Chapter 23 - We Are Bound Together
You ever had a dream that you could have sworn was real, but then something was off. Just minor things, like you are living in the wrong place, or driving a different car, or have different friends. Astrid was having one of those dreams she could have sworn was real, or maybe a reply of a memory, but she could have sworn it was real, and yet it was off.
She was her age right now, not any younger or older, 23. And she was sat in her old house in Bagarmossen, her two bedroom bungalow, sat in the kitchen with her parents laughing about something. But then Hiccup walked through the doors, and what was weird was her dad patted him on the shoulder, and her mom kissed his forehead, hugging him like he was her own.
He came to her next, kissing her so passionately, she missed his lips, his touch, his smell. He held her left hand with his, their two wedding rings brushed against each other, she was married, in love, happy.
Then a familiar face came walking through the door, a face she had missed. Wrink! She found herself running into his arms hugging him close, he was cleaner than she remembered, but he was still Wrink. With in her friends arms she looked at her smiling family behind her, all the people she loved deeply. Was this what heaven was like? Being surrounded by those you love?
She didn't know whether to laugh or cry, for her this was the perfect life, but it didn't feel real, it didn't look real. It looked like a picture of them frozen with a single smile on their face. Until they started to evaporate, fading away right in front of her eyes. Like dust.
" Hiccup" when she reached out it only made it worse, blowing away like dust in wind, until she was left on her own. A house that was once full of life all of a sudden felt empty, and she was alone.
Her eyes were blinded by a bright light pulling her head to the left to hide away from the light. And that's when she saw Ruff, sat next to her emotionless, still, she called her name but no reply. They were sat in the back of a car, a none familiar car to her. She looked forward to see she was in that back of a car, and the blinding lights were headlights, car headlights, and they were coming right at her.
This is what she deserves, the chance of happiness ripped away from her. She ruined it in real life she might as well relive her mistakes over and over.
This wasn't heaven, this was her hell!
Xx
Phlegma came into Miss Hofferson's room, she was doing her hourly check, the poor boy she had known ever since she was ten years old when he was born and had been announced on live tv was sat on a chair next to the girls bed, he was crouched over, head on the bed near her hand. The doctor couldn't help but smile, the Haddock's where royalty to the people of Berk, she should know, she was raised by a mother who lived and breathed for them, she would watch all the live broadcasts, she even had the wedding of Stoick Haddock and Valka Jorgensen on tape. The birth of the boy asleep right in front of her was a day she remembers, schools shut for a day, there was street wide celebrations, it was a day to celebrate of course, a new Haddock. And she just couldn't believe that right in front of her was that boy, now a man, lay beside the women he loves as she fights to live, and all this was kept quiet. It was shocking, but the lady couldn't help but feel amused.
She went to the monitor, checking if everything was up to date. She had to change the blood bag once again before she takes Astrid off it. She looked down at her patient taking a quick look and then she saw it.
Phlegma saw a small flutter in Astrid's eyes lids, and then a move of her fingers, it could be nothing, but she was supposed to be coming out of anaesthetist any time now, she was taking longer than usual, but she started to wake. Her eyelids started to open, taking their time, but Astrid seemed to be waking up nicely at a nice pace. Without disturbing the man sleeping peacefully Phlegms started to try to see if Astrid will respond.
" Miss Hofferson?" Nothing so far, she was delirious, throwing her head from side to side as it looks to be her coming to terms with where she is.
" Astrid?" She seemed to respond to that, her head turning into her direction, she was murmuring in her drowsiness, couldn't get her words out properly but that would have to do with the fact she had her throat patched up, she shouldn't really be talking at all.
" Try not to talk Astrid" she started murmuring again, a hand came up to her neck, she felt the throbbing pain coming from it, and the burning sensation in her abdomen. What had happed to her? Why was she in so much pain? Why couldn't she talk? She didn't know where was was, was this another nightmare?
" Where -ah!" She tried to talk but the throbbing pain in her neck just shot up her throat. She couldn't talk, it was like torture, she tried to focus her eye sight, tried to speak, there was something covering her mouth, her breathing hurt with every breath. Hot burning tears fell down her cheeks, she hated to admit it but she was frightened, in pain, and what she thought was alone.
" Astrid? Try not to talk sweet heart, I'm right here you are fine" Phlegma tried her best to calm her down, the last thing she needed was for Astrid to get distressed and ruining the work she had done. But she could tell that the young lady was panicked, her tears were pouring out as she threw her head backwards and forwards, left and right.
" I - where -" her throat wasn't fire, but she could see someone above her, blurred but she could hear a women's voice. Was it her mother? Was her mother so close yet so far? Or was this just a horrid dream? But then if her mother was here and this was another dream then where was Hiccup? " Hic- Hiccup!" She tried to focus her her eyes on what surrounded her, she looked to be in a clean white room from her blurred vision, bright lights everywhere, and the lady above her wasn't her mother, he mother had blonde hair, this lady had darker hair from what she could see. So was this a dream?
" Hic-" she tried to call through her croaky voice for the one person she actually wanted to see, she knew if she saw him, dream or not, she'll feel safe. " Hic-cup"
At the sound of his voice being whispered out Hiccup shot up from his nap, his eyes were still glued shut but he was able to shoot them open when he realised what was going on, Astrid was awake, or trying to wake up from what he could tell, doctor Frigard was above her slightly calling for her to be calm, to not talk but Astrid was basically thrashing about, distressed, calling his name through her pained voice over and over.
" Astrid! Astrid you're okay" he reached for her free hand, the one that wasn't pressed against her throat as it throbbed. " Astrid baby I'm right here, I'm here milady, you're okay" he kissed her hand over and over, the act caused her to stop thrashing about and focus on her left hand, the left hand he held, stroking it over and over, kissing her fingers and knuckles. Her eyes focused onto the figure that held her hand, and through the mask that covered her face, she smiled, seeing those bright green emerald eyes. She instantly calmed down but still tried to talk, she reached for mask with the hand that was previously on her neck, she ignored the burning pain in her throat and stomach because she had to say this, before she lost the chance again. She pulled the mask down, her eyes never leave those familiar green eyes, " Hic-c-" she took a breather, waiting before taking another breath.
" Shh sweetie, don't talk" a hand came to her head, brushing her bedraggled hair out of her face.
" I - mis-take - Hicc - I made - mistake - I - I marry - I -" she strained her voice just to make her point, she didn't care how much it hurt, all she cared for was to get her message across. She watched as he stroked her left hand, kissing her knuckles, tear falling from his eyes. He looked as scared as she did, but there was more relief in his eyes than hers.
" I know sweetie, I know everything, I know why you left the club" he kissed her knuckles over and over, until he pushed her fingers up so she could see them. She couldn't really see anything with how much her tears blurred her vision, but as her fingers moved slightly she saw something reflect the sunlight from outside. It was something small on her ring finger, it was the engagement ring, the beautiful engagement ring that fit perfectly on her finger. He knew, she didn't know how he knew but that didn't matter, he knew and he still wanted to marry her.
" I - so so-rry-" he voice was now starting to fail on her, breaking unusually, she had put too much strain on it.
" Miss Hofferson try your best not to talk" her eyes were still on Hiccup smiling as much as possible, but she took on the advice her doctor gave her, though it had t really dawned on her why she was on the hospital, not yet, she was just happy to see Hiccup.
" I love you Astrid, you have nothing to be sorry for, just rest okay, just rest for me" with his free hand that wasn't holding onto her left hand, he brushed the side of her face again, stroking her patched up face with his thumb. Even now battered and bruised, he still thought she was the most beautiful person in the whole world, and he was great full the gods gave her back to him.
She complied to his wishes, letting herself lay back comfy in the pillows. She could sleep happily now, now she knew she didn't miss her chance. She looked over to Phlegma who was just fixing a few things with her monitor, paging a few nurses her way, but then with the sight of a doctor in her vision, Astrid's mind started to tick, why was she here?
But her dream? It wasn't all a dream? The crash, Ruffnut, Thuggory!
She a gasp of painful air she shot up sitting up right on her hospital bed, she ignored the pain in her stomach, her mind was set one something else. The instant move shocked both Hiccup and Phlegma, but Phlegma was faster than Hiccup, rushing to her patients side trying to push her down carefully.
" Astrid I need you to calm down" her tone was neutral, un like Hiccup's which was erratic.
" what's going on?! She was fine a second ago!" Astrid thrashed once again, but this time tried to keep herself from talking like her doctor had suggested. But she needed to talk, she needed to know what happened really, what happened to her friends, the last thing she remembers was headlights!
" this is normal, it's trauma, she could be flashing back to the crash" Phlegma struggled to hold Astrid down so she didn't cause herself damage. Hiccup looked into his girlfriends eyes, she was confused, scared, she so desperately wanted to talk, to ask questions that she needed answers for.
" have you got a pen and paper" it was then he got the idea.
" what?" A confused Phlegma didn't seem impressed with the random question at this moment in time.
" she scared and she won't calm down till we answer her questions, get me a pen and paper, she can't talk so she'll write" Phlegma then understood, the young woman wanted answers and Haddock was right she wasn't going to cam down till she got them. It had to be her to leave too, for if Hiccup got up and left it could cause more stress and anxiety being left with a stranger. So as Phlegma ran off to get some stationary, Hiccup stood up from his chair and sat on the edge of Astrid's bed, so he was higher than her and more in her line of vision. He leaned down slightly putting hands on her shoulders to hold her down, but unlike Phlegma's attempt, this actually worked, her eyes met his, and she instantly stopped.
" it's okay, it's okay, we are going to get you something to help you speak okay" she nodded, fresh tears covering old ones. " I'll answer any questions you want, you're not alone okay, I'm right here" he kissed her forehead lightly, his hands came up to cup her face and brush those tears away with his thumbs lightly.
Phlegma rushed back with pen and paper in her hand, she pasted it to Hiccup, letting him take the lead as Astrid seemed more calm with him.
" alright, write what you want to ask?" He held the pad of paper in her direction and passed her the pen, her hand was shaking slightly due to the fright of what the answers maybe.
Hiccup noticed this, putting his over hers, " it's okay, everything is okay" she calmed a little, believing the words he said.
Putting pen to paper she could only bring herself to write one word questions, due to nerves and trauma her hand was shaking uncontrollably. She was able to write one word she wanted clarification on, ' ?'
He knew what she was asking, Phlegma was probably right, she was having flashbacks to the crash, but her main question was, did it really happen?
" yes you were in a car crash, but you're fine" she shoot her head left to right rapidly, wafting her hand towards her gesturing she wants the pad back. He complied knowing she had more questions.
' R U F F?' Was spelt out under the word 'crash' as Hiccup flipped the pad back to himself. She was dying to know if Ruff what okay, her best friend.
" Ruff's fine, who do you think told me why you guys left in the first place, she's just got a broken leg and a few bruises but she's fine" the stress that had built up on her shoulders immediately let go, that was the first thing in her mind when she remembered about the crash, she remembered Ruff beside her.
But then she remembered that there were two others in the car, ' ? ! ' she underlined Thug's name twice patting the page over and over near Thugs name trying to explain.
But Hiccup knew, " I know what happed Astrid, Ruff told me, told me what Thug did, it's my fault" he whispered the last bit, Ruff mentioned how Thug was going on about him and Astrid owing him. Thuggory's family had a vendetta against his ever since the dark ages, the Haddock's too Meathead Island for their own, but this went deeper than that, why did he mention his grandparents?
A hand touched his and Astrid was looking at him through her tears. She shook her head over and over, leaning forward and ignoring the pain her body caused her and kissed his shoulder. He knew what she was trying to say but he still couldn't help but feel guilty.
" Astrid they," he paused, he didn't want to cause her any more pain that she had already endured, but if he didn't tell her what happed to her friends someone else would, and he didn't want that. " Astrid your friends, Bearcub and Thuggory are - they didn't survive-" he didn't finish his sentence, he could see the realisation in her eyes, the tears building up and she finally came to terms with the friends she had known since first year, even if one had tried to kill them all, they were her friends and now they were gone.
" I'm sorry" she took to lying back trying to process.
Phlegma stood awkwardly in the background, " I think I'm going to leave you two to it, I'll inform your family and friends outside" she walked off leaving the young couple, Astrid however held onto the 'family and friends' part.
" Fa- mily?" She croaked out.
" mom and dad came as soon as possible, so did Gobber, and Heather and well Eret was already here but he took the rest of the day off to be with us. Of course Snotlout is here but he's in Ruffnut's room" he watched her small smile rise.
" you have family here Astrid," he brought her left hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles and the ring he had placed on her finger. " we're your family"
Xx
( Evening )
Astrid had fell asleep soon after learning the news off her friends, but rest was good, it means she didn't have the need to try and talk. It also meant Hiccup could try and get some sleep too. After Phlegma left them alone he tried his best to sooth his girlfriend to sleep after hearing the news of her friends deaths. After a while it seemed to work, she drifted off into a painless sleep after the nurse topped up her final dose of morphine, she'll be on Hydrocodone tablets after this till they say otherwise.
So she seemed to look peaceful even if her whole body was battered and bruised. But it gave Hiccup the chance to catch up on the sleep he missed this morning, though the chair he slept on was extremely uncomfortable but he wasn't going to complain. He wasn't leaving her side, they would have to drag him out for him to leave.
Valka had been popping her head in and out, but she dared not wake her boy, he was exhausted and needed the rest so she made it clear the rest of their friends and family should take up camp in the cafe till the two wake up. As for Snot he was still with Ruff, she was still on high painkillers like Astrid, and the fact she had a rod in her leg was just god damn uncomfortable.
By the time Astrid had woken up from her nap it was evening 4:30 - 5:00 pm max by just eyeballing the summer sun. But she didn't know exactly what time it was. But she was starving and wanted food.
Hiccup was back in his original position, sat on the chair but leaned over so her face and part chest was lay on her bed. Poor guy's back will look like curly fries before she gets out this hospital if he keeps sleeping like this.
She reached over to him with her left hand, her ring catching the light as it moved. The nicest way to wake him up was by running fingers through his hair, that way he didn't wake up with a jolt, he woke with a moan and a groan, peacefully and calmly.
" hey-" she went to speak but remembered her voice was fucked.
" try not to talk you silly women" he maybe still sleepy but he still leaned over and kissed her forehead sweetly.
" you sleep okay?" He asked, she was at the front of his mind.
Without replying Astrid nodded, but he knew without her even speaking a word she wanted something. " everything okay? You need something?"
She nodded in reply, rubbing her belly to try and show she was hungry, but it wasn't very good to communicate that.
" are you in pain?!" He immediately jumped to the worst as her lower abdomen was the main cause of her pain along with her throat.
But she shook her head and grabbed the paper and pen on her side table. ' '
She should have out starving but be got what she meant. " you're hungry? No worries, I'll go ask if you can have anything" before he left he made sure he kissed her head before exiting the room and she was left alone. She took this time to look at the ring on her finger, she hadn't had the chance to properly look at it, it was beautiful, in pure Hiccup style.
She was getting married! To Hiccup Haddock! If the people of Berk only knew.
But then the weird feeling hit there would be an announcement and not just as her and Hiccup dating but as engaged, they're have to have a big wedding, she hated big weddings, they'd have to show the people they were going to be the next best power couple of the Haddocks. How the hell would she be a Haddock, how the hell could she do the things Valka did. Hiccup more or less hid the life of being a Haddock from her, but she saw the news papers and the magazines, heck one time she was in them, they were all over the Haddock's, even the people that were in their social circle of friends, especially like Heather, Dagur, Eret and Snotlout. They were known for their high status, what would that make her marrying into the family that created all that was on Berk.
She'd be a Haddock, by marriage yes but still a Haddock, like Valka and the people loved Valka, would they love her?
Hiccup came walking in soon after leaving, " they are going to try you on some yogurt while your throat is still healing," in his hand he held a sealed up pot of yogurt and a spoon, she pressed the button on her bed controller to sit herself up.
She'd take anything right now but her throat was killing, so some smooth yogurt might be a good shout.
" eat slowly okay, don't want to cause any damage" she nodded talking the pot off him, she hasn't had food for nearly 24 hours.
There was a knock at her door as she started to dig in, the door opened slightly and Valka's head popped through the crack. " hello? Are you up for a few visitors?" Behind her stood Stoick, Gobber, Heather and Eret who were all dying to check in and see how she was.
Hiccup looked at her for confirmation not wanting to let them in without her permission, she nodded without hesitation, she needed to see people, people that weren't nurses anyway.
" yeah come on in " they piled into the single hospital bedroom Valka immediately rushing to the right side of Astrid's bed while Hiccup still sat on the left, she rushed over and gave Astrid a soft light hug.
" oh sweetheart we are all so glad you are okay" Astrid watched as Hiccups family and their friends walked in. Stoick stood behind Valka and Gobber behind Hiccup, Eret and Heather stood side by side at the bottom of her bed.
" yes we are lass, you gave us all a scare there" Stoick wrapped an arm around his wife of thirty years.
" yeah, Hiccup more than any of us," Gobber spoke up next, patting Hiccup on the shoulder, " you had him sick to his stomach" Astrid looked over to Hiccup, but he just kissed her left hands knuckles over and over.
" yeah you had us all sick to our stomachs " Eret spoke out at the end of the bed, he gave he a quick wink. She knew he treated her like a little sister, Eret had no family like her, so them two got on well, and they were two orphans who had been taken in by the Haddock family.
" speak for yourself I just knew Astrid was going to be alright," Heather elbowed Eret in the side playful, " us girls are stubborn bitches" she nearly cause Astrid to laugh, but the blonde restrained herself from doing so.
That said, the laughter soon seceded to exist when Heather bursted out, " SHUT UP" her eyes had caught something shining in the light on Astrid's left hand. Eret had kept his mouth shut when it came to retrieving the ring for Hiccup, he knew the couple would want to tell their friends and family in their own time. That was till Heather found out.
She rushed over to the left side of Astrid where Hiccup was sat and basically snatched Astrid's hand out of Hiccup's grasp, " shut up! You two got engaged?!"
Soon the whole room was in commotion. " oh that's wonderful!" " well done my boy!" " I love myself a wee wedding cake" but Astrid and Hiccup kept quiet humbly.
" oh a wedding is perfect right now," Valka said, she had a huge smile on her face, one the made the young couple uncomfortable.
" oh we'll need to make an announcement" Astrid's eyes nearly popped out of her head when Valka said that.
" and an engagement party" Stoick joined in.
" yes a party, we can invite all our friends and business partners to meet Astrid and arrange the wedding, it's going to have to be big-" while Valka listed all that was going to be done and planned for Astrid felt as if her blood sugar levels were dropping from a mountain. She felt sick to her stomach, all this partying and planning, it was all being piled up in less than five minutes.
Hiccup saw the turn of Astrid colour when his parents droned on about the parties and announcements, " Err Mom, Dad?" His parents stopped mid-sentence when they sensed his tone.
" let's not talk about that right now," his eyes drifted to Astrid as she sat looking at him. " let's get you better first yeah, all this wedding crap can happen after that, I just want you better first" he saw the smile return back to her face and her whole body relax from its previous stiffed position.
" well yes of course, silly us" Valka said realising her son was right, " I'm just so excited for you both really" she grabbed Astrid's right hand and squeezed it. Valka loved her son truly, but after complications with trying for Hiccup Valka was unable to have anymore children, and she so desperately wanted a girl to have that mother daughter relationship with. It's why she held onto Heather like a daughter and she was happy to look after that cheeky boy Eret when Hiccup introduced them back in his uni days. She enjoyed having a large family and now with Astrid, even if her parents were still here she'd look after her like a daughter, but now she felt it was her duty too, and she may have gotten a little too excited but Valka was over the moon to finally have a daughter in law, and spoil her rotten like she did Heather.
" who's excited for who?" If the room wasn't already full enough in came Ruffnut being push in a wheelchair by Snotlout, who hadn't yet been killed by Ruff's harsh tongue.
" Ru-ff!" Astrid strained, but she was happy to finally see her friend who was getting rolled up beside Hiccup.
" yeah bitch I get it you missed me" she leaned up and Astrid leaned down for a hug, she was so so so happy her friend was okay. " you look like shit" she spoke her truth, but Astrid loved her for it.
" oh Fuck off!" And that's when she saw it. " you fucking proposed without me!?" She turned her questions to Hiccup who sat innocently on Astrid's bed.
" well I - I didn't exactly propose again I just-" trying to justify himself but doing a terrible job Hiccup looked to Astrid for help, but was again reminded she couldn't do anything, and started to rub the back of his neck continuously.
" well this just won't do, you'll have to do it again" her comment cause everyone in the room to focus in on their conversation.
" Err wh- what?" Hiccup, the most confused out of them all nearly did a double take.
" you heard me, I went through a car crash and a fucking metal rod in my leg for this shit, I want the full show, so do it again" through the whole commotion and confusion Valka turned to her husband.
" fine choice of vocabulary, Astrid did say Ruffnut was one of a kind" she whispered over her breath.
Meanwhile Hiccup was still processing what the blonde in the wheelchair just said, but didn't think it was a bad idea.
" I mean I don't see why not" it was now Astrid to give the confused look. " I mean why not, at least this time I can ask a question and get a answer back" he winked at her to make sure she knew he wasn't angry about anything. " can I have the ring back Milady?" She held out her left hand as her reply letting him slip the ring back off her fourth finger.
Still sat where he was on the corner of her bed ring held in his fingertips with everyone watching. " Astrid Hofferson-" he began.
" oh no no no! " Ruff butted in from the background. " I said do it again but you gotta do it right, down on one knee" the young man looked questionably at the blonde behind him and then turned to his girlfriend, but she just shrugged and smirked, he wasn't getting any help from her.
So he did was he was told, got down from the bed and went down on one knee on the hard hospital floor. " Astrid Hofferson -" he paused and looked over his shoulder just to see if Ruff would but in, but she only smiled, " you put me through hell today," they all giggled under their breaths. " will you do me the honour of never doing that again, and marry me?" He thought he might get an emotionless response like Astrid was teasing or something, or getting a snarky remark but she genuinely smiled, and even pushed past her strained voice to say …
" yes-s"
The whole room erupted with clasps and laughter, the over enjoyment of the room was overwhelming.
" you're not supposed to speak you silly women" the ring was slipped on her finger yet again, and Hiccup was kissing her lips over and over.
In the middle of all the clapping and cheering Phlegma walked in, she didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the fact the Haddock family, a Jorgensen boy and a Berserker girl were all in one room, to to forget Gobber Belch who was a close family friend to the Haddock's. She knew Eretson had friends in high places, people he saw as family, but it was one thing listening to it, it was another actually seeing it face to face.
" what's going on in here?" She asked, she walked to the other side of Astrid's bed, the side Stoick and Valka stood, she tried to be professional and not look but it was like a double take moment.
" it's a royal engagement Phe! The Haddock bachelor is finally getting hitched" Eret teased. " but making all us guys look bad with a ring like that" Hiccup gave a sheepish shrug, it wasn't a secret he liked to treat Astrid, he sometimes over did it.
" yes but it's gorgeous so well done Hiccup" he got the approval off Heather which obviously meant he did one thing right, if she didn't like it then he would have been in trouble.
" congratulations" Phlegma said to the couple, a nice warm smile on her face. " but I'm going to have to cut this family celebration short, I'm going to ask if a few of you can leave the room, it can't be too crowded in here"
The high respected family complied happily, know that Astrid's doctor was only doing her job. They said their goodbyes, Ruff mumbling under her breath some naughty words knowing she would have to retire back to that lonely room with only Snotlout as company. Though if she was being true to herself she was so lucky and happy to have him.
" Miss Hofferson we will be keeping you in for observation for a few days," Phlegma had Astrid's chart writing in some knew information.
" da-ays?" She spoke cause she was shocked, she hadn't expected for them to keep her that long.
" We mainly want to keep an eye on your neck and stomach, make sure there is no infections or internal bleeding," she noticed the immediate worry in her patient's eyes. " but no need to worry I have the upmost confidence you won't but things can happen some that we might have missed while in surgery, you were in a massive trauma accident, I'm just making sure you get the best care"
But that's not worried Astrid, she had student health insurance, this wouldn't cover have the things she'd probably already had, never mind another few days of it. " after that I'll need to discharge you with someone that will be able to care for you," her home of resistance right now is her flat with Ruff, well Ruff would probably go home to her parents so they could look after her but then that means she couldn't go back.
" she'll be moving in with me" Hiccup spoke up to Phlegma, " she was going to move in with me anyway after her finals, I'll take care of her" he shot her a wink and she instantly smiled.
" right, and she'll have someone there to care for her always?" Granted it was her job as a doctor to make sure there is someone able to look after her patients when they were discharged but she couldn't help but feel like she was being nosey into the heir of the Haddock's life.
" well if it's not me it'll be family," he pointed to his parents who were still stood in the room, Ruff and Snotlout had already left and Gobber, Heather and Eret stood just outside the door. " or my head housekeeper, meaning to say my house is never quiet"
The doctor only smiled as reply, jotting a few notes down on Astrid's chart. " Right well the next thing I'd like to discuss is obviously the cost," Astrid stomach sank, she'll have to tell her about her student Insurance, and will have to tell her she'll have to pay off the rest, some how.
" Mr Haddock would you come with me and sign some paperwork," Hiccup instantly got up, Astrid felt like she had missed something.
" wa-it?" She reached out for his hand pulling him back to her, but he only squeezed her hand as a reply and kissed her forehead before simply saying, " it's already sweetie, you'll be fine, everything is fine." He was absolutely mad.
In Berk the health care system was different to the one in Stockholm. The Swedish health care system is mainly government-funded, universal for all citizens and decentralized, although private health care also exists. The health care system in Sweden is financed primarily through taxes levied by county councils and municipalities. Where as in Berk you have to apply for insurance and then you pay into that like taxes. But obviously with Berk being so small, you can have family bubble insurance like Ruff does meaning there is a perk to being a true born Berkian. Private healthcare was also taken to the next level of the health centre in north West town, that's where Hiccup goes. But like before Berk has another package for people like Astrid and Aya, student insurance that's paid for with the uni fees, just the basic care, cause gods people hoped they wouldn't need insurance for a car crash. And yet here she is.
She wouldn't even know how to start to pay Hiccup back for this, how much were hospital fees anyway?
Hiccup went off and Valka offered to stay with her till he got back. She didn't know where to begin with thanking this family, for letting her into their homes, their lives, their hearts? She hopped they loved her as part of their own, because she did, when she thinks of family now she thinks of the people who were in her hospital bed room moments before, obviously Fishlegs and Tuffnut but she still didn't know whether they knew or not. Surely by now they did, but they hadn't come to see her while she was awake.
She went back to her dream, her vivid dream of the love ones she had in her old house, and she liked to think she figured it out. It was her parents or her self conscious tell her to let go of her past loved ones, still love them but let them move on, and she move on too, with her family here, with Hiccup, and they will be waiting for her to arrive when it's her time.