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Chapter 37

"This," I state as I shove another piece of bacon into my mouth, "is amazing."

"The children or the food?" Eric wonders as he play fights with the babies more.

It was a difficult task, since they were very consistently glowing red at anyone who came in the room beside Eric and I. They didn't even want their tigers; I don't understand it.

Luckily, my ladies were well-prepared for us, having taken care of many multiple births. They had this basket type thing custom made for our bathtub so that Eric and/or I could sit in the tub with them. The basket locks in between the walls of the tub to keep the babies from being immersed in the water but at a good height for me to wash them. So we lined them all up in it and one by one each got washed with special baby wash Maurella provided since fae-infant skin is very sensitive.

Then we got them diapered and in onesies, each with a different color. I tried putting booties or a hat on but they glowed red at that too. They glowed red at Morgan and Rachel when they brought up a tray of food for me and massive amounts of blood.

So here we are alone in our room, outcasts from our own home, wondering what it's going to take for the children to feel safe with our family.

"Maybe it's because they sense the fight is coming?" I wonder. I've tried sensing what they want but they only know what they don't want. Perhaps they simply don't want anyone but Eric and I, but they seemed to love everyone who was around while I was pregnant.

"The children then? And yes, it's amazing but also potentially dangerous. If someone comes to attack you and they don't allow our staff near you, how will you protect them and yourself?"

"There must be something they are waiting for," I sigh and fill my mouth with chunks of pancake. "Or they're purposefully trying to drive us crazy." I chug some orange juice as a pancake chaser. I've been eating for twenty minutes non-stop I think and I'm not full yet. "Would you hand me the fruit next?" I ask, since the tray of food is on the table in the middle of the room. "Or… wait," I say, wanting to try something. I lift my hand and glow orange as I will the bowl to come to me. If I can shut doors with it and Eric said Layla used it to float Nora in the middle of the room, I should be able to- "Ha! It worked!" I grin happily as I toss a piece of pineapple in my mouth.

"Just don't try floating the children around until you're sure you have control of it," he comments. "And don't use it on me."

I flood him with images of him lying on the bed helpless as I have my wicked way with him, just because I can. And because it seems like it would be a lot of fun. I had him at mercy before, by thin silver chains, but this way is much safer for his health.

"Nympho," he mutters and hits my arm playfully. "Probably won't be for a while again, huh?"

"What? Sex? I have no idea, Eric. I'll probably heal fast but how sexy would you feel if your chest was the size of the Andes and you had quintuplets sucking on your nipples morning, noon and night?"

"Actually experienced that myself. I did a set of quintuplets once. Well… they weren't exactly quintuplets but they were all dressed identically with the same haircut. Not the same eyes though, they-"

"Stop talking," I interrupt him and put my hand on his knee and zap him gently. We both laugh a little and I eat more fruit while he talks to the babies. He's actually quite natural with them, in an awkward way. There's no baby talk at all; he simply talks to them like they're grown adults and can understand him just fine. I don't think there's anything wrong with that though.

"Just make sure you play fight with the girls too," I remind him. "Our girls need to know how to defend themselves as well, although I don't think Addy will have much of a taste for it. In the same respect, neither will Aidan."

"I know that. It's one of the things Godric and I discussed. It was incredible to sit with him again, Sookie. The chance to talk with him and know he's okay… even if it never happens again, I have that memory forever. He looks incredible and light, not burdened as he was the last few hundred years."

I finish the fruit and set the bowl on the floor. I feel a little stronger now, a little more myself, which is good since I do not want to be bed ridden too long.

"I'm so glad that you had that experience," I tell him as I tug on his arm. "Pull me closer."

Perhaps that's what the babies want because I feel the need to be close to him as well. Maybe it's still part of the magic from last night that lingers.

He helps me slide closer to him and then I find Aidan and Addy right next to me, curling up with me and their Pappa. He has Liam and Cory in his arms and it's a good thing he has that vampire strength because holding one baby is exhausting, but two? And of course his longer arms help him. I'm too short to have two babies in one arm. Erica teleports into his other arm as he sinks down into the bed with me.

I kiss his bare shoulder. "I want your blood, Lover," I whisper and kiss his shoulder again. "Husband."

"You know you can take whatever you want of me, Sookie."

"Even if I want you at my mercy for a week?" I smile softly. "For my pleasure?"

"Especially then, my goddess, but not in front of the children."

"Which means ya'll have to allow others to hold you and help us take care of you," I scold.

We rest because I don't want to disturb them when they seem so comfortable; I can drink from him in a little while but I'm hoping that's exactly what I need to heal completely.

There's a knock on the door and the babies get upset very quickly, again.

"No one's even here yet," I whisper to them. "It's Morgan," I announce. "Come in!" I call out and their hands start glowing red again. "You're okay, Bunnies; you're safe."

She enters tentatively with another tray of food and blood, along with empty bottles. She steers clear of the bed but sets them on the table. "Still no change?" I shake my head. "Well… I don't know how this is going to affect them, but your brother is downstairs. He has to get back to Bon Temps for work but wanted to come up and meet them and see you before he leaves. Should I just tell him to go?"

"No," I pout, a little childishly. "No, please send him up. I don't want him leaving without saying goodbye, so please… even if it's just for a few minutes."

She nods and heads off and I stroke their little hands to try and calm them. "It was easier to calm them all when one hand glowing could get to them," I say. "Bunnies, Mamma has to move so I can sit up." I gently push Addy and Aidan closer to Eric so I can pull myself up.

I hear Jason's thoughts as he comes up. He's impressed and proud that his baby sister has such a beautiful place to live, because he always thought I deserved that, even if he's still wary of my choice in husband.

"Come in, Jase," I shout before he even has time to knock on the door. The door opens and the babies have a moment of anger but relax immediately. "Are you serious?" I whisper as I turn to look down at them and see no red hands glowing. "He's the one you wanted to see?"

"Is it safe, Sook?"

"I think so," I shrug but notice he's still standing back a little. "So far so good; why don't you grab the chair from the table and come sit over here." I point to my side of the bed and watch the babies as he gets closer. They are actually getting excited as he nears us. "I think they want to see you, Jase."

"Really? Why?"

"Damned if I know," Eric mutters.

"That is not helpful," I snap at him.

I am making an effort to get to know your sister, Eric. You'd do well not to insult my brother.

He's the one that questioned the validity of the feeling first, my queen. It's just a joke, Lover.

I decide to let it go because Jason doesn't seem all that bothered by it.

"Well, let's get some introductions." I take the time to hold each one up and tell him their names. "And this one," I smile as I take Cory from Eric last, "is Jason Corbett."

"Sook," he says softly. "I'm sure you coulda come up with something better."

"Better than naming one of my sons after his uncle and grandfather? I couldn't think of anything. But we already have one Jason, so we're calling him Cory."

"Dad would have loved that," Jason smiles as reaches out to touch Cory's hand.

"Would you like to hold them?" I ask. "They're your nieces and nephews, Jase."

"I don't really know how," he shrugs.

"Hold them tight to your body, like you did the football, okay? To keep them safe, like Eric is." Jason looks over to see Eric cradling Erica and nods. "Wanna go see Uncle Jason?" I ask him and I catch an image of him leaping into Jason's arms, like it's something he wants to do, but he's still too little.

Jason takes him carefully and I completely forgot that we bought a really nice camera for these moments. "Eric, can you go to the nursery and get the camera? It's in a bin on top of the bookshelf. I want a picture of each of the babies with all their people."

I want to keep a folder for each of the babies. I want them all to have lots of memories to look at when they're older. And the first pictures in there should be each one of them with everyone that's important to us.

He starts to walk to the door with Erica but she teleports into my lap. "Guess she wants Uncle Jason attention too," I laugh.

"You look happy, Sook," he comments after Eric is gone. "I hope it stays that way."

"It will," I nod. "But… I'd be happier with my brother closer. Would you ever consider leaving Bon Temps? They need their Uncle Jason to teach them football; Eric doesn't know how to play!"

"I have a job. I can't just leave my job when I'm making really good money."

"We have money," I tell him as Eric returns and hands me the camera. "And you could work at the club or here, even. I'm sure we have staff that keep the grounds and you could-"

"Mow your lawn, Sook? No," he laughs.

"Well we could help you a couple months until you found a job. Just… think about it? On your way home, think about it. I'd love it if you were around; you and Lafayette. We grew up together and… I want the babies to see that, to know you and our side of the family."

Eric's family will be around us forever but mine won't. I want them to have memories of their Uncle Jason and Uncle Lafayette.

"I'll think on it," he nods. "But let's take these pictures because I gotta get going soon."