Ok so believe it or not the title of this chapter used to be my favorite song when I was like 5. Why I liked this particular song so much when I was younger I couldn't tell you. Once again, thanks to everyone who read and set up alerts for this story. I truly appreciate the reviews I have received. Thanks so much for taking the time. This chapter is a bit shorter than I would have liked so I wanted to get it out earlier. The next one will be out either Saturday or Sunday.

Just a reminder, although it does bother me, for the time being Sookie and Sam are together. I do have a plan though. Enjoy.

SPOV

"Sookie, you're going to have to come to Oklahoma," I hear him say quietly. Why would I have to go to Oklahoma? What does that have anything to do with where Sam is?

"Why Eric? What did you find out," I ask him trying to figure out what's going on. Suddenly in connects in my head. Currently, Eric was in Oklahoma staying with Freyda at the palace. He has to spend the night. Therefore, the only way he would have known Sam was missing had something to do with the Queen. Also, she was the only one he could have gotten any information from to call me back.

"Eric," I say not even trying to hold back my whimper. "Please, tell me he's going to be ok." I cannot even begin to think of why the Queen would want Sam. Whatever the reason, I doubt it would be good for us.

"I can't really tell you too much more than that right now. He's not even here yet." Well what does he think? I'm not going to jump on a plane to Oklahoma without even knowing that's where Sam is. This could all just be a trap. I know Eric wouldn't hurt me but I can't be certain the company he is currently in shares that same feeling.

"Well, I can't just hop on a plane and rush down there. Especially, if you can't tell me for certain that he's there." There's a little bit of a pause before his response. I hear someone muttering in the background too fast and too low for me to make out what's being said. My anger builds as I realize he's probably having this conversation with Freyda in the room.

"He should be here midday. There's another flight from Shreveport to Oklahoma that leaves at 7 tonight. With a stop in Dallas, you should be here around midnight."

"Perhaps you didn't hear me Eric. There is no way I am going anywhere until I know for sure Sam is there and ok. How do I know I'm not walking into a trap?" Again, he hesitates and when I hear his voice I'm sure I hurt him.

"You think I would lead you into a trap? I wouldn't be calling you about your precious shifter husband if I had any other choice." His voice come out soft and quiet at first and by the end he's nearly yelling.

"Look, I'm stressed ok. I'm sorry. It's just," now I hesitate. If I tell him about the blood he'll get angry. Not at the fact Sam was hurt, but that it easily could have been me. "There's blood Eric. He was obviously hurt when they took him." Believe me, I know you would never do anything that that could hurt me. Can you honestly say that your current company wouldn't hurt me though? What if this is all a ploy just to get me down there and Sam is already dead?" I ask almost crying at then end.

"I don't think he is," he replies back to his normal tone. "Look, I may not know the whole plan yet, but right now Freyda has no reason to lie to me."

"Forgive me if that thought doesn't calm me Eric. I'm still not going anywhere until I know for sure Sam is there and he's ok. There's no reason for me to go anywhere until I know my husbands ok," I tell him hoping he hears the determination in my voice. Now I hear him mutter something in the background. It bothers me that Freyda must be there listening to the conversation. It sounds like she's leading it from his end as well.

"Sookie," he says in a way that I know I'm not going to like what's coming next. "I have to tell you that if you're here tonight he won't be hurt once he arrives. If you aren't here tonight I can't guarantee that."

I hear someone, probably that idiot Freyda yell in the background, "You put it so much more politically correct than I did. Stop trying to protect her and just get her down here."

"Sookie, book the flight. If you need help with anything call Pam at nightfall. Just tell her you need to see me. She won't ask questions." I scoff at that. She'd ask about a million questions unless she's had a personality transplant in the last few years. "I'll call you tonight when I know that Sam is here and he's ok. That's the best I can do." He sounds upset at that. I make myself count to 10 before I respond to calm myself down. I make it to 3.

"Fine," I scream at him. "Tell your darling little wife that I'll be there but if my husband is hurt she's going to wish I wasn't." Then I hang up the phone.

I had a flight to book.

EPOV

After Sookie hangs up on me I turn to Freyda, "I did your dirty work for you. She'll be here tonight. Now can I retire to my bedroom?"

She looks at me for a few second and I am worried she'll refuse and make me spend the night here, in her room. "Why of course," she says and I find I relax a bit with her statement. "As a thank-you for getting her down here I was even going to offer that you may collect her from the airport." I am truly surprised at that statement and my centuries of practice is not enough to keep the shock off my face.

"Unless of course you would rather I simply send Marcus," she finishes with a grin. There is no way in hell I am allowing that cretin anywhere near Sookie. He makes Andre look friendly.

"I would be very grateful for that Your Majesty," I say to her figuring a little respect from me was warranted"

"Think nothing of it," she says and gives me look to make me know I owe her. "Why don't you take your leave and we will further discuss things at first dark."

I don't give her a chance to change her mind as I leave and head toward my bed. There's an hour or so till dawn, but something tells me I won't be getting too much rest during the day. I find myself thinking if Merlotte really is just a means to an end to get Sookie here, what would happen to him when she was. If he were killed, Sookie would be devastated. It would destroy a part of her and I'm not sure it could ever be gotten back.

My mind goes to the time she came to tell me she was with Merlotte.

It was a Wednesday night at Fangtasia. We had a decent turn out for it being a weekday. I had done my duty of sitting in the throne and entertaining the patrons, and was sitting at my desk looking over paperwork. Tonight was a light night for work. I just had to set up a meeting with a Vampire who wanted to move into the area. I send a text to Bill to research the guy. At least Compton was good for something.

The door to my office opens and Pam walks in. She's on door duty tonight and I know she wouldn't leave the door unless something important happened. She likes intimidating the humans too much.

"What's going on Pam?" I ask rising from my desk without even looking at her. I expect if she's coming back to my office to tell me something that something in the bar area must need to be settled.

"Eric," she says in a way that makes me look at her eyes. I don't like what I see. There's a lot of pain, mixed with a little excitement. "Sookie is here," she pauses letting that bit of news sink in. It had been almost a year since I last saw her. I fall back into my chair in shock. That explains the pain on her face. She didn't speak to me for days when I said she couldn't see Sookie any more.

"She wishes to speak with you, privately," Pam continues. I can tell she's a bit hurt Sookie doesn't wish for her to be present as well.

It takes me a few seconds to figure out that yes I would like to speak with her. I tell Pam to send her in wondering what could have brought on this sudden change of heart. After all, we agreed to no contact thinking it would be easier. As the door opens again, I look up and it's her. I take in a deep, unneeded breath, and smell her scent. She's exactly the same as she was on that last night. I stand up and move to greet her, but then I stop and start to sit back down not sure how I should approach her.

"Hi Eric," she says smiling up at me. I hear her voice tremble a bit and think of the reasons for why it could be. She is shifting her weight on her feet and I can see she must be nervous. That makes the two of us. I can battle the supernatural world without a care, but this creature brings out the nerve in me. Go figure, I believe is the current term.

I motion to the seat across from me inviting her to sit, which she does. "How have you been?" she asks me. She is no longer looking at me. I doubt I'm going to like the reason for her sudden visit.

"I've been ok. Keeping busy with stuff for Area 5," is my lame response. I don't mention that I have my first conjugal visit with Freyda tomorrow night. "How have you been?" I ask her.

"I've been better recently," she says quietly. I almost ask her what she means by recently but I don't. I can guess what she means. I wasn't myself either for a bit. We sit there awkwardly for a few seconds. She's looking everywhere but at me.

I ask her why she's here and her eyes shoot up to mine for second, then as quick they look down. No, I am really not going to like what she has to say.

I can tell she's not too eager to tell me why she is gracing me with her presence either. She is refusing to look at me and her hands can't keep still on her lap. I am nervous that she is in some sort of trouble. I ask her if everything is ok; if she is safe.

She looks at me confused and responds, "Yes, everything is fine. Why do you ask?" I explain that she seems very anxious.

"I don't want to be rude, Sookie. Why have you asked to speak with me? I have to admit, you've peaked my curiosity," I tell her. She hesitates before speaking.

"I just… I didn't want you to hear it from anyone else," she starts out speaking very quietly. Nope, really not going to like it. I wait for her to continue.

"I wanted to make sure you heard it from me." I tell myself to keep my face calm as she blurts out, "I'm dating Sam."

At that point, I glad I'm sitting otherwise my legs would have given way. I can't help the feeling building inside of me. It's not anger, but it fills me just as quick. I'm hoping she missed the sound of the arm of my chair breaking. With my desk in between us, I know she can't see it.

"That's great," I tell her forcing myself to smile, hoping her human hearing won't hear my voice wavering. "You deserve to be happy. I am very glad for you," I manage to choke out. I need her to get out of here. I don't want her to see me when this feeling takes over.

"You do too Eric," she tells me. "Deserve to be happy, I mean. I want you to be happy too."

I am quiet after hearing that. I've been content with my life, enjoying the fun parts and tolerating the less fun. I haven't been happy in a very long time. Not too long ago, I was close to getting there though.

"I appreciate you coming to tell me," I tell her standing up, hoping I can get her out of here before the tears fall. I need to end this meeting now. This is the first time I'm glad she broke the bond. I don't want her to see what she's doing to me. It would hurt her. I didn't want to admit to myself why that still mattered to me, even after all this time.

"As I said, I didn't want you to hear it from others first. I thought I owed you that much," she replies taking my cue and standing up herself, heading for the door.

I open it for her and as she passes she stops and looks at me. She raises her hand to my cheek and I close my eyes. She moves some of my hair behind me ear and I feel a kiss on my cheek. I breathe in her hair. "Be safe, Eric," she tells me as she walks out the door and down the hall.

"Sookie," I call to her. She turns and I just want to run to her, push her back into my office and kiss her. I grip the doorknob so I do not. "If you ever need anything let me know." She smiles and softly tells me she will. The last thing I see as I close the door is Pam giving her a hug goodbye. Now, there's quite the sight.

As soon as the door closes I collapse to my knees, tears I had been holding back start pouring down my face. After a minute, Pam comes in and puts her hand on my shoulder offering comfort.

It doesn't really help.

I must have gone into downtime as I'm thinking of the past and trying to figure out Freyda's game plan. I am startled out of it as I hear the guards bringing in someone. It sounds like it's a struggle and I pick up the scent of the shifter. They must have carried him right past my door. I smell blood but not too much. I try to ignore how happy I am that he's not hurt all that much.

I pick up my phone and dial Sookie's house hoping she listened and went back there. As she picks up the phone she says hi cautiously.

"He's here Sookie. They just brought him in. I didn't see him but I didn't smell too much blood," I tell her hoping that will make her feel better. "I will be picking you up at the airport later," I tell her trying to contain my excitement.

"Eric," she questioned. I respond yes. "It's 1:00 in the afternoon. You waited up to tell me?" she asks sounding surprised.

"I knew you wanted to know. I would still do anything for you." I tell her. Even after all these years I knew I would drop everything and go to her if she ever needed it.