Chapter 3 - What's in a name?
Alcide
Sublime and out of body were the only two words that could come close to describing how it felt to mark and be marked as he and Ari made love. It was the most intense and amazing high that his body had every reached, and he lay buried in her almost trembling from the exhaustion of the effort. He was breathing heavily and they were both slick with sweat from their efforts. Her words were like honey and he smiled kissing her cheek before rolling off her only to pull her into his arms cuddled next to his body.
"I love you too mate." He replied stroking her damp locks as they regained their breath. "I hope we didn't hurt the baby…" he thought out loud, always a bit worried when it came to sex that somehow he would be disturbing the little guy or girl in his wife's womb.
"How does it feel to be an alpha again? I know it's been hard, and I really do appreciate all you've done in the last few months as my beta, you handled it with grace, and I really do appreciate you for that."
Addaleigh
Addaleigh was glad for the distraction and calm that Godric offered as he whisked her around the dance floor effortlessly. She had missed dancing; though she much preferred her solitary ballet, ballroom had always been a close second. She regaled the elder vampire with a story of how she would force her brother into being her dance partner by bribing him with information on his future as they twirled about the floor. Her eyes caught the unfamiliar blonde vampire next to Eric, her head turning to spot as she was turned, and keep her eyes on the way the woman's hand caressed his arm.
Her attention was pulled back to the present steps as Godric lead her into a complicated set of moves as the lead to distract her, "You shouldn't frown, it will give you wrinkles Addaleigh. Besides there is nothing to frown about, you are his, and I'm sure he's tired of blondes by now." The elder vampire said with a knowing smile borne of decades of living despite his youthful look.
"Fair enough." Adda conceded as he forced her into another set of complicated steps around the floor and she relaxed and concentrated on Godric's story about Eric as a new vampire and some of his antics while the Queen of Louisiana approached his progeny.
"Eric Northman, it seems taste hasn't eluded you in your old age." Queen Sophie Anne trilled as she approached his side, her glossy red tresses worn long and her gown a dark shade of green to offset her natural beauty. "And here we are again, history repeating itself. I see you've found a human rebound since little Ms. Sookie seems to have chosen William over you." She said with a mocking sigh.
"It really is a pity, I was hoping to steal her for myself or at least have a long drink of that Faye blood she possesses, but no, it seems my court insists on disappointing me again and again and Compton decided to hoard her to his self." The Queen looped her arm through Eric's and took a glass of the spiced human blood in a champagne flute from one of the waiters that passed by. "It leaves me to wonder, outside of her impeccable party planning skills, why this human? Isn't she a bit of a step down from a half Faye mind reader?"
Ariadne
"It feels wonderful." Ariadne said as she smiled at the word mate. She rolled over so that she was straddling him, her hair falling like a curtain around them. "I would do anything for you Alcide. I'm so glad you're in my life; that you're both in my life" She placed one of his hands on her stomach as her eyes filled with happy tears for what seemed to be the tenth time that day. She knew part of it was the fault of her hormones, but the other part was pure happiness at the fact that her life was going so perfectly. "It's driving me crazy that Adda wont tell me what we're having." She frowned and lowered her lips to his mark, kissing it lightly. "Maybe we should try for twins." She joked as she moved her hips over his.
Eric
"She's far from ordinary." Eric played along, keeping his face impassive as he led the queen to a designated corner. "Look at what she was able to accomplish after all." He held the high-backed chair out for the queen before sitting beside her. "Addaleigh, come here." Eric called, knowing Godric would hear him no matter how low the words were. He would have to play the -overly- dominant vampire owner. "She has a head for numbers, and you as well as I can respect that."
When Adda was by his side, he stood, once again placing his hand on the small of her back. He nodded once at Godric before turning to the queen. "Your Majesty, this is my human. Addaleigh Langdash." He pressed the small of her back a bit, causing her to take a step forward. He knew that she would address the queen properly, having experience with that sort of thing, he just hoped the queen wouldn't see right through them.
Alcide
Alcide laughed as her hips worked over his, "I'm pretty sure that's not how that works sweetie, but I wouldn't mind trying until it works." He leaned up capturing her lips before they tumbled back into the sheets attempting to make a little brother or sister for their unborn child. After a few hours in bed, they lay in a mess of tangled sheets, a few chairs over turned, one of the curtains pulled down.
His stomach growled and he nuzzled his wife's neck, "Mmmm want to order some room service?" He offered reaching over for the menu and flipping on the lamp next to the bed. "Maybe a shower too?"
Addaleigh
Addaleigh hadn't heard Eric's call physically but her blood almost sensed him calling to her and Godric lead her away from the floor. She felt as if so many eyes were on her with her cheeks warm and rosy from the dancing, her heart rate elevated as she left the floor. Reaching the queen she could admit the woman stunning, her flaws being in her greed not in her appearance or regality. As she was thrust forward by Eric she dropped her gaze and sunk into a perfect and low curtsy her head kept down, "You're Highness."
The red head's eyes lit up at the show of demure reverence and she eyed Eric with approval before looking back down to the humbled woman. "Addaleigh Langdish, what a lovely name. I do believe it's suitable for such a pretty face. You may rise m'dear."
Adda stood back up still keeping her eyes low until the alabaster Queen brought her chin up with a finger of hers under the brunette's chin. "Eric said your talented with numbers," the woman purred searching her silver eyes.
"He flatters, I'm a business major so I would say fairly adequate." She downplayed but with the edge of confidence that belied the fact that she did indeed have a vast amount of confidence in her talents.
"Eric tells me her Majesty is a fan of games, I'd love to play with you sometime if that is alright with my master of course."
"I'm sure Eric will do what would please his Queen most, in most cases of course." She said dropping her hand casting Eric a quick glance at the barb she threw since he had still been on her shit list after the whole V incident, still he was one of the highest tax payers and profit makers, and he had thrown her this ball.
"I may just have to hire you ms. Addaleigh, this ball is a hit, and for a human you did exceedingly well on the refreshments, how did you get the cinnamon hint."
"Feed the humans donating the blood nothing but a diet of dates, champagne, and cinnamon for three days prior to the blood letting."
"Clever clever... I like this one Eric, bring her by next week for a game night in my solarium." She said before chucking Adda under the chin again with her fingers and then leaving to provide her attention elsewhere.
Addaleigh turned back to Eric and smiled placidly, "Shall we dance, master."
Ariadne
"Mmm, room service sounds great." Ariadne hummed as she stretched. "Maybe we should take that shower first though, wouldn't want the food to get cold." She smiled and pulled him to his feet. The shower wasn't sexual, it was loving. They took their time bathing each other, whispering words of love between kisses. When they finally emerged, they laid on the bed, limbs weak from the last several hours. "We should probably think of names." Ari said as Alcide hung up with room service. "I think it would be cute if we used A names." She giggled at the thought. It only seemed right since both of their names started with A. Picking up her cellphone, she began a quick text: 'Hey Adda! How's the ball going? I know you probably wont get this until after, but I thought I would try and convince you - again - to tell me what we're having! What's the difference if we find out now or in a few months?' Hitting 'send' Ari turned back to her husband with a wink. She had been trying non-stop to convince Adda to tell them.
Eric
Eric held his hand out for Addaleigh, closing his fingers over hers when she complied. He led them towards the dance floor, expertly weaving between the couples. "You did well." Eric complimented in a low voice as he took her in his arms. "Perhaps too well." He eyed the queen over her shoulder. Eric didn't like that the queen seemed to be interested in his human. The more time she spent with Adda, the more she would figure out. The queen might be a dictator with a gambling problem, but she was clever. If she could find out about Sookie, she could very well find out about Adda.
Turning his attention back to his human, Eric gave her a seductive smile. "Have I told you just how edible you look tonight?" He nearly purred as he lowered his lips to her neck, gliding his teeth over the flesh. Eric knew better than to expose her blood to a room full of unfamiliar vampires, but that didn't mean he wanted it any less. "Perhaps we will have to duck out of here early... Or I could just take you to the restroom and bend you over a sink." He nipped at her ear this time.
Alcide
Alcide had spent an ungodly amount of time picturing just what it would be like to have a child, dreaming both night and day about if it would be a boy or girl. He wanted a son so that he could be a father like his father was to him, strong but not overbearing, however he wouldn't fall into the same vices, he would teach his son to be a man, to grow up with honor and pride. His heart ached with joy and worry at the prospect of a daughter, especially if she turned out looking half as beautiful as his wife. Alcide could almost feel himself growing angry with the future attentions she would receive from the opposite sex. God help anyone who tried to lay any hand against his daughter or on her.
"I don't know if I want to know yet or not… I think on one had it would help me focus on what we want to do and name, decorate and all… on the other hand I think it may just drive me crazy. Not knowing may drive me crazy faster." His eyes glanced over at the cell phone she had laid down, "Has Adda told us yet?" He joked wishing it would buzz with a new text message.
"As for names, I think A names are a good idea. I would name our son Alcide jr, but then he'll have a whole life of people misspelling and mispronouncing it." He thought for a moment before his eyes drifted to her stomach, "Aden." He said with authority.
Addaleigh
Addeleigh's steps were light and effortless as Eric maneuvered her around the floor. She felt a pang of worry with the Queen being so fascinated in her, she hadn't planned on presenting her powers since it would mean suspicion on the Queens part. Adda was starting to worry that withholding her powers would be even more of a detriment if found out rather than presented to the Queen… she would need to speak with her King soon to brief him on this change in plan and see exactly how he wished to play this. She was walking a tight rope now, and danger came at the slightest breeze, up until now her job here in Shreeveport had been fairly easy, and vastly enjoyable, but now came the real work.
The brunette was pulled from her brooding when Eric offered her a rendezvous which she was tempted to enjoy but tsked him instead, "I'm the hostess, I cannot just run off and disappear. But I promise that the ride home can be quite enjoyable. We can have Pam take a cab, and you can find out exactly what I gave on under all this lace."
However that enjoyable ride wouldn't come. As Eric turned her into a step out and spin, she saw the next few moments flash before her eyes; chaos, another group spread among the crowd, an uprising and fight breaking out, an attempt on the Queen. When her senses returned to the present she was being pulled back into Eric's arms and she fell perfectly into step, her body in muscle memory of this dance, but her face was white with worry.
"Eric, there is another group here trying to overthrow the Queen. It's too soon, and we cannot let our hand be show." She whispered franticly her voice low and her lips as close to his ear as her height would allow. Her heart was beating fast against his chest and her grip had tightened on him. She was listening to the music as it was playing in the vision, knowing exactly when the attack would happen.
"Lead me off the dance floor now, we have about twenty seconds before you will need to rescue the Queen. She can't die, not yet."
Ariadne
Ariadne scrunched her nose at the idea of naming her son Alcide Jr. Yes, she loved the name, and that was the problem. Alcide's name was something she screamed out in the middle of sex, it would be awkward if she named her son that as well. Her eyes softened at the name Aden. "I like it." She said gently as she placed her hand over her stomach. Yes, should could see calling her son Aden. "What about Aubrey if it's a girl?" She asked with a smile. She liked the name because it sounded classic yet modern at the same time. It wasn't too old fashion, but there wouldn't be a bunch of other kids at school with the same name.
She smiled and thought about her future child. She hoped that if it was a boy he would Alcide's rugged good looks and caring nature. He would be a heart breaker for sure. If it as a girl, Ari would teach her to be ruthless and strong, after all she was going to be alpha like her mommy. It was harder for women to be alpha because men tended to look down on them. Ariadne would teach her daughter that she had nothing to be ashamed of, and that because she was a female she would have more opportunities than a male. "I don't care what we have." Ari said after a moment. "Because he or she is half you and half me, meaning they're perfect." She leaned over to place a soft kiss on Alcide's lips as a waiter knocked on their door.
Eric
"I see." Eric said quickly as he gradually stopped them so that it looked almost natural. He slowly counted down the time in his head as he walked towards the queen, stopping only by Godric to place Adda's hand in his. "Keep her safe." Eric requested before continuing his journey. He reached the queen just as the first attack was launched. Eric managed to intercept it, saving the queen last minute. After the first attack, all hell broke loose. The sound of breaking glass and hiss' filled the air around them. Eric worked along side Pam and two other vampires to keep the queen safe. Not being one to sit this kind of thing out, the queen too started fighting back.
The attackers had more numbers than Eric thought they would have. How they had managed to get in confused him. They had been tight on security, careful of who they invited. At the very least - Eric thought as he threw a vampire to the ground and staked him with a chair leg - this would put him back in the queen's good graces.