Hey kerriki I hope this chapter lives up to your demands of disaster! Enjoy!

Sookie

Chapter Nineteen

Smack-dab In The Middle

Lover,

Remain within the confines of the hotel. Rest and eat well. We will be departing when I rise.

I love you

~E

My bladder was shrinking by the day. I didn't see that note until after my trip to the bathroom. Where ever there was going to be vampires you could count on the fellowship of the sun being present. In recent pasts there haven't been any problems. It has been peaceful (hateful) protests but there has been no violence from one group of the other. That may not be the case here. It may be why he wanted me indoors. I didn't mind too much.

The only thing I did this morning was ask my brother out to dinner. I was going to tell him when I got home; Tara as well. The changes in my life didn't leave much room for us to spend time together. She was still my oldest friend I should tell her. It was the decent thing to do.

The only person that I was worried about saying anything to was Sam. His somewhat judgmental words came from a good place but by the time they reached my ears it all sounded like shit. I haven't been to see him recently for obvious reasons but I called and he was doing well. He was talking and eating and moving a little. It was all our hopes that he would be out of the hospital very soon but it looked like when all was said and done Sam would be leaving Bon Temps. There was nothing here but the memory of the life he had built and the woman he had loved and lost.

I had to drink a blood I figured if I got it out of the way I would have my whole day ahead of me. Having it warm when I drank it made me vomit. Room temprature was much of the same. In the end I found that it was easiest for me to gulp down when it was very cold; almost slushy. Even then it took me about fifteen minutes to choke down a whole bottle. I couldn't believe I was going to have to do thisThw whole process took me half the mornign to get right.

My day was very uneventful until I was walking through the hotel. Ty, Rob and I were in a narrow corridor on the ground floor of the hotel. I had been walking around aimlessly for exercise. A side door flew open I never got a chance to see what came barreling out. The next thing I saw was a wall made of the backs of my body guards and a figure falling to the ground.

The persons mind was in full blown panic. I snuck a peek from behind my guards to get a better look. The person that had come out through the door was a kid. I was going to ask Rob and his brother to relax before they gave him a heart attack but we weren't the reason for his fear. The door opened again this time with much less clamor. The child scrambled to his feet but I could see his body trembling slightly. We had ourselves a three way showdown.

"Come here" I said holding my hand out. I had no idea what I was doing or who this kid was. He could have escaped out of a nut house for all I knew but I knew a cornered animal when I saw one and he was the picture. Not to mention the people he was running from were giving me the heebie jeebies. They were creatures of the supernatural that much was obvious given their beauty and mental imagery.

Their attire however was somethign else. I had no idea who dressed them but their clothes screamed, "I'm not from this dimension" They were dressed in a cross between biker and accountant. It was confusing to the senses. You didn't know if they would pull out a pen or a cigarette from the breast pocket of their collared shirts. The woman had hair that reminded of Arlene. Her features were soft and very feminine. The male had dark hair and was as pale as a glass of milk.

"This is none of your concern" The woman said. Her high soprano voice was full of acid. It sounded much too young for her developed body. "He belongs to us"

I ignored her and my eyes moved back to the child infront of me. If this kid had any sense in his head he was going to take my hand. I gave him a no nonsense look and gave him a small wave for him to come my way. He was obviously terrified and they were all kinds of scary. Whether he was just scared or liked his chances of survival better on our side. He took my hand.

"What is your name?" I asked.

"Ronan" He whispered from behind my back.

"Do you know these people?" I was focusing on his mind but all I was getting was emotion. Given the situation he was in it was no surprise.

"Yes"

"Do you want to go with them" It was a stupid question but I wanted to make sure. His panic flared and he shook his head vehemently.

"No, no I do not"

"Would you like to come with me?"

"Yes"

"The kid is coming with us. You can kindly fuck off" Ty translated. How many supes does it take to pick on a child? The answer was three. The door opened and one more person joined the party.

"It would appear we have a standoff" The late comer said in sing song voice. The new addition was dressed normally. A t-shirt and a pair of faded blue jeans.

"There are no humans here it seems" This supposed fact pleased him. I pushed my way between Rob and Ty. I left the kid behind me. The man (I use that term loosely) was handsome and less creepy but that feature warned that he was much more dangerous. "I know your face" he said. His index finger moved to his dimpled chin and he gave it a few errant raps as if he was trying hard to remember something that he should not have forgotten. "You are the living queen of vampires" A look that wasn't so carefree crossed his face as the answer came to him.

I didn't know what it was about this lot but I loathed them. Something about them going after a child made me so angry I could kill them and enjoy it. I pulled my shield on and I gave him a leveled look. "Then you know this isn't a fight you want" I don't think he could tell what I did but he felt this was going to take a very unpleasant turn.

"Forgive us it would appear your claim trumps ours. We will depart and hope you accept our apologies" He nodded deeply and dipped his head low to smile at Ronan. Then they left.

This kid was trouble in a gift wrap. I didn't want to know exactly what he was into but I wanted to help him as best as I could. I waited till we got back to the main foyer before I began asking Ronan questions. He wasn't human obviously but I had no idea what he was. I just knew it wasn't the same species as the people that were after him.

"Do you need a phone" He could still be in shock but the mention of a phone didn't seem to mean much. My hand was on his cheek. I examined his features while he began to relax. He didn't have any injuries that I could tell. His hair was the color of corn silk but the most of it was hidden in a baseball hat he had on a matching jersey and dark grey jeans. His features were soft; chubby cheeks that were thinning in preparation for adolescence; big round eyes that were bluish green in color.

"You can call someone to pick you up" I clarified. He appeared as though he was still drawing a blank on my line of questioning. I tried a different venue "Do you need money or a ride?"

"Ah yes!" He clapped his hands and his eyes sparkled. I couldn't help but smile with him. He was a beautiful little boy. "A ride in a car, yes I am need of one of this. Do you have one?" Rob and Ty were eyeing him skeptically. They weren't the only ones. He caught us looking and anxiety crossed his face. "If you do not it is well…" I waved him off and took his hand.

Unfortunately I had no reservations to use the car service at the hotel. It would be a little over an hours wait.

I offered Ronan my phone. Someone must be looking for him they would appreciate knowing they didn't have to worry. He shook his head. "I do not have means to reach my uncle" I felt sad for him.

"He doesn't have phone?" He smiled shyly. I took that as a no. As much as I wanted to make sure he got to his destination alright I couldn't leave with him to make sure. I would do all that I could within the boundaries of the hotel. "Are you hungry?" He nodded.

It did my heart good to watch him stuff his face. Before he brought anything to his lips (including the water) he sniffed at it a long time but he tried to be stealthy about it. I politely pretended not to notice. When his meal passed the smell test he all but inhaled it. It was my belief that he would have kept eating had the car not arrived. By the end of the hour he had eaten a chicken salad for dressing he used ketchup. Ketchup was also the topping to his spaghetti and French fries combo meal. He took a slab of chocolate cake to go. When the bill came he reached in his pocket but I stopped him.

Before he got in the car I tried to give him money. He refused. "I already have some" He said with a bright smile. I didn't laugh but I came mighty close. That was what he was going to pay for his meal with. He showed me a wad of money that amounted to no more than twenty five dollars.

"Take more" I pushed the money into his hand and closed it. He smiled.

"What is your name?" He asked.

"Sookie"

"Thank you Sookie"

"You are welcome Ronan, good luck" He gave a quick one handed hug and scooted into the car.

"Take him where ever he needs to go" I told the driver. I gave him the remainder of the cash I had. I watched them drive away. I was hoping and praying he would be able to get to his uncle and he would be safe. I didn't know it at that point and time that I would be seeing him soon. How strange was it that I knew his uncle, his father and damn near his whole family?

0o0o

"Wake up lover" I had overslept. I know I had overslept because there was a vampire in my bed. Eric was kissing my face; my cheek; my head and my lips. His fingers were in my hair.

"You could always join me in bed" I said. I felt him smiled against my skin.

"Woman, don't tempt me" His lips were at the base of my neck and his voice was a playful growl. My body was out of control I was wet almost immediately. I was pulling at the band of his pants. He didn't stop me. His fingers were already busy. Having sex when pregnant was something else. My body was hyperaware. Everything time he touched me it plucked at the finely tuned nerve endings of my body. I said his name like a prayer as he drove me up the wall. I could tell he was trying to be gentle with me but I didn't do the same. I scratched and bit into him and it tore at his self-control. He let himself go and it made it even better. There was nothing between us. I was beside him gasping for breath.

"We are going to be late" I said. He smiled.

"You are queen they will wait"

An hour later we were leaving the hotel for the governor's mansion. I took a curling iron to my hair. It hung around my face in bouncy spiral curls. The dress did me justice. I applied light make up and I felt like it was all going to take attention of my tummy.

"If for any reason you need to leave my side Alana, Bill and Edgar must be with you"

I nodded but I knew something was making him uneasy. First I was trapped in the hotel now I couldn't go the rest room without a vampire present. "What's wrong?" His face became carefully controlled but he gave me a one word explanation.

"Fellowship"

"I can handle myself" I assured him. I didn't want him setting anymore restraints because he was worried. He no longer did things to or for me without telling me but it didn't mean he listened when I protested. It was just a more blatant form of highhandedness.

"You will be hesitate to kill humans" It wasn't that I killed anything without remorse or regard it was that I had killed more vampires than anything else. I knew they wouldn't show me the same deliberation. The humans from the fellowship were drastic, hateful and in most instances crazy in their beliefs but it just wasn't the same. Eric was afraid that hesitation could cost me my life and that of our children. I didn't answer. He was right and he knew it.

Gideon was riding in the limo with us and his eyes were on me. "I have always been curious why vampires respect you" I didn't dignify him with a response.

"Many of the original members of Louisiana have fought side by side with her" Eric bragged.

"That's not it entirely Pam has forever painted me as the boogey man" Eric laughed. I was never going to live that down. During the drive Gideon asked questions about my past misadventures and to my complete horror Eric answered them. It wasn't my fault that bartenders never lasted at Fangtasia since I came along. I wasn't sure if it was okay but I was happy that there was no more Fangtasia and Alana was still undead. Hopefully the curse was broken.

We were seated with Copley Carmichael and the governor himself. I smiled and laughed at the right times. Eric had the excuse of being a vampire they didn't expect the same courtesy from him. He did however take pictures and stand close to the right people (He was not shaking anyone's hand). I discussed the matter of Remy briefly with Copley. Everything I asked for Remy got. Copley told me he was making six figures a year at one of his branch companies as a district manager. Overall I felt it was a small price to pay to help Remy and Hunter.

That night I had the worst sleep. Eric was feeling all kinds of happy as his children kicked the crap out of me. As I tried to sleep it seemed that was all they wanted to do. I tried every position the limo could offer but found no comfort. I gave up on the whole endeavor and waited for them to settle down. All the while Eric had his hand on my stomach trailing their movements. I felt like he was encouraging them. When they kicked particularly hard he would smile in utter delight. I was glad he was entertained I was exhausted. Somewhere after Alexandria I was finally able to shut my eyes. I never remembered going into the house of taking off my dress but when I woke late the next morning I was in my bed.

It was Sunday. The only thing on my agenda was Jason. Michele had changed him but I knew my brother wasn't in church. No woman on earth could have changed him that much. I went through the routine of drinking a blood and found that it was no easier today if nothing else it was twice as disgusting because I remembered the taste.

"You guys can take the day off" I told Rob and Ty. They worked every day and had nights off. Jason was going to meet me at my old house I would be cooking. I wouldn't need them today. Dermot would be enough if any trouble came up. They both gave me a look that told me they were going to argue.

"On any other day we would but" Ty flung an issue of a magazine on the kitchen counter. On the front page was me at the governor ball and my baby bump was so not as small as I thought. "Vampire spawn: The first living vampire queen provides an heir to the throne" was in captions. I refused to open the magazine but I allowed them to come along. The whole way to my uncle's house I was hoping Jason or anyone who mattered hadn't seen this magazine.

My old farm house seemed to be shining. Dermot had cleared some space in front of the house and had a nice garden growing. The flowers looked like the most beautiful bouquet. There was a mixture was exotic at least for this part of the world. He had rich red roses and pink roses. There were Peruvian land oriental lilies and even orchids. The grass seemed greener too. He even added a new coat of paint to the house. It made me feel all kinds of jealous that the house looked much better under his care than mine.

"Are you hungry?" He asked. He was closing the door and we were heading towards the kitchen. No matter what I did they just didn't get along. Ty and Rob felt were happier outside and roaming around the grounds. It also had something to do with Dermot's less than friendly treatment. He usual had some insult to mutter or a face to make at them.

"I could eat" He laughed. It was a blithe and merry sound. I couldn't help but smile. While he moved around the kitchen and got lunch together we talked.

"How much time is left?" He asked.

"About two months" He nodded. I wondered if he had fathered children but I didn't ask. The idea of having more family thrilled me but Dermot had some issues about his lineage. He felt doomed by his half in half out existence. I couldn't imagine him having a child with a fairy or otherwise.

We had something light for lunch and I put the preparations for dinner in the oven. I was making roast beef. While that cooked we were seated in the living room (It got an upgrade; digital this and flat screen that). My uncle was a huge science fiction buff. He read books, watched movies and acclimated certain aspects to his own magical abilities what he saw. He insisted I watch "The X-files: I want to believe"Half way through the movie we heard a terrified cry from outside.

"Dermot" He shot up from his seat and ran towards the back door. "Dermot, help" I could pick up on the shift of my body guards. I waddled after my uncle. "Father please" It was more like a shriek that time. Dermot was out the back door and I was on his heels. Ty and Rob were surrounding a crumpled mass. As I got closer I could see it was a child with an adult in his arms. They were both drenched in blood. It was Ronan. I could now see his ears and the full length of his hair. He was a fairy.

"Rob, Ty" I grabbed hold of their arms. Their features were changing and I was horrified that they would attack a child; a wounded child. They moved from around him to my side. Dermot and I dropped on our knees and I devastated to find that the person in his armwas my cousins Claude.

"Are you hurt Ronan" He shook his head but there were fresh looking and smelling burns all over his right arm and some on the right side of his face. Someone had taken lemon to him. Dermot took Claude from him and went inside.

Claude was clutching at Dermot. "I don't know if my father…" he gasped for breath. Blood was sputtering from his mouth. He was drowning in it or so it seemed.

"Be quiet, save your strength" Claude obeyed. It didn't look like he wanted to but he passed out. Ronan began crying. Dermot was tearing away Claude's clothes. He started a fire in the fire place and I already knew where this was going. I felt sorry for my cousin.

"It is my fault he was trying to protect me" Dermot's child was brushing Claude's hair from his face as he spoke. "They were many" He was sobbing and was barely comprehensible. "I tried to fight they were going to take iron to me when he came" His body was shaking and he looked completely distraught. I felt myself tearing up. "Uncle Dillon came and told me to come to you" He took a second to wipe his eyes. "Is he going to die?" Ronan finally asked. Dermot had been heating a knife that I assumed was silver over the open flame.

"He is too full of himself to die" Dermot replied. I wasn't sure if his love of self was enough to keep him alive he was in very bad shape. "Hold him" My uncle said to the weres they looked at me and I nodded. I took Ronan elsewhere he didn't need to see this.

I led him to the room upstairs. It wasn't far enough. We could hear Claude thrashing against the hold of my body guards and the pain of the knife. He screamed and screamed and screamed until his voice went hoarse. It was a shrill noise that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I kept Ronan's hand. His grip was almost painful as he continued weeping silently.

I might as well do something useful. "What do fairies do to treat lemon burns?" He took a second to register that I was around again when he was in trouble but answered me.

"What you call sugar and very cold water" he replied. For a second I wanted to ask him what he called it but I decided it was not the time to satisfy my curiosity. I walked downstairs as fast as I could. Before my feet touched the last five steps I could smell burning flesh. It made my stomach churn and reminded me vividly of Rhodes. I averted my eyes and made for the kitchen.

I got two bowls. One held warm water to help Ronan get clean the other held what I needed to heal his wounds. I tried to be gentle but some bits of skin came off with his shirt when he discarded it. It looked like it was taking all his concentration to remain still while I worked but he did it. The only persons I could think of where the people who had him cornered in the hotel in Baton Rouge. They must not have known who his father or grandfather was but they were going to be sorry. Dermot was a scary fairy.

Fairies healed quickly. It was not as fast as vampires but it was noticeable in comparison to a human there were no need for bandages. I wiped him down with the now lukewarm water. Then I went over to the dressers in the room. Someone who had lived here must have left some clothes behind. From my all too many experiences I knew this outfit was finished the blood would never come out. He had to get out of his clothes. The blood was drying on his once khaki pants and auburn shirt baseball style shirt. He must have looked dashing when he got dressed. Luckily I found him an outfit that had belonged to Jason. It fit him better that anything else here would have.

"Will you lie with me?" He asked. I nodded. Our position was awkward because of my tummy. Eventually he fell asleep with his head in my chest and his arm was around me. My hand was smoothing his hair back. He was a beautiful little boy. He was my cousin. Soon after it was quiet in the house he fell asleep. At some point I fell asleep too. I woke up to voices downstairs; angry voices. My little farm house hadn't lost its touch for attracting supes.

"Where is my son Mongrel" My original reaction was to disentangle myself form the still sleeping Ronan but I didn't.

"They are awake" someone else confirmed from downstairs. It would be redundant to comment on the heightened sense of supes at the moment. Together Ronan and I walked downstairs followed by Ty and Rob. Ronan ran into the arms of a woman I thought was his mother. He hid his face in her chest and she wrapped her hand around him and buried her face in his hair. There were six fairies total in the house. There was Dermot, Ronan and his mother, and Dillon and another fairy I did not recognized. Claude was in the spare bedroom.

Shit. My mouth fell open with a small gasp. My eyes were running over the blood stained people in front of me. Everyone in the room was decorated in blood and dirt and even bits of debris; I would wager that collectively they were having a bad day. Honest and for true I have never seen fairies look so tattered and torn. The female had a slash on her cheek and blood was matted in her hair. Ronan's burns were still raw. Dillon's arm was bandaged. The male I didn't know had a deep gash on his head. They were all in varying stages of disrepair. Dillon was actually dripping blood on the floor.

For a moment the fairies were all distracted by the happy reunion. Then their eyes turned to me when Ty spoke. "Your majesty we should go" Rob nodded. Their minds were getting rather fuzzy. Dermot came to my side in a very unsubtle play at choosing sides. I appreciated it in a house full of strangers.

"She did nothing to help but still you abide by her" Color me confused. The fairy I didn't know just hurled an accusation my way. I have never met this man in my life. Where did this asshole get off making that call? More importantly what in the world was going on?

Ty and Rob snarled and were leaning forward. "Iain that is enough" Dillon said. He turned to me.

"Do you remember me?" He asked with a smile that showed sharp teeth. I guess he was threatening the weres and saying hello all in the same gesture; very efficient.

I nodded. "Fairies leave a lasting impression" Niall once told me that I could trust him. I did. I would be happier to see him under better circumstances. Even without looking battle ridden I would have assumed his presence here meant trouble. Clearly this wasn't a visit to say, "how-de-do". Something bad was going on. I thought it had to be pretty darn bad that Niall had sent him instead of coming. A war amongst the Fae was my first thought. Nothing explained how I had anything to do with it this time. For that I was thankful because I had were and vampire troubles up to my eyebrows.

Dillon felt the need to respond to my somewhat sardonic reply. "Not always good"

"No. Not always. Niall said I could trust you. That hasn't changed has it?" He shook his head.

"No my niece it has not" A direct answer from a fairy was an answer in itself. He looked like he was revving up for a long one but I had pregnant human needs to see to. He should also stop staining the rug with his blood. I excused myself. No sooner had I washed my hands did I hear and feel Eric at the door.

"It's her husband" Dermot explained. Between disgust and irritation it was hard to know what the dominant emotion on their faces. My hand was on the door knob and I turned to look at the house full of bloody fairies. Vampire and fairies in the same room was never a good idea. They may want to scoot. Ronan's mother led him by the hand back up stairs. Iain slipped into the room Claude was in. It was just Dillon, Dermot, my body guards and myself. I opened the door to add a vampire to the supe cocktail, perfect just fucking perfect.

Eric pulled me into his arms and kissed my head. His relief washed over me it was quickly followed by anger; the bulk of which was suppressed but it was still substantial. His hands were around my shoulders pinning me to him. He was shouting "Mine" in not so many words.

"We need to get you home" He said. He was already turning me towards the door.

"I see you did not tell her" Dillon said. I looked from him to Dermot to the weres to find out who he was talking to. Then finally, stupidly I turned to look at Eric.

0o0o0

Well there you have it. That was the longest chapter ever... I am hoping you all have loads to say because I'm dying to hear it…