Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters involved in this story. I am simply playing. Cells is my new story, I got the idea after Sookie thought about being with Eric forever in the last book. I will do my best keep the personalities as close to original as possible, Eric is very much a vampire and Sookie still has her gifts. Also, special thanks my awesome Beta HopeStreet! Thank You!
[A/N] I'm back now that mu writers block is gone. Thanks everyone for sticking with me even though I have been lacking in the updates. Please forgive the short chap, the next one will be a lot longer.
Eric sat in his office for the first time in the past four nights. Sookie had insisted he go back to work. She was managing the changes just fine. Amelia had contacted Sookie to make arrangements to get her things. Sookie was holding off on telling her friend about what had happened to her. Last night she had Eric taken her to her home to Bon Temps to pick up a few things, and after Merlotte's closed, she met with Sam. Sam was the first person Sookie told. She trusted the shifter, and he needed to know Sookie wouldn't be working there anymore. He was upset initially, but he understood why Sookie had to stay away for a while. She promised to visit as often as she could. Bon Temps would always be home to her. Eric smiled to himself; she had no idea how wrong she was. In a few centuries, that small town would have little significance to her.
Sookie cried on the way back to Shreveport. She told Eric not to worry. Leaving the work place and Sam just made her situation more real.
"I know you are upset, and I know why you liked working there. It was the one normal thing you had in your life. I understand that usability is important to humans. It's important to us too. But change is important too. I always wanted you to leave that place. You have so much to offer."
"There's nothing wrong with waiting tables, and Sam is my friend," Sookie sniffed.
"I understand that the shifter is your friend, but I disagree with you about there being nothing wrong with being a waitress. There is nothing wrong with that occupation if that is all the person is capable of, but you are capable of much more than that. I would be a bad husband if I didn't want my wife to the best that she could be."
Sookie folded her arms and looked out the window for the remainder of the ride. It wasn't until they were two stoplights from Eric's gated community that she spoke again.
"You just love this don't you? Everything has always been your way, and I hate that. The blood, the marriage, Quinn, my job. My whole life has been changed in your favor. I can't stand it! And I am not your wife! You get upset when you think I belittle our union, but how can I respect it when you didn't even ask?"
Eric didn't say anything. He kept his eyes on the road. By the time they pulled into the garage, Sookie was livid.
"Aren't you going to say something?"
"What is that you want me to say?"
Aggravated beyond belief, Sookie got out of the car and stormed into the house. Kicking off her shoes in a haste, she was snatched and tossed on the sofa. Eric's fangs gleamed in the moonlight that poured in from the skylight above.
"You think that I am high handed and selfish? Yes, every decision I have made for you has had a benefit to me, but more importantly, I made them for you. I made them to protect you, because I love you. Are you so unhappy with the decisions I have made?"
Sookie could feel his rigid shaft press into her thigh. She hated her body for betraying her as she let out a little moan.
"It's not about that. It's about being able to decide for myself."
Eric relaxed a little. "I did those things because I love you. I am not accustomed to asking people how they would feel about something I would choose to do. Frankly you are the first person whose thoughts I value."
Sookie swallowed. She understood what he was saying. It still didn't make it okay, but the fact that an aroused and dangerous man was grinding into her made it difficult to stay upset.
"This fight is pointless, isn't it?"
"Yes it is." Eric undid the top button of her jeans and slid his hand past her underwear. "Do you love me?"
"Yes, you know I do," she said breathlessly as his fingers began to play delicious patterns between her folds.
"Then marry me," he spoke in a thick voice.
Sookie stiffened. "What?"
"Shall I repeat the question? You said you wanted me to ask."
She blinked. "Not like this. Oh, please stop that if we're going to talk about this right now."
Eric pulled his hand out of her pants, and she sat up.
"You really don't know anything about human women do you?"
Eric growled.
"If you're going to ask me, do it the right way."
"This isn't the right way?"
"Sitting on the couch after we just had and argument and your hand down my pants? No, not the right way."
"I suppose you want a ring too?" Eric said with a teasing tone to his voice.
"Arrgh! I'm going to take a shower and then I'm going to bed."
She stormed out of the room and up the stairs, pants still undone.
A knock on his office door shook him from his down time. It was Pam.
"Come in."
Pam walked into the office. She was wearing a new black dress made of layers of lace. She had finished the outfit with long black gloves and black high heels. The tiny blue bag in her hand looked even brighter against her black clothes.
"Did you get the one I requested?"
"Yes, and the other two items as well. But they are in the safe downstairs, as you had also asked me to do."
Pam walked to Eric's desk where he was seated and took a seat in front of him.
"I don't understand. Aren't the two of you already married?"
"Yes, but Sookie has expressed her feelings about the nature of our union. Apparently even though she is happy with me, she is upset that I did not formally ask her."
"Pfff. Humans."
"Enough. If this is what she wants, I will do it." Eric took the bag and removed the small box. The light caught the flawless diamonds. He could hardly wait to see it on his love's finger.
"I hope she likes it," Pam said softly, glancing down at the ring and smiling at Eric. "She is my favorite human. She is still human?"
Eric nodded.
"How different her life if going to be from ours."
Eric didn't say anything. He didn't need to. He had already promised Sookie he would be there every step of the way. Adjusting to eternity was something he knew a little about.
"I will help her," Pam said proudly.
Not wanting the situation to get too emotional, Eric shot her a sly smile. "So does this mean you will be assisting with the wedding?"
Pam scooted back in her chair in silent repulsion at the suggestion.
"You are free to get back to the bar now. I will be out shortly."
"Do you plan on asking her tonight?"
"At Fangtasia? I do not think she would appreciate that. I will think of a more appropriate time. Besides, tomorrow night I am buying her a new car."
Pam let out a laugh, "That should be something to look forward to. As lovely as your Sookie is, she does not accept gifts well."
"I am looking forward to it." Eric shot her a sardonic grin as she left the room.
As the garage door closed, Eric tried to imagine another car next to his, not Pam's but Sookie's. If she took his ring, she would live here, as she should have when they were first married. He knew she would have a lot to think about, but the idea of his dearest in his bed every night made his chest and groin tighten.
Eric kicked off his boots and walked through the kitchen, the scent of Chinese food hung in the air even though the kitchen seemed clean. He followed the sound of the TV and found Sookie asleep in the living room, wrapped up in a blanket. There was an empty plate in front of her and a plastic wrapped fortune cookie in her limp hand. He went to her, sitting down next to her, and easing her weight onto his. The movement gently roused her.
"Welcome home."
He kissed her hair. Sookie let the cookie fall, and she slid two warm hands into his leather jacket.
"How was your night?"
"More eventful that yours, I see."
"'How I Met Your Mother' is a very entertaining show. Besides, it isn't as if I can do much at night without a car."
Eric grinned at the slight touch of bitterness in her voice.
"That is a problem we are fixing tomorrow night."
Sookie grumbled as she nuzzled into his chest.
"You are impossible, woman. You speak of a problem in which I am perfectly capable of fixing, and you refuse."
He drew her face up to his, placing one hand under her chin. "I will not bend on this, love. It pleases me to give you things, especially when you are in need of them. Is my happiness not important to you?"
Sookie rolled her eyes as he turned his head away in a faux pout. After a moment, she reached up and kissed his cheek.
"Were should we go first? I would like a convertible. I've always wanted one."
Eric turned back to her smiling. "You can have whatever you like. Just as long as it isn't some obnoxious color like yellow."
"No yellow, got it."
Sookie laid her head on his shoulder as they both stared off blankly at the TV set. Eric had always taken pleasure in the feel of Sookie's warm weight against his. After the past few months, certain things had become routine. Sitting or laying in silence with Sookie had been one of those things. They felt comfortable simply holding each other, letting the waves of contentment wash over one another. They had first lain like this when Sookie had been healing from the fairy attack. Sometimes ,it seemed, the only peace she found was lying in his arms. It was as if she could finally relax from the world. He too felt very much the same way. She was his safe harbor, a place he could go only with her, and he knew he could put everything away and be himself. It was a bare, vulnerable feeling he would have once shrunk away from, but with Sookie, he welcomed it.
"I didn't cry today," Sookie broke the silence. "That's good, right?"
Eric smoothed her hair as he looked down at her. "It's only been a few days, but it is a good thing that you are beginning to settle. If you were to become upset, don't be hard on yourself. Your new life is a lot to take in. You know I would hate to see you cry, but it's only natural to feel a bit of melancholy over certain changes."
"You'll listen to me? If I want to talk about it?"
Sookie looked at him with earnest concern. Had he not voiced his support enough? He loved her with every fiber of his being, and her new life was not some novelty he would tire of.
"Of course. I may not be able to understand every human aspect, but I'll do my best. I love you."
"Thank you, and I love you too. I know I have asked before, but with everything being so crazy lately, it's good to be reminded it's good to be reminded I have you."
Eric gathered her a little closer to him.
"My love, you will always have me."