AN: Ladies and gents! I present to you, the Final Chapter! Well, I'll probably do an epilogue, a little something to show where everyone is, but yeah, this is the last chapter I think. I am so, so grateful you guys have stuck around for this long and that you've told me, good and bad, what you think. I really liked writing this. So now, here it is. I'll post an epilogue later, but I hope to hear what you think and, as always, please ENJOY!

Chapter 42

Maria was still staring into nothingness when there was a knock on her door. She went to answer it and was surprised to find Pasha on the other side. He gave her a low, respectful nod, and waited for what she would say. Maria remained silent, but stepped aside and let him enter.

"Is there something I can help you with?" she asked as she closed the door behind him.

"I wanted to apologize again for my behavior earlier."

"There's no need." She said.

Pasha finally lifted his head enough that his dark eyes could meet hers. She could tell he had more to say and simply waited for it.

"May I speak freely?"

Maria nodded. Pasha had only ever been respectful toward her, so there was no "fear" in what he might say. Besides, she was a big girl. It was highly unlikely he could somehow hurt her feelings.

"Your vampire," Pasha eventually said. "You have a past, yes?"

"Yes," she nodded.

"I don't like him."

Maria smiled a little to herself. "Not many do."

"You do."

She took a deep breath and sighed. "Yes, I do."

He looked her over. "You love him."

Maria tightened her jaw just a bit, but didn't offer an answer. In her silence, Pasha seemed to come to a conclusion –the correct conclusion, in fact.

He said nothing more, simply nodded, bowed, and then left. Maria watched him go and somehow knew what had just transpired. She and Pasha were through.

Their relationship was perhaps one of the simplest in the world. They had sex, nothing more. There was no danger of feelings, no danger of someone wanting more, because neither would ever want more. That was why she chose him.

Maria had hired him and the others personally, and one question that she asked all four of them were their plans towards a family. It was an important thing to know because a family would mean that their priorities would, naturally, change. While she had no intentions of firing them if they began a family, she would obviously remove them from her own personal guard where their focus would have to be so fully on her.

The others didn't have a plan for a family in any regard, not even an inkling. Pasha, on the other hand, knew full-well what he wanted. He told her that he would give her ten years of his service without question, ten years devoted specifically to her. And then, afterward, he would search for a potential wife. He wanted to find an ursanthrope like himself to help continue their kind.

Maria could respect his desire to continue his species' line. Pasha was a proud man, proud to be a soldier, to be Russian, and to be an ursanthrope. Thropes were rare enough on their own. There was no telling what the official number of ursanthropes was in the world. While he could clearly be with a human, the chance of an ursanthrope offspring was slim, and he was in no rush. It wasn't as though they aged the same as everyone else. There was time for Pasha to find his bear-bride.

But now with Eric's reemergence in her life once more, it was clear that Pasha sensed there was more between the two. It wasn't as though she and Eric hid it, either, so of course someone as intelligent as Pasha would sense it. It was probably even clearer now that Maria had gleaned the truth from the Viking.

Eric Northman loved her.

When Eric awoke that night, he was filled with the knowledge that his and Pam's time in Russia was coming to an end. There was nothing for them in the icy country, and prolonging their visit no longer made sense. But, whether he was a glutton for punishment or because he needed closure for his own frame of mind, Eric wanted to speak to Maria before he returned to Louisiana.

He wandered through the palace, but it was no longer aimless. He could sense Maria. In truth, he always could. Sometimes, through the years, he'd call on the connection just to make sure she was still there, even though he never planned to do anything about it. Now, however, he chose to seek her out.

Perhaps ten minutes later, he found Maria in one of the many large rooms. He could never tell what they were supposed to be used for. How many parlors or official living rooms could a place have? The answer was many, apparently.

Eric remained in the background while she spoke to one of her staff and didn't make himself known until the servant left. When she glanced up, Maria seemed slightly surprised to see him as they approached one another.

They said nothing for a moment, maybe two, until Maria finally spoke.

"You killed the fairy for me." She said.

Eric fought the urge to smile outright because he knew it would come across as smug. His smile was rarely anything else. Instead, he simply nodded.

"You're in love with me."

He said nothing as he slid his hands into his pockets. For some reason, admitting something so simple out loud was still a bit too difficult. It didn't really matter. He knew she knew. There was no point in remaining quiet, but that didn't help him speak.

So, he chose to remove the focus from himself. "You're in love with me, too."

Very plainly, Maria said, "Yes, I am."

Those three little words, a single syllable each, just didn't seem to want to penetrate his brain. There was no way to misinterpret them, and yet, he didn't believe them. For whatever reason, no matter how briefly, Eric decided that it was a lie.

"Do you?" He asked a little sterner than he meant to.

"You've been in my head." She said. "Do you really have to ask?"

Eric felt himself pause. No, he didn't. He'd seen, more than once, how she felt about him. And yet, physically hearing it was a different story entirely.

They were being strangely clinical given the subject matter, but Eric could see them acting any other way. They weren't in a romantic movie. What were they supposed to do, run into each other's arms and kiss in the rain?

"And what about your little friend Pasha?" Eric asked with a level of derision that didn't go unnoticed.

Maria gave him a warning glance, but answered him regardless.

"What about him?"

"Am I going to have to worry about a monolithic bear killing me in my sleep because your affection lies elsewhere?"

"We have an understanding." She replied.

And that was as in depth as she apparently planned to be. Part of Eric wanted to push the subject further, but a larger part couldn't care less about the soldier.

"What do we do now?" Maria asked plainly.

Eric stood before her, hands in his pockets and his face blank as it was most days. A small voice in his mind spoke, though, despite his stoic exterior. It wouldn't shut up, in fact. It told him what he should do, what they should do, but he refused to speak the words. Strangely, Eric felt like he was listening to a whole other person, as though that voice had nothing to do with him and was instead someone else entirely.

It chastised him for acting like a child. It told him to get over himself and act. It told him that, for the first time in a long while, he could be happy. It angrily told him to be a man.

Eric didn't like the voice in the back of his head. He hated it, in fact, because he didn't think it knew what it was talking about even though he knew otherwise. Clearly, the voice only existed for a reason.

But as his mind began to race, bouncing back and forth between the two points, and as his head began to ache, Eric finally conceded. Perhaps, for once in a very long time, Eric should simply be honest.

"Come home." He finally said.

Her head tilted marginally to the side, an action that probably would have been invisible to anyone else.

"I am home, Eric." She replied. "I can't just leave, not now, not while I'm still struggling to rebuild my country."

He understood completely, but that didn't mean he liked the answer. In truth, Eric didn't expect her to accept his request that easily. She wasn't that sort of person.

"Stay here." She said.

Eric's face relaxed in the way it would before a smile would form, but he didn't allow it to go that far.

"I can't." He told her. "But you already know that, don't you?"

Maria did smile softly. Of course she knew. He could no sooner leave behind everything he knew, Fangtasia, his other businesses, Pam –everything- to stay with her in Russia than she could leave Russia. Nor could he-

"Of course I know." Maria said. "You can't be anyone's second."

Nor could he be subservient to anyone else.

He smiled that time. She knew him fairly well, even now, it seemed. And it was true. If Eric moved to Russia to be with her, he would be beneath her, be the one in their relationship that would be the less important. It wouldn't be Maria's fault. It wasn't as though she lorded herself over him (much) but being who and what she was, she would, naturally, be more important to those on the outside. His ego could only withstand it for so long, regardless of the relationship they would have together.

It was a shortcoming he knew he possessed, but knowing that rarely helped him control it.

In the long-run, he doubted very highly that things would remain pleasant and without resentment. Then again, what did he know?

So where did that leave them now? Eric had heard that compromise was something important in any relationship, but at what point did compromise become giving up who you are in order to be with someone else? At what point would it be throwing away your life for another person? Eric couldn't speak for her, but he had the feeling that was exactly how the pair of them would view whatever relationship they'd form together.

Perhaps they simply waited too long to try.

"Where does that leave us now?"

Eric took a breath and let it out slowly before he said, "I don't know."

Maria nodded. He watched as her head dipped. For a moment or two, it looked like she was thinking until, finally, she met his gaze again. Without a word, she approached him. Eric didn't bother moving.

There was no hesitation on her part. As though nothing had changed and the years hadn't passed between them, Maria reached up, cradled the back of Eric's head, and brought him down to her. She kissed him the moment he was near enough.

Her lips burned against his and the heat of them was enough to breathe life into the cold vampire. Eric gladly reciprocated the affection, even deepening it while he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. It was sweet, but passionate, and held an underlining desperation that he knew wasn't his alone.

He threaded his fingers through her hair and held her close. Maria let out a soft moan when he had, a sound that caused his skin to prickle. He tore his lips from hers and placed kisses along her jaw and her neck. Her pulse thundered.

As his desire continued to climb, Eric lifted Maria into his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist and held tightly. Maria looked down at him with eyes darkened by lust. It was an expression he hadn't seen in years, an expression he'd only dreamt of in their time apart.

With his intense speed, Eric raced easily through the palace and into one of the many bedchambers so they could be alone. His eyes remained locked to hers as he took her to the bed and gently laid her on the plush surface.

Eric's hands explored her body while he kissed whatever exposed skin he could. He expected that, at any moment, he would wake up and everything would be revealed as a dream. The thought frightened him more than he was willing to admit aloud.

He eventually claimed her lips again while a hand slipped between them. Maria clung to him, ran her fingers through his hair, and returned his passions happily.

Through the kisses, he said, "I've missed you."

Maria let out a soft, longing sigh and replied, "I've missed you, too."

The hand between them worked quickly to undo clothing. His belt and trousers gave way easily and when they had, he pulled himself free. A sharp yank soon removed Maria's panties and within seconds, he thrust himself inside her.

Maria broke their kiss as she let out a whimpered, broken sort of gasp. Eric had to fight a groan of his own. Years had passed since he'd had sex with Maria and that left him unprepared –unprepared for the fiery heat of her thrope body to the way her core held him. Fortunately, Maria seemed equally unprepared for him. Her entire body clenched around his, her thighs and arms holding him so hard that a lesser man would break beneath the strength of it.

Her gasps and soft, trembling breaths were all he heard.

"Eric," She whispered softly, "Don't stop."

Somehow, that seemed to be all the prompting he needed to continue. No matter how badly his mind wished for a moment to steady, his body refused to allow it. Apparently, it craved her too much.

Whether he was prepared for it or not, Eric began to move. He was slow at first, but only at first. Eventually, Eric managed to gain even the slightest speed. Maria continued to cling to him and through his shirt he could feel the sharp jab of her fingernails. He didn't mind, however. It actually helped him.

Unfortunately, within minutes of beginning, Eric felt the end fast approaching. He wasn't proud of it, or truly surprised. It was simply further proof that Maria was unlike the humans he'd been with in the past years.

"Bite me,"

Her random words caused him to hesitate briefly.

"What?" He breathed.

Maria nipped at his lips and kissed him deeply before she repeated, "Bite me."

Only too happy to oblige, Eric began to thrust into her harder than before and, as his orgasm was close at hand, he bit into Maria's throat. Her blood exploded into his mouth, flooding it with liquid fire the moment he came. Maria cried out happily, passionately, at the feeling, and he tasted every hint of it.

His body shook, his shoulders trembled, and he felt as though he could drift to sleep while he slowly regained control over himself. When his orgasm finally began to ebb, Eric focused only on drinking from Maria. The action was downright loving, from how tenderly he fed, to how affectionately Maria cradled the back of his head to her.

Eventually, and it was harder than he would care to say, Eric managed to tear himself away from her. He bit the tip of his tongue and swept it over the wounds, healing them instantly. As he drew back, he saw the lustful way she stared up at him, and completely disregarding the fact that her blood was smeared across his lips and chin, Maria kissed him once more.

What followed was hours of them reacquainting themselves over and over until Eric had to go to ground for the day.

Two Months Later

Eric sat on his throne watching the regulars sway and dance and do whatever they could to forget their simple, mundane little lives. He was bored, but what else was he supposed to be? Maria was on the other side of the world.

Renovations for the New Blood factory in Moscow were well underway. Within the next month or two, they'd be finished and production would begin. If it went as well as he assumed it would, Eric and Pam already had plans to open another in St. Petersburg, too. That would put their factory count up to five, which would be more than enough for him.

Eric missed Maria, but knew it was normal. While sometimes, he was annoyed, if not downright angry, that she didn't uproot her life to return with him to Shreveport, he was able to beat those emotions into submission. Long distance was better for them. Although, to be honest, Eric had no idea how to accommodate something long distance. He'd never bothered before. Was boredom a normal side effect?

As he sat there fanaticizing about what would happen the next time he traveled to Russia, Eric noticed a new dancer climb onto the platform in front of him. He paid her passing attention at first. It wasn't until a certain song began to play that his gaze drifted back to her.

The young woman in question was dressed in black latex. The fabric was painted on, clinging to every inch of her body it touched. The jumpsuit was a single piece, with sleeves that reached her wrists and shorts so short they did nothing to cover her ass. But the bit he liked the most was the wide open slit down the front. It dove to her bellybutton and left a decent portion of cleavage bare for the room to see.

Dark hair tumbled around her face, a face that was shielded by a thick piece of lace that acted like a mask. But it did nothing to hide her, at least not from him. He would recognize those brilliant green eyes anywhere.

A slow, wicked grin spread across his lips when Eric realized that Maria was the woman in the painted-on latex. That little fact made it all the more enjoyable to watch her sway, roll her hips, and grind against the pole.

When she'd first danced for him, all those years ago, Eric swore he'd never make her do it again because the life fled her eyes. It was disappointing given the skill she showed at dancing. Now, however, that life was there right alongside the talent.

Dancing to the same song she had the first time, Maria's eyes remained focused solely on Eric. His heart wanted to beat through his chest while blood pulsed through his body. The whole of Fangtasia disappeared to him in those few moments. There was nothing but Maria.

His eyes raked over her, devouring any and every detail from the way her lips parted with each breath, to how she teasingly tugged on the edge of the slit, giving further glimpses of her chest without ever actually revealing anything else.

The song continued to play for a moment longer, but the second it ended, Eric was on his feet. Despite the audience, he approached Maria, threw her over his shoulder, and charged into the back office. The door barely closed behind him before he set her down on his desk.

Giggling, she looked up at him through her lacey mask. Eric didn't mind because he didn't bother dwelling on it. Instead, he pulled her into a kiss. Maria met him greedily.

They tore at one another's clothing, shredding it as they attempted to get what they wanted. Eric didn't even care that his two-thousand-dollar suit was reduced to rags within seconds. He even helped her get it off his body.

"I've missed you." Maria whispered against his lips.

"Good," He replied.

Holding her hips firmly in his hands, Eric thrust into her. Maria either couldn't, or simply didn't bother attempting to be silent. Instead, she cried out loudly. The sound of it sent chills down Eric's spine. Maria cradled the back of his head with one hand while the other was clamped firmly around the lip of his desk for stability. But Eric, so desperate to have her again, slammed into Maria so hard that the desk did nothing to keep her in place. In fact, it shifted and moved beneath her.

"Harder," She breathed.

Eric was only too happy to oblige. Still holding onto her, Eric lifted Maria from the desk and sped across the room. He slammed her back into the drywall hard enough it broke and cracked beneath her. Maria dug her fingernails into her back while he proceeded to drive into her harder than he had before.

Time meant nothing. They could have been in the office for seconds or hours. The only thing that mattered was the whimpering, gasping breaths coming from the woman in his arms.

When he knew she was close, Eric bit into her shoulder which was more than enough to send her over the edge. Maria cried out, dragging her talon-like fingernails down his back when she did. The smell of his own blood met his nose, but he didn't care. While he fed from her, filled himself with her delicious flavor, Eric followed Maria into oblivion.

Eventually, he retracted his teeth and let his forehead rest against the side of her head. Maria had gone limp in his arms, trembling slightly because of the exertion, but little else.

"How long are you in America?" he somehow managed to ask.

"Two weeks." She answered breathily.

Eric grinned wickedly to himself. Then that would be how long Pam would have to take over things with their businesses because Eric had no intentions of leaving Maria's side while she was in town.

Five Months Later:

The press snapped more pictures than any news outlet could ever use while a dozen television cameras were focused solely on the stage. A large, ceremonial red ribbon was spread across the front of it, tied to two golden poles to keep it taught. Maria stood in the center wearing an appropriate dress and even a hat with a bit of lace covering her face. On either side of her stood the unbelievable Viking God Eric Northman, and his equally statuesque Progeny Pamela de Beaufort.

"It is my great honor to present to you the first of two New Blood factories that will call this beautiful country home." Maria said to the crowd.

A man stepped forward with a pillow that held three gilded pairs of scissors. Pam, Eric and Maria each took one then opened them against the ribbon. They smiled to the cameras and then, in unison, snipped the bright red ribbon. The fabric fell away gently and those gathered applauded.

They remained outside for the press a little while longer, ensuring pictures and the like were taken, before everyone retired into the factory. The main belly of it, the assembly line, had been outfitted to support a party that was for the press, the owners, the founders, and a fair handful of the workers who would start the following day.

Vampires and humans alike walked the space, some with champagne, others with flutes of New Blood. The air was relatively pleasant, but Maria wanted to leave. She couldn't, of course. Being the Empress, she was expected o remain for a good amount of time because opening the factory was her idea to help bring stability to the country, and, also being the Empress, people would notice her leaving.

As Maria stood with Alexi and Andrei on either side of her (Pasha had requested some personal time to deal with a family matter) she sipped timidly on her champagne. Her eyes traveled the distance and soon landed on Eric. He was speaking with some people who were interviewing him about his company. Maria wanted to take him away from the party. The two of them could have more fun alone than surrounded by people.

"Eric know you're eye-fuckin' him from across the room?" Pam asked in a smooth voice.

The vampire in question soon looked up. Despite the distance, he'd clearly heard his Progeny and grinned as he stared back at Maria.

"He does now." Maria replied. She tore her gaze from him and turned her attention to Pam. "Enjoying yourself?"

"Hm," Pam fought the scowl, but Maria could see a bit of one regardless. "Not my kinda party." She looked back at Maria and a sly, very Pam-like smile curled her lips. "Hopin' the two of you can slip away, hm?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Maria replied unconvincingly.

"Oh, please," Pam scoffed. "Every time the two of you are within twenty miles of each other, it's just a matter of time before you start fuckin' like rabbits."

Maria didn't reply, but grinned to herself as she glanced back at the Viking in the distance. Pam wasn't wrong. Whenever she and Eric were near enough to one another, there was hardly a time they weren't entwined in some way. What else did she expect? It wasn't as though they saw each other very often. They had to make up for lost time.

Twenty, perhaps thirty minutes later, while Maria was staring out at the scene before her, she felt the air shift behind her. She knew without bothering to look that the coolness emanated from Eric. He said nothing, but she felt his hand on the small of her back. It was a sweet gesture, one that made her heart beat a little faster than normal.

They didn't speak. They didn't do anything, but stand there with his hand resting on her back. People approached to speak with her, and sometimes even him, but still they remained as they were. To those on the outside, they might have looked like a couple. Maria was well aware that in the morning, there would probably be at least one tabloid saying as much.

When the night finally ended, or at least her commitment to it did, Maria was glad to leave. Pam had found a young lady from a news organization that she liked the look of, so the blonde chose to remain, but Eric left with Maria.

Andrei and Alexi stood on either side of them as Maria was led to her limousine. Eric held open the door, she slid inside, and he followed. Shortly after, the driver set off to the palace.

Maria yawned. She was tired and wanted nothing more than to take a long bath. Eric had apparently seen the action and, since there was no audience, acted. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her to his side. Maria slumped against his chest, even going so far as to bring her legs onto the expansive backseat with her. Eric tenderly stroked the side of her head and Maria let her eyes drift shut.

Yes, the two of them were surrounded by an undeniable drive and lust, but there were moments where they were almost loving to one another. In the back of that limousine was one of those moments.

Maria's eyes drifted shut as she relaxed further into his chest. He would be in town for another week before returning to Shreveport, so she planned to enjoy the time they had. As she began to fall asleep, Maria felt his cold lips on the top of her head.

Nearly Two Years Later:

Jason strolled into Bellefleur's with his stomach growling. Arlene spotted him and instantly smiled wide.

"Jason, hey!"

"Hey, Arlene." He took a seat at the bar. "Who's on the stove today?"

"Big John," she said as she grabbed a beer for the young Stackhouse. "Why?"

"Just wonderin'."

"Well, what can I get ya, hm?"

"Burger and fries." He replied. "I just need to grab some lunch before headin' back to work."

"You got it, darlin'."

Arlene scampered away to give his order to Big John, leaving Jason behind to enjoy his beer. Since it was practically dead for the time being, Jason couldn't help but glance up at the TV. He wasn't too surprised to see it on one of those talk-show-like things that talked about celebrities and other gossip he didn't care about.

Jason rolled his eyes, more than willing to drift into the emptiness of his mind, until he heard something familiar.

"And in vampire news," A woman said. Jason's gaze lazily drifted up to the screen. A really pretty blonde lady smiled happily. "Billionaire business owner and New Blood creator Eric Northman doesn't seem to be on the market anymore."

A picture of the vampire popped up, taken somewhere Jason didn't recognize, and he wasn't alone. A young woman with dark hair was standing beside him. The two were walking somewhere with their arms around one another's backs. Eric was hard to miss, even Jason recognized him, but he couldn't tell who the girl was.

"The Viking vampire has been spotted a number of times with a dark-haired young woman who's finally been identified as Maria Romanov," The picture changed to one of the pair facing the long-distance cameraman and sure enough, Jason recognized her now. "For those of you who don't know, Miss Romanov is the current ruler of Russia." Jason's brows rose. "A few years ago, she was crowned the Empress of Russia." The picture again changed, this time to Maria's coronation photo.

"The fuck," Jason mumbled to himself.

"A source close to the couple has told E! News that the pair has been an item for more than two years, but have apparently known one another for some time." The picture soon turned into another of the pair holding hands while they walked outside of, what looked like, a palace. "Who knows? Maybe someday Mr. Northman will add Emperor to his list of titles."

With a wide smile, the blonde soon went on to some other story, but Jason wasn't so quick to dismiss what he'd just seen.

The girl he'd seen bleeding to death in the back of that SUV in Dallas, the one who said Sookie enslaved her was an Empress? And she was dating Northman?

"What the fuck, man?" Jason said to himself before downing the rest of his beer.