Language warning.

Reckoning

"Shit," Matthew whispered knowing his father was on the way. Sookie had decided to lay down after she was sick and he had been more than grateful at her decision. He had a pretty good idea of what the side effects of the quick travel would be and he really needed her out of commission before Eric woke up.

Suddenly Eric was there, Matt quickly tried to read his face and gauge his emotions. "It's fine son," Eric said quickly, understanding what his son was doing. "I'm not mad."

"I didn't…" Matt began.

"I know, it seems as if the world has been turned upside down. I'm glad you are okay. Does there seem to be any lasting effects of your little project?" Eric asked examining his son to see if he had suddenly aged.

"No sir, at least not that I can tell. I'm glad you are well, I would have never forgiven myself…"

Eric had put his hand up to silence his son. "We all do stupid things, but after all these years of your life I did expect a bit more maturity and common sense from you."

"Yes sir," Matt repeated.

Eric sighed as he looked up towards Sookie's bedroom. "Is she okay?"

"Just fine, a bit worried, but fine. What's wrong?"

Eric tried to mask his concern but knew he couldn't fool his son. "Russell Edgington, do you ever remember me talking about him?"

Matt nodded that he did. "You said he is nearly three thousand years old and very powerful."

"Yes, I hesitated to bring you here until he was no longer a problem."

"So where is he?" Matt asked cautiously.

"I'm not exactly sure," Eric said grimacing.

"Are you in danger?"

"I fear we all are," Eric admitted.

"When I was younger, I felt nothing; absolutely nothing could ever hurt me."

"Why?" Eric asked.

"Because you loved me, even when you turned into…" Matt paused searching for the right word, "a dick, I knew you would always protect me."

"How do you feel now?" Eric asked allowing the negative comment to slide.

"The same, but three thousand years holds a lot of supremacy. Maybe more than can ever be overcome," he said studying his father's six foot four frame.

"And that is my fear."

"But you have something now that you didn't before." Matt said.

"And what is that?"

"Me, and before you say anything, I'm in danger anyway, so let me try and help. I've lived well beyond what is normal and natural, just as you have, perhaps it's just time. Let me try and do some good before I go."

"This is not your fight. Bill and I are targets by both Russell and the American Vampire League, we will do what we can, but I don't believe we will be able to survive both."

"But you killed Nan. Is that why the want to hurt you?"

"No, Nan had quit the AVL; there are a lot of issues swirling around."

"You've been living with humans, in fact you've dated a human, what more can they ask of you?" Matt hesitated, "Is it me? Do they know I'm a half-breed?"

"You have nothing to do with it," Eric said his eyes soft.

"We can run, I can take us anywhere," Matt said, his voice beginning to rise in distress.

"Matthew, I am a hunter, I refuse to behave like prey. If this is a fight I cannot win, then that I would rather lose than run."

"Then let me be with you," the boy pleaded. "I have had more than my share on this world."

"No, not this way, not because of me."

"But how I will live without you?"

"You will be fine," Eric assured.

"But how will I die?"

Eric seemed surprised this question. "Immortality doesn't suit you?"

"Not if it means I keep losing everyone I love. I am used to humans moving on, but I always thought I would have you."

Eric had nothing else to sooth his son so he simply embraced him. When they finally parted, Matt wiped tears from his eyes. Eric smiled gently. "I released Pam."

"What? Why?"

"It was just time. I imagine with some effort you two can get along."

"She's the one who is the problem," Matt accused.

"I've spoken to her, she will be better."

Matt looked at his father warily. "Don't leave," he whispered.

"I have to. Alcide is going to watch over Sookie," he explained. "I glamoured him to ensure he had no desire for her," Eric finished after Matt shot him a look of disbelief.

"You want me to watch over her too?"

"As best you can. You two share a bond few others ever will. To be a part of two worlds is quite a special thing."

"It's also a gigantic pain in the ass," Matt added.

"I will always love you son, please remember that," Eric said getting up to leave.

"And I as well," Matt responded trying not to cry. "You will come back to me." He stated as Eric smiled before he took off at full speed.

Matt kept to himself for the next several days, trying to come to grips with his father's departure. It had been a difficult thing to watch him leave, having no idea if he would ever see him again. His days without Eric had been hard, but he realized he needed some fresh air and the only way to get Sookie to stop calling him would be stop by and see her; so late one evening he made his way to her house. She was sitting outside next to a mound of dirt.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"It was horrible Matt, just horrible."

"What was?" Matt asked.

"Debbie came to my house, I think she was out of her mind, she had a gun, and Tara, and she shot and Tara," Sookie tried before she dissolved in tears.

"Debbie showed up and Tara and a gun?" Matt asked.

Sookie shook her head no.

Matt tried again. "Debbie shot Tara?" Sookie nodded yes. "I didn't even know she knew Tara."

"She shot and I shot her," Sookie sobbed.

"Now wait a minute, I thought Debbie shot Tara, now you're saying you shot Tara?" Matt asked, his confusion renewed.

Sookie vehemently shook her head no and tried to breathe evenly. Finally she had herself somewhat under control. "Debbie showed up with a shotgun and was going to shoot me, but Tara jumped in front of me and her head…" Sookie once again dissolved into tears.

"So Tara jumped in front of the bullet meant for you?" he asked. Sookie nodded her confirmation. "Bet she's regretting that now," he said looking at the mound of dirt. "Then you shot Debbie and buried Tara in the backyard?"

"Sorta," she said in-between sobs.

"I think that's illegal."

"She's turned."

"Well I doubt that, I mean I figure you didn't embalm her but she shouldn't be that far gone yet," Matt said misunderstanding.

"No, Pam turned her, well we're waiting to see if it worked."

"What!" Matt yelled in disbelief. "Eric releases her and this is what she does, she becomes a maker…of Tara. She hated Tara. Tara hated vampires. This might not go over too well, have you thought of that?"

"I just couldn't let her go, she died for me."

"And maybe you should have let her. She made her choice and I don't think this was it."

"We don't even know if it will work. Why do you want Tara dead?"

"I don't want Tara dead, but you've just sentenced her to an existence of hunger and hatred and immortality, somehow that seems worse than death."

"But you wouldn't be here if Godric hadn't turned Eric."

"True, but was I supposed to be here, what impact have I made on the world, what impact has Eric? How have we changed things?"

"You've changed things for the better," Sookie argued.

"That only shows how little you know. Look, you took it upon yourself to rewrite Tara's existence, it wasn't for to do. She won't be the Tara you knew. Does Alcide know you killed Debbie?"

"Not yet," Sookie admitted.

"That will be an interesting conversation."

"She was going to kill me Matt."

"Hey, I have no doubt, I believe you, but it's a lot to take in for Alcide."

"I know," she said looking down. "He wanted me to stay with him, but I refused."

"On what grounds?"

"I just told him I couldn't."

"I see," Matt said kneeling down next to Sookie.

Suddenly Pam's hand came through the dirt and Matt could not hold his smile back. To see Pam this filthy was a first and somewhat amusing.

"I have dirt in my bra," she stated.

"And in your hair and on your face," Matt pointed out.

"Shut up you little half-wit," she snapped.

"You're supposed to be nicer to me."

"Yeah, well Eric released me, so I can do what I want, and being nice to you isn't on my list."

"It always did bother you that he loved me more," Matt said before he returned his gaze back to the dirt.

Sookie began to dig and finally found Tara's face, but she was lifeless. And tears began to wind their way down Sookie's cheeks.

"It wasn't meant to be, leave her in peace," Matt encouraged.

Sookie continued to sob as Lafayette came to the edge of the yard and stood in disbelief. Matt sighed and reached down placing his hand on Tara's forehead. "Shit," he whispered.

Tara burst forth from the ground and ran at Sookie.

"Whoa, whoa there, just settle down. You don't want to go and kill your best friend," Matt said stepping between Tara and Sookie. "Put Sookie down and here, taste some of this Trublood," he said pulling the bottle from Pam's hand.

Tara in a feral state grabbed the bottle and downed it all. "Yuck, that shit is nasty," she exclaimed.

"That's what I've heard, but it's the best you've got."

"No it ain't, not while there's humans around," she exclaimed.

"Congratulations guys, it's a monster." Matt said dryly.