I Remember You

Chapter 25

Flashback: Sookie's Dream Sequence

This is a little side chapter to let you see what happened while Sookie was 'sleeping' on Niall's lap. The chapter will not be told in the point of view of either character. They are just enjoying each other's company as a grandfather and granddaughter would. I'd also like to thank you for your reading and reviewing. I hope that you enjoy.

I'd also like to state that I do not own any of the main characters. They all belong to Ms. Charlaine Harris. This disclaimer goes for all future and past chapters that I forget to include with the disclaimer.

When she went to sleep, she was on the couch with her head on her grandfather's lap. The thoughts of Eric and Claudine were swirling through her sleeping mind. Her dreams were filled with the images of their faces and the pain of the sacrifices made for her. She shamed herself for always thinking that Eric never put her first. She dreamt of each instance when Eric dropped everything and anything that he was doing just for her.

She thought of him killing Long Shadow. She knew that he'd done it but she believed he'd done it because Long Shadow was stealing from him, not because he wanted her. She then realized that Bill did nothing to stop it. He stood back and watched as Long Shadow lunged at her. He did nothing. Eric did though. He was always thinking of her.

The images of how frantic he looked when he discovered why Charles Twining was really in his area …to kill Sookie. The way he continued to call Merlotte's to try and warn her but Charles kept answering the phone. She felt even worse when Niall showed her the images of what Eric suffered through when Victor wouldn't let him come to her when Neave and Lochlan held her captive. They silvered him. They tortured him and yet and still, he fed her his blood so that she could heal. His wellbeing was never a concern. It was always for her.

Everything he'd ever done was for her.

She dreamt of Niall telling her how Eric has always fought for her. He has always loved her and he was not the only one. She dreamt of how Niall told her that Claudine died for her. Sookie's body was racked with guilt and pain. Not just because Claudine died for her but because of the baby that died in the name of Sookie Stackhouse. That was the baby that Claudine had always wanted and because of her, it was gone. This is something that she would have to live with for the rest of her life. Another death had been placed at her feet.

"How can you forgive me for killing her, Niall? How can you forgive me for killing a full fae female? She was pregnant and she gave her life and the life of her unborn child for me. The numbers of our people are dwindling down to nothing and they died for me. I was not worth her life. I'm nobody. I'm nothing. How can you say that you love me?" Sookie cried tears of grief and guilt. The dream was beginning to feel all too real.

"Hush, child. Don't speak such nonsense. You are more than you realize. In time, you will see. Claudine's death was not in vain. You lie here and rest. Let your grandpa sing you to sleep. Close your eyes and let me take away your worries even if only for a little while." Niall hummed his lulling song as he continued to caress her sleepy head. It did not go unnoticed by him when she said 'our' people. She has accepted what she is and where she comes from. He did what he had always wanted to do. He filled her with the magic of her kin.

And she could feel his magic pouring through her. The magic was slowly taking the place of the grief and the guilt that she was feeling. For just a second, she thought that she could feel Claudine. She could feel Claudine touching her hand and telling her that everything was going to be okay. When she opened her eyes, there she stood. She was beautiful; just as beautiful as she was the last time Sookie saw her. Sookie wanted to reach for her and hold Claudine in her arms. She wanted to sit with her cousin and talk about nothing and everything but what she really wanted to do was apologize.

Sookie whimpered a soft, "Please, forgive me."

"All is quiet," was the whisper that Sookie heard. Just as the words left her lips, Claudine faded away. It was all just a dream. No more than a silly girl's dream.

After all was said and done, the grief and guilt eased from Sookie's mind. When she finally 'awakened', she noticed how bright the living room had gotten all of a sudden. Oh and the smell; the smell was divine. Maybe Niall had gone out to get them something to eat. Snicker doodles; she had always loved snicker doodles. That's not a very healthy dinner but there's nothing wrong with having a snack; especially with your grandfather.

When she sat up, Sookie got the surprise of her life. She was not in the living room. She was no longer lying on the couch. Her head wasn't on Niall's lap. There were no snicker doodles anywhere. She wasn't at home. She was somewhere else. And that somewhere else was beautiful and it felt like home. The only thing that was missing was Eric.

They were sitting by a clear running stream with the smallest of waterfalls. It was the prettiest turquoise blue she'd ever seen. Dragonflies flitted over the cool blue water. The mist swirled around the beautiful flowers that danced around the stream. Dandelions, daffodils, tulips, lilies; every flower that she could possibly have imagined was dancing around the stream. Hummingbirds danced from flower to flower. Bees buzzed as if they were seeing their first flower. They were the most exotic flowers she'd ever seen. Oh, and the colors; they were magnificent. Pinks, emerald greens, amethysts, and sapphire blues. Her favorite colors were the yellows ...no the orange, pink, and different shades of purple ...she laughed with her hands to her mouth. They were all so beautiful she just couldn't decide which color was her favorite. She finally decided that they were all her favorite. There were just so many colors but what really caught her attention was the water. She wanted to play in the water.

She turned to look at Niall and he smiled at her. Her eyes were begging him to let her go and play. His eyes were the eyes of a man meeting his grandchild for the very first time.

"Go on, my child," he said. "Enjoy the brook of your home. Enjoy the enchanted woods. You've never felt anything like it."

Without a second's hesitation, Sookie was wading in the water of the stream. It felt amazing. It wasn't cold or warm. It was just right. Sookie stooped down and started splashing herself with the water. She was giggling like a child with a new toy. She twirled around and smiled. This was the most realistic dream she'd ever had. She bent down to pick one of the flowers and found that she did not want to take it from its resting spot; its home. She only wanted to smell it and it was divine. She leaned down and it inhaled the flowers sweet scent. It smelled like snicker doodles. Sookie jumped up and down with delight.

Niall had never seen a lovelier sight.

As she danced and twirled in the stream, the birds and the butterflies began to circle around the girl's head. She stopped twirling long enough to notice and she was even more amazed than before. They were singing to her; the birds and the butterflies. The birds did not chirp as they do at home. They sounded like the wind chimes that used to hang on Maxine Fortenberry's back porch. She could almost hear their voices. The butterflies, their music came from their wings. The wind was playing a melodic tune with each flutter.

She slowly reached for one of the butterflies or the birds. She didn't care which. She just hoped that she could touch just one. She did not expect any of them to come to her but she got the surprise of her life. The whitest bird landed on her finger. He continued to sing to her as the others quieted down. She laughed and looked at Niall. He stared at her in amazement.

The animals of the realm have never been accepting of the residents here. It always takes a little extra coaxing to get them to come to the people of their land. They would have to be bribed with fruits or other goodies before they would allow the faeries to touch them; much less perch upon a faery's finger. Sookie had to do nothing other than stand there and smile. Niall knew he was right about her all along. She is 'the one'. The essential spark lives on in her.

The bird settled on her finger and continued to sing. As he sang to her, she petted him; gently and lovingly. She continued to eye the bird with an adoring smile. "You're beautiful. You have the most enchanting eyes." When she looked into his eyes, she was lost in them. It was almost as if he could see to the soul of her. He knew her every secret and didn't care. He was going to be hers for always. The bird reminded her so much of Eric. He continued to let her pet him as he sang his song to her.

"He likes you," Niall said.

Sookie looked at Niall and nodded her head, "I know, right?" She turned her attention back to the bird. "Are you my bird?" she asked him in a baby voice. "Are you my bird?" she asked once again.

The bird hopped onto her shoulder and continued to sing.

Niall filled the wooded area with his happiness. "I guess he is your bird."

She turned her head to face the little bird that sitting on her shoulder and said, "I guess, I'll have to give you a name. What will I name you?" She looked in the bird's eyes and they were the bluest of blues. They were kind and loving. They were sad and lonely. They'd seen so much and he had no one to share his adventures with. She knew exactly what she was going to name him.

"I'll name you Eric2. Do you like that?"

The bird sang even louder than before.

"Then that's your name; Eric2." She held her finger out for him and he hopped on it. She kissed his little white head and said to him, "Fly away."

Eric2 chirped as he left to continue his journey. Sookie waded in the water as she watched him. Sookie watched as the birds followed Eric2 to their unknown place. She couldn't believe how magnificent those creatures were. They were so magical and they took to her so easily. It's almost as if they belonged to her. Once they were out of sight, she went to sit by her grandfather's side.

"Forgive me for acting like such a kid," she said to him. "I just had to get in the water. I couldn't help it. It was so inviting. Now I'm all wet …" When she looked down, there wasn't a drop of water on her. She looked at Niall; mesmerized. "Why are my clothes not wet? I splashed water all over myself."

"You're in the realm, Sookie. Nothing is at it is in the earthly realm. There's so much more here for you."

She dropped to her knees and kneeled at her grandfather's side. "I'm in Faery? I thought that I couldn't come here because I'm not pure fae. I thought that it was closed off to me; to all of the earthbound faeries. The ones that live her, don't they hate me?" She was suddenly filled with fear. "What if they find me here? They will try to kill ..."

Niall shook his head no. "You have nothing to worry about, dear one. The realm is never closed off to you. You are a Brigant. This is your home. It is closed off to the others because they chose to stay in the earthly world. They were told that if they were to return to our world they could never go back. They made their decision and that is where they will stay. It'll never be closed off to you. You're special. And never fear my child; here, you are forever safe. Your enemies have been killed."

Sookie let her hand brush over the grass. She inhaled the scent of the snicker doodle flowers. She held her face up to the sky and let the light of the fae shine down on her face. She let the wind kiss her lips. "This is my home," she said more to herself than to anyone in particular. She opened her eyes and looked at Niall. Sadness had crept into her eyes. "But not Eric's?" she asked. She knew the answer to that question before Niall opened his mouth.

"It is not." The sadness in her eyes destroyed his heart. "Come, sit with me, my child," he said as he offered Sookie his hand. He would make things better. He would make her realize that there was so much more for her in Faery. He could make it better. Niall always made things better.

When she touched Niall's hand, something happened to her. The magic from earlier had intensified. She was no longer plain old Sookie Stackhouse. She was something more. She was Niall. She was Claudine. She was Fintan. She was new ...almost.

"What just happened to me?"

Niall only laughed. "Don't concern yourself with that. It will come to pass soon enough. Do you like it here?"

"I do," she said silently; almost guiltily. This place is so beautiful, so peaceful." Still on her knees and holding her grandfather's hand, Sookie continued to talk. "This place is like nothing I've ever seen before. Though, I've never been here, I feel welcomed here. It's almost as if I belong here. I don't belong anywhere else but here. That is what I feel." She held her head down as she thought of Eric once more.

"You can stay here if you want. You will never have to leave. You will never have to worry. All of your fears will be gone. You will be carefree and happy for the rest of your days. All of this is yours." Niall used his free hand as a guide so that Sookie could see all that belongs to her. "You are a Brigant. You are member of the royal family. I am the Prince of the Fae. This is my home therefore it is your home; a home that you will never have to leave, a home that is filled with security just for you. You will forever be safe here. You will never have to be ashamed of who you are or what you can do. Your differences make you more extraordinary than the rest. You will be loved and respected here. You will be cherished and treated as the princess that you are. You will forever be revered. "

Eric is the name that kept playing through her mind. Niall saw it in her eyes.

Sookie crawled across the ground to her grandfather. Once she was where she wanted to be, she laid her head on his lap once again. She faced the stream as she thought of her husband. "I know that you mean well and I thank you for that. Thank you, grandpa. Thank you for bringing me here and letting me know that this is my home but I can't stay here. My home is with Eric. My home has always been with him. It will always be with him."

Niall already knew that. "He is a good man and he does love you. As vampires go, you could do a lot worse. Let's speak of happy things such as your wedding." He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Now tell me child, what do you want as a wedding gift? Anything that your heart desires, you will have."

"Anything?" she asked with a hint of surprise in her voice.

"Anything," Niall said.

Sookie closed her eyes as many thoughts ran through her mind. There was so much that she and Eric needed. They needed help with Felipe and Sandy but there was no way that she could drag the faeries into a war that was not theirs. That would be very selfish her. She has never expected others to fight her battles and she wasn't going to have them do it now. This was a war that she and Eric would have to get through without the help of the fae and whatever happens, happens. They didn't need anything that was materialistic. They had their emotional state under control. She couldn't think of anything that they needed.

"You truly love him?"

"I do. I've never loved anyone as I love him. I can't imagine living without him. I don't think that I could live without him." She removed herself from her grandfather's lap and she lay on her stomach, using her elbows to prop herself up. "Have you ever loved anyone that much? So much that you would do anything to be with them? So much that you would do anything to make them happy? You love them so much that you forget about your own happiness. Their love fills you completely in every way and you never want to be empty again. You know that if they have done that to you, you can only imagine what you've done to them. To keep those feelings going, you'd do anything to keep them happy. In the end, their happiness always wins out. That's what Eric does to me, grandpa. He makes me happy. He makes feel whole. When I'm with Eric, I just feel so good inside."

Niall looked at Sookie and he knew exactly what she meant. He has loved someone like that. He has gone so far as to plan on taking the one that he loved for himself. Not as a lover; not yet, but as a protégé'. He wanted to protect her. He wanted to give the one that he loves a life of security and love that he felt only he could give to her. There was so much waiting for her on the other side if he could take her as his own. He wanted her to start over with a new life of hope and dreams. He wanted to wipe the memory of her from everyone's mind that had ever known her. They would never know the joy of knowing her or the joy of loving her. They don't deserve to love her or to know her. They haven't earned that right.

"I have," was all that he said.

Sookie returned to her head to her grandpa's lap. "Isn't it a great feeling to love someone that much and to know that they love you just as much … if not more?"

"It is," he said softly. He could feel the tears begin to form in his eyes. "So," he said rather abruptly. "Have you decided on what you want as a wedding gift?"

She yawned. "You're going to think that I'm nuts." She giggled.

"I would never think that of you. You are a Brigant. We have never been a family of nuts. We are extraordinary creatures; creatures of power and grace." Sookie turned around and looked at Niall with a smile covering her face. "You remember that. WE are like no others."

Sookie filled the enchanted woods with laughter. "You are too much, grandpa. You are just too much."

"So I've been told. Now, tell me your heart's desire. What would make you the happiest? If you could have anything in this world and the other, what would it be?" he asked.

"Chance, happiness," they were the only words that came to mind.

Niall caressed her head and asked, "What does that mean?"

"I don't know," she said with a shrug of her shoulders. "I want to be given a chance. A chance to make decisions for myself; I want to fuck up …sorry …I want to be able to make my own mistakes without someone else being involved. I want to be given a chance to manage my telepathy and not be seen as a freak or to be called 'Crazy Sookie'. I want to be something more than a barmaid. I want to make my own decisions without them being made for me. I just want a fair chance at happiness. I want to be given a fair chance at life. That's all I've ever wanted really." She yawned once again. "I have never been given that."

Niall sat in silence. He pondered the wish that his granddaughter presented to him. It was a possible gift. He had to be sure that she was sure of what she was asking for. There is much that has to be done when granting a wish of this magnitude; things that she's not aware of come with a wish such as this. She had to be sure that this is what she wanted. Things would change drastically. There will be changes that won't just affect her but everyone in her life.

"Are you willing to do anything to be given this chance …regardless of the sacrifices that have to be made? You must think this through before you answer. When rash decisions are made, one's life can be filled with many regrets."

Sookie nodded and yawned, "Yeah; anything." She didn't think it through at all.

Niall became a little frustrated with her quick and thoughtless answer. He could not bear to make such changes to her life without her thinking things through. She reminded him so much of his son, Fintan. He was always quick to act but never one to think things through. If the opportunity presented itself, he took it. This was a trait that Niall had always wanted to wish away but you can't wish away what's a part of you. Irrationality is such a frustrating trait and Sookie just confirmed that it is hereditary; genetics be damned.

"Think before you speak, my child. Once you make this decision, there is no going back. Many may suffer. The pain would be unbearable for some. Death will come for one." Niall made sure to emphasize all that was sure to come with a wish such as the one that Sookie wanted. "It has never been my way to sugar coat things for my loved ones. I need to make sure that you are aware of what you are asking."

Sookie snuggled into her grandpa's lap. "What is there for me to think about, grandpa? We both know how it's going to end for me. My chances of a happily ever after are not real. Felipe and Freyda will win. My vampires and I will fade into that good night. I've always known that I was not meant for a happy life. Just to be able to believe that a chance at happiness might be possible for me is enough. Possibility and hope are all that I have now." Sookie sighed and closed her eyes once more.

Niall could feel her despair and her angst. He knew that she was frightened at what lies in wait for her. She puts on a brave face but the pain and uncertainty were more than the young fae should bear. At that very second, Niall knew that he would do anything for her. For the first time in his thousands of years, he was going to be the one to make the rash decision.

"Then so it shall be," he said. He began to hum and caress her sleepy head once more. "Many will forget; the faithful and the true will remember. One has to realize that true happiness comes from within. You can't lose who you are. Your past is your path to a better future."

"Thanks, grandpa. Thanks for just letting me believe that it's possible. This is the best dream. It's almost time for Eric to rise," she said sleepily. "You will congratulate him as well? That would please me. You will tell him that you are happy for us? That you want us to marry?"

"Hush, child and rest," Niall said. Before he spoke his final words to her, he kissed her. "You won't see me again until your wedding night but know that I will be there for you at any time before then if you need me. You'll only remember that my gift to you and your vampire is a lifetime of happiness. You'll only remember my gift of happiness. I love you, my child."

"I love you, grandpa," she said as her body fell into the slow rhythm of sleep.

Tears fell from Niall's eyes as his mind went back to Sookie's earlier question; 'Have you ever loved someone so much that you would do anything for them?' The sweet faery tears continued to fall from his eyes and into her hair. How can he bear to lose the one that he loved more than his own kin; even Claudine? How can he go through the rest of his life and not see her again? She is of his blood. She made him feel as if he has never done anything wrong. She made him feel like the best grandpa in the world. She made him feel as if the light of the fae shines when he rises.

Niall continued to cry as he hummed to his sleeping grandchild. He didn't cry like this when he'd lost his son or his granddaughter. If he didn't love her as much as he does, he would do devilish things to the vampires. He wanted them all to forget that they'd known her. He wanted to wipe her completely from their memories. He wanted to take all of the joy and the love that she had given to them away. They didn't deserve her life or a glimpse of her soul. He then thought what he tried to avoid. He would have to do the same to her. He would have to wipe the vampires completely from her mind. He could not bestow upon her a life of not knowing her true love ...ever. He could not do it to the vampire.

Eric did not deserve such treatment. Sookie definitely did not deserve a punishment such as that.

'He is an honorable man,' Niall thought. 'How could I ever say that I love her if I am willing to take all that she loves away without a thought or a care?'

Over and over in his mind he heard her voice: 'Do you know what it's like, grandpa, to love someone so much that you forget about your own happiness? In the end, their happiness always wins out.'

Niall cried as he caressed his beloved granddaughter's head. 'Yes; my dearest Sookie. I know what it's like.'

Sookie's happiness has won out.