Chapter 10

"All packed?" Sam said as Sookie came out the door with a heavy suitcase in her hand. Pam quickly came up beside her and scooped up the case like it was nothing. Sookie gave a sigh, remembering she wasn't supposed to pick up heavy objects at this point. She had almost doubled in size over the past week, her belly swollen to the point of no return. Dr. Ludwig had advised against Sookie traveling, but there was no stopping her. Sookie needed to talk to the vampire king Felipe De Castro, just to get him to even consider her proposition.

"Baby's kicking" Sookie said as she grimaced. The Changeling was very active now, it's mind buzzing and prodding at everything, Sookie constantly was mentally calming it down so that it wouldn't accidentally get into somebody's mind. Mr. Cataliades had informed her earlier before she was due to change that a Changeling could get into somebody's mind as easy as picking a lock. It could possibly make them do anything, and Sookie wasn't having that kind of mischief going on around her.

"You sure you want to go with just Pam?" Sam said, his worry showing all over his face.

"I'll be alright" Sookie said "I'll just hang out in the hotel room all day and wait for sundown."

"Alright" Sam said, his lips tightening a bit "But please be careful. Don't be reckless."

"When have I ever been reckless?" Sookie said going for Pam's car.

Sam and the vampire both looked at each other for a minute before looking back at Sookie.

"Okay" Sookie said holding out her hands in defeat "I have been a bit reckless, but I promise I won't this time. I've got the baby to think about."

"Good" Sam said coming and giving her a hug "Pam you better bring them back in one piece."

"I promise I will" Pam said giving the shifter a nod before getting into her car.

"See you soon" Sookie said giving Sam a kiss on the cheek before closing the door and driving off into the night. The airport would have the special transportation coffins for Pam, and Sookie was booked for a nice first class seat. Sam would keep an eye on the house for a while and hopefully Merlottes could get by without her.

Sookie sighed and thought about the plan they had, going over it again and again till her head started to hurt.

"It's going to be okay" Pam said revving the engine as she passed cars one by one.

"How do you know?" Sookie said doubtfully.

"Because I have faith" Pam said swerving again as Sookie grasped her hands around her stomach.

"Sorry" Pam said looking over quickly.

"It's alright, I'm just nervous" Sookie said "I mean, what if Felipe doesn't go for it?"

"Then we think of a new plan" Pam said.

"I'm sorry Pam" Sookie said shaking her head "If it hadn't been for me telling Eric off-"

"Then the Queen would have come down, slaughtered you, and taken Eric anyway" Pam said firmly "And then Eric would have wanted to end it all. You matter most to him."

"But you matter as well" Sookie said a little quietly.

"Vampires feel differently about each other" Pam said "We can take care of ourselves, you humans can't. Especially you" she said giving Sookie a wink "Eric would have felt like he had failed at protecting you. It would have ate him up."

The Changeling stirred at these words and suddenly Pam shivered a bit "That little thing is getting stronger. Every time it moves it's like a tidal wave of magic, it's like my body comes alive on and off again, like little shocks."

"I'm sorry I'll try to calm it down" Sookie said scolding the baby with her mind.

"No don't" Pam said "It's a nice feeling. Strange, but nice. I'm sure Felipe will like it as well."

Sookie shivered herself at that, knowing the vampire king was interested in Sookie's talents, who knows what he would want from her child.

The next few hours were spent driving to the airport and boarding the plane. Sookie was nervous with all the people around her, but all eyes seemed joyful when they looked towards her. Maybe the Changeling didn't just have an effect on Supes, maybe humans could sense the magic growing inside of her as well.

The plane ride was smooth, the food wasn't half bad, and Sookie even got a nap in before the announcement sounded that they were about to be in the Las Vegas airport. Sookie waited patiently, looking out her window at the bright lights of the city sparkled and shined.

"Now don't think this is an example of all human behavior" she said to the baby "This is more of a vacation for people, and when people go on vacations, sometimes they act a little crazy."

The Changeling listened intently, wanting all the information it could gain from her. Sookie wondered what kind of person her baby would be. Would it be kind and gentle? Would it be power hungry and driven? Mr. Cataliades said that all changeling's have a source at the heart of their magic, what they fight for and express the most. Sookie could not change it, rather just guide it for the greater good of the world.

The plane landed and they were allowed to leave. Sookie unbuckled her seat and started to move up when a hand gently touched her back, supporting her weight greatly.

"Pardon me" the man said behind her "I just saw you having some trouble and thought I should help."

Sookie looked him over and he seemed somewhat normal, with brown shaggy hair that almost reached his shoulders and blue eyes, his leather jacket seeming to be well worn as his jeans sported converse shoes underneath them, but Sookie could feel something different about him, something she had felt before.

"Uh, thank you" Sookie said giving him a quick smile "Still getting used to moving around with this" she said waving over her belly.

"Not a problem" the man said "My name is Raphael. May I help you with your luggage?"

"Oh I just have a small carry-on" Sookie said grabbing it from up top "I think I can handle it."

"Then allow me to escort you from the plane, I notice you are alone and would hate for you to have more trouble" he said smiling down at her.

"Alright" Sookie said a little wary. They walked off the terminal together, Raphael's hand gently touching her at moments when she felt she would roll away completely if it wasn't for him. Sookie realized she had strange feelings like this when she had first met Mr. Cataliades, and then wondered if Raphael was in fact a demon.

All she could get out of him was that he was a photographer, and he had a small job to do here in the city before returning home. Where home was though, he wouldn't reveal. But Sookie felt like the stranger didn't mean her any harm, so she let him follow her through the airport.

As they walked outside, the night air was fresh around them, with groups of people rushing past and laughter filling the air, although they were well away from the city.

"Do you have someone meeting you here?" Raphael said looking down at her.

"Well they were on the plane as well, I'm sure she will find me" Sookie said looking around. The weather was getting a bit chilly as Sookie was only wearing a nice maternity dress she had picked up with bright blue and green flowers decorating the long skirt that reached her ankles. The only thing the dress lacked was sleeves as Sookie rubbed her shoulders to get some warmth to them.

"Here" Raphael said putting his leather jacket around her shoulders "That should help."

"Thanks" Sookie said "Why are you being so nice to me?"

The man just shrugged "You looked like you needed some company."

"Oh" she said looking away.

They stood there for a few more moments before Sookie could not take it any longer.

"Alright" Sookie said turning to him "I give up. What are you? Shifter? Were? Demon? Because it's bugging me and I'd like to know."

Raphael seemed taken aback by her abruptness but simple smiled at her after a moment.

"I'm a demon" he said "But I'm not like other demons."

"Half?" Sookie said raising her eyebrow.

"Somewhat" he said still smiling.

"My sponsor is a half demon" Sookie said "Maybe you know him? Desmond Cataliades?"

"I know Desmond" he said shaking his head "And I'm sort of at odds with his brother. And I know who you are Sookie Stackhouse."

Sookie got wide eyes all of a sudden, scared for her saftey.

Suddenly Raphael laughed "Don't worry, you are safe. As safe as you can be in Sin City."

"Sookie!" said Pam from a little ways down from where she and the demon stood.

"There's my ride" Sookie said "It was nice meeting you Raphael."

"And you as well" the demon said giving her a bit of a bow.

Sookie walked away with sort of a half smile on her face.

"What's so funny?" Pam said as Sookie walked up to her.

"I shouldn't be surprised" Sookie said shaking her head "Where else would a demon be rather than Las Vegas?"