So, as the super amazing FergS21 has suggested, I just quickly threw in some happy time, the last few chapters destroyed me! :D
(I should have called this chapter 'Sick Lie' but, oh well ...)
Chapter 5 - Give Me Some Peace or How The Story COULD Have Been If I Would NOT HAVE BEEN So Cruel
(yes, that's the title, guys ... makes it feel like a Mayday Parade song though ...)
The world stopped when she opened her eyes.
Hiccup's breath catched in his throat when he saw her piercing sapphire eyes for the first time in a week again.
She gasped. And Hiccup felt like he could faint right now on the spot, but he didn't allow himself to do so. No, his feet carried him forward, still to her bed, stumbling and tripping, his leg trembling, the floor just seemed to slip under his feet.
His hands found her face. Their eyes met and Hiccup gasped. His chest felt as if it would burst any moment, his whole body was on fire.
"Oh God ... oh God, you made it ..." He sank down on his knees and rested his head on her chest, his arms clutched around her shaking, frail body. He just wanted to feel her warmth, as tears of relief were soaking through her shirt.
"H-Hiccup?", Astrid croaked, her voice merely a whisper. A laugh escaped Hiccup's mouth at the sound of her voice, and his hands gently stroked her bruised face. "Yes, it's me, I'm here, it's okay ... everything's going to be fine ..."
"What ... what happeend?" God, she sounded like an angel, even in the rasp, low voice she spoke to him.
Hiccup tried to take a deep breath. "You had an accident, a ... a car, you ... were on the way home, and when you crossed the street, you got hit by a car.", he explained quickly, watching her face carefully. Her eyes darkened for a moment and she gasped slightly. Then, her gaze found his again. "You've been here ... all the time ..." It wasn't a question. But Hiccup nodded happily, tears still running down his cheeks, and he didn't even bother wiping them away. "Yes, yes, I didn't ... leave you ..."
She smiled and groaned from a sudden pain rushing through her body. Her bright eyes widened.
"My leg ..." Hiccup couldn't help but let out a chuckle. "Is still there, don't worry. But you have a fracture. The doctors say it should heal in a couple of weeks. Also, a light trauma and a couple of bruises, but except for that, you're ... perfectly fine ..."
He tried to stop himself from frantically stroking her hands, from staring into her wonderful swilring, sea-deep eyes, flinching at the bruised skin on her face, but he couldn't.
Hiccup leaned in again and held his face to hers. "I love you. I love you ... so much ..."
She smiled and licked her chapped, dry lips. "I love ... you too ... 'm glad you're here"
A rough laugh escaped his lips as he cradled her face in his hands and broke eye-contact for a second, "Me too."
She licked her lips again. Hiccup scrambled on his feet and reached for the waterbottle on the nightstand and the glass beside it. "Here", he whispered and helped her take a few gulps of the stale water. "Better?"
Astrid smiled and squeezed his hand. "Better." Then her eyes darkened. "How long was I ... unconscious?"
For a moment, his smile faltered. "A week."
Her lips quivered. "The ... the driver?"
Hiccup gritted his teeth. "Wasn't bothered. Left the place the accident happened before the ambulance arrived."
"You?"
He gave a forced smile. "I was at home when they called me. When I arrived at the hospital, you were in surgery, they wouldn't let me in, of course. Dad was here. You were out and they told me you were in a light coma." He shook his head and scooted yet closer to her. "How do you feel?" She gritted her teeth and furrowed her brows. "Weird ... my leg hurts ... and my head's buzzing, feels ... fuzzy ... but I'm okay."
He chuckled. "I don't really believe you", he whispered huskily and gently kissed her hand. "You should sleep now. You have to rest. This was exhausting."
She shook her head. "No ... I wanna ... talk ..."
"Hey", he gently interrupted her and pulled the chair closer to her bed, "I'm staying right here, okay? We can talk later. But you have to take it easy, alright?"
Astrid didn't look happy but nodded reluctantly and allowed him to adjust the pillows in her neck and let him tuck the covers tightly around her.
Gently, Hiccup pressed a soft kiss on her forehead and grinned when he noticed her lips curve to a smile. "I love you, Hic", she croaked and closed her heavy eyes.
The last thing she felt was his hand slipping into hers, gently lacing his fingers around hers.
On Monday, Ruffnut came with flowers and even Stoick took a break from work to visit Astrid. He only stayed a couple of minutes, but it made them happy nontheless. She had recovered very quickly and had managed to sit up in bed now (something she was very proud of ... without letting anybody know that, of course).
When Hiccup returned from home (he had stopped by to bring some of Astrid's clothes and to have a shower, too), Ruffnut sat crosslegged on Astrid's bed and brought her up-to-date again with the latest gossip.
"... and I was all like Whaat, 'cause, you know, it's Snot and - oh hi, Hic - then she just held up her hand and you actually won't believe-"
Astrid watched Ruffnut with sparkling eyes, sitting up against the wall of the head of the bed, leaned against a couple of pillows. Even though her injuries were healing quickly, she was told to stay in bed for the next days.
Hiccup smiled and idly leaned against the wall, dropping in on Ruffnut's rant.
"-they got engaged!"
"Oh my God!", Astrid squealed and waved her hands frantically. "You're kidding, right?"
"No, I am absolutely, 100% honestly. Not. Kidding!"
The next noise both women made were most likely best described as "GAH!". Hiccup just was confused. "Wait, we're talking about Scott, right? Big, bulky guy, not really one on the smart side, voice like thunder?"
Ruffnut (who was actually named Rachel, but was called Ruffnut most of the time) rolled her eyes. "Yes, Hiccup, pay attention."
"And he got engaged."
"Yes."
"To his girlfriend."
"Yes."
"Heather."
"Ye-es."
"The Heather?"
"Oh my God, will you stop, muttonhead! It happened, like, three days ago, how isolated were you?"
"Hold on a sec", Astrid dropped in, her eyes focusing on Hiccup. "You didn't leave at all, didn't you." Hiccup went to say something, but stopped himself when he noticed her narrowed eyes. He shut his mouth again.
"You haven't left this hospital THE WHOLE TIME?!"
"Told you she'd be cross", Ruffnut mumbled and smirked at a miserable Hiccup.
"I was worried sick-"
"Oh you will be sick when I get you, Haddock! Get over here so I can punch you!"
"I'm sor-"
"No, you're not and you know that! How can you be so ... so self-ignorant?"
"..."
"Did you even eat? Did you take a shower? And don't you dare telling me you slept on that chair, I swear-"
"I did take showers!", Hiccup cut her off, huffing indignantly, "and I ate and took walks, I just ... didn't leave you. I was worried."
She huffed. "Yes, I get that, alright. I just hate that you have to put yourself behind everything. Just because I had an accident doesn't mean you have to cut off every personal need-"
"Okay, okay, guys, cut it. Seriously.", Ruffnut cut her off, waving her arms in front of Astrid's face. "This totally unnecessary and stupid."
Astrid sighed and closed her eyes. "You're right. I'm sorry." She looked at her husband and reached out her hand; Hiccup took it, careful not to touch the pipes of the drip that were connected to her hand. "I just don't like the idea of you being ... like that."
He smirked. "You don't even find a word for it."
"I don't have to, you know what I mean!" She punched his arm, but it was more a pat than an actual punch. "Stupid dork" Hiccup grinned. "I really missed that."
Still smiling, he leant in and kissed his wife. Astrid smiled against his lips and wrapped her arms around his neck, accidentally pulling him down, but Hiccup managed to put his hands on either of her sides, so he didn't crush her.
"Ugh, oh gross!", Ruffnut commented from the corner but they could hear her grin, "you'll have enough time making out when you're alone! Somewhere where you can't take any colleteral damages ..."
They partened and smiled sheepishly. "Sorry ...", Astrid mumbled, quite breathless, but now her cheeks had at least some colour, what made Hiccup pretty content.
"You needed a little colour, babe", he murmured and earned a gentle punch from his wife.
"Whatever", Ruffnut commented and chuckled. "Hey, I think I'll have to get going now, tough. I extended my break to the limit's-limit, I think ... whoops ... see ya, girl, take care", she went to squezze Astrid's hand instead of huggin her, "and make sure Haddock doesn't besiege you."
Astrid grinned, flashing Hiccup a mischievous side-glance, "Don't worry. I will."
He laughed sarcastically and rolled his eyes. "Charming."
Ruffnut grinned, waved them and swept out of the room.
The day Astrid finally was discharged from the hospital was perfect. The sun grazed their faces when they sat in the car on their way back home. The CD-player was on full volume, playing one of Astrid's favourite songs (she couldn't decide on just one because 'that would be totally crazy'). At last, they arrived at their flat. Hiccup opened the door on her side of the car and took her, in one swift motions, in his arms, in an attempt to carry her up the stairs to the third floor.
Her laughter felt just so refreshing, echoing through the stairwell. "Hiccup! What are you doing? Put me down, I can walk, it's just a broken leg-" Despite that, she nuzzled her head against his chest. Hiccup laughed. "Nope, sorry, no can do. And I do have the slight feeling you're enjoying this?"
She hummed happily. "Hm, well, who doesn't enjoy being carried around?"
"Toothless."
"I meant more humanoid beings, babe."
"Still, Toothless."
Her body was shaken from silent laughter while she managed to look up sternly at him. She failed miserably.
"Welcome home.", Hiccup murmured into her hair and pushed open the front door. A bright smile grew on her lips when they stepped in, her arms were locked around his neck for support, and Hiccup made his way through the hallway and gently placed her on the sofa, pressing a kiss on her head.
"I'll just get the bag and your crutches."
She huffed. "Great. Leave me with our cat who's only waiting to attack me." He grinned, winked at her and swept out of the door. The next second, a black thunderbolt shot through the room and jumped on the sofa, on a laughing Astrid.
"Hey there, buddy!" She scratched his ears, chuckling when he pressed his head into her palm eagerly. "I missed you too, bud. Have you been here all the time? Has that stupid, mean dork left you alone the whole week?"
Toothless purred and looked up to her, almost as if to say 'Oh yes, he did'. "Aw, it's okay now. We're back. You'll get to sleep in the middle of the bed again."
His purrs got louder as he prowled around her and cuddled himself up against the pit of her arm. Lazily, Astrid stroke his black, silky fur and waited.
Everything was like it had been two weeks ago; mostly because Hiccup hadn't had the nerve and the time to do anything around the house when he had stopped by the last past few days. In a moment of utter horror, Astrid realized, that the dishes were still on the table. Bet Hiccup will insist on cleaning this whole mess up alone?
She sighed. "What a mess, Toothless."
"Yeah, I know, sorry, I didn't have any time to tidy up ...", Hiccup replied from the door. Astrid turned around. "I was talking to the cat", she retorted cheekily. He rolled his eyes but grinned and placed the crutches on the side of the sofa.
"She's back to spoil you, bud. You can't escape ..."
"I'm not spoiling him. I'm giving him the special attention he doesn't get from you."
He chuckled. "The sass-queen is back, Toothless ... we better watch out."
Toothless blinked at him and yawned.
Hours seemed to fly by; time had become meaningless. Hiccup barely noticed the day turning into night, but when the last drop of sunlight was soaked up from the dark night sky, they sat, wrapped up in a blanket, on their little balcony in the summer air. She was curled up in his arms and smelled warm and familiar and everything was perfect.
They didn't talk.
Somehow words didn't seem enough, and maybe they didn't need them. It were those little actions that went back and forth between them that talked; maybe the way his arms instincively had wrapped around her when she had sat down, maybe it was the small, content smile on her lips that told them that everything was fine.
"It's getting late", Astrid mumbled, not moving, eyes still closed, just enjoying the warmth radiating from his body. Her leg was streched out on the small sofa, arms wrapped around his torso, her head rested on his chest. Hiccup hummed, lazily stroking her hair.
"You wanna go inside?", he asked.
Astrid sighed and snuggled even more into his soft, wooly jumper. "Nah, you're pretty comfortable as a pillow." His gentle chuckle made his chest vibrate softly. His thumb continued drawing circles on her shoulder and back.
"Let's just stay here."
He grumbled. "But I haven't been sleeping in a real bed all week."
Astrid grinned a 'See-I-told-you'smile and tapped him on the nose. "See, but that isn't my fault. You chose that chair."
"I have the feeling the chair chose me more than the other way round ...", he pouted and his wife laughed. "Alright, grumpy, I'll make sure you'll get tucked up in bed all nicely and warm, don't worry." He smiled and closed his eyes again and Astrid was one-hundred percent sure, that if he was a cat he would make the most loud and content purring nose (good thing he wasn't, though).
Suddenly, Hiccup opened his eyes again and had the most evil glint in them. "Soo, when you're saying bed, do you mean to sleep or to bed, there is a difference ..."
Astrid burst out in a fit of giggles and hit his arm. "Oh my God, I don't believe you! How can you think of that now?"
He just laughed and laughed even more when he noticed her blush and her efforts to try to get off of him, but he only tightened his grip around her and pulled her flush against him.
He pressed his lips against her hair and mumbled: "Your fault."
Still laughing, she kept pushing him away half-heartedly and turned her head away from him. "Idiot."
He grinned lopsidedly. "Yeah, but you married me - on purpose!"
Astrid puckered her lips, mockingly deep in thought. "Maybe." Her smile widened when Hiccup growled as an answer and pulled her to his chest again. "Oh, come here ..."
Moonlight lit up their eyes. The flashing lights of the city didn't go out this night, the world kept moving around them, as they laid in the night, wrapped up in each other's arms until their laughter had turned into laughs and eventually, darkness closed up around them with welcoming arms and they drifted off into warm, grateful sleep.
When sunlight grazed his face, Hiccup groaned and snuggled further into the cushion, blocking the sun out with his arm. His other arm lazily dropped to Astrid's side of the bed, searching for her warm body. "Good morning ...", he mumbled and rolled around, eyelids half-opening.
Hiccup was sure his whole body froze when he realized what had happened. He had forgotten. Had really expected an answer.
He shut his eyes again. Stupid.
She's not here.
For a moment, one tiny, blissful moment, he had believed he would find her lying next to him, snoring ever so lightly, one arm tucked under her head, her face buried in the crook of his neck. It had been such a beautiful, fragile, hoping moment. But when reality struck him, and it felt like he was thrown into dark, ice-cold water, his whole body went numb.
For a couple of moments, Hiccup could do nothing else than lay in his bed and shake from soundless, desperate sobs.
He had been so afraid to lose her.
And now he had. This was the end. She didn't recognize him, wouldn't know him when he would walk into her room and she would have that scared, bewildered look in her face again. He sighed and squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the hurt in his chest and the sickness in his stomach. How could he loose the love of his life just like that, in less than a couple of moments?
Oh how he had wished to just close his eyes and wake to find everything had just been a bad dream. Well, apparently, it wasn't.
It was real, and it killed him.
So, go ahead. Feel free to hate me now [IREGRETNOTHING]
