Chapter Forty Six: When All Is Said And Done

I couldn't remember anything. The last thing I could remember was the fire enveloping my body. I had never felt such power before, the energy heightening to a point that it had become unbearable. It had felt like the fire was melting my skin, like at any moment, I was going to explode. I remember the screams of agony, only I couldn't remember if they were mine, or if I had managed to kill the vampires readying to attack. I prayed that it was the latter, that I had been successful. And I prayed that Eric would forgive me. I had seen the look in that Viking's eyes. He would have stayed there till the end, until he himself had been burnt to death. He would have stayed until it was all over, until he had died along with Victor's vampires, or until I had perished before his eyes. He didn't want to run away. He didn't want to take the easier route. He was willing to risk everything, only to be with me until the end.

"Ellie?"

That voice, it sounded familiar. But whose was it? And where was I? The feeling in my body was beginning to return, the pain thankfully nowhere to be found. My eyes slowly began to flutter open until I was met with a dark cloudy sky, lightening flashing before my very eyes. I had to squint to focus on where I was, my fingers dragging through strands of grass.

"You're safe now."

That voice wasn't as familiar as the first. In fact, I couldn't recognize it at all. And that worried me. With a strength I wasn't sure I had, I used my hands to push myself up into a sitting position. I knew immediately where I was. It was hard not to recognize the field of wildflowers around me. But something felt off. Maybe it was because every time I've been here, it had been a bright blue sky, the warm sun set permanently in the sky. But it wasn't sunny. I could smell the rain, I could hear the claps of thunder in the distance. Something was wrong, and I had the unfortunate feeling that that something might just have been me.

"Oh Ellie." A sigh emitted from my right.

I turned my head and I was relieved to find Kyra standing there, a worried look plastered across her face. It was then that I noticed that she was not the only one there. All the Phoenixes were. They were circled around me, like I was some caged animal they were amused by. Some I were able to recognize from the brief time I had been here last, when the witches had casted the bonding spell on me. Even a few of them offered me a few smiles, though not a single one looked comfortable or happy. I sent Kyra a questioning stare as I pulled myself up onto my feet, but she only bowed her head, not saying a word.

"I was wondering when I would have the opportunity to speak to the current Phoenix." The second, but unfamiliar, voice spoke, turning my attention away from Kyra. I frowned as I took in the appearance of the young former Phoenix. From the ways the others stared at her, almost in fear, I knew she was someone of importance. But from the wave of nausea and uncertainty that washed over me, I knew she was not someone I would like. She didn't seem as warm and friendly as the other Phoenixes did. In fact, I thought she looked cold and detached. Whoever she happened to be, she didn't frighten me. I've met much crueller and eviller villains in my life. She looked like a cute little puppy in comparison.

"Who are you?" I asked blatantly as I crossed my arms over my chest.

"My name in Lilith." She spoke, her eyes travelling over me. It was then that I realized her eye colour. Her eyes were a light lavender, and I couldn't help but shudder as I stared into them. What happened to the happy and peaceful realm I had found myself in time and time again? Was this what was waiting for me when I died in the future? Because this heaven, it didn't look like anything that had been advertised. "I was one of the original Phoenixes."

"Oh." Was all I responded with. By the look on her face, I was supposed to be impressed. But I wasn't. "Well hello then."

"You've been a fully transitioned Phoenix for only two years and you've already caused so much trouble." She shook her head as she stepped forward and into the middle of the circle created by the other Phoenixes. I eyed Kyra out of the corner of my eyes, and I saw the apprehension in her face. I also saw a spark of hate. I suppose I wasn't the only one who didn't like this Phoenix. Must have run in the genetics.

"Sorry about that, trouble just seems to follow me around." I pursed my lips together. "Is there a reason I'm here? Kyra?"

"She's not to speak to you." Lilith spoke sharply, sending a dark look in Kyra's direction. "She was warned and will suffer the consequences."

"For what?" I sounded so surprised, but how could I help myself? These Phoenixes helped me once upon a time ago. They kept me alive; they aided me when I had no one else. And now this Phoenix came along and seemed to undo everything good that was ever spoken of them.

"She brought a vampire into our world, twice." Lilith grew closer to me, only for me to step away. "And she continued contact with you, despite vowing that she would not. When I found out our little trouble maker had brought you here, I was less than pleased."

I shot Kyra a look, and there was not a single ounce of shame or regret in her eyes. I realized now, where I got my stubbornness and determination from. She was just as ready to defend any one of her actions, just as I would have been. She brought Godric here, the man that she loved, because she was trying to save him. She wouldn't apologize for that, and I wouldn't expect her to.

"However, I was less than pleased when I realized what you had done." Lilith's gaze remained cold as she stared me dead in the eye. "You harvested a power that did not belong to you, Elizabeth."

"It's Ellie." I cut her off.

"We were created to keep the peace, Elizabeth. We weren't created for war. God only wants all of his children to get a long."

I snorted. "If he wanted that, then don't you think he would have prevented all the wars in the world?"

"He cannot be everywhere. That's why he has us, the daughters of the sun, to conduct such business down on earth."

"And here I thought we were given these nifty powers just for fun." I rolled my eyes. "So I used a little bit more power than I should have. I hope it worked, not that I remember much of it. But even if it didn't, I don't regret it. It was to save the lives of those that I love, I'll never apologize for that, so don't expect me to."

Lilith narrowed her eyes. "Do you not realize what you've done? You've damned us. God is punishing us for what you've done."

"Oh god, you're sounding like Steve Newlin now." I shook my head with a snort. "And that's not a compliment."

"This Steve Newlin, he isn't the enemy here, Elizabeth. Vampires are. You used our sacred powers, and for what reason? To kill vampires? You waste your powers, the powers that we all share, for vampires too much, Elizabeth."

"Let me get this straight. You agree with Steve Newlin, which is just absolutely nuts, but you don't want me to kill vampires who might be trying to kill me?" I raised an eyebrow. "And here I thought he was the insane one. I was mistaken, it's you."

"It's forbidden. Never has a Phoenix associated with the dead, with the cursed. Not until Kyra." Lilith spat out her name. "And of course, her little project has to be exactly like her."

"Little project?" I was offended. I was a Phoenix, just like she was. Who did she think she was, calling me a project?

"You're not a true Phoenix. Not like the rest of us."

"Excuse me?" My mouth fell open in shock.

"We were all made; we were all created by the Phoenix before us. You however, you just happened to be some vessel." She looked disgusted. "You are not a true Phoenix. You abuse our powers; you sleep with those that are forbidden from us. And do not think I don't know of your plans. I know what you wish to do, and it will not be done."

I knew what she was speaking of immediately. She knew, somehow, that we were trying to bring Kyra back. I hadn't told Kyra my final decision of course, though I assumed she knew after I had questioned her over the subject. I knew it would be dangerous, and it would be a sacrifice on my part. But Kyra was a part of me, she always would be. And so was Godric. If I could give them both a sliver of happiness, to give them a second chance at true love, then by god, I was going to do it. And this bitch wasn't about to stand in my way.

"First off, I was chosen after 1400 years." I defended the fact that I was a Phoenix. "I was chosen out of billions of lives. And don't think I was exactly happy to find out about this. Do you think I wanted my life to turn out this way? If I had anything to say about it, I would be at home right now, with my family."

"Your family is dead." Lilith reminded cruelly. "I hadn't agreed to save your life that night. You hadn't transitioned yet. You weren't a true Phoenix, you could have still died."

"What are you saying?" My heart just about stopped.

"The night your parents died." Lilith began slowly walking around me. I kept frozen to the spot, the memories flashing before me. "You were near death. You should have died. But Kyra insisted on saving you. You had her soul; she didn't want you to die, for the Phoenix gene to be lost."

My head snapped to the side, my eyes finding Kyra's.

"Didn't you ever wonder why you were the only one who was found with only a single scar after such a horrific car crash?" Lilith spoke in my ear behind me. "Didn't you ever wonder why your parents suffered, but you remained alive?"

"Stop it." My hands curled into fists at my side. "Stop talking about this. You don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh but I do, Elizabeth. And so does Kyra, isn't that right?"

I saw the shame and guilt in the eyes that looked so much like my own. I swallowed back the rising lump of emotions in my throat as I remembered that night. The memories weren't clear. All I could remember was the initial crash, the burning fire, and then suddenly I was on the outside looking in. I couldn't remember how any of it happened, how I had somehow survived with only a single scar to remind me of that horrific night. The doctors had called me a miracle child, a chosen one. And maybe in a way, that was true. I had been chosen. But I had only been a little girl; I didn't have an ounce of my power. So how had I survived?

"Kyra?" I whispered out, begging for her to tell me the truth, to give me the answers I've sought out.

She sighed, bowing her head as a single tear slid down her cheek. "I interfered that night, against the Elder's wishes. We were one, you were a part of me as much as I was a part of you and I couldn't let you die."

I tried to fight back the emotions, but the tears began sliding down my cheek anyways.

"I wanted to save your parents, I did. I tried, I desperately tried Ellie. But...but I only had enough power to save you, to ensure that you would live." Kyra raised her gaze, her teary eyes meeting mine. "You must believe me. I would have saved them all if I could."

I knew she was telling the truth. She would have saved my parents, because she, and all of the other Phoenixes, knew the hardship of growing up without a mother, without parents to hold them when they had nightmares, to help them through the transitions in life.

"She failed you, didn't she?" Lilith's voice was back in my ear, taunting me.

"No." My fingernails were digging into the palm of my hand. "She tried."

"She didn't try hard enough. And yet you see her as a god. She is a disappointment, Ellie. She is nothing. And so are you."

I twisted around to face the elder Phoenix, and before I could stop myself, I threw my hands out before me and tossed her across the field. The circle parted, the Phoenixes moving as Lilith came to a halt on her back in amidst the wildflowers. The thunder sounded above us, growing louder as the lightening lit up the sky.

"You dare use your powers on me?" Lilith was on her feet quickly enough, silencing the murmurs among the others. "There are consequences for your actions, Elizabeth."

"And there are consequences for being a royal bitch." I snarled at her, my eyes narrowing into slits. "Do not speak about my family, and that includes Kyra."

"This is our realm Elizabeth; this is not your world. Do not threaten me. I control you." Lilith disappeared suddenly, vanishing into thin air.

I looked around in confusion, searching for the elder Phoenix. But she was nowhere to be found. The other Phoenixes looked just as confused as I was, but there was a look of fear of Kyra's face that sent caused me to shudder.

"We need to send her back now." Kyra looked around at the others. "Or else Ellie may not be able to return."

"We can't go against Lilith's word, Kyra." A tiny voice from across the circle insisted. "The Elder's are our law."

"Oh that's ridiculous." I rolled my eyes and stormed over to where my twin Phoenix stood. "How the hell do I get back?"

"My powers were stripped away the moment I brought you here." She shook her head sadly. "I won't be able to send you back. It'll have to be the others."

"Shit." I muttered to myself, running a hand through my dark locks. I gazed around at all the others, expecting someone to come forward, to offer their help. But all I found were scared looks on the Phoenixes faces, not a single one besides Kyra and me willing to go against the Elders. I understood the hesitance, the fear. The Elders seemed to be the controlling law here, and to go against them was a big no no. But they couldn't control, not yet. I was still alive. Or I hoped to god I was still alive. I still hadn't figured out what had happened in my own world yet. But right now, it seemed more useful to find a way back into that world than anything else. Before I was sent packing to Death for his little torture games for all of eternity. I wasn't sure if they could force such a thing, but I wasn't about to test that theory.

"Oh what have you gotten yourself into now, Phoenix?"

That voice. That annoying little voice that I had never been so happy to hear in my life.

The circle of Phoenix turned to find the Reaper strolling towards us out of the line of trees. He was wearing his usual suit and that smirk that some days I just wanted to smack right off of his face. But I was surprisingly glad to see him. He was annoying, and I would be glad if I didn't have to see him for another thousand years, but with his arrival, I felt a tad bit of hope. He usually had excellent ideas of how to send me home.

Or at least I prayed that was why he was here.

"I never thought I would ever say this, but I'm glad you're here." Kyra admitted with a sigh as she grabbed me by the arm and began pulling me out of the circle and towards the Reaper. "You need to send her home, now."

"What lost all your powers, Red?" He smirked down at her.

"Shut it." She glared up at him. "Just do this. You and I both know that Lilith went to Death."

"I know." That smirk faltered just a touch. "He's on his way. I came to warn you all."

"Is that why..." I glanced upwards at the darkening sky. Rain began falling, first as a light mist before pouring down and pounding into the grassy field. "I'll take that as a yes."

The thunder was roaring as if it was a lion, and I felt a stab of pain in my heart as I thought of Quinn and his lifeless body. I would never forgive myself for putting him at risk, for putting them all at risk. He shouldn't have died. He shouldn't have found himself leaving the world of the living.

"Don't start with that babe."

I thought someone had just reached into my body and grabbed a hold of my heart and started squeezing. My eyes grew wide as I lowered my gaze to the line of trees that the Reaper had walked swiftly out of and I was shocked beyond words to find none other than Quinn stepping into view. The tears were flowing down my cheeks as I just ran at the were-tiger. He chuckled as I threw myself at him, my arms wrapping around his firm body with ease. I knew he was dead, I knew this was only his soul, his new eternity in the afterlife. But to see him again, even like this, it was all I could have ever asked for.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." I couldn't stop sobbing into his chest.

"Shh, babe, it's alright." His warm large arms wrapped securely around me, one of his hands rubbing up and down my back like he had done a handful of times before. "I died fighting for you, I will never regret that."

"You shouldn't have died!"

"It was my time." He stroked my soaking wet hair. The rain was falling down around us; Death was on his way with only a short time to spare to send me home. But I didn't care. All I cared about was this man before me. I would never have this moment again. I would never be able to hug him, to laugh at his jokes, to stare into those gorgeous violet eyes. This was the last time I would ever get to be with Quinn, and I was going to make it last as long as I possibly could.

"It's all my fault." I couldn't control the sobs as they racked my body. I just felt so guilty for letting Quinn die, and at the hands of Victor of all people.

"Hey now," He pried me away, clasping a hand underneath my chin and forcing my gaze upwards to meet his. "Don't even think about blaming yourself. It wasn't your fault. I ran out of the house. I attacked Victor. I knew what could have happened."

"But I..."

"I died protecting you, protecting someone who I cared a great deal about." He caressed my cheek, brushing away the tears with his thumb. It didn't matter of course, as the rain pounded around us, drenching us all. "I will never regret it, Ellie. It was my time, and as hard as it might be to understand, I'm glad I died honourably than by running away scared. I was going to stand by you until death no matter what."

My bottom lip trembled, my eyes filling with tears as I launched myself at Quinn for a second time. The man sighed as he held onto me tightly.

"As touching as this is, I brought you here to say a quick goodbye so we can get this show on the road." The reaper interrupted us.

I tried sniffing back the tears, but there was no point at all.

"Oh give them a minute." Kyra scolded him.

"We don't have a minute." The reaper hissed, pointing up at the sky.

We all gazed upwards and my breath was caught in my throat as the once nearly black cloudy sky began turning a blood red. The other Phoenix had started to scream, and as I glanced at the circle, I watched as the Phoenixes dashed away. I would have done the same thing if I knew where to go, where I could hide from Death of all people.

"You need to come with me." The Reaper grabbed onto my shoulders and tore me away from Quinn. A low growl sounded from the shifter's throat as he narrowed his eyes, stepping forward as if he was about to pounce at the Reaper. Actually on any normal circumstance, I would have enjoyed to see that. But now was not the time. I held up my hands to stop him, standing between the Reaper and a very angry were-tiger.

"Go where?" I glanced over my shoulder at the Reaper, my tears being washed away from the heavy rain that was slowly beginning to turn into large hail pellets.

"This way!" Kyra shouted over the claps of thunder, hurrying us all into the safety of the woods.

The tall and dense trees didn't stop the hail the size of golf balls from shooting down upon us, almost as if someone was directing them at us. And that wouldn't have surprised me at all. Someone was very angry, and I had a feeling it was a very bitchy Phoenix and a certain someone named Death. I didn't understand why Lilith hated me, why she and the Elders wanted to get rid of me. But they did, and Death was in on their plans. He was a sickening man who enjoyed torturing the souls of the unique. I would rather be thrown on the racks of hell than to face Death again.

"You need to come with me now!" the Reaper held onto my upper arm, squeezing until I let out a whimper in pain.

"Let her go." Quinn shoved at the reaper. "You're hurting her."

"She'll go through a whole lot worse pain if she doesn't come with me right now." The Reaper glared darkly at Quinn, and with a flick of his wrist, the shifter slowly began fading away.

"No!" I shouted, trying to grab at Quinn. But my hands fell right through him. "No, please don't leave. Not yet."

My legs felt weak, and if the Reaper hadn't been holding onto me so tightly, I would have collapsed to the ground. I didn't want to lose Quinn again. I didn't want to say goodbye. I wanted him to be alive. I wanted him to come home with me. He had been such a good friend, someone I would always cherish. I just didn't want to say goodbye.

"I'll always be with you, Ellie." He was nearly entirely gone as he flashed me that wide grin of his. "I'll always be in your heart. Never forget that."

The moment he was no longer standing there, I broke into a fit of sobs. I felt myself falling to the ground, but hands grabbed onto both of my arms and shook me violently.

"Get a hold of yourself, Phoenix." The Reaper growled. "Or else we're all going to end up dead."

"We're already dead." Kyra reminded him, her soothing hands on my back, trying to calm me down. "Don't be so harsh with her, Reaper."

"I have to take her back with me; it's the only way I can send her back. She needs to be in my realm."

Kyra sighed from behind me, but the words just seemed to bounce right off of me. I could hear the two talking about me, about my fate. But I wasn't really listening. Not entirely. Quinn's last words kept ringing in my ears, and I held onto that grin of his for as long as I possibly could, never wanting to forget the shifter that had wormed his way into my life in such a short amount of time.

"He has to take you back now, Ellie." The hands were suddenly pulled off of me as a pair of arms wrapped around my numb form. "Be strong. Everything will be okay, I've foreseen it. All will be fine."

I seemed to snap out of my trance, just for a single moment as Kyra pulled away and I stared into those identical green eyes.

"I want to resurrect you." I whispered, my voice hoarse from the crying.

"I know." She smiled sadly at me. "And I wish for you to do so, but you can't."

"But..."

"I need to stay here, at least for a little while." She cupped my cheek and offered me a small smile. "I need to right the wrong in this world before I can have another chance in yours. I want to be with Godric again, I do. But Lilith and the others need to be stopped. There are others that feel the same way. If I can build an army, if we can change the ways of this world, then and only then could I allow you to resurrect me."

I was exactly like her; I knew it more at that moment than I ever had before. We looked nearly identical, and most of our qualities were the same. But at that exact moment, hearing that she would delay returning to the man she loved in order to fight a way she never should have had to fight to begin with, it was obvious just how one and the same we truly were. She was sacrificing what she desired, even just for a little bit, in order to right the wrongs of this world. If I could, I would fight right along side of her. But I had a life I needed to return to, a vampire that I called my own that was waiting for me. Maybe one day, Kyra could return to hers. We still had a good century ahead of us before it would be impossible.

"One day." I promised her.

"One day." She nodded in return. "Now go. You must go with the Reaper."

"Go where?" I questioned.

"To the In-Between."

"It's been two days."

Sookie glanced up from where she was sitting beside Ellie's hospital bed. Eric was standing in the doorway, his expression stricken with fear. She saw the pain, the frightened human from within coming to the forefront as Eric slowly stepped into the room, his gaze falling on Ellie's unconscious form. Wires were attached to her body, monitoring her vitals. Her heart monitored beeped steadily, the only sign that Ellie was indeed alive and still among the living. The only change had been the tube that had been taken out, Ellie now able to breathe on her own. But she had yet to wake up in the two days since they had brought her here to this makeshift clinic Dr. Ludwig owned and operated for supernatural beings. She had told them all that Ellie had fallen into what she believed to be a coma. Ellie had just used too much power, too much of herself and had been tugged deep within her consciousness. But she was alive, that was all they could be happy about for now. They just needed to give her time, for her to come back to them.

"She'll wake up, Eric." Sookie assured him as he moved around the bed before coming to a stop on the opposite side. He just stood there, looking down at the woman he loved. Sookie felt for him, she pitied the pain that he must have been feeling. She couldn't even imagine what it would have been like if it had been Sam lying in this hospital bed. Watching the one you loved in pain, not able to help them in any way, it was worst than torture.

"I should have been able to stop you." He whispered, raising his hand to stroke Ellie's tangled locks. "You promised me, Ellie. You promised me."

Sookie felt her heart ache as she slowly stood, wanting to give Eric some privacy with Ellie. She slipped from the room with a sigh, shaking her head and glancing down the hallway to where Sam and Godric were talking. She joined the two, her arms wrapping around Sam's, needing to be comforted by the man she loved.

"Has there been any change?" Godric asked curiously, and she could see an identical set of pained orbs as the ones she had only just left.

"Not since yesterday." Sookie shook her head sadly. "I wish she would just wake up already."

"It'll take time." Sam squeezed her shoulders. "She used so much power that she just needs to rest."

"I hope so."

"Elizabeth is strong." Godric nodded, his gaze falling to the room down the hall. "She was stronger than us all. She will wake up, we only have to wait."

"God I hope so, I don't know what Eric would do if she..." she was stopped as screams sounded from down the hallway, blue lights beginning to flash overhead.

"Out of the way, out of the way! Code blue!" two nurses who Sookie recognized as werewolves from the Shreveport pack came hurtling down the hallway and turned into Ellie's room.

"Oh no." Sookie's eyes grew wide a she shared a fearful expression with her fiancé.

Godric was nowhere to be found as Sookie searched for him, but knew he was already in the room with the screaming vampire who was helpless to help the woman he loved. Sookie and Sam shot down the hallway and came to an abrupt stop in the doorway of Ellie's room. The blood drained from Sookie's face as she heard the flat lining of Ellie's heart monitor, the brunette looking lifeless lying on the hospital bed. Eric was shaking her by the shoulders, pleading for her to wake up, for her not to do this. The nurses and Dr. Ludwig were trying to pry him away from her so they could do their job, but Eric refused to let her go.

"Don't do this to me. You promised me, Ellie. You promised!" There were a flow of bloody tears making their way down Eric's cheeks and dripping to the stark white hospital linens on the bed. He held onto Ellie tightly, pulling her limp form to his chest as he wept for the dying girl. "Please don't go. Come back to me. You have to come back to me."

"Eric let her go." Godric stepped in, the nurses hurrying to the other side of the bed, preparing to resuscitate Ellie as best as they could. "You need to let her go."

"No!" Eric roared, shooting them all death glares. Even Godric halted in his place as he took in the sight before him. Eric was cradling Ellie in his arms, rocking back and forth, praying for the woman to just open her eyes. But she wouldn't. Because before them, she was dying. Her heart was no longer beating, she could no longer breathe on her own. She was gone. She was dead.

"She's a Phoenix, Eric. She can't die." Godric tried to remind his child, laying his hands on the shoulders of the crying vampire. "You need to let her go."

"Don't touch her!" Eric's fangs bore at his maker. "Please baby, please come back to me. You have to come back to me. Please. Don't leave me. You promised. You have to come back. I need you. I love you. I'll never leave you again. Please god come back to me."

"She cannot die, Mr. Northman." Dr. Ludwig pointed out, just as Godric had. "You need to let us make her comfortable. You're going to cause her harm if you continue like this. She'll return, you only need to..."

Eric wasn't listening to a word anyone was saying however. All he cared about was the lifeless woman in his arms. How could she have done this to him? She had promised she would return to him, that they would be together for an eternity. This was why he had left. He hadn't wanted to witness this, to hold her lifeless form in his arms. This was torture, absolute torture. He could no longer hear that magnificent heart beat of hers. He could lie with her for centuries and never grow bored of that beating organ. He was supposed to hold her for an eternity, a lifetime. But what if this was it? What if this was the last time he would ever feel her skin against his? What if she chose death, what if she never returned to him? He needed her. She was his life force. He couldn't continue living if she were to just disappear, to be buried in a hole for the rest of eternity. He couldn't continue on. He needed her like she needed the air to breathe. His heart would never beat again, but it ached without her. She was all he desired in the world; she was his, she was his one and only. But where was she now?

"You need to..." Godric began pulling Eric away from the motionless girl. But he was frozen in place when a soft whimper sounded.

Not a single word was spoken, even Eric's pleas had ceased as only the sound of the machines sounded in the room. A hand reached over and clicked off the flat lining heart monitor, it no longer being needed as another soft whimper reached their ears.

"Oh god, Ellie?" Sookie was the first to speak, tears flowing down her cheeks.

"C-can't breathe." A gasp sounded and Eric's arms were suddenly flung off of Ellie, her body crumpling down onto the bed.

A pair of bright green eyes stared up into the face of Dr. Ludwig as she gazed over the girl's form.

"Welcome back to the living Miss Cole."

"Oh thank god." Sookie sighed heavily, Sam's arms wrapping securely around her as the nurses began filing out of the room followed by Dr. Ludwig.

"She'll be fine. She'll just need to rest." She assured them all before disappearing into the hall.

Eric leaned over her small form, his hand hesitantly raising up the caress her warm, and very much alive, cheek.

"E-Eric?" her voice was raspy, but there as she stared up at the blue eyed vampire, tears forming in her eyes.

"I'm here, my sweet one, I'm here." He sighed in relief, sitting upon her bed as he stoked her hair, pulling her up into a sitting position so he could hold her to his chest once again. This time however, two small arms wrapped around the tall vampire, Ellie pressing herself against the man she loved. Tears still flowed freely down his cheeks, only this time in happiness. He could hear her heart beat fill his ears, felt it against his own chest. It was the one sound he never wished to cease hearing. It was a sound he wanted to hear, to feel, for the rest of his immortal life. He could never lose Ellie. He could never watch her truly die. She was everything to him. She had turned him into the man he never thought he could ever become. He felt worthy of her love. All he wished for was her in his life. That was all he needed. He couldn't imagine as single moment without her. "Marry me."

Silence filled the hospital room once again, but this time in surprise at the two little words that had spurted out of Eric's mouth. Sookie's mouth dropped as she looked up at Sam in surprise. A knowing smile crossed Godric's face as he shook his head and began ushering the others out of the room.

"Let's give them a moment alone." Godric suggested, glancing over his shoulder at the pair one last time before pulling the door close and allowing the couple a moment of privacy.

"W-What did you say?" Ellie questioned in a timid voice, slowly pulling away from Eric. She gazed up at him with wide green eyes, shock and surprise plastered across her face. "Did you just..."

"Marry me." he grasped onto both of her hands, not bothering to rid his cheeks of the stained bloody tears. He only cared about the woman before him, the woman he didn't wish to ever live a moment without.

Ellie didn't know what to say. She never thought she would ever hear those words leave Eric's mouth. She didn't even think Eric knew what the term marriage even meant. But here he was, proposing, and she couldn't even think straight. She had barely any time to realize what had happened between being pulled from the realm of Phoenixes and into the In-Between. The Reaper hadn't spoken a single word to her before suddenly she was thrust back into her own body. And now Eric was proposing, asking her to be his for all of eternity in the most official way possible.

"I love you, Ellie. I will forever love you. I was an idiot who thought Love was a weakness, who left you and damaged that beautiful spirit of yours. But I'm here now, and I will forever be at your side if you allow it. I will love you for an eternity, however long that may be. I wish to live my immortal life with you and only you. Marry me, my lover, my phoenix, the only woman I ever wish to love. Marry me."

"Eric, I..." a tear escaped, sliding down her cheek. Eric quickly brushed it away, caressing her cheek with the back of his fingers.

"Please say you'll be mine." He pleaded, drawing closer as his lips ghosted across hers. "Please say you'll love me forever."

There was never any question. Ellie knew he could have asked her this question the moment he had returned to her and the answer would have been the same.

"Yes." She breathed out, barely above a whisper but loud enough for him to hear. "Yes a hundred times over."

Eric's lips captured hers in a kiss that she would surely never forget. It was a kiss full of passion, full of joy, full of promises. Eric was giving himself to her in a way he never had in the past. He was offering her a lifetime together, an eternity with one another. She could never deny that, because deep down inside, that was all she truly wanted.

She returned the kiss, cupping both of his cheeks before slowly pulling herself away, her eyes sparkling as she stared into those beautiful blue robs. "So, you still have that ring, right?"