My last night on earth had finally come. It had been a long time coming and I welcomed it with open arms. There are no words for how weary I had become. 2000 years is enough. The endless circle of hunting and being hunted, of killing and avoiding getting killed; it all seemed so meaningless. There simply were no reasons left to continue my existence.

My child would be the only reason left to stay, but I know he will be better off without me. A maker who cares nothing for his own existence is a liability like no other. I would be a magnet for his enemies, an easy pawn to manipulate him with. My child being what he is, loyal to the end, I would end up getting him killed.

It was a beautiful night, the air warm, the sky scattered with stars. Dawn was close; I could feel it in every cell of my body. I felt no fear, only anticipation. I didn't feel the relief and joy I had expected, but no matter. I had made my decision and had no reasons to reconsider.

I could feel him before I could see him. I turned towards the house and my child came into view. A moment later Sookie stepped out from behind him.

"Sookie, are you all right? Has Eric hurt you?" I asked anxiously, even though I knew he could not.

My child spoke up before she could say anything. "No Godric, I have not. She came willingly."

"Eric, leave us," I told him. She couldn't speak openly as long as he was with us. And dawn was approaching fast; I wanted him inside before then.

He stepped in front of me and went down on his knees, bloody tears streaming down his face.

"Snälla Godric, gör inta det."

"Vi har haft århundranden av kärlek och tillit till varandra. Let me go." *

The grief and pain coming through our bond was overwhelming. I tried to send reassurance and love back to lessen it, but I knew that it was futile. I had caused this horrible pain in the only being I truly loved and I would continue to cause it long after my death. The gravity of that realization hit me with full force as Eric rose slowly and walked back to the house.

When I was certain my child was safe from the impending dawn I turned back to Sookie and looked for confirmation that Eric had not harmed her or threatened her in any way.

"It's true Godric," she said softly. "Eric didn't force me; I came because I wanted to. I can't let you do this to yourself."

Tears were flowing down her beautiful face. "Please Godric, I'm begging you, please don't do this."

I could not believe it. She had come here willingly with the vampire who only a few days ago was seconds away from brutally ending her short life. Despite how scared she must have been, despite the fear that he would try to kill her again, she had come with him to talk me out of ending my existence. 2000 years and I could still be surprised. This frail little human had selflessly risked her own life to save mine. In this I could see God. In this I could see hope.

She stepped closer to me, reaching for my hand. "Please Godric, come inside."

Her hand closed over mine and she tugged at it gently as I stared at her mesmerized. I didn't want to leave her. And I didn't want to leave my child, I knew that now. I could feel myself weaken as the sun began to rise and my skin started to burn.

I followed her as she walked quickly towards the house. Once we got inside, I led her towards my bedroom. I wanted more than anything to be alone with this amazing creature.

"Stay with me" I begged her, so desperate to stay close to her, to never let her go.

"Of course," she said with a small smile.

She removed her shoes and shorts and crawled under the sheets with me. I drew her close to me, reveling in the feel of her warm soft body against mine. She slid her hand into mine and I clasped it. I took a deep breath to fill myself with her wonderful scent and then I was dead to the world.

When I woke up half an hour before sunset I could hear movement in the house. This wasn't unusual since Godric was normally up before me, but I could feel from our bond that he was still dead to the world. Being outside so close to dawn must have weakened him so much that he needed a longer rest than usual.

I had watched them last night from the house as Sookie talked Godric out of meeting the sun. In a few minutes she had managed what I couldn't do in several weeks; she had convinced Godric not to end his existence. I couldn't comprehend how she had done it, but I was endlessly grateful that she had.

She must have stayed with Godric during the day. I got up and went towards Godric's room, where she was just closing the door. She was leaving. I couldn't let her go. She had to be there when Godric woke up.

I took a step closer to her to block her path. "Sookie, I can't let you leave," I told her.

She looked up at me and tried to move around me.

"I'm not afraid of you," she said.

"You should be."

"I know. But I'm not." I listened to her heartbeat. It was steady and calm.

"You love Godric," she said. "You would never disappoint him by hurting me."

"I almost killed you. I would have if he hadn't stopped me."

"I know. But you won't do it again." She said it with such conviction, I knew she believed it. But more than that, I knew she was right. I could never hurt her again, not after what she had done for Godric, what she had done for me.

I had nearly killed her and she had selflessly given me the only thing I really wanted, the only thing I truly needed; Godric's continued existence. And now she was standing before the monster who nearly ended her life and she showed no fear whatsoever. She was mesmerizing.

"What are you?" I asked her.

"I'm a waitress, Eric." She smiled. "I'm the telepathic waitress from Bon Temps who's going to kick your ass if you ever try to pull something like that again." She looked me straight in the eye and didn't waver for a second. She was truly a magnificent creature.

"Please Sookie, stay," I begged her. "You should be here when he wakes up."

She looked at me for a long while, then nodded and went back into Godric's room.

*Please Godric, don't do it.
We have had centuries of love and faith between us.