This is the last chapter, guys...

Guys. This is the last chapter.

Guuuuuyyyyss...

I'm going to miss this story so MUCH! I love writing sick Hiccup fanfictions...I haven't done many of them, actually. I've done "Wolves", which is chuck-full of Hiccup!Whump, and then a few more recent ones...

Wow.

So, thank you all for all the support you guys gave this story! I hope to see you all again soon! :D Enjoy the final chapter!

"Here's your charcoal, your notebook, your water, and some soup," Astrid said, placing the objects on the table as she called them out. "Except I don't want you using your notebook for anything until you rest up some more."

Hiccup laughed softly. "I didn't think you would actually listen to me," he said.

Astrid rolled her eyes. "Don't get used to it, Dragon Boy," she said, tapping his nose. "I'm only helping you because you're sick and can't help yourself, alright? It won't be a regular thing."

Hiccup nodded, taking the cup of water off the table and downing it. It felt good to be able to stomach things again and not feel like he was going to be barfing his guts up sooner or later. Plus, the cool water was soothing to his dry throat, and it cooled him down, despite the fever that still burned through his veins.

"Thanks," he said, almost dreamily as he stopped to take a breath.

Astrid shrugged. "It's good to finally see you keep something down," she said. "How do you feel, all around?"

"Not too bad," Hiccup said, although he felt the complete opposite. He felt wretched. Not so much in his stomach anymore, but now, it was in his head. The throbbing ache, the burning feeling of the fever in his body…

"Uh-huh," Astrid said, smirking. "Right. Come get me when you come back to your senses." Without another word elsewise, she stood up and headed for the stairs.

"Wait," Hiccup said. "Where are you going?"

"Downstairs," Astrid said. "I'll be there if you need me. And I mean need me. Not want me to get you something, alright, Princess Outpost Hiccup?" Hiccup sighed, opening his mouth to protest, but Astrid beat him to it. "No," she said. "I don't want to hear it. Get some rest, alright?"

Hiccup sighed again, but nodded. There was no arguing with her, and he of all people knew that. "Alright," he said. "Alright…"

He was asleep before Astrid even made it downstairs.

He woke up what he assumed was hours later, feeling exhausted. He didn't understand it. It seemed the more he slept, the more exhausted he felt. His headache had dimmed down, but he knew that if he stood up too fast or jogged or ran, it would get worse instantly.

He realized he was alone again. Toothless wasn't even there. Hiccup scanned his surroundings; nope, he was definitely alone.

He didn't like to admit it very much, but he hated being alone. Sometimes it was nice, to get away from everything, especially when that "everything" included the twins or Snotlout, but he didn't like to be by himself. He didn't like to be lonely, more like. He didn't mind being alone, but lonely…

He didn't want that. His father always told him when he was sick he was oddly clingy, and Hiccup thought that maybe since he was older, he had grown out of it, but now…

He sighed. He hadn't grown out of it. He still wanted someone with him, beit Astrid or Toothless, or someone else, really. Even Fishlegs would be alright. Not the twins or Snotlout, because they would probably be too loud and end up making his headache worse, but Fishlegs and Astrid were quiet enough, and Toothless was the same when Hiccup was sick.

Hiccup sighed and got to his feet shakily. He realized his armor wasn't on, but he didn't have much time to think about that. It didn't matter to him, in complete honesty. He shivered after stepping out of his warm bed, and he grabbed a blanket to pull around his shoulders. It wasn't perfect, but it helped, and it made him feel warmer and a little better.

He stumbled down the stairs. It was easier to walk than he had anticipated, but he was still careful so he didn't trip. The first thing he saw when he got to the bottom of the steps was Astrid, sitting on a bench, her face buried in one of Hiccup's invention notebooks.

She lifted her head. "What the heck is 'Dragonfly One'?" she asked.

Hiccup shook his head. "Just somethin' I was workin' on," he murmured. He shuffled across the room, sitting next to Astrid on the bench. She set the notebook to the side, her attention on Hiccup.

"You look awful," she commented, putting her hand against his cheek. He sighed. He kind of felt awful, too. His head was heavy, and he leaned against Astrid's hand. "Why'd you get up?"

"I don't like being by myself." Hiccup leaned to the side, laying his head in Astrid's lap.

She laughed softly and carded her fingers through his sweaty hair. "Remember that time you got a cold when you were six?" she asked.

Hiccup smiled, his eyes closed. "Of course," he said. "My Dad was looking for the dragon's nest, so your Mom agreed to watch me while he was away."

"That's right." Astrid moved his bangs out of his eyes. "You were the most annoying boy I ever saw. I didn't think it was possible for a six year old to be so obnoxious."

"You can't blame me that much," Hiccup muttered. "I was sick."

"Yep," Astrid said. "And not much has changed. You're still as clingy as ever."

"Oh shut up. I'm not clingy."

"Oh, really? Then get up and get back in your room. I dare you."

"Don't wanna."

"That's what I thought."

Hiccup sighed. He felt too tired to argue with her. It wouldn't have made a difference anyway, in the end. "Fine, you win," he finally mumbled.

"I always do," Astrid said, putting her hand on his forehead. "Your fever went down."

"Mm hmm…" Hiccup was barely awake right now, hardly even hearing what she was saying. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he did feel a bit cooler. "Yeah...'suppose you're right…"

"I usually am," Astrid smiled. She tucked his blanket around him and smoothed it. "You can sleep now. And no, I won't go telling the twins and Snotlout about how childish you are."

Hiccup didn't even utter a comeback. "Thank you, Astrid," he whispered instead. "For everything."

The last thing he heard was Astrid whispering a quick "You're welcome" before the soothing tendrils of sleep washed over him, and he was tugged into a peaceful rest for the first time in what felt like forever.

...

"Dagur, sir...are you ill, sire?"

Dagur didn't even look back at Savage. The ex-Outcast had, of course, dragged himself back onto the ship even though Dagur threw him overboard. Dagur couldn't bring himself to care very much. He felt miserable. His body felt as though it were on fire, being burned, and his stomach felt as though it were doing flipflops on sharp stones.

"I AM NOT ILL," Dagur shouted, and Savage instantly raced out of the room. But not before Dagur grabbed a bucket and hurled his stomach contents into it.

Dagur was mad at Hiccup. That was what he was, dismissing the fact he was sick. That stupid Berkian got him the stomach flu.

I really shouldn't have kidnapped him, Dagur told himself.

"I will get my revenge soon enough!" Dagur ducked his head again, groaning in his misery. "Just not right now…"

One thing was certain:

Kidnapping Hiccup when he was sick was not worth it, and it was a mistake that Dagur would never make a second time.

Author's Notes:

Soooooo that's the end! :D I feel happy now. Twelve chapters? Not bad. Especially considering the fact that I didn't expect this to go over 6 chapters...so….

Yeah. I'm thinking about writing a story called "Fireworm Fever", which will be almost a what-if to the episode, "Reign of Fireworms." Let me know what you guys think. I won't give away too much information on it right now...but you'll learn more if I write it. :) Maybe in a few weeks I'll start posting it...I need to leave some time between my sick Hiccup fanfictions. :D

Until next story!

-BeyondTheClouds777