Disclaimer :

The characters in this story belong solely to Charlaine Harris and Alan Ball. I make no attempt to turn them into my own, and only the plot of this story is mine.

A/N First off, I would like to say a quick hello to the person who's reading this right now. Thank you for taking the time to check this story out. I'm not a very big fan of writing an author's note, so I'll just explain the long absence. The reason for that is I spent six entire months touring Italy in search of inspirations for a story, and I found some for this one when I was staring at the Trevi Fountain in Rome. Anyway, I've been obsessing over this one for quite some time, so now I'm uploading it. Please review and leave your comments at the end, thank you! Now, on to the story itself, just because I have nothing more to say.

Chapter 1

Eric sat in his leather office chair, running over Sookie's rejection of him and Bill. Obviously, she saw it as a necessary step in order to stop hurting them both, but Eric saw it differently. In his mind, it had been the wrong choice to make, since she effectively was stringing them both along in the forlorn hope that she would eventually make a decision.

How can she even love Bill as she does after everything we shared in that house? he thought wearily, no answer coming to him as he pursued that train of thought.

Before long though, his sordid mood was interrupted by Pam's entry through the door.

'Seriously, Eric. You should at least make an appearance at the bar tonight. Who knows what the hell you might see out there. Besides, your brooding is doing nothing for business.' She said this with complete detachment and a hint of annoyance, a dose of snark threatening to escape.

'And why would I do that Pam? To enthrall the vermin and watch them in their outfits, dancing and looking like desperate idiots? No, I have many better uses for my time.' Pam huffed before continuing.

'Master, please don't tell me this is about Sookie again. It's one thing to be a little sad for a day or two, but you have been like this for about a week now and quite frankly, fuck the pun, it sucks, okay? It just sucks.'

Eric shook his head before he got up and walked out into the bar. Pam smiled at this, to her it was a signal that her maker was getting back to his normal programming after the hitch of the amnesia caused by Marnie.

Stupid witch and her unbelievably gross outfits, she thought in disdain before following him out and walking to her normal place on the door. She took one last glance back, and saw him sitting on his throne with a bored look in his eyes.

An hour and a half passed uneventfully following Eric's entrance into the main bar, except the rise in bar tabs due to his appearance. The crowds were in frenzy, having been starved of his presence over the past week. Pam smiled to herself as she carded the new patrons, before her eyes set on the one person she really didn't want to see.

'Sookie, I wish I could say I wanted to see you, but not really. What brings you to this slice of Louisiana?' Pam said, a little edgy, glancing back at Eric who was looking bored as he stared in the opposite direction.

'I just wanted to see Eric, Pam. Don't let him know I'm here and just hide me or something. I don't even know why I feel like I need to see him, I just do.' Sookie replied, her voice tense.

'Come with me then. The corner booth over there is pretty far from his view but you can still see him. Whatever the fuck happens, do not draw any attention to yourself or I will throw you out, fuck the consequences.' the vampire said, before taking her to the booth in question with a stern look in her eyes.

As soon as she sat down in her seat, Sookie's eyes searched the bar for Eric. Her eyes landed on him soon enough, sitting disenchantedly on his throne. Her heart skipped a beat at seeing him again and her palms started to sweat despite their physical distance.

God, he looks as handsome as ever. How the hell can he even look that good from this far, damn it? her thoughts said in betrayal. She promised herself she wouldn't do anything to hurt either Bill or Eric, but she would have been lying if she said the Viking's presence wasn't comforting.

For Eric's part, he could feel a small thrum in his blood he simply couldn't place. He looked over to Pam who simply carded patron after patron in boredom. He couldn't see Sookie anywhere in the dim lighting, which confused him. All he could think about was her, nowadays. He found himself looking back over the time when she cleaned his feet tenderly, when she soothed him after his dream of Godric, and then of course, there was the sex.

The sex that I'd give anything to have again. Fucking sense of honor, I don't even know where she gets that after all the betrayal she's been subjected to, his thoughts echoed, clouding his senses and ability to observe.

Sookie observed him from her secluded little corner booth, noting the way his head hung a little dejectedly every once in a while, wondering what he was thinking of. For her part, she definitely knew who she was thinking of. Him.

I wonder how he is now. It's only been a week, but I can't help thinking, there must be so much that's changed with him. He certainly hasn't grown any uglier, she noted in her thoughts, smiling at the thought of just how glorious he looked in all aspects. She laughed a little too loudly to herself at all the happy antics he'd gotten into, which was her downfall.

As soon as Eric heard the faintest inkling of her laughter, he immediately stood and scanned the bar with all his senses on alert. He walked down to floor level, which prompted Sookie to stand and try to make a hurried exit. Before she was able to take more than five steps in the direction of the door, a cold hand arrested her attempt followed by the sensation of someone pressed up to her from behind. Then, the voice she'd recognize anywhere wafted into her ears.

'Well hello there, Sookie. Looks like fate has brought us together again. Shall we talk?' Eric said, before turning her to face him.

Sookie didn't know how to respond. Her eyes softened at seeing him this close, which he took as a nonverbal affirmation, leading her back to his office much to Pam's annoyance.

I told her, I told her not to draw any attention, she mused in disapproval while Eric closed the door behind him with Sookie in tow.

Meanwhile, as Sookie strode into his office and took a seat on the chair in front of Eric's desk, she couldn't help blurting out four simple words that made Eric smile in triumph.

'I missed you, Eric.'

He ran his thumb down her cheek affectionately before sitting down on the other side of the desk, a curious look in his eyes as he spoke.

'So, what brings you to my bar, Sookie Stackhouse?'

Fuck, was all Sookie could think of in reply.

A/N So there you have it, my dear readers! A Viking-sized cliffhanger. Send in the reviews and comments, your thoughts, predictions or anything else you might want to say, and until next time, pray to God you dream of Eric!