A\N: Okay, so I'm super psyched to hear how much you guys liked the last update. Sorry this took so long, I'll spare you all the details of my mundane suck-fest of a life lately. I'll admit, killing off Sorren was a tough move, and I thought good and hard about it for a while. Ultimately though, a battle with a bunch of ancient vamps would have casualties on both sides and I couldn't stand the thought of killing off one of CH's main characters. (Realism in a fantasy fanfic is sort of an oxymoron, but you get the idea.) Anyhoo, I was gonna make this two chapters, but I figured ya'll have waited long enough. Here's the finale, part deux.

As always, I tip my hat to the grand dame of storytelling, Miss Charlaine Harris.

Chapter Nineteen

No one moved. The only sound to be heard was the steady breathing of the creatures now standing between Marcus and I. Even the organic noises of the woods seemed to quiet down in their presence.

One of the wolves, a dark beast of mutant proportions, rested a padded foot on Eric's chest and bared his teeth. A low rumble rolled in his throat - a possessive gesture to be sure. It was Alcide, I recognized his fur and the shape of his muzzle. There was no love lost between him and Eric, but it became clear real quick, if there'd been any doubt, whose side he was on.

The other wolf, a light gray color and only slightly smaller than Alcide, seemed to stare directly at me. I could never mistake Jannalynn's eyes, especially when she looked at me like that. I wondered if she was there as pack enforcer and backup for Alcide, or if she had insisted on coming when she heard who else was coming along. My guess rested on the second choice.

The vampires all stood at attention. Even Pam, who'd been kneeling before the battered remains of her slain Viking, slid to her feet and took a pensive stance. Sergius and Gunter began to slowly circle around the perimeter like hungry sharks, trying to get closer to Marcus. One step too many, and Jannalynn snapped furiously at Sergius's hand.

The lion did not move. He stood perfectly still, his murderous eyes locked on Marcus. The giant cat licked his long teeth and then let out a roar that I felt in my chest. Sam seemed to have a shorter temper as a feline than he did as a human. Freyja stepped backward and bumped into me. She glanced up and I saw that her fangs had retracted and she looked like a scared kid again. How easy it was for me to forget that she had almost just killed me, looking into the face of a child.

"Don't worry," I whispered with a wink and a quick squeeze of her arm. "He's with me."

The creature with the panther face nimbled up the porch step, his sharp claws clicking against the boards as he went. He came to stand next to me, and Freyja snuggled even closer. He seemed to purr and I had to resist the urge to reach up and scratch him behind his ear. I'd never seen Jason transformed before, but I acted as if it was the most natural thing in the world to associate with a werepather, two werewolves, and a shape shifter who happened to be my boss. Well, I guess it sort of was.

"Sam," Jason managed to say. His words were hard to understand through his misshapen lips and enlarged canine teeth. His eyes had taken on more of a feline shape, but were the same shade of blue.

I knew what he meant well enough. Sam's idea. I nodded and said, "I figured as much."

I felt a soft rub against my calf. I looked down and saw Elsa the cat staring up at me with those unmistakably intelligent eyes. She turned to Marcus and let out a loud hiss, her back arching and ears flattening. Marcus's eyes widened with fear, like my tiny cat with a little faery blood was finally enough to scare him. It was only when he looked to me, when all eyes were on me, that Eric moved.

In one seamless motion of his body, he was on his knees, crouched like a tiger about to pounce. I felt pride surge through my body, though I kept my eyes locked on Marcus. Maybe the others noticed Eric as well, but no one said a thing. We were all still for just a moment.

I let myself smile. "Sick 'em, boys."

What happened next was a blur of blood, fangs, and fur.

Jannalynn went for the closest moving target with such tenacity, it shocked even me. She brought Gunter down hard and chewed off the bottom of his face before he was even able to take a swing on her. Once his eyes were gone, it was easy enough to go for his neck. His hands found their way up to her ears and eyes, desperately trying to pull or poke out anything he could. A foot slammed down on Gunter's crotch, and Bill grinned as Jannalynn chewed through Gunter's neck until it was lopping to the side, attached by a few strands of leftover skin.

Pam charged Sergius at the same time, uttering a vengeful scream as she rammed into him. He was ready for the attack and laughed in the face of her anger. He hadn't however, accounted for the wolf creeping up behind him. Alcide jumped up and gripped Sergius around his neck as Pam slid a long, silver dagger from Sorren's belt. It glittered as she turned it in the moonlight with a satisfied smile. I heard him scream as the knife disappeared to the hilt into his chest.

My attention quickly went back to Marcus, who was still standing in front of me. The fear on his face was slowly fading back into rage as the screams of his last hope, his last remaining children, filled the night air. When Sam finally advanced on him, I knew Marcus would try to tear him apart. Sam pawed at him from the side, pushing him onto the grass. Marcus quickly recovered and gave Sam a sturdy kick to the head.

Sam's shook his head a few times but charged at Marcus again anyway, this time leaping up to clamp onto his shoulder. With paws firmly wrapped around his chest, Sam dragged Marcus down. They rolled around the lawn and bounced off the front steps a few times before I couldn't take it anymore. Sam was not a were, therefore not inclined to have superhuman strength. Sure, he was a lion at the moment, but I wasn't sure how a lion would measure up to an ancient Roman vampire. Marcus had probably watched lions getting slaughtered by gladiators while he was eating his breakfast.

Sam let out a load yowl as Marcus pulled out a clump of his mane and snapped at his exposed neck. Without hesitation, I raised my hands and threw whatever energy I had left directly into Marcus's back. His body withered as though he'd just been whipped and it gave Sam enough time to limp away.

Marcus let out a deafening scream that caused Freyja to shake in my arms. There was blood trickling out of his ears and nose, and his hair was sticking straight up like he'd been electrocuted. He turned toward me and I felt like I was getting stared down by a Halloween mask.

"You!" he screamed, frothing like a rabid animal. "What is it about you?"

That's not the first time I'd been asked that question, but the answer hardly seemed to matter at the moment. Turning around in a circle, he noticed a few things - The remains of his last defenders were quickly dissolving, a circle of enemies were slowly closing around him, and Eric wasn't on the ground anymore.

Before he could turn around, a bloody branch exploded through his abdomen from behind. He hissed and snapped his fangs, but it was too late. Eric had a hold of his neck as Bill held firm to the branch from behind. It was the same branch that I'd staked Victor with. Alcide clamped onto one of his thighs and Jannalynn and Sam each held onto a wrist between their teeth. He was very effectively trapped.

The weight of his attackers was too much and Marcus was brought down to his knees. Eric leaned down over his face, beaten and blood splattered. There was an intensity on his face that I had never seen before, a look that I could only imagine was the face he wore into battle. He raised a smaller branch that fit into his hand and let it rest in the air before Marcus's eyes.

Eric did not raise his voice, yet the hatred in his words was unmistakable. "Memento qui corde. Qui me complevit illud."

Eric raised the stake high in the air, arced it wide, then slammed down into Marcus. He exploded into a shower of blood and entrails just the same as Victor, and in the end, was just another stain on my driveway.

And like that it was done.

Dermot was on the porch in a flash, helping my wounded cousin to his feet. When Freyja saw Claude rubbing his forehead and grunting with displeasure, she let out a long, heavy sigh of relief. Maybe because my cousin was okay, and maybe because of something else. I felt her small body leaning against mine and our arms wrapped around each other softly. Eric looked up at us on the porch - one blonde holding onto another, one who may or may not have suddenly looked like a mother - and a faint smile crept over his mouth.

Alcide and Jannalynn were already standing by the edge of the lawn, ready to finish with this task and get on with their full moon hunting. Sam joined them, licking his wounds and shaking his battered head. Jannalynn rubbed her snout up and down Sam's golden shoulder and seemed top point her fuzzy derriere right in my general direction. (I'm sure it was just a coincidence.) Alcide and Eric's eyes met. Eric bowed his head and Alcide returned it with a quick flick of his muzzle. This time, the debt was on the other side of the table for Alcide and Eric knew it.

The three of them waited there, not moving, then Alcide stared up at us. "Jason," I whispered, "I think they're waiting for you, sweetie."

I could see the shock in his eyes. Jason didn't have a pack, not since his ex-wife had died and he'd decided not to have anything to do with those weirdoes over in Hotshot. Sam either for that matter. It was unheard of to be welcomed into a hunt by a were, and by a pack master no less.

"Go," I urged, and I could feel tears welling in my eyes. Jason had really lost his way since his transformation. This moment, even if it never happened again, warmed my heart and gave me a bit of hope for my brother's future.

Jason hopped down the stairs and Elsa the cat ambled down behind him. I reached out and tried to catch her. "Elsa, no!" I followed her out onto the driveway, but Eric held me back.

"She'll be fine," he assured me. I looked up at him with troubled eyes and he took my hand. "Trust me, they'll have to keep up with her."

Elsa and Jason joined the other creatures. They all took one glance back at us, and their eyes got caught in the moonlight. Then, like a strange pack of all their own, they silently disappeared into the trees. It wasn't the first time that a group of supes went hunting on my property and it probably wouldn't be the last.

"Call Maxwell Lee," Eric said to Pam, wasting no time with high fives or pats on the back. "Tell him to send a cleaning crew." Then he looked to me. "I'm going to take a shower."

My eyebrows knitted together, but I nodded. "Okay. I'll be right up."

He took a fleeting look back to the spot where Sorren's body had been, which was now just a pile of clothing and blood. He let out a quick sigh, then went inside without another word.

Later that night, after everyone had retired to separate corners and my driveway had been restored to its former glory, I stood alone in my bedroom. Normally I appreciated these quiet moments after a battle. Actually, I just appreciated not being in the hospital this time around. There was no victory party, and I was glad of it. I couldn't shake the feeling that the biggest struggles were yet to come.

I stared out the window down to the back yard and watched a funeral from another era. Eric placed all of Sorren's belongings into my fire pit with loving care, resting his gleaming seax on top. With a squirt of accelerant and the flip of a match, he lit the fire and then stood next to his daughter. They didn't touch or talk. Silently, they watched the flames burn everything down to ashes. And silently, I cried for the both of them.

Some nights later, we laid on the grass in the backyard, gazing up at the sky. It was a particularly clear night and the stars were giving us a spectacular show. Our bodies were lined up so our heads and shoulders touched, but my bare feet just only reached over Eric's knees. I casually rubbed his leg with my toes while he twirled a length of my hair. The silence was consuming and blissful.

"Did the stars look the same back in Viking days?" I asked.

"Mostly," he replied, "Only we had different names for them back then. The names we use now were made up by the Greeks." With a long and muscly arm, he pointed to a certain spot in the sky. "You see the one that looks like the shape of an animal?"

"I guess."

"That's Ursa Major, or the great bear. We called it Odin's Wagon. And right there is the north star, only we called it leiöarstjarna."

"How do you know about that stuff?"

He smirked. "I've picked up a thing or two over the years."

I gave him a light swat on the shoulder, but he continued on with his astronomy lesson, tracing figures in the sky with his extended finger. "That V-shaped one over there is Andromeda, and Pegasus is a square with three legs under it."

"What about an easy one like the big dipper?" I asked.

"Oh, it's there. It's the back end of the bear. See?"

I didn't see it, but I nodded anyway. "Um-humm."

He went on and one for a few minutes, pointing out this twinkle and that color, and I simply basked in the moment. It was a rare moment indeed whenever I got a hold onto a tidbit of Eric's real personality. It made me real happy, like he'd just told me a secret without even realizing. History buff, or even weapons expert - those I would get. I would've never guessed space nerd. There was so much I still didn't know about him. Sure, he'd lived lifetimes, but moments like these really impressed that on me.

Thinking of Eric in a renaissance get-up or a Viking helmet, my mind naturally wandered to Sorren. A lot of things over the past few days had made me think about Sorren. Sorren and Eric throwing a few back, Sorren whisking me through the woods to safety, Sorren returning to his life in Sweden after helping out an old friend. I suddenly felt weighed down by the silence of the night, by the lack of people and noise.

After the mess was cleaned and bodies had been pleasantly removed, everyone simply slipped away. Bill went back to whatever he when he wasn't sitting in my woods. I wasn't sure if I'd ever be able to really let go of everything that happened between the two of us, but I was pretty sure we were on the road to friendship. Sam had only called me once, and it'd been a quick call. He just wanted to confirm I'd be back at work after the weekend and asked if I was okay. That was it. Talk about awkward. At least he had the good grace not to bring up our last conversation, not over the phone at least. I was sure to get it good the first night we worked alone though. Just as I was getting my purse and saying goodnight, he'd strike. It was his M.O. Well, I'd worry about when I had to.

Pam seemed to be the one most affected by the whole thing, though she'd never admit it. She called in some vacation days and wasn't answering her phones. I think it was a combination of almost losing Eric and then seeing Sorren die before her eyes. I wanted nothing more than to go comfort my friend, but I'd learned a thing or two about Pam over the years, and the first thing was not to crowd her. The second thing was to never point out her weaknesses.

My uncle insisted on continuing with my lessons, now that he'd struck the faery mother load. I spent a few days avoiding him or hiding behind Eric, but I knew he'd peg me down pretty soon. I just didn't want to do it, to be perfectly honest. It was good to know I had a skill and certainly planned on putting it on my next supernatural freak resume, but the bottom line was that I'd killed with my own hands, again, and I refused to rationalize it anymore. I had a body count, and that's not easy to live with, trust me. Did it need to be done? Yes. Could someone else have done it? Yes. Did I enjoy doing it? No comment. (The no comment part is what made me think it wasn't a good idea to further explore my faery powers.)

I must've been quiet for too long, because I realized Eric had stopped talking. He pulled me closer and I snuggled into my spot under his arm. "You're troubled," he said, his voice soft and rumbly in his chest.

I shrugged. "Just thinking too much."

"Now I know there's something wrong."

Eric's jokes were few and far between, and they were usually at my expense. The fact that I ignored that one showed how conflicted I was. "Let me ask you something," I said, propping myself up on an elbow.

"Alright."

"You were, like, obsessed with getting in my pants for years."

"I got in them, didn't I?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, and it only took a witch's curse and amnesia."

"Ouch."

I smiled, but I was being serious. "Bill is still obsessed with me. Alcide rubs me all sorts of wrong ways. And don't even get me started on Sam."

"Get to the point, lover."

"The point is - why am I so special?"

He looked at me, one eyebrow raised. "You still don't know?"

"I'm a nobody waitress from a nobody town. I barely graduated high school. And all of you were willing to give your lives to save me."

"First of all, you don't fool me with all of that self-deprecating nonsense. No one with an attitude like the one you posses would think so little of themselves."

I sighed, because he was right. I wasn't the most confident person, but I was smart enough to know my own self-worth. Gran always said that you had to love yourself or no one else would bother. And for about the millionth time, I wondered what Gran would think of my present situation.

"Second, you did a very brave thing coming to rescue me. You underestimate your ability to affect this world, you always have."

"But Sorren -"

"Sorren and I swore our allegiance to each other hundreds of years ago. That means we are brothers and when you became my wife, you became his sister," Eric said. "Fighting to save our lives gave his death honor. His life was not taken in vain, I promise you that. He is looking down on us from the halls of Valhalla."

I nodded, chewing on my lips. "And what about you?"

"What about me?"

"On the boat...did you really see the Valkaries?"

"Sookie, I was hallucinating."

"I know, but ...were you ready? Did you really want to let go?"

His brows furrowed and he was quiet, like he was deciding whether or not to tell me the truth. "I did," he admitted. "For a moment, it seemed easier to give up. When I saw your face, I thought an angel had come to finally take me away. When I realized that you where actually there, when I heard your voice, it was almost - a disappointment. But then I felt your arms around me and tasted your blood, and I remembered."

I cleared my throat, but my words still tripped on the way. "Remembered what?"

A wry smile appeared on his face and he turned to look at me. "That Valhalla can wait a little while longer."

Now what can a girl possibly say after a man says something like that to her? Yup, nothing. So I kissed him instead. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down right on top of me. We lay there for some time, kissing and touching all those spots that drove each other crazy. I felt his neck and caressed the soft skin under his hairline. I was used to the short hair by then, but that spot on his neck was still irresistible to me.

Then, somewhere in the back of the responsible part of my brain, I thought of Bill or Bubba sitting out there in the woods. Watching the two of us making out like teenagers on a school night. Ick. Coming up for air, I asked, "So now what?"

"Now," he said, letting out a long sigh, "We wait. The news of Victor's death will surely have reached DeCastro by now."

"I'm surprised they haven't knocked down the door yet."

Propping himself on one elbow, he said, "So am I. But life goes on, so until something happens, I've decided to take some time off."

"You?" I asked, raising my eyebrows skeptically. "Mister vampire-workoholic-can't-leave-my-office-or-put-down-my-cellphone?"

He shrugged. "I haven't had a day off in eight years, I'm overdue. Pam is more than capable, once she's returned from her little hiatus."

"So what are you gonna do?"

"We are going to Sweden. There's some lose ends I need to tie up."

I looked up at him wearily. If I never saw an Ikea coffee table ever again, it'd be too soon. But I knew what he meant, even if he wasn't planning on talking about it. He was going to see Gregor's family, I'd bet on it.

"And there's also the business of the house to settle."

"The house?"

"On the island, lover. I own it."

"Oh." The house I wanted to burn off the face of the planet, in other words.

"It was meant to be a wedding gift."

My face softened. "Oh."

"If you'll have it," he added quickly. "I know the circumstances have changed a bit, but my intention is the same. I had it made to -"

"Look like my house times a thousand?" I said with a smile.

"Wait until you see the inside. There's a state-of-the art kitchen and a Jacuzzi big enough for us to swim in. And the master bedroom is the biggest room in the house, since that is where I planned on spending most of our time." The jovial glint in his eyes faded and his face grew somber. "If you'll have it."

I nodded after a moment. "I'll have it."

"Good, then I can give you this." He quickly sat up, pulling out an aged leather jewel box from his back pocket, like he'd planned this moment before I even suggested a gaze at the stars. Inside it was the delicate diamond necklace he'd offered me on the yacht in my dream.

I smiled demurely. "Am I as lovely as Marguerite?"

His eyes narrowed for a second, and I couldn't tell by his look if he was remembering our shared memory or trying to recall whether or not he'd told me that story before. But the moment passed, because maybe it didn't matter.

I sat up and pulled my hair to the side. Eric placed the strand of simply cut yet perfectly clear diamonds around my neck, making sure to touch every inch of exposed flesh he could manage before he slid his fingers away. I touched the center stone with gentle fingertips, taking pleasure in the feeling of it against my skin. I was ignoring the fact that the necklace was not only more than five hundred years old, but also that it was probably worth more than the entire town of Bon Temps. Not to mention that it should've been in a museum instead of around my neck.

"Why are you giving me this?" I gasped.

"Because she told me to give it to a woman who held my heart as strongly as I held hers." He rolled his eyes, adding, "Marguerite was prone to dramatics, but I appreciate the sentiment now."

I smiled and leaned in to plant a warm, wet kiss on his eager lips. We held on to each other for a few seconds before he pulled away and gazed at my neck. "You certainly outshine it. But it isn't exactly something you could wear to Merlotte's every night, now is it?"

"No," I giggled. He must've sensed my relief, because he handed me the leather box with an understanding smile. I'd wear it for a while, but I'd have to take it off before getting into bed.

"That's why I have this for you as well."

In his hand was a small black velvet box. He opened it to reveal the biggest diamond I had ever seen, a single stone set in glowing platinum. Eyebrows high, I sucked in a quick breath and felt my heart beating faster. In the eyes of the supernatural world, we'd been married for almost two years, but I'd never really been proposed to. Vampires don't propose, especially Eric. He was pragmatic and sensible. He was a business man.

He was holding a diamond ring between his fingers.

"It has occurred to me that being a human of southern decent, my wife is deserving of a few things I may have overlooked." He reached out and took my left hand, holding the ring between us. He cleared his throat and muttered with a tiny smile, "I want to get this right."

He was nervous. God bless his heart, he really was. He suddenly reminded me of the kind, gentle Eric who'd lost his memory, who laughed whenever he pleased and loved me without a second thought. Perhaps that part of Eric wasn't gone after all.

He quietly cleared his throat. "Sookie, you remind me of what it was like to be human. My life was uncomplicated and I was allowed to...feel. You make me want to feel everything, to discover things that I never thought possible. Our time together in this world is fleeting, and I want to spend it with you. Marry me."

I nodded dumbly and he slipped the perfectly sized ring onto my finger. I marveled at the way it sparkled and how different my simple hand suddenly looked. I'd always made fun of those silly girls that came into the bar, talking with their hands to show off their new rocks. I never thought I'd be one of them.

"You mean, like a real wedding?" I whispered.

"Of course."

"Like with flowers and big dresses and punch bowls?"

"If that's what you want," he smiled indulgently.

"Oh, yes!" I gushed, throwing my arms around his neck. I squeezed him until he laughed and tried to wiggle away, then I planted kisses all over his face until I landed one on his lips. "Oh, I just couldn't love you more," I sighed into his mouth in between kisses.

He grabbed me by the waist and flipped me onto the lawn. Just feeling the weight of his body coming down onto mine was enough to make me quiver and heave my chest. That haze came over his eyes, the one he got when he was hunting someone, or hunting me. I could feel his fangs scraping against my skin as he roughly kissed the side of my neck.

"You will want for nothing. You'll be my queen," he murmured into my ear.

"All I want is you."

"I am yours," he said. "But it comes with a price."

I eyed him, my curiosity piqued. It was the first time that he'd ever said anything like that to me. I'd always been the one handing myself over to him, having to admit that he had some kind of control over me, even if I didn't wholeheartedly mean it. "What price?" I asked.

"This will not be an easy path, for either of us."

"I know."

"I might be punished for what happened to Victor."

"Or you might be promoted."

"Be serious, Sookie."

"I am, jeez," I sighed. "Haven't you ever heard of letting a girl bask for a few minutes?"

"You need to be prepared -"

"Eric, I knew what I was getting into with you a long time ago. A few stamps in my passport and a new super power under my belt isn't gonna change that."

"People will...disapprove of our union."

"Well, let 'em," I said quickly. "You know how many people are married to their cousins in this town?"

"it's not the town's opinion I'm concerned about," he replied darkly.

"You're fretting too much," I said. "Once you're moved in here, I'll be perfectly safe."

An eyebrow arched. "I'm moving in here?"

"If you want me to marry you, you sure are," I said with a sweet smile. He was about to open his mouth when I added, "I'd be willing to compromise, of course. A spare coffin will fit very nicely in the hall closet."

It took him longer than I thought it would for him to realize I was joking. He smiled sheepishly and I gave him a wink.

"Try to keep up, huh?"

He was on me faster than I could laugh and he kissed me until I felt it all the way down to my toes. A thrill sailed through me when I realized it was like kissing him for the first time all over again. I pulled him closer to me, reaching my hands around his chest and under his tee shirt. I wanted to feel his skin get warm, I wanted to watch his cheeks redden as he -

The back porch door creaked opened and slammed shut.

"Eww, please stop that."

We both popped our heads up to see Freyja staring at us. She wore a pair of pink Juicy sweats and had a disgruntled look painted all over her pre-pubescent face.

"Can't you two control yourselves?" she asked, apparently revolted by us.

Eric rolled his eyes and I giggled into his shirt. "Daughter?" he asked, like it was the hundredth time she'd walked in on us. (It was only the forth, but who was counting at that point?)

She held up an empty bottle of True Blood and gave us a forced smile. "We're out of O neg."

"Drink the B positive."

"I'd rather drink the cat," she sneered.

"It's okay," I said, patting him on the chest and officially ringing the time-out bell. "I'll go to Wal-Mart. We need a few things anyway."

He rolled off me with a groan. "To be continued, Mrs. Northman," he called out as I hopped up and strode toward the house.

I snorted out a quick laugh and shook my head. "You're so corny."

Freyja hadn't left the house since the night of the rumble, nor had she spoken to my cousin or uncle. (They packed a few things and went to stay in Monroe. The scent in the house was just too much for Eric to tolerate.) She'd mostly kept to herself. I assumed she was embarrassed over the choices she'd made, but the way I saw it, she didn't really have much of a choice at all. It wasn't her fault she had a shitty foster dad.

We didn't think for a second that she was going to stay. We were prepared to say our goodbyes when the time came and tried not to not pressure her into sticking around. What Eric hadn't been prepared for the moment when she'd crawled into the hidey hole and clung to him like a found orphan. We waited for her to say something, to do anything, but she just puttered around the house and mostly avoided talking about anything of consequence. A day went by, then another, and we stopped waiting for her to disappear and just started living.

One night, Eric returned to the club and Freyja stayed with me. I made dinner, she drank True Blood. I washed dishes, she dried. We didn't do much talking, but I got her to sit down and watch Thor. I bought it on one of my lower days, thinking it would help me wallow in my misery, and I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of Viking hotness. I could tell by her smile and arched eyebrows that she appreciated the movie for different reasons than I did (a.k.a. man candy), but the irony of the situation wasn't lost on me. I painted my nails, so she did too. No, we did not braid each other's hair. Eric asked, that smart mouth.

After that we watched a new movie from my man candy collection every night, including Don Juan DeMarco, The Notebook, and The Wedding Planner. More importantly, we got on with life.

I put on a sweatshirt and gathered up my purse, when she found me by the front door. She had a longing look on her face and her sneakers had been neatly tied. I glanced at her in the reflection of the hall mirror as I fixed my hair and applied some lip gloss. "You need anything else?" I asked.

Leaning against the corner of the kitchen wall, she shrugged. "No."

"You wanna come with?"

She hesitated a good while. "...Umm, no."

I looked thoughtfully at her for a second, then I held out my hand and offered her a set of keys. "You wanna drive? We'll take your daddy's car."

Her eyes widened. "Yes. I mean, will he let us?"

"Oh, sweetie, you seem to be mistaken about who's in charge around here," I said, then I chuckled a little.

She let a small smile creep over her face, then she snatched the keys from me and all but skipped out the front door. It was the moment I needed to officially let myself feel happy. Not happily-ever-after happy, because I wasn't naive and I had two outlaw vampires currently residing in my house. But happy enough to realize that I was lucky for all that I had been given.

I stood in the doorway for a minute, watching Freyja walk around the red Corvette with awe and wonder. Maybe being a wife and stepmom wasn't going to be as hard as I thought. And maybe I'd eat those words pretty quickly, but at that moment, I just didn't care.

"Don't wait up!" I called over my shoulder, and I closed the front door behind me.

The End

Well, that's it folks. Thanks for coming along for the ride. Many of you have asked for me to write a sequel, and I seem to be having a hard time telling Eric and Sookie to stop talking in my mind, so I've already started it. It's called "To Thee I Dead" and I bet you can't guess what it's about. ;) After reading CH's latest book, it's pretty obvious that she doesn't plan on Eric and Sookie being together, but a girl can still dream, or write fan fics. To be fair to my awesomely devoted readers who waited for a long...long time for these last few chapters, I've decided to write it in one swoop and then update each chapter weekly.

What do you say - appease the muse one last time! Hit that review button and give Momma some sugar!