Spellbound

This is the next to the last chapter. I hope that you all enjoy it. And I have a few people that wanted me to send them the remaining chapters in a book format and I will do that for you. Just send me your email addresses and I will send it out to you just as soon as I can. I tried sending it out without posting to FanFic but it wouldn't let me do that. It would only format the chapters that I'd already posted. I apologize for the issues but I will send it to ya'll as soon as I complete the story.

The main characters belong to Charlaine Harris but the side characters and the story idea are mine.

"Argh! I can't believe that this is happening to me!" Sookie screamed over and over again. She'd never known such pain. She felt like a fool to think that having a baby was going to be a walk in the park. She'd seen on TV show a while back that a woman pushed out six babies back to back with no problem. And she was lying on a pool table when she did it. She didn't feel anything when she was giving birth to her children. And she had six of them. And they were big babies! And she sounded as if she was singing. Sookie expected her pregnancy to be like that. She has always been active. She and Eric have sex almost every night. Her body should have been prepared for having a baby. She wanted to be like the lady on the pool table. She figured that she'd be able to push out her one baby just like that ... only she'd be in a bed. She wanted to be comfortable. It was going to be easy peasy. She's a faery princess for goodness sakes. She's fought some of the fiercest fighters in her lifetime. She'd been beaten and bruised but she was fine minutes later but this? The pain of having a child is like nothing she's ever known. She wanted to kick her own ass for believing that it was going to be easy.

"A walk in the fucking park, my ass," she mumbled. "A fucking nightmare is more like it."

And she blamed her husband. She cut her eyes at him as they went through the breathing exercises that Eric's book recommended that they do as a couple.

"Breathe, lover," he said. "Like this." And he was off and running. He was huffing and puffing a mile a minute. He was also smiling.

Eric was doing his best to make her feel better but nothing that he was doing was working. If he touched her, she called him awful names. Names that he didn't deserve to be called. He's been a 'vengeful son of a bitch' and 'you are a rotten bastard for doing this to me!'. She'd told him that she's in all that pain because 'you can't keep your dick your fucking pants!'. What could he say? He couldn't keep it in his pants when he was around her. He loves being with her and he believed that she loved just as much as he does. He had to keep reminding herself of what Claudette said when she'd poked her head in the room.

"Eric, listen to me, my friend. Don't pay her maniacal fussing and name calling any mind. This is the way pregnant women behave. She doesn't mean," she said. "She's in a lot of pain. Claudine was a lot worse when she was having her child. Colman had a few bruises. You have to remember that she's only saying these things because she's in pain. She still loves you. Just remember, she'll only be this big of a bitch while she's going through labor. She'll be back to her regular bitching tomorrow."

"Get the fuck out!" Sookie yelled at Claudette.

Claudette winked at Eric and quickly slammed the door.

And he hasn't seen her since and that was over an hour ago. He's been doing what Claudette told him. Not taking it personally and remember that she still loves him. He knew that he needed to keep doing what he has been doing and everything will be fine. So, he picked up the cup of ice and smiled at his wife.

"I can't fucking take this!" she screamed out. "I swear! I had no idea that it was going to be like this." She began to shake her head back and forth while tears were running down her cheeks.

Eric started rubbing ice cubes across her lips. "Calm down, Sookie," he said. "It's going to be okay. We are going to get through this. We were able to beat André. I'm more than sure that we can get through this."

She was absolutely appalled by his words. She frowned at him as she spoke. "Do you actually think that fighting André could ever compare to this?" she asked as she pointed at her stomach. "Throwing me against a wall doesn't even compare to what I'm feeling right now. This … this here … this is FUCKING TORTURE!"

Another pain hit her and it hit her hard. She cried out again as she tightened her grip on his hand. With her eyes closed, she declared, "I'd rather fight with André than go through this! And what do you mean we!? We aren't lying in this bed! We aren't having the sensations of your insides being ripped to shreds! There is no we here, buddy!"

Eric was at a loss. He didn't know what to do. He's always been strong and he's always had a plan but now he had nothing. He had absolutely nothing. He wished that he could take his wife's pain away. He wished that he could make her feel better. He could wish those things all day long and he still had nothing. He could still do nothing to help her.

"You're exactly right," Sookie said as she looked up at him. Though she was smiling, she was anything but happy. "Your wishes won't help me at all. I don't need wishes. I need to get this boy out of me. Now, tell Dr. Ludwig that if she doesn't hurry up and get his baby out of me, I'm going to FUCKING KILL HER!"

Dr. Ludwig appeared at the door and laughed. "You won't do shit," she said. She went to the bed and pulled the covers from over Sookie's belly. She placed her hand on Sookie's belly. She then sniffed her belly button. She frowned as she moved further down the bed. She tried prying Sookie's legs apart but they wouldn't open.

"What are you doing?" Sookie panted.

"I'm waiting for you to open your legs so that I can get a look at what's going on in there," Dr. Ludwig ordered.

Sookie frowned and asked, "Why?" She winced but kept her legs tightly closed.

Dr. Ludwig rolled her eyes. "I need to check you."

She began to rapidly shake her head. "No, you don't. Can't you just take him out?"

Pinching the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger, which was becoming a normalcy when she was with Sookie, Dr. Ludwig shook her head in exasperation. "Not with your legs closed. I have to make sure that you're ready for the baby to come out and I can't do that with your legs closed as tight as Fort Knox. Now, if you'd done that with the Viking, I wouldn't have to deal with your nonsense. So, what I suggest is that you open those legs up so that we can see if it's time to get him out."

Sookie looked at Eric; fear more than evident in her eyes. She didn't want Dr. Ludwig looking at her goodies and she as hell didn't want her poking around in there but she wanted to get that baby out of her. She slowly opened her legs as Dr. Ludwig pushed them up. She stood in between Sookie's legs and placed her hands on her patient's knees. "It's not going to hurt," the doctor assured Sookie. "I'm just going to see if there's enough room for the baby to come out. I know that you are in a lot of pain and I want to make sure that it's time to get him out." She wasn't going to go through the centimeters because it would have been a waste of time. Sookie wouldn't have heard her anyway.

Eric was staring at the top of the doctor's head as she poked and prodded into Sookie's private parts. "Is it time? Please let it be time. I can't take anymore of this."

Dr. Ludwig shook her head no. "Not quite but almost. Just give it a little more time." She patted Sookie's knee before leaving the room.

Sookie slid her legs down onto the bed and did the only thing that she could do. She took her frustrations out on Eric. And like the good husband that he is, he took it like a champ. It made her feel even worse. "Please, Eric," she begged. "Go and talk with the others. Go and get yourself a blood or a breath of fresh air. It's not fair what I'm doing to you and I'm sorry. Plus, you're driving me mad with your calmness. I can't take it."

He laughed at her offending words. "You are my wife. I will not leave you. What if you need me while I'm gone? You could lose your water and I won't be here."

She laughed for the first time in the last two hours. "My water will break."

"What?"

"I wouldn't lose my water," she clarified. "It would break. My water would break."

He shook his head and said, "Semantics. Either way, I can't leave you. I won't leave you. Anything could happen and I want to be here when it does. We are in this together. If you have to take the pain, then I can take the verbal and emotional abuse."

She laughed through the contraction. She looked into his eyes and sighed. At this very moment, even after all that they've been through, she'd never felt more loved. In his eyes, her entire life was right there. All of her happiness. All of her joys. Everything that she'd ever wanted was in his eyes. Smiling, she said, "Eric?"

"Yes, lover," he replied as he nuzzled her neck.

"My water just broke or either I've peed in the bed. I think that it's my water because my pain is getting worse."

Standing tall, Eric asked, "Is the doctor needed?"

She shook her head no. "Let's keep track of the contractions. Once they are closer …" She didn't even get to finish the sentence because the contractions were coming at a rapid pace. She began panting and breathing rapidly. She nodded her head as she said, "She's needed."

He remained calm and even as he stared out at nothing as he placed his hand on Sookie's stomach. He finally nodded his head before leaving her side. He blurred from the room and when he returned, Ludwig was in his arms. "Put me down, Vampire!" she growled. "What is wrong with you? I'm no damsel in distress! I'm a doctor. I don't require to be carried."

He placed the doctor on her feet as he towered over her. He calmly mentioned the breaking of Sookie's water. "My wife seems to be in need of your services. Her water has finally broken and the contractions are at least three minutes apart. You are needed."

And she was needed. Eric soothed and coached Sookie through the constant and ever increasing pain that his wife was suffering through for at least three hours. "We should've taken the Lamaze classes," Sookie said. "The quick reading of that book was a joke."

Eric picked the book up from the floor. "You are right but where would we have found the time? The book allowed us to learn the breathing and that did help, did it not? You may not have had much practice but you did a wonderful job. One would believe that you've done this many times in the past. I, for one, am very proud of you."

"I'm so glad that you are with me," she panted. "Though I really hate you right now, I wouldn't want to go through this much pain and suffering for or with anyone else."

He leaned in and kissed her sweaty forehead. "I am honored to be with you. I am honored that you have allowed me to be a part of this beautiful moment. You have made me a truly happy vampire."

"Push, Sookie," Dr. Ludwig ordered.

And push she did. And screamed. And fussed and complained. But they did it. After more than three months and nine hours, they were parents. An overwhelming flood of love, calm, and relief filled the air as the baby's cried filled the room.

"My lover," Eric whispered in her ear. "You are amazing and I will love you forever. You have given me the greatest gift that any husband can ever wish to have. I will forever dedicate my life to you and my family. I thank you, Sookie."

She turned to him and claimed his mouth. After breaking the kiss, she gave him her most devastating smile. "I would go through this insufferable pain for you over and over again, my dearest love," she declared. "At least three more times. I would do this for you forever if you asked it of me."

He mimicked her earlier movement and passionately kissed her. He tasted her words, her love, and her soul.

"Even during the delivery of your child, you can't stop pawing at each other. Enough already," the doctor professed.

They smiled against each other's mouths as they ended the kiss. They looked up to see the doctor holding their child up for them to see. "Here he is," she announced. "Here's the little half vampire, half fae that's been causing all of tonight's aches and pains. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Northman. You have a very healthy and near perfect, ten pound, twenty-three inches long, baby boy."

Sookie's breath hitched in her throat and tears flooded her eyes as she watched her husband's face. It filled her heart with pure love as she watched her husband fall hopelessly and helplessly in love with their seemingly outraged yet handsome baby boy. She right then and there knew that she meant it when she said that she'd go through all of this again. Just for him. Only for him.

Dr. Ludwig placed the baby on Sookie's chest and she'd never been so overwhelmed as she stared at the crying baby. "My sweet, sweet boy," she said. She brushed her finger over his forehead and said, "You look just like your daddy." And he did. He had his daddy's bone structure. He is going to be so tall and he's going to be strong. Oh and those eyes; they were hypnotizing and the most beautiful blue.

With those words spoken, he stopped crying and looked up at Sookie. "Hi," she said. "I'm your mommy and this handsome man right here is your daddy."

"Hello," Eric said.

Sookie laughed. "Dr. Ludwig?"

Smiling for the first time since being in the Northman home, she said, "What?"

"Give him to Eric," she said.

Eric quickly sat down and waited to hold his son. And when the doctor put the boy in his arms, he did a very human thing and sighed. "My son," he whispered. "You will by my namesake. Eirikr Gustav Andersson Northman. We will call you Eric." He looked to Sookie for approval.

"It's a strong and handsome name," she agreed. "I would expect nothing less for our son."

The boy looked up at Eric as if he was studying his father's face.

"My son," he repeated. He kissed the boy's head as he cradled him to his chest.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

When she'd fallen asleep, it was peaceful and beautiful. She'd spent most of her time watching Eric hold the baby. Eric was fascinated by every little thing that his son had done. He'd wave his little arms in the air and Eric was mesmerized. He would gnaw on his fists and Eric would talk about his son's strong gums. He would cry and Eric would brag about his son's strong lungs. Everything about his son fascinated him. He was especially fascinated by the breast feeding. "Out of all of times that I've had your beautiful nipple in my mouth, I've never tasted his meal," Eric replied. "How is that possible?"

"I don't know," Sookie answered. "Maybe my body knows when the baby is feeding and when you are giving me pleasure." She shrugged off his question. "I guess it doesn't really matter, right?"

Eric frowned. "I find it strange that my son eats from something that gives me great joy and allows me to give you pleasure. Should we not …?"

Frowning at him, she said, "Don't you even think it."

Smirking as he normally does, he said, "The thought is gone."

And it was. After Eirikr had eaten, Eric held him some more. He'd spent his remaining hours talking with Sookie and holding their son. When Sal and Godric called to give him an update on the outcome of the meeting, he wouldn't even take the calls. He let them go straight to voicemail. He told everyone that's in their retinue to come back tomorrow. He didn't want to share his wife and child. Not yet. He wanted to enjoy his time with his wife and child alone. And that's what he did. He let nothing interrupt that time. She wished that he was with her now. There was no peace in the air. Something was wrong and Claudette's anger was all the proof that Sookie needed.

Sookie looked out of her bedroom door and stared at the fussing silhouettes.

"Don't make me kill you during this happy, fucking occasion because I will," Claudette growled.

"She's still my granddaughter, Claudette," Fintan bellowed. "You will move and let me through now."

Claudette stepped in closer to Fintan; her sword shining brightly at her side. "You have caused too much damage to believe that you will be forgiven so easily. You almost destroyed her marriage. You made her believe that her husband didn't love her. You made him believe that she'd manipulated him when you knew that she was deeply in love with him. This is a joyous day for us and you will not be allowed to destroy it with your presence."

Sookie sat up in bed and looked at Fintan's face. He looked devastated. But most of all, he looked apologetic. From his thoughts, she heard that he wanted their forgiveness. He wanted Claudine to reclaim her rightful place in their family. He wanted his family back. He wished that he could take back all that he's done but today, his appearance in Eric and Sookie's home was not about him.

"Claudette," Sookie said. "Let him in."

Growling, she said no. "He will not be allowed to destroy our …"

"He's here for grandmother," she interrupted. "Let him in."

Claudette's sword vanished with those words as she and Fintan entered the room together.

When he came into the room, he glanced into the bassinette and looked at his great-grandson. He'd never seen a more handsome boy. Smiling, he said, "He looks exactly like you. Eric must be proud." He looked at Sookie as to wait for an answer.

She gave him one. "He is." As far as her husband is concerned, that's was all that she was giving to him. "Tell us, Fintan. You're here on behalf of our grandmother. Tell us what you have."

He looked at both fae women and said, "She had a message for you … for each of you. She left instructions for me to deliver it on the day of your child's birth, Sookie. And before you ask, one of your guards let us know that you have had your son. Your people are very happy for you." Fintan then reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and removed a pink envelope.

When the girls saw it, they knew that it was real. It was from Adele's person stationary collection.

Sookie took it from Fintan's hand and held it to her nose. "It smells just like her," she whispered.

Claudette leaned down and sniffed the envelope. Tears sprang to her eyes instantly. "It's like she's right here with us. Read it," she said as she wiped her eyes.

Sookie did as her cousin ordered and pulled the letter from the envelope.

Hello, my girls.

Know that I love each of you dearly and I am sorry for what I am about to do. You must know that I am doing what needs to be done. This was not a sacrifice that I needed to make but one that I wanted to make. Your grandfather's plan for your cousin's marriage cannot come to pass (he dropped his head in shame). I cannot allow that to happen. It would have been the end of us all. Please, don't feel sad for me. Don't cry for me. I've led a wonderful and fulfilling life. You girls always made it better. My girls, your happiness has always been my top priority. It will forever by my top priority.

Know that each of you will find your happiness wherever it may be but it is not your grandfather's decision to make. My only wish is that each of you live full and thorough lives. You, Claudette, will find love again and it will be everlasting. It will bring you the greatest joy. Your strength and determination will be even stronger than its ever been. You will fight just as you always have. Your life will be your greatest blessing. You will thrive and grow and you will be so wonderful. And so much more. Your path is long and prosperous. I would expect nothing less of you but before we continue, I do owe you all an explanation. I owe each of you one.

Claudia. When she passed to the Summerlands, she begged that I not tell what happened to her. She'd had a change of heart when it came to the union of Eric and Sookie. Her heart had belonged to another. I can only assume that it belonged to a vampire. I feel that before I leave this world, you need to know the truth. It pained me to keep her secret but I did what she asked of me. Forgive me for not telling you what happened but I could not leave this world without telling you girls the truth. So, now that the truth is out, I will continue with my wishes for all of you.

Claudine, my dear sweet Claudine. You will follow your fate just as you always have. I hope that you get to hear my words of love before you decide to depart the earthly realm but I fear that you will not. Your family will be your driving force in the decision that you make and for that, I cannot blame you. Tell your son of me. Tell him of how I love him. I hope that you are still here and that you get to hear this. Either way, know that I love you and have been very proud of you. So very proud of you.

And Sookie. Regardless of what your grandfather has tried to do, you will be happy beyond your wildest dreams. You and your Viking, my sweet, sweet Eric, will change our world for the better. Love will be your shining glory. Your legacy when your time has come. And please know, that you will be a wonderful mother. You don't need me there. Neither of my girls do. You all will be great mothers. You will raise amazing children and I am and will forever be proud of you. Tell your husband that I do love him and am just as proud of him as I am of you.

Sookie then paused as she looked up at Fintan. She glanced at Claudette before she continued.

My dear, sweet Fintan. How I love you so. Even when I hated you, I loved you. I know that I will even love you in death. Even after all that you've done, I love you. I want you to know that I forgive you. I wanted to tell you of all that I'd learned but I could not. Your words would have convinced me to not follow through with my plan. I wanted to make sure that you did nothing to interfere in Sookie's or Claudette's lives. I had to let the fate of the vampire and faery come to pass before you learned of my true feelings. I know you as I've never known you before, my love. You would've used Sookie's pregnancy to bring doubt to her union with Eric and you would have succeeded. Your granddaughter and her child would have been your prisoners. Claudette would have missed out on finding the one true love of her life because this world would have been closed off to them. I couldn't allow that to happen. But now that things are going to be as they should be, you can know the truth. There is something that I want to tell you, my love. I forgive you.

Fintan sobbed as the words poured from Sookie's mouth.

I forgive you, Fintan.

I forgive you.

Even after all has been said and done, I forgive you. I know that you are wondering why and the why is because I love you. Carry on my love. Learn what love truly is. When you do, cherish it. Hold on it with everything that you have. Never let it go. I only hope that our granddaughters will find it in their hearts to forgive you as I have.

This is the end my loves. My heart and soul will always be with you.

Carry on and love as if there's no tomorrow.

Adele Hale-Brigant.

The faeries cried as the words of Adele echoed through their minds and hearts. She was and will always be the most amazing creature to have ever lived in this realm and theirs.

"She's incredible," Claudette said.

"She makes me proud to be a Brigant," Sookie whispered. "I will honor her memory as she has requested." She looked up at Fintan and said, "I don't hate you, Fintan but it will take some time for me to forgive you … if I'll ever forgive you. You can't expect me and Eric to just believe that we are your top priority. You've done too much but I will give it a chance. The memories of old will lead me there but in time. It will take time."

Claudette stared at him for a long time before she'd spoken. It was almost as if she was seeing a familiar stranger. "I don't want to hate you anymore, Fintan. Things in my life have been so wonderful that I don't want to waste my time hating you anymore. I'm not sure that I want to have you in my life yet but I am willing to give you a chance. Just not now. Give me time to remember the good times, okay? Just give me time."

Fintan closed his eyes and exhaled; not realizing that he was holding his breath. He opened his eyes and tears fell from them. "That's all I ask," he whispered. "Thank you." He looked in the bassinette at the baby once more and smiled. He looked at Sookie and said, "I hope that you speak with Eric about meeting with me. I want to apologize to him and make restitution for what I've done. Will you let him know?"

"I will," she stated.

"Good evening, my girls," he said. He popped away with a smile on his face.

Claudette sat down on Sookie's bed and asked, "Do you think that he meant it? Do you honestly believe he's changed?"

"I hope so," she said. "He didn't tell the council about Amelia when he could have and he didn't tell them about my pregnancy." She sighed as she lay back on her pillow. "It's possible but we will take it slow. There's no rush."

"Yeah," Claudette said as she nodded.

The baby began to fuss and as soon as he whimpered, Claudette had him in her arms. "You can't keep picking him up like that," Sookie warned. "I read that when a baby cries and if you pick him up as soon as he cries, he'll cry until someone picks him up. I'm not going to always be able to pick him up because I'm not going to always be around. Eric and I will have to keep him on a routine."

Claudette sat down in the rocking chair and smiled down at the baby. "Little Eric isn't going to have to cry because he'll have me to pick him whenever he cries. Won't you? Even when mommy and daddy are off killing people and making laws, you will always have Aunt CiCi."

His little arms began to wave back and forth through the air as he began to cry.

"Give him to me," Sookie said. She looked down at the front of her gown and she was leaking. "I read that when I my breasts leak, it means that he's hungry." The front of her gown was soaking wet.

Claudette laughed. "That little monkey must be starving." She handed the baby to Sookie and stared at them. Her eyes almost popped out of her head when she saw her cousin's nipple. "My goodness. Your nipple is huge!"

"Right?" she replied. "And it's hurting. When he latches on, he really latches on ... and he pulls ... hard."

Slyly, Claudette said, "Quinn and I have decided that we are going to breast feed. He's not like Eric, though. He wants a little girl. I want a girl too."

Sookie looked up at Claudette with wonder in her eyes. "You're pregnant?"

Claudette nodded.

"How long?"

"Couple of weeks," she said. "I wanted to tell you but so much has been going on. I didn't want to worry you and you wouldn't have let me play along the last few nights."

Sookie began to cry. "Of course I wouldn't have let you participate. You're pregnant. I'm so happy for you. Oh, Cici. I'm so happy for you."

"Maybe I'll have my baby soon," she said. "The essence is so strong. It's filled with love."

"Then you will," Sookie replied.

"We're going to be married soon," she whispered. "I didn't think that I wanted to because I don't have Claudine." She looked down at her hands as tears fell from her eyes. "I miss her so, Sookie. I have sent messages to her but she won't reply. I'd assumed that she'd speak with me but she hasn't. I miss her."

With her free arm open wide, Sookie beckoned Claudette to her. They hugged each other.

"You don't have to miss me," Claudine said. "I'm here."

Claudette released Sookie and stared at her sister for a just heartbeat before running to her. "Claudine," she cried into her sister's hair. "Oh, Claudine."

They hugged for a few moments more before Claudine was allowed to kiss Sookie and welcome baby Eric into the world. "He's absolutely beautiful, Sookie. I hate to say it but he looks exactly like his father." She frowned and said, "Maybe he'll outgrow it."

Claudette's melodic laughter filled the room.

"My husband is very handsome, thank you very much," Sookie retorted.

With her hands up in surrender, Claudine stated that she was only joking. "He won't outgrow it."

"Claudine," Sookie warned with a smile.

"Lighten up," she said. "How did it go when you had him? Was it hard?"

Sookie shook her head no. "It was easy peasy."

"She's a liar," Claudette said. "You could hear her screams outside of the compound. She was the biggest baby. She was calling Eric all sorts of names. She was ..."

"Okay, Claudette," Sookie said. "I wasn't that bad."

"Ha," her cousin said. "Ask Dr. Ludwig when she comes in tonight. She'll tell you the truth."

"Baby," Claudine teased.

"Okay," Sookie agreed. "I was a baby. It hurt. Now, can we talk about something else, please?"

"Now that you've told the truth, we can. Where's Braydon?" Claudette asked.

"With Colman," Claudine said. "They're with his parents. I'll bring him to see you soon."

"You will?" Claudette asked.

"I will," Claudine confirmed. She then settled on the bed and said, "We have a lot of catching up to do before I return home. I want all of the juicy gossip. Don't leave anything out."

And that's what they did for the next six hours. They laughed and talked as if a day hadn't passed. Things were looking up and they would only get better.