Chapter 2
It was very entertaining when we arrived home as we had not been expected for three more days and Eric had purposely not informed anyone that we would be returning early.
"How do you want to announce our good news?" He asked me in the car as we pulled up in front of the house. I could hear the guards panicking as they tried to get into position and wondered why we had returned ahead of schedule.
"I don't mind. Do you want to tell everyone straight away?" I imagined what the different reactions would be like and grimaced.
"We don't have a choice. The supes will be able to smell it on you and to be perfectly honest, my love; I need all the help I can get keeping an eye on you." I giggled knowing that he wasn't joking.
"Then call the gang and arrange a meeting tonight. Can we tell my brother too?" Eric scowled at the thought of inviting my brother to the meeting but nodded his agreement.
"I will arrange everything while you take a nap." He took my hand and led me to the sitting room.
"What makes you think I want to take a nap?" I asked a little annoyed that he was getting bossy again.
"I can feel how tired you are over the bond and the doctor said to sleep when you need to." He gave me that smug 'you know I'm right' smile and I scowled.
"I'll do you a deal," I offered as we reached the lobby. He stopped and raised an eye brow at me. He still couldn't resist bartering with me and I tried to keep the sly smile off my face.
"What would that be?" He couldn't keep the satisfaction out of his voice. He loved it when I tried to haggle with him because it showed him I wasn't afraid to stand up to him.
"I will lie down in the sitting room and take a nap if you sit with me and make your phone calls from there."
"Done. You sleep better when I am next to you anyway." He led me into the sitting room and sat down. I put my head in his lap and stretched out on the couch. He began playing with my hair and it wasn't long before I was drifting away. He was right; I did sleep better when he was next to me.
I played with her hair until I knew that she was asleep. I spent a few minutes listening to her steady breathing and the thrumming of her beating heart and I placed my hand over her stomach. I still couldn't, what was that modern saying, wrap my head around it. My perfect angel was giving me a child. I could watch her sleep forever. She nuzzled her face into my leg and sighed. The sound made me high with love. I had never felt such jubilation before in my long existence. I had been hit with the miracle that was my wife and now she was giving me even more. How did I get so lucky?
It was with great control that I forced myself to make the first call. I didn't want to announce our good news but I knew that it was a necessity. Not only would it be safer, I hadn't been lying when I said I needed help getting my wife to take things steady. She loved to be doing things and trouble followed her everywhere. She was also the most infuriatingly stubborn person I had ever met and I knew it would take an army of us to get her to sit down for longer than ten minutes. I was overjoyed at our good fortune but also terrified. I had seen hundreds of women die in childbirth, my mother and sisters included. I couldn't stand the thought of losing her again. I had still not recovered from the agony of her first death. I was very happy that she was agreeing to let me turn her because then she would be strong and resilient. I could feel my instinct to protect raging out of control and it took every bit of effort I had to manage how I spoke to her. Sookie would not react well if I told her she was forbidden to use her powers or leave the house for the next nine months. I was still learning how to treat her as an equal rather than ordering and demanding her. After many arguments I had realised how I worded my requests meant the difference between getting what I wanted and spending a week drinking the synthetic crap and sleeping alone.
"Pam there is a meeting at my house tonight. Severn o'clock." I made the same call to Bill, Amelia, Alcide, Quinn, Sam and even Jason. I was very thankful that none of the day walkers picked up their phones as I still didn't like speaking to any of them. I respected them, except Jason, but I only tolerated them for Sookie's sake. They had proven useful and they made her happy but they were still pains in my ass. I would gladly do without all of them and especially the fools that continued to drool after my wife.
Once my calls were made I slipped into what Sookie liked to call downtime and I began to think about was ahead of us. I had lasted this long by always staying ahead. It was a major advantage that we had every vampire sovereign on our side and I would be willing to bet that the fae supported us too. Our biggest threat was going to be Sookie herself. I played with her hair and she murmured in her sleep. I would have to discuss this with Pam and see if she could think of a way to pacify my wife. I sometimes thought that Pam understood Sookie better than any of us. Must be a woman thing.
I woke up to find that Eric was in downtime. I must have been asleep for a while because it was already dark outside. Eric began to stir when he felt me sit up.
"All sorted?" I asked as I rubbed my eyes. I still felt groggy.
"Yes. They will be here at seven." I looked at the clock. It was already six. I jumped to my feet and moved to race upstairs but before I took two steps Eric's strong arms had caught me and he pulled me down on his lap while he laughed at me.
"And where do you think you are going in such a hurry?"
"Eric," I moaned making him laugh even harder. "I only have an hour and I need to get changed and find something to eat before they get here." He nuzzled the back of my neck and began showering me with kisses.
"And what would you do if I refused to let you go?" His voice had turned seductive and I couldn't help but moan as his lips traced irresistible patterns over my skin. In seconds I was panting and I could feel my heart fluttering in my chest.
"The doctor said I needed to eat, Eric," I smiled at my attempt to play him at his own game. He didn't stop kissing me as he spoke.
"Yes she did. She also said you should give your body what it wants. I can smell what you want Sookie and it isn't food." He flipped me around and began his assault on my mouth. I moaned as his hands started to work my breasts. I knew what he was doing. He wanted the smell of sex to be in the room while he told my ex-boyfriends that I was pregnant. Before I totally lost the will to pull away I popped myself to the bathroom and turned on the shower. I chuckled to myself as he shouted up the stairs.
"That's cheating!" I felt him zoom up the stairs and come into the bedroom but he didn't interrupt my shower. I was a little disappointed about that but I didn't let myself dwell as I knew time was short.
I stepped out of the shower feeling clean and fresh. Eric had laid out my clothes on the bed and he watched me as I changed with lust and hunger in his eyes. I may have put on a bit of a show while pulling the bra and silk blouse on. I smiled to myself as I walked downstairs to find sustenance with Eric close on my heel. He was giving me space, which I appreciated, but also refusing to let me out of his site, which was adorable.
I sat at the breakfast bar with a glass of juice and a bowl of gumbo which Kale had left for me in the fridge. I missed cooking but my skills were nothing compared with hers in the kitchen so I didn't see the point in arguing about it.
The doorbell rang as I was finishing my meal and Eric went to let in our first guest. I couldn't hear anything so I figured it must have been Pam. I was glad my shields were holding because I was sure I wouldn't want to hear the thoughts tonight. I placed my dirty dishes in the sink and went to sit in the den with Eric.
"Sookie," Pam nodded her head and I smiled at her nodding back. I went to sit in Eric's lap and his chest rumbled with satisfaction as he wrapped his arms around me.
"Did you enjoy your anniversary?" I beamed at Pam.
"It was wonderful Pam. I will have to get all the photos developed so I can show you. Have you ever been to Hawaii?"
"Yes but I wasn't very impressed. I hear it is all about the sun." She smiled warmly at me, well as warmly as a vampire can. Eric chuckled behind me.
"I s'pose that's true." Bill came in then and sat beside Pam.
"Hello Bill," Eric nodded in time with Bill and I just smiled at him. I was starting to get excited. I really wanted them all to know so that I could share how happy I was with them. Eric could feel my joy through the bond and it rivalled his own.
"Sookie, Eric. I trust you had a pleasant trip?"
"We did," Eric said bluntly. I was just grateful he didn't make some lurid remark. Eric squeezed me affectionately and I twisted round to give him a quick kiss.
"Let me up, the others are here," I said to Eric. I knew he wouldn't let me get up but I had to try.
"You're not going anywhere," he said firmly. I giggled and popped to open the front door.
"Cheater!" He yelled out to me making me laugh even harder. I heard Pam and Bill cackling too. I flung the door open and hugged Amelia, Quinn, Alcide, Sam and Jason as they arrived.
They each gave me an odd look when they smelled me but they didn't say anything instead following me into the den.
"Can I get y'all anything to eat or drink?" I scanned my guests as they made themselves comfortable.
"NO!" Eric snarled at me. He pulled me into his lap again. "You are not playing hostess tonight. You are going to sit still like a good girl and do as you are told!" I laughed at Eric as the room became tense and my male protectors snarled in offense on my behalf.
"Sweetie, I will sit still when you can keep me in one place." I kissed him and popped to the kitchen to collect the tray of drinks that was already set up for me. Everyone was howling in laughter when I walked back into the den. Everybody but Eric. He looked at me wide eyed with hurt and anger.
Why must you always make me look bad Sookie? You know what the doctor told you. I am only trying to keep you safe. I handed out the drinks and returned to Eric's lap.
I know and I love you for that. I just think your little plan of gang up on Sookie is going to work so I figured I would get my way while I still can. He chuckled at that and kissed me again.
"It's all very nice seeing you two fight and make up but why are we all here?" Jason asked. I smiled at my brother and I thought I might bust from the excitement and joy.
"You are here because you are our closest friends and family. We have an announcement and we wanted you all to know together."
"What's wrong with you?" Jason demanded in an iron hard voice. "You only get like this when there is something wrong so what is it?"
"There's nothing wrong Jase. I am great." Eric nuzzled into my neck inhaling before looking at my brother.
"Sookie is pregnant with my child. The doctor has told her that she needs to take things steady but she is healthy." I began laughing. The combination of stunned expressions and the idea of them stopping me doing what I wanted to was absolutely hilarious to me.
"Eric things y'all will be able to help him keep me off my feet," I explained to them all. I wondered how long it would take for our news to sink in.
"Holly hell Sook! Congratulations," Jason said stepping forward to give me a hug. I jumped up and hugged my brother. "I'm happy for you."
"Thanks big bro." His reaction seemed to have thawed the others out.
"Congratulations Sookie, Eric," Amelia said giving me a hug too.
"I'm pleased for you both," Sam offered. I felt Eric tense up as I wrapped my arms around my old boss. Jeez, I would have thought he would be over the possessiveness by now.
"Many happy returns Master, Sookie. I will serve your child as I serve you both."
"Thank you Pam," Eric said placing a hand on her shoulder.
"King, Sookie, I give you my best wishes. This truly is a miracle. I know you have always wanted children Sook and I am pleased you get your dream. I too will always be at your service." Bill bowed low from the waist and I stepped forward to hug him while Eric nodded to my ex-beau.
I gradually gave Alcide and Quinn a hug too and we accepted their congratulations. I landed back in Eric's lap before Alcide called a toast.
"To Sookie, Eric and their family. May they always be happy, healthy and prosperous." They all cheered us and I started to cry. It was so overwhelming it was almost painful. They were all happy for us but I could see the underlying concern. I wondered if it was Eric's fears they were sensing.
"How the hell are you going to get her to take it easy Eric?" Quinn asked laughing his ass off. He was enjoying the challenge far too much but Eric was so concerned that he didn't rise. He just hugged me tighter.
"We will all help him," Alcide answered. "We all know what trouble she is and together we can make her follow the doctor's orders." He was smiling wickedly at me.
"I am here you know!" I scowled. I wasn't really angry, although I should have been. I was just too happy to get mad at the slight.
"I know," he said smugly.
"So what did the doctor say to expect?" Jason was starting to get really scared and I could hear him thinking about Crystal.
"She just said I should give my body what it wants," I said but Eric wasn't having my attempt at smoothing things over.
"She said because of Sookie's power she will get much weaker than normal and she will have a rough pregnancy." I hit him but I knew it didn't have any effect. I jumped off his lap and headed back into Jason's arms.
"I promise I will be alright Jase. We both will." I looked into his terrified eyes and I saw a single tear roll down his cheek. His tear set me off and I cried in my brother's arms. I knew he just needed to hold me and the others politely portended to ignore our heartfelt exchange.
"So master, what is a 'rough pregnancy'?" Pam asked. I could feel them all listening intently to his answer.
"She will get sick and have bad cravings and mood swings. Ludwig told us because of her power she will drain more easily than normal. She is concerned that she will feel the effects of pregnancy much sooner than normal and she wants to have regular checkups as there may be unexpected complications due to the unique nature of the pregnancy. My biggest concern is trying to get Sookie to relax and take things easy."
"And stay out of trouble," Amelia added.
"Exactly."
I pulled away from my brother to glare at Amelia.
"I'm not that bad!" I complained.
"Yes you are," Sam said with a bitter smile. They were all much more sombre now and it irritated me. I didn't want them to dampen my joy.
"I am going to be fine," I said exasperated. "Can we please just be happy about this?" Eric sighed heavily and hugged behind me.
"Of course you will be fine. We will make sure of it!" He vowed. They all nodded in agreement and my irritation turned to a mild understanding. It had only been a matter of weeks when I had died. They loved me and wanted to protect me at all costs. I couldn't get mad at the for that even if it was highly annoying.
"So what is going to be the public story?" Quinn asked.
"We haven't really sorted that yet," I admitted.
"You will have to hold a press conference or something to announce it." Pam always full of good ideas. "Dear Abby would suggest honesty is the best policy." I giggled at that.
I began to get very tired again and I wondered how only three hours of visiting with friends and family could make me so sleepy. Eric felt my tiredness and insisted on my going to bed. I resented being treated like a cripple but I was tired so I didn't put up too much of a fight. The day walkers all needed to go home and get some sleep anyway so I said goodnight to our guests and went up to our room. I thought about how they would probably be on my case for the entire pregnancy. I would have to think of new ways to get what I wanted. I had already been thinking I would like something more constructive to do with my time. Queen duty was starting to get boring and I wanted to do something which give be a better chance at mixing with people. I could probably use this as a way of convincing them to leave me in peace although I dreaded to think the reaction we would get from the press.