So yeah, I'm back. Hello. Just a quick note, I updated really quickly after chapter 15, so go back and check that out if you think you've missed it. I was initially really motivated to finish this chapter, but then I was like "Shoot. I don't know how to do this! This isn't as emotional as I wanted it to be!" (That's still a big mood, by the way.) So I rewrote it a few times, but yeah. I expect that this story will end in a couple chapters. As for the sequel, I've begun thinking about the structure and conflicts and stuff. I even started the first chapter, so unless something goes drastically wrong, yes, I will be writing a sequel. In case you missed it, I announced that my new pen name will be PASTEL_INK. At least, I attempted to, but blotted it out. Also, I've never put strikethroughs in stories before, but I did in the original version of this chapter, which apparently does not work on this site I had to edit that as well. Shame. It would've been a lot cuter and stuff with them. (PM me if you want the tidbits.) Oh yeah, I turned sixteen last Thursday, so that's significant I guess.

Thanks to the following people for reviewing!

Luna Nightrider: Honestly, don't worry about your review lengths. Literally, you write the longest reviews I have ever seen and I love hearing from you regardless of your word count. As for my, uh, character decision, I didn't even think about doing that until the day I finished the chapter, I think. It felt right in a really messed up way, and the way it would effect Hailey is really special and it'll set her apart in the sequel.

GuardianDragon98: Oof. Sitrin, my first non-human OC... I'll be naming a pet after him at some point in the future.

Purple Master: You said you knew how it ends. Hmm... I could always change it up and give you guys a heart attack. :)

JediMasterAJKNIGHT: Well, Hailey definitely has many reasons to be freaking out for sure.

Deven (Guest): Too late.

Thanks to all my other supporters as well! You guys are the reason this story still exists!

Hiccup,

It's been almost three weeks since you've been out. I told Hailey that she might feel better after writing you a letter to vent, maybe. I decided to set an example for her. Well, that, and there are things that I wish I could tell you too. I won't let her read it, though. I don't think she knows just how worried I am for both of you, and if she found out, she would probably kill me. Or, make fun of me to death, in your case.

I will probably never give you this letter. The things I need to get off my chest now are things that are meant to be said in person. And I will say this to you in person, if I get a chance to.

Do you remember what I said that afternoon? The afternoon that all of this happened? I told you that if you had been more approachable, then maybe we would have been your friends. I don't know if that is true or not. It might be, because you are the most sarcastic person I have ever seen. That doesn't mean we should've treated you that way. So, I'm sorry. Both for saying that, and for the way I treated you. I hope I can make up for it somehow.

You probably want to hear about Hailey. She's… surviving. I don't really know how else to say it. Losing both you and Sitrin was really hard on her. She refused to leave your side for a week after your amputation, and she has yet to bond with another dragon. I understand why, though. She needs you, Hiccup. I don't know what she would do if you didn't make it.

I miss you hope you wake up soon. You scared all of us.

You're really brave, Hiccup. I just hope it doesn't cost you your life.

Yours truly, Sincerely,

Astrid Hofferson

Dear Idiot Brother,

You are the stupidest, most foolish, and most reckless viking I have ever had the pleasure to meet. That says a lot, especially because you've even surpassed Dad. You're my brother, too. That means I have to deal with you for the rest of my life. Odin, help me!

Astrid told me to write you a letter, or a note. She told me that it might help with this weight on my chest. Us vikings don't really do feelings, you know? We don't like anything that we can't swing an ax at. Anyway, she then proceeded to write one for you herself! I haven't gotten the opportunity to read it yet because she won't let me, but I think it's a love letter. I'll let you know when I get my confirmation. You're lucky, Hiccup, Astrid isn't the type of person to settle on just anyone. If you hurt her, I might disown you. If she hurts you, well, I'll have to kill her then. I just hope it doesn't come to that.

I'm awaiting the wedding invitation!

Heh. You two are so fucking cute please just get married already. Astrid would make a dope sister-in-law.

I've been spending a lot of time in the cove lately. Toothless and I spend a lot of time there when we're not with you. Oh! I forgot! Dad's gone through this really weird but fascinating transformation. He's allowed dragons to live with us! The gang all kept their dragons, and Astrid is especially attached to that Nadder you tamed for her. Shame it's not a betrothal gift, though. I think she's named it Stormfly. It's a suiting name. A fearsome dragon for a fearsome girl, I guess. Girlfriend, in your case.

Anyway, back to me and Toothless.

He misses you a lot, Hiccup. In case you were wondering, he likes you more than he likes me. I thought that would be obvious, but then I remembered that you are hopelessly insecure. You're amazing, Hiccup. You're the best older brother ever and I'm incredibly proud to be your younger sister. Astrid said you called me your baby sister. Fuck you. (Not in a literal sense because that's gross.) I am not a baby, Hiccup, I am thirteen, for fuck's sake. I can almost hear you telling me to watch my language.

Why do I even care? It's not like you're around to tell me that, and you're probably never even going to see this letter, anyway! That would be embarrassing.

You've slipped up as a brother, sure, but I've also slipped up as a sister. I almost got you killed that day, and I got someone else killed, too. I should've listened to you. I'm sorry. Now you've even lost a leg because of me. I hope you can forgive me, Hiccup. You need to wake up first, though, and I really hope you do.

You better wake up, and I made Astrid promise me that in the case you do wake up, I get to murder you first.

I feel like I'm rambling. Can people even ramble on paper? Well, bye, Hiccup. When you wake up, do me a favor and ask Astrid out. I think she's been visiting you while I'm not looking.

Your Possibly Equally Idiotic Sister,

Hailey Horrendous Haddock

I'm dead.

At least, I'm probably dead. Right?

Everything's dark, and I try to move but nothing will move, like my mind's detached from my body. I hate that.

I have no sense of time or anything else. Is this what being dead feels like?

If it is, I hate it. It's so fucking lonely.

Hailey would call me a hypocrite.

Hailey. I wonder if she's doing okay.

Astrid was definitely not the face I expected to see first.

Well, I was unconscious, so I couldn't really expect anything, but you get the point.

I'm awake, and immediately I almost regret it because everything is so heavy. I can't move my arms or legs or even my head.

The room is dimly lit with a couple candles on my desk, which is the only thing changed about it since my last memory of it. My room looks plain and normal. There's no indication of how long I might've been out.

I've had my eyes open for maybe a minute now, but I can already feel them drooping shut again. But, out of the corner of my eye, I can see Astrid perched on a stool, gazing at the wall. What is she doing here?

Right on cue, she turns to me. "Hiccup? You're awake!"

I'm too tired to reply, but thankfully Astrid seems to understand. She leans towards me with uncharacteristic concern in her eyes.

"Rest, Hiccup," she tells me. "You've been really brave. We know you're okay now so you can go back to sleep. You deserve it."

Admittedly I would've been perfectly content staring at her instead of sleeping, but my traitorous eyelids don't need to be told twice. I immediately drift off into dreamless sleep.

I drift in and out of sleep for a long time. The next time I'm fully conscious, Astrid's there again while my sister is nowhere to be appears to be scanning the numerous sheets of paper scattered on my desk. I wonder why Astrid is here, while Hailey isn't. I don't dwell on that for long, though.

It's because, in the soft glow of the candles, she looks beautiful.

In here, she isn't intense or scary. I don't have to fear for my life or any of my, er, body parts. Instead, she's got a gentle, maybe affectionate smile on her face. That might just be my wishful thinking, though. A few strands of golden hair have escaped from her usual tight braid and for a moment I'm incredibly tempted to tuck it behind her ear. The flickering flames reflect in her normally icy blue eyes which look softer, if that makes any sense. Maybe less bitter and angry is easier to understand. The light dusting of freckles across her cheeks and nose…

"Hiccup?" Astrid watches me, appearing confused and maybe a little embarrassed. She avoids eye contact and sweeps one of those captivating strands of hair the the side of her face. It stubbornly falls back in front of her nose.

Have I been staring?

I've definitely been staring. Fuck.

"Uh, yeah?" If I had the energy to do so, I guarantee that I would be fidgeting.

"Do you, um, need anything?" Her voice is warm and shy. She peeks at me from behind the strand of hair that she has just given up on.

"No?" I cough uncomfortably when the word accidentally comes out as a question. "Why are you here?"

"I was, um…" She trails off into an incoherent mumble, but I think I catch the word "worried" and it takes all of my energy to stop myself from grinning stupidly. She sighs and says, "I've been visiting you when Hailey's busy. I thought you might be lonely or something if you woke up with no one in here. Don't tell Hailey, though."

"Who in their right mind would tell Hailey about this?"

She shrugs. "I don't know if we could call you sane yet."

"Gee, thanks."

Astrid nudges me almost playfully. Yeah, she may be absolutely correct. I do feel a little light-headed right now.

"Hiccup?"

"Hm?"

She stares down at her lap as a pretty flush blossoms on her cheeks. "I… you… you scared us. You scared… me. I thought I wouldn't be able to…"

My breath catches in my throat. "To…" I prompt, barely stopping myself from choking.

For a moment, it seems like she's changed her mind about telling me something, but then she blurts, "Apologize."

"What?"

"I thought I wouldn't be able to apologize. You know, for the things… for the things I said that day and… and for the way I treated you before."

It's my turn to look away. "Don't worry about it. It wasn't the first time I heard something like that, and as for your attitude, you weren't the only one." It still hurt, but I don't need her to know that.

"That doesn't make it okay, Hiccup," she scolds, shaking her head. "I'm sorry for that, and everything else. I hope… I hope that one day you'll find it in you to forgive me."

At this, I laugh. "That won't be hard considering the fact that I have a massive crush on you."

Astrid goes bright red. "Um, well, anyway… the point is… I care about you now and I just got so scared. I thought… I thought you died, Hiccup."

"Takes a little more than a giant dragon to kill this manly of a viking," I joke. I look up at her again to realize that, holy crap, she's a lot closer to me than she was before.

She laughs quietly at my remark and says, "Just don't scare me like that again, got it?"

"Yes ma'am," I reply.

Suddenly, she's leaning in and I'm leaning in. This is it, I realize. This is the moment I've been wanting for the past who knows how many years. Her blond hair tickles both of our faces, and I could get lost in those eyes.

Our lips almost touch and-

"Busted!" A way too familiar voice cackles from the doorway.

Astrid jumps away from me and I jerk back as well. She's really flustered, and I'm definitely way more than a little embarrassed myself.

Hailey smirks and leans against the doorway. "Oh, sorry, were the two of you having a moment? You were definitely having a moment. Don't let me ruin the mood! I'll be in the next room squealing into a pillow if you need me."

"I should go," Astrid says quickly. She hesitates before pecking me on the cheek, and then she hurries out the door, glaring at Hailey as she leaves.

I can't suppress the dumb grin spreading across my face.

"Sorry I ruined your date, bro," Hailey says, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

I glower at her before growling, "I'm tired. I'm going back to sleep."

Quick plug, I posted a oneshot for HTTYD 3.

Also, I have found that I can't write emotions and fluff as well I'd like to. Whoops. I'll be changing my name soon, so keep a look out for that. I don't really have anything else to say, so adios!

(If you want to learn about the strikethrough stuff, I'll tell you if you PM me, preferably on this site and not on Instagram 'cause my mom took my phone.)

Somi: Happy April Fool's Day! So, the prank was the sequel information. I've decided against that. Sorry, guys.

Hailey: April Fool's Day?

Tuffnut: O, poor uncultured one, it's their equivalent of our Loki Day!

Ruffnut: A sacred holiday for us Thorstons, for sure.

Hailey: Oh Thor. How'd you even get in here?

Hiccup: Isn't it obvious? We got Loki'ed or something.

Somi: I pulled the best prank though, obviously. I was just kidding, guys, everything I said in the A/N thing up at the very top is true! Reopened Wounds is on its way!