9. New Life

The next evening as Eric drove to work, he kept thinking about Niall and the blessing he gave him and Sookie. Since his return, Eric had been at first astonished, then finally envious of Bill's children, although he hid it well. Eric was more than a thousand years old, and in all that time he had never known a vampire to sire a child. He read all he could of the human/vampire babies conceived with in-vitro technology, but some instinct told him Bill didn't need that kind of help.

Of course, Bill would never discuss such matters with him, and Eric would never ask; some matters are just too private. Still, seeing Will and Maggie, who were so clearly Bill's progeny, stirred a basic longing in the old Viking vampire that had not existed since he was human. He knew Sookie felt the same way, and he sometimes wondered if she regretted not staying with Bill.

Last night he found out how wrong he was about Sookie. Their sex was always exciting, but last night it was so much more. When they made love it was as if some primal, elemental force drove them. It wasn't just love, or the need for sexual satisfaction, it was the urgent, driving need to procreate. With each kiss and caress, Eric came alive as he never did before. He felt blood coursing through his veins and the need for air in his lungs. When the two climaxed together, an electric charge shot through them both; it was a sensation like no other they felt before.

Something else wonderful happened; as they made love, a new kind of bond was created between them: a psychic bond. They both knew what each other was thinking and feeling as if they were one body, one mind. It was through that bond, that Eric knew for certain that Sookie wanted no other. With or without children, she only wanted him. The depth of her love for him left him feeling stunned. Afterward as they lay holding each other, Eric hands caressed her the soft body. He thought he felt the awakening of life in her womb. He was too afraid to voice what he was thinking, but the old vampire started to hope.

As he drove, he wondered why Sookie was so jealous of him and the women at Fangtasia. He didn't have the slightest desire for any of them, but she had become quite a nag about it lately. Although he had lost much of his wealth to de Castro when Bill fled Bon Temps, Eric was still a wealthy man. He could have sat back on his heels and did nothing, but that was not his style. He had to be active. The revulsion he felt at Fangtasia that first night after his return quickly disappeared. Eric knew that was where he fit in best.

Eric never felt the need to mainstream like Bill, Justin and Mel. They all actually enjoyed the company of humans. Except for Bill's wife, Carolyn, Eric didn't like the company of most humans at all, and he never would. He didn't know Justin or Mel that well, but he thought they were too tame, just like Bill. But truth be told, Bill had always proven himself to be a worthy warrior, and now he was becoming a friend.

He had known Bill Compton for a long time; he first met Bill when he was with Lorena. When he met her, Eric thought Lorena was a glorious creature. They were lovers for a short while. During that time, he didn't understand Bill's need to be rid of her; he thought Bill was too week to be a good vampire, He scoffed and said Bill was too weak for such a creature as Lorena. Then Lorena showed her true nature. Her wanton cruelty and sadistic enjoyment of inflicting pain repulsed him. He had tortured humans and other vamps on many occasions, but it was always for a purpose, not for personal enjoyment. In the end, it was Bill that Lorena always wanted. Eric knew now, it was probably Bill's fae blood that attracted her. For Bill and Carolyn's sake, he was glad that Lorena was dead.

It wasn't the fangbangers at the bar who attracted him; they disgusted him. it was the company of his own kind that Eric sought. He needed the company of those who shared his wild vampire nature. He needed the company of powerful creatures like himself who dominated the night. He was loath to admit it, but he needed the company of his child, Pam, because he loved her. Like it or not, Sookie would just have to accept his decision; on this he would not budge.

When he got to the bar, Pam had two young vampires in his office. He recognized the sandy haired, hazel eyed teenagers from the night before; they were Justin and Mel's adopted vamps. "These two wouldn't tell me their names, but they said that they know you, Eric. They said that you agreed they could drink here. They are making quite a spectacle of themselves. Maybe I should turn him over to Dwight." Pam said with dangerous leer. Dwight was a biker type who definitely liked young vamps: boy or girl, it didn't matter to him.

The blonde vamp was spitting mad at the two young vamps who had tried to sneak past her and almost made it. When she caught them, she made them sit in a booth near her outside as they drank a bottle of True Blood. But the two young newbies were attracting the attention of some of older more seedier looking vamps in the bar.

Sixteen year old Mae was dressed in a low, cut tight tee-shirt with a thigh high tight skirt, net stockings and stiletto heels. She looked like a young hooker. She had enough make up on to sink a ship. Eric noted she definitely didn't look that way last night. Max tried to dress older, but nothing that boy would ever do could make him look much older than fifteen.

"Well, we're vampires too, ain't we. We got a right to be here if we want to!" Max blustered bravely. Mae just sat quietly and didn't say a word. Eric laughed, "Not a chance, you two. Vampire or not, you still must be of age to be in my bar." He called Justin and said, "Come get your pups before they get themselves into trouble."

Mel had called Justin an hour before to let him know the teens were gone. The two were combing the cemetery in Clarice to see if they could find them. They were frantic by the time Eric called. The two older vamps were more sick with worry than angry at their adopted kids. The two teens had managed to survive on their own before Justin found them that night in the cemetery; that made them think that they were invincible.

Justin and Mel were at Fangtasia within a half an hour. If looks could kill, Mae and Max would have been in serious trouble. "Just what do you two mean by scaring us like that! You have no idea of how dangerous this place is!" Mel said; her fear turned to anger now that she saw that they were all right. Justin stayed quiet and let his wife vent.

"Aw, we never get to have any fun! Our life is just so boring!" Mae whined.

"You are never going to have fun dressed like that, if I have anything to say about it, Missy! You two are so grounded! You will be lucky if we don't ground you for the rest of your lives! Now go out and get into the car." Mel demanded. She was barely three years older than Mae when she was turned herself. " Wow! I sound just like my mother, Ramona!" she thought proudly. The four of them walked back through the bar and out the door.

They had almost made it to the SUV, when Dwight and another nasty looking big vamp came at them. Dwight was slightly taller and fatter than the other guy, but they both needed a bath bad. "We'll take them off your hands now. We'll show them both a real good time." Dwight gave an evil laugh and grabbed for Max while the smaller one lunged for Mae. Justin and Mel pushed the young vamps out of the way. "Get into the car now!" Justin ordered. Mae and Max were screaming at the top of their lungs, but they did as they were told. The teenagers had not been this terrified since the night their parents were killed and they were both turned.

In the car, the two stared at the scene before them shocked at what they saw. Justin and Mel stood back to back holding stakes and knives that seemed to appear out of nowhere. Their adopted parents were both much smaller than the vicious pair that circled them, but they looked confident and unafraid.

Mel and Justin had fought this way many times before, and it was clear to the teens that they knew what they were doing. The bigger vamps were confident; too confident, in fact. Dwight lunged at Justin with vampire speed, but just as quickly, Justin moved away turning slightly as he did. He caught the vamp dead on with his stake. He turned to help Mel, but his petite, auburn haired wife had the other big vamp down on the ground with a stake through his heart; both vamps were dead.

Mae and Max jumped out of the car, ran to Justin and Mel and hugged them tightly. They were shaking, laughing and crying at the same time. By this time, vamps from inside the bar heard the commotion and were outside watching the four vamps fight. Eric walked over to where the remains of the dead vamps dissolved on the parking lot. He nodded his head the Justin and Mel. "Good job!" he said. "These two are not so tame after all!" he thought. Eric gained new respect for Justin and Mel tonight.

On the way home, Justin and Mel did not speak to the teens, but they spoke to each other the vampire way. They were both scared beyond words when Mae and Max went missing. They also recognized that the two young vamps were getting bored staying at home with either Mel or him with nothing to do. Last night was Max and Mae's first taste of socializing with anyone vamp or human since they were turned, and they had really enjoyed themselves. They had no school to attend; they had no friends of their own age; no wonder they were bored.

Justin and Mel had been patiently teaching the two how to be vampire without becoming killers or taking human blood. Sooner or later they would have to learn to trust the teenagers to be out on their own, but Justin and Mel were afraid for their young charges. They were both so young and inexperienced; they didn't always recognize danger when it was right in front of their faces. Something had to be done to keep the two occupied and out of trouble, but Mel and Justin just didn't know exactly what, at least right now.

Mae and Max were quiet on the way home too; they both knew that what they had done was way out of line. Last night, Max thought that the big blonde Viking, Eric, was the hero, but tonight he was in awe of his adopted parents. When they fought the much bigger vamps, Justin and Me showed that they were real heroes. Mae was just as impressed. The sight of Justin and Mel fighting to protect them really got to her.

The fight made made the young vamps really understand for the first time how lucky they were that Mel and Justin took them in and loved them. They were deeply ashamed of what they had done. The two had expected to be lectured all the way home, but the silence they encountered from their adopted parents was much worse. They knew now just how much they had disappointed them. That thought bothered them more than any scolding ever could; neither one ever wanted to feel this way again.

By the end of the week, Ramona decided to move into the Delong mansion. Now that Steve Newlin was in custody, she felt safe and wanted to start her new life in her own home. She went to Boston for a week to pack up the house and decide what she wanted to take with her to Clarice. On Friday, two weeks later, two large moving vans were unloading in the driveway of her home. By Sunday night, Ramona had settled in. Carolyn missed her mother's company, but she was glad to see that Ramona seemed happier than she had since Brad passed away.

In early October both Carolyn and Sookie announced they were pregnant again to the delight of their spouses and each other. Bill was concerned that it was too soon, but Carolyn was ready; she felt strong and healthy and she glowed with happiness. Both Eric and Sookie were over the moon and deliriously happy. He gave thanks to his gods. Sookie thanked her great grandfather.

Based on Carolyn's experience with the twins, Amy Ludwig estimated that they were both due in March with days of each other. This time, both pregnancies proceeded without problems. In due course, Carolyn learned she was carrying a girl, while Sookie was carrying a boy. The two pregnant blondes became a familiar sight around town once more. Mutt and Jeff they called themselves now.

Around the same time, Delaney Brigant asked Ramona out on a date. The tall, elegant fairy male was reluctant at first, but he knew his grandfather was right about the fae destiny. As fairies go, Delaney was a pretty decent sort. He was two hundred and fifty years old. He had been married to two full blooded fae wives and widowed once. His first marriage was arranged to a female named Bianca; they never got along and their marriage didn't last.

His second wife, Maeve, was a beautiful, golden eyed woman with hair like spun gold; her laughter was rich and mellifluous. Their marriage was a true love match, and he had loved her with all of his heart. They were married three years when she died giving birth to their twin sons; both children died mere hours later. That was fifty years ago, but to him it seemed liked yesterday.

When his grandfather closed the portal between Faery and Earth, Delaney had been ordered to stay on Earth. His grandfather had plans for him, but Delaney didn't know what they were at the time. In the last two years, he had become a prominent business man in Shreveport and made himself well known on Louisiana's political and social circuit. It was only minutes before they appeared at the Compton house that night that his grandfather told him of his plans to mate him with Carolyn Compton's mother. "That one is special, and I want her for you." Niall said.

At first Delaney refused. He had no particular problems with human women. He enjoyed bedding them very much, but he just wasn't ready for this. He agreed to accompany Niall and Claude when they visited Bill Compton, if only to pacify his grandfather. He had no intention of starting a serious relationship with any female, human or fae.

When he met Ramona though, he had been intrigued with the petite brunette. She had a firm buxom figure and a beautiful face; she looked much younger than her real age; he supposed that was the result of her ancient genes. Ramona proved to be much more than a pretty face; she was an interesting, intelligent, refined and cultured woman. She had a quick wit and knew much about art, music, politics and current events. He was a musician and an art collector himself, so he found her conversation quite engaging. What really attracted him though was her blue eyes. They had a haunted look as if she had suffered her own tragedy; he knew she was a recent widow. If anyone could understand how he felt, this beautiful woman could.

That night, Delaney poured on the charm. No human woman could resist a fairy male who wanted her attention, and he was a particularly attractive man. He let his alluring fairy pheromones entice her. It took a little longer than usual, but Ramona eventually succumbed to his heady aroma. He appeared at her door a few nights after she moved in, and she invited him in for tea. They talked and talked for hours.

He told Ramona abut his life, but what he didn't tell her was how old he actually was. His human body looked much younger than fifty and would look that way for many years to come. He had deliberately had aged himself to attract the middle aged woman he sat with; her age was of no concern to him. He also didn't tell her that he had been ordered by his grandfather, Niall, to court her. Later that week he took her to the opera in New Orleans, then out to dinner. Delaney Brigant and Ramona Davis were a couple from that point on.

As the saying goes, "The best laid plans of mice and men........!" Within a month, without intending to, the handsome fairy male was just as much in love with the small human woman as she was with him. The trap he set for Ramona snared him just as deeply. He asked her to marry him, and they set a wedding date for Christmas Eve. Fairies just loved human holidays; they always loved a chance to celebrate; now they would celebrate twice.

By her wedding day, Ramona Delong Davis Brigant was pregnant for the second time at the age of forty nine; she was carrying a boy. She could not have been more surprised, and Delaney could not have been happier. Carolyn and Mel were stunned, but they were happy for their mother. They both looked forward to another brother even at this late date.

The old fairy, Niall Brigant, could not have been happier either. The crafty old prince's plan was starting to work. In the last two years, he had matched many full blooded fae to human mates; all of the humans had special abilities of one kind or another. Many fae/human children were matched to other human/fae children too. Niall was nothing if diligent in his match making. He would soon have an army of human/fae warriors to fight the old fae. The fae would not die out after all; their bloodlines would live on forever in human/fae children. Prince Niall Brigant would finally have his way.

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