A/N: There is more of the Emma and Eric story inside. And more of the twins harassing Eric.

Chapter 21

Darcie was dreaming again. It was nighttime and she found herself in an old graveyard. The moonlight gave enough light for her to see by. She began weaving her way through the headstones and mausoleums. She was frightened even though she knew that the dead were nothing to fear. She heard something that sounded like an owl hooting and she stopped her heart in her throat. She silently chided herself for being so childish. She suddenly heard a noise that sounded like someone trying to pry something open. She turned and headed towards that sound, sensing that this is what she had been sent here to see. When she found him, she stopped frozen in place. She reached out a hand to headstone and steadied herself and watched the scene in front of her.

It was Eric and he had taken off his jacket. He was prying open a coffin. From the nearby mound of earth it was apparent that he had just dug it up. With his blonde hair, pale skin and white shirt, he looked like a ghost himself. Even here in this place and doing this gruesome task, he was still beautiful. But, now it was so apparent how cold that beauty was and how nonhuman. The lid lock broke and he raised the lid on the coffin and looked inside. Darcie watched as he gently reached in and pulled the girl out. She looked as if she was just sleeping as Eric laid her on the grass and caressed her.

He smiled down on her and said, "Awake, my child."

It was Emma. At his command, her eyes had fluttered open and she gasped in shock. She was in a panic and Eric held her in his arms as she relaxed.

"It's alright, Emma, you're with me," he said.

"Master," she replied.

Eric smiled and gently touched a strand of her light brown hair.

"I'm only Eric to you, now and forever."

"I knew you would keep your promise," said Emma.

He kissed her and Emma held onto him. As she sat up, he returned her coffin to it's grave and filled the earth back in. It was important to make it look like the grave was undisturbed. Emma slowly found her strength and finally stood and watched him. He put his jacket back on and dusted himself off.

"Are you hungry?" he asked.

Emma nodded and said, "But, first, I want to make love with you again."

Eric smiled and said, "I was hoping that you would say that."

He held out his hand to her and Emma took it. For a moment, the two of them stood there and stared at each other. They were no longer human, so Darcie wasn't sure if she could ascribe human emotions to them anymore. She wondered what emotions dwelled within a vampire's heart. Did they still experience the same ones that they had when they were human? Or, did they feel things that were beyond the ability of her human heart to understand? She saw Eric's thumb gently caress Emma's hand within his grasp. For the span of several of Darcie's heartbeats, they stood staring into each others eyes and perhaps into each others souls. If it wasn't love, Darcie didn't know what else it could be. Slowly, they both smiled at each other and before Darcie's startled eyes, they winked out of view with their vampire abilities.

Darcie felt herself stir restlessly in her bed, yet she did not wake up. This dream held more things for her to see. She found herself in an very nicely appointed apartment. And she was in a richly decorated bedroom. It was obvious that Eric and Emma had just made love. Eric held her in his arms and stared down at her. She had never seen him behave this way. She wondered how long he had followed Emma and studied her before he had decided to offer her this life. Was he already in love with her before he visited her the evening that he had turned her? She had a hard time believing the Eric Northman that she knew to be capable of falling under the spell of any girl, even one as brave as Emma. And why was she dreaming of them, Darcie wondered. Did this Emma really exist? Or was she some symbol of herself? Was she dreaming of what her life might be like as Eric's vampire companion? These dreams were only succeeding in creating more questions than answers.

Emma sighed and relaxed into the pillows with a satisfied smile on her face.

"I can't believe that it gets better each time we do that," she said.

Eric seemed to bask in that compliment and caressed her.

"I have something for you," he said.

He got out of bed and threw on a robe and Darcie admitted to not averting her eyes. Hey, it's only a dream she told herself. Emma sat up in bed and watched as Eric left the room. He returned leading a girl in by the arm. The girl was glamoured and she seemed to stare at nothing. He brought the girl to the bedside and gently made her sit next to Emma. But, Emma only looked at him with confusion.

"You must feed, Emma," he said.

"I...I don't understand," said Emma.

Eric tilted the girls head and bought out his fangs. He stared at Emma a moment and then bit into the girl's neck. Emma watched wide-eyed and Eric stopped and drew back. Emma's eyes stared at the blood seeping from the bites and her fangs appeared. It shocked her and she covered her mouth with her hand.

"Am I a monster?" she asked.

Eric smiled and said, "No, you are the same as me. Did you think me a monster?"

Emma shook her head 'no'. Eric held the girl's head and looked to Emma.

"Go on, taste her blood," said Eric.

"I...I don't want to kill her," whispered Emma.

"I can teach you how not to do that," said Eric. "Trust me."

Emma bent hesitantly to the girl's neck and stopped and checked her position so many times that Eric actually laughed at her.

"Stop laughing at me, that is most cruel," said Emma. "I'm sure that your first time wasn't any easier."

"You are wrong about that," said Eric. "But, my nature was never as gentle as yours."

Eric gently petted her and said, "I won't let you become a monster. It was that sweet and gentle nature that was so unlike my own which caught my attention. I can teach you how to survive and not loose those things that you want to hold onto."

Still petting her, he brought her head to the girl's neck and to the right position and Emma sank her fangs into her. He let go and Emma took the girl's head in one of her hands and held it. She then began to drink from her and she sucked hungrily at the girl's neck. Eric watched her closely and leaned down close to her ear.

He whispered, "When the heartbeat slows, you need to stop."

He took the girl's wrist in his hand and felt her pulse.

After several long moments, he said, "You must stop, Emma."

He watched her to see if she possessed the ability to stop on her own. Most freshly turned vampires did not and often killed their victims. But, Emma seemed to push the girl from her. She sat there a moment and licked her lips clean.

Eric took her chin and turned it to him, saying, "Did you like that, Emma?"

Emma looked back at him and Darcie couldn't understand the emotions that she saw in the girl's eyes. There was a wildness in her eyes, a freedom to not fear these new pleasures and this new life that Eric had bestowed on her.

"Yes, I want to do that again," said Emma. "And I want to touch you again."

Eric smiled and said, "Greedy, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am," said Emma. "Very greedy, does this please you?"

"I can't tell you how much," replied Eric.

Emma gently pushed the unconscious girl to the floor and pulled Eric back on the bed with her.

Darcie felt herself leave this dream and return to her own slumbers.

Eric called Darcie's cell phone and when it was answered he heard loud music playing.

"Hello, this is Darcie's phone, Uncle Eric," said one of those damned elves.

"I want to speak to Darcie," said Eric, deciding to ignore the Uncle Eric comment.

He heard the boy yell, "Hey, Simon, I've got Uncle Eric on the phone."

"Well, put it on speaker, Idiot, so I can talk too," said Simon.

"Hey, stop with the name calling, you wanker," said Aidan. "Besides, we shouldn't we be trying to make a good impression on Uncle Eric?"

"Why? Do you want to go out with him, too?" said Simon.

"Don't even go there or I just might start commenting that I saw you checking out his fanny," said Aidan.

"More like you were, are you sure that you're not a fairy?" said Simon.

Eric closed his eyes and tried to calm down. He brought his fingers to the bridge of his nose and pinched himself. The boys traded insults for several more seconds and did not seem close to stopping.

Finally he yelled, "I want to speak with Darcie."

"Oh, you had better watch out, Uncle Eric is raising his voice," said Aidan.

"Shaking in my boots over here and quivering in fear," said Simon. "What about you, brother?"

"I'm with you, brother, I might just piss myself with fear," said Aidan.

"Hey, I'm sitting next to you, so try to control yourself," said Simon.

"Stop calling me Uncle Eric," yelled Eric. Pam and several people next to him looked at him curiously.

"Well, Uncle Eric, Darcie isn't here right now," said Aidan.

"Where is she?" asked Eric.

"Oh, I don't know where she got herself off to. She's been flirting with some other guy," replied Aidan.

"If you ask me, that's all we need is more competition," said Simon.

"Yeah, I'm with you on that," said Aidan. "What do you think of that Uncle Eric? Our girl is a hard one to hold onto to."

"What are you talking about?" demanded Eric.

"We are going to his party at his home. You probably already know him since he is a vampire, just like you," said Aidan. "So, if you want to come, then you had better fly."

"Yeah, old man, like literally fly," said Simon.

"Because this party train is not waiting for you, vampire," said Aidan.

Aidan then hung up and Eric sat there fuming. Those boys were grating on his nerves.

Eric called Darcie's number again and Aidan answered once again.

"Are you trying to get friendly with me?" asked Aidan. "I mean, you're cute and all, but all jokes aside, I don't really swing that way. I'm flattered by your interest and I want to let you down easy."

"Shut up and just tell me where you are," said Eric.

"I see that we can't just be friends and I'm hurt that you only want me for my body," said Aidan.

"I swear, Darcie's boyfriend or not, I will rip your throat out if you don't stop messing with me," said Eric.

He heard a snicker and Simon said, "A little testy tonight, aren't you? Not getting any?"

"I guess we should stop playing with him," said Aidan. "We're at Electric Avenue."

Both boys said, "Goodbye, Uncle Eric."

Eric made his way through the crowd and found Darcie, Aidan and Simon. They were in the company of Stefan and some of his girls. However, the girls were sitting next to Aidan and Simon and Stefan was sitting next to Darcie. Everyone appeared to be very cozy.

One of the twins looked up and said, "The old man is here."

Stefan smiled and said, "Hello, Eric. We're just leaving now that you are here."

He got up and took Darcie's arm. Darcie took it and gave Eric a little wink and Stefan led her from the club.

Aidan and Simon breezed past him, bumping into him on purpose as they followed Stefan and Darcie. They pulled along Stefan's girls with them and Eric followed them. When they got to Stefan's limo, Stefan and Darcie took one of the seats. Surprisingly, Simon and Aidan paused and motioned for Eric to get inside first. However once he got in, he found that they sat next to him on the seat and pulled the girls next to them. To make room for the girls, they squeezed uncomfortably close to him and crowded him.

"Boys, there is another seat," said Darcie.

"We're fine," said Simon.

"Yeah, we've got catching up to do with Eric," said Aidan.

Stefan put some music on and turned his attention to Darcie. And Aidan and Simon turned their attention to Eric.

Aidan leaned in and whispered in his ear, "Just so you know, we are pulling for you."

Simon whispered in his other ear, "That's right, you're our favorite vampire."

"I mean, he's cuter than you," said Aidan.

"And he seems nicer," said Simon.

"But, loyalty should count for something," said Aidan.

"That's right and we are in your corner," said Simon.

"After us, of course, we have to look out for number one and number two first," said Aidan.

"But, as far as vampires go, you are still in the running," said Simon.

"Of course, I can see why Darcie is smitten," said Aidan.

"Yeah, I could go gay for him," said Simon.

Simon leaned away from his ear and leaned in front of Eric to talk to Aidan.

"What about you, Aidan?" asked Simon.

"I guess, if I had to choose between Eric and Stefan that I would take Stefan too," said Aidan. "Nothing personal, old chap."

"Speaking of that," said Simon. "Is it true that all vampires are AC/DC?"

"Yeah, because we want to know if that rumor is true," said Aidan.

"Didn't you and Pam do the naughty a long time ago?" asked Simon.

"Is that a reflection on your sex skills if she has turned into a lesbian?" asked Aidan. "Isn't that at least a little embarrassing to you?"

Eric sat there and was sure he was developing a twitch in his eye.

"I think that we are embarrassing him," said Simon.

"No need for that, we're all friends here," said Aidan. "Aren't we, Uncle Eric?"

"Don't call me that," said Eric.

"I like it, don't you, Simon?" said Aidan.

"Sorry, old man, but it really fits you because you are so much older than us. It has a friendly ring to it while at the same time it is a little creepy," said Simon.

"And you are creepy," said Aidan.

"But, creepy or not, we are on your side," said Simon.

"You can count on us, Uncle Eric," said Aidan.

The boys snickered and then turned their attention to Stefan's girls. Darcie glanced at him and gave him a sympathetic smile. The car arrived and was waved through Stefan's security. When the car stopped, the door was opened. Stefan got out and held out his hand for Darcie.

"Oh, he's a real gentleman," said Aidan.

"That's always worth good brownie points," said Simon.

"Are you taking notes, Uncle Eric? Darcie's a sucker for good manners," said Aidan.

Simon looked at him and smirked and said, "We also know what else she is a sucker for. But, that is privileged information."

Aidan winked at him and got out of the limo, followed by Simon.

Eric wondered if there was a way to kill them without Darcie finding out.

Stefan always held big parties and this one was no exception. There was always more humans than vampires present. And all the vampires were chosen by him. No one, absolutely no one, crashed one of his parties. Eric was rarely invited or came when he was invited. Stefan surprisingly didn't try to curry favor with him. Stefan was rich and seemed satisfied to enjoy his hedonistic lifestyle. He certainly looked the part, thought Eric as he stared at him. He had been turned young and was still boyish in appearance. He also could almost pass as a human. You had to look close to notice the things that marked him as vampire. Perhaps, this fact, alienated him from other vampires, for Stefan had no close ties to any other vampire. However, Eric could understand that since the only vampire that a vampire could trust was the one he made. Eric often wondered how he got so rich since he seemed to be extremely lazy. Perhaps, he had inherited his money from his maker.

The huge room opened up to the patio and pool area. There were numerous sofas and seating arrangements. There were also lots of little private alcoves and rooms for privacy if needed. Stefan was surprisingly strict about behavior. No feeding and no sex in public. And no drugs or full nudity. Stefan had pulled Darcie to a large sectional and had a drink brought to her. The boys each entertained a girl on another sofa.

"Would you care to see my collection of art and ceramics?" asked Stefan to Darcie.

"Sure, I would like that," said Darcie.

After they got up and left, Aidan snickered and said, "I'm sure he showing her something, alright."

"Yeah, his...private...collection," said Simon with another snicker.

"If you really believe that, then why aren't you more upset?" demanded Eric.

"We don't believe it, but we are trying to get a reaction out of you," said Aidan.

"Quite unsuccessfully, I might add," said Simon.

"You're absolutely no fun," said Aidan.

"It's good that we have something else to entertain us," said Simon.

And with that the two twins turned their attention back to the girls.

Eric walked off and was watching the girls swimming when he heard a voice next to him.

"You look positively bored to death," said Darcie.

He turned to find Darcie beside him with a small smile.

"Did you escape Stefan's clutches?" asked Eric.

"He's really a perfect gentleman," said Darcie.

Eric raised an eyebrow and Darcie said, "It's true, he's very charming. If I didn't already have too many boyfriends, I would add him to the list in a second."

"So, when are Simon and Aidan leaving?" asked Eric.

"Do I hear a note of desperation?" asked Darcie with a giggle.

When Eric didn't reply, Darcie said, "They might actually like you, since for them teasing is a sign of affection."

"I think that I can say for sure that they do not like me," said Eric.

"They are not planning on leaving anytime soon and, to be honest, I have missed them and want them to stay," said Darcie.

Darcie pulled him outside and walked along a trail next to the pool.

"My relationship with Simon and Aidan is very complicated," she said. "But, you must know that I love them, dearly."

"It is a dead-end, unless you can find a way to choose one over the other," said Eric.

Darcie grinned and said, "They have offered to be my husbands, jointly."

Eric raised an eyebrow and said, "Isn't that a little risque for the British upper-class?"

"Don't you know that the British upper-class is downright pervie?" said Darcie with a grin. "And besides, my family always marched to its own tune. Having two husbands is nothing compared to some of my ancestors antics."

"So, are you giving me my walking papers?" asked Eric.

"Well, you are still blackmailing me," said Darcie.

"Is that the only reason that you don't want to let me go?" asked Eric.

He took her chin in his hand and leaned down and kissed her.

"You are a very bad influence," said Darcie.

"I can live with being the bad boy that you keep on the side," said Eric.

"That makes me sound so wicked," said Darcie.

"Is being wicked so wrong?" asked Eric with a smile.

He kissed her again and Darcie whispered, "I do have a certain fondness for bad boys."