Eric

Sookie sits, sobbing in the coffin that just became the final resting place for William Compton, her first love. "Oh Bill, why did you want it to end this way?" She knew that Bill only wanted what was best for her, but she still didn't understand why that meant that he had to die. I tried to explain it to her yesterday, that he thought she would only be able to have the life she wanted if he was no longer a part of it.

"I'm so sorry, Sookie," I say, feeling guilt that she had to be the one to do this, I wish I could take her pain away.

Startled, she jumps to her feet and turns around to face me, "don't sneak up on me like that, Eric Northman!"

I immediately feel guilty for that as well, "I wasn't thinking, I apologize. Do you want me to walk you home?"

She sighs, "thank you."

We begin walking back through the rest of the cemetery, towards Sookie's house. I reach for Sookie's hand and find it. She doesn't pull away, instead she interlocks her fingers with mine. Under the circumstances, I don't mention it. We walk silently until we reach the porch. I don't know how to act, how to feel. So many things have changed lately and Bill's death just confirms that nothing will be the same again, for anyone. I face Sookie and pull her hand to my lips, I place a soft kiss on the top of her hand.

"Would you like me to come inside with you? I just want to help you through all of this," I mean it, I just want to be here for her, the way she was here for me when I lost my memory.

"Eric, I'm not in a great place right now, emotionally... Do you understand?"

"Of course," I assure her. "I don't want to cause any more problems for you. I want to be the solution. I just don't think you want to be alone and I don't want you to be."

"Then you may come in," she says, sure of herself it seems, but still upset.

I open the door, "after you, love."

She steps inside and takes off her shoes, which are completely covered in filth. She sets them down on the floor and proceeds to the stairs. I follow her upstairs, into the bathroom. I unzip the back of her dress and help her pull it down. I set the dress in the sink.

"Should I leave?" I don't want to overstep my boundaries and make this harder for her.

"It's not like you haven't seen it all before, Eric. We're both adults here."

She pulls her panties down and sets them in the sink with the dress. She then unfastens her bra and does the same with it. I walk over to the shower and start the water. Warm, but not scalding, I test it with her comfort in mind.

"I can wait outside or downstairs, if you prefer."

"No, please stay, like you said, I really don't want to be alone."

She starts unbuttoning my shirt and we both pull it off. I pull my shoes off without touching them, while I unzip my pants. I do so cautiously, hesitantly, just in case I do something she doesn't want me to do, but she doesn't stop me. When I'm completely unclothed, she grabs my hand and leads me into the shower with her. We both stand underneath the warm stream of water, without moving, she begins to sob and I hold her as tight as I can, without hurting her. I can't even imagine how she feels right now. Sad, alone, confused, hurt? I hope that someday she will tell me. I told her the truth, I want to be a solution for her pain, not another source of pain. She holds me tightly and I gently rub her back. I reach over to the shelf and grab some liquid soap. I squeeze it onto her shoulders and begin to wash some of the grime off of her. I spin her around and wash her back, then her arms, I make my way all the way down to her feet. I turn her around slowly to face me and do the same from her shoulders to her feet again. I wash everywhere, but I don't linger in any one spot, I don't want her to think that I am thinking about sex at a time like this. Sookie is the most beautiful woman that I have ever seen in my life, both undead and living, but she is also incredibly fragile right now and I will not take advantage of her. Without saying a word, I finish washing her, rinse myself off and take her into my arms again. She inhales deeply and exhales again.

"Eric, even after all we've been through, I never would have imagined this... You, taking such good care of me." She sighs. "I'm so glad that you're here."

"Me too, sweetheart."

I don't regret anything, everything that I've done has brought me to this moment, to the moment that Sookie trusts me enough to let me hold her like this, in her most vulnerable state.

"Let's get you dried off, my dear."

I leave the water running, but I hop out and grab a towel and one of her large t-shirts from the drawer in her bedroom, one that feels like it would be the most comfortable and then I'm back in seconds. I reach into the shower and turn off the water. I hold her hand and slowly guide her out of the shower. I begin drying her off and once she's dry, I assist in getting her gown on. I wrap a towel around my hips and then we walk to her bedroom and she climbs into bed.

"Will you stay with me? I know it'll be light soon, but if you want... You can stay in your cubby downstairs until tomorrow night."

"If you want me to, that's what I'll do." I smile.

I climb into bed with her and cover her up. She rolls onto her side and pulls my arms around her. Within just a few moments, she's asleep, dead to the world at least for a while. She needs to rest. I lay with her until I see the first bit of sunlight sneaking through the curtains. I get out of the bed, walk around to her side, kneel down and kiss her on the forehead and on the lips. I speed downstairs and then descend the ladder, into the small room I made for myself. I grab a pair of sweatpants from the dresser drawer and pull them on before lying down in my bed. I lie there awake for a while, just thinking about everything that has gone on lately. Bill, Sarah Newlin, New Blood, Willa, Tara... Everything has become so complicated. My unlife used to be all about satisfying my bloodlust and my... Well, my regular lust. Now it has become about the people I care about. There are few, but the ones that do matter, I would sacrifice myself for them... Sookie, is the most important. I will stop at nothing to prove my love and trustworthiness to her. I want her to be mine and judging by tonight, she still loves me. I have never loved anyone as much as I love Sookie, even Godric.

I drift off to sleep hoping for dreams of her, she consumes me during my waking hours and my slumber, I hope that she may grace my thoughts again today.