Hey friends!

Day 12 of Sicktember! This one's a little short, especially compared to the last one! Short and sweet though!

Today's prompt: "You're not fine, you're throwing/coughing up a lung."

Hope you enjoy!


"Are you alright, my dear?" Stoick asked, placing a hand on his wife's shoulder. She leaned back into his touch, looking up at him.

"I'm fine, dear." She was working on dinner but seemed off. She'd already had two coughing fits since Stoick had returned home that day.

Stoick was worried about her. She'd woken up multiple times the last two nights in a coughing fit, though he could tell she had been trying to not wake him up. After she'd insisted she was fine the first time, he'd been trying so hard to not ask about it but couldn't help it this time. Her cough was clearly getting worse, and she didn't seem willing to admit it.

Valka was trying incredibly hard not to worry her husband. She wasn't sick. She couldn't be. She was the chief's wife for Odin's sake. She had duties and responsibilities that were much more important than her getting sick. Her cough was definitely getting worse, she knew that. And the fact that Stoick was asking about it now, he was noticing it too. Which meant he was probably worried. And that was the last thing she wanted.

Her husband was the chief.

He had bigger things to worry about than her being sick.

She had to keep insisting she was fine, though she wasn't sure if it was for his sake or hers anymore.

Stoick sighed, turning his wife towards him, "Are you sure?"

Valka nodded, avoiding her husband's eyes.

Stoick slightly nodded, letting her go to sit in his chair by the fire. Whether or not he actually believed her, she wasn't sure, but at least he wasn't insisting something was wrong anymore. Though now he was sitting in silence, having gone to work on some of his chief paperwork. And she wasn't sure if that was better or not.

Several minutes later, Stoick was startled by his wife collapsing into yet another coughing fit. This one sounded a lot worse and caused Stoick to jump up and rush over to his wife. She was slowly falling into a kneeling position on the floor as violent coughs raked her body. Stoick crouched down placing a hand on her shoulder and one on her back. He had no idea how to help her.

As her coughing died down some, he pulled her closer and brushed her hair out of her face.

"My dear, you're not fine," she looked up at him, her coughing having mostly stopped, "you're coughing up a lung." His voice was gentle.

"I-I didn't want t-to worry you." Valka's voice was hoarse due to her previous coughing fit. "Y-you have a lot of other s-stuff to worry about that's more important."

Stoick shook his head. "My love, there is nothing more important than you." She leaned more into him, his words having warmed her heart.

Stoick smiled, holding his wife close. He reached up and moved the pot that she'd had on the stove off of the heat. Picking her up, he stood and walked towards their bedroom.

Valka didn't protest when he laid her down on the bed and pulled the blanket over her. He leaned down to kiss her forehead, knowing he'd do everything he could to make her feel better.


Like I said, short and sweet with this one!

I'm still trying my hardest to complete Sicktember before the month is up. Wish me luck!

Daystrid out!
*stalks off to nowhere specific*