A/N: A shot of Alcide, Hunter and Hadley here. Poor Sookie might just be left out in the cold….heh heh. Plus, a showdown is beginning to unfold with Godric's plan being revealed.

The Venetian: Endgame

Part II

Caterina gazed down at Sookie in amusement that deepened as Eric glowered at her. She then sniffed the air and her smirk vanished. With a shrug, she leaned down and hoisted Sookie up to her feet and shoved her into Alcide's arms. It was then that a car careened to a screeching halt at the cemetery gates.

"Your ride's here," she said.

"What?" demanded Alcide as he held onto a still swooning Sookie.

A small, blond woman leaped out of the car and tightened a sweater around her shoulders against the chill night air. "Alcide?" she tentatively called out, as her eyes searched the shadows. The sound of a car door being opened was loud in the enveloping silence. The woman turned quickly back to the car and said, "Stay in the car, baby."

"But, I want to see Alcide, too."

Caterina touched Alcide's hand. "They're waiting for you. Time to run along, little werewolf."

"You're getting rid of me," replied Alcide, as his eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Why?"

"Curiosity killed the werewolf, didn't you know that," said Cat. "Besides you've got your hands full right now. Go on, you don't them to see the mess I made, do you?"

With a growl, Alcide started down the drive to the waiting car, hauling a stumbling Sookie in his arms. But, Caterina's voice followed him. "Um, you might want to stop at the grocery store and pick up some raw steaks on the way home. Just a thought."

As he was illuminated in the headlights, the car door opened and a small figure darted passed his mother.

"Alcide!" he shouted as he ran as fast as his small legs would move. When he reached Alcide, he grabbed Alcide's hand in his and flashed a guileless smile that caused something within Alcide to clench in response.

"Mamma said that you might need our help," he gushed. "She was awful worried."

Alcide lifted his eyes to the woman who waited for him by the car. Her long blond hair seemed to even shine in moonlight, he thought. He also noticed that her worn jeans still managed to hug some impressive curves. A man could lose himself in exploration of those curves for a night, or two, or an eternity of blissful nights. He shook his head to banish those thoughts, but they stubbornly remained. Hadley was nothing like he had imagined her. She was sweet and the prettiest girl he ever saw. Prettier than even the girl, or rather ghoul, on his other arm. Plus, he enjoyed her company. Ah, hell, just admit it, he enjoyed the little monster clutching his hand. He had never wanted to be a father, but with Hunter, it didn't seem like such a bad gig. The admiration in the little boy's eyes melted his heart like butter on a hot biscuit. He gripped the little boy's hand and stopped a moment to swing Hunter up onto his hip, causing him to squeal in delight.

"But, I knew that you'd be okay," Hunter said with conviction. "Nobody is stronger than you."

"I wish that were true," said Alcide, holding Hunter and pulling Sookie along by the hand.

Hunter poked a finger in his biceps. "It is true. Someday, I'll be strong like you and I won't let anyone hurt my momma."

Alcide gazed into the boy's dark eyes and asked, "Is it okay if I watch over you and your mother until then?"

Hunter smiled and nodded. "I think momma would like that, too." His gaze fell on Sookie and he asked, "Is that aunt Sookie? She looks sick."

Hadley rushed forward and took Sookie out of his arms. "Come on, we gotta get out of here."

"Yeah, let's go home, Alcide," piped in Hunter, putting his arm around Alcide's shoulder.

Hadley looked at him with those big baby blues and Alcide's breath went out in a whoosh. "Yes, let's go home, Alcide," she said so softly that the words seemed to only carry to his ears.

"I..I think I'd like that," he said.

"I was hoping you might."

He belted Hunter in the front seat and took the back seat with Sookie. Until, he knew what being a ghoul was, he wasn't letting her alone with his Hunter. Or his Hadley, he thought with a fierce sense of possession, as her eyes met his in the rear view mirror. Oh, yeah, he was a goner. But somehow he couldn't force himself to be upset about that. Sookie finally roused herself and turned to face him.

"Oh, God, Alcide, I'm so hungry I think that I could eat a horse," she said. "Raw."

"Step on it, Hadley, and get to the Win Dixie fast!" urged Alcide from the backseat.

oOo

"Young love," sighed Caterina, watching the car drive away. "Isn't it grand?"

"As manipulative as ever, pet," replied Eric. "He never knew what hit him."

Caterina examined him. "If only you were as easy to control, things might have been different between us." She sniffed, for dramatic reasons, since she didn't need to breathe. "Still, I have eliminated your rivals for the fair maiden's hand. You could be a little more appreciative. If you hurry, I bet that you can insinuate yourself back into her life and between her thighs. She seems to be a sucker for bad boys with fangs."

"Trying to get rid of me, eh, pet?"

"Stop calling me that!" hissed Cat.

"Oh, I'm not going anywhere, pet," said Eric as he began walking around the altar. "Why are you so eager to get me out of your hair? Why so eager to push me into another woman's arms?"

Caterina moved around the altar to avoid him, keeping the altar between them. "It's not like you haven't already plowed that row, Eric," she replied.

"I detect a hint of jealousy."

"You're imagining things," huffed Caterina. "I could care less who you get down and busy with. Now, be a good boy and leave."

Eric stopped and crossed his arms over his chest. "Expecting company?"

"That's right. The stage is set for the grand finale and a storm of trouble is heading this way," replied Caterina. "I don't need the complication of a loose cannon interfering in matters where he doesn't belong."

"Afraid that I'll get hurt?"

"Will you just go!" hissed Caterina. She closed her eyes and clenched her fists at her side and muttered to herself. "Damn you, Godric, and your stupid promise."

Eric's eyes narrowed at his makers name. "What did you say?"

Before she could reply, a large, black SUV skidded to a stop near the cemetery entrance just as the air rustled with the charge of several arriving vampires. Caterina's gaze held his in a moment when the curtain over her inner thoughts was pulled back. A haunting look of sadness came over her features. He had only seen that look once before. The night so long ago that he had made love to her in a hidden abbey and told her that she belonged to him.

"So be it, my old lover," she said. "Let us play, one last time."

"Are you saying goodbye?" asked Eric.

"I'm not going down without a fight, never fear," she said with her old confidence back. She shielded her emotions once again from him and winked.

Eric watched as an old vampire dressed in a hooded red cloak that was loosely tied at the throat to reveal a large swatch of artfully displayed cleavage. She had wavy dark hair that fell passed her shoulders and brown eyes that should have been pretty. But, the calculating glint in them took away their loveliness. She was flanked by none other than sister, Nora. Nora met his gaze from behind the other vampire and smiled. Eric stiffened when the last vampire arrived. Russell was wearing his landed gentry outfit, complete with black riding boots and spurs.

"Pumpkin," he said. "Something tells me that you've been a naughty girl."

"Define naughty," replied Cat.

Russell gave her a soft smile. "Let me rephrase that. You have been naughtier than usual."

"Enough!" hissed the vampire in red. "I didn't come all the way out here to banter back and forth with your little assassin."

Caterina watched several guards dressed in black camo and armed with assault rifles take up position around them. She faced the female vampire and smiled. "Salome," she said, turning to cough. Russell chuckled as she coughed the word, slut.

"How dare you!" hissed Salome. She turned to Russell, "You see how little respect she has for her betters."

"Betters?" mused Cat. "Do you mean better at whoring yourself out in order to get a male to do your bidding instead of standing up and taking what you want yourself?"

"An insult coming from an assassin, I'm so hurt," sneered Salome. "You're a treacherous little killer who has committed untold crimes against the Vampire Authority."

"Last time I checked, I was running the Vampire Authority."

"Things change," replied Salome. "It's time to put you in your place and to restore the old order."

Cat smiled. "You mean to restore yourself as the ruler. You and your pitiful band of leeches don't realize that the times have changed, but that you haven't changed with them. All I have done is put evolution back into play. The strong always triumph over the weak."

"I am not weak," hissed Salome.

"Aren't you?" taunted Caterina. "You call yourself a true believer? You would take us back to the dark ages with your religious drivel."

"Blasphemer," said Salome, turning to Russell. "Do you see why this is necessary? She follows no laws and ridicules our god."

"Lilith is not my god," replied Cat. "You forget that I saw enough of the evils that are done in the name of religion when I was a human learning at my father's feet."

Russell gave an irritated sigh. "I didn't come here to banter religious dogma back and forth, Salome. Get to the point."

"You should be executed for your sins," said Salome, giving a signal to her guards. Several red laser sights appeared on Caterina's chest, causing Russell to growl. Nora moved forward and placed a hand on Salome's arm.

"This isn't what we agreed to, Salome," she said. "You haven't secured complete control, yet," she added under her breath. "And, for all her faults, Caterina Borgia, is a strong and resourceful vampire. She would be an asset beyond compare on our side."

With a wave from Salome, the lasers winked out. "Yes, you're right, Nora," Salome said. "I let my anger get the best of me. "

"I want the contract to be honored," said Nora. She flashed a look at Eric. "We will bring Caterina under control, you'll see."

"What contract?" asked Cat.

"You didn't know, dear," replied Nora. "The only ones that knew were Godric, myself, and Russell, of course."

"Godric?" asked Cat, turning her eyes to Eric.

"Oh, he doesn't know either," smiled Nora. "Godric was still old-fashioned about a lot of things."

"I'm not following you, here," said Caterina. "What does Godric have to do with anything?"

"Godric has a great deal to do with things," replied Nora. "Come on, don't pretend that you didn't know him."

Caterina looked from Nora to Eric. "I met Godric, once or twice….in passing."

"So modest," replied Nora. "I would have never thought that. But, you made quite the impression. Before Godric had his crisis of faith," she continued with a hitch in her voice, "he told me a great many things. He may have lost his way, but he never stopped caring for his children, especially his firstborn."

"Can we move this along?" muttered Russell. "I have a nice warm body at home waiting for my attentions."

"What is going on, Nora?" asked Eric.

Nora flashed a huge smile. "It's your wedding night, brother."

"What?" replied Eric and Cat at the same time.

"I know an arranged marriage is a little old-fashioned, but Godric negotiated a deal to bind his and Russell's Edgington's progeny together in a union that was recognized under the ancient customs of our kind. I should tell you that Russell was a tough sell, but he didn't realize how…convincing Godric could be. Still he got quite a hefty dowry out of the deal. You are quite the little prize."

"He blackmailed me," hissed Russell. "I didn't think that little prissy do-gooder had it in him."

"You sold me?" whispered Caterina.

"Oh, pumpkin, don't look at me like that. He knew about you and threatened to expose you as the Venetian if I didn't agree to the marriage. You wouldn't have been able to hide from your enemies."

"But, Godric is dead," said Caterina. "I don't have to go along with this and neither does Eric."

"I will honor my maker's wishes and marry Caterina Borgia," said Eric, suddenly into the fray.

Caterina whirled on him with her eyes angrily flashing. "Oh, now, you decided to do the honorable thing. It was okay five hundred years ago to defile me!"

Before Caterina could move, Eric grabbed her and pinned her to him. She fought to get loose, but he was still twice her age and twice as strong. "Memory like an elephant," he said with a smile. "And a nasty temper to boot, but I always did enjoy a challenge. There will be an undeniable pleasure in bending her spirit to my will."

"I don't agree to this and you can't make me!" cried Caterina, fighting in Eric's arms.

"Oh, this is so exciting!" gushed Nora. "A new sister! I never thought that I'd see the day."

"You're all crazy!" hissed Caterina.

"Vampire law is vampire law, assassin," said Salome. "Eric is twice your age and he may look like a slacker, but he can be very determined when he puts his mind to it."

Caterina fought harder to get out of Eric's arms. "I'll kill you all!" she hissed.

"I love it when she gets all emotional," said Eric, leaning in to brush his fangs along her neck.

He met Russell's eyes and smiled in triumph.

"Mine," he said, holding Caterina tightly, but without hurting her. So, softly that even other vampire ears couldn't hear, he whispered in Cat's ear, "Trust me."