Disclaimer: I own nothing
Sookie and Eric opened the door to reveal a little boy standing in his crib smiling at them. They walked straight to him and picked him up. "Happy birthday, my love" Sookie greeted before she kissed his cheek.
"Happy birthday, little one" Eric greeted looking at Lex's smiling face.
"Let's go downstairs to eat breakfast while we wait on Anna and Pam to arrive". Sookie suggested as she picked Lex up out of his crib and walked towards the door with Eric trailing behind her.
They descended the stairs and walked into the kitchen. Sookie walked over to the fridge and pulled out a True Blood. She then walked over to the microwave and to heat it up. Eric opened a cabinet and pulled out a cup for Lex and handed it to Sookie before he went and put Lex in his high chair. She takes the bottle out of the microwave and poured the contents into the cup for Lex. Eric came back to her and took the cup and bottle while Sookie went and retrieved another True Blood from the fridge and heated it up for him. She walked over to the kitchen table and handed the bottle to Eric who is supervising Lex's breakfast. "Thank you".
"Welcome". Sookie replied as she went to the pantry to look for her breakfast.
As they were finishing their breakfast Pam arrived. She walked in through the garage and into the kitchen. She continued to walk over to Lex's high chair and hunched over to talk to Lex. "Happy birthday, little one" Lex smiled at Pam. Pam popped her fangs out and Lex giggled and then popped his fangs out.
"That will never get old". Pam laughed softly.
"Thank you Pam, for teaching your brother that it's a game to bare his fangs". Sookie scolded as she took her dirty dish to the sink.
"They are so little. I can't help it". Pam replied while playing with Lex. Eric smiled and shook his head.
"Eric your child is teaching Lex to bare his fangs". Sookie complained while loading the dishwasher.
"Oh, so now she is my child". Eric gathered the empty bottle and Lex's cup. "What happened to "our children"? Eric asked placing Lex's cup in the dishwasher.
"I'm sure it will come around again" Sookie answered with a small smile as she shut the dishwasher.
"The caterer will be here at four this afternoon to start setting up. This is going to be one expensive birthday party with all the True Blood fountains". Sookie told Eric while she was getting Lex out of his high chair.
"It is the first and probably only vampire prince's first birthday. Everyone is expected to attend". Eric responded looking over the catering bill.
The front door opened and Anna came in. "Good morning".
"How was your run last night"? Sookie asked as Lex squirmed for Anna. Anna took Lex in her arms.
"It was good. Thank you for giving me the night off with Lex's birthday party being today".
"No problem, it is probably a whole lot better to run with a pack then to run alone on our land".
"It is". Anna gave sheepish face.
"Why don't we have some pool time before we have to get ready for the party"? Sookie suggested to everyone.
"That sounds great. I will change Lex and then bring him to you before I change". Anna answered before she went upstairs.
Sookie finished putting on her bathing suit when she heard a light knock on the door. She walked over and opened the door. Anna was standing there with Lex in his swimsuit. She handed Lex to Sookie and then left to go change.
Sookie grabbed some towels and went down stairs. She saw that Pam and Eric were already outside lounging in chairs by the pool. She opened the door and walked outside with Lex. She walked around the pool over to where they were lounging. She dropped the towels on an empty seat and then went and handed Lex to Eric.
"Are you ready go swimming, little one"? Eric asked as he tickled his belly and Lex smiled wide while he giggled. Eric walked around to the stairs while Sookie laid out a towel on her chair. She lay down on a chair beside Pam. Pam looked at Sookie "This will never get old either". Sookie smiled at Pam's happiness.
Sookie set an alarm on her phone so that there would be enough time for everyone to get ready for the party after swimming. The alarm went off and Eric climbed out of the pool with Lex. He handed him to Anna so she could get him ready and then put him down for a nap. He then dried off and went to help gather all the water toys and floats scattered around the pool. Pam helped and everything was put to rights in no time flat. Eric and Sookie walked into the house while Pam walked through the side gate to go to her house to get ready.
Sookie and Eric climbed the stairs. They reached the top as Anna was walking out of Lex's room. She shut the door. "I'm going to jump in the shower really quick".
"OK" Sookie answered and Anna turned to go to her room to get her things for a shower. Sookie and Eric walked into their bedroom. "What are you wearing"? She asked Eric.
"A casual suit".
"So, would a maxi dress be ok"?
"Yes, this is a child's birthday party and it is already too upscale. There is no need to make it any more upscale".
Sookie smiled at him and laughed softly. When she was planning the party she didn't even think to ask to what scale Eric wanted this party. She just assumed that since it was for the son of King Eric Northman, it had to be grand.
Eric finished putting on his jacket and Sookie was just getting out of the shower when the gate bell rang. "That's probably the caterer. Eric can you open the gate"? Sookie shouted from the bathroom.
"Why don't we have servants again? I am probably the only king in the history of kings that has to open his own gate and answer his own door".
"There is no need for servants but if you insist, you can hire someone to open the gate and answer the door". Sookie replied as she walked into the bedroom to look for clothes. Eric gave her a look and then walked out the door to go down stairs and open the gate.
By the time the catering staff reached the door Sookie was down stairs to direct traffic. While the catering staff was starting set up, she went upstairs to finish getting dressed. Eric came back in the house from showing the valet where to park the cars and went upstairs to find Sookie. He walked up behind Sookie and wrapped his arms around her. "You look beautiful". Sookie turned around to look at Eric.
"You're not looking too shabby yourself". She stood on her tip toes and gave Eric a kiss while wrapping her arms around his neck. He deepened the kiss and then picked Sookie up and sat her on the counter. Their hands began to roam over each others body. Then Eric heard soft giggling and turned mid kiss with his eyes open. Lex was standing in their bedroom with a huge smile on his face when all of a sudden Anna ran in picked him up, apologized and ran out of the room all in one quick motion. Sookie buried her face in Eric's chest and started laughing.
Eric helped Sookie down off the counter. She straightened her dress and then took his arm. "Guest will be arriving soon. Let's go find the children and Anna".
"So you're claiming Pam again"?
"I told you it would come around again". Sookie answered with a soft laugh. Eric smiled and then led Sookie down the stairs.
When they reached the bottom of the stairs there was catering staff everywhere. Eric grabbed the first staff member he saw. "Your job is to answer the door".
"Yes, sir" The staff member said scared half to death and quickly walked away.
"Was that necessary"? Sookie asked.
"Yes, now I don't have to answer my own door".
Sookie rolled her eyes at him and walked off to check on the staff. Pam passed Sookie coming in through the kitchen. "Go in the living room and stay with your maker. Make sure he doesn't scare any more of the staff and if you see Anna make sure she and Lex stay there too. Guest should be arriving soon".
Pam walked into the living room and saw Eric sitting on a couch checking his emails on a laptop. "What did you do? She called you my maker". Pam asked as she crossed the room to sit on the couch.
"I scared a human when I told it; its job was to answer the door". Eric answered without looking up. Pam let out a laugh.
A few moments later Anna walked in with Lex. Lex started to wiggle in Anna's arms. She put him down to let him walk. He went over to Eric and pulled on his pants leg. Eric looked around the laptop screen and smiled at his son. Lex giggled and bounced in place. Eric put the laptop on the end table and picked him up. "Hello, teacup vampire".
"Why did you just call our son a teacup vampire"? Sookie asked as she walked into the living room.
"One evening at Fangtasia, the shifter brought in two human children. Eric called them teacup humans. Since Lex is not human he is a teacup vampire". Pam explained.
"Wait, Sam brought children to Fangtasia"?
Before anyone could answer the gate sounded. The staff member did as they were told and answered the door. Standing on the other side was none other than Bill Compton.
"Hello Bill". Sookie greeted coming into the foyer. Bill did a small bow
"My queen". Sookie nodded her head slightly and then held out an arm to show Bill the way to the party.
As Sookie ushered Bill outside to the backyard Bill spoke "I see I am the first to arrive".
"You are indeed".
"Well, I pride myself on being punctual".
"That's always a good quality".
"You have a beautiful home and family"
"Thank you, Bill"
Bill looked around the back yard in thought. "Do you ever wonder how things would be if it were you and me instead of you and Eric"?
"No, I don't". Sookie looked away
"I do". Bill said looking off in the distance.
"Why would you do that to yourself, Bill"?
Before he could answer the French doors opened and guests came out onto the deck. Sookie quickly took on the role of gracious hostess.
Soon after, Eric came outside with Lex in his arms. He sensed Sookie's emotions and was none to happy to know she was alone with Bill Compton. Eric turned to Pam who was beside him "Take Lex".
"Yes, master". Pam answered noticing his tone.
Eric walked over to Bill. "Compton".
"Your majesty". Bill bowed.
"Why is it that whiles my wife was out here alone with you that I felt sadness from her"?
"It was more likely pity". Bill corrected before he took a sip of his drink.
"I can understand her having that feeling for you". Eric replied with a smile.
"True Blood"? A waitress offered Eric.
"Yes" Eric took the glass off the tray. He took a sip from the glass. "What I don't understand is why she felt it. She did not pity you when she walked out here with you".
"I asked her if she thought about how her life could be different".
"How could her life be different, Compton? Would you rather her think about how she could still be single and a waitress for the shifter? Or would you rather her think about how she could be YOUR wife and a waitress for the shifter instead of MY wife and a queen"? Eric then walked off to HIS wife.
Eric walked up to Sookie and wrapped his arm around her waste. He looked back at Compton and kissed Sookie's temple. "My queen".
"My king". Sookie responded smiling at him. She knew all too well what her husband just did but she wouldn't dare call him out on it right now. He guided her through the guests to make sure each one was greeted. Pam walked around with Lex through the crowd.
The party was a huge success. Lex had a mountain of gifts on a table in the foyer. Sookie took one look at the table and decided that she should hire a personal assistant to get the thank you notes underway. Everyone was exhausted from greeting everyone and constantly smiling.
Lex was asleep in Sookie's arms. She walked upstairs and into Lex's room. Sookie walked across to the rocking chair and sat down. She looked down at her sleeping child with blonde hair. Pop. Niall was all of a sudden standing in the room. "Hello, great grand father". She whispered.
"Hello great grand daughter". Niall whispered back as he kissed her forehead. As he pulled away he looked down at Lex. "He is very handsome".
"Just like his daddy". Sookie said looking down at Lex.
"I was thinking more like his great, great grandfather". Niall corrected with a soft laugh. As if remembering, he handed a gift to Sookie. "A gift for Lex".
"Thank you". Sookie took it and smiled.
"I also have a gift for you" Niall handed Sookie a velvet box. "I begged you to stay a fae and not let the vampire turn you, it was selfish. I know you just wanted to stay with your family because they would live forever and you only a few hundred years. I searched all of Faerie for an alternative. Here it is". He nodded at the box.
Sookie stood up and put Lex in his crib. She took the box in both hands and opened it. Inside the box was a locket on a necklace. She took the locket in her hand and looked up at Niall.
"Open it" he told her. She opened the locket. There were two hand painted portraits. One of her and one of Eric. "I had it made for you and spelled for you. If Eric should ever meet the true death and you wish to join him, break the locket. You will live as long as the locket is not broken".
"What if I accidentally break it or lose it"?
"The locket is spelled to know your heart. It won't break unless you want it too and it will always come back to you".
"Thank you". Sookie had tears running down her face and hugged her great grandfather.
"You are welcome, my child" Niall kissed her forehead and was gone.
Sookie quickly put the necklace around her neck. She leaned over Lex's crib while holding onto her necklace. "I never want to think about how my life would be without you". She was saying it to Lex and holding the locket as if to say it to Eric as well.
"I never want to think about how my life would be without you". Eric was standing in the doorway.
Sookie turned and went to Eric. She buried her face in his chest. He stroked the back of her head. They stood like that until Sookie pulled away. "Niall gave me this locket". She showed the locket to him. He took it in his large hands and carefully opened it and looked at the two portraits. "It will allow me to live as long as you do".
Eric closed the locket and cupped the side of her face. He leaned down and kissed her gently. When they broke the kiss he took her by the hand and led her down stairs. The catering staff was finishing up cleaning and the house was starting to return to its original state.
Anna passed them on her way to her bedroom. "Good night".
"Good night". Eric and Sookie responded as they continued onto the kitchen.
Eric grabbed two flute glasses, a bottle of True Blood and a bottle of champagne. He then guided Sookie out to the back yard. He walked them over to a table, poured their drinks and then handed her a glass. She took a sip of hers as he took a sip of his own. They set the glasses down on the table.
Eric took Sookie in his arms and then ascended into the air.
"It's been so long since you have done this". She smiled.
"I didn't know you missed it. I will be sure to do this more often".
"It's like we are dancing among the stars. It's pretty magical".
"I can see that". He began to slowly turn them so that they seemed to be dancing. Sookie laid her head on his chest.
"I think we weathered the storm". Sookie commented fidgeting with one of Eric's shirt buttons.
"We did indeed". He replied as he laid his cheek on the top of Sookie's head.