When Eric said he's thinking of arranging a play date, he meant he was thinking of arranging a get together between Sookie and other pregnant women, and some women who already had children, to help her know what to expect and give her advice.

Secondly: Eric does not want Sookie to return to her time, but he's thinking about her safety for when the weather is really cold. Even though they have furs and stuff to protect from the cold, he's worried that she'll catch a cold and get sick.

Disclaimer Sookie Stackhouse - Southern Vampire Mysteries belong to Charlaine Harris.

Chapter 26

Eric's Point of View

As I rose, so did Christian and Isabelle, along with Sookie, whom I had taken my eyes off of for all of two seconds and she was already back in my line of vision.

"Shit, stupid woman." I whispered. Watching with blank horror as my future Queen, almost four months into her pregnancy with my child, headed into the the sea of guards. She elbowed them out the way and the wimps my guards are turning out to be hissed and cursed in pain as they where met with Sookie's elbows, fists or shoes.

I watched as Sookie released the woman from the two guards' hold without much hassle, and as the two woman's embarrassment. I shared a look with Christian, who looked as stunned as I felt. I'd had enough, and walked down to retrieve my soon to be wife.

I walked down, knowing that all eyes were darting between me and the two women that appeared to be embracing and in tears. Their legs looked close to collapsing on the hard wooden floor, and I wasn't going to let Sookie fall, even if we are just creeping out of the danger zone of the pregnancy.

"EVERYONE OUT!" I ordered, remembering we where in a crowded room. All of a sudden, there were the loud noises of the long benches scraping along the floor, being moved backwards as people made their way out of the hall. I made my way over to the two leaking women, who seemed oblivious to what was going on around them.

As soon as he got close to them he wrapped an arm around Sookie's waist, which was a bit of a chore, as the two women seemed to be attached to each other. It was almost like Sookie was afraid to let go of the woman he thought he heard her call Claudine.

"Sookie..." Eric whispered in her ear warningly.

"Eric." Sookie said sounding surprised yet annoyed and as if she'd almost as if she'd forgotten he was there. Eric wrapped his other arm around Sookie's waist in a possessive, protective way. Eric heaved a squealing Sookie — who was surprised by being suddenly lifted up and placed behind him, his body shielding hers protectively — as he spied the woman. He soon regretted his actions with Sookie. Never mess with a pregnant woman.

"ERIC NORTHMAN!" Sookie snapped in an angry tone that caused him to blanch and shrink slightly. Her voice bounced off of the walls as the last of his court people closed the door behind them. Eric nodded at the guards to leave, giving them a glare. They scurried out too, well aware that he didn't want an audience for when he got in trouble with his woman, which was clearly about to happen.

"S-" He was cut of.

"Don't you Sookie me mister." She said, rounding on him, prodding her finger into his chest.

"B-" She glared at him, hands on hip. She looked scarier than his and Christian's mother used to look when she was scolding them.

"Claudine is no threat Eric. She's my cousin. Niall must have sent her, am I right Claudine?" She said, turning her head back to face her so called cousin.

"Yes." She said, suspiciously glancing at his brother and Isabelle.

"Grandfather did send me help you with your current situation. I've had the privilege to be given precious information." Sookie turned her head back to him and she had a smug, triumphant look on her face and said, well yeah.

"Seeeeee? I told you Claudine is my cousin." Christian laughed, a full belly laugh.

"Oh brother, you do have your hands full for these next few months." He choked out. Eric turned a glare on his brother.

"Don't you have anything better to do while I escort the Princesses here to my working office, so we can TALK in private."

"Working office?" Sookie asked, looking at him confused. Christian opened his big mouth again, causing all woman present to blush.

"Oh, is that the one place you two haven't had christened yet?" Eric glared at his brother.

"Christian." He said in a warning tone, though he did add a smirk, making it evident that he wasn't really mad.

"It's not my fault you're not receiving any pleasure, dear brother. There's no need for you to bring the mother of my child into your privy chamber issues." He smirked, when Christian stopped laughing and shot him a glare.

"ERIC!" Sookie yelled at him again. He glanced at her, and she was beet red. Isabelle looked like she would rather be anywhere but there, and was sporting a similar color to Sookie, he glanced at the new woman Claudine and noticed, she just looked upon them with amusement.

"Well, I think I'm going to like it around here if this is going to be constant entertainment," she said.

"That was unfair and not funny brother." Christian said, unamused.

"Well, now you know how myself and Sookie feel. Unless you want to push her emotions further." He said carefully, glancing at Claudine, wondering if Niall had told her their news.

"I know," she said quietly. Sookie turned her head in her cousins direction.

"What else has grandfather said." He watched Claudine's expression change into one of business and professional interest.

"Perhaps we should go to your Vikings working office and speak in private sooner rather than later." Eric noticed she wasn't playing around any more.

"What about I? I have met your grandfather myself." Christian said, stepping forwards. Claudine shook her head and regarded him briefly, before meeting his gaze.

"No. This is for your brother and Sookie's ears only."

"A message from the Prince?" Eric asked. "Why d-" He was cut of by Sookie elbowing him in the stomach.

"Let's just go Eric." Sookie said, then added. "I'm tired and hungry." All eyes where on her.

"You just had breakfast lover." Eric said gazing at her, moving his hands to her hips and pulling her in closer to him.

"And you ate twice as much as the rest of us." Christian added, amused by the amount she had eaten. Sookie glared at him.

"You try eating for two."

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