Give Me Strength!
The characters of True Blood belong to Alan Ball. The SVM characters belong to Miss Charlene Harris. I do not have a BETA, editor, or other such charming person. All mistakes and fuckery are my own. I am not claiming anyone else's.
Sookie woke up...not that she had been resting very well. Or sleeping. Or doing anything other than worrin' about Bill and his on going fucked up nonsense of wanting to die. "Give me strength," she mumbled as she listened to her now not so normal night sounds.
There was a lot of noise...as in the screaming and fighting variety and some loud crashing. From time to time that had happened out in her woods. When it did, it normally did not end well for who ever was screaming and yelling. Sookie got up and went to the window to look out...yes, noise...then...there was deadly silence of the you are now completely and utterly fucking dead, variety. And a tasty snack. That could only mean one thing...Eric. No one could bring peace out of utter chaos faster than Eric.
"Oh fuck," she went back to bed and thought about what had just happened. "Is there a reason I cannot listen," closing her eyes she could once more see the men with the guns. Men with guns inside Fangtasia! Just how often did you see that? Never!
Eric lyin' through his teeth to protect her. How often did you see that...?" Always," she sighed. It was time to make a phone call.
It was good to be out in the night, the breeze blowing against your neck and ruffling your hair. Well, what hair that was not stuck to your head with blood.
Eric was rocking out as he drove the suped up matchbox car! Pushing the car through its paces, for a moment he recalled being back in Japan and doing the first ever 360 spin-around while the crowd went wild. Now that had been fun and there had been guns, death and mayhem that night as well.
Yes... a most delightful evening. There was the sweet smell of gunpowder dancing about him. Inhaling, there was also Mr. Gus still roasting in the goodness of a gas fireball lingering on his person.
He was wearing one of his favorite looks...the blood spatter of some would be ninja cocksuckers who were not nearly as deadly, cool or 1,000 year old vampire fast as they thought they were. Licking the blood of his lips, his night was verging on perfect.
Hearing his phone ring, checking the caller I.D...well, it was now perfect. The smile covered his face.
"Miss Stackhouse," he grinned, feeling very pleased with himself. "What may I do for you this evening?"
"Oh," she did not mean to laugh but she did, "I think you have already done it."
"M-m-m," Eric made a throaty chuckle, "I did not bring you to that mind blowing place of pleasure where you are screaming my name. However, I could," his voice was very serious. Silence! "I am not hearing a no," he pushed his luck a bit farther.
"It was the ninjas, huh?" she asked. When there was no response, her voice became very serious. "I am sorry I did not listen to you...and I know I should have stayed away. I also know that Bill believes a lot of fucked up shit and...and...I need to just let him believe it."
"Sookie," his voice lingered on her name. "I am still not hearing a no. And I am now immune to HepV."
"I'll see you in a bit. No need to clean up. You can shower here," she said as she hung up the phone.
"Did you hear that boys!" Eric roared as he spun the car in a 360. "She'll see me in a bit!
Call Pam," Eric said into his phone. "Meet me at the car dumping site. I have someplace else I need to be."
Pam was still licking her fangs when she picked up. Rolling her eyes, it was an easy guess the some place else he needed to be. "Give me strength! Fuckin' maker and his love for the tanned twat," she sighed as she tucked her phone back into her cleavage. Oh well, released or not, he was still her maker and she loved him as such. "Here are your marchin' orders, Sarah," she batted her eyelashes as she explained exactly what the cure was going to do next.
"Fuckin' Eric," she kicked at a rock as she walked off and took to the sky. "I know this is going to involve me getting dirty...I guess if I just stripped down to nothin' I would not ruin this outfit. Fuckin' maker..."
Eric landed at Sookie's still covered in blood. Nothing to be done for it. He did not want to wait to see her...she apparently felt the same way about him.
Knocking on her door, she smiled when she opened it and shaking her head at him, she said, "You have a bit, right there, on the corner of your mouth."
"Sorry," Eric licked his lips. "That part of me clean enough now?"
Even covered in blood spatter he was still just so fucking considerate! And gorgeous! And he had done this killing to protect her because she could not follow a good idea if it bit her on the ass. "M-m-m-m," she let go of the fuckery that was the day and standing on tip-toes, kissed him. Nothing long and drawn out and passionate. Just sweet and lingering with promises of things to come.
Eric wrapped his hand around hers and together they went to take a shower.
The lovers lay entwined on Sookie's bed. Her head resting on Eric's chest as he slowly ran his hand through her hair.
"Bill wants me to kill him," her voice was quiet.
Eric actually took a breath. He felt his chest move up and down as he contemplated how delightful it would be to go this very minute and end Compton's fucked up shit.
"What are you thinking lover?" Eric's voice was soft and low and full of concern.
"I hate him for putting me in this position. I hate myself for letting him put me in this position. I am fucking tired of being a willing victim. Just..."
Holding her that much closer to him, he felt the sobs rack her body.
"I loved him at one time, Eric," she wept, raising her tear-streaked face to his. "And I know he lied to me. But at one time, I thought he honestly loved me. Why would he do this to me? If he wants to die, is there a reason he cannot just meet the sun? I considered it an honor and a privilege to stand with Godric as he brought his life gracefully to a close.
Bill said he wants me to be the last thing he sees...I could be that if he just met the sun...but for me to end his life..."
Eric pulled her that much closer to him as she openly wept. His head resting on top of hers as she tried to make sense of a situation that held none.
"Sookie," he said stroking her back. "Yes, you need to make an informed decision. Bill fed you so you would heal after being attacked by the Heppers, correct?"
"Yes," she nodded, her voice still sad. Raising her face, she placed her hand on his cheek. "You want me to drink you," her voice was quiet.
"Yes. And I understand your position about not wanting to do that. Would you let me go with you to end Bill?" he asked her.
"No, no..." she paused. "But I can see what you are sayn'..."
"Sookie, he may be dying, but he is still vampire and stronger than you. I would hate for his last act to be to drain you. He may threaten you so that you are forced to fireball him. Is that what you want?"
"If I fireball him, I will no longer be fae..." she said raising her face to Eric's again. "No vamp is going to want me..."
His eyes turned liquid. "That's not true, lover. It does not matter to me. You are all that matter's to me."
"I hate to sound like a bitch and ungrateful. But wouldn't I be in the same predicament with you? Eric, your blood influencing me...?"
She could feel the laughter shaking his body.
"My blood influences you?" he chuckled. "Miss Stackhouse, I cannot get you to do jack shit. Believe me, I have tried," he chuckled. Then his voice became low and seductive. "Have you ever had any erotic dreams about me?"
"Well," she paused. "Just the one. After you tricked me," she said arching an eyebrow at him, "into drinkin' your blood and suckin' out those bullets. And it was really strange because Lorena was in it also. That was just weird. She was sittin' in a chair watchin' us and occasionally she would chime in with ...but what about Bill...?"
"What?" Eric sat up and pulled Sookie up with him.
"Yes," Sookie nodded, "we were naked in bed and you were being Mr. Charming and all and she would talk to me...but you did not hear her. Or if you did, you just ignored her."
"This was after you had sucked the bullets from my body..." Eric's face was now even with hers.
"Yes," she nodded.
Eric was thoughtful. "This would have been when Bill was still working his agenda for Sophie-Anne. And someone else..."
"Eric," Sookie was watching his face and she saw death, there. "What is goin' on?"
"No matter how much of Billy Boy's blood you had Sookie, when he rescued you," he spit out, "from the drainers. You could drink gallons of his blood and it would not trump your more recent ingestion of my 1,000 year old blood. As small as the amount, was.
Yes," Eric was thoughtful, "and we have all seen just how well I am capable of controlling you...not!" he laughed.
"What are you sayin' Eric?" she asked.
"The dream with Lorena in it...impossible...unless he had a way to tie into you...a direct link. Like a maker to a child. For you it would have to be some type of a direct genetic link. One of your fae kin fed Bill so he could feed you. No wonder he pushes your emotions around."
"You think," her voice raised a bit, "that one of my fae kin...Warlow..." she hissed.
"Bill struck a deal with someone. Then he used that blood link to tie into you and he pushed Lorena's likeness at you to try and keep you faithful to him. Even in your dreams."
"So that was not Bill's maker sittin' in that chair, watchin' us make love..." she shuddered all over, "it was Bill...with maybe a tie to Warlow so he could watch also. Gag..."she mumbled. "I feel sick."
He was amazed that she could trust at all and he wanted her to trust him. Always. And forever. "Sookie, I know you need to end this on your terms, lover, but I will be in the woods, watching. If you do not wish to drink, I understand. But if Compton makes one move that I do not like, he will meet the true death at my hands."
Her eyes held his. She saw only his love for her reflected back.
"Dawn is coming," he kissed her lightly. "Get some sleep."
"You want to stay in the cubby?" she asked him.
"Yes," his kissed her lightly again. "Yes, thank you."
When Sookie woke up, she could still smell Eric on the pillow. No matter what soap he used, he always smelled like snow and the quiet of a winter's night.
It was time to get moving on the new day...and new fucked up shit...and whatever else was coming her way, eventually the sun was going down and her vamp was risin'. And Bill, well, she could see him out. Ass!
It had been good to sit and talk with the preacher. Sookie was now home and waiting on dark. It really had been the day from hell!
Jess had been a beautiful bride.
And Bill...well yes, to the very end he wanted her to be a killer...his killer...Please Sookie end my days at your hands.
When Eric came up out of the cubby, she was dressed all in black.
Sitting down beside her, Eric took her hand.
"Looks like a decision has been made. You are dressed for a funeral."
"Yes," she nodded. "There was a weddin', today. Jess and Hoyt. Bill gave the bride away. He wants me to blast him with my light. Drain the fae from myself so there will be no more vamps...lined up from here to Hell...that will want me."
"What is it Sookie?" he asked her gently.
"It has taken me a long time, but I realized today, Eric, that I am a fairy. Maybe just a bit of one, but this is who I am. Folks don't stop being Irish, or undead, or Shifter. Why should I stop being fae?"
"You are correct, lover," Eric kissed her hand.
"I mean that list is endless. But you don't stop being who you are. You may try to adapt to be a bit more user friendly when you live with someone, but you don't re-invent yourself. Folks love you because you are you.
Bill is going to meet the true death and he wants me to stop being myself. Use up my light...! What a selfish bastard. Even in his true death, he wants me to accommodate him. Use all of your spark to end me. No, don't be fae anymore."
Eric could feel it. His Sookie was going to speak a universal truth and wrap herself in it.
"He was the one that touted me to New Orleans as being fae. And how Bill loved that fae part of me. Now I am to take that thing that he loved and use all of it to destroy him.
Because he wants me to be human. And no vampire is going to want me as human. He made his point about that.
Except for one," she smiled at Eric as tears threatened in her eyes.
"I'll be in the woods, lover. Watching..."
Nodding her head at him, she knew better than anyone what Eric was capable of doing. "I am going to need to deal with this. Eric, please, I'll ask for your help when I need it."
"I will let you do this on your terms. But if he threatens you..."
Nodding, she kissed him lightly on the lips, stood and walked out the door.
My name is Sookie Stackhouse. And I am Fae. Fairy to the rest of the world. It was a long time comin' on, but I am fuckin' proud of who and what I am.
Tonight I am seeing out my x. This fuckery has been years in the makin'. Bill thinks he really is all that. I am now asking myself the question, just what is it he thinks he is?
There it is up ahead. The Bon Temps Cemetery. Home to Stackhouses and the other good people of Bon Temps. And the final resting place of some not so good people. I am proud to say that I have known my share of the exceptional and...just some evil cocksuckers.
This is perhaps the longest walk of my life. I am off to do a friend a favor. This is how I have to approach this. Bill wants me to end his life. Because he does not have the balls to watch the sunrise.
I know that Eric is here, somewhere. Bill will be so wrapped up in himself he won't even consider the danger he is putting me in with Heppers still wandering around. Selfish bastard!
Well, here I stand. The marker says William T. Compton. Nowhere on it does it say coward or cocksucker. His grave has been opened up. And there is a coffin at the bottom. It's old. I wonder if this is the way his human family had closure? I am beginning to think that with me ending Bill, Bill believes that I will never achieve closure. He is a great big cocksucker! That for the rest of my days, his name will be forever on my lips!
The dark is settling around me and I can feel Eric pushing some of his strength to me. I am weary with Bill's never ending bullshit and tonight it ends.
Dark. Full on. Well just damn! I am waiting for Bill at the cemetery. Really? He could not be on time for his own funeral! What? Am I suppose to escort him over? Is it to late to hire a brass jazz band to walk him over? And of course, I would have to pay for that...cheap bastard.
Finally...I could see him in is white Henley and jeans. Really? He could not even put on his Sunday best? Yes, just the cheapest shit he owns. Cheap assed Bill to the very end.
I started out by greetin' him with, I don't want to do this...
Then his bullshit started.
Then, there was what I am sure Bill thought was one sweet kiss...and then I knew...he did not love me...blah, blah, blah...! His thanks for me doing this sounds hollow. His voice held more of a tinge of triumph for what he asked me to do...
Watching him get down into that grave I realized how vulnerable he was...yes, he was dying...but just fucking greet the sun Bill...!
And to top it off, his family was there waiting for him in that grave...just as they should be...dead on dead...that photo of him and his daughter...he had to have his moment recalling how he had given that to her before he had gone off to war.
Once more...is there a reason he cannot hold that photo, gazing at his daughter and greet the sun?
He was ready...really...he was ready...what about me? I am suppose to be ready to give up that part of me that I had finally come to accept? And him, lying there with that photo of his daughter...at peace, because he got Sookie to do his biddin' for him one last time! I am so hurt and angry I am crying! Selfish bastard!
That ball of light in my hands...that glow...that life force that pulsed there...that is me! I was killing a part of myself so that he could...could what...?
It was hard to say the words to Bill that he was a part of me...but I did. He expected it. I could tell. I could feel the tears in my eyes. I was still being used by Bill...just like the very first time we had met. He was going to get what he wanted.
Well fuck that shit. Eric was going to have his tasty fae!
After saying that I would not use my ball of light...he still wanted me to kill him. Well...that would have to be the old fashioned human way...with a stake. There was the handle of the shovel that had been used to uncover his grave.
I broke it. Then there is me, there, in that coffin with him. Leaning over him...my heart breaking at what he was still asking me to do...one last kiss...so he really did not love me despite his words. He still could not change his mind...he still wanted me to do this...his hands on top of mine, making sure that I did the deed...which was good, because it was not even my strength that pushed the stake through, it was his...he smiled at me...the last thing he did was to smile at me...I think maybe it was in triumph...I was his bringer of the true death...I was his murderer...and for the rest of my days...that was who I was...
I was his legacy of pain and sorrow...what a fucker he was to the end...sitting there in his goo, I cried. For my loss of innocence at this liar's hands! For the lying and scheming bastard that was Bill Compton. I cried also for the woman I had grown to be. I was proud of her. Proud to know her. I had endured some fucked up shit, but by golly, even swimming in Bill's goo, I was still me!
Climbing up out of the hole, I did the only decent thing I knew to do...I pushed the first few handfuls of dirt onto his grave then the sorrow overwhelmed me...
"Eric..." I whispered.
"I am here, lover. I will finish this..." Gawd I take comfort in hearing his voice and having his arms around me.
"Eric," I said my heart so heavy I did not think I could stand. "Thank you for letting me do this. He smiled there at the very end. I know, in my heart, he thought he had triumphed over me. But it was not me that pushed the stake in, it was him. I am just gonna walk on home and put myself back to rights. I'll wait on you to shower. Please don't take long. He," she shook her head in sorrow, "he does not deserve it."
One year later...
"Pamela," Eric was standing in front of the mirror in his dressing room. Everyone could hear the disgust in his voice.
With a roll of her eyes she said, "Eric, yes, it is a cheesy suit and not even you can make it look good...yes, that is a gawd awful cocksuking hair style you are wearing. And yes your make-up sucks the big one. But the demographics say you can't look too successful...that bad lighting and poor script writing make the infomercial more palatable. You cannot exude money or good looks. We have to bury your god like looks the best way we can.
This is all about me," she smiled as she patted a hair of his in place. "I discovered the cure. You are the pitchman. I am..." she smiled gleefully, "the pitch!"
Thanksgiving...three years later...
Eric and Pam at Fangtasia...
"Pam...you have got to find someone new for the chair...this is the last time. I don't care if it is a hologram. When the baby arrives, Sookie will stake you herself for having my likeness sitting there. This place is now yours. You run it and decorate it but from this time forward it is not going to be with me. This is your last warning. After the baby arrives..." he shook his head. Seriousness was all over his face.
"Nor will I have our daughter pointing to this on YouTube somewhere and saying why is horrible likeness of my daddy sitting in a fangbanger bar?
Get the hunk in from Romania...the ladies will love him and he is nice eye candy for the men as well. And he will interact.
Now, I have got to go. Are you coming with or not?"
"Eric, really, Thanksgiving?" she pouted.
"Bridget's brother Bryce will be there. Sookie said he deep-fried a turkey for the occasion. He is handy about the house and knows how to cook. Plus, he is a little sweet on you."
"What," she drawled. " Jason's wife's sibling...I just don't fuckin' think so."
He had to haul ass as it was. Pam and her scheming was going to get her a fae lightning bolt up her ass. That was in her future. Niall stopped by from time to time and gave his wife pointers. Sookie had heard that Pam was advertising that The Viking was back at the bar. His very pregnant wife was not at all happy about that. She was so unhappy that he was here on Thanksgiving taking care of Pam's business...before Sookie took care of it.
He was not going to be late. He had promised her. Take care of this once and for all and get himself on home. Time for the closing argument. "He is AB negative."
Up went the eyebrow. That gave her pause. Back in the day when Eric was about sharin, she'd get to hit on some of that. "Maybe later, I'll be there for dessert," she replied. "Can I leave it...?" she pointed with her head toward the make believe Eric on stage.
"Last warning. No child," his eyes were even with hers. "Not if you desire to continue on with your undead life."
Eric took to the sky. Landing, he walked up to the table saying his hellos. Picking Sookie up into his arms, he settled her onto his lap and joined in on the conversation as he fed his wife bits from her plate.
It was a pleasant evening as he watched the stars dance overhead. Yes, it was true. Really old vamps could father children. Especially when the mother was HepV positive. The mutated virus had done things to both of their cells' walls. Bridget was researching that. It was handy having a bio-chemist in the family.
Bridget's brother, Bryce, was not a bad sort. Shy, awkward, smart. Not exactly Pam's type, but these days, who was to say? Eric was sure she would insist that he shave but he was an engineer and was currently working on a project for the deep-sea habitat. And his child did like smart. Bryce's Swedish was not bad...Pam would be able to help him fine-tune it. Perhaps teach him a few phrases that you would not learn in class or anywhere in polite society.
Reflecting on the life around him, it was just fucking good to be Eric Northman. With Sookie's blood everyday, he could day walk and eat a few things that he had known as human. The baby was due in two weeks and for as calm as Sookie was about giving birth, he was as scared as the night she had found him running down her road. With his hands on her tummy, he could feel the movement and the grin covered his face!
Dinner ended and the desserts were being cut and he could smell coffee. When a Man Loves a Woman was drifting on the night air. "Mrs. Northman," he kissed her on the hand, "may I have this dance?"
Smiling at him, putting her hands on his face, she kissed him ever so softly. "I would be proud to accept, Mr. Northman," she sighed when he stood with her, his arms wrapped around her.
Sookie snuggled into his chest and closed her eyes. This was the best feeling in the world. Her husband...their baby growing inside of her. "I love feeling baby Signy moving inside of me," she sighed as he pulled her in that much closer.
"Myself as well," his voice spoke the sweetness into her ear.
There was a beautiful harvest moon. A light breeze and the promise of a full life to come as they hovered above the earth and waltzed on the starlight and moonbeams.
As the song ended, she kissed him on the lips. "I love you, Eric. And Pam is taking down that hologram of you, correct? And she is not to replace it with any thing else that resembles you."
"I told her lover, you now own my ass and other fine parts."
"Good," Sookie smiled. "Bryce is a nice guy. And he can do a lot better than Pam," she stressed, laughing. "But he has been nothing but hot for her since he met her at the weddin'. He tapes all those infomercials and watches them. I almost think that makes him a stalker but he does not stalk her. He just gets so tongue tied when he is around her. Engineers," she sighed. "That poor boy has no social skills but he is AB negative. That has got to count for something."
They were still swaying back and forth when their feet touched ground.
"Eric," she said as he led her into the next slow song. "When did you know? That I was the one?"
"The first time that I saw you," he replied, looking into her eyes. "That is the only reason Fangtasia is still standing and has not been bulldozed. I shall tell our children of the first time that I saw you. That you were the sun that had eclipsed the darkness in my heart. That in a fangbanger bar, in walked a woman that was fearless, courageous and..." he stopped.
"What," she said lightly pinching him.
"Oh nothing," he replied, grinning.
"Tell me...please."
"You were still a virgin when Bill brought you in."
"Eric," she said softly.
"Do you remember that night before you went to bed Bill. You were dreaming...masturbating...trying to find release."
"Eric..." she said with a raised eyebrow.
"Do you remember when your hot water heater acted up and your gran said she called a plumber."
"Eric Northman..." her voice was displeased but she was smiling. "Give me strength!" she rolled her eyes. "You got yourself invited in. How?"
"Stackhouse is not a common name. I met Jason. Maybe I glamoured him and told him what to do to the hot water heater. Maybe I suggested that he leave my low rates at night number with your gran.
When I showed up I knew exactly what to fix. Gran declared me a hero. I did not charge her and told her what to look for the next time that happened.
And then," he paused, "maybe I invited myself into your bed as well," he cleared his throat. "For the record...it was not rape. But...perhaps I was whispering sweet nothings in your ear. Perhaps I enjoyed watching you get off in your dreaming state. Perhaps it was with a great deal of satisfaction when you pushed your fingers through your hymen and I licked the blood off them."
"Eric..." she was shaking her head at him. His face was so earnest! He was such a scoundrel! And a rogue...and a...and a...and he was hers, she smiled to herself. "Just give me strength," she chuckled silently.
"I could not trust Bill, Sookie, to do the right thing by you. What a soulless lover. I had heard this from many at Sophie-Anne's court. And selfish! Brut!" he said in disgust. "So I used just the smallest amount of dreaming magic.
When I started, I could see the waves of pleasure washing over you at my suggestions. Believe me, I wanted to wake you and say... see, if I am this good in a dream...what must we be like together in real time! I just did not think that would be the right thing to do or that you would be receptive at that moment."
Shaking her head she regarded him. "You just made sure that Bill was not the one to break the barrier, so to speak."
"Something like that," he kissed her nose. "I am sure he thinks he did. What you did to yourself would still have left some tissue in tact to cause bleeding."
"Anything else?" she asked.
"Nothing more comes to mind at the moment," he grinned. "Oh look, Pamela has arrived. "
All Sookie could do was shake her head at the wonder of it all and then on cue, shooting stars started filling up the night sky!
They all stood and watched the breathtaking light show! Then there was another light show...Sookie's water broke...and because she was a bit of the fae...her light broke as well...!
Three years later...
Eric sat on the porch swing rocking his daughter and infant son...Alrik was only hours old and his Mrs. was sleeping.
His maker was kissing Signy's tiny feet. She giggled every time Godric brought her foot to his mouth in anticipation of his kisses.
"Sweet kisses, Grandpapa," she would giggle.
There were tears in his eyes as he watched the interaction of his daughter and his maker.
"My son, my Eric," Godric smiled at him. "What more do you wish for in your heart? Speak it..."
"My heart," he smiled. "I did not want you to leave me...on that roof top in Dallas, I did not want to go on without you. You held my love...I could not trust it to anyone else. Now, what more could I possibly ask for? As a human, I could imagine nothing grander than this. A family. As vampire, I know that there is nothing grander than this, my family.
What?" Eric leaned in and kissed his son on the tip of his nose. "What is it that you are so pleased about, my Godric?"
"Your life is full, my child. You are indeed blessed with love. I was just wondering if perhaps you would enjoy a little adult entertainment?"
"I am now curious, my Godric, grandpapa to my children. To what is it that you refer?"
"Let me explain to you about the Hell Channel," Godric began as he tickled Signy on the feet and she laughed with delight.