THANKS TO: Jkazzie, RedJane12, VAlady, suzyq59, Duckbutt, classicoldmama, XKaterinaNightingaleX, nordiclover, MyBeautifulDarkTwistedFantasy, MissJT2012, Sarah, Mistress-Cinder, Toni, lyn584, CharmedPotterHPH

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Chapter 38

Because of the deep longing she projected through the bond during their talk, I follow her brother downstairs once we takes the pictures she wants.

Holly and Lafayette are at the dining room table eating a late breakfast when we arrive and Jason tells them how cute the babies are and how amazing Sookie is for having brought them into the world. And as nice as that is, it's not the most important information to discuss.

"What'll it take to get you three to relocate?" I ask, interrupting their conversation completely.

"Excuse me?" Holly asks as her fork falls.

"Sookie needs her family; the babies need their family. What do you all need to relocate? Apartments here? Houses? New jobs? Stipends? What?"

"To move here?" Lafayette asks again. "As in Memphis."

"As in, yes. I assume your drug dealing business is not what it once was and it would stop if you moved here, but yes. You could find your own job unless you wanted to join Morgan and the kitchen staff. She's doing too much and might leave once the babies are older. Holly, you could work there as well, or not. Jason, you are handy, as she pointed out, and we do have staff that handle the grounds but I've been trying to find a manager to organize the property maintenance. I pay well with full health benefits and because you're family, I would do anything else you needed. We could buy houses or apartments or-"

"How much money do you have?" Jason wonders out loud. "Shit."

"More than you could spend in a life time," I answer. "And Sookie misses you all. She wants more time to visit and she wants the babies to know you all while they can."

"What does that mean?" Holly asks.

"You're mortal," I remind them all. "They aren't; meaning their opportunities to know anything of Sookie's human life are limited, as is Sookie's time with you all."

I think that is what really hits home for them. By the expressions on their faces and in their eyes, I can tell none of them had really thought of that before.

"Think on it and when you know what you need, what will get you here, tell me." I turn and head back upstairs. I'm almost to our door when Maurella appears in the hallway in front of me.

"I thought perhaps the spell had worn off and wanted to check on Sookie to-" she stops and closes her eyes a moment; she must be hearing the babies. "Is that-"

"Yes," I nod. "They were born last night inside the glow. Sookie thinks it was because it was a safe, impenetrable place to have them."

"This is true," she smiles. "May I meet them?"

"They've been weird about that, but come in," I tell her and open the door. "Sookie, Maurella wants to try and see them, though who knows how they'll-"

I see a flash of light and suddenly Erica is in Maurella's arms.

"Well hello," Maurella whispers and kisses her forehead. "Seems like you all gave Mommy and Daddy a special wedding present," she giggles and then kisses Erica's cheeks too. Erica's hands are glowing happily and I know all the babies are waiting their turn.

"Maurella!" I greet her happily as Eric sits and picks up Addy in one arm and Aidan in the other. "I'm so glad you came! Hell, I'm glad they're letting anyone touch them. I thought it'd just be Jason and- is it family they're waiting for?" I suddenly wonder as I turn to Eric. "Jason, Maurella… are they waiting for your family too?"

"Oh yes, you didn't know?" Maurella asks. "Fae children need the touch of blood-kin in the first twenty-four hours. I would imagine it'd be yours as well, Eric. It strengthens their grasp of time and place, to this world and their place in it."

"Or they're just being primadonnas," I laugh. "But since they won't let any of our hired help do anything for me, can you stick around and help?" I wonder and pick up the camera. She places her lips on Erica's forehead for a kiss when I snap the precious photo.

"I was to be here anyway for the battle, unless plans have changed."

Eric pauses a moment but- "No, plans haven't changed," I answer. "Eric, you need to eliminate this threat, now more than ever. They're not inside me anymore, which means there are now five defenseless targets. You must do this while you know where they are and have the numbers."

"I do not want to leave you, Sookie. I will not leave you all here unprotected."

"I will send word to Jaya," Maurella states. "Once the Elders know the children have arrived and can teleport and access their light, they will send protection. That was their only hesitation; they were afraid the children would threaten fae or turn on their fae-side."

"Can you do that immediately, Maurella? That way I know if we have to change tactics. I need to know how many they will have here to help keep my family safe in case they launch a counter attack."

"As soon as I get pictures of her with each of the babies," I protest softly.

"There are other methods of sending work," Maurella smiles as she sits in the chair near the bed that Jason had pulled over. She hands me Erica who wants to feed so Cory teleports to her for his turn.

"Well do that now," Eric demands. "I need to know." I sense his worry and now the spell of fatherhood has broken and he's thinking like a warrior again, like the king he is. "Sookie, I need to go downstairs. Agostino and the Europeans are still awake and I should announce the birth of the babies before they hear it from someone else. And-"

"Eric, go," I tell him. "Maurella can help me here while you take care of things, just don't be gone too long or else they might teleport to you."

He kisses me gently before leaving. If Maurella wasn't here to help, I know he'd stay up here and try to work, but he needs to be able to concentrate so that we have the best strategy to win.

I breeze right by everyone by going straight to the basement. I'd originally planned on going to the den where the computer is, but I need a few moments to think.

The wine cellar, which as renovated to be a large fridge, is where we are storing the supply of blood. It's secluded and quiet; I need a few moments in the dark. I was able to fight the call to sleep and haven't gotten the bleeds today, but the dark underground still feels good to my senses.

I sit on the floor, leaning back against the wall, pull my phone out and type the email announcing the birth. I need to provide information that vampires would find crucial and not threatening. For instance, they don't need to know Sookie feels very powerful or even clairvoyant, but knowing the babies have fangs is important. I word it very carefully and send it out to all the royals when the door jerks open.

"Brother," Nora smiles. "Are you all right?"

"I'm a father," I announce. "Sookie went into labor last night and I helped her deliver them."

"That's brilliant, congratulations," she grins and sits down next to me gracefully. She hugs me happily but I don't hug back; I don't need to. "What's wrong, Eric?"

"Nothing, for a few hours, but now reality is back and we have a war to fight."

"It's no different than it was yesterday, Eric, and no different than every other war you've been in. You'll fight, you'll drink, you'll win; that's what Vikings do."

"It is different, Nora. This time, I have a family, a family that can die, that can be killed. This time I have these beautiful little babies who smell… god, they smell incredible."

All morning long, I've been hoping that the scent would dissipate, but I honestly don't know if even Pam could resist, but definitely not Tara or Jessica.

"Do they?"

"Like a delicious combo of the fairy and the pure innocence of infancy all in one pretty little package. How can I adequately protect them, Nora? Hell, I don't even know if Pam could stand to be around them without trying to drink."

"We'll protect them, Brother," she assures me. "We'll all protect them. You know that."

"I know we want to protect them but you weren't here when the black smoke attacked and I could do nothing. I've never doubted my ability to fight and keep those I loved safe, until now."

"Well don't start, Eric," she states. "Don't start doubting it at all. You're a king and you command armies now. We will keep them safe. Besides, you've got so much magic around this place protecting it, that it's highly unlikely anything could even attack them."

"And her sister believes that now that we know the children have many fae-qualities, that the Elders will send additional protection. So the plan hasn't changed; we go in and start ripping heads."

"I'm in," she smiles softly and cracks her knuckles. "I love letting loose."

"It was-" I am struck with a strong, strong longing from the babies suddenly before- "Erica!" I gasp as she appears in my lap. "Do you realize your mother is probably having a heart attack?" I scold her as I scoop her up.

Eric! Do you have her?!

"See?" I say to Erica as Sookie's panic hits my blood.

Yes, Sookie. She came down here; I have her. She's safe.

Well scold her for me!

"You should never do that to your mother," I tell her and she simply blinks softly before I see her gaze travel over to Nora. She starts glowing and reaching for her before she teleports out of my arms and in front of Nora, who catches her quickly.

"You're right; she smells incredible," Nora whispers as she stares at my daughter and I'm ready to shove Nora through the wall if she loses control. "But… it's different, though. Like… her sister or the other one, your mouth waters when they're in the room, but this is different. They smell amazing but not… like food, if that makes sense."

"Really? I'm not tempted to drink either, but I thought it was because I'm their father."

"Well I don't think it's just you, Eric," she tells me and then turns back to Erica.

"Oh, this is my daughter, Erica," I inform her. "Erica, this is Pappa's sister, Nora. I suppose she's your aunt in human terms."

She reaches for me and I touch her tiny hand. She holds my finger tightly and we're immediately in the bedroom, sitting on the floor.

"Erica, you scared Mamma," Sookie states before she smiles at our daughter. I have a feeling it will be difficult for all of us to really scold them properly since we love them so much and they're so perfect. "Oh, did you have to bring Auntie Nora upstairs?"

Erica's palm glows brightly and then suddenly, Liam is in Nora's arms as well. "They're quite the handful, aren't they?" she laughs. "And who are you, Mister?"

"That's Liam," Sookie replies. "And yes, they're a handful. Eric, did you figure anything out?"

"We'll go ahead with the plan," I tell her as Nora and I stand. She walks over to sit on the side of the bed so she can see the others. "I emailed out to announce the babies; that's about all I can do. I've texted with Agostino to let him know of our plan to attack tonight. The others support our actions, so we will be ready at nightfall. We don't need weapons gathered since all the players have their own."

I sit beside her on her side of the bed, since Nora is on mine, and kiss her cheek. "How are you feeling?"

"Better than this morning but still extremely exhausted," she responds as she glances over at Nora. "Is it safe for them? With other vampires?" I sense that she's worried in general about the scent of the babies attacking danger.

"They do smell incredible," Nora responds. "We were just talking about that. But they don't smell as appealing at the other fairies we've met."

"Really?" Sookie asks, shocked. "I thought-"

"Must be the combination of fae and vampire blood," I tell her. "I thought it was because I was their father that they weren't appetizing, but-"

"To me either," Nora states. "I suppose watching the younger ones around them would be the true test. Tara is the youngest, correct?"

"When they rise, we'll see," I announce and smile as Maurella plays with Addy. They're taking turns glowing their fingers different colors as she coos at her.

When they rise, we'll be that much closer to battle.

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AN: Sorry so late between posts but work is extremely busy and I'm a bit uninspired.