Disclaimer: I do not own any of Charlaine Harris' characters or ideas.

Author's Note: This chapter jumps around lot, in time and location. I tried to keep the changes clear with separators and headers. Hopefully it's not too confusing. Here we go:

CHAPTER 11

The Fae Realm

"Rush her to the healer!" Niall ordered as he and Claudine arrived in the Fae's realm. Claudine handed Sookie's limp body over to Claude, who was waiting nearby. He cradled her in his arms and disappeared.

Claudine wiped at the tear stains that ran down her cheeks. "I should have been there for her. I should have been aware! I would have had I not been off trying to get my wings. They'll get taken away for this anyway now."

"My child, we must have strength that this will turn out fine. We must see to it." Niall comforted her solemnly while his own mind wandered, hoping for some possible solution to back up his promise. "I must go see Ashan and hear of Sookie's diagnosis," he said as he disappeared with a faint pop.

In what would be the Fae's equivalent to a hospital's intensive care unit, the healer fairy worked frantically over Sookie's unconscious form. Instruments and machines, that barely resembled the far inferior human medical instruments, were hooked up to her body.

"What is the verdict, Ashan?" Niall asked the healer, hoping against hope for the best.

Ashan shook his head, "Her heart is damaged beyond repair, she has lost a tremendous amount of blood, she… I see no way of mending the damage done here. She has only moments left." He answered gravely.

"Well then we better act fast," came a voice from the corner of the room. It was Claudine. Even in the fae realm, where fairies do not bother to mask their radiant supernatural forms, she outshone them all. The ethereal light she was emitting made it clear to the three fairies in the room what was occurring within her. Only Niall picked up on what she was implying, he conferred quickly with Ashan.

"Such an operation has never even been attempted before. The chance of her mortal body accepting it is less than zero." Ashan looked shocked at the suggestion.

"But she is not fully mortal." Niall countered.

"And she will have my aid." Claudine added.

"Well from the looks of you," Ashan took in her glowing form, "we only have moments left to act." He looked at the assistant standing beside him. "Cut her open. We'll do the transplant."

~0~0~0~0~0~

Back in New Orleans

Suddenly the room was deathly quiet; occupied by two stunned vampires slumped against the cement wall and another badly decomposing one on the floor. Eric was the first to stand; his fangs ran down as he searched the room with his eyes. The door opened and Bill stood by Eric's side. Pam and Sandy came in from the lit hallway.

"What in the devil's name happened here?" Sandy asked as she eyed the messy corpse of Victor. Pam was silent, overwhelmed by the pain and anger she sensed from her maker. Bill spoke up.

"Victor escaped. He… killed Sookie." He said quietly in a pained voice, disbelief choking his words.

"We don't know that she is dead." Eric interrupted angrily through gritted teeth.

Bill sighed sadly and knelt to the blood stain by his feet. His hand hovered over the large red spill, still radiating heat to his vampire senses. "Can you still feel her, through your bond?" Bill asked. Eric was silent. "I can't," Bill added.

"It is fading." Eric admitted, defeated. Pam went to her master's side. The pain of a bond being ripped apart is excruciating, or so she has heard. Eric showed no outward discomfort but leaned on his child for strength. It was obvious to all the vampires in the room the pain he was in.

"I'm contacting the King; we will have an emergency meeting." Sandy offered as she flipped open her cellular phone. The room fell back into silence.

Suddenly Eric was controlling himself no more. He fell to his knees with an ear-shattering roar that echoed from the cold basement of the hotel, up to its penthouse suite. Two bloodstained streaks ran down his cheeks as he closed his eyes for a long moment.

"She is gone." Eric said defeat and heartache flickered across his pale face before he resumed his stoic expression. For the moment the pain was gone and anger was all that remained. "How did Victor escape?" Eric demanded.

"We thought he was as good as dead- finally dead. He was put down here and the door was locked from the outside. We didn't expect him to be strong enough to escape."

"He had no guards?" Eric asked through clenched teeth.

"We thought it was unnecessary." Sandy explained.

"I need to see de Castro immediately."

Sandy nodded and the four vampires headed for the stairs.

~0~0~0~0~0~

Felipe de Castro sat silently at the head of the small rectangular table in his penthouse suite. Sandy sat in the seat nearest him, while the rest of the table was occupied by Eric, Bill, and Pam.

"This is a great loss, for your area as well as myself; I am sure you realize that." Felipe explained as he folded his hands on the tabletop in front of him. Both Eric and Bill emitted a quiet, but threatening, growl. "Of course I understand there is a personal loss on your part. The telepath endeared herself to you all. And there is the physical loss to you, sheriff, I know losing a bonded is painful. I'm sorry for that."

"Thank you, your Majesty." Eric sneered. "Unfortunately, you are responsible for her death. You failed to securely detain the prisoner she identified as your assassin, while she was under your official orders of protection. You-"

The loud crash of Felipe's fists hitting the tabletop interrupted Eric's next accusation. "Sheriff, do you forget that you were ordered to be the one providing said protection? I do not micromanage! You failed to protect her as well."

This time Pam voiced her disapproval, her growl louder and more ferocious than the previous two.

"However," the king raised his hand in feigned defense, "there were mistakes made on our staff's end as well. Those responsible for detaining Victor will be punished directly by me. As for your area's reparations, Ms. Stackhouse provided your area, and more directly, your status Mr. Northman, with quite a bit of power. That has unjustly been taken from you." The king paused, taking in the blond vampire's stoic stature, daring him to react. "You have proven yourself quite capable of handling that power, dealing with authority, coping with… disasters. With Victor's death we have a position available, the senior lieutenant of Louisiana."

Pam's eyes went wide, her and Bill exchanging questioning glances. Sandy looked to her king, looking almost annoyed but mostly silently respectful. Eric remained unmoved.

"That position could be yours. You would have ultimate authority in Louisiana, second only to me." The king tempted with a smile.

Eric's expression did not change; his anger and disgust were evident to his child but no one else. To Bill's shock, and Pam's delight, Eric answered, "I accept your reparations."

~0~0~0~0~0~

Fae Realm

"Niall, I cannot believe my eyes. This mortal's body is much stronger than I had believed. It's actually taking." The Fae Healer stared down in disbelief at the body of Sookie Stackhouse, which looked very pale and very still. It didn't help that her chest was currently cut open, exposing her heart which beat faintly, yet steadily. Did it look like a human heart? The size was about the same, with the same functioning parts. The only noticeable difference was the unnatural glow and shimmer which seemed to radiate from within.

"It is true no mortal should be able to survive any transplant of fae organs. However, my Sookie is not fully mortal. And, I believe we do have heaven on our side." Niall said, a slight smile spreading across his face.

"Angels..." Claude murmured from across the room. He shook his head fondly. "I'm glad she made it, but I never thought she actually would, that I'd have to see her leave."

"Honestly, I expected this to be nothing more than a pile of fairy dust," Ashan said, unable to take his eyes off the beating heart.

"Now what?" Niall asked, back to business.

"Well, it will take a very long time for her body and the foreign parts to fully accept one another. She will have to be kept in suspended animation for months while her body adapts." Ashan answered.

"Very well. See me immediately if there is anything you need." Niall ordered and turned towards the door. "Claude, come with me."

The two fairies strode away from Sookie's chambers.

"What will we tell the humans that care about her?" Claude asked.

"We will tell them she is dead. Please take care of writing the obituary so that the word gets out. Sookie had many enemies and it will be easier if they all know she is gone. I don't plan on her returning to the human realm any time soon."

"But what of the vampires that saw us take her? Surely they will not believe-"

"The vampire she was bonded with, he felt her death. They will all believe." Niall answered authoritatively.

~0~0~0~0~0~

6 Months Later

Bon Temps

Bill sighed with heavy annoyance at the ringing coming from the cell phone in his pocket. It was Pam. And he knew it was Pam because she had set his phone to ring to some obnoxious club hit. Knowing he'd regret it, he answered the phone.

"Bill, I was beginning to wonder if you were going to pick up." Pam's voice came coolly through the phone.

"I was just enjoying the ring tone you selected." Bill answered, Pam scoffed.

"Listen, Eric will be returning from New Orleans a week earlier than planned. He finished with business down there quicker than expected."

"Yes well he has been, focused, to say the least these past few months."

Pam scoffed again. "This is why I'm calling. He will want information from you regarding Sookie's whereabouts."

"I have no new information."

"With all of your contacts? I would think you would know someone who is able to get a straight answer out of the fairies!" Pam's temper began to flair.

"I don't have any information because we already have it all. Sookie is dead. I felt her die. Eric felt her die. Claude says she's dead. No human, vampire, were, or fairy has seen her. Don't you think I would find her if she could be found?" Bill's temper began to match Pam's. She took a long, unneeded breath.

"What about Claudine? Have you gotten a hold of her?"

"Claudine is another story. Claude says she has moved on to new assignment's since her main charge died. Others say she is in the Fae Realm heart-stricken with grief. In other rumors, well, some claim she achieved angeldom."

"Well good fucking job for her. I wouldn't promote a failed fairy godmother to guardian angel. But I guess I'm not exactly the authority on the matter." Pam mused, her temper subsiding. "I still think if Sookie was dead they would reveal the corpse."

Bill flinched at the thought. "I hear the Fairy Prince wanted her interred in the Fae Realm."

"Fairies..." Pam murmured with disgust.

"How is Eric... coping?" Bill asked. He hadn't actually spoken with him directly in months. Almost all contact with Eric went through Pam, who relished her new authority.

"Eric is fine. I do not know what you are insinuating. Louisiana is returning to her former glory under his lead. You need not worry with the Lieutenant's well-being; worry about your own." Pam's tone was unjustly defensive. Bill could sense this. In reality, Pam worried for her master who was now living on almost solely artificial means. She hadn't seen him feed on a human since the incident. He is pale, even for a vampire. But he is also strong and leading his state with single-minded focus. At least he was the type that channeled his anger into his work.

It had been a few moments of silence before Bill realized the Pam had hung up. He knew something was amiss with Eric, but was unwilling to believe that Eric was capable of caring for Sookie so much as to let her death unnerve him. He had accepted that Sookie would no longer return to him months before she actually died, and was lucky that helped dampen the pain of her death, if only a little.

~0~0~0~0~0~

Fae Realm

I began to open my eyes without any real memory of shutting them. All I can see is white nothingness that is neither bright nor dim. I can't see walls, a floor, a ceiling. I can feel I am laying down; it's extremely comfortable. It's like I'm in some kind of thick mist. Suddenly I'm very aware of the fact that I have no idea, in addition to where I am, how long I've been here. I remember the knife, the cold stabbing second of pain after which I felt nothing. I remember being in Eric's arm's. His red tears mingling with my own blood that drenched my clothing. And then... nothing. But that seemed forever ago. Years? How long have been here? I began to panic; I felt my blood start to pump fast, echoing in my ears. I struggled to free myself but found myself bound with wires I hadn't even noticed. I reached my arms up, searching for freedom, but they only felt the walls of an invisible barrier, only inches from my face. Panic turned to fear.

"Sookie. Sookie." A comforting voice called my name, it sounded muffled. "You are safe. This is your great grandfather."

The invisible barrier was lifted. Fresh, cool air flooded my skin and my lungs choking me. My eyes burned as they were exposed to real light. For no real reason, I began to cry and Niall held me to his chest.

"Shh. Sookie. You are safe." He hummed into my hair.

I began to regain a hold on my sanity. I started to slowly become aware of my surroundings. I was in a small white room. The materials on the walls and the floors were foreign to me. I suppose they would be considered paint and carpet but they were so soft and so perfect. I was in a bed, well it was more like a capsule, with its encompassing lid. I looked down to find myself very... naked. I gasped and covered myself. Niall merely chuckled and gave me a blanket. Once I was covered I realized how very pale I was. As I examined my skin I noticed something doubly concerning; there was a large straight scar in the middle of my chest. I ran my finger over it, it was soft and raised. It was whiter than my skin and had a faint glow to it.

"What happened to me?" I asked Niall, tears once again threatening to appear.

Niall sighed. "You were attacked by Victor while at the conference in New Orleans with the vampires."

"I remember that." I interjected.

"Yes well, Claudine sensed your danger but I'm afraid we were too late. We got you just before those vampires had a chance to turn you and we brought you here."

I flinched at his cold reference to the vampires and at the thought of one of them, likely Eric, trying to turn me. "Where is here?" I asked.

"This is the Fae's Realm. You are the closest thing to a human to have ever been here in a very long time. You are very special to us Sookie. Of course you are special to me, you are my blood. However you are special to all of the Fae."

"Why am I so special, grandfather?"

"You have an uncanny connection to all of the supernatural world. You have made yourself especially valuable to the vampires with your gift. You have indebted yourself to the shifters through your sheer courageousness, caring, and honor. You have made an impact on the few Fae you have met, and you are part of us, especially now."

"However, with all this comes a new responsibility. You have a certain level of amnesty amongst so many of the supernatural beings that you are in a special position, one that may find itself invaluable in the coming time. There is quite real talk of the Were's coming out of the closet. There is the makings of a Fae war brewing. The humans are becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the growing awareness of a supernatural world. This all speaks of a delicate balance. We Fae are an especially secretive race. We need our interests covered on Earth but it is increasingly difficult for us to acquire this for ourselves. This is where you come in Sookie. As times become uncertain and volatile you can use your gifts and your connections to ease tensions on Earth and maintain our interests as well. I don't predict that this will be the case for a very long time, Sookie. Until that time, I will keep you here, where you will be safe."

"Grandfather, what you speak of is overwhelming and terrifying. I know you think highly of me, but I am only a tiny bit Fae. I am a human, my body is fragile and my lifeline is short."

"Sookie," Niall chuckled, "you will not be alone. And you are less human than you think. Which brings us to how you are still alive today, do you remember anything that happened to you?"

"No, I barely remember the attack by Victor."

"Well Sookie, you were stabbed by Victor, in the heart. I'm afraid it was a fatal wounding."

I couldn't help but gasp. My head was swimming, and sinking, with the thoughts of what could have happened to me.

"We rushed you here because our medical technologies are much more advanced than the humans. You also had very little time. Even our best healer could not save you. But one thing could. Claudine."

Claudine! How I missed Claudine. Where was she? I wanted to see her, especially now.

"The heart that beats inside you, well, it is hers."

I thought I was going to faint. Niall grasped my hand in his, and rubbed it gently with his fingers. He paused to let me regain my focus. Before I could let out my barrage of questions, however, he continued.

"Claudine earned her wings; she has become an angel. When one makes this change they cannot take their physical body with them. And so, with unnaturally perfect timing, we got you just as we lost her. We know she is watching over you even now as such a transplant could never be successful, naturally, not with only the little fae blood that flows through your veins."

"So am I... am I a fairy now?" I asked. It was the only question I could form. Every thought and question was lost in the mess and confusion that was my mind. None of this made any logical sense.

Niall laughed again. "No, my dear Sookie, you are not Fae. It is hard to tell what benefits, or possible problems, will arise from this. It has never been done before; it will likely never happen again. From the tests we have been able to perform we have some guesses. We believe you will be stronger; you will likely live longer. In many ways you are like the half fae children, most of our strengths with little of our weaknesses. A mortal wounding will likely not kill you. However we do not know what effect lemon will have on you. Cold iron will, of course, be fatal if you are struck correctly with it. Then there is the question of your lifeline. We theorize that it will be more like that of the half fae than of a human, but of course this is conjecture. Your blood seems to still be human from what we can tell, now that your body has full accepted the transplant."

At this point Niall seemed to be talking more to himself than to me. As he rambled about possible theories of what I could survive or what could kill me, I found myself oddly not interested. Perhaps after surviving a very near death experience the last thing one would want to discuss is possible murder methods. I wondered how long I had been here in the Fae's realm. It felt like a very long time. Of course I had no real concept of time here, but it felt like ages. I also found myself mourning for Claudine. I was so proud of her accomplishment but it sounded like I would never see her again. Niall says she is watching, but I can't feel her, even if her heart beats within me. Then there were my friends and family. Well, by family I guess I meant Jason. Did they know what happened to me? And what about Eric? Eric. We had finally reconciled so many of our problems, only for me to be ripped away as I lay cradled in his arms. I thought of Laura's prediction and how right it had been. How long had it been? I must ask Niall, later. Right now I must sleep.

~0~0~0~0~0~

6 More Months Later

The Fae Realm

"Sookie, focus, you can do better than this. The effect of a little bit of vampire blood is nothing compared to the transplant of a full fae's heart into your body." Niall's command was demanding but he maintained his kind tone. Leonan rushed at me again, this time I deflected his blow and sent his small frame flying when I struck back. He landed with an unpleasant "thump" on the soft ground. I gasped.

"That's more like it." Niall chuckled, "He's fine Sookie."

"How much more of this do we have to do, Grandfather? I would really like to get back to my friends. I'm sure they have all missed me. I still don't know how long I have been here." I was becoming grumpy. I felt like Buffy with all this physical training, more like Buffy goes to college when you add on all the Supernatural 101 education I'm receiving. There was the physical therapy first, just regaining strength in my body after I was unconscious for so long; then came the fighting and strength training. Niall was pleased with my progress and I think equally curious as to what benefits my unique state would bring me. How it increased my strength and healing, I would never know. It appeared Niall was correct when he predicted I would be like the half-fae children. On top of all of this were the lessons on supernatural creatures. All of this was in the name of preparing me for some unknown future, faced with supernatural dangers.

The Fae's realm was beautiful and intoxicating. However, I still missed the comfort of home and longed to see those I had left behind. They likely thought I was dead, not the Niall will tell me. Maybe they are dead. I don't know how long I've been here, as time feels... immeasurable here. It could be days. It could be decades. Again, Niall can't seem to answer these simple questions for me.

"Sookie, you are coming along wonderfully."

"Does that mean I can return home soon?" I brought up the question that had been ignored so many times before. Niall let out an unpleasant sigh.

"Sookie, your return 'home' would be... problematic." He offered, with finality to his tone. I was done avoiding this subject though, and made it clear.

"Sookie, back in your home realm you are believed to be..." He trailed off, his unpleasant expression almost convinced me to explore no further. But I didn't back down.

"I'm believed to be what?"

"Dead," his gaze met mine and his face was blank. I'm sure mine was of pure horror.

"My friends think I'm dead?" I choked out.

"Not just your friends, my child, your enemies too. You were becoming powerful, Victor had convinced the vampires of that, even if he meant to keep you as his own. Your male friend," he paused, searching for a name, "Barry was forced into hiding but that did not even save him. A territory war began with who owned him being the main dispute. It did not end well for him. The Nevada vampire may have seemed innocent in this whole ordeal, but he was not. They were going to stop at nothing in order to gain control of you."

I let out a sad sigh and had to sit down.

Niall continued, "Then there are the fairies. There are many of my kind that are my enemies and to them you were leverage, a tool to be used against me. They couldn't know I had you. Of course my people, those most trusted, know. But the rest believe you are dead. Many would not believe you could even enter our realm. So you see, your return home would be quite complicated."

"But you said I was important, that I could be some mediating force in the oncoming clash of were, fae, vampire, and human."

"And some day you will be. That is why you are training, so when that day comes you can take care of yourself. When the time is right you can be revealed and I am sure it will have a powerful impact."

"I'm not some weapon to be kept secret and then used when most needed!" I was both outraged and hurt. I scoffed, "I need some time alone."

"Very well."

I wandered off to one of my favorite spots. It was a very peaceful beach by a lake, surrounded by a vast and beautiful forest. The water was a bright cerulean blue, the sand seemed to be made of diamonds. Everything in this world seemed to be taken right out of some classical painting, but it was almost monotonous in its perfection.

I sat on the ground and dug my bare toes into the sand. As I lay listening to the quiet sounds of the water, I became aware of a presence.

"Sookie," the unknown presence called my name. It sounded like...

"Claudine?" I called back, looking frantically around me. Suddenly she was sitting beside me, resting her hand on my leg. She looked as beautiful as she always had, radiating an ethereal light brighter than that of the other fairies here.

"Oh Claudine, I'm so sorry." I was hugging her and sobbing into her shoulder.

"Sookie, what on earth could you possibly be sorry for?"

"You... you died for me."

Claudine laughed, "Sookie, I didn't die. I transitioned. I simply couldn't take my physical form with me. And it is I who is sorry. If I had done a better job of watching you, you wouldn't be in the position you are now."

I loosened my grip on her shoulders and sunk back to sit beside her. She dug her toes into the sand as well.

"Niall loves you Sookie, of this I have no doubt. But he also is the fairy prince. He has many political allies and enemies that he never forgets about. Take his training to heart, but always remember that only you can watch out for yourself and your best interests. You don't want to end up the pawn in some fairy war. At least you are stronger now. You can take care of yourself."

"And you will always look after me?"

Claudine laughed again. "Of course I will Sookie. But I have many charges now, and as an angel I must be impartial."

"Will I still see you?"

"I'm afraid not. Humans cannot see angels in our true forms. I can only come to you now because you are in the Fae's realm and asleep."

"This is a dream?"

"Sort of. Oh, Sookie, I hate to leave you but I must go. But I do have a message for you. Adele says she loves and misses you very much, and you make her proud every day."

"My grandmother?" I was excited to ask Claudine more questions but I found myself suddenly alone, on the beach. I stretched and sat up, shaking the sand out of my hair. I would keep Claudine's words in mind and I would return home, when the time was right. In the meantime, I better find Niall.

~0~0~0~0~0~

Bon Temps

Pam entered Eric's office with had an air of both excitement and anxiety. Eric looked up from his desk, hesitantly, annoyance flickered across his face.

"Master," Pam used the term more and more now. With his increasing power within the state, she began to admire her maker in more ways than she had before. "I have a gift for you," she beamed, slightly.

"Pamela. I have requested that you stop with the... look-a-likes." His tone almost scolded, but he returned his gaze to the papers on his desk.

"Eric, this is not a look-a-like; although I must add that the others were not either. I was only guessing at your... preferences. I've decided to go in another direction." She almost giggled. She leaned out the door and waved someone in. The girl entered the room. Her skin was a dark olive; her hair was long and voluminous. Its dark curls seemed to absorb the light around it. Her exotic eyes were a dark, deep green. As soon as she entered the room, Eric's nose flared. Fairy.

"As you can tell, our dear Nadia, is part Fae. One sixth to be exact." Pam squeezed her arm the way old women pinch the cheeks of babies, saying they are so cute they could just gobble them up. Then again, Pam would gobble her up, if allowed. "Isn't she just scrumptious?"

Eric stood; Pam observed the strain evident in his body. She didn't know if it was a strain due to weakness or restraint.

"I do not want her, Pam. I am not hungry." Perhaps the strain was from restraining his anger.

"But Eric, just smell her." Pam stood closer to the young woman. She didn't seem to mind one bit.

"Pam. I said I am not hungry," he declared angrily.

Pam was beginning to get angry as well. She feared for him, she had not seen him eat since... well that was impossible. He couldn't go that long without, but she hadn't seen him. She whispered in the exotic woman's ear and sent her from the room.

"Eric you have not fed in so long. You grow weak."

A low growl rumbled from deep within his chest, "I am not weak child. And you have no idea when I have fed. You have seen me feed."

"That vile artificial shit does not count as feeding master. How do you intend to be strong enough to continue with our plans without fresh blood? Felipe does not restrict himself in such a way, and for it he is stronger."

Eric, who had sat down when the girl left, stood with a violent speed that sent his office chair tumbling to the floor. "Do you question my strength and my wisdom Pamela? You do not have half my age, you do not know!" His anger encased his child, and she backed away from him as if to escape his anger like it was a smothering cloud of smoke.

"Eric, of course not, of course not. I was merely concerned for you; I wanted to bring you a gift, for everything you have done for me, and for our territory." Pam had backed to the entrance of the office.

"I am very old Pam. I do not need as much blood as you to survive, to stay strong. I would not endanger myself or my followers. We will have to work hard to take our land back from Felipe. He was foolish when he left me in charge; foolish that my lack of a desire for power would keep me complacent under his command as I was under our Queen's. It is true I do not demand power like so many of our kind, but I do demand freedom. That does not mean it will be immediate. I do not wish to sacrifice any of our members; we must be clever and careful." Eric's word contained a passion that his voice did not, but Pam accepted it. She knew he spoke the truth even if part of him no longer cared at all. She knew he would heal. Well, she hoped.

~0~0~0~0~0~

A Year Later

The Fae Realm

I sat beneath my favorite tree, near the lake that I had grown so fond of. Time had little relevance here, I felt as if I had been here so long. Niall refused to discuss with me how much time had passed, since he felt it implied I would be going back. "Human time has little relevance to our world, child. Do not concern yourself with such petty matters." But they weren't petty matters, I would be going back. I thought I was finally getting through to him on the issue, but lately he's been distant, avoidant.

"Good morning great granddaughter."

Speak of the devil; Niall appeared beside me. Fairies really just popped in an out as they pleased here. "Hello," I replied without enthusiasm.

"So forlorn, child. I have news today that will please you."

I allowed some excitement to show on my face. When Niall had good news it was generally pretty good.

"I know how you long for your old home. I am also growing increasingly aware that you will not be safe here forever. With the growing tensions among the fae there is little doubt that a war is growing. I can hide you here no better than I can in the mortal realm." He frowned a bit; worry passing across his eyes. "But alas, I do have the good news I promised. I have found a way for you to go," he hesitated, "home."

"Home?" I gasped and leapt to his arms. My excitement gave way to curiosity and concern, "But how? You said it was impossible, that I was dead to them. That no one could know you interfered."

"I have pulled some strings. There happened to be an unidentified young blonde woman in a hospital near Alexandria."

"Uh huh…" I didn't like where this was headed.

"Well, she has woken up today and will be released soon. And she will be you."

"What? How is this possible?"

"Sookie, she has been in a coma for a long time. When I discovered that she matched your general description and was admitted around the date of your disappearance. I investigated the matter, and bided my time. Today she has died, and in her place I planted one of my fairies. She is pretending to be you until they release her. They have also promised complete secrecy on the matter."

"What happened to the girl?"

"I told you, she died."

"But what happened to her body?"

"We took care of it."

I frowned and shook my head, disgusted with the thought.

"Sookie, she has never been identified since her admittance. Once dead, she would have been assigned a number and cremated. Instead she is in a grave, with a tombstone. It may not have her name on it, but I cannot help that fact. Nor would a different action on my part change it."

His logic made sense and I found myself nodding. Sure I was upset with the method, but I could be going home. I tried to let myself rejoice in the good news and ignore the bad things that I had no control over.

"Does anyone know that I… woke up, that I am alive?" I thought immediately of Jason, Sam, Eric and the other vampires that had come to be the only family I had.

"No. I thought I should let you tell them. I would like to instruct you what you are allowed to reveal and what you cannot, but you are headstrong and I know you will do what you want. I also know you are smart and will only reveal that which you have determined safe to reveal."

I nodded, it was all I could do. My brain was processing a million thoughts a minute. I would be home soon! What would I tell who? How could I get a hold of everyone and who did I tell first? Niall interrupted my revelry with a curt clearing of his throat.

"There are some matters to take care of first, but then we can get you home in a few days.

~0~0~0~0~0~

I guess a few days had gone by, because Niall and I were preparing to return. He opened the portal to our two worlds, like unzipping the sky to reveal bright white nothingness. It was as simple as stepping through and we were in Bon Temps, about five minutes from my home. I wanted to travel the old fashioned way back to my home, but Niall insisted we "pop" in. I really hated that. It makes me feel like I've been seasick for the past couple hours. A second later and I was home, standing in my driveway. Darkness enveloped me and the cool night air sent shivers along my spine.

"What's the date?" I asked.

"December 22nd,"Niall answered as he handed me my house key and a small bottle.

"What's in the bottle?"

"A kind of soap, if you will. You have been in the fae realm for two years. You smell like a full-blooded fairy to anything supernatural. The first thing you need to do is wash with that soap, and wash well. It will help rid you of most of our scent. Use it for a couple of nights to be safe."

"You really thought of everything." Tears started to fill my eyes. I had spent two years, finally he admits how long I've been there, with him after a lifetime apart. I always longed to have my family with me and the time we spent together, I would cherish. I don't think I'd miss the lessons or the isolation, but I would miss him.

His thumb wiped away the few tears that fell and he hugged me to him. "Be safe child. Only danger lies ahead, but at least now you will be more prepared. At least I could do that for you."

I hugged him tighter. "You did so much for me. I'm only alive because of you, and Claudine. Promise I will still see you some." I asked, with my face buried in his chest.

"I promise," and he pulled away. "Now get going."

There was a "pop" and he was gone. "Bye," I said to the empty night air and then hurried inside.

I was shocked to see everything as I had left it. A fair amount of dust coated the place but it seemed relatively well maintained. The electricity still worked. I supposed Jason had kept it in working order. Perhaps he was living here now; I had left him the house. It could be this dusty and him still live here, to be fair. I worked my way upstairs to find my bedroom also untouched. The house was cold but I would start a fire after a warm shower. I hoped the water hadn't been turned off.

The water came out of the showerhead with a dry hiss, a puttering, and then finally a steady stream. After a few long moments it ran warm. I slid out of my dress, grabbed Niall's magical soap, and hopped in, happy for the warmth of the water.

~0~0~0~0~0~

Earlier that Evening

Eric stepped into the homely bar. It had been a long time since he had been here, a year to be exact. There was no reason to return to Bon Temps with Sookie not living here; he didn't understand why Bill stayed. Tonight though, he wanted to surround himself in the things that reminded him of her. He scanned the room; the faces that looked up to meet his did not look too pleased. Residents of Bon Temps tended to look down on the vampires, blaming them for a majority of the problems that had troubled the town and its citizens over the past few years. Perhaps they weren't far off. Involvement with vampires certainly didn't do Sookie any favors, Eric mused.

Eric sat in a corner table and saw the loud red headed waitress approach him and then quickly turn on heel to retreat back o the kitchen.

"I'm not serving no vampire!" she shrieked. He could hear Sam's gruff sigh as he rounded the corner but he was cut off by a cute blonde waitress; she looked familiar.

"Don't worry honey; I'll take care of it." She said with a kiss to his cheek, he returned the favor with a loving tap to her rear end.

The blonde approached and asked for his order without looking up from her notepad.

"Just a true blood. O positive."

"No prob-" she stopped midsentence as she finally made eye contact. "Oh my." With that she scurried off. Eric recognized her as one of the waitresses that had worked at Fangtasia, and that she was fired for being a V-addict.

Eric felt the presence of another vampire enter the bar. He didn't have to turn and look to know that it was Bill. He helped himself to the seat next to Eric.

"I didn't expect to see you here." Bill's tone was blank.

"Well, considering the day," was Eric's only response. Bill understood. It was this day, two years ago, that Sookie died in the basement of the New Orleans hotel. They had met up here, this time last year as well.

"These two are on me." Sam's voice joined the two as he sat at their table, bringing with him two true bloods and a beer for himself.

"I can't believe it's been another year." Sam said, shaking his head to emphasize his disbelief. The three shared a glance.

"Maybe we should make them leave!" A rowdy, and drunk, redneck shouted as he rose to his feet, interrupting the quiet and hushed whispers of the bar.

"I don't like 'em any more than you Roy, but I'm sure they'll be leavin' on their own anytime now. Sit your ass down." A fellow redneck at the table called out. Eric recognized this voice as Jason's. The table of three all turned to meet his gaze. Jason gave the three one long glance, raised his beer to his lips, and then turned back to his own table.

Eric, Bill, and Sam drank from their bottles as well.

Sam was the first to break the silence as he cleared his throat. "Well I better get back to work. Bill I'll see you around. Eric I'll..."

"Next year," Eric said, and stood to leave the table. When he got to the exit, he took one last glance around the small, rickety bar that Sookie considered a second home, and then left with a sigh.

He took off into the night air, having one last stop for the night.

He landed gracefully in the gravel driveway of Sookie's house, the driveway he paid to have redone. How little she accepted for the things she did for them. He shook his head.

He was mildly concerned that he wouldn't be able to enter the home, but successfully crossed the threshold. Apparently, Jason still had not revoked his invitation upon the house's ownership transferring to him.

The house was oddly the same, barely touched since Sookie left it two years ago. It was cold. The heat was off and it was late December. The cold obviously did not affect Eric, but it bothered him. He found the old stack of wood still there and lit a fire in the fire place. The fire filled the house with a dusty smell, as it burned off the dust that collected in the fireplace and on the logs. He found it oddly comforting and stretched out on the old rug. Finally allowing himself to take in the scents and sounds of the old house; he opened up his senses, and immediately froze.

He distinctly heard footsteps above him. He could definitely smell that there had been, or still were, fairies in the house. He was positive he could smell Sookie, but in reality he was surrounded by her scent. Someone was in her house and they were about to come down the stairs.

He stood, braced and ready for an attack, for anything. But he wasn't ready at all.

~0~0~0~0~0~

I was out of the shower and wringing out my hair when I heard the back door open and shut. I froze. It's probably just Jason, I thought and finished brushing out my hair. No one knew I was back yet, so me just coming down the stairs would probably scare the bejeezus out of him. I opened my closet and found a comfy robe to tie around me. The house was still cold, I should probably have looked for some warmer clothes. I was exhausted and just wanted to curl up in my own bed, which I hadn't been in for two years although it felt more like two decades. I didn't want to have the "Sookie is alive" conversation tonight, not with Jason. I was planning on sleeping on it, and deciding what I would tell everyone in morning.

The faint smell of a burning fireplace, and dusty logs, began wafting up to the bedroom. I might have to have an exhausting discussion, but I wouldn't have to light the fireplace myself tonight. I gave my hair one last comb-through with my fingers, steadied myself for the task at hand, and made my way to the stairs.

Five steps down and I saw him. Eric stood in my living room, in the same dark jeans and shirt he wore so often. He looked poised and ready for an attack, his fangs glistening in the flickering light of the fireplace. He looked… stunning. I thought with the absence my mind had made him more than he was, but here he stood before me, a beautiful warrior carved perfectly of marble. His pale skin glowed faintly like the moon in the dark room. I gasped. I couldn't help it.

"Eric," I breathed. He didn't move. He just stared there, still ready to fight. "Eric, it's me. It's Sookie."

"Sookie," my name fell from his lips in barely a whisper, his voice wrought with disbelief. I remembered that our bond had been broken with my short lived death. My body felt drawn to him but not in the way it had, this was a pure physical draw. I wanted to touch him, but I didn't need to touch him. As I watched my stoic vampire I realized I was not washed in his emotions. But I did still love him. Finally I had my answer; it wasn't the bond, all this time. While I processed these thoughts Eric had moved a couple feet closer to the steps, although I hadn't seen him move. His eyes were locked on me, studiously.

"Eric, I have so much to tell you, it is so hard to explain. I promise it's me." I met him halfway, now only a mere foot of empty space separated us.

"It can't be you. I felt… I felt you die." His voice was strained, but I knew not with what. Anger? Fear? Sadness? Happiness?

"Well, I did die, technically but…" my words were cut off as Eric pressed me to him with a smothering force. I didn't resist. I'd waited the two longest years of my life to touch his lips to mine. He caught my mouth in his with a smoldering kiss, and I sank into him, wrapping my arms around him as his arms tightened around me. Our mouths desperately sought one another as if we could bring the bond back through the sheer force of our kiss. Then, as abruptly as it started, Eric pulled himself away, forcing my arms to relinquish their hold on him. Although I did not release him easily.

"How did—" he began but stopped as his eyes dropped to the opening in my robe. He wasn't eyeing my cleavage, like he would have all those years in the past. He slowly reached a hand up to the scar that ran down between my breasts and gingerly ran a finger along its raised surface. Now in the dark room, the faint glow it gave seemed striking. Eric flattened his palm to my chest and just held it there, his eyes closed.

"Sookie, are you a fairy?" he asked. His nose flared as if he was trying to use his other senses to test his theory.

I let out a nervous chuckle, "I'm not a fairy. Not at all. But it is all rather complicated. It's more like I'm a fairy-medical mystery." I tried to smile to lighten the mood.

Eric nodded, and pulled me to his body once more. He let his chin rest on my head for a few long moments while I savored the feel of my face pressed to his chest. I remembered his scent like it was yesterday that we last embraced. He nuzzled his face against my head and murmured, "It's you. It's really you. I thought I had finally given up hope."

"It's really me, Eric," I assured him.

He pulled away from me just enough to meet my eyes, "There is so much to discuss Sookie. There is much I must tell you and even more I believe you will have to tell me. But right now, I want nothing more than to remove this old ugly robe and ravish you in every way you will let me." Finally his eyes lit up as he gave me a very Eric smile. I had missed that. I didn't answer, but let the fact that I was undoing my robe speak for itself.

~0~0~0~0~0~

Unlike Eric, who arrived at Sookie's house completely shut down and lost in the nostalgia of the night, Bill returned home with his senses about him. He arrived shortly after Eric, to his own home across the cemetery from Sookie's. As he stepped out of his car, his nostrils flared. He smelled fairy, and he smelled Sookie. Not her scent that would always linger to his vampire senses, drifting across the field on the wind. No, this was Sookie, as if she lived and breathed just the short distance from his home. He took off sprinting into the cold night.

Arriving at her house he became all too aware of what he would see if he looked inside. He knew Sookie was here, alive and well, despite its impossibilities. He also knew Eric was inside as well and he did not want to see, and confirm, what they were doing. But he had to look. He had to know that she was, in fact, a live and home. He walked carefully towards the window, keeping low to the ground. He didn't like seeming like some peeping tom, but he couldn't exactly stride right into the house. Although he had been there many times in the past two years, providing simple upkeep to keep the house running, this was not a time where he could just walk in. He peered through the window only to have his greatest hopes and nightmares fulfilled at once. Sookie was alive, and was fully entangled in Eric's embrace. Despite his disgust, Bill could only be happy. He had lost Sookie a long time ago, but to have her back, if only just amongst the living and not to himself, could only be a joyful thing. He told himself it would be best to walk away, but he had to let himself watch a few more moments. He relished in the sight of the Sookie who once was all his, her nude body that used to be pressed against only his own. He allowed himself those few more moments before slinking back into the darkness to his own home.

~0~0~0~0~0~

Eric helped me slide the robe down off my body, placing delicate kisses along each inch of newly exposed skin. My own hands worked diligently at his pants. He walked me backwards to the couch, kicking off his boots as we went. He helped me remove his shirt before I lay back onto the couch.

He knelt above me, his hands playing along my skin as if he were memorizing, or remembering, every inch and every curve. His touches were so light, but my body was demanding more.

"Eric," my voice came out a throaty whisper, "I'm not so delicate, especially not anymore."

His eyes met mine, and that familiar spark lit them up. "Oh is that so?" he asked with a mocking tone, before grasping my hips and pulling me to the edge of the couch to meet him.

"It is," I responded with my best sultry voice before I flipped him onto his back, with me on top, with my newly found strength and speed. His eyes widened with curiosity and I knew he was about to ask more questions, so I stifled the thought with my lips forcefully on his. By now he had worked his pants far enough down his legs and I was more than ready to have him. I raised my body up, and with our eyes locked, let my body slide down around him, bringing him into me. For a few long moments, our eyes stared into one another as our bodies found a slow, remembered rhythm.

Since I was on top, I allowed myself to be the one to increase the tempo. Eric seemed more than happy to oblige. He pushed himself upright on the couch, keeping me in his lap, and lowered his mouth to one breast. My head fell back with the overwhelming pleasure. The fae realm might have been intoxicating but this was ecstasy. I arched my back to meet Eric's every thrust, my newfound strength proving helpful in more areas than self defense. "Harder," I cried out, urging Eric to test my limits.

Eric and I volleyed for the top position until he finally won out. His left hand kept one arm pinned above my head as his right hand found its way between our bodies, teasing and rubbing. My fingernails dug into the carpet, somehow we were no longer on the couch, and I closed my eyes and bit my lip as another shock of pleasure coursed through me. Eric's left hand cradled my face, and he ran his thumb along my lashes. "Look at me," he whispered and I had to comply.

I could barely contain myself any longer; I stretched my neck out to Eric and murmured, "now."

He looked at me with concern in his eyes. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" he asked, nostrils flaring as he took in my scent.

I nodded my head, "only one way to find out."

Eric's hand resumed its ministrations on my lowered body and my thrusts once again matched his. I was so close, on the edge of rapture. I closed my eyes, no longer able to hold them open and Eric's mouth descended to my neck. I felt his teeth pierce me and I was gone, over that edge, spiraling downwards and drowning in my own pleasure.

Eric finally pulled away from my neck, his eyes wild and excited. For a moment I was worried, was he drunk on fae blood? Had this been too risky a gamble? But then that familiar smirk spread across his face, and he nuzzled his cheek against mine. "Your turn," he whispered in my ear. The tickle caused another after shock to ripple through me, and Eric squirmed as I involuntarily squeezed him.

I slid my arms around him as he slowly resumed his thrusting and I could tell he was close. I nuzzled my cheek against his cool, hard chest, licked playfully around his nipple, and then bit. Eric let out a roar of release and fell on top of me. I drank from his chest, sucking and licking as much as I could before the wound disappeared beneath my lips. He rolled onto his back and pulled me to his side.

"Sookie that was…" his voice drifted off.

I squirmed against his side, letting him hold me tight, content in this feeling I thought I'd never have again. "My blood isn't like fae blood… is it?" I asked, still slightly concerned.

Eric rolled to meet my gaze. "You still taste like you, my lover. Perhaps mildly more addictive than I remember but nothing I can't handle." He said with a chuckle.

"That's good," I said, "or else renewing the bond would be a problem."

Eric went stiff. "You... want to do that?" he asked with a concerned tone. "Even after all the trouble it caused you? Even after I had forced you into it?" Eric looked away from me. If I could read his emotions, I would have said he did so with embarrassment or shame.

"Eric," I said taking hold of his face, gently between my hands, "I would complete it tonight if we could."

He pulled me tight against him, entangling his legs with mine. "I almost turned you, you know? I promised you I wouldn't, but I almost tried to. I thought… I'd thought I'd lost you."

"I know," I murmured into his chest, "but I'm ok. Everything's ok now."

We laid there in silence. Tomorrow there would be so much to discuss. What had gone on here for the two years I was gone? Eric would, no doubt, have many questions about my whereabouts and recovery. Then there would be revealing myself to the few friends and family I have here, in addition to the general gossipy public. But that could wait until tomorrow. Tonight we were just together, here and now. And I was already ready for round two.

Author's Note: I don't know where to begin. I guess I should start with I'm sorry. Real life just finds a way to get in the way, and the distractions are never as enjoyable as writing the story would be. I know it's been MANY months since my last update, and that I was a horribly evil person for leaving you guys with the cliffhanger like I did. I really meant to get this chapter up ASAP. Then everything in life kept pushing it to the back burner. I'm sorry to those who probably gave up in my absence and thankful for those still here, and those who PMed me with words of encouragement or just to say they missed the story. It's people like you that kept me writing when life was insisting on getting in the way. So I hope you liked this chapter. It was a hard one. I had so much I wanted to convey and so many different times, locations, and characters to describe. I hope it came out OK. I think I just re-read, edited, and re-wrote this chapter for the last two months alone. I'm deciding on how to finish this story, I might do an epilogue next chapter. Maybe I could do another chapter and then an epilogue. I'm still deciding. Anyways, thanks for reading and please review. Thank you guys so much.