Phew! {wipes sweat off brow} It seems the website has worked out all its kinks and bugs! It sure makes my life a whole bunch easier.

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Onto more important matters… {Pretend drum rolls please} The votes are in ladies and gentlemen and the dedication for this chapter goes to… the one the only…Vlady! Hooooooooray!

Vlady I have been loving your reviews since the days of writing the Viking and the Valkyrie. Thank you for sticking around and thanks for all the reviews and all the words of encouragement. It means the world!

Eric

Chapter Seventeen

Plans

Sookie was home. Our bond was swimming with comfort and relief. She was in the house but I wanted her even closer. I wanted much more than sex. Her touch; her taste; it lulled me in a way nothing else could. I was sure she wanted to tell me something she never got the chance. I closed the distance between us before she could utter her words of greeting. My lips were crushing down on hers. The only thing between our bodies was a flimsy piece of white silk she wore. Her back was against the wall she used the leverage to wrap her legs around me. I could feel her heat against my bare stomach. Before I placed her on the bed I pulled off her slip.

Despite how desperately I wanted her. I took my time. I kissed my way up her legs from her finely shaped calf's to her inner thigh. She was already whimpering and squirming in anticipation at the things to come. I was delicate. The kisses I placed upon her center were chaste and slow. I licked the length of her and she let out a moan that reverberated along my spine. My fingers entered her and my thumb made deep circles on her clit. Her fingers were fisted in my hair and I could feel her eyes on me. When I bit she cried out as the force of her release overtook her. Her hold on me didn't loosen as I drank from her. I closed the wound and made my way up her body.

I was beginning to believe that my body no longer belonged to me. It belonged to Sookie entirely. Every touch seemed to bring us closer together. It was hard to know where she ended and I began. I have had countless lovers that had been more skilled but being with her was the best, burying myself inside her felt so right it was impossible to imagine anyone else. Her hips rose and her back arched to take me deeper. She bit into me with enough force to break my skin; it produced the perfect amount of pain. I was undone; my body quivered and I let it lay motionless on top of her. She pulled on the wound and moaned in pleasure with a mouth full of my blood. I couldn't stop the steady stream of growls that escaped me. It was a noise of a creature losing its self.

I rolled off her though I knew she didn't mind the weight. Her breathing was still irregular as I pulled her to me. My hands roamed to her stomach where our children were growing.

"Can you feel them move?" I asked. She shook her head and her fingers intertwined with my own.

"It's too soon" There was a slight smile on her face and I knew as we lay here discussing our children she felt complete and nothing would ever bring her this much happiness. "I can't wait" She added. I kissed her head and I shared in her excitement.

"Do you think we will need a bigger place?" She laughed until she saw it was a serious question. It wasn't that I thought our children would need the space. When they were born Sookie will need extra help during the day. A bigger place will provide her with the privacy she needed with others around her.

"No" She answered. I explained my reasoning to her and she shrink from at the notion in its entirety. "The setup of the complex is convenient so you don't have to go far to work" I shrugged. Relocating for me has been a part of living. It meant nothing but I wanted her to be happy and have what she needed wherever we may be. "This just started feeling like home I don't want to move. Plus I don't want to be shielding in my own house" I thought she could at least use some help with cleaning it irked me that she insisted on doing that chore on her own but I did not argue.

"If you change your mind…" she kissed me.

"You will be the first one to know" I nodded. It would have to do.

"You should make a list of things that you think they will need" I had no idea what those things would be. Their needs maybe similar to that of normal human infants or it may differ entirely I wanted to prepare for any eventuality.

"Can I ask you something?" I nodded.

Her question caught me unawares. Rarely did she ever ask me how I felt on an issue. When she could not register my emotion through our bond she assumed I did not want her to know. In that event she did not press it. This was uncharted waters she struggled with words not wanting to hurt of offend me. "How do you feel about all this?" She applied pressure on the hand I still I had resting on her stomach. "I mean I know you have…I wanted to know how you feel about being a father in the biological sense again" The underlying question within the one she asked was, Do I feel like this was a burden and another weakness?

It is a fundamental difference. No matter how much I loved her I am a vampire. My aspirations in this life differ from hers and that from any human. Making a child was useful and necessary but infants had no place in my world. It was different with her and them. She knew that. She did not doubt my love for them or her. She merely wanted to know how I felt on something that should not have been a part of my life but now was. I explained it to her as best as I could.

"I am honored that you will give me something that no one of my kind has; something that was supposed to have been lost to me" Raising a child from its early stages would change any vampire if the emotional attachment was deep. In my mind I did not see much of a difference in providing for my vampire children and my half human children. I would protect them all and the elder ones would be charged with the younger ones. The only worry I had was that this would make me less of a vampire and less effective as the person charged with their safe keeping.

It was the only difference. The children Sookie and I shared would hold a part of her on this world long after she was gone. "I will have a living testament to the love we shared" I whispered. It was my hope that our children would be enough to make her stay. The reality was that one day it could be just us-no Sookie. Time would force me to face that. I could not allow myself to fall apart because I would have to carry on for our children. Oddly enough now that we were facing parenthood I did not want to revisit the topic. I did not want her to feel like a prisoner of this life if she chose it. Her choice it must always be her choice. She never replied to my response. I knew she was deep in thought but I did not ask and she did not offer.

The topic moved to our previous night apart. It angered me that the Alcide would undermine my decision to keep Sookie far from the dangers that surround his kind. It angered me but it did not surprise me. I would have done the same in his position. In fact I would have used more devious means to get the help I felt I needed. I knew it pained her to refuse him but it was for the best and she knew it.

"We have to go to the governor's ball" She informed me. In a word: ghastly. My campaign for human relations was going quite well. I had a publicist as well as Copley Carmichael between the two I had invites to all the important human affairs. Most of the events I sent underlings in my stead; Bill Compton most specifically. He was still interested in human things and humans were not as wary of him as they were the majority of us. He had a reassuring air about him. While Pam would call it boring, humans called it safe.

"I am already sending Compton" She shook her head which surprised me. She was always more than pleased when I gave her an out for these kinds of things.

It pleased me to see her throwing her weight around. It was to be expected that she wasn't using it for her own benefit but I was still pleased. "I told Copley we would go" I arched an eyebrow for her to explain. That was most usual she liked Copley well enough but she did not have to deal with him directly.

"He did me a favor. Hunter's dad was going to move unless he found a job so I called Copley and he hinted that he wanted us to go to the governors ball because he was going" I nodded. Finding a means to make him remain here was safest. I have known for a few months now that like my wife Hunter was a telepath. I have told no one not even Pam. I did not want to tempt her. It was why Sookie never brought him here. It was wise of her to keep him a secret. He was just within the boundaries of my area so I had claim to him as an asset if the need arose. Had he moved to another state and his abilities were discovered there was nothing that she would have been able to do to protect him. At his young age the temptation to kill his father and raise him to belong to a vampire would have been too tempting for most of my kind to resist.

"I would hate to have Hunter far away" she added. She seemed to make some decision internally before she continued speaking. "He is like me" Her eyes were holding mine but I betrayed no emotion. He was safe as long as he resided in Louisiana and I was King.

"He did this task to your satisfaction?" If not I would apply a little more pressure. Copley was sly but he recognized and respected wealth and power. I had both. Sookie was not aware of it but if she asked him to hide a body he would have no choice but to comply. He had many, many ventures that were dependent on the vampires of my state and that of Pam's, even Isaiah was using him on a contract basis because of me.

"I don't know. Remy-Hunter's dad he doesn't know I had anything do with him getting a job" I could not help but laugh. She pretended to have no idea what I found amusing.

She stuck her tongue out at me. "You are a bad influence" she teased.

"Bullshit" She was getting a taste of the position I was always in when it came to her; doing what was best for someone you cared about but knowing they would fight you had they known. It was frustrating to say the least.

"Are you tired?" I nuzzled her neck and pulled a deep breath of her scent. It laced every surface of this house but she smelled different in this proximity especially with my blood so fresh in her veins.

"Nope, I'm fine" I began sitting up and pulled her with me.

There were a few things I had to see to. Mainly I wanted a progress report on the were attacks. I also wanted to make sure the human task force that had been assigned was keeping their nose out of our affairs. There were arrangements for our entourage to the governor's ball that had to be made. Nothing today required her presence but I wanted her with me.

"Come with me tonight while I work" The idea of being surrounded by so many of my underlings was not her idea of a night well spent. I gave her the most dazzling smile I had in my arsenal. "Please lover" She tried to act unaffected but her physiological reactions told me she was going to agree before she nodded.

It was a short walk to the main house of the complex. Gideon walked behind Sookie and I. Since he had discovered to better control his ability he spoke less. Now he simply showed me what he was trying to say. When his influence was not entire it was not as much of a distraction so I allowed it. It would help him make his gift more fluid and precise. As we walked he was briefing me on his night. Sookie looked between us but kept her pace in tune with mine.

Gideon watched the weres as they tried to get Sookie to intervene personally. I could see Compton wanted to step in. He did not allow it. He knew I had been dealing with something more pressing. Had Sookie needed help he would have known. Regardless the whole situation made him wary. He did not trust the task force and he was absolutely certain they had an agenda that was far from the wellbeing of the two natured or the supernatural community in general.

"I know as much but why do you think so?" I asked out loud. I wanted Sookie's opinion she was very insightful. Between the three of us we would come up with some probable scenarios.

"Humans are no longer at the top of the food chain and they know it. From that point I would say they want to get close enough to find out as much as they can about what is out there and how to defend against it" I nodded. We all considered his words. That was a troubling prospect. It wasn't along the lines of what I was thinking. How to finally end a vampire was public knowledge. The same was true for how to kill a were or shifter it was even easier. They did not heal as quickly. At most I thought they wanted evidence of violence and unrest amongst the two natured so they could forward their registration agenda.

Gideon's opinion did not sound far off. Humans had not endured as long as they have by being entirely witless. Coming to the rescue would give them the entrance they needed into the world of the supernatural. A were wouldn't give up their own secrets but they certainly wouldn't protect that of other species especially if they were under attack and coping alone.

"That could be possible" Sookie said. Her tone led me to believe she did not agree. "They may not want people taking the laws into their hands. They may want to do the right thing" Gideon eyed her in a manner that said she couldn't possibly believe her own words. "Wishful thinking" She shrugged feeling the full weight of the unlikelihood of her suggestion. We reached the house and our discussion died.

It was rare that she ever attended these kinds of meeting but it was not unheard of. Typically I handled the day to day affairs of the throne later in the night while she slept. Anything that required her input was set aside till the morning. In the dining room of the main business house Heidi, Alana, Thalia, Edgar, Indira and Bill were present.

"Your Majesties" we all returned their greeting. We took our seats I noticed Sookie inconspicuously looking over Edgar to make sure he had healed completely. He had. I valued him and he had been wounded in defense of his queen. While he had been wounded in the past week I made sure all his needs were met. I also assigned Alana to watch over him and I was sure she had been tempted to end him more than a few times.

I was looking over incoming transmissions from other areas of my state and they began their briefings. Alana went first. Her scowl was ever present and unremitting.

"News has come that Curtis has fallen and the rule of Alabama is now Eliza's" That confirmed one of my many suspicions. We all knew Curtis could have been a problem and now he is not. I could feel all their eyes on me. Whether or not I had anything to do with it was inconsequential. My face showed the proper amount of interest.

"Who was lost?" She consulted a small note pad from her breast pocket.

"All of his guards and all his sheriffs are unaccounted for" That confirmed another. While I saw Curtis himself meet his end I was curious as to whether the attack had been coordinated throughout his state; apparently it was. Eliza was ruthless and he should have known better to get involved with her. Ruthless as she was she would have been mad if she set her sights on Louisiana even with the power of two states.

Heidi moved us to more important matters. "I am still unable to track that scent but it is not present at all the scenes at least all the ones within the boundaries of our state" I nodded it was no surprise. She was an excellent tracker had she caught even the slight hint of a trail she would have followed it and it would have yielded results.

"The mongrels grow restless" Thalia said. Her words sounded as though they were being ground out through clenched teeth. "They will bark and bite at any unknown vampire in the area" Her hostility at the matter was poorly contained. She was my enforcer. It suited her ill-tempered personality well. Aside from myself very few vampires in my state were older than her and even they would not test her. Right now she had her hands full and the fact showed. Without being able to use deadly force Thalia was most out of sorts with her duties. When she finished speaking she returned to her brooding. It was odd how much Alana and Heidi resembled her at the moment.

"The known hovels his majesty has assigned me to watch over have been quiet" Edgar said. He had been assigned to watch over any bars and restaurants frequented by the two natured. His distance was to provide him with the advantage of watching without being seen. "Bubba is here from the kingdom of Edginton. He is eager to see his king and queen but he is in my stead this night" There was a smile on Sookie's face. She was very fond of him. I remained expressionless. Bubba was a good messenger and soldier but he was a lot of trouble fortunately not more than he was worth.

"The Human law enforcement work mostly by day. The only name that seems to be a problem is a one Agent Lattesta" Beside me Sookie's eyes narrowed. The name meant something to her. Her reaction did not go unnoticed but it was something I wanted to address privately. "His interest is not entirely on that of the two natured. They vary from one pack to another he is asking about everything from psychics and witches to aliens" That did not gauge any reaction from anyone in the room. Sookie included. Her mind was miles away from here. Her emotions were peppered with an air of anxiety.

I continued looking over the documents in front me but my hand moved to her knee. She relaxed slightly. I gave my signature where it was required and listened to any more pertinent information. A few hours of this and I had to apply pressure every now and again to Sookie's hand to keep her awake. I had completed all the depositions and petitions that needed my attention. I was ready to give them my parting orders.

"Heidi continue searching I am sure you can find something"

It was not the main pack in Shreveport that was the problem. It was rouge shifters and unaffiliated weres that weren't associated with a pack master with whom we could reason. Thalia was competent she could handle it. "Thalia maintain the peace" It thought it impossible but her scowl somehow deepened.

"Your majesty I am still not allowed to use force" My glower surpassed hers and I shook my head. Such a thing would be very counterproductive.

"Not without imminent risk to your safety" she bowed and I knew she was displeased but she was hopeful someone would test her. I pitied whoever would make that mistake because it would surely be their last.

"Edgar continue to maintain surveillance. Widen your range on the two natured establishments and divided them with Bubba."

"Bill at the end of the month I will still require your presence at the governor's ball along with myself" It went without saying that Sookie and Gideon would be present as well. I thought through the rooster of people that were available to me.

"Edgar, Alana, you will accompany us as well" They nodded. "Indira send word to Maxwell Lee" The event would be in Baton Rouge it was his back yard. His presence would be convenient and somewhat necessary. "Inform him his attendance is mandated" She nodded. After receiving their orders they all bowed and left. The three of us headed home. Sookie was leaning heavily upon me as we walked.

"Who is Lattesta" Gideon asked her.

"He's a prick" she answered. He chuckled. I smiled. "The day of Rhodes Barry and I did everything we could to help everyone that we could" It came to me then he was the F.B.I that had traced her back to Bon Temps. "He was able to track me here but Niall got him to back off but I guess now he's back now that Niall is gone" The fairies had gone to their home world or so we all thought. She was worried but she was too tired to give it too much thought.

"The conversation last night didn't go well" Gideon asked. We were alone and biding our time before dawn. I told him what happened. I also mentioned the fairy that sought me out on my way home. "Maybe her uncle knows something about it" I shook my head. That thought has crossed my mind but if the person that came to me was an associate of Dermot's or Claude he wouldn't have risked coming to me for an introduction.

"Were there any scents of fairy around the woods?" He shook his head and a look of longing flittered across his face. You had to be careful when tangling with fairies. When dealing with the prince of the Fae it was wise to lean heavier towards caution. I was thinking on the best way to handle this. It was unlikely that the return of Lattesta and the fairy were related but I was unsure.

The fact that it wasn't Niall himself that came to me was the only thing that made me anxious. It was not his style. He would not do anything to directly cause Sookie harm no matter what his plans were. If he wanted our children for his own purposes she was safe while she was pregnant. Trying to abduct her would not happen without a fight he would not risk hurting her. Then again he would not have been callous enough to just send anyone as a messenger. I would wait. The matter was supposedly of great importance so he would attempt to make contact again either by messenger of personally. I will be ready.

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I felt like the last few chapters were lacking in some intimate time between Eric and Sookie.

I know you are all dying to see the face behind the all the mysteries as well as the fairy but all in good time. Trust me when I tell you when it all gets unveiled you will not be disappointed. As a consolation prize I will try to get the next chapter out a little sooner just so I can bring you one step closer to solving the mystery. I am kind of surprised that no one had guessed the identity of the fairy. You are usually hitting things on the nose!

Like always let me know your thoughts, feelings and concerns! Until next time.