A/N: This is the ending chapter and I did my best to bring this to a satisfactory close. I appreciate all the wonderful reviews of those who liked this story, especially since it was not a typical story with so many OCs and a story that didn't feature Eric as the main player.

Chapter Nine

Stefan stared at Dylan from the doorway to her bedroom. She had finally fallen asleep and now her worries were erased from her face. He would miss her, he thought. She had moved into the mansion several weeks ago. She resided in her own suit of rooms in another wing of the mansion. Eric assumed that they were lovers. And although he had longed for her in that way, her heart still belonged to another. They had instead become platonic friends and he found himself happy with just her companionship. There was something about her that reminded him of someone he knew a long time ago. Maybe in part because of that memory and his own loneliness, he had wanted to watch over her. For, she had certainly needed a friend. But, this news changed everything. The father must be found and told the news. And he better step up to the plate and accept his responsibility, thought Stefan. If she would just tell him who it was, he would have an easier time finding this man. But, Dylan still protected him and said that he would have forgotten her by now. What total nonsense, thought Stefan, he couldn't believe that this affair had been one-sided on her part. Stefan would find this man and if he was not worthy of Dylan and her child, then Stefan would take care of them.

His thoughts were interrupted by the vibrations of Dylan's phone on the coffee table. He picked it up and saw that it was Eric calling. He was anything if not persistent, thought Stefan. Stefan closed the door to Dylan's room and answered the phone.

"Dylan, why weren't you picking up?" he demanded.

"This is not Dylan," said Stefan.

"Stefan, put Dylan on the line," said Eric.

"No," said Stefan.

"Excuse me?" said Eric.

"You heard me," said Stefan.

There was silence for a several long seconds during which Stefan allowed himself a small smile. He had played his part so well that Eric could not understand this behavior.

"Dylan is resting and she couldn't come into work anyway," said Stefan.

"What is wrong with her?" asked Eric.

"That is something for Dylan to tell you," said Stefan.

"Then, I guess that I will see her tomorrow," said Eric.

Stefan hung up the phone and turned it off. He left Dylan's rooms and walked back to his quarters. Once there, he called his assistant.

"I need you to bring the car around with two bodyguards," said Stefan. "And starting tonight, if anyone attempts entry into the compound without permission, kill them."

"Understood, Sir," said his assistant. "Should we increase the guards on the perimeters?"

"Increase the threat level, but let the head of security handle the details."

His assistant picked up phone and relayed Stefan's instructions.

"The car will be waiting out front along with the guards, Sir," said his assistant.

Stefan with his assistant at his heels strode to the door.

Alcide unlocked his front door and walked into his darkened home. He could see well enough without the lights, so he walked towards the kitchen. It was then that a unexpected odor caught his nose. Sniffing, he whirled around as the lights flicked on. Alcide saw two rather impressive vampire guards who were flanking a young blonde man who was sitting on his couch. As he looked closer at the blonde man, he realized that he was also a vampire. They stared at each other for several seconds.

"Just who the hell are you?" demanded Alcide.

The boyish man smiled and said, "My name is Stefan. I'm sorry to break in like this, but we didn't want to wait outside."

He then added, "You should consider getting a security system."

"And why are you here?" asked Alcide.

"We have a mutual friend," said Stefan. "Dylan Thomas."

So, this was the vampire that she was living with, thought Alcide. Alcide studied this vampire and he thought that he was dangerous despite those young boyish looks.

"I know that you told Eric Northman that you lost the trail and couldn't find where she had been when she ran away. Was that true?" asked Stefan.

Alcide was reluctant to answer and Stefan said, "I'm trying to help her, Alcide."

"I don't know exactly where she went, but I have good idea," said Alcide.

"Dylan was involved with someone. She returned in order to protect this person," said Stefan. "Things have changed and he must be found."

"What things?" asked Alcide.

"She carries his child," said Stefan.

"What?" said Alcide.

"He wouldn't know this. Perhaps, she means as much to him as he does to her," said Stefan. "But, she won't tell me the details of what is going on. If he refuses to accept responsibility, then I will take care of Dylan and the child. But he, at least, deserves to be told."

"What about Eric Northman?" asked Alcide.

"I can take care of Eric," said Stefan.

Alcide thought that he was just spouting bravado, but as he looked into the intense eyes of the vampire, he felt that this vampire was not one that you wanted to be on the bad side of.

As Alcide watched, Stefan got up and left without further words. He always thought that vampires were strange that way. They never said any words of parting or goodbye.

Pam manned the door staring at the line of humans waiting to gain admittance with an air of disdain. They were always the same, always boring. A few, who were brave enough to try to flirt with her, quickly reconsidered when she turned her cold eyes to them and gaged if they were worth her effort. They usually were not. She knew that she was fierce because she just wasn't any vampire. She was the progeny of Eric Northman and these insignificant humans had better remember that.

She left the bouncer at the door and went inside. She knew that Dylan would not be in tonight which was fine with her. She was tired of seeing that girl's mopey face in the bar. Even being with Stefan had not brightened her disposition. As she walked through the bar to Eric, she noticed a pretty redhead sitting with a brunette at the bar counter. They looked deliciously fresh. The girls were sharing a joke and, as Pam passed, she locked eyes with them. She exerted just enough influence to hold their attention. With a smirk at them, she proceeded on her way to Eric again.

He still seemed to be in a bad mood, she thought. Pam was tired of dealing with everyone else's problems. Was it her job to hold everyone's hand in this place? In her mind, there was an easy solution to the problem of Dylan and she couldn't see why it had not been done already. She knew that they were immortal, but did they really want to waste any more of their time with her? Once Pam arrived, she decided to reason with him.

"I fail to see why you insist on keeping that girl?" she said. "She is no use to you and she won't even sleep with you."

Eric pointedly ignored her which Pam hated more than anything.

"She's smart enough to stay hidden, let Stefan deal with her," said Pam.

Eric sighed and said, "That looks more appealing all the time."

He had to admit that Pam was right. The girl still resented him. She fulfilled no useful purpose since she refused to train and take over Cole's position. And Pam was right about her not wanting anything else to do with him. He certainly did not want to turn her and have to deal with her disdain and depression for all eternity. Dealing with Pam was hard enough at times and her loyalty was without question.

"That is the first sensible thing that you have said about her," said Pam.

Pam leaned in close to his ear and said, "I found a little diversion for us. There are two of them. One for you and one for me."

Eric's eyes traveled to the bar and passed over the redhead and the brunette.

"Don't I get both?" he said, teasingly.

"There is a limit to unselfish duty to one's Maker," said Pam. "But, I'll give you first pick."

Eric knew that Pam had her heart set on the pretty redhead, but she was pretending that it didn't matter. He and Pam were so much alike, he thought. Even with her attitude and sometimes laziness, he had never regretted making her his child. He knew that she was trying to cheer him up.

"Then, summon them," said Eric. "And make sure that the brunette sits beside me."

Pam smirked and said, "I always was a sucker for redhead."

Dylan arrived at Fangtasia the next evening. Stefan had not wanted her to go and he also did not want her to tell Eric about the pregnancy. But, she couldn't hide it much longer and the nausea showed no sign of improvement. She walked into the bar and Pam saw her. Pam put her hands on her hips and waited for her with an aggravated glance.

"Nice of you to show up," she said. "Do you know what a pissy mood he was in because of you?"

Of course, that brunette had done wonders for his mood later on that evening, thought Pam. Not to mention what that redhead had done for hers.

"I...I wasn't feeling well," said Dylan.

"Why don't you let Stefan turn you and then you don't have to worry about that sort of thing," said Pam.

"That is out of the question," said Dylan.

"Eric's waiting for you in the office," said Pam who stalked off.

Dylan knocked on the office door and entered when Eric said to come in. She closed the door and came towards Eric who was seated at his desk. Eric gazed at her with annoyance and didn't offer her a seat.

"Is there a reason that you couldn't answer your phone last night?" asked Eric.

"I wasn't feeling well and turned it off because I didn't want to be disturbed," said Dylan.

"Is that what I am to you, a disturbance?" asked Eric.

Well, yes, you are, thought Dylan, to herself. Only you are much worse because you seem to think that you somehow own me.

"Do you want an apology?" asked Dylan.

"No, I want to know what's wrong with you," said Eric.

"There is nothing wrong with me, I'm not sick," said Dylan.

"You look sick to me," said Eric. "What's going on then?"

"I'm pregnant," said Dylan.

Eric opened his mouth and then closed it. He sat there at his desk motionless for several long seconds.

"What?" he said.

"Preggers, knocked up, with child," said Dylan. "Is that clearer?"

"How did that happen?" asked Eric.

"Are you for real?" asked Dylan. "Do you need a remedial biology course?"

Eric was sure that it wasn't Stefan's since he had never heard of a vampire impregnating anyone. But, Dylan was different.

"Whose is it?" asked Eric.

"I don't know," said Dylan.

"Dylan, I know that you are not the kind of girl who sleeps around," said Eric.

"Well, maybe you don't know me as well as you think," said Dylan.

Eric was sure that she was keeping the father's identity a secret for a reason. Although, at this moment he was having problems comprehending this entire situation.

"Does Stefan know?" asked Eric, since he did not want Stefan to hurt her out of jealousy.

"He knows and it's okay," said Dylan.

Dylan decided that it was now or never to see if this news would finally be enough to let her loose from his grasp. She really couldn't see Eric stepping up and playing Uncle Eric. She almost giggled to contemplate Fangtasia daycare and bottles and diapers behind the bar.

"Will you release me, now?" asked Dylan.

Eric stared at her and contemplated her request.

Why did he want to keep her, he wondered. She certainly wasn't worth the aggravation. He certainly was not thrilled with the prospect of a baby in his midst. He had wanted to keep her from being discovered by humans. And he had thought based on her behavior in the dungeon that she had little self-control. But, since he had gotten her back, she had not shown any erratic or aggressive behavior. She seemed intelligent enough to keep what she was a secret from humans. Perhaps, the most sensible solution was the one suggested by Pam.

"I had thought that you were unable to cope with what was done to you and that you would reveal yourself to humans," said Eric. "You are a risk to us if humans know that we are capable of creating something like yourself. But, you have shown that you have control of yourself and these powers and you are smart enough to remain hidden. Correct?"

"Of course," said Dylan, hopefully.

"Then, I am willing to let you leave my service," said Eric.

For the first time since he had gotten her back, he saw a smile form on Dylan's face. It thoroughly changed her appearance into that of the pretty girl that she must have been before his assassin met her.

"But, I will still need to know where you are, just as a measure of safety," said Eric.

Eric looked to her and his eyes were drawn to her stomach as he contemplated what was growing inside her womb.

"And since this is the first pregnancy of your type, I will need to know if the child is abnormal," said Eric.

"Abnormal? What do you mean?" asked Dylan, suspiciously.

"If your vampire traits are inherited by your child," said Eric.

"Dr. Ludwig didn't mention anything like that," said Dylan.

Eric frowned at Dr. Ludwig's name. Annoying little gnome, he thought. He was still irritated that she had hung up on him.

"If you would allow me to discuss this issue with her, it would ease my mind," said Eric.

"I will talk to her, then," said Dylan. "May I go?"

"Call me tomorrow," said Eric.

Eric watched Dylan as she left. A few moments later, Pam came into the office.

"Please, tell me that you are letting her go," said Pam.

"It seems that I don't have much choice, unless you and I want to be nannies," said Eric.

"Nannies? What are you talking about?" asked Pam.

"Nannies, babysitters, aunt and uncle," said Eric. "Dylan is going to have a baby."

"A baby? You've got to be kidding," said Pam. "That's all we need around here. A whiny baby and shitty diapers. The smell alone would drive off all our customers."

"Quite true, Pam," said Eric. "Except for their tastiness, miniature humans are completely useless."

There was a knock on the front door and when Doreen answered the door, she saw a handsome werewolf outside. He was not local, she thought.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"My name is Alcide Herveaux," said Alcide. "May I come inside and speak with you?"

"Can you tell me what this is about?" she asked.

"I believe that we have a mutual friend," said Alcide. "Dylan."

At the mention of Dylan's name the woman's eyes widened and she gripped the door for support.

"Is...has something happened to her?" she said.

"You know her, then?" asked Alcide.

"Yes," said Doreen. "Please, come inside, Mr. Herveaux."

Doreen led him to the kitchen and quickly fixed him a glass of ice tea. Setting it before him, she still stood and wrung her hands together.

"Please tell what has happened to her," said Doreen.

"She is physically fine," said Alcide. "Were you the ones who hid her? And why did she leave?"

At the news that Dylan was fine, Doreen gave into tears of relief. But, as Alcide watched her, he could see that her anguish was evident.

"You care for her, don't you?" he asked.

"Yes, very much," said Doreen. "I...I dared to hope for all sorts of things."

"What happened?" asked Alcide.

"My son discovered what she was and that she was in trouble. He brought her here and we hid her. My son fell in love with her and she felt the same way about him," said Doreen.

"Why did she leave and go back?" asked Alcide.

"She said that she loved him so much that she couldn't live with herself if harm came to him or to our town. So, she went back," said Doreen.

Alcide frowned. No werewolf would let the girl he loved go back to vampires and make such a sacrifice. Perhaps, the boy was a coward.

"Why didn't your son go after her?" he asked.

"Because she glamoured him and took away her memory. My son doesn't remember her," said Doreen, who started crying again.

Damn vampire powers, thought Alcide. He remembered how he had first seen her, bravely covering up the turmoil that was going on inside of her.

Alcide sighed and said, "Well, we have a problem. I was sent to find your son by a friend of Dylan's."

He took Doreen's hand and said, "Your son is going to be a father."

Doreen gasped and began to cry anew, but now the tears were much different.

"What's going on?" said a voice from the doorway.

Alcide turned to the voice and saw a young man who looked much like the woman in front of him.

"Who are you and why are you making my mother cry?" he demanded.

"Kyle, it's okay. He's a friend of a friend," said Doreen.

The was a long pause as Kyle eyed both this stranger and his mother.

"You are lying," said Kyle. "And I'm sick and tired of whatever is going on around here. Are you intentionally trying to drive me crazy?"

Doreen moved to her son. Her child that had not been able to know his father. But, this was not going to happen to her grandchild, she thought. This deceit had to end because there was another life to consider. Her grandchild, she thought, with a smile.

As she approached, Kyle searched his mother's face, wanting the answers to explain what was going on.

"Tell me, Mother," he said. "I need to know the truth."

With her eyes on her son and hope in her heart, Doreen said, "Do you remember Dylan?"

Dylan was eating a small snack as she listened to some music in her rooms. She found that light snacks were easier to keep down and was trying to eat several small meals a day instead of three large ones. She had gone to an appointment with Dr. Ludwig earlier that day. Everything was right on track, she had said. Dr. Ludwig had also talked to Eric and told him that, quite frankly, she didn't know if Dylan's condition could be passed down. She had said it probably depended on whether any permanent mutations had been caused to her genes. The news had done little to ease his concern or watchfulness of her. But, so far, he seemed willing to keep out of her affairs for the most part. Even though, Dylan had not been sure if she wanted to raise a werewolf child alone, she prayed that the vampire traits were not inheritable.

Whenever her thoughts were on the baby, they drifted by their own accord to it's father. If possible, she missed him even more now. She allowed herself a brief moment to remember how he had looked that night in the forest. His beautiful body revealed for her by the moonlight. With a pang, she hugged herself. He would not remember me now, she thought. And surely, he deserves better than some messed-up freak, doesn't he? But, hadn't he loved her when he knew exactly what she was?

Her anguished thoughts were interrupted by a knock on her door.

"Come in," she said.

She saw Stefan come in with a little smile. He had been so kind to her and a true friend, she thought. If it would have been possible for her to love another as much as Kyle, then Stefan would have been him. But, he had never asked for anything that she had not wanted to give him. They both had been content with their friendship. She knew that he was different than any vampire she had ever met. She also knew that he carefully crafted a persona that he displayed to almost everyone else. Yet, with her, he had been himself. Even with her, though, he did not like to talk about himself. She was certain that he also had lost a great love in his life. As she remembered their first meeting, perhaps she did not want to be turned. She was certain that the Stefan she knew would have respected her wishes and let her go.

"Hello, Dylan," he said, smiling. "How are you feeling?"

"Better, I've been able to keep things down," said Dylan.

"Do you feel well enough for a visitor?" he asked.

"Who? Eric?" she said, warily.

Stefan's smiled deepened and he said, "No, most certainly not."

As Dylan gazed at him curiously, Stefan moved to the side of the door and said, "Come in."

When Dylan saw who stepped through the door, she stopped breathing and started to feel like she was going to faint. She closed her eyes and felt her stomach turn over. Oh, no, she thought, don't let me puke now. She felt gentle hands on her and she opened her eyes to stare into the most beautiful green eyes that she had ever known. Dylan glanced to the door and saw that Stefan had left and closed it behind him. She turned her eyes back to Kyle and wondered how Stefan had found him.

"Kyle," she said. "I don't know what to say to you."

"You could apologize for using you powers on me and making me forget about you," he said.

"I'm sorry. I only wanted to protect you," said Dylan.

"Then, you must have loved me to do that," he said, his eyes looking into hers.

"Yes," she said.

When she closed her eyes, a few tears escaped and trailed down her cheeks. Kyle gently brushed them off and smiled.

"I remember brushing off a tear like that the first night that we met. You were so fierce and beautiful as you faced down everyone in the bar," he said. "Do you really think that I would never remember you?"

"But, how?" asked Dylan.

"For one, you are a novice at vampire powers, and two, werewolves aren't as susceptible as humans," said Kyle. "And you asked me to forget only. You didn't say that it never happened. When someone uttered your name, your power started to be undone and I slowly began to remember things."

He kissed her for a moment, softly tasting her lips.

He moved to her ear and said into it softly, "I don't have all my memories, yet. But, I remember that night in the forest."

He kneeled before her, taking her hands in his.

"If you would have stayed that morning, I would have told you what that night had meant," he said. "Like werewolves, we joined as one and became a mated pair. All this time that you have been gone, I have felt a sadness that I did not understand. It was your heartbreak that I felt, Dylan. The bond that exists between us would never let me totally forget you."

"Oh, Kyle, I have missed you so" said Dylan, pulling up on the couch with her and holding him close.

Kyle kissed her and said with a smirk, "I'm sure you did, loving like mine isn't that easy to forget."

Dylan smiled and said, "You don't know how true that statement is, Kyle. Did they tell you the other news?"

"What news?" asked Kyle.

Epilogue

6 months later

Eric was digging through the mail on his desk and found a letter in the stack from Dylan. He held it in his hands and was looking at it when Pam came into the office. She stared at him, curiously, and waited. Finally, he opened the letter and when he pulled out a card, a small picture dropped out and fell to the desk. He picked it up and gazed at the photograph. It was an infant who looked remarkably like any other infant he had ever seen. Maybe it was a little cuter, he thought. Inside the card was a brief note in Dylan's handwriting.

Eric,

I thought you might like to see what the little cub looks like. We named him Stefan William Sanders and so far he is just like his daddy, in case you're wondering.

Sincerely,

Dylan Sanders

Eric passed the note and picture to Pam.

"Well, I'm surprised how normal it looks," said Pam. "If any of these things can be called normal."

Eric allowed himself a smile. No playing auntie for Pam, he thought. He had actually gotten all the details from Stefan already. He took back the picture and thought, not bad for a little half-vamp and a werewolf, not bad at all.