I have kissed honey lips

Felt the healing in her fingertips

It burned like fire

This burning desire

I have spoke with the tongue of angels

I have held the hand of a devil

It was warm in the night

I was cold as a stone

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for – U2

Sookie POV

There are currently many things going on in my life that I do not like. I don't like that once again it seems like we are being surrounded by threats from many angles. I don't like that I again am being reminded of a huge secret my grandmother didn't trust me with. I don't like that this supposed relative that I have never met before seems pretty desperate to see me. And I know by the growl that Eric lets out I am not the only one that doesn't like the words that just came out of the lawyer's mouth.

"That sounds like a threat," I say when Eric stays quiet, or at least doesn't say actual words in response. I have no other words I can use to describe the statement that was just said by the lawyer.

"It's not meant as one, either from me or from your great-grandfather. It's simply a declaration of a fact."

And knowing this about my great grandfather is not really making me feel excited to meet him however, I would be lying if I said that I am not curious about this fairy. He seems really eager to see me but I have a hard time understanding why he is so insistent now when it seems that he has never bothered in the past.

"He's had over two decades to see me if he really wanted to. He has never tried. He can surely wait a little longer."

Cataliades looks away, sighs, and mutters, "If it were only that simple." He turns back to me and says, "Niall has been curious about his son's human family since he learned of your existence. He has wanted to meet you for a very long time. It was Fintan that kept him way."

"Fintan felt the need to protect me from him," I ask. I may have never met my biological grandfather but if he felt the need to protect me from his own father, then this is definitely someone that I am a bit hesitant to meet.

But Cataliades shakes his head. "It wasn't simply Niall he was trying to protect you from. It was his world that he was trying to keep you from." He looks from me to Eric and asks him, "Are you aware of the turmoil going on in the Fae world?"

Eric nods. "I have heard a little. There are two main factions at odds from what I heard. One is vehemently against…" But Eric trails off before looking back to me.

Which is not at all worrying to me. Nope, not at all.

"What's going on," I ask, looking back and forth between the both of them, hoping at least one of them will give me an answer. If I am being honest with myself though, there is one of them that I want to hear it from more. And he doesn't disappoint me.

"I do not know everything," Eric starts off telling me, taking my hands in his. "But Niall is the Prince of the Sky Fae. He is the ruling Prince. As with any ruler, there is going to be opposition."

He's right. Having forces oppose leaders is nothing new. "That doesn't sound too concerning," I say confused at the worry I see on his face.

"The Fae that are against Niall, they do not want the Fae realm open to any other. They wish to keep the Fae separate from the other races. These fairies do not think that mixing with any other race, especially humans should be happening. "

He pauses to allow my brain time to catch up, knowing by now that it is sometimes what I need. I followed him along on this one pretty well though. There are fairies that don't think their kind should mix with humans.

And I would be a living example of a fairy mixing with a human.

Eric continues to explain to me that pure fairies are having fertility issues. Female fairies are finding it nearly impossible to get pregnant. There are those that believe that diluting the bloodlines by having children with other races is the cause for this.

I have been singled out for as long as I can remember for my telepathy. Now I find out that I am a big no-no in another race too.

Cataliades continues where Eric left off. Niall had already had a relationship with a human that produced Fintan. So Fintan was already a part fairy, which really makes me part of a part fairy. "One eight fairy to be precise," Cataliades says.

Oh yes, leave it to the lawyer to be precise.

I turn to Eric knowing that I don't know too much about vampire politics and even less about fairy politics. I also am not too sure about how the two races get along. Although if I had to hazard a guess, it would be not too well given how most vampires seem to be eager to live on a fairy diet.

"Do you know Niall," I ask him. He nods and explains to me that he has met my great grandfather and has done business with him on occasion. It's weird that Eric knows more about a long lost relative of mine than I do. There are so many things I want to ask him about Niall but I hesitate with Cataliades right here. There will be time for questions later. Though there is one question that keeps floating around in my head and I am hoping that Eric can see it in my eyes.

He again doesn't let me down, somehow knowing that if I were to meet Niall, I would not want to do so alone. Lifting my hand to his mouth and pressing a kiss to it he whispers, "You never have to worry about being alone." He gets a smile for his troubles.

There is no easy answer here. Even ignoring the possible threat that those acting against my great grandfather could be, it still is not an easy decision. Meeting Niall can certainly start to open another can of worms that I would like to stay firmly locked and buried in cement if at all possible. But not seeing him could do the same thing, especially if he doesn't like not getting his way. At least if we meet with him, we can figure out what it is he wants.

Hopefully.

I sigh not really wanting to see Niall but understanding that it will be better in the short and long term if I do. I look back to Cataliades and say, "Eric and I will meet with him."

I add yet another item to my list of things I am not happy with when the lawyer shakes his head and tells me that Niall requested to see me and probably would not respond well to the presence of a vampire.

"Well, that's just too bad," I bite out to Cataliades before remembering it's not really his fault. "He wants to waltz his way into my life he will do it on my conditions."

To that, the demon lawyer lets out a smile. "You my dear, have spunk. I think I am going to like you."

Well, I suppose if he thinks I will be around long enough for him to like me that may be a good thing.

"I won't take up any more of your time tonight," Cataliades says getting up from his seat. "I will tell Niall of your condition and I would imagine you will hear from him."

"Soon," I ask, worrying about what else we are dealing with. But the lawyer simply shrugs his shoulders and explains that with the way time is different in the Fae realm it could be days or weeks.

Fabulous.

Eric walks him out while I stay in his office. I look forlornly at his couch thinking of my earlier thoughts of maybe getting some sleep but I know I will not be doing that now. Not with everything I have to think about.

There is a part of me that wishes that this will be some sort of family reunion. I have such little family left and having more around could be fun. Meeting Niall could open up the door to other long, lost family members. Meeting him could be great. And I am really, really hoping that it is.

But it could also be bad. Really, really bad. And that's what worries me.

It's been one bad thing after another lately and this could be just another one to add to the list. I hate that I am thinking like this but if the last few months have taught me anything, it's to be cautious. Be sure to enjoy life because you never know what's going to happen, but be cautious and think through you're actions especially with who you hold dear.

Because you never know when or how they will be taken away from you.

Eric POV

Cataliades is quiet as I lead him through the back entrance knowing he would appreciate not exiting through the masses. I am not exactly happy with what he came and told us here tonight but the blame cannot be placed with him. He is merely the messenger and a surprising one at that, even after learning his connection to Fintan. I say so to the lawyer.

When I do, his years seem to show on his face. "Fintan wanted nothing more than to protect his human family, the family that he loved so dearly that he gave them up for their own safety. As his friend, I promised him that I would help with protecting them where I could. That promise is not one that I will let die with my friend."

I nod him. Loyalty is something that I can understand. Demons though are not easily impressed and for Fintan to have earned Cataliades' loyalty to this extent, well, that tells me something about Sookie's grandfather.

"She and hers have my protection for as long as I walk in this life," he adds surprising me yet again. I could understand his protection over Sookie with his loyalty to Fintan. But for including those she sees as 'hers' in the protection, that is something that would not be required and by most never done. And here I have worked with this lawyer for decades and he is still surprising me.

I incline my head in a small bow in acceptance of his words and to show him I understand the meaning them. He is offering me his protection. And since things do not appear to be slowing down anytime soon, it is something that I will take.

He turns to start to walk towards his car but pauses to call over his shoulder, "You have something very special Mr. Northman."

I know at once what he is talking about. "Sookie is more than special," I say to him starting to turn around myself to head back inside. The chuckling of the demon stops me and he turns back to face me.

"I am not simply talking about Sookie, herself," he tells me. "Though it's true that her alone would be special enough. No I am talking about the part of her that she gave to you willingly. You have a part of her Eric, an important part that she entrusted you with. That's what you have." He pauses and turns around again and gets into his car leaving me seemingly alone.

But as his last words to me repeat in my head, alone is the last thing I feel.

Cataliades words feel like something I should understand without question. But instead, I find them thought provoking. Not necessarily confusing, just something to think about. Sookie has given a part of herself to me and I doubt the demon meant something physical. No, I at least have the understanding that what he said goes deeper than any physical part.

I suddenly find being filled with anger. Anger at myself for simply not understanding, simply not seeing what others apparently see so much more clearly than me. I have felt this numerous times in the past hundreds of years as I believed being a vampire made me incapable of these things.

But lately, for the first time, my anger had been aimed towards my maker.

Sure I have been angry with him before. As with any child, I did not like all the lessons he taught me. Obviously, his methods were never high on my enjoyment list either. These things angered me at the time and have been sources of my temper throughout the centuries. But lately the anger has been aimed at something different. I may not have liked how he 'taught' me, but he did teach me how to survive. I have more than a thousand years that prove that.

But recently, I am starting to believe that he has done me a disservice. Not only in how he chose to educate me on how to survive as a vampire, but by teaching me to bury my feelings, by teaching me there are feelings that I am not capable of having. Not once since I have been a vampire have I felt like I was ever behind.

Until now.

I feel like I should be able to understand Cataliades' words easily. I feel that it should not have taken me so long to believe Sookie as she kept insisting that she loves me. Her love has been only one of the things she has given me. There are many others that I have had the pleasure of receiving in the short amount of time she has been in my life. I may not be completely sure of which one Cataliades is speaking but there is one thing that I do know.

If Sookie has entrusted anything to me, it does not matter what it is. I will protect it with all that I have.

I do not know why I am surprised when I get back to my office to find that Pam and Thalia have joined Sookie in it. I suppose I should be pleased that everything still appears to be in one piece. There have been a few times during this last week where that was not the case.

Though I must admit to being a bit worried when they are quiet as soon as I open the door before bursting into giggles four seconds later. Well, at least Sookie and Pam start to giggle. Thalia simply smiles. I have come to realize that these three together are dangerous.

I know what Pam and Thalia are trying to do. Pam would have felt my worry and my concern while talking with the lawyer. They would have come in here and seen Sookie upset by what she has learned. And they would have wanted to make it better.

Sookie already is much improved from when I left to walk out Cataliades. The color is back in her cheeks and her eyes are clearer, showing that the stress she was feeling has lifted. I have come to learn that this is yet another thing that family can be relied on for.

And I learn just how much they can help as I sit down on my computer and view my new background. When I do, the suppressed giggles become full out laughter and Thalia even lets out a laugh. But when I laugh it is not at the ridiculous picture they put up on my computer.

No, when I laugh it is because I can see the joy on their faces. And I will do whatever is in my power to ensure it remains on their faces.

Unfortunately, I do have some work I need to do before being able to head home tonight. I had hoped to get it done early but the lawyer's visit has delayed it. Sookie goes out to the bar area with Pam as I take out the paperwork that I had been going through the last few nights to try and determine who Threadgill was acting as a lap dog for. I am not finding much and that fact worries me. It likely means that whoever is behind this is someone who is very good at what they do.

Sophie-Anne thinks another monarch is behind this all. It is her belief that another King or Queen got Threadgill to do his bidding with shiny promises. As he was sure he would be getting Sookie out of the deal, it worries me that someone else out there may know more than they should about her. There is a chance only Threadgill knew what Sookie was and had negotiated for her to be his prize but there is also the chance that whoever was truly behind this was also targeting Sookie.

A few more phone calls gets me little new information. Combine that with the old information and we still have next to nothing. Our biggest lead right now is money transfers through bank accounts. But they are very difficult to follow, which is worrisome. If someone can hide their tracks this well, there is no telling what else they are capable of.

I call it a night after a few hours and a few calls to the Queen. We have a few more places to start looking. We find ourselves again not knowing the true target, which makes it harder to determine the perpetrator. Harder but not impossible.

Because we will find them and they will pay for all they have done.

As I am driving back home Sookie's head is on my shoulder, her fingers tangled up in my hair. Her warm breath hits my neck, as she hums along to the song that is playing on the radio. She does not even realize that she does it. When I pointed it out to her she denied it saying that she loves me too much to torture me with her singing.

So I now stay quiet, simply enjoying listening to her, no matter how off key even her humming is. I am comforted by the feeling of her fingers moving through my hair and by her soft breath on my neck. I have heard humans talk about the little things in life before, taking pleasure in things that seem trivial. To me, it always seemed silly.

I find myself understanding it perfectly now.

It is much later than I wanted to be home with her tonight. Our surprise guest kept us later at Fangtasia than I wanted with his information. The information Cataliades brought with him only added to the thoughts that were already going on in my head. We are really no closer to determining who Threadgill was actually working for. In fact, the list has only gotten longer – and that is only the connections we know of. There could be many that we do not.

And all of this is information I should be working through. I could very well be talking with Sookie about what we learned tonight. We will be discussing it, and I will be working through everything. But right now, the only thing I can focus on is the tiny human lying in my arms with her head on my chest. Now it is my fingers moving through her hair and it is my humming that fills the room.

And I am happy that with her moving in here, this is something that will happen nightly. I ask her softly when she would like to move the rest of her things in. She shifts so she can look up at me. "I'm not sure I need to," she answers me. "With the amount of stuff Pam keeps buying me, there would be no room."

I let out a little laugh. "You did give her clearance."

"Yes, for a few things."

"To Pam, that is a 'few things.'"

"I will have to remember to be specific next time."

"Now you are learning."

Her fingers start to dance across my chest in intricate design. Or maybe their motion is completely random. The only thing I know is they are leaving warm trails in their wake and I do not think it is simply because of her temperature. "There are a few things I would like to bring here though."

"Whatever you want. I will build you a whole new wing for whatever things you want to bring over here."

"Pam will be jealous."

"It will be good for her," I say before we lapse back into the comfortable silence. I cannot remember a time where this simplicity was enough for me. When just being in bed, being held brought me this much comfort, this much pleasure. I cannot describe the feeling that is starting to fill me. It is one that I do not remember ever feeling before. And it may be selfish of me with everything that we could be discussing at the moment, but right now I will not do anything that breaks that.

Hello dear readers. I do hope you enjoy this bit of a chapter. We get some info about what threat the Fae could be and we get some inner musings from Eric. He's made some realizations and it's important to understand his mindset for what's coming. As always thanks for reading. All of the alerts and comments are certainly helping me get through the week.

Headaches are still a big issue at the moment. Chapters will come when they can but may not be on our usual weekend schedule for a few weeks. Trying something new for them this week so hopefully it will help.