Chapter 10

Sookie descended the ladder to her and Eric's bedroom after securing the doors of the cabinet that hid it from the world… unless nosey visitors rummaged through armoires like medicine cabinets. She undressed and slid under the covers with Eric, reveling in the feel of his bare skin sliding against hers.

"Papaw all tucked away?"

Sookie nodded and smiled, "Yeah, I'm not sure the pink quilt really suits his flair but you know…"

"Flair!" Eric snorted. "More like an awkward attempt at being a Shakespearean drag queen…"

Sookie swatted at him, "Eric, be nice. He doesn't seem that bad to me."

"Yeah? Then why was it he felt he had to scare you before he met you? Coming to you in the bathroom all ghostly and grrr?"

"Maybe he knew I secretly love bad boys," she grinned and nipped at his finger lazily as he grazed her lips.

"Yeah? What do you like about this bad boy?"

Sookie turned in his arms until she was face to face with him. "I like how you love me, how fierce you are, and how family is so important to you. I like how you are generous yet shrewd, loving yet stern, and aggressive yet smart. I like how you tricked me into taking your blood after the bombing at Godric's because I know it was you being gentle with me…" she paused at his stunned look and added, "I know that if you had wanted to just control me and use me that you could have just taken me. Bill wasn't King of Louisiana at the time and it would have been easy for you to just do away with him and take me, whether I liked it or not. You did it that way so that you could keep tabs on me and, of course, make sure I had even more sexy little dreams of you."

"More?"

"Yeah," she blushed slightly, "It's not like I was immune to you. Bill even saw that when I first saw you at Fangtasia."

"Sookie, when I first saw you…" he breathed, "I was a mess inside." He laughed and shook his head ruthfully, "I was arrogant enough at first to think it was just lust. I should have known better, considering I could have just picked out any woman in the bar. I felt like I'd been punched in the stomach… hard. If my heart could have beat it would have leaped when I saw you. I knew… something. I didn't know what, but I knew there was something there. I have wanted you from the very first time I laid eyes on you. When I started talking with you and you were a little cocky with a mix of sweet southern belle? Gah… I was lost. Even Pam was transfixed because she could feel my need and want of you."

She kissed his chin and sighed, "I think mine was just lust," and squealed as he gently pinched her for her cheekiness. "I also like how you bought my house, yet gave me the whole talk about how you cared about me and were asking me to be yours. You bought my house in order to keep a part of me when I was gone, I know that. And you knew… hoped… that I'd be back and could see how much you had cared for me, even when I wasn't readily available to you. You made it the way it had always been so that it would all be familiar, and not Maynad-raped, when I came home so that I would see that you would always make things safe for me."

Eric sighed, "Miss Stackhouse, you certainly have started seeing clearly lately."

She grinned, "Yes, well, there's only so long that a woman can be that stupid when she's looking at the facts. Besides… look at you, Mr. Viking Thunder Cock, himself."

Eric rolled his eyes but laughed despite himself.

She snuggled close to him and he held her firmly to him, "I love you Sookie… and little Sookie."

She smiled and murmured sleepily into his chest, "And I love you Eric Northman, so very much."

When Sookie awoke she could smell food and her mouth started to water. Good grief, I'm like Pavlov's dog anymore, she thought as she slipped out of the bed, dressed, and went upstairs to find Warlow cooking up a storm in her kitchen.

"Sookie! I trust you slept well?" He motioned for her to have a seat and poured her a cup of coffee.

"Yes, very well. You?"

"Ah, well, as much as I usually do. And here we go! Pancakes with bacon… my specialty."

Sookie began to eat and moaned in delight, "Ohhhh these are good!"

Warlow sat down and ate with her. They talked about how she and Eric had met and the events that had led up to the present day.

"So this King Bill… he's going to be a problem, you know that, right?"

Sookie frowned, "Yeah, he's not going to like it one bit when he finds out. It wouldn't surprise me if he didn't try to make me miscarriage. I'm going to have to be very careful."

Warlow's eyes got that dangerous golden gleam and he smiled a predatory smile, "I could just get rid of him."

Sookie shivered a little. For all of Warlow's pomp and comedy, he was a very dangerous man.

"I don't think that will be necessary. Besides, I'm sure he's on to some other woman that he thinks can make him more powerful."

They ate in silence for a moment and then Sookie paused as she considered the possibilities.

"Warlow, I know you are part vampire and I am only a hybrid Fae but… do I have any of the powers that you have?"

Warlow grinned, "Yes, darling, you are untapped. The golden thing that happens with my eyes that fascinates you so much? You have it as well, but it's not visible yet. You can also stop vampires in their tracks with a raised hand. You also have amazing strength in reserve."

"How can I bring it out?"

"My guess is that when you have the wee one it will start to come forth. There's something about motherhood that brings out the lioness in women."

Sookie nodded and took the last bite of her pancakes.

"Thank you for breakfast, Warlow. That was amazing."

Warlow took her plate and his, setting them in the sink, "You are most welcome my dear. Now… how about we get this wolf over here and start strategizing a bit?"

When Eric arose at dusk he could smell Alcide. He growled low in his chest and wasted no time getting upstairs to see what was going on. When he entered, Alcide and Warlow were watching some reality show on television and Sookie was on her phone, "Awww, thanks Lafayette, I'll cook dinner for everyone… are you kidding me? Wow… you really HAVE come through today! Ok I'll see you all soon."

She held her arms out to Eric who pulled her close and kissed her deeply, cracking one eye to see if Alcide was watching. Alcide looked up and grimaced, then shuddered, and went back to watching TV. Eric felt a little puff of pride that his glamouring had held for so long.

"Lafayette is on his way over with Jesus and some others they know. They think they have the perfect spell to protect the house and as an added bonus they are bring dinner with them."

"Oh? Well, good. What's the wolf doing here already?"

Sookie rolled her eyes and said, "We decided this last night, you know."

"Yes… indeed."

A knock at the door made Sookie frown, "They couldn't be here that quick." Feeling a void behind the door, Sookie began to look pensive, "It's Bill."

Eric went to the door and opened it, "King Billy… what brings you to our home tonight?"

Bill didn't look pleased at the "our home" part but smiled anyway, "I heard some things in town a bit ago and wanted to check to make sure it was as ridiculous as it sounded."

Eric grinned, "Yes, she's pregnant. Yes, it's mine."

Bill couldn't have looked more struck if Eric had physically slapped him.

"How is this possible?"

"Because he's Mr. Viking Thunder Cock, silly," Warlow quipped as he passed them on his way to the kitchen for two more beers for him and Alcide.

Eric smiled, "And because we are mated. Fae magic… gotta love it."

Bill turned on his heel and stormed back across the lawn without another word.

Sookie shook her head, "Well… that was less than tactful."

"Jason must have told someone… or Pam," Eric mused.

"Probably both. Bill's not a bit happy about this."

"Should let me take him out like I offered," Warlow sing-songed as he went back into the living room, beers in hand.

Eric smiled. Maybe he liked Warlow after all.

Authors Note: I promise to not wait so long between updates again! I hope the latest 3 have been enjoyable :)