Disclaimer: I own none of the character's or anything else here. I'm writing purely for shits and giggle purposes. Please don't sue.

A/N: So this is being posted early because it's my Birthday and I figured ya'll have been soooooo awesome to leave me over 100 reviews that I'd post a little early for you. However, I don't have 6 finished yet so don't come crying to me on Sunday when I haven't posted anything else. You'll get your fix again next week. See ya below!

Chapter 5

After Pam's dismissal and an exchange which resulted in a much needed healing for Sookie, they joined Dr. Ludwig, Bubba, Thalia, and a groggy but conscious Bull in the kitchen. Before any of them could say anything, Bubba held out his phone to Sookie, "Miss Sookie, Miss Adele's been callen for ya all night. She says if'n you don't call back soon she's comin' to find ya!"

"Oh Lord, and she'll do it too. Will ya'll excuse me while I call her. I'll use my phone Bubba, meanwhile would you mind headin' back to the house? It'll put my mind at ease." Sookie reached for her purse that had been dumped on the kitchen counter at some point, and pulled out her cell phone.

"Yes'm, Mr. Eric, if'n you need me for an'thin' else…."

"Not at present Bubba, please make sure Adele and Sarah are secure. By the way, you wouldn't happen to know of any other 'friends' that would be interested in protecting the ladies would you?" Bubba was slow-minded and simple for a vampire and required some looking after of his own, but he had an interesting knack in accruing useful people around him. Eric thought it might be his 'vampire gift'.

Bubba nodded, "I think I might, Mr. Eric. I'll make a few calls once I get there." And with that he left in a blur.

Sookie had let the phone ring almost 10 times before Gran picked it up in a fluster, "Sookie Marie Stackhouse this had better be you!"

"Yes ma'am, I'm very sorry to worry you but I wasn't able to get to a phone, I'll tell you more about it when we get back. Bubba's on his way now. Are you ok? Why did it take so long for you to answer?"

"I was just strapping Sarah in the car when I heard the phone. Is Pam with Bubba? She tore outta here like a bat outta Hades earlier tonight. Sarah's fit to be tied ever since. She's all ready for her shopping trip and won't stop talking about it." Sookie looked at Eric not sure how to explain. Eric simply put out his hand for the phone.

"Adele? Pam has been detained for the foreseeable future. Could you explain to Sarah that her trip will have to be postponed?" Eric stated, quite matter of fact.

"No way, buddy. You can't break promises to a child and not expect nuclear fallout. I'll try to pacify her until you get here, if you're lucky she'll fall asleep before you arrive." It was already well past 10, and Eric was hoping this would be the case. He could arrange for something the next evening.

"We'll be there as soon as possible."

As Eric disconnected the call, Sookie said, "Gran's right. Sarah will be very disappointed. This will burn a bridge with Pam."

"We'll remedy it later," he said as he kissed her head gently. "Thalia, head to Fangtasia and assist Long Shadow in opening the club. We may not make it in tonight, but if we are able it won't be until much later." She nodded and turned to leave, but before she disappeared into vampire smoke, Eric added, "I thank you for your role in protecting my Bonded against my Childe. It will not be forgotten."

Finally all that remained were Ludwig and Bull, who was looking a little haggard but nothing close to the life threatening injury he'd received earlier that night.

Before anyone else could speak, Bull muttered dejectedly, "I know of a local Wolf, who use to be a cop. He could watch Sookie during the day until you can find a permanent guard for her."

Sookie was about to protest, until Eric squeezed the hand he had unconsciously taken hold of, "I think that is an excellent idea." Bull and Sookie both visibly slumped until Eric said with a smirk, "Inform him that he along with Bubba will report to you as head of Sookie's protection detail. We will hire more at a later time if Bubba is as successful in locating suitable people as he was in bringing you to us. I believe it will be prudent to have a guard for each of the women, day and night, to help cover things when we are working or should the need to travel arise." Seeing the confused look on Bull's face, he clarified, "Though in the future I would prefer you avoid getting 'knocked out'. As it were, your injuries are completely reasonable, considering you went up against a Vampire, my progeny no less, and in close quarters. We are inherently stronger and I can understand your unwillingness to use your abilities on my childe for fear of retribution. Know that should a situation like this occur in the future, this will be a non-issue. You will use any and all means necessary to protect her from anyone….even if that should be me."

"What? No, Eric why would you be a danger to me?"

"It's a possibility, my love. My Maker still exists; I do not wish to think about what would happen if he became aware of us. He was always very covetous of me. He does not like Pam, and I keep her in my presence at all times when he is visiting, which thankfully has only been once since I made her." This was one of his deepest fears, but at that moment something exceedingly unexpected happened.

Sookie's eyes rolled back into her head, as her whole body stiffened rigidly, she let out a blood cuddling scream of terror and pain before slumping into a whimpering heap in Eric's arms.

"What's happening? Sookie, what's wrong?" Eric pulled her still trembling body up into a bridal hold as he walked he into his living room and sat down with her on the couch, cradling her. He looked to Ludwig, who was busily examining Sookie as best she could from her position.

"There is no physical injury, perhaps this is due to her growing abilities." She then looked to Bull, "You share similar talents as Miss Stackhouse, have you any ideas?"

Bull paled as he looked at Eric with untold emotion in his eyes, "She's seeing your memories, the ones with your Maker."

Eric looked up sharply with alarm, "How do I stop this? These are things she should never see, never need to know…..Please! Stop her!"

Bull shook his head helplessly, "I can't she is blocking me." Eric could see the strain on the shifter's face.

Sookie went suddenly limp and silent in his arms as Ludwig pulled the syringe from her arm. "That will be enough of that drama, Thank You! You've just reminded me why I hate daytime soap operas." She stated plainly, as she slapped Sookie lightly on the cheek to rouse her from the daze she was in.

"Now Northman, this is precisely what I wanted to talk to you about earlier. So enough of this spectacle, let's get to it. I have given her a dose of a neural-inhibitor. This will lessen the effects your blood is having on her brain chemistry and give the daemon here," she pointed to Bull, "some time to work with her on control. However, it will not last forever, so you need to begin within the next 24 hours or else her next big emotional blowout could lead too much worse than what you've already experienced. Her unique heritage combined with your blood and the small trace of daemon that is responsible for her telepathy, is the reason, in my professional opinion, for these unpredicted occurrences. It would be wise of you to instill a little discipline and possibly calming techniques, in her if she has any hope of control in the future. Now, I have spent too much time here this evening as it is, though it has been entertaining. I'll expect payment soon Viking." And with that she too disappeared in a poof.

The drive back to Bon Temps was quiet. Bull drove his large Ford F-150 with an extended cab, while Eric and Sookie sat in the backseat. Sookie was leaning on Eric's shoulder and he could tell that she was bothered by something.

"Say what's on your mind, Lover. I will answer as best as I am able."

"Was he really that bad?" Sookie could barely manage the whisper she spoke in because her emotions were overwhelming. "I-I saw awful things…beatings…" she choked out a sob, "and so much worse. Why did you stay? Why didn't you stop him or kill him or something…?"

"I would give all that I have if I could have kept you from those memories." Eric's sigh was heavy with the burden of a hundred lifetimes. "Just as not all humans should be parents, not all vampires should be Makers. However, unlike human parents, Makers have complete control over those they bring over. As you saw earlier tonight with Pam, a Maker's call can be used as a form of punishment and control. I dislike using this form of discipline with Pam for the very reason it was used so many times on me. I did not leave because I could not and as for killing him…."

Sookie was beginning to understand, "You physically cannot harm him can you?"

"No. I must obey him in all commands, I have no choice."

Sookie sat up a little straighter, "Well then, if that bastard ever show's his face around here, I guess I'll have to kick his ass."

Eric was stiff for a moment but then leaned over slightly to kiss her head, "As appealing as that offer is, I must ask you not to." At Sookie's indignant look he clarified, "It is not that I wish him no harm, quite the opposite in fact, but he is twice my age and exceptionally powerful. He is also one of the cruelest creatures to ever walk this planet. I am fortunate that he lost interest in me 600 years ago and released me from his call. However, should he ever regain that interest, he could and most likely would command me to kill each one of you in a slow and painful manner, starting with Pam, just to serve as his entertainment."

Sookie didn't doubt Eric's claim, not after what she'd seen of his time with his Maker, but she was determined that monster would never touch HER bonded ever again. This she swore to herself at that moment. If whatever power she had was as great as Bull, Ludwig and Eric thought it was, she'd learn. Come Hell or high water, she'd master it to protect her family. And Eric was definitely her family now; she wasn't ever letting go.

Eric could feel the determination settle into Sookie's mind, and he fought with himself and his survival instincts. On the one hand he detested the idea of Appius getting anywhere near Sookie or the others, yet after the small sample of her power last night, a small part of him was hoping for the confrontation just so he could see his centuries long tormentor ended, violently preferably. It was only a small part though; he knew he would do all in his power to keep that from happening.

It was a quarter to midnight when they pulled up Hummingbird Lane. Eric was hoping that the late hour would ensure Sarah would be asleep. No such luck. As they pulled slowly down the drive they could see Gran and Sarah waiting for them on the porch. Gran was resting in the swing while Sarah paced on the top step wearing her Disney princess pajamas and pink bunny slippers. A small plastic tiara atop her blond curls completed the ensemble. The moment she saw them her face furrowed into a frown, she crossed her arms, and began tapping one pink clad foot. As they exited the truck and approached the tenacious tot, she said "Yous wate!" She was the living embodiment of Pam, as she cocked one hip and placed her hands on each side. "Pam says I go choppin', den she wev an I not go wif her. Me-maw was wowwied whe you no come home or cawl. Den Evis come bag an' say Pam naughee an no go choppin no mo'. Why Pam naughee? Deh she geh in twubah?"

It took all the adults had not to giggle or outright laugh at the precociousness of this child. As it was, neither Gran nor Sookie could keep the grins from their faces. When Sarah noticed, she turned on Sookie, "Why you waffin? Why I not see in yous head? I wanna knows what happes." She looked toward Bull, and they could see the concentration on her face. "He nots wet me in efveh. Why you nots teww mes….?" She began to pout by jutting out her lower lip until Eric thought she'd trip on it.

Sookie sat down slowly on the step next to Sarah; she was still sore and not completely healed yet from her tussle with Pam. She patted the step for Sarah to sit, but she stubbornly refused. Sookie sighed heavily, "Sweetheart, we've discussed this before remember? Grown-ups need their privacy; a lot of what we think isn't for you to know."

"Why?" Oh yeah, she was three alright. She'd been at the question everything stage for a while now, and Sookie had read a few child development books from the library to help her understand how the telepathy effected her maturity. As far as she could determine, it was putting her about 6 to 9 months ahead of her peers. As she gets older, Sookie was worried the gap would only get bigger. Gran said much the same things had happened with her at this age. Sookie was reading full books, and not just simple 'See spot run' books either, by the time she was four. Sarah had already distinguished the majority of the alphabet, and she knew all her 'at' words, thanks in part to educational television shows like "Super Why", "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse", and "Dora the Explorer" which she was addicted too. Gran and Sookie tried to limit the amount of T.V. she watched, but it was all educational so they gave in more times than not.

"Because adults sometimes think about things that you don't need to know about."

"But why?" Her inquisitiveness sometimes drove Sookie nuts, but she refused to go with the 'Because I said so' standard that her parents, then later Jason, had always used. For a curious young telepath that answer was an invitation to go snooping.

Eric answered this time as he knelt to her level so he could look her in the eye, "Your Aunt is trying to protect you, little one. Most grownups think mean and hurtful things that would upset you and make you cry. Sookie doesn't want you to cry so she and Bull are keeping you out of their heads tonight because your Aunt got hurt and she does not want you to see how that happened. It would be bad for you. Do you understand?"

Eric could almost see the wheels of thought turning ferociously in her head as she held back tears. She turned wide eyes at Sookie and said, "You gots a boo-boo?"

Now it was Sookie's turn to try to keep from crying, nodding her head, "Yes baby, I got in a little scuffle with Pam."

"Tan I see it?"

"Sure," most of the bruises had faded but the one on her shoulder was still blue, though not swollen anymore. Sookie figured it'd be gone by morning, thanks to Eric. She pulled the sweater she was wearing off to expose the strappy tank she had on underneath. The bruise on her right shoulder was easily exposed.

Sarah gasped and sympathetically said, "Owwwy." Then she bent her small head over the bruise and gave it a light kiss as gently as she could. "Dare! I kiss it beddah Ant Soogie. It huwt?"

Sookie sniffled, "Not anymore baby girl. You made it all better. Thank you."

"You wecom!" She cried out in triumph. Then she scowled at Eric, "Pam huwt my Soogie?" He wasn't sure if it was a statement or a question. "Evis wite….she bewwy naughee. Me-maw geh a swich oh hewr. I no wike hewr if she huwt my Soogie, we no fwins."

She looked so certain Eric couldn't resist asking, "So you don't want to go shopping anymore?"

The poor kid looked so torn between her loyalty to Sookie and her desire for 'pretty things'. "Wiwah you tage me choppin'? No wid Pam, she means."

Eric grinned, "It's a deal on two conditions."

"Wazza 'cod-ish-un'?"

"A condition is something you need to do for me before I take you shopping."

"Hmmm, so I do two fings fo' you an' I goes choppin' fo' pwedy hi-heewls wike Ant Soogie weas?"

"Yes."

"I geh pwedy dwess too?" Eric was beginning to think this little negotiator could talk a vampire into thinking True Blood tasted good, definitely a fairy trait.

Eric chuckled, "I will get you the shoes and dress and something pretty for your hair. We'll even take Gran with us, as long as you do your part."

Sarah looked like she won the lotto, "OKAY! Whah I do?"

"First, you must call Elvis by his new name, Bubba, ok. It makes him really sad to hear people call him by his old name so he got a new one. Understand?"

"Yeah! No Evis….Bubba 'ehsed, okay wah ness?"

"Next, you promise to try as hard as you can to stay out of people's heads, until you learn some control. You and your Aunt need help in that regard. I'll help you learn that but in the meantime, no snooping. Understand?"

Sarah seemed to think about it for a while, but finally nodded her little head, "It weewy hawd but I twy, k?"

"Sounds like we have a deal," then in a very uncharacteristic move for a vampire, he put his hand out for the munchkin. Sarah put her tiny hand in his and shook it so hard she bounced a little. "Now I know you wanted to go tonight, but can you wait until Monday? Sookie and I both have to work the next three days but we can all go on Monday night." Eric needed time to work with Sookie on her control issues also.

The tiny terror sighed dramatically and said, "Okay, Ewik. I guess I tan wait." Then she yawned so long and loudly, it was obvious she'd been fighting sleep.

Gran had been quietly observing the threesome this entire time with a twinkle in her eye. She knew vampires were known to have fearsome reputations and she didn't doubt that after 1000 years, Eric had one to rival that of Genghis Khan. Yet, what she saw during his calm and patient interaction with Sarah told her scores of things about the ancient Viking.

"Ok little miss, I think you know what time it is."

Sarah smiled sleepily, "It ni-ni time. Ewik wiwl you tug me ins? Pweeeeese?"

Eric froze; he didn't know what to do. Reason with the unreasonable he could handle, he'd had centuries of practice. Tuck in a child? Clueless.

Sookie, feeling his panic and uncertainty despite his calm façade, came to his rescue, "What if we both tucked you in and read you one bed time story."

"Yeah! Dat good! I aww weady bwush my teef, an' I no nee go potty." This kid had her routine down. "Wet's go!" as she grabbed Eric's and Sookie's hand and eagerly began to pull them toward her bedroom.

Ten minutes later, Eric carefully pulled himself out from under the sleeping child. Although he suspected she was more unaware than he is in his day time rest. She had insisted he lay down next to her as he read about some rabbit named Peter. She fell asleep on his shoulder before he was five pages in.

Sookie grinned and whispered, as she turned out the light and pulled the cover over the out cold child, "That was so cute; I wish I had a camera. Thank you for doing that and everything else. Your explanations were just enough for her to understand and yet not enough to scare her." They walked into the kitchen to join Bull and Gran at the table for the elucidation of the nights event since most of what she got from Bubba had been guarded for little ears.

"Thank you for showing me how to 'tuck in a child', it has been a millennium since I had my own and I do not remember this activity. I did tell them stories of my travels around the fire while eating but not this ritual. It must have come later."

As he said this Sookie got scattered images of several children but those of two beautiful boys and a little girl no older than Sarah, all with the same hair and eye color of Eric, were most prominent. She sniffed a little as she looked into those beautiful blue eyes and saw the faces of his long dead children staring back. "They were beautiful, my love," she spoke so softly only Eric heard, as she caressed his cheek.

Eric had to close his eyes to keep the bloody tears at bay, touched as he was by her overwhelming emotions for him and his departed family. He cleared his throat unnecessarily and guided her into a chair as he took the one next to her. He was thankful for Bull and Adele's discretion at the unexpected sentimental moment.

Adele broke things up by stating plainly, "Ok you two tell me what's going on." Sookie began by enlightening Adele of Eric's disclosure about Niall the evening before, and subsequent blow up (literally in her case) at Niall's betrayal and Eric's condition afterward. Gran shook her head at her willful granddaughter, "Girl, I always said that temper of yours was going to bite you in the backside. You're just too sensitive and emotional for your own good, you need to learn control. As for Niall, I knew he was up to no good. He sent me a letter when you were about six months old letting me know Fintan had died and though he wanted nothing more than to meet his legacy, whatever that meant, it would never be safe for him to come here, at least not safe for us. That's one thing you need to be very cautious about, politicians are tricky, devious, and slippery no matter what species they are, and Royalty is the worst of the lot because they have a sense of entitlement that would rival your brother's."

"That explains why you were so mad when he stopped by, I thought it was just because he broke through the wards around the house and scared Sarah."

This was news to Eric, "What did he do to Sarah?"

"Nothing really, just startled her; she was in the back by Gran's garden playing when he came out of the woods. She didn't 'hear' him come up and when she saw his shadow looming over her she screamed like a banshee and tossed a fist full of mud into his face then ran for the house screeching about the boogie man getting her. Damn moron sperm donor, allowed her to watch Halloween with him once. It still gives her nightmares."

Eric huffed out a half laugh, half snort, "I would pay money to see Brigant covered in mud!"

Adele raised one mischievous eyebrow and reached for the junk drawer behind her, "How much?"

"Whatever your heart desires on our shopping trip, tell me you are about to make my night," he begged.

She pulled out a Walmart film envelope and tossed it his way, "Last three pictures on the roll, I couldn't resist while he was talking to Sookie." The pictures depicted a pristinely groomed older gentleman in a neatly pressed beige linen suit and golden brown tie holding a walking stick in front of him with the head of a horse as the handle, possibly a unicorn since it was the royal symbol. Speckled across the front of the immaculate fabric were dark black splotches of dirt and mud. It also appeared as if some of the fairy's long silver hair got a treating of mud also.

Eric roared with laughter at the pictures of the conceited Prince covered in mud. As Gran and Sookie enjoyed a hearty chuckle as well, they weren't sure it was as funny as Eric found it. After a few minutes, and a few tissues to wipe away the tears of mirth, Sookie and Bull continued with the tale of the day's events while backing up each other's point of view with more details or just a different standpoint which included Ludwig's arrival and diagnosis. When they finally got around to explaining what Pam did, Sookie was very hesitant to give details considering how close Pam and Gran had gotten. It was ultimately Eric that snitched on his own progeny, hoping Gran could give him some ideas on a suitable punishment.

"Well," Gran said, as she leaned back in her chair, "Pam certainly was very naughty. What will happen now?"

"Now I must come up with a suitable castigation. I don't suppose you have any suggestions?"

Her smile had a wicked glint to it, "I might have an idea or two, but for now tell me what this doctor said about our Sookie." Gran patted Sookie's left hand as Eric held the right.

While Gran quietly absorbed the information, Eric looked to Bull as he remembered what Ludwig had called him. "Half-shifter, Half-daemon, that's a very unusual combination. How is it that you learned such superior mental control, and do you think you will be able to assist Sookie's erudition?"

Sookie huffed silently to herself in frustration….with all these fancy words Eric kept using she was going to need to invest in a bigger dictionary than the little pocket one she carried in her purse, even her Word of the Day calendar wasn't helping enough.

"My mother was a shifter and she had a brief affair with this daemon that resulted in me. When I was about Sarah's age my mother tried to contact him about me but he either couldn't or wouldn't speak to her. She struggled trying to raise me by herself. One day when I was about 7 a man showed up claiming to be related to my father. He said he could teach me how to control my telepathy better, but that I would need to come with him for a while. My mother was thrilled, not because I could get help but because I wouldn't be a burden to her anymore. I never saw her again. Des, that's what I called him, said that I was ready to go home after about a month, but she was long gone. So I stayed with him. It wasn't until I hit puberty that things got interesting. Des thought that my extras were 'cause of my shifting, but I just dunno. The extras took longer to handle but that was mainly 'cause I was dealing with so much else at the time. I think if you can learn how to control your emotions, I can guide you on the rest," he said this last part directly to Sookie.

"I know many different meditation techniques that will assist with that. I suggest we try a few of these with Sarah as well. She may never develop more than what she now has but this will serve her well in learning to focus," Eric stated calmly.

"Her brain is all over the place," Sookie sighed tiredly.

"As was yours and most children's at that age, but I suppose that it might work as long as you keep it short and maybe make it a game for her," Gran said wisely. After raising two generations and beginning a third, she had the advantage of experience.

Eric nodded, "We shall begin when I rise tomorrow evening, before work. For now, I will teach you a quick calming exercise before you rest, Lover."

Sookie blushed furiously at being called such an intimate term in front of her Grandmother, and Gran just smirked. "Do you have to go?" Sookie didn't want to be away from him.

"I must check in with Fangtasia, and attended to a few things before dawn, however I will return here to rest for the day." He kissed her forehead and said, "Why don't you go up and ready yourself for sleep, I will be up soon." Sookie eyed him suspiciously but was really too tired to give it much more than a moment's thought.

After Sookie and Bull both left, Sookie to bed and Bull home or to wherever he was staying, Eric turned to the sly elderly woman still sitting and waiting patiently at the table. "Now Adele, I believe we need to talk of a few things, firstly of the visit by a certain American Civil War vet."

She chuckled, "You worry too much, I am well aware of Mr. Compton's current status as procurer for the Queen's court. I have no intention of allowing him anywhere near Sookie or Sarah. In fact he doesn't even know it was me that wrote the letter. I signed it by a different name, a name he's sure to recognize. This was a group effort really between Pam, Jessie Compton, his only remaining namesake, and me. He's been officially invited as a guest speaker to address my DGD (Descendants of the Glorious Dead) group about his wartime experience. You know how interested I am about history, especially the war." She said this last part as if it was the only war to ever happen, and in her mind it probably was.

Eric grunted, annoyed slightly that either Sookie or Pam had imparted this small bit of knowledge of vampire politics onto her, but this honestly was not what had him irritated with the sassy old broad. "Adele, you know, as one of my Bonded's few living human relatives, I hold you in high regard, however I believe I know what it is you are secretly planning with my Childe's help and I must warn you this is dangerous territory for you to be meddling in."

Adele grinned as she slowly pushed herself up from the table to head for bed. Before she left the room she turned her head, "I may not be 1000 years old, but I've had my share of life experiences, I know what I'm doing and I plan to take full responsibility for my actions." With that she left the befuddled Viking Vampire sitting alone at the table trying to plan a way out of the coming train wreck.

A/N: My beta told me I should inform you that I'm adding a few elements of the TV show in this so that just in case we have any nit pickers reading they can be satisfied. I honestly didn't realize that Bill being a procurer was purely the show. I thought that's what he was in the book too but I can't find any formal mention of that sooooo...he is in this story. I'll try to limit my confusion in the future.

Also, still looking for punishment ideas for Pam. I know I'm crap at thanking individually to everyone for reviewing so I like to do it all at once. THANK YOU! It really is addicting and totally makes my day! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE YOU ALL!