From Chapter 18

Godric was still cradling Ana's body, whispering her name. "Godric," Isabel said, putting her hand on his shoulder. "Godric, she's gone." He threw his head back and let out a howl of pure sorrow. It was so heart wrenching, I swear I felt the ground shake with the pain of it. And that's when I knew it to be true. Lilliana was dead.

Chapter 19

SPOV

Eric stood over what was left of Bill, his eyes closed shut to the world. Pam was on her knees a few feet away from him, her eyes focused on her empty hands. Jason was still on the ground, his head buried in his hands. Isabel silently let tears fall down her cheeks while she stroked Ana's hair, grieving at the loss of the closest thing to a child she'd ever had. Godric had Ana's body clasped to his chest, and he was silently rocking back and forth, almost as if he was trying to soothe a frightened child. I wasn't sure if he thought he was helping to ease her soul in passing to the next world, or if he was trying to comfort himself. After another moment of stillness, Eric dropped his sword, walked over to me, and pulled me tightly into his chest. I could feel him trembling, and knew that it was taking all of his strength to keep from crying out in his grief.

Everyone was so wrapped up in their own grief, that no one saw the three women approach, or where they came from. We just heard a small feminine voice say, "Godric." When I looked at the woman who had obviously spoken, I was mesmerized by how beautiful she was. She had long curly raven black hair, olive colored skin, and the greenest eyes I'd ever seen. Her two companions were similar looking, but different in their own way, as well. I heard a gasp come from Isabel as she looked up at the women.

Godric raised his head to look at them, after having placed a tender kiss on Ana's temple. "Elaina," he said. I was immediately confused. Wasn't Elaina Ana's mother? But she'd been dead for years. What the hell?

"What exactly are you, and why are you here?" He asked, his voice full of grief and anger.

"I am here to fulfill a promise made long before this world existed. As to what I am, well, you would not understand. My kind has watched over the worlds since before time began. We are the guardians of hope and love. Eons ago, our Princess vowed to search the many worlds in hopes of finding her equal. It was prophesized that she would be born into a world that did not understand the full truth of love, and there she would find her true mate, a creature whose circumstance was close to her own. Born into a new world out of hatred, scorned at every turn, but whose every action was made from love. When she was certain she had found the one, she sent me to prepare the way for her, deciding that I would be the gateway to her destiny. You, Godric, are her destiny. The love the two of you share will change the face of this world, and others, for many millennia. Her human body may die tonight, but your love for her will resurrect it. As long as you live, so shall she. She will know no illness. However, she will be capable of feeling pain, and be susceptible to injury; but, one pure drop of your blood, and yours alone, will return her to new again. You are being entrusted with a great gift, warrior, do not waste it." With that, she approached Ana, and Godric flinched slightly and held her back a little. After an uneasy moment, Godric relaxed and allowed Elaina to approach Ana's body. She took a small vial of what looked like sand from inside the sleeve of her robe, and sprinkled it on the spot where the bullet had entered Ana's body. It immediately bubbled and healed over. She then motioned for Godric to stand, which he did, still holding Lilliana in his arms. She laid one hand over Lilliana's heart, and the other over Godric's. A faint light began to glow between her fingertips, and her eyes drifted closed and fluttered erratically. Then, much to the surprise of all watching, Ana's eyes popped open and she took in a deep breath.

EPILOGUE

LPOV

"Sookie Stackhouse, if you don't hurry we are going to be late!" I looked at my watch for maybe the tenth time that hour, wondering what was taking her so long to get ready. We were almost ready to head to Fangtasia for the annual Halloween Gala. Godric and Eric had left earlier, saying they wanted to change at the club, because their costumes were a 'surprise.' Sookie and I had decided to dress alike, and wanted to surprise them as well. We were dressed as burlesque dancers, a la Moulin Rouge.

My memories of the night of the stand-off with Sophie-Ann were hazy at best. Godric had explained to me what had happened, and about my mother being there (in some form, anyway), but it never all fit together in my brain. To be honest, the only thing that I truly cared about was that I was alive, so were all of my beloved family, and Godric and I would be together forever. He had told me that my mother said I would know no illness, but that really began to sink in when, on the car ride home afterwards, Sookie turned to me and yelled "I CAN HEAR YOU!!" I went to visit my neurosurgeon the next day, and sure enough, the tumor was completely gone.

Because her maker had been killed, Godric offered to take Jessica under his wing and train her. She was now living with us in my old room, which he allowed her to redecorate however she saw fit. Because she was part of our family now, Hoyt spent quite a bit of time there, and we were becoming fast friends. Sookie and Eric continued to sleep at our place, and Eric said that it was because he had decided to do some major renovations on his own home, and it wouldn't be livable for several months. I knew that was bullshit. Yes, he did have work done to his home, but it was just an excuse to stay. He confided to me in secret one evening that it had been so long since he'd shared a nest with Godric, and since Sookie and I were quickly becoming practically inseparable, he just didn't want to be away from us. I was grateful, because I adored Sookie, and, Eric truly was my brother, and we needed to be able to take care of each other, and watch over one another.

By the time Sookie came out of her bathroom and we were ready to go, I knew we'd have to haul ass to the club to keep our vampires from being mad. Since I no longer had to worry about the seizures, Godric had taught me how to drive and I was getting ready to apply for my license. Sookie would laugh and tell me that I was more like Eric than she thought, because, apparently, we both have a lead foot problem! What can I say, I like to go fast!

The Halloween Gala at Fangtasia was by invitation only, so, we didn't have to worry about the dirty looks we'd get from the normal fangbangers when we entered in our costumes. Pam looked very pleased with what we were wearing, and it kinda creeped Sookie out, but, I thought it was hilarious. When I finally spotted Godric and Eric sitting at 'our table' up the platform where his throne normally sits, I grabbed Sookie's hand and laughed so hard I almost fell over. Our vampires had each dressed like Priests. It was just too perfect.

About two hours after we'd arrived at the club, Pam came and whispered something in Eric's ear, and I saw him get that evil grin that says he's up to something. He stood, and asked Sookie, Godric, and myself to join him in his office. When we got there, he stood to open the door, but paused and said, "Ana, I have a present for you."

There, on Eric's couch, sat a fairly disheveled and slightly beaten up Mark. It took all of my strength to push back my hatred for him.

"Ana, it is your choice how to punish him, because his crimes were committed against you," Eric said, acting all formal and business-like. He was in Sheriff mode.

I sat thinking for a moment, and as I ran a scenario through my head, Sookie looked at me and started laughing hysterically. "That's hilarious, Ana! You're so creative!"

Obviously no one else understood, so I turned to Pam and said, "Pam, darling, I'm wondering if you would do me a favor? Mark here is quite prejudiced, mostly against vampires and homosexuals. So, I was wondering if you would possibly glamour him into believe that tonight, not only did he have sex with a male vampire, but he enjoyed much more than he should have." She grinned, showing fang, and answered in the affirmative, so I took Godric's hand in one of my own, and Eric's in the other, and, walking back towards the main bar said, "Let's continue to enjoy our evening, shall we?"

Around 3am, Sookie told Eric that she felt a bad headache coming on, so she'd just go home and get in bed and hopefully it would be gone by the time he got home from the club. Disappointed, he said he'd meet her at home later. Just before she left, she turned to me, and I distinctly thought, "send a text to Eric when you get home so I can tell him of our little surprise." She winked, said goodnight to all of us, and left.

About 20 minutes later, I was halfway lying down, my head and Godric's shoulder, and my feet proper up in Eric's lap. I felt his phone vibrate against my foot, and he pulled it out to check his new message. He turned and looked at me, and said, "Sookie says that she is home now, and that you are to give me my surprise." He looked puzzled. Perfect.

"Yes, well, after you left for work this evening, we had a contractor come in and make a slight improvement to your bedroom. He installed a permanent prop used in the type of dancing she'd just taken a course in."

"Oh, and what type of dancing would this be?"

"Pole dancing," I said, smirking right back at him. He looked as if he was going to say something, then changed his and mind, told us goodnight, and quickly left the bar. Godric chuckled at me and I thought I heard him mutter something about "conniving women," but I wasn't sure. I pressed my mouth to his ear and said, "His wasn't the only room we altered, and she didn't take the class alone." I saw him smile before he pulled me in for a searing kiss, then led me out to the parking lot, and wrapped his arms around me. As we took to the air, I was happier than I thought I'd ever have the chance to be in life. In Godric, I'd found my true home.

THE END