Season 8 Episode 2-New Beginning

PART ONE

Chapter 1

She awoke with a start, flashes of the past few days startling her even in her dreams. Turning to her right, she was confused at first but as she acclimated to the waking world things fell into place and she remembered she had led him down here, that she had wanted to be here. With him. Lying on her side, he stared at the eerily still figure next to her and couldn't help but be in awe that he had been around as long as he had. That there was so much she didn't know about him and the things she did knew were heartbreaking, inspiring and intriguing all at the same time. She wished she knew everything there was about him, what made him what he was today. Putting her hand on the side of his face, she felt something stir. Not him but her vision blanked as she saw things in her mind, like a movie unspooling. she saw things she hadn't known about him. She saw the moment where he, as a human, had brought his baby sister to his mother. She saw the moment his vampire sister Nora died in his arms. She saw the heartbreak on Pam's face when she had found him in France, caring nothing about if he lived or not. The most poignant points of his life that she either only knew bits of or nothing of were there in her mind and she didn't know just what caused it. And yet, he remained asleep. But then she was no longer alone with those thoughts as she heard her grandfather in her head. Emerging from the cubby, she stole a last glance at the sleeping Viking before finding Niall on her couch.

"I was wondering how long it would be before it happened….I was hoping that it would at all, considering the ups and downs of your past with him. Niall was eating a bowl of pasta-leftovers from a few nights before. Before her life had changed to drastically. "Your powers allow you to do more than you ever could have imagined. But what you just did…..the fact you were able to see into his mind…..only the strongest of connections could ever allow that to happen between two as different as you are. In fact, I have only seen this happen once before in my long existence…..which I should point out to you that with your supercharged powers you now have, so to has your mortality increased quite a bit. I sense you have been concerned about that."

"I…knew I felt different but I hadn't any idea I could do so much more….." she was truly shocked but not in a bad way. And yet, she ached for the one that had always been there for her and who had looked out for her even when she treated him like crap. "I saw glimpses of his past when I touched him….Niall, I had no idea the scope of his life. I never gave him a chance…and you say its because-"

"There are feelings between you stronger than you ever realized or wanted to admit and now…..there is a connection unlike any you have with anyone in your life. I once told you I didn't like that other vampire for you. But this one…is the polar opposite. But I can not and will not tell you who to be with. It is to be your choice and yours alone. You can either move this forward or walk away."

"Like I did once before." she said, looking at her lap, taking what which she had learned this evening. "Life seems more complicated when you're a supe…."

Chapter 2

"That you can see into his mind is only part of….your light as you know is stronger and you are now able to heal faster. Not like a vamp but still….your powers are derived from the earth and as such you can wield the elements to your whim. Create a rain storm. Start a fire…..you get the idea." Niall said as she soaked in the knowledge. "I wanted to make sure you were holding up well after Ryan was….dispatched of. I would have preferred him to rot in a prison cell for eternity, in Faery where I could have ensured he would suffer greatly…but he is gone so I suppose…..that is something of a comfort." he watched her as she sat down beside him, his smile fading. "I want you to find happiness and I won't tell you what to do. Save for be careful about using your power. Should your secret get out…..you do and always smell like a treat to other supernaturals but the fact you pack a punch is to your benefit of course. But beware, with you being full faerie now, you are vulnerable to a certain alloy, one that would weaken you just as silver does a vamp. Iron is devastating to a faerie and should you be chained with it, your powers drain fast, leaving you prone and vulnerable. Funny thing that, considering that there is iron in your blood…but a different consistency."

She stared in the direction of the door that led downward. Dead to the world, she thought, to not know what she had inadvertently did….at least, she hoped he didn't know. "Thank you….for everything. To think I wanted to rid myself of everything that made me special and to think I wanted to be ordinary…..my un-ordinariness has saved my neck lots of times. And others lives too…I wish it could have saved the baby….if I hadn't been so afraid to use my power, to reveal what I was to him….." she started tearing up again and her grandfather was there to embrace her tightly.

"The attack was fast and severe…..I suspect you lost the little one before you had a chance to really pack a punch. And you were smart to hold back, to not use your magic. To protect your identity from those who may want to tap into what you have. Not to say that is not a problem even now but…if there was something I could do for you I would but our magic can only do so much." he paused. "I think our conversation is long since no longer been private…" he nodded towards the cubby door and sure enough, she opened it, revealing a unreadable Eric. He looked from Niall to Sookie.

"Seems there is much that's happened….I heard every single word." he said after closing the door shut behind him, clad only on a tank and tracksuit bottoms.

"It would seem it would be a good time for me to take my leave….there are rumblings of a resurgence of dark faeries coming back to threaten Faery. Mab, you met once, was one of them. Apparently there are rumors of another to rise up and take her place, to force our kind into subservience, to force us all to love only in Faery. Messy business and….well, I will leave you to it…..also I should tell you that the faerie nightclub in this realm has been reopened. Your cousin Hadley and Hunter have made a nice home for themselves in the apartments within. Perhaps you would visit her one of these days." and with a polite nod to the Viking Niall kissed Sookie's forehead before vanishing form the spot.

She watched him warily, hating she couldn't sense his emotions. Certainly she hadn't intended to break into his mind but it was over and done and she waited for something to be said. But something within her seemed to coax her on, urging her to make a move and so it was that he found himself being kissed on the lips by the waitress he had chased for some time. As she pulled back she waited for a response. And there it was, that subtle smirk. "I didn't mean to peek into your mind. I didn't know I could and-" she was stopped as he kissed her firmly and she grabbed him tight, tears again flowing. "I am so…so sorry." she ran her hands through his hair gently. "I had no idea the things you went through, what I knew was…..it was nothing compared to what I saw in your memories. How have you suffered so many losses and keep going? And you…..you had a baby sister? I knew you had a family but…seeing you with her…..and then finding her dead…." she rambled on for a few moments before a finger touched her lips.

"I am not upset about it whatsoever. I am more…impressed with what you are, what you have the capacity to be. I know it will take time to heal and I can wait. Patience has not ever been one of my greater qualities but…I would make an exception for you."

"I am just…..so sorry for all those you lost. Your family….you were all alone. And I knew that much but to see it…actually see things unfolding….." she felt her heart breaking all the more for him. "But in a way, if that hadn't happened, you may not be here today."

"Fate is a bitch…." he replied as he closed his eyes and embraced her snugly, running a hand through her hair. "I love life, always have and the one I lead and have led these centuries have been…..interesting. Taking the good with the bad and all that. Then I met this girl who came into my bar, and things were never the same after that."

"I saw something else." Sookie blurted out, pulling away and looking up at him. "That French girl…..who was killed when you were forced to make a choice. You…..had to make such a terrible choice…..I know you would have given your life to save both Pam and Sylvie….I hate you had to see that. To be a part of that."

"My reckless actions led to that night and after that….I closed myself off, decided not to get close to any human again. And at first when I met you, I saw you as merely a tool to use to my personal gain. Nothing more. But you had a way about you that…broke things down, those walls I put up. Try as I did to resist, I couldn't." he seemed to bristle at being so forthcoming and even said as much to her. "I've never spoken line this, even to Pam…..this is….strange for me and yet surprisingly easy. Like I can tell you anything and not seem….weak." he bristled at the work, she knowing he hated being perceived as being just that, though there was really no fear about that. She knew how vicious he could be and had been in the past. Even last night when he had inadvertently and so briefly turned his fury on her, she knew deep down he wouldn't harm her. Let alone kill her. "I am so sorry for knocking you down last night. I never would have done so, I was….I lost myself there for a moment." it was as if he knew she had been letting that memory eat at her, keeping her somewhat hesitant even now about any future.

She frowned and looked at him, seeing the kindness, the gentle side that was always mingled with the darker, violent side of him. "I trust you with my life and I hope I don't regret this…but I don't want to rush into anything….I am still not ready. But you are always welcome here…" she led him to the couch where they sat, both still exhausted, and before they could fall asleep again, she led them back to the safety, security of the cubby where they talked….really talked about the things she saw in his memories. The things she hoped for for the future. And all the while, neither of them knew that a new threat was already on the horizon and was there, lurking just out of either of their detection. The figure outside the house smirked as all she had hoped for was coming to fruition. The girl had evolved and as such, was ripe for the picking. Soon, they would have that which they needed to take down Niall and have Faery the way it was meant to be. And it would be shortly after that they had the means to finally put a end to the vamps here in this realm, with the light that was wielded by their future leader. A new beginning, it surely would be.

TO BE CONTINUED