Hello my fellow reader!

Thanks for all the great reviews. I hope I haven't let you down with this story. I have tried to write a new chapter daily. I love to hear your feedback! Please review!

WARNING! Adult CONTENT & LEMONS!

Chapter 26

Sookie was in the living room standing across from Claudine when Eric came down. His children were playing on the floor, Johan was up on his feet watching everything his mother and cousin were doing. "Ok Sook, try it again. Come on, focus!" Eric watched her, she closed her eyes then opened them, her magic filling her and she popped out. She tapped Eric on the shoulder.

Eric whipped around and threw his arms around her waist. "Amazing my fae wife!" He kissed he and she pushed him away, concentrated and popped back to Claudine.

Johan was jumping up and down. Claudine knelt down to him. "You ready to show your daddy Cousin?" Eric stepped forward to stop her and Sookie put her hand up to keep him where he was. He watched his son look at his mother and then he popped to stand in front of Eric. Eric grinned from ear to ear. He rustled his sons hair and he was gone back to his mother just as quickly. "I think that is enough for now. You don't want to wear yourselves out in one session."

Lily came in to take the kids upstairs. Sookie thanked her, opened the door to the backdoor for fresh air then went to Eric to take him to sit with her and Claudine. "Sweetie, Claudine has some information on the kids. We have waited for you to come down, spill it Claudine." She nodded to Claudine to sit and she chose the farthest chair away from Eric.

"Ok, I spoke to Niall and he believes it best I come and help you with the kids. He said he loves Sookie and the children so he wouldn't deny her this. I talked to him about their powers, the fae can sense your kids. The three of them are super powerful but none of them have harness it yet. They are so young their powers are still in the infant stage but you both have to really work with them. The more they use it the easier it will be for them to take care to defend themselves. I will come and help as much as you want until we get these kids up to date on their magic." Claudine turned her head to look out the back door. "Johan is the most powerful child I have ever seen. He has so many powers it will take years to figure them all out. I do know that he is more open with his magic than Enar and Erika. See, Enar is the keeper of magic, literally and figuratively, and he keeps them both cloaked, himself and Erika. It is his defense but Enar is almost as powerful as Johan but on strength level Enar will excel. He will be the warrior Eric." She looked him in the eye and he understood nodding back at her.

"Why is he still cloaking? Does he not feel safe with us?" Sookie wanted to cry thinking her son didn't trust them. Eric pulled her closer to him to soothe her.

"No, it is just the magnitude of his powers he keeps them cloaked so others do not sense either of them. He will be the child with the power you asked me about Sookie, not your third son. It is important that no one finds out about that power until he is old enough to control his magic and defend himself. The Prince began the rumor of the third son, he never thought there would be a third child so he thought it was the best way to keep the kids safe but now you are planning on more." Claudine looked at them and smiled " Eric, you have got to start training your children to fight, to be warriors like yourself. You have waited too long to do this." She looked at Sookie who looked terrified. "I know you don't like the idea of him wielding a sword Sookie, but some day it will save his life like it has Eric."

"What about Erika? She has shone no signs of magic yet." Eric asked Claudine, he had been concerned about her from the beginning, his sweet daughter.

Claudine smiled at them. "Eric, Enar keeps her protected, it is hard to see what she possesses. I feel a lot of angel magic in her. She doesn't have visions like her brothers but she can read minds like Sookie. Erika can influence the feelings and thoughts of those around her. Do not shelter her too much Eric, I know you want too but she will need to learn the lessons you teach the boys."

Eric was squeezing her hand for support. Sookie thought she would pass out. She and Eric knew their kids were powerful but this was just a snapshot of what they were capable of and it was staggering.

"Thank you Claudine. We will take you up on your offer to come and assist Sookie and the children with their magic. I will send formal request to the Prince today." Eric looked at her and she nodded.

"Not a problem Eric. I have to go. Call me when you your ready to schedule the next session. I am excited to teach Johan a few new tricks." She smiled brightly and popped.

Sookie put her hands over eyes and started to breathe deeply to stop from crying. "Oh my God Eric, what have we done?" She removed her hands to stare at her husband.

"What do you mean Sookie, what have we done?" His eyes were searching hers, he was getting agitated.

She stood up and began to pace. "Our kids, Eric. How could we do this to them? We are going to teach them magic and let them out to fight the world? How do we do that? Those are my babies Eric!"

He stood to walk to her. "Stop this Sookie. You knew from the beginning that our children would be magical. It is our responsibility to teach them, to help them learn the ways of our world, that is what we will do. Claudine is right, we have waited too long. Every moment in our world counts, you have seen the creatures that we come up against. They are my children Sookie, I will teach them everything I know to defend themselves. I have lived along time, I have quite a few tricks saved up."

She knew what he said was true but she didn't have to like it. Her mind told her she understood but her heart didn't. How could she send her children out into the cruel world they lived in? It was sobering. "I knew they would be magical but like this?"

"We can not undo what is already done. You are magical, I am a vampire, we are unique, our children are products of that. Think of what our children will accomplish Sookie, they are not regular children, they are rare and exceptional to our world. We are their parents, no one will touch our children Sookie. Remember my promise to you the day we found out we were pregnant with Johan, I told you I would protect our children and I will by any means necessary." His face softened, he wanted her to know he would do anything in his power to keep them safe. It had to be good enough and her heart told her it was. She walked to him and they wrapped their arms around each other, Eric held her tight to him. "I will Sookie, I promise. I am sorry to bring this up now Sookie, I have to go to Dallas, Stan has called a meeting to address some serious issues he is having. I must attend."

"Do you need me to go?" He shook his head no. "How long will you be gone?" For some reason she didn't want to be left behind.

"I will try to come home tomorrow morning, I will try very hard to be home in the morning." He leaned into kiss her. "I am taking Thalia with me, she has been on your security team for a while now and needs to be rotated out. I will leave Bill here in her place. I would leave James as well but it seems my wife has a bit of a crush on him." He looked down on her to gauge her reaction.

"I have no such thing Eric Northman. I told you, he is handsome, if you don't trust me then take him with you. You wont hurt my feeling over something so silly." She backed away from him.

He pulled her back and kissed her to apologize to her. "They will be here at sundown. I will be home soon lover." He kissed her and headed to their room to get ready to leave.

She was sitting in the office working when he came in to say goodbye. "I will call you tonight. I will be too far away for you to tease me with phone sex Sookie, do not even think about it tonight." She smiled up at him and he grinned back at her.

He walked around the desk and bent down to kiss her, the kiss was so powerful she began to get dizzy. "Ok, sweetie, I get it, intoxicating me. You got to let me breathe. Get out of here and get your stuff done in Dallas. I miss you already." He kissed her again and walked out of the office. She stared at the doorway for a few minutes then returned to her work.

The evening went off without a hitch Sookie thought. She and Lily tackled the kids, baths, play time, book time and bedtime and the house was silent. Lily looked at Sookie like she was afraid to say something. "What's wrong Lily?" She waited for the usual confident and beautiful woman to answer her.

"Would you mind if I went out for a few hours? I won't stay gone too long. I hate to ask with Mr. Northman out of town." Lily almost looked terrified.

Sookie giggled at her. "Lily, of course you can. Stay gone as long as you like. I think I can remember how to take care of those little monsters upstairs." Sookie laughed and Lily did too. "Have fun." Sookie looked at her suspiciously and she heard the door open, it was Mark. He was in jeans and a burgundy dress shirt. Sookie smiled at him and walked to him. "Mark you look handsome." He smiled at her "Enjoy your evening ok? Don't let her talk you into ending your evening early on my account. I can take care of things here." She leaned in and hugged her friend and he hugged her back. He looked at her in the eyes and thanked her.

Sookie went up to check on her kids, all were sleeping soundly. She grabbed the monitors from each room and went to her bedroom. She looked around the room, he was only gone half the day, she missed him terribly. Stepping to her dresser she got out pajamas shorts and a t-shirt and put them on. Her cell phone rang, she went to the table to answer it. It was Eric.

"Lover are you alright?" He sounded concerned.

She cleared her throat. "Yes, I am just missing you that's all. How is it going there?

"I hoped I could wrap this up and leave tonight but that isn't possible. I might have to stay until tomorrow evening if we do not make headway here. Will you be alright if I have to stay another day?" He sounded frustrated at being stuck there longer than he wanted to be.

She sighed. "I will be fine sweetie. Just call me every chance you get ok? I don't know if our bond is doing this but for some reason I am just really sad your not here. We have been apart before so I don't know why I am missing you so desperately."

"Well, just remember I miss you too. I hate being away from you. I try everything I can to work from home so we can be together as a family. It is the most important thing to me now, work seems insignificant to you and my children." His voice was low and sexy.

"Call me in the morning ok? I love you Eric, with my whole heart." Tears began to well in her eyes.

"No Sookie, do not cry. I will be home soon. I love you too my love, kiss my children for me ok?" She promised to and hung the phone up. Erika started fussing, she got up, grabbed the monitors and her cell phone to go to the nursery to get her. Leaving the room she took her daughter to sit with her on the couch, she didn't want Enar to be woken up.

Sookie felt them come in before she saw them. "Hi Bill, James."

"Hello my Queen. Is everything alright? Eric said to do thorough checks while he is away." Bill had such a nice southern voice Sookie thought.

"Were fine. Just fussy babies this evening." She looked up and James was staring at her. "James? Where are you from, your human life?"

He seemed shocked by her question. "England, my Queen. Specifically London. I was a member of the Royal family before I was turned."

"Wow, really? How long ago?" Sookie's curiosity was peaked now.

He laughed at her question. "A really long time ago. Years are insignificant to our kind as I am sure you know."

"How do you know my husband?" Sookie wanted to hear their connection, Bill had other plans.

Bill looked at them with curiosity. Vampires were very protective of their lives. He didn't like this at all. "Lets go James."

James bent his head down to her. "Good evening my Queen. I am here to serve you, all you need to do is call me." He grinned and left ahead of Bill who turned to her.

"It may not be my place to say anything but I have know Eric a long time Sookie. Do not give him reason to kill James. He will take no inappropriate behavior from his bonded." He was glaring at her.

She sat up and looked him straight in the eyes. "I don't know what you are talking about Bill Compton, and I am sure you are going to apologize to me. I have asked that vampire no more than I asked you, which you willingly told me with out dramatics. I can't believe you are standing there saying that to me. Get out of my house and don't come back until Eric comes back." She turned away from him, she was seething with anger.

He started to say something but her phone rang. It was Eric again.

"Sookie, what is wrong?" He sounded panicked.

"Nothing I cant handle Eric." She watched that big mouth Bill Compton leave.

"Sookie, tell me what is the matter this instant. I will call Bill and have him come to you." He was getting angry.

Sookie should have stayed in bed she thought. "No! I just kicked him out. I don't want him in the house again. If he does I swear Eric, I will kill him."

"You need to tell me what this is about and you need to tell me now Sookie." He was definitely mad now. She told Eric what Bill said to her. "He is an idiot. Expect him back in the house in two minutes to apologize lover."

"No Eric, I do not want him back in my house for a while. I mean that. If he steps his southern gentleman ass through that door tonight he will meet his final death. Please Eric. I don't feel like fighting about this anymore. I love you, ok?" She felt like crying but she wouldn't give Bill the satisfaction.

"My love, go to bed. I will deal with Bill when I get home. Why are you still up anyway?" He found the whole situation funny but Sookie didn't see it.

"Your daughter decided she wants to be fussy tonight and not let her mother get any sleep. That is why." She gently patted her half asleep daughter on the back trying to get her back to sleep.

"Tell my daughter she needs to go sleep now, her that her father says for her to get to sleep this minute. Go ahead Sookie, tell her." Eric was confident and Sookie just rolled her eyes at the phone.

"Ok, I will tell her. Baby girl, daddy is on the phone and he says for you to go to sleep this minute and that you need your sleep baby." Her daughters little eyes looked up at her, she yawned and closed her eyes. "I swear Eric Northman I am going to rock your world when you get home. Hurry up and come home, my life is a mess when your not here." She giggled softly as she stood to take her daughter to her bed.

"I love you too lover, get to sleep please. I can not get any work done with your emotions all over the place. Give your husband a break here." He laughed and she told him she loved him and they disconnected.

Her children were sleeping so she went to bed. Her head was barely on the pillow before she fell asleep.

She woke from her cell phone going off. Opening her eyes to the light she looked at the clock, it was nine thirty. Sookie reached for her phone looking at the caller id. Eric was calling.

"Hey sweetie. What are you up to this morning?" She yawned and stretched.

"Sookie, I am going crazy here. I could not sleep knowing you were in that big bed all alone. I miss you my wife." His voice sounded desperate.

"Are you alone sweetie?" She thought of something she could do to help him.

He paused. "Yes, I am still in bed."

"Good handsome, are you naked?" She giggled.

"Yes." His voice was lusty now.

"Eric touch gracious plenty for me? Will you do that for me? Take it in your hand and stroke it sweetie." She was almost whispering.

"Oh Sookie, I need you so badly. I need you around me." He voice was breaking as he said the words to her.

"I know Eric, I need you too. Are you stroking your yourself Eric? Please, for me."

She could hear him slightly moaning and she smiled. "I am Sookie, I will do anything for you."

"I know you would Eric, I need to hear you, I need to know your enjoying it sweetie. I want to hear you come for me. Tell me." Her voice was full of need for him but she wanted this for him. She wanted him to know she needed him as much as he needed her.

"Oh Sookie." He was groaning softly. "I need you Sookie, I want to feel your breasts, I need your blood. Oh, Sookie." His groaning was getting longer and deeper.

"That's right sweetie, stoke it. Is it hard, really hard Eric? Is gracious plenty missing me? I miss you so much. I don't hear you my Viking. Tell me you want me." She was grinning at the phone, she knew he was so close, his moans she knew as well as her own.

"I want you Sookie. Oh yes! Yes! I am going to come my love, I am ready." His voice was pitching now, he was ready.

"Yes Eric, do it! Now! I want to hear you call out to me. Think of me while you orgasm sweetie! Tell me!" She was ordering him to do as she said.

"Sookie! Oh that's it! Sookie, I love you! Uhhhhhhh" He grunted to completion and she was smiling from ear to ear. If he breathed he would be panting in that moment.

"Did that help you sweetie?" She spoke to him almost in a whisper.

"Um, yes, more than you know. Not as good as the real thing but I love your creativity wife. You will get extra points for this one my dear." He was smirking at what his little wife could do to him and for him.

"Come home. That is the only thing I want Eric. Just get it done and come home. I will be climbing the walls if you stay another night." She got up off the bed to run the shower water.

"I will call you later. Behave please. I love you and kiss my children." His children she thought, always his. She just giggled and got into the water after telling him she loved him too.

She came downstairs to get her day going, her kid were up and she had a million things she wanted to do. The day went by so quickly. Her children were needing something or doing something and she enjoyed every second of it. Her babies were growing so fast, Erika was sitting up and Enar went from sitting a little to crawling a little. He wanted to be mobile from the minute he was born and he was so strong and had been pushing himself up for weeks. Her little warrior. She couldn't wait until they were walking. That was the greatest milestone, next to talking she thought. Enar she could never guess when he would start talking he was always so quiet, but Erika, she was making noises for what seemed like forever. Sookie couldn't wait to see Eric's face when his daughter called him daddy.

Sookie's phone rang and she answered it while trying to wrangle a kicking and squirming Johan to change and get ready for bed. "Hey Sook!" Amelia, Sookie was glad to hear from her.

"Hey Amelia, how did it go with Dr. Ludwig?" Sookie was giggling at her silly son. He hated pajamas just like another male Northman she knew.

"Well, not much to report, everything fine, baby looks like a peanut yet, and Alcide almost had an emotional breakdown during the ultrasound. That man can rip a man in half in thirty seconds but show him a picture of his child and he is a mushy mess." She giggled for a second. "He is the greatest, sweetest thing I have ever met. I am so lucky Sook."

"Yes you are as I have told you more than one time Mrs. Herveaux. I am glad everything went well Amelia. I can't wait to meet this baby, its going to be too pretty for its own good." She laughed with her friend.

"Ok, I will be there in the morning. Everything ok with you Sookie?" Amelia was quiet.

"Yeah, I am waiting on the sexy Viking to come back from Dallas. He's been gone since yesterday and I miss him like crazy." Sookie was wondering what he was doing that moment.

"Call me if you need me ok? I hate to think your home alone." Amelia sounded serious.

Sookie started laughing as she put her son into his bed to sleep. "Alone, at what point am I alone? I could use five minutes of alone, between guards, staff, kids, vampires, the list goes on and on. Johan was settling down, he cuddled with his teddy bear and told Sookie he loved her. His little eyes were closing and she took the monitor and stuck it in her pocket to head to the nursery to check on the babies.

"I know Sookie, but its different with Eric not there. I know you miss him. Just call us if you need anything. Ok?' She agreed telling her friend she would see her tomorrow.

Her twins were out like lights, she grabbed the monitor and headed downstairs. She went out the back door to sit on the deck to look at the stars. James stepped out of the shadows. "Hey James, everything ok?"

He walked to her and nodded. "Yes, everything is fine. All is well with you and the children?" She nodded at him and he smiled slightly. 'Good. It is a beautiful night tonight. I have looked at so many nights like tonight and they are always beautiful." Sookie turned to look at him, his face looked like something out of English painting she thought.

"I really like the stars but I am a sun girl. I love the feeling, I love the tan, there is nothing better." She smiled at him.

"Are you happy here, I mean living with him and this life you have chosen?" Her face changed to concern.

"James, I don't believe you have the right to ask me personal questions about my life with my husband." She looked at him like he had offended her.

He looked away. "I am sorry my Queen. I just find it odd that the two of you have this life together, the house, the children, it is all so, human. Vampires are not human. We live for sex and blood, not this." He said the last two words like what he saw disgusted him.

"I will tell you something, Eric and I are happy, we love each other. He is everything to me. Nothing will change that, ever." She didn't want to get him to involved in her life by giving him too much information.

He looked at her in the dark. "You have such power, you could be with anyone, do anything yet you chose this. Some of my kind would give anything to have you at their side, yet you are the Vikings. Why?.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "James, what is this about? Why are you concerned about my life with Eric?"

"I think you are wasting your life and your talent with this ridiculousness." He was serious and she stood up she was so mad.

Her hands were on her hips and she wasn't taking anymore of this from this vampire. "Ridiculousness? I think you are out of line. My husband and I love our lives, we love each other. It is you that is ridiculous because you are jealous of what we have. You will never have someone to share your bed every night because you are too closed minded to open up and let someone in. Eric did that and look at our lives, it is better and more fulfilled than any of your kind will ever experience. I don't want anyone other than my bonded, ever. There may be attractive creatures out there but they all pale in comparison to Eric. Not one of you could come close to what he has in his mind, his heart, his soul. Every last one of you, you included are silly, greedy and you deserve to walk the night alone because of that selfishness. I think you should get back to your post now James."

"I agree." Eric stepped out of the shadows and came to stand in front of James. "Better yet, I think maybe you should go back to Vegas now James. Report to Pam at sundown tomorrow." James nodded and left.

"Are you alright? Did he touch you?" Eric was examining her arms, sniffing her for signs of his hands on her.

"No, Eric, he didn't touch me. I could have stopped him if he tried. I am so glad to see you! I have missed you." She stood on her tip toes to kiss him, long and hard.

"I believe I know you did my bonded. Thank you." He looked down on her smiling.

She shook her head unsure what he meant. "For what Eric?"

He took her chin and pulled her face up so he could look into her eyes. "For loving me, for defending me, for protecting us and our lives together." His eyes searched her eyes, those beautiful blue eyes.

She smiled and giggled. "Its what I do my sexy Viking." She winked and ran to their room. Her husband stood where he was for a moment letting her go. He would chase her but he gave her the head start. What was the fun of just catching her? She was incredible.

Eric spent the rest of the night showing her how much he appreciated his wife.

It was late morning, the sun was shining bright this morning. Sookie's hands were white knuckles, she stood frozen watching. Never in her life did she think she would be standing in her own back yard looking out seeing the sight she was today. Eric stood in front of their son speaking firmly to him, not like he was a baby but as a warrior. Sookie had to close her eyes at times to keep from running and grabbing her baby to pop somewhere to stop this. She had no idea what Eric was saying, he spoke only in Swedish and she could see his eyebrows come together, his command as he told his son what to do with the weapon her son had in his tiny hand. Johan responded to his father, accepted every word from his father. Finally she couldn't take anymore and had to go in the house. Claudine followed her.

Amelia was sitting at the kitchen table with the lap top. Her children were in the floor playing with Lily. "Sookie? You know he has to do this. You have got to get your mind around the fact of Eric teaching him to fight. It will make Johan unsure of himself if you stand there looking like a frightened animal. Confidence is everything to a warrior. Look at Eric, he is one of the most cocky males I have ever met." Claudine stood with her hands on her hips. Amelia turned to look at Sookie who looked like she needed to throw up.

"I agree Sook, you got to let Eric do this. Do you really want to let your child be defenseless to the scum that live in this world? Trust me, when they are old enough Lily and I will teach them to yield their magic, just like I will this baby. I think about Alcide having to teach our child the same thing and I know it is the only right thing to do. Knowledge is definitely power in our world."

"It doesn't make me feel better. He's just a baby Amelia. Look at him out there, he's my little version of Eric." Sookie looked out the window then turned away again cringing.

"Come on Sookie, sit down and we will get some work done. Get your mind on something else." Sookie heard the clash of the swords, she knew nothing would take her mind off what Eric was doing out there. She came to sit by Amelia at the table, Claudine went back outside.

It seemed like they were out there for hours before Eric started his war cry and Sookie stopped what she was doing to lay her head on the table. She felt dizzy and Amelia giggled at her. "Don't you dare laugh at me Amelia! Wait, just wait to you have to do this. You'll see."

She could hear her son test out his cry and she got up and headed out of the room. Air, she needed air so she was opening the front door to go out to the front yard to calm down. She ran head on into Alcide. "Sookie, my God are you alright? You are green!" He grabbed her by the arms and she shook her head. "What is it?" His face was searching hers like something tragic was happening.

"Eric is teaching Johan how to use his sword." She looked like she wanted to cry. Alcide was looking into her eyes, then he began to blink realizing what she was saying.

"His sword? Damn Sookie, you had me freaking out there for a second." She looked like she wanted to kill him. "I mean, I am sorry your upset. Why don't you go get some air." He lead her out the front door, where she was headed before he ran into her. She stepped out.

Alcide turned and went to the living room, he walked up behind Amelia kissing her on the neck. "Sookie isn't taking this well I take it?"

Amelia giggled against him. "No, I think we would have a better chance of hell freezing over first. She is a mess, did you see her?" He nodded and she giggled again. "She has got to get over it. The kid really is a natural, look at him."

Alcide stood up and walked to the door. He looked out the window to see the giant vampire, tall, long legged and the tiny, long legged version of the giant standing in front of each other. Johan had his fathers grace, his posture, his confidence, his looks, his warrior spirit. You could see it in his little face. "That is incredible. I remember my father taking me out on hunts. He told me he started taking me when I was weeks old. We would go out with the pack, he would just take me so I could follow them. My father said he wouldn't change he would just let us follow behind them as they were running."

Amelia stopped typing and looked at her husband. "Alcide?"

He turned and looked at her. "No Amelia. I wouldn't change this, none of it. I love you, don't ask me what your thinking because your just going to piss me off." She let it drop. Alcide saw Claudine pop.

Eric and Johan were heading back into the house and Lily was there to take Johan to take him to clean him up. Eric watched his son leave the room, then he looked over to his pack leader friend. "Mutt, what do you think?"

Alcide smiled and slapped Eric on the back. "I think you have passed those Viking genes on to your son. He will make a exceptional fighter Eric, just like his father."

Eric nodded and went to look for his wife. He found her sitting on the front porch. "Sookie?" She didn't move. "My love?" He went to sit next to her, his arms went around her waist to pull her close to him. He opened the bond to send her strength, compassion and love. Her head just shook. "What is it lover?" She looked up at his frightened. His hand went to her chin to hold her to look at him. "Sookie why are you frightened? I would never let him get hurt, you know this."

"We can go out into the world and fight day in and day out Eric, I don't care, but our kids. I don't know if I can take it. I heard my baby doing that war cry and I wanted to hurt someone." Her eyes were desperate, she couldn't take this.

He needed to help her process this, he couldn't stand to see her suffer. "Sookie, you will never be comfortable with your son engaging in a fight and if you did I would think you were crazy. I am not comfortable with the thought either my love, but this is what is right. He was born a warrior, they all are, just like I was, I was born into the life that brought me here. We will give him the tools he needs to live. That is what it is about Sookie, not learning to fight but to live. Do you understand?"

It was like a cloud cleared in her eyes. She sat blinking for a minute like he had opened the door to understanding what needed to be done. "Yes, actually I do. Your right, you are teaching him to live. That I can wrap my head around." She faintly smiled and she moved to get closer to kiss him. "Thank you my handsome husband. You always know what to do to help me." She kissed him harder this time. Lily opened the door to let Johan out on to the porch. He stood at the door waiting for his mother. She turned and held her arms out and he smiled running to her. Sookie hugged him so tight. "I am so proud of you baby. You and daddy did so well today. You're going to be just like daddy aren't you? My little warrior, I am so proud of you!" Johan squealed with acceptance from his mother and Eric just closed his eyes overwhelmed at his wife's courage.

Eric and Sookie were walking out of Johan's room that night after putting him to bed for the night. Eric pulled her to him after she closed the door behind them. "Come on my wife, lets take a walk on our property. Lets sit by the river and watch the moon." Eric walked his wife out the back door and through the gate they had put around the house when they found out they were pregnant for safety. He locked the gate behind them, then took her hand in his. "I am proud of you Sookie, you never cease to grow with each challenge we have in our life together."

He was looking straight ahead and she looked up to his profile, his gorgeous face. She pulled him to stop and she reached up to touch his face. "I can only do it because of you. My love for you makes me do things I don't know if I could do if you weren't in my life." He smiled at her and got them walking again. They walked for a few minutes before they were by the river bank. "Do you remember that night you brought me here Eric? It seems like forever ago so much has happened. We sat on the other side of this river and in that moon I fell in love with you. God you were so exciting to me. Your kiss that night I thought I would die from. I wanted you so badly and you were too kind to me, you put us back in the car to take me home, remember?"

"How could I forget a moment with you Sookie. It's like I had waited my whole life for that one night with you out here. I wanted you so desperately and I knew I had to be with you but not like that. It felt like I would only have one night with you and I wanted it to be perfect and it was. You were mine that night and you still are, only mine." He leaned down wrapping his arms around her waist. "I loved you the moment I laid eyes on you Sookie." His lips found hers, his kiss was so powerful, his want for her growing with every second.

She pulled him to sit with her on the ground, the same ground almost three years ago she laid on with him, it seemed like their lives made a full circle in that moment. She moved to sit in his lap wrapping her legs around him and put her hands in his hair to pull him closer to her to kiss. Her lips found his and their tongues met to entwine with each other. They kissed long and hard for what seemed like eternity. Sookie pulled her face away from his to move to his neck, her teeth slowly nipping his skin as she moved around his skin. "Perfect, you are perfect Eric." Finding just the right spot she bit him with everything she had, he tensed up growling from the pleasure it sent through his body. She could feel how much he enjoyed what she was doing to him, it was sticking into her leg underneath her. She giggled and continued licking his blood until the wound closed. "Your blood, I love it Eric. You make feel so good." Her tongue licked the side of his face, his earlobe, his lips. He held her hips and let her touch him. Her hands went back into his hair gently pulling him back to look her in the eyes. "Do you know how sexy you are? You radiate your love for me and it is so sensual it makes me crazy." He smiled at the words, he loved to hear her tell him what he did to her. She nipped his bottom lip looking into his eyes. "Your body is incredible, so hard and cool. I love touching it, Eric." She kissed him lightly. "Your heart and soul are mine Eric, you give it to me with all your heart and I am overwhelmed with it sometimes. You give me yourself everyday and I have no idea what I did to deserve you but I want it all with you, everything, now and forever my love." He closed his eyes at her calling him her love. He reached between them to pull her dress up further and moved his hand to her panties moving them out of the way, her head moved back with a groan. "Oh Eric." She whispered to him. He smiled and moved forward to kiss her neck while his fingers played in her folds, her hands that were wrapped around his neck moved between them to unzip his jeans, she took gracious plenty out of his jeans and slowly stroked it while she continued to touching her. "Love me Eric."

He smiled at her then bent down to kiss her exposed shoulder, licking her then he bit her. She moaned with the feeling of his fangs in her skin, the pull of her blood to his mouth. "I would give you anything lover, all you need to do is ask. Tell me what you want from me and I will give it, freely."

Her eyes moved his. "Just love me sweetie, that is all I want from you. That is all I ever wanted. Feel my love for you, take it." He lifted her up slightly by her hips, setting her on top of his length and she greedily moved down on him, sending his head back groaning from the tightness and wet center on him. "That is my love for you Eric, only for you." Her hips moved slowly almost to stop between thrusts. She threw her magic at him, his eyes flew open. "Do you feel that Eric? That is what I feel like, that is the feeling you give me when you make love to me, that is you inside me." Eric froze, it was incredible, his wife was sending her magic to him to let him experience her pleasure. "Can you feel it sweetie?" He nodded his head as his wife moved on him again. His body now full of his pleasure and hers, it was mind blowing. He panted and tried to shake his head, it was all he could to control it. "That is what you feel like in me Eric, that is what you do to me when you love me. Its incredible isn't it?" He nodded his head, he was speechless. "That is what I feel when we are like this, when you give me children, this is the sensation I feel." She pushed up again and he panted with the thrust, his body was shaking from it. His eyes looking into hers for clarity, he only saw her lust and her pleasure.

"Sookie, how is this? How can you show me this?" His eyes closing as her tightness moved up and down again so slowly and intense.

Her eyes met his and smiled. "You, that is how, only you open these doors for me Eric, haven't you figured that out? You are my key." He shook his head again, unsure what she meant, how could he be her key? She moved her hips up again stopping before coming down again. He gasped. "Feel that sweetie, oh God, it feels amazing doesn't it?" Eric thought he would implode where they sat.

He closed his eyes to concentrate, their bodies were one in that moment. Her magic still swirling around them, her feelings flowing through him, around him, in him. It was the most incredible thing he had ever felt. "I feel you Sookie, I feel everything." His eyes welled, the emotions were almost too much for him.

"No sweetie, concentrate, look at me. Take it, take the feelings, can you feel them?" She looked deep into his eyes to guide him as her slow loving began to build up. Eric's body was still shaking, if he lived another lifetime nothing compared to this moment. "Do you want to feel how I feel when you make me orgasm?" Her eyes were on his and he nodded. "Are you ready Eric? Will you come with me, together?" He nodded again and she thrust on his body again. "Look in my eyes Eric." He did and as their eyes connected he could feel her build, he felt his own release peaked and as his wife moved them up and then back down his body as he shook coming in her moaning her name, she wrapped her hands around his neck leaning to his ear to call to him in his ear, "We are one Eric, yes! Eric! Yes!" His arms were shaking as he moved them from her hips to wrap around her waist for support.

When he could talk he pulled her back to look in her face. "Sookie, what was that?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know Eric. I just did it. Didn't you like it?"

His mouth hung open. "Not like it! Are you kidding me? Sookie if my heart beat it would have exploded. I felt you, all of you, your emotions, the sensation of my body in yours. How the hell did that happen?" She snickered, she loved to work him up to cussing.

"I don't know, really I don't. I just felt like I could do it and I did. If you don't want me to do it again I wont sweetie, it just happened. Being out here with you it felt like something clicked and another door opened for me. I meant it, you are the key to my powers Eric. I know its true." She looked in his eyes to see how he felt.

"I loved it, what you did Sookie. I have never felt anything like that in my life. I just don't understand what you mean about the key. How can I be the key? They are your powers." His hands were still shaking,

"But I feel these things with you and only you. It hard to explain but when I am with you I open up and this is what happens. I want to use my magic, I want to pleasure you in ways I never knew possible and the magic just develops. Pretty cool huh?" She was grinning.

"You can say that again my magical bride. Damn!" He put his forehead against hers and they stayed like that basking in their love. He finally dislodged them and stood to adjust their clothes. "Come my love. Lets get you in the bed. I am afraid if I don't I will be meeting my final death sooner than later." She giggled and let her husband take her to bed where they quickly went to sleep.

Eric got up early, he had a lot of things to do. He left Sookie to sleep, he knew she had a trying couple days so he left her sleeping peacefully in their bed. He checked on the children, played with them for bit then went to the office to get to work. It was noon before he knew it and Sookie still wasn't up. He sent an email then got up to go and check on her. She was exactly where he left her, still sleeping, he walked to the bed and leaned down to kiss her, she was still sound asleep. He smiled and left her again. Eric had a few meetings scheduled early in the evening so he wanted to get in as much time as he could in with his children before he left. He joined Amelia, Lily and the kids for lunch then took Johan out to do some flying. Johan's control was getting better and Eric could leave him to levitate on his own longer each session. They came back into the house and Eric looked around to speak to Lily. "Did Sookie come down yet Lily?" Lily told him no. Eric looked at his phone, it was almost three o'clock now. "Watch the children." She nodded and he set Johan down rushing up the stairs. Sookie was still sleeping. He went to the bed and sat next to her, he put his hand on her face, she was cool to the touch. "Sookie?" He gently shook her to wake her, nothing. "Come on my love, it is getting late. Wake up." Still there was no response. He moved closer to pull her to him. "Lover, wake up." He was firm with her now and shook her a bit harder. She never moved a muscle. Eric tapped her on the face and she continued sleeping. He set her down and rushed to the bathroom to get a cool towel to put on her, wiping her face and neck hoping the temperature would wake her. Reaching in his pocket he pulled out his phone. Dr. Ludwig answered and Eric asked her to come to the house as soon as she could. Eric rushed back down stairs looking for Amelia. "Sookie will not wake up Amelia, keep Johan down here and call Claudine. I need to speak with her. The doctor will be here shortly" Amelia looked panicked, nodded and made the call. Eric rushed back up the stairs to his wife.

He was sitting on the bed when the doctor came in. "What happened Eric?" Eric told her what had transpired through the day and the previous evening. Dr. Ludwig climbed on the bed and told him to move to give her room to check her over. Amelia was standing in the doorway afraid to come in. Claudine appeared behind her. "She has been using her gifts more lately hasn't she?" Eric nodded. "Her magic is the strongest I have ever felt from her."

"Why is she still sleeping? Why will she not wake?" Eric's voice was low and deadly.

The doctor took out her instruments to begin checking her over. After she used them she took her hand and held it over her belly."

"Is she pregnant?" Eric almost whispered the question. He looked to Amelia waiting for the answer and she walked closer to the bed.

The little doctors eyes were closed and her hand hovered over his wife. She opened her eyes shaking her head. "No, she is not pregnant." Eric looked to Amelia again who looked more concerned now. "I think it is her magic, she has tapped into a part of her power she is not used to using and it has drained her literally to exhaustion. I think we need to let her sleep."

"No! You need to wake her. I need to know she is alright." Eric stood up to loom over the doctor.

Claudine spoke to him from the doorway. "Eric, she has been working hard on her magic, plus I can feel she has used powers recently that took a lot of magic to use." Eric whipped his head to look at her. He knew what she was referring to and he didn't like it one bit. "Let her rest. If the doctor thinks she has slept too long then I will call grandfather and have him come to her."

He was pacing, he was livid feeling completely useless. "How do I know this is not some trick or she has not been cursed or worse? I need you to wake her!"

Amelia walked to him. "Eric, she has been working so hard and her body just needs to rest. Remember, she is still part human. I think we all forget that. She just lost a baby, she has been out butt kicking on your behalf, raising your children and working like crazy to strengthen her magic. Give her time to heal." He nodded and gave in.

'Call me immediately if she does not wake in twenty four hours. I will run some tests in the mean time to rule out any issues I may have not been able to pick up here. You will hear from me soon Viking." Dr. Ludwig left leaving Eric alone with the three magical woman.

"I am leaving too Eric. Call me if you need me. I will do anything I can to help her." He nodded and thanked her then she popped.

Amelia walked to the bed and sat next to her friend. "I wish I could figure out why you never get any peace Sook. You work so hard to do the right thing, you love your family and this keeps happening. Why can't the sacrifices you make for this world just be enough." She took her hand and squeezed it. "I am going to go help Lily with the kids." She stood up and stopped in front of him. "She loves you Eric, she will never leave you."

Eric stood alone with his sleeping wife. He mirrored Amelia's thoughts, he went back to the bed to sit next to her taking her hand in his. "I woke this morning thinking about what we did last night lover, you and I shared something incredible. Now, I almost feel guilty for it. If maybe I had stopped you this wouldn't have happened, I should have never brought you into this life. If I had cared about you I would have dropped you off your apartment that night and never contacted you again. If I could turn back time would I do the same, I do not know if I could knowing what I know now."

"Eric?" His head whipped around. Michael was standing behind him. Eric got up quickly.

"What are you doing here Michael?" Eric's anger began to rise.

"Is that what you wish? To free her of this life with you?" The angel who stood before him glowed the beautiful light he saw sometimes from his wife.

Eric shook his head. "What is this? Why would you ask this of me? I love her."

"I feel your pain Eric, she is part of me and she feels it too. Her magic has called to me, I came here because of her beacon, she is between planes of two worlds, the magical world and this one. Yes, she is in a resting place but I can release her if that is what you want. She knows you want to let her go Eric, go back to that night. I can take you both back if you wish. You have to say the words." Michael's wings flicked behind him, his expression never changed.

"I can free her from me? Let her go?" Michael nodded. Eric stood there not knowing what the right decision was. "But we have children, we have a life. Will this all disappear? All of it?" Michael nodded. "What does she want?" He would let her go if that was what she needed. His love for her was endless but he hated seeing her suffer with this life.

"It is not for me to tell you. I am asking you what you want." Michael stood waiting patiently in front of the vampire.

"No! I can not let her go. She is mine, I will meet my final death first. Why would you do this? Why are you here Michael?" His fangs ran down and he began to hiss at him.

"Your faith in your life is wavering. Her magic, your lives, all of it is balanced on your belief of your lives together, she feels that from you. You are her support Eric and without that support she will crumble like she is now." The angels face was determined now.

Eric felt like killing the angel where he stood. How could Michael come to him like this? "No, leave. I will take care of my family. I will never let her go. Never! Now leave!" Michael nodded to Eric and he was gone. Eric rushed to the bed. "Sookie, please, I did not mean what I said. You have to listen to me. I was wrong. Rest and come back to me. I will be here waiting for you lover. He sat on the side of the bed for a long time with her until he felt his sons anxiety and went down to check on him. Johan was sitting on the floor looking sad. Eric walked to him and picked him up to hold him. "Daddy's here my son. Do not worry." Johan put his head in the crease of Eric's neck until he fell asleep. Eric took him upstairs to his bed and laid him down. He walked out of his sons room and he could feel Sookie stir. He ran as fast as he could to the room and her eyes were open and she was pushing herself up. She had slept almost twenty four hours. "Sookie!" He rushed to the bed to sit next to her. She moved away from him.

"You wanted to give let me go. I felt it Eric!" She flashed anger at him.

He was shaking his head no. "That is not true Sookie, I want you to be happy, this life hurts you over and over, I am the cause of it. If you never met me you would be safe and happy."

"So Michael ends up here and tells you that you can let me go and you think about it? I heard your thoughts Eric, I heard what you both said to each other. Sure I wish that our lives were different sometimes but I have never wished you weren't in it. Never! Maybe we should rectify that. If I am sure a burden maybe we should change it." She got up from the bed, she was a little dizzy and he moved to help her and her magic flared to strike, he stepped back.

"You misunderstood what I felt Sookie. I see you laying in that bed again, sleeping like the dead, It is my fault you came into my world to begin with. Why are you so angry with me?" His expression was pained.

She shook her head not caring what his excuse was. Sookie went to the bathroom, turned on the water and got into the shower. Eric stood at the door waiting for her to come out. She glared at him as she got out to get a towel, then wrapped herself moving to the closet to get clothes. She put on a t-shirt and jeans grabbing her tennis shoe and slipping them on her feet. Picking her brush off the table she combed her hair up into a pony tail then moved to the table to get her purse and cell phone.

Eric watched every step she took. "Sookie where are you going?"

"I need some air." She walked past him, his hand reached out to stop her. She looked down on his hand holding onto her arm yanking it away.

She rushed down the stairs, went to find Lily, kissed her kids and left. Eric stood at the top of the stairs unsure what just what to do. Amelia came out of the office. "Eric, was that Sookie I heard?" He nodded and told her what happened. Amelia stood next to him on the top of the stairs.

Sookie didn't want security, Mark argued and she threatened to kill him where he stood if he got near her. "Mark, leave me alone. I need some space right now. I am capable of taking care of myself."

"No! Eric will kill me if I let you leave alone." He stood up to her and she didn't like it. Her magic built and he was shocked. He moved back and she held her hand out for the keys to the car Eric bought her when they first moved in together, a red camero, the same red as Eric's corvette. She laughed at it when Bobby Burnham had delivered it but Eric insisted she take it, he said she needed a car that had a bit of life to it. She got behind the wheel to drive herself, something she hadn't done in almost three years. It felt great she thought. The car headed to downtown, she wanted to see Tara.

She pulled the car to park in front of the store and got out. She hasn't seen Tara in a few weeks and she felt bad about that. Tara had come to the house right after she lost the baby. She missed her friend so much, she walked into the store and Tara looked up to talk to the customer and before she could say anything she screamed and came running to her hugging her. "Sook! Oh I am so glad to see you!" They rocked back and forth hugging before Tara pulled her back to look at her. "What's wrong Sook?" Tara asked one of her employees to keep an eye on things and she took Sookie by the hand to take her to the office. "Ok, spill it."

Sookie began to cry the minute she sat on the couch. Tara brought the tissues and sat down next to her waiting patiently. Sookie told her about her sadness over the baby, the constant issues with super naturals, James, her twenty four hour sleep a thon, her confusion over if she really wanted more kids or not, her love for Eric and what he had told Michael. By the time she got everything out she was cried out. "I just don't know what to do. I love him so much Tara but at every turn something goes wrong. Why can't it just be calm for awhile, things normal."

Tara laughed at her. "Sookie, have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately? I mean really look? You have changed and you are stronger. You're a mother now with magical kids, not just Eric's wife. I have seen you bloody, beaten and hurt more ways then I want to think about. Every time you stand up and reach your hand out to that vampire, he is the one you chose. There was plenty of time for you to turn away and change the course of your life, but you always went straight ahead to him. Why are you so mad at him for only wanting you to be safe?"

"I heard his thoughts, and I just couldn't believe he actually considered letting Michael change our lives. I have given him everything, my heart, my body, my soul, my life and he stood there just thinking about how he felt bad. Maybe I am just overly emotional about it but I am pissed. How could he do that?" Sookie stood up to walk the length of the office.

"You need to work this out. We both know it." Tara stood up to walk to her.

"No! I want to be mad for awhile. I spent the last twenty fours hours sleeping because I wore myself out trying to strengthen my magic to protect the same family he was thinking about letting go of! I should have stayed there and staked him. That would have taught him a lesson." Her face turned beat red from anger.

One of Tara's employees knocked on the door telling Tara they needed her help. "I will be right back, don't go off on a killing spree until I get back." She grinned at Sookie and left, Sookie took a seat back on the couch.

Her phone chimed, it was Eric.

Eric: Please come home

Sookie: No

Eric: Where are you?

Sookie: Give me some time to figure this out Eric ok?

Eric: Sookie, I love you. Come home

Sookie: Later

Eric: Tell me where you are

Sookie: I am at Tara's

She didn't feel like talking to him any more so she put it back in her pocket. She heard it chime a couple more times but she didn't want to look at it. Sookie sat waiting for her friend, she looked up when she heard the door. Tara came back in and shut the door behind her and leaned against it. "Sook, he's here and he looks mad enough to eat nails. What do you want to do?"

She stood up. "Crap! Does he not understand English? I just told him to leave me alone!" Sookie walked to the door and Tara moved out of the way. She was in defensive mode and she wasn't taking his crap today. Marching into the store she gave him a dirty look and pointed outside. "You come to Tara's store to start with me. Outside Viking!" She went around him and opened the door for him to leave out it. Sookie turned her head to Tara. "Thanks Tara, I will call you later." She followed behind her husband. "What do you want Eric? I told you I would be home later."

He whirled around to her his face angry. "I know what you said Sookie. That does not mean that I accept it. I told what happened and you still left. Explain yourself."

"No, I told you I needed some air and I needed a friend. I came to see my friend and you just assume I am going to jump because you show up? I don't think so Eric. Go home." She turned to walk away from him and he grabbed her arm.

"After all we have been through together you treat me this way?" That stung and she almost cried but she pulled her chin up to defend herself.

"Exactly, after everything we have been through. You on the other hand almost decide to let Michael wipe me and your children from your life. What then Eric? Would I move on to marry a human have more children with someone? You keep the children I had with you and you raise them, never to see them or know they exist because you have erased my memory of my kids! Oh, I haven't begun to treat you any way yet mister!" She pulled her arm away from his.

"It wasn't like that Sookie and you know it. You are blowing this out of proportion." He stood with his hands in his pockets. People on the street were looking at them. She started to walk down the front of the property to Fangtasia. She stood with arms crossed over her chest waiting for him to open the door. He came behind her and did.

She stepped into the bar she had been in a thousand times. She had made love to her husband in his office, the bathroom, the booths, the tables but now it felt like she needed to leave it and never return. Her anger was resonating off her.

His voice was calm. "Give me a break alright? I was upset, you keep slipping through my fingers Sookie. I would rather see you alive not knowing me then dead to be with me."

"That's just great, pull a guilt trip on me. I am leaving Eric. Leave me alone." As she turned away to leave she heard his roar of anger. Her body turned back to him and he was in front of her pulling her close. His mouth crushed hers. She tried to push away but she wasn't strong enough, his lips stayed on hers. Finally she was able to push him off of her and when she did she concentrated to build her magic, nothing happened. Her head shook and she tried again, she felt nothing. Eric released her from his grip. She let her shields down to see if she could hear anything, there was not a brain to be found and she knew next door was filled with humans. Sookie closed her eyes to pop and stayed where she stood. "Oh my God, I have lost my powers!"