I lay E.J. down in his new crib gently. He's fast asleep.
We haven't turned on any lights, and it's dark inside the cavernous bedroom of Eric's condo.
"He'll be okay", I say.
"I know he will. What about you?"
I stretch and groan in the dark. My muscles ache, my head aches, and I'm bone tired from stress and lack of sleep. He starts rubbing my back with his big hands.
"Do you still think I cheated on you with Bill?" I ask. I know the answer, but he needs to be called on it.
"I never really thought that. I was angry. Everything you said was true. I DIDN'T take care of you and E.J."
"I didn't mean that", I object. "I was angry too. It's been very hard, but it wasn't your fault."
He turns me around to look at him. "I f*cked up, Sookie. It was a basic thing to change my will after we got married, and I neglected it. And because of that, you and my son suffered."
"You had no idea you were going to die", I say, "And you also didn't know your progeny would turn her back on us."
"Her own brother. I can hardly believe it", he says. The pain will be fresh for him for a while.
"He's not her brother, Eric, not really. I know I don't understand the relationship a vampire has with their maker…"
"No, you don't", Eric says.
"I don't care what you say. He's not her brother. She's not your daughter, not the way E.J. is your son."
"Not the same way, no", he says, "And I think that destroyed her."
"I'm very, very sorry." I haven't said that yet, and it's important to say so. He truly lost someone he's loved for a century tonight. Someone as dear to him as anyone has ever been.
"I want to go home now, Eric", I say.
"I don't feel comfortable with that yet. We don't know why E.J. smells the way he does. Anyone looking for either of you will track your scent to your house. I can protect you here. The place is small and guarded 24 hours a day."
"You can't protect us from everything", I say, and he tucks me under his chin.
"Don't say that. Please don't say that. If I can't protect you, I don't have a use or a reason for being here."
"Stop that." I reach up on my toes to kiss him. "That's not what the Eric Northman I know sounds like. You're a hero. Come to bed, there's still some night left."
He picks me up and carries me to bed, where he pulls off my sweater. I unzip my jeans, and unbutton his shirt.
He takes everything off and pulls me into his arms. We lay there a moment, wrapped up in each other's arms.
"There's someone we haven't talked about yet", I say.
I can feel him looking down to me.
"Ysgar."
"Ysgar?" he asks. He rubs his head like remembering a dream. "Right, Ysgar. I'm sure he made a good King."
"He died, Eric, on the beach that day. He sacrificed himself for you, like you sacrificed yourself for E.J. You were dead for all intents and purposes, Eric, I think that's the only reason I got you back."
"Dammit!" he spits, and sits up. "I didn't want that, it's my job to die for my men, not the other way around."
"Lie down, Eric, please. I think he did it for me more than you. He had appointed himself my protector, I think. We need to honor and remember him."
"We will", Eric swore, "We will. How did he do it? What did he say?"
"I was frantic at that moment. I couldn't think about anything but waking you up. Lafayette was pulling me out of the dream…."
He sighs. "How did he do it? What did he say? Don't spare my feelings."
"He said it was a King's sacrifice that had saved the village and now he was King."
Eric squeezes his eyes closed. I wish I could make it go away.
"He wished you and I long lives and lots of kids, I think. Then….he stabbed himself in the stomach with a long knife."
He just hangs his head for a moment.
"I'm not sorry for it, baby, I'm not. We should honor him, but he gave me back my husband. I'm not going to wish he didn't."
"And I'm not going to wish I didn't die for E.J., and I hope you won't either. Not now."
"Not now", I agree, "now that the three of us are alive and together and safe."
"You hate it here", he says, glancing around the dark room.
"Too much for words", I agree.
"I really don't want you in Bon Temps right now. And you're not going anywhere without me. If you could go anywhere or be anywhere, where would you be?"
"Other than home, I think you know", I say. "I never really wanted to leave. We had to, it wasn't real, but I was happy there."
He kisses me, long and slowwww. Not much you can do but enjoy it when someone with a thousand years' experience kisses you.
"We can't go back there, and I don't think you'd really want to, without modern medicine and all. But we can come close. What do you think about going to my farm in Öland for a while? It's secluded, everyone knows everyone, a new face in town would attract attention, so it would be hard to sneak up on us. I keep a small staff there all the time in case I feel I going. What do you say?"
"I'll freeze to death in Öland", I say, but I can't pretend I'm not excited.
"I think I've proven I can keep you warm", he whispers, rolling on top of me.
I wrap my legs around his waist. "I think it's a great idea."
"There are Viking graves there, a lot of history from the Iron Age, and even back to the Stone Age. E.J. can learn a lot there, and it's his…the land is his. His inheritance, and he should get to know it. And it's a safe, remote place to try to figure out why he smells so good. I'll have to fly back and forth though. I wish I could not give a shit about vampire politics, but I'm not in that position. I can't leave a power vacuum like that, and I have to remain sheriff of area 5."
"That sounds like a real pain", I frown.
"It will be, but it's worth it to keep you safe."
"What about day to day operations at Fangtasia?" I ask.
"Fangtasia I plan to leave in the care of someone I will be indebted to for eternity." I raise an eyebrow.
The next night, I'm back home and packing for an extended trip. I've been packing all day while Eric slept, and our flight to Stockholm leaves in 4 hours and we have stops to make first.
"You're not moving to Mars. If you forget something, there are actual stores there and everything", Eric says, standing by the front door, bouncing E.J. in his arms. There are several suitcases near the door. "Say hurry up, Momma", Eric whispers to E.J.
"Hurry up, Momma!" E.J. howls, thrilled to be in on the fun.
I come down the stairs and find them standing by the door. They're perfect, absolutely perfect.
"Fine, I'm done", I say, giving each one of my boys a kiss.
Eric hands me E.J. and he picks up the bags.
"Did you pack rocks or something?"
"I'm sure they're reallll heavy to you. Who could pick up a truck."
He smirks.
Anubis is going to take us to Stockholm, then we're off again to the coast, and a little plane will take us out to the island.
Chow is giving us a lift in Eric's limo to the airport. But first we're going to Merlottes so I can talk to Sam.
The atmosphere changes immediately the moment we walk in. Everyone knows Eric is a vampire, and even if there's someone who didn't, Eric radiates danger. Even Sam just stands there and blinks when 6'4 Eric stands in front of him, holding his little mini-me.
"Sam", Eric says with a nod.
"Eric. Sookie, can I see you in my office for a minute?"
"That's why I came here, Sam."
"I understood Mr. Reynolds would be in tonight", Eric says.
"Should have been here five minutes ago", Sam says, and I pull him down the hall to his office.
I close the door behind us.
"So you've proven he's back. And you disappear with barely a phone call…"
"I'm afraid I'm disappearin again, Sam. This time to Sweden for a while, not forever."
"Sweden?! Sookie, when are you going to stop this? You belong here in Bon Temps, what about your brother? Your job?"
Me? Hung in the air.
"Jason has always done just fine without me. I couldn't find him, so I'll have to call him from there. My job…hopefully I'll always have a job and a friend at Merlottes. If you can't hire me back, I understand."
"Sookie, I can't believe you would just run off to a foreign country!"
"I'm not going to Mars! Sam, we need time, family time. Do you have any idea what we've been through? You saw me fall apart, you saw me every day that he was gone, and how I barely made it through. E.J. doesn't even know his father…please try to understand."
"I get it", he says, finally. "I'm not gonna argue with you, never does a damn bit of good anyway. Just…be careful please…."
"I will", I jump up and hug him.
We're walking back into the bar as I see Eric corner Lafayette.
"Tsk, tsk, late for work", Eric says. Lafayette shrinks back. I think he'll always be afraid of Eric. "That's unacceptable."
"Hey, boss man." He tries to smile.
"Lafette!" E.J. cries.
"My son likes you", Eric says.
"Yeah, er, yes, he's a great kid."
"He is a great kid. And I wouldn't have known him if it weren't for you. Thank you, Lafayette, I can't repay you for what you've done for my family, but I can make life better for you. I'd like to offer you a job…"
"I don't push that shit no mo, boss man…please don't…get upset"
Eric smiles. It throws Lafayette off, I think it's going to throw everyone off for a while. Zen Eric. "A LEGAL job, Lafayette. How would you like to be co-owner of Fangtasia, with a salary around…$600…"
"Six hundred?"
"Six hundred thousand, Lafayette, a year, salary….unless you think that's unfair…"
I walk over and take his hand. He's sounding a lot like Darth Vader and Lafayette is looking skittish.
"You know everything about bars, Lafayette. With Pam out, someone has to be in charge while we're out of the country. It's a chance to be part owner in something real, and to make about zillion times more money. We're both incredibly grateful. What do you say?" I ask.
"Ummm….yeah." He's trying not to jump up and down and scream.
"I expect a certain level of sophistication in my employees and partners, Lafayette. I won't even try to stem your…creative dressing…but please buy a house to park your Ferrari in front of", Eric asks. "Chow can help you with real estate, or you can move into my building."
"I…wooooo….I mean….whoooo!"
"Does that mean he likes it?" Eric asks.
"I think it does." I come around and hug him.
"Go see Chow at sunset tomorrow", Eric directs. "He'll show you the ropes. He knows you're in charge."
Lafayette is wide eyed and mouthed. It hasn't sunk in yet.
"Bye, bye Lafette!" E.J. calls, and we walk out and back to the limo.
I wipe tears off my cheeks.
"It's not forever, sweetheart. You still want to go, right?"
"Yes", I assure him, "yes, we need this."
He hands me E.J. and opens the door for us.
He opens the little fridge and cracks open a cold small piccolo of champagne for me, a TruBlood for himself, a little Martinelli's apple juice for E.J., which he wisely pours into a bottle.
"To a new life", he says, raising a glass.
"To a new life", I agree, and kiss him.
"And a second chance at mine", he says, and kisses E.J. on the top of the head, wiping away a red tear.
At the airport, we're rushing. The plane attendants aren't moving very fast. Now I know what it's like to work in the service industry and I would never lose my temper at anyone, but…all our bags are still sitting there.
"Eric, everything is still there, honey, the pilot wants to leave…." No one is listening to me.
I finally see our bags being loaded.
"Just board, Sookie, I've got this", he directs.
I walk up the little stairs and board with E.J. who is looking around nervously. The nerves turn to excitement fast.
He wants to run up and down the aisle, and I have to keep grabbing him. There are two others with us on the plane, an elderly couple. I wouldn't have guessed they were undead if it weren't for the TruBlood sitting next to them. They look almost dead period.
I pick E.J. up and shuffle to the cock pit. I knock. "Captain, this is supposed to be a private flight….Mr. Captain? Sir?"
No answer.
I go back to where I was. I hate to be rude to my elders.
"Sir, M'am, I hate to bother you, but this flight is private, it's supposed to be just my husband and baby and me, and I think one of us is on the wrong plane…" There is only one travelling coffin also. And it has Eric's name on it.
They pull out their tickets.
"Where is this going?" the old lady asks.
"Sweden", I answer, with what I hope is a helpful smile.
"Well, bless the Lord! You're right, we're supposed to be on our way to Dunkirk! I'm so sorry young lady!"
"Oh no! No trouble at all. Do you need help with your bags?"
"No, no, we don't need any help…."
They walk off the plane, pushing past Eric who is on his way up.
"Who was that?" he asks, "There wasn't supposed to be anyone else on this plane except the pilot who won't open the cockpit door."
"Well that explains it."
"Explains what? Who were they?"
"Just a nice old couple on the wrong flight."
"A nice old vampire couple? Sookie, looks are deceiving, you have to understand someone turned at 80 is as strong and dangerous as someone turned at 20, it depends entirely on their actual age."
"You're right, I'm sorry."
Eric sits down next to me, and scoops E.J. onto his lap. He kisses my forehead.
"It's okay, your heart is one of the best things about you. But please, if someone or something seems off, just come get me right away. Don't think about it or talk to anyone, just come get me…promise?"
"Promise."
"Everything is finally on board and ready to go", he says.
The engine starts and as the plane taxis out on the runway, I let my head drop against Eric's shoulder.
"You know what?" he asks.
"What?"
"I've loved you for a thousand years." Eric leans in, and kisses me.
BACK IN THE TERMINAL
The old man is on a phone pressed to his ear.
"Yeah, that's the kid, you couldn't miss the smell. If you had sent a less experienced vampire, the kid would be dead already. I nearly couldn't control myself. He's Northman's get all right. Just take one look at him. I understand." He hangs up.