Here is the extra-long end of Wild Heart, Eternal Light! What a ride it has been, for me at least! I want to start out by saying thank you to all you who read, reviewed, PMed, favorited, and followed my story. It has meant more than you can possibly know. I have enjoyed seeing how you all responded to my writing and it has given me the opportunity to grow as a writer. So thank you. I have also enjoyed reading along with you, seeing how this story has developed. Any success this story has had, I have to say is because of my wonderful readers support.
I hope I see all of you for the sequel!
I also want to say a BIG thanks to Aly-Ella, who inspired a large portion of the ending to this story. Without her help I would have fretted for weeks on how to end it and I appreciated all of her help. Thanks Aly-Ella!
Chapter 73: The Way it Ends
Sookie
It was hard pulling away from him when they hadn't been out of each other's sight in weeks. She realized part of her struggle was their bond attempting to pull them back together. It wasn't used to long distances at all. And neither was Sookie.
She watched him in the review mirror and she inhaled deeply, reminding herself they would only be apart for five hours, maybe. Even as she told herself it was reasonable, not unbearable. She thought of the time in minutes and it became the longest amount of time in history.
Sookie turned and began driving down the highway towards their new home. When she saw the gravel dirt road, she looked ahead of herself down the road towards Bon Temps.
She drove past her and Eric's new driveway and made the rest of the way to her old hometown. As she drove through town she decided to pull off and go into Merlotte's. She didn't want to see any one person in particular, but she wanted to see the people she had grown up with. Most thought she was crazier than a bed bug, but she had never held that against them.
She parked Eric's baby, then walked in through the front door. Everybody was busy chattering and most didn't even notice it when she entered. When she did, she walked to the bar and sat down. There was a new guy behind the bar and Sookie recognized him vaguely. He was tall, with brown hair and brown eyes. He had a serious look on his face, but he seemed kind.
Then she remembered that Terry was his friend. And judging by the dog tags that he was sporting, they had probably served together. Sookie ordered water and she continued her perusal of the bar. Down on the end of the bar was a hunched over figure. She immediately thought it must be town drunk Jane Bodehouse. She did a double take though when she realized it was Sam Merlotte.
Drunk in the bar, in front of his patrons?
She stood and walked over to him. "Sam?" she asked disbelievingly.
He jerked at the sound of her voice and she could see and now smell how drunk he was. She grabbed him by the upper arm and hauled him out of the bar. The task was made easier by Eric's blood.
She led him back to his office and pushed him towards the leather chair in the corner of the room.
"Damn Sam, since when are you a worse sight that Jane Fuckin' Bodehouse? Drinkin' in your own bar. What the hell is the matter with you?" she asked.
He was having difficulty raising his head and holding it upright, and his eyes weren't able to open more than halfway, "Sookie, I am sorry for what I said to you."
"I ain't here lookin' for an apology. Or even to make up with you Sam. I came here for my own reasons. But I couldn't help myself when I saw you," she said.
He looked at her, but closed his eyes. "I don't know what's wrong with me. Everyone and everythin' seems to be fuckin' crumblin' around me."
"You let it Sam. And you push people away. You pushed me away. You gotta stop blamin' the world for everythin'," she rebuked, but she held her hand out for his and he took it.
"I was jealous," he admitted. "And mad. That you could love someone like Eric and someone like Bill and not love me. I must be pretty bad for you to not even look twice at me," he said, tears filling his eyes.
Sookie shook her head, "Sam, I do love you, but not the way you want me to. It's time for you to let me go. My life is with Eric. He is my bonded, Sam, and he is also my husband. I love him with my whole heart and my whole soul. Nothin' will ever change that. Nothin'."
Sam looked shocked but then sat forward with his elbows resting on his knees and he held his forehead in both hands. Sookie could feel his mind whirling with the information which was difficult on account of the large amount of booze he had consumed.
He looked back up at her, "You seem sure. Are you happy?" he asked.
"I have never been more sure of anythin' and I couldn't be more happy," she replied.
He nodded and she looked him over. She stood and walked out to the bar. She grabbed him a couple bottles of water, then went back to his office and set them on the set of shelves next to his chair. She grabbed out the painkillers and set those next to the water and a trash can next to his chair in case he got sick. After she threw him a small blanket, she said, "Sleep it off in here. And get your act together Sam Merlotte. You are better and stronger than this."
"Will I see you around?" he asked suddenly.
"Not for a while."
With that she turned to head out of the office and as she looked back, she saw a strange picture Sam had hung up. She knew it had been there for a while but she had never studied it until now. It was of a dog protecting a little blond girl. She looked between it and Sam, knowing that when he looked at this, he was reminded of Sookie.
"Take care of yourself, Sam. For me?" she asked, but he was already passed out, snoring lightly.
She popped her head into the kitchen and said, "Lock up Terry?"
He jumped in surprise to see her, but he nodded. "Sam?"
"Passed out in his office."
Terry nodded and said, "Thanks Sookie."
She only nodded and walked out the back door and over to Eric's baby. She needed to get home, but she had one more stop to make.
Five minutes later she was driving down Hummingbird Lane. She turned onto her driveway and parked. The house looked the same, but she felt something was different. As she climbed up the porch steps and over to the flower pot she kept a spare key, she realized that she was different, not the house.
Sookie unlocked the door and flipped on the lights as she walked slowly through it. What she was looking for, she didn't exactly know. She slowly made her way through her house and as she walked through she saw her, Jason, and her Gran through various stages of their lives in this home. First day of school, prom, graduation, weekend breakfasts together.
Sookie loved this house, but it was her past. She sat on the steps in front of the door. She inhaled deeply, knowing she would never give it up. This was her home and it was Stackhouse property. But she had meant it when she said her life was with Eric now.
Sookie looked around her house and made sure all the lights were off. She walked out, saying a small goodbye. She would be back, but like she told Sam, it wouldn't be for a while.
She locked up her house and back out to Eric's car. She suddenly felt concern and a large amount of worry through her bond and then she saw the phone buzz on the passenger seat as she unlocked the door.
She knew it was Eric before she even picked up the phone. She pushed reassurance through to him as she answered. "Hi baby, I just stopped at my house on the way home to check on it. I am headed home now."
Eric sounded worse than an agitated mother as he scolded her on not calling, but as she pulled into their drive he seemed to calm down a bit and she said she would see him when he got home.
Sookie turned off the car and walked up to her front door. The house was harder to get into than Fort Knox on lockdown. She scanned her fingers, keyed in the code, unlocked various locks and finally pushed open the front door.
Jason and Lafayette were lounging on the couch watching Swamp People on the History Channel. She walked up to them and asked, "Question: Are you both deeply invested in watching the rest of this show?"
They both shrugged and replied that they weren't. She nodded and said, "Good cuz' I need to talk to y'all about something."
Eric
Since Sookie had left, he was able to get through all his work and begin the lengthy process of securing Louisiana. All the sheriffs and Bill had perished in Rhodes. As sole survivor he was in charge of collaborating with the Authority to rebuild and restore Louisiana vampire hierarchy.
They had been in contact with the bar, trying to reach him several times. He had already begun to arrange meetings for next week with Nan's replacement and the new magister.
Temporarily, he was dealing with all issues in the state, which was overwhelming. Pam was a great help to him and so was Chow and Thalia. They all stepped up and divided the smaller issues that needed dealing with. Tonight a majority of the bigger problems were dealt with and Pam and Chow agreed to put out the smaller fires themselves tonight or tomorrow night.
This work was a reminder to Eric why he most definitely didn't want the king position. If he had the job, almost every night would be like this, no matter how many people he could delegate to. He would constantly be on call dealing with shit. He would cover until they found a fit replacement. After that he would be happy to step back into his role as sheriff and only deal with his area.
As Sookie drove home, he felt her change her mind and then the distance between them grow even more. He knew she was probably going to Bon Temps, probably to check on her home. Even as he felt her fine and safe, too much bad shit had happened to his Sookie to not worry.
As he finished the paperwork in his office he stood and decided he could afford to go out and sit in the bar for a while. His patrons hadn't seen him or Pam in weeks and were beginning to get frustrated. He walked up to the podium and immediately a buzz began in the bar as he sat down. He had his signature bored façade as he glanced around the bar at everybody there.
There were many of the regulars, both vampire and humans, there. The all refilled their drinks as they watched Eric get comfortable on the "throne" and Eric fought the urge to scream to close the place down and go and find Sookie.
As he thought about his wife, he smiled slightly. She had been perfect tonight. Not too crazy, but crazy enough. He was slightly concerned about Kemp, but thought that if he heard from him again, he would personally deal with him.
Sookie would never be taken from him. Ever.
Eric waved Ginger over and ordered a True Blood. She scurried off and Eric went back to monitoring his bond with Sookie. She was sad, but also…assertive? She was being assertive with someone. He wondered who she had run into and sent her a text on the phone he had given her.
She had never really bothered with cell phones in the past, so he didn't find it unusual that she didn't respond. She then began moving again and he assumed she had gone to her home.
She was sentimental and nostalgic and Eric knew she was at her beloved Gran's home. Her feelings for the house were the reason he had bought it and fixed it up. It was the reason he had it cleaned once a week. He would do anything and everything to make sure nothing happened to that old house. He would have moved into it if Sookie had said she couldn't part with it.
It seemed that she had accepted their life together and understood that they needed to live in a Viking sized home though and at a location that was unknown to most for both of their safety.
Once again he felt Sookie accept something in the bond and he felt her begin to change location once again, which is when he called. She wasn't going much further than Bon Temps before he left to find her.
"Hi baby, I just stopped at my house on the way home to check on it. I am headed home now," she answered.
He heard the rumble of the engine as she started it and decided he would keep her on the phone as she began the drive home to make sure she didn't get sidetracked once again. She didn't need to be out so late without him with her.
When she was approximately near the location he guessed was their home she began to wrap up their conversation and said she would see him when he got home. Her tone was nervous, but also of excitement and that confidence he had felt from her a few times in the past week.
As he clicked his phone to disconnect the call, he noticed that most everyone was focused on him and he rolled his eyes as they glanced away coolly when he eyed them. They were so ridiculous. Was that someone with Duct tape on their nipples? Why the fuck would anyone find that attractive?
Eric found himself checking into the bond with Sookie. She was home, but she was nervous and determined. He wondered what had her so weird tonight and the past few nights. She would tell him when she felt he needed to know, but he hoped it would be soon.
He sent out a wave of confusion and surprisingly she toned down their bond to almost nothing. He didn't like it and he was sure she could probably feel his anger and hurt by the action. He knew she wouldn't do it though if it wasn't important. She was focused and he wouldn't mess with her until he felt the mood change.
"Oh for God's sake, try and compose yourself when you are up here," Pam hissed out of the corner of her mouth.
He looked up at her, surprised he hadn't heard or felt her approach.
"What?" he asked defensively.
"You are clearly monitoring your bond to Sookie. It's as if you were shouting the results out to the entire bar," she said in an annoyed tone.
He shook his head and composed his face.
"I can feel about a hundred emotions running through you. I know some of them are Sookie's. What's wrong now?" Pam asked.
"Nothing that I know of. I know that something is up with Sookie, and she is going to hit me with it soon. I just don't know what it could be. It's unnerving," he admitted.
"Well that's normal. You typically know everything about her. No wonder it's unnerving."
He nodded and looked down at his phone, as if willing it to ring and be Sookie. Like his Sookie, it was stubborn and wouldn't do what he wanted.
"She is fine. She is safe. She loves you. And Sookie will never make a decision that isn't based around the two of you first. It's disgusting, but it's true," Pam sneered.
He smirked at his child and shook his head at her, "You are incorrigible."
"I know," she said in a cheery tone.
After a while the bar finally began to die down a little and Eric made a motion of his hand that notified Pam and the rest of the staff to wrap business up for the night and close up.
He decided he could get away with going home now and he raced back to his office, grabbing his laptop and his jacket. He sent Pam a text to see if she was coming with him and she replied right away that she wasn't, but staying at her own apartment.
He strode out the back of the club and took flight.
Sookie was calmer now. A little worried, but peaceful. She now had their bond back to being fully amped up and he pushed all the love, lust, and excitement he felt as he sped to their home.
He impatiently went through each security measure on the door, practically busting through it to get to her. When he finally got it open she was standing on the other side waiting for him. She threw herself into his arms and they both laughed as he wrapped his arms around her and twirled her around the foyer.
"It is ridiculous how much I missed you," he murmured softly against her ear. She kissed his cheek and pulled back from him slightly, "How was work dear?" she asked with a smile.
"You are such a smart ass," he said, smiling back at her.
She laughed and he set her down, leaning down and to kiss her lightly. He smelled Bon Temps on her, specifically bar smell. And shifter. She had gone to Merlotte's.
His temper flared up, but he desperately tried to tamp it down. He knew she would explain and that she would have an explanation.
"How was your hometown, my lover?" he asked and she cocked an eyebrow at him.
"It was fine. I went and settled some things. I am guessin' you can smell where I went?" she asked.
He nodded and waited for her to say something.
"I did go to Merlotte's but not with the desire of seein' anyone in particular. It was strange. I just felt like I needed to go through the town. And when I saw Sam there drunker than a skunk, I gave him a good talkin' to and left immediately after to go to my house. I was only at my house a half an hour, but when I left, I finally knew why I had gone."
Eric raised his eyebrows in surprise and said, "Well my interest is piqued."
Sookie smiled and said, "I have so much to tell you. I just hope you like what I have to say my husband."
"I like anything and everything about you, my wife," he said as he kissed down her neck, paying particular attention to her delicious throbbing vein.
"Well good. Should we talk then?" she asked.
"Maybe we should take care of other things first and then talk later," Eric whispered as he kissed along her collarbone, lightly dragging his blunt teeth across her skin causing her to shiver in pleasure.
She only ran her fingers through his hair, lost in his attention as he nuzzled her breasts through the dress she was wearing. He moaned softly against her and she was breathing heavily. He could smell her heavenly perfume as her arousal pooled beneath her dress.
"You win this one Viking," she said roughly and he swooped her up in his arms and had her in their bedroom before she could get another word out.
He laid her before him on the bed and simply looked at her. "You are so damn beautiful," he said softly as if it was to himself.
Sookie only looked up at him with love and need.
"I never thought I could see such beauty, let alone be allowed to spend all my days in its presence," he continued as she slowly ran his fingers softly up her calves. Sookie shivered again, but never broke her intense stare into his eyes.
His fingers luxuriated in the heat she was radiating from her moist center and they crawled closer to his burning Sookie. She was patient and was breathing deeply, not moving at all. She was simply watching him take his time and enjoy her.
Sookie was usually so impatient and wanting it fast, but something was different about his beautiful girl tonight. She wasn't rushing it.
His fingers found the elastic of her panties and he slowly drew the now soaked garment away from her.
Eric rubbed his fingers over her folds and her whole body responded in a slow and delicious roll, trying to maintain the contact between his fingers and her gooseflesh skin.
His fangs snicked down and she inhaled sharply at their appearance.
Eric massaged her hips. They were perfect in every way, especially the way Eric, as a male, was naturally programmed when looking for a mate. The one thing he couldn't give her was his child. He imagined his child in her stomach and it was a physical ache he felt deep in his soul as he held her luscious hips in his hands.
Sookie put her hands over his and said, "Honey, it wasn't in my cards even if I didn't bind myself to you."
Eric shook his head slightly and moved forward so he hovered over her, aside their tangled legs nothing was touching. "I didn't think you could actually tell the future my lover."
"Some things you don't see in silly cards or a crystal ball," Sookie replied softly.
He lowered himself so he was laying on his side facing her. She curled up onto her side facing him and nudged herself so she was in his arms, he happily helped. He tightened his arms around her.
"You would be a beautiful mother, Sookie."
"Knowing how many dangerous situations I find myself in, I couldn't live with myself if I had a child and knowingly put it in danger or worse, got it hurt or killed."
Sookie and Eric were silent, mourning what they would never have together. Even though they said it wasn't a big issue, each felt longing and pain in the other's side of the bond. They held each other for comfort, understanding what the other needed because they needed it themself.
"You would have been an amazing father, Eric."
Eric pinched his eyes shut and forbade the tears from falling down the sides of his face. Their child would have been beautiful. It would be Sookie. All of her beauty, intelligence, bravery, loyalty, charm. His qualities would fade in comparison to such qualities.
Sookie suddenly disentangled herself from Eric's arms and gently pushed his shoulder so he was lying right on his back. She leaned over his face and kissed him softly. "I will never regret being with you. Do you understand me, Eric?"
He saw her honesty blazing her chocolate brown eyes and he nodded. "I will love you forever, Sookie."
She smiled softly and kissed him again. As the kiss got deeper and their bodies began finding the other's in the dark, Sookie and Eric made sweet and passionate love. It was slow, but with every thrust Eric felt as if their souls were mingling and making love with them.
It was, without a doubt, the most meaningful moment he had ever experienced. Out of a thousand memories and experiences, in this moment, Eric was truly happy and never wanted to forget.
Sookie was panting quietly as he thrust into her and he felt her muscles tense as she dug her nails into his back. They hadn't broken eye contact and his body was literally shuddering for his release. However, it wouldn't be relieved until he felt Sookie come around him.
Her pants became quicker and quicker and then she shuddered all around him and cried out his name, as if only she could call his release. He thrust fitfully into her as he emptied himself inside of her and as they both rode out the shocks. Sookie wrapped her arms around him tightly, so she could hold him in place on top of her.
He rested inside of her and leaned down and kissed her panting mouth gently as she recovered her breath, moving to her forehead and cheeks. She finally seemed to catch her breath and he felt her determination once again.
He immediately responded and began to harden again and she shook her head.
"No, Eric. I need to talk to you about somethin' important."
He became concerned and she rubbed his back reassuringly.
"No, nothin' bad. I think you will be happy."
He gave a small nod, and his eyes searched her eyes as he raked through the bond. He waited as she inhaled deeply, her nipples grazing his chest causing him to shiver this time and him to twitch inside of her.
"Sookie, the suspicion is killing me and I am about ready to say forget it and begin taking you again," he warned.
"I will love you forever too, Eric."
He smiled down at her, but she looked at him expectantly. But if there was something he was missing in that sentence he didn't get it.
"Okay…" he said, slowly trying to put together something that wasn't clicking at all in his brain.
"I want you to turn me Eric."
Everything in his mind but her last sentence left his mind. "You do?" he finally asked.
Sookie nodded and he had to pull out of her. She moaned in protest, but sat up with him. "I have thought a lot about it and I am making this decision because I want to. You factor into the equation, but it's also something that I want."
Eric was trying to contain his joy, but he was nervous too. Was she making this decision for him or for her? Sookie was always making decisions based on what was best for everybody else and not for her. This was a big decision he would only let her make if it was truly something she wanted.
"Why?" he asked.
"I want to," she said simply. "I want to be with you. I don't want you to die, which you will if I don't. I also can't see our relationship working out if I get older, no matter what you say. I don't know if I will want to tie you into that, but I also know that I won't want to let you go. So it really is somethin' I want."
"Sookie, I think you need to take some time to think-"
"No. I have taken enough time. I know what I want. Why wait? If I can't get you to be my maker, I will go to Pam, who will do it so she can save you from true death and for a chance to boss me around."
He looked down at their hands and noticed that their hands had naturally found each other without his even noticing it. Their fingers were intertwined and his thumb stroked her soft skin.
"When were you thinking?" he asked.
"Now."
"Jason? Lafayette?" he asked.
"I told them tonight. Jason was upset and Lafayette thought it might be you pressuring me into it, but after a long talk with them, they both calmed down and acknowledged it was something I wanted. It is hard for them to accept, but eventually they will and even if they don't, I don't need them to accept it."
Eric was silent as he looked into her eyes and probed their bond.
She was certain. She was nervous, but also excited. She was confused, but Eric guessed it was because how he was reacting.
Are you really sure, my love?" he asked softly.
She nodded, with a smile on her face and tears in her eyes. "I trust you Eric. And I want to be as happy in 100 years as I am right now. This is how you can make me happy. Please be happy with me?" she asked in a soft voice.
He pulled her onto his lap so she was straddling him and hugged her tightly to him. "Even with the bond, you will never know how happy you've made me," he whispered in her ear
He felt her smile against his shoulder the pull back and kissed the corner of his mouth then fully on the mouth. His own tongue tickled her lips and she allowed him to explore her.
"I love you Sookie," he said as he broke away for some air. She would never need to break away for air again.
"I will love you forever, Eric."
He smiled and she ran her thumb along his teeth, lingering over where his fangs were. They snicked down and she said, "Let's begin."
He nodded and was amazed at what was happening. He was becoming maker to Sookie Stackhouse. A year ago, he didn't know if he would even see her ever again. Now he was married to her. He was bonded and pledged. He was living with her.
Now he was to become her maker and he got to keep her forever.
"One last time to drink you, my darling."
She nodded and put her hand on the nape of his neck, gently urging him forward. He inhaled her scent, wondering how much of it would change once she was vampire. "You will make an excellent vampire," he whispered as he dragged his fangs along her vein, which seemed to bounce up to him eagerly now.
"Will it hurt?" she asked.
"No, it's like going to sleep. Then you awake to your new life. In my arms. I won't leave you a moment."
She nodded and he pierced her skin, sucking lightly. Sookie kissed down his neck and with her free hand she softly touched her way down his chest. He growled against her neck as she rubbed his nipples lightly, outlining them with her fingers. The hand stroked his neck, urging him on.
Sookie was panting lightly as he drank and copied her movements by stroking her nipples with his rough fingertips. His hands moved to her back and pressed her chest flush against him as he lifted her slightly and lowered her down onto his already rock hard cock.
She moaned as he was buried inside of her. "God you feel good," she gasped out.
He only rumbled in pleasure as he began to lightly pump in and out of her.
After a while, they were close and Eric was quickly getting to the point where Sookie would have no choice but to follow through with it. "Sookie," he rumbled out.
She looked into his face, her fingers tracing his bloody lips as he continued to move inside of her deeply, "This is it. Are you sure?" he asked. She nodded and he nodded as he felt her certainty to guide him.
He nodded and pumped into her, snaking one hand down to her clit as he kissed Sookie as a human deeply one last time. She moaned in the kissed and writhed simultaneously against his hand and his cock.
He broke the kiss and assured her, "I will be there when you wake, my love."
Sookie nodded and said, "I know. I love you," she whispered in his ear.
He rubbed her back as he lowered his fangs to her neck, but as he latched on someone behind them said, "I wouldn't be doing that if I were you."
Eric growled and spun around, concealing Sookie behind him.
"Who the fuck are you?" he growled out as his practically jumped out of his gums and feral growls ripped through the room, his hands itching to break his neck.
"You!" Sookie exclaimed as she got a peek at their intruder.
OHHHH! Don't kill me, but I couldn't help the cliffhanger at the end of this story. It will give you all a good idea of how the sequel will start out. I have got plenty of ideas for the sequel so stay tuned.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! And please review so I have one last excitement of seeing you all review for Wild Heart, Eternal Light!