Sookie's POV
Sometimes in life you need the right motivation to get your ass moving in the right direction!
As I stand at the kitchen sink and wash the dinner dishes, I think of the last 3 years. Has it been only 3 years? It's has felt a lot longer than that.
Her brother, Jason, interrupts her thoughts, "Hey Sis, I got the munchkin down- I'm gonna head out, you need anything before I leave?"
"No Jas, thanks for the help!"
"No worries, Sis, you make sure you finish whatcha ya gotta do to finish your classes- I can't wait to watch you walk across that stage and get your college degree sis! I am proud of everything you've accomplished in the last few years! I hope I do half as well as you have!" laughs Jason.
I dry my hands and give him a hug and turn to get the pecan pie I made for him to take home.
"You will Jas, and I am here to help anytime you need it- I hope you know that!"
"Yeah, I do. See you tomorrow."
I walk Jason to the backdoor and watch as he gets into his truck and drives away. I had the gravel replaced with asphalt a few years ago when the county had ordered too much for the road crew to use and Jason got it for me for free.
The crew spent their Saturday putting it down for me. They also helped to paint the house for me in a new Wedgewood blue with white glossy trim, shutters, and porch. I painted the swing the same blue as the house, added white and blue checked pillow and added hanging ferns along the porch, it looks great.
With the renovations that were done previously, the house still looks great, and I love the new color.
I turn and finish cleaning up and put in another load of laundry. I go to the room next to mine and check to make sure everything is ok. I give my son a gentle kiss as I watch him sleep. He is the joy of my life and my greatest inspiration. He is the gift that I never knew I wanted.
I check the windows and doors are locked. I activate the alarm, a new addition I bought to add another layer of protection. I check to make sure Sno, my white mixed wolf, has food and water even though he probably won't leave the baby's rooms.
I go to my room and sit down at my desk and turn on my laptop. I have a few final assignments to review and submit for my classes and then I am done! I will be walking in my graduation ceremony in a few weeks to get my dual degrees a Bachelors/Master's in business administration. LSU Shreveport has an accelerated 3-year degree program that allowed me to go to school online, taking three courses every 8 weeks. I have accomplished in 3 years what would normally take 5 years. With my inheritance, I have been able to stay home with my child and go to school full time. I am very proud of myself. My life changed when Eric left three years ago- not only did I realize I loved him, without the bond, or any vampire bs, I realized a few weeks after he left that I was pregnant. At first, I was in denial, but once I start showing, and feeling the baby move, there was no denying it.
The Past
I called Dr. Ludwig, and she came and examined me, confirmed the miracle that shouldn't be, she called my great-grandfather. Who knew the little Dr has such abilities? As I stood there in shock of my new reality, my grandfather and Dr. Ludwig sat me down and gave me some tough love.
Not only did they make me admit that my behavior has been immature and selfish- blaming Eric for things he had no control over, but I was also too stubborn to admit my true feelings for him! My grandfather said that I took all my insecurities and anger and projected them onto the wrong person- Eric had done nothing except try to keep me safe, alive and happy but instead of appreciating his actions- what did I do, I blamed him and accused him of things that he didn't deserve, while I let Bill Compton remain a "good friend" in spite of all the despicable things he actually did do to me, like lie, cheat, steal, manipulate, and rape me!
Talk about a reality check! Then Dr. Ludwig had a go at me! Telling me that I am pregnant with a vampire/fae/human baby, and that I needed to figure out what I wanted to do. She had medication that would terminate the pregnancy, but she wasn't sure if it would work, since it was half vampire, but she could give me a silver supplement to take with it and it should help terminate the pregnancy.
I was shocked a second time that night with the realization that I wanted my baby, and I wasn't going to let anyone, or anything hurt it! As I thought this my body started to glow, not that I realized it, my mind was too upset to notice.
"NO!" I yelled standing quickly, my body wrapped in a glow of golden light, a light shield covering me from head to toe.
My grandfather quickly intervenes. "No Sookie, it is ok, she wasn't suggesting that you do it, she was just giving you options. It is your decision. We will not hurt your child. I promise."
I quickly calm down and sit. "Ok, then just so we are clear, I am pregnant, and I am keeping my baby."
"Yes, Princess and I will meet you here for weekly appointments. Fae gestation is 20 weeks, you are 14 weeks along already. So, you have about 6 more weeks is my best guess, but it is only a guess since you are the first to give birth to this type of hybrid. Basically, be prepared for anything! And call me immediately if you think you are in labor."
"Grandfather do you know how this happened?"
"Yes, you have started your Fae maturity early. I would guess that is a result of the culver dor. What just happened when you got upset is called a light shield. It is a very rare fae ability."
"What do you mean?"
"Your light basically formed a shield around your body, we saw a soft golden light, but you should be able to control it without any colors showing. We will need to work on that."
"How? And how are you here? You closed off the realm…"
"It has been about 100 years in the realm since I last saw you", he shrugged.
"What? It's only been 3 months here!"
"Remember when you were in the realm before, I told you time shifts between the realms?"
"It did it again, this time it speed up. We are and have been at peace for a long time now. I have gotten the realm calm, no more of Brendan's followers or ideology has survived. We are at peace and our fertility has steadily risen. We are blessed."
"That is great grandfather- so will you be able to help me with whatever Fae training I will need?"
"I will have Raven, Claudine's little sister come stay with you if you don't mind. She was born after Claude's death. She is what you call a teenager I guess, and she has wanted to visit this realm for a while. Would that be acceptable?"
"Oh, of course. I would enjoy the company."
"She will be excited. I will bring her later tonight then. By the way, I have transferred your grandfather's estate into your name along with Jason's. You will be contacted by Mr. Catalides tomorrow with the details. Just so you know, you and Jason will no longer need to work. You will both be extremely wealthy. The business that my son owned will now be owned by you and your brother, but no worries, they are run by a management company that Mr. Catalides oversees. I suggest you take advantage of your newfound wealth, and let it take care of you and your child. With that he gives me a kiss and pops out."
"Well child, this is a new adventure for you- motherhood will not be easy but I think you will find it very worth it! You now have the resources to do and be anything you wish. I suggest you think about the life you want to provide for your child. I will return in one week the same time." With that she pops out also. Jeez does anyone say goodbye anymore!
After they both leave, Sookie grabs a glass of iced tea and sits out on her swing to think. She realizes that this is a defining moment in her life, and she needs to think long and hard about what she wants.
She wants her child to be healthy, have a happy childhood and be proud of her as a parent. To do that she wants to be more than a waitress, telepathic or not, she wants to get a college education! She wants to protect her child- so she will make sure she works hard with Raven to ensure her child's safety- she doesn't want to worry about money- thankful for her inheritance. She will quit Merlotte's tomorrow- it is way past time to do that.
She wants to get rid of Bill, she thinks back to what her grandfather had said this evening and must admit, he was 100% right. She was never fair to Eric, just one more regret to add to the bucket full she already has regarding her relationship with Eric. She wishes she could go back and change things.
She followed Dr. Ludwig's suggestions to the letter, she welcomed Raven and learned everything she could about being Fae, she went to school and earned not one, not two but three degrees, she made a home she was proud of for her child, he was happy, health and the joy of her and Jason's lives. Jason took his role as an uncle seriously and stopped tomcatting around, and joined her at college, taking courses online to get a bachelors' degree in construction engineering. He graduates in the Winter term. He has started his own business as a consultant for the county and state.
Raven arrived and looked so much like and acted just like Claudine, if not a little hyper teenager. It was easy to love her. She settled into my old room, and we worked well together to train me. She became an important part of my support team with Jason. They helped me with everything to ensure the baby and I remained healthy, happy, and safe.
The only problem was Bill Compton, and his never-ending stalking. A few days after Raven arrived, he tried to attack her, luckily Jason was here with us. We were enjoying the evening having a BBQ in the back patio, laughing, eating, and listening to music. Luckily, she was able to pop into the house when I realized the void moving rapidly towards us. As Bill came towards me and grabbed me, Jason came up behind him and staked him with the BBQ fork- a silver and wooden one. Surprisingly enough, I felt nothing but relief when it happened and all my so-called positive feelings that I always had for Bill, and the constant forgiveness died right along with him! Boy was I angry when I realized how much that scum bucket manipulated me! I so wanted to bring him back and stake his ass myself. That night, after Jason washed Bill off the patio pavers, we went to Bills. We searched his place and brought anything we found interesting back to my place. Then we burned his house to the ground!
It was a hell of a barn fire and I have no regrets! Of course, when the fire and sheriff's departments arrived, we knew nothing. They determined that the fire probably started due to faulty and old wiring and that Bill died in the fire. Thankful for our inept Sheriffs' department! He made me the sole beneficiary of his estate. Which I had no trouble accepting and then promptly donating to the local woman's and children's abuse fund.
The night I went into to labor was short and sweet. Contractions started with no warnings and progressed quickly- only two hours and I held a beautiful baby boy in my arms. He was 7 pounds 6 ounces, 18" long- with a head of blond hair and his father's magnificent eyes. There was no denying who his father is! As he was placed in my arms, he looked at me and I swear he smirked at me. He latched on and feed when I felt a pinch and discovered his itty-bitty tiny fangs. He drank my milk along with my blood. Surprisingly it didn't hurt. Dr. Ludwig tested him for me. Alexander Eric Jason Brigant Northman Stackhouse was immune to silver, iron, lemons, and daylight. As any newborn he slept a lot, so we weren't sure what his sleep patterns would be exactly, but as he grew older, he tended to sleep later in the mornings and takes naps throughout the day. So, I adjusted my sleep patterns to his. I no longer had to worry about working!
Alex is almost 2 years old. He is smart, beautiful, full of energy, and his father's mini! He can eat human food but prefers to drink blood mixed with my milk. Dr. Ludwig suggested when I was pregnant that I start donating blood and pumping breast milk for Alex's use after I stop breast feeding. Now that he no longer breastfeeds, he can drink his milk/blood combination at 50/50 ratio, just like he did when he was an infant. As far as the world is concerned his is a normal toddler, full of energy and a master charmer already.
As with every night, I wish Eric was able to know him, he would be so proud. I have often thought about telling him, or even Pam or Karin, but with the stipulations of his contract, it is best he doesn't know. He would risk everything and possibly his life if he knew.
Hours later, I suddenly hear Alex yell Mama from his room. He knows he is not allowed out of his room until I come to get him.
I quickly grab his sippy cup that is ready on the counter and go to his room. He still sleeps in his crib, and I am reluctant to take him out of it. I pick him up and hold him close giving him kisses. Hey little man, ready for your milk?
As he lays against me, I sit in the rocking chair in his room. He lays in my arms as he drinks from his sippy cup. I so enjoy our private time together. Once it is finished, he gets a bath. Once he is out of the tub, we watch Cars before he falls asleep again.
Once Alex is asleep again, I continue washing and cleaning, and decide to sit outside again since it is such a beautiful night.
As I drink my tea, reading online using my iPad. I feel that someone is watching me. I quickly look up to see Eric standing in my yard looking at me.
"Eric, I whisper in shock."
"Hello Lover", he responds smiling his 1000-watt smile.