In The End

I do not own anything CH and AB do I'm just playing.

Chapter 1

The phone rang but I had no desire to pick it up from its cradle and be cheery to whoever was on the other end. Fuck them, fuck em all. I was done with supes and vamps. My highhanded husband and my petulant boss whom I saved from the after life.

I do love Sam dearly but was it really my place to yank him back from where he had gone? Back into this fucked up world in this backwater town and into that rat hole of a bar that I now owned a stake in? Who really knows but I had acted impulsive and without thought and now I sit here alone of my own accord.

Boy, I sounded like a spoiled child but I didn't care not anymore. Everything I loved, the vampire I love was going to be gone soon and I had no control over that. I should have saved the CD to help Eric but I couldn't let Sam die I owed him that much.

I could have saved Eric from his maker's last wishes but really, it's not my mess to clean up. Eric will win he always does and when he lands on his feet, he'll grin like a Cheshire cat, ya right more like a strong proud lion.

Speaking of lion, didn't Sam once change into a lion to save me? Then again maybe he was just showing off his shifter abilities. Its funny he did always smell like wet dog. Why do I keep thinking about Sam like that? He is my friend and partner nothing else, right? Eric, ya Eric smell like the ocean on a hot summer night. Cool and refreshing. Damn the phone…..

"Hello" I yelled into the phone.

"Be at Fangtasia in one hour, the Queen of Oklahoma commands your presence" came the cold tone of Pam's voice.

"You…" I started to reply.

"Be here or someone will come to collect you and it won't be pleasant" Pam retorted and then the phone went dead.

Did I mention that I hated vampires but I full well knew that if I did not appear there things would become very dire for me. I quickly washed up and put on a blue sundress and cute 3 inch heels. There I hoped this was elegant enough for a Queen but really she could buzz off for all I cared. Maybe Sam should come with me. WTF?

I hopped into my car and headed toward Shreveport and Fangtasia. I didn't know what was going to happen once I got there but I hoped it wasn't bad. This Queen is the one that Eric's maker bestowed him upon and it irked me to no end. Why did Eric always seem to drag me into this political bullshit? God I hated vamps.

I pulled into the parking lot and noticed right away that Pam was standing outside of the employee entrance and she looked pissed. I steeled my nerves and opened my car door. Just as I stood Pam appeared in front of me. She gave me a once over seeming to approve of what I was wearing.

"Well you look good. I only have a few moments. U should have used that Culvier Dor to save Eric; instead you saved that damn dog. You will soon find out what kind of dog you saved. Please Sookie if you ever cared for Eric please think before you speak or act" Pam seemed to plead and then the stone look was back on her face. I knew what kind of dog Sam was the kind that would never leave me and always be loyal.

"Follow me Miss Northman-Stackhouse" Pam commanded. I bristled at the name but held my head high and followed her into the club. There was no one there except some of Eric's men and the Queen's guard by the look of it. Eric or the Queen was nowhere to be seen. I did notice a regal looking throne sitting beside Eric's throne upon the dais.

Pam directed me to one of three seats in front of the dais and I sat down. The front door opened and in walked Bill, I nodded to him. He smiled and sat beside me. Why was Bill here? I wanted to ask but I kept my silence. Ten minutes later Eric appeared from the hallway to his office, with Sam on his heels. Sam, my Sam was here. I smiled as Sam came over and sat beside me. Eric took his seat on the dais. He avoided my eyes and that stung a little.

I sat quietly and waited. I watched Eric; he looked so beautiful up there on his throne dressed in black dress pants, a red silk shirt and black jacket. A sex god. My lady parts squirmed a little and I felt all vampire eyes except the ones I wanted fall on me. I felt Sam shift in his seat, my cheeks flushed. Vamps, eh!

Eric suddenly got up and moved to the front of the Queen's throne and everyone stood. I stood as well and turned to the hallway. A tall blonde vampire came into the room. She looked strong and plain. I thought she'd be beautiful like Sophie Ann but no there wasn't much special about her not at all. Eric went to the stairs and took QO handed and brought her to her throne. Once she was seated, Eric sat and then the rest of us followed.

"Ah, Sookie Stackhouse I presume" the Queen said as she checked me out. Did she leave the Northman part out to make me angry? It didn't but I still corrected her.

"Sookie Northman-Stackhouse your highness" I replied as I stood and curtsied. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Eric's lips turn up in a small smile but then it was gone.

"Oh, yes sorry. I had forgotten that Eric was wed to a human" the Queen said with a sneer.

"Actually I'm not just a human" I retorted and then fell silent.

"Smart mouthed I see as well. How Eric ever put up with you is beyond me. Let's get to the reason why we are all here this evening. Eric's maker Appius signed a contract with me stating Eric shall wed me and help me run my state. He is married to you although I do not see this as a problem, our law does. Tonight you will divorce Eric so that he may fulfill his maker's last wish" QO said with a smug smile.

"Queen Freya please, I love Sookie and I do not wish to marry you. I said I would help you organize your state and get things started but I want to remain here serving De Castro" Eric said with an edge to his voice.

"De Castro has already agreed to sell you to me as being one of his retinue. You should marry me though Eric, best to be King then a sex slave" the Queen replied. I gasped and Eric looked at me.

The king was going to sell Eric? More then likely to punish him for Victors death. I shivered at the thought of what I had done. This is Eric's mess though not mine. Eric leaves and Sam and I can be together but I had a few questions.

"What happens if I decide not to divorce him?" I asked my voice cracking a little.

"Then you would have to move with my slave as per our law and serve me" QO smiled triumphantly.

"Now wait a minute. We had a deal" Sam piped up and I turned to look at him, deal?

"Oh yes, you get Sookie to use the Culvier Dor to save you, tying her to you for as long as she lives. Yes, I did but if she refuses to divorce Eric the deal is null and void" the QO replied.

"You did what?" I shouted as I started to get in his face. My Sam had used me? Why would he do that? I felt Pam who had been standing off to the side appear behind me.

"Sit Sookie" Pam ordered but there was something else in her voice. I decided to sit and shut my mouth.

"I had to Sookie I knew you were going to use it to save Eric, I couldn't let you do that. You don't belong in that world. You belong with me, we can have a family. Stay in Bon Temps" Sam said with sincerity but I couldn't look at him. What did it mean to be tied to him? Does he really love me? Why do I care if he does? The last thought really bothered me.

"Wait please, what do you mean tied to him?" I asked and I looked at Eric I knew he would answer me brutally but with honesty as always.

"When you use the CD its magic alters the user and recipient if you do not use it for true love. It's a Fae love charm really its suppose to be used between lovers" Eric said emphasising lovers. Oops.

I contemplated this for a moment as I watched Eric. He looked sad. One of the Queen's guards brought over a velvet bundle to Eric and he took it reluctantly. It looked familiar, the ceremonial knife. The knife that started it all. If I agreed to divorce Eric all my protection would be gone. I'd be alone well I guess with Sam but what kind of protection could he offer and did I want it. He used me.

De Castro will come for me and I'd live in Vegas for the rest of my life as his slave. If I stayed married to Eric I'd have to move to Oklahoma with Eric still, a slave. Which was the lesser evil? Was that even the question or was it did I love Eric enough to fight for him, to fight for us.

A wave of déjà vu over came me and it was like I was in that stairwell again with Andre and Eric appearing out of nowhere to help. Had he saved me? Yes, he did. Had I loved him then, yes I did. I believe in one way or another I had always loved Eric in one form or another. Would I have chosen to bond with him even though it was forced? Yes, I would have.

I learned a lot about Eric when we were bound and I now know thanks to breaking it that what he had felt was real. I knew what I had felt, the happiness when he was around, the lust he provoked in me and the pride and loyalty I felt towards him was all my own. He was my Knight in shining armour.

Eric's tough shell was just that a shell. He had feelings for me too, for along time he just wouldn't accept it much like me. We were a lot alike and yet so different. Were the differences enough to keep us apart?

I could hear a voice inside my head whispering to me and for once I let everything fall quiet and I just listened.

"I will divorce Eric" I agreed. Eric looked devasted but schooled his features. He got up and descended the stairs and motioned for me to follow him. I got up and walked over to a little altar where Eric stood.

"Are you sure Sookie?" Eric asked I could see the corners of his eyes turn pink. I steeled my heart. No one could know how I felt deep in my bones. I wanted to scream and cry but I did not.

"Yes" I nodded my head.

TBC