Alright ... Here it is and I hope everyone likes it ... the final chapter of New Beginnings ... I call it an epilogue, but really, it sort of turned itself into a more of a last chapter, than an epilogue (there is a difference for those that may not know), but oh well!

First, I'd like to thank Northwoman! As usual, she was fast and thorough and really, if it wasn't for her weekly email updates, I may have never finished this. Seeing she was still around for me over these months of barely posting really gave me motivation to stick with it and finish and I hope it continues to work!

Oh, and just a funny little TMI tidbit ... I told Northwoman this earlier tonight ... It's strange ... I've been battling with this block I'm having due to outside stress and for some reason ... My chapters are syncing with my monthly cycle! It's crazy, but when PMS comes, I can write like there was no tomorrow, but the other three weeks of the month, it's a pure struggle to get a sentence on the page ...

I just thought that was weird, so I thought I'd share!

Lastly ... thanks to all of you who've been reading and sticking with me. You guys are awesome and to know you enjoy something I've created ... well, at least partially ... I can't take all the credit ... a lot of that goes to Charlaine Harris, who Sookie and Eric and most of the other characters belong to. But regardless, it's an absolutely amazing feeling ... I'm truly humbled by it.

And, of course, that goes double to all of you that actually review and tell me what you think. You guys really have no clue what your reviews do to me. They make me so incredibly happy and really brighten my days and you may not realize it, but you guys, a lot of the time, shape what I'm writing ... There have been many times I've modified things based upon y'alls comments and suggestions.

Anyway ... I'll get on with it ...

Sookie's POV

"Alexander Samuel Northman," I shouted, "GET! UP! NOW!"

Even though I was being very serious and slightly pissy, I couldn't hold back the smile that was threatening to wipe the frown right off my face. I'd been having that problem for a little over a week, now - ever since the legal paperwork to change his name had gone through.

He finally had a dad! His dad! And now, it was official!

It wasn't like he gave me a reason to use his full name a lot - he was a good kid and very well behaved. But, he was an eleven year old boy and no matter how good he was he'd still give me the occasional reason, and every single time I had to, I ended up smiling, no matter how pissed I was, because his name reminded me that after all these years we finally had everything I'd ever wanted for us. The life of which I'd always dreamed, but never thought possible.

"Alex, I'm serious! Your dad will be home from work in a few minutes and when he gets home he's gonna wanna leave. GET UP! You'll have plenty of time to go back to sleep in the car!"

This time he at least acknowledged me. "Uh,minute," he mumbled, rolling over and going right back to sleep.

"This is exactly why I didn't want you to take a nap in the first place! I knew you wouldn't get up!"

Shaking my head, I left his room and headed to the kitchen to finish packing up the cooler with drinks and snacks for our journey, figuring I'd try to get Alex up again once I'd finished. Aside from waking him, it was the only thing that remained to be done before we left. We'd already packed our bags and loaded them into the Escalade earlier, before Eric had even gone to work.

It felt like just yesterday was Thanksgiving and the thought that it was only a few days till Christmas amazed the hell out of me. I guess time tended to fly when you were as busy and as happy as us.

After Thanksgiving, Eric and I had finished up our first semester at LSU, each finishing with an A and a B in our classes. Dr. Compton was a stickler for attendance and gave points each day for being there. It wasn't a large portion of our grade, but unfortunately the time we'd missed when Alex had broken his arm had kept us from getting an A in his class. I wasn't one to complain, though. Especially considering that in high school I was pretty much a C student and I'm fairly sure Eric didn't do any better.

Also, as planned, we were married on Thursday, December the 3rd. It was nothing big, although when Sam found out what we'd planned, he certainly tried to make it that way. Eric had informed him the Tuesday before that we might be late for work that day and of course, he had to tell him why.

Sam, being a great boss and an even greater friend, was totally understanding. He insisted we both take the evening off with pay, and even wanted to throw us a party at the bar afterwards. We refused the party, but he wouldn't take no for an answer in regard to the night off, so we did take that.

The ceremony lasted all of about five minutes and took place at the Bon Temps Town Hall. Only Eric, Alex, and myself were in attendance. I wore a calf length, strapless dress made of a white knit material and a white cardigan sweater and Eric wore jeans and a white dress shirt. He'd wanted to wear slacks and a tie, but when he saw how casual my dress was he changed his mind.

Everything about it was simple and perfect, right down to our choice of rings.

We'd decided to get married and had actually done the deed so quickly we didn't even think about rings, until the judge asked if we were exchanging them during the ceremony. It wasn't until after we decided that rings were definitely something we wanted.

I mean, we didn't have to have them, but for me, I wanted something to signify our union and happened to have the perfect idea at the perfect time.

With no objections from Eric, after our classes the day after our wedding, we stopped by to see Long Shadow and of course, we fittingly went the unconventional route. Instead of wedding rings, we got tattoos. I had Eric's name tattooed across the top of my ring finger and he did the same for me.

Now, three weeks later, we were about to head to Miami to share Christmas with his family and to celebrate our honeymoon.

Karen and Doug had offered to keep Alex for a couple of days, so we figured we could check into a hotel and enjoy a little time to ourselves while there and I couldn't wait. Alone time was a valued commodity for us. Between school, work, and Alex, we didn't get a lot of it and even though we were in a very happy place in our relationship and things were going well, there was a lot we needed to discuss and plan.

Things had changed for us so quickly over the past few months and things were still constantly changing. Our immediate future had been on my mind a lot lately and we needed time to discuss and plan for it, and of course, we needed time to be intimate without having to worry about Alex hearing or walking in.

As excited as I was to have a family vacation, in Miami no less, our time alone was what I was looking forward to the most.

Eric's POV

It was a warm night and it was so clear we could see every single star twinkling brightly in the sky. That's why Sookie and I had ended up on the beach, cuddling with only a blanket of sand beneath us.

Well, that and the fact that Lucius, the newest member of our family had to "go potty", as Sookie had put it. He was the whole reason we'd left Mom and Dad's Christmas party to go outside in the first place.

"I can't believe Mom gave you a fucking dog for Christmas," I said rolling my eyes as we watched him frolic playfully in front of us, chasing after the waves as they rose toward us then rolled back down into the abyss.

We'd woke up this morning to find him in our bed, snuggled against Sookie's side under the covers, and to make a long story short, Sookie fell in love, so Mom gave him to her.

"He's not a fucking dog, Eric," she spat, shooting daggers at me with her eyes.

If looks could kill, then the one she'd given me was nearly lethal. It seemed my comment had hit a nerve.

She turned her attention back to Lucius, who was now barking at the water, as well. "He's a sweet wittle baby," she cooed. "Aren't you, Lucius? Mommy's wittle baby."

It wasn't like he could understand English, so he just continued barking and chasing the water.

"Sookie, you are as bad as Mom," I joked, smirking and shaking my head.

"I can't help it. He's just so damn cute," she giggled, then more seriously insisted, "And I'm not that bad," smacking my arm.

He'd just been weaned, so he was really fucking tiny, which did make him ridiculously cute, but I'd never admit that to anyone. I was a man. I was not supposed to have affection for an ankle-biter. A Pit Bull or a Doberman - yeah, but definitely not Lucius.

"I know you aren't. I was only joking," I chuckled, then against my better judgment I added, "Besides, he is really cute … but if you ever tell anyone I said that, I will deny it. Got it?"

"Your secret's safe with me," she said smiling.

"I know." I gently touched my lips to hers. "And I'm grateful to have a beautiful wife, who's willing to keep all my deep, dark secrets safe."

Although, I was obviously joking, I was serious at the same time. I mean, I really didn't have any deep, dark secrets, per se, but I was grateful to have Sookie. Finding her, and finding out I had a son, had totally changed my life for the better and it was something I'd thought about every single day since.

Everything had changed so much and so fast since she and Alex had come into my life, but looking back over the past several months I wouldn't change a single thing. They'd made me complete and made me whole, which was sort of surprising to me because until I'd found them, I had no clue what would fill the void inside me.

Hell, I'm not even sure I realized there was a void back then.

Not only had finding them made me whole, but it opened up so many doors I'd thought would remained closed forever. Doors that led to my family and to my past and as much as it hurt to open them and face what was on the other side, once there, my pain totally melted away and I truly found myself finally at peace.

Being a father had profoundly changed me, even more so than my time in prison had. It really made me dissect myself and my relationship, or rather lack-there-of, with my own parents and it really put a lot in perspective. It forced me to face my never-ending list of wrongs and to truly take responsibility for them.

Even more importantly, though, it ultimately led me to where I was now - visiting my parents.

We'd arrived yesterday evening after nearly twenty grueling hours in the car. We'd left the night before after I'd gotten off work and had driven straight through, and it had taken forever.

The entire trip was filled with nothing but sour moods; arguments about temperature controls, and radio stations; and even a few about where to stop and eat, and to make matters worse, by the time we'd arrived Sookie wasn't feeling well. Figuring it was due to fatigue from two days of nearly no sleep, she'd gone straight to bed.

"Well, I guess we better get back," I suggested, realizing we'd been gone for a while.

We'd told Mom we'd only be gone for a few minutes - just long enough to take Lucius out and it had been way longer than a few minutes.

"Yeah, I guess we should get back and check on Alex," she agreed. "I'm sure he's still playing video games with the neighbor's kids, but we have been gone a while."

Alex had quickly made friends with the children of my parents' neighbors. They were triplets, a boy and two girls, his age and the obvious result of fertility drugs.

Mr. and Mrs. McClendon were apparently professional dancers and were near my parents' age, so it was just a little strange to think we had kids the same age. We totally represented each end of the fertility spectrum, us being at the very beginning and them being at the very end. It was just weird to think about and honestly, it made me think about my parents having sex.

I mean, if eleven years ago their neighbors were doing it and trying to have kids, my parents must have been and that was a visual I did not want in my mind, although, at the same time, I guess it was sort of a double standard because I was very certain that Sookie and I would be having great sex for many years to come and for some reason that didn't gross me out all.

Trying to take my mind off the sickening thoughts swirling through it, I stood and extended my hand to Sookie to help her up and I said, "I'm glad you were feeling better today."

Luckily, by the time we got up this morning, Sookie had felt better, so we'd spent the better part of our Christmas Eve at the beach with my cousin Jules, who'd majorly surprised me by showing up with my Aunt and Uncle.

Nobody had told me she'd be coming and apparently it was all her doing. She'd wanted to surprise me and it worked.

At one time, Jules and I had been really, really close. As kids, when she'd visit we were practically inseparable, and once adults, for a long time, she was the only family member I'd remained in constant contact with, but the last time I'd gotten arrested it had all just stopped and I hadn't spoken to her since.

I couldn't believe how good it felt to see everyone; especially her. It was really turning out to be the best Christmas I'd ever had. Little did I know, it would soon be getting way better.

Sookie took my hand and stood up. "I'm glad I'm feeling better, too," she agreed. "I was a little worried last night that I'd be sick the whole time we're here and that would totally suck, but I guess we won't have to worry about that. I had a good time with you and Jules today, by the way ... I really like her ... and I think Alex had a blast at the beach."

"I can't believe he'd never been before," I said, then solemnly added, "But I'm glad I was able to be here with him. I've missed so many of his firsts."

Of everything I'd been through, that was my one big regret. The other stuff, I'd at least learned from and really, it had all made me who I was today, but missing his first step, his first words, his first day of school, and so many other firsts - it killed me every day.

Honestly, I'd probably never get over it and I'd give anything to go back, just for a minute, to experience those things.

"Baby, don't go getting all upset and don't try to act like you're not. It's written all over your face. You're here with us now. I know it hurts you've missed things, but there'll be a lot of other firsts." She leaned up on the tips of her toes, pushed a loose strand of hair behind my ear, and kissed my cheek. "Besides, just think ... you get to teach him to drive in a few years," she laughed.

Again, she'd proven just how perfect she was. She could read me like a book and she knew exactly how to make me feel better.

"Come on. Let's get back to the house." I picked up Lucius who'd been scampering around at our feet ever since we'd stood up, then wrapped my free arm around Sookie and together, the three of us headed back to my parents' house which was a couple of blocks up from the beach.

As we headed inside, Jules was standing by the kitchen counter, a bottle of Jagermeister in one hand and a shot glass in the other. "You two are just in time!" she shouted. "I was wondering where y'all ran off to!"

I sat Lucius down and took the already full shot glass from her, downing it as she got two more glasses from the cabinet and poured two more shots.

"Uh … I'll pass," Sookie announced sheepishly, holding her hand up, rejecting the shot Jules held out to her.

I wondered what that was all about. She'd never turned down Jagermeister before. It was like her favorite liquor and when she drank it she always said she liked the way it made her face feel tingly. I'd never experienced that, but being a bartender, I'd heard others who'd had the same experience, so I wasn't going to question her reasoning. All that mattered was it was her favorite and she was turning it down.

"Oh … come on, Sookie. Eric told me last night you'd party with us. There's plenty of sober adults around ... Mom, Dad, Uncle Doug and Aunt Karen ... they'll watch Alex. Have a little fun! Drink it!" Jules insisted.

Sookie just stood there looking as if she didn't know what to do.

I didn't understand why she just wouldn't take the shot. Jules was right. This was our vacation and Mom had already told us a dozen times to have fun while we could - that they'd watch Alex whenever we needed them too, but I figured she had to have her reasons and I knew Jules wouldn't let up, so I stepped in.

"It's okay. You still not feeling well?" I questioned as I took Sookie's shot from Jules, drinking it down as she did the same to her own.

"I'm fine. Uh … I just don't want to get sloppy and if I start doing shots, I will … but the two of y'all have at it. I'm gonna go check on Alex."

"Well, that was really fucking weird," I mumbled quietly under my breath as Sookie left the kitchen. "Jules, I'm two up on you," I announced.

"No you're not. You're only up one," she argued as I poured another and drank it.

"Well, now I am," I proclaimed matter-of-factly. "I'm gonna go see what's going on with Sookie. You better be caught up by the time I get back."

As I left the kitchen Jules informed, "When you get back you're the one that's gonna have to play catch up. This bottle's getting finished off tonight!"

"Oh … Eric! There you are! Where's Sookie?" Mom asked as soon as I stepped into the living room.

"She said she was checking on Alex."

"Oh … well, he was still in the den playing those video games of his a few minutes ago when Sean, Layla, and the kids left. Why don't you go get them? We have something for the two of you and I think there are a few things under the tree for Alex, as well."

"Mom, are you sure it can't wait until morning?"

We'd already given Alex all of his gifts from us - we'd had our Christmas the night before we left, and Mom and Dad let him open a new video game they'd bought him last night. We'd warned him before we even got here, there would be no more early gifts and so far, that plan had gone straight to Hell.

"No ... it can't wait until morning. Go get them," Mom insisted.

"But ... Mom ... He's not going to have anything left to open in the morning if you keep giving him all his gifts."

"Oh ... fiddle! Just go get them!" she urged.

When she busted out with an "Oh ... fiddle" - her version of cursing - I knew she meant business, so I headed down the hall and into the den, where Sookie and Alex were.

"Hey, Mom wants us in the living room," I announced. "More gifts."

In a flash, Alex's game was paused and he was gone, but Sookie was moving a little slower, which was a good thing because I wanted to find out why she was acting so strange earlier in the kitchen.

"You gonna tell me what's going on?" I questioned. I'd strategically stepped in front of the doorway, so she couldn't avoid the conversation by slipping out and joining the family in the living room.

"Can we do this later? Didn't you say your Mom wants us in the living room?"

What the fuck?

I wanted to flat out say, "No," but instead, I said, "I really want to know what's going on with you, Sookie. Your demeanor changed the moment we walked back in the house and I think you owe it to me to tell me why, but I'm not going to push you to talk ... at least not right now, but after Mom and Dad give us whatever it is they want to give us, we're taking a walk or something."

Something was just not right, and I was going to find out what it was.

Alex was ripping the paper off another video game as we walked into the living room and Mom barely gave us time to sit down before she accosted us and handed me a large manila envelope.

"Mom, what's this?" I questioned.

"It's for you and Sookie. It's your Christmas gift ... from all of us." All of us, apparently meaning my whole family, judging by the intent looks on everyone's faces as I cluelessly held the envelope in my hand. "Well ... open it."

I opened the envelope and pulled out several papers and brochures.

"Oh my god! This is way too much," I insisted as I realized what it all was. It was basically an itinerary for an all expenses paid week at The Delano, one of the many obscenely expensive resorts in Miami and I couldn't even fathom how much something like it would cost.

"What is it?" Sookie asked, curiosity apparently getting the best of her.

I handed the packet to her as Dad insisted, "It's not too much, Son. The two of you deserve it and you check in tomorrow."

Aunt Thalia added, "I hope you don't mind that we sort of took the liberty of extending your vacation a few days. We know you planned on going back to Louisiana Monday. If you have to get back, we can change it."

"Wow!" was all I could manage to say. It sure beat two nights at the Comfort Inn which was what our original plan had been. "Thank you ... all of you! Wow!"

Sookie had finally finished looking it over and she agreed. "Yeah ... thanks. It looks amazing, but Eric's right. We can't accept this ... it's just too much."

"Listen to the two of you," Uncle Max interjected. "Just shut up and take the free honeymoon. We're all so proud of you, Eric. Just take it."

I'd never expected anything like that from my family, but I guess it was what family did. It was just odd having that sort of relationship with them after so many years of being estranged, but damn, it felt good.

It took a little convincing, but we finally accepted their gift and once the bickering was officially over, Jules headed toward the kitchen.

On her way, she smacked me on the back of my head and challenged, "You're two down, Bitch. Time to catch up."

"Give me a minute?" I requested, then turned my attention to Sookie. "You want to take this upstairs?" I asked, holding out the envelope, figuring it would be a good excuse to get her alone.

I didn't want anyone to think we were fighting or that there was something wrong because honestly, I wasn't really sure if there was.

"Yeah," she agreed.

I could tell she was trying to remain cool and not let on to anyone but me that something was indeed bothering her. Also, I could tell she wasn't trying to hide whatever it was, or at least she knew it was time to spill it.

Once upstairs, I shut our bedroom door and questioned, "Ready to talk, now?"

She sat down on the edge of the bed and nodded, then began, "Jules doesn't think I'm a bitch does she? I mean ... I didn't mean to act like one in the kitchen earlier."

"Of course she doesn't, and you didn't act like a bitch. You just acted a little strange ... that's all. I'm sure she didn't even notice the strangeness of it, so don't worry about it," I assured. "I know you don't drink a lot, but it was Jagermeister - your favorite ... and it was weird how you refused it. You looked all clueless like you didn't know how to act or something. You're not upset that I'm partying with her ... are you?"

"God no, Eric. I'm glad you're having a good time and I know that's what y'all do together ... and lord knows you've got a lot of time to make up for," she insisted, which made me feel a lot better.

"Then what is it?"

"Baby, I didn't want to mention it until we got to the hotel and I'm not positive if it means anything, but I ... fuck, Eric."

She stopped talking and buried her face in her hands. Something was really eating at her and I was glad it wasn't me, but I hated seeing her upset. She was so discombobulated that she couldn't even get her words straight to tell me.

I took the few steps it took to reach the bed, sat down beside her, and assured, "Whatever it is, Sookie ... you can tell me," as I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her against me.

"I know, but I didn't want to tell you until I was sure."

"Tell me what, Sookie?" She didn't answer.

I was getting frustrated with her silence and I just wanted her to tell me what was the matter and I think she could tell.

"I'm late," she finally answered.

"What?" I was totally and completely shocked.

Certainly she didn't mean what I thought she meant. I had to have heard her wrong, but damn, I hoped I didn't.

I felt a smile start to form on my face as she clarified, "My period ... I'm late."

She did mean what I'd thought she meant. Fuck! I was going to be a dad again, but this time, I was going to be there. I was going to get the chance to be there for everything.

It truly was the best Christmas I'd ever had.

I was overwhelmed with emotion, so I crashed my lips into hers, channeling every bit of it into the kiss, then I bombarded her with questions. "How late?" I was so excited I didn't even give her a chance to answer me before I moved onto the next. "You said you're not sure ... is it too soon for a test? Can we go get one right now? Oh ... I can't believe we're gonna have a baby!"

"Whoa, Eric ... Slow. Down. That's exactly why I didn't want to tell you until I was sure. If I'm not, now you're going to be crushed."

I'd heard her, and I knew there was a chance it could be nothing, but I was just too excited to care that there was a chance it could be a fluke.

"I love you, Sookie. Do you know how happy you've made me?"

"Baby, I know you love me and I know you're happy, but I'm only about a week and a half late. I could get my period tomorrow. It may be nothing. You get that, don't you?"

"It won't be nothing, Sookie," I insisted, stubbornly. Although I knew I could be wrong, I just couldn't face that. "Can we go get a test?"

"Right now?" she questioned, giving me a look like I was nuts. "No, not while we're here. I wanna wait till we have some privacy ... tomorrow we will, though," she assured.

I could not wait to find out if she was pregnant or not. Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough as far as I was concerned. And when tomorrow did finally come, I was given the best Christmas present I'd ever been given. We were having a baby.

The life, we'd built together over the past several months was absolutely perfect and I really hoped it remained that way forever.

Alright ... so there it is ... I hope you liked it.

It's over and it's sort of sad, but as I've said before, I am planning a sequel, but again ... a warning ... it won't be fluff at least not all of it. Eric said he hoped things remained perfect forever for a reason ... Life isn't perfect for anyone and there's gonna be a little trouble brewing in the sequel, but rest assured, they will get their HEA, it'll just take a little time, a lot of work, and ... **runs away and hides** ... maybe a little time apart to get there.

Now that I've said that ... and I really hope I haven't scared anyone off from the sequel ... the plan is to do some more outtakes and to finish Forbidden Pleasures ... so if things go as they have been, you'll be seeing a new chapter of something from me in about 28 days! LOL! I know ... it's freaky!

Oh ... and as usual, let me know what you thought!