AN: HOLY CRAP BATMAN! 95 REVIEWS WITH THE FIRST CHAPTER!? LYK WHOAAAAAA! Snap, you guys. I love you so fucking much. All of you. This. Right here. You and me. It's true love.

This AN is being added later in time but I just wanted to say that this chapter is, how shall I say - the calm before the storm. This will be the fluffiest chapter in a long time. This is not going to be skittles and gummy bears. I'm so sorry to say. This is a bit of a warning. I'm crying over hurting you guys. I'm SO SO SORRY! But, it's the story I must tell.

Thanks to my beta beatlechickstep for her help!!

P.S: Check out the awesome website: www(dot)thesookieverse(dot)com

"That was such a wonderful time, even in its strangeness and sadness-and life isn't the same now. It's wonderful, but it isn't the same."
— Gregory Maguire, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Chapter 2: Coming Home, Baby

I was about to meet Eric's cousin Pam for the first time. He hadn't told me much about her and when I quizzed him on the plane from Montreal to Stockholm, he really looked clueless as to what he should say. Either he didn't know much about his business partner or he didn't know where to begin. I was frustrated, nervous and excited to meet her. Would she like me? How would she respond to us being married and pregnant?

She was picking us up from the airport.

"She's lazy," Eric said, leaning down to my ear as we made our way to the part of the terminal that had all the family members waiting to greet their kin. "The fact that it's seven in the morning – she does not like it. So if she is mean, I am sorry. If she likes you, she'll be nice later in the day."

I gave Eric a panicked look as we saw the crowd of sleepy families greeting their person. There was a woman stepped away from the crowd with a sign that said something in Swedish. She was dressed to the nines so early in the morning and was wearing sunglasses inside the airport. I had heard that people who wore shades indoors were a bit of a douche, but somehow this blonde woman in four-inch high heels and probably the most expensive dress out there pulled it off. I watched Eric drop the bags and crouch down. I gave him a weird look.

The woman took a step back and made a comment in Swedish before Eric let out a roar and barrelled toward the woman. He wrapped his arms around her lifted her high up in the air. Several people looked over at them, alarmed by Eric before he set her back down with the woman punching him in the arm which was obviously hard enough to have Eric wince, but not enough to wipe that grin on his face.

"Sookie, come here," Eric said, signalling me over. I looked at our bags ready to pick them up. Eric started to drag Pam over instead. "Pam this is my Sookie."

"Your Sookie?" Pam had a British accent! I tried not to ask right away why she did.

"How-de-do," I said shaking her hand.

Pam's eyes widened slightly. She took my hand and we shook. "I like you," she said abruptly. "I like first impressions and that one was...different. Southern manners, Eric – how did you end up with this crazy monkey?" Pam asked looking over at Eric.

He was a crazy monkey. "I met him at your club."

Pam arched an eyebrow and it was so similar to how Eric did so, I saw their relation immediately. "He hadn't told me. He only said he met the most amazing, beautiful, smart, funny, fantastic and best-sex-of-his-life woman. He wouldn't go into any detail, although I did ask how you tasted."

"Ah, Pam," Eric said, putting a hand around my waist as I was shocked to my bones at what she had just said. "She is not used to you, yet. Pretend to be normal, for now, please."

"She's been with you for six weeks. I'm sure her interpretation of normal has changed," Pam said. "Let's get out of this depressing place." How did Eric and Pam stand to be in the same room? Their dominance for attention must be a rivalry at times.

Eric lifted up our bags again and we followed Pam out to the parking lot. There was a mini-van that Pam was walking toward and I thought, 'What is a single woman doing with a car like this?' We piled our stuff in the large trunk and I got in the mid-section seat with Eric. There was a space between the two chairs but Eric brought himself closer to me, by not buckling up.

"If she's as crazy a driver as you, then you should put your seatbelt on," I told him. He ignored me by pulling me in for a kiss. I pushed at his chest. "I mean it Eric, you're not snuggling me this entire ride." He grumbled and Pam laughed out loud.

"You have complete control over Eric? That's a first. Haven't you noticed how out of control he is?" Pam said, glancing at me through the rear-view mirror. I turned to Eric who had my hand in his, playing with my fingers. I wasn't sure he heard Pam.

"I guess I'll be learning a lot about him now," I said.

Pam snorted. "You sure will. He'll be in his element. I don't think he's ever lived with a woman before, so be prepared. He's messy."

"Oh, I know," I said. Pam thought that was hilarious.

"Oh, Pam!" Eric said looking up from our hands. "We're having a baby!"

The car screeched to a stop. We were in a line to exit, but I don't think it had to jolt us forward. It was unnecessary.

"Be good, she is pregnant," Eric said flatly, his eyes sharp on his cousin. Pam twirled around in her seat to face us, looking stunned.

Well if it ain't the pot calling the kettle black... "You were driving like a maniac in Louisiana," I reminded him. Who was he to scold someone on driving safely with me in the car? He winked at me.

"I would never have gotten into an accident. I can drive. Pam is awful at it."

"You're having a baby?!" Pam exploded, as she looked between the two of us.

I felt uncomfortable. "Why didn't you tell her?" I asked softly.

Eric grinned. "I wanted to see her react." I squeezed his hand hard. "We are married also."

I closed my eyes as I felt a whoosh. Eric got punched again. He laughed.

"Why wasn't I invited?"

"It was just me and Sookie."

"And Missie," I found myself saying. "Sorry," I turned my head, not willing to intrude on this family dispute.

"Who is this Missie?" Pam sounded jealous.

"Pam, you can throw us parties if you must."

My heart froze at the thought of a party. There was a pause.

"Really?"

"Yes."

There was some shuffling and the car started again. "It's good I didn't go. It was probably boring."

I opened my eyes and looked at Eric who was only staring at me. You know when you catch someone staring and you hope they look away because it feels weird? Eric didn't care about that. He openly stared and I had to look away for him. I blindly reached for his face turning it away from me.

"So are you two going to find a cute house with more than one bedroom?" Pam asked. I couldn't help but feel like she was mocking us. I blanked at her question though. I didn't have a job.

"Would you like that, my lover?" Eric's warm voice tried to sneak into my troubled worrying.

"I don't have a job," I whispered.

"So?"

"I need money to pay for this house, Eric! I practically used it all for the trip," I began to feel myself panic. When I faked my freak-out in front of the cop, I realized it wasn't that different from how I would respond to a situation that dire in real life.

"Why is she breathing like that?"

"Sookie," Eric said calmly. "Pam, stop." The car was being pulled over and I was gasping for air, hyperventilating, tears streaming down my cheeks. "Sookie, can you breathe?" He put a hand on my back. I tried to calm down but everything seemed to just crash into me all at once.

"Eric, how old is she?"

"Twenty-two."

"And she's a wife and mother? My God, Eric."

"Shh."

Pam was right. "I – I can't d-do this," I cried.

"Don't worry, just breathe," Eric said firmly. He angled me so that our faces were close together, his eyes blazed. "You don't need to be upset. Just breathe and then think." I nodded, trying to calm my beating heart and my twitching limbs. Eric stroked my back soothingly and I started to reign in regularity. Finally I had calmed.

"Are we good to move?" Pam asked.

Eric caught my eye and I nodded slowly. "Yes," he said. If Eric had the opportunity he'd have me on his lap or he'd find a way to get closer, instead he sat in his seat, buckled in, holding my hand tightly. I needed to not think about it. I needed a distraction. "Why are you British?" my voice wobbled.

I saw Pam's blue eyes flash to me in the mirror. "My mother moved there and married my father. My mum and Eric's were sisters. I was born in London but moved back here when Eric's dad died so my mum could help his. I didn't learn Swedish until I was ten."

"Oh," I hiccoughed. "Did you go back to London?"

"Yeah, I went back for university – Oxford, I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life so when I came back to Stockholm and Eric talked about opening a club, I decided to help and eventually became the co-owner."

"You two get along well then?" I looked at Eric, he nodded.

"I have to say," Pam began instead. "I like that we can speak English more. Maybe you can help Eric get rid of that hilarious accent. Although the American tourists love it, as you may already know." I stiffened. My mind started to wonder just how many tourists Eric had bedded before me? Was I really so naive to think I was the only one. I looked at Eric, feeling suspicious; he seemed oblivious to what had just happened. That what Pam said had an effect on me.

"Maybe his accent will turn Southern," I mumbled. Eric's nose scrunched up in distaste.

"I'd love you forever, Sookie, if you could make that possible. I'd die laughing," Pam chortled at the thought.

"No, thank you," Eric said, looking put-off by the idea.

"I don't think he liked Louisiana," I informed his cousin. Eric didn't say anything to the contrary. He was the complete opposite of everything the South had to offer. I began to wonder what I would be like in a Nordic country; weather wise it was my complete opposite, as was the language, the culture, the city lifestyle...I breathed in deeply, trying not to have another panic attack. I was thinking about this now? No, I was just worrying because I was nervous. I'd have Eric and it would all...fall into place.

"Well, Eric likes his snow," Pam said.

Oh right, that stuff.

Pam dropped us off in front of Eric's apartment building. I remembered walking out here around this time seven weeks ago hand-in-hand after our one-night encounter. Look at us now, pregnant and married. Eric grabbed our stuff out of the trunk and Pam said we'd go out for dinner later. I was glad I had a sweater on. The early September weather was radically different here than back in Bon Temps. It was a cool brisk morning.

We waved goodbye at Pam and Eric let out a long sigh, glancing longingly at his building.

"Missed home?" I asked, my voice small.

"Yes," he said nodding and we entered his building. "We will get you a key soon. I think I have another upstairs." He rummaged in his pockets and produced his.

I realized that I hadn't felt the same sense of relief that Eric was experiencing when I returned to Louisiana. I missed it and I loved being back home, but...Maybe I had already set my mind that Bon Temps wasn't really my home anymore. I wasn't sure how I felt about this new one though.

It was different seeing Eric's stuff in the morning light, coming back from our European adventure. I had brought a considerable amount of things from back home and I had labelled things that Gran and Jason would make sure to ship over to me in the next couple months. This was it. Eric set our things by the door and stretched, looking around his one bedroom apartment. We'd definitely need to find a new place. It had 'man' written all over it. I'm sure it was a great place to bring horny tourists here for a night, but that wasn't going to happen anymore. I shuddered at the thought of the amount of women that had traipsed through this door. Eric had mentioned that if he hadn't wanted to see me he would have kicked me out as soon as the sex was done. But he had me stay, we went out for breakfast the next morning and then he followed me to Copenhagen and then all over Europe. Why was I so different? Was it because I was pregnant? Would he have stuck around once I had to go back to Bon Temps? Sure, he said he wanted me to go back to Stockholm with him, but was that just a line? Would he marry someone so irrationally like he did with me? Had he been married before? When we met he said he wasn't married, but what about three years ago? Or five? Or ten?

"I think I need a nap," I whispered to Eric.

"I think I need to empty the fridge," he said smelling something funky.

"You do that," I said, starting awkwardly to Eric's bedroom. This place didn't feel like mine yet...Eric came up behind me wrapping his arms around my waist, nuzzling my neck.

"Let me join you," he whispered, placing an open mouthed kiss on the crook, pushing my shirt down my shoulder. "We have had speedy quiet sex the whole week in Bon Temps." He said the name with a perfect French accent. Did I deserve this man? Well he was crazy so maybe it was even.

"You have a fridge to clean," I said, letting my head drop to the side. I felt very weak and tired at the moment; all the emotions, the jet lag weighing me down. I leaned into his chest.

"You sleepy, my lover?" his voice rumbled in my ear. I shivered despite my exhaustion.

"Mmm," I said and he walked with me in his arms to his room. He had made the bed before he left, how nice. Eric undid my jeans without looking, his body behind me, his hands working expertly and he slid them off. He undid my zip up hoodie so I was just in a long sleeve tee. He pulled back the covers and helped with my shoes and I was crawling into his bed which was just as comfortable as the drunken night I lay here.

"Sleep tight," he said pulling the covers up to my shoulders, kissing my temple. The large window in his room was darkened, blocking out the morning sun. He left the bedroom door open just a crack as I heard him try to be silent in his apartment. I fell asleep almost instantly.

When I woke up, I was curled into Eric's chest. I moaned slightly, his arms around me securely. I looked up at the alarm clock and the time read two in the afternoon. I sighed, trying to roll over in his hold with little strength. I needed a shower. Eric didn't wake when I crawled out of his arms. When I stood on solid ground, I realized I didn't know where his washroom was. I went out into the hall and looked to my right and opened the door. Thankfully there it was. It was hardly as luxurious as the rest of the apartment; it seemed sort of misplaced in the dark bachelor's pad. I hopped in once the water was warm and used some of Eric's shampoo. I dried myself off and went to the door where we had left out bags. I picked up one of mine and brought it into Eric's room, unsure of what to do with it.

I put it on the floor next to his dresser. I pulled on some underwear and a skirt, although I felt like I'd regret it once I stepped outside, and pulled on a plain tee before crawling back into Eric's arms.

"Mmm, you smell like me," Eric murmured, sniffing my hair, pulling me tight against his chest. I laughed slightly.

"I used your soap," I said.

"Mmm," he pulled me as close as he could to his body. We lay there for a while just snuggling sleepily. I thought I would fall back into slumber.

"We're having dinner with Pam."

"It's still early. Let's cuddle all day," he said.

"No sex?"

"Not if you don't want it," he kissed my hair, breathing in the scent. There was a comfortable silence, but I knew Eric was gearing up to say something. "I feel like you are sad."

I swallowed nervously, wondering how to answer. "It's a lot. I don't think it'll be easy," I confessed, turning slightly to see his face. His brows were furrowed and his hand ran up the side of my body, he propped himself on his elbow peering down at me.

He nodded slowly, his eyes drifting down my body then back up to my eyes. "I wish it would be."

"Me too," I whispered. We froze for a moment and slowly my hand reached his neck and he lowered his lips to mine. His mouth was warm as it moved against mine lazily, with no urgent intention to deepen the kiss any further. It was a sweet make-out session with not a lot going on but our lips together, caressing. His tongue finally came out and traced my lips for just a moment. I smiled and he broke away to kiss my nose and then my forehead. He fell back and rest beside me, just to hold me. I put my head on his chest and his hands wandered over my body rather innocently. It was nice.

His hand stopped on my stomach. "When will it kick?"

"Do you know anything about babies?"

"No. I tried not to think about it when I was fucking a girl."

"That's nice," I muttered, feeling my heart sink at his words. He shook his head and kissed my cheek.

"I love you," he said against my skin. I nodded lamely. "I love our daughter."

"Eric," I breathed out. I forced his face to mine. "Remember, this baby could be Bill's. I don't want it to be," I put a hand to my stomach. "And it also may be a boy."

Eric smirked and kissed my lips softly. "The baby is my daughter." I didn't want to argue with him, but I had to remind him of the possibility...

We talked quietly with one another for the rest of the afternoon. I asked Eric about my things and he said we could buy a dresser for my clothes tomorrow morning. I wondered where he would put it but he didn't seem concerned saying we'd look for a bigger place soon.

"What about money?" I wondered.

"You're my wife. Mine is yours. Yours is mine. I am yours, you are mine," he said simply.

"I guess...I don't know. I want to find a job, feel like I'm contributing. I don't want to just sit around for the next few months. I know most people won't hire a pregnant lady, but I'd like to try."

"If that's what you want."

"I don't know what I can do," I continued thoughtfully. "English majors are often made fun of back home as being a useless degree." I shrugged. "It was what I liked and it was what I was good at."

"That is reason to do so," he kissed my temple. "Teach English. That'd be good for you."

"Can I just do that?" I asked frowning. "Isn't there some sort of teaching program I should do?"

"I don't think so," he said. "We'll talk to Pam tonight. She might know something."

"About teaching?" I asked doubtfully.

"Maybe, I never know with Pam," he murmured, burying his face in my hair. "Let's sleep again before we have to go."

"We'll be up all night."

"It's okay. We'll be awake at the same time. It won't be boring." We did nap again and were woken up by Eric's cell phone, telling us which restaurant we were meeting Pam.

I changed into a nice sun dress that was probably inappropriate for the cool day so I shrugged on a cardigan over my shoulders. Eric wore simple jeans and a long sleeve and looked handsome as ever. We exited the apartment hand in hand and I was suddenly struck with the knowledge that we were leaving our apartment as husband and wife.

"We're married," I whispered to him.

He smiled before his eyes widened in excitement. "I never had an excuse to get a car. Babies need cars."

"No they don't," I said. "They need cribs and strollers."

"And cars."

I rolled my eyes amused with where his mind went sometimes. Eric seemed used to walking everywhere so we set off to the Grand Hotel where we were meeting Pam for dinner. I wondered if it came a point when the snow hit where nobody walked. I somehow doubted that stopped Eric. I wondered how I would handle the snow.

I liked the streets of Stockholm. There were nice, symmetrical trees every fifteen feet or so all along the sidewalk. There were a bunch of people out in the twilight, walking around and enjoying the, relatively, warm evening. It was nice to them, freezing for me. I shivered noticeably, wishing I had broken down and worn pants of some sort instead of been vain and chosen a dress.

We walked past the water which looked gorgeous at this time in the evening and I had to remind myself that I lived here now and I didn't have to take all the pictures in the world. I'd get used to it in no time. Regardless, I was living in a beautiful city.

The Grand Hotel was located right on the pier and I glanced at the water reflecting the sun set before we entered.

It was only a ten minute walk to the hotel and I felt a bit underdressed, but so was Eric.

Pam was already waiting for us and was dressed to the nines once again.

"What did you two do this afternoon?" she quirked a brow suggestively.

"Sleep," Eric said.

"Jet lag," I admitted.

"Well, that's no fun," Pam said looking disappointed she wasn't getting dirty details.

"It's always fun with Sookie," Eric replied. I put my hand to his cheek and I saw Pam give a look of astonishment.

"Did you really just say that?" she spluttered. I looked at her alarmed.

"What?" I looked at her then at Eric. He gave Pam a bored look.

"Yes. I mean it," he said kissing the inside of my wrist and then winked. "No more loud complaints. You have adjusting to do," he said to his cousin. I let my hand fall to his shoulder and down his arm. The waiter came over.

"Could you speak English for my wife?" Eric asked right away.

"Yes, I can," the waiter smiled. "Is there anything I can get you to drink?" He spoke better English then Eric. A thought struck me. I eyed my husband wondering how much of it was real. Did he fake his accent? Would he do that?

"Uh, water, please," I said slowly, looking away from Eric and making eye contact with the waiter. It was the polite thing to do. Pam ordered a martini and Eric ordered a glass of wine. No alcohol for the pregnant woman.

"Say 'tack' when you get your food, my lover. It means 'thank you'," he leaned into me. I nodded.

"Cool," I said. Pam gave me an odd look and I wondered how funnily foreign I was. Eric had been so to me for so long it was weird to think that I could be to someone else.

"So, Sookie would like a job," Eric started off when our drinks arrived.

"Oh?" Pam looked only mildly interested. I wasn't sure how to take her yet. Was this just her being herself, or was she really growing to dislike me.

Eric's arm was across the back of my chair. "Yes, she wants to go into teaching English. Can you help at all?" he took a sip of his wine and I saw how easily he fit into this world. Pam fooled with her drink too.

"As a matter of fact, I'm dating a teacher right now," Pam said, smiling at the opportunity. "This French woman, has a tongue like a –"

"Perhaps you should stick to speaking about teaching," Eric interrupted, clearly for my benefit. I saw his smile of intrigue across his face. He was so different back in his element. I remembered him the first time I met him here in Stockholm, and he was certainly different. I frowned, trying to connect Stockholm Eric and European Eric, it was becoming troubling.

"I think I can secure a job for Sookie. It'd be temporary though. She has to pop that thing at some point," Pam said, her nose twitching. I wondered how involved Pam would be in the baby's life...if it were Eric's. "I'll introduce you to Sophie-Anne. How about tomorrow after my fuck-date?"

"Mmm, we are seeing a doctor tomorrow," Eric said. We had looked up ones back in Bon Temps on my friend Tara's internet. We had called all the way from Louisiana and secured a date, not wanting to waste another day.

Pam rolled her eyes impatiently. "Then for dinner?"

I cleared my throat, feeling curious. "What time's your fuck-date?" I asked.

"Could we have fuck-dates?" Eric perked up.

"Oh well, it varies. We try to get in once a day. Tomorrow would have been during her lunch break. We can see you for dinner though."

"Alright," I said, feeling like that seemed fair. "I don't think we have dinner plans...Hey!" I said a smile spreading across my features. "Eric, let's make dinner at your place. We'll clean that fridge and go grocery shopping." We had been rather good together when we cooked for my Gran. Eric knew how to cook which was a welcome surprise.

"How domestic," Pam uttered.

"If that's what you want, my lover," Eric said easily. "I will have to go into work tomorrow night. I've been gone long."

My smile dampened, but I tried to bring it right back up. I was looking for a job and Eric was getting back into his life before me. "Sure," I said.

"The vermin have missed you," Pam said finishing her martini. I had no idea what that meant, I wasn't sure I wanted to know.

LOOK! IN THE SKY!

IT'S A BIRD!

IT'S A PLANE!

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