more than he doubted dreaming. And he was in his house. Did that count for something, or not?

At first, he wondered what had happened, until he remembered.

"ASTRID, LOOK OUT!"

"HICCUP!"

"Astrid...I'm not gonna...make..."

"Don't say that. You're gonna be fine. No. No no no no, don't do this to me, Hiccup. Stay with me. Stay awake. Please. HELP! SOMEONE HELP! PLEASE! You're fine. You're fine. You'll see."

Yes, he remembered it. He put his head in his left hand and then realized his forehead had been done up, too. He wasn't dead. Where was everyone else?

"Toothless..." Hiccup whistled. The Night Fury perked up instantly, his teeth sheathed, a happy, gummy grin on his face as he bounded over, shaking the entire frame of the house in the process. He paused right in front of Hiccup and waited for him to make the first move. Hiccup ran his hand over the dragon's head and smiled.

"Yeah, great to see you too, buddy," he said.

And if that wasn't permission enough, Toothless didn't know what was. He licked his master, and for the first time in a long while, Hiccup let him. He wasn't exactly thrilled about it, but he didn't mind it at that moment. He was alive, and so was Toothless, and so were the Berkians. That's all that mattered at that point.

Another instant later, the door swung open. Footsteps stomped up the staircase, and Hiccup was greeted by Astrid and Valka both.

"Hiccup!" they both exclaimed in unison.

"Hey guys," he said back. "How long was I out?"

"Not too long," said Valka. "About a day at tops. But I promise you, Hiccup, if you ever scare me like that again, I will tie you to a tree...no, I will tie you to me...and then get you to stay out of danger. Understood?"

"Sure, Mom," said Hiccup. "I take it you two were worried?"

"'Worried' is an understatement," said Astrid. "I...we almost lost you. Everyone was worried. Apparently, the twins thought it was a good idea to go tell everyone what happened, so most the villagers were here for a little bit this morning until we finally managed to shoo them away. And then we walk inside and you're awake."

"Yeah," said Hiccup. "It's nice to be awake."

"It's nice to have you awake, too," said Astrid. "Well, I'll be back in a few minutes. I'm supposed to help Snotlout and the twins with their dragons in just a se-" As if on cue, an explosion sounded outside, followed by screams of villagers.

"Yeah, you should go," said Hiccup.

"Five minutes," said Astrid. "I will be back in five minutes." She turned and bolted down the stairway and disappeared out the door. Hiccup turned to his mother and grinned.

"You wanna play chess?" he asked.

Valka smiled, and retrieved the chess game. Then, she and Hiccup set up their pieces. This time, Hiccup was determined he would win.

Later on that evening (after Valka won five games of chess in a row), Astrid was returning to the Haddock residence just to check on Hiccup, and to make sure that everything was going smoothly with his recovery. He was awake when she got there, and regarded her with a smile.

"Hey, Astrid," he said, and then paused. She moved over to the bed and sat down on the edge of it, waiting for him to continue. "I'm glad you're here," he said. "Um...because...uh...there was something I wanted to ask you."

"Yes?" said Astrid.

"Okay, Astrid," said Hiccup. "Oh, wait a second, I forgot." He reached over to his desk and grabbed a small box...

No way.

"Astrid?" said Hiccup. "Um...I know, maybe this is a bad time, but after the war and everything...would you mar-"

"YES!" Astrid screamed, and then threw her arms around him. Hiccup hesitated slightly before he returned the embrace with his good arm.

"Really?" he said. Astrid nodded into his shoulder as she pulled away from him.

Then, she smiled at him...and then balled her fist and punched his shoulder.

"OW!" Hiccup protested. "What are you-"

"That's for not asking me sooner," said Astrid. Then, she kissed him. "And that..." she said, "is because you asked at all."

THE END

SO THE SEQUEL WILL BE UP SOON (PROBABLY...I WILL DO MY BEST!). And just so you all know, the sequel will include Hiccup and Astrid's children. OH MY GOODNESS THERE WILL BE LITTLE HADDOCK AND FORMER HOFFERSON KIDS AND IT WILL BE SO CUTE! :D Anyways, I hope this story was good. :) Until next time! :D