Here is chapter 32, guys! I can't believe how far we've come. 32 CHAPTERS! That's a BIG DEAL! And I have you all to thank for it! All your encouragements have really kept me going. :) Enjoy chapter 32! :D

When Astrid woke up, it was already morning, the sun streaming through the window, the sounds of dragons roars heard off in the distance. She realized, after a moment of gazing about the room, that she had fallen asleep at Hiccup's bedside by mistake. She didn't know how long she had been there, nor did she try to figure out.

She did, however, realize that she was laying on the floor.

Astrid stood up abruptly, her arms and legs aching from the awkward position in which she had laid. She brushed off her skirt, combing her fingers through her bangs. Her braid was coming loose, but she disregarded it.

Stoick wasn't there; Astrid figured he had left to attend to his duties as Chief. Toothless was sleeping next to the bed, while Hiccup was still unconscious on top of it. He looked so peaceful that, just for a second, Astrid imagined he was sleeping; not dying. It was easy to imagine, but hard to pretend was true, because she knew it wasn't. Although Valarie had said there was a chance, Astrid knew all along that it was a slight one. She could tell by the healer's face as she explained; she could tell by the hesitation in her voice.

She stayed there for another hour until she left the Haddock residence, heading back towards her own house to see her family. She knew Valarie had told them of Hiccup's condition; she just didn't think the healer mentioned when the girl would return.

As soon as she walked out of the house, she heard a high-pitched voice shout her name. Astrid turned around, and was instantly slammed into by her little sister, who wrapped her arms around Astrid's legs (she wasn't tall enough to do anything else), holding as if the older girl was going to vanish.

"You were away all night!" Avril cried. "The healer came by and told us you were with Hiccup. Why?"

Astrid knelt down in front of her sister, trying to think of something to say that Avril would understand. She was smart, but she was also only three years old.

"Well, Avril," said Astrid, "Hiccup is very sick right now."

"So?" said Avril. "Why do you seem so sad? Sick people get better, right? Don't they? Whenever I get sick, I always get better."

"This is...a bit different, Avril," said Astrid.

"How is it different?" Avril asked. "I don't think it's different."

"Avril…" Astrid hesitated. She really didn't want to tell Avril the truth, but Avril could tell when Astrid was lying. Besides, the girl hated it when her older sister lied to her, and Astrid knew it more than anyone else on Berk.

"Triddy?" said Avril. It was a nickname Avril only seldom used; when she had first begun to speak, she couldn't pronounce Astrid's name, and always called the girl "Triddy." It stuck, but Avril only used it sometimes; when she was truly worried for Astrid, or trying to coax the truth out of her.

"I'm okay, Avril," said Astrid. "Yeah…" Avril raised an eyebrow. "Okay, I'm not okay," said Astrid, refraining from her earlier sentence. "Hiccup is really sick right now, and I'm taking care of him because...well, I care about him."

"You do?" said Avril. "I mean...of course you do. I've known that for a few weeks now." Avril paused. "Are you and Hiccup going to get married?" the three year old asked.

Astrid almost choked on her own breath. "What?"

"I wanna be the flower girl!"

"What?"

"When you and Hiccup get married!"

"WHAT?"

Avril tilted her head to one side. "Well, will you get married?" she asked innocently.

Astrid laughed and shook her head, ruffling her sister's hair. She hoped her laugh didn't sound too forced, although she was forcing it, trying not to cry when she thought about Hiccup. Would she and Hiccup get married? Would Hiccup live long enough for them to be wedded? "Maybe," she said. "But it won't happen for a few years if it does."

"Yes, I guess," said Avril. "I can't be a flower girl until I'm old. Like you!"

"I'm not old, Avril," said Astrid.

"Well you're older than me!" said Avril. "I'm three!" She paused. "Hiccup's been sick before, but you've never actually looked this worried," she said. For once, Astrid wished her little sister wasn't so smart. "Is it bad?" the little girl asked when Astrid didn't reply.

Astrid sighed, and then nodded. There was no hiding anything from Avril. "Yes, it is," she said. "He's...not expected to survive."

Avril gasped, her eyes going wide. She stepped backwards, shaking her head feverishly. "No," she said. "He can't die! He'd make me cry, and that would be rude! He's not rude!"

"I know, Avril," said Astrid, "but he doesn't really have a say in it. It's not his fault."

"Then whose fault is it!?" Avril demanded.

"If anyone is to blame, then it is the Gemsho," said Astrid, "but he has already paid for his actions. We killed him, remember?"

"It's not fair!" said Avril. "Kill it again! Do something!" Before Astrid could answer, the little girl had turned around, and was now running in the opposite direction.

"Avril!" Astrid called out to her, but to no avail. Astrid looked down at her feet, feeling suddenly discouraged. She felt something bump her from behind, and she turned around to come face to face with Stormfly.

"Hey, girl," said Astrid, gently stroking the dragon's muzzle, right in between her eyes. Stormfly gestured with her head towards Avril, who was just disappearing from view. Astrid looked over her shoulder at the girl, and then back to her dragon.

"There's nothing I can do," said Astrid sadly. "Avril just needs time to...take it in. She's really fond of Hiccup. She loves him like a brother."

Stormfly snorted.

"Yeah, I know, as her sister it's kind of my place to be her guide," said Astrid, "but I'm just as worried and lost as she is right now. I don't know what to do. I don't need to be reminded of it anymore than I have to."

Stormfly huffed, and then shrugged.

"You can follow her if you would like," said Astrid. "I won't stop you. Besides, sometimes it's easier for you to...'talk' to Avril then it is for me to. She seems to calm down when she's mad when you're around."

Stormfly shrugged, and then went to do just as Astrid had suggested, running slightly before spreading her wings, taking after the girl.

"Thanks, girl," Astrid whispered, although she knew the dragon was too far off to actually hear her. She looked down at the ground.

She wished she was a better sister.

She wished her friend wasn't dying.

She wished she wasn't so powerless.

She wished beyond all her wildest hopes that somehow, Hiccup would pull through.