Alright, so I got quite a few user asking me to continue this story, and continue this story I will! It won't be too long...maybe a few more chapters, you know...? I don't know. Also, it will be updated at random. I don't know how often. So, onwards and upwards, my brilliant readers! Have fun! :D

It didn't take long for Hiccup to fall asleep, and it was no surprise to Valka when he did. Although he hadn't lost enough blood from his wound for it to be dangerous or fatal, it was still a rather good amount. Valka figured it had exhausted him.

She untangled herself from his arms, which were wrapped around her body tightly, even though he was sleeping. Valka thought Hiccup was a bit clingy in his sleep, but of course, she hadn't seen him sleep very many times.

She laid him back down and pulled the blanket over her son, wiping the still blatant evidence of tears off his cheeks with her thumb. Even though he was a young man now (and not only that, but also the Chief of the village as well as her Chief), sometimes, she could still imagine him as the little infant she had left behind all those years ago.

She still felt guilty about it, often times, and she blamed herself for Stoick's death. If she hadn't stayed away, maybe her husband (and Hiccup's father) would never have been killed. When Hiccup was suffering over the loss of his father, Valka – more than ever – blamed herself.

She never dwelled on it too long, because she knew there was no changing what had happened. Regretting what had happened wasn't going to somehow bring Stoick back, so what was the point of mourning over it?

Of course, she mourned over losing Stoick. Whenever she went to sleep at night, she often laid awake for hours, thinking about all the times she had spent with her deceased husband; the day he proposed to her…their wedding day…all the best times. She mourned over the fact that she had got him back just to lose him again. She mourned over the fact that he was gone.

It was difficult to explain. She mourned over losing him, but she didn't mourn over regretting what he did. It was his decision, and he chose to save his son, whom he loved very much, displaying it with his last breath. She wished it hadn't ended like it had, but there was no point in regret.

After a few more moments of watching Hiccup sleep, Valka stood up and left to get some rest herself.

…

Astrid stood outside the Haddock residence early the next morning, knocking on the door multiple times, asking if Valka was up. She had hardly slept at all the previous night, just because she was worried. Sure, Hiccup had seemed fine, but it could have just been "seemed." She really didn't "know" if he was fine or not, and so she planned to figure it out for herself.

"Valka?" she called as she knocked once again. There was no response. "Are you awake?" She waited for a few moments, but nothing happened. Astrid turned around, walking away. She would go back later, after Valka woke up…

Astrid froze in her tracks when she heard the sound of footsteps going down a stairwell, followed by the door opening. "Oh, thanks, Val…" she began as she turned around, stopping when she saw that it wasn't Valka who had opened the doorway. "Hiccup!" she groaned as she stomped towards him. "What on Earth, Hiccup!"

And so it was Hiccup, standing in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe wearily. He offered her a smile as she stormed up to him angrily, her arms crossed. She stopped in front of him, tapping her foot impatiently.

"You're not supposed to be walking!" Astrid scolded him.

"I was bored," Hiccup said.

"You're injured, Hiccup," Astrid said. "You can't be up and walking around already. You need to rest."

"Rest…I'm tired of resting, Astrid," Hiccup said. "I'm supposed to be the Chief of this village, and I can't do that if I'm too busy sleeping."

"This 'Chief of the village' better get back in bed before I make him," Astrid said in a warning tone of voice.

"Are you threatening me, Astrid Hofferson?" Hiccup asked.

"Maybe I am, Hiccup Haddock," Astrid said. "Come on. Get back inside before I drag you in."

"How rude," Hiccup protested, but gave in. Astrid grabbed his arm with one of her hands, wrapping her other arm around his shoulders and leading him into the house. He was limping horribly, even with her helping him.

"How did you even manage to get down the stairs, Hiccup?" Astrid questioned, shaking her head.

"Well, I didn't kill myself in the attempt, so that's a big bonus for me," Hiccup responded.

"But how did you do it without waking your Mom…" As she and Hiccup walked back into the house, it was then that Astrid noticed Toothless wasn't in the main room. Snores permeated from the loft, and she looked up, catching an eyeful of sleeping black dragon. "…Or waking Toothless, either?" Astrid added after another moment.

"Very quietly," Hiccup said as if it were a carefully guarded secret.

"I'd punch you if you weren't already injured," Astrid said, sitting Hiccup down on the couch, taking a seat beside him afterwards.

"What's stopping you?" he asked. "It never stopped you before."

"I don't understand what you mean," Astrid said. She looked away thoughtfully, trying to recall whatever situations Hiccup was speaking of.

"The Red Death…" Hiccup said.

"You were in a coma for a week," Astrid said. "The healers said you were partially healed during that time. If you were in a lot of pain right after waking up, I wouldn't have punched you."

"I'm not in a lot of pain right now," Hiccup pointed out.

"Yeah…yes you are," Astrid argued. "Did you even see the look on your face while you were walking into the house? Yeah, you're in pain, Hiccup. Don't try to deny it."

"Did I see the look on my face?" Hiccup asked, confusion lacing his tone. "What does my face have to do with this?"

"More than you would realize," Astrid said. "I can read you like a book, Hiccup."

"Yeah…" Hiccup said. He turned to her, his expression dead serious. "But how well can you read?"

Astrid turned to him slowly, staring straight into his eyes. "Shut up," she said in a neutral tone.

"I'm just asking," Hiccup defended himself instantly, putting his hands up defensively.

"Well stop it," Astrid said.

"Whatever you say, milady," Hiccup said. "Is there anything else I can do for you, your royal highness?"

"Go to sleep," Astrid said.

"Well that wasn't what I expected," Hiccup said.

"Sleep, now," Astrid demanded.

Hiccup rolled his eyes, yet complied, laying back against the couch and falling asleep quickly. Astrid rolled her eyes, smiling, as she kissed his forehead in a way of a silent goodbye before she continued her day.

However, when she pulled away, her expression changed. She put her hand against Hiccup's forehead, frowning at what she found.

His forehead was hot.

Hiccup was burning up.