Charlaine owns everything and I own nothing, for the moment.
Thank you for reviewing the last chapter and hope you enjoy this as well.
Fixing The Problem
Sookie POV
After talking to Eric I knew I wouldn't be able to go back to our house until he did it with me so I decided to stay at my Gran's house, using the excuse that until Eric came back we would have time to talk, catch up and do things together.
I did not know for how much longer I would have to go on pretending my husband was taking care of some business in New York or when my Gran would realize that we both had lied to her, but thinking about it gave me headache so I got out of bed and got into the shower.
I couldn't help looking at myself in the mirror when I was naked, trying to find a physical sign of my pregnancy but it was too soon. Eric and I were the only ones who knew we were expecting a baby, and so far no one else would notice.
"Good morning, darling, you're up early." My Gran had prepared a feast on the kitchen table and although the smell of coffee was the first thing that flooded my nostrils I couldn't help making a grimace a second later. For some reason I loved the smell but the thought of drinking it caused me nausea. Damn nausea! "I thought having a family breakfast would be a good way to welcome you so sit down and start eating before Jason appears and eat it all." Jason? I hadn't seen him before going to New York, and I knew he'd ask questions when he saw me.
"Jason? I thought he'd be with some girl and I wouldn't see him in a couple of days." My grandmother was not surprised by my words as both of us knew my brother too well. "I didn't see him before leaving to New York."
"I know, but he's been very worried for you." That really surprised me. Since we were kids Jason had always been independent and did not like explaining himself to anyone so when he was older enough and had a stable job he left Gran's home to live on his own. Why was he suddenly worried about me? "Did he say why?" I was sure it had nothing to do with what I was thinking but I asked anyway.
"He's been acting weird since Eric and you returned from Jamaica," and she took a bite of her toast before talking again. "I think he missed you and was ashamed to admit it."
"Ashamed? No offense, Gran, but Jason doesn't know the meaning of that word." I didn't say as something bad. It was a fact. My brother was not used to be embarrassed by anything, not even for his own actions, so I was surprised my Gran thought it had something to do with me. My Gran looked at me very seriously and I felt bad for making her upset but she wouldn't get me to change my mind about my brother.
"You shouldn't be so hard on him, Sookie."
"I'm not, I'm realistic." Suddenly it was as if my mouth had its own control and I was unable to keep my mouth shut.
"Morning, Gran!" Jason's voice prevented us to say another word about it and when my brother walked into the kitchen and saw me sitting at the table he was surprised. "Sook, didn't know you were here."
"Yeah, I'm back from New York." I got up from the table and gave him an awkward hug. We weren't used to it but it had been almost a month since the last time I had seen him and thought I should at least say hello to him. "Sit down, Gran's prepared an amazing breakfast."
Jason sat down and started asking questions about New York and Eric and it was then when I told him he had to stay there for a few days to take care of some issues.
"Did you two fight?" Was the first thing he asked me when I told him why Eric hadn't returned with me.
"No, we didn't fight, Jason. Why did you think that?" His reply was a shrug but I didn't want to argue with him with Gran in front of us. Eric and I were better than ever, perhaps the situation was not what I would have liked, but we were happy and expecting a baby. "Actually we're pretty fine, the restaurant is wonderful and when he comes back everything will be okay so no need to worry, Jason."
As usual, my brother disappeared when there was nothing left to eat at the table an Gran and I took care to collect and clean everything until my cell phone started ringing and I stopped what I was doing to answer.
"Eric?" I know, I hadn't looked at the caller ID anymore, but I had to say in my favour that I was sure it would be Eric.
"Hey baby, I'm so glad to hear your voice." The feeling was mutual. His voice was the only thing I could have at the moment but it was more than enough knowing he was far away from Bon Temps and m. "How are you? And the baby? I haven't stopped thinking about you two all night and I was dying to talk to you." He was so sweet I wanted to cry right there but I reminded myself I had to be strong for Eric.
"We're fine, honey, but I really miss you." I pulled the phone away slightly and sobbed once. I hoped Eric hadn't heard me 'cause he would worry. "I'm at Gran's 'cause we'll have the chance to spend more time together until you come back."
"I know it's hard for you, but I'll be back soon, I promise." I wanted so much that promise was a reality. "I think it's a good idea for you to stay with her, I wouldn't like you were at home alone all the time. Especially now that you're pregnant." My free hand went instinctively to my belly and I couldn't help stroking it slightly. "I can't even believe I'm going to be a daddy, Sook, I'm so excited."
"Me too, honey."
"I've even been thinking about names." I couldn't help laughing when I heard him. The baby was the size of a bean so we still might have time to decide on a name but I loved him for say it. "I know it's early but since you told me that you were pregnant I couldn't stop thinking about it and every time I see a baby I keep imagining how ours will look like."
"It'll be beautiful if it's anything like his father." I mumbled as I sat on the porch swing. It was a wonderful morning, the sun shone and a gentle breeze was caressing my skin. "It'll be a beautiful girl like her mother."
"A girl?" I asked with a smile. "How can you know it'll be a girl?"
"It has to be. Stackhouse women are strong and I want another Stackhouse in my life." Although I ha changed my surname for Northman, I would always be a Stackhouse in my heart. "I can't wait to see the first ultrasound and see our baby."
"Me too."
I wasn't sure how long I was there talking before I could hear voices on the other end of the phone. Obviously someone was getting nervous with Eric but I didn't want him to leave. It was hard enough having to be physically separated from him, at least I wanted to hear his voice for a little longer.
"Nobody here cares if I have to talk to my wife," he joked although I knew he was serious. "I have to go, some people are waiting for me but I'll call you tonight, alright? We'll keep talking about the baby and tell you some of the names I've been thinking about, what do you think?"
"Can't wait for it." I replied in a faint voice as my eyes filled with tears. I was beginning to be so tired of crying that I promised myself when Eric returned I wouldn't shed another tear. "I love you, Eric, we both love you."
"And I love you two. Take good care of that baby, Mrs. Northman."
"I will. And you take care of yourself, Mr. Northman."
"I always do."
I put the phone into my pocket and sat there for a few more minutes. I needed fresh air, feeling everything was going to be okay and my husband would soon be at home. I suddenly felt like one of those women who had to resign themselves to wait until their husbands returned home from war. But not like these days. No, you could see everything on TV now, there were daily news about war and maybe it wasn't so terrible, I really couldn't tell. I was thinking about the World War, the number of wives and sons and daughters who had to wait for their husbands and fathers to return or not from the war. They had to keep hope alive despite not knowing anything with certainty. Instead I felt like a fool to compare myself with those people. My husband wasn't in any war, he was in New York, but it was still hard to accept.
"Sookie, would you like an iced tea?" I hadn't even realized my Gran was there and was startled when I heard her voice.
"Gran…I didn't hear you to come," and I got up to help her with the drinks. "I was talking to Eric on the phone."
"How is he?" She asked sincerely.
"He's okay, Gran, you know, busy but he always has time to call me." And I couldn't help the smile forming when the corners of my lips moved slightly upward.
"He's a good man, Sookie." She said no more. I did not need to hear it from someone else but my Gran said it made me feel I had really chosen the right one. Actually I chose the only one 'cause there was no other man could love me the way Eric did. "He gave up everything for you, darling, not many men would do that." My experience was nil in love before Eric Northman appeared in my life – or he rather hit me with his car – but I felt more loved during the first few days with him than in my whole life. It was not the same kind of love I had for my Gran, my brother or my friends. No, it was completely different and special. A love so great that only existed between us. "Sookie, have you heard something I said?" I would love to say yes but the truth was that my thoughts were with Eric.
"Sorry, Gran, but I'm afraid not."
Gran just smiled as she took a large sip of her iced tea and said nothing more and I went back to think about all the goods times Eric and I had spent together and our incredible honeymoon we had in Jamaica. Every second was intense and full of love and I would accept his offer to come back there someday.
"I hope you don't mind me to stay here until Eric comes back from New York," I said, though I knew she was delighted with the idea. "Suddenly my house seems huge without Eric in it."
"Nonsense, darling," and she held me against her shoulder. "Y'know you'll always be welcome here."
"Thanks, Gran."
The nights were the worst part of all this because even though I closed my eyes and tried to relax I couldn't. My mind always took control and focused on Eric, in what he was doing, thinking or just watching. It was as if my body had returned to Bon Temps but my mind and especially my heart had stayed in New York with him.
I was sure I had never spent so much time staring at the ceiling as I was doing since I returned home. It was so frustrating that I wanted to kick myself in the head against the nearest wall but I knew nothing would change and I'd end up with a terrible headache.
Why did everything have to be so complicated? Eric and I had a quiet life without bothering anyone but it did seem Niall Brigant was not satisfied with everything Eric had done for him over the last ten years. Why this man couldn't handle his own issues and leave us alone?
Eric POV
"I hope everything's clear and everyone knows exactly what to do because it must be a perfect and flawless mission." Niall Brigant loved giving speeches, made him feel important but he didn't fool tome. I knew him very well to know he was about to suffer a heart attack and wouldn't be able to sleep until I had taken care of Russell Edgington. "Eric Northman will head the operation," he said pointing at me and suddenly I could feel every pair of eyes in the room on me. "He's the best man we have and the only one able to hunt Edgington so each and every one of you must do your part of the mission to achieve our goal."
I was beginning to lose my patience. How many times had he repeated the same speech? I knew it perfectly so rather than continue listening to him I focused on Sookie. I couldn't stop thinking about her and what she was doing. Listening to her voice was all that gave me strength to go through with what was happening in my life but thinking that she'd be waiting for me at home and I'll see her beautiful smile soon helped me to get over with the fact that we were far from each other.
"Russell Edgington is behind bars thanks to Eric Northman was able to do to get it but he still remains a threat to us." I went back to the real world to keep listening to Brigant. "There are many people out there who still owe their loyalty to him, as if he were a king and he had subjects, so all those people are just as dangerous as him. They will follow him until the end so get rid of Edgington is our best option."
"What if all those people are still loyal to him even though he dies?" Asked one of the men but I decided not to dwell on it. It was a chance, of course it was, and if that happened Sookie and I were screwed.
"We can't know that," Brigant said no more. I began to hear whispers in the room but disappeared after a few seconds. "I can't give you an answer to that question but I have the hunch that none of them would be willing to die for Russell Edgington. He's not a god, he's just a man and not as powerful as he thinks he is. Sooner or later the rest of his people will realize that he's not worth dying for."
Niall Brigant obviously hadn't the slightest idea what he was talking about if he thought they would surrender so easily.
"We have found some of them," and the lights turned off. "Our spies have been able to locate them in different parts of the United States and even outside this country." I recognized a few faces but it had been too long since the last time I saw them. Some would probably be dead or too old to keep worrying about Russell Edgington, but I wasn't going to underestimate them. "But these two are the most curious," and when I looked briefly at the screen I realized that I knew those two. "Their names are Steve and Sarah Newlin." And I knew perfectly well who they were. They were that strange couple Sookie and I met in Jamaica and suddenly I felt like I was going to throw up. If they had managed to be so close to us…
I rose from my chair and left the room as fast as I could. I heard whispers behind me but I didn't give a shit. All I could do was walk through the halls in search of a door or window to the outside.
Everyone – agents, secretaries and maintenance staff – looked at me like I was crazy but I didn't care at all. I couldn't breath, couldn't think. My head was about to explode and I panicked at the thought of how closed they were to Sookie. What the hell were they doing in Jamaica? Was it chance or they were following us? Did they know who Sookie was? Did they know where we lived now?
"Eric!" I heard Niall's voice behind me but I was unable to move or speak. I was too shocked and pissed off and didn't want to say something I would regret later.
"Eric, I don't know what's going on but leaving the room in that way was not the smartest idea." I wanted to punch him in his stupid face and stop hearing bullshit but it wouldn't have a good idea. "What is going on?"
"The Newlins, I know them." I said no more. My voice did not seem my voice and all that worried me at that moment was Sookie. Suddenly I could not remember what we talked with them in Jamaica and I was terrified to think maybe some of us would have said that we lived in a small town in Louisiana called Bon Temps.
When I turned around it was obvious Brigant was waiting for an explanation so I took a deep breath and sat on a black plastic chair that was placed in the aisles.
"It was during my honeymoon." And I told him the whole story.
Niall looked pissed but I wasn't sure if it was because I hadn't told him all of this or he didn't have that information beforehand. The truth was I couldn't care less because all I could think about was that night in Jamaica. I tried by all means to remember all the conversations we had with them but the images that appeared in my mind were of Sookie in the moonlight and how the fire made her skin shine.
"Then the Newlins should be an important part of Russell Edgington. We have to find them."
"How?"
"Eric, we have our methods." And he smiled with a look of superiority. "Besides, Steve and Sarah Newlin are our priority."
"What about Sookie?" I asked as calmly as possible. "They know her, they know she's my wife and if they find out where she is… I don't want to think what might happen." I didn't care if Brigant give important or not to my marriage because I did and I wouldn't allow my wife and unborn child were in danger just for a stupid mission. "I won't move a finger until I know she is safe." And I wasn't going to change my mind.
"Your wife is safe." And he hissed to pronounce it.
"I don't believe you."
My words surprised Niall because he looked like he couldn't believe what I just said. I did not care the least what he was thinking of me at that moment 'cause I just wanted to protect Sookie."
"Don't you believe, Eric?"
I rose from my chair and approached him. "Why should I? Not two days ago you told me you wanted to use my wife as bait against Russell Edgington so no, I do not believe you."
Brigant seemed to have run out of words or perhaps it was a strategy, I wasn't sure, but all I got from him were glares. I didn't care what he was thinking because Niall Brigant was no longer part of my life.
"Tell me Niall, why should I trust you? Since I got married I have had nothing but problems with you and my wife is patient but there's a limit to her patience. I can't keep hurting her like this, you understand?" The tone of my voice was not as cold as ice because talking about Sookie, in any circumstances, made me feel much better. "She's the most important part of my life, she's what I've been waiting for and I never thought I would get."
"Eric, I understand it perfectly."
"I think you're not." And I got pissed again. "I think you're not at all!" I wanted to sink my fist against the nearest wall but all I would have gotten would have been a wound in my hand so I breathed deeply a few times and managed to calm down. "I'm not the man you met." I said no more and he looked at me confused.
"You'll always be, Eric. That instinct in you…you'll never be ale to get rid of it."
"You're wrong," and went back to get close to him. "It's true, my instinct will always be with me but my priorities have changed. I protect my family now and I will kill anyone who stands in my way." And before he could say another word I left and went back into the room.
Have a nice week and thanks for reading this chapter.
