A Time To Travel part III

The next several days took them from the isolated area of the northern highlands to the cities of Inverness, Glasgow and finally to Edinburgh. "I love this country and this city is so beautiful and quaint and charming," Sookie gushed.

"Yeah it's pretty awesome, but we have one more destination," Matt said holding out two tickets. "We leave tonight."

Sookie took the plane tickets and studied them closely. "Sweden? We're going to Sweden?"

"Yep, thought you might like to see Eric's homeland."

"Does he know about this?"

"Don't worry about it, I have lots of friends there that will put us up and how can he be mad that I took you to his native country. Besides, you know me I'm a do it now apologize later kind of guy. It will be fine. It's just for a few days anyway, besides my Swedish is getting rusty," he said smiling.

A day into Sweden and she didn't think Matt's Swedish was the least bit rusty as he fluently chatted away with the locals. Most spoke English in Stockholm but now that they had gone further north, while many could get by with English they much preferred their native tongue. It also seemed that Matt preferred at times that she didn't understand most of the conversation. It took her back to the hushed tones from the kitchen back in Ullapool and made her wonder what he was up to.

They continued once again into a sparsely populated area which made sense as he was constantly in hiding and therefore know people in the nether regions. Matt seemed so at ease flagging down taxis, reading bus schedules and using ATM's, as well trekking through the wilderness that he seemed like the most well rounded teenager ever. They had stopped at the center of whatever town they were in as they need an infusion of cash. Matt stepped up to the cash machine and slid his card in as she stared at the meaningless words popping up on the screen as he pushed buttons and machine fluttered away on the inside finally shoving out many colorful bills. "Eric isn't going to be happy." She said shaking her head.

"Let me worry about him," he said pulling the money out and counting it.

"What is the money called here?"

"Krona and it takes a lot to equal a dollar. Look don't worry about it, Eric told me to come overseas and do what I needed to and go where I wanted to so I can put the whole Antonia thing behind me. So that's what I'm doing." He shoved the money into his pocket and headed towards the main drag. "We need a taxi; I need to say hi to friend about 25 kilometers from here."

"It's good that you're reconnecting with people from your past," Sookie said as they made their way to a street that was full of quaint little shops. She looked around her and realized how easily she could lose Matt as he blended seamlessly into the blond haired sea of humanity. He smiled and gabbed away to those around him like a native, every inch of him oozing essence of Scandinavia. It had been the same way in Scotland only the oozing had had Gaelic overtones. He had been taught and taught well to blend in.

The cab dropped them off on the outskirts of another small town that was inhabited by an older couple who were utterly ecstatic to see him. They spoke in very broken English and Sookie was exhausted at trying to understand them after only a few minutes.

"Sookie, I have to go out with Jan for a little while, you stay here with his wife, she'll get you something to eat."

"But I would rather go with you," she replied a hint of desperation on her face where she had plastered a fake smile.

"I won't be long I promise," he said walking out the door.

Sookie sat and pondered what he was up to. Jan hadn't looked too enthused at their pending departure and though the words seemed civil she could detect undertones that weren't as friendly. His abandoned wife busied herself in the kitchen and kept muttering, "you eat" in heavily accented English.

After nearly two hours of smiling and nodding Sookie was ready to kill Matthew. She wished she had at least bought a Swedish/English dictionary to help. Mrs. Jan's wife whom she had never been officially introduced to in Matthew's haste, finally turned the TV on and with many gestures gave her the remote to find something to watch. Sookie finally came across a nature show that didn't need too many words to describe the carnal nature of lions. Finally the two returned and after Matt wolfed down some soup and bread he graciously thanked them both as best as she could tell, they moved back outside to where the cab was coming down the road.

"I called before we got back to the house," he offered as an explanation to the timing. "We go back to Stockholm and fly out tomorrow morning. I changed our flight plans; Stockholm to Berlin to Newark. I wanted to go back to Edinburgh but we're running out of time and I need to get back to school."

Sookie had thoroughly enjoyed the trip but she had a nagging feeling there was something larger going on. First Matt takes her on a bizarre journey that she had decided to keep a secret and then it became apparent that he was up to something. There were several times that he had gone off on very long walks with the dog while they were still in Ullapool, not inviting her despite his eagerness to share his homeland. But what could she tell Eric, that she had suspicions because Matt liked to go for walks and went off with an old friend while they were in Sweden. She closed her eyes tight and put her head back on the head rest and decided the Northman's were going to be the death of her.

While they waited for their plane at the Berlin airport, exhaustion was beginning to creep up for both of them. She was tiring of the incessant announcements that were being constantly rattled off in every language imaginable. She noticed several people glancing her way and they were making her feel very uncomfortable. Matt had gone off to get them something to eat but she wished that he would hurry back. She had wanted to go with him but he told her to relax and keep an eye of their bags so they didn't have to tote them around. A woman had come up to her speaking a language she couldn't even identify much less speak and she quickly came to realize how small she had allowed her world to be. Matt must think of her as a simple country hick. Here he is speaking who knows how many languages, comfortable in any situation and seemingly fearless. After spending almost every moment with him over the last two weeks she had quickly come to realize that she felt much safer with him around. She had embraced Bonnie's story and was beginning to realize that she would no longer be totally comfortable without Matt being nearby. She wasn't sure what emotions were roiling around inside of her they seemed to defy any definition but there were feelings and they were stronger than she cared to admit.

The duo arrived home taking their bags from the chauffer that Eric had sent to pick them up from the airport. The house looked quite inviting to the two exhausted travelers and Matt had missed his father very much. All the memories that he had dealt with seemed nearly overwhelming without his dad by his side. He just wanted to see him and then crash into bed.

"Well it's the triumphant return of the overseas journeymen." Eric said as he stepped over to his son pulling him into an embrace. "I missed you kid," he said sincerely.

Matt couldn't contain his smile at his father's words and actions. He still wasn't quite sure what Eric would be like after all the spells had worn off, but he was finding the combination that was left quite to his liking.

"Don't unpack," Eric said after the two parted.

"Why not, I need my clothes," Matt said.

"I know, but you'll be needing them at Bill's. Now that your back you'll be staying there for a while."

"Why?"

"Because I spend a lot of time there and I don't want you here alone."

"But I won't be alone, Sookie is here," he pointed out.

"No offense but her protective skills aren't on the same level as mine."

"She saved your ass," Matt pointed out.

"I'm not asking, Matthew," Eric stated his anger rising.

"I think I know what this is about," Matt said realizing his father couldn't be near the woman who spurned him. On the trip he knew how hard the decision to forgo both men had been on her. He could see she often reflected on her decision and it pained her every time.

"It can be whatever you want it to be; just get your stuff and get ready."

Matt shook his head left his suitcase where it was and trudged upstairs to find what else he might want to take to Bills house.

"You don't have to go anywhere, we're on opposite schedules," Sookie said finally finding her voice.

"I need my son with me, Marnie and Antonia may be gone but the vampire world is in somewhat of a turmoil. I still own the house and will be by on a regular basis."

"Oh," Sookie said her fatigue sinking into her face. "Okay then," she mumbled not really wanting the vampire to leave. Though she hadn't been ready to be in a relationship with him she had wanted to maintain the living arrangements for the time being; she still very much enjoyed his company.

Eric sensed her disappointment and shifted his weight as he thought of what to say. "How was the trip?"

"Fantastic, what a beautiful place," she began as Eric picked up her luggage and followed her upstairs.

Sookie momentarily forgetting the Northman's imminent departure chatted away about the adventures they had on the trip as Eric struggled to keep up. She loved the scenery and the people felt close to the earth and could see why Matthew felt so at home there. Eric smiled as he listened to her. He would miss her dearly but felt that leaving was necessary for his sanity. So he listened intently to Sookie fill him in on the details. She had finally finished unpacking and pulled out an old goblet.

"This is for you; Bonnie sent it back with me. She said you would know it."

"I do, I took this from a church in England in 1702 thought it could help them bribe someone if necessary. I guess they don't need it anymore," Eric said looking carefully at the silver piece that had been recently cleaned and polished.

Eric looked into the suitcase and saw a book with a piece of paper towel sticking out from the top. "What's this you're reading with the fancy bookmark?" he asked picking up the book.

"It's nothing," Sookie stammered.

Eric noticing her discomfort cocked his head as he opened the book; A History of Scotland. The literature didn't grab his attention but what was pressed between the paper towel did. "Where did you get this?" he demanded.

Sookie snatched the flower that Matt had given her on their time travel. "There was a field of these and I thought they were so pretty I brought one home," she lied.

"Bullshit, this flower hasn't been seen in hundreds of years, where did you get it?" he growled in her face.

"I gave it to her," Matt said from the doorway.

Eric threw the flower down and was at his son's side in no time. He grabbed Matthew by the arm and disappeared.

"Eric wait," Sookie yelled.

Suddenly he was back at her side. "What?"

"Don't be mad at him, it just happened it was an accident."

"Do you even know what happened?"

"No not really," she admitted.

"Tell me what you saw," Eric said somewhat calmly.

Sookie explained her experience in all the detail she could remember including Matt's apology and fear of retribution.

Eric shook his head and began to explain. "He either finds or creates rips in dimensions or time continuum or some such thing. He can seem to go where he wants in any time frame. Once before I left him he pulled us through near a battlefield during the Crusades. One minute I'm standing in Sweden in 1615 and the next I'm standing on the Iberian Peninsula in 1102. I was seriously freaked out but he looked like a kid in a toy store. Once he got us back I chastised him severely. I wasn't sure if he could control it or was showing off, but either way I made it clear it was never to happen again."

"So what I saw was real?"

"Very real indeed."

She stood there her heart pounding as she realized the fact that she had been several hundred years in the past. "He told me it was like a play, like it was just a performance."

"Well he lied to you."

"Eric," Sookie spoke softly. "Where is Matt right now?"

"He's in the car waiting for me."

"What are you going to do?" she asked.

"Well what I did before lasted a few hundred years," he said thoughtfully.

"Don't hurt him; he'll hate me for telling on him."

"He knows what happened, he won't blame you," Eric said winking and disappearing.