AN: Enjoy this chapter! Happy Reading! :)

Chapter 26

SPOV

"Ugh," I groan out, hearing my cell phone insistently buzzing upon the headboard. I pry my eyes open, having to squint into the darkness of the bedroom before reaching up to grab the small device. "Hello?" I answer sleepily, rubbing my eyes in a weak attempt to wake up a bit.

"Sookie?" replies the deep, masculine voice that takes my fuzzy mind a moment to identify.

"Alcide, hey," I answer, wiggling between my two loves as I sit upright upon the bed between them.

"I'm so glad you answered," he says, making my brows pinch in confusion. "I've been trying to get through to the agency all day," he explains as I let out an annoyed sigh, realizing Amelia has likely been catching up with the members of her old coven as I recall the last time the wild bunch of witches were in town.

"Yeah, sorry about that," I reply. "What's up?"

"We wolves spent the entire night trying to devise a plan of attack to use against this coven and we think we've come up with something that just might work," he answers excitedly as I come to realize I've got a lot of explaining to do as well as a lot of phone calls to make.

"That's great, Alcide, but the witches are already taken care of," I explain, gaining a prolonged silence from my friend, I'm sure as he lets this surprising information sink in a bit. "It's kind of a long story, but we used a rather unlikely, outside source and she was able to take out the coven as well as ensuring Eric's safety," I elaborate to hear a loud sigh of relief from the other end of the phone.

"Oh, well that's great then!" he exclaims, bringing a small smile to my face. "I guess the Northman's alright then?" he questions somewhat hesitantly as I turn my gaze to my slumbering Viking.

"He is," I answer back fondly, running my fingers through his golden mane as my heart swells with the overwhelming love I have for him.

"Good, good," Alcide answers as I swear I can hear his grin through the phone. "In that case, I have some good news to share," he informs me as I sit up a bit straighter, eager to hear any bit of good news after these crazy couple of days.

"Well," I encourage, a grin coming to my face. "Don't keep me in suspense for too long here, wolf," I tease to bring a low chuckle from my friend.

"I proposed to Maria-Star," he tells me as my grin widens. "And she accepted," he adds, bringing a girly squeal from me as I begin bouncing excitedly on the bed.

"Oh, Alcide, I'm so happy for you!" I exclaim.

"We're happy as well," he chuckles out. "She's an amazing woman and I feel I have you to thank for bringing her to my attention the way you did," he tells me as I nod firmly.

"I'm just happy you finally found a good woman," I insist. "The two of you are an adorable couple and I know you'll make for amazing pack leaders," I tell him earnestly.

"Well, you're one of the first people we've told so far. I'll have to be getting back with you soon once we can decide on a date for the big day," he tells me. "And I'm glad to hear you got Eric back in one piece, I'd hate to know what those witches may have done to him before we were able to free him."

"Yeah, tell me about it," I sigh out, an icy chill running down my spine at the thought. "But you be sure to let me know just as soon as you have a date set and rest assured that me and my vampires will be there to celebrate with you both," I tell him, changing the subject back to more pleasant conversation.

"Will do, see ya around, Sookie," he says before the line goes dead. I grin then, hitting the end button on my cell phone as I'm overcome with happiness for my dear friend, glad he's finally cut that crazy ex of his out of his life completely.

I sigh then, recalling Alcide was unable to get through on the company phone and know it'll be up to me to answer incoming calls, as well as getting out calls to the rest of our forces to let them know our enemy has already been defeated. A small frown forms as I begin to squirm my way free of my loves' tight embrace, wanting for nothing more than to cuddle back between them until they wake for the night but, unfortunately, duty calls.

I quickly shower and dress, stopping to press a soft kiss to each of my vampires' cheeks before I make my way from the house. I find my own car parked in the driveway and am grateful for whoever was thoughtful enough to deliver it to me as I take my seat behind the wheel and begin the drive back to Bon Temps.

On the drive, I try Amelia's cell phone, hoping against all odds that she's not too hung over to answer and let out a sigh of defeat as her voicemail picks up. I suppose I can't be too upset with her, knowing just how close she is with the members of her old coven. I can't really blame her for wanting to spend some time with her old friends as she really doesn't get the chance to see them all that often now that she's moved away from their base in New Orleans.

"Hey, Ames, it's Sookie," I start the voicemail as I pull into the drive. "Just wanted to let you know there's no need to invade Hallow's coven after all," I start, climbing from my car as I notice for the first time just how late in the day it already is. "Eric's home, safe and sound, so we can call off the troops. Just call me back when you get this, okay? Love you," I add, opening up the front door of the house before ending the call.

I glace up to the hall clock then, my brows rising in surprise as I see just how late in the day it is already. Damn vampire hours. I let out a sigh, walking towards the flashing, red light of the company's answering machine as I realize I may not need to call anyone after all as our allies are likely to be showing up any time now. Oh well, I suppose hearing the good news in person may be better than receiving a phone call anyhow.

A soft squeak sounds from the kitchen then and I let out a loud sigh, wondering just what kind of shape my party hardy roommate is likely to be in as I begin trailing towards the small noise. I clamp down on my shields, recalling the wild shenanigans my witchy roommate got into with her magically inclined friends the last time they were in town. I'd really rather not see the drunken details of their wild night of partying playing vividly through my mind. Been there, done that.

"Yo, Ames," I call out. "Aspirin's in the cupboard," I add before stopping dead in my tracks, my heart suddenly racing in fear as I'm met with a shocking sight.

"You're gonna need a hell of a lot more than an Aspirin to heal what I've got in store for you, blondie," Debbie drawls, cocking her shotgun just before the ear piercing blast rings out.

EPOV

"Sookie!" I cry out, being pulled abruptly from my slumber in a panic as I feel my love's mirroring pain and fear shooting through me.

"Eric," Godric chokes out beside me as I look down to see him choking up thick, red blood. No, no, no! This can't be fucking happening!

"Godric, no," I cry out, pressing blankets over the gaping wound in his chest as my mind quickly pieces together what must have happened. "Hold on, please, just hold on," I whisper, taking my gravely wounded Maker into my arms as I proceed to speed through the house, following the bond I hold with Sookie to track her to her current location.

"She's dying, Eric. We're dying," Godric whispers brokenly, scarlet tears streaming down both our cheeks as I shake my head fervently, launching myself into the quickly darkening sky as I refuse to accept his assessment.

"No, I won't lose you, Godric, not again," I insist, feeling the setting sun's ray's stinging sharply against my skin as I fly faster than I've ever flown in all my thousand years. "I'll save you. Both of you," I assure him, holding him close as I swear I proceed to break the fucking sound barrier, jetting to Sookie's old farmhouse just as fast as I possibly can.

I land running, speeding just as fast as I can across the green lawn and pay no mind to the horde of guests crowded around the yard as I speed through the front door, intent only on saving my two loves.

"You're too late," a female were smugly proclaims, struggling against Diantha and Gladiola's firm hold upon her as she grins down to the sight of my love's dying body. I follow her gaze to see my golden love bleeding out over the kitchen floor, the growing, crimson pool a stark contrast to the pristine tile as members of our gathered forces are working earnestly to stop the bleeding.

I lay Godric's body down gingerly beside his soulmate, seeing him lace his fingers with his soul's counterpart as malicious laughter begins emanating from the fucking werebitch who shot her. I proceed to move at vamp speed, abruptly snapping the neck of my love's aggressor to earn silent, firm nods from the demons holding her now lifeless body. Fucking bitch. I'm left with no time to enjoy the kill as I proceed to crouch down in the large, cherry red pool of cooling blood blossoming out around my two, dying mates.

"Sookie," I whisper softly, feeling only a spark of life radiating from her as our allies move back to give me room. Both my loves' lives are quickly slipping away from me and I look between the two of them, knowing I'll lose them both if I don't act quickly.

I hesitate then, hearing Sookie's words from last night replaying through my mind as I recall her hesitance at being turned. I fear she may hate me, but as I see the silent pleading shining in my Maker's blood rimmed, emerald eyes, I realize I'll just have to live with whatever wrath I incur. I nod to Godric, lifting his soulmate's wrist to my mouth before sinking my descended fangs into supple flesh.

Dearest, Odin, please don't let me be too late, I desperately pray, proceeding to drain what little blood is left within my love before biting harshly into my own wrist. Bloody tears are streaming steadily down my face as I pry my love's pale lips open and press my bleeding wound to her mouth, having to rub my hand over her throat to help her swallow down my blood. I then feel both her and Godric's lives snuffing out in unison and can only continue to pray that my actions have not been in vain.

"What can we do?" someone questions behind me as I turn to see the concerned faces of were's, witches and demon's alike gathered anxiously around the small room.

"Shovels, we need shovels," I instruct, my voice cracking in defeat as I earn firm nods in return. Several members of the crowd peel away then, I'm sure in search of the needed tools.

"Oh, God, no!" is cried out and I glance up to see Amelia's terrified expression as she stares down to the lifeless body of her friend. Octavia steps up then, letting her apprentice break down in her embrace and I send the aging witch a grateful nod, knowing I won't be of any fucking use to anyone until I know for sure I've managed to save my Maker and my Sookie.

I take Sookie gingerly into my arms then, having to choke back more tears as I'm soon joined by members of our gathered forces who proceed to gently lift the lifeless body of Godric from the floor. I can only nod to them, subconsciously grateful for the help as I proceed to mechanically trail through the house. I'm followed closely by the others as the lot of us soon come upon the backyard where a large hole is already being dug.

"Will it be big enough?" someone asks me as I find myself nodding absently, unable to focus on anything besides my mates. The crew continues to work, digging the wide hole ever deeper as I find myself only able to stare blankly ahead, knowing I'll never be able to carry on living if this plan is unsuccessful.

I don't know how much time passes before the hole is large enough to fit the three of us and the crowd is helping me to position my loves to either of my sides within the deep, dirt hole before a cascade of soft earth is blanketing over us. I clutch tightly unto the lifeless hands of both my Maker and my Sookie, holding them close, all the while sending prayer after countless prayer to the gods, hoping I've somehow managed to save the two people who have made my afterlife one worth living. For if my loves' lives are truly over, I know this hole will become my true and final resting place.

AN: I know, I know, this was a hard one! But this story isn't over yet and you all know just how much I love my HEA's! Hold in there, readers!