Bored To Death
Chapter 40
Redefined
**
While Sophie-Ann evaluated me and my demand, Andre showed his fangs.
I was not amused. “Shut your fucking mouth. You know I’m not intimidated by that shit and I’m not in the mood. Take your Pamprin and stay the fuck out of this. I want answers. Nothing more… And before you try to ‘put me in my place’, do yourself the favor of remembering the mountain of chores I’ve carried out in the many years I’ve been in service. She’s the one who’s so fond of throwing the word ‘family’ around. We’ve found ourselves in the unique situation of overlapping private lives and I’m annoyed to no end that I’ve been fed semi-truths.”
His fangs didn’t retract until he’d been given a long look from Sophie-Ann.
“Whispering is more polite.”
That got their attention. “More polite than what?”
“Telepathically communicating with one of your children in an effort to be guarded.”
“How did you come to the conclusion that…?”
“You know exactly how I came to the conclusion that you have a mental connection with your children. Sookie can hear it. Not what’s said, just that it’s happening. It registers to her as a hum that she’s only experienced in your presence… My turn.”
“What sort of answers are you referring to? I feel that I’ve been forthcoming.”
“Bullshit. You’ve been less evasive than usual, but forthcoming isn’t something you’ve ever been without extremes. We’ve known each other too long for that to work on me.”
“Continue.”
“First of all, I want to know what Hadley’s ability is.”
“Ability?” Somehow I’d given the impression that I was going to entertain coyness.
“Yes, ability. Jason is affected. Hunter is affected. She wasn’t ‘skipped’. You had her as a human pet for 7 months… passive as it must be, she’s capable of something. I can’t imagine keeping her for any other reason.”
“You aren’t fond of her?”
“No. She’s tolerable under superficial circumstances, but only a lunatic would depend on her to do anything that wasn’t self-serving… And, still, I’m doing more explaining than you are.”
She found something amusing enough to laugh. “Hadley’s gift isn’t as much of an ability as it is a convenience. Even now that she’s a vampire she has a capacity for getting other breeds to cooperate… almost as though she was glamouring them. I’ve never had so much support from a Packmaster as I do right now. One could say that she’s wrapped around Hadley’s finger. In a word, I would call it diplomacy.” How sad… I wasn’t going to tell her that Sookie had the same talent.
“And now? As a vampire? Sookie mentioned that Hadley called an hour before sunset.”
“Now… she is on a vampire diet. She is on a vampire schedule, but to the best of our knowledge, she doesn’t die. She sleeps. She still dreams. She does it during the day because we have checked and she can’t be in the sun.” Unfuckingbelievable… More proof that she could’ve been caring for her child all along.
“She doesn’t have the acute senses though?”
“No. In fact, from what I hear, Sookie is a better vampire and you’ve yet to turn her.” Hiding how envious she was didn’t work out well for her. She practically had ‘jealousy’ branded on her face.
“And you wouldn’t by any chance be experiencing anything peculiar while you’re dead, would you?”
“Vampires don’t experience anything once they die for the day.”
“I do.”
“Such as?”
“Such as, last night Sookie and I encountered ourselves. We spent a ‘full evening’ searching for each other and then hearing and explaining the differences in our realities since our first meeting. We did nothing more than return to our starting point, our bed, and we were discussing how we might ‘return’ when things seemed to reset on their own accord… and put us at the beginning of the evening.”
While Sophie-Ann gaped in my direction Andre’s surprised gawking was directed at her.
She might as well have already admitted to having a similar experience and I didn’t have the patience to wait. “Majesty? This isn’t something I intend to advertise. You, of anyone, should understand that I simply want some sort of validation.”
I’d never seen her more stunned and she actually ‘shook it off’. “The first time it happened to us… It was a normal evening, or so we thought. It started with a meeting with my lawyer and moved along to the tedious receptions… Bill Compton came to present his newly acquired pet… a telepath that he’d found when he returned to his homestead to sort out the estate after his last heir died… I’m sure you can imagine how many applications for her ability I could envision… I suggested a contract, but he wanted to barter for Salome’s area. Well… I’m sure you know better than to think I’d repay Salome’s loyalty with a termination over a human asset… After dismissing Compton so that I could ‘consult my advisors’, Andre and I decided to end Compton and hire Sookie once he was out of the scenario. He’d kept her a secret so we were quite excited at the prospect of attaining her services so easily… When we retired for the day, I’d sent for Hadley as I had the night before and we’d barely fed before Frieda entered my chambers to ‘begin the evening’.”
“That was why you sent Compton on the errand then? Because you knew he’d be greedy enough to keep her under lock and key as well as easily disposed.”
“In a manner of speaking… We had to search him out… at the time, Hadley was just a favored pet. We weren’t sharing any political plans with her. While we were waiting for Compton to relocate, we learned that Hadley was related to Sookie, that Bon Temps was a common thread and eventually put our plans to acquire Sookie on hold. This was nearly four years ago. Andre’s insistence was what spurned me to proceed and dispatch Compton… I’d intended to wait since we’d been hearing about Hunter’s possible gift. The marriage and treaty with Arkansas wasn’t something he’s been in favor of.”
“Understandable, but don’t put me in a position to agree with Andre… ever.”
She laughed while he snarled at me.
“So, you mentioned that it was the ‘first time’… there have been others.”
“Most notably was the night before Hadley delivered Hunter. I barged into my chambers to warn myself that I’d be burying them both just as she had if I didn’t have Hadley with me in my chambers. I summoned Hadley that night and I rose with just enough time to turn her. I blame the late sunset on her weakened state as a vampire. She’d been gone for several minutes.”
“She faired better than some… though I doubt that she’ll ever be independent of you… How often does this happen?”
“Now that she’s a vampire it’s less frequent, but we’ve had more than a few occurrences. I’d say a dozen. I’ve had several scenarios… alone, with Hadley, with Andre, we had the experience where we seemed to go somewhere else, where we were visited and the one time where it seemed like a precognitive dream that we later understood was seeing another version of possibility. We’ve met ‘ourselves’ and we’ve been surprised as well as seemingly expecting of the ‘visit’. It throws us every time… The only true constants seem to be Hadley’s presence and that we always find ourselves in a different version of ‘now’ as opposed to something as laughable as time traveling and such…Tell me, how different were your two realities?” Hearing that it happened to her too somehow didn’t make anything less surreal.
“While I assumed the responsibility of helping Sookie exonerate Jason in the interest of keeping a vampire related serial killer out of the news in my area, Compton made no effort to assist. We decided that he must’ve been isolating Sookie… Her only known family was Jason, Adele and Bartlett… He killed Bartlett, planned on letting Jason be convicted on circumstantial evidence by doing nothing to help Sookie’s cause and allowed Rene Lanier to kill Adele, if not arranged for it himself… That Sookie isn’t confident in her ability and was clinging to the certainty that Bill was her hero even though he’d gone to New Orleans to vie for an official position as Area 5’s investigator leaving her to be attacked.”
They both started laughing. “I sent flowers, did I not?”
Oh, sweet triumph… “You’ve already ‘been there, done that’?”
She nodded. “The ending of that saying is about getting a t-shirt, yes? Andre and I were ‘with’ Andre and I and Hadley of course when Sookie called last night. Was it ‘this Sookie’ I spoke to?”
“Yes it was. Two Sookie’s, two mes and a knob.”
“Pam?”
“No. Just the one. Why do you ask?”
“Because… well, Andre has been along… and… you might want to talk to Pamela. When she and Hadley returned to feed after their attack, she mentioned that she’d been suffering from occasional bouts of what she could only describe as déjà vu… It was why she was watchful of the so-called donors that night. She might be affected and not realize how.”
My first thought was that I’d make Pam pay for keeping something so conversation worthy quiet, but I knew that if she had tried to mention it, I’d have been laughing at her before ‘déjà vu’ was out of her mouth… even if she wasn’t confused by it herself, I’d have made it impossible for her to explain it… “I’m sure I’ll have the opportunity to discuss it with her eventually.”
“Do you feel as though I’ve been adequately forthcoming now?”
“I do. I’ll most likely contact you if it happens again. Not only do you seem better ‘traveled’, it might behoove us to compare notes for future reference.”
“I’ve kept a diary. I reread it every time we have another episode. It’s as full of questions as it is testimony. I’ll make a copy and have it ready for you the next time you’re in New Orleans. The wedding, I believe.”
“Most likely. Considering Sookie’s sudden popularity, we’ll be quite busy until then.”
“We need to discuss that in the near future. The details of your new status, that is.”
“My status as Sookie’s master is hardly worth a discussion since it’s official and public.”
The two of them shared a look that grated my last nerve since they seemed to be ‘pausing for dramatic effect’. “We actually have an abundance to discuss. Such as, whether you want to keep Area 5 as our Lieutenant.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“My current Lieutenant will be leaving a vacancy when he becomes King. You would be the obvious choice even if you weren’t already in the position of owning the state’s most valuable asset… considering the copious amount of travel in your future the extra authority will offer a few additional luxuries and leave no room for question as to how seriously we’d take an act against you and yours.”
“Lieutenant?” I’d been less shocked to see a second me.
“Of course, but that’s a conversation we can have at another time since tonight has been deemed a ‘family affair’. Now would you mind being forthcoming about why Hadley is so distressed?”
Since I was still stunned by being offered the position, there was no point in trying to sugarcoat anything… “That would be my fault. I already knew that she isn’t fond of… ‘hard truths’. I let her know how disgusted I am that she didn’t bother to tell Hunter anything about his new situation. The child reads minds and had no way of settling himself with any hints from the three of you. He was surrounded by completely silent strangers, one of them being his mother and was given nothing. She behaved with cowardice and I have no tolerance for that trait.”
“He’s frightened of you?”
“No. All it took to set him at ease was hearing that he wouldn’t be my meal.”
“He shied from Andre immediately.”
“Have you looked at him? He’s revolting.”
She laughed and eventually rolled her eyes at how ‘offended’ Andre was.
“I’m sure she’s unhappy that I told her family about Faeries as well. The fact that it’s just as much their ancestry as it is hers aside, with Hunter to consider, Sookie’s new recognition and the incident last night, they needed to be informed.”
She shrugged slightly as though she was completely satisfied with my motivation for admonishing her child. “Very well then. Since we’re all quite well informed, we should join the party, yes? The smell coming from your house is divine.”
**
The three of us entered the kitchen to find that Sookie and Hunter had yet to come upstairs and when Hadley snarled in my direction, Adele and Sophie-Ann inadvertently slapped one of her legs in unison. The two of them shared a look and a quick laugh as Pam nominated me to ‘retrieve the mind readers’.
Nearly complete silence was waiting for me downstairs. Nothing other than two sets of relaxed heartbeats and breaths.
Hunter was sitting on the edge of the bed with Sookie kneeling at his feet… His eyes were closed until I pulled out the desk chair and sat down.
“Where did you go?”
“Only as far as the driveway. I had Andre and Sophie-Ann come inside to join us.”
“I lost you.”
“You followed my ‘bubble’?”
He snickered. “Not far.”
“Did you feel it coming back?”
He nodded bashfully. He was still unaccustomed to being free to talk about ‘it’.
“Can you tell the differences between us?”
That nod was more vehement.
“Are they the same kind of differences Sookie hears?”
“Yeah. Why does Hadley whisper?”
“We aren’t sure yet. I think that she’s just weird.”
He giggled and Sookie told us to behave. “I’ve heard it before.”
“Oh, really?”
“Once. In a store, but it was louder.”
“Let us know if you hear it again. We might be able to figure it out. Are you ready to go upstairs? Everyone is anxious to see how you feel about living here. Your Gran and Jason want to see how you like your room. They put a lot of work into it and your Gran made enough treats to fatten an army.”
His eyes lit up. “What kind?”
“You’ll have to see for yourself. That kind of thing wasn’t available when I was able to eat.”
Sookie and I laughed. “I’m afraid so. When I was a child, we would sneak breads to the closest beehive for honey.”
“Didn’t you get stung?”
“Regularly, but it was worth it.” I winked at him as I stood to put the chair back (exactly) as I found it.
**
To spare him the climb, Sookie carried Hunter up the stairs… His wide grin was explained by the fact that Sookie has ‘awesome shields’ so he didn’t mind touching her.
However once we were in the kitchen with everyone else, Hunter nearly threw himself out of Sookie’s arms in a panic to get to me. Me?
His tiny arms barely met behind my neck and for a split second I wondered about what the fuck Jason could’ve been thinking about to scare him…
Sookie rubbed Hunter’s back and whispered. “You’ll get used to him. It’s not scary, just different.”
Hunter didn’t look up, speaking into my neck. “What is he?”
“He’s just a Werewolf.” Alcide winced, making it obvious that he didn’t like scaring the child.
He shook his head. “They aren’t real. Just in stories.”
Sookie cringed, lost on how to help so I gave his arm a nudge. “Hunter?”
Nothing.
Sookie rubbed his back again and still no response.
Jason was given a collective dirty look for the poor timing of his chuckling. “What!? I was just wondering if it was like Disneyland in there or something.”
My mind? Disneyland? I actually snorted at the smart ass.
The only idea as to how to settle the boy down came from Adele. Since Hunter seemed to trust me enough to hide in my mind, she suggested that I take him somewhere quiet before setting him down to explain things.
Alcide was already apologizing and suggesting he should go home as I was on my way to the library. Pam told him to ‘shut up and eat a cookie’ because he wasn’t going anywhere…
It was a chore to unlock his arms from my neck without hurting him, but eventually I managed to set Hunter on the desk so that I could sit clear of him in the chair.
He seemed dazed, looking around the room as he came back to himself fully. “He’s still here?”
“He is. His name is Alcide. He’s your guard.”
“His head is scary.”
“No. His head is different. You’ll get used to it.”
“It’s all red…”
“He’s not angry though. The red is just a coincidence.”
“He’s really ok?”
I nodded.
“And Werewolves are real?”
“They are. Werewolves and cats and a few others… Sookie has a friend who can turn into any animal he chooses. You’ll be meeting a witch soon too.”
“A witch!? Is she ugly?”
“Not at all. I think she’s quite pretty… and very friendly.”
“Like Glenda?”
“You already know a witch?”
“From Wizard of Oz.”
“Oh, not quite. No big dress or wand… Paulette wears jeans and carries a cell phone.”
“They look like people?”
I nodded. “There are witches… and then there are ‘normal’ people who call themselves witches, but usually just get themselves into trouble when they play with magic… The important thing for you to remember is that they’re all secret. The world only knows about humans and vampires right now.”
He nodded. “Like mind readers.”
“Exactly. Eventually other things will make themselves known, but for the time being they are safer to stay quiet about what they are.”
“Why did you tell me then?”
“Because we don’t want you to be afraid of people like Alcide or Paulette. There are going to be witches and Werewolves that we can’t trust, but that can be said of humans too.”
“What is Jason?”
“A goofball.”
He cackled, “That’s not what I meant!”
“He’s a normal human like your Gran.”
“Nuh-uh.” Oh really?
“What do you mean?”
“Their heads are hot.”
“Hot?”
“Not cold.” Adele had told me that Sookie was early to speak and read and that it wouldn’t shock her for Hunter to have the same traits, but I still hadn’t expected him to be so articulate. While he communicated in simple sentences, there was no doubt that he was comprehending everything… it was in his eyes… and I had to appreciate his sense of humor.
“How are their heads ‘hot’? Do you mean your Gran’s too?”
He nodded and pulled his legs up to fold them together. He studied the ceiling for a moment, seemingly formulating his answer. “Yeah. Gran too. Like a blanket or… a hug.”
“That’s interesting.”
“Interesting?”
“Not boring.”
He snickered. “I meant why.”
“We should ask Sookie if she noticed the same thing about you… since you’re all family.”
“They said that, but… how?” Still? Seriously?
“Hunter, Hadley is your mother. She is Sookie and Jason’s cousin. Gran is your great-grandmother.”
He disbelievingly shook his head. “My mom is dead. Daddy said.”
“He didn’t know that she is a vampire. She’s a different kind of dead.”
“She’s my mom?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you and Sookie taking me?”
“Because Sookie can help you. Hadley can’t care for you because vampires die for the day.” A half truth that Hadley should be beaten for forcing me to tell.
“And you can keep me safe?”
“I’ll certainly do my best. You don’t run with scissors, do you?”
He giggled. “No. I don’t mess with bees either.”
I laughed at his joke. “Touché… Are you ready to go back now? Your Gran is about to send Jason home because he won’t leave the brownies alone.”
He narrowed his eyes. “They have nuts and I don’t like them. But how did you know?”
“You can hear thoughts, but vampires have very good hearing. I’d bet the back of Jason’s hand is red from being slapped away from the snacks.”
“Is she mean?”
I stood up and held my hands out in an offer to carry him, but he only took one to help himself down. “Not at all, but she’s very nervous about making sure you’re happy. Sookie wasn’t lucky enough to have anyone that understood being around a telepath. Your Gran had to learn as she went.”
“But Sookie already knows what will help?”
“She knows what would’ve helped her. I suppose that’s a good place to start.”
“Are there a lot of us? Tele… tele…”
“Telepaths… You and Sookie are the only ones I’ve ever met.”
He stopped walking and looked up with a surprised expression. “But you’re older than cookies.”
**
The first thing Hunter did when we rejoined the waiting collective was apologize to Alcide… He actually took Alcide’s hand to ‘test his head’ and pulled away laughing that Tommy ‘isn’t retarded, he’s normal’. Alcide had inadvertently compared Hunter’s communication skills to his nephew’s.
Hunter’s second order of business… was turn to Adele to ask what his snacking options were…
While he snacked, he was interviewed about his preferences… movies, books, toys, outings, food… the onslaught of attention took him a while to adjust to, but he did adjust to it all… and he offered very few surprises…
He’d never been able to watch TV or movies with company because ‘people think too much’… Pam immediately offered to keep him company since her thoughts wouldn’t distract him… He thought it was hilarious that she said he’d be a better movie date than I am…
Books weren’t high on his list. He informed us that he could ‘read some but not real good yet’. Janell Cannon wrote the ‘prettiest’ books. Alcide and I were stunned that he could read anything at his age, but Adele and Jason weren’t the least bit shocked since Sookie was helping Jason with his homework as early as 5.
As suspected, Hunter liked quiet toys… specifically, dinosaurs and dragons.
Hunter wasn’t fond of outings in general because he didn’t like crowded places for the obvious reasons… His eyes brightened when Sookie mentioned that most places were less crowded during the day and that she was going to start proving it right away…
Adele was appalled to hear that the boy had been eating what she called ‘bachelor food’ for as long as he could remember… but just as pleased to hear that he wasn’t picky…
All in all, the boy led us through a list of inclinations that his father would have shared if he’d been given the chance… or his mother if she actually cared enough to ask.
Knowing that Sookie had been more right than she realized about Hadley using her vampirism as an excuse to not raise Hunter herself irritated me to no end. Not that being sequestered to a wing of the palace would have given him a happy childhood, but the fact that she didn’t even bother herself with him in infancy spoke volumes.
**
I would have thought that Hunter’s to-do list might include talking to Hadley about his recent discovery, but when he was done (and he’d asked about a mysterious humming several times) he asked to see his room…
He was more than a little pleased to see that his bedding had dragons on it… He was thrilled to see ‘fresh’ crayons because he’d forgotten to put his in his dinosaur backpack with his favorite toys… He marveled at the idea of having his own bathroom…
I caught myself feeling satisfied that Hunter was going to be comfortable… but more than anything, Sookie, Adele and Pam’s excitement that he seemed so happy about his new accommodations was stirring a ridiculous amount of unvampirelike emotion that I wasn’t about to irritate myself with scrutinizing.
It was odd enough that I’d found myself in love with Sookie, or at all for that matter, but the distinct itch that I might have been developing a regard for a (mostly) human child was just as perturbing as it was crazed.
**
As Hunter’s tour continued, he mentioned that it was ‘way past’ his bedtime so it was explained to him that much later bedtimes were in his future since we ‘enjoy the nightlife’… since his usually early bedtime was because he had to wake up before dawn to get ready for a daycare he wasn’t fond of, he was not disappointed to hear that ‘sleeping in’ was part of his new life…
He wasn’t anymore disheartened to see the pool or be promised a swimming lesson after they had their breakfast…
Nor was he downcast about the television that was bigger than him… literally.
And by the time he was done rejoicing over the idea of a ‘weekly vacation’ in the country, Sophie-Ann, Andre and Hadley had deposited his belongings in the foyer and slipped out of the house…
Hunter had barely noticed. The same could not be said about Sookie, Adele and Jason… the three of them were fuming that Hadley wouldn’t have at least announced her exit. Pam and Alcide seemed to share the same brand of sympathy for Hunter…
While Hunter acquainted himself with everyone, Adele packaged the surplus snacks for Alcide and Jason to take with them as her version of an olive branch… she went as far as to offer an apology for having been ‘out of control’ when she hugged them on their way out… They were actually sent home shortly after midnight since neither of them had the luxury of sleeping late… When I caught an amused grin on Hunter’s face, Sookie whispered to explain, “He’s a kid after your own heart… he thinks it’s funny that the grownups are getting sent to bed before him.”
It was nearly 2 am when Adele announced that she was ‘tuckered out’ and that Hunter shouldn’t try to ‘become nocturnal overnight’… Again, Hunter caught onto the irony… No, there was no question as to the depths of the boy’s comprehension… Hearing the overcomplicated thoughts of everyone around him since he was born had primed him for an astounding intellectual capacity… Just like Sookie, his physical and emotional states would be his only limitations. Only time would tell, but I was starting to question if my blood had done much of anything to bolster Sookie’s ability… Accepting and finally exploring her ability may very well have been responsible for how much stronger of a telepath she was… Since it would take something catastrophic for me to give a child my blood, time would solve that mystery for us.
While Hunter happily showered in his own bathroom, Pam and I helped Sookie start unpacking his things… Both of us had to offer Sookie some encouragement when she noticed that all of Hunter’s things were in good condition. She mentioned that it might have made her feel better about the circumstances if Hunter’s things weren’t so well taken care of… if it seemed like Remy didn’t care anymore than Hadely.
Since Adele had said her ‘goodnights’ before Hunter bathed, Pam only stayed long enough to help ‘tuck him in’… but not before reminding him of their ‘date’.
**
Completely exhausted from her maniacal cleaning and self induced strain, Sookie peeled out of her clothes and slid between the sheets before asking me why I’d been ‘mad enough to chew nails’ earlier…
We spent the next two hours discussing Hadley’s selfishness, the sudden offer of a ‘promotion’ and the insane concept that we weren’t the only ones to have visited ourselves… eventually getting to the topic of Hunter and that she’d heard that he was excited to be here with ‘us’…
Dawn’s approach was just starting to slow me down when Sookie and I heard the door to the kitchen open.
It took her only a second to yank the blanket over me and scramble to put my discarded t-shirt on to cover herself.
She stood still, waiting, ‘listening’… tiny footsteps and slightly labored breathing mixed with a quiet grunt or two…
She finally slid back into the bed without investigating further, but she was smiling from ear to ear as she snuggled into my side feeling pleased (if not thrilled).
“Hunter brought his blanket and pillow down. He’s already mostly asleep just outside the door.”
“Are you surprised that he’d like you right away?”
She giggled, tightening her arm over my ribs. “He didn’t come downstairs to be closer to me, Eric.”
EricIzMine FanFiction 
I love ending to a fun–very fun–story. I’m so glad I tripped over this.
Thank you for the entertainment!
Loved it! And now that you’ve telegraphed there will be a sequel, I’ll be patient and wait for more.
I love that you had Hunter get attached to Eric right away. He’s going to be the father figure now, whether he expected it or not. The fact that he finds himself forming an attachment to the boy already bodes well for their relationship.
I enjoyed the conversation between Eric and Sophie-Anne at the beginning of the chapter. I loved how snarky Eric was with Andre and that the Queen actually had a sense of either humor or tolerance about it. And wow! The explanation that she’d been experiencing the “parallel universe” stuff was just amazing. I was not expecting that to be a trait of the whole family. I can’t wait to see what you do with that in the future.
OMG! I cracked up at “You’re older than cookies?!?” What a great line!
And I’m eager to find out what Eric’s duties as Lieutenant would be, and if he’ll take the position.
I remember all too well that little foot pressing on my ribs. No amount of rubbing or pushing would encourage it to move. Hopefully it means that soon little Vaughn will be making his debut. I hope you can rest comfortably until his big day arrives.
Thank you so much for sharing your stories with us. As usual, I wait for your next notification with bated breath!
Awww! Such a wonderful final chapter for this story. And yeah, Hadley is worthless. At least Hunter is with a great family now.
I will definitely be reading the sequel whenever you get the chance to start writing it!
Awwww…he wants to be closer to them both!!! My favorite line: Your older than cookies?! Hunter is a doll! I could just slap Hadley. He is WAY better off with Sookie and Eric. And I am so tickled at how attached Pam is to him already. I’m still confused over the whole other selves, and then on top of that, the alternate SA and Andre!!! I am in awe of your wicked imagination and I am so going to have to reread the whole alternate storyline thing. I look forward to “Death of Me” and any of your story updates coming up! Hopefully your little one will grace you with his presence soon! Thank you again for a wonderful story!
You ended it gracefully. Great work!
What a wonderful story!! I’ve read it twice now and completely enjoyed it!! Can’t wait for the sequel. I love the Sookie/Eric dynamic you’ve written 🙂
You are the best!!!!! Thank you Thank you thank you!!!
You are just soo awesome. Thanks for the entire BTD story. Loved how close Hunter and Eric are becoming.
I’m so sad to see this story come to an end, though I am enjoying your new side story. I will say that I am crossing my fingers and hoping for a continuation, but if not…well, ce la vie.
I loved that it was Eric that Hunter chose to bond with immediately. It just goes to prove that there is so much more to love about him than the overwritten GP. (Not that I mind it making an appearance in every story though! lol)
Thank you for sharing this story with us!
I loved the ending, though I am sad that it ended. Can I be hopeful that the way you ended it leaves plenty of room for a sequel perhaps? I have to quit being stingy, I am enjoy Meanwhile and AIW so I completey get it if a sequel is the farest thing from you mind right now. I love that Hunter already is so attached to Eric. He is in a much better place for him and though I feel bad for his dad I am glad that Sookie had it worked so he could still see him. I look forward to seeing what you have coming up next. Great job on this wonderful story!
Yup – with the Meanwhile story I need to reread this one again to compare the changes in Sookie and events which may or may not happen the same way. Thank you for sharing your brilliance with you, take a well deserved baby break and I hope to see you posts reappearing soon! The True Blood Alcide is a bit of a dork but oh my isn’t Joe yummy. I’ll just imagine him iin your stories to get all warm and fuzzy inside…
Right! Got reading to do…
“older than cookies!” = priceless
Thanks for writing this fic. It’s one of my all-time favorites!
That was a perfect ending. Beautiful.
Oh how cute. I love Eric as a date and the way Hunter looks up to him is adorable. Those two will be a force to be reckoned with in the sequel. This story was wonderful, thank you.
i absolutely love this story and am sad to see it ended but happy with how it happened. i can’t wait for more of your writing. you are by far, my favorite svm author. all of your stories make me laugh and have a great story lines and depth. keep up the great work!
Beautiful. This is one of the funniest, sweetest, and fulfilling pieces of fan-fic I’ve ever read! There is a richness to your characters, their interactions, and thier lives that many authors fall short of acheiving. I will happily read anything you write, and I will most certainly keep my eyes open for the sequel!
Great work! And (early) congrats on your little one!
That was just fantastic! I think “but you’re older than cookies!” will be my new favorite saying. So much better that “older than dirt.”
I wanted to shove Hadley, what an awful mother. Especially learning that she doesn’t really die for the day. I just can’t imagine. I loved the ned, how Hunter wanted to be closer to Eric. I can’t wait to see how their relationship develops.
And all those new plot points you’ve introduced for the sequel?!?! I can’t wait!
You know how much I love your stories,and this one was awesome.
I only have gratitude for you for making my days a little bit easy.
So,thank you
*hugs*
An amazing ending, I can’t wait for the sequel… but I will… I’d wait forever! Thanks for writing.
awww that is just too sweet for words 🙂 i love Hunter and that he’s bonded to Eric, and vice versa. that whole “your older than cookies” was hilarious…little kids crack me up! oh & thank you for making sure Eric put Hadely in her place – that crap just pisses me off. if you can’t tell already, it was an awesome chapter – thank you!!
i cannot wait for the adventure of the Northman clan 😀
This was a wonderful story. I love how Hunter automatically responded to Eric. I’m excited to hear there will be a sequel. Again, this was such a good story. I enjoyed every chapter. Thank-you for sharing your work with us.
One of the best things for me – I thought ‘Meanwhile’ was the continuation of the BTD storyline and now I have discovered there is another whole new story to come, I am thrilled to bits 🙂
I already love Hunter, I am so happy for him, he is going to have a great life with these guys and their lives will be enriched by him too, especially his new best friend Eric. I wonder if one day he might be ‘dad’, that would be pretty special for a 1000 year old vamp.
Fingers crossed you might manage another chapter of something for the Christmas holidays, before #6 takes over your life and time – in the very best way – for a while.
Very best wishes.
You are AMAZING This has been my fave, but all of your stories are on my top 10 faves….Can’t wait for the next one …awwe Hunter and Eric so cute
I hated to see this story come to an end, but knowing there will be a sequel makes it all better. It sounds like there might be more universe tripping for Sookie and Eric if they experience the things SA, Hadley and Andre have. None of them will ever be bored. Maybe it was the delay in turning Hadley that affected her ability to bond with her son, or maybe I’m just trying to be charitable. I’d say Hunter has a very fine family to take care of him without Hadley though. Thank you so much for sharing this story with us. You are a fine writer.
OMG what a great ending! So so sorry that it’s the last chapter. But sequels are a possibility!!!
thank you for the great story and a satisfying ending. along with others I have to tell you I love the line “older than cookies”. will be waiting for more of your other stories and hope you are feeling well.
Great ending, I loved the way Hunter settled so easily into the family especially with Eric. I hope you have a sequel in mind for the future, or prehaps a visit from Meanwhile Eric and Sookie into BTD reality.
Don’t care if we ever see Hadley again! Love Hunter and Eric together. So cute that he connects with Eric right away. You’re older than cookies!!!!! LMAO – perfect. So glad there will be a sequel at some point – I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this story and the world. I’m happy about AU Meanwhile as well. Thank you so much for sharing it all with us.
A wonderful ending to this story – loved the dynamic between Eric and Hunter. Glad that Adel calmed down. Can’t wait to see what you entertain us with next – until then I guess I will “review” your other stories again! Good luck and Happy Holidays. Thanks for a very entertaining story.
Brava! Simple and fitting end to a great story. Hunter gravitates towards Eric’s personality, and the true reason that he’s loved, not just the sex god persona.
Can’t wait to see what else comes out of that fertile brain of yours. (All references understood.lol)
“He didn’t come downstairs to be closer to me, Eric.”
Bravo! What a story! Now…I held it together until I read that last line and started to tear up…..
You just know how to jerk us around don’t you 🙂
Best of luck with little Vaughn –I hope he escapes his prison soon!
All the best —
Pat
It was beautiful, you are beautiful.
Thank you for my all time favourite. I thought I would be so sad when it ended, but the fact it is so complete makes this moment much sweeter than I imagined.
As ever I delight in how your mind works, a few people have mentioned Hunter’s brilliant line about cookies, but my personal fave is “you can’t become nocturnal over night.”
Genius.
So, the holidays are coming and so is Vaughan 🙂 I am sure having a loving and big family helps with your work. Every family you write I want to be part of; from the human Stackhouses who welcome two lonely FBI agents I to their midst, to definate sense of ‘nest’ that makes up some of your canon.
You don’t do anything badly but somethings blow me away. The humour, I could read that all night every night. The pranks and lovely relationship Eric has with Pam, Sookie’s enhancement of this. Jason being given a chance and not written off. The flirt and banter between our main couple.
My number one has to be Eric’s relationship with Adele. “Old people have heart attacks!”
It delighted me, I don’t think anyone did it anywhere near as well. Not even close!
Thank you for 40 chapters of ‘forget your problems, joy’
Alison
I love that despite everything he must have heard in other peoples heads, Hunter is still a child in some ways. I loved the older than cookies line, it was so sweet and he obviously took to Eric quickly. I’m sad it’s over, but I’m waiting patiently for the next installment and am overjoyed that you’ll be able to work on other fics… any noises from the L&D crew at all?
If I don’t ‘see’ you before then, have an easy labor, a joyous birth of the little squid and a fabulous Christmas *hugs*
Nooooooooooooooo it can’t be over!!!
*stomps foot throws tantrum*
**sigh**
Ok Ok. I’m being selfish.
THANK YOU so very much for sharing your muse with the world!!!
I look forward to any and all new adventures you have planned for us!
This was a wonderful story and I love the other story you’ve started with the “other” E/S. I can’t wait for the sequel either.
By the way, I rarely laugh out loud when I read and it’s extremely rare that i REALLY laugh out loud when I read. When I read “You’re older than cookies?” I think I full belly laughed for at least 30 seconds. Wonderful line. I love reading your stories. Thanks for sharing them.
Ummm…so…
What ARE Gran and Jason?
thank you very much for that wonderful story i hated to see it end you rock!
Great job as always. Cant wait for the sequel.
Hadley always was a self-centered ingrate.
An amazing end to an even more amazing story. You are trully brillant with the writing that you give us. Thankyou so much for the laughs, the tears and the fantastic sex.
So good so good so good! They’re a little family now awwwww.
Great story and a very adorable ending. I hope that your little one comes soon. My daughter had her butt pushed up into my ribs on my right side for the last two weeks of my pregnancy, it was the most painful and constant uncomfortable feeling. Heck, I think that the labor was less painful because it was short. Oh, I still have my Jem dolls. I am a dork, I know.
Cat
Lovely fun and sweet. Thank you!
I love the ending. Read it twice! Sad to see it end but I’m happy that you might do a sequel in the future! I hope you and the baby are ok!!
Thank you, Angela. That was a wonderful and enthralling story. I loved it very much, right till the last line. I also want to thank you for giving me something to be distracted with while you’re away (SoA rocks almost as much as your stories do). Hope you have an easy delivery and your baby boy is strong and healthy. Lots of love.
Awesome ending, Eric seems to have got a new buddy! Thank you so much for your awesome writing. I love reading your stories. They are so worth the time.
I am sad that this is the last chapter.
What a fantastic ending to a truly fabulous story! I just can’t get enough of Eric and Hunter. What a cute father son relationship they have started forming. “You’re older than cookies?!?” what a classic line!
Thanks so much for sharing your talent and this amazing story!
“…older than cookies.” was probably my favorite line lol
Loved the chap Hon’!!!
-Chlo-
awesome ending! and I’m so looking forward to the sequel 🙂
Love the ending, you never disappoint!! “Older than Cookies” had me in stiches because my kids love to bug their Dad and call him”Older than dirt!” It was so cute the way Hunter bonded to Eric right away even with Hadley not telling him anything. I think we can thank Hadley for being so irresponsible, selfish and stupid, because Hunter would never have reacted the way he did otherwise. Can’t wait for the sequel or anything you write for that matter.
Take care and good luck with the little one.
Perfect!! A little telepathic Eric, too adorable! I can’t wait for the next part of the story, and some AIW, of course! Hang in there with the alien in your belly, he’ll be here when he’s good and ready, and then you’ll wish you could put him back the first time he cries all night!!! ;D
To perfect. I love the ending of this and how I leads into the next story perfectly buoy ended this but left it open for more. I LOVE this story. You have created perfect replicas of canon, but given Sookie a lot more brains. And Its all from Erics POV. Sad tO see it end but we do get the OTHERS.
Love your work and thank you for writing not only for yourself but letting us read it too
Marvelous chapter! It’s so sweet how taken he is with Eric…and I positively love how sweet Eric is with him. They really are becoming a little family (not to say they weren’t already).
Wonderful story. I have thoroughly enjoyed your writing style, with this and your other stories. The relationships among your characters is great. I love that Eric freely admits that Adele is using him for the use of his library. You gave Jason the opportunity to be something other than a pretty face with an active libido. Hadley is the most selfish person ever, but she always was. As I said before, I truly prefer your version of Sookie – a very self-empowered woman without being such a whiner. Your Hunter is adorable and deserves to have a good family. It is terribly sweet that he’s attached himself to Eric right away. Eric knew just what to say to put the kid at ease; Pam as well. I absolutely love Pam. Of course, it goes without saying that Eric in just about any guise is a winner. I really look forward to the sequel – whenever you’re able to find time with a newborn in the home. Best wishes with your little one. I look forward to your next literary venture.
It was beautiful!!! I loved it and look forward to the sequel!!! Also, I’m glad your son is staying in his little cacoon to cook longer!!!
older than cookies had me snorting into my keyboard 🙂 found your site recently (on early maternity leave) and have read loads of your stuff to keep me sane 🙂 btd is my favorite, though. thanks a million!!!
I am so glad you posted another chapter. This story is so great I have read it 3 times.
Aww. Too cute! Very satisfying ending!
ok favorite line- but your older than cookies…
Loved it, i love how quickly hunter attaches to eric ah who am i kidding i love everything about it except that i now have to wait to read more 🙂
I loved the ending!! Great ride…hoping that you start a sequel soon! If you don’t we still love you.
I am in awe at the wit and spunk your characters have!
Tight hugs!
this is one of the best fan fics I have ever read. I was concerned when it took a right turn when they “met themselves’ but I am so glad I kept going.
Thank you!
OMGoddess, found this story and read straight through, absolutely love a more confident Sookie, a Jason with a bit more brain power and an Eric who seems to be more compassionate!!!!
Can’t wait for an update!
Awwww! what a sweet and great ending.
I’m sad to see it come to a close but happy to hear of a sequel in the works!
Can’t wait for that!
Thank you so much for writing this during your pregnancy!
OMG you are an amazing writer … i absolutely love the way u put a story together … the humour, sex, intrigue, action, the interaction b/w ur characters, what is expected and what it totally unexpected .. u have such a vivid imagination and i honestly thank u for being so generous as to share ur fics with us (I loved S&S for the same reasone)
i thought CH’s version was good, BUT urs was soooooooo much better .. brilliant, amazing, inspired ….
i look forward to each and every update of urs
thanks and i wish u a wonderful 2011 and ONLY THE VERY BEST for the future … keep writing – u r so good at it
Awesome awesome chapter! Absolutely LOVED this story!
Now that I’ve found this site…I’m off to see what else you’ve got out there.
Very talented. Keep writing, you’ve collected yourself a new fan!!
🙂
Angela
I just finished re-re-re-reading this story, I adore it, and your writing style and all your stories! The only thing that bugs me about this story is one little thing. Upon paying attention chapter 39 is the first time they mention the “fae heritage” around Gran… but she didn’t have a reaction? I always thought that if Gran hadn’t died in the first book the first person Sookie would have gone to about her “otherness” would have been her Gran, like since she’s the historian in the family wouldn’t Eric and Sookie ask her about any fae or “odd branches” or something? … thats all. Love it in general though, the snark, the wit!!
I love your writing. Wonderful chapter.
Okay…you have got to finish, add on, write more. I stayed up all night and read. It was GOOD!!! But I could not stop reading to write a review. You know we love you. If I did not, I would have just gone to bed.
I know I am way late in reading this but I am so sad it’s over :(. Any chance of an epilogue of some sort?
Well, there won’t be an epilogue because I’m planning out the sequel…
And at the moment, Meanwhile is in full swing. It’s a spin-off of Bored To Death.
I’m ecstatic that you enjoyed the read. I hope you’re just as happy with the rest…
-Angela
Just re-read this in it’s entirety and it’s STILL fantastic. Thanks!
I loved this story. I am sad it is over. I am really enjoying Meanwhile. I wonder if you will continue this story. There are many unanswered things. I hate to have to stop reading. Thanks so much for writing.
i just read this for a second time. even better this time. i can’t wait for the sequal but i love ‘it can’t be’ and i love ‘meanwhile’ oh and i love ‘life & death’. i think its safe to say i’m a total fan and i’m addicted lol can’t wait for more of everything!!
Amazing
Awwww…love that last sentence.
“Oh, not quite. No big dress or wand… Paulette wears jeans and carries a cell phone.”- LMAO!
You’re awesome! On to read Meanwhile…..
Loooved this story… But confused is it finished?
Bored To Death is done (for now) but Meanwhile is a spin off of it.
🙂
I have at last finished re-reading the whole story. I wanted to refresh my mind before starting Death’s Door.
Reading you just makes me realize how much better the franchise could have been. Not that I held CH’s writing in such a high esteem before, but I did recognize that she had created a very interesting premise and exciting characters. However, seeing what someone of your talent and wit can do with these toys just makes it obvious how poorly executed the books mostly are.
Thank you so much for sharing your amazing talent with us. I do hope the sequel explores the origin of Hadley’s whisper and of Sookie’s and Hunter’s telepathy (I imagine the two phenomenons are related). I was left very frustrated with CH’s botched explanation, so I’m very excited to read your take on it.
O/T: I am in the process of making a banner/cover art for The Death of Me. Should I send you the end result by e-mail (ericizmine@ymail.com, right?) or just link it in my review for Death’s Door? Also, am I right in assuming that Scarlett Johanson is your ‘favourite’ Sookie?
RE-READ the whole story again, i still love it, onto Meanwhile again, i will never get bored of the Multiverse my best Kristie
Love love love this story. I now really enjoy telling my kids to do something else I will beat them “as though I’m waiting for candy to fall out.” (kidding them, of course)
Is there any way to download your stories for the kindle? I can do so with fanfiction.net stories.
Can’t wait to read more about Hunter in The Death of Me!
I just finished re-reading again, but it’s been awhile. I’ve been obsessed with the four current stories and I’m so glad I came back to read this one again. I love each and every verse you have had (although I gotta say it still grosses me out the one where she has kids with Sam – ick, ick, bleh. Especially since he is even worse of an ass in that verse than the others). It really did start here though and I love it so so much. I can’t decide if I’m annoyed that I don’t get to see more of this Hunter adjusting though so I’m gonna search out the other Hunter ones to enjoy now. Thank you so much for the Verse/Braid!!
Enjoyed my re-read. I still laugh every time I read or think about Hunter’s line “but you’re older than cookies.” Hilarious.
Trying to figure out what to read next…I’ll probably go to Meanwhile since I’m pretty sure that was the next one you wrote. =)
i had originally read this story about a year or so ago on ff.net. when i went back to re-read it a couple of months ago i was unable to find it. i had to go through some of my other favorite authors to look for you until i found someone who left message on where you could be found. i hpoe all of you who are no longer welcome on ff.net will leave a new address on their profile so we your loyal readers won’t lose you. sadly, i have been unable to follow the trail of some of my favorites. thanks for the great read,i’ll be looking forward to checking you out again soon.
umm….so re-read number 3
It’s really funny that I was going to write how much I love and laugh at the cookies line because then I read both of my previous comments and I said the same thing both times. Hmm…I guess you know I really meant it.
still as awesome as ever Kristie
I loved it! I read the whole story in just three days and now I’m off to read the sequel. Thank you for sharing 🙂 your romance is so engaging and your story really sucked me in.
I just saw, in Allabouteric’s Fanfiction site (Happy Ever After, Chapter 14 intro), that EricizMine (Angela), died last week. I am posting this here because this is the first story of hers I read and it seems appropriate. I can’t believe how devastated I was to hear of the passing of someone I never met and knew only through her writing. I’m so sorry I didn’t post more comments telling her how much I enjoyed her stories and loved her Eric(s) and Sookie(s). I should have thanked her more often for sharing her imagination and talent with us… all I can do now is wish her God Speed into her own Multiverse…
absolutely loved it!!!! love the concept of visiting different realities/versions of yourself….the story as a whole is awesome
I’ve really enjoyed this story, thanks for writing!
Reread this. Nice that it was showcased. EIM was a genius. Wish she could have been able to start writing original fiction because with her imagination it would have been awesome. All new TB/SVM readers and writers should start with her worlds.
Loved it as much this story as much this time as the last time I read it. Thank you so much for the entertainment xxx
Angela would have appreciated your kind words. keep reading and being entertained. KY
I first encountered her work years ago, maybe even before this site existed, on fanfiction.net. It was the first story she wrote, Dead Tired. When I couldn’t find it on fanfiction years later after a sudden desire to reread it I was so incredibly disappointed, but I searched until I found this site. The rewrite was just being started, the original was gone… I read through the few finished chapters and felt more disappointment that I couldn’t “binge” read it. I read a bunch of her other work though, well the complete stuff; I’m incredibly impatient when it comes to waiting for new chapters. I’ve since absorbed everything though.
When I heard she passed it brought tears to my eyes. She has a wonderful writing style and its a shame the world never got the opportunity to see what original characters, worlds, and stories she would have graced us with. I am forever grateful to whoever it is that keeps the website up, I’d be heartbroken to ever see these works vanish, as they’re stories I know I can turn to whenever I’m having a bad day, stories that make me smile and laugh and cry. What more could anyone ask from a great author?
you can still read the Infinite series (Dead Tired), the original is a link , go to the index page scroll down to Infinite Series and click KY
The more I re-read this verse the less and less I like this Sookie. She comes across as incredibly insensitive and judgmental. We get it, you struck gold on the first try. Still, Angela was freaking genius when it came to fleshing out CH characters.
I know Kleannhouse still occasionally checks these pages–so if you’re reading, thanks for continuing to care about Angela, after all these years. The multiverse is something I haven’t seen an equal to in any fandom, and I’m a fan studies academic.
always. I don’t check all the time but i do check the comments and keep it all running smoothly. KY
I share the same sentiment as Lex. I cannot express how grateful I am that her work is still saved. It makes me sad to read sometimes, I miss the excitement of seeing a new chapter posted, of seeing another story completed or a new story started. I know that what I feel is a single raindrop in the Atlantic compared to what her friends and family must feel. The world lost a brilliant creative mind when it lost Angela, but her family and friends lost something far more dear.
Brilliant! Read it for about the 43rd time, and I still tear up. Angela is a genius and has taught me so much history, philosophy and lore through her writing.
Such an unbelievable loss.
Blessings 💫
yes we lost a true inspiration to us all. KY (Kleannhouse)