CHAPTER 25
We fly to Fangtasia and this helps to clear my head, when we arrive everyone is gathered waiting for Eric's announcement and I look for Pam and Thalia. Pam nods at me and Thalia, well she looks like she always does, so I quickly dip into her head as I respect her thoughts as much as Eric's as she has been around for so long.
This cannot end well is what I immediately get from her and I must admit I am thinking much the same thing, Eric is overjoyed at the prospect of having a second chance at fatherhood and it appears to be clouding his sense, I start to doubt myself and whether I am good for him and if any of this is a good idea. I watch as Eric's head whips around to face me and I know he has caught what I am thinking. A second later he is by my side and flooding me with love.
"Do not doubt me lover" he says quietly.
I nod, but I cannot help the negative thoughts creeping back in.
"Let me announce our great news" he says and he smiles at me and reaches for my hand.
"Eric are you sure this is a good idea...really?" I ask.
He nods, "I am positive" he says.
We walk into the office where all the vampires have assembled and are looking at us expectantly; the new sheriff watches us carefully and waits patiently for the news.
"Good evening, I have some unexpected and unbelievable news to give you, we are not totally aware of all the facts yet, but it would appear that Sookie is pregnant with my children" he stops and everyone is staring at him with open mouths.
"Master...you say children?" Pam says quietly.
Eric nods, "that is correct, Dr Ludwig performed a test of some description, which showed the children growing in Sookie's womb, and there are two, a boy and a girl" he says proudly.
After that announcement, which was met with more stunned silence, Eric made it clear to everyone that he expected them to protect me if it should come to that.
Honey, you're not sheriff any more you can't ask that of them I say silently to Eric.
I can and I will, all these vampires gathered here with the exception of the new Sheriff all owe their lives to me, they would have been killed at the take over if it hadn't been for you and me, he replies.
I can't argue with that and it appears neither does any of the gathered vampires as they accept what Eric has asked of them without question. I am actually quite impressed that my husband can inspire that much respect and loyalty from them all.
The new Sheriff congratulates us and asks if we have informed Sandy and Eric informs me that he has. I am being watched like a prize specimen and the thoughts I am getting from the assembled vampires is curiosity and fear, wondering what I am to be able to achieve this, but they respect Eric and that seems to be keeping them in check for now.
Pam sidles up to me.
"How are you Sookie? This really is unbelievable news" she says.
I nod, "You can say that again" I say I look at Pam, "How do you feel about this, you are the closest thing Eric has to offspring, how do you feel about him producing his own children?" I ask.
Pam shrugs, "It makes my maker happy – look at him, I have never seen him like this ...ever, he is almost giddy with joy I feel it overwhelm me through our bond" she says.
"I didn't ask how Eric felt, I asked what you thought about it" I say, and remember I can always look and find out for myself but I am doing you the courtesy of asking I add silently.
Pam smiles at me, "if Eric is happy I am happy" she says simply.
oooOOOooo
After Eric takes me home he follows me around watching me carefully.
"What is it?" I ask after a few moments.
"I cannot believe this is truth, I am sensing the life inside you it gets stronger by the moment" he says.
I touch my stomach and concentrate and I hear them, my children inside me "I hear them as well" I say.
Eric comes closer "I can hear their heartbeats, what do you hear?" he asks I can feel his excitement growing I know he is asking if I can hear their thoughts.
"I sense their essence, its hard to explain, they don't appear to be thinking anything yet but I can sense their minds" I say.
Eric drops to his knees and starts speaking to my stomach in his language and the brainwaves spring to life, I take an unnecessary gasp.
"They can hear you and they are responding, their minds came alive with thoughts, when they heard your voice" I say.
Eric stares at my stomach and then leans forward and places a kiss on it and he mutters something else in his own language.
"You really need to teach me that ancient language" I say, "I'd love to understand what you are telling our children" I add.
Eric looks up at me and then gracefully stands, "I was telling them I was their father and that I would always protect them...and love them" he says.
I have no idea what to say to that so I don't say anything I just wrap my arms around my Viking and hold him close to me.
"Dawn approaches" Eric says eventually, I nod and we make our way to our resting chamber and lying in each others arms we fall into our day death.
"Sookie, Sookie" I look up and search for that familiar female voice, a large lump comes into my throat at the sound of it I look around me, I cannot believe I heard that voice it can't be true, its impossible much like the place I am standing, where the hell am I? I appear to be in a meadow with trees and flowers, birds are singing and I hear a stream, I look around me still searching for that voice, where am I? What the hell is happening, it is daytime and the sun is on me and yet I don't burn, I search for Eric and yet he is nowhere to be seen I panic slightly and call for him.
"Sookie, its alright, everything is fine, there is nothing to fear" the female voice says comforting me.
"Gran? Gran is that you? Where are you?" I ask feeling incredibly stupid for asking such a thing when it cannot be true.
As I say this a watery shadow appears in front of me, my gran, I run to her, but she holds up her hand.
"Sookie listen to me I can't stay here in this realm for too long as I am not a fairy, your grandfather is coming to talk to you, he is going to explain everything, but he called and summoned me from heaven to assure you of his identity and because you expressed a desire to see me" she says.
"Niall?" I ask fear streaking through me.
My gran shakes her head "No you are safe from your great grandfather, he cannot harm you, your grandfather – Fintan wishes to meet you and talk with you" she says, she looks around and points.
"He approaches" she says.
I follow her hand and see a man walking towards me, he is smiling and I know instinctively who he is and he has a familiar figure walking beside him, Claudine has also come to see me. I cannot control myself and rush towards her.
"Claudine I am so sorry" I say but she hugs me and soothes me.
"It was my choice and my decision to stay and protect you, Niall gave me the opportunity to leave as I was with child, and it is I who should be sorry after what Colman did" she says, "but he also regrets his actions now he knows the full story" she says.
I nod and turn towards the man standing silently at her side.
"Grandfather?" I ask.
The man nods, "hello Sookie" he says, he turns to my grandmother and kisses her passionately "thank you Adele" he says, my grandmother nods and shimmers and then just before she vanishes she turns to me.
"I have to go now Sookie, but always know that I love you and you make me so proud every day, I continue to watch over you and your Viking and now you are having your own little family, remember I am always with you, so if you need to talk with me just talk and I will try and send you some sign that I have heard you, I love you Sookie" and with that she is gone.
"GRAN!" I shout and the blood tears start to stream down my face, the man gently says my name.
"Sookie, do not cry my child" he says, and once more Claudine wraps her arm around me and comforts me.
I turn towards the man standing in front of me, he looks solid and real and he holds out his hand to me.
"Sookie come to me child, let me look at you" he says.
I step out of Claudine's embrace and walk closer and I accept his hand. At once a sense of well being and love fill me.
"Where am I?" I ask.
He gestures with his hand, "This is the Summerlands" he says.
I stare at him "How?" I ask.
He smiles at me, "Your Fae blood and the fact you are technically dead in the daytime gives you the right to be here" he explains, "it was easier getting you here than getting your grandmother into this realm" he adds wryly.
I look around, "Is Niall here?" I ask nervously.
Fintan shakes his head, "No, he was condemned to the Winterlands for his actions" he says I must look confused, "The human version which you would be familiar with would be hell" he says.
My mouth drops open, "He's in hell?!" I say.
Fintan nods, "Any fairy who kills without true justification or has thoughts of killing without justification gets sent to the Winterlands when they eventually die, you are Niall's kin, his blood and yet he wanted you dead only because you loved a vampire and became vampire yourself and that wasn't sufficient reason to want you dead, especially when you have a destiny before you like no other and that destiny includes your vampire" he says.
This makes me nervous, "destiny?" I ask.
Fintan nods and points to my stomach, "Your children, you have started a great revolution, your words of cooperation and alliances have been well received and will spread and as the human race destroys itself with its narrow minded hatred, your words will resonate within the supernatural world and everyone will bond together and be strong and will endure, your children will pick suitable human mates and procreate, they will have the best of their ancestry, they will possess traits from vampires, Fae and humanity and even possibly Were but only the best ones, those children will pick their own partners they too will pick wisely and the bloodline will continue" he stops speaking and I just stare at him unable to believe what I am hearing.
"But" I stammer.
Fintan places his hand on my arm, "I know this is incredible and hard to take in but this is your destiny my child and has been since the day you were born, this is the reason why you have such an understanding and empathy with every supernatural community, and this is why your bloodline will contain the blood of Fae, human, vampire and eventually Were, there will be strong links to every supernatural race and so it will inspire harmony and dispel distrust and jealousy, why do you think you were born so extraordinary? Any other human would have gone insane with the life you had, but you were so strong and you learnt to use your gift and you rose above the mundane and something else you should know - you were always meant to meet Eric your paths were always destined to cross and he is quite simply your soul mate, that is why he was made vampire, because that was the only way you two would have ever met, being born a millennia apart, so he had to suffer greatly too for his destiny, everything happens for a reason and for a greater purpose Sookie and you and your mate in this case are that greater purpose" Fintan says kindly.
"It's a great responsibility" I say.
Fintan nods, "It is but you are strong you are up to the challenge and with your Viking at your side there will be nothing you cannot achieve" he says.
"Will I be able to tell Eric all this?" I ask.
Fintan nods and points, "here he is now" he says.
I turn and seen Eric looking around him, staring wide eyed at being in sunlight and not burning, he is naturally wary and on full alert.
"Sookie?" he says.
I run to him, "its ok we are safe here" I say.
"What is this place?" Eric asks relaxing slightly.
"The Summerlands" I explain.
Eric stares at me "But I am vampire, how can I be here in the Faery?" he says.
Fintan approaches and smiles kindly, "hello Eric, it's been a long time" he says.
Eric stares at Fintan in shock, "Fintan Brigant, what is this, is Niall here?" he asks looking around again.
Fintan quickly assures him Niall isn't here and outlines everything that he has told me and Eric listens carefully, he reaches for me and I slip into his arms.
"How can this be I am vampire, and before that I was human I was a Viking?" Eric asks.
Fintan smiles and reaches for Eric, "You were never totally human Eric, before you were made vampire you were a Halfling just like me, your father was a Viking warrior and very human but your mother was Fae – a Fairy princess to be precise" he says.
"Eerika" Eric murmurs.
Fintan nods, "Eerika, her name means..." but Eric interrupts him.
"Ruling forever" he says.
Fintan nods, "She was a water Fae princess" I shiver at this knowing the bad history between the water and sky Fae, but Fintan smiles.
"It was always written that a sky Fae/human hybrid would mate with a water Fae/human hybrid and they would be destined for great things in the supernatural world, it was her destiny to have you Eric, it was your destiny to meet Sookie but the timing went astray and Sookie came about much later than anticipated that is why you were made vampire it was the only way for you to fulfil your destiny and meet your soul mate" Fintan says.
"But?" Eric says.
Fintan smiles "would you like to see your mother again Eric?" he asks kindly.
Eric gapes at him and I grip him tightly as he visibly trembles at this question, he nods and as I listen to him he forcibly slams the bond shut. Fintan waves his hand a moment later a beautiful woman approaches she looks just like Eric and she holds open her arms.
"Min Son" she says to him.
"Min Mamma" Eric replies, she grips his shoulders, she is speaking rapidly to him clearly explaining everything to him he listens and when she has finished she embraces him he pulls away and speaks to her "Mina barn , vad det blev av dem ?"
"She has explained everything to him about his destiny and now he is asking his mother what became of his human children" Fintan whispers to me.
Eric's mother speaks swiftly and it must be good news as Eric looks relieved and smiles I feel pride through the bond and I realise he has opened it up again and I wish I could ask him what she is saying. I try and listen but I don't understand what she said.
"De levde och blomstrade , blev Leif chef för byn , Keldan var en fin krigare och så var Gyda som blev en sköldmöns" she says.
Eric turns and holds out his hand to me, "Sookie come here and meet my mother" he says.
I step closer and she clasps my hand in hers, "I am delighted to meet you, you are the chosen one for my son, I am honoured to be in your presence" she says I am shocked I can understand her.
She smiles at me, "I am Fae I can speak any language" she says.
"I wish I could understand what Eric is saying when he talks in his native language – he talks to our unborn children that way" I say and touch my stomach.
"My child, let me gift you with understanding" she says and puts her hand on my head, a warmth spreads through me. "Now you may speak and understand my sons native words" she says.
"Thank you" I say I turn to Eric who has been watching me and he pulls me into his arms and kisses me. His mother turns her attention back to him and tells him she has to go now and he nods again she grips my hand tightly and thanks me for loving her son and with that she turns and vanishes. Eric turns his attention back to Fintan.
"Now do you understand Eric?" Fintan asks.
"I understand" Eric says slowly and he waits for Fintan to continue.
Fintan smiles, "I can't stress how important the two of you are. You both are destined for great things, it is written that Sookie will be accepted and listened to by people who hear her words and anyone who means her, you or your children harm will meet their end" Fintan says, "this has so far been fulfilled the vampire monarchs Felipe and Freyda are both dead as are the followers of Felipe, along with a long list of others who have meant you harm" Fintan looks at me and I know he is referring to my rather long kill list.
I am overwhelmed by all this I stare at Fintan and then at Eric helplessly.
"Do you accept your destiny?" Fintan asks suddenly.
Eric looks surprised, "If we say no?" he asks.
"Then your time will reverse, you will return to your life as a Viking warrior, and Sookie will be born without the essential spark and neither of you will never know of each other or have any memory of this timeline" Fintan says.
Eric's eyes widen at this and he stares at me, "I don't want to lose you Sookie" he says.
I shake my head, my mind is spinning but I know I want Eric, I love him, he is my soul mate and he is the father to my children, if I go back I would be condemning them, I cannot do that having heard their thoughts. "I love you too, I accept my destiny" I say firmly.
Eric nods, "I accept my destiny" he says solemnly.
"Excellent" Fintan replies, "Now you must return night is falling in your realm and you need to rise" he says.
With that everything shimmers and then goes black.
I open my eyes with a start and sit up I look around and Eric is doing the same thing, I stare at him "Was that...did you?" I ask.
Eric nods, "in the Summerlands with Fintan and my mother" he says quietly.
"You also have Fae heritage" I say.
Eric nods again, "That was a surprise" he admits.
I smile at him and touch his cheek, "it was and yet now thinking about it strangely, it isn't" I say.
Eric looks at me questioningly, "Explain" he says.
"Everything seems to make more sense now, from the little things, like the time when I first moved in with you after we married in Vegas and I asked you if we could keep my home in Bon Temps and you said that you had always liked that house because it because it had a 'feel' about it, I didn't think anything of it at the time, but now it is clear you were obviously sensitive to the Fae magic in the house and land, not to mention the magic emanating from the Cluvel Dor that was hidden there at the time, and do you remember, you have said to me more than once, I may not tell you everything but what I do tell you is the truth. Then when I rose as a vampire and the Fae earth had an effect on you too, then there was the Sheema, how she managed to create a link with you and she had no idea how she had managed to do it, well there is your answer it was your Fae blood, and then of course there is the way we have always been drawn to each other despite everything conspiring to keep us apart, because it is our destiny" I say.
Eric nods thoughtfully and then a wicked grin fills his face and he pulls me into his arms, "The Fae are known for their sexual appetite" he says as he nibbles my ear and he has a lustful glint in his eye.
I laugh, "Eric, your sexual appetite is legendary" I say.
Eric pushes me down on to the bed and hovers over me, pushing my knees apart. As he looks down he looks shocked.
"What?" I ask and look down, and I see a noticeable little bump has appeared.
"Where did that come from?" I ask as I run my hand over it.
Eric shrugs, "I have no idea but it is beautiful" he says and he leans down and kisses it. "Let me make love to you" he says and he gently pushes himself inside me, I moan with pleasure and he stills, "I'm not hurting you am I?" he asks.
I shake my head, "No it is wonderful" I say and my hips rise to meet his.
"This is best" Eric says as he pushes into me once more and then sets a punishing rhythm we both come with a yell and sink our fangs into each other and drink greedily, I feel Eric pull back and look at my stomach once more.
"It grew, when you drank from me" he says pointing at the bump.
I giggle, "What are you saying your blood is like fertiliser to our children, it makes them grow?"
Eric laughs, "I have no idea but I felt it grow" he insists.
He leaps off the bed and fetches me a blood bag which he hands me "Drink this" he demands and he places his hands on my bump and watches me carefully.
As I drink he smiles, "It's growing, not at the pace it did when you drank from me but it is definitely growing" he says.
I finish my blood and look at Eric lustfully, "I need you again" I say.
Eric growls and his fangs descend, "You need me?" he asks.
I nod, "It's like a craving I need you so badly" I say.
"Let me ease your craving" Eric says as he covers me once more with his body.
When we are both finally sated after about 15 orgasms I realise what is happening.
"This is our children, they are craving your blood to grow, and I bite and drink from you when I ...you know, and so they are..."
"Making you horny" Eric says with a grin.
"Well ...yes" I say, I look down and the bump is now much bigger than when I first rose, I reach for my phone and call Dr Ludwig, moments later she appears and stares at my now large bump
"How is that possible?" she says pointing her bony finger at me.
Eric and I tell her of the story of what happened to us, leaving out the part of Eric having Fae ancestry and we tell her of our theory of how the children need Eric's blood to thrive.
Dr Ludwig nods and thinks thoughtfully, "this is logical, what happens when you drink other blood?" she asks.
"The bump grows but not at the same rate" I say.
I would like to see this for myself, would you accompany me to my office we can do a scan and if you feed while I am performing the scan and we can see exactly what happens, we can get some idea of how this is progressing?" Dr Ludwig asks.
Both Eric and I nod and we head to the hospital.
Dr Ludwig runs the wand over me and we all gasp in surprise the babies are much bigger now, Dr Ludwig hands me a blood bag and I drink, I watch and on the screen the babies grow, "Now Eric if you would feed your wife" Dr Ludwig says.
Eric sits behind me and offers me his wrist there is a crunch as I bite into him and drink and Dr Ludwig cries out.
"This is incredible, the speed at which these babies grow!" she exclaims.
She turns to look at me seriously, "You need to monitor this carefully, because if you are not careful these babies will be too big to be born" she says.
Eric stiffens and wraps his arm around me, "What are you saying?" he asks.
Dr Ludwig looks up at Eric, "What I am saying vampire is that she may not be able to give birth to them or doing so may damage her, I won't say it will end her as she is a vampire but the healing time would be considerable" she says.
Eric and I look at each other, "but I want to give my children what they need to thrive" I say stubbornly.
"Of course you do, just don't over do it" Dr Ludwig says.
"Fair enough" I say in agreement, Eric nods and he returns his gaze to the two figures on the screen.
I watch Eric carefully and I am desperate to know what he is thinking but he has closed the bond tightly again, he doesn't want me to feel his emotions, so out of respect I also stay out of his head.
We return home and Eric seems distracted I go to him and wrap my arms around him.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
Eric smiles, "Nothing is wrong, I am just...overwhelmed" he says "it is not a feeling that I am accustomed to" he adds.
"If its any consolation I'm having difficulty getting my head around this as well" I say.
Eric turns and looks at me, "Were you tempted to return and relive your life as a human with no telepathy?" he asks.
I shake my head, "No, I wasn't, there was a possibility at one time that I may have chosen differently but not now, I love you too much" I say.
Eric leads me to our room and closes the door; he pulls me down on to the bed.
"Were you tempted?" I ask.
"No" Eric says decisively.
He doesn't elaborate and I wonder what he is thinking, "Eric talk to me, let me in" I ask.
He holds me tighter, "When Dr Ludwig said what she said about having our children, it reminded me of Aude… and her death" he says, I know this story, I remember the night at Fangtasia where he shared memories with me and told me how his wife died after giving birth.
I grip his hand, "I'm not going to die" I say.
"No" he says, "You're not".
I wait for him to continue to speak and he remains silent for a long while then eventually speaks
"It was also very strange to hear that it was my destiny to find Ocella that night and for him to turn me just so I would be around when you were on the earth" he says.
"Are you feeling resentful about that?" I ask.
"No, if anything it gives me a sense of peace, now I know there was a reason behind the fact I was made into a vampire, that I was chosen for a greater purpose, it makes the memories of those years of hell with Ocella ...bearable" he stops and I will him to talk to me.
I know what he is talking about having seen the terrible things Ocella did to him, how he violated him and humiliated him for centuries for his own sick pleasure, but on the other hand he taught him to stay alive and not get caught and killed and I suppose for that I have to be grateful, he taught him how to be a good vampire and survive long enough to meet me and fulfil his destiny.
"I want to be a good father" Eric says suddenly.
I turn in his arms and look at him, "I don't think that is in question" I say.
Eric shakes his head sadly, "I was not a father to my human children, I was more of a father to Pam and yet I took her human life when I turned her. I want to be a proper father to them" he says.
"Tell me about your human family" I say carefully.
"Aude was a strong woman and a good wife, she did what was expected, as did I" he says.
"What about your children, you told me three survived?" I coax.
Eric nods, "yes two boys and a girl lived, the girl was the eldest surviving child, her name was Gyda she was beautiful, my sons were called Keldan and Leif" he says.
"Beautiful names, what do they mean?" I ask.
Eric smiles, Keldan means from the Spring, he was named that as he was born in the Springtime, Leif means descendent or heir, he was my eldest surviving son and Gyda means God in Swedish but it also meant war like" he says.
"So what was the thinking behind that?" I ask.
Eric looks at me, "she was a fighter, she wasn't expected to live, but she did she fought for her life" he says.
There is another long silence then he speaks again, "They were very young when I was turned, I often wonder what became of them, so it was good to hear from my mother that they all prospered I tried to be a good father to them, I wasn't there for any of the births as I was away raiding, and I would always return home there would be an infant in the crib or another grave, the only time I was there at a birth was when Aude perished, I had returned and she hadn't had the child, a few days later she had him and then they both caught a fever and died".
"What did your mother tell you about your children?" I ask, wracking my brain trying to remember what she said.
"She said that they lived and flourished, Leif became head of the village, Keldan was a great warrior and so was Gyda she became a Shield Maiden" he says proudly.
I have no idea what to say to him, so I send love and comfort through our bond hoping he receives it. When he squeezes me and sends me a wave of love back I know he received it and has reopened the bond.
"It is all ancient history" he says dismissively, "I have a second chance at fatherhood now" he says, and he places his hands on my bump.
"I am still getting my head around the fact it was all inevitable, it is hard to accept that your destiny is mapped out for you" he says.
I nod, "I know, I wonder who was the one playing god, I am guessing a fairy as we are both have Fae heritage, and I also wonder who screwed up the maths which subjected you to centuries of misery with Ocella" I say bitterly.
"It is not important lover, what is important is that we are together, we love each other and we are now fulfilling our destiny" Eric says pragmatically.