Chapter 84

Ok! I am writing as fast as I can and I promise to catch up on the story. Sorry, I feel a bit like Sookie, so much in my own life has changed but I am finally in a good place and able to do a little creative writing. I hope you all enjoy the continuing story of these two creatures and their adventures!

Please note: Adult content!

The sun felt so good on her skin she was beyond delighted. Sookie sat in the lounge chair in the back yard oblivious of the occasional worker or guard strolling in and about. This was the first time in weeks she had had a chance to sit, relax and enjoy a little time to herself. When they had returned from the doctor's office she decided to put on a summery spaghetti strapped halter top, maternity style of course, a pair of short that were getting a bit too snug but she was determined to wear them to the end of this pregnancy even if it killed her. She had grabbed the book off the night stand she had bought a week before while they were in Las Vegas but hadn't yet had a second to read and off to the back yard she ended up. The birds were chirping, the wind was slightly blowing on her lightly tanned skin and she had abandoned the reading option to just lying in the chair relaxing. "Finally taking a break, are you?" Mark's disapproval of Sookie's busy life was very apparent in his tone.

Sookie opened one eye to stare at her dear friend and smiled slightly. "Yep, so why are you are out her bugging me? I thought you all went to the park?" She closed her eyes and went back to relaxing mode.

Mark moved closer to her and sat down next to her in the chair. "That was four hours ago Sookie. Have you been out here all this time?" Mark looked her up and down noticing her skin seemed to glisten more every day.

Sookie sat up. "Four hours? Are you kidding me? I have been out here all that time?" She was shocked that all that time had passed her by.

Mark laughed. "I think you should sit out here another four." He stood up and looked around. "The suns about to go down and there is nothing you need to rushing off to in the next couple days. Take it easy Sookie. Soon that baby will be here and you won't have five minutes alone again for quite sometime." This man Sookie had entrusted her life and those she loved since meeting Eric stood looking at her with concern in his eyes. Sookie felt a ping of regret for putting that look in his face.

"Ok, ok. You are right Mark but I have responsibilities, just like you or Eric does." Sookie lay back on the chair again and rubbed her belly. "Plus the kids….."

Mark waved his hand at her. "You need to do like Eric suggests. Let the staff do their jobs. You need to also take his advice, hire extra help. You are going to need it when this baby comes and who knows when the two of you will get pregnant again." That part didn't seem to sit well with him but Sookie ignored him.

"You think I should hire more help?" Sookie looked at him like he had just grown two heads. "Really?"

He nodded. "Sookie, seriously. You and Eric are a unique situation. Does this lifestyle exist for any other couple? I highly doubt it but you and Eric want a family yet you also have responsibilities to the supernatural community. You chose to do it, now you need to do what is best for everyone. You aren't a bad mother because you have help to give those kids the best life they could have. They are a handful with all that magic stuff they do." Mark looked around the backyard like something was about to jump out at them.

Sookie looked at her friend, nodded at him and spoke softly to him. "Thank you Mark." If there was anyone on this planet she trusted this man he definitely was on the top of the list. "Will you help me? Find someone I mean?" She would use that trust to find the best candidate.

He smiled at her then agreed. Mark's face changed, it was a bit of humor and relief all mixed up into one. "Good, that way my future wife can take some time off for a honeymoon." He started to walk away.

Sookie almost rocketed out of the chair to reach him before he could walk away. "What did you just say?"

Laughing at the expression Sookie had on her face Mark grinned and took Sookie gently by the hand. "I want to marry her Sookie. I know she wants to stay working here and I have no intensions of leaving, I enjoy this job and what I do here is important." Mark paused a moment then looked at her so seriously. "But I want my own family Sookie. Are you ok with that?" He was asking her as a friend, not as her employee or protector.

Sookie's eyes welled up with tears as she squeezed his hand and pulled him in for a hug. "Oh, I am gonna cry!" She was sniffling and tears falling quickly. "Am I ok with it? You go on and make those arrangements. We will hire a hundred people if that will help just promise you wont run off and elope." Sookie pulled back and looked at him dead in the eye, tears still falling. "Promise me Mark."

Smiling Mark pulled her in for a hug this time, his voice full of emotion. "I promise Sookie. I want to see Lily walk down the isle in some over priced dressed that couldn't possibly make her look any more beautiful than I already think she is."

"Unless you are giving my bonded some form of CPR then I suggest you explain yourselves." Eric had felt Sookie's emotions spike and even though he wasn't overly concerned because he could feel the happiness he decided to come and investigate. He was leisurely leaned against the door jam of the sliding door, smirking at the two embraced on the back lawn.

Sookie pulled away from Mark and looked at him questionably for permission to tell the man she loved most in the world. Mark smiled and Sookie broke the embrace and raced to him. She grabbed Eric by the hand and pulled him into the back yard then began to cry again barely able to say the words. "Mark…Lily….honeymoon."

Those were the only three words Eric got but he understood her completely. He looked at Sookie seriously then lifted her hands to his chest to hold them to his body. Eric spoke very calmly and with much love in his voice. "My darling, please calm down. It is not good for you to be upset, remember the baby." Eric smiled slightly and Sookie's head bobbed up and down to acknowledge Eric's wisdom. Eric turned to look at Mark. "You are finally going to make an honest woman of that creature that puts up with you and your sourness?" Eric grinned brightly at Mark. Mark grinned back and nodded. "Good."

Mark turned to walk away, he knew that these two creatures he had come to love as family would be there no matter what and he knew Sookie would be very involved in the wedding plans and that would make him happy because Lily would be thrilled and that made him happy. "Oh, by the way, when you have some time you and I need to meet about hiring some new staff to help Sookie with the babies. I have a few suggestions on potentials if you're ok with it Eric." Mark stood still for a moment, turned to look at Eric who grinned down at his wife then nodded to Mark who then quickly left the back yard.

"You are going to hire more help with my children?" Eric was shocked.

Sookie leaned into her husband's broad and muscular chest then turned her face to nestle against him. "Yes, Mark is right. I don't know why I am so stubborn about all this. I just am. I suppose I think I can do it all. Its just a hard habit to break" She sighed against him and let his strong arms wrap her into him tighter.

"My beautiful bride, you can do anything you wish to do. But I will say I am thrilled you will get more assistance with the children. Our responsibilities have seemed to become more and more involved as time goes by." Eric eyes scanned the back yard as he held onto Sookie tightly. It seemed there was no moment in time to let his guard down any more.

Sookie giggled. "This is what I get for marrying you. I thought I was marrying a sex God, we'd be in bed all day making love and running Fangtasia. Instead we are raising a family, running a country and living this incredible life together." She smiled into his chest. "I wouldn't change not one second of it. Would you?"

Eric used his best Louisiana accent he could muster. "Nope, not one thing." That sent Sookie into a hysterics which didn't last too long. Alcide stepped into the backyard.

"Sorry to disturb you both. Eric, I need to see you. It's urgent." Alcide looked deadly and his tone was even more lethal.

Eric kissed the top of Sookie's head and whispered something into her ear and left her standing in the back yard alone. Her hands went to her belly, the most amazing sensation went through her body and it was of great love and pride. It was from her newest son, he was feeling those feelings for his father. Their newest son would be here soon and she would get to meet the little boy that has given her the most amazing pregnancy. She giggled. "Baby, I feel the same way about your daddy. Wait to you get to meet him, he is going to love you so much." Sookie already loved this little boy just as she did her other children but this little boy was something very special and something different about him. He kicked her side softly and Sookie laughed to herself. "Soon baby, we will meet you very soon huh?" Rubbing her belly she walked into the house to find her family.