Unspoken Feelings

A/N: Thanks, everyone, for your support through my first AH story! It was fun, but I'm ready to get back to the world of supernatural with the next adventure! I hope you all enjoy the conclusion to 'Unspoken Feelings'!

-Andi

Epilogue: An Unspoken Feeling

March 10, 2000

"I made it! It's over, it's done!" Eric announced as he arrived home to the apartment he shared with his wife. Sookie smiled at him as she waved from her spot on the couch, which he hoped she hadn't moved from too much while he'd been taking his midterms that day.

"Good job," she grimaced as she tried to rise, but the beach ball she was hiding under her shirt protested her efforts to stand. "Help?"

Eric smiled as he went to assist his wife off the couch. They were officially at the week of their due date, and the young father-to-be had his fingers crossed that Sookie would go into labor during his Spring Break so he would have time to help her with the baby while she recovered.

"How are you feeling?" Eric asked as he pulled Sookie to her feet before giving her belly a greeting caress.

"Crampy, tired, and I've nearly peed myself twice today because your son is practicing his River Dancing on my bladder," Sookie told him. "Other than that, I'm peachy."

"My son," Eric grinned. Truth be told, that short list of discomforts was the most he'd heard his wife complain about the entire pregnancy. He wasn't sure if Sookie was keeping a straight face through the pains of carrying their child or if the whole thing just agreed with her body. Considering she had become pregnant almost immediately after discontinuing her birth control, Eric had to muse that his wife was made to bring new life.

"Yes, yes," Sookie rolled her eyes. Eric had been beside himself since they had discovered they were having a boy. "Your son."

"Are you sure you're okay not having a proper nursery? I've got the whole week to-"

"Eric, there's no point going crazy decorating when we'll be moving up to Shreveport in less than three months," Sookie reminded him. It was true that she reallywanted her cute, elephant themed nursery to bring their son home to, but Sookie was nothing if not practical.

Eric sighed, "I know, I just want you to feel that you're bringing Alexander to a safe place."

"He'll be here with us. I know he'll be safe," Sookie assured him. "Are you evergoing to call him Alex?"

"I'm sure I will," he laughed. "For now, I like the way the full name feels."

"Are you getting nervous at all?" Sookie asked.

"Are you?" he countered.

"Dreading it," Sookie laughed.

"You could have fooled me," Eric admitted.

With a comforting smile, Sookie confessed, "I'm really nervous about how much it's going to hurt. I mean, I know it'll be worth it because I get Alex in the end, but not knowing how it's going to feel is scary."

Eric nodded, stamping down his concerns. So what if I still don't feel connected to our son yet? I can't let Sookie know that with her due date coming in just a couple days! Despite his terror that he was about to become his father, Eric hadn't been able to concern his wife about it. With any luck, he'd have Alexander in his hands, and something would just click like a light switch. If it didn't, he prayed that he could fake a connection better than his own father had. God, I know I don't talk to you very often, but please let me love him?

"Are you okay?" Sookie tilted her head curiously as she saw her husband's gaze grow distant.

"Just hoping he decides to show up on time so I can help you get settled in before Spring Break ends," Eric replied hastily.

Bringing Eric's hand to her lips, she kissed his knuckles soothingly. She wanted to tell him it was okay if he couldn't see past her to connect with Alex just yet. It was going to be alright that his focus was on his wife and not their child just yet. At the moment, Alex needed her and Sookie needed Eric. Once their son was in the world, Eric would finally know what it felt like to hold him and want to protect him; not just his wife.

"What's wrong, Love?" Eric reached forward to wipe away a tear Sookie hadn't realized was running down her cheek.

"I just want him here now," Sookie whispered and then sniffled on a laugh. "As scared as I am about labor, I just want him here." She held her arms in the shape of a cradle.

"I know. Me too," Eric assured as he leaned in a kissed his wife's lips. "Now, come on. You should be resting," he said as he tugged his wife toward their bedroom. As he began to kiss her, Sookie let out a sharp gasp and pushed at his chest.

"What's wrong?" Eric asked worriedly. "Did he get you in the lung again?"

"No," Sookie squinted her eyes briefly. "No, just a cramp."

"A contraction?" Eric felt his panic rising.

"Relax," Sookie laughed. "Cramps happen. Especially when he's active, and Alex has been dancing like crazy all day."

"You said you've been crampy all day," Eric reminded her. "So was this one sharper, or feel different?"

"Eric, I'm fine," Sookie smiled reassuringly.

"I'm calling the doctor."

"Eric," Sookie moaned in annoyance. That had been his solution through the entire pregnancy, and Sookie wouldn't blame tiny Dr. Ludwig one bitif she up and started charging enormous fees for all of her husband's phone calls.

"Hello, Dr. Ludwig," Eric had already dialed the well-memorized number, "this is Eric Northman… Again."

"What is it now, Northman?"Ludwig had a certain impatience with husbands but was slightly kinder to the mothers-to-be.

"Sookie's been cramped up all day," Eric began, used to the doctor's shortness with him. "She's been weepy, and now she's having sharper cramps than the rest of the day."

After some back and forth between Eric and Dr. Ludwig, with the occasional clarification from Sookie, the husband smiled to himself as he covered the receiver. "The doctor says it sounds like you're in early labor."

"What!?" Sookie cried in surprise.

Her husband grinned, "Told you so."

"But… But… It doesn't hurt all that much!" Sookie protested.

"Tell her to enjoy it while it lasts,"Ludwig replied, having heard the expectant mother. "Keep an eye on the frequency of the contractions. Call me and then get to the hospital when they're about five minutes apart for about an hour. When she can't talk through them, that's normal, just keep waiting it out until she's in the time frame. She'll be spending enough time in the hospital without prolonging it."

"Thank you, Doctor. I'll call you when we're on our way," Eric replied.

After hanging up, Eric looked at his pouting wife triumphantly.

"How'd you know?" Sookie's lip jutted out.

"Because you downplay everything," Eric smiled as he returned to bed and curled up with his wife. "So, didyou know you were in labor already?"

"I suspected," Sookie mumbled.

"And that's why you got all insecure and scared?" Eric guessed as he wrapped his arms around her belly.

"Yes," she admitted, "but I didn't want you to worry."

"How long have you been having contractions?" Eric whispered curiously.

"I had the first one a little bit before you got home," Sookie told him. "They're really mild, though. The one before you called Ludwig was the strongest so far. I don't think they're very consistent yet."

"Alright," he smiled as he kissed the spot behind her ear that his lips could reach.

"Alright? You're okay?" Sookie asked worriedly.

"I'm fine," he replied serenely.

If her belly weren't in the way, Sookie would have turned around to stare at him speculatively. "Really?"

Smiling, Eric answered, "Really. You're having our baby, and I will keep myself together for you."

"Dr. Ludwig told me she bets you faint during delivery," Sookie remarked.

"Does she?" Eric frowned. "Why?"

"She said you seemed like the type that would tense up trying to keep a straight face and end up keeling over," Sookie giggled.

"I won't faint," Eric assured her. "I couldn't leave you for a second through this."

Sookie laughed, "Do you remember the first time we saw Alex?"

"Oh, you mean the sonogram you held in front of my face with your finger literally pointing at him going, this is our baby!" Eric smiled at the memory.

"I was excited," Sookie smirked.

"I also remember watching you like a hawk every morning, ready to hold your hair back in case you finally got struck with morning sickness," Eric recollected. "This pregnancy really agreed with you, didn't it?"

"I loved being pregnant," Sookie admitted. "If I could be four months pregnant forever, I'd be happy. I didn't even have nausea anymore by the fourth month. I had the cutest little baby bump… Now I look like I'm trying to steal a prize turkey at all times."

"I don't know about that," Eric grimaced, "you've had a pretty bad case of pregnancy brain."

"Jeez, onetime I put the car keys in the freezer, and you'll never let me live it down," Sookie accused.

The couple reminisced as they lay in bed together, recalling the excitement and hardships of their first pregnancy. In Sookie's opinion, the hardest part, so far, had been overcoming her discomfort with peeing in front of her husband, but having a small human using her bladder as a pillow eventually forced her to deal with it. Eric had laughed the entire time he had been in the shower, and Sookie got her revenge by flushing the toilet. Her husband's yelp had brought a smile to her lips, grateful to be in an older building that gave her such opportunities.

As they lay in bed, Eric could hear the phone start to ring in the living room and sighed. It was probably Adele calling to check in on Sookie, so he crawled out of bed to answer it.

"Hello?" Eric rubbed his eyes tiredly. Midterms and coming home to his wife in labor was exhausting, but he reminded himself that Sookie was having a worse day.

"Mr. Northman?" a vaguely familiar voice greeted. "This is Desmond Cataliades."

The prosecutor from Bill Compton's case? Eric frowned. "What can I do for you?"

Mr. Cataliades replied. "I was hoping to speak to your wife."

"She's in labor right now. Can it wait a bit?" Eric replied. Talking about the case that would not begin was the last thing Sookie needed.

"Oh, congratulations!"Cataliades' voice turned more pleasant. "Can you tell her that Bill Compton finally flipped on Lorena Edgington? He's agreed to testify against her, and the trial will begin May 31st."

"I will tell her," Eric assured. "Thank you." As he hung up the phone, the man decided to wait until they were back home with their son before bringing up the topic. There was no point ruining Sookie's special day with news that wouldn't affect her for nearly three months.

Returning to their bedroom, Eric curled up once more with Sookie, arriving in time for another wave of pain. They continued trying to stay relaxed through the remainder of the evening.

Later, as Sookie's contractions progressed, strengthening and becoming more frequent; she knew this would be a far greater discomfort than bathroom privacy.

"Is that another one?" Eric asked in surprise.

"Yesss," Sookie hissed slowly through her teeth.

"They're getting a lot closer," Eric commented.

"No, really?" Sookie snapped.

Eric would have laughed if he wasn't so upset about Sookie's obvious pain.

"Sorry," Sookie let out a long sigh as the remainder of the contraction finished.

"Are you sure you won't want an epidural?" Eric tested again. He'd much rather she reduce the pain as much as possible.

"It's not fair asking me this now," Sookie frowned. "Of course I don't want to be in pain. That doesn't mean I'm going to change my mind, though!"

Eric soothed her hair to try and calm himself down. It was easy enough to keep his voice even, but his heart hadn't stopped pounding for the last hour. That can't be healthy, he thought distractedly.

As the afternoon melted away into early evening, Eric continued tending to Sookie, trying to get her to eat here and there and keep her strength up. When she admitted the contractions had her sick to her stomach, he opted to at least get her drinking a sports drink. That was easier for his wife to handle, and she guzzled a Gatorade between contractions. He would help her pace around the apartment as the movement eased some of the pain in her back, but Eric began feeling more and more helpless as the evening wore on.

It was nearly noon when the frequency of the waves were hitting Sookie too quickly to recover, and Eric decided it was time that they head for the hospital.

"Alright," Eric grabbed her bag and slung it over his shoulder, "hang out right there, Sookie. I'm going to call Ludwig and then I'll get your shoes on you."

"I'll just get my flip flops," Sookie groaned.

"It's barely in the 50's out there, Sookie," Eric argued as he picked up the phone.

"I don't care," Sookie shuffled toward the door and slid her feet into the squishy sandals.

Eric decided he was better off not arguing and finished dialing the hospital, "Dr. Ludwig, it's Eric Northman. We're heading your way."

"Already? You're not panicking and heading here early, are you?"Ludwig demanded.

"No," he sighed. "We were about ten minutes into five-minute intervals, and then Sookie was only four minutes apart."

"Get here,"Ludwig hung up.

Eric swallowed hard at the doctor's command. A light sheen of sweat broke out across his forehead as he distractedly checked his pockets for his keys and wallet.

"Ready," he rasped as he took his wife's hand and lead her toward the stairs.

"I forgot about the stairs,"Sookie wailed.

"Can you do it?" Eric asked worriedly.

"Yeeeesss," she sniffled.

"Do you want me to carry you down?" Eric opened his arms.

"You'll kill all three of us!" Sookie sobbed even harder.

"Oh my God," Eric groaned as he scooped Sookie into his arms. Her arms instinctively wrapped around his neck.

After safely arriving at the car, the actual trip took a while with the traffic surrounding the beginning of the school break. People would be going on vacations, going home to family, but Eric would be starting a family.

"How are you holding up?" Sookie patted her husband's hand.

With a gentle smile, he replied, "Hey, that's my line."

"I'm-" she sucked in a sharp breath.

"Another contraction?" Eric took her hand as she nodded tightly. His heart accelerated just as it had through every contraction beginning with mild all the way to whatever Sookie was experiencing now.

Once they arrived at the hospital, everything seemed to move too quickly for the young father-to-be. Eric felt wrapped in a whirlwind and wondered if Sookie was doing any better of a job taking it all in than he was. Sookie's legs were in stirrups, everyone was peeking in at her vagina, and Eric felt like he should be frustrated by strangers taking a look at his wife's goods.

Instead, Eric stared dumbly at his wife, and Sookie gave him a pitying smile. "It's okay, Eric."

"I don't know what to do," Eric confessed as Dr. Ludwig strutted into the room.

"I've been telling you that since the beginning," Ludwig sneered at the husband. "That's why your wife listens to meand not you." Taking a seat between her patient's thighs, Ludwig felt around and smiled, "Well, it looks like you're ready."

"Already!?" Eric yelped.

"Get him out," Sookie moaned.

"The baby or the husband?" Ludwig teased.

"The baby!" Sookie snapped.

"Alright, alright. Daddy, hold Mommy's hand, and I don't want to hear another word out of you," Ludwig instructed.

That command was simple enough for Eric to follow. He didn't know what to say anyway.

Again the world turned uninformative, but instead of a whirlwind, Eric felt like he was now in slow motion. As he glanced down to see how things were moving along, the man felt his vision narrow into a tunnel at what appeared to be the biggest baby head in the history of the world breaking through his wife's vagina like a wrecking ball. Sookie was screaming, his hand felt like it might break, and all Eric could think was, Shit, I might actually pass out-

"You made it!" Ludwig crowed happily as she held up a shrieking bundle. "Do you want to cut the cord, Daddy?"

Suddenly, a sharp pair of scissors were in Eric's hand, and a nurse ambivalently held his hand steady, practically cutting the cord herself. Then, the scissors were taken from him, and a baby was put in his awkwardly poised hands.

"Hi," Eric said dumbly as he stared at the squinted eyes and misshapen head. "You look like you've been through a worse day than me," he laughed in near hysterics. "I think you should see the real hero of the day, though." Sitting in the chair near Sookie's head, Eric turned their son to lay across his wife's breast.

"Alex!" Sookie's arms wrapped around her son happily. "Oh, I've wanted you here for so long!" She planted kisses all along his uneven scalp.

"Okay, okay, we need to get the baby cleaned up and checked up," Ludwig patted Sookie's thigh. "And I need to get youcleaned up and fixed up."

"Eric, stay with Alex," Sookie kissed her husband's hand.

"I will," he assured. "Take care of my wife, Ludwig."

Sookie was surprised how readily Eric agreed to leave her side, but her heart warmed that he finally saw Alex as more than part of her.

Barely able to crane her head to keep her husband and son in view, Sookie felt tears drip down her cheeks as she saw Eric play with Alex's little foot as he was weighed and washed.

"You're so brave, Alex," she heard Eric whisper. "Daddy's so proud! I love you so much!"

{†}

September 13, 2004

"Hey, Northman!" Eric looked up from his desk at the person calling his name to find Sookie's Great Uncle Dermot approaching. "I thought you were taking the week off because the old Sperm Bank is due this week!"

"How about if you ever call my wife that again, I call HR?" Eric replied.

Ever since starting work as an accountant at Elfyria nearly four years ago, Eric had quickly decided that the company was not one he wished to remain a part of for very long. Sixty-hour work weeks for an accountant year round! He thought sourly, remembering how the hours became even more grueling around tax season. The time he had with his wife and sons was already limited, and working for a prestigious firm did nothing to make the time away from his family acceptable.

Dermot scowled, "I was merely making a joke that your wife is practically a professional at having children. This is your fourth, isn't it?"

"Yes, but our last birth was twins," Eric reminded that Lukas and Leif were twins.

Sookie had chosen the names because she had been reading about Leif Ericson and thought it would be funny because Leif wouldbeEric's son. After that, Lukas had been an easy pick because she wanted the twins' names to start with the same letter.

"Eric!" A new voice chimed happily, and Eric turned his head to see Fintan approaching.

"Hi, Fintan," Eric greeted with a nod.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were staying home this week with Sookie and the kids?" Fintan smiled.

"I forgot to print out some paperwork," Eric shrugged.

"Paperwork?" Fintan tilted his head curiously.

A letter of resignation, Eric thought smugly. It had taken a bit of time after Pam's graduation, but they all had their inheritance now. Elfyria had no pull on him any longer.

"Yes," Eric nodded, "and now I have it, so I'm going home."

"Well, take care, and if you need Addy and me to watch the boys; don't hesitate to call," Fintan hugged Eric excitedly. "Another great-grandson!"

"Yes," Eric smiled tightly. He didn't like Dermot's continued presence in the room.

"Have you decided on a name for this one?" Fintan asked.

"Beck," Eric's smile softened.

"Beck?" Fintan asked curiously.

Eric shrugged, "Sookie finally let me pick a name."

Fintan laughed and patted Eric's back, "Have a good week off. Take plenty of pictures of the new arrival."

"You got it," Eric waved goodbye, tempted to signal with his middle finger to Dermot, but resisting admirably.

The other reason Eric felt comfortable abandoning his job at Elfyria was because a corner commercial lot had finally gone up for sale, which would give Eric and Sookie the last piece of the puzzle they needed for their dream. Once the property was purchased, bulldozed and built back up, the couple would erect the bakery Sookie had envisioned. Above the quaint shop would be their home, not two blocks away from their children's future school.

As Eric drove home, he couldn't help but to cruise past the site of their future business and home. Parking momentarily across the street from the location, Eric smiled as he visualized the French revival inspired building. The main floor would be for the bakery, which his new cousin-in-law, Alcide, had insisted they call 'Sookie's Cookies,' and there would be little bistro chairs and tables outside as well as inside. A pretty, white building with a blue roof, as Sookie had often described.

Finally, Eric pulled back onto the road and finished his drive home. As he came to their apartment door, he could hear Alex crying and Sookie tiredly soothing him.

"Mommy's not dying, Alex," Sookie tried to explain. "Your brother's coming, that's all."

Shit, Eric sighed. I leave her alone for one hour, and she goes into labor!

Opening the door, Eric promptly scooped up his oldest son. "Hey, Big Man," Eric noisily kissed Alex's cheek. "Go check on your brothers," he gave his son a tight hug, plopped him back on his feet and patted his bottom to get him going down the hallway. "Hey, Mamma," Eric came up behind his wife where she stood leaning tiredly over the sink, shifting her weight, "how far apart?"

"You'll kill me," Sookie grumbled.

Eric sighed, "You're already five minutes apart, aren't you?"

"I'm crowning," Sookie replied.

Eric's eyes widened as he realized Sookie was standing on a towel that was sopping up the blood streaming down her legs. No wonder Alex thought she was dying, he sighed.

"Did you call Claudine?" Eric asked.

"Yes, when the contractions got consistent," Sookie replied.

"When was that?"

"Thirty minutes a-a-go," Sookie gritted her teeth.

"You can't just go through early labor without telling anyone, Sookie," Eric told her. "This is our fourth child. Your body is like a waterslide now!"

Reaching out, Sookie grabbed her husband's ear and gave it a yank, "You will take that back!"

"Ah, ah!" Eric snarled, "I meant… OW! I mean, your body is- JESUS! I can't apologize while you're ripping my ear off!"

"You don't get to name him now!" Sookie howled.

"Sookie, let go, I have to catch him," Eric put his hands up his wife's dress and cradled them to receive his son. With another shouting heave from his wife, Eric was holding Beck in his hands.

"Mommy," Alex's voice chimed. "Mommy, did you die?"

"Alex," Eric patted his newborn on the back until a tiny wail filled the air, "push that kitchen chair over here. Mommy needs to sit down."

Dutifully, Alex grabbed a chair by the seat and dragged it across the linoleum so that Sookie could sit down heavily upon it.

"Is dat Beck?" Alex grinned happily at the baby in Eric's bloodied arms.

"Yes, it is," Eric introduced his sons. "How are your brothers?"

"Sleepin'," Alex shrugged disappointedly.

"That's good," Eric was wiping Beck's face with his sleeve, trying to clear the birthing fluids from his mouth, nose, and eyes. "Aunt Claudine will be here soon, and then I have to take Mommy and Beck to the doctor. Can you go play in your room until Aunt Claudine gets here?"

"Yes, Daddy," Alex nodded his head but sulked all the way back to his room.

When they were alone, Eric turned to his wife, "I'm sorry I called your vagina a waterslide."

"I'm sorry I nearly ripped your ear off," Sookie grimaced as she felt the void in her womb and the encore of the afterbirth. "Can I have Beck?"

"You're letting me keep the name?" Eric smiled.

"That's the name Alex knows him by," Sookie reached out her arms for her youngest son. "Besides… My vagina is a water slide," She sniffled.

"Oh, Sookie," Eric had to restrain a laugh, "it's the bestwater slide."

"Even for my husband?" Sookie looked at him with a pout.

"Especially for your husband," Eric assured as he leaned in and kissed her lips.

The snap of the front door made Eric look over at Claudine and her husband who were standing in the doorway, staring into the kitchen.

"Well," Alcide's eyes were wide, "we missed a fucking party."

{†}

January 11, 2007

"Wake up, Love," Eric whispered to his wife. "Today's the day."

Sookie groaned, "What's the point?"

"What do you mean?" Eric frowned as he spooned behind his wife.

"This is my fifth pregnancy, Eric. This is my secondpregnancy with twins," Sookie sighed as she kept her eyes shut.

"What does that have to do with your ultrasound today?" Eric asked as he played with the ends of her hair.

"Everything feels like every other pregnancy," Sookie shrugged.

"We get to find out the babies' sexes," Eric pointed out.

"They'll be boys. They're alwaysboys," Sookie pouted. "You're so darn masculine all you got are baby boy darts."

"I don't know," Eric frowned, "I got a good feeling about this one."

"Eric, you get a good feeling for all the pregnancies. That's how I end up pregnant," Sookie smiled as she gingerly rolled over.

"Come on," Eric tugged her fully onto her other side, "Godric and Thalia will be here in a few minutes. You don't want her thinking pregnancy is dull, do you? She'll be blind-sided when Alice is born."

Sookie pouted. She'd wanted to use Eric's mother's name for their first daughter, but pregnancy after pregnancy, she'd pushed out boys. Now, Godric was married to a beautiful woman he met in his abnormal psychology class, and on their first try were having a baby girl. If their next child was a boy, Sookie was going to be a little frustrated.

"We can always stop after this pregnancy, Sookie," Eric reminded her. "We don't haveto have a girl."

"But I want a girl," Sookie pouted.

"I know you do," Eric smiled. "Come on, you need to feed Andy before my brother gets here."

Sookie groaned, but let herself be heaved out of bed. Maybe this should be our last pregnancy, she considered as she dressed. Their bakery was under construction and would be opening later that Fall, and it couldn't come soon enough because Shreveport just didn't have apartments for families of nine! Poor Alex looked about ready to murder something, sharing a room with all of his younger brothers ranging from a year to six years old. When they finally moved onto the corner lot the bakery was being built on, they would all be able to spread their arms out.

"I think this should be our last pregnancy," Sookie whispered as she found her shoes and finished dressing.

Eric turned to look at his wife in surprise. "Are you serious, or just tired?" He remembered that when she was carrying Leif and Luke, that Sookie had said something similar, but had changed her mind shortly after they were born.

"I don't know," she confessed, but in her heart, she was certain that she was done. Sevenkids all under the age of ten and a business opening in a few short months… Sookie just couldn't fathom handling all of it.

A soft smile tugged at his lips. Sookie's tired, he decided as he leaned in and gave his wife a soft kiss. "How about, this time, after the babies come, we start using birth control again. Maybe you need a break."

Sookie leaned her forehead against her husband's shoulder. "I thought you said I'm having a girl this time?"

"I still think that," Eric chuckled, "but after Alex was born, I never gave another thought to the having more until we have one of each. It became more of a 'keep going until Sookie says she's had enough,' thing."

"I know," Sookie smiled. "The way you followed him around the hospital room after he was born, and the doctor was finishing up with me… I knew that 'Daddy,' was officially stamped on your heart. Even while I was still recovering from labor, you just couldn't stand with me and leave him."

"I'm sorry," Eric grimaced.

"No, don't be sorry," Sookie laughed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "It's how it should be. Our babies should always come first."

Without realizing it, Eric felt their bodies begin to rock and sway in a silent dance. He remembered returning to Elfyria after the twins were born and discovering that his body had forgotten how to be still. He stepped from side to side while standing, and he churned in his seat while sitting. After continuous rocking of his children to sleep, Eric had stopped realizing that he was doing it without a baby in his arms.

After the comforting sway of their bodies ceased, Sookie went to check on her youngest to make sure he was fed before they left.

As Andrew clamped onto her breast, Sookie shut her eyes and remembered the day he was born. She'd told Eric she was in labor as soon as she felt it, and they had made their way to the hospital. Unfortunately, there had been a car accident en route, and Sookie had delivered Andy in the car in front of God and everybody on Highland Avenue.

When Andrew finished his meal, Sookie brought him out to the living room to romp around with his brothers. Alex was playing with his action figures, Leif and Luke were about to decapitate one of their identical stuffed dogs because (well, Sookie wasn't quite sure why), and Beck was coloring with a pout on his little face.

"What's wrong, Munchkin?" Sookie asked as she sat on the floor with Andy over his shoulder and a hand patting firmly over his back to ease the milk burps.

"I wanna puppy," Beck sniffled, looking longingly at the poor stuffed animal that the twins were fighting over.

"Why don't you play with Leif's puppy?" Sookie suggested, pointing to the toy that had been spared the draw and quartering.

"I wanna realpuppy," Beck whined. "Alex says we don't get real puppies, just brudders."

Sookie smiled, amused at her oldest son's point. "Maybe when you guys are older and show you can take care of one. After all, I have to take care of you and your little brothers. I don't have time to take care of a puppy too."

"So, if you stop having babies, we can have a puppy instead?"

Oh, no, Sookie frowned. Her boys were definitely over expanding their family. Maybe it really is time to stop trying, she considered. After all, I've already got the best five boys a mom could want. Without meaning it to, a tear escaped Sookie's eye, and she wiped at it in annoyance. The tears had been her first clue that she was carrying twins before the doctor even confirmed she was pregnant. After her experience carrying Luke and Leif, Sookie knew all the variations between a single and double pregnancy, and the increased waterworks were a trademark of twins for her.

A knock at the door had Sookie crawling back to her feet, and she smiled happily at the big belly greeting her at the door.

"Hey, Thalia," Sookie leaned around the globe between them and hugged her sister-in-law.

"Hi, Sookie," Thalia returned the hug begrudgingly, her face sour.

"It looks like you could be having a better day," Sookie commented apologetically.

"Alice is hyper today," Godric explained as he leaned in the door and hugged Sookie. "Thalia didn't sleep too well because of it."

"She's learning to play the drums on my kidneys," Thalia grumbled.

"Are you sure you're up for babysitting?" Sookie asked, prepared to bypass the ultrasound for now.

"Are you kidding?" Godric laughed, "We need to find out if you finally got a girl in there!"

Sookie resisted the urge to pout. It was worth going for an ultrasound to shut everyone up! And who knows, maybe everyone's persistent optimism will pay off, she forced herself to consider.

Once the boys were settled in with their Uncle and Aunt, Sookie and Eric made their way to the car. It was always strange not to have a backseat of boys, but the silence was welcome. The pair basked in the quiet the entire ride to the doctor's office, and Sookie found her eyes gently shutting shortly before Eric parked in front of the building.

"We're here," he announced in a smiling voice that made Sookie's eyes open and her teeth shine with their own smile. Five pregnancies, two of which he'd delivered himself, and her husband still treated each one with excitement.

As they walked into the waiting room, the receptionist smiled and waved, "Hi, again, Mrs. Northman! You gonna let Dr. Kemper deliver this set?"

"We'll see," Sookie smiled as she signed in for her appointment and went to sit and wait for her turn.

They sat quietly, waiting for their turn with the doctor, and it was in that time that Sookie began to truly make up her mind. After this set of twins, she and Eric would have seven kids. That was even more than Sookie had initially planned on having. Each little boy had brought more and more happiness to their lives, and she wouldn't trade any one of the men in her life for a little girl. Still, her body was saying she was done. She felt that she spent more time pregnant and asleep than she did with her family.

"No matter what," Sookie mumbled, "this is the last pregnancy."

Eric glanced down at his shoulder and the blonde head that rested on it. She sounded more determined than he'd ever heard. A small weight on his heart pulled the beating organ toward his stomach, but Eric knew it was the disappointment of this being the last pregnancy. Despite all the fears and insecurities he'd had through the first experience, Eric had discovered that fatherhood agreed with him much like motherhood agreed with Sookie.

"Okay," Eric took Sookie's hand and kissed her knuckles. "You're getting your girl this time. I knowyou are."

"It doesn't matter," Sookie smiled, her eyes still gently shut. "I love all my men." Her eyes opened to gaze up at Eric adoringly. "We gave it everything we had, and if this set of twins are boys, too, then that was God's plan."

Smiling, Eric held his wife's hand as they waited to be called to the examination room. When their name was announced, Eric found himself doing something he rarely ever did. In fact, it was only during pregnancy that the man felt the compulsion. He prayed.

As much as having a daughter terrified him, he wanted it. Being an older brother to Pam had come with annoyances and heartaches, but he wouldn't have traded his sister for a younger brother.

"Good morning, Mrs. Northman," Dr. Kemper greeted as she arrived in the examination room. "How are we feeling?"

"Pretty on par with every other time," Sookie assured.

After the routine exam was completed, it was finally time for the ultrasound.

"Well, there's baby boy number six," Dr. Kemper laughed after a moment of swiveling the wand around and finally finding an angle that gave her answers.

Letting out a long sigh, Sookie felt annoyance with herself when a pang of disappointment thrummed at her heart. She didn't mean to feel it, and guilt quickly followed with the annoying tears that always accompanied negative emotions during her pregnancies. Even Eric's firm hand squeezing her own couldn't bring any comfort.

"And baby number seven," Dr. Kempter smiled, "is going to cause a lot of broken hearts in sixteen years when her brothers start scaring off the boyfriends."

"Her?" Sookie gasped.

"You finally got your girl!" Dr. Kemper grinned.

In a brief moment that neither her doctor nor her husband could fathom, Sookie felt a spectrum of emotions that ranged from guilt to elation. Her guilt over the excitement of finally having a girl was quickly swept aside.

"I'll give you two a minute," the doctor smiled as she left the couple alone with the image of their children frozen on the monitor.

"I can't believe this is the first and last time someone's going to tell me we are having a daughter," Eric whispered as he took Sookie's hand in his and squeezed it.

"It feels like we've come a long way, doesn't it?" Sookie laughed.

"When I remember the girl you were when we first met, and see the woman you are now," Eric took a deep breath and then laughed, "it feels like I've lived a thousand years. I love you so much."

"I love you, too," Sookie whispered.

As Eric leaned in to kiss his wife and the mother of his children, he felt his heart expanding for her. His love for Sookie had changed so much over the last eleven years that they had known each other. She had gone from a silent, unobtrusive girl to a wise, firmly spoken woman. True, Sookie still held her tongue quite often when she wasn't among close family or friends, but when she chose to talk, it was with accuracy and conviction. Most of all, he loved the way she spoke to him and their children. Every syllable was filled with love when she wasn't in labor, and she made the men in her life know that they were cherished.

"Eric!" Sookie laughed as she wiped away the tears that spilled unbidden from her husband's eyes. She kissed the wet trails and then his lips again.

When the soft plumpness of her lips pressed against his mouth, Eric tried to pour all of his love and affection into this kiss. There were no words for what Sookie meant to him. There was no explaining how she had changed him into a man he never thought he could become. It had all been effortless on her part. Everything had come so naturally. Being a husband and father with Sookie by his side had Eric searching to comprehend how he had been so scared before.

He wished again and again that there was a word for how Sookie and their family made him feel, but he knew there was no point grasping for one. She knew, and so did their boys. So would the little boy and girl that would soon join their family. There was no need to create a word. It could always remain an unspoken feeling.

The End

A/N: Check out my wordpress page for release date on my next story! There's a link in my bio. Or just go to dream7me7to7sleep at wordpress dot com.