AN: I know some of you will be saddened by this author's note, but this is probably the next to last chapter. She is coming close to the due date I had planned from the beginning. Some of you will probably ask if I am continuing the story after she gives birth, but sadly no. I have no plans right now to do a sequel. I had always intended to stop with the birth. Never fear though. I'm sure I will have other tasty treats for you to read soon enough :-).

SOOKIE

I knew the sun was out because it was shining through the curtains onto my face. My eyes were closed and I was enjoying one of the most restful sleeps I'd had in a few months. The mattress was perfect. It was not too hard and not too soft, and there was a slight vibration to it, which felt like a thousand fingers were massaging me as I slept.

A knock at the door made my eyes flutter open. "Come in."

A young woman dressed in a maid's uniform came through the door carrying a tray of food for me. "Thank you Rosaline. You can just put the tray on the table."

"Yes Miss. I'll be back later to retrieve it." She left with a bow.

I put on my robe and slid the curtains all the way open. The view from my bedroom was breathtaking. I could see rolling green hills against a distant mountainside. Closer to the palace were the most beautiful gardens I'd ever seen, with one of those hedge labyrinths next to it. The sweet fragrance of the flowers drifted into the air and right into my open window as if they were giving off their sweet scent just for me.

I picked up the tray of food and took it to the table on the balcony. What a wonderful way to eat breakfast. There was a plate of eggs, bacon, orange slices, and a big glass of nectar. As I dug in, another knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.

"Yes?"

Claudine came into the room and sat down across from me. She had a strange look on her face. "Hey cousin, how are you doing this morning? Did you sleep well?"

"Oh yes, I slept wonderfully. I'm feeling great today. Although I can't wait until this little one is born." I patted my tummy.

"You do look like you're about to pop." She smiled awkwardly.

"I do seem to be a lot bigger, but it could be that the baby is going to weigh more at birth than the average baby. Sometimes humans have big babies. So what's up? You sound a bit down today."

"Sookie, can I ask you something?"

"Ask away sweetie."

She hesitated before speaking. "You've been here for about four weeks now. Do you miss anything from before here?"

I happily replied with not a care in the world, "I don't think so. I mean it would be nice to visit friends and family in Bon Temps, but Niall said that I should stay and rest since it's so close to my due date."

I took a sip of nectar and she grimaced a little. She looked around and peered over the balcony, as if she was looking to see if anyone else might be hovering.

In a low voice she whispered, "Sookie, do you remember how you got pregnant?"

"Of course I know how I got pregnant. I may not be too experienced in the sex department, but I know how babies are made." I laughed.

"No, no. I meant, do you remember how you got pregnant? Do you remember who got you pregnant?"

I thought that was an odd question to ask, until I really thought about it. I took another sip of that heavenly liquid. "Umm, hmm? You know, it's a bit hazy. Should I be worried about that? Is it important that I remember? Somehow it doesn't seem that important."

"No, no. Forget I asked. You need to go out and enjoy today, it's so beautiful out. I understand you are having lunch with the Prince this afternoon. You should look forward to that instead of thinking about unnecessary things."

"As soon as I finish with breakfast and wash up, I'm going to take a walk. Yeah, I'm having lunch with the Prince today. He wants to talk to me about something. It sounded kind of serious, but then again, great-grandfather has been rather serious lately. Do you know what he wants?"

"I'm not sure. He's been a little secretive lately. I guess we'll find out after he talks to you." She looked at the clock by my bed, "I'm sorry, I have to go now. I'll come and talk to you later. I have to see to a few things."

She popped out before I could say goodbye. She never seemed to stay around long enough for me to do that. I finished up breakfast and got in and out of the shower at a leisurely pace. I had nowhere to go and not much to do, so there was no need to hurry. A blouse and pants were fine for this morning. When I had lunch with Niall, I would dress a little more formal.

I grabbed the book I'd been reading off of my nightstand and headed outside. I wandered around the gardens and through a labyrinth of hedges, which formed a maze. The first time I strolled through the maze I got turned around and couldn't find my way out. Claudine had to come and get me. Since then I'd learned my way around and knew all the twists and turns.

Of course, this was no ordinary labyrinth. It was magickally enhanced. Occasionally, it would change directions inside to trick you. But I learned quickly how to avoid those traps and to figure out what changes were made to get back to where I needed to be.

If you were lucky enough to reach the center of the labyrinth, there was a beautiful garden surrounding a white gazebo. I sat down on the cushioned glider and stretched out my legs. There were a few smaller pillows on a table, just out of reach, but I was feeling lazy this morning. So instead of getting back up to get them, I whisked my hand and two of them flew towards me, whomping me in the face and chest. I guess I should have been more careful about that.

I propped my back up with the pillows and began to read. It wasn't a particularly interesting book to most people, but great-grandfather asked me to read it. It was a history of the fairy people, most notably, our lineage. I couldn't get over how far back our ancestry was traced.

I was so engrossed with the book that I almost didn't hear the chimes sounding on the wind. I looked up and understood that if I didn't get my butt in gear now, I was going to be late for lunch.

A gingerly walk back to the palace would mean no time to change my clothes, so I decided to use the new fairy trick Claudine had been teaching me. I closed my eyes and thought about my bedroom. I pictured myself standing in the middle of the room and where all the furniture was positioned. I took a deep breath and as I exhaled I snapped my fingers. The air around me began to shimmer, and when the shimmering stopped, I was standing in my bedroom, in the same spot I had pictured.

Eager to find out what Niall wanted of me, I quickly changed into a white cotton dress with little blue daisies and a pair of white sandals. I made it down to his private dining chamber just in time and bowed to him as I entered.

"Great-grandfather, I'm glad you are home. You've been gone for a few days now."

"I am sorry I have not been as available as I could have been. I was busy making certain arrangements. However, I am back and now we can sit and have a pleasant lunch together."

He held out a seat for me and then sat across from me. Servants worked quickly and quietly, serving us our appetizers and drinks. I picked at my shrimp cocktail wondering if the arrangements had anything to do with me. As if he could read my mind (ha), he started the conversation by dropping a bomb.

"I know you are wondering what I wanted to talk to you about this afternoon. It is very simple. I am not going to be around forever, and I need someone to take my place when I am gone. Claude has no desire to rule as Prince and Claudine is on her own path to becoming an angel. I need an heir to reign in my stead, but it has to be someone from my lineage. You are Fintan's grandchild, which means your blood is my blood. I want you to be that heir."

I was in complete shock. My mouth just hung slack as I tried to form words to reply.

"You… want me…to be the next Prince of the Fairies?"

He chuckled. "Technically, you would be Princess. But yes, I want you to be the next Princess of the Fairies…you and your child, who will follow in your footsteps."

"I don't know what to say. I mean, you're giving me a real honor. I just don't know if I'm worthy of it."

I took a sip of nectar and looked down at my shrimp. Suddenly I wasn't so hungry. How could he even consider someone like me?

"But great-grandfather, there has to be someone more worthy than me."

"No one is more worthy than you, dear child. As I said, the heir has to be someone from my bloodline, and I want it to be you. I will not force you to accept, but I do ask that you think about it. I will need your decision within two weeks though."

Oh, so no pressure there. I only have two weeks to decide the fate of my entire future. "Why two weeks?"

He looked at me like he didn't want to answer, but then changed his mind. "We are having a ceremony then, and I will announce you as my eventual successor."

My lips formed an "ohhh" even though I didn't verbalize the sound. I picked at the last shrimp on the glass as the staff brought out a huge chicken Caesar salad and fresh fruit for us. I didn't think I had anymore appetite left.

I tried to eat, since he had taken the time to have lunch prepared for us, so I ate a few small bites.

"What is wrong dear? Is it not to your liking? Would you prefer something else?"

"No, this is fine. I love Caesar salad. I'm sorry, but my appetite seems to have disappeared."

His eyes had a look of sadness. "I know this is a great decision to lay on you, and I have not given you much time to think about it. After all, you are deciding on the rest of your life. But I wish you would at least eat something. It is not good for you to go without in your condition."

He was right. I couldn't skip any meals. I smiled at him reassuringly and dug into the salad, eating every last bite. When we were through with lunch, Niall excused himself to deal with matters of the realm. I, on the other hand, was getting sleepy and went back up to my bedroom to try to take a nap.

At first I had a hard time sleeping. Niall's words bounced around in my head like a ping pong match. I still couldn't believe that of all people, he wanted me to continue in his footsteps; me, a simple telepathic barmaid from a backwater town in Louisiana. I hadn't even ventured very far away from my little haven. I had been on school trips now and then. One time my high school class even took a trip to Dallas, but after graduating, I was content to stay in Bon Temps, work at Merlotte's and live in my house.

It took some time, but I finally drifted off to a fitful sleep. I never told anyone this, not Claudine or Niall, but sometimes when I slept or napped, I had bad dreams. It was as if my subconscious was trying to tell me something. Sometimes I dreamed of vampires and werewolves. Other times I dreamed of gunshots and bombs exploding. None of it made any sense to me, but I didn't want to scare them in the chance that these dreams might have some horrible significance.

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ERIC

I woke up alone again, but not in our bed. At first I slept there, inhaling her pillow deeply and remembering what she smelled like before all this craziness started. But after a couple of days it had become too painful for me to even want to be in that room. The bed felt too empty and big for one person. Now I slumbered in one of the guest rooms. I promised myself that I would not sleep in that bed again until my wife was by my side.

When the pain hit me a month ago, I crumbled. I lay on the floor of the cabin in agony for several hours and I knew she was gone. Niall had taken her, and it was somewhere I could not follow. Bastard fairy.

I just hoped that closing off the bond like that had not put Sookie through the same pain I went through. Thankfully, he did not sever the bond completely. No, he could not do that. That would have killed her almost instantly. He must have dampened it to the point of barely existing. To her, it would now be just a fleeting sensation. God knows what else he has done to her all this time.

For the first week, the realization that I may never see her again was setting in, and I grew despondent. Thank God for Pam and Remy. I had neglected my businesses, I barely fed, and I would not leave the house. I wandered through the house like a vampire zombie. My brain was on overload with thoughts of her.

If I was not lying in darkness in the bedroom, I was sitting in the rocking chair in the nursery. At first I cursed the painting of Friggja. Why had she abandoned me? Why had she abandoned Sookie? Did we do something to displease her? My vision of her that night so long ago was one of hope for a future filled with peace and contentment. Where was that hope now?

Pam came to me, for it was hurting her too to see me like that. But I pushed her away. I could not even communicate to her silently. I wanted to be left alone in my misery.

'Master, she would not want to see you like this. She would want you to fight to stay strong. She needs you more than ever now.' Pam's words still echoed in my head. She was right.

Is this what humans considered a pity party? I was wallowing in my own misery. Damn it! I was over one thousand years old and I was reduced to contemplating meeting the sun just to end this torture. I needed to pull myself out of this hell.

For the past three weeks, I searched everywhere for some trace of her. I made inquiries and cashed in on favors that were owed to me. Felipe even sent someone to help me look for her, but it was to no avail. The only information we had learned was that Niall had taken her to one of the fairy realms. Unfortunately, it was a place that no vampire could ever get to or set foot in. Immolation would have been instantaneous. I was not willing to risk that, even for her.

Even though it would have been the logical first step, I did not start with her cousins Claudine and Claude. But now a trip to see both of them was definitely warranted. I knew from Sookie that Claudine worked part-time in an herb shop in the Monroe mall. She also worked part-time for her brother at his strip club.

I started with the Mall just before closing, but the manager of the shop told me that Claudine had quit her job. She was disappointed because fairies knew so much about magick and herbs, that it was a plus having her there. I handed the woman my business card and told her that if she heard from the fairy, to have her give me a call.

My next stop was to Hooligan's. A human being turned on by watching other naked humans writhing around on stage was a lucrative business. Early in her pregnancy, Sookie did a little striptease dance for me in our bedroom. It was sensual and memorable, and led to a very satisfying night for both of us.

I entered the establishment and immediately spotted him. He was wearing a shimmering gold robe, and his black tresses cascaded over his broad shoulders. He must have just come off of the stage and women were descending on him like a pack of wild animals. Unfortunately for them, Claude was a fairy in every sense of the word.

As I approached, the women parted like the Red Sea, and I stood towering over him.

"I need to speak to you now in private."

He swallowed hard as I looked at him menacingly. "I'm quite busy at the moment. Perhaps if you made an appointment, we can speak later." He dismissed me with a wave of his hand and smiled at the women groveling for his attentions.

I had not the time or the patience for this. I grabbed him by the front of the robe and pulled him to his feet. "You will speak to me now or I will drain you of every last drop of fairy blood in your body." I bared my fangs to emphasize my point.

Claude's face went pale and he stammered, "M…Meet me in my office in five minutes." I released him and he moved quickly out of my sight.

It was not until I looked at the face of one of the females that I realized my error. She had a look of fright and I knew my eyes were dilated and she could see my fangs. I had dealt with a few fairies before, but the only one I knew could mask his scent was Niall. Claude was not so fortunate.

I moved off to the side of the room, standing in the shadows, waiting for the five minutes to end. Then, without knocking, I entered his office. To my surprise he was standing there armed with a wooden stake.

"Planning on doing something rash, fairy?" I smirked at him, but I applauded his shrewd observation of the situation.

"Just affording myself some protection. You know I can't mask my scent. Now, what do you want?" The hand which brandished the stake was trembling.

I sat in the guest chair and crossed my legs, resting my hands on the arms. Very calmly, I said, "I will make this easy on you. Tell me where my wife is and I will let you live."

He dared to scoff at my request. "Ha. You will never see her again. She was always one of us, and in two weeks, she will forever be a part of us."

His words made no sense. "What happens in two weeks?"

"She will become a full fairy permanently and she will sit at the right hand of our Prince until it is time for her to take his place as Princess. Now be gone with you vampire. You will never have her again."

I stood and walked toward him until the end of the stake was resting against my chest. I looked into his eyes daring him to do it. "We. Shall. See."

I pivoted and walked towards the door. Just as I reached for the knob, my eye twitched and I sidestepped in time to reach out and grab the flying stake. In one fluid motion, I spun back around and hurled it back to its point of origin. A scream emanated from Claude's lips as he clutched his arm and sunk to the floor.

I watched streams of blood run down his arm where the stake had sunk into his bicep and as I turned to leave, I called out, "You are either very bold or very foolhardy, fairy."

I walked back to my car and slid into the driver's seat. So that was Niall's plan. He needed a successor, and he had chosen Sookie. The only reason I could think of was because she was blood related. I am sure that is also the reason he enhanced her blood to make her a full fairy. She would not be accepted as a Princess if she was less than that.

But what was that Claude said? Two weeks. So that bastard Prince was lying. It was not permanent yet. I had two weeks to find her before she was lost to me forever. I gripped the steering wheel almost breaking it in half. I will not give up. I will find a way.

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SOOKIE

The next day I decided to take another walk through the gardens and labyrinth. I had a lot to think about, what with Niall wanting me to be his replacement and all. I had always given a lot of time and consideration to any big decisions in my life. I was not sure how I was going to decide my entire future in two weeks.

Absentmindedly strolling through the hedges, I wasn't looking where I was going, even though I knew my way to the center. That's when I ran right into a new hedge that suddenly appeared. I grumbled at the fact that I had to take a different route to get back to where I was headed.

As I approached a narrow turn, I heard two voices speaking in the distance. I walked toward the sounds and as I did they became familiar. I wouldn't exactly say they were speaking to each other…it was more like arguing. I peered through a hole in the hedge and saw Claudine and Niall standing there. He looked upset and she had her hands on her hips looking just as upset.

The polite thing would have been to clear my throat and make my presence known, except that I heard Claudine say my name. Now I was curious as to why I was the topic of their heated discussion. I stood very still and eavesdropped.

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"Grandfather, I just don't think it's right what you are doing to her."

"It is not for you to question my methods child. I have set things in motion that are for the betterment of us all."

"How can it be better for her not knowing the truth?"

"What she cannot remember will not hurt her. It must be this way for her safety and well-being."

"What about the vampire? Doesn't he have a say about it? After all, he is tied to her and it is his child."

"Claudine, I am surprised at you. You of all people shared my frustrations at her being bonded to him that closely. Is it not better for her to forget all the sorrow and pain they have put her through? He will get over it. He has lived a long life and he will be better for not having this burden put upon him. He will get used to knowing his child will one day succeed his mother at the throne."

She sighed. "I guess, but I just don't like it. I'm sorry, but I still don't think it is right to have clouded her memories and practically closed off the bond. If I had known what that drink was really for, I would have not helped you, even though you are my Prince. I only want what is best for her."

He shook his head, angry. "You think you know what is best for her? Obviously there is some degree of you that agrees with my plan. Otherwise you would have broken your vow to me and told her already."

She knelt before him. "You are my Prince and I will obey your words. I am sorry for questioning you."

"You are forgiven child. But do not question me again. There is no turning back. From now on she will only feel happy and carefree."

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I ran. I ran as fast as my pregnant body would allow me and went straight up into my bedroom. I couldn't stand there and listen to any more. I threw myself on the bed in anger and outrage as tears streamed down my face. Why did I eavesdrop? Why didn't I just walk away and continue on in ignorance and bliss? One minute I was contemplating a long future in a grand palace ruling over the masses. The next minute my spirit had been crushed into a million pieces. How could my own great-grandfather do this to me?

Is that why I had been having horrific dreams of other supernatural creatures? I knew of the existence of vampires. They had come out of the closet, so to speak, with the Great Revelation, but I can't recall ever meeting one. I suppose since I dreamed of werewolves, that they were real too.

I lay there on my bed for several hours in a massive swirl of confusion, hurt, and anger. It was only when the dinner bell chimed through the halls did I finally sit up on the edge of my bed. Food was the last thing on my mind right now. A few minutes had passed by and I heard the chime again. I still did not move.

About fifteen minutes later there was a knock at the door and Claudine poked her head in. "Sookie dinner is ready. Didn't you hear…" She stopped speaking and looked at the state I was in.

"Sookie, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

How touching it was for her to be so concerned. "Please leave me alone. I'm not hungry and I don't want to go anywhere with you."

She had a questioning look on her face. "I don't understand. Did something happen to make you this upset? Tell me, maybe I can help."

I looked up into her face and scowled. "I was taking a walk today out in the gardens. I was strolling through the hedge maze when I heard raised voices."

Claudine's eyes widened and she clamped her hand over her mouth. She knew she had been caught.

I could feel the anger welling up within me. "Would you care to tell me exactly what has been done to me and why? I got the gist from the conversation, but I would like to hear it in your words."

"I can't. I swore not to say anything to you." She started tearing up.

"Don't you dare cry Claudine! You have no right. Now, you are going to sit there and tell me what is happening to me." I pointed to the empty chair in the corner of the room.

She slumped down and lowered her head into her hands. After several minutes of contemplation, she raised her tearful eyes to me and told me everything. She told me about Eric and that he was the father. She told me about Bill and Quinn and Alcide and all the other supes I had been involved with. She told me about the fact that I was now living in Shreveport with Eric and that not only were he and I blood-bonded, but we were married.

I felt there was much more she could have told me but I held my hand up in a 'stop' motion. I was dumfounded and my mouth hung open in shock. I closed my eyes and swallowed hard. I wasn't sure if I wanted to hear anymore.

"You asked me before if I knew who the father of my baby was, but you knew all along didn't you. Niall and you talked about my memories being clouded. Is that why I don't remember anything? How did I get this way? How could I not remember so much of my life?"

She told me about the pink drink I had been taking since I got pregnant. She said it had enhanced my blood to make me a full fairy.

"So I'm not even a full fairy? Just how much of my blood was fae?"

"You are only an eighth fae. Your baby will be fae too, but it will be less than that."

"So here's my biggest question. Is any of this reversible?"

She hesitated. "Claudine. Look at me. I'm a mess. I've been having terrible dreams involving vampires, werewolves, gunshots, stakes, and other nightmarish events. Now I know why. I just found out that my great-grandfather has tricked me to get me right where he wants me. You tell me I have a husband and a whole other life that has been conveniently stolen from me. You tell me now if it can be fixed or I will go to Niall right now and ask him."

"Oh no, you can't. He can never know you found out." She was pleading with me desperately.

"Then tell me what I want to know."

She slumped back into the chair and sighed in defeat. "Please know that I never wanted to hurt you. I had no idea what he was planning until it was too late, but yes, it is reversible. There is still time."

Claudine warned me not to drink the nectar anymore, as it not only was continuing to cloud my memories, but it also continued to make me a full-blooded fairy. "It will take almost the full two weeks for it to be flushed out of your system. Your memories will slowly come back during that time and your blood will return to normal. Eventually your blood-bond will return as well, but that may take a little more time. You will have to reaffirm your bond with Eric first. I could be horribly punished for this, but I will help you. I hate to see you like this."

"Won't Niall realize I am not drinking the nectar?"

"No. I will brew up something that looks like the nectar, but it will have no effect on you whatsoever. I will also add a little something in it to speed up the process. I'm sorry it will not be quicker, but it will take me that long to figure out how to get you out of here without him knowing."

Claudine suggested we meet outside the palace to discuss various ways of helping me escape. She said that the eve before the ceremony would be the best chance we had of getting me back to Shreveport. But until then, I needed to act like nothing was wrong.

That was easier said than done. I was miserable and every inch of my face showed it. "I'll try, but I don't think I can show my face at dinner tonight."

"I'll make excuses for you and have Rosaline bring up a tray to your room. I'll just say you're feeling rather tired and that you wanted to rest in your room for the remainder of the evening."

Before she left, she turned to me with a saddened expression in her eyes and voice, "Sookie, I really am sorry about all this. I hope I can help you make it all right."

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For almost two weeks I smiled and pretended that everything was fine and dandy. I told Niall that I was still deciding, but that I would give him an answer the morning of the ceremony. Although that was cutting it close for him, he agreed.

Claudine and I met every day during that time. We took walks and schemed and plotted. In the end we had decided on a simple plan. Just before dusk, I was to go for a walk, leaving the palace grounds. There was an open air market down the road and if I could make it there, it would be easier for her to send me back. She couldn't do it so close to the palace because Niall would know immediately.

I had been pretending to drink the nectar he gave me as well, but in reality, it was Claudine's special brew. With the pinch of magick she put into it, he was none the wiser. Slowly, my memories began to return and on the last night I was to spend in the palace, it all came flooding back to me – the good and the bad. I was amazed at how much I had forgotten and tears trickled down my face.

Then, for no reason, I let out a little chuckle. I would have to tell Eric, at some point, that I knew just how he felt when all of his memories had returned. I lay my head on the soft pillows of my bed and drifted off to sleep. That night I had no horrible dreams…only pleasant memories.

****************************

ERIC

I was not too concerned that I had hurt Claude. He would heal, eventually. He was just lucky I did not aim for his face or for something lower. Niall was smart enough not to show his face to me about the situation. He had other, bigger issues to think about.

I hated this helpless feeling. I had reached out to almost every community I knew to try to help me retrieve what was mine. Some did not care, some did not like vampires, and some did not like vampires, but liked fairies even less. I even had her witch friend Amelia work with her coven to use a locator spell. Nothing worked and time was running out.

By my calculations, I had until this evening before anything he did to Sookie would become permanent. Unfortunately, dawn was coming fast and I needed shelter for the day. I ended up taking refuge in the basement of an abandoned house in a dismal rundown part of town I had been searching.

Upon waking, I heard the unmistakable sounds of rain. This would slow me down, but it would also allow me to go outside earlier than usual. The skies were darkened by the clouds, so it would be safe. I walked to the end of the block and turned east towards the river. I walked in the cold rain for about twenty minutes when I stopped in my tracks. Something was faintly scratching at the back of my brain. I turned around and headed back the way I came. Whatever that distant scratching was, it was prodding me to return to the area I had just left.

As I drew closer, the scratching turned almost into a vibrating hum. I closed my eyes and a weakened sense of calm washed over me. The last time I felt that was when I was with…

I inhaled deeply but because the rain was stirring up all different smells, some good and some bad, and I couldn't get a fix on her. She was here, I just knew it. Now all I had to do was find where here was. I opened my eyes and faster than the human eye could see, I wound my way around the streets stopping every so often and closing my eyes to try to sense or smell her. I neared what looked like an abandoned house, and I inhaled deeply. A smile spread across my lips. It was her scent. She had been here very recently. I sped through the house searching every floor, but she was nowhere to be found. I walked around the outside of the house and saw what looked like a dilapidated shed. My smile spread into the biggest grin I've ever had.

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SOOKIE

The next morning I woke up and a chill ran through me. Today was the big day. Today I would get my life back, no matter what. All I could think about now was getting back to Eric and keeping our baby safe.

Claudine brought a tray of food in to me instead of the maid. Very clearly she said, "Sookie, it looks like it's going to be a gorgeous day out this afternoon. I was thinking of taking a trip out to the market, would you like to join me?"

I said my line with as much sincerity as I could muster. "Oh that would be lovely. I'd like to see what kind of jewelry is available. Maybe I could find something to wear to the ceremony tomorrow evening."

"I'm sure you could. The local craftspeople are very skilled at jewelry making. I know the perfect tent we could visit. I have to run now, but I'll catch up with you after lunch okay."

She nodded her head as she left and I sat there and ate. There wasn't much for me to do on my end, except sit and wait. All I had to do was plan what I was going to wear. I must have been crazy with anxiety because I laughed to myself and wondered just what does one wear to an escaping?

I was fidgety all day with an apparent case of nerves. I had to make it through this. This was my only shot and if I didn't make it, I would be doomed to remain here, whether it was as a prisoner or as a blissful idiot would be determined by my kin. Some kin he turned out to be.

Sometime in the mid-afternoon, Claudine called up to me and asked if I was ready. I took one last look in the mirror and figured this would be good enough. I had on a pair of stretch blue jeans, an emerald green babydoll blouse, and a pair of good walking sneakers. I had just finished pulling my hair into a high ponytail when she called.

I went down to the foyer and we smiled at each other as if this were any other ordinary day. We were hoping for a smooth exit, but we did hit one obstacle on the way. Just as we were about to leave, Niall stopped us. He had a pleasant look about him, and asked us where we were going. Claudine looked chipper and said we were going to the market to look at some jewelry for tomorrow night, and maybe pick up some other trinkets.

He kissed our cheeks and told us to have a good time. When he found out we were walking though, he made his driver take us and wait. We tried to wiggle out of it, but there was no changing his mind once he had made it up. At least Claudine got him to agree to have his driver drop us off and we would call to be picked up.

It took about twenty minutes for the driver to get us to the market and dropped us off at the entrance. It wasn't the first time Claudine and I had gone to the market, but back then it was for different reasons. We waited until the driver was out of sight before we made our way through the market streets and down a darkened alley.

"We have to wait here. I didn't tell you, but we have some help coming."

"Someone else knows what we're doing? What if they tell Niall?" I was worried enough as it was.

"It's okay. She's a friend of mine. She's going to help me open a portal to send you back, but it requires two people. We will have to be quick about it and it isn't accurate."

"What do you mean it's not accurate?" And why was she laying all this on me now of all times?

"I mean, I can get you back to Shreveport, but I don't know where you'll end up. Once you get back, you'll be on your own to find your way home."

We must have waited for another thirty minutes before her friend arrived. She didn't even introduce us. Both of them whisked me through a nearby door and stood me in the middle of a huge circle. They walked around me slowly chanting in some sort of language I didn't understand.

All of a sudden the air around me shimmered with lights of gold and white. I felt lightheaded and then everything around me went dark.

-------------------------------------------

I wasn't sure where I was, but I knew I was in Shreveport. Claudine had transported me back here, but that was the extent of her help. I was on my own from here. She couldn't even pinpoint a place to send me that I would know. Bless her, she did her best. I just hoped that no one discovered that she was the one who helped me escape, considering we had left for the market together. It would have been better if I had gone alone and met her there.

Unfortunately, I didn't recognize this area of Shreveport. I was surrounded by old dilapidated buildings and houses, some of which looked abandoned. It was almost dark out and pouring rain and I was getting soaking wet. I needed to find shelter.

I scanned my surroundings and ran toward what looked like a broken down shed. The door was rusted almost shut, but I managed to wrench it open and get inside. At least I would be out of the rain and could get dry.

There was an old ripped up blanket on the corner of a workbench, and I shook it out before laying it out on the floor. I managed to sit myself down and I huddled in the corner, praying that I wasn't followed.

The rain hitting the tin roof sounded ominous and tears streamed down my cheeks. I rocked against the side of the shed, my teeth chattering from the wet clothes I was wearing.

Six weeks. I had been gone six weeks. I still couldn't get over how Niall could have done that to me? He took me away from everything I ever wanted or had. He needed an heir he said, and since Fintan had died, I was the only logical choice because it had to be blood. The only way he could have made me his successor though, was to enhance my blood enough to make me a full fairy.

Thank goodness Claudine came to her senses, albeit under duress of my threats. I wanted so much to hate her, but in the end she came through for me. She had to obey Niall by giving me that drink, but she really didn't know what his plan was for me. I prayed she would not be hurt by my absence.

Now all I wanted to do was get back to Eric. He must have thought I was never coming back. I tried reaching out to him through the bond, but it was no use. I didn't smell like a full fairy anymore, but the nectar I had been drinking dampened the bond until it was almost non-existent. It would take time to re-establish the bond fully.

I didn't have any money and I didn't have a phone, so for now I just stayed where I was. I closed my eyes and listened to the rain beating down above me. I took deep slow breaths and put my hands on the baby. It was kicking a lot, and if I didn't know any better, I would say it was upset or in distress. I needed to calm it down. I still had six weeks to go before my due date and it was too soon for me to go into labor.

I rubbed small circles around my stomach. "Shhh, little one. Be still. Everything will be okay. We're almost home and daddy will be so happy to see us." I rested my head against the wall, closing my eyes and managed to drift off for a few precious moments.

Suddenly the door to the shed was wrenched open and it shook the unsteady walls enough to wake me up. I gasped at the silhouette of a towering figure standing in the doorway. I was afraid it was Niall and I raised my hand to push whoever it was away from me. Before I could though, I heard the sweetest softest words I never thought I'd hear again.

"Sookie? Is that you?" The figure stepped inside and the wind swung the door shut, sealing us in.

My eyes filled with tears, but for a different reason. "Eric?"

I didn't get another word out, for he had rushed over to me and swept me up into his arms. I threw my arms around him and kissed his beautiful face over and over again.

He sat back down on the blanket and pulled me into his lap. "I looked everywhere for you. How? How did you escape?"

I put my fingers to his lips. "Shhh. It doesn't matter. The only thing that matters at this moment is that I'm here. I don't know how you found me, but I don't ever want you to let me go."

He wrapped his arms around me and I sobbed quietly into his chest. There would be time enough for talking later. Right now, I was just so happy to be back in his arms again. Unfortunately, happiness can be a fleeting thing.

As we sat there curled up in the comfort of each other, the door was pulled open yet again. Shepard of Judea, did everyone know where this shed was?

This time I saw very clearly who was standing in the doorway. It was Niall, and…oh no! He also had a bloody and beaten Claudine by the arm.

We both looked up at the intruder and anger welled up in both of us. "Claudine, I'm so sorry."

"Don't be, it was worth it, cousin." Niall shoved her back onto the ground.

"I'll deal with you later, you deceitful child," he spat in her direction.

Eric and I both stood to face him. "If you know what is good for you fairy, you will go back to your realm and never set foot on my territory again. You have a lot of balls coming here tonight after what you pulled."

"Do not speak to me that way Viking. I have ways of dealing with the likes of you." He turned to me. "Sookie, child, you will come with me now. I will not let you stay here with that."

Eric took a few steps toward him, but I rested my hand on his chest to try to stop him. "No, Eric. That's what he wants. If you fight him or kill him, you're only risking another war with the fairies."

That seemed to stop him from advancing any further. He placed his hands on my shoulders and was trying to position himself in front of me, but Niall didn't like that. He reached out to grab my arm, and before I knew it, I had sent him hurling backwards.

Niall crashed into something hard and metal. He had a pained look on his face, and then an expression of bewilderment. He looked down and we followed the path of his eyes. A bar of metal was protruding out the front of his leg. Smoke began to rise from the hole in his pant leg. The bar must have been made of iron.

I had completely forgotten about Claudine until she made a gasping sound. She scrambled on her hands and knees until she was in front of him and quickly pulled his leg forward, allowing the bar to slide back through the hole it made.

With Niall sagging into her arms, she dropped something to the ground and whispered to me, "I'm sorry, Sookie. I have to go." Then they were both gone.

We stood there for a moment, taking in what had happened. The pelting rain had now dwindled into sprinkles. Half of me was grateful for what she had done for me and the other half was astonished that she could have saved him like that after what he did to me…and to her.

Eric walked over and picked up what she had dropped and returned to me. He held out his hand and I saw my rings. Without saying a word he dropped to one knee in the mud and grime and held out my left hand. He slipped the rings back on my finger. I looked down into Eric's eyes and smiled. "Eric, let's go home."