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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The characters of the Southern Vampire Mysteries belong to Miss Charlaine Harris. No infringement on my part is intended. The characters on True Blood belong to Mr. Alan Ball. No infringement on my part is intended.

I have no BETA, editor, or other such charming person. All mistakes are my own.

 This story is rated M.

Chapter 9

 Eric was entranced! He and Martha had made this small child! He had fathered a child! A human child! His pride knew no bounds! His emotions were in a state of riot! For a thousand years he had hidden his emotions and now…now something that he knew as love from his human days flooded him! With his index finger, he traced Josiah’s face, committing every curve and line to memory.

“Daddy,” Sookie chuckled as she peered over Josiah’s small body. “The sun is up. You will get the bleeds. Close your eyes. We will be right here.”

“Right here, Daddy,” a tiny voice echoed back. “Me and Momma, we’ll be right here.”

“Now,” Sookie’s voice was filled with love, “I am going to close my eyes and Josiah is going to close his eyes and Daddy is going to close his eyes and we are all gonna’ rest for a while as a family. ‘Bout noonish, we’ll probably wake and go pee and get something to eat, but we won’t be gone long.”

“That’s right, Daddy,” the little voice giggled. “I’ll go with Momma but we won’t be gone long. So don’t you worry.”

Sookie propped her elbow up and put her head on her hand. Josiah was patting Eric’s check and then leaned in and gave Eric a kiss.

Eric’s eyes met hers. “I can’t go to sleep without my kiss,” he smiled at her.

“Can do,” she grinned as she leaned over the tiny body and kissed him on the lips. “Now, sleep,” she smiled at him as kissed Josiah in passing and then she lay back down and felt Josiah snuggle in and soon all three were sound asleep.

“Momma,” she heard the small voice. “Is it noonish? I’m hungry.”

“M-m-m-m,” she yawned and sat up. “Oh my,” she said looking at the clock. “More like two-ish. Sorry sweet boy. I guess I was tired. Let me pull on some clothes and lets go get something to eat,” as she picked him up and they both slid off the bed.

“Where is my family going?” they turned and looked when they heard Eric’s voice.

“We are gonna go pee and get somethin’ to eat. Daddy,” Josiah climbed back up on the bed and gave him a kiss. “We’ll be right back.”

Eric opened his eyes and smiled at his little man and then his eyes found Sookie’s. “Right back,” he said to her.

“Right back,” she grinned, as she wiggled out of the sheet and into a dress.

Closing his eyes he settled back into the pillows, with the smile still on his face.

“Now,” Sookie said as they started up the stairs, Josiah in her arms. “What do you want to do first? Eat or potty?”

“Potty I guess,” he replied as they opened the panel door at the top. “You need some help?” she asked.

“No,” he replied. “Just show me where.”

Taking him to the bathroom, clearly he was entranced. “You stay here with me?” he asked as he looked around and Sookie explained to him about flushing.

“Of course,” she smiled. “Do you want me to hold you up?”

“Yes,” he nodded. “Please.”

Sookie was more that amazed when he peed into the toilet, shook his small penis and then pulled down his nightgown. That he had been a ghost or a spirit or an angel or something…and now had bodily functions registered on some bizarre node of her brain. But then, Eric was a vampire and she was a telepath and she had old deep magic, whatever that was but it jelled with something in Eric and just what did she know about reality except that hers was different and that was just fine. Because she had a man, albeit a vampire, that wanted her for her and a baby that called her Momma and she could not remember ever feeling so complete.

“You are gonna need some big boy clothes,” she smiled. “Now Momma has to pee. You just stand right there with your back turned.”

Nodding his head, he turned around as Sookie went about her business.

Flushing she said, “Now, we need to wash our hands and lets go find lunch.”

 

In the kitchen Sookie opened the fridge door and took out the brown sack. “How about a pb&j and a glass of milk?”

Nodding his head, he watched as she unwrapped the sandwich, cut it into fourths and put it on a plate in front of him along with a cup of milk.

“Now, I’ll fix one for me and then we’ll scoot on back downstairs to be with Daddy.”

“Yes Momma,” he grinned as he had a bite. “M-m-m-m,” his eyes got big. “That is good.”

“Yes,” she smiled. “You’re mine alright,” she grinned as they both enjoyed their lunch.

“I like the peanut butter,” Josiah said with a sure nod of his head after he had finished his second cup of milk. “And grape jelly is really good,” he smiled as she washed off his hands and face with a wet paper towel.

“Yes it is,” she smiled at him as she picked him up and they headed back downstairs.

 

Eric was neither awake or asleep, but existing in an in between phase, he called it. He was aware but not functioning in vampire mode so he did not have the bleeds. When the door opened, he could smell them. Along with Sookie’s pb&j and overtones of milk. Here was his family and the loneliness inside of him disappeared and he was filled with joy! They were talking and Eric felt it when their bodies were on the bed. Then the warmth from their love engulfed him!

“We are here Daddy,” he heard the joy in Josiah’s voice. “We’ll rest a bit longer.”

There was a kiss and Eric could taste the peanut butter and the grape jelly that was left on his lips.

“I am going to leave that there, forever,” he smiled and then felt Sookie kiss him as well and in his soul he rejoiced!

The vampire overtones disappeared and there was only the darkness of nothing as he slept. Peacefully. Perhaps for the first time as vampire.

 

When Eric woke, there was a tiny set of arms wrapped around his neck. Josiah had worked his way up and under and around and through and snuggled his way into exactly where he wanted to be. Not that Eric was complaining. It was exactly where he wanted him to be as well.

Shifting his head a bit, he could see Sookie, who was also awake and maybe, just maybe, she was laughing at him. Very vampire like his hand snuck over and pinched her on the ass. A very satisfying squeal came from her mouth.

“What was that Daddy?” Josiah asked, sitting up and looking around.

“I think something frightened your mother,” Eric’s eyes were very serious.

“Momma,” Josiah turned and looked at her. “Did something get you? You just tell me and Daddy, we won’t let anything hurt you,” his little voice was serious. “Will we Daddy?” he said as he turned and looked at Eric.

“Of course not my son,” Eric’s eyes met Josiah’s and then Sookie’s. “I would not ever,” he stressed, “let anyone hurt you or your momma.”

His hand reached for Sookie’s and their fingers intertwined. “I will not allow anyone to hurt you,” he said as he pulled Josiah next to him and pulled Sookie’s hand to his lips for a kiss.

He wanted more…he needed more. Eric gathered Sookie to him and for long moments his family lay in his arms. An odd memory floated before his eyes. He could remember doing this, his mother and himself, resting in his father’s arms.

“This is nice,” Josiah said as he kissed Eric on the cheek. “But Daddy, I need to go pee. And I’m hungry. Is there somethin’ to eat?”

“Yes,” Sookie kissed on him. “Yes there is. We’ll go upstairs and see what we can find.”

Up the stairs they went. Josiah riding piggyback with his head resting on Eric’s shoulder.

Sookie opened the panel and into the kitchen they all trooped.

“Josiah, how do you feel about eggs and toast for dinner?” she asked going through the fridge.

“That sounds good,” he smiled.

“Well, let me fix you some and I need to feed your Daddy and then I’ll have somethin’. How would that be?”

Smiling, Josiah nodded his head. Smiling, Eric nodded his head as well.

Shaking her head at both of them, Sookie started dinner, thinking that this was just a bit odd and maybe she had experienced odder, but it had been a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away and she just fucking did not care!

 

Josiah ate and made yummy noises as he had his eggs and toast with butter and grape jelly. Eric made yummy sounds too, as he had Sookie’s wrist in his mouth as he suckled on old deep magic goodness. Sookie sat down at the table and had another pb&j with a glass of chocolate milk. She had added extra chocolate syrup to the milk and it was rich with chocolate-ee goodness and she was making yummy noises as well when she drank it. Josiah looked intrigued. Helping his momma finish the sandwich, he then also helped her finish the glass of chocolate milk, making more yummy noises and asking if they could share another glass. Daddy made them another glass and with great satisfaction Eric watched them both enjoy the creation he had mixed just for them.

“Daddy has to do some business,” Eric said to Josiah as he wiped down his face and fingers.   “I’ll be in the living room. Do you want to sit with me?”

“Yes sir,” Josiah smiled.

“I have to call Samuel,” Eric grinned at Sookie. “He should be full of all kinds of good news.”

“Excellent,” Sookie grinned. “I’ll clean up and be right in.”

 

Samuel kept staring at the monitor. No matter what he did and it did not matter how much he adjusted the controls, in Eric’s lap was a tiny replica of Eric, with black curly hair.

“Come here sweet boy,” Sookie grinned at him, filling some of the silence. Eric was all grins and Samuel looked constipated and filled with wonder. “I saw some books earlier today in the children’s bedroom. Let’s go get some and sit in here and read quietly while Daddy conducts business.”

“Books!” his voice was full of excitement, as he climbed down out of Eric’s lap. Eric made a frownie face. Josiah saw it and gave him a kiss. Eric’s smile was back.

“We’ll pick out one that Daddy can read to you later,” she smiled at Eric who glowed when he smiled at her.

Eric watched as Sookie carried his son out the door and down the hall.

“What is Josiah’s story?” Samuel asked, “in fifty words or less.”

Eric told him.

“He was a spirit?” Samuel kept repeating. “And now he has bodily functions…” Samuel nodded in understanding. “Old deep magic. Before the earth took its final form and God Himself walked here, He talked to the animals and the rocks, and they talked back. Old deep magic,” Samuel echoed, his voice carrying the wisdom of six thousand years. “Josiah is a gift to you Eric. An angel made flesh. God has sent him to you to be a blessing and for you to learn a great life’s truth.”

“I know that I love him,” Eric stated. “And that I would die protecting him and Sookie.”

“Perhaps maybe,” Samuel smiled at his brother, “God wants you to live and protect Josiah and Sookie.”

“That would be the preferred state,” Eric smiled at him. “So tell me, what do you know about New Orleans and their gabfest.”

“There is an intense search for the fae. Every city in the South is being scoured for Sookie. Sophie-Anne has collected a couple of billion dollars, held in escrow supposedly, for the bidding war that she wants to take place. My sources tell me she has been spending wildly and that she cannot make good on the returned monies. They shall continue to search for another week and then she is putting Hadley on the block. She sees no way around this. I am amazed that she has not contacted you yet my brother.”

“The shit she is doing,” Eric frowned. “And the trust she has broken with me by sending Compton into my area to search for Sookie and now the Weres she has employed without my knowledge and sent into Area Five. Just how angry do you think I would be when I found out?”

“Berserker rage kind of angry,” Samuel chuckled. “Everyone has heard the story of how you aw-w-w-w, hm-m-m-m,” Samuel cleared his throat to keep from laughing, “removed the head of King Siegfried the VI of the Old World and all of his children and retainers and various and numerous hangers-on. You deposed that king and refusing to pick up the crown and rule, you told them to pick someone who would not piss you off and rule in your stead.”

“Do not ever threaten me,” Eric grinned, his fangs showing. “I will redefine your world.”

“Yes, and they all know that. Especially your queen, or at least she did. I think drinking from the drugged Hadley has done something to her. She has no common sense left. Sophie-Anne walks a very narrow path,” Samuel’s face was grim, the humor gone. “I hear they are also searching for Sookie’s brother Jason. HRM knows he is not fae but is hoping that just the name will entice those that she owes money to let her live.”

Eric growled deep in his chest. He did not think much of Jason, for he had listened to Sookie’s stories about him. But, she cared for him and that was what mattered. “How long do you think she can stall them?”

“I hear all manner of debauchery is taking place and that they are bringing in a circus for one night and a gladiator arena has been built.

The humans that are in attendance with their money want blood. They care not how it is achieved. HRM is even going to pit vampire against vampire. Somewhat illegal, but the odds are so astronomical that I understand many,” Samuel stressed, “are looking the other way. I think that perhaps in two weeks will be the pinnacle and they will either grow board or the rest of the degenerates on this planet will hear of this madness and come to watch and play. I imagine it will be somewhat like Sodom and Gomorrah.”

“That will be when I move in for the kill,” Eric chuckled.

“What do you want me to do?” Samuel asked.

“When we must go to New Orleans, we are going to need someone to stay with Josiah. Do you feel up to being Uncle Samuel one evening?”

“I feel up to being Uncle Samuel every evening,” he smiled. “Now, where is our little man? Clayton has brought me a book about three little pigs and a big bad wolf. Uncle Samuel feels a story coming on.”

 

Josiah sat in his momma’s lap and was enchanted as he listened to his Uncle Samuel tell him a story.

Eric was sitting off to the side in a chair firing off text messages to Pam. Sookie had told him what fishing charter Jason and Sam were using and Pam was off into the night to find them and book them another charter for the next two weeks and use glamour liberally.

Adele’s car had not yet been found and would not be until this was a done deal. So there were no questions about her.

Pam had spread the word at Merlotte’s that the Stackhouse family was out of town, gone to a funeral somewhere in the North. The mailman, a patron there, had noted that mail was not being picked up and had taken out what was in the mailbox and had stopped delivering.

Crazy Carl had been out to the farmhouse to install security cameras. It was interesting to watch those that were watching the house. They would eventually be dealt with. But not until after New Orleans had been cleaned out.

Eric watched the old farmhouse continue to sit quietly, waiting for its owner’s return. Good. Closing out that app, it was time for some fun.

Opening a new window, he started looking around for clothes for their little man. Taking him to the store to shop would be so much fun but far too risky.

The UPS and FedEx trucks stopped at Ronnie’s shop everyday. They would not raise any suspicion stopping to deliver Josiah’s clothes and whatever else they deemed he needed.

Ronnie’s Mrs. would continue to shop for food. Eric looked around the apartment that sat on top of the garage. When he had the entire building refinished, he had no idea that his family would be living here.

Josiah needed a yard and daylight and…and…his mind filled with the things from when he was young. Eric watched Josiah laugh and clap as Samuel made faces, wolf ears with his hands and sound effects. His son was laughing and yelling, “Hurry little pig, hurry little pig,” right along with Samuel.

“Did not see this coming and did not fucking plan to my fullest,” he said, disgusted with himself. “I cannot move them to one of my other homes,” he felt like destroying something due to his lack of planning, “so they could be outside during the day…”

Sookie looked over at him, questions in her eyes.

Shaking his head and smiling, he went back to considering the possibilities. And there were none. Until Sophie-Anne called off the hunt, oh ha ha…that would be when she was finally dead…Eric smiled at that thought…here was the safest. The Weres had stopped by, declared the place clean and moved on.

And he knew in Sookie’s heart, she wanted to take Josiah home…to see him in the old farmhouse. To have memories of him there amongst her things. He knew he did, to see his son playing in his home. And then he sighed, a little sick at heart. What did he have that was child friendly? Nothing. Fucking nothing. Homes that were staged with expensive upscale-current-embarrassing-no-taste-shit. A basement where he slept. A torture room somewhere off the basement where he slept. “Fuck, Northman,” he sighed. Looking around this small apartment, this was the most family friendly home he owned. And that had not been because of him. After the re-do, he had told them to put back the original furnishing after they had finished. He had just not cared. He had needed a secure place to park the Vette. That was the fuck all.

“Old deep magic,” he managed a smile. “Good thing someone is watching out for me because I fucked this up,” he sighed and then smiled, as he watched Josiah huff and puff and blow a house down and then squeal with laughter as the little pig ran as fast as he could to his brother. His tiny arms and legs pumping as fast as they could go!

Now there was an idea…nobody fucked with The Da’vid. No questions, no gossip, no nothing. Because if you did, it meant your money went missing which meant you were vulnerable and your enemies saw it as an opportunity to make you go missing.

Might be time to hide his family in plain sight.

Might be time…his heart lurched as he watched Josiah and Sookie. He had so many questions. How did Josiah know that he was his daddy? And how did he know that Sookie was his momma? It could not be a carry over from when he was alive because he had never met Eric and Sookie did not look like Martha.  But my gawd…he watched the woman that he had loved more that a hundred and fifty years ago. There was no question in his mind. Sookie was Martha…

…Martha…he felt something in him quicken that he squelched. Martha and Sookie had the same color of eyes and that was all but the spirit that glowed from Sookie’s eyes, it had lived in both of those women and he had been captivated…

…Martha…he had slept with her and then run to New York, putting her and those things that she made him feel into the deepest pit that he could dig and poured eight hundred years of being vampire on top of it.

If he had stayed? What? He would have killed Robert when he returned and kept her for his own? Taken Josiah and fled? The wrongness of what he would have wanted to do weighed on him.

And his son had lived until he was three. What had happened to end his life?

He wanted answers. It was going to take someone of the supernatural bent.

Pamela hated witches, voodoo artists, spiritualists, and the list went on. If you could fuck with this reality in a supernatural way, she was against it. So she would not be useful in this endeavor. She would probably stake him if he suggested it.

Sometime, however, he was going to have to sit her down and have her explain to him how vampire did not fuck with this reality. That should be a good one…he rolled his eyes.

He would have to talk to Sookie…he really wanted to know how Josiah had died. Maybe she knew someone…maybe…

 

Lafayette shivered all over.

“What’s wrong,” Terry asked as he flipped the burger. “You comin’ down with somethin’?”

“No, his La La fineness refuses to give way to those small beasties that interferes with my healths and beauty rituals. But sure ‘nuffs did feel like some bitch in her Sunday best just walked all overs my grave.”

 

Hadley was weeping and hanging onto Sophie-Anne’s leg, pleading her case. “But you love me,” she sobbed. “I love you, please,” she begged. “Please. Do not put me on the auction block. Please,” she cried, tears running down her face. “I have never been a Stackhouse. That was never my name. Please,” she sobbed, “please do not share me…” the tears and snot streamed down. “Not tonight…I want to be with you…please…please can I have a taste…of anything…I need something…please…” she screamed and continued to do so until he head was forced up and she was muzzled.

“Tell your master not to leave any marks,” Sophie-Anne pulled Hadley from her leg and tossed her aside and watched as what was a potential gold mine, now Were shit, be bound with silk, wrapped like a mummy. “I want her back in two hours. Then she goes to Prussia and you know how she is about her meat. She wants it fresh so make sure you wash her. Douche her as many times as it takes for that sparkling clean smell and taste. And pierce her nipples. That bitch from the North likes bells.

And bring me Compton. I need some amusement. Tell the Were-Tiger to sheath his claws in silver. I want that bastard to bleed.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Readers,

We are supposed to have one of those “blizzards of the century” coming our way. I have heard this before. Seeing, shoveling, and salting is believing.

Plus the weekend is upon us. And as a rule, I do not post on the weekend.

So this small chapter is done…and I will try for another for Friday. We have out the snow blower, snow shovels, salt, and snow boots. Either it will be woohoo! look at it snow and heat me another cup of gluwein or it is another bust! heat me another cup of gluwein!

As always, thanks for reading!

CES