Dimensions

I found myself standing on a terrace, filled with people, overlooking a beautiful view of mountains. A cloudy orange and purple sky was the back drop for the mountains, casting an eerie orange and purple glow on the terrace. A large tree stood in the middle of the room, baring glowing fruit that resembled peaches. I stood frozen as my body struggled to catch up to the present. I swallowed hard a few times to fight the nausea bubbling in my stomach and thought bitterly, pregnancy and teleporting does not mix well. I observed the room, taking in the fact that every single pair of eyes was on me. I shifted uncomfortably under their gaze, turning to Emilia with clenched teeth. I couldn't utter a word before I heard someone say my name in surprise.

"Chase?"

I pivoted, turning to find Sookie Stackhouse moving through the stunned people, gazing at me. She pushed her way through the crowd and took me into her arms, hugging me tightly. I tensed in surprise, but hugged her back. "Sookie, how the hell did you get here?" I asked pulling back to look at her. "How long have you been here?"

"I literally just got here. My fairy god mother brought me," she said with a big smile. She clearly didn't have the same problem with being taken against her will as I had. "Is this your fairy godmother?" she asked turning to Emilia.

"Yes, I am Emilia," she stuck out her hand to Sookie, who shook it gladly. "The pleasure is all mine. I will give you two a moment to catch up." Emilia smiled at me, like she hadn't just kidnapped me, bowed graciously and bounced off into the crowd of people, disappearing from my view.

I looked back to Sookie feeling uneasy once more. "Your fairy god mother brought you here against your will as well?" I asked her in a hushed whisper.

Sookie blanched. "No, I came willingly."

"You…you did?"

"Yes, Bill has been lying to me about everything. He manipulated me into falling in love with him and I never would have known if Eric hadn't told me," she trailed off. "I was so hurt and feeling alone and…Claudine came to me and she…she brought me here."

I looked around, watching the mixture of faeries in their elegant clothing and the other people, who I assumed were only half like Sookie and I, co-mingling. It truly was a beautiful place and the fae were all beautiful people. It could almost warm your heart to see so many people come together and look so happy, but something just didn't feel right. I felt the same way that I had when I first met Charlotte, the feeling that I was in danger. After all Charlotte was the fae queen and she had intended to kill me before I was even born. How could I trust anyone here? It only made the nausea in my stomach more intense.

"Something about this place… it just…" I stopped and shook my head. "I have to get back home."

Sookie didn't respond, I had lost her attention. I followed her gaze to find her staring at a man in a plaid shirt and overalls, biting into one of the glowing fruit. She didn't say a word to me as she walked off towards him slowly, leaving me frowning. I started to follow when I was stopped by Emilia stepping in front of me, holding a tray with more glowing fruit upon it. My stomach turned at the sight of it.

"Light fruit?" she offered holding the tray out to me.

Everyone else seemed to be enjoying it. I could see many of the half humans biting into them hungrily, even going so far as to snatch them out of the hands of others. I frowned. "I'm not hungry," I replied, forcing a weak smile onto my face. "I really should be getting back-."

"Chase, how many times do I have to tell you that you are home," Emilia answered exasperatedly. She offered the tray once more. "Please. Try some of the light fruit. I am sure you are hungry as you are with child. It will help with the nausea."

I shook my head again. "I really don't want any," I answered trying to hold back the bite in my voice. "What I would really like is to be brought back to my home."

Emilia's frown deepened. "Chase-."

"You don't understand what you have done," I cut in. "I was about to do something important. I didn't ask you or give you permission to bring me here. You have to take me back."

"She can't."

I froze at the sound of a voice that demanded respect and dictated authority. Silence fell on the room immediately and I turned slowly, finding a tall woman walking towards me, wearing a dress just as fine as Emilia's. Her hair was fiery red, pinned up with loose tendrils all over her head. She didn't look entirely pleased to see me, there was a hint of distaste in her expression. Something like disapproval. I felt a surge of energy within, my veins beginning to throb with power. I unexpectedly felt threatened and uncomfortable. Emilia bowed her head at this woman's presence and while I felt inclined, I didn't follow suit.

"And you are?" I asked.

"You can call me Mab," she answered. "I am your aunt."

My face fell. "Aunt? You were...Charlotte's sister?"

"We have been searching for you for a long time," she added taking another step towards me. She hadn't answered the question.

"I've been told. That does not constitute taking a person against their will," I retorted with a frown.

"You were brought here for your own safety. Emilia tells me you are with child, even more reason for you to remain in the fae realm," she stopped in front of me, looking down her nose at me. "A vampire breached our realm. We are in grave danger. We have sowed seeds with humans and other beings for long enough, it is time to harvest."

I realized with a frown that she meant that I was to stay here permanently. She had ordered all these people to be brought here. "You can't keep me here against my will," I said through clenched teeth.

"You are fae royalty. Your protection is vital as well as that of your child," she answered crossing her arms. "And while I currently rule, one day it will be left to you to be Queen." She didn't sound like she really wanted anyone else to be queen.

"What if I don't want to be queen?" I countered.

"You must," she answered absently gazing down at her manicure.

"I have a life."

"It is irrelevant now."

"I never asked for any of this."

"You were born into it."

"I can protect myself!" I nearly shouted, my fists clenching tightly, sparking pain in my palms. The energy was really throbbing now, matching the beat of my heart.

Mab huffed and laughed at me. "Emilia says every time you turn around you are almost dying. If you can't even protect yourself how will you protect the child you carry?"

I felt my face fall, feeling stung by her words. "I can protect myself and my baby." I had a hard time believing myself. I honestly had no idea what I was doing and I hadn't been around a baby since I had seen a distant cousin at a family reunion years ago. I didn't honestly think I was qualified to care for a child, let alone a half werewolf or half vampire child, but I wasn't going to let Mab know that.

"Have you had tried some of the lumiere fruit?" Mab offered, changing the subject quite casually. She held out her hand and on cue Emilia placed one in her palm.

"No, thank you, I don't want any of your glowing fruit. I really would like to just go home," I answered calmly. I didn't feel calm, the pulse of the power inside of me increased with each word. I felt my fists clench.

"It's really quite good, you should try some," Mab replied with a forced smile.

"I said no thank you."

Mab snapped her fingers and two male faeries came forward taking me by the arms. The power surged at their touch, but I held back, not wanting to harm anyone. I clenched my teeth and glared up at Mab.

"You will eat the light fruit and you will remain in your home realm where you belong," Mab commanded. "Perhaps one day when you are more docile and have learned your place, you may rule your people."

She came towards me with the fruit and something told me that if I ate the fruit I would never be able to return home. It must have been an anchor here, eating it somehow tethered you to this world. The thought alone made fear creep up my spine and my thoughts went to the child inside of me that I needed to protect. I couldn't raise my child here, in this realm, away from my family, friends, and its father. I wasn't going to stay here. I took a deep breath, letting go of the hold that I kept so tightly on my power, unleashing whatever it had in mind upon them. The power filled me first, invading every cell inside of me, sparking electricity, making me feel once more like I was the most powerful being in the world. I let it, I didn't fight it, I embraced it and it burst out of me like a strong gust of wind, blinding me with white light.

I opened my eyes to find chaos. The beautiful terrace was now gone and I found myself standing in a desert wasteland. The tree still stood where it had before on the illusion of the terrace, but it was dead, the fruit hanging from it rotten. I turned wide eyes on Mab, shocked to find that she too had changed, her beautiful dress was now tattered rags, her gorgeous face misshapen, her ears long and pointed, her fiery red hair a knotted mess. And all the other fae had changed as well. The other half fae stood frozen, staring, fear on their faces as they realized we all had been in an illusion. All the beauty of the fae realm had been a lie. Mab had been trying to condemn us all to life in a wasteland.

Mab cowered from me, trying to shield her ugliness. The two fae holding me released me, rushing to her side. I turned to run, having no idea where to go and felt hands on me again.

"It's me! It's me!" Sookie screeched as I turned to her, holding out her hands before I hurt her. "Come on, run!"

She took off, running for a hill with the man in plaid following after her. I moved to follow when I heard Mab's distorted voice. "Do not let the girl escape!"

I looked back finding one of the fae men with his eyes on me. He ran towards me, his palm glowing before he pulled his arm back, flinging the light at me. I heard myself scream, my arms going up to shield my face when I felt the power surge in me. A wave of nausea struck me once again and I felt a yank behind my navel like I was being pulled out of time.

I felt like I was floating for a long moment, darkness surrounding me until my back hit what felt like grass, and pain shot up my spine. I laid there stunned for a moment, panting and shaking before opening my eyes to find clear skies above me. I had just teleported myself somehow, and god knows where I had ended up. I rolled over slowly, my back aching in protest and found myself on my front lawn...

or at least it seemed like my front lawn.

Little porcelain lawn gnomes were scattered decoratively around the lawn, an addition that I had never added. What was once brown and faded grass, was now lush and deep green grass. Rose bushes had been planted along the front of the house and they were blooming beautifully. I sat up slowly and felt my eyes go wide at the sight of my house. Someone had been working hard. The porch was fixed and no longer a disaster. The house was painted a different color and the two cars I didn't recognize were sitting in my driveway. My car was nowhere to be seen.

What the hell is going on?

I rose to my feet just as the front door opened and a man stepped out, wiping his hands on a dish towel that he slung over his shoulder. I saw a woman standing in the house behind him, a baby on her hip, a phone to her ear, looking worried. "Ma'am, are you alright?" he asked me stopping just short of the first porch step.

I pushed stray hair out of my face and nodded. "Yeah I…why are you in my house?" I asked looking at him in bewilderment.

He blinked at me, scowling. "It's a little early in the day to be drinking ma'am. I think you got yourself mixed up. This is not your house."

I huffed, feeling thoroughly confused, and a little irritated, now. "What are you talking about? I live here." I said walking towards the porch.

"Whoa, ma'am," he said putting his hands up, making me halt in my approach. "I bought this house 6 months ago."

My face fell again. "Excuse me? That's not possible. I've been living here for over a year."

The man's expression changed from irritation to genuine worry, he glanced over his shoulder into the house at the women I assumed was his wife. "Lady," he started slowly as if I were mentally disabled. "Are you alright? Is there someone I can call for you?"

"Nothing is wrong with me. I am fine! Just explain to me how the hell you're in my house!" I retorted angrily.

His face fell as he stared me down and after a moment his eyes went wide as if he was really seeing me for the first time, recognition washed over his face. "It's you," he said. "The girl. The girl that's been missing."

"What?"

"Nancy, call the police! It's that girl!" he shouted over his shoulder into the house. He looked back at me before descending the porch steps. "Please, come in, I'm sorry we are new in town and I didn't recognize you at first. My wife will call the police and get them down here. Everyone thinks you're dead."

I had never been more confused in my life; all I could do was stare at the man as my brain tried to process just what the hell he was talking about. Had I somehow traveled to an alternate dimension, somewhere where I had been missing? The sound of sirens snapped me out of my confusion and I turned to see a patrol car pulling up, blue and red lights flashing. I felt sort of relieved I knew Sheriff Andy could explain to me what was happening and it would be nice to see a familiar face. The car door opened and someone stepped out, but it wasn't Sheriff Andy. My jaw dropped when Jason Stackhouse shut the car door and moved around to the front of the vehicle. He was wearing a police uniform; his hair was cut and he had a goatee.

I was definitely in some alternate dimension.

"I was in the area and got a call about a disturba-."

Jason stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening and his face falling once he realized just who the disturbance once. Me. "Chase?" he said in disbelief. "Oh, my god," he moved quickly, running forward and pulling me into a hug. "Jesus Christ, we thought you were dead! When you and Sookie went missing I surely thought that Bill or that tall crazy one had killed you guys. My god, we've been looking all over for you!"

"What?" I breathed into his shoulder. He was squeezing me way too tightly.

Jason pulled back to look me in the eye. "Do you know where Sookie is? Was she with you? Is she back too?"

I felt like I couldn't comprehend a word he had said. I stared up at him, blinking, waiting for it all to make sense. "Jason, what the hell is going on? This man is living in my house? He says I'm missing? And what do you mean Sookie is-."

I stopped talking, the word trailing off as my face fell. My brain was putting the pieces together slowly, time in the fae realm must have moved differently. It was the only explanation. I had only been there twenty minutes, if that, and somehow 6 months had passed since I was taken. I looked at Jason with wide eyes.

"How long exactly have I been gone, Jason?"

"You've been gone twelve and a half months, Chase," he answered. "Sookie too."

Twelve and a half months?!

My chest tightened and my lungs seized. I was short of breath and extremely nauseous suddenly. "I need to sit down," I said. I was going to puke. "Right now."

"Alright," Jason said taking me by the arm and leading me to his car. He opened the passenger side door and helped me to sit. "Take it easy now."

My heart was pounding. The vice on my chest hadn't loosened. I felt seconds away from a panic attack. "I... I've been gone a year," I whispered staring down at the ground. "Everyone thinks I'm dead...My parents...My brother...Alcide...and... Eric."

The moment his name passed my lips something stirred inside of me. I felt a surge of energy that made my skin tingle, the power swept through me and an odd sensation washed over me. My eyes drifted close and I could see Eric clearly in my mind. He was lying in the darkness of his room, one arm stretched over his head, the other resting on his chest. His eyes snapped open the minute he felt my presence, wide and surprised. I felt as if I was floating right above him, staring down at him. He looked up at me, stunned and surprise. A hint of a smile touched his lips.

"Chase," he whispered my name into the dark and a shiver ran down my spine.

"Chase?!"

I jumped at the sound of Jason yelling my name and whatever connection I had made to Eric was severed. Jason was kneeling in front of me now, his hand on my thigh, looking terribly worried. I shook my head, trying to clear it, and shake the feeling of Eric off me.

"Chase, are you alright? Do I need to take you to a hospital?" he asked me. He reached up and touched my cheek. "You're awfully pale."

The last place that I wanted to go was a hospital. They would ask too many questions, questions I didn't want to answer. I knew I was in perfect health physically, I was just attempting to recover from the knowledge that I been gone for over a year when it had only felt like twenty minutes. My life wasn't the same anymore. Some family was living in my home, I knew the apartment that I had been planning to rent in Jackson was long gone, and so were all my belongings.

Alcide.

His name crossed my mind and a flash of his smiling face filled my head. It had been a year and two weeks in his mind since he saw me. Plenty of time for him to move on and forget about me. If he had any sense he would have given up on me months ago. My life was in shambles.

"Chase?" Jason called again.

"I'm fine, Jason," I assured him waving him away. "Im fine I just…" I shook my head again trailing off. "Where I was…it just seemed like I was gone twenty minutes."

Jason arched one eyebrow. "Where you were? Where the hell did you go?"

"I can't really explain it, honestly. You wouldn't understand," I sighed.

"Well is there someone I can call for you?" he asked. "Your mom and dad maybe? I'm sure they'll be so happy to know you're alive."

"I just need a minute."

Jason's reply was cut off by the radio attached to his shirt, the dispatcher was talking in police code so I had no idea what was going on, but Jason's face changed. "Chase, was Sookie with you? Did she come back with you?" he asked urgently.

I nodded. "She didn't leave with me, but we were in the same place…but we got separated when I left."

"Buckle up, you're coming with me."

I assumed the call had something to do with Sookie so I wasn't surprised when we pulled up to her house. I was surprised by the fact that the home now looked brand new, the last time I had seen the home it was a disaster from the maenad's hand. It was quite an improvement to the previous state and I briefly wondered if Sookie's home had been sold as well. Jason had been silent on the car ride, which I was very thankful for as I was in no mood to talk. He drove with silent determination, a scowl on his face and his brow furrowed. When he finally parked in the driveway, he was out of the car and up the porch steps before I could even unbuckle my seat belt. By the time I had made it into the house Jason and Sookie were midconversation.

"Chase!" Sookie called when she saw me standing in the open doorway. She looked relieved to see me. "Thank goodness you're alright. I had no idea what happened to you. I thought that you got left there."

"I'm fine," I assured. "but how did you get out of there?"

Sookie shrugged. "I have no clue. We were running and then out of nowhere we were surrounded by this white light and then we were back here," she paused looking at me carefully. "Did... did you do that?"

I hesitated. Had I? "I'm not sure... I don't know what I can do with these powers honestly." I thought that back over her words and frowned when I remember she had said we. "Wait? We?"

"Yes, me and-," she stopped talking quickly making me stare at her curiously. She looked back at Jason who was standing in the foyer with us looking mighty confused.

"Chase, can you give me and Jason a moment? He and I have something to talk about that's a little..." she paused. "Delicate."

"Oh, yes of course," I said shaking my head and turning for the door. "I'll just go...outside and take a little walk." I almost laughed. Yeah, I'm just gonna go for a stroll while my life is in shambles.

"Okay, well come back, I want to talk to you."

Was she joking? "I will, Sookie. It's not like I have anywhere else to go."

She frowned at me like she didn't understand, but I was already out the door, shutting it closed behind me. I stepped off the porch, noticing the sky darkening above me. I considered calling my parents and brother, knowing they would have been a wreck the whole year that I was gone, but then remembered my cellphone would longer have service. And while I wanted to relieve their worry and let them know I was okay, I wasn't prepared for the questioning that would follow. How would I explain that I had only been gone twenty minutes-if that-in my mind, but somehow a whole year and two weeks had passed? My chest tightened at the thought, I couldn't call them until I had my life somewhat back together. I needed a place to live, I needed a job, and I needed to prepare myself for a baby and tell the potential fathers about said baby. My chest tightened more and I began walking faster, trying to outrun the imminent panic attack I could feel creeping up on me. It felt to surreal. I was waiting to wake up and find out that this was all some weird and random pregnancy induced dream. I didn't even know how to begin to put my life back together after this. My home was gone. My things were most likely gone and the man that I was just beginning to fall for was most likely gone as well. I didn't know how I was going to explain my disappearance to my parents or where I was going to live. And I was going to bring a baby into all of this. I had thought my life was a mess before but it truly was now.

The soreness in my legs is what snapped me out of my thoughts and I stopped to find myself in the cemetery not far from Sookie's house. I felt short of breath and the tightness in my chest still hadn't gone way. I saw a bench nearby and headed for it, taking a seat and trying to calm myself. Working myself into a panic wasn't going to do me any good. Deep breaths Chase, I told myself, leaning back and looking up at the sky. The sun had just set, only the lamps in the cemetery offered any lighting now. I felt an odd change in the air that made the small hairs on the back of my neck stand and sent goosebumps down my bare arms. I sat up straight and the power within me sparked and crackled along my skin, something was coming but I didn't know what.

Eric Northman landed right in front of me, nearly making me jump out of my skin. I jumped to my feet in surprise, nearly bumping into him. He stared at me with big blue eyes, full of wonder, a hint of relief on his face. I knew he had felt be me earlier when I came back into this realm and thinking of him reignited our bond somehow. I had felt him as well. I had felt like I was right there in the room with him. I'm almost sure he had seen me, but it didn't mean that believed I was real. He reached towards me with one hand and his fingers grazed my cheek. He let out a small sigh, one that I almost hadn't heard, his palm fully grasping the side of my face.

"I knew you weren't dead," he said taking a step towards me nearly closing the space between us. "Everyone else, even your adopted mother, father, and brother, the people you call friends," he paused for a moment. "Even the wolf you thought cared for you," I felt my stomach drop at the mention of Alcide. "They all gave up on you, but not me."

His words washed over me like cold water. I knew everything he had said was true and I blamed no one for giving up on me. I had been gone for more than a year, anyone with common sense would have assumed me dead. Anyone, but him apparently. And while I blamed no one for assuming I was dead, it didn't make me feel any less lonely in that moment as I took in his words. In that moment, I had no place to go, no things that I owned, and everyone thought I was dead. But while I knew it had been a year for him, a year of him worrying or doing whatever it was that Eric Northman did when someone he cared about went missing; I still remembered everything he had done to hurt me. I had been done with him and ready to start my life with someone else and to me that had only happened yesterday.

"Where did you go?"

"What?" I was having trouble thinking straight.

"Where have you been for the past year, Chase?" He spoke slower this time, but the demand was still there.

I shook my head, finally taking my gaze away from those stunning blue eyes. "I… it's a long story that I can't really explain right now," I said. I didn't really want to explain it. I pulled out of his embrace and took three steps away from him. I needed space. I needed to get my head clear. It was all too much.

His expression showed that he did not like my answer, but he changed the subject. "What was it that you wanted to talk about?" He questioned further.

"What?"

"The night before you disappeared you called Fangtasia and said we needed to talk. Talk about what?" He elaborated.

Oh. That. My hand unconsciously moved to my stomach, almost protectively. I had almost forgotten the life growing inside of me. The child that could possibly share DNA with the vampire standing before me. I didn't know if I was ready to tell him like I had been a year ago, in his time. That would open a whole new can of worms that I was not prepared to deal with, considering the giant can of worms that was already open before me. I looked up into his eyes again, finding him staring at me impatiently.

"Nothing," I lied.

Eric arched one eyebrow in disbelief. "A year and two weeks ago, the night you disappeared, you called me and said we needed to talk and now it's nothing?" he reiterated. It was clear that he didn't believe me.

It didn't matter though because I wasn't ready to tell him. Not right now. Not when I already had way too much to deal with. I couldn't deal with this tonight as well. "Look Eric I know that to you I have been gone a year and half a month, but to me I just saw you a few hours ago. It was just a few hours ago, that you handed me over to Russell Edgington on a silver platter and locked me in a dungeon and then changed your mind and kept him alive so it all meant nothing!" I shouted. "Not to mention the only reason I got out of that dungeon was because Yvetta helped me and while doing so she just so happened to mentioned that she had been screwing you for about three months so it's all a little fresh to me!"

I was panting now, almost run out of breath from my rant and nearly shaking. I had almost forgotten about Yvetta and what she had told me when she helped me escape the basement of Fangtasia. I hadn't brought it up before, but amid all that chaos it had slipped my mind, but now that I was running over everything that had happened it came back again blaringly to the forefront of my brain. I felt once again as if I had been slapped. And judging from Eric's stunned silence I assumed that what Yvetta had told me was true. I shook my head in disgust, feeling as if I would be sick.

"Nothing has changed for me, Eric. I know you've had a year, but I've only had a few hours," I said refusing to look at him. "So, I can't do this right now. And honestly I am not sure I ever want to do it again."

I turned then and started my brisk pace once again in the direction of Sookie's house, my stomach dropping at the thought that I have no home to go to. It didn't stop me from walking though because I wanted to be as far away from Eric as possible.

"Chase," Eric called from behind me.

I stopped. I didn't know why, but I did. I refused to turn. "What?"

"I'm glad you are back and safe. And just remember I didn't give up on you…and I won't."

His voice sounded sincere.

I didn't care.

I continued back to Sookie's, back to the only place I knew was safe now. It was a short walk since my brisk pace had turned into a jog. I reached Sookie's just in time to see Bill Compton ushering Sheriff Andy back to his car, with Sookie and Jason standing on the porch, Sookie looked shaken. The air around the situation was tense. I slowed down as I approached the driveway, trying to catch my breath and made the mistake of making eye contact with Andy.

"Let me guess, you were off on vampire business too?" Andy spat in my direction, his voice laced with irritation.

"What?"

"Yes, she was, she and Sookie made a very good team. I will explain everything after you issue your statement Sheriff," Bill said passing me a glance that said 'play along'.

I tried to wipe the look of confusion from my face, but I know I didn't do a very good job. A very disgruntled Andy climbed into his squad car and drove off with a screech of tires. Bill sighed and turned to me, nodding politely. He made sure to keep his distance and looked a lot like he was restraining himself.

"It's good to see you alive and well, Chase," he said before rushing off in vampire speed before I could respond.

I approached the porch, feeling like I had missed something big. Jason cleared his throat and put his hands on his hips. "Y'all want some tea?" he asked.

Sookie and I stared at him blankly. I didn't know what I wanted honestly. "Cocoa would be better," Sookie said finally.

Jason nodded in agreement. "Cocoa it is. I will meet y'all inside."

Sookie shook off whatever she was feeling and approached me, putting her arm around my shoulders. "Are you alright?"

I nodded. "Yeah, it's just a lot to take in. I mean a whole year of our lives."

Sookie sighed. "Jason told me that Cassandra's parents sold your house. I'm sorry."

I huffed. "It's alright."

It wasn't alright, but what more could I say.

"Chase, you know you can move in with me until you get on your feet," she offered opening the front door and ushering me inside. "It'd be nice to have you and I have plenty of room."

At this point I had no other offers, how could I refuse? "Thanks, Sookie. I think I have no choice but to take you up on that offer. I mean…all my things…my house…my…life is gone," I breathed feeling my eyes water. "Everything that was starting for me…my relationship with Alcide," I broke off shaking my head.

Sookie shut the front door behind me and motioned to the living room. "Do you want to call, Alcide? The phone is working, you can call whoever you want."

I hesitated. I did want to call Alcide, I wanted to call him and find out that he had been waiting on me, that he hadn't given up on me like Eric said. I wanted to hear that everything was going to be the way it was before; that we could start our lives and we could be happy…even though I was potentially pregnant with another man's child. But I was terrified that I would call him to find out just the opposite, that he hadn't waited, that he had moved on with his life and forgotten all about me.

"I don't even know if he has the same number, Sook. I can't call him and just expect everything to be the same."

Sookie frowned. "Well what about your parents and brother. Do you want to call them? Tell them you're okay…maybe tell them the good news," she added pointing to my stomach.

"Oh yeah, hey mom I'm sorry I just disappeared without a trace, I went to another dimension, but I'm okay. Oh and by the way I'm pregnant and werewolf or vampire could be the father!" I laughed. It was all I could do to keep from crying. Sookie's frown deepened and I felt like a jackass. I know she was just trying to make me feel better and I was undermining it all. I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. "I'm sorry, Sookie. I'm…grumpy and pregnant, and it's been a long day and I think I really just want to take a shower and get some sleep."

"It's okay, chase, don't apologize. I know this is a lot for you."

Sookie showed me to the shower and what would be my room. She let me borrow a change of clothes that would be a little small on me, but they would do until I could get some clothes of my own. I took the longest shower I could, standing under nearly scalding water until the ice water went cold. I heard Sookie and Jason talking in the living room downstairs as I walked back to my room and considered joining them, but I had had enough of this day. I changed into the pajamas Sookie left on the bed for me and crawled between the sheets covering my face with the pillow, hoping that when I woke up again this would all be a dream.