Chapter 1

E-POV

We arrived home very early in the morning, only about an hour before dawn. I had just enough time to pick up Tim from Molly and get to the safe house before I got too overwhelmed with the pull of the sun. Both Sookie and I fell into rest as soon as we hit the bed. We didn't even bother with showers; we just stripped and snuggled with Tim until the sun seemed to take us both under for the day. I did not know whether to be excited Sookie wants to pledge to me or distraught that we are being forced to be a human/ vamp poster couple. I decided to focus on the good things and look forward to our pledging.

I woke the next morning the hushed sounds of an argument my Lover was having over the phone.

"I… I don't know! Does it matter if it's white of off white? Why do they care if their virgins?" She looked over at me. I was petting Tim who was on my chest, looking at her longingly.

"I have to go." With that she hung up the phone and jumped into the bed sliding in next to me, pulling Tim between us so we could both hug him.

"Claudine and Amelia are way too excited about this wedding." I rolled my eyes and said.

"I'm sorry for all of this." She shook her head and said.

"No, I'm happy… I get to be with you that's what matters." I nuzzled her face and said.

"I love you." She smiled sadly and asked.

"Why didn't you tell me that bonding to you would be a death sentence for you?" I sighed as I returned some of the kisses Tim was giving.

"It was what I wanted, bonded or not after a thousand years it's not worth it without you. I love you and you love me, there would be no point in continuing."

"I don't think Vampires go to the summerland." She whispered, pulling herself close to me.

"I am already in heaven with you by my side, before you was my hell." She nodded and let a few tears escape and we kissed for a few moments, until the phone rang again.

"Speak." I answered. I was horny and in no mood for cockblocking.

"Master, may I come and show you the selections of engagement rings you can choose from for Sookie?" I was confused.

"What?"

"Engagement rings, for your human marriage. You must have a band also; it will make you as hers also." I liked the idea of having Sookie wear something that humans would see and recognize as my mark. An idea struck me and I said.

"No thank you Pamela, I will handle this task on my own." She sputtered for a moment and asked in a disbelieving voice.

"Are… are you sure?"

"Yes, quite sure."

"May I keep one of the rings?" I pinched the bridge of my nose. So spoiled.

"Yes, just one though." Why she needs and engagement ring I will never know, but I'm sure she will wear it proudly.

"Thank you Master. Do you need anything else?"

"No, Sookie and I will be staying in tonight. I want one more night of calm with her and Tim before this clusterfuck starts. I don't want to be bothered unless you have met your final death. I don't even give a shit if the bar burns down, got it?"

"Yes Master, tell Sookie hello for me."

"Will do." And with that I hung up my phone and turned it off. I then walked over to the side of the room and ripped the land line out of the wall. Last, I grabbed Sookies phone and turned it off also. Sookie was sitting on the bed wearing nothing but my Megadeath concert tee, no makeup, hair in desperate need of a brushing, petting Tim's belly. She never looked as beautiful as she did to me right in that moment. I took a seat next to her against the head board and tried to pick up Tim, however he was less than willing to stay with me and shot back over to Sookie.

"Traitor." I huffed at him, as I watched Sookie laugh at my indignation. I hate to sound childish, but he was my dog first! She finally calmed and said.

"I think we should adopt Tim a brother, he must have been lonely without us here."

"I think Tim would force another dog into submission. He is very alpha." I said.

"I think he would be a good big brother!" she cooed at him in a baby voice that he was just eating up. Looking at her fawn over OUR dog melted my heart a little bit.

"Very well, we shall go to the pound tomorrow and get him a brother. It must be a male though, no bitches in my house." Sookie burst into a fit of laughter and said.

"You let Pam in here." I boomed with laughter and had to wipe the bloody tears from my eyes before I replied.

"Yes well, I learned my lesson." We snuggled and gave Tim lots of attention for a while before I asked.

"Can I order you some dinner. Lover?" She smiled and said.

"Yes, I want fruit… lots of fruit. Can I pick a movie for us to watch?" I kissed her on the fore head and said.

"Of course my love, I shall be right back, go ahead and set it up so we may start when I return with your sustenance." I got up from the bed grabbing my phone and she said.

"Okay, love you!" I turned and returned to her kissing her again and said.

"As I love you." And walked down stairs to call for Sookies dinner and make arrangements for our rings. First I called Andrew and asked him to make arrangements for Sookies dinner, then I called his Father Chet to deal with the rings. Chet and Molly have been married almost as long as she has worked for me and I hold him in high esteem as my personal jeweler. I like to "keep it in the family" when at all possible.

"Eric, how are you? I am glad to hear you and yours survived the bombing." I smiled, it really is a shame that they all insist on staying human.

"Yes, that brings me to why I'm calling. Sookie had a brush with death at the summit and I would like to ask her hand in a human marriage, can you designee and engagement ring and wedding set for us that would subtly touch on both my vampiric nature and her Fae?" I could hear the rustling of paper and he said.

"I am drawing up the sketches right now, should I send them to Pam for final approval?" He asked.

"No, I will handle this task on my own."

"She means very much to you?" he asked, I smiled thinking of my Sookie waiting for me upstairs and said.

"I love her more than my undead life; eternity would be nothing without her." I said.

"I'm glad you're finally happy." He said, I gazed at the stairs that would lead me back to my love and said.

"Me too."

"I will have these to you by tomorrow." He said.

"Thank you my friend."

"You welcome, Eric." I hung up the phone and walked back upstairs to my Sookie, only to find her whimpering with her head directly on the mattress next to Tim who was taking up almost all of the pillow. She looked at me and whined.

"Eric, tell him to share!" I laughed and looked at Tim and said.

"Tim, listen to your Mother." I didn't know dogs could roll their eyes, but I think I just saw Tim do it as he huffed and scooted off half of the pillow, allowing room for Sookies head. I got into bed with them and held Sookies hand while we watched a movie. It was a great night, no politics or political maneuvering. It was just us, Eric and Sookie in love. I would have to make sure to get as much time like this in the upcoming months as possible, because I feel we will need it.