Chapter 5

Niall had appeared almost right before the vampire had started shouting to the heavens, desperate to learn the fate of Sookie, who was barely conscious in his arms by now. "Good gracious boy, you'll wake Bon Temps up with that shouting."

He thought about telling the fairy king to no call him "boy", but there were clearly more pressing things to worry about. "She…..took the potion and we…..well, this just happened." It was a rare thing to have Eric being in such a fretting state, being rattled but this was a new situation entirely. He couldn't help but let his softer side show and he clung onto her with a gentle grip. "What can I possibly do besides leave her…..it's clear what this means if she looks this….awful."

Niall walked closer so he could place a hand on Sookie's head and closed his eyes, his light mingling with that of his granddaughter's and as beautiful and ethereal a sight as it was, his face was unreadable as he looked up at Eric. "I know how much you two mean to each other and how nerve-racking this has been for the two of you, that you needed to go through such a test….I know that she wants nothing more than to be with you, that she was on the brink of accepting your proposal, that ring-"

"Then, you mean….it didn't work? It was all for nothing? That I have to let her go. Again." replied Eric blankly, looking at her in his arms and it was strange, he swore he sensed something else. Someone else.

"You two had best get your plans in order because it won't be long before she will lose her figure, at least for a short time. Faeries tend to bounce back quite fast from a pregnancy." Niall said to a incredulous looking Eric. "And she was never in any danger of dying, it was a test of your love, that is all. I knew you two have always been meant for each other. The only thing that this potion could ever do was to bring about a baby. Though if you two were not soul mates, then there would be no baby, simple as that."

Sookie had been stirring and she opened her eyes, having overheard what her grandfather had said and managing to look at her grandfather, she wanted to be angry, for him having put the threat of her demise into the both of them should they had failed to be soul mates. But instead she shook her head. "You are clever, that is for sure." she said. "Why do I feel so crappy though?"

"The magic used to help the two of you in the family way was very strong, to be sure…..and the magic that coursed through you, radiating through you was also passed into him when he took some of your blood. It was not the easiest potion to construct but I can only hope that the two of you don't take the result of it-and what you had even before the potion-for granted." Niall looked at his granddaughter. "Get her straight back to bed-no more, shall we say, friskiness-and she will be as good as new in a hour or so. And so I leave you two here to contemplate your future."

With that, Niall was gone and Sookie as already feeling better, though he refused to put her down to let her walk. Instead, she used her light to flash herself straight back into her bedroom where she stood grinning, though the weariness and weakness was still very much alive in her eyes. Her hand flittered down to her stomach and she was thunderstruck at the fact she was already sensing the life within her, that she had already started to show ever so slightly was too much for her to take in. happy tears were coming down her face as Eric appeared in the doorway of the bedroom, seeing for the first time the signs of what he had sensed within her moments before.

"You've…already grown a bit." he said, walking to her and looking at the subtle bump.

"Faerie's have very accelerated pregnancies. Just ask Sherriff Andy." mused Sookie as she looked from her stomach up to his blue eyes that were watching her and her stomach with a sparkle she had not seen in a long time. A look of reverence she had seen him give to his late maker but no one else. It was a rare and special look and she thought he couldn't possibly seem more human than he was now. "Hopefully, we can put something together before I am as big as a house….I suspect we have a matter of days, a week at most. I don't know how I know, maybe some faerie instinct or something. God, I am such a freak!" she said, shaking her head. "But it's worth it….god, wait until I tell Arlene at work….and Jason…..just telling those two will get the word out to the whole town in a matter of hours. I am willing to bet two hours. Two hours before everyone knows….."

He laughed and shook his head. "Gossip spread like wildfire just as it did back in my time…..though I admit, cell phones have made things even easier…." his face looked thoughtful then amused. "Wait until Pam finds out."

"Find out what?" a perturbed voice called from outside the window and approaching the window, the two looked down to see Pam standing on the front lawn, arms crossed. "I finally got Ginger settled in for the night and Willa wanted to talk my ears off-" she stopped when Willa herself appeared at her side. "Did I mention is turns out she inherited the family's power to fly? Congrats, you got yourself another flier."

"That's not the only thing to congratulate me for." replied her maker and looking at Sookie, she nodded and allowed him to fly her out the window, landing gently before the rest of his family. Nodding to Sookie, who was still decked out in her modest negligee, the two female vamps turned their gazes to the unmistakable bump bore by Sookie.

"No….freaking way." Willa said, a bright smile crossing her face. "But how is it even possible?"

"It's a long story and we will tell you….but there is a wedding that is needed to be planned….I believe. Am I correct, Sookie?" Eric turned to look at Sookie, trying not to presume anything. But with a glowing smile, she nodded and allowed him to place the ring on her finger. Even under the moonlight, the sparkle it gave off was impressive and she looked as happy as he had ever seen her. Then the two looked to Willa and Pam, Willa still looking overjoyed but Pam….she was unreadable. But then she slowly allowed a amused grin to come over her.

"Well, I suppose I had better find a dress…before she's too fat to fit in it. I would die all over again if I saw a designer gown slipping at the seams before my eyes. And you better not end up with morning sickness the day of and proceed to mess the dress that way either."

"I think that's her way of saying "welcome to the family". whispered Eric loudly to Sookie, who looked relieved. She had wondered how Pam was going to take this news. But it seemed that there was little to worry about, that things could actually move forward. "Dawn is coming soon….but we appreciate you checking in on us….do you want me to stay here for the day, or…."

"I will stay if you want me to….and Pam, first thing when night falls tomorrow, you and Willa will get things organized. I want everything ready to go on Friday evening."

"That is three days away. Do you think I am some kind of miracle working wedding planner?" Pam put her hands on her hips and caught a very slight shift to Sookie's stomach. She had already gained a little more in size. "How about I shoot for Thursday?" Pam sighed with a smirk. "Because I refuse to but a maternity size wedding dress and it is clear time isn't exactly on our side."

Nodding amusedly, he looked at Willa. "You keep her in line and make sure this is the perfect event…..though I would prefer to keep this low key, friends and family only, I think it goes without saying."

The fairy king reappeared at that moment and he had something in hand, a small box in which he handed to Sookie. "Don't worry about the bands, I have had these in waiting for some time but the box will not open until the moment they are needed. Not even your magic can break it open Sookie. And regarding staying with her for the night and day, Viking, I think that is a excrement idea. Because with her being in the state she is in now, it makes her even more tempting to others like you, though the three of you clearly have great restraint. I would rest easier knowing she is not in that house alone. Heaven knows in ordinary circumstances, she has been targeted, imagine what could befall her should her little secret be scented out by unfriendly vamps."

"Hell of a homecoming, I guess." Pam muttered as she met the face of her maker and even she was taken aback by how genuinely happy he seemed and she was genuinely happy for him and said as much.

As she hugged him, she looked up. "I had always thought, deep down, you'd never settle down with anyone, though for a time I did see Sylvie as a threat to that belief…..this is going to be the best day of your life….well, second. Because I know your best day was when you made me, there's no contest, really." she quipped as she pulled back from her maker and grinned devilishly. Turing to Willa she sighed. "I suppose we had better go to ground and get a fresh start tomorrow night, we have a lot of work to do and as much as I would love to put Ginger to work, I feel like she would end up helping prep a kids birthday party rather than a wedding." and with that, the two winked at their friends and left, leaving Niall to once more bide a temporary goodbye to his soon to be expanding family

"I will see you in a couple days unless there is any need of me before then." Niall said as he kissed her head. Turning to Eric, Niall offered a hand, to which Eric slowly took and as they made this gesture of respect Niall looked up at the intimidating being before him. "I trust no one else with her as I do you. Jason, he means well, but to be fair, he is mortal and sometimes…..a little foolhardy. But let it not be said that I don't care for him any less than I do either of you, he is family. But you will take care of her of course?"

"I agree. Jason is a good man but let's be honest, he…is human. And vulnerable…" he trailed off as he noted a arched eyebrow from Sookie. "I said I liked him and we do trust him with you, Sookie. I don't think either of us mean to slam Jason but after what was said about you being more vulnerable in your current state…..if anything happened to you….."

She brushed aside the conversation. "I get it.." she hugged her grandfather again and as they watched him vanish, they once more made their way back to the little yellow house, both lost in thoughts of what was ahead and what could be.

To Be Continued