A/N: This continues the events from the previous chapter. It offers a different POV.

Charlaine Harris is the rightful owner of all her original characters.

MariaTerese once again has assumed the role of "Grem-Slayer"; all remaining errors are mine. I am grateful to everyone who has taken time to write to me. Your comments and queries are very much appreciated.

______________________________________________________________________

Woodside c. 1979, Graduation, Part III

After he was able to wrap up the phone call, convinced he had a line to an untapped source of capital that would result in enormous profits for his firm, Sven saw that Sookie had called him. He picked up the pink message slip, the color reminding him of all the things he loved best about her. He knew she was more than ready to leave school behind and begin her professional career. He felt again that familiar anger begin to boil up inside him for the rejections by the decent firms she had suffered over during her earnest job search. Considering her impressive credentials and acceptable internship results, she should have been fielding multiple offers by this time. Instead, she was wondering if she'd made a mistake in thinking she could break into the field.

The truth was that he desperately wanted her to find a job because he knew Eric likely would be leaving sometime in the early fall again for a few months to return to Iceland. He did not want Sookie to be free to go with him, the two of them leaving him behind. He did not want Sookie to go over to that part of the world without him. He had to find a job for her. Again, he reviewed all the potential firms in the area, dismissed the ones against whom they had outstanding lawsuits or other disputes, and was left with a very small list. It was a closed world, in many ways. He thought again about encouraging her to interview in Los Angeles with the idea of opening a branch for a firm here in the Bay Area, playing on her Nordmon connections, and found the idea more appealing than the thought of her being gone for months at a time.

His brother had no idea how he felt, although he suspected Sookie might understand. Without her nearby to keep him focused, the urges he had successfully suppressed so far might return. He had no illusions he could remain faithful if she were to leave him for any long periods of time. Therefore, he had to find a solution. It he treated it like any other task, broke it down to its bare set of steps, he could accomplish it. In the meantime, the Nordmon clan was about to descend on them for the weekend. He had to clear his desk so he was not distracted by work when they were in his house. Ander in particular would prove to be a pain in the ass, as usual. He thought back to the last time they'd seen him, when the three of them had what he'd thought of as their honeymoon in the Utah deserts. It wasn't what he would have chosen, but he knew it would make Eric feel more at ease, and he thought it would give Sookie a taste of what her second spouse was really like, an outdoorsman, with a love of the great open spaces. He thought he'd come up with a brilliant plan, but as usual had watched as its unfurling revealed the fraying around the edges before it even got underway. And all thanks to his mom.

____________________

They had awakened in a pile of intertwined limbs that first morning in his childhood bedroom in the great house in Cottonwood Canyon, the shades drawn and the room dark. Although each knew the others had awakened, they all three remained silent, perhaps to see who would speak first and break the spell. But what sort of spell was it?

Sven, being the strongest of the three, or so he liked to believe, had cleared his throat.

"Well, time to get up and have some breakfast. I think it is about 8:30 or 9:00. We still have the option of staying another night here or driving out to the desert later today."

Eric spoke next. "Yeah, I'm hungry. How about you, Sookie? Some eggs for you, dearest?" There was the sound of a wet smack and Sven knew what Eric had done. He'd given his wife a morning kiss.

Swallowing down the growl in his chest, Sven spoke calmly. "We could rest today and collect our gear. Eric, you and Sookie could make another run to the stores for provisions. We'll leave early tomorrow morning."

Eric made to sit up to head to the bathroom for a bladder roll call. Sven stopped him with a hand on his arm.

"Settle back down here, will you?"

Groaning his need, Eric lay back down and stretched out, begging Sven to hurry. The beer he'd had when they'd first arrived last night wasn't going to wait much longer for its exit strategy.

"Sookie?"

For the first time, she spoke, a shy note he wasn't accustomed to hearing from her. "I'd like to stay another night and spend some time with your moms. The desert will be there whenever we arrive, won't it?"

Gathering up the threads, he asked the question. "So, what do we tell the family about our situation?" He let out a breath. He'd said it.

"What will we tell Ander, you mean, don't you?" Eric said. The impatience was gone from his voice, replaced by something more mature and resolute.

"We tell him the truth and let him skin it and roast it over a spit, for all I care." Eric finished.

"Colorful, Eric, but what exactly is the truth?" Sven asked, his own bladder beginning to stir. Shit, maybe a bathroom break was what they all needed.

"I cannot wait any longer. Back in sec." Eric rocketed off the bed, beating his retreat to his own bathroom out of habit. Sven agreed and after planting a hot kiss on his wife, headed for his own bathroom. Sookie could listen to their steady streams of urine in stereo for all he cared right now, needing to release the pressure more than squeeze out a few private moments with her before Eric returned.

Taking time to also brush his teeth and wash the sleep from his face, Sven noted that his beard had made its daily shadowed appearance and wanted to ask Sookie if it was okay if he shaved first. Before he could do so, she headed into the water closet and made her own morning music. Or so he'd guessed; he'd drowned out the sound by starting the faucet for his daily shave. Maybe this week he'd let his beard grow out, but the rest of his out-of-control body hair had to be removed if he expected her to have sex with him. And he definitely expected it.

At least he had the comfort of knowing that Eric was on the same shaving schedule as he was if he didn't want Sookie treating him like an undesirable piece of sandpaper. Although with the mixed feelings coursing through him, one minute he thought it was a great idea and the next he felt he'd need to remedy such a situation with appropriate advice to his brother.

This day would be interesting. But first, they needed a strategy before they headed out to face the parental unit. Sookie exited the water closet and washed her hands, then checked the braid he'd given her the previous night. His still looked ok, with a little gel for the wisps. Hers had come loose; he'd have to repair it this morning. He continued to like the idea of the three of them being a matched set with the hair designs showing their solidarity.

"May I fix your hair before we head to breakfast downstairs?" He asked politely.

"Please, my husband." Her endearment made him swell with pride. Yes, he was, wasn't he?

Quickly finishing his shaving of his body hair while informing her he would not be shaving his facial hair this week, which she accepted with no comment, he watched as she brushed her teeth and washed her face. He grabbed her hairbrush from the vanity and started the repairs, her long hair falling almost to her hips now. He debated telling her that most career professionals had to cut their hair, whether male or female, but since he loved her hair, he just let it go.

Eric joined them as he was finishing, his skin raw in places where he had nicked his body with the razor. It was going to be an interesting week, shaving in the raw in the desert around their campsite. What had they been thinking?

He was being distracted by trivia again. It was his only failing, he thought. Well, maybe that and the impulsiveness.

"So, what is the truth of our situation, Eric?"

"I don't know. You tell me. I'm the extra man, the hanger-on, the one with no legal rights or status. Just a glorified fuck, I guess."

Since Sven had shared some of these same concerns not that long ago, he couldn't look Eric in the face just yet. Instead, he focused his gaze on the mirror over the sink, and shook his head.

"Nope, that's the divorce talking in your head, Eric. I love you and I always will. Sookie said yesterday that she cared for you." He paused again. "In fact, you are the only one of us who hasn't declared any feelings on this subject. Be good to know just where you stand, little brother."

"Yes, Eric, he's right. You are great at firing up some music and telling us to listen to the lyrics, as if that covers everything, but it doesn't, really, does it?" Sookie chimed right in, just as if she'd read his script and memorized her parts.

Eric turned away from us; his shoulders looked tense and he was stretching out his hands in front of him, looking at them as if they contained answers. He said, "This is really new for me. I'm not used to having feelings like this. Sven, you know how it has always been between us. You have always been around for me, even now when it looks like I've tried to take your wife from you." A gasp from Sookie, ignored by both of them. "And Sookie, I never stopped caring about you. That fact alone has caused all three of us enormous problems." He stopped. "Just give me a minute here." When he turned around, his expression was bland, belying what he had just said.

"ÉG ást þú báðir."

"What?" What was he saying?

"ÉG vilja vernda þú báðir."

Now Sven was seriously irritated. "Speak English, Eric."

"Why don't you speak Icelandic?"

"Well, write it on a piece of paper and I'll find a translator, chicken-shit."

"Þú ert minn fjölskylda nú."

Sookie broke into the conversation before Sven lost it. "Hey, you two, stop it. No one said this was going to be easy. Give Eric some space here." Sven acknowledged the truth she'd offered with an inclination of his head in her direction.

"We do have one advantage. Mia and Celia are ready to help us, and they love us. Let's just dress, go downstairs and tell them the truth, which is that we have no idea what we are doing, but we want to make it work. No, we three need to make it work, right Sven, and Eric?" They both mouthed 'yes' at her.

"I guess we can tell them what we have is a plural marriage, okay?" Sookie had a term, at least.

Sven wanted to know what it meant in the context of the three of them. He'd obviously done some reading when trying to make sense of Ander's relationship with his two moms. How did that term apply to them, he'd asked Sookie. Eric remained silent after his pronouncements, all but forgotten as Sookie and Sven struggled with how to explain themselves to the crew waiting for them in the main part of the house. Sven suggested they label it polyandry and forget the plural marriage term as it had religious connotations that just didn't fit their circumstances. Sookie didn't like the idea of polyandry as it suggested to her that she was too greedy to just be satisfied with one husband; she was special and needed two husbands! While they argued over the semantics, Eric slipped out to find some jeans and a tee to wear, his uniform since he'd been old enough to dress himself. When they realized he'd left, they both headed over and asked what was up with him? He was still pulling his clothing out of his backpack, but stopped and stood up.

"You know, I don't like fighting. It reminds me, the arguing, of the unhappiness I had in my marriage. Let's just tell the truth. We are all three sleeping together and I'm Sookie's Lover. I'm living with you two, which they know, and that won't change. Unless Sookie and I have some sort of ceremony, it truly is just casual, isn't it?" Eric gaze remained fixed on a spot on the wall behind Sookie's head. His expression wasn't sad; it just wasn't anything.

Sven didn't like to see Eric masking his feelings again. That much was true. He also did not like fighting. It solved nothing. So he spoke first.

"Eric, if you and Sookie need a ceremony, for family or maybe a few close friends, I want to be a part of it. I won't give up my legal relationship with my wife, but you and she deserve recognition for your bond. You'll always be my brother, so I'm not certain we need a three-way ceremony. Sookie?" He left it up to her to add whatever she believed was appropriate.

"Maybe both?" It appeared Sookie was ready to compromise with anyone, just to come to some conclusion. Time was ticking away and her face kept turning to the bedroom doors as if she expected a knock at any time from Mia or Celia or both.

"Actually, I'm willing to explore the idea of Eric as a co-husband, if that is a role he is interested in supporting. Eric?" Sven asked his brother.

"Yeah. I'd like to be considered as more than just a casual screw in our lives, easily replaceable." Eric's head still wasn't in the same place as Sven and Sookie.

Growling out his impatience with the implication in Eric's response, Sven decided to switch subjects. "How would you like us to introduce you, Eric?"

"What? When?" Eric was caught off-guard by the change in direction.

"When the three of us go out socially, as we will in the not-too-distant future, how will we present ourselves?"

"Well, Sven, this arrangement won't be that hard to swallow in my world. Academics are often liberals, and my crowd at Berkeley, where I am heading soon, is among the most liberal group of individuals in the field. Your world is much more conservative than mine. Yours and the world Sookie hopes to enter, eventually."

"It will be more difficult for you, Sven." Sookie finally found her voice again, not that she'd offered anything helpful.

"I'm always proud of my family, and my decisions do not warrant scrutiny by anyone else. But I have to confess, the terminology for this situation is limited. We'll say we are a family unit and let it go at that. If they want to ask questions, we change the subject or walk away. No one in my firm will give a rat's ass as long as I continue to make the money I've been making. I'm willing to bet most of our clients will feel the same way. Line their pockets and I could be keeping a kangaroo as a third wife and they wouldn't care."

"What about Sookie finding a job, though?" Eric had been as concerned as Sven was about the freeze-out by the local firms.

"Until we know which way they swing, we should just go with Sven as my spouse and you as my brother-in-law. I'm sorry, Eric. You know I would never wish to hurt your feelings or belittle your importance to us and our happiness." Sookie was on the verge of tears again. Sven made a decision for all of them.

"Let's get dressed and have breakfast. We'll just lay out what we know for Mia and Celia. I hope Ander has left for the day; he always has 'business' he has to attend to, no matter what day of the week."

"And, I'd like to spend one more night here, if that is okay with you, Sven?" Sookie had made it clear she wanted more time, and Sven and Eric both agreed.

They dressed in the casual clothing all three had packed and headed down, entering the kitchen as a group, following their noses as hunger made its name known again.

Celia was sitting on a stool in the kitchen, reading the newspaper and eating some toast. "Morning. Where's Mia?" Sven asked, rather abruptly.

"Morning yerself, sleepyheads. It is after 10:30; she and Ander made a run to the gourmet market as they knew they wanted to stock up. They will be back soon. How long will you three stay?"

Sven felt his stomach tense at the news about Ander; catching Sookie's expression, he thought she probably had had a similar reaction.

"So, what would you like to eat? I'm cooking this morning, but it is pretty standard fare. Everyone fine with that? Eric, I'm cutting down on the grease for you. No bacon or sausage on your empty stomach, I bet."

________________________

They'd eaten and cleaned up; waiting for Ander to return with Mia had everyone feeling a little tense, including Celia. No one had said anything about the new arrangements, although the three of them had been openly affectionate as the mood took them. Even Eric had loosened up and slung his arm over Sven's shoulder as they waited for the baked eggs to be pulled from the oven. Celia had expressed no undue curiosity about them; she seemed content for them to discuss whatever, whenever they felt like it. Naturally, she wanted news of Joran and Eric had more of it than Sven. They continued to discuss family news as they waited for the others to return.

When Ander pulled up, he and Mia had unloaded several bags of food from the back of the custom Chevy Suburban he drove during the winter months. Sven watched him through narrowed eyes. He was mentally prepared for anything Ander threw his way.

Ander wasted no time, greeting them brusquely, asking briefly about their drive, and then beginning his inquiry into their new situation.

"So, sons, tell me what transpires? Eric, your divorce isn't final yet, is it?"

When Eric admitted the truth of his words, looking uncharacteristically sheepish, Ander continued.

"And Sven, you and the new bride are technically still on the honeymoon, right? It hasn't been even a half year yet, has it?" Of course, he knew when they'd been married, as he and Sookie had gotten around to sending out announcements back in January, at Mia's insistence. They'd received a mountain of gifts as a result, totally unnecessary. Sookie was still cranking out thank-you notes, he remembered.

"And the reason for these questions, Dad?"

"You seem to be quite fickle, my son. Will we soon see Max invited to join the family for celebrations again?" Sven had resolved to not lose his temper, but that dig was unexpected and it pissed him off.

Sookie chose that moment to jump into the conversation, cutting off his angry response just in time.

"Ander, I'm well aware of the nature of Sven's relationship with Max. Who isn't? He hardly tried to hide it. And I disagree that your son is fickle. In fact, he is the most amazing man I've ever met. Actually, both of your sons are by far two of the most remarkable people I've encountered. Testament to the excellent parenting they received, I'm certain. For boys, having a good mother is often critical to their development into mature, responsible men capable of sustaining loving relationships with the opposite sex."

Mia also had been waiting her turn. She spoke now.

"Ander, I think some things are private, as I told you in the car. When information is volunteered, parents are honored to learn more about the lives of their children. But children cannot be intimidated into sharing their lives with those who hope to browbeat the information out of them. At least, not our children."

In the silence that followed, she asked if they had eaten their fill, and if so, would they bring in the remaining bags from the car. Eric made a beeline for the door, but Sven felt he needed to stay with Sookie. Ander walked out to assist Eric with the remaining bags, which wasn't what Eric had expected.

Now Mia walked over to give Sookie a hug, and then moved her over to the couch in the nook by the kitchen, looking at her in a kindly manner as she smoothed her bangs back from her face, inquiring if she had slept well and felt rested enough after the long drive. Assured that the bed was fine and she had slept like a log, Mia just smiled at her.

Looking over at Sven for reassurance, Sookie spoke up. "Well, some things have changed since we last spoke, Mia."

"Yes, my dear daughter-in-law, what things?"

Celia had joined them on the couch, and since it was a large couch, motioned for Sven to joint them as well. He walked over, his skin crawling with the knowledge of what was to come. Surely he could trust them to not be judgmental.

"Well, just to come to the point, Eric has joined our family, informally for now. We are here with you because Sven had this great idea that we would all spend a week together without any interruptions, sort of an impulsive act on his part…"

Sookie was cut off by Mia. "An impulsive act by Sven? Impossible! I refuse to believe it." She leaned around Sookie to rumple his hair, while Celia patted him affectionately on the arm, a smile just for him ghosting over her lips.

"Okay, so you know him pretty well. Anyways, we are going for a desert trek. I'm a desert virgin, according to Eric, and he's going to break my…." Sookie stopped, remembering her audience a little too late. Mia snorted and her sister clapped her hand over her mouth; Sven also couldn't hold in the grin.

"So, where are we going, husband? You know I'm not a hiker by nature."

Before Sven could answer, Celia stepped in. "Sven, if you and Eric cripple or kill off the first good daughter-in-law we've had, you are both in serious trouble."

"Maybe more important in this story than where we are going is the reason we are going together?" Sven was looking at Mia as spoke.

Mia did choose that moment to interject. "So, this is sort of a honeymoon for the three of you? A little different than the sneak honeymoon you two took to Barbados." Sookie looked guilty at that gentle jibe, although she wasn't to blame.

Mia continued. "In my experience, Sven does like to plan extravagant trips to far-away places. This isn't your usual MO. Care to explain while your partner-in-crime is out in the front arguing about god-knows-what with your father?" She fixed him with a gaze that confirmed she would brook no fabrications.

"Eric's different than me; I wanted him to feel welcomed by doing something he would enjoy." It was lame, but it was all Sven had at the moment.

"You are acting so out-of-character, Sven." Mia didn't say any more to him. He winced as he felt that maternal examination that had always made him squirm and want to confess to the crime, even when he was innocent. Now, however, he had a spouse who sensed it and came to his rescue.

"Mia, I get that Sven has some private reason for all of this. He won't tell me or Eric, but I also believe his feelings are genuine on this subject. We three share an odd sort of attachment, love, or something like it. Two years ago, if you had told me that I would be involved, well, all but married, to two men, umm, brothers, er, twins, at the same time, I would have said 'no way'. But now, it seems inevitable. I'm expecting it will all work out. You two have a good relationship with Ander, long-standing, and you have four wonderful children. I'd hope the three of us could follow your example. We will also have children, possibly within the next three years or so, once I have established my career and begun to contribute to the family finances. We need you in our lives." Sookie finished, her smile as serene as that of the real Virgin's.

Mia was the only one who'd caught Sven's wince and she looked as if she was going to ask him about it, but thought better. He expected she'd waylay him later with questions leading up to the reasons for the wince. He'd better work on his explanation.

His thoughts were diverted by Eric bursting through the door, anger flashing in his eyes, several more bags of human treats in his arms. He was followed immediately by Ander, also loaded down with the results of the shopping trip. Sven's heart sank; how long did they plan to keep them hostage at the house? It wouldn't be a real get-away if they spent most of it at the lodge with the parents, would it? He and Eric would have to plot their escape. Besides he wanted some private time with Sookie, and gritting his teeth, knew Eric would feel the same. He hoped they'd remembered to pack the second tent. He didn't relish sleeping alone out under the stars far enough away to muffle the inevitable sounds they would make.

____________________

Two days later, Eric and Sven had finally convinced everyone, including the female in their little unit that leaving for the desert was unavoidable, and the time had come to head down to Zion, where they both had worked one summer long ago. Sven had been able to side-step Mia and her questions and was breathing a sigh of relief that they were finally leaving.

Eric and Ander also had run out of steam after the shouting match that had started in the front yard about Selah, her family, Ander's poor advice about the marriage, and a few other 'sins of the father' that had been building over the years. To save face, or so Sven imagined, Ander had made up an excuse for leaving, insisting Celia join him on a trip he had to make to Green River. They had left yesterday and would be back sometime later today, after he and Eric were gone. Sven was glad he had avoided an argument; Ander was not pleased that Sven was paying for Joran's apartment so he could attend classes for his Master's program. He saw it as just another betrayal by his older son. Sven knew retribution was coming; he just wasn't sure of the date and time.

The car was packed, and Mia was there to see them off after fitting in as much food in the Volvo as she could. They were standing outside, ready to get in the car when she asked Eric and Sookie to give her a few minutes alone with Sven. They agreed and went back into the house, leaving the two of them standing under the trees, watching a small herd of mule deer that had wandered into the yard and begun systematically stripping several expensive white pines of low-hanging branches.

"Are you happy, Sven?" Mia started the conversation with a mundane question, but it wasn't meant to be. He and his mother were many-layered creatures who understood each other in ways Eric could never follow.

"Yes, I am, Mother." The formal address was meant as a warning to not pry too closely into his affairs.

She evidently was not put off by the warning. "Eric is a generous person with a good heart. He always wants what is best for others, even when it is detrimental to getting what is best for him." Unsaid was the implication that this type of motivation wasn't typical of Sven.

"I've done some generous things over the years, Mom." He protested.

"Nothing of this magnitude. Did you think you couldn't hold her against her earlier first love for Eric? It was so long ago; just a childish infatuation. You knew that, yes?"

"I knew they were still very attracted to one another." He grimaced; he'd hoped to avoid this conversation with the one person who could worm the truth out of him and would have zero qualms about doing so.

"Sookie is a loyal child and truthful. She would have come to you and told you about her attraction and I believe asked for your help in overcoming it." She was watching him closely as she said this. She nodded. "So, she did ask for your help. I suspected it. Well, the same is true for Eric. He would have left town before he would do anything to truly hurt you, once he knew the extent of his attraction to her. He's very vulnerable after the breakup with Selah; it is possible he may have had a little trouble restraining himself, but not for long." Sven knew what she was going to say next so he jumped in.

"Yes, you are right, I set it up. I gave them permission. It seemed only fair. I probably should not have gotten involved with Sookie; it happened before I realized how deeply what I felt for her went. I should not have married her, but I was in love with her, dammit. I can reel off a whole litany of actions I should not have taken, if that is what you wish for me to do right now. But instead, I'm trying to fix this mess without giving up the woman I love, whose presence makes me happy for the first time in years, years."

Mia looked at him, a sad expression in her eyes. "But you don't share. You never have, starting as soon as you were able to make your preferences known to us. How can you make this work, my son?" In her distress, she wrapped her arm around his waist, and pulled him closer to comfort him for the hurt she clearly anticipated he would sooner or later experience by taking this path.

Sven turned away from the piercing eyes of this person who could see so clearly into his heart. "I just have to, Mom."

"Whatever it is, if you cannot tell me, at least trust Sookie. Tell her and let her show you what a good person you have chosen by loving her. And if it affects Eric as well, will you please trust your brother? You are building a family unit; let them comfort you and show you their love. There are benefits to this tricky situation you've created for yourself to solve some problem you think you have. I've learned to enjoy the benefits. Once I put the hurt of it behind me, I gained a lot from it. You can as well."

They then spoke of inconsequential things for a few minutes more before Eric and Sookie reemerged. Eric was pointing at his watch and admonishing his brother that they were not going to find a camping spot if they didn't leave soon.

It truly was time to go. Sven sat in back so Sookie could more easily see the beautiful scenery of his home state. But as he waved goodbye to Mia, he wanted to be alone to review what she had told him. It seemed that the polygamy had been difficult for her to bear as well, but she had survived, even thrived in the situation. He wanted the same for the three of them. He could look ahead and see that they would grow old together, and they would have children. He could be the leader of their family; he knew that Eric's gratitude would override his own dominant urges and he would bow to Sven's will. Maybe this trip would be the setting in which to come clean? He'd have to bide his time. He noticed that both Eric and Sookie were wearing their Walkmans again. He put his own headphones on, and thinking how he would begin the conversation about the surgical decision he'd made a few years ago. It hadn't seemed that significant at the time as he'd envisioned his life with Max. But now he had to live with the consequences, not only of the decision, but of his lie of omission by not sharing it with Sookie. The change in the vegetation from evergreens to scrub oak and then sagebrush and willow and the occasional prickly pear and Mormon tea plant went unobserved by him. After the cassette had rolled to a stop, he left it, turned off the machine and closed his eyes, lost in his thoughts. It was still a couple of hours until they reached the entrance to Zion.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A/N: Parts of the next two chapters take place in Zion.

("I love you both. I will protect you both. You are my family now.")