Spellbound

I apologize for the delay in writing my stories but I have been in mourning. I'm doing a lot better now and I just needed a little time to clear my head. I promise. I will do my best to make up for my absence and I thank you all for sticking around and not deleting me. Thank you.

The main characters belong to Charlaine Harris but the story idea belongs to me.

Sal watched the lovers enviously. The longing stares that Eric and Sookie shared with each other; their need to be close to one another, their obvious undying love. It was hard for him to believe that only a few short weeks ago, Eric almost lost it all. It amazed him that Eric was willing to let the nature of his kind destroy the very foundation of all existence; love. Vampiric pride is an awful thing. Thank the gods that he's decided to let it go. Thank the gods he's decided that love is more important than how others see him. If Eric had not seen the error of his ways, then his brother, his son, his friend would've lost everything that matters.

Sal placed his hand on Eric's shoulder and asked, "Isn't it marvelous? Love, I mean. Isn't it marvelous? It is a wondrous thing."

Keeping his eyes trained on Sookie, Eric nodded as he answered. "It's our greatest gift. I'm sorry that it took so long for me to realize it. I understand now why you longed for companionship and love as you did. For centuries, we've walked this world alone and lonely and when we get that first taste of love, there's no way that we can go back to where we were before. I couldn't live as I did before. I wouldn't survive it."

Eric closed his eyes as he heard the hateful words of 'I'm leaving you' replaying over and over again in his mind. He'd almost lost it all.

Sal sighed unnecessarily and patted Eric on his shoulder as he returned to the banquette. "So you understand why I couldn't let her go?"

Eric glanced over his shoulder at his friend but said nothing. He couldn't say that he understood because he did not. Freyda is nothing like Sookie. Freyda is a treacherous dog. She is selfish and self-serving. She didn't know what love was when she was alive and it eludes her even now in death. Eric returned his attentions back to Sookie and watched her as she laughed with Chow and Selene. She exudes love and caring. She opens her heart and mind to any and everyone. She is life. She is love.

"I'm sorry but I do not understand." Eric tore his eyes from Sookie and walked over to join his friend. "For so long, I've pitied you. Her heart has always been black. Her eyes have always been soulless. There has never been a sign of love or giving in them. I've tried to understand your need for her but understanding has eluded me."

"There was a time when I needed her more than I needed the blood." Sal stared at Eric for a quick second and he was going to explain it to him. He was going to tell Eric why he needed Freyda, why he wanted her but he chose not to. Some things are better left unsaid.

"It doesn't matter anymore. The night of the Black and White Ball, I'd decided that I was no longer going to protect her. That was what I wanted to tell you. I can't support her anymore. We can't support her anymore. This is the dawn of a new day for us. Our lives are changing and the changes don't include her. When she called me to tell me that you've deserted her, I told her that you were doing the right thing and I would be following suit."

Eric rested his elbows on his knees and chuckled. "I gather she did not take it well."

Sal did not join his friend in the laughter because he knew that what he was going to say next was not going to be very funny at all. "She did not. She screamed in German and threatened each of us … including your wife. She's determined to get to her, Eric. And dear brother, she's not going to go away quietly. And we both know that she has never been too keen on the as 'your maker, I command you' rhetoric. She has never cared about the punishment either."

Eric was soon standing tall and his fangs slowly descended. His deep and guttural growl filled the silent VIP room. Before he could respond to Sal's comment, the door to VIP room swung open. There stood Sookie, Claudette, and her vampire guards. Their friends were standing behind them. Sookie was the only one that wasn't smiling when she entered the room. She rushed over to Eric and stared up into his eyes. She saw anger and death.

Careful not to read him, she placed her hand on Eric's face. "What's wrong, my dearest love? What has happened?" She looked from Eric to the now standing Sal and back to her husband again.

"Don't lie to her either, Eric. We'll know if you do," Claudette said as she stood tall and proud behind Sookie. "You can tell us all the truth. You're secretly a Were and you wear sequined dresses to bed."

Pam and Amanda were the first ones to laugh. The look that they received from Eric ended the laughter rather quickly.

Sookie looked over her shoulder and said, "Shut-up, Claudette. Ya'll go and mingle. Let me talk with Eric."

"She's so not fun anymore," Claudette said as she rolled her eyes.

Sookie ignored her cousin's comment and kept her focus on Eric. She stepped closer into his body and asked, "Are you okay?"

He wanted to tell her about Freyda but he could see that the human she'd read earlier tonight had drained what little energy Sookie had left so he did what he had to do. He told her nothing of Sal's revelation. If her powers and senses are off, there is no need in worrying her anymore than he had to. He'd decided that he'd tell her when the timing was better.

Taking her hand into his and kissing the palm, he looked at her and said, "It's nothing that you should concern yourself with. I'll take care of it. Things will be fine."

Sookie didn't believe him. She could've read his mind. She could've forced her will on him but she didn't. She wasn't at all sure that she wanted to know; not now, not yet. She was going to take him at his word and trust him. She knows that no matter what it is, he will keep her safe. He is going to protect her and their child. There was nothing that she had to worry over. They are all going to be fine.

"Do you trust me?"

"With our lives," she said with her hand on her stomach.

He placed his hand on her face and she leaned into his touch. She closed her eyes and basked in his love.

"We will keep you and the baby safe, little one," Sal interjected. "You have nothing to fear."

"The baby?" Pam asked as she blurred to Eric and Sookie's side. "Who's having a baby?"

Eric and Sookie looked at each other before saying anything. Eric gave Sookie the go ahead nod. She smiled at him before speaking. She smiled and raised her hand. "We are."

Sookie looked around the room at their friends. Mumbles were heard throughout. Smiles were on everyone's faces. Amanda clapped her hands to her mouth. Luna jumped up and down. Quinn had the look of a proud father. Claudette was beaming from ear to ear. And not one person thought that the baby wasn't Eric's. Her heart filled with love for the group that had taken her into their hearts only days ago. She felt at home.

With Sookie's hand in his, Eric proudly made his announcement. "We are having a baby. We didn't expect Pam to make the announcement but since she has, we'll confirm it. We wanted to share this moment with you all because you are our nearest and dearest and we trust that you all will keep it quiet."

As she put Eric's hand on her burgeoning baby belly, Sookie added, "That is until we can't hide it any longer."

They all said that the secret would be well guarded. No one outside of the room will know. There were smiles and cheers. Claudette announced that she was going to be the godmother. Amanda cracked a joke about the faery godmother myth being true. Everyone was happy; everyone that is but Pam.

Pam wasn't smiling. She looked straight ahead and shook her head no. "I don't like children. They bother me and they smell funny. They cry at all times of the night and they eat from the woman's breasts. They do unspeakable things in their pants and stuff spews from within their mouths. They grow uncontrollably. We don't need a baby right now. This is too much for me to handle."

"Pam," Sookie began.

Pam began shaking her head no. "This is definitely not going to be a good look for me. No. This is not going to work out at all."

Everyone at the party began laughing. Eric said, "You're not going to be a part of it, Pam. Sookie and I are having a baby."

"Oh," Pam said through laughter. "Oh." Throwing her hands up in the air, she said, "Well that changes everything. That's great. Congratulations. I'll be back later. I need to feed." With that said, Pam was gone.

For the next few minutes, Eric's most trusted and loyal friends were congratulating the happy couple. Sookie watched as Eric beamed from ear to ear as he spoke of his unborn child. She'd never seen him so happy. Eric received pats on the back and he even accepted handshakes. He joked and laughed with his friends as she stood by his side and watched him. He'd never been handsomer than he was at that moment. This was how it was supposed to be ... forever.

In order to get his attention, Sookie squeezed his hand. "I'm feeling a little tired. I'm going to go over there and sit down."

Eric's eyes widened with concern. "If you're ready to go home, I'm more than willing to cut the night …"

"I'm fine, baby. Kira just used up a little more of me than I'd planned on giving her. You go on and enjoy yourself. I just need to sit down for awhile." Patting him on his arm, she said, "I'll be over there on the couch. I won't leave the room."

He leaned down and kissed her. She could feel his eyes on her has she walked away. Once she was seated, she leaned against the padded wall and closed her eyes. She inhaled deeply and enjoyed the sounds of laughter and friendly chatter.

"I'm happy for you, little one."

Sookie opened her eyes to see Sal sitting by her side. She rolled her head around to look at him. "Thank you, Sal. Did you mean it when you said that you'll stand with Eric … with us?"

"I did."

"Good," she said.

"Did you mean it when you said that you'd kill me if I betrayed you and your dearest love?" Sal asked.

Sookie chuckled as she heard the endearment that she uses for Eric coming out of Sal's mouth. "I did." Closing her eyes once again, she added, "You know that you deserve better than Freyda, don't you?"

Sal was so surprised that he laughed. "Do I now?"

"Yep," she answered.

"And how do you know this?"

Sookie opened one eye and looked at him. "Really, Sal? Eric told me. You deserve happiness. You're a good man. Freyda's a selfish bitch and she doesn't deserve you or your loyalty."

Again, he laughed.

"Don't laugh, Sal. You know that what I'm saying is the truth. You deserve better," she said as she stared at him. "She's not your type. You're a good man. You'd have to be. Eric's the epitome of what you've taught him to be. That vampiress isn't in your league. She's beneath you."

Sal laughed loudly and proudly. "You are quite the flatterer, little one. I am ..."

"Come on, Sal. Dance with me," Amanda ordered. She didn't give the vampire a chance to accept or decline. Hell, she didn't give him a chance to finish his sentence. She pulled him to his feet and dragged him out of the door to the VIP room and onto the dance floor.

As soon as she closed her eyes and rested her head against the padded wall once again, another voice invaded on her solitude.

"I've never seen him this happy before," Quinn said as he sat down. "You can damn well guarantee that he's going to be even more protective of you than he was before." He shook his head and said, "He'll definitely be the king of the assholes now."

Sookie looked at Quinn from the corner of her eye. With a fake frown in place, she said, "No one can call him an asshole but me."

He winked at her and laughed. "Deal," he replied. Turning the fun moment into a serious one, he said, "I'm sorry about your New York trip."

Sookie looked at him and asked, "How did you know? You weren't at the house this evening?"

Quinn laughed. "Supes gossip a lot. You know that. I hate that your trip was ruined. It wouldn't have been if I'd been there. If you'd called me …"

This time, Sookie's frown was real. "I would have only been putting you in danger. I had Claudette and my fae guards with me and I will not leave home without them. And anyway, I can't call you. I don't have your number."

"Eric has it," Quinn replied. "Before the night is over, he'll be sure to give it to you. Let me explain something to you, Mrs. Northman." The were-tiger rested his elbows on his knees and stared at Sookie. "I have been alone in this world for many, many years. This world is no fun when you have no one to laugh with or talk with. We all need someone and my someone's are in this room. Everyone that you see in this room is my family and I love them dearly. I would give my life for anyone of them."

Sookie looked out the smiling faces that surrounded them. There were Weres, vampires, shifters, and faeries in attendance. Quinn had an eclectic family and it was a family that he should be very proud of. Sookie could see that they were a true family and that any of them would give their lives for any one here. There was no deception. There were no secrets. Only love and true friendships. This was what family is supposed to be.

She looked at Quinn and smiled. "You have a beautiful family."

"I know, right?" Quinn looked at Sookie and smiled. "Eric is one of my best friends and he is family; which makes you and the baby my family. That means that you are forever under my protection. If you ever need me, you need only call. I'll be there. Don't concern yourself with the dangers. I never have and I'm sure as hell not about to start. We stand together."

"You're good people, Quinn. And we are more than honored to be considered your family."

"Who's family?" Claudette asked.

"Quinn is," Sookie replied. "You two haven't met, have you? Quinn this is my cousin, Claudette Brigant. Claudette is John Quinn but you can call him Quinn."

He laughed. "Yes. You can call me Quinn."

Claudette offered him her hand and smiled. "I'm very pleased to meet you, Quinn."

"He's a were-tiger," Sookie said proudly.

"Is he?" Claudette asked. She continued to look at Quinn and smile. "You're my first were-tiger."

"I figured," Quinn said.

Tearing her eyes away from Quinn, Claudette returned her focus back to Sookie. "I'm tired so I must bid you goodnight. Antony and Carson are out by the car; cloaked and ready. I know that you don't need them because Eric's awake but you need all of the protection that we have. We can't have Baby Buster getting hurt, now can we?"

When Sookie opened her mouth to speak, Claudette raised her hand as if to quiet her. "I don't want to hear any arguing. Antony and Carson will be watching over you and that's that. You need this."

"All I was going to say was okay and don't call our baby, Baby Buster."

Claudette looked dumbstruck. She ignored the comment about Baby Buster. She couldn't believe that Sookie wasn't going to argue with her about the extra security. "Really? That's all that you were going to say? You weren't going to argue with me?"

Sookie shook her head no. "Not at all," she answered.

"Damn," she said. "You should stay pregnant."

"Shut-up, Claudette."

Quinn roared with laughter.

She rolled her eyes at Sookie and said, "Well, goodnight. I'm going home."

"You don't have to go home. You can stay the night with me and Eric if you want. You can have one the guest rooms if you'd like."

Claudette shook her head no. "I don't need an amorous vampire and an even more amorous faery keeping me up all night. I have plans tomorrow. I need to get my gorgeous rest."

Again, Quinn laughed as if it was the funniest thing he'd ever heard.

Sookie looked at him from the corner of her eye and blushed. "Why did you say that? There's a man sitting here."

Claudette looked at Quinn and winked. "He knows that you and the amorous vampire do that thing you do. You're pregnant, aren't you?"

Still blushing, Sookie said, "Good night, Claudette."

Claudette leaned down and kissed her cousin good night. "I love you. You call to me if you need me and I'll pop myself right over."

"Will do," Sookie answered. "Good night."

"You're leaving?" Eric asked from behind Claudette.

"Yes, I am. I know how it pains you to see me go but alas, dear fellow, I must. Keep our girl safe and you shall rise to see another night." She kissed Eric's cheek and quietly bid Quinn a good night before leaving the VIP room.

When Claudette was gone, Eric looked down at Quinn and said, "It is getting quite late, Quinn. Don't you agree?"

Quinn's violet eyes glittered with mischief. He couldn't decide if he wanted to torment Eric with his long winded conversation or if he wanted to anger him with the many flattering adjectives he could use to describe his friend's wife.

His thoughts made Sookie laugh. "Behave, yourself, Quinn. This is a night of celebration. We don't want to anger Eric, now do we?"

With a cocked eyebrow, Quinn asked, "And why not?"

Both Sookie and Quinn laughed. Eric didn't. "What's going on here?"

"Nothing," Quinn said. "Your darling wife has seen fit to foil my dastardly deed and now I must say good night." He stood up and looked from Sookie to Eric and said, "Congratulations, my friend. You will be an excellent father." He placed his hand on Eric's shoulder as he walked past him.

"Thank you," Eric said. "And Quinn?"

"Yeah?" Quinn responded as he continued his trek to the door.

"Whatever you had planned to try and anger me, never would've worked. Tonight is a joyous night. Not even you can ruin it."

Quinn stopped walking and glanced at Eric over his shoulder. "I guess I can say what I was going to say. Your wife is exquisite and has the heart of a saint. The night we met, she changed my life. She has given me something that I believed to be long gone."

"And what is that?" Eric asked as he walked towards to the were-tiger.

Mimicking Eric's movements, Quinn walked towards him and the two men stopped within inches of each other. Everything and everyone in the room stopped. The loud talking was soon whispers. The laughter had stopped altogether. Sookie was the only one not on edge.

"Hope," Quinn said. He placed his hand on Eric's shoulder and smiled. "Mrs. Northman has given me hope."

Everything in the room went back to normal. Eric turned and looked at Sookie. She was smiling broadly. Eric looked at Quinn and said, "You're still not calling her Sookie."

Quinn's mighty roar filled the room. "Good night, my friend."

Eric turned to face his wife and he captured her gaze. Her eyes widened and her heart raced as his love for her filled the bond. The rising color in her cheeks made Eric smile a lazy smile. He walked towards her with the slow and steady steps of a predator. As always, his gleaming blue eyes pinned her in place. Once he reached her, he offered his hand to her.

"Will you dance with me?"

"Since you're begging," she answered as she took her husband's hand.

The music was soft and sensuous. It was slow and purposeful. Sookie was swept into Eric's embrace. She felt so small and delicate has he enveloped her in his arms. Her head rested against his chest. His muscular arms wrapped protectively around her. Eric took the fingers of her right hand and held them gently in his left hand. He rested his hand gently on the small of her back. She wrapped her free arm around his neck and pressed her body close to his and moved elegantly with his body.

Eric bent his head closer to Sookie's and said, "Have I told you that I love you?"

She looked up at him and smiled as she relaxed into his body. "I can never hear it enough."

"I love you."

She closed her eyes as she nestled deeper into his arms. Sookie soon began to feel Eric's hands as it traveled over the swell of her ass; pressing her closer to him. She felt his breath against her skin as he bent his head to kiss her; nibbling gently at her ear. Sookie shivered at his kiss.

Pretty soon, she could feel his fangs brushing against her neck. His hardness was soon pressing against her stomach. She raised her arms and wrapped them around his neck and pressed her body against his hardness. She then did something she'd never done. She did something that she needed to do. "Bite me," she whispered in his ear.

Since they've made their reconnection, this is the first time she's offered her blood to him and he wasn't going to pass it up. He lifted her from her feet, spun her around, and pinned her against the wall and he did as his wife ordered. His fangs pierced her neck and her sweet nectar flowed smoothly over his tongue and down his throat.

Sookie began to moan softly. Eric responded as he growled into the curve of her neck as he fed from her. She placed her hand to the back of his head and pressed his mouth closer to her neck as he fed from her. She mewled softly as her husband finished up his meal.

Eric eased her back on her feet as he healed the bite marks. He moved from her neck to her lips and began to lightly kiss her. As he looked into her eyes, he said, "You've never done that before."

"I wanted to. I wanted to feed you," she answered. "We're stronger now; you and I. You're bonded to both of us now." She took Eric's hand and placed it to her stomach and looked into his eyes. "You'll feel us both now; as it should be."

He traced his finger along her jaw line and stared at her in amazement. Eric began to think that there is no way possible that he could ever love her enough. There's no way that he can make her feel what she makes him feel. There was no way he could ever be worthy of her love.

"Don't do that," she whispered. "Enjoy this, my dearest love. This is our time."

Shivers suddenly ran over her spine. Her eyes darted back and forth throughout the room but nothing was there but there was nothing there. Maybe there was nothing there at all. Her senses are off. Her energy is low.

Eric was on alert. "Are you well, my lover?"

She felt inexplicable tears pressing against the back of her eyes. She lowered her head so that Eric wouldn't see. "I'm fine. I'm just tired." Then it dawned on her. The baby. The hormones. She's behaving just like Claudine.

Sookie started laughing. Wrapping his arms protectively around her, Eric asked, "Are you ready to go home?"

She nodded her head yes.

As they walked hand in hand to bid their friends good night, a very human chill ran through Sookie's body. Deep down inside, she knew that there was something more going on; something more than pregnancy, something more than hormones. She knew that tonight, something was going to happen that was going to change their lives. And it wasn't going to be good.

As fear began to cloud her mind, Eric appeared at her side. The fear didn't last long. The strong presence of her husband pushed it away. The fear of the unknown and the dreams were less scary. The comfort of her protector's presence made it all better.

Even if was just for a little while.