PART TWO

Chapter 3

"Ok….come on, only two of us really can spill the beans on his past….misadventures besides himself….so who is gonna spill next? So far this has been pretty amusing." Willa said with a grin, looking at the two people who could really paint quite a deeper, more amusing picture of her maker, who, though she knew he was dangerous and could certainly be deadly, had another side she surely wanted to know more of. After all, she was the one who knew him the least well. And she wanted to change that. It was clear that there was so much that wouldn't be revealed tonight, possibly not ever, but if even the surface could be scratched, that some humorous parts from his storied past were shared…..well, wasn't that some entertainment, or not?

Pam grinned like a cat that was about to catch herself a mouse. "I wish I could have seen him before, waaay back like Godric has…but I have some….points of interest that he missed out on and I wouldn't want to feel like I am depriving Eric's maker of anything….interesting that he missed. Let's see…" she flicked her long hair back over her shoulder and tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Which tale should I tell….driving lessons-of which I happened to learn before he did, by the way-or should I go with the time he and I were in NYC and he had his first encounter…yeah, I think that is the story I am going with…" she turned to look across the table at him and she knew if he could turn red, he surely would be a healthy shade of crimson. Out of embarrassment more than anything else and he knew there wasn't anything he could do. And so onward came the roasting of him and his ego.

NYC 1974

They had traveled all over the world in the decades since they had met and Pam had been turned. But back in the states, Pam had wanted to let him see the city for the first time. Really get to experience everything, the sights, sounds, smells and tastes. He had preferred being in non descript cities, wanting to stay in the literal shadows to no draw any unnecessary attention to themselves. But it was night and even in the bright lights of the city, they had both agreed there was little wrong with exploring the big city. My, had the times changed and he had said just as much to her as they strolled through Times Square.

"I have literally changed with the times and admittedly, the clothes have improved…." Eric commented as they saw a mugging across the street. "But manners sometimes remind me of back home. Back in my time."

"Yes, the dark ages, you speak of the "good old days" fondly but I have to keep reminding you to be discreet. You like to be the show off and yet you have yet to do one thing that you have put off for some time. Even I beat you to the punch and as nifty as your abilities may be, we have to remain hidden. The last thing we are ready for is for humans to know we exist and I think having the two if us zooming around through the sky, even at night. I don't think that will ever be safe until the day comes when our kind cam announce ourselves as existing. But I don't think that'll ever happen. Not that I care…I like our lives, riding with the wind and the traveling….I swear Paris has the best clothes I have ever bought and I think the house needs upgrading in terms of closet space. Since we moved here….I don't know…I can't see myself staying in this city for more than a few decades. After all the places all over the world we've lived in…somehow I feel like we will settle in the states….just not here. Not the right vibes. But we digress….its time to get you official….moreso. And I know its been years since we….fudged your paperwork to get into this country….but I think it will take more than that to get you your…." she started sniggering, much to his annoyance. "License. To think I got mine waayyyy before you. I see some hilarity in the future." he stalked away from her, though she knew he couldn't stay mad at her for too long and she couldn't help the teasing. It was their thing and it wasn't like anyone would ever get between them. Or so she thought at the time.

They made it to the office as it was closing and naturally, together, they would convince the workers to remain open and though they had been reluctant and one woman at the desk had had her hand on the phone to call for police, thinking-with good reason-that the two entering the DMV were and could be dangerous-it was a easy task to be taken care of and it was not the instructor who did the test but a very amused looking Pam, though the instructor-glamoured, of course-was in the back seat of the car with the two as Pam took the reins at teaching the somewhat overwhelmed Viking the mechanics of the simplest of tacks at using a car. It was amusing the first twenty cones that he plowed over but she soon stopped laughing at him as she realized just what a fast learner he really was. Not that she still wasn't somewhat amused by watching him as she and the instructor departed the vehicle a hour later, watching as he maneuvered the road course on his own. Still more cones fell, though with less frequency. And to say nothing of his gunning the engine…she rolled her eyes as she realized that it was clear even with him behind a novice to cars, that even he, like any average guy, got off on the power of a car. She supposed it was only a matter of time now before he got himself some muscle car or something. Not that he had anything he needed to compensate for….

Finally, he had managed to maneuver the car perfectly and ten minutes later thanks in part to the influence of Pam, he was officially a licensed driver. Though he was muttering all way out of the DMV about the stupid rubber cones and the fact he should be able to come in go as he pleased, as he pleased. "Must I keep reminding you that even by cover of dark, we go out flying, there is always a chance to be discovered? And we won't be able to keep traveling, killing and drinking if we're dead…or worse, being tested on. 'Cause I can see it happenin', vampires getting discovered and then some freaky humans want to study us like lab rats. Then what, huh?" she asked as they stopped on a street corner, ready to head home before dawn arrived.

"I can only hope that someday, we can live out of the shadows and do more with our lives than lurking about. I am not enjoying being oppressed….saw enough of that during World War 2 when I was off with Godric. I should hate to think that we can't eve be truly be free to be as we are. To escape the shadows. Perhaps that day will come sooner rather than later. I have existed for this long but I hope it won't be another thousand years before we are known. And hopefully accepted."

"Stranger things in the world have happened…like those ghastly perms. And do not get me started on Bellbottoms. And that car you just drove? The color looked like mustard and baby vomit."

He laughed. "Hopefully at least cars will improve in the future. For now, we will survive…we have to."

Chapter 4

Everyone laughed at hearing of the way Eric had attained his license, that he had even gone through the motions amused each and every one of the guests, Pam amused all over again as she finished the recollection. "Of course, this whole adventure was something I know wasn't one of his prouder moments, even though he and I were the only ones to remember it. But luckily for him I have been able to keep that memory fresh over the years…..much to his pleasure."

"I think this trip down memory lane has been exhausted enough for the evening….and we have yet to finish a single hand of cards so-" the Viking went to get up but Sookie grabbed his arm gently.

"Come on, you know this won't go any further than us. I certainly won't blab to Jason…..and could you imagine if Lafayette got any juicy stories like these? Come on, just one more…..come on…how about one directly from your perspective." she put on her best pouty face, knowing he would do anything she asked. Even relive a less than stellar memory. She watched his face, unreadable for a moment. But leave it to her to cause him to crack a grin and shake his head incredulously at her.

"Only for you would I keep this up. Very well….I do have one more…..tale to reveal that happened, as it so happens, the night I met you." relied Eric as he began the final recollection of the evening.

June 2008

"That girl with Bill…there was a funny look about her. Like she ain't all there." Pam said once the coast was clear for them to return to the bar after the police had raided and, thanks to Sookie, they had left the bar unscathed. Pam was tidying up the bar as Ginger had been left too addled to focus and so Pam had sent the ditzy woman whom for the night, allowing for the two to speak privately. "She's not normal. And you know as well as I that she smelled….different."

He said nothing as he sat back down on his chair, the throne, on the dais. "I could care less what she is so long as we get down to the bottom of the theft of our money."

"I also saw the way you looked at her. And I sensed….well, do I have to paint a picture of what else I saw when you first glimpsed her?" Pam grinned wickedly as she nodded to the area just south of his midsection. "Granted, you restrained yourself and I know nether of them noticed. I did." she grinned wickedly as she then rolled her eyes. "You can do better. You deserve better than some freakish human….and look at the reaction she got from you….." Pam nodded at him, below the belt. granted it wasn't as noticeable as before, but the memory still lingered. "I don't want you to have to go through what you did with the French girl…..I know how that hurt you deeply. But seriously, you really need to tend to that…" she was trying to lighten the mood. "What is it about those breathers you find so alluring? I will do whatever it takes to keep you from being broken again and if it means doing what I can to keep you from getting all gooey over that blond in the white dress, so be it. I won't let you end up in pain like that again. Over the years, you've grown hard….almost numb to the losses in your past." Pam said. "And I won't let you turn into a hot mess over that girl….I won't let you throw everything we have away for that girl. I know that you're getting gooey eyes again….saw it before…and though that girl didn't deserve what she got and even though I thought you could do better….I don't want you getting in a tizzy about something you cant have. Besides, humans certainly don't last for long. What would this girl be? Another fling? Another notch to chalk up?"

There was a silence and though he looked as if he wanted to say something, he instead brushed back his shoulder length hair and his face became unreadable again. "I think you misread me…the girl is nothing but a tool…to get back what was taken from us and I do not want to talk about this any further, understand?" he got right into her face, eyes ablaze but there was clearly no hiding the truth from her and he knew it. She smirked at him.

"I have a feeling this isn't going to be the last time we are at odds about this girl….you can't fool me one bit. She has gotten to you already and there is more than one telling sign of that." she glanced downward and waggled her eyebrows before walking away. "For their own good, I would suggest you think unsexy thoughts before we open up again tomorrow night. Because that is a doozy you got going there. Maybe think of filthy diapers? Something along those lines. don't worry, your secret is safe with me but for the love of god…." Pam trailed on for minutes on end as he tuned her out, thinking on the mysterious human he mad met this evening. The human that he knew was clearly no ordinary human and yet was mortal. But he knew he dared not act on anything, lest he be perceived as being anything other than he knew he was. A stoic warrior who certainly would not wear his heart on his sleeve.

Back to the present

Of course, there had been more laughing at his expense, as he wrapped up his choice of recollection. And Pam was the loudest at laughing at the story of his unfortunate…..display of his attraction to her the first night they met and he had said nothing as he shot up and stormed out of the room and from the house. The laughter died down as Pam, for once, seemed sorry for perhaps taking things too far and though she had wanted to go after him, to apologize, she knew better than to disturb him. That it was her former rival's job to go after him now.

Sookie had found him standing out in the front lawn of Pam's house, looking almost embarrassed. A rare thing, indeed and when he saw her coming over, he turned from her to stare up at the sky. "I never…even on that first night, you actually found yourself attracted to-"

"I don't know why that was the tale I chose to speak but here we are. Too late to go back on what was one of my….less proud moments. I honestly don't know what drove me to pick that one when I had thousands of other stories to tell. Guess that was the most memorable in my mind" he laughed. "Although I suppose I should be proud, perhaps I had the worlds record for the-" he was stopped by a finger to the lips as Sookie started laughing again.

"Hands down, I think if there was a record for world's longest…well, you know…..I think my brother may have you beat, after he did v for the first time. From what Tara had told me, it was quite a….handful to deal with, you could say." she said as she caught amusement in his eyes.

"Your brother never told me about that, perhaps next time I see him I may ask about that…" he paused. "That night was important though….not because of how my body reacted to seeing you but that…I thought you looked like a angel. I had not seen anyone as innocent and sweet looking since I lost Sylvie. After that night, I vowed not to put myself through that pain again and tried getting you out of my head, to become detached from you, to not care about you. I saw you as a object. But it didn't last long. I suppose that night was embarrassing as well as the catalyst for the change my life would take."

She took his hands in her own and as she leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his neck, she felt her own tears fall….and felt something else that signaled to her that soon enough, they would find themselves in familiar territory-the bedroom. "Perhaps we call this a night? I know you're not used to being embarrassed…."

"It was an…interesting change of pace in terms of discussion…..and honestly, it helped make me feel…..human. And I once hated feeling as such but now…I almost embrace that feeling….almost." he cracked a devilish grin. "Shall we?" he asked as he sped off, her in tow, to the safety and confines of their room and she saw that as always, she still gave him the same reaction as she had the first time they had met. And it was certainly a gracious plenty

THE END