Sookie leaned back in the driver's seat and observed the crowd outside. As usual the group of protesters standing in front of Fangtasia were chanting about killing vampires, burning fangbangers, and other such un-pleasantries. She debated not going in but realized how silly that would be; she didn't come all this way to just turn around and leave.

Taking a deep breath she slipped out of her car, fought her way through the crowd, and entered the club after the bouncer inspected her ID. Surprisingly, there were only a handful of people in the entire place.

"Sookie Stackhouse. It's been a while."

Hearing Pam's voice from behind, Sookie turned around to face her. As always Pam gave her an once-over, her gaze lingering on Sookie's chest. "Pam," Sookie greeted, trying to keep the irritation out of her voice.

"I see the rumours about your demise were greatly exaggerated."

"Disappointed?"

Pam cocked her eyebrow. "Couldn't care less either way."

"That's nice," Sookie muttered sarcastically.

"If you're here for Eric, you're out of luck. He's at a meeting with your boyfriend."

"Bill isn't my boyfriend anymore."

"How sad," Pam said monotonously. "Is there anything I can help you with?" she asked, sounding not even remotely interested in doing so.

"No."

"You can wait for Eric in his office. I'm sure he would enjoy that."

"I'm not here to see him."

Pam's interest was finally piqued. "Me then?"

"I'm here for a drink, Pam. Just a goddamn drink. Do you have a problem with that?" Sookie snapped.

Pam smirked. "You came all the way from Bon Temps to grab a drink? Yeah, that's believable."

Before Sookie could respond, Pam turned around and sauntered away. Relieved to be left alone, Sookie walked to the bar and ordered herself a beer.

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There were only a few occasions in her life that Sookie could remember being tipsy.

Tonight was one of them.

One drink turned into a few which led to mixing her drinks and somehow she was on her third martini after already finishing off two beers. Maybe she should have stopped, Sookie mused, but she really didn't want to. After weeks of feeling out of sorts with all the changes in her life, she finally felt somewhat normal. Unburdened. Happy? She tipped her head back and finished the last of the drink in her glass.

"Don't you think you've had enough?" Pam asked, sounding less than impressed.

"Don't you have better things to worry about than babysitting me?" Sookie fired back, mimicking Pam's voice.

"Yes, I do. Which is why I'm cutting you off."

"You can't do that!"

"Wanna bet? Last thing we need is for those fucking idiots out there to take pictures of you driving out of here wasted."

Pam gestured to one of the bouncers and in the next minute Sookie was thrown over his shoulder. "What the fuckare you doing? Let me go!"

People in the club turned around to look at her, but no one came forward to help. The bouncer continued to ignore her loud protests, carried her into Eric's office and silently dropped her on the couch. He walked away just as quickly, leaving her alone in the room.

Sookie contemplated sneaking out but chances were Pam was expecting her to do just that and had already found a way to put a stop to it. Besides, with the room spinning and all, she wasn't exactly fit to drive. She pondered calling Jason but decided against it. After all, she came here to talk to Eric even if she did lie to Pam about her reasons for being here.

Resting her head against the cushion, Sookie leaned back on the couch and closed her eyes.

These days she felt like a stranger in her own life. The people she loved and cared about were still a part of it, but she barely even recognized them. The small, selfish part of her hated how easy it was for everyone to move on without her. Hell, not only did they move on, but they were thriving; she couldn't help but wonder if she somehow had brought unhappiness into their lives in the first place.

And then there was Bill.

His name alone brought up an intense wave of anguish with it. Every day she hoped the pain would lessen but his betrayal was still a fresh wound, a constant reminder of how easily she had been used and manipulated. She lay awake at night and pondered everything he had ever said to her. Were his feelings ever sincere? And even if what Bill said was true – that he had truly fallen in love with her – how much of it really had to do with her? Apparently the blood that coursed through her veins was something every vampire coveted, the solution to the one weakness they couldn't overcome. How could she really trust that Bill wanted her for herand not for her blood? He had lied to her before easily enough.

"Well, well, well."

Sookie opened her eyes and found Eric standing by the door. With the way his gaze swept over her appreciatively, and the pleased smirk on his face transforming into a genuine smile, she felt fully naked and exposed in front of him even though she was dressed in her uniform.

At least that hadn't changed.

It was ridiculous that he was the one person who made her feel like the whole world hadn't turned upside down while she was gone. She no longer felt like she belonged with the people she loved, but with Eric it was as if she still had a place in his life. Which made no sense considering she'd always hated him in the past.

"Pam said she had a lovely surprise waiting for me in here. I'll have to remember to reward her."

She didn't respond, instead continuing to stare up at him. The room was still spinning but if she concentrated on Eric the moving walls became a blur.

"What can I do for you, Sookie Stackhouse? Or would you like me to do something to you?" he asked with a cheeky grin.

"I'm lost."

Eric cocked his eyebrow. "No, you're intoxicated."

"That's not what I meant."

He waited for her to explain, but she kept silent.

The truth was she really didn't know why she was here.

At work tonight, after Merlotte's had closed and they were cleaning up, it finally dawned on Sookie how lonely she really was. Sam had already left to meet up with someone, Arlene and Terry were busy arguing about Mikey, and Lafayette had been rushing to get out of there to meet up with his boyfriend. And for the first time in Sookie's life, she didn't have Tara to turn to. Things may have gotten rough between them ever since Bill came into Sookie's life, but Tara was someone Sookie could always count on. Not having Tara in Bon Temps left a big hole in her heart, and she didn't think anyone could fill it. And Jason, as much as she loved her brother, never really understood her. Besides, he actually had legitimate responsibilities now – which was another thing Sookie had to come to terms with.

"You said everyone in my life gave up on me while I was gone," she finally spoke. "But not you."

"You've finally realized I was right."

"Why didn't you?"

Now Eric was the one who paused, watching her with an intensity that left her heart pounding in her chest. The blue of his eyes darkened, observing her, taking all of her in, and for the first time Sookie wished she could read his mind.

"Was it because of my blood?" she prodded. Up until now she hadn't even realized how desperately she needed to know the answer to that question.

"Would you like me to be nice or tell you the truth?"

"I'm tired of lies."

Eric swaggered over until he was standing only a few feet away, looming above her, and she was beginning to realize what a compromising position she was in. The last time they were in this room alone together, he had thrown her over his shoulder and taken her to the basement and chained her up. It was a stark reminder that she was never fully safe with him.

"I never gave up on you because of who you are. What you are."

"Because you didn't want to let someone with fairy blood slip through your fingers," she sighed.

"Partially. But also because I care about you."

Her breath hitched in her throat, and she found herself unable to speak.

"When it comes to you, Sookie, I will never give up."

"Because you want me to be yours."

"Yes. And you will be, sooner or later."

Frustration surged through her. "No, I won't. I've told you I can never be with you the same way I was with Bill. I loved him-"

"Which was based on lies and nothing more," he pointed out cruelly.

"Maybe for him, but not for me."

Eric sneered, angering her further. "He fed you his blood the very first night he met you. A lot of it. How can you ever be sure your feelings for him weren't a result of that?"

"I don't want to be here anymore." She stood up to storm away, and almost made it to the door before he was suddenly in front of her, blocking her path.

He towered over her, staring into her eyes intently. "You came to me for a reason even if you refuse to admit it," he said with an arrogance that made her want to reach up and smack him. "What do you want, Sookie? Do you want me to claim you as mine without giving you a choice? Will that ease your guilty conscience about enjoying everything I can offer you?"

"Fuck off!"

"I'd rather fuck you."

All of a sudden his hands wrapped around her back, and he pulled her closer. She was crushed against his chest, her body pressed tightly against him. She could barely breathe and it wasn't just due to his physical proximity. His eyes were no longer calm, there was a storm whirling in them, furious and fast, threatening to overtake everything that mattered to her.

But what was truly frightening was that she didn't want him to stop. Not at all.

Surprising not only herself but also Eric, she kissed him.

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There was nothing tender or gentle about the way Eric devoured her mouth. Then again, she was the one whose fingers were digging into the back of his neck, pulling him towards her ferociously, begging him for more.

When she was with Eric, she was too consumed by passion and anger to dwell on anything else. And that's exactly what she needed right now.

His fangs were sharp, threatening, piercing into her lips when she stroked his tongue with her own. Her blood rushed into his mouth which he lapped up, growling with a sudden ferocity that made her knees buckle.

Eric was possessive, demanding, a force of nature that refused to be controlled. And, with him, she felt the same.

He picked her up like she weighed nothing, her legs wrapping around his waist while he tore off her Merlotte's jacket and threw it to the floor, and carried her to his desk, placing her on the edge of the table. Throughout it all not once did his mouth waver from hers, still kissing her with a desperation that matched her own.

Her legs were linked together behind him, and she refused to loosen her grip. His erection was hard against her thighs, and she didn't realize how much she was aching to touch him, to wrap her fingers around his cock, to feel him inside her, until she moved to unbutton his jeans and found herself unable to do even that. "Eric. Help," she murmured through laboured breath.

As always, he did things when he wanted to and not when he was asked.

Instead of helping her undo his jeans, he removed his mouth from hers just long enough to slide her t-shirt over her head. As if worried she was going to change her mind, his lips closed over her bruised ones again the next instant.

Even though the cool touch of his skin was a welcome respite from the rush of heat that overcame her, it wasn't nearly enough to quench the thirst he had awakened. She wanted so much more than what he was giving right now.

She slid her hands underneath his t-shirt, pressed her palms against his chest, and the last semblance of control she possessed was now completely gone.

Just as suddenly as he had picked her up, he pulled away. He wasn't breathing heavily, or at all for that matter, but she knew instinctively he was struggling inside to come to terms with this connection between them. Panting for air, she returned his keen gaze, wondering what it was between them that made it impossible for her to ignore him.

She didn't love him, and a part of her definitely hated him, but she could never be indifferent to him.

The door opened unexpectedly, bringing with it loud music blaring in the air.

"Not now, Pam." Eric said with a quiet brutality that reminded Sookie of how easily he could shift between being kind and savage.

"Nan Flanagan's here. Would you like me to tell her you're too busy cavorting with a human to see her?"

Pam didn't wait for a response and left them alone again. Without breaking his gaze, Eric stepped away and wiped his mouth with the back of his palm. "Stay here."

"I don't take orders from you, Eric."

Irritation flared in his eyes for a brief second before it quickly vanished. "Please."

Eric wasn't someone who gave into demands, least of all from human beings who he considered less than equals. She knew controlling himself so as not to anger her was a huge deal for him, and she didn't want to push her luck any further. "Okay."

"I'll be back shortly."

He dropped a gentle kiss on her forehead before leaving the room, shutting the door behind him and leaving her alone with her conflicting thoughts.

Grabbing her t-shirt from the floor, Sookie slipped it on and returned to her seat on the couch. Slowly her heart returned to its normal speed and she felt calmness return along with it a wave of questions she really didn't know the answers to.

What the hell was she doing?

Was she insane?

This was Eric she was fooling around with.

Eric.

Sookie lay back on the couch and debated her options. When he returned she just had to explain to him this was a mistake. She had gotten carried away with... whatever and needed to take a step back.

Yes, a mistake. That's all it was. Nothing more.

Her eyes grew heavy, and a yawn escaped her lips.

He would probably be upset but Eric was smart enough to realize he would get nowhere by bullying her.

She yawned again, closing her eyes.

What was taking him so long?

Slowly, she drifted off to sleep.

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Sookie woke up to rays of sunlight shining over her face. Her mind was a blur and her body felt far from rested. Instead, she had a pounding headache. When she moved to sit up a wave of nausea suddenly hit and she had to lay back down to let it pass.

What the hell happened? Why did she feel so sick?

Shifting positions, she turned to the other side to escape the glare when something caught her attention. There was a note on the bedside table along with a small vial of blood and two tablets.

She reached for the note. There was only one word written on it, the handwriting clean, elegant, and succinct.

Tonight.

Suddenly events from last night came crashing back, and she remembered everything that happened with Eric.

Fuck.

Sookie realized she was in a world of trouble now.