Ok, I am warning you well ahead of time this chapter is very graphic in both violence and lemons! So, don't be shocked in what happens. I just want to warn you. Sorry, I just got all intense and this is what happened! ;-k
Please review. I am curious to hear what you have to think. I hope I didn't over do!
Thanks for all the great reviews!
WARNING: VERY, VERY GRAPHIC ADULT CONTENT!
Chapter 20
Amelia and Sookie rushed into the hospital and a local were was the doctor. Dr. Mitchell, was standing in front waiting for them. "He is roughed up but he is already healing. Some broken ribs and a concussion. He is asleep because I gave him something for pain. He was almost uncontrollable when his pack brought him here." She nodded toward Tray Dawson and a large group of weres sitting in chairs behind them.
"Thank you. Can Amelia see him?" Dr. Mitchell nodded and took her back. Sookie walked to Tray and the pack. "Tray, what happened?"
"Sookie, I don't know. He called me a couple of hours ago and told me to get some of the pack together that he and Northman would need them tomorrow morning. I did what he asked. He called me back and asked me to meet him and Eric outside of the city. When I got there he was on the ground, his truck was running and Northman was no where to be found. I picked up his scent and sent some of the guys to check it out but we lost it. There wasn't any blood anywhere. Sookie, I think the tiger was there. I picked that up while checking the area out." He was angry, his eyes were almost black from anger.
"Ok, Tray, send the pack out. Tell them to start where you were earlier and fan out. I want the entire area checked and I want a full report in a few hours. If they find anything tell them to check it out and report back to you immediately. I will wait for your call." Sookie would leave no stone unturned where Eric was concerned. He nodded and left to get the pack to work.
She walked back to the room Alcide was in. Amelia was standing over his bed and looked a mess. He looked worse than he was Sookie thought. He had a lot of bruises and his face was swollen in spots. Alcide had her hand and was talking to her and trying to comfort her. "Alcide you doing ok?" Sookie walked up to the other side of the bed. He looked up her with both anger and regret. "Yea, I am healing. I will be fine. Where's Eric? Amelia said he hasn't called you?"
"No Alcide he hasn't. What the hell happened? And don't give me nothing Sookie cause I won't do this now. He is missing and I will find him, with or without you. Make this easier on me please." She leaned over him and he sat back at her authoritativeness. Where was sweet Sookie he wondered?
"We got a line on the tiger. Eric had some of his crew out running him down. Eric planned to finish what he started yesterday. Look, I know your not happy about this stuff with Quinn but Eric has to defend you. You're his wife and the Queen." He was about to give Sookie the be a good wife song and dance and she wasn't going to stand here listening to it.
"Don't give me that crap now Alcide. Tell me what happened?" Her eyes narrowed and she said it with so much venom Alcide was shocked and stuttered before he could form a sentence.
"Eric's guys called him and told him the location of Quinn. He was near Metairie. Eric and I took off to the area his guys told us to meet them at. We get there and there isn't a soul there so we got out to do some checking our selves. The tiger was there, I picked up his scent when I got out of the truck. Before I knew it we were surrounded. I didn't even get a chance to change it happened so fast. I got knocked out but I think I remember some of them carrying Eric out into the woods. I was real fuzzy and it could have been just my imagination." He was looking up at her pitifully.
She grabbed her phone. "Pam, he had some altercation with Quinn outside of Metairie. Did you find the tiger yet?"
"Nigel just called, he has him and is headed to the warehouse with him now." Pam was seething with anger. Her voice was low and growling.
"Fine, I will be there in 15 minutes. Don't kill him Pam. I want the pleasure of doing it." Alcide and Amelia's head snapped up, shocked. She looked at both of them angrier than before. "He thinks he will hurt my husband and get away with it. I will destroy him for even thinking the idea. If it were me Eric would have already put his sword through him." She started to leave.
"Sookie, wait. Let me get dressed and I will go with you." Amelia was about to protest. Sookie put her hand up.
"I got this Alcide. If he calls you call me right away other wise I will check in with you guys later." She headed out to her security and got back in the car. Sookie always let Eric handle these situations but she made a decision she would fight for her family. Something changed in her that day in that hotel just like her great grandfather told her it would. She would no longer be naïve and let people off the hook for doing wrong against her family. They meant too much to her to let that happen again. She would show the world that Eric wasn't the only Northman that had a back bone.
The car pulled in the back of warehouse she never knew existed and they parked. She went inside, it was dim and it smelled horrible. This is where Eric and his warriors brought creatures he needed things from and then destroyed. Pam was in front of Sookie in seconds. "We have him Sookie. We will take care of him." She started to walk away.
Sookie grabbed Pam by the arm. "No, I want him. I want him to tell me what he has done with Eric and I will show him and every other supernatural tonight what the consequences of hurting my family are once and for all."
She moved to walk away from Pam and she called to her. "Sookie? We can handle this. Eric wouldn't want this to fall on you."
"I know what he has done for me and our kids Pam. I know what he would do if this situation was reversed. Don't try to tell me differently. Lets do this, were wasting time." She walked to the center of the huge room and in the middle of the dark room sat a half naked Quinn chained to the ceiling. His head slumped forward and Nigel was enjoying torturing him. There were several other vampires there that Sookie recognized, each bowed to her and she nodded back. "Stop Nigel." Nigel looked up, nodded and backed away. "Tiger, tell me where Eric is now before you regret this."
Quinn's head slowly moved up to look at her. "Hey babe, you came. I knew you would. See I just knew it." His purple eyes looked void like he had no soul.
Sookie knelt down close to him. "No, I am not here for you, I am here for you to tell me where Eric is. If you don't you will die. I will be the one who does it. Do you want to die Quinn? Is this what this is about?"
He laughed and his head fell back. "Die? No! I want you, I want us together. I knew as long as that blood drainer was still around you wouldn't come to me. Don't worry, I didn't kill him. I wont as long as you will give me a chance. I just want a chance Sookie. Can't we try? You are so pretty and smell so nice. I could love you."
Sookie stood up laughing at him, her face was sadistic. "Love me? Your pathetic! Do you know what you are saying? I am married and have three kids. I swear people are so stupid! Listen to me Quinn, you better tell me now where he is."
"No. Not while I have a chance. Come on babe." He was shaking his head like a spoiled child.
"Now Quinn. Tell me where he is." He just kept shaking his head no. Her magic was swirling around and she wanted to kill him but she knew what her choices were. She reached to touch Quinn to see if she could get anything but he had his mind closed off. "Nigel, we will make an example of this dirt bag and everyone that helped him. Take him to where he took my husband and I will show every creature within a hundred miles what you get when you fuck with Sookie Northman. Pam I want everyone there in 30 minutes. Make the call and find those that helped him take Eric. Destroy everyone you find." Nigel was grinning from ear to ear, he loved a good massacre. She headed back toward the door and Pam followed behind her.
"Sookie what are you doing?" Pam had no idea what her plan was.
"I am taking Quinn to the place he took Eric, I will have him strapped to a tree and if he doesn't tell me where he is I will make sure he does. Then I will kill him." Sookie's eyes were almost glowing she was so angry.
Nigel chained Quinn and had beaten him almost unconscious to put him in the car to Metairie. Sookie rode in the same car with him, Nigel was driving, Pam was next to him. There was no way she was letting him get away from her. Her phone never stopped ringing the entire time, supe groups from all over were calling and offering their services to them. She knew that the council had vampires on stand by if she needed it. When she spoke to Xavier earlier he told her just to call and her followers would do anything she needed. She assured him they were doing everything that could done but she wanted to have him as back up in case things got bad. Eric always said it never hurt to have backup and that is what she did.
The ride was short and they were at the clearing in the trees that Eric was taken. There were cars and creatures every where. Bill was standing in the middle of the crowd, she could see him clearly. He approached the car as they drove in. He had chains and all kinds of weaponry ready for this event laying neatly on the ground. He helped her out and she went to stand in the middle of the circle and the creatures fell back to look at her. Nigel was dragging Quinn's body on the ground toward her. He strapped and chained his body to the tree directly behind Sookie. "This tiger had taken my bonded husband, the King of the States. He has chosen not tell me where my bonded is, foolishly of course. I will get this from him and he will die and all that helped him. Each of you will witness my killing this creature for harming my husband. Let every creature you know that harming my King will result in your deaths and it will not be humane by any means."
All the creatures remained silent and all bowed to Sookie. She returned the nod and turned to Quinn who was moaning and coming to. "Quinn, tell me where he is." He was shaking his head no silently. "One more time I will ask you and then I will show you what I will do to you if you don't tell me. Make it easier on yourself." He kept shaking his head no. She had it with this shifter and walked up to touch his arm. Immediately the images of what her plans for him went rushing into his mind. He was bucking and screaming at what she was sending his mind. "Tell me where he is Quinn." The tiger continued his resistance of what was coming into his head. He was yelling no to her, she wasn't sure if he was talking about him telling her or what she wanted to do to him.
She didn't care really. Her mind went to his to read what she could. The tiger was scared, he was regretting his decision on what he did but he knew he would find another way to get her. "Where is my husband?" She was yelling now, her hands went to his head and when her finger touched his skin his eyes rolled back in his head and his head flung back. The images of the graphic torture was too much for him. His mind shields lowered and Sookie saw Eric, he was being held a few miles away in a silver lined box and chained with silver in the ground. She turned to Pam and gave her the directions. Quinn continued screaming like the invasion on his mind was too much. Sookie hoped it was and left the images to continue their assault on his mind.
Nigel walked up to her. "My Queen I can take it from here."
"No Nigel, as soon as Eric is released I will do the honors. No one harms my family while I am breathing." Her eyes were narrow and looking at the pathetic heap Quinn was and just wanted to know Eric was ok. Quinn was sobbing and begging, pathetic was an understatement she thought.
Nigel looked down on her and grinned. "As you wish." He turned to the crowd. "Stand before your Queen subjects. You are witnesses to what your punishment will be if you take on the Queen of the Vampires. Bow to her all of you!" And they did, each stood poker straight with their heads down. Even Bill was standing there waiting with his head down.
Her phone rang and she reached to answer it. "I have him Sookie, he is burnt really badly. I am taking him to the mansion now." She hung up and Sookie did as she said she would, walking over to where Bill and his weapon stood she picked up the largest knife on wrap and took it to where Quinn stood. Holding with both hands over her head she plunged it into his heart, twisting it. She stood watching his life drain from the wound and his eyes.
She turned leaving the dead tiger where he was strapped, leaving the rest for Nigel to deal with and called Bill to her and they rushed to get into the car to head to the mansion. Bill turned to her in the car. "Queen, you did the right thing."
Turning to him she never changed her expression. "I never doubted I did Bill. I would go back and do it again if I had to. He is my life Bill. No one will harm him if I can help it or they will pay like Quinn did"
They pulled to the front of the building, she rushed through the mansion. She ran to their room and Eric was in the bed. Pam was standing with her back to the door when she went in. She could see him as she moved forward. His beautiful face had burn lines across it from the chains that bound him. She went to the bed and wanted to touch him but she knew he was in pain. His eyes were squeezed shut from the pain he was having, their bond was opened wide and she could feel his pain and anger. "Sweetie?' His eyes opened to her. "Oh Eric, are you in pain? Pam did you give him blood?" Pam nodded.
"My love." His voice was soft and low. Sookie felt the tears rolling down her cheeks. "Don't cry Sookie, please. I will be fine. I am healing now, it is just painful."
"Do you want my blood, will it help?" He nodded yes and she put her wrist to his mouth gently and he winced but she held it there close. He bit her wrist and she gasped. He slowly drank her blood until she could feel him licking the wound. Always the gentlemen she thought. "I was so worried."
"I will be fine. Pam, call Nigel and have him track the tiger so we can take care of this." Sookie giggled. Pam wasn't laughing. "What is it Pam?"
"Master, we have already apprehended the tiger. It seems your wife had turned into quite the little military leader since meeting you. She took over the whole operation and I didn't even get to kill anyone, she did!" Pam was mad and pouting.
"What? What is she talking about Sookie? Did he hurt you?" His poor burnt face was distorting with anger, he was trying to get up off the bed.
"No, he didn't even get the chance. Look, Pam I know your mad but he is my husband. I wont let someone hurt him and get away with it. It was my responsibility and I took care of it. I am not sorry I had to kill him. It was him or Eric, it is done" She stood and glared at Pam who still looked angry and Eric wasn't any happier.
Bill walked into the room. "Eric, she did what was required. Do not be angry at her. She took care of what you would have if it were her. Yes, she killed him with her own hands while everyone creature in the area watched her but she was brave and a true warrior. I would be honored to stand beside her in battle, just as if it were you my King." He bowed to Eric and looked at Sookie smiling.
"Sookie, explain. Now!" He was really mad now. She told him of what happened from when she hadn't heard from him to her coming into the house minutes ago. He looked at her in amazement the entire time. "You used a knife? Sookie, Nigel would have taken care of it, Pam, Bill any of them, you are their Queen!"
"No, it was mine to do. Wouldn't you have killed someone that hurt me? Yes, case is closed husband.' She leaned in not touching any of him and barely kissed his lips. His eyes closed for a moment and she could tell he was sniffing her. "I love you."
"I love you too." He was looking better by the moment Sookie thought.
Pam rolled her eyes at them. "Eric, I have things to do before I head to Vegas tomorrow. That is if you still need me to go." Sookie giggled, she couldn't believe Pam was this upset.
"Pam go. Eric tell her you need her. Vampires!" Sookie was getting frustrated with the lot of them. Eric told her to go and off she went. One crisis evaded Sookie thought to herself.
Sookie sat next to Eric on the bed. They talked softly to each other and at dawn the vampires outside their room were changed to their human security. Eric healed fast and Sookie was glad of it, she spent every minute with him when she wasn't feeding or doing something for the kids. It was almost nine in the morning when she heard the door open and Alcide and Amelia stepped in. "Mutt, you look worse for wear." Eric was grinning.
"You blood sucker, look like death. Oh wait! You are dead." They were laughing at each other. Amelia and Sookie were too tired and worn out, they just wanted to go to bed.
"Amelia, you and Alcide get some sleep. I've got to check on the babies." Sookie got up and headed to the nursery. She had Erika fed and was changing Enar when Alcide walked in.
"I heard what you did. I think every supe in the world has heard what you did. Sookie, it was dangerous and you should have let Pam or Nigel or me even handle this. You could have gotten hurt." He was flinging anger at her too. She was sick of it.
"Now you listen to me Alcide, I am not a child. I have been married to that vampire for almost three years now and if I learned anything I have learned it from him. You think I haven't sat in on strategy sessions where they were talking about how to go about killing people or other vampires? Do you think I am so stupid I would walk into trouble with out back up. I had enough security and back up from here to Shreveport. Now, I appreciate your concern but I think I had it completely under control." She turned back around to finish dressing her son.
Alcide looked at this woman he met that was sweet and so innocent. She had a view on the world no one he had ever met did. But this woman he saw now was so much more. No longer the southern belle, she was what Eric nicknamed her, his warrior wife. In that moment he saw a woman that Eric could walk into battle with and never blink an eye. Her powers were growing and extraordinary and she didn't have the fear she had before. She was transformed. "I am sorry Sookie, your right and I do apologize. I wish I could have been there to help you and for that I feel bad. You should have been able to count on me when Eric was unable to help you."
Sookie looked at him shocked. "I am sorry too Alcide. I didn't mean to bark at you. If and when we have another crisis I hope I can count on you. I need all the help I can get these days." She laughed and Alcide did too. They were back on common ground.
"Stop distracting my wife mutt. I would like to spend some quality time with her. You and your fiancé make yourselves scarce." Sookie looked at her husband and he was almost healed now. He just had red blotches where the burns were and now were disappeared. She put Enar in the crib and walked to him and gently wrapped her arms around his waist and he pulled her in to leaned down to kiss her. "My beautiful warrior wife." Alcide was smirking and quietly left them standing there.
"I am so glad your feeling better sweetie. I need you and gracious plenty back to par. I can't make babies by myself." She was grinning and he threw his head back laughing at her.
"My love trust me I will be up to full speed in a few hours and when I am you better run. If you don't you may not be leaving the bed for a few days." They kissed each other and she walked out into the hallway with him and they went toward the living room. She had a few things to do and she wanted him to rest. She lead him to the couch and sat him on it. "Sit, rest, don't move or you will be in big trouble." Sookie put her hands on her hips for effect but he moved so quick she didn't see him coming. He grabbed her and had her on and over his lap and kissing her before she knew what happened. "Eric Northman, let me go! I have things to do. You need your rest. Absolutely not."
He sat back playing offended. "I see. We have reached that part of our relationship where you refuse me. Hum, maybe gracious plenty will need to find a new home? Would you rather that my little bride?" She would have smacked him but he was still injured so she just stuck her tongue out at him.
"Let me catch that creature anywhere but where he is supposed to be and he will be in a jar on the mantel over there. Got that my King?" She laughed and hopped off his lap before he could make any more moves on her. "Love you." She ran out of the room to get a few things done and then she wanted a nap. Sookie came back a little while and Johan was laying on top of his father's chest and they were both sound asleep on the couch. Sookie ran to get the camera and came back and took a dozen pictures.
She left them to their nap and went to make some phone calls and then headed to the nursery to check on her babies. Enar was up so she took him out and changed and fed him and was sitting in the floor playing with him. He was his usual serious self. "Baby boy, mommy does love you but honey you can't be like daddy all the time. He smiles too you know and he is quite funny if you let him be. Sure he is always bossy and matter of fact about things but he really is a big faker. Don't let him fool you." She heard him clear his throat behind her. "Crap!" She turned to see him and Johan standing in the doorway and Eric was smiling.
"Faker, is that so wife? Bossy, really? Hum, I think maybe I will have to show you faker." He had her over his shoulder spanking her behind lightly and had Erika up whimpering because of all the racket. Johan was dancing around the room like the site of his parents playing was great. Enar just looked up at them with Eric's stone face. They were laughing so hard and Eric was swinging her around she was getting sick to her stomach.
"Eric, put me down." He stopped instantly and she ran to the bathroom. She almost didn't make it to the toilet and Eric was right behind her. He went to the sink and grabbed a wash cloth, put cold water on it, bent down to rub her neck and sides of her face. She just held onto the toilet while her stomach did somersaults.
"Sookie, what is it? Maybe we should take you to the hospital." She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. She just needed a minute so she held up index finger to let him know to give her a minute. He had opened the bond and was pushing love and comfort to her to help her. She got sick again. "I am going to call the doctor. We can be back in Shreveport in a few hours. I was planning on leaving tonight but we are going now." She never got a chance to argue because he was out of the bathroom and had things in motion before she could stop him. Johan came into the bathroom and sat on the floor next to his mother. He was petting her lower back and telling her loved her, just like Eric would. She started to cry. "Eric." He was back in a second. "Sweetie, can you go to the drug store and get a couple more of the tests we did the other night?" He looked down at her, smirked and took his phone out of his pocket and made a phone call. "Johan mommy thinks you just might be a big brother again. Oh Lord, what was I thinking? Four babies? I must be out of my mind."
Sookie was still sitting on the floor and Johan was still beside her trying to comfort her when Eric came back. Amelia was behind him. "Sookie, Amelia will keep an eye on the children. She is going to get them packed and we will be leaving in a bit so come on, lets get you up alright?" She shook her head no. She felt sick again, waving everyone out of the bathroom. Amelia grabbed Johan and off they went. Eric sat in the floor next to her. "Come love, let me take you to our room so you can lay down for a minute." She was afraid to move but shook her head yes. He picked up so gently and took her to their bedroom and laid her on the bed. The room was spinning so she closed her eyes. Eric went to dampen the wash cloth again and laid it over her forehead. "Better?" She just shook her head no. He got up and got on his phone talking to someone. She didn't care she just closed her eyes and fell asleep.
"My love, we need to get ready to leave. Dr. Ludwig is waiting for us at home. Everyone is ready to go and we have a plane to catch." Her eyes were trying to focus but she felt nauseous again so she closed them and shook her head no. People were moving around the room, she heard him giving directions to who she thought might be Mark. He opened the doors of the closet and got some fresh clothes out and moved to the bed and sat her up. She opened her eyes and she saw his beautiful face was back to normal. He was pulling her clothes off and replacing them with clean clothes. He put shoes on her and picked her up to take to the bathroom. He stood with his back to her while he waited for her to do what she needed to and she moved to brush her teeth but when she opened the cap the smell of the paste made her want to throw up again. She just got the gargle and swished and said his name. He turned and picked her up again. "My love, is this morning sickness or something else? You were never sick like this with our other children."
She was crying and he looked down at her really worried. "I don't know Eric, I just feel awful. I want to sleep, please." She was a little green and Eric laid her on the couch and covered her up hoping she would rest until they were ready to go.
"Eric, is she alright?" Alcide looked at her concerned.
Eric shook his head no. "I wish I knew. It came on so sudden. She has had some symptoms of being pregnant but we took a test the other night so I just disregarded them. Now this. She was never this sick with our other children." He looked back at his wife laying on the couch and was worried, really worried. "Lets get to the airport. I need to get her to the doctors."
Sookie was sick the entire plane ride. Eric was a basket case by time they landed. Amelia and Alcide took the kids and were going to the house with them while Eric took Sookie to the doctors. He held on to her tight and looked out the window of the car worried to distraction. She didn't say a word the entire ride. When they pulled up to the doctors he got out and came around to carry her. She was greener than she was earlier and she was sweating. Eric rushed her into the doctors and asked for Dr. Ludwig. The tiny doctor was before them in seconds. "Viking bring her this way."
The little doctor did all the things she normally did, blood pressure, check her here and there and when she was done she looked at Eric. "How long has she been like this?"
He told her about them playing and her getting sick. "When was her last period?
He responded. 'Six weeks ago."
The doctor nodded and took blood from her arm. "Let me run the test and I will be right back."
Eric had her by the hand and Sookie's face was looking a little better. She opened her eyes and looked at him. "Sweetie, I am thirsty." He turned around and got her a cup of water and she drank it down. She smiled and thanked him.
"What did she say?" Sookie looked into his eyes.
"She is running the tests. We do not know yet." He was trying to send calm and courage to her though their bond. Her face was still so pale his concern grew more.
The tiny doctor came back in. "Well, we have a couple things going on. She is dehydrated and slightly anemic. That is from not eating balanced meals and not getting enough water. She has low levels of electrolytes which is easily fixed. Eric are you giving her blood?" He shook his head a hard yes. "Well, I think you might want to double the dose for a week or so and see how she does. She must eat properly. She might take your blood and think that is enough but she is still part human and with that she needs the nourishment of the food. Do you understand Sookie? You are making yourself ill not eating. You are breast feeding and it is important you take better care."
Eric looked to Sookie, he was angry. They had talked about this several times and now he was going to be on her like nothing she had seen. "Is there anything else wrong?' He asked the doctor. He was afraid she was really sick but he had to know.
"I will prescribe vitamins and we will make another appointment in a week. By then we should see how she is. You must eat Sookie. You have more than yourself to worry about." The little doctor looked Eric in the face. "You are going to be a father King. Congratulations." He was off the chair and kissing Sookie like crazy.
"We did one of those drug store tests. It said she was not pregnant." Eric read the test himself, what changed? He looked down at the doctor.
"It is very early on, maybe a few weeks and those tests usually need a bit more time in. We will take a closer look next week, but she is indeed pregnant again. You must eat right Sookie. Your morning sickness looks like it might be morning and afternoon sickness which isn't uncommon but if you eat right and rest you will be over it in a couple months. I want to see her frequently with this baby until we are sure things are less complicated then with Erika and Enar." She was gone. Sookie sat on her elbows and began to cry.
"Lover, why are you crying? Please Sookie don't cry. You said you wanted to try for another baby, did you change your mind?" He didn't know what to do.
"I want to go home Eric. Can you take me home?" She was still crying when he got the paperwork, prescription and started to take her home.
They were in the car and he was holding her on his lap gently rubbing her back. "Sookie, are you in pain? Do you need to go back to the doctors?" His voice was soft and gentle with her.
She was sniffling. "No, I want to go home. Eric?" She looked at him so loving.
"What is it my love?" He leaned to her to kiss her lips.
She smiled up at him. "Were having a baby." She hugged him tighter. She never ceased to amaze him.
It was pretty early in the morning when she woke. Her world did flip flops and her feet almost couldn't take her bathroom fast enough. Eric was behind her before she knew it. He knelt down and rubbed her back as she was getting sick. When the convulsions slowed he stood up to get her a cold towel. "Here my love, lets get you cleaned up and back in bed."
She shook her head no. "Eric, I have to feed the babies. I will be fine in a minute." He didn't move, he stayed right behind her rubbing the towel over her neck and forehead.
When she was ready to get up he helped keep her steady and she brushed her teeth. She made a mental note to buy some tooth paste that didn't make her want to gag. She stood up straight and turned walking out of the bathroom. Eric was close behind. "Sweetie, go back to bed. I will be fine."
"No. Let's get the babies taken care of and I want you back in bed. Shuttle service." He picked her up and carried her down the hall to the nursery.
"Eric, put me down. This is ridiculous." She walked in to the nursery when he set her on her feet. She went to Erika's crib who was kicking and squirming about to throw a fit. She reached in and took her out, holding her to her shoulder. "Morning darling. Come on little princess. Mommy's here." She moved to sit in the chair and feed her.
"What is ridiculous my love is we keep having the same conversation where your health is concerned. I give you my blood daily, what if I didn't? You probably would already be in a hospital. I will hire a cook and we will start interviewing people to help with the children and we will do the same for all our homes. Trish can concentrate on cleaning and helping you run the three households. I will not have another evening worrying something is wrong with my wife over something as simple as her not eating!" He was whispering but she caught the anger and the venom in his voice. If they were any where else he probably would have broke a piece of furniture for effect.
She looked up and gave him a dirty look. Sure it was her fault and she knew it. "Sorry I skipped a lunch or two Eric. It's hard to stop at the local burger joint on my way to a mass murder or to find your missing husband. I don't think food is the first thing on my mind at the moment when I am up to my eyeballs with super naturals trying to save my family before they are wiped off the planet." Two could play his game.
He went to pick up Enar, took him to the changing table and changed his diaper and put on fresh clothes. He was putting his bloodied finger in his sons mouth when he spoke again. "I understand what you are saying Sookie, but you are a mother. You have to take care of yourself. I have neglected this for long enough. I am your husband and I will provide anything you need and right now what you need is more help. I do not believe that having someone here to cook or help with the children will be such a big adjustment, if it is you will just have to get used to it."
"No I do not. I am their mother. I won't have people running around and messing with my kids. Cook, cleaning I don't give two shits about. My kids, that's another story all together Eric Northman!" Her voice was low but he knew what she meant.
"Two weeks. If you do not improve you will have someone here to help you with the children. I won't discuss it with you again. I am your husband! These are my children Sookie! Do not cross me on this! Do. You. Understand." His fangs were down and his entire face was distorted in his anger. His voice still low as to not upset the children, she heard him loud and clear. She just glared at him. She knew he was right but she didn't have to like it. Her kids were her responsibility and she wasn't about to give in, she wanted to be the one taking care of them.
He moved forward to take Erika and handed Enar to her. He moved to the changing table and repeated what he had done with Enar. He stood waiting for her to finish with Erika and leaned down to take her. He held both of his children, leaned over and kissed her. "Back to bed Sookie. Your breakfast will be ready in an hour. I will bring it to you when it is done." He left her sitting there while he left with her kids. She gave in and went back to bed.
Eric did as he said. An hour later he was standing in their bedroom with a tray of food. Oatmeal, fruit, a cup of yogurt, toast and orange juice and milk. She just shook her head. "Eric I can't possibly eat all this." She was staring at it, she was starving and started to eat.
"I am sure you can if you try. Eat Sookie." He sat on his side of the bed and started chatting about some funny thing Johan and Enar were doing downstairs and she kept eating as he spoke to her. Eric was grinning. "See my love, you were hungry. Our daughter needs nourishment."
She had eaten almost all of it before she even realized, looking at the tray and then she looked up Eric. "Daughter? What are you talking about?"
He leaned over and kissed her belly and stood to take her tray away. "Sleep. Amelia and Alcide will be here at 11 and then we can get the day started. I love you." He was gone again. She did as he told her. She laid back down.
Eric went downstairs into the kitchen where Trish was putting dishes away. "Prince, she is stubborn but I have known you too long. I am shocked there isn't a dozen people here to help her."
Eric laughed at his old friend. "Sookie is that, yes. I thought baby steps were best. I appreciate you taking on so much but I will have people in place like we talked about soon. You can not force things on my wife as I am sure you know. Small steps and she will never knew what hit her." They laughed and he got up to check on his children who were in the living room.
The twins were in the portable crib and Johan sat in the floor with his book. Eric picked up the twins and brought them to where Johan was sitting. "Son, lets read shall we? Daddy will read and you can turn the pages. I am sure your siblings would like to enjoy your book. What do you think?" His little face lit up and he clapped his hands handing the book to his father. The twins were laying next to Johan he leaned over to rub their bellies while his father read to them.
Sookie found them still in the living room when she got up for the day. She felt better, she got out of the bed, showered and dressed before coming down. Her family was sitting on the floor and Eric had stretched his long body on the floor holding himself with his elbow. His son was chatting away and Eric would nod and agree then laugh at whatever Johan was saying. The twins were making all kinds of noise like they were involved in the conversation. Eric's head turned toward the door where she stood. He looked over and smiled. Sookie's heart melted in that moment. "My love. Feeling better?" He held out his arm to her to come join them. She walked over and sat on the floor with them, kissing her kids then leaning over and planting a long kiss on Eric. Johan fell over laughing.
"Yea, I feel better. What are you all doing here? Did I miss book time? I love this book, isn't it great? I swear Johan must read this a dozen times a day. Don't ya baby?" He told her yes. Eric looked at his wife, she looked so much better and he was relieved. Johan got up and went to his mother and began talking to her about what he and his daddy had been up too. She just nodded and smiled. Trish appeared telling them lunch was ready. She just eyeballed Eric and he helped her up and took the twins while Johan already knew what to do. He was standing in front of his high chair waiting for help. Sookie picked him up and put him it and their food was ready.
Alcide and Amelia came in just as they were finishing up. They had five days before they were headed back to New Orleans to get ready for their wedding and tons to do. "Hey guys!" Amelia looked great. She was happy and looked as gorgeous as she usually did. Alcide looked like he won the lottery he was grinning so much.
"Hi Amelia, Alcide. How are you guys this morning?" Both told her they were great and Sookie just grinned at them. They sure were two gorgeous people, that baby they were having sure was lucky in the gene department.
Alcide looked to Eric. "Did you get talk to E(E)E this morning Eric?" He winced when he said it. Amelia looked at Eric like he was the only one that could fix the little problem Sookie created, her wedding planner was now deceased courtesy of Sookie.
"Yes, it is all arranged. Your contact will be calling this afternoon and all plans have been set in place. Quinn was nothing if not efficient." He said it with distaste and Sookie giggled. Eric just looked at her and continued. "We will fly out in five days and on Saturday you will be either up or down the isle depending on your sanity. Mine is questionable so I can't be of any help in that department. I went to the alter willing. Look where it got me!" He laughed and everyone began laughing but Sookie just stuck her tongue out at him.
"Cute, aren't you just cute Mr. Northman." She got up from the table to take her oldest to wash him up and get him down for a nap. He was rubbing his eyes and looked like a fit was about to be in his near future. "Excuse me guys. Mini Mr. Northman here needs a nap." Johan's head came up and he was trying to say Mr. Northman over and over and it sounded too mutilated to decipher. "Yes, that is you cutie. Say bye to everyone." He was saying bye and she had him in his room and asleep.
Amelia came in holding the twins. "Ready to get to work Sookie. We have so much to do. Since all this stuff has happened there is like a million things we need to get to this morning. You need to return the call to Xavier. He said he appreciated you handling the situation with Quinn but he wanted to talk to you this morning and see if you needed anything." Sookie just nodded her head and took Enar and they headed to the office.
They had been at work about a half hour before Eric stepped in. 'Sookie, I am heading to Fangtasia to get some things done. Alcide is heading out as well. He is needed at a job site. I will see you tonight lover at dinner. I will be here about 6. Have a snack in between now and then, and a glass of milk. I love you." He kissed the top of her head and left.
"Milk? What? You don't ever drink milk only when your pregnant. Oh! You are pregnant!" Amelia should have been a private eye. She could figure out anything. Sookie just smiled. "Four babies, wow. You are going to have your hands full for sure. Why don't you hire a nanny or something? I am not going to be here and you only have two hands Sook."
Sookie looked at her suspiciously. "Did you talk to Eric about this?" She looked seriously back at Sookie and shook her head no. Sookie told her what had happened at the doctor and their fight earlier. "I just feel funny about people taking care of me and my family. Call me old fashioned, woman for centuries handled their own. Why he insists I don't know?"
"He loves you. He wants you to be happy and if your tired or run down how can he be happy. You are everything to that sexy vampire. I hope I can get Alcide to let me hire someone to help around the house. He is so hands on I wonder if he wont quit and stay home full time taking care of the baby himself!" They both laughed and got back to work.
They stopped working a few hours in, took the kids and put them down for a nap and Sookie and Amelia went to have their afternoon snack. There was a large plate with fruits, cheeses, lunch meats and crackers on it. Two glasses of milk sat waiting for both. Sookie and Amelia doubled over laughing. Trish came in with a smiling Johan who was fresh from napping and wanted to eat. Sookie sat him on her lap and they had their snack together. She did feel better she thought.
They went back to work, Sookie made phone calls to Kings and Queens returning calls left for her. She called Jason, Sam and Tara to just touch base. She didn't mention the baby, it was too early and she needed more time to get used to the idea. Her phone chimed.
Eric: Hi my love, did you eat?
Reply: Yes I did, Johan Amelia and I had a nice snack and a glass of milk each
Eric: Good girl ;-) You feeling ok?
Reply: Yep never better
Eric: When I get home I will have to see what we can do about that
Reply: Nasty, you are so bad
Eric: You enjoy bad my little vixen. Should I tell you what I would like to do to you right now?
Reply: NO! Don't you dare. Don't you have work to do?
Eric: Yes, but I would rather play with you.
Reply: Who is this again?
Eric: I see a spanking in your future wife. See you at 6. I love you.
Reply: Love you too.
She grinned and put her phone back in her pocket. Amelia was doing what Amelia does and Sookie left her to go check on the twins. Enar was up she could feel him. He was laying in his crib quietly waiting. "Hi baby boy. Come on, lets change you and take you to earn your keep. If your going to live here you need to work like the rest of us. Mommy needs all the helpers she can get it seems." She nuzzled his neck making him giggle at her and she changed him and took him back to the office.
Time flew by and the kids were all up, Sookie and Amelia had accomplished a ton of things for both of them and they were sitting in the living room when Eric came in the door. "Hello Ladies. I hope you had a good day." He kissed his kids and then sat next to Sookie pulling her onto his lap and kissed her till she was breathless. "I missed you my love."
"Yes, you sure did by the looks of it." Alcide was coming in smiling. He walked to Amelia, picked her up and kissed her gently. He rubbed her belly and spoke to his child and pulled her into his lap to sit. "Well, Eric our meeting is scheduled for noon tomorrow. Will Sookie be attending?"
Sookie looked between them. "What's up?"
Eric held her a little tighter. "We have to meet with shifters and I will need you. I want to make sure they are telling the truth and if you pick up anything else. Can you manage it tomorrow?"
"Sure, I will talk to Trish and I am sure it wont be a problem. I haven't used my powers like that in a while. It will do me some good I think." She was smiling.
"Ok, the little misses and I have some plans for the evening. We will see you in the morning. Night all." Alcide had her up in his arms and carrying her out the door while she laughed the entire way. Sookie just smiled at them, too cute she thought.
"Mrs. Northman, dinner and lets get our children taken care of shall we? I have some plans myself." His eyes were sparkling. She kissed him and stood up putting her hand for him to take.
They got dinner done, kids bathed and to bed. It was almost three hours later and Sookie was exhausted. He picked her up and carried her to their bedroom. He set her down on the bed and headed to the bathroom. She heard the water running and the scent of vanilla coming from the water was fantastic.
He walked back out, held his hand out to help her up and slowly removed her clothes. When she was naked he toed off his boots, took off his dress shirt and unzipped his jeans, sliding them down his legs. She looked him up and down, his body never ceased to amaze her, he was gorgeous. He took her hand and walked with her to the tub. He got in first and then held his hand out to help her in. She sat with her back to his chest and he wrapped his arms around her putting his hands on her stomach. "Sookie, I can't believe you are giving me another baby. It is incredible." His hands were running over he flat stomach.
She smiled. "That is what you say now. In a few months I will be fat and grumpy. Then say how happy you are. I was big as a house with the twins and we didn't even get to full term with them."
He remembered her complications and her laying on that table dying in front of him. He closed his eyes to push the memories back. "You do not get fat while you are carrying my children. You, my love are beautiful, pregnant or not. Skinny woman are not attractive, they are all skin and bones. I love you, you are sexy and curvy. I love those hips of yours and when you are pregnant it drives me crazy. I do not like you in your skinny clothes as you call them."
She looked back at him like he was nuts. "Eric, men like skinny girls, that is a fact."
He pulled her face to his. "No, they all do not. I love every inch of your body and I will not have you starving yourself thinking that is what makes you look better because it is not. Your body is amazing." He started to kiss her neck and her shoulders.
"Your just saying that." She started to giggle at him,
But he wasn't having it, his fangs ran down and he flashed angry. "No, I am not. I love you like you are Sookie, at your regular weight, not starving yourself. I would not tell you such things if they were not true." His fangs grazed the side of her neck then he licked it. When she was pregnant it was like it turned on something she couldn't explain. He worshiped her body and made her feel like she truly was beautiful. She knew his words were true.
Her hands reached down into the water to find him. She rubbed his legs and arms in the warm water. It made his skin warm up and the feeling was always strange to her, she loved his cool skin against hers. One of his hands stayed firm on her belly the other moved to her breasts. She gasped when his fingers sought out her nipple. "I love your breasts Sookie. They are full and round, I think of them and want to have them in my mouth. You love it when I touch them don't you?" Her body responded to his words, she was panting against him. He could smell her arousal even through the scented water. His hand that was on her belly moved down into the water to her folds, he spread them with his fingers and began to stroke her clit. She brought her legs out of the water to open them farther for him. "Yes, lover, open your legs for me. More Sookie, open them more." She did, she draped her legs on the sides of the tub to give him access to her nub, it was so hard and just the feeling of him on her made her want to come but he was slow and put no pressure on her yet. He wanted to drive her mad for a bit and she was moving to the feeling of his fingers stroking her. "Like that my love? Do you like my fingers on your clit? I do, can you feel me? I am so hard for you. I want you to come for me Sookie. Let me hear you tell me you want my hands on you."
She was moving, she needed him to touch her more, she needed him to finish her. "Please Eric, rub me harder. Please! I can't stand it. I am so close Eric. Oh God Please!" He made her beg. He wasn't giving in. She was panting and groaning and her need was filling the room.
"No my love, do you like it? Do you want me to stop? Tell me Sookie! Tell me!" He was growling into her ear, licking in between words.
"Yes! I love when your touching me there Eric. Please!" She panted.
"Where Sookie, where do you like me to touch you?" He kept up the slow rhythm and he barely touched her nub with the movement he was doing to her.
"My clit Eric! Touch it, make me come!" Eric threw his head back in victory. Her body kept moving for him to speed up and he wouldn't. He was in control and he would keep her like this as long as he could.
"You like me touching you Sookie? Tell me!" He nicked her shoulder licking the blood that it produced.
"Yes, yes! I need you to help me Eric, please! I love your fingers on me. Please!" She was screaming now, she was desperate for release and he continued to tease her. He loved this side of her, the vixen. Her hands where grasping the side of the tub and her legs she was trying to spread more for him to finish her.
His finger barely put any pressure on her and she began whimpering. "Is that hard enough lover? "
"No! Eric, please! Harder. I can't take it! Please make me come." Her eyes were closed and she was pushed against him.
"No, Sookie? You want it hard or faster on you? Which is it?" His lips were on her ears as he spoke to her.
"Both, please! Please Eric! Oh Please! Stoke me!" He smiled and did. His talented fingers stroked her and she was bucking and screaming his name so loudly he almost had an orgasm watching her release. Her head flung back and she moaned so hard her voice began breaking up.
Her body went limp and he took her ear lobe in his lips. "I am not done with you my wife. Did you like that orgasm? I could feel you on my finger, every bit of you. Incredible."
She groaned and before he knew it she was turning around to face him her mouth seeking his.
"Your fucking fantastic Eric. I need to fuck you! I want you in me. Let me!" Her body was up and on his cock so fast he didn't know what happened. His head went back with a laugh and pleasure all the same time. Her insides were tight against him. He grabbed her hips as she pushed down hard on him and her body moved up and down on him squeezing him against her insides. He growled from it. He leaned forward and bit into her breast, licking the blood as she moved on him. "Your so hard Eric, I love this. I love you in me. Do you want me Eric?"
He moved to meet each thrust she pushed onto him, his hips hitting her hard making her head throw back and she screamed from the power of it. "Yes Sookie, that's it. Right there, that's is lover. Yes!" He was pumping hard under her. It was all he could to concentrate to keep up with her. He wanted to let go but this was too incredible to stop. "Yes, oh yeah, wife, give it to me." Her eyes sought his and her lips went to his and she licked his lips before biting his bottom lip causing blood to run down his face. She licked it and moaned never easing up on her assault on his hard length. "Don't stop Sookie, don't stop."
"Never! I want this Eric! Yes! Yes! Oh yeah Eric.' His hands were on her breasts and squeezing them hard. She was moaning at how they were making each other feel. "Come in me Eric, give it to me. I want to feel you come in me." She was so close, her pants were hard and her face was changing. She leaned over and bit his shoulder and he began screaming releasing in her and she flung her head back and grabbed the tub groaning so loudly she lost her voice. Her body came forward to fall onto his chest as she finished.
She couldn't move and he just held her. "What was that? I think I had a heart attack in the middle of that." She was rubbing the naked area about her breast about where her heart beats.
"What ever it was maybe we can do it again?" His were lusting again and she need to retreat or fall victim to him again.
"Not on your life vampire. Human, remember? Bed time, lets go!" She moved off of him and climbed out of the tub, grabbing the side of the tub to sit on the lip, she was dizzy and her legs were like jelly.
He sat up concerned. "Sookie?" He was out of the tub and held a towel to her naked body pulling her face to look at him.
She smiled up at him. "Yeah, it seems my husband the Viking sex God is going to put me in traction. I am fine sweetie. It was just really, really great and intense. I just need a second."
He smiled at her admission she enjoyed it. "Here, let me help you to bed." He picked her up and put her on the side of the bed. He went to the dresser and took out a nightgown she hadn't worn in she didn't know how long. He put it over her head and she lifted her arms to slid it down her. He fluffed her pillows and leaned her back to the bed. "Sleep now my love." He kissed her swollen lips, leaned down to kiss her belly and came around to get in his side of the bed. He got comfortable and pulled her close to him putting his hand over her stomach. "You enjoyed that? I wasn't to rough on you? Tell me the truth Sookie."
She looked up at him. Here was this 1000 year old vampire and he needed to hear he was good at making love to his wife. "Eric, I can't believe you! Enjoy that? That was amazing. I thought my body would go up in flames. You really are incredible. No, you weren't too rough, actually for a while there you were just the opposite." She giggled and he laughed hard at her admission. "I am not just saying this but I really am lucky to have you."
He smiled at her, he was glad she enjoyed their sex life together. He was so rough sometimes and he thought he might have hurt her. "Your sure I wasn't too hard on you?"
"I love it hard Eric." She giggled again and looked him in the eyes. She could talk about this or anything with him where as two years ago she could never had done or said some of the things they did now. "I love it every way we do it, but sometimes having you like that, what we did tonight was phenomenal. I can't even put it into words. Its like you are giving me part of your soul it is so amazing.
He smiled and leaned over to kiss her again. "I am love. If I have one like you think I do, I am giving you ever piece of it. My soul is nothing without you." His kiss was tender and it deepened. He broke the kiss and moved to kiss her stomach then he laid his head there. "I hope your happy about this my love. I know you wanted more time before we got pregnant again. Are you happy?" He stayed where he was to hear what she had to say.
She smiled and smoothed his hair back off his face. He looked so young and wicked when his bangs were in his face. Changing her mind, she took her fingers and messed them up to let them hang in his face, she loved him like that. He was hers like that. He never wore his hair like that out into the world. Just like now, he would share that with her and her only. "It hasn't sunk in yet. It so early you know. I keep rubbing my belly thinking there is a baby in there. I mean it is going to be almost nine months before we meet him or her. Yes, I am happy Eric. How could I not be? You have given me another baby. I just want one thing."
He sat to look at her with his beautiful face, his eyes sparkling at her. "My daughter and what would that be my love? If I can give it I will."
She took her hand and touched his face and smiled at him. "I don't know if you can but I will keep my tradition of prayers going. Our children must have your eyes. It is the only thing I want, to see the day your eyes look at you and roll at you! It will be worth it all! That's all I want."
His face softened and he smiled. "So far I have accomplished it. Three out of three. Let me see what I can do to make it four for four. I am well aware of the evilness you possess wanting to set my children against me. What a cruel woman you are Sookie Northman" They both laughed and got comfortable to allow sleep to take them.