"I knew there was a problem, Desmond," I told him. "That was the reason I contacted you and asked for your assistance."

He sighed over the phone. "If it only it was that simple."

Simple? I wished that I could have reached through the phone and shook him, but it was apparent to me that he had some vital information. "I doubt I would be certain to define the situation and its resultant consequences as simple," I said, still cautious in describing anything over the phone. I was confident that my phone lines were not bugged, but I would not risk anything.

"As difficult as the circumstances might be, I might consider it simple before adding in any further complications."

He fell silent after that, which allowed me to absorb his words. "Did you plan to continue to leave me in suspense?"

He heaved another sigh, which was anything but a positive sign. "When was the last time you were at the house?" he asked. He used the same caution that I had. I informed him that it had been several nights prior. "There were indications that others have been there since," he told me ominously.

I had been just about to relay that news to him, that I was already aware that Sam and Jason had obviously been by the house after I had. However, the lawyer would not have sounded as distraught had he merely seen evidence of only the shifter and her brother's presence in the farmhouse. He most likely would not have even mentioned it if he knew it had been just them.

"Who?" I asked. He hesitated for a fraction of a second before he went on to inform me that it had been some of her 'relatives.' Now, I had heard of the expression "seeing red" many times in the past, and though I had plenty of opportunities to have seen the color throughout my thousand years, it was, indeed, the very first time I truly saw RED.

Fairies! Fucking fairies!

It was the Fae who had caused her so much terror and pain only mere weeks ago! Could they have been behind this most recent catastrophe? Would someone have hired the Fae to have caused this? To what end? To attempt to take Sookie and end me? I was back to having questions racing through my mind when all I had anticipated was the lawyer being able to provide me with some answers or resolutions for our dilemma.

"I have placed a call," I heard him state, pulling me out of my deliberations. I assumed from his words that he had placed a call to Niall; for me that was the least comforting idea! A call to Niall when he was not even attempting to restructure the Faery realm would result in precious time we did not have before we could even count on him returning Cataliades' call! In addition, I had my doubts as to whether Niall was even trustworthy. He might not hurt his own kin, but he certainly was not above manipulating them to suit his needs.

"Just what reasons are telling me this over the phone rather than face to face?" I asked him while I tried to remain focused on the conversation. I would concentrate on thoughts of Niall once I gathered all the information Cataliades could convey.

"I went to Merlotte's," he revealed, and then he hesitated. It was unlike the lawyer to appear so unraveled. "I was able to be there for only minutes, and then I had to leave."

The hidden gist behind his words presumably meant that Madden and de Castro had somehow discovered he was in the state and had found his location. They wanted information only Cataliades had access to regarding some of Sophie-Anne's holdings. The lawyer had risked a great deal by having spoken to me, in helping me, and having helped Sookie.

"You are most popular," I told him and he gave a small laugh.

"That's one way of putting it," he responded. "Have you had Sookie checked by a doctor?" he asked.

I cursed myself for not having thought of something so simple. In a situation where I felt next to helpless, it was the one thing that I could have done. "You believe that might be necessary?"

"I believe you should cover your bases."

"Do you have knowledge of whom it was that caused this?"

He hesitated once more before he said, "There was enough evidence left that may point me in the direction of what might have been responsible." I noticed that though I had asked whom, he responded with what. I heard something in the background before Cataliades told me that he had to go and he would be in contact again soon. I could only hope the next contact would be face to face.

I dreaded my trip to Fangtasia, the scenarios of just what Victor could have in store for me that night went through my head while I traveled. I was pleasantly surprised when he was absent upon my arrival. When an hour had passed without having seen or heard from 'the Regent,' I might have silently begun rejoicing. It allowed me time to get through Area business I would not have had the time to complete in his presence.

The rejoicing ended when I had heard nothing out of him throughout the entire evening. Though on the one hand I could not have been more relieved, on the other, I was concerned over the prospect of what it could possibly involve. Was he personally after Desmond? Could he in any way be aware of something regarding Sookie? Was he attempting to lull me into a false sense of security? Should I just be appreciative for my temporary reprieve?

I was not certain that grateful was a proper term for what I felt, but as I left Fangtasia, I was relieved for all I had been able to accomplish that night. I had finally been able to proactively complete something rather than reactively. I had sent several of my vampires, ones whom I knew were loyal to me, to the other Areas of the state. Both they and I knew that they would be watched carefully. That was all part of my plan. They would be watched and with any luck, the vampires I sent that would truly be my eyes and ears on the newly de Castro-appointed Sheriffs might go undetected.

My last act of the evening was to call upon the troll, Dr. Ludwig. As with all our conversations, it was not exactly a pleasant one. I suppose I should have been relieved that she granted my terms once I threatened her. When she said she would not be able see Sookie until the following night due to the fact that it was not truly an emergency, I could not say I responded well. I considered Sookie's wellbeing an emergent situation always, even though Sookie had no medical symptoms that suggested anything was wrong, still, Ludwig disagreed.

I did not know who was less likely to survive Sookie's check-up, the miserable, vile, and miserly troll doctor or me.

I thought the call would be my final act of the night. I could not go to my rest without having looked on Sookie, however. I did not venture past her doorway for fear of waking her with so little time before dawn. I just needed to see her.

I had made so many mistakes with her adult counterpart, yet all the while I thought I had been doing just the opposite. I hoped I was not making similar mistakes. I prayed to the Gods that I would have a chance to set things right after the curse was broken. I prayed that Sookie would take a chance and still might want to work with me to make things right. I clung to the fact that she hadn't said she never wanted to see me again in her voicemail; she hadn't told me to stay away. That was all that was left for me to hold onto.

I noticed Sookie herself was holding onto something rather tightly in her little arms while asleep. I dared to take one step into the room to see what it was she gripped so tightly. I was surprised to find that it was the pillow that she had taken from her house that night I found her in the woods, the one she said that smelled good, the one on which I had detected my scent. When she muttered my name in her sleep as she clutched the pillow, I was left with something more on which to cling. That was the thought I took with me when I went to my day rest.

I heard the voice of the doctor when I rose and I also felt from Sookie what seemed to me more than a great deal of distress. I knew immediately it was something I would make certain ceased at once. I was in the living room beside Sookie in the next second. Instead of looking shocked at my sudden arrival, Sookie grabbed my arm and hid her head in my side. I looked from Ludwig to Amelia who was seated next to Sookie and asked, "Why have I heard her crying?" through clenched teeth. I attempted as hard as I possibly could to not cause Sookie any further distress based on my reactions.

The answer to my question did not come from either of the adult females in the room. No, the answer came from the tiny human who was currently trying to strangle my arm, if that action was possible. The problem was, even with my vampire hearing, I could not understand what it was she was sobbing. Unfortunately, my sensitive hearing could not understand childlike and hysterical Sookie. I tried once more and gave her my complete attention; still I could not make out her response. I chose to ignore the despicable doctor and Amelia as I knelt on the floor while I brought Sookie around before me. I tried to detach her in order for me to see her face, hoping I could better understand her, but her arms simply released then clamped onto my neck.

"What is wrong?" I asked her again softly while I attempted to gentle my tone as much as I possibly could. I removed the anger I felt toward both of the adults.

"Noooooo shooooootttttt," Sookie wailed into my ear.

I looked at Ludwig feeling as if I wanted to scream at her for having brought a weapon to this appointment when I noticed that she held up a needle. The shot Sookie that referred to was not a shot from a gun, but a shot from a needle that the troll had been trying to give Sookie.

"Was that necessary?" I asked Ludwig, hesitant to allow her to bring the fearsome item any closer.

Unfortunately the loathsome troll doctor nodded and said quietly, "If you wanted me to ensure that all was right with her, then, yes." That was what I had been afraid of when I saw the needle. "I will need to run some tests on her blood to be certain."

I returned my attention to Sookie and told her, "No shot. You will not be getting a shot."

"No shot," she said, and lifted her head up from my neck. Her voice was surprisingly clear having taken into consideration the sobs she had emitted mere seconds ago. That made no sense. I had no idea how she managed that.

"No, it will not be a shot."

Sookie did not leave my side, but looked to the troll. "She's still holding the shot," Sookie said, attempting a whisper in her voice.

"It will not be a shot," I repeated, but judging upon the look on her face she did not believe me. "It will be a needle; a shot would put something into your blood. That special needle was designed to take out your blood."

"Like your fangs!" she said excitedly. Well, it was not exactly like that, but I could see how her little mind might connect the two ideas. I had shown her my fangs during one of our flights, much to her delight.

"My fangs allow the blood to," I paused, not sure if I knew exactly how I could word it, "come out of the person," I finished.

"And then you can drink it!"

"Yes."

"Are you gonna drink this blood?"

"No. No one will drink this blood," I repeated and emphasized while I looked straight into Ludwig's face. I was satisfied when she gave me a nod. She might have been many things, the foul-mouthed and tiny troll doctor, but she was no liar.

"It will be placed into this tube," I told her. She looked at the tube appraisingly.

"Will you stay with me?" she asked.

"Right here next to you."

"Will you sing to me?" I told her yes before I realized that my mind was not offering any songs she might actually understand. Still, my words were what convinced her to allow Ludwig to draw her blood. Sookie closed her eyes while the troll approached her and squeezed my hand when the needle entered. When I started to sing to her in my native language, she sat back and leaned against my chest. She did not seem to notice when Ludwig pulled the needle out of her arm and placed a cartoon-covered bandage over the small wound. It was not until I finished the song that Sookie opened up her eyes and asked if it was all done.

"You make everything better, Eric!" she squealed while she gave me a hug.

If only that was true.

I hoped there was one more thing I could make better tonight. I was hoping I could reunite Sookie with her brother. My cell phone, which had thankfully been silent thus far, was leaving me with the wishful thought I would be able to keep my word to the male Stackhouse and bring him to my house. I knew I would have to put in time at Fangtasia afterward, especially with not knowing what Madden was up to with his silence, but hopefully her brother might be enough of a distraction for Sookie.

"How old are you, Sweetheart?" Ludwig asked while she looked at the blood she had collected. I had no idea what simply looking at the blood might tell her. I also had no idea what Sookie meant when she told the doctor she was 'a whole hand' in response to Ludwig's question.

"A whole hand?" I asked.

The response I received was Sookie's tiny hand in my face. "Yes, a whole hand! See?" I saw five squirming fingers.

"You are five?" I asked.

"Yes. That's a whole hand, silly," she told me as if it were a concept I should have known.

"Five-years-old, you're such a big girl," Ludwig said. Sookie smiled and agreed with the doctor, well, at least she agreed until the foolish troll asked if she was eating all her fruits and vegetables. That was when Sookie stopping talking to Ludwig. However, the stupid troll never knew when to stop and continued to tell her that if she wanted to stay a big girl she would have to eat properly. That was another thing I would be sure to make certain.

When it was time for the troll doctor to leave I told her that I would accompany her to the door. I wanted to learn her thoughts, and it would also allow me the time I needed to go and retrieve Jason.

"You're leaving too?" Sookie asked.

"Yes, but not for work yet. I have to go out because I told you I wanted to bring you a surprise," I told her. She seemed more than okay once I reminded her. I wondered if she still would be more than okay after she saw all the fruits and vegetables I would also be getting.

When the door was closed behind Ludwig and me, I asked the doctor what she thought. The troll looked at me and said, "She is a healthy five-year-old."

"Yet she is not five," I told the doctor.

"For all intents and purposes she is, Northman," I looked sharply at her. "I know you had hoped to break the curse and for her revert to her adult self, but I also hoped you had planned for things if that did not come to pass."

Ludwig was not the only one who had said that to me, but I understood that she was considering Sookie's health and it was what made me actually hear what she was said. "She must eat properly. She will need to get the proper amount of sleep. Granted, she must be protected, but she will have to be able to be let out of that house! She won't be able to spend all day and night in there! She might need schooling. If you are not able to reverse the curse, you will have to be the one who raises her."

I did not want to have to think about the look on my face at her words when the troll told me she would leave me to my thoughts and left me there, astounded, on my front steps. Raise Sookie? I might have to raise Sookie? That was not exactly the relationship improvement I had planned. I was not even sure how to raise a child! Yes, there was the obvious, you made sure said child did not hurt itself, but how did one shape him or her into a person? I doubted handing Sookie a sword and teaching her how to wield it would have completed the job!

Yet, even as all of these doubts circled my mind, there was one thought that was never in question, never once. If it was what Sookie needed of me, it was what she would get. That was the thought that I held onto while I climbed into my car. That was the idea that propelled through me the supermarket while I picked up healthy foods for Sookie. That thinking was what drove me to Jason's house where I watched the older Stackhouse as he peered out the window as if he had been waiting for my arrival. While I carried the suitcase that was already packed and waiting at the door, it seemed as if that was the case.

"I take it that means you still want to come."

He looked at me as if I was the one who had been dropped a few times too often as a child when he told me that he wanted to see his sister. I repeated my words to him that it might be some time before he could return to his home. He informed me that he understood and had called off work for the next few weeks.

With nothing left to be said, we both got into my car and I began the drive to my house and took extra precautions to ensure that I was not being followed. I had thought of the many ways of just how to prepare him for what he was about to discover. There was no way I could not rely on his reaction if he had no warning of what he was to find. At the same time, I had doubts that he would believe me.

Hell, if I had not been living it, I had doubts I would have believed it if someone had told me!

"You will notice that Sookie will be somewhat different since the last time you saw her," I told him.

Jason looked to the wheel, and then looked back to me. If I had not been driving he might have attacked me, or at least tried. It was one of the more intelligent moments I had ever seen in Jason when it seemed he decided otherwise. "You turned her into a vamper," Jason said accusingly.

"No," I answered him automatically. "I did not nor do I have any plan to turn your sister into a vampire," I told him as I emphasized the last part of the word. I believe he understood that I had no appreciation of the slang term in yet another one of his oddly more intelligent moments.

"Different how then?" he asked, his voice still holding accusation.

I explained the physical differences that Jason would see while I avoided using the actual word 'child.' I did not know if that was something Jason might be able to handle without truly seeing Sookie. I was also uncertain if I could even admit to myself what bringing Jason to my home really meant. Ludwig's words regarding what I might need to do came back to me. Having invited Jason, I was already on that train of thought, so to speak. If I thought that all could be resolved within another night or two, I might not have bothered. While I still held out hope they would not be necessary, I knew it was time to start making longer-term plans.

We pulled up to my house. Satisfied that we had not been followed, even though I had begun considering changing houses just to be sure, I took hold of the bags of food, carried them into the house, and braced myself for what this reunion could bring.

Once Jason and I entered my house, I was fully aware of the many things I had expected of this Sookie. I had expected her to be a little timid around the adult version of her brother, perhaps even a little scared. I thought she might be a little confused, especially if she tried to listen in on his thoughts. I expected she would run to me. I should have known by then that what I expected was never in reality what would happen.

I never thought Sookie would run right up to her brother, wrap her little arms around his legs, and then call him by name. As I judged by the looks of others in the room, that was the last thing they had all expected as well.

What the fuck was going on?

It was only after Sookie scolded, "No using bad words, Eric," that I realized I had said the words aloud! That was the reason I repeated them to myself about a hundred times in my head.

Hello dear readers. I hope you've enjoyed this chapter as we have another little thing to ponder. Answers….well at least some of them will be coming soon. As always, thanks to MsBuffy for her fantabulous editing and input!

I was able to upload a few more chapters (FF is still being temperamental about that) but I wasn't able to reply to any reviews :(. I do appreciate them and will respond and post whenever FF will allow. I will finish this one here.