Hi there,

Hope you had a nice weekend, mine was, although it was really hot outside.

Here it is the new chapter.

Hope you like it.

:K

Chapter 25

Sookie POV

When Eric said they'd go to inspect the area, I panicked, and although I wanted to go with them, I knew I could not. My priorities had changed since I found out I was pregnant, and even knowing I couldn't have picked a worse moment to bring a baby into this world, I would protect him at all costs.

"They should have come back by now." I hadn't moved from the window since I saw the Jeep disappearing, and Amy was at my side the whole time. "I knew that I had to go with them."

"And what about the baby?"

I stared at her with my mouth and eyes wide open. "Do you know about the baby?" I asked, whispering. "How?"

"Jessica told me." She answered no more, shrugging.

"And how did she know?"

"Does it matter?" I couldn't help rolling my eyes. Was it necessary to answer a question with another question? "Sookie, never mind. The important thing is that a baby is growing inside you, and we're going to help you so everything goes well."

"I appreciate that, but it's not necessary. Besides, Eric and I want to keep it a secret. At least for a while."

"For how long do you think you'll be able to keep it a secret, Sookie?" She was right. "As much as you try, not even Eric's t-shirts will hide the obvious."

"The problem is that I don't know how Pam and Felicia are going to react." I fell down on the bed, my face into my hands. "I don't want them to feel displaced or stop talking to me."

"Sookie, that's not gonna happen." She assured me. "But you better tell them soon." I nodded. "Sookie, I think you're assuming the worst, and I'm sure it won't be as bad as it looks. They're two adorable girls, very smart, and they'll understand perfectly." She sat beside me on the bed and hugged me. "Everything will be fine, Sookie, you'll see. Very soon you will have a beautiful baby to love and protect, because it'll be the most important to you. It'll be the center of your life."

"Do you speak from experience?" I asked, pulling away from her and looking into her eyes. "Do you have kids?"

"I was pregnant once, but it did not work." She confessed, whispering and with tears in her eyes. "But let's not talk about that. You'll have a healthy and gorgeous baby, Sookie, and that's all that matters."

"I know, but I'm scared."

"It's normal, sweetheart. But you're not alone. You have a good man at your side who will take care of you, and we're gonna help you too."

"Even Bill Compton?" I asked, wrinkling my nose, and we laughed.

Maybe I just needed to relax a little, because after talking to Amy, I felt calmer. And I decided, as soon as Eric returned, we would tell the girls that I'm pregnant. I wouldn't like them to find out by someone else. They deserve to hear the truth from our lips.

I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I remember is hearing Eric's voice whispering in my ear.

"Hey baby," and a second later his lips were kissing my forehead.

"Eric…" I muttered, blinking several times until my eyes were completely open. "I'm sorry, I fell asleep…" He grinned at me, brushing the hair off my face. "What happened? Was everything alright?" I was alert, worried that something had hurt him, and checking out he wasn't damaged.

"I'm fine, baby." But I had the feeling he was hiding something from me.

"Eric, what's the matter?" I insisted.

"We had a little problem with Jessica, that's all. But nothing serious happened, Sookie. I promise." Still, I wanted to know, and I just kept looking at Eric's eyes until he continued. "We saw zombies and we had to hide."

"My god…"

"No, calm down. They were on the road, guess on their way to somewhere." That did not reassure me. "Jessica got scared and Bill mocked at her. She took the gun and pointed at him, she was ready to kill him, but I managed to convince her not to."

"That explains why Compton has not opened his mouth to spit out one of his sarcastic comments." I muttered. "But I can't believe the zombies are so close to us. I've become used to the quiet we have here, and…"

"They don't approach the woods, Sookie. Don't worry about that."

I wish his words had helped me to reassure me, but I just could think of a simple noise or smell might lead them to us. What would we do then?

"I didn't want to tell you any of this. You need to rest and not to get stressed, and I…" But I cut him off quickly.

"Eric, I want to know what happens around me, you know? No secrets. I am pregnant but I can still listen."

"I just wish you and the baby to be safe."

"We are. Thanks to the brave father." And it was then when I told him what I had decided. "Speaking of the baby, I believe we need to talk with Pam and Felicia as soon as possible. Amy and Jessica already know, and…"

"I know." He interrupted me. "We were looking for supplies in one of the cars and I saw a baby seat. I decided to leave it in there, but Jessica said we'd need it and then I realized she already knew everything."

"Yeah, Amy told me."

"Guess the rumor will spread like wildfire, so the sooner we talk to the girls, the better." I couldn't agree more. "When do you want to do it?"

"Tomorrow morning. They fell asleep on the couch and I prefer they rest as long as possible."

"Very well."

Eric started kissing me but I felt a little uncomfortable. "Eric, we can't…" I whispered, feeling his lips on my neck. "We are not alone…"

"We won't make a noise." Was his reply.

"Eric…"

But his lips on mine silenced me, making me to completely forget the people at the other side of the door.

"Let me take care of everything, baby." Eric was in control, laying me down on the bed and hovering over me, supporting his weight on the elbows. "I've missed you, beautiful girl…" he whispered in my ear before kissing it. "I love you, Sookie."

"I love you too."

Passionate kisses, caresses that provoke me goosebumps, and a pleasure that ran through my whole body like an electric current.

"Oh Eric…do not stop…"

He introduced slowly in me, making me to groan although I was trying not to, by even biting his shoulder.

"Let yourself go, my angel, I won't let you fall…"

"Oh Eric!" I whisper yelled, getting lost in the wave of pleasure that hit me whenever I felt him moving inside me. "Don't stop…please… Don't stop!" I screamed, and Eric covered my mouth with his hand.

"I love you, baby, but if you keep screaming this will end before starting." I nodded, and my eyes rolled when he began thrusting me hard. "Relax and enjoy." He whispered, giving me one of his crooked smiles that I liked so much.

Slight moans and an occasional gasp, but fortunately we weren't interrupted. Eric and I reached orgasm at the same time, falling on the bed in a sweaty tangle of arms and legs that occupied most of the space in the bed, while we both were trying to catch our breath.

"I love you, baby." Eric murmured, clinging to my body, and kissing the back of my shoulder.

"Mmmm…" It was all I could answer before falling asleep again.

Victor POV

I ordered no one bothered me when we got back to the mansion, and if anyone dared, they would pay dearly.

I was standing in my office, watching the white sheet stained with blood that contained my Lorena's remains.

"Who did this to you?" I murmured, stroking the little hair that remained on her head. She no longer looked like her, but I couldn't stop staring at her, trying to find something that reminded me of the woman she had been when she was alive. Her beauty had faded, and her precious brown eyes were now empty, lifeless. "I will find Compton, and I'll make him pay for this. I know it was him who did this to you, and I promise that his actions will not go unpunished."

Her dead body was half eaten and dismembered, but I did not feel disgust or revulsion at any time. She is my Lorena, the woman I felt something I had never felt for a woman, and I had to wait for the apocalypse to find and lose her at the same time.

Someone knocking on the door interrupted the memories I was recalling about my beloved. Yes, I allowed her to have sex with other men because she liked to experiment, but I always knew I was the only for her.

"Come in."

John Quinn opened the door and stood in front of me, looking into my eyes and without staring at Lorena's remains.

"What?" I snapped. I wasn't happy with him, in fact, I was furious. Quinn had been stupid enough to let those bitches to deceive him and escaped the mansion. And most importantly, Bill Compton had left with them. The coward!

"We have traced the truck locator to a nearby forest area, but we can't know exactly the place where it is. There is interference, so it's impossible to be sure. And we can't go outside to look for them, it's too dangerous."

"I know it's dangerous, stupid!" Quinn did not hesitate, not even moved. "I want those bitches back, did you understand? They are my property, and everyone does what I say because I'm in charge." I walked around the sheet, staring at Lorena's wide eyes, and sitting on the desk. "Find Compton! He is responsible for this," I added, pointing to the rotting corpse of my dreamed woman. "But don't kill him. Bring him intact to me, understood?"

"Yes, sir."

"How did they escape?"

"I wasn't the only one drugged. Those bitches are smart, sir, but they couldn't do it alone. Someone helped them."

"Amy Burley." I muttered.

"I thought she was Compton's sex toy."

"None of that." I chuckled. "Bill was never able to break her, she rebelled at every second, and I guess in the end it was easier to live with that attitude than to fight." I got up from the desk and walked to the window, watching the sun shining outside. "I should never allow him to keep her, I knew she'd be a problem."

"It's possible Compton has already taken care of that problem." I turned around and looked at him with an arched eyebrow.

"No, I doubt it. Bill Compton is a stupid, yes, but if he escaped with all of them, he wouldn't risk making a mistake that meant his death. Amy and the others are still alive, and it's better like that, because when we find them, they all will know exactly where they fit in this bright new world."

"As you order, sir."

"Go now. I want to be alone."

Quinn left without another word, and I sat down on the floor, stroking her hair before several strands fell between my fingers. She was decomposing, at least what was left of her.

"I will avenge your death, my love." And I kissed her lips.

Eric POV

I think I had never been as scared in my life as I was at this very moment.

Pam and Felicia were sitting on the couch, watching us expectantly, while Sookie and I briefly looked at each other, trying to find the best way to explain the situation.

"How bad is it?" Pam asked.

"What?" Not very smart to answer a question with another, but I couldn't think of anything better at the time.

"Whatever you two have to tell us. It must be horrible if you are so nervous and not able to talk." She was right. Sookie was pale and seemed about to faint. "What's it about?"

"We love you two so much." Sookie started. "And we have to say something very important, but really, we love you and…"

"Are you two dying?" Felicia interrupted, with tears in her eyes.

"No!" I hurried to answer, clutching Sookie's hand in mine. "Baby, it's not something bad, I promise. It's important you two know that we love you because very soon…" I looked sideways at Sookie, and I saw her nodding. I'd have to do it myself, after all. "You both are like our daughters, and we want to tell you that soon you are going to have a brother or sister."

There, I said it. Now there was only waiting for their reaction. Would there be tears? Shouts maybe? Whatever it was, at least we had told them the truth, and they hadn't heard it by someone else.

"So…are you pregnant?" Pam asked, looking at her sister.

"Yeah, I'm expecting a baby." Sookie clarified.

I don't know if it was a matter of seconds, minutes or hours before anyone uttered a word, but when Felicia said with a smile that she'd take care of her new brother or sister, Sookie and I breathed easier.

"Can I feel the baby?" Asked the little girl, still grinning.

I left them both alone in the bedroom, with Felicia placing her hand on Sookie's belly, while Pam and I sat on the porch steps, enjoying the warmth of the first rays of morning sun. Neither of us spoke, because I wasn't even sure if there was something to say.

"Are you okay with this?" I felt like a fool to ask her that question, but I couldn't think of anything better to say. "I know… Sookie and I didn't play to have a baby, but it's happened and…"

"I understand." She cut me off.

"And…what do you think?"

She shrugged, but it wasn't enough for me. "Don't you think it's dangerous to go out there with a baby? Zombies feel attracted by noise, and when the baby cries…"

"I know. Believe me, I've thought about it many times, but I'm also happy because it is a good thing. Pam, the world in which we live has gone to hell, yeah, but good things can still happen, and that's something we have to cling to with all our strength."

"It's the end of the world, Eric…"

"Only if we want it to be." She looked at me, terrified. "This baby is the future, and one day he or she will need two sisters to keep living in this world, if nothing changes, Pam. We, Sookie and I, will not be here forever, but you two will grow up, you'll become courageous women, and my child, will become a good person thanks to you both."

Pam was crying, tears were running down her cheeks, but she did not try to hide them at any time.

"You two, and the baby, are our legacy. The future we'll leave in this planet, and I need to know that you will take care of each other."

She looked at me with red eyes but smiling. "I promise you, Eric. I'll take care of Felicia, and the baby as well."

I hugged her, and she wasn't the only one crying. It was special to share this moment with Pam, who understood perfectly what I meant, and that she made that promise. It was as if an enormous weight was lifted from my shoulders, and at least I could be sure that whatever happened, there would be a future for our children.

"Bitch! I'll kill you!"

I ran to the back to find out what was happening, and I saw two women, one with brown hair with a cut on her face, and a redhead holding a knife in her hand.

"What the fuck is going on here?!" I yelled, and they both froze. "Are you two fucking insane?" Pam was beside me, with her hand near the gun that she had insisted on carrying with her always.

"She stole my shirt!" The redhead shouted.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Sophie-Anne."

"Sophie-Anne, what the fuck you think you're doing?" She glared at me, but I snatched the knife from her hand.

"Hey, that's mine!"

"No! The guns are to defend ourselves from the zombies and not to attack to each other." I helped the other girl up, and told Pam to accompany her inside. "I don't know what your problem is, or she stole something from you. I don't care, do you understand? We don't do things like that here, we don't behave like wild animals attacking others. It was one of the conditions Sookie and I set so you all could stay with us, but I promise you that I will do whatever is necessary to maintain order."

"Are you going to kill me?" She walked toward me, chuckling, and I even think she was flirting with me. "You're too good for that. We all of us in here know that, and you wouldn't kill a defenseless woman."

"I don't think you're as helpless as you try to pretend." She laughed, and stopped when we were face to face.

"Amelia, that damn thief," she said, referring to the other girl, "she deserved it. She thinks she can touch my things like that, but it's not. That cut on her face was a warning. But if she tries again, I'll have to cut her something else." I grabbed her by the arm when she tried to leave.

"Be careful, Sophie-Anne, because we don't want problems, and you are a troublemaker. I'm a good person, until someone provokes me, and I will not hesitate to do the right thing."

She smiled, stroking my chin with her finger. "You're too cute to bear the weight of the whole world on your shoulders."

"Pay attention, Sophie-Anne." I got rid of her hand, and forced her to look into my eyes, as if I were able to hypnotize her. "I will not put a bullet in your head, if that's what you're thinking, but I'll take care of you otherwise. In that mansion, surrounded by guards, you had to follow rules, and it's the same here. If you become a problem for me, I'll do whatever in my hand to solve it. I will leave you at those beats' mercy, and I'll stay there watching while they eat you."

"Have you finished?" The smile had disappeared from her face.

"Yeah."

"Then let me go. We have nothing more to talk." I did, and she vanished into the cabin.

I hated to threaten someone, let alone a woman. I loathed being the bad guy, but unfortunately I had no other choice. Sophie-Anne behaved like a brat, jealous because someone else had touched something that she considered hers.

"Thank you." When I walked inside I saw Pam and Amelia sitting on the couch.

"You're welcome." I walked into the bedroom, but the young girl stopped me.

"I don't know why Sophie-Anne behaved that way. She's stupid, but she had never done anything like that." I nodded, but said nothing about it. "In the mansion, things were different. We had to behave or we were punished, and I guess now that we're free, she thinks she can do whatever she wishes."

"I don't want any trouble here," I murmured. "I hope you understand."

"I do. But you must also understand that we are a lot in here, and there will always be fights. You can't change that."

"I'll do whatever it takes."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"I will not leave you here, do you hear me?" I stroked her cheek, promising her that I'd stay until the end.

It is a dream. It has to be.

"Eric, you gotta go. This is the end. You have to protect them." I looked toward the corner where Pam and Felicia were hugging each other, crying. "You have to save them, and move on."

"No, I can't, Sookie." Tears didn't allow me to see, and even though I wiped them off with my hand, kept falling and falling. "You are my other half. I can't go on without you."

"You must to." She said firmly. "It's the only solution. They are gonna need you." She added, looking down at our daughter's face. A daughter. We had just had a daughter, and she was beautiful. "Adele needs her father."

"She also needs her mother." I insisted. "I can save you, Sookie. I'll take you with us."

"I've been bitten, Eric. There is no going back."

"No!" I shouted, desperate. Deep down I knew Sookie was right, but I refused to accept reality. She is my life, why should I give up? "We are a family, baby. I love you, and I'm going to take care of you."

"No, you can't change what happened to me, Eric. Take Adele and the girls out of here. I don't want them to see it, they don't have to be present when it's all over." I nodded, but I gave the baby to Pam.

"Take care of your sister, I'll go soon."

For a moment none of us moved, but Pam nodded and they finally left.

"What are you doing? You have to take care of them."

"I will, Sookie. I promise you. But I will not leave you here alone."

"I love you, Eric…"

"I love you too…"

I laid beside her on the ground, staining myself with her blood, and looking into her eyes. I placed my hand on her cheek, stroking her and smiling. I was sunk, but I would not let my last moments with her to be sad and dramatic. If this was the end, if it really was, I'd take advantage of every second that was granted to me with her.

"Do you remember the day we met?" I whispered, and she gave me a slight smile. "I thought I had died and was looking to angel. Seeing you was like finding a ray of hope at the end of a dark tunnel. And when I kissed you for the first time, I felt I didn't want to stay away from you, ever."

"I felt the same, Eric." She muttered, coughing.

I swallowed hard, and waited for her to breathe normally again. "I fell in love with you as soon as our lips touched, and it was like an electric current ran through my whole body. I knew I had found the woman of my life, and I couldn't let you go."

"I wouldn't have gone anywhere without you, Eric."

"You'll always be my angel, and I know you'll look after the girls, and me from up there." I whispered, tears flooding her eyes again. "And I will tell to Adele how brave her mother was. She never surrendered to fear and fought until the end. I will not let any of them to forget you, and I know one day we'll be together again, Sookie, because that's our fate. You and I, together until the end."

We kissed slowly, until my lips were the only ones moving. That's when I knew it was over. My dream woman, the woman I loved, had died in my arms.

"I love you, Sookie…" I whispered in her ear, praying that somehow she heard me. "And I'll keep my promise." I put her carefully on the ground, resting her head on my shirt, the same it had been plugging her wound. "I will always love you, my angel."

I grabbed the gun, took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I know I promised Sookie that I wouldn't allow her to turn into a zombie, but to shoot her in the head is the hardest thing I would ever do.

"I am so sorry, my love." And pulled the trigger.

We did not have much time, but I wouldn't let her lying on the ground. I took her body, wrapped it and buried her outside. I even made a cross, and the girls and I prayed at her grave and left to keep going, just what Sookie had asked me to do.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It had been so real that I had to check Sookie was sleeping next to me and she wasn't hurt.

"Eric, are you okay?" I nodded, but when she touched me, I realized I was sweating. "What's wrong?"

"I had a bad dream, that's all."

"How bad?"

"Very bad."

"Do you wanna talk about it?" I shook my head, and placed a hand on her belly, trying to feel the baby. "What are you thinking about?"

"How about if we call the baby Adele, if it's a girl?" Her eyes filled with tears, and I thought I'd said something wrong. "You don't like it?"

"It's perfect. It was my Gran's name."

"Adele…"

"What if it's a boy?" I shrugged. "Well, guess we still have time to think on it."

I really hope you liked this chapter, and I'd love to read your reviews.

:K