PART ONE

Chapter 1

She knew she was lucky. That without her royal blood, she would have died a terrible death like those who had been given doses of her magically tainted blood. That someone had been able to make her blood a supernatural lethal potion was disturbing and for the past few days, she had been trying to get on with her life, feeling back to normal and enjoying her life as a mother. Little Gunnar wasn't so little anymore and looked as if he was a three year old. Life was interesting, if nothing else, she thought as she threw in a load of soiled laundry from the kids room, wondering just how he had managed tog et so muddy. The shorts had been red at one point but thanks to the grime they were a more rusty color. She was glad that the diaper phase was getting close to being over and though she had had help whenever she asked for it, sometimes, she had felt over these past few days that he was avoiding her, like he was trying to keep something from her. Sure, she could try dipping into his mind-she could do that now-but she wanted to be respectful. Maybe she felt she needed space after her latest ordeal and knowing, seeing what her blood had been capable of doing with only a little magic added to it, it had haunted her from the moment she awoke late the next morning after being brought home and healed by her friends, soon to be family. But these past few days she had felt like a single parent and it was trying, to be sure and she was starting to reach her breaking point.

And as night fell, she was getting Gunnar in his seat for a quick meal of grilled cheese and soup-his favorite-and there came a blur through the front door, someone she had only texted and been on the phone with for the past three days. And seeing the baby for the first time since his growth spurt had left the Viking speechless and as he went to try to take her hands into his, she instead backed away and turned her back to him, going to fill the kids sippy cup. "Nice of you to show up in person." she said as she filled the cup and turned to glare at him. "You know what I can do, what I could get out of that head of yours….I've been here for three days with barely anything from the others and you….you've been, what, at your precious bar?"

Eric looked slightly abashed and knew perhaps his avoidance of her wasn't the best route he could have taken. It was partly because of the surprise he and the rest of his family, their friends were planning. But the big thing was, he had another secret that he wanted to tell her. But the fact was, he knew it would hurt her and she didn't need more of that. But he didn't want to pop the issue up at the wedding, considering this second issue was interconnected. A wedding, she had no idea was being planned under her nose. That was planned for tomorrow night. But there was another secret he was keeping from her and though she wanted to peek into his mind, she wasn't going to do that. She knew he was always honest with her, told things like they were. Maybe he wanted the right time, the right way to bring up whatever it was. Either way, she still wondered what his excuse was for leaving her these past few days being a single parent. "There is no excuse for not being around…." he couldn't stop staring at the kid in the chair, who had been a baby a few days ago. Astounded, he rounded the where he sat and knelt to eye level with Gunnar, who started messing up his father's hair, giggling and clearly not afraid of this imposing figure. Removing him from the chair, the Viking couldn't help but be prideful as he held the toddler, who squealed with delight a the attention. "He's got your eyes…." he said as he took in the features of the child. "But he's clearly blonde….."

"You Can't use him as an excuse to avoid what we need to discuss….whatever it is you're hiding from me." Sookie said angrily, though she softened when she saw the child give his dad a big hug. "Why Can't I stay fuming mad at you for long. You have such a knock to wear down my anger." she shook her head with a slight smile. She led them to the nursery and there was a playpen set up where Gunnar was set, books and toys aplenty, enough to keep him occupied for the adults to talk. In their room, she sat on the bed as he paced before her, still in shock at the current development of the baby.

"I have found a way for your blood to be kept from being a threat to anyone, or anything ever again. That it would remain a secret to only us three….unless we foolishly decide to tell anyone else about it. And even though I trust our family and know they won't spill, I would prefer the fewer who know the better. The price for that to be able to happen is not one that I think you want to hear. I have been planning on how to tell you, I couldn't bring myself to deliver this information to you and for leaving you these days I am sorry."

She saw the guilt there and knew he was not one easily made to feel guilty. So this had to be a doozy. She got up and walked over to him, his back was to her as he raked a hand though his hair. She got herself in front of him and forced him to look at him. "What is the price?"

"Your grandfather…if he gives himself up, then no one will ever know the truth of your-our blood. Its true power. They may still know what we are, but at least they cant know that it can be used as a supe killing agent. And it also isn't to say that there wont be those out there who would like a taste, me being who I am and you being you…..but the true nature of what can be done with the blood? You and I saw the end results….."

She had no words. The idea of no one have a clue what their blood could do, that was huge…..but the cost? Her grandfather was willing to give up his life for their well being? "I don't know what to say…." she pulled away. "I need to be alone right now….. " she felt his fingers reaching for her but she vanished from the spot and he was left to keep an eye on the toddler, meanwhile the plans for the next night seemed to be on shaky ground.

Chapter 2

She sat on a log by the pond and she was grateful he was giving her her space and this was one of the most peaceful places she could think of to come to. And then a familiar face appeared, one she hadn't expected and had hoped would be at the shower a week ago.

"Hadley? Hunter?" Sookie saw her cousin and her young son appeared a few dozen steps from where she sat. Hunter had grown like a weed and looked to be about 12 or 12 now. Hadley, on the other hand, she had looked like she was more put together than she had been in some time.

"Sorry I didn't make your party and didn't get to meet the baby…..I wasn't scared to come here…I haven't been in some time but I know we are happier living in Faery. Niall…..since we are family, he has taken me under his wing and has really….well, he's helped me unleash the faerie within me. I haven't ever felt so strong and powerful and well, he almost seems like he is grooming me to take over….silly, huh?"

"Maybe not so silly." Sookie explained what had happened and the gift Niall had offered to them. "He knows I wouldn't want to rule Faery so it stands to reason keep it in the bloodline, and you are it, Hadley. You and hunter and with him being too young…."

"He told me a lot of what you all went through and I thought it was strange he seemed to intense with me…..but I have come into my own, Sookie. My fears, my worried, everything I was, I feel brave. Tough. My life has been made so much better since I moved to there. And I…really hope, I think I could run the place if….. " she didn't want to finish the sentence. "I hate that this is the price Sookie." and she hugged her cousin just as a face from her past appeared in the little clearing, the pond in the background sparkling under the moonlight. And at first she didn't know how her cousin was going to handle it. Sookie knew that Hadley had had dealings with the Viking in the past but from what she had come to learn was that he had been trying to protect her whilst she was in the clutches of the now late queen. And Hadley had come to see that too and though she had still been scared to death of him at the time, knowing what Niall had told her about him, about them, coupled with her growth over the few years that had passed, she was more than a little at ease when he nodded at her.

"Its been some time….you look well." Eric said to the woman with the tank top and jeans, knee high fashion boots and her long hair done in a neat ponytail. Hunter stood next to his mother, as if bracing for trouble. "Your mother and I are…friends. " he said to the teenager who looked to his mother for confirmation and with a nod from her, Hunter seemed more at ease yet remained silent. He managed to give his aunt a awkward hug but then in a flash, he had vanished and Hadley sighed.

"He definitely is a teenager now and prefers to be in his room, back in the palace…..hopefully you enjoy your kid before he get to this point. The teenage years are the same whether the kit is human or faerie or…well, what you two have." Hadley sighed. "But he is a good kid, Niall has taught him everything he needs to know, how to fight, to master his power…..Hunter has changed a lot over the years since you last saw him. You've changed too, Sookie, from what I hear."

"Yeah, my life is always a freaking rollercoaster of surprises, some more wanted than others…."

Hadley sighed. "I know this thing with your grandfather isn't what you want, that his loss would be a gain for you all….but if it makes you feel any better, I've heard him say over and over he has had a good long life, that perhaps a change is in the cards. That he wants to go to the afterlife." she paused as she looked at Eric. "And I bet it wasn't easy telling her, that's why she ran off to here….nature for faeries is a calming thing, since we are so intermingled with it…but maybe this isn't my place and I should leave you two alone. And tomorrow night, you two will be-" she clasped her hand over her mouth. "Crap, I shouldn't have…" she winced apologetically before vanishing.

"What's tomorrow?"

"Well, it was going to come out one way or another and leave it to a relative to spoil it…though there is no forcing you into anything of course…..but I suspect your cousin has had a penchant for accidentally spilling the beans about things."

"Not so much, really, she is really loyal and can keep a secret. But I think she is a little stressed….so what does she know that I don't?"

He took her by the hand, to the trunk she had been sitting on. "I talked with your grandfather and your soon to be future extended family and we wanted to throw you….a surprise….wedding." he said as he glanced at the ring on her left hand. "If you can even tolerate me after the secret I kept…after my absence…."

Too much was going on in her head at the moment to process everything. Sure, this was what she dreamed of but she never imagined she would not only be faced with multiple life changing decisions at once. One choice would end her own grandfather, and yet, he was willing to pay the price for their family. The other choice was one she had already made but was life altering nonetheless and she could break it off if she so choose. They were still only engaged, after all and with how she was feeling, she wasn't in the mood for any of it. Then again, with things being as they were, she wanted things to settle down, she wanted to feel whole, wanted to grab onto a life she knew she really did want. That her own grandfather was willing to give up so much for them….. It was then she made her choice and prayed that she wouldn't come to regret it. God knew that she had more than enough regrets in her life thus far.

TO BE CONTINUED