PART TWO

Chapter 3

Time seemed to come to a standstill as they came to grips with that which had been decided upon. To trek to the unknown, now knowing how much they could, would change from whatever was to come, it was scary and exciting, even with the chance that either or even both could possible not make it through. And it was after making such a monument us decision that they had decided it best to say nothing to anyone else until it was all said and done. With any luck, things would go to plan and though for the most part, things in their lives had went opposite to plan

"I can't believe we are doing this….though I should have asked about the exact when and where-" Sookie yelped as she saw something flash outside the living room window and as they fled the house, they saw the spirits of his parents appear and reverently, still conditioned after all these years, Eric took a knee before his parents.

"I don't know just how this is possible, but…this gift….if it works as planned-"

"We owe you this and we want to help you heal from the torment of your past. All the losses…..the pain…you deserve to have this and the fates, the other spirits who allowed for this offer to be made, they felt the same way" his mother said, putting a ghostly hand on his head that oddly enough he felt. There was warmth and kindness there and he turned to look at his father who nodded his agreement.

"What do we need to do…..to…." Sookie trailed off as without a word, the two spirits led them away from the front lawn of her home to the nearby cemetery. "Of course." she said.

"At the same time, she must pour her light into you and you must give her your blood. Meanwhile, we channel our energies into the two of you, as a protection of sorts. And with all of us together, you will put life into each other before you create the one you both so desperately have wanted. Though we will cease to exist as anything any longer, know that our energies will flow through the both of you and that which we hope will be created between you after this ceremony. That we will still be alive in all three of you." his father said with a solemn air. If you two are ready, we can begin. And this will only work once. There can never be another child born, only a single child cam come of this."

She stood before him, shaking with anxiety, fear and excitement. If this worked, if they returned to her bedroom and were able to, in fact conceive…..it was to be the miracle to end all miracles. "This is it…..I am as ready as I will ever be…" she looked up at her leather clad Viking, who looked as confident as ever but the way he looked at her, the way he cupped her face, it was going to be the death of her, making her melt that way. "I don't know what is about to happen but if things get too….well, I will stop and we can just forget about this. I won't risk your life-"

"This is something I would risk y life for and yet I wouldn't want to endanger you either…..we just have to have faith things will work out." she paused. "I hope I don't become all about the blood, that I can enjoy wine because-"

"If this works like we plan, I don't think wine would be in the cards for you anytime soon." he pointed out, allowing her to laugh, albeit briefly. "Are you ready….are we ready? " he asked the ethereal specters watching over them.

"The moment one of you starts infusing your power into the other, it will begin and we will start adding our energies to it." his father explained and gave his only son a meaningful look. "I wish for the best for the both of you and make sure to look in on your sister from time to time. That you two would continue to thrive with families of your own would be a great pleasure for me….for us." Ulfrik nodded to his wife who nodded in agreement.

"it has been a honor to meet the one who has changed his life in such a profound way and please…..live a good and happy life. More than deserved for the both of you." Astrid said and though the couple said nothing, it was clear the sentiments were of appreciation. And it was then Sookie felt the sting in her neck, knowing that she never would have wanted to be the one to go first and she appreciated he wanted to help her through this. And a few moments later, she herself reached around and placed her hands on his back and focusing her power, careful not to overdo it, she started to let her light flow through her and into him his back to where his parents' spirits stood, unable to see them as they became nothing more than light and surrounded the two in what was like a iridescent film, like bubble suds. And though she knew they would be missed, their sacrifice was hopefully going to give her back something that she wanted so badly. But it was then her head started spinning and she felt an ache within her bones and at the same time, she opened her eyes, scenting what was flesh burning. And there came a final bright light from what had been the spirits, knocking them apart from one another, their bodies landing a few feet from one another in the grass. Dazed, she couldn't move but saw through the darkness-better than she had ever been able to-and saw the little bit of smoke coming from the clearly charred Viking.

Chapter 4

When she was finally able to move, she found herself moving at a pace she hadn't expected, felt a aching in her mouth and with a lick of her tongue, she was stunned to find herself with a pair of her very own fangs. Covering her mouth up, she was more surprised than anything else, having known that this was likely to be a side effect and yet as she looked at him and his current state of affairs, she feared something had, in fact gone terribly awry. Wasting no time, she knelt beside him and gave up some of her blood to him. To her amazement, she saw there was a literal glow within him as she did so and could sense with her power that there was a connection greater now between them than there ever had been. He was healing rapidly and relieved, she put her head down on his chest and though it was silent and clearly denoted he was very much vamp still, the fact she saw that glow within him, sensed it, told her that he had been altered just as she had been. Both were full of one another's essence and as such, she understood now, that that was what it would take. To say nothing of the help from his parents.

She remained where she was until she saw the last traces of burned skin fade and was quick to say she was sorry. "I didn't want to bake you to a almost crisp, I was holding back and-"

"I've been burned way worse than that." he replied running a hand through her hair as he was sprawled flat in his back "But seems like my clothes had had it and are in need of being removed….which brings us, of course, to the next part in all of this." he waggled his eyebrows and she felt the same sense of excitement within her. One shot deal, she reminded herself inwardly. As messed up, a strange as this was, that they had been willing to go to such irreversible lengths for this, it spoke volumes for their relationship.

"You've got a healthy glow about you….." she said to him as he sat up and looked at his arms, there was a slight trace of that glow in his veins and though it soon faded, he had to admit, there was something cathartic about it. That his mind and heart felt lighter than it had in a long time. Centuries, even. "How do you feel? She asked, wanting to know for certain.

He frowned and paced, not feeling that much different but he knew that her light was now his as well as his darkness was now part of her too. All in the name of becoming able to have but that one addition they wanted. "I feel…..stronger than ever, and more importantly, no less like myself…..I was worried that taking on some of your power would make me-"

"A little light in the loafers….that you would want to sing show tunes?" she interjected, unable to resist teasing him and seeing his face, she laughed harder, to his feigned annoyance. "But I've seen what you have done with that power of yours and though I can't seem to read your mind or anything, I feel that power in me. You may have to….teach me to use it, because I wouldn't want to blow out a wall in the bar or in your house…or mine…."

"Yeah, I wouldn't want that either, not after someone who shall go unnamed spent a small fortune fixing this place up for me after the whole Maryann incident….boy did she mess my house up….." she mused as they walked towards the house, hand in hand. "You ready for what comes next? She felt stupid even asking, knowing ht was always looking for a chance to get into her pants and even with so much on the line, this time wasn't too much different, you know, nothing on the line save for a possible kid. "Lets get you out of those…..well, whatever you want to call what's left of your clothes and get in that shower!"

"Well, yes maam." he replied and he went to take her into the house himself but in a flash of speed, she left him behind in the driveway and a upstairs window opened, her face in the moonlight clearly grinning.

"I already could get used to this speed, though I prefer my teleporting better…." she called down as he followed her up to her room and she decided to let him have his space, she herself wanting her own space to think about what may be. Not that she wouldn't have minded sharing a shower with him. But she needed a few moments and she went to the cubby downstairs to fetch him some clothes he had so conveniently forgotten to grab from the small closet within it. Returning upstairs, she heard the water off and saw him standing in the center if her room clad only in a towel and with damp and rather askew hair. This look, she knew, like anything else it seemed, worked for him. How could he look good in practically any scenario possible?

"That was invigorating….well not as invigorating…..what did you go and get clothes for, we aren't going to be needing them anyway?" he asked and he brazenly strode towards her, tugging at the towel around his waist, as if begging to let it fall and she shook her head at his bravado. And it was a matter of a few minutes later, her bed, bedding and mattress were getting a workout. After a few hours-wow, time flew by when there was enjoyment to be had-they were bathing in the afterglow, the moonlight streaming on their faces. He looked at her as she looked at him, sated and looking almost impatient to get a sense of something different within her. "How are you feeling…when do you suppose you would know-"

"I…..do not really know, I mean the variables this time are so weird and different….." she paused. "I guess we wait and see…"

And just like that old Tom Petty song, the waiting was the hardest part.

TO BE CONTINUED