Chapter 9

"What?" Eric asked slightly annoyed to be pulled away from his bonded when she so obviously needed them.

"Wait," Godric instructed as he listened to what was happening in the other room. He could hear Sookie's heart racing and the tears, how he hated the tears. He also heard the sound of children. That explained why her pain had peaked again in the bond. He had already noticed on the rare occasions they were around children that Sookie felt great pain at the thought of never being a mother. It was something he had planned on raising sometime in the future but as the idea unfolded in his mind he had to admit it seemed perfect.

"What?" Eric repeated. He could see the cogs moving in his makers mind but he had never been patient and he wanted to return to his love.

"I just wanted to be clear what we a doing. Talking about this in front of her will only upset her and we do not want that but we cannot afford any misunderstandings. Albright should have told us but we cannot retaliate. What shall we do?" Godric made a cup of coco and began pulling out cookies as he spoke.

"I think we should protect her as we had already planned and leave the rest. I doubt Albright has stopped hunting the monster and while I hate to admit it, we really are not equipped to hunt a sorcerer. Our focus should be Sookie, keeping her safe and making her happy again."

Godric was surprised. It was unlike his child to miss an opportunity for bloodshed and it was unheard of when he felt cheated. "I agree. We should take care of her first."

"What are you not saying?"

"Later." Godric took the drink and plate of cookies out and placed them in Sookie's hands. She gave him a bleary smile and sat up to make room for them. They sat in silence watching the television and holding her close.

It was a few hours later, not long before dawn, when they finally continued the conversation. Godric had spent the entire time going over his plan in his head. The more he thought about it the more excited he became. Eric was practically vibrating with curiosity. They had barely spoken before carrying Sookie upstairs for a bath and bed. They had both washed her with great care but refused to get in the water for fear of letting their possessive tendencies take over. Sookie had drifted into a numb dreamlike state and allowed her vampires to bathe her before contentedly snuggling under the covers and drifting to sleep.

"So?" Eric spoke softly so as not to wake the sleeping angel. She looked so peaceful while she slept. "Are you going to tell me what you have been plotting?"

"Let me ask you something first and speak plainly, my child." Godric warned with a fierce stare. It was a look Eric had seen only a few times and he knew not to mess with it.

"Of course, master."

"If it were possible, would you ever want children of your own?"

Eric frowned at his maker's unexpected question. It was something he had never considered before as it had never been a possibility. Why waste time thinking about things that could never happen? He looked down at Sookie. Once again, he became breathless at the sight of her beauty. It wasn't the physical form he admired so, although it was something to gawk at. It was her inner beauty he adored. He could see it shinning out of her even as she slumbered. She was a gift of the gods and there was nothing he wouldn't do to try and make her happy again. He knew how deeply she loved him, loved them both. He knew she was pleased with her life but there was still a lingering pain in her heart. A darkness that had been preyed upon in the worst way. Looking at her the answer became clear. At last he met his maker's eyes as he answered earnestly.

"I never considered it. I had children as a human but as I did not love my wife and I was always at sea; I never really had any great affection for them. They were a burden I was forced to bare as was custom among my people. However, not only would I love to do anything to make her happy- as we both know that would, I would love to have a family with her. I would love to have children that are hers and I can only image the joy it would bring to all of us to make something so miraculous grow from our love. So, yes I would want them but I am vampire so I cannot. What is the purpose of your question?" Eric stared into his maker's green eyes with an intensity of fire. He was desperate to understand what his maker was thinking but Godric had spent millennia hiding his feelings and concealing his thoughts.

"I want her happy. I want her so happy she could burst from it. Nothing less than total contentment is enough for her. She has been hurt in ways…in ways I don't want to imagine because of my foolish actions. I have no idea why she loves us or why she will open her heart to me but it is a gift I treasure. She deserves the family she dreams of and, if you are open to it, I will give it to her." As he spoke bloody tears trailed down his cheeks. He made no move to wipe them away, instead choosing to stroke her hair.

"How?" Eric could not feel the anguish inside his maker but he could see it, he could relate to it. He, too, felt undeserving of their angel. She was light and love and hope where they were dark killers. He also knew that she had suffered more in her short life than anyone he had ever known. Sure, he was a vampire, he had known abuse and torture. Even in his human days he had suffered violence as he was forced into battle but compared with what she had suffered….Gods it was nothing. Abuse seemed to be almost normal to her as she suffered first at the hands of an uncle then a long line of others. Even her thoughts had been invaded and to top it off she had been condemned as crazy for this source of pain. No, she had suffered more and yet she was still the strongest creature he knew, too. His love and respect for her knew no bounds as he saw how strong her heart had become. She deserved a family and a happy home to call her own.

"Sookie gifted me with a wishing crystal. I will use it to wish for both of us to conceive a child with her. Are you opposed?"

"No…" Eric paused before sighting deeply. "Shouldn't we discuss this with her first?"

"Why? We both know what she wants and if she gets pregnant and doesn't want the child she will have options. I spoke to her once about children and she told me that she never wanted them because she couldn't be that selfish. Her life is never going to be totally safe and she fears bringing a child into that but we can protect our family. I think we should let her choose only when the reality of what she would be giving up is clear."

"Very well. As long as it is her choice in the end."

"Always."

Godric got up from the bed and retrieved the small crystal from its place on Sookie's vanity table. He could feel her magic inside the stone and it made him smile. She thought herself weak. Even without her power she was stronger than all of them…with her power, well, weak was nowhere close to the right adjective. Sublime, divine, miraculous, magnificent…they would do, almost.

He sat on the end of the bed with Eric looking on in fascination. Holding the crystal firmly in his grip he closed his eyes and thought about what he was wishing for. He imagined two children running around their yard playing with Loki. He could see they both had her warm sapphire eyes and golden hair. The boy was tall and broad like Eric while the girl had soft delicate features, like her mother. What was delightful to him, however, was the way Sookie stood watching them from the doorway. Her smile was only slight but it was full of devotion. Her eyes were protective and proud as she stood watching her children play in their home. It was that look that was the reasoning behind this wish. He wanted to see that look every day. He wanted to feel the emotions of that look through the bond. He wanted her to be happy, completely and totally.

The longer he thought the hotter the crystal became. It wasn't burning him but he could feel the heat just the same. It was like power, very pure and primal power, was surging through him seeking his desires and preparing to make them reality.

"I wish for both myself and Eric Northman to be able to each conceive a child with Sookie Stackhouse." The words were all that were needed as he felt the crystal disintegrate in his palm.

"Is it done?" Eric asked with a frown. He was happy but experience had taught him not to get his hopes up, so many things could go wrong.

"Yes. I imagine it shall take a while to work but soon one of us should be a father."