Thanks to: thezirke, LissaP, classicoldmama, Lientjuhh, Londa1795, violetsdream, suzyq59, XKaterinaNightingaleX, MsNorthman, VAlady, leslieljs713, Amy, Duckbutt, vilannh

.

.

AN: I know people are upset or questioning the Nora issue. I've gotten a few PMs with people really upset or angry and wanting me to defend or explain the situation. I said it before when the Pam issue came up- they are vampires. It is my belief that vampires, along with their shaky views on morality and murder, that monogamy is also something not really considered- that it's a human desire. People are upset that Eric would expect Sookie to let him fuck others in a few hundred years. I'm saying that when she's a vampire- she may want to fuck around too. It doesn't mean that they don't love each other and that they are not in love with each other. What if he and Sookie wanted to have an encounter with Darius and Layla sexually? Is that unacceptable too? He just knows that forever is a long time and that not everything is static. I'm sorry if there are those who are reading who don't like the idea of "non-monogamy for thousands of years" but I can't believe that after five hundred years, you don't want to have a little excitement. And that's all I'll say about this ever again.

.

.

Chapter 25

"Can you see if we have a bag of potato chips downstairs?" I ask Emma as I finish off another glass of blood; that's my fifth since I woke up an hour ago to a terrible pain in my stomach.

I didn't even hear Eric come in and if he tried to wake me up, I didn't notice. But he's sleeping. He and I will have to talk later, but for now, I have nothing better to do than work in the baby room and plan a wedding! Of course with my team of caretakers, working in the baby room involves me sitting in the rocking chair while I dictate what I want where.

"Sure," she nods and heads downstairs.

I think I got even bigger last night, but it could just be an illusion because we measured and there wasn't much of a difference. I feel enormous though and the babies are definitely awake and trying to move around. My entire stomach feels so tight and painful when they move. Dani did a belly massage which felt amazing but it's already tightening again, which I'm told is my body preparing me for birth.

"Those sheets are perfect!" I smile as I watch Rachel assembling the crib. It's a little jungle scene with playful baby animals all over it and I think my babies will enjoy them.

"We thought you'd like it," Rachel smiles. "Because of the size of the crib, we had them custom made, but we have two sets so when one is dirty, you've got another."

It's a good thing Eric insisted on hiring help because I'm so large, I couldn't even bend over the railing to put the baby bumper around the crib. And I certainly wouldn't have enough energy to go downstairs and get my potato chips, which are amazing. Even teleporting exhausts me completely.

"Now we have those little baby animals to put in there?" I ask. "Where did that box go?" They bought a bunch of soft little stuffed baby animals for them.

"Over there with the box of books," Emma smiles. "We got them all in English, though I'd image Eric would want some in Swedish? That's what he speaks, correct?"

"Yes," I nod. "Let's surprise him and find a bunch in Swedish. Could you, Rachel?"

"Of course. So I started googling wedding dresses and there's a shop in Memphis with a huge maternity selection. They're going to bring a bunch here for you tomorrow. I sent them your measurements."

"Ooo," I groan as my stomach pulls a little. "Might not be soon enough," I laugh as Meg rushes over to rub my stomach and back a few seconds. They said Doctor Ludwig will be coming to check on me twice a day now, if not more.

"There are a few other tell-tale signs of a fairy birth," Emma tells me. "You're close, but you're not quite there. Maybe a week?"

"Then we have to pull together a wedding in three days. I don't want to leave it to chance and I want to have sex with my husband the night of our wedding," I say determined. Nothing ever goes right for me, so let's plan things ahead of schedule so that if something goes wrong, we still have time.

"Well Morgan is a justice of the peace, so she can do the ceremony. In fact she was working on it last night," Emma smiles at me. "I promise, it'll be beautiful. All you need to worry about is the dress."

"And my brother. Can we get my brother here for a couple weeks? I haven't even seen him since we moved, or before. But- I want him here. He's family."

"We'll get him, Honey, relax," Dani smiles while she works. She just finished hanging a huge piece of a family quilt that is framed on one wall. But on the main wall of the room is a beautiful vista of a meadow with a gorgeous sky and rolling green hills. I have no idea when it was painted, but in the meadow are a few large trees and that's where she's hanging a bunch of picture frames. I want to get photos of all the important people and places from their heritage so that their room has history. The photos will be the leaves on the branches and above the trees in clouds is written: Northman-Stackhouse Family Tree. I absolutely love it and I hope they will too.

"Maybe the wedding should be tomorrow night," I say, half-joking, but… my stomach starts blinking like crazy and the babies are full of nothing but joy. They're chirping so much now that I can hardly separate their voices or pick out words. "Can we do it?" I wonder.

"Of course," Emma smiles. "We can do anything!"

I finish my glass of blood and stuff another handful of chips in my mouth as I watch. They're unpacking boxes of supplies, onesies and little outfits, socks and blankets as well. I eat a bowl of fruit and yogurt and down another three glasses of blood. My day is really spent between eating while they work and napping on the day bed in the room.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I rise to an intense spike of worry and pain from the babies.

I pull on a pair of sweats quickly before zipping to their room, where I know they are.

Sookie is sitting on the edge of the day bed, clutching her stomach, and I rush to her side.

"Rub her back and belly," Emma instructs and shows me where. "Gentle pressure until it's over."

"What is it? Is it the babies?" I ask. There's still so much that needs to be taken care of before they come. We're not ready for them yet. I'm not ready for them yet.

"It's a practice contraction, commonly known as Braxton hicks," she replies as Sookie sighs in relief and I feel the twinge subside.

"It's not even three, Eric," Sookie says as she takes my hand. "You should be sleeping."

"They called me." I kiss her temple as I rub her belly. "So this is normal?" I ask.

"Yes. Humans may experience these throughout pregnancy but most will have them toward the end of pregnancy. I really don't think it'll last more than a week," Morgan explains as she rubs Sookie's head. "But trust me, Dear, we're ready. We have the birthing room prepared with plenty of towels, warm blankets for the babies and water."

"We've got everything set up now, Eric," Sookie tells me and holds my hand. I can tell she's still uncomfortable and the babies are as well. I send them my love and as much strength as I can give.

"Amy and I think that the human blood is doing you good, Sookie, but we think Eric's will also help with your discomfort and aid in giving some strength and healing," Morgan explains. "I don't know how often you drink from him, but you could try it. It might make you feel better and ease up the tightness."

"I'll try anything," Sookie smiles weakly. "But I'm also getting hungry again."

"A protein heavy dinner has been in the crock pot all day," she smiles. "A delicious pot roast for you. I'll head down to put the rolls in."

They all must sense that we need some time and Rachel is the last to leave, closing the door behind her.

"I tried waking you earlier when I came to bed but you were out," I inform her as I join her on the bed and pull her close to me. I rub her stomach and feel the tightness that Morgan mentioned. "Is this normal? It's hard."

"It's the muscles contracting and expanding, getting ready. It hurts. Last couple days it was just uncomfortable but now it hurts, Eric. What if this is more of a human birth than a fae and I'm just screaming in horror and agony? I don't want them scared. I don't-"

"Shh," I whisper and press my lips to hers. "Whatever it's going to be will be and after, we'll have our five beautiful children and you'll have a team of people there to help you through it. Your ladies and me, Maurella, maybe Pam or Jessica-"

"Nora?" she asks and I've tried getting a sense of her feelings toward it but she wasn't projecting last night so I'm not sure how angry or hurt she is.

"Maybe? How do you-"

"Ow," she gasps and I felt the lurch in her stomach and the fear from the babies. "They don't understand what's happening. I think they're scared. I don't want them thinking they're being attacked again, Eric. I- Godric? I… you're probably there. I bet you're here since Eric and Nora are. Can you- if you can talk to Aidan and explain it? Tell them not to be afraid?" I kiss her temple again as I rub her belly. "I've tried explaining, Eric, but they don't get it. Maybe… maybe he can help?"

"Worth a shot, right?" I smile. "Sookie... about Nora, she's-"

"Don't," Sookie interrupts. "I can't do that right noooow," she groans and pops her fangs. "Gimme now; I can't wait." She grabs my wrist and bites down hard.

She swallows mouthfuls and if it helps her, she can have it all. If it helps the babies, she can drain me if she must. I want them safe; that's the only thing that matters.

She drinks for another minute, rebiting as it heals, and I run my fingers through her hair as she does.

When she pulls away, I lean forward to lick my blood from her chin.

"They said they'd get Jason here? And Lafayette. And Holly. I want them here. Haven't seen them since before we moved and-"

"No need to explain. We'll get them here, Lover. I promise. How do you feel?" I wonder as I tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. Her stomach is still just as tight but there's not the sense of alarm coming from the babies.

"It- I think it helped. It's still tight but it's not hurting as much."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

It really isn't hurting like it was. I know it's still constricted and uncomfortable but it's tolerable.

"Well you can drink whenever you want." He kisses my neck and inhales my scent. I immediately feel his lust coursing through us. "You smell incredible; even better than always."

"Change in hormones, I guess," I shrug and push him away when he starts to kiss over my pulse. "I want to get married tomorrow night, Eric."

"That's fast, though if the babies are coming in a few weeks-"

"I don't think it'll even be a week. They feel- I don't know, but I just have this feeling that it'll be soon. We have to get married tomorrow night. I can't- I want to be married when I have them. I have to be."

"No worries; it can be tomorrow night. What needs to be done?" he asks. "I'm sure Layla can find us one of the ceremonial knives. You know the human parts you want, but what about the fae part? Have you asked Maurella?"

"I will. She hasn't been here yet today, but Amy was. She examined me around noon and says your blood must have pushed up the due date from the normal fae timeline. But she thinks things look good thus far." I can't help but stroke my stomach. I think I've been rubbing them all day long. I think I'm still touching them when I'm sleeping. "At this point, I want them out. I'll miss feeling them physically but it's so uncomfortable. I can't believe human women deal with this for two months!"

There's another pull inside but it's not as bad as it felt before. I think his blood does give me strength and it gives it to the babies too, so they can withstand it.

"Make sure you eat a lot the next couple days, okay? If your blood is my pain reliever, I'm going to need a lot, especially if it hurts." His hand covers one of mine over my belly and our fingers interlace as we sot a few moments.

"I was not going to fuck her," he says quietly. "I won't deny that I want her, Sookie, but I wasn't going to act on that. I don't want you being afraid or jealous."

"And if an old lover of mine was around me, touching me, what would you do?" I wonder. "If I wanted Bill around or-" He growls loudly. "Okay, bad example or not. Good example. You'd tear him apart."

"For many reasons, Sookie, only partly having to do with you. But this is different; she's family. If you don't want her around…" I wait as he pauses and I know he's conflicted because the truth is: he loves his family and I'm part of that, and the kids are part of that. He loves his family deeply. "I can give her a post in New York or Boston."

This makes the babies incredibly sad and I'm still trying to figure that out. I would think they'd hate something that threatens Eric and I. They're so protective and proud of us both that if something came along to threaten our relationship or family, I would think they'd be glowing red. Dr. Ludwig told me to trust the babies, didn't she? And they haven't been wrong once. They knew the imposter Meeka was here for danger and they glowed red to kill Istvan. Aidan- he knew how to get our spirits out of this world and safe somewhere else. They've protected Eric and I since they were conceived.

So if they like her and don't view her as a threat, does that mean she's not? They clearly responded to her very positively and are now sad when he speaks of sending her away. But if she stays, she'll have to keep her paws to herself and off my Viking.

"I can make her governor of another state so she's not around, Sookie, assuming they'll let her stay and not take her back for the rest of her sentence. I love her, I love Pam and Tara- even your ladies now. But I'm in love with you, you know that. And you come first." His sincerity is overwhelming, though I know if I got turned on by another male, he'd rip him to shreds. I hate double standards.

"I know," I tell him honestly. I know he has lust for her, for Pam too. And probably anyone he's connected to through blood, even Layla, although who could blame him for that! But I also felt his intentions and it was not to act. "I can't say it didn't hurt to find you being straddled by a beautiful woman, but I know, Eric. Did you drink from her?"

"No, of course not. I told you I wouldn't drink from anyone but you and I meant it," he whispers and kisses my cheek gently. "Not unless you say. You know you are my life."

"Soon to be your wife," I giggle softly, enjoying the intimate moments with his arms around me, rubbing our babies, his mouth near mine, me cuddled up with him, as much as I can be. "We need wedding bands. If- you won't have to wear yours if you don't want to, but-"

"I've taken care of that. They match your engagement ring but they're engraved. You'll see but I believe they are to your standards."

"Engraved with what?"

"Symbols of my people; runes for protection, strength and love, with our names on the inside and the word 'forever'. Is that-"

"Perfect? Of course. Why would I think Eric Northman would be anything but?" I laugh and kiss him softly. "But- you did make it very clear to her, right?" I just want to make sure she gets it. "I don't want her putting the moves on you or anything."

"She wouldn't," he states plainly, as if I should trust that? Although the babies think I should since they're sending me confirmation. "She would never want to hurt me that way. It's- I know you don't know her and I truly hope you will. I hope you two can spend some time getting to know each other, just like you have with Pam. She's important to me but she knows you're more important."

I nod my agreement and kiss him softly. "I would like that, Eric. She seemed… sweet? She's beautiful. I can imagine boys lining up for her."

Once she stopped straddling my mate, she did seem genuinely interested in the babies. And Godric spoke highly of his children; he loves them both very much. How bad could she be? As long as she keeps her mitts off my mate. I'll just have to have a little girl to girl chat with her.

"Oh yes, boys and girls alike," he smirks and I catch flashes of what he's remembering. Some of the images are bloody and others aren't, but they extend over time, different clothes, places…

"How long did you spend together?" I wonder.

"About a hundred years. She was dying of the plague and I found her, brought her to Godric and begged him to save her like he did me. She was sweet, strong and sassy too. We all traveled about a hundred years before he got her a way into the authority."

Wow. A hundred years. She spent a hundred years with him. There will be a time when I can say I've spent that much time with him. My life is infinite. I'll be here until… I don't even know. That's hard to grasp.

"I do want to know her. The babies were certainly drawn to her, but I'll blast her if I have to, Eric. You know I will." The babies are amused at my threat but I'm serious.

"I know you will, min älva." He kisses my forehead and laughs, "I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Good," I smile and kiss him slowly. But my body can't decide what it wants more: Eric, food or the bathroom. In the end, my bladder wins. Luckily, my ladies got me some underwear protection and I don't piss all over us again.

"I have to get to the bathroom and then your children are hungry," I inform him and he helps me get up so I can take care of what I must. "But… later? I'll drink from you again when you're inside me."

Saucy fairy.

Horny, hungry fairy.