A/N: Wow, the outpouring of support for this story is amazing! You folks never cease to amaze me!

I'd like to note that this is my first time writing in canon, and I just went back and reread Dead to the World, which I probably should have done before I wrote the last chapter. Sookie does get paid for housing Eric, making a line from last chapter sliiiiightly inaccurate. We'll just forget about that one, chalk it up to whatever you like.

Another joy of writing in canon is throwing in lemons in the second chapter without making your characters look slutty. Which is my way of saying, mmmmmm lemony goodness ahead. Yum yum.

Thanks to my beta, chisaii-kitty for getting this chapter back to me in a record breaking 24 minutes. AMAZING

Disclaimer: Not mine *pout*

When I woke up the next day, I realized it was just after five o'clock. I'm a bit ashamed to admit that sleeping the day away felt great. I wish I could say as much for my physical state; I hurt all over. Every muscle in my body ached from the battle last night. I was able to force myself out of bed, knowing that a soak in the tub would feel amazing.

I ran the water as hot as my skin could possibly stand, adding a cup of salts to take away all the pain. I slipped into the tub, realizing I made the water a bit too hot. It took a few minutes, but the sting of the water eventually faded away into a soothing heat. I folded a small towel, placing it behind my head to act as a pillow and closed my eyes, letting the water work its magic.

My body shivered at the mere mention of magic; I think I experienced enough of it the past few days to last a lifetime. If I never had to deal with witches like the Stonebrooks again, I could die a happy woman.

I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew a pair of strong hands were running across my shoulders, making quick work of the tension building there. I opened my eyes, turning around so I could make sure it was in fact my vampire behind me, not some freak who broke into my house with intentions of massaging its resident.

"Relax, lover, it's just me. Now turn back around, you must be in tremendous pain after last night."

As I settled back into the tub, he pushed my shoulders forward so he could reach my entire back. His hands working under the hot water felt like heaven. I bent my knees to rest my forehead against them, letting a quiet moan cross my lips. After he was happy my back was free of knots, he urged me to lean back to rest my head on the towel he had refolded for me. He pressed a kiss to my forehead before moving to the opposite end of the tub to rub my feet. He worked up my legs, lavishing one with as much attention as the other.

I found myself wishing he could join me in the tub. While we had some spectacular showers together, but sharing a soak was definitely out of the cards. There was no way we could both fit in this tiny space comfortably. I'd have to settle for sharing my bed with him.

His hands were suddenly out of my bath and I opened my eyes again to figure out what he was doing. As soon as I did, I was face to face with him, his lips inches from mine and closing in fast. They pressed against mine in a sweet gesture, free of hunger and desire. It was a chaste kiss, one that simply conveyed the depth that he cared for me.

He brought his hands to my face, cupping my cheeks. They felt warm from the water, and for a minute I could forget he was a vampire and my future with him could never fulfill every childhood dream a little girl has. That fantasy was broken as his lips parted and I felt his fangs run over my bottom lip.

He pulled back, reaching to the corner where my towel was waiting. He opened it in front of him, signaling that he wanted me to leave my soak so he could dry me off. I was pleased to see my body was in significantly less pain when I rose from the water, careful not to drip too much on the floor. I walked into his waiting arms where he reverently dried every inch of my skin with the fluffy towel.

He dropped it to the floor, and repeated its motions with his hands and lips, rubbing and kissing me all over, purposely avoiding all the special places that would get me going. Turns out, he didn't need to hit them to ring my bell and I was getting more and more turned on by the minute. The speed of my breathing and the little noises I was making must have alerted him to this as his kisses suddenly became more brazen, open mouthed and sucking that left little red marks in their wake.

He was on his knees, eye level with my breasts, which he studied for a moment before wrapping his lips around one pert nipple. He used his tongue and teeth expertly, enjoying my encouraging hands that were running along his shoulders and through his hair. He released one before capturing the other, showing it the same care and attention. As he moved lower, I braced my hands against the countertop, knowing what was coming.

But it never came. I looked down at him, silently pleading with my eyes for him to continue. The expression on his face was one of concern, as if he was listening to something far away.

"There's a car approaching. I can't smell them from here but perhaps we should stop this for now, just in case."

He kissed me, a kiss which held promises of a continuation. He left the bathroom heading towards the door to investigate. I quickly got dressed, throwing on the first pair of jeans and long sleeved shirt I found in my drawers. I ventured out, hating how cautious I had to act in my own home. Eric was standing in the kitchen, the back door open as he studied the darkness.

"It's Pam and Gerald. They should be in sight any second."

As the words left his mouth, Pam's car pulled into view on the driveway, both exiting as the car came to a stop. She went around to the trunk, pulling out a duffel bag while Gerald went to the backseat, coming out with an armful of button down shirts still in dry cleaning bags. This didn't look like they were here to take him home or to New Orleans to see the Queen.

"Sookie, I believe you met Gerald last night but he's never been to your home. Be a peach and invite him in."

I extended an invitation to them both, offering them both a blood, which they both accepted. I grabbed a third from the fridge figuring Eric didn't get to feed tonight either. Pam asked where Eric was staying and I pointed towards the second bedroom. She took the shirts from Gerald and headed towards the back of the house while he went back out to the car to get something else from the still open trunk. He emerged with what appeared to be a case of True Blood, the bulk kind only a restaurant would buy.

"We're not sure how long he'll be here, so we brought you a case from the bar so you could stop getting dirty looks from the locals for buying blood so frequently." As my eyes were transfixed on the crate, Pam's speaking from behind me scared me enough to cause me to jump. Of course, this made her laugh. "You humans are far too easy to scare. And too fun."

After warming up the three bottles of blood and a plate of – technically - breakfast for me, we all sat down in the living room for what I could only assume was a chat about news from her conversation with the Queen.

"I spoke to the Queen." Bingo, I knew it; maybe I am a little psychic. "She's having a few problems of a 'personal matter' at the moment, but she said she would be in Shreveport either tomorrow or the next night. She wants him to just 'sit tight' and for us to keep him out of trouble until she can get her own full assessment of the situation." Every time Pam quoted the Queen, she rolled her eyes. I wondered what Pam had against her Queen.

"We brought Eric some of his own clothes so he could stop wearing the atrocities you dug out of the discount bin. I don't think he's ever worn something that wasn't designer or custom tailored. I also did a little research on amnesia online. His own belongings might trigger his memories. It would be a good idea to take him to Fangtasia and several of his properties to see if anything seems familiar."

"His own child doesn't seem familiar, but a place where he's dead to the world all day will? This isn't a case of human amnesia, this is a spell. A spell that can't be broken since you killed the one that cast it."

That last dig was a bit unnecessary, but Pam was getting high handed with what we needed to do with Eric. Last time I checked, I was nominated to be his caretaker. Plus, she insulted the clothes I bought for him at Wal-Mart. Bitch.

I probably should have watched my words a little better, since her fangs were now down and she looked none too pleased. Note to self: stop pissing off vampires.

"It was either kill or be killed. I opted to survive, something my Master taught me." She spit that last part out, telling me that she was higher up on the ladder of beings Eric cared about than me. If she only knew the things he said to me these last few days.

"Additionally, upon searching her property we found her spell book. It's written in code that no one can read. We have it in a safe place, and intend to ask the Queen about that as well."

She apparently had enough talking to me, and turned her attention to Eric. "Are you alright? Is there anything you need? You seem a bit agitated."

"Sookie and I were about to be intimate before you rudely interrupted, came to her home uninvited and began speaking to her in an unfair manner. If I am truly your master, you would be speaking to the woman I care for deeply in a more respectful manner. Otherwise you can leave and never come back."

Pam looked properly chastised while I felt mortified. I needed to have a chat with Eric about sharing those sorts of details.

"I'm sorry, Master. I did not mean to insult you or your human."

"I'm not the one you need to apologize to."

She looked back over at me, trying to form the words in her brain. I bet in her entire life as a vampire, she never had to say that she was sorry to a human. I was silently enjoying this. "I'm sorry for barging in, Sookie. I will behave properly in the future."

"All's forgiven. How about you write down the addresses of Eric's homes and if he and I think it's a good idea after discussing it, we'll check them out later."

"That's information that you're not privy to. Just call me on your way to Shreveport and I'll escort him."

Eric growled at her, reminding her of his reprimand. "What I meant to say was, there are many properties, all with different security codes and keys. It would be easier to escort you both to them."

Eric sat back on the couch, happy with her attitude adjustment. He wrapped his arm around me, pulling me even closer to him. I settled into his embrace, feeling safe and warm even against his cold body.

"Like I said, Eric and I will need to talk about what direction we need to take. We'll be in touch. Now unless you have something else to say, let me show you both the door." Her rudeness was no reason not to be a polite hostess. Gran would roll in her grave if I didn't act properly.

Gerald was out the door before I could even get off up. Pam walked towards the arm of the couch where Eric was sitting. She dropped to one knee, bowing her head.

"I apologize again for my behavior. I need you to know I am eternally your loyal servant."

"Good. You can leave now."

I closed the door behind her, sighing as I turned the lock. Eric was on me before the breath could leave my mouth, picking up where he started before they arrived.

"Whoa, slow down there. We should really talk about what Pam said."

"Don't we always talk after we make love?"

"Well, yeah, but this isn't exactly pillow talk. It's 'big decisions need to be made' talk. Those decisions need to be made with clothes on."

"Oh." Was this thousand year old Viking seriously pouting? I took his hand in mine.

"After we make up our minds, we can go back to bed."

His face perked up, a smile once again gracing his lips. He was out of the kitchen with typical vampire speed. By the time I wandered into the living room, he already had a fire crackling in the fireplace. He sat down on the rug in front of it; a place we'd had several really good conversations. He even took the quilt off the couch to wrap around us while we spoke. He might not remember his past, but he sure picks up on how to make me comfortable.

"So Pam wants to take us to my houses and business to see if anything there is familiar. Does this work with humans that cannot remember?"

"I think so; at least it does in the movies on Lifetime. Sometimes people or places trigger memories in amnesiacs."

"Is that what I have? Amnesia?" He ran the word over his tongue a few times, trying it out.

"Nope, you're cursed but you have the same symptoms as someone with amnesia. I guess it's worth a shot."

"If you think it is worth our time to try, then I will go with you two to investigate. I suppose it would be good for me to know where my homes are."

"I guess." He was starting to rub tiny circles along my ribs. It felt so good I could barely think. I probably would have agreed to anything at that point.

"Perhaps you could choose the one you like the best and we could live there. Your home is very old. I'm sure any of mine would be nicer and more modern."

That snapped me out of it. "I beg your pardon? You were real quick to come home with me last night and even faster to jump into bed with me tonight. There is nothing wrong with this house!"

"No, no that is not what I meant. I like being here with you, your home smells familiar. I simply meant we might be more comfortable at one of my homes. I could be wrong, but I doubt I live in a place of poor condition. I examined the clothes Pam brought in; they were all of high quality."

"It's not the materials that make a house a home. It's what you fill it with that counts."

"You mean like furniture?"

I sighed, forcing myself to remember who I was talking to. He didn't say that with malice, he just didn't understand the deeper meaning of what I was saying. "No, like emotions and memories. My family has lived in this house for four generations. It's where I was raised by my Gran. It's full of happy memories and a lot of love."

He rewrapped his arms around me, snuggling me close to his chest. As angry as I was moments ago, it all seemed to melt away when I was in his embrace. That's not a particularly good thing when you're having a fight with someone.

"If it upsets you this much, we'll stay here. But perhaps we'll just invest in a larger bathtub. You looked so comfortable in there tonight; I wanted nothing more than to join you. It appeared you were satisfied with my alternative plan?"

"I would have been if Pam didn't show up." I looked up at him with a mischievous look in my eyes. "So tomorrow night we'll go to Shreveport and drive around with Pam for a while. Are you happy with that?"

"If it means we've made a decision and can go make love, then yes, I'm ecstatic."

He scooped me up in his arms, darting to the bedroom with a speed I couldn't track with my eyes. He lay me down on my bed, pulling the blankets around us to ward off the cold. He kissed me with a hunger that I gladly reciprocated. I was tearing at his clothes as he was pulling at mine, and soon a mess of denim and cotton covered the floor. His eyes passed over me from head to toe, taking in my now nude form. The way he licked his lips as he took in every inch of me did wonders for my self esteem. When a man as gorgeous as Eric thinks your sexy, it's hard not to agree.

We were a mass of limbs working in perfect harmony. While we were still learning all the places, we were both on a pretty steep learning curve. He had me panting in minutes and I'm sure he would have been too if he needed to breathe. I'd 'heard' from plenty of women at Merlotte's that their man had no idea how to pleasure a woman. Eric should be teaching a master class on it, it could make him a fortune. Well, more of a fortune than he already has.

I was on the verge of my orgasm, and Eric was going unnaturally slow, letting it build up at an agonizing pace. As soon as I felt his fangs pierce my breast, it all came out in a wave that rocked my body and ripped a scream from my throat. He drank deep, playing my body like a master musician bringing me to release again and again. When I felt like my body would give out, he kissed my lips as his own dragged him into the depths of pleasure.

As we lay basking in the afterglow of another marathon love making session, he looked at me with a smile. "Another few orgasms for the jar, lover?"

"Mhm. They get me through the day while you're asleep."

"If I dreamed during my daytime slumber, I'm sure they'd be of you."

I yawned and buried my face farther into Eric's chest. "We need to stop talking about sleep. It's making me tired."

"Then sleep. I'll hold you until the sun comes up."

I tucked myself into his side, letting my brain drift away into dreamland. He was stroking my hair, humming a long forgotten song. His actions brought sleep to me much faster than normal, not that I'm complaining. It was something a girl could get used to, but I'm not sure I should. Those thoughts could be saved for tomorrow. For tonight, I'll just sleep in the arms of a vampire who puts this barmaid above all.

A/N2: I just love a warm fuzzy ending for a chapter. Keep the reviews coming in, they'll motivate me to finish the finale of Danger is a Dame. :)