Weeks go by, and I try to assuage the pain in my throat with constant water drinking. Because it's a dream, I suppose is why I can still cry and feed E.J. How long has it been in real life? Hours? A day? Time is speeding up. This is going to be long and painful, I just don't know how long or how painful, and it scares me.

Whatever happens, right now, we're happy. We're a family. Eric has become a different person around his son. He has a look of wonderment and joy on his face that I imagine hasn't been there in a thousand years.

It's midnight when the baby yells to be fed, waking us both up. Eric, mesmerized by his child, never complains. He loves to hold him and play with him as much as I do. I suppose 1,000 years on earth provides some kind of maturity. Some kind. Sometimes Eric is like a child himself.

"Vacker", he says, kissing my forehead, then tickling the baby's cheek. He pulls me onto his lap. "Min."

I will not cry, I will not cry. I never thought I could love this man this much. And I may not be his for much longer.

"Shhhh",he whispers in my ear. "You're mine, and I swear nothing will happen to either of you. Just relax." His voice rumbles against my ear, "Trust me." He's said that before. And he was right before. But when he was right, he threw himself on top of me to save me from a bomb.

I try not to laugh, remembering –"She was superb."

"What are you laughing at, woman?" he asks.

"You."

I hated him when he did that. Now I thank God every day for that blood bond.

I lay back and let him hold us, protect us. The feeling is amazing. That I won't have it for long, makes it all the sweeter.

"That's my girl."

A man clears his throat loudly outside our room, then knocks. "It's Asgar."

"Come in", Eric calls, pulling the furs over me and E.J.

"More information", he man says.

Eric scoots from under us, and gets up, naked as the day he was born.

He never did have a drop of modesty. When you look like that, I suppose you don't need to.

"They're getting closer, by the third marker. And that story you wanted…" Asgar says.

Eric turns to me. "I'll be back. Sleep, both of you."

He wraps a fur around his waist and follows Asgar out the door.

I don't remember when Eric came back, but E.J. is hungry again. It's stopped being a shock to me to be awakened over and over. "Oh yeah, that's right" is all that pops in my head.

When he's satisfied, I lay him down next to us, and kiss his little fingers.

Eric leans over and kisses him, moves down and blows bubbles on his belly. The baby smiles, kicks his little legs, and slowly nods off.

Eric moves E.J. and his pillow off to the side, and kisses me. Then he moves down and captures one nipple in his mouth, then the other. He's licks gently and then gasps. He looks at me with the most shocked look on his face. I have to chuckle at him. I put my hand on the back of his head and guide his mouth back to my breast. He sucks gently and moans.

He comes up gasping. "Not as good as my blood?" I ask.

"Better", he says, kissing me.

The he dips his head again and moves down, and then unbelievably, blows bubbles on me. "What are you doing?! Ha ha!" I cry happily.

"I guess I'm blowing bubbles on tummies today", he says, with a kiss right over my belly button. And then….down.

His warm breath against my thigh makes me jump with sharp lust. "Shhhh", he whispers against me. The moment his tongue laps over my spot, I shriek and my hips buck up.

"Sorry, sorry", I say.

"Never apologize for wanting me", he whispers against me.

"I want you inside me", I gasp.

"You have to still be too sore", he says, lapping over me again.

"No, no, I'm good", I whisper. He takes me in his mouth and sucks.

"Oh, oh, yes, please", I moan and then explode in his mouth quickly. I've waited a long time to feel this again. I take his face in my hands and pull him up to kiss him.

I wrap my legs around his waist. He's hard as a rock, and pressed heavily against his thigh.

"You sure?" he asks.

"More than, now get inside me", I whisper.

"Thank God", he says, and I laugh. He pushes slowly, then deeper, and I gasp.

I realize this is first time we've made love with him as himself, but human.

"Don't be surprised if you lost vamp speed", I cackle.

"Don't you think it's soon to be complaining woman?" he asks.

"Ha, ha. It's so incredible to have you as you were. As you are", I whisper against his ear. "Make love to me, baby."

He moves against me and lets out a yell. He grinds harder and harder, over and over and moans.

"I can't hold this", he says in astonishment and explodes. "Oh yes, yes, oh…" he screams for what feels like five minutes.

Then with a deep breath, he relaxes. "That was…I forgot what that was like."

"Different?" I ask.

"A thousand times better. I forgot what it is to be human."

I kiss his lips and smile.

"I may have lost my expertise", he says, and sounds a little embarrassed.

"No, no, no….you have no idea how wonderful this is. I love you being human. I love you soooo much." I bury my face in his neck. And then sob.

"Sookie, shhh", he says again, kissing my shoulder. "I told you not to worry."

"I'm not leaving him, Eric", I wail against his neck.

He moves me to kiss my lips and look in my eyes.

"You think I don't know that? You think I don't know you? What you'd sacrifice for everyone?" he asks, kissing my forehead.

"When I die, I want you to make sure he's taken care of", I whisper, "Please….be his father. When you….when it happens, in battle, I know you have to become a vampire to survive. But then, come back for him. He's going to need his daddy."

He's just staring at me. "If you can't be with him, maybe Ysgar…E.J. is next in line to be King, they'd take care of him! Just keep an eye on him, look in on him whether Godric likes it or not."

He smiles and presses his forehead to mine. I was expecting a bigger reaction.

"I think I've found a way."

My mouth falls open. "Really?"

"Really. Now sleep, min kärlek."

I know Eric plays his cards close to the vest, and he'll never tell me more than that.

The next morning, I corner Asgar. I just fed my son, and Eric is outside, when I cut him off at the pass between the kitchen and the throne room.

"Asgar…"

"Majesty…" he inclines his head.

"Eric keeps sending you out looking for something…something from the elders right, a story?"

He nods his head nervously.

"I want to know what Eric is looking at. This story…can you tell me what it's about?"

"I can't, Majesty. I suggest you ask him", he says, trying to walk away.

"You know as well as I do that Eric doesn't always know what's best. I'm just curious."

"Majesty, I mean no disrespect, but he's our King, and your husband, he knows what's best. Ask him, and if it's suitable, he'll tell you…"

Suitable?

"Thanks for nuthin", I tell him, and walk away.

I'm rubbing my forehead. No one here is going to help me.

"Ysgar!"

I track him down standing outside, and wave him over. In the distance, Eric wrinkles his nose at me in confusion.

"Ysgar, tell me everything you know about blood sacrifices."