Don't know where the bulk of my readers are from but in Boston we just had our first seventy degree weather after a long a** winter! This update was in grave danger of not getting done. But because I am afraid of some of you might do if I miss the four day schedule I got my butt inside and got to work! :D

This is kind of special. I felt like I had been dangling too many carrots and the suspense was beginning to get maddening. This chapter goes out to Kerriki for boldly stating that she loves disaster. Well you are in for a treat for a few reasons. This chapter is a double feature and they are both yours! I felt like it was about time I let you guys know what the hell was going on.

***I always forget to put the disclaimer up here. But as we all know these characters do not belong to me they belong in full to Miss Harris***

With that being said Enjoy!

Sookie

Chapter Eighteen

The Unknown Nexus

It kind of happened overnight. I left like I went to bed with a normal figure minus a tiny baby bump. The next morning there was no hiding it. They were making themselves known. I knew it wasn't just me because I came down stairs one morning about a week ago Rob and Ty exchanged a look. There was a tie between anxiety and shock on their faces and they spent a great deal of effort not looking at my midsection or in my direction in general for the day. When they saw I survived the night with Eric they could look at me again.

David had been given instructions to bring my work home and reschedule my appointments to nights so Eric could do them. Something I wasn't expecting was still being able to do all the same things I use to do. During the day I still went into the office to work and took walks through the neighborhood. I still cooked and cleaned but I had to admit to my limitation on being able to bend over to retrieve fallen items. It wasn't worth the backache.

It was almost June and it was usually the time of year I would break out my bikini and sun bathe. The complex had a pool to boot it was something that I had intended to use as "Sookie time" during the day. Outside of day men performing errands for the vampires here I was the only human around. It would have been peaceful and perfect. Except I saw one of my bikinis and thought I should save myself some dignity. I put them far out of sight. It was bittersweet. It was official. I was going to have to buy some maternity clothes. Sundresses were no longer going to do the trick.

With all the exciting changes I was coming to. There was this heavy nagging feeling in my mind; like a fly on steroids. I hadn't yet found words or time to sit down and tell my friends and family I was expecting. I had been dragging my feet for two reasons. The main one was that I was happy having the knowledge of my pregnancy a well-kept secret. The people who knew had no negativity or judgment to pass my way. It further helped me bask in the joy of knowing I was going be a mom. Second only a portion of the truth would be known to everyone else I told and I hadn't yet made my peace with that. Now I had no choice but to face it all head on.

Unfortunately for everyone around me my mood swings had showed no signs of leveling out. They were growing too fast for my hormones to catch up with. The other day I dropped my sandwich and cried over it. Gideon made me another one. It was a nice change of pace that he remembered something as human as fixing a sandwich. None of it really grossed him out. Having Eric's blood and carrying part vampire children were heightening my senses. Everything smelled better and tasted better to me now. I was now one of those people that made orgasmic noises as they ate. If you asked me I would swear that I never had a little Debbie cinnamon roll until I had had while I was pregnant. It tasted like heaven. Yes I am fat and my appetite was only growing.

My newly acquired girth did not come at the best of times. I was leaving for Baton Rouge tonight. There was nothing on my schedule for the day which was a plus. On the downside the dress that had already been packed for me just wasn't gonna cut it. I was going to have to go into Shreveport and figure something out on my own. When I had money to shop which wasn't often I enjoyed it. These days I can't recall the last time I bought my own anything. Between you and me I was having less and less normal clothes. Everything the personal shopper bought was chiffon this or lace that but deep down I was still a t-shirt and jean kind of girl. I was happy to get out on my own to see what I could find along those lines.

There was a mall in Shreveport that I had been a time or two. Before we arrived there we drove past a little street that housed some boutiques. "Could we try here first please?" The store I was pointing towards held the quaintest looking baby display. In the window was a rocking chair like the one that was at my old farm house. It was sitting not too far from a crib. I had already asked my uncle if I could have the chair that was still in my old room. It was one of the few baby things left behind when Jason and Michele took what they needed for their baby. Rob parked and Ty helped me out of the car as I tried to waddle my way out. I was elated and embarrassed that I doing the pregnant woman waddle.

I was sure I looked like the biggest crazy person there was. My hand was on the glass and my mouth was hanging open slightly. I just stared at the crib from the window. It was a rich deep stained espresso color. It was designed to look like a sleigh; there were soft curves and lyrical lines that gave it the look of an antique. Ornate panels completed the cribs splendor. It was perfect. I caught my reflection in the mirror and realized I was getting teary eyed.

"Sookie we can go in" Ty reminded me. I nodded and followed him inside. It wasn't what I planned but I would be spending the next three hours in there. At the end I had spent more money on baby things than I had made in an entire year. I bought two cribs, with a matching armoire along with a night stand and a chest that was topped by a changing table. Dr. Ludwig couldn't tell. I wanted it to be a surprise but every now day it was getting harder not to visit Monroe and have Claude tell me what I was having. The clothing I bought were gender neutral in color. I had some hope of having a son because I picked up some blue one pieces and hats. I knew I would feel guilty about this spending spree later but have you ever noticed how all tiny apparel is just gorgeous?

The woman that was helping me didn't really have to do much of anything but watch me lose my mind in her establishment. Her mind was the farthest thing from mine. I would have noticed the way she was staring at my face.

"Would you like these delivered" Her eyes went down to my card and they widened. "Mrs. Northman" Yes of course it would be just my luck that she was an avid follower of the many fan sites devoted to my husband. Apparently my picture had made it onto the site as the destroyer of their fantasies. I had turned down interviews from a few magazines and newspapers. It took a lot of effort to avoid seeing the wedding pictures of Eric and I in Vampire weekly. Till this day I still haven't seen it. I carefully avoided entertainment news or channels that had vampires on it in the event that I made it on there. I wasn't interested in what people who didn't know me had to say. Whether it was good or bad I plain wasn't interested. Despite my best efforts I still knew Vampire weekly did an article on me called "Dances with vampires" If you ignored them they would go away. It was what I believed no matter how untrue.

"Oh shit! You are the Mrs. Northman" Her mental state was becoming less and less coherent with her excitement. "Oh my God no one is going to believe this" as if it wasn't enough that I had been selecting baby items right before her very eyes she just registered I was pregnant. I blocked and tried to be as polite as possible because I knew nothing would keep her from asking all the overly personal questions she had in her mind. "Whose baby is that?" I was preparing for a whole list of other questions but I guess I missed that one while I was in her head. I gapped like a fish out of water because her style of questioning would shame a Neanderthal.

"A few things Lady" Ty said. His voice suddenly sounded like his brothers. In other words it sounded cold and hostile.

"Shut the fuck up" Rob interjected.

"Second"

"Shut the fuck up" Rob chimed in again. They were on either sides of me and more than a few inches taller. I couldn't really see their faces without craning my neck all the way up. I was beginning to see a pattern as their banter of censorship continued I couldn't tell one voice from the other.

"Third"

"Shut the fuck up" They concluded together. The look on the woman's face was just enthralling. Wouldn't you know she had the nerve to look at them like they were the rude ones? But she complied with their request.

"The clothes I will take with me and the furniture will be picked up if that's okay" All that was inspiration in desperation. There was no way I was telling this woman where I lived and giving her access to the grounds. She nodded and didn't bother to hide her disappointment. I would be sending Indira for them. I would like to see her not mind her manners then.

My body guards carried my purchases and we left. "Thanks guys, but you didn't have to do that" I was use to sticking up for myself or letting trashy people be just that.

"My pleasure" Ty said. Rob nodded. I guess he was done all the talking he was going to do for the day. I wondered into a store whose brand I recognized on one the bags that usually appeared at the house. The dress I chose resembled the original one. I was in and out in twenty minutes. That included the ten minutes it took to pull the dress on in the fitting room. I felt like I looked like less of cow and more like an elegant otter. The dress had an empire waist line and was the color of butter. It played up my cleavage and tan. It flowed easily from my body with chiffon that gave it a light feel but provided some obscurity. For humans this might work. With supes it was a whole other story. No manner of optical illusions and maneuvering would deflect the size of my tummy.

The mall had a maternity store that offered me a decent selection. I was starving and not the least bit interested. I ate a small pizza and had a strawberry shake. It sounded like it would be a great idea to dip my pepperoni pizza in my shake so that's what I did and it tasted even better.

"Gross" Ty said. I smiled and chewed happily. I felt the babies doing a little happy dance and I froze. A loony smile was painted on my face. My hands went to place where I felt the kick or punch.

"Kick for me again" I said. I didn't care what else was going on or what anyone thought right then and there. My life was perfect. After a few more bites of my makeshift delicacy they complied.

0o0o0

Before the vampires rose for the night the limo and various car services had arrived. All our bags were loaded into the cars. Bill had left the night before. He was setting up for some presentations. I had no idea what they were about. Indira was making a quick stop at the store. While we were gone she would be working with Thalia and Bubba to keep an eye on things. A few minutes after first dark we were leaving the compound.

I was asleep before we left Shreveport. The next thing I knew Gideon was calling my name and tapping me lightly on the shoulder. "We're here" He said. I blinked ever so slowly and found my head was resting on his shoulder. The list of things I once found inappropriate or improper were shifting and shrinking. Instead of feeling embarrassed or uncomfortable I yawned and stretched. I took a few seconds to get my bearings.

Outside the limo I could see Eric was surrounded by his vampires and they were having a short briefing before they went off to their rooms. Maxwell was amongst the ones there. This was his area. He had come early to make sure the arrangements for the rest of us were done. "Come on" Gideon opened the door. He stepped out and leaned in to help me out. As we were approaching the small gathering around Eric died abruptly.

All their eyes were trained on me. Not me specifically. All these vampires with the exception of a few new faces have seen me anywhere from ten to a twenty times in the past few years. Their eyes were fixed on the baby bump my sweater was doing a sorry job of concealing. The look I got wasn't the one I was expecting but it spoke volumes about vampires. I couldn't understand any of it. I had braced myself for accusatory; debauched; hostile I got none of it. In sync their eyes moved to Eric they had one of those silent conversations. Eric took my hand and that was it. They returned to what they were doing. I would be sure to ask what that was later.

They turned and in a kind of spare formation we walked towards the elevators. I was leaning heavily on Eric. He was supporting most if not all my weight with complete ease. Getting on the elevator was a procedure I could have rolled my eyes. Total there were twelve of us. Five rode up first and when they were about half way up we took the second elevators after them. After we were almost upstairs the last group of people followed. Like I said a procedure but vampires loved their presentations and their drama.

"You are still very tired" Eric observed. I nodded and found that I was. I was also starving.

"Gideon will see you to our room" I shook my head. He wasn't going directly to the room he was going to see some of the vampires in this area as well as meet with some of the weres. He needed Gideon more than I did.

"I'm just going to sleep and eat I'll ask Edgar" He was going to argue but I was already asking Edgar to escort me to our room. Judging by the look on his face you would think I invited him to try on silver jewelry but of course he came along. We broke apart from the group and I had to carry my own weight which was feeling like more work that I could have ever imagined. I should have known to listen to Eric because before the elevator doors closed my head was swimming into blackness. Unable to get my limbs to remain solid I began crumpling to the floor. The last thing I remembered was Edgar's arm around me and his face over mine. It was an upgrade, trust me. I could have almost smiled because he looked like he was anxious rather than in pain.

"She is awake now" The sound of Eric's voice was perfectly reserved even though it was registering slightly muffled. I knew that that tone he was worried and as soon as I registered he was worried my eyes snapped open in a panic. It cleared away the reaming haze in my head. My hands flitted to my stomach. My heart was still hammering in my chest and it took a good minute to get my breathing under control. The swollen balloon in my abdomen wasn't gone. Edgar had caught me in time nothing irreparable had happened.

In the large suite of the hotel room was Eric and Dr. Ludwig. There were bottles of blood on the night stand but I could still taste the metallic blend that was vampire blood in my mouth. I took inventory of the way I felt. It was a complete three sixty. I wasn't tired and my limbs no longer felt like they weighed a ton. Dr. Ludwig was her usual annoyed persona. She gently pulled my wrist form my midsection and held it in her tiny frayed fingers for several minutes.

"How do you feel now?" She asked.

"How are they?" I countered.

"Healthy and stronger than you" I nodded and answered her question.

"Much better"

"They are sending your metabolism into over drive" The little demon's words pulled me from appraising Eric who was doing a tremendous job mimicking the hotel fixtures. At the moment he appeared to be a tall blonde haired blue eyed lamp dressed in a white button down and black slacks. His hair was out of its neat ponytail and both his sleeves were rolled up. There wasn't the slightest flicker of emotion on his face whatsoever. "Start with a bottle of blood a day and increase your calories" I didn't think it would be this soon. I knew this was a possibility we discussed it at my first appointment. There was still two months left according to her calculations. I have had to drink tru blood a few times. In all those instances it was disgusting. I'd like to believe it was because I wasn't a vampire and didn't drink blood. Going off what I have heard from vampires synthetic would sustain them but they found it just as nauseating as I did. She remained and gave me list of things that I should begin to integrate into my diet daily. I didn't want to think about right now. The list would be enough to feed a family of five.

Dr. Ludwig left and Eric still had the width of the room between us.

It wasn't very mature of me but I didn't meet his eyes and my voice was small. We just had a scare and I just wanted him to hold me. "Are you mad at me?" I felt like I still had a ways to go with him in the trust department and I was afraid he was angry I hadn't gone with Gideon like he suggested. He may have been mad that I didn't pay someone to buy baby things instead of walking around all day and doing it myself. It wasn't what I needed right now. I would apologize for either or both even if I didn't think I was wrong.

There was a small smile on my husband's face. It was worn but no less genuine or handsome. He began walking over to me all the while he was unbuttoning his shirt. His steps were fluid and he never lingered of fussed with a single button it was all so seamless. He crawled in bed next to me and wrapped his entire body around mine.

"I'm not angry with you" He murmured almost too low for me to hear. "I am angry with myself. I feel as though I am not doing enough" His hand was rubbing soothing circles on my tummy; my entire being relaxed.

"What else do you think you should be doing exactly?" That just sounded ridiculous. Everything I wanted and needed I had. I even had things I never dreamed of. I was going to have children with the man I loved. Matters outside our home were turbulent but we were enduring and our state was strong. I had no idea what he was going on about.

"Get you attendants; people to make sure all your needs are met at all times" Eric was nothing if not persistent. I hoped he couldn't see as I gave my eyes a good long roll. That sounded like the worse kind of life sentence. The only comparison I had to draw from was a house as obnoxious as the one Sophie-Anne had in New Orleans it would be filled with strangers whose minds I had access to. They would be taking care of my children. I didn't care what it sounded like but I wanted them all to myself. Every moment when I wasn't asleep I wanted to be with them I didn't want to miss a single snapshot of their lives.

"I don't…"

He cut me off and some of his frustration had leaked into his voice. "I know" I didn't say anything else. He was just going to keep mulling it over until he found a way to make it work. I wasn't going to change my mind so I was quiet enjoying the moment.

"I went shopping today" It had the desired effect well almost. He was in disbelief but at least he was no longer frowning. I told him about all the things I had bought for our children. Sometimes Eric was so modern other times well his age showed. I asked him to put the crib together and he couldn't understand why it was so important that he did it. So I had to explain that. He also had me explain other things that fathers did in this time and we compared noted to what he remembered of his human days. When I felt he had relaxed enough I had him explain the automatic acceptance of his vampires to me.

His answer was as obvious as it was shocking. Who would have ever imagined that vampires would have been the easy ones to explain this to? "Our laws of ownership are simple. Any child you have will automatically belong to me as much as anything else you own" he shrugged it off while I was left reeling. "You are my bonded and my wife it is assumed I deny you nothing."

"Rest lover and eat something" A few minutes later he was pulling on a t shirt and changing into a pair of jeans. Whenever I saw the classic Eric ensemble it made me smile. He caught me appreciating his beauty and smiled. "Edgar and Alana are outside. Call them if you have need" I nodded. He kissed me goodbye and left. I felt fine enough to go along but I knew better than to ask. I wished he didn't have to go but it wasn't often that he came to this part of his state. He would be gone most of the night.

I ordered room service. When my food came Edgar came inside with the older man that was pushing the gold plated cart full of food. To say the attendant was nervous was an understatement. His gloved hands shook as he transferred dishes onto the table.

"Is there anything else I can get for you Miss" I would have asked for a milk shake but I didn't think his nerves could stand to have him come back.

"No thank you" I smiled as brightly as I could but it didn't do much. He gave me an awkward spastic head nod and shuffled out of the room.

The bed I was in was huge and I was in the center. I sat up and scooted to the edge. Edgar was watching my every move waiting for me to ask for help or keel over I wasn't sure but neither happened. He pulled out my chair.

"Thank you" I sat and waited for him to leave. "Umm…you can go now"

"If you prefer"

"No I only meant I'm fine and you don't have to watch me eat" Some vampires found this disgusting and I honestly didn't need an audience. He bowed but didn't move or say anything else. It seemed like he wanted to stick around so I was going to let him. Half was through my dinner he spoke.

"Forgive me; I never fully expressed my gratitude for her majesties consideration of me while I was wounded" I had a mouth full of food but I nodded in acknowledgment. After he got it off his chest he bowed deeply and left me in peace. Vampire weirdness was all that came to mind.

0o0o0o0

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