PART ONE

Chapter 1

Back from their unplanned sojourn to Europe, the two had finally found a chance to spend some quality time together. It seemed inevitable that there would always be something, someone or some anomaly that interfered in their lives and as frustration as that was for them both, it was a small price to pay for what they had. A expanded family, Eric's sister once thought lost to time and death. But she now would thrive as the queen of the couple hundred Viking vampires that existed in his homeland, in the castle he grew up in. that they kept to themselves and wanted to live in peace was something of comfort to himself and Sookie, though they knew that if need be, they would defend themselves. But they seemed to be content away from the modern world, to exist in a alternative way from their human Viking lives. That they were sane and secure was something Sookie had worried about when flying home, but he reassured her that they would remain safe and sound. He reminded her of their deadly abilities and she felt more at ease. Elsa was certainly as formidable as her older brother and though it had been unfortunate that his parents were not able to be saved, the dark magic having been too deep within them and woven so intricately that it had been far too late for even Sookie to be able to do anything. But in a moment of clarity, the couple had saved Sookie and Elsa and as a result, it had led them to win the fight and save the day.

She was doing housework around the house and since the flight home, she had sensed she wasn't alone, like someone was watching over her. And though she knew her grandfather was apt to check in when she wasn't aware, this felt different and she sensed that whoever, whatever it was was not evil or wicked and yet, she was on edge as she spoke out, calling for whoever was there to come to her. Not like she hadn't been visited by the unusual before, with her track record. Nothing would really be a surprise at this point. And there she stood in her living room as images of people she knew had perished a few days earlier were standing stoically in her living room. Eric's parents, the late king and queen.

"What…..this must mean I am a little overtired….." Sookie said as she saw the two before her, ethereally beautiful in their spirit state and hackneyed as it may have seemed at the time, the fact that this was Halloween was not lost on her. She had learned once that Halloween was the one time a year where the veil between the dead and living was thinnest, that the day before and after the holiday were as such as well. But Halloween, that was a day of note. Astrid and Ulfrik seemed almost bursting to tell her what they came to and yet they maintained their dignified demeanor.

"We came because of a gift we have been given the chance to offer you. A one time deal, I am afraid. Though we have not been in the afterlife terribly long, the spirits have allowed us to make you a offer. That you have suffered as you have, that he has suffered…..fate has decided to give you something and thought it doesn't come without a price, we are hoping you accept the chance, for the sake of your family, for our sake and for the life we know you both want." the queen said, sounding rather cryptic and looking unreadable.

"You can have the one thing you desperately want if you both make a blood sacrifice. That if you both take from one another the power of the other, if you allow us to give our souls to the magic, then you can have that which you want most. We would cease to exist as spirits but we would fade away in peace, knowing you two had the thing thought impossible for you two to ever have."

she looked at them warily for a moment, though there was a part of her intrigued and almost….excited about the opportunity being dangled before her. but she knew that such a thing she thought impossible had to come with a price and she asked what it was. "I know it won't be pretty, I have a feeling…."

"No, it won't. you need to take some of him and he some of you. which would create the link, the magic needed for us to work with to make this otherwise impossible thing occur. the fact it will cause the both of you discomfort and pain, I am not sure if you are willing to go to that lengths…you would both reach the brink of death and there is a chance that things could go….awry. nothing is ever guaranteed." Astrid explained. "If we can give what remains of ourselves with your sacrifice to give you something irreplaceable, we are ready and willing….perhaps it is something you should discuss with him."

"By taking from one another, what does that mean?"

"To give him your light and he would give you some of his darkness. the effects would be…irreversible. should things go to plan, you would not only become a hybrid yourself-making yourself even more powerful and thus able to handle becoming expectant, but he too would some to have some of your powers and abilities. and with him being as strong as he already is, it could be a combination that the devil himself would fear to test." Ulfrik explained and it was then and there they saw and could almost feel the emotion that was within the stunned waitress. the question was, would she even tell her Viking of this possibility or would she decline the offer, pretend she hadn't been told of this chance. all she knew was that tonight, she certainly was having him over. they needed to talk

Chapter 2

His parents had left her with more than enough food for thought and had said that should they decide to proceed, that they had until midnight, before the day changed to November 1st to accept the plan. that there was loss, the loss of his parents spirits forever to be considered and yet what could be gained….a baby….and yet the other thing troubling her was the idea of her being a mixed bag….literally. she hadn't ever really given thought to having fangs and the ides of him having light magic…it was weird and yet she knew that they would certainly be able to defend themselves all the more, all the better for their possible expanded family. the idea that she could have something he had been close to having before….though at least this time it would be with someone who hadn't beaten her, hadn't abused her. that thought was enough to keep a sense of awe and shock within her and she paced around the house, cleaning like a madwomen with all the nervous energy she had, waiting for the moment night fell. she had shot him a text asking him to come tonight and knew he would do so without question. both would have to literally change for this to happen and she wasn't sure what she thought of this prospect yet and didn't have a inkling what he would think about it either. but with the payoff being what it was…

There came a knock on the door and though having a invitation to enter as he pleased, she appreciated his manners…that he did, in fact have them when he so chose, she had to think to herself with amusement. opening the door, she found him patiently waiting but she had forgotten, in the midst of her cleaning session, she had done her hair up in a do rag and had put an apron on as she had taken care of the dishes. she had dirt on her face, she could feel, from the dusting she had done. in other words, she looked like a hot mess. a dirty, hot mess.

stepping past her as she allowed him to come in, Eric looked her up and down, amusement on his face. "Glad you got all prettied up for me." he said a she sat on her couch and grinned. "Looks like someone has been busy today…." he stopped smiling as he took in the look on her face. "What is it? your text was…not very specific though it only takes a few words to get me to come over…." he was clearly trying to be upbeat but seeing the troubled expression on her face, she blurted out everything and waited for a response. It seemed that even he was at a loss for words.

"So…with the sacrifice of their….spirits and with us agreeing to, in essence, turn one another in a way, we could actually-" he made a face, seeming both surprised and somewhat doubtful "We have both seen a hell of a lot of strange things but I think this would be the icing on the cake….but it would allow us to-"

"Yeah….." she replied. "And we have a short amount of time to make this choice, we need to agree to do this by late tomorrow night otherwise, well….the ship has sailed. Kind of a one time offer, according to the spirits that be…..no pressure." she said as she went to the kitchen and returned with a very full glass of wine. "I mean, this is life changing in more ways than one, for the both of us and should we do this, then there is a third person we have to consider…..then there is the rest of our little circle of friends and family and Pam? What the heck would she think about this?"

"As much as I care about her and as close as we are, she knows I make my own decisions…..and this is one I never thought I would have to make." he watched as she sat beside her, almost gingerly as if too afraid to get close to him, scared of what he may way. "I know this is something you want badly, something you lost thanks to that ex of yours. Who I would kill all over again, given the chance…..but…..this…it…" he bit his lip. "I wouldn't want you to be burdened with something you may not want…..to be anything you may not want to be. Who knows what kind of mixed breed you would become, me for that matter too."

"You couldn't be worse than Warlow was…..to think I was with him at all…..god, I have really done some bad things….stupid things." Sookie shook her head at a brief thought on her past. "At least wings aren't a part of the deal…..at least I hope not, though I've not seen grandpa with them or any others so, I think you're golden there…" she managed to laugh at the image in her mind, him dressed in a tight little faerie outfit, wings and all….very tight material to boot. She didn't stop laughing for several moments as he frowned at her, a smirk appearing on his face.

"So glad to provide you with that hypothetical fashion statement that no doubt you just had….. " he turned serious again. "There is a lot I can give to you and I hate that I couldn't give you what you lost. And that is why I am agreeing to try this. Sookie, I would do anything for you. I would die for you."

She was moved and had to admit something else to him for the first time, it had dawned on her. "I would die for you too."

TO BE CONTINUED