Know Thyself

Chapter two

I was starting to relax as I warmed up a blood for Eric in the microwave. I was a little surprised when I asked him (again) if he wanted one and he said 'yes'. After our emotional (on my part) and (as yet) unresolved Talk, I had expected him to leave; to return to Fangtasia and finish up his evening there with Pam and the motley crew of fangbangers that frequented the bar. But he was still camped out on my couch, showing no signs of leaving or of having any awkward discomfort at being here.

The microwave beeped at me and I removed the bottle slowly, my thoughts still spinning. I felt strangely disoriented. I thought I had a pretty good grasp on what I wanted and didn't want in regards to Eric. But seeing him again was churning up feelings I had tried very hard to forget. And it wasn't helping that he wasn't acting like the guarded Eric I had come to know. He was calm, subdued and, dare I say it? Open. It was nice in a way, true, but it was different and it was throwing me off.

I headed back in, found Eric exactly as I left him on the couch. Almost exactly. He had removed his jacket and it was lying neatly across the back of a chair. Glad he was making himself comfortable. He thanked me and patted the seat next to him as I handed him the bottle. After a moment of hesitation I did sit. My suspicion meter was working overtime, as it tended to do whenever Eric was around. I wondered if the reason for his non-departure was because he was still expecting something else to happen here tonight. I wasn't getting that vibe from him right at the moment, but I knew from experience things could go from zero to orgasm pretty darn fast with this particular vamp.

"Why do you work for the shifter, Sookie?" he asked after taking a long drink from the bottle.

The question took me by surprise and I'm sure my face betrayed that. I shifted a bit, trying to get comfortable as I pondered the question, finally choosing to turn to the side and press my back into the corner of the couch. I pulled my feet up and crossed my legs. It was a comfy positions for me, plus it put some room between myself and the big Viking who took up a pretty substantial portion of the couch.

"Sam is a great boss," I told him honestly. "He's also a good friend." And a pretty good kisser, I added very silently to myself.

Eric frowned. "I guess what I meant to ask is why you would choose to work in a bar. With your ability, I would think it would be extraordinarily difficult for you to be surrounded by so many people. There are many professions that would offer you a more relaxing environment."

That stunned me on a few levels. Eric had never really asked me how I felt about my job; he had never really asked me how I felt about anything. Well, except how I felt about him. I remembered quite well the time I had been having a particularly bad night and Eric had bluntly told me he cared nothing of my mood and I figured that summed it up pretty well! So what was he after with this line of questioning? I felt the familiar twist of suspicion start to build, but I pushed it down. I really hated feeling like I had to be on guard all the time. The Christian thing to do, I decided, was to let Eric have the benefit of my doubt. For now.

"I had a few other jobs before Merlotte's," I told him, trying to sound casual. He was looking at me intently, like he was quite serious in wanting to hear my answer. "But I actually really like working there. I mean, yeah, it gets old sometimes; hearing what everyone is thinking. But I have gotten used to it over the years. I can tune it out when I need to, when it gets to be too much. I guess I'm lucky 'cause most people here are pretty decent. Some of them have some pretty scary thoughts, but I've heard lots worse." I thought about my first night at Fangtasia. Every thought was nothing but sex sex sex.

Eric looked thoughtful. He took another drink. "What were you planning to do tonight before I so rudely interrupted your evening." He smiled gently, a nice, normal, non-fang smile that made my heart skip a beat. I found I had to smile back.

"First, maybe your coming by was an interruption, but since you brought that big check from the King it would be pretty ungrateful of me to call you rude, wouldn't it?"

"So what was I interrupting?" he asked.

"I really hadn't made any plans to speak of. I was going to read for a while, I thought about taking a bubble bath and painting my nails. Maybe watch a movie. I dunno, just girl stuff I suppose."

"This is how you usually spend your nights when you are not at work?" He didn't sound accusing or judgmental when he asked, just curious. I filed that away under 'Things that make you say Hmmm' to ponder later.

"I've been working a lot of extra hours lately." I have nothing else to do, I thought to myself, having a brief moment of self pity. "And when I'm home my roommates are almost always here, so tonight is not really a usual night for me." Especially now that Eric was here and I was several - several - thousands of dollars richer!

"Pretend I'm not here," he said, with a little glow in his eyes.

Right. I'll get right on that.

"Excuse me?" I laughed. "I don't think that's possible."

"You mentioned you were going to do that feminine ritual of taking a bubble bath."

Okay, here we go. I knew all this bizarre line of questioning had to be building up to something. Eric and I spent some very enjoyable time in that bathroom. (still numero uno on my list of great showers!) I suspected he was about to offer his, uh, grooming services again and I had a rebuttal poised on my lips when he stood up and walked into kitchen with what was now an empty bottle.

"Take your time, my lover," he called to me from the kitchen. I heard the water start running. Was he rinsing out the bottle? "You have no need to worry, I promise you I will not intrude. Perhaps I will step outside and enjoy the evening air until you are done."

"It's freezing outside!" I protested, not really knowing what else to say.

"Sookie," he said, stepping back into the room, but pausing in the doorway. "I assure you, this weather is nothing compared to what I have lived through. I find the chill quite enjoyable, actually. Now, scoot please. Enjoy yourself." He raised a hand and motioned towards the hall leading to the bathroom.

I sat there with my mouth hanging open for at least ten seconds. Eric watched me with an amused expression. Why did I feel compelled to do as Eric suggested? Did I believe him when he said he wouldn't walk in on me? I stood up slowly. A bath really did sound good, I had to admit. I had spent a large part of the day cleaning and doing laundry and I felt a little musty. And, I decided, if he broke his promise I could always rescind his invitation. And I would, too. I think. Yes, I would definitely kick him out. Maybe.

"Okay," I said slowly, still feeling more than a bit hesitant. "Feel free to warm up another drink if you want. And you can watch some T.V. or do whatever." Eloquent. I could have smacked myself.

Eric didn't move from the doorway as I turned and started down the hall. I glanced at the fire on the way out and saw it was flagging a bit. I made a mental note to put another log on when I was through with my bath. I made a stop in my bedroom first to grab some fresh clothes. I decided since it was getting late and I was going to get cleaned up, I might as well just put on pajamas. I grabbed some new undies and then chose a very modest two piece flannel pajama set with long pants and a long sleeved shirt that buttoned up the front. It was bright blue and had little snowflake designs all over it. Eric would probably like that. I hesitated. Did I really just think that? I shook my head. Whatever.

I grabbed a towel and shut and locked the door to the bathroom. I decided to forgo the full bubble bath and just take a shower. I soaped up with some lilac scented body wash, the good kind I really liked but rarely splurged on; then I ran a razor over my legs and under my arms. The hot water beating down on my back was loosening all the knots and tension that had been forming during the evening. I tried to concentrate on relaxing, so that meant not going over and over all the things that Eric and I had said and done tonight. There was plenty to think about, no doubt there, but I decided I would think about that tomorrow. I smiled. Thank you Scarlet O' Hara!

I found myself peeking around the curtain every so often as I lathered up and washed my hair, half expecting to see Eric sliding into the room. He never did. I found myself disappointed. Bah! What was I wanting here? Was I really hoping Eric would break or ignore his promise to me? What was that about? I had a pang of nostalgia and longing as I dried off with one of my white fluffy towels. Was this the same towel Eric had used to dry me after our infamous shower scene? Was it the one I used on him? I squeezed my eyes shut. What was I doing? If I let myself think about those things for too long I might convince myself that walking out into the other room and jumping Eric was a pretty good idea. But then I would be in for a world of trouble. Eric would probably assume I was giving myself to him, to be 'his.' I would have an even harder time trying to break through the mysterious spell of our blood bond. Sex with Eric, as perfect and amazing as it would no doubt be, was just not in my best interests right now. I had to get a grip on myself. I needed to figure out where my feelings began and ended and where his started, and vice versa. Right now this blood tie was getting everything mixed up and our emotions were weaving together in a way that was driving me insane.

I got dressed, brushed out my hair but didn't dry it, brushed my teeth and opened the little door under the sink where I kept my basket of nail polish and manicure supplies. I unlocked the door and tred barefoot down the hall as quietly as I could. I could feel Eric (joy joy) so I knew he was in the house. I entered the living room to find the fire raging again (he had apparently put on another log) and the vampire himself was standing over my small assortment of books and movies. He was picking through the selection, looking at the covers curiously, flipping a book over from time to time to read the back cover. I felt my face redden. I knew I had a lot of romance novels over there and some of the covers didn't leave much to the imagination as to what the book was about. What can I say? I might be a telepath with an assortment of supernatural buddies but I'm still a girl. I walked closer, still clutching my little basket of nail supplies. I choked back a giggle as Eric picked up a book, one of my few in hard back, and furrowed his brow in confusion. He looked at me curiously.

"You read some very interesting things," he said with some amusement. He held up the book in his hand. "What is this one about?"

I'm sure my face was pink as I answered. "That is actually about a teenage girl that falls in love with a classmate who turns out to be a vampire."

Eric chuckled, a deep rumbly sound as he scanned the back cover. Vampire stories and movies and reality shows were all the rage now, as he was no doubt aware.

He glanced again at the front cover then slid the book back into it's proper place. "I thought it might have been about a seller of fruit."

He turned to me. His face was pink and full; he had probably helped himself to another bottle of blood while I showered. He stepped closer to me and his nostrils flared. He bent his head slightly, then shut his eyes. "Lilac," he whispered.

"Is that bad?" I asked.

"Your own scent is much more enjoyable, but it's pleasant."

Not sure what to say about that I nodded to the selection of movies. "Want to watch something?"

"What would you have chosen to watch this evening?" he asked me, stepping aside. I almost answered honestly - I did in fact have a small group of so-called 'chick flicks' that I watched on my 'me' nights. But I reigned myself in from answering. This was getting to be too much. One, Eric was really starting to spook me with all this unselfishness. And I was also feeling like the world's worst hostess. I was a properly raised, good southern girl. One did not leave guests to wander the house and get their own drinks while the hostess was off taking a shower and padding around the house in her pj's. And now I was about to choose a very girly movie, too? I very much doubted Eric the vampire boss would enjoy Steel Magnolias or Bridget Jones Diary. Maybe I hadn't asked him to come over, but I had invited him in and that put him squarely under my hospitality. My Grandmother would have rapped my hand with a wooden spoon for my behavior!

"No way," I said strongly. "You pick something. I insist." I turned on my heel and plopped down on the carpet in front of the fire with my little basket of nail supplies. The heat from the fire would help dry both my hair and the polish. I pointedly ignored Eric while I took a little pad and dabbed it with some nail polish remover and started rubbing my toenails one by one. The existing polish was chipped and faded. I hoped Eric hadn't been paying too much attention to my feet!

"Where is that movie you told me I should watch?" He asked suddenly. He had his back to me and was bent over, hands on his knees looking at movie titles. Lord have mercy, the view!

"Huh? What movie?" I'm sure I sounded a little rattled.

"Something about wind, I believe."

My eyes went wide. "Gone with the Wind?" I laughed out loud. Yes, I did once say something to Eric about him having to see that movie. I had a big stake jabbed in my side and had been loaded down with pain killers at the time, though. Did he really remember that?

"Ah," he said, apparently finding it. It was an old copy on a double VHS tape set. He looked at the box and his eyes narrowed.

"Eric," I said slowly "That's kind of a long movie."

"Are you wanting to go to bed? Or am I..." He paused a moment and seemed to be searching for the right words. "Wearing out my welcome?"

"No, not at all!" I answered immediately and was a little surprised that I really meant it. Eric's presence wasn't wearing on me at all. Quite the opposite, I was actually enjoying his company now that we were apparently past the heavy chit-chat and sexual overtures. "But I thought you would be wanting to go soon, you know, keeping ahead of Victor and all."

He smiled. "Pam knows how to reach me if there is a need. She is quite able to keep an eye on things in my absence, as she has proven before."

Yeah, before when her boss was cursed and having wild sexual escapades off in Bon Temps with a barmaid.

"OK then. I'm warning you, it might be a little, well, not boring - at least not to me - but it's not really much of an action film." I had a feeling Eric was more of a blood and guts movie kind of vamp, but he just nodded and started up the first tape. After adjusting the sound to a good level for both watching and talking he came over and sat down in front of the fire with me. He sat with his long legs stretched out in front of him, leaning back on his arms. He wasn't uncomfortably close to me and I realized with some shock that his proximity, which sometimes made my nervous, was actually soothing. I sighed. Oh, thank you almighty blood bond! Not!

And there we sat, me playing pedicure with Eric hunkered down beside me watching Gone with the Wind. In the past few years I had come to know about vampires, werewolves, shape shifters, fairies and even other realms of existence. But somehow tonight seemed more crazy than any of it.

To be continued

(I know this was short and all fluff! Sorry, just couldn't help myself!)