Layla checked into the hotel where she was going to meet Dr. Patricia Ludwig. It was beautiful and grand and she had gotten herself an expensive suite with a balcony which overlooked a private courtyard. Over the courtyard walls, though, she could hear the sounds of partying on Bourbon Street.
Layla had showered and brushed her hair out. It was so much longer now than it had been when she had moved to Louisiana and hung now in a braid over her shoulder. She had on a long, black skirt and a light, cream colored sweater that was cropped and exposed her still flat for now stomach. A little light, a little dark. She didn't plan on spending more than a day or two in New Orleans before leaving the state entirely. She couldn't risk staying here.
There was a knock on her door and she opened it to reveal a tiny woman with a slight hunch wearing medical scrubs.
"Miss Dahlin?" the woman asked.
"Yes, come in, please." Layla said stepping aside.
"I was most intrigued by what you said on the phone." Dr. Ludwig said as she walked in and set a heavy looking case on the small, tufted stool at the foot of the bed. "I'm not usually an OB-GYN, but I'll make an exception."
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Dr. Ludwig had taken blood and palpated Layla's abdomen and was now taking out a portable ultrasound.
"When was the date of conception?" Dr. Ludwig asked.
"Almost two weeks to the day." Layla told her. It felt like a lifetime ago. It's amazing how much shit can happen in such a small amount of time when you're in Bon Temps.
"And you are a halfling?" Dr. Ludwig confirmed. "You were still in development when you're mother ingested Vampire blood."
"That's what I have been told, yes." Layla told her as she sat on the edge of the large bed.
"Were you born earlier than expected?" Dr. Ludwig asked.
"Yeah, actually, I was born at 7 months." Layla confirmed.
"I thought so. Lean back please." Dr. Ludwig said, spreading jelly onto Layla's stomach. "The Vampire blood seems to kick the development into high gear, for a while. You look more along the lines of being seven to eight weeks along judging by your hormone levels and I bet..." she was saying, "... do see that?"
Layla turned to look at the screen the doctor was holding. There was a little blip on the sleek, portable screen the doctor had brought with her.
"There's the baby. I would take a guess and say the residual effects of strong, Vampire blood kickstarted the fetus's development, but as they leave your system he or she will develop normally as you do." Dr. Ludwig said. Layla stared at the screen, mesmerized.
"Can you point it out again?" she asked. Dr. Ludwig didn't smile but obliged. "Right there." she said pointing. "And the other one is right here."
"The other what?" Layla asked, eyes going wide.
"Twins, dear, twins." Dr. Ludwig said, exasperated. "I can't see any reason they would differ from you. I would suspect they're both halflings as well. I would steer clear of Vampire blood, unless you want to give birth sooner rather than later. Beyond that the standard rules of pregnancy apply. No drinking, no smoking, no roller coasters... the usual." Dr. Ludwig said, wiping the goo off of Layla's stomach while she lay frozen.
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Layla lay in bed in the wee hours of the morning, her hand resting on her abdomen, rubbing it absentmindedly. Two little miracle babies? It was terrifying enough when she thought there was only going to be one. She didn't want to go through this alone. She was frightened. In a sudden, lonely moment she sprang up from bed and began rooting through her luggage for her small jewelry box until she dug out the long pendant Eric had gotten for her last christmas. She slipped it around her neck and climbed back into bed, holding it tight in one fist while the other still held onto her belly. Layla fell asleep with silent tears running down her face.
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When she woke up much later in the afternoon, Layla took a shower and renewed her determination. She would enjoy this night in New Orleans and then head out onto the road and find a safe place for her and her babies, but for one night, she was going to pretend she was invisible. She was going to be a shadow that danced on the walls. There would be nothing else that existed.
Layla pulled on her favorite jeans and her black stiletto boots. She was wearing all black topped with her leather jacket and her hair was down and in curls. Her eyeshadow was black and smoky and her lips were a deep wine. As she looked in the mirror she could see traces of the girl who had moved to Louisiana, but there was steel in her eyes now, and a hardness to her that only came from heartbreak and adversity.
Layla smiled to herself as she walked along Bourbon Street, watching all the people, who seemed to be completely carefree. She laughed to herself as she saw people enjoying themselves. It made her feel better in a weird way, that just because it felt like her world was upside down, that everything else in the world was still moving just as it should.
She was having fun even though she was alone, that was until she saw someone jump on the hood of a taxi. It was Bill. She saw the side of Eric's face. His fangs were bared and he looked like he was threatening the driver. It seemed like there was a whole group of Vampires, and she noticed in the front was Russell Edgington in a poor excuse for a disguise.
Layla glanced around frantically for a place to hide when she saw a flash of white shoot down an alley. Without thinking she ducked down into it, crouching beside a dumpster, peering around it, watching as the group passed.
"Be careful, my child." came a voice from beside her. Layla's head snapped and she saw Godric, looking exactly like he had when she had last dreamt him.
"Godric?" Layla breathed.
"They are in danger. As are you." he told her, nodding towards the street where Eric, Bill and another woman was passing. Layla was willing to bet anything that it was Nora. Layla turned back, expecting to see the hallucination disappear but he didn't.
"You must protect our family." Godric told her. "The young, and the old."
"That's not fair to ask that of me." Layla said stubbornly. Godric smiled gently.
"Life is very rarely fair, little halfling." he reminded her. "Protect my children, as you protect your own."
In an instant he was gone. Layla sat, shaking the alley for a short while longer until she felt it was safe to leave again, and then practically ran back to her hotel.
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Layla was out of Louisiana before dawn hit. She had wasted no time getting the hell out of dodge. She didn't know what the hell Eric and Bill were doing with Russell Edgington, but it sure looked like they had been having a good time. A part of her wanted to go back and yell and scream at Eric until he explained himself to her, to tell him to get his shit together for once and step up to the plate, to tell him about the babies, but instead she drove and didn't stop until nightfall. She had already crossed the border into Texas and checked in at the Hotel Camilla. It was the closest and most secure hotel in the area, and she still wasn't feeling very safe.
It felt like all roads led to Eric, at least that's how she felt when they gave her the same room she had stayed in the very first time she had been here and Eric had shown up at the bar downstairs, and told her they would be sharing a room. It was here that she had first tasted his blood, and embraced the Vampire inside of her. Here she had met and said goodbye to Godric.
She slept until just past midnight and woke up in time to groggily order room service, which included a true blood. Driving all morning had drained her horribly, and she was pretty certain the synthetic blood wouldn't affect the babies. As Layla waited for her meal to arrive she turned on the television and stared.
There had been bombing in Houston. The largest True Blood factory had been bombed and up to 6 humans had been killed in the process. The anchors were full of speculations on how this would effect mainstreaming efforts, since this was the largest supplier of synthetic blood.
Something felt very, very wrong.
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Three days later, Layla was holed up in a little motel in Jasper, Texas. It was close to the Louisiana border. Ever since the bombing of the True Blood factory in Houston a few days ago she had been even more edgy and paranoid. She was wanted to find Eric, but feared for the safety of her babies and herself. She knew in her gut that he was in danger. Something just felt wrong. She turned off the news coverage she had been watching and laid back, throwing an arm over her eyes, trying to decide what to do. She had tried calling his phone but it rolled right to voicemail.
At some point during her thinking she fell to sleep.
"You are my child, though I never meant you to be." said a voice in her ear. Layla's eyes snapped open and she was no longer in her motel room, but standing in a dense forest with Godric standing beside her. "You must save our family."
"I never asked to be what you made me. You didn't even know I existed until I went looking for you in Dallas. How can you ask this of me? I owe you nothing!" Layla shouted, walking away angrily.
"It's true. I didn't pay enough attention to what my blood was telling me. I ignored it telling me I had another child. You were mostly human then, and not a true progeny." Godric said. "You owe me nothing."
"What do you mean 'then'?" Layla asked. "I'm still mostly human."
"Do you really believe that?" Godric asked. Layla placed a hand on her abdomen.
"Yes." she lied.
"Then you are wrong." Godric told her. "You dishonor our family by refusing to help your brother and sister."
"Ew, Eric is not my brother." Layla said, wrinkling her nose. "And I've never even met Nora. Besides, they're stronger than I am. If they can't get themselves out of whatever mess they are in, how am I supposed to?"
"You must help me." Godric said firmly. Layla felt tears of frustration well up in her eyes. She wanted to yell and scream some more but Godric was turning his back to her. The tress were lost as a red mist enveloped them both.
"Godric." a reverent voice said. Layla sighed in relief. It was Eric's voice, but she couldn't see him. She could see nothing but Godric and the red mist. It was like his voice was a whisper. She could barely hear it.
"I tried, I tried to save her." Eric said. Layla rushed forward, looking for where he could be coming from. Even if this was just a dream she wanted to see his face, but he was nowhere. Layla sank to the ground and stared up at Godric, tears now spilling onto her cheeks. It was the only push she needed. Even after everything he had done, Layla could never completely forsake Eric Northman. The love and devotion she felt was a heavy chain on her heart that wouldn't break, and she knew that no matter what she would always try to save him.
"What should I do?" she asked tearfully.
"My children." Godric said.
"How have you come?" came a woman's voice from the swirling mist. Layla knew it must be Nora.
"My blood is in you. I'm with you always." Godric said.
Layla was sobbing quietly and heard only pieces of what Nora was saying.
"Lillith is a godless God. She will lead you and all around you to destruction." Godric said. Layla shook her head as she faintly listened to Nora's argument.
"I have done what you have failed to do." Godric said, staring into the mist and then glancing at Layla. "I've evolved."
"Can you save her, father? She is lost." Eric's sad voice said. Suddenly the voices in the mist rose up, frantic about something Layla couldn't see.
"Please, spare him Lillith!"
"Fight her!"
"Godric?" Layla asked, staring in horror.
"You must fight her!" Eric roared.
"It's not I who must fight her." Godric said.
Layla began to scream as an invisible hand clawed across Godric's neck and then tore his head from his body.
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Layla woke up to the sound of screaming and then realized it was her own. Maybe it had just been a dream but it had felt so real, and her cheeks were still wet with tears. Her mind was made up.
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"The fuck happened to getting out of town?" Pam asked as Layla walked into Fangtasia. She was in her black jeans and combat boots and her leather jacket on over a red silk top, with the necklace Eric had given her hanging around her neck."
"Changed my mind." Layla said with a smile that Pam didn't return.
"How was the doctor?" she asked.
"Do you really care?" Layla countered, raising an eyebrow.
"Not really."
Layla frowned. "You seem bitchier than usual. What's going on?" she asked. Pam glanced around and then nodded for Layla to follow her.
The two of them walked down into the basement. As they stood in the dark, concrete room, all pretenses were dropped.
"We have a new Sheriff." Pam said sourly. Layla made a noise of disgust.
"I fucking knew something was wrong." she said to herself. "Who?"
"Elijah is his name and he's a little shit." Pam told her.
"Pam, I saw Eric in New Orleans, but he wasn't himself. Bill either. It was like they were high. Oh, and did I mention they were hanging out with Russell fucking Edgington?" Layla said. Pam rushed forward until she was in Layla's face.
"You are waiting until now to tell me this?" Pam demanded, her fangs down with fury. Layla's own fangs popped forward in response to the threat.
"Something isn't right, and I have a feeling this goes way deeper than any of us know." Layla hissed. A scream from upstairs made both of their heads snap up. Pam practically disappeared she moved so quickly, but Layla was right behind her. In the office Ginger was screaming, a dead Vampire covered her and the floor while Tara stood wiping off a sword.
"We're not running." she said. "Nobody fucks with us in our house."
Layla felt like laughing almost. Would the familial loyalty of clan Godric never end?
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Eric paced his room. Russell was once again on the loose, and was going after Sookie. He was heading for Bon Temps and no doubt a certain brunette halfling who seemed to find trouble where ever it was would be standing in between them.
He looked up as Nora came in, and he saw for the first time in a long time, the look of terrified clarity he had been waiting for. She rushed towards him and he held her close, kissing her forehead, glad that his sister had come back to him and terrified of what their future could hold.
"Forgive me, forgive me, forgive me." Nora pleaded quietly as Eric held her. "What are we going to do?"
"I'll get us out of here." Eric told her. "We have to find Layla."
"Who is that?" Nora asked.
"She is a halfling. Our sister, the last child of Godric." Eric told her. Nora frowned up at him and she gave a small half smile.
"I have a sister?" she asked in a small voice. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Eric pulled away and sat down on the bed as Nora sat down beside him.
"She is half human. You heard how Salome condemned day-walking. To them a human possessing Vampire abilities would be an abomination. They would destroy her." Eric said. "Bill hasn't said anything yet, but there's no guarantee that he won't. If we don't get to her first-"
"We will." Nora said, taking his hand. Eric leaned his head on Nora's shoulder and she stroked his hair lovingly. "She is of Godric's blood. She is our blood-"
"She is my wife."Eric said through gritted teeth and looked hard at Nora. "I will protect my family."
Nora nodded. "WE will protect our family." she promised and kissed Eric's forehead.
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Layla helped Tara and Ginger clean up the mess and then sat at the bar while Pam spoke with Tara. Just as Pam walked out from the office, Jessica rushed in the front door.
"What the hell happened to you?" Pam asked.
"I need you to hide me." Jessica said.
"No." Pam replied flatly.
"Why not?"
"Since when did I become a halfway house for wayward baby vamps?" Pam asked, taking a seat beside Layla to count the bar drawer. "Whatever trouble you're in, leave me out of it. I got enough of my own."
Layla sipped a water and watched Jessica with scrutiny. The girl was a bloody mess.
"I know where Eric is." Jessica said, hoping to get Pam's attention. Layla and Pam both stared at her. The two women stood from their seats.
"Where?" Pam asked.
"I'll tell you if you hide me." Jessica said firmly. Pam rushed forward and pinned Jessica against the wall, holding her by her chin.
"Don't play games with me you little ginger bitch." Pam threatened. Jessica only shook her head.
"Hide me." she said in a small voice.
"Jesus, Pam. Look at her. She needs help." Layla said.
"I don't wanna hear your maternal instincts right now, Layla." Pam growled, but released Jessica's face. "Get her a coffin out of storage." Pam told Tara, who was standing in the doorway.
Layla walked forward as Pam turned back to Jessica.
"Answers. Now." Pam demanded.