AN: Hello everyone. Just some news. I've been swamped these past few months with University and job interviews so I needed to select which stories were going to get some update loving.

Because I'm writing a "What if" story for How deep is your love to be released on Halloween the following shall happen:

1. HTTYD-Star Wars: Eclipse will be having its final chapter(s) this week
2. Eternal Valkyrie 2 shall continue with weekend updates (Either Saturday or Sunday depending on my schedule)
3. Updates for Vindicated shall continue after Halloween (Plotting murder isn't an easy task)
4. Thanksgiving and Xmas oneshots shall be on time.

AN2: prompt submissions for the "What if" story will end on the 30th of September. From the prompts submitted I shall choose a total of 13. Bring your tissues because Happy endings aren't guaranteed. 

Chapter 25

It was near midnight of the third day and Astrid had finally succumbed to some much-needed sleep. Yesterday Cami, the twins, Snotlout, Fishlegs and even Alvin and Mildew came to visit. Mildew being grouchy didn't stay long but did wish Hiccup well. Astrid supposed even dorky Hiccup had grown on the grouch that lives with a demon sheep. Alvin had brought food from Viggo's, as he was of the opinion that hospital food sucked, along with a giant card signed by nearly everyone in town. The card was probably as tall as Stoick, and Hiccup's parents had put it in the corner with some of the flowers that were given.

Stoick covered Astrid with a blanket as she dozed off a bit. Both Valka and her husband had been at the hospital since returning from the police station. Astrid dreamed of yesterday when Cami came for a visit the day Valka had arrived.

-------Dream flashback-----

Astrid yawned before continuing to munch on, or rather sip, a blood bag of O negative blood that Heather had provided. It didn't compare much to Hiccup's blood and Astrid thought she might have already become addicted. No more weird doctors came into the room and there was now even a nurse trainee also stationed at the desk to ensure that the station remained manned. Astrid didn't know if the nurse had beefed up security somewhere or if it was the murderous aura she had been giving off since that Doctor Lambert had appeared.

The nurse had confided in her that the young trainee, while capable, didn't know about her and Hiccup's vampirism. Astrid nodded and watched what she said in the vicinity of the trainee. It was likely that this girl was from out of town, just doing her residency, and didn't know about this town's secrets. She had made sure that Toothless slept in her handbag and the dragon didn't object, mainly because she had put a small Charmander plushie in there for the Nightfury to bite.

It was a surprise when Cami came to visit not two hours after Valka and Stoick had left to get the spoon. The Chief of police dropped with an 'oof' into the second chair in the room. "If I knew the spoon would be involved I'd have hightailed it out there faster than a Speedstinger." Cami groaned.

"Was it that bad?" Astrid remembered asking. Cami gave her a deadpan look before starting to tick off on her fingers.

"Let's see..." Cami mumbled. "The spoon was waved, that already scared my two deputies. Valka then proceeded to head to the holding cells. We had to separate Krogan and Henry last night because they got into a fight once we finished booking them."

"What happened then?" Astrid asked curiously.

"Well, when Henry saw his mother he started pleading with her that it wasn't his fault. Then he laid eyes on the spoon and blanched faster than a Changewing can camouflage. Henry started walking backwards until his back hit the wall of the cell as Valka entered. And boy was she furious." Cami smirked.

"Henry was still pleading after Valka walked into the cell?" Astrid asks with some glee noticeable in her voice. "Well, he was pleading but for a different reason." Now Cami smiled like the Cheshire cat that got the cream. "Ever since we booked them he's been shouting nonstop how he wasn't to blame and how monsters had taken over the town. It got so far that Krogan grew annoyed and gave him a black eye while shouting 'If I did that to a family member I would feel ashamed!'. So a scuffle broke out which lead to separate cells. Henry still mumbled several expletives afterwards."

"I can see how that would be highly annoying." Astrid stated.

"What did you ever see in that guy Astrid?" Cami now asked. "I heard from Dagur why you dated him."

"Truthfully..... I don't even know now." Astrid admitted with a sad sigh. "I guess I was attracted to an ideal. Well, before I knew that my old fiance was going to stake me. I know it was pretty shallow. I fell for Henry's appearance first. When he walked into that diner I was so slack-jawed that I thought my burger would have slipped from the bun that I was holding."

"Can't blame you for that." Cami told her as she flipped a lock of her punk hair behind her ear. "Seeing the spitting image of a dead lover would tend to do that. But I've digressed. Back to the topic at hand." Cami was still smirking. "So Henry is white as a ghost as Valka is staring him down. Then she asks one question in a very scary tone. 'Why did you do it?'. I'm not joking, that tone would have turned a penguin into a popsicle." Astrid was leaning slightly forward in her seat as if to say well-spill-girl. She had to admit she was rather gleeful that Henry got some just desserts.

"Henry started sputtering something when Valka asked that." Cami continued her story. "I was near the doorway so I didn't hear his whole answer but I did hear him say that he wasn't aiming for Hiccup. Like that was some excuse to avoid punishment." She huffed in disgust. "He'd been blaming others for his messes since High school." The Sheriff grumbled remembering something unpleasant. "But anyway, after hearing Henry's answer Valka pulled him over her lap and gave him the spanking of a lifetime. I doubt he will be sitting for a week. Even Krogan wisely kept his mouth shut as Valka threatened him with her spoon also."

Astrid couldn't help it. After hearing all that she just couldn't help bursting into guffaws. Cami joined her too and soon both ladies were stifling giggles. There was just something gleeful about Henry getting punished like that.

------End Dream Flashback-------

Astrid yawned as she woke up. She looked at her wristwatch to see that she had slept about an hour and a half. She did feel loads better now. Midnight had already come and gone. Stoick was asleep in one of the other chairs, his big bulk taking up all the space while Valka was dozing lightly in the other. She slowly stood up and walked towards Hiccup's bed. It was just a little after 2AM and she felt the change finally fully occurring.

"Hmm...." Valka had woken up from the creaking of the chair when Astrid stood up. "Is it time?" She asked and Astrid only nodded. The vampire held Hiccup's hand as the heart monitor started beeping erratically for a moment before flatlining. Valka had woken her husband up and both parents were quiet as Astrid bent down towards Hiccup's ear to whisper softly. "Hiccup, can you hear me? It's time for you to open your eyes."

Astrid was about to give Hiccup a kiss on the cheek when the trainee nurse burst into the room along with several other people, shocking Astrid and the Haddocks. The other nurse tried to hold the trainee back as the young girl pointed towards Hiccup. The doctor and nurses started acting quickly while two security guards that were accompanying them tried to escort Astrid and Hiccup's parents out of the room.

"Stop! Don't!" Astrid shouted as she twisted one of the guard's arms behind his back. She had guessed the situation the moment a defibrillator cart had been brought in. The young trainee must have panicked at the nurses station when the heart monitor flatlined and called in a Code blue. The other nurse who knew of the situation was also trying to stop the resuscitation team but she was being blocked by the other member of the security team. Stoick was making a valiant effort to push through and it looked like Valka was ready to drop kick the guard that was manhandling them. All in all it was pure chaos in the room. Everything however quieted down when the doctor suddenly shouted "OH MY GOD!"

Silence now permeated the room as everyone stopped what they were doing and looked towards the doctor who had blanched and stepped hastily backwards nearly knocking one of the nurses that accompanied him to the floor. There sitting upright on the bed sat a conscious Hiccup, yet the heart rate monitor attached to him still didn't show a heartbeat.

"What.... How..... huh?!" The resuscitation team was flummoxed. Stoick took his chance and shouted in his booming voice "Alright! All of ya out!" The nurses and doctor still stupefied by what they were seeing obeyed without question. Everyone safe for Astrid backed out of the room as Stoick and Valka were now barring the door. "Lass I'll give ya some time with mah boy." Stoick told Astrid before closing the door. She could have sworn she saw the man wink.

"Hiccup...." Astrid calmly but slowly approached the bed. Hiccup's head turned towards her and Astrid saw some red in his normally green irises. 'He would need blood soon' she surmised. Toothless had awakened during the chaos as well and upon seeing Hiccup awake bounded onto the bed with the small Charmander plushie still in his maw.

"Astrid? Toothless?" Hiccup asked momentarily confused about where he was. The small Nightfury dropped the plushie on Hiccup's lap and received a scratch between the ears. "Astrid...." Hiccup spoke softly. "You saved my life." He then gave her a smile before pulling her into a passionate kiss. Astrid was surprised at first but then she leaned into the kiss.