It took three days for Hiccup's fever to break. When it finally did, they moved him from Gothi's hut to his home. Stoick had arrived with Toothless the day before. He had Hiccup's bed placed on the bottom floor, to make it easier for Gothi to treat him.

Astrid spent every waking moment in the Haddock household, talking to Hiccup as he slept. Brushing his hair out of his face. Sometimes she would add another braid to it. She would give him the herbs Gothi prescribed and spoon feed him broth. She would tend to his bruises with ice and herbal pumices, to help reduce the swelling. Toothless would be there too, crooning, sometimes licking his face to cool it down.

Stoick eventually stopped telling her to go home and let her fall asleep next to Hiccup. He came to realize that no power on Odin's green Earth was going to make her move from his son's side.

Astrid watched as Hiccup's bruises started to fade from the dark purple. They were to a pale green-yellow. Gothi had told her and Stoick that even after the bruises had faded, his skin would still be tender. When -if- he woke up, he was to remain in bed until Gothi deemed it okay.

As an added precaution, the Village Elder was keeping hold of Hiccup's new leg

Despite not having a fever or an infection of any kind, Hiccup wouldn't wake up. Not even Gothi could figure out why. Near as she could guess, the ordeal took quite a toll on Hiccup's well-being.


Late one night, while Astrid was feeding Hiccup a bowl of boar broth, the rider began to cough violently, as if he was choking. Astrid dropped the bowl and sat Hiccup up, so he could get some air into his lungs.

The coughing fit ended as quickly as it came, so Astrid laid him back down.

Hiccup's eyes flung up open.

"You're awake," Astrid gasped.

Hiccup didn't look at her. In fact, it seemed that he looking wasn't at anything.

"Hiccup, what's wrong?" Astrid questioned, worry lacing her voice. Toothless whined.

"I'll always watch over you," Hiccup said as a peaceful smile spread across his face and his eyes shut.

Astrid placed her ear next to his heart but heard nothing. She quickly placed her hands over his heart and began pressing down.

"Please, Hiccup, come back," Astrid pleaded as she put more force into her hands. "You can't die. Not again. We still need you. I still need you. Come back to me, Hiccup."

At that moment, Stoick walked in and saw what Astrid was doing. "What's going on? What are you doing?"

"I'm trying to restart his heart," the blonde warrior answered. "Go get Gothi."

"Aye," was all Stoick said before rushing out of his home to get Gothi.

After what seemed like forever, Astrid heard the sound of Hiccup's healing ribs crack followed by the sound of him gasping for air.

Astrid fell to her knees in relief. She looked up and saw that unlike last time, Hiccup remained unconscious.

-line break -

Ten minutes later, Stoick came bursting through the door, with Gothi right behind him.

"Is he-?" Stoick couldn't finish his question.

"He's alive, Chief," Astrid answered. "I had to re-break his ribs, to get to his heart."

Gothi walked over to Hiccup and Astrid. She placed a reassuring hand on Astrid before starting to examine him. Astrid stood up and walked over to Stoick. Together both walked outside, to give Gothi the space she needed. Toothless stayed where he was, but backed up.

Stoick looked up at the night sky. "Interesting tactic, breaking the ribs to restart the heart."

"Heather did it last time," Astrid explained as she looked at the snow beneath her feet. "Dagur taught it to her. I suppose we have him to thank for knowing what to do."

"That we do," Stoick agreed almost sad by the fact that Dagur wasn't here to be thanked.

A few moments later Gobber reached the top of the hill where they Haddock house lay. "I got here as soon as I could. How's Hiccup?"

"Gothi is determining that now," Stoick replied. "Go on in. We'll be in in a few moments."

"Aye, Chief," Gobber said as he walked in.

The two warriors stood in silence for those few moments, before heading in.


Gobber stood over Gothi and translated. "She says 'I don't know why his heart stopped, but it was good of you to restart it. He should be waking up in the next few days. His wounds are nearly healed, except for the ribs.'"

With that said, er, scribbled, Gothi and Gobber made their exit.


As Gothi said, Hiccup started to wake up two days later. Astrid and Toothless were right there with him when he opened his eyes.

Hiccup looked around until his eyes landed on Astrid. "Hey, Astrid. How long-?"

Astrid cut him off. "A little over a week. We've been very worried about you."

Hiccup moved to sit up, but Astrid held him down. "Just stay put until Gothi can look over you."

"Okay," Hiccup agreed. He studied Astrid. Her hair was no longer in its perfect braid. It was loose and messy. Any metal she usually wore had been removed. She was wearing a red tunic and black skirt. There was a blanket hanging off the chair she was sitting in. Looking over at Toothless, he saw the dragon had dark purple circles under his eyes.

"I'll be right back," Astrid said as she stood up.

Astrid stepped outside and found Stoick sitting with Skullcrusher in his stable, a sight that wasn't uncommon over the past week. Stoick could be found in his dragon's stable, praying to the gods about Hiccup. Or thinking about how his only son died, not once, but twice in the span of a week.

She walked over to him. "He's awake, finally. I don't know for how long. I'm going to go get Gothi. Toothless is watching him."

Stoick just nodded, lost in thought.


Author's Note: Beta read by DraconicBeing2.0