Author's Notes: Hi again!

WOW! It was nice getting on my email today and seeing that I had over 100 alerts from Fanfic, just for this one story alone! Thank you everyone!

Yes, I will be replying to each of you. I just didn't on the first chapter because I was very busy…didn't have time to, but with this chapter I will!

I'm glad you all like the idea of this story so far and I hope you stick with me through the whole thing! Speaking of; I need to sit down and watch The Proposal again…it's been quite a while!

Okay, so, let's get to the reading…shall we? :)

I own nothing, nada, zip, zilch!

XOXO—SharaMoon

Chapter Two - All is fair in love and war

I sat in horror at my little cubicle. I was so sure that the walls were either closing in or caving in on me. I wasn't too sure which; it hadn't decided which way to go. My life was ending, plain and simple. How was this happening? Why did I agree to do it in the first place anyway? There were so many questions running through my mind and I simply couldn't sort out all of them in my tiny and complicated brain. To put it mildly simple: I couldn't function correctly-and to give you an example of that: I was sure as hell positive that my left eye would not stop twitching…ever.

It's only been one day since he 'proposed'. How many more days would there be, that I would have to deal with him? Well, it was marriage…I really hope he doesn't think that I would stay attached to him forever, right? Please tell me I'm right!

And, oh my God! What is my family going to think? I haven't even thought about telling them! I couldn't just come home and be like, 'Hi everyone, guess what? I'm getting married to the dickhead that I have told you all about! Crazy? I know!' That did not seem possible, but I had to tell them regardless because they needed to know, just in case the ISN people decided to contact them. I had to make up a lie about something. Maybe I could still get away with the whole boy-acts-mean-to-a- girl-because-he-likes-her thing? 'He punched me in the face, so he must love me!' That just sounded retarded, but really, what else did I have in mind to even be a better reason why I would actually marry a man that I talked-rather meanly-about on several occasions? Nothing…at all. Damn my nonfunctional brain!

No, damn him! Damn Eric Northman! I hated the guy before, hated him beyond belief, but now I just loathed him to his core and I was pretty sure the feeling was mutual. He thought nothing of me. I was probably scum between his toes for all he cared. He was using me…and I was allowing it. I. Am. An. Idiot.

But there were perks. I would be getting a permanent job at the company and he was going to throw a bonus on top of that: promotion. Getting my own office, bigger than my cubicle and a secretary that could do all of my bidding. Oh yeah; the whole nine-yards, having the cake and eating it too. Really, that was all the sayings that I knew that would fit in this equation.

Still, the whole thing seemed…insufferable. I would have to marry Eric Northman…my asshole boss. Sookie Northman…yeah, I would be keeping my own last name; that just sounded too weird when I thought about it. I felt like a martyr-which with my bias attitude-I was certainly one of those. I have gone through so much pain, agony and dealing with him being an ass for five months already. I was the second longest person that had stayed with him. Only one person had gone on to bigger and better things in this company that was his intern before, but I was pretty sure she had sex with him to do that…not that I would know that of course…just a thought…maybe a judgment and totally out of character of me, since I try to be a Christian. That was not happening as well as I had hoped.

"Oh, lover…?" His voice vibrated in my ears, his sarcastic tone making me want to strangle myself to death. Was that even possible? Well, if he kept it up with the pet names, I would sure as hell find out if it was.

"Yes, you big…big…ugh, you." I had no idea where I was going with that, but glad that I didn't say something that he could possibly use against me to just mock my every statement, like he does…always.

"We have a meeting today." He spoke calmly, turning my chair around to get me to look at him.

I stared daggers in his direction, only to see a very well fake smile on his part as he looked down upon me. "What meeting?" I asked.

"ISN." He shrugged. "Shouldn't be too hard, we can talk in the car."

"I don't have a car." I grumbled, shaking my head.

"I know. That's why we will be taking mine." He sighed dramatically, looking over his shoulder. He must have spotted someone coming because he leaned closer in, practically on my lap as he bent over and got in my face. He smiled, daring me to say something and I was about to before the person stopped.

"Awe, isn't that sweet!" An older lady smiled. I faintly recognized her as the wife of one of the higher ups in this place. "George told me about your engagement, Eric. It's surprising that you would be a man to settle down, with how busy you have been. It is wonderful though."

"Well, Sookie and I work together so we got to know each other that way." He spoke over his shoulder, leaning in to carefully kiss my cheek. It was a weak attempt to be all cute and fuzzy, but I guess it fooled the old bat because she smiled further, clasping her hands together.

"Ah, young love. I remember those days quite well." She smiled again. "Just remember to always work with each other, get through things together and I am sure you both will be just fine."

Yeah, if only I could really work things out with this guy. I would finally work all of this out when I was dead and gone from the world. I was fairly sure of that fact. "Thank you." I whispered regardless because tall shit that was leaning over me stepped on my toes.

"Have a wonderful day, you two." And she was gone.

"You are such an asshole, Eric. I swear…" I fumed, picking up my foot to check for damages. I had open-toe heel wedges on today and that move he just pulled really hurt!

"That is the beauty of this relationship." He said, moving back away from me to lean against my cabinet.

"What is?"

"That I don't care how you feel about me or anything I do." He laughed, winking as he turned and stalked away.

"You sir, are a jackass!" I mumbled loudly, turning around to pound my keyboard to death with my fingers.

Eric liked to play games, I found out. He liked to tease and I was not big on the teasing. It hit hard because I was teased as a child. I didn't have the newer clothes as the others did, I never had any up to date things the other kids were into and it was just an all-around bad and traumatizing experience as a child. So, whenever Eric teased, I got defensive…like mad woman defensive and one day…he would feel my wrath. Oh yes, he would feel my wrath.

-break-

"So, it's fairly simple. I'm guessing they are just going to ask a few questions and then we can be on our way." He said as he pulled over to the side of the curb. He had a nice car, a corvette. It was red and one of my favorite cars ever, but I would never give him the satisfaction of letting him in on that little secret. Well, maybe I would have to…depending on if this ISN guy wanted to talk cars. I doubted it, but to be honest, I wasn't sure what was going to happen.

"We met at work, fell in love," I spat the words as if they left a bitter taste in my mouth. "I don't know if I can get through this without throwing up."

"Hold your stomach." He warned. "If you want that promotion, the job early; then you need to do this, Sookie. I am not getting deported back to Sweden where I would have to work my way up again."

"Maybe that's what you need." I offered. "You need a swift kick in your ego by starting over. I mean, I can get out of this car and just walk away…I am fairly certain that I can find another job quickly."

"No, you really can't." He laughed. "The economy sucks at the moment, most of it anyway and it would be a lot harder finding a job when your only background is an internship-that would say you had quit on it-and a job at a hometown bar and grill when you were seventeen."

"You read my files…all of them?" I asked, quite shocked. "Wow, Eric, I am surprised! You actually did something!"

"Funny," He narrowed his gaze. "I had to, since you are working for me."

"Let's get this over with, shall we?" I got out of the car, waiting for him. As I did so, I mentally prepared myself for the more cluster fuck that would invade my mind after this encounter. So much I had to remember, but this was just the first meeting. I was sure there would at least one more.

Eric came around, putting his arm around my waist and linking his hand in mine. It was his way of showing affection, but it was very awkward in more than one way. He was a tall man, so it made me look bent over as I walked, but I smiled and kept moving. We finally reached the room where we would be evaluated and I smiled again at the man who sat down at the other side of the desk.

"Good afternoon. I'm Mr. Cataliades." He smiled, grabbing a file from the table and getting right to business. "It seems that you were to be deported back to Sweden because your work visa had expired, is that correct?"

"Yes, it is correct. I had forgotten all about it to be quite truthful. I had been busy, a working man like yourself would know as such." Eric chuckled, totally at ease. Me on the other hand, I was sweating bullets. "Plus, I have this beautiful woman to keep me company through that time, so my mind was completely fogged over and I did not remember the date that it would expire."

"Hmm." He said, looking at me now. Shit. "It said you had started working at Trestler and Co. five months ago, correct?"

"Yes, sir." It took everything in me not to stutter.

"And when do you say that the romance started?" He asked. "When did you two get together?"

I worked on the fly, spitting out the first thing that came to mind. "Two months ago, he proposed three weeks ago."

"I see," Mr. C-as I would be calling him-looked down at my hands. "But you have no engagement ring?"

I gulped hard, looking at Eric to take over. He was quick, I'll give him that. "In my family it isn't traditional to get a ring right away. It's weird, but something that we do. It's…bad luck, so to speak. We give them their rings on the day of our wedding."

"Speaking of wedding, when do you plan on tying the knot?" The man questioned further, one question right after another and his intense gaze made me believe that he could see right through me. I was utterly exposed to this man, which was more frightening than the idea of actually being married to Eric.

"Well, we are planning on doing it in a few days actually." Eric spoke gently, squeezing my hand.

"In Louisiana." I blurted out, hating myself that I took that moment to assert my own thoughts. I had to go home first. I had to tell my family what was going on or some of what was going on anyway.

"Louisiana?" Eric whispered, covering it up by leaning over to kiss my cheek with a smile on his face. I could hear his teeth grinding against one another as he bit out the word.

"Yes, darling…my family wants to be a part of the wedding. I simply could not just go to the Justice of the Peace. We had planned a spring wedding, remember? I still want a small gathering of family." Put that in your pipe, Eric Northman, and smoke it!

"You had planned on a spring wedding?" The man spoke.

"Yeah, but with the visa ending we thought it would be best to just get it done and over with." Eric said, glaring at me now.

"Pish-posh!" I waved my hands, smiling coyly now. "If you want to put the ring on my finger, my family has to be involved, Eric, honey…dearest."

I could literally feel his hatred boiling off of him. I was very surprised that my skin wasn't melting away. Finally, after a moment of silence he smiled deadly at me, like the kind that you might see on a serial killers face right before they hacked you to pieces. That was quite a lovely image to put in my own brain. Thank you, Sookie! I sighed mentally.

He spoke gently, "Of course, my love."

"Okay, so a wedding in Louisiana? When will that be? Just so I know for sure."

"By this weekend." I clarified. "I was thinking Sunday, since we are-you know- leaving tomorrow." I shot a glance at Eric before smiling at the man. "Isn't he just sweet? I can make him do anything, huh?" I laughed, pretty loudly for a small space before turning back to Eric. "Would you be a doll and get us tickets for a plane, dearest?"

"Yeah…" Eric trailed off.

"Well, it is perfectly fine to have the wedding in Louisiana," Mr. C said, trying to get back on subject. "But when you get back we need to have another meeting. Most people that get married are just in it for a free citizenship into the United States and though I would hate to make you think this," And he didn't sound all regretful with that statement. "With your visa ended and with you 'suddenly'-and I use that term loosely because you have been together for a few months- plan on getting married, it just seems…fishy; if you understand. Most get their citizenship and then divorce a year later."

"Well that is clearly not us." Eric lied through his teeth. I could practically smell the stench of a liar flowing off of him, but Mr. C wasn't fazed…not that I could see. "What would we have to look forward to in this other meeting?"

"Well, it's simple. We ask you a bunch of questions on things that you would know of your significant other and if it matches to what they say after the test is done, then this case will be cleared and you will have your citizenship."

"Doesn't sound too bad." Eric smiled with ease, "Since I already know everything about her."

"Oh yes, he really does." I said sarcastically to myself, thankfully no one picked that up and just chose to ignore that I had ever talked. Men…I tell ya.

"So I will see you back in this office…?" The man trailed off.

"Next Wednesday, at the latest. I had promised my family I would stay at least a week." I told them both.

"Then I will see you both at that time." Mr. C nodded and showed us the way to the door, as if we didn't know where it was.

"Could you have been any more tense back there?" Eric groaned as he drove.

"Oh, my bad; so-o-o-rry!" I dragged out the word. "He was intimidating. This whole scheme you have cooked up is intimidating and could surely land me in a jail cell if it goes wrong." I huffed a sigh, leaning back into the leather seat with my arms folded over my chest.

"It won't come to that. Just keep your cool and we will get through it and by the way, Sookie, I hate you."

"That is something we have in common! Look, see? We're bonding already!" I told him overdramatically.

"No, I hate you because I had no intentions of going to a backwater town in Louisiana this week." He nearly growled.

"All is fair in love and war." I quoted.

"Funny choice of words." He scowled.

"I thought they fit perfectly with our wacky situation." I rolled my eyes. "Just take me home and make up an excuse as to why I am not at work the rest of the day."

"And why the hell would I do that?" He raised an eyebrow, highly annoyed at me.

"Because you owe me your soul!" I laughed. "Seriously, you do own me more than just a promotion and an easier route to getting my job. I could go to jail if this doesn't work. Fraud is a hefty thing here in the United States of America."

Eric was quiet for quite some time before he sighed. "Fine." He grumbled.

I pointed him in the direction toward my apartment. It wasn't fancy in the slightest and was not a very nice neighborhood at all. Eric raised an eyebrow as he pulled over to the curb, but didn't say anything. He was looking at the two little kids throwing a baseball back and forth and I watched him cringe as the ball came close to his fancy ass car. Not that I could really blame him…it was such a beautiful car, regardless of the bastard that owned it.

"And I better get paid for a full day too." I said as I got out of the car, feeling a somewhat vindictive pleasure of putting him on the spot with something. All in all, I feel like I won a battle of wits today. "Remember to pack your boots and other southern items."

"What if I don't have anything like that?" He looked over at me, leaning slightly down to get a good look at me from where he was seated. His voice had the most annoyed sound as well. It totally just made my day better.

"Then I suggest you buy some." I slammed the car door shut, imagining that I was twisting a mustache as I cackled evilly.

I reached my apartment, sighing in relief that I could just curl up on the couch and watch a movie or even read a book of mine from my shelve. I couldn't afford cable, so that was out of the equation, but all in all, I could really just relax and forget today ever happened and start to pack for my trip home. Well, that was all fine and dandy until my phone started to ring.

Sighing, I picked it up. "Hello?"

"You never told me which town in Bum Fucked Egypt to book the flight for." Eric growled. My phone actually vibrated against my ear. I pulled it away slightly.

"Oh…? I didn't?" I raised an eyebrow. I guess I didn't. "Book a flight to Shreveport, Louisiana. We will also need to rent a car, you know?" I said back.

"Yeah, I got it…"

"Make sure the flight is in the morning too." I hurriedly put in. "I want you to have some quality time with my family…for as long as that is possible this week we are staying there. So, starting early tomorrow is the best way to go."

"…I really fucking hate you." His voice was small.

"Likewise, baby." I laughed out loud as I hung up the phone.

Yes, a movie day and maybe-if we wanted to get wild here-some of that ice cream I had left in the freezer.