Chapter 11

They had been sent a vehicle to pick them up from the Mississippi mansion where so much violence had occurred, so much blood had been spilled. And yet it had been the place where a new life had come into the world. Sookie had refused however, to board the windowless Anubis van to head home until she had peeked into the mind of the driver, to ensure he was on the up and up. There was no way she was going to allow herself, her new baby and the prone vampire in the coffin to be put in danger again. Breathing a sigh of relief as she closed the door in the back seat of the plush and comfy vehicle, she had seen that Pam had ensured there were supplies for the long drive home, that there was even a car seat was a much needed touch. Turning her head to peer into the rear of the van, she placed a hand gently on the surface of the sleek, cool to the touch just as the figure within it was. He had stayed up through dawn to spend time with her and the baby and even suffered through the worst case of the bleeds that he had had since he had first been turned. But though he had told her it was worth it, Sookie had adamantly protested that he finally get some rest and that a weary Viking vampire would be no good to her or the baby should they encounter trouble, a still reluctant Eric had entered the coffin just a hour before the van departed.

"What a trip." she commented as she cuddled her baby in her arms. Already, the kid was a little heavier, longer than she had been hours ago and though her grandfather had said she would age a little slower than normal faeries would, what with the fact Sookie was part vamp, it was still only a matter of time before Sookie would have a teenager on her hands. Thinking on how sheriff Andy had coped with Adeliyn made her chuckle and yet she ached for the loss of the other three faeries. That Jess had lost control and had drained the three gave Sookie pause. Did she fear that Eric could lose control with the extra fairy in the house when the time came that they did live together? She too had seen the effects of fairies on him, remembering too well how he had personally drained Claudine and proceeded to go bonkers like she had never seen before. Yes, it had been amusing to see him out in the water, playing in the sun. but the fact remained that a fairy had died and had resulted in that behavior. Did she suddenly not trust in him, that she thought he would not be able to control himself? Of course not, she trusted him more than anyone in the world, save for Jason and Niall. But it all came down to trust and she trusted him and his ability to remain in control, though it was always going to be something that she would need to think about. With a sigh, she closed her eyes to regain focus on the evening ahead and she managed to smile and shake her head. Five years ago, she hadn't even known any vamps and now, she was to marry the last one she had ever expected to, what with how she had felt the first time she met him in Fangtasia. Scared didn't even begin to cover her feelings, especially when she learned the long storied history f the ancient vampire. Time was a funny thing, she thought to herself as she cuddled the baby closer to her and looked back once more at the coffin. That this was where she was in her life now. But the thing was, she hadn't been this happy in her life. Ever. Her parents, her own parents had feared her powers, what she was and yet, all the time she had known Eric, he had never once winced at what she could do and even had wanted her to embrace what she was. He had never once given up on her even when she had on him many times.

She fell asleep to the thoughts of the past and her hopes for the future, wondering how the evening ahead was to go, hoping that Pam wasn't going to try to embarrass her in one way or another. Not that she would have bad intentions-Pam and Sookie had come along way as well, becoming fierce friends and since they were hours away from becoming officially family, Sookie relaxed and trusted in Pam that the ceremony was to go well. Without any bloodshed, she had to hope for at least. Placing the child in the car seat snugly, she leaned back and closed her eyes and the next thing she knew, the trip was over and she was in front of her lit up farmhouse. Having expected to stop in Shreveport, she knew then and there that the driver had been under specific orders from someone else and she had a inkling that it was the doing of Pam. As she thanked the driver for the assistance at getting her, the baby, the seat and the well stocked diaper bag that had come with the ride, she sat on the front steps, the baby out of the seat and in her arms as she watched as the sleek black coffin was unleaded from the rear of the van and with it being night time, it was no wonder to her that in the blink of an eye, she was no longer just her and the baby on the porch.

"Sleep well?" she asked Eric with a grin on her face. "Pam thought of everything, a car seat, a full diaper bag…she did a great job though I thought we were going to stop back at your place….."

"Nope, that was never the plan." he said as he let the baby grab onto his finger, her smile infectious as he smiled back at her, shaking his head in the udder disbelief that this was all too real. "Perhaps a walk to the backyard?" he said with a smirk and as he helped her to her feet, baby in her arms, they walked around the house and there before them sat a stately white tent. And as they got closer, she saw it was no ordinary plastic tent, but rather a expensive silk lined with something almost akin to a glow stick, creating a ethereal yet beautiful appearance. Inside, she saw tables set for perhaps a dozen or so guests, a table at the head clearly meant for the soon to be wed couple. And sure enough, from the sides, people dressed for such an occasion leapt out of the less lit sides of the large tent. Lafayette and James, Keith and Arlene, Jessica and Hoyt. Jason, Bridget and their three kids. Holly and Andy. The most important people in Sookie's life and she certainly had history with every last person here in the tent. Though a pang of sadness fell upon her heart as she thought of those no longer among the living or undead. Like Bill and Tara. And Alcide. And still, her heart broke for Eric for his loss of Godric and Nora But knowing that he and the spirits of his lost loved ones were able to be visited back in his homeland, in his castle, she felt somewhat comforted and she could feel them there with them, even now, watching from And of course, a smirking Pam and Willa were there, putting the finishing touches on a altar and the vases of sweet smelling lilies and lilacs-Sookie's favorite flowers. Turning to see the guests of honor, Pam was dressed in a form fitting burgundy gown, Willa in a similarly styled dress, though hers was a grape colored number, slightly less revealing.

"So I got the peanut a little something too…." Pam said as she wheeled out a little bassinette, pearly white and as frilly as it could safely be for a infant. "I bought this a little bigger since I know she will grow fast….and it looks like I was start to do so, look at how big she has gotten since yesterday!" It took a lot to shock Pam but the look on her face was priceless as she gazed at the baby in Sookie's arms. Already, she was the size of a 6 month old. Returning her face to an almost bored look, as if fearing to let anyone else see the cracks in her typically stoic facade, Pam handed Sookie a white silk gown for the baby to wear. "No name yet, I take it."

"Not like we have had the chance to talk about it….but hopefully in the next few days." Sookie said as she took the tiny garment from her friend. "Its beautiful, look at the embellishments…..Gucci? Gucci makes baby garments?"

"Not this fancy, I had it done special order, super fast and paid through the nose for it to be ready tonight. And the little headband is studded with diamonds, same with the booties." Pam replied. "Wait until you see your gown and in regards to having a maid of honor, well, she and I discussed things." Pam nodded to Willa, who joined in the discussion.

"We figured it would be fair if I was your maid of honor and that I just….served as bodyguard. This just….it's not my cup of tea. No offense but I would rather be overseeing security to make sure nothing ruins this. Jason can be his best man….if he agrees to it." Pam nodded to Eric who looked amused but relented.

`"This is all…..I am pleased at what you got accomplished." Eric said as he walked over to Pam and put his hands on her shoulders. "To think a few years ago you and Sookie were at each others throats."

"Yeah, yeah, very touching, how things change, blah, blah, blah. Willa, you go get her ready while I make sure he's put together alright." Pam nodded to her maker, leading him away as Jason came up and took the baby from her.

"Time for some uncle "Jason time. You go get yourself ready." he said with a grin as Sookie and Bridgette exchanged pleasantries. As she made her way through the group, greeting her friends and thanking them for being here, she was finally alone with Willa in her bedroom, where a garment hung in a plastic bag on the curtain rod of the window.

"This is all….you guys put this together for us…." Sookie wiped away a tear as Willa lifted the bag off the dress and waited for a response. It was sleeveless and of the softest white silk Sookie had seen, even smoother than that which the baby was to be changed into. Flowing like it was liquid, she looked at the slight train that it had and fingered the lace embellishment that lined the bodice. Yet more crystals were studded throughout the corset like top section of the dress and it didn't take her long to figure out that it was still more diamonds. Changing into the gown in the bathroom, she stepped out into the bedroom where she had a full length mirror and gasped at the sight of herself. Looking like the fairy princess that she was, she still felt awed by the way she looked and yet, she wasn't close to being ready.

"Let's get your hair and makeup done and please try not to cry, I don't want to have to redo your makeup again." Willa joked with her friend as Sookie sat at her vanity and allowed the vampire to set to work putting the finishing touches on her. Slippers of a matching white color were set on the bed for the bride to ear. "You know, Pam thought maybe white wasn't appropriate. She said that with your history with him, and even before, well, you aren't exactly…untouched. But that it was ok, that she was never one for such traditions anyway."

She burst out laughing and shook her head at the recollection. That sure sounded like something Pam would say and she was somewhat comforted by the fact that she had changed and yet had stayed the same in many ways. Everyone she knew, including her, she thought, had certainly changed. evolved. And for the better. Her long hair was brushed out and smoothed, put up into an elegant bun that barely touched the nape of her neck and there came a knock at the door.

"Come in." the two girls called at the same time and it was Niall who had made his entrance.

"Apparently your friend was not one for the idea of a veil but thought something else would do better, considering who you are and who your groom happens to be….she had mentioned that back at the mansion that she was trying to get her hands on something special and I said I would oblige….." Niall produced a velvet pouch and produced a rose gold tiara studded with dark blue sapphires and diamonds. It was simply designed but once set upon the head of his granddaughter, it complemented the gown and vice versa.

"Wow….thank you….so much." Sookie said as she admired it in the mirror, slipping on her shoes and thus completing her preparations. "Well…..I guess its almost time….."

Sure enough, Pam entered the room and gave Sookie a up and down look and looked at her approvingly. "I hope you enjoy my styling of your groom…..it was likely a easier job than it was to get you ready." she sniggered and led them from the room and to the tent where people were sitting at the candlelit tables, waiting in anticipation. There was music playing softly from a sound system, not the traditional wedding style music but more of a ancient, tribal style that she suspected had something to do with the heritage of her groom. Guided up the white carpet that led to the altar, Sookie's elbow was intertwined with her grandfather, who soon brought her to the front of the room where she took in the sight in front of her with disbelief in her eyes. Resting in the bassinette was her daughter, cooing softly dressed in her formal attire procured by Pam and Sookie thought she had never seen a more adorable sight. And then her disbelieving eyes went to the right, where dressed in what was likely the most expensive suit she had ever seen him in. it was the standard grooms wear but somehow, the sheer bearing of the Viking made it somehow sublime, more attractive. And as he looked her up and down, she too noticed the way he looked at her, with amazement and adoration in his own eyes. And it was then that sheriff Andy, who had apparently become a ordained minister, had begun the ceremony, the couple barely able to focus on the words, feeling none of the eyes watching them and having eyes only for each other

The ceremony was as any normal ceremony would be for the average human and though there was no hiccups during the fifteen minute ceremony, it was clear to Sookie that the formality was a little trying to Eric. But it had been all worth it and as the DJ started to play a variety of music and as the humans helped themselves to the gourmet buffet and the vamps helped themselves to only the best of blood there was available, the new couple-their baby being cared for by Willa-strolled away from the tent, their tribal styled wedding bands that Pam had selected shone under the starry night. Sitting down on the hammock she had recently acquired, Sookie smoothed her dress as he sat beside her, his hand in hers.

"What a night." she said as she admired the sparkling diamond on her left ring finger. "I can't believe this is real….it's like a dream and for once, a good one."

"I can't wait to get out of this monkey suit." Eric muttered. "I mean, I like a good suit but this….it's not me. Pam insisted though and I didn't dare question her in such matters. And judging by the looks I got, I suppose it was a success. I saw your friend Holly do a double take." he grinned, never one to not be cognizant of his striking appearance.

"Humble as always." Sookie laughed as she slapped him playfully but she frowned. "You know, we didn't even talk about the honeymoon…what about the baby?"

"The baby that still needs a name?" he grinned slyly. "That is something that needs to be dealt with soon, you know."

"I know, I know." she replied as she looked up at the stars and heard some raucous laughter coming from the tent. "Glad everyone's having a good time, I'll bet Lafayette is doing some impromptu entertaining."

"Yes, he is certainly…entertaining. As for the honeymoon, I actually hadn't thought of it myself. We don't necessarily have to be traditional and go off right away, do we? Maybe take some time to decompress, figure out living arrangements. Name the kid. I mean, we have done a lot of traveling as of late….even I could use a break. And you know something?"

"What?" she asked, leaning into his shoulder, closing her eyes.

"I saw them. Briefly. Felt their presence. My parents. Everyone I've lost in my life. They were here, watching over us. I may only be able to communicate with them back in the castle in Sweden, but I know they were here tonight to wish us well. And the next time we go overseas…..we'll meet again."

Touched by that sentiment, she said nothing and they sat in silence for a few minutes more before rejoining the party. There was still the obligatory cake to cut-specially ordered royal blood to serve-as well as the first dance that awaited them . And so the party would go on until the later hours of the night where a future of endless possibilities was to begin.

THE END