A/N: What happened to the reviews? You guys really that mad at me? Amelia says that those that do not review will be turned into a frog. Or maybe a cat. Depending on how accurate she is. Been a while for updating because I had to travel again last week for work. This time I got to see wonderful Virginia. But I'm back home now with no plans to travel again soon, so should be able to get back into my normal pattern of posting.
25:
The only good thing about the whole Supernatural game of Telephone that was going on today, was that Sookie was having to actually face the problem. She hadn't broken down at all. What she said earlier was resonating with Quinn. She really did seem like she was 'clearer' today and more like her old self. Perhaps she had just passed the denial and depression stages and was ready to deal with it. She had better be. Nightfall was upon them and Quinn was expecting DeCastro to call himself. He doubted an underling would be calling him tonight. He wondered what other vamps would crawl out of the woodwork as well. Eric and Pam would hear almost immediately upon waking, but they would be the only ones to know the truth of the situation. Eric, with being bonded to Sookie, would be fielding a whole other type of call tonight. Quinn would be able to talk with Eric or Pam before DeCastro called any of them because they had the advantage since Louisiana was two hours ahead of Nevada timezone and sunset wise.
Quinn didn't have to wait to make the call, because Eric called him first on the disposable he had sent.
"Yes." Quinn answered.
Eric said coldly, "What the hell happened today? I have around 70 voicemails. I only listened to the first several before I realized what was going on."
"Yes, our story of Sookie and I being back together took hold too well and too fast. Sam Merlotte called Herveaux yesterday because he couldn't reach Sookie and I think Sam hinted about Sookie's condition. Alcide came here this morning and ascertained the situation himself because she got sick while he was here. He was only gone several hours before the calls started coming in to both Sookie and I offering congratulations."
"Fucking Herveaux." Eric snarled. Quinn smirked….that had been his exact statement as well.
"Also, Niall. He at least told Sookie's fairy Claudine, because she called as well. Maybe others. We aren't sure."
"Damn it." Eric said. "DeCastro will be calling us both as soon as the sun sets in Nevada."
"Yes, I expect that. We need to get our stories straight." Quinn replied.
"Well, the main story is that you and Sookie are back together. Perhaps she revealed to you she was pregnant when you came back to Louisiana?" Eric asked.
"That could work as long as Alcide didn't talk too much. Sookie told him that we had been secretly together this whole time so that Nevada wouldn't know. She was working on the fly, because she didn't know what we had already told him. Even if he did talk, it's all just gossip and rumors right now. We can try to mold it how we want it to be perceived."
"Yes." Eric agreed. "We just can't make it seem like we were keeping this from DeCastro, otherwise he will take action against us both."
"Yeah. Alcide asked about the were so we told him that Ralph only revealed that Sookie's brother owed him money. Sookie said this was believable because of the nature of her brother. You need to know in case anyone questions you about that." Quinn said, "Also, she was very adamant that Alcide not know of the involvement of the fairy, which is why she went along with the story that she and I are still together and it is my child. She does not want to seem like a woman with loose morals.
"Thank you." Eric said. "I don't think Alcide is working against us since he pledged his help. He just doesn't know when to shut his mouth and he was probably a bit jealous as well. He will owe us for this."
Quinn thought the same, "Yes, I don't think he meant any harm, but he was so surprised and resentful that he talked in spite of himself. Sookie or myself having a child would be big news, as Amelia puts it, and most will not be able to keep from gossiping. Even the witches are aware already she says. Niall could have talked to others as well."
"How far has it reached?" Eric asked.
"We aren't sure. Just from the calls we got today, we were able to determine that it has spread to most of the south east including Tennessee and Missouri. With Russell married to Indiana, that spreads it even further. If that many know, then the rest will know shortly, including Nevada."
"Hmm….it will be interesting to see how they react to this news. It might push Nevada into taking a position on me and those loyal to me. They will also believe the story that it is your child, so they will think that an asset since you are indebted to DeCastro."
"What about the fae?" Quinn asked, "They won't just sit by if DeCastro decides to take Sookie now….and Niall may know the truth that it is the fae's child and not mine. That might make his actions more extreme."
"Yes." Eric said, "We have to keep the fae out of this if we can. We do not want another war with them."
"No. That was before my time, but my father told me stories when I was young." Quinn said. He had seen a lot of bad things in his life, but the stories of the fae wars sounded even worse.
"We need to continue to watch our backs with the fae and the vamps until we know how they will all react.
"I will be in touch if DeCastro contacts me."
Eric agreed, "As will I. Take care of them."
Eric hung up and Quinn was baffled that he had said take care of them. Was he referring to Sookie and the baby, or Sookie and Amelia?
Sookie had spent the day answering calls she wanted to and avoiding the rest. She had showered and was now watching some girly show on TV with Amelia. Amelia had done some research on what can help treat morning sickness/nausea and had made one of Sookie's favorite meals. Luckily, she had managed to keep it down so far, so whatever she did for Sookie seemed to be working.
Quinn heard Amelia and Sookie giggling to what sounded like reruns of Sex and the City. He was glad. At least Sookie had cheered up a bit and was able to keep some food down today. He was really worried about her lack of appetite the past several days and how long it might have been going on before he got here on Friday night. She seemed so much thinner than when he was with her several months ago. She definitely didn't look healthy.
He walked into the living room to join them and sat down to watch the brazen show. Sookie smiled briefly at him then returned to watching the TV. She took a drink from the glass Amelia had given her and she shivered so he got up and loaded the fireplace with some of the logs he had cut earlier and lit them.
"Thanks." Sookie said. "Jason always says he'll cut wood, but he never does."
"Not a problem. Least I can do considering I'm the one who took the tree down." Quinn grabbed a blanket off the chair he was sitting on and handed it to her. "You alright?"
She nodded, "Yeah, just cold." The ice in the glass tinkled.
"You want something warm to drink?" Quinn questioned.
"No, this really seems to be helping the nausea. I'll stick with this."
"What did she make this time?" he asked.
Amelia made a disgusted sound and rolled her eyes, "It's just lemonade. I found on the internet that lemons or the smell of them even can treat nausea. I didn't DO anything to it."
"Sure." Quinn said sarcastically and Sookie managed a small giggle. At least she wasn't freaking out about the reference to majick. Perhaps she was actually feeling better.
An hour or so later Quinn's phone rang. He knew who it was before he even looked.
"Yes." He answered.
"Ah, Quinn, I've heard the most delightful news! I'm just surprised it didn't come from your own mouth!" DeCastro said.
"I apologize, your majesty. We only learned recently and did not realize that news would spread so quickly. It is bad luck to speak of it too early amongst humans, so Sookie had been keeping it to herself. I would have told you if I had known myself."
Quinn hoped that would satisfy him.
"And Sookie is now your woman again? I wonder how her bonded feels about all of this?"
Ah....the million dollar question.
"I do not know your majesty. Sookie has not seen him in a while. They were bonded against her will. I couldn't stop Andre from forcing it on Sookie. Sookie did not want it. However, he most likely knows now, with the rumors that have circulated today." Quinn answered.
"Ah, Quinn, you sound angry. Do you not care for the Viking?"
"No, sir. Frankly, I do not. Not after the danger he has put Sookie in time and again." Quinn had to come up with something and that was the best he could do.
"Still, it is odd that her bonded not know of something so intimate with how strong I saw their bond is when she saved me from Siegbert, don't you think Quinn?" DeCastro asked.
"It is very early in the pregnancy your majesty. It is only just now to the point that we could know from a home test. She has not seen a doctor as of yet. That may be why." Quinn needed to cover the fact that vampires couldn't influence Sookie as they could other humans.
"Well, can you not see how the pregnancy is affecting the bond?" DeCastro asked.
Quinn was puzzled, "Excuse me, your majesty, affecting it?"
"Ah, but that must have been why you and Miss Stackhouse have gotten so serious and taken this next step. You would be in your right to want to distance her from the Northman and what better way than to impregnate her?"
Quinn was walking in a mine field. What should he admit to? What should he ask and how should he ask it as to not give away anything?
"Your majesty, I am not sure it has any affect on the bond, but cannot be positive since Sookie has not seen Eric Northman."
DeCastro clicked his tongue, "Well, your goal must have been to weaken the bond and also to possibly have an extraordinary child!"
'Fantastic,' Quinn thought. Another supe that is thrilled about the possibilities of the child.
"Sir, I doubt the child will have any special qualities. Sookie would have to be a were for it to have any shifting abilities, and since no one else in her family has telepathy, the child will most likely not have that gift either. Also, my being a were makes complications more likely. She may not even carry the child to term. That is why she hadn't even told me. She was nervous and was being superstitious." Quinn kind of went out on a limb with that last statement, but it was worth a shot.
"Oh, nonsense, Quinn. I would be shocked if the child was just a normal boring human." DeCastro was almost purring out his r's. Why was he so damn sure, Quinn wondered?
"Sir, we are just a bit overwhelmed right now. Sookie has not been well which is what tipped us off to her pregnancy. We were not trying for this at all. We are very surprised."
"See that is interesting to know. As I said I would have thought you had done this on purpose, Quinn. After I learned of your relationship with Miss Stackhouse and her bond with the Viking I was actually expecting this outcome. I just thought I would hear it directly from you. Aren't you glad I sent you to her?"
"Like I said, Sir, I would have reported this, but we were not sure until just last night. And yes, I am very glad to be back here so that I can help Sookie in this time." Quinn didn't know how to respond to the other info that DeCastro had just revealed. Why would Quinn want to get Sookie pregnant and what did that have to do with the bond she had with Eric? Was this about breeding again? DeCastro couldn't know that Sookie was part fae, could he?
"Well, that is good to know, Quinn. I release you for the time being so you can stay with Miss Stackhouse."
"Thank you, your majesty." Quinn answered gratefully. He had no idea why he would release him. Probably because he was already doing what DeCastro wanted him to, so it was an attempt to seem magnanimous.
"Not at all. I will be in touch." Click. Vampires and their phone etiquette.
Quinn needed to find out what Sookie's pregnancy had to do with the bond with Northman. Obviously, Eric didn't know. Quinn knew someone who would though. He went back into the living room to talk to Sookie.
"Sookie," he started slowly, "I need to speak with Niall."
She immediately blanched as all the blood drained out of her face and she got that look of terror in her eyes again. Quinn moved quickly and knelt in front of her taking her hands in his. "It's okay, Sookie. You don't have to see him yourself. I just need to find out some information. Some things DeCastro said aren't making sense and I think that he would be able to tell me more."
She swallowed and Quinn could see her eyes growing watery, but she nodded and pointed to her cell phone sitting on the end table.
"It will be okay, babe. I promise." He gave her hands a squeeze and stood up to retrieve her phone. "I'll go in the kitchen. Okay?" She nodded again and turned her head back to the TV, but he could tell she wasn't really watching it.
Quinn looked up the number and dialed it. It went to the messaging service, and Quinn left a message for Niall to call him back on his own phone.
Not even five minutes passed before Quinn's phone vibrated in his pocket.
"Yes?" Quinn answered.
"You called?" Niall said.
"Yes. News has spread of Sookie's condition and I got a call from DeCastro and some of the things he said have left me puzzled." Quinn said.
"Okay. What would that be?"
"He talked about how this was not a surprise to him and wondered how the pregnancy was affecting the bond she has with Northman. Any thoughts on this?" Quinn rumbled. His temper was flaring at having to talk with Niall and remain civil.
"That is interesting that he would know that. There are few that do. I did not myself until recently."
"What do you mean?" Quinn was having a hard time keeping his voice under control.
"How to get rid of the bond, of course. I knew Sookie was forced into it but knew of no other alternative than killing Eric to rid her of it, and she did not want that. After doing some research, I found that a bond can possibly be weakened or gotten rid of entirely if the woman becomes pregnant."
Quinn was furious. How could he be so nonchalant about something so important to Sookie's life!?
He growled, "When exactly were you going to tell her about this? Or me for that matter?"
"I didn't see the point. It apparently doesn't work all of the time, something to do with the strength of the blood of the father. Why are you asking? Is the bond actually fading?" He was chipper. The son-of-a-bitch was chipper!
"I'm asking because she has a right to know! Why didn't you tell me the other night?" Quinn yelled. He could sense that Amelia and Sookie were now in the kitchen behind him, having come in when he started yelling. He didn't care though.
"Now, now, Quinn, is yelling necessary? You should be happy! Not only do you have Sookie back and a child on the way, but also her bond with the vampire could disappear! Things are working out perfectly for you two."
"You didn't think we should know now that she IS pregnant!?" he growled.
"I would have told you eventually. I didn't want to get your hopes up if it did not work. I was so surprised at your news that it completely escaped me on Saturday night." He cooed.
Surprised my ass, Quinn thought. Quinn was about to start laying into Niall again, prince or not, when he heard glass shatter behind him. He whirled around to see that Sookie had dropped her glass and was crumpling to the floor. Quinn dropped the phone and moved fast enough to catch her before she hit the ground. "Sookie? Sookie? What's wrong?" he asked panicked. She let out a whimper and clutched at her stomach. Oh fuck, he smelled blood. Sookie was bleeding.