"Miss Sookie, can you hear me?" Some stranger asked me.
"I can hear you but who are you, where's My Bill? Where's my husband?" I asked still a little dizzy.
"I'm right here sweetheart. You fainted. He's a doctor Niall brought him."
"Why?" I asked still confused.
"Well young lady, I'm here because you are very pregnant, very dehydrated and almost malnutritioned." The "doctor" said.
"OK, I'm pregnant. He's a vampire and the father. You're a doctor and the fairy prince is here. Where's the bunny and the unicorn? Cause I want to wake up now; I have to go to work and Sam's not gonna like it if I'm late and then my husband's going to be mad at Sam and..." I mumbled, closing my eyes trying to go back to sleep. I heard someone chuckling in the background.
"Sweetheart, you're awake just very tired and confused. Can you look at me sweetheart?" Bill asked as I opened my eyes and really looked at him.
"Bill? I'm awake?"
"Yes, darling you are awake just very confused. Now look at me. I'm going to sit you up ok?
"Uhumm."
"Honey, I'm hungry." I said tasting my lips as I stared at his jugular, the scent of his blood deliciously traveling up my nose.
"Okay, Miss. Now look at this light and follow it."
"I'm not a Miss, I'm married."
"I'm Mrs. William Thomas Compton," I said still groggy as Bill beamed.
"Oh, I apologize, Mrs. Compton."
"We have to run some tests now to see how you're doing. So please follow this light..., good, good."
"Now I'm going to push you here please tell me if it hurts. And here? Here? Here?" The doctor asked.
"That tickles." I chuckled leaning into Bill. "Where's Claudine?"
"Sweetheart, Niall and Claudine are downstairs waiting for the doctor to finish."
"Doctor, am I really pregnant?" I asked waiting for someone to tell me it's all been a really bad joke or a terrible mistake.
"Yes, Mrs. Compton. That's why you've been feeling sick."
"Mr. Compton tells me you haven't been able to keep anything down since last week and today you drank blood, and you've been sleeping a lot is that correct?"
"Yes. Sleeping a lot, I'm really tired and today I tried to drink the soup but my stomach was turning and I wanted a gingerale but when he put the blood down I could smell it and I drank it cause I was really really thirsty." I rambled on.
"Ok Mrs. Compton, just one more thing to do. I have to check you inside." My heart began to race at the thought that someone other than Bill was going to see my private area.
"We can do it here on the bed, so you'll need to remove your clothing from the waist down. Please cover yourself with a sheet and call me when you're ready." The doctor got up and walked out, leaving me staring at Bill who was looking very uncomfortable.
"Honey, don't leave ok, I don't want you to leave when he checks me inside. Can you stay with me please?" I was almost begging Bill as panic was setting in full force.
"Of course darling." I could see how uncomfortable he was but he helped me out of my shorts and underwear, covered me with a bed sheet and called the doctor back, telling him he was staying with me.
"That will be fine Mr. Compton. Ok, this will feel a little cold and a bit uncomfortable, but I assure you I'm not hurting her or the baby." The doctor said addressing both me and Bill, whose fangs had descended. I felt the coolness of his instruments and decided to concentrate on Bills eyes instead until the doctor finished.
Bill helped me dress and carried me to the living room where Niall, Claudine and the doctor were waiting for us. There were so many thoughts flying through Bill's brain I couldn't latch on to a single one.
Bill sat us on the couch pulling me into him while rubbing circles on my back to soothe me as the doctor spoke.
Turning to Niall the doctor began to speak; "My Lord, Mrs. Compton is pregnant, about six weeks in. Luckily, the child decided to make it self known before dehydration and malnutrition affected both the mother and the child."
"She requires daytime rest due to the special circumstances of ..., the father (he pointed towards Bill); it seems blood was the first accepted nutrient as well but that could (also) change. The pregnancy itself appears to be going well and is in the optimal normal human position so it can be carried full term."
"Very well." Niall said motioning to the doctor who retreated to the corner of the room after bowing to Niall; never once turning towards Bill and me.
"Can someone explain what is going on here?" Bill asked addressing Niall and skipping his normal "my lord" title as the doctor had never addressed us.
"Grandfather? I said, wanting an explanation myself.
"You are pregnant…" Niall started but I interrupted feeling rage rising through me as no one had explained how it was possible. "I heard that but how?"
"If you let me, I will explain My Child." He stopped, giving me the opportunity to interrupt again which I considered but Bill game my hand a little squeeze to quiet me.
"Fate has decided to speed up the time table of this pregnancy and as SHE is far older and far wiser than even me we must accept her decision." He stated.
"I was hoping this pregnancy would come about later; although I wasn't even sure it would be possible." The look of surprise clearly on his face as if he was trying to figure something out himself.
"The message Preston sent was the special blessing I gave you that night, it was meant to open your humanity to each other while giving Bill's seed the opportunity to momentarily live again."
"However, it should have taken longer to come about as I'd only started to gift you the magik needed to infuse the enchantment."
"Why did you do this Niall?" Bill asked, the realization that it was HIS child slowly seeping in. His hand slowly traveling from my back down to my stomach; I on the other hand was still finding it hard to believe; waiting to wake up any second.
"I was to be the messenger that gave you the blessing but somehow Preston completed his task and sent the message himself with one too young to give it, that is why he sought out our grandfather Sookie," Claudine said, Niall bowing to her when she finished speaking.
"Why didn't you discuss this with us first, I mean Bill almost attacked Claudine," I said leaving out that for a brief second Bill believed I'd cheated on him with Sam, a shifter no less. I'd read his mind.
"My child, I had planned on sharing the possibility of this gift with you but as no one believed it could happen (on the first try), there was no need to inform you of a happy event that possibly would never occur."
"Your child managed to hide its presence long enough to avoid being detected by any of us. Bill should have been the first to notice as he's the one able to detect any changes in your scent. I hope you're not too upset with my desire to give you this very special gift My Child."
"Grandfather I don't know. I am happy but I guess I'm still confused as this has been so sudden, I mean Bill and I never expected to have this, well we never had this conversation and now this happens. I don't even know how he feels about all of this or how I feel about it; I mean what kind of baby are we going to have? And, if I'm always sick what am I going to eat. I thought I was turning into a vampire." I turned to Bill who was (dejectedly) staring at a spot on the floor as I babbled.
"My Lord, we are very grateful for this gift. I know once the confusion and surprise is over we will be very happy and delighted to be parents of this very special child. We are truly honored, however Lord, we are concerned as we know nothing of what to expect of this pregnancy; what should we expect our child to be and what are the dangers to the both of them," Bill said pointing at me and the baby in my belly.
Niall motioned to the doctor who gave us our instructions finally recognizing our presence.
"The pregnancy will be like any other normal pregnancy; proper nutrition and rest are very important. We can expect the child to have some or all of its parent's traits, vampire, human or fey; therefore Mrs. Compton should avoid iron and silver both ingested and worn."
Turning to Bill, "She should rest as much as possible during day time hours and, as the Little Prince has shown a predilection to blood, she should drink it whenever she can not keep human food down but avoid garlic at all cost; it is very important she maintain her nutrition up."
Turning to me, "You should try drinking a half a glass of blood, synthetic or natural before you eat human food that should help with the nausea and not too much salt or spicy food. Organic teas will also be preferable as are all other organic foods, the more natural the food the better."
To the both of us, "As for what kind the Little Prince will be, we won't know that until he's one year old. Mrs. Compton you must keep off your feet as much as possible for the next couple of weeks until you recover your strength again."
"Mr. Compton, she must avoid long hot baths with lavender and sage mixes. I advice soaking in fey salts and flowers, lavender and Jasmine are a good mix but remember to avoid any soak with lavender and sage mixes as they can be harmful to both mother and child."
"You can call me anytime you have a question and I'd like to see you in two weeks to weigh you and check your progress. I will be your doctor until your care is transferred to the dwarf doctor when you're five months in. Do you have any further questions?"
"Yes, um, I do but I'd like to ask them in private if you don't mind?" 'What about sex and blood exchanges?' was my big private question. I looked at Bill and then it hit me, I could see he'd had the same thought; actually I plucked it straight out of his head.
"Wait, you said HE, it's a boy, I'm having, I mean we're having a boy? And why did you call him little prince?"
"My child you are having a son, and he is a prince because you are My Princess, my very special granddaughter." Niall said rising from his seat to hug me. I hugged my grandfather and he patted my belly, speaking to the baby in a language I'd only heard the night he'd given us the other blessing.
"I will check on you often if you don't mind, but I will call first. William, keep her safe and well fed. I shall leave now and you may ask the doctor the question about your spousal joinings." He smiled as he kissed the top of my head and bowed to Claudine before blipping out.
"Oh Claudine I forgot to ask if we can tell anyone?" Ok, so I'm pregnant, the realization slowly seeping in.
"Sookie, I think it's best to keep this quiet until after your third month. As the Little One has shown he is able to cloak his presence fairly well, he will decide who he allows become aware of his presence; however you should avoid vampires for a while as your fey scent will increase particularly when aroused. So Bill don't get too carried away until after the third month, is that right doctor?"
"Yes it is, you will be able to have normal spousal relations just don't over do it; if you feed from her you will have to curtail it to every other night but if she becomes too weak, then only after every three days. She can have your blood but be careful she doesn't drain you as she will be drinking for herself and a possible fey or vampire."
"Mr. Compton, I assume you are aware of blood drinking fey and how vampire blood affects them? (Bill nods) Well you can expect her reaction to be about the similar until after the third month."
"I hope I have I answered all your questions? We nod.
"By the way my name is Andrews." We both nod and the doctor pops out after bowing to me.
"Sookie, I must leave also. Promise to take care of yourself or Claude will be very upset with you. You know he's not as nice as I am." She smiles and I began to cry.
"Oh, sweetie it'll be OK, I promise. Don't cry. I will always be able to see you though I won't be able to come and visit as before."
"I owe you my ascension Sookie, you and Bill. You take care of that little one; he has an amazing future to fulfill as do you my Princess. I will always come back to bring you important news, such as this one; but I promise to return for the births and birthdays of the Little Princes." She hugged me and wiped away the tears that had streaked down my face.
She turned to Bill smiling and bowed to him.
"Vampire, you have certainly redeemed yourself if you have earned this from the All Knowing. Keep them safe and love them well."
"Bill, trust no one with your family, especially those that come to you offering to take them to a different realm without giving you access to it as well; NEVER let the little one go alone."
"You will be able to feel each other and speak without words at the third month that is my gift to you; tell no one, not even the Prince of this gift."
"Trust your knowledge of the fey and never underestimate them Bill – I hope now you understand why I have never been able to speak directly and still can't."
She pulled me to her again and gave my belly a (special) blessing (of her own).
"But hey, I owe you my ascension and what are they going to do to me, ground me?" A ray of light surrounded her and she blipped out smiling and laughing.