Disclaimer: All characters, places, objects, concepts etc. that you recognise from the Southern Vampire Mysteries or True Blood belong to Charlaine Harris or their respective copyright owners. This story is not meant to offend anyone and I do not make any money with it.
Author's Note: Welcome, welcome back and above all, Happy Halloween!
This is a continuation of my story Windmills of Your Mind so if you haven't read that yet it would probably be a good idea to do so. And as I said, this will not be a sequel but a series of timestamps set after the main events - my attempt to tie up some loose ends and fill in the gaps. We're going to start with "Halloween" and then continue on to "Christmas", with each part having about three chapters. And then we'll see...
Universe: This story is set mostly in the universe of the TV show True Blood, though I've taken the liberty of borrowing a little from the books, namely in regards to one character who didn't make it onto the screen.
Warnings: Blood, obviously. Mentions of violence, rape and domestic abuse. And Liv and Godric might finally get a bit more physical...
1. Il trillo del diavolo – Giuseppe Tartini
"Have you decided to go as a Sexy Nurse, after all?" Eric asked, suddenly leaning to peer over her shoulder and startling her out of her thoughts, as usual enjoying her reaction. "Mhm, I approve."
Liv mustered a smile, her whole body relaxing as the familiar weight of Eric's hands settled on her shoulders. Over the last few weeks, ever since they had laid Russell and everything connected to him to rest, the tall Viking had become much more generous with physical affections, greeting her with casual touches on her shoulders or back, pulling her into brief, spontaneous hugs and gathering both Godric and herself against his chest when they went to bed. It had surprised her at first, but it had also brought home to her how much how she had missed these small, casual touches all throughout her life, and so she could only be grateful.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I just got home from work. Pam is going to help me with my costume later," she replied, absently stirring in her coffee cup. "And I don't see what's so sexy about my scrubs, anyway."
"You'd be surprised," Eric said and when he slid into the seat across from her he was smirking. "I've gained a whole new appreciation of them, recently."
Liv rolled her eyes, which was always a safe choice when she didn't quite know how to react to Eric's flirtations. "I thought you'd be at the club already."
"Godric is running a little late so he asked me to come pick you up," Eric explained.
"Is everything okay?"
"There was a little incident with Bubba earlier so Godric is trying to calm him down. It can be a rather time-consuming task," Eric answered, unconcerned, but then looked at her with slightly narrowed eyes. "Has something happened to upset you at work? You seem a little… off."
"What, no, I'm fine," Liv protested, before sighing softly. "I just… Can I ask you something? About Godric?"
"Godric will be happy to answer any questions you might have, Liv," Eric informed her, sounding confused rather than reproachful.
Liv mutely shook her head, feeling just as helpless as when she had tried to broach the subject with the older vampire.
"Very well then," Eric said with a sigh. "Ask me your question."
Liv took a deep, centering breath, still not quite sure if this was the right decision, but knowing that she had to do something or risk hurting Godric unintentionally. "Does… Does he like sex?"
"Of course he likes sex," Eric replied, seeming honestly surprised by her question.
"But…" Liv broke off, something in her crumbling at Eric's matter-of-fact statement.
Eric disappeared for a second, offering her a tissue when he sat back down; at least he now looked as uncomfortable as she felt. "I'm sure we can solve this without tears, Liv," he said pleadingly, pressing the tissue into her hands. "Just tell me what happened."
"I don't know," Liv admitted, brushing harshly over her wet cheeks and trying to find the words to describe their last few attempts at intimacy.
Godric had always been gentle with her, careful and attentive, never showing even a hint of impatience at the restrictions her visions placed on their interactions. But now that she was starting to have better control of her abilities, that he could bite her and take a tiny sip of her blood and create almost half an hour of freedom for her, now that there was the potential for more, he was drawing back.
At first, she had blamed her own impatience, had reasoned that maybe Godric was still cautious of triggering a vision and that he was just setting a slower pace than she might have preferred. She had tried to show him that she was ready and eager for more, had said so outright and Godric had seemed honestly pleased. But anytime they even inched into something beyond kisses and chaste caresses, Godric retreated into passiveness, touching her when she asked him to, kissing her at her request, but never initiating anything himself. Pretending that he enjoyed it while his body and eyes communicated something else entirely.
"It feels wrong," she concluded in a soft whisper. "Like he's forcing himself just to make me happy. I know him, Eric, and he's not a good actor."
Eric laughed despite the seriousness of their discussion, but then gently rested his hands on her arms to still her nervous fiddling. "Godric does like sex, which is not to say that he doesn't have some issues."
"Oh," Liv mumbled, trying to ward of the feelings of inadequacy and guilt that she knew were neither rational nor helpful. "I tried to talk to him about that, but the last time I asked, he said that there's nothing he wouldn't like to experience with me."
"And I'm sure that's true," Eric told her gently. "Some of his experiences might even be more present in your mind than in his, so as long as you feel comfortable I don't think you need to worry about that."
"But?" Liv prompted.
Eric sighed deeply. "But Godric usually prefers to be a little more… dominant. He's not good at ceding control."
"But that's exactly what he's doing now," Liv protested. "Why would he do that if it's not what he wants?"
"You know why," Eric said gently, looking pointedly at her. "You're a banshee, Liv, and we both realize that physical interactions are still very much a tightrope walk for you. Godric would never put his own preferences over your needs."
"But he'd definitely put my needs above his own. He's being a self-sacrificing idiot again," Liv concluded with a sigh, closing her eyes for a moment even as she felt an almost overwhelming sense of relief to have an answer, finally – an answer she could work with. "Thank you, Eric."
She got up from her chair and bent down slightly to place a soft kiss on Eric's cheek. The tall blond pulled her into a loose sideway embrace, narrowing his eyes slightly in thought.
"You have a plan already."
Liv laughed, relaxing completely into Eric's secure hold. "Not a plan exactly, but at least this is something I can fix. You both worry too much."
"I don't think I've ever been accused of that," Eric replied with faux affront, squeezing her waist before releasing her. "Go take a shower."
"Do I need to wash my hair?" Liv asked, pulling her ponytail to the front and taking a testing little sniff before looking to Eric; she could immediately read her answer in his slightly wrinkled nose. "I'll be quick."
v-v
Despite the ragtag group of protesters that were trying to block the main entrance, Fangtasia was packed that night with vampires and humans alike in a wild variety of costumes, from a Rococo princess and a knight in full armor over several fictional vampires to Playboy bunnies, police officers and bloody brides. Many of the vampires had chosen to slip back into their old lives for this one night and it created a very particular atmosphere, simultaneously dark and a little playful, as if the vampires had forgotten to be aloof and mysterious and had just decided to be themselves.
"And who are you supposed to be?" Eric asked, waiting for her to sit down before he reclaimed his throne.
"I'm Maleficent," Liv replied, smoothing her long dress over her legs and trying to find a comfortable position for her horns.
"I doubt that very much," Eric gave back, smirking at her eye roll.
Eric had transformed into a Viking king, his chest looking particularly broad and powerful under the gleaming chainmail and the wolf fur slung across his left shoulder. He even wore a crown, though not the one that had belonged to his father, and he arrested more than one gaze.
"She's a Disney character. The dark fairy who curses Aurora to become Sleeping Beauty," Liv explained, quite happy with her flowing black dress and the large demon horns Pam had fitted into her long, tumbling curls. The other woman had worked wonders with her make-up, too, emphasizing her cheekbones and giving her a dark red lipstick that she would never have dared to pick for herself. All in all, she thought, she looked fierce and almost a little dangerous, which was a nice, if rather unfamiliar, experience.
"I still think you should have gone as a Sexy Nurse," Eric replied and if she didn't know better she would have said he was pouting a little.
"I think you're beautiful," Godric said, suddenly appearing at her side and looking at her like she was the vision of his every fantasy come to life. "I love your hair open like that." He reached out, gently twisting one of her curls around his finger.
Liv smiled, turning to face him fully. "You're looking very handsome yourself." Godric had coiffed his hair into a soft side part and had chosen a bespoke suit in dark charcoal with a crisp white shirt and a blood red tie, which made him look quite spiffy. "But I thought you were going to pick an outfit from your favorite era?"
"I did." Godric eyes sparkled with mirth, holding out his hand and dropping a kiss to the back of her hand as soon as she had made contact. "This is the only era with you in it."
Liv's laugh turned a little breathless when Godric pulled her up from her chair, swirling her once around her own axis and then pulled her into his embrace. "Dance with me, cridiíon imon."
"Always," Liv replied happily. "See you later, Eric, try to behave."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Eric called after them.
Godric led her to a quiet corner of the dancefloor, beneath a gigantic spider's web with an eight-legged, red-eyed monstrosity staring moodily down at them and a row of rather cheery pumpkins keeping it company. He settled his left hand gently on her waist and offered her his right so that she could slip her fingers into his. Only for a moment, long enough for them to share a chaste kiss, before she slid her hands onto his shoulders and he put both of his around her waist.
"I'm sorry I couldn't pick you up," Godric murmured, starting to sway her slowly to the rhythm. For Halloween, Eric had passed on the usual pounding dance music and instead opted for a more eclectic playlist, classical music interspersed with jazz and lounge music from the 1920s and 1930s, soundtrack music from different vampire movies and a surprising amount of love songs. Who knew that the Night of the Dead was inclined to put vampires in a romantic mood.
"Don't be, we still have the rest of the night," Liv replied, lightly trailing her fingers along the edge of Godric's crisp white collar. "Were you able to help Bubba?"
Godric shook his head minutely with a shy smile before he indicated a dancing couple near the bar. "I managed to talk him down from his tantrum, but I believe his new friend deserves the credit for cheering him up."
Liv did a double take when she finally recognized the garishly dressed cowboy as Bubba and had to giggle at the way he was wrapped around his new lady friend, a dark-skinned woman dressed in a rather realistic cat costume, complete with pointy ears and a long furry tale that Bubba had slung around his own wrist.
"Oh, she seems perfect for him." Liv laughed, returning Godric's happy grin before she had a sobering thought. "But he won't… I mean, he has a rather bad track record when it comes to cats."
"We're keeping an eye on him," Godric promised, pulling her close again and twirling her around in his arms. "She will be perfectly safe."
"Thank you," Liv said, blowing a soft kiss against Godric's lips and laughing when she noticed his pout of disappointment. "I don't want to get lipstick all over you."
"I wouldn't mind," Godric offered with a hopeful little smile that was all too hard to resist. She didn't bother to try, leaning in to press her lips timidly against the tempting cupid's bow of his mouth, licking over his impish grin and moaning softly when Godric started to return her kisses - carefully, of course, little nips and licks, a fleeting nibble on her lower lip and the skirting touch of his tongue against hers, always interrupted by short pauses so that she could reinitiate contact. Godric had made kissing her an art form and she was quite happy to be his canvas.
"I thought about this all night," Godric admitted, tenderly caressing her through the thin fabric of her dress as they started to sway to the music again. "Dancing with you and holding you close. Celebrating Halloween with you."
"I used to be afraid of this day," Liv confessed in a whisper, knowing that Godric would have no difficulty hearing her. "The day when the veil between the world of the living and dead was supposedly at its thinnest. It seemed… threatening, somehow, as if this other world might spill over and swallow me whole." She shook her head with a smile, reaching out to smooth Godric's worried frown with her fingers. "I'm not afraid anymore. I can see now why you like it so much. One night where you can break all the rules and all the stereotypes and just be yourself."
"Maybe not all the rules," Godric cautioned with a boyish grin. "But at least a few of them. It's not often we get applauded for being scary, blood-sucking monsters."
"Still not a monster," Liv argued immediately, not willing to let Godric call himself that, not even in jest. "You're the kindest, sweetest, handsomest, most amazing person I know."
Godric grin got wider with every adjective until he was beaming at her, pearly white fangs peaking over his full bottom lip.
"Careful, Liv, you should save some of those compliments for the rest of us," Eric spoke up from behind her, grinning at her when she turned around. From the healthy flush to his cheeks, she could guess that he'd already had his first nightly snack.
She laughed and gave Eric a good-natured eye roll. "Don't worry, Eric, you'll always be my favorite Viking."
"You'll always be my favorite, too," Godric agreed, comfortably hooking his chin over Liv's shoulder and wrapping his arms around her waist. "And you're looking very handsome today."
"And you're very tall," Liv added teasingly.
"Gee, thanks for noticing," Eric replied dryly. "And here I was trying to do something nice and tell you that your friend's here."
"Mel?" Liv asked happily since the capable brunette had wanted to stop by another party first and hadn't been sure when or if she would make it to Fangtasia.
"Sookie," Eric corrected, taking her by the shoulders and swiveling her in the right direction.
She tried hard not to be disappointed, but her friendship with Sookie had become rather strained of late, ever since Sookie had decided to forgive Bill and accept his proposal. Hadley and Liv had expressed their concerns, several times, trying to get Sookie to see that her relationship with Bill was perhaps not altogether healthy and that maybe she should at least hold off on drinking his blood until she could be certain that her feelings were her own. Sookie had not taken that well and their last encounter, several weeks previously, had ended with Hadley and Sookie both screaming at each other and dredging up a lot of dirty laundry from their childhood and adolescence.
"She's asking for you," Godric offered softly, looking at her with a question in his deep brown eyes.
"It's fine," Liv reassured him, brushing a very light kiss over his cheek. "I'll go talk to her. Do you want to come with me?"
"Let me get you something to drink first," Godric offered, pressing a kiss into her hair before he drew back. "I won't be long."
Liv looked after him for a moment, blinking once and finding Godric next to the bar in the next second. She turned away with a small smile and started to wend her way towards Sookie, the sea of people parting for her, or rather for Eric, who was shadowing her every step. If they had been in private, she would have teased him about being an overprotective momma bear.
"There you are," Sookie greeted her when they reached her side, in a tone of voice suggesting that they had had an appointment and Liv was inexcusably late.
"Hello, Sookie," Liv replied, startling slightly when she recognized the brooding vampire next to her. "Good evening, Bill. How are you?"
The dark-haired vampire didn't even bother to look at her, instead continuing to glare menacingly at something – or rather someone – behind her. Eric only broke their staring contest long enough to conduct them into his office, which turned out to be a very smart move, given the reason for Sookie's visit.
"I need to speak to the queen and Hadley isn't answering her cell," Sookie said, barely a moment after Eric had closed the door to his office.
"Her birthday was last week," Liv answered, a little relieved when Eric reappeared at her side.
"So what? It's not like she ever remembers mine," Sookie retorted defensively. "And even if I did forget, it does not give her the right to ignore me now."
"I don't think she's ignoring you," Liv corrected, realizing that Sookie had no idea about the queen's plans for Hadley's birthday, nor about the fact that Hadley's twenty-seventh birthday had been her last one as a human. "Just… busy. Have you tried leaving her a voice mail? I'm sure she'll get back to you when she can."
Sookie flicked her blond hair back over her shoulder. "There's no need for that. Bill told me how chummy you are with the queen and as I said I have to speak to her."
"And what makes you think that our queen would have any interest in that?" Eric asked with polite curiosity while Liv was distracted by Godric coming into the office and moving directly to her side. She smiled at him, accepting the fruity, blood-red cocktail he offered to her, and leaned comfortably against him before she focused back on Sookie.
"Of course she'll want to speak to me," Sookie declared confidently, tilting up her chin. "She knows I'm special."
"Ah, but she already had occasion to meet you." Eric gave Sookie a sympathetic, exaggerated grimace. "I'm afraid she found the experience rather… inconsequential. I think we'll pass. Thank you for stopping by, though."
Sookie spluttered wordlessly, looking to Bill for help. "But… But I'm… And you owe me! After everything you put Bill and I through, this is the least you can do."
"I think you should calm down, Sookie," Liv cautioned. "I'll be happy to pass on a message to the queen and ask Hadley to call you back, but as I said they're probably busy so you'll just have to be patient."
"No, I want to talk to her now," the blond fairy insisted. "Just give me her number and I can call her myself."
"I'm not giving you her number," Liv said evenly. She didn't quite understand Sophie-Anne's insistence on keeping her number private - even from the vampires living in her queendom, even from her sheriffs – but it was no doubt another way for the queen to assert her power and dominance and Liv wasn't about to undermine that. So she hadn't given the number to anyone, not even to Eric, though of course it would have been easy enough for the tall vampire to look up the queen's contact info on her phone. It spoke volumes that he hadn't. "Do you want to tell me why you need to speak to her so urgently?"
"Bill said she might have some answers. Well, I want to hear them now," Sookie explained, rather ungraciously.
Liv sighed softly. On the one hand, she was glad that Sookie was finally showing an interest in something besides her husband-to-be, but on the other hand, she wasn't certain that this didn't somehow relate back to Bill and his influence after all. And since Sookie had found the time to slip on a sparkly green dress, apply glitter to her cheeks and weave a flower crown into her hair, she didn't quite buy her claim of urgency, either. In any event, she doubted that Sophie-Anne would be inclined to drop everything and make time in her busy schedule just to play 20 Questions with the blond fairy.
"I understand how frustrating it can be not to have all the answers, but you've waited this long, surely a few more days won't hurt?" she suggested softly, but Sookie's expression only got more mulish.
"I've waited twenty-five years already, thank you very much. And you were the one who told me I should know myself before starting my new life as a married woman," Sookie said, crossing her arms over her chest. "So help me do that – you owe me that much at least."
"I'm curious. You keep referring to a debt we supposedly owe you and yet I could have sworn I already paid the fee we had agreed upon for your assistance in Dallas," Eric spoke up, elegantly slouching against his desk. "Maybe you should check your math."
"You hush your mouth, Eric," Sookie replied testily. "Bill told me everything. You dealt V and then blamed Bill for it. And you -" She turned to stare accusingly at Liv and Godric shifted almost imperceptibly next to her.
"I suggest you think very carefully about your next words, Miss Stackhouse," he interrupted her mildly, which at least seemed to make more of an impression on Sookie than Eric's mocking amusement. "Liv has done nothing but try and help you. It was her warning - and from what I understand Mr. Herveaux actually heeding it - that saved you from being drained by Bill when he was injured."
"You don't know that. Bill has excellent control," Sookie protested, turning to smile at the broody vampire.
"It worries me that you think that matters," Godric told her softly before addressing Bill, "I trust you will talk to her about this."
"Bill?" Sookie questioned, uncertainty bleeding into her voice.
Bill's scowl got even deeper. "Sookie is not your concern." He swept his disdainful gaze from Godric to where Liv's fingertips were gently brushing against his left hand. "You tricked me into believing she was some kind of psychic and used that to discredit me."
"I did not ask you to tell either the queen or Russell Edgington about me and it was your decision to pass out my secret like it was Halloween candy," Liv pointed out, feeling her cheeks flush with annoyance at Bill's hypocrisy.
Bill answered her with a glare and she squared her shoulders. Behind her, Godric softly cleared his throat and the younger vampire quickly focused on Eric instead. "You spun a web of lies to convince the queen that she couldn't trust me anymore and -"
"Correction, Bill: You plotted against her majesty and me, your sheriff, and decided to side with a homicidal maniac," Eric retorted, suddenly large and imposing as he crowded into Bill's personal space and loomed threateningly over him. "Did you expect to be rewarded, Bill? More than you already have?"
"What are you talking about?" Bill demanded angrily.
"You're still residing in my area, aren't you? And you still call Sookie yours," Eric pointed out and Liv couldn't imagine anyone packing more contempt into those words. "Because Liv convinced the queen that you shouldn't be punished for the mere intention of committing regicide and that Sookie should be allowed to make her own foolish choices. Personally, I couldn't agree less."
"You did that for us?" Sookie asked carefully after a brief moment of tense silence. "But you don't even like Bill."
Liv sighed softly before replying, "I don't know him very well, and I'm not sure you do either. So no, I don't think you should marry him. But it's a decision you have to make for yourself, without anyone's interference… And maybe I felt that I still owed you something after all. I never got round to returning that dress you lent me."
Sookie giggled, breaking out into a bright, honest smile and for a moment she was transformed into a being of pure light, radiant and lovely. It had an immediate effect on Bill, and to a lesser extent on Eric, which prompted Bill to slink a little closer, and then again closer, resting a possessive hand on Sookie's waist and glare at the taller vampire.
Liv slipped her hand into Godric's and felt a feather-light kiss against her cheek. When she turned to smile at him Godric's kind, warm eyes were already focused on her, only on her, and she felt her heart swell with happiness and love. Sookie deserved to have that as well, she thought, someone who appreciated her for her wit and charm, her bravery and loyalty, her insatiable curiosity and incredible strength – and not just for her fairy blood or abilities.
Sookie gasped, taking a quick step forward. "You… you really believe that? Oh, I'd hug your neck if I could!"
"Oh, you…?" Liv lightly tapped her finger against her temple and Sookie nodded immediately.
"Just briefly, but it was one of the nicest things I've ever heard," Sookie answered with a beaming smile, hardly seeming to notice it when Bill called her name. "I'm sorry we've been quibbling so much lately, and you know, about tonight. I guess I was a little impetuous."
"A little," Liv agreed genially. "I understand, though, and I promise I'll talk to the queen."
"Thank you, Liv," Sookie said. "And maybe you'd like to come around for coffee soon?"
"Definitely," Liv replied with a smile and a nod. "I'll bring pie. Godric's a fantastic chef and baker and by now our whole freezer is overflowing." She turned to smile fondly at the vampire, caressing her fingers lightly against his side.
"But I thought the smell of human food bothered y'all," Sookie said with a furrowed brow, throwing Bill a questioning look. The youngest vampire in the room was starting to look constipated again.
"It can be rather overwhelming for younger vampires," Godric explained readily. "But Eric and I don't mind. I've come to quite like it over the years, actually. Although I don't think I will ever understand humanity's fascination with melted cheese."
Liv laughed and Sookie quickly joined in, the two of them exchanging a conspiratorial look while the three vampires seemed, for once, all in silent agreement that melted cheese was an invention they could have quite frankly done without.
Bill shifted behind Sookie again, reaching for her hand and putting an arm around her waist. "You can reminisce about your shared love for dairy products another time, Sookie. But if there is nothing more she can do for you tonight, I think it is time I took you home."
"You could stay a little while longer and enjoy the party," Liv offered, exchanging a quick look with Eric to make sure he wasn't against her suggestion.
"Oh, that'd be nice," Sookie replied immediately and turned to Bill.
"You said that you have to get up early tomorrow," Bill reminded, clearly not having as much eagerness for the idea.
"But maybe just half an hour? I don't think I've ever gone out dancing," Sookie wheedled and Liv was relieved to see Bill soften almost imperceptibly and give in, reluctantly and sullenly perhaps, but without any further protestations. It made her think that there might be some hope for those two, after all.
v-v
Sookie and Bill only stayed for the announced half hour before they took their leave, but Liv was almost certain that they had both had a good time. Even Bill seemed a little less brooding and Sookie had a brilliant smile on her face and promised to have coffee brewing when Liv came to visit her the day after the next.
Liv had had the vague idea of asking Godric to leave early as well so that they could have a chance to talk, but seeing how happy and carefree he was and how much he enjoyed the Halloween celebrations she changed her mind. Instead she danced with him, allowing him to swirl and twirl and spin her around until she was breathless with laughter. Then he would gather her close to his chest and sway her softly and gently, ignoring whatever music was playing at that moment and making everything else fade into the background.
It was during one of those slower dances that Godric stiffened suddenly, breaking up their movement while simultaneously taking a firmer grip of her waist.
"What is it?" she whispered, startling a little when Eric appeared at their side.
"Do you know who that is?" Eric asked lowly, leaning down slightly to Godric's level. Godric gave a minute shake of his head and Liv peered over her shoulder to see whom they were talking about. It was a surprise, mixed with shock and a frisson of fear, when she recognized the slender, red-haired man immediately.
"That's Dr. Alin Walker," she said quietly, turning back to Godric and Eric and wishing for once they could read her mind and not just her skipping heartbeat.
She reached for Eric's hand, drawing quick letters into his palm. MAKER RUS. She didn't have to finish; she could see the realization in their eyes. A moment later, Godric had moved her behind him and the new visitor was standing before them, seeming almost a little embarrassed to be there.
He softly cleared his throat. "Please forgive my intrusion, but are you Eric Northman?"
"I am," Eric said with a measured inclination of his head. "This is my maker Godric and his human Liv."
"It is a pleasure to meet you," he answered with a shy smile. "I understand that my introductions have already been made for me? Please call me Alin."
"What brings you to my area tonight, Alin?" Eric asked with studious calm.
"I must apologize for interrupting your evening like this, Sheriff Northman, Godric, Miss Liv. But might I ask for a moment of your time? Perhaps in a less crowded setting?"
"Of course. My office is this way." Eric indicated the way. "Liv, Pam's at the bar."
"I would like to accompany you, if I may?" Liv asked, lightly squeezing Godric's fingers.
"You would be welcome, of course," Alin said, giving her a kind smile. "May I ask how you recognized me?"
For a second, Godric's fingers closed almost painfully around hers and she did her best to convey that there was nothing to worry about, that she got this and that she didn't need Godric to protect her from this. "I'm a big fan of your work at the Blaustein Pain Treatment Center, sir. I think it's very inspiring what you've accomplished there."
"You are too kind. Truly it is a team effort. I consider myself fortunate that I was offered this opportunity," he answered modestly. "May I ask, do you work in the medical field as well?"
"Liv is a nurse," Godric offered proudly, carefully nudging her into Eric's office and pulling the office chair out for her just as Pam also slipped into the room and closed the door behind her.
"So you are one of the good souls without whom any hospital would collapse," Alin said kindly to her before accepting Eric's offer to take a seat on the sofa. "Thank you, sheriff. The reason for my visit – and I must again apologize for my untimely manner – is that my brother recently passed away and I was informed that you might know more regarding."
"I take it your brother was Russell Edgington."
"That is the name he assumed for himself, yes," Alin agreed, showing them his open hands. "Please know that I did not come here to raise accusations, merely to understand what happened. My brother was not a good person, as he showed everyone in front of live camera, but…"
"He was still your brother," Liv concluded softly. "I'm very sorry for your loss."
"He murdered my entire family," Eric spat out before Alin could find himself to another polite reply and Godric's hands landed a little heavily on her shoulders. "I found out about his role in their deaths when I was in Jackson on business for my queen and I did what I had to do to finally make him pay for his crimes. I would not have suffered him to live another day. Even if the Authority hadn't sanctioned my disposal of him."
Alin sighed deeply, bowing his back and staring down at his entwined hands. "Thank you for your honesty, sheriff."
"You were also his maker?" Godric asked gently, loosening his grip on Liv's shoulders when the almost frail looking vampire gave no sign of aggression.
"It was a mistake that has haunted me for millennia," he admitted in a soft, soft voice. "Korun was always… erratic and I knew, deep down, that he did not have the right temperament to be given this kind of power. But I could not let him die. I am indescribably sorry for all the pain my weakness has caused you and others."
"A fat lot of good that does," Pam muttered, loud enough for even Liv to hear.
"You are right," Alin agreed and Liv really didn't like the defeated, pained air around him. She threw Pam a chiding look, then stood up to go to Eric's side since he also clearly needed a hug. Eric gave her a crooked smile and at least some of the rigidness went out of his posture.
"As far as I'm concerned justice has been served and any culpability has been discharged with Russell's death," Eric offered still rather stiffly.
"It's a chapter we would very much like to close, Alin," Godric added gently.
"Of course, I understand," Alin said, slowly getting to his feet. "In truth, I have mourned my brother for most of his life – when instead I should have stood up to him and called a halt to his behavior. But you do not want to hear this, I am sure."
This time it was Eric's hand that landed rather too heavily on her shoulder and she was really starting to wonder when she had given them the impression that she couldn't behave herself in social situations. But she kept quiet, only offering a modest smile when Alin apologized for the interruption again, assured Eric that he would be out of his area before dawn and then said his goodbyes. Eric replied with his own, rather bland salutation, Godric opened the door and in the next blink of the eye, Alin had disappeared.
"Finally," Pam said with an over-the-top groan. "I was afraid we'd be stuck here all night for his sad pity party."
"I think he feels a lot of guilt," Liv offered softly, knowing that chiding Pam for her mean-spirited comment would only result in giving her a headache. "He didn't come here for information – he came to apologize."
"Maybe you should have dressed up as Devil's Advocate instead," Eric said, giving one of her horns a flick with his fingers. Liv wasn't quick enough to duck away, of course, and he grinned at her weak glare.
"He's not his brother," Liv still pointed out. "He's doing a lot of good with his work, both by helping those who suffer from chronic pain and by creating some good publicity for vampires."
Pam gave an indelicate snort. "If he hadn't unleashed his psychopathic brother on the world, there would be no need for that in the first place."
"It's over and done now." Eric shrugged negligently. "And I can think of more enjoyable ways to create good publicity."
He gave Liv an exaggerated wink and exchanged smirks with Pam as the two of them went to rejoin the party, leaving Godric and Liv and a moment of rather uncomfortable silence that she wasn't quite sure how to explain.
"Eric really doesn't seem to like my costume," Liv said as she started to nestle at the hairpins that held her horns in place. Pam had done an excellent job of fitting them into her hair, but by now their weight was getting uncomfortable and several of the pins were digging painfully into her scalp.
Godric gently took her by the elbow, leading her over to the sofa and perching on the armrest behind her to help with unravelling her hair from her costume.
"Don't take it to heart. He was hoping you would go dressed as a nurse. He's been thinking up jokes for the last few weeks," Godric explained, making her chuckle before they fell back into silence.
"Godric?" Liv finally asked when Godric had undone both horns; she turned around and reached for his cold hand. "Is something wrong?"
Godric looked down at their joined hands for a moment, lightly tracing the veins on the back of her hand with his finger. "Do you think I should get a job?"
"Do you want to get a job?" Liv asked carefully, a little lost when Godric shook his head then shrugged. "Right, what's going on?"
Godric sighed, seeming still rather reluctant. "You had a lot of admiration for Dr. Walker and his work and I'm not doing anything so worthwhile with my time."
Liv squeezed Godric's fingers a little tighter to make him look up. "The hell you aren't," she said firmly, but gently. "You're a fantastic mentor to Bubba and Jessica and you're always willing to help or give advice to anyone who asks. You're the one who makes our house feel like a proper home, running the household, cleaning and cooking and doing a thousand little things just so that Eric and I don't have to. You pack the leftover food from our fridge into care packages so that I can hand them out at the clinic and when I called you last week you dropped everything and rushed over to act as an interpreter for one of our patients - and then you also comforted the family when it turned out that their son needed surgery. You don't need a job title to do any of those things or to be a good person and that's what you are, every day of the week, Sundays and holidays included.
"So, yes, I admire Dr. Walker's work, but not as much as I admire you - adore you really, love you to the ends of the world and back," Liv concluded with a tender smile, placing a row of kisses on Godric's cheeks and the bridge of his nose. "Okay?"
"Okay," Godric agreed with a small smile of his own. "I guess I was feeling a little insecure. I'm not used to competing for your attention."
"Would it help you to know that I thought some of the views he expressed in the interview I read were rather outdated and sexist?" Liv offered.
"It would," Godric admitted, grinning a bit wider and pulling her in for a proper kiss. "Tell me more."
Liv snorted out a laugh, shaking her head at Godric's eagerness. "How about I tell you all the things I love about you, instead?"
"Or…" Godric paused dramatically, glancing pointedly at the space to the right of Eric's desk. "We could revive the memories of your first visit to Fangtasia?"
"My first… oh. Oh! I…" Godric furrowed his brow at her hesitation, toning down his giddy deviousness to his usual tender regard.
"It was just a suggestion, Liv."
"I know, and I want to. So, so much. But there's something I need to talk to you about first and I don't want to do it here," Liv tried to explain, sending Godric a pleading look. "Raincheck?"
"It's a bit cloudy, but it's not raining, Liv," Godric offered with an adorably confused frown.
She chuckled, brushing a light kiss over his lips. "It's just an expression. It means I would like to come back to your idea at a later time."
"I look forward to it," Godric answered happily. "Did you want to go home now so that we can talk?"
"I don't mind if you want to stay a bit longer. Halloween is only once a year after all."
Godric listened to something for a moment before he shook his head and offered her his hand. "I think I would rather go home and just be with you."
"Then let's go," Liv said, quietly pleased, accepting Godric's hand and getting to her feet.
Just imagine me standing here with a candy bucket, waiting for you to fill it with your reviews...