31. Oh, the Humanity

Eric heard bird song. It irritated him. He was hot and uncomfortable and the birds wouldn't let him go back to sleep.

He sat up and panicked, a programmed response.

No, he wouldn't run. He drew a deep breath, and it felt refreshing. He would greet the sun the way his Maker had, with courage and acceptance. He opened his eyes.

The sun glittered on the water, and Eric lifted his hands to stare at them.

"What? How?" it was all he could think to say.

"It's my fault," Arin said from beside him. Her voice was choked by a sob. He felt her sorrow and regret and self-loathing. "I've killed you."

"I feel fine," Eric said. "Better than fine. I'm looking at the sunrise! And I'm alive!"

"You have five or ten years left, Eric. Maybe, if we're lucky, fifteen if we stay close to each other."

"What are you talking about?"

Tears ran down her face, and she struggled for long moments before she spoke. "When I took your soul, Eric, I gave you half of mine. You can't live with nothing. I thought the Ancient would take that half, and I could kill him while he was taking it. Then I could give you back your own soul. But it's gone, and I cannot give you the rest of mine, because I would die before the transfer was complete."

She gasped for breath, clearly overcome with regret, and shook her head when he prepared to speak. "Neither of us can live long with half a soul."

"I have a soul?" Eric couldn't believe it. "But why am I sitting in the sun?"

She looked at him, and he felt her sorrow; heavy, thick, morose. "Don't you understand, Eric? That's why you'll die. It's only a human soul. That's all I had to give you."

Eric stood up. A joy more profound than anything he'd felt in a thousand years blew through him like the winds of fate. Kneeling in front of her, he said. "You have given me five to fifteen years of walking in the sunlight with you. You've given me humanity and taught me how to love.

"Arin," he said, tilting her face up to his. "You've given me everything."

He kissed her and made love to her with the heat of the sun kissing his skin.

A/N: And so ends my first attempt at True Blood fanfic. I hope you enjoyed it. Thank you for reading, and my sincerest gratitude to those who reviewed.

I have decided to post the original ending. I very much feel it's the right ending. I will, however, continue to try to re-write. If I find something satisfactory, I will go ahead and post it as an "alternate ending".

Thanks again for reading. :)