Eric opened his eyes and smiled when he saw Aleryck and Ardith still in bed with him. He lifted up his head when he heard the shower going. He heard Sawyer singing softly and marvelled a little that she had trusted him enough to leave the babies with him. He looked down at the twins and saw them watching him their eyes never leaving his face.
"When I was younger, I never wanted children. All I wanted was to be a great warrior and bed as many women as possible," he told them softly reaching out and taking Ardith's little hand in his. "It was only until much later, after I had become a vampire that I began to wish I had had a family; children who would have carried on my name through the generations."
Sawyer stood in the washroom and listened to Eric. She had finished her shower and had heard Eric speaking to their children. She ran the towel through her hair and smiled as she listened to him talk to them softly. She knew that she had chosen well when she had chosen him to be the father of her children.
"Your mother has now given me what I thought I would forever be denied," Eric went on knowing that Sawyer was listening to him. He had heard the floor boards in the bathroom creak gently under her weight by the door, "She trusts me to love and raise you two children. I want you two to always remember this," he smiled and kissed Aleryck and Ardith on the foreheads, "you two are my children and will always be my children no matter who dares try to tell you differently," he told them in Swedish, "this world is full of people who will wish to hurt you just because you call me Father. I want you to be strong and remember that their hate will never change how much I love you or how much your mother loves you," he finished stroking their cheeks.
"You knew I was standing there, didn't you?" Sawyer asked walking out wearing one of Eric's shirts and a pair of shorts.
"I might have. Did they sleep well?" he asked reaching out and grabbing Sawyer when she got close and pulling her on the bed.
"They did. No fussing at all."
"Maybe we should let them sleep with us more often."
"Not happening Eric."
Sawyer watched as he climbed out of bed and placed a soft kiss on her lips. She kissed him back and pulled away. She looked into his face and saw how happy he was. She smiled at him and kissed him again quickly.
"Go take your shower and I'll get these two dressed," she answered softly.
Eric looked at her and sighed, "I would rather spend more time with you then take a shower."
"I would love that but unfortunately you have a meeting with the queen and you need to look your best," Sawyer smiled and placed her hand on his chest, "which fortunately for you doesn't take much effort."
"Not for you either. You look beautiful right at this moment."
Eric saw Sawyer blush slightly. He kissed her again and then finally turned and walked over to the washroom. He smiled when he heard Sawyer talking to the twins and how she laughed softly when one of them did something cute. He stepped into the shower and turned on the water as hot as he could get it. He was dreading making the trip to see the queen but he knew that if he didn't do it he would be placing Sawyer and their children at risk. He absolutely refused to do that. They were his family and he was going to do everything he could to protect them.
Sawyer watched as Ardith and Aleryck rocked in the swingers Pam had bought them. She sat at the island just watching them sway back and forth. They hadn't fussed much and she had been able to bathe them, get them dressed and feed them without too much of a hassle; that being said though, she realized how much easier everything went when Eric helped her. She turned when he came down the stairs and smiled. He wore his navy suit with a steel grey shirt underneath. She walked over to him and fussed with his collar a little getting it right. She looked up and saw him watching her. She could see the worry written on his features.
"Ma coeur, don't worry. It'll be fine," she said trying to reassure him as well as herself.
"I am glad one of us thinks so," Eric wrapped his arms around Sawyer, "I will call Pam and have her come here and wait with you until I come back."
"No."
"Vacker-."
"Eric, I don't need to be babysat. I will sit here with the twins and wait for you to come home. I promise."
Eric looked at her and was ready to protest again but a knock on the back door stopped him. He kissed her and then pulled away and walked over to the door. He pulled it open and saw Bill and Sookie standing there. He wished he could say he was surprised to see Sookie but then he would be lying. He had known that Bill would tell Sookie everything the minute he had gotten the chance. Eric let them in without saying a word about Bill being whipped or Sookie's boy toy; he now understood how Bill felt. He felt the same way about Sawyer; he no longer wished to keep any secrets from her and wanted to share everything with her.
"Bill told me that you asked him to go with you to see the queen. I thought that I would come over and me and Sawyer could have a girl's night," Sookie said walking in. She walked over to Sawyer and smiled at her, "I asked Jessica but she was spending the night with Hoyt."
"Sook, you didn't have to do that," Sawyer answered looking at Sookie then to Bill and finally to Eric. Part of her wondered if maybe Sookie knew more about how this queen acted then she did.
"I wanted to. It's nothing, really."
Sawyer nodded. She looked at Eric and saw him looking at the clock. She knew that he and Bill needed to get going if they were going to reach New Orleans before dawn. She walked over to him and kissed him again wrapping her arms around him and holding him close. She pulled away and felt him stroking her back. She suddenly didn't want to let him go; she felt this feeling of dread that this would be the last time she saw him. She felt him hold her tight as well and then he finally let her go. She looked up into his eyes and she smiled at him.
"Come home to me in one piece," she told him.
Eric kissed her again and wished that he could promise her that but with the queen there was never a guarantee, "I will try my hardest."
"I love you."
"I love you."
Sookie watched Eric with Sawyer and couldn't believe the change she saw in him. Gone was that cold, heartless vampire that she had first met. She could see the love in his eyes when he looked at Sawyer and how much he cared about her. Sookie had never thought she would ever see the day when Eric Northman would care for someone else other then himself; especially not a human. She watched as Eric kissed Sawyer on the forehead and finally left with Bill. She smiled at Bill and gave him a nod telling him that she would be alright. She then turned and looked at Sawyer.
"How about we watch some television? I hear they are having a special on living with vampires on one channel," Sookie said.
Sawyer looked at Sookie, "Did Bill tell you anything about the queen?"
"Sawyer, I don't-."
"Please Sook, I need to know whatever Bill told you. You know Eric. He only told me what he thought I needed to know and tried to assure me that everything would be alright. Please, tell me. I need to know if this dread I am feeling is just me over reacting or not?"
Sawyer watched as Sookie walked out of the kitchen. Sawyer followed her needing to know whatever Sookie could tell her. She knew that Eric had kept something back trying to protect her and she had expected that. She just hoped that Sookie would tell her the truth. She followed Sookie in the living room and sat on the couch next to her. Sookie looked at Sawyer and sighed.
"Bill thinks that things could get ugly with the queen," Sookie started.
"How ugly are we talking here?"
"Bill thinks that in order to get Eric to do what she wants him to, that the queen will threaten you and the twins."
"She knows about us?"
Sookie shrugged, "Bill seems to think so. He said that there isn't much going on that the queen doesn't know about."
Sawyer raked her hands through her hair and shook her head, "The twins and I are in danger, aren't we?"
"As long as Eric does whatever the queen asks, then no. Bill is pretty confident that she wouldn't hurt you without Eric provoking her to do so."
"So basically the twins and I are her golden aces. She can make Eric do whatever she wants him too."
Sookie nodded, "I guess. I am sure that Eric is going to be fine and in the end it will all work out."
"I hope so, Sook. I can't," Sawyer paused, "I don't think I can live without Eric anymore."
Sookie hugged Sawyer close. She closed her eyes and hoped that her friend wouldn't have to live without Eric. She told herself that everything would work out alright; that it had too.
Eric pulled up in front of Sophie-Anne's house and turned the car off. He turned and smiled at Bill as the other vampire glared at him. Eric had demanded to drive knowing that Bill liked to do everything at a human pace. Eric had broken every highway speed limit on his drive over to New Orleans and he was quite proud of it. However, he knew that if his twins or Sawyer had been in the vehicle with him, he would have driven will below the speed limit. His excuse was that Bill and him were vampires and were very likely to survive a horrific car crash; probably several of them in a row even.
"You do realize that you broke about ten laws on your way here?" Bill asked as he climbed out of the car and slammed the door.
"Now, William, where is your sense of adventure? Plus, laws were made to be broken," Eric answered slamming the door ignoring the look Bill gave him.
"Is that what you are going to teach the twins?"
Eric looked at Bill, "Of course not. Sawyer would never allow me to so that."
Bill shook his head not surprised. He walked up the walkway and turned when he realized that Eric wasn't following him. Eric then slowly walked up to Bill. Bill knew that Eric was worried and to be truthful, he was a little as well. There was no predicting how the queen was going to react on any given day.
"Eric, I am sure that all will be well. She probably just wants to yell at you."
"You hope."
Eric looked at the mansion and sighed. He walked up to the door his shoulders squared and ready. He was determined not to show weakness. He also knew that if the queen threatened Sawyer and the twins that he would be at her mercy. He would do whatever she demanded to ensure the safety of his family. He would not fail Sawyer and the twins like he had failed his mother, father and sister. He would protect them with everything he was; even if it meant doing or being a part of something he hated.