Each time we made love we waited to see if the baby would move and he never let us down; it was as if our pleasure and love delighted him as well.
We'd been so caught up in our "own little world" that we ignored the world around us or at least I did, as Bill kept it from me. Bill often traveled to New Orleans or Shreveport for meetings with the King or sometimes with Eric but I never went with him.
Everyone assumed I was working the day shift at Merlotte's, so no one questioned why they hadn't seen me for a couple of months.
Sam covered for me whenever Eric or Pam called asking for me, telling them I was fine; I even spoke to them a couple of times just to keep up with the ruse (new word of the day).
Pam often joked that Bill was keeping me his prisoner, locking me in his "hidey-hole" so no one could find me; the truth was that we went out often and always had something new to do for ourselves or for the baby. Dr. Ludwig was also now in charge of my care.
We'd shared our news with Amelia, Octavia and Sam and after the initial shock of a vampire fathering a child with a human they dotted on me and thrilled at the baby's new movements.
Bill and I occasionally discussed if and how we would let the Shreveport vampires know that I was pregnant and that Bill was the father, but decided to wait and see how long we could avoid informing anyone else.
Niall stopped by often always leaving a new blessing and speaking to the baby in that weird language.
On his latest visit Niall met with Bill alone in the study, forewarning (new word of the day) him that King De Castro was going to make his move on California soon but not before Bill returned from his next trip to Europe.
He also told Bill that the 'fae seers" had predicted that a new and powerful ally would present himself to us before the King made his move; an ally we would also need if the "other kind" of fae ever made a move for Niall's throne in the far future.
We got a feeling Niall was keeping something from us but didn't press the issue as we still believed he had our best interest at heart.
During my twenty-fourth week Bill had to return to Italy for three weeks; I couldn't go as it was becoming harder to hide my pregnancy completely not to mention my enormous boobs (which Bill enjoyed very much).
I was often tired, short of breath and had become a total klutz; if it was in the same room with me, I'd managed to knock it to the floor somehow.
Sam became my bodyguard hiding me in his trailer when Claude was at work. One night I felt as if the walls were closing in on me and decided to step out for some air, immediately losing myself in the tranquility and beauty of the night.
I made my way into the bar and headed straight into Sam's office, believing no one had seen me sneak in.
After Sam locked up we sat at the bar recalling my time there and sharing a few laughs. We sat there riding the memory lane train until we heard glass breaking outside; Sam locked me in his office before heading out to the parking lot.
When he returned, blood was dripping from his fists and he held the side mirror of a car; my eyes widening as I noticed how similar it was in color to my car.
Sam picked up the phone and called the sheriff's station reporting the damage that had been done to MY CAR. I started to cry, more from anger than fear; as I'd been too lost to the feel of the night to notice someone had witnessed my entrance into the bar.
They destroyed the front and back windows, scratched the length of the entire car and spray painted "vampire loving whore" on the hood. My new car totaled due to the irrational hatred of some.
Sam had beat two of them good before the other two ran away, one of the two lay unconscious on the ground as Andy drove up to the lot. Sam had hid me in his trailer so no one knew that I was still on site.
Later that night Andy called to inform us they had caught the one's that ran away; all would be charged with harassment, destruction of property, discrimination and public intoxication. They were sure to spend at least three months in jail if found guilty; which they would be as their finger prints were later found all over the car.
Bill said they were lucky he wasn't in Bon Temps or he'd kill all of them which made me shudder because I knew he meant it. The next night I decided it best to stay home and out of sight.
I slept, ate, read, ate, slept and ate some more, finally deciding on cleaning myself up after my last nap.
I walked, well more like wobbled my way to the bathroom and decided on a shower as I couldn't get myself out of the spa without assistance. I tried to shave my legs while sitting on the bench Bill had placed there for me and then I washed my hair.
I was enjoying the feel of the water caressing my belly while I sent loving feelings and talked to the baby when all of a sudden the shower curtain was pulled back.
Startled I opened my eyes to find a very angry Viking looking down at my very naked and pregnant self.
The sudden scare making me lose my balance and sending my left leg straight up into the air as the rest of me headed in the opposite direction. "OH God no" I thought.
I braced myself for the fall and the pain from it; wrapping my arms around the belly to protect the baby and prayed that we'd both survive the fall… "Jesus Christ, Shepherd of Judea protect us."
Faster than I could see him move Eric threw his arms around me and pulled me into him; picking me up in one swift move before I was half way down onto the tub floor.
He looked down at me and at the bump he hadn't seen before. I was sure the baby would cloak himself but the fear of the fall had given him the hiccups and I felt his little heart racing through our shared blood.
Eric heard it too and tried to calm me as he set me down on the bed pulling the bed sheet to cover my nakedness.
"Did you get hurt? How are you feeling?" Eric asked.
"What are you doing here Eric, how did you get in?" I asked trying to calm down and catch my breath.
"Did you get hurt Sookie? Should I call your doctor?" He asked again, he seemed to be panicking if that was possible for him.
"I'm fine but you scared the hell out of me, {still panting} what are you doing here? How were you able to get in?" I asked again already feeling my anger start to boil.
"I'm calling Dr. Ludwig to come check on you or do you want me to call your doctor Sookie?"
"She is my doctor Eric! Now answer me!" I was holding on to the bed sheet with one hand while my other hand (under the sheet) rubbed circles on my belly trying to calm the baby.
"SHE'S your doctor?" He hissed, his fangs descending as he opened his phone and dialed.
"Ludwig, Northman. We need you at Sookie's immediately. There's been an incident. Yes, Compton house. Yes. She almost fell in the shower. Don't know. No. Yes. Hurry!"
"She'll be here in five minutes. Now, are you sure that you're ok?" He asked. I'd never seen him looking so concerned and upset at the same time. I tried not to think of how many ways this could turn bad real fast.
"How did Eric get past the security system? How much can I tell him about the baby without Bill being here? I thought to myself. I resolved not to tell him anything and just keep pressing the question of how he entered the house.
"I'm fine Eric, I didn't get hurt, I just got scared. Now answer me please, how did you get in here," I asked again trying to calm myself.
"I walked in." He gave me one of his trademark grins.
"Now do you want to explain this?" He said as he pointed to my belly.
"I'm pregnant Eric." I said not giving him any more explanation; my anger starting to boil inside me again.
"I can see that. Would you like to explain who the father is Sookie?" he said arching his eyebrow.
"Eric, you know the father. Who do you think it could be? Now tell me how the hell did you get in!" I seethed.
"Sam! Did Bill let Sam breed with you? I'll kill him!" I watched as rage took over Eric's face and his fangs descended.
"Eww, Eric! That's disgusting."
"Then who? You said I knew the father so which shifter or were' is it? Either way Bill is dead!"
"Or did he reach out to one from his family line, the silly detective maybe?" Disgust and rage covered his face as my own anger was getting out of control too; it was a becoming a rage fest in my bedroom.
"Damn it Eric! What is it to you who the father is?" I seethed.
"Because it is my business! You are mi… Whose is it Sookie answer me!"
"It's Bill's damn it! You happy now!" The bump tried to hide itself and Eric's eyes grew wider; confusion momentarily taking over his rage.
"Niall! The scent of a vampire and fae was coming from inside you?" He said stepping away, his fangs retracted and he sat on the settee maybe confused.
Dr. Ludwig popped in.
"What happened Mrs. Compton, any pain? Sheriff (she nods to Eric when she sees him on the settee)."
"I had a little slip in the shower but I didn't fall. It was more of a scare than anything else. The baby has hiccups though," I said leaving out that Eric was the one that kept me from hitting the tub floor after scaring me half to death.
"Humm…, let's give a little check just in case, shall we? Sheriff if you could excuse us, I'll call you when we're done." Eric stepped out of the bedroom and she started her prodding and poking which the baby and I both hated.
He's going to keep me up with marathon movements all night, I thought to myself as she asked if I've eaten yet. She called Eric back in and pulled out a bottle of Royalty Blue from her bag and handed it to me; it was the best tasting bottle of blood I'd tasted so far. Eric almost tripped on his long legs when he saw me enjoying the blood drink.
"She's fine; the little one was just scared. It was good you called just to be on the safe side. At this stage she needs constant supervision, especially in the shower and when on the stairs. She should also increase her intake of protein and blood for the next month." Dr. Ludwig explained to Eric, unaware that he'd just found out about my "condition."
"Don't worry my dear we're almost there and everything is going as it should be. The Little Prince will be healthy and in your arms in no time. Call me if you have any questions or feel any pain but I thought you will." She bowed to me and nodded to Eric before popping out.
{I sighed}
"Eric, can you help me off the bed please? And Eric, can you start your interrogation after I get dressed and go downstairs I need food." I motioned for him to leave the room so that I could get dressed and he reluctantly did closing the bedroom door behind him.
I tried putting on a pair of shorts but bending had been so difficult lately that I opted for one of Bill's Henley and an elastic waist skirt. My normal attire lately if I get dressed alone.
I heated a bottle of blood for Eric and my dinner in the microwave. We sat at the dinner table and he watched me eat as he filled me in on what brought him to the house.
A vampire policeman had seen the report of my car being destroyed and left Eric a message informing him of the event; as some of the men were members of FOtS, and Bill was out of town, Eric immediately thought the worse and rushed over.
"I went to Merlotte's but I didn't pick up your scent there or at your house so I came here; then, I smelled a fae and a vampire but not Bill or any other known to me." He said matter-of-factly.
"I knew you were here, I could smell you but you didn't answer when I called to you so I rushed in and you know the rest (waving a dismissive hand)"
"Is this why you've been hiding from everyone and how did you make it get small?" He stopped and thought for a moment.
"But more importantly, why did Bill leave you alone in this condition knowing the danger we're all in?"
"What danger Eric?" I asked my heart starting to race a mile a minute.
"Calm down woman, your heart is beating like a race horse! You aren't in any immediate danger; but you have a disturbing knack of putting yourself in the middle whenever there's trouble."
"Eric, I know you're lying, does this have something to do with the hotels the King just bought in California?"
"Sookie, you never seize to amaze me. You know us vampires too well to believe the superficiality of our plans," he laughed and patted my hand.
"Now, do you want to enlighten me about your current situation?" He leaned in waiting for an answer, well more like demanding an answer. After considering how much I should tell him without first discussing it with Bill, I gave him the abridged version.
"So, this was Niall's doing then." He snickered.
"Sookie, you should not trust Niall blindly. Fae NEVER do anything without there being an ulterior motive. If everyone is referring to your offspring as prince then I fear that is what Niall wants him to be. Has he told you if this was what he meant by "fae life?"
"No, he hasn't said anything about that Eric, so we still don't know what he meant by it."
"I need to discuss this further with Bill; you must prepare yourself and be protected." The baby stretched to his normal size again and Eric raised his eyebrows delighted at what he'd just witnessed and (somehow) realized.
"I see the little one knows how to protect himself, that is good. Now, I am going to send Pam tonight, she'll stay with you from now on. I know my child will not lose herself to your scent and I trust no one else to come and protect you."
"However, Sookie, do not let her in the house; she should not know you are pregnant. Change the codes on the security system, call them and tell them to change the pulse notice from four to two seconds. Few vampires can get through in that amount of time without knowing the codes."
"Can you? Is that how you broke in?" I asked but he just smiled down at me kissing me on the head.
"In the daytime Sam will be able to protect you while you're at Merlotte's; you should stay there until Pam or Bill wake and can come get you."
"Eric, I haven't worked at Merlotte's for months now. I'm sorry we lied to you but, this little one had to be protected."
"And Eric…, thank you for not letting me fall and for coming to check on me."
"You're not mad are you?" I asked.
He got up stretching himself to his full height and looked down at me, "I'm not happy but, I know motherhood is something you've always desired so I'm glad you can experience it. My advice is that you don't let anyone know Bill is the father…, yet if at all."
"As for not letting you fall, (he grinned) when have you known me to pass on the opportunity of having you in my arms; you being naked was just…, the icing on the cake." He winked and gave me his most wicked smile before adding, "I asked Tray to check your car and see about towing it to the dealership in Monroe tomorrow. Sleep well dear one and call the security company. I will be outside until Pam arrives."
True to his word Eric was sitting outside when I called Bill and told him what had happened, he spoke to Eric and then Bill called the security company himself.
I heard Eric tell Bill not to worry about the ones that had destroyed my car as they'd been taken care of; I shuddered at the thought and tried to keep myself out of Eric's head so as not to see what he meant or had done.
After that night Pam was always posted outside the house as my night time guard unless I went over to Claude's or if Sam stood over.
The week that Bill was to return, (my twenty-seventh week), I'd gotten myself into a cleaning frenzy, Amelia called it my nestling stage and Dr. Ludwig said it was normal for pregnant woman as their due date neared.
I was a serious mess. I was always exhausted; my breasts were as big as watermelons and weighed about the same. I ate and ate and ate, peed and peed and peed; and I wanted sex morning, noon and night but with Bill in Italy the closest I got was video-phone sex. Bill enjoyed it more than I did as my big belly got in the way of me touching myself, only making me more frustrated and tired.
I argued, cried and screamed at no one in particular and the night Bill was to return I decided I was mad at him and didn't want to see him and went to stay over with Amelia and Octavia.
In the middle of the night, I decided I missed my loving vampire husband and made my way to the house only to bump into a different vampire; a very big and very dangerous looking vampire…
Oh shit…