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Chapter Text

Author's Note:

This story will pull on things from the books, but also the show, so, it obviously will not follow canon. All of my stories are mature and do contain sex,violence and language, with adult themes. If you are not of age then please do not read this. Sookie knows she is a fairy, and is still dating Bill. First time shipping this pair, so be kind and please review me! Also assume that Sookie can read at least some vampires minds, so long as she doesn't have an emotional attachment to them. In case there is any doubt this IS an Eric/Sookie pairing ;)

Chapter One

Vanilla

The bombshell that Niall—Sookie's great grandfather, dropped at dinner was a doozy, and her head felt woozy upon hearing the news.

"I'm going to go into some sort of frigging fairy heat? Is this some sort of a joke, because if it is—it's not funny at all. At all," she said as she drummed her fingers on the tablecloth.

"Your emotions are not my concern. Since the war, our numbers have dwindled. This is an honor that has been bestowed upon you."

"What if I don't want the honor?"

"Do you wish to have children?"

"Yes, but not like this—and not now!" she scoffed. Niall pinched the bridge of his nose, as if thoroughly frustrated with Sookie, which served to infuriate her even the more.

"It is now or never. I've been hesitant to tell you this for some time," he said and a long pause fell between them.

"I love Bill and I won't bed down with anybody else, I'll have you know."

"You could do much better, you know. However, if Bill is your choice then so be it."

Sookie's top lip trembled and she felt a welling inside her heart at the thought of her and Bill having a child together. It's all she ever wanted, and she secretly pined away for years with the idea that the one thing she wanted most of all, could never happen. "Bill and I can have a baby?"

"Yes, my dear."

"But he's a vampire."

"Your fairy blood will devour all traces of vampirism. Your child will be Fey and Human," he said as an afterthought, and Sookie could have sworn that she heard disappointment in his voice when he uttered the word human. It was as if the human part of her was diseased. "The child will only inherit the genes of Bill's former human self."

"This is—thank you Niall!" Sookie's heart leapt with joy. "So when do I go into heat?" Sookie said anxiously, all ambivalence for the task at hand was thrown right out the proverbially window. She and Bill could be a family. A real family. This was simply the best news—news that she couldn't wait to tell her boyfriend, Bill Compton.

"I cannot tell you when it will happen. You see, dear, the Fey must be earth bound in order to procreate, so on that day the door to Fairy will be unsealed. If word of this got out, then our enemies could attack and wipe the Fey into extinction, just when we are at our weakest. It's of vital importance that you do not tell of this—even to Mr. Compton. You will know when the time is at hand, my dear. You can trust in that." With a twinkle in his eye, and a genuine smile, he patted her on the hand.

"How will I know?"

"Your body will know."

She gulped.

--0--

Her early afternoon supper with Niall had run long, and she found herself running late for her shift at Merlotte's. She hoped Sam wouldn't be pissed. This was the second time in a week that she had shown up late for work. The first time was Bill's fault though. He had awakened earlier than was normal for him and had demanded that she pleasure him before she was allowed to leave for work. She had thought that a quick blowjob would have sufficed, but thirty minutes into the task, her jaw was throbbing and Bill was nowhere close to reaching his climax. It stung when Bill grit his teeth and told her to, "just go," but she was relieved just the same, and she promised to make it up to him.

She threw the car into park and darted through the door to Merlotte's. The place was packed, and Sam was schlepping drinks behind the bar when she arrived.

"I'm so sorry, Sam. You can dock my pay," she said throwing an apron on and tying it behind her back.

"Aw, Sook, I'm sorry. I gave your shift to Amelia. I tried to call you, but I just got your voicemail. I left you a message didn't you get it?"

Sookie retrieved her cell phone from her purse and noticed that it was set to vibrate. She scrolled through the missed calls, and noticed that Eric Northman had also called. Frustrated, she threw her hands into the air and turned to leave.

"You're not mad at me are you Sookie?" Sam said laying his hands on her shoulders and spinning her around to face him.

"No. I just felt like working." The truth was she needed the money, badly. After the maenad, her house was a wreck, and she had slowly but surely been fixing up the place. But new wallpaper, carpets and furniture cost money, and Sookie was not wealthy. "Don't worry about it Sam. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Actually you won't. You aint' working tomorrow. Sheriff Andy rented the place for the Bellefleur family reunion, and they hired some catering company, complete with staff, so we all got the day off."

"Great. Just great. Well, have a good one," she said, clearly deflated but still with a bounce in her step due to Naill's shocking news. She couldn't wait to hug and kiss on Bill. True, she couldn't tell him the news of the baby, but she could still revel in his arms at the thought of a baby Compton. Bill had asked her to marry him a few months earlier and she had told him that she wanted to think about it. She hoped his proposal was still good, because she intended to accept it, and then she and Bill would spend the rest of the night making sweet, passionate love. When she pulled into the drive she gazed across the cemetery and noticed that the lights were off in Bill's house. It was dark, and Bill should have been up by now, so she found it odd that all of the lights were out.

She dialed her voicemail, as she set off on foot across the graveyard. She chuckled when she listened to Eric Northman's message. He wanted to borrow her nosey brain, he had said on the voicemail. She could only assume that he wanted her to read somebody's mind and he had offered to pay her. Sookie was thankful for that. She stuffed her phone in her back pocket and bounded up the porch stairs. The door was ajar, which was unusual, and she stepped through it. That's when she heard his cries, and a panic set in. Torturous moans came from somewhere upstairs and without hesitation, Sookie started up the old staircase. She flung the door to his bedroom open and then her jaw dropped.

"Oh my fucking God," she said and her body went rigid.

"Sookie, it's not what it looks like."

She swallowed hard and her heart pounded like a bass drum in her chest. Bill was on his hands and knees, naked as a jaybird, with his mouth hung open and his eyes half closed. Behind him was her cousin Claude, also naked and humping her boyfriend like a gay, porn, action-hero. Her knees buckled and then she was falling as her world went black.

She was sprawled out on the sofa, in the parlor of Bill's home, when she awoke and popped her eyes open. Bill had pants on this time, but his lean chest was bare as he paced back and forth.

"I think I just had a nightmare," she said with her brows furrowed.

"No you didn't. You witnessed something that you shouldn't have. Why in God's good name did you not knock first?"

Oh, no he didn't, she said to herself. Did he just get onto her for not knocking on his bedroom door when he was screwing—or rather being screwed by fairy boy, Claude? She opened her mouth to respond, her words taking on the harsh sting of a pit viper. "First off-what you were doing up there, had nothing to do with God or his good name, and furthermore… What the hell, Bill? Are you gay? How could you cheat on me like that?" She felt a flood of tears behind her eyes, but she held the dam back. She wouldn't let him see her cry.

"That was nothing. It was just sex. It's not like I love him or anything."

"Then why, Bill. Why?"

"Oh don't act like a virgin, and don't you look down upon me either. I love you. You know I love you."

"No," she shook her head.

"Sookie, I do love you, but you are-," he said and then paused.

"I'm what?" she demanded.

"Sookie, our sex hasn't been a thing of beauty as of late. I need more sometimes. That's all. It means nothing. It's just sex."

"You need a man's penis up the wazoo?"

"Perhaps I do from time to time. If that's what it takes. Damn Sookie, you are acting like a child."

"You don't get to blame me for this, or put me down and call me childish. You cheated on me and it fucking hurts Bill Compton!"

"Well if you weren't so vanilla, I wouldn't have to resort to such actions."

"Vanilla? What's that supposed to mean." Sookie stood and threw her hands on her hips. She was furious with Bill.

"Boring, alright. Our sex is boring."

She wanted to scream at him, but what happened instead came in the form of a golden ball of light that shot from her hand and hit Bill square in the chest, knocking him backwards and clean off his feet. She couldn't hold the tears back, as the flood gates opened. She charged out the door and flew down the steps. She wanted to get as far away from Bill Compton as she possibly could, so she ran with all her might. She could hear Bill calling out to her, but she ignored it as she reached her car. In a flash he was pounding on the car window as Sookie sped off, leaving a shoeless and shirtless Bill, standing helplessly in the middle of the gravel road.

--0--

It was a warm summer night in Shreveport, and Fangtasia looked to be in full swing. Pam was playing doorman on that night, and when she saw Sookie, she wagged her eyebrows at the blonde waitress and let her pass.

"You're early. I'd be careful; he's not in a good mood."

"Why? And consequently, neither am I," Sookie said flatly. If looks could kill, then at that moment Pam would be dead.

"Belinda quit."

"The pole dancer?"

"One and the same. Eric has important clients coming in tonight, and they want to see a show. He's pissed."

"Sucks to be him. Now if you'll excuse me. The brooding Viking is expecting me."

"Don't say I didn't warn you," Pam said once more, as Sookie shoved past her, and made her way through the sea of people who rutted against one another in a frenzied mixture of lust and drunkenness.

When she finally reached Eric's office, she rapped on the door.

"This better be good," Eric shouted as he threw open the door and momentarily glared at Sookie.

"It's not good, it's boring. Too vanilla," Sookie said without thinking as her emotions bubbled up and threatened to spill over. The towering blond just stared at her with his head cocked to one side, as if trying to figure her out.

"Well, I'm here. Where's the asshole that you want me to mind rape—I mean read."

"What's wrong with you Sookie? Did Bill and you have a fight," he said in a sarcastic, mocking voice.

"Cut the crap, Eric. I'm in no mood."

"Alright," he said and he gripped Sookie by the arm and pulled her into his office, closing the door behind them. "Wow, I've never seen you come undone like this. I can kill Bill for you if you'd like?" Eric had a cheeky grin on his face at that, and Sookie wondered if he meant it. Even scarier, was the fact that she had briefly thought about doing Bill in, all by her lonesome. She was hurt and angry enough to do it, that was for certain.

"Just tell me what it is that you want me to do for you and then pay me my money, so I can get out of here."

"Touchy, touchy. Would you like to sit on my lap and tell Daddy what's wrong with Sookie?"

"You make me sick."

"And you make me hard," he said, ogling her legs as he sat on the corner of his desk. Sookie rolled her eyes at the attractive, one thousand year old Viking and owner of Fangtasia.

"Eric, why did you call me here?"

"Alright," he said and his face took on a serious expression. "The King of Texas is paying me a visit tonight. He has some business to discuss with me, and I don't trust his motives. I need you to get inside his head."

"Sounds simple enough. I want five hundred bucks though. Upfront."

"Wait. There's more." Isn't there always, she thought to herself. "He's not an ordinary vampire. He has powers, much like yours. There's a chance that he will feel you when you go to probe his mind."

"Then we need something to distract him from noticing."

"Yes, we do and I had that covered, up until Belinda disappeared. If I knew where to find that dumb whore, I swear to you that I would rip her fucking head off without question. Felipe has a weakness—dancers. I thought that Belinda could distract the King, and then you could get in there and read his thoughts. Now, it's too dangerous. Without that distraction--"

"I'll do it." Sookie thought about it, and the word vanilla kept replaying, like a broken record in her mind. How dare he tell her that she is boring in the sack. Didn't it take two to tango? "I'm not getting naked though. I'll swing on the pole and strip to bra and panties, but that's as far as it goes, and nobody touches me. Do I make myself clear?"

Eric gulped.

Sookie could see him undressing her with his eyes—those stone, cold, blue eyes, bright and mysterious—that is after the shocked expression faded.

"I'm surprised. Bill really must be a letdown. I promise to bring the biggest wad of dollar bills by which to tip you with Miss Stackhouse," Eric said and he chuckled.

"Just calm down, cowboy. This is work. Try to remember that. Now, I need a costume and a place to change.

"Whatever the lady wants," Eric murmured in a voice that was oozing sex, deep and throaty.

After an hour it was Showtime. Sookie took a deep breath and stepped out onto the stage, taking the cool, metal pole in her hand. Lights flashed form the floor beneath her feet and she lifted her eyes up from the floor to see Eric, sitting on his throne, his fingers clasped together under his chin, and wisps of blond falling alluringly over one eye. He winked and smiled at Sookie, and then shot a glance to his left, where a burly man, wearing a cowboy hat and a bizarre looking Zorro cape, sat slack-jawed, his eyes set on her. The music began and Sookie twirled her hips around the pole. She could have sworn that she heard Eric tell her that she was beautiful. How was it that the arrogant Viking had said exactly the right thing, at the right time? Vanilla huh, she scoffed again to herself. We'll see who is vanilla, Bill Compton. If you could see me now.

Just then Bill Compton walked into the bar and Sookie felt the fires of rage once again as she ripped the tear away shirt away from her body.

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Chapter Text

Chapter Two

Fangtasia

"Pam, see to that," Eric said motioning to Bill from his perch.

"And miss the show, Eric?" He shot her a look of warning. "Fine. How the hell did he get in here? That breather you hired needs some lessons on how to keep the riff-raff out."

"Shhh," Eric said, perturbed. His full attention was on Sookie. The way she shimmied down the pole, her legs wound tight around the metal rod, set Eric's loins afire. Fuck she’s hot and furthermore, the human knew it. She knew what she was doing to every man in the bar, Felipe included. Eric noted the way the vampire King of Texas shifted himself in his pants, and he would have laughed had he himself not needed to do some shifting of his own. Her toned and tanned legs in those black stilettos gave rise to a growing problem in Eric's pants. Any human that could look that hot needed to be tied up, naked and writhing in his bed. That was a certainty. Eric motioned with his fingers to Bill who was charging through the bar towards Sookie and Pam scowled but nodded.

Pam and Bubba launched, like two lions attacking their prey, where they seized Bill. His face turned as red as a garden radish as he gaped on at Sookie, who was now gyrating in time with the music, her chest heaving so seductively. Bill never saw them coming, as he was whisked out the double doors of Fangtasia and into the night. A moment later Pam burst through the doors once more, and she nodded with a heartwarming smirk in Eric's direction as she brushed Bill from her hands.

"Who is she, Eric? I find myself captivated by this woman," Felipe asked.

His words were like poison to Eric's ears. Sookie was his, even if she hadn't quite come to terms with that yet. She would though. Sookie mouthed a thank you too him as she straddled the pole and leaned back so far that she was facing Eric, upside down, as her legs curled around the pole in a most pleasing, sensual way. "Why thank you, Felipe. It pleases me to know that the King of Texas is content. The woman however, belongs to another vampire already. She's beautiful to look at, but dumber than a box of rocks. Not very good company," he lied. Sookie cast him a disapproving stare at hearing his cutting words, over the blaring music and Eric winked at her.

"I see great things in our future, Mr. Northman. Great things."

"Oh? Shall we perhaps move to a more private location so we can discuss matters?"

"After the girl finishes her dance," Felipe said, as his eyes feasted over Sookie's body. Eric growled under his breath. The second the song ended, and Sookie waved goodbye to the crowd, Eric swooped on her. He caught her by the wrists and dragged her behind the red, velvet curtain on the stage. Primal urges of the most lascivious kind, guided him as he covered her body up against the brick wall of the building.

"That was hot," he purred in her ear, and Sookie froze.

"Calm down, Eric, and just, back off," she chastised, and then her petite hands were on his chest.

He twined his fingers in her blonde tresses, and then he caged her against the wall. "The way you moved. We should have sex," Eric said as a matter of fact.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because I want to be more than just a notch on Eric Northman’s  belt. Besides, I'm Bill's remember? Now do you want to know what I got from Zorro's mind, or not? That is what you paid me for." Eric smiled. He was wearing her down a little at a time. Soon she would be his, he was sure of it.

"Keep playing hard to get, Miss Stackhouse. It will just make it that much more satisfying when I finally conquer you."

"I wouldn't hold your breath," she said, but her voice was empty of conviction as she stared into Eric's eyes and gulped.

"Alright, have it your way," he said but then he brushed his lips against her neck before pulling back. Sookie inhaled sharply. "For now," Eric said and he slowly backed up and released Sookie, with a smirk plastered to his face. He saw the effect he had on her. "What did the King say?"

"Mostly a lot of X rated stuff. He talks about his junk a lot, and in the third person, which is really strange. Do all men talk about their penis like that? It's creepy."

"Anything else?"

"Not really. He did think about somebody called Sophie Anne though."

"What did he say about Sophie Anne?"

"He just said that Sophie Anne used to move like that once, and that she would again. So who is this Sophie Anne?"

"She's my Queen, but after Katrina her estate was laid to waste, and she was left destitute and maimed. Did he say anything else, Sookie?"

"No. Like I said, just a load of bull about his junk. Penis wants to plow that dancer. I wonder if Mr. Northman would be so good as to give me her phone number. Stuff like that. You won't though. Let's get that straight, right now."

Eric chuckled.

"I have a spot of business to attend to, but I can have Bubba give you a ride home if you need it?" He was gracious for the information that Sookie gave him, so he thought to return the favor in what he deemed a thoughtful and chivalrous act—something that he knew Sookie respected, which in turn might get him closer to getting her into bed. That was always one of his goals.

"I have my car outside. I can manage. Thank you though. It's very kind of you to offer." She smiled cheerily up at him and Eric felt strangely happy at the small gesture. That feeling unhinged him, and he raked a manly hand through his hair and sighed.

"And what about Bill? He wore the look of outrage upon seeing you tonight. I find it amusing, but I am concerned for your wellbeing."

"Why?"

"Well," Eric searched for the right words. Because I'm obsessed with you, and you are mine, and I don't want that pathetic mainstreamer's hands on you. Because I like the way you get under my skin, and call off my advances. No. The truth was not the right words. "You're my telepathic, pet, waitress. And you're hot. I've got a job opening you know?"

"Eric, you're an ass. I'll see you, okay."

With that, she left. The second she was out of sight, Eric's smirk fell. What in the hell did Felipe have to do with Sophie Anne? With his new knowledge Eric regally stepped through the curtains and made his way back over to the King of Texas.

--0--

The drive from Shreveport to Bon Temps gave Sookie the time she needed to process her feelings. She knew that Bill saw her dancing at Fangtasia, wearing not much more than a shred of clothing, covering what she knew he felt, was his. He would hate her sexy display, and this gave Sookie cause to grin. I mean, who did he think he was? What right did he have to look down on her, when he had Cousin Claude's dick up his ass? There was a definite double standard going on in her relationship with the vampire, Bill Compton. She wondered just how long it had been going on? How could Bill blatantly cheat on her without as much as a single thought or regard for her feelings? He was supposed to love her. She had been so exceedingly happy at hearing that the Fey, her own race of supernatural beings, could breed with vampires and produce a child. All she wanted to do was love on Bill and to be loved on in return. A single tear fell down her cheeks, and with a swift motion, she wiped it away. She decided to call Tara. She didn't want to be alone. As she hung up the phone she suddenly remembered Claude. The gay slut. The cousin and gay slut that was living in her house. She stomped on the gas. His ass was toast.

Claude was in the kitchen when she arrived back at home—eating her food. She slammed her keys down on the counter top and folded her arms, a dangerous expression marring her finely featured face.

"What?" Claude said in that oh-so-smug tone, and Sookie was ready to claw his frigging face off right at that moment.

"Get out. Now. Get your things, and get out of here!"

"He initiated it. Not I," Claude said coolly as he flexed his well-toned pectoral muscles and took a large bite of the turkey and cheese sandwich that he had made.

"I don't care. You should have known better. You know that vampires can't resist fairies. You just had to have the one man in the world that I love. It's not enough that you laze around my house, and use my home like a hotel, eat my food and don't lift one finger to help with the renovations. At least Dermot got a job and pays his share around here. You, on the other hand, are disposable. Now, get your fucking things and get out of my house."

"Dermot won't like this."

"It's my house and you screwed my boyfriend! Now, get out, Claude."

Sookie sat on the old sofa that was Gran's and thumbed through a magazine, while she pretended to read it. Twenty minutes later, with his head hung low, Claude said goodbye and left. She felt the smallest twinge of guilt at her treatment of her cousin, because she knew that he really had nowhere else to go, nor money to go there. She was startled from her thoughts when there was a knock at the door. Tara, she thought to herself. Oh thank heavens. She needed a good girl talk and she knew that Tara could make her feel better. They were always there for one another, through the good times and the bad, and now it was Sookie's turn to be the one in need.

She threw open the door and then recoiled as if bitten by a snake. It was Bill.

"Sookie, can we talk?"

"I don't think there is much to talk about. You pretty much made your bed—now you have to lay in it," she shot back, staring him directly in the eyes.

"Just come over and we will make love. I will show you that I do love and care for you. Please, Sookie, just give me the chance." His face looked pained and his words sounded sincere enough, but after knowing Bill for several months she knew him to be a good talker. He could talk out the sides of his mouth, unlike Eric Northman, who what you see is what you get. She had always thought that Eric's way with words was brash and condescending, but something dawned on her right at that very moment. Eric didn't hide his feelings, and he didn't mince words, unlike Bill, who could charm the pants off a stranger, and then cut them to pieces behind their back. She had seen him do it on numerous occasions while visiting her at her job at Merlotte's. Was he doing the same thing with her? He had called her vanilla. He said that their sex was boring, but now here he was begging her to make love with him and bury the hatchet? No. He needed to stew. Besides, she was in shock at what she saw, and she needed time to process it.

"Will you invite me in?"

She thought about it for all of two seconds, and then in an uncharacteristic move on her part, and without so much as a word, she slammed the door in his face.

When Tara arrived, Sookie grabbed two spoons and a tub of vanilla ice cream but then remembered Bill's comment and put the vanilla back in the freezer. Claude had nearly polished off the chocolate and she frowned.

"That pig," she quipped.

"Who? Claude or Bill?"

"Does it matter?"

"Sookie, you can do better. Fuck 'em both. Go get yourself a real man. Maybe one that breathes this time."

"You're one to talk. Aren't you dating one?"

"Pam," Tara blushed. "First time I've been happy in a long while."

"I'm happy for you, I really am. Nobody deserves it more than you, Tara."

"Sook, you need to let this go, and move on with your life."

"He said I was too vanilla. Me. I mean, am I?"

"Do you have any toys in your nightstand drawer?"

"Toys? I'm not a kid, Tara."

"Lord help you, Sookie. I meant sex toys. A vibrator?"

"Oh," Sookie's hand shot up to cover her mouth and a bright crimson blush crept over her cheeks. "No. That's kind of dirty, isn't it?"

"No," Tara said with a serious expression. "It's normal."

"I wouldn't even know where to get those types of things. Gosh, Tara, I am vanilla. Aren't I?"

"Are you happy with your sex life?"

"Well, I was. Until I caught Bill, I thought we had a good sex life. Okay, it wasn't perfect. I mean, most women don't climax every time right?"

"I do."

"Every time?"

"Yeah, Sook." Her face fell at that and then Tara's comforting arm was around her as she hugged her. "I can get you any kind of toy that you want."

"From where?"

"Pam. She does sex parties. You know where a bunch of women pass different toys around and then buy the ones that appeal to them most. Pam is having one this weekend at Fangtasia. You can tag along with me if you'd like?"

“I mean, I guess it might be fun.” I could see Eric again too.

It was a plan. Sookie would go to a sex party and de-vanilla herself. It was a start.

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Chapter Text

Chapter Three

Bedtime Stories

According to Felipe, the King of Mississippi—Russel Edgington, a charismatic bloodsucker with ginger hair and a flair for the dramatic, had his sights set on Louisiana. Eric found this news distressing, to say the least, and he felt that a visit to his Queen—the once treacherous and beautiful Sophie-Anne Leclerq, was definitely in order. Eric was casual when he dropped Sophie's name during passing conversation, to the eccentric vampire King from Texas. Felipe's reaction was peculiar though, as his face grew a deep shade of purple at the mere mention of Sophie's former self. That's when Eric decided to investigate further. He didn't relish making the trip to the Big Easy—the age old city of New Orleans, but if something was going down in his territory then he had a right to know, and he had a sneaking suspicion that Sophie was somehow in the thick of it. His past dealings with her told him that much.

He parked his red corvette along the curb and exited the vehicle. He was shocked to see where Queen Sophie-Anne lived. Even though Sophie had threatened his position, blackmailed him, bribed and threatened both Pam and Sookie's life, he still felt as if she'd somehow been given a raw deal. The place was beneath someone of her station. Hell, if he was being honest, it was a shithole.

"Mr. Northman," an unhealthy looking Hadley said, surprise playing across her face when she answered the door to the dilapidated, aging home on Decatur Street in the French quarter. Eric arched an eyebrow upon seeing the horrendous state of her physique. She had bite marks that stretched up her arms and down her legs as she stood on shaky legs, wearing a tattered sundress and sporting dirty, bare feet. "The Queen isn't accepting visitors these days."

"Invite me inside, if you know what's good for you."

The woman, of who he knew to be Sookie's cousin,(but found that fact hard to swallow,) narrowed her eyes on Eric, but then relented and allowed him entry. "She's not herself, and she's very weak. I'll ask you not to stay long. Mr. Northman?"

"Yes?"

"How's my cousin Sookie? Is she well?"

Eric paused. He was not in the least bit interested in talking with one of Sophie-Anne's, human blood dolls. "She's fine. Why?"

"I—have a favor that I need to ask of her. Can you give her a letter from me?"

Seriously? What did he look like, a damn mailman? He sighed and shrugged and reluctantly stuck out his hand. Hadley smiled and pulled a sealed envelope from the ripped pocket in her dress and placed the letter in Eric's palm. Without a second thought, he stuffed it into the breast pocket of his finely tailored, grey, linen suit.

"It's about my boy. He can't stay here. It isn't safe." Eric wondered when he had become so approachable to humans as he stood uncomfortably in the foyer of the small house. He would have to change that image back to fierce and menacing, and quickly, before word got out that Eric Northman was a nice guy. He grumbled at the thought. "She's just through there," Hadley pointed. "Try not to look terribly shocked when you see her. She hates that."

The door creaked when he pushed it open. The room had a musty smell that made Eric cringe as he stepped into the dimly lit room. "Why are you here? Come to laugh at the hideous monster that I've become?"

"Damn," Eric stifled a gasp when he saw the decrepit vampire. Her once beautiful face was cracked and wrinkled, as if somebody had sucked all the youth from her ageless face. She was covered with thick blankets, and Eric immediately noticed that something was off—literally. The contours of her body, under the heavy, woven blankets, were missing the slender mountain ranges that were her hips and legs. "How did this happen, Sophie-Anne?"

"Do you really have to ask?" She was missing several fingers, and the stubs of her hands looked as if they had been gnawed upon—her fingers chewed clean off. Werewolves, Eric thought. Only werewolves could have done this.

"That's right. It was a pack of Weres, not from around here. I went to ground during the hurricane, only to be awoken to the putrid smell of my own flesh being eaten. They ravaged me and left me to die. I begged them to stake me, as to live such an existence as this freak that I am is a nightmare of vast proportions.

"I'm sorry, my Queen," Eric said and he lowered his head. He couldn't bear to look at her any longer. Mercy killing came to his mind and once again Sophie-Anne seemed to understand what he was thinking.

"I'll have my youth and beauty back—and then I'll have my revenge on Russel Edgington and his wolf pack.

"Edgington? How do you know?"

"I spurned his advances. He wanted to marry me, in order to inherit my kingdom, before he showed me the true death, but I said no.

"I see. And Felipe? What can you tell me about the King of Texas? He's offered to help me fend off Edgington should it come to that. I seek your counsel, my Queen."

"Felipe is a friend that can be trusted."

"Are you certain of that…I mean…"

"Don't be a fucking fool," she spat. "If I say he can be trusted then he can, Mr. Northman." Sophie sat up slowly on her elbows and then spat blood as she coughed and sputtered. "Hadley. Hadley! Bring the boy. I'm hungry. Mr. Northman, please leave. This little visit is over."

A frightened little boy was dragged into the room by a terrified Hadley. His wrist was extended to the ailing Queen and Eric turned as he was leaving to see his Queen's fangs bared as they pierced the human child's skin. The boy wailed and shouted for her to stop. Hadley's frantic cries were almost as loud as the boy's, and Eric stopped in the doorway of the tiny room and listened, a war going on inside himself. Sure, he depended on the blood of fangbangers to give him his nourishment—but they were willing participants, and not children. As he listened to the boys petrified screams, he knew that he didn't have long as his wails turned to whimpers, weak and fading. What's happening to me, he shouted in his own mind. When did he start to care about lowly humans? One thousand years old he was, and gone from his repertoire were any feelings of sympathy for humans. Then he remembered his own children—dead and gone centuries ago, but still they lived on in his memories.

"No. You'll drain him," he said and he launched on Sophie-Anne. He tore the little boy of about eight away from his Queen as Sophie-Anne shouted obscenities and promised revenge on Eric. He heaved the child into his arms and fled from the room.

His breathing was shallow and he knew he didn't have long. He laid the boy down on the dirty, linoleum, kitchen floor and without a thought as to why he was doing it, he bit into his own wrist and drew blood. He placed it to the boys pale lips as thick, crimson, liquid slid down his throat.

"You saved my son. I'm a horrible mother," a hysterical Hadley moaned as she dropped down on the floor next to Eric.

"Yes, you are. How could you let that old crone drain your son?" Eric said with a fierce expression. "You need to get away from her. Far away. Now, not later."

"I can't. That's what the letter was about. I'm giving custody of Hunter to Sookie. There's nobody else to take him, and he can't stay here." She brushed the hair from the boy's forehead away and kissed her sleeping son. "Will he be alright?"

"Yes, no thanks to you."

Fifteen minutes later as he buckled the boy into the seat in his car, a shadow fell over Eric. With a maneuver so fast the human eye could not catch it, he had managed to turn and pin the looming vampire to the hood of the car.

"Eric, it's me. Get off me," came the slow southern drawl, which he knew to be Bill Compton.

"Are you alone?"

"Yes, of course. What's with the boy? You didn't feed from him, did you? Really, Eric, a child? I thought that even you had higher standards, clearly I was mistaken."

"Shut up, Bill. I didn't kill the boy." He released his grip on the Civil War vamp and Bill brushed off his clothes and righted himself, with an incensed scowl upon his face. "Fancy meeting you here though. Just in the neighborhood, I suppose?" Eric gave him a questioning stare.

"Something like that. Actually, I was just doing a bit of community service. It's a charity for those who were affected by the hurricane. I dropped off some groceries to an elderly couple just down the way."

"Bullshit. Do I look stupid? You were here to see Sophie-Anne. The only question is—why?"

"Is this where Sophie-Anne lives? I had no idea," Bill feigned dumb.

"Daddy, where are we?" The small child in the front seat of Eric's Vette said, with a disoriented bob of the head.

"Why's he calling you, Daddy?" Eric knew that it was the effects of his blood on the boy, and that he was most likely hallucinating. He knew it wasn't a keen idea to give a child as small as he was, vampire blood, but it wasn't as if he had a choice. The boy had mere minutes, if not seconds to live. He had done what he had to do.

"He's Sookie's nephew. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get our bundle of joy home."

"You're taking him to Sookie? Eric, you're a busy man. I would be willing to complete that task for you, Sheriff."

"Oh, I bet you would, Bill. I'm sensing trouble in paradise—tough luck Compton. Sookie did look ravishing the other night, at Fangtasia, wouldn't you say? Those legs, and those," Eric made the gesture of a farmer holding two cantaloupes in his hands, a wicked smirk plastered to his face. He got the response he was after too, as Bill hunched his shoulders back and puffed out his chest, causing Eric to laugh out loud.

"Too easy," he said as he climbed into the car and sped away. He watched in the rearview mirror when he spied Bill Compton entering the Queen's home on Decatur Street. I don't know what in the fuck Sookie see's in him.

.

.

It was twenty minutes to the start of her shift when Sookie heard a car pull up outside. Claude, come back to beg. Well he can forget it, Sookie said. She stomped out the house and into the yard and then she stopped. It was Eric, and he had a passenger with him. Her nephew, Hunter.

"Eric? Why is Hunter asleep in your car?" Eric sprang from the car and with this vampire speed was in Sookie's face in a second flat, towering over her. He looked dashing in his suit, his face cleanly shaven and the way he smelled—expensive, always made Sookie a little giddy, even if she would never admit that particular fact, especially not to Eric.

"Please gather your human from my vehicle."

"Daddy, are we there yet?" The small boy rubbed his eyes and yawned as he stretched.

"Daddy?" Sookie's jaw dropped.

"Yes, we're here. Aunt Sookie is going to take care of you now." Eric began to unload the suitcases onto the lawn when Sookie stopped him.

"What's the meaning of this? Just stop a second, Eric. Where's Hadley?"

Eric thrust the envelope that her cousin had given him into her hand. "I'll just take these inside. Is that alright?"

Distracted, as she tore open the letter addressed to her, Sookie waved her hand. "Sure, go on in. Just leave his things in the living room for now." She looked up to see a glowering Eric. Only then did it dawn on her that she had just invited the Viking into her home. She shook her head at him and continued to read. When she finished the short, but to the point letter, that asked her to take temporary custody of the boy, Sookie bolted back into the house. "Is he alright? It had to have been pretty bad, for you of all people to rescue a mere human," she whispered so Hunter wouldn't hear her and become frightened. She poured him a glass of milk and added a glob of chocolate syrup as she stirred it. The child smiled and gulped it down. He was dirty from head to toe, so she turned the tap on in the bathroom and drew the child a bath.

"You owe me one. Let's leave it at that."

"Well, I'm about to owe you two," she said and she bit her lip.

"I can bathe him, but I'm supposed to be at work, and I can't be late again. Can you watch him? I'm sorry to ask, but I've found myself in a bit of a pickle. It's Tuesday, which is usually Merlotte's slow night. I'll try to leave a little early. What do ya' say? Prove that you're not always a heartless bastard?"

"You vicious bitch."

"Come on, Daddy?" Sookie shot him a cheeky grin, and batted her eyelashes for effect.

"On one condition."

"Anything," Sookie said, and she immediately wished she could eat her words.

"I get to share your bed tonight."

"Anything, but that."

"Alright," Eric paused, and Sookie could see the wheels in his mind turning, no doubt trying to come up with something equally as outlandish. "I get to taste you then."

"One bite and you don't take too much?"

"Mmmhmm," he said, in that same husky voice that gave Sookie satisfying goose bumps, that she couldn't wish away, no matter how hard she tried.

"Fine. We have a deal. Hunter, bath time, honey."

The many bite marks on the boy brought tears to Sookie's eyes as she dipped the washcloth into the soapy water and sponged Hunter's back. "I like my new Daddy." Poor boy, she thought to herself. Judging by the puncture marks that riddled Hunter's body, she came to the conclusion that Eric must have given him some of his blood in order to heal him.

"Hunter, he's not your Daddy, but he is a friend. So it's alright for you to like him. But you should call him Eric, alright?"

"Uncle Eric?"

"Okay," Sookie said hesitantly.

"Can Uncle Eric read my bedtime story? Mommy always reads me a bedtime story, a'cept when Soapy-Ann needs her."

That was it, and the tears freefell down Sookie's cheeks. She wrapped a fluffy towel around Hunter and then passed him his pajamas and told him to hop in bed. Since Claude was gone, it left an empty bedroom. This just reinforced her decision to kick Claude out of her home.

"He wants you to read him a bedtime story."

"No. I don't do that. There is only so far you can push a man, woman. That's women's work."

"Is not. Well, sorta', I guess, but this isn't a thousand years ago anymore, Eric, and men can cook and clean and read bedtime stories to kids."

He groaned for a minute, and gave her a tortured look. "Do you have a book?"

"I don't think I do, unless you count the romance novels on my bookshelf, which probably wouldn't be a very good choice for a seven year old. Just make something up."

"Like what?"

"You're a thousand years old! You must have a ton of stories to tell. Tell him a Viking story or something. Just go easy on the blood and gore," Sookie said as she grabbed her purse and car keys. "I gotta' go. I'll see you in four hours. Don't bite anybody, and if Claude tries to come back, don't let him in." Eric shot her a questioning look but Sookie waved him off.

No sooner had she reached her car did she turn back towards the house. She had meant to lay out extra blankets and pillows, but when she got back inside she saw that Eric had already found them as he sat perched at the end of the bed where Hunter was tucked in. "Gudbrande was his name and he stood on the hillside looking down at the sea…" Sookie's eyes went wide. She would have never believed that Eric Northman, fierce and heartless vampire, could be sitting on the edge of the bed telling a story just like a normal, modern day father, if she had not witnessed the act with her own eyes. Hunter laughed, and Eric made growling bear sounds as he continued to tell the story. Damn work, she thought to herself as she quietly left out the screen door. Now I'll never know what happens to Gudbrande.

Review?!

Chapter Text

Chapter Four

Aurora Borealis

When Sookie arrived at Merlotte's she was surprised to find it bustling with people. Whatever happened to Tuesday night snoozers, she wondered to herself?

"Your late," Arlene said smacking her lips on a piece of Wrigley's, "Again. Table two wants ketchup and A-1 and table three has a problem with their soup. I got my period, and I ain't dealing with table three today." Sookie glanced across the crowded restaurant, and took a deep breath when she saw Mrs. Fortenberry, with her pudgy body, crammed into one of the booths, as she scowled over a bowl of twelve bean soup. Lafayette was glaring at her from the kitchen as Sookie put her apron on and grabbed her waitress pad and pen.

"That's her third bowl. She say the first one is too cold, and the second one has too much garlic. If that fat, redneck complains about the third bowl you tell me, Sookie. I'mma dump it over her bouffant wig if she complain one more time. She sittin' over there gassing up the place. We all gonna blow soon. I know I's is."

"Hi, Lafayette, having a good day?"

"No," he said with fervor as he flipped a hamburger on the grill.

Two hours into her shift the crowds kept coming, and her feet were killing her as she schlepped trays of food to hungry Bon Temps residents. She finally pulled Amelia aside in between tables, "What gives? Tuesday's are always dead."

"Power's out in most of the town, and everybody's a little freaked about the strange lights. Have you noticed an extra helping of blondes in here tonight?" Amelia said as an afterthought. Sookie gazed around, and low and behold, there were a lot of blondes, women of course, in the bar. That kind of explained why none of the males in restaurant had left after they scarfed down their dinners and paid the tab. One table in particular had five, young, twenty-something's, women sitting at it. Sookie moved in for a closer look and rolled her eyes when she saw her brother Jason sitting amongst the flaxen haired beauties.

"Hi,Sookie," Jason said as he snaked his arm around the blonde on his right. The one on his left whispered in his ear and Jason giggled—yes—Jason giggled. He looked like he was high and Sookie pulled him aside.

"Jason, are you alright?"

"I couldn't be better, Sook."

"Why are you acting all wasted? Have you been smoking something?"

"No, way. Clean as a whistle."

"Where'd you find all these women? I haven't ever seen them before."

"They found me. Yeah, my truck broke down on the way home, and I was walking through the woods and there they were, looking all beautiful, sitting in that funny light. I think they all want me. How lucky am I?" Jason swaggered back to the table and the women swooned over him once again.

Something wasn't right. At. All. Sookie, stepped outside the bar and gazed up. The sky was green, shimmering and beautiful. Her thoughts turned to Hunter and Eric. She had left Eric with Hunter and a major panic crept over her at that moment. What if—No. What if the green sky and the blonde, bimbos—No. She had to get home. She told Sam that there was an emergency at home, (well there might have been, she reasoned) and she hopped in her car and drove home.

The house looked normal when she arrived back home. She crept inside and gently pushed the door to the room where Hunter slept, ajar. Both Hunter and Eric were laying on the old, double bed that had belonged to her Gran. The small boy was nestled up against the Viking with his arm draping over the vampire. Sookie breathed a sigh of relief. That's when she noticed that Eric was staring at her, wide awake.

"You're late."

"I know. It got busy. I'm sorry."

"He threatened to cry unless I laid here."

"And you accepted that?"

"I don't like tears," he said and he rose from the bed, and lumbered over to where she was standing.

"I think you were had by a seven year old. He likes you, but you have to set limits, Eric. You big, ole, softie."

"I can show you something that isn't soft," he said with a cocky grin as he trailed behind her into the living room.

"Why do you do that?"

"Do what, Sookie Stackhouse?"

"Here I was, thinking nice thoughts about you, snuggled up with Hunter, and then you go and ruin it talking about sex."

"Because I do want to have sex with you."

"You just say exactly how you feel, all the time. No sugar coating it. No tact."

"Sookie, I'm very old. I don't see the need for pretense anymore. I find you attractive, and I feel an overwhelming need to have you for my own."

Sookie stepped outside on the porch and as predicted, Eric followed. "Will you look at that sky. Have you ever seen anything so unusual?" Sookie watched as Eric looked up and then a warm smile spread across his face.

"I've seen it thousands of times."

"You have? It's beautiful, although strange."

"Strange-yes, but only for these parts. It's norðrljós—the northern lights." He looked into her eyes with blue orbs of brilliance, and Sookie turned to a heaping puddle of flesh. He sat down on the porch swing and with a gentle tug; he pulled her down on him.

"E-Eric, what are you doing?"

"You owe me two, remember?" She was like a feather as he lifted her over him until her legs straddled him, and then his pale fingers were moving the delicate tendrils of blonde away from her neck.

She gulped.

His arms encircled her, and his hot breath danced over the tender flesh of her neck as he inhaled deeply. "Eric, am I vanilla?" she spat out, while she still had gumption enough to ask.

"Mmm, yes, your hair smells like vanilla." He pulled back and looked at her. "I love the scent. Is this what you mean?"

"No. It's just—oh nevermind, it's silly. Just something Bill said to me when I caught him cheating on me. Oh, I don't know why I am telling you this. You'll probably tease me endlessly about it or use it as a means to get back at Bill."

Eric stiffened.

"Now I said something wrong, didn't I?"

"What you said was," he paused. "Fair." He clasped his fingers behind her back at that. "I knew you were special, the first time you walked into my club with him. If Bill cannot see that and would sleep with another woman, then he does not deserve to have something so special."

"It was a man. Not a woman. My cousin, actually."

Eric stifled a laugh.

"And he said that you were too vanilla and this is the reason for his gay night?"

"Yes." Sookie looked down in shame. She was too afraid to see the mocking expression on Eric's face.

"Sookie," he said and his finger was on her chin raising her face to look at him. "If you are vanilla, then vanilla is my favorite flavor of all."

Chills shot down her spine at that very moment, and a blush crept over her cheeks like hot fire, and suddenly his lips came crashing down on hers, rough and masculine. Her arms slipped around his neck, their bodies mashed together as the porch swing began to rattle and move with the ferocity of their kiss. His velvety tongue wrapped around hers in hot embrace as he plundered her mouth with sweet abandon. It was a bruising kiss that made her toes curl, molten hot and seductive as they kissed on the porch for what seemed like minutes, with the green lights of the aurora borealis overhead. When she finally pulled away, she took a big gulp of air and then she turned her head to the side, exposing her neck. His fangs looked like white porcelain as they protruded from his gums and then with a light touch he dabbed at the vein on her neck, finding just the perfect one, before his head plunged down and pierced her skin.

A gold light enveloped them for a moment, and Sookie felt a heat emanating from her middle as it spread downwards. Visions of lust clouded her mind as he drank from her, and she wondered if this was it. Niall had said that her body would feel it, and know it when it was time. All she could see, taste and touch was Eric and she wanted him inside her all at once. The urges were so strong that when he pulled away, with his own lustful expression, fierce and commanding like the Eric that she'd always known, she found words on her lips that she never thought would ever be there.

"Make love to me, Eric. I want you inside me."

"Yes," he hissed and then her shirt was torn away exposing her voluptuous chest to the cool, night air. His tongue rolled and flicked across the searing, pink, flesh of her nipples and Eric groaned in pleasure as Sookie's head fell back in adulterated bliss.

"Sookie, who is that with you? Sookie!"

Sookie, leapt from Eric's lap and with her arms crossed over her chest, she hid her breasts from that all too familiar voice. "Bill, is that you? Are you spying on me?"

"Yes, it's me. How could you do this to me? And with Eric of all people? So, this is your revenge? You make me truly ill. You're nothing but a vanilla whore. When you are thoroughly done with your revenge on me, then we should talk about a future together. You make me sick," he declared, in that oh so southerly gentleman accent, and Sookie felt tears welling behind her eyes, that threatened to fall from her eyes like a monsoon. She ran into the house and locked herself in the bedroom, throwing herself onto the bed and crying into her pillow. She was vaguely aware of the frantic knocks at her door. Eric was talking to her through the door, though she couldn't hear what he was saying. Her mind was reeling at Bill's cutting words.

Review!

I had to break this chapter up, as it would have run too long if I didn't. Let me know how you like it thus far and I will try to get the second part of it up very soon. Thanks!

Chapter Text

Chapter Five

Viking Dom

Somewhere between the sniffles and the downpour of tears Sookie managed to fall asleep. When she awoke it was early morning, just before dawn, and she sprang from her bed. She remembered the events of the night, namely that Eric was there, they had shared a passionate kiss, and then Bill had ruined it all. She ran her fingertips against the marks on her neck—Eric marks and as she gazed into the antique mirror in her bedroom, she imagined what her night would have been. It was straight out of a Danielle Steele book. She blushed at the thought and her hand moved down her stomach and slipped inside her cotton panties. Her eyes closed and then there was the manly Viking, naked on her bed. She straddled him again, just like she had the night before and then he was biting her, as his thick rod penetrated her. She moaned and her head fell back as she rubbed herself, thinking only of Eric and the dangerous things he could do to her.

"Sookie, It's Dermot. If you're up, can we talk?"

"Ummm, yeah, sure. In a minute."

What is wrong with me, she said as she scurried about the room in search of her bra. She splashed water over her face and then tromped downstairs where Dermot was standing with his bags packed, staring out the kitchen window.

"Hey, what's up? You going somewhere?"

Hunter made a groggy appearance as he rubbed his eyes and sat down at the kitchen table. Sookie poured the tike a bowl of cereal with milk and he began to chomp on it.

"I'm leaving. With Claude gone, I find myself lonely."

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that, but I caught him with Bill."

"I was wondering when you'd find out."

"You knew? Did Claude tell you?" Sookie couldn't imagine how Dermot had found out, as she hadn't even seen him for several days. With Sookie working afternoons and evenings, and Dermot working, they rarely crossed paths at all. It was a shame to see him go, but it was his choice to make.

"I went to borrow that shampoo of yours. You know, the good smelling stuff, and Claude and Bill were making love."

"In my room? On my bed?"

"I didn't know how to tell you. I'm really sorry."

"Excuse me. I need to do something before somebody goes to ground for the day."

Sookie, marched into her room and threw the blankets and sheets off her bed. She wadded them into a ball and tucked them under her arm before she stomped out the door. It was still dark, but the sun would be peaking over the horizon at any moment, so she had to hurry. She reached Bill's house and didn't even knock. He always left it unlocked, because let's face it, who was going to break into a vampire's home? Nobody.

The house was dark—a mausoleum, she thought to herself. Just like Bill. She threw open the bedroom door and was once again shocked (although not quite as much this time) to see Claude and Bill lying together in a slumbering embrace.

"These are yours now." She threw the wadded up sheets and blankets onto Bill and he shot up from sleep.

"What is the meaning of this, Sookie? Just calm down and stop! After Eric and I had words, among other things, I saw the error of my ways. I'm sorry Sookie. I shouldn't have called you a whore. I was wrong on that point."

"And this," she said ignoring his half assed apology, as she struggled to get the promise ring off from her finger. She threw it at Bill and he caught it with ease, his vampire reflexes keen and quick. "Next time you take a lover, do it in your own bed."

"Sookie, what does this mean?"

"It means, Bill Compton," she stepped up and grit her teeth in his face, "That you are gay, and we are finished."

"Sookie, I'm not gay."

Claude rolled over at this and his eyes popped open.

"Yes, Bill you are. Face it. I had to. Oh, I tried to pretend that it didn't happen. I tried to put it aside and tell myself that it was somehow my fault for sucking in bed—too vanilla, remember? Forget it. We are over. Have fun. Be careful though Claude. Vampires eat fairies, and this one has an unsatisfied appetite," she said to Claude.

She could hear Bill's threats as she ran down the steps and out of his house, but she didn't stop until she reached the cemetery. She knelt down at her Gran's grave and just sat in silence, too numb to even cry.

"Are you alright, Aunt Sookie?"

Startled out of her thoughts of betrayal, she turned to see the little boy staring down at her. The sun was out now, and it looked to be the beginnings of a bright day. She wiped her eyes and smiled.

"I'm going to be. How about you?"

"Me too," he said and he smiled a toothless grin back at Sookie. "Is Uncle Eric going to come back tonight?"

He said tonight, not today, which made Sookie wonder if Hunter realized that Eric was a vampire, just like Sophie-Anne, the terrible one that had tortured him. "I doubt it. But your Uncle Jason is. He promised to redo my floor in the kitchen, but I bet he will find time to watch a movie with you or something. Wouldn't that be fun?"

"I guess so. I miss Uncle Eric though."

"Well, Eric is complicated, Hunter. He has his own life in Shreveport, and a job and everything." He's also a vampire, and little kids are supposed to be afraid of vampires.

"But, I'm not afraid of him. He won't hurt me."

They had been on a casual stroll through the cemetery up until that point, when Sookie stopped dead in her tracks. "Hunter, did you just read my mind?"

"Maybe."

"That's amazing. I had no idea you had the gift too."

You mean you can too? He said in his mind, and Sookie answered him back nonverbally. It'll be our secret, alright?

He nodded.

"Aunt Sookie? What does it mean when somebody says they want to lick you until the cows come home?"

"What? Hunter don't say that, it isn't nice."

"But that's what Uncle Eric said when he thought I was sleeping and he was thinking about you Aunt Sookie."

Sookie smiled. She couldn't help it.

"Well, maybe it is nice, but not for little boys to say. Not until you're much older, and even then you probably shouldn't say it. Got it?"

"Yes, Aunt Sookie."

"Hunter. Eric didn't say that out loud, did he?"

"No." The child grinned.

Holy hell, he can read Eric Northman! I've never been able to.

You just said a bad word.

I know I did. That's another thing you aren't allowed to say. Alrighty?

Yep.

"I am Gudbrande, and I will slash you down with my sword!" Sookie laughed when Hunter picked up a stick and began to fight phantom enemies. She didn't have to wonder where he got that from. She frowned when she remembered how she had left Eric. She knew she'd made a dreadful mistake and she knew she'd have to face Eric sooner or later, but she hoped it would be later. She needed time to think.

.

Jason sawed and hammered all day long and Sookie's head hurt from the constant racket. She was forever grateful to her brother for doing the work, as nobody else had offered to help her renovate the place, so she put up with the noise and even made sandwiches and lemonade for Jason and Hunter. It was around four-thirty in the afternoon that a large, white, delivery truck barreled down the drive. It stopped and two men in gray uniforms began unloading something.

"I'm sorry, but I think you have the wrong house. I didn't order anything," she announced as she looked at the box labeled patio furniture. "You'll have to take it back."

"Has the right address. Name on the form says Sookie Stackhouse. That you?"

Confused, she nodded.

"Then this is the right place." The man looked at her as if she was crazy and then she began to unpack the boxes on the front porch.

"Sookie, hey girl. You ready to go?" In the midst of the furniture delivery, Tara had shown up, dressed and ready for the sex toy party at Fangtasia. "Whoa, somebody spent some serious money. I didn't know Sam was paying you so much."

"He's not. I don't know who it's from." And she didn't, until she saw the luxurious porch swing. It looked like it was hand carved and it had plush cushions. It beat the hell out of the old one, that was worn, and rickety and the new one matched perfectly with the siding and shutters. Eric. Damn, that was sweet of him. I wonder what he expects in return?

"You know, I was prepared to tell you to go on without me." Tara gave her a perplexing look. "But, now I think I really want to go."

Jason and Hunter were watching cartoons on the television when Sookie was ready to leave with Tara. Both of them laughed at the same jokes, and Sookie had to remind herself that Jason was her older brother, not younger, but he worked hard all day long so he deserved a good laugh.

"You look really tired, Jason. You up to watching Hunter tonight? I mean, I know you worked real hard all day long."

"I'm good. It wasn't the work today that wore me out though. It was them girls. Wow. Between you and me, my cock hurts from all the fucking. It was like a gang-bang, only I was the only one doing the banging. Wore me out good, so I'm looking forward to a night with the boys. Just me and you Hunter," Jason hollered and Hunter giggled.

"Don't you think it's strange that those women just showed up out of the blue in the woods, and that all of them found you attractive?"

"Women like me, you know that."

"Okay, Jason, if you say so. It just seems weird to me."

"You're telling me. One of them kept telling me that I was her fairy prince."

Sookies blood ran cold. They were fairies, holy cow. And Jason slept with all of them.

"We going to Shreveport or what? Pam gets bitchy when I'm late."

"Out of here. Hunter be good for Jason and go to bed early. Don't stay up late. Jason, nobody in the house while I'm gone."

.

.

Pam greeted them warmly, Tara more so than her, which was fine with Sookie. Even though she'd had plenty of run ins with Pam, some good, some bad, the woman still scared her to an extent. She felt safe enough around her, and she didn't take her crap, but just the same, she kept her guard around vampires in general. Bill had taught her that lesson—the hard way, such as it was.

Eric was nowhere in sight when they arrived and she felt conflicted about that. On the one hand she craved him, like a fairy in heat, but on the other hand their budding friendship had changed the night before, and she still hadn't been able to define it. What did Eric want? Just a roll in the hay, or more? He had said some pretty powerful things to her, there, under the sparkling, green, sky of the northern lights, and they had meant a great deal to her, but at the same time she knew Eric, and he was capable of anything.

"Sookie, you here?" Tara said, and Sookie looked up. There on the table was a spread fit for a porn King and Queen. There were all kinds of sexual toys, some in bright colors. There were dongs of all sizes and colors, some that had leather belts attached. Sookie blushed. Why in the hell had she agreed to this?

"I think we know who would like this one," Pam said, with a smirk, as she lifted up a giant, strap-on, dildo. Sookie immediately shot Tara a look and Tara mouthed the words, "I'm sorry."

"He wouldn't. He's more into the real thing," Sookie spat and Pam seemed to get a big kick out of her response as she twittered with laughter. The whole table did.

"In that case, this one's on the house. It seems you might need it for those long, lonely nights." Pam handed her a box and Sookie looked at the pink vibrator inside it.

"I might not. You never know. Where's Eric?"

Pam's face dropped. Sookie had clearly spoiled her fun. "He's around here somewhere. Try his office," she said with a sly smile. "Don't hurt him, or I'll have to rip your fucking head off," Pam said with a serious expression.

Sookie stuffed the gift from Pam into her purse and set off to find Eric. Sadly, a conversation with Eric felt more comfortable to her than sitting around a table with a few women, vampire and human, and looking at rubber penises. He wasn't in his office, so she continued through the back rooms of Fangtasia, when she heard a shower running. Nuts, she thought to herself. He was in the shower. She would have to wait. That’s when she saw the door to the basement, or dungeon which is what it really was and it was slightly ajar. Eric's personal sex and torture room beneath the nightclub. She had both good and bad memories of the place. Good when she had once walked in on a very naked and very erect Eric Northman, who was having what Sookie deemed as, extreme sex, with one of his employees. Sexual harassment at its best. But this was Eric, and Eric was like the vampire God of sex. He was sex on legs, and just thinking about their kiss from the previous night was making Sookie wetter than a Seattle downpour, as she traversed the cement stairs and entered the dungeon.

There were three coffins in the corner of the room, no doubt sleeping quarters for visiting vampires who partied too hard all night, or maybe even for Eric and Pam in a pinch. She smoothed her hand over the top of the shiny satin that lined the casket as she moved deeper into the room. She stepped cautiously, the place still gave her the creeps, but she was interested in a particular something. Her eyes focused in the dark room, as she scanned the room in search of—there it was. It had to be some sort of bondage piece, used to tie his victims up before engaging in kinky but pleasurable sex. Sookie was astonished to see not one, but three different pieces of equipment, made from leather and rope, metal and chains. She saw a pair of shiny, silver handcuffs hanging from a tether and she cupped them in her hand, feeling the unyielding metal in her palms. She had to brace herself with the other hand against the wall when she felt a powerful surge that ricocheted through her body. She felt her tummy grow warm again and the feeling spread through her torso and limbs. What on earth was happening to her? Her pussy ached and throbbed, and she found herself lying down on the bench-like contraption and staring up at the cuffs as visions of a leather clad Eric consumed her thoughts.

"Do I repulse you now, Sookie?"

"N-No," she moaned as he pinched one of her nipples, causing her to squeal in delight.

"No, what?" His hand came down upon her ass and she felt a sudden sting, but then his fingers were on her clit, as jolts of electricity shot through her core.

"No, Eric-c," she moaned, and then her hands were being fastened in the cuffs. With a click she couldn't move and she struggled against her bonds, but the blond didn't relent. He knelt before her and dipped his head to her soft, mound of pubic hair. She could only watch as he lapped at her, licking and sucking her into an earth shattering oblivion.

Sookie parted her legs more, her hand rubbing faster, lost in the smoldering vision of her Viking Dom, taking her to new heights, heights she'd never truly experienced with Bill. She was only mildly aware that she was moaning under breath, the sensations coming faster and harder until she threatened to explode. She felt his fingers on her hardened nipples, pinching, squeezing, cupping her breasts in his strong hands. His lips were pure fire as he sucked her most private of places. She felt one, then two fingers pumping her canal and she moaned out his name, unable to stop her orgasm, she exploded in a white-hot wave of bliss. Her chest was heaving, her breaths coming short, as her orgasm slowly waned. She suddenly became aware that anyone could have come down there while she pleasured herself. It wasn't like her to throw all caution to the wind. She had to be in season. That was the only answer. Damned Niall.

She flitted her eyes open and gasped when she saw Eric, on his knees, a smile like the Cheshire cat, beaming at her from between her legs.

"That was the hottest thing I've ever seen. You taste, amazing. You have no idea how long I've thought about having you down here."

Sookie blushed, as she righted her clothing.

"I thought I was alone," Sookie tried to hurry past him but he caught her by the arm and forced her against the wall of his dungeon.

"Well, I admit that you had a good head start on me, but when I came down here and heard you moaning my name, I did the gentlemanly thing," Eric chuckled.

"The gentlemanly thing would have been to clear your throat at the top of the stairs, the second you saw me." He wasn't letting her go like she wanted, so she did the only thing that she could think of to keep from looking at him—buried her head in his chest.

"Okay, then I did the fun thing to do—and the right thing. Was it good for you, because it was for me?"

"You're still an ass," she mumbled into his chest, their bodies pressed tightly together. He was so close she could feel the enormous erection in his pants pressing into her abs.

"What was that, I didn't catch that?" Liar you have damn near perfect hearing. He cupped her face in his pale hands and raised her head, as his eyes bore into her.

"You're mine. Don't you ever be embarrassed again." He captured her lips with his and Sookie lost her composure at that. She pulled him into her, hard, wrapping her arms and then her legs around his waist as he braced himself against the wall. Her hand darted between them and she unbuckled his fly, taking exactly what she wanted—Eric. She wrapped her fingers around his throbbing member and began to stroke him with a feverish pace, her other hand mussed in his luxurious hair. She wanted this man and nobody was going to stop them. His breathing was ragged as he nipped and bit at her skin. Every now and then she would come up for air, pulling away from his lingering kiss. It was about the time that she had decided to take his pulsating cock into her mouth as she slid down his long, firm, body until she was on her knees, that they were politely interrupted.

"Eric, mmhmm," Pam cleared her throat.

"Not now!" Eric shouted. His voice was deep and frightening.

"I thought you'd want to know that Russell Edgington and guests arrived unannounced. They're in the bar, now."

"Thank you. That will be all," Eric said, clearly pissed. He growled as he pulled Sookie to her feet and wrapped a comforting arm around her.

"Wait here. Don't let your presence be known. We can finish what we started later, my lover." Eric straightened his shirt and jacket and raked a hand through his hair before he swaggered back up the stairs, closing the door part way behind him.

Sookie waited until he was out of sight before she quietly padded up the stairs after him. She was just too curious for her own good.

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Chapter Text

Chapter Six

Fairies

"Sophie-Anne is crazy as a loon. Fairies. Why, I haven't seen a fairy in over seven hundred years," Sookie heard the red-headed vampire say as she crouched behind the bar. She had managed to sneak upstairs, undetected, and then had crawled on all fours behind the bar, in order to be able to hear the vamps conversation. It wasn't dignified, but it was vital. If she was going to date someone like Eric Northman, who had his hands in so many pies when it came to vampire politics, then she was going to have to take a proactive approach to gaining her own intelligence. If anything, her past dealings with Bill had taught her that her own longevity depended upon her being kept in the loop, rather than out of it. "Where does she come up with these certifiable, loony ideas? Mr. Northman, it's your area—Have you heard of any such fairies in these parts?"

Sookie squeezed her eyes shut tight and prayed that Eric would keep silent and not give her up.

"Of course not, Mr. Edgington. It's as you said, completely ludicrous." Sookie, breathed a sigh of relief.

"I don't know, Eric," shot back the voice of Bill Compton and Sookie cringed. "Sophie-Anne was right about the Maenad that stalked through your area virtually undetected. If it hadn't been for the good citizens of Bon Temp, then she would have gone on wreaking havoc for heaven knows how long."

"That's a blatant lie."

"Pam, please."

"Well it is, Eric. Are you going to let him sit there and put you down like that? I ruined my best pair of shoes tracking that thing on your orders."

"Enough, Pam! It's as you said, Russell, Sophie-Anne isn't exactly functioning on full capacity these days, now is she? Not after what that pack of werewolves did to her. It's a shame that the pack didn't just finish her off. Then you could claim her kingdom as your own," Eric said as Sookie listened intently.

"Yes, it is a shame, but as it turns out, if they had, then I would never be able to procure Louisiana for myself."

"Oh?" Eric said.

"Silly, little, technicality set up by the Magister and the Vampire League. If I don't find Sophie-Anne a fairy, and a pregnant one at that, then she won't consent to marry me."

"Couldn't you just apply a little pressure?"

"No. I don't expect you to know such things, since none of you have ever been, or will ever be royalty, but every kingdom contains a seal that is passed down to the new King or Queen, and Sophie-Anne Leclerq isn't divulging it's whereabouts. So, if there are any fucking pregnant fairies, then I need to catch one so she can eat one and grow her god damn appendages back. If you are not up to the task Mr. Northman, then I can replace you with my comrade, Mr. Compton. He's shown me great allegiance over these many months."

"Has he now?" Eric said, and she could hear the venom in his voice.

"Indeed. I never would have found that superstitious, bitch, you call Queen if it weren't for Mr. Compton's information on her whereabouts."

"Well, it seems we should all be thanking Bill," Eric said and Sookie worried that he might actually attack Bill, right then and there. He sounded so pissed. "I'll do my best, Mr. Edgington, to find you a fairy."

"That's all I ask. Find me a fairy and we will worry about knocking her up later. Provide me with what I need, and you might stay around here, otherwise, you will be replaced. Good day."

This was bad. True, Eric hadn't given her up—yet. This put a crimp in her plans as well. If there was one thing for certain, that she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, it was that she couldn't have sex with Eric, not now. That last thing she needed right now was to have sex and get pregnant, with Eric or anybody. Sookie heard the door close and she let out a long breath.

"Where's Sookie? Why didn't you just give her up, Eric?"

"I'm right here," Sookie said as she shot up from behind the bar. Eric had a dark and serious expression as he quirked an eyebrow at her and then made a bee line over to where she stood. "And Eric didn't turn me in, because that would be wrong, Pam." Eric's arms were around her as he brought her into his chest, as if holding onto her for dear life.

"A minor technicality. Why is it that every time the fucking vampires come down on us, it always reverts back to you?"

"That will be all, Pam."

"Well it's true. You have to see that, Eric."

"I said enough," Eric shouted and he launched on Pam, pinning her against one of the tables and gripping her by the neck.

"Fine," she bit out, her voice gravelly. "I just hope you have a plan. We aren't the only vampires that know what Sookie is. You're forgetting Bill fucking Compton. He has his tongue crammed so far up Russel Edgington's ass, it would take the jaws of life to pull it out."

"I haven't forgotten," Eric said his voice eerily calm again.

"You just say the word and I'll kill that fucking traitor."

"Leave us now, Pam."

Pam left with her panties in a twist and her ego bruised and Sookie hugged Eric tightly against her body. Even now, in the throes of deceit and treachery and a plot that could potentially end her life, she felt—horny—for lack of a better word. Damn it, why can't I stop thinking about sex, she screamed in her head. Just touching Eric sent a swirling heat that filled her womb. It was like fairy Viagra, the need to mate and create life so strong, and she was like a fairy on crack, with a one track mind. She pulled away from him, as she tried to force the erotic thoughts back.

"So what are you gonna' do?" She finally spit out. She wanted to say something more along the lines of, "Eric, bend me over this bar right now and have your way with me, you sexy stud," words foreign to her, yet the ones that she held on her tongue as of late, but instead she asked the practical question.

"The most obvious answer would be to take out the Queen. It's always a good chess move."

"After what she did to Hunter, I don't think I'd mind that one bit."

"Yes, I tend to agree, however," Sookie didn't like where this was going. "If we gave Sophie-Anne the true death, it would put an end to this quest for fairies, but it would create other problems—far worse problems."

"Like what?"

"Right now we only have two Kings sniffing around Louisiana, looking to add this kingdom to their own. If Sophie were gone, then we would have many more here, all with their own agenda."

"Two?"

"Russel and Felipe, the vampire from Texas. I can only assume that is what he's after. Marry the Queen, inherit the state."

Sookie had forgotten about Zorro, with his black cape and his perversion for strippers. If she could just read him again, maybe she could gain useful knowledge that would help Eric. It was the least she could do, but right now, she needed to talk to Jason. His fairy girlfriends needed a stern warning. Their lives were in danger, and she didn't know how much Claude had told Bill about fairies in general. Hell, he might know more than she did.

"Eric, can you give me a ride home?"

"I thought we would go to my place."

As all-consuming a thought as going to Eric's place was—and it was—Sookie needed to get home.

"You know I'd love to, but I have to get back home to Hunter. Jason was really tired today, and I don't feel right making him babysit for me. And by the way, thank you so much for the porch swing. It was very thoughtful, although not necessary."

"It was my gift to you. Sookie, do you not want me as well?"

"No—No, I do, very much so." He relaxed at that. "It's just Hunter. He's been through a lot and I'm trying to establish some sort of normalcy. That's all," she smiled cheerily.

"We can drive to your home and gather him. He can come to my house with us, then you will not worry, and we can finish what we started."

Sookie went in for a kiss. She pressed her moist lips to his and once again his arms were snug around her. And damn, he could kiss. She had to break away, her knickers soggy and wet. Kissing Eric was not like kissing Bill. He was fire when he kissed, like a Harley Davidson cruising down the wide open freeway at top speeds, whereas Bill, was more reserved, kind of like the family Buick, and Sookie craved a ride on Eric's motorcycle. She'd ridden in the Buick long enough. "We'll see each other again, don't worry hot stuff," she winked.

.

.

"Jason, wake up." Sookie shook her brother, who had fallen asleep on the couch with the television on. Thankfully, he had managed to put Hunter to bed before passing out in exhaustion.

"Sookie, what time is it?"

"It's late. Look, can you tell me where to find those women. You know—the ones from Merlotte's?"

"Uhhh, they're staying at my house. But I don't want to go back there tonight, Sook. I need my rest, and iffin' I go back they might make me sleep with them again, ya see?" Sookie patted her brother on the shoulder and told him to go back to sleep. They really must have worn him out if he was willing to let them stay at his house, while he slept at her house. It wasn't like Jason to even let women stay the entire night after a night of carnivorous pleasures. No, he was more the wham-bam-thank you-M'am type, for better or worse, that was Jason.

Sookie got in her car and drove the short distance to her brother's house. She had her own key, in case of emergencies, so she used it on the front door. When she got inside she was shocked at what she saw. The cupboards were open, the fridge ajar, and bottles of liquor were strewn about the place. There was one fairy passed out on the stairs, one laying upside down on the sofa, and another passed out, drunk, at the dining room table with a row of shot glasses in front of her.

"Wake up!" Sookie shouted as she began snapping her fingers in front of each fairy's face. "Party time is over."

"We're sleeping, can't you see that?" The fairy on the stairs said as she sat up and belched.

"Well, you're going to be dead, if you don't get up and get your asses back to fucking fairy land. But clean this mess up first. I hope all of Fairy doesn't look like this. You're all a bunch of sloshed, pigs!"

"It's the after effects of the union. We can't sleep. Have to drink," she hiccupped, "In order to get any sleep."

"Okay. Well, this is my brother's house, and ya'll need to get out."

"Jason was divine," the fairy on the sofa said, before she passed out cold.

"Even so, you've over stayed your welcome, and you might have a nest of vampires after your asses. So I'd get a move on, if I were you."

At the mention of vampires, all of the fairies woke up and began to move around. Hell, why hadn't she said that in the first place, she asked herself.

"Oh, you're one of us! Oh, but, uh oh," a fairy said when she looked at Sookie. She made a funny face and Sookie instinctively clutched at her cheeks, making sure they were still there.

"What, Oh?"

"Well, it's just that you didn't answer the call."

"What call? Nobody called me." Sookie pulled her cell phone from her purse and as predicted, she missed no calls.

"Not on that silly." She pointed to her cell phone. "You know—the calling." She rocked a pretend baby in her arms at that. "Now you have the mark of the wood nymph. Look," The girl said, dragging Sookie by the arm and into the bathroom. Sookie nearly passed out when she saw the strange tattoos on her temples. It was an earthy design, of flowering vines that twined around in an elaborate design of greenery.

"But I don't want the mark of the wood nymph. Does it rub off?" She doused a wash cloth in Jason's bathroom and rubbed furiously at the vines, but to her dismay and rising fury, they did not rub off.

"You better check the rest of your body. You really should have listened to the calling."

"Well it's not as if I knew there was a time limit on it and after one day, I would become like a human coloring book, now did I?"

"Hee, hee!" The girl giggled.

"How do I get it off?"

"You can't. The mark of the wood nymph doesn't go away. It does keep spreading though, until it covers your whole body. Let me check your hair."

"My hair? What's wrong with my hair?"

"I don't see any growth—yet. You'll know when you see the first vine. After that it's pretty fast."

"Are you telling me that my head is going to sprout vines, just like one of those Chia pets?"

"I don't know what that is, but yes; it's the mark of the wood nymph."

"Oh my stars!"

"It could be worse. You could have been a water fairy. Then it would have been all drip,drip,drip. It's way worse."

"This cannot be happening to me."

Sookie did her part. She warned the blonde, fairy bimbos, but it was time to scoot. Think Sookie, think, there has to be a way to reverse the mark of the wood nymph. That was when she remembered that fairies hated lemon juice. It had to work, she said as she parked and cut the ignition off in her car.

Ten minutes later, in her bathroom she let out an ear piercing shriek. "Ow, it burns!" Lemon juice was just a little too good to use against fairies it seemed, as she scalded her skin. Now she had viney tattoo's on her temples and burn marks to boot! She held the cool wash cloth to her head and that is when she noticed the silvery outline of something on her tummy, just above her navel. She gulped, and slowly raised her shirt. Her heart sunk. Silver and gold butterfly wings in an intricate design marked her belly button. She bit her lip and raised her shirt higher before her head went dizzy and her world once again fell into darkness.

"Sookie," someone was shaking her. "Wake up, my lover."

"Eric? Where am I?"

"I went to visit Compton, and then I heard your screams. What happened?"

Sookie was lying on her bed, wrapped in the arms of a shirtless Eric. She leaned up to capture his lips and he reciprocated, brushing his perfect,pink, pillows against her own. He cupped her face and kissed her longingly.

"When did you have time to get a tattoo? I just left you only an hour ago."

"Why? Do you like it?"

"It's different, but, yes, I suppose it's quite nice. Not going to tell me?" Sookie shook her head no, and stared up at Eric with painfully, needy eyes.

"Eric, make love to me. Right now."

"We will lover. There is something that we must do first however."

"What is it?"

Eric's fangs shot out, and Sookie was reminded of what a brutal vampire that Eric could be. She turned her head, baring her neck for the Viking, but then he did something that shocked her. He bit down upon his lip and drew blood. Sookie watched as the dark, crimson liquid pooled on his bottom lip and then like a blood red tear drop it cascaded down his face, falling to his chin.

"Drink, Sookie."

She leaned up to face him, their noses almost touching, and then she opened her mouth and extended her tongue. The tip of her tongue licked the blood from his chin as she trailed it up his chin to his mouth. Once there she kissed his lips, softly, seductively, and the Viking, vampire groaned as gripped her head one ether side and kissed her hard on the mouth. She felt one of his fangs pierce the supple skin of her lip and then she could taste the mixture of their blood together, as they kissed as if it were the last kiss they'd ever share.

"Now we make love," he said as he pulled away from her, and threw her back against the new sheets. Kneeling, he unbuckled his trousers and let them fall. Sookie's hands shot forward as she caressed her way up his thighs to his firm and perfect ass.

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Chapter Text

Chapter Seven

For Love

He was perfect in every way, not in the sense that he was nice and kind and thoughtful of everyone he came into contact with, far from it, but he was strong and smart, cunning and blunt and captivatingly gorgeous. God was he was gorgeous, Sookie thought to herself as she allowed her fingers to explore his pristine body. Better than that, was the way he responded to her touch, and the way he touched her back. His fingers tangled in her hair as he knelt before her, like some Viking King of times past, masculine and virile, and Sookie momentarily forgot about Russell and the Queen and all of it, as she swathed her tongue against his salty tip. His head fell back and he shivered as her lips took him into the cavern of her mouth. She sucked him lovingly, and deeply, and her thoughts were consumed with only him, only Eric, and she longed to feel him inside her. She stretched her hands up his chest, wanting to massage the ripples of his toned, torso, when something surprised her. There, before her very eyes, she watched a sage colored vine appear and grow, as it spread from her wrist and moved up her arm.

This is wrong; I have to tell him, a voice inside her spoke. Eric was breathing heavy, as he leaned and kissed her shoulders and back, his eyes closed in sated bliss as she sucked him deeper and deeper into her mouth.

"Eric, there's something I need to tell you. But when I do you probably won't want to continue with this," she said pulling her mouth from his engorged tip.

"Then don't tell me. Later. Mine," he hissed though ragged breaths as he forced her onto her back and climbed in between her legs.

"Eric, please. You have to listen."

"I have wished for this for so very long. There is nothing you could tell me right now that would change that. Unless you don't want me?"

"I want you. Oh, boy, do I want you, but…"

Her words were cut off when his finger came to rest on her lips, stifling her words, and then in one forceful motion his cock was full on inside her, impaling her. She sucked a breath in, deeply inhaling as she bit down on her lip. He was much more than Bill and the lips in her nether region stung upon penetration.

"Did I hurt you," he whispered in her ear in a husky voice.

"A little, but it feels good. Don't stop, Eric." There was no turning back as he rocked inside her. He kneaded her flesh with sturdy, experienced hands. Her clothes were off in a heap on the floor, and his tongue danced over her pert, nipples as he thrust inside her with vigor. Satisfying jolts went through her as he nipped and teased her breasts, each one, slowly and purposefully as he slid in and out of her in rhythm. When he reached over and flicked the light of her lamp on and then rose up onto his knees, pulling her body with him and once again impaling her on his thick rod, she wrapped her arms tight around his neck and rode him like a cowgirl on a bucking bronco. She wanted to devour him whole, and judging by his panting, deep moans, he did her as they rocked together in the light of Sookie's bedroom. His hands were on her breasts squeezing them tightly together and licking her deliciously when she felt her first orgasm coming on. She wondered if the blood bond played a part, because at precisely that moment, he reached down between her legs and with expert fingers, began a fruitful assault on her bud as her climax reached fevers pitch.

"Oh, Eric, yes," she groaned out as her head fell back and she went limp in his arms.

"Fucking beautiful."

He laid her back onto the bed and Sookie felt like a lump of goo, smiling and satiated, she stared up at him with adornment as he kissed every last inch of her body. At one point, he stopped and looked up at her, arching an eyebrow and Sookie knew she would have to explain the markings on her body upon their conclusion, and she was prepared to do that. She knew this man in her arms would never cause her physical harm. She trusted that, if nothing else.

"More?" he asked, and his need was still evident, as her eyes fell to the soft, blond hair that fell in a line down his stomach and ended at his manhood.

"Oh, yes…all of you," she said as she opened her arms to Eric.

He lay down gently over top of her, his eyes hot and bothered, like the blue flames of a blow torch, sapphire and molten, for only her. He entered her again, as he threw her legs over his shoulders and buried himself to the hilt inside her, his arms braced at either sides of her body, caging her. It was a welcome cage, as he pumped his iron into her, his hips rolling in rhythm and his eyes never leaving hers. Sookie bucked against him, matching his strokes, their bodies' slick with sweat as they made love. She lost count of the orgasms as he took her time and time again, and then when she knew he was close, she held him close to her, her heart pounding in her chest. She bit into the soft, pale skin of his neck and he came unglued as he pressed so deeply into her that she inhaled sharply. And then, Eric Northman, Viking God, lost it. Lost. It.

"Jag älskar dig," he groaned out loudly. She didn't know what it meant, but it was music to her ears, and then they both cried out in unison, their orgasms taking them hard. He collapsed on her, but she didn't mind, it felt good laying under him, her Viking, her lover, just… hers. She opened her eyes to look in the mirror across from her bed. She wanted the image of their night together burned for all eternity into her mind. The future was uncertain, but she hoped that she would have him in her bed forever at that very moment. A golden swirling light engulfed them as they held one another in loving embrace. It was beautiful and she wished he had seen it. After a few moments he flopped over onto his back and held his arm out for her to cuddle up to him. She laid her head on his sweaty chest and pulled the sheet up over them as she closed her eyes, her heart and soul glowing with contentment.

She didn't know how much time had passed, but she knew she wasn't tired not even a little bit. She heard a faint knock at the door, and Eric shot up first.

"Aunt Sookie, I can't sleep." It was Hunter and he must have had a nightmare she concluded. She stood and opened her closet door.

"I'll be right there, sweetie," she said, tying the belt around her waist and sliding her feet into a pair of slippers.

"You should rest. I will go."

"You don't have to," Sookie offered up.

Eric paused, as if considering her offer, and then he said, "I don't mind."

For Eric, that was an all out admonition of liking something. Sookie smiled and nodded and then faster than you can say jack rabbit, Eric was dressed as he slipped out the door.

Sookie held her breath and opened her robe. Aside from the butterfly on her navel, and the vines that went up her arm from her wrist to her elbow, oh, and the flowering vines that snaked up her tummy to her breasts and bloomed blue violets in the area of her cleavage, and also the vines at her temples, she was otherwise normal. Normal, what a laugh, she said to herself. That's when she noticed it. There was a tiny golden light that pulsated weakly on her lower abdomen. She instinctively held her belly and when she did, she felt an undeniable warmth. Could it be? She thought. "Am I—?"

"Are you what?" Eric said, as he quietly came back into the room.

"You heard that?"

"Vampire hearing, remember?"

"Oh yeah. Hunter well?" he nodded. She was about to launch into the finer points of Fairy mating season, and how it related to her predicament—and his, when he beat her to the punch.

"Sookie. Bill threatened to tell Russel about you. I can and will kill him, to prevent that, but I would like your blessing. I don't want to start things out with you having secrets that could damage us later. Normally I would have seen to his death, without worry, but you and he," he cringed, almost painfully, "Have a past together, so I cannot kill him if it would hurt you."

"Eric…I," she was tongue tied. She didn't want him to kill Bill, no matter what a prick he was—and he so was. To threaten her life, was beyond despicable, even for Bill, but she didn't, couldn't kill him, or tell Eric that it was alright. That was virtually the same thing as her offing him with a wooden garden shovel to the heart, and she had thought about it, briefly, and not seriously.

"No need for words. I knew you would want me to spare him. That is why I came up with an alternate plan." He sat down on the bed and hooked an arm around Sookie. He looked wracked with heartache and Sookie suddenly became nervous. "I'll tell Bill that we broke up. We won't be able to see one another as often as I'd like, but at least you will be safe—for now."

"Eric, no."

"It is how it must be. Do you have a better plan? You do know that my offer still stands to come and live with me at my home, both you and the boy—Hunter. It is safe, and I can protect you from the likes of Compton and Edgington."

"I have a life, Eric. A job."

"I will take care of you. You will want for nothing."

"But I'll want for my house, and my friends. Eric, as sweet as that is-I can't do that."

He stood and cursed something in a language Sookie did not understand, as he paced about the room like a caged, tiger. It was heartbreaking and a single tear trailed down Sookie's cheeks. Eric was right, it was the only way. They would have to be apart, at least for a while.

"How long?"

"Not long. I hope. Until I can fucking put together a plan to take out the lot of them. It's that or we leave."

"Eric, you love Fangtasia. You worked hard for what you have, just as I have. No, okay so what then? Clandestine meetings? Could be kinda hot." She shot him a lopsided grin, but the whole situation was depressing.

"Damn it!"

Sookie reached for his hand and clasped her fingers in his. "By my watch, we still have three hours until first light. So get on over here Eric and show me what you got—again." Sookie smiled wide, even though she didn't feel it, she thought maybe she could lend him some strength, because he looked positively morose, as he sat there, with a cold, blank stare. She didn't like their situation anymore then he did. He shot her a small smirk and then he dove on top of her and pawed at her, delightfully as she giggled and smacked at him playfully.

.

.

When Sookie awoke the next morning she felt completely sated. She reached over and patted the sheets where Eric should have been, and then she noticed the daylight that streamed through her bedroom window and she knew that Eric had left once she finally fell asleep. It seemed that Jason's fairies didn't have all the answers, as Sookie didn't have to down a fifth of Jack in order to get some much needed shut eye. Instead, she had sex with Eric for five amazing hours, during which she had a dozen or so orgasms. Boy, had she stayed on the sinking ship that was Bill for far too long. She hadn't realized what she was missing. Bill—the jerk. She frowned, thinking about no Eric to warm her bed at night. She had the right mind to wait until night and then go right over to Bill's and hash it out with him face to face.

There was a knock at the door and it startled her out of her lazy thoughts. Sookie yawned and made her leisure way down to answer it. A man, even taller than Eric, (which not many were,) stood at the door wearing a pair of jeans and a tank top. His hair was dark and he wore leather cowboy boots. "Can I help you?"

"I'm sorry to bother you, but my truck broke down on the road, just there," he pointed and Sookie stuck her head out the screen door to take a gander.

"Okay."

"Not wantin' to impose, but could I use your phone to call a tow truck?"

"Yeah, alright. Let me just get dressed and I'll be outside in a minute." She hoped she wasn't rude, but with crazed fairy killers on the loose, she couldn't be too careful. She pulled on a pair of jeans, as it was early October and the weather had finally started to shift to cooler, thankfully, as her legs were tattooed, and she didn't want to answer a lot of questions as to why. Her face would not be so easy to get away. She would have to think of something to tell people about that. Thoughts of telling people she joined some weird cult came to mind, and she laughed.

She found the man with the car trouble, sitting on the porch swing, waiting for her. She crumpled her nose at seeing the hulking man on the bench that Eric had given her, but then she reminded herself that it was just a bench—even if it had been where they shared their first kiss and was special to her. Maybe it was hormones that were making her act like a love sick puppy, but she needed to get a handle on it.

"Here ya go," she chirped, and she gave the man her phone. He made his call and then handed her back the phone and they both sat in silence on Sookie's porch and waited for the tow truck to arrive.

"I'm Alcide Herveaux. Nice to meet you," he finally said.

"Likewise. Sookie," she said and she took his hand. They sat another half hour in silence as Sookie fidgeted with her phone. She noticed that the man had not really made a phone call, as no calls had been placed recently.

"So that tow truck sure is taking a long time."

"Yeah," he said with a gruff voice. Five more minutes rolled by.

"Look, you're a terrible liar. Your truck isn't broke, is it? So why don't you tell me who you are, and why you're really here."

"Yeah, I'm not much for lying. I ain't no good at it." Sookie nodded in agreement. "As I said, I'm Alcide. What I didn't say is that Eric Northman hired me to protect you."

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Chapter Text

Chapter Eight

Bedfellows

It had been four, long weeks since Sookie had held Eric in her arms and she missed him, gosh did she miss him. Via Tara, and her connection to Pam, Sookie had been able to get bits and pieces of what was going on with her man these days, and she worried endlessly about her Viking. He'd been sent out of state, to Florida, to follow up on what was sure to be a wild goose chase, in Russell's quest for a fairy. Tara had fingered Bill, as the responsible party and reason for Eric's departure. He had apparently passed false rumors to Mr. Edgington, rumors that Eric would have to either prove or disprove. It didn't take a mind reader to know why Bill was keeping them apart. He wasn't stupid, and he probably thought that Eric's story about catching Sookie in the arms of a certain werewolf, named Alcide, wasn't on the up and up. In other words, Bill smelled a ruse. The worst part of it all was that Sookie had to play along with it. The sooner Bill believed, the sooner the heat would be off, and she and Eric could see each other again.

Then there was the news. Potentially, big news. After waiting a painfully, long two weeks, for her monthly cycle to be primed and ready for her to take a pregnancy test; one that would yield accurate results in its prediction, Sookie had gotten in Alcide's truck, along with Tara and Alcide himself, and they had driven to the drugstore. She had Tara along for moral support as the whole situation spooked the hell out of her.

"There's so many, how do I know which one is good?"

"Well, this one says earliest results, so get this one."

"Alright," Sookie said as she plucked a box from the shelves. That's when she noticed the greasy, haired, freak that was missing one of his front teeth and was leering at her from the aisle across from her. Sookie, quickly thrust the pregnancy test into Tara's hands. "I need some cover-up, so let's head over to the makeup aisle."

"Sure, Sook. Whatever you say." Tara took the pregnancy test but gave her a confused look. With a slight nod of the head, Sookie motioned to the stranger, and Tara looped her arm in Sookie's and hurried down the aisle. "Who is it?"

"I don't know, but he followed us in here and he's pretending to look at the pantyhose," Sookie whispered. She grabbed a bottle of foundation, (she needed it to cover up the vine tattoos on her face) and made for the register. Just then, her shadow, Alcide, swaggered through the door and Sookie spied him sniffing at the air. His face grew stern as he scanned the store, and then like the good bodyguard that Alcide was, he shut his mouth and waited for Sookie to make her purchase. The look of warning that played over his rugged, face was enough to tell Sookie that something was wrong and she'd better scoot, so she did. Once inside the safety of Alcide's truck he spoke.

"He was like me."

"A Were? You could smell him couldn't you?"

"Yes. Sookie, he isn't the first one that I've noticed in Bon Temps. Best you stay close to home. Tonight is a full moon."

"I can stay with you Sookie," Tara said, but Sookie waved her off. "No, it's Saturday night and I know you have plans of your own. I'll be safe with Alcide."

Thirty minutes later, Sookie and Tara were alone in the bathroom at Sookie's house, where they anxiously awaited the results of the pregnancy test. "Tara, you look. I can't, I'm too nervous."

Tara picked up the peed on, plastic stick, and Sookie watched as she held it to the instructions, comparing her results with the picture on the box. She was deep in concentration as she tried to ascertain the meaning of the results. Finally her face softened and she looked at Sookie.

"Sookie, you fucked."

"I am? Let me see that."

Her hands trembled as she looked at the little window that told her that she was indeed pregnant. "I'm fucked," she said under her breath, and a wide smile blossomed and spread across her face.

"You happy, right?"

"Yeah. I'm happy."

"You ain't gonna' cry are you? Because if you cry, then I'ma cry too."

The floodgates opened and tears of joy streamed down Sookie's face, and as promised, Tara began to cry. Both women were jumping up and down, hugging and bursting with excitement. "Now, you gonna' tell me who the father is?"

"Nope. Not until I tell him first."

"You drive me crazy, girl. Well, congratulations. You better make me the God Momma."

"You got yourself a deal."

.

.

A week earlier in Miami…

"Whatever the price, I'll pay it."

"I can't, do what it is that you ask."

"I was told by a source that you can, for a price."

"Not for a fucking vampire!"

"No?" Eric grabbed the warlock by the scruff of the neck and bared his fangs. The man looked truly frightened, which just spurred Eric on. Fear was good. Fear got things done. "Can you do it for a vampire now?" A truly frightening Eric said and the trembling warlock nodded furiously. "Good. Then get on with it."

The sticky air and the stench from the swamps let Eric know that he was close to home. He stomped on the gas in his Corvette, when he saw the green and white highway sign, signifying that Shreveport was only another ten miles away. He wanted to murder Bill for keeping him away from Sookie for so long, although perhaps he should have thanked him. Had he not been sent to the fucking tourist capital of the world, Miami Beach, he never would have met the prissy warlock, and he never would have procured the draught in the first place. He would have to pay a visit to Sophie-Anne in the coming days, but for tonight, all he wanted to do was get back to Fangtasia, where he could get an update on Sookie from Pam. On Eric's departure, Alcide was to give regular updates to Pam, just as he would himself. If all was clear, he would risk going to her house. He reminded himself that it was a full moon, and that fact alone caused a certain worry. True, he had Alcide by the balls financially, but when it came right down to it, Eric didn't trust him with Sookie. Not to put too fine a point on it, but Eric didn't trust anybody but himself when it came to Sookie, and he definitely didn't trust a fucking werewolf with her, not with the full moon looming. If he could at all sneak away from the bar and visit with his lover, then he would.

The club was in full swing, that Saturday night, when he arrived back at Fangtasia. Pam was surprised to see him, as she flocked to his side.

"I missed you. The place wasn't the same without you."

"News?"

"Nothing substantial. A few suspicions. You know how it is though, ask a good for nothing Were to do the job of a vampire, and you shouldn't expect results."

"I needed a daywalker, and they're a little hard to come by these days. With Russell's fucking pack on the loose, I can't take any chances."

"Eric, I can't see why you're going to all this trouble for her. Russell and his twat, Bill Compton, will be here shortly. Give them Sookie and be done with this shit."

"No!" Eric fumed as he kicked the door to his office open with Pam in tow, following right behind him and slamming the door with a loud bang.

"Why not? Why in the fuck not, Eric? Unless," Pam's hands were on her hips and then with a swing of her hips she moved forward and laid a gentle hand on her Maker's shoulder. "Eric, do you love her?"

"Leave me," he shouted.

"You do. You fell in love with a fuckin' fairy. One that will be the death of us all!"

"Get the fuck out, Pam." Eric spun around, fangs bared, his body taking on an aggressive stance. Pam backpedaled.

"Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you."

Eric sat down behind his desk, his hands propped under his chin as he thought about Pam's question to him. His thoughts drifted to his night with Sookie.

She's so fucking beautiful, I don't deserve such a creature, yet I'm consumed by her. I have to have her. I love the way she moans with each thrust of my cock into her. I could fuck her for days, if she'd let me. The way her tits brush against my chest and the way she squeezes her thighs against my hips, makes me want to pound her into the sheets. Oh fuck. Her lips are on my neck, biting me. "Jag älskar dig—I love you," I cried out as my climax ripped through me. I'm reeling in ecstasy as visions of Sookie and me, standing on the hilltop in a field of sweet heather, with the wind at our backs and the salty air of the North Sea wafting in my nostrils, as I take her in my arms and kiss her. Is this real, it feels so real? But I'm not a vampire—I'm a man. We collapse in the grass and like hot fire, I'm between her milky thighs, loving her, fucking her, repeatedly, and she's crying out, "Eric, don't stop," as her pussy clenches around me, milking me of my essence. We collapse in a heap of intertwining legs and arms, panting and out of breath. "I think we made a baby, my love," she whispers and I pull a weed from her hair and kiss her on the nose. She smiles innocently into my eyes. I'm back in Sookie's bedroom now, and she's stroking my hair. Her touch is like butter. She is warm embers and I—I'm so cold without her. I roll over on my back. I can't bear to look at her with my vampire eyes, not after that. But for that briefest of moments, I was a man again and she was my woman. My Sookie.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Eric Northman, back from Florida. And so soon?"Eric was jostled from his thoughts, to find Bill Compton standing in his office.

"What do you want?"

"Just checking in on your whereabouts. I trust that you didn't find any fairies in Florida?" Bill sneered and Eric wanted to rip his head off his fucking neck, but he remained calm.

"Did you come to gloat?"

"No. That would be rude."

"I've been gone for a month. I have a ton of work I need to catch up on."

"Well, I won't keep you." Bill turned to leave but then stopped. "Russell and I will have more work for you in the future."

"And I'm certain that it will take me away from Louisiana," Eric said, with a sense of grimness.

"I'm almost positive that it will," Bill said harmoniously as he smirked, and left Eric's office.

A cyclone by the name of Eric ripped through his office, knocking over shelves, breaking chairs and destroying everything in its path. When a startled Pam heard the din and opened the door her jaw dropped.

"Eric, don't let that ass kisser get to you. He not only has his tongue up Russell's ass, but he also has it down his throat. They're practically fucking each other in one of the booths as we speak. Now about this mess-I'll get Ginger to clean it up. Oh, and Belinda is back. The stupid woman came back, and since we were shorthanded--well, she's back. Enough said.  You just need to relax, Eric. I can bring a fangbanger back here? Would you like that?"

Eric said not a word as he brushed past Pam. With Bill and Russell in his bar, he knew he could slip away unnoticed. He wanted nothing but to have some quality time with his lady, Sookie. He didn't bother driving, he was all too eager. He needed her. His day had gone to shit and Sookie was the only one who could set it right. He slipped out the back door of Fangtasia as Pam followed. Before she could get a word in edgewise though, he had disappeared into the night sky.

Not many vampires could fly, as it took a certain level of skill, but Eric was masterful at it, as he darted through the cool, night sky. Her yard looked clear of Weres, though a werewolf was no match for him anyways. He floated down to her window, prepared to climb right on through and then take his sleeping beauty into his arms and make passionate love to her. He stopped though when he saw an unfamiliar sight. She wasn't fucking alone. The fucking Were he'd hired to protect her was sleeping on the bed next to her-naked, his arm draped over Sookie's hip. He hung there, unable to look away, but unable to speak. He balled up his fists and his fangs shot out, as a broiling anger toiled inside him. “Why?" he shouted in agony before he flew off into the night, alone.

.

.

"Alcide. Wake up."

"What time is it?"

"Never mind what time it is. You're in my bed. And you're naked!"

"I'm sorry. I must have fallen asleep while on watch last night."

"Well, I'm going to take a shower. You better be out of here when I come out."

"Sookie, I'm sorry, alright. No harm done though. After I had to fight off that guy from the drugstore, I got nervous. He was skulking around the back of your property. I don't like it."

"Are you hurt?"

"I'll be all right. Few scratches and bruises."

"Well, thank you. But you can't sleep in my bed, even if you are trying to protect me. Could you imagine what Eric would have thought if he had dropped by and found you in my bed?"

Alicide shivered at the thought, as a phone began to ring.

"Where's that coming from?"

"It's my phone, but I don't know where it is. It was in my back pocket when I changed last night. Could be anywhere."

"Well, let's split it up and find it ya big, knucklehead."

Alcide laughed, and Sookie giggled and then they split up to find his phone.

"Found it—and my pants," Alcide finally said as she shoved his cute tush into his form fitting, Levis. Hunter was still asleep so Sookie hopped in the shower—but not before she heaved her guts out as she hung over the porcelain goddess. Morning sickness, she thought to herself as she splashed water over her face. She'd been so tired last night. The last thing she remembered was Alcide, in his wolf form, chasing after the Were-- the one from the drugstore, when he trespassed onto Sookie's property. Sookie passed right out, and slept all the way until the next morning, though she had dreamt of Eric. Dreamt of him watching over her as she slept. Still, being so tired was not like her. She was never much of a sleeper, especially since she started dating vamps, she'd become something of a night owl. When she was showered and cleaned, she returned downstairs and fed Hunter his breakfast, while she tried to hold down her cookies. The mere sight of food, made her want to hurl again.

"That was Eric's day guy. He's back in town. Wants to see me tonight."

Sookie perked up at hearing Eric was back. "I'll have to get Tara or Jason to babysit, since I'm going with you."

"I don't think it's smart."

"Since when are you the authority on smart decisions?" Sookie shot Alcide a disapproving frown. "Eric's my boyfriend, and I miss him. The decision has been made."

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Some firework's in the next chapter lol ;)Let me know and thank you for the Kudos and reviews, it means a lot.

Chapter Text

Chapter Nine

Bean Sprout

"Do I look okay?"

"You mean, will Eric think you look pretty? Yes, he will."

"Thank you, Alcide," Sookie smiled as she put on her seat belt.

They drove down the pot-holed, back road that led to the highway, and Sookie began to feel nauseous. Twice, Alcide had to pull over to let Sookie out. With her hands on her knees, she lost her stomach in the thick vines of the woods outside her hometown of Bon Temps. Sam had given her the day off, after she spent most of the morning in the ladies restroom. She found that strong smells set off her morning sickness the most, and Mrs. Fortenberry's cheap, dime store, perfume had launched her into full on, dry heaves.

She got back in the car and Alcide, graciously handed her a breath mint before pulling back on road.

"Hey—come here," he said and his hand shot out. Sookie recoiled, but his hand made its way into her hair where he tugged on something. "I'm not going to hurt you, Sookie. It's just; you got something in your hair."

"Ow! Sookie screamed when Alcide pulled her hair.

"Stop—hold still. You must have got your hair stuck in a honeysuckle bush when you vomited. Part of its stuck in your hair."

"Ow. Stop," she hollered again, when Alcide's attempts to remove the flowering vine, failed a second time. She flipped the sun visor down and gazed into the compact mirror of the truck. "Oh my God, not my hair too!"

"Look, I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on."

"It's nothing, just drive."

"It's not nothing, Sookie. You got weird tats all over your body, your puking your guts out every three feet, and now you got a honeysuckle bush growing out of your head! It smells nice by the way," Alcide said with a chuckle.

"Good. Maybe it will cover up the smell of the barf. Oh, Alcide," Sookie leaned her head over to rest on his shoulder. He had been a good friend to her, and he was protecting her, so perhaps it wouldn't hurt to tell him—at least a little. "I'm pregnant."

"I thought so."

"You can't tell anybody."

"You don't have to worry about me. It's Eric. He's gonna flip. The guy is seriously, fucking scary, when he's mad. I can be there when you tell him. So, who's the father?"

"That's too personal a question, Alcide. Don't worry about Eric, I can deal with him."

"The tats and the bush?" Sookie frowned at the two, thin vines that started at her scalp and ran down the length of her hair. They had budding flowers, bell shaped, from that of a honeysuckle bush. She pulled a hair barrette from her purse and held it in her teeth as she wound her hair up into a bun, where she clipped it atop her head. With that style, she could get away with it. It just looked like she was wearing a crown of flowers.

"It's hardly a bush. It's just a couple of vines. No big deal," she said in an attempt to throw Alcide off. Jason's fairy, had warned her that the transformation was quick, though she hadn't noticed it to be. Since becoming pregnant, the slow takeover of tats had been slow, if not nonexistent. This was the first time in a month that she had noticed any changes to her appearance, and at least she smelled good. It wasn't all bad to walk around smelling like honeysuckles. I mean, it could have been pine tree needles and she'd have to walk around smelling like an air freshener, so it definitely could have been worse.

The rest of the trip was pleasant enough, as the sun dipped behind the horizon and night fell upon them. It was early, and Eric was probably just waking. When they pulled up to Fangtasia, Alcide looked nervous.

"Maybe just let me go in first, so we can talk business."

"You're afraid!"

"Well, he has it bad for you, and he's going to want to know who the father is—If you don't tell him, he will assume that it's me. That, and the fact that vampires and werewolves don't get along to begin with."

"Fine, I'll give you ten minutes, and then I'm coming in. But, don't you tell him that I'm pregnant."

Alcide grumbled as he got out. She watched him disappear through the doors to Fangtasia, as Sookie patiently waited. It had been five minutes, when she decided that she couldn't wait any longer and exited the vehicle.

"You slept with Sookie. I'll kill you, you mangy piece of shit!" Alcide backed out the doors with his hands up, to signify surrender, with an enraged Eric clutching at Alcide's throat, and wearing a terrifying and menacing look upon his face.

"I didn't. It was an honest mistake. Eric, just chill out, buddy." Sookie squeezed her eyes shut tightly when Alcide's body sailed through the air, crashing against the garbage dumpsters, behind Fangtasia. She heard a yelping sound, and she opened her eyes to see that Alcide had changed into his wolf form. He snarled at Eric, and Eric taunted the wolf.

"Come on, let's settle this right here and now, you traitorous mongrel. I hire you to protect my woman, and you bed her instead? I'm going to take perverse pleasure in this." She had never seen Eric so angry—ever.

"Eric, no." Sookie shouted, with strength, volume and conviction. He spun around, a wild look in his eye and then in a flash he was in her face, looming over her, fangs bared.

"Don't hurt her, she's pregnant," Alcide called out, changing back into human form as he stood naked on the back alley streets of Shreveport.

"Alcide! I told you to let me." Alcide shot her an apologetic look, but he kept his distance. Sookie turned her attention back onto Eric fangs still bared, as if frozen in place.

"Eric, say something."

His fangs slowly went back into his gums and then his face changed in an instant, back to cold and brooding. "I wasn't going to hurt you."

"I know."

"It isn't safe out here." He gripped her by the arm and led her into his office. She immediately noticed that the place was in disarray, as papers were strewn about the room, and a lopsided picture of the vampire Lestat de Lioncourt, hung broken on the wall behind his desk. "Sit," he ordered and Sookie took a seat.

"Is this true?"

"Yes, but if you will just let me explain..."

"You cannot be here. It isn't safe. Does Bill know that you are," he looked disgusted as he said it, "with child?"

"No. Only Alcide and Tara know. Well, also Sam Merlotte, but none of them will say anything. I trust them."

"I bet you do," Eric said with cold, dark eyes. "Especially that fucking good for nothing, Were."

"We didn't sleep together. What you said outside—You're wrong."

"Don't insult me. I know what I saw," he scoffed.

"Don't insult you? How about don't insult me? I love you, you sadistic, bastard."

"What?"

"Do you think I'm some whore? If you do, then you are no better than Bill Compton. Nothing happened, with Alcide and me. It was an innocent mistake. That's all."

He seemed to gnaw on that for a while, as he sat across from her and gaped at her.

"I love you as well." Sookie, felt a welling inside her at hearing those particular words, and she had to stare up at the ceiling in order to keep from crying.

"I can't fault you for wanting a child. You are very good with Hunter."

"So are you," she shot back.

Pam burst into the office at that moment and both their heads turned towards the door. "Oh, sorry. I was just checking to make sure that one of you," she looked at Eric, "Didn't kill the other."

"I didn't know you cared so much about me," Sookie retorted.

"I don't. I just came to see if Eric needed any help hiding the body," Pam said and she winked at Sookie. "I'll just leave you two lovebirds alone." Pam rolled her eyes as if they were too pathetic a sight to even look at, as she strode back out the door.

"The father—was he before me?"

"Round about the same time, I'd say."

Eric's face grew angry again. "Who is it?" he demanded.

"I'll tell you when you aren't angry. Can we go somewhere a little more private?"

"Yeah," he grumbled.

Eric only said five words in the car, and only five, on the way to wherever he was taking her. "Put. Your. Seat. Belt. On." That's all he said and then they were riding with the G forces as he whizzed through Shreveport. Sookie, would have bet a million dollars, (if she had it) on the fact that Eric Northman alone, kept the Shreveport Police happily employed. He must have had a bazillion speeding tickets, as fast as he drove. He pulled up in front of an expensive, suburban house with a meticulously manicured lawn and then he hit the clicker, and the garage door opened.

"Is this your house?" Sookie asked.

"Well, you did ask for privacy. This place is a fortress. The house has impenetrable wards on it."

"Witches?"

"They can be useful at times."

"It's nice."

And it was nice. Really nice. Almost too nice. The kind of nice that you saw on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, or MTV Cribs, or something like that, Sookie thought. The kind of house that came with its own decorator. It barely looked lived in, and it lacked a woman's touch, but it fit Eric just the same.

"There are sodas and water in the refrigerator. Would you like one?"

"No, I'm good. I should probably be drinking milk and stuff anyways. I see a doctor next week, you know, for the baby."

Eric looked entirely uncomfortable as he sat in a leather lounge chair in the living room, and Sookie herself, was a bundle of nerves.

"It's been a long day. I'd like to lie down, while we talk, if that's okay."

Eric nodded, and led her up a flight of stairs and into a mansion of a master bedroom. The bed itself was almost as big as her whole, entire bedroom. She plopped down on it and laid back against the soft, beige, satin sheets, while Eric sat on the edge of the bed, lost in his own misery.

"Eric, for the love of God, would you stop making this so difficult? Come lay down with me."

"Sookie," he said, with a sense of foreboding, "I said I loved you, because I do, but I can't have sex with you again."

"Why the hell not?"

"You belong to somebody else now. Him," he said and he motioned to her stomach.

"Are you really so sure it's a him? It could be a her?" Sookie let out a quiet giggle. She would have made jokes about milk carton kids right at that moment, if it would have helped to lessen the direness that permeated the room.

"I meant, he who put it there."

"Oh, now our baby is an it?"

"Fuck. I'm a traditional man, Sookie Stackhouse. I cannot lay with another man's woman. Not this time." Sookie almost laughed. It was as if to say, that while he'd done it many times in the past, and surely he had, what with all the fangbangers that threw themselves at the Viking vampire, but now, because it was Sookie, he suddenly had to take the moral high ground. Still it was cute, and so was Eric. Eric Northman and his ancient code of honor. She crawled up to him and pulled him back onto the bed, snuggling up against him. She desperately wanted to feel his arms around her. "Wait, what did you say?" he asked.

"I said, don't call our baby an it." She rolled over onto his chest and propped her chin up on him.

"You mean, your baby. I'm a vampire—I'm dead."

"And I'm a fairy—at least part of me is, and its fairy mating season. According to my grandfather, Fairies can pretty much have sex with and get pregnant by any race of supernatural being. So, surprise, Eric, you slept with a girl one time and knocked her up. You're going to be a Daddy."

"A Father?"

"Yep. In a few months. He or she is just a little bean sprout right now. Look, watch this, it's really cool. You have to see this." Eric wasn't moving, wasn't speaking, as he lay as still as a corpse in a body bag. His face looked even paler than usual. Sookie rolled off him and sprawled on her back, as she pulled her dress up to just above her navel. "Okay look at my tummy. Looks normal right? I mean except for the butterfly tattoo, which I am actually starting to like." Eric gulped, but rolled over onto his side to get a better look. "Now watch when I put my hand there," Sookie said, and she stroked her lower abdomen. A tiny golden light, the size of a kidney bean, glowed and pulsated, its luminosity being reflected in Eric's saucer sized eyes.

"That's your baby, inside you?"

"Our baby, but yes. Isn't it cool? It kind of tickles, but I like the feeling just the same."

Eric moved her hand away and stared, as if mesmerized by the tiny light. When her hand was removed, the light slowly faded and then went out. Sookie, watched as a curious Eric moved his hand slowly to where the glowing light had been.

"It seems to only work for me. Must recognize the Fairy part of me or something. Tara tried, and nothing happened." Eric ignored her words and instead caressed her flesh in a soothing manner and slowly, but surely, their little bean sprout once again glowed and pulsed with golden light.

"I am not Fairy, yet his heart beats for me as well. What does this mean?" Eric asked, staring into Sookie's eyes with the warmest, blue eyes that she'd ever seen.

"It means that he or she recognizes you too. I guess it's not a Fairy thing after all, but more of a parents thing."

Eric swallowed hard, and Sookie could see the Adam's apple in his neck move. He was clearly affected. Blood red tears formed in his eyes. He lowered his head and brought his lips to the tiny ray of light and he pressed them to Sookie's womb, curling his arms around her hips and then laying his head down on her. He was silent, and Sookie wondered if he was crying, as he held her tightly. She ran her fingers through his flaxen hair and spoke. "Are you happy?"

"Astounded, but…yes. It's just that, it's been centuries since I was a father. It will be a boy." He shifted his weight and leaned up to look into her eyes again.

"You never know, might be a girl."

"It's a boy," he said as if sure of that fact. Sookie leaned forward and kissed the red trails of tears that stained his face.

"Well, I don't care what it is, so long as he or she is healthy."

"Sookie, this changes everything."

It was Sookie's turn to swallow hard. "How so?"

"You can't stay in Bon Temps. If Bill were to find out about your condition, our baby would be in jeopardy."

"You said our, baby."

"Yes. If it is mine, as you say it is, then I have equal say so in the decisions concerning him. You and Hunter will move in with me. I can protect you both."

"Okay."

"I'm certain that if you consider what I am saying you will know that it is the logical thing to do," Eric went on, not realizing that Sookie had just agreed to move in with him. "Wait. Did you just consent to live with me?"

"Yes. I think it makes a lot of sense. Besides, I can't work at Merlotte's while I'm pregnant. The smells make me ill. Hunter and I will move in for a while, at least until the baby is born. After that we will figure things out as we go."

Eric seemed pleased by this turn of events, and to show his pleasure he captured Sookie in his arms and kissed her. She reveled in his arms. She hated the idea of needing somebody so much, as she fancied herself the independent sort, but she did need Eric, right at that moment. So, it was Sookie that went in for the kill. She didn't want Eric to treat her like a delicate flower, just because she was pregnant, so with exploring fingers she unzipped his fly. She smiled when she found his wood and it was already fully erect. She could only hope that as her body swelled, Eric would continue to find her attractive. She sensed he would, since Eric came from a time when the most basic of needs, thing like food, shelter and child bearing, took precedent over anything else. That turned Sookie on, and from time to time she had odd fantasies about what it would have been like to be the wife of a strong, sexy Viking that Eric surely was.

"I want you, Sookie Stackhouse."

"I'm yours," Sookie moaned, as her top was removed for her by his expert fingers.

"Do you like when I kiss you here?" he asked as he spread her legs and dipped his head between them.

"I love everything you do. Everyth—Oh!" His tongue was on her like velvet as he lapped and licked at her core. She was spiraling out of control in a hurry.

"Eric, fuck me. I need you."

He smirked, and climbed in between her legs and then two fingers were inside her, pumping her while his thumb performed circles over her sex. When she was wetter than a Seattle downpour he replaced his fingers with his throbbing wood. Time stood still, as he drilled her with his wanting cock, while she writhed under him. "Too rough?" he moaned as he slowed down and penetrated her with long, purposeful strokes that left her climbing the walls.

"Hell, no. That was—" her speech was stifled when he flipped her over onto her knees. He planted her hands on the headboard of his bed and ordered her to hold on tight.

"This position will be soothing to you. It will make our sex easier as your belly grows."

"Okay," Sookie said with a hint of trepidation. He mounted her from behind and eased his cock into her canal once more. Holy stars, he was huge inside her. He filled her up so completely, and then he was moving, his hips rolling into her with a forceful rhythm, while she gripped the headboard for support. He threw his body down over her and pumped his thick rod into her over and over again, as his fingers snaked forward, under her, to rub at her swollen cherry. "Oh,oh,oh,Eric, don't stop." He was driving her insane as he nipped at her back, his hard member bringing her to new heights with each pounding thrust.

"Eric, I…Oh," She said, when he forced her head down to the sheets, and crawled over top of her.

"You look sinful under me like this. Deliciously hot, Sookie Stackhouse." Sookie, moaned with the force of his shaft inside her. His fingers clasped in hers and then their love making reached a frenzied pace. He rolled her on her back and threw her legs over his shoulders and went in for the final death blow. His fangs sunk into the tender flesh of her breast as she rode the wave of her orgasm right over a cliff. It was Thelma and Louise for sure and Sookie was sailing through the air. Eric was coming too as his moans mingled with hers in a symphony of guttural moans and breathy pants. By the time they were done Sookie's head was somewhere between the stars and cloud nine, as she lay next to her, sweet, Viking vampire. As to sooth his worries for being too rough with her, Eric once again laid his hand over their little bun in the oven, his face taking on a serious look as he did so. When it glowed gold, for the third time, Eric look relieved, and he captured Sookie in his arms and brought her to rest on his chest.

Sookie fell into a sated exhaustion, as she closed her eyes, feeling safe and content in Eric's arms. Sleep sounded good, right at that moment and she dozed in a restful slumber, only to be awakened when she heard Eric stir.

"Somebody's here," he said, as he rose from the bed and proceeded to throw each leg into a pair of jeans—jeans that made his butt look delectable and mouthwatering.

"But I thought you said that the witches set up wards, and that nobody could get in?"

"I did. Stay here. I will—,"but he was cut off.

Sookie gasped, and Eric stood gaping in astonishment.

"You don't have to fear me."

"Niall? How did you get here? Why are you here?" Sookie said throwing the luxurious satin sheets over her and wrapping them around her body in a makeshift toga.

"I've come to take you to Fairy. You answered the calling. It is time to go now. Your fae Husband awaits you my dear."

"Waiting here? As in right now?"

"In his living room. Yes."

Eric's fangs immediately popped out, and Sookie screamed out, her own voice echoing in her ears. "Eric,No!"

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Chapter Text

Chapter Ten

Niall's Gift

"Eric, please wait a second." It was too late though, as Eric tore through the house. Sookie gave chase, with her great-grandfather, Niall, hot on her heels. She felt ridiculous running through Eric's house, wearing only a bed sheet, and more than once she had nearly tripped over her own two feet as she sprinted down the stairs after the Viking.

"Call your beast off me," a man with a sheet of ebony locks said, his eyes a bright emerald green, as he sneered at Sookie. Eric had his neck craned to one side, and his fangs were only a hairs breadth away from piercing the Fairy's carotid artery.

"Would you take this man as a husband, Sookie? Eric asked, his voice raised.

"No. No, Eric. Of course not."

"Then I will kill him, and this notion that you are not mine will end." Eric shook the fairy hard at that and bent him backwards, prepared to suck the fairy living life right out of him.

"Eric, wait. You'll ruin your carpet." Desperate times called for desperate measures, and that particular fact, was the first thing that came to mind. Besides which, it was a beautiful, plush carpet, that must have cost him a fortune, and there was no way that blood was ever going to come out of it.

"Carpets can be replaced."

"Sookie, you do not wish to marry, Brokk and become his sixth wife?" He didn't say it sarcastically either. Niall said it, as if he was truly perplexed as to why Sookie would not wish to marry the bare-chested, troglodyte.

"No, Niall. Why on earth would I? I love Eric, and you never said anything about this, when we had our dinner together. You never said I'd have to go to Fairy, and you certainly said nothing of having to marry one."

"Sookie, he smells very good. I need a taste of him. Need, to drink—" Eric was losing it. Brokk, wouldn't last long around a blood thirsty vampire.

"Eric, come here. Come on." Sookie held out her hand to him, like a mother would to her child, before crossing the road."You, just sit down over here, with me." She moved to the couch, pulling Eric along with her. He looked like a vampire on crack, as he dragged his tongue over his protruding fangs. "Eric, don't look at the fairy, look at me."

"This is most unusual. This is the way it's been done for a millennia. Brokk, I do apologize. I had no idea that my great-granddaughter, Sookie, would not desire you."

"You set this up Niall. The armistice will be broken, because of this. The water fairies will not hold back when I tell them of this injustice." Brokk was indignant. "And look at her! The woman has the markings of the wood nymph! She's a slag, that sleeps with the likes of him," Brokk pointed to Eric. "And she's plain. My other five wives are tall and beautiful." Eric growled and Sookie released her grip on his hand as she nudged his leg and gave a gentle nod to Eric. "You will pay for this Niall, as will all of your brethren!" The fairy turned to leave, with a grunt and a toss of his hair. He had an almost feminine grace about him, that was swan like and beautiful, but his personality left a lot to be desired. He was callous, and rude, condescending and aloof—and he had five wives! Disgusting. So, Sookie barely batted an eye when Eric sprang from the couch and snared the fairy in his long arms, dipping him backwards and sinking his razor sharp teeth into Brokk. He never stood a chance. It was all over now.

"He's almost done," Sookie said politely to a rigid Niall, as they both watched Eric snuff the life out of Brokk. When he was done, he licked his lips and pushed the limp body in his arms away, as it dropped to the floor and then fizzled away into thin air.

"That was a meal fit for a King," Eric declared. Sookie knew he wasn't lying, for he hadn't spilled even one drop of blood on the plush carpet in his living room.

"I'm sorry Niall, but he had it coming."

"Don't be sorry my dear. Now, where were we?"

"You wanted Eric to do that. Didn't you? Oh my gosh, you did!"

"I suppose it does help matters a trifle bit."

"A trifle bit?"

"He was a thorn in my side-always threatening the armistice. That being said, I owe you both a debt of gratitude."

"Then, I don't have to go back to Fairy with you?"

"No, I'm afraid that you do, dear. Especially now, that you didn't wed Brokk. Had you married him, you probably could have stayed here, and had the baby just fine, though I admit that it's never been done. But to stay here, unwed, unbound as such, I fear you would lose the baby, and possibly your own life."

"But I have a bond," Sookie said, "With Eric. A blood bond. I can feel his moods, and sometimes get a glimpse at what he's thinking."

Eric arched an eyebrow and shot her a surprised look.

"It's true. We are bonded. For the second time most recently, which only served to strengthen that which was already there. The first time was when Sookie sucked a bullet from my chest," he voiced, with a sexy wag of his eyebrows.

"Is it possible?" Niall said, and he began to pace the room, with his arms behind his back. He moved with the regality of a King, and his soft, flowing beard just added to the whole effect. "I fear you face dark times, Sookie, and while your existing bond would serve you, I agree, you still need the bonds of matrimony. Fae matrimony, I'm afraid. It will strengthen your abilities, and protect you from harm during your pregnancy. Complicated matters, these are, and we are treading into unchartered waters."

"And dating a vampire isn't? Niall, I live and breathe in unchartered waters. I mean look at me," she held out her arms, and at that she released the barrette that held her hair. Her golden, blonde tresses fell down her shoulders and back, along with two flowering vines. "I'm like Magellan, or Jaques Cousteau, exploring the great unknown."

Eric stared at her with burning lust in his eyes. Clearly, he didn't mind the tattoos, hell he probably even loved them, as he sauntered over to Sookie and took her by the hand, kissing the back of it, as if she were a noble woman, a Lady or Duchess or something of the like. She tingled from her fingers to her toes. "Would she receive the same protection, if I were to marry her?" Eric asked and Niall scratched his chin, deep in thought.

"Only if you were married under Fae law."

"And how would one do that?" Eric asked.

"Well, it just so happens that I am an ordained Minister for the Fae-and also in the state of Louisiana," he threw in for good measure.

"That's a real coincidence, huh?"

"Sookie, just leave it. I think we both know that Niall anticipated that you would want to stay here and would not marry that tasty, but ignorant man. I think he also banked on me finishing off Brokk." Niall gulped and turned away upon hearing Eric's theory. "I think in this case though, he and I have something in common. He wants you to be safe. So, if you will accept me," Eric dropped down on one knee at that and Sookie's heart began to flutter, "Sookie, will you marry me? Here. Now?"

"If you're sure you want to be married to a tatted up, wood nymph," Sookie laughed, but Eric looked dead serious, so she gazed into his beautiful vampire eyes and she too knelt before him. "Yes, Eric. I love you and it would be my honor. I will marry you."

Twenty minutes later, with Eric in a classy, tuxedo that made him look miles better than her, or so she thought, they arrived back in the living room, where Niall was waiting patiently. Sookie had worn her favorite blue dress that night anyway—the one that accentuated her figure, but didn't accentuate her flaws. Her hair was down, seeing as Eric seemed to appreciate her new look, and even if he didn't, she figured that he had better get used to it, because it didn't seem to be going away anytime soon.

"I noticed a perfect spot outside in the backyard," Niall said. He had a gleam in his eye and he looked genuinely happy for the pair.

"Niall, it will be light soon, and Eric will die in direct sunlight." Eric nodded in agreement.

"Nonsense, my dear. I dare say that he will be just fine out there, after devouring that foul tempered, water fairy. I didn't tell you that—and don't get any ideas Mr. Northman," Niall back peddled at that admonition.

"I'm, quite well fed, thanks to him," Eric said with all seriousness.

"Eric, shall we?"

Niall flung the double doors in Eric's living room open, and Eric shielded his face in fear. The sun was just cresting over the horizon, as Sookie took Eric's hand and stepped forward, giving his hand a gentle tug. "If you can't do it, it's no big deal. Alright?" At that, Eric lowered his hands and stared out at the sunrise. After a pregnant pause, he reluctantly took a step forward.

"Sookie, I have dreamed of this for one thousand years. To see the sun on your face-It's a gift I shall treasure forever."

"I know you will. I will too."

They walked together; hand in hand out onto the sprawling lawn. Everything was peacefully tranquil, his neighbors, still fast asleep in their beds. At the back of the yard a gazebo was erected, and next to that, a small fish pond, lined with rocks and blooming chrysanthemums'. There was even a swinging hammock, tied between two trees at the banks of the pond. The fall foliage was breath taking, vivid reds, oranges and browns as the leaves blew gently in the soft breeze. Niall stood, and watched Eric curiously, as Eric stared at the land in all its beauty, as if for the first time. When they finally made their way down to where Niall stood, leisurely awaiting their arrival under the gazebo, Eric and Sookie turned to face one another, as they joined hands.

The ceremony was different, to say the least, at least the Fae vows part of it were.

"We'll just take the part about loving and obeying all Eric's other wives out, shall we?"

"Good idea," Sookie said as she winked at Eric. When the Fae ritual had been performed, Niall then opened up the ordained minister's book-or the Good Book, as most of the people in those parts referred to it as, and he eloquently—well, it was almost eloquent—he had to ask Sookie what the word cherish meant, as it seemed that the Fae didn't cherish a whole lot, except their superiority over other races. Regardless, it was intimate and romantic and spontaneous. Eric in the morning sun was a dream come true for Sookie. He was dashing, much more so then she'd ever noticed, and even though it seemed a might bit hasty, it also felt right as rain.

"Do you have rings, or shall I skip over that bit too?" Niall asked, and Sookie frowned.

"No. Do not skip over that." Eric surprised Sookie as he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out two rings. "I had these rings restored. They are very old. They are not encrusted with precious gems. I can buy you one later if you prefer it. But, these rings belonged to my parents."

"Eric I think I'm going to cry." She reached out her hand and Eric placed a ring in it. It was worn on the inside, and the outside was dented in places. She could see the wear and it made it so much more real to her. His father had surely worn it when he taught Eric how to swing an axe, and chop wood, or even hunt. The tears began to freefall, as they placed the rings upon one another's ring fingers, while Eric and Sookie exchanged vows. When Niall pronounced them man and wife, for the second time, Sookie stood on her tiptoes and leaned into Eric. He curled an arm around her, his kiss hot and wet like fire rain, and then Niall cleared his throat.

"As a gift to you both I offer you something of added protection." He turned to Eric, which was a mild shock to Sookie, but she listened intently. "Eric, you are duty bound by the law of the Fae, and the law of the land, to provide a safe home for my great-granddaughter. However, should you be apart and find yourself unable to hold up the vows you have sworn here today, I offer you this." He produced a simple necklace, as he held it out in front of him. It was made of interwoven vines, and on it hung a jade green stone, that was as plain as it was beautiful. "The cluviel dor—may it be a safe haven for you and Sookie, should you ever fall on dark times. Now if you will both clasp hands. They did as he commanded and then Niall, wrapped the necklace with the strange, jade stone on it, around both of their hands. "Eric, as the Master of this union," Sookie's eyes darted to Niall. She was clearly unhappy with that particular word. He cleared his throat. "Excuse me—Eric as the husband," and Sookie smiled and nodded, "Of this union, you will provide the safe place. Now close your eyes, and imagine your safe harbor." Sookie watched as Eric closed his eyes, and then when he opened them he was smiling at her. Niall took the necklace off and then he looped the necklace around Sookie's neck. "Do not take this off, my dear. It will see you to light, when darkness surrounds you." Sookie gulped, and nodded. "Sookie, I do not know when I can come back. I need to return to Fairy, and see to important matters." With that he was gone.

"Wow. Did that just happen?" Sookie's head was spinning.

"You are not happy?"

"To the contrary. Eric, I've never been happier," she squealed with delight. "You want to go back inside now? You must be tired."

"No. Come here." Eric lay down on the hammock as he pulled Sookie down with him. "I never come back here at all. Was never a need." The sun shone down on his face and Eric closed his eyes, basking in the sun's warming rays, as he squeezed her tight in his arms. "You are mine."

"And you're mine too," Sookie said.

"You will gather your things, and Hunter's and tonight I will come for you, wife."

"I was thinking—what if we had a small gathering at Merlotte's, just close friends. I know we need to keep this on the low down, but I feel like sharing our news with Tara, and Sam and Jason at least."

"A reception?" Eric groaned.

"Yeah, I mean I guess so. Sort of."

"Fine. But we do it at Fangtasia. Bon temps is not safe—not with Compton around."

"Deal," Sookie said and she kissed Eric's lips. "So how about I just meet you there? It will give you time to remove things like, the stripper pole, since Hunter will be coming with me."

"Married for ten minutes, and already trying to change things in my bar?" Eric chuckled.

"It's not like that, and you know it," Sookie gave him a playful smack in the arm.

"You can take my car, but have Alcide move it before dark. It would not be good if Bill saw it parked at your house. We should go now."

"How do you think Pam is going to take this? I mean us getting married."

"Sookie, my skin is beginning to itch. We must go now."

Eric scooped her up into his arms and made for the house, moving at break-neck speed. When he got to the door, he gazed at her and kissed her as he took one last, long, look at the orange ball of fire that was the sun. "This, I have also waited one thousand years for," he said, as he carried his new wife over the threshold and into their home.

.

.

Sookie was living on cloud nine on the following day. Full of a renewed energy, she cheerily packed a suitcase for her and Hunter, opting to bring only loose fitting clothes, since her pants had already become too tight to accommodate her growing baby bump. She still vomited, and she still had to remind herself to take a load off every now and then to rest, but she was happy, and that was all that mattered. Around lunchtime, a flower delivery truck arrived and the fires in Sookie's heart were stoked once again. Four dozen roses, all of different colors. The card was signed, simply, "To adoring Wife, From adoring Husband."

"You got married? To Eric?" Alcide said, as he stole a peek over her shoulder and read the card.

"Shhh, it's supposed to be a surprise. I haven't told Hunter or anyone else yet. You better not ruin it either, like you did the news about the baby, Alcide."

"My lips are sealed," he promised.

"That's what you said the last time."

"So, what's the plan little momma?" Alcide grinned.

"Well, if you don't mind, I'm going to have you drive Eric's car over to Fangtasia when we leave here. That thing scares me. I barely push on the gas and it guns forward. Scared the bejesus out of me. I don't trust myself in it, even if it does look really cool."

"You want to drive my truck?"

"Yeah. I think that would work better. Plus, I can load all my crap up in it."

"I can do that for you. You shouldn't be lifting things in your condition."

Alcide had kept his promise, and had loaded up the truck with Sookie and Hunter's things, while Sookie jotted things down on her to do list. She would need to enroll Hunter in the Shreveport school system. He had already missed far too many days. She had already called Jason, Sam and Tara and they had all questioned her on what the big news was, though, she refused to tell them until she and Eric could do it together. It was going to be a good night with friends. While, she worried about the clash of their friends, Eric's and hers, she wasn't really bothered by it. Her friends, for the most part, were accepting of others, unless you counted Arlene, who wasn't invited anyway. She belted Hunter into the truck, as Alcide revved the engine on Eric's Vette. He seemed to be eager to get a move on, but Sookie had one last thing she had to do, as night began to fall over Bon Temps.

"I just have to say goodbye to my Gran. It will only take a minute. Can you drop by the bakery in town and pick up the cake, and I'll meet you at Fangtasia?"

"Sure. You want me to wait?" Alcide asked.

"No. It will just take a minute. Go on now," she waved to the Were as he backed down the long drive.

"I'll just be a minute, Hunter. It's something I have to do. Just sit tight." The little boy nodded, and returned to playing his handheld video game, one that Jason had been kind enough to give him.

The cemetery was dark, but she could navigate it with her eyes closed as she traipsed around the headstones of the deceased, finally kneeling at her Gran's grave site.

"I've met a wonderful man, and we are having a baby. He thinks it's going to be a boy, and even though I won't tell him so, I think he's right. We haven't even had time to pick out a name yet, but when we do, I'll be sure to tell you. I have to leave for a while, but I promise I'll be back home soon."

"Isn't that sweet. A baby?"

The cold feeling of dread sunk its teeth into Sookie as she turned her head to see Bill Compton standing behind her.

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Chapter Text

Chapter Eleven

By the Sea

"B-Bill, you scared me." Sookie, rose and backed away, a rising panic beginning to set in.

"Do I make you nervous?"

"Not at all," she lied. "It was nice to see you again, neighbor. I was done here, so I'll just be going."

"I appreciate your neighborly way, and I'm no monster, but I can't allow you to go." Sookie tried to run, but Bill was just too damn fast, and he captured her in his arms.

"Let me go, Bill."

"Why? Your Were mate is no match for me." He moved her hair aside and then with languid strokes of the tongue, he licked the bare skin of her neck.

"Stop it!" Sookie's stomach turned and a fierce anger swept through her. He had no right to touch her. Not now—not ever again. She wanted to scratch his eyes out, and she tried, but her efforts were in vain. "What's the matter? You used to love when I did that."

"Well, I don't anymore. Let me the fuck go, Bill Compton!"

"You don't want one for old times' sake? No mind, as I don't have time at the present moment. I do however, require your assistance. So if you would join me in my parlor." When Sookie refused to move, Bill picked her up and threw her over his shoulder before hauling her off to his house.

"Bill, the baby. Please," she pleaded. "You're being too rough," she wailed, as a flood of tears streaked down her cheeks.

"I'm not a heartless man. See," he said when he dropped her into a leather recliner and flipped the chair back so that her feet were up. That's when she noticed that she wasn't alone. She heard quiet sobs that were coming from the dark shadows in the corner of the room. "I'll be right back. Don't miss me when I'm gone." When, Bill left, Sookie made a break for it, but no sooner had she reached the front door was she dragged backwards by her hair, by Bill, once again. She placed protective hands over her growing belly as she was knocked up against the wall. Then she was being hurtled back into the chair again.

"That was a warning. Try to escape again and I won't be so nice. Now, if you'll excuse me, we are one guest short."

"Sookie, I'm so sorry."

"Hadley, is that you?"

A frail woman rose from the shadows and Sookie gasped. Hadley was skin and bones, and her arms were riddled with bite marks. "They're going to kill you."

"Oh no they're not because I'm getting the fuck out of here." Sookie leapt from the chair but then stopped when Bill entered the room. He was carrying something that was draped in an afghan blanket. He set it down on the sofa and then removed the blanket covering.

"Oh my God!"" It was a monster. It had stubs for arms and its legs were chewed away. "Bill, what the hell is that?"

"Don't be rude, Sookie. This is my Queen, and the keeper of my heart. I told you I wasn't gay."

"Well that's all nice Bill, but I don't care. Let me out of here!"

"I can't. You see, Sophie-Anne needs something from you. She needs it so much and you are going to give it to her."

"Fuck you, and your sick freak," Sookie bit out.

"Quit wasting time. Do you love her, or me? Let's fucking do this already, Bill."

"Of course, my sweet Sophie-Anne." He picked up what was left of the Queen, Sophie-Anne Leclerq, and he set her on his computer chair. He then rolled her across the room to where Sookie sat in the recliner. Sookie recoiled in fear and disgust, and her stomach lurched, just looking at the hideous beast that was formerly a woman.

"I'm too weak. Hadley, come."

Sookie shook her head, "No. Don't Hadley. She'll kill you."

"I love her. I have to. Oh, Sookie, Hunter will be alright won't he? I really fucked up." Hadley whimpered and then she knelt and laid her head down on what was left of Sophie-Anne's lap. Sookie couldn't look, and she turned away. When she opened her eyes, Hadley lay in a heap on the floor, stone, cold, dead.

Sookie screamed in horror.

"I feel so much stronger. Almost like I could eat a pregnant fairy," Sophie-Anne twittered with laughter and Bill let out a small chuckle. "Bottoms up," Sophie said and then her freakish body flew at Sookie. Sookie had no time to react, but the Fairy part of her did, and a gold curtain of light formed around her and the vampire Queen was knocked backwards, her body falling, with a hard thud on the floor. Bill scampered to her side and he lifted her into his arms.

"I've never seen that. It's almost like some sort of protective shield."

"Sookie, you must let Sophie feed from you." His words were fading though, and he sounded a hundred miles away and then the course sound of Bill's voice was gone altogether. When she opened her eyes she was sitting on a beach. Astonished and disoriented, she sat up. The air was cold, and she was wearing a tattered, gray dress and some sort of moccasins on her feet, that were made from the hide of an animal.

"Mamma, he's home. He's home!" Sookie heard, and she turned towards the small voice of a boy. He was wearing pants that were rolled up around the knees and an animal fur was wrapped around his back, like a coat. He was holding a stick and waving it in the air as he jumped up and down. Whatever could he be looking at, Sookie wondered. She stood on wobbly legs and stared out to sea. The fog was thick, so she moved in for a closer look. The anxious boy of about four years old, reached for her hand as he continued to jump, excitedly. "Mama, Fader. He's home! Look!" Sookie squinted and then there was a boat, coming ashore. When it came into full view she was struck with the image of an age old, Viking, longboat. A man waded in water up to his knees as he approached. He was tall, and sturdy, and his golden hair fell down past his shoulders and blew in the steady, gusting wind. When he looked up, Sookie's heart raced. Eric, how can this be, she asked herself.

"Come give your Fader a hug, Garrick. Did you miss me?" he said as he scooped the boy up into his arms and planted a kiss on his forehead. The little boy hugged him happily and Sookie couldn't help but smile. "And how about you, wife. Did you miss me as well?" His lips were rough and chapped, but his kiss was warm and soft as he took her into his arms. "I certainly missed you, my lover."

"Yes. Oh God, Eric, yes," she found herself repeating as her Viking warrior wrapped a snug arm around her. He led them up a winding path from the beach that ended atop a hillside, where a small cottage with a thatched roof was erected. Smoke billowed from the chimney, and a gust of warmth hit her in the face when he threw open the door and motioned for her to enter.

"Sookie Stackhouse, wake the fuck up!" Her sexy Viking was gone, and the little boy, with the mop of platinum, blond, who had called her Mamma, was all but gone too, and she was left staring at Bill again.

"What is your association with the Sheriff of Area Five? Answer me!"

"No! I don't have to tell you shit."

"You were off in a dream, calling out Eric Northman's name and I want to know why."

"Look at her ring. The symbols are runic," Sophie-Anne announced, and there was slight fear in her voice, fear that gave Sookie strength. "I think it's a wedding band."

"No, surely not. Sookie would not marry him. She hates him."

"I never said I hated him," Sookie bit out.

"God damn it, Sookie. Tell me, or so help me!"

"I don't have to tell you anything."

"Fucking fool. How come you didn't know this, Bill?"

"Fuck," Bill cursed. "I'm no match for Eric."

"You can say that again," Sookie spat.

"You failed, Bill. Now, take me to Russell. Perhaps, he can get passed this god damn fairy magic. Now move!"

"But you said that I was to be your King, not Russell!"

"Do you want to face the true death? You kidnapped Eric Northman's fairy fucking hybrid. He isn't going to let either of us live. Fool!"

"You will pay for this Sookie Stackhouse. I've worked too hard, for too many years, to have it all come crashing down on me now. I had to sleep with fucking Claude and Russell in order to gain advantage, but most of all I had to put up with you, Sookie,  for as long as I did!"

--0--

.

.

"Did you give the draught to the Queen?"

"No. She wasn't there Eric. I went to the address that you gave me, but nobody was there. Shabby shithole, too. You owe me. I hate the French quarter."

"She was in no condition to be moved. Edgington and Compton must have moved her. This is not good."

"I'm sorry, Eric. I tried. What are you going to do?"

"Nevermind that right now. Is Sookie here yet?"

"No, but the rest of the invited guests are."

"What about the werewolf?" Eric asked from his desk at Fangtasia.

"Not yet. Relax. What has you so on edge, Eric?" Pam asked, curiously.

"They should be here by now." Eric rose and made his way into the bar, where Sam and Jason, and Tara all waited, as they sipped on stiff drinks. Eric had ordered Pam to make the drinks extra strong. He thought it might make the night go more smoothly.

Alcide, bumbled through the door, carrying a large cake in his arms and Eric nearly took his head off. "Where is Sookie?"

"She isn't here already?"

"No. You were ordered to escort her here."

"She was leaving at the same time that I was, I swear it! She should have been here by now."

"Is something wrong?" Jason piped in.

"Pam, I'm leaving. Take care of things here."

"Where are you going Eric?"

"To find my wife," he roared.

"Wife?" several voices said in unison, and then the doors to Fangtasia were nearly blown clean off as Eric, Pam and the rest of Sookie's family and friends barreled out the door and into the night, all in search of Sookie Northman.

Eric arrived at her house first, where he found the sobbing boy, curled up into the fetal position in Alcide's truck.

"Hunter?" Eric said and he threw the door to the truck open and grappled for the little boy. Hunter flung his arms around Eric's neck and salty tears puddled on Eric's designer shirt. "It's alright. Shhh. Can you tell me what happened?"

Pam arrived, just then, along with Tara and Alcide as they quickly joined Eric.

"Is Eric hugging a child? Hugging? Really?" Pam said dumbfounded.

"Uncle Eric, Aunt Sookie is in trouble. She's a-scared. She won't go away like my Mommy, will she?"

"No. Now you need to be a brave like Gudbrande on the hilltop and I will bring Sookie back to us both. Can you do that?" With a long sniffle, the boy nodded. He kissed him on the forehead and passed him, carefully, to Pam. "Take the boy inside and do not harm him."

"Uncle Eric. He took her that way," Hunter pointed, and Eric's face grew cold and dark as he followed the child's finger—directly to Bill Compton's house. Eric growled, and was gone.

"She ain't here, and Bill's Buick is gone," Alcide said as he ducked his head into the parlor, where Eric was kneeling over a body—Hadley's body.

Eric shot Alcide a scathing look, as he brushed past him. He began to pull up rugs, and overturn furniture in a frantic search.

"Eric, what are ya doin'? She ain't here."

"I'm painfully aware that my wife isn't here, you stupid fucking hundracka," Eric grit his teeth. He was worried that during the struggle, Sookie may have lost the Cluviel Dor, necklace that Niall had given to her. He told Sookie to never take it off. It was powerful fairy protection.  A small sense of relief washed over him when he failed to find the necklace anywhere in Bill's home.

When Eric arrived back at Sookie's, he was surprised to find Sam, Jason and Tara all there, though he wasn't sure why it surprised him. Sookie—his wife, was well liked. A part of him hated that. He didn't want to share her with anybody, but he knew that those people in that very room, were the people that she cared about the most, including him, so he bit back the urge to tell them all to leave and instead decided to address their concerns. Against his better judgment, he told them that he suspected that Sookie was taken to Russell Edgington's estate, in Jackson, Mississippi.

"I got my shotgun, and a full tank of gas. Just point me in the right direction," Jason said, as he leaned against the wall with his arms folded and a stern look on his face.

"Shotguns won't stop vampires, Jason," Sam retorted.

"They would with the right kind of bullets. Eric shot Jason a reproachful look at that. "What, they would. Werewolves too." Alcide rolled his eyes. "Look, I may not be supernatural like the rest of you's, but I'm still Sookie's big brother, so I'm in on this, ya got that?"

"Russell Edgington, is nearly three thousand years old. He's the oldest vampire that I know to exist. Getting in and out, without getting our fucking heads ripped off, presents a problem in itself."

"I probably stand the best shot of getting inside," Sam said as a matter of fact.

"That's all nice, shifter," Eric said, glaring at Sam, "But how are you going to get her out?"

"I was hopin' that you had a plan," Sam shot back.

"I do. But someone is missing from this pathetic, little, group of would be heroes. Somebody that with us, might give us a fighting chance against Russell and Bill, and his fucking wolf pack."

"Who is it Eric?" Pam asked.

Eric reached into his jacket and pulled out his cell phone, as everyone waited with eager anticipation for an answer.

"I need you to come to Bon Temps. Can you be here tomorrow night? Yes. I will. I'll explain when you arrive. Thank you, Godric." He hung up the phone and announced to the anxious people in Sookie's living room. "Our chances of getting her back, just improved greatly." The combined strength of Eric and Godric-who was twice his age, would be enough to take down Edgington, or so he hoped. He worried for the lives of Sookie and the baby. It had to work. If it didn't, he would die trying.

Review!?

Chapter Text

Chapter Twelve

  Godric

When Eric awoke, he was surprised to find his prodigy, the vampire Pam, curled up next to him, with her head on his chest. He could feel her unease, even in his sleep, their bond never more pronounced as it was at that moment. While a comfort to him, it also caused him great pain. He should have been able to feel Sookie just as strongly as he did his vampire daughter, Pam. Yet he didn't, and it worried him greatly. A cold chill gripped him at the thought that Sookie could be hurt—or worse-dead. God damn, why can't I feel her?

"You used to be happy, Eric," Pam whispered from the confines of the hidey-hole in one of Sookie's bedrooms. Eric had found it the night before, after Tara had mentioned that fucking Bill Compton had made one somewhere in the house, in order to be close to Sookie. Close to Sookie, Eric thought and he closed his eyes once again, reaching out across the blood bond they'd formed. Nothing.

"Sookie makes me happy."

"Do you still love me, Eric?"

"You're my daughter. That's a silly question. You'll always be a part of me."

"I'll help you get her back. I can't stand this feeling," Pam sniffled ever so slightly as she buried her head deeper into Eric's chest. He knew she was crying, and he knew that the reason for her uncharacteristic tears was because of him. She could sense and feel his loss. He felt hollow and empty, and worse, was the fact that Pam had to feel it all too. He had to find Sookie. He needed his wife and his unborn child. It was his duty to protect them, and he had failed miserably. Failure was not something that Eric was used to, nor did he like it.

"It's time to rise. There is much work to be done before Godric arrives. Pamela," Eric said, his voice not more than a soft, whisper, "Sookie, is pregnant with my child. I thought you should know."

Eric, came a voice in his head. It was weak, but it was there. I'm coming for you Sookie, he said as he reached out through the bond. A sense of minor relief washed over him at knowing that she was still alive.

.

.

"You block me, and again I come back. Again, and again, until I break you," the sadistic vampire, Franklin Mott said as he launched on Sookie. He had been waiting for Sookie in the foyer of Russell's mansion when they'd arrived. Sookie was then locked in an upstairs bedroom, with the lot of them. Over and over the cat and mouse game with Franklin, played out. She didn't know how much longer she could keep it up. She was tired and weak, and she worried for the life of her unborn child, the baby that she and Eric Northman had made out of love. She called out to Eric, and then Russell ordered Franklin to try again, as Bill and Queen Sophie-Anne looked on in morbid curiosity as her shield, once again went up around her and her head felt light.

"The boy is asleep, come lay by the fire with me, Sookie." She sat on a wooden bench, a spindle whorl in her hand as she wove a fine thread into a garment. She watched, perplexed as her hand moved in routine as if she'd done it a million times over. She gazed up at the Viking in utter confusion. "Would you deny me?" He asked and he quirked an eyebrow.

"No, Eric. I'm just-," and then she'd forgotten what she was about to say. For a moment it was almost as if she could sense and see another life. None of it made sense though. Eric was her husband, and they had a little boy named Garrick, and they lived in a cottage by the sea. "I was confused for a moment, but it passed," Sookie finally said as she continued to weave.

He chuckled. "I give you spoils of wealth and you forget all about me, woman. Your head is clouded with thoughts of all the North men, like me, who will beg for your attentions when you wear such a fine frock," he said with a smirk.

"My heart beats only for you, and you know that."

"Then I will find loving comfort between your thighs tonight?" He shucked the woolen shirt that covered his lean but firm chest, and then he threw another log on the fire. His bare chest sparked something inside her, as her eyes roved over his masculine torso.

"That remains to be seen," Sookie said, and she pointed to her cheek. Eric's smile was so warm, it took her breath away. His lips were moist and hot as he kissed the place where she laid her finger. She moved her digit to her other cheek, and his lips followed, as he sprinkled hot kisses down her face and neck. He took his time as he slowly removed her apron, and then her dress.

"A spectacular sight," Eric said, as he feasted his eyes upon her nude body. "I dare say that I missed this particular vision of you, the most while on my journeys."

Sookie blushed in his arms, as he laid her out on the bearskin rug at the fires hearth. He was pleasingly handsome, as he captured her and gently laid the weight of his body upon her. A curtain of blond fell around his face as he gazed down at her. He looked like an angel-a sexy angel—and one with lust in his eyes. For precious moments they shared the same air, as Sookie caressed his strong back, her fingers roaming down his masculine body. He nuzzled his cheek against hers and kissed her lightly on the earlobe, and then he dragged his lips to her mouth. A heat shot through her when he pressed his fiery kiss into her and then when his hardness took her in one guiding thrust, she felt the air leave her chest.

"Wife has grown smaller in my absence. I shall endeavor to stretch her willingly and often," Eric said, staring down at Sookie as he pumped his manhood into her, time and again.

"Maybe even every day," Sookie moaned as she bucked her hips to meet his thrusts.

"Perhaps even twice," he groaned out, as his rhythm picked up and their hips pounded against one another.

"Yes, all the time. Never stop!" Sookie howled as her orgasm ripped through her, her body quaking in ecstasy.

"You are loud enough to wake a sleeping giant, dearest," he said as his ministrations became more frenzied and urgent. "Jag älskar dig hustru," he screamed out, as he impaled her with his throbbing cock. His hair was on her face and neck, their bodies sticky with their combined sweat, as he shot his love into her.

"Yes, my sweet Eric. Yes!"

.

.

Eric made the trip back to Shreveport in lickety-split fashion. Jason, Sam and Alcide had left hours earlier for Jackson, Mississippi. They were to rendezvous at some dive of a bar that Alcide—who had grown up in Mississippi-claimed was close to Russell's estate. Since Eric didn't trust the hulking Were, he had checked into matters himself. He was still seething that Alcide had been so stupid as to let Sookie out of his sight to begin with, when the task at hand had seemed so simple to Eric, but he needed the wolf, so he had restrained his temper the previous night. He slammed a fist down on the steering wheel in anger and frustration as he pulled around the back lot of the vampire bar, Fangtasia.

"I find you wracked with worry, my child," A voice said as he flung open the door of his sports car.

"Godric," Eric said with a reverent bow of the head. "Thank you for coming so quickly."

"You should thank me." Eric's head spun around to see the familiar, black, cloak that belonged to Felipe de Castro. "I don't like leaving Area nine without its Sheriff, Northman, so you best make this quick, and then I'll decide if Godric's help is warranted." Godric shrugged, as if to apologize to Eric.

"Your highness," Eric nodded to the man. What a fucking prick, Eric thought to himself. How dare he speak to Godric in such a manner. Godric, was twice his age and twice the vampire that he could ever wish to be. He couldn't even understand how it was that Godric had come to work under Felipe at all. But then again, Eric's own Queen, Sophie-Anne was only half his age. Fucking vampire politics sucked.

"Come, Eric. Fill me in on what makes you suffer so," Godric said, laying a comforting hand on Eric's shoulder as they made their way into the bar, with Felipe de Castro trailing behind them.

"Your Queen has gone missing, Sheriff. What do you intend to do about it?" Felipe asked, in accusatory tones.

"I think I know where she is. But, our forces are too thin. It is my belief that she is being held by the King of Mississippi. I, of course am forging a rescue plan to bring Sophie-Anne, home. Though, I have to wonder why it is that you would care, highness," Eric questioned.

"Never question me Northman—never! I will go to Mississippi to retrieve the Queen of Louisiana."

"Why? Why not stay here, and claim the throne for yourself? Need I remind you that Russell Edgington, is three thousand years old? Let Godric and I tend to him, while you inherit two more kingdoms." Eric knew he was pushing it, but he didn't want the fucker screwing with his plans to bring Sookie home. For all he cared, his Queen, Sophie-Anne, could rot in that freakish body of hers for all of eternity. In fact, he wanted to kill her himself.

"I am her maker. I command her. I will go in Godric's stead, and rescue my beloved. Godric, you will return to your Area and await my return. Edgington is strong, but he's a King like me and I am quite certain that he and I can strike a deal. Arkansas and Florida are both ripe for the picking. He and I will sit down, like rational vampires and discuss our terms." He's fucking insane. Had he ever met the flamboyant vampire, Russell Edgington? Diplomacy was not his strong suit. Death was. This presented a problem for Eric though. He needed Godric's help.

Eric's face dropped upon hearing those particular words. "Excuse me." He swaggered across the bar at that and cornered one of his employees. "Ginger, let Bubba tend bar. I need you to dance for our guest," Eric said throwing a look in Felipe's direction. "I need time alone with Godric." The dimwitted bartender nodded and tossed her apron down as she gulped and stepped up onto the stage. As predicted, Felipe was engrossed in the human's movements as she mockingly humped the pole. She sucks shit, Eric thought to himself, and he pushed back thoughts of Sookie on the very same pole only a few weeks earlier. Yet, Felipe enjoyed it, and that was all that mattered. With Felipe distracted, Eric escorted Godric to his office, where he closed the door.

"Who is she? This human that consumes your thoughts?"

It still surprised Eric at how effectively Godric could strip him of his secrets and lay him bare.

"She is my wife. Her name is, Sookie," he said softly and with tenderness in his voice. "The King of Mississippi has her, and she doesn't have long. I fear what they are doing to her, even now as we speak."

"You wish for us to free her." It was a statement, not a question. The bond between father and maker was a strong one, and impossible to break.

Eric nodded. "Her situation is precarious. I need to free her tonight."

"Yes." Godric stood and with his hands behind his back, he paced the room, deep in thought. "I will of course help you, but I sense you are keeping something from me."

"That's because I am."

"There is no need to harbor your thoughts from me. I can feel your anguish at the loss of your wife. Am I not still your Fader?"

"Yes, of course. Always," Eric said sincerely. "Godric, she's with child. We need to go now. I cannot sit here and discuss this any longer. Sookie needs me," Eric shouted in anguish.

"You would love her human baby as your own? Perhaps, I have not failed you after all."

"I would love it as my own whether it was mine or not. It's part of her. Yet, this baby is my own, Godric. The baby is mine."

The two thousand year old vampire beamed at Eric upon hearing the news. "I gather that you do not wish to fill me in on how such a miracle has occurred? No vampire has ever sired a child, not in this way." Eric clamped his mouth shut. It wasn't that he didn't trust Godric, he did. Rather, he feared coming completely unglued if he had to live through the memories of their love making and their nuptials, and then Sookie's disappearance, all over again. "What are we waiting for? We should leave at once."

"What about Felipe? I don't trust him at all."

"Nor do I. He despises me because I am respected in Texas, and he is not. He does not wish for me to go because he wants to claim victory for himself. He wants to prove himself to his subjects in Texas, though I do believe that his heart belongs to Sophie-Anne."

"If you go it will be viewed as treason by the Magistor. The sentence is death, Godric."

"Eric, you will be the first vampire in thousands of years to become a father. Do you know what this means? It is what we have strived to be, and failed miserably at. To be like the living again. This is a miracle, Eric. I do not care what my King, or the Magistor would do to me. This is beyond politics."

"I can cure Sophie-Anne. I have a draught that would heal her wounds. I will use it as a bargaining chip, and Felipe will have to let you go."

The two thousand year old vampire, that Godric was, reached up and placed two sturdy hands on Eric's shoulders and spoke. "Even now, when you are wracked with worry for your human wife, you still show me devotion and loyalty. You are free Eric and your place is with your human. Do not worry about me. I can handle my own affairs. We need to go now, and we will bring back this Sookie—the one who has claimed your heart. You cannot know how much pride I have in you, right now, at this very moment. You have made my life complete. Now, let's go. We should get a head start on Felipe."

.

.

"Tell me where the fucking medallion is Sophie," King Russell shouted.

"You'll get the key to my kingdom after I eat that fucking fairy. No legs, no medallion."

Sookie was awakened from her dream like state when she heard her captors' rants. She found herself weary and weak and without warning, she leaned over the side of the four poster, canopy bed where she lay and tossed her cookies, all over Russell's expensive, marble flooring.

"Franklin, she's awake. Hit her again. If I must sit in here and smell human vomit for a moment longer, I'm likely to kill every fucking one of you!" Russell shouted, in his Mississippi twang. "Sookie Stackhouse," he turned on her, "I want that fucking medallion. Without it, I can't claim the throne. Now, be a good fairy and let that stupid cunt of a Queen have you!"

"Go fuck yourself," Sookie said weakly, and the vampire Franklin, with a wild and sinister grin, tried to attack her again. This time though, he was able to pierce her defenses, but finally, just in the nick of time, the curtain of light surrounded her once more and he was shoved back, hard, his body slamming against a priceless Monet painting, that graced the walls of the guest bedroom where Sookie resided. She didn't know how long she could fight them off. Her fairy protection was being pushed to its very limits, and she feared that she wouldn't be able to push back again, should there be another attack. It was just a matter of time before they succeeded in their efforts, she thought to herself as her head once again swirled in the clouds.

.

.

Eric pointed when he caught sight of Alcide's truck, and Godric nodded. They had taken to the skies, on that warm Indian summer night. His long, black coat flapped in the wind as he landed next to a waiting Pam. "Pam, I thought I told you to stay at Sookie's house. You were to protect the boy," Eric said.

"My place is here with you. Besides, Tara hid the boy where nobody will find him. He's safe and watched over, Eric."

"She shouldn't be here either," Eric shot a glance at Tara.

"I'm Sookie's friend, and if she's in danger, then I wanna help."

"Well why in the fuck are all of you standing out here in the parking lot? You look like fucking retards," Eric snapped at them grumpily. All he wanted to do was get this shit over with, so he could find Sookie and take her home with him where he would fawn over her for days and never again let her out of his sight. Eric burned with a consuming anger and need, and he didn't think that he could keep his temper locked down for very much longer, as it threatened to blow like TNT.

"You can't go in there," Alcide said and he laid a hand on Eric's chest to stop him. Eric looked down at the Were's grubby mitts upon him and he snarled a warning. Alcide's hand shot back to his hip. "Just listen, Eric. The bar is full of Weres. It'll be a blood bath if we go in." Jason spit on the ground at that. He looked unfazed, while Sam observed from the sidelines.

"Russell's pack?" Eric asked.

Alcide nodded. "Most of them. I spotted five more at the gate of Edgington's estate, but there are at least a good twenty inside."

Sam sniffed at the air. "Twenty-six."

"Good. That's one less worry," Eric said.

"Did you hear me? It's a massacre if we go in there. Ours," Alcide said flatly.

"No," Eric said, casting a sideways glance at Godric. His expression took on a dark and menacing appeal. "It's theirs," he hissed, and then both vampires fangs shot out in unison. They looked at one another, and then pushed through the doors of the honky-tonk bar.

Review! Going to be some gore in next chapter for sure. I think I might have to put a warning on it hehe Let me know! This fandom is smaller than some others on AO3 but it has the best fans I’ve found. You all are faithful reviewers, and smart, who pick up the smallest of details and leave very cool reviews. I’m really impressed, so thank you and keep it up!

Chapter Text

Chapter Thirteen

Honky-Tonk

Sookie, carefully wrapped the carved, wooden ball with sheepskin, and with nimble fingers, she stitched the soft hide around the ball. Her head was murky again. It was the third time in as many weeks, she thought to herself as she tossed the ball into the air and caught it once again. She frowned when she went outside and saw her beloved  son wielding a heavy, metal sword. He shouted battle cries as he stuck the wooden wolf with the lambskin covering on it,(a practice dummy for Garrick, that Eric had made for the boy,) with the pointy end of his blade.

"Garrick. Come here baby," Sookie called out to the little boy. "I made you a ball. Play with this instead." She tossed the child the ball and he snatched it from the air with a look of glee playing across his face. He was the epitome of his father, already taller than all of the other children in the village, and he had a wit about him, that could melt her heart.

"You coddle him too much," Eric said with a wink as he swung the heavy axe over his head. It landed with a crack as he split the stump in half, and then into quarters. It was a warm day and Eric was shirtless, as his blond hair glinted in the morning sun.

"I'm not coddling him. It just causes me worry to see him swinging that great, big sword."

"He's practicing. He must learn to hunt for his food and how to fight to protect what is his at some point, yes?"

"I suppose so, but look at him; he likes the ball I made for him." They both looked down the beach to find their son kicking the ball along the shore as he sprinted after it, his feet splashing in the cool waters of the North Sea.

"Will you also nurse him into manhood?" Eric said with a laugh as he swung the axe again.

"No, I don't think his father would allow it. He's quite possessive over his wife's bosom, you see."

"Is he? I can't fathom whatever for."

"Oh you!" Sookie ran at him at that and Eric dropped the axe and stepped backwards. She leapt at him, and wrapped her arms around as his neck while he pretended to stumble backwards.

"You've grown too  fat to hold. I fear I shall lose my balance." With that, he fell backwards into the soft grass, bringing her down upon him. In a second, his masterful hands were in her hair, and then with a quick pivot he rolled her over onto her back. "Perhaps he likes your flabby middle," he joked.

"I am not fat. The only thing that is fat is your head, Eric."

"Are you sure? I rather think I should check for myself." He groped at her as his hand shot up her dress and then his warm fingers found her core as he rubbed her erotically. When his head ducked under her dress, Sookie protested, but it only spurred him on further as he spread her legs wider, his tongue hitting its mark. Sookie bit her lip, and rode the tidal wave of euphoric, pleasure. "It seems I was mistaken. There is only a beautiful woman under this dress," Eric said when he came up for air, his face glazed and wearing a lazy smile. He was propped over top of her when their son came bounding up upon them.

"I'm hungry, Mamma."

"But you just had breakfast."

"He's a growing boy."

"Why are you laying on top of Mamma, Fader?" The small boy asked and Sookie smirked back at Eric.

"That's a very good question, and one that deserves an answer," Eric replied, his expression blank. Sookie giggled under her breath, and then decided to let her husband off the hook. She unfastened the wooden needle that she had stuck to the collar of her frock, and she held it out between them. Eric gave her a knowing look and then eased up off of her. "Your mother lost a needle in the grass, so I was helping her find it. Look, here it is, how about that," Eric said as he snatched the needle from Sookie and then spun around, holding it out for his son to gaze upon.

"Yes, how about that. Your Fader found that tiny needle in all this grass," Sookie coyly stepped around him, but then her arm was tugged backwards.

"Is that any way to thank your husband? I fear not," he said and his strong arms captured her. He ground his erection, hard against her backside, letting her know that he wasn't yet satisfied. He laid a bruising kiss upon her neck as he nipped and bit playfully at her supple skin. She cheekily pulled away.

"You're right. He is a growing boy, so I should tend to those hunger pangs." Sookie, coyly tossed her hair and started back towards the cottage.

"Mmmm, you wicked woman," Eric said, giving her a smack in the bum as she left. She watched him pick up the axe again and she laughed, but when she got to the door of the cottage her hand shot back up to her neck. There was something so familiar about the way he had ravaged her neck. It was a feeling that she couldn't place, but knew like the back of her hand. She paused to think about it.

.

.

Fifty-two pairs of eyes were glued to Eric and Godric when they stepped through the doors of BillyBob's Billards and DraftHouse. The only eyes that weren't on the two vampires, were the dumb, fucking hicks who were clueless to the fact that two lethal weapons had just walked through the door. The rest of the patrons were Weres, and they were all well aware that two bloodsucking, creatures of the night had just breezed through the door, and trespassed on their territory.

"Turn your dead asses around and leave, or else," a middle aged, burly, man in his early forties said to Eric. By the company that he kept, and in the way the other Weres circled around this man, Eric took him to be the pack leader.

"Or else, what?" Eric asked, as he approached the table where the man sat, arms folded, leaning back in his chair. "Shall I call for a crane to move your fat ass off that chair, you overgrown pit-bull."

"Now you gone and done it!" The man flipped the table over as he shot from his chair, his pitcher of beer spraying the room. A drop of it landed on Eric and he looked up at the Were and snarled.

"Eric, he got your jacket wet. Such a shame," Godric said, in an unassuming voice.

"Yeah, it is a crying shame because your asses are going down! Come on boys." Barking could be heard as the Weres’ began to change their shape.

"Godric, after you?" Eric said to his maker.

"You still have manners, Eric. It pleases me," Godric said. The pack leader didn't stand a chance as he ripped into the man's neck. He was only half way done with his transformation into his wolf form, when both Eric and Godric sunk their fangs into him. Seconds later, he lay limp on the floor, dead. Then a fury of fur leapt at Eric, and squeals could be heard as he and Godric, unleashed a firestorm of vampire brutality. The floor was coated in a thick layer of blood, Eric and Godric, both fighting two and three wolves at a time as they slashed at their throats with their razor sharp teeth. Pam and Alcide raced in to join the fight. For precious minutes the battle ensued, their warring fueled by the testosterone in the room, and the smell of blood that hung like a thick cloud in the air. The few customers that weren't of supernatural origins, shrieked as they cowered under tables, their bodies doused with a shower of blood. A wolf latched onto Eric's arm, and he cried out, before lunging on the wolf and ripping his head clean off his body. He tossed it against the bar, smashing a sign that said VAMPIRES NOT WELCOME.

Godric was a cold-hearted killer. His youthful appearance was in direct opposition to the blood thirsty bringer of death that he was. He took on five at a time, and laid waste to them all with hardly any effort exerted.

"Shit," Pam screamed, when she entered the bar and immediately slipped on the blood soaked floor. Eric caught sight of a large, grey, wolf that pounced on Pam. He wanted to tear its arms and legs, limb for limb away from its body, but he was having his own go of it as the jowls of a midnight, black wolf bit down on his leg, its teeth sinking deep into his thigh. That's when he heard a shotgun go off with a  resounding BOOM. He snapped the neck of the black wolf and craned his head upwards to see just who in the hell was shooting a gun, only to see Jason standing over the body of the gray wolf that had attacked Pam.

"Take that, ya bitches," Jason hollered. "Who da man now?" he said as he cocked the gun and reloaded. Eric spun around when a large, timber-wolf, padded up to him. He dove at the Were, pinning it under his body as he prepared to bite his fucking head off.

"Eric, it's me!" Alcide said, as he transformed back into his human form. For a moment, Eric considered killing him. He wanted to.

"That's it. We got them all. Eric, my child, it is done," Godric said clutching Eric's arm. Eric snapped to at that, and reluctantly climbed off of a naked Alcide. Alcide stood, with a mistrusting, watchful eye. "We should go. It's not safe to be here. The human authorities will come soon."

"Well I need a shower," Pam said. "I got fucking Were blood in my hair."

"You all got Were's blood all over yous’," Tara said as she and Sam finally joined the party. Sam looked mortified at the scene. Blood splattered the walls, tables and floors. It looked like something out of the Charles Manson gang murder scene or the Texas Chainsaw Massacre or something of the like.

"Jason and I rented a few rooms at the Motel 6 down the way. I suggest we all clean up as best we can here, before we head out," Alcide said, as he stepped in front of Eric.

"Then hurry the fuck up. I want to find my wife," Eric said with a hard jab of his elbow into Alcide's ribs as he shoved past him. He splashed cold water over his face and hair and then raked a hand through his blond mane. Looking into the mirror, he was reminded of just what he was-a killer. A killer who would do a lot more killing, and who would keep on killing, any and all that stood in his way, until Sookie was in his arms again.

--0--.

.

"Stop it!" Sookie heard, and she was slammed back into her body. Her head was dizzy and she threw up again. She noticed that someone had thoughtfully laid a bed pan down next to her as she spewed bile from her near empty stomach. "Look at her hair? That was not there before," Bill said and Sookie touched her own hair. More vines, great. That's when she felt it. The baby kicked her and she pulled back the sheet. In amazed and utter shock she peered down at her swelling baby bump. She looked at least six or seven months pregnant. Her arms were now covered in the marks of the wood nymph, almost none of her normally sun kissed skin showed at all anymore.

"What did you fuckers do to me?"

"She looks like a sailor all tattooed up," Russell laughed, mockingly.

"Who cares, what she looks like. Continue, Franklin," Sophie-Anne said.

"No. She needs to eat," Bill said at long last.

Sookie rubbed her tummy and was delighted to feel the baby move. She didn't know how long she was out. Was it possible that she was out for months at a time? The baby had grown to well over three times the size she was before. And why in the hell was Bill being nice now? "I'm famished," Sookie said.

"You should be since you resemble one of my prized heffer's that I keep out in the pasture," Russell chided. "Franklin, get Miss Stackhouse some food. She's no good to us if she dies; besides, I'm a better host than that."

Sookie watched as the malicious Franklin nodded and left the room. She let out a relieved exhale. Maybe they were done torturing her. Maybe they finally realized that they couldn't penetrate her brand of old magic.

"It's Fairy magic," Bill said as he paced the room.

"Well how do we get beyond it?" Sophie said.

"I don't know, but I know a person who will know. I need to go to Studs," Bill said to both Sophie and Russell.

"The male strip bar? I wouldn't mind it," Russell said with a wag of his eyebrows. "They have a new dancer, and he is marvelous."

Franklin slipped back through the door, almost unnoticed as he laid a food tray down on the table next to Sookie. "Eat up precious," he winked. "I almost got you the last time. I shan't miss my mark next time." Sookie felt a chill shoot down her spine at his threat.

"This isn't a pleasure cruise my darling Russell," Bill said, and he took Russell's hand in his and patted it, sensually. "There's a fairy that works there, who may have the information that we need. He didn't have anywhere to go, after his cousin kicked him out of her house, so I set him up with a job, right here in Jackson." Sophie shot Bill a look of disgust. She was clearly unhappy that Bill had to continue the ruse of faithful, royal consort to King Russell, but she didn't blow his cover.

"You leave Claude out of this," Sookie said as she picked up a piece of bacon and began to eat. She didn't know if she was just starved to death or what, but the bacon was the tastiest slice of bacon that she had ever eaten. She laid waste to the plate of food as she dug in.

"By all means, William. Bring in the fairy," Russell ordered and Bill nodded as he left the room in a frantic hurry.

"You know," Sookie said, as she swallowed down a big gulp of fresh squeezed orange juice. "Bill is in love with Sophie-Anne."

"Liar!" Sophie shouted.

"I swear it," Sookie said, in a cheerful manner as she continued to eat. "Proclaimed his love for her when we were in Bill's parlor. They're lying their asses off to you, Russell. Bill and Sophie plan to kill you, right after Sophie drains me."

"We do not have to listen to this!"

"Ha ha! Russell laughed. "That would be entirely foolhardy. Still, it's an interesting theory, and one I shall ponder greatly."

"Bill probably plans to kill you too, Sophie. He told me he loved me and I believed him for a long, long time, but I was wrong. He's a good liar."

"Shut your mouth, little fairy bitch. You were the other woman, breather, not me! Bill's been loyal to me for a decade or longer."

"See I told ya," Sookie said, with a smile as she finished her last bite of eggs.

"Where's the fucking medallion! I could kill you right here and now Sophie-Anne Leclerq."

Eric, I'm being held in one of the upstairs bedrooms at Russell Edgington's mansion. Please hear me Eric. I love you…

.

.

Tara and Jason tossed the Walmart bags, stuffed with tee shirts and jeans, into Eric's sports car where he and Godric and Pam waited. "I can't wear any of this. Who would wear something so vile?" Pam complained.

"Who cares! Just put it the fuck on," Eric said in thorough frustration. "Nobody is going to stop you and charge you with a fashion offense."

"Fine," she moaned. Eric, shucked his blood drenched shirt and threw his arms into an extra-large, blue, Hawaiian shirt. Pam definitely had a point, he thought to himself. He felt ridiculous. That is when Pam bust out laughing.

"What?" Eric fumed.

"You have a tag that says three ninety-nine hanging from your sleeve. Never thought I'd see the day that Eric Northman—"

"Shut it, Pam," Eric said. He was about to lose his temper, when he felt his wife. Sookie's voice, loud and clear, shouted in his head. Without hesitation, he turned the key and burned rubber out of the Jackson, Mississippi Walmart parking lot, while Pam and Godric held on for dear life. I'm coming, my lover.

Review!

A/N: Thank you for the Kudos & Reviews. This marks the halfway point of the story. Lots more to go. Hope you are enjoying!

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: This is fanfiction. I make no money or profit in any way from this story. I own nothing.

Chapter Fourteen

Cluviel Dor

"There are five at the main gate, and another two guarding the back," Alcide said as he handed Jason the binoculars. “Sam and I can take out the ones at the back, and sneak in and find Sookie undetected, while you vamps go in the front."

"It won't work," Eric said flatly.

"Why the hell not?"

Jason lowered the binoculars and then sighed. "Northman's right. They have a perimeter sensor, that's connected to them there flood lights. Second we scale the fence-it's going off."

"Give me those. I didn't see no sensors," Alcide said as he snatched the binoculars back from Jason.

"Jason's probably right," Tara chimed in. "He was in one of those redneck, militia's for a while. Nearly broke his Gran's heart at the time," Tara added and Jason rolled his eyes at her.

"Godric, Pam and I will take the front. The rest of you take the back entrance," Eric said as he started to move.

"They'll see us coming," Alcide shot back.

"You some sort of pussy?" Sam asked, and Alcide lunged in his face.

"Shh, be quiet. Look, who's that?" Jason whispered.

A limousine pulled up and someone got out. Eric looked to Godric, when he saw the dark cape. Shit, he thought. How did that fucker get here before us?

"Felipe," Godric said.

"Fucking great. Now we have to kill two Kings and a Queen? Pam added.

"This complicates matters," Eric said as he reached into his pocket and fingered the small, glass, bottle that contained the draught. "I have an idea though. Let's go."

.

.

"I want that fucking medallion, now, or I'll rip your head off and shit down your neck Sophie-Anne!" Russell bared his fangs and Sophie looked genuinely frightened.

"No, you won't. Russell, nobody has to die here," Bill said, as he entered the bedroom with Sookie's cousin, Claude in hand. He was holding the fairy by the neck, and Claude looked absolutely petrified.

"I'll kill you too, William. Miss Stackhouse informed me of your little plan. Lovers? Disgusting," Russell scoffed, and he spat on Sophie.

"You know I love you, my King. I merely used Sophie-Anne to get information for you. You are the keeper of my heart."

Sookie sighed. "Where have I heard that one before? Gee, I wonder. Russell, he's lying."

"Shut up!" Bill screamed, his voice deep and resonating. He yanked Claude over to Sookie's bed at that. "Russell, just give me two god damn minutes, and everybody will be happy. Claude, how do we take down Sookie's, fucking, fairy shield?"

"I—I, how am I supposed to know that?"

"Wrong answer, try again. You have three seconds to tell us how to bypass her magic, or Russell here will take pleasure in draining the very life from you. Now, how do we get past it?" Bill pulled Claude's neck back and with a swipe of his tongue, he licked at the pulsating vein in Claude's neck.

"Claude, no," Sookie begged. "I'm pregnant. I want this baby. Please!"

"He'll kill me, Sookie. I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I never meant for any of this to happen. He said he loved me."

"He lied, Claude. He will kill you, even if you tell him."

"No, I promise that I won't," Bill replied.

"H-Her, neck. Around her neck. Protection."

"The necklace?"

"Y-Y-Yes," Claude stammered. Sookie's eyes were blurred with tears at that.

"Please let me go, Bill. There must be a part of you that still has feelings for me. You don't have to do this."

Bill ignored her, though he did seem to be considering it as he glanced at Russell and then at Sophie. He turned back to Sookie then, and his face turned hard and cold. "We can't get across the barrier. But, I bet you can, can't you?" He pushed Claude forward.

"I—Please. Don't make me," Claude grimaced. "Will you, promise no harm will come to Sookie or the baby?" Claude bit out, as his eyes turned red with his own tears.

"Claude, don't. Bill's lying. Don't believe him. He'll kill us both. They are under some impression that pregnant fairies can heal lost vampire limbs. Please, Claude!"

"You have my word," Bill said, and he released his grip just a little on Claude. He leaned in and kissed the fairy on the lips. It was a slow and sensual kiss, and Sookie could hear Russell growling from behind Bill.

"They won't hurt us, Sookie. Bill won't let them hurt us," Claude said, and then he reached forward with shaky hands. Sookie's shield sprang up around her, and her head began to drift into the clouds but Claude was able to penetrate her defenses, his body engulfed in the same golden light that hers was. Apparently, Niall hadn't considered that one of her own damn race might betray her, and that the necklace was useless in combating fairies. Claude's fingers rubbed the Cluviel Dor necklace that she wore around her neck, and Sookie felt dizzy as the sights and sounds of her world began to fade away. "Go now. Go and be safe. I'm sorry cousin."

"Sir," Franklin Mott said as he entered the room, but the voices were mere echoes. "You have a visitor. It's the King of Texas." The last thing she heard was the soft clink of her necklace as it hit the marble floor, and then she was once again standing by the cottage, with the cool wind in her hair as she waved goodbye to her husband and lover, the Viking Eric.

"I'll be back for dinner, woman. I shan't be long. Don't miss me too much," he said with a smile and a wink as he turned to leave.

"Hurry back. Supper will be waiting for you," Sookie said, as she plucked Garrick up and saddled him at her hip.

.

.

Ten minutes earlier…

Fucking fur again, Eric cursed as the reddish-brown Were tore at his throat. "Must you slobber all over me whilst I murder you?" Eric shouted as he and Pam fended off the remaining wolves from Russell's pack.

"One, two, three, four, five. Eric that's it. We got them all," Pam said, as she counted the dead Weres that lay in a heap on the long asphalt drive that led to Russell's house. "Eric, get up," she said, when she noticed that he was still lying on the grass next to one of the dead wolves.

"Had to heal." Eric dragged a hand across his neck and with a cough, cleared his throat. "Where's Godric?"

Pam gulped. "Over there."

Their mouths were agape, when they witnessed the vicious kill. It was a sight to remember, as the silhouette of Felipe de Castro's head, rolled across the manicured lawn. Eric cocked his head in morbid curiosity as he watched his maker kneel before his victim. When he blinked his eyes though, Godric was standing in front of him.

"Was this your plan, Eric?" Godric said, as he held out Felipe's medallion and let it swing between them like a pendulum.

"Not exactly, Godric. But it works." Eric took the medallion and looped it over Godric's head. "I need you to be the King of Texas. Try to cut a deal with Edgington for Sookie, just in case Pam and I fail in our efforts. I need time. Pam and I will sneak upstairs and grab Sookie, and then we will return to your side."

"No, Eric. Your place is with your wife now. I will be fine, do not worry for me, my child."

"Godric, Russell is three thousand years old. You need me."

"Age isn't everything, and I dare say that I still know a few tricks." The perimeter sensors went off at that, and flood lights blinded them. "Your friends must have stopped their squabbling and opted to try the back entrance. Go now, Eric, before they see you. I will take the blame for your friends as well."

"Godric, wait!" Eric called after him, but his vampire father was gone as the two thousand year old vampire made his way up the cobblestone, steps of Russell's exquisite, Plantation house and rapped at the door.

The front door flew open, and Eric quickly yanked Pam into his arms as he flew up to one of the second story balconies.

"That was close," Pam whispered with urgency. "Now, what? Which room is she in?" This time, Eric knew exactly where his wife was. It wasn't a random occurrence that he'd landed on that particularly balcony. Being this close to her, the blood bond they shared served him well.

"Quiet," Eric said as voices filtered through the air.

"Excuse me. Most inopportune timing, but I have a guest. I have a score to settle with all of you, however. So don't fucking think of leaving." Russell slammed the door as Eric and Pam watched through the sheer, white window treatments. He watched as the golden light that surrounded Sookie, flickered and then went out.

"It's finally fucking down. Give me the fairy. I'm starved!" Queen Sophie-Anne said greedily.

"But you said you'd not hurt me or Sookie," a shirtless, blond man said. Like hell they will hurt Sookie, Eric said to himself as he balled up his hands into fists. He clenched them tightly—so tightly, that all of his knuckles cracked in unison. Both Sophie and Bill's heads snapped towards his direction.

"Someone's out there. Take Claude. You'll need your strength, my love," Bill said frantically, to Sophie-Anne.

Eric, burst through the double French doors, to see Sookie's cousin being drained by the blood thirsty fangs of the freak, Queen, Sophie-Anne Leclerq. His eyes darted to the bed, where his beloved, Sookie, lay motionless.

"Sheriff Northman," Bill gulped and he moved away from Sookie at that.

"You're fucking dead!" Eric roared, as he tossed Bill Compton hard against the wall. He was seething, his fury overflowing as he pounded his fists into Bill in a maelstrom of assaults.

"She's not dead. I was protecting her from them. She's not dead, Eric!"

"You get anywhere near her, you sick freak of nature, and I'll eat your fucking face off, bitch. You'll have more to worry about than a few missing body parts when I get done with you." Pam snarled and with outstretched hands she stood in front of the bed, guarding Sookie.

"Sookie, I'm here." Eric said, when his wife moaned out his name in her sleep-like state. He moved to her side, momentarily forgetting about Bill, who was lying on the floor, waiting for his body to heal from the gashes left by Eric's attack.

"Eric, we need to get Sookie out of here." Voices filtered through the air, and Eric could hear the wild ravings of Russell, coming from the downstairs. Crashing sounds echoed through the mansion. He knew that Godric needed his help, yet he wouldn't leave Sookie. He pulled his bride to his chest and he wrapped his arms around her, as a battle inside him raged. Sookie or Godric? "Give fucking Compton and Sophie the healing draught," Pam finally said, bringing him out of his thoughts.

"No!" Eric roared.

"Eric, they can help us fight Russell. You came to find Sookie—you did that. Now listen to Godric's orders and get the fuck out of here. Get your baby out of here, Eric. Give them the draught in exchange for their allegiance."

"If you can heal Sophie-Anne, then I swear my allegiance," Bill said stepping forward and Eric snarled a warning. Bill backed up and moved to Sophie's side at that.

"Eric, the draught. People are dying downstairs. Eric!"

"Fine. Drink it, but know that I will fucking kill you, if anything happens to Pam or Godric!" Eric tossed Bill the witches brew and he quickly uncapped it as he poured it down the Queen's throat. "Pam," Eric whispered. "Sophie needs to know that Edgington killed her maker, Felipe de Castro." Eric told a necessary lie—a lie that he knew would put Sophie on their side of things. Bill, he had his doubts about. Eric wanted to drive a stake through his heart, right then and there. He wanted to see the life drain from his eyes, forever, but then there was Sookie. His, Sookie. And their baby—his baby.

"Sookie, please wake up. Come back to me," Eric begged, and for the second time in nearly one thousand years, he wept, the first being when Sookie told him he was going to be a father again. Eric slid his hand over the bulge on his wife's stomach, and a familiar light glowed from within, though it faded quickly. She was feverish, and her forehead was hot to the touch, so, he wet a cool rag under the tap and dabbed at her forehead. That's when he noticed something glinting green on the floor.

"I'll kill every single one of them for what they've done to you." Eric scooped the necklace into his hands, and dropped it in his pocket as he lifted his very pregnant wife into his loving arms. "I'm taking you home, my lover." With his unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt, flapping in the wind, and Sookie's body pressed firmly against his cool, vampire skin, he took to the night skies.

He would take her home, and then he would call the supernatural doctor—the one he'd called in when Sookie was injured by the Maenad. She would know what's wrong with her, Eric thought, as he flew high and fast through the darkness. That's when he felt something wet upon his arm, and Sookie's body clenched as she grimaced. Fuck, her water broke. Now what, what the fuck do I do? He soothed his unconscious wife with words of love, but Eric knew that he wasn't going to make it. His wife was in labor, and he had to stop. He scanned the woods below and found a soft patch of grass, next to a bubbling brook. It was surrounded by a thick clump of trees that provided at least some cover. He sensed no humans, vampires or Weres around for miles, so with great reluctance, he landed. The moon was out, high in the night sky and its luminous light bathed them, its lunar rays, casting a bluish hue over the pair, as he laid her down gently on the soft, mossy earth.

"Our baby wishes to be born, Sookie. I need you to wake up.' He held her hand tightly in his and with their blood bond, he reached out to her. Sookie, I've got you, you're safe, Eric spoke through the bond. There was no response. It was as if she was lost, and she needed to be found. Eric cursed under his breath as he leaned down to kiss her forehead. That's when he remembered the necklace—the one that the fairy man had removed so that Sophie-Anne could have at her. He retrieved it from his pocket, and quickly clasped it around her neck. Nothing. "Damn it," he shouted, his voice low and guttural as he lay down next to his sleeping wife. For minutes he poured out his heart to her as he wound his fingers through her hair. Her tummy began to glow, as the pulsating, golden light, spread out, engulfing both Sookie and Eric. Eric stared on in befuddled, amazement, his eyes wide and his jaw hanging open.

He found himself standing in a hazy, fog. The air was thick, and cold. He could feel the steady wind at his back. He inhaled, and the salty sea air wafted in his nostrils. It was a familiar smell, all too familiar, and he smiled. He threw his hands into the air and shouted into the wind. "Sookie!" There was no answer, but then he felt something sharp against his back. He whirled around in place and his smile grew wide across his face when he saw her deep, blue, eyes staring back at him.

"Who are you, and why are you here?"

"Sookie, it's me. Eric."

His wife stared at him curiously as the fog began to lift. She narrowed her eyes on him as if searching for some sense of recognition. He couldn't help it-he needed her, and his arms shot forward, wrapping themselves around her waist and encircling her.

"Let go of me, or I'll gut you like a pig."

Eric's face dropped, and then he felt the tip of a blade, as it pricked against his skin, just under his navel.

"Sookie, don't you know who I am? It's Eric Northman. Your husband."

Review!

Love all the Kudos and reviews. Thank you to all who are reading and reviewing. Some great stuff coming up. If you are confused about why Sookie is in a past Viking world with a human Eric, then you might want to go back and reread their Wedding, especially in relation to Niall's gift. I did a little foreshadowing in that chapter.  Also, I made an image banner for this story and you can see it at Chapter One at beginning of story.

Chapter Text

Chapter Fifteen

The Viking

With an open palm, Sookie's hand flew, striking Eric's pale, cheek. "Unhand me, lest I draw first blood."

He dropped his arms, his face stinging, as he palmed his own cheek. With a perplexing stare, he watched as his wife stomped down the beach, the heavy sword tip dragging across the sand. Curiously, he followed her, pacing behind her, he gazed at his surroundings—his homeland. It felt good to be home after so long.

Perched on the stump of a nearby spruce tree, Eric watched Sookie. She worked tirelessly, doing the family laundry, her hands cold and chapped as she washed the garments in a basin carved from wood. Garbed in a drab, gray, dress, she still looked ravishing with her locks of sunshine that cascaded down her back. She looked, right, he thought to himself as he watched her straddle the wash basin, where she sat stoically upon a granite slab of rock, not far from the house. Eric felt his cock twitch at the sight of his Viking beauty and his pants tightened as he shifted uncomfortably on his perch. Like a vampire craving life giving blood, Eric wanted Sookie. He desired her. He needed to bend her over that rock and take her hard, while he bucked into her welcoming body. It wasn't welcoming though, as she lifted her head and scowled at him. Eric smirked back at her. With smoldering, arctic eyes, that spoke volumes of all the delightfully, naughty and erotic things that he wanted to do with her-he licked his lips, lasciviously, in her direction. Sookie, blushed and turned away. He knew she was angry-he'd seen that look many times in the past and it never failed to excite him. She stood with a huff, throwing her hands on her hips. Curvy, delicious hips. Child-bearing hips, Eric grinned, as his eyes roamed upwards to her bosom. He feasted on her cleavage as it spilled from the bodice of the frock. With a frustrated sigh, she marched over to where he sat casually, a cheeky smile playing across his face, while he watched her ample chest bounce, up and down, with each glorious step that she took. He wanted to bury his head into those sinful tits, and never come up for air—and he could do just that, because he wasn't a breather.

"Stop undressing me with your eyes and just go."

"No. I am enjoying the scenery far too much, Sookie."

"How do you know my name?"

"How do I know your name? How do I know your eyes?" Eric stood at that as he loomed over her. "How do I know your breasts? How do I know the feeling of being between your thighs?"

"You cannot say such things to a married woman. My husband has the right to take your life for such bold musings."

"Sookie," Eric's eyes bore into her, "Do you remember the Cluviel Dor-the one that Niall gave to us at our wedding in Shreveport?"

"No. No. No. Go away! You look like my husband, yet you wear strange clothes, and your skin-so pale. You speak differently. You are not my sweet, Eric!" She thinks I'm sweet? Was I ever sweet? Hmm, Eric thought to himself.

"Sookie!" She turned her back on him and stormed back to the cottage. She scooped up the boy, who until then had been sharpening his sword on a stone, and she bolted into the house, slamming the door closed behind her. "Kommer tillbaka. Jag älskar dig!—Come back I love you!"

Eric cursed, as he trod through a patch of wildflowers, that had sprang up atop the hillside overlooking the sea. He stopped at the door, unsure of whether or not he could go inside. Would he need to be invited? If it were his house, then surely he wouldn't. He pushed the heavy door open, and then crossed the threshold, his question seemingly answered. His vampire eyes went on alert, when he saw Sookie on her knees, with tears in her eyes. She was holding her abdomen, wearing a pained expression.

"What's happening to me? It hurts," she wailed. Eric knelt before her and reached out to hold her hands.

"You're having a baby. Our baby. We must go from this place. Now."

"Jag är hem—I am home," Sookie said. She cried out in pain when another contraction ripped through her middle. Eric cradled her in his arms and laid her out on the rug in front of the fire.

"You are feeling the pains of childbirth."

"I do not know of that which you speak. Garrick, son of Eric is our only child."

"Yes, my lover, he is, but he hasn't been born yet."

"Garrick, come to Mamma." Sookie called and the small boy raced to her side. "My sweet son, you should go and play ball or practice with your sword, outside, she said with emphasis. Let Mamma talk to the intruder. Then we will have bread and soup while we await your fader's return. Yes, Garrick?"

Garrick nodded.

"Garrick," Eric said, and the boy stopped and turned before bounding out the door. "The sword is heavy. Drop your shoulder when you attack and let the momentum work for you. And do not forget to block and parry."

"I will," the boy said, with a confused look upon his face.

"Who are you? You seem so much like Eric, yet you are not. Are you Gengångare—the ghost of my murdered husband? Was he killed while on journey to the village?"

Eric laughed. He had not heard that particular term for several centuries. "No, Sookie. I need for you to trust me."

"Oh,Ah,Ohhhh," Sookie curled herself up into the fetal position when a hard contraction took her.

"Sookie, listen. Time grows short. When we were married, we were given this necklace." He grasped the jade stone of the Cluviel Dor necklace, his fingers softly brushing against the silky skin of her neck. She shivered at his touch. "I was asked to choose a safe harbor. This is my home, Sookie. I thought of this place, and that is why you are here now. I wanted—I wished, that you could know me in my human-," he broke off, unsure as to how he should proceed, and not enthralled with the idea of explaining the supernatural phenomenon that was vampires, at least not to a woman of Nordic times past. She would view him as an evil spirit, perhaps sent to her as some form of punishment for her wrong doings, so he ignored that small fact. "I longed for you to know my heritage-to know me—where I came from."

"How do I know that you did not kill my husband? You could be the Gengångare-," Sookie recoiled from Eric upon this proclamation.

"No, my lover. I am your Eric, and you are mine." He dipped his head as the flames of the fire flickered, throwing shadows over the walls of the cottage. His lips brushed against hers, hot and wanting and he pressed his kiss into her. He tasted her sweet lips-lips full of need, and slowly but surely her fingers curled around his neck, lacing them in his hair as he tugged her closer.

"Oh, Eric it is you," she said when he gently pulled away. Her lips quivered under his, and at that very moment he felt a wave of love wash over him. He loved Sookie. After one thousand years, he almost felt human again.

"Vilddjuret." They both shot up when they heard Garrick's panicked cries. With vampire speed, Eric fled through the door. He found the small child, standing inside the goat pen. He wielded a metal sword, as a lone wolf snarled and lunged at the tot.

"Garrick, back away," Sookie cried, as she stumbled out the door of the cottage. The boy continued to flail his sword, its blade cutting through the air as the wolf backed up. He was doing a fair job at fending off the unwelcome predator, but Eric's vampire nature took over and his fangs popped out. "Odin and the Gods of Valhalla please help my son," Sookie cried out and then without warning she collapsed to the ground, as a hard contraction ripped through her womb. That's when he saw the wolf rear up on its haunches. With hungry eyes' the wolf launched on Sookie, and then it was all over. The vampire in Eric put a permanent muzzle on the wolf, as he ripped into the throat of the beast. He dropped his fresh kill as its limp body fell to the soft earth, and then with the back of his hand he wiped the blood from his lips.

"You're evil! Garrick, come quickly. Do not look at it, lest it take you as well. Come quickly!" Sookie climbed to her feet and staggered back inside.

"Sookie, no. It's alright. I promise you. I'm a vampire, and you know it and you still love me. Sookie, please," Eric said as he slowly opened the door. He found his wife, arms extended out, holding the sharp blade of Eric's own sword in her shaking hands. It was pointed at his chest.

"Get away from us! Leave and never come back! Do you hear me? You're a monster! Go!" she slashed at the air furiously as tears streamed down her wind chapped cheeks.

Eric gulped.

"Sookie, I love you. Please, let's go home together."

"My home is here with my husband. I don't know you. I don't want to know you!"

"Fuck!" Eric shouted, his voice, a thunderous roar that shook the forest. The last remnants of daylight abandoned him, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the Viking vampire was once again thrust back into darkness. He kicked at the trunk of a tree, and it snapped like a twig as it fell to the forest floor.

"Ow!" Someone howled in the distance. Eric's ears perked up, and he could hear a man's pleas for help. He followed the sound, and was mortified when he caught sight of the man, who was pinned under the fallen tree, his leg caught under the thick trunk of the pine tree. "Help, if you will," the blond man said as Eric stared down at his own reflection.

"Those are women's words," the vampire Eric said, as he lifted the massive trunk off the fallen man. Was this jealousy that he felt, he asked himself as he stared down at his former self—his human self. His face was tanned, and he wore a five o'clock shadow on his hard, granite face, yet he had a youthful exuberance, one that he himself had lacked after one thousand years being a vampire. The man looked alive, and that fact caused Eric to grumble.

"The Gods must not like me today," the blond man said, with a grimace as he struggled to his feet. "What luck have I that a tree should fall on me in my own backyard?" He chuckled, and then again he winced in pain. Without thinking, Eric Northman reached down and offered him a hand. The man took it, as Eric heaved him to his feet, and that is when both men noticed it—a golden light that enveloped their hands. Both Erics' pulled back, as if bitten by a venomous snake. "I fear I had one too many goblets of mead, whilst in the village."

"Yeah, I'm quite sure that you did," the vampire Eric said. Back in those days, he certainly did like to indulge in women and wine—a little too much in fact. Eric had mixed feelings as he stared at his former self. This is the man that he was—the man Sookie loves—not him. His fangs popped out, and for a moment he considered killing him. He wanted to. This man, whose heart beat for Sookie, unlike his own-who had her heart, unlike him, was easy pickens to a ruthless vampire like himself. He had one thousand years of existence on him.

"Thank you, again," he said with a genuine smile. "I shall endeavor to pay more attention to where I step in the future." He threw a gaze upwards as he flung a pack made of animal hides, over his shoulder.

"Your wife is waiting for you. Go. Be good to her," Eric said in a soft voice, to his human self. The man narrowed his eyes on him and then hurried past him, no doubt eager to get back to Sookie.

"That was generous of you. I knew I was right about you."

Eric spun on his feet. "You! What are you doing here?"

"Sookie, is going to have the baby, and I sensed she was in danger, so naturally I came to investigate," Niall said as he approached Eric.

"She won't come back with me. She and the baby, will die won't they?"

"No, Eric. I won't let that happen. This baby is too important to the Fae."

"Why?" Eric shot back.

"All Fae babies are important, as there are so few of them," the fairy Prince said, but Eric felt as if there was more to it. Unfortunately, time was short and there were more pressing matters at hand—namely Sookie and the baby. His baby.

"You can save her and the child?"

"I can take her to Fairy. She and the baby will be safe there."

"She wants to be here, with the other—well you know."

"The other, you? Yes. I know," Niall said. "I do find it odd though, that when I gave you both the Cluviel Dor, and asked you to choose a safe-haven for you both, that you chose to see your human self, rather than the man that you are now. It's a most curious thing. Why did you do that?"

"Does it matter? It will be light soon, and I will burn with the sun."

"Yes. Your time is short, Eric. I won't pretend to lie to you. I can offer you some solace however." Eric looked up at Sookie's great-grandfather, with a dour expression. "I will take Sookie and your child to Fairy with me, but so long as she wears the Cluviel Dor, she will remain here. She can live out her entire life, here, if she pleases. She need never see you meet the sun."

"How can you do this?"

"I'm standing in the forest back in Louisiana, where you both lay silently together. Its twilight, but it will soon be light—and the baby will be born at dawn. Sookie's very close now."

"You will keep your word? She will live her life out here?"

"Yes, Eric. I promise you this."

"And the baby?"

"They will be a family."

"Then I am wasting time," Eric said. "Before I meet the true death, I should like my last visions to be of Sookie. Thank you, Niall. You will wait till I burn, and then you will take her to Fairy?"

"I give you my word." Niall reached out and shook Eric's hand and then Eric zipped through the trees. If he only had a precious few minutes, before sunrise, then he wanted his last visions to be of his wife. His Sookie.

His lips were on hers as they shared a warm embrace by the light of the roaring fire. Eric could only watch as his wife drank in his affections, while he himself stood outside in the cold of night. The aurora borealis sparkled, vivid, hues of green and pink, high in the Scandinavian skies and the Sheriff of Area five was reminded of their first kiss-one that they shared as they sat in a similar embrace on her rickety, old, porch swing. A blood, red tear rolled down his cheek as he watched the human Eric, laugh and jovially, frolic with his wife inside the small, cottage, their bodies rolling around on the floor together as their child slept nearby. Every now and then Sookie would grimace, her contractions becoming more intense. But then, when they subsided she would once again hug and kiss on her young and virile, Viking man. The man that he once was. She was so young and vibrant. She deserved his younger self, he thought to himself as a pattering rain began to fall from the heavens.

They bounded out the door, laughing together and having a jolly good time, as they gathered stacks of wood for the fire. Eric turned his gaze away as he stood and faced the tumultuous sea. He couldn't bear for Sookie to see him. She had called him a monster, which is exactly what he was. His thoughts fell back to Niall and his question—why had he chosen his former self to be Sookie's safe harbor? Because I am a monster, and Sookie deserves better. She would have better too. Soon he would face the sun, but Sookie would be spared of having to witness it. Niall would take her back to Fairy, and she would live out her days in the Cluviel Dor, with their child, Garrick, and her husband, Eric—the best part of him, not the worst. Not the monster.

"I thought I sensed you out here," a voice said over the crashing waves of the surf. He turned to see Sookie, standing before him, with Eric standing back several paces and wearing a perplexed and concerned look upon his face. "Let me see your hand?" she demanded and then she took his hand in hers. "Eric, come here," she said to the other one—the human one. "Everyone hold out your left hand," Sookie said and the vampire Eric quirked an eyebrow but obliged.

"What is the meaning of this?" human Eric said. "I am the only one without a ring."

"Why do you and I wear the symbols of marriage upon our fingers?" Sookie asked him and Eric Northman gulped hard.

"Because you're my wife, Sookie." At first it was an itching sensation, overwhelming and automatic, but then it increased as it turned to searing pain. It wouldn't be long now. He could see steam rising from his body and he knew that the sun was dawning in Louisiana.

A look of recognition passed over Sookie's face. "You said- It's norðrljós—the northern lights. Then we kissed on my porch swing. Oh. My. God. I've made a dreadful mistake. You are my husband and I love you. I LOVE YOU….And—Eric?" she threw her body at him and her mouth was on his as she kissed him with a frantic passion. "Eric what's happening to you? You're starting to burn. Eric, please, we have to go back. We have to get you out of the light."

"It's too late, Sookie. I love you—my lover—my wife."

"I love you too, you stubborn Viking. We have to go back, the baby—it's coming. Now!" Sookie threw her arms around Eric and a golden light surrounded them as Eric cried out in pain, his true death only moments away.

"I love you too, Sookie. I won't let you leave me," Eric's human self said and then he leapt like a Viking into battle at Eric, as a golden light swallowed all three of them up.

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Authors note: Hang on tight, going to be a roller coaster from here on out with twisties galore. Hope you liked this chapter. I think ya'll might see some wood nymphs in the next chapter ;) I'm also pretty sure that one of the Eric's won't make it back to Louisiana—not exactly anyways. Thank you so much to every single person reading and reviewing this story! Keep it up and I will keep updating.

Chapter Text

Chapter Sixteen

Hippies

Horror stricken, Sookie watched as gold and blue flames engulfed Eric. She shielded her eyes from the bright flashes of light as she screamed out a tortured, "Eric!" She clenched her eyes shut, too emotionally affected to watch as her husband met the sun.

"This cannot be," came the soft voice of her Great- Grandfather, Niall. "Sookie, open your eyes, dear."

She blotted the wetness away from her eyes with her fists, and then slowly opened them. She reared up onto her hands and knees and crawled over to the still form of her husband. He was sprawled on the mossy grass, under the shade of a southern Magnolia tree, which bloomed bright and fragrant flowers from its limbs. His shirt was opened and her eyes fell to his bare chest. She trailed her fingers over his exposed skin as she hovered over Eric. "Eric, I saw you burn. Eric, wake up?"

"Look at his chest. He's been kissed by the sun, and he breathes," Niall hissed. Sookie noticed it too. Eric was tan, which was in direct contrast to his normal ghostly white pallor. His chest heaved, up and down in a steady rhythm. This caused her great worry. "Sookie, I saw Eric burn. I do not know who this person is, but he is not the man that you married."

"Eric. Please, wake up. Oh,oh, shit!" Sookie cried, as a hard contraction derailed her. Her belly went taught and she sucked in her breath, her urge to bear down, strong. She caressed the fingers of his hand, kissing each digit and bringing his limp hand to her cheek where she rubbed her tear stained cheeks against it. "It has to be you. I'm so sorry what I said to you. You aren't a monster. I made a mistake. I hope you can forgive me"

"Sookie, listen to Niall," the soft voice of a woman whispered. "You must come with us now. The man you knew as Eric is gone," Claudine said, as she slinked up to Sookie, and knelt at her side, her hand on her shoulder.

"No! Leave me alone. This is Eric. Y'all are wrong. Something happened—I don't know what, but something did, and it has to do with this necklace." Sookie ripped the Cluviel Dor from her neck at that and orange sparks shot from the jade stone as she tossed it into the woods. "Look, he's wearing the wedding band. This is Eric."

"And what if it isn't? He lays in the sunlight, he breathes, cousin?" Claudine said in a desperate attempt to convince Sookie of something that she didn't want to admit to herself. That Eric was gone, and whoever this person was that lay there, slumbering on the forest floor was not her husband.

"Eric, wanted you to come to Fairy with us. He asked it of me. He even shook my hand. Will you not honor your husband's last wishes, my dear?" Niall said gently.

"Oh, God. I have to bear down. It's coming."

"Shhh, I will help you. Now lay back, Sookie," Claudine said as she moved between her legs. "When the pain comes, you must push." Sookie lay back in the grass, her face contorted into a painful grimace as she reached out to hold Eric's hand. She squeezed hard upon the next contraction, her breaths coming in short gasps as she bore down and pushed with all her might. She could have sworn that she felt Eric squeeze her hand back.

"Do you see it? Is it alright?"

"The head is crowning. A few more pushes, Sookie. You can do it, cousin."

That's when she saw the earthy figures—green and brown, camouflaged against the trees of the wood where she lay. They moved between them, fluidly, with a graceful beauty like a ballet of nature. One darted between the trees in the distance, another she saw from the corner of her eye, behind Eric. Butterflies circled in each place that she saw the quick flash of a figure.

"Claudine, Niall, why do the trees move?" Claudine's face dropped at that, and Sookie caught the faintest of snarls, as the corners of Claudine's lips turned upwards in sinister fashion.

"Niall, the wood nymphs have found her. We must get her out of here, now!" Claudine's voice was panicked. "Sookie, you must have this baby. Hurry now!"

"Hurry? What's going on?" A butterfly landed on her hand and she felt a calm overtake her as it flapped it's majestic, silvery wings. She could hear chanting, soft and quiet yet there. It was almost as if the trees were talking to her, as their branches blew in the gentle morning breeze.

Reeeexxxx Reggiisssss

"Sookie, the portal to Fairy is not far. We can take my car. We should go now," Niall urged.

"What? I can't go. The baby-it needs to be born," Sookie cried, as her body was lifted from the ground. She held onto Eric's fingers, but her cousin and Great-Grandfather were pulling her away from him. Suddenly a figure blocked their path. Sookie screamed when she saw a woman, painted form head to toe, with tattoos that covered her entire frame. She had vines that covered her head, and she was buck naked. Her feet were covered in mud, and in her hand she carried a walking stick. She had a benevolent grin as she moved towards Sookie.

"She's ours," Claudine cried out. "Back away. You have no claim to her."

"Let's go!" Niall's voice had taken on a dark and frightening quality.

"No! I'm not leaving Eric. Oh, shit," Sookie cried as she was hauled into Niall's arms.

"Put my wife down," said a commanding voice.

Strong hands were on Sookie  now, lifting her form Niall's grip.

"Eric wanted her to go to Fairy. I am keeping my end of the deal," Niall said, refusing to let go of Sookie.

"I am modifying that deal. My wife stays."

"Eric, is that you?" Sookie gazed into his glacier, blue eyes as if searching for the likeness that was Eric Northman-her husband.

"It's me, my lover."

"Prove it," Sookie challenged.

"You sucked bullets from my chest, and you drank my blood that day for the first time. You danced for me at Fangtasia. It was amazing. You allowed a Were to sleep in your bed. I'm still angry about that," Eric bit out. He turned to Niall at that, "Put her down, fairy," he said with a growl and his fangs shot out.

"Oh, Eric. It is you!" Sookie lunged with her arms and torso, and Eric pulled his wife to safety as he held her in sturdy arms. She flung her arms around his neck and then braced herself, her head against his chest as the strongest contraction yet, tore through her.

"Get the fuck out of here! Now!" Eric shouted and both Niall and Claudine backed up, before running away.

"Damned vampires—you ruined everything! You were supposed to be trapped in the Cluviel Dor. Everyone could have had what they wanted out of this, but you ruined it, Eric Northman. Who chooses their former self to spend all eternity with the lady they claim to love? Who does that?" Niall was furious as he huffed away. "Now the wood nymphs will defeat Fairy and it's all your fault Sookie, for listening to a damned vampire!"

"Remind me to let you eat him after all this. Can we just get back to having this baby? This isn't a picnic here," Sookie shouted, and a surprised Eric laid her back down on the grass. "You get between my legs and catch the baby," she pointed at Eric. "And you, if you're going to be here, can you make yourself useful? Get behind me or something," she said to the wood nymph, which looked at her curiously. "Ok people, time to have a baby."

She must have pushed for a solid hour, and still no baby. It was a solid hour of grunts and screams, cursing and promises of getting Eric back for this. She didn't mean them of course, and Eric seemed to know this. At one point he laughed when she told him that he should keep his cock far away from her in the future—that no sex was worth the labor pains she was having. She would take back those words eventually, but at that moment they felt damned good to say. The wood nymph said not a word, but held Sookie's hand and pushed her up onto her elbows each time that she bore down. Finally, when Sookie was exhausted and panting, she heard the cries of a baby. It was the best sound in the world, even better than front row tickets to a sold out Lynard Skynard show. Tears, burst from her eyes upon hearing the tiny, baby wail its angry cry.

"It's a boy, my lover." Eric cradled the baby in his arms, and turned him so that Sookie could see him, before he plopped the baby down upon her chest. He had soft, platinum blond hair, and he cooed up at her before he began a frantic search for a nipple. Sookie, kissed the tiny, infant on its forehead before she moved the baby down so that he could suckle upon her breast. She cringed when the tot clamped down on her swollen nipple, as she closed her eyes in thorough exhaustion.

.

.

"Thank you. I don't think she will want it though," Sookie heard Eric say as her eyes sprung open. She was lying inside a small tent, when she awoke. She had a dream that she had rolled over on the baby in her sleep, so she began a worried search of the tent in order to find her brand, new bundle of joy. She stopped, relieved, when she saw that Eric was cradling the baby. Garrick was now swaddled in what looked like a tie-dyed tee shirt, the kind you might see being sold on the side of the road at a Grateful Dead concert. "You didn't want to smoke a joint, did you?" Eric asked, with a smirk, as he closed the tent back up and leaned back, his body resting against a sleeping bag. He placed the baby between them, and Sookie became choked up when she saw her one thousand year old, Viking, vampire husband, place his pinky finger inside the fist of their newborn, baby son's hand. The baby gripped his finger tightly as Eric explained to Sookie how they had come to be there.

"I always pass on grass," Sookie said, with a chuckle.

"Your mud dwelling friend," Eric said, and Sookie assumed that he was referring to the wood nymph—the one that had so thoroughly upset Niall and Claudine. "Led us here after Garrick was born."

"Oh, had we decided on that name?" Sookie, smiled cheekily.

"I just assumed that—"

"You assumed right. So go on."

"There were these hippies camping not far from where we were. The mudder led me here. I'm very weak, Sookie. I don't know what has happened to me, but it feels different. Anyway, the hippies are headed into Shreveport to pick up a kilo of drugs. Said we could get a ride into town with them in their van. Once home, I can contact Pam and the others. I can't feel them, and it's worrisome. I don't know if they have perished or if it's just me. Also, remind me to get some sunglasses. The daylight, makes it's difficult to see. "

"It's just a glare, Eric. We all get that in the sun. We can figure it out together. Are you hungry?" Sookie asked, when she noticed the dark circles under Eric's eyes. "You probably aren't used to being awake during daylight hours. I think it might take some getting used to. You should probably feed, in order to keep your strength up."

"I will be fine. You are the one who needs to keep her strength up. They are cooking something over the fire for you. It smells revolting."

Sookie laughed. She was hungry as a hippo, that fact was a certainty. When the baby began to cry, Sookie, lifted the baby into her arms and it quickly found her breast. "He has a healthy appetite. I think he looks like you." Sookie, stared at her husband, who looked tired and weak, as he stared back at she and the baby. She tilted her neck to the side. "Come on, hot stuff. You need to feed."

"I'm happy, Sookie. I will be fine. I enjoy watching you with our son."

"Even so, you need to feed. I want to do this. Come on, Eric." Reluctantly he moved in next to her. His arms went around her middle as he hugged her tight against him. She felt safe and secure, in the confines of the tent with the two people that mattered most to her in the world. He moved her hair away and then in an instant, his fangs sunk into her neck. Sookie basked in the feeling of her two men, drinking from her. It was the best feeling in the world, being so close to her husband—the man that she loved, and their darling, son. If heaven existed on Earth, then this was surely it.

"I love you," Eric whispered in her ear, as he pulled away from her neck and began to drop soft kisses on her earlobe.

"I love you t—Ow!" Eric shot up at that, on full alert.

"What is it?"

"Eric," Sookie's face went white. "The baby. Umm—need you to check. Bit me I think. Wasn't bad but—check, alright?"

Eric pulled Garrick's tiny mouth away from the boob he so craved, then he delicately pulled at his top lip, stretching it back to reveal his toothless gums. He cocked his head curiously, eyeing the tike and then he smiled and leaned back.

"Well?" Sookie asked, eagerly.

"Seems you were right—he does take after me," he said with a cautious but rising smirk.

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Chapter Text

Chapter Seventeen

Showers and Storms

"Eric, are you going to get that?" Sookie called out, from the shower as she leaned her head back into the soothing, warm water. It had been almost two months since they had returned, tired and dirty, but with their sweet baby Garrick in their arms, healthy and happy. The first two weeks were filled with midnight feedings, and sleepless nights, so, Sookie hadn't minded the isolation, cooped up with Eric and the baby, alone in his luxurious house in Shreveport. But now it was bordering on lonely—and she missed Hunter. Mrs. Fortenberry, had been tutoring Hunter at home, catching him up on the reading and writing that he'd missed when Hadley hadn't bothered to enroll him in school. She missed Hunter, and she and Eric had decided to adopt him. With the papers filed and the motions carried, she and Eric would be the legal parents of Hunter Northman. Now all they had to do was pick up the boy and bring him home. Home, Sookie thought. As nice as Eric's place was, it just didn't feel like home. She was jarred from her thoughts when the phone rang—again. She knew without answering it that it was Pam. Eric had been avoiding her and just about everyone else, since they had returned. True, he didn't feel quite himself, and he was often left feeling weak and tired, but Sookie knew him well enough to know when he was avoiding something. "Eric, I'm all soapy, can you get that?" We both know it's for you, so get the damn phone.

"But I think I'd be more useful in here," Eric growled as he stepped into the shower and closed the curtain. Sookie spun around to face him.

"I hate when you sneak up on me like that. Baby asleep still?"

Eric nodded, and then his hands were cupping her breasts, kneading the tender flesh with purposeful ministrations. "I want you, Sookie. Has it been long enough?" What he really meant to ask, was had her vagina healed up enough since being stretched like a piece of candy in a taffy pulling contest when she had their baby, and could they now have sex? That was just his nice way of saying it, and for that, Sookie was thankful. Some men, vampire or human, might have been more than a little squeamish about sex at all after seeing their wives in such a state, but Eric was not like other men. He had been a Viking, and hell, women back then probably squatted in the snow and popped out a baby without ever batting an eye.

"Good as new, but go easy on me, stud."

He dipped his head and laved his tongue against her nipples and Sookie had to brace herself against the shower wall and Eric, to keep from falling. Her legs went immediately weak as the sensations rocketed through her body.

"Eric, not there. I'm trying to dry up since I'm bottle feeding now. Oh,oh," Sookie bit her lip and her head fell back as Eric dropped to his knees and licked her most sensitive spot. His fingers rubbed her into a heightened frenzy as one and then two fingers pumped inside her. His tongue was like velvet as it flicked across her swollen bud. The phone was ringing again, but Sookie didn't care and it faded in her ears, replaced by her own desperate moans.

"Mmm, Eric hummed. "You taste divine. I have missed this," he said as he went in for the kill.

"Oh, Eric. Yes. Eric! Eric," she moaned out over and over again as her climax reached stratospheric heights.

"Come for me, lover." He said it, and she did-boy did she. With one hand planted against the tile wall, and the other firm on Eric's shoulder, she gripped him tightly, her nails digging into the skin on his shoulder as Eric's worked her over like the masterful lover that he was. He knew exactly how to touch her, how to provoke a response in her that Bill had never managed to be able to do and never bothered to really try. When he was secure in the fact that she was a quaking puddle of goo, he stood with a prideful smirk, before he turned her around to face the shower wall. His body was hot against hers as the warm water from the shower pelted their bodies. His lips were on her neck, sucking and nipping and then all at once she felt his cock enter her from behind. They cried out in unison as he pushed into her waiting body. She could feel the hard muscles of his torso against her back and his strong hips and thighs as he bucked into her with force. He clasped his fingers in hers and then he pushed her up against the wall of the shower, raising both his and her arms high above their heads. That's when he turned her face to look at him. His eyes were lust filled, piercing as they bore into her. "Is this hurting you?"

"No. No, Eric. I want you," she replied. He thrust into her hard, impaling her on his cock, but never taking his eyes off of her. The pleasurable assault went on for some measure of time, until Sookie's legs were trembling and exhausted. He turned her around and with a lascivious rake of the hand he moved her thighs up upon him. He lifted her into his arms, her legs naturally wrapping themselves around his hips and then he fucked her. Hard. His cock nailed her until Sookie was crying out his name again. His breaths were short and panting as he reached his own climax. He let out a deeply satisfied groan as his mouth found hers. Their kiss was frenzied as his tongue pillaged her mouth, leaving her breathless.

"That was amazing," Sookie said her voice hoarse.

"Yes. We should do that again. Soon. But not now, I am tired." Eric said in a deep, husky tone as Sookie slowly slid down his body until her feet once again touched the floor of the shower. She reached for the knob to turn off the shower and that is when she heard it. A deep growl came from Eric's stomach, and she turned to look at him.

"Was that you?" he asked.

"No, silly. That was all you. Your tummy growled."

"That has never happened before."

"Eric, I think I know why you haven't been bouncing back so fast. You're hungry."

"I've been feeding. If not from you, then that foul tasting True Blood."

"Eric, I think you need food. I don't know why I didn't think of it before. You can walk in the daylight, you have to breathe now, and you can even get a suntan. And by the way, the tan suits you. Once you finally decide to join the human race again, and get outside, I'm going to have a devil of a time fighting the women off of you. Remind me to start carrying a big stick," Sookie giggled as she stepped from the shower and passed Eric a towel.

"Human food? Sookie, I know I still need blood. I crave your blood at times."

"I'm not saying that you aren't still a vampire. You are. I just think that the reason you've been so tired and grouchy as of late," Eric's eyebrow rose at that. "Well you have sweetie. Garrick was colicky last night and you left the room and went and watched that interview on the television."

"My ears are more sensitive to his cries than yours, and I watched Interview with the Vampire—I like Lestat. He is a noble and cunning vampire."

"Oh my stars! Why didn't I think of it? Eric, both you and Garrick need food. You need a fat, juicy steak, medium rare I would think. Garrick, though, he isn't getting blood, he's just getting formula for food." Eric gave her a doubtful stare. "It makes sense. Listen, he's a daywalker too, and he's been so fussy lately. I feed him and he's still hungry. I bet if I put a couple drops of True Blood in his bottle, his crying fits would stop. Alrighty, so get dressed. We have to pick up Hunter, and then I took the liberty of inviting Pam and Godric over to the house. Oh, and we are moving to my house for a while. I need a change of scenery."

Eric opened his mouth to protest, but Sookie covered his lips with her finger. "They miss you. You can't avoid them anymore."

"You don't understand," Eric said as he raked a hand through his gorgeous hair, and slapped some expensive smelling aftershave on his face and neck. Sookie closed her eyes and inhaled his scent.

"Then make me understand. I'm your wife now and you're supposed to share things with me," she said soothingly as she leaned her head against his arm and gazed at her Viking God in the mirror. He ground his jaw, and she could see the debate going on inside him on whether or not to let her in on the secret he was keeping.

"Pam and Godric are safe. I fail to see why I must bend to their every whim."

"Every whim?" Eric brushed past her at that and Sookie followed him into a large, walk-in closet. Eric plucked an expensive looking, gray, sports jacket from one of the hangers and proceeded to get dressed, ignoring her in the process. "The second night falls, Pam is calling the house. Godric came by last week and on your request, I had to turn him away. They love you and are worried about you. Why can't you see that?"

"It will not help their cause to associate with a daywalker!" Eric shouted. "The baby is awake. I will get him," he said in calmer tones though his expression still looked royally pissed off.

Sookie prepared Garrick's bottle, only this time she poured a few drops of the synthetic blood, True Blood, into his bottle and then gave it a hard shake. It was pink formula then, and Sookie frowned. Why couldn't they make blue colored True Blood. They had blue colored everything else at the supermarket. She laughed at the absurdity of her thoughts.

Eric, bounced the baby on his knee and hummed an ancient Viking song as the baby whined. He was in a foul mood again, much like his father. Sookie handed him the bottle, politely, and Eric took it. He scoffed when he figured out what she had done, adding the True Blood to it, but surprisingly, he stuck the nipple into the baby's hungry mouth. "Eric, I love you. Please tell me why it would matter if Pam and Godric associated with a daywalker."

He sighed. "Daywalkers, in vampire society, are an anomaly. We are different, and in so, we are by and large outcasts."

"Well now see, that is something I can relate to. I was a freak growing up because of my ability."

"I do not wish to be a freak. I do not wish for my family to suffer because of what I am."

"You aren't a freak and neither is our child. You're the man I love. I think you should let Pam and Godric be the judge. You need to let them decide for themselves." About halfway through his bottle, Garrick pulled away and with an adorable smile he cooed up at Eric. It seemed that the True Blood had worked as he looked lazy and sated.

"Your mother thinks she has to save all the freaks in the world. Doesn't she?" Eric smiled and the baby giggled, his tiny fangs protruding from his gums. Eric kissed the boy on the nose.

"No, just the big, brooding Viking that I married. Right Garrick?" Eric shot her a defeated look, and Sookie raised her chin and smiled. "It's settled then. We will pick up Hunter, then run by the supermarket and get you a big steak and maybe some potatoes to go with it, and then head over to my house. After the kids go to bed we will sit down with Godric and Pam and hash this all out."

"Are you going out in that?" Eric's eyes roved up and down her body, and Sookie remembered that she hadn't dressed and was standing in the Eric's living room wearing only a towel.

"Perhaps I should. It might even out the number of females knocking down your door. You look too good in that suit, Eric. I wasn't joking about carrying a big stick in my purse to beat off all the women." And maybe even men, she shuddered at the thought.

Eric and Hunter devoured their dinners. Sookie was glad that she thought ahead and bought the six-pack of New York strip steaks, because after the first one was down, Eric wanted another. His mood had immediately improved as he laughed and joked with Hunter, while Hunter imitated Eric's every move as Sookie watched on. Eric would suavely rake a hand through his hair and Hunter would follow suit. It was an endearing scene to witness.

"Hunter, Aunt Sookie has some news," Eric said, as he swallowed a forkful of very bloody, meat. She had barely cooked his steak, only searing it for a minute on each side to hold in the blood and juice.

"Hunter, how would you feel about being with us permanently?"

"Like a real family?" Hunter asked. He looked to both Sookie and Eric, excitedly.

"A real family. You'd change your last name to Northman like I did. How do you feel about that?"

"Oh boy! Would you be my new Mommy and Daddy?"

"Eric?" Sookie passed the buck. She and Eric hadn't really talked about that aspect of the adoption and she wanted to feel him out.

"I would like it if you called me that. It is up to Sookie though," he deferred back to her.

"If we all like it, then it's a done deal. Tomorrow we will go down to the school in Bon Temps and get you all registered. Now give Eric and me a hug, then it's off to bed. Big day tomorrow," Sookie said as she watched Hunter fly into Eric's arms. A short time later, after both kids were snugly into bed and sleeping peacefully, Sookie returned to the living room where a silent Eric sat, thinking.

"They should be here shortly. Pam seemed downright excited."

"Pam will follow me blindly. It doesn't mean it's what's good for her though."

"Oh stop being so dour, Eric. Pam's old enough to make her own decisions; the question is—is Daddy able to let her make them?"

"I know what you are doing. It won't work," Eric said and he winked at Sookie.

"I'm just trying to knock some sense into that knuckle head of yours. Sometimes you are so stubborn, Eric."

"Thank you for dinner. I almost feel myself again."

"Is that you admitting that I was right?"

"Possibly," he said with a smirk.

"Call the newspapers." They both laughed.

They sat in silence, listening only to the tick-tock of the old grandfather clock in the entryway of Sookie's house. When the clock chimed nine, there was a knock at the door. Eric didn't move a muscle.

"I guess I'll get that," she said as she opened the door. Pam and Godric stood eagerly on the front stoop. She invited them in and Pam made a bee-line straight for Eric, where she knelt at his feet. Her head was in his lap in a second flat, while Godric politely took a seat across from Eric.

"Oh, Eric, it's been weeks. I've been so worried about you. Why did you push me away like that?"

Eric stroked her hair tenderly, and for a moment, Sookie felt the pangs of jealousy. She had to remind herself that to Pam, Eric was a father figure, so she pushed back those thoughts. She's no different than Hunter or Garrick, she chided.

"Eric's gone through some changes, personally and physically," Sookie piped in.

"You look very good, my child. Much better than Russell Edgington I dare say."

"You killed him, I take it?" Eric asked.

"No. It appears that you were right. I was not enough of a vampire to offer him the true death. But with Pam, Bill and Sophie-Anne, rest her soul," Godric looked down mournfully, when he mentioned the Queen. "We were able to put him out of commission for several centuries. Franklin Mott was not so lucky." Godric went on to explain that with the help of other vampires, he was able to chain King Russell with silver. Bill, however, was the one who knew of the renovations that Russell was doing on the grounds. When the story was finished, it ended with Russell being buried in the cement for the new swimming pool. They had stayed around until the cement dried and then they had all silently made their way back home. Sookie was sure that in reality, it was a maelstrom of assaults and insults being tossed about in every direction, as they decided how to best cover up their actions. She was grateful to all of them, even Bill, as unlikely as it was, for coming to her aid. Bill not so much, though, he had turned to the side of good in the final hours of the battle, and he had lost his beloved Sophie-Anne when one queen took out the other Queen.

"If I were there, Edgington would be dead."

"True, our combined forces could have put an end to him. But your place was with Sookie," Godric said and Pam wept at her loss.

"Eric, you look different. Your skin, it's—"Pam crawled up upon him, straddling him as she pawed at his hair. Sookie's eyes went wide. She closed the distance on the couch in a hurry as she plopped down next to Eric. Pam shot her a contemptuous look, which Sookie ignored. She knew that Pam wasn't going to be an easy nut to crack. Her loyalty to Eric ran as wide and deep as the Grand Canyon and she had lived with Eric, alone, for hundreds of years. She even had her own bedroom at Eric's place in Shreveport. It was surprisingly, girly too.

"Eric, you have to tell them. It will be alright." She rubbed the back of her hand against his cheek and gave him a hopeful smile.

"I'm a daywalker," Eric said with great hesitancy.

"No!" Pam recoiled in shock. Even Godric's blood ran cold, as his face went a whiter shade of pale.

"I told you, Sookie. Next time believe me," Eric stood and left the room. "I think I hear the baby." Liar.

"How could you do that to him? Ya'll are supposed to be his family and stick with him through thick and thin. You know?" Sookie said, as she folded her arms and blew a stray hair from her face.

"It's not what you think," Godric replied. "It's the Magistor. We have all been summoned to a tribunal, tonight at the stroke of midnight."

"The Magistor? Who in the hell is that?"

"Godric, what in the fuck are we going to do? He's going to take one look at that tan and he's going to know! Eric will fry for Queen Sophie-Anne's death."

"Eric didn't kill Sophie-Anne though. You just sat there and said that Russell did her in," Sookie said in exasperation.

"It doesn't fuckin' matter. Russell's gone. Eric," Pam shot up. "May I? I need to see my maker." Sookie nodded and Pam flew up the stairs after Eric.

"The Magistor does not care about justice. He's a deceitful man. As it was, Eric was likely to inherit Louisiana as his kingdom, but now with things such as they are, he will face jail time, perhaps more."

"No! That's not fair. They can't just punish him when he had nothing to do with any of it."

"Area five is his, and in so he was supposed to protect Sophie-Anne. Nobody liked her, or took her seriously, and I doubt that the Magistor even cares about Sophie-Anne's death, but—"

"But what?"

"But…Bill Compton will be there to testify. He was summoned as well. It is his word against ours."

"Oh, we'll see about that!" Sookie threw open the door and trod into the night. She was going to give Bill a piece of her mind. She would make sure that he didn't throw Eric under the bus.

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Chapter Text

Chapter Eighteen

The Magister

In a whirlwind, Sookie flew out the door, but she stopped short when she heard a rustling in the bushes. She crept silently towards the azalea bush that was planted directly under the kitchen window and then she back peddled-her mouth agape when someone shot up and glared at her.

"Bill? Why are you hiding in my bushes?"

"A daywalker? You left me for a daywalker?"

"I left you because you are a lying, cheating asshole."

"Just wait until the Magister hears of this," Bill said with a snarl.

"Bill, no. You killed my cousins. Hadley and Claude. It's time to set things right. Please, don't tell the Magister about Eric. We're a family now. If you ever loved me at all you will do this one thing for me."

"Sookie, everything alright? I sensed a presence," Eric said as he shot out the door.

"Don't worry, I wasn't going to touch your Fairy," Bill hissed as he backed up. Eric growled and his fangs shot out.

"He was eavesdropping outside the window, Eric. He heard everything."

"Are you going to run to the Magister and blab like a little bitch now?" Eric said with a sneer.

"Sookie, I will consider your proposal. Good evening." With that, Bill was gone in a flash.

"Godric said that he has to testify at some tribunal tonight. I'm worried. I think we should go after him. "

"Let him go. Nothing he says is of any consequence. He is without moral compass. I learned that long ago, I wish you would."

"I know, but shouldn't we try? I mean maybe if I reminded him about the baby."

Eric gripped her hard by the arms. "No! We keep Garrick out of this. He wouldn't be safe—"Eric stopped at that, as he turned a watchful eye towards the cemetery. "Let's go inside. We shouldn't talk out here."

.

.

He kissed his sleeping sons', first baby Garrick, and then his older boy, Hunter. He didn't want to alarm the youngster, but he was worried about the tribunal. With great unease he leaned down and kissed Hunter on the forehead as he slept, peacefully.

"Don't worry, Daddy. Everything is going to be alright," Hunter said as he let out a sleepy yawn.

"Shh, go back to sleep. You do well in school tomorrow, and give your Mom lots of hugs. Mommies need hugs."

"Do Daddies need hugs too?" Hunter sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"Yes," Eric replied and the child smiled and leaned into him. He hugged the child warmly and then laid him back down in his bed. He never would have thought it possible that after one thousand years he could once again be a family man, yet now he had a wife and two kids, and everything was perfect. Too perfect, he worried. If there was anything that he'd learned over the last millennia, it was that bad times seemed to linger on, while good times were fleeting. He gulped at the thought of losing his precious family as he backed out of Hunter's room.

"Eric, it's going to be alright, right?" Sookie stood in the hall, outside their bedroom , wearing one of Eric's oversized tee shirts. She looked stunning in it. The tattoos on her body had faded, not that he minded them, but he knew that they bothered Sookie  alot. She held out her hand to him and he took it. "We still have an hour before the tribunal starts. Godric and Pam are going over their stories in the living room. You're welcome to join them. Or…you could spend a little alone time with me?"

"Now that's a hard choice," Eric said sarcastically as he closed their bedroom door and moved on Sookie.

"I hope it's very hard," she quipped in the voice of a sweet enchantress-one that he intended to defile in a very unorthodox fashion.

"Why don't you come and find out, lover?"

"Is that a challenge?" Sookie said and her hand fell to his belt loop. With one firm tug, she ripped his belt clean away from his pants. What she did next, caught him off guard. She pushed him down on the bed and she climbed upon him. Sookie shucked the long tee shirt and her voluptuous, and most ample of breasts spilled out, filling his eyes with a glorious vision. He plunged his head into her chest, but she shoved him back against the pillows. Both in and out of bed Sookie intrigued him, so he played along with her sexy game.

"It's my turn. Now I know you can get out of this pretty damn easily, but you won't, okay?" She looped his belt around his wrists and then tied it tightly to the headboard that was propped behind her bed. Eric nodded, with a wicked grin plastered to his face. Just who did she think she was? Did she really think that she was going to tie him up and have her way with him? Hell yes, he said to himself as she unzipped the fly on his designer slacks and eased her hand under the silken fabric of his boxers.

"Ah, fuck," Eric groaned as his wife's luscious lips wrapped themselves around his engorged tip. She timidly flicked her tongue over him as he watched her confidence building with each purposeful swath of her tongue against his raging hard on. He wanted so badly to run his hands through her hair and he nearly broke out of his bonds when she plunged her head down over his shaft. "Yes, lover," he hissed as he gently bucked his hips upwards. She was moving her head over him quickly and his cock pulsated with the need for release. Sweet, suckling sounds filtered into his ears, and he was fast becoming unglued as his wife sucked him with feverous intent.

"You can come in my mouth if you want. I won't mind," she said lovingly, and Eric almost did just that. If he hadn't wanted to fuck her so completely at that very moment, he would have, for sure, far into the cavern of her mouth at that very moment, but he yearned for the loving warmth of her wetness.

"Fuck me, Sookie. Need—now."

"It would be my pleasure," said the voice of an angel as she knelt over him and took his cock in hand. For a painful five minutes he was forced to watch her as she rubbed his tip against her glistening and moist slit, finally finding pleasure as she moved his head against her swollen cherry. How could she be so fucking hot? Sex with his wife was so much more than a fuck—it was almost a spiritual experience, overwhelming and all encumbering.  He needed to come. Sensing that he was already so close to competition, she planted her hands firmly on his chest and then she eased herself down over him.

"Yes, Sookie," he called out. He wanted her ass in his hands where he would force her down over him until his cock was buried deep inside her sweet pussy, yet he didn't. It took every ounce of strength not to flip her over and pound his love into her until she was screaming out his name into the bed sheets.

"You feel so big inside me. Filling all of me up. Someone is definitely horny," Sookie said coyly as she increased the speed of their sex. Her heavenly tits bounced in front of his face, and he moved his head up in order to catch one of them with his mouth. When the pink, perfect nipple was taught between his teeth, he nipped at her, drawing a miniscule amount of blood, and Sookie cried out for more. She rode him like a professional cowgirl, their bodies like puzzle pieces, slapping, and rocking, and gyrating together, when somebody opened the door.

"Eric, it's time to go." It was Pam, but Eric didn't even look at her. Sweat beaded on Sookie's forehead. She turned to see Pam in the doorway, but she must have been as lost in their lovemaking as he was, because she did not stop. Instead she moved faster, her ministrations becoming ever the more frantic. Her own finger rubbed at her clit, and Eric knew that he couldn't hold out much longer. She was fucking amazing, and so god damn hot, with her ass slapping against him and he was going to lose it. He clenched his eyes shut and tried to think of something nonsexual, something that would prolong the moment, at least until his wife came, but then Sookie was screaming, "Oh, God, Eric, Eric, this feels so fucking good!" she swore as she arched her back and took him all the way in. He opened his eyes to see her biting her lip. It was a vision of glorious beauty, with her hair stuck to her face and neck, sweaty from their lovemaking. That was the straw that broke the camel's back. He could contain it no longer, and he shot his hot love into her. She collapsed on top of him and Eric pulled out of his binds and wrapped his loving arms around his wife. He wanted to hold her like this forever, but the Magister was waiting. He kissed her mouth and declared his love for her.

"No matter what happens, know that I love you with all that I am, Mrs. Northman."

"I love you too, Mr. Northman. Come back in one piece."

.

.

"You're late. This is serious shit, Eric. Stop thinking with your dick and start thinking with your head, or we will all pay." Pam chastised when Eric entered the dank dungeon. The Magistor held vampire court in the basement of a warehouse. It had been abandoned after hurricane Katrina swept through. The walls were rapidly decaying, as plaster and chips of paint rained down from the ceiling above. The place had seen flood damage from the massive hurricane. It smelled of mold and mildew, and dried up blood stains were smeared across the floor. Eric hated going to see the Magister. Each time a Supe in his Area, Area Five, committed some unspeakable atrocity, he was bound to bring them before the Magister for trial, and he hated it. All of it. Becoming a daywalker had changed his life, and moreover he liked it. He hadn't confided to Sookie this particular fact, but hell, becoming a daywalker was the best thing that could have ever happened to him. He liked the sun, a fuck of a lot. He liked eating Sookie's cooking, and he liked feeling out of breath when his wife fucked him so completely. He liked all of it. Yet, he was supposed to feel inferior. He didn't. As he stood before the Magister, he saw now his own fallacy of thought regarding daywalkers. He had hated them for at least two hundred years, ever since the first time he had met one. He knew now that he was jealous, as all vampires were of the daywalkers, though none of them would ever admit it.

"If nobody has proof that Godric murdered the King of Texas, Felipe de Castro, or can provide testimony to the contrary, then I can only take his word. Russell Edgington killed the King of Texas and his punishment is true death." Eric bowed his head as a relief washed over him. Godric, would be safe. "Since you have the medallion of his kingdom, and if none of the Texas area sheriffs have any qualms about it, then Godric will assume kingship over the territory of Texas." The Magister scanned the crowd of bloodsuckers and when nobody raised an objection, the motion carried. "It is done then. Congratulations Godric. Do me a favor and don't rule your kingdom like the pussy that you were as Sheriff. I am relieved that I won't have to see your ugly mug in my court again," the Magister said with a sigh as he browsed his court docket.

"Eric Northman, Bill Compton and Pamela Swynford de Beaufort. Please step forward."

"Please let him call Bill first, so we know if he rolls on us," Pam whispered as she slipped her hand in Eric's and stepped forward.

"Shhh, it will be alright. I won't let anything happen to you."

"I'm scared Eric." She looked into his eyes with the frightened eyes of a doe, and Eric knew that he would do everything he could to save his daughter Pam.

"Miss Swynford de Beaufort. Please detail the events as they occurred, that which led to the death of Queen Sophie-Anne Leclerq."

Pam's voice shook as she began to speak. Eric squeezed her hand in hope of giving her a much needed shot of confidence. "Sir, when my maker and I learned that Sophie-Anne had been kidnapped from her home in New Orleans, we tracked her to Russell Edgington's estate. It was no secret that he had designs on her crown. He'd been after it for years."

"Go on."

"Sheriff Northman and I, followed her to Edgington's estate where we bargained for her release. Russell killed Sophie-Anne though, and then when Godric and the King of Texas showed up, he killed the King of Texas too, in order to take his kingdom to add to his growing number of kingdoms. The man was power hungry. He's three thousand years old, and he killed them both, Sir," Pam said through trembling lips. Eric nodded his approval to her.

"So… Mr. Northman killed no vampires?"

"No, Sir. He was only there to find a peaceful solution—one that would bring our Queen home to Louisiana."

"Who killed the vampire Franklin Mott?" Pam looked at Eric like he was a cheat sheet, with all the answers.

"I did Magister," Godric piped in. "But only because he tried to kill my child. He was the King of Mississippi's royal consort, and in so, his agenda was that of the King's."

"You might have told me this fact before I crowned you King. In so though, my hands are tied. I do not have the authority to prosecute a King without express consent from the Vampire League. In that they decided that Mr. Edgington deserved the true death, I think it safe to assume that any of his patsies would deserve that of the same fate, so I am closing the matter of Franklin Mott's death. Be thankful."

"Yes, Sir. I am," Godric replied.

"Miss Beaufort. What was Bill Compton's role in this whole fucking mess?"

"Sir?" Pam asked, confused and not wanting to answer that particular question. Why didn't the Magister call on me. Why Pam? He could see her discomfort.

"Don't try my patience. Answer my fucking question," the Magister shouted in an ear deafening roar.

"I think Mr. Compton has a personal relationship with the Queen. He was there for the same reasons that I and Mr. Northman were, out of concern for Sophie-Anne's well being. He helped Godric and Eric and myself to restrain King Russell."

"So he was an asset to your cause? Even though you all failed miserably," he added.

"Yes, Sir," Pam said, after a long pause. She shot Bill a look of disgust.

"Sheriff Northman..Anything to add?"

"I concur with Pam, but if there should be any ramifications of our actions forthcoming, I will take all responsibility. She only acted on my orders."

"Mr., Compton? Same story as the Sheriff and Miss Swynford de Beaufort?"

Bill paused as he glared at Eric. "More or less."

"Well which is it? More or less?" The Magister questioned.

"It was a chaotic scene. I didn't see Felipe de Castro when he was killed, so I cannot verify the validity of Godric's claims that he did. I will say that Godric had quite a bit of blood on his person when he arrived at Russell's mansion."

"It was the blood of werewolves. Russell had control over a pack of Weres, that he kept as guards outside his house. It was necessary for Godric and myself to end their lives, after they made an unprovoked attack upon us," Eric interrupted.

"I see. Well, we should all thank you then. A vampire in fucking league with a pack? It's beneath us," The Magister cursed in disgust. Eric shot Bill a murderous look.

"If there is nothing more to add, Mr. Compton, I shall make my ruling."

"There is just one thing," Bill piped in.

"Well spit it the fuck out. I don't have all the time in the world. I have a life too you know. We all do."

"I witnessed Sheriff Northman-kill the Queen of Louisiana, Sophie-Anne Leclerq." There were whispers throughout the warehouse at this and Pam looked at Eric with tears in her eyes.

"You fucking liar!" Pam shouted.

"Pam, enough!" Eric said with authority.

"What Eric, he's fucking lying like the shit eating fucker that he is. He's a bastard."

"One more outburst Miss Beaufort and I will hold you in contempt."

"Bill you lying sack of shit. I should have killed you back at Russell's when I had the chance."

"That's it. Take the vampire into custody. Chain her in silver in my chambers. Maybe after a month in silver you will learn to shut your fucking mouth!"

"Sir, please. Take out your punishment on me. Pam has done nothing wrong. She is guilty only of loving her maker, which is something I think most of us would understand," Eric plead with the Magister for his daughter Pam.

"Shut the fuck up Sheriff Northman. I'm getting to you. Don't you worry."

"Mr. Compton," the Magister turned on Bill at that. "These are serious allegations, and one of great magnitude. To kill one's own King or Queen is an offense that the sentence is the true death for. Are you sure that you wish to enter in this plea?"

"I do, your Magister. I saw it with my own two eyes. I believe Mr. Northman sought her crown, so he killed her, even in her weakened state, in order to procure the crown for himself."

"Is this true, Mr. Northman?"

"No, it is not true. I have never sought after a kingship. I like my job as Sheriff, so I would have no reason to harm my Queen, not now, and not then."

"Mr. Compton? Why should I take your word over his? Eric Northman has been a dutiful Sheriff for many years. He has a good record. Until now he's been exemplary in my employment as Sheriff of Area 5. I was prepared to crown him King of Louisiana."

"Well, Sir. While his past service may not be called into question by someone so esteemed as yourself, his current situation should be a factor that one must consider. It's just a suggestion, however," Bill bit out with the cunning of a snake in the grass.

"Please elaborate, Mr. Compton. You are trying my patience."

"Mr. Northman has recently joined the ranks of the loathsome, daywalkers. See for yourself."

Eric balled his fists up so tightly that blood pooled in his hand as droplets of crimson fell to the already blood stained floor.

"Step into the light, Mr. Northman, and kneel before your Magister." Eric reluctantly stepped forward and a glowing fluorescent light hit his face as the multitude of shocked vampires looked on. "Do you admit to this? Do you walk in the sun?"

"I do your honor." More gasps and whispers resonated, the place echoing with vileness. Eric heard one vampire's intent to kill him and another backed up his sentiments. Even the Sheriff of Area four was hooting and hollering. The crowd erupted with a chant, their voicing chiming in unison—all calling for the true death.

"True death, true death," they shouted and Eric closed his eyes and thought of Sookie. I love you Mrs. Northman, he heard himself saying. To the very end.

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A/N:  Sorry to leave yall on a cliffy like this. Fucking Bill sucks. Thanks for the kudos and reviews it lets me know people are reading and waiting for updates. With so many stories going right now I do pay attention to that and I don’t like people having to wait so if I see a lot reading a story I will update faster. Hint: You will see a new character in the next chapter but it’s one from the show True Blood. One of those good news bad news situations for Eric.

Chapter Text

Chapter Nineteen

Promises

"I hear you all," the Magistor called out to the hordes of frenzied vampires who continued to jeer at a kneeling Eric. "I was passed over for this job—me, your dutiful Magistor. Yes, yes it's true! They wanted to put a fucking daywalker in the position. You know what I did?"

"True death, true death," the crowd chanted, again and again. Eric looked up with the cold eyes of a killer. He would take out as many as he could before he succumbed to the true death. He would not go down without a fight.

"That's right. I drove that fucking stake through that sun worshipper's fucking heart. Rest assured, it shall be done," The Magistor said.

"Are you fucking crazy? Have the lot of you all gone completely insane? Get the fuck into the twenty first century." Eric's head shot around to see a woman wearing a pink, pastel pantsuit as she waltzed into the room, disrupting the hearing. She was flanked by two men in suits, vampires also. "Yes. I got here in time. Okay. What about the Magistor?" she said into her cell phone, before she snapped it shut. "Eric Northman, get up. This trial is over. So are your days as a working Magistor," she turned on the middle-aged Magistor. "You're fired."

"Fuck you and the Vampire League. It's daywalkers like him that are ruining centuries of vampire rule on Earth."

Eric could only watch as the assertive blond fought with the Magistor. "You fucking idiot. It was a daywalker that unearthed the plot about the zombies from Hell's Kitchen. Twenty vampires died before Sheila was able to infiltrate their cell. And what did you do, you utter fucking dumbass. You admit on tape, before the entire Vampire League, that you killed a daywalker. They can walk in the sun! They are our eyes and ears, while your incompetent ass sleeps in your cheap, fucking redneck coffin that sits in the back of your rusted out trailer that you got from the fucking, human garbage dump. You suck! Get out of my way."

"You can't have him. He's my Sheriff. He's under my jurisdiction."

"Not anymore he isn't. The Vampire League wants him. I want him, and I always get what I want!"

"We'll see about that." The Magistor launched on the woman, fangs bared, as Eric looked on curiously. Within seconds it was all over, as the woman pierced the withered Magistor's heart with a wooden stake. The stake meant for Eric. Blood splattered her clothes and face as she stopped in front of Eric.

"I have a deal for you. Are you interested, daywalker?"

"Do I have a choice?" Eric replied.

"No. You don't. Get off the dirty fucking floor and follow me," she ordered as the crowd of hungry vampires filed out of the warehouse, the show seemingly over.

"What about the kingship of Louisiana?" Bill Compton caught up to them. With one hand, Eric took him by the throat and hurled his body into the air. He fell with a hard thud, as his body came down upon the cracked cement flooring. He groaned loudly.

"Cut the shit. I have no time for this. Compton, I want to thank you for exposing the daywalker, Mr. Northman. That being said, the Vampire Authority cannot crown you King, until which time the medallion belonging to this kingdom has been found. You idiot, fucking hicks may have no respect for vampire law, but the Authority does. Produce the fucking medallion. Make my job easier. Knock yourself out," she said flatly, as they exited the dirty, old warehouse, to find a limousine waiting outside.

"Do you need an invitation? Get the fuck in. I hate this low class, neighborhood, and now I have to find another Magistor." Eric grumbled as he ducked into the limo.

Once inside, the woman introduced herself. "I'm Nan Flanagan, your new boss, and soon to be wife."

"I don't think so. Let me off." Eric shot back.

"I do think so. The last daywalker that I had as my partner, fucked me over. I should have married that fucking bitch, that way she couldn't have fucked me right up my ass like she did. I learn from my mistakes. We are going to Vegas, where you will be my groom at a vampire wedding. At least you dress nice. My last fucking partner looked like the poster girl for fucking Walmart."

"Well that's a nice story, Nan, but what's to stop me from ripping your fucking head off right now?" Eric leaned forward, his fangs bared and wearing a rabid look upon his face.

"A certain vampire baby. He's just so adorably cute, wouldn't you say?" Nan produced a stack of photos as she thumbed through them. You should remind your human wife that twenty-four hour drugstores are often manned by vampires and that she probably shouldn't drop off photos of her darling hubby and her baby boy, for processing at such a place."

"Give me those!" Eric shouted as he snatched the pictures away from her hand.

"I have more, so don't get any ideas."

Eric rubbed his finger over one of the pictures, a photo of Sookie and Garrick. She cradled him in her arms as she swung in the hammock in the backyard of Eric's house in Shreveport. His heart was in his throat when he gazed at his blushing bride and their infant son. He would do anything to protect them. Anything. "I'm married, already. I cannot marry you."

"You never had a vampire ceremony, therefore it doesn't count. I checked the registry, Northman. You didn't. I am thorough at my job." Fuck, he screamed in his head. How could he have forgotten something so vitally important?

"I don't love you, nor do I even know you."

"Details," Nan said, and she waved her hand in dismissal of his protests.

"Who did you show these pictures to?"

"Nobody yet, but should I suddenly go missing, then the negatives will be sent to the Vampire Authority. I cover my bases, Mr. Northman, so just draw those fangs back up. I've got your ass, and there are no two ways about it. I'm not a fucking racist. Unlike the Magister, with his archaic prejudices, I don't fucking care that a vampire and a human-fairy, hybrid fucked and produced some half-breed."

"I want assurances that Sookie and the kids will be unharmed."

"You be a good boy and play by the rules, and I might even let you off your leash on occasion. Fuck me though, and I will make sure that Sookie and your fucking precious nuclear family pay with their lives."

"Do not ever, EVER, say my wife's name again!" Eric held her by her collar and he thought he saw the faintest worry lines upon her forehead. I want Pam released too. Now!"

"Calm down, Eric. I'm not such a bad wife. You will see. Furthermore, you will be doing much more interesting work. I'm sure you aspire for more than a shitty, strip bar, stocked full of fangbangers and whores and drug dealers. Small potatoes. The work you will do with me is worthy of someone with your background."

"Go fuck yourself."

"They'll be plenty of time for that too."

"I need to see my wife. I can't just leave without word. She will come after me."

"Not my problem. However, I'll give you fifteen minutes, just to show you that I'm not a monster. You'll owe me for this though." Nan ordered the driver to make a detour, as the car swung around on the freeway in the direction of Bon Temps. She picked up her cell phone and Eric heard her give the order to release Pam. That was one less worry on his mind, but Sookie- she was not going to take this well. As the white, dotted lines painted on the road sped by, Eric gazed out the window and thought about what he would say to his wife—the woman he loved more than life itself. The mother of his child, and his lover—his heart. What cruel twist of fate was life handing him? He had to formulate a plan. A plan that would make sure that Sookie, Hunter and Garrick were not harmed. One that would bring him back to his family. Nan was about the same age as Eric, perhaps a little younger, but she carried with her the weight of the entire American Vampire League. If he could just find those damn negatives.

.

.

"Make it snappy. I'm not a patient woman," Nan said as she brushed her hair and then applied a fresh coat of pale, pink lipstick.

"I'll fucking kill you for this."

"Now is that any way to talk to your fiancé?" Nan said without ever looking at him. She was so repulsive to him at that moment he wanted to drive a stake through her eight-hundred year old heart, but instead he stepped out of the limo and gulped at the thought of breaking his sweet Sookie's heart.

"Eric!" Sookie did a running jump at him and he caught her in his arms. With her arms and legs wrapped tightly around his body, she dropped butterfly kisses on Eric's lips, chin and neck. How in the hell could he do this? Eric gave her one bruising kiss as his tongue forced its way inside her waiting mouth. She returned his kiss with a fire of her own and Eric immediately grew hard in his pants. Fuck, he wanted her. He wanted her now and forever. It just made what he had to say that much harder.

"Sookie, stop." Sookie continued her amorous actions though, as quick fingers untucked his shirt and raked their way up his chest.

"Bed, or couch? Or shower? That was really hot."

"Lover, please. Stop." He pried her arms from his neck and set her down on the floor as he brushed her off of him.

"What's up, hot stuff? Godric and Pam alright? How did things go at the tribunal?"

"Godric is fine. Pam will be fine also. Sookie," Eric stared at his beautiful wife. He wanted to remember every last inch of her, the beautiful contours of her face. "I have to go."

"Go? Go where? When will you back?"

"I don't know, lover. Not one moment longer than need be."

"Is this some sort of joke? If it is, it isn't funny, Eric. Come on you nut, let's go to bed. I couldn't sleep so I waited up."

"Sookie." He pulled her into him and hugged her against his body. She went rigid in his arms.

"Are you dumping me? Eric, we're a family." She pushed him away at that and paced across the living room to the window. "Is that a limo out front? Who's in it?"

"Sookie. Here are my credit cards. Use them for whatever you need. They are yours. You and the children will never need for anything."

"What? I don't want your money, Eric." Tears sprang from her eyes. "I love you. Why are you leaving? Don't go! Whatever went down tonight, we can get through it together."

"Not this time. Sookie, you are mine, forever. I am yours. Never forget that." With his heart in his throat, Eric, turned and left out the door. Her pained calls echoed in his ears as he got in the limo with Nan Flanagan and they sped away.

"Oh come on, how bad could it be? It's just a human," Nan said callously. Eric took the ring off his finger, and stared at it. He unhooked the necklace of Thor's hammer that he always wore around his neck and looped his wedding ring on it and clasped it once again around his neck. He wanted Sookie close to his heart. He pulled out the photograph of Sookie and he kissed it, before stuffing it into the breast pocket of his jacket.

.

.

Sookie sat on the floor in her living room and wept, hard, ugly tears. She was numb. She couldn't wrap her mind around what had just gone down. Eric left her? Only hours before they had made mad, passionate love. He loved her. Yet he left her? None of it made any sense. Her head shot around when there was a knock at the door.

"Eric, I knew you'd come back." Sookie leaped to her feet and hurried to the door. She was shocked to see not Eric, but his daughter Pam at the door.

"Is he here?" Pam said frantically. Blood red tears streamed down her face.

"Here and gone already. You want to come in?" Sookie, invited Pam inside.

"He called me a few minutes ago. Told me the bar is mine. Just gave me Fangtasia. What the fuck is going on?" Pam said through a fit of hysterical tears.

"He left me. He left us. Said he didn't know when he'd be back," Sookie uttered under her breath as she wiped salty tears from her own eyes. "What happened at the tribunal?"

"I'll tell you what happened. Fucking Bill Compton is what happened. He told the Magister that Eric killed that fucking bitch of a Queen, Sophie-Anne. I got so upset the Magister had me chained in silver." Pam looked down at her wrists and shivered. Sookie could see red marks upon them, and she gulped at the thought of what Pam had been through. "I don't know what happened after that, as I was found in contempt when I got fucking pissed at Bill. Lying mother fucker. How could you ever bed that man?"

"I don't know," Sookie said, and she meant it. She couldn't understand what she had ever seen in Bill Compton. "Did Eric tell you where he was going?"

"No. He forbade me from looking for him too."

"Well, fuck that. We have to find him."

"Sookie, I can't. He's my maker. I can't go against his wishes. Not to say that you can't."

"No, I can't either. I have two children that depend on me. If Eric doesn't want to be found, then as much as it hurts," Sookie wrapped her own arms around her middle upon uttering those words, and fought back the tears, "Then I will just have to respect his wishes. He will come back to us. Won't he?"

"Yeah, sure he will," Pam said, her face a smeared mess of bloody tears. She said it, but she didn't mean it. Pam looked down right worried. She'd never seen the normally cool and calculating vampire that was Pam, looking quite as unhinged as she was at that moment.

"I don't know how to do Eric's job at the bar. I don't know the first thing about doing payroll and scheduling events. This is a god damn mess!" Pam hollered and Sookie put her finger to her mouth and pointed to the upstairs, reminding her that two children were fast asleep in the house.

"Look, I can help you. If you can help me from time to time with a little babysitting, I can help you at Fangtasia. I've filled in for Sam at Merlottes enough times that I can do most of those things." Sookie reached out and held Pam's hand. Pam squeezed it back and put on a fake smile.

"I was wrong about you. I can see why Eric fell for you. He's a fucking fool to leave you."

"I know," Sookie said as the two women hugged for the very first time. It was a strange, comforting feeling.

Review!

I had to do it for the plot and story. Sookie and Pam need to bond and now they will. Also, Sookie is going to be plenty mad at Bill. That's a hint for things to come. I don't write tear jerking endings, I mean I suppose I could but I haven't to date ;) I like stories with satisfying endings, so it's safe to read on. That being said there are still several chapters left of this story.

s 

Chapter Text

Chapter Twenty

Letters

Six months later…

"Do you want to have a threesome with Pierre and myself? After today—the way you and I took down those terrorist Weres at the blood bank in Beverly Hills, I'd think that you'd want to celebrate. You were magnificent. Hell, I was magnificent." Eric picked up the Tiffany lamp, which lay on the bedside table and hurled it across the room at Nan. It smashed against her head and she fell to the ground.

"God damn it, Eric. I paid a fortune for that lamp. It's coming out of your pay. I'll take that as a no then? Do me a fucking favor—don't break anything else or I'll be quite cross. Oh, and don't forget that we are doing CNN tomorrow. I'll do all the talking of course. You will just sit there and play the doting husband? We clear?"

"Get the fuck out of my sight, woman."

Eric slid the drawer on the nightstand table open and with a gold plated pen he began to write a letter to his wife.

My lover,

I don't sleep anymore. Day and night, my thoughts are consumed by you and our children. I need to meet with you. My phone is being monitored. I can't risk calling you, my lover. I thought I could do this on my own, but I'm losing my fucking mind being away from you and the kids. Meet with me on the twenty second of April? I'll be at the park at noon—the one by Hunter's school. I love you so much it hurts not to be near you…

Eric

1. Do not take your camera film in for developing or risk exposing Garrick.

He put his hands behind his head, and closed his eyes. You are mine Sookie, feel me now, I need you so badly…

.

.

"It's not so hard, Pam. Once I figured out what Eric was doing with the bookwork, it all sort of made sense. Pull up a chair and I'll show you," Sookie said, from behind Eric's desk at Fangtasia, as she opened her mouth to yawn. She had already worked a double shift at Merlottes earlier in the day, but Pam had phoned, worried about the creditors' that were breathing down her neck. She had said that she couldn't read Eric's chicken scratch, and that she desperately needed help with the books. Since Eric's accountant had been fired months before Eric turned over the bar to Pam (he had cooked the books according to Pam), Eric himself had taken over everything financial when it came to the popular night club.

"I was never good at numbers, Sookie. I don't have a head for this shit."

"Well, you have to learn, Pam. It's plain and simple. You are the owner of this bar now, and who knows if Eric's ever coming back. It's been months now, with no word."

"Who's watching the kids? I'm sorry I couldn't sit for my baby brothers, but fucking Ginger is out sick and somebody has to tend bar."

"My friend, Sam Merlotte. He's been a godsend as of late."

"Sounds cozy? Are the two of you close?" Pam asked, and one eyebrow flew up.

"We are. It's not like that though. Sometimes though, I wonder why not."

"Because you still love Eric. So do I. I'm angrier than shit at him though for dropping all of this on me, but I know that if he walked through that door, right now, I'd forget all of it and forgive him. I miss the fuck out of him," Pam said with an exasperated sigh.

"Must be a vampire thing then," Sookie said as she tallied the receipts from the previous week's profits using an adding machine that she had found in the bottom drawer of Eric's desk.

"Bullshit. You'd open your legs for him in a heartbeat," Pam said sharply.

"I wouldn't count on it. He left me high and dry with two kids."

"Didn't he leave you money?"

"He did. Don't want it though. If I'm not good enough to share a bed with, then I'm certainly not going to spend one dime of money that I did not earn."

"Humans," Pam scoffed. "Well, you have a job here if you want it."

"Thank you, Pam. I could use the extra money. Diapers and formula are expensive and Hunter is growing like a weed. Eating me out of house and home."

--0--

.

.

Eric drummed his fingers on his leg, nervously, as he waited for Sookie to arrive. It was a beautiful spring day, and the sun was out as he sat anxiously on the park bench. She would come. They may not have had a legal and binding marriage in the vampire community, but they had a Fae marriage, a human marriage and a vampire blood bond. Still, he felt uneasy. He felt nothing but sorrow coming through their blood bond, and he wasn't sure if it was his, hers or the combination of both of them, but it was weakening as time passed and it worried Eric. Damn it Sookie where are you?

"Daddy?" Hunter strode up to Eric, kicking a soccer ball in front of him. Eric spun around to see the boy beaming at him.

"Hunter," his spirits lifted immediately as he held his arms open. The boy bounded into his arms.

"Are you coming home? Mommy is real sad."

Eric, suddenly felt sick to his stomach. He was a piece of shit for hurting his wife and family.

"I can't, Hunter. Not yet. Soon though. Are you doing well in school?" The boy's face dropped at that.

"I don't fit in. Some of the kids call me names. Mommy says to ignore them."

"I understand why she said that, but she's wrong. You can't ignore it. It won't go away. Why don't you use your gift in order to get back at them?"

"How, Daddy?"

"Pick out the meanest bully in the class, and read his thoughts. Then exploit it."

"Trevor is the meanest one. He pee's his bed every night. I guess I would be in a bad mood too if I pottied in my bed every night. Huh?"

"You read his thoughts on this matter?" Eric asked.

"Yes. Mommy says I should es-pect someone's privacy, but he trips me every morning when I gotta walk by his desk, and he says he bets I potty my bed every night too like him cuz I'm a freak. But I don't potty my bed. That's for babies."

"Of course you don't. Warriors don't wet themselves," Eric said, feeling a little uncomfortable with the conversation and out of his depth. He didn't want to step on Sookie's toes in her mothering, as he was sure that her advice was probably the right advice in at least ninety percent of situations, but she was also far nicer than he was, and he knew that sometimes a man needed to fight back in order to put an end to the continued abuse. Bill and Nan came to mind. "Hunter, your Mom is right. You should respect people's privacy, but I think in this case you need to pay Trevor a hard learned lesson. You cannot have him tripping you and calling you names for the rest of the school year. Say this to him next time he does this." Eric whispered into the child's ear and Hunter's eyes went wide before he was caught by a fit of giggles. "Only say it this one time, though." Eric winked at the boy. "I think your teacher is waving to you. You best go." The child frowned and then threw himself into Eric's arms once more. He hugged him tightly and gave him a kiss on the top of the head. "I love you. I'll be home as soon as I can."

"Will you tell me stories at bedtime again?"

"I will indeed." Fuck Nan for doing this to us. This is beyond wrong.

"Who's Nan?"

Eric's blood ran cold.

"She's nobody important. Hunter did you read my thoughts?"

"Yes, I'm sorry. You aren't mad at me are you?"

"No. I'm not angry with you. I love you, son." Eric knelt down and reached into his wallet at that. "Can you give this to your mother for me? You can keep one for yourself. Buy something nice, that you want." He passed the child twenty, crisp, one hundred dollar bills and watched as the child's eyes lit up. With a tad bit of trouble, Hunter stuffed the bills into his pocket. "Off you go now." His chest hurt as he watched his child run away, and disappear into the school. What hurt even more though, was the fact that Sookie—the one person he needed the most at that moment, had stood him up.

.

Sookie bounced baby Garrick in her arms while she waited for the yellow school bus. Hunter's bus. "Hey Sookie, need me to cut your lawn?" Sam hollered, as he pulled his old, jalopy of a truck down her gravel drive.

"That would be real nice, Sam." She had been mowing the grass herself, ever since Jason dropped the bombshell of Hiroshima proportions on Sookie only a few weeks prior. She had stopped by his house in hopes that Jason could babysit for her while she pulled a second shift at Merlottes, but he clearly had his hands full she found when she arrived. It seemed that Jason had become a father, five times over. Not only that, but he had five baby-mommas' living in his house, after they were all booted from Fairy for being of blood relation to Sookie and Jason. Niall, was apparently taking matters hard since she had refused to join him. She had a sneaking suspicion that Niall wanted she and Eric's baby for some dastardly means. That theory was confirmed when one of Jason's nicer concubines divulged the information that Niall was building an army, in order to wipe out the water fairies that resided in Fairy but also the wood nymphs on Earth. It was all too much for her to worry about, but she kept a close watch over Garrick just the same. Niall had the uncanny ability to pop up in places that she least expected him to be, so it was never far from her mind.

"Penny for your thoughts," Sam said with a toothy grin as he leaned over and gave Sookie a peck on the cheek.

"Do you have all day?" Sookie joked as she shifted Garrick onto her hip. He was growing by leaps and bounds and it bothered her a lot that Eric was missing out on all his milestones.

"For you I do," Sam said, in a tone that left Sookie feeling a little uncomfortable. It was an almost too friendly tone.

"Sam, I have a favor to ask of you. I wouldn't ask it, but I'm sort of stuck for a babysitter."

"You know I'll sit for you. I love those kids like they were my own. But I gave you the night off. What gives?"

"Yeah, but I have to go into Shreveport. Pam might have a lead on Eric."

"Sookie, it ain't none of my business, and you can tell me to shut up if you want to, but Eric left you. He left you and the kids. In my book he ain't no man."

"You're right Sam, it isn't any of your business," Sookie shot back. She was pleased to see the school bus lumbering its way down the road. Hunter bounded off the bus and flew at Sookie, hugging her tight around the waist.

"Yeah, well I'll just go mow your lawn for you. I'm sorry Sook, but somebody needed to tell you. You need to ask yourself though, just how long you will wait. Other fish in the sea."

"Lawn mower is in the shed. Gassed up and everything," Sookie said with a smile, preferring to ignore Sam's insistent remarks about Eric and her love life—or lack thereof for that matter.

"Daddy came to see me at school today!" Hunter said, excitedly.

Sookie stopped dead in her tracks.

"He did?" Her heart was all a flutter. Upon hearing her elder son's news, she was surprised to find that her anger towards her wayward husband had all but evaporated into thin air. She missed Eric terribly.

"He gave me this."

"Hunter this is very important. Did you hear where Daddy was living? Did you hear anything that you maybe weren't supposed to?" Did you read his mind? "Was he alright? How did he look?" Sookie fired off questions in rapid succession.

"He said a bad word about somebody named Nan."

--0--.

.

"Get your grubby, vampire mitts off me," Sookie said as she gave one of the Fangtasia, regulars, a hard shove in the ribs, after he pinched her butt.

"Bubba, throw him out." Pam came to her defense. "You stupid shit, that's Eric's wife. You're lucky he isn't here right now, or you'd be getting a hell of a lot more than Bubba's foot up your ass. Get out and come back when you can learn some manners," Pam said, and Sookie was genuinely surprised. True, Sookie had helped Pam to learn how to do the books. For all Pam's years working at Fangtasia, she picked it up fast, but she still complained that she hated it. Still, Sookie had to wonder just what in the hell Eric actually had her doing at the club, because besides being rude to patrons at the door, she didn't seem to do much around the place. She half suspected that Pam's real job, was probably more clandestine, and more geared towards being a Sheriff's Deputy. There was one thing for certain, and that was that Pam, was sure hot on the vampire gossip.

"So, I talked to the leader of the Crypt nest." Sookie shot her a perplexed stare. "It's a fucking vampire gang out of Los Angeles. Small time thugs. Like to knock over convenience stores and rob the register and all of that rubbish, metallic tasting, True Blood. They're trying to establish a black market on the stuff in order to raise the price of a six pack. Stupid shit. Anyways, one of them said they had a run in with Eric. He's from this neck of the woods, so he recognized him."

"Los Angeles. Hmm. I never heard Eric talk about Los Angeles before."

"Well, he did date a model, turned actress, once, but that was a long time ago, and they didn't have a friendly breakup. Hell, she's probably in her sixties by now anyways, so scratch that idea."

"Do you know somebody named Nan?" Sookie asked. "I have reason to believe that whoever she is, she might be part of why my dearest, hubby has gone AWOL from his life here."

"Seriously? Honey, everyone knows who Nan Flanagan is. She's that fucking twat on CNN. She's a bony bitch that fights for vampire rights. Works for the fucking Vampire League. Eric hates the AVL though, so I can't see him hooking up with her."

"I wish I could see her. Maybe I could get a read on her," Sookie said.

"Just watch CNN for a while, she lives for that shit."

Sookie schlepped drinks for tips and was pulling down a lot more money working one shift at Fangtasia, then she did working a double shift at Merlottes. Vampires tipped a lot better too, she'd noticed. Probably because they robbed most of their human victims, but she tried not to think about that, and it wasn't like the bills would pay themselves, so she congratulated herself on a job well done. Sookie, had reluctantly taken the cash that Eric had given Hunter, because she did need it, and she figured that maybe it wasn't so bad for her to use one of his credit cards from time to time. Hell, in a divorce situation, he'd be paying a lot more for child support and alimony to boot, not that she was thinking about divorce—she wasn't. She still loved Eric with all of her heart, even if he had pulled a disappearing act as good as any magician that she'd ever seen. She was mopping up the floor at the end of her shift, when something caught her eye. She dropped the mop when Eric came on the television screen. She moved to the controls to turn up the volume as she listened.

"That's all we—my husband, Eric and I, want—equal rights for vampires. We've made it our life's work. Haven't we darling?" Sookie's mouth hung open.

"Yeah," Eric replied and then the woman's fingers were entwined in his hair as she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek—for the whole world to see!

"Mother fucker," Pam gaped.

Sookies palms were sweating. She saw black spots in front of her eyes, as if the mother of all migraine headaches was about to descend upon her. Her heart raced, and she felt a cold chill slither its way up her spine. "I have to go. Finish up for me?" Sookie said through clenched teeth. She felt the force of Niagara Falls welling behind her eyes, but Eric be damned if she was going to cry. She called him her husband? I'm his wife, not her. I'll kill you Eric. What have you done!

Misty-eyed, Sookie struggled to see, as she drove home in her beat-up, old, Datsun. Her brain replayed the scene over and over again, like a broken record in her mind. She could not push the image of Eric with that cow that called him her husband, away quickly enough. Luckily, by the time that she arrived at Sam's (who was babysitting Garrick and Hunter) she had managed to somewhat pull herself together, after several tedious moments in the car when she felt a burning bile rise in her throat. The last thing she needed was Sam saying I told you so. Unfortunately though, CNN was on when she arrived at his house.

"News was interesting tonight. They had a pre-recorded video of this big-wig from the American Vampire League. Do they have televisions at Fangtasia?" Sam asked, as he stepped around the big, white elephant in the room.

"I saw it, Sam, and no. I don't want to talk about it."

"When you're ready, I'll be here, darlin'. Meantime take this card. It's a friend of mine, helped me out once."

Sookie took the business card from Sam, and peered at it. It said Harry D. Weinstein, Divorce Attorney. Sookie was about to lash out at Sam, but instead she pocketed the card and thanked him. She loaded up the sleeping kids into the car, and all the baby equipment that went along with Garrick—and it was a lot—and she started home. Exhausted, she first helped Hunter to the front door, where she quietly told him to climb into bed. When she went back for Garrick however, someone was already holding her son.

"Bill!" Sookie said, in a mild state of shock. "Give me my son."

"Seriously Sookie, do you think that I'd harm a child? I was a father once too, you know?" Bill jostled Garrick in his arms, and Sookie lunged, in a futile attempt to pluck her son from Bill's treacherous arms. Panic swept over her. "Mail man screwed up our mail again. Thought I'd be neighborly and drop it off to you." He waved an opened letter in his other hand.

"Great, drop the letter on the ground and give me the baby." She tried again to take her son, but Bill was too fast and he darted to and fro, just out of her reach.

"Can I look at your mouth little one? Just open up for Uncle Bill. I just need a quick peek. If you are what I think you are, then I am your new King and you are obligated to do as I command." Was he seriously ever a father? Garrick didn't even know how to make a poo on the potty yet, and it would be quite a many years until he recognized any authority such as a vampire King. Asshole. "See my shiny medal?" Bill flashed a medallion that he wore around his neck like an Olympic winning athlete sporting a gold medal. He dangled it in front of Garrick's arctic eyes.

Sookie had to do something. Bill could not know Garrick's secret. That's when she remembered something. She reached into her purse and grappled for what she was looking for. Finding it, she shielded her hand behind her back. Then everything began to move in slow motion for Sookie. Bill, in his unyielding quest to discover her son's fangs, stuck his forefinger into Garrick's mouth. Bad move. Garrick was cutting teeth, and had been fussy for weeks, not to mention that his fangs were already quite sharp as he bit down on King Bill's finger, biting it clean off. Blood spurt from the hole where his missing digit had been and Bill, distracted by the horrific turn of events, cast his eyes downwards, probably in an effort to find his missing finger that lay somewhere in the grass. Sookie, made a move as she plucked baby Garrick from Bill's captive arms and then she ran—like a bat out of hell, towards the house, as fast as her feet would carry her.

"He bit my fucking finger off!" Bill shouted and he cornered Sookie just as she reached the front stoop. His fangs were bared and Sookie did the only thing that she could think of, in order to protect she and Eric's son-her maternal instinct kicking in hard, like a Mamma bear protecting its cub.

"Sookie, no!" Bill shouted at the last split second, but it was too late, and her hand went towards his chest, hitting its mark, as she drove the wooden stick straight through, with all her might. Sookie and Garrick stood alone together in the dark of night, her hand shaking, her ex-boyfriend dead, in a pool of blood and slop at her feet. Her stress reaction was to laugh, but once she started, she could not stop. Garrick was giggling too, his gleeful voice echoing through the night as Mother and son fell into a fit of laughter.

"That was the stick I put in my purse in order to beat the women off of Eric," she spit out and the baby cooed in her blood soaked arms. She'd put it in her purse one day, merely as a joke, so the irony of it becoming a weapon to kill Bill Compton, struck her as hilariously funny. "King Bill?" Sookie bent down and gripped the medallion that lay at her feet. "King of the jackasses maybe. Hopefully the vampires of Louisiana will thank me." Something flashed gold in the moonlight and Sookie realized what it was. It was the reason that Bill had come over in the first place. She scooped the letter up into her hands, but all she could make out was one word, amidst the thick coating of blood that smeared the paper. It was the word Eric. Eric had written to her, and she would never know what it said.

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Chapter Text

Chapter Twenty-One

Paparazzi

"I'm not sure, Tara. Maybe I need to think about it some more."

"He abandoned you, Hunter and Garrick. What's to think about, Sookie? Look, if you get cold feet while we in there, just hold my hand. I'll be right next to you." Tara braced her hands on Sookie's shoulders as they stood on the busy street in downtown Shreveport. "You wanna' just go home? Come on let's go."

"No. No, I have to do this. I know I can't make the kids live in limbo like this anymore. He married Nan. I didn't do this, he did. He really screwed the pooch on this one, and this is the only way to undo things." Sookie wiped a tear away and stepped through the glass, double doors of the office building with Tara in tow. She needed her friend for support, because this was by far the hardest thing she'd ever done.

"Are you certain Mrs. Northman? Vampires and humans are not permitted to marry in the States. Even though your marriage was performed by a certified, ordained Minister, the state will not recognize it due to Mr. Northman being a vampire. The fact that you have biological children together though, changes everything. In this situation, the marriage would be allowed. Right now you are legally married. If you choose to dissolve the union however—well—there is no going back."

"So because we have children together, that makes our marriage valid?"

"Well, yes. If in fact Mr. Northman is your child's real father. It's likely that a DNA test would be performed, but it's just a formality. In that, this is no different than any other divorce where there are children involved. I promise you that I'm the best family law attorney in the state. I'm not afraid to take on Hollywood and your flashy husband."

"Just draw up the papers, alright?" Sookie blew her nose into a tissue, as Tara shot her a sympathetic glance.

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.

"I'm sorry I could not come sooner, my child. I've sensed your grief for some time now, but there's been much unrest in Texas as of late. Felipe left a lot of unresolved," Godric paused, "Problems, one could say, that required my immediate attention. But now that I am here, tell me what I can do to help you?"

"There is nothing anyone can do. If there was, I'd have done it myself months ago," Eric's voice raised in frustration. "I can't find the negatives and I can't kill Nan."

Godric nodded. "Yes, vampire law is tricky, but surely there is a way to get around this. I know that the vampire marriage bond is one that prevents you from killing your extra and unwanted spouse, but there is nothing to prevent me from taking her life. She is a vile and wicked woman-the way she lies to the multitude of humans on the television. The Vampire League is no better."

"You would be killed. The AVL doesn't play games, Godric. No, there has to be another answer."

"Do you miss them terribly, child?"

"Yes. Sookie, won't even meet with me. Stood me up when I tried to see her. I may be too late."

"It is never too late for love."

There was a knock at the door and Eric swaggered across the room to answer it. "Oh wow, you look taller in real life," a young, twenty-something man said. He had a shaggy, mop of hair and he carried a skateboard under his arm.

"Can I help you," Eric said, with an annoyed expression.

"Are you the vampire on T.V? Eric Northman?"

"Yes. Get on with it. I'm very busy." This wasn't the first fan to show up at Nan's house in the Hollywood Hills. Ever since their appearance on CNN, they had become quite the famous, vampire couple, much to Eric's chagrin.

"You've been served," the young, punk said, with a stoic expression as he shoved a sealed, manila envelope into Eric's hands. Eric's fangs popped out and his face took on a dark, scary look.

"What's the meaning of this?" he growled.

"H-Hey, B-Buddy. Don't kill the messenger. I'm just doing my job," he said as he back peddled, his knees quaking. He turned tail and ran, and Eric heard the squeal of wheels as he drove away. He slammed the door and paced back to the couch where Godric sat, with a curious eyebrow raised. Eric gulped, as he ripped open the letter, and then his eyes went wide.

"No. She cannot do this!" Eric flew into a rage as he completely dismantled Nan's living room. Chairs were thrown through windows as the clinking of broken glass played a melody of melancholy chimes throughout the two story, mansion. By the time he had finished, the house looked like an F5 tornado had struck on its path of deadly destruction.

"Eric, stop. This will solve nothing." Godric laid his hands on a kneeling Eric's shoulders.

"She sent divorce papers. Sookie wants a divorce."

"I know. I'm so very sorry, Eric. I will kill Nan for you. It will ease your mind, at least a little. It's too bad that her demise cannot come at the hand of her own deceit." Eric slumped over in anguish. He had failed. Failed Sookie, failed his children, and Godric was going to face the true death for killing Nan. That's when he saw the wadded up bag, with sticky tape wound around it, laying amidst the shards of broken glass, lipstick tubes and blush brushes, next to Nan's over-sized vanity, that was now in pieces on the floor of the bedroom after cyclone Eric blew through. He crawled on all fours over the broken glass, its jagged edges cutting deep into his flesh, though Eric barely felt it. He tore open the concealed bag, and then shot up as he raced to the bathroom and flicked on the light. He held the negatives up to the light, and a conquering smile passed across his lips. It was the first thing he'd had to smile about in months, ever since he'd left Sookie on that miserable night and married Nan in the cheesy, Vampire cathedral on the Vegas strip.

"This changes everything," Eric said with a wicked smirk.

"What will you do?" Godric prodded.

"Just what you said—beat Nan at her own game. Now if you will excuse me, I need to shower and dress. I've got a television appearance to make, and then a long flight back to Louisiana. I'm going home." Eric lit a match and watched as the negatives of his precious family burned. Nan would never again hold those pictures over his head. For good measure, he torched the entire house. It was an inferno of glorious beauty as Eric got into his sports car, amidst the orange firelight and sped away, with the whine of approaching fire engines fading in his ears.

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.

"You're late," Nan bitched, as she sat in the makeup chair in the green room of a popular talk show from Chicago. "And somebody torched our house. Probably that no good, fucking Were pack from Recita. One of them followed me home last week. Fuckers."

"After this appearance, I'll be going home."

"You'll do what the fuck I say, when I say, Eric."

"The negatives are gone. You're hold over me is finished."

"I don't think so. You see, The King of Louisiana is dead. The AVL has good reason to believe that your stupid, fucking, human wife is responsible. With no Magister, the Authority has asked me to preside over her hearing. I don't think either of us have to guess what my verdict will be." Nan smiled victoriously.

"Sookie killed Bill?" He couldn't help but feel proud of his wife, though he regretted that it wasn't he who put the final nail in that piece of shits coffin. He had fantasized about doing just that once all of it was over.

"Caused us a big fucking mess to deal with. Do me a favor and just smile with those pretty teeth of yours and let's get through this fucking interview. This is the biggest show we've done yet. Our support will be through the roof after this appearance. It took quite a bit of finagling to get us on this show, so don't fuck it up. Let me do the talking, per usual."

Eric pulled out the worn and bent picture of Sookie, the one that he kept in his wallet and he stared at it. I'm coming home to you. I'm going to set this right.

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.

Sookie was lost in her own thoughts as she prepared supper. It was second nature as she chopped the fresh vegetables with a butcher knife and then tossed them into the lightly oiled pan. Stir fry was on the family menu that night. Her thoughts traveled to Pam. She had been nice enough to offer Sookie an alibis for the night in question—the night that she killed Bill Compton. When the human authorities came sniffing around, Pam had informed them, that Sookie stayed the night in Shreveport with her and that they had been doing bookwork well into the early hours of the morning. Ginger and Bubba corroborated the alibi and the authorities were satisfied. Sam too had breezily covered for her as he told Sheriff Andy that he had sat for the kids the whole night. She was off the hook. She still worried about the vampire authorities, but Pam had assured her that nobody liked or recognized Bill Compton as the King of Louisiana anyways, and that the AVL was probably more concerned about finding a Magister then they were a King. Still, Pam had looked more than a little worried as she spoke, so, Sookie kept a close watch on her kids, and she always watched her back.

"Mommy, can I watch Orpa?"

"Huh?"

"Daddy's going to be on Orpa. I saw the a-mershul."

"Commerical. Oh, you mean Oprah? Eric's going to be Oprah?" Asshole, Sookie said in her mind before she realized that Hunter could read her thoughts, and she clamped a hand down over her mouth. "You can watch it if your homework is done," Sookie said, against her better judgment. Baby Garrick was up from his nap, so she plopped him down on the floor and handed him a bottle of milk, mixed with True Blood as he guzzled it down happily. He was nine months old, and he was pulling up on everything. It wouldn't be long before he took his first steps, and Eric would miss that too. Sookie seethed as the promo for the show came on and Nan and Eric's pictures were splashed across the screen, with the caption below them that said, "America's Vampire Royal Couple." A tear trailed down her cheek and she briskly wiped it away.

"Are you sad, Mommy?" Hunter said, and he laced his fingers in hers as they sat on the couch together. "It's going to be alright. Daddy is going to say something to you."

"No, Hunter he isn't." She wondered though, why her son would say that. Surely he couldn't read his thoughts, not being so far away.

"Okay, Mommy, if you say so."

Sookie wanted to throw her dinner at the tube, when Nan went on about Vampire equality. Her agenda of the day seemed to be all about vampire love. It was all bullshit. Sookie could see right through her. She was just capitalizing on her new found fame, as the Queen Bitch of vampires. Sookie had seen the tabloids at the supermarket, with both Nan and Eric gracing the covers. She just wanted out. He could have his glitzy life if he wanted it.

"Eric, how do you feel about the fact that two vampires can't marry legally in this day and age? It seems wrong to me, but I think I speak for all of us when I say that we would love to hear your opinion. Your wife has been very vocal about vampires being able to marry vampires, legally in our society."

"Vampires do not make good mates for other vampires. The relationships don't last. Vampires and humans, however, can and do fall in love. I do not agree with Nan at all on this matter."

The crowd gasped and Sookie nearly choked on a bite of her supper.

"We just had a tiff, that's all. We are exactly like every couple, but we love one another. Don't we darling?" Nan grit her teeth and raked a hand through Eric's hair.

"I think we'd like to hear more from Eric," Oprah said, cutting Nan off and taking control of the interview. "I find this fascinating. Go on?"

Eric shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "My heart belongs to Sookie. I'm coming home to you and the children," Eric said, directly into the camera. A chill went through Sookie, when she saw his beautiful, glacial eyes staring at her from the television screen.

"Sookie? Who is this Sookie?" Oprah looked excited, as if she'd just unearthed a far better story, live, on national television.

Eric produced a picture of her, as Sookie gaped. The cameras panned in close on a picture of Sookie in her Merlottes, waitress uniform. She was smiling, and the sun reflected upon her blonde mane. Next to her was Eric, who was holding her around the waist as he gazed into her eyes. Hunter was in the foreground, holding Garrick in his arms. "This is my family. I am sorry that Nan has deceived you all, but she is just my work partner. I do not love her."

"Are the kids, vampire or human?"

"It is possible in certain situations, to produce a child. Both children are normal, just as you are. I hope you will respect that Sookie and I would like our children to grow up without the flash of cameras."

"You heard that, America. The children are off limits. Why did you choose today to announce this Mr. Northman?"

"Because we need your support. All of you. If you would write to the American Vampire League, your television stations and your politicians, then perhaps other vampires and their human mates could marry, and enjoy a fruitful life together. We have jobs; raise our children with love, just like all of you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go to Sookie." Eric bolted and Nan followed behind him, before Oprah cut to a commercial.

"I told you. Daddy is coming home." Hunter ran to the window at that. "I wonder if he's here yet."

"Hunter, the show just aired, he wouldn't be able to get here that fast."

"Actually that show was taped yesterday," Eric said in Sookie's ear and she whirled around to see her husband, smelling good and looking fine in an Armani suit. He reached out for her and Sookie's legs went weak.

"Daddy look!" Hunter pointed. Sookie's heart was beating wildly in her chest as she gazed out the living room window. A van pulled up and two photographers jumped out and began snapping pictures of her house.

"I'm sorry. It was the only way to save you from the AVL."

"Who in the hell are the men on my lawn?" Sookie asked, as three more vans arrived, one of which was from a local television station from Shreveport.

"Paparazzi," Eric said disinterestedly as he gripped her tightly and brought her into his chest. Sookie pushed back at him.

"Get off me, Eric. Go home to your wife."

"I am home with my wife."

"Your other wife," Sookie bit out.

"You are my only wife. There is much to discuss, but please, may I kiss you?"

"No," Sookie said, and her hand flew. She slapped Eric hard across the face but he did not move. "No. I'm divorcing you."

"I love you. You are mine." Eric pinned her against the wall at that.

"Hunter, take Garrick to your room and play for a while. Daddy and I have things to discuss." His fingers were softly in her hair, as he brought his lips closer to hers. She could feel his strong chest, hard against hers and his cock was hard in his pants, she could feel it against her stomach, as he pressed his whole body against hers. "I can't do this, Eric. You've been gone so long. Things have changed."

"I will never leave you, nor the children, again. What I did on that show was to protect us. Nobody will ever hurt you or our kids again."

"Nobody but you," Sookie shot back as she tried to wriggle from his grip. Instead, he held her in place as his lips crashed down over hers. His kiss was fire, and Sookie was losing herself in it. She kissed him back. Damn, why does he have to be such a good kisser, she thought to herself before she mustered up the gumption to break off their smoldering kiss. "You have to leave now."

"Don't send me away, my lover. You know you still love me. I can feel it through our bond."

"I moved on. You should do the same. Say hello to the kids, but then leave." Sookie turned her back on him as tears free-fell down her cheeks.

"Will you not give me the chance to prove myself to you?"

"What's to prove Eric? I'm working two jobs to support the family that you walked out on. You married Nan Flanagan. I had to find out about it on the News! You left me."

"I can explain all of it. Will you not give me the chance? Do not tell me that you intend to follow through with this divorce."

"I didn't come by that particular decision lightly. Just because you decided to walk back into my life, doesn't mean that it changes anything. You hurt me, and Hunter and Garrick. Oh, I know Mr. Hollywood is used to getting everything he wants, but not this time, Eric. You hurt Pam too. You hurt every single person in your life that you claim to love. I want you out!"

"I felt your love when you kissed me back. You are lying to me and to yourself."

"Maybe I do have feelings, but it doesn't mean that you just get to waltz back in here with a crew of paparazzi and claim me like I'm some Emmy award or something. I need time to think, alright. You owe me that much."

"Yes, I do. Very well. You think." Eric looked deflated, and Sookie thought that she saw the faintest hint of tears in his eyes as he lumbered up the stairs to visit with the kids. When he was out of sight Sookie flung herself down upon the sofa, where she buried her head in her knees and wept. What in the hell am I going to do?

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Chapter Text

Chapter Twenty-Two

Kings and Queens

There were still two hours of daylight left, when Eric used his key and jiggled the back door lock of Fangtasia. The club looked the same. Pam had obviously kept it that way for him, in hopes of his return. He knew that Pam would still be sleeping, so he dropped his overnight bag in his office and then made his way downstairs into the dungeon. He could feel his vampire daughter, Pam, asleep in her coffin. He opened the coffin and climbed in, closing it behind him. Pam was his security blanket as she instinctively curled her body around Eric, like that of a sleeping child. It comforted him. He hugged her tight and dropped a kiss on her forehead.

"Eric is that you? You came back to me," Pam said through joyous tears. "I missed you so much."

"It is me, daughter. I am sorry that I left you in the way that I did."

"It's alright. I forgive you, Eric. Nan?"

"Nan is not a threat anymore."

"Are you sure?"

"Dead sure."

"Sookie? Eric, you have to go to Sookie, before it's too late."

"Shh, we will talk later. Rest now." He closed his eyes and the events of the previous day played out in his head.

"You fucking bastard! You ruined everything. And for what? A fucking hick, waitress?"

"I want a divorce. Now!" Eric pushed the thoughts from his mind. He would have a lot of explaining to do, to both Sookie and the American Vampire League in the days to come.

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"You all gotta leave. My sister has to put her boy on the bus and you ain't gonna be taking no pictures of her kids."

"We aren't on private property," Sookie heard one of the paparazzi say. "This is a public road and we have every right to be here."

"Listen up. You in the South now, and we don't take kindly to outsiders that don't have manners. Now, you can move your fuckin' vehicles or you gonna meet my shotgun," Jason hollered at the reporters. Within five minutes all of the reporters had scattered, just as the school bus arrived. With Garrick fed and Hunter off to school, Sookie sat down at the kitchen table to eat her breakfast.

"Heads up, Sookie," Tara said, as she barged though the front door of Sookie's house. Sookie was used to Tara's unannounced visits, so she barely batted an eye when her friend didn't knock, but instead walked in like she owned the place. "Those leech reporters are all at Merlottes." Tara pulled up a chair and sat down next to Sookie.

"Least they aren't parked outside my house anymore, thanks to Jason."

"Sookie, you seen the papers?" Tara said with an uneasy tone.

"No."

Tara slapped two, well known papers, down on the table, and Sookie was left in utter disbelief, as she read the headline. "Splitsville for Eric and Sookie?" Where do they come up with this garbage?"

"So you and Eric aren't over? You didn't sleep with him did you? It's all over for you if you did, Sook."

"I didn't sleep with him. We have a lot to talk about still, and it isn't easy with those damn reporters always snapping pictures in my face and asking questions that I don't have answers for."

"In that case, I won't show you the other mag."

"Let me see it." Sookie reached for the magazine and there, splashed across the cover, was a picture of her and Alcide, in an embrace, with a caption that read Love Triangle with Mystery Man. "What the hell! Alcide came by to fix my old dishwasher. He did ask me out, but I told him no, then I gave him a hug at the door."

"Has Eric seen it? Might be a good thing if he does. Might leave you alone then."

"I don't want him to leave me alone. I've been alone for months and it isn't all it's cracked up to be."

"Girl, you nuts. You seriously are going to forgive him after what he did to you?"

"I haven't forgiven him, Tara." Their conversation was interrupted when Arlene rang, to tell Sookie that she was "in the weeds,"—a waitress term for being busy as hell and behind, so Sookie kissed Garrick goodbye and handed him off to Tara. It was the beginning of a busy day for Sookie. After her shift at Merlottes, she would head into Shreveport to do another shift at Fangtasia, where she was sure to run into Eric. She both dreaded it, and looked forward to it, which thoroughly confused her.

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"The AVL is here, Eric. What did you do to Nan? I'm worried."

"Photographers still outside?"

"Yeah. I flipped them the bird. I hope they print that picture," Pam chuckled.

"Give them all free drinks. I need to buy myself some time with the AVL." With that Eric grumbled, as he pushed the tabloid magazine with his wife and the fucking Were on it away, and rose from behind his desk. "This won't be pleasant," he said, and he sauntered into the bar. Only the staff was present, Ginger and Bubba, and the new girl that Pam had hired as a dancer after she fired Belinda for no good reason other than she was pissed and missing Eric that day.

"Sorry I'm late," Sookie said, as she burst through the doors of Fangtasia with a relieved look on her face. "Got stopped by the vultures outside. Can't see a darn thing, what with all the flashes."

Eric stared at her with a mixture of anger and lust and Sookie met his gaze, but then turned away as she threw her apron on. The AVL prick in a suit, was sitting in a booth at the back of the bar, sipping on a bottle of True Blood, 0 negative. The last thing he wanted, was for Sookie to be noticed by the official, so he gripped her by the arm and hauled her off behind the stage.

He inhaled her sweet scent, deep into his lungs. He was relieved not to smell the Were on her. "AVL is here to see me. Stay back here until he leaves."

"Why? What's going on Eric?"

"Later. No time right now. You look beautiful," he said as he reached out to touch her face. She dropped her head and recoiled from him. With an exasperated sigh, he left her and made his way to the booth at the back of the room.

"Where's Nan Flanagan, Mr. Northman?"

"How should I know? Last time I saw her she was headed to the airport, on her way to Seattle."

"She never made that flight. The AVL thinks that you killed her, so you could be with the human."

"You know that's not possible. We were married in a vampire ceremony. You were there. It would be impossible for me to kill her."

"It's not like Nan not to check in."

"I'll tell you again, I haven't seen her since Chicago. Now, if that's all, I have business to attend to."

"Her purse was found in an abandoned warehouse next to Ohare airport, and blood—a lot of it."

Eric gulped. Fuck, they already found her.

"Really?"

"Don't fucking sit here and act innocent. Our hands are tied because of the stir you've caused with the public, but both you and your human waitress are up to your necks in this shit. She killed a King, and you murdered a high ranking AVL official."

"That's hearsay. You have no proof. Nan killed the Magister. I am still acting Sheriff of Area five, and in so-"

"You're fucked. A Sheriff cannot make those claims. You're a peon Mr. Northman. Somebody above the Magister can make those accusations. Only the sitting King of the state in which the crime was committed could make this go away, and since there is no King or Queen of Louisiana, you have no outs. Now, if you took over Nan's position within the AVL-I am certain that we could make all these problems go away."

"You saw the fucking tape. The AVL watched Nan kill the Magister at my trial."

"There is no tape, Mr. Northman." The man smiled like the Cheshire cat.

"I need a few days to think about it," Eric said, and the Vampire League prick nodded as he polished off his warm bottle of True Blood.

"You'll be seeing me again. Soon. Perhaps you could make a statement to the press outside your bar; on the Authority's behalf of course." He slid a written on, cocktail napkin across the table and Eric looked at it and grumbled. They wanted him to put the AVL on the map—big-time, by reading off a series of well worded statements- their agenda-which was not on the up and up. It never was. Eric was not comfortable with it at all. He crumpled up the napkin and tossed it in the rubbish bin the second he was out of sight, and back in the confines of his office. He was fucked. He would have to become the AVL poster boy, which meant press and paparazzi galore. Sookie, would never go for it, so Eric sighed, and with a heavy heart he pulled out the manila envelope containing the divorce papers and he picked up a pen.

"Pam. Tell Sookie to come in here."

Sookie breezed through the door of his office wearing a red and black Fangtasia shirt, which accentuated her ample bosom. When Eric saw her, all he wanted to do was throw her down on his desk and fuck her until she was calling out his name. He longed for her touch. It was all he'd thought about for months. He'd jerked off more than a fourteen year old boy, to her picture, and he wasn't embarrassed about it. He wanted his wife, yet he was forced into a corner, and he was about to do the hardest thing he'd ever had to do in his one thousand year existence.

"You needed me?" She said as she sat down across from him. Her eyes darted to the divorce papers that lay in front of Eric, and he could feel her nervousness through their blood bond.

"Yes," Eric said. If she only knew how much I need her. He slid the papers across the desk, and again his eyes fell on the tabloid magazine—the one with she and Alcide on it. "I signed them. You are free of me."

Sookie swallowed hard. "Is this about Alcide," she asked, motioning to the tabloid, "Because that's all a crock of shit. I'm not with him."

"No." It's a good fucking thing or I'd kill that fucking werewolf with my bare hands.

"That vampire from the AVL then? I was able to pick up some of what he said. What does he want you to do? Tell me, Eric. No more secrets. Don't pass me fucking divorce papers and expect me not to ask just what in the hell is going on."

"They want me to take Nan's position. It would mean constant press coverage."

"And reporters camped out at my house?"

"Yes."

"I can't deal with them. One of them actually asked me if we had threesome's with Nan, and if I was yall's human blood doll."

Eric grimaced. "I am sorry for all of this. I have no other choice though. I am just a Sheriff. I do not hold the weight of a King's word. They have me over a barrel."

"So if you were a King, then you wouldn't have to work for the AVL, and the press would go away?" she asked.

"Yes. In time."

"I'll be right back. Don't move," she said excitedly as she dashed away. A minute later, she arrived with her purse in hand. Sookie reached into her bag and produced a medallion. She walked around the desk and knelt in front of Eric, as she looped the medallion around his neck. With soft lips, she kissed his cheek. "Then here you go, King. Problem solved." She stared at him, with a softness in her eyes that warmed Eric, like a fire's embers on a chilly night. "You don't look well, Eric. When was the last time you ate?"

"Sookie  I—Unless you will be my Queen, then I have no want for this. "

"It's yours. You deserve it anyway. I only took it off Bill in order to save it for you. Far as the Queen thing goes, the jury is still out on that. Eric, you really do look pale. You need to eat." Her hand was on his forehead at that, as if he was a sick child. He liked it. He liked her taking care of him.

"I fed a few hours ago."

"Food, Eric. When is the last time you ate food? You're a daywalker now, and you have to eat."

"I—don't like food. I forget most of the time."

"You liked it when I cooked for you." Sookie smiled at him as she sat down on the corner of his desk.

"Are you inviting me to dinner?"

"Yes, I suppose I am. Tomorrow evening six o'clock. Don't get any ideas though, Eric. It's just dinner." She turned to leave, forgetting to take with her the signed divorce papers.

"I will be there, lover. You forgot the papers," Eric called out.

"I didn't forget them," Sookie said as she disappeared from his office.

Eric leaned back in his chair and smiled. She'd cracked the door open for him, and in so had given him a fighting chance. The Viking was a fighter if nothing else.

"Pam, I need you for a moment."

"What is it Eric?"

Eric reached into his desk and produced a set of keys that he proceeded to drop into Pam's hand. "These are yours. For forgiving me when I did not deserve your forgiveness."

"Eric, I love you. You don't owe me anything for my loyalty."

"Even so, the gesture is appropriate. I want you and your human companion to enjoy your new house."

"A house, Eric?" Pam appeared choked up.

"Bill Compton's, old house. It went up for sale and I bought it. It's yours, though I would like to move there for a while, in order to be closer to Sookie and the children."

"Oh, Eric! This is fabulous. Tara will be thrilled. Of course I'll have to gut the place. Compton had horrible taste." Pam threw her arms around her maker and hugged him.

Review!

Still four more chapters to go and big things to come. Also, for anyone waiting for the Godric/Claudine pairing...Pssst-next chapter you will see that take shape. Thanks for the reviews/kudos!

Chapter Text

Chapter Twenty-Three

Graveyard Glory

Eric arrived at Pam's a little before six o'clock. She had spared no time, renovating the old farmhouse that was formerly Bill Compton's. Already, the furniture had been tossed, and the dark wallpaper had been stripped from the walls.

"Oh, it's you. You scared me," Tara said, as she climbed down from a stepladder, wearing globs of white, spackling putty on her shirt and pants. "You gotta' knock or something. It ain't right just barging in unannounced—even if you did buy the place."

Eric smirked. "That can be arranged. But you will knock when you visit Sookie's home as well."

"You makin' presumptions. Last I heard she ain't let you back yet. Shouldn't after the shit you put her through. You nothing' but a dog, Eric Northman."

"Is it me that you hate, or is it all men?"

"That was some cold ass shit to say to me," Tara shot back, but then she cracked a smile, as if she appreciated the insult. "You better treat Sookie right this time, or I might have to go dig up that sick fucker, Russell Edgington so he can eat your face off. We square?"

Eric chuckled. He didn't know Tara very well, but he took her words as a peace offering, so he let it go.

"Eric, how do you like the place?" Pam said as she stretched and yawned from the top of the stairs.

"Coming along."

"Is Godric here yet?"

"Why would Godric be here?" Eric asked with interest.

"He said he was coming over. Asked that you be here. Vampire matter I guess, he didn't say."

"What in the hell is this on my porch?" Tara shouted, and Pam breezed down the stairs.

"Oh, that. Leave it. It's a gift for my children," Eric said.

"I don't like the twitchy nose, and the beady eyes," Pam drawled.

"You don't have to like them," Eric said annoyed. Perhaps he had gotten the wrong gifts. At that, he fingered the small, velvet box in his pocket and wondered if he had chosen wrong for Sookie as well.

"Well, I think they are adorable." It was a female voice, and one that Eric recognized.

"You!" Eric's fangs shot out and in a moment he had the fairy known as Claudine, tight in his grasp as he bent her backwards, intent on draining her dry at that very moment. "I'm going to enjoy this."

"Eric, you must stop at once," another voice said, one that Eric could not disobey. He released the fairy from his grasp.

"Godric. This fairy tried to take Sookie and my child away from me."

"Eric, this is my wife. We were married last night. Claudine go inside with Pamela and her human companion. Leave me to talk with Eric." The fairy sneered at him and then tossed her hair as she entered the house and closed the door behind her.

"Are you insane? Do you know what she is?"

"I do, and I love her. I met Claudine, the night of the trial. She was outside the warehouse, and I admit that I fell hard and fast for her. I regret that I was not there for you in your hour of need. Had I been, I could have spared you the months of torment you faced at the hands of Nan Flanagan. Will you ever forgive me, my child?"

"Godric, you've made a terrible mistake with that one."

"No, Eric. I know Claudine quite well. I am well aware that she harbors secrets from me. It is part of what makes her so beautiful and intoxicating. I am at the whim of her fancy." Eric fumed. How in the hell was he going to get his maker to understand that Claudine was without honor. "I sense your trepidation but do not despair. She loves me too. I was so inspired by your own love for Sookie, that I found myself craving for a love of my own. I found her, or she found me, whatever the case may be. We were married in a vampire ceremony. I am here to ask for a small favor."

"What is it?" Eric's head was spinning. He didn't think it possible that Godric, the vampire he admired more than any other, could be so blind when it came to love.

"We need to seal the bond." Eric nodded, well aware of what he meant. "She wants to make love outside, under the stars. A fairy thing perhaps, but delightful just the same. It could get loud, and I wanted to use the land here to—"

"Knock yourself out," Eric cut him off.

"Be happy for me, child." Eric saw the dim yellow of headlights, as a car pulled into Sookie's driveway. It was Sookie, and she was carrying a bag of groceries as she entered the house with the children in tow.

"I have to go. Congratulations, Godric. Please take heed though. Do not trust her."

"Eric. I need to ask. Forgive me for prying, but have you and Sookie—"

"No," he bit out. "We can't have a vampire ceremony."

"Can't or won't"

"Won't. Now, if you don't mind, I have a date."

"Your marriage will never be complete without it. You know that, Eric. You must marry and seal the bonds of matrimony. You must."

Eric waved him off, as he hauled the small cage into his arms and set off through the cemetery, towards Sookie's house.

.

.

She was running late, as usual. Her shift at Merlottes ran long when Arlene was late. If that hadn't been enough, when she got to Mrs. Fortenberry's she was distraught to find that Hunter had been in a fight at school and had a nasty shiner to show for it. Add in the fact that Garrick was cutting another tooth, and was fussier than normal, and then the supermarket had never ending, long lines.

"Hunter, who gave you the black eye?"

"It's alright Mommy, don't worry about it. He looks worse than me."

"I don't like you fighting at school." Sookie turned the gas stove on and lit the burner as she dropped a cast iron skillet onto the stove and slapped two, T-bone steaks onto the hot griddle. Garrick was tugging on her apron, so she plucked the child into her arms and with an exasperated sigh, she turned around to see Eric standing in her kitchen.

"Oh! You scared me. I'm sorry, I'm running late. It was one of those days."

"Let me," Eric offered, and he held his arms open. Sookie, passed him the baby, who babbled an incoherent, "Dada." It was something he'd been saying for the past week. It was his first word in fact. Dad's got all the glory. When Eric cradled him against his chest, Garrick wrapped his little arms around his neck and laid his head down on his chest. His whines ceased and Sookie looked on amazed. Eric leaned down and gave Sookie a light peck on the cheek, and she blushed and turned away. "I have a gift for the children. Do you mind if I give it to them now?"

"Sure, but I don't know if Hunter deserves anything. He got in a fight at school."

"Did he win?"

"Yes, but I don't think that's the point, Eric."

Eric picked Hunter up at that and ruffled his hair as he inspected the boy's wounds. "I don't think that Trevor will be bothering you anymore," Eric said and Sookie's jaw dropped.

"If you told him to hit that little punk—I don't want to even know about it."

Eric grinned.

Sookie prepared dinner, while Eric watched the boys in the living room. It was quiet. Almost too quiet, so when the meal was prepared and the table set and ready for supper, Sookie dropped her apron and paced into the living room. She stood stock still when she saw two, white bunnies staring up at her.

"Eric, you got them bunnies?"

"I didn't know what kind of chocolate bunnies they liked, and they had so many different kinds, so I opted for the real thing instead."

"You might have discussed this with me first. Who is going to feed them? I'll have to get Jason to make like a bunny habitat out back. They can't stay in the house. They are cute though, aren't they." Sookie bent down to pet one of the bunnies, as Garrick crawled up and sat down next to it. "Pat it nice. Like this," Sookie took his tiny hand and with hers on top of his, she stroked the furry coat of the bunny. Garrick cooed and giggled, while Eric stared on curiously from the sofa.

"I'm naming mine Gudbrande," Hunter announced and Sookie turned to Hunter and nodded her approval. She could feel Eric's eyes on her, and then he was holding out his hand to her.

"Come, and sit with me, wife."

"S-Supper is ready. I—"Eric stood and scooped her into his waiting arms. In a second flat, he'd captured her. Sookie's breath quickened. "This is nice. I admit it. Family time is something we've missed out on, but slow down, Eric. Please?"

He let go of her and brushed a lock of hair behind her ear with a gentle smile.

"Mommy! Yucky! Ewwww, lookie what Garrick did. Daddy!" Hunter howled and pointed. Both Sookie and Eric's heads spun around faster than a jack rabbit's. Garrick was sitting, happily in the center of the rug, holding a ball of fur in his hands. It was limp and lifeless, and blood dribbled down his chin and soiled his cotton, onesie. Then, he burped.

"Oh my stars! Hunter it's gonna be alright. Garrick just—just—Eric, you want to help me out on this one?" Sookie shouted.

"His first kill. He didn't spill a drop on the floor either. Drained that rabbit dry. Good boy!" Eric said with pride in his voice as he raised the baby over his head with glee.

"That was wicked cool," Hunter said, as he pet Gudbrande, seemingly uncaring as to what had just happened. Sadly, Sookie didn't seem all that bothered by it either, and that worried her a little. Perhaps, after the years of being surrounded by vampires, she had become a little jaded. While she wasn't exactly proud of her son, for killing an innocent bunny, it wasn't like it was a person that he killed. Where was the harm, really, in the grand scheme of things? It did however remind her that her handsome, son was also a predator, and that she probably needed Eric's influence on him more than she had ever realized or admitted to herself. He would need to be taught how to rein it in. Sookie's mind raced.

"Do not worry, Sookie. I will teach him all he needs to know about such things. I can feel your worry. I am hungry, and something smells delicious. Shall we?"

"Alright, but you're burying the carcass after dinner. Right?"

"Indeed."

"Okay then, let's eat." Sookie paced back into the kitchen. "I hope you didn't pay a lot for him. He didn't last very long. Maybe you can get your money back."

Eric laughed.

.

.

After supper, Eric kept his word and buried the bunny in the yard. He went over the finer points of fighting in order to win, while exuding as little effort as possible, to Hunter. Sookie cringed, but listened. Hell, it wouldn't hurt for her to pick up a few pointers and Eric was one thousand years old, so he had a lot of them. She was just about to interrupt him, when he finished with a completely Ward Cleaver, word of advice when he said, "But only fight if provoked. Do not bully—but do not allow yourself to be bullied either. If someone starts it, you must finish it, swiftly and without regret."

"Are you staying over, Daddy?"

Eric looked to Sookie and raised an eyebrow when Hunter asked that particular question. Sookie was tongue tied.

"Not tonight, but hopefully soon," Eric added. He must have seen her unease.

"Off to bed. Daddy and I need to have some grown up talk."

"Does that mean kissing?" Hunter asked and then with a wide, childlike smile, he covered his mouth as if he'd said a bad word.

"Yes," Eric said, assuredly.

"No," she shot back. "Well, maybe, but we don't want Daddy to know that. Now scoot," she winked at her son. Sookie could feel Eric's eyes burning a hole through her, as he feasted on her ass when she turned to leave.

.

.

When the children were snug in bed, Sookie stood before the mirror in her room, and adjusted her breasts in her tank top. She spritzed a dash of Chanel behind her ears and she ran a brush through her hair while she plumped her lips in the mirror. What are you doing? Hell, you're acting like a fairy in heat again. You cannot sleep with Eric Northman tonight, Sookie, she said to herself. You still don't know why he left you to begin with. Just hose yourself down. It ain't happening tonight. You need answers first and foremost. Think of something that pisses you off. "Nan," Sookie said aloud. That's the ticket, she thought, as she furrowed her eyebrows.

"Is not a threat to us anymore." Eric finished her sentence. He was perched between the door jam with his arms folded and his voice oozing sex. He looked smoldering hot, in a pair of jeans and a black, button-up, dress shirt. He smelled like a fine wine, expensive and classy, and she wanted him in that moment, but instead Sookie brushed past him. She did not need to be in the bedroom with Eric. That was tempting fate too much, so she trotted down the stairs, opened the door and stepped out onto the porch. The night air was cool and Sookie shivered a little. Eric's hands were on her arms at that as he stood behind her, dragging his lips across the back of her neck.

"Why'd ya do it?"

"To protect you, and the kids."

"But why, Eric?"

He turned her around to face him. "She knew about Garrick. She had photos from your camera. I wrote it in the letter."

"I never got any letter."

"You stood me up."

"Oh, there was a letter, but it was ruined when Bill—"

"You want to talk about Bill?"

"You want to talk about Nan? Sookie fired back. When Eric's lips clamped down, shut tight, she had her answer and that was that.

"She used the photos to blackmail me."

Sookie gulped. "I didn't think."

"I know. You meant no harm. Please forgive me, Sookie. I did what I thought was right in order to protect you."

"Did you marry her?"

"We had a vampire wedding, yes." Tears burst from Sookie's eyes as they rolled down her cheeks. Eric cupped her face in his hands and with his thumbs, he wiped the salty droplets away. He raised her head, forcing her to look at him. She closed her eyes, unable to look at him at that very moment. It hurt. Bad. "I only have love for you. It meant nothing. I was a hollow shell without you and my family." He kissed her lips, softly, and then a flash of light took them by surprise.

"I got the money shot. I'm going to be rich!" A photographer said, as he shot up from behind the bushes. Eric growled and dropped his hands from her face. He was going to kill him, that much was certain.

"Eric, let him go. Just let him have the picture. Maybe then they will go away and leave us alone," Sookie said in tormented frustration. Eric's fangs retracted and then again his arms were around her pulling her to the porch swing. "Eric no. This is so hard. I wondered for months, where you were. Were you alright? Were you—,"she stopped. She wasn't quite ready to ask the question that was begging to be asked. Did you take her to your bed? Did you make love to Nan, the same way you did with me? Did you like it?

Eric went on alert as he cocked his head towards the cemetery. Sookie heard it too. A woman and a man crying out, in tortured pain, groaning loudly, their voices echoing through the night.

"That's close. Come on. I think it's coming from the cemetery."

"No. Sookie, stop. Let us go inside and talk more. Leave it alone."

"Eric, someone may be in trouble. I know you heard that." When Eric made no move, Sookie bolted. "Suit yourself, but I'm going to investigate."

She stopped when she saw the golden light. It was coming from a grassy clearing, where an age old, elm stood in the center of the graveyard. "Come, let us go back to the house now. We are intruding on something private."

"Is that Godric—and Claudine?"

"Yes," Eric said and then his hands were on her shoulders, turning her away from the pair. Sookie's eyes were saucers.

"Are they doing what I think they're doing? Is his thing, you know where?"

"Yes. Let us not watch. It is disrespectful to my maker."

They traipsed silently back to Sookie's house. When she got to his car she stopped.

"Eric, I have to know what that was. Why was he taking her that way? It looked so—"

"Carnal?"

"Y-Yes. Among other things." Sookie stammered.

"What other things?" Eric raised an eyebrow.

"You know—I'm not sure that what he was doing to her is legal in the state of Louisiana, though she seemed to be liking it alright. I think," she said embarrassed.

"They were married recently. They had to seal the bond."

"Is that how it's done? I mean, they have to do it—that way?"

"Any and every way. He has to take her completely."

"Here, there and the other? I mean, is that normal?"

"In a vampire marriage it is. It's necessary. They cannot seal their bond without it."

Stop being so vanilla, a voice shouted out in her head. "Would you want that with me?" Sookie asked and then she swallowed hard, unsure if she wanted to hear the answer or not. Did you do that with Nan?

Review/Kudos!?

Several chapters in short order. Going to let people catch up now, just let me know and I will continue.

Chapter Text

Chapter Twenty-Four

Sacred Shores

"Eric? I asked you a question."

"Sookie," he paused. "I promise that I will answer all of your questions. I will. But not here. Not with the paparazzi, snapping our fucking pictures and printing everything they see or hear. Come away with me. Now."

"What? I can't just go away with you. Where?"

"Please trust me. We need this. Pam and her human can watch the kids for a few days. Come with me."

"This is crazy."

"Then be crazy for once. Come with me."

"Alright. I will, but you better get real cozy with opening up to me. I mean it, Eric Northman."

"You have my love and my word. It will be done. I must tell Pam. Pack some warm clothing. It gets cold at night. I will be back here to gather you in thirty minutes."

"This is crazy," Sookie uttered as she watched Eric leave.

.

.

She snuck into the kids rooms and kissed them goodbye. A groggy Hunter awoke and she told him that Mommy and Daddy needed some alone time, but that they loved him and would be back very soon, and then she packed her overnight bag. She was still shaking her head at the fact that she'd agreed to go away with Eric, but their marriage was at stake, and she figured she owed herself that much. She needed closure, one way or the other. Besides, she was overworked and underpaid, and a vacation sounded good, even if it wasn't exactly a vacation. She was well aware, that after this impromptu trip was over, there still existed the grim reality that her marriage may possibly be over.

"Sookie, its Claudine. Can you come out to play?" a woman's voice filtered through the open window of her bedroom as she zipped her carry-on bag up. She stuck her head out the window, only to see Claudine, surrounded by a golden light, and dancing in the dew sodden grass below.

"What are you doing? What's wrong with you? Hush up, you'll wake the kids." Sookie spared no haste as she retrieved the shotgun from the broom closet and cocked it as she barreled out the door and into the yard.

"It's glorious, isn't it?" Claudine said as she collapsed in the grass, her arms and legs sprawling on Sookie's lawn. Sookie lowered the gun. Her fairy cousin looked to be lost in a world of her own. Her creamy white gown was ripped and tattered, and she had scratches on her face, but a smile as wide as the Mississippi. Sookie silently crept up next to Claudine, the gun still in her clutches, as she sat down next to the fairy.

"What's this all about? Does this have something to do with what you and Godric were doing in the woods?"

"I'm in love," Claudine shouted and she rolled over to grip Sookie's arm. "I can't wait two days to see my husband again. Oh, what am I to do, Sookie?"

"I don't know. Quit talking in riddles and maybe tell me why in the hell you are out here in my yard and glowing like the sun, for starters."

"Niall, will come for me. I have to hide. Will you hide me, Sookie?"

"Why will Niall come for you Claudine?"

"The deed is done. I have bonded with my sexy vampire."

"Godric?"

"Yes, Godric. My virile warrior. I love him so. I cannot do that which Niall wishes of me. I draw on his strength, even now, I can feel him and it fills me up with so much joy. I cannot take his strength and leave him for dead. I must be here in two days when he awakens. Then he will be mine, forever and ever," Claudine said with a sated look upon her face.

"No you cannot, fairy. You will be here for him when he awakens from his coffin. He will die otherwise!" Eric stood over the fairy, his fangs bared and the most vicious expression on his face.

"Eric, what's she talking about?"

"It's part of the bonding. Godric must sleep for two days, during which time Claudine will gain all of his strength. She could kill me right now, if she wanted to, for Godric is far stronger than I," Eric whispered into Sookie's ear and a cold fear gripped Sookie upon hearing that.

"And after two days? What happens to Godric and Claudine then?"

"They will be as they once were, only closer. Their souls, if you believe in such a thing, will be one forever. I am sorry Sookie, but this changes our plans. We must not allow Claudine to return to Fairy, or Godric will be lost forever."

"So we gotta babysit Claudine for two days?"

"Yes, lover. I am sorry."

"Why don't we take them with us?"

"We cannot leave the children here now. Not if Niall should come."

"Well, why not make it a family trip? Take all of us. Pam too, since she is your daughter." Sookie could see that Eric had not considered that. "We can take the Vamp Airlines, that way we can bring Godric's coffin with us too."

.

.

Three hours later, with Godric and Pam securely in the baggage hold of the airplane, safe inside their coffins, and a sleeping Hunter and Garrick in their arms, they boarded the plane—destination unknown, as Eric refused to tell Sookie where it was that they were going. Pam had cried, when Sookie referred to her as family and asked her to come along. Tara had stayed behind, as she was uncomfortable being around so many vamps, and was petrified of flying anyways. Claudine was sitting cattycorner to Sookie, and she couldn't help but notice how much Claudine was glowing. She had a hazy look upon her face, and when the flight attendant had passed her a cocktail, Claudine had inadvertently shattered the glass with her hand. Eric was obviously right about her having Godric's strength, but seeing that, left Sookie with even more questions.

Once they were in the air, Sookie turned to Eric. "Eric, why does Claudine  have Godric's vampire strength? Why two days?" Sookie whispered under her breath.

"It's part of the bonding. Godric must rest, until which time the transformation is complete, and their marriage has been sealed."

"But isn't he, like, vulnerable to Claudine? I mean if she has his strength and he's just sleeping in a coffin, couldn't she just stake him?"

"Yes. This is why vampire marriages should not be entered into lightly. Godric is far too trusting. I do not trust the fairy."

"So when they were in the woods getting freaky, he was the one giving it to her, but now she is in control until the bonding takes? And that takes two days?"

"Yes, Sookie. In theory."

"What do you mean in theory? You married Nan. Did it take longer than two days for you?"

"For a couple, to wish to seal their marriage in this way, they would have to love and trust one another," Eric said and then he closed his eyes. "Sleep now. It's a long flight."

And that was that. All Sookie was getting, still, it gave her hope. Eric couldn't have possibly shared such an intimate experience with Nan, could he have? He wasn't naïve, or trusting, especially of other vampires, and if Nan was the type of woman that Pam depicted her as, then Eric would not be drawn to her in such a way. Would he? "You never slept with her, did you?" Sookie blurted out. Eric squeezed her hand but pretended to be asleep in the seat next to her.

.

.

It was dark when they left Louisiana and dark when they landed in what seemed some far away land. Lord knew how long it took to get there. The flight seemed never-ending. Eric had a four wheel drive, sport utility vehicle waiting for them on the tarmac of the small airport when they arrived. One of the stewards helped him load the two coffins containing Godric and Pam, into the back of the vehicle, while Sookie nudged an inebriated and half lucid, Claudine, into the backseat as she buckled her in. Eric said not a word as he got in the driver's seat and checked to make sure his kids were secure.

"Where are we, Daddy?" Hunter asked, and Sookie perked her ears up.

"My homeland." He reached for Sookie's hand and squeezed it again, and this time he smiled. "The road runs out, about five kilometers up ahead. Might be a bumpy ride."

"Okay," Sookie said, and she wrapped her arms around the sleeping tot who was out like a light in the car seat between Eric and Sookie.

An hour later, the truck stopped and Eric got out. "We are here, lover."

"And where is here?"

"My home. Our home." He struggled with the pronouns. Sookie helped the kids into the house. It was lavish and spacious with a roaring fireplace in the center of the house. It had an open floor plan, and very high ceilings and the walls were lined with cedar. It was big inside, but still retained a certain coziness. Sookie gazed out the sweeping bay windows and her heart leapt when she realized where they were. They were on the banks of an ancient fiord, overlooking the North Sea. The house was erected upon a familiar hilltop, where tall weeds and heather blew gently in the soft breeze in summer, and mounds of glistening snow blanketed the ground in the winter. It was dawn and the sun rose from the east side of the house, where sunlight streamed in through the windows, casting a glow over the kitchen. What a kitchen it was too. Convection ovens, the snazzy kind, which cost big bucks, and granite countertops. The fixtures were brass and there were no swinging lamp shades to bang her head on when clearing the table. Eric had recessed lighting installed throughout the house. It was luxurious. I could get used to this," Sookie thought.

"In the summer, it's quite nice. The kids would enjoy fishing, and hiking, and you could even get a suntan."

"Eric, this is where the cottage was, in the Cluviel Dor."

"Yes. This land has belonged to my family for a millennium. I have wished to bring you here."

"I'm glad you did. It's perfect."

"When the others wake, we will take a walk. There is much I need to tell you, wife." Eric's face took on a serious expression and Sookie nodded. Her heart did a somersault.

.

.

Jet lag isn't a myth. Sookie and the kids slept most of the day. She awoke at dusk, though it was hard to tell it, because Eric had dark blinds over the windows of the bedroom. Sookie fumbled at a panel on the wall and when she hit one of the buttons the entire room was flooded with the orange light of the setting sun. Correction. She had slept the entire day away. She shielded her eyes from the bright, ball of fire that was the sun and gaped at the majestic beauty of the open ocean that lay before her. White tipped waves crested and crashed upon the beach. It was a breathtaking scene to behold. That's when she saw Eric, standing stoically on the beach and Sookie quickly dressed.

The wind was cold as it whipped against her body. She buttoned her parka and trod down the worn out path that led to the beach. She knew this land like the back of her hand, and yet she'd never really stepped foot there. It was an odd feeling to say the least.

"I'd give you a million dollars to know what you're thinking about right now," Sookie said, and she smiled warmly at Eric. He turned and stared at her with eyes as blue as the winter sea after a squall, deep and mysterious. His lightly tanned cheeks were red from the cold, and he looked dangerously calm on the surface, but Sookie knew better. He had something to say.

"She did try many times, sometimes alone, sometimes with the lure of others. A blonde waitress from the Valley, a brunette from San Francisco, a redhead from Dallas. That was when she was patient. In the end she used silver on me."

Sookie felt a sense of foreboding. "Eric I don't know if I'm ready to hear this." Sookie was choked up, and she knew that if he told her that he'd slept with Nan, committed himself to his vampire wife, like Godric and Claudine had, that she could never stay with him. Her dreams of a happy family with her and Eric, Hunter and Garrick would come to a crashing halt. It was too much to risk. She turned to leave.

"Sookie, please. I have words that I must say to you."

"I hate you for putting us through this," Sookie bit out. She didn't mean it, but she was damned angry, as she pushed back the river of tears that she felt behind her eyes. Sookie made a move to leave, but Eric gripped her by the arm and pulled her back. She slapped him across the face, but he didn't let her go. "Just say it already! Say it. You want me to help you? Okay, here we go. I killed Bill Compton—staked the asshole. It felt good too. I don't feel bad, not one bit. I probably should, but I don't. You slept with Nan. You fucked her senseless, while my dumb ass, sat home pining away for you, all those many months. That's why you couldn't call me. That's why you abandoned me!"

"If that is what you think, then stake me right now. Do it!" Eric fell to his knees before Sookie. He reached for a piece of driftwood on the beach and he thrust it into Sookie's hand. "Give me the true death. I don't wish to live if this is what you think of me."

"Did you make love to Nan?"

Eric grimaced and he shouted something in Swedish into the wind—a pained and hollow cry and Sookie was reminded that Eric was truly a Viking. He lowered his head then began to speak as Sookie's hand, which held the piece of wood in her grasp, trembled and shook.

"I want a fucking divorce, Nan!"

Eric shouted. Nan took a phone call and then snapped her phone shut.

"The AVL wants to see us. They're waiting for us at an abandoned warehouse near the airport."

"I don't care. I'm going to Louisiana."

"Fine. You want a divorce? Then get in the car, Eric. What you did tonight fucked me right up my ass. I'm going to lose my job over this. For somebody who claims to hate the cameras and the attention, you sure put yourself in the thick of it—and at my expense! You will resign from your position at the AVL and I will give you a divorce. That way I can keep my job and you can have your back country, trailer park trash, halfbreed.

Eric reluctantly got into the car with Nan Flanagan. She was furious as she prattled away to somebody on the phone. He wished that he could stake her cold, dead heart, right then and there, but their marriage prevented him from doing that which he wanted to do so horribly. The vampire marriage between them prevented it. That's why she was so insistent on the marriage, because if Nan was anything, she was a shrewd business woman.

"We're here. Go in. I'll be in after I finish this call," Nan said, but she refused to look at Eric.

"No. You will come in with me," Eric said as he yanked Nan from the car by the scruff of her neck.

There was a lynch mob waiting for him when he stepped through the metal doors of the warehouse. He swung his fists but he was overcome by Pierre, and Nan's posse of cronies that she commanded. He was hauled onto an old mail sorting table where heavy chains of silver were wrapped around his body. His skin seared and burned and he called out to his bitch of a wife to release him.

"Get out. He's secure, now leave. Wait for us in the car," Nan ordered. She straddled Eric and leaned against his chest, her elbows digging into him with force. "The way I see it, you have two choices. One, you fuck me, seal our marriage and then you call a press conference and retract everything you just said on that fucking television show. Two, I stake you right here and now. You choose. Tick-tock. Decision?"

"You can't kill me anymore than I can kill you and I'd just assume cut my own cock off than ever stick it in your festering hole," Eric said, through panting breaths as the silver scorched his flesh. "Let me go and give me a fucking divorce!"

"For someone who is older than me, not by much mind you, but even still. You're quite stupid. I can and will kill you, sweet hubby of mine. You remember that time our flight was delayed at JFK, when a flock of birds went into the engine? Well, while you watched the mechanics clean all the itty bitty bird bits out, I went to the duty free shop. Found an interesting book there and I started to read it. It was written by the fagggot- former King, Russell Edgington, but it was an oh so informative read. Up until that point, I was as daft as you. I thought that when we married, that I'd secured a foolproof way of making sure that you never betrayed me, or killed me. I was wrong. We never sealed our bond. We never consummated the marriage. In so, we can be lethal to one another. So, you see, we are back to my original plan. We either fuck or I stake you. Rethought that festering hole, have you? Nan chirped, when Eric gave her a deflated look and nodded his head. "Good. Top or bottom? Well, seems you don't have much of a choice, so I'll take the top."

Eric cringed when the blond dropped her dress and climbed up upon him. She laid her cold, lifeless body down over his and then her lips were like icicles on his, as her hand snaked down his chest, unbuttoning his shirt as she went. "Remove the chain about my neck, so I can kiss you properly," Eric demanded, and Nan obliged. He still had two chains that covered his arms, and two that covered his legs, so she obviously felt secure enough. He leaned his head up and kissed her cheek, and then her chin, as he dragged his hot lips down her neck.

"Yes, Eric, yes!" Nan cried, and he felt his pants being tugged down by her wiry fingers. Her veins were plumped, she'd obviously fed, and he had little trouble locating the biggest vein on her scrawny, little chicken neck. When her hand grasped his cock, his fangs shot out and in a split second it was all over as he latched onto her with his mouth in a deathtrap of bloodsucking triumph. At first she moaned, but then it dawned on her just what he was doing and she tried desperately to pull away. Eric held onto her with his teeth as hard as he could as he drank her essence in. Her face was tortured, and he was sure that he'd have nightmares on future nights to come, but at that moment he was a jungle cat, that stalked the forest in the dead of night, killing all in its wake that dared to move. Her face grew gaunt and it shriveled as he sucked harder at her neck.

"Please," she bit out, before her body fell limp over his. Moments passed before Eric formulated a plan. How to get out from under Nan, out from under the silver, he asked himself? Finally, with every ounce of strength that he had, he began to gently rock the table. Her body finally shifted, and then she was falling. He held tight with his blood thirsty fangs and he fell with her, his body landing hard onto hers as they fell to the concrete floor below. His pants were down below his knees, his ass shone in full moon fashion, when one of the warehouse doors popped open. Eric craned his neck to look behind him. Pierre, Nan's favorite, vampire bitch boy, stood at the door looking on.

"Some privacy please?" He was relieved when Pierre bought the ruse. He gathered his strength and stood as he buckled his pants at the waist again. There was an old chair, half broken, that lay under a pile of dust on the floor and he smashed it to smithereens against the concrete. Shards of wood scuttled across the floor. He reached down and picked up two of the wooden chair legs. "This is a fucking divorce, bitch." Eric slammed the stake through Nan's heart and all at once she withered away into a pile of ash. With a guttural growl, he turned, with a stake in each hand and he made for the car. He groaned, animalistic and frightening and then he pushed through the doors where Nan's cronies stood waiting.

"Who's next?" Eric shouted and the ground shook.

"You never slept with her, and you killed them all," Sookie said reaching out to Eric and brushing her warm fingers against his wind chapped cheek. "You have a lot of love to give."

"Only for you," he uttered under his breath, his voice deep and husky. A blood red tear, streamed down his face and Sookie wiped it away as she dropped the stick that she held in her hand and then knelt in the sand before him.

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Chapter Text

Chapter Twenty-Five

The Lighthouse

(Explicit sexual content warning)

She stared into the puddles of magnetic blue that were Eric's eyes, and the chains that had wound themselves around her heart as a means of protection, broke free at that moment. "This was my fault, Eric. All of it. Can you ever forgive me?"

He opened his coat and wrapped it around her shivering body, bringing her close into his chest as the wind whipped around them. The waves crashed in the blue light of early evening and the North Star twinkled in the sky above. Eric, held her face in his hands, their lips almost touching as they shared the same air. "You are my lover, my heart and my wife. I would do anything to protect you. There is nothing to forgive." His lips brushed against hers and Sookie threw her arms around his neck. All at once his succulent tongue was in her mouth, dipping and delving and caressing as he deepened their kiss. Tender moments passed as they made out in the sand, their mouths becoming ever the more reacquainted. He made love to her mouth with his passionate kiss and her knees went weak. His kiss was abysmal, fiery and purposeful and the welling she felt deep inside was unlike anything she’d ever experienced. Kissing her husband was not like kissing a boyfriend. It was indescribable, but it was as if he was a part of her and she needed his kiss like a lost woman in the desert needed water as she drank her manly Eric in. She never wanted him to ever stop.

"Eric, I love you," she said, pulling away from her Viking husband. "Marry me? Again."

Eric looked more than a little shocked at her proposal. "In my day, a woman waited to be asked. It was not proper to ask a man for his hand in marriage," Eric teased but with a flashy smirk his arms squeezed her tighter against him.

"I want what Godric and Claudine have, only for us. I want to be your wife in every way. I don't want anyone to come between us ever again."

"You are my wife, Sookie. You are mine."

"Not by the laws of vampires."

"Sookie, you don't know what it is that you ask. To enter into such a union, you would feel things—I'm very old."

"Eric, I want to know you—all of you. I want this, I truly do. No. I need this."

Eric stared at her and his Adam's apple bulged as he swallowed hard. "You would feel and know everything about me. I've lived through many dark times, times I'd not want to burden you with. And then there is the sex. Sookie, the sex. The vampire side of me would come out."

"Naturally. I want it to. I want you. All of you."

"I worry I would hurt you."

"I think I can handle you, stud," Sookie winked. "I'm not as vanilla as everyone seems to think." She could see the battle going on between his heart and his mind. She understood his hesitancy. He had lived for one thousand years, and had certainly seen and done things that were of questionable morality. Yet, that is what made Eric into the man, and the vampire, that he was. She wanted it. She wanted him. Sookie wanted to know and feel her husband. "Eric, marry me. Make me yours. All yours," she asked again.

"Yes," he hissed, and the animalistic side of Eric took over. His tongue plunged into her mouth as he kissed her fiercely. Sookie's knees went weak again and she collapsed in the sand under Eric. His hands slipped under her coat, under her shirt, and he squeezed her breasts hard in his hands as his body writhed over top of hers. His cock was rock hard in his pants and he spread her legs and ground his hardness into her. She was teased beyond belief, the fabric between them preventing him from penetrating her as he thrust his hips against her in simulated love making, while the sensations rocked her body. She was dripping wet and her cotton panties stuck to her, as the sensations ricocheted through her body.

"Eric I want you so bad. Let's find a vampire to marry us. Now. They have vampires in Sweden don't they?"

"One right here, and a very old King at that. I'd be honored to perform the ceremony," someone said from above them. Eric reluctantly removed his lips from Sookie's neck and they both looked up to see Godric standing over them. "Oh, I am sorry to interrupt. Neither Pam nor Claudine can figure out just how to open a can of something that a Chef named Boyardi made. One of your son's is hungry."

Sookie blushed and climbed out from under Eric as she stood and righted her clothing. She was still burning with desire, and so was Eric. She smiled when she saw him shift his erection in the tightness of his jeans. "Duty calls," Sookie announced. She gave Eric a peck on the lips and then left to tend to Hunter and Garrick.

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"Godric, I am relieved that you have returned from your sleep," Eric said in reverent tones to his maker, as he bowed his head. "How do you feel?"

"I feel wonderful. Never better in fact. Marriage truly agrees with me, as it will for you as well. You are still wracked with worry, Eric. I can feel your indecision. Let me bear your anguish for you."

"Godric, I am afraid. If I seal my marriage with Sookie she will know all of me."

"Your worries are not unjust. However, after knowing you and nurturing you, I believe that your worries are for naught. You are a good man, and a good vampire. If you love Sookie, then you must seal the bond. For you, as much as for her. Now, stop this worry and rejoice. We are going to have a wedding." Godric patted Eric on the shoulder and smiled. Eric shook his head, but smiled back.

"If you say this will be alright, then I trust you." The two vampires walked side by side back towards the beach house.

"Just be sure to have certain human products available for Sookie. It will ease any pain she may have during the bonding."

Eric laughed. He would need to consult with Pam, so that he could acquire some of her more slippery marital aids.

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Like a pro, Sookie changed Garrick's diaper while Claudine, hovered above her, curiously watching.

"How often does one have to change his soiled under garments?" she asked.

"Well, it depends, but about six to eight times a day I reckon. More when they are younger. Why do you want to know Claudine?"

"For the next solstice of course. Godric and I want one of our own."

"Wait a second. What do you mean the next solstice? What happens then?"

"We will be in season again. Niall would not allow me to live on Earth. He is consumed with the war, and he wants vampire hybrids in order to stack the odds in our favor. The water fairies have killed off most of our warriors."

"That's why he wanted Garrick? To use him like some secret weapon?"

"Yes, Sookie. He is consumed with such treacherous things. I feel safe with Godric though. Even now, I can feel him inside me, with me, always."

"And that's from the vampire marriage?"

"Yes, my dear. It is wonderful. I never wish to return to Fairy. My home is with Godric. Come, let us dress you. Your hair will take some work." Sookie laid Garrick down in his crib for the night and then looked at herself in the mirror. Claudine was right. Her hair was a windblown mess, and she wanted to look beautiful for Eric.

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"You look pretty, Mommy," Hunter said as he yawned. She didn't know how or where Claudine came up with the beautiful lace and chiffon, strapless dress, but it fit Sookie like a glove. It was a vanilla crème colored dress and it had an almost antique look to it, as it billowed at the waist. She truly felt like a fairy princess in it. Claudine pinned her hair up in a loose bun, but left several strands of blonde that fell around her face, framing it. A single flower—a blooming gardenia, was placed in her hair just above her ear. She did look striking, she had to admit it. She couldn't wait for Eric to see her. Hell, she couldn't wait to see Eric period. Since their time on the beach, Sookie's libido had taken over and her mind travelled to more carnal thoughts of the Viking vampire. She was hot to trot at the mere thought of her sexy husband.

"Thank you, sweetie. That's very nice of you to say." She gave Hunter a kiss on the cheek. "Now, off to bed. Claudine is going to watch you tomorrow, and then Aunt Pam and Uncle Godric will be here as well when it gets dark. Be good for them, and watch out for your brother. There is lettuce in the fridge that you can feed to your rabbit, Gudbrande. I love you. Now off to bed little man."

"Night. Daddy is going to tell me a story first."

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Eric looked dashing in a tailored, black suit. He wore a dark red button up shirt under it.  He was the vision of masculine beauty.

"Join hands and kneel before me," Godric said as he presided over the wedding. Pam was already crying. Tears streamed down her face and Claudine, well, she was lost in a Godric filled haze as she smiled up at her husband. The lust that hung in the air from the two couples was almost dense enough to see and touch as Eric peered at her with a lascivious and loving gaze. They were both on the same page that was a certainty. His hands were warm, something she still was not used to. She was used to Bill, with his cold, vampire hands. She laced her fingers in his and Eric winked at her. "Not too late to back out," he whispered and Sookie shook her head from side to side in a resounding, "No way."

"Never. I want this." That seemed to squelch his last bit of cold feet.

"We come together on this night, to join Eric and Sookie in the bonds of matrimony. Since the times of Laskaris and Maria, the very first vampire marriage known to exist, the vampire union has remained a traditional, sacred joining. As Laskaris proclaimed his love to Maria on the banks of the Marmara Sea in Constantinople eons ago, you Eric must do the same. If you love Sookie, proclaim it now, in the presence of witnesses." Godric turned to Eric and laid his hand gently atop Eric's head.

"I, Eric Northman, proclaim my love for Sookie Northman. I shall promise to love and protect her for all my years. I share with her all that I am, both the good and bad, and I shall endeavor to please and pleasure her for all of my coming days and nights. You are mine, and in so I belong to you as well."

Godric smiled and nodded and then he placed a light hand on Sookie's head. "As Maria proclaimed her love for Laskaris, do you Sookie, proclaim your love for Eric before loving witnesses?"

"I do. I, Sookie Northman, do proclaim to love this man before me-Eric Northman. I love him with all of me and I want to take care of him, and love on him for all my years. Eric, you are so special to me, and I want to be a good wife to you. You make me laugh, and sometimes you make me down right mad, but through it all, I love and trust you."

"The blood is life. Let your bond be strengthened by a sharing of one's essence." Godric, picked up a shiny, silver dagger and passed it to Eric. The handle was encrusted with emeralds and sapphires and it looked ancient, but the blade looked shiny and new. Eric slowly unbuttoned his shirt as Sookie looked on with anxious eagerness. She hadn't really asked what all was involved in a vampire wedding, but she wasn't surprised that it involved blood. With knife in hand, Eric sliced the skin of his chest, just over his heart. At that, Godric passed Sookie a golden chalice and then motioned to Eric. Understanding what was asked of her, Sookie held the chalice under the oozing crimson that dribbled down Eric's ripped and manly chest. When his wound closed and healed itself, Sookie pulled the goblet back and held it reverently between her two hands. Godric, took the knife from Eric and then passed it to Sookie, as Eric took the chalice from her hands.

"Let your blood mix with Eric's, Sookie. Only then will you be one together, united forever."

With a trembling hand Sookie took the knife and pointed it at her heart. The blade was sharp and just a prick of its tip was all that it took, as her blood travelled freely down her breast. Eric was quick, as he placed the chalice under it, catching every drop of her blood in it. When Godric nodded, Eric leaned in and with a swipe of his tongue, he healed Sookie's wound, his saliva providing an anti-coagulant against the oozing wound.

"Drink and complete the rite of marriage," Godric said, and with a wink and a nod, Eric lifted the cup to his lips and drank. His lips were coated in their combined blood when he passed it to Sookie. She brought the cup to her mouth and without hesitation she drank in Eric. Her head swirled and she could feel her husband inside her. It was a strange but comforting feeling. "It is done, let us all rejoice!"

There were hoots and hollers from Pam, but Sookie barely noticed because Eric's lips were squarely on hers, as he captured her in his arms.

"I need you," he purred in her ear. "Now."

She felt it too. She wanted to tear her own clothing off and jump her sexy vampire husband. The need consumed her.

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Eric sped along the pot-holed, dirt road. He had spared no haste as he whisked her into the black, SUV and sped along the winding roads through the forest. It only took them a minute to get to their destination, so wherever he had taken her, it was close. Sookie got out and did a flying leap at Eric, who caught her in his arms and spun her around. Her need for him was intense and she could barely keep from ripping off his clothes and having her way with him. Giant waves, splashed against the rocks in a tumultuous fury of white foam, as they stood at the doorway of an old lighthouse on the coast. He barreled through the door and locked it behind them as he ascended the spiral staircase, bound for the top. When they reached the top, Sookie, was surprised to find herself in a small room, with windows that went a full three hundred and sixty degrees around the entire lighthouse. The panoramic view was breathtaking. There was not much there, only a lambskin rug and several pillows, sprawled on the floor at the foot of a stone fireplace that glowed orange with firelight. Eric had obviously stocked the place with a few necessities, because there was a bottle of pinot noir wine and a bowl of fresh strawberries, not to mention a basket that was filled with all sorts of fragrant oils and lubricants.

"This is perfect, Eric. I want you so much."

"Yes, lover. I—need—can't wait." The feeling was mutual. "Allow me to rub this on you? It will make you more comfortable. Sookie, I am going to fuck the hell out of you." There were no mincing words at that and satisfying goose bumps erupted down her arms when he said it.

"Only if I get to rub you down too," she said as she reached into the basket and began to uncap the various bottles, taking a big whiff of each.

"I prefer this one," Eric said as they both inhaled the scent.

"Vanilla?" Sookie giggled and Eric nodded with lustful eyes.

"Vanilla it is then." They removed their clothes until they sat naked, facing each other, together and alone in the confines of their snug and cozy lighthouse. They took turns as they poured the oil into one another's palms and began a lascivious massage of the other, rubbing and kneading their hot flesh, until both were shiny and slick. Eric capped the bottle and tossed it aside, and then he dove on Sookie, as she fell back against the soft pelt of the fur rug beneath her. She was momentarily sad that some animal had to give their life so that they could fuck like wild beasts in heat upon the rug made from it, but damn it felt good, as Eric took her breasts in his mouth and sucked and nipped at her. Sookie's hand travelled south and she wrapped her fingers around his raging hard on. He was huge, and naughty thoughts played like a movie in her head.

"I need to suck you," she bit out and eagerly. Eric complied as he shifted his body around, until his head was at her feet. They turned on their sides and Sookie opened her legs at Eric's prodding. His tongue was on her wet heat as he lapped at her womanliness. She took his manhood deep into her throat, sucking and licking his rod of steel. She had never felt quite so unencumbered with her own body as she did at that moment. She had an unsatisfied need to feel, touch and taste every part of Eric. Her tongue travelled to his jewels where she licked and sucked at them. It was a curious sensation as she took each one into her mouth. Eric seemed to really enjoy that particular act because he groaned out, more than once, some indecipherable Norse phrase. Her first orgasm took her by complete surprise when Eric's sensual mouth latched onto her bud, in a frenzied assault of her clit. She exploded in his mouth, as his own engorged member throbbed between her lips.

"Have to—fuck you," he said in a deep, guttural voice and he flipped her onto her back and knelt between her legs. He pried her legs open, wide, as he gripped her ankles tightly. With his cock lined up at her entrance he looked into Sookie's eyes. "Tell me if I hurt you. I will try to stop but—"

"Don't you dare stop! Take me now."

"Yes, lover. Yes," he moaned and he impaled her with his manhood. Sookie had had sex before-- many times, with both Bill and Eric, but this time was different. It was raw, and primal. She bit her lip when Eric began to pump her faster and harder. He shoved a pillow behind her head to keep her from lunging clear across the floor with each of his powerful thrusts into her. She was screaming like an untamed beast, her voice and his, melding together in a unison of love filled cries that echoed throughout the lighthouse. She'd never known Eric to be a dirty talker in the bedroom, but boy was he, as their slick bodies rubbed together with a fire fueled friction.

Eric was wild, as he picked her up and pushed her up against the glass of the light house, her oiled ass, pressed like a pancake against the window, with her nipple between his teeth, he held her around his waist and nailed her. Sookie wrapped her arms around his neck and held on for dear life as he rode her expertly and with abandon. She couldn't keep count of the orgasms, as they came in a tidal wave of pleasure, one after the next. Something was happening to her as they rocked and grinded and fucked like animals. Eric felt it too, and he brought her to the floor and laid her on her stomach. The roaring fire crackled in front of her, soothing and peaceful. There was a gold glow that pulsated around them, and Sookie felt her body floating.

"I cannot stop myself. I am sorry if I hurt you," he cried out as his strong knees parted her legs. His hard body was over top of hers and his fingers were pushing inside her ass as he fucked her sopping wet womanhood. It didn't hurt, in fact it felt good, and Sookie moaned with him, urging him on.

"Take me. Seal the bond, Eric. I can feel you so strongly, we’re almost there."

"Yes, lover, I feel it too." He removed his fingers from inside her and then it was replaced by his cock as he slowly pushed inside her. Sookie screamed out and Eric stopped, as he laid his body down over hers, his fingers clasped in hers and his mouth against her ear. "I'm inside you. I am sorry if this hurts, but it feels wonderful for me."

"Just go slow, Eric." He did, and within a few minutes Sookie was crying for more. She slid her own hand down her stomach and between her legs and then she began to rub herself as Eric fucked her in a taboo place, a place that nobody had ever dared to go with her. The sweet smell of sex and vanilla wafted in her nose and she smiled, sated, knowing that never again would she ever be called vanilla Sookie. This was as naughty as it got, and yet it felt good having Eric so deep inside her. He was losing it as he bucked against her.

"Come Eric. Let it go. I love you so much. Come with me," Sookie cried out as her climax ripped through her body.

"Jag älskar dig hustru!" he shouted.

"Yes, Eric! Oh god!"

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It was immediate, and Sookie flipped the sleeping Eric over on his back, his weight not a problem at all as she had the strength of ten men at that very moment. She covered him up with a soft, blanket. He looked angelic before the fire, as his chest rose and fell with each slumbering breath. Then she turned her head, and with her vampire eyes, she gazed at the world for the very first time. Everything was vivid and new. The water droplets of salty, ocean spray cascaded lazily down the glass windows of the lighthouse, and Sookie was mesmerized by the tiny beads of water. She swore that she could see the smallest of molecules, the building blocks of the droplet, as they sparkled in hues of blue and pink against the rotating, yellow light of the lighthouse. It was surreal. Her ears perked and she could hear the crack of a twig, far away in the forest, as a wild dog tromped through the dense, forest foliage. She could even hear the soft sounds of Garrick, as he slept dreamily in his crib a mile or two away. She raked a hand through Eric's hair and bent and kissed him on the forehead. Her sweet husband. Her Eric. He was hers. She had flashes of Eric as a young lad. He was no more than Hunter's age, as he stood at the side of a hulking man.

"Gudbrande, give Eric your sword. Let him prove he is a man. I wager two goats that Johan will prove that he is really a girl." The man laughed as he swigged on a tin goblet.

Gudbrande, passed Eric the sword, and with words of encouragement, he gave him a pat on the back. "Take him down swiftly. Let your defenses be your offense, my son." Eric nodded and stepped up, raising his sword. Sookie was drawn back from the vision, when she heard a sound. She snapped her head to the side. Something was close. She pulled on her clothes and shot down the spiral staircase at break neck speed. Eric's speed. She flung the door to the lighthouse open and shielded her eyes when a golden light blinded her.

"Seize her!" Niall commanded, and five more fairies appeared at Niall's side, all carrying bows, all glowing gold.

Review?!

This chapter ran long, so I had to cut it into two chapters. So…lol….the next chapter is the last chapter I promise  I will probably combine last chapter with epilogue together. Please review and thanks

Chapter Text

Chapter Twenty-Six

Firsts and Lasts

"No!" Sookie shouted, as a sea of rippling, muscled, fairy arms shot forward, grabbing her. Suddenly, there was a flash of golden light, emanating from Sookie herself, and then fairy warriors were being hurtled backwards and into the air, as they splashed down in the roaring sea. Sookie leapt through the door of the lighthouse and slammed it shut, her heart beating wildly. She flew back up the stairs and was relieved to find Eric sleeping peacefully where she'd left him, by the fire.

"I won't let them hurt you," she said frantically, as the fairies broke through the heavy, wooden door below.

"Sookie, it is time to come back to Fairy. You will be our most prized possession; you will lead the war efforts." Niall called out as he scaled the spiral staircase.

"Go away! Just leave us alone. I have all that I want here." Two hulking, tanned men stepped out from behind Niall, flanking him at either side. They raised their bows and expertly drew their arrows back. Instinctively, Sookie threw herself over Eric's body. The wooden arrows were Death's dealer, to a vampire at least, so Sookie covered Eric's heart with her own body. Her Viking lay underneath her, his chest rising and falling with each slumbering breath.

"You and your children will be well and cared for."

"And Eric?"

"He's not like us, Sookie. I won't sit here and lie to you dear. The vampire is a natural enemy to the fairy. Come with me now, and you and your children will be safe. That is the deal."

"Fuck you, and your deal!" Sookie snarled, and with the quickness of a one thousand year old vampire, she lunged on the fairy that flanked Niall to his right. She didn't have the predator fangs of a vampire, but she had the strength of her conviction. There was blood—a lot of it too, as she sunk her teeth into the archer's neck. He shrieked, as a maelstrom of arrows flew, and then there was a crashing sound, like a hailstorm, as shards of glass rained down inside the lighthouse. A cold gust of wind hit Sookie in the face and her hair blew, wild and untamed. Her crème colored dress was drenched with fairy blood. She turned when she caught sight of something out of the corner of her eye. It was Godric, and he was kneeling over Eric. There were two dead fairies that lay like two wringed out sponges on the floor, their faces hollow, as if all of the life had been sucked out of them. It had. Godric had crashed through the glass windows of the lighthouse, just in the nick and time and had taken out the other archer, as wood arrows flew wildly about.

"Godric. Thank you! Niall, where is he?"

"Gone. He escaped."

"Eric?"

"He's been struck in the gut by an arrow."

"He'll heal though right?"

Godric looked at her with a sorrowful expression. Then they both heard it. The shrill cries of her children, terrified and alone. "Godric, my babies!"

"I will go. I am older and stronger. I will stop the Fairy."

Sookie clamored to Eric's side. Thick crimson oozed from his stomach and pooled in a puddle on the floor next to him. She reached in and gripped the arrow by its base and gave it a tug. The arrow, slick with Eric's blood, released itself and then the wound gushed furiously. Sookie tore the hem of her dress away and pushed it against his wound.

"Save my babies, Godric. I can't leave Eric this way. Go. I'm counting on you!" Godric nodded in hurried fashion and then he was gone.

"Eric, can't you heal? Eric, come on!" Sookie's hands were shaking as she dropped panicked kisses against Eric's still lips. He was growing paler by the second and he still wasn't healing. Sookie felt a stabbing pain in her leg, one that she hadn't been aware of before. She glanced down to see that she too had been struck by a fairy arrow. She reached down and with a slight grimace, she pulled the wooden stick from her leg and then watched as the bleeding stopped, and the wound healed itself. Shit, I've got his healing power, Sookie said to herself. This is not good. "Take it back from me Eric. Please! I love you. You have to heal. You're going to die! Eric!" She shouted but her screams fell on deaf ears. His face and lips were ghostly white, and he would surely succumb to the true death in mere minutes if something drastic was not done, and quick. An idea came to her, and she wriggled down his sleeping form as she pulled the dressing back, exposing his wound. His whole stomach was a bloody mess, but without a second thought, Sookie laved her tongue against his wound. She'd seen both Bill and Eric heal a person's wounds in this way, even if it wasn't a mortal wound; it had worked in the past. With all hope lost, she licked at his wound, in hopes that her saliva would work its vampire magic. Eric's blood was sweet and sticky and she swallowed it in mouthfuls each time the wound bubbled and spurt blood, and each time she pressed her tongue to his wound, until finally the blood began to slow. Satisfied, that she had stopped the bleeding, she sat up and wiped her mouth. "Godric will save our kids. I know he will and then—" Sookie stopped when her head clouded over and then she was falling as her world fell into a darkened haze.

"Your boy is a girl. He can barely lift the sword," the man said as he let out great belly laughs. Sookie stood on the sidelines, with the other village children and watched the brawl. The blond boy was tall and lean, but outmatched by his opponent, who was older and much more endowed in the brawn department.

"Eric, if you are to die, then you will die like a warrior. Now stand up and fight my boy," Gudbrande said to the fallen boy, who laid face down in the dirt with his sword at his side. The bigger boy kicked him in the ribs, and Eric curled himself into a ball.

"I believe in you," Sookie said, and she bent down and touched the boy's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. Blue eyes stared back at her in disbelief as he raised his head and gazed at her curiously. He struggled to his feet and with labored movements, he raised his sword again. She clenched her eyes tightly shut as the bigger boy charged at him. She heard cries and she popped an eye open to find Eric on one knee, with his sword planted in the bigger boy's foot. The toothless teen howled in pain and agony and Eric stood and raised his sword in a victorious celebration.

"He's half your size! You cause great shame to your fader, Johan," the man said, only he was not laughing anymore.

"You showed great honor on this day. It was kind to spare the oaf's life, Eric. My heart overflows with pride for you, my son. Come now, your mother will be waiting and will club us if we are late for supper again," Gudbrande said, and he clapped Eric on the back while Sookie looked on.

"In a minute, Fader." Eric turned to Sookie. He took her hand in his and kissed the back of it. "Do I know you?"

Sookie blushed.

"My fader is the blacksmith." He held out his hand to her and a ten year old Sookie, took it. They walked hand in hand through the tiny Viking village and then when they were out of sight from their elders, Eric dragged her into a stable where horses and goats were kept as he pulled her down in the hay.

"Are you betrothed to anyone?"

"No," Sookie said, her cheeks burning.

"I should wish to marry you." A confidant Eric said.

"You are not even a man yet," Sookie giggled.

"But when I am, I will call on you."

"My father is bigger than Johan," she said cheekily as she scooted away from the handsome boy.

"Then I will carry a bigger sword," Eric laughed as he scooted closer to Sookie once again. "I want to kiss you. May I?"

"Only once and it has to be fast," Sookie said and she closed her eyes. His lips were smoldering, as he pressed his kiss into her. Familiar. She returned his kiss with a fire all her own, and then his hands were awkwardly in her hair.

"Sookie, you are mine," he said in a deep whisper and he was not a little boy anymore. He was a man and she was his woman as they writhed together in a passionate embrace.

"Eric where are we?"

"Open your eyes."

Sookie opened her eyes and they were once again in the lighthouse, only this time Eric was looking at her with those beautiful, arctic eyes. "Eric what just happened?"

"I do not know, but I had been fighting Johan for hours, and then suddenly you were there, and I grew strong again. What happened, lover?"

Sookie thought about his question, and then suddenly her vision was filled with the horrid memory of Niall.

"Your wound!" Sookie shot up and pulled the blanket back. Only dried blood remained on Eric, his wound all but gone. Even the color had returned to his face.

"What happened?" Eric looked at her with innocent eyes. He hadn't known about the fairies, and Niall and Godric and—

"Eric, the children. We have to go! Godric needs us."

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.

"Get on my back. It will be faster than taking the truck," Eric ordered.

"No, Eric, I still have your strength. Let's go."

"That's impossible. I feel my strength. It's as it has always been, Sookie."

"No time to figure it out now. Garrick is crying," Sookie said with a pained expression.

"So is Hunter," Eric quipped and just like that, the pair set off as they darted through the trees on foot.

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.

"I say we go for it, Godric. Rip that fucking fairy Prince's head off," Pam said.

"No. He has the baby. We can't risk it," Godric replied, as Sookie and Eric reached the beach only to find that her great grandfather, the fairy, Niall, had Garrick in his clutches. Claudine had Hunter wrapped in her arms as she stood safely behind Godric. Sookie shot Hunter a brave look. Five fairy corpses littered the beach at Godric's feet. It had been a fairy bloodbath, and Eric and Sookie had missed all of it.

"Unhand my son!" Eric hissed.

"I'll snap his neck like a twig if you take one step closer," Niall said. Garrick was still in his footie pajamas, as he struggled in Niall's arms.

"We've leveled your army Niall. You need to listen to Eric and give us back our son. We won't kill you, if you give him back to us unharmed," Sookie bit out. Eric looked at her as if she were crazy. He clearly intended to kill Niall regardless.

"Let me go. I will take the child and I will rear him as my own. He will be a Prince, and he will inherit my kingdom. Down here, he will never be anything more than a freak. You know it to be true. You will forever have to hide his identity from the world. He won't fit in with the humans, or the vampires.

"He's not yours, Niall. He's ours. This isn't your decision. It's mine and Eric's and we choose to have our son back."

"Last chance, Fairy," Eric said with gritted teeth and razor sharp fangs bared.

"I will back your decision, whatever it is," Godric said to Eric.

"Me too, although I'm all for killing his baby snatching ass," Pam said and she tossed her hair.

"This baby was by my making!" Niall grew furious. "It is my blood that runs through your veins, Sookie. It is only by my doing that you could bear a child at all."

"He's lying, Sookie," Claudine interjected and all eyes turned to Godric's wife. "The wood nymphs claimed you as their own. Their Queen, the noble Davinia, was there at his birth. She is the Goddess of the Wood. Niall has no rights to your child."

"One of your mudder friends showed us to a campsite of hippies," Sookie recalled Eric's words when she had awoken inside the tent in the woods. That had to be Davinia.

"You traitor!" Niall pointed at Claudine, his face contorted into that of a monster, and then Sookie's jaw dropped. Her toddler stopped crying and sunk his fangs into Niall's neck. It was a bold and shocking move, and one that nobody could have predicted. Niall fell to the ground gasping and both Sookie and Eric ran to their son's aid—though he didn't need any help as he drained the fairy to completion with a gurgle here and a burp here and there he managed to polish him off alright.

"Yes, yes, good boy!" Eric cheered, as Sookie's mouth hung open in shock.

"My grandson is already a great warrior," Godric said with pride. When all the life had drained from Niall, Eric plucked Garrick up into his waiting arms as the baby smiled and babbled carelessly. Hunter ran to Sookie and flung his arms around her waist. Time stood still, as the family of four embraced one another in a loving, family hug.

"Come, it will be light soon," Godric said with his arm around Claudine. He motioned to Pam and they paced silently back to the house on the hill.

"Everything is alright now. There are no more bad guys," Sookie consoled Hunter as she dropped kisses on both of her boys.

"It will be light soon. Good fishing," Eric said. "Hunter go and grab the fishing poles. Perhaps we can catch our breakfast." Food. Leave it to a man to think of food. Hunter's face lit up and the little boy took off through the sand towards the house as if nothing had ever happened. Eric then turned to Sookie. "You shouldn't have my strength and I should still be asleep and yet I feel bonded to you so the seal worked. What happened back at the lighthouse?"

Sookie gulped, when she remembered just how much of Eric's blood she had drank.

"You were bleeding so badly. I might have gotten some of your blood in my mouth when I tried to heal the wound. What do you think it means?"

"I—drinking too much of my blood—the effects can be irreversible. It was during the bonding though, so I don't know what this means for you."

"Well, what? Am I a vampire now? Am I going to burn up in the sun or what? Eric, I'm scared."

"Sookie,shhh," Eric soothed her. He curled an arm around her waist. "You won't burn up in the sun."

"How do you know though?"

"Because the sun is already out." Sookie stared up at the ball of orange that hung over the horizon against the backdrop of the gray-blue sea. She could feel its warming rays on her face and she smiled, relieved. Garrick wriggled in Eric's arms and he set the tot down on the sand between them, before he leaned over to kiss Sookie.

"I can feel you inside me," Sookie said, though her lips never moved.

"I feel you too, wife." Eric said aloud, and for the first time in all of Sookie's twenty-six years, she wasn't alone in her ability. Eric had just read her mind. It was a warm feeling and that of belonging. Finally.  They collapsed in the sand and his hands shot forward as he captured her in his strong arms. His tongue delved and plundered, his kiss never more electrifying to Sookie, and her heart leapt with joy. When she pulled away from his kiss, she looked down to see that Garrick was not between them anymore. For a quick moment, Sookie felt a sense of dread, that is, until Eric pointed at something behind her. She craned her neck to see her infant son, trotting through the sand on wobbly legs. His first steps were fueled with purpose as he made for the tree line and that is when Sookie saw her. Her tattooed body, with the vines of honeysuckles for hair, it was the Goddess. Her feet and ankles were caked with mud, and she wore a garment made from the soft leaves that lined the forest floor.

"Davinia?" Sookie said under her breath and she turned to Eric.

"She seems benevolent," Eric said, though there was question in his voice—question that Sookie shared as their eyes met.

"Just in case though," Sookie said.

"Race you?" Eric said, and they both took off after Garrick.

"Mama!" Garrick said in triumph, clearly impressed with himself and his ability to walk, that is, before he teetered on shaky legs and fell. Davinia, caught him and scooped him up into her arms. Sookie held her arms out for her son, and the wood nymph graciously passed him to her, as a dumbfounded Eric and Sookie stared on. She smiled at them both and then faded into the trees once more.

The End

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One year later…

Epilogue

"Hands off," Sookie said as she stuffed her waitress pad and pencil into the pocket of her apron, and gave the middle-aged man a hard shove after he pinched her ass.

"Problem  here?" Eric asked as he sauntered up to the rowdy table and wrapped a pair of protective arms around Sookie.

"Not at all. Gustav was just saying that he wanted to clear up his tab. He's paying the whole thing right now," Sookie said with a smirk as the patron shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Eric grumbled and his fangs popped out.

"Touch my wife again and you will lose your—"

"Eric! Stop." Sookie grabbed him by the hand and dragged him to the back office of the newest vampire bar in Gothenburg.

"I wasn't going to kill him. I was just going to teach him about respecting another man's—"

"Eric, we need to talk."

"Sounds serious."

"It is. Not here though. I'll meet you at home later? You'll need to hire somebody else to take over my position." Sookie dropped her apron and slipped on her winter coat.

"You're quitting? Sookie, if this is about Yvetta, I told you that I'm not interested. She throws herself at every vampire."

"It's not about that."

"Do you wish to go back to Bon Temps? Is the cold here bothering you? We can go back if you wish it."

"Hell no. I told you I like it here. Besides, Jason and his brood are living in my house, taking care of the place."

"Then what is it, lover?"

"I'll just see you later."

As Sookie left, she received a phone call. It was Claudine.

"It happened again." Was all that she said.

"Shit," Sookie said as she reached the black SUV. She would have to make a detour on her way home.

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.

"This book says it might be his two year old molars coming in. He's been a handful today," Claudine said as she sat at the kitchen table and spooned a bite of spaghetti into an impatient Garrick's mouth. Claudine and Godric had bought the place two kilometer's down the beach and were Sookie and Eric's closest neighbors. They both still retained their kingship in the states, and Eric had to make frequent trips across the pond, but they had opted to remain in Sweden for the time being. Sookie needed a change of pace, and the house on the hilltop, overlooking the sea felt like home to her. Claudine and Godric hadn't been successful in having their own children, yet anyways, though they remained hopeful. Claudine had proven to be a valued and trusted babysitter, which was a godsend to Sookie, because it allowed her the time to open up the Sweden locale, Fangtasia, with Eric. With Pam and Tara running the bar in Shreveport, and Eric and Sookie managing the Gothenburg location, business was booming, and for the first time in Sookie's life she wasn't hurting for money.

"Not again. That's the fifth one in as many months. Hunter's not home from school yet is he?" Claudine shook her head no.

"Garrick, what did I tell you about this? Gudbrande is a family member." Sookie wagged her finger at the two year old and he plumped his bottom lip out and pouted. Frustrated, Sookie stomped into Hunter's room and began to move the toy trucks and trains around until she found what she was looking for. She wrinkled her nose as she held the dead bunny out, her arms extended, and then she tromped outside and into the snow. After she ditched the corpse of Hunter's pet, she returned to the car, where she hauled the brand new, and alive, bunny back into the house where she placed it carefully into the large cage that sat on the desk in Hunter's room. The last thing she needed was for Hunter to find out that his little brother had murdered his beloved bunny. It was all in a day's work, Sookie thought as she washed her hands. It's not like he could help it. It wasn't like their child could help the fact that on occasion he had the urge to kill. He was a vampire. Still, something had to be done and her current predicament did nothing but complicate matters. It was getting harder to match the markings on each successor to Gudbrande. Hunter was sure to notice the slight difference in the pattern of its coat. Something had to give. Deflated, she threw herself down on her bed, and worried about how Eric was going to take her news.

.

.

"I've felt your worry all day long," Eric said as he swaggered into the bedroom. Sookie yawned and opened her eyes. "Are you leaving me?" Eric asked, visibly upset.

"Sit down, Eric. There's something I've kept from you, but I can't do it any longer." He sat on the edge of the bed, hunkered over with his hands on his head and a cold stare downwards as if he were waiting for the axe to fall.

"You've been distant from me. I can't feel you as much as I normally can. Have you fallen out of love with me?"

"Eric, there's a reason that you can't feel me, but it isn't that. Hey, I love you, for keeps. I didn't think you noticed, or I'd have said something long before now." Sookie knelt on the floor between his legs and with gentle fingers she raised his chin to look at her. "You're my husband, and I'll never stop loving you."

"Then what is it? What have I done wrong? What is it that you couldn't tell me back in the city?"

Sookie gulped, and with reluctance she raised her shirt up and pulled it over her head. She unclasped her bra and let it fall to the floor. "Because I'm horny, Eric. All I can think about it having you inside me. It consumes my thoughts."

"Then why such a dour face? This is not a bad thing at all," he said and his hands were hard on her breasts, squeezing and kneading her tender flesh.

"Eric, our child is a killer," Sookie announced and tears began to stream down her face. Her hands however, seemed to have a mind of their own as she tore Eric's belt away from his body and began a frantic assault on his zipper as she tugged it down. She had to have him. Right there and then. His mouth was on her breasts sucking and licking and Sookie threw her head back and moaned.

"Lover," Eric stopped and his head shot back up. "It is happening again, isn't it? The marking on your breast. It was not there before."

"Yes! Please don't hate me. I need you so much right now. I'm in season again, and I can't control myself. Lock me in the closet or something. I can't stop myself." Sookie pushed Eric back onto the bed and with one yank she removed his pants. His cock sprang to attention and Sookie's hand stroked his manhood.

"Why would I do that? If we are meant to have another baby, then we should rejoice." Sookie's head plunged down over his wood and Eric groaned in pleasure. "I will take Garrick hunting. It will control his—Oh fuck," Eric moaned out loudly,"-urges. When he is older I can explain it to him. We will get through this together, lover."

"He's a good boy isn't he? He told me he wubs me this morning and kissed me on the cheek. Oh holy hell Eric, I need you to fuck me."

"Yes, and yes," he hissed and he rolled over on top of her. "I will fill you with my seed and we will create a child—a girl."

"Yes, Eric, now—need you," Sookie bit out and she bucked her hips as his thickness penetrated her. With so many magnificent orgasms, Sookie lost count as Eric pounded her into the sheets. They fucked like rabbits that day, frantic and needing, and Sookie conceived a child.

Later that night, a brutal snowstorm rolled through, but she was safe in Eric's arms, snuggled under the covers with her Viking, her protector, her lover, her best friend. His hand massaged her belly and Sookie felt warm all over. While the vampire traits that she'd gained from drinking Eric's blood were waning, her hearing was still impeccable, so her head shot up when she heard the creek of the bedroom door. Garrick padded in, security blanket tucked under his arm, and he crawled up into the bed with Eric and Sookie. He nuzzled his head in the crook of Sookie's arm where he fell fast asleep. A short time later, Hunter arrived in the room, no doubt bothered by the howling wind and thunder snow, and he crawled in next to Eric. As she gazed down at her sleeping boys, she was overcome with a sense of pride. All her worry was for nothing. They were a family, and sure they would have their share of both strife and triumphs, but they were together, and at that moment Sookie felt like she could take on the world. An hour later, she would feel differently as she heaved her guts out over the porcelain Goddess, but for that brief moment, she didn't have a care in the world. She could do anything, so long as she had Eric and her two little soldiers who slept like angels at their sides.

"We will call her Mina," Eric whispered in the dark of the bedroom, and his lips were on her neck. Sookie tilted her head to the side to give him better access. He held her safe and steady in his arms as his fangs bit down, piercing her flesh.

Thanks for all who stayed with this story and faithfully reviewed each chapter. I hope you enjoyed it!  Peace out. Be safe and let's all get through COVID. Ugh.

Review!?/Kudos!?