{A/N I own nothing, just warping their world a lil. (Hey, if Alan Ball can do it, then why not me?) Thanx go to the fantabulously talented Charlaine for giving us the gracious plenty, among other things. :)}
Chapter 2
In Dreams…
My screams broke the silence. My pillow was soaked and there was a lump the size of a softball in my throat. My stomach rolled and I raced to the bathroom. Of course there was nothing in my stomach so I heaved over and again. After the spasms stopped I lowered the lid of the toilet and laid my head against it. The tears wouldn't be staunched so they flowed down my face. It was the nightmare of watching him meet the sun. The thought of losing Eric and the image of it weighed heavy on my heart. I remembered this was what drove me to agree to coming over. The bond might make it so I wouldn't survive, but did I want to take that chance? This wasn't the first time I'd been plagued by this nightmare but each time it stole something from me. It was stripping away pieces of my soul. I laid there and sobbed. I finally had settled enough to raise my head. I had no idea how much time had passed but I could still see the sun streaming through the windows in the living room. I felt so cold, so alone. I had but one singular thought: Eric. I went to the bedroom, opened the closet and then the trap door. Calvin Klein's Obsession and something uniquely Northman wrapped around me and held me like a lover. My pulse immediately sped. I saw him there, stretched long on the mattress. His golden hair pooled around him, his allure in full effect even as he slumbered. Eyelashes, full and sweeping graced his cheek. The intensity of my need for Eric drove me to his daytime resting place, into the dark with a sleeping vampire that would rise famished. I've been a fool for lesser things. Closing the door above me, I opened his arms and wrapped myself inside them. I would have crawled inside his skin if I could have. I was blanketed in security instantly. My name escaped his lips on a sigh. I was out of control and I had to get my shit together. The darkness was too welcoming. Just give me this day, just this day. In the words of another Southern Belle, "I'll think about it tomorrow."
**E-POV**
I was walking in the sunlight with Sookie. She laughed and it touched my very soul. She took my hand and drew me to her. Our mouths met in a heated rush. The meadow where we stood was lush with clover. It was so green, the sun so bright and Sookie, she was mine. I lowered her to the carpet Mother Nature had provided and followed her down. My fingers busied themselves unlacing the ties on her corset. My pants were full to bursting. I needed her, needed to be inside her. In this world there was only desire and Sookie.
I blinked and there was only darkness. It was the dream again. I'd had this particular one more than once as of late. Sookie in the Sunlight, I'd come to call it. It was a scenario that was becoming more painful each time. I knew down to the smallest corner of my blackened heart that I'd never see her in the sunlight. I'd never see it wash over her, but what would I give to make it a reality? I was wishing for things that would never reach fruition. My fate had been sealed long before Sookie Stackhouse had even been born. Waking with her in my arms was, however a startling reality. Despair shrouded her and made me ache. By the Gods, I was grateful for whatever had driven her to me. The time we were forced apart was greatly lessened. I was still groggy as it was not full dark, so I buried my face in her hair, inhaled her scent and then tightened my arms around her. She inhaled and spoke my name. I drifted away once more holding everything precious close to me.
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The blood called to me, singing its siren song. Fangs popped, mouth watered, oh how I needed a drink. Desire manifested itself lower, all my needs culminating in an instant. I tried to slake my hunger until Sookie was at least aware, but my beast refused to be reigned. I felt the exact instant that she reached consciousness. Her voice breathy with anticipation reached my ears, willing me to drink of her. I was in control of myself enough to at least to reach between her legs and dip my fingers into her. Her hips bucked against me as I circled the very center of her. "Eric…" she urged. I struck. Her blood was intoxicating; there was no comparison to be made. With each drop of her I consumed I became less in control of myself. I ripped her nightgown in two. Her bared breasts quivered with the rest of her body as she rode the high of her orgasm. I lowered my mouth to one turgid peak, then the other. Her hands fisted in my hair anchoring me to her, pressing more of her into my mouth. Fangs scraped her flesh and the sweetness of her blood fueled me once more. I traced a wet line down her front to the apex of her thighs. My tongue danced along her folds. Her scent was almost enough to drive me over the edge so I buried the part of me that was begging for her. Sheathed in the cradle of her body I stroked us both into release.
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The tumult of emotion slammed into my like a fist. Sookie's desire, her sadness, her uncertainty, her love, all of these swirled around me like a fine mist. I could hear her heart still racing, maybe in an effort to catch up to her mind. Sookie's breath escaped her lips on pants that made me hard all over. I would never have my fill of her. I could have her every day for another thousand years and it would still not be enough. She was my undoing. The mighty Viking warrior met his match in a small town Louisiana barmaid. She made me feel like a human again. Damn, she made me feel period. I was petrified within an inch of my sanity that someday she'd discover that I didn't deserve her. I feared that my misdeeds would come back on some karmic boomerang and take away the happiness I had found. I knew she could sense my emotions and confusion, sorrow and regret shouldn't color this time we had together. "Hello, Lover. I whispered in her ear, my tongue tracing its outline after I spoke. She shuddered in my arms. "Eric." Ha, I'd rendered her speechless. Point one, Northman.
"Come, Sookie, let's get out of here." I pulled her up and out of the "hidey-hole" as she called it. I immediately went for my cell phone to check for messages, seeing there were none, I called Pam.
"Fangtasia, where all your darkest fantasies come true, Pam speaking." I could hear the boredom resonating, causing me to chuckle. "Eric, shouldn't you be tied up somewhere?" I laughed outright this time. My child knew me so well but then again she should as long as we'd been together. "Catty much, Pam? I called to inform you that you're to hold down the fort. I'm sure you can handle it without breaking a nail." I could almost hearher rolling her eyes. "Eric, you do realize you are a complete and total asshole." I fought off another laugh. "Yes, Pam, I'm aware of my finer qualities."
"Yeah, and you excel at that one. Poor, Sookie, does she know what she's gotten into with you? Tell her I said hi." At the mention of Sookie, Pam's whole tone changed. She was fiercely protective of my Sookie. "Yeah, pretty sure that she knows what she's gotten where I'm concerned. And Pam, as a matter of fact she got it just a few minutes ago." I could hear her calling me names and thanking me for the mental picture of Sookie and me. I hung up the phone laughing. Pam was my finest achievement. I heard Sookie snickering from the doorway.
"You are incorrigible, Eric. So, now that you're not headed to Fangtasia for the evening, what are your plans?" She had her hands on her hips and I have an overwhelming compulsion to kiss her. I stalked to her, never letting my eyes move from her face. I watched her watching me. I was the lion and she was the gazelle. I reached her, her eyes still glued to my face and went in for a hungry kiss. Breaking away, I finally responded. "I thought we could use a breather, pardon the pun. We could stay here or we could go to my house and make the best of that new hot tub." Her eyes lit up at the thought of the hot tub. We'd christened it just three nights ago. Good times indeed, but most of them with her were. "Okay, let's go to your house and play. Besides, you have more movies than I do."
A few minutes later we were getting ready to leave and there was a knock at the door. Sookie's eyes flew to mine, no company was expected. I nodded at her to answer the door. She eased the door open. I heard her breath catch in her throat. "Grandfather," Niall Brigant stood on the porch. Fuck, this was going to be bad, I knew it down to my bones. He embraced Sookie and greeted me with his customary "Vampire".
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**SPOV**
I'm sure my mouth was open enough to catch flies. My grandfather was the last one I expected to see tonight. He embraced me and kissed both my cheeks. I found out early that fairies are touchy feely. Whatever the reason I was happy to see Niall, but his visits tended to bring bad news. "Come in?" He obviously had a reason for showing up on my doorstep tonight. My stomach clenched preparing for bad news. Niall choose the chair and Eric and I took the love seat. The tension was radiating off Eric. He feared as much as I did. My grandfather, Fairy Prince, sat there, as beautiful as always, wearing a cloak of serenity that I envied. He finally spoke, "Granddaughter, are you aware that we have mirrors from our world to yours?" This I knew, so I nodded. "I've looked in on you quite frequently lately. I see your sadness and it pains me. The toll of your coma weighs heavy on you." I felt the tears well up. "I see not only your pain, but the vampire's as well." Eric's pain? I was floored. My eyes darted to his and I saw it there. How had I missed this? Niall continued, "You both feel pain. You both fear losing the other. Granddaughter, I know that you don't want to be vampire, but you are so bonded to Eric that you've considered it. Eric, I know that you dream of Sookie in the sunlight. I have come to a solution for the both of you." My mouth flew open and I risked a peek at Eric. His face held the same expression. "I love you, Sookie and I'm going to present you with a solution." What? I was more than ready to hear his idea. I'd had no idea that my pain was so evident.
"What do you propose Grandfather?" My voice was shaky, but not nearly as much as my hand that was gripping Eric's like a lifeline.
Niall smiled. It didn't put me at ease at all. "Northman, would you give up being a vampire for Sookie?" Eric's face was stoic, motionless. "Never mind, I see your dreams, I know the truth. I offer this, Eric will still remain vampire but will have none of the weaknesses. He will be able to be in the sunlight. He will have no desire for blood other than yours, Sookie. He will be able to eat human food." I was flabbergasted. What the hell? "This transition will last for three days. I believe this is ample time for the two of you to make a decision." He stood and walked to the door. "Three days. I'll be back for your decision." He poofed out of sight. Eric and I were still in complete shock. I looked at him, he looked at me. "Sookie" came from his mouth at the same instant that "Eric" came out of mine. Holy fuck, this was the mother of all decisions.