Charlaine Harris still owns these characters.

A/N: Please enjoy Love Isn't Easy, Love In L.A. and More Love In L.A. before starting this story.

Sookie

I was sitting on the beach in Malibu just a few houses down from Victor's watching the sunset and thinking about the day I almost married Eric. I wondered if I'd ever be able to sit on a beach and not think of that day. It was supposed to be the most beautiful day of my life. But it was really the worst.

Eric and I had been through so much together since moving to L.A. and we had become such a tight team. I never would have believed that anything could break us up, but I was wrong. Staring out towards the water, I caught a glimpse of a whale breaching and smiled through my tears. There were so many things I loved about living here, but I wondered whether or not I'd ever be able to be truly happy here again.

I turned my head and found Victor's house. He was standing on the balcony. He caught my eye and I waved. He smiled and waved back. I knew I really should go to him but I wanted to wallow a little longer in my misery while I thought of my botched wedding day.

The weather had been perfect that day. My dress was perfect. The beach was breathtaking. Victor had kindly offered the use of his house and strip of private beach for the ceremony and then a small reception afterwards. He had mellowed out quite a bit and surprisingly become a very good friend to both me and Eric, so when he offered the use of his house, we happily accepted. I sat on the guest room bed with my dress gathered around my waist so I wouldn't wrinkle it. Pam looked stunning in her long rose-colored gown. She was our maid of honor and best man combo. We both sipped champagne and nervously watched out the window while our guests found seats down on the beach. There were five rows of white folding chairs on either side of a sandy aisle that led to a makeshift archway draped with gauzy white fabric that billowed in the wind. The guests were all dressed up in perfect pastel dresses and handsome dark suits but sporting bare feet.

"Where's Eric?" I was starting to get worried. He should have been there already. I set my glass down and twisted my engagement ring nervously.

"Hmmm. Not sure." Pam glanced at her watch again and tried not to look nervous, but she wasn't fooling me. We both knew that something was wrong.

I heard the helicopter overhead and knew that the media had discovered our secret wedding spot. The fact that we were at the famous Victor Maddens's house was enough to attract their attention. Add to that our other celebrity guests and the fact that Eric and I had had our own fair share of publicity and it really didn't surprise me that they were there. That's okay, I thought. Let them take pictures if they want. It should be a beautiful ceremony.

The guests were all turned around in their seats and instead of facing the ocean they seemed to be watching something back towards the house. I followed their gazes and watched a woman with bright red hair holding the hand of a little boy. She emerged from the house and ran out towards the guests and Eric was right behind her. My heart jumped as I watched him grab her by the arm and stop her from going any further. They seemed to be in a heated argument. She wrenched her arm from his grasp and looked up towards the helicopter as her hair whipped around her face from the wind. Pam and I got a good look at her. Her face seemed vaguely familiar to me and my eyes dropped to her obviously pregnant belly. I heard Pam gasp as she took my hand in hers.

"Wait right here." I was more than a little disturbed at the serious tone in Pam's voice.

Eric and the red haired woman seemed to continue their argument while the guests stared. I watched a rose-colored Pam run out from the house and take Eric's arm. The three of them seemed to have a more civil conversation for a few minutes and then they walked towards the house and disappeared from my view. The guests stopped staring and turned to each other and began talking among themselves.

I fought the nausea that was building in my stomach and watched the door knob. It turned slowly and Eric appeared, closing the door behind him. My breathing sped up when I saw the look on his face and knew that this would not be my wedding day after all. I stood and dropped my gown so that the skirt fell into a perfect hoop around me. He took a few steps towards me and held out his hand. I just looked down at it and wrung my own hands together. When I looked back up to his face, his eyes looked away, full of pain and dread.

"Who is she?"

"Her name's Arlene Fowler. I knew her in school. Back in Louisiana."

"And who's the boy?"

"His name's Eric Northman. Junior."

I nodded my head and looked back out the window at my beautifully dressed friends. I knew by the tone in Eric's voice that it was true. I felt the hot tears spill over and hoped that they wouldn't stain my dress. My lower lip quivered uncontrollably as I whispered, "I don't feel like getting married any more."