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Sookie woke up hours later and made herself breakfast before she took a quick shower and got dressed. Her first order of business was to figure out what a baby needed. In Fairy it seemed like things just appeared. It wasn’t like that on earth. Earth required money, and lots of it, from all Sookie could tell. There was no currency in Fairy.

If something was needed trades were made for it, or it was conjured up by magic. There were no trips to the store in the middle of the night for food and there was no need to go buy new clothing. Everyone in Fairy had their specialty or trade they were skilled in.

So Sookie started by going to the library to do some research on what babies needed. When she was confident that she had a good grasp of things she drove herself to the nearest mall over in Monroe. She walked into a store that specialized in baby things armed with a list and the credit card Eric had given her before sunrise. It would make him happy to do this for her and their son, so Sookie figured it couldn’t hurt.

Of course that was before Sookie saw any of the price tags. It was startling how expensive things were for such a tiny person. Sookie walked around the store, taking in all of her options. There was a lot to choose from. She found it odd that colors were supposed to make a baby’s gender obvious. No one in Fairy paid much attention to the colors they wore. Sookie had never been considered more masculine for wearing blue. It was a bizarre earth concept she had no intention of passing on to her son.

Besides, if he could swing a sword and fire a gun at a young age, she would dare anyone to insult him for choosing to wear pink or purple.

In the end, Sookie picked out a crib, bedding, car seat, swing, some clothes, a few blankets and little plastic bottles for times when she couldn’t breastfeed the baby. The crib and swing were going to be delivered, but Sookie took everything else home.

From there, Sookie went looking for a new dress to wear to Fangtasia that night. If she hurried, she could get it home, wash it and leave it out on the clothesline to dry. It took a few stores but she finally found a dress the color of red wine and a pair of shoes to match. Sookie picked up a few other things and then headed home.

When she got home she left the car seat in the car and took everything else inside the house. Immediately Sookie got her new clothes into the wash and then she made herself lunch. The baby was all over the place and she probably would have gotten home an hour sooner if she didn’t have to stop to pee every fifteen minutes.

Eric said she wasn’t that big yet, but she sure felt like she was.

After the wash was done, Sookie put everything in the dryer but the dress she was planning on wearing. It was a warm, sunny day so hanging the dress was perfect. Once the dress was hanging up, Sookie went inside and started to clear out the bedroom across the hall from hers. It was the room she used to spend the night in when she was a little girl. There was plenty of room in there for the baby. She could already see where she wanted to put the crib when it came.

Sookie lost track of time and was still moving boxes out of the room when the sun went down. She had just picked up a box of old vases when Eric about scared her to death with his sudden appearance.

“Ahhh! Don’t do that!” Sookie said when her heart left her throat.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I forget how silent I can be sometimes.”

“It’s alright,” she said.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Clearing out the boxes to make room for the crib I bought today. It will be here the day after tomorrow.”

“What else did you buy today?” he asked.

Sookie set the box down again since it was heavy, and stretched her back a little bit.

“I bought clothes, bottles, a swing for the baby and a car seat. I left the car seat in the car. The box is big and a little awkward to lift with my belly in the way,” she said.

“Let me help you,” he said, and picked up the box she set down. “Where were you taking this?”

“Over by the stairs. I have a bunch of boxes I need to take up to the attic.”

Eric zipped over there, and was back in front of her in two seconds.

“Have you eaten? You should eat before we go to the bar.”

“I had lunch when I got home, but I’ll have a snack before we go,” Sookie said. “Oh! My dress!”

She popped out of the house and went out to check and make sure her dress was dry. It was perfect so Sookie popped back inside, but went to the bedroom to hang her dress so it wouldn’t get wrinkled up.

“You dried it in the sun,” Eric said from behind her.

“Yes I did,” Sookie smiled and tucked the hanger into the closet.

“And you’ll be wearing it tonight?” he asked, and bent down to inhale her scent at her neck.

“That’s my plan,” she said, and laughed quietly when his lips tickled her neck.

“You should tell me to back off now if you don’t want this to happen,” he said and pulled her back against him.

“We’ll never get to the bar if you get going.”

“Why are you always right?” he asked, and kissed her neck once more before stepping away.

“Not always. I just know how you are.”

“You make me insatiable.”

“You’ll just have to save it for later,” Sookie smiled at him.

“And I will. You should go ahead and eat. Pam has my clothes at the bar.”

She nodded and turned for the kitchen to make herself something to eat.

◊ ◊ ◊

Fangtasia was impressive. They arrived at the bar before it was open to the public. For the first time in her life, Sookie was in a room full of vampires and she was a little scared. Fangs were dropping all over the place and years of being told vampires were nothing but bloodthirsty monsters had her hands glowing in case she needed to defend herself.

“Put the light away,” Eric whispered to her.

“I will when the fangs go away,” she said.

If she was attacked, a vampire wouldn’t just kill her, but the baby too since he depended on Sookie for everything. No way was she taking any chances with her son’s life. Eric wasn’t the only fiercely protective one.

“Everyone retract your fangs,” Eric hissed to the vampires in the room.

Fangs went back where they belonged. Sookie was still tense, but she let her Light fade out.

“I have an announcement,” Eric said, and took Sookie’s hand and led her to the stage. “Sookie is mine. We are to be bonded after she has my child. If anyone harms her or drinks from her, I will see to it that you meet a slow, painful death.”

The room remained silent and Sookie didn’t even notice Pam joining them on the platform. Vampires nodded their acknowledgement, but that was about it.

“You may all go back to what you were doing,” Eric said.

“What do we do now?” Sookie asked.

“Make the humans jealous,” Pam smirked. “Tomorrow we go shoe shopping.”

“Don’t let Pam touch my credit card,” Eric warned with a wink.

“Why not?” Sookie asked.

“The last time she did she nearly maxed it out.”

“You can’t max out a card that doesn’t have a limit,” Pam said, and Sookie raised an eyebrow.

“Pam, you spent so much money you nearly hit the limit that doesn’t exist.”

“Yes, and you were better dressed for it,” Pam reminded him.

“Perhaps, but that is beside the point,” he glared at her.

“Fine, I won’t touch the card,” Pam said.

“Good girl,” Eric smiled.

“I’ll go open the doors. Sookie, don’t let him wear you out,” Pam said and then zipped away.

“Well she’s darn near cheerful,” Sookie chuckled.

“She’s happy that I’m happy… and maybe a little high on Claudette’s blood.”

“You think?” Sookie was surprised her cousin hadn’t come by to see her, but then maybe she had and Sookie just wasn’t home at the time.

“Claudette is a full blooded fairy,” Eric explained. “The high can last more than a week.”

“Oh.” Sookie wasn’t aware of that.

“Your blood satisfies me much longer than human blood.”

“Really? Interesting,” she said as they were approached by a bleach blonde waitress.

“Can I get you a drink, Master?”

“No, thank you, Ginger,” he said. “But you can get my lover whatever she wants.”

“Oh, uh, just water for me, thank you,” Sookie said politely.

Ginger nodded and then went to the bar to retrieve the drink.

“Do they all call you Master?” Sookie asked as she sat down on the chair beside Eric’s throne. Her feet were killing her.

“Yes, they must,” he said, and took a seat on his throne.

“Why?”

“It is part of the allure.”

Sookie nodded and watched the humans start to file into the bar. Loud music began to play and it must have spooked the baby because his little arms and legs all moved at once. Sookie put her hand on her middle and rubbed it soothingly.

“Is he alright?” Eric leaned over and asked her.

“I think the music scared him,” she answered.

“If you need to go at any time, tell me. I will have Pam take you to my office to rest.”

She nodded. “I’m alright for now.”

Ginger came back with her water and Sookie took a long drink. She was definitely being watched by the patrons inside the bar but it was someone at the door that got her attention.

I can’t believe that vamper bitch couldn’t spot a fake I.D.

Sookie zoned in on a young man who could pass for someone in their early twenties, but it was obvious to her that he wasn’t. She tapped Eric’s hand and leaned closer to him.

“The male with dark red hair in the Alpha Nu shirt has a fake I.D.,” Sookie told him.

Eric looked at the man in question, and then pulled out his phone to text Pam. Moments later Pam walked back into the bar and up to the stage.

“How do you know it’s a fake?” Pam asked.

“Because he was thinking you’re a dumb vamper bitch for not spotting it,” Sookie replied.

“Take care of it,” Eric said. “But do not harm him. We cannot afford the police coming here.”

“I’ll confiscate the identification and glamour him into not coming back until he’s legal,” she said, and then moved quickly through the crowd.

Eric watched until Pam had the boy out of the bar, and then picked up Sookie’s hand and kissed it.

“Thank you, my love,” he told her.

“You’re welcome,” she smiled. “Is there anything else you want me to listen for?”

“Anyone thinking of being bitten on the premises. I trust my vampires, but humans can be very tempting.”

“Is that why vampires aren’t allowed in the bathrooms?”

“Yes, it is.”

She nodded and sat back in her seat, but her back started to cramp up a little while later. Sookie started shifting in her seat but couldn’t find a comfortable way to sit. She realized it was because the baby was pressing on her spine.

And it was only going to get more cramped in there for him.

◊ ◊ ◊

Eric was pleased with the vampires of his area for treating Sookie like a queen. They were curious about her and the pregnancy, and he was sure they all wanted to bite her, but they paid a lot of respect to their Sheriff.

When he realized that Sookie had had enough of being on display, he stood from his throne and offered her his hand. She took it and they walked through a parted crowd and back into his office where she sat right down on the couch. Eric sat by her feet and pulled them into his lap. He took her shoes off and started to massage her aching feet.

“You did well tonight,” he told her. “The vampires liked you very much.”

“Of course they did,” Sookie smiled and closed her eyes. “The humans were hardly impressed.”

“They know they will never measure up,” he smiled as he worked his thumbs into the arch of her foot.

“Ha! You need to get your mind reader fixed,” Sookie snorted. “But there is a little dark haired woman out there that has it bad for Pam.”

“Here,” he said, and handed her his phone. “Call her and tell her. She deserves a nice feed and fuck.”

Sookie tapped the screen and sent the message.

“Would you like to order some food before we go home for the night?”

“I’ll just have a snack when I get home,” she said.

He nodded and continued to rub her foot, switching to the other after a few more minutes.

“What will we call our son?” he asked her.

“I’ve had a name in my mind for a few weeks now,” Sookie admitted.

“Oh?”

“Nicholas,” she said.

“Nicholas,” he repeated. “Northman or Stackhouse?”

“What is the custom? In Fairy a child takes its father’s name.”

“That is traditionally the way of it here, but my surname does not mean as much to me as yours does to you.”

“So you prefer he have my name?”

“If that is what you wish, yes.”

“No, it’s not.”

“You want him to have mine?”

“Yes. He’s your son.”

“He is yours as well,” he said. “But if you want him to have my last name, I have no problems with it.”

“I know, but won’t other vampires find it odd if he doesn’t have your name if that is customary now?”

“Perhaps they would,” he agreed. “Then we will call him Nicholas Northman. What of a middle name?”

“Is that common here?”

“Yes, but he does not need one.”

“I haven’t thought about one, but I’m open to suggestions if you have any.”

“We will think of one before he is born,” he said.

Sookie nodded and closed her eyes again.

“Would you like to sleep, love?”

“Yes. It’s been a long day for me.”

“Would you like to pop home, or shall I drive us?”

“I can pop home. You should stay and wow the females.”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“I’m sure. I’ll just go home, have a snack and go to sleep,” she said.

“Okay,” he said, and leaned forward to kiss her. “I will join you in a couple of hours.”

Sookie sat up, stretched for a moment and gave Eric a little wave before she disappeared from the office.

Eric went back out to his throne and sat to display himself. The women were much happier now that Sookie was no longer with him, and the men tried even harder. He was mostly amused but became bored with them all quickly. About an hour after he took the throne again he found that he was ready to be done for the night. He had somewhere he would much rather be.

He pulled out his phone and texted Pam to come to him, and a minute later she was there.

“I am going home now,” he told her. “Can you handle this by yourself?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“I will see you tomorrow night then,” he nodded, and she left to go back to the door.

Eric stood from his throne and glowered at all the people watching him, and then instead of slowly walking out of the bar, he used his speed. He went right out the back door and got into his car, then drove to Sookie’s house.

He could hear her breathing steadily when he stepped into the house, and followed the sound to her bedroom. She was on her side with one hand under her head, and the other on her stomach. Eric checked to make sure the windows were still covered, then stripped and climbed into bed with her. It was still a few hours before sunrise, but there was nothing else he would rather be doing.

He watched her as she slept, and listened to the two heartbeats. His son seemed to be sleeping too, and he was thankful for it. Sookie was uncomfortable most of the time, the last thing she needed was for Nicholas to be practicing his swordsmanship while she tried to rest.

Many thoughts swirled around in his head. He hoped to keep them both safe, and hoped that the fairies would not intervene again. The idea of the queen stepping in and trying to take either of them worried him, if only because he would kill her, and that would make him king. He did not want to be king. The amount of power he had now suited him. And kings never retired from the position. While it would give him more ability to protect Sookie and his child, it would also make everything more dangerous for them.

But there was Niall to consider. If Sophie-Anne tried anything, Niall would step in for his grandchild, as would Fintan. Eric only wanted to keep his family safe, and he knew he would go to great lengths to do it.

For now though, all he had to do was watch them sleep and wait for daylight to take him under. And that is just what he did.

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