Thanks for the reviews all. So sorry for the delay….life just is so distracting sometimes. LOL. Anyway…I have decided to also put the story on livejournal. I am going to begin adding chapters as I can. I have only a few up now but I wanted to get the info to you all so you know…JUST IN CASE. Please note I will continue to update here on fanfiction for as long as they will allow me to, which I hope is forever but if not I have also backed up and started the livejournal account. You can find the story at the following:

Enjoy….and please review. I find your input so inspiring and helpful

Chapter 89

"How long have they been out there?" Mark asked Lily as he walked into the living room behind her.

Lily shook her head from side to side. "Awhile." Turning her head she looked at the man she loved with concern on her face. "I don't like it when they look that way." She met Mark's gaze, looking deeply into his beautiful green eyes.

Nodding his head he too was concerned since the conversation he had had with Eric the previous night. He moved closer to Lily and turned her around completely to look at her fully. "We have it under control. I promise." Mark's arms wrapped around Lily pulling her closer to him and Lily folded into his embrace. His eyes glanced over Lily's head to where Eric and Sookie sat in the backyard talking intensely.

Pulling back Lily tried to smile at Mark with little luck. She was more than worried and scared beyond words. Yet she had to trust him and take him at his word. "I know you are all capable of handling this situation Mark, it's just so frightening. Can't they handle this without you?" Lily's eyes welled up with tears.

Mark's hand went up to catch the tear beading down her face with his finger. "Don't do this to yourself Lily. I will be fine. We will all be fine." He grinned at her. "Besides the team of players Eric has assembled for this is major. Everyone will be fine." Mark knew he was trying to convince both of then this would go well and he hoped all parties that mattered to him would make it through it. He leaned down to kiss her tenderly on her lips. "You can't get rid of me that easily."

Yanking back away from him she wanted to clobber him. "I don't want to get rid of you!" Her eyes flashed angry and she was just about to give him a piece of her mind she turned to see Alcide walk in and dead stop at the doorway. Letting out a sigh of defeat Lily moved around Mark and quickly exited the room with her head down.

"Sorry Mark, I didn't realize you two were arguing." Alcide frowned.

Shaking his head no he turned to look at Alcide. "We weren't arguing. She is just upset about this situation." Mark ran his hands through his hair frustrated. "How the fuck can you justify this to the ones you love, you know? Just tell them to not worry and that nothing is going to happen." Mark's eyes flashed fire and his face turned stoic, his voice raising. "How can we do this to the ones we love over and over?"

Alcide looked to Mark and understood the agony his fellow comrade was feeling. He knew that Mark needed to figure it out on his own but he would try to give him some words for thought. "What we are doing is important Mark. It seems like a bunch of bullshit sometimes, I get that feeling too. We fight for the vamps or some other supe group to keep things right, to keep the balance. If we don't then we won't have moments like that." Alcide nodded toward the window where Eric and Sookie still sat oblivious to the men standing in their living room.

Taking a deep breath Mark knew Alcide was right but it didn't make it feel right at the moment. "It just pisses me off sometimes. I want Lily to be happy but instead she is standing here crying because she is scared." Mark looked Alcide dead in the eyes. "I hope I get the chance to wrap my hands around that little asshole's neck."

Chuckling Alcide nodded. "You got to beat me to it there buddy. I have had it up to my eyeballs with this shit." Alcide moved closer to Mark and slapped him on the shoulder. "When this is done I hear you are taking a little time off."

Mark growled. "Is nothing secret around here?

The door opened and Eric stepped through, Sookie still sat in the chair outside. "No, that's what being part of a family is all about, sharing each others secrets." Eric smirked.

Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath Mark tried to keep his composure. "If Lily finds out Eric she won't go." He opened his eyes and looked at Eric seriously.

"Oh, there is no way that little lady isn't going to take the time off Mark. Sookie is pretty persuasive when she wants to be." Alcide's grin just got bigger as he looked between the other two men.

"Yeah, yeah." Mark was tired of talking about it any longer. "I am heading out to check a breach in the fence on the back side of the property. There looks like someone might have been in the stalls too."

Eric didn't like the sound of that one bit. "Are the horses alright?"

Mark nodded. "Doesn't seem to be any damage but I am going to take a few of the scouts with me. I will let you know what we find." Eric thanked him and Mark walked out of the room.

"Did I miss something?" Eric asked Alcide concerned.

"Lily is worrying and Mark is feeling guilty." Alcide grinned. "I think we have all been there a time or two."

Eric shook his head. "I know I have." He moved to sit on the couch. "I had to have a catch up conversation with Sookie and as you can see she is still outside." Eric hated upsetting his wife but he promised he wouldn't keep secrets from her and she deserved to know the severity of the situation.

"Well, if it makes you feel any better we are a go for tonight. Everyone you asked for will be there." Alcide's expression was dead serious.

"Perfect, then we can take care of this immediately." Eric stood up off the couch. "Let's get to work now because we have a lot to do." Eric walked to Alcide and looked him in the eyes, Alcide nodded and both men headed out to get what needed to be done handled so they too could all return home to the ones they loved.