Spellbound
Thank you so much for making this story one of your favorites. Thanks for the alerts and thank you for the reviews. And as always, the story belongs to me but the characters belong to CH.
Sookie had planned on being strong but when she saw Eric, all of her reserve was gone. When she saw his eyes, she saw all that she needed to see. She wasn't going to hide anything from him. She wasn't going to let this dream control her life or her marriage. The dream was trying to break her if she'd held on to it. The dream was not going to decide their fate or the fate of their unborn child. The dream was not going to destroy them.
What she'd learn on that short trip down the hall is that keeping the dream a secret is what was going to destroy her; her family. When she looked in his eyes, she knew that he is their salvation. With that one look, she knew that she couldn't do it alone. She wouldn't have to do it alone. He loves her. Together, they could stand and fight. Together, they could conquer whatever awaits them.
Sookie released Pam's hand and ran to him. She didn't care that other supes were in the room with them. She didn't care that they were watching her run to him like a little lost lamb. She wanted them to see that she needs him and only him. She didn't care that her cousin had seen the weak side of the princess that is supposed to be the representative of their people. At that very second, that very minute, she didn't care what anyone thought. She needs Eric and she wasn't afraid to show it.
When he saw her, he walked around his desk and walked to her. As soon as he saw her eyes, he could see the pain. He could see the terror that was in them. He saw her coming for him and he walked to her with his arms opened wide. He didn't care that he showed the supes she is his weakness. She needs him and she would have him. She jumped into his waiting arms and wrapped her arms around his neck. He held onto her as tightly as he could. He refused to let her go. She closed her eyes and sighed as she melted into his protective grasp. She let him feel her fear and she let the tears flow.
Eric looked at the supes that were in his office and they knew to leave. They each had a look of concern on their faces but said nothing. They knew that in time, Eric would let them know what they needed to know and what they would have to do. Claudette placed a loving hand on Sookie's back and placed a sweet kiss on her cheek.
"It's all going to be alright," Claudette said. She gave Eric a small smile just before she left the room.
When the office door closed, Eric and Sookie remained in the same position for seconds, minutes, or maybe even hours. It didn't matter to them because they were together. He let her cry. She let herself need him. He let her be vulnerable and weak without making her feel guilty about it. She willingly let him protect her because she knew that no one but Eric would ever be her true protector. This was the first time that the vampire and the fae learned what marriage and love is all about.
After releasing her hold on his neck, Sookie rested her head against Eric's chest. "My dearest love," she whispered.
Eric stroked her head as he calmed her. It pleased him that she was letting him take care of her. She was allowing him to be her husband. He wanted to be her husband. He squeezed her tighter and pulled her closer into his arms. He wanted to take care of her. He wanted to protect her and not because she needed it or wanted it. It was because he wanted to. He surrendered to the vulnerability of being her husband freely.
'This is the reason for my existence,' he thought. 'To love and to take care of her; this is why I am.'
Speaking aloud, he said, "This is our life, Sookie. This is what I want for us. This is the life that we are meant to have. This is us. Forgive me for not realizing it sooner."
She squeezed him tighter.
She is the one. She has always stood with him; never in front of him and never behind him but with him. Even when he mistreated her and neglected her as his wife, she never turned her back on him. She has always been loyal and true. He knew that she would kill to defend him and his. She has always been the one.
Loosening her grip and holding her at arm's length, Eric said. "Listen to me. This is the life that I want. I want you. I want this to work but you have to want it to work. You can't keep feeling guilty for something that's been forgiven. We can do this."
She stared into his eyes as she looked up at him.
"If you truly believe that then you must tell me what's going on with you, Sookie. I've known for quite awhile now. You can tell me, my lover. You can tell me anything. I love you."
"I know that, my dearest love. Even when I doubted it, I knew it to be true. When you didn't know it, I hoped it to be true."
Sookie began to tire and walked to the chair that sat in front of Eric's desk. She could smell that a Were of some sort had occupied the chair. Any other time, Eric would have told her to not sit in the chair that was once occupied by a shifter or a Were. He couldn't stand to have anyone's scent on her but his. She understood that but tonight, he said nothing. He could see the tiredness in her eyes. Once she was seated, her eyes dropped to her hands and she began to cry.
It scared him to see her like this because he didn't know what to do to help her. It made it even harder to watch because he wanted to help her and he couldn't. Eric dropped down to his knees in front of her and took her hands into his. "Tell me, my love. Let me help you. Let me take care of you. I can protect you but I can't do it unless you tell me what's wrong. I can see that something is hurting you. You can't hold onto to the pain, lover. We can get through this."
She cried even harder.
He kneeled in even closer. He lifted her chin so that he could see her eyes. "You do believe in me, don't you? You trust me." It was a question but it wasn't.
She placed her hand on his cheek. "I've never believed in anything more. I trust you with our lives."
Eric relaxed a little more with those words of assurance. "If you know this then you have to tell me what's going on with you. You can't hide things from me. This is our new beginning. We are starting over and we can't …. What do you mean 'our lives'?"
"I'm pregnant." Her voice was weak and quiet. She hated the way she sounded. It was almost appalling and pathetic.
Eric stood up quickly. He was already pale but his skin was even whiter than it was before. Eric sank back onto his heels as he absorbed the words that Sookie had just spoken.
I'm pregnant.
Eric Northman's wife is pregnant. He's a vampire and she's fae; a very powerful fae and she's pregnant. He hadn't been a father in over a thousand years. His sons were long gone. They were six and eight years old when he died. The last time he saw them, Aleph and Anastasius, they were standing on the front porch of their home waving good-bye to him. Their mother, Aude, was standing in the kitchen window. She wasn't waving. She was crying. That was the last image that he has of his human family. Eric dropped to his knees once more.
"Are you sure?" he asked quietly. He used one trembling hand to brush a strand of hair from her face. He kept his eyes glued to hers.
Sookie nodded. "Grandmother called me the morning before she left us … she said that I needed to pay Dr. Ludwig a visit. She said that it was best that I didn't go home to see our doctor. She said that going home wouldn't be in my best interest. I can only assume that she meant the baby's as well."
"Fintan," Eric concluded.
"Yes," she answered. "You would have never seen me again and I wouldn't be pregnant with our child. Grandmother said that I shouldn't see Elvin. That's the name of the fae doctor. He's the equivalent of Dr. Ludwig only better because he specializes in our kind but grandmother didn't trust him." Looking into Eric's eyes, she said, "She didn't trust Fintan in the end. For her to do what she did, she didn't trust me either." She had a sad look on her face when she spoke again. "She knew that I was pregnant, Eric and she still did what she did. She didn't want to be a part of our lives."
"Adele had her reasons and they had nothing to do with you or your cousins. You know that just as well as I do." Eric then unnecessarily cleared his throat. "So you're definitely pregnant?" He stood tall and stared out into space. His arms hung loosely at his side.
Sookie's heart began to beat rapidly as it dropped to her feet. He doesn't believe that the baby is his. How could she blame him? He's a vampire. He doesn't know anything about faery wishes or the gifts that she was born with. He doesn't understand what springtime means to them. Why would he? He never bothered to ask her and she never offered any information. He has every right to believe that the baby isn't his. Vampires are dead. They can only give life by taking life away. He has every reason to wonder. Who's ever heard of a vampire getting anyone pregnant? She sighed and decided to answer his question.
"Yes," she whispered.
"Are you tired?"
She looked at him as if he'd gone human. That was the strangest question for him to ask at a time like this. "No," she said. "I'm a little hungry but I'm not tired."
Eric pulled his cell phone from his jeans pocket and called Pam. "It's 8:00. Have everyone that was here earlier to meet us at Bloody Goodness by 11:00. We need to have a meeting. It's very important and let them all know that regardless of what they're doing, they need to be there. I won't accept any excuses from any of them."
He nodded at whatever it was that Pam said and hung up the phone. He proceeded to make another call.
"Dr. Ludwig," he said in his most cheerful and phony voice. "How are you doing this evening?"
Obviously, Dr. Ludwig said something comical because Eric filled the office with false laughter but laughter just the same.
"We need to make another appointment for Sookie. I was thinking that tomorrow would be as good a time as any." He quickly added, "If you are available that is."
His body was relaxed as he smiled broadly. "Thank you for your congratulations." Eric puffed out his chest. "Yes, I am. I'm very happy."
He began to rock back and forth on his feet and he laughed at whatever Dr. Ludwig said. This time it was a genuine laugh; a beautiful laugh. Looking at Sookie, Eric asked, "Is 7:30 tomorrow evening a good time for you? She can see us at 7:30 but if you have plans with your cousins, I'm sure she can work around that. I know that tomorrow is movie night."
She shook her head no. "7:30 is perfect. It's perfect."
'No questions from him at all. He has no doubts and he doesn't question the pregnancy at all. He knows that the baby is his.'
Eric went back to Dr. Ludwig and said, "7:30 is perfect, she said. We'll probably be there a few minutes early. Oh, and we're not going to be alone. We will have guards with us. Thank you, Megan."
He hung up the phone and stared down at Sookie as she stared up at him. "You're having my baby." Eric then did a very human thing. He did a mini fist pump and said, "Yes!"
She couldn't believe what she was seeing or hearing. He doesn't question whether or not he is the daddy. He didn't question her loyalty or her fidelity. He didn't question her at all. Her heart was no longer drumming rapidly in her chest. Her heart was no longer sitting at the bottom of her feet. It was squarely in her chest and it was filled with love; so much love that it felt like she was about to burst.
Eric suddenly spun around and said, "Tonight, we have to plan out the protection for our child and for you. We can't have you running around town alone and without your guards. You can't be popping from state to state without the proper precautions." Sookie opened her mouth to say something but he stopped her. "No arguing where this is concerned, Sookie. There will be no compromises. You will have guards at all time. You will not leave this compound without protection. Am I understood?"
Smiling, Sookie said, "Yes sir." She saluted him and giggled.
He had a serious look on his face. "This is not a joke Sookie. Do you know what this child means?"
"Yes," she said stiffly. She didn't want him to see their child as everyone else was going to see it. Their baby isn't supposed to change the fate of the supe world; not in their eyes. It's supposed to be a baby; their baby.
Eric looked down at Sookie as she remained seated in her chair. "I can see that you don't. This child means everything. He or she is a symbol of our love and I will do everything in my power to protect our baby. So I ask you, do you truly understand what this child means to us? Are you willing to do whatever it takes; no matter how uncomfortable it makes you? Are you willing to follow the rules?"
Sookie was speechless. She could only nod. She almost laughed at herself. Leave it to her to make things harder than they really are. She only needed to count on Eric to see things for what they are. No matter how weak she felt tonight or any other night she knew that he would be strong enough for all three of them. She placed her hands over her mouth and began to giggle.
"Count on me, lover," he said. "I've got you."
"I do love you," she said.
Eric lifted Sookie up from the chair and held her in his arms. Twirling her around the room and smiling as she giggled, he said over and over again, "You're having my baby."
She wrapped her arms around him and giggled even louder. Sookie knew that Eric would make everything better. He always made everything so much better.
He finally put her down and the lovers danced to the sounds of their happiness. She wasn't going to keep anything from him. She was going to tell him everything because she knew that he would protect her and their baby. They would be forever safe with him. The dream was nothing more than a dream and after she tells Eric about it, she would know for sure that it was just a dream.
"Whatever the future holds, we can make it." She bit into her bottom lip and said, "We can make it."
"I promise," he said.
The lovers kissed and hugged each other. They danced and celebrated their love and the life that their love had made. Sadly, the lovers didn't know that they were being watched.