Present day
"Mrs. Northman you need to calm down, your blood pressure is very high. If you can't calm down we are going to have to sedate you to protect your baby."
I hissed at the little doctor who somewhat resembled a troll and said, "You listen here Ludwig! You try to calm down when your husband is in surgery after he fell through a house!" Amelia tried to touch me just I jerked back and yelled, "Don't touch me! Go down to the O.R. and get me another update." She looked shaken but silently nodded and left to do as she was told. Alcide was here also, the guys from the firehouse felt some need to have one of them with me at all times, when really I wanted Eric and no one else.
He also tried to console me. "Sookie, you are going to go into preterm labor if you don't calm down and Eric will be pissed if he misses the birth or something happens to you or the baby."
I was shaking with emotion, hormones, and everything in between. I couldn't stop myself from screaming while flailing my arms at anyone in reach. "STOP TELLING ME WHAT TO DO! NO ONE BUT ERIC GETS TO BOSS ME! THIS BABY WILL STAY IN UNTIL I SAY SO! IM GOING TO…." Then it all went black, those bastards sedated me!
4 years earlier
"Going to the chapel, and we're gonna get married!" Amelia, Pam and Gran sang while Pam was curling my hair.
Gran handed me a little box while saying, "You know he still has an hour to dump you for me." We all cracked up laughing.
Pam said, "Oh Adele you know I have first pick on you. I will take Eric out back and fight him for you. I kicked his ass when we were kids and I will do it again if I have to." I laughed and shook my head but she quickly grabbed my neck to hold me still. I would not be surprised if Pam could kick Eric's ass, seriously I am glad she likes me because she scares the shit out of me sometimes. "There you are all done; you look like an angel. My brother will be rendered speechless." Pam said as she sprayed my hair with completely unnecessary amounts of hair spray.
I stood up and went to look at my dress that was hanging in the corner. It is beautiful. It's a white flowing dress with a sweetheart top that is covered in crystals. My train is custom and has very realistic flames at the bottom. That is a little touch that Eric does not know about yet, but I am sure he will be elated. Gran helped me slip it on and Amelia used the sticky lint roller all over me while Pam reenacted the old obsession perfume commercial and dabbed some on herself. I was ready. I looked gorgeous. I know most people have wedding jitters but this feels right, this feels perfect.
We saddled up, Pam and Amelia fought over who gets to hold my train. Gran ended up ending the argument by smacking both of them and taking it herself. I laughed a little at that and filed it away to tell Eric later. We walked in to the living room and stood at the French doors that were draped in white silk today; waiting to hear the music que up. When we heard the music start Gran handed out the bouquets and paired Pam with Alcide and Amelia with Tray. Getting them ready to go down the aisle before she gave me a quick kiss and went to take her seat. I took a deep breath as Tray opened the doors. I am ready for this.
Tray and Amelia went first. Her bridesmaid dress was the same top as Pam's accept her skirt was flouncy and big and Pam's was tight and ultra short. They both agreed on fire engine red after a massive blowout over yellow. Both Tray and Alcide were wearing solid black suits with black shirts and ties.
Pam practically yanked Alcide down the aisle mumbling about him dragging ass. Again I had no choice but to laugh. When I peeked out I saw Eric laughing also. I took that as my cue to make my way down the aisle. I locked eyes with Eric and was completely lost. I couldn't tell you what anyone else looked like at that moment if someone had a gun to my head.
When I finally made it to him I saw that his black tie had flames at the bottom and I laughed a little turning my back so he could get a good look at my train. He laughed and twined his fingers with mine. We turned to Sam who is apparently not just the fire chief but also an ordained minister.
"Friends we are gathered here today to celebrate the binding of love between Sookie and Eric. If anyone has objections speak now or forever hold your peace." Both Eric and I shot our head around in unison to shoot the crowd a look. I guess we did it in a manner that was so in sync that a loud peel of laughter floated up from our guests. We turned back to Sam who continued with a much larger smile this time.
"All of us thought Eric was going to die a spinster on his couch with his hoard of cats, but then he met you Sookie and you changed it all. The whole fire house happily gives you this man's hand in marriage." Eric rolled his eyes but Sam continued. "And who gives this woman away?"
Gran stood and said, "I do, I recently found out that I was trying to make Sookie date the wrong guys. Because the ones who look sweet were always the worst, but Eric looks like sex on a stick and he treats her like a Goddess."
I shoot around to look at her and whisper yell, "Gran!" She held her hands up in mock surrender before chuckling and sitting back down.
We turned back to Sam considerably more embarrassed than before and he started again. "I know you two wanted to do your own vows so have at it, you go first Eric."
Eric's warm cerulean blue eyes caught mine and held my gaze to him like a tractor beam and he said. "Sookie, the first time I saw you I knew you were different. You are fun and easy to talk too. You have a zest for life I had never seen before. You are beautiful, kind, sweet and loyal. I would like to put my dib's on you for the rest of our lives." There was a collective "awe" from the crowd and I was seriously wondering how I go so lucky as to have this man in my life.
"Alright Sook, you go now." Sam said while I was wiping tears trying not to mess up my make-up.
Finally I got myself under control and I started. "Eric, the first time I saw you I was sure you were Tray because Amelia had warned me off the hottest firefighter. Because she had dibs and when you sat next to me I was so pissed at her. Then I found out that you weren't Tray and I may have done a happy dance." He chuckled and I continued. "You are the kindest, sweetest man I have ever met. We have been together for so long and you still hold my doors and you won't let me carry in the groceries. I love you so much, words will never be enough. I want to put my dibs on you also." I smiled yet again having to wipe tears from my eyes with the upmost care so as to not ruin Pam's master piece. Eric's face looked like he had just won the lottery, but I have to admit I must have looked much the same way.
"Alright guys, lets get to the rings, I do's, kiss and then we can all go to the party." Eric and I laughed at Sam who brought us out of our revelry and back down to earth. Pam handed me Eric's ring and Tray handed him mine. Sam told Eric the words to repeat as he slipped the ring on my finger.
"I, Eric Northman, take you, Sookie Stackhouse, to be my lawfully wedded wife from now until forever, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, I am forever yours." Sam looked back to me and asked.
"Do you Sookie, take Eric to be your husband?"
I smiled so wide I was afraid my face might seize up and I would never frown again. "I do!" I squealed.
"Okay repeated after me…" I repeated the words.
"I, Sookie Stackhouse, take you, Eric Northman, to be my lawfully wedded husband from now until forever, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, I am forever yours."
Eric looked like he was starting to get a little teary but quickly blinked them back when Sam asked. "Do you Eric take Sookie to be your wife?"
Eric looked at me with a mischievous smile and said, "Hell yes!"
Sam clapped his hands and said. "Alrighty, then. By the power vested in me, by the State of Louisiana I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride!" Eric grabbed me dipping me so low that I was almost flush with the ground. He laid the mother of all kisses on me. He slowly brought us back up and I could hear the people clapping and cheering. Eric scooped me up like Rhett Butler, carrying me down the aisle while I was laughing like a loon. I don't think it can get better than this.
We got to the end of the aisle and back into the house before he let my legs hand down but held me up by my waist so we were eye level and said. "I love you so much; someone in heaven must like me if they were willing to part with an Angel."
I snorted at that and smacked his arm before I said. "You think crappy lines like that are going to work on me Northman?"
His face got serious and he looked me in the eye saying, "Yes, I do. You already signed the papers. You have no choice but fall victim to my crappy lines for the rest of your life." We both laughed and he started to swing me from side to side. We were kissing and laughing when Pam came in.
She interrupted us with a completely fake throat clearing. "Ahem, you two are all set up for the reception and Sookie needs to change into her other dress." Eric looked at me then back to Pam like he was trying to figure out if he was really willing to let me go even if it was just for a moment. Based on his response I figure he decided he didn't want to let me go.
"I can help her out of her dress." Eric said with a wink, but Pam grabbed my arms, pulling me away from him and when she finally freed me Eric looked like a little boy whose little sister just snatched his new action figure.
Pam rolled her eyes and said, "Eric, I do not doubt your abilities to get Sookie out of her clothing. I do however doubt your ability to redress her, and you need to attend your reception because it cost a fortune and you know Alcide is going to make it his personal goal to drink all the beer before he gets some stupid idea that only you can talk him down from. So go out there and mingle while I get Sookie changed." He huffed then gave me one more kiss and held my left hand fingering my wedding rings for a few moments before Pam got to impatient and pulled me away and up the stairs.
Once we got there I huffed a little bit feeling just as annoyed at Pam as Eric was in that moment. Even though I knew she was right, that doesn't mean I have to be okay with it. I mean, I know Cheetos are bad for me but I still can eat a whole bag in one sitting. Pam rolled her eyes when she took in my sullen look as she came back with the garment bag filled with my second dress.
"You know Sookie, if you keep making that face it will stick that way or you will prematurely wrinkle." She unzipped the bag and I took the moment that her back was turned to look in the mirror and ran my hand on my forehead and bridge of my nose to try and smooth out any nonexistent wrinkles that may have formed from my scowl.
She turned around holding the shorter version of my ceremony dress even complete with a shorter flame train that looked awesome as a contrast to the short white skirt. She tediously undid all of what seemed like a thousand buttons down the back of my dress. Finally like the angel of mercy, she shucked the dress off of me placing it on its hanger and grabbed the shorter version.
As she was helping me step into this one she said, "You know I am very excited to call you my sister. The thing about us worrying about Eric dying with a 100 cats is true. Before you, he never dated. He poured all of his time into me and the firehouse. He used to say it was because he never found someone worth changing his life for, but with you Sookie you two just fit seamlessly together. Neither of you had to make massive adjustments to fit together. It was like you were just waiting to find each other." I smiled and nodded, it was the truth before Eric I had only dated one guy and that was JB DuRone and he was an idiot, I stayed with him all through high school for the convenience, not for the feelings.
I noticed that Pam had sealed up this dress far quicker than before and I turned to give her a questioning look and she just said. "Velcro, I know my brother and he won't want to bother with a hundred buttons and this will prevent him from destroying the dress in his haste." I laughed and nodded thinking about how many pieces of clothing that has died at Eric's hands because he was in a hurry. She finally finished and touched up my make-up and hair before patting me on the butt and saying. "Go get em' tiger!"
I rolled my eyes and let out a, "Har, har." Before sauntering down the stairs and back outside, I walked a little ways until I approached the tent that was set up for the reception right next to the pond and the site of our first date. I walked through the archway and entered the party. I took everything in. This really was perfect. There were vines and twinkle lights. All of the tables had deep green cloths with lovely embroidered floral accents. It really looked like an enchanted forest from a fairy tale.
I made a bee line for Eric who was talking to a bouncing Amelia and my Gran who was sulking by the obvious loss of her conquest. At first I thought she was just flirting with him to be silly but as the months wore on I started to question her motives. I came up behind him, wrapped my arms around his waist resting my face on the middle of his back. I could hear him let out a contented sigh as he reached back to bring me around to his other side. I gladly complied enjoying the soft silky feel of his dress shirt on my skin.
He tilted my head up to look at him and said, "Oh Lover, I thought I was going to have to send out a search party. I truly feared Pam had finally gotten her way and you two ran away into the sunset holding hands." I laughed, and he leaned down capturing my lips in a soft sweet kiss. The look in his eyes was one of pure bliss, and I am sure the same sentiment was mirrored in my own eyes. The DJ started the music and Eric grabbed my hand and made a silly exaggerated bow and asked. "May I have this dance?" I giggled like a teenager and nodded allowing him to sweep me up his arms. Our height difference was always an issue, and I'm sure Eric looked like a hunchback leaning down to my height so he could give me kisses along with whispered words of love and adoration in my ear. It was like everything around us melted away and it was just us for those moments. However our little bubble of isolated bliss ended far too soon for my liking. I was painfully aware that it was time for us to start schmoozing with our guests.
We made the rounds, stopping to talk to groups of people, soaking up the well wishes and congratulations. We shook hands and kissed cheeks, when really all I wanted to do was go and have some alone time with my new husband. I have to say this whole wedding reception thing seemed a lot more fun while I was planning it, now it just seems annoying. We heard the DJ announce that the meal was about to be served so we went and took our places at the table that held the rest of our wedding party.
Pam was sitting next to Alcide rolling her eyes and trying to dodge his most recent advance. It seems the words "I'm a lesbian." mean nothing to him. On our other side were Amelia and Tray who were nuzzling and looking very in love. Amelia has been suspicious that he might be popping the question soon. If only she knew that Eric went ring shopping with him last week under the guise of a bachelor party.
When our food was served, to say I was excited was an understatement. My favorite thing that I did for this wedding was picking the food. The first course was an Amuse-Bouche of a smoked salmon mini quiche. The second course was lobster bisque with a saffron crust. For the third course we had the most tender filet mignon I have ever tasted, with grilled marinated asparagus and mashed turnips with fresh herbs. To round off the meal we just served a lemon sorbet because we were going to have the most delicious raspberry and lemon cream cake later.
Through the whole meal Eric fed me, always slapping my hand away and saying "Let me have my fun." like he always does. We snuck tender kisses and I enjoyed the silence from all of our guests during the meal, because you know the sure sign of a good meal is when it is eaten in silence. When the last of our plates were cleared the music qued up and almost everyone flooded onto the dance floor.
Eric, even being a very tall lanky man who is 90% limbs, is a very good dancer. I imagine the only times it looked awkward to an outsider is when he was hunching down to make up for our egregious height difference and that is really my fault for "not knowing how to grow right" as Eric has told me on more than one occasion. I have to laugh every time because I think 6'5" is a more abnormal height than 5'3". We spun, jumped and swayed well into the night. Our friends were getting progressively drunker when an absolutely wasted Alcide approached us while we were taking a breather.
"Dude…. Dude! We should totally go play ultimate Frisbee!" He yelled in a drunken slurred southern accent.
"No." Eric said his eyes never leaving mine but the tone of his voice was final. However the tone of Eric's voice did not put off Alcide from whining.
"Awe come on man, why not?"
Eric finally tore his eyes from mine and the third piece of cake that we were sharing and stared Alcide down before saying. "Because it is one am, pitch black, and I live on land that holds wild animals. The last thing I need is you getting eaten by a gator or a wild pig or a panther. That is just a scenario I am less than interested in exploring tonight so why don't you go find a pretty lady and ask her to dance and eat some cake to soak up some of that beer and Jack."
Alcide's eyes narrowed and he let off a pout that looked ridiculous on a man his age and said. "You're no fun man. I'm gonna go get some cake… I like cake." We waited until he was out of earshot before we both erupted with laughter.
I playfully slapped Eric's chest and said. "Everytime! Pam was right, can you imagine if we hadn't of been here and his dumb ass had been trudging through the woods? Really you're like his guardian angel." Eric just shrugged and fed me another bite of cake before getting one for him.
We snuggled, ate and danced with our friends and family until about four am. The crowd was starting to thin out. The only people left were people who we already figured would be staying the night anyway. Eric took a look around and grabbed my hand with a wink. We slowly inched towards the edge of the tent so we could make our escape without being noticed, and much to my surprise we did. Once we were outside the tent Eric bent down grabbing me and tossing me over his shoulder before sprinting towards the house.
He flung the door open and didn't even stop to shut it, he just kept running. He bounded up the stairs. I started to giggle which gained me a playful smack on the ass. He thrust the door to our room open so fast I thought it might break. The only time he slowed down was to lock the door. He unceremoniously tossed me into the middle of the bed, and crawled up until his face was mere inches from my own.
Lust and love poured off of him in droves as he bent to nuzzle and kiss my neck before asking. "What's your name?"
I looked him in the eye and smiled replying. "Mrs. Northman."
His grin broadened as he laid his head on my chest right above my heart and said. "Say it again."
I smiled and pulled him to my lips and punctuating every word with a kiss. "Mrs. 'Kiss' Sookie 'kiss' Northman 'kiss'." I never felt as lucky as I did in that moment looking into the eyes of a man that loves me more than anything, just as I do him.