Chapter 94

Thanks everyone for your input and reviews on the last few chapters. I am sorry I threw Mark under the bus but that's what I do! LOL

Please let me know what you think!

WARNING: Adult content!

Lily's eyes flew open, her hand reaching over to the spot where Mark always slept but it was empty and cold. Her heart skipped a few beats as she sat up and closed her eyes. For a moment she thought this was all a nightmare but reality set in quickly, yes it really was a horrible reality. Opening her eyes she moved off the bed to go to the kitchen. Her stomach was doing flip flops but she knew Mark would be really angry at her for not telling him about the baby and furious if he knew she harmed her or the baby not taking care of herself. She opened the fridge only to stare at it. In that moment there was a soft knock on the door. Closing the refrigerator she walked to the door and opened it. Eric stood with a tray in his hands, his handsome face looked strained. "Eric, hi." She was really surprised to see him and she glanced over his shoulder, the sun was beginning to come up.

"Did you sleep?" Eric asked genuinely concerned. She nodded her head yes and he smiled slightly. "Good. Do you mind if I come in?" Lily turned red with embarrassment for her rudeness and quickly moved to open the door to allow Eric in. "I brought you some food. If I understand the female species at all I do know one thing and that is when they are stressed or upset they tend to forget to eat."

Lily quickly walked to the kitchen followed by Eric. She turned to watch him set the huge tray down on the counter. "Thank you so much for bringing it by. I will eat something I promise." She tried but failed miserably to smile at the intimidating vampire.

"When you are ready to go to the hospital you call the main house, I want you to take the guards. I also do not want you to leave the grounds without protection." Eric looked at her very seriously. Lily was astounded and took a deep breath at Eric's direction not knowing what he meant. Sensing her concern Eric reached to touch her shoulder. "Lily, someone intentionally hurt Mark and until I know who and why I cannot let you without guards protection. Do you understand?" He leaned down slightly to look her deep in the eyes to emphasize his point. Her eyes moved around the room as she took in what Eric was trying to say to her. Eric waited patiently as she tried to take it all in. "Do you understand Lily?"

Lily placed her hand over her mouth for a moment then removed it, looked at him intently only to whisper. "You think someone might hurt me too?"

"I do not know what we are dealing with and until I have apprehended who is responsible for this I am not taking any chances. Do you agree with this arrangement?" Eric asked.

Lily nodded her head. "Of course, I will do whatever you suggest. I appreciate you looking out for me." Tears came to her eyes because she realized Mark wasn't there to be the one to protect her.

"I know what you are going through Lily, you know that I do. I want you to know you are family and no matter the outcome of this you are part of the family. I take my responsibility of my family seriously as I am sure you are well aware of." Eric moved to the refrigerator and took out the gallon of milk and opened a few cupboards until he found the glasses, poured a glass and pointed to the table then grabbed a plate. "It is time for you to eat." He picked the tray up and walked behind Lily as she walked to the table. "The guards will be ready to go within 30 minutes to take you to the hospital."

Nodding she reached over to the tray to uncover it to find it full of fruit, pastries, muffins and bagels. "Thank you." She pulled her choices off the tray and placed them on her plate then picked up the glass to take a big drink to pacify Eric. "I am eating, see." She smiled at him because his kindness warmed her aching heart.

He smiled back at her. "I have some things to attend to this morning but I will be on my cell and you can call me if there is any change in his condition or you need me." He stood behind her for a moment then leaned down to kiss the top of her head then he was gone, the door barely making a sound.

Lily sat in her seat for a moment and realized in that moment how much the Northman's had really had become part of her and Mark's family too. Tears filled her eyes once again but she quickly wiped them away so that she could eat and get ready to go to the hospital. After she ate she put the dishes in the sink and took a fast shower, changed and dialed the main house. Gary answered. "Gary, its Lily. Can someone come and get me to take me to the hospital?" Gary told her someone would be there in 5 minutes to get her and she quickly grabbed her cell phone, purse and as she put on her sweater she heard the car pull up. She opened the door, walked to the waiting car and got in to head to the hospital.

The car stopped at the main door and Trey opened her door then followed her inside. The nurse at the desk looked up as she walked up. Before the nurse could address Lily the doctor appeared. "Good morning Lily, come on back." The doctor instructed Lily to follow her and Lily did as she was told. She walked into a different room then the previous night, it was light and much quieter. Lily instantly saw the man she loved; he was pale and completely still. The doctor smiled softly and grabbed Lily's hand. "His vitals are much improved and his internal bleeding is under control." The tiny doctor looked to her patient. "He was awake about an hour ago."

Lily gasped. "Really?"

The doctor nodded. "I don't want you to wear him out. No stress Lily, none do you understand?" Lily nodded and the doctor continued. "You will need to wait to give him the good news after we get him stable and on his feet. He is a very sick man and he needs to recuperate."

Lily smiled and leaned down to hug the doctor. "Thank you so much." She stood up and smiled. "We all thank you."

"Ten minutes. Then I want you to go home and rest as well." She turned and winked. "Doctors orders." The tiny doctor was gone in a flash.

Lily rushed to Mark's bed and she didn't want to touch him. He looked so frail and pale she thought. She almost jumped as Mark's hand reached for hers. "Hey babe." His eyes didn't open and his voice was really hoarse.

Lily's eyes filled with happy tears. "Back at you." She turned to grab the chair that was next to the bed and pulled it so it was right next to the bed.

Slowly Mark's green eyes opened. "You ok?"

Laughing through the tears Lily leaned over and kissed him lightly on the lips. "Am I ok? Shouldn't I be asking you that question?"

"I must look like shit." His voice seemed to be getting worse.

She reached over and swept his hair off his forehead. "Yep, but I will take you anyway I can get you."

He coughed slightly and gripped his side as he winced. "Damn that hurts."

Lily was concerned now. "You need to rest Mark. The doctor said you have a lot of healing to do. Please." Her voice was desperate as she looked him up and down.

"I have been through worse." His eyes clenched shut and the pain was evident because his face went from pale to an ashy green. Lily quickly released him and got out of her seat to quickly head into the hall. She stopped the first person she saw and asked them to send in the doctor immediately. As she returned she found the doctor alread at his bedside and he was arguing. "I am fine." His voice was almost non existent as he struggled to get the words out.

"Mark, I am not going to tell you again. You are the patient and I am the doctor. Remember?" Her sarcasm was flowing fast as she used a syringe to put something in one of the several IV lines he had in his arm. "This is going to knock you out. Say goodbye to your fiancé." The doctor turned and looked at Lily. "I need him to sleep. It helps the healing. Kiss him goodbye and go home. Come by after dinner, he should be awake then." Again the doctor was gone.

Lily did as she was told, kissed Mark carefully on the lips and watched him as he slipped into a deep, drug induced sleep. She waited until she was assured he was sleeping peacefully then headed back to the lobby where Trey waited for her. He helped her back into the car and they took the short drive home. "Drop me off at the main house please." They did as they were instructed and when she was safely inside the guards disappeared and Lily went in search for Sookie. She was at the dining room table with the kids who were talking lively about all kinds of things as they ate. "Hey guys."

All the kids and Sookie looked up to see her all giving her greetings all at once. Sookie stood and grabbed Lily by the arm to take her into the kitchen. She went directly to the situation at hand. "How is he?" Sookie's eyes searched Lily's.

Smiling Lily nodded. "He is awake, really weak but awake." Sookie squealed and hugged Lily. She updated Sookie and Sookie was quickly texting everyone as Lily spoke.

After hugging again they walked back into the dining room. Enar looked at Lily seriously. "Mark is better now." He wasn't asking her, he was telling her. The child went back to his food on his plate popping a grape in his mouth.

Lily cocked her head. "Yes, he is."

Enar who rarely smiled had a slight smirk on his face as he continued to eat. "Good."

Sookie looked at her son. "Enar, how do you know about Mark?"

Johan rolled his eyes at his mother. "Really mom?" Johan was growing up so fast.

Sookie looked at Johan for a moment then decided to ignore his sarcasm and find out more. "Enar, did you see who did this to Mark? Or do any of you know what happened?" Sookie looked at her gifted children.

Erika looked at her mother. "There was a vampire." Erika looked almost scared.

"Can you describe her to me?" Sookie said to her only daughter.

"Better than that, will you show daddy?" Eric asked from behind the group. Sookie and Lily turned to look at him and the children all said hello. Erika nodded her head to her father and he walked to her seat, picked her up to plant a kiss on her forehead. "Please show daddy what you and your brothers saw." He watched as his daughter placed her hand on his face then closing her eyes she sent the visions to her father. The visions came fast and vivid, almost as if he was there when the events occurred. When Erika pulled her hand away Eric had seen all he needed. "Thank you Princess, daddy appreciates it." He sat the little girl back in her chair. "And I believe we all have Enar to thank for keeping Mark with us." Eric moved to Enar's chair, squeezed his sons shoulder and kissed the top of his head. Enar smirked again.

Lily broke out into tears realizing this family had had a hand in saving Mark. "Thank you, all of you. If you don't mind I am going to lay down now." She said her goodbye quickly and left the Northman's alone.

Sookie went to her husband and looked up at him. "Eric?"

"I will handle it Sookie." He squeezed her hand and turned as if he was leaving, Sookie held tightly to stop him. "We will have quite a lot of fall out from this but it must be dealt with."

"Aren't you going to tell me?" Sookie's face was void of emotion.

He nodded as his fangs rang down. "Isabella."