So, I've got a fever now, so if the writing seems strange...sorry. Hopefully I don't do anything weird. XD Just joking!...but seriously. Shout-outs soon, ya'll! :D You people are AMMMMMMMAAAAAZZZZZZZIIIIIINGGGGG! :D

When Hiccup finally fell into a deeper sleep, and after his body felt a bit warmer, Valka stood up, throwing yet another blanket over Hiccup as she went. Oh how she wanted to just simply hug him to her forever, never leave him, and always be right beside him to protect him from night terrors and despicable nightmares. However, she knew that, as much as she wanted to, there were other things she had to do, like get Hiccup's medicine ready for him when he woke up. She wanted him to get better as fast as was humanly possible. She hated seeing him in that weakened, feverish state.

So, she heated some water over the hearth, and with that done, let the herbs Halima brought over soak in the hot water for ten minutes straight. Then, she poured it into a cup, and brought it upstairs. She didn't want to wake Hiccup, so she decided that she would wait a few more minutes for him to wake up on his own before she offered him the medicine.

He was sleeping fitfully, and Valka felt terrible, not being able to do anything to take his pain away from him. She re-wet the now humid rag on his forehead, and then returned it to its spot, letting it continue in its job of cooling Hiccup down. Hiccup shuddered when the wet rag met his forehead, and Valka looked at his face sympathetically. She set the cup on the table, and then sat down beside him, running her fingers through his hair. His whimpering quieted, his breathing deepening as Valka continued. After a few more minutes, Hiccup's eyes opened slowly, and he regarded her.

"…Hi," he managed.

Valka smiled down at him, her eyes sad.

"I don't like dreams anymore…" Hiccup murmured tiredly. "They're all nightmares…I don't get it."

"It's probably your fever that's a big part of it," Valka said. "Your temperature is high."

"Cold," Hiccup mumbled. "If my temperature's so high then why…why's it so…so cold…"

"Fever," Valka said. "You have chills."

"Cold…s-so cold…" Hiccup said, pulling his blanket further up his body, drawing his knees up to his chest. As much as Valka wished she could deny it, she honestly couldn't shake the fact that Hiccup did look freezing. He was shuddering, shaking, and his teeth were chattering. His skin was pale, his cheeks flushed due to his high fever.

"I know," Valka said, putting the back of her hand against Hiccup's cheek. "I know."

"C-can I t-take the cloth off?" Hiccup asked. The tone of his voice made Valka want to say yes to him instantly, but she knew that she needed to keep Hiccup cool if his fever was going to stay tamed.

"No, son," Valka said. "I'm sorry, but you have to keep it on for now, or your fever could get higher."

"'Kay…" Hiccup said breathily. Valka looked back at the table, remembering the medicine she had to get Hiccup to drink. She picked the cup up off the table, and then looked back at Hiccup.

"Hey, Hiccup?" Valka said, shaking his shoulder gently.

"Y…yes?" he asked, cracking his eyes open long enough to look at her.

"This is some medicine the healer brought over for you," Valka said.

"Wait…the healer came?" Hiccup asked as Valka helped him sit up, putting the cup in his hands, one of her own hands over his while her other arm was wrapped around his shoulders.

Valka nodded. "Yesterday," she said, "while you were sleeping."

"Oh," Hiccup said, taking a sip of the medicine. "Doesn't taste too bad…" he said after swallowing. "I've had worse in the past."

"The healer said you have to drink one cup twice a day," Valka explained rather hastily, supporting Hiccup's weight as he downed the contents of the cup. Once it was empty, Valka set it back down on the table and brought the blanket over her son once again.

"Doesn't sound too bad," Hiccup said. "What did she say I had?"

"Oh…well, we can talk about it later," Valka said, at the moment not wanting to tell Hiccup just what it was that was ailing him. He just looked so exhausted… "You'll be alright, though," Valka promised.

"I've been worse than this before," Hiccup said. "I used to get sick all the time, when I was younger…every winter I would get a cold that normally turned into something worse."

Valka smiled unconvincingly, putting her hand over the cloth on his forehead. "I'm sorry I wasn't there, Hiccup," she said. She was always feeling guilty about leaving Hiccup behind all those twenty years ago, and although she knew Hiccup had already forgiven her, the guilt was still there.

"Hey, you're here now," Hiccup said. "That's the important thing, right?"

"Right, I suppose you're right," Valka said, although the guilt wasn't abated. She glanced back down at Hiccup, who instantly looked up to meet her eyes. "Do you want me to get you anything?" she asked. "Maybe soup, or some water?"

"Water sounds great," Hiccup said. "I can get it-"

"Oh no you don't," Valka said, pushing Hiccup back down by his shoulders. He may have been sick, but he was still so stubborn. "You're staying here, and I will get it."

"You've already done enough. I think it's time I finally do something," Hiccup said, trying to sit up, failing when his mother made him lay down again. "Mom."

"Hiccup, I'm your mother," Valka said. "I want to take care of you. It's my job."

"But you don't have to," Hiccup said.

"I know," Valka said, "but I want to, Hiccup. I love you."

"I love you too, Mom," Hiccup said in response. Valka smiled at him, kissed his forehead, and then left to get him some water.

As she was about to return to the loft, the door swung open so quickly Valka was sure she heard one of the hinges snap. Astrid and Toothless ran in, both looking a mix of relieved and terrified.

"Astrid!?" Valka asked, instantly catching the girl's expression. "What happened? What's wrong?"

"I…I need to tell you something," Astrid said. "It's kind of important."