Chapter 3-Struggle

Unable to sleep, she took off for the woods behind her house and then to the pond where she had always went to think. Sitting on a log, she couldn't help but think of the time she and Alcide had tracked a drunk Eric here and had to bring him swiftly back to her house before he burned up. A pang of pan fluttered through her again and she took her eyes off the gently rippling water and stared at the sky, the stars still twinkling merrily , the moonlight bouncing off her blonde hair.

"I take it, it didn't go well." a voice spoke from behind, causing Sookie to shriek in panic. Seeing it was Niall, she calmed down but it took a moment for her to put out the light she had instinctively summoned to defend herself.

"Niall, he hates me." Sookie said and her grandfather sat next to her on the log and let her spill her guts on the events that had already happened this night.

"So let me get this straight, you pine for her for three years and when she finally comes around, baring her soul and clearly hoping for a reconciliation, you turn her away? You may be older than dirt, but clearly you still have no clue about women." Pam said as she sat down in a leather chair and faced her business partner, friend and…well, her world. "I never thought I would day this, but you two need to patch things up and get together already. All the girls you have been with over the years, food or not, paled in comparison with Sookie. She, at least, is a fighter. And from what you tell me, a royal."

"Destined to rule over a realm where vampires can not go. I don't need to rehash everything we discussed. I don't even know why I confided in you."

"Because you're miserable, mopey and depressed. There has only ever been one person that has made you into such a mess and it is Sookie. And it is clear to me you want to go after her before you lose her for good."

"I already did." muttered Eric as he poured through the paperwork for the bar, not looking at his favorite progeny. Willa also worked at the bar now but knew well enough that this situation was something she was best left out of. Though she did offer help if needed. "She kicked me out of her life the night that she rejected Bill and myself."

"And yet you protected her again and again in the time since." Pam retorted. "Face it, you don't want a life without her nay more and seeing her last night, it made you realize that. But if you don't get your big Viking butt in gear, she will run off to Faery and you may well never see her again. This time for real."

Fuming, he got up and stared Pam down, thrusting her into the unforgiving wall, fangs bared. "You are out of line, Pamela."

"No. I am not. I only wanted you to be happy for as long as I have known you and am sick to death of life crapping all over you. What with losing Nora, Godric….your human family. I think its time to get what you have wanted for years now and I don't care of you throw me around the room, you know I am right."

He loosened his grip on her neck and looked almost apologetic. "Sorry…" he said as Pam straightened herself out. "Keep an eye on the bar, I am going out."

Sookie had rehashed everything that she had gone through with Eric at the bar. "I never should have gone. If I have to spend more time in Faery than here…."

"There is always a way around things, Sookie. Things are not as bleak as you may see them to be."

"You're saying if I give up the throne, I can have a life here? Is that what you are implying?"

"No. believe me, I want to see you happy as well, after the life you have had. We can discuss things soon, but right now, I believe we have company." Niall nodded out towards the water and as she looked up, she saw a figure hovering in the air. In a wink, Niall had vanished and Eric was seated next to her on the log. She shifted uncomfortably as he started to speak.

"I would prefer it if you remained here. I am not nor will I ever ask you to give up your claim to your grandfather's throne, but….." he stopped abruptly as she flung her arms around him, pulling him tight, much to his surprise. The tension within him melted away as he ran a hand through her silky hair and savored how good and sweet it smelled.

"I missed this…were you….about to leave?"

"No…there is still a lot for he to learn, to do before….we can't fool ourselves and start something-again-than we can't finish-again. Niall seemed to want to help me figure out something, maybe a way to make things easier. It's almost like he knew, he wanted us to reunite. He said he likes you."

"Is that surprising?" he asked with a slight smirk, his hands still fumbling gently with her hair.

Managing a weak laugh, she leaned her head into his chest and sighed. "I am not going to lie. I would rather remain here, as a waitress. With my family. My friends…..you.." she leaned forward and looked up into his eyes. "Can you ever forgive me for that I put you through? I was selfish, stupid. Ignorant. But after my recent losses of my baby, my husband….I saw the error of my ways. And if you choose not to forgive me…..I understand and am willing to accept it."

"If I didn't forgive you, do you think I would be here? Besides, I think you and I both know I have screwed up a time or two."

Relief washed over her but only for a moment. "I am thankful…thankful for another chance…but what about…..well, my future job?"

His face fell as he was reminded once again of her impending royal duties. "I know you can come and go…..but time works differently there…..I just…"

"Looks like it is time for some more answers to help you kids out." Niall appeared once more. "I didn't mean to overhear your conversation…well, actually I couldn't help myself but only because I want things to work out for the both of you. I couldn't imagine anyone better suited to look out for Sookie than someone of your renown, your reputation. I do have a solution for the both of you, though I have to warn you, there is a sacrifice to be made on both of your parts. You must take a piece of each other into one another, to ensure your eternal happiness, to ensure you can be together."

The two looked at each other, dreading, hoping and worrying about just what this would mean to them.

Niall went on to explain the magic he could perform for them Sookie coming to realize that faeries certainly wielded more powers than just lighting fingers and telepathy. Though, Niall warned, faeries with powers like his were reduced to his bloodline only and Sookie too would develop these powers gradually as well. "What I can do is to make you both amalgamations of each other. Hybrids."

"We know how well hybrids go….we all remember Warlow, right?" Sookie said with a raised eyebrow."

"Entirely different circumstances." Niall brushed off her concern. "With my help, I can combine the essences of you both and give you both the best of both worlds, faerie and vampire. The question is to you both, are you both willing to alter yourselves slightly to gain an eternity together? You will both have your powers as you are now but will gain some aspects of the other's original form as well."

Sookie looked at Eric and was unable to put words to her thoughts. How far were either of them willing to go for each other. That, was the big question that hung in the air. "So, what….I would get fangs and he could read minds?" she finally managed to ask.

"Elements of each others powers would be given to the both of you…..immortality for you, dear Sookie and possibly, yes, fangs. And as for the Viking here, well, he would be given some of your talents. Light, perhaps. Telepathy. But honestly, I have never performed such a ceremony before so I can not say anything for certain. The only think I know for certain is that it will give him the power to travel to Faery and you to live for as long as he does."

The two looked at each other, reading each others faces. They knew they could only do one thing and in the long run, it would be for the best. Not that it wouldn't, couldn't mean heartbreak somehow. Then again, she knew she was willing to change if it meant even a glimmer of a chance for happiness, but the question was, was he still bitter enough, resentful enough to once more vanish from her life.