Truth Be Told

"No, no, no, absolutely not," Matt yelled.

"Then can you tell me what happened that night, I could tell you really wanted to when we were back in Scotland."

"You're delusional, I wasn't ready to tell you anything," Matt protested.

"Then maybe it's time, maybe I'm the one that you can tell. Look what the secret did to your father; I just don't want it to make you…."

The last words were still hanging in her throat when she looked around her; the night was new the air was cool the surroundings were ancient. The scene was in front of her just as it had been that night in Scotland except the cast had different characters.

Eric batted away his day long slumber to a pleading Ava in great pain and desperation. "It must be done now, what we have talked about, it must happen."

Eric shaking sleep from his soul took his love into his arms and held her tightly his cold body embracing hers as Matthew stood, his eyes questioning watching them. "I don't think I can," Eric finally said as he pushed Ava back to look her in the eye. But before Ava could answer her body tensed and she screamed out in pain. "How long has she been like this?"

Matt was slow to respond and it took a growl from Eric to break him from his private thoughts. "Um maybe a few hours."

Erik looked around desperately as his wife began to slip from his grasp. "No you stay with me," Eric ordered.

"You must do it now, turn him Eric it is the only way to keep him safe, you must turn him and keep him forever with you," Ava said tugging her body away from Eric's arms.

Matt looked at his father his face a mix of fear and resignation, it didn't matter whether he agreed or not this decision had been made by his elders and he could do nothing but submit. His father walked over to him and pulled him into their small makeshift home, made of thatch. One candle cast its light around the small room. Eric's eyes softened as he pulled his son close and felt his heart beat and the rhythm of his breath, then without warning he sunk his teeth into the boys' neck and began to drink heartily. Matt struggled at first the pain intense but as his blood left him he grew weaker until he heard his mother scream.

Despite an amazingly quick exit Eric had managed to set his son down gently on the straw that he slept on. He found Ava on the ground writhing in pain, her agony was more than Eric could handle as he went to her sitting down pulling her into his lap. He looked in her eyes which were tightly closed. Her fists were clenched tightly she was as stiff as if she was already dead. He held her as tightly as he could and kissed her face. She managed to open her eyes, one last time giving permission just in case he was having second thoughts. She began to work her mouth until she finally managed to croak out, "please." Eric nodded as the tears slipped down his face he pulled her close and snapped her neck. Her body lost all tension and fell limp into his arms. He screamed as if he never had before. Matt had managed to stagger to the door and saw his life end as he knew it. Eric stood up holding Ava in his arms and began to turn towards his son when there was voice that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at the same time.

"I could have saved her, it was merely a spell, all you had to do was come to me." Antonia's voice floated from shadows, taunting her victory.

It was more than Eric could stand as he renewed his outrage once more screaming into the darkened woods. He took Ava into the small hut and laid her down on the bed that Matt had vacated gave her one last kiss and gently pushed her hair off her face. He then grabbed Matt and never looked back.

Sookie couldn't make her mouth work. She looked at the crumpled form in front of her and stretched her hand out towards him but let it fall back by her side. She had no words that would help this situation and even if she did she didn't think she could get them out. This was the root of everything; Matt's inherent sadness and desire to go into the past, Eric's perpetual anger it all went back to this moment so long ago. Eric carried the pain deep inside a heart that no longer beat for him but was more than capable of holding this heavy load. This was their defining moment and it still held them tightly in its grip.

Matt wiped his face and finally turned around. "He ran forever and finally stopped, he held me all night long as I was in and out of consciousness. Godric found us and the next night he stayed with me while my dad went back and buried my mother. After that we traveled up north where it was dark much of the time."

Sookie finally cleared her throat and found her voice. "He wanted to keep you close."

"Yes he did but a boy needs sunshine and once it was becoming clear his bite did nothing to change me he began to search for more round the clock care. Summer does eventually come even to the farthest reaches of Scandinavia."

"Why didn't he try to turn you again?"

"I don't know; I suspect he was afraid to in case it went wrong. His experience with my mother didn't go all that well and both decisions were quite permanent. He changed that day Sookie, and until he lost that memory I thought I would never see that part of him again."

"He is still afraid of losing you, that's why he doesn't want you traveling anymore."

"I know but I have my reasons."

"You're right and that's my fault if I hadn't pushed you…"

"It has nothing to do with you. I merely brought you along for a ride I had already booked."

"Why, why defy Eric?"

"There are things I need to do."

"Like when we were in Scotland or our side trip to Sweden?"

But he merely smiled as they were suddenly back in the front yard. "Sun's almost down…suck up your knowledge, go to work and pretend you have no idea of what I just showed you." Matt turned and ran home leaving Sookie wondering what else might be in store.

Despite her best efforts all Sookie could think about was the night that Matthew had finally revealed. Her heart went out to both Eric and Matthew. She couldn't imagine what it had been like for the vampire to kill his wife out of love only to find out it had been a cruel trick; never having a moment to heal before facing the mysterious nature of his son. And that son, that special boy was taking up more and more of her heart and soul.