Grab the tissues, this chapter was really hard for me to write. I spent a lot of time thinking about this and it just seemed for Eric and Sookie there never seems to be just peace. I hope that you all will find this chapter as moving as I did.
Please review. I love to hear what you all say! You have made this chapter possible. I didn't know if I would continue with this story but now I have too!
WARNING! VERY ADULT & GRAPHIC CONTENT
Chapter 14
"Sookie!" Eric almost ripped the door off the hinges trying to get in the house. He was running up the stair yelling loud enough to wake the dead.
Amelia was standing at the top of the stairs to stop him. "Slow down Eric. The doctor is with her now. Your going to scare Johan. He already knows something is going on with him mommy. Be a parent, not a freaked out husband. Ok?"
Eric wanted to choke her. "Witch, where is my wife?"
She moved and Eric rushed to their bedroom. Sookie was laying on the bed and Dr. Ludwig was with her. He started to come into the room when the doctor stopped him. "Stay where you are vampire. She is anxious enough and until we see what is going on I don't want her more upset."
Eric growled so loudly he scared Johan making him cry, making Eric even more upset, he didn't see his son sitting on the floor next to his mother. "Son, I am sorry, come here my boy."
Johan sniffled and pouted while little tears ran down his face, he looked just like his mother in that moment Eric wanted to stake himself for hurting his little feelings. Johan stood and walked over to his father putting his hands in the air to be picked up. "Up daddy." Eric picked his sixteen month old son up and kissed him apologizing for yelling and scaring him. Johan smiled at his father then he looked over at Sookie with fear in his eyes. "Mommy sick daddy. Kiss mommy." Since he was able to walk on his own every time he got hurt he or Sookie would always kiss his bumps or bruises and he thought this was something Eric could kiss and make better.
"Amelia take him please." Eric's eyes were focused on Sookie, she was looked pained and very worried. Amelia took Johan and Eric was next to the bed at vampire speed.
"Tell me what is wrong Sookie. What happened?" He grabbed her hand bringing it to his mouth to kiss.
She looked like she wanted to cry but everything made her want to cry these days. This pregnancy had not been easy on her, not like with Johan. Her first pregnancy was smooth in terms of her carrying him as long as super naturals didn't try to kill or kidnap her. This one had been difficult from the beginning and now she was almost seven months along. The last few weeks had been so bad the doctor wanted her off her feet more than on them and she was always having some complication or another. She was scared to death. "I don't know what happened this time sweetie. I was sitting on the floor playing with Johan and then I started to get cramps and I started spotting. Amelia called the doctor than you." She was squeezing his hand back now. His just being there was comforting to her. He could fix anything in her eyes.
"Sookie, you know your supposed to rest, Amelia is here and she enjoys playing with him. You are supposed to take it easy. Your health is too important to take chances. If you are not healthy and strong our babies will not be." She began to sniffle and pout, just like her son. He could only growl softly at hurting her too.
"Eric, I have tried to make it clear how critical it is that she go to full term with these babies. I am really concerned about the spotting. I think we are going to have to take this day by day. I do not want these babies to come early if we can help it but I am getting rather concerned with the things that are going on with her. Her blood pressure is really low and that is a major concern." Eric watched the little doctor move to get another instrument of some sort to do whatever she did to check on Sookie.
"What are our options Doctor?" Eric was worried. He had lost a wife and child to childbirth and the images of his dead child laying next to its mother in the hole he dug to buried her in was flashing in his head. There had to be something they could do. "I have been giving her blood daily, is that not enough?"
The doctor shook her head yes. "I will have to check her every day. If she gets any worse I am going to have to admit her to the hospital." It was final and Sookie was in full tears now.
"I have done everything I was told to do. I don't understand, what is different. Johan was so easy I only had morning sickness with him. That was a walk in the park compared to these babies." Cry and pouting again, Eric was beside himself now. He released her hand to pace.
The doctor finished packing the bag she brought with her and looked at them both. "Johan is very magical Sookie, these babies, I can't tell you if they are or not. We all know they have cloaked themselves since you found out you were pregnant. I have never in my career not been able to tell two parents what their children sex is because their children have the ability to hide in the womb!" She was just as upset as they were.
Eric walked the doctor to the door. "Thank you. We will see you tomorrow."
Sookie was the most beautiful woman to him and he loved her in all ways. He felt responsible for this situation they were in. The babies, the only knew there was two because of the Johan kept telling them he was having two babies coming and Sookie's growing size. She gained much more weight with this pregnancy and the doctor said she could feel two bodies in her womb. They didn't get all the images they had with Johan because once the monitor was hooked up to see the babies all you saw was blackness. If there was a complication to be had she had it and it was ten fold. "This is my fault, I know it is. I must have done something before we found out we were pregnant again to frighten them and this is what happened. See I told you I was a bad mother."
"My love, you are being ridiculous. No stress, remember. I want you sleeping and I will have Amelia bring up a tray in a few hours and help you to the bathroom. Do not get out of this bed without one of us to help you. Understand me?" He gave her the he meant it face and she just stuck out her tongue. She tried to get comfy and closed her eyes to rest. He sat on the side of the bed until she fell asleep holding her hand.
When she fell asleep he went to find Amelia and Johan. "She is resting. I have a meeting that cannot wait, will you be alright?" Amelia smiled and nodded.
Eric picked Johan up to toss him in the air and tickle him. His handsome son, his mirror image was smiling back at him laughing. He adored this child. Over the last year Johan had changed so much, he went from a happy baby to a little person with a personality that was a combination of both he and Sookie. He was so smart and intuitive that it sometimes worried Eric. Johan had incredible magic, moving items, transforming items, mind reading were just a few of them. He also inherited his father's ability to fly. Eric would sneak out and take Johan flying at night when Sookie was asleep because her tiny body had such trouble with the new babies he didn't want upset her. "Johan, daddy has to go back to work. I will be home in a few hours. Will you keep an eye on mommy while I am gone? Pammy will be here soon to see you. She misses you." Eric loved to say Pammy. No one could call Pam by that name but Johan. When he started talking his first word was dada, then mama his third word was Pammy. Pam never corrected him and only addressed herself as Pammy to her brother.
Johan squealed with joy. " Yes daddy! Pammy! Where is Pammy? Pammy home?" He was clapping his hands and then started patting his fathers face out excitement. Eric nuzzled his neck making his son giggle just like his mother. Eric put him on his butt on the ground and told Amelia to call if either she or Sookie needed him.
He went out into the day to do what he needed to do. Day walking had become something he didn't think about any more. It was just natural. He could go into the sun with no complications other than being out for long periods like hours made him tired. He no longer slept like the dead anymore, picking now when his body was tired and sleeping. Eric put his car onto the highway to head into the heart of the city they called home, Shreveport. Since becoming King of Louisiana and Nevada a year and half ago he spent a lot of time traveling but he always came home to Shreveport and Sookie. He almost lost Sookie one too many times and most of his day was spent taking care of official business and destroying his enemies. Things were never quiet but they were manageable now. After the witch tried to take Sookie by casting a spell on her he made a solemn promise to take on anyone who crossed the line to his families safety. Eric had earned the name he Viking warrior but now he was more brutal and severe than he had ever been in his thousand years on this earth. Sookie knew something had changed in him the day the spell was lifted off of her but she never asked or commented on his new behavior. When Eric walked through the door to their home he was there fully and completely, but in his world he was a murdering predator and everyone knew it and feared him worse than ever.
Eric pulled into the parking lot of Alcide's office. Alcide's assistant sat at the desk and she just waved Eric through. The vampire and the were spent a lot of time over the last 6 months taking care of business. Eric knew who he could call for support with a problem in town if he was unable to handle it or with other shifters. Alcide had become very valuable to him. "Mutt." Eric addresses Alcide who looked up from his desk. He smiled up at Eric.
"Blood sucker." They snickered at each other. "Have a seat." He pointed to the chair Eric was already in the process of occupying. "Eric, you have some rouge vampires on your hands. My people have found drained humans all over the area. I am concerned that this will leak and then we really will have problems."
"Tell me what you've got." They talked about what the next step would be and Eric left to head to Fangtasia.
He pulled into his parking lot at the back of the bar and headed in the back door. Nigel was sitting in his office. "Nigel."
Nigel stood, bowed and waited. Eric waved him to sit. "Did you handle our last problem?"
"Yes, Eric. It is complete. I do enjoy a good hunt. It was over before it started. The shifter and his crew have been, how do you say? Dismantled." Nigel was laughing at his own joke while Eric just nodded at him. This vampire was the cruelest killing machine he had ever met in his lifetime and he relieved Nigel had agreed to head the team that kept order in Eric's life.
"Good. The pack leader has found some tracks of vampires killing in the area. Go see him and take care of it immediately. I want this done and buried before nightfall tomorrow. Understood?" Nigel stood, nodded and left.
Eric was on his phone when Pam appeared in the door. She had been in Nevada for the last three weeks and got back tonight. Eric was glad to see her. "How was your trip Pamela?"
"Lovely, I had the best time." She was grinning like she just stuck her hand in the cookie jar after being told not to. Eric just rolled his eyes at her. "Eric Northman, you have turned into Sookie I swear. Did you leave your purse at home? You just rolled your eyes at me! I miss my maker who loved sex and blood like the rest of his kind." She didn't care to be belittled and she was about to set him straight.
He sat up to look at her. "Unless you have forgotten I have my bonded and wife at home pregnant with my children. I believe that occurs when two creatures have sex at which time I take my wife's blood and it has been like that for almost two years. Do you hear me complaining Pam?"
"I am leaving. I want to see Johan and I will see you tomorrow if your lucky." She was mad and he just shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Damn it!" He cussed to no one. He was turning into Sookie.
Eric spent hours working, making calls, meeting with his warriors to sent them on whatever assignment they were being lead on before he finally was caught up enough to head home. He stood only to have someone knock on his door. "Enter." There stood Prince Niall. Eric sat back in his chair.
"Eric, I am sorry I did not call before coming but I need to get an update on Sookie. Claudine is unavailable at the moment and I would feel better speaking to you about it." He looked worried.
"The same, the babies are the same. She had some issues today and started to spot. The doctor put her on complete bed rest, we will see how she is tomorrow." Eric knew Sookie's great grandfather loved her but he just never completely trusted this old fairy.
"Still no idea about the babies? They have not shown themselves?" He was looking concerned but Eric felt something was off.
"Niall what is this about?" Eric sat up to look him in the eyes.
Niall shook his head. "Eric the babies have put out a beacon, similar to what Johan did when Sookie was taken and kidnapped. I don't know what it means since Claudine has not been able to communicate with them. Johan was the opposite. I am just concerned that this beacon might be heard from someone and it be taken wrongly. I can try to turn it off but I don't want to injure them or Sookie."
Eric didn't like this one bit. He stood up to pace. "What kind of beacon is it?"
"That is the problem Eric, I can't tell you that because I can't sense the children. I don't know if it is distress or just their location beacon." Niall was looking more concerned by the moment.
"We are trying to prolong their births since we don't know what their conditions are. If we take them too early they may have complications or worse. Now, if they are calling out maybe it to tell us something is wrong. I am at a loss. When do you expect to hear from Claudine?" Eric was running his hands through his hair. He was more worried than ever now about his wife and new babies.
"Later next week, but in the mean time I will call you when I know anything." He got up and popped out.
Eric headed home and during the ride he considered their options and the new information on the babies. He couldn't get the idea out of his head that something was wrong and that ate at him every moment of the day. Each time he and Sookie would talk about the babies he would try to reassure her everything would be fine but deep down he was scared beyond words. Pulling in the front yard he saw his guards, Thalia and Bill were two of a dozen vampires and another dozen were's that were patrolling the property. Both the vampires looked like they were going to say something but just nodded to him as he walked past them to go into the house.
Amelia was in the living room with her phone in one hand and Johan in the other who was obviously upset. Amelia heard the door open and rushed to Eric. "Thank God. I was just about to call you. The doctor is on her way. She is bleeding now."
Eric flew up the stairs and was at her side in an instant. She looked so fragile and tired, her eyes were closed. Sookie opened her eyes which were red from crying and gasped when she saw him. He pulled her to him gently rubbing her back. "The doctor is on her way my love. Hold on she will be her soon." Sookie cried softly into his chest holding onto him tightly, she was so frightened. He could feel her desperation and fright through their blood bond so he was sending her strength and love. She looked up and barely touched his lips before she grabbed her stomach in pain. Eric thought he would lose his mind. The doctor appeared in that moment.
"Let me at her Viking. Go and check on your son. Give us a minute." She dismissed him and he didn't want to leave Sookie.
He walked out of the room to find Pam standing outside. "Eric, what has happened? Amelia said she is bleeding?" He only nodded his head with tears welling in his eyes. Pam grabbed his hand and stood outside the door with him until the doctor finally called him back.
"Her body is trying to going into labor but I have given her something to stop it. It is very strong but it is the only thing we can do now. If the medicine does not stop the contractions I will have to deliver them. Be prepared either way. I will be back in an hour. If she worsens or has anymore pain call immediately and I will be here." She left closing the door behind them.
Pam walked to the bed and sat to hold her hand and kiss her. "Sookie, I love you. You and the babies will be fine. We are here. Eric always takes care of us." She was smiling at Sookie who looked like she was about to crumble to pieces. Pam got up and left them alone.
"Eric, I need to talk to you." He was beside her sitting on the bed holding her hand before she could continue. "I know something is wrong. I can feel it. I know I told you when we first met that I never wanted you to turn me but I don't know I can leave you and our babies." She looked up at him for the answer.
"Sookie, don't talk like this. You and the babies will be fine." He felt the same feeling she did. He was just as scared.
"If something happens Eric, what should I do? Leave you and the babies alone? I never wanted to become a vampire but I can't leave Johan or you. I would be selfish to let my son grow up without a mother if I could change it, right?" The tears were flowing faster with every word she spoke.
"It is your decision. I know what I would want Sookie, I can't loose you and if it is up to me I would do whatever I could to keep you even if it means turning you. You made me promise not too. What am I to do? Let you die?" When they talked about it before it was in joking and he was teasing her. Now the situation was dire to both of them. How could he let her heart stop for eternity and not try to keep her?
She starred at their locked hands trying to decide what to do. "I won't leave you and the babies. If there is no hope Eric, I will accept it." He kissed her lips, the weight of the world still on his shoulders but now he knew he could try to save her if he needed too.
He took off his boots and moved to her side pulling her up to his chest to hold her. Their love was their rock that no one or nothing could break. They loved deeper than either of them ever thought possible before meeting each other. Each one changing the other for better in some ways. Eric knew he was grateful for every day with her and he was promised eternity with her but to whose version of eternity? She was named the Queen of the Vampires when they bonded and he never knew if that was literal or figurative.
The doctor found them laying together an hour later. Sookie was asleep and Eric looked up to the doctor. "She has had no more contractions or bleeding." She nodded and told him to call when they needed her. Eric sat there with her like that for the rest of the night.
Another week went by which Eric was happy for. It was one more week his children were growing and getting stronger. They were still taking it day by day. Eric sent out his warriors and staff to take care of what needed to be done long distance. He handled what he needed to close to home. He and Alcide and four others were in the woods close to Bon Temps searching for v drainers. They were in the middle of maiming and destroying the three low life's they found in the woods when Eric's phone rang. He took his slightly blooded hand into his pocket to answer it. It was Dr. Ludwig. Eric stood suddenly answering it. "Eric, come as quick as you can to the hospital. Sookie is in trouble." Eric took flight and reached the hospital in minutes. He was running through the hospital barely noticing the people and vampires sitting in the waiting room. Jason, Sam, Tara, Pam, Claudine and Amelia were there.
"Where is my wife?" He was yelling at the woman at the desk. Pam rushed to his side. They were escorted to the room Sookie was in. The floor and the bed was covered in blood. Eric turned to Pam knowing the blood would be too much for her. "Pam, leave." She only stood there.
Eric went into the room and Sookie was covered in sweat and her hair was matted to her head. She was crying and moaning in pain. Dr. Ludwig was at the foot of the bed where she had Sookie's legs up. There were nurses moving all over the room with masks on. The doctor was saying things to the others in the room. Eric went to her side and her eyes met his. Her beautiful eyes were now dull and almost lifeless. "Save our babies Eric." She began to cry out and Eric took her hand holding it lightly and she was squeezing his as hard as she could.
Eric heard the doctor yelling for more blood. She told Eric to give her blood. He blinked before understanding what she was saying. He tore his wrist open putting it to her mouth while they waited for more blood to come. He heard the cries of a child, he never looked to see where it was coming from, he could only look at Sookie. She was sucking his blood from his wrist like it was all that stood between her and death. He heard two babies crying in the background behind him and he glanced to see they were taken away from their mother to the other side of the room. His eyes returned to Sookie. She was blinking so slowly like she wanted to sleep. "Stay with me Sookie. I love you. You are mine and you can't leave me and Johan. He is our miracle remember Sookie? You said he was our love baby, remember? Our love making gave him to us. He loves you and needs you Sookie. You have to stay with me." His face was covered in tears of blood now. "Sookie, please don't leave me. I love you so much. You are my everything. Please Sookie." He was sobbing now. His head went to rest on her chest. His wife was slipping away and he could feel her giving up. "No Sookie, fight! You can't give up. We are meant to be together forever. Forever Sookie! You can't give up, you're my warrior!" He heard Pam speaking to Sookie at the door telling her she loved her and she can't leave her. His tears came faster now. The blood arrived and they began the transfusion and Dr. Ludwig was yelling for more that it wasn't enough. He bit his wrist again and put it up to her mouth. "Sookie!" She wasn't responding. "Sookie!" He forced his wrist into her mouth so that the blood would get into her. Her eyes fluttered and closed again. "No Sookie! Open your eyes!" He heard the doctor yelling for paddles, the monitor on the side of her was making a dull sound. He didn't understand, he was shaking his head no. The nurse came running in with a cart with machines and cords on it. She told him to stand back but he didn't move. He stood there starring at his wife dying. The doctor had two metal objects to Sookie's chest making her fling up from the bed. The doctor yelled "Again" and they did the same thing to her chest again. The machine made a jumping sound and he saw little lines up and down and the doctor climbed down. People were moving and rushing all over plugging things in and moving Sookie around. He wanted them to stop touching her. "Leave her alone!"
"Eric, let us work. You need to go with Pam. I will be out shortly." She continued doing what she was doing and Pam was next to him pulling him out of the room.
"She is dead Pam! She is dead!" He was falling to the floor when their family and friends rushed to where he was knelt down sobbing. Jason was yelling "No" and slamming his fists into the walls.
Dr. Ludwig was in front of them. "She is not dead but I don't know if we can save her. She has lost so much blood I don't know if it is repairable. Eric, you need to tell me what her wishes are."
"I will turn her. She asked me to when you tried to stop her contractions. She doesn't want to leave her children." He couldn't believe this was happening.
Sam was angry. "You're a liar Northman! She would never want this! She loved life too much to be one of you!" Eric advanced on him to rip his heart out but Amelia and Claudine stopped him.
"Sookie told me she told Eric to turn her if she wouldn't live on her own. He's right. She didn't want to leave them. Here, this is her living will and a DVD from her to tell you herself." She handed one to Jason, Sam, and Eric. Amelia backed away and Eric could only stare at the witch.
"Fine, I will call you if we get to that point." Dr. Ludwig looked at Eric and was gone.
"She made a living will?" Eric was shocked. She knew something was going to happen. She had told him herself and he dismissed her.
Pam stepped up to touch his arm. "Eric, the babies."
He turned to see a nurse holding two babies, one in a blue blanket the other in a pink. He walked over to the nurse to take his children looking at Pam for comfort. "Sookie and I made these babies from our love." She had blood tears running down her face. Tara left the out the door, she couldn't take any more. Jason just sat on the chair crying, Sam next to him with his head down in his hands, Claudine and Amelia were standing hugging each other. He looked down on his babies who were all pink and wrinkled. "You will have to wait for mommy to name you. I won't until she is well. I can't." He handed the babies to Pam and walked outside.
Amelia came out to get him. "The doctor wants you."
He rushed back into the hospital and the nurse took him to a room. Sookie was hooked up to machines, some were beeping some making hissing sounds. Her eyes were closed and she had a tube in her mouth taped shut. Her arms were down to her side and she looked so pale. Eric saw the doctor and walked to her. "Eric we have done everything we can. I don't believe it is enough. I know she would want a fighting chance, we will give her that. If we see no improvements in a few days then you will be free to turn her because she will only die other wise. You know I have come to care for you both and I hate to see her like this. I did everything I could to save her Eric. I am sorry." She walked out of the room.
He walked to the bed his wife lay dying, he loved her so much and to see her like this was devastating. His heart told him she was only a shell now but he needed to give her time. If he didn't he would have always wondered what if. He knew he would take her human or vampire. This woman was his everything. He took her hand in his and spoke to her. "Sookie, you have to come back to me. Johan and the babies need you. We have a new baby boy and a baby girl Sookie. I told them we won't name them until you wake up so you need to hurry. I can't do this alone Sookie. I can't walk through this life without you. I would meet my final death now but I know you left these children to me. What am I supposed to do my love?"
Eric refused to leave her. Everyone tried to get him to go home and he wouldn't. He knew he should go home and check on Johan but he was afraid to leave her, that she would leave him forever and he would not be there for her, holding her hand when she left this earth. Eric sat in the chair next to Sookie's bed holding her hand all night and until the next morning. Amelia came the next morning with warm blood and a lap top. "Eric, you need to eat and you need to stay strong for her. Johan is fine, Claudine is with him. He knows something is wrong, poor thing cried all night for her. I brought the laptop, you need to watch her DVDs."
He sat looking at the computer and the DVD for a long time before moving to watch it. He opened the sleeve to see two DVD's with his name on them, he turned on the computer and put in the disk with 1 written on it and it started. Her face come onto the screen.
She was smiling sweetly. "Hi, I am Sookie Northman and I am giving my living will. I give my husband Eric Northman permission to turn me to a vampire if it becomes apparent I am dying. I know I have said in the past I don't want to be turned but I am a mother and wife now. I need to do what is best for my kids. Don't give Eric any shit about it Sam. I love him, remember?" She smiled and winked. "If something happens and I can't be saved I want my children to stay with their father. Eric pay Amelia whatever she wants to help you. Johan loves her and she will be a big help with the new babies. All other things like money, cars, stuff like that I leave to my husband to put in a trust for our kids." She smiled again and the screen went black.
He took the disk out of the computer and put in the next disk that said 2 for Eric. His heart was breaking into tiny pieces.
She was sitting in the bed, her hair up in a tight pony tail and she was smiling shyly. "Hi sweetie. If you are watching this something has happened. I wanted to tell you that I love you. I know I tell you that every day and tons when were making love, " she winked then, "but I need to know that for as long as you need to you can pop this in the computer and watch it to hear me say it. So, I made this DVD for you." She moved to get more comfortable. Rubbing her belly absently, she looked into the camera again. "You have been like a dream I never wanted to wake from. I met you, fell in love with you and made a family with you. You have been everything to me Eric. I remember that night you took me to the property and you kissed me the first time I thought I would die from the feel of your hands on my breasts. You kisses were like nothing I could explain. I know we have had a lot more excitement in our lives but it was like added flavor don't you think? Remember when we found out we were pregnant you kept calling Johan your son. You would talk to him every night and I think you were complaining about me." She smiled at the screen. "I wouldn't change a thing, except for this of course. Tell Johan I love him. Tell the new babies I loved them too. Let them know how special they are Eric. You have to tell them that, we both know what miracles they are and they are from us. I don't know what our new babies look like but Johan, wow. I look at that little boy and see your face, your eyes, your hands, everything, he is you. He even does that thing when someone is talking, he looks at them then he turns his head slightly like he is interested just a bit by that is being said. I giggle every time I see him do it because you do the same exact thing. I love you Eric Northman. You are my everything. Without you my life wouldn't have been complete. I love you more than anything in this world and I would trade everything to be with you one more minute, to hold you, to kiss your neck, to make love with you one more time. I love you sweetie." Tears were running down her face on the screen. Tears were running down his face. The DVD shut off and moved to wipe the tears away.
Eric wanted to break something. His wife laying slowing dying in the bed and he could only wait. Dr. Ludwig came into the room and walked toward Sookie. She stood looking at machines, grabbing her chart writing something on it. "She is the same Eric. I don't see a change." She set her chart back down and looked at him. "This was an accident you know. She is strong and healthy, sometimes it is difficult for the mother and this happens. You didn't cause this because I know you are thinking that. You think you shouldn't have let her get pregnant, you shouldn't have made love to her, this isn't your fault Eric. You can give her blood today. Let's see if it will help. The nurse will be in shortly to bring in machine." She left him sitting there. He had thought those things, what if he insisted they have no more children? With Johan they were always pawing and loving each other but with these babies it was less frequent because there was so many complications but there were times he would explode if he didn't have her. Did he hurt her while they were making love while she was pregnant with these babies? The guilt was paralyzing.
Amelia must have come in the room two dozen times with flowers or with a visitor from people Bon Temps to Shreveport. Amelia was coming in again with Alcide. "Eric, Alcide is here." She spoke to him from the door.
Alcide stood in the door unsure whether to come in all the way and Eric's hand went up to wave him in. The dark haired were came to stand next to where Eric was sitting and stopped. Alcide considered both Eric and Sookie friends, they had spent so much time together over the last year. "Jesus Eric, is there anything I can do? You need me to do anything? Is she gonna wake up?" He looked down to see his friend, his arms on his knees staring at Sookie like trying to wake her with his will. He looked beyond tired, he looked scared to death.
"Thank you Alcide. There isn't anything anyone can do. I know you're a Christian, maybe you can prayer for her. You know what stock she puts in him." He got out the chair and walked to the window. The day was moving so quickly.
"What are you going to do? Let her die? Look at her. She would be pissed about this Eric. She wouldn't want Johan home alone and you know it." Alcide and Sookie once fought about what she saw in vampires. She said she never wanted to be one but she had Johan now and things changed. He told her she was nuts but he understood where she was coming from, he wanted a wife and family just like the one Eric was lucky enough to have and he knew the love this creature had for her and she for him. They would do anything for their love. Eric was one lucky vampire.
Eric turned to look at Alcide. "You think I don't know that? I would turn her now but I won't take her only chance away. The doctor said to give her a few days. If it doesn't work than I will do it." He turned away to look out the window again.
Alcide walked up to the bed. Sookie looked so different, almost like someone had sucked her life out of her then left her laying there. He sat in the chair Eric vacated and took her hand. "Sookie you have to come back. Do you hear me? Who am I going to get to cook for me on Sundays? What about Eric, huh? What am I supposed to do with him? You can't go and leave him here alone. He is a miserable ass now, you are the only one who can keep him in line. You have to come back Sookie. You can't do this. Come on Sook, wake up now." He was holding her hand tightly and his eyes were welling up. How could she be taken away from them? She was one of the greatest people he knew, he would stake Northman this second if he thought for one moment he would have shot with her. She was perfect. He cleared his thoughts and stood, Eric was looking at him. "Eric call me ok? Let me know if you need anything." Eric nodded and Alcide was gone.
It was dark again. She had been in the hospital over a day and Eric watched a nurse come in with all kinds of things on a cart. "Mr. Northman, the doctor wants to give her some of your blood. We will see if that will help her heal. Ok?" He nodded his head yes and the nurse started her task. Before he knew it his blood was coming out of his arm and going into a bag and when it was full she hung it on a hook over the bed and connected the bag to Sookie. "The doctor said we will try this a couple times a day to see if we can help her. I will be back later for more. Is that alright?" He shook his head yes. The nurse was gone. The blood ran down the tube into her arm. Closing his eyes tightly he put his fingers on the bridge of his nose hoping this would work. He felt Pam come in.
"Any improvement at all Eric?' She stood over Sookie looking down at her. Eric moved his hand to open his eyes and looked up at Pam. She knew the answer already. Sookie hadn't moved a muscle since they had come into the room the previous day. "I just left the house. Johan is asking for her, I can go get him and bring him here. Sookie would want him here Eric."
"How do I show him his mother like this Pam? It will give me nightmares, what about him? He is just a baby. How do I tell him she is dying or dead. I don't know which it is!" He was rubbing his face out of frustration, the handsome face looked like it had aged twenty years over the last twenty four hours. He looked up to for the answer and she said nothing. He looked over to the bag hanging on the hook, the blood stopped trickling through the line now. It was their only hope.
There was a knock and Amelia put her head in. "Niall's here. Do you want me to let him in?" Eric just waved her on.
Niall walked in the room and stopped at the door. His eyes must have caught sight of her. It was hard to see her like that. That wasn't Sookie lying there. It was just her body trying to fight to stay alive. "Eric, hello Pam." He walked to the other side of the bed to look down on Sookie. Tears came to his eyes, he grabbed her hand. "I have tried every spell and magic I could to bring her back. I don't know if any will work. This wasn't supposed to happen. She has too much to do yet. I don't understand this at all." He was rubbing the back of her hand while holding it in the other.
"She has things to do yet? What the hell does that mean Brigant? She has a son at home and two laying in the nursery and what about Eric? He is losing his wife, his mate! They just found each other and now she is being taken away! You are powerful and all knowing, you need to fix this!" Pam was yelling at him, her fangs ran down.
Niall looked to Pam, she was crying blood tears. "I am sorry Pamela, I didn't mean to upset you more. I will do everything I can to keep her alive, please believe that. Not because of her powers, but because I love her. I am sorry." He poofed.
Pam and Eric sat the rest of the night in the uncomfortable hospital chairs watching her. Nurses came in, machines turned on or off and adjusted. Pam looked over at Eric. He was being strong even now. He had not left the room one time in over twenty four hours. He would never leave her. Dawn was coming. She picked up her things, kissed Eric on the top of the head and left silently. The nurse came back in to draw more blood from him and to hook it up to her I-V. He watched as his blood slowly made its way to her arm. She had not moved on muscle, nothing. Time was slipping away and he couldn't stop it.
Amelia found him laying on the side of the bed with his head on her arm their hands together. She felt horrible for him, he was suffering like nothing she had ever seen. They had fought enemies, kidnappings, super naturals, but this was out of all of their hands. She walked to the bed to look down at Sookie. Amelia blinked to make sure she saw what she thought she saw, Sookie's face was flushed. It hadn't had any color to it in for two days. "Eric, look at her face." He whipped his head up to look at her, gasping then moving closer. He looked up to Amelia who was gone in that moment to get the doctor.
They came back in together. Dr. Ludwig pulled out her equipment, read machines and looked to Eric. "Her blood pressure is still really low but it is improving. I will order some tests and see where we are at. Don't get your hopes up yet, alright?" She was gone.
Eric looked down to Sookie whose face was now the prettiest pink he had ever seen. "Come on Sookie. Fight. I know your in there and can hear me. We are all here and we want you to fight. Do you hear me? I love you wife and I need you to fight!" He was laying across her hugging her. Amelia started to cry and left.
Her room was more active today, more things were happening. Sookie had tests ran on her, he had his blood drawn two more times and the transfusions were hung and in her body. Eric watched her face and it seemed to change with each bag she received. Jason and Sam came to visit for a while never saying anything to him. He knew they both blamed him for this, he felt the same so how could he begrudge them that. If he hadn't told Sookie he wanted more children maybe this would never had happened. He just was so happy to find out they were going to have more babies but the price was too high, never again. He would not let Sookie loose her life trying to give him more children.
Dr. Ludwig came in later in the afternoon. "You need to get a shower and eat Eric. Sookie would be angry if she knew you were starving and not taking care of yourself. Go to the nursery and see the babies while your at it. We need to take her for some more tests and get her cleaned up a bit." Eric was going to argue but Amelia was standing in the door way waiting for him.
"I will be back in an hour. Call if there is any change before then." He walked to Amelia and together they walked out in to the sun. Amelia had the car pulled to the door and he got into the passenger seat. She took him home to shower and eat. He heard Johan before he saw him. Claudine was watching him and Johan loved to chase her around the room. He was giggling at what they were doing while running after her. Claudine stopped when she heard Eric at the entrance of the living room, she picked up Johan to show him who was there. Johan whipped his head around and began to squeal. He was just like his mother. "Come here my boy!" Eric rushed to him taking him from Claudine squeezing him until he started to protest. Eric pulled him back to look at his son. Johan was giggling and smiling up to his father, rubbing Eric's face. Claudine stood where she was while Eric talked to his son. He set him down to go up to shower and grab some True Blood.
When he was changed and full he was ready to head to the hospital he went to the living room to say good-bye to Johan. Johan put his hands in the air for Eric to pick up. "Mommy come home soon." He wasn't asking he was telling Eric and Eric just humored his son by telling him she would be. Johan's face changed he was trying to tell Eric something and Eric dismissed him the first time. He was like Sookie, if you didn't listen her foot would stomp, Johan's face change was his foot stomp. "No! Mommy come home soon daddy! Soon!" He got the message this time. His son was intuitive and he had magic neither he or Sookie knew because he was so young. But he believed his son in that moment, she would come home. He kissed him goodbye and Amelia drove him back to the hospital.
He did what the doctor suggested. He stopped by the nursery to see the babies. They were so tiny, smaller than Johan was when he was born. His son looked like both of them and he smiled. In his dreams he saw a male child and he looked like them both. He glanced over to his daughter. She looked like Sookie, so much like her. Her little fists were clenched and she was sucking on her pacifier. That little girl was beautiful. Amelia stood by his side. "They are amazing Eric. They are little but they are perfect. No complications at all. Do you want to hold them?" He looked down to the witch and smiled. How did everyone around him always know what he needed.
They walked into the nursery and he sat in a rocking chair taking his babies into his arms. Sookie had told him when she was getting bigger with them that they would be perfect. She was not wrong. He spoke softly to them both telling them he loved them and their mommy would be better soon and he would take them all home when she woke. He kissed and smelled each of them. They smelled like both he and Sookie combined. It smelled wonderful. "Eric, the doctor wants you. Give the babies to me."
He handed them to her carefully and rushed to the room. Pam was sitting on the side of the bed her eyes full of tears. He moved to look at Sookie and the tube had been removed from her lips. She was laying in the same place she was when he left. He looked to see the doctor. "What is it?" Pam looked up to him, smiling.
"Eric." Her voice was so quiet he almost didn't hear it. He was standing on the other side of her holding her hand.
"My love?" He looked up to Pam because he thought he imagined Sookie calling out to him. Pam nodded her head.
"Eric. I missed you, are you alright? You look so tired. " Her beautiful eyes fluttered open slightly. He stood over looking deeply into them. "The babies, are they ok? Johan?"
He smiled for all he was worth and put his head into her neck. "Oh Sookie! Your awake." His tears welled in his eyes but he fought them. He wanted to hold her, kiss her, love her. "Yes, the babies are in the nursery. We have two new beautiful babies Sookie, boy and girl. He looks like us both, she looks like you, just like you!" He kissed her lips lightly.
She was smiling up at him her eyes getting stronger. "Can I see them?" He was shaking his head no and the doctor cleared her throat to give her what she wanted. Pam was gone in a flash and brought the babies. She sat on the side of the bed handing their son to her and their daughter to Eric. He told Sookie he would let her pick baby names and she never told him what she picked, she would just giggle because she loved the fact she had one secret from him. She looked at her new son and daughter then to their father. "Enar, our warrior and Erika, forever strong like her daddy." She chose two names from his homeland, the woman was incredible and they were perfect names. Both babies were fighters even from conception. They cloaked their little bodies to protect themselves and they fought to live. Perfect.
He smiled from ear to ear. "Enar and Erika." He was still holding his daughter. "Hello my little Erika." Sookie was amazing.
It was another week before the doctor would release the three of them. Eric was antsy and wanted his family home. He had taken the SUV to the hospital with three car seats in the back seat to pick up his wife and new babies. Pride and love swelled in him thinking about all he was given. She was sitting in the room waiting for him holding the babies one in each arm when he arrived. He walked in to where she was kissing her on the mouth then took his daughter kissing her lightly on the cheek. She was sound asleep without a care in the world. "Are we ready to get out of here now Eric?" She was just as eager to go.
"Yes my wife. We have been released. Lets get you all home." They got into the car and after getting everyone situated they headed home. Sookie sighed when she got in, the moonlight and air was wonderful and she felt like she was smothering in the hospital. She wanted out the first day she wok but Eric just fussed at her telling her to listen to the doctor. "I am happy to be taking you home my love. I have miss you."
She picked his hand up and kissed it. This man was her world and she knew it. "Back at you sweetie. If I wasn't let out today I was thinking about taking the sheets and tying them together to escape." She was smiling and Eric was laughing. She was something he thought. "I know how hard all of this has been on you Eric. I wish I could take some of it from you. I don't know what I would have done if things were reversed seeing you like you had to see me. I would do anything to take it back."
"I love you Sookie more than I can ever tell you. I wish there were words to tell you how much. I just want you home, healing and our babies safe. That makes it all worth it." He leaned over to kiss her while they were stopped at the light.
They were pulling in the drive way and headed up it before she knew it. She loved this house and she couldn't wait to open the door and see her home. Eric stopped the car and came over to help her out. Mark and a half dozen men were surrounding them to help. Mark took her by the arm helping her inside. One guard had diaper bags, one had her personal items and Eric took the babies. He wanted them all to himself. Sookie walked through the house to hear her son squealing at her home coming. His little toddler legs running as fast as they could toward her. She knelt down to pick him up and swing him in the air. "My baby! I have missed my little devil! Have you been a good boy for Aunt Amelia?" He squeaked yes to her and they went into the living room. Mark helped her sit down. She felt so much better but everyone thought she would fall apart at any moment. Johan was doing a happy dance on her lap and Eric was about to fuss at him about hurting her and Sookie stopped him. "Eric Northman, your son is happy to see me. Don't you dare!" She was hugging him and kissing his neck. He would ball up and squeal with delight when she would do that. Eric just laughed at them.
Sookie looked around her living room. It was about 8 o'clock now and her living room was filled with people and vampires, creatures she had come to love. Bill, Thalia, Pam, Amelia, Claudine, Claude, Sam, Alcide, Tara, Felicia, Mark, her guards, Jason were all standing or sitting somewhere.
Her beautiful husband came to sit next to her. He was softly speaking to Erika while handing Enar to Sookie and she smiled. Eric did the same thing he did with these babies he did with Johan, talk to them every day. Now that they were born he didn't miss a beat he was talking to them like they knew what he was saying. Johan would talk to Eric in some language and he would rattle on to Eric and Eric would always talk back to him. She never knew what they were saying, it was just adorable the two of them, the giant vampire and the little part vampire sitting talking to each other.
"Were so glad your home Sook. Eric is a real pain in the ass. If you didn't come soon I swear I was changing my number and moving back to Dallas." Alcide was poking at Eric. He knew what all this did to Eric and he only wanted them to be happy.
"Shut it mutt. I can help you pack if you wish." Eric was smiling at his friend. They looked at each other nodding, knowing what this day meant to them all.
Thalia walked to stand before Sookie and bowed. "I am glad you are home my Queen. I have missed you." She leaned to kiss her on the cheek and left in a blur. Sookie put her hand up to her face like she didn't know what to do.
"I second that. Welcome home my Queen." Bill nodded and bowed and took his leave.
And so it went until Eric and Sookie were alone with their children. Johan was sound asleep in between them and they were still holding the twins. "Eric, what the hell has happened? We went from two of us having sex in the woods to married with three kids. I don't know what has happened!" She was teasing him and grinning.
Eric didn't laugh. He looked down at his daughter before he spoke to her. "I am blessed Sookie, I know that. You have given me more than I truly deserve, but I will not lose you. I know we talked about having more children but I won't have it. I won't take the chance with your life again. I don't care if I have to move to Alaska to stay away from you, I will do it to keep you safe."
She looked at him like he was insane. "Are you kidding me? You think that this is your fault? Eric, it was a complication of pregnancy, granted it was bad but you can't be like that. How could you not want more children Eric? Look at these adorable little things. We made these out of our love Eric. I look at each of their little faces and think I was looking in your eyes loving you when we created these babies. They are incredible and they are rare. I will have a half dozen more if we can."
"No. I won't do it. I won't put your life on the line like that again." He was pissed. His heart and feelings were raw and he could remember losing one wife and then almost losing her too.
"Eric Northman, I am shocked by you. You never give up the fight. You look it square in the eye and you fight to the death. Now your giving in. Huh? Well maybe I can get artificially inseminated since you won't be offering your services." She knew she would win this one she just needed to make him come to his senses.
He growled softly. Lost another battle he thought. "Not on all you hold sacred my wife. I will never allow anyone but me inside you and you know it. Now feed our children so I can give you blood. I want you in the bed and resting quickly." She stuck her tongue out and took Enar up to the nursery. Eric picked up Johan to take to his new room still holding Erika in the other arm who was also sound asleep. They decided Johan was the big brother and needed his own room with new babies coming. He put his son in his bed and went to the nursery where Sookie was slowly rocking their feeding son. His heart swelled with so much love Sookie looked up feeling it in their bond.
"I love you that much too my Viking husband." She tapped her finger to her lips for him to kiss her and boy did he ever. Her eyes glassed over and she was panting. "I have to be one of the luckiest girls in the world."
"No my wife, you are the only woman in the world, now and forever." He was grinning at her with that beautiful smile.