Chapter 1

SPOV

Traveling with a small child can be tiresome. I looked in my beautiful little Viking's eyes and wanted to secure him from all the bad things in the world. He was perfect! Beautiful blond hair and big ice blue eyes, just like his daddy…I missed his daddy so much.

The past few weeks have been difficult for us, and I don't think there is much more I can take. Since Eric has been gone and our bond has been silent, I feel like there is a hole in my heart that may just swallow me up at any moment. It is physically painful to breathe and I feel the need to wrap my arms around my chest to keep from literally falling apart.

The only thing that hasn't kept me from taking a bunch of sleeping pills and disappearing forever, this beautiful little boy sitting next to me. I have to be strong for him…I am all he has now. Little Eric is sleeping so beautifully, his little full lips are in an o shape and his blond curly hair is bouncing up and down from the motion of the train. I will be strong for him…I will not leave him without my love or protection.

The last thing I promised Eric was that I would keep us going, keep us alive. Since my love, my bonded, my life was staked by that vermin and loathsome Victor, my life is forever altered. I still have nightmares of watching my Eric start to flake in my arms, disappearing forever. I managed to get to the safe house where Little Eric was staying with Amelia. I took some cash Eric had hidden for emergencies, one bag of clothes and left.

We are on our way to Alaska, on our way to Bill. Bill has agreed to meet me there. Still the Southern gentleman, he has promised to take care of my son and I. He is the only person who can keep us from being captured and kept by Victor. I am prepared to have to give my loyalty to Bill, he will do his best to protect us. I will do whatever it takes to protect my baby boy. He is my life.

BPOV

I cant believe Eric is dead. I keep expecting him to show up and boss me around with that crazy ego of his. How could he go and let himself get killed by Victor. Honestly if I ever dreamed that Eric would get taken down by anyone, it would not have been Victor.

A all out war was declared on the Sheriff of area 5, Victor lead some trumped up charge that Eric was stealing from the King. He did a really good job of setting up Eric, he was staked by Victor before his trial ever concluded.

Sookie held him while he died…I sometimes despised Eric for everything he took from me, but the truth is Sookie was always his, even when she was mine.

Victor is looking for them, killing Eric was necessary to obtain Sookie and the child. He will never touch them!

Sookie is on her way here, Alaska. I have never seen her little boy, I'm sure he is beautiful just like his mommy. Maybe I should have gone to the toy store and gotten more toys?

It has been a long time since I was around a two year old, much less a two year old Viking. If this child is anything like his father, I don't think plastic swords are going to impress him.

Sookie would have surely killed herself when Eric was staked if not for the child. So, I am grateful for the boys existence, even if it breaks my heart a little. He is half Sookie, so I am sure I will fall in love with him, who can resist a baby?

Alaska is a cold and lonely place. It has been three years since I have been to Bon Temps. Eric sent me here, supposedly on some fact finding mission for the data base but I'm sure it was to put space between Sookie and I. God how I miss her. I never complained about my assignment. It hurt too much to stay and watch Sookie and Eric become a loving family.

I can hardly wait for her plane to arrive. We thought it best for her to travel by train to Canada and from there hop on a plane to Anchorage.

Pam made sure she traveled to Canada unharmed, physically anyway. I am unsure of her state of mind, Pam said she was like the walking dead.

To lose a bonded is dangerous for any human, not to mention the bond that Eric and Sookie shared. It must have felt like her chest was being ripped from her body. I can not stand to imagine what kind of physical pain she was in. I have to be prepared to witness the emotional pain. Losing that damn blood bond could have killed her.

The boy must have made her hold on, kept her alive. "Flight 339 arriving from Victoria is now at the gate"… Those sweet words I have been waiting for! My dead heart would be beating a million miles a minute if I had a beating heart.

I was so anxious as the plane was taxing to the runway, my vampire hearing could hear the jet way open and passangers file out. Time seemed to stand still as I waited anxiously at the bottom of the stairs, damn security. Suddenly, I could hear the sweetest voice ever, "E.J. please hold mommies hand, I don't want you to fall down the stairs and get a boo-boo".

Then I saw her…beautiful! And, wow…tired, very, very tired, and skinny. When was the last time she ate or slept? Her clothing hung from her, holding her hand was the most beautiful child I've ever seen. Just like his mother, although there was no mistaking Northman, those eyes!

"Hello Sookie, you look like you have had a long trip". She smiled and a look of relief passed over her beautiful blue eyes.

"Mr. Compton, is that how you try to win a girls affection in Alaska"? A beautiful smirk turned up her still full lips. "Why Sookie, I never meant to claim you were anything less than stunning!" She giggled and looked down at her son. "Bill I would like you to meet Eric William Northman Jr. E.J. This is my very good friend Mr. Bill Compton." The little boy smiled at me with his chubby little cheeks and held out his full and dimpled little hand to me. "I think he wants to give you something." Sookie chuckled and I opened up my hand and he placed a slimy hard candy in my palm. "Well, thank you E.J." "Foour eww," he smiled, obviously proud of his sacrifice.

"E.J., Mr. Compton already ate" Sookie looked at me with an apologetic grin. "Come on guys…lets get you home". I had to smile at that last comment I made, I loved the idea of taking them home, to my home and keeping them safe.

"Bill", a tired expression washed over her beautiful face. "Thank you so much for taking little E.J. and I in, you are truly our only hope for survival and I love you for opening up your home to us". How can I deny this girl anything, ever? "Sookie, this is now our home and you and your son are formerly under my protection". She looked at me with concern, "Bill, I am forever grateful for your help but you do understand…", her voice trailed off. "Sweatheart, I understand exactly what you are trying to say, and please do not give it a second thought".

I knew she was not anywhere near ready to have a romantic relationship with anyone but it stung a little to hear her say it.

She yawned loudly, "Sookie, try to get some sleep, I will wake you when we get to the house". Fatigue and exhaustion spread across her perfect face, "maybe just a little cat nap", she murmured. I looked in the rearview mirror at the little cherub boy fast asleep in the backseat and smiled. I finally have everything I ever wanted and I vowed to always love and cherish both of them, nothing was going to take them from me.